https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-105-Emperor-Yu-s-Go-Isn-t-That-Bad-Right-/13450082/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-107-Humbling-His-Son-120th-Update-/13450084/
Chapter 106: The Duel with Li Qianfeng
Chapter 106: The Duel with Li Qianfeng
"Mother, don't worry. Connections can't decide everything; otherwise, the Li Family True Dragon would be chosen by the emperor himself."
Beside her, Li Qianfeng spoke calmly.
He glanced coldly at the young man in the other corner, then quickly looked away. The imperial edict from the emperor still caused a slight ripple in his heart.
He was somewhat resentful.
But, the thought of winning the True Dragon and shocking the emperor, proving that he had been underestimated, brought him a sense of satisfaction.
"Um-hm."
Hearing her son's calm and composed words, Liu Yuerong smiled.
At that moment, the old lady, Chen Hefang, stepped out.
She had heard everything that had been said in the courtyard but had not shown herself.
Now, she smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the guests before inviting everyone to continue with the feast.
The feast was secondary, but Li Hao didn't hold back.
After all, how could he have the strength later if he didn't eat his fill?
While Li Hao was feasting, Li Tiangang, Jian Wudao, and Eunuch Chu Jiuyue were engaged in lively conversation, reminiscing about the past and discussing Li Hao's talents.
Of course, when it came to Li Hao, Jian Wudao's words became more reserved.
He didn't even mention the time he had rejected Li Hao as a disciple, to avoid awkwardness and ridicule at the table.
Although he didn't regret his actions back then, after all, Li Hao was not a lover of swords and had limited achievements in the Sword Dao.
But such things were best kept to himself. His disciples would understand, but others might think he had poor judgment.
After satisfying his hunger, Li Hao found an empty plate, filled it with some of the best dishes, and asked Ren Qianqian to take it to the little white fox hiding in the corner of the courtyard.
The little creature had snuck over to join the festivities but dared not come too close.
Ever since his father, Li Tiangang, had returned, the little white fox had been hiding in Li Hao's room, no longer playing freely in the courtyard or causing trouble in the kitchens of other courtyards.
Li Hao could sense the little creature's fear of his father.
This made him sigh, knowing the little thing had been wronged.
But as his pet, he would take care of it himself.
Once everyone had eaten their fill, Chen Hefang reappeared and brought out the main event—the selection of the Li Family True Dragon.
All the guests were eagerly anticipating this moment, their eyes shifting between the two young men.
A figure descended from the sky, landing in the courtyard. With his white hair flowing, it was Li Qingzheng.
Seeing the former head of the Li Family, everyone present involuntarily stood up.
Even Jian Wudao, though his eyes showed a hint of respect, remained seated.
Decades ago, Li Qingzheng had not won the position of Li Family True Dragon, losing to Li Tiangang's father. But he was still an extremely formidable warrior.
Over the years, the once bloodthirsty demon at the Border Pass seemed to have cultivated himself, shedding his murderous aura and now exuding a refined and elegant demeanor.
"Sister-in-law."
Li Qingzheng nodded slightly at Chen Hefang, and their eyes met, but they did not linger on the past.
"Li Family sons, step forward."
Li Qingzheng turned and said.
Upon hearing this, Li Mingguang, Li Sibei, and others all stepped out.
Li Hao and Li Qianfeng also moved to the open space in the courtyard.
"Those willing to shoulder the responsibility of the Li Family and protect all living beings, step forward!"
Li Qingzheng said again.
Everyone's gaze converged on the two young men.
Li Mingguang and others remained in place, while Li Hao and Li Qianfeng both took a step forward.
At that moment, a slight commotion came from the back.
It turned out that the children of the Eighth Lady, Li Rumei, had also taken a step forward.
But soon, a gentle scolding from Eighth Uncle, Li Fenghua, came from the side: "Rumei, stop fooling around and come back!"
Hearing her father's call, Li Rumei pouted slightly but withdrew her step.
Even this small step had drawn countless gazes and a sense of pressure from the crowd.
This minor disturbance quickly subsided, and many guests, slightly surprised, glanced at the girl a few more times. Upon realizing she was only at the Soul Succession Realm, they shook their heads and smiled.
This young girl was about the same age as Li Hao but was only at the Soul Succession Realm, seemingly in the early stage. Where did she get the courage to step forward?
Soon, as Li Hao and Li Qianfeng took their positions, Li Qingzheng saw that no one else was taking action and immediately said, "The rest of you can step back."
Li Mingguang and the others immediately turned and returned to their positions, their gazes falling on these two cousins, eager to see just how strong they were.
Realm is one thing, but strength is the actual combat power, which depends on the depth of the realm, battle experience, cultivation techniques, and more.
For example, an early-stage Soul Succession Realm member of the Li Family could slay ordinary Soul Succession Realm members at the seventh or eighth stage!
"Have you two made up your minds?"
Li Qingzheng looked down, his gaze focused on Li Hao and Li Qianfeng. At this moment, he did not show the favor he usually displayed toward Li Hao and treated them equally:
"Once you become a True Dragon, you will dedicate your entire life to the family, placing the family's interests above all else. Are you prepared for this?"
"Yes."
Li Hao and Li Qianfeng answered in unison.
Li Qingzheng nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Since that's the case, let's first test your character."
He looked at Li Hao and said, "I just heard the high praise from Emperor Yu's Imperial Edict for you, so there's no need to test your character. Li Qianfeng, come forward."
As he spoke, he took out an incense burner. Just as he was about to do something, someone stood up from the other side of the hall.
It was Lin Wujing, the Bodhisattva of Wuliang Mountain.
He softly intoned a Buddhist chant and said, "Elder Li, just now my Buddhist Master bestowed a string of prayer beads to Qiankun Vajra. The fact that he received this gift from my Buddhist Master clearly shows that Qiankun Vajra has a pure and upright character. If he becomes a True Dragon of the Li Family in the future, he will surely be a benevolent and righteous leader, with a heart for the world!"
Li Qingzheng frowned slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable, but he knew he had to give face to the Buddhist Master.
The gift of the prayer beads was meant to bypass the character test and also hinted that if Li Qianfeng were to inherit the True Dragon position, he would receive support from Wuliang Mountain!
For thousands of years, the Li Family and Wuliang Mountain had maintained a relationship, with some of the Li Family's descendants joining Wuliang Mountain, but it was more of a friendly association rather than a close one.
If the True Dragon position were given to Li Qianfeng, who was a direct disciple of the Buddhist sect, their relationship would certainly be elevated to a higher level.
However, this was the Li Family's True Dragon.
All considerations must still prioritize the future of the Li Family.
Connections and character, in the end, are just additional bonuses.
For instance, if both candidates were evenly matched in talent, then the one with better character and connections would be chosen.
But if there was a significant gap in talent, what use would connections be? Could the Li Family rely solely on connections in the future? If so, the Li Family would become a mere puppet.
Therefore, it was fine to give face to the Buddhist Master. If, in the end, Li Qianfeng was found to be inferior to Li Hao, then he would have no grounds for complaint.
With this thought, Li Qingzheng put away the incense burner and smiled calmly. "Since my Li Family has been examined by the Buddhist Master, there's no need to waste more time. The character of my Li Family's descendants will not be lacking."
Everyone was silent, thinking, "You really know how to seize the opportunity to praise yourself."
Li Qingzheng chuckled and then looked at the two in the center. "Your ages are similar, and your realms are the same. The True Dragon of the Li Family must be the best among peers, unparalleled in the world."
"How you want to proceed is up to you. You can discuss it yourselves, or I can arrange it."
Hearing his words, Li Qianfeng turned to look at Li Hao, his gaze cold but direct:
"Since our realms are the same, let's have a direct sparring session. It will save us the trouble of going through all the formalities. What do you say?"
Li Hao smiled, “That’s perfect.”
“Agreed!”
Li Qianfeng’s lips curled slightly, and he continued, “I’m four years older than you. When I was your age, I hadn’t even reached the Fifteen Li Realm. So, I’ll seal one of my arms. How does that sound?”
“Fine.”
Li Hao nodded.
In reality, Li Qianfeng was getting the better deal.
If Li Qianfeng had to suppress his realm to the level he was at when he was fourteen, he wouldn’t have reached the Fifteen Li Realm yet, and there would be no point in sparring.
The onlookers, upon hearing Li Qianfeng’s words, knew he was getting the upper hand. However, most of them were here to support Li Qianfeng, so no one objected.
Li Tiangang, on the other hand, frowned.
He wanted to suggest a different approach, but since Li Hao had already agreed, he could only frown and sigh inwardly. His son, though exceptionally talented, was a bit too arrogant.
Li Qianfeng, being a swordsman, wouldn’t be significantly disadvantaged by sealing one arm; he would just wield the sword with one hand.
Eunuch Chu Jiuyue and Jian Wudao merely observed calmly, showing no expression. They were here to cheer, and the outcome of the Li Family True Dragon competition didn’t greatly affect them.
Even if Li Qianfeng were to become the True Dragon in the future, he wouldn’t dare to retaliate against them; he would still treat them with respect.
After all, who would want to create an enemy of a Fourth Establishment Realm powerhouse for the sake of the family?
Seeing Li Hao agree so easily, Li Qianfeng’s lips curved into a smile. He had calculated that the younger man’s arrogance would make him accept the challenge in front of everyone.
But he would show Li Hao that those extra four years of life weren’t wasted.
In the crowd, Liu Yuerong and Lin Wujing both heaved a sigh of relief. If Li Hao had insisted that Li Qianfeng suppress his realm to the level he was at when he was fourteen, it would have led to a lot of unnecessary arguments.
They had already prepared to debate the issue.
For example, they could argue that although Li Qianfeng was at the Divine Wanderer Realm at fourteen, he had spent time practicing other cultivation techniques, which had slowed his progress.
Whether this argument would be convincing wasn’t important; the point was that it would give them some leverage.
After all, the guests here weren’t just here to enjoy the feast; they would cheer and support their favored candidate.
If the Li Family True Dragon lacked the absolute superiority to win, then these verbal connections could come into play.
But Li Hao’s arrogance saved them the trouble of a verbal battle.
That was a good thing.
“Since that’s settled, you two should prepare.”
Li Qingzheng hadn’t expected Li Hao to agree so easily. He usually didn’t see Li Hao as a reckless person, so he was slightly surprised. However, since Li Hao had already agreed, he had to go along with it.
With a wave of his hand, Li Qingzheng covered the courtyard, the tables, and the house with his power, then stepped back, leaving the duel to the two of them.
“Bring me my sword!”
Li Qianfeng’s eyes turned cold as he called out.
A sharp, resonant sound echoed, and a silver-white blade shot through the air from the table where he had been seated.
It was the sword that the woman holding it for him had just unsheathed.
The woman, who had accompanied Li Qianfeng, was Murong Qiulan. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the handsome and majestic young man in the courtyard.
This was the image of the husband she had always envisioned.
The figure that had stood in front of her in the demon forest flashed through her mind once again.
Now, the sword was in his hand.
Li Qianfeng’s gaze swept over Ren Qianqian, who stood not far from Li Hao, holding a black sword case.
He felt a bit uncomfortable about this.
The True Dragon competition was about to begin, and although he had obtained a top-secret technique, it required practice, which meant it wouldn’t benefit him in the short term.
But this famous sword was different.
Even if Li Hao’s cultivation was limited and he couldn’t unleash its full power, its sharpness alone was formidable.
If their swords clashed, he would have to avoid its edge.
“Draw your sword!”
Despite his wariness of the famous sword, Li Qianfeng spoke confidently.
Li Hao, of course, had noticed the other man’s expression and the flash of concern in his eyes.
He smiled faintly. Use Eternal Night?
You’re not worthy.
Li Hao didn’t even glance at Ren Qianqian. Instead, he turned and, from the table where he had been eating, summoned a pair of chopsticks he had just used.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
