Chapter 332: Effortless Defeat, Canglan's Honored Guest (Second Update at 8 PM)

Called to his number, Li Hao stepped onto the arena stage and waited quietly.

The surroundings were noisy, and many gazes had already fallen upon him, but having just experienced the confrontation with the Holy Child of Haoyue, the scrutiny of millions of disciples and Semi-Saints, even Saints, felt like a gentle breeze at this moment. His thoughts drifted to other battle stages, observing a previous exchange he hadn't finished watching.

It was a battle between whip techniques and hidden weapons, not particularly strong, but quite interesting.

"You're still in the mood to watch others fight?"

Suddenly, a delicate voice came from his ear, with a hint of surprise in its tone.

Li Hao's thoughts returned, and he turned to look, only to see his opponent had already entered the stage. It was a woman around eighteen years old, with delicate features, her gentle eyes revealing a touch of naivety.

"Please."

Li Hao immediately said.

Li Qingyi looked at the other party's calm and composed expression, as if he wasn't nervous about the battle at all, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, finding it somewhat amusing:

"You seem to have no doubt that you will win."

"?"

Li Hao was a little surprised and asked, "Since I've come up here, naturally I think I will win, otherwise who would come to compete?"

That's the logic, but meeting me, you're going to be unlucky... Li Qingyi shook her head slightly. Although she didn't plan to go all out, this was the selection for the ten thousand rankings, so she naturally wouldn't hold back.

"Sorry then."

She said to Li Hao, and then raised her hand. As the array formation condensed, she softly spoke.

"Suppress!"

Words followed by law, a single word to suppress.

The power of法則 (fǎzé - law/rule/principle) enveloped him. Li Qingyi planned to use her cultivation to suppress Li Hao.

But when the power of法則 landed on Li Hao, he was completely unaffected. His divine blood Dao Body was now fully formed, and the power of法則 could not affect his body at all, not even needing his Dao Domain to block it.

"Hmm?"

Seeing her attack ineffective, Li Qingyi's eyes narrowed slightly, immediately realizing that Li Hao's strength was not simple, at least possessing the power of the Dao Law Realm.

With such a realm, to be ranked outside the top ten thousand was indeed a bit of a pity.

She raised her hand, stirring up a gust of wind, sweeping towards Li Hao. Razor-sharp 法則 power shot out from the wind.

Such a level, probably won't even qualify for the top hundred... Li Hao saw her move. Although it was Dao Law Realm, it was really a bit weak. He didn't waste any more words, casually grasping a strand of wind, and that strand of wind transformed into sword energy.

When the sword energy condensed, Li Qingyi suddenly felt a dangerous premonition, a feeling of her hair standing on end.

The 文心 (wénxīn - literary heart/mind) in her body vibrated, able to foresee danger in advance. And at this moment, she actually felt danger from this young man?

Li Qingyi's eyes changed, realizing that she had encountered the kind of astonishing talent among rogue cultivators that she had just mentioned.

Whoosh!

Her figure suddenly swayed, directly using Void Return Instantaneous Movement.

When she reappeared, she had an extra sword in her hand, stabbing towards Li Hao's back.

But at the instant she swung her sword, the sword energy in Li Hao's hand had already erupted and struck out, as if waiting for her here in advance.

Li Qingyi's pupils constricted, the sword in her hand vibrated, as if there was a pulling force trying to snatch her sword away.

Her arm strength erupted, unconsciously releasing Divine Power Limit, but she still couldn't hold onto the sword. She had no choice but to unleash her Dao Domain. In an instant, layers upon layers of Dao Domains appeared, twenty-four layers in total!

As the Dao Domains sequentially manifested, strange phenomena emerged, 法則 circulated, and finally, that sword energy was suppressed.

As the "intent" within the sword energy was erased, only a wisp of wind remained, quickly dissipating.

Li Qingyi felt a sensation of cold sweat, her heart filled with shock. Just a casually grasped strand of wind had almost forced her to use her true abilities?

Li Hao was also surprised, was the other party pretending to be weak?

He thought she was just an ordinary Dao Law Realm cultivator, but in a blink of an eye, she unleashed two major Limits.

Divine Power Limit was alright, due to the Merit Treasure Vault of the Fallen River in the Land of Saints, it seemed most geniuses had mastered this Limit. After all, it could be directly exchanged in the Merit Treasure Vault, as long as enough merit was accumulated, it was easier than cultivation.

But Void Return Limit was not so easily achieved. Obviously, the other party was also a monstrous figure.

Earlier, the Sword Master said that the competition among rogue cultivators was also very fierce, and Li Hao was still a little skeptical, but now he finally believed it.

While he was sighing in his heart, he didn't forget to make a move, once again grasping a strand of wind, but this time, the 至柔 (zhìróu - utmost gentleness) sword Dao was condensed in the wind, rather than just pure sword intent.

Whoosh!

The sword energy suddenly emerged like a dragon rising from the sea, breaking through the opponent's layers of Dao Domains. Utmost gentleness is also utmost strength, instantly slashing past.

Li Qingyi was just about to use Void Return to dodge, but it was as if she was locked on. Her heart was horrified, the sword energy was too fast, her Dao Domain was as good as nothing. Before she could continue to layer them, her throat felt a slight numbness, followed by a stinging pain.

She reached out to touch it, somewhat blankly.

"What?"

Below the stage, the previous few refined figures were stunned at this scene, shocked and wide-eyed.

Less than two minutes after going on stage, Li Qingyi was actually defeated?

This was the Saintess prodigy of their Literary Ancestor Saint Land! Although she hadn't used her擅長 (shàncháng - be good at) 文道 (wéndào - literary path/Dao) combat, to be defeated so quickly was simply exaggerated.

Moreover, they could see that the other party didn't seem to have used his full strength.

Being a sword user, Li Hao didn't even draw his sword, but just casually used a gentle breeze to defeat Li Qingyi.

This sword technique was a bit terrifying!

"Who is this person? This sword technique is a bit scary. Could it be someone from Sword Ancestor Saint Land, also pretending to be a rogue cultivator like Qingyi?"

The young man with the folding fan could no longer wave his fan, his eyes fixed on the young man on stage. But he searched his mind and had never seen this young man, unless the other party also changed his appearance like Li Qingyi.

Apart from them, many of the other disciples watching the battle below the stage noticed this arena stage and were immediately startled, somewhat astonished.

The twenty-plus layers of Dao Domain that Li Qingyi displayed, with their diverse phenomena, were too grand and attracted many people's attention. But the result was that she was defeated in the blink of an eye.

"What's going on at arena stage number 8? Just in the ten thousand rankings, and already encountering a top genius's exchange?"

"More than twenty layers of Dao Domain, my god, is this even human?"

"I heard that among those Saint Children and Saintesses in the Saint Lands, some can reach this level."

"Who is that young man, actually defeating her, and he didn't even use Dao Domain!"

Outside the arena stage, it was a bit of a frenzy. Many people who were previously watching other arena stages also heard the commotion and looked over, but the battle here had already ended, and they couldn't help but hurriedly ask the people around them what had happened.

Li Qingyi heard the noise from outside the arena stage and came back to her senses. She looked at the young man in front of her, only to see that he was also quietly looking at her. She knew that the other party was waiting for her to admit defeat.

After all, if the previous strike hadn't been merciful, her head would have already flown off her body.

Li Qingyi bit her lip slightly, feeling a bit wronged in her heart, but she knew that being inferior in skill was no one else's fault. She transmitted her voice:

"What's your name?"

"Qing Feng (Gentle Breeze)."

Li Hao still used a pseudonym. Before he had the strength to match a Void Saint, he couldn't expose his identity.

Otherwise, although the Thirty-Three Heavens were vast, for a Saint, they might arrive in the blink of an eye to kill him.

Especially if the opponent was a Saint skilled in the Dao of Void, traversing the void with extremely strong movement techniques.

"With your strength, entering the top ten of rogue cultivators is no problem. I'll wait for you at the Canglan War. I didn't use my true abilities this time, next time let's really compete!"

Li Qingyi saw the other party's calm expression, but her heart was aroused with some unwillingness, and she transmitted her voice.

Li Hao was surprised and said, "Haven't you already lost? Can you fight again?"

Li Qingyi was slightly choked, angrily and embarrassedly snorting, "That's none of your business!"

After saying that, she turned around and left the stage.

Li Hao felt inexplicable, but was too lazy to think too much. After the referee announced the result, he also flew back to his original seat, continuing to wait for the subsequent battles.

On the other side, Li Qingyi returned to her fellow disciples' side. The young man with the folding fan hurriedly said:

"How much strength do you think that person used?"

Li Qingyi's expression became serious, without the previous naivety and ease. Her gaze looked towards Li Hao, who was walking off the stage towards another seat, and she whispered:

"Dao Domain was useless, Limit was useless, 法則 power was ineffective against him. It's clear he also has a Dao Body. His sword technique... should have entered the Dao!"

"Entered the Dao?"

Hearing Li Qingyi's words, several people inhaled lightly, looking at each other.

What was the concept of a technique entering the Dao? That was a level that Semi-Saints and Saints could master!

One step further, Dao Transcendence, and one could offer Dao to become a Saint!

And those who could walk the path of offering Dao to become a Saint were basically peerless geniuses, with extremely high status even among Saints, and no one dared to provoke them!

After all, offering Dao to become a Saint, compared to Incense Offering to become a Saint, had another ability, which was to be able to freely enter the mortal realm!

Saints who offered Dao to become Saints would not be eroded or affected when stepping into the mortal realm, while Saints who became Saints through Incense Offering were different, it would damage their incense.

"Will we also encounter this person in the Canglan War in a few months? I heard that two Twin Buddha Sons have also appeared in Buddhism, extremely terrifying, rumored to have mastered six major Limits. I didn't expect there to be such a guy among these rogue cultivators."

"That Holy Child of Haoyue from Sword Ancestor Saint Land, I heard he has Sun and Moon Divine Eyes, which can see through all illusions and restrain many killing moves, also a troublesome guy."

"It seems this Canglan War will be incredibly intense. I wonder if any of us will be able to snatch a spot to represent Canglan in battle."

The expressions of several people became serious. They originally thought rogue cultivators were just at the level of inner disciples, but it turned out there were actually geniuses among them. It seemed they had come to the right place this time.

Li Qingyi didn't speak, just replaying that sword strike in her mind, and the way the other party was gazing elsewhere when she went on stage.

She suddenly felt a burst of anger in her heart.

From beginning to end, the other party didn't think he would lose, and in the end, he really didn't lose.

Too infuriating... Li Qingyi glanced in that direction, no longer in the mood to stay here, and said:

"I'll go back first, and come back to see when the top hundred battles begin, to see if anyone can force out his Limit."

The young man with the folding fan and others heard this, and they also felt a sense of urgency. The appearance of such formidable enemies among rogue cultivators made them also want to seize the time to cultivate in seclusion again, and reach a higher level.

As they left, in another place in the crowd, Qiu Wuhen stood within the crowd and also saw this battle.

Moreover, he noticed the location where the woman went after leaving the stage. Among those figures, he had once met one of them before.

Could it be the Saintess of Literary Ancestor Saint Land? Qiu Wuhen guessed in his heart, then looked at Li Hao, who was drinking tea with a calm and indifferent expression, and felt a little helpless. Judging by the look of this fishing friend, he had no idea that the person he had just defeated was the Saintess of Literary Ancestor Saint Land.

However, Literary Ancestor Saint Land running here to make a move was a bit lacking in martial ethics.

Qiu Wuhen felt a sense of regret in his heart, it was a pity that in this exchange, the other party also seemed to have hidden their strength, and failed to force out Li Hao's true abilities.

He shook his head slightly and also turned to leave, wanting to seize the time to cultivate, otherwise he would be left further and further behind.

With initial victory achieved, Li Hao subsequently appeared several more times, all casually conjuring sword winds, easily defeating his opponents.

Since the exchange with Li Qingyi, Li Hao had received much attention. Subsequently, seeing Li Hao win all the way, many people quickly selected Li Hao as a top favorite to win the championship, placing bets and gambling.

For three consecutive days, sifting through ten thousand, it finally ended. Next was the top hundred battle.

And Li Hao also successfully advanced to the top hundred, winning easily all the way.

During the rest period, many forces sent invitation cards to Li Hao, wanting to visit.

Among them, many were from imperial families of dynasties, including some first-rate major forces.

Many of these invitation cards contained conditions that made Li Hao's heart flutter. He picked and chose, comparing them, and accepted the invitation card from the Canghai Divine Dynasty.

Canghai Divine Dynasty was the largest divine dynasty in Canglan Realm, with ten Semi-Saint Honored Guests. They had interactions with Sword Ancestor Saint Land, Buddhist Saint Land, and Literary Ancestor Saint Land. These interactions could also be understood as paying protection fees.

It was just that the protection fee was incense. Saint Temples of the three Saint Lands were built within the Divine Dynasty, offering incense year-round, and also receiving the protection of the three major Saint Lands.

Canghai Divine Dynasty extended an olive branch to Li Hao, hoping Li Hao could become an Honored Guest of Canghai Divine Dynasty, willing to give ten cities' worth of incense offerings to Li Hao.

The scale of those ten cities was extremely large. Li Hao had learned that if he could obtain them, it could accelerate his path to becoming a Saint through Incense Offering, shortening it from 300 years to 260 years, equivalent to forty years of accumulation!

If it were in the mortal realm, it would be four hundred years!

It could be seen how large the scale of these ten cities was.

The power of incense, in addition to population size, also depended on the strength of the believers themselves.

Canghai Divine Dynasty had an extremely large number of martial artists. The incense power of martial artist believers was vastly different from that of ordinary people.

Although winning first place in the Supreme Genius Battle could also yield vast incense, allowing one to become a Saint on the spot, incense for Saints who took the path of Incense Offering to become Saints was the source of power. Even after becoming a Saint, there was still a constant need, just like absorbing天地 (tiāndì - heaven and earth) energy. The more incense absorbed, the stronger the strength.

Therefore, those Saints who had been famous for many years were extremely difficult to shake for newly rising Saints.

This was also the reason why there were dozens of dynasties in Canglan Realm, but only a few Saints were offered up. It was extremely difficult for Semi-Saints or other Saint Children to obtain incense. The vast majority of incense power was controlled by Saints.

Li Hao agreed to the invitation card. In addition to incense, he also requested cultivation techniques.

Upon receiving Li Hao's reply, in the Imperial Palace of Canghai Divine Dynasty, a secret order was delivered to Emperor Canghai.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, that Qing Feng has also agreed to our invitation, willing to become an Honored Guest of our Canghai Divine Dynasty."

A burly general reported in a low voice.

A satisfied smile appeared on Emperor Canghai's face, "Good, well done. This son's strength is extremely strong. Now that he has become an Honored Guest of our Canghai Divine Dynasty, if he can represent Canglan Realm in battle, our Canghai Divine Dynasty will obtain a Heavenly Granted Dragon Qi!"

"Your Majesty, there is discussion in the court, isn't ten cities' worth of incense too much? In recent years, we have offered incense to the three major Saint Lands, already giving up a lot of incense. Now we are cutting off ten more cities, and he is only Dao Law Realm, not even a Semi-Saint." The burly general asked doubtfully, not understanding why His Majesty was so generous this time.

Emperor Canghai smiled slightly, "Earlier, the imperial son from Sword Ancestor Saint Land sent back news, this person is not simple, ten cities, he is worth it!"

The burly general was slightly stunned, and wisely did not ask more questions, lowering his voice:

"In addition to this Qing Feng, the other three extremely talented geniuses have also agreed to the invitation. One is five cities' worth of incense, one is seven cities' worth of incense, and another is twelve cities' worth of incense."

He looked at Emperor Canghai and said, "This time, a total of thirty-four cities' worth of incense is being given up, covering the territory of one state!"

Emperor Canghai's eyes lit up slightly and asked, "Has that Chiguang (Red Light) also agreed?"

The burly general nodded, "The other party proposed twenty cities' worth of incense, but after some negotiation, it was compensated with other pills. In addition, he specifically requested to marry Princess Yunji."

Emperor Canghai's eyes flickered slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"With his strength, he will definitely be able to represent our Canglan Realm in battle. This is a guaranteed Dragon Qi. Yunji, this child, being able to add a Dragon Qi to our Canghai Divine Dynasty, marrying such a genius can also be considered a blessing."

The burly general lowered his head, not saying anything more. Royal family marriages, this Emperor had many children. Now, in the face of Dragon Qi, being sacrificed was also normal.

(End of this chapter)