章 184: Chapter 320: First Battle, Painting a Half-Sage
Lin Qingying did not wait for Li Hao and Lin Shanhai. Instead, she took the initiative and made her way to the Sacred Land as a disciple, ready to compete.
On the other hand, Li Hao and Lin Shanhai took their time, tidying up before setting off at a leisurely pace.
Along the way, they encountered Zhao Yingzhen, who was dressed extravagantly, along with Shi Huajin and several others. They, too, were headed to witness the competition. Even though they were alchemists, such a grand event only occurred once every hundred years, and no one wanted to miss out on the excitement.
"Old Lin, this Sword God War is bound to be intense. Do you think Qingying has a chance to make it to the top five?" Zhao Yingzhen asked with a smile upon meeting them.
Lin Shanhai shook his head. "Who can say for sure? The other Sacred Sons and Daughters are no pushovers either. Just the number of Sacred Sons and Daughters alone is over ten. Making it into the top ten will be a brutal challenge."
The Sword Ancestor Sacred Land boasted an enormous number of disciples. Even among the outer disciples, there were millions, and the inner disciples numbered in the tens of thousands. Each one of them was carefully selected and considered a genius.
The Canglan Realm was vast and expansive, encompassing numerous dynasties and a population of hundreds of millions. In addition to the three great Sacred Lands, there were also several other top-tier forces.
Those who were accepted as disciples, even if they were outer disciples, had the potential to become inner disciples in these top-tier forces. As for the inner disciples, they were all geniuses of the same realm, each possessing a battle body of the ninth grade and above.
Among them were those with exceptional comprehension abilities, even more outstanding natural talents, and a few with unique body constitutions.
In their homeland dynasties, they were renowned as top-notch evildoers. However, when gathered in the Sacred Land, they became ordinary members among the millions of outer disciples.
It was akin to the tales told in storybooks, where a powerful being from the mortal realm strives for immortality, only to end up as a mere pawn among the hundreds of thousands of celestial soldiers.
"Indeed," Shi Huajin said to Lin Shanhai, "You shouldn't put too much pressure on Qingying. Making it to the top ten would already be impressive. There are countless geniuses, and nowadays, the Saints enjoy reincarnating and cultivating. The competition among these young ones is fiercer than ever."
"Of course," Lin Shanhai replied. "I've never interfered with her cultivation. No matter her ranking, she's always number one in my heart. Even if she gives up cultivation and chooses to live an ordinary life, I, Lin, can still afford to raise my granddaughter."
"You're quite open-minded about it," Zhao Yingzhen said curiously. "But that child, Qingying, doesn't need your urging. She works harder than anyone else. I heard she's refined the Supreme Dao Body. Could she be the incarnation of that Yin-Yang Saint?"
Lin Shanhai's expression turned gloomy. "She's not anyone's incarnation. She is who she is."
Zhao Yingzhen was taken aback, and he forced a smile.
Shi Huajin gave him a sidelong glance. Everyone knew how much Lin Shanhai doted on his granddaughter, and the two relied on each other. Zhao Yingzhen's question was clearly insensitive.
The group traveled together, and after flying out of the area where the alchemists resided, they made their way toward the Sword Ancestor Sacred Mountain.
In the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, outer disciples were only allowed to reside in the peaks surrounding the Sacred Mountain. Inner disciples, on the other hand, could cultivate on the Sacred Mountain itself and had the opportunity to listen to the teachings of the Saints. As for the Sacred Sons and Daughters, they had exclusive cultivation peaks that gathered the energy of heaven and earth, allowing them to make rapid progress in their cultivation.
After flying leisurely for thousands of miles, it took them half an hour to finally arrive at the Sacred Mountain.
The mountain stood tall and expansive, its silhouette visible from hundreds of miles away. At this moment, clouds and mist enveloped its mid-section, obscuring the peak from view.
As they approached the Sacred Mountain, they could see thousands of streams of light converging from all directions—outer disciples rushing to witness the event.
In this Sword God Contest, outer disciples did not have the qualifications to participate. Only inner disciples could compete, and they would eventually face off against the strongest among the Sacred Land's disciples—the Sacred Sons and Daughters.
The preliminary selection rounds took place on platforms erected on the mountainside. This area was spacious, with ten platforms for simultaneous battles.
Once the top hundred were chosen, they would gather at the summit, where the Saints would oversee the final selection of the top ten.
At this moment, the mountainside was veiled in mist, and in a vast, open space, ten massive platforms stood, each surrounded by a rules array.
Outside the platforms were the spectator stands for the outer disciples. For these geniuses, witnessing such battles between their peers was a rare learning opportunity.
After the Sword God Contest concluded, the outer disciples would initiate a new round of competitions for inner disciple seats, and many would seize the chance to rise to prominence.
Currently, the spectator stands outside the competition area were divided into various sections, with noise-reducing arrays in place. Thus, although there was some chatter, it didn't create an overly noisy environment.
Without these measures, the gathering of a million people, even if they spoke in hushed tones, would result in a chaotic din.
In addition to the outer disciple spectator stands, there were also floating seats in the air, offering a better view of the ten platforms.
These seats were prepared for the alchemists like Lin Shanhai, as well as the Sacred Land's artificers, administrators, enforcers from the dynasties, and other individuals of influence and status within the Sacred Land.
At this moment, the outer disciple spectator stands below were already bustling with activity, with most of the seats taken.
In contrast, only about half of the thousands of floating seats were occupied.
Lin Shanhai, accompanied by Li Hao and Zhao Yingzhen, made their way to the alchemist section of the floating seats.
Their arrival naturally drew the attention of some of the disciples. Many outer disciples yearned to curry favor with these alchemist masters but lacked the connections. Now, they finally had an opportunity to catch a glimpse of their idols.
"Look, it's a senior alchemist!"
"I've seen that one before. He's Lin, the alchemist who refined the Casting Body Dan. Thanks to that pill, I was able to make a breakthrough to the Unfading Realm."
"My family has a junior alchemist. He's already a revered elder in my clan, and even my father has to treat him with respect. If a senior alchemist were willing to lend a hand, they could easily nurture a Perceptive Realm powerhouse!"
"That's an exaggeration, isn't it? The effectiveness of pills on the body decreases after reaching the Quadruple Establishment Realm."
"You're just ignorant. Have you heard of the Fruit of Perception? Some senior alchemists' pills can produce similar effects. While they might not guarantee enlightenment, they can increase your chances."
"That's right, and the most impressive thing about senior alchemists is their connections. If they're willing to make an introduction, they can gather their friends to help refine pills. Even a good-for-nothing could be turned into a powerhouse."
"Look, those few are definitely senior alchemists."
"Is that young man in the middle also one of them? No way, right?"
"He must be a personal disciple of one of them."
"Nonsense. That's Qingfeng, the alchemist. I saw him once when I helped deliver medicinal ingredients."
"Qingfeng Dan Master? He's the Qingfeng Dan Master?"
Many people were surprised when they heard the name Qingfeng Dan Master.
Although they had never met Li Hao, the name Qingfeng Dan Master had become well-known lately. Everyone knew that there was a Qingfeng Dan Master in the circle of pill refiners, a man with an extensive network and a unique technique for extracting medicinal ingredients. Asking him for help in pill refining would almost guarantee success!
In the floating seats, Li Hao had already taken his place alongside Lin Shanhai and the others.
"It seems your reputation precedes you, and these young ones know of you as well," Lin Shanhai said to Li Hao with a smile, having overheard the whispers of surprise from below.
Li Hao also noticed the reactions and found it somewhat amusing that he, someone who had never refined a pill before, had become the famous Qingfeng Dan Master—a rather bizarre turn of events.
"Who can blame them? Qingfeng's extraction technique is truly unparalleled, and these youngsters are well-informed," Shi Huajin remarked.
"Qingfeng, if you ever want to become a pill refiner, I can teach you, and I won't even ask for an apprenticeship fee," Zhao Yingzhen offered immediately.
Lin Shanhai scoffed, "Stop with your scheming. I've already made the same offer to Qingfeng, and if he wanted to, he could be a high-level pill refiner by now."
Zhao Yingzhen was taken aback for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh.
Li Hao's gaze shifted to the ten platforms where the competitions would take place. At the edge of the platforms, he noticed numerous inner disciples gathered. What surprised him was that the aura of these inner disciples was deep and restrained, with the lowest being at the Quadruple Establishment Realm!
Among them were some with exceptional physiques, standing out like shining stars in the crowd, and their auras indicated that they had reached the Perception Realm, profound and sharp despite their subtle nature.
Li Hao's heart sank slightly as he realized the depth of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land's foundation. Even their inner disciples were so powerful.
In comparison, the Great Yu Dynasty, aside from the Buddha Lord, only had Qin Zhenren holding down the fort.
As for whether there were any other hidden Perception Realm cultivators, it was hard to say, and even if there were, there would likely be no more than one or two.
The six at the Dao Fasphere Realm that he had slain in the Imperial Palace earlier were probably the six elite inner disciples of the Void Sacred Land, and they were already considered outstanding among the inner disciples.
However, in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, there were at least a hundred inner disciples at that level.
This was the difference between a sacred land and a human dynasty—their strengths were as disparate as a dragon and an ant.
"Qingying is over there," Shi Huajin said, pointing towards the three figures standing together across from the ten platforms. Many influential figures from within the Sacred Land had gathered around them, but in front of these three, there were about ten proud and exceptional figures standing tall like untouchable stars, commanding awe and reverence.
Even the most dazzling inner disciples paled in comparison to these few.
"Those are the three Half-Sages of the Sacred Land," Lin Shanhai introduced to Li Hao.
Li Hao's gaze turned towards the three Half-Sages, a rank second only to Saints. Although the gap between Half-Sages and Saints was immense, compared to the Perception Realm, Half-Sages possessed overwhelming and absolute power.
The three consisted of one male, one female, and an elderly man. Their auras were elusive yet profound, like distant mountains that seemed both near and far, their presence rooting them firmly to the earth.
Just the casual aura they exuded was enough to make Li Hao feel a sense of oppressive pressure.
He grew solemn, sensing that with his current strength, while he could easily defeat those at the Dao Fasphere Realm, facing a Half-Sage would be a different story—the outcome would be uncertain, and he might very well lose.
Half-Sages had long lifespans and often cultivated extreme realms. They were only a half-step away from becoming Saints, and they were already considered top-notch geniuses. Overcoming one would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
"For this initial selection, you can watch from here if you wish, or you may leave if you're not interested," the middle-aged man with a towering and majestic physique said calmly to the group of over ten Sacred Sons and Daughters before him.
Upon hearing his words, the Sacred Sons and Daughters remained fairly indifferent. Some stood quietly, their robes fluttering in the wind as they prepared to observe the battles of these inner disciples, the cream of the crop.
Others gave a slight bow to the three Half-Sages before turning to leave, not bothering to stay any longer.
To many of the Sacred Sons and Daughters, their focus was primarily on their fellow peers, and they had little interest in the lower-ranked inner disciples.
After all, these inner disciples would eventually become stepping stones on their path to the top.
"It appears that Bright Star Saint's Son is absent. He's likely in isolation," one of the Sacred Daughters noted.
"He's probably waiting for the top hundred battles to make his appearance. Battles of this level don't interest him, and he wouldn't want to waste his time here," another Sacred Son added.
"It's been thirty years since we last saw him. I wonder what level he's reached now. This is truly exciting," one of the more familiar Sacred Sons said, a glint of battle intent in his eyes.
Among the numerous Sacred Sons, some had particularly illustrious reputations, and the Radiant Saint's Son was one of them.
"There are also several promising figures this time. Don't only pay attention to the Bright Saint's Son and risk being outshone by these younger prodigies," a refined Divine Maiden remarked, her silhouette shrouded in thin fabric that concealed her amber-water-like eyes as she looked at a white-clad figure next to her.
Hearing her words, the other Sacred Sons and Daughters shifted their gazes in the same direction, some with a slight glint of interest in their eyes, while others remained indifferent.
"I heard that according to the Bone Reflection Mirror, he's not even twenty-seven years old yet, making him the youngest among us, right?" a tall and sword-browed Sacred Son asked with interest.
"Indeed, being personally taught by the Sword Saint, he's probably on par with the Bright Saint's Son thirty years ago," another Sacred Son replied calmly.
They chatted casually, not bothering to hide their words, exuding confidence and composure, unconcerned about offending anyone.
After all, in this Sword God Contest, they were all potential competitors.
Moreover, although they were all Sacred Sons and Daughters, only one could obtain the inheritance of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land and become the new Sword Saint. As long as they remained in the competition, they were each other's enemies, unless someone chose to step down.
Hearing their discussions, Bian Ruoxue, clad in snow-white attire, remained silent, her expression calm as she gazed at the ten platforms before them.
She had no intention of leaving and wanted to observe the battles of these exceptional inner disciples. Their strength was not far off from that of the Sacred Sons and Daughters, and some had even broken through after the previous Sacred Son and Sacred Daughter selection, possibly reaching the same level as the Sacred Sons and Daughters.
"Although the possibility is extremely low, it's not entirely impossible."
Elsewhere, Lin Qingying stood by, her gaze indifferent as she paid no heed to the discussions around her. She knew that those beside her were her competitors, and her only companion was the sword in her hand.
Soon, the casual conversations ended, and over ten Sacred Sons and Daughters gradually left, leaving only five who remained to quietly observe.
These remaining Sacred Sons and Daughters were exceptionally eye-catching, and as they departed, many spectators in the stands couldn't help but notice, whispering amongst themselves.
On the platforms ahead, the inner disciples awaiting their battles also sensed the attention and felt a sense of disdain. They knew that these Sacred Sons and Daughters were far superior to them.
However, among them, a few eyes turned cold and sharp.
Before long, the spectator stands were filled to the brim, and the floating seats above were also almost completely occupied.
And so, the Sword God Contest's initial selection began.
There were two types of rules for the initial selection: one-on-one duels and a challenge where one contestant would defend their position on the platform while others challenged them. Defending the platform for ten rounds would result in direct qualification for the top hundred, skipping the subsequent battles.
The platform defense challenge was designed for those confident in their strength, while the one-on-one duels provided an opportunity for the other inner disciples to test their skills.
The three Half-Saints took their positions, and with the rules of the Sword God Contest explained, they began selecting participants.
They gathered the waist tokens of the competing disciples and used their abilities to randomly assign them to the platforms.
Those who chose the platform defense challenge had already taken their positions on the central platform.
In the past, the platform defense challenge often attracted more attention during the Sword God Contest, as the top inner disciples would usually opt for this more straightforward method.
"Wow, the first one to take the platform defense challenge is Mu Feng!"
"He's one of the top talents among the inner disciples. It's normal for him to choose this path."
"Some time ago, he even asked me to refine the Condensing Dao Dan. Qingfeng, you helped out with that too, right?"
Zhao Yingzhen turned to Li Hao and asked.
Li Hao nodded, vaguely remembering.
"So, what do you think? I'll go first. My bet is a mid-tier Danfang—the Purefire Dan, which can purify Dan poison within the body. However, there will still be some residual Dan poison, but it will be minimal."
An elderly man spoke up with a smile.
Shi Huajin smiled and said, "Alright, I'll join in too. I'll bet a mid-tier Danfang—the Purple Gold Dan, which can enhance physical strength. One pill can increase strength by about 50,000 jin, and the effect lasts for up to three pills."
"I'm not that familiar with him, so I'll bet a low-tier Danfang." Lin Shanhai also joined in.
The others also gradually chose their bets, followed by discussions about the number of rounds and odds.
Li Hao listened from the side, finding it surprising that they had developed such detailed betting rules, somewhat similar to Texas Hold'em poker.
He thought to himself, "Who says ancient people don't know how to have fun? Given enough time, they can come up with all sorts of intricate games."
"Qingfeng, do you want to join us?" Zhao Yingzhen asked Li Hao.
Li Hao shook his head. "I don't understand these rules, so I'll pass."
"Get lost, don't drag Qingfeng into this." Lin Shanhai waved his hand dismissively.
Getting involved in such matters was not a good idea.
The others didn't insist, and Li Hao took out his already prepared paintbrush and sketchpad from the Heavenly Space, beginning to grind the ink.
If there was anyone who stood to gain the most from this event, it would probably be him… Li Hao's heart was filled with excitement. Once the ink was ready, he set up his sketchpad and began to sketch the three Half-Saints.
He wondered how much painting experience he could gain from painting Half-Saints. Li Hao's heart raced with anticipation.
"Qingfeng, what are you doing?" Shi Huajin noticed Li Hao's unusual actions and was taken aback.
The other alchemists also turned to look at Li Hao, surprised by his strange behavior.
Li Hao smiled and said, "It's a rare occasion, so I want to paint a memorial of it."
Lin Shanhai, knowing Li Hao's passion for painting, smiled and said, "Go ahead and paint. Don't bother him; Qingfeng's paintings are exceptional."
"Oh?"
The others revealed surprised expressions and became curious, wanting to see Li Hao's painting once he was finished.
Li Hao then began to paint with utmost seriousness.
The three Half-Saints stood together, and as Li Hao observed and painted, he found that painting powerful beings was not an easy task. The reason his painting skill was so profound was mainly due to his ability to concentrate his spirit while painting, but as he observed the Half-Saints, his spiritual power was slowly being depleted, as if he were exploring a maze.
The auras of the Half-Saints were profound and elusive, making it challenging for him to capture their likeness in his painting.
"Hmm?"
In the distance, the three Half-Saints sensed someone's gaze upon them and looked up, their eyes falling on the floating seats. They noticed the boy with the sketchpad.
Soon, they recognized that he was sitting with a group of alchemists.
"Who is that boy, daring to be so bold?" The female Half-Saint's eyes were deep and icy.
"It might not be intentional. I checked with my divine sense, and it seems he's painting us out of admiration. He probably wants to keep a memento, and from what I can sense, he seems to be quite skilled at it."
The middle-aged man with a towering physique remained calm, a slight smile on his face.
"He's not anyone's disciple. Recently, there's been a Danshi in the alchemist circle who possesses the ability to extract medicinal ingredients. I believe that boy is him; his name is Qingfeng Danshi."
The elderly man glanced over and then withdrew his gaze, speaking calmly.
"Qingfeng Danshi?"
The female Half-Saint's eyes narrowed slightly, as she had also heard of this name. The coldness in her eyes softened a little as she swept her divine sense towards the sketchpad, only to find her own figure on it, portrayed with exquisite beauty…
"If it's unintentional, then forget it."
She relaxed her furrowed brows and spoke indifferently.
The three Half-Saints' conversation didn't go unnoticed by Lin Qingying and Bian Ruoxue, who stood beside her. Lin Qingying glanced over and saw Li Hao setting up his sketchpad. She found it a little amusing that he was sketching the Half-Saints and quietly chuckled to herself.
Li Hao had been here for almost a year now, and during this time, she had come to know him well. Aside from painting and sculpting, he rarely did anything else.
Of course, extracting medicinal ingredients was an exception.
"Hmm?"
Bian Ruoxue also looked over, and when she heard the word "painting," a strange feeling stirred within her. She turned her gaze towards the floating seats.
The sketchpad blocked her view of his face, but for some reason, the sight of him setting up his sketchpad made her blood rush and her heart beat faster.
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