321-322

Chapter 321: Yaozu, Enhanced Sword Intent (Two-in-One)

Bian Ruxue immediately used her divine sense to probe, and upon seeing Li Hao behind the drawing board, she paused slightly. She quickly recalled that this was the alchemist who had delivered medicine to her earlier.

Him?

Bian Ruxue's eyes flickered, and she stared for a couple of seconds before finally shaking her head. Even if he, like herself, had received a fortuitous encounter and arrived at this place, it was impossible for him to become an alchemist.

While she didn't understand alchemy, she knew that this path differed from cultivation and required a long period of accumulation. Recently, she had heard of the reputation of the Qingfeng Alchemist, and such abilities were impossible for Li Hao to achieve in just a hundred years.

Meanwhile, Li Hao was meticulously sketching.

As he carefully observed with his artistic heart, he noticed that the three Half-Saints had all turned their attention to him. However, they didn't seem to have any intention of stopping him, which made Li Hao secretly relieved.

With the strokes of his brush, the figures of the three Half-Saints soon sprang to life on the paper.

Next came their aura, their essence, and Li Hao captured their unique charm in the painting.

Time slowly slipped away. The arena in front had already begun its battles, but Li Hao remained immersed in his artwork. It was no easy feat to depict three Half-Saints simultaneously; this painting could truly be called a labor of love.

After a long while, as cheers erupted from the audience below and Lin Shanhai and the others reacted with laughter and regret to the outcomes of their bets, Li Hao gradually shifted his focus from the intense concentration to his physical body. The surrounding commotion suddenly surged in, and his artwork was completed at that moment.

With the final stroke, Li Hao felt a sense of complete clarity. Experience prompts popped up before his eyes.

Painting Experience +150394.

…150,000?

Li Hao carefully counted again, confirming that he wasn't mistaken. He couldn't help but be stunned, but soon he found a sense of understanding.

After all, they were Half-Saints, and three of them in one painting!

At the same time, a panel prompt appeared, indicating that his Painting Path had leveled up, reaching the eighth stage.

Art Skill Points +1.

The experience required to advance from the eighth to the ninth stage doubled, reaching a million!

However, Li Hao believed that he would soon be able to reach the level cap, given the opportunity to witness numerous talented individuals battling in the Sword God War.

Even if each of the other Four-Establishment inner disciples only provided him with a few thousand experience points, the sheer number of them would make up for it.

As his Painting Path experience reached the eighth stage, numerous insights flooded his mind. After ten minutes or so, Li Hao gradually digested and absorbed them, gaining a completely new understanding of the Painting Path.

The artwork he had just poured his heart and soul into now seemed to have some flaws in his eyes.

It wasn't exactly a flaw, but rather a matter of depth.

The painting was merely capturing their essence and charm, without incorporating his own style, without establishing a deeper connection between himself and the artwork.

Every top-tier painter should possess their own unique style. This style should be cleverly integrated into the artwork, not jarring, but allowing viewers to instantly recognize the painter.

Li Hao understood this and was about to put away the drawing paper to create another piece.

But suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind:

"I want this painting. What do you need in return?"

It was a woman's voice, calm and indifferent, with an air of unquestionable authority.

Li Hao was slightly taken aback and looked up to see the female Half-Saint among the three, staring intently at him.

Their gazes met, and Li Hao immediately knew that she was the one who had sent the voice transmission.

He immediately replied through a voice transmission: "If Senior likes it, you can have it as a gift. My paintings are not for sale."

"You have some backbone."

A faint smile touched the woman's lips as she transmitted, "Since that's the case, I'll simply take it. If you ever need anything in the future, you can mention my name. I am Yaozu."

Yaozu… Li Hao memorized the name, nodded, and transmitted back, "If Senior doesn't mind, I can paint another portrait of Senior specifically. My hand was a bit unsteady earlier, and the execution wasn't good enough."

"Oh?"

Yaozu's eyes flickered. The reason she had the urge to ask for the painting was that her divine sense had been constantly monitoring Li Hao's artwork. When Li Hao finished the painting, she felt a sense of astonishment.

The depiction of herself in the painting was more beautiful than the reflection she saw in the mirror. It was like her, yet not quite her.

This captivated her, and she felt the desire to possess it.

If she could have a separate portrait of herself, that would be even better.

She intended to keep it in her cave dwelling for her personal enjoyment, sparing herself the sight of the other two… less appealing figures while admiring her own image.

Thinking of this, she glanced at the towering middle-aged man and the elder beside her and transmitted to Li Hao, "Then, paint it and show me."

"Yes!"

Li Hao agreed, dried the ink on the previous painting, rolled it up, and placed it aside. He then began to paint again.

This time, he was painting Yaozu alone. Li Hao's gaze was sharp as he focused on Yaozu.

With her permission, Li Hao's observation was no longer hesitant, but open and direct.

Feeling Li Hao's gaze wander over her body, Yaozu's eyebrows slightly rose. Never before had a man dared to be so bold and presumptuous.

If it were before, she would have slapped him to death in a fit of rage.

But remembering that she had initiated the voice transmission to him, although she felt a little uncomfortable, she endured it. At the same time, she used her divine sense to observe Li Hao's painting, to see if he was truly painting or intentionally spying on her?

Among the Half-Saints of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, Yaozu was extremely famous, known for her breathtaking beauty. In her youth, she was the most outstanding Saintess of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, defeating all those at her level hundreds of years ago before ascending to Half-Saint.

Now, she cultivated herself and maintained a calm demeanor, losing the killing intent and coldness of her younger days, replaced by a sense of composure and nobility.

As she observed with her divine sense, Yaozu quickly realized that Li Hao wasn't taking advantage of the situation to disrespect or offend her. He was genuinely observing and painting.

Every time Li Hao's gaze focused on a part of her body, his brush would follow, sketching it out.

Yaozu's eyes flickered, and the slight anger and discomfort in her heart gradually dissipated. She observed Li Hao's eyes, focused and pure, devoid of any lustful desire. Instead, it seemed like a simple appreciation of beauty.

This gaze brought a faint sense of pleasure to her heart.

It was completely different from the furtive glances of the inner disciples who secretly peeked at her, including some Saint Sons' veiled gazes.

Yaozu had previously heard of the Qingfeng Alchemist's reputation, but she hadn't paid much attention. Even a high-level alchemist could only offer limited help to her at this stage, unless they were refining pills for her disciples.

But now, she found herself admiring this Qingfeng Alchemist.

As time passed, the battles of the disciples in the arena became more intense, and the cheers from the audience grew louder. Amidst this noisy and lively environment, Li Hao felt like he was sitting alone in a deep mountain, exuding a serene and profound aura of tranquility.

He painted quietly, observing quietly.

Yaozu also lost interest in watching the disciples' battles, using her divine sense to follow Li Hao's brushstrokes as he depicted her, stroke by stroke.

After a long time, after Lin Shanhai and the others finished their second round of betting, Li Hao's second painting was also completed.

As Yaozu's figure appeared on the white paper, experience prompts popped up before Li Hao's eyes.

Painting Experience +42320.

This time, it was a solo portrait, and it was his second attempt, so the experience gained was significantly less, but still impressive.

He had gained over 70,000 experience points earlier, and now with these 42,000, he had already completed one-tenth of the million experience points needed to reach the ninth stage!

Li Hao felt that if he could fully exploit the three Half-Saints, he might be able to fill half the bar.

At this moment, the Yaozu in the painting was even more beautiful and charming than in the previous combined portrait. Although Yaozu was simply standing still, and there were other figures in the surrounding environment, in Li Hao's painting, she was alone, like a blue lotus on a snow-capped mountain, quietly releasing its fragrance and beauty, with an air of ethereal elegance and detachment from the world.

Her ink-and-wash eyes held a tranquil serenity and a hint of faint sorrow, like a thick fog that couldn't dissipate. Those eyes were heartbreaking, captivating, and unforgettable.

Yaozu stared at the depiction of herself, lost in thought.

Her outward appearance was as calm as still water, but the depiction of herself in the painting revealed hidden emotions within her heart.

It felt like her innermost thoughts had been exposed.

Could he understand her sorrow?

Yaozu was stunned for a moment, then shifted her divine sense to Li Hao, gazing into his eyes.

"Yaozu, your portrait is finished."

Li Hao finished the stroke, glanced at the painting, and found it to be quite perfect. Although he knew that there was still room for improvement as his Painting Path advanced, for now, it represented his best performance.

Yaozu retracted her divine sense, but her voice remained calm, "I've seen it. I'll take this painting and consider it a debt of gratitude."

With that, the painting on Li Hao's drawing board vanished into thin air.

Yaozu stood there, her body motionless, as if nothing had happened.

Li Hao couldn't figure out what kind of technique she had used, and he felt a sense of awe. Even a Half-Saint was beyond his current comprehension, let alone the future revenge he would seek against the Void Saint.

"Yaozu is too kind. My paintings are only given to those who appreciate them. Yaozu's appreciation is all that matters." Li Hao replied through a voice transmission.

Yaozu didn't respond further, her eyes revealing a calm expression as if she was looking at the arena.

But her divine sense quietly overlooked Li Hao from high above.

After waiting for a moment, seeing that she didn't transmit any more messages, Li Hao didn't say anything else. He immediately picked up his brush again and continued to paint. This time, he painted the three Half-Saints together again.

Yaozu, seeing Li Hao resume painting, withdrew her divine sense and turned her attention back to the arena in front of her.

However, she kept Li Hao's appearance in her mind.

As the battles on the arena continued to heat up, Li Hao finished his third painting.

This time, the experience gained dropped to around 120,000, still incredibly generous.

Li Hao wasn't surprised. Just as he was about to pick up his brush again, a majestic male voice echoed in his mind:

"Just paint a little bit. Don't overdo it."

Li Hao was slightly startled and looked towards one of the Half-Saints, the tall and imposing man.

The man's gaze also fell upon Li Hao, carrying a subtle warning.

Li Hao, seeing this, could only transmit, "I apologize for any offense, Senior."

Painting without permission was indeed an offense, and he couldn't help but smile wryly. His opportunity to continue exploiting them was gone. Yaozu should still be willing to let him paint her.

However, Li Hao didn't continue painting Yaozu. Instead, his gaze fell upon the arena below. He could request another painting from Yaozu when he visited her in the future. For now, this grand event was a rare opportunity to observe and, most importantly, to collect cultivation techniques.

He had missed some of the earlier rounds while painting, but the winners would continue to compete, and he would still be able to see them.

"It's Jingfeng this time. I heard that when he was in the Taiping Dao Realm, he had already condensed seven Dao Domains, which is incredibly formidable. His swordsmanship has also reached an extremely high level. Now that he has reached the Dao Listening Realm, he's also a well-known figure among the inner disciples. Do you think he can win all ten battles?"

Zhao Yingzhen recognized the young man guarding the arena and smiled at Lin Shanhai and the others.

"Seven Dao Domains? That's outdated news. He already had nine Dao Domains before he crossed into the Dao Listening Realm."

"I heard that he's only about seventy years old now. He's too young. But he's a disciple of a Half-Saint, having been taken in by Shanzu since childhood, and he comes from a famous aristocratic family. It's understandable that he could achieve such feats at this age."

"That's right. Yaozu once reached the Dao Listening Realm in just sixty years and defeated all the other Saintesses. That was truly exceptional talent."

The other alchemists also exchanged comments and praises.

They were all part of the same circle, and their conversations were relaxed and casual.

Li Hao was a little surprised to hear them mention Yaozu. He glanced at Yaozu, only to see her seemingly glance in his direction as well.

But when their eyes met, she seemed to only briefly scan him before moving on.

Li Hao didn't expect that this Half-Saint had been so impressive in her youth. Indeed, those who could become Half-Saints were once top-tier geniuses.

This was the reason why the path to higher realms became increasingly difficult. Those who could cultivate to this level had once been able to cross realms to kill enemies and dominate the battlefield.

Half-Saints were already so monstrous, let alone those who were Saints.

"Let's not talk about that anymore. Let's place our bets. It's about to begin."

Lin Shanhai said lazily.

Everyone started placing their bets.

Li Hao also looked towards the arena where the young man was guarding. He stood tall and elegant, exuding an aura of natural grace.

His aura wasn't hidden but naturally emanated, like a true dragon standing on the arena. He appeared gentle and refined, yet his aura was incredibly domineering.

Soon, someone stepped forward to challenge him.

But they were quickly defeated. The young man simply released his Dao Domain, suppressing the challenger to the point of immobility.

Then came the second person, the third, and one after another, people stepped forward to challenge, but they were all easily defeated. Until the seventh challenger, who also seemed to be a talented inner disciple. The two exchanged Dao Domains, suppressing each other, and drew their swords to fight.

Their swordsmanship both possessed peak seventh-stage sword intent, and their aura was fierce.

"Basic skills learned. Do you want to record them?"

A prompt appeared before his eyes.

Li Hao smiled and chose "Yes."

Soon, the various movement techniques and sword techniques of the two combatants were recorded in his panel.

Four new cultivation techniques appeared in his panel: the movement techniques and sword techniques used by the two combatants.

As the techniques were recorded, a large amount of information flooded his mind. Li Hao digested and absorbed it, savoring it slowly, and quickly mastered them. His movement techniques weren't as good as theirs, but his eighth-stage swordsmanship understanding pushed their sword techniques to a higher level, allowing him to grasp their sword intent!

As a result, when Li Hao observed them again, he realized that their sword moves, while seemingly fierce, were actually full of flaws.

If one understood the sword intent, a single strike could break their sword aura!

If the aura lacked the condensation of intent, it would be loose and easily shattered!

However, after grasping the sword intent of their two sword techniques, Li Hao vaguely felt that his own Unique Me Sword Intent seemed to have become more complete.

His Unique Me Sword Intent could sever anything he wished to sever.

But to truly achieve this, he needed a profound understanding of all things in the world.

Only through understanding could he break through.

In other words, the more sword intents he collected, the stronger his Unique Me Sword Intent would become… Li Hao realized this and then felt a hint of curiosity. Could sword intent be divided into different levels?

If he grasped enough sword intents, would his Unique Me Sword Intent reach a truly perfect level?

Li Hao's eyes flickered. Regardless, the more sword intents he collected, the stronger his Unique Me Sword Intent would become.

Li Hao's divine sense immediately spread out, simultaneously observing the battles on the ten arenas.

Soon, prompts began to appear one after another.

"Basic skills learned. Do you want to record them?"

Yes, yes, yes!

Li Hao kept confirming, and more and more cultivation techniques appeared on his panel. However, most of them were focused on swordsmanship and movement techniques. The Sword Ancestor Holy Land was relatively pure, with swordsmanship being the primary focus!

Unlike the Academy or other first-rate forces, where various cultivation techniques were studied.

Within the Holy Land, Saints were at the forefront, and each Saint had their own Saintly Path. Therefore, their cultivation was relatively singular and pure.

This might seem less comprehensive, but extreme purity often led to the cultivation of individuals who could stand alone.

When swordsmanship was strong enough, it could break through everything.

When fist techniques were strong enough, they could subdue all laws!

Cultivation speed would be faster within the Holy Land, not only because of the abundant energy but also because of its purity!

Purity often led to the ultimate level.

Unless one's cultivation reached a certain level and encountered a bottleneck, unable to make further progress, they would begin to gradually explore other cultivation techniques to enhance their overall capabilities.

Through observing the matches, Li Hao discovered that his movement techniques were comparable to those of ordinary inner disciples, but they were inferior to those of the top inner disciples.

The talented individuals here had cultivated for decades, and their movement techniques had mostly reached the sixth stage.

However, Li Hao had the Netherworld Extreme Realm, which could make up for his shortcomings in movement techniques.

As he recorded more sword techniques, Li Hao grasped more and more sword intents.

Each of these inner disciples' sword techniques was a Dao-level sword technique.

Within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, there was no shortage of top-tier sword techniques. The inner disciples all cultivated these techniques, but the depth of their mastery varied.

Li Hao felt that after recording a whole round of them, he had probably learned nine out of ten of the sword techniques within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land.

Under his eighth-stage swordsmanship understanding, all these sword techniques had condensed into sword intents.

As the number of sword intents he grasped increased to dozens or even hundreds, Li Hao, with his current physique, felt a slight swelling in his brain. However, his Unique Me Sword Intent also integrated more knowledge and became even more formidable.

When Lin Qingying had practiced her sword techniques earlier, Li Hao felt that he could easily sever her weak points and mistakes. But now, he felt that even if she used her strongest ultimate soft sword intent to confront him, he could still easily sever it.

He could see through analogies, glimpse countless sword intents, and perceive the flaws in countless sword intents. His understanding of sword intent was approaching the Dao.

The battles below continued, and Li Hao quietly observed. The young man named Jingfeng had already finished his battles, winning his seventh match and advancing to the top 100.

During his tenth match, he encountered a formidable opponent and displayed the power of three Extreme Realms before winning, causing a wave of shock and amazement among the crowd.

These three Extreme Realms were the first three: Divine Power, Heaven and Earth Veins, and Heaven and Earth Dharma Image.

Especially the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image, which meant that the object of his soul inheritance wasn't a Saint, but the Heaven and Earth itself. This was basically a prerequisite for becoming a Saint.

Those who possessed this Extreme Realm had the potential to become Saints.

Li Hao only learned later that without the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image, even if one obtained incense offerings, they could only bear two incense sticks. If one became a Saint with two incense sticks, they would be forever limited to the first realm of Saint, unable to break through to higher realms. They would be the weakest type of Saint.

After all, how could one contain the myriad living beings without the capacity to contain the Heaven and Earth?

Li Hao observed for several hours. Initially, he could record different sword techniques and movement techniques from the disciples on each arena, occasionally other cultivation techniques as well. But later, the variety decreased as they began to overlap.

Despite this, Li Hao's gains were enormous, and he was satisfied.

As the sword techniques he could record became fewer, Li Hao picked up his brush again and started painting.

This time, he depicted the entire ten arenas, including the numerous outer disciples below.

However, there were too many outer disciples, and Li Hao couldn't meticulously depict each one. The painting primarily focused on the inner disciples battling on the ten arenas.

For this painting, Li Hao had made preparations in advance, taking out a large scroll, dozens of meters long.

Ordinary drawing paper wouldn't be able to fully capture such a grand scene.

Seeing Li Hao's actions, Shi Hua and the others were surprised. When they saw the strokes of Li Hao's brush, they were shocked. They could tell at a glance that Li Hao's painting skills were truly exquisite, not just a simple hobby, but a deep mastery.

This time, Li Hao painted more slowly, completely focused, meticulously sketching.

Gradually, a vast and magnificent scene of the ten arenas in battle began to appear on the paper, slowly extending. The figures of the inner disciples became lively and dynamic.

In the distance, Yaozu noticed the huge scroll Li Hao had taken out, and her divine sense probed over, slightly surprised.

She quickly understood Li Hao's intentions, a hint of understanding in her eyes, and a faint smile on her lips.

Such a grand scene, if it could be painted and preserved, would indeed be worth commemorating.

However, in their daily lives, they were warriors, and they rarely had the time or inclination to delve into such things.

"This Qingfeng Alchemist is painting a scene of the ten arenas in battle. It looks quite grand and imposing. After he finishes, perhaps we can purchase it and store it in the Sword Tower for decoration. It will also allow future disciples who come to choose cultivation techniques to see what the Sword God War looks like."

Yaozu suddenly suggested.

Beside her, Shanzu, one of the Half-Saints, a burly middle-aged man, raised his eyebrows slightly and probed with his divine sense. A hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Not bad. His painting skills are truly remarkable. It's not just about controlling the brush and creating a likeness. The charm is unique, and I wouldn't be able to imitate it even if I tried."

Although he had previously warned Li Hao, it was only because he disliked being spied on. He truly admired Li Hao's painting skills.

For warriors, as their realm increased, their control over their bodies became more refined. Controlling a brush and depicting something lifelike wouldn't be difficult for them.

But the difficulty lay in this charm, something indescribable. They could see it, but they couldn't figure out how it was done. It didn't seem like it was simply a matter of painting something to look "like" the subject.

The elder glanced at it but didn't say anything, his gaze still fixed on the arena.

Seeing that no one objected, Yaozu smiled faintly. The Sword Tower was a place where all disciples of the Holy Land had to go to choose cultivation techniques. If the scroll were signed, Li Hao's name would be known to generations to come.

In her opinion, whether it was commoners or emperors and nobles, everyone spent their entire lives striving for immortality.

And her suggestion was to help Li Hao achieve that, to leave his mark.

As long as the Sword Ancestor Holy Land existed, his name would be passed down forever.

After a long, long time.

As the initial battles of the disciples on the arena came to a close, Li Hao's astonishing artwork was finally completed.

The ten arenas stood tall, the Holy Mountain was majestic, numerous inner disciples gathered, each with a different expression, depicted in meticulous detail. The outer disciples were also a sea of people, and one could vaguely see the faces of some of the disciples in the painting.

The weapons, sword qi, and sword auras used by the disciples during the battles on the arenas were all captured by Li Hao, like a stirring epic of battle.

This was the era of geniuses, countless geniuses shining brightly, bursting forth with their most dazzling light.

Lin Shanhai and the others gradually lost interest in placing bets and followed Li Hao's brushstrokes, observing the scroll. The scenes it depicted were even more vivid and exciting than watching the battles directly, with a thrilling and heart-pounding effect that made their blood boil.

With the final stroke, the painting was complete.

Li Hao saw the prompt that popped up on his panel.

Painting Experience +762892

760,000!

Li Hao had spent nearly a whole day on this painting, from shortly after the start of the grand battle to its end.

And this painting also brought an astonishing increase in experience, exceeding any of Li Hao's previous paintings!

Li Hao put away his brush, feeling a strong sense of fatigue. This painting had truly exhausted him. Observing each individual and capturing them in meticulous detail, with complete immersion, was no different from a vigorous cultivation session.

However, upon seeing the huge experience gain, Li Hao felt all his fatigue vanish.

Adding the previous experience, his Painting Path experience was close to a million!

This scroll depicted numerous inner disciples, but Li Hao knew that due to space limitations, he hadn't been able to depict all of them.

Otherwise, if he had to paint every disciple in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, the experience gain wouldn't be just a million, but at least ten million!

After all, there were a million outer disciples alone. Even if each one only gave him ten experience points, that would still be ten million!

And most of these outer disciples were in the Three-Immortality Realm, so it was impossible for them to only give ten experience points.

Li Hao leaned back in his chair, catching his breath for a moment, and a smile spread across his face. Indeed, his harvest this time was enormous.

He just needed to paint a little more, and he would be able to max out his Painting Path experience.

But next, he needed to comprehend the Painting Dao!

If he could comprehend the Painting Dao, he could break through the bottleneck and elevate his Painting Path to the ninth stage. At that time, if he obtained the Dao Heart, he could also elevate his swordsmanship to the ninth stage!

Li Hao looked at the scroll in front of him, the grand and surging battle depicted on it resonating within his heart. In addition to the painting experience, his immersion in the painting had deepened his understanding of it.

As Li Hao finished painting, the initial battles also came to an end.

The outer disciples below excitedly discussed the rankings for the day, with the more famous inner disciples becoming the subjects of their discussions.

Li Hao wasn't interested in these things. After the ink on the painting dried, he rolled it up and put it away.

"Are you free? Come over here for a moment."

At that moment, Yaozu suddenly sent a voice transmission to him.

Li Hao was slightly surprised to hear the transmission and looked towards her, seeing her gesture with her eyes.

Li Hao was a little surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he stood up and said to Lin Shanhai, "Old Lin, Yaozu is looking for me. I'll go over there."

"Huh?"

Lin Shanhai and the other alchemists were stunned when they heard this.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 322: Realm of Dao, Ninety-Seven – Is He a Pill Master? (Two-in-One)

Yaozu?

Lin Shanhai and the others followed the direction of the gaze, and upon seeing Yaozu's eyes fall upon them, they were all taken aback before turning to Li Hao.

When did Li Hao become acquainted with Yaozu?

Could it be that his ability to refine medicinal herbs had earned him her favor?

"Then hurry up and go, don't keep Yaozu waiting,"

Lin Shanhai urged hastily.

Li Hao nodded, soaring from the floating platform, passing over ten martial arenas, and landing before Yaozu and the other two Half-Saints.

Besides Lin Qingying and Bian Ruxue, there were two other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters standing beside them. Originally, there had been another Saint Son, but he had left with a look of utter boredom halfway through the competition.

"Junior greets the three seniors,"

Li Hao bowed respectfully.

Yaozu observed Li Hao's poised demeanor, his stance neither trembling nor cowering. A hint of appreciative smile graced her lips as she said:

"We were just discussing the possibility of placing your recent painting within the Sword Tower. Would you be agreeable to that?"

Painting?

Li Hao was slightly surprised, but as a painter, this was undoubtedly a tremendous affirmation of his work. He smiled and replied:

"Naturally, I would be honored."

The three Half-Saints had anticipated Li Hao's response. After all, the Sword Tower was a place of immense significance. Even those within the various dynasties who considered themselves Master Painters found it incredibly difficult to have their works displayed within its hallowed halls.

"In that case, I shall send word to have them await your arrival. Will you personally deliver it later?" Yaozu inquired.

Li Hao's heart stirred, and he nodded, "Certainly."

He had initially planned to visit the Sword Tower himself. Although he lacked the status of a disciple within the Holy Land, it would be a simple matter to have the pill masters pull some strings and get him a backdoor pass.

While his initial battle today had already yielded a significant harvest of techniques meticulously selected from the Sword Tower by the inner disciples, he had heard that the Tower had nine levels, each containing a vast collection of sword techniques and other extraordinary arts.

If he could manage to glean and record them all, the techniques at his disposal would reach an incredibly terrifying level.

And by accumulating a sufficient number of these techniques and secret arts, refining them through the fusion of myriad methods and mutual illumination, Li Hao could also forge even more powerful unique arts.

"Yaozu, may I also take this opportunity to peruse the techniques within the Sword Tower?"

Li Hao asked, saving himself the trouble of bothering Lin Shanhai and the others to seek favors from various connections. A simple request to a Half-Saint was all it took.

Yaozu was slightly surprised by his inquiry. "Aren't you a pill master? The Sword Tower doesn't contain anything related to pill mastery."

"I'd also like to take a look at various sword techniques," Li Hao coughed lightly.

"Is it that you've witnessed their battles today and have developed an interest in cultivating the Way of the Sword?"

The burly middle-aged man, Shanzu, frowned. "The Way of the Sword is no child's play. If one wishes to delve into it, they must immerse themselves wholeheartedly. Since you are a pill master, you should focus on refining your pills and nothing else. Don't be overly ambitious and waste your innate talent and time!"

Seeing his stern words, Yaozu shook her head slightly and said to Li Hao:

"Since you're interested, you can take a look. However, Shanzu is not wrong. Specialization leads to the ultimate path. Let's do this: Choose a sword technique you like within the Sword Tower, and then come to Yaochi Peak to find me. I will personally guide you in your cultivation and assess your aptitude for the Way of the Sword. If your talent is mediocre, you can then refocus your efforts on pill refinement."

Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Thank you, Yaozu."

Shanzu frowned slightly. Seeing Yaozu's words, he refrained from saying anything further.

Nearby, Lin Qingying glanced at Li Hao, her thoughts swirling. A sudden notion struck her – could it be that he also wished to practice the sword?

When Li Hao had painted for her earlier, pointing out the flaws in her sword intent through the external form, she had vaguely sensed that perhaps he possessed a talent for the Way of the Sword, but he had never cultivated or displayed it.

If he were to truly demonstrate his swordsmanship talent and become Yaozu's disciple, it would be an excellent outcome. Perhaps, in the future, they could fight side by side...

Thinking this, a sense of anticipation welled up within her.

Bian Ruxue cast a brief glance at Li Hao before withdrawing her gaze, paying him no further mind.

The other two Saint Sons and Saint Daughters also recognized the Qingfeng Pill Master. Earlier, they had sent people to cultivate a relationship with Li Hao. Now, seeing that he had developed an interest in swordsmanship, they couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement.

Too young, like a child, easily captivated by novelty. Seeing something and wanting to learn it immediately – that's not a good thing.

"This is my decree. Present it, and you may enter any level of the Sword Tower to select techniques. But remember not to violate the rules within,"

Yaozu said to Li Hao, tossing him a dark purple decree with a single character, 'Yao,' etched upon it.

The decree seemed to carry a faint fragrance. Li Hao took it and examined it, his heart filled with joy. He quickly replied, "Thank you, Yaozu."

Being able to freely choose techniques from all nine levels of the Sword Tower was far superior to relying on Lin Shanhai and the others to seek favors.

The Sword Tower had nine levels.

Outer disciples could only access the first three levels.

Inner disciples could access the sixth level.

A select few prodigies, after accumulating a significant amount of Holy Land disciple merits, could enter the later levels of the Sword Tower to choose techniques.

Saint Sons, Saint Daughters, and the like, could enter the ninth level.

Now, with this Half-Saint's decree, Li Hao also gained temporary and unrestricted access.

Shanzu glanced at Yaozu, furrowing his brow in surprise. Yaozu, who was usually cold and distant towards men, was showing an unusual degree of favor towards this pill master. This was a rare and unusual sight.

Soon, Yaozu summoned one of her female disciples to guide Li Hao to the Sword Tower.

She also sent word to the Sword Tower through other means.

The Sword Tower was located on the Holy Mountain, at the foot of the Sword Cliff. This female disciple was a top-tier prodigy among the inner disciples, already at the Dao Law Realm. Li Hao had witnessed her in the earlier competition, successfully defending her position and demonstrating extraordinary strength, as well as mastery of three extreme realms. She was truly a brilliant talent.

Being summoned by her master to guide someone, Jiang Yingyue felt a pang of displeasure. However, upon learning that Li Hao was the Qingfeng Pill Master, her expression softened slightly. While her displeasure remained, she at least didn't show any ill will towards Li Hao on the surface. After all, he was the current darling of the pill master circles.

Offending Li Hao would be tantamount to offending the entire pill master community. It would make it difficult to obtain pills in the future.

Soon, Jiang Yingyue, riding a flying sword, brought Li Hao to the front of the Sword Tower.

They descended from the flying sword, and Li Hao looked at the Sword Tower, feeling as if he were gazing upon a towering, sharp, and imposing peak.

The nine-story Sword Tower, each level incredibly high, with eaves and corners adorned with chains. The entire tower resembled a towering, celestial sword, and the chains wrapped around each level seemed to restrain its sharpness, concealing and imprisoning its might.

"This is the Sword Tower..."

Li Hao, witnessing it with his own eyes, felt a sense of awe. It was far more magnificent and imposing than any human-built structure. Even imperial palaces couldn't compare.

Outside the Sword Tower, two sword attendants wearing copper masks were waiting.

Seeing Li Hao and Jiang Yingyue, they didn't recognize Li Hao but recognized the top-tier inner disciple.

They quickly deduced Li Hao's identity and stepped forward, "Is this the Qingfeng Pill Master? We heard that Yaozu and the other elders have decided to place your painting within the Sword Tower. Have you brought the scroll?"

"I have,"

Li Hao flipped his hand, retrieving the 'Sword God's First Battle' from his spatial realm.

Seeing the rolled-up scroll in Li Hao's hand, the two sword attendants nodded and said, "Follow us. This matter requires the Sword Master's approval."

"Sword Master?"

Li Hao was puzzled.

The two attendants didn't elaborate, merely glancing at Li Hao with a hint of displeasure.

Clearly, they felt offended by Li Hao's ignorance of the Sword Master's existence.

"The Sword Master is the second Sword Saint within our Sword Ancestor Holy Land!"

Jiang Yingyue, who was accompanying them, transmitted a voice message to Li Hao, "The Sword Master guards the Sword Tower year-round. He holds sway over this place. Be careful not to offend him."

Her reminder was partly out of concern that Li Hao might inadvertently say something to cause trouble for her master and partly a gesture of goodwill towards Li Hao. While guiding him was a bit of a bother, cultivating a relationship with this Qingfeng Pill Master was a good opportunity.

"The second Sword Saint..."

Li Hao's heart skipped a beat. The Sword Ancestor Holy Land actually had two Sword Saints?

He had always believed that there was only one Saint within the Holy Land. Now, it turned out there was a second one?!

Soon, the two sword attendants led Li Hao and Jiang Yingyue up the steps of the square in front of the Sword Tower, then bypassed the tower and came to the back, where the Sword Cliff was located.

Across from the Sword Cliff was a snow-white waterfall cascading down from a towering precipice. The sound of rushing water echoed from the depths of the cliff, and at the bottom, a river seemed to flow.

At the edge of the Sword Cliff, an old man wearing a straw hat sat calmly. Li Hao was surprised to find that the man held a fishing rod in his hand. Instead of energy-condensed fishing line, it was a genuine fishing line, seemingly forged from some kind of treasure. He sat there at the edge of the Sword Cliff, angling into the deep valley below.

"Master,"

The two sword attendants spoke, and Li Hao was taken aback by their address. Were these two actually the Saint's disciples?

"Elder Yaozu and the others sent word, intending to place the Qingfeng Pill Master's painting within the first level of the Sword Tower. They've come to inquire about your opinion," one of the male sword attendants said in a low voice.

The figure didn't respond, seemingly unmoved.

Li Hao and Jiang Yingyue could only wait patiently. Jiang Yingyue didn't dare to breathe heavily, keeping her head down and only peeking at the Sword Master with her eyes. He was a figure even more revered than her master.

Time slowly slipped away.

The two sword attendants didn't say anything more, merely standing at attention in front of the Sword Master, their posture unchanged.

Although they were waiting, Li Hao didn't feel any anger or impatience. He could tell that the other man was focused on his fishing, and their arrival was a disturbance and an intrusion.

If he were the one fishing, he wouldn't appreciate someone chattering beside him either.

Li Hao's gaze moved past the Sword Master's back to the fishing rod in his hand, watching the line gently sway. It was evident that the water in the valley below the Sword Cliff was rushing rapidly. Fishing in such a swift current was incredibly difficult, a challenging feat that tested one's mastery of the art.

If one were to use their divine sense to probe and manipulate, to peek at the underwater situation, that would be a different matter entirely.

But that would rob the act of fishing of its joy.

Fishing is a blind contest against the fish, much like a person who cannot see the will of heaven but still struggles against it. It's a source of endless delight.

Suddenly, the fishing line paused slightly. Li Hao's eyes brightened, knowing that a fish was approaching.

But the fish hadn't yet taken the bait. No hasty movements.

Then, the fishing line slackened again. Clearly, whatever was in the water had merely brushed against it, perhaps testing the waters.

Wait a little longer, a little longer... Li Hao's eyes remained fixed on the line, his mind becoming increasingly focused.

Time passed slowly. There seemed to be no more movement from the depths of the water. The line remained slack. Had the fish gotten away?

But Li Hao knew that in such moments, one must not be hasty.

Suddenly, the fishing line paused again, then slowly tightened.

Don't rush!

Li Hao's eyes narrowed instantly. The fish was still testing the waters. This wasn't a sign of taking the bait.

Wait a little longer!

Fortunately, the Sword Master didn't raise his rod. The line, which had just tightened, slowly loosened again. But the next moment, it suddenly tightened.

"Reel in!"

Li Hao exclaimed involuntarily in excitement.

At the same time, the Sword Master's movements were incredibly swift. The instant Li Hao's words left his mouth, he sharply raised his fishing rod. The taut line was instantly pulled upward. Then, the Sword Master's body suddenly jerked, as if a powerful force had seized the fishing line, pulling it out of the deep valley of the Sword Cliff.

A massive dark shadow suddenly soared out from within, its body large and serpentine, emitting a roar of anguished cries. It had sharp teeth and five claws – a dragon!

A large iron hook pierced through the dragon's mouth, pulling its jaws open, drawing blood.

Li Hao was dumbfounded. When he sensed the dragon's aura, he realized it was a dragon demon at the level of a Perfected Dao Realm expert!

If it were released into the mortal realm, it would undoubtedly be considered a Dragon King-level being!

But at this moment, this dragon demon was pulled up by the hook, roaring in agony. When it saw the Sword Master's appearance, it immediately collapsed in fear, wailing, "Sword Master, spare me!"

The figure in the straw hat didn't speak, merely raising his hand. A vast force of law descended, suppressing the dragon's massive body, refining it into a tiny goldfish.

As the line was reeled in, the goldfish was brought before the Sword Master, gently swaying and struggling on the line, looking pitifully at the Sword Master.

The Sword Master casually removed it from the hook, seeming to chuckle softly, "Out of your seven siblings, you're the only one who's greedy. You should learn your lesson."

As he spoke, he flung it back into the depths of the Sword Cliff, where it was swept away by the waterfall into the Dragon Pool below.

Having done this, the Sword Master finally turned around, revealing a long, gaunt face with cheekbones like sharp swords and an aged complexion.

His eyes were deep, as if containing the vastness of the universe and stars, radiating a calm and composed aura, yet with a hint of sharpness that made one hesitant to meet his gaze.

His gaze fell upon Li Hao, a trace of surprise in his eyes. "Boy, were you the one shouting just now? Do you also know how to fish?"

Li Hao came to his senses, feeling a bit embarrassed. He had been so engrossed that he had forgotten himself.

"I occasionally fish as well," Li Hao replied humbly.

A hint of a smile touched the Sword Master's lips. To be able to seize that precise moment wasn't something that could be achieved through simple fishing. It was clear that he was a seasoned angler as well.

But Li Hao was incredibly young. At this age, most people were striving for advancement and pursuing the martial path. Where would they find the leisure to delve into other pursuits?

"You were talking about a painting, weren't you? Let me see it,"

the Sword Master said.

The two masked sword attendants turned to Li Hao.

Jiang Yingyue also looked curiously at Li Hao. She had also come to see what kind of painting it was that had prompted her master to speak of placing it in the Sword Tower.

Li Hao didn't hesitate. With a wave of his hand, the tens-of-meters-long scroll unfurled in mid-air.

As the scroll unfolded, the magnificent scene of the ten martial arenas, a million disciples watching, and tens of thousands of prodigies vying for victory gradually revealed itself.

The numerous exchanges of sword techniques, the glimpses of Dao Realms, were all meticulously depicted by Li Hao.

The expressions on the faces of the disciples were clearly visible, detailed and nuanced, allowing one to feel their emotions during the intense battles and their unwavering fighting spirit.

Upon seeing the scroll, the group instantly became immersed in it, captivated by the grandeur of the depicted battles.

When Jiang Yingyue had stood at the edge of the arena earlier, she hadn't experienced the same feeling. Through the scroll, she could almost hear the cheers of the countless spectators and the fighting spirit of the numerous disciples striving for victory.

The two sword attendants exchanged glances. Seeing the scroll, they too felt a surge of excitement, as if they longed to participate in the competition.

But they didn't go because they were past the age limit.

The Prodigy Battle was limited to those under 300 years of age. They were all older than that.

The Sword Master looked at the scroll for a moment, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "The artistry of the painting is exquisite. Not bad. No wonder that child from Yaochi would like it."

He referred to Yaozu as "that child," causing Jiang Yingyue to feel a pang of embarrassment. But considering the Sword Master's identity, her master was indeed a junior in his presence.

"Hang it up then,"

the Sword Master said, with a casual tone.

After saying this, he looked at Li Hao and said, "Little fellow, are you interested in trying your hand at fishing as well? Let me see what you've got."

Fishing was a solitary pursuit. His disciples weren't cut out for it. They couldn't learn even if they wanted to. Their minds were always preoccupied with the Way of the Sword, and he couldn't teach them. It was rare to encounter a young fellow with a knack for fishing, and a spark of appreciation for talent ignited within him.

Li Hao was taken aback. As a fisherman himself, he quickly understood the other man's intentions. If he were in the Sword Master's position and encountered a child who understood fishing, he would also invite them to join him. This had nothing to do with one's cultivation or status. It was purely a matter of enjoyment.

"Senior Sword Master, I'd like to explore the Sword Tower first. I'll come back to accompany you later, how about that?"

Li Hao said, not forgetting the main purpose of his visit.

"Alright, go ahead,"

the Sword Master nodded and turned back to his fishing, casting his line once more.

Jiang Yingyue looked at Li Hao with a strange expression. The Saint had extended an invitation, and Li Hao had declined. This was a rare opportunity to cultivate a relationship with a Saint.

The two sword attendants also glanced at Li Hao, their expressions peculiar, but they didn't say anything. They led Li Hao towards the Sword Tower.

Jiang Yingyue had accompanied Li Hao this far and intended to leave. But thinking that Li Hao would have to accompany the Sword Master later, and she could also be present, it was a rare chance to get close to a Saint. So she said to Li Hao:

"Go ahead and do your thing. I'll wait for you outside. We'll go back together later."

"That might inconvenience you, Senior Sister Jiang. You can go back first," Li Hao quickly replied.

Jiang Yingyue felt a surge of annoyance at his words, but on the surface, she smiled sweetly, "The initial battle is over, and I have nothing better to do. Master entrusted you to me, so naturally, I must bring you back."

"Alright then, I might take a while,"

"It's fine, I'll wait,"

Jiang Yingyue said.

"Then I thank you for your trouble, Senior Sister Jiang,"

Li Hao said, bowing to her before following the two sword attendants into the Sword Tower.

The first level of the Sword Tower was vast, like a massive library. The shelves of technique books were clean and orderly, divided into sections on the left and right.

Li Hao glanced around and saw that the books on these shelves were even more numerous than those in the Dao Scripture Pavilion of the Qian Dao Palace!

And this was just the first level. The Dao Scripture Pavilion of the Qian Dao Palace had collected techniques from all over the world, yet it was still inferior to this single level of the Sword Tower!

Li Hao marveled inwardly. He followed the two sword attendants to the back of the Sword Tower, where there was a prominent wall in the main hall. The two attendants took Li Hao's painting, unfurled it, and displayed it on the wall, sealing it with laws to prevent it from being touched or damaged.

Once the painting was in place, Li Hao took out Yaozu's decree and showed it to them.

"I'd like to browse the techniques here,"

The two attendants recognized Yaozu's decree and exchanged glances, surprised that the person before them was so favored by Yaozu.

One of the men said, "Then go ahead and choose. All the books here are sealed with laws. You can only glimpse a small portion of the beginning or the general outline. You cannot forcibly break the laws, or you will trigger the Sword Tower's formation and be instantly slain by a myriad of swords!"

Li Hao also noticed that the shelves of techniques were enveloped in a faint aura of law. He nodded, put away the decree, and after the two sword attendants left, he began to wander around the tower.

He took out a technique book and found that only the beginning could be opened, the rest seemed to be sealed shut, unable to be opened, and his divine sense couldn't penetrate it either.

Fortunately, just the beginning portion was enough for Li Hao to grasp the basics and record it.

Li Hao didn't hesitate and quickly began flipping through the books.

As the panel's prompts sounded repeatedly, one technique after another was recorded by Li Hao into the panel.

The techniques here were primarily focused on swordsmanship, with a wide variety of sword techniques, countless in number.

Some sword techniques were even called 'Dao-Sword Techniques,' using Dao intent to control the sword. Others used spear techniques to control the sword, truly pushing swordsmanship to its peak!

The variety of unconventional sword techniques was vast. Although Li Hao was collecting various sword techniques, the continuous influx of information gave him a sense of collecting everything.

Just a single sword, yet it contained countless ways of using it.

Perhaps due to the continuous recording and the sudden influx of a large amount of information, Li Hao's mind was stirred by a wave of inspiration. Countless thoughts surged, and he felt a sense of bewilderment and illusion, a profound understanding of the sword.

You consider it a sword, and it is a sword.

You consider it a blade, and it is a blade.

You consider it a gust of wind, and it can be a gust of wind!

What is a sword?

A sword is a sword, and a sword can be more than just a sword, but it is still a sword!

Li Hao felt a sense of enlightenment. The influx of numerous techniques allowed his Unique Me Sword Intent to continuously refine and improve.

To sever all things with a sword, one must first recognize all things.

Now, Li Hao was walking on this path of recognition.

The techniques on the first level of the Sword Tower were all at least of Superior quality.

After several hours, Li Hao had recorded them all. Most of them were sword techniques, which were refined to the Dao level within the panel.

Li Hao sat in the first level of the Sword Tower for three hours, combining the numerous techniques to condense a nine-fold Dao Realm.

Then, he proceeded to the second level of the Sword Tower.

Here, the majority were secret arts, with a few exquisite Superior quality techniques.

But the number was far fewer than on the first level, though there were still over a thousand volumes.

Li Hao recorded them one by one, and his Unique Me Sword Intent received another significant boost.

Others cultivated techniques one by one, taking months, even years or decades.

But Li Hao cultivated over a thousand at once, absorbing them simultaneously, saving countless hours.

His sword intent was continuously refining, and his understanding of the sword deepened.

On the second level of the Sword Tower, Li Hao sat for four hours, cultivating a thirteen-fold Dao Realm.

Then, Li Hao rose again and headed to the third level of the Sword Tower.

By the time he reached the third level, the number of techniques was even fewer, but there were still hundreds, all secret arts.

Li Hao flipped through and recorded them one by one. Time flowed, and when he had absorbed all the techniques on the third level, Li Hao's condensed Dao Realm increased again, reaching eighty-nine folds!

He possessed the Myriad Forms attribute and the Hidden Bow, Jiangxue Diagram, and other Diagram attributes to conceal his aura. Condensing the Dao Realm within his body didn't cause any commotion, but Li Hao could feel that his Dao Realm was becoming increasingly powerful. Even though he was only at the Taiping Dao Realm, with so many Dao Realms, he could easily suppress Perfected Dao Realm experts!

Without relying on Transcendence, he could fight against adversity solely with his Dao Realm!

Li Hao didn't stop. He continued to the fourth level of the Sword Tower.

At the same time, the two sword attendants outside the Sword Tower withdrew their divine sense from within the tower. They were both feeling a bit bored.

"This pill master is truly greedy,"

The two exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Li Hao's actions within the Sword Tower had been secretly observed by them. He was actually reviewing every single technique! It was a carpet-bombing search!

With Yaozu's decree, any normal person would have gone straight to the ninth level and chosen from among the top-tier Dao techniques and Saint techniques.

But this pill master, on the other hand, was meticulously going through even the Superior quality techniques on the first level. He was truly idle.

"He hasn't come out yet?"

Jiang Yingyue, who was waiting outside, asked the two sword attendants.

She had been waiting for almost a day. Li Hao had said he would be slow, but she hadn't expected him to be this slow!

Was he selecting techniques or sleeping inside?

"If you're in a hurry, you can go back first,"

The man said indifferently, naturally not mentioning that Li Hao was slowly selecting techniques. That would expose their secret observation of others.

Jiang Yingyue was speechless with anger. She had promised Li Hao that she would wait for him, how could she break her word?

At this moment, footsteps approached. The Sword Master, carrying his fishing rod, strolled over leisurely. Upon seeing the three people at the entrance of the Sword Tower, he was slightly surprised. "What are you all doing here?"

"Waiting for the pill master to select a technique. He has Yaozu's decree and can choose one technique to take out,"

The female sword attendant quickly replied, her voice as clear as a lark.

The Sword Master was slightly surprised. He glanced at the Sword Tower. Standing outside, separated by layers of walls, his gaze seemed to penetrate everything. Soon, a hint of astonishment appeared in his eyes:

"Dao Realm, ninety-seven folds. You said he's a pill master?"

(End of Chapter)