When Li Hao saw him, he also saw Li Hao. Among the disheveled hair, a deep and restrained pair of eyes swept over, calm yet carrying a sharp and deadly energy.
Ultimate Study Realm… Li Hao took a closer look. Although his opponent’s eyes were sharp, they seemed to lack killing intent.
He glanced around; the courtyard had not been damaged, which relieved him somewhat.
“Who might you be?”
Li Hao approached the man, sitting on the cushion usually reserved for guests, casually picking up the already prepared tea and taking a sip.
“My surname is Jiang, Jiang Lichen.”
The elder’s eyes were cold. He didn’t care about Li Hao’s actions and just kept his eyes firmly on Li Hao’s face.
“You have indeed made me wait!”
Jiang… Li Hao paused for a moment. That was a surname of the Imperial Family. Was this elderly man before him from the Imperial Family?
However, given his current status as a Duke, even if he met someone from the Imperial Family, he wouldn’t need to perform elaborate ceremonials.
“Prince, what business do you have with me?” Li Hao asked, noticing the man’s attire’s similarity to a beggar’s, making this prince seem somewhat unconventional.
“I was waiting outside the Mo River to meet you, but you slipped to Youzhou without a trace. When I followed to Youzhou, you went to Qingzhou; when I arrived in Qingzhou, you had already returned here…”
Speaking of which, Jiang Lichen’s voice gradually filled with anger, as he had never been led on such a chase in his life.
“…”
Li Hao was speechless; he hadn’t realized that during his travels, he had an unseen follower, one he had quite fiercely shaken off.
For a moment, all he could do was offer an awkward smile and say, “When there’s time, I’ll personally thank His Majesty.”
“Hmph, whether you thank him or not, I hardly care; besides, I didn’t even meet you, so there’s nothing to thank for. You are his officer; it is expected for someone to be sent to assist you.”
Jiang Lichen scoffed, “Even my overly concerned brother makes mistakes in judgment, look at you now, young and already at the Grand Tao of Peace Realm; impressive indeed!”
“Merely a twist of fate,” Li Hao quickly replied modestly.
“Though you, lad, led me on quite the chase, and let me out, let’s call it even!”
Jiang Lichen decidedly cleared up this inexplicable frustration and luck as if once he had told Li Hao, he was absolved from this karma, whether or not it truly settled anything was up to him.
Then, he intently looked at Li Hao, his gaze sweeping over Li Hao’s palm:
“I’ve heard you also wield a sword?”
“Uh?”
Li Hao was surprised and nodded, “A bit.”
“Hmph, you vanquished demons outside Qingzhou City, the remnants of your Sword Qi still linger; I’ve seen them, I must say not bad.”
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Jiang Lichen, unconcerned with Li Hao’s self-effacement, spoke bluntly, without reservation:
“Looking at your palm, it doesn’t seem like a swordsman’s hand, but the world of Sword Dao has many prodigies, not just you. When I was six and first practiced swordsmanship, I performed perfect level sword moves; at the time, my hands were also soft, uncalloused, and yet far superior to those laboriously trained ordinary folk!”
“You have cultivated to the Grand Tao of Peace Realm at such a young age; you must be sharp. Let me see the depth of your Sword Dao!”
As he spoke, he looked deep into Li Hao’s eyes, his body suddenly bursting with a powerful presence.
Li Hao was startled. At this moment, the aura revealed by his opponent surprisingly contained a killing intent.
They had been speaking amicably, and suddenly, he was ready to draw his sword.
“Prince, what is this about?” Li Hao frowned.
“Draw your sword; let me see your sword!”
Jiang Lichen demanded, staring intently.
“A duel, then? But you won’t be able to defeat me,” Li Hao shook his head.
“It’s just a Dao Domain. My Sword Dao can break through Dao Domains! What I pursue is the pinnacle of Sword Dao. Even without a Dao Domain, I can still shatter it, and even without enlightenment, I can cut down the Dao with my sword!”
Jiang Lichen’s eyes dazzled, his words frightening, almost insane.
Li Hao was taken aback and didn’t mock but instead earnestly gazed into the man’s eyes.
Such mad thoughts, yet not arrogance in his eyes, but persistence, belief, and an extreme fervor in his pursuit.
This feeling was deeper than the State of Mind entering the Spirit.
Li Hao was briefly silent, then nodded, “Okay, but this is not the place to fight. Please follow me, Prince.”
“Is there a need to pick a place? Anywhere is fine.”
Jiang Lichen, seeing Li Hao’s agreement, was even more eager to start, unable to restrain himself.
“This is my courtyard, like your sword to you, this too is something I cherish.”
Jiang Lichen intended to start immediately, but seeing Li Hao’s response, his eyes shifted slightly, yet he held back.
“I’ll wait for you!”
As he spoke, Jiang Lichen abruptly soared into the sky, speeding away.
Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief, advised Ren Qianqian to wait there without worry, and similarly pursued.
Soon, the two arrived at a hillside outside the city.
“Where’s your sword?”
Jiang Lichen looked at Li Hao’s hands.
“Any grass or wood can be a sword.”
Li Hao casually broke off a branch from an old tree and held it in his hand.
Jiang Lichen saw this and burst out laughing, “Good! I used to think the same, that all things could be swords, but not anymore. A sword is a sword; a sword is nothing else, a sword can only be a sword!”
As he spoke, a pitch-black, seemingly damaged long sword at his waist suddenly flew into his hand.
The blade, unsheathed since it needed no concealing, sang sharply as it was grasped, sounding like a proud dragon issuing a fierce dragon’s roar.
“Come on, display your Dao Domain; don’t worry, with all the Dao Domains, I can break them all with a single sword!!”
Jiang Lichen’s hair, unkempt, now billowed wildly, his whole demeanor rebellious and unyielding, as if he himself had transformed into a sharp sword, standing between heaven and earth.