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Chapter 349: Defeating the Buddha Son, Spreading Across the Heavens
🕑 Added 2024-10-02 07:56:05 +0000 UTCBang!
As Feng Bo Ping's Celestial Thievery Saint Dao took effect, the Buddha Lord's power was continuously siphoned, leaving him weaker and more ethereal until his form shattered under a blast of Feng Bo Ping's heavenly tribulation lightning.
At that moment, a radiant Buddha light suddenly shone from behind the Sacred Mountain of the Buddhist Sect—it was the Buddha Lord's true form. The figure on the Buddha Hall was merely a reflection of his incarnation. As the incarnation dissipated, the Buddha Lord's true body emerged, and with a gesture, an infinite Buddha light enveloped the surroundings, illuminating the Buddha Hall with brilliant golden rays, creating a domain that resembled a Buddha Kingdom.
Feng Bo Ping sneered coldly and released his own domain, the Celestial Thievery Extreme Domain. Within his domain, Saint Dao energy flowed, clashing with the Buddha Lord's domain and continuously stealing power from the Buddha's domain.
In a prolonged battle, Feng Bo Ping only grew stronger as he continuously absorbed his opponent's strength.
Sensing Feng Bo Ping's troublesome abilities, the Buddha Lord's expression darkened. He murmured, "A flower is not a flower, and fruit is fruit. Stealing external power will never truly be yours. If you try to imitate me, you will only fail."
Suddenly, his body expanded, revealing a towering figure. He purposefully offered power to Feng Bo Ping, but this force carried the essence of his Saint Dao of Equality, which instead suppressed the strength within Feng Bo Ping's body.
Feng Bo Ping chuckled dismissively as his Saint Dao churned, instantly breaking through this restraint.
"Crafted by divine hands, my theft is not like yours. All things are for me to take!"
He reached out to grasp the Buddha light, activating his thieving Dao to steal the Buddha Lord's emotions, his seven desires and six senses, intending to capture his mind.
However, as Feng Bo Ping's Saint Dao took effect, he found that the Buddha Lord's mind was strangely empty, devoid of desires or emotions, as if it were a hollow stone.
Feng Bo Ping murmured in surprise. He refused to believe that the Buddha Lord had no desires. If that were the case, why establish the Buddhist Sect and absorb the incense of faith? Even the pursuit of transcendence to the other shore was a form of desire. True desirelessness would leave him as nothing more than an empty shell.
Soon, Feng Bo Ping realized that the Buddha Lord had hidden all his desires within his Saint Dao, making them impossible to detect.
The Buddha Lord, perceiving Feng Bo Ping's approach, projected a surge of compassion, as though offering it willingly. Feng Bo Ping inadvertently absorbed it, only to find thoughts of relinquishing everything and embracing the Buddhist path stirring within him. He immediately severed these thoughts.
The clash between their Saint Daos was entirely unlike ordinary techniques—it was filled with lethal traps at every turn.
As their Saint Daos collided, neither side gave an inch. Simultaneously, the Buddha Lord unleashed a series of top-tier Buddhist abilities, attempting to suppress Feng Bo Ping. However, Feng Bo Ping wielded his heavenly tribulation lightning, shattering each Buddhist technique with ease.
Countless onlookers watched, dazzled by the display. A battle between saints was impossible for ordinary people to comprehend, yet the overwhelming force of the Buddha light seemed to blanket the entire Sacred Mountain, leaving the crowd in awe.
For Li Hao, this was the first time witnessing a saint's battle, and he could clearly sense the extraordinary power of the Saint Dao. The Saint Dao served as a bridge, allowing them to draw endlessly from the forces of heaven and earth, much like the ascension to immortality, with no end to the power they could use. Their combat took place on this bridge, fighting amidst the natural forces, and their strength was stolen from one another.
Li Hao slowly came to understand that in a saint's battle, victory wasn't about strengthening oneself but about seizing power from the opponent.
Cultivation could only go so far, as the body had its limits. But within the same world, stealing another's strength was the most effective way to enhance oneself.
"Feng Lao…" Li Hao's eyes filled with worry, unsure if Feng Lao could prevail. The battle between saints was something beyond his comprehension; the tides of power shifted rapidly, making it impossible to discern who had the upper hand.
Wen Sheng and the Sword Saint wore solemn expressions, clearly able to see the truth. Neither of them had yet survived their heavenly tribulation, lacking the indestructibility granted by the calamities. But now, they could observe that neither of the two saints could easily kill the other. Having survived the heavenly tribulation, both had gained an undying quality.
To defeat the other, one would have to destroy their opponent's Saint Dao. However, as it stood, their Saint Daos were evenly matched, making it difficult to determine a victor.
A battle between saints of equal standing was not something that could be resolved in just a few moves. Despite the intensity of the fight, it could drag on for days or even nights, but time meant nothing to saints who could draw power from the heavens. They would not tire.
Boom!
A blast of Buddha light was deflected, crashing into distant Buddhist buildings, reducing them to rubble.
The force of their clash left the millions of spectators trembling with fear. Such apocalyptic scenes had never been witnessed before.
It felt as if the invincible paths of the Dao were collapsing. The sky filled with Buddha light turned a shade of crimson, like the bloodied scene of an apocalypse, as if the heavens themselves were torn apart.
"Amitabha! The Boundless Sea of Buddha, Immeasurable Seal!"
Suddenly, a low chant resonated from behind the Sacred Mountain of the Buddhist Sect. A radiant Buddha light emerged, and with it, a massive palm print descended along the light.
The palm print instantly obscured the sky above the sacred land, blanketing the light, covering the sun and moon. It was an immense Buddha palm, seeming to crush the mountaintop entirely.
As the Buddha palm descended, filled with the boundless wisdom of Buddha's scriptures, Feng Bo Ping's face tightened. He raised his hand, summoning a mass of heavenly tribulation lightning from his palm. The lightning transformed into a dazzling silver spear and was hurled forward.
The spear pierced through the Buddha palm, tearing a hole through it, and the endless tribulation lightning scattered into countless silver threads.
Wen Sheng and the Sword Saint's faces changed as they turned toward the Buddhist Sect. They saw a Buddha clad in a crimson robe, seated on a lotus platform, slowly floating into view. Before him, there was a green oil lamp.
The flame on the oil lamp flickered weakly, swaying amidst the roaring winds, yet it did not go out.
They both knew this was the second saint of the Buddhist Sect—Qing Deng Buddha.
Feng Bo Ping also noticed him, narrowing his eyes, though his expression remained fearless.
"It's Qing Deng Buddha, the second saint of the Buddhist Sect!"
"I've heard Qing Deng Buddha has cultivated for an extremely long time and is very mysterious. Although his temples are few, his followers are all nobles and royals."
"An unlit room for a thousand years, a single lamp shines bright. Qing Deng Buddha is known as the eternal lamp of the Buddhist Sect, and it's said his cultivation years surpass even the Buddha Lord!"
The appearance of Qing Deng Buddha stirred an excited discussion among the spectators.
Even Jue Ming's expression changed slightly upon seeing Qing Deng Buddha, and he immediately lowered his head.
Qing Deng Buddha's face was expressionless—neither compassionate nor filled with killing intent. The green oil lamp on his lotus platform suddenly glowed with a hazy green light.
He raised his hand, using Buddhist teachings as oil to light the lamp. In an instant, the Buddha light surged like golden flames, sweeping across the sky.
"The Buddha Kingdom of All Phenomena, Samsara of the Other Shore!"
Qing Deng Buddha's voice was soft, but under the cover of his Buddha light, his domain expanded, and a black extreme light appeared, as though capable of seizing all life.
Feng Bo Ping's eyes narrowed as he retracted his Celestial Thievery Domain.
At the same time, the Buddha Lord attacked, his thousand-fold palm prints appearing behind him. These were the techniques accumulated from his thousands of lifetimes of hardship, and now he unleashed them all at once to suppress Feng Bo Ping, hoping to make him endure a thousand lifetimes of suffering.
Boom!
Feng Bo Ping's body suddenly vanished, reappearing before Qing Deng Buddha. He reached out to the green lamp, his Celestial Thievery power extending toward it, and the lamp's flame flickered violently as a portion of the lamp oil was stolen.
Qing Deng Buddha remained expressionless, his eyes flashing with green light. In Feng Bo Ping's hand, the stolen lamp oil suddenly ignited, turning into green flames that spread rapidly, enveloping his entire body in a blaze.
The burning figure struggled briefly before dissolving into the wind.
Qing Deng Buddha looked up, only to see Feng Bo Ping standing unharmed in another location. The figure that had reached for the lamp oil had merely been an incarnation.
"Little rascal, get ready. We're pulling out."
On the battle platform, Li Hao was filled with worry, but suddenly, he heard Feng Lao's voice in his mind.
He paused for a moment before feeling a sense of relief.
If Feng Lao were to truly engage in a life-or-death struggle here with the Buddhist Sect, it wouldn't end well. After all, this was the Buddhist Sect's domain, and Feng Lao was alone, without support. It would be difficult for him to gain any advantage.
Now that Feng Lao intended to withdraw, Li Hao scanned the crowd below, recognizing several familiar faces. Among them were Yao Zu, and the others who had supported him earlier, like Zhan Tan and Ye Zu. However, they were all focused on the saintly battle in the sky, entranced by the spectacle.
But one pair of eyes remained fixed on him.
As Li Hao looked over, their gazes met.
Li Hao's eyes flickered as he smiled gently at Lin Qing Ying, reassuring her not to worry.
He knew this was not the time to get entangled, as it would only drag her into his troubles.
With the Sword Saint protecting her, and being the Holy Maiden of the Sword Ancestor's Sacred Land, the Buddhist Sect wouldn't dare to harm her easily.
Li Hao withdrew his gaze, suddenly remembering that he was still stepping on the Twin Buddha Child.
His eyes flashed coldly. Earlier, he had held back, worried that the Buddha Lord might intervene if he took it too far, but since the Buddha Lord had already made his move, there was no longer any need for restraint.
With that, his power surged.
"You!"
Sensing Li Hao's killing intent, the Twin Buddha Child's expression changed drastically.
Although Li Hao had suppressed him earlier, the Twin Buddha Child knew that Li Hao hadn't dared to kill him due to fear of the Buddha Lord's intervention. But now, things were different.
His eyes flashed with rage and desperation as he roared for help, his body bursting with the final remnants of his Buddha and demonic powers.
But the Eternal Dao Domain mercilessly crushed him, pinning him deeper into the ground. Li Hao raised his hand, and within his domain, countless sword energies, like needle-like rays, pierced through the Twin Buddha Child's body in an instant, riddling it with holes.
Blood sprayed everywhere as the Twin Buddha Child's power was completely shattered. His skull cracked, and his body was torn apart, quickly turning into a pool of blood.
Li Hao didn't stop there. He knew the Twin Buddha Child could regenerate from a single drop of blood, but regeneration had its limitations. Now, Li Hao's sword energy, like an endless dragon, swept through the air, slashing through every drop of blood, severing them completely.
Before he had attacked, Li Hao had already activated the fatal attribute of his ability.
Now, with every attack triggering his ability at super speed, the fatal attribute continued to activate, even if the chances were only one in a hundred. It kept triggering one after another.
Each drop of blood was extinguished, and a desperate scream echoed from within one drop, only to be silenced immediately.
The commotion drew the attention of some onlookers, and when they saw Li Hao on the platform, turning the Twin Buddha Child into a bloody pulp, gasps of horror erupted.
The top prodigy of the Buddhist Sect, the reincarnation of a saint, had been utterly slaughtered by Li Hao!
Outside the platform, Jue Ming and several other Buddhist Half-Saints noticed the sudden change and, after a moment of shock, erupted into fury, rushing toward Li Hao.
The earlier rules of the battle for the prodigy spots seemed to have vanished in the face of a saintly battle, and now, the Buddhist Sect aimed to recover the Twin Buddha Child's blood. If they could save even a single drop, the Twin Buddha Child could survive.
If he perished here, he would have to reincarnate once more, losing his place in this round of the prodigy battle.
"You beast, stop!"
The nearest, Jue Ming, roared in fury, his Buddha eyes blazing with rage as he slammed his palm down toward Li Hao.
Li Hao's eyes flashed with fierceness. Earlier, he had held back out of caution, avoiding revealing his full strength, knowing that showing his sixth extreme realm too early might attract the attention of saints. But now that his identity was exposed, there was no need for such restraint.
Ascension to Immortality!
In an instant, Li Hao revealed his sixth extreme realm, and the power of the heavens surged toward him.
The meridians of the world appeared behind Li Hao like a hurricane, their vast power converging on the battlefield. Standing there, Li Hao resembled a war god in his prime.
Faced with the approaching Buddhist Half-Saints, his eyes blazed as he roared, "Suppress!!"
The Eternal Dao Domain appeared like a vast furnace, enveloping the scene with endless sword energy. Under the immense power of his Ascension to Immortality, his domain was significantly enhanced, and it crushed all the approaching Buddhist Half-Saints within it.
His domain was impervious to group attacks, and even as multiple Half-Saints rushed at him, they were all blocked and suppressed.
Seeing this, the crowd was once again left speechless. Was this the true strength of the young prodigy?
Even while suppressing the Half-Saints, Li Hao didn't stop, continuing to obliterate every last drop of the Twin Buddha Child's blood. In just a few moments, all the blood had been annihilated!
The Twin Buddha Child's blood wasn't divine blood, so eliminating it was even easier.
Everything had happened in an instant. When the final drop of blood was destroyed, Qing Deng Buddha's brow furrowed, and a flicker of anger flashed in his eyes.
He raised his hand and flicked a drop of green lamp oil toward Li Hao.
The lamp oil pierced through the Eternal Dao Domain, igniting as it burned its way toward Li Hao, setting his domain ablaze!
Li Hao could feel his domain burning, his power being consumed. His face changed as he realized that the lamp oil carried an unstoppable Saint Dao power.
"A saint bullying a junior, shameless!"
Feng Bo Ping's voice rang out. Just as the green lamp drew near, Feng Lao's figure appeared beside Li Hao. Grabbing Li Hao, Feng Lao shifted him to another location while extinguishing the relentless green flame.
"How dare you be so ruthless!"
The Buddha Lord's consciousness swiftly spread out to investigate, only to find that the Twin Buddha Child's aura had truly vanished. Li Hao had killed him completely!
Despite his ability to regenerate from a drop of blood, the Twin Buddha Child had been utterly annihilated as Li Hao destroyed every trace of his blood.
"You broke the rules and killed a Buddha Child. Your sins cannot be forgiven!"
The Buddha Lord glared down at Li Hao, his expression stern and filled with a cold fury.
Feng Bo Ping scoffed, "It's fine for you to break the rules first, but others can't retaliate? We're not sticking around today. When Haotian becomes a saint, we'll come back to settle the score!"
With that, he didn't waste any more words. Summoning his Saint Dao, he enveloped Li Hao and prepared to leave.
"Come and go as you please? It won't be that easy!"
Qing Deng Buddha's cold voice echoed, filled with the weight of ancient laws. To ordinary ears, it was like a mysterious, ancient whisper, impossible to fully comprehend.
Outside the Buddhist Sect's sacred grounds, defensive restrictions suddenly activated, and a radiant Buddha light shot toward Feng Bo Ping.
Moving with a strange and unpredictable speed, Feng Bo Ping dodged out of sight, but the Buddha light pursued relentlessly. He noticed that Qing Deng Buddha's forehead had opened a third eye—the Buddha Eye—which was tracking his every move.
Boom!
The Buddha light struck, and Feng Bo Ping turned to counter it, resulting in a loud explosion that sent him stumbling slightly.
His face darkened as his figure blurred once more, activating his Saint Dao to steal the gaps between heaven and earth. His movement was eerily unpredictable, and in an instant, he reappeared thousands of miles away from the Buddhist Sect.
In Li Hao's eyes, the once towering and grand Buddhist Sect appeared minuscule in the distance. This was thanks to his strong body and extraordinary vision. An ordinary person wouldn't have been able to see the Sacred Mountain at all from such a distance.
They had arrived in a desolate land, but Feng Bo Ping didn't stop there. He grabbed Li Hao and continued moving.
Back at the Sacred Mountain of the Buddhist Sect, Qing Deng Buddha's face was dark. Feng Bo Ping's movement technique was too fast, and the Saint known as the "Thieving Saint" had been famous for this ability. Even ten years ago, before he had overcome the heavenly tribulation, he had been able to move freely between sacred lands. Now that he had survived the tribulation, it was likely that no one short of the Supreme Saints could stop him.
In just a few moments, Qing Deng Buddha had already lost track of Feng Bo Ping's presence with his Buddha Eye.
Feng Bo Ping had come quickly and left just as swiftly. With his departure, the saintly battle atop the Buddhist Sect's Sacred Mountain came to an end.
Everyone was left dumbfounded. As they returned to their senses, they looked around, trying to catch sight of the Thieving Saint, but there was nothing to see. Even the peerless youth who had stood on the battle platform had vanished.
"Haotian was taken away by the Thieving Saint!"
"That was terrifying! Is that what a battle between saints looks like? I couldn't understand a thing, but it was incredible!"
"Forget about the saintly battle. Did I really just see Haotian use his Dao Domain to suppress so many Buddhist Half-Saints? Am I seeing things?"
The crowd buzzed with conversation. The unexpected twists in the quota battle had left everyone in awe. Some speculated that the events of today might spread beyond the Canglan Realm, reaching the worlds beyond.
"The Twin Buddha Child has been killed!"
"I thought he could regenerate from a drop
of blood? Why isn't he regenerating?"
"I saw Haotian continuously using sword energy to attack the blood. It seemed like he severed the essence within every drop of blood!"
The scene of the ground covered in blood, yet devoid of any sign of regeneration, left the spectators in shock. The once invincible Twin Buddha Child, who could regenerate from a single drop of blood, had been completely annihilated.
In the sacred land atop the mountain, aside from the clamoring spectators, the faces of many Buddhist Half-Saints were grim, their expressions flickering between anger and disbelief.
They had all acted simultaneously, and yet a single young man had managed to suppress them all together. It was beyond comprehension.
Today, a tiger had been released back into the wild, and should that young man ascend to sainthood in the future, he would certainly become a major threat to the Buddhist Sect.
Qing Deng Buddha glanced at the Buddha Lord, saying nothing as his figure gradually faded, disappearing from the temple.
The Buddha Lord's expression was somber, his earlier smile gone. Feng Bo Ping's parting words had planted a thorn in his heart, for he understood that the young man Haotian had already begun nurturing a Saint Dao seed. Given enough time, he would eventually develop a Saint Dao of his own. Once he attained the Half-Saint realm, and if he could accumulate sufficient incense offerings, there was no doubt he would step into sainthood.
And with Feng Bo Ping offering his protection, it was only a matter of time before Haotian amassed the needed incense to become a saint.
After a moment of silence, the Buddha Lord chanted a mantra under his breath, his expression emotionless as he recited:
"This child has already fallen into the demonic path. Once he cultivates into a great demon, I, as a disciple of Buddha, hereby vow to summon the world to hunt him down. Whoever provides information on him shall be rewarded with a Buddhist treasure. Whoever brings his head shall be granted the incense of three hundred cities!"
Hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.
The incense from three hundred cities could help a Half-Saint transcend to sainthood!
Such an extravagant reward was unheard of, essentially putting Haotian on par with a saint-level target.
Many people were tempted, but when they thought of Haotian's terrifying strength and the fact that he had the backing of a Three Calamity Saint, they knew that trying to claim his head would be as difficult as killing a freshly transcended saint.
The four stages of sainthood—Human, Earth, and Heaven calamities—each correspond to a level of a saint: Human Saint, Earth Saint, and Heaven Saint. Only after surviving all three calamities can a saint achieve perfection and become a Supreme Saint.
"If Haotian won the Canglan Realm's first place, and he is killed, then who will represent our Canglan Realm in the Supreme Prodigy Battle?"
"Exactly. With Haotian's strength, he could easily stand among the best even among the heavens. He might even have a chance of winning first place! If he were to claim victory in the Supreme Prodigy Battle, the Canglan Realm's fortunes would drastically increase, and our spiritual energy would surge!"
"Our Canglan Realm is one of the twenty-three lower realms. If Haotian were to claim first place in the Supreme Prodigy Battle, our realm might even have the chance to ascend and become the tenth middle realm!"
While many were shocked by the Buddha Lord's decree, they couldn't help but voice concerns about the broader implications. After all, Haotian had won first place in the Canglan Realm's quota battle and was slated to represent them in the Supreme Prodigy Battle. Regardless of his character, he was now the champion that could elevate the Canglan Realm, yet the Buddha Sect had placed a bounty on his head. This was a direct affront to the interests of the entire realm.
The Buddha Lord's cold gaze swept over the gathered crowd, aware of the brewing dissent. He continued, "The quota battle for the prodigy spots has now concluded. Although this demonic child is violent and ruthless, he still represents our Canglan Realm in the Supreme Prodigy Battle. Before the battle ends, the Buddha Sect will not act against him. The previous kill order only applies after the Supreme Prodigy Battle."
Wen Sheng cast a sidelong glance at the Buddha Lord and shook his head slightly.
The Buddha Sect had labeled the youth as demonic, and as disciples of Buddha, they had bound themselves to confront demons. It was as if they had placed themselves on a pedestal with no way to descend.
Furthermore, Haotian had slain the Twin Buddha Child. If the Buddha Sect did not show its fury, it would risk losing face and being looked down upon by the masses.
However, Haotian's victory had left the people conflicted. They knew he was deemed a demon, yet they were also aware that he could bring great fortune to the Canglan Realm. While some might have wanted to see him punished, others hoped that the Buddha Sect would show leniency, knowing that he could elevate their entire realm.
Those who stood to benefit from Haotian's victory saw him not as a demon, but as a hero.
It was ironic, but it was reality.
Hearing the Buddha Lord's words, the murmurs of dissent gradually subsided. Some of the Buddha Sect's disciples began chanting, praising the Buddha Lord's mercy and magnanimity.
And thus, the quota battle drew to a close. The top ten names were announced, with Haotian still among them. After he had slain the Twin Buddha Child, the question of who would claim the first spot was no longer in doubt.
Lin Shuhai, Holy Son of the Moon, and Chi Guang, along with many other prodigies, wore complicated expressions.
Who could have foreseen that this battle for the title of top prodigy would unfold as it had?
The Twin Buddha Child had been slain by Haotian, and Haotian had been forced to flee due to the wrath of the Buddha Sect. No one could predict what would happen in the upcoming Supreme Prodigy Battle.
As the excitement faded and the spectators began to descend from the mountain, Chi Guang's face remained conflicted. This battle had been an eye-opener for him. Haotian's clash with the Twin Buddha Child had displayed a level of power far beyond his reach. He had always believed himself to be the top of his generation, but now he realized just how far he still had to go.
As the Supreme Prodigy Battle approached, he knew that the top ten competitors would all be on Haotian's level—or even stronger. He had no illusions about his chances of finishing in the top ten.
With his fists clenched, Chi Guang turned and left. The only way forward now was to shut himself away and cultivate.
Lin Shuhai and the other prodigies were similarly shaken. The image of that peerless figure lingered in their minds, and they all resolved to continue their training. By the time the Supreme Prodigy Battle began in half a year, they hoped to have made significant improvements.
The Sword Saint cast a glance at his disciple, noting the fluctuations in the Dao aura around Bian Ruxue's body. Her Dao heart seemed to be wavering.
His brow furrowed slightly as he swept her up and returned to the Sword Ancestor's Sacred Land.
The other prodigies, including the Holy Son of the Moon, also followed Yao Zu and the other Half-Saints back to the Sword Ancestor's Sacred Land.
Although this battle had ended in the Buddhist Sect's holy land, it sparked heated discussions throughout the Canglan Realm. People everywhere were talking about the many surprising events of this clash.
Back in the Sword Ancestor's Sacred Land, in the Sword Saint's courtyard.
He gazed calmly at his disciple, who stood with her head lowered. In a soft voice, he asked, "Your Dao heart is unsettled, and it seems to be deeply connected to that young man. Do you know him?"
If it was merely a result of being shaken by his power, she wouldn't be reacting this way.
Bian Ruxue's heart trembled when she heard her master's question. She knew he could see through her; it would be impossible to hide the truth from him.
Besides, she had no desire to hide it. The only problem was that her mind was a swirl of conflicting thoughts, causing her to doubt herself.
Looking up at her master's deep and tranquil gaze, she felt a sense of calm wash over her heart. In a quiet voice, she said, "He is the fiancé I told you about, the one from my days in the mortal world."
The Sword Saint's eyes flickered with a trace of surprise. Though he had anticipated the possibility, he hadn't expected their relationship to be this intimate.
The young prodigy, whose swordsmanship was so dazzling, was his disciple's fiancé?
He had brought Bian Ruxue to the Holy Land of the Saints from the mortal realm and had learned a little about her past, but he hadn't investigated in depth. Now, he questioned her further.
Bian Ruxue recounted everything, from beginning to end.
The courtyard was silent for a time after she finished.
"So, you're saying you were able to embark on the path of the sword, and your exceptional sword talent was due to the casual guidance of that young man?"
The Sword Saint's eyes narrowed slightly.
She had mentioned that the boy had never been fond of practicing the sword. Instead, he had shown a keen interest in things like painting, music, and calligraphy.
He recalled the time he had sensed someone spying on him and had seen that youth carving an image of him—a second time, just as Bian Ruxue had described. It was clear that the boy had remarkable skill in such arts.
"If what you say is true, then even if he were the reincarnation of a saint, such swordsmanship is difficult to explain. Unless…"
"Unless what?" Bian Ruxue asked, her heart racing with a vague sense of unease.
"Unless… he is the reincarnation of a Sword Immortal."
The Sword Saint whispered, his voice calm and composed. "Or perhaps, he is one of those exceedingly rare sword prodigies—one in a billion, a true peerless talent in the way of the sword."
Bian Ruxue froze, stunned by her master's high evaluation of Li Hao.
"Sword Immortals are merely legends, ethereal and elusive. Compared to that…" The Sword Saint glanced at his disciple but stopped short of continuing.
Rather than believing in the possibility of a Sword Immortal reincarnating, it seemed far more likely that the young man was simply an unprecedented sword prodigy.
Even so, the Sword Saint couldn't help but feel a tinge of admiration for the boy's talent. He had never seen anything like it, and that included himself.
Not practicing swordsmanship yet entering the path of the sword at such a young age—under thirty years old—was unheard of. To say this aloud would cause any sword practitioner to become enraged and lose their Dao heart.
"However, he's now provoked the Buddhist Sect. The public manhunt against him is merely a facade; their real attempts on his life will likely come from elsewhere. His situation will be incredibly dangerous unless he stays under the protection of Feng Bo Ping or seeks sanctuary with a powerful master. But you mentioned that he has no master, and that the Sword Ancestor's conjecture was wrong. He truly has no sect."
At this point, the Sword Saint felt a pang of regret.
If only he had known earlier that this boy was unaffiliated with any sect, he would have ensured such a prodigy joined his own. It was an immense opportunity, now missed.
Furthermore, given that Li Hao and his disciple were already betrothed, the two could have grown in swordsmanship together, creating a legendary duo—a story for the ages.
The Sword Saint sighed heavily, a deep sense of loss welling up within him.
Seeing her master's pained expression, Bian Ruxue anxiously asked, "Master, does this mean…"
The Sword Saint knew what she wanted to ask and sighed again. "Since you are so closely tied to him, I will keep an eye out for him. However, he is currently under the protection of Feng Bo Ping. He may not need my help, and you needn't worry. Focus on your cultivation. You've already entered the path of the sword. Since you've chosen this path, there's no turning back."
With these words, the Sword Saint gave his disciple a deep look before motioning for her to leave.
Bian Ruxue hesitated momentarily before quietly retreating.
Shortly after the end of the prodigy battle, news of the shocking events that transpired in the Canglan Realm spread beyond its borders, reaching the worlds across the heavens.
In one of the middle-level Seven Heavenly Realms, within a sacred land:
"This is the projection from the Canglan Realm's prodigy battle. Take a look."
"Master, other than the monstrous geniuses from the top three realms, is there anyone else worth paying attention to?"
"Watch it first."
"This…?"
Within the projection recorded by the realm stones, the battle between Li Hao and the Twin Buddha Child was vividly displayed, including the final twists and turns.
"An Eternal Dao Domain? And it's the eighth extreme realm! Who is this?"
"Qing Feng? Haotian? Never heard of him."
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