Chapter 292: Are You Chong Er?
Chapter 292: Are You Chong Er?
After bidding farewell to the others, Li Hao set off with the Candlelight Deity and Xiyian, heading for the Wang Family in Yunzhou.
Racing with the wind and chasing the moon, they crossed mountains, rivers, and the Jianghu. Even though they were taking a direct route, they still had to traverse six or seven Great Provinces, covering nearly a million miles.
But this time, Li Hao had no heart for sightseeing or enjoying the scenery; he was in a hurry.
The Candlelight Deity galloped swiftly, its hooves ablaze, cutting through the sky. After a day’s journey, they arrived at the borders of Yunzhou.
In Yunzhou, numerous factions and Jianghu Sects stood, but behind them all was the presence of the Wang Family. Since the Imperial Capital Deprivation incident, the Wang Family had extended its influence into these Jianghu forces, using the sects as a front to train their troops. If the Demons ever invaded Yunzhou, they would find it as solid as a rock.
The seemingly scattered Jianghu Sects could produce such fine battle armor and weapons that even the Demons would retreat.
It was unclear whether the elderly figure in the Imperial Capital turned a blind eye to this.
The Candlelight Deity descended, landing outside the Divine General Manor of the Wang Family.
This magnificent and imposing Divine General Manor stood in the heart of Yunzhou City, a symbol of absolute dominance. The five golden characters "Tianzhao Divine General Manor" gleamed brilliantly, instilling awe in all who beheld it.
Seeing the demonic aura emanating from the Candlelight Deity, the guards at the entrance of the Divine General Manor were startled, but they quickly realized something and rushed inside to report.
When the news spread, the Tianzhao Divine General Manor was shaken by the news.
General Haotian, who was a million miles away, had actually come to Yunzhou!
Everyone was extremely curious about this young man who had recently stirred up countless storms. He was too young, only sixteen, yet he had achieved remarkable military feats, accomplishing what many military generals could only dream of.
Just hearing his name was enough to make people excited and curious.
The young man had already been shrouded in a mythical aura.
"Is it true? General Haotian is actually coming to our Wang Family?"
"My father said he has never seen that General in court. Despite his numerous honors, he has never attended a court session!"
"Why would he come to us?"
"I heard it’s for the Mourning River."
"The Mourning River? That’s interesting. Is he here to learn from us, or does he have his eye on the treasures in the Virtue Treasure Vault?"
"What else? The Virtue Treasure Vault, who wouldn’t be tempted? If not for the Virtue Treasure Vault, I wouldn’t even know that the Martial Dao has an Ultimate Realm."
"Come on, let’s go and see."
The young generation of the Wang Family was also excited and eager.
In the current Dayu, the empire had shifted from prosperity to decline, from peace to chaos. The name Haotian had appeared out of nowhere and had been mentioned countless times in just two years, making even the proud young masters of the Divine General Manor put aside their arrogance and become extremely curious about this young man.
If the gap between them wasn’t so vast, they might have tried to compete with him. But the difference was too great, and even the figures they usually revered, like their grandfathers and uncles, were far behind this young man, leaving them without the desire to compete with him.
Meanwhile, Wang Yongzhi, the Patriarch of the Wang Family, who looked to be in his forties, had already led many of his peers, powerful figures of the Wang Family, to the outer gates to welcome the visitor.
Although the reception was grand, Wang Yongzhi was a shrewd man. From the recent Buddhist Sect incident, he had seen that this young man was not just extraordinary but even frightening, far beyond what the Wang Family could handle.
Soon, at the entrance of the Divine General Manor, everyone saw a young man seated on the back of the Flame Candlelight Deity, enveloped in a blazing aura.
The young man was fair-skinned and handsome, with deep, dark eyes that shone like clear jade. Despite their expectations, he exuded no arrogance or condescension. Instead, he had an air of reserved depth and a sense of solitude and grace, as if sitting atop an empty mountain peak.
Wang Yongzhi’s eyes grew serious, but he smiled and bowed, saying,
"Are you General Haotian? It’s an honor to finally meet you, your reputation precedes you like thunder!"
"Leader of the Wang Family?"
Li Hao noticed the other party’s respectful stance and jumped off the back of the Flame Candlelight Deity, a smaller, more robust version of its original form, and offered a slight bow.
Once Li Hao had dismounted, the Flame Candlelight Deity transformed into a fiery figure, stepping out of the flames with cold, piercing eyes, standing behind Li Hao.
Beside Wang Yongzhi, two elderly members of the Wang Family exchanged grave looks, a chill running through their hearts.
Though they had heard the rumors, seeing the Void Realm sovereign, who had been tamed so obediently by Li Hao, was still a shock.
Since the battle in Liangzhou, this Tai Xu Sovereign had revealed his strength, that of a Half-Step Dao Realm existence.
In the various Divine General Manors, he was considered a top-tier combatant. Now, this young man was sitting on him as if he were a mere steed.
"General Haotian, we have the honor of meeting you."
Many influential figures of the Wang Family also bowed to Li Hao, showing great respect.
After all, in terms of achievements and titles, despite their advanced age, they were still a step below this young man.
"General Haotian, please."
Wang Yongzhi warmly invited Li Hao, and the others also displayed rare humility and smiles.
Initially, when they first learned that Li Hao had slain the Buddhist Master, they were surprised, but not enough to be so humble and ingratiating. However, as the situation unfolded and detailed reports from their spies within the Buddhist Sect were relayed back, it was revealed that the Buddhist Master was suspected to have been slain by Li Hao after advancing to the Enlightened Realm.
This news was truly chilling.
The Buddhist Master had previously displayed the strength of the Great Peace Dao Realm, which, while formidable enough to intimidate the surrounding regions, was still not on par with the Wang Family’s accumulated power over the years. Even a thousand years ago, the Wang Family had a group of members who had crossed the Immortal Gate, and while they were respectful to the Buddhist Master, they did not feel genuine awe.
The Wang Family had a Great Peace Dao Realm cultivator, and most Divine General Manors had their own trump cards capable of countering such a realm.
The Li Family, aside from Li Tianzong, who had fallen in Dragon City a few decades ago, had Li Muxiu, who, though only at the Half-Step Dao Realm, could match a Dao Realm cultivator with his Invincible Fist Dao Domain.
If the Immortal Gate monsters returned, they would likely be no less powerful.
However, the Enlightened Realm was different. It was the realm of the strongest beings below the Sage.
The True Person of Qian Dao Palace kept the demons at bay precisely because of his publicly displayed power, which was at the Enlightened Realm. No one had seen him use his full strength, and no one knew how much more he had hidden.
Now, Li Hao could slay a Buddhist Master who had reached the Enlightened Realm, and the emperor’s decree in his favor revealed the royal family’s deep-seated support. The reasons behind this were even more terrifying, instilling a deep sense of reverence for this young man.
Upon arriving at the main hall of the Wang Family’s grand hall, Li Hao exchanged a few pleasantries and then eagerly asked,
"Leader of the Wang Family, you mentioned earlier that you have found Old Sir Feng Boping’s soul?"
Hearing Li Hao’s reference to Feng Boping, Wang Yongzhi thought of how the Thief Saint had been avenged by Li Hao’s killing of the Buddhist Master, and he sighed,
"General Haotian, there’s no need to rush. His Majesty has already informed me that the Thief Saint’s soul might be incomplete, so his obsession is not deep. Right now, he is trapped in a Netherworld-level Mourning River."
"We found it, and I’ve already had my Second Uncle, Wang Zhendong, personally attempt to clear it."
Nether Realm?
Li Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that it wasn’t a Yudu Grade.
Clearing the Dragon City Mourning River had nearly cost him his life. Even with his current Great Peace Dao Realm strength, he couldn’t be certain he could clear another Yudu-Class Mourning River, as each had different rules.
While a Dao Domain could suppress rules, ignoring the Yudu-Class Mourning River’s rules wouldn’t guarantee a successful clearance. Without a method, one could only destroy the Mourning River, not clear it.
"Can I give it a try too?"
Li Hao asked.
A Netherworld-level Mourning River was relatively easier, but clearing it and suppressing it were two different things. It required methods.
Li Hao didn’t have much confidence, but multiple attempts might do the trick. As long as the Mourning River wasn’t destroyed, he could keep trying.
"You?"
Hearing Li Hao’s words, Wang Yongzhi was taken aback, surprised but not entirely. He smiled and said,
"General Haotian, do you not trust the Wang Family? Rest assured, we won’t just go through the motions. Although the Thief Saint has a notorious reputation, we don’t dislike him. After all, he has helped us solve many Mourning Rivers in the past."
"Hmm?"
Li Hao looked at his honest smile, slightly stunned. He suddenly remembered his first entry into a Mourning River when he checked the Merit Board and saw Old Feng’s virtue points.
Over three thousand, ranking in the top thirty.
The Sword Saint from the Sword Hut was only in the eighties. Back then, solving a Mourning River offered no rewards, only out of pure dedication.
"Do you know his Mourning River name?"
Li Hao asked, surprised.
"Bu Liuxing, right? As the saying goes, 'thieves don’t leave empty-handed, and thieves don’t leave their names.' So, the Thief Saint, Saint Bu Liuxing, we’ve known it was him for a long time."
Wang Yongzhi smiled, then sighed lightly,
"Good and evil can’t be defined in a few words. Although the Thief Saint has visited our Wang Family, when he steals from us, we can only admit our own negligence. It even helps us root out some corrupt elements. Ha, I don’t care about the rest, but just for being in the top fifty on the Merit Board, the Wang Family respects him as a man of honor."
Li Hao glanced at him, impressed by the Patriarch’s broad-mindedness.
He then recalled the Merit Board from back then, where nearly twenty of the top thirty names were Wangs.
It was a testament to the Wang Family’s achievements and the heavy responsibility bestowed by the court.
"But now, it’s different. Those Blade Saints and Sword Saints have all made it into the top fifty. With the Virtue Treasure Vault, Mourning Rivers are no longer disasters but treasures. Ha ha."
Wang Yongzhi laughed, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
In the past, without the Virtue Treasure Vault, the names of Blade Saints and Sword Saints were mostly at the bottom, some not even on the board.
Clearing Mourning Rivers? It was better to spend that time comprehending cultivation.
If they did take action, it was usually to slay demons at the Border.
Both were arduous tasks, but slaying demons offered achievements and titles.
Mourning Rivers, on the other hand, were mysterious and complex, offering no benefits and unknown dangers.
Slaying demons was much simpler.
In the past, the Wang Family would personally visit these powerful figures, hoping they would help with the higher-level Mourning Rivers, offering valuable rewards. But no one was interested, and those who did ask for exorbitant prices, making the Wang Family grit their teeth.
Now, the roles have reversed.
Because they have endured countless cold and disdainful gazes, they have no bias against Thief Saint Feng Boping.
Reputation can be deceiving, but actions cannot.
Everyone has their own story.
Unless Feng Boping somehow knew back then that the Virtue Treasure Vault would open in the future and made preemptive moves.
But that is entirely impossible.
After all, it takes a hundred thousand Virtue to open the Virtue Treasure Vault, and even the Wang Family, who have studied the Mourning River for hundreds of years, do not know this.
"Second Uncle is here, so General Haotian can rest assured. If it doesn't work the first time, we can try again and again. These Mourning Rivers won't be destroyed now."
Wang Yongzhi said to Li Hao.
Destruction means disappearance, and the Virtue gained from completing it is a hundredfold. Now, Mourning Rivers of all sizes have become scarce resources. Once, people begged for their destruction and no one would respond, but now secretly destroying a Mourning River is considered a crime. Such is the change of the times.
"No problem, with more people, we have more power. I can give it a try too."
Li Hao said. The Mourning River can erode the soul, and the longer one stays inside, the more dangerous it becomes. Li Hao was worried that if they took too long, Old Feng's soul might face the risk of dissipation.
"General Haotian, the Mourning River is not like slaying demons and monsters. It's not just about having a high realm; it often comes down to experience and wisdom."
An elderly man spoke indifferently from the side.
He was Wang Zhenping, one of the older generation of the Wang Family and the father of Wang Xiangru.
He remembered all the words his daughter had relayed from her mother's home, along with the complaints of his grandchildren. He did not have much goodwill toward the young man before him.
However, he knew that this young man was no longer the same as before, possessing great strength and numerous military achievements. Therefore, he would not provoke trouble.
"Yes, General Haotian, although you are very powerful, the Mourning River is extremely dangerous."
Others also chimed in, their expressions sincere.
Although he was very strong, he was still too young. The Mourning River was different from slaying demons; it was far more challenging than military campaigns.
"It's fine. Let General Haotian give it a try. Has General Haotian entered the Mourning River before?"
Wang Yongzhi shook his head, not stopping him. He could see that Li Hao had a deep affection for Thief Saint Feng Boping. Otherwise, he wouldn't have killed the Buddhist Master in a fit of rage. Knowing that he couldn't persuade Li Hao otherwise, especially since he had traveled a great distance, Wang Yongzhi understood that he wasn't there for idle chitchat.
"Once or twice", Li Hao replied.
"General Haotian has a kind heart."
Wang Yongzhi couldn't help but smile, feeling some goodwill toward Li Hao.
"Before entering the Mourning River, I should explain some of its nuances to General Haotian. You should understand them first."
"Alright."
Li Hao nodded. The Wang Family had studied the Mourning River for hundreds of years and would certainly have a deeper understanding of it.
Wang Yongzhi didn't ramble. He couldn't reveal all the secrets of the Mourning River at once, but he did explain some of the more subtle aspects and rules to avoid unknown dangers for Li Hao.
After finishing, he led Li Hao away from the main hall of the grand hall.
Seeing Li Hao's determination, the others did not try to persuade him further. After all, gaining some experience wasn't a bad thing, and with the Virtue from the Mourning River, the Emperor would likely allocate those resources to General Haotian in the future.
That Virtue could be exchanged for Ultimate Realm cultivation techniques and various mindsets from the Virtue Treasure Vault, which were extremely valuable.
At this thought, they couldn't help but feel a mix of envy, regret, and sighs.
If this young man could use the resources from the Virtue Treasure Vault, he would likely soar to even greater heights.
As Li Hao followed Wang Yongzhi and the others out of the grand hall, the many young members of the Wang Family gathered outside began to buzz with excitement.
Some used their Divine Souls to observe from a high vantage point, curiosity shining in their eyes.
"That's General Haotian? He's talking with the Patriarch and the others, looking so relaxed."
"Yeah, Grandpa Zhenping is there too, and he doesn't seem scared at all. I'd be trembling in front of Grandpa Zhenping."
"You coward, do you think General Haotian is like us? You don't know, but even a powerhouse like Grandpa Zhenping isn't enough to scare him."
"Shh, Grandpa Zhenping is glaring at you."
"Young Miss, look, that's General Haotian, one of the two people you most wanted to meet. You finally got to see him."
Outside the crowd, a Qing Shuang-like woman stood quietly, gazing into the distance. Her maid held an umbrella over her.
"General Haotian looks so young. I wonder what Mr. Chong Er looks like. He must be an old man, right?"
"Don't talk nonsense. You haven't even seen him." The woman frowned and gently scolded her.
The maid giggled, unafraid, clearly used to playing around with her Young Miss.
Soon, Wang Yongzhi and the others led Li Hao to a secret place within the Tianzhao Divine General Manor. The many young Wang Family members who had been watching from a distance were kept far away, as this was a restricted area of the Wang Family, not to be entered lightly.
Before them stood a mountain, hollowed out inside, vast and spacious.
The mountain resembled a pointed hat on the ground, with a beam of light shining down from the top, illuminating a black statue.
"This is Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha."
Wang Yongzhi explained to Li Hao, "This extraordinary object was brought back by one of our distant ancestors from the Mourning River. Later, we discovered its uses. By feeding the clay from the land temples of the Outside Mourning River into the mouth of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, we can directly connect to that Mourning River through him."
"In other words, we can enter any of the Mourning Rivers under the Wang Family's jurisdiction from here."
Though the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha was peculiar and strange, it was not a significant secret and had long been reported to the emperor.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised. He had always found the Mourning River to be extremely mysterious, and he hadn't expected such an extraordinary object to exist.
"General Haotian, if you have entered the Mourning River before, you must have a Mourning River Register, right?"
Wang Yongzhi smiled at Li Hao, "You just need to enter from here. Choose the Mourning River you want to enter, and there will be a map of the Mourning River. I'll tell you which one it is."
Li Hao nodded and followed Wang Yongzhi's instructions, standing before the half-human-sized statue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha looked benevolent, but in the light and shadow, he appeared eerie, his squinted eyes seeming to mock.
Golden light emerged from Li Hao's palm, and a piece of Mourning River Gold Paper floated out.
Then, the statue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha also emitted golden light, and a scroll flew out, flipping through its pages.
Li Hao's Gold Paper was drawn in, merging with the scroll. After a moment, it seemed to have confirmed his identity, and the Gold Paper flew out of the scroll, returning to Li Hao.
Wang Yongzhi, watching from the side, saw the Gold Paper floating before Li Hao, recording his Mourning River information: name, Mourning River Virtue, events, and more.
When he saw the two simple characters on the Gold Paper, Wang Yongzhi was stunned, his heart pounding. "You are Chong Er?!"
(End of Chapter)
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