https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-318-Bian-Ruxue-the-Holy-Maiden-Part-Three-Part-2-/13450490/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-320-First-Battle-Painting-Semi-Saint-Part-2-/13450492/
Chapter 319: Divine Blood Dao Body, Sword God Battle Begins (Part 2)
Chapter 319: Divine Blood Dao Body, Sword God Battle Begins (Part 2)
Over the past days, Li Hao had spent a lot of time chatting with Lin Shanhai and other Alchemists, gaining a deeper understanding of Incense and various matters related to Sages.
Incense is not something that ordinary people can bear; it requires a perfected Dao Body!
Recently, his Dao Power had been continuously transforming, filling all his acupoints and major meridians, making his Dao Body comparable to the Perfection of the Dao Law Realm.
After reaching the Perfection of the Dao Law Realm, the next step is to accumulate Incense.
This Incense Power converges into Li Hao's body, unable to be blocked, slowly sinking and transforming into dust-like Incense, accumulating within his body and gradually condensing into a tiny particle, about the size of a soybean.
This particle is the nascent form of a single incense stick.
To Ascend, one must accumulate Incense Power in the body to the equivalent of three incense sticks!
Currently, the Incense he has absorbed has only condensed into about one-tenth of a single incense stick.
This is because he had only recently perfected his Dao Body and began sensing and receiving Incense, which is the accumulation from the past.
Emperor Yu had promised him that after ten years, he would transfer the Great Yu Incense to him.
Li Hao had been fleeing through the void for ten years, which equates to a century in the Mortal World.
When his Dao Body reached Perfection, the Incense from the past ninety years gathered and condensed into a particle about the size of a soybean.
After the initial surge of accumulated Incense, the subsequent Incense that arrived was less intense but still came in steady streams, day after day.
Li Hao never expected that Incense Power could traverse the Immortal Gate, traveling from the Mortal World to the Land of Sages without any hindrance.
Truly, it is a Power that can enable Ascension!
At the current rate of accumulation, he could Ascend within three hundred years if he just lay low.
These three hundred years in the Land of Sages are equivalent to three thousand years in the Mortal World.
Three thousand years to produce a Sage is considered a relatively fast pace, primarily due to the large population of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, which is a medium-sized Divine Dynasty in the entire Eastern Huáng.
If it were a small barbarian state near the Great Yu, it might take seven to eight thousand years, or even ten thousand years, to produce a Sage through faith.
This is why small barbarian states have never produced a Sage.
After all, dedicating seven to eight thousand years to a single person is almost impossible.
Dynastic changes, court struggles, and natural disasters all disrupt the continuity of faith.
Absorbing the Incense that drifts in daily, Li Hao couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the Mortal World.
Incense is extremely precious, but Emperor Yu did not break his promise.
Even for a Sage, Incense is a good thing that is always in demand, which is why Sages spread their teachings and gather faith.
The Incense Li Hao has absorbed can be used by him; he just needs to ignite it with his Divine Sense. However, once burned, it is gone. Below the Sage level, it is a last-ditch effort used in desperate situations.
If someone is forced to burn Incense in battle, it is usually a matter of Never Resting enmity.
Once one becomes a Sage, the three incense sticks remain eternal, and even when ignited, they are covered by the Holy Path, continuously replenishing like the steam in a sealed boiler, cycling endlessly.
Only then can one truly use Incense Power in battle at will. Before that, one can only accumulate it and not use it.
With his Dao Body now perfected, Li Hao's Physical Body has been refined to an extremely terrifying degree. He senses the Dao through his Physical Body; his bones, blood, and physical strength are his Dao, allowing him to withstand Dao Arts and Divine Powers with his body alone.
However, sensing the Dao through the Physical Body has its drawbacks. Li Hao cannot Word as Law.
In simpler terms, although he is now at the Perfection of the Dao Law Realm, he is not truly there.
Flesh Dao is a path of Body Cultivation, equivalent to condensing Dao Power and laws within one's own body.
To Word as Law, Li Hao needs to elevate his Yudao to the ninth level, allowing him to summon wind and rain and reverse the flow of rivers with a single thought.
When his Dao Body reached Perfection, Li Hao discovered that his Physical Body Power did not increase further.
Without the Eruption Divine Power State, his Physical Body's normal Power remains at ten million pounds, with only minor fluctuations. This seems to be the limit of his Physical Body.
At this point, Li Hao finally understood what the phrase "human strength has its limits" means.
This is no longer a problem that can be solved through cultivation but is a fundamental limitation of life itself.
It's like a bottle filled to the brim; any more, and it will overflow.
The Physical Body is no different. Whether through cultivation or body cultivation, these methods only grant the body various body cultivation effects. However, one's Physical Body can reach its peak, achieving what is known as "Physical Body Deification."
"Ultimate Limit... Cultivation reaches its end here!"
One can exhaust all efforts to achieve the pinnacle of something.
But this is the limit of effort, not the inherent limit. After all, for most things in the world, even the greatest effort cannot touch their true limit.
The Ultimate Limit, however, is the inherent limit of a thing. Even if one follows the most perfect path, they will eventually reach the end, because there is no path beyond it.
However, while the normal power of millions of pounds is fixed, when combined with the Divine Power State, it can still erupt with ten times the power for a short period. Now, with Dao Power integrated and the Dao Body perfected, the power that can erupt is even more terrifying. A single punch or kick can easily shatter mountains and tear the earth apart.
Most importantly, Dao Power spreads throughout the body, allowing Li Hao to ignore others' Dao Arts and break through all barriers with sheer force.
However, Li Hao feels that the Dao Body Perfection he has achieved is not yet his limit.
Perhaps due to the Ultimate Limit Divine Blood, after achieving Dao Body Perfection, he can still continue to absorb and convert Dao Power, integrating it into his Divine Blood.
The Divine Blood acts like a sponge, capable of absorbing a vast amount of Dao Power, allowing him to withstand far more Dao Power transformation than other Enlightened Realm beings.
As time passes,
the Dao Power converted within Li Hao's Divine Blood continues to increase, becoming as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. His Physical Body contains the Ultimate Limit of power and bears an unimaginable amount of Dao Power.
Li Hao realizes that Flesh Dao Cultivation might be one of the essential paths to touch the limits of the Enlightened Realm, or even the Ultimate Limit.
The limits and ultimate limits of Martial Dao Realms seem to be interconnected, supporting and influencing each other. Li Hao cannot imagine what kind of terrifying existence one would become if they could achieve all of these. Even a Sage might be far behind.
The days pass quietly.
Li Hao has grown accustomed to life here, living a routine of three main activities.
These activities include occasionally purifying herbs for Lin Shanhai, cultivating by converting Dao Power into his Divine Blood, and spending time alone in the courtyard, immersed in painting and sculpture, deep in contemplation.
The connecting thread is that he occasionally receives invitations from various potion masters to assist them.
With his skill in Alchemy Refinement, Li Hao has become a favorite among potion masters. Since he is not particularly interested in alchemy and poses no threat, he has become a central figure in the potion master community.
People who have feuds with each other and avoid each other's company all greet Li Hao with smiles.
This has led to the reputation of the Qingfeng Alchemist becoming increasingly prominent, even spreading among the disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary.
Many disciples are aware of this unique individual among the potion masters. While there may be some debate over who has the highest alchemy skills, there is no dispute about who has the best relationships.
This has also made many inner sect prodigies, including some Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, want to form connections with Li Hao. Some visit him personally, while others send emissaries to express their goodwill.
After all, finding a senior alchemist to refine precious medicines requires one to provide the herbs and get approval from the Holy Land, as well as the consent of the potion master.
This often involves giving the potion master significant benefits. If the benefits are insufficient, there is a risk that the potion master will not be fully committed, potentially ruining an entire batch of precious herbs without incurring any significant consequences.
After all, alchemy has a high failure rate, especially for advanced Divine Pills.
But if Li Hao is the one helping, it ensures the success of the alchemy.
Even if it fails, one can only blame their bad luck and will have no resentment towards the potion master.
Li Hao did not refuse these overtures from various parties. As long as they came with good intentions, he accepted their gestures of goodwill.
After all, these prodigies have their own factions behind them, and are far from being lone individuals. Prodigies without background or connections have long been eliminated in some dark corner.
The Land of Sages is not short of prodigies, and even prodigies must bow their heads, relying on the protection and resources of various factions.
These connections might not be of much help to Li Hao himself, but they could come in handy in the future. Moreover, he could rely on these people to gather Famous Paintings, Chess Manuals, and other Tomes for him.
In the Alchemy Academy.
Li Hao carried the rare and exotic fruits delivered by the inner-disciple prodigies and found Lin Shanhai, sharing them with Master Zi.
These rare spiritual fruits could nourish the body, but their effects on Li Hao were average. He mainly enjoyed the taste, as they were crunchy and filled his mouth with a unique fragrance, making them quite delicious.
"Thanks to you, I can indulge in a feast again."
Lin Shanhai smiled.
He fetched his treasured tea leaves and brewed tea for Li Hao. The two of them munched on the spiritual fruits while chatting idly.
These days, the threshold of Li Hao's courtyard had been worn thin by the constant stream of visitors. The bustling scene reminded Lin Shanhai of the grand banquet he had set when he first became a Senior Alchemist, which was equally lively.
"I also benefit from you", Li Hao smiled.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Lin Shanhai smiled, feeling a bit reflective.
It's hard to tell the sincerity of someone's smile when they are in a low point, but when they reach the peak of success, their true nature becomes clear.
With Li Hao's current connections, he would do well even without Lin Shanhai. If Li Hao were willing, other Potion Masters would be happy to deepen their ties with him.
But Li Hao still lived with him, unhurried and calm. Some of the visitors, upon learning of his relationship with Li Hao, chose indirect methods, which also brought Lin Shanhai many benefits.
Li Hao treated him with the same humility and courtesy as before, but their relationship had grown closer. Occasionally, they would tease each other, with one calling the other a "brat" and the other retorting with "old man."
"Now that your injuries are almost fully healed, what are your plans?"
Lin Shanhai asked Li Hao.
He had lived for over a thousand years and had seen many people, but Li Hao was someone he couldn't quite figure out. By "figure out", he meant he couldn't see through Li Hao's desires.
It felt as if Li Hao's name, like a Clear Wind in the Mortal World, arose and fell casually. Aside from painting and sculpture, which were leisurely pursuits, there seemed to be nothing else that truly mattered to him.
Alchemy and Martial Dao, things the world pursued, Li Hao didn't even glance at.
"If you don't mind, I plan to stay here a bit longer. I want to paint a top-tier masterpiece before I consider anything else", Li Hao said.
The Land of Sages was vast, but for now, he only wanted to seclude himself here, living in peace and improving his artistic skills. When the time came, he would seek revenge on the Virtual Sage.
"..."
Lin Shanhai was speechless, staring intently at Li Hao's eyes, trying to discern his true thoughts.
But all he saw was a clear and honest gaze, with no hint of hesitation.
Lin Shanhai couldn't help but chuckle and sighed, "This is the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, a place countless people dream of entering. You are staying here, and with your current status and connections, you can get almost anything you want!"
"If you want to learn martial arts, just show a little interest, and those Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, along with others, would be happy to open the back door for you, allowing you to enter the inner-disciple ranks and become a Semi-Saint's disciple!"
"Even if your martial talent is low, those Semi-Saints would still be willing to take you as a disciple, given your current connections, which are your strength and foundation."
"If you want to delve into alchemy, just a word from you, and I can give you two of the three Advanced Pill Formulas I have. Others would likely be willing to trade with you too."
He looked at Li Hao and said helplessly, "But you are staying in this treasure land just to paint?"
Li Hao understood his thoughts and smiled, "There's no rule that you can't paint in a Holy Land, drink in a tavern, or study in an academy. The environment is just that—an environment. Being influenced by it is the most boring thing. Life's journey is long, and you will experience many landscapes, but I will still be me."
"But the essence of an environment is that a group of people are doing the same thing, which forms the environment", Lin Shanhai said. "If you maintain your individuality, you will seem out of place."
At this point, he wanted to teach Li Hao to fit in, but he quickly realized that Li Hao's connections were even broader than his own. If anyone should be teaching, it should be Li Hao teaching him.
He chuckled, "It's strange that someone so unique doesn't repel others."
Li Hao smiled and didn't say more. He raised his teacup, "Cheers."
"Poor!"
Lin Shanhai responded with a huff but still clinked his cup with Li Hao's, finishing the tea and smacking his lips.
Their conversation also reached Lin Qingying's ears within the courtyard. Her eyes flickered, and she had been listening to most of the daily exchanges between the old and the young, gaining a deeper understanding of Li Hao.
She didn't necessarily agree with some of Li Hao's ideas, but she didn't dislike them either. In fact, she felt a bit envious.
Such a carefree life was not something everyone could enjoy.
However, she had her own path. Once she reached the pinnacle and became a Sage, cultivating her ultimate Sword Dao, she would also be as happy as him, wouldn't she?
Thinking of this, her eyes brightened, and her Sword Momentum became even more perfect and gentle.
...
Several months passed.
Li Hao's Divine Blood had finally been completely filled with Dao Power, thanks to the abundant energy within the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary. While the Heaven and Earth Energy in the Land of Sages is already more concentrated than that in the Mortal World, the energy within the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary is even more refined and potent.
If Li Hao were in the Mortal World, it might have taken him seven or eight years to fill his Divine Blood with Dao Power. But here, it took him just over half a year.
Li Hao could understand why some Enlightened Realm cultivators could live for over a thousand years. Cultivation, apart from the breakthroughs in comprehension, also required the accumulation of experience over time. Typically, a single seclusion could last for several decades, or even a full six decades.
In the Land of Sages, an Enlightened Realm cultivator under a hundred years old is considered a top prodigy. Those under three hundred are still considered part of the younger generation. Those who surpass a thousand years are seen as old-timers. As for those who are several thousand years old, or even tens of thousands, they are considered ancient monsters.
These people are either Enlightened Realm cultivators with mediocre talent who have slowly advanced over time, or they have already ascended.
The Sword God Contest has an age limit of three hundred years. Beyond three hundred years, most of their potential is spent, and they are more likely to be weighed down by the passage of time, making their progress even slower.
Now that his Divine Blood had been fully integrated into Dao Power, Li Hao had also refined his Divine Blood Dao Body. He felt that it was stronger than a regular Dao Body.
Most prodigies in the Enlightened Realm have their own Dao Bodies, such as the Sword Bone Dao Body or the Dao Heart Dao Body. Some are born with a Sword Bone, which grows with their cultivation. Once they reach the Enlightened Realm, they can channel Dao Power into their Sword Bone, giving them an additional place to store Dao Power, making their Dao Power naturally stronger.
Moreover, when Dao Power is stored in the Sword Bone, forming a Sword Bone Dao Body, their attacks become even more terrifying.
With his Divine Blood Dao Body fully refined, Li Hao had expected to touch the limits of the Enlightened Realm, but in reality, he had only refined one Dao Body. To reach the Ultimate Realm of the Enlightened Realm, it seemed he needed another method. Li Hao guessed that he might need to reach the ninth stage of Yudao to achieve it.
After all, an Enlightened Realm cultivator who cannot wield the Word as Law cannot be considered at the limit.
After refining his Divine Blood Dao Body, Li Hao shifted his focus to the Art Dao, dedicating more time to painting and research.
Meanwhile, the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary finally welcomed the opening of the Sword God Battle. As the Sword God Battle truly began, the entire Sword Ancestor Sanctuary was filled with excitement and fervor.
For the ordinary disciples, although they had little chance to participate or be seen, watching the prodigies, who were usually out of reach, clash and battle would greatly benefit their cultivation. They could gain insights and comprehensions from these battles.
"Are you ready, child?"
In the Alchemy Academy, Lin Shanhai looked at Lin Qingying, dressed in her green robe, with a hint of worry in his eyes. Although he knew his granddaughter was excellent, the other Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were not to be underestimated, and the competition would be fierce.
Lin Qingying, however, remained calm, her usual composed demeanor unshaken. Her bright eyes were deep and profound, reflecting the years of cultivation she had dedicated to this moment.
"Clear Wind, let's go. We'll accompany Qingying, and you can also see how the top prodigies battle."
Lin Shanhai called out to Li Hao, hoping that Li Hao would be inspired by the charm of the top prodigies' competition and take more interest in the Martial Dao. Regardless of his talent, practicing martial arts was always beneficial.
"Sure."
Li Hao nodded, not refusing. After all, this battle would showcase various cultivation techniques, providing a valuable opportunity to gather top-notch cultivation methods.
Once he had gathered a few more techniques, if the opportunity arose, he might try to use his connections to visit the Sword Tower in the Holy Land to explore even more cultivation techniques. His Dao Domain still needed many cultivation techniques to expand to more layers.
(End of Chapter)
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