Various thoughts converged in Li Hao's mind, bringing to the forefront the image of Lin Qingying practicing her sword techniques these past days.
The graceful figure danced and twirled in his mind.
Li Hao's thoughts, however, became completely calm, his gaze focused and serious.
The minor flaws he had observed during her sword practice were now deeply ingrained in his heart, merging with his brush as he painted.
He ground the ink, picked up the brush, and applied it to the paper. A beautifully poised woman appeared on the white sheet, dancing gracefully.
Her sword stance was divine, her eyes clear like a lake, her entire being exuding the essence of the gentle sword path.
Under Li Hao's brush, her sword intent became even purer, softer, like a clear stream or a gentle rain.
The sword intent was as soft as cotton, the blade as fine as a thread, her posture like rippling waves, her attacks impossible to predict or fathom!
As the first painting was completed, Li Hao used his inner strength to lift the paper and suspend it in the air. He then proceeded to the second and third paintings.
All three paintings were completed in three hours.
With the completion of the three paintings, Li Hao's painting experience increased by 70,000 points, bringing him much closer to the million-point threshold.
Returning from his trance, Li Hao looked at the woman still sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, absorbed in her sword practice. He floated the three paintings in front of her and said, "These are for you. You can take a look."
With that, he stood up, put away his painting board and ink, and returned to his own courtyard.
Lin Qingying opened her eyes and gazed at the three floating paintings in front of her. Her eyes landed on the first one, and when she saw the woman dancing gracefully on the white paper, she felt a jolt in her heart.
As she focused on it, the woman in the painting seemed to step into reality, gracefully wielding her sword, her movements perfectly rounded, each stroke and dance filled with a light and gentle beauty.
She suddenly recalled that she had practiced this way before, but it was half a month ago.
And at that time, her posture was not as perfect as the one in the painting.
Lin Qingying was stunned, her thoughts drawn into the sword intent in the painting, immersing herself in it.
When the sword technique in the painting was finished, Lin Qingying suddenly had an epiphany. She realized where her flaws lay.
She was somewhat shaken. The other party had actually managed to discern her sword intent flaws and paint them out!
And there were three paintings?
Lin Qingying's eyes flickered, and she suppressed the urge to practice immediately, continuing to the second painting.
In the second painting, the graceful stance of the woman practicing her sword was from a week ago.
Lin Qingying gazed intently, and after a long while, she understood and absorbed the technique. Her expression became complex, and the second painting also helped to complete her sword intent.
Her eyes moved to the third painting, which showed not only her but also a blurry figure. Lin Qingying immediately recognized it as the scene of her battle with the Dragon Slayer Saint Son.
At that moment, the battle seemed to replay before her eyes.
But this time, the woman in the painting struck with utmost decisiveness, effortlessly shattering the opponent's heavenly avatar and defeating his true form with a single, silent stroke!
Utmost gentleness!
What is utmost gentleness? It is as soft as water, as light as air, present everywhere!
The sword intent was continuous, dispersed among all things, yet coalesced from all things!
Lin Qingying's eyes showed a moment of confusion. In that instant, her blood seemed to boil and burn, filled with an uncontrollable excitement.
This was the complete utmost gentleness sword intent, the perfected sword intent!
She quickly turned to look for Li Hao, but the place where he usually sat was empty.
Lin Qingying felt a sudden, indescribable sensation, as if time had passed and could not be recaptured.
This feeling left her momentarily lost in thought, but soon her spirit spread out, sensing Li Hao sitting in his courtyard, carving as usual.
Lin Qingying's taut nerves relaxed.
She gazed deeply, and at that moment, she vaguely realized that the young man she had picked up, Qingfeng, was far from simple.
Lin Qingying's thoughts returned, and she carefully rolled up and stored the three paintings in her spatial ring.
The three paintings, two of which depicted her daily sword practice, made Lin Qingying bite her lip and her eyes flash, but she quickly refocused on her sword.
The perfected sword intent appeared in her mind, and she began to dance with her sword once more.
As a Saint Daughter-level prodigy, her sword talent was extremely high. With this guidance, she quickly assimilated the techniques.
Moreover, the guidance through painting was easier to understand than her master's teachings, like being taught step by step.
In the courtyard, the sword intent rose and fell like the wind.
Weeds swayed, leaves danced, and perhaps it was not just the sword that rose with the wind...
...
The final battles of the top sixteen began.
The stands were packed, and all the outer sect disciples had arrived early. The ten thousand inner sect prodigies also sat quietly in the stands, having already completed their own battles and secured their final rankings. This showdown had brought them many gains.
Now, the battle of the sixteen strongest prodigies within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land would surely be a grand and exquisite display of swordsmanship.
The clashes at the Saint Son level were mostly at the Fifth Extreme Realm, so in the same realm, the comparison would be in the domain and sword techniques.
Li Hao followed Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists to the floating seats. The atmosphere was already intensely heated before the battles of the top sixteen began.
Li Hao gazed at Lin Qingying standing quietly on the holy platform, seeing her calm, still eyes, and knew that she had already absorbed his paintings.
"Today will be a tough battle. I hope Qingying's luck isn't too bad and she doesn't run into those troublesome guys right away."
Shi Huajin said with a worried look.
Because of their connection to Lin Shanhai, they all hoped Lin Qingying would win.
But the first place was guarded by the Moonlight Saint Son. To claim the top spot, one had to overcome this formidable obstacle.
The other rankings, however, were more attainable and would be even more intense.
"As long as she makes it into the top ten, she will receive the incense offerings from a hundred cities. If she wins first place, she will receive the incense offerings from an entire kingdom!"
Worry clouded Lin Shanhai's eyes. Incense offerings were crucial for becoming a saint, and the competition would be fierce.
And this incense offering is not just a one-time reward; it will also ensure a century of veneration in the rewarded region!
On the sacred platform, over a dozen holy sons and daughters stood quietly, each with an extraordinary presence and unique aura, seemingly gathered together yet each standing out on their own.
The Dragon Slayer holy son glanced at Lin Qingying, his eyes gleaming with the desire to battle. Having been defeated before, he wanted to face her again today and truly test his skills.
Soon, with the arrival of the Sword Saint, the chaotic rule swept everyone's tokens, arranging them in a disorderly manner.
Each person's opponent was quickly determined.
"Hmm?"
Qiu Wuheng saw his opponent was the Moonlight holy son, and his brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
Others also noticed that Qiu Wuheng had drawn a tough match with the Moonlight holy son.
This brought a sigh of relief to many. While they didn't believe they would definitely lose to him, they preferred not to face him early in the tournament. A final showdown would be more fitting.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Slayer holy son saw his opponent was not Lin Qingying but another, the Purple Sun holy son. He couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
Lin Qingying also looked up and saw her opponent was the Sword Saint's personal disciple.
Her eyes flickered slightly, and she turned her gaze. At the same time, another woman in white also looked at her. Their beautiful eyes met briefly before they both looked away.
"Disciple, the Moonlight holy son's Sun and Moon Sword Technique is particularly effective against you. Be cautious, and save your strength for later battles."
Qiu Wuheng heard his master's voice in his mind.
Qiu Wuheng remained silent, not responding. Retreat? He wanted to try.
Perhaps in the utmost adversity, he could gain deeper insights into the limitations of his sword technique and achieve enlightenment faster.
Soon, the first battle began.
Today, there was only one battlefield, not three simultaneous arenas, drawing the attention of the entire crowd.
The first to step onto the stage were the Moonlight holy son and Qiu Wuheng.
Li Hao, upon seeing his fishing companion draw the Moonlight holy son, couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.
He had witnessed the Moonlight holy son's sword skills yesterday, and they were indeed formidable, clearly a step above those of the other holy sons, already reaching a great level and imbued with an extremely powerful sword intent!
Of course, unless the others were holding back, in terms of sword intent alone, the Moonlight holy son was currently the best.
On the stage, both the Moonlight holy son and Qiu Wuheng descended.
"Your Thousand Threads Sword is but a gentle rain in the presence of the sun and moon. Your sword is restrained by mine and is not my match. Surrender."
The Moonlight holy son stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and composed, stating a fact without arrogance.
Qiu Wuheng's expression remained unchanged, and he replied calmly, "A drop of water can pierce through stone, and a gentle rain can obscure the sun and moon. A single curtain of spring can conceal all things. How can we know who is stronger without a trial?"
"Do you wish to use my sword intent to hone your skills? I fear you won't have the chance."
A cold glint appeared in the Moonlight holy son's eyes as he immediately understood Qiu Wuheng's intentions. He would not be used as a whetstone.
As the formation solidified, signaling the start of the battle, the holy platform was filled with onlookers, including Lin Qingying and the other holy sons.
On the battlefield, Qiu Wuheng did not rely solely on his sword skills as before but immediately unleashed his peak strength.
Golden light radiated from his body, and his divine power pushed his physical strength to its limits, enhancing his resistance and healing abilities.
The cosmic veins extended like a vortex, gathering energy from all directions and swiftly pushing him to his peak state.
His primordial spirit merged with his body, allowing him to detect even the slightest attacks.
This peak state, difficult to attain, had already been achieved by the holy sons due to their boundless resources and exceptional talent.
"Finally, he has revealed his peak strength."
In the stands, Luo Cheng, who had been defeated by Qiu Wuheng the previous day, smiled bitterly but became more serious, eager to see the full extent of Qiu Wuheng's power.
On the other side, one of the six semi-saints, an elderly man, sighed inwardly, knowing his disciple was taking this seriously.
He smiled bitterly, understanding his disciple's stubborn nature. Though he appeared calm, he was deeply determined.
Sensing the power of Qiu Wuheng's peak state, the Moonlight holy son's expression remained calm, but his body gradually glowed with a golden light as he also unleashed his divine power.
Whoosh!
Qiu Wuheng made the first move, disappearing in an instant with the technique of the Abyssal Shift.
Facing Luo Cheng earlier, he had not used this technique, relying on his sword intent to capture and defeat him. Now, he used the Abyssal Shift to take the initiative.
The Moonlight holy son's eyes flickered, and the golden rim in his pupils seemed to detect something. He swung his sword, and the light from his sword seemed to anticipate Qiu Wuheng's reappearance from the Abyssal Shift.
Qiu Wuheng's body suddenly retreated, realizing this was a mere probe.
"The Sun and Moon Divine Eyes can see through the Abyssal Shift!"
Qiu Wuheng's eyes narrowed. The Moonlight holy son's unique eyes, as rumored, could indeed detect movements in the Abyssal Shift.
Legend had it that these were divine eyes, formed by the condensation of the ultimate truths of the Dao, containing the essence of the holy path. With such divine eyes, it made sense that he could see through the Abyssal Shift.
Seeing the Abyssal Shift was ineffective, Qiu Wuheng had no intention of using it again. He drew his sword from his waist, its surface covered in rust, which now fell away.
This rust was not rust but dried blood. As the blood rust fell, a brilliant, autumn-like sword light emerged.
"Sword Passes, No Trace!"
Qiu Wuheng made his move, using one of his ultimate techniques!
His sword seemed to transform into an autumn breeze, and as he swung it, the sword energy vanished, leaving only a torn void.
"Where the sun and moon shine, there are always traces. Your sword is but a minor path!"
The Moonlight holy son hovered in the air, his eyes cold, looking down at Qiu Wuheng. In the moment Qiu Wuheng swung his sword, the Moonlight holy son's Dao domain extended, layer upon layer, forty-nine layers deep, with the cycles of yin, yang, sun, and moon within. The traceless sword energy appeared within his Dao domain, frozen in place!
"Forty-nine layers of Dao domain!!"
"Good heavens, did I see that correctly?"
The outer disciples in the audience were all in a state of shock and excitement.
On the holy stage, the many Holy Sons were also slightly focused.
In the crowd, Jiang Yingyue, who had already been defeated and was out of the top sixteen, glanced toward a floating seat. Seeing the young man sitting there calmly, her eyes flickered.
She didn't know his age, so the number of Dao Realms he possessed wasn't comparable.
In the Holy Land, some Dao Law Realm cultivators with lifespans of thousands of years were said to have condensed dozens, or even close to a hundred Dao Realms. These were once Holy Sons, but after failing to become Holy Ones, they could only develop horizontally, delving into Dao Realms.
Ancient Holy Sons who had practiced for thousands of years were incredibly powerful.
Boom!
Under the pressure of the Dao Realms, the subtle, traceless sword aura not only revealed itself but was also shattered.
Holy Son Haoyue's expression remained calm, and he then drew his sword, suddenly slashing the moon! The sword light was like a crescent moon, silver and brilliant, the same technique he used yesterday to defeat another Holy Son.
Qiu Wuheng's expression turned serious as he tried to dodge, but he found that the sword light had locked onto him.
Void Abyss!
He quickly teleported, but the sword light followed him, not being blocked by the Void Abyss.
Qiu Wuheng immediately realized that the sword light moved according to Haoyue's will, and with the Sun and Moon Divine Eyes, Haoyue could see his movements. As long as he couldn't escape the Divine Eyes, he couldn't escape the sword aura!
No wonder Haoyue could defeat a Holy Son with a single sword strike yesterday!
This was a strike that would definitely hit!
Since he couldn't dodge, he would have to break it!
Qiu Wuheng's eyes glinted with determination as he suddenly swung his sword, the sword intent weaving like silk, layer upon layer, forming a vast net in front of him, trying to trap the entire space.
Boom! The crescent moon sword light sliced through, seemingly invincible, and his sword net was instantly torn apart.
However, the layered sword intent gradually slowed down the sword aura, but in the next moment, the sword aura suddenly disappeared.
Qiu Wuheng's pupils dilated, and he quickly moved his body, but a tearing force still appeared on his chest. Boom! His body was sent flying backward.
Blood splattered, and Qiu Wuheng felt his chest bones shattered. He quickly used the Everlasting Power to heal himself.
Fortunately, he was in a Divine Power state, with astonishing self-healing abilities; otherwise, that sword strike might have cost him half his life!
The opponent had used the Void Abyss teleportation on the sword aura.
Qiu Wuheng looked up, his gaze icy. He knew this technique, but with the Sun and Moon Divine Eyes, Haoyue had effectively nullified his Void Abyss. Although Qiu Wuheng could barely capture the traces of the Void Abyss, if Haoyue moved too quickly, he would still be hit.
Moreover, his sword intent had been severed, leaving him without a way to track the Void Abyss.
The audience was now silent, stunned.
Yesterday, Holy Son Haoyue defeated another Holy Son with a single sword strike, and today, he had severely injured Holy Son Wuheng with another single strike.
Everyone could see that if Haoyue pressed his advantage, Qiu Wuheng would be in grave danger.
"Minor Dao is just minor Dao, how can it compete with the Sun and Moon?"
Haoyue's eyes were cold, as if stating a fact. As he spoke, his own sword intent became complete.
By continuously defeating minor Dao, he was also building his invincible Dao heart and perfecting his own Dao.
Qiu Wuheng used his sword to prop himself up and stood, his eyes becoming sharp, and his sword emitting a brilliant light.
"Traceless Sword!"
Suddenly, he struck again. The sword was already in motion as he raised his hand.
Whoosh!
The sword light zipped through the void, suddenly appearing before Haoyue, piercing through his forty-nine layers of Dao Realms!
The audience's eyes were still on Qiu Wuheng's sword, but the sword aura had already been released.
Pfft! Haoyue slightly turned his head, a faint scratch appearing on his cheek, but the wound healed before any blood could flow.
His eyes turned icy. This sword strike had actually wounded him.
"Moonlight!"
He slowly raised his hand, and the sword light condensed into a moon, as if he was holding a full moon in his hand.
Then, countless sword auras shot out in all directions.
Each sword aura emitted an extremely terrifying force, no less powerful than the previous crescent moon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sword light flashed in the void, and Qiu Wuheng's intricate sword web was torn to shreds, full of holes.
His Dao Realms extended, thirty-seven layers appearing, which left the disciples below in awe. Just his Dao Realms alone were enough to suppress over ninety percent of the inner disciples.
However, compared to Haoyue's forty-nine layers of Dao Realms, it was still far too few.
The sword light pierced through, converging in a straight line, instantly tearing Qiu Wuheng's Dao Realms apart.
Several sword lights struck him, sending him flying, and severing his arm.
A vast force suddenly enveloped Qiu Wuheng, blocking the remaining hundreds of sword lights.
Haoyue frowned slightly and looked at one of the six elders, an old man.
"You have already won this battle."
The old man said calmly. Then, Qiu Wuheng's body disappeared from the battlefield, along with the sword in his severed hand, reappearing before the old man.
The old man placed his hand on Qiu Wuheng, and the rule power enveloped him, quickly healing his body and recovering his injuries.
Haoyue's expression remained indifferent, and he retracted his Dao Realms, the golden light around him fading.
Killing the opponent in this battle would be detrimental to his reputation and a significant loss for the Holy Land, so he wasn't angry.
Qiu Wuheng stood up, his face somewhat grim, knowing he had been thoroughly defeated.
His sword technique aimed for subtlety and precision, but in front of Haoyue's Sun and Moon Divine Eyes, it was completely exposed, and his Void Abyss was nullified. The gap in their strength was indeed too great.
"Thank you, Master."
Qiuh Wuhen bowed to the elder and then turned to leave.
The elder sighed inwardly. Without trying, one would never know the gap. He hoped that after this battle, it would not be a setback for Qiuh Wuhen but an inspiration.
As the first battle concluded, the silent disciples in the audience erupted into cheers, with countless chants of "Hao Yue Holy Son" echoing through the air.
In this world where the strong are revered, Hao Yue Holy Son's prowess had ignited the fervor of the outer disciples. He was simply too powerful, a class above the other Holy Sons. With a single sword strike, he had severely injured another Holy Son, and a second strike nearly killed him. It was truly terrifying.
The faces of the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters grew even more solemn. Seeing Hao Yue Holy Son return, they felt as if a great mountain was approaching.
Lin Qingying's eyes flickered, feeling a hint of pressure. Her Softest Sword Intent had reached its peak, and further refinement would mean entering the Dao.
She didn't know if her current sword technique could match his.
On the other side, Bian Ruxue was also observing Hao Yue Holy Son. His sword intent was grand and majestic, reflecting the sun and moon, and he possessed a divine eye, making him the pinnacle among their generation.
Her sword saint master had reminded her yesterday that Hao Yue Holy Son had been practicing longer than she had and was not an opponent she could currently match. Her goal in this competition was to secure a top-five position!
After all, compared to these Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, she was much younger and lacked the depth of cultivation.
"That sword of his must be close to the Ultimate Sword that Master spoke of, but it's not the true Ultimate Sword yet..."
Bian Ruxue glanced at Hao Yue Holy Son and then averted her gaze. She had seen the Ultimate Sword, a stroke of the sword by her sword saint master, a Dao-level sword technique.
The elegance of that sword strike was something she would never forget. It solidified her resolve, confirming that her pursuit of the sword path was correct. If she could master that sword, everything would be worth it!
"With Brother Hao's talent, if he focuses on swordsmanship, he might reach that level in a hundred years..."
Bian Ruxue's mind drifted to that figure in the human world, but thinking of him smiling while leaning over a chessboard brought a tinge of regret.
At that moment, the elder's voice called out her name, snapping her back to reality.
Bian Ruxue realized it was her turn for the second battle.
Her opponent was Lin Qingying.
The two women exchanged a glance, said nothing, and both descended onto the battlefield.
Seeing the two Holy Daughters face off, the atmosphere in the audience heated up again. The male disciples' eyes gleamed, and even without considering sword technique, the beauty of the two Holy Daughters was a feast for the eyes.
But the inner disciples, the true elites, were more focused on their sword combat, dismissing the superficial appearances.
"It's Holy Daughter Xue. I heard she's the youngest among the Holy Daughters, only 27 years old?"
"Tsk tsk, a Dao Realm practitioner at 27, that's terrifying!"
"That's not much, her master is the Sword Saint, with top-tier alchemists serving her and the Sword Saint guiding her cultivation. Do you understand the power of a sage's teachings?"
"This battle will be dangerous for Holy Daughter Qingying."
"Are you kidding? Holy Daughter Qingying has been practicing twice as long as her. There's no way she can lose."
"Holy Daughter Qingying's master made a mistake and is imprisoned in the Sword Prison. Even if she's older, how can she match the personal guidance of the Sword Saint?"
"Don't underestimate her just because she's young. Holy Daughter Xue has a natural sword body and high talent, not much worse than the other Holy Daughters."
The disciples below chattered, all familiar with the youngest Holy Daughter of the holy land.
On the battlefield, the array slowly solidified.
Lin Qingying's expression was indifferent. Her master's incarceration was a wound in her heart, but in battle, she wouldn't let these thoughts affect her.
Bian Ruxue's expression also grew serious. This was her first battle against a Holy-level disciple and her first fight in the competition.
She had watched Lin Qingying's previous battle. Her Softest Sword Intent was similar to her own ice and snow, but her sword intent was more fierce.
Since they were not familiar with each other, neither spoke.
As the battle began, neither dared to be careless, both releasing their extremities, divine power, and the pulse of heaven and earth!
Soon, their entire bodies reached peak condition.
Lin Qingying's eyes were calm like a lake, while Bian Ruxue's eyes seemed to have snowflakes drifting through them, gradually becoming more intense.
Whoosh!
Bian Ruxue suddenly swung her sword, and in an instant, the battlefield seemed to freeze, the world turning to ice.
From the perspective of sword intent, her sword path was the counter to Lin Qingying's. Lin Qingying's sword was as soft as water, but Bian Ruxue could freeze it!
To break the ice, only the most yang and fiery sword path would work. For Lin Qingying's fluid and adaptable Softest Sword Intent, it would be very easy to be influenced.
This was a battle she believed she must win!
As the ice spread, even through the array, the disciples outside felt a chill, the temperature dropping.
Lin Qingying's expression was serious. She knew the difficulty of this battle. If it were earlier, she wouldn't have been confident, but now, with her sword intent perfected, she understood the essence of the Softest path.
The frost that Bian Ruxue condensed filled the sky, tracing the path of her sword intent!
Swoosh!
A green sword intent suddenly slashed through, tearing a gap in the ice. The soft, water-like force now tore through the ice, charging straight at Bian Ruxue.
Bian Ruxue was taken aback, her pupils contracting. She suddenly swung her sword, her Dao Domain extending, freezing everything around her.
The incoming sword intent was blocked by her Dao Domain, which had twenty-two layers!
And within her Dao Domain, it was all sword qi, clearly formed from different sword techniques and secrets!
At this moment, the overlapping sword domains caused snow to fall around her, whistling as it shattered the incoming sword intent and swept toward Lin Qingying.
But at that moment, Lin Qingying stepped into the void and appeared behind Bian Ruxue, her hand slashing with a green light. The mist from Bian Ruxue's breath, like a guiding thread, transformed into sword qi, enveloping and entangling her!