Chapter 319: Divine Blood and the Embodiment of the Dao, the Sword God's Battle Arises

During these days of casual chats with Lin Shan Hai and other pill refiners, Li Hao has gained a deeper understanding of incense and many other matters related to Saints.

Incense is not something that an ordinary person can bear; it requires a fully realized Embodiment of the Dao! In recent days, his Dao power has been constantly transforming, filling up all his meridians and major channels, causing his Embodiment of the Dao to rival that of a perfect Dao Fa realm.

And after reaching perfection in the Dao Fa realm, the next step is to accumulate incense power.

This incense power converges into Li Hao's body, unhindered. It slowly settles within him, transforming into incense-like dust that accumulates and gradually condenses into a particle the size of a soybean.

This particle is the rudimentary form of an incense stick.

To become a Saint, one must accumulate incense power equivalent to three incense sticks within their body.

Currently, the absorbed incense power has only condensed into about one-tenth of a single incense stick.

This is because he has just recently perfected his Embodiment of the Dao, allowing him to sense and receive incense power, and this received incense is a result of previous sedimentation and accumulation.

Yu Huang had promised him that after ten years, he would transfer the Great Yu incense to him.

While Li Hao fled in the void for ten years, three hundred years passed in the mortal realm.

Along with the perfection of his Embodiment of the Dao, the incense power of those three hundred years gathered, condensing into a particle the size of a soybean.

After the initial surge of accumulated incense power, the subsequent influx has been less overwhelming, but it still arrives steadily, thread by thread, every day.

Li Hao never expected that the power of incense could traverse the Immortal Gates, crossing from the mortal realm to the Lands of the Saints unimpeded.

Truly, it is a power worthy of enabling one's ascension to sainthood!

At the current rate of accumulation, he could lie down for three hundred years and attain sanctification.

These three hundred years in the Lands of the Saints equate to three thousand years in the mortal realm.

To foster a Saint through three thousand years of incense offerings is still considered a relatively swift pace, mainly due to the Great Yu Divine Dynasty's vast population, ranking it as a medium-sized divine nation within the entirety of Dong Huang.

If it were one of the small foreign nations surrounding the Great Yu, it might take seven to eight thousand years, or even tens of thousands of years, to foster a Saint through faith.

This is the reason why the small foreign nations have never produced a Saint throughout history.

After all, it is almost impossible to devote seven to eight thousand years of worship to a single individual.

Dynastic changes, political struggles, natural disasters, and man-made calamities would all lead to disruptions in faith.

As he absorbs the incense power that drifts to him day after day, Li Hao can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the mortal realm.

Incense power is exceedingly precious, yet Yu Huang has kept his word.

Even for Saints, incense power is a highly desirable resource, which is why Saints spread their teachings and gather faith.

The incense power that Li Hao is absorbing now can also be utilized by him. He only needs to ignite it with his divine sense, but doing so would cause it to be consumed, and it is a last-resort measure, to be used only in dire situations where there is no other choice but to fight to the death.

Usually, when someone is forced to burn their incense power in battle, it signifies an enmity that can only be resolved through death.

However, after attaining sainthood, one possesses three everlasting incense sticks, and even if they are ignited, the power of sainthood envelops them, ensuring perpetual existence, like the steam in a closed cauldron, endlessly cycling.

Only then is it truly possible to freely wield the power of incense in battle. Until that time comes, one can only accumulate it and not use it.

Now that his Embodiment of the Dao has reached perfection, Li Hao's physical body has become incredibly formidable. He has attained the Dao through his physical body, and his bones, blood, and every punch and kick are his path, allowing him to directly withstand the power of Dao Fa and divine abilities with his body.

However, there is a drawback to attaining the Dao through the physical body—Li Hao cannot speak and have the Dao follow his will.

In simpler terms, although he has reached perfection in the Dao Fa realm, he has not truly mastered it.

Indeed.

The path of the physical body is a unique approach to cultivation, equivalent to condensing Dao power and rules within one's body.

To attain the ability to speak and have the Dao follow his will, Li Hao still needs to raise his control over the Dao to the ninth level, at which point he will be able to summon wind and call rain, and reverse the flow of rivers and streams, with a mere thought.

Upon achieving perfection in his Embodiment of the Dao, Li Hao discovered that his physical strength had stopped increasing.

In a non-awakened state, his physical strength remains constant at ten million jin, with only minor fluctuations. This range seems to be the limit of his physical body.

Only now does Li Hao truly understand the meaning of the saying, "Human effort has its limits."

This is no longer an issue that can be resolved through cultivation; it is a restriction inherent to life itself.

It is like filling a bottle with water—once it's full, any additional water will spill over.

The same is true for the physical body. No matter how one cultivates or refines their body, they are only altering the effects of their bodily refinement. However, Li Hao's physical body has already reached its pinnacle, achieving a state of "physical body becoming divine."

"The end state... Cultivation can only bring one so far."

One can exhaust all efforts to achieve perfection in a particular endeavor.

But this is the limit of effort, not the limit of one's potential, as most things in this world are beyond the reach of even the greatest efforts.

The end state, however, represents the absolute limit of something. Even if one were to follow the most perfect path, they would still reach a dead end, for there is simply no path forward.

However, although his physical strength seems to have stabilized at ten million jin in its normal state, when combined with his divine power, he can still briefly burst forth with ten times that amount of strength. Now that his Dao power has fused with his Embodiment of the Dao, the power of his punches and kicks, capable of easily shattering mountains and rending the earth, has become even more terrifying.

Most importantly, with Dao power permeating his entire body, Li Hao can ignore the Dao Fa of others, crushing all techniques with sheer power.

Nevertheless, Li Hao feels that his current perfection of the Embodiment of the Dao is not yet his limit.

Perhaps due to the influence of the terminal-stage divine blood, even after reaching perfection in his Embodiment of the Dao, he can continue to absorb and transform Dao power, integrating it into his divine blood.

Divine blood acts like a sponge, capable of absorbing a vast amount of Dao power. This allows him to withstand a far greater amount of Dao power transformation than other existences in the Realm of Hearing the Dao.

As time passes...

The amount of Dao power transformed within Li Hao's divine blood continues to increase, becoming as unfathomable as a deep abyss. His physical body contains terminal-stage power and bears an unimaginable amount of Dao power.

Li Hao realizes that cultivating the physical body might be one of the essential paths to touching the limits of the Realm of Hearing the Dao, or even reaching the end state.

"The limits and ultimate states of the various martial arts realms seem to be interconnected, complementing and influencing each other. Li Hao couldn't imagine how terrifying it would be to master them all. Even Saints would likely pale in comparison."

Unbeknownst to him, days turned into weeks as Li Hao settled into a routine.

He had grown accustomed to his life here, following a simple three-point routine each day.

These three points were: refining herbs for Lin Shan Hai from time to time, cultivating his divine blood and Dao power, and spending time alone in his courtyard, engaging in painting and sculpting while immersing himself in profound insights.

And that one line was the occasional invitations he received from various pill refiners, asking for his assistance.

Thanks to his exceptional cooking and refining skills, Li Hao had gained the favor of many pill refiners. Additionally, as he had no interest in pill refining himself and posed no threat to others, he became a central figure in the pill refiners' community.

Whether it was someone who bore a grudge against another and refused to even look at each other, when it came to Li Hao, they all greeted him with smiles.

This led to the reputation of Qingfeng Pill Master becoming increasingly renowned, even spreading to the disciples within the Sword God's Sacred Land.

Many disciples knew that while there might be some debate over who was the best pill refiner, there was no dispute when it came to who had the best relationships—it was undoubtedly Li Hao.

This caused quite a few of the elite direct disciples, including some of the saint children, to desire befriending Li Hao. Some even took the initiative to visit him personally, while others sent tokens of goodwill.

After all, when finding a high-level pill refiner to refine precious medicines, one had to provide their own materials and also inform the Sacred Land, obtaining the pill refiner's consent.

This often involved offering substantial gratuities to the pill refiner to ensure their dedication to the task. If one gave too little, they might worry about the refiner's lack of enthusiasm, and if the refiner messed up the pill, all the precious materials would be wasted, with no accountability.

Pill refining inherently had a high failure rate, especially when it came to high-level divine pills.

However, if they could get Li Hao's help, it would be a guarantee for a successful pill.

Even if it failed, one could only blame their own bad luck and wouldn't hold any grudges against the pill refiner.

Li Hao didn't refuse these gestures of goodwill, accepting them as long as they came from a place of sincerity.

After all, these elite disciples had their own factions and connections. They weren't lone individuals, and those without background or connections would have long been eliminated in some dark alley.

The Lands of the Saints were filled with elite disciples, and even they had to bow their heads, relying on the protection and resources of their respective factions.

These connections might not be of much help to Li Hao himself, but they could be useful someday. Moreover, they could also help him collect famous paintings, chess manuals, and other such catalogs.

In the Pill Refining Hall—

Li Hao carried rare and exotic fruits given by an elite direct disciple and found Lin Shan Hai to share the treat with him.

These spiritual fruits were beneficial for nourishing the body, but their effect on Li Hao was minimal. He enjoyed them mostly for their delicious taste—crisp and bursting with exotic flavors.

"Thanks to you, I get to indulge in these treats." Li Hao said with a smile.

Lin Shan Hai smiled and took out his treasured tea leaves to brew a cup of tea for Li Hao. The two chatted casually as they enjoyed the fruits.

Lately, Li Hao's courtyard had seen a constant stream of visitors, and the lively scene reminded Lin Shan Hai of the grand feast he had hosted when he first became a high-level pill refiner.

"I'm the one benefiting from your help," Li Hao said with a laugh.

Lin Shan Hai smiled at Li Hao's words, feeling a sense of emotion.

It was difficult to discern a person's true nature when they were in a lowly state, but when they reached the pinnacle of success and were at the peak of their life, their true colors would be revealed.

With Li Hao's current connections, even without his help, he could still do very well for himself. As long as Li Hao was willing, other pill refiners would be eager to forge deeper ties with him.

Yet, Li Hao remained living with him, unhurried and unconcerned about his status. Those who visited Li Hao and learned of their relationship would also find roundabout ways to curry favor with Lin Shan Hai, bringing him no small amount of benefits.

Li Hao continued to treat him with the same humility and respect as before, but their relationship had grown closer, occasionally exchanging playful banter. Li Hao might call him an "old coot," and Lin Shan Hai would retort with "brat."

"Now that your injuries have mostly healed, what are your plans?" Lin Shan Hai asked Li Hao.

In his thousand years of life, he had met many people, but Li Hao was someone he found inscrutable, especially when it came to his desires.

It was as if Li Hao's name reflected his nature—like a refreshing breeze, coming and going as it pleased. Aside from his hobbies of painting, sculpting, and other leisurely pursuits, Lin Shan Hai couldn't think of anything else that seemed to hold his interest.

Pill refining, martial arts, and the pursuits of mortals seemed to hold no allure for Li Hao.

"If Lin Shan Hai doesn't mind, I plan to stay here a while longer. Once I've painted a truly exceptional piece, I'll consider my next steps," Li Hao replied.

Although the Lands of the Saints were vast, he wanted to remain in this secluded place for now, biding his time and improving his artistic skills. Only then would he be ready to seek vengeance against the False Saint.

"..." Lin Shan Hai was at a loss for words. He studied Li Hao's eyes carefully, trying to discern his true intentions.

However, all he saw was a pair of clear and calm eyes, devoid of any deceit.

Lin Shan Hai couldn't help but smile wryly and sigh, "This is the Sword God's Sacred Land, a place countless people dream of entering. With your current status and connections, whatever you desire can be yours!"

"If you want to learn martial arts, you only need to express a hint of interest. Those saint children and others would be more than willing to pull some strings and get you into the inner sect, allowing you to become a direct disciple of a Half-Saint!"

"Even if your martial arts talent is lacking, those Half-Saints would still be willing to take you as a disciple. After all, with your current connections, you have the backing and resources to support your cultivation."

"If you want to refine pills, all you need to do is say the word. I have three high-level pill formulas in my hands, and I can give you two of them. I'm sure others would be delighted to trade with you as well."

He looked at Li Hao helplessly and said, "But here you are, in this prime location, and all you want to do is paint?"

Li Hao could understand his thoughts and smiled. "There's no rule that says you can't paint in the Sacred Land. Just because you're in an inn doesn't mean you have to drink, and just because you're in a school doesn't mean you have to study diligently. It's boring to be influenced by your environment; life's journey is long, and you'll experience many sights along the way, but I remain true to myself."

"But the essence of an environment is a group of people doing the same thing, thus forming that environment."

Lin Shan Hai said, "If you insist on being yourself, you'll stand out like a sore thumb."

Speaking of which, he wanted to teach Li Hao how to get along with others, but he soon realized that Li Hao's connections were even more extensive than his own. If anyone should be teaching, it was Li Hao.

He sighed bitterly. It was strange that someone who marched to the beat of their own drum could be so likeable.

Li Hao smiled and didn't say more. He picked up his teacup and said, "Cheers."

"Cheers!"

Lin Shan Hai was a little annoyed, but he clinked his cup with Li Hao's and drank, smacking his lips afterward.

Their conversation also reached the ears of Lin Qingying, who was in the courtyard. She raised her eyebrows slightly as she listened to the exchanges between the old man and the youth. Over these past few days, she had overheard most of their casual conversations, and she had gained a deeper understanding of Li Hao.

While she didn't necessarily agree with some of his ideas, she didn't dislike them either. Instead, she felt a twinge of envy deep down.

Not everyone had the opportunity to enjoy such a carefree life.

However, she had her own path. Once she reached the pinnacle and became a Saint, cultivating her ultimate sword path, perhaps she, too, would be as carefree as him.

With these thoughts, her eyes shone brighter, and her sword stance became more rounded and graceful.

...

Several more months passed.

Li Hao's divine blood was finally filled with Dao power, thanks to the abundant energy within the Sword God's Sacred Land. If the energy in the Lands of the Saints was already denser than in the mortal realm, then the energy within the Sword God's Sacred Land was even more so.

If he had been in the mortal realm, it would have taken Li Hao seven or eight years to fill and transform his divine blood with Dao power.

But here, it only took him half a year.

Li Hao could understand why some in the Realm of Hearing the Dao were over a thousand years old.

Aside from the breakthrough and enlightenment required for cultivation, the daily refinement took time as well.

Usually, one period of seclusion lasted for a decade or even sixty years.

In the Lands of the Saints, those in the Realm of Hearing the Dao who were under a hundred years old were considered top geniuses. Those under three hundred years old were still considered part of the younger generation, and those over a thousand years old were considered old-timers.

As for those who were several thousand or even tens of thousands of years old, they were ancient monsters.

These individuals were either mediocre talents in the Realm of Hearing the Dao who had relied on the passage of time to improve, or they had already become Saints.

The upcoming Sword God battle had an age limit of three hundred years.

Beyond three hundred years, one's potential was mostly exhausted, and they would instead attract the dust of the years, clouding their hearts and slowing their progress.

Now that his divine blood was fully infused with Dao power, Li Hao had also refined his Divine Blood Dao Body. He felt that it was stronger than an ordinary Dao Body.

Among the elites in the Realm of Hearing the Dao, most had their own Dao Bodies, such as the Sword Bone Dao Body or the Dao Heart Dao Body.

Some were born with sword bones, and as they cultivated, the sword bones grew with them. By the time they reached the Realm of Hearing the Dao, they could infuse their Dao power into their sword bones, giving them an additional vessel for their Dao power and making their attacks incredibly powerful.

Moreover, when Dao power was infused into the sword bones to form the Sword Bone Dao Body, their attacks became even more formidable.

After perfecting his Divine Blood Dao Body, Li Hao had expected to touch the limits of the Realm of Hearing the Dao, but he found that he had only managed to condense a Dao Body.

It seemed that to reach the ultimate state of the Realm of Hearing the Dao, he would need to find another way, and Li Hao guessed that he might be able to achieve it once he reached the ninth level of Dao control.

After all, one couldn't truly be considered to have reached the pinnacle of the Realm of Hearing the Dao without the ability to speak and have the Dao follow their will.

With the completion of his Divine Blood Dao Body, Li Hao's attention turned to the art of painting, and he immersed himself in it with even greater dedication.

Finally, the Sword God's Sacred Land buzzed with excitement as the Sword God battle commenced.

With the start of the battle, the entire Sword God's Sacred Land was abuzz with enthusiasm.

For the ordinary disciples, although they might not have the opportunity to participate directly, they could still witness the clashes between the usually out-of-reach elites. This would greatly benefit their cultivation and allow them to gain profound insights.

"Child, are you ready?"

In the Pill Refining Hall, Lin Shan Hai looked at Lin Qingying, who was dressed in a green robe, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

Although he knew that his granddaughter was exceptional, the other saint children were not to be underestimated, and the competition would undoubtedly be fierce.

Lin Qingying's expression remained calm and unperturbed, as always, but her bright eyes shone with determination. The years of cultivation had all been leading up to this moment.

"Qingfeng, let's go. We'll accompany Qingying and also let you see how the top elites fight."

Lin Shan Hai called out to Li Hao.

He hoped that Li Hao would witness the allure of the top elites in battle and develop an interest in martial arts. No matter his talent, cultivating was never a waste.

"Mhm."

Li Hao nodded without refusing.

After all, in this competition, the various geniuses would showcase their techniques, and it would be a great opportunity for him to collect top-notch martial arts.

Once he had collected a batch of techniques, he planned to use his connections to visit the Sword Pavilion of the Sacred Land and take a look at the sacred land's martial arts.

After all, his Dao Domain still needed to be filled with various techniques to expand to more layers.