Chapter 325: A Proposal? Guiding Lin Qingying

The presence of the Sword Saint himself at the arena pushed the atmosphere to its peak.

A million outer disciples were boiling with excitement. For them, it was an extremely rare opportunity to witness the might of the Sword Saint, let alone hear his teachings, which were only occasionally bestowed upon them.

The inner disciples, a group of talented prodigies, watched with intense focus and hidden excitement. If they could showcase their potential and earn the Sword Saint's favor, they might have a chance to receive his guidance.

However, the most eye-catching figure at the moment was the Sword Saint's own Saintess.

Bian Ruxue.

As the youngest among the Saintesses, she had been a focus of attention ever since she arrived at the Sword Ancestor's Holy Land. Standing obediently before the Sword Saint, her exquisite and ethereal beauty exuded a calm and vivacious aura, making countless people envious and red with jealousy.

Being able to directly become a disciple of the Sword Saint was a status symbol among the Saint Children and Saintesses, placing them at the pinnacle of the hierarchy!

As the rules were announced and the top hundred selected, the first three pairs of combatants soon stepped onto the stage.

Two of the pairs were inner disciples facing off against each other, while the third was an inner disciple versus a Saint Child.

This Saint Child was none other than Li Hao's acquaintance, the Traceless Saint Child, Qiu Wuheng.

During their previous encounter at the Sword Cliff, Li Hao and Qiu Wuheng had a brief conversation, but it didn't go beyond a few casual words.

Li Hao knew that Qiu Wuheng had used the fishing experience to comprehend sword intent, making him an extremely powerful opponent.

As Qiu Wuheng stepped onto the stage, the majority of the gazes converged on him.

After twenty days of continuous battles, the Saint Children and Saintesses had yet to make their debut. This was the first time the disciples would witness the true strength of the Saint Children.

The inner disciple facing Qiu Wuheng was Luo Cheng, a successful defender of the previous challenge, whose reputation was well-known among the inner disciples.

As the arena's formation solidified, the battle began instantly.

Compared to Qiu Wuheng's calm demeanor, Luo Cheng's eyes were filled with cold arrogance. However, he didn't take things lightly and immediately summoned the power of heaven and earth, revealing an extreme state he had not shown before.

"That's the Divine Power Extreme, and that vortex is the Pulse of Heaven and Earth!"

The million outer disciples in the audience exclaimed in surprise. The Extreme State was something every outer disciple aspired to achieve.

After channeling the power of his body and the Pulse of Heaven and Earth, Luo Cheng burst into action, his body disappearing in an instant.

The Abyss Extreme!

This scene made the six half-Saints in the audience narrow their eyes.

Mastering the Abyss Extreme meant having more than enough self-preservation capabilities. It was rare for anyone below the half-Saint level to have the means to detect the Abyss Extreme!

Now, the battle would test their calculations and predictions.

Pfft!

The moment Luo Cheng reappeared using the Abyss Extreme, he appeared beside Qiu Wuheng, not behind him, and delivered a sudden slash, tearing through Qiu Wuheng's shoulder. This was only possible because Qiu Wuheng reacted quickly and dodged; otherwise, half his body would have been severed!

The initial clash left the Saint Child injured, causing a wave of shock among the million disciples in the audience.

After a brief pause, Luo Cheng once again vanished using the Abyss Extreme, reappearing in front of Qiu Wuheng with a vicious and fierce strike.

The sword light aimed directly at Qiu Wuheng's head, but Qiu Wuheng reacted swiftly, tilting his head at the last moment, causing the sword to only graze his cheek.

Luo Cheng's face turned cold, and he retreated rapidly, increasing the distance between them.

Outside the arena, Li Hao observed the intricate threads of sword intent coalescing on the stage and shook his head, knowing that Luo Cheng was about to lose unless he had another trick up his sleeve.

"Qiu Wuheng has perfected his sword intent!"

"The Thousand Threads Sword, Luo Cheng doesn't even realize that he's already entangled by the sword intent."

"Utilizing the Sword Intent to barely capture the movements of the Abyss Extreme, the other Saint Children must exercise caution when confronting him!"

The half-Saints, including Yao Zu, were also closely watching the battle, their eyes filled with a mix of gravity and reflection.

Being able to capture the Extreme State with sword intent was truly terrifying.

Outside the arena, the million outer disciples were cheering Luo Cheng's name, impressed by his ability to dominate the Saint Child.

Whoosh!

Luo Cheng's fourth use of the Abyss Extreme brought him back to Qiu Wuheng's front.

But as his figure materialized, Qiu Wuheng suddenly drew his sword. The rusted, unsheathed sword at his waist was flung out, the rust particles vibrating. With a loud thud, it pierced straight through Luo Cheng's body.

In a single strike, Qiu Wuheng impaled Luo Cheng on the blade!

The cheers from the audience were abruptly silenced, everyone's eyes wide with disbelief.

Luo Cheng, who had been aggressively attacking just moments ago, was now impaled like a fish on a hook!

"You…."

Luo Cheng noticed the faint lines on his body, immediately recognizing his opponent's reputation. His face turned grim.

Qiu Wuheng's arm trembled as he retracted his sword, his eyes remaining as calm as when he stepped onto the stage.

Luo Cheng knew that his opponent had held back; otherwise, the continuous strikes after the initial hit would have been impossible to withstand.

"I lost."

Luo Cheng bowed his head, his expression pained. This was the strength of a Saint Child?

What frustrated him was that Qiu Wuheng hadn't even used his Extreme State, relying solely on sword intent to defeat him!

As the outcome was determined, the million disciples in the audience gradually snapped back to reality, their faces filled with shock.

Some realized that Qiu Wuheng hadn't used his Extreme State at all, not even putting forth his full strength!

"Too strong, this is the strength of a Saint Child?"

"Defeating an Extreme State with normal techniques, this is too exaggerated, I didn't understand a thing!"

"I sensed something was off earlier. Qiu Wuheng didn't use the Abyss Extreme to dodge, likely because he didn't want to reveal it."

"Qiu Wuheng is so strong, why didn't he use the Abyss Extreme to dodge and then counterattack? Getting injured was too embarrassing."

"Embarrassing? Getting injured is nothing. Didn't you see that Qiu Wuheng's wound has already healed?"

"But winning like this isn't very elegant. Clearly, there was a chance to win without taking any damage."

"Can elegance put food on the table? Do you think a Holy Son would waste their strength just to show off? Holy Sons are forged through countless battles. To win, they can use any means necessary. Winning is the only elegance!"

The crowd below buzzed with discussion, all feeling the terrifying presence of the Holy Son.

Qiu Wuheng turned and left the stage. The dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Daughters gathered elsewhere all wore solemn expressions.

Only a few remained unperturbed and calm.

Lin Qingying's eyes flickered with contemplation. The sword intent of her opponent was somewhat similar to her own, but there were significant differences. If they were to meet, she wasn't sure if she could win.

Qiu Wuheng's display of swordsmanship alone left many feeling the pressure.

As the stage cleared, a new match quickly began.

Several more battles followed, and another Holy Son was chosen to face an inner gate prodigy.

This inner gate disciple, though not possessing the Primordial Abyss Realm, had the Divine Power, Heaven and Earth Pulse, and Primordial Spirit Realms. After unleashing all his power, the Holy Son simply used the Primordial Abyss Instant Teleportation and easily defeated him with a single sword strike.

The ease of this victory made many realize that, in the presence of the Primordial Abyss Realm, other realms seemed somewhat weak.

After all, with no way to track and no trace left behind, one could only passively endure the attacks, unable to counter or even catch up. It was simply unsolvable.

Li Hao watched these battles and compared them to the six Dao Law Realm beings he had slain in the Great Yu Imperial Palace. One of them had also mastered the Primordial Abyss Realm, and he was likely one of the top inner gate prodigies.

At that time, Li Hao was still in the Peaceful Dao Realm and had to expend great effort, ultimately relying on the will of the Heavenly Sovereign to defeat him. Now, he wouldn't need to go through such trouble.

The intense battles continued, with over twenty matches in a row. The Holy Sons and Holy Daughters all took turns fighting, and without exception, they all won.

Some won with a single, effortless strike, while others faced tough inner gate prodigies with the Primordial Abyss Realm, requiring considerable effort to win, and they looked rather disheveled by the end.

Soon, it was Lin Qingying's turn to fight. Her luck seemed to be bad, as her opponent was a Holy Son!

Midway through the tournament, the first clash between a Holy Son and a Holy Daughter drew a lot of attention.

Previously, they hadn't seen the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters pushed to their limits. Now, with this dragon and phoenix battle, there was a chance to witness it.

All the disciples were extremely curious about the limits of these top prodigies within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, wondering just how far they could go.

Lin Qingying frowned slightly, not expecting to have to use her true strength so soon.

Revealing it prematurely could allow others to probe her, which would be disadvantageous for later battles, but there was no other choice now.

"Oh no, how unlucky is Qingying?"

"Qingying must win!"

Beside Li Hao, the alchemists like Lin Shanhai were frustrated, slapping their thighs. To draw a Holy Son in the Jifen battle was truly unlucky!

At this moment, Lin Qingying and the Dragon Slayer Holy Son both arrived on the stage.

They exchanged a distant glance, both aware of each other's situation. The Dragon Slayer Holy Son looked regretful.

"Didn't expect to face you so soon, but it's good. Before battling with Bright Moon, I'll warm up a bit."

As soon as he said this, the crowd below gasped in shock. To speak so arrogantly to a Holy Daughter was daring, and this Dragon Slayer Holy Son was indeed overbearing.

Lin Qingying's expression was indifferent, and she didn't speak. She simply slowly drew her sword and held it steadily.

As the formation sealed the area, the battle began.

The Dragon Slayer Holy Son's eyes turned cold as he drew his sword. Instead of charging forward, he took slow, deliberate steps toward Lin Qingying.

This stance seemed almost mundane, but the disciples below knew that even a feather landing on the stage would instantly trigger a thunderous explosion.

Lin Qingying and the Dragon Slayer Holy Son were both building up their momentum. As the Dragon Slayer Holy Son approached within ten paces, Lin Qingying's eyes narrowed slightly.

At the same moment, the Dragon Slayer Holy Son vanished in a flash, using the Primordial Abyss Instant Teleportation!

Boom!

Suddenly, a roar like a dragon's bellow echoed. The crimson-golden divine sword in the Dragon Slayer Holy Son's hand emitted a deafening whistle, appearing above Lin Qingying and slashing down with immense force!

Lin Qingying vanished in the split second after the Dragon Slayer Holy Son teleported, reappearing behind him. Her green sword swung softly, like a flowing cloud sleeve.

But the energy in the surrounding world instantly transformed into sword light, piercing out sharply.

The Dragon Slayer Holy Son suddenly turned, slashing his sword as if he had anticipated Lin Qingying's teleportation position.

The green-golden sword light met, but there was no expected violent shock. The crimson-golden sword light seemed to strike a cottony surface, sinking in. Then, Lin Qingying's body radiated golden divine power, her arm bursting with strength.

But the power she unleashed was like a golden cloud, soft and scattered, enveloping the Dragon Slayer Holy Son in a glow like fireflies.

The Dragon Slayer Holy Son's expression changed slightly, and he teleported away again, reappearing behind Lin Qingying.

But this time, Lin Qingying didn't choose to use the Primordial Abyss. Instead, she turned gracefully, and as the Dragon Slayer Holy Son's sword thrust forward, her turn seemed both intentional and accidental, allowing the sword to pass between her arm and waist. Her sword light, like golden fire, swept across his face.

Several thud sounds echoed as the Dragon Slayer Holy Son's face was sliced, instantly burning several holes, blood streaming down.

"Damn it!"

The Dragon Slayer Holy Son was both startled and angry, his eyes flashing with a domineering cold light. His sword path carried an imperial aura, accumulated from slaying dragon clans, and now it emitted a sword path's intimidation, like a majestic divine emperor standing in the arena.

Even with the formation's barrier, the disciples below felt the intimidation, a sense of fear, and a desire to kneel and worship.

Lin Qingying's eyes wavered slightly, also affected, but her Supremely Soft Sword Path was subtle and silent. The intimidation passed through her body as if she were untouchable.

Whoosh!

Her sword intent was like flowing water, swiftly slicing through the air. It seemed soft and gentle, yet it easily pierced through the powerful, tyrannical strike of the Dragon Slayer Saint Son, tearing a new wound in his waist.

"The Path of Utmost Softness, where the sword is like water, truly is difficult to contend with."

On another sacred platform, over a dozen Saint Sons and Saint Daughters watched the battle intently. They all recognized that Lin Qingying's sword intent was nearly perfect and complete.

In contrast, the Dragon Slayer Saint Son, though powerful with his imperial aura, was being effectively countered by Lin Qingying's utmost softness.

Boom!

Suddenly, a towering avatar appeared on the battle platform, clearly resembling the Dragon Slayer Saint Son. He wore a white-golden robe and wielded a massive sword, appearing like an imperial deity.

His imposing aura caused the mist on the mountaintop to ripple and disperse.

"He's manifested a Heaven and Earth Avatar, the pinnacle of the third realm!"

Many disciples exclaimed in shock. The Heaven and Earth Avatar was the third realm, also known as the Saint Realm. Achieving this realm was the key to becoming a saint!

Being able to manifest the third realm indicated that he was a world-defying genius from the very beginning of his cultivation, with a heart vast enough to encompass the heavens and the earth, and an arrogance that could look down upon the entire universe.

As the avatar illuminated the battlefield, the Dragon Slayer Saint Son's eyes filled with murderous anger. He had originally planned to save these techniques for his battle against Hengyue, but now he had to use them prematurely.

"Imperial Sword Emperor, Boundless Sword of Heaven and Earth!"

The Dragon Slayer Saint Son roared, merging with his avatar. He lifted his divine sword, and his Dao Domain expanded, revealing 21 layers of Dao Domain!

With each layer stacking upon the last, the sword qi within the domain surged. As the sword swung down, the entire battle platform was filled with sword qi.

If this were an open field, someone at the Return to the Abyss realm could easily escape. But on this platform, even with the Return to the Abyss instant teleportation, one could not remain hidden for long. They would inevitably reappear and face the indiscriminate attacks.

Considering the Return to the Abyss realm, the battle platform was designed to limit the range, otherwise, both sides could teleport endlessly, fighting until the end of time.

Facing the endless sword qi from all directions, Lin Qingying's figure transformed into a green light, suddenly teleporting, not to dodge, but to close the distance and approach the Dragon Slayer Saint Son.

Her sword glowed, and the sound of ocean waves echoed.

Then, an endless tide of sword qi surged, both soft and hard! Soft enough to penetrate any opening, and once inside, it became the sharpest sword qi.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Lin Qingying's sword qi erupted in a wide area, enveloping the Dragon Slayer Saint Son. The tidal wave of sword intent surged through his avatar and Dao Domain, piercing his body and creating a trail of blood mist.

"You!"

The Dragon Slayer Saint Son was shocked, his eyes filled with anger. Despite his severe injuries, he suddenly struck with a powerful sword blow.

Lin Qingying's expression changed, and she raised her sword. This strike seemed to press down the entire landscape, and with a thud, it sent him flying.

Pfft! Lin Qingying spat out a mouthful of blood, her face pale. She quickly teleported, transforming into a brilliant green light, and suddenly pierced through the Dragon Slayer Saint Son's avatar.

The sword qi on the battlefield subsided, and the imperial avatar dissipated. The Dragon Slayer Saint Son's face was ashen, looking at the sword light piercing his chest. His eyes were filled with despair, unwillingness, and more anger at himself.

Lin Qingying retracted her sword, glanced at him, and then turned and left.

The battle concluded, the victor and the vanquished clear.

Millions of outer disciples, including most inner disciples, had not seen how Lin Qingying had dispelled the avatar. They were stunned by how the intense battle ended so quickly.

But the dozen Saint Sons and Saint Daughters on the sacred platform had grave expressions.

They all recognized that her sword strike had been so soft that it almost seemed to merge with space, a truly terrifying feat!

As Lin Qingying returned to the sacred platform, many Saint Sons and Saint Daughters focused their gaze on her, their expressions serious.

Li Hao, seeing Lin Qingying's victory, breathed a sigh of relief. Her sword intent still had minor flaws, yet she had won. Fortunately, her opponent's sword intent was even more brittle, possessing only the imperial arrogance without the true imperial might.

The imperial aura cultivated by slaying dragons was ultimately weaker.

True imperial aura should be supreme, commanding respect even from sages.

Li Hao shook his head slightly. This battle had been quite dangerous for Lin Qingying. When the opportunity arose, he would help her refine her sword path.

As Li Hao pondered this, the six half-saints, including Yaozu, smiled. The skills of the Saint Sons and Saint Daughters in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land brought them comfort.

Despite the Dragon Slayer Saint Son's activation of the fifth realm, he still lost due to his sword path's shortcomings. Lin Qingying, though she hadn't displayed a Heaven and Earth Avatar, had nearly perfected her sword intent, making her a rare sword genius of a thousand years.

The battles on the platform continued, with the points accumulating as the contestants made their second appearances. Lin Qingying and Qiu Wuheng were selected again, facing inner disciples and winning easily.

In addition, two other pairs of Saint Sons and Saint Daughters clashed. One pair fought fiercely, both activating the fifth realm and battling with their Heaven and Earth Avatars, the clash lasting half an hour before one side emerged victorious in a brutal fashion.

This battle left many disciples exhilarated and awestruck. These Saint Sons and Saint Daughters seemed to all possess Heaven and Earth Avatars.

The fifth realm seemed to be the standard for Saint Sons and Saint Daughters!

The other pair of Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, however, ended their battle quickly.

"Saint Son Hengyue, he defeated Saint Son Ziyang with a single crescent moon sword strike. That's too strong!"

"I heard he practices the Sun and Moon Sword Technique, seeking the great harmony of heaven and earth, with the sun and moon eternal."

"You don't know, but among the Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, Saint Son Hengyue stands alone. I heard that his Dao Domain reached the 30th layer thirty years ago!"

"Thirty layers of Dao Domain? No way!"

"What's the big deal? Saint Son Hengyue is also a natural Sun and Moon Sword Body, born with the two sword qi of the sun and moon, a clear reincarnation of a sage, and with natural Yin and Yang meridians!"

"... Compared to Saint Son Hengyue, I, with my natural Yang meridian, feel like a stray dog."

Seeing the Holy Son of Bright Moon take action, the faces of the other numerous Holy Sons and Holy Daughters grew serious. The Heavenly Law Image of Purple Sun Holy Son, the Boundary of the Wasteland, was severed by a single crescent moon sword from the Holy Son of Bright Moon.

Even the Boundary of the Wasteland was dodged by the opponent, making his skills hard to fathom and quite terrifying!

"That Holy Son of Bright Moon is too strong. I heard that thirty years ago, he was already the standout among Holy Sons. Now, after thirty years, his sword techniques are even more terrifying."

Beside Li Hao, Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists were also discussing.

Although they usually just refine pills, they were well-informed about all sorts of gossip.

"Defeat a Holy Son with one sword. If Qingying encounters him, she should just concede and preserve her strength. Even a second place would be good."

Zhao Yingzhen, with a worried look, suggested to Lin Shanhai.

Lin Shanhai's eyes were full of worry. He thought the same, but he knew his granddaughter's temperament. Retreat and strive for second place? She seemed gentle and compliant, but she was extremely proud at heart. How could she possibly bow down!

The battle platform was still in the midst of combat, and the tall figure of Yuwen Haoyue, with golden eyes, approached Lin Qingying.

"What do you think? Have you considered what I said last time? Marry me."

Yuwen Haoyue stood before Lin Qingying, speaking in a surprising manner.

Hearing his words, the surrounding dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were startled, looking at each other and then at Lin Qingying.

Yuwen Haoyue was actually courting Lin Qingying?

This was shocking news, and they had only just learned of it.

"You want to use me to practice your sword, to cultivate deep emotions and then sever them, to achieve your grand will of the heavens and earth. Please find someone more suitable, I will not oblige."

Lin Qingying frowned, her face cold as she spoke.

A hint of golden light appeared in Yuwen Haoyue's eyes as he gazed at her. "Your sword of utmost softness is a minor path. If you yield to me, once I become a Saint, I will choose a path to sainthood for you as a reward, and as my dowry!"

Hearing their conversation, the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters all had a flash of realization in their eyes. No wonder, at their level, their hearts were focused on the sword, and even if they had other emotions, they were few. Often, they would choose to abandon them for the greater good.

The Holy Son of Bright Moon courting Lin Qingying was clearly a losing proposition. After all, Lin Qingying had her own sword path and wouldn't easily agree. This pursuit was bound to be fruitless, even futile. But now, hearing their conversation, they understood.

The promise of a path to sainthood as dowry made the other Holy Daughters' eyes flicker. Some showed no reaction, but others' eyes sparkled with interest.

In the end, what they all sought was to become Saints, to exist for ten thousand years!

Although they were all Holy Sons and prodigies with their own pride, it was clear that Yuwen Haoyue was much stronger than them.

"My sword path is not a minor one. Even if it is, I will cultivate it into a major one!"

Lin Qingying's eyes grew colder as she saw him belittle her sword path. "Don't force me to draw my sword now!"

Yuwen Haoyue frowned slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes. "We'll see about that!"

With that, he turned and returned to his position without further ado.

Lin Qingying's face remained cold, and she turned away, ignoring him.

The conversation was contained within the holy platform and did not spread. Apart from the dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Daughters who knew, the disciples below were still focused on the intense battles on the platform.

Li Hao, sitting in the floating seats, was bored but noticed this scene. However, with the barrier in place, he couldn't hear what was said, only seeing that Lin Qingying's expression was not good.

As the endurance and combat skills were pushed to their limits over two days, the Jifenzhan finally concluded.

Lin Qingying had acted five times, winning all her battles and securing a place in the top sixteen.

The other thirteen Holy Sons and Holy Daughters also made it into the top sixteen, with no one falling out early.

In the top sixteen, apart from the fourteen Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, there were two top inner gate prodigies with extremely strong combat skills. In their previous battles with the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, they had narrowly lost.

The top sixteen battles would take place the next day.

After the long day of watching, the many disciples were tired, their heads swollen from absorbing too much. They needed to go back and digest it all.

Li Hao followed Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists back. He didn't go to find the Sword Master to fish today.

Upon returning to the Alchemy Institute, Li Hao saw that Lin Qingying had already returned to the courtyard, sitting cross-legged in her usual spot with her sword resting on her legs.

Li Hao thought for a moment and approached. "I watched your battles today. They were very impressive and powerful."

Lin Qingying kept her eyes closed, seemingly unmoved, showing no reaction.

Li Hao continued, "But some of your stances weren't as graceful. I could draw them out for you to see. What do you think?"

Lin Qingying opened her eyes. Last time, Li Hao had pointed out the flaws in her sword path in a similar manner. Graceful... This was an artist's way of describing form.

Could there be a flaw in her sword intent?

Lin Qingying looked at Li Hao, gazed at him for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "What about your own sword techniques? Have you stopped practicing? I heard you passed Yao Zu's test and entered the inner gate within ten days. Your sword talent is considered top-notch among the inner gate disciples. Don't you plan to practice?"

"How did you know?"

Li Hao was surprised. He hadn't broadcast his passing of Yao Zu's test, and few others knew about it.

Lin Qingying frowned slightly, her gaze retracting. "Draw if you want to."

Li Hao had both sword talent and artistic skills, so she understood how he could depict the flaws in her sword path.

Seeing her agreement, Li Hao immediately fetched a drawing board. He thought for a moment, considering the increasing frequency of battles and the possibility of encountering extremely strong opponents. He decided to draw out all the flaws in her sword path at once.