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Chapter 38: Tan Palace Academy
Chapter 38: Tan Palace Academy
The "Qingyuan" era began the year Li Hao was born, a testament to Emperor Yu's deep favor toward the Li Family.
This dynasty, standing for over three thousand years, still resembles a mighty lion. Though it has grown old and feeble, its accumulated power remains strong, protecting the majority of the nation and keeping the Demons of the Eight Wastes and Four Corners from daring to invade the inland territories. It also ensures that the vassal states, which pay homage, continue to offer their annual tributes!
In this year, in the Yugou Mountains on the border of Yunzhou, the eighty-six-year-old general Jiang Tianshou, amidst the cheers of the border nomads, led over thirty thousand royal cavalry. In just three days, he wiped out a hundred thousand Tiger and Leopard Demons, expanding the territory by a thousand miles, and his name spread across the nineteen states!
In the same year, the twelve-year-old Young Dragon Bright Moon Sword broke through the Nine Heavens Gate and was admitted as a direct disciple of Qian Dao Palace, where he listened to the teachings of the sages, causing a stir throughout the land!
And the old grandmaster who had sequestered himself on Wanjie Mountain for thirty years also descended that year, engaging in a final showdown by the Chishui Lake, drawing countless spectators from all over. The outcome of the battle, however, remains unknown.
Now, it was late autumn in the tenth month.
The withered, yellow leaves carpeted the land of Qingzhou.
In Qingzhou City, the revered cultivation site known as Tan Palace Academy, which is also called "Yue Xian Gate", opened its gates after being closed for six years.
The news spread like wildfire across the states.
Countless young talents, princes, and princesses flocked from all over, like fish crossing a river, vying for fame and opportunity.
In a small courtyard within the Divine General Manor, not far from Tan Palace Academy, a young man sat leisurely.
He listened to the sound of leaves falling in the courtyard, brewed a pot of green tea, and quietly played a game of chess.
It seemed as if the commotion and competition outside the courtyard had nothing to do with him.
"Fifth Uncle, you've lost again."
The black piece landed, sealing off the last escape route for the white pieces, delivering a checkmate.
The young man lifted the teacup beside him, took a gentle sip, and smiled.
He had rosy lips and white teeth, eyes like bright stars, clear and deep. His youthful face was soft yet defined, his skin pale as if he had not seen the sun in a long time, giving off a cold, moonlit hue. His fingers, long and strong, held the piece with a transparent, flawless nail.
After he spoke, the old man sitting across the chessboard from him twitched his lips, furrowed his brows, and scrutinized the board carefully but found no way out. Annoyed, he tossed the white piece back into the chess box.
"You brat, your chess skills are getting better and better."
Fifth Uncle Li Qingzheng said, although he was praising the young man, his eyes were filled with resentment.
After dedicating most of his life to the art of chess, he was now being repeatedly defeated by this young man, only occasionally managing to win a game, which left him feeling quite depressed.
"It's all thanks to Fifth Uncle's practice with me", the young man, Li Hao, said humbly with a smile.
"Brat!"
Li Qingzheng glared at him, wanting to play another round but feeling deflated when he looked at the board.
He still hadn't figured out how he lost that last game.
At that moment, the sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot echoed, and a snow-white figure darted over, leaping into the young man's arms without a word. It was a white fox.
The white fox had orange-red ears, adding a touch of liveliness to its appearance.
Li Hao stroked the fox, which was nuzzling against him, and sniffed, frowning. "Why do you smell like medicine? Where did you go to sneak a snack again?"
The white fox burrowed deeper into Li Hao's embrace, avoiding answering.
Just then, Li Hao heard footsteps and looked up to see a figure in green running over. It was a maid, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with bright eyes and a charming smile.
She panted as she reached the pavilion, bowed respectfully to Li Qingzheng, and then hurriedly said to Li Hao, "Young Master, Xiao Rou ran to Mother's kitchen again and knocked over her beauty-boosting medicinal soup. They're looking for the culprit all over Changchun Courtyard now."
Li Hao was speechless. He dug the small head out of his embrace and said irritably, "I told you not to be so mischievous. Do you want another beating?"
The white fox tried to turn its head away, not daring to meet Li Hao's eyes, clearly aware of its mistake.
"If you keep this up, I'll hand you over to Mother. She'll give you a good thrashing and pluck out all your fur!" Li Hao threatened.
The white fox shuddered at the thought, turned its head back, and looked at Li Hao with a piteous expression.
"You're already at the Zhou Tian Realm. Why can't you speak yet?" Li Hao said, feeling helpless as he looked at the fox's pitiful eyes.
He turned to the maid, Qingzhi, and said, "Later, you go and apologize to Mother for me. Bring her a plate of the perilla cake I made, and also, did you buy the cotton jade pastry today?"
Qingzhi pouted slightly. "Always me. Every time it causes trouble, I'm the one who gets scolded."
"What?"
"Nothing, I'll go buy the cotton jade pastry right away." Qingzhi quickly said and then ran off like a green cloud.
"This little girl is getting more and more unruly." Li Hao sighed, shaking his head as he lifted his teacup.
Li Qingzheng glanced at him, "How many of the people in your courtyard are actually serious?"
Li Hao nearly spat out his tea, staring speechlessly at the old man, "Fifth Uncle, you shouldn't say things like that."
Li Qingzheng snorted, "The servants stand without any posture, the maids walk around like lunatics. Go take a look at the other courtyards; they all follow the rules. This little fox spirit is the same, always causing trouble. One day, someone will catch her and stew her. Truly, a crooked beam at the top makes the lower beams crooked. Mainly, it's because of you. You had a bright future, but you insisted on messing it up. Is our family's ancestor really inferior to a Demon Dragon?"
At this point, his anger boiled over, and he puffed out his cheeks and glared.
Clearly, this matter, though it had been years, still gnawed at him.
When Li Hao was eight, he could have entered the Soul Succession Realm, but he deliberately delayed it for a year.
When the old ancestors in the Ancestral Hall couldn't hold back their curiosity and asked, they sent someone to find this young man again, only to discover that Li Hao had already achieved Soul Continuation.
Using a Body Refinement Technique to slay a dragon and inherit a demon soul.
Although he inherited a dragon soul, how could a mere dragon compare to the Li Family's ancestors?
Moreover, inheriting a demon soul often results in a murderous and brutal nature.
Fortunately, over the years, Li Hao hadn't shown this side of himself, likely due to the influence of their frequent chess games and the calming effect of his own nature, which had a soothing influence on him, much like the tranquil state induced by meditation. He stroked his beard with satisfaction.
However, the Demon Dragon soul had lowered Li Hao's Soul Continuation potential, ensuring that he could only be considered above average in the Soul Succession Realm.
Facing most Soul Succession Realm practitioners, this was still quite good, but compared to the top Soul Succession Realm practitioners from various sects, it was clearly inferior.
After all, their soul manifestations were Fourth Establishment Realm ancestors, while his was a Demon Dragon.
And the number of Demon Dragons those ancestors had slain in their lifetimes was countless. The mere aura of dragon slaying from their soul manifestations would likely terrify Li Hao.
Thinking of this, Li Qingzheng felt a surge of anger.
The old ancestors in the Ancestral Hall were also furious.
For a Li Family son to inherit a Demon Dragon soul was a disgrace to their ancestors.
Some of the old ancestors even proposed severely punishing Li Hao, locking him in the Li Family Heavenly Prison to teach him a lesson.
Even Li Muxiu, who had been his long-time companion and half-guardian, was reprimanded by the old ancestors...
But, the second brother deserved it!
Because the second brother was too indulgent and doting on this young man, allowing him to act without restraint!
If it weren't for Li Hao's skill at chess, he would have been harshly disciplined long ago.
Thinking of this, Li Qingzheng's gaze fell on the chessboard, and his anger intensified.
How could he have lost!
Since leaving the Ancestral Hall, he felt that the calmness he had maintained for decades was becoming increasingly turbulent.
"I feel pretty good. The servants are comfortable, and I'm comfortable."
Li Hao gave the old man a sheepish smile.
"You're so lax, and your servants are lax too. Wait until your father returns and sees how he will deal with you", Li Qingzheng snorted.
Li Hao said, "What if he doesn't let me play chess with you anymore?"
"He wouldn't dare!"
Li Qingzheng's eyes widened.
Li Hao chuckled, and at that moment, footsteps approached. The sound wasn't Qingzhi's.
He looked over and saw a familiar face, Xue Jian from Changchun Courtyard.
Over the years, the young girl had grown into a more poised and graceful young woman.
Behind her, two young maids followed, their eyes downcast and their steps silent, clearly more disciplined and hardworking than those in his courtyard.
Seeing Fifth Uncle there, Xue Jian quickly bowed, glancing at Li Hao with surprise. It was common knowledge in the manor that the young master of Mountain and River Courtyard was idle and unproductive but got along well with both the old gentlemen.
"Master, the First Lady sent me to inform you that Tan Palace Academy has opened this year. This is the invitation from the academy, which the First Lady asked me to deliver to you."
Xue Jian bowed respectfully and handed a Black and White Dual Fish invitation to Li Hao.
Though she might not have much respect for Li Hao in her heart, her demeanor was impeccable.
Li Hao, knowing that this young woman was always well-mannered, smiled as he took the invitation and casually placed it on the mat beside him, saying, "Thank you, Miss Xue Jian."
Xue Jian glanced down, seeing the precious invitation that martial artists would fight over, casually set aside. She thought, as the First Lady predicted, this young master's nature was indeed as expected.
(End of Chapter)
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