Chapter 334: The Supreme Saint Forces
"Is this his sword technique?"
On the other side of the battle stage, Chiguang, the woman in the cloud robes, and the purple-robed youth who had been defeated in the imperial palace earlier, were all watching Li Hao's match.
There was no grand, flashy battle; the fight ended in the blink of an eye. The opponent was too weak to force Li Hao to get serious.
Despite this, they still sensed that Li Hao's sword energy was infused with a powerful Dao rhythm, an extremely terrifying force.
"Not bad," Chiguang narrowed his eyes and sneered.
The woman in the cloud robes had a more serious expression. The Canghai Emperor had given Li Hao ten cities' worth of incense offerings and allowed him to select three top-tier techniques. Now it seemed clear why—he was indeed a formidable rival.
This was the Hundred Strong Battle, and Prince Luojia, who had been a prominent figure in the previous rounds, was defeated in mere seconds. More and more people began to take note of Li Hao.
Upon learning that Li Hao had recently been invited to become a consecrated member of the Canghai Divine Dynasty, many forces secretly marveled at how quickly the cunning Canghai Emperor had acted.
After Li Hao finished his match, he descended from the stage and continued to ponder the mysteries of his domain.
What he lacked now were cultivation techniques. Many factions extended olive branches to him, and Li Hao was considering whether to accept some of their offers.
There is a give and take with such offers. While these alliances could provide him with certain conveniences, they would also require him to offer corresponding help and reputation.
With the Canghai Divine Dynasty as his primary obligation, Li Hao could still manage, but if he took on too many, it would become a heavy burden.
The hardest debts to repay are favors.
"Excuse me, Young Master Qingfeng, may I approach for a conversation?"
While Li Hao was deep in thought, a graceful and noble woman approached his private seat in the spectator stands. Her voice was soft and pleasant, like the tinkling of silver bells.
Li Hao snapped back to reality and looked at her with some confusion. "And you are?"
"I have heard of Young Master Qingfeng's exceptional skill in painting. Have you ever heard of the Huayou Society?"
The woman wore a luxurious yellow gown and smiled as she transmitted her voice privately to him.
Li Hao remained calm and transmitted back, "How did you hear about this?"
"Naturally, it was from your painting display at the imperial palace."
Gui Qinshuang, seeing that Li Hao was inquiring about her identity, smiled and didn't hide anything, replying via voice transmission:
"My father is the Canghai Emperor, but my presence here has nothing to do with the Canghai Divine Dynasty. I came because I heard of your extraordinary painting skills and thought that you might be a fellow connoisseur of nature's beauty, someone who enjoys the pleasures of life. Thus, I wanted to ask if you would be interested in joining the Huayou Society."
Li Hao was somewhat surprised to learn that the woman before him was a princess.
She was extending an olive branch, but this was the first time someone had approached him not for his martial skills, but for his artistic talents.
"Huayou Society?"
Li Hao lifted the restrictions and allowed her to step closer, casually setting up a soundproof barrier around them.
"That's right. The Huayou Society was originally founded by two Supreme Saints. Though the Saints have since retreated into seclusion, the society is now managed by several Half-Saints. The Huayou Society is very relaxed; it doesn't require members to accumulate merit or carry out tasks. Instead, it's a gathering of like-minded individuals who discuss poetry, music, painting, and chess while appreciating flowers and other such leisurely pursuits," Gui Qinshuang softly explained.
Li Hao was momentarily taken aback. There was such an organization?
And it was founded by two Supreme Saints?
He was even more astonished. In the Land of Saints, Supreme Saints were revered as the highest beings. It was said that Saints were solely focused on the Dao, so it was surprising that they had time for such leisurely pastimes.
However, thinking of his master, the Sword Sovereign, who spent his time fishing in solitude, Li Hao found it somewhat understandable.
"Are you saying that the members are all enthusiasts of leisurely activities?"
Li Hao couldn't help but ask.
If it were a group of noble hedonists, he wouldn't be too surprised, but for it to be managed by Half-Saints and founded by Supreme Saints was indeed unusual.
Gui Qinshuang seemed to have anticipated his question and chuckled softly, "Young Master Qingfeng, with your mastery of painting, you too are one who finds joy in the arts. Beyond cultivation, shouldn't there be other pleasures in life? Otherwise, would we martial artists not become mere puppets of cultivation? Although the Huayou Society does not compete for fame or wealth like other forces, it is a group that no other faction would dare to provoke."
"There are two requirements for joining the Huayou Society. First, one must be at least in the Wen Dao realm. Second, one must possess at least one skill in the arts—such as music, chess, calligraphy, or painting—at a level recognized as masterful."
She continued softly, "Many in the world strive for cultivation and neglect their leisure, leaving little time for anything else. As a result, the members of the Huayou Society tend to be elites in their realm who have reached a bottleneck in their cultivation. The long passage of time requires them to find other amusements to fill the gaps in their lives."
She looked at Li Hao with a smile. "Young Master Qingfeng is no different, isn't that true?"
Li Hao hadn't expected to find others like himself. He felt a sense of kinship. No wonder this group was founded by Supreme Saints—despite merely exchanging artistic skills, the minimum requirement to join was being in the Wen Dao realm.
However, since there was a cultivation threshold, he suspected the society wasn't as simple as it seemed.
"If it's merely discussing art, I wouldn't mind participating," Li Hao replied.
He was currently short of worthy chess opponents. If he could find some highly skilled chess players in the society and elevate his chess to the ninth rank, his mastery of the Dao would also rise to the ninth rank. In turn, his Daoist skills and divine abilities would increase, perhaps even allowing him to glimpse the limits of the Wen Dao realm.
Gui Qinshuang laughed and said, "Young Master Qingfeng need not worry. The Huayou Society does not concern itself with competing for fame or incense. In the society, respect is based on artistic skill, not cultivation level. With your painting skills, many will certainly admire you."
"Are there any chess masters?" Li Hao asked.
Gui Qinshuang was startled for a moment before she laughed again. "Indeed, Young Master Qingfeng also dabbles in chess?"
"A little," Li Hao nodded.
Gui Qinshuang's eyes gleamed, and she said, "If you are willing, I will report to the vice president of the society."
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded. Although he suspected the society might be more complex than it appeared, there was no harm in finding out more.
Gui Qinshuang bowed respectfully and took her leave.
Some princes in the crowd recognized Gui Qinshuang and their expressions changed.
"That's the seventh princess of the Canghai Emperor. It's said that she serves a Saint and holds considerable influence among the princesses."
"Yes, despite her cultivation being ordinary, she excels in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is a master of embroidery. None of the other princesses dare provoke her."
"Who was she speaking with?"
"Don't you know? That's the newly recruited consecrate of the Canghai Divine Dynasty and one of the top contenders for the championship."
Whispers filled the crowd.
After Gui Qinshuang left, Li Hao planned to close his eyes and continue his meditation. However, he suddenly sensed intense flames outside the arena.
Looking over at another battle stage, he saw Chiguang unleash a fire-based divine ability, burning his opponent into a complete defeat.
This was heartfire, nearly impossible to counter below the Dao-Entering realm.
Li Hao glanced at it for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and resumed his cultivation.
As the first match concluded, three more followed, including one involving the purple-robed youth.
Li Hao hadn't expected to encounter him again in the Hundred Strong Battle. The purple-robed youth no longer bore the arrogance he had displayed in the imperial palace. Once, he had looked down on all others at the same level, but his humiliating defeat at Chiguang's hands had nearly shattered his Dao heart, humbling him greatly.
He bowed deeply to Li Hao and said, "Please!"
Li Hao didn't hold back and let him make the first move.
The purple-robed youth once again unleashed the extreme power he had shown in the imperial palace, along with the vague image of an ancient emperor.
A trace of ancient blood flowed within him, one of the reasons he could become a prodigy.
Seeing the phantom, Li Hao didn't use Lin Qingying's gentle sword technique but switched to the Sun and Moon Sword Technique of the Moonlight Saint Son.
Brilliant sword light shot forth like a dazzling, radiant sun, crashing down.
With a loud bang, the emperor phantom behind the purple-robed youth wavered and vanished. He was thrown against the barrier, his face pale.
"…"
He slumped to the ground, looking up at Li Hao, who had effortlessly defeated him with a flick of his sleeve. His eyes were filled with shock, quickly turning into bitter acceptance.
This prodigy, who had been given ten cities' worth of incense offerings, was no weaker than Chiguang. The purple-robed youth could deeply sense the terrifying power of that sword technique.
Moreover, it was a different sword technique from what Li Hao had used earlier. This was a much more domineering and fierce sword path!
"A second sword path?"
Li Hao's strike caused many in the crowd to narrow their eyes in surprise.
"He's mastered two sword paths?!"
Among the spectators, Li Qingyi and her companions were visibly astonished. Li Hao's previous sword technique had been gentle and elusive, impossible to touch. But now, this sword technique was fierce and overbearing, an entirely opposite force. He had actually mastered two different sword paths!
Although the two sword paths couldn't be combined to enhance destructive power, having two meant that facing Li Hao in battle would be much harder to defend against and counter.
Li Hao withdrew his hand and looked at the defeated purple-robed youth. After offering a brief bow, he left the stage.
The Sun and Moon Sword Technique was just one of many sword techniques he had integrated into his Weiming Sword Technique.
"This guy…"
Chiguang had also been watching this match, and his gaze became more serious. However, he quickly shook his head.
"Quantity is not quality. He's wasting his talent by dabbling in painting and other arts. He's taken the wrong path."
Chiguang's eyes held a hint of pity. Though Li Hao's talent was extraordinary and might not be inferior to his own, the tragedy was that he was too greedy. Chiguang had encountered many prodigies like this—those who, because of their talent, became arrogant and wasted their potential. In the end, they were lost to mediocrity.
As the matches progressed, the ten finalists were finally determined.
Li Hao advanced smoothly. Chiguang and the woman in the cloud robes also made it through, and despite the purple-robed youth's defeat to Li Hao, he won his other battles and joined the top ten as well.
Besides the four of them, the remaining six were also exceptionally powerful.
During the break in the tournament, Li Hao continued refining his domain within the tranquility of his courtyard.
He had finally finished practicing all the techniques he had collected from Han Hai Tower, and his domain had reached 220 layers.
Li Hao stretched his limbs. Just then, he sensed someone visiting outside the courtyard. Using his divine sense, he saw that it was the woman who had visited him earlier, so he sent a message to the royal guards stationed outside to allow her in.
"Young Master Qingfeng, the vice president has reviewed your artwork and has agreed to let you join."
Gui Qinshuang stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Li Hao.
Now that Li Hao had joined the Huayou Society, his status was higher than hers.
Had he remained merely a consecrate, even as a prodigy, she would have treated him with courtesy but without fear.
"This is your Huayou Token."
Gui Qinshuang raised her hand and presented a crimson token to Li Hao.
Taking it, Li Hao realized that the token was a treasure. When his divine sense touched it, countless Daoist melodies and imprints flowed from within.
These melodies recounted the history and rules of the Huayou Society.
Images filled Li Hao's mind: during ancient times, two towering, mist-shrouded Saints gazed down from the heavens. They were the founders of the Huayou Society, known only by their aliases, the Flower Fairy and the Wandering Immortal.
After they disappeared into seclusion, the Huayou Society was handed over to several Half-Saints for management.
The society's rules were simple: no internal killings, no using cultivation to oppress others—skill in the arts was the only measure of rank. Besides these, there were few other rules.
The Huayou Society's members were spread across the Thirty-Three Realms, but the total number was small—only 97 members. With Li Hao joining, there were now 98, meaning each realm only had two or three members on average.
Through the Huayou Token, members could communicate and sense one another. Additionally, the token contained the laws of Half-Saints, capable of aiding members in escaping danger. Unless their opponent was also a Half-Saint and extremely powerful, the token served as a potent life-saving treasure.
Li Hao returned to the present after absorbing the information from the Huayou Token. He now understood that Gui Qinshuang hadn't lied; the Huayou Society truly was a group formed by two Supreme Saints for the sake of leisure and enjoyment.
Li Hao also learned of the princess's identity. Although the Huayou Society did not compete for fame or profit and was relatively idle, most of its members had formidable backgrounds. As Gui Qinshuang had said, many were prodigious talents of their time, equivalent to the Saint Sons and Saint Daughters of a thousand or even several thousand years ago.
Such individuals had long established their reputations and possessed deep connections and influence, so it was no surprise that the Huayou Society had an extensive support network. Gui Qinshuang, for instance, was one of the people who served the society's members.
Individuals like her in the Huayou Society were known as "Butterflies."
Their role was to find and recruit those who met the society's criteria.
"Young Master Qingfeng, if you ever need anything, feel free to summon me. This is my personal token; as long as you are within the Canglan Realm, I will receive your message."
Gui Qinshuang took out another fragrant token and handed it to Li Hao, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Li Hao knew that the Butterfly members of the Huayou Society were tasked with fulfilling the needs of its members.
"Very well, you may go."
Li Hao accepted the token and nodded.
Gui Qinshuang bowed and took her leave, sneaking a glance at Li Hao as she left, thinking to herself that, with such a handsome appearance, she wouldn't mind fulfilling certain requests if he ever made them.
After she was gone, Li Hao extended his divine sense into the Huayou Token.
To his surprise, there was a chaotic space within the token where several shadowy figures stood.
Li Hao was intrigued as he observed, but then he heard someone call out, "A newcomer has arrived! Quickly, introduce yourself and bow to your seniors upon joining the Huayou Society!"
"Stop bullying the newcomer. What's your name, newcomer? What are you skilled in? Care for a game of chess with this old man?"
Li Hao saw two indistinct shadows conversing and was caught off guard. "What is this place?"
"This is a mindspace opened by the Supreme Saints. With the Huayou Token, you can enter from anywhere, except for certain forbidden ancient lands where dangerous laws still linger, reversing all common sense."
Another voice chimed in, this one belonging to a woman with a regal and elegant tone, as if she were an empress gazing down upon the world.
Li Hao's gaze swept across the space and saw the elegant silhouette of a woman. Though only a shadow, her mere outline suggested an ethereal grace that made him imagine her as a goddess walking among mortals.
A mindspace? This was Li Hao's first encounter with the abilities of the Supreme Saints, and he marveled at the fact that people scattered across the Thirty-Three Realms could communicate through a small token. It was incredible.
Considering the vastness of the Thirty-Three Realms, the Huayou Token's ability to facilitate real-time communication was astounding. If such an artifact were used on a battlefield in the mortal world, it would be an invaluable asset.
In the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, while there were rare treasures like the Eight Directions Communication Token for relaying urgent messages, they were limited and consumable. Although they were fast, they couldn't compare to the real-time interaction Li Hao was experiencing now.
"My name is Qingfeng. I dabble in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting," Li Hao introduced himself, using his alias.
"Whoa, quite a bold claim—master of all four arts? I'll have to test your skill in chess!" The voice of the old man from before now took on a challenging tone.
"Night Ancestor, stop trying to recruit people into your chess games!" scoffed the younger-sounding voice from earlier.
The elderly Night Ancestor grumbled, "It's because Green Ancestor is so incompetent! Last month, I beat him three times in a row. Originally, it was supposed to be best of one, but he kept raising the stakes to best of three, then best of five. Now he doesn't even show his face!"
"You stop spouting nonsense! I had just finished slaying a demon ancestor that day and wasn't in the best condition, so I accidentally lost to you!" an angry voice suddenly shouted.
Night Ancestor snickered, "Oh, so you finally dare to show yourself now that we have a newcomer, huh?"
"I've been recuperating from injuries! Do you think I'm afraid of you? Hmph! In a few days, when I'm fully recovered, we'll settle this once and for all. Same place as before!" Green Ancestor's voice boomed, full of indignation.
Night Ancestor laughed. "Fine, I'll be there waiting. Whoever doesn't show up is a coward!"
"…"
Li Hao listened to their banter, somewhat at a loss for words. He realized that those referred to as "Ancestors" were all Half-Saints.
These Half-Saints, who usually carried themselves with solemnity and gravitas, were surprisingly childish in private.
However, what truly surprised Li Hao was that they seemed to be well aware of each other's real-world identities and didn't bother to hide it.
Given the status of the Huayou Society members, there was indeed little need for secrecy. Most of what was shared in the society pertained to hobbies, not things that would inspire greed or envy.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Hao asked:
"If the Huayou Society is focused on arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, why don't we attract more individuals who lack martial cultivation but possess great skill in these arts?"
"Haha, that question! I've heard it at least thirty times already!"
"You've only heard it thirty times? I've heard it over fifty!"
The voices of Night Ancestor and the young man erupted into laughter.
Li Hao was taken aback but quickly realized that other newcomers must have had the same question.
"Every time a new member joins, they ask that question. It's unavoidable, so we don't mind explaining it again," the young man replied with a chuckle. "The reason is quite complex. First, mortals have limited lifespans. Even if they dedicate themselves to mastering an art, without cultivating martial skills, they quickly age and die before they can achieve great success."
"Second, if a mortal tries to cultivate martial skills but their realm is too low, they'll be too in awe of our power to have meaningful exchanges. It would make interactions stiff and unproductive. And finally—most importantly—though we indulge in the arts, we haven't completely abandoned martial cultivation. Sometimes we discuss martial insights among ourselves as well."
He paused and added, "I bet you're also wondering why Supreme Saints would bother with such leisurely pursuits, right?"
As he said this, his tone grew more serious.
"That's because, before they retreated into seclusion, the Supreme Saints said, 'The path to immortality is severed; better to enjoy a drunken journey through the mortal world.' That's the origin of our Huayou Society."