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Chapter 344: Haotian, We Meet Again!
🕑 Added 2024-09-27 04:16:46 +0000 UTC"My spear Dao…"
Chi Guang's face was full of horror as he stared in disbelief at the young man before him. His spear Dao, capable of incinerating everything, had been severed by a single sword strike?!
What kind of sword Dao was that? He felt an overwhelming sense of dread—the cutting force of that sword intent was too powerful, as if nothing could stop it.
On the Buddha Hall, Jian Sheng's cold eyes suddenly narrowed, and a flicker of astonishment flashed across his face.
As the supreme master of swordsmanship, he could see more clearly than others. That single sword strike contained countless layers of sword intent, hundreds, even thousands! Such an extreme level of sword intent, incorporated into one's own sword Dao, made the sword Dao itself indestructible—utterly terrifying! Jian Sheng cultivated the "All Living Beings Sword Dao," first observing the multitude of living beings before cultivating his sword Dao. The path was remarkably similar to Li Hao's, and the level of swordsmanship Li Hao displayed at this moment was no weaker than his own.
If they fought at the same cultivation level, it was uncertain who would be the stronger swordsman!
Wen Sheng's eyes glimmered with an aura of wisdom, as if intricate laws gathered in his gaze. He squinted and said:
"What an extraordinary youth. In less than a hundred years, he's managed to refine his skill to such a degree. If given a few more centuries, he might even achieve sanctification through Dao!"
To achieve sainthood within a thousand years was already considered extremely rare, let alone in a few hundred years. His words were an immense praise for Li Hao.
Below the stage, Zhantan sat alongside a few other half-saint figures—Night Ancestor, Azure Ancestor, and others who had come to support Li Hao.
When they saw the sword that severed the formation, they all exchanged bewildered glances.
"Qing Feng's sword…"
"His sword Dao is actually this terrifying?!"
As half-saints, their skills had reached the Dao-entering stage. However, even at the same level, there were hierarchies in one's Dao. Jian Sheng's "All Living Beings Dao" was far more complex and terrifying than other sword Daos.
Zhantan was momentarily dazed. For the past few days, Li Hao had only discussed the path of painting with her and had never once picked up his sword. She never expected that when he finally did, it would be so fearsome.
"His strength is on par with Qing Jiu."
Zhantan murmured to herself, the shock on her face fading as it was replaced by delight.
On the battle platform, Li Hao sheathed his sword and no longer looked at Chi Guang. That sword was enough for the other to understand the gap between them.
His gaze fell on the three Holy Sons of the Buddhist Sect, coldness flickering in his eyes:
"You accuse me of being a demon. Now, I'll give you a chance to subdue a demon. Don't disappoint me!"
As soon as these words left his mouth, the previously silent crowd erupted in shock.
To say such a thing in the sacred land of Buddhism was nothing short of madness!
Chi Guang finally snapped out of his daze, his expression flickering with confusion.
Only now did he realize that he had truly lost.
Just as Li Hao said, he had been defeated by a single sword strike! It took just one sword to defeat him! Chi Guang had concealed his spear Dao, and Li Hao had concealed his sword Dao. This was Li Hao's true sword!
While Chi Guang was still in shock, the three Buddhist Holy Sons finally came to their senses, their expressions filled with fear as they looked at Li Hao.
Even standing next to the platform, they had felt the terrifying power of that sword strike. If Li Hao attacked again, the three of them combined wouldn't be able to defend against it.
"Benefactor, you are far too arrogant!"
"If it weren't for the rules of the Buddhist Sect, we would have subdued you long ago!"
The faces of the three Holy Sons darkened as they spoke.
"As Holy Sons of the Buddhist Sect, how can you not have the courage to face a demon standing before you?!"
Li Hao's eyes suddenly opened, releasing a cold gleam like sharp swords. "Since exorcising demons is your duty, it's time to test your cultivation!"
The three Holy Sons were so infuriated that they nearly spat blood. Test their cultivation? Who did he think he was, their elder?
But seeing the cold gleam in Li Hao's eyes, they knew that even if they fought, it would only bring them shame.
"Qing Feng, do not be too overbearing!"
The half-saint Buddha, riding atop a blue lion, chanted a Buddhist mantra with a frown.
Li Hao nearly laughed. Who was being overbearing? After pouring slander onto him, they now blamed him for fighting back too harshly?
"In this Heavenly Prodigy Battle, all rules apply equally—age, cultivation realm, we all start from the same line. Since you call me a demon, I allow the three of you to attack me together. As Holy Sons of the Buddhist Sect, are you not brave enough to subdue a demon?"
Li Hao's eyes gleamed sharply as he spoke.
Hearing Li Hao's words, the three Holy Sons' faces turned as dark as liver, a deep purple from frustration. At this moment, they cursed the Holy Son Puhua for causing trouble and dragging them into this mess. Why provoke such a monster?
The crowd exchanged glances, realizing that the rules of the Heavenly Prodigy Battle did indeed limit competitors to the same generation. Now that Li Hao was challenging the three, yet they didn't dare attack, many began to feel disappointed in the three Holy Sons.
Weren't they the future Buddhas? How could they retreat in the face of demonic might? How could they protect the people in the future?
As a result, the incense gathering around the three Holy Sons noticeably diminished.
Realizing this, the faces of the three Holy Sons turned pale, filled with a mixture of rage and shock.
Being humiliated was one thing, but when their incense was affected, it was as if their very lifeblood was threatened!
The foundation for attaining sainthood was being shaken—this was akin to having one's parents murdered. It was unforgivable!
"You are too arrogant! Even if I cannot defeat you, I will still extinguish your demonic flames!"
One of the Holy Sons, burning with anger, but maintaining a dignified appearance, chanted a Buddhist mantra. Suddenly, his entire body radiated with a dazzling golden light.
An immense dharma manifestation appeared behind him, connected to heaven and earth. Determined to become a saint, this Holy Son had been an extraordinary prodigy since childhood, gaining fame far and wide. Later, he was taken in by the Buddha himself and became one of the top talents in this sacred land, among countless other geniuses.
The other two Holy Sons also joined in, chanting Buddhist scriptures. The sound of Sanskrit filled the air, and golden Buddhist light illuminated the sky like a setting sun.
The scene was so magnificent that it left the people of the Canglan Realm awestruck.
The incense around the three Holy Sons stopped diminishing, and they now stood solemnly, resolute as if heading towards their deaths. Their dharma manifestations merged with their bodies, and the three of them, like towering Buddhas, stood on the platform, silently communicating as they attacked together.
In an instant, three Buddhist palms descended, their forces connected, forming a single chain. The three palms transformed into a mountain range of Buddhist light, aiming to suppress Li Hao.
"It's the Buddha's Supreme Palm!"
"It encompasses past, present, and future—one of the Buddha's most powerful techniques!"
"One palm to suppress heaven and earth, freezing time and space. Qing Feng is doomed!"
"Challenging all three at once—he's far too arrogant! Our Buddhist Holy Sons are no pushovers!"
In the crowd, many Buddhist disciples exclaimed in excitement, their eyes shining with anticipation.
Lin Shuhai gazed at the mountainous Buddha palms, his face growing solemn. He could see that the three Holy Sons had combined their efforts. Normally, this technique would only partially display its power when used by one person. But with three working together, the full force of this supreme Buddhist palm technique was unleashed!
It was equivalent to a blow from a Dao Realm Buddha! Though there was no sanctified power involved, it was still a world-shaking technique.
On the battle platform, Chi Guang, who had recovered from his shock, saw the Buddhist light descending on Li Hao. His expression shifted, surprised that the Buddhist Holy Sons he had underestimated also possessed such power.
Though it was a combined technique, the fact that they could pose a threat to him was terrifying.
It was said that there was always someone stronger—once again, Chi Guang had witnessed the terrifying strength of other prodigies.
Li Hao looked up, his vision filled with golden light. Beyond the light, three dharma Buddhas loomed, their hands pressing down to suppress him.
Li Hao twirled his sword in his hand, his expression unchanged. Just as before, he raised his hand and swung his sword!
The pitch-black sword energy left a dark scar in the void. The golden light began to crack as if something terrible had invaded it, and the Buddhist light was slashed apart! The combined palm strike meant to suppress him was severed by a single sword strike. The sword energy surged into the sky, sweeping across the battlefield, shattering the Buddhist light and striking one of the Holy Sons' dharma manifestations.
The dharma Buddha showed a look of horror. It wasn't until he personally faced Li Hao's sword that he realized just how terrifying the sword Dao was—how vicious and extreme the sword intent was, cutting through everything!
Boom! The golden light of the Buddha shattered as the sword light sliced through the Holy Son's shoulder, severing one arm.
Li Hao swung his sword again, the black sword light sweeping out.
The black sword energy reached the other two Holy Sons in an instant. Though they tried to dodge, the sword came too quickly. The Buddha energy protecting their dharma manifestations had barely emerged when the sword energy sliced through it. Their dharma manifestations were severed, and their physical bodies were forced out of the manifestations.
The sword energy did not take their lives; instead, it acted like a whip, pulling them out of their dharma forms and slamming them into the newly reformed formation.
Boom, boom, boom! Three loud crashes echoed as the three Holy Sons were sent flying into the formation. The Buddhist light on their kasayas flickered before fading into darkness. Their bodies trembled, and they spat out blood.
Li Hao did not pursue them. He sheathed his sword and looked at them coldly.
One sword to break their supreme technique. One sword to defeat all three!
Seeing the three Holy Sons fall from the formation, the excitement on the faces of many Buddhist disciples in the crowd froze as if someone had grabbed them by the throat and slapped them hard. Their eyes were filled with disbelief.
The Buddha's Supreme Palm had actually failed? Three Buddhist Holy Sons, yet none could withstand a single sword from Li Hao! The Realm Stone projection revealed the entire Canglan Realm watching in shocked silence.
The tall, upright figure of the young man stood on the battle platform, holding a three-foot-long black sword like a young sword deity who had defeated all the prodigies!
"So, this is his true sword Dao…"
The Haoyue Holy Son stared in a daze at Li Hao's figure. As a swordsman, he could understand Li Hao's sword better than others. This sword Dao was terrifying, seemingly containing the purest will of the Dao, indestructible!
As a sword, Li Hao had pushed sharpness to the extreme.
The Flame Dao could be cut. The Buddhist light could be cut. It seemed that everything could be cut! Previously, he had wanted to challenge Li Hao again. Having made progress during his recent seclusion, he had hoped to redeem himself after his earlier defeat. But now, he fully realized the vast gap between them.
Li Hao's strength was akin to that of his master. Although he had not yet attained sainthood, his sword Dao was no less terrifying!
On the stage, Li Hao had defeated the three Buddhist Holy Sons without delivering fatal blows. The severed arm could be regenerated. After all, this was the sacred land of Buddhism, and he had shown mercy.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Li Hao noticed the incense gathering from all directions had increased.
He paused, feeling a bit surprised, yet also somewhat amused.
It seemed that even in the Canglan Realm, deeply influenced by Buddhism, human nature still revered the strong. This was an instinct.
The law of the jungle applied throughout the heavens. Despite being labeled as part of the demonic path, his display of overwhelming power still attracted a large amount of incense.
Behind Li Hao, Lin Qingying stood in a daze. She had once witnessed Li Hao's sword at the Jian Zu Holy Land, a strike that had overshadowed the entire sacred land. Now, was this his true sword Dao?
She never expected that the boy she had rescued, covered in scars, possessed such terrifying power.
So, this is a disciple of the Supreme Sage?
She stared deeply at Li Hao's back, her thoughts slowly settling. She tightened her grip on her sword, quietly standing in his shadow.
On the battle platform, after the three Buddhist Holy Sons were defeated, the atmosphere grew quiet.
Chi Guang gave Li Hao a deep look, feeling uneasy. But he had to admit that Li Hao was powerful, far beyond what he could currently match.
The others, who had once been eager to compete for first place, also fell silent. If they wanted to claim first place, they would have to defeat Li Hao. Otherwise, defeating anyone else would be meaningless. This towering figure stood like an insurmountable peak.
Lin Shuhai sighed lightly and shook his head, his last sliver of hope fading away.
"It seems that the incense from a hundred cities will go to this young man. I wonder which sect he hails from."
Wen Sheng smiled softly.
The latter sentence was spoken casually, but as he glanced at the Buddha, it carried a deeper meaning.
The Buddha also caught the subtle implication. What appeared to be an offhand comment held weight. Wen Sheng was subtly warning him not to act against the young man.
Given Li Hao's extraordinary display, it would be an exaggeration to say he hailed from the top powers of the Divine Dynasty alone.
Unless he was a reincarnated saint or had received guidance from a saint, perhaps even from the Supreme Sage.
"Such a sword Dao, and yet not a disciple of Jian Sheng? What a pity."
The Buddha remarked to Jian Sheng beside him.
Jian Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly, aware that the Buddha was probing to see if there was any connection between them. Though Jian Sheng wasn't fond of Li Hao—he had previously defeated the Haoyue Holy Son, bringing shame to Jian Sheng's disciple—now that Qing Feng was opposing the Buddhist Sect, Jian Sheng wouldn't trouble him further.
"There are countless swordsmen across the heavens. While Jian Zu Holy Land is the sacred land for swordsmen, attracting sword Dao prodigies from all realms, some swordsmen still walk their own paths. It's not necessarily a loss."
"To witness such an extraordinary sword Dao is already a blessing for me."
Jian Sheng replied.
The Buddha smiled, realizing that Jian Sheng was unwilling to share any information. He spoke softly:
"All things have cause and effect. Let me divine the origin of this young man, and perhaps we can uncover his background, to satisfy everyone's curiosity."
It's clearly you who wants to know… Jian Sheng chuckled inwardly, recognizing the Buddha's concern.
However, he had long heard of the Buddha's mastery of the Dao of Karma, a skill so powerful that it even surpassed Jian Sheng's "All Living Beings Sword Dao."
After all, all living beings are bound by karma. Among the many saintly Daos, the Buddha's Dao of Karma was considered top-tier, one of the most formidable Daos beneath the Supreme Sage.
Wen Sheng's eyes twinkled with interest, eager to see where Li Hao originated from.
As the Buddha began to manipulate the Dao of Karma, the radiant wheel of merit behind him emitted a brilliant light. He made a few gestures, and the karma of all things flowed through his fingers. For every effect, there must be a cause, and he sought to trace the origin.
However, as the sacred Dao gathered and attempted to follow the source, something seemed to block the saintly power.
"Hmm?"
A flicker of shock flashed in the Buddha's eyes.
Something was obstructing his karmic divination?
Such a feat could only be accomplished by a Supreme Sage. In fact, only a Supreme Sage personally intervening could block his karmic vision! Could it be that a Supreme Sage was protecting the young man all along? The Buddha's gaze deepened as he stared at the young man standing on the battle platform, his thoughts racing.
"Buddha, did you divine anything?"
Wen Sheng waited for a moment, surprised when the Buddha remained silent. He asked with some curiosity.
The Buddha's expression remained calm as he replied serenely, "Karma is ever-changing. This young man's talent must come from a prominent lineage."
"Which saint's disciple?" Jian Sheng inquired.
The Buddha merely smiled and said nothing.
Seeing his cryptic demeanor, Wen Sheng and Jian Sheng exchanged a look, then dropped the matter.
On the platform, Li Hao swept his gaze over the remaining top contestants.
When the Haoyue Holy Son noticed Li Hao's gaze, his expression shifted. He slightly lowered his head, remained silent, and then turned to jump off the platform, forfeiting the contest for first place.
The others, too, remained silent under Li Hao's gaze.
Lin Shuhai smiled at Li Hao. Though he didn't speak, his expression seemed to convey congratulations.
Li Hao gave him a small nod, then directed his attention to the last contestant—the Twin Holy Son.
The Twin Holy Son stood still on the platform, having not moved from the beginning.
When he saw Li Hao looking at him, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he spoke softly:
"Your sword Dao is truly remarkable."
Hearing the Twin Holy Son's words, there was a stir among the crowd. Even this Buddhist prodigy acknowledged Li Hao's sword Dao.
However, after seeing Li Hao's strikes, even the most ordinary warriors could sense their terrifying power. Merely gazing at the sword light had caused some to feel as if their eyes were being pierced by needles. Just watching had injured them.
"Are you aiming for first place?"
Li Hao's face remained impassive as he asked.
The Twin Holy Son chuckled softly before replying, "I won't give you first place so easily. It seems we are bound by fate after all…"
"Hmm?"
Li Hao's eyes narrowed as he stared at him.
"Haotian, we meet again. It seems you don't recognize me."
The Twin Holy Son said softly.
At these words, Li Hao froze, and his expression suddenly changed.
A chill ran down his spine as he stared at the Twin Holy Son. "You are…?"
"My incarnation in the human world was slain by you, disrupting my grand path. Now, here you are, contending with my true self for incense. Have you truly forgotten me?"
The Twin Holy Son smiled.
Li Hao's pupils contracted. "You are the Buddha Lord?"
He was shocked. The Twin Holy Son before him was the Buddha Lord?! Although their auras were similar, the Buddha Lord cultivated both Buddhist and demonic paths, using an incarnation to practice demonic cultivation while his true body followed the Buddhist path, striving to unite them and transcend the Dao to become a saint. But the Buddha Lord had been cultivating for over two thousand years, whereas the Twin Holy Son was much younger.
If this were a reincarnation, the timeline wouldn't match.
The Twin Holy Son looked only sixteen or seventeen years old, and even considering the time difference between the human world and the realm of saints, the Buddha Lord's reincarnation would only be around ten years old now.
Sensing Li Hao's confusion, the Twin Holy Son smiled and explained:
"If my reincarnated body hadn't been too immature ten years ago, I would have descended into the human world long ago to kill you."
Though he spoke of killing with a smile, his expression was serene and compassionate.
Suddenly, Li Hao understood.
Although the Twin Holy Son hadn't gone into detail, Li Hao quickly pieced it together.
The Twin Holy Son before him was the reincarnation of a saint. This had long been speculated by many, and now it was confirmed.
The incarnation of the Buddha Lord that had descended into the human world wasn't cultivated by the Twin Holy Son but by his previous life.
Meanwhile, his true self had reincarnated not long ago, becoming the current Twin Holy Son.
"A reincarnated saint, practicing both Buddhist and demonic cultivation, with an incarnation descended into the human world. You plan to unite your reincarnated self and your past incarnation, achieving the highest realm when both are perfected?"
Li Hao's eyes narrowed as he stared at the Twin Holy Son, realizing his grand plan.
The Buddha Lord was incredibly ambitious, aiming to skip the Dao-reaching realm and ascend directly to sainthood.
If it were just the incarnation, the Twin Holy Son's plan was already formidable. He likely sought to challenge the Supreme Sage and possibly even claim supremacy among the saints!
"Indeed. If I succeed, I will comprehend the past and the present, discern yin and yang, understand the heavens and the earth, master all Buddhist teachings, and become the Supreme Saint Buddha!"
The Twin Holy Son, hearing Li Hao lay bare his plans, showed no surprise. He calmly affirmed it.
Hearing the conversation between the Twin Holy Son and Li Hao, the crowd was in shock. They had long heard that the Twin Holy Son was the reincarnation of a saint, but they hadn't expected such an ambitious plan—to become a Supreme Saint!
"What a grand vision."
"So this is the grand ambition of the Twin Holy Son. As expected of a saint's reincarnation."
"So, Qing Feng and the Twin Holy Son already knew each other? No, wait, Qing Feng is just an alias. What did the Twin Holy Son call him?"
"Haotian! He called him Haotian!"
The crowd began to buzz with speculation.
Outside the arena, Zhantan and Night Ancestor were also stunned.
Haotian?! Just recently, they had discussed a figure named Haotian. Could this be the same person? Before, even if Li Hao had revealed his real name, they wouldn't have made the connection. After all, the worlds across the heavens were vast, and there were surely tens of thousands of people with the same name. But given Li Hao's monstrous talents, it was hard to believe this was just a coincidence.
Recalling the legends of Haotian, Zhantan and the others were shocked. But now that Li Hao's true identity was exposed, if the saint from the Void Holy Land learned of this, he would undoubtedly come to hunt him down.
Their thoughts were in turmoil, their faces full of worry.
Li Hao glanced up at the Buddha and then turned to the Twin Holy Son, saying, "You have such grand aspirations to become the leader of the Buddhist Sect. I wonder if the Buddha will allow it."
"That is between me and the Buddha. What you should be concerned about is whether you can survive the day."
The Twin Holy Son smiled calmly.
Only now did Li Hao understand why the Twin Holy Son had been smiling at him all along, with that strange glint in his eyes. The Twin Holy Son had recognized him from the start.
Now that his identity was exposed, it was no longer safe for him to stay here. He needed to leave quickly.
But if he were to flee immediately, the Twin Holy Son would surely not let him go. He would have to deal with him first and then find a place to hide.
His mind raced as he thought, his fingers lightly grazing the edge of his sword. He discreetly cut a drop of golden divine blood from his palm and took out a pill from the Heavenly Space. As he held the pill, the golden blood seeped into it.
Li Hao handed the pill to Lin Qingying and said, "You should step down."
At the same time, he sent a voice transmission: "Find a place to discard this pill. Don't keep it on you."
Li Hao could regenerate from a single drop of divine blood. If the Void Saint unexpectedly arrived and killed him now, he could be resurrected from that drop of divine blood.
For now, under the eyes of the three saints, Li Hao could only use Jiang Xue's diagram's concealing attribute to hide the divine blood within the pill. He wasn't certain whether this would be detected.
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