Chapter 1032: The Blood of the Qilin (Qilin Bloodline)
At the same time, upon learning the names on the Sword Discussion list, cultivators from various factions had mixed feelings.
Some sighed in relief, some gloated, while others lamented, sighing that Taixu Sect was suffering from ill fate and misfortune—unable to grasp even their one chance.
Taixu Sect, Sect Master's Chamber
"Why does it have to be Shen Linshu…?"
The sect masters of the Three Mountains gathered, their expressions grim.
In these last two matches, as long as luck was on their side and they avoided the handful of formidable opponents, their chances of winning would have been significant.
But fate had its own way—what they feared the most had happened. Their opponent turned out to be the toughest one of all.
"The ancestors don't bless us at all…"
Sect Master Chongxu sighed softly.
Sect Master Tai'a pondered, "Do you think there's a chance of winning?"
Chongxu cast him a glance. "You're a sect master, and you don't know the background of Shen Linshu?"
Tai'a's gaze stiffened, and he remained silent.
Chongxu spoke in a low voice: "The Four Geniuses of Qianxue… In theory, they are already on an entirely different level from ordinary disciples."
"Top-grade spiritual roots, top-tier cultivation methods, and the purest spiritual energy circulation."
"Their talent in cultivation, inheritance, and resources—there's simply too great a gap."
"All of this already makes them exceptional."
"But the Four Geniuses of this generation are even more absurd compared to previous ones…"
Chongxu's brows furrowed tightly as he continued, "Because within them… flows secret bloodlines…"
The moment the word "bloodline" was spoken, the atmosphere grew heavy.
After a brief pause, Chongxu sighed and elaborated:
"The Cai Phoenix bloodline of the Duanmu family, the Half-Step Karma Dragon bloodline of the Ao family, the Dustless Sword bloodline of the Xiao family, and the Qilin bloodline of the Shen family…"
"In past generations, not just among the Four Geniuses, but across the entire Qianxue domain, having even one genius awaken an innate bloodline was already an incredible feat."
"But this time, there are four… In the past, this was unimaginable."
"This is why the Four Great Sects are so confident."
"Bloodlines are something the Dao Court does not wish to disclose, and noble families keep them as a closely guarded secret, yet they undeniably exist."
"There are those in this world who are simply born superior."
"They are favored by the heavens from birth, carrying extraordinary bloodlines that awaken progressively as they cultivate…"
"In fact, in a certain sense, these individuals may not even be considered entirely 'human'."
"Those who bear these bloodlines—if they practice spell arts, they can break through all techniques; if they cultivate body arts, their flesh becomes indestructible; if they train in swordsmanship, their sword hearts connect with the celestial…"
"The difference between them and ordinary cultivators is like the heavens and the earth, separated by an insurmountable chasm."
"But more importantly…"
"Each of them has had a Longevity Life Talisman personally placed on them by their clan's Void Refining ancestor."
"A Longevity Life Talisman— is that just an ordinary thing?"
"Even within great noble families and top sects, it's only granted once in several centuries—reserved for a single prodigy."
"It safeguards their vital essence, ensuring their longevity, as a sign of how much they are treasured by their clans."
"The common folk watch the Sword Discussion for entertainment, but only a few understand the deeper implications behind it."
"They may not see the truth, but how could we, as sect masters, be ignorant?"
"Defeating such top-tier geniuses— how easy could that be?"
The three sect masters fell into silence. The higher one's status, the more secrets one knew—and the heavier the weight of the word "bloodline" became. Even so, a trace of unwillingness lingered in their hearts.
Especially in Tai'a Sect Master's, who said: "This is a defensive battle. Taixu Sect is defending the city, and that child Mo Hua is extremely skilled in formations. Maybe…"
Chongxu shook his head. "There is a sliver of possibility, but don't get your hopes up."
"To be blunt, even when you and I were in the Foundation Establishment realm, we might not have been able to defeat someone like Shen Linshu."
"Indeed… this is too much to ask of these children." Taixu Sect Master sighed. "Let them do their best."
Tai'a Sect Master also nodded. "Winning would be great. If we lose… then we accept our fate."
"If the ancestors do not bless us, it is not because the disciples did not try…"
...
...
Taixu Sect, Disciple's Quarters.
Mo Hua stared at the Sword Discussion list, pondered for a moment, and let out a soft sigh:
"So unlucky…"
In the Earth Division of the Sword Discussion, he had already fought against three of the Four Geniuses of Qianxue: Xiao Wuchen from the Heavenly Sword Sect, Ao Zhan from the Dragon Cauldron Sect, and Duanmu Qing from the Wanxiao Sect.
He hadn't won a single match. And now, here came Shen Linshu from Qiandao Sect. This meant he had truly faced all four of Qianxue's Four Geniuses. His luck was beyond terrible.
Sword Discussions were already challenging, but the difficulty he was facing was practically "hell-level." Such matchups were expected in the Heaven Division. But in the Earth Division, being assigned these opponents was simply outrageous.
"Could it be that someone tampered with the Dao Discussion Celestial Instrument, deliberately targeting me?"
Mo Hua frowned and muttered to himself. Of course, at this point, there was no use dwelling on that. The key issue was tomorrow's match. How should he fight? Could he actually defeat Shen Linshu?
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, lost in thought.
He had only met Shen Linshu once, but even from that brief encounter, his instincts told him that Shen Linshu's talent and cultivation were extraordinary.
A battle against Shen Linshu would undoubtedly be incredibly difficult. But that wasn't even the biggest problem. The real issue was—even if he won against Shen Linshu, then what?
If he won this match, then won one more, and if luck was on their side and any of the Four Great Sects suffered two consecutive defeats…
Then, and only then, could Taixu Sect barely squeeze into the top four of the Earth Division. And after that? What about the Heaven Division?
Based on the current advancement rate, very few disciples from Taixu Sect would make it into the Heaven Division.
The Heaven Division would become an exclusive battlefield of the Four Great Sects. Taixu Sect would face an uphill battle.
Every step forward would mean being surrounded and hunted down by the Four Geniuses.
And even if Mo Hua managed to never lose a single match in the Heaven Division, it still wouldn't change the outcome. The Heaven Division victories carried far greater weight.
Taixu Sect's foundation was too weak, and their top disciples simply couldn't compete with the Four Great Sects. Their final ranking… could only be so high.
At first glance, it seemed like Taixu Sect was slowly climbing toward the level of the Four Great Sects…
But in reality, the closer Taixu Sect got to that goal, the further away Mo Hua himself drifted from his goal—becoming the first in the Sword Discussion.
So far away that it was beginning to feel… hopeless.
Mo Hua's brows knitted tightly.
What he wanted was first place in the Sword Discussion.
That meant his true opponents were the very best prodigies in all of Qianxue. His karmic intuition told him that there was still a sliver of hope somewhere…
But as things stood, even making it into the Earth Division's top four seemed nearly impossible.
And the Heaven Division? That was practically a dead end. If the situation continued like this, a real victory was impossible.
Mo Hua lay on his desk, unable to suppress his frustration, even feeling helpless.
His strength was no longer weak. He had learned formidable skills. And yet… he still felt a sense of powerlessness.
The heavenly fate was obscure. Karma was uncertain. The path ahead was unknown. A trace of confusion flickered in Mo Hua's heart.
He pulled out a copper coin, rubbed it in his palm, and murmured in his heart:
"Master… how can I save you…?"
But the copper coin remained still—there wasn't the slightest ripple of karma.
...
...
The Next Day at Noon, the Sword Discussion with Qiandao Sect Began.
The next day at noon, the sword duel with Qiandao Sect began.
Outside the Dao Discussion Mountain, the crowd was as massive as ever.
The number of spectators was even greater than during the previous duel between Taixu Sect and Daluo Sect.
The previous duel determined whether Taixu Sect could firmly hold its position as the "foremost of the Eight Great Sects."
But today's duel carried even greater weight—it concerned whether Taixu Sect had even the slightest chance of advancing into the ranks of the Four Great Sects.
Both duels were of immense significance.
Debates over the outcome were endless.
Most people believed Taixu Sect was bound to lose.
A few cultivators, however, thought Taixu Sect still had a fighting chance.
The core reason was that, for Taixu Sect, this was a "defensive battle."
For most, a defensive battle meant being at a disadvantage. But for Taixu Sect, it provided an edge.
"That brat Mo Hua—annoying as he is—his formation skills, which let him 'stand above all others,' make him as effective as the top geniuses of the Four Great Sects in a defensive battle."
"I have to admit, that's true."
"And he also has that so-called 'sword control'..."
"Come on, you call that 'sword control'?"
"No sword techniques, no sword energy, just one sword—just to blow it up. What does that even have to do with swords?"
"That barely qualifies as 'sword control.' Don't embarrass yourself."
"Call it whatever you want, but it's still powerful, isn't it? Didn't that guy from Daluo Sect get killed in one strike?"
"True, that guy was killed in one strike..."
"One strike indeed..."
Thus, because of a single sword duel, Ye Zhiyuan of Daluo Sect—the once-famous sword prodigy of Qiandao Sect—had been reduced to simply "that guy."
People might not remember his name, but they all remembered his "feat."
He was the one who was "killed in a single strike."
"So, this duel—Taixu Sect still has a shot."
"Even if they lose, at least it'll be entertaining."
Hearing this, the crowd nodded in agreement. And so, with this anticipation, the duel began.
An assault-and-defense battle.
Qiandao Sect attacked. Taixu Sect defended.
The city wall's defensive formation had already been upgraded by the elders of Dao Discussion Mountain—now a third-grade Golden Stone Formation—to prevent Mo Hua from blowing up the wall again.
Fortunately, the elders had such foresight. Otherwise, Mo Hua had considered detonating the city walls once more—burying Shen Linshu along with them.
The only thing he had to be mindful of was leaving an exit for the City Lord's statue.
As long as the statue remained intact, even if the walls were obliterated and everyone perished together, Taixu Sect would still be declared the winner. Unfortunately, the elders had already blocked this "cheap trick" from happening.
Mo Hua had no choice but to defend properly this time.
However, it soon became clear that everyone, including Mo Hua himself, had underestimated the power of Shen Linshu—the Kirin-blooded prodigy.
At the peak of Foundation Establishment, Shen Linshu's spiritual energy was as vast as the ocean. He wore an embroidered black-and-white Taoist robe with golden accents, his jet-black hair flowing, his face as fair as jade, his eyes gleaming with violet light.
With a single sword strike, a surge of purple energy swept forth—majestic as if descended from the heavens.
Qiandao Sect's "Purple Qi Golden Scale Sword Art."
This was a long-lost, top-tier sword technique. It had been lost because cultivating it required the ancient Kirin bloodline.
For centuries, neither the Shen family nor Qiandao Sect had produced a prodigy with Kirin blood.
So, the technique had remained sealed for hundreds of years.
Until now.
Shen Linshu's generation had birthed a prodigy.
On the Fangtian Mirage Projection, the spectators saw, for the first time, Shen Linshu fighting seriously.
And also, for the first time, his Purple Qi Golden Scale Sword Technique—uniquely altered by his bloodline.
Purple Qi rises from the east, bloodline manifests into swords.
Auspicious clouds gather, the Kirin descends.
A seemingly simple strike, yet its purple-gold sword energy surged like a mighty river—unstoppable, like a rainbow piercing the sun. Ouyang Xuan stood no chance.
Linghu Xiao's Chongxu Sword Energy couldn't hold up either.
Cheng Mo and Situ Jian didn't even dare to challenge him head-on.
The outer city gate was breached, forcing Taixu Sect into retreat—falling back to the inner city.
The inner city stood tall. Above its gate, five-colored spiritual energy flowed, formation patterns flickering with deep radiance.
Five layers of second-grade, nineteen-pattern high-tier formations, all defensive, all of the Five Elements.
Within the city walls, Mo Hua sat cross-legged, his expression serious.
Before him lay three Tai'e Mountain-Splitting Spirit Swords—prepared for long-range assassination via divine sense control.
One wall apart, the two sides faced off.
One side: A top-tier sect, a prodigy with a supreme bloodline, wielding the Kirin Sword Art.
The other side: The foremost formation master, high-tier second-grade formations, and an unusual divine-sense sword control technique.
Everyone felt a tightness in their chest.
They knew—the true battle was just about to begin.
Taixu Sect, for the sake of securing a place among the Four Great Sects, would fight to the death.
Old grudges between Qiandao Sect and Taixu Sect would be settled once and for all.
This was a duel that everyone had been waiting for.
But what followed was... disappointing.
Qiandao Sect—or rather, Shen Linshu—was simply too strong.
Compared to him, Taixu Sect seemed fragile beyond measure.
Taixu Sect's disciples couldn't withstand Shen Linshu.
Mo Hua's formations and "sword control" proved ineffective.
His flying swords—guided by his divine sense—rose into the air. With a flick of his finger, they shot forth, a dim streak of light heading straight for Shen Linshu's heart.
The strike was fast, precise, and powerful.
But it wasn't Mo Hua's first time using this technique.
His "sword control" had been recorded in detail, studied, analyzed, and countered.
Even countermeasures had been documented in the "Countering Mo Hua's Sword Control Manual."
"Sword control relies on surprise."
The more unexpected it was, the deadlier it became.
But the more predictable it was, the weaker it became.
Especially against a top-tier prodigy like Shen Linshu.
Before Mo Hua's flying sword even reached him, Shen Linshu sensed it.
With an indifferent expression, he swung his sword—unleashing a surge of purple-gold sword energy that intercepted the attack. The flying sword exploded mid-air.
However, its sheer speed allowed it to approach within ten meters of Shen Linshu before detonating.
Fragments and sword energy scattered outward, engulfing him.
But as the dust settled—Shen Linshu remained unharmed.
A protective aura of spiritual energy surrounded him.
Beneath his skin, faint golden patterns flickered—ancient and mysterious. Kirin blood shielded him.
The remnants of the sword explosion couldn't even scratch him.
Not even break the golden patterns on his body.
Mo Hua tried twice more. Both times, Shen Linshu neutralized his sword control.
Mo Hua's formations fared no better.
Though second-grade, nineteen-pattern high-tier formations were indestructible for most Foundation Establishment cultivators, they meant nothing to top-tier geniuses.
Especially Shen Linshu, whose bloodline-enhanced sword energy had already reached near-Golden Core level.
One strike after another, his purple-gold sword energy crashed into Mo Hua's formations.
The formations trembled. Their patterns dimmed. The city gates quaked.
And Shen Linshu's spiritual energy seemed endless. Eventually, Mo Hua's formations were all shattered.
The city gates collapsed into ruins.
Qiandao Sect charged into the inner city, heading straight for the City Lord's statue.
Cheng Mo and the others tried to stop them, but they were no match for Qiandao Sect's prodigies.
One by one—Cheng Mo, Situ Jian, Ouyang Xuan—fell in battle.
Even Linghu Xiao, after enduring numerous battles, had improved drastically—managing to clash swords with Shen Linshu for a few exchanges.
But it wasn't enough. He, too, was soon defeated and slain. This one-sided duel was utterly tragic. Now, only Mo Hua remained.
Shen Linshu, face as fair as jade, walked toward him. Mo Hua met his gaze, calm and unwavering.
At this point, the Tai Xu Sect was once again left with only Mo Hua.
Shen Linshu, whose face was as refined as jade, walked slowly to stand before Mo Hua.
Mo Hua met his gaze calmly.
For the first time, the two stood face-to-face in a direct confrontation on the Sword Debate Stage.
Despite having gone through a series of intense battles, Shen Linshu remained brimming with spiritual power. His breath was steady, his expression unchanged, and his eyes carried a detached arrogance, as if he looked down upon all things.
From the beginning of the debate, he had not spoken a single word.
But now, standing alone before Mo Hua, he could not hold back any longer. His indifferent gaze sharpened slightly as he slowly spoke:
"Is this your formation?"
"Is this your sword control?"
"Is this the inheritance of the Tai Xu Sect?"
"Is this... your strength?"
"With just this, you dare participate in the Sword Debate?"
"A few small tricks, some petty underhanded methods—winning against a few ordinary talents, and that makes you happy?"
Mo Hua remained silent.
Shen Linshu's eyes showed disappointment. "Forget it. It's like playing the lute to a cow..."
His voice, though calm, carried a sharp edge. "One without enough vision will never reach the top."
"The position among the Four Great Sects is not something your Tai Xu Sect can covet."
"The Sword Debate Conference is not a place for you. You should focus on your formations, be the leader of your path, and paint your arrays instead..."
"But now..."
Shen Linshu raised his longsword, its tip wrapped in a dazzling purple-gold glow, and pointed it straight at Mo Hua's forehead.
"Will you end yourself, or do you want to die by my sword?"
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then raised a hand and touched the Dao Debate Jade on his forehead.
Shen Linshu's eyes grew even more disappointed.
"This match is crucial for your Tai Xu Sect."
"Your teammates are all dead."
"And yet, even now, you refuse to fight to the death? Just to save yourself a shred of dignity?"
"Are you really this afraid of death?"
"I truly overestimated you..."
Shen Linshu's voice was indifferent, carrying a lofty contempt.
Mo Hua remained expressionless. Silently suppressing the killing intent in his heart, he concealed the sharpness in his eyes. He gave Shen Linshu a faint glance before channeling his spiritual power—shattering the Dao Debate Jade.
With the jade broken, Mo Hua admitted defeat and withdrew from the stage.
Shen Linshu silently watched where Mo Hua had disappeared, his gaze cold and indifferent. Then, with a backhanded swing of his sword, he shattered the Tai Xu Sect's "City Lord Statue," which was the key to victory.
The bell of the Dao Debate rang—the Sword Debate had ended.
Tai Xu Sect was defeated.
The spectators from the Tai Xu Sect looked despondent.
Zhang Lan and the others shook their heads, sighing in resignation.
This outcome was not unexpected.
But still, seeing the Tai Xu Sect completely defeated and that last sliver of hope extinguished left a bitter taste in their hearts.
Among the ordinary spectators, some mocked Tai Xu Sect's delusions and ridiculed Mo Hua's incompetence.
Yet, even more people sighed in admiration:
"So this is a true top-tier prodigy..."
"Shen Linshu..."
"In the face of overwhelming strength, all tricks and schemes are meaningless. Tai Xu Sect lost, but it wasn't unfair—the gap in strength was simply too great."
"Honestly, Tai Xu Sect isn't weak, but unfortunately, their opponent was just too strong..."
"This is the Jianxue State—the sects' grand Sword Debate..."
"There's Shen Linshu, but also Xiao Wuchen, Duanmu Qing, Ao Zhan..."
"And Da Luo Sect's Ye Qingfeng isn't bad either..."
"If we keep counting, there are even more geniuses..."
"This year's Sword Debate might be the most talent-filled one in centuries… We're lucky to witness it..."
"Truly an era of great contention, with talents rising everywhere..."
...
...
The Sword Debate had ended.
The Sword Debate had ended.
The atmosphere in the Tai Xu Sect was heavy.
Losing the battle against Qian Dao Sect meant that their only chance of advancing to the Four Great Sects was now completely severed.
Even if the Four Great Sects lost every match from this point on, Tai Xu Sect would still have no more opportunities.
But there was nothing to complain about.
Shen Linshu was simply too strong.
Mo Hua and the others had already done their best.
In this kind of match, it didn't matter who was sent up—the outcome was inevitable.
Although Senior Brother was powerful, he wasn't truly "all-powerful."
Asking him to single-handedly defeat Shen Linshu was just bullying—there was simply no way to win…
But after the initial disappointment, everyone gradually began to relax.
Though they had lost, Tai Xu Sect still held the top position among the Eight Great Sects—that was already good enough.
In cultivation, one must learn to be content.
There were only four Great Sects.
But the position of first among the Eight Great Sects belonged to only one.
That was something many sects could only dream of. Even Tai Xu Sect, which had long been coasting in the lower ranks, had never imagined they would one day become the leader of the Eight Great Sects.
Thinking this way, their moods became much calmer.
Now, only the final match of the Earth Rank Sword Debate remained.
But this match no longer held much significance.
Winning wouldn't allow them to advance any further.
Losing wouldn't be a major setback either.
For all intents and purposes, the Earth Rank Sword Debate had already "ended."
Next would be the Heaven Rank Sword Debate.
…
Inside the disciples' quarters.
Mo Hua steadied his thoughts and reviewed the gains and losses of the day's Sword Debate, recording Shen Linshu's sword techniques and bloodline abilities onto a jade slip.
After that, he focused entirely on the upcoming Heaven Rank Sword Debate.
For him, that would be the true trial.
How should he approach the Heaven Rank Sword Debate?
How could he take first place?
At present, the chances seemed impossibly slim—truly as difficult as reaching the heavens.
But no matter how difficult, he had to grit his teeth and push forward, one match at a time.
If he fought, there was still a chance.
If he didn't, defeat was certain.
Mo Hua began listing out his remaining trump cards on the jade slip, along with the essential strategies he would need for the Heaven Rank Sword Debate.
His entire mind was focused on this upcoming challenge.
And he was not alone—throughout the Jianxue State, any sect with the potential to advance to the Heaven Rank Sword Debate was making their final preparations.
The last Earth Rank match no longer affected the overall situation, so few paid it any attention.
But just then…
Late night, Dao Debate Mountain.
The vast arena was shrouded in darkness.
On a high platform, a forbidden zone where no one else was allowed near—
The Dao Debate Celestial Apparatus was operating alone, tracing the threads of karma.
It was slowly deducing the final match lineup for the Earth Rank Sword Debate.
Soon, a faint light flickered upon the celestial apparatus, and through the engravings of karmic patterns, the final match's names were gradually imprinted onto its surface.
Suddenly, the flow of energy shifted violently—
A crack appeared in the dark night.
In the unseen void, a poppy flower bloomed in silence.
Amidst coiling chains, a bloodstained, sinister purple-black infant's hand—corrupt and malevolent—pressed down upon the Dao Debate Celestial Apparatus…
(End of this Chapter)