Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 459

Volume 3 - Chapter 137: A Single Sword - Part 1

In the silence, countless eyes widened, fixed on the figure holding a gleaming azure sword on the battle platform.

One astonished gaze after another gathered on the young man.

Jiang Yingyue froze in place. Lin Shanhai and the many alchemists who were familiar with Li Hao were also dumbfounded, their faces full of disbelief at the scene before them.

On the high platform, Yao Zu was stunned. Her eyes showed a hint of bewilderment, but she quickly recovered. This sword was no longer a simple display of sword intent—it was the embodiment of Sword Dao.

The opponent's swordsmanship had already ascended to a divine level, reaching the realm of Dao mastery!

No wonder he could so effortlessly cultivate the Great Dao Sword Technique to the adept level within ten days.

Yao Zu stared at the figure, her mind swirling with thoughts. The opponent was an alchemist, yet his exaggerated mastery of Sword Dao made it clear that he was far more than just an alchemist.

Besides Yao Zu, the other five elders, including Shan Zu, all showed expressions of shock and amazement. The brilliance of his Sword Dao was evident—it had already entered the realm of Dao!

Purely in terms of swordsmanship, the young man standing before them was already on par with them.

The only difference lay in the strength of their respective Sword Dao.

The gap between them and a Sword Saint was precisely this:

Though all had achieved Sword Dao, the chosen Dao differed in difficulty and profundity.

As the Haoyue Holy Son had said earlier, lesser Daos paled before greater ones. The Sun and Moon Sword Dao was undoubtedly one of the most supreme Sword Daos.

In contrast, the Supreme Soft Sword Dao or the Thousand Threads Sword Dao seemed dimmer in comparison.

...

The Sword Saint, seated quietly, suddenly narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on the youth on the platform.

He recalled seeing this person carving his image in the courtyard earlier, peering at him—it was the same individual.

“You...”

Lin Qingying stared blankly at the splitting clouds and the fractured battle platform before her, lost in a daze.

This... was his swordsmanship?

At that moment, Lin Qingying suddenly understood why he had been able to guide her in Painting Dao.

She also realized why she had never seen Li Hao practice cultivation. With such a Sword Dao realm, already at its pinnacle, ordinary practice was unlikely to yield further improvement.

“Are you a swordsman?”

Lin Qingying asked, her voice dazed, unable to believe that after spending so much time by his side, she had never seen him wield a sword. Instead, he had eagerly busied himself refining herbs, painting, carving, and playing chess. Yet, he turned out to be a swordsman?!

“Barely.”

Li Hao glanced at her and replied.

Lin Qingying's gaze grew complicated. Over the past days, she had practiced her sword techniques openly before him, never thinking to conceal them. Had she known he was a swordsman, she would never have done so—it was a grave taboo to expose one's swordsmanship before another swordsman.

“Well, your swordsmanship matches my sword. At least it now has a worthy master.”

Her gaze dimmed as she murmured softly.

“This is your swordsmanship.”

Li Hao looked at her intently. Her heart had been deeply corroded by the Sun and Moon Sword Intent, causing her Sword Dao realm to deteriorate. She had not even discerned his Sword Dao.

“My swordsmanship?”

Lin Qingying froze, then turned to look at the cracks on the ground. Could her swordsmanship possess such power?

At this moment, the Haoyue Holy Son had slowly turned around. The once calm and indifferent expression on his face had grown cold and icy, his eyes brimming with intense killing intent.

The earlier sword strike had sent chills down his spine, filling him with an almost primal fear. Worse, under its influence, his Sword Dao had begun to waver. The opponent had shaken the foundation of his Sword Dao!

This was absolutely intolerable!

“Is this the confidence you have to face me in a duel of swords?”

The Haoyue Holy Son radiated blazing divine light, but his eyes remained icy as he spoke:

“Fine. As you said earlier, I accept your challenge!”

Hearing his words, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd below. The Haoyue Holy Son had agreed to a Sword Dao duel?

But now, no one doubted it any longer. The earlier sword strike, as if severing heaven and earth, had made it clear that this Qingfeng Dan Master was no ordinary figure. Perhaps it was more fitting to call him the Qingfeng Swordsman!

...

Lin Qingying’s expression shifted slightly at the Haoyue Holy Son's words. Yet she fixed her gaze on Li Hao and said, “Besides his Sword Dao realm, his strength is also formidable. Be careful. I’ll step down so I won’t interfere with you.”

By now, she had realized that Li Hao's power was anything but simple.

“No need.”

Li Hao shook his head, not letting her leave.

This sword was meant for her. He would take this opportunity to sever the Sun and Moon Sword Intent in her heart, helping her rebuild her Sword Heart and Sword Intent!

Lin Qingying froze, looking at Li Hao in confusion.

“To deal with him, one sword is enough.”

Li Hao’s voice was soft as he said, “Watch carefully.”

Lin Qingying stood stunned, her mind reeling.

If it were earlier, she would have thought Li Hao insane—a mere alchemist incapable of recognizing the might of the Haoyue Holy Son. But now, with the swordsmanship Li Hao had displayed, it was clear he was also a swordsman. His confidence made sense.

Li Hao’s words echoed across the field, inciting a buzz of disbelief among the spectators.

Faced with the Haoyue Holy Son, the strongest young swordsman in the Holy Land and bearer of the Sword God title, did he truly believe he could make him admit defeat with just one sword?!

On the Holy Platform, Qiu Wuhen and Bian Ruxue, along with other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, were equally stunned.

The sword strike Li Hao had just unleashed was overwhelming, a realm of swordsmanship far beyond their own—Sword Dao!

Qiu Wuhen's face showed shock as he struggled to believe it. The youth who had fished alongside him by the Sword Lord’s side was also a swordsman!

During their fishing sessions, Li Hao would always beam with joy whenever he caught something, showing no indication that he was honing his swordsmanship through the act. Yet now, the Sword Dao realm Li Hao displayed was far superior to his own.

Sword intent and Sword Dao seemed separated by only a step, but in reality, they were worlds apart.

Without comprehending the Dao, one would remain forever at the threshold, wasting away the years.

Upon comprehending the Dao, however, one could take a single step forward, entering the hall of mastery, transcending the mortal world, and achieving saintly heights.

Bian Ruxue’s eyes also showed a hint of distraction. That brilliant sword strike had left her dazed, as though she had glimpsed the ultimate sword she had been pursuing.

Had someone already come close to achieving what she sought?

...

On the battle platform, the Haoyue Holy Son also heard Li Hao's bold and unrestrained words. A glimmer of icy killing intent appeared in his eyes.

Yet he held himself in check, speaking coldly, “Since you are so confident, let me see for myself. Don’t disappoint me!”

As he spoke, his aura surged, rising sharply. Behind him, a massive projection of the Heavenly Meridian appeared, spinning like a towering vortex.

Divine power erupted, his hair turning a brilliant golden hue.

In the same moment, his primordial spirit merged with his physical body, and a colossal, towering Heavenly Avatar manifested behind him.

It was his first time revealing his Heavenly Avatar, but the earlier close-call sword strike from Li Hao demanded his utmost seriousness!

This duel wasn’t merely about proving himself—it was about reclaiming his Sword Dao. He could only win. Defeat was not an option!

He believed his master had recognized this point and refrained from intervening, choosing instead to observe silently without questioning Li Hao’s identity.

As his extreme power erupted, his 49-layered Dao Domain also began to expand.

This time, the 49 layers climbed higher, stacking to an astonishing 56 layers!

He had been holding back in his previous battles!

This sight shocked many onlookers. In such a critical moment, no one had managed to force him to reveal his true strength. The title of Sword God was well-deserved, his superiority over others an insurmountable chasm.

Beyond the battle platform, an array had silently activated once more.

It was a formation created by a Semi-Saint, strong enough to withstand the Haoyue Holy Son’s attacks.

Standing beside Li Hao, Lin Qingying felt as though she were amidst a storm. The turbulent energy gathered ahead, pressing against her with unprecedented force.

She raised her head to look at the figure suspended in midair. He was an unparalleled genius, reigning over the Sword Ancestor Holy Land's million disciples, exuding an awe-inspiring brilliance.

Her gaze returned to Li Hao, who stood still with his azure sword in hand. He seemed utterly unaffected by the raging storm around him.

“Sun and Moon Sword Intent, Heaven and Earth Reflection!”

The Haoyue Holy Son’s eyes blazed like golden sun-and-moon wheels, radiating dazzling divine light. He let out a long howl, and the clouds and moon split apart in the sky. The sun and moon seemed to appear simultaneously.

His body merged with the towering Heavenly Avatar, now a hundred feet tall, standing like an unmovable peak.

Within his hands, the Sun and Moon Sword Radiance condensed, its overwhelming Sword Intent reverberating far beyond the battle platform, shocking even the disciples standing outside the protective array.

On the holy platform, many Holy Sons and Holy Daughters turned pale with apprehension.

He was too strong. Though they were all Holy Sons and Holy Daughters, the Haoyue Holy Son stood leagues above them.

With Sword Intent this profound, if he reached the Dao, his Sun and Moon Sword Dao would undoubtedly become one of the most powerful Daos among the Semi-Saints.

The sky was ablaze with brilliance as he gathered his full strength. The next moment, the Haoyue Holy Son’s colossal Heavenly Avatar roared and slashed toward Li Hao.

The sword radiance illuminated heaven and earth, bringing with it the crushing force of the sun, moon, and stars, as though it sought to shatter the entire battle platform.

...

Directly facing the Sun and Moon Sword Intent, Lin Qingying’s pupils constricted, her face revealing fear. In her mind, the Sun and Moon Sword Intent she had once suffered under grew clearer and more chaotic, flooding her sea of consciousness with an unbearable pressure.

It was an indelible shadow imprinted by the opponent’s Sword Intent. No matter her realm, as long as she encountered this Sword Intent, she would instinctively feel terror.

She clenched her fists tightly, biting her lip until it bled, yet she refused to retreat in fear.

Under the divine might of this Sword Intent, a gentle breeze seemed to rise.

“The ultimate softness conquers the ultimate hardness of the world.”

A soft murmur broke through the chaos as Li Hao raised the azure sword in his hand, his gaze flickering with brilliance. A surge of experience notifications related to poetry and calligraphy crossed his vision.

The azure sword in his hand suddenly erupted with radiant sword light—like lightning, like thunder, like a breeze traversing the world.

The wind rose as the azure sword met the oncoming force, pointing forward lightly, as though showing the way to immortals.

With a mere three-foot blade, he struck against the divine might of the Heavenly Avatar’s sword radiance.

It seemed like an ant shaking a giant tree, insignificant yet carrying a shocking force.

With a resounding boom, the seemingly ferocious Sun and Moon Sword shattered abruptly, disintegrating into countless fragments of fiery sparks!

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