Chapter 453: The Saintess of Bian Ru Xue (Combined Chapter)

Hearing the murmurs behind her, Lin Lin Qingying frowned slightly; she disliked being disturbed while practicing swordplay, especially by outsiders.

Yet she did not turn immediately, but held her sword low, lost in thought, savoring the recent sword movement.

She cultivated the Ultimate Softness Sword Intent, but Ultimate Softness lies in the word "Ultimate"—extremity, and extremity is hard to grasp; exceed it, and the intent scatters; fall short, and it lacks depth, leaving openings.

Now, reflecting inward, she realized her intent had indeed scattered slightly, surpassing the limit of Ultimate Softness; if such a mistake occurred in combat, it would be a grave flaw.

Yet to detect such a flaw, one must at least be her equal in sword skill.

"You understand swords?"

Lin Lin Qingying turned, her cold, moonlike gaze falling on Li Hao, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

If his sword path rivaled hers, he must be at least a Saint Sect's Saint Disciple.

How could such a person be gravely wounded here, and coincidentally saved by her? Was it deliberate approach, or mere accident? "Uh, I just said it offhand."

Seeing her suspicion, Li Hao quickly corrected himself.

His words had been impulsive, born of goodwill—he owed her his life.

But his wounds were not yet healed; revealing too much might invite unnecessary suspicion and trouble.

"Offhand?"

Lin Lin Qingying raised an eyebrow; an offhand remark that precisely pinpointed her flaw? Even a child wouldn't believe that.

She fixed him with a piercing gaze. "How exactly did you notice?"

Seeing her serious expression, Li Hao knew he must explain—or she'd suspect he was deliberately feigning closeness.

"It's just a feeling."

Li Hao said.

"A feeling?"

"Yes. I love painting; I'm sensitive to posture and lines. Just now, your sword's follow-through was too soft. You're a swordsman—such a limp blade can't generate power; it's an obvious opening." Li Hao spoke half-truthfully.

"That's such a flimsy excuse. Do you think I'd believe it?"

Lin Lin Qingying raised an eyebrow, a cold glint in her eyes.

With the Saint Sect's Sword God imminent, matters were critical; she could not ignore the possibility of deliberate deception.

"Did Lin Qingfeng's words come true?"

Lin Lin Shanhai, hearing their exchange, paused grinding herbs, astonished. He'd thought Li Hao's remark was idle chatter—he knew nothing of swords—but Lin Lin Qingying's reaction suggested Li Hao had hit the mark.

Li Hao sighed. "Wait a moment—I'll draw it for you."

He rose, found paper and ink, picked up a wooden board as a canvas, and began grinding ink.

Soon, a graceful, ethereal figure wielding a long sword appeared on the white paper, her posture exquisitely fluid.

Painting Skill +32837.

Wow—no wonder she's a Mount Wenda Realm cultivator; the experience gain is insane! Li Hao put down his brush. Lin Lin Shanhai had already leaned in during the drawing, watching every stroke; when he saw Li Hao meticulously rendering his granddaughter on paper, he froze—especially as the final strokes seemed to infuse the figure with a soul, as if a living dancer moved upon the paper.

"This…"

Though Lin Lin Shanhai only cared for alchemy and tea and understood nothing of painting, his age granted him broad experience—he could at least grasp the basics.

This was no ordinary painting; it wasn't merely lifelike—it carried an immersive, resonant essence.

"Hmm?"

Lin Lin Qingying also stepped closer. When she saw the figure on the paper, she froze.

She recognized the form instantly—now rendered in exquisite detail—and the sword motion carried a spirit, faintly echoing her own Ultimate Softness Intent! He had somehow captured her sword intent on paper! Lin Lin Qingying stared, entranced, then suddenly remembered something—her neck flushed crimson, and she shot Li Hao a sharp glance.

The painting was too detailed—as if he'd mentally traced her posture a thousand times.

Though she knew nothing of painting, she understood the first step: careful observation.

Realizing this, her neck burned red; she glared at Li Hao.

Li Hao, bewildered by her glare, thought she hadn't understood, and pointed at the drawing: "Look here—your arm lines, your waist curve—all soft, like boneless. But your sword acts as the skeleton, supporting you. Yet when you swung here, the blade's arc scattered…"

"Stop!"

Lin Lin Qingying's face burned with shame. Though they'd shared a roof for over a month, they'd exchanged few words—hardly familiar. Now he pointed at her painting, lecturing her on her body curves. Had his gaze not been pure and earnest, she'd have called him a lecher.

"Uh…" Li Hao realized he'd overstepped.

Lin Lin Qingying ignored him, fixing her gaze on the painting, studying it closely. Soon, she understood why he'd spotted her sword flaw.

He judged by form—not sword intent.

Usually, cultivation shapes form from the Dao; Li Hao reversed it—he used form to point to the Dao.

Lin Lin Qingying's eyes flickered; she glanced sideways at his helpless expression, then quickly looked away, falling silent.

To capture sword intent through painting—was he a painting prodigy, or a sword prodigy?

Earlier, her grandfather had praised him endlessly for his alchemy talent. Zhao Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Shi Huajin had visited; she'd watched them, and they too spoke highly of Li Hao. Though she knew nothing of alchemy, she understood he was a prodigy in that field.

Perhaps he hadn't lied? Lin Lin Qingying's eyes narrowed in thought.

Top prodigies never waste energy on multiple paths; if they cultivate beyond their main path, it's for combat arts—footwork, fist techniques—that enhance cultivation.

There's already too much to refine in one martial path; no time for side pursuits.

Unless they're ancient monsters stuck in a bottleneck.

Thinking this, Lin Lin Qingying stepped away from the board. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

In an instant, her figure vanished—teleporting out of the courtyard.

"You kid..."

After Lin Lin Qingying left, Lin Lin Shanhai finally caught on, scowling at Li Hao: "Don't you dare set your sights on my granddaughter!"

Li Hao blinked, stunned: "What do you mean, Grandpa Lin?"

"You know what I mean!"

Mentioning his granddaughter, Lin Lin Shanhai grew fiercely protective, glaring at Li Hao: "Lin Qingying is destined to become a Saint. Whether for her sake or yours, you two are incompatible."

"..."

Li Hao fell silent. Why had this suddenly come up? He stared at the painting, then sighed: "Grandpa Lin, you misunderstand—I have no such feelings for Lin Qingying."

"You little rascal, how dare you call her by her first name?"

Lin Lin Shanhai panicked—he had only one precious granddaughter. Though he admired Li Hao, he felt like a wolf was trying to steal his lamb.

"..."

Li Hao sighed.

Lin Lin Shanhai lectured him endlessly; Li Hao could only nod repeatedly, swearing he'd never entertain such thoughts.

"What are you two talking about?"

Soon, Lin Lin Qingying reappeared—teleporting back—as if she'd heard something, her brow slightly raised as she glanced at Li Hao.

Lin Lin Shanhai shook his head. "Nothing. What's that in your hand?"

"Yinggu Mirror."

In Lin Lin Qingying's hand was a pure black oval mirror—Li Hao had seen one like it at Dengxian Gate, but that one was much larger.

"Let me check your age. No problem, right?"

Lin Lin Qingying fixed Li Hao with her gaze.

Li Hao nodded; there was no need to hide this.

Lin Lin Qingying immediately aimed the Yinggu Mirror at Li Hao. Soon, his figure appeared on the dark surface, revealing his age.

27 years old.

Lin Lin Qingying froze, surprise flickering in her eyes—this age was far too young.

When she'd found him unconscious and brought him back, she'd scanned his body—he was severely injured, yet his realm was Four Foundations.

To reach Four Foundations at 27? That made him a rare prodigy.

Within the Sword Ancestor Saint Sect, he'd be among the top inner disciples.

And at this age, achieving Four Foundations in martial cultivation—plus mastering her grandfather's alchemy refinement technique, and now demonstrating profound painting skill—all these demand immense focus.

Sword cultivation?

Impossible—he couldn't possibly have the energy for it.

After all, human energy is finite.

Her doubts eased; his age proved his earlier words true—he'd detected her flaw through painting, not sword skill.

She didn't understand painting, couldn't fathom it—but this was the only explanation.

"You're this young?"

Lin Lin Shanhai, seeing Li Hao's age, was also startled: "27 and already Four Foundations? Your martial talent is outrageous. Did your family give you divine pills or rare herbs? With talent like this, you could've been accepted directly into the Saint Sect's inner circle—train for a hundred years, and you might even become a Half-Saint's direct disciple."

Hearing this, Li Hao smiled faintly inwardly—he regretted it. His battle with the False Saint had been an accident, costing him ten years.

When he escaped the void, his body shattered, his Dao energy dissipated, his realm collapsed—he was mistaken for Four Foundations. Now, through concealment and recovery, his Dao energy had long since returned to Mount Wenda Realm.

But with his Ten Thousand Phenomena attribute hiding his true state, he made no effort to reveal it—his wounds were still not fully healed.

"Pills?"

Hearing Lin Lin Shanhai's words, Lin Lin Qingying's surprise turned to understanding.

Li Hao's refinement technique had been dismissed by Lin Lin Shanhai as the fading legacy of a once-great alchemy clan—its ancestors had left behind divine pills and spirit herbs; that wasn't surprising.

If he'd reached this realm through pills, it wasn't unusual.

But pills that greatly assist cultivation in Three Immortals and Four Foundations are rare—even high-level alchemists can produce only small quantities.

"If you wish to join the Sword Ancestor Saint Sect, I can recommend you."

Lin Lin Qingying returned the Yinggu Mirror, speaking calmly.

This was her apology for her earlier suspicion.

Li Hao heard her meaning and shook his head slightly: "I have no interest in cultivation."

Hearing Li Hao say this, Lin Lin Qingying said no more to persuade him, and became even more certain that Li Hao had reached this realm through pill consumption—after all, though she hadn't deliberately observed him, she had noticed he never cultivated.

With such a realm, he likely climbed it through pill consumption for alchemy needs, just like his grandfather.

Alchemists often need to master certain fire-based cultivation arts or even Dao techniques to forge specific elixirs; alchemy is half a physical labor, and if one's own realm is too low, they cannot produce high-grade divine medicines.

Some divine herbs are extremely difficult to tame even as raw materials; if using demonic or beast blood to forge them, one must suppress the soul-nuances within the blood—all requiring a certain realm.

"Regardless, you pointed out the flaws in my sword Dao—I owe you thanks. Ask for anything you want; if I can do it, I'll do my best to help."

Lin Lin Qingying said this, her expression cold and detached—she simply disliked owing others anything and always kept things clearly accounted.

"I haven't repaid your life-saving grace yet; this small matter means nothing. I only mentioned it offhand."

Li Hao glanced at her, recalling the massive experience points just now, and hesitated before saying: "If you truly wish to thank me, it's not impossible—could you let me paint a few more portraits for you in the future?"

"You little rascal!"

Before Lin Lin Qingying could speak, Lin Lin Shanhai grew anxious, glaring at Li Hao—had all he just said been wasted? Lin Lin Qingying also froze slightly, recalling the painting, her earlobes faintly reddening. She fixed her gaze on Li Hao, as if searching his eyes for confirmation.

But Li Hao's gaze remained open, showing no trace of avoidance.

Lin Lin Qingying looked at him deeply, then turned away, calmly saying: "No problem. If you can still find flaws in my sword Dao, I'll only be grateful."

"So you agree?"

A smile appeared on Li Hao's face.

Lin Lin Qingying said nothing, but flew into the courtyard and resumed her sword practice.

This act was effectively an acceptance.

Otherwise, if she refused, she had a thousand ways to make it impossible for Li Hao to see her again.

After all, she was the Holy Maiden of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground, her authority second only to the Semi-Saint Elders.

"Lin Qingfeng, Lin Qingfeng, why won't you listen?"

Lin Lin Shanhai frowned, suddenly feeling as if he'd invited a wolf into his home.

"Lin Lao, stop worrying. I have no other intentions toward Lin Qingying. Believe me in my devotion to painting—it's purely about painting. Shall I paint a few for you later?"

Li Hao said seriously.

Lin Lin Shanhai, studying Li Hao's sincere gaze, was skeptical: "Really?"

"More real than real!"

Li Hao said.

Seeing Li Hao's firm assurance, Lin Lin Shanhai quietly sighed in relief: "Fine, I'll believe you this once."

Li Hao felt helpless and said no more on the topic.

The two's conversation reached Lin Lin Qingying's ears. She furrowed her brow, swinging her sword faster, as if trying to slash away every word.

Soon after, she fully immersed herself again in sword intent cultivation.

…

Since Li Hao had promised to paint Lin Lin Qingying, Lin Lin Shanhai summoned his medicinal apprentice to build another courtyard behind the main one for Li Hao.

Though Lin Lao claimed he trusted Li Hao, in action he quietly took precautions against him.

Li Hao merely smiled wryly at this; he didn't mind. Having his own courtyard gave him far more peace.

Daily, besides painting and carving, he also quietly healed his wounds.

The void energy that had seeped into his body had been quietly erased by nearly half. This Sacred Land of Saints had one advantage: its heavenly energy was more than ten times denser than in the mortal world.

No wonder warriors all yearned to enter the Immortal Gate.

Tenfold cultivation speed increase, plus slowed aging.

One year of cultivation here equaled ten years in the mortal world—and consumed only one year of lifespan!

But for Li Hao, whether here or in the mortal world made no difference—he simply wanted each day to be solid and interesting.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Hao's injuries had nearly fully healed; the crack-like void energy within his body, as his flesh mended, cleared faster.

With his body restored, Li Hao began cultivation again, besides painting and carving.

Earlier, in battle with the Void Saint, he had shattered the Heavenly Meridians, meaning all his major meridians had ruptured and been destroyed.

Though his flesh had healed, these major meridians needed to be rebuilt.

Fortunately, with his prior cultivation techniques, reopening the major meridians was no challenge for Li Hao.

He set up a barrier around his courtyard, then used the Hidden Bow, Ten Thousand Forms, and other attributes to completely conceal his aura.

Then he began activating the Meridian-Opening Technique, reopening each major meridian one by one.

The 108 major meridians, as Li Hao's technique flowed, were all reopened.

The remaining two major meridians were the Yin Meridian and Yang Meridian. The Yin Meridian could be reopened by practicing the Thousand Serpent Saint Body Technique.

As for the Yang Meridian, Li Hao had located its position—in the crown of his skull. This location was extremely perilous: minor failure caused madness; major failure meant instant brain explosion and death.

But for Li Hao, who now mastered the Seventh Ultimate Realm, reopening the Yang Meridian was the easiest task.

Even if his head exploded, he could regenerate from a single drop of blood.

Soon, after two attempts—the first failed, his head exploded; after regenerating, the second succeeded.

Without the Seventh Ultimate Realm, even the most prodigious disciples, lacking special secret techniques, would perish if they failed to open the Yang Meridian.

With the opening of the Yin-Yang Meridians, the Heavenly Meridians reappeared.

Seventh Ultimate Realm plus a half-Final Realm—that was the height Li Hao had now reached.

In the days ahead, he began refining Dao Force. When he first entered the Immortal Gate, he had just entered the Dao-Perceiving Realm; his Dao Force had not yet fully transformed. Later, in battle, his Dao Force had been scattered. Now he was only at the early stage of True Person Realm, with shallow Dao Force within.

The strength of a Dao-Perceiving True Person depended entirely on the depth of their refined Dao Force.

Dao Force's indelible nature meant that, theoretically, if refined deeply and powerfully enough, it could approach absolute defense.

Sitting in the courtyard, besides carving and painting for leisure, he had nothing but the tedious task of Dao Force transformation.

Every morning, Li Hao visited Lin Lin Shanhai's alchemy chamber to help purify medicinal materials.

Or occasionally, he was invited to Zhao Zhao Yingzhen and Shi Shi Huajin's places—they needed him to help purify medicinal power to increase the success rate of high-grade divine elixirs.

With Li Hao's help, their success rate for high-grade elixirs soared—from three percent to seven percent.

This made Li Hao the most sought-after figure in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground's alchemy circle; his fame exploded.

…

Days passed, one after another.

Another month passed.

Li Hao had fully stabilized his Dao-Perceiving True Person Realm, his strength restored to its former level. More accurately, compared to before, his strength had climbed another rung.

Dao Force transformation in this Sacred Land of Saints was far faster than in the mortal world; he completed full transformation in just five days, filling his body with Dao Force. The remaining twenty-plus days, he never stopped, continuing to refine and consolidate.

Now his flesh was even harder than the Holy Heart Treasure.

Dao Force permeated his entire body—he himself was a top-tier treasure; every gesture carried immense destructive power.

Besides, his sword Dao was now at the Eighth Stage—he had mastered Sword Momentum and Sword Intent. If he struck again, his attacks would be even more ferocious and terrifying.

Yet, after his battle with the Void Saint's avatar, Li Hao fully understood the existence of Saints—he still had a vast gap between himself and a Saint.

During this time, Li Hao casually inquired from Lin Lin Shanhai, gaining clearer insight into Saints.

"Saint Realm" was a general term; Saints themselves had high and low tiers. A Saint must endure Three Calamities; each calamity crossed meant a leap in power.

When one crossed the hardest heavenly tribulation, they became a Supreme Saint.

The pinnacle beings among Saints were among the true rulers of the Sacred Land of Saints.

According to Lin Lin Shanhai, there were only about ten such Supreme Saints—truly omnipotent, invincible in the world.

As for the Void Saint who assassinated Li Hao, he had also inquired. Though the Canglan Realm and Yunxia Realm were far apart, Saints' names were immense, known throughout the Thirty-Three Realms.

Lin Lin Shanhai knew the Void Saint—he was not a Supreme Saint.

When a Saint crossed the heavenly tribulation, the spectacle was grand; Supreme Saints were always figures of public attention.

…

"Master Lin Qingfeng, here are today's deliveries: Dragonfire Liver, Hundred-Scent Spirit Lingzhi, Purple Coral Su…"

On Medicinal Mountain, Li Hao sat in a pavilion outside the alchemy chamber, idly playing with go stones.

Jiang Jiang Xiaohui, Shi Shi Huajin's personal disciple, brought many alchemy materials, bowing respectfully as she handed them to Li Hao.

Jiang Jiang Xiaohui treated this young man with extreme humility and courtesy. Within the Sacred Ground's alchemy circle, everyone knew the name Master Lin Qingfeng. Though Li Hao held no official alchemist title, many treated him as an alchemist—even as approaching a Senior Alchemist.

After all, Li Hao had too many alchemist connections. Besides Shi Shi Huajin and others, many alchemists sought his help. Some had sent gifts repeatedly, just to have him purify medicinal power for a single high-grade divine elixir.

"Mm. Set them here."

Li Hao replied casually.

Jiang Jiang Xiaohui stole a glance at Li Hao. His medicinal power purification was spoken of as miraculous. She admired and longed for it, but rumors said it was his ancestral secret art.

Even after Li Hao demonstrated it, many who watched realized it couldn't be learned in a day or two—unless Li Hao personally taught them step by step.

But such a supreme skill—who would pass it on to outsiders without sufficient reward?

Soon, a metallic chime rang from inside the alchemy chamber.

Li Hao looked over, catching a whiff of strange medicinal fragrance—he knew the elixir was complete.

The alchemy chamber door opened soon after, its barrier removed. This barrier wasn't to prevent Li Hao from spying—it was to keep other apprentices, even Shi Shi Huajin's disciples, from intruding.

Today's elixir was a high-grade divine pill, one of Shi Shi Huajin's signature techniques. Even her personal disciples weren't easily taught it; character and conduct were carefully evaluated—it was her ultimate legacy, kept in reserve.

Shi Shi Huajin opened the door and saw Li Hao lounging listlessly in the pavilion; she smiled, recalling how she had invited him inside to watch, but he had refused, saying it was stifling—nearly making her spit blood.

Shi Shi Huajin opened the door, saw Li Hao lounging in the pavilion, and smiled. She had invited him inside to watch, but he refused, saying it was stuffy—she nearly choked.

Her disciples, hearing his refusal, all widened their eyes, wondering what trick he was playing—was this reverse psychology?

【201】 "Mm."

Li Hao returned the chess piece to the box, rose, and entered the alchemy chamber, where he saw seven pills, glowing with a misty aura, resting on a jade tray.

"These are Condensed Dao Pills. Even those at the Four Foundations Realm can take them—they help condense a trace of Dao force within the body, capable of suppressing peers."

Shi Shi Huajin smiled as she introduced her signature alchemical craft to Li Hao: "This batch was commissioned for a Sacred Maiden. She's at the Heard-Dao Realm—taking one pill is worth years of arduous cultivation."

Li Hao couldn't help but marvel. Indeed, alchemists held such high status for good reason.

A single pill could enable a Four Foundations cultivator to condense Dao force and suppress equals.

It made talent and effort seem almost laughable.

Yet this was the depth and accumulation of great powers.

In the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty, that old alchemist in the Alchemy Institute was merely of average skill.

The pills he produced were already considered divine in the mortal realm; only by offering immense favors could any faction secure his services once.

Even the Five Divine Generals' Houses had to rely on powerful connections to get a single slot.

If these Condensed Dao Pills were taken to Emperor Da Yu, every Four Foundations cultivator would go mad. And Shi Shi Huajin, who could brew them, would need no explanation of her status.

"If you wish to learn, I can teach you."

Shi Shi Huajin said to Li Hao with a half-smile.

Li Hao shook his head.

He could learn it, and even replicate it for others—but he'd already memorized the ingredients. Through cooking techniques, he could make his own version, though it was merely a dish, slightly weaker in effect. But the advantage? No toxic residue—he could eat it daily!

Yet the herbs for this pill were rare. Even Shi Shi Huajin suffered pain after a single failure, which is why she'd called him to assist with purification and boost success rates.

In the mortal realm, gathering these herbs would be nearly impossible. Even if he learned the formula, returning home would mean a skilled cook with no rice.

"You think I'm testing you? I'm sincere."

Shi Shi Huajin smiled warmly. "Learn it, and become my disciple."

"Sister Shi, stop teasing me—I truly have no interest in alchemy."

Li Hao sighed.

Shi Shi Huajin gave him a disgruntled glare. Anyone else hearing this would be trembling with excitement.

"I truly don't understand you. Must I beg you?"

She felt more exasperated than Li Hao. To alchemists, this formula was a treasured secret—others begged for it, yet here they were begging Li Hao to learn it, hoping he'd inherit their legacy and ascend to Grand Alchemist. And he refused, utterly absurd.

"Enough. I'm tired from today's alchemy. These pills were made for Snow Maiden. Take them with Xiao Hui and deliver them."

Shi Shi Huajin said, a hint of weariness in her eyes. Alchemy drained the spirit; had the pills not thrilled her, she'd have already collapsed into sleep.

"Alright."

Seeing her state, Li Hao reluctantly agreed.

Outside the door, Jiang Xiao Hui, having overheard their explosive exchange, twitched her lips. She wanted to slap her hand over Shi Shi Huajin's mouth and shout for him: I'll learn! I want to learn! Shi Shi Huajin sealed the Condensed Dao Pills into a treasure gourd and handed it to Li Hao, then waved wearily.

Li Hao took the gourd without comment, signaled Jiang Xiao Hui at the door, and gestured for her to lead.

Jiang Xiao Hui knew: her master didn't trust her to deliver such precious medicine. She smiled bitterly—compared to her, the master's lifelong disciple, the master seemed to trust this Lin Qingfeng Alchemist more.

"Lin Qingfeng Alchemist, please."

Jiang Xiao Hui smoothed her thoughts, showing no trace, and spoke respectfully to Li Hao.

The two then flew out of the Medicine Mountain, heading toward the disciples' quarter of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground.

This was Li Hao's first time leaving the alchemists' zone and entering the disciples' cultivation areas.

The Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground was vast, and the disciples' zones occupied even more.

After flying thousands of miles, they entered a range of rolling peaks, most crowned with talisman arrays, glowing with aura, where numerous disciples moved about.

Only after flying ten thousand miles did they reach a towering peak.

The peak soared like a pillar to heaven, dwarfing all surrounding mountains.

Rivers encircled it, and five smaller peaks formed a pentagonal pattern, seemingly an array that gathered and channeled heavenly energy into the towering peak—clearly not natural, but a human alteration of the land's veins into a formation.

Such immense effort and grandeur meant the person atop the peak was no ordinary figure.

Jiang Xiao Hui flew Li Hao to the summit, landing before the gate's stone steps, guarded by attendants.

"By Master's order, here to deliver medicine to the Sacred Maiden."

Jiang Xiao Hui presented Shi Shi Huajin's token.

The guards, upon seeing it, instantly changed their cold expressions into warm, almost foolish smiles. "Ah, you're a high disciple of Master Shi! You've worked hard."

Jiang Xiao Hui nodded slightly, no pleasantries, and gestured for them to lead.

Through the courtyard, soon they arrived before a grand, magnificent building.

Li Hao looked at the central structure and frowned slightly.

Its design resembled the main gate of a Divine General's mansion.

"The Sacred Maiden awaits inside. Please enter."

The guard at the gate bowed respectfully.

As Li Hao stepped inside, his gaze swept the corridor—and froze.

The hallway's layout matched his memory exactly.

Following the maid ahead, they soon entered a courtyard.

As he stepped inside, Li Hao realized: this was the Shanhe Courtyard.

The lotus pond, the catalpa trees, the main hall, side chambers, the woodshed—all identical, even in size.

The pavilion stood in the same spot. The stone path remained unchanged.

Li Hao's eyes shifted, scanning upward—then he saw it: a familiar figure in white robes, slowly practicing sword forms.

Her movements resembled Lin Lin Qingying's, as if dancing.

But Li Hao knew: she was cultivating sword intent.

When she turned slightly, her profile struck him—his eyes trembled. He understood.

He hadn't expected to meet someone he knew here.

Before, when he rushed to the imperial palace, he'd met the mortal Master Master Jian Sheng, Xue Jian Xue Jian Wudao, who'd said: she'd been chosen by a Saint, brought into this immortal realm…

Previously, when rushing to the imperial palace, she had encountered the mortal sword saint Xue Jian Xue Jian Wudao, who told her she had been chosen by the Sage and brought into this world of the Immortal Sect.

Li Hao felt a sudden clarity, surprise, yet also a sense of inevitability.

The Saint of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground was called the Master Master Jian Sheng.

Only a true Master Master Jian Sheng would care for Bian Bian Ruxue, who wielded the sword.

Xue Jian Xue Jian Wudao had said she had sword bones clouded by dust—detected by the Saint…

"Sacred Maiden, the Alchemist has come to deliver the medicine."

The maid approached the woman and bowed softly.

The white figure paused her sword, lifted her head slightly, and looked toward Li Hao and Jiang Xiao Hui.

Time had refined her features, yet the familiar contours remained.

Li Hao hadn't mistaken her—this was Bian Bian Ruxue.

But now, she was no longer the girl who never let go of her sword. She was serene, otherworldly, a breathtakingly beautiful woman of celestial grace.

Her eyes were like mountain lakes—calm, deep, radiating profound tranquility.

And tranquility always stemmed from inner, unshakable confidence.

"I salute Sacred Maiden Xue."

Jiang Xiao Hui stepped forward, bowed low.

Though she was Shi Shi Huajin's direct disciple, she was only one among many. This woman was a Sacred Maiden—her status slightly higher than Shi Shi Huajin's. More importantly, her potential target was the Saint.

Whether she'd become a Saint was unknown, but at least she held that possibility.

Of billions of martial cultivators, not one held even a shred of such potential.

"Hmm? Who is he?"

Bian Bian Ruxue's gaze swept past the maid, catching the faint herbal scent on her—unpleasant, yet she showed no reaction. Instead, her eyes settled on the man behind her, around twenty years old.

She'd noticed his gaze earlier. It puzzled her.

Unlike others, whose eyes hid greed or infatuation, his held something she couldn't name.

And strangely, it felt… familiar.

"He is Lin Qingfeng Alchemist. He came with me to deliver the medicine," Jiang Xiao Hui hurriedly said.

"Is he a high-level alchemist? Why doesn't he bow to the Sacred Maiden? How dare he stare? Does he want his eyes gouged out?!"

The maid who had smiled so warmly moments ago now turned venomous, scolding Li Hao.

"Lin Qingfeng Alchemist is new—he doesn't know the rules. Please forgive him, Sacred Maiden," Jiang Xiao Hui pleaded, pulling Li Hao's sleeve, urging him to bow and apologize.

Li Hao lowered his gaze. He found the maid's outburst amusing—human, yet acting like a dog, baring fangs the moment her master was near. The speed of her change was startling.

Li Hao now withdrew his gaze; hearing the maid's angry rebuke, he couldn't help but find it amusing—she was human, yet lived like a dog, baring her fangs and swaggering the moment her master was near, changing her demeanor so swiftly it was startling.

Li Hao gave a slight bow—enough for courtesy.

He had no intention of revealing his identity—avoiding trouble.

Besides, the little tail he once knew was no longer the same.

Seven years had passed since their parting at the Sword Hut—everything had changed. Now, over ten years had gone by. Was she still the person he remembered?

Seven years had passed since he last visited the Sword Cottage, and much had changed; now more than ten years had gone by, and whether the person before him was still the one he knew was uncertain.

The maid opened her mouth to rebuke again, but Bian Bian Ruxue signaled her to stop, then turned to Li Hao and asked:

The maid beside him, seeing Li Hao offer only a simple bow, was about to scold him—but Bian Bian Ruxue signaled her to let it go, then asked Li Hao:

Have we met before?

Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly and said, "Why would the Holy Maiden say such a thing?"

"You remind me of someone I know."

Bian Bian Ruxue whispered softly; she did not know why she felt this way—though the man before her bore no resemblance to the one in her memory, his aura had changed entirely, yet she could not help but associate him with that person.

"There are too many people in the world, and many resemble each other. The Holy Maiden must be mistaken."

Li Hao said.

Bian Bian Ruxue gazed at him for a moment, falling into quiet silence.

Yes—he was still in the mortal realm, while she had been brought here by her master into this world of sages, now separated by the divide between mortal and sacred.

Thinking of their final farewell, the words spoken beside that bonfire, her lips curled slightly; now, she finally had the chance to climb to the peak of the Sword Dao and see what lay atop that mountain.

If she could master the ultimate sword, she wanted to show it to him, just as they had once promised.

But would he truly be awed by that sword? At this thought, Bian Bian Ruxue silently sighed—reaching the peak of the Sword Dao only held fatal allure for swordsmen, just as that elder brother had always been different, drawn to useless arts, wasting his innate talent.

Even if she showed it to him, he might not understand it at all.

He might not even grasp its subtlety, or how hard it was to achieve this sword.

Such sharing was destined to lack true resonance.

Just as they were to each other—she could not fathom his thoughts or desires, and he could not comprehend her passion for the Sword Dao.

Yet no matter what, she had promised him she would climb to the peak, then tell him what she had seen there.

"Are you an alchemist?"

Bian Bian Ruxue asked softly.

"... I suppose so."

Bian Bian Ruxue withdrew her gaze, knowing this man could not be Li Hao—when her master had brought her to this world of sages, he was still at Tianmen Pass.

Now, over a decade has passed; a hundred years have gone by in the mortal realm.

Thinking of this, she softly sighed and said, "Leave the pills here. Thank you, both alchemists."

With that, she turned, picked up her sword, and began dancing with it once more.

Li Hao saw the sword intent she wielded—it was the Ice and Snow Sword Intent.

Her first cultivated superior sword art had been the Falling Snow Sword Art.

Had she continued to refine it in this path?

Li Hao thought of Lin Lin Qingying's words about the Sword God Battle—would the two of them face each other then? One wielded the Ultimate Softness Sword Intent, the other the Ice and Snow Sword Intent—similar in nature, yet one soft, the other cold and sharp—who would prevail?

Li Hao also withdrew his gaze, refusing to watch further, lest he be tempted to correct her.

But this little girl was no longer the little tail who followed him—she had her own master, her own path; he had no right to guide her anymore.

He pulled out the Treasure Gourd and tossed it to the guiding maid, then turned and left without lingering.

In the courtyard, the silhouettes of these two mortals drifted farther apart, neither turning back to look once.

After returning from Holy Maiden Peak, Li Hao began his own cultivation.

As his true power continued to coalesce, one day Li Hao suddenly sensed faint threads of energy drifting through the void, flowing into his body.

This energy differed from the natural forces of heaven and earth—it was a force beyond perception.

After pondering it, Li Hao realized: this was incense worship.

(End of Chapter)