https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-363-The-Great-Battle-Begins-He-Arrives-Part-2-/13450650/
Chapter 363: The Great Battle Begins, He Arrives! (Part 1)
Chapter 363: The Great Battle Begins, He Arrives! (Part 1)
"Do you think he still remembers us?"
"How could he not? Xuan Shen has crossed blades with him before and was once a formidable opponent. He can't possibly forget, right?"
"Exactly, and he's also half a Ji Family member."
"Shh, don't mention that."
Outside the door, Ji Xuanshen and the other Ji Family prodigies spoke in hushed tones.
They had previously crossed the Immortal Gate and were now disciples under the Sage of the Primordial Sanctuary. This time, some were chosen to participate in the battle, while others, who had not been selected, came to observe.
They arrived early and began to gather information about Li Hao's whereabouts.
Since Li Hao had gained fame in the Battles of the Ten Thousand Heavens, his movements and information were closely monitored by the Skylark Tower. Many factions obtained some intelligence about Li Hao from the Skylark Tower, as this information was not deliberately concealed and the events were quite significant. Many people knew that Li Hao had claimed the top spot in the Canglan World and was now hiding in the Heaven Stealing Holy Land.
"Hmm, you're here too?"
A few figures approached from behind. Leading them was Jiang Zixian, who noticed Ji Xuanshen and the others waiting outside the courtyard. Her eyes flickered with interest.
She had known that they seemed to be very concerned about the young man the emperor cared about, but she hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly to check on him, just like her.
"Purple Smoke."
Ji Xuanshen nodded slightly at her.
She was the Holy Maiden of the Primordial Sanctuary, a position of high status, but she was too old to participate in this year's Heaven's Pride Battle.
"Xuan Shen, Holy Son."
Jiang Zixian nodded in greeting, knowing that he came from the Great Wasteland Holy Race, just like the Jiang Family, whose ancestors were also Sages.
Ji Xuanshen had performed exceptionally well within the Primordial Sanctuary. Shortly after becoming a disciple, he rapidly advanced, his cultivation soaring. He stood out in various competitions and quickly became a Holy Son, now ranking among the top young Holy Sons.
Given his promising future within the sect, she was naturally willing to form a connection with him. They were both from the Mortal World and from Ancient Holy Clans, so they had a good relationship.
"Are you very familiar with him?"
Jiang Zixian took the opportunity to ask curiously. They were usually busy with their own cultivation and had few chances to interact.
"Both an opponent and a friend, at least that's how I see it."
Ji Xuanshen replied calmly.
Although he had been defeated by Li Hao, he would never forget that moment. It had become a driving force for his cultivation. Whenever he encountered difficulties or setbacks, the image of that unyielding figure would appear in his mind.
Hearing Ji Xuanshen's words, Jiang Zixian's eyes flickered, matching her expectations.
She smiled and said, "I heard he offended the Buddhist Sect and was pursued by a Virtual Sage. I was worried he wouldn't dare to come."
"Wouldn't dare?"
Ji Xuanshen's calm face showed a slight smile. "There's nothing in this world he wouldn't dare to do. Just his audacity to offend a Sage is something we can't match."
Jiang Zixian was taken aback, a hint of doubt crossing her mind. What was there to admire about offending a Sage? From his reaction, it seemed he held the other in high regard, regardless of right or wrong. This didn't feel like the attitude of an opponent but more like admiration.
But Ji Xuanshen was the hotshot Holy Son of the Primordial Sanctuary, looking down on most. Would he really admire someone else?
Jiang Zixian shook her head, dismissing the thought. She wasn't familiar with that young man and had barely spoken to him. However, when they crossed the Immortal Gate, she had noticed his incredible talent, which was truly exceptional. Therefore, she wanted to strengthen the relationship between him and the Jiang Family.
After all, he had been away from the Mortal World for over a decade. Although he had a good relationship with her father, the lack of contact might have weakened it.
With this in mind, Jiang Zixian explained the situation to the attendant at the door and waited calmly.
At that moment, Li Hao, who was inside the courtyard, stood up and went to open the gate.
"Ji... Hao Tian!"
When Ji Xuanshen saw the gate open, his eyes, which had been calm, became serious. Seeing that familiar face, his heart stirred, and he felt a surge of excitement and an indescribable sense of agitation, a feeling of long-awaited reunion.
Jiang Zixian also knew about Li Hao's fame in the All Heavens. The incident was too significant; any Sage Sons and Daughters from the major Holy Lands, unless they were extremely isolated, would know about it.
She fixed her gaze on the young man, inwardly amazed. After he crossed the Immortal Gate, she had thought this prodigy would fall from grace. Yet, he not only survived the Sage Incarnation's pursuit but also stirred up a great storm in the Land of Sages, a place teeming with geniuses.
She couldn't help but admire, "Father's insight is indeed sharper than mine."
"Hao Tian, do you still remember us?"
Jiang Zixian's words were gentle and smiling. Normally, her demeanor was cold and regal, carrying the pride and dignity of an imperial princess, making her seem distant and unapproachable. But now, she was like a gentle spring breeze, without a trace of her usual aloofness.
Ten years had passed, and her appearance remained unchanged, which was why she asked this question now.
"Princess is here as well."
Li Hao, upon seeing Jiang Zixian, remembered that she was Emperor Yu's daughter. He nodded slightly at her.
Jiang Zixian smiled at Li Hao's use of her mortal world title. "We've all heard about your deeds and we support you!"
Li Hao was taken aback for a moment and couldn't help but smile. "Thank you."
Ji Xuanshen focused his gaze on Li Hao and said, "I will also be participating in the Supreme Young Hero Battle. It's been ten years since we last met. When we crossed the Immortal Gate, I was already looking forward to facing you again. We've both been diligently cultivating in the Land of Sages, pushing ourselves to the limit. But even now, I still can't match you. However, if there's a chance, I still want to spar with you."
He was straightforward and didn't like beating around the bush, stating his thoughts and feelings directly.
Li Hao was slightly taken aback by Ji Xuanshen's words. For this proud prodigy to openly admit he considered Li Hao a rival and a goal to chase, and to do so with such frankness, was truly commendable.
He nodded slightly, feeling no aversion but rather a newfound respect for the young man. He appreciated people who spoke their minds.
"Sure, we can discuss and spar if the opportunity arises, without any hard feelings."
Li Hao smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he saw these familiar faces, all of whom had rapidly advanced in strength. He thought about sharing some of the cultivation techniques he had deduced and refined on his panel, if they needed them.
"Father sent me a secret message, asking me to extend his greetings and to offer you support if possible. But from what I see, it seems that offering support might not be necessary."
Jiang Zixian's eyes sparkled as she spoke softly.
Though she disliked the political machinations of the royal family, the passage of time had stripped away her youthful prejudices. She now valued and understood the importance of these things, and her words carried a bit more thoughtfulness.
Li Hao nodded, sensing the princess's overtures, but he didn't see the need for them. Given his relationship with Emperor Yu, their bond would remain strong no matter how much time passed.
And as for Emperor Yu's descendants, as long as they weren't malicious, he naturally felt a sense of goodwill and affection towards them.
"You all don't need to stand at the door. Come in and sit down."
Li Hao invited them into the small courtyard. He then fetched tea, wine, and some small pastries he had made in his free time.
When friends come from afar, one must treat them with the best hospitality.
During the gathering, they ate, drank, and chatted casually. Ji Qing Shuang's eyes were clear and cold as she observed Li Hao.
Her father, Ji Qingyuan, was a newly ascended War God of the Ji Family. Among the many prodigies present at the time, Li Hao had single-handedly challenged them all. When it was her turn to step forward, Ji Xuanshen had called her back, and she never got the chance to face this young man.
Despite this, she knew she wasn't his match, and the gap between them had only grown wider.
This young man's status within the Ji Family was even lower than hers; he was a half-blood, while she at least belonged to the secondary lineage.
Initially, she had been somewhat dissatisfied with her own background, but after seeing this young man defeat all the prodigies with his iron fists, a small knot in her heart had been untied.
Thus, compared to others, she had a special impression of this young man. In him, she saw the shadow of her father, who had become a War God despite his secondary lineage, proving that bloodlines did not determine one's destiny.
They chatted and reminisced, discussing everything from the mortal world to the Holy Land, from food and drink to cultivation, and finally, the topic turned to the upcoming Supreme Young Hero Battle.
"This time, there are several favorites for the championship, all extremely formidable. They are the Supreme Sage's disciples, possessing unparalleled talent and chosen by the Supreme Sage himself."
Jiang Zixian's eyes flickered, and she naturally brought some valuable information to their gathering.
Ji Xuanshen had been in seclusion, cultivating, and knew little about these external matters. To him, it didn't matter who the prodigies were; his goal was to surpass himself and then catch up to Li Hao.
"No problem, it doesn't affect me."
Li Hao smiled. His goal wasn't the other participants but the Virtual Sage and the Buddhist Venerable.
Now that they have survived the ambush and the kill, what remains is to focus on refining his Holy Path Blueprint, and with the help of this Incense, he will leap across Ascension!
Then, it will be the moment of his true revenge.
“……”
Jiang Zixian slightly opened her mouth, hoping Li Hao would ask, so she could take the opportunity to introduce everything in detail. However, she received such a response.
Seeing the young man's carefree smile, she was somewhat taken aback. Could it be that he didn't plan to compete for first place? Or was he just too confident?
She pondered for a moment and decided to take the initiative to bring up the topic and share the information.
However, this way, it would be voluntary on her part, not a favor owed by Li Hao.
Though she felt a bit helpless, the Heaven's Pride Battle was about to begin, and the information would be useless then. Even if she couldn't earn a favor, she hoped Li Hao would be prepared.
Hearing what Jiang Zixian said, Ji Xuanshen's expression turned serious. He hadn't expected that, besides Li Hao, the other disciples of the Supreme Sage would be so formidable.
He had been confident that he had a good chance of making it into the top ten, but now he wasn't so sure.
If he couldn't even make it into the top ten, how could he possibly spar with Li Hao? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?
His face grew heavy as he sipped his tea.
Seeing the sudden somber atmosphere, Li Hao felt a bit helpless. He had wanted to chat with his old friend about light and pleasant topics, but now they were all burdened with worries.
"He may be strong, but let him be. Clear Wind blows over the hill; it's just a competition, not the end of the world."
Li Hao said, trying to console him.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Ji Xuanshen looked up at him. Seeing the carefree smile on Li Hao's face, he suddenly realized he had been overthinking things.
He naturally understood this logic, but seeing how Li Hao lived it out, it somewhat infected him.
"You're right. Even if we lose this time, it won't affect our continued cultivation or future Ascension!"
Another Ji Family prodigy said.
Ji Qingshuang nodded. She took this matter the most lightly. Her father came from a humble background and still became a War God!
To cultivate to the Enlightened Realm in the Mortal World, his talent was evident. In the Land of Sages, he would likely reach the Semi-Saint Realm.
Ji Xuanshen was already a top genius in the Mortal World. With the abundant resources of the Land of Sages, he rapidly ascended, becoming a well-known Holy Son of the Primordial Sanctuary in just ten years.
If given a few more decades, he would surely astonish the heavens.
The atmosphere became light and cheerful again. Jiang Zixian, seeing how Li Hao spoke, realized that her efforts to gather this information were somewhat unnecessary.
After some casual chat, someone else came to visit.
Li Hao used his Divine Sense to scan and found it was an acquaintance. He immediately had the servant invite them in.
"Brother Haotian."
The visitor was Taoist Qin's disciple, Mingyue Sword and Qingjingzi.
They had also joined the Primordial Sanctuary. Mingyue Sword was here to participate in the competition, while Qingjingzi, who had unfortunately not been selected, came to watch.
Mingyue Sword had a Dao Heart and Dao Body, making him prone to sudden enlightenment when facing bottlenecks. Therefore, his cultivation progressed at a divine speed. After becoming a disciple of a Sage, he received abundant resources and rare treasures, forging his Physical Body to the Ultimate Realm. His cultivation advancement was not much weaker than Ji Xuanshen's, but his overall strength was still slightly inferior.
Seeing that his fellow disciples, Ji Xuanshen and Jiang Zixian, had already arrived, Mingyue Sword and Qingjingzi were slightly taken aback, realizing they were still far behind their senior brothers and sisters.
Mingyue Sword was two years younger than Li Hao, now 26 years old, but he looked only about 18 or 19, with bright eyes and fair skin, resembling a young woman, making it hard to tell his gender.
His eyes were clear and pure, just as they were when he first met Li Hao in the Dao Palace, with a hint of shyness and bashfulness.
"Mingyue Sword greets Brother Haotian."
"All of us are of the same generation, no need for formalities", Li Hao smiled, inviting him to sit down.
Mingyue Sword's face turned slightly red. "Master said that although you are not his disciple, we should treat you as we would him."
Li Hao was taken aback, feeling a bit helpless. "You've been here for ten years, and you still remember your Master's words."
"One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father. I will never forget that."
Mingyue Sword's face turned serious as he said this.
Li Hao smiled and said, "Good, well said! A drink is in order!"
When Mingyue Sword saw the wine cup being passed to him, his face turned tense and uneasy. "Master always says that drinking is harmful to the body. I don't drink..."
"..."
Li Hao was taken aback but couldn't help laughing. He didn't force him and said, "Then let's have tea instead."
Mingyue Sword breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and picked up the teacup, clinking it with Li Hao's.
As more people gathered in the courtyard, it became increasingly lively.
However, not long after Mingyue Sword and Qingjingzi arrived, someone else came to visit.
Li Hao's Divine Sense swept over and recognized a familiar face.
He couldn't help but smile and instructed his attendants to quickly invite them in.
This time, the visitors were from the Sword Ancestor Sanctuary: Lin Qingying, her grandfather Lin Shanhai, and the Alchemists Shi Huajin and others.
Seeing that Li Hao's courtyard was already full of people, Lin Qingying and the others were taken aback. Jiang Zixian and the others also looked surprised, recognizing that these faces were not among those who had crossed the Immortal Gate, indicating they were friends Li Hao had made in the Land of Sages.
"We heard you arrived, so we came to see you."
Lin Qingying looked at the young man at the table and said softly.
"Was your journey smooth?"
"With a Sword Master personally escorting us, nothing happened. We encountered some Demons on the way, but the Sword Master took care of them with a single strike", Lin Qingying replied.
"The Sword Master is here too?"
Li Hao was a bit surprised, as he had expected the Sword Saint to come.
Was he staying to guard the Holy Land?
The thought of seeing his fishing companion again made Li Hao quite happy.
"These are all your friends?"
Lin Qingying looked at Jiang Zixian, Ji Xuanshen, Mingyue Sword, and others, noticing that they were all prodigies with exceptional talent. Thinking that Li Hao had so many close friends besides her, her eyes flickered, and she bit her lip lightly.
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded and invited Lin Qingying, Lin Shanhai, and the others to take their seats. The once spacious courtyard suddenly felt a bit crowded.
Not long after, another message came from outside the door. Li Hao looked and saw that Lin Shuhai and Chiguang had arrived.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. He and Lin Shuhai didn't have much interaction, but they had no bad blood either. It was acceptable for him to visit, but Chiguang's presence was a bit unexpected.
Seeing the crowd in Li Hao's courtyard, Lin Shuhai and Chiguang were clearly taken aback. They had thought that after the incident with the Buddhist Sect, Li Hao would be isolated, and no one would dare to come near him. Instead, they found it surprisingly lively.
"Brother Hao Tian, this is Lin Shuhai. We're from the same Canglan World, so we're practically countrymen."
Lin Shuhai bowed, appearing gentlemanly and very courteous.
(End of Chapter)
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