Chapter 464 - 460: Unstoppable
All eyes were instantly drawn to the Saint War Platform.
Lin Hao was too audacious, showing no regard for the Saint Institute’s dean. And the dean, in a bid to save Yin Duwen, had actually chosen to intervene.
Everything had completely surpassed everyone’s expectations.
The scene that unfolded next was even more shocking.
The Saint Institute’s dean struck at Lin Hao’s Divine Soul. But at almost the exact same moment, the Divine Soul’s other hand reached out from within the endless Chaos Qi.
The hands of Lin Hao’s Divine Soul were incredibly small and translucent, more delicate and crystalline than those of a newborn baby.
But it was this pair of small hands that left everyone stunned.
The dean’s attack posed no threat whatsoever to Lin Hao’s Divine Soul. The hand striking toward Yin Duwen didn’t even pause for a fraction of a second.
The next moment, that small, crystalline hand pressed down on Yin Duwen’s head.
SPLAT!
Blood blossomed across the Saint War Platform.
The distinguished first elder of the Saint Institute had actually fallen, just like that!
The onlookers were dumbstruck.
Meanwhile, the Divine Soul’s other hand pointed at the dean of the Saint Institute from a distance, rendering him immobile.
Just as Yin Duwen fell, the dean’s body also vanished from the Saint War Platform.
"No wonder. That was one of the dean’s Primordial Bodies," someone remarked, having seen through the illusion.
"Even if it was just a Primordial Body, it’s still astounding! To think that the dean’s Primordial Body had absolutely no power to resist Lin Hao’s Divine Soul!"
"The Saint War Platform suppresses one’s realm. When the dean’s Primordial Body entered the platform, it could only exert the strength of the Fifth Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm. At the same level of strength, the dean was actually no match for Lin Hao’s Divine Soul!"
"The dean hasn’t made a public appearance in decades, and his cultivation had already reached the Spirit Transformation Realm several decades ago. For Lin Hao to not fear him at an equal level of strength is terrifying... absolutely terrifying!"
"Peerless in the same realm... I fear Lin Hao has truly achieved invincibility among his peers. Perhaps in the entire Cangnan Empire, only Lin Wu might be able to contend with him."
"Lin Wu? He’s nothing but a thief. Even his bloodline belongs to Lin Hao. What right does he have to be compared to him?"
The result on the Saint War Platform left countless people dazed.
It wasn’t just them. In the highest cluster of buildings in the Saint Institute, four white-haired and white-bearded old men were also shaken by the scene that had just transpired.
"To think someone’s Divine Soul could take a humanoid form... I’ve lived for over fourteen hundred years and have never heard of such a thing!"
"The moment his Divine Soul appeared, it generated an aura that could crush all creation. That aura made even my heart palpitate."
"Chaos Qi! I actually saw Chaos Qi! For a Divine Soul to be wreathed in Chaos Qi... even the Great Emperors of old were probably no different!"
"The Chaos Qi around his Divine Soul is the result of a post-natal Cultivation Technique, but that is still astounding! Even Duanwu is no match for him at the same realm. I’m afraid that if it were us fighting him at the same level, we too would be utterly defeated. This boy is truly a world-shaking prodigy!"
Then, the four elders spoke four words in unison: "Peerless among his peers!"
After speaking, the four men looked at each other and then shared a smile, though it was impossible to know what they were thinking.
The next moment, the room where the four had been was empty, and the Saint War Platform began to descend from the sky above the Saint Institute.
During the battle between Lin Hao and Yin Duwen, all those with lower cultivation levels had taken refuge inside the buildings. Now, they all came out, eager to find out the result.
Seeing Lin Hao still standing, they were all petrified.
Some began to impatiently ask their acquaintances what on earth had just happened.
A moment later, the entire Saint Institute erupted in an uproar.
"Heavens, did I hear that right? Lin Hao’s Divine Soul is so formidable that even the dean was no match for it when he intervened?"
"Are you sure you’re not kidding me? Lin Hao’s Divine Soul forced the dean to retreat empty-handed?"
"Elder Yin actually died at Lin Hao’s hands, and with the dean present, no less! Isn’t Lin Hao a bit too bold?"
"Lawless, simply lawless. Lin Hao’s actions are the perfect definition of that word. But Elder Yin wasn’t just the first elder, he was also the dean’s biological younger brother. Isn’t he afraid the dean will seek revenge once he comes out of seclusion?"
"..."
Almost everyone was talking about Lin Hao, all of them shocked by his actions.
But Lin Hao, acting as if nothing had happened, found Duan Wushuang and asked her to help arrange for a quiet place.
While Duan Wushuang was still pondering, a white-haired and white-bearded old man appeared.
"Young man, I happen to know of a quiet place. Would you be willing to go?" the old man asked Lin Hao with a pleasant expression.
Before Lin Hao could answer, he saw Duan Wushuang’s eyes widen abruptly upon seeing the old man.
"Thank you, Senior," Lin Hao said respectfully, cupping his fist.
At first glance, this old man had no aura at all, but he gave Lin Hao a sense of profound reverence, like looking up at a great mountain.
’His cultivation is absolutely terrifying!’
"Good!" After speaking that single word, the old man’s figure flickered and vanished from before Lin Hao.
Lin Hao’s eyes flashed, and he too vanished from the spot.
One after the other, the two transformed into streaks of light and instantly sped into the distance.
"Who was that just now? Why have I never seen him before?" a disciple asked in confusion after the two had disappeared.
No one could answer this question, but the visitors from the five great divine sects quietly let out a breath.
When that old man had appeared, an invisible pressure had enveloped them, so much so that they hadn’t even dared to breathe too loudly.
All of them had the feeling that if the old man were to attack, they wouldn’t last a single move against him!
Gazing in the direction the old man had left, their expressions were extremely complicated.
’That old man was clearly someone from the Saint Institute. This Saint Institute is truly full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.’
What annoyed them even more was that the old man had clearly taken an interest in Lin Hao. Regardless of his intentions, Lin Hao would be absolutely safe for the time being.
At this moment, the only one who knew the old man’s identity was Duan Wushuang.
Seeing this old man appear for Lin Hao’s sake, a flash of excitement appeared in Duan Wushuang’s eyes.
Just now, Lin Hao had clashed with the dean, showing him no face at all, and Duan Wushuang had been worried for him. But now, the old man’s appearance allowed Duan Wushuang to completely set her worries aside.
Because this old man’s appearance represented the preliminary approval of the Saint Institute’s Guardian. This held an extremely profound significance.
’I hope Lin Hao can pass the initial assessment,’ Duan Wushuang prayed in her heart, staring in the direction the two had gone.
Meanwhile, Lin Hao was in pursuit of the old man, and the two were already several thousand meters away.
The more he chased, the more shocked Lin Hao became, because he had now begun to execute the complete Heaven-Stepping Step.
Although the recent battle had somewhat affected his Body Technique, the old man’s speed was simply too fast. So fast that Lin Hao couldn’t catch up even by giving it his all.
However, Lin Hao did not give up. Gritting his teeth, he pushed on, channeling his emperor-grade technique with all his might. His speed increased once more, and the mountains and rivers below rapidly receded.
Lin Hao was shocked, but he didn’t know that the old man ahead of him was even more astonished.
The old man’s original intention was not to test Lin Hao’s speed, so the power he was using was far beyond the Soul Gathering Realm. But for Lin Hao to actually be closing the distance while injured—this had greatly exceeded the old man’s expectations.