Chapter 343: Fury, A Hundred Layers of Suppression! (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The boundary stone reflected the clash on the battle platform, while in the Buddhist hall above, the majestic Dharma images of the three saints sat solemnly.

The Buddha Lord smiled and said, "They will represent our Canglan Realm in the battle. This title of first place should come with some benefits. My Buddhist sect is willing to offer 50 cities' worth of incense as a gift. Do either of you have anything to add?"

Hearing the Buddha Lord's words, both the Literary Saint and the Sword Saint glanced at him. As fellow saints, they all understood the principles of the sacred path. How could they not see that among this generation's many prodigies, the Twin Buddha Sons stood out as the most formidable, far surpassing the others? The title of first place was, in all likelihood, destined to fall into the Buddha Lord's hands.

This was clearly the master seizing an opportunity to gather incense for his disciples.

But to expect them to play along and offer gifts as well… The Literary Saint smiled warmly and said, "I'm willing to grant 30 cities' worth of incense to second place!"

He had considerable confidence in Lin Shuhai's strength. The only obstacle was that Crimson Light.

You give to first, I give to second—perfectly reasonable.

The Sword Saint's eyes flickered briefly before he spoke indifferently, "Since you both are in such high spirits, I'll offer 20 cities' worth of incense to third place."

The Buddha Lord wanted to grant his disciple 50 cities' worth of incense, and he couldn't stop that. But they could each reward their own disciples accordingly.

However, whether Haoyue could secure third place, the Sword Saint wasn't entirely certain. After all, Haoyue faced too many obstacles—Crimson Light, Lin Shuhai, and even that Qingfeng. Were it not for the Sword Master previously mentioning that Li Hao was under 30 years old and had too short a cultivation period, Li Hao's earlier defeat of Haoyue with a single sword strike—clearly holding back—suggested he might even have a shot at second place.

Sensing their thoughts, the Buddha Lord sighed lightly and said, "This journey involves ten slots to compete against the heavens, vying for the top hundred. Ultimately, those who can break into the top ten are the one-in-a-million talents of their realms. Perhaps only one will make it. Only by concentrating the incense resources can we nurture the most exceptional prodigy."

The Literary Saint and Sword Saint's expressions grew serious as they turned to him.

"Since you two are willing to collectively offer 50 cities' worth of incense, combining it into a hundred cities would be enough to light a single stick of incense. Why not grant it all to first place? It would also ignite their resolve to compete. If your prized disciples take first, I'll personally offer my hearty congratulations," the Buddha Lord said.

The Literary Saint's face darkened. With the conversation reaching this point, they could see the Buddha Lord's determination.

"It's long been said that the Buddha Lord is exceptionally devoted to his disciples. Today, I've truly witnessed it," the Literary Saint said with a faint smile, though his words carried a hint of sarcasm.

The Sword Saint replied coolly, "If second and third place are only slightly inferior in defeat, such a reward disparity might breed complacency."

The Buddha Lord responded, "In the path of martial arts, a loss is a loss. There's no such thing as a near defeat. In matters of life and death, a mere thread separates them."

Seeing how far the Buddha Lord was willing to go for his disciple, neither the Literary Saint nor the Sword Saint pressed further.

Moments later, after the battle between Crimson Light and Zhao Qingshu concluded, the Buddha Lord's resonant voice announced the reward for first place.

Upon hearing about the hundred cities' worth of incense, the eyes of many below the platform lit up.

Crimson Light's gaze burned with intensity. For the three saints to jointly offer a hundred cities' worth of incense, he was determined to claim first place!

Elsewhere below, a glimmer of light flashed in Lin Shuhai's eyes as a smile curved his lips.

Holy Son Haoyue furrowed his brows, a trace of ferocity in his gaze. Truth be told, he lacked confidence in securing first place. His earlier defeat at Qingfeng's hands had cracked his Dao heart. Only with his master's help had he sealed it, elevating his sword intent further. Yet even so, after witnessing the Twin Buddha Sons this time, his confidence wavered again.

The once peerless pride of a prodigy seemed to have been shattered by that single sword strike atop the holy mountain of the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary.

But with such a grand temptation—a hundred cities' worth of incense, equivalent to centuries of arduous cultivation—how could he resist? Incense was typically tightly controlled by the saints, akin to pulling money from their pockets. Obtaining a hundred cities' worth was no easy feat!

"If I had ten more years…" Haoyue's eyes blazed with intensity, inwardly cursing the brevity of time and the fleeting nature of years.

Beyond them, other prodigies looked on with envy. Alas, the reward was only for first place. Though they all possessed the pride of geniuses, they weren't blindly arrogant.

As the Buddha Lord's words spread through the boundary stone's projection, the entire Canglan Realm heard them.

In an instant, countless voices sang praises of the three saints' generosity and righteousness. In the cities of various dynasties, the number of devotees to the three saints grew, adding to their incense.

Li Hao, hearing the Buddha Lord's announcement, was somewhat surprised. A hundred cities' worth of incense—enough to light a single stick—would shorten his path to sainthood through incense by another century.

A century was, to him, an immensely long time—a lifetime for a mortal.

Before long, after Crimson Light's battle concluded, the third match began: Bian Ruxue versus Li Qingyi.

Li Qingyi, upon hearing the Buddha Lord's words, knew she had no hope of winning. After all, she couldn't even defeat her senior brother Lin Shuhai. Still, she felt a surge of excitement, sensing the importance the three saints placed on this contest.

"Be careful. Your opponent is the youngest saintess from the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary," one of the other holy sons warned Li Qingyi in a low voice, sharing gathered intelligence. "Though young, her master is the Sword Saint. But I hear she's only at the Four Extremes Realm."

Among the many saintesses of the Literary Ancestor Sanctuary, Li Qingyi was a pampered one. With her father being the Literary Saint, her status was extraordinary. Plus, her somewhat naïve yet warm and lively personality made her well-liked.

"Got it!" Li Qingyi nodded firmly in response to her fellow disciples' advice. Anyone who had reached this stage was no pushover.

Soon, two graceful figures floated onto the platform, and the formation sealed shut.

The sight of two breathtaking beauties about to clash elicited cheers from the crowd below.

This time, Li Qingyi didn't conceal her identity as she had when facing Li Hao. Instead, she unleashed her true power.

With a raise of her hand, a tome flew out from her sleeve—a sacred treasure of the sages, akin to a swordsman's divine blade.

As her fingers channeled energy, the pages flipped like a gust of wind, and a myriad of phenomena manifested behind her. The book had eight chapters, and she first turned to the Demon Chapter and the Spirit Chapter.

Grotesque phantoms materialized, surging toward Bian Ruxue like a flood.

Bian Ruxue's expression remained calm, her posture upright, her face faintly bearing the aloof detachment reminiscent of her master, the Sword Saint. She abruptly drew her sword, its light illuminating all directions.

One sword brought frost; two swords summoned snow!

In an instant, the platform turned into a frozen wasteland, endless chilling winds tearing apart the phenomena.

"Ice and Snow Sword Intent!"

At the Four Extremes Realm, her primordial spirit hovered above her head. Bian Ruxue struck with her full strength, showing no mercy.

Li Qingyi smiled, the tome before her flipping rapidly. The Human Chapter emerged.

An old man stepped out of the book, wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a wine gourd at his waist. He appeared leisurely, but when he removed his hat, it spun like a blade, slicing through the surrounding Ice and Snow Sword Intent!

"My heart turns to the bright moon!" Li Qingyi chanted softly.

Her words carried the weight of law. A bright moon appeared behind her, its light converging in the old man's hand, transforming into a sword of radiance!

Forging moonlight into a sword, it cleaved through the yin and yang of heaven and earth! The vast sword intent swept forth like that of a peerless swordsman, cracking the ice and snow as if a warm breeze had blown in—not hot, yet dispelling the cold.

Shock flashed in Bian Ruxue's eyes. To think that someone cultivating the literary path could wield such terrifying sword energy.

"With heaven and earth, I establish my soul!" Li Qingyi's eyes blazed with brilliance. A towering Dharma image of heaven and earth materialized behind her. Her body flew backward, merging with the image, an endless stream of power surging forth. The old man's aura erupted with even greater might.

He raised his sword of light and struck.

With a boom, the ice and snow shattered.

Bian Ruxue tried to block it but couldn't. She unleashed her extreme realm, yet her strength was suppressed, falling short. Her Ice and Snow Sword Intent was severed by the old man summoned from the book!

The opponent's literary intent surpassed her sword intent!

Using the Void Return technique, Bian Ruxue dodged the strike and rapidly closed in on Li Qingyi.

"Heaven and Earth, Eight Desolations!" Li Qingyi whispered.

Around her Dharma image, lava erupted, and hurricanes roared, creating a grand spectacle. As Bian Ruxue's figure emerged, she was forced back.

The old man darted forward, employing Void Return himself, and with a single slash, severed hundreds of strands of Bian Ruxue's dark hair.

The victor was decided.

The crowd below was stunned, followed by thunderous cheers.

Who could have expected such a fierce and magnificent clash from the Literary Ancestor Sanctuary?

Reflected through the boundary stone, countless people witnessed the outcome. Some wondered why the saintess from the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary hadn't used a heaven-and-earth Dharma image.

But no answer came.

Only a few knew that Bian Ruxue lacked such a Dharma image, and those of high enough status were present at the scene.

Bitterness tugged at Bian Ruxue's lips. She hadn't expected to fall outside the top ten.

Yet, recalling her master's words, her heart eased slightly. She lacked a Dharma image and was too young… But then, her thoughts drifted to the figure who had defeated Haoyue with a single sword.

The Sword Master had said he was under 30, yet his sword had already entered the Dao.

At that thought, her eyes flickered, glancing down at the crowd until they met that figure.

He was watching too. Their gazes connected, and Bian Ruxue's eyes trembled, an indescribable feeling stirring within her.

But soon, she recalled a silhouette from her childhood, and her heart calmed. Then she thought of her sword.

After all these years, she still hadn't fully severed it—perhaps that was the final barrier to her sword path.

Her gaze turned cold. Without another word, she turned and left the platform, the many images in her mind fading away.

Looking at her victorious opponent, she understood that if she continued like this, she would lose again and be surpassed by these prodigies one by one.

She had to sever it completely, freeze her heart with ice and snow, then shatter it!

With that realization, she felt a spark of enlightenment.

In the Buddhist hall, the Sword Saint seemed to sense something. His eyes swept downward, spotting Bian Ruxue at her seat below, eyes closed, a faint charm of the Dao swirling around her.

Surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a smile. With a wave of his hand, Bian Ruxue vanished from her seat, reappearing before him. Yet this teleportation didn't disturb her; she remained in her meditative state.

He merely shielded her from stray thoughts, ensuring she wasn't interrupted.

The Literary Saint and Buddha Lord glanced over. The Literary Saint's eyes showed surprise as he smiled and said, "Congratulations, Sword Saint. I didn't expect your disciple's talent to be so extraordinary—she's achieved enlightenment mid-battle. This is a sign she's nearing the Dao!"

"Your daughter's talent is greater still. Defeating her so effortlessly gave her the chance for this enlightenment," the Sword Saint replied with a smile.

He was deeply comforted by Bian Ruxue's realization. He knew of her past struggles and that stepping into the Dao required her to take this step.

Now, she had finally grasped it herself.

"Look, Saintess Bian Ruxue has appeared beside the Sword Saint!"

"She seems to be cultivating!"

"That's not cultivation—it's enlightenment! She's in enlightenment!"

"My heavens, she lost this battle and achieved enlightenment?!"

"No wonder she became a saintess before 30—her talent is monstrous!"

The crowd below erupted in shock. Cultivators often spoke of enlightenment, but achieving it was incredibly rare and difficult.

Enlightenment triggered by battle stimulation was understandable, but to achieve it after a loss—when most would struggle to maintain their resolve—was downright terrifying.

"Hm?" Li Qingyi, stepping off the platform after her victory, was startled by the sight. Then she sighed helplessly, realizing she'd become a stepping stone for her opponent.

Crimson Light, Lin Shuhai, and the others glanced over but showed little reaction, soon looking away.

Enlightenment or not, she was a defeated foe, outside the top ten—too far beneath them to matter. Every prodigy here had experienced enlightenment at some point; it was just that her timing drew attention.

As the third match concluded, the next was Li Hao versus a Buddhist disciple.

Li Hao didn't linger. Once the platform was clear, he stepped up.

His tall, upright figure instantly drew the crowd's attention.

On the other side, the Buddhist holy son's arrival only sparked whispers among the Buddhist disciples.

"It's Holy Son Puhua!"

"This fight's going to be good. If Qingfeng underestimates Puhua, he'll suffer a big loss!"

"Holy Son Puhua once held his own against the Twin Buddha Sons for three moves. He specializes in divine powers—terrifyingly strong."

As the formation sealed the platform, Holy Son Puhua, clad in white-gold robes, smiled faintly, though a glint of sharpness flickered in his eyes. He pressed his palms together toward Li Hao and said, "Greetings, benefactor."

Though Li Hao noticed a shift in the other's demeanor from his previous gentleness, he nodded slightly in return, meeting courtesy with courtesy.

Once the pleasantries were done, sword energy gathered in Li Hao's palm. He made no attempt to hide it or launch a sudden attack.

Puhua's body erupted in radiant Buddhist light, a towering Arhat Dharma image appearing behind him. At the same time, a golden crack split open on his forehead, emitting divine light.

"Heavenly Eye Divine Power!"

Opening his third eye, he could perceive the battle's nuances with greater clarity.

As the eye opened, Puhua suddenly saw black energy swirling between Li Hao's hands. His expression shifted, and he snapped angrily, "You're a demonic cultivator?!"

"Hm?" Li Hao blinked, then glanced at his hands. The slaughter怨念 (resentful energy) he'd absorbed earlier was sealed in his divine blood, still being refined. Could the other see it?

"As a demonic cultivator, you dare set foot in our Buddhist pure land? How bold, benefactor!" Puhua's eyes turned icy, the sharpness in them intensifying.

His words rang out, shocking the crowd below.

A demonic cultivator?

Qingfeng was a demonic cultivator?

Princes, princesses, and noble heirs exchanged stunned looks, caught off guard.

As his words spread through the boundary stone, the entire Canglan Realm erupted in an uproar.

Though the holy lands of the saints were highly inclusive—where demons, monsters, and humans could coexist—for the vast majority of common folk, man-eating demons and bloodthirsty demonic cultivators remained abhorrent and universally reviled.

Outside, Crimson Light, Lin Shuhai, and others were surprised, but their expressions barely changed.

Commoners feared demonic cultivators out of helplessness and terror, but as cultivators—and top-tier prodigies—they understood: a blade doesn't harm; the wielder does.

Be it demonic cultivators or monsters, if harnessed properly, they could protect humanity. Even divine beasts originated from monsters, tamed and revered.

Monsters fed on humans; human prodigies cultivated using monsters. It was a matter of species, not good or evil.

Thus, even knowing Li Hao was a demonic cultivator didn't faze them. Cultivation was cultivation—as long as that power served humanity, it was fine.

But the many Buddhist disciples below paled, glaring at Li Hao with fury and shock.

Li Hao frowned, his gaze sweeping the crowd. Apart from Lin Qingying, whom he knew, and alchemists like Lin Shanhai outside the stands who looked worried for him, most of the unfamiliar spectators—princes, nobles, and the like—stared with astonishment and disdain.

Li Hao looked up at the Buddha Lord atop the Buddhist hall. The latter gazed down, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow, as if overlooking mere ants.

Li Hao retracted his gaze, a trace of irony in his heart. The other had mistaken his purification of slaughter怨念 for demonic energy. Far from demonic, he was transcending it, guiding those resentful spirits to the afterlife.

If anything counted as demonic energy, it was the Buddha Lord himself.

According to that half-saint spider demon, the Buddha Lord had likely reached the end of the Tongli Realm and absorbed such slaughter怨念. Perhaps the vast resentful energy in the Fusheng Demon Realm was deliberately cultivated by him…

At that thought, Li Hao's heart jolted. If so, the Buddha Lord's ambitions were vast—did he seek dual sainthood through incense and the extreme path?!

Taking a deep breath, Li Hao stared at the Buddha Lord's golden, light-enshrouded face and said coldly, "Don't slander me. What demonic cultivator? If we're talking demonic cultivators, aren't your Twin Buddha Sons the same?!"

"They're different. They were born with a heart demon invading them, fighting heavenly demons since birth, bearing a grand vow and mission. Their destiny is to subdue their heart demon—a noble cause. You, however, willingly fell into depravity!" Puhua squinted, his tone icy.

Li Hao stared at him, then burst into laughter. "He has demonic energy within and a demonic image without, and that's a grand vow, a savior? But when it's someone else, it's depravity?"

"No need for sophistry. As a human, you cultivate such a vile technique—you deserve death!" Puhua's gaze was righteous, brimming with浩荡正气 (vast righteous energy). "Though I know your swordsmanship has entered the Dao and I may not defeat you, I'll still use my life's strength to suppress you, letting Buddhist light shine and protect humanity!"

His words ignited cheers across the dozens of dynasties in the Canglan Realm.

That speech alone won Puhua the faith of many, who would later build temples and offer incense in his name.

Li Hao wanted to laugh, now faintly grasping the other's intent.

"You know my swordsmanship has entered the Dao, and my sword path isn't demonic. Why would I need demonic techniques? With my sword path alone, I can roam unrivaled. Why borrow the demonic path?!" Li Hao declared loudly.

"Such arrogance. Your sword path is strong enough to defeat us, but compared to top prodigies, it falls short. To vie for the top ten—or even first—in the Supreme Prodigy War, tempted by greed, falling into the demonic path is hardly surprising," Puhua retorted.

Many in the crowd found his reasoning sound. With Li Hao's sword path, securing a top-ten slot in Canglan Realm was feasible, but challenging the heavens for the top ten was a stretch. Risking the demonic path for that made sense.

Li Hao laughed at his words.

"If you call me a demonic cultivator, then show proof!" he said, too tired to argue further.

"You miscalculated. I happen to possess the Divine Illumination Power, capable of revealing demonic energy!" Puhua smirked, as if anticipating this. His body suddenly blazed with golden light.

Li Hao narrowed his eyes. Power surged within him, gathering in his arms. His divine blood churned, rapidly refining the black energy.

Simultaneously, he restrained his aura. Over a hundred layers of Dao domains stacked atop one another, blocking the Buddhist light.

"A hundred-layered Dao domain!!"

The crowd below gasped, a wave of shock rippling through them!

Reflected by the boundary stone, the dozens of dynasties in the Canglan Realm fell silent in awe.

A Taiping Dao domain marked a first-rate powerhouse in a dynasty, yet Li Hao had condensed over a hundred layers!

"What?!" Crimson Light's pupils shrank, a flicker of shock in his eyes. A hundred-layered Dao domain required immense effort. Though less direct than entering the Dao through technique, stacking layers to a certain threshold could trigger a qualitative leap, becoming a formidable force.

He hadn't focused on this because it was too time-consuming with low returns.

Only those stalled in technique would turn to this path, condensing more domains to amass greater combat strength.

Lin Shuhai's eyes grew solemn. Swordsmanship entering the Dao, plus a hundred-layered Dao domain—this was top-tier prodigy level.

Lin Qingying and the other holy sons and daughters from the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary were stunned. This was their first glimpse of Li Hao's true power.

His earlier defeat of Haoyue with one sword had clearly held back—this was his reserve strength?!

Amid the crowd, Jiang Yingyue, watching from below, gleamed with excitement.

A hundred-layered Dao domain!

Compared to the 97 layers the Sword Master had mentioned in the Sword Tower, Li Hao had condensed three more in a short time!

This was his true combat power!

*I knew it, I knew it!!* Jiang Yingyue trembled with excitement. He'd only shared this secret with Yaozu, keeping it bottled up, nearly bursting from the pressure. Seeing Li Hao defeat Crimson Light in the Divine Dynasty Freelance Battle without using his Dao domain, he knew Li Hao had more in reserve!

Outsiders claimed Crimson Light hadn't gone all out, but had Qingfeng?!

"A hundred-layered Dao domain—its domains alone can stall divine powers!" Jiang Yingyue's eyes shone.

On the platform, the Buddhist light couldn't penetrate Li Hao's domains even an inch.

A hundred layers were enough to block Puhua's divine power completely.

"You dare not show your true face?!" Puhua roared in fury.

Li Hao sneered, "It's your divine power that's too weak to reveal anything. Can't beat me, so you resort to baseless slander? Where's the trace of the demonic path in the power I've shown?!"

Sword energy filled his domains—clearly a sword domain, with no hint of the demonic path.

Many in the crowd began to doubt. Indeed, they saw no sign of the demonic path. With Li Hao's hundred-layered Dao domain and swordsmanship entering the Dao, did he really need demonic cultivation?

"Demonic fiend, still trying to argue?!" Puhua fumed, face flushed, his divine laws unable to breach Li Hao's domains.

Within Li Hao's arms, his divine blood pulsed, accelerating the refining of the slaughter怨念. Soon, the aura began to fade.

He raised a hand, drawing a strand of sword energy from the void, and slashed at Puhua.

"Is this sword demonic?!"

The sword energy flowed like a breeze, illuminating heaven and earth, pure and radiant, exuding vast sword might.

Puhua's pupils constricted. A heaven-and-earth Dharma image roared behind him as he bellowed, "If I don't subdue demons, I swear not to become a Buddha!!"

"Such obsession is already demonic!" Li Hao's gaze was commanding, his tone cold.

His sword light descended, cleaving through Puhua's Dharma image. The hundred-layered Dao domain pressed down, crushing Puhua's laws like dry twigs.

Li Hao stepped forward, using Void Return to teleport before Puhua. With a single kick, he knocked Puhua out of his Dharma image, pinning him beneath his foot as the platform cracked.

"You call me a demon—so what if I am? Is there a rule barring demonic cultivators from competing?"

Puhua, chest pinned by Li Hao's foot, coughed golden blood in his divine state. Gritting his teeth, he spat, "There's no such rule, but I won't allow it!"

"Who are you to decide?" Li Hao laughed. "Not only will I compete—I'll take first!"

Puhua's pupils shrank, catching Li Hao's meaning. If Li Hao won first, the Buddha Lord would personally grant him a hundred cities' worth of incense—a Buddhist sect rewarding a demonic cultivator. It would be a humiliating slap to the Buddhist sect's face!

"You—you're delusional!" Puhua snarled, golden light flaring in his eyes as if preparing an attack.

But Li Hao's eyes shot out two sword beams, meeting Puhua's gaze. Sword intent erupted, piercing his eyeballs.

Puhua screamed, blood spurting from his eyes as he clutched them.

Li Hao lifted his foot, kicking Puhua into the formation barrier, declaring his victory.

The crowd was stunned by Li Hao's dominance. Though Puhua accused him of being a demonic cultivator, he offered no proof—just words. Li Hao's displayed power, especially the hundred-layered Dao domain, left countless prodigies in awe.

"Whether you're a demonic cultivator or not, I don't care. But taking first might be a bit tough," Crimson Light said to Li Hao. The hundred-layered Dao domain shocked him, but he wasn't afraid. His own domains, though not a hundred, numbered fifty—enough to hold off, paired with his true strength, to pierce Li Hao's domains!

"How tough?" Li Hao shot him a look, his mood sour, lacking his earlier warmth. "With you?"

Crimson Light froze. Li Hao had always seemed refined and easygoing, but now he was a sharpened sword, untouchable.

Realizing this, he didn't get angry. Instead, he grinned. "Now that's more like it—interesting. I hope when we meet later, you won't regret those words."

"No need to wait. One sword's enough to shut you up anytime!" Li Hao said coldly.

(Chapter End)