Everlasting Renown Chapter 320: First Battle, Painting Semi-Saint (Part 2) - Novel Cool

Chapter 320: First Battle, Painting Semi-Saint (Part 2)

Chapter 320: First Battle, Painting Semi-Saint (Part 2)

Lin Qingying did not wait for Li Hao and Lin Shanhai. She took the lead and headed to the Holy Land as a disciple to assemble and participate in the competition.

Li Hao and Lin Shanhai, after tidying up, leisurely followed behind.

On their way, they encountered Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Huajin, who were dressed in luxurious attire, along with a few others. They were also heading to the competition, although they were potion masters, such grand events were extremely lively and only occurred once every hundred years, so no one wanted to miss it.

"Old Lin, this Sword God Battle is going to be fiercely contested. Does Qingying have a chance of making it into the top five?"

Upon meeting, Zhao Yingzhen asked with a smile.

Lin Shanhai shook his head and replied, "Who can say for sure? The other Holy Sons and Holy Maidens are no easy opponents. There are over a dozen of them, and just making it into the top ten will be a brutal fight!"

The Sword Ancestor Sanctuary has a vast number of disciples, with a million outer sect disciples and tens of thousands of inner disciples, all of whom are carefully selected prodigies.

Canglan World is vast and expansive, with numerous dynasties and a population of billions. Apart from the three Holy Lands, there are many other top-tier forces.

Disciples who are accepted into the Holy Land, even outer sect disciples, have a chance to enter the inner sect in those top-tier forces. As for inner disciples, they are all prodigies of the same realm, starting at the Ninth-Rank War Body Potential.

Among them, the best either have astonishing insights or even more outstanding talents, and a few even possess special constitutions.

In their hometown dynasties, they are renowned top monsters, but when gathered in the Holy Land, they are just ordinary members among the million outer sect disciples.

It's like in those stories where mortal greats strive to ascend, only to end up as one small soldier among ten thousand celestial troops.

"Indeed, don't put too much pressure on Qingying. Making it into the top ten would be a great achievement. Prodigies are already numerous, and now Sages favor using Incarnation to reincarnate for cultivation, making the competition among these young ones even more intense."

Shi Huajin said to Lin Shanhai.

"Of course, I never interfere with her cultivation. Regardless of her rank, she is always my number one. Even if she stops cultivating and becomes an ordinary person, I, Old Lin, can still raise a granddaughter", Lin Shanhai replied.

"You’re quite open-minded. But Qingying doesn’t need any urging; she works harder than anyone. I heard she has condensed the Utmost Softness Dao Body. Is it possible that she is the Incarnation of the Sage from the Yin and Yang Family?"

Zhao Yingzhen asked curiously.

Lin Shanhai's face darkened. "She is not anyone's Incarnation. She is just herself!"

Zhao Yingzhen was taken aback and awkwardly laughed.

Shi Huajin rolled his eyes. Everyone knew how much Old Lin doted on his granddaughter, and they were each other's only family. It was like poking a sore spot.

The group continued together, flying out of the potion master’s residential area and heading to the Holy Mountain of the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary.

In the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, the outer sect disciples can only reside in the peaks outside the Holy Mountain, while inner disciples can cultivate on the Holy Mountain and have the chance to listen to the Sage's Dao Sound teachings. Holy Daughters and Holy Sons have their own dedicated cultivation peaks, gathering heaven and earth energy, where they can make rapid progress.

After leisurely flying for several thousand miles, half an hour later, they finally reached the foot of the Holy Mountain.

This Holy Mountain was majestic and vast, visible from hundreds of miles away. At the moment, clouds and mist enveloped the lower slopes, obscuring the true appearance of the summit.

As they approached the Holy Mountain, they could see thousands of streaks of light flying from all directions, all heading here to watch the competition. These were the outer sect disciples who had come to observe.

In this Sword God Battle, outer sect disciples do not have the right to participate. Only inner disciples can compete, and ultimately, they will face off against the Holy Daughters and Holy Sons, the strongest prodigies within the Holy Land, in a series of eliminations and competitions.

The initial selection Arena is located on the mountain's slope, where ten Arenas are set up simultaneously for the competition.

Once the top hundred are selected, they will gather at the mountain's peak to compete for the final ten spots under the watchful eyes of the Sages.

At this moment, the mountain slope is shrouded in mist, and in an extremely vast and open area, ten enormous Arenas stand, each surrounded by Law Barriers.

Outside the Arenas are the stands for the Outer Sect Disciples, who view these Prodigy Sword Art competitions as rare learning opportunities.

After the Sword God Battle concludes, the Outer Sect Disciples will begin a new round of Inner Disciple seat contests, during which many outstanding individuals will emerge.

The stands outside the venue are divided into various sections, each enveloped by Noise Reduction Laws, so even though some voices can be heard, it is not overly noisy.

Otherwise, with a million people gathered, even if they all spoke in hushed tones, the combined noise would still be chaotic.

Besides the stands for the Outer Sect Disciples, there are also floating seats in the air, offering a better view of all ten Arenas simultaneously.

These seats are reserved for Potion Masters like Lin Shanhai, as well as Artisans, management officials, Dynasty Enforcers, and other influential figures within the Holy Land.

At this moment, the stands for the Outer Sect Disciples are already bustling with activity, nearly half-full.

However, only about half of the thousands of floating seats have been occupied.

Lin Shanhai, accompanied by Li Hao and Zhao Yingzhen, made their way to the Potion Master section.

Their arrival naturally drew the attention of some Disciples. Many Outer Sect Disciples long to befriend these Master Alchemists, but lack the means to do so. This is their chance to catch a glimpse of the real thing.

"Look, it's a Senior Alchemist!"

"I recognize that one; it's Alchemist Lin. Thanks to the Body Casting Pills he refined, I was able to build up my strength and breakthrough to the Indestructible Realm."

"My family has a Junior Potion Master who is already a venerated figure at home. Even my father has to tread carefully around him. A Senior Alchemist, if willing to help, can easily cultivate an Enlightened Realm powerhouse!"

"That's a bit exaggerated, isn't it? After reaching the Fourth Establishment Realm, the effectiveness of elixirs on the body diminishes."

"You must be new. Have you heard of the Path Enlightenment Fruit? Some Senior Alchemists' elixirs can have similar effects. While they can't guarantee enlightenment, they can significantly increase your chances of advancement."

"That's true, and the most impressive thing about Senior Alchemists is their network. If you have a good relationship with them and they are willing to speak up for you, they can gather their friends to help you refine elixirs. Even a waste of talent can be nurtured into a powerhouse."

"See those few over there? They are all Senior Alchemists."

"Is that young man in the middle one too? No way!"

"He must be the personal disciple of one of them."

"Nonsense, that's Alchemist Qingfeng. I saw him when I delivered herbs to him earlier."

"Alchemist Qingfeng? He's Alchemist Qingfeng?!"

Many people were surprised to hear Alchemist Qingfeng's name.

Although they hadn't met Li Hao, Alchemist Qingfeng's reputation had recently become very prominent. Everyone knew that in the Potion Master circle, there was an Alchemist Qingfeng with extensive connections and unique techniques for refining herbs. If you sought his help in alchemy, success was almost guaranteed!

In the floating seats, Li Hao and Lin Shanhai had taken their places.

"It seems your reputation is quite strong; even these young fellows know about you."

Lin Shanhai couldn't help but laugh at the whispers and exclamations below.

Li Hao noticed but found it somewhat amusing. He, who had never refined a single pill, was now the famous Alchemist Qingfeng. It was a bit surreal.

"Who can blame them? Clear Wind's Purification Technique is truly irreplaceable, and these young fellows are quite well-informed."

Shi Huajin smiled.

"If Clear Wind wants to become a Potion Master, I can teach you, and I won't consider it taking on a disciple", Zhao Yingzhen said immediately.

Lin Shanhai retorted, "Stop being so calculative. I've already told Clear Wind this long ago. If he was willing, he would have had the chance to become a Senior Alchemist by now."

Zhao Yingzhen was taken aback, then gave a wry smile.

Li Hao's gaze fell on the ten Arenas. At the edge of the Arenas, many Inner Disciples had gathered. To Li Hao's surprise, these Inner Disciples all had profound and restrained auras, the weakest being at the Fourth Establishment Realm!

Among them, some stood out like blazing suns, radiating brilliance that made them stand out in the crowd. These were at the Enlightened Realm, their auras deep and sharp, both hidden and piercing.

Li Hao felt a slight silence within him. Even the Inner Disciples had reached the Enlightened Realm—this was the foundation of the Holy Land.

For the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, over the years, there had only been one True Person Qin guarding it, apart from the Buddhist Master.

As for whether there were any other reclusive Enlightened Realm experts, it was unknown. If there were, there could be at most one or two.

The Six Dao Law Realm experts slain in the Imperial Palace earlier were likely the six Inner Disciple prodigies from the Void Sacred Land, all at the Dao Law Realm, standing out among the Inner Disciples.

But in the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, there were at least a hundred such prodigies.

This was the gap between the Holy Land and the Mortal World Dynasties, their power disparity like that between a dragon and an ant.

"Qing Ying is over there."

Shi Huajin pointed to the opposite side of the ten Arenas, where three figures stood. Many influential figures from the Holy Land had gathered around them, but in front of these three figures, there stood over a dozen individuals with lofty bearing and exceptional appearance, each like a transcendent star, too brilliant to look at directly.

The Inner Disciples who shone like the sun were dim in comparison to these figures.

"These are the three Semi-Saints of the Holy Land", Lin Shanhai introduced to Li Hao.

Li Hao narrowed his eyes and looked. The three Semi-Saints, just below the Sage realm, were vastly different from Sages, but compared to the Enlightened Realm, they possessed overwhelming and absolute dominance.

The three, one man and one woman, both middle-aged, and an elder, had auras that were elusive and restrained, yet they stood like a distant yet near divine mountain, rooted in the heavens and earth, immovable.

Even their casual auras exuded a powerful sense of oppression, making Li Hao feel a heavy weight.

His mind was heavy, sensing that with his current strength, while he could easily subdue the Dao Law Realm, facing a Semi-Saint would be a different story. The outcome was uncertain, and he might very well be defeated.

Semi-Saints had long lifespans and most possessed Ultimate Realm techniques, being just a step away from becoming a Sage. They were among the top prodigies of their generation, and defeating them was nearly impossible.

"This time for the preliminary selection, you can just watch. If you don't want to watch, you can return", the middle-aged man with a towering, heaven-bearing shoulder said calmly to the dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Maidens in front of him.

Hearing his words, the expressions of the dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were relatively calm. Some stood quietly, their robes fluttering, eager to see how far the Inner Disciple prodigies had come.

Others gave the three Semi-Saints a slight bow and turned to leave, uninterested in staying longer.

For many Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, their competitive focus was primarily on each other, and they had little interest in the Inner Disciples, who would ultimately become stepping stones beneath their feet.

"Hao Yue Holy Son hasn't come, he's probably in seclusion."

"He might plan to appear only during the top hundred battles. These lower-level fights aren't worth his time."

"It's been thirty years since we last met. I wonder what level he's reached now. This time, it's really something to look forward to."

A few familiar Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, mentioning a certain Holy Son, had a glint of battle spirit in their eyes.

There are many Holy Sons, but some Holy Sons and Holy Maidens have particularly resounding reputations, and Hao Yue Holy Son is one such figure.

"There are quite a few rising stars this time as well. Don't just focus on Hao Yue Holy Son; you might get caught up by some of the younger ones."

A graceful Holy Maiden, her face veiled in a light mist, her eyes as clear as autumn water, glanced at a figure in flowing white robes beside her.

Hearing her words, the gazes of the other Holy Sons and Holy Maidens shifted over. Some narrowed their eyes slightly, while others remained calm.

"I heard that he passed the Bone Reflection Mirror test at less than twenty-seven years old. He must be one of the youngest among us, right?"

A tall, sword-browed youth with star-like eyes said with interest.

"Considering he is a direct disciple of the Sword Saint, like Hao Yue Holy Son, he probably has the same level of skill as Hao Yue Holy Son did thirty years ago."

Another Holy Son said calmly.

They chatted casually, not bothering to hide their confidence and composure, showing no concern for offending or provoking anyone.

After all, in this Sword God Battle, they could all be competitors.

Moreover, even though they were all Holy Sons, there was only one spot available to receive the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary Incense and become the new Sword Saint. They were all each other's enemies unless someone was willing to step down from the competition.

Hearing their discussions, Bian Ruxue, dressed in snow-white robes, remained silent, not responding. She simply gazed quietly at the ten Arenas ahead.

She had no intention of leaving; she wanted to observe the elite Inner Disciples. The top Inner Disciples were not much weaker than Holy Sons and Holy Maidens. Some had even broken through after the last Holy Son and Holy Maiden elections and might now possess Power on par with a Holy Son or Holy Maiden.

Although such a possibility was extremely low, it wasn't impossible.

On the other side, Lin Qingying also gazed calmly, showing no interest in the discussions around her and not participating.

She knew that everyone around her was a potential rival. Her only companion was the sword in her hand.

Soon, after their idle chat, the dozen or so Holy Sons and Holy Maidens gradually left, with only five remaining to observe.

These Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were extremely eye-catching. As they left, many disciples in the audience noticed and began to whisper among themselves.

The Inner Disciples waiting in front of the Arenas also noticed, feeling a sense of disdain. However, they knew it was inevitable; their opponents were Holy Sons and Holy Maidens, far stronger than they were.

However, a few of them had cold, determined eyes.

Before long, the audience seats filled up, and the floating seats were nearly full as well.

The preliminary rounds of the Sword God Battle began at this moment.

There were two challenge rules for the preliminaries: one-on-one duels and the arena defense. Defending the arena for ten consecutive matches allowed a direct entry into the top hundred, bypassing the other matches.

The arena defense was for those who were confident in their strength, while the random one-on-one duels provided an opportunity for other Inner Disciples to spar.

Three Semi-Saints oversaw the event, explaining the rules of the Sword God Battle and then began selecting participants.

They gathered the Disciple Waist Badges of the participants and used the laws to randomly assign them in the air.

The Inner Disciples who chose the arena defense were already on the central Arena.

In past Sword God Battles, the arena defense was often the more attention-grabbing event, as the elite Inner Disciples would often choose this easier method.

"Wow, the first one to step onto the arena for the defense is Mu Feng."

"He is one of the top prodigies in the Inner Sect, so it's no surprise he chose the arena defense."

"He even asked me to refine a Dao Condensing Pill not long ago. Qing Feng, you helped, remember?"

Zhao Yingzhen said to Li Hao.

Li Hao nodded, recalling the incident.

"What do you think, shall we follow the old routine and place some bets? I'll start. A mid-grade Elixir Formula for the Purifying Fire Pill, which can cleanse Elixir Poison from the body, though it leaves a small residual amount, which is relatively minor."

An elderly man said with a smile.

Shi Huajin chuckled, "Sure, I'll join in with an Intermediate Pill Formula for the Purple Gold Pill, which can enhance Physical Body Power. One pill increases strength by about fifty thousand pounds, and it's effective for up to three pills."

“I don’t know him well, so I’ll just place a bet on a basic Elixir Formula.” Lin Shanhai also joined in.

The others also gradually chose the Elixir Formulas they wanted to bet on and then started selecting the rounds and odds.

Li Hao listened from the side and noticed that they had established extremely detailed betting rules, which seemed somewhat similar to Texas Hold'em?

Tsk, who says the ancients didn’t know how to have fun? As long as they had the time, they could play just about anything.

"Clear Wind, do you want to join in?"

Zhao Yingzhen asked Li Hao.

Li Hao shook his head. "I don’t understand these things, so I’ll pass and not accompany you all."

"Go away, don’t drag Clear Wind into this." Lin Shanhai said irritably.

Getting involved in such matters wasn’t a good idea.

The others didn’t press further. Li Hao took out the brush and painting board he had prepared in advance from the Heavenly Earth Space and began to grind the inkstone.

In terms of gains from this battle, no one could compare to himself... Li Hao felt elated. Once the ink was ready, he set up the painting board and began to sketch the three Semi-Saints.

He wondered how much Art Dao experience he could gain from depicting beings of the Semi-Saint Realm, feeling a surge of excitement.

"Clear Wind, what are you doing?"

Shi Huajin noticed Li Hao’s unusual actions and was somewhat surprised.

The other Alchemists also looked over, surprised by Li Hao’s strange behavior.

Li Hao smiled. "It’s a rare sight, so I’m painting it as a keepsake."

Lin Shanhai, knowing Li Hao’s deep passion for Art Dao, smiled. "Go ahead and paint, don’t disturb him. Clear Wind’s paintings are exceptional."

"Oh?"

The others showed signs of surprise and then became interested, thinking about waiting to see Li Hao’s finished work.

Li Hao then began to paint with full concentration.

The three Semi-Saints stood together, and Li Hao observed and painted them one by one. However, painting such powerful beings wasn’t easy. The rich Art Dao experience mainly came from the need to focus and observe, but as he observed the three Semi-Saints, his Spiritual Energy was also being drained, as if he were peering into a labyrinth.

The auras of the Semi-Saints were deep and profound, making it difficult for him to capture their essence.

"Hmm?"

From a distance, the three Semi-Saints sensed someone watching them and looked over, their gazes landing on the floating seats where the young man with the painting board was sitting.

They soon noticed that Li Hao was surrounded by Alchemists.

"Who is that person’s disciple, to dare offend us like this?" The woman, with mature features and deep, cold eyes, asked.

"It might not be an offense. I used my Divine Sense to check, and he’s painting us. It seems he admires us and wants to capture our images. Moreover, his painting skills aren’t bad."

The robust middle-aged man remained calm, a smile playing on his lips.

"That’s not just anyone’s disciple. Recently, a new Alchemist has emerged among the Alchemists, one who can refine Elixirs. It’s likely that young man, sitting with Lin Shanhai. I believe his name is Clear Wind Alchemist."

The old man glanced over and then returned his gaze, speaking calmly.

"Clear Wind Alchemist?"

The woman’s eyes flickered, clearly recognizing the name. The coldness in her eyes slightly diminished as she used her Divine Sense to scan the painting board, seeing her own figure appearing, exquisitely beautiful...

"Since it’s not an intentional offense, we’ll let it pass."

She relaxed her brows and said calmly.

The conversation among the three Semi-Saints wasn’t concealed, and Lin Qingying and Bian Ruxue, who were nearby, overheard it. Lin Qingying looked up and saw Li Hao indeed setting up his painting board, sketching the Semi-Saints. She couldn’t help but feel speechless, finding it somewhat amusing.

Li Hao had been here for almost a year. Over this year, she had come to know him well. Apart from painting and sculpture, he really didn’t do much else.

Except for refining Elixirs.

"Hmm?"

Bian Ruxue also looked up, her heart stirred by the mention of "painting." She glanced at the floating seat.

The painting board blocked her view, so she couldn’t see the person’s face, but for some reason, the sight of the painting board gave her a sense of familiarity, causing her blood to subtly quicken.

(End of Chapter)

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