Capítulo 188: Chapter 323: The Sword Master's Command, and the Test of Yaozu (Combined)
"97 layers of Dao Domain?"
Upon hearing the Sword Master's words, the three of them were stunned, then bewildered, exchanging glances. Did they hear correctly?
Jiang Yingyue was completely dazed, her mind filled with nothing but questions.
She didn't dare to doubt the Sword Master, preferring to believe that her ears were playing tricks on her.
The alchemist who came with her had 97 layers of Dao Domain?!
How was that even possible!
Such a number of Dao Domains was unheard of. Even she, with her exceptional talent, had only cultivated 15 layers. This was already a remarkable achievement.
One must understand that she had to balance her cultivation realm and sword techniques, with limited time. To reach this level before the age of a hundred was already a sign of extraordinary talent.
Apart from the holy sons and daughters born with innate Dao bodies, this was the pinnacle of what could be achieved through postnatal effort.
The Sword Master didn't wait for their reaction and didn't respond to their thoughts. His figure flickered, suddenly disappearing from his spot, then reappearing on the fifth floor of the Sword Tower.
There, Li Hao was meditating in place.
But the sudden appearance of the Sword Master startled Li Hao. Although the Sword Master's aura was faint, Li Hao could still sense it, smelling the water scent!
This was the instinct of an old angler, having become extremely sensitive to water scents, which came from the Sword Master's fishing rod and line.
"Sword Master?"
Li Hao opened his eyes, looking at the figure before him, who wore a conical hat, had a calm expression, but exuded a shadow-like oppressive presence.
Even though the other party didn't deliberately reveal his aura and was trying to conceal it, the unique aura of a Sage still made Li Hao feel a sense of awe at close range.
"97 layers of Dao Domain. Do you wish to use this to challenge the Ultimate Realm?"
The Sword Master sized up Li Hao, asking with interest.
Li Hao felt a chill, a cold sensation. His Myriad Phenomena attributes, along with the properties of the Jiangxue Map, Zanggong, and other manuals, were virtually unbreakable, but the Sword Master had somehow seen through them.
Could it be that the properties of these manuals are ineffective against Sages?
Seeming to notice Li Hao's slight panic and thoughts, the Sword Master smiled faintly. "You have a way to conceal your aura, which is quite profound, but did you know that this Sword Tower is my weapon?"
"Practicing within my weapon, how could I not know? No matter how subtle, it would be of no use."
Li Hao was taken aback, feeling somewhat stunned. The Sword Tower was a weapon?
No one had told him that... Li Hao felt like crying, responding awkwardly:
"Advancing to the Ultimate Realm is extremely difficult, but I still want to try."
The Sword Master nodded slightly. "A martial artist who doesn't aspire to the Ultimate Realm will find it hard to achieve greatness. To cultivate 97 layers of Dao Domain, you must have exceptional talent. I heard from my disciple that you are an alchemist? And that painting you just showed, did you create it yourself?"
He looked at Li Hao, his eyes clearly showing interest.
That painting alone was no simple brushwork; it required deep and meticulous study to achieve.
Moreover, this young man seemed to be an experienced angler, which was quite intriguing.
"I'm a half-alchemist, I suppose."
Li Hao smiled wryly, knowing that explaining this wasn't a simple matter.
"That painting was created by me. If Senior finds it acceptable, perhaps I could have the honor of creating one for you as well."
Li Hao's mind raced, not forgetting his initial intention to gain some benefits.
The Sword Master was a bit surprised, looking Li Hao up and down. Suddenly, he flipped his palm, and a small black mirror appeared in his hand.
Li Hao recognized it as the Bone Reflection Mirror that Lin Qingying had used to reflect his image, though he wasn't sure if it was the same one.
Speaking of which, are there so many Bone Reflection Mirrors in the land of the Holy Ones?
Li Hao thought to himself, somewhat sarcastically.
The mirror reflected Li Hao's age, which quickly appeared on its surface.
28 years old.
He had been here for nearly a year, cultivating and recuperating. His Sword Dao had advanced to the eighth rank, and his Divine Blood Dao Body had reached its peak, marking significant progress in his cultivation.
"Only 28 years old?"
The Sword Master's eyes suddenly narrowed, the calmness in his gaze turning to intense focus.
Just the 97 layers of Dao Domain alone had only slightly surprised him. After all, while cultivating Dao Domains required talent, even top inner disciples could gradually accumulate them over thousands or even tens of thousands of years of diligent study.
But to be 28 years old, with a supreme Dao cultivation level and 97 layers of Dao Domain, even if one cultivated a layer per year, it would still take at least a century!
Moreover, cultivating Dao Domains isn't that simple; one must deeply comprehend a certain technique to extend it into a Dao Domain.
It requires deep focus and dedication.
If calculated by Dao Domains, wouldn't that mean cultivating three or four layers per year?
And this doesn't account for the early years when one couldn't cultivate, or the time spent on realm cultivation... This speed was truly terrifying!
"You have such talent, but you're not a holy son or daughter, nor are you from our Holy Land, are you?"
The Sword Master gazed intently at Li Hao, asking.
Such a remarkable figure was a rarity he had never seen before. Even holy sons and daughters couldn't match this. Though he didn't involve himself in worldly affairs, he was well aware of their capabilities.
Li Hao smiled bitterly, originally intending to cultivate quietly here. But unexpectedly, he had been exposed. At this point, hiding would only bring trouble, as only Sages knew the full extent of a Sage's abilities, and lies would be easily exposed.
Thus, he briefly recounted his story of being pursued by enemies and falling here, where he was taken in by Lin Qingying.
These details could be verified by asking Lin Qingying and Lin Shanhai.
As for who his enemies were, he didn't mention, given the involvement of a Sage, to avoid any unforeseen complications.
Hearing Li Hao's story, the Sword Master wasn't surprised, nodding slightly. "I was wondering when my Sword Ancestor Holy Land would have such a prodigy, and I wouldn't know about it."
Such a prodigy was a rarity in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, bound to cause a stir. Even if he were isolated, he should have heard about it.
He glanced at Li Hao but didn't press for more details about his enemies or past. Since Li Hao hadn't mentioned them when recounting his story, it meant he didn't want to. The Sword Master didn't like forcing others and could guess the general outline.
"No wonder Yaozu values you. Do you wish to join our Holy Land, or will you stay here for a while and then leave?"
The Sword Master asked, knowing that with Li Hao's exceptional talent, his background must be extremely profound. He might have come from under a Sage and might not stay here.
"Qingying Saintess has done me a favor, and she is a Saintess within the Holy Land. If possible, I hope to avoid involving the Sword Ancestor Holy Land to prevent any trouble for them in the future."
Li Hao's gaze was sincere as he spoke earnestly.
The Sword Master nodded slightly. As he had expected, such a prodigy did not belong to the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. More likely, she was one of the personal disciples of the few Supreme Saints, who had been betrayed and ended up here. The betrayer must have held a high position, possibly involving some internal power struggles.
When Li Hao seeks revenge, it will undoubtedly stir up a bloody storm. Not joining the Sword Ancestor Holy Land is, in fact, a kind gesture.
With this in mind, he felt a bit more favorably towards Li Hao and said, "I will act as if I didn't see anything. Continue your cultivation. If you go to seek revenge in the future, just don't use the sword techniques of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land."
"I will not involve the Holy Land."
Li Hao also gave a serious assurance.
The Sword Master said no more. He vanished with a flick of his wrist, carrying his fishing rod, leaving Li Hao behind.
Li Hao let out a silent sigh of relief but did not dare to continue his cultivation.
From the tone of the Sword Master, it seemed he thought Li Hao had just reached the 97th Dao Domain, not that he had advanced to it in one go. The difference was significant.
He stood up and walked towards the sixth level of the Sword Tower.
This time, he recorded various cultivation techniques, storing many of them. Thoughts swirled in his mind, but he resisted the urge to practice on the spot.
Next, he went to the seventh level of the Sword Tower.
At the seventh level, the techniques were already Dao-level cultivation methods and divine abilities.
There were various Dao-level body cultivation techniques and Dao-level sword arts. When perfected, these sword arts could touch the Dao.
The eighth level of the Sword Tower contained only Dao-level cultivation methods, including extremely precious high-grade divine abilities.
Divine abilities were the ultimate killing moves mastered by those at the Dao Law Realm, more intricate and harder to resist than simple law applications.
The ninth level of the Sword Tower housed the top-tier Dao-level cultivation methods and holy techniques, as well as the most advanced divine abilities, available only to the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, second only to the exclusive secret techniques of the Great Saints and Half-Saints.
Li Hao recorded everything and then selected a top-tier Dao-level sword technique.
This sword technique was created by the Sword Saint. Though not his strongest, it was still one of the most powerful among many sword techniques.
However, mastering it was incredibly difficult. This sword was called the Great Dao Sword Technique!
With Li Hao's eighth-stage sword dao comprehension, he quickly deduced the technique to its perfect form after recording it. As he immersed himself in thought, he soon advanced it further to the ultimate level.
Then, he infused his Unique Sword Intent into the technique, deepening his understanding and elevating it to the true state!
The Great Dao Sword Technique, as its name suggested, was not just a sword but a manifestation of the Dao.
The Dao is the sword, and the sword is the Dao, unbreakable!
The Great Dao Sword Intent extended from the technique, which Li Hao integrated into his Unique Sword Intent, making it even purer.
Even the Dao can be severed!
Despite having mastered the technique, Li Hao still chose to take the Great Dao Sword Technique with him from the Sword Tower. Otherwise, leaving empty-handed after a visit would be suspicious.
When he emerged from the Sword Tower, Jiang Yingyue and the two Sword Attendants, who had been waiting, immediately looked at Li Hao. Their gaze this time was different from before.
The Sword Master's words still echoed in their ears. As they observed Li Hao, they felt that every step he took exuded a hint of a master's presence.
But upon closer inspection, he was just walking normally.
"Have you reached the 97th Dao Domain?"
As Li Hao approached, Jiang Yingyue couldn't help but ask impatiently.
Her eyes were fixed on Li Hao, waiting for him to nod in confirmation.
She didn't know why she was so agitated, but her heart was restless.
Li Hao, though aware of the reason, countered, "Where did you hear that?"
"From the Sword Master himself," Jiang Yingyue said, as if daring him to deny it.
Li Hao feigned realization but felt a bit helpless. The Sage could not be wrong, and he had no choice but to admit it.
He nodded, "Yes."
Seeing Li Hao admit it, Jiang Yingyue felt a shock in her heart. Despite knowing that the Sage could not be wrong and that they had all heard correctly, the impact of seeing Li Hao confirm it personally was like a boulder dropped into her heart, causing a massive ripple.
The 97th Dao Domain was too extraordinary. Even if one did nothing but cultivate, it would take an extremely long time to achieve such a domain.
"You must be at the pinnacle of the Tranquil Dao Realm."
Beside her, the female Sword Attendant with the copper mask sighed, deeply impressed.
"Unless you encounter those extreme prodigies, the sheer number of Dao Domains you have would likely delay the penetration of laws, which is quite astonishing."
The male Sword Attendant nodded in agreement, "Master always said that one must be single-minded to reach the peak. Only the pure of heart can achieve greatness. The same applies to the extreme realm. Only by focusing to the extreme can one reach it. Are you planning to abandon everything and focus solely on the eighth extreme realm?"
Li Hao naturally had this intention, but he clarified, "This matter concerns my cultivation. I hope the three of you will keep it confidential."
In combat, one's cultivation foundation was a hidden trump card. The two Sword Attendants understood this and nodded, promising to keep Li Hao's secret.
Jiang Yingyue, however, stared at Li Hao and asked, "To cultivate to this level, do you also master other extreme realms? Aren't you an alchemist? How old are you this year?"
Li Hao gave her a strange look and said, "Senior Sister Jiang, this is my secret."
Jiang Yingyue's expression changed slightly, a mix of emotions. She knew she was overreacting, but the impact of the 97th Dao Domain was too great.
She was a top-tier prodigy of the Inner Sect, having pushed herself to the limit. Yet, here was someone with 97 Dao Domains, far surpassing her.
If Li Hao's previous martial arts realms were mediocre and he only specialized in the Eighth Apex, she could accept that. But if he had other apex realms before that, it would be truly terrifying.
Jiang Yingyue couldn't help but ask, a bit reluctantly, "What about your age? Can't you tell me that?"
Li Hao sighed, "Asking a man his age is quite impolite."
"..."
Jiang Yingyue felt a bit annoyed but knew it was indeed a private matter. However, she recalled how the Sword Master had invited Li Hao to fish, and when Li Hao spoke, the Sword Master had just reeled in a true dragon, indicating that Li Hao had a deep understanding of fishing.
The interest in fishing generally suggested an older mindset. But using cultivation techniques to maintain a youthful appearance was quite common.
For example, she herself was already in her nineties this year. In the mortal world, she could have been a great-grandmother, but she still felt like a young girl, so she kept her appearance young.
Reaching the Three Immortal Realms would slow down aging, and reaching the Four Establishment Realms would allow one to manipulate their appearance. For demons and beasts, reaching the Fifteenth Mile Realm would allow them to transform into young children or beautiful women at will.
Thus, age could not be determined by appearance alone.
Unfortunately, I don't have a Bone-Mapping Mirror... Jiang Yingyue thought to herself.
The two Sword Attendants beside her had already calmed down. The male Sword Attendant, seeing Li Hao's chosen cultivation technique, asked, "Have you made your choice?"
Li Hao nodded and handed over the sword technique, asking him to remove the law seal.
The male Sword Attendant took it and, upon seeing it was the Great Dao Sword Technique, raised an eyebrow. "You want to choose this one? Do you know this technique was created by the Sword Saint and is one of the top Dao-level sword techniques?"
"Um."
Li Hao nodded. Wasn't that exactly why he chose it?
Seeing that Li Hao didn't understand his concern, the male Sword Attendant explained, "This top-tier sword technique requires extremely high insight. Although its power is unparalleled, it is also very difficult to cultivate. If you want to focus on condensing your Dao Domain, this sword technique might consume a lot of your energy."
Li Hao finally understood the other's good intentions, worried that the sword technique was too profound and might distract him from his Dao Domain cultivation.
"It's fine. I have Grandmaster Yao to guide me. I believe I can master it," Li Hao said.
Seeing Li Hao's determination, the male Sword Attendant didn't say more. After all, Li Hao had cultivated his Dao Domain to the 97th layer, proving he had considerable talent. It would just take more effort to master the sword technique.
He quickly cast a secret seal to remove the law seal from the technique and handed it to Li Hao, "This must not be shared with others. If it is traced back to you, you will be imprisoned in the Endless Sword Prison, suffering daily from a thousand sword strikes without the chance to die!"
He spoke solemnly, clearly emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
Li Hao was taken aback. Indeed, for any power, cultivation techniques were the foundation and must not be compromised.
After choosing the technique, Li Hao inquired about the Sword Master's whereabouts. However, the Sword Master's voice echoed in his mind, "I'm tired today. If you want to come fishing, feel free to do so. Here is my sword token."
As he finished speaking, a silver sword token appeared before Li Hao, like a short dagger, and fell into his hands.
Li Hao quickly caught it.
The two Sword Attendants, seeing the sword token in Li Hao's hand, were stunned and a bit shocked.
The Master actually gave his sword token to an outsider so casually?
Jiang Yingyue also recognized it. Her eyes widened. This was a command from a sage, and Li Hao had just received it so easily?
Li Hao was also a bit surprised. He immediately bowed slightly to the Sword Tower, "Thank you, Senior Sword Master."
He then put away the sword token and gestured for Jiang Yingyue to return.
Jiang Yingyue came to her senses, a bit dumbfounded and speechless.
After waiting for so long, they were just going back like this?
It seemed the Sword Master had communicated something to Li Hao, and the fishing today was canceled.
The Sword Master had already returned with his fishing rod, clearly intending to fish with Li Hao. Her hope of ingratiating herself with the sage was dashed.
With the situation as it was, Jiang Yingyue didn't say anything more and led Li Hao back.
But when they returned to the Ten Arenas, everyone had already left, and only a few disciples were cleaning and repairing the arena.
"The preliminary selection is over. I'll take you to Mount Yaochi to meet Master," Jiang Yingyue said, looking around.
Li Hao thought about it. Lin Shanhai and the others knew his whereabouts and didn't wait for him, probably because they were confident in him.
"Alright."
Li Hao agreed. The numerous cultivation techniques he had acquired from the Sword Tower were a significant gain, and he wanted to thank Grandmaster Yao in person.
Although words of gratitude were meaningless, it was the only thing he could do for now.
...
Mount Yaochi.
Originally, it was the Holy Maiden Peak of Yaochi, but after Grandmaster Yao became a half-sage, the term "Holy Maiden" was dropped, and it was simply called Yaochi.
The mountain was picturesque, with dense energy. Jiang Yingyue led Li Hao by flying sword, and with the command in hand, she bypassed the array barriers and landed on the mountain.
There were not many halls here, and the place was relatively quiet, but there were still dozens of disciples practicing.
Jiang Yingyue explained that these were recorded disciples.
"Seventh Senior Sister!"
When they saw Jiang Yingyue, the recorded disciples greeted her enthusiastically. Most of them were women, with only a few men.
Those few men looked at Li Hao with raised eyebrows, and he could sense a hint of seriousness in their eyes, as if they were wary of an outsider.
He found it amusing and followed Jiang Yingyue to the peak of the mountain.
This was where the core disciples lived. Jiang Yingyue led Li Hao to the sacred platform at the peak, where Grandmaster Yao sat, gazing at the stars.
Her breathtaking beauty, sitting alone on the Yaochi platform, was mesmerizing in the night breeze.
Li Hao looked at her, momentarily lost in admiration, but quickly composed himself.
"Master, I have returned with Alchemy Master Qingfeng."
Jiang Yingyue stood outside the sacred platform, bowing her head to report.
Yaozu turned around, the lines of thought on her forehead vanishing. She looked at Li Hao and smiled, "Have you chosen your cultivation technique?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded solemnly, "Thank you, Yaozu, for your kindness."
With that, he took out the order and handed it back to her.
Yaozu didn't immediately reach out to take it but instead noticed the Great Dao Sword Technique in Li Hao's hand.
Her expression remained calm. It was only natural that Li Hao would choose a cultivation technique from the ninth level of the Sword Tower, and the Great Dao Sword Technique was a common choice.
"This technique was created by the Sword Saint. It's quite difficult. Take it back and practice for ten days, then come back here so I can see how you're progressing."
Yaozu added softly, "If you haven't made any progress in ten days, go to the eighth level of the Sword Tower and choose another technique."
Li Hao understood that Yaozu was trying to repay the favor of the painting he had gifted her. However, the value of that painting paled in comparison to what he had gained on this trip.
"Okay."
Li Hao nodded, not saying more.
Although he had already cultivated to the True Form stage, revealing it would be too shocking, and he would have to explain a lot.
Jiang Yingyue glanced at Li Hao, thought for a moment, and decided not to mention his 97-layer Dao Domain. After all, she had promised Li Hao not to reveal it, and doing so now would be a breach of trust.
Since Yaozu didn't take the order, Li Hao put it away, bid farewell to them, and left Yaochi Peak, returning to the alchemist's area.
Inside the Alchemy Academy.
Li Hao saw Lin Qingying sitting in the courtyard, cross-legged, with a sword resting on her knees. The moon was high in the sky, and its light reflected off the sword, casting a silvery glow.
Lin Shanhai saw Li Hao return and smiled, immediately asking about his trip to the Sword Tower.
Li Hao gave a brief account, and Lin Qingying, who was sitting in the courtyard, opened her eyes slowly. Her gaze fell on the name of the cultivation technique in Li Hao's hand.
"The Great Dao Sword Technique is very difficult," Lin Qingying said succinctly.
Li Hao looked at her and smiled, nodding, "Yaozu also told me it's difficult."
"I heard that the Holy Maiden Xue'er mastered this technique in just three days. If you can enter the door in ten days, it would be considered exceptional talent."
Lin Qingying said to Li Hao.
Three days would place one at the Saint Son level, and if he could enter the door in ten days, it would be considered a top-tier talent among the inner disciples.
If it took much longer, a month or even several years, his achievements in swordsmanship would be limited.
Li Hao knew that the Holy Maiden Xue'er was Bian Ruxue, a disciple of the Sword Saint and one of the highest-ranking figures among the Holy Sons and Holy Maidens.
"I'll just practice it for fun. It would be great if I can enter the door," Li Hao said with a smile, not adding more.
Hearing this, Lin Qingying's brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Li Hao. She had thought he was inspired by the battle of the top talents, but now it seemed more like a passing interest.
A hint of disappointment and regret flickered in her eyes, but she didn't say more and closed her eyes to focus on her cultivation.
From this observation, she realized that even among the inner disciples, there were strong individuals, and she needed to improve further.
Li Hao, feeling a bit hungry, got up and went to the kitchen to prepare some food. When he brought it out, the aroma made Lin Shanhai, who had already eaten dinner, feel hungry again.
Lin Qingying glanced at him, frowning slightly, feeling even more disappointed.
If someone truly loved swordsmanship, they would immediately immerse themselves in the technique, losing track of time. How could they have the heart to cook and waste time?
She had been quite hopeful earlier, but now she felt let down.
But then she remembered that Li Hao was an alchemist with little interest in swordsmanship, so it was understandable.
Her mood settled, and she no longer dwelled on it.
Li Hao and Lin Shanhai ate together, satisfying their hunger. Then, with the Great Dao Sword Technique in hand, Li Hao bid farewell to the grandfather and granddaughter and returned to his own courtyard.
He had already mastered the Great Dao Sword Technique, so there was no need to practice it. Now, with a full stomach, he could continue cultivating his Dao Domain.
He casually set up a barrier and enhanced the concealment attributes to the maximum. In the courtyard, he began his cultivation.
The numerous cultivation techniques he had recorded were gradually refined and deepened. Soon, a new layer of Dao Domain extended outward.
Before long, his Dao Domain reached 100 layers!
In the three-foot radius around Li Hao, the 100 layers of Dao Domain overlapped, solidifying like a solid mass. Li Hao felt that even the rules of the universe would find it difficult to penetrate his Dao Domain.
Just the simultaneous pressure of the 100 layers of Dao Domain could force a Dao Realization expert to the ground, immobilizing them and even tearing them apart!
This was the power of the Dao Domain alone, not including other peak states.
However, to Li Hao's surprise, 100 layers of Dao Domain had not yet touched the peak state.
He had not sensed the special state or enlightenment that came with reaching the peak.
Li Hao continued his cultivation, and his Dao Domain soon reached 108 layers, but he still hadn't touched the peak.
In other realms, the peak state was usually a hundred times more powerful than the ordinary state. For example, in the Strength Realm, ordinary practitioners had a strength of around ten thousand pounds, while the peak state required a million pounds!
Now, his Dao Domain had also reached a hundred times the normal level of the Dao Realization realm.
"Could it be 180 layers?"
Li Hao's eyes gleamed. He sensed that the higher the realm, the harder it was to touch the peak state.
However, the harder it was to reach, the stronger the peak state would be once achieved!
Li Hao didn't feel disheartened; instead, he felt a surge of excitement.
He threw himself into the digestion of the numerous cultivation techniques from the Sword Tower.
His Dao Domain continued to grow, gradually reaching 167 layers!
Just the pressure of the overlapping Dao Domain made Li Hao feel as if the void itself was being crushed, unable to bear the weight.
Although he hadn't engaged in battle, Li Hao felt that even the laws of the Dao Realization realm could not penetrate his Dao Domain and would be instantly annihilated!
This eighth peak state, though not yet reached, already brought more power than any other peak state except for the Transcendent Immortal realm.
It could even rival the peak of the Transcendent Immortal realm.
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