https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-337-Defeating-Chiguang-with-a-Single-Sword-Part-2-/13450519/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-338-Wenzu-Holy-Land-Eighth-Apex-Realm-Part-2-/13450521/
Chapter 338: Wenzu Holy Land, Eighth Apex Realm (Part 1)
Chapter 338: Wenzu Holy Land, Eighth Apex Realm (Monthly Request for Votes) (Part 1)
The battle had ended, but Li Hao wasn’t idle. He quickly contacted Zhantan using the Flower Touring Token to discuss paintings.
“Aren’t you going to seclude yourself?”
Zhantan was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Li Hao to be so eager, coming to her to discuss paintings right after the battle. It felt as if the Prodigy Battle had merely delayed Li Hao’s painting, making her wonder which was the main focus and which was secondary.
"I’m here to seclude myself", Li Hao thought.
If he could reach the Tenth Rank of the Art Dao, Li Hao could then Sacrificial Dao to Sagehood. This was his most urgent goal at the moment. Besides the Art Dao, his Cooking Dao was also at the Ninth Rank, with a good chance of reaching the Tenth Rank.
To achieve the Tenth Rank, one had to comprehend the Mindset, but before that, he needed to fill up his experience bar as quickly as possible.
"Clear Wind is truly carefree. It seems he doesn’t care about the fame and fortune from the Supreme Young Hero Battle at all."
Night Ancestor sighed.
"Qingjiu, you’re next. Learn from Clear Wind. Hey, both your names have the character 'qing' in them?"
Green Ancestor suddenly noticed this detail.
A shadowy figure appeared, and it was Qingjiu. He had heard from Zhantan that Li Hao had won first place in the Wanderer Battle, but this was just a preliminary contest for a Minor World. The real competition for the top spots was yet to come.
"I don’t have that kind of leisure."
Qingjiu said with a bitter smile.
He had been in seclusion recently and received news of a few formidable opponents, which put some pressure on him. Though he claimed not to care, he had been cultivating for less than a century, and the fire in his heart hadn’t dimmed.
"Qingjiu, this kid, says he’s unparalleled in Chess Dao, but he’s never played a single game with me in the Flower Touring Society. He’s always in secret seclusion."
Night Ancestor shook his head, having long seen through Qingjiu’s burning ambition. He didn’t blame or despise him, for they had been even more intense at his age. Back then, everything but cultivation was secondary, and they would even fight to the death for fame, fortune, and supreme treasures. Now, they all felt a sense of desolation after experiencing such grandeur.
"Don’t blame Qingjiu. With his strength, a bit of effort could push him into the top ten of the Supreme Young Hero Battle. It’s normal for him to want to give it his all. If it were too far out of reach, Qingjiu would probably be more relaxed."
A young shadowy figure spoke. He was a Semi-Saint named Fire Ancestor.
Hearing Fire Ancestor’s words, Qingjiu looked at him gratefully and said:
"Thank you, Fire Ancestor. You understand me. I’m under a lot of pressure from the Holy Land and my Master. According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, there are only a few who can truly worry me. With a bit of effort, I have a good chance of making the top ten."
"You’re not just aiming for the top ten, are you?"
Night Ancestor saw through his thoughts and chuckled.
Qingjiu, caught in the act, said awkwardly, "Old Night, don’t tease me. I’ll be grateful just to make the top ten."
"Don’t give me that."
Night Ancestor snorted, "That game of chess you promised me ten years ago—when are you going to come and play?"
"Next time, I promise!"
Qingjiu quickly assured him.
Zhantan said to Li Hao, "You’re really coming?"
"Yes", Li Hao nodded.
"Alright, I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow. By the way, I watched your Wanderer Battle this time", Zhantan said with a light smile.
Li Hao was a bit surprised and thought for a moment before saying, "Alright."
Qingjiu looked at Li Hao enviously and said, "Still, Clear Wind is so carefree. I heard that the twin Buddhist disciples from Canglan World are quite troublesome. Be careful if you encounter them. They are also strong contenders for the top ten, and all the factions are keeping an eye on them."
"Thank you for the warning", Li Hao smiled.
After a few more words, Li Hao left the Flower Touring Society and returned to his courtyard to enter seclusion for Sculpture.
The next day, Gui Qinshuang arrived at Li Hao’s courtyard, bringing news from the Canghai Divine Dynasty.
"Perfume offerings increased from ten cities to fifteen?"
Li Hao was somewhat surprised at Gui Qinshuang’s news but quickly realized it was likely due to the recent battle.
This meant the time for Perfume Ascension would be shortened by another 20 years, bringing it down to 240 years.
If he won first place in the Supreme Young Hero Battle, he could immediately ascend, and the accumulated Perfume would become power in the Sage Realm, the more the better.
After Gui Qinshuang bowed and took her leave, a flower-palace soon arrived. A graceful woman in a pink floral dress stepped out and knocked lightly on the courtyard gate, her voice as clear and sweet as a lark:
"Yue Ying, on the order of Ancestor Tan, has come to escort Qingfeng."
Li Hao's Divine Sense swept over, and he saw the graceful woman outside the courtyard. Her aura was no less impressive than that of a Noble Family's Young Miss or even an Imperial Princess. He replied, "Please wait for a moment."
The woman outside the courtyard respectfully agreed and stood quietly at the gate, hands hanging at her sides.
Li Hao continued working on his Sculpture. Soon, the statue in his hands was complete, resembling Yaizu.
He placed the Sculpture on a shelf inside the courtyard, where many other statues were already displayed.
Li Hao stood up, brushed the wood chips off his clothes, and suddenly remembered something. He waved his hand, and the Heaven and Earth Space opened. He called out, "Xiyian, come out."
A crimson light flew out and transformed into a Red-Dressed Maiden.
"The Heaven and Earth Energy here is so thick."
As soon as Xiyian emerged, she felt the energy of the Land of Sages, far surpassing that of the Mortal World.
Li Hao smiled, "Did you miss it? Come on, let’s go to a meeting."
Xiyian giggled, "I was fine. I could still peek outside from Young Master’s Heaven and Earth Space."
Without asking where Li Hao was going, Xiyian transformed into a red light, wrapping around Li Hao’s wrist and turning into a crimson vine bracelet.
Earlier, at the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary, Li Hao, unfamiliar with the place, dared not release Xiyian. He only allowed her to observe from within the Heaven and Earth Space. The Sword Ancestor Sanctuary was mostly inhabited by sword cultivators who advocated slaying demons and exterminating evil, and they were generally hostile towards demons.
Although the Human Race in the Land of Sages coexisted with demons, not all humans could accept them. Some Holy Lands were allies with demons, while others were bitter enemies.
Outside the courtyard, Li Hao saw the woman by the flower palanquin and said, "Let’s go."
Yue Ying secretly glanced at this young master, knowing that he was the top-ranked monster in the Wanderer Battle. She had seen Li Hao's sword technique the previous day when she accompanied Ancestor Tan to watch the match.
With a respectful demeanor, she invited Li Hao onto the flower palanquin and instructed the Dragon Monster pulling it to return.
The flower palanquin rose into the air, flying smoothly as if it were a willow leaf in the wind.
As they passed over mountains and lands, Xiyian, in the form of a crimson vine on Li Hao’s wrist, extended a tendril to look around.
After a while, they left the Sacrificial Dao Mountain region and the territory of the Canghai Divine Dynasty. They passed through the domains of seven or eight other Divine Dynasties before finally arriving at a Holy Land.
In this Holy Land, the morning mist was thick, and there was a surging aura of righteousness.
As soon as they entered the Holy Land, Li Hao heard the voices of scholars reciting ancient scriptures.
Li Hao focused his gaze and saw various courtyard-like academies scattered throughout the Holy Land. The disciples sat in the academies, reciting their texts. Strangely, as they recited, dragon and phoenix illusions appeared above the academies. In other places, battlefield illusions materialized, with warriors engaged in fierce battles.
Li Hao’s eyes widened in surprise, recognizing the place.
"Is this the Wenzu Holy Land?"
Li Hao asked Yue Ying, who was seated at the front of the flower palanquin.
Yue Ying’s gaze shifted from Xiyian on Li Hao’s wrist, and she smiled respectfully, "Yes, Qingfeng, it is."
Li Hao’s eyes flickered. So, Zhantan was an Elder of the Wenzu Holy Land?
It made sense. A Semi-Saint realm existence would either be an Elder of a Holy Land or a Divine Dynasty. Zhantan was also one of the vice presidents of the Flower Touring Society, a person of high standing. In the Wenzu Holy Land, he was likely one of the most esteemed Elders.
"What are they doing?"
Li Hao looked at the illusions above the academies, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Yue Ying smiled, "They are cultivating. This is our Wenzu Holy Land’s cultivation method. The Sage of Literature uses the teachings of Heaven and Earth as books, and books as the path. Our way of fighting is different from the Sword Ancestor and the Dao of Knives Holy Land. They use weapons like swords and knives, engaging in direct combat. In the Wenzu Holy Land, we read the classics of sages, recite poetry, and use books to kill!"
Li Hao nodded in understanding. He had heard that in the Thirty-Three Realms, each Sage claimed their own path, with their own cultivation systems, totaling dozens of methods.
For example, in the Buddhist Sect, discussing scriptures was cultivation.
The Sword Sage cultivated through sword arts.
The Sage of Literature used poetry and books to defeat enemies.
He had also heard of a Martial School Sage who used strategy and planning as their killing technique, with attack methods that were difficult to predict.
Sages vie for supremacy, competing to establish their Great Dao as the orthodox path. Only those who cultivate to the Supreme Sage realm can claim such a title, but even then, the disputes among Supreme Sages have never been resolved, with their Saint Paths being incompatible.
Li Hao thought about his Literary Dao, encompassing Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting. If he poured his Power into any of these, they could be lethal. However, his sword was always sharper, so he treated the arts like Chess and Calligraphy as mere pastimes for cultivating his spirit.
Just like his Fishing Art, which could hook Dragon Race creatures even at the Fourth Establishment Realm, making them struggle and flail. Now, although his Fishing Art is only at the Sixth Rank, when combined with his current Power, it can reel in Dragon Monsters from the Dao Law Realm.
If his Fishing Art were to reach the Ninth or even the Tenth Rank, Li Hao could hardly imagine whether even a Sage might be caught on his line.
The flower palanquin headed toward a towering peak, surrounded by a serene environment. Upon landing at the summit, Li Hao saw a few Disciples from the academy reciting the teachings of the sages.
Above their heads, Weapon and Tiger Demon apparitions were engaged in fierce combat.
"For the tiger’s aid!"
One of them whispered, and the Tiger Demon transformed into a human form, its Power ferocious as it pounced on the opponent.
The other spoke rapidly, recounting a story of a hunter hunting Mountain Tigers. Instantly, arrows shot out from the void, like meteors, piercing the Tiger Demon.
Li Hao observed for a moment, finding it intriguing. The way they fought with words seemed to have the power of law. If such methods were used at a lower realm, it would be like touching the traces of the Dao Law Realm. No wonder such a cultivation system could stand on its own.
Each Sage's cultivation has its unique strengths, which is why they debate and challenge each other. If a Saint Path could be easily replaced, it would have obvious flaws and would be dismantled.
Sages are indestructible, and their Great Dao is unbreakable. This statement is actually the reverse: the Power of the Great Dao cannot be erased, and Sages at the Sage Realm have already fused their Dao Power with their bodies, achieving a unity of body and Dao.
Therefore, Sages are nearly impossible to kill. Only by shattering their sacred hearts and collapsing their Great Dao can they be truly eliminated.
"Hmm? It's you?"
While Li Hao was observing, a young man with a folding fan felt a familiar aura and looked over, his face showing a hint of surprise.
He blinked several times to confirm he wasn't mistaken, then stood up abruptly.
Li Hao, feeling the gaze, turned to look, somewhat puzzled.
The young man with the folding fan quickly approached Li Hao, examining him up and down, and exclaimed, "Why are you here at Tian Tan Peak?"
Moon Shadow, seeing the other person, immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Sage Son Qingshu."
Qingshu?
Li Hao asked, "Do you recognize me, Master Song?"
"My surname is Zhao", Zhao Qingshu's face darkened slightly as he said to Moon Shadow, "Why is he here?"
Moon Shadow respectfully replied, "Sage Son, it's because Patriarch Tan invited him to discuss paintings with Qingfeng."
"Discuss paintings?"
Zhao Qingshu was taken aback, immediately thinking of his Master, who loves painting and has unparalleled skill in it.
Recalling how Li Hao had been sketching during the Wanderer Battle, it made sense that he caught his Master's attention.
"You just won first place, shouldn't you be in seclusion? Although you defeated Chiguang, you shouldn't underestimate the other Holy Sons", Zhao Qingshu asked Li Hao.
Since the end of the Wanderer Battle, where Li Hao and Chiguang clashed, the news had spread, and Shuhai had already entered seclusion. But here was Li Hao, invited to discuss paintings instead of focusing on his cultivation.
"You're right", Li Hao nodded.
Zhao Qingshu: "..."
Since it was his Master's invitation, he couldn't say much more. Besides, with his own strength, he couldn't really assert himself in front of Li Hao. That single sword strike had been oppressive, and if they were to meet in battle, Zhao Qingshu would likely have to admit defeat.
Li Hao followed Moon Shadow to meet Zhantan. After Li Hao left, the Disciples who had been fighting earlier approached, one of them curiously asking:
"Brother Qingshu, who was that person?"
"The winner of the Wanderer Battle."
Zhao Qingshu watched Li Hao's retreating back, sighing. Although he felt some resentment, it was mostly a sense of helplessness.
With the power of that single sword strike, Li Hao had every right to be proud. While others were in seclusion, he was enjoying himself... hmph, wait until you face the twin Buddhist Disciples, then you'll be the one crying!
In the backyard of Tian Tan Peak,
(End of Chapter)
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