Chapter 336: One Sword Defeats the Chi Guang
"If these two engage in battle, one could see something."
The Haoyue Holy Son's eyes were indifferent, showing no concern for others, and he had not even glanced at them. However, he was deeply troubled by Li Hao's sword strike.
Had it not been for his master's comfort afterward, his Dao heart would have almost cracked.
Aside from these Holy Sons, many elders from major forces in the crowd had also come to watch.
The selection battles of the holy lands were beyond their reach, so the clash between the wanderers of these dozens of dynasties had become a grand event in the Canglan Realm.
Emperor Canghai also personally came to watch, sitting in a cloud carriage, remaining relatively low-key.
"I heard from Qin Shuang that Qingfeng has joined the Huayou Society. Qin Shuang's connections helped him become a butterfly of the Huayou Society. It seems he has achieved something," Emperor Canghai said with a gentle smile to the noblewoman beside him, his aged hand lightly stroking her tender jade-like hand.
This noblewoman was one of the most favored concubines, and her daughter was Qin Shuang, hence the saying "mother follows daughter in glory."
"Qin Shuang is also working for Your Majesty. Yesterday, she was still thinking of you, saying that the camellias in March have bloomed and wanted to bring some to you."
The noblewoman spoke gracefully.
Emperor Canghai nodded slightly. "It's been a long time since I've seen that child. When she has time, let her come and see me."
The noblewoman smiled faintly and then looked towards the battle stage, asking, "If that Chi Guang Guardian battles Qingfeng Guardian, it will surely be a fierce contest. I hope they don't hold a grudge afterward."
Emperor Canghai stared at the battle stage, showing a hint of worry.
As more and more people gathered, the top ten battles officially began.
After announcing the rules, the contestants were randomly paired. The ten semi-saints sent by the ten divine dynasties witnessed this contest of prodigies.
The scene was grand, and Li Hao sat in the waiting area, feeling calm as if the more bustling it became, the more tranquil he felt.
For him, this battle was just a formality. The ranking didn't matter; the real challenge was with the three great holy lands, competing for the battle quotas in the Canglan Realm, which was crucial. For now, it was merely a warm-up.
Soon, Li Hao's opponent was announced.
Li Hao looked over and was somewhat surprised to see it was the Yunshang woman he had met earlier in the Imperial Hall. Her name was Su Yun.
Su Yun also noticed her first opponent was Li Hao. Her expression changed slightly. She remembered the incense Li Hao had received in the Imperial Hall and had observed him afterward. Knowing his swordsmanship had reached a certain level, she realized she might not be his match.
As other battles concluded, Li Hao and Su Yun were set for the third match.
On the battle stage, Su Yun gazed at Li Hao and said, "I've heard that your swordsmanship has reached a certain level. I'd like to experience it."
"Sure," Li Hao nodded.
Su Yun's expression grew serious. Once the formation was established, she immediately unleashed her four-pole realm, then suddenly waved out a cloud sleeve.
The cloud sleeve was like a whip and was a treasured item. It emitted cloud-like shadows, a kind of divine ability.
Li Hao felt that the stage was enveloped in mist, but this mist carried corrosive power, trying to erode his body.
However, his physical body had been cultivated to its peak, resisting the mist which couldn't cause him any harm.
Seeing her divine ability ineffective, Su Yun's pupils slightly constricted. She felt as if her divine ability was like covering a piece of indestructible divine stone when applied to Li Hao's body, having no effect whatsoever.
"How is this possible?"
Su Yun was somewhat stunned. It was the first time she had seen her divine ability fail, and it was her ultimate move.
Li Hao did not delay. He lifted a wisp of mist, concentrated his spiritual power on it, and transformed it into cloud mist sword energy, slashing it out casually.
The soft sword path cut through the domain of Su Yun like a wisp of silk, swiftly passing by her hair at the ear, slicing through dozens of strands of black silk that gently fell on her shoulder.
Su Yun was stunned. Though her domain was not fully deployed, it didn't block the sword energy. The sword energy had surpassed the domain's suppression.
Unless her domain was extensive enough, it couldn't hold it back.
Su Yun's expression changed, and she showed a trace of struggle but eventually despaired, saying softly, "I lost."
She had anticipated losing, but not so easily.
Li Hao gave a slight bow and then turned to leave the stage, as if he had just come for a casual stroll.
The cheer from the audience had just started when the battle ended, leaving many bewildered. Some were shocked. Su Yun's previous battles had been intense, and her cloud mist divine ability had made her opponents feel as if they were in a desperate situation. Unexpectedly, in front of Li Hao, the divine ability hadn't even had a chance to work before she was defeated.
"That Qingfeng's sword is so powerful!"
"I noticed him during the battle of thousands. It seems all his battles are resolved with a single sword strike."
"What a terrifying sword path. Could he be from the Sword Ancestor Holy Land?"
"Impossible. Though the Sword Ancestor Holy Land uses swords, not everyone who uses swords comes from there. I use swords too. Should I be considered one of them?"
"Just give it a rest. Your swordsmanship is not worthy of attention."
"Your mother..."
The crowd discussed in whispers. Among the few present, people like Lin Qingying had a serious expression.
Although Li Hao still used only her sword path, the opponent hadn't even forced out Li Hao's ultimate sword move, showing he had reserved too much strength. Additionally, they observed that the cloud mist divine ability had a significant impact on the body, but Li Hao had resisted it, indicating his physical strength was also formidable.
"With a body in the extreme state of divine strength, it's all divine power, but he doesn't seem to be in a divine power state. Could it be that the divine ability hasn't taken effect yet?"
Someone questioned, considering this possibility.
Other martial artists might have differences in physical strength, but prodigies usually had similar physical strength, all in the extreme state of divine power.
Although there are differences in the extreme state, they are not significant. Moreover, prodigies have many things to cultivate, and the realm is not the only factor; techniques, divine abilities, and other extremes are worth studying.
"Too weak."
The Haoyue Holy Son's eyes were cold. Although the Yunshang woman had saint-level combat strength, she was far inferior to Li Hao. Even he could easily defeat her.
In the crowd, Lin Qingying noticed that Li Hao's sword path was still the previous gentle sword path, and a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, along with some insights.
Earlier, Li Hao had guided her in sword path, but understanding was another matter. Unless one had an epiphany, it's not something that can be comprehended overnight. Otherwise, a sage's guidance would suffice for a single day of training.
After finishing the battle with Su Yun, Li Hao advanced smoothly and then awaited his next opponent.
Su Yun entered the loser's group and continued to fight, eventually securing victory after a fierce battle.
While watching the battles, Li Hao quietly recorded the techniques of these prodigies and took out his drawing board to sketch.
His actions shocked many. In such a tense and intense contest, he was actually leisurely sketching? Was he intentionally showing off, or was he overconfident?
But when countless divine senses gathered and examined Li Hao's artwork, they were speechless. The figures in the artwork were vivid and lively, seemingly making moves in front of them, containing fierce offensive momentum, clearly not a simple show.
"This Qingfeng's painting skills are exceptional!"
"Is this what a peerless prodigy is like? Apart from martial arts, his other skills are also beyond ordinary."
"With this painting skill, he could become the chief painter of a divine dynasty."
Many people whispered, but Li Hao remained unaffected by the discussions, calmly painting.
As the experience in painting continued to be suggested, his experience bar gradually progressed...
Soon, it was time for Li Hao's appearance. He placed his brush back on the inkstone and then rose, stepping onto the battle stage in an instant.
This time his opponent was a young man from the winner's group. The opponent had noticed Li Hao sketching below the stage. His expression was serious. Among the top ten opponents, besides Chi Guang, Li Hao was also a formidable figure, giving a feeling of being deep and concealed.
The sword path he had shown was already extremely terrifying. No one knew what other means this Qingfeng might have.
"You seem confident of winning."
The young man stared at Li Hao and said.
Li Hao was taken aback, shaking his head. "Here, winning or losing is just a formality. It doesn't matter."
The young man's eyes narrowed, immediately understanding Li Hao's meaning. The goal was the battle quota for the Canglan Realm, and he didn't take the current duel seriously.
However, he also felt the same way in his heart.
As a prodigy, who doesn't have that kind of arrogance?
"I really want to see your clash with Chiguang and find out what trump cards you both have."
The young man squinted and said, "Against me, you might have to reveal a bit of your hand in advance."
As he spoke, the formation array solidified, and he suddenly erupted, summoning the celestial law image. Then, the blade in his hand burst into blazing black flames and slashed fiercely at Li Hao.
The law image also condensed a blade, striking down alongside him. The space seemed to crack slightly as the blade intent contained within was extremely strong, as if to split the earth.
Li Hao felt the overwhelming power and force, with the celestial veins behind him subtly shifting, immediately drawing immense celestial power. He then transformed this power into a sword qi in his hand, slashing it out effortlessly.
The extremely soft cut clashed with the hardness, and the sword qi, like a soft thread, quickly adhered to the opponent's blade, piercing into the law image.
With a bang, the law image shattered, and the sword qi skimmed across the opponent's neck, drawing a line of blood.
Li Hao withdrew his hand, and the celestial veins behind him, like a spider's web, also retracted and hid.
The young man standing inside the law image looked stunned, then pale and somewhat unsightly.
He had hoped to force out some of Li Hao's true abilities, but the sword path was even more terrifying than he imagined. Li Hao did display the celestial veins that had not been shown in previous battles, but it was only a slight operation, just gathering a bit of power, and could hardly be considered a trump card.
When the young man conceded, Li Hao cupped his hands and then turned to leave the stage.
Returning to his position, he saw the brush tip on the inkstone about to fall, and quickly picked it up. After adjusting the brush tip in the inkstone, he resumed painting.
This fluid action left many spectators who had been following Li Hao in silence, feeling dumbfounded.
Compared to the battle, it seemed that the opponent cared more about his artwork.
"Another battle ended with a single sword strike. Who can force him to use a second sword?"
"Too strong, probably only Chiguang can suppress him."
"I didn't expect such prodigies to emerge among us scattered people. Master said that cultivation depends on the individual; if one's aptitude is mediocre, even joining the sacred land might not lead to great achievements. I believe that now!"
"From his appearance, he doesn't seem to have warmed up yet, which is a bit exaggerated."
The crowd discussed fervently.
Lin Qingying saw Li Hao's focused demeanor and was reminded of the scene in the small courtyard, where he carved and painted daily. A smile appeared on her otherwise cold and beautiful face, like a flower blooming on a snowy mountain, exuding a stunning aura.
She knew that Li Hao was not pretending to be relaxed but truly enjoyed these activities.
Others might not understand, but she had seen enough to know Li Hao's nature.
"His behavior is really similar to an old friend of mine," Bian Ruxue said softly nearby.
As a saintess of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, she was also watching the battle and stood relatively close.
Lin Qingying was a bit surprised and looked at her, saying, "What do you mean?"
Bian Ruxue's eyes revealed distant memories as she said softly, "When I was young, there was a genius who loved painting and chess but had no interest in martial arts. However, his martial arts aptitude was incredibly formidable, even comparable to the sacred sons in the sacred land. It's just a pity he was too playful."
Lin Qingying was slightly stunned. She knew Bian Ruxue was from the human realm—such prodigies existed there?
"That's not really being playful," Lin Qingying said. "He is just doing what he likes. Isn't the pursuit of cultivation to be free and unrestrained? He is already living freely now."
Saying this, she looked at Li Hao with a trace of envy in her eyes.
Bian Ruxue looked at her and said, "Aren't you pursuing the path of becoming a saint of the sword?"
"Yes and no," Lin Qingying said, her gaze fixed on the painting figure. "If I had someone to accompany me, the sword path would not necessarily be the only way. After all, our pursuit in cultivation is to be free and unrestrained."
Bian Ruxue's eyes showed a hint of disappointment, and she withdrew her gaze, saying coldly, "I am different from you. I want to see the highest scenery and die without regrets!"
Lin Qingying looked at her and sensed her coldness, seemingly dismissive of her words. She did not take offense, merely smiling calmly and saying, "Perhaps the most beautiful scenery is at the foot of the mountain. Standing high only means seeing far, but the true beauty might not be at the peak."
"You can't know without seeing it. With your temperament, without his guidance, your sword path would be hard to achieve great success."
Bian Ruxue said, unwilling to continue the conversation.
Lin Qingying smiled and said, "But it is my fortune to receive his guidance with my temperament. Master once said that luck is also part of strength. Talented people always have the Dao's fortune, so my luck must be good."
Bian Ruxue frowned. She had heard her master, the Sword Saint, say this before and found it irrefutable.
"You said your friend from the human realm was like this. What happened to him later? Could he be Qingfeng?"
Lin Qingying's eyes turned, asking with interest.
It was hard for her to imagine there could be another person like Qingfeng.
Bian Ruxue's thoughts drifted but quickly returned. She shook her head and said, "I was brought here by my master and know nothing about the human realm. He cannot be Qingfeng. Their auras are completely different, and that cannot be hidden or changed."
Lin Qingying, upon hearing this, stopped thinking further. She glanced at Li Hao and whispered, "Don't you envy him?"
"Envy?" Bian Ruxue looked at her in surprise. Upon seeing the trace of tenderness in her eyes, she seemed to understand something, her gaze turning even colder. She said, "Your sword path will not go far."
After saying this, she had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Lin Qingying sensed her thoughts, smiled calmly, and did not get angry or respond further. She knew they were different in nature and were not on the same path.
As the fierce clashes continued on the stage, aside from Li Hao and Chiguang, others also displayed impressive strength. The top ten battle was gradually coming to an end, and many had been looking forward to the confrontation between Li Hao and Chiguang, which had not occurred early. They only met when both advanced to the final circle.
"I thought we would see the good show earlier, but they only met in the final battle."
"This seems to be a fated duel!"
"Which is stronger, divine abilities or sword path? The debate over divine abilities and sword path at the entry level has been endless since ancient times. This battle should settle it."
Many spectators' eyes lit up, finally reaching the decisive battle.
Li Hao had finished painting the portraits of the nine geniuses and was now in the finals. He put away his drawing board and ink.
This action made many people think that Li Hao was about to get serious.
Chiguang was the first to step onto the stage. Seeing Li Hao put away the drawing board, he smiled slightly. It seemed that previously, Li Hao was still thinking about his painting, but now he was starting to take things seriously.
However, whether he could force out Chiguang's abilities would depend on his skills... Chiguang's eyes flickered as he glanced at the spectators below, pausing on a few figures in kasaya and bald heads before withdrawing his gaze.
At this moment, Li Hao also stepped onto the stage.
Having seen all the paintings earlier, Li Hao had already discerned that, apart from himself, Chiguang was a top-level opponent among the top ten.
The other competitors' painting experience was at most around twenty-two thousand, but Chiguang's was thirty-five thousand. The gap was enormous.
To put it into perspective, the difference between a Half-Saint and Chiguang was just over ten thousand experience.
A difference of ten thousand painting experience in battle is reflected as overwhelming strength!
It shows how significant the gap must be between the initial provision of 370,000 experience by the Sword Master and a Half-Saint!
"As I expected, this final battle is between us."
When the formation array solidified, Chiguang did not rush to attack, saying calmly.
Li Hao nodded, "Thank you."
Seeing that Li Hao showed no interest in further conversation, Chiguang's brows furrowed slightly. He had some camaraderie with Li Hao, a prodigy, but it seemed that Li Hao did not share this feeling.
Although he had looked down on Li Hao focusing on other things before, after this round of competition, he felt that apart from the few rare individuals in the sacred land, only Li Hao could barely keep pace with him.
His real opponents were destined to be among the many worlds representing the Canglan Realm.
"Earlier, you didn't use your sword. This time, do you still not plan to use it?" Chiguang stared at Li Hao and asked.
Li Hao nodded in response, retrieving the pitch-black sword from the celestial space.
The sword was entirely pitch-black and seemed capable of devouring everything.
Chiguang smiled indifferently and then flames appeared all over his body, saying, "Let's see if your sword can cut through my fire!"
As he spoke, the flames seemed to come alive, forming a monstrous phoenix hovering around him. The phoenix seemed capable of splitting the sky and cutting through the heavens with a single glance.
Li Hao felt a great pressure, but he had no intention of retreating.
Suddenly, Chiguang raised his hand, and the flames condensed into a phoenix, fiercely attacking.
Li Hao also drew his sword. This sword's sword qi was condensed from the celestial veins behind him and filled with forceful power. It collided with the phoenix's flames, creating a huge explosion.
The ground shook as flames spread, and phoenix feathers danced wildly.
Li Hao stood calmly, looking at the flames burning before him. He waved his sword lightly, sending the sword qi forward.
In an instant, the sword qi collided with the phoenix and penetrated it. The fire phoenix let out a cry, its body splitting into countless flames, scattering all around.
This was the power of his sword, which made many people stunned. Chiguang's fire had been forcibly broken through.
"Very good swordsmanship," Chiguang praised, his tone growing more serious. He realized that he could not underestimate Li Hao and needed to use his ultimate power.
He no longer hesitated. His body suddenly erupted with fiery flames, forming a towering phoenix.
This phoenix was enormous, seemingly capable of burning the heavens and splitting the earth. Its flames spread out like a sea of fire, and it charged towards Li Hao with boundless momentum.
Li Hao's expression changed slightly. The phoenix's might was unprecedentedly strong, far beyond what he had imagined.
But he didn't flinch. He directly used the celestial veins behind him to draw a vast celestial power, which he poured into the sword.
The sword's black flames instantly merged with the celestial power, and Li Hao swung it out. The celestial flames were like a dragon, tearing through the sky and colliding with the phoenix's flames.
An explosion of divine fire erupted, and the vast sea of flames was instantly extinguished.
The phoenix let out a mournful cry and was finally extinguished. However, the remaining flame formed a barrier around Chiguang.
"Great, very good!" Chiguang looked at Li Hao with admiration. The battle between them had reached a level where both sides had revealed their strength. However, in this world, only one person could be the ultimate winner.
Li Hao nodded in response to his reminder, taking out the jet-black sword from the space of heaven and earth.
This sword was pitch black and glossy, as if it could devour everything.
Chiguang smiled faintly and then, with his whole body enveloped in blazing flames, said, "Let's see if your sword can cut through my fire!"
As he spoke, he suddenly made a move, revealing the Extreme Realm. The celestial veins gathered power, pushing his entire momentum to its peak, and then he waved his hand to unleash his fire-based divine ability.
"It's coming!"
Below the stage, many of the previously defeated talents by Chiguang's hands had their eyes fixed intently.
The fire-based divine ability was incredibly terrifying, unavoidable and only capable of being endured.
One wondered whether Li Hao's swordsmanship would be affected by the scorching of this fire-based divine ability.
At the same time, the moment Chiguang made his move, Li Hao felt a surge of anger in his heart. This anger burned like flames, igniting his emotions, causing his blood to boil and feel violent.
But soon, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and a sword intent suddenly arose from his heart.
Cut! Only my swordsmanship can cut through the fire in my heart! The intense anger was instantly quelled, and Li Hao's inner self returned to the calmness he had before taking the stage.
He raised his hand and swung his sword.
On the jet-black sword, brilliant sun and moon sword lights suddenly appeared, dazzling and intense, illuminating the entire combat stage.
With a swing of the sword, the divine sun seemed to explode, turning into a rolling heatwave that surged towards Chiguang!
"My swordsmanship…"
The Haoyue Holy Son was stunned for a moment, then his pupils contracted, revealing shock.
His own sword intent had actually been manifested by the other party, not just sword intent, but swordsmanship!
The vast and surging sun and moon were even more terrifying and exquisite than what he had displayed!
The swordsmanship he had diligently cultivated for years had been comprehended and surpassed by the other party!
The Haoyue Holy Son's face changed in shock, alternating between fear and anger, turning pale. The previously stable Dao Heart was now cracking, giving him a sense of cognitive collapse.
Chiguang noticed the flames in Li Hao's eyes disappearing, and his originally indifferent expression turned into a daze. His pupils contracted slightly, surprised that his fire-based divine ability had actually been cut off?
He could not discern what method Li Hao had used, but the imposing sword light was coming over.
The sword aura contained the might of heaven and earth, with the sun and moon intertwined, reflecting the world and suppressing all things.
He felt as if he had a hundred thousand mountains stacked upon him, heavy to the point where his knees were aching. Yet, a divine light like raging fire erupted from his eyes. Was this the strongest swordsmanship of the opponent?
Bang bang bang! The sun and moon swordsmanship suppressed like stars, causing the entire combat stage to sink and crack, while Chiguang stood amidst it, surrounded by flames. His eyes shot out brilliant divine light, yet his lips showed a smile.
Bang! The sword's divine sun explosion directly slashed his body, sending him crashing into the formation.
The formation trembled, and Chiguang's body fell, covered in cracks. This sword had heavily injured him.
He got up from the ground, his blood still surging, but he restrained himself, not using his true strength.
Around him, the surrounding area turned into a domain of flames, with forty layers of Dao domains overlapping, barely managing to offset Li Hao's sword.
Even so, his body was still scorched and cracked under the sun and moon's reflection.
Outside the stage, everyone was shocked, not expecting that against the formidable Chiguang, Li Hao's sword would unleash unprecedented power.
Previously, Li Hao had also used the sun and moon swordsmanship, but clearly, he hadn't used his full strength and won easily.
Now, they truly saw the terror of this swordsmanship.
The sun and moon suppressed the heavens, as if intending to flatten the entire Ritual Dao Mountain.
"This is the sword of Qingfeng? Such a terrifying swordsmanship!"
Countless people were stunned and discussed, astonished by how formidable the hidden methods of the other party were.
Among the crowd, many sons and daughters of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land were stunned.
They recognized that this was not Qingfeng's own swordsmanship, but the Haoyue Holy Son's swordsmanship!
Moreover, the Haoyue Holy Son only used sword intent, while Li Hao was now demonstrating the sun and moon swordsmanship!
The momentum was even more terrifying and perfect; this was the true sun and moon divine sword!
The Haoyue Holy Son's face turned pale. The youth used not his own sword but his sword, which also implied another terrifying fact.
That is, Li Hao's own swordsmanship was even more terrifying!
After all, the swordsmanship one cultivates is incomparable to others. Li Hao had only fought briefly with him, even though he had been secretly observing him in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land for over a year. To cultivate the sun and moon swordsmanship in such a short time was already frightening.
If he were to display his own swordsmanship, it would be even more terrifying.
The Haoyue Holy Son suddenly thought that the swordsmanship Li Hao used to defeat him earlier seemed very similar to Lin Qingying's sword, the other party's sword!
Realizing this, his expression became even uglier.
What kind of swordsmanship does Li Hao have?
Could it be similar to the Sword Saint's swordsmanship, using all living beings as swords, with all living beings' swordsmanship as his own?
Thinking of this, he felt his heart twitch painfully. He had used the sun and moon as his swordsmanship, intending to reflect the heavens and thus all living beings. His swordsmanship, if cultivated, would not be inferior to his master's!
But now, Li Hao was using his swordsmanship here.
If Li Hao's cultivation reaches the Saint Realm, and with sufficient power, this swordsmanship would unleash even more terrifying power, truly reflecting the heavens and using all things as swords!
Chiguang's body was swaying, his wounds still unhealed. The sun and moon sword intent that penetrated his pores continued to tear his flesh.
He stared at Li Hao, his eyes revealing excitement and a smile.
Li Hao calmly held his sword, looking at him, feeling that the other party had more abilities yet to be displayed.
"Is this your strongest swordsmanship? I have experienced it; it is indeed very strong!"
Chiguang's voice came, directly transmitting to Li Hao's ears.
Li Hao looked at him, seeing that although he looked miserable, his eyes still held a smile.
"Unfortunately, I must reserve my ultimate move for the Buddhist twin sons and cannot use it in advance. I will fight from the top position of the Canglan Realm. I will leave the first place among the wanderers to you. I will take it back next time!"
Chiguang said, showing satisfaction. Li Hao's sword made him feel a boiling sensation in his blood. This Supreme Talent Battle made him look forward even more. Meeting such a character among wanderers was unexpected; he wondered what fierce sparks would fly in future confrontations with the heavens.
Li Hao was taken aback, somewhat surprised. Was the other party planning to give up?
However, he didn't mind. If one sword was not enough, he could try another. If necessary, he could quickly resolve it using his own swordsmanship.
"If you weren't just playing around, your swordsmanship might really pose a threat to me."
Chiguang transmitted to Li Hao, with a hint of regret in his tone.
Li Hao smiled, sheathing the jet-black sword, and said, "Then we will compete again next time."
"Next time, you should put in more effort."
Chiguang smiled. Having seen Li Hao's strongest sword move, he now knew Li Hao's level of strength.
Then, Chiguang turned and admitted defeat to the judge, not continuing the fight.
Hearing that Chiguang had surrendered, everyone was stunned but then relieved.
The power of Li Hao's sword earlier was too strong. Even outside the formation, they felt suppressed by the sword's might, unable to move.
"Chiguang's fire-based divine ability was actually blocked by that Qingfeng!"
"That kind of divine ability can be blocked; what kind of method is this?"
"It seems Qingfeng is even more terrifying than we imagined. Representing the Canglan Realm in battle should be no problem, right?"
"I thought Chiguang would win, but Qingfeng is even more hidden. This swordsmanship is too terrifying."
Numerous discussions arose below the stage.
The Haoyue Holy Son's face shifted between green and white, feeling a cold sneer and anger. The sneer was at the ignorance of these people who didn't understand that Li Hao had more methods yet to be used. The anger was at how the opponent displayed such a terrifying sun and moon swordsmanship that his subsequent efforts would seem laughable.
Suppressing his anger, his face turned iron blue. He left with a sense of frenzy, wanting to perfect his sword intent before the next battle.
But rushing cultivation was futile and could lead to deviation. He felt more frustrated.
"Chiguang actually lost."
On the Cloud Carriage, the noble and beautiful woman was stunned, somewhat surprised. This was the Twelve City incense and also to marry a princess's worshipper, who actually lost to Qingfeng.
They had underestimated Qingfeng's strength before.
Emperor Canghai's eyes flickered. As a Semi-Saint, he observed more closely and noticed that Chiguang had not yet revealed his true trump card. It seemed he planned to reserve it for later battles. After all, the current competition among the wanderers was insignificant compared to the quotas from the Canglan Realm.
"This kid Chiguang must see the Buddhist twin sons as his real opponents. The twin sons are indeed a bit terrifying. Not to mention their Sixth Extreme Realm, the Buddhist Heart Demon Form is quite formidable, top-notch even among the heavens…"
Emperor Canghai's eyes moved. Regardless, after this battle, he would increase the incense offerings for Qingfeng.
"This is not his sword path!"
Lin Qingying's eyes were filled with excitement. The Sun and Moon Divine Sword displayed by Li Hao was so terrifying, indicating that his own sword path must be even stronger.
Bian Ruxue's expression was also extremely serious. No wonder the opponent had the leisure to paint; their strength was quite frightening, far surpassing hers.
"How could he have the Haoyue Holy Son's sword? Could it be that he practices the Sword Saint's sword path, capable of encompassing other sword paths?"
Other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters were puzzled, gaining a clearer understanding of Li Hao's strength. It seemed that Qingfeng was a hidden dark horse in this Canglan Realm battle, likely with the potential to break into the top ten of the Supreme Talents Battle!
It should be noted that making it into the top ten is reserved for monster-level geniuses. With so many Saints reincarnating and cultivating, the intensity of this Supreme Talents Battle was unprecedented.
"His sword is indeed very frightening…"
Li Qingyi and others had serious expressions, recognizing the terror in Li Hao's strength.
"It seems that except for Senior Brother Shuhai, no one else will be his match."
The young man with the folding fan spoke with a serious tone.
Li Qingyi nodded slightly, taking a deep breath. It seemed that her previous defeat was not in vain.
At this moment, with Chiguang's surrender, the Top Ten Battle also concluded.
The Semi-Saints from the Ten Great Celestial Dynasties came forward to award the ten participants and announced the end of this grand event.
The next confrontation would be three months later, competing against the three Great Sacred Lands. During that time, boundary stones would be illuminated, and the entire Canglan Realm would witness the battle.
Su Yun looked at Li Hao, knowing that Li Hao had shown mercy in their previous battle. The gap between them was indeed too large.
Her gaze shifted; with three months remaining, she needed to retreat and cultivate diligently.
"In three months, it will be the Canglan Realm confrontation. We should also enter seclusion."
"Didn't expect there to be such prodigies among the wanderers, and not just one but two. Chiguang is not bad either."
The many Saint Sons and Saint Daughters of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land had serious expressions and did not stay longer, all returning to their Sacred Land to enter seclusion.
Several figures in robes and shaved heads in the crowd muttered a Buddhist chant, their expressions indifferent, and then turned to leave.
Li Qingyi and the young man with the folding fan also felt great pressure. Besides Li Hao and Chiguang, there were other strong opponents among them. They needed to prepare earnestly for the battle.
Although three months of cultivation might not bring significant progress, observing many battles and the Sacred Land competitions provided substantial insights. If they could absorb and digest all of it, they would likely experience considerable improvement in a short period.
"I should also return to seclusion."
Lin Qingying glanced at Li Hao without stopping to greet him and floated away.
By the time she emerged from seclusion next, if she could master the sword technique, she might have a chance to contend. Otherwise, she would merely be a supporting role.
As the battle came to an end, many figures in the crowd left their seats. Chiguang looked at Li Hao. At this moment, his injuries were slowly healing. He transmitted a message:
"There are still three months. Keep it up. Your sword path is strong, but it's still a bit lacking."
Li Hao was somewhat speechless. This guy talked too much. He suddenly felt he should have used the "My Sword Path" technique earlier to cut him in half and calm him down.
After sending his message, Chiguang also left the battle stage. Although he hadn't used his full strength in this fight, he was still somewhat dissatisfied. He hadn't expected his fire-based divine ability to be suppressed by Li Hao's sword path. If his fire-based divine ability alone could secure an easy victory, it would have been perfect.