Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 458

Volume 3 - Chapter 136: That Sword Illuminated the Entire Sacred Mountain

When her dao embryo was shattered, Lin Qingying felt as though her internal organs had been hollowed out. The searing pain tore into the depths of her soul, yet she gritted her teeth and refused to cry out, unwilling to grant her opponent the satisfaction.

If her master were here, he would surely sense the anomaly. There was still hope for her.

Her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked toward the Semi-Saint Elders, only to see a mix of expressions on their faces: pity, regret, indifference. They all looked down from on high as though this was beneath their notice.

But their expressions left no doubt—Haoyue Holy Son’s little schemes had not escaped their attention.

Then why didn’t they stop him?

Lin Qingying froze, a bone-deep chill suddenly coursing through her veins, as though her blood had turned to ice.

Was it simply because she wasn’t their disciple? Or were they giving Haoyue Holy Son a free pass out of deference to his master, the Sword Saint?

Lin Qingying’s gaze fell on the Sword Saint, the man she had always revered. Yet, he stood motionless, seemingly unaware. At that moment, understanding dawned on her.

In the span of a single breath, the warmth of her past shattered. What was left was the icy truth of the world: self-interest above all else.

Compared to Haoyue Holy Son, who held greater potential to achieve sainthood, her value as a stepping stone to forge his invincible dao heart seemed trivial. Was her destruction worth it to him? Apparently, yes.

No wonder he dared to act so brazenly on the battlefield. He had already seen through it all.

His actions were treacherous. He had harmed his fellow disciple and violated the rules of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. He was in the wrong. But when this battle ended, his status would rise further. One day, he might even become the third Saint of this holy land!

...

As for her? Having been crippled, she would be forgotten. She had no backing. Though her grandfather was a high-level alchemist, his influence was negligible at this level.

It turned out, no one cared about right or wrong.

Those above were indifferent, and those below could not see clearly.

The searing pain of her shattered dao embryo did not bring tears to Lin Qingying’s eyes, but at this moment, tears of anguish welled up at the corners of her eyes.

Despair engulfed her heart, and she felt utterly defeated.

But suddenly, a loud, furious roar erupted, shaking her very soul!

Lin Qingying raised her head to look, and there she saw a familiar face. The young man she knew so well was now filled with towering rage, his fury blazing like an erupting volcano.

The usually carefree face that always wore a faint smile now bore an expression of wrath.

Lin Qingying looked into his dark, furious eyes. Suddenly, the coldness in her heart melted as a wave of warmth surged through her. It felt as though color had returned to the world.

“Hmm?”

Haoyue Holy Son heard the angry roar and glanced over, dismissing it with indifference. Retracting his sword, he prepared to strike again.

“My dearest, destroying you pains me more than anything,” he said coldly. “Not just your dao embryo, but also your most treasured sword dao—I must destroy it. Only by wounding myself deeply can I achieve the ultimate breakthrough!”

Raising his sword, its light gathered into a vast and complete intent, the brilliance of the Sun and Moon Sword Intent. It seemed to reflect the heavens and earth, dazzling and all-encompassing, making everyone feel insignificant in its presence.

“That’s the Sun and Moon Sword Intent!”

“So this is Haoyue Holy Son’s sword intent... It feels as if it contains everything.”

“I can even see traces of water-element and fire-element sword dao within it.”

“No wonder he refers to other intents as minor paths. Compared to his, my sword intent is indeed lacking.”

As the vast sword force dominated the air, countless spectators were struck with awe. Even the many Holy Sons and Holy Daughters on the Sacred Platform were stunned, their spirits seemingly subdued by his presence.

It was like holding a dry twig and suddenly glimpsing a verdant mountain—one could not help but feel small.

That once-cherished twig now seemed utterly dull and lifeless.

Standing before Haoyue Holy Son, Lin Qingying was enveloped by the Sun and Moon Sword Intent. It invaded her sea of consciousness, cutting through her Supreme Soft Sword Intent like a sharp blade.

A piercing sound of breaking resounded in her mind, mingled with a mournful wail.

Her body trembled violently as she spat out a mouthful of blood. Her trembling hand struggled to hold onto her sword, her eyes briefly filled with dazed confusion.

...

With a bang, the sword intent swept out, knocking the sword from her hand. It spun several times in the air before embedding itself at an angle on the battlefield.

“The sun and moon illuminate all, and my sword dao shall light up the world!”

At the same time, Haoyue Holy Son’s body ignited with divine flames. His eyes shone with dazzling brilliance, and the trace of tenderness in his gaze transformed into cold indifference.

By crippling Lin Qingying’s dao embryo and sword intent in this moment, he severed all attachments. His heart seemed to be forged anew by the sun and moon, transforming him into a being as lofty as the stars, overlooking all creation.

This newfound state of mind elevated his Sun and Moon Sword Intent to an even purer form, making it all the more terrifying.

“His Sun and Moon Sword Intent has become more refined. Such sword intent can be considered among the very best.”

“He has only cultivated for a single jiazi, yet his sword dao talent is monstrous. He might even reach sainthood through the Sacrificial Dao!”

“If he takes the path of the Sacrificial Dao, it will be truly terrifying.”

The Semi-Saint Elders, including Shan Zu, exchanged grave looks.

Haoyue Holy Son’s sword dao talent was nothing short of monstrous, rivaling their own youthful potential. A peerless prodigy had emerged among the younger generation.

Yao Zu shifted her gaze toward the Sword Saint. It was evident to all that Haoyue had used Lin Qingying as a stepping stone to hone his sword dao, but no one commented on it. After all, with the Sword Saint’s presence here, how could he not have noticed? Perhaps this was even something the Sword Saint had instructed, which was why no one dared to speak out.

The Sword Saint’s expression remained calm, devoid of joy or sorrow, as though he were merely a passive observer.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Haoyue Holy Son’s eyes shone brighter as his Sun and Moon Divine Eyes reached new heights, radiating divine energy.

With his sword intent fully tempered, he withdrew his power into himself, turning his gaze toward Lin Qingying, who lay on the ground like a defeated dog. His eyes were devoid of any lingering tenderness, as if he were looking at a mere stone.

“You lost,” he declared with cold finality.

At that moment, his words were like a judgment pronounced from on high.

His dao domain also retracted. Even without it, his sword intent alone was enough to utterly defeat her. Lin Qingying had been reduced to a shadow of her former self, no longer capable of wielding the strength of a Saint-level disciple. Even the top inner sect geniuses could now easily defeat her.

Hearing those indifferent words from above, Lin Qingying seemed to awaken from the shattered remnants of her sword intent. Her sea of consciousness was still in disarray, filled with chaotic fragments of the Sun and Moon Sword Intent. Her original Supreme Soft Sword Intent had been completely destroyed, leaving her unable to reassemble it.

She had lost. She had already accepted her loss long ago. Yet the way Haoyue Holy Son stood above her, declaring it with such arrogance, filled her with bitter irony and a sense of absurdity.

Outside the arena, the disciples erupted into cheers at Haoyue Holy Son’s cold pronouncement.

Only the Holy Sons, Holy Daughters, and a few top inner disciples could see the truth. Most of the others saw only Haoyue’s overwhelming victory over Lin Qingying. They assumed the strike that shattered her dao embryo was just a normal attack.

As the immense Sun and Moon Sword Intent dissipated, Haoyue Holy Son stood like a celestial figure pronouncing judgment. Countless disciples gazed at him with fanatical reverence, their cheers ringing out in celebration.

This battle wasn’t just a victory for Haoyue Holy Son. It was an overwhelming triumph that showcased his unimaginable sword dao prowess.

In the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, where all disciples were practitioners of the sword, Haoyue Holy Son’s display of sword intent left them in awe.

Only those who practiced the sword could fully appreciate the vastness of the Sun and Moon Sword Intent and how insignificant it made them feel in comparison.

The protective array slowly retracted, signaling the end of the battle.

This fight made it clear: Haoyue Holy Son had defeated two opponents in a row, cementing his place as the undisputed champion of the Sword Deity Battle!

He was now regarded as the number one young talent of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land in the past century.

Compared to this, the upcoming match between Lin Qingying and Linghuan Holy Son for second and third place seemed far less significant.

...

At the exact moment the array dissipated, a figure darted onto the battlefield at lightning speed—it was Li Hao.

Rushing to Lin Qingying’s side, he used his divine sense to examine her condition. The profound power in her organs had completely dissipated.

Her dao embryo had been destroyed. If she had the ability to undergo blood rebirth as he did, she wouldn’t need to worry about being crippled. But she lacked the strength of the Seventh Extreme Realm.

“Does it hurt?” Li Hao asked, his expression dark as he looked at her pale face and trembling, weakened body.

Lin Qingying’s scattered thoughts slowly refocused. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she said, “I’m fine.”

Li Hao remained silent, his fingers tightening slightly.

...

The gently drifting clouds remained quietly dispersed, still flowing slowly across the sky. A breeze brushed across the battlefield, and everything fell silent.

Table of Content - Next Chapter >>>