72: Defeated Saint-level successor

Ancient City of Discussion, Dao Seeking Platform.

Spectators had already surrounded the Dao Seeking Platform, making it impossible to pass.

On the platform, Lin Hao's green robes remained, and his expression was as calm as still water.

Opposite him stood a young man in a brilliant star-patterned robe, with a handsome face yet an innate arrogance—Bei Chenxing, a direct descendant of the Saint-level Force "Big Dipper Sword Sect," hailed as the leader of the younger generation of Sword Dao, whose cultivation had reached the seventh layer of the Heavenly Soul Realm!

"Lin Hao?" Bei Chenxing's gaze swept over Lin Hao like cold lightning. "I heard you obtained some superficial knowledge from an ancient Sword Immortal and dared to call yourself a Saint?

Today, I'll let you know what true supreme Sword Dao is!" His tone was arrogant, completely disregarding Lin Hao.

Lin Hao did not get angry; he simply slowly drew the ancient sword "Void Severer" from his waist. The sword hummed clearly, in perfect harmony with his heart.

"The Sword Dao is boundless; I dare not claim supremacy.

But the sword in my hand can sever illusions and question the true self. Please."

"Hmph, sharp-tongued!" Bei Chenxing pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly tapped the air. "Take my first Move, Meteor Stab!"

Buzz! A highly condensed, stream of starlight Sword Qi, as fast as a meteor, tore through the air, leaving subtle black traces in its wake, piercing directly towards Lin Hao's glabella!

This Move's speed and penetrating power reached their peak; an ordinary Heavenly Soul Realm Middle Stage cultivator would likely be pierced through before they could even react!

Gasps of surprise rose from below the platform: "So fast!"

"As expected of the Big Dipper Sword Sect's Meteor Stab!"

"Can Lin Hao block it?"

Lin Hao's eyes narrowed slightly; this Move from his opponent was indeed impressive.

But instead of retreating, he advanced, drawing an profound arc with his Void Severer sword. The sword tip precisely struck the weakest 'point' in the Meteor Sword Qi's flow of power!

Ding—!

With an extremely crisp clang, the seemingly indestructible Meteor Sword Qi instantly disintegrated into countless specks of starlight, like a popped bubble!

"What?!" Bei Chenxing's arrogant expression froze. Although his Meteor Stab was not his ultimate Move, it was the first time it had been broken so easily!

"You have some skill! Now, behold my 'Star River Cascade'!"

He drew his longsword, and its light surged, transforming into a vast and brilliant river of stars, sweeping towards Lin Hao with an overwhelming Aura that crushed everything in its path!

Before the Sword Qi even arrived, the heavy Sword Momentum caused the entire Dao Seeking Platform to tremble slightly. Everyone below felt their breath catch, as if they were beneath a starry sky, insignificant as dust.

"It's the Star River Cascade, one of the Big Dipper Seven Swords! They say once this sword is unleashed, it's like a star river pouring down, unstoppable!"

"How can he block that?"

Facing this vast Sword Momentum, Lin Hao took a deep breath, his eyes becoming even more focused.

He raised his Sword Intent to its peak, becoming one with his sword, transforming into a tiny yet incredibly condensed azure sword thread, like a fish swimming upstream. The next moment, he actively shot into the magnificent Star River Sword Qi!

"Is he crazy? How dare he enter the Star River's interior?"

"This is courting death!"

However, Lin Hao's Sword Heart Clarity allowed him to perceive the flow and flaws of every strand of power within the Star River Sword Qi.

His sword thread flexibly weaved through it, each light tap precisely severing a critical power node, each slash guiding parts of the Sword Qi to collide and cancel each other out!

From the outside, countless tiny whirlpools and turbulences seemed to appear within the vast Star River Sword Qi. The originally seamless Sword Momentum began to become sluggish and chaotic!

Bei Chenxing's expression changed again; he felt his Sword Momentum was trapped in an invisible spiderweb, its power constantly being dissipated and divided!

"How is this possible?!

His control over Sword Qi has reached such an intricate level?!"

Just as the power of the Star River Sword Qi was weakened to its extreme, the azure sword thread that Lin Hao had transformed into suddenly burst into brilliant light!

"Void Severer—Shatter Illusions!"

The sword thread condensed all of his Sword Intent and power, transforming into a fine line that seemed to cleave heaven and earth, fiercely tearing apart the entire Star River from within!

Rumble—!!

The brilliant Star River broke in two, collapsing with a roar, turning into a sky full of shimmering starlight!

Lin Hao's figure reappeared, standing with his sword, his breathing slightly hurried, but his eyes remained bright and firm.

Bei Chenxing let out a muffled groan, retreating three steps. His sword-holding hand trembled slightly, and his face was filled with shock and disbelief.

His two killing Moves had been broken by his opponent in such a clever, rather than brute force, manner!

"You... what kind of Sword Dao is this?!" Bei Chenxing stared intently at Lin Hao.

"My Sword Dao is not in form, but in intent. The intent to protect, the heart to shatter illusions, that is my sword." Lin Hao replied calmly. After continuous fierce battles and the baptism of the Sword Immortal's Relic, his Sword Dao had long transcended mere Moves, focusing more on will and essence.

Bei Chenxing's eyes flickered, eventually replaced by a ruthless glint: "Intent? In the face of absolute power, will is but a joke! Take my Big Dipper Sword Sect's supreme absolute art—Big Dipper Immortal Slaying Sword Formation!"

He roared, and behind him, seven brilliant star phantoms appeared, corresponding to the Big Dipper!

Seven terrifying Sword Intents, distinct yet complementary, soared into the sky, forming an incredibly profound Sword Formation that enveloped the entire Dao Seeking Platform!

The crowd below erupted in an uproar!

"It's the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation! Bei Chenxing actually mastered it!"

"Legend says that once this Formation appears, it can slay powerful enemies beyond one's cultivation level! Lin Hao is in danger!"

Lin Hao felt the destructive power contained within the Sword Formation, and his expression also became solemn.

He slowly closed his eyes, communicating with the Sword Soul in his Sea of Consciousness, recalling the wisp of Immortal Dao Sword Intent that could tear through the Void Realm, which he had felt in the Sword Immortal's Relic.

"My sword does not seek to slay immortals; it only seeks... a clear conscience, to cut down all obstacles in my path!"

He suddenly opened his eyes, and two tangible small swords seemed to shoot out from them!

The Void Severer sword in his hand let out an unprecedentedly clear sword hum, and the ancient patterns on its blade all lit up!

He condensed all his essence, Qi, and spirit, as well as all his insights into the Sword Dao, into this single Move!

There was no fancy Move name, only the simplest, purest strike—a direct thrust!

Man and sword became one, transforming into an eternal sword light that seemed capable of piercing through time and space, ignoring all Formation obstacles, and fiercely shooting towards the core of the Sword Formation, the connection point of the seven great star phantoms!

Chii—!

Like a hot knife cutting through butter, the seemingly flawless and infinitely murderous Big Dipper Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was pierced through by this eternal sword light, which condensed all of Lin Hao's Sword Dao will!

The Sword Formation trembled violently, the seven great star phantoms flickered erratically, and finally let out a wail, collapsing with a roar!

"No—!!!" Bei Chenxing let out a desperate and unwilling roar. With the Sword Formation broken, he suffered a severe backlash, spitting out a large mouthful of fresh blood, his face pale as paper, his Aura instantly withered, and his longsword clattered to the ground.

The sword light dissipated, and Lin Hao stood with his sword, his face also pale, a trace of blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, clearly having expended a huge amount of energy.

Lin Hao, at the fourth layer of the Heavenly Soul Realm, actually directly defeated Bei Chenxing, who was at the seventh layer of the Heavenly Soul Realm and had unleashed the Big Dipper Immortal Slaying Sword Formation?!

"Sword Heart... this is true Sword Heart!" Below the platform, an elder Sword Cultivator watching the battle murmured, his eyes filled with admiration.

Bei Chenxing stared blankly at the sword on the ground, then looked at Lin Hao. In the end, he said nothing, stumbled off the stage, his figure filled with desolation.

He knew that in his understanding of the Sword Dao, he had lost.

Lin Hao slowly adjusted his breathing. This battle gave him a deeper understanding of his own Sword Dao.