Hearing a whisper behind her, Lin Bingying frowned slightly. She didn't like being disturbed while practicing her swordplay, especially not by an amateur.
However, she didn't turn around immediately. Instead, she held onto her sword and lowered her head in thought, pondering the sword technique she had just executed.
She cultivated the Zhiruo Sword Intent, but the key to 'zhi' (extreme) was reaching the limit, and that limit was challenging to grasp. If one exceeded it, the sword intent would dissipate, and if it didn't reach the limit, the sword intent would not be extreme enough, leaving an opening.
At that moment, as she reflected, she realized that her sword intent had indeed dispersed slightly, surpassing the limit of zhiruo. If such a mistake occurred in a battle, it would be a massive vulnerability.
However, to perceive such a flaw, one would have to be at least on par with her in swordsmanship.
"You know something about the sword too?"
Lin Bingying turned around, her eyes, cold and clear like the moon, fell on Li Hao, and a hint of suspicion appeared in her eyes.
If his swordsmanship could match hers, he would at least be at the level of a saint in the sacred land.
How did someone like that end up badly injured here, only to be coincidentally saved by her? Was it intentional or a pure accident?
"Uh, I was just speaking casually," Li Hao said, seeing the suspicion in her eyes.
He had spoken impulsively earlier, with good intentions, as she was his savior.
But now that his injuries had not fully healed, revealing too much might invite unnecessary suspicion and trouble.
"Speaking casually?" Lin Bingying raised an eyebrow. A casual comment that happened to pinpoint her mistake—even a child wouldn't be fooled by that.
She stared at Li Hao and asked, "How did you really figure it out?"
Seeing her serious gaze, Li Hao knew that if he didn't give a reasonable explanation, she would likely suspect that he had ulterior motives for approaching her.
"It's just a feeling," Li Hao said.
"A feeling?"
"Yes, I like to paint, and I'm sensitive to posture and lines. Just now, when I saw the way you swung your sword, it seemed too soft. As a swordsman, a sword that is too soft won't be able to exert much force, and it will easily expose a weakness to your opponents." Li Hao spoke half-truthfully.
"Such a far-fetched explanation, do you think I'll believe it?" Lin Bingying raised an eyebrow, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
With the Sword God of the Holy Land approaching, the situation was critical, and she couldn't help but be suspicious of anyone trying to get close to her.
"Did Qingfeng really see through me?" Lin Shenhai, who had been preparing medicinal ingredients, paused when he heard their conversation. He had thought Li Hao was just speaking casually, as he didn't understand the sword either. But seeing his granddaughter's reaction, it seemed Li Hao had hit the nail on the head.
Li Hao smiled bitterly and said, "Wait for me, I'll show you."
He got up to find paper and brush, using a wooden board as a makeshift easel. He ground the ink and began to paint.
Soon, a breathtakingly beautiful figure appeared on the white paper, wielding a long sword with graceful movements.
Painting Skill Experience +32837.
Wow, as expected of someone at the Realm of Awareness, the experience gained in painting is incredible!
Li Hao put down his brush, and Lin Shenhai, who had been watching him paint, was stunned. He had witnessed the entire process, and when Li Hao's brushstrokes brought his granddaughter to life on the paper, he was speechless, especially as Li Hao neared the final stroke, infusing the figure with a soul, as if it were dancing on the paper.
"This..."
Although Lin Shenhai didn't understand painting, he had lived a long life and had seen a lot. He could at least understand a thing or two about the painting.
This was far beyond a simple painting; it wasn't just lifelike, but it also conveyed a sense of being immersed in the scene.
"Hmm?"
Lin Bingying also walked over, and when she saw the figure on the paper, she was taken aback.
She was, of course, very familiar with that figure, and now it was captured in intricate detail in the painting, and the sword-wielding posture seemed to have a life of its own, faintly carrying a hint of her Zhiruo Sword Intent!
The person in front of her had somehow managed to capture her sword intent in his painting!
Lin Bingying stared at it, a little dazed, and it took her a moment to snap out of her trance. Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, and a hint of embarrassment appeared in her eyes.
The painting was too detailed; it was as if the painter had imprinted the image in their mind after observing her a thousand times.
Although she didn't understand painting, she knew that the first step in painting was to observe carefully.
With this thought, her neck turned slightly red, and she glared at Li Hao.
Li Hao was confused by her glare, thinking that she hadn't understood what he was trying to convey. He immediately pointed to the painting and said, "Look here, the lines of your arms and waist, as well as your overall posture, are very graceful, as if you have no bones. But your sword acts like the bones, supporting you. However, when you swing it like this, the arc of the sword tends to disperse..."
"Stop!" Lin Bingying's face turned red with anger. Although she and Li Hao had been living under the same roof for over a month, they hadn't exchanged more than a few words, and they couldn't be considered familiar with each other. Now, he was pointing at her painting and talking about her body curves, and if it weren't for the sincerity in Li Hao's eyes, she would have thought he was being a pervert.
"Uh..." Li Hao also realized that he might have crossed a line.
Lin Bingying ignored him and focused on the painting, studying it intently. Soon, she understood why Li Hao had been able to point out her mistake in swordsmanship.
He had deduced it through the painting, focusing on her form rather than her swordsmanship.
Usually, one's cultivation shapes their body, but in this case, Li Hao was using the form to deduce the cultivation.
Lin Bingying's eyes flickered, and she glanced at Li Hao, who looked a little helpless. She quickly averted her gaze and fell silent.
She wondered if he was a genius in painting or swordsmanship, being able to capture sword intent through his art.
Earlier, she had heard her grandfather praising Li Hao's talent in pill refining nonstop, and during these days, Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Huajin had also come to visit, and she had overheard their praises for Li Hao. Although she didn't understand pill refining, she knew that Li Hao was a genius in that field.
Perhaps... he hadn't been lying? Lin Bingying's eyes narrowed as she pondered.
Top geniuses wouldn't waste their energy on multiple cultivations, and if they did, it would be on other martial arts like body techniques or fist techniques, which could improve their cultivation.
There were already too many things to focus on with just one martial art, and they wouldn't have the energy to explore other paths.
Unless it was some old monster who had reached a bottleneck in their cultivation.
With this thought, Lin Bingying said, "Wait here, I'll be right back," and her figure disappeared from the courtyard in an instant.
"You kid..."
After Lin Bingying left, Lin Shenhai also realized what he had said and glared at Li Hao, "Don't you dare have any ideas about my granddaughter!"
Li Hao was taken aback, not expecting Lin Shenhai to bring up this topic. "What do you mean, Lin?"
"You know what I mean!" Lin Shenhai glared at him, clearly protective of his granddaughter. "Bingying is destined to become a saint. Whether it's for her sake or yours, the two of you are not suitable."
"..." Li Hao was speechless. Why did the conversation suddenly turn to this?
Lin Bingying looked at the painting, and suddenly realized something. With a bitter smile, he said, "Lin, you've misunderstood. I don't have those intentions toward Qingying."
"You brat, did you call her Qingying?"
Lin Shenhai suddenly panicked. Lin Qingying was his precious granddaughter, and although he admired Li Hao, he felt as if a wolf had taken her away.
"..."
Li Hao smiled bitterly.
Lin Shenhai continued to admonish Li Hao, who could only nod and agree, promising that he would never harbor any improper thoughts.
"What are you two talking about?"
Before long, Lin Qingying's figure suddenly reappeared, having apparently heard something. She furrowed her brows slightly and glanced at Li Hao.
Lin Shenhai shook his head. "It's nothing. What's that in your hand?"
"The Soul-Reflecting Mirror."
Lin Qingying held an oval-shaped, pitch-black mirror, one that Li Hao had seen before at the Xianxian Gate, although the one she held was much smaller.
"Let me see your age; will that be a problem?"
Lin Qingying stared at Li Hao and asked.
Li Hao nodded; there was no need to hide this information.
Lin Qingying immediately pointed the Soul-Reflecting Mirror at Li Hao, and soon, his figure appeared on the black mirror, revealing his age.
Twenty-seven years old.
Lin Qingying was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes as she looked at Li Hao. This age was too young.
Previously, when Li Hao had been unconscious, she had examined his body when she rescued him and noticed that although his internal injuries were severe, his cultivation realm was at the Four Establishments Realm.
To reach the Four Establishments Realm at the age of twenty-seven was indeed exceptional, a true genius among geniuses.
In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, he would be considered a top-notch inner disciple.
At such a young age, to have cultivated the martial way to the Four Establishments Realm, coupled with his talent in pill refinement as told by her grandfather, and now witnessing his skill in painting, it was clear that these pursuits required a great deal of energy.
Sword art?
It was unlikely that he would have the energy to delve into that as well.
After all, one's energy was limited.
Lin Qingying's heart eased, and she felt reassured. This age was sufficient proof that Li Hao had been telling the truth earlier, and that he had managed to capture her sword art flaw through his painting.
She didn't understand painting and couldn't quite grasp it, but now, this was the only explanation that made sense.
"You're so young?"
Lin Shenhai was also surprised to see Li Hao's age. "Twenty-seven years old and already at the Four Establishments Realm. Your talent in the martial way is quite extraordinary. Did your family give you some kind of divine pills or elixirs? With your talent, you could directly become a disciple of the Holy Land's inner sect. If you cultivated there for a hundred years, there's a chance you could even become a personal disciple of a Half-Saint in the future."
Hearing Lin Shenhai's words, Li Hao smiled bitterly, his heart filled with regret. The battle with the False Saint had been an unexpected disaster, causing him to lose ten years of his life.
When he escaped from the void, his battle body was shattered, his internal energy dissipated, and his cultivation realm plummeted. They had assumed he was at the Four Establishments Realm, but in truth, he had already concealed his true power and returned to the Realm of Hearing the Dao.
However, with the attribute of the Myriad Forms, Li Hao had no intention of revealing his true strength, as his internal injuries were still healing.
"Taking pills?"
Hearing Lin Shenhai's words, a hint of realization flashed in Lin Qingying's eyes, replacing the earlier surprise.
Li Hao's purification technique had been attributed to a declining pill-refining family, but it was not unusual for there to be glorious ancestors who had passed down divine pills and elixirs.
If one could reach such a realm through the consumption of pills, it wouldn't be that surprising.
However, it was quite rare to find medicines that could greatly assist those at the Three Immortals and Four Establishments Realms in their cultivation. Even high-level pill refiners could only refine a small number of such medicines.
"If you want to join the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, I can recommend you," Lin Qingying said, putting away the Soul-Reflecting Mirror. Her tone was indifferent, as if making up for her earlier suspicion of Li Hao.
Li Hao understood her intention and shook his head slightly. "I'm not interested in cultivation."
Hearing Li Hao's response, Lin Qingying didn't try to persuade him further. She became even more convinced that Li Hao had reached this realm through pill consumption, just like her grandfather. After all, during these days, she had noticed that Li Hao never cultivated.
With such a realm, it was likely that he had relied on pills to boost his cultivation, focusing his energy on pill refinement instead.
Generally, pill refiners needed to master certain fire-attribute techniques and even Daoist techniques to refine pills, and pill refining was a physically demanding task. If one's realm was too low, they wouldn't be able to refine high-grade treasures.
Some divine medicines were difficult to tame just in their raw form, and when refining pills using demon or magical beast blood, one also needed a certain realm to suppress the soul imprints within the blood.
"Regardless, you pointed out the flaw in my sword art, and I should thank you for that. If there's anything you want, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to help if it's within my ability," Lin Qingying said, her voice calm and her demeanor cool. She was the kind of person who didn't like owing others and preferred to keep things clear and straightforward.
"Your lifesaving grace earlier is something I haven't repaid yet. This small matter doesn't count for much. I was just speaking casually earlier," Li Hao said, glancing at her. Thinking of the huge amount of experience he had just gained, he hesitated for a moment and added, "If you really want to thank me, you could let me paint a few more portraits of you in the future."
"You brat!"
Before Lin Qingying could respond, Lin Shenhai interrupted, his eyes narrowing at Li Hao. Had everything he had just said been for nothing?
Lin Qingying was also taken aback, her ears turning slightly red as she remembered the painting. She looked intently at Li Hao, as if searching for and confirming something in his eyes.
But Li Hao's gaze was sincere and without any hint of evasion.
Lin Qingying held his gaze for a moment, then turned away, her voice calm as she said, "That's fine. If you can point out flaws in my sword art again, I will only be grateful."
"So, does that mean you agree?"
A smile appeared on Li Hao's face.
Lin Qingying didn't respond verbally but instead flew into the courtyard and continued her sword practice.
This action was tantamount to tacit consent.
Otherwise, with her status as the Sword Ancestor Holy Land's saintess, second in authority only to the Half-Saints, she could have made it difficult for Li Hao to even catch a glimpse of her.
"Qingfeng, why won't you listen to my advice?" Lin Shenhai sighed, feeling as if he had invited a wolf into their home.
"Old Lin, don't worry. I don't have any other intentions toward Qingying. Please believe in my devotion to the path of painting. It's purely an artistic pursuit. Later, I'll paint a few portraits for you as well, how about that?" Li Hao said sincerely.
Lin Shenhai looked at Li Hao's earnest gaze and hesitated. "Are you being honest?"
"As honest as can be!" Li Hao assured him.
Seeing Li Hao's sincerity, Lin Shenhai's heart eased, and he said, "Alright, then I'll trust you this once."
Li Hao felt a bit helpless and didn't continue the conversation on this topic.
Their exchange, however, had not escaped Lin Qingying's sharp ears. She furrowed her brows slightly, her sword movements growing faster as if trying to dispel those words from her mind.
Soon, she once again immersed herself fully in her sword art cultivation.
...
After Li Hao offered to paint Lin Qingying's portrait, Lin Shenhai had his medicine boy build another courtyard at the back of the original one for Li Hao to use.
Old Lin may have said that he was reassured about Li Hao, but he still quietly took precautions against him, just in case.
Li Hao could only smile bitterly at this; he didn't feel slighted and was actually glad to have his own courtyard, as it gave him more peace and quiet.
Aside from painting and sculpting, he also spent his days quietly recuperating from his injuries.
The void power that had previously seeped into his body had now been quietly erased by almost half. One of the benefits of being in the Sacred Land of All Saints was that the energy of the heavens and the earth was extremely dense, more than ten times that of the mortal realm.
No wonder cultivators yearned to enter the Immortal Realm.
The speed of cultivation here was ten times faster, and it could also slow down the aging process.
One year of cultivation here was equivalent to ten years in the mortal realm, and it would only consume one year of one's lifespan!
However, to Li Hao, there was no real difference between being here or in the mortal realm. He just wanted to live each day to the fullest and find joy in the little things.
Time flew by, and two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Hao's injuries had mostly healed, and the void-like cracks within his body were also rapidly disappearing as his flesh continued to regenerate.
As his body healed, Li Hao began to cultivate in addition to his painting and sculpting.
During his previous battle with the Void Saint, he had severed the heavenly pulses, which meant that all the major pulses in his body had been shattered.
Although his flesh was healing, these major pulses needed to be reshaped.
Fortunately, with his previous cultivation techniques, reopening these pulses was not a difficult task for Li Hao.
He set up a barrier in the small courtyard, using the attributes of the Hidden Bow and the Myriad Forms, completely hiding his aura.
Then, he began to operate the Pulse-Opening Cultivation Technique, reopening each of the 108 major pulses.
With the cultivation of the Thousand Dragon Sacred Body Technique, he would be able to reopen the Yin Pulse.
As for the Yang Pulse, Li Hao had located it at the top of his skull. This position was extremely dangerous, and failure could result in anything from brain damage to instantaneous death.
However, for Li Hao, who had attained the Seventh Extreme, opening the Yang Pulse was the easiest task.
Even if his head were to explode, he could still regenerate with a drop of blood.
Soon, after two attempts, the first of which failed and resulted in his head exploding, he successfully opened the Yang Pulse on his second try.
Without the Seventh Extreme, other geniuses, no matter how talented, would only meet a tragic end if they failed to open the Yang Pulse.
With the opening of the Yin and Yang Pulses, the Heavenly Pulse appeared once again.
Li Hao had now reached the Seventh Extreme, plus a half-step to the Ultimate. This was the height of his cultivation thus far.
From then on, he began to refine his Dao Power. Before he had entered the Immortal Realm, he had just stepped into the Realm of Hearing the Dao, and his Dao Power had not yet fully transformed. After the battle, his Dao Power had been scattered, and now he was only at the initial stage of the True Person Realm, with shallow Dao Power.
The strength of a cultivator in the Realm of Hearing the Dao depended on the degree of refinement of their Dao Power.
Dao Power had the attribute of indestructibility, and in theory, as long as it was refined enough and strong enough, it could provide absolute defense.
Sitting in the courtyard, Li Hao spent his days either painting or sculpting for entertainment, with the rest of his time devoted to the tedious task of converting Dao Power.
Every morning, Li Hao would also pay a visit to Lin Shanhai's alchemy room to help him purify medicinal ingredients.
On some days, he would also be invited by Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Huajin to help them refine high-level divine pills, using his skill to purify the medicinal power and increase the success rate of pill formation.
With Li Hao's help, the success rate of their high-level pill concoction increased significantly, rising from 30% to 70%.
This also made Li Hao a highly sought-after figure in the alchemy circle of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, his reputation spreading far and wide.
...
Time passed day by day.
Another month went by.
Li Hao had completely consolidated his cultivation in the Realm of Hearing the Dao, and his strength had returned to its previous level.
To be precise, his strength had even surpassed his previous level.
The conversion of Dao Power in the Sacred Land of All Saints was much faster than in the mortal realm; it only took five days to fully convert, filling his body with Dao Power. For the remaining twenty days or so, Li Hao did not rest but continued to refine and consolidate his cultivation.
Now, his physical body was even harder than a holy treasure.
With Dao Power permeating his entire body, he himself had become a top-notch holy treasure, and every move he made carried tremendous destructive power.
In addition, his sword art had reached the eighth level, and with his mastery of sword intent and sword momentum, his attacks would be even more fierce and formidable.
However, after his previous battle with the Void Saint, Li Hao had come to a clear understanding of the power of the Sage Realm, and he knew that there was still a huge gap between himself and a Sage.
During this period, Li Hao took the opportunity to inquire about Sages from Lin Shanhai, and his understanding of them became clearer than before.
The Sage Realm was a general term, and there were actually varying levels within it. Sages had to undergo three tribulations, and with each tribulation they overcame, their strength would soar to a new level.
When they survived the most difficult heavenly tribulation, they would become Supreme Sages.
The top existences among Sages were the true rulers of the Sacred Lands, unparalleled and invincible in the world.
According to Lin Shanhai, there were only about ten such Supreme Sages, beings who could truly cover the sky with their hands.
As for the Void Saint who had tried to assassinate Li Hao, he had also inquired about him and learned that although the Canglan Realm and the Yunxia Realm were far apart, the names of Sages were well-known throughout the Thirty-Three Realms.
Lin Shanhai was also aware of the Void Saint, and he was not a Supreme Sage.
When a Sage underwent the heavenly tribulation, it would be a grand and momentous event, and the emergence of a Supreme Sage would always capture the attention of the world.
...
"Master Qingfeng, here are today's deliveries of Fire Dragon Liver, Fragrant Spirit Herb, Purple Shan Su..." In the medicine garden, Li Hao sat in a pavilion outside the alchemy room, fiddling with some chess pieces.
Jiang Xiaohui, a direct disciple of Master Shi Huajin, respectfully delivered various alchemy ingredients to Li Hao, her attitude humble and polite. To her, the young man before her was someone to be revered, and although Li Hao did not hold an official position as an alchemist, many people regarded him as one, or at least a highly skilled assistant.
After all, Li Hao had too many connections with master alchemists, not just Master Shi Huajin but also others who sought his help in purifying medicinal power to increase their chances of successfully refining high-grade pills.
Some had even sent gifts multiple times, hoping that Li Hao would help them refine high-grade divine pills.
"Okay, just leave them here," Li Hao replied casually.
Jiang Xiaohui stole a glance at Li Hao, her heart filled with admiration and envy. She had heard about his incredible skill in purifying medicinal power, and although he had demonstrated it before, she knew that it wasn't something one could learn in a day or two unless he personally taught them.
But such a valuable technique would only be passed on if there were sufficient benefits involved.
Soon, a metallic clanging sound came from within the alchemy room, followed by a waft of exotic medicinal fragrance.
Li Hao looked toward the room and sensed the scent, knowing that a pill had been successfully refined.
Not long after, the door of the alchemy room opened, and the barrier inside was also removed. This barrier wasn't meant to keep Li Hao out but to prevent other medicine boys and Master Shi Huajin's disciples from peeking.
"Master Qingfeng, here are today's deliveries of Fire Dragon Liver, Fragrant Spirit Herb, Purple Shan Su..." In the medicine garden, Li Hao sat in a pavilion outside the alchemy room, fiddling with some chess pieces.
Jiang Xiaohui, a direct disciple of Master Shi Huajin, respectfully delivered various alchemy ingredients to Li Hao, her attitude humble and polite. To her, the young man before her was someone to be revered, and although Li Hao did not hold an official position as an alchemist, many people regarded him as one or, at the very least, a highly skilled assistant.
After all, Li Hao had too many connections with master alchemists, not just Master Shi Huajin but also others who sought his help in purifying medicinal power to increase their chances of successfully refining high-grade pills. Some had even sent gifts multiple times, hoping that Li Hao would help them refine high-grade divine pills.
"Okay, just leave them here," Li Hao replied casually.
Jiang Xiaohui stole a glance at Li Hao, her heart filled with admiration and envy. She had heard about his incredible skill in purifying medicinal power, and although he had demonstrated it before, she knew that it wasn't something one could learn in a day or two unless he personally taught them. But such a valuable technique would only be passed on if there were sufficient benefits involved.
Soon, a metallic clanging sound came from within the alchemy room, followed by a waft of exotic medicinal fragrance.
Li Hao looked toward the room and sensed the scent, knowing that a pill had been successfully refined.
Not long after, the door of the alchemy room opened, and the barrier inside was also removed. This barrier wasn't meant to keep Li Hao out but to prevent other medicine boys and Master Shi Huajin's disciples from peeking.
"Master Qingfeng, come and take a look."
Master Shi Huajin pushed open the door, saw Li Hao in the pavilion, and smiled. Previously, she had invited Li Hao to watch the pill concoction process, but he had refused, saying that it was stuffy inside. This had almost made her spit blood.
And when her direct disciples heard Li Hao's refusal, their eyes had widened in disbelief, unsure of what game he was playing. Were they witnessing a case of playing hard to get?
"Hmm."
Li Hao tossed the chess pieces back into the chess box, got up, and entered the alchemy room. Inside, he saw seven shimmering pills lying on a jade tray, exuding a misty aura.
"These are Condensing Dao Pills. Even cultivators at the Four Establishments Realm can take them to condense a thread of Dao Power within their bodies, allowing them to suppress those at the same level!" Master Shi Huajin explained with a smile. This was one of her signature techniques, which she wouldn't easily teach even to her direct disciples. It required observing their conduct and other factors, and she reserved it for those she deemed worthy of inheriting her legacy.
"Wow," Li Hao exclaimed, impressed. No wonder alchemists held such high status.
A single pill could allow cultivators at the Four Establishments Realm to condense Dao Power within their bodies and suppress those at the same level.
This made natural talent and hard work seem almost laughable in comparison.
However, this was the advantage of powerful factions—their accumulated resources and knowledge.
In the Great Yu Dynasty, the old alchemist in the Alchemy Court seemed to only possess moderate skill.
His pills were already considered divine in the mortal realm, and various factions had to offer significant benefits to secure his services, with even the Five Great General Mansions needing to pull strings to get ahead in line.
If this Condensing Dao Pill were brought to the mortal realm, it would likely drive all Four Establishments Realm cultivators crazy. And the status of Master Shi Huajin, who could refine such pills, would be immeasurable.
"Do you want to learn this? I can teach you." Master Shi Huajin said with a smile that seemed to hold hidden meanings.
Li Hao shook his head.
He could learn it, and he could even offer to refine such pills for others. But he had already memorized the ingredients, and through his cooking skills, he could create a similar dish with slightly weaker effects. The advantage of his culinary approach was that the dish wouldn't have any pill toxins, and one could eat it every day!
However, the ingredients for this pill were rare, and even Master Shi Huajin would feel the loss if she failed to refine it successfully. That was why she had invited him to help with the purification process to increase the success rate.
These ingredients would be difficult to gather even in the Immortal Realm, let alone in the mortal realm. Even if he learned the formula, it would be a case of having the skills but lacking the ingredients, like a master chef unable to find the right ingredients to showcase their talent.
"Are you worried that I'm testing you? I'm being sincere." Master Shi Huajin smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "All I ask is that you become my disciple."
"Master Shi, don't joke with me. I really have no interest in alchemy." Li Hao sighed.
Master Shi Huajin glared at him, feeling even more exasperated than he did. Others would be trembling with excitement at such an offer, but here he was, refusing her proposal. It was truly baffling.
"I really don't know what you're thinking. Do you want me to beg you?" she said, her voice laced with frustration. Compared to her direct disciples, who had spent years by her side, she felt that this young man in front of her valued her teachings more.
"Alright, fine. I'm a bit tired from refining pills today. These are for Saintess Xue'er. You and Xiaohui can take them to her." Master Shi Huajin waved her hand dismissively, feeling a bit weary. Despite her excitement over the successful pill refinement, she felt exhausted and wanted to rest.
"Okay." Li Hao agreed and picked up the treasure gourd that Master Shi Huajin handed to him.
Jiang Xiaohui, who was standing by the door, saw the exchange and couldn't help but feel conflicted. She wanted to cover Li Hao's mouth and answer on his behalf, shouting that he would love to learn.
Master Shi Huajin put the Condensing Dao Pills into a treasure gourd and handed it to Li Hao, then waved her hand casually.
Li Hao took the gourd without another word and gestured for Jiang Xiaohui to lead the way.
Jiang Xiaohui understood that her master trusted Li Hao more than her, one of her direct disciples, with such a valuable item. She suppressed her complicated emotions and led the way without a word.
"Please, Master Qingfeng." Jiang Xiaohui's attitude was respectful as she invited Li Hao to follow her.
Soon, the two of them flew out of Medicine Mountain and headed toward the disciple area of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land.
This was Li Hao's first time leaving the area where the alchemists lived and entering the region where disciples cultivated.
The Sword Ancestor Holy Land was vast, and the area for disciples to cultivate occupied most of the land.
After flying for thousands of miles, they arrived at a mountain range with towering peaks. Most of these peaks were enveloped in a treasure aura and had formations on them, with many disciples practicing on them.
After flying for over ten thousand miles, they reached a majestic, towering mountain.
This mountain seemed to reach for the heavens, and its surrounding peaks appeared minuscule in comparison. Rivers flowed around it, and five shorter peaks were arranged in a pentagon formation, forming an array that gathered the energy of heaven and earth and channeled it to the towering mountain. This was clearly a man-made alteration of the earth's veins, creating a formation.
Such a grand arrangement showed the importance of the person living on this mountain.
Jiang Xiaohui led Li Hao to the stairs of the mountain's main hall, where they were stopped by a servant.
"We're here to deliver pills on Master Shi Huajin's orders." Jiang Xiaohui presented Master Shi Huajin's token.
The servant's initially cold expression softened, and he quickly put on a friendly smile. "Please come in. Master Shi's envoys are always welcome here."
Jiang Xiaohui nodded slightly and led Li Hao through the main hall and into a courtyard.
As they walked, Li Hao's eyes swept across the surroundings, and he couldn't help but be amazed.
The layout of this courtyard was very similar to that of the Shanhe Courtyard.
There was a lotus pond, Chinese hackberry trees, a main hall, and side halls. Even the path made of stone slabs was in the same position as the one in the Shanhe Courtyard.
Li Hao's eyes moved slightly, and he looked up, spotting a familiar figure practicing swordplay in a pavilion—the same figure he had seen in his memories.
As the person turned, he caught a glimpse of their side profile, and his eyes narrowed in recognition.
He never expected to encounter a familiar face here.
Previously, when he rushed to aid the Imperial City's palace, he had encountered the Human Sword Saint, Jian Wudao, who mentioned that she had been chosen by a Sage and brought to the world within the Immortal Realm...
So it turned out to be here.
Li Hao was somewhat enlightened, feeling both surprised and startled, yet everything seemed to be as expected.
The Sword Ancestor Holy Land's Sage was known as the Sword Saint.
Only such a figure would take an interest in Bian Ruxue's swordsmanship.
Jian Wudao had said that she had a 'sword bone tainted by dust', which had been noticed by a Sage...
"Saintess, the Pill Master has come to deliver your medicine."
The attendant who was guiding them walked up to the white-clad figure and spoke softly with her head bowed.
The snowy figure paused in her swordplay, lifting her head slightly to glance at Li Hao and Jiang Xiaohui.
Time had carved her features, but they still bore traces of the girl he once knew.
Li Hao was certain it was Bian Ruxue.
However, the girl who used to be inseparable from her sword had now transformed into a serene and ethereal beauty, her bones exuding an otherworldly aura.
Her eyes were like lakes in the snow-capped mountains, calm and distant, reflecting an innate tranquility.
And such tranquility often stemmed from overwhelming inner strength.
"Greetings, Saintess Xue'er."
Jiang Xiaohui stepped forward and bowed politely.
Although she was a direct disciple of Shi Huajin, there was more than one, and the woman before them was the Saintess, whose status was slightly higher than her master's. More importantly, the other woman was destined to strive for sainthood.
Whether or not she would succeed was unknown, but at least she had the potential.
Out of countless martial artists in the world, very few could even dream of such a possibility.
"Hmm? Who is he?"
Bian Ruxue's gaze swept over the young woman before landing on the man beside her, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
His gaze upon her was unlike the greed and admiration she usually saw in others' eyes, and it gave her an indescribable feeling.
Moreover, that feeling seemed vaguely familiar.
"He is Qingfeng Pill Master, and we came together to deliver medicine to the Saintess as ordered by Master Shi." Jiang Xiaohui quickly explained.
"Are you a high-level Pill Master? Why didn't you bow when meeting the Saintess, and how dare you look directly at her? Do you want your eyes gouged out?"
The attendant, who had been all smiles earlier, suddenly turned hostile, her voice sharp as she scolded Li Hao.
"Qingfeng Pill Master is new here and doesn't know the rules. Please forgive him, Saintess." Jiang Xiaohui hurriedly spoke up, pulling on Li Hao's sleeve to make him bow and apologize to the Saintess.
Li Hao smiled bitterly at the attendant's sudden change in attitude; he wasn't offended and actually found it amusing how she revealed her fangs and asserted her authority as soon as they entered the Saintess' presence.
"Greetings, Saintess."
Li Hao gave a slight bow as a gesture of respect.
At this moment, he didn't intend to reveal his identity, to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
Besides, the little tail he knew from before was no longer the same person.
After their farewell at Jian Lu seven years ago, everything had changed, and now, over a decade had passed since then. The person he knew might as well be a stranger, and he had no idea if she was still the same girl he remembered.
"What kind of attitude is that..."
The attendant beside Bian Ruxue was about to reprimand him further, but Bian Ruxue stopped her with a glance and asked Li Hao, "Have we met before?"
Li Hao's eyes flickered as he replied, "What makes you say that, Saintess?"
"You remind me of someone I know."
Bian Ruxue spoke softly, unsure why she felt that way. The man before her looked very different from the one in her memory, and his aura had completely changed, yet she couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity.
"There are too many people in the world, and many who look alike. Saintess must be mistaken."
Li Hao said calmly.
Bian Ruxue studied him for a moment, then fell silent.
Indeed, she had been brought to this world of saints by her master, while he was still at Tianmenguan in the mortal realm.
Over a decade had passed, which meant a century had gone by in the mortal realm.
Thinking of their last farewell by the campfire, she sighed softly. Now, she finally had a chance to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship and take a look at the peak of that mountain.
If she could comprehend the ultimate sword technique, she wanted to show it to him, just as they had promised.
But would he be captivated by that sword technique? At this thought, Bian Ruxue sighed inwardly. Those at the pinnacle of swordsmanship would be awed by such a technique, but he was always different, favoring useless hobbies like chess, art, and music, wasting his talent.
Even if she showed it to him, he might not understand its intricacies and the difficulty of mastering it.
Such a sharing would be a one-sided experience, devoid of mutual understanding.
Just like how they were now, she couldn't fathom what he desired or sought, and he didn't understand her passion for swordsmanship.
Nevertheless, she had promised to go to the peak and tell him what she saw up there.
"Are you a Pill Master?"
Bian Ruxue asked softly.
"...I suppose so."
Bian Ruxue withdrew her gaze, knowing that the man before her couldn't be Li Hao. When her master brought her to this world of saints, he was still at Tianmenguan.
Over a decade had passed since then, which meant a century had gone by in the mortal realm.
"Leave the pills, thank you both for your trouble."
Bian Ruxue turned and picked up her sword, resuming her practice.
Li Hao noticed that the sword technique she was practicing was the Ice Snow Sword Technique.
Was she continuing to improve upon the first advanced sword technique she had learned?
Li Hao recalled what Lin Qingying had said about the Sword God's battle, and wondered if the two of them would also face each other in that battle. One specialized in the Soft Sword Technique, while the other practiced the Ice Snow Sword Technique—their sword intents were similar, but one was soft, and the other cold and fierce. It was hard to predict who would emerge victorious.
Li Hao averted his gaze, not wanting to watch anymore, as he didn't want to be tempted to correct her technique.
After all, the little tail he knew was no longer the same, and she had her own master and path now. He had no right to interfere.
He took out the treasure gourd and handed it to the attendant, then turned and left without another word.
In the courtyard, the two figures from the mortal realm gradually moved away from each other, neither looking back.
After returning from Saintess Peak, Li Hao also began his cultivation.
As his true energy continued to condense, one day, Li Hao suddenly sensed strands of power drifting toward him from the void, seeping into his body.
This power was unlike the energy of heaven and earth, and it seemed to be some kind of spiritual power.
After some contemplation, Li Hao realized that it seemed to be incense aspiration power.