amaotonovel Chapter 1413 Famous Throughout Yunmeng
Chapter 1413 Famous Throughout Yunmeng
Chapter 1413 Famous Throughout Yunmeng
Deep within the Yunmeng Mountains lies the Luoyun Sect's mountain gate. Amidst the vying peaks and swirling clouds, streaks of light of various colors flow like shooting stars among the mountains, some riding swords, some sailing boats, some soaring through the air, painting a picture of prosperity and celestial grandeur.
The protective array's aura flickered in the sunlight, its rich spiritual energy making every breath feel refreshing and invigorating.
On the main peak, inside the cave dwelling of the Supreme Elder Cheng Tiankun, the air was filled with the fragrance of spiritual tea, the atmosphere was harmonious, and the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves.
Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo were determined to befriend and win over this Daoist "Zhang Tie," whose strength was unfathomable, and they spoke with great enthusiasm.
Qin Hao, on the surface, responded with a smile, but in his heart, he was secretly plotting how to obtain a section of root from the Spirit Eye Tree, which was regarded as the foundation of the Luoyun Sect, the Ancient Sword Sect, and the Hundred Crafts Academy, without anyone noticing.
Although he lacked the extraordinary power of Han Li's little green bottle to cultivate a complete Spirit Eye Tree or even nurture the Xuan Tian Spirit Slaying Sword, obtaining this item would be of great benefit, whether he traded it with Han Li for the Spirit Stabilizing Pill or used the Spirit Eye Water to cleanse his eyes and lay a solid foundation for cultivating the Destruction Eye.
After a seemingly relaxed and pleasant exchange of pleasantries, Cheng Tiankun stroked his snow-white beard and chuckled as he took out several treasures.
One was an ancient flying sword that shone with a bluish-green light, another was a tortoise-shell shield in an earthen yellow color, and there were also several refining materials that shimmered with various colors of light.
He spoke of "mutual exchange and fair trade," but anyone with discerning eyes could see that this was actually a gesture of goodwill and a way to win over the sect, intended to showcase the Luoyun Sect's strength and goodwill.
However, Qin Hao glanced at the items Cheng Tiankun had taken out, his expression indifferent, showing no sign of interest. These magical treasure materials might be considered good for ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators, but in his eyes, they seemed rather ordinary.
On the contrary, after Cheng Tiankun finished his demonstration, he casually took out a round bead the size of a pigeon egg, entirely red, with what appeared to be flowing flame patterns on its surface, as well as several precious materials that were clearly from a high-level demon beast, from his storage bag.
As soon as the crimson bead appeared, the temperature inside the cave seemed to rise a few degrees, and a pure and violent fire-attribute spiritual energy spread out.
"A level seven fire-attribute demon core!" Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo's hearts skipped a beat almost simultaneously, a burning glint flashing in their eyes. In Tiannan, a place where resources were dwindling, even level six demon beasts were hard to find, and level seven demon beasts were almost extinct. The value of a single level seven demon core was enough to drive any early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator crazy. Whether used to refine pills to enhance cultivation or as the core of a powerful magic weapon, it was priceless.
Just as Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo were breathing heavily, preparing to grit their teeth and take out their sect's most treasured item to exchange for this highly attractive level-seven demon core—
"call out!"
A blazing red streak of light, moving at an astonishing speed, ignored some of the restrictions outside Cheng Tiankun's cave dwelling and directly entered the living room, landing in front of the three people.
The red light faded, revealing a boy less than four feet tall, appearing to be only seven or eight years old, with delicate, adorable features. However, this boy stood with his hands on his hips, looking rather precocious, glaring angrily at Cheng Tiankun:
"You old devil Cheng! You actually have a level seven fire attribute demon core, why didn't you tell me? Are you trying to keep it all to yourself?"
Upon seeing the newcomer, Cheng Tiankun's face immediately showed a hint of embarrassment. He quickly stood up and explained, "Fellow Daoist Lan, please don't misunderstand! This seventh-level demon core does not belong to my Luoyun Sect, but to this Fellow Daoist Zhang Tie."
He then quickly said to Qin Hao, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, this is Elder Lan from the Ancient Sword Sect. He has been a friend of ours for many years. He is rather... straightforward. He came to visit without prior notice and has disturbed you. We hope you will forgive him."
Qin Hao immediately recognized him; this was the renowned "Fire Dragon Child," named for his unique cultivation method that kept him in the form of a child and his mastery of fire-based magical abilities. He nodded slightly, his tone calm: "It's alright. So it's Fellow Daoist Lan, the 'Fire Dragon Child.' I've long admired your name."
The Fire Dragon Child's round eyes finally left the tempting level-seven demon core and turned to Qin Hao. Upon seeing him, a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face: "Huh? Mid-stage Nascent Soul?"
He looked Qin Hao up and down without any politeness, his brows furrowing slightly as if he were recalling something: "Fellow Daoist, you look quite unfamiliar. Could it be that you are not a cultivator from my Xi Kingdom?"
Cheng Tiankun quickly chimed in, explaining, "Fellow Daoist Lan guessed correctly. Fellow Daoist Zhang is a guest elder from the Qingxu Sect of the Northern Liang Kingdom, and this is his first visit to the Yunmeng Mountains of our Xi Kingdom."
"Northern Liang Kingdom? Qingxu Sect?" Fire Dragon Boy blinked, then waved his little hand dismissively, "I see. But it doesn't matter if we don't recognize each other, we'll get to know each other better with practice!"
As he spoke, he unceremoniously walked to the jade stool next to Qin Hao and sat down, his eyes gleaming with undisguised desire, and went straight to the point:
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, let's cut to the chase. What do you intend to exchange this level seven fire-attribute demon core for? Whatever I have, I will not hesitate to give!"
Seeing the Fire Dragon Child's eager expression, Qin Hao chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist Lan is straightforward, so I'll be frank as well. I've long heard that the Ancient Sword Sect possesses a unique skill called 'Turning Swords into Silk,' a supreme divine ability among sword cultivators, possessing boundless power. I've always longed to try it..."
Before he could finish speaking, Fire Dragon Boy shook his head like a rattle drum: "No, no! Absolutely not! 'Turning swords into silk' is the very foundation of our Ancient Sword Sect, the core of the core, and it will never be passed on to outsiders! Fellow Daoist Zhang, please choose something else."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao's face showed a hint of regret, and he sighed softly: "That's a pity. Apart from this unique skill, it seems that there's nothing else on Fellow Daoist Lan that I particularly want."
He picked up the spirit tea, took a small sip, and looked completely at ease.
His attitude immediately made the Fire Dragon Child anxious. He had finally encountered a seventh-level demon core with such perfectly matching attributes; how could he let it go so easily?
Immediately, as if presenting a treasure, he took out several items from his storage bag. There was a fist-sized piece of "Molten Iron Essence" burning with an inextinguishable flame, and a section of "Millennial Flame Wood" entirely crimson, radiating a rich fire elemental aura…
Each of these materials is incredibly rare. Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo, who were standing to the side, almost popped their eyes out, secretly marveling at how much the Fire Dragon Child had gone to for the demon core.
However, Qin Hao glanced at the materials, and although he nodded to acknowledge their value, he ultimately shook his head slightly, clearly unmoved.
Seeing this, the Fire Dragon Boy thought Qin Hao was deliberately playing a trick on him, and his face immediately turned bright red with anger: "Fellow Daoist Zhang! You..."
Before he could speak, Qin Hao calmly ran his fingers across the storage bag. The next moment, several materials, their radiance even more dazzling and their aura even more ancient and powerful, appeared before them. There was a piece of "Golden Crystal Lapis Lazuli" shimmering with seven-colored light, a "Azure Roc True Feather" coiled with the power of wind and thunder, and a small pinch of incredibly heavy "Star Sand" that even slightly distorted the void…
The moment these materials appeared, the rare items that Fire Dragon Boy had taken out paled in comparison.
Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo were utterly dumbfounded, their breath catching in their throats. They had only ever seen illustrations and descriptions of these materials in ancient texts; they had never even seen the real thing before, let alone owned them! How could this "Fellow Daoist Zhang" be so wealthy?
They had previously thought the other party was merely highly skilled, but now it seemed he was sitting on a mountain of treasures! In an instant, their evaluation of Qin Hao rose significantly, and their attitude became even more respectful.
Looking at what Qin Hao had taken out, and comparing it to his own, Fire Dragon Boy deflated like a punctured balloon, dejectedly taking back the materials. He knew that given the absolute difference in value, his meager possessions were indeed unlikely to impress the other party.
The atmosphere inside the cave became somewhat tense. The Fire Dragon Child, looking at the seventh-level demon core that seemed so close yet so unattainable, scratched his head and fidgeted restlessly.
Just then, Qin Hao seemed to notice his predicament and suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence: "Fellow Daoist Lan, since the deal is difficult to reach, how about we try another approach?"
Fire Dragon Boy perked up: "What method? Fellow Daoist Zhang, please speak freely!"
Qin Hao smiled slightly, his tone calm but with a hint of challenge: "I have long admired Fellow Daoist Lan's profound swordsmanship. I am not talented enough, but I would like to exchange three moves with Fellow Daoist Lan."
"Three moves?" Fire Dragon Boy was taken aback.
“That’s right, just three moves.” Qin Hao said confidently, “If Fellow Daoist Lan can withstand three of my moves without being defeated, then I will offer this level seven fire attribute demon core with both hands and will not take a penny.”
Upon hearing this, not only was the Fire Dragon Boy stunned, but Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo also showed expressions of surprise. A free gift?
"Then... what if I can't accept it?" Fire Dragon Boy pressed, for there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Qin Hao's gaze narrowed slightly, and he slowly said, "If Fellow Daoist Lan cannot withstand these three moves... then please, Fellow Daoist Lan, fetch me a section of the root of the Spirit Eye Tree."
"The Tree of Spiritual Eyes!"
As soon as Qin Hao finished speaking, Cheng Tiankun, Lü Luo, and Huolong Tongzi's expressions changed almost simultaneously. The harmonious atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by intense vigilance and scrutiny.
The Spirit Eye Tree is the foundation jointly protected by the three major sects of the Yunmeng Mountains. It is their greatest asset in occupying this spiritual vein, and they would not allow outsiders to covet it.
Cheng Tiankun's expression was solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, this Spirit Eye Tree is related to the lifeblood of our three sects, this matter..."
Qin Hao seemed to have anticipated their reaction, and calmly raised his hand to interrupt, explaining, "Fellow Daoists, please don't misunderstand. I have no intention of taking the Spirit Eye Tree itself. To be honest, I am currently refining a special magic weapon, which requires collecting one section of each of the three divine trees. I have found the other two after much hardship, but I have never been able to see the Spirit Eye Tree. I only recently heard by chance that such a tree exists in the Yunmeng Mountains, which is why I have taken the liberty of coming here."
He spoke sincerely, saying, "Fellow Daoists, please rest assured, I only need a small section, even the thinnest root will suffice. It will not damage the Spirit Eye Tree's foundation, nor will it affect its spirituality. After taking the root, I will have a secret method to process it, ensuring that it will not harm the Spirit Tree."
As he spoke, he turned to the Fire Dragon Child and offered him an irresistible temptation: "Moreover, regardless of the outcome of this sparring match, whether Fellow Daoist Lan wins or loses, I am willing to give Fellow Daoist Lan this level seven fire attribute demon core, as a way of making friends and also as the price for that small piece of root."
The original bet was that if you won, you got the demon core, and if you lost, you got the tree root. Now it's changed. You get the demon core regardless of whether you win or lose, but if you lose, you have to give me the tree root as agreed.
Upon hearing this, the Fire Dragon Child's eyes lit up! This was practically a win-win situation! If he won, he'd get the demon core for free. If he lost, he'd still get the demon core, but he'd have to give up a small amount of "harmless" tree root.
Moreover, he had absolute confidence in his own strength! Although the other party was in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he looked so young that he might have cultivated some kind of quick-fix technique, just like Lu Luo beside him. He might have a high level of cultivation, but his actual combat ability might not be that strong.
He, the Fire Dragon Child, had cultivated for hundreds of years, experienced countless battles, and was highly skilled. Even if he was truly no match for a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, could he really not withstand even three moves? Absolutely impossible! In his view, this was simply the other party indirectly giving him the demon core and finding a way to back down.
"Is Fellow Daoist Zhang's statement true?" Fire Dragon Boy asked, suppressing his excitement.
"Absolutely true." Qin Hao nodded.
“Alright! Then I, Lan, will…” Fire Dragon Boy was about to agree without hesitation.
"Wait!" Cheng Tiankun interrupted, "Fellow Daoist Lan, this matter concerns the very foundation of our three sects. I'm afraid... you alone cannot make this decision, can you?"
Seeing this, Qin Hao remained calm. He patted his storage bag again, and to Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo's astonishment, took out two more demon cores! One was a deep blue like rippling water, radiating a rich water elemental energy; the other was a heavy, earthy yellow, containing the power of the earth. Two more level-seven demon cores!
"I understand Fellow Daoist Cheng's concerns." Qin Hao placed the three demon cores side by side on the table, their dazzling spiritual light almost blinding the three of them. "Regardless of the final outcome of the sparring match, these three level-seven demon cores are a token of my appreciation to the Luoyun Sect, the Ancient Sword Sect, and the Hundred Crafts Academy of the Yunmeng Mountains. Consider it compensation for that small piece of the Spirit Eye Tree root, and a small gift to make friends with you three. I wonder if this will dispel your doubts?"
Three level-seven demon cores!
Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo's breathing instantly became heavy, and the wariness and hesitation in their eyes were quickly replaced by immense surprise and greed.
The value of three level-seven demon cores with different attributes is immeasurable! In comparison, a small, undamaged root of the Spirit Eye Tree seems... not so unacceptable. After all, the Spirit Eye Tree is still there, and the roots will slowly grow back, while level-seven demon cores are extremely rare and hard to come by!
Moreover, deep down, they had considerable confidence in the Fire Dragon Child's strength. Even if he couldn't defeat him, how could he possibly be defeated in three moves? Impossible! Battles between Nascent Soul cultivators usually lasted hundreds of rounds.
The idea of deciding the outcome in three moves is simply absurd. This bet seems like they're getting a huge advantage.
Profits can be tempting, and in the face of enormous temptations, even the most principled principles begin to waver.
Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo exchanged a secret glance, both seeing tacit approval in each other's eyes.
Fire Dragon Boy was even more impatient. Seeing that Cheng Tiankun no longer objected, he immediately jumped off the jade stool and said loudly, "Good! Fellow Daoist Zhang is so generous. If I were to refuse again, I would seem petty! I will accept these three moves!"
Qin Hao, feigning caution, reminded him, "Fellow Daoist Lan, shouldn't we return to the Ancient Sword Sect first and discuss this with the other elders of your sect? Or perhaps inform the fellow Daoists of the Hundred Crafts Academy?"
Fire Dragon Boy, his mind preoccupied with the fire-attribute demon core and his sure-fire victory, waved his hand dismissively upon hearing this, speaking in his distinctive childlike voice with an air of maturity: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, rest assured! Our three sects are of one mind, and we always defer to the majority. Now that both my Ancient Sword Sect and Falling Cloud Sect have agreed, even if the Hundred Crafts Academy has objections, Fellow Daoist Cheng and I will handle the matter. We will certainly not put you in a difficult position. Since I, Lan, have agreed to the bet, I will never go back on my word. If I, Lan, am not skilled enough and lose the sparring match, I will certainly honor the agreement and personally fetch a section of the Spirit Eye Tree root for Fellow Daoist Zhang!"
"Good! Fellow Daoist Lan is a man of few words and a man of integrity! Please!" Qin Hao clapped his hands and laughed, then stood up.
"Please!" Fire Dragon Boy was also full of fighting spirit.
The next moment, two streaks of light, one after the other, like a magnificent rainbow, instantly burst out of Cheng Tiankun's cave, swept across the sky above the Luoyun Sect, and sped towards the outer edge of the mountain range, towards the Green Trace Swamp that Qin Hao had visited before. That area was open and sparsely populated, making it an ideal place for sparring and combat.
Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo exchanged a glance. They were unwilling to miss this three-move challenge between a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and a renowned early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. They tacitly transformed into streaks of light and followed closely behind.
The escape lights of the four Nascent Soul cultivators were so conspicuous that they naturally attracted the attention of many disciples within the Falling Cloud Sect.
"Look! It's Elder Cheng and Elder Lü's escape light!"
"Those two streaks of light ahead are so fast! One is crimson red like fire, it seems to be Senior Lan from the Ancient Sword Sect, and the other is hazy blue, who is that?"
"Why have four Nascent Soul stage elders mobilized at the same time? What happened?"
Amidst the whispers and discussions among the lower-ranking disciples, beside a lush medicinal garden at the foot of the main peak, a slender and beautiful woman gazed up at the four streaks of light that pierced the sky and vanished in an instant. Her beautiful eyes revealed a deep longing and a complex, indescribable emotion. She was Mu Peiling, whom her family had arranged for her to marry a Nascent Soul cultivator as a concubine, hoping she would become his concubine.
"Nascent Soul... If I could also achieve Nascent Soul, perhaps I could truly control my own destiny and break free from the shackles of my family?" she murmured softly, her jade-like hands unconsciously clenching.
……
Above the Green Trace Swamp.
The swamp, still filled with the faint smell of humus and the fresh scent of grass and trees, has now become a temporary arena for two Nascent Soul cultivators.
Qin Hao and the Fire Dragon Child stood several dozen feet apart in mid-air. Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo hovered several miles away, their divine senses locked onto the battlefield, both to protect the two and to ensure they didn't miss a single detail.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, please!" Although Fire Dragon Child was confident, he dared not neglect a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator and took the lead in summoning his natal flying sword—the Crimson Fire Sword. The sword was entirely crimson, about three feet long, and its blade seemed to have flowing magma, radiating scorching heat and sharp sword intent, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, pay attention, first move!" Qin Hao didn't hold back, reminding him before pointing forward with his fingers like a sword.
hum!
A golden light shot out from his sleeve, so fast that it left only a faint afterimage in the air—it was the Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade! With a mysterious trajectory, it tore through the air, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, and attacked the Fire Dragon Child from several extremely tricky angles! Where the golden blade passed, the space rippled slightly, showing its unparalleled sharpness and speed.
Fire Dragon Boy's pupils contracted slightly, his heart filled with shock: "Such a fast flying blade! Such a fierce attack!" He dared not take it head-on, after all, he did not know the exact power of the flying blade. He simply made a sword incantation with his hands, and the Crimson Fire Sword emitted a clear sword cry, instantly splitting into dozens of extremely solid crimson sword shadows, which protected him like a peacock spreading its tail.
"Crimson Flame Sword Screen!"
Ding-ding-ding-ding-!
The Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade clashed violently with the crimson sword shadow, producing a series of dense, metallic clangs like raindrops pattering on banana leaves. Sparks flew, spiritual energy surged, and the swamp below was plowed into deep furrows by the dissipating sword energy, sending mud and water billowing into the sky.
Fire Dragon Boy felt a heavy and sharp force passing through the sword shadows, causing his blood and qi to churn slightly. He was even more alarmed: "This flying blade is not only fast, but also so powerful!"
He channeled all his magical power, causing the Crimson Flame Sword Screen to shine brightly, finally blocking the first wave of strange flying blade attacks. However, the crimson sword shadows also dimmed considerably, indicating that he had consumed a great deal of energy.
"The first move is over, Fellow Daoist Zhang is indeed powerful!" Fire Dragon Boy exclaimed, feeling somewhat relieved. Although the opponent's flying blade was strong, it was still within his ability to handle.
Qin Hao's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "The second move."
With a thought, the Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade didn't fly back. Instead, it trembled suddenly in mid-air, radiating golden light, and its speed surged once more! Moreover, it no longer attacked head-on; instead, it seemed to possess a life of its own, sometimes concealing itself in the void, sometimes flashing out to launch surprise attacks, relentlessly harassing and slashing at the Fire Dragon Child from all directions—above, below, left, right, front, and back. The trajectory of the golden blade became even more unpredictable, as if weaving a net of death, firmly trapping the Fire Dragon Child at its center.
The Fire Dragon Child felt the pressure increase dramatically! The control of these flying blades was simply divine, far surpassing any other object manipulation technique he had ever seen. He had no choice but to wield the Crimson Fire Sword with impenetrable force, the crimson sword light completely protecting him, forming a huge fiery red sphere.
Chi Chi Chi!
The Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade repeatedly broke through the sword light defense, cutting gashes into his protective aura. Although it failed to truly injure him, it still left him flustered and in a sorry state.
What alarmed him even more was that each of these flying blades carried a peculiar shockwave, seemingly weakening the spiritual light of his flying sword and his protective aura.
"We can't keep playing defensively like this!" Fire Dragon Child's mind raced, knowing that continuing to defend would likely be disastrous. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he decided to take a gamble, looking for an opportunity to counterattack while deflecting the flying blades.
"Third move! Fellow Daoist Lan, be careful!" Qin Hao's voice rang out again, calm and composed, yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
The moment Qin Hao finished speaking, the attack of the Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade suddenly became even more ferocious, stabbing from all directions like a madman, forcing the Fire Dragon Child to devote most of his mind and magic power to defense.
"It's now!"
Fire Dragon Child roared inwardly, his nascent soul suddenly opened its eyes, and his purest magical power surged into the Crimson Fire Sword. He abandoned the defense of some areas, enduring the deep marks left by two Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blades on his protective aura, while simultaneously forming an extremely profound sword incantation with both hands.
"Turn swords into silk!"
call out--!
The Crimson Fire Sword in front of him emitted a deafening hum, its blade suddenly blurred, and in the next moment, it vanished into thin air, replaced by a crimson thread as thin as a hair, extremely refined, and shimmering with a dazzling red light!
The moment the silk thread appeared, an extremely sharp sword intent, seemingly capable of cutting through everything, soared into the sky! Even Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo, who were watching from afar, felt a stinging pain on their skin and were horrified: "This is the secret technique of the Ancient Sword Sect—transforming swords into silk!"
The crimson sword thread ignored the distance in space, cleverly avoiding the interception and entanglement of the Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade in front of him at an inconceivable and completely illogical angle. As if teleporting, it appeared directly less than three feet in front of Qin Hao! Before the sword thread even arrived, its scorching and sharp aura had already made Qin Hao's brow feel cold.
"We won!" A hint of triumph flashed in the Fire Dragon Child's eyes. He could almost see Qin Hao panicking and dodging, or frantically trying to summon his defensive magic weapons. At such close range, the power of the sword-to-silk technique was maximized. He was confident that even if he couldn't seriously injure his opponent, he could force him to admit defeat!
However, facing this attack that was enough to shatter the soul of a cultivator of the same level, Qin Hao did not show the slightest panic on his face. Instead, a smile of triumph appeared on his lips.
He neither dodged nor avoided, nor did he even use any defensive magic weapons!
Just as the crimson sword thread was about to pierce his brow—
"Buzz!"
A deep, strange sound emanated from Qin Hao's body, and dazzling golden light instantly shone from beneath his skin, making him appear like a golden Arhat cast in gold! A savage, domineering, and indestructible aura suddenly erupted!
Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art!
"clang--!"
A deafening roar, like the sound of a great bell, reverberated throughout the surrounding area!
The incredibly condensed and sharp crimson sword thread pierced fiercely between Qin Hao's eyebrows! Contrary to expectations, the expected scene of a head being pierced did not occur. The sword thread seemed to have struck the hardest divine iron in the world, producing a deafening clang of metal striking metal! The terrifying power and blazing sword intent contained within the thread only left a tiny white dot on Qin Hao's golden skin, not even breaking the skin!
"What?!" The smugness on Fire Dragon Boy's face instantly froze, turning into unparalleled shock and horror!
"To withstand the sword turning into silk?! How is that possible?!"
He simply couldn't believe his eyes! He knew all too well the power of turning swords into threads; even the protective aura of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would have a hard time withstanding it, let alone taking it head-on with one's bare body! This was no ordinary body-refining technique; it was definitely a legendary top-tier body-refining cultivation method!
Just as the Fire Dragon Boy lost his composure due to this horrifying scene, his movements faltering for a moment—
"Hey!"
A soft, tearing sound was heard.
Fire Dragon Boy suddenly awoke with a start. Looking down, he saw that a Void-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade, which had somehow broken through his slightly weakened defenses due to his use of the Sword-to-Silk technique, had easily severed a jade pendant magic item at his waist, which automatically protected its owner, as easily as a hot knife through butter!
The golden blade tip stopped less than an inch from his dantian. The icy, sharp aura caused his nascent soul to tremble slightly.
If Qin Hao had intended to take his life, the Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade would have already pierced his dantian in that instant, severely injuring or even killing his nascent soul.
The outcome is decided!
Fire Dragon Boy's face turned deathly pale instantly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He stared blankly at Qin Hao, whose golden light slowly receded and whose expression remained calm, and then looked at the golden flying blade that had stopped in front of his dantian. In the end, all his shock, resentment, and lingering fear turned into a long sigh.
He struggled to raise his hand, signaling his surrender. The crimson sword thread transformed back into the Crimson Fire Sword, flying back into his hand, its spiritual light slightly dimmed.
With a thought, Qin Hao sent the Sky-Splitting Armor-Piercing Blade back into his sleeve as it transformed into silver light. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Lan, you flatter me."
Fire Dragon Boy sheathed his Crimson Fire Sword, his face still showing lingering frustration. He shook his head with a wry smile, his voice slightly hoarse: "Fellow Daoist Zhang... you are truly a hidden master. You actually cultivate both body and magic! And have cultivated them to such an astonishing level... to withstand my sword-turning-silk technique... Brother Zhang, to advance to the mid-Nascent Soul stage at such a young age is already a peerless genius, yet you can also cultivate such a terrifying body-refining technique... If Brother Zhang can one day advance to the late-Nascent Soul stage, I'm afraid the entire landscape of the Tiannan cultivation world will be changed because of you."
His words came from the bottom of his heart. Cultivating both body and spirit requires an enormous amount of time and resources for each. It is already extremely difficult for ordinary people to specialize in just one aspect. Yet the person before him not only made rapid progress in cultivation, but his body refining technique had also reached the point where he could withstand swords turning into threads. This completely overturned his understanding.
"I am inferior in skill and admit defeat." Fire Dragon Boy was quite straightforward and readily admitted defeat: "Brother Zhang, please rest assured, I will return to the Ancient Sword Sect and retrieve the root of the Spirit Eye Tree for you."
As he spoke, he deliberately extended his little finger to indicate the length of the very last small section, emphasizing, "But let's make it clear beforehand that it really is just a small section, and it must not damage the spirit tree's core."
Seeing Qin Hao nod with a smile, indicating his agreement, Fire Dragon Boy breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed to Qin Hao and Cheng and Lü in the distance once more, then transformed into a red streak of light, its momentum slightly weaker than when it arrived, and sped off towards the Ancient Sword Sect, its back view somewhat forlorn.
Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo also flew over at this moment, their faces filled with shock and disbelief. They looked at each other, speechless for a long time. They were very clear about the Fire Dragon Child's combat ability; he was definitely among the top level of early Nascent Soul cultivators, especially his skill of turning swords into threads, which was extremely sharp.
Even if he had underestimated his opponent earlier, Qin Hao's terrifying physical body that could withstand the sword turning into silk, as well as his unpredictable and easily controlled flying blades, were real and undeniable!
So young, at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, cultivating both physical and magical abilities to such a profound degree… This is beyond genius; he is simply a prodigy! They were incredibly grateful that they had chosen to befriend him instead of offending him.
Cheng Tiankun took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and put on a warm smile again, extending an invitation to Qin Hao: "Fellow Daoist Zhang's supernatural abilities are truly eye-opening. Now that this matter is settled, why don't you come with us back to Luoyun Sect to rest for a while, enjoy some spiritual tea, and wait for news from Fellow Daoist Lan?"
Having achieved his goal, Qin Hao was in a good mood and readily nodded upon hearing this: "In that case, I will trouble Fellow Daoist Cheng and Fellow Daoist Lü."
The three of them transformed into streaks of light once more and returned to the Falling Cloud Sect.
……
Meanwhile, after returning to the Ancient Sword Sect, Fire Dragon Child naturally could not hide the truth and told the other Nascent Soul elders in the sect what had happened, especially the fact that he was defeated in three moves and that his opponent had taken the sword as silk.
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and horrified.
"Defeated Junior Brother Lan in three moves? This..."
"He withstood a sword being turned into threads and remained completely unharmed? Is this person's physical body some kind of ancient treasure?!"
"Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, practicing both physical and magical cultivation... When did the Qingxu Sect of the Northern Liang Kingdom produce such a figure?"
After learning of Qin Hao's astonishing strength, the elders of the Ancient Sword Sect held an emergency meeting and quickly reached a consensus: this person's strength is unfathomable and must not be offended!
Especially considering that the other party didn't kill, and was even willing to pay the exorbitant price of three level-seven demon cores in exchange for a small section of tree root that wouldn't cause any damage, this was already a great concession.
Ultimately, the Grand Elder of the Ancient Sword Sect, "Old Monster Jin," made the final decision: "Fulfill the bet and give him the tree root! Try to be on good terms with him!"
Several days later, the Fire Dragon Child returned to the Falling Cloud Sect with a jade box covered in sealing talismans, and solemnly handed it to Qin Hao. Qin Hao opened it to examine it, and inside was a small section of root that was as white as jade, warm and translucent, and exuding an extremely rich spiritual energy. It was the root of the Spirit Eye Tree.
Qin Hao kept his promise and gifted the three level-seven demon cores to Luoyun Sect, Ancient Sword Sect, and Hundred Crafts Academy respectively.
All three factions were overjoyed and had an extremely good impression of this fellow Daoist "Zhang Tie".
After this battle, the name "Zhang Tie," along with his feats of defeating the Fire Dragon Child in three moves and enduring a sword transformed into silk with his bare body, quickly spread among the upper echelons of the cultivation world in Xi Kingdom, thus establishing a certain level of fame.
……
Having accomplished his task, Qin Hao departed without a trace. He took Yanli and the newly joined Yinyue aboard the Ink Dragon Boat and successfully returned to the Qingxu Sect of the Northern Liang Kingdom.
However, upon returning to the sect, he heard some news.
During his absence, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator named Wei Lichen came to challenge him, speaking extremely arrogantly. Qin Hao was not present at the time, but his concubine Yuan Yao, seeing the man's insolent words, couldn't stand it and stepped in to fight him, defeating him.
At this moment, Xuan Chengzi, the head of Qingxu Sect, and Abbess Jingyun were pacing anxiously outside Qin Hao's cave, their faces filled with worry.
"Elder Zhang, you're finally back!" Xuan Chengzi rushed forward upon seeing Qin Hao, his voice filled with anxiety. "That Wei Lichen is a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, a direct descendant of Senior Wei Wuyai! What are we going to do? What if Senior Wei Wuyai blames us..."
Master Jingyun also looked worried: "Yes, Elder Zhang, Wei Wuyai's poison skills are unparalleled in the south, and he has been a formidable figure in the cultivation world for hundreds of years. He is one of the most outstanding people in the world today. Our Qingxu Sect is afraid..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Hao showed no worry whatsoever, but rather a hint of disdain. He calmly said, "I thought it was something serious. Just some arrogant brat who relies on his family's wealth and doesn't know his place. He's lost, so be it. If Wei Wuyai insists on standing up for this good-for-nothing junior and comes looking for trouble without even knowing the facts..."
He paused, a sharp, sword-like fighting spirit flashing in his eyes. His tone remained calm, yet carried an overwhelming confidence:
"I would also like to take this opportunity to properly experience the extraordinary abilities of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Chengzi and Abbess Jingyun exchanged a glance, their faces filled with wry smiles. That was one of the three most renowned cultivators in Tiannan! Any other early or even mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would likely be terrified at the mere mention of Wei Wuyai's name, yet this one was not only fearless but eager to try! They truly didn't know whether Elder Zhang had absolute confidence in his own strength or simply didn't understand the terrifying power of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and was merely putting on an act.
At this moment, Yuan Yao also came out of the cave. Hearing that Qin Hao had returned and overhearing the conversation outside, her beautiful face showed a hint of unease and apology. She walked to Qin Hao's side and whispered, "Master, have I...have I caused you trouble?"
Seeing this, Qin Hao deliberately put on a stern face and pretended to be displeased, saying, "What? In your heart, do you also think that I, your master, am no match for Wei Wuyai?"
“How could that be!” Yuan Yao quickly shook her head, eagerly explaining, “In Yao’er’s heart, Master is the most powerful! It’s just… it’s just that Wei Wuyai is, after all, a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator who has been famous for hundreds of years. Master, it would be better not to let your guard down.”
Hearing Yuan Yao's concerned words, Qin Hao's expression softened. He gently patted the back of her hand to reassure her. His gaze narrowed slightly as he pondered, "Hmm, what you said makes sense. It's said that Wei Wuyai's poison skills are indeed unparalleled, and he possesses the 'Viper Corpse Poison,' one of the Ten Deadly Poisons, which is ruthless and domineering. Ordinary magical treasures and spiritual energy would be corrupted upon contact with it. We should indeed prepare well and not underestimate him."
After calming Yuan Yao and Yan Li down, Qin Hao went into the quiet room of the cave alone.
He sat cross-legged, and with a flick of his wrist, a bronze piece—neither gold nor jade—appeared in his palm. Engraved on the bronze piece were countless intricate, strange runes and patterns, imbued with a primal, ancient aura, radiating a faint, mysterious glow. It was the very piece he had obtained from the descendant of the Suanni royal family of the Chaotic Star Sea—the True Blessed ...
Since obtaining this sacred text, he was unable to fully decipher it, as it was inscribed with ancient and obscure demonic script and symbols. Even the "intelligent brain" within his consciousness was unable to fully comprehend it for a time. It wasn't until later, after he obtained the vast and boundless archives of the Star Palace in the Chaotic Star Sea, that the "intelligent brain" gained sufficient data to continue its deductions and analysis.
Today, after a long period of continuous calculation and simulation by the "intelligent brain," the top-level demonic cultivation techniques recorded in this sacred scroll have been completely deciphered!
Qin Hao's consciousness sank into the bone fragment, and the complete cultivation technique information deduced by the "intelligent brain" appeared in his mind.
"The demon race's body-refining holy method on the Brahma Saint's True Scroll, combined with the Heaven-Supporting Demon Art that I have already mastered to a minor degree... If the two can be initially integrated, taking the best of each and compensating for their weaknesses, my physical strength will surely be elevated to a whole new level!"
Qin Hao's eyes gleamed with anticipation.