When her Dao Fetus was shattered, Lin Qingying felt as if her organs were being ripped apart, the intense pain piercing deep into her soul. Yet, she clenched her teeth, refusing to scream and give her opponent the satisfaction.
If her master were here, he would surely sense the abnormality and save her.
Her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked toward the half-Saint elders, seeing a mix of expressions—pity, regret, indifference—but all of them seemed to look down upon her from a lofty height.
However, those expressions unmistakably told her that Holy Moon's subtle moves had not escaped their notice.
But why didn't they stop him?
Lin Qingying was stunned, a chilling coldness spreading through her body as if her blood had turned to ice.
Was it simply because she was not their disciple?
Or because they were considering the face of Holy Moon's master, the Sword Saint?
Lin Qingying also saw the revered Sword Saint, but he remained indifferent, seemingly oblivious. In that moment, she suddenly understood.
In just this brief moment, the warmth of the past seemed to crumble, and she abruptly saw the cold, hard truth of the world—icy interests.
Compared to Holy Moon, who had a greater chance of becoming a Saint, was it worth destroying her to serve as a stepping stone, to forge his invincible Dao Heart?
No wonder he dared to act so ruthlessly on the battlefield; he had seen through this from the beginning.
He had wronged his fellow disciple, he had violated the sacred rules, but at the end of this battle, he would rise to a higher level, with the potential to become the third Saint of the holy land!
And she, once crippled, would be forgotten, having no powerful allies. Although her grandfather was a high-ranking alchemist, in this realm, he was virtually irrelevant.
It seemed no one cared about right or wrong.
Those above were indifferent, and those below were blind.
The pain of her shattered Dao Fetus didn't bring tears to Lin Qingying's eyes, but at this moment, a tear trickled down her cheek.
She suddenly felt a desolate and hopeless despair.
But suddenly, a loud, angry roar echoed, as if piercing her soul!
Lin Qingying looked up, her gaze drawn to the familiar young face, now contorted with rage.
That face, which usually wore a carefree smile, was capable of anger.
Seeing the fury in his pitch-black eyes, a warm current seemed to flow into her frozen heart, and she felt the world regain its color.
"Hmm?"
Holy Moon heard the roar, glanced over, and then dismissed it, retracting his sword before suddenly striking again.
"My beloved, destroying you is a necessity. Not just your Dao Fetus, but also your proud sword path. I must shatter it to deeply wound myself!"
Holy Moon raised his sword, the blade glowing with a vast and complete sword intent, the Sun-Moon Sword Intent, which seemed to reflect the heavens and earth. The sword intent was dazzling, the sword's momentum like the blazing sun, making everyone feel insignificant.
"That's the Sun-Moon Sword Intent!"
"This is Holy Moon's sword intent? It has a sense of encompassing everything."
"I see the shadows of water-based and fire-based sword paths within it."
"No wonder he often speaks of the small path; compared to his sword intent, my own seems skewed."
As the vast sword momentum descended, countless people were stunned, including the numerous Holy Sons and Holy Daughters on the holy platform, who felt their minds being drawn away by his power.
It was like holding a withered branch and suddenly glimpsing a verdant mountain, making one feel small and insignificant.
The withered branch, once cherished, now seemed dull and lifeless.
Lin Qingying, standing before Holy Moon, was enveloped by the Sun-Moon Sword Intent. This sword intent invaded her mind, like a sharp blade, severing her gentle sword intent.
A sharp, cracking sound echoed in her mind, followed by a mournful wail.
Her body trembled, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, her whole body shaking. Her hand, gripping the sword, trembled uncontrollably, and her eyes were momentarily blank.
Bang!
A wave of sword intent swept through, knocking her sword from her hand. The sword spun through the air, drawing dozens of circles before skewering the battlefield at an angle.
"The sun and moon shine upon all, illuminating everything, and the heavens will reflect the light of my sword path!"
At the same time, Holy Moon's body was engulfed in divine flames, his eyes radiating brilliant light, the hint of tenderness in his gaze turning cold.
By destroying Lin Qingying's Dao Fetus and sword intent in this moment, he had taken a step down the path of absolute ruthlessness. His heart seemed to be forged by the sun and moon, giving him a sense of becoming a celestial being, looking down upon all life and creation.
This state of mind elevated his Sun-Moon Sword Intent to a higher level, making it even more terrifying.
"His Sun-Moon Sword Intent is purer now. Such a sword intent is truly top-tier."
"
"He has only been cultivating for sixty years, yet his talent in the Way of the Sword is so monstrous that he might even become a Sacred Sword Master through the path of the Sacred Way!"
"If he takes the Sacred Way path, that would be truly terrifying."
The six half-Saint elders, including Mountain Ancestor, all had their expressions turn grave.
The young man's talent in the Way of the Sword was on par with their own when they were young, making him an exceptionally gifted rising star.
Yao Ancestor's gaze shifted to the Sword Saint. They all saw how Lin Qingying had used the Moonlight to forge her sword path, but no one mentioned it. After all, the young man's master was present, and they all knew the Sword Saint would have seen it too, perhaps even taught it to him. This was why they wisely kept quiet.
The Sword Saint's eyes were calm, devoid of any emotion, as he silently observed.
On the stage, the Sacred Son of the Moon's divine eyes, which glowed with the power of the sun and moon, became even more piercing as he condensed his sword intent.
After refining and enhancing his sword intent, he retracted his power back into his body and looked down at Lin Qingying, who lay on the ground like a defeated dog. There was no trace of affection in his eyes, as if he were looking at a mere stone:
"You have lost."
He declared it as if passing a judgment.
His domain also retracted, and with his current sword intent, he could easily overpower her. Lin Qingying, now crippled, had fallen from the ranks of the Sacred Disciples. Even the top inner disciples could defeat her now.
Hearing the cold words from above, Lin Qingying seemed to snap back to reality from her shattered sword intent. Her mind was filled with the chaotic moon and sun sword intent, and her original gentle sword intent was destroyed, unable to be reformed.
She had already admitted defeat, but his high-and-mighty declaration felt both ironic and absurd.
Outside the arena, the disciples erupted in cheers upon hearing the Sacred Son of the Moon's cold words.
Apart from the Sacred Son and Daughter and a few top inner disciples who saw through the ruse, most only saw the Sacred Son of the Moon easily defeating Lin Qingying with a single sword strike, which looked like a normal attack.
As the vast moon and sun sword intent retracted, his divine proclamation made countless people look at him with fervent admiration, their cheers ringing out.
This battle was not just a win but a crushing victory, showcasing his sword skills beyond imagination.
In the Sword Ancestor's Holy Land, where all disciples practice the sword, the Sacred Son of the Moon's display of sword intent left an indelible impression on everyone.
Only those who practice the sword could truly feel the vastness of the moon and sun sword intent and their own insignificance.
The formation slowly receded, signaling the end of the battle.
With this victory, the Sacred Son of the Moon had defeated two opponents in a row. Without a doubt, he was now the undisputed champion of the Sword God Battle!
The youngest prodigy in the Sword Ancestor's Holy Land in a hundred years!
Compared to this, the upcoming battle for second and third place between Lin Qingying and the Spirit Illusion Sacred Son seemed less exciting.
Whoosh!
As the formation dispersed, a figure rushed to the stage—it was Li Hao.
Li Hao quickly reached Lin Qingying's side, using his divine sense to check her condition. He saw the thick force within her organs had already dissipated.
Her Dao embryo was destroyed. If she had the Seventh Stage of the Dao, like him, she could regenerate from a drop of blood. But she didn't have it.
"Does it hurt?"
Li Hao looked at her pale face and weak, trembling body, his expression grim.
Lin Qingying's thoughts returned, and she slowly smiled at Li Hao: "I'm fine."
Li Hao remained silent, his fingers clenching slightly.
"Let's go."
Lin Qingying turned away, unwilling to look at the high platform or hear the deafening cheers. She just wanted to leave and tend to her injuries. Second and third place didn't matter anymore.
"Your sword."
Li Hao raised his hand and summoned the green sword that had been knocked away, handing it to her.
Lin Qingying looked at the sword that had accompanied her for so many years, her eyes filled with sorrow. Her sword intent had been destroyed, and the influence of the moon and sun sword intent was deeply ingrained in her soul, impossible to erase. She would never be able to progress in the Way of the Sword again.
"My current sword skills are not worthy of it. It is my friend, and you are my friend. Take it."
Lin Qingying didn't take the sword, speaking softly.
Her heart was heavy with despair. With her sword path severed, she had no hope of advancing in her life, beyond her cultivation.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Your sword skills are not bad."
Li Hao looked at her intently and said.
Lin Qingying's lips twisted bitterly. She knew Li Hao was trying to comfort her, but those words were meaningless now.
Li Hao understood that words were less powerful than actions.
"Hey!"
He turned and suddenly called out to the Sacred Son of the Moon, who was about to leave the stage.
The Sacred Son of the Moon paused, his expression turning cold at the rude interruption. He turned to look at Li Hao.
Li Hao casually twirled the green sword in his hand, his expression cold as he said, "You seem quite pleased with your swordsmanship. Would you care to exchange a few blows with me?"
His words left everyone in the audience stunned.
Lin Qingying was also taken aback, her gaze momentarily lost as she looked at Li Hao. But she quickly regained her senses, realizing that Li Hao was standing up for her.
However, this was not a matter to be taken lightly.
Even though Li Hao was a master alchemist, the status of the Moonlight Holy Son far exceeded that of a high-ranking alchemist. If the Moonlight Holy Son dared to publicly cripple her, he could certainly do the same to Li Hao.
She became anxious and quickly pulled at Li Hao's sleeve, "Don't be impulsive."
"Did I hear that right? Who is that guy?"
"Challenging the Moonlight Holy Son? Is he trying to gain fame? Even if he loses, he'll be remembered."
"Is he a Holy Son too? I've never heard of him."
"Who cares if he's a Holy Son? He's an alchemist, don't you know? The Clear Wind Alchemist, who has been highly praised in the alchemical community recently."
"The Clear Wind Alchemist? So that's him?"
"What's going on? An alchemist challenging the Moonlight Holy Son?"
"Standing up for Lin Qingying? She's already been defeated. What can an alchemist do?"
"He's an alchemist, so he doesn't understand how terrifying the Moonlight Holy Son is. I can't believe the Clear Wind Alchemist is this foolish."
The disciples in the audience began to murmur and mock.
On the holy platform, the Holy Sons and Daughters were also surprised. Many of them had previously tried to befriend the Clear Wind Alchemist, but they never imagined that his relationship with Lin Qingying was so deep that he would stand up for her in such a manner, even choosing to challenge her in swordsmanship. Was he so enraged that he had lost his mind?
"Clear Wind, what is he doing? Call him back."
"How foolish. No matter how close he is to Qingying, he can't offend the Moonlight Holy Son like this."
The alchemists, including Zhao Yingzhen, were also anxious. They hadn't noticed that Lin Qingying's Dao embryo had been crippled; they only knew that she had lost, and lost thoroughly.
But sparring matches among disciples were common, and no one had expected Lin Qingying to win against the Moonlight Holy Son, whose strength had already been demonstrated to be overwhelming.
"Is he really going to make a move?"
Among the inner disciples, Jiang Yingyue was taken aback, but her eyes suddenly lit up. She didn't know the full extent of Li Hao's swordsmanship, only that his talent was indeed remarkable. He had mastered the Great Dao Sword Technique within ten days, and his 97-layer Dao domain was something she couldn't forget. If they really fought, she wondered if he could defeat the Moonlight Holy Son.
"Clear Wind?"
Yao Zu, who saw Li Hao step forward, was also surprised. She had heard Li Hao's angry outburst earlier and hadn't expected that he, like them, could see through the Moonlight Holy Son's tricks. She understood his anger, but challenging him in swordsmanship was clearly not a rational decision.
"Exchange a few blows with me?"
The Moonlight Holy Son found Li Hao's words amusing.
He had heard the murmurs from the audience and had assumed it was some inner disciple. It was absurd to find out it was an alchemist.
He coldly replied, "Considering you are an alchemist, I will overlook your ignorance this time. But don't do it again!"
With that, he turned to leave.
Li Hao didn't speak. He simply glanced at the green sword in his hand, then raised it and slashed as if it were a casual movement.
This simple action, however, unleashed a terrifying and vast sword qi that shot straight into the sky.
The three-foot-long green blade burst into a blinding light, cutting through the mocking voices of the audience and illuminating countless eyes with its brilliance.
The sword qi, extending for miles, pierced the clouds and split the sky, as if dividing the heavens and earth.
The entire arena was cleaved in two by the mere aftereffects of the sword qi.
The sword qi grazed the Moonlight Holy Son's body, causing him to freeze mid-turn.
The passing sword qi made his body hairs stand on end, and his blood seemed to freeze, sending a chill from head to toe.
It felt as if Death had brushed past him.
If that sword had been aimed at him, he would have been severely injured by now!
The Moonlight Holy Son's expression froze, his eyes narrowing.
The previously noisy holy mountain fell into an instant, deafening silence.
The slowly dispersing clouds continued to flow, and a gentle breeze swept over the arena, as if everything had suddenly become still.