https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-138-Ren-Qianqian-Beyond-the-Border/13450142/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-140-A-Single-Move-to-Stabilize-the-World-Grandmaster-/13450151/
Chapter 139: Divine General Manor Lost Him
Chapter 139: Divine General Manor Lost Him (Second Unity Chapter)
"Just one move."
Li Hao thought for a moment and said more reasonably.
Ren Qianqian's eyes sparkled, not doubting Li Hao's words. After all, Li Hao's Sword Art Realm far surpassed hers, and she could barely manage a few exchanges with him.
"What about a Soul Succession Realm practitioner at the tenth level?" she asked.
"Just one move."
"… What about someone who has just entered the Divine Wanderer Realm?"
"Just one move."
"…"
Seeing Ren Qianqian's stunned expression, Li Hao smiled and turned to leave. "Come on, let's head back and rest when you're done playing."
Ren Qianqian snapped back to reality and hurriedly followed Li Hao, asking, "Young Master, are you serious? Just with your Sword Art?"
Li Hao tapped her head. "Don't compare yourself to me."
The Major Meridians and Qi Circulation Technique he had cultivated at the Zhou Tian Realm were top-notch, providing enough power to support him in cross-realm battles.
Adding the Soul Continuation technique made it even harder to replicate. Even at the first level of the Soul Succession Realm, the number of times he could condense his Soul Image equaled that of a fifth-level practitioner. Combined with the Yin-Yang Dual Meridians, he could defeat a newly ascended Divine Wanderer Realm martial artist in one move.
If he used his Sword Art, it would be even more difficult to predict.
Ren Qianqian held her sword in one hand and her head in the other, feeling a bit wronged.
But she also knew Li Hao was right; comparing herself to him could easily shatter her Dao Heart.
"Just follow your own Sword Dao; there's no need to compare yourself to others", Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian was taken aback. Follow her own Sword Dao, no need to compare… She looked at the young man's back and wondered if he had followed the same path.
As the two left, on the other side at the Spirit Wandering Arena, a group of figures gathered. Suddenly, one of the women paused.
"What's wrong, Yueyao?" Lin Feifei asked in surprise.
"I just saw Young Master Li", Song Yueyao said, stopping and looking in another direction.
"Isn't that the Soul Succession Arena?" Lin Feifei followed her gaze, puzzled.
Song Yueyao saw the moving figures and frowned slightly before shaking her head. "Maybe I was mistaken."
Given his realm, why would he be at the Soul Succession Arena?
She refocused and said, "Let's go and experience the prowess of the Divine Wanderer Realm practitioners from the other provinces."
"Sure", Lin Feifei's eyes lit up as she looked at the Spirit Wandering Arena.
Being a martial artist, it was hard to avoid the competitive spirit.
Time passed quickly.
Li Hao and Ren Qianqian found an inn in the city to stay at. They spent their days eating, drinking, and wandering around. Before they knew it, three days had passed.
During these three days, Ren Qianqian went to the Soul Succession Arena to challenge and spar, achieving a good ranking but failing to make it into the top ten.
After all, her realm was too low. She had just entered the Soul Continuation Realm and hadn't had time to properly cultivate her Soul Condensation Technique. She had the realm but lacked the power of a Soul Succession Realm practitioner.
Those who could vie for the top ten were mostly Perfect Soul Succession Realm geniuses, either from prestigious schools or lucky individuals who had received some rare opportunities.
Li Hao stopped accompanying her and instead wandered around the city, searching for famous paintings and chess manuals.
His search was quite rewarding. Although he didn't find the chess manual, he discovered two famous paintings at a wealthy man's home.
Unfortunately, one of the paintings was a forgery and could not be added to his collection. The other was a genuine masterpiece by a Master of the Art Dao, titled "A Thousand Sails Crossing the River."
This wealthy man was not short of money; his collection of paintings and calligraphy was purely for personal enjoyment. Li Hao's silver had no effect here. To obtain the painting, he would have to offer something in exchange.
He considered simply sneaking the famous painting into his collection and leaving, but if he did that, the painting would quickly decay and vanish from the world.
The wealthy man was warm and generous, and Li Hao decided against the idea.
Fortunately, the wealthy man's son was a martial fanatic, devoted to training. Li Hao demonstrated his skills, easily subduing the martial instructors in the courtyard, impressing both the instructors and the wealthy man's son. In exchange, he promised to find a renowned master for the son. The famous painting would be the reward once the deal was done.
So, on the day the Grandmaster Conference began, Li Hao was accompanied not only by Ren Qianqian but also by the wealthy man's young son, Han Wu, who was about the same age as Li Hao.
"That's the Grandmaster Dojo over there, but we don't have an Invitation, so we can't enter the inner arena."
Han Wu seemed quite familiar with the rules of the Grandmaster Conference, having done extensive research. His eyes sparkled with admiration and reverence as he gazed at the Grandmasters inside, whom he greatly admired.
"No problem, we can get in."
Li Hao headed straight for the Imperial Court area.
Although he didn't have an Invitation, his status as a Heavenly Master Realm practitioner allowed him direct entry.
At the entrance, two young men from the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, who looked like twins, stopped the three of them. They were polite, asking Li Hao to show his Invitation, assuming they were either accompanying a master or were young nobles seeking to study.
Li Hao didn't have an Invitation, but he simply tapped the dragon-patterned drum beside him.
The drum was covered in dragon scales and could only be vibrated by a Grandmaster. It contained intricate mechanisms, making it nearly impossible for even a peak Fifteen Li Realm practitioner to produce any sound, let alone Li Hao's light tap.
As the drum resonated with a deep hum, the two young men were stunned, their eyes widening in shock as they stared at Li Hao.
Han Wu, who was following behind Li Hao, also jumped in surprise, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He had seen Li Hao subdue the martial instructors, but he had assumed Li Hao was at the Divine Wanderer Realm. After all, a Divine Wanderer at such a young age was already a rare talent. He never imagined Li Hao was actually a Heavenly Master.
"Y-You must be…?"
The two young men recovered, their pupils contracting as they looked at Li Hao in shock.
They had never seen the legendary figure from Qingzhou, but at such a young age, reaching the Grandmaster Realm, there seemed to be no one else in the world who could match that description!
"We should be able to enter now."
Li Hao said.
The two young men, still in a state of excitement, quickly made way for Li Hao.
Ren Qianqian, who already knew Li Hao's realm, smiled. Han Wu, after a moment of shock, finally caught up, his hands trembling with excitement, eager to ask questions but afraid to disturb Li Hao.
As they entered, several figures approached from a distance, noticing the scene. The leader, a young man in a robe, narrowed his eyes.
...
The Grandmaster Dojo was not located in the city center but was situated along the river outside the city walls.
This river was extremely famous in Daliangzhou, known as the Dragon River.
The Dragon River stretched for seven thousand miles, crossing through half of Daliangzhou and connecting over a dozen cities.
At the moment, the river was tumultuous, churning up layers of muddy yellow water.
The magnificent dojo was built along the Dragon River, and occasionally, when the river surged, it would splash waves onto the edges of the dojo.
This grand and perilous location inspired a sense of grandeur and heroic spirit.
Grandmasters, who challenged the heavens, found such an environment conducive to resonating with their mindset.
In the inner arena outside the Discussion Platform, figures moved about. Although only Grandmasters and their entourages could enter the inner arena, the gathering of Grandmasters from all over the world, each bringing five additional guests, made the place bustling and lively.
Old acquaintances among the Grandmasters recognized each other, exchanging pleasantries and introducing their disciples or young nobles brought in by wealthy patrons.
Li Hao looked around, noting the blend of martial arts and the pursuit of fame and fortune.
Ren Qianqian and Han Wu, feeling a bit nervous and out of place, observed their surroundings. After all, everyone present was a powerful figure who had established their own schools, and those at the Three Eternities Realm were almost beyond human, half a step into legend.
"Come, let's find a spot to sit down."
Li Hao said, leading the way to an empty table where there were snacks and drinks.
He picked one up and tried it; the taste was average, so he didn't take a second one.
"Young Master, could you be the Divine General Manor, ranked fifth on the Qianlong List...?"
Han Wu, after sitting down and looking around for a moment, finally couldn't contain his excitement and asked Li Hao in a low voice.
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "You're overthinking it."
You can't fool me... Han Wu, despite Li Hao's denial, inwardly chuckled, already convinced.
Although his father always scolded him, "My foolish son, why must you practice martial arts? Wouldn't it be better to inherit my vast fortune and live a comfortable life?" Han Wu didn't think he was foolish. He believed his father was the foolish one. In these times, with demons rampant, what good is wealth without power? Strength is supreme!
He wanted his family to transform from wealthy merchants into a Martial Dao lineage, starting with him.
Most of those prestigious lineages had undergone similar transformations. Once successful, the family history could be rewritten, starting with him.
And now, the opportunity to rewrite that history was right in front of him.
"Young Master, why don't you take me as your disciple?" Han Wu said, about to kneel and perform the disciple ceremony.
But before his knees touched the ground, a force lifted him up. Li Hao found it amusing; this young man, though not old, had a shrewd businessman's mind.
"I don't take disciples", Li Hao said.
"I can endure hardship, I'm kind and willing to do anything..."
Han Wu hurriedly said, eager to showcase his virtues.
Li Hao quickly stopped him. "I don't have the time to teach. Even if you were my disciple, it wouldn't help."
Teaching chess or painting might interest him, but teaching martial arts was truly boring and felt like a torment.
If it weren't for Ren Qianqian following him all the way from Qingzhou, he wouldn't have given any guidance.
"Young Master..."
Han Wu put on a sad face, trying to squeeze out a few tears. "Actually, I lost my mother when I was young..."
Li Hao was speechless. Was this kid trying to sing a sad song?
"Hm? How did you get in here?"
At that moment, a surprised voice echoed.
Li Hao recognized it and turned to see Zhou Haitang and his disciples approaching.
When Zhou Ling'er met Ren Qianqian's gaze, her face slightly changed, her eyes flashing with embarrassment. As the daughter of a Grandmaster, being defeated by a peer who had just entered the Soul Succession Realm was a profound humiliation.
She couldn't turn away or maintain eye contact, so she angrily shifted her gaze to Li Hao.
"Senior Zhou."
Li Hao didn't look at the little girl beside him but instead gave Zhou Haitang a slight bow as a greeting, though he remained seated.
After all, they were both Grandmasters and considered peers in the martial arts world. Etiquette dictated that formal titles were only used within the same family.
Zhou Haitang's brow furrowed slightly at Li Hao's gesture, assuming Li Hao was still upset about his previous coldness. He didn't bother to argue with a junior and said, "The Bai Chunhai you're looking for is over there."
He pointed, and Li Hao followed his finger to see an elderly man in a gray robe, with a kind face, engaged in conversation.
"Thank you."
Li Hao nodded.
Zhou Haitang didn't linger, turning to leave.
He had his own sense of balance. Knowing his daughter had received a dagger as a gift, this pointer was a fair return, and they were even.
The martial world wasn't just about fighting; it was also about human relations.
In the martial world, the worst thing was owing someone a favor.
Some debts could cost a life, even involving the entire family.
Seeing her master leave, Xu Wan'er glanced at Li Hao, nodded slightly, and followed.
Zhou Ling'er, feeling like a thorn in her side, glared at Li Hao and left with her father.
But once they were far enough away, she said indignantly, "They must have sneaked in! It's so infuriating!"
Zhou Haitang frowned. "That boy is composed and dignified, standing tall before a Grandmaster. He must come from a prestigious family, so having an invitation isn't surprising. Stay away from him in the future. According to Wan'er, you couldn't even defeat his servant. How embarrassing!"
"Dad!"
"Once we return, you will lock yourself in to practice. You won't leave the mountain until you reach the Divine Wanderer Realm!"
Zhou Haitang said sternly, his face set.
Zhou Ling'er stomped her foot, giving Xu Wan'er an angry glance.
Elsewhere, Li Hao got up and walked toward Grandmaster Bai Chunhai after Zhou Haitang and the others had left.
At the table, there were three or four people seated, and behind each Grandmaster stood their respective disciples, making for a lively scene.
"Grandmaster Bai?" Li Hao asked tentatively.
The gray-robed old man, who was in the middle of a conversation, turned to look at Li Hao. Seeing a young man with an unusual demeanor, he asked, "Who are you?"
Seeing that he had been recognized, Li Hao smiled and said, "I heard you have a famous painting. I would like to purchase it. What are the conditions for acquiring it?"
"Hmm?"
Bai Chunhai frowned. Apart from practicing martial arts, his only other pleasure was sketching and collecting famous paintings.
"Young man, if you want to become a disciple, just come out and say it. Don't play these games."
Beside him, a burly middle-aged man spoke up. He was at the peak of the Fifteenth Li Realm and had accompanied his master, Bai Chunhai, to seek enlightenment and advance to the Tianren Realm.
The disciples of the other Grandmasters also laughed lightly as they sized up Li Hao and his companions, assuming they were young nobles here to seek apprenticeship.
"You've misunderstood. I'm not here to become a disciple. I'm only interested in that painting", Li Hao said.
The burly middle-aged man's expression darkened, and he said angrily, "Are you here to cause trouble?"
Bai Chunhai raised a hand to stop his disciple and said to Li Hao, "Young man, I'm not selling that painting. Please leave."
Li Hao understood that for a Grandmaster like Bai Chunhai, money was unlikely to sway him, unless it was an unimaginable fortune.
The only other option was to offer something else in exchange.
"Grandmaster Bai, perhaps you could name your terms. I'll see if I can meet them. Cultivation techniques, secret skills, or perhaps weapons and treasures?" Li Hao suggested again.
Bai Chunhai frowned slightly, looking Li Hao over. He suddenly felt that this young man might truly be interested in the painting and not just here to mock him.
He said calmly, "I have everything I need. The world offers nothing that can replace what I cherish. Please leave and don't come back."
Li Hao was taken aback, feeling somewhat helpless. It was clear that the other man was determined not to part with the painting.
Or perhaps, he believed that Li Hao couldn't offer anything that would truly move him.
"Grandmaster Bai, I know it's hard to part with something you love. But do you have any other interests? I can offer something in exchange", Li Hao said.
"Who are you, and didn't you hear my master tell you to leave?" the burly middle-aged man stepped forward, his face dark with anger.
Bai Chunhai waved his hand to stop his disciple and said to Li Hao, "Young man, please leave. I've been clear enough."
Li Hao looked at him for a moment and nodded, "I understand."
He then turned and walked back to his seat.
If the other man wouldn't trade, he would have to find a way to steal it.
A gentleman doesn't take what others love, unless you force him to be otherwise...
Returning to his previous seat, Li Hao had just sat down when a surprised voice called out:
"Master Li?"
Li Hao turned to see a group of people standing nearby, looking around.
When they saw Li Hao's face, they all widened their eyes and rushed over in delight.
Li Hao recognized them as Song Yueyao and the White Hall disciples from Tan Palace Academy, led by Mr. Shen Yunqing, Mr. Zhao Zongyuan, and Su Yehua.
"Really is you. Zhou Zheng mentioned it, but I didn't believe him at first", Shen Yunqing said, laughing in surprise.
"Master Li!"
Zhou Zheng and the other White Hall disciples called out to Li Hao eagerly.
Despite being younger than them and having only taught them a couple of classes, Li Hao had greatly benefited them, and they held him in high regard.
Song Yueyao's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she suddenly remembered the figure she had seen on the Soul Continuation stage. It wasn't a case of mistaken identity; it really was Li Hao.
"What are you doing here?" Li Hao asked, somewhat surprised, standing up to greet them with a smile.
When he had left the mansion, these people had come to see him off. He hadn't wanted to involve them, so he hadn't said goodbye, but he had remembered their kindness.
"An event like this, we couldn't miss it", Zhao Zongyuan said with a smile.
"Aren't you supposed to be at Heavenly Gate Pass? What are you doing here?" Su Yehua asked, looking at Li Hao curiously.
The others also looked curious, never expecting to meet Li Hao here.
"There are no Demons there for now, so I came to take a look around", Li Hao said.
Shen Yunqing’s smile faded slightly, and he whispered, "If you really can't hold on, just lower your head and apologize to your father. It’s not dishonorable."
Li Hao glanced at him, then patted his shoulder and said, "Let's not talk about the past."
Shen Yunqing sighed inwardly and didn’t press the matter further. They all hoped Li Hao wouldn’t run into trouble at Heavenly Gate Pass.
The others fell silent after hearing Li Hao’s words. Only this young man could so resolutely abandon the noble status that rivaled the Imperial Clan.
"If you need anything at Heavenly Gate Pass, just let me know. I have some connections in Liangzhou. I might not be able to help you fight Demons, but I can ensure you have enough to eat and drink", Su Yehua said to Li Hao.
"Sure, let’s sit down and talk about it."
Li Hao invited them to take their seats.
Han Wu stood nervously to the side, his heart pounding. He had learned that these were all geniuses from Tan Palace, and he was incredibly excited. When Tan Palace Academy had recruited new students, he had wanted to join, but his father had locked him up.
The journey from Liangzhou to Qingzhou was long, taking five days on a fast horse, and ten days for a round trip. His father had been worried that he might lose his life if he encountered any Demons on the way.
"Master Li, when we graduate, we’ll come to Heavenly Gate Pass to find you", Zhou Zheng said immediately after sitting down.
"Right."
Song Yueyao nodded, gazing at Li Hao with serious eyes.
Shen Yunqing huffed, "Cut it out, you two. Heavenly Gate Pass is an extremely dangerous place. You’ll just be getting in the way. The places he can go might not be suitable for you."
After saying this, he turned to Li Hao, "I’m not trying to stop them from helping you or fearing any repercussions. I just don’t want them to hold you back."
"Understood."
Li Hao smiled and then looked around, "Are all the White Hall members here?"
"Most are, but our invitations and quotas are limited. In the final selection, some didn’t make it and had to rely on their family connections to come over."
Shen Yunqing added, "They should be arriving soon, though."
As he spoke, a shout came from the distance, "Teacher Su!"
"Master Li?!"
Several voices of surprise followed, and a few young men hurried over, all disciples of White Hall.
Su Yehua glanced at Li Hao, "I heard you only taught two classes, and they all advanced by a level. These guys really respect you."
She was at the Fifteenth Li Realm, having recently graduated from White Hall. She stayed at the academy to teach Alpha Academy disciples and had come this time to try to advance to the Tianren Realm.
"Master Li."
The disciples bowed respectfully when they saw Li Hao, their faces filled with admiration.
Although Li Hao had left the Divine General Manor, it didn’t diminish their respect for him.
Li Hao smiled and asked Han Wu to fetch some more chairs and set up a table.
As more White Hall disciples arrived, the area around Li Hao became lively. There were fifty White Hall disciples in total. Apart from the twenty led by Shen Yunqing, the other thirty had come through their family connections, with only a couple missing.
Reuniting in a foreign place, everyone felt a sense of joy. Despite Li Hao’s short time away from Qingzhou, they felt as if they were meeting after a long separation.
The sounds of their conversation caught the attention of some people nearby.
At Bai Chunhai’s table, a few Grandmasters noticed the large group gathered around Li Hao and listened in, recognizing the identities of Shen Yunqing and the others. They also learned about Li Hao’s identity from their conversation.
"That young man is the genius from Qingzhou?!"
Upon confirming Li Hao’s identity, the Grandmasters at the table were visibly shocked, looking at him with a mix of surprise and awe.
The young man who had politely requested a famous painting just moments ago was actually the legendary thousand-year-first cultivation genius?
At fourteen, he had reached the fifth place on the Qianlong List and become a Grandmaster, an achievement unprecedented in history!
The burly middle-aged man behind Bai Chunhai's face changed, his shock and trembling evident. He had just been rude to that young man, and now it turned out that the person was actually a Young Man Grandmaster?!
No wonder the other party had ignored him the entire time; it was because he wasn't even worth a glance.
"Is that Li Hao?!"
"A fourteen-year-old Tianren Realm? I knew it was strange; I couldn't even probe his cultivation realm just now."
"So, it's him. He looks so young, really just fourteen!"
"He's here too? I wonder what kind of Heavenly Gate he kicked open to become a Grandmaster!"
As the news spread, a wave of murmurs and exclamations rose, and many eyes in the crowd turned to the young man surrounded by Tan Palace students.
In the blink of an eye, that spot became the center of everyone's attention.
Although there were many renowned young geniuses present, none had been as prominent in the past few months as that young man.
"What?"
Zhou Haitang, who was enjoying a reunion with old friends, had sharp ears. He noticed the other commotion and exclamations around him.
His expression quickly changed, and he looked at the young man he had just greeted, his eyes filled with shock.
That young man was the Young Man Grandmaster?!
Beside him, Zhou Ling'er and Xu Wan'er also overheard the discussions. With everyone's attention focused on the young man, it was impossible for them not to notice.
"He's actually... that person?"
Zhou Ling'er was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at the young man who was chatting casually. He wore the same carefree, warm expression, with a smile that seemed effortless.
Her heart pounded, finding it hard to believe.
Before this, when she first heard about the Young Man Grandmaster on the Qianlong List, she had admired him and longed to see him in person.
And now, she had just coldly mocked him.
"No wonder he has such martial arts prowess, able to win the dagger without even breaking a sweat..." the young man muttered to himself, realizing that such a feat was nothing significant to the other party.
"Young Man Grandmaster..." Xu Wan'er's eyes sparkled, filled with admiration.
At another table, Li Wushuang was being greeted by several Grandmasters.
Although Li Wushuang was only at the Divine Wanderer Realm, her background was so formidable that these Grandmasters wanted to seek the shade of the Divine General Manor.
Suddenly, the commotion in front of them caught their attention, and they all looked up, stunned.
"He's here too?!"
Li Wushuang abruptly stood up, her eyes filled with shock as she looked in that direction. Her Divine Soul immediately flew out from the top of her head, and she saw the young man at the distant table, his ever-present smile unforgettable.
With a swoosh, Li Wushuang rushed over.
"Young Miss."
The two Military Attendants followed closely behind.
"Li Hao!"
Li Hao, who was reuniting with his Tan Palace disciples, suddenly heard someone call his name and turned to look.
The crowd parted, and Li Wushuang's figure rushed over, her expression excited, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"You're here too." Li Hao was somewhat surprised, but then he considered her cultivation realm and realized it made sense for her to be here.
"You..."
Li Wushuang had many things to say, to ask why Li Hao was here, to persuade him to return to the Divine General Manor and not to quarrel with his uncle. But as she looked at the Tan Palace disciples sitting around Li Hao and the crowd surrounding him, she realized something.
Even without the glory of the Divine General Manor, this young man was still the center of attention.
A fourteen-year-old Young Man Grandmaster was enough to shock the world.
It wasn't that he had lost the glory of the Divine General Manor.
It was that the Divine General Manor had lost him.
"Are you doing well?"
In the end, Li Wushuang could only manage to ask this simple question.
"Pretty good."
Li Hao smiled slightly. To the Elder Sister whom he had once beaten up, he had no particular feelings—neither good nor bad.
Back then, he had just wanted to teach an undisciplined little girl a lesson. Now, meeting her in a different place, she didn't question him harshly but could ask such a simple, kind question.
He naturally responded kindly.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
