https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-328-Sword-Dao-Ninth-Rank-Li-Hao-s-Fury-Part-2-Part-1-/13450504/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-329-That-One-Sword-Illuminated-the-Entire-Holy-Mountain-/13450506/
Chapter 328: Sword Dao Ninth Rank, Li Hao's Fury! (Part 2) (Part 2)
Chapter 328: Sword Dao Ninth Rank, Li Hao’s Fury! (Part 2) (Part 2)
...
Li Hao was unaware that his sculpting of a Sage would be noticed. He continued to focus on his work.
As his experience approached the full Sixth Rank, time quickly passed into the next day.
Lin Qingying and Lin Shanhai went to observe the competition as usual, but Li Hao had no interest and stayed in the courtyard to continue his sculpting studies.
Feeling truly exhausted, he sought out Sword Master Fishing.
On Holy Mountain, the battle was intense, and after fierce combat, two individuals emerged from the losers' bracket to reclaim their spots among the top ten.
These two were Qiu Wuheng and Bian Ruxue.
After another three days of rest, the top ten battles began.
This time, Lin Qingying would also take the stage, and Li Hao accompanied Lin Shanhai to watch.
During these three days of rest, Li Hao successfully advanced his Carving Dao to Sixth Rank Perfection, only lacking Spiritual Immersion.
Now, in his small courtyard, various sculptures were displayed, many of which depicted his acquaintances from the Mortal World, while the rest were figures like Yaizu, the Semi-Saints, and the two Sages, Sword Saint and Sword Master.
On the Floating Seat, Li Hao sat with Lin Shanhai and the other Alchemists, quietly observing the matches.
The top ten battles continued in pairs, and the atmosphere was notably more intense. The previous fierce battles in the losers' bracket had left many Holy Land Disciples exhilarated, heightening their anticipation for the top ten showdowns.
Lin Qingying's opponent was once again Bian Ruxue, a result that surprised many and elicited sighs of sympathy for Bian Ruxue.
After struggling to rise from the losers' bracket, she now faced the person who had defeated her again, and many felt a sense of despair on her behalf.
Bian Ruxue was taken aback by the draw, her expression changing slightly.
This seemed like a fated confrontation, leaving her with a feeling of discomfort.
Although her Master had guided her, her Ice and Snow Sword Intent had not yet reached Perfection, though it had made some progress.
Lin Qingying was also surprised, but her expression remained unchanged.
Others envied Lin Qingying, as this result essentially guaranteed her advancement.
Sword Saint sighed lightly upon seeing this outcome. He could have manipulated the rules to alter the result, but he chose not to, as it was unnecessary.
The more enlightened one is, the more they believe in fate.
For they can glimpse it, however faintly.
Fate cannot be reversed!
In the Fourth Establishment Realm, the Fate Reversal Realm, although it is called "Reversing Fate", it cannot truly reverse fate when faced with the Heavenly Opportunities of the Enlightened Realm.
Reversing fate is merely a single opportunity granted by the heavens to those who have labored hard to reach this stage.
It is a chance to petition the heavens for a different destiny.
It is not a reversal, but an exchange.
True fate cannot be reversed!
As the battles began, Hao Yue Holy Son once again dominated, his Sun and Moon Divine Eyes probing for the Return to the Abyss, while his Netherwast Teleportation and Dao Domain made him seem invincible, with no apparent weaknesses.
Lin Qingying and Bian Ruxue's battle also commenced. This time, Bian Ruxue unleashed a stronger Sword Qi, more robust than before, but in the face of Lin Qingying's Supreme Soft Sword Intent, she was easily defeated.
Defeated twice, Bian Ruxue felt a bitter taste in her heart, but her Dao Heart was not significantly affected. She was still too young, and her cultivation had begun in the Mortal World. Although she had received excellent resources at Divine General Manor and the guidance of Master Jian Wudao, compared to these prodigies, her starting point was still too low.
The other Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were mostly born in the Land of Sages, some even being reincarnations of Sages, so it was natural that she could not match them.
Bian Ruxue sheathed her sword and returned to the Holy Platform. She still had to compete with other prodigies from the Canglan World. During this time, she could focus on comprehending her Sword Intent, striving to achieve Perfection.
"Qing Ying has already made it to the top five; she's truly remarkable!"
"But tomorrow's competition will be tough. The others also have Perfection Sword Intents, so the outcome will depend on other factors."
Zhao Yingzhen and others were delighted for Lin Shanhai. Making it to the top five was a great honor, and if she could place in the top three, it would be the pinnacle of achievement for a prodigy.
Lin Shanhai's face was filled with joy, but his eyes betrayed a hint of worry.
The next day.
The top five competition began.
This time, the selection process wasn't a one-on-one match but a free-for-all where each of the five participants could choose their own opponent!
Those who weren't chosen would automatically advance to the top three.
This method, although seemingly random, also tested the participants' ability to judge character.
After so many intense battles, if one still underestimated their opponent and made a poor choice, they would have no one to blame but themselves.
The five who advanced to the final round were Hao Yue Holy Son, Lin Qingying, Qiu Wuheng, Linghuan Holy Son, and Red River Holy Daughter.
On the Holy Platform, Lin Qingying and Qiu Wuheng exchanged glances. Due to Li Hao's influence, the two had some interaction in front of the Sword Tower earlier. They understood each other's intentions and did not choose each other.
Their gazes shifted to the others but avoided Hao Yue Holy Son.
Hao Yue Holy Son remained calm, seemingly expecting this outcome, and a smile played on his lips.
Soon, the results of the selections were announced.
Qiu Wuheng chose Linghuan Holy Son, and Lin Qingying chose Red River Holy Daughter.
However, Hao Yue Holy Son selected Lin Qingying.
But because Linghuan Holy Son and Qiu Wuheng chose each other, and Red River Holy Daughter and Lin Qingying also chose each other, Hao Yue Holy Son was left unmatched.
No one chose him, so his selection was nullified, and he automatically advanced.
The spectators were surprised by this outcome, but it was also somewhat expected.
Since the tournament began, Hao Yue Holy Son's reputation had been extremely prominent. Unfortunately, while some other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters had emerged as dark horses, none could match Hao Yue Holy Son.
As the battles commenced, Qiu Wuheng and Linghuan Holy Son clashed fiercely. Both were at the Fifth Ultimate Realm, and their final confrontation involved Heavenly Dharma Images and a torrent of Sword Intent.
If not for the battlefield array set by a Semi-Saint, the power would have affected areas hundreds of miles away.
Linghuan Holy Son's Sword Intent was illusory, making his sword seem both real and unreal, difficult to guard against. Despite this, Qiu Wuheng's Thousand Threads Sword ultimately fell short in the intense battle.
The second match between Lin Qingying and Red River Holy Daughter was equally intense, culminating in a clash of Heavenly Dharma Images. Red River Holy Daughter's Sword Intent was also at the Perfection stage, and her Crimson Flame Sword Intent turned the battlefield into a fiery inferno.
However, even under this fierce Sword Intent, Lin Qingying did not fall behind. They fought with all their might, and Lin Qingying emerged as the narrow victor.
Next, the losers, Qiu Wuheng and Red River Holy Daughter, faced off to determine the fourth and fifth places.
Lin Qingying, Hao Yue Holy Son, and Linghuan Holy Son would decide the top three rankings the following day.
Night fell.
A bright moon hung in the sky.
Li Hao watched the woman sitting alone in the courtyard. Today, she wasn't meditating on her sword but gazing at the moon, lost in thought.
Li Hao brought some snacks and sat down beside her, smiling. "Don't be too stressed. Have some snacks."
Lin Qingying turned her gaze from the moon to Li Hao, looking at his smiling face. She didn't understand why he always seemed so relaxed and happy.
But the feeling made her feel a bit envious.
"Tomorrow, I will lose to Hao Yue Holy Son, but I still want to give it my all!"
Lin Qingying said suddenly.
Li Hao was taken aback and looked at her.
Clearly, she had already recognized the gap between herself and Hao Yue Holy Son, a gap that could not be bridged by her Sword Intent reaching Perfection.
After all, his Sword Intent had also reached Perfection.
"Only by pushing the limits can we break through them. I don't want to let my sword down. I won't admit defeat until I've given it my all."
Lin Qingying said.
Her words seemed directed at Li Hao, but also at herself.
Li Hao nodded. "It's just a sparring match. Give it your all."
Lin Qingying looked at him, nodded slightly, and then her gaze fell on the snacks he had brought. She picked one up and ate it, her tone suddenly becoming more relaxed.
"The taste is excellent. Where did you learn to cook?"
"I figured it out on my own."
Li Hao smiled and started eating as well.
Under the bright moon, they sat in companionable silence.
Lin Qingying asked, "I noticed you haven't been practicing your sword techniques lately. Have you given up?"
She knew cultivation was arduous, but Li Hao had a talent for the Sword Dao, and she felt it was a waste for him to give up.
"I've been practicing in secret", Li Hao said with a smile.
Lin Qingying was speechless for a moment and didn't say more. She gently stroked the sword in her hand and said, "Since my parents passed away, this sword has been my only companion."
Li Hao glanced at the sword in her hand and softly replied, "Then it must be a very loyal and dear companion."
Hearing this, Lin Qingying smiled and turned to look at Li Hao. The young man's face, half-lit and half-shadowed by the moonlight, had a profound and deep contour.
She looked at him for a moment, then turned away.
There was more to what she wanted to say, but she didn't voice it.
She meant to add, "In the past, and now."
Now, it wasn't just the sword that accompanied her.
After finishing the pastries, under the tranquil moonlight, Li Hao bid Lin Qingying farewell, and they both went to rest.
The next day.
The final of the Sword God Battle had arrived, and this battle would determine who would earn the title of Sword God!
Even before reaching Holy Mountain, one could feel the intense atmosphere.
Li Hao arrived with Lin Shanhai, and among the disciples below, there was excited chatter. Everyone was speculating whether anyone could challenge the position of Hao Yue, the Holy Son, and who would take second and third place.
While the previous battles were intense, no one knew if anyone was still holding back their ultimate techniques.
Today's matches would be chosen by mutual selection.
Surprisingly, both the Linghuan Holy Son and Hao Yue Holy Son chose Lin Qingying.
According to the rules, this meant Lin Qingying would be the first to have a bye, and Hao Yue Holy Son and Linghuan Holy Son would face each other first. The winner would then challenge Lin Qingying, and the loser would fight for second and third place.
As the battle between Linghuan Holy Son and Hao Yue Holy Son began, everyone expected a fierce confrontation. However, the battle ended quickly. Linghuan Holy Son's Sword Intent was perfectly countered by Hao Yue Holy Son, whose Sun and Moon Divine Eyes penetrated his Ultimate Illusion Sword Intent, leading to a swift victory.
This outcome sealed Linghuan Holy Son's fate to only compete for second and third place, leaving the first place out of reach.
The expected dark horse did not appear, as Hao Yue Holy Son displayed overwhelming power, seemingly stifling any hope for a miracle.
Next was the battle between Lin Qingying and Hao Yue Holy Son.
"Do you know why I chose you twice in a row?"
Hao Yue Holy Son looked at Lin Qingying, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes grew cold.
Lin Qingying frowned, sensing the change in him. Despite her repeated rejections of his advances, he had always maintained his composure. Now, it seemed different.
"Joining with me would help me sever my emotional ties and solidify my ruthless Sword Heart, making it a win-win situation for both of us. After my Ascension, I would find a Saint Path for you, but you are too foolish."
Hao Yue Holy Son said this telepathically, so no one else could hear.
"If you truly have the ability to Ascend, why would you need my help? You could achieve it on your own."
Lin Qingying frowned in response.
Hao Yue Holy Son sneered, "Don't speak such grandiose words. Cultivation is inherently about plunder. Whether it's eating elixirs or food, it all involves strengthening oneself through external means. How can this be considered borrowing?"
Lin Qingying remained silent, saying nothing.
"It doesn't matter. Even if you don't agree, I have my own ways."
Hao Yue Holy Son's smile grew.
Seeing his smile, Lin Qingying felt a chilling sensation and a sense of foreboding.
However, she didn't choose to concede immediately. She took a deep breath. Since she had stepped onto this stage and embarked on this solitary path of the sword, she was destined to face challenges. Even if she failed, she would gain something. If she conceded, she would truly be defeated.
As the formation solidified, the battle erupted.
Boom!
Hao Yue Holy Son suddenly attacked, divine light erupting from his body. In one step, he returned to the abyss and appeared in front of Lin Qingying, condensing forty-nine layers of Dao Domain, which crushed Lin Qingying's Dao Domain.
Then, his Sword Intent erupted, and his Sun and Moon Divine Eyes focused, slashing directly at Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying's pupils constricted. Her opponent launched an all-out Eruption from the start, a level of intensity she had never seen in previous battles.
Her Dao Domain rapidly expanded, and her body transformed into the Supreme Soft Sword Intent. At the same time, her Dao Fetus rotated and merged with the Supreme Soft Sword Intent, quickly elevating her state to its peak.
But Hao Yue Holy Son's Eruption attack was too powerful. The Sun and Moon Divine Sword descended, seemingly containing the ultimate destructive power of Yin and Yang. This was Hao Yue Holy Son's true Sword Intent!
Bang!
The Supreme Soft Sword Intent that Lin Qingying had transformed into shattered instantly. In the face of the Heaven and Earth's overwhelming might condensed by the Sun and Moon Sword Intent, even the most scattered form could not hide, and she was directly suppressed.
A single strike sent Lin Qingying flying into the Array, spewing blood.
"I wanted to combine with you, then sever the connection. Since you refuse, I can only use more intense means to completely disable you. The deeper the injury, the more thoroughly it will be severed!"
Hao Yue Holy Son's eyes were cold as he telepathically spoke to Lin Qingying.
Lin Qingying's pupils constricted, and she hurriedly tried to escape. However, her Dao Domain was already covered by his, and his Dao Domain far surpassed hers.
"You!"
Lin Qingying was shocked and furious, never expecting such malicious intent from him, using her injury to forge his Sword Dao.
"I admit—"
Her words were cut off as she suddenly realized her voice was blocked by his Dao Domain.
Hao Yue Holy Son's eyes were cold. "You have no chance. I chose you from the beginning, planning to do this. Disabling my beloved in front of everyone will deeply wound me, causing me immense pain. That is precisely what I need!"
Hearing his words, Lin Qingying felt a chill run down her spine and a wave of nausea.
Hao Yue Holy Son took a large step toward her, his eyes showing a hint of satisfaction as he saw the hatred in Lin Qingying's eyes.
"Yes, that's the look of hatred I want. The more you suffer, the more my heart aches, and the more thoroughly I will sever it!"
He suddenly lunged, thrusting his sword toward Lin Qingying's abdomen, aiming to disable her Dao Fetus.
Lin Qingying was terrified and tried to block, but a vast aura emanated from Hao Yue Holy Son, suppressing her Dao Domain. The Sun and Moon Sword Intent merged with his Dao Domain, showcasing power far beyond that of other Holy Sons.
At this moment, Lin Qingying deeply felt the gap between them.
If this were a normal sparring match, she would have already conceded, accepting her loss without regret.
But now, she was completely restricted, unable to even admit defeat.
"Hmm?"
At the same time, Yaizu and the others in the audience noticed something amiss. They were surprised by the overwhelming power Hao Yue Holy Son displayed, completely overwhelming Lin Qingying.
Unless Lin Qingying had another trick up her sleeve, she was certain to lose.
But Lin Qingying did not concede, continuing to resist.
It even seemed like she was being completely suppressed.
"What's going on? Is Hao Yue really going to—"
An Elder's eyes narrowed, noticing the unusual nature of Hao Yue Holy Son's sword thrust toward Lin Qingying's Dao Fetus.
Sword Saint also noticed, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, but he did not speak, his eyes flickering.
On the Floating Seat, Li Hao also sensed something was wrong. Hao Yue Holy Son's current display was close to an all-out Eruption, and Lin Qingying had no chance of winning.
He was relatively familiar with her abilities. She knew she would lose and had said she would do her best to see the gap between them. In this situation, she should have conceded, but she was still holding on.
Whoosh!
Li Hao's figure flickered, appearing at the Array, facing Lin Qingying from another direction.
Lin Qingying noticed the sudden figure flying toward her from outside the Array, her eyes filled with sorrow.
She knew she couldn't hold on.
Bang!
Hao Yue Holy Son's sword edge pierced through Lin Qingying's abdomen, destroying her Dao Fetus.
"Stop it!!"
Seeing Lin Qingying's expression, Li Hao instantly understood. His pupils constricted, disbelief washing over him. A sparring match between disciples shouldn't be this malicious!
(End of Chapter)
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