205 Chapter 19 Recommendation
“After all, they are just youngsters.”
“People chase after fame and fortune, not elegant like the two of us.”
The two young shrine attendants chuckled and conversed in light laughter.
Li Hao, who had walked far away, heard them and turned back. He grabbed a few pieces from the Go chip box and tossed them onto five spots on the board. Then he huffed and strode away.
“You brash youth, you…”
The young shrine attendant playing with the white pieces was furious and about to scold him when the boy had already gone far. Angrily averting his gaze, he was about to clean up the disrupted pieces but noticed his friend across the board staring blankly at the game.
To his surprise, he looked down and immediately realized that the difficult situation he was facing had been reversed. The placement of the five pieces had opened up a new territory for him.
The key was that one less and they would be isolated pieces, undetectable.
“This…”
…
After wandering around, Li Hao found himself bored and saw that Ren Qianqian’s soul continuation ritual wasn’t over yet. He immediately asked an old shrine attendant to tell the young girl who had just gone in to wait for him here after she comes out and not to wander off.
Handing over two pieces of silver, the old shrine attendant happily accepted and promised to pass on the message.
Li Hao then left the martial shrine with his sleeves flapping in the wind, walked confidently into the city, and found a bustling tavern to inquire about Grandmaster Bai Chunhai.
The tavern was packed with guests, buzzing with activity. At a staircase inside, a candle hung suspended, its flame flickering and dancing. Below the candle, about half a meter down the rope, hung an exquisite dagger inlaid with amber gems.
Downstairs, many people were egging each other on.
Li Hao glanced twice and realized that the tavern was holding a promotion amid the liveliness. If someone could remove the dagger without the candle flickering, it would be given to them for free.
Just from the gemstone on the dagger, one could tell that it was worth a fortune, no wonder it attracted so many people.
Li Hao had no interest in the dagger. He went up another staircase and found a place by the railing to sit down.
He looked around, filtering out the many noises and continuously selecting the various whispers he could overhear.
His hearing was sharp, and even the talk outside the tavern, nearby teahouses, and passersby on the streets didn’t escape his ears.
Even the whispers of some people were clearly heard.
Like a couple of women at a table below and behind him whispering: The youth by the railing is quite handsome…
Li Hao’s mood was instantly uplifted.
Suddenly, he heard the three words “Bai Chunhai” coming from a table in front of the window. Curious, he saw three figures sitting there, two women and one man, whispering to one another:
“The master has challenged Grandmaster Bai Chunhai to a fight. After the Grandmasters’ Conference is over, they will exchange moves on Heavenly Sword Peak.”
“Bai Chunhai’s palm technique is said to be supernatural, able to hit a snow-laden tree and shatter the tree without the snow trembling. I wonder if it’s true or false.”
“Maybe it’s just his disciple bragging…”
Li Hao’s eyes sparkled, and he immediately got up and approached their table:
“Pardon my intrusion, but do you know Grandmaster Bai Chunhai?”
Their conversation abruptly ceased, and their expressions changed slightly, seemingly not expecting someone to overhear them talking behind their backs.
“Are you his disciple?”
The three looked up at Li Hao with unfriendly expressions. When they saw he wasn’t much older than themselves, they let out a sigh of relief.
Talking behind someone’s master and actually fighting are different things. Given this youth’s age, he probably wasn’t a match for them.
“No, I just want to meet him,” Li Hao replied, shaking his head.
The three were momentarily stunned and exchanged glances, relaxing a bit.
“You’re here to seek apprenticeship with him, aren’t you?”
The girl in a plain white dress, who looked gentle and spoke softly, asked.
Li Hao looked at her in surprise and then realized that the Grandmasters’ Conference, aside from attracting grandmasters from across the world, also drew many young martial artists who admired and sought apprenticeship.
Such as young masters and ladies from declining noble families or newly-risen families, all traveling thousands of miles to find a master and learn.
After all, with so many grandmasters around, one was bound to meet one or two if they were lucky.
Li Hao smiled, not offering an explanation, and said, “Do you know where I can find him?”
“What’s it to you whether we know or not, why should we tell you?”
The girl in an orange dress, more delicate but with a fiercer demeanor, glared at Li Hao. She was clearly unhappy that he had just overheard their conversation.
The young man in the middle didn’t intervene but simply said:
“If you wish to seek a master, wait outside the venue after the Grandmasters’ Conference, and you’ll naturally get to see him.”
Seeing their unfriendly attitudes toward Li Hao, the girl in the white dress just glanced at him without saying anything more.
Li Hao wasn’t offended. He pulled out the remaining half bag of silver and said, “Please do me a favor and guide me there.”
“Who cares for such a small amount of money?”
The girl in the orange dress glanced at it and snorted. As she turned her head, she happened to see the dagger hanging by the spiral staircase. She pointed at it casually:
“If you’re serious, get that dagger down for me, and I’ll tell you.”
The young man, knowing his sister was deliberately making it tough for this youth, had tried himself and couldn’t do it.
“Ling’er.”
The girl in the white dress softly called the younger girl by her name and apologetically said to Li Hao, “I’m sorry, we can’t just disclose information about Grandmaster Bai Chunhai. If we were to be blamed…”
“A dagger, is it? Sure thing,”
Li Hao smiled and hurriedly retrieved the half-bag of silver, to avoid wasting money.
Although the dagger was more expensive than the money he had, in his view, money or treasures were just conveniences meant for himself. As long as they were useful, that was all that mattered.
With his current strength, earning money was easy; he could kill a few demons and accumulate a considerable fortune, always able to live like a wealthy family’s scion, free and happy.
Seeing Li Hao turn and walk downstairs,
The trio was taken aback, exchanging looks in bewilderment. Zhou Ling’er snapped out of it and couldn’t help saying, “Is he an idiot, really thinking he can get it?”
“He probably didn’t read the rules clearly, thinking it’s enough to leap up three Zhang high,” the young man shook his head and said with a slight sneer.
In the midst of the conversation, the three still got up and went to the railing to watch.
Li Hao reached the downstairs area, where many people were eager to try their luck.
To take on the challenge, one had to first order a ‘Gold and Jade Full Hall’ set meal, which served as a challenge ticket.
This familiar routine made Li Hao feel somewhat nostalgic.
He spent ten silvers to buy a set and didn’t wait for the food to arrive before stepping into the challenge area.
The gazes of the surrounding people immediately converged on him. When they saw Li Hao’s age, the jeering grew louder, thinking he was just another noble scion unable to resist showing off and wanting to give it a try.
The money in these young nobles’ pockets was always the easiest to earn.
A middle-aged man, who seemed to be the restaurant manager, enthusiastically explained the rules to Li Hao, continuing to vigorously enhance the atmosphere.
Li Hao didn’t wait for the crowd to start their clamor before he lightly leaped up. Under the eyes of the whole floor, he drifted up like a breeze and gently plucked the dagger tied above the candle.
According to the rules, those within the Fifteen Li Realm were forbidden to compete; one couldn’t retrieve the object by controlling it with their power—what was tested was the pure foundation of Martial Arts.
Therefore, even if one’s cultivation level had reached the Divine Travel Realm, if their martial arts skills were average, it would be difficult to keep the candle flame steady.
However, at this moment, as Li Hao landed, the candle flame was still burning quietly, its tip straight as an arrow.
Li Hao gave a slight smile to the stunned restaurant manager and turned upstairs with the dagger in hand.
A brief silence in the restaurant erupted into noise, and the entire place emitted sounds of shock. Countless gazes followed the young man’s figure.
Li Hao climbed upstairs and handed the dagger to Zhou Ling’er, who was standing by the railing with a stunned expression. He smiled and said, “Please show me the way.”
Zhou Ling’er and the two regained their senses. They had all seen it clearly; the candle flame had not wavered at all, and Li Hao’s approach seemed not to have stirred a single breeze.
“How did you do that?” Holding the dagger, Zhou Ling’er couldn’t help but ask dazedly.
The young man’s eyes widened as he sized up Li Hao, himself a genius of the Qiankun List who couldn’t achieve such a feat, yet this youth had managed it.
Could the other party also be from the Qiankun List?
Li Hao felt the attention around him growing, and once again he said, “Please show me the way.”
The three snapped to attention, and the young man took a deep look at Li Hao and said, “Please follow us. Grandmaster Bai Chunhai should be with our master, but I can’t guarantee we will meet him.”
“Alright,”
Li Hao agreed.
The young man led the way, taking them out of the restaurant.
The restaurant manager watched them leave and ultimately restrained the urge to come forward and plead. In recent days, it was best not to provoke the young lords visiting Dayue City, as it was easy to kick against an iron plate.
Zhou Ling’er kept sizing up Li Hao along the way. Although she was temperamental, she had great respect and admiration for those with formidable strength, peppering him with questions one after another.
“How exactly did you do that?”
“What’s your name?”
“Where are you from?”
Li Hao didn’t answer, feeling as if a bee was buzzing near his ear.
The young lady in the plain white dress also stealthily observed Li Hao, her eyes filled with curiosity. Among her peers, she had rarely seen someone so formidable.
Before long,
under the young man’s lead, they arrived at the Grandmasters’ Debate Platform in the city, where the place was bustling and already surrounded by spectators.
All the inns around were fully booked.
In a restaurant with a stage set up for plays, the young man found their master—a short-statured middle-aged man who looked like a Grandmaster, named Zhou Haitang.
The young man introduced Li Hao and whispered the events at the restaurant to him.
Zhou Haitang, who was listening to the play, looked up at Li Hao and then chuckled, “May I ask, young master, whence you hail and how you are addressed?”
“Ji Hao,”
Li Hao simply said.
Zhou Haitang pondered for a moment; this name wasn’t on the Qiankun List. It seemed likely he was a new member of a renowned family, which Li Hao’s age seemed to suggest.
“You’re only a surname away from that unparalleled genius on the Qian Dragon List,”
Zhou Haitang chuckled slightly and said, “Do you wish to become Bai Chunhai’s disciple? I too have some proficiency in martial arts; would you be interested?”
Zhou Ling’er and the others looked at him in surprise, not expecting their master to be so opportunistic and actually wanting to take the young man under his wing right away.
However, considering the martial prowess that Li Hao had displayed, if he were to join, perhaps he could even surpass them in skill more quickly.
Thinking this, the three felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
“I’m not here to become a disciple,”
Li Hao shook his head slightly: “I would like to purchase a painting from him.”
“Oh?”
Upon hearing Li Hao’s words, Zhou Haitang appeared somewhat astonished.
After all, he was a Grandmaster of the Tianren Sect, and to have his personal invitation refused was unexpected.
However, considering what his apprentice had just said, this youth’s ability to approach the candle flame without disturbing it demonstrated a solid foundation in martial arts. Once he steps into the Fifteen Li Realm, his chances of advancing to the Heavenly Human Realm would be much greater than those so-called cultivation prodigies.
Such talent, if not a prodigy, must have been nurtured by a prestigious sect.
“Buying a painting? What painting?”
Zhou Haitang asked with a slight lift of his eyebrows.
Li Hao shook his head slightly and replied, “The painting is in Bai Chunhai’s possession, I’ll need your assistance to introduce me.”
“You seek him out not to become an apprentice, but only to ask for a painting?”
“Yes.”
Zhou Haitang couldn’t help but size up Li Hao, while Zhou Ling’er and the other two beside him also looked at Li Hao with great surprise.
With the Grandmaster right before him, all Li Hao had to do was nod, and he could instantly become his disciple—an opportunity of immense value.
“Then you’ll just have to wait. That old fellow hasn’t arrived yet; he’s probably on the way here. Wait for the Grandmaster event three days from now; he will surely appear, and you’ll have the chance to meet him then.”
Zhou Haitang picked up a teacup from beside him, sipped lightly, and spoke indifferently.
Picking up the tea also signified the act of bidding farewell.
Since Li Hao had no intention of apprenticeship, he would not press the matter.
A steed often finds itself, but Bole, the great horse tamer, does not come by often.
Having received the information about Bai Chunhai, Li Hao had no desire to linger. He obtained the address of Zhou Haitang’s inn and then left the restaurant.
The three apprentices followed him out, and Zhou Ling’er said in frustration, “My father rarely wants to take disciples; how can you be so unaware of good fortune, or do you already have a master?”
“?”
Li Hao looked at her puzzled.
“Ling’er.”
The young man hastily pulled Zhou Ling’er aside and apologized to Li Hao, “I’m sorry, she speaks too directly. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Li Hao couldn’t be bothered with them anymore, having already cleared his debt with the gift of the dagger and their guidance.
Without saying much more, Li Hao turned around and walked towards the Martial Temple to see if Ren Qianqian’s Soul Succession had ended.
“His martial arts foundation is profound; he must come from a famous sect,” the young girl in a simple white dress murmured as she watched Li Hao’s departing figure.
Hearing this, Zhou Ling’er felt some shame and annoyance, retorting, “Is my father not considered a prestigious sect? What do you mean by that?”
The girl in the white dress snapped back to reality, startled, and quickly explained, “Of course, that’s not what I meant…”
“Hmph!”
…
When Li Hao returned to the Martial Temple, he saw Ren Qianqian under the eaves outside the temple, holding her sword and looking around.
Li Hao waved to her.
Seeing Li Hao, the girl immediately ran over with a joyful smile.
“How’d it go?”
“A predecessor from the Four Stands Realm noticed my swordsmanship and said I was a worthy candidate.”
Ren Qianqian couldn’t hide her delight. That she was chosen by the only spirit of the Four Stands Realm in the temple was remarkable.
Even though her father was a Grandmaster, advancing the soul to the Four Stands Realm was challenging. This was one of the most elite Soul Succession qualifications outside the Royal Family.
She had joined Tan Palace Academy to undergo Soul Succession there, but doing so comes with some constraints.
But in the Martial Temple, the conditions for Soul Succession are much more relaxed.
The spirits’ only requirement was generally one: to stand and fight when Dayu Divine Dynasty faces danger!
But over 3,000 years of the dynasty, even if there was a crisis, it usually happened at the borders and was dealt with and resolved by the Divine General Mansion. Thus, this condition was virtually inconsequential.
Unless one voluntarily joined the army and went to establish themselves on the frontier.
“Four Stands Realm, not bad,” Li Hao said with a smile.
“It’s thanks to the Sword Intent you taught me. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to catch that predecessor’s eye,” Ren Qianqian said, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Li Hao.
Li Hao responded with a smile, “It’s all your own understanding; I merely pointed you in a direction, that’s all.”
Ren Qianqian shook her head slightly; she didn’t see it that way, but didn’t argue with Li Hao, instead, she silently took note of his words.
“So, where do we go next?”
“We’ll wander around, eat, play, and wait for the Grandmaster event to begin in three days,” Li Hao said. “By the way, we can also listen to what unfolds at the event to see how these Grandmasters perform in their martial arts. It will help you when you step into the Heavenly Human Realm.”
“Great!” Ren Qianqian’s face lit up with joy.
Li Hao immediately took her away from the Martial Temple, and the two strolled leisurely through the streets, casually observing and enjoying the local culture and customs of Liangzhou City.
That evening, a boisterous event took place in the city.
A contest for the rankings.
Competitors sparred on fighting stages to achieve rankings and received rewards offered by the city’s lord.
With Grandmasters gathering from all over and attracting talents from different provinces, it was even more grandiose than the previous Tan Palace Academy’s recruitment, and the city was packed with people everywhere.
The numerous prodigies had no outlet for their meeting except for idle discussions, so the local city lord launched this event as a warm-up for the upcoming Grandmaster gathering.
The contest only allowed three realms, from the Soul Succession Realm to the Fifteen Li Realm.
Anyone below the Soul Succession Realm need not exhibit their skill; simply cracking seeds and watching from below the stage sufficed.
Li Hao had little interest in such excitement; if he were to take the stage, those within the Fifteen Li Realm wouldn’t match a single finger of his—a mere bullying of children indeed.
However, with Ren Qianqian having just completed her Soul Succession and brimming with enthusiasm, Li Hao couldn’t bear to dampen her spirits, so he still accompanied her to the venue, arriving at the outskirts of the Soul Succession Realm’s stage.
“It’s you again?”
By sheer coincidence, Li Hao encountered Zhou Ling’er from earlier in the day.
With her was the white-dressed girl, Xu Wan’er; both were of the Soul Succession Realm. After hearing the news, they hurriedly finished dinner and came here, both eager to test their skills.
Their senior brother headed for the Divine Soul Realm’s stage, intending to compete and exchange insights with the talents from various provinces.
“Young Master, do you know them?”
Ren Qianqian stood on her tiptoes to look ahead, only turning towards the noise with a bit of surprise.
“Just met.”
Li Hao said.
“Why are you here? Are you also in the Soul Succession Realm?”
Zhou Ling’er, seeing the indifference in Li Hao’s expression, raised her eyebrows slightly, saying mockingly.
Xu Wan’er, however, was curiously sizing up Li Hao. Hearing the address of young master, and combining Li Hao’s actions during the day, casually giving away a valuable dagger and mentioning buying paintings from a Grandmaster… He indeed seemed like a wayward and carefree rich young master.
“Hmm?”
Ren Qianqian, detecting the tone of disrespect, took a step forward and said coldly, “You shall not be impolite!”
Zhou Ling’er was taken aback and sensing her momentum, which was also from the Soul Succession Realm, she couldn’t help but say with a solemn face, “And who are you, her maid?”
Ren Qianqian just stared at her coldly without answering.
Zhou Ling’er, irritated by her gaze but also realizing Li Hao’s identity wasn’t simple—otherwise, why would he casually gift her a renowned dagger just for guiding him to Bai Chunhai—restrained her temper with only a cold snort.
At this moment, cheers erupted from the platform as the audience cheered for a match that had just ended, with one contestant admitting defeat.
“Let’s go, we should head over as well.”
Zhou Ling’er immediately said to Xu Wan’er, and after finishing her remark, she glared at Li Hao and said, “That skill you showed earlier with the dagger, do you want to get on the stage and spar with me? If you win, I’ll admit defeat.”
Li Hao glanced at her with some boredom. This little girl really hadn’t been roughed up before; she had been utterly spoiled.
“Is someone like you even qualified to challenge my young master?”
Ren Qianqian frowned and responded coldly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling’er’s nose flared with anger. “If your young master is so formidable, why doesn’t he go to the Fifteen Li Realm’s platform instead of coming here? If you’ve got the skill, get up there and let’s see the truth through combat!”
“If you want to fight, I’m enough to keep you company.”
Ren Qianqian said.
“You? You’ve only just reached Soul Succession, haven’t you? Don’t say I’m bullying you.”
Zhou Ling’er laughed with anger and leapt onto the stage.
“Young master, I will go and deal with her,” Ren Qianqian said to Li Hao.
“Then be careful,” Li Hao told her. “She’s at the fourth layer of the Soul Succession Realm, you’ve just entered Soul Succession and are not yet fully accustomed to it. Be careful, and don’t hurt her.”
Xu Wan’er, who was nearby, was stunned at Li Hao’s words, wondering if she had heard wrong.
This young man could obviously see Ling’er’s realm, yet he instructed someone who had just reached Soul Succession not to injure Ling’er?
“I’ll be careful,” Ren Qianqian said.
She then leapt onto the platform as well.
The previous victor had already left the stage to rest, and with Zhou Ling’er and Ren Qianqian stepping up, cheers immediately burst out from below.
“Aren’t you worried?”
Xu Wan’er, seeing the nonchalant expression on Li Hao’s face, couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
“I am a little worried,”
Li Hao responded with a smile to the girl in the plain white dress, his impression of her not bad, “I just hope she doesn’t strike too hard and cry when she chops up your little treasure.”
“…”Xu Wan’er was at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, the competition on the stage had begun.
Zhou Ling’er showcased her martial display, impressively having reached the Four Stands Realm as her cultivation foundation for the Soul Succession, her presence filled with formidable momentum.
Ren Qianqian also brought forth her martial display to defend against her opponent’s intimidation, then unsheathed her own sword and dashed forward—the one she wielded was her own.
Dragon Soar, however, had been returned to Li Hao before ascending the stage.
The sword light flickered, with countless sword movements swirling, pouncing forward like beads of rain.
Zhou Ling’er, startled, drew her knife quickly, and a clanging sound of metal against metal ensued. But swiftly, a sword streak slipped through the knife’s shadow, resting at Zhou Ling’er’s throat.
The battle was over.
Below, Xu Wan’er watched in astonishment. She had truly won!
Wasn’t that girl just at the beginning of Soul Succession Realm?
And what was that swordsmanship? It was so complicated!
On the stage, Zhou Ling’er still gazed at the sword blade in front of her, her face reflected on its snowy white edge, filled with confusion.
Ren Qianqian glanced at her, then pulled her sword back into its sheath with a swoosh, turned around, and said to the crowd below, “Please grace me with your advice.”
Clearly, she wished to continue the challenge, inviting other talents to the stage.
The exchange with Zhou Ling’er had been merely a warm-up for her.
Despite a discrepancy of four layers within the same realm, and having just stepped into the Soul Succession Realm without time to practice and consolidate, her swordsmanship was far superior to that of her opponent.
The clash of sword and knife seemed fierce, yet she never truly opposed with direct force, instead using finesse to deflect strength before securing victory with a single strike.
Hearing Ren Qianqian’s words, Zhou Ling’er snapped out of her daze. She blushed with shame and frustration, her eyes moistened, biting her lip as she rushed off the platform.
“Ling’er.”
Xu Wan’er, seeing this and forgetting her desire to compete, hastily followed after her.
On the stage, with Ren Qianqian’s call to battle, someone quickly joined her on the platform.
Before long, another fierce battle commenced.
Ren Qianqian defeated four opponents in succession but was finally bested by a woman at the Eighth Layer of the Soul Succession Realm.
Seeing Ren Qianqian stepping off the platform with a slightly disheartened expression, Li Hao chuckled and said, “When your cultivation level is more solid and you grasp the true essence of your Thousand Feathers Sword Skill, you could have won just now.”
“The true essence… it’s too difficult,” Ren Qianqian sighed.
Li Hao felt somewhat helpless as well. After all, she was defeated only after crossing eight layers within the same realm against another prodigy. Why did she still feel aggrieved?
“Young master, if you fought using only the power of the first layer of the Soul Succession Realm, how many moves would you need to win?”
Ren Qianqian suddenly looked at Li Hao, her eyes filled with hope and curiosity.
She knew that Li Hao was a prodigy, terrifyingly quick in his cultivation. She understood that catching up to him in realm was impossible, but she wanted to chase the shadow of Li Hao’s past.
“Me?”
“`
“One move.”
Li Hao thought for a moment, and said with a fairly reasonable tone.
Ren Qianqian’s eyes sparkled, and she did not doubt Li Hao’s words, since Li Hao’s swordsmanship was far beyond hers; she had barely managed to exchange a few blows with him.
“What about the tenth layer of Soul Succession Realm?” she pressed further.
“One move.”
“…And what about someone just stepping into the Divine Travel Realm?”
“One move.”
“…”
Seeing the stunned look on Ren Qianqian’s face, Li Hao smiled, turned around, and said, “Let’s go. It’s time to return and rest after enough fun.”
Ren Qianqian snapped out of her daze and hastily followed in Li Hao’s footsteps, asking, “Young Master, are you serious? By swordsmanship?”
Li Hao knocked on her head, “Don’t compare yourself to me.”
His Zhou Tian Realm had opened up great meridians and he possessed a top-notch Qi Circulation Skill. This power was sufficient to support him in combat across realms.
Adding to that, the Soul Condensing Skill from the Soul Succession Heaven and Earth was very difficult to replicate. Even just the first layer of the Soul Succession Realm, the frequency of condensing soul figures, could match a person from the fifth layer of the Realm.
Combined with the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse, he could defeat a martial artist who had just entered the Divine Travel Realm in one move.
If he were to use swordsmanship, the calculation would become much more complicated.
Ren Qianqian held her sword with one hand and covered her head with the other, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
But she also knew that Li Hao was right; comparing herself to him could easily shatter her own martial heart.
“You should follow your own sword path without making comparisons to others,” Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian was struck by this thought. Follow her own sword path, without comparisons… She looked at the silhouette of the young man ahead and silently wondered to herself, was he doing the same?
As the two left, another scene unfolded at the Divine Travel Realm arena.
A group of figures gathered, and suddenly, one of the women paused in her step.
“What’s wrong, Yue Yao?” Lin Feifei asked curiously.
“I thought I saw Li just now.”
Song Yueyao stopped and looked toward another direction.
“Isn’t that the Soul Succession Realm arena there?” Lin Feifei looked in the direction of her gaze, puzzled.
Song Yueyao saw the shifting figures there, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, before she gently shook her head and withdrew her gaze:
“Indeed, I must have seen wrong.”
With someone of his realm, why would he be at the Soul Succession Realm arena?
She redirected her thoughts and said, “Let’s take this opportunity to witness the prowess of the Divine Travel Realm warriors from various states.”
“Yes.” Lin Feifei’s eyes were keen as she focused on the Divine Travel Realm arena, eager with anticipation.
For martial artists, it is rare to be without a competitive spirit.
Time passed quickly.
Li Hao and Ren Qianqian found an inn to stay in the city. They ate, drank, and roamed about, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
During these three days, Ren Qianqian went to the Soul Succession Realm arena for challenges and exchanges, achieving good rankings but not making it into the top ten.
After all, her own realm was too low. She had just stepped into Soul Succession and hadn’t had the opportunity to practice and refine her Soul Condensing Skill, making her hold on the realm superficial, hardly possessing any of the power of the Soul Succession Realm.
Those who chased the top ten rankings were mostly those who had achieved perfection in the Soul Succession Realm, and they were either talented disciples from famous sects or fortunate ones who received opportunities from the old man beneath the cliff.
Li Hao did not continue to accompany her afterwards, but wandered around the city in search of famous paintings and chess manuals.
The results were somewhat surprising for Li Hao; although he did not find any chess manuals, in searching, he stumbled upon two famous paintings in a wealthy family’s home.
Regrettably, one of the paintings was a forged imitation and could not be collected, while the other was an authentic work of a great master in the Art of Painting, titled “Thousand Sails Passing the River.”
This wealthy family was not short of money, collecting calligraphy and paintings purely out of personal liking. Li Hao’s silver became useless, and to take something someone loved, he had to exchange it for something else.
He thought of secretly incorporating the painting before leaving, but once a painting was added to the collection, it would rot away quickly and no longer exist in the world.
The wealthy man was warm and generous, so Li Hao dismissed this idea.
Luckily, the wealthy man’s son was a martial arts fanatic who enjoyed practicing martial arts. Li Hao displayed his skills with ease, suppressing the martial instructors in the man’s courtyard, impressing them and the man’s son. He then agreed to find a famous master for the son, in exchange for the painting, should the agreement succeed.
Therefore, when the Grandmaster Conference began on this day, beside Ren Qianqian, Li Hao was also accompanied by this wealthy family’s young son, who was of a similar age to Li Hao, named Han Wu.
“That over there is the Grandmaster Path arena, but we don’t have invitations and can’t enter the inner area,” Han Wu explained. He seemed quite familiar with the rules of the Grandmaster Conference, having studied them thoroughly. His eyes sparkled with life and admiration as he looked at the figures of the Grandmasters inside with great reverence.
“Don’t worry, we can get in,” Li Hao said.
Li Hao had already started walking towards the inner area.
He didn’t have an invitation, but being in the Celestial Master Realm, he could enter directly.
At the entrance, two identical young men from Tianji Tower stopped the trio, their attitude polite, asking Li Hao to show his invitation, treating the three as if they were young disciples accompanying their master or scions seeking to study under a master.
Li Hao had no invitation, but he simply lifted his hand and flicked the dragon-patterned drum beside him.
This drum, wrapped in demon hide and dragon scales, could not be vibrated by anyone below the Grandmaster Realm. With a mechanism inside that required a precise touch, even someone at the pinnacle of the Fifteen Li Realm would have a hard time creating even a small sound with brute force, to say nothing of Li Hao’s seemingly effortless flick.
As the drum boomed with a hum, the twin young men were immediately startled and then astonished, their eyes widening as they looked at Li Hao.
Han Wu, who had followed behind Li Hao, jumped in shock as well, gaping in amazement.
He had seen Li Hao in action, suppressing the martial instructors, but had only thought that Li Hao was in the Divine Travel Realm, since being of such an age and in the Divine Travel Realm was already considered extraordinary. But to think he was actually in the Celestial Master Realm?
“You, you couldn’t be…”
The twin young men snapped back to their senses, their pupils suddenly constricting in shock as they stared at Li Hao.
“`
They had never seen the legendary figure of Qingzhou, but at such a young age, he had reached the Grandmaster Realm. In the entire world, apart from that youth, there seemed to be no second person!
“We should be able to go in now, right?”
Li Hao said.
The two youths came to their senses, overwhelmingly excited, and hurriedly made way for Li Hao.
Ren Qianqian had long known about Li Hao’s realm; she simply wore a smile at this moment. Han Wu, after being momentarily stunned, quickly came to his senses and hurried to catch up, flustered and eager to ask questions but fearful of disturbing Li Hao.
After they entered, several figures slowly approached from a distance, noticing the scene of the youth’s entry. The young man leading them, wearing a kasaya, narrowed his eyes slightly.
…
This Grandmaster dojo was not set up at the city center but next to a river outside of the protective moat.
This river, in the Grand Liang State, was extremely famous, called the Dragon River.
The Dragon River meandered for seven thousand miles, crossing over half of Liangzhou, connecting more than a dozen cities.
At this moment, the river rushed, churning up layers of muddy yellow water.
Next to the Dragon River was a majestic Dao Platform, and when the river waters surged rapidly, they would splash some waves on the edge of the platform.
In such a grand and dangerous place, one’s spirit could soar with grand ambitions and heroic feelings.
Grandmasters contending with heaven and earth, such an environment was suitable for resonating with one’s state of mind.
In the inner area outside the Debate Platform, figures stirred. Although only Grandmasters and their families could enter this inner area, the number of Grandmasters gathered from all over the world, plus the fact that each Grandmaster could bring five others in, made the inner area bustling.
Some acquainted Grandmasters recognized each other, exchanged pleasantries, and also introduced their disciples or the young masters and misses brought in with rich sponsors’ money.
Li Hao looked around and saw not only the atmosphere of martial arts but also the intertwining of fame and fortune.
Ren Qianqian and Han Wu looked around, inevitably feeling a bit nervous and uneasy, as everyone present was a powerhouse who had founded schools in various places. Those in the Three Immortal Realms were on a level that transcended ordinary people, with one foot stepping into the realm of legends.
“Come on, let’s find a place to sit down first,”
Li Hao said, leading the way to an empty table which also had snacks and drinks.
He casually tasted one and found the flavor to be average, so he did not take a second piece.
“Young master, you couldn’t possibly be the fifth-ranking person on the Qian Dragon List from the Divine General Mansion…”
After sitting down, Han Wu looked around for a moment and, unable to contain his excitement, asked Li Hao in a low voice.
Li Hao shook his head slightly, “You’re overthinking it.”
You can’t fool me… Seeing Li Hao deny it, Han Wu silently chuckled, convinced in his mind.
Although his father always scolded him, saying, “My foolish son, why do you insist on practicing martial arts? Isn’t it better to inherit my vast wealth honestly?” he felt he wasn’t foolish at all; it was his father who was foolish. In these times, when demons roam free, what use is mere wealth? Power is supreme!
He wanted to turn his family, from his generation onward, from a family of wealthy merchants into a martial arts household.
The ancestors of those families, too, had mostly transformed in this way. Once the transformation succeeded, the family records would start being written with him.
And right now, the chance to rewrite those family records was right before his eyes.
“Young master, why don’t you take me as your disciple?” Han Wu said, and was about to rise and kneel before Li Hao to perform the apprentice’s salute.
But before his knees touched the ground, he was lifted by a force. A smile played on Li Hao’s mind; this young fellow wasn’t very old, but he had a merchant’s shrewdness.
“I don’t take disciples,” Li Hao said.
“I am hardworking, charitable, and willing to do anything…”
Han Wu hurriedly added, about to showcase his virtues.
Li Hao quickly stopped him, saying, “I don’t have the time to teach, and even if you took me as your master, it would be useless.”
If it were teaching chess or painting, he might have been interested, but teaching martial arts genuinely bored him and tortured his soul.
If it were not for Ren Qianqian’s following him for thousands of miles from Qingzhou, he would not have offered guidance.
“Young master…”
Han Wu showed a sad face, attempting to squeeze out a few tears: “Actually, I lost my mother when I was young…”
Li Hao was somewhat speechless, was this kid trying to burst into song?
“Huh? How did you guys get in?”
Just then, a surprised voice rang out.
Li Hao, finding the voice familiar, turned to look and saw Zhou Haitang approaching with his disciples.
Zhou Ling’er’s expression changed slightly when she caught Ren Qianqian’s gaze, a flash of annoyance flickering in her eyes. She was, after all, a Grandmaster’s daughter but had been beaten by someone who had just entered the Soul Succession Realm, a humiliation of the highest order.
She didn’t know whether to avoid the gaze or meet it, and with frustration in her heart, she angrily turned her gaze onto Li Hao.
“Zhou,”
Li Hao didn’t look at the young girl beside him but greeted Zhou Haitang with a slight bow, a polite acknowledgment, yet he didn’t rise from his seat.
After all, they were both Grandmasters, and according to the customs of the Martial Artist world, they could be considered peers.
Unless they were from the same family, they would have adhered to seniority in their salutations.
Zhou Haitang’s eyebrows slightly furrowed at Li Hao’s action, interpreting it as a grudge against his previous cold attitude, and decided it was not worth squabbling with a junior. He said, “The Bai Chunhai you’re looking for is over there.”
He pointed, and Li Hao followed his gesture to see an old man in a grey robe, with a kind face, engaged in conversation.
“Thank you,”
Li Hao nodded.
Zhou Haitang then left without further delay.
He knew the score well in his heart; aware that his daughter had accepted a dagger as a gift from someone, and with this pointing, he considered it repayment, leaving no debts unbalanced.
The Jianghu was not just about fighting; it was also about human relationships and proprieties.
Therefore, in the Jianghu, the last thing one wanted was to owe favors.
Because some favors may have to be repaid with life, even dragging the entire family into it.
Seeing the master leave, Xu Wan’er glanced at Li Hao, nodded slightly to him, and then followed after her departure.
Zhou Ling’er, feeling like she was standing on pins and needles, glared at Li Hao before also following her father to leave.
Only after walking away did she indignantly say, “They couldn’t have sneaked in, could they? It’s infuriating!”
Zhou Haitang frowned and said, “That child carries himself calmly, facing a Grandmaster without being obsequious or arrogant. It seems he comes from a noble family, so having an invitation isn’t strange. In the future, try not to provoke him. I heard from Wan’er that you couldn’t even defeat his maidservant, which is simply disgraceful!”
“Father!”
“On our return, you will devote yourself to closed-door cultivation. Without reaching the Divine Travel Realm, you are not to leave the mountain!”
Zhou Haitang said sternly, with a stern face.
Zhou Ling’er stamped her foot, looking at Xu Wan’er with annoyance.
Elsewhere, Li Hao, after Zhou Haitang and the others left, stood up and walked toward the Grandmaster Bai Chunhai.
The table the other party was at had three or four people seated, and behind these Grandmasters stood their respective disciples, making the scene quite lively.
“Master Bai?” Li Hao tentatively asked.
The grey-clothed elder who was engaged in conversation turned his head, looked at Li Hao, and saw a well-composed young man and said, “You are?”
Seeing the other party’s acknowledgment, Li Hao revealed a smile and said, “I have heard that you have a famous painting. I wish to make a purchase. What would the conditions be?”
“Hmm?”
Bai Chunhai furrowed his brow; apart from martial arts practice, his only joy was in sketching and collecting famous paintings.
“Young man, if you wish to become a disciple, just ask outright. Don’t beat around the bush.”
To the side, a burly middle-aged man said. He was at the peak of the Fifteen Li Realm and had followed his master Bai Chunhai in the hopes of advancing to the Heavenly Human Realm through enlightenment.
The other Grandmasters’ disciples also chuckled while sizing up Li Hao and the other two, taking them for nobles’ sons and daughters coming to seek apprenticeship.
“You misunderstand. I’m not here to seek apprenticeship, just for that painting,” Li Hao said.
The stout middle-aged man’s expression changed slightly, and he uttered angrily, “Are you here to cause trouble?”
Bai Chunhai slightly raised his hand to stop his disciple and said to Li Hao, “Young man, I’m not selling the painting. Please leave.”
Li Hao also knew that it’s hard to sway a grandmaster of Bai’s stature with money, unless it was an enormous wealth that could rival a nation.
Beyond that, only other treasures could serve as a trade.
“Master Bai, perhaps you could suggest a condition. I’ll see if I can meet it. Perhaps a Cultivation Technique or Peerless Technique, or some weapon or treasure?” Li Hao inquired again.
Bai Chunhai slightly frowned, looked at Li Hao for a moment, and suddenly felt that this young man might indeed have come for the painting, rather than to mock him intentionally.
He spoke indifferently, “No matter what it is, I lack nothing. All the things in the world cannot buy what I cherish in my heart. You should go back and not bother me further.”
Li Hao was taken aback, somewhat helpless, as the man seemed determined not to part with it.
Or maybe he believed that Li Hao couldn’t offer anything enticing enough.
“Master Bai, I understand it is hard for you to part with what you love. Besides paintings, do you have other objects of affection? I could offer a trade.” Li Hao said.
“Who are you affiliated with? My master asked you to leave, didn’t you hear?” The burly middle-aged man said, taking a step forward with an angry look on his face.
Bai Chunhai gestured for his disciple to stop and said to Li Hao, “Young man, please leave. I’ve made myself clear.”
Li Hao looked at him, nodded, and said, “I understand.”
Without insisting further, he turned and went back to his seat.
If the other party wasn’t willing to trade, then he’d just have to find an opportunity to steal it.
A gentleman does not seize the love of others, unless, you force me not to act like a gentleman…
Just as Li Hao had sat back down, suddenly an excited voice came through:
“Li? Teacher?”
Li Hao turned his head and saw a group of people standing not far away, peering over in this direction.
Upon seeing Li Hao’s face, they all widened their eyes with delight and hurried over.
Li Hao recognized them; it was unexpectedly Song Yueyao and the group of White Hall disciples from Tan Palace Academy.
Leading them were Tan Palace Academy’s teachers like Shen Yunqing, Zhao Zongyuan, and Su Yehua.
“It really is you! When Zhou Zheng mentioned it, I didn’t believe it,” Shen Yunqing said excitedly, laughing heartily.
“Teacher Li!”
Zhou Zheng and disciples like Song Yueyao by his side promptly called out to Li Hao.
Although Li Hao was younger and had only taught two classes at White Hall, they had learned immensely and held a deep respect for this talented young man.
With sparkling eyes, Song Yueyao suddenly remembered the figure she saw earlier at the Spirit Succession Platform and realized it was not a case of face blindness, but it actually was Li Hao.
“How come you all are here as well?” Li Hao said, somewhat surprised, as he stood up to greet them with a light laugh.
When he left the academy, these fellows had come to see him off, and though he did not say goodbye to avoid implicating them, he had remembered their kindness.
“How could we miss such a grand event?” Zhao Zongyuan said with a smile.
“Weren’t you at Heavenly Gate Pass, how come you are here?” Su Yehua inquired curiously at Li Hao.
The rest were also curious, not expecting to encounter Li Hao at this place.
“There are no demons there for the time being, so I decided to take a look around here,” Li Hao replied.
Shen Yunqing’s expression turned slightly solemn, and he whispered, “If you can’t hold out, just humble yourself and apologize to your old father. It’s not shameful.”
Li Hao looked at him, merely patted his shoulder, and said, “Let us not dwell on the past.”
Shen Yunqing sighed inwardly, not pressing the matter further, as they all hoped Li Hao would avoid trouble at Heavenly Gate Pass.
Others, upon hearing Li Hao’s words, fell into a respectful silence. It was only this young man before them who could so decisively renounce a status second only to royalty.
“If you need anything at Heavenly Gate Pass, just find me. I know some people in Liangzhou. Although I can’t help you slay demons, there shouldn’t be a problem with food and supplies,” Su Yehua said to Li Hao.
“Let’s sit down and talk,” he replied.
Li Hao gestured for them to take a seat.
Standing off to the side, Han Wu was visibly trembling with excitement, knowing that all these were geniuses from Tan Palace Academy. He had wanted to attend the apprentice recruitment at Tan Palace Academy, but his own father had locked him up to prevent him from going.
The journey from Liangzhou to Qingzhou was long. Even by fast horse, it would take five days one way, totaling ten days for a round trip, and there was the risk of encountering demons on the road, which worried his father for his safety.
“Li, after we graduate, we will come to Heavenly Gate Pass to find you,” Zhou Zheng said, taking a seat.
“Indeed,”
Song Yueyao nodded, her gaze fixed on Li Hao as she spoke earnestly.
Shen Yunqing said with a tinge of annoyance: “Forget it, you two. Heavenly Gate Pass is an extremely dangerous place. Don’t go adding to his troubles. The places he can stay aren’t necessarily places you can.”
After speaking, he turned to Li Hao: “Old man, it’s not that I don’t want them to help you or that I’m afraid of involving them. I just don’t want them to hold you back.”
“Understood,”
Li Hao smiled and looked around: “Has everyone from White Hall arrived?”
“They’re all here, but Tan Palace only had a limited number of invitations and spots. After making our selections, not everyone was chosen. The others had to rely on their own family connections to come here,” Shen Yunqing explained. “They should be arriving soon, I reckon.”
As he spoke, a shout came from the distance: “Teacher Su!”
“Teacher Li?!”
Several exclamations of surprise followed, and soon, a group of youths from White Hall rushed over.
Glancing at Li Hao, Su Yehua said: “I heard that after just two lessons, you’ve helped them advance a whole rank in strength. These guys really respect you.”
She was at the Fifteen Li Realm and had graduated from White Hall not long ago. She stayed to teach at the academy, instructing only the disciples of Alpha Academy. She came to hear the teachings this time also in hopes of stepping into the Heavenly Human Realm.
“Teacher Li,”
The disciples came over, and upon seeing Li Hao, they all bowed respectfully.
Although Li Hao had left Divine General Mansion, it did not affect the respect they held for him.
Li Hao smiled, instructing Han Wu to bring some chairs over and join the tables.
As disciples from White Hall continued to arrive, Li Hao’s side became extremely lively. With a total of fifty disciples from White Hall, aside from the twenty led by Shen Yunqing’s group, thirty had arrived relying on their family connections, with only two or three absent.
Meeting in a foreign place, everyone felt a touch of joy. Even though Li Hao hadn’t left Qingzhou for long, they felt as if they were reuniting after a long separation.
The chatter here attracted the attention of some people in the distance.
At Bai Chunhai’s table, several Grandmasters noticed the large crowd surrounding Li Hao, listened intently, recognized the identities of Shen Yunqing and the others, and understood Li Hao’s identity from their conversation.
“That kid, is he the genius from Qingzhou?!”
Upon hearing the identity of Li Hao, the Grandmasters at the table were visibly startled, looking over in surprise.
The young man who had just been gently and politely requesting to buy the painting was actually the once-in-a-millennium cultivation genius recognized across the world?
At fourteen, reaching the fifth rank on the Qian Dragon List, aspiring to be a Grandmaster—truly unprecedented in history!
The burly middle-aged man behind Bai Chunhai’s face suddenly changed, a mix of shock and trepidation showing. He had just spoken rudely to the young man, only to find out he was actually a young Grandmaster?!
No wonder the other party had ignored him from beginning to end; apparently, he didn’t even register in his eyes.
“He is Li Hao?!”
“A fourteen-year-old in the Heavenly Human Realm. It was strange that I couldn’t detect his cultivation level just now.”
“So it’s him, he looks so young, really just fourteen years old!”
“He’s here too? At the Grandmasters’ discussion, I wonder through what gate he has breached the heavens!”
As the news spread, a wave of murmurs rose, and many eyes from the audience turned to the young man surrounded by Tan Palace Academy disciples.
Before their eyes, that spot quickly became the center of attention.
Despite the presence of many renowned young talents, if there were to be a name that had risen to prominence in recent months, it would undoubtedly be that of the young man.
“What?”
Zhou Haitang was catching up with an old friend when his Grandmaster-level hearing picked up the cacophony and exclamations nearby, drawing his attention.
Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically as he looked toward the young man who had just greeted him, his gaze filled with shock.
Could that young man be the young Grandmaster?’
By his side, Zhou Ling’er and Xu Wan’er had also heard the discussions, and now with all eyes converging on the scene, it was difficult for them not to notice.
“He’s actually… that person?”
Zhou Ling’er stared at the young man, who conversed with a casual and warm demeanor, wearing an effortless smile, in utter disbelief.
Her heart pounded furiously, struck by the incredibility of it all.
She had once heard of the young Grandmaster on the Qian Dragon List and held him in high regard, longing to see his true face.
And yet, she had just ridiculed him with cold words.
“No wonder he possesses such martial skills, effortlessly subduing that dagger…” the young man murmured to himself, soon realizing that such an act was trivial for the other party.
“Young Grandmaster…” Xu Wan’er’s eyes sparkled, a look of wonder in her eyes.
In another part of the gathering, Li Wushuang was approached by several Grandmasters for pleasantries.
Even though Li Wushuang was only in the Divine Travel Realm, his background was so significant that these Grandmasters also wanted to take shelter under the Divine General Mansion’s influence.
Suddenly, the commotion ahead caused the group to look up, and after listening more closely, they were all stunned.
“He’s here too?”
Li Wushuang stood up abruptly, shock written all over her face as she looked in that direction, and the next instant, her Divine Soul flew out from the top of her head, and she saw from a distance the young man at the gathering, his ever-present smile, something she could never forget.
With a whoosh, Li Wushuang immediately went over.
“Miss.”
The two maids from the military quickly followed suit.
“Li Hao!”
Li Hao, while reuniting with his fellow disciples from Tan Palace Academy, suddenly heard someone calling out this name and turned his head.
The crowd parted, and Li Wushuang’s figure rushed over, her expression somewhat excited, her cheeks slightly flushed.
“You came too.” Li Hao was a bit surprised, but considering her level of cultivation, it made sense for her to be here.
“You…”
Li Wushuang had many things she wanted to say, wanted to ask Li Hao why he was here, wanted to urge him to return to the Divine General Mansion and not be angry with his uncle, but as the words reached her lips and she saw the Tan Palace disciples filling the seats around Li Hao and the young man surrounded by crowds, she suddenly realized that without the glory of the Divine General Mansion, this young man still seemed to be the focus of everyone’s attention.
The fourteen-year-old Grandmaster was enough to astonish the world.
It wasn’t that he had lost the glory of the Divine General Mansion.
Rather, it was the Divine General Mansion that had lost him.
“Are you doing well?”
In the end, that was all Li Wushuang could bring herself to ask.
“Quite well.”
Li Hao replied with a slight smile; he felt neither fondness nor ill will towards this cousin whom he had once soundly beaten. It had been nothing more than a lesson to a thoughtless young girl, and now, reunited in a different place, she didn’t question him about his actions, but was able to ask him this.
He naturally responded with goodwill.
