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Chapter 366: The Power of Fate, The Sword of All Beings!
🕑 Added 2024-10-22 08:04:02 +0000 UTCAs the formation sealed off the stage, Lin Zhuo spoke up, "I am no match for you, so there's no need for this battle."
He had unexpectedly chosen to forfeit.
Li Hao was a bit surprised, not expecting Lin Zhuo to surrender so easily.
During the previous top 100 battle, it was clear that Lin Zhuo had shown interest in fighting him.
Seeing the surprise on Li Hao's face, Lin Zhuo's lips twitched slightly, giving a bitter smile.
After witnessing Li Hao's earlier sword strike, Lin Zhuo had already realized the gap between their strength.
If it had only been about the Eternal Dao Domain or that terrifying Dharma Aspect, he might have relied on his own Dao to play to his strengths. However, Li Hao's sword had shattered that hope.
"The Heavenly Blood Seal for carving one's name is truly remarkable, but this is not our final battle. Once I become a Saint, I will seek you out again to discuss the Dao," Lin Zhuo said.
Though a genius, there was still some reluctance in his heart, but at the same time, he couldn't help but admire Li Hao. Initially, he had not been fond of this rising star who had captured so much attention, but now, he could only concede with respect.
As Lin Zhuo's words echoed across the battlefield, the crowd buzzed in astonishment.
Everyone was shocked that a disciple directly taught by a Supreme Saint would surrender without even engaging Li Hao in combat.
This was reminiscent of the military strategy of winning without a fight, but here, it manifested through Li Hao's overwhelming presence.
Despite the initial surprise, many in the crowd began to understand. After all, anyone who had seen Li Hao's previous displays of power could recognize that he was a monstrous figure even among the Dao Law Realm, making a forfeit seem like a reasonable choice.
The Saint from Yuan Zu Sacred Land remained calm and, upon seeing Lin Zhuo concede, immediately announced the result.
Thus, in the second round, Li Hao advanced without a fight.
The battles that followed continued as usual.
Li Hao had no choice but to step down and allow the next competitors to take the stage.
In the second round, Lin Qingying, Ji Xuan Shen, and others also successfully advanced. Their opponents were evenly matched, but in the end, they narrowly secured victory.
Before long, the third round began.
The fights continued without pause, testing the participants' endurance. If their stamina wasn't sufficient, they could only rely on various pills to recover, which was often enough unless they had suffered serious injuries or had used some secret technique that depleted their strength.
When the third round matchups were revealed, the crowd once again erupted in exclamations.
Li Hao hadn't even had a chance to react before hearing the excited murmurs and surprised voices from the audience. His next opponent was yet another Supreme Saint disciple, well-known and highly regarded.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed slightly. Once or twice could be attributed to bad luck, but three times?
He scanned the arena and observed the opponents faced by the Twin Buddha Child and other Supreme Saint disciples.
They were matched against relatively average opponents, those of similar strength to Hao Yue Sacred Son. There was also a battle between two Supreme Saint disciples—Lin Zhuo and Bai Yuan, who had faced off against Li Hao previously.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed further, sensing that something was amiss.
Yet he couldn't quite place what it was.
He glanced up, sweeping his gaze across the Saints of the heavens, but all of them appeared calm, showing no sign of reacting to this small matter.
Even the towering figures of the Supreme Saints, though merely avatars, seemed like eternally tranquil suns, revealing nothing in their expressions.
Under the watchful eyes of so many Saints, it seemed unlikely that any manipulation was at play.
Li Hao thought to himself that his suspicions aligned with those who opposed conspiracy theories. Surely, the Supreme Saints didn't need to conspire against someone as small as him, a Dao Law cultivator.
If they wanted to deal with him, they had countless ways to do so, far beyond such petty tactics.
In that case… Was he truly just that unlucky?
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, dismissing his suspicions. No matter what, he would fight whomever was placed before him.
Among the crowd, Wu Tian also seemed momentarily stunned upon seeing that his opponent would be Li Hao. He had witnessed Li Hao's battle when his name was carved into the Heavenly Monument, and had seen how effortlessly Li Hao had subdued the Qing Lu King. Li Hao's strength was undeniable.
In this match, after watching Li Hao demonstrate his extraordinary skills, Wu Tian couldn't deny that Li Hao surpassed him.
"Since this is a contest, then let's fight," Wu Tian thought to himself. This was a rare opportunity, and if he missed this chance to spar with Li Hao, their next encounter might be after both of them had become Saints.
But whether they would have such an opportunity in the future was uncertain.
Soon, the third round began.
As the top 100 took turns stepping onto the stage, Lin Qingying once again faced off against Hao Yue Sacred Son.
In this battle, Li Hao cast her an encouraging look.
Lin Qingying smiled brightly in return, her grin lighting up the battlefield like a radiant sun.
Hao Yue Sacred Son's face darkened at the sight. He felt a heavy weight in his chest, as if a blocked emotion refused to be released.
"Is your swordsmanship learned from him?" Hao Yue Sacred Son asked quietly after a moment's silence, as the formation sealed off the battlefield. They were familiar with each other, so they didn't begin fighting immediately.
Lin Qingying's smile faded upon seeing the person who had destroyed her Dao core. Her voice was cold as she replied, "That's right."
Hao Yue Sacred Son felt a stabbing pain in his heart. He had clearly severed all emotional ties, but when he saw Lin Qingying's dazzling brilliance, it was as if the strings that had been cut reconnected themselves.
He needed to see her defeated, broken, humbled, to regain his sense of superiority, to feel disdain and contempt for her. But now, she stood before him, radiant and powerful, and he couldn't accept it.
Sensing the discomfort on Hao Yue Sacred Son's face, Lin Qingying's eyes flashed with contempt.
To place one's Dao on the foundation of another person—once brilliant like the sun and moon, but in essence, so pitifully weak.
"Your Dao is too shallow."
Lin Qingying's voice was merciless. This was a phrase Hao Yue Sacred Son often used, and now, she was throwing it back at him.
Without wasting any more words, Lin Qingying drew her sword.
With a hum, the three-foot-long blade radiated a bright azure glow, like a stream of autumn water. As she unsheathed the sword, it traced a crescent arc of light.
Behind her, the Heavenly Meridians emerged, her eyes sharp as she struck toward Hao Yue Sacred Son.
Seeing the disdain in Lin Qingying's eyes, Hao Yue Sacred Son felt a surge of fury. He activated his full Extreme Realm and drew his sword.
"Then let's see who's better!!" Hao Yue Sacred Son roared. His Sun and Moon Sword Dao flared, and his eyes reflected the gold and silver hues of the sun and moon, as though they were vortices in the starry sky.
As his Sun and Moon Sword Intent surged to its peak, aided by his divine vision, there was a faint appearance of Dao resonance.
However, in the next moment, as the frost-like sword light cleaved toward him, all light faded into nothingness.
Boom!
Hao Yue Sacred Son's body was sent flying, his sword light shattered. His eyes, which had once reflected the brilliance of the sun and moon, lost their luster and were plunged into a void.
"My… my eyes!" Hao Yue Sacred Son crashed into the formation barrier. Yet more than the physical pain, he was consumed by terror.
In his vision, there was nothing but emptiness.
It wasn't darkness, nor was it a radiant world—it was a dull, gray void.
"When you can break through my sword Dao, your sight will be restored," Lin Qingying's voice echoed in his ears. Hao Yue Sacred Son's heart trembled, and he immediately recalled how he had destroyed Lin Qingying's Dao core with a single strike.
This was retribution.
Her revenge had blinded him in return, shrouding the sun and moon in shadow.
Though the sun and moon were bright and radiant, when dark clouds covered the sky, the world was plunged into gloom.
Lin Qingying sheathed her sword without looking at the defeated Hao Yue Sacred Son, who was clutching his eyes. Instead, she cast her gaze down to the Sword Saint in the audience.
Seeing his furrowed brow, she smiled faintly and then turned her gaze away, looking toward Li Hao. Her eyes softened.
When her Dao core had been destroyed, the Sword Saint had turned a blind eye, leaving her standing alone under the gaze of countless people. She had felt a deep sense of loneliness, until that young man, Li Hao, had come to her side, picked up her sword, and cleared the skies, revealing a glimmer of hope.
Now, her heart and mind belonged to him alone.
As for the Sword Saint or any Sacred Land, she had no need to look up to them. If there was gratitude, she would repay it; if not, there was no need to idolize them.
With the result announced, the lingering grudge between Lin Qingying and Hao Yue Sacred Son, which had originated from their contest within the Sword Ancestral Sacred Land, finally came to an end.
Bian Ruxue, watching as her senior brother Hao Yue covered his eyes and let out a low roar, fell silent.
This battle left many disciples of the Sword Ancestral Sacred Land in a somber mood. The same Hao Yue Sacred Son who had so easily defeated Lin Qingying before had now been defeated by her in return. Not only had she caught up to him, but she had surpassed him completely.
Everyone in the Sacred Land knew about their enmity, and this battle was about more than just vying for a spot in the top ten.
However, to outsiders who were unaware of the backstory, they simply found the fight… unsatisfactory.
As Lin Qingying and Hao Yue Sacred Son finished their duel, Lin Zhuo and Bai Yuan took the stage, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Neither of them had any intention of surrendering, and soon an intense battle erupted.
Li Hao gave Lin Qingying a smile and, along with her, began watching the contest between the two Supreme Saint disciples.
Compared to their battles with him, the contest between Bai Yuan and Lin Zhuo was far more complex, with a wider array of techniques on display. Many of these techniques had been useless against Li Hao's Dao Domain, but they drew exclamations of awe from the crowd when used in this fight.
Li Hao could tell that Lin Zhuo was still slightly inferior.
As expected, after a while, Lin Zhuo was defeated.
"No wonder Lin Zhuo surrendered—he can't beat Bai Yuan, and Bai Yuan couldn't beat Li Hao."
"So far, it looks like Li Hao has the highest combat strength!"
"Don't forget, though, that several top contenders haven't fought at full strength yet. Both Qiu Tianlü and Xiao Tianyu are considered prime candidates for the top spot!"
The crowd continued to discuss, and some were already ranking the top ten based on the current performances, with Li Hao temporarily ranked first.
Trailing behind him were Xiao Tianyu and Qiu Tianlü, while Bai Yuan was ranked fourth.
Before long, it was Li Hao's turn to fight.
He stood up and stepped onto the stage, waiting for his opponent.
On the other side, Wu Tian took a deep breath and also stepped onto the stage, his expression solemn.
"One is Hao Tian, and the other is Wu Tian. This Wu Tian is also a direct disciple of the Law Saint and is extremely powerful."
"I'm betting on Hao Tian!"
"Betting? Who doesn't already know the outcome?"
"Come on, don't be too harsh. Wu Tian is still the Law Saint's top disciple; he might surprise us."
"A dark horse? Do you think he can be as much of a dark horse as Hao Tian, a guy who came from the mortal world?"
The audience was already engaged in a heated debate.
As the formation sealed the arena, locking in the battlefield, Li Hao and Wu Tian exchanged glances. All the noise from the crowd faded into silence.
"I want to experience your Eternal Dao Domain," Wu Tian said with a gentle smile, his tone calm, showing neither battle intent nor hostility.
And that was the truth. Ever since he had witnessed Li Hao's overwhelming victory over Qing Lu King, Wu Tian had realized that Li Hao possessed strength far beyond his own. There was no reason to be envious.
This match was, for him, purely a chance to spar.
Hearing Wu Tian's request, Li Hao was momentarily surprised. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Alright."
As Wu Tian unleashed his Extreme Realm and summoned his vast Dharma Aspect, Li Hao responded by activating the Eternal Dao Domain.
As the domain descended, Li Hao utilized the sword domain within the Dao Domain, layering countless sword shadows. These sword laws, empowered by the Eternal Dao Domain, even suppressed the embryonic Saint power. Before long, Wu Tian was defeated.
"Truly remarkable…" Wu Tian said with a wry smile. Though he had lost, there was no resentment in his heart. Bowing respectfully to Li Hao, he said, "Thank you."
With that, he turned and left the stage.
Seeing the amicable exchange between the two, the audience erupted in conversation.
"Is this what they call mutual respect between heroes? Wu Tian was really strong—the pressure from his Dharma Aspect almost suffocated me."
"Too bad, though. The Eternal Dao Domain is simply too terrifying. Its extreme suppression is nearly unbeatable!"
"Who could possibly train to the eighth extreme realm in just a hundred years? Using that here feels like bullying."
"Bullying? Li Hao is only 28 years old—he's the real youngster here."
"Honestly, I already knew Wu Tian would lose. Just look at their names—Hao Tian has an extra stroke!"
The crowd was filled with laughter and banter.
In the Law Saint Sacred Land, many Law Sect disciples wore cold expressions. They knew that while Wu Tian was powerful, he was not the strongest representative of their sect. The one to truly watch out for was Saint Son Qiu Tianlü. His appearance on stage would undoubtedly lead to an intense and fierce battle.
"Unless these reincarnated Saints unlock their Saintly powers, they have no hope of defeating him."
In the waiting area, Qing Lu King's eyes flickered. Having been humiliated by Li Hao earlier, the bitterness he felt had somewhat faded after witnessing Li Hao's terrifying strength.
Although resentment still lingered in his heart, he no longer harbored any thoughts of revenge. He had no one to blame but himself for being weaker.
As Li Hao effortlessly secured his victory, Ji Xuan Shen and others cast congratulatory looks his way. Li Hao returned their smiles, then calmly waited for the next round.
Before long, the third round concluded, and the fourth round matchups were announced.
This time, Li Hao watched as the swirling tokens rotated and shifted. When the selection was complete and the laws dissipated, there was no indication of anything unusual.
However, Li Hao's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he saw his next opponent.
"Whoa!"
The crowd erupted into an uproar, much like a pot boiling over.
In the waiting area, Wu Tian's face also shifted slightly as he realized that the most anticipated clash would occur in this round.
Hao Tian vs. Qiu Tianlü!
Among the audience, the eyes of many Law Sect disciples brightened.
Wu Tian had just lost, casting a shadow over their sacred land, but in the blink of an eye, Li Hao was matched against Saint Son Qiu Tianlü.
Qiu Tianlü was the most powerful prodigy of the Law Saint Sacred Land, a reincarnated Saint whose new life was dedicated to mending the Law of Creation. His strength was terrifying.
Hearing the excited whispers of the crowd, Li Hao raised an eyebrow. Yet another tough opponent, and perhaps the hardest yet.
He glanced over and saw that the Twin Buddha Child's opponent was Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying's Void Sword Dao was powerful, but the Twin Buddha Child possessed the embryonic form of Saintly power, nearly at the half-Saint level, so he would likely win.
As Li Hao frowned, Qiu Tianlü, dressed in pristine white robes, looked over at him. Seeing Li Hao's furrowed brow, Qiu Tianlü's lips curled into a faint smile.
He hadn't expected to encounter Li Hao at this stage.
But now that they had met, he would not hold back.
This was a perfect opportunity to set things right, to show Li Hao his place, and to remind him that all things in the universe must abide by the law.
"Something doesn't feel right."
Outside the arena, Feng Bo Ping stood alongside Huang Tian Sheng, both frowning.
If it had only been one or two tough matchups, they might have accepted it as bad luck. But to be matched against four Supreme Saint disciples in a row, all renowned prodigies? That kind of luck seemed too poor to be believable.
If Li Hao were truly that unlucky, there was no way he could have cultivated to such a high level.
"Could it be that bald guy's doing…?" Huang Tian Sheng narrowed his eyes, glancing at the Buddha Lord, who wore a benevolent smile.
"You're saying he's using the Great Causality Technique?" Feng Bo Ping asked, his eyes flashing with a sharp, killing intent.
In such a grand competition, if the Buddha Lord were using a secret technique to manipulate the outcomes, it would be an outrageous violation of fairness.
"No, the Great Causality Technique would leave traces. If he had used it, the other Saints would have noticed and intervened. After all, in an event of this magnitude, any blatant tampering would invalidate the competition entirely," Huang Tian Sheng shook his head, his eyes flickering. "But I have heard of an ancient Buddhist power, a divine technique known as Destiny…"
"Destiny?" Feng Bo Ping was taken aback.
"Yes, the Great Destiny Technique. It's a power akin to the Reversal of Fate Realm, but even stronger, capable of altering fate at will. If they've used this technique, even the Saints wouldn't be able to detect it, since destiny is intertwined with the workings of the heavens. Only by comprehending the Dao of Heaven itself could one glimpse the threads of destiny…" Huang Tian Sheng murmured.
Feng Bo Ping was stunned, not expecting the Buddhist sects to possess such a terrifying divine technique.
He looked at his companion and asked, "And how did you come by this information?"
"Don't ask," Huang Tian Sheng replied with a shake of his head, his brow furrowing. "It's just something I heard, a rumor, perhaps. I can't be certain it's true. But if it is, then they may have used this technique to suppress Hao Tian's fate, ensuring that his luck throughout this tournament would be dreadful, potentially leading to even worse outcomes."
Hearing this, Feng Bo Ping's face darkened. "I'm going to see the Yuan Saint."
"It's useless. The Yuan Saint can't change fate. And besides, we have no evidence. It's just my speculation. You know how little credibility I have among the other Saints. You're the only fool who'd believe me," Huang Tian Sheng said with a wry smile.
Feng Bo Ping froze, his face clouding with anger and frustration. "So what, are we supposed to just sit here and do nothing?"
"We have no choice but to wait," Huang Tian Sheng replied in a low voice. "At least Hao Tian has performed well so far. In my opinion, he is the most likely candidate for the top spot among the heavens."
"But even if he can claim the title of champion, how is he supposed to endure these constant challenges before the final ten? No other prodigy would be subjected to this kind of relentless pressure. I feel so powerless!" Feng Bo Ping clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and helplessness. "Any other contender for the top spot would be coddled and protected by their master. They wouldn't have to suffer through this kind of torment. It's all my fault for being so weak!"
Huang Tian Sheng fell silent for a moment before saying quietly, "Don't blame yourself too much. We've all done our best."
Feng Bo Ping didn't reply, his eyes filled with worry as he looked toward the waiting area.
"Qiu Tianlü is said to have inherited the Law Saint's teachings directly. He's a disciple of the Supreme Saint, and he was a Saint in his previous life. Reincarnated to repair the Law of Creation, he's far more terrifying than the others."
As they fretted, the fourth round of duels began.
With the Sacred Sons and Daughters taking the stage one after another, fierce battles unfolded. Before long, it was time for Li Hao and Qiu Tianlü to face off.
The moment the previous duel ended, and the two Sacred Sons on stage glanced at each other, they both shared a look of helplessness. Compared to the upcoming duel, they were nothing more than background characters.
Li Hao wasted no time. Upon hearing his name called, he soared onto the stage.
On the other side, Qiu Tianlü stood up slowly. His white robes shimmered faintly, exuding an air of elegance and detachment.
As he took the stage, the audience's cheers reached a fever pitch.
Many disciples of the Law Saint Sacred Land were shouting at the top of their lungs:
"Saint Son Qiu Tianlü will surely win!"
"Unbeatable! Show them the power of the Law Saint!"
Amid the thunderous cheers, Qiu Tianlü remained calm and composed as he gracefully stepped into the void and made his way onto the battlefield.
As he landed, the formation sealed the arena, locking in the duel.
Li Hao and Qiu Tianlü stood facing each other from a distance. Li Hao's expression remained serene. Encountering four Supreme Saint disciples in a row was indeed unexpected, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was some hidden scheme at play. But no matter what, he had come here to claim the top spot. If someone had arranged this to challenge him, he would simply defeat them one by one.
Seeing the calmness in Li Hao's expression, Qiu Tianlü's lips curled into a faint smile. He recalled the moment Li Hao had frowned upon seeing their match-up; that brief flash of emotion was impossible to hide.
"Wu Tian lost to you, but he didn't truly fight with all his might. That's why his defeat was so easy," Qiu Tianlü said softly. His words were meant not only to defend Wu Tian but also to uphold the dignity of the Law Saint Sacred Land.
Li Hao could hear the underlying message, but he only looked at Qiu Tianlü without responding.
"You certainly have much to be proud of, but your arrogance is not an excuse for defying the law," Qiu Tianlü smiled. "After this battle, I hope you'll come to the Law Saint Sacred Land and listen to the teachings of the Saint Dao."
"Hmm?" Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand what you're saying."
"The Saints have their dignity, which must not be offended, just as kings and subjects have their order, and fathers and sons have their filial piety. These principles cannot be violated," Qiu Tianlü said. "I've heard that you dared to discuss the Dao with a Saint and showed disrespect. If you were a Saint yourself, that would be another matter, but as someone in the Dao Law Realm, your actions were both impudent and unlawful."
Li Hao immediately understood what he was referring to—the incident with the Buddhist sects.
He couldn't help but feel a little exasperated. "That was between me and the Buddhist sect. What does that have to do with you? You must have something wrong with your head..."
Qiu Tianlü shook his head. "All beings within the heavens must abide by the law. Though it may have been a private matter between you and the Buddhist sect, that doesn't excuse you from breaking the rules of law and order."
Li Hao couldn't help but laugh. "Did you accept some kind of bribe from the Buddhists, or do you just have a screw loose? You say I disrespected a Saint, but why don't you mention why a Saint would target someone in the Dao Law Realm? You speak of me offending a Saint's dignity, but why don't you talk about why the Saint showed no mercy to the weak?"
"Even if a Saint humiliates you, you must endure it because you are merely in the Dao Law Realm. If not for the fact that other Saints are aiding you, how could you act so brazenly?" Qiu Tianlü's expression grew cold.
Li Hao's interest in continuing the conversation faded. It was the first time he had seen someone twist logic so self-righteously.
And not only was this none of Qiu Tianlü's business, but here he was butting in, lecturing him on what was essentially a private matter between him and the Buddhist sect. It was so absurd that it was almost laughable.
"The law you speak of is nothing more than the rule of the strong. The strong dominate, and the weak submit. When a Saint humiliates me, that's normal, but when I retaliate, I'm in the wrong for disrespecting a Saint? It's the same old story of people worshiping strength, so don't try to dress it up like some noble virtue."
Behind Li Hao, the Heavenly Meridians emerged, and energy began to pour into his body.
"If it's all about the survival of the fittest, then let's see how you fare under my feet."
Qiu Tianlü raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. "The law is based on strength. Without strength, the law is nothing more than a house of cards. Let me show you the strength behind the law!"
As he spoke, his Extreme Realm emerged, and the Heavenly Meridians manifested behind him like a massive vortex.
At the same time, an immense Dharma Aspect appeared on the battlefield, surrounded by a thick aura of Dao resonance, resembling the Dharma Aspect of a Saint!
"That… that's a Saint's Dharma Aspect!"
"No, that's a Saintly Embryo, the Dharma Aspect from his past life!"
"How are you supposed to fight that?!"
Seeing the towering Dharma Aspect behind Qiu Tianlü, countless spectators across the Heavenly Yuan World were stunned. The aura surrounding the Dharma Aspect was suffused with threads of Dao laws and resplendent light, as if it were the figure of a Saint towering above the world.
The sight left not only the audience speechless but also many in the waiting area, their eyes wide in shock.
Even Wu Tian, who had just been defeated, felt a serious change in his expression, growing somber.
In his previous battle against Qiu Tianlü, he had been defeated, but at that time, Qiu Tianlü had not summoned this Dharma Aspect. Now it seemed Qiu Tianlü had begun quietly merging with his past life, and perhaps even without this opportunity from the incense of the heavens, he would have crossed the threshold and returned to his former strength, maybe even surpassing it.
"His Saintly power from his past life is already awakening, which means he's reached the pinnacle of this life."
"This is just unfair. Even a half-Saint would lose in an instant against that."
"This is already something between a half-Saint and a full Saint. You could even call him a quasi-Saint."
As the Saintly Embryo emerged, countless people felt an overwhelming pressure, transcendent and terrifying.
It was the pressure of a Saint's true presence.
Even though many Supreme Saints were watching the event, only some of them revealed their auras naturally. However, Qiu Tianlü's Saintly Embryo was now actively emanating the full power of Saintly presence, making many feel as if they wanted to kneel in reverence.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed as he observed this terrifying Dharma Aspect. Not only did it contain the power of the embryonic Saint, but it also carried the remnants of Saintly power from across the boundary of time and space.
Though this power was weakened by the temporal distance, making it far less potent than if a Saint had descended in full, it was still far beyond the level of the Dao Law Realm, approaching the realm of Saints.
If Qiu Tianlü gathered enough incense in this life, he could fully inherit that Saintly power and ascend once more.
"So, is this what you rely on to interfere in my business with the Buddhist sect?" Li Hao's gaze turned cold. Some people believed that because of their immense power, they had the right to meddle in others' affairs, passing judgment and inserting themselves into conflicts that had nothing to do with them. This sort of person disgusted him even more than the Buddhist sect.
Qiu Tianlü remained calm, not bothering to answer, as his body merged with the Saintly Embryo.
He knew that Li Hao's Dao Domain was strong, and his swordsmanship terrifying, but in the face of the Saintly Embryo, both could be erased.
The Saintly Dao transcended all. Unless one was a Saint, it was impossible to erode or shatter the Saintly Embryo.
By using this hidden trump card, Qiu Tianlü acknowledged Li Hao's strength to the highest degree. But in this state, he knew he was invincible.
"I've heard you've mastered the Sixth Extreme Realm. Show me. Let me see it!" Qiu Tianlü's eyes glowed as he spoke from within the towering Saintly Embryo.
Hearing this, Li Hao's lips curled into a cold smile. So that was one of Qiu Tianlü's intentions.
He wanted to witness Li Hao's immortal power in order to study it.
Li Hao had no intention of granting his wish.
"With your strength? You're not worthy!"
Li Hao's voice rang out as golden light surged from his body, and his Extreme Realm manifested.
Aside from the Immortal power, all of his other extreme realms were on full display, and the Eternal Dao Domain descended. At the same time, his Heavenly Meridians revealed his Dharma Aspect.
Li Hao merged with his Dharma Aspect, and in an instant, the immense power of the Dharma Aspect flowed into his Dao Domain. As the Eternal Dao Domain expanded with the strength of the Dharma Aspect, the entire battlefield rumbled and groaned, as if it could barely withstand the pressure.
This was the first time Li Hao had combined the powers of his Dharma Aspect and Dao Domain, unleashing a portion of his true strength.
As the Dao Domain spread, space itself seemed to distort, and even time appeared to freeze under the Eternal Dao Domain.
Eternal and unbreakable in an instant.
Li Hao raised his hand, summoning the blade of "功名" (Gongming) from the space of heaven and earth.
The Dao Domain expanded, pressing toward Qiu Tianlü's Saintly Embryo like an unstoppable force, pushing everything before it.
Qiu Tianlü responded by using the power of the Saintly Embryo to extend his own Dao Domain—a domain composed of 108 layers of intertwined law: the Law of the Stars and Heavens.
Yet, under the pressure of the Eternal Dao Domain, the Star and Heaven Laws were immediately extinguished, shattering like a glass dome.
Qiu Tianlü's expression shifted slightly. His Dao Domain, greatly enhanced by the Saintly Embryo, was crumbling with alarming speed.
As the Eternal Dao Domain encroached, he realized that its power was far greater than it had appeared during his earlier observations of Li Hao's battles.
"Only me… cut!!"
Li Hao's energy surged, his golden hair flaring, as he swung Gongming. At that moment, his Dao Domain, Dharma Aspect, and swordsmanship merged into one.
Many had seen Li Hao employ each of these techniques separately in previous battles.
Each technique had been enough to defeat a Supreme Saint disciple. Now, for the first time, they were witnessing all three combined.
In the waiting area, Wu Tian, Lin Zhuo, Bai Yuan, and others stared wide-eyed, their gazes fixed on the towering Dharma Aspect, which held within its hands a fearsome sword light.
The pressure of that single sword strike was a hundred times more intense than before. Everyone on the battlefield, and even on the Sacred Mountain itself, felt a terrifying sword intent sweeping over them like the sting of a razor-sharp blade. It made their skin crawl, their bodies tremble.
Was this the full extent of the boy's power?
Boom!
Li Hao's sword light slashed out in an instant, drawing a bright line across the heavens.
For a brief moment, all other sights and sounds were cut off, and nothing remained but the blinding sword light that shot forth, its brilliance magnified by the Eternal Dao Domain.
As the sword cleaved through space, many of the Saints watching grew somber.
The Saint of Yuan Zu Sacred Land quietly activated his power, weaving it into the protective formation. The previous formation might not have been enough to withstand this strike.
Qiu Tianlü's expression also grew serious. The Eternal Dao Domain had frozen space, but when it reached his Saintly Embryo, the embryonic Saintly power within acted as a barrier, preventing the Domain from encroaching further. Still, he felt the pressure mounting, like a hundred thousand mountains weighing down on him, and he knew that even the slightest lapse in focus would crush him completely.
"Heavenly Law and Order!"
Qiu Tianlü summoned the embryonic Saintly power, his Saintly Embryo raising a hand to summon a dense force of law, as though all creation was bound by its commandments.
With a low growl, Qiu Tianlü grasped at Li Hao's sword light, intending to crush it with his hand.
The two immense forces collided, and the sky lost its color. A brilliant explosion of light drowned out both Dharma Aspects.
A rumbling shockwave rippled through the battlefield, causing the entire Heavenly Yuan Sacred Mountain to tremble.
The tremors were so strong that many onlookers nearly lost their footing.
These vibrations transmitted through the Heavenview Stone, reaching the many onlookers across the divine kingdoms. Although they couldn't feel the direct impact, the intensity of the duel was still made apparent by the trembling earth.
"Is this really a battle between Dao Law cultivators? It feels more like a Saintly clash!"
"This is too ridiculous! I think my eyes are going blind!"
"Such pure sword intent… even watching through the Heavenview Stone makes my heart race."
Countless people were left in awe, straining to see who had emerged victorious.
As the light gradually faded, the two towering Dharma Aspects still stood like immovable stone pillars.
Yet something astonishing had occurred—there was a deep gash across the hand of Qiu Tianlü's Saintly Embryo, as if it had almost been severed.
On Li Hao's side, his Dao Domain remained intact, its energy still surging.
"His sword was able to wound a Saintly power!"
"That's not true Saintly power—it's just the embryonic form of a Saint and a shadow of his past life."
"Still, that's terrifying."
In the waiting area, everyone was left in shock, their eyes filled with astonishment.
What kind of monsters were these two?
Among the crowd, Xiao Tianyu's brow furrowed deeply, his expression more serious than ever before.
Lin Qingying, Ji Xuan Shen, and the others were all shocked, their faces betraying a growing sense of unease.
This Qiu Tianlü was clearly different from the other Sacred Sons. The power he wielded was far more fearsome. Compared to Lin Zhuo and Bai Yuan, he was clearly on another level, and that was why he was considered a top contender for the title of champion.
On the battlefield, Li Hao's eyes focused sharply. He hadn't expected his sword strike to be blocked.
His "Only Me" sword, which had absorbed countless other sword techniques, had failed to fully sever Qiu Tianlü's Saintly Embryo.
Saintly power… Li Hao's gaze hardened. Did Qiu Tianlü really think he could suppress him with the shadow of his past life?
Li Hao knew that relying on his "Only Me" sword alone wouldn't be enough. Even the "Immortal's Guidance" technique wouldn't suffice… not against someone like Qiu Tianlü.
"So, this was your strongest strike. Now it's my turn," Qiu Tianlü said as he withdrew his hand. Looking at the sword scar across his Saintly Embryo's palm, his eyes flashed with killing intent. He hadn't expected his Saintly Embryo to be nearly severed by a single sword strike. Li Hao's attack had far exceeded his expectations, but it had come to an end.
The aura around Qiu Tianlü began to surge once more, and he raised his hand again. His eyes gleamed with law and order. While other prodigies might have comprehended two or three forms of Dao, Qiu Tianlü's pursuit was the Heavenly Law itself, and the Dao of all creation. Only once he grasped every path would he reach the end of his journey.
At that point, his Saintly Dao would be complete, and he would ascend to become a Supreme Saint.
As his Saintly Embryo raised its hand again, a massive pen appeared in its grasp.
The pen resembled a traditional writing brush, and in the hands of the Saintly Embryo, it seemed as though an ancient Saint were preparing to inscribe a new chapter in the heavens.
"Suppress!"
As the ink from the brush flowed, a single word took form: 镇 (Zhen), meaning "suppress." The power of law and order radiated from it, and Qiu Tianlü's eyes turned cold.
With a thunderous boom, this force surged toward Li Hao, like an inescapable weight pressing down. It forced its way through Li Hao's Eternal Dao Domain, pressing its immense weight onto him.
Even with the Eternal Dao Domain's incredible strength, half of its power was consumed just trying to repel this force. The remainder crashed into Li Hao's Dharma Aspect like a towering mountain.
Li Hao felt the pressure bearing down on him, recognizing the unstoppable will of a Saint behind it. This was the residual power of Qiu Tianlü's past Saintly life.
The Saintly Dao—what was the Saintly Dao? It was the Dao recognized by the heavens, the path endorsed by the power of the world itself.
Li Hao wasn't just fighting Qiu Tianlü's Saintly Dao. He was challenging the very power of the heavens.
Immortal?
Li Hao had no intention of using it.
Instead, in response to the overwhelming pressure, he activated the embryonic form of his own Saintly Dao.
The previously nascent sprout of his Dao had already begun to take shape, manifesting as the Path of All Beings.
But it was not the ultimate source of his power.
At this moment, Li Hao felt as though he was on the verge of grasping that ultimate source.
Yet this fleeting sensation was elusive. In such a critical moment, he had no time to seize it fully.
"For now, I'll use the surface manifestation to break your Saintly power!"
Li Hao's eyes gleamed coldly as sword light once again erupted from his hand. This time, he merged the embryonic form of the Path of All Beings with his "Only Me" sword.
Qiu Tianlü had been using the embryonic form of his Saintly Dao to tap into his past Saintly power. Li Hao would use his own embryonic form to destroy it.
Boom!
Li Hao swung his sword once more, and this time, it shone with countless brilliant hues.
The sword light reflected the many sword paths Li Hao had comprehended.
The Path of Gentle Swordsmanship, the Path of Void Swordsmanship, the Path of Sun and Moon Swordsmanship, the Path of Ice and Snow Swordsmanship… and more.
Each of these sword paths was a facet of the Saintly Dao—the Path of All Beings!
In the waiting area, though Hao Yue Sacred Son's eyes were wide open, his vision remained dark. Yet as he felt the myriad energies swirling around him, he struggled to open his eyes even wider and asked anxiously:
"Master, is it you who has made a move?"
Lin Qingying's sword had not only destroyed Hao Yue Sacred Son's Sun and Moon Divine Eyes, but it had also severed his connection to his spirit. Even in his spirit form, his vision was blocked by her Void Swordsmanship.
On the other side of the viewing area, Bian Ruxue stood frozen in shock.
That dazzling sword strike, that all-encompassing blade.
It was her master's swordsmanship!
The Path of All Beings!
When she had first arrived in the Sacred Lands of the Saints, she had witnessed this very sword strike—a strike so radiant, so magnificent, that it defied description.
And it was that sword strike that had, for a brief moment, allowed her to glimpse the ultimate swordsmanship.
The splendor of that sword had exceeded her imagination, and she had long regarded it as the pinnacle of the sword path. But now, she was witnessing that same sword being wielded by Li Hao.
The same sword, just as resplendent, just as awe-inspiring.
Many Saints in the audience turned their gazes toward the Sword Saint, wondering if he had passed on his swordsmanship to Li Hao.
The Sword Saint himself had only sent an avatar to watch the event. Upon seeing Li Hao use the Path of All Beings, even he couldn't hide a subtle change in his expression.
As for the Sword Master, he was taken aback.
He knew that his junior brother, the Sword Saint, had not passed down this technique to anyone. Yet here was Li Hao, wielding it with flawless precision.
For a moment, his gaze grew complicated.
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