Chapter 291: Chapter 53: Li Hao Emerges, Crisis in Liangzhou (First Update)
In the scorching summer days,
within Cangya City, Li Hao sat in the small fenced courtyard eating chilled fruits, occasionally offering pointers on Ren Qianqian’s swordsmanship.
With another spring turned, he was now fifteen years old.
And Ren Qianqian had just turned fourteen.
By now, Ren Qianqian had mastered a top-notch sword technique to a state of perfection.
Among her peers, aside from those from the royal family, there were hardly any who could match her.
Having consumed dishes cooked from the meat of Great Demons and the Ghastly Demon King, which were rich in energy, her cultivation level had advanced by leaps and bounds. In just half a year, she had broken through from the Divine Travel Realm to the seventh layer of Divine Travel Realm.
This strength had already far surpassed that of the city lord of Cangyu City in Qi State, whom Li Hao had encountered when he was slaying demons.
Just over fourteen, Ren Qianqian already possessed the strength to independently hold command over an inland city.
After all, many cities within the realm enjoyed tranquil lives, with the wild demons nearby generally not strong; the Divine Travel Realm was enough to deter them. Coupled with the city-protecting formations, even Heavenly Human Realm demons could be temporarily held back a bit, allowing enough time to call for help.
Besides practicing swordsmanship, Li Hao also shared his insights on opening the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse with her.
Learning that Li Hao had actually opened both Mystic Veins, Ren Qianqian was both shocked and yet felt it made sense, considering how much more powerful Li Hao was compared to others within his realm…
Following Li Hao’s insights, Ren Qianqian, by a stroke of luck, also opened a Mystic Vein, the Yin Pulse.
However, opening the Yang Meridian is extremely perilous for those not naturally attuned to it; a slight mishap could result in a brain explosion.
Throughout history, numerous geniuses have perished while attempting to forcibly open the Yang Meridian, including some who were deemed capable of taking up the position of the true immortal.
Ren Qianqian had attempted multiple times but was not confident; Li Hao did not advise her to try. This matter was not about bravery; luck played a part as well.
Otherwise, in the world of martial artists, though there are countless who are brave, very few could successfully open the Yang Meridian.
The difference between a brave person and a reckless one is often in the outcome, good or bad.
Knowing when to stop is also a form of wisdom.
And with the opening of the Mystic Vein, Ren Qianqian now had the capital to compete with the Royal Family.
Most of the prodigies within the Royal Family had opened one Mystic Vein.
Those who had opened two were the elites of the current generation, and only a few could be counted on one’s fingers.
Besides practicing swordsmanship, Li Hao would occasionally stroll outside the frontier pass, sometimes bringing her with him.
The regions they visited were farther in the east-west direction; five thousand li was deep enough vertically, but only about a thousand li had been opened up horizontally.
Li Hao’s journey caused a flutter and a scurry among the demons monitored by the Tianji Palace.
Li Hao captured some demons of the Fifteen Li Realm for Ren Qianqian to use as sparring partners. The training was intense but, with Li Hao nearby to keep watch, it was thrilling yet safe.
Under such actual combat training, Ren Qianqian’s combat prowess also improved rapidly.
Her encounters with the demons outside the frontier were detected by Tianji Tower and led to Ren Qianqian being added to the Qiankun List.
Now, atop both lists of the Qiankun List sat Li Hao.
And Ren Qianqian had entered as the fifth on the Kun Phoenix List,
and twenty-ninth on the Qian Dragon List.
Such a surge in reputation drew the attention of many powers.
The most important aspect was Ren Qianqian’s young age.
To achieve such rankings and successes at only fourteen, it was highly likely she would enter the top ten of the Qian Dragon List and step into the Celestial Master Realm before reaching the age of 22.
As her fame spread, many sought out Ren Qianqian’s basic information, learning that she was the daughter of a Grandmaster and a once-student of the Tan Palace, but she had dropped out and was now following Li Hao, serving as his sword attendant.
When Li Hao’s name appeared within this information, all the powers that were paying attention twitched, and their focus immediately shifted.
Ever since Li Hao demonstrated his might in front of the world’s grandmasters, suppressing the Buddhist Child and defeating all grandmasters, his name had become renowned among the young generation of the Dayu Divine Dynasty.
Any news related to Li Hao swiftly catches everyone’s attention.
Over this half-year, many young people from various states had rushed to the Heavenly Gate Pass, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young paragon.
Others came to discuss and spar with Li Hao, as even a defeat under his sword could make them famous throughout the world.
This caused Cangya City to become livelier and more prosperous.
In times of chaos, one seeks survival; in times of prosperity, one seeks fame.
Currently, the Dayu Divine Dynasty was transitioning from prosperity to decline, but such a subtle trend of decay went unnoticed by many.
Amidst the empire’s landscapes and cities, numerous spirited youths in fine clothing ride horses far and wide, seeking that fame and glory.
Princes, generals, and all manner of officials are all caught up in the turmoil, unable to see through it, let alone the young, inexperienced boys and girls.
When the elders of these youths learned of the reconstruction of Cangya City’s formations and heard of the Four Stands Realm secretly stationed there, having twice dismembered a Demon King, cooking and hosting a feast for the entire city, they no longer prevented their children from travelling to this dangerous frontier.
However, these young people who arrived in Cangya City were all kept out of the small fenced courtyard.
Inside the courtyard, a young man was playing the zither and painting, while the Haotian Army diligently guarded outside, with Grandmasters patrolling the four directions outside the courtyard.
Even if a young person managed to send in a visiting card after a great deal of effort, Li Hao handed it to Ren Qianqian to deal with.
It was also a good opportunity for her to practice sparring.
Among the younger generation capable of defeating Ren Qianqian, there were very few, barely over twenty when combined from the Qiankun List, and those were all prodigies backed by renowned families who wouldn’t come to the frontier seeking to make a name by challenging Li Hao.
The rest, mostly those over the age of 22, youth in their thirties or even forties, still managed to exert pressure on Ren Qianqian.