319-320

Chapter 319: Divine Blood Body, The Sword God's Battle (Combined)

Having spent time chatting with alchemists like Lin Shanhai, Li Hao gained a deeper understanding of incense offerings and matters related to Saints.

Incense offerings weren't something ordinary individuals could bear; they required a perfected Dao Body!

During this period, his Dao Power had continuously transformed, filling every pore and major meridian in his body. His Dao Body was now comparable to that of a perfected Dao Law Realm cultivator.

After reaching the perfected Dao Law Realm, the next step was to accumulate incense offerings.

The power of incense offerings, once gathered within Li Hao's body, couldn't be blocked. It slowly settled within him, transforming into incense-like dust, accumulating within his flesh and gradually solidifying into a grain the size of a mung bean.

This grain was the nascent form of an incense stick.

To become a Saint, one needed to accumulate enough incense offering power within their body to form three incense sticks!

Currently, the absorbed incense offerings had only solidified into about one-tenth of an incense stick within him.

This was because he had only recently perfected his Dao Body, allowing him to perceive and receive incense offerings. The received incense was the accumulation and sedimentation of previous years.

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

While Li Hao had been wandering through the void for ten years, a century had passed in the mortal realm.

Upon reaching Dao Body perfection, the incense offerings accumulated over those ninety years converged upon him, solidifying into a single mung bean-sized particle.

Following the sudden influx of previously accumulated incense, the subsequent flow became less torrential, but it still continued, thread by thread, every day.

Li Hao hadn't expected that the power of incense offerings could traverse the Immortal Gate, effortlessly traveling from the mortal realm to the Sacred Lands.

Truly, it was a power capable of birthing Saints!

At the current rate of accumulation, he could become a Saint simply by remaining idle for three hundred years.

These three hundred years were within the Sacred Lands; for the mortal realm, it would be three thousand years.

Three thousand years of incense offerings to cultivate a Saint was considered relatively fast. This was primarily due to the vast population of the Great Yu Dynasty, a medium-sized divine nation within the entirety of Dong Huang.

If it were a smaller vassal state bordering Great Yu, it might take seven to eight thousand years, or even ten thousand, to cultivate a Saint through faith.

This was the reason why the vassal states had never produced a Saint in ancient times.

After all, it was practically impossible to dedicate eight thousand years to the worship of a single individual.

Shifting power, court struggles, natural disasters, and human calamities could all lead to disruptions in faith.

Absorbing the incense offerings that drifted in daily, Li Hao couldn't help but feel a touch of nostalgia for the mortal realm.

Incense offerings were incredibly precious, yet Emperor Yu hadn't broken his word.

Even for Saints, incense offerings were always beneficial, which was why Saints would preach and gather faith.

Li Hao could also utilize the incense offerings he currently absorbed. He only needed to ignite them with his divine sense, but once ignited and burned, they would be gone. For those below the level of a Saint, it was a desperate measure used only in life-or-death situations.

Typically, forcing someone to fight by burning their incense offerings signified an irreconcilable feud, a death sentence.

Upon becoming a Saint, the three incense sticks would become eternal. Even if ignited, they would be enveloped by the Saintly Dao, perpetually renewing themselves, like the steam within a sealed boiler, endlessly cycling.

That would be the time to freely manipulate the power of incense offerings in battle. Until then, one could only accumulate, not utilize.

Now that his Dao Body was perfected, Li Hao's physical body had been refined to an incredibly terrifying degree. He had cultivated his physical body through the Dao, his blood, bones, fists, and flesh being his Dao, allowing him to withstand Dao Law divine abilities with his own body.

However, cultivating the physical body through the Dao also had its drawbacks. Li Hao couldn't yet achieve the ability to manifest his will through spoken words.

In simpler terms, although he was at the perfected Dao Law Realm, he wasn't truly there yet.

Thus it was.

The Dao of the Body was a path of physical refinement, akin to condensing Dao Power and Laws within one's own being.

To achieve the ability to manifest his will through spoken words, Li Hao needed to elevate his Dao Control to the ninth stage, only then could he summon wind and rain with a thought, reverse the flow of rivers.

Upon reaching the perfected stage of Dao Body, Li Hao discovered that his physical strength had not increased further.

Without activating his divine power, his normal physical strength remained at tens of millions of catties, with only minor fluctuations. This seemed to be the limit of his physical body.

Only then did Li Hao realize the true meaning of "human effort has its limits."

This was no longer a problem that could be solved through cultivation, but a limitation inherent to life itself.

Like a bottle filled with water, any more would cause it to overflow.

The same applied to the physical body. No matter how much one cultivated or refined their body, it only enhanced the body's effects in different ways. However, his physical body had already reached its peak, achieving a state of "physical godhood."

"The Ultimate Limit… Cultivation reaches its end here!"

Through relentless effort, one could achieve the pinnacle of a certain skill.

But this was the limit of effort, not the limit of the thing itself. After all, most things in the world, even with effort, remained beyond reach.

The Ultimate Limit was the inherent limit of a thing. Even if one followed the most perfect path, one would eventually reach the end because there was no further path.

However, although his normal strength was fixed at tens of millions of catties, combined with his divine power, he could still briefly unleash ten times that strength. Now, with Dao Power integrated and his Dao Body perfected, the power he could unleash was even more terrifying. His fists and feet could easily shatter mountains and tear apart the earth.

Most importantly, with Dao Power permeating his entire body, Li Hao could ignore the Dao Laws of others, using brute force to break through all techniques.

However, Li Hao felt that the current perfection of his Dao Body wasn't his ultimate limit.

Perhaps it was due to the Ultimate Limit Divine Blood, even after perfecting his Dao Body, he could continue to absorb and transform Dao Power, integrating it into his Divine Blood.

The Divine Blood was like a sponge, capable of absorbing a vast amount of Dao Power. This allowed him to withstand and transform far more Dao Power than other Dao Seeking Realm cultivators.

As time passed,

The Dao Power transformed within Li Hao's Divine Blood continued to increase, becoming as deep and immeasurable as an abyss. His physical body contained the power of the Ultimate Limit and bore an unimaginable amount of Dao Power.

Li Hao realized that cultivating the physical body through the Dao might be one of the necessary paths to touch the limit, even the Ultimate Limit, of the Dao Seeking Realm.

The limits and Ultimate Limits of each realm of martial arts seemed to be interconnected, mutually supporting and influencing each other. Li Hao couldn't imagine what kind of terrifying existence he would become if he could cultivate them all. Even Saints would likely be far behind.

The ordinary days passed unknowingly.

Li Hao had grown accustomed to life here, following a simple routine.

This routine consisted of occasionally refining medicinal herbs for Lin Shanhai, cultivating by transforming his Divine Blood and Dao Power, and spending time alone in his courtyard, painting and sculpting, immersing himself in contemplation.

The one exception was the occasional invitation from various alchemists to assist them.

With his skill in refining and purifying, Li Hao had earned the favor of many alchemists. Coupled with his aversion to alchemy and his harmless, non-competitive nature, he had become a central figure within the alchemist circle.

If two alchemists had a feud and refused to even look at each other, they would still greet Li Hao with smiles.

This led to the reputation of Qingfeng Alchemist becoming increasingly renowned, even spreading among the disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land.

Many disciples knew that there was such a peculiar individual among the alchemists. While there was debate about who had the highest alchemy skills, there was no dispute about who had the best relationships.

This also led many inner sect prodigies, including some Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, to seek Li Hao's friendship. Some came in person, others sent messengers to express their goodwill.

After all, refining some precious medicines with high-level alchemists required providing the medicinal herbs oneself and informing the Sacred Land, obtaining the alchemist's consent.

This often involved bribing the alchemist with substantial gifts. If the gifts were insufficient, there was a fear that they wouldn't put in their best effort. If they ruined a batch of pills, the precious medicinal herbs would be wasted, and they wouldn't bear any responsibility.

After all, alchemy had a relatively high failure rate, especially for high-level divine pills.

But if one could find Li Hao to help, it was a guarantee of success.

Even if they failed, they could only blame their bad luck and wouldn't hold any resentment towards the alchemist.

Li Hao didn't refuse these expressions of goodwill. As long as they were sincere, he accepted them.

After all, these prodigies had their own forces behind them, they weren't lone wolves. Prodigies without backgrounds or connections would have been eliminated long ago in some unknown gutter.

The Sacred Lands weren't short of prodigies, and even prodigies had to bow their heads and rely on the protection and resources of various forces.

These connections weren't of much help to Li Hao himself, but they might prove useful in the future. Moreover, he could also ask them to collect paintings, chess scores, and other illustrated manuals for him.

Within the Alchemy Institute,

Li Hao, carrying the rare and exotic fruits gifted by an inner sect prodigy, found Lin Shanhai and shared them with the old man.

These rare spirit fruits could nourish the body, but their effect on Li Hao was minimal. He primarily enjoyed their texture—they were crisp and had a delightful fragrance, making them incredibly delicious.

"Thanks to you, I get to enjoy a feast again."

Lin Shanhai chuckled.

He retrieved his treasured tea leaves and brewed tea for Li Hao. The two of them nibbled on the spirit fruits and chatted.

During this time, the threshold of Li Hao's courtyard had been worn down by countless visitors. This bustling scene reminded Lin Shanhai of the grand banquet he had held when he first became a high-level alchemist, equally lively.

"I'm just benefiting from your good fortune," Li Hao said with a smile.

Lin Shanhai heard Li Hao's words and smiled, feeling a sense of reflection.

It was difficult to discern the truth behind the smiles of those who flattered you when you were down, but when one reached the peak of success and enjoyed the fruits of their labor, one could see the true nature of others.

With Li Hao's current connections, even without him, Li Hao could still thrive. As long as Li Hao was willing, other alchemists would be eager to cultivate deeper relationships with him.

Yet, Li Hao still stayed with him, unhurried and calm. Those who came to visit Li Hao, upon learning of his relationship with Lin Shanhai, also chose indirect methods to benefit him, leading to Lin Shanhai receiving many advantages.

And Li Hao's attitude towards him remained the same as before, humble and polite, only their relationship had become closer. Occasionally, they would playfully banter, Lin Shanhai calling him "brat" and Li Hao responding with "old geezer."

"Your injuries have almost fully healed now. What are your plans?"

Lin Shanhai asked Li Hao.

He had lived for over a thousand years and seen countless individuals, but Li Hao was someone he couldn't fathom. By "fathom," he meant that he couldn't see through Li Hao's desires.

It was as if Li Hao's name reflected his nature—like a gentle breeze, appearing and disappearing at will. Aside from the casual pleasures of painting and sculpting, there seemed to be nothing else that held his interest.

Alchemy, martial arts, things that the world pursued, Li Hao didn't even glance at them.

"If Old Lin doesn't mind, I plan to stay here a little longer. I want to create a top-tier painting before considering anything else," Li Hao replied.

Although the Sacred Lands were vast, he only wished to live in seclusion here for now, content in his little corner, diligently improving his skills. Then, it would be time for him to seek revenge against the Void Saint.

"..."

Lin Shanhai was speechless. He carefully scrutinized Li Hao's eyes, trying to discern his true intentions.

But all he saw were clear and candid eyes, without the slightest flicker of deception.

Lin Shanhai couldn't help but chuckle and sigh, "This is the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, a place countless people dream of entering. You're staying here, with your current status and connections, if you desire anything, you can basically obtain it!"

"If you want to learn martial arts, just hint at the slightest interest, and those Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, along with others, will be happy to give you a backdoor entrance to the inner sect, allowing you to become a disciple of a Half-Saint!"

"Even if your martial arts aptitude is poor, those Half-Saints would likely be willing to take you as a disciple. After all, your current connections are your foundation and backing."

"If you want to learn alchemy, a single word from you, and I can give you two of the three high-level pill formulas I possess. Others would likely be willing to trade with you as well."

Looking at Li Hao, he said helplessly, "But in this treasured land where you reside, you only want to paint?"

Li Hao understood his thoughts and smiled, "There's no rule that says one can't paint in the Sacred Land, that one must drink in a tavern, or study diligently in an academy. The environment is just the environment. Being influenced by it is the most boring thing. The journey of life is long, and we'll encounter many landscapes, but I'm still me."

"But the essence of an environment is that a group of people do the same thing, creating that environment."

Lin Shanhai said, "If you maintain your own path, you'll stand out like a sore thumb."

Having said that, he wanted to teach Li Hao how to fit in, but he quickly realized that Li Hao's connections were now wider than his own. If anyone needed teaching, it was him who should be learning from Li Hao.

He chuckled bitterly. It was strange that someone so independent didn't attract any dislike.

Li Hao smiled and didn't say any more, raising his teacup, "Cheers."

"You're a rascal!"

Lin Shanhai grumbled, but his hand moved instinctively, clinking his cup against Li Hao's and drinking it down. Both of them smacked their lips.

Their conversation was also overheard by Lin Qingying in the courtyard. Her eyes flickered slightly. She had listened to most of the daily exchanges between this old man and young man, gaining a deeper understanding of Li Hao.

She couldn't say that she agreed with all of Li Hao's ideas, but she didn't dislike them either. In fact, she felt a touch of envy.

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

However, she had her own Dao. When she reached the pinnacle, became a Saint, and cultivated her ultimate sword Dao, would she also be as happy as him?

Thinking of this, her eyes became even brighter, her sword intent becoming more rounded and gentle.

...

Several months later,

Li Hao's Divine Blood was finally completely filled with transformed Dao Power. This was thanks to the abundant energy within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land. If the energy of the Sacred Lands was already denser than the mortal realm, then the energy within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land was even denser and purer.

If it had been in the mortal realm, it might have taken Li Hao seven or eight years to completely fill his Divine Blood with transformed Dao Power.

But here, it was done in half a year.

Li Hao could understand why some Dao Seeking Realm cultivators lived for thousands of years.

Besides breakthroughs and comprehension, the daily accumulation of refinement also took time.

A typical retreat could last for ten years, or even sixty.

In the Sacred Lands, Dao Seeking Realm cultivators under a hundred years old were considered top prodigies. Those under three hundred were still considered the younger generation. Over a thousand years old, they were considered old fellows.

As for those who were several thousand, or even ten thousand, years old, they were old monsters.

These individuals were either Dao Seeking Realm cultivators with mediocre aptitude who had relied on time to improve, or they had already become Saints.

The age limit for this Sword God Battle was under three hundred years old.

Beyond three hundred years, one's potential was mostly depleted. They would attract the dust of time, clouding their minds and slowing their progress.

Now, with his Divine Blood completely infused with Dao Power, Li Hao had also condensed his Divine Blood Body. He felt that it should be stronger than ordinary Dao Bodies.

Most prodigies in the Dao Seeking Realm had their own Dao Bodies, such as the Sword Bone Dao Body, the Dao Heart Dao Body, and so on.

Some people were born with Sword Bones. These Sword Bones grew alongside their cultivation, and when they reached the Dao Seeking Realm, they could transform Dao Power into their Sword Bones. This was equivalent to having an extra place to store Dao Power, and the strength of their Dao Power was naturally self-evident.

Moreover, with Dao Power stored within the Sword Bones, forming a Sword Bone Dao Body, their attacks became even more terrifying.

With the completion of his Divine Blood Body, Li Hao had initially thought he would touch the limit of the Dao Seeking Realm, but in reality, he hadn't. It was merely equivalent to him having condensed a Dao Body.

The ultimate limit of the Dao Seeking Realm seemed to require other methods. Li Hao guessed that it might be possible when he reached Dao Control Stage Nine.

After all, a Dao Seeking Realm cultivator who couldn't manifest their will through spoken words couldn't be considered at the ultimate limit.

After the completion of his Divine Blood Body, Li Hao's focus shifted to the Dao of Painting, becoming even more dedicated to painting and research.

And within the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, the Sword God Battle finally commenced.

With the true start of the Sword God Battle, the entire Sword Ancestor Sacred Land became bustling and fervent.

Although ordinary disciples didn't have a chance to participate or appear on the stage, they could witness the clashes of those usually unattainable prodigies, which would greatly benefit their own cultivation through observation and comprehension.

"Child, are you ready?"

Within the Alchemy Institute, Lin Shanhai looked at Lin Qingying in her green robes, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Although he knew his granddaughter was exceptional, the other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters weren't simple characters. They would undoubtedly unleash a storm.

Lin Qingying's expression remained calm, as usual, but her bright eyes were deep. Years of cultivation had been for this very moment.

"Qingfeng, let's go. We'll accompany Qingying to watch, and it will also give you a chance to see how those top prodigies fight."

Lin Shanhai called out to Li Hao.

He hoped that Li Hao could witness the allure of the top prodigies' battles and become more interested in martial arts. Regardless of aptitude, practicing martial arts was never wrong.

"Mm."

Li Hao nodded, not refusing.

After all, in this battle, various prodigies would display a variety of techniques, providing a good opportunity to collect top-tier techniques.

After collecting a batch this time, if he had the chance, he would try to get in touch with someone to visit the Sacred Land's Sword Library and take a look at the Sacred Land's techniques.

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

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 320: The Initial Battle, the Painting Demigod (Two-in-One)

Lin Qingying, without waiting for Li Hao and Lin Shanhai, headed towards the Sacred Land first.

She went to assemble and participate as a disciple.

Li Hao and Lin Shanhai, after tidying up, leisurely followed.

Halfway through their journey, they encountered Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Huajin, dressed in luxurious attire, along with others. They were also heading to watch the competition. Although they were pill refiners, such a grand event, held only once every hundred years, was something no one wanted to miss.

"Old Lin, the competition for the Sword God War this time will be fierce. Does Qingying have a chance to make it into the top five?"

Upon meeting, Zhao Yingzhen asked with a smile.

Lin Shanhai shook his head, "Who knows? The other Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens are no pushovers. Just the number of Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens alone is over a dozen. Even making it into the top ten will be a bloody battle!"

The Sword Ancestor Sacred Land had a vast number of disciples, with hundreds of thousands of outer disciples and over ten thousand inner disciples, all carefully selected geniuses.

The Canglan Realm was vast and expansive, with numerous kingdoms and countless billions of people. Besides the three major Sacred Lands, there were also many other first-rate forces.

Even the outer disciples of the Sacred Lands had the potential to become inner disciples in those first-rate forces. As for the inner disciples, they were all geniuses at the same level, with at least ninth-grade battle body aptitude.

Among them, the most outstanding either possessed extraordinary insight or exceptional talent. A few even had special physiques.

In their home kingdoms, they were top-tier prodigies, renowned far and wide. But within the Sacred Land, they were just ordinary members among the hundreds of thousands of outer disciples.

Like the stories in novels, where mortal experts strive to ascend, they ultimately become just a small soldier among ten thousand heavenly soldiers.

"Indeed, don't put too much pressure on Qingying. Making it into the top ten would be good enough. There are already many geniuses, and now that the Sages like to use incarnations for reincarnation and cultivation, the competition among these young people has become even fiercer."

Shi Huajin said to Lin Shanhai.

"Of course. I never interfere with her cultivation. No matter what place she gets, she's the number one in my heart. Even if she stops cultivating and becomes an ordinary person, Old Lin can still afford to raise a granddaughter." Lin Shanhai said.

"You're quite open-minded. But Qingying, that child, doesn't need your urging. She's more diligent than anyone else. I heard she has condensed the Utmost Gentle Dao Body. Is it possible that she's the incarnation of the Sage from the Yin-Yang School?"

Zhao Yingzhen asked curiously.

Lin Shanhai's face darkened, "She's not anyone's incarnation. She is herself!"

Zhao Yingzhen was startled and chuckled awkwardly.

Shi Huajin rolled her eyes at him. Who didn't know that Old Lin cherished his granddaughter dearly, their lives intertwined? Why bring up such a sensitive topic?

The group traveled together, and after flying out of the pill refiner's residential area, they headed towards the Sacred Mountain of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land.

The Sword Ancestor Sacred Land was divided into regions. Outer disciples could only live in the surrounding peaks outside the Sacred Mountain. Only inner disciples could cultivate on the Sacred Mountain, having the opportunity to listen to the Sage's Dao teachings. As for the Sacred Maidens and Sacred Sons, they had their own cultivation peaks, gathering the energy of Heaven and Earth, where their cultivation progressed rapidly.

After leisurely flying for several thousand miles, about half an hour later, they reached the foot of the Sacred Mountain.

The Sacred Mountain was majestic and vast. Its towering form could be vaguely seen from hundreds of miles away. Clouds and mist enveloped the lower slopes, obscuring the true appearance of the peak.

As they approached the Sacred Mountain, they could see countless streams of light rushing from all directions, all outer disciples who had come to watch the competition.

In this Sword God War, outer disciples were not eligible to participate. Only inner disciples could compete, ultimately competing and being eliminated alongside the Sacred Maidens, Sacred Sons, and other top geniuses of the Sacred Land.

The initial selection battle arena was located on the mountainside. The area was vast, with ten arenas for simultaneous matches.

Once the top hundred were selected, they would gather at the mountaintop and compete for the final ten under the watchful eyes of the Sage.

At this moment, they could see that the mountainside was shrouded in clouds and mist. In an extremely spacious and vast area, there were ten huge arenas, each surrounded by a protective barrier of laws.

Outside the arenas was the spectator area for the outer disciples. For them, this kind of genius swordsmanship competition was a rare learning opportunity.

After the Sword God War ended, the outer disciples would begin a new round of competition for inner disciple positions, and many would emerge.

Currently, the spectator area outside the venue was divided into different sections, covered by noise-reducing laws. Therefore, although there were some voices, it wasn't too noisy.

Otherwise, with hundreds of thousands of people gathered, even if they were whispering, the combined sound would be chaotic and confusing.

Besides these spectator areas for outer disciples, there were also floating seats in mid-air, offering a better view, allowing one to see the situation in all ten arenas simultaneously.

These seats were prepared for Lin Shanhai and other pill refiners, as well as the Sacred Land's artifact refiners, other administrative officials, kingdom enforcers, and other influential individuals within the Sacred Land.

At this moment, the outer disciple spectator area below was already bustling with activity, mostly filled.

Of the thousands of floating seats, only about half were occupied.

Lin Shanhai, leading Li Hao, Zhao Yingzhen, and the others, arrived at the pill refiner's seating area.

Their arrival naturally attracted the attention of some disciples. Many outer disciples yearned to curry favor with these pill refining masters, but they lacked the connections. This was a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of them.

"Look, it's a high-level pill refiner!"

"I've seen that one before. It's Pill Master Lin. Thanks to the Body Forging Pills he refined, I was able to make a breakthrough and reach the Never-Decaying Realm."

"My family has a junior pill refiner who is now a retainer. Even my father has to watch his face. A high-level pill refiner! If he's willing to help, he can easily cultivate a Dao Comprehension Realm expert!"

"Is it really that exaggerated? After reaching the Four Pillars Realm, pills have less effect on the body."

"That's because you're ignorant. Have you heard of the Dao Comprehension Fruit? Some high-level pill refiners' pills can achieve similar effects. Although they can't guarantee Dao Comprehension, they can increase your chances of advancement."

"That's right. And the most powerful thing about high-level pill refiners is their connections. If your relationship is good enough and they're willing to speak up for you, they can gather their friends to help you refine pills. Even a complete waste can be nurtured into a strong individual."

"See? Those are all high-level pill refiners."

"Is that young man in the middle also one? That's impossible."

"He must be the direct disciple of one of them."

"Nonsense, that's Pill Master Qingfeng. I saw him once when I was helping deliver herbs."

"Pill Master Qingfeng? He's Pill Master Qingfeng?!"

Many people were surprised to hear the name Pill Master Qingfeng.

Although they hadn't met Li Hao, Pill Master Qingfeng's name had recently become incredibly famous. Everyone knew that there was a Pill Master Qingfeng in the pill refiner circle, with extensive connections and a unique skill in refining herbs. If you asked him to help refine pills, success was almost guaranteed!

On the floating seats, Li Hao and Lin Shanhai and the others had already taken their seats.

"It seems your reputation is quite impressive. Even these youngsters know about you."

Lin Shanhai heard the whispers below and couldn't help but smile at Li Hao.

Li Hao also noticed, but only found it amusing. He, who had never refined pills, had become the renowned Pill Master Qingfeng. It was a bit surreal.

"Who wouldn't want Qingfeng's refining technique? These youngsters are well-informed."

Shi Huajin chuckled.

"If Qingfeng wants to become a pill refiner, I can teach him. And I won't consider it taking on a disciple." Zhao Yingzhen immediately said.

Lin Shanhai said with a displeased tone, "Stop daydreaming. I've already told Qingfeng this a long time ago. If he's willing, he already has the opportunity to become a high-level pill refiner."

Zhao Yingzhen was startled and then chuckled wryly.

Li Hao's gaze fell on the ten arenas. On the edges outside the arenas, numerous inner disciples were gathered. To Li Hao's surprise, the auras of these inner disciples were deep and restrained, at least at the Four Pillars Realm!

Some of them, with outstanding figures, stood out like the sun among the crowd, reaching the Dao Comprehension Realm. Their auras were restrained and profound, both hidden and sharp.

Li Hao was slightly silent. Just the inner disciples possessed the strength of the Dao Comprehension Realm. This was the foundation of the Sacred Land.

In the Great Yu Dynasty, over the years, besides the Buddha Lord, only Qin Zhenren had been in charge.

As for whether there were other Dao Comprehension Realm experts in seclusion, it was unknown. Even if there were, there would be at most one or two.

The six Dao Law Realm experts he had killed in the Imperial Palace before were likely the six top inner disciples of the Void Sacred Land, all at the Dao Law Realm, considered top-tier among the inner disciples.

But such top-tier individuals were numerous among the inner disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, at least a hundred.

This was the difference between a Sacred Land and a human kingdom. Their power was like a dragon compared to ants.

"Qingying is over there."

Shi Huajin pointed. On the opposite side of the ten arenas, three figures stood together, surrounded by many influential figures of the Sacred Land. But in front of these three figures, stood a dozen or so imposing and outstanding figures, like detached stars, making it difficult to look directly at them.

Compared to these individuals, even the most brilliant among the inner disciples seemed somewhat dim.

"Those are the three Demigods of the Sacred Land."

Lin Shanhai introduced them to Li Hao.

Li Hao looked intently. The three Demigods, second only to the Sages. Although the gap between Demigods and Sages was enormous, compared to the Dao Comprehension Realm, the Demigods had overwhelming dominance and absolute ruling power.

The three were a man, a woman, and an old man, all middle-aged in appearance. Their auras were erratic and restrained, yet they were like distant and near mountains. Standing there, they seemed to root themselves in Heaven and Earth, majestic and unmoving.

Just the casual aura they emanated gave Li Hao a strong sense of oppression.

His mind was solemn. He vaguely sensed that with his current strength, although he could easily kill Dao Law Realm experts, if he were to fight against a Demigod, the outcome would be uncertain, and he was very likely to lose.

Demigods had long lifespans and most of them possessed realms, only half a step away from becoming Sages. They were already among the top geniuses of their time. To defeat them against the odds was virtually impossible.

"For the initial selection, you can just watch here. If you don't want to watch, you can go back."

In front of the ten arenas, the burly and majestic middle-aged man, whose shoulders seemed capable of supporting the heavens, said calmly to the dozen or so Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens.

Hearing his words, the dozen or so individuals remained relatively calm. Some stood quietly, their clothes fluttering, wanting to see how far the top inner disciples had reached.

Others simply bowed slightly to the three Demigods and turned to leave, not wanting to stay and watch.

For many Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens, their competitive focus was primarily on other Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens. They had little interest in the slightly weaker inner disciples.

After all, they would ultimately become stepping stones under their feet.

"Sacred Son Bright Moon isn't here. He must be in seclusion."

"He probably plans to appear in the top hundred battle. He wouldn't bother with this level of battle. Coming here would just be a waste of time."

"It's been thirty years since we last saw him. I wonder what level he's reached now. This time, it's truly something to look forward to."

A few familiar Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens mentioned a certain Sacred Son, their eyes filled with a hint of fighting spirit.

There were many Sacred Sons, but some of them had incredibly famous reputations. Sacred Son Bright Moon was one of them.

"There are quite a few rising stars this time. Don't just focus on Sacred Son Bright Moon and get overtaken by some youngsters."

A graceful Sacred Maiden, with a hazy veil covering her face, her eyes like autumn water, glanced at a figure in white beside her.

Hearing her words, the gazes of the other Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens shifted, some slightly narrowing their eyes, while others remained indifferent.

"I heard that in the Bone Reflection Mirror test, he was less than twenty-seven years old. He's one of the youngest among us, right?"

A tall and straight young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes said with interest.

"After all, he's the direct disciple of Sword Sage. Like Sacred Son Bright Moon, he probably has the same abilities as Sacred Son Bright Moon thirty years ago."

Another Sacred Son said calmly.

They chatted casually, without concealing their confidence and composure, not caring about offending or provoking anyone.

After all, they were all potential competitors in this Sword God War.

Moreover, although they were all Sacred Sons, only one could obtain the incense of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land and become the new Sword Sage. They were all each other's enemies, unless someone willingly withdrew from the competition.

Hearing their discussion, Bian Ruxue, dressed in white, remained silent, not responding. She simply stared at the ten arenas ahead.

She didn't intend to leave. Instead, she wanted to see the strength of the top inner disciples. The top inner disciples' strength was not much weaker than that of the Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens. Some of them might have even broken through after the last Sacred Son and Sacred Maiden selection, and now they might possess the strength of a Sacred Son or Sacred Maiden.

Although the possibility was very low, it wasn't impossible.

On the other side, Lin Qingying was also gazing calmly, uninterested in the discussions around her, and didn't participate.

She knew that those around her were her opponents. Her only companion was the sword in her hand.

Soon, after finishing their chat, the dozen or so Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens left one after another. Only five remained to watch.

These Sacred Sons and Sacred Maidens were all incredibly eye-catching. As they left, many disciples in the spectator area noticed them and whispered among themselves.

In front of the arenas, the inner disciples waiting to compete also noticed this, and they immediately felt a sense of disdain. But they knew that there was nothing they could do. The other party was a Sacred Son or Sacred Maiden, far stronger than them.

However, a few among them had cold eyes.

Soon, the spectator area was completely filled, and the floating seats were also nearly full.

The initial selection of the Sword God War began at this moment.

There were two types of challenge rules for the initial selection. One was a one-on-one duel, and the other was a defending champion. The defending champion would fight ten matches and could directly advance to the top hundred, skipping the subsequent battles.

The defending champion battle was for those who were confident in their strength, while the random one-on-one duels gave other inner disciples a chance to compete.

The three Demigods took their seats, and after the rules of the Sword God War were explained, they began to select participants.

They gathered the disciple's identity tokens together and used laws to randomly assign them in mid-air.

The disciples who chose the defending champion battle had already taken the central arena.

In past Sword God War battles, the defending champion battle was always more eye-catching, and the top inner disciples would choose this easier method.

"Whoa, the first one to take the defending champion arena is Mu Feng."

"He's also one of the top inner disciples. It's normal for him to choose the defending champion battle."

"He asked me to refine some Dao Condensation Pills a while ago. Qingfeng, you also helped out. Do you remember?"

Zhao Yingzhen said to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded, vaguely remembering.

"How about it? Same as before, bet on something? I'll start. A mid-level pill formula, the Pure Fire Pill, can purify the body's pill poison. However, it will leave a little pill poison residue in the body. But compared to the benefits, it's negligible."

An elder said with a smile.

Shi Huajin said with a smile, "Alright, I'll join in. A medium-level pill formula, the Purple Gold Pill, can enhance physical strength. One pill increases about 50,000 jin of strength. It's only effective for the first three pills."

"I'm not familiar with him, so I'll just bet on a low-level pill formula." Lin Shanhai also joined in.

Others also chose their pill formulas and began to select the number of rounds and odds.

Li Hao listened from the side and found that they had established very detailed betting rules, somewhat similar to Texas Hold'em?

Tsk, who says ancient people don't know how to play? As long as they have enough time, they can play anything, as long as it's not too complicated.

"Qingfeng, do you want to join in?"

Zhao Yingzhen asked Li Hao.

Li Hao shook his head, "I don't understand these things, so I won't join you."

"Go, go, don't drag Qingfeng into this." Lin Shanhai said with a displeased tone.

Getting involved in such things wasn't a good idea.

The others didn't persuade him further. Li Hao took out the paintbrush and drawing board he had prepared from his spatial ring and began to grind ink.

If anyone were to benefit the most from this battle, it would be him… Li Hao thought happily. After grinding the ink, he set up his drawing board and began to sketch the three Demigods.

He wondered how much painting experience a Demigod-level existence could provide. Li Hao felt a surge of excitement.

"Qingfeng, what are you doing?"

Shi Huajin noticed Li Hao's strange actions and was a little surprised.

The other pill refiners also looked over, startled by Li Hao's unusual behavior.

Li Hao smiled, "Such a rare scene, I'll draw it as a souvenir."

Lin Shanhai knew that Li Hao enjoyed painting and was very skilled at it. He smiled, "Go ahead and draw. Don't bother him. Qingfeng's paintings are extraordinary."

"Oh?"

The others showed surprised expressions, then became interested, wanting to see Li Hao's finished work.

Li Hao began to paint with all his heart.

The three Demigods stood together, and Li Hao observed and painted them. However, painting strong individuals wasn't easy. The reason why his painting experience was rich was mainly because Li Hao needed to concentrate on observing. But as he observed the three Demigods, his own spiritual power was also being consumed, as if he was exploring a maze.

The Demigods' auras were restrained and profound, giving him a sense of difficulty in copying and sketching.

"Hmm?"

In the distance, the three Demigods sensed someone watching them. They looked up and saw the young man on the floating seat with a drawing board.

Soon, they noticed that Li Hao was surrounded by pill refiners.

"Whose disciple is that person? How dare they offend us like this." The woman's eyebrows were mature, her eyes deep and cold.

"It might not be an offense. I used my spiritual sense to check, and he's painting us. He probably admires us and wants to keep a record of our appearance. And it seems he's quite good at it."

The burly middle-aged man remained calm, a slight smile on his lips.

"He's not anyone's disciple. Recently, a pill refiner who possesses the ability to refine herbs has emerged among the pill refiners. It should be that young man. He's sitting with Lin Shanhai. I remember his name is Pill Master Qingfeng."

The old man glanced at him and then withdrew his gaze, saying calmly.

"Pill Master Qingfeng?"

The woman's eyes flickered slightly. She had obviously heard of this name. The coldness in her eyes dissipated slightly. She used her spiritual sense to scan and immediately found that her figure appeared on the young man's drawing board. Moreover, she looked incredibly beautiful…

"Since it's unintentional offense, then let it be."

Her brows relaxed, and she said indifferently.

The three Demigods' conversation wasn't concealed. Lin Qingying and Bian Ruxue nearby heard it. Lin Qingying looked up and saw that Li Hao had indeed set up his drawing board and was sketching the Demigods. She couldn't help but be speechless and secretly found it amusing.

Li Hao had been here for almost a year. After nearly a year of getting along, she had become completely familiar with him. Besides painting and carving, he really didn't do anything else.

Except for refining herbs.

"Hmm?"

Bian Ruxue also looked over. Upon hearing the word "painting," she felt a strange stirring in her heart and looked towards the floating seat.

The drawing board was blocking her view, and she couldn't see the person's face. But for some reason, the drawing board gave her a sense of familiarity deep within her bones. Her blood seemed to accelerate slightly in an instant.

(End of Chapter)