Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 437

Volume 3 - Chapter 127: The First Battle, The Painting Semi-Saint - Part 1

Lin Qingying did not wait for Li Hao and Lin Shanhai. She set off for the Sacred Land ahead of them.

She was going to participate as a disciple, gathering with the others for the competition.

Meanwhile, Li Hao and Lin Shanhai took their time packing and only leisurely made their way afterward.

Midway through their flight, they encountered Zhao Yingzhen, dressed in luxurious attire, accompanied by Shi Huajin and others. They, too, were traveling as a group to watch the competition. Although they were alchemists, events of this magnitude, held only once in a century, were too lively to miss.

“Old Lin, the competition for the Sword God title is intense this time. Does Qingying have any confidence in making it into the top five?”

After exchanging greetings, Zhao Yingzhen asked with a smile.

Lin Shanhai shook his head. “Who could say for sure? The other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters are no pushovers. Just the number of them alone exceeds ten, and making it into the top ten is already a brutal challenge!”

The disciples of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land were numerous. The Outer Sect alone had millions of members, while the Inner Sect comprised tens of thousands, all of whom were carefully selected prodigies.

The vast Canglan Realm was home to countless kingdoms and a population in the billions. Beyond the Three Great Sacred Lands, there were many other top-tier powers.

Even the disciples who managed to enter the Sacred Land—whether as Outer Sect members or Inner Sect disciples—held the potential to rise within those top-tier powers. Inner Sect disciples, in particular, were all prodigies of their level, starting at the ninth-class battle body level.

The most outstanding among them either possessed extraordinary comprehension, exceptional talent, or rare special constitutions.

In their home kingdoms, these individuals were celebrated as unparalleled geniuses. However, once gathered within the Sacred Land, many of them were reduced to being ordinary members of the million-strong Outer Sect.

It was like the storybooks often described: a mighty mortal ascends to the heavens, only to become a mere foot soldier among a legion of celestial warriors.

“Indeed. Don’t pressure Qingying too much. Breaking into the top ten is impressive enough. With so many geniuses around, and Saints favoring incarnating through reincarnation for cultivation, the competition among these young ones is fiercer than ever.”

Shi Huajin spoke to Lin Shanhai with a comforting tone.

“Of course. I’ve never meddled in her cultivation. No matter her rank, she’s always my number one in my heart. Even if she stops cultivating and lives as an ordinary person, I, Old Lin, can afford to raise my granddaughter.” Lin Shanhai smiled.

“You’re quite open-minded. But that child, Qingying, doesn’t need you to push her. She’s more diligent than anyone. I heard she has condensed the Supreme Body of Supreme Gentleness. Could she possibly be the incarnation of the Saint from the Yin-Yang School?”

Zhao Yingzhen’s curiosity got the better of him.

Lin Shanhai’s expression darkened. “She’s not anyone’s incarnation. She’s herself!”

Zhao Yingzhen froze and quickly forced a smile to smooth things over.

Shi Huajin rolled her eyes at him. Everyone knew how deeply Old Lin cherished his granddaughter. The two of them depended on each other, and Zhao Yingzhen had hit a sore spot.

The group continued their journey together. After leaving the area where the alchemists resided, they headed toward the Sacred Mountain of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land...

...

The Sword Ancestor Holy Land was divided into regions. Outer Sect disciples could only live in the surrounding peaks of the Sacred Mountain, while Inner Sect disciples were allowed to cultivate on the mountain itself, where they had the opportunity to listen to the teachings of the Saints. The Holy Sons and Holy Daughters had their exclusive cultivation peaks, where the concentrated energy of the heavens and earth allowed them to make rapid progress.

Flying leisurely for thousands of miles, the group reached the foot of the Sacred Mountain after half an hour.

The Sacred Mountain was vast and majestic. From hundreds of miles away, its towering form could already be seen, shrouded in clouds below its waist, concealing the peak.

As they approached, streams of light could be seen rushing from all directions—Outer Sect disciples arriving to watch the battles.

For this Sword God competition, the Outer Sect disciples were not eligible to participate. Only Inner Sect disciples could compete, battling the Holy Sons, Holy Daughters, and the strongest prodigies within the Sacred Land for supremacy.

The preliminary selection arena was located on a broad expanse midway up the mountain. Ten enormous arenas were set up, where battles would take place simultaneously.

After narrowing the competitors down to the top one hundred, they would gather at the mountaintop under the watchful eyes of the Saints to vie for the final top ten positions.

At this moment, the mid-mountain area was enveloped in mist. In a vast clearing, ten massive arenas stood, each surrounded by barriers of law.

Outside the arenas was the spectators’ area for Outer Sect disciples. For these disciples, such duels of swordsmanship among prodigies were invaluable learning opportunities.

Once the Sword God competition concluded, the Outer Sect disciples would engage in a new round of competition for Inner Sect seats, providing many with a chance to rise to prominence.

The spectator seats were divided into various regions, with noise-dampening laws in place. While some voices could still be heard, the overall atmosphere was not overly noisy.

Without such measures, a gathering of millions—even with everyone speaking softly—would have resulted in chaotic noise.

Above the arenas floated additional seats, offering better views and allowing spectators to observe all ten arenas simultaneously.

These floating seats were reserved for individuals like Lin Shanhai and other alchemists, as well as artifact refiners, administrative officials, royal enforcers, and others of status and influence within the Sacred Land.

Currently, the ground-level spectator seats for Outer Sect disciples were already bustling, with more than half the seats filled.

The floating seats in mid-air, numbering in the thousands, were only half-occupied.

Lin Shanhai, Li Hao, Zhao Yingzhen, and the others arrived at the seating area designated for alchemists.

Their arrival naturally drew the attention of some disciples. Many of the Outer Sect disciples admired these master alchemists, longing to curry favor but lacking the opportunity. Only in moments like this could they catch a glimpse of them.

“Look! It’s a senior alchemist!”

“I’ve seen that one before—Alchemist Lin. It was thanks to his Body Forging Pill that I accumulated enough strength to break through to the Undying Realm!”

“In my family, even a junior alchemist is revered as an elder. My father has to defer to him in all matters. A senior alchemist could easily cultivate a powerhouse in the Dao Seeker Realm!”

“Isn’t that exaggerated? Pills become less effective after reaching the Fourth Pillar Realm.”

“That’s because you lack experience. Haven’t you heard of the Dao Comprehension Fruit? Some high-grade alchemists can craft pills with similar effects. While it doesn’t guarantee success, it significantly increases the chance of advancement.”

“Exactly. The most remarkable aspect of senior alchemists is their network. If they’re willing to lend a hand, they can rally their connections to assist you. Even a nobody could rise to greatness with their help.”

“See those over there? All senior alchemists!”

“Is that young man in the middle one too? That can’t be possible.”

“He must be a personal disciple of one of them.”

“Nonsense! That’s Dan Master Qingfeng. I saw him once when delivering medicinal materials.”

“Dan Master Qingfeng? That’s him?!”

The mention of Dan Master Qingfeng caused a stir among the crowd.

Though many hadn’t met Li Hao in person, his reputation as Dan Master Qingfeng had recently become the talk of the alchemy world. It was said that he possessed a unique method for refining medicinal materials, with an almost guaranteed success rate for those who sought his help.

Above, in the floating seats, Li Hao and Lin Shanhai had already taken their places.

“It seems your reputation precedes you. Even these young disciples have heard of you,” Lin Shanhai remarked with a smile after overhearing the murmurs below.

Li Hao, finding it amusing, replied, “It’s strange, isn’t it? Someone who’s never refined a pill is now a famous Dan Master Qingfeng.”

“Who wouldn’t be impressed by Qingfeng’s irreplaceable refinement method? These kids are well-informed,” Shi Huajin added with a laugh.

“If you’re interested in becoming an alchemist, Qingfeng, I can teach you without taking you as a disciple,” Zhao Yingzhen offered immediately.

Lin Shanhai snorted. “Stop scheming. I made the same offer long ago. If he wanted to, he could already be a senior alchemist by now.”

Zhao Yingzhen froze and then smiled wryly.

...

Li Hao’s gaze rested on the ten arenas below, where numerous Inner Sect disciples had gathered. To his surprise, these disciples radiated profound and restrained auras, with the weakest among them at the Fourth Pillar Realm.

Among them, certain individuals stood out like blazing suns in a crowd—those who had reached the Dao Seeker Realm. Their concealed yet sharp and imposing presences were unmistakable.

Li Hao fell silent. Even among Inner Sect disciples, there were those with Dao Seeker Realm strength. Such was the foundation of a Sacred Land.

By comparison, the Great Yu Divine Dynasty had only Qin Zhenren, apart from the Buddha Lord, to hold the line over the years.

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