Chapter 43: Chapter 40 Prestige
“Of course.”
Li Yuanzhao frowned and said, “Do you think I can’t rely on myself, that I need others’ help? Why don’t we go back and spar again, since we haven’t determined a winner last time!”
Li Yun snorted coldly. In the past two years, his sparring with Li Yuanzhao had been almost equal, hard to determine a superior.
However, speaking of their ages, he was slightly at a disadvantage.
After all, the latter was a year younger than him.
When it came to bone measurement and the innate talent of their battle bodies, he was also at a disadvantage, his rank being Seventh Layer, while his sister and Li Yuanzhao were both Eighth Layer.
Therefore, his words were not targeted at Li Yuanzhao, but more at that other person, the one who had later made him understand reason and secretly fume with anger.
The thought of having been brutally beaten up by a good-for-nothing made him extremely angry, but fortunately, the incident was only known to the heavens, the earth, and between Li Hao and himself.
Over the years, seeing Li Hao would make his teeth itch with irritation. If it weren’t for the constant presence of the Second Elder and the Fifth Elder by Li Hao’s side, he wouldn’t let go of any chance to take revenge.
Seeing Li Yun shooting a cold glare at Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao, despite his youth, was not foolish, especially after years with Hao, hearing all sorts of extraordinary and marvelous stories, which included tales of ghosts and demons, as well as stories about the viciousness of human nature. Although he couldn’t fully understand them yet, he was still a bit more mature than his peers.
Because of this, he had understood Li Yun’s implication from the start and intentionally deflected the topic onto himself.
Seeing Li Yun only daring to make veiled criticisms, he couldn’t be bothered to argue seriously, to avoid making everyone uncomfortable, and smilingly said to Li Hao, “Hao, I heard that Xue’er will be back in a year.”
“Yeah.”
Li Hao’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“I heard from my master that one must reach the Divine Travel Realm to leave the Sword Cottage. Could it be that Xue’er will break through to the Divine Travel Realm by next year?” Li Yuanzhao asked curiously.
The Divine Travel Realm was the domain of Fourth Realm warriors who could delve into tiger’s dens to slay demons and dispel evil. In the borderlands, they could carve out a path of blood, taking on the role of military officers, ranking just below generals!
You should know, by next year, Bian Ruxue will only be fifteen years old.
Such progress, even among the top talents with Eighth Layer battle bodies, is considered outstanding.
Many of those celebrated figures across the world possess Eighth Layer battle bodies, which is just a starting point for the top talents, a limit set by bone measurement!
And what follows, the various opportunities, efforts, and natural comprehension abilities, will further widen this gap.
Off to the side, Li Yun perked up at the mention of “Xue’er,” his eyes instinctively glancing towards Li Hao.
The seed that had once sprouted in his young heart seemed to stir again.
However, upon thinking of the ‘Divine Travel Realm,’ the youth’s expression darkened again, weighed down by sadness. With his current understanding, he knew just how unreachable that distance was.
“That’s right.”
Li Hao nodded. One in the Divine Travel Realm could have the assurance of life whilst roaming the Jianghu.
He glanced at a shadow not far off, its expression complex. He felt amused and also thought the boy deserved a beating for still harboring thoughts of rivalry.
It had been too long since he’d been put in his place, daring to hold a grudge.
“To reach the Divine Travel Realm at fifteen is truly impressive. If she were to come to Tan Palace Academy, I bet the Palace Master would personally receive her and take her directly as a Direct Disciple of the Inner Palace,” Li Yuanzhao couldn’t help admiring aloud.
They were merely at Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection, still a bit away from the Soul Succession stage.
This time, they joined Tan Palace Academy with the intention of succeeding the souls of ancient and valiant figures of Tan Palace.
This was the instruction of their mother, for reasons unknown to them.
“Her master is the Sword Saint after all. It’s incomparable,” Li Hao said reassuringly.
In truth, these few were also geniuses. The only reason they hadn’t entered renowned mountains was due to an unspoken rule in the Li Family’s main branch: one could enter a renowned mountain, but only as a Direct Disciple of a master of the Sword Saint’s caliber.
Otherwise, they would practice in the family estate until reaching a certain level of cultivation and then join various major forces to stand out and showcase the majesty of the younger generation of the Li Family.
Such standards were only for the main branch. It was different for children of concubines—as soon as their foundations were firm, they would join various famous mountains and mentors and had already made a name for the Li Family in all kinds of forces.
Even with just the children of concubines, the True Dragon having not yet emerged, they had already become young leaders in various second and third-tier forces.
This also added great prestige to the Li Family’s reputation in the Jianghu, extending far beyond the military camps along the borders.
“Indeed,” Li Yuanzhao sighed. To be taught by a Sword Saint-level master, that was something to envy. At the very least, it called for a starting point with Eight Layer battle body talent, which was the minimum requirement.
At this time, the Jiao-lion led the way, and the enormous carriage, comparable to a house on wheels, traversed the streets of Qingzhou City, known to all that it belonged to the Divine General Mansion.
Bystanders made way, pointing and whispering amongst themselves; one glance at the direction and they knew, the carriage most likely carried the true dragons of the Li Family headed for cultivation at Tan Palace Academy.
Those martial artists and sons and daughters of prestigious families from various states who had hurried over, when their carriages met the demon energy emitted by the Jiao-lion, became restless and uneasy, halting in place, some even bolted crazily towards the roadside in fear, unwilling to obstruct the path and unrestrainable even by the coachmen’s earnest tugging.
The dignity of the Divine General Mansion was fully displayed in this moment.
Before long, the carriage came to a stop, and Ming, the coachman, informed them in a gentle voice that they had arrived outside of Tan Palace Academy.
Tan Palace Academy was not far from the Divine General Mansion, practically neighbors.
As the carriage settled, Li Yuanzhao and the other two’s gazes slightly intensified.
Although they were also considered prodigies with extraordinary talents, they normally cultivated within the mansion and had never truly shown themselves in front of others, and given their youthful nature, a trace of nervousness was unavoidable at this moment.
Li Hao, however, didn’t feel much; once the carriage stopped, he rose leisurely and casually lifted the curtain of the carriage.
Light poured onto his face, and at the same time, a multitude of bustling and noisy sounds surged forward, flooding into the carriage as if lifting the curtain had uncovered an era of human flourishment!
When the three inside returned to their senses, they saw Li Hao standing gracefully at the carriage door amidst the cacophony, quietly surveying the surroundings with his usual faint smile, appearing completely at ease.
Li Zhining’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if a flicker of past memories surged forth, but she quickly regained her composure, and the corner that had been lifted was folded back down once more.
Only when the three of them got up and exited the carriage did they behold the bustling scene outside.
The vast square was packed with figures, shoulder to shoulder, the majority being energetic young men and women bearing swords, knives, and spears.
In the crowd, there were also well-dressed young men with attendants at their side, keeping all but the closest away.
And amidst the throng, the young women in rainbow garments and feathered dresses, with graceful maidens holding umbrellas to shield them from the blazing sun, stood out conspicuously, a striking presence.
Looking around, all one could see were densely packed young martial artists.
Yet at this moment, those standing on the carriage instantly became the focal point of everyone’s gaze.
After all, the Jiao-lion carriage from the Divine General Mansion was too eye-catching.
Dayu decreed that dragon-blooded beasts pulling carriages were to be used for imperial travel with nine at most, seven for princes, and five for marquises and fifth-rank officials. Scholars and renowned families were entitled to use three or two, respectively.
Commoners, the wealthy without official titles, could only use a single steed for their carriage, and it must not be of Jiao race with dragon blood.
Though Li Hao and the others lacked official titles, being the sons of a marquis, they too could enjoy the glory of their forebears.
“Is that the Divine General Mansion?”
“The Li Family of Qingzhou City, the millennium-old Divine General Mansion, truly magnificent!”
“That’s four slots gone; I heard Tan Palace Academy has a limited number of spots, how infuriating!”
“Hmph, I, Lin Yan, will definitely lead my Liuzhou branch of the Lin Family to rise in this generation, contending with heaven and earth!”
“They say there’s a waste in the Li Family this generation; I wonder if he came?”
A millennium of glory sparked envy and jealousy among the masses, and it stirred up even more ambition and eagerness in many young hearts amidst the noisy tumult.
Li Yun, along with Li Yuanzhao and Li Zhining, had tense expressions, appearing robust and calm on the surface, but their fingers were already sweating with revealed inner nervousness.
Facing gazes that seemed as if they could scorch a person, Li Yun lingered no longer, and with a cold expression, uttered, “Let’s go ahead.”
He then took his sister Li Zhining and jumped down from the carriage, entering the crowd boldly like a tiger through a forest, amidst Ming’s cautioning words for the young master to walk slowly and be careful.
The surrounding people unconsciously made way, not out of respect for the youth, but for the surname behind him.
“Hao, let’s go too,” Li Yuanzhao said, swallowing nervously to Li Hao.
Li Hao, however, tip-toed slightly and looked around, sniffing lightly, his eyes soon lit up as he said, “Let’s go!”
With that, he jumped down from the carriage, and the onlookers parted, none daring to block the path of the fine-dressed young man.
Li Yuanzhao hurriedly followed but grabbed Li Hao’s sleeve after a few steps, “Hao, aren’t we going the wrong way? The Tan Palace Academy is over there.”
“I know,”
Li Hao responded without looking back: “But there is food ahead.”
Fame and status can wait, but food comes first indeed!