Chapter 40: Prestige
Chapter 40: Prestige
"Of course."
Li Yuanzhao frowned and said, "Do you think I can't do it on my own? How about we go back and spar again? We didn't finish our last match!"
Li Yun snorted coldly. Over the past two years, their sparring sessions had been almost evenly matched, with neither of them gaining a clear advantage.
However, when it came to their ages, he was at a slight disadvantage.
After all, Li Yuanzhao was a year younger.
In terms of Bone Measurement, which determined one's War Body talent, Li Yun was also at a disadvantage. He was ranked seventh, while his sister and Li Yuanzhao were both ranked eighth.
Therefore, his words were not directed at Li Yuanzhao, but rather at the other person, the one who had secretly infuriated him after he understood the truth.
The thought of being thoroughly beaten by a so-called "waste" still made him furious. Fortunately, only the heavens, the earth, Li Hao, and he himself knew about it.
Over the years, every time he saw Li Hao, he felt a burning anger in his heart. If it weren't for Li Hao always being accompanied by Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle, he wouldn't have let the opportunity for revenge slip away.
Seeing Li Yun cast a cold glance at Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao, though young, was not foolish. Having listened to Hao Ge's stories of all sorts of wondrous and strange tales, which included both supernatural beings and human cruelty, he had become more mature than his peers, even if he couldn't fully understand everything.
Thus, he had immediately picked up on Li Yun's true intention and deliberately shifted the blame onto himself.
Seeing that Li Yun only dared to make veiled remarks, he didn't bother to argue, not wanting to spoil the mood. He smiled at Li Hao and said, "Hao Ge, I heard that Xue'er will be back in a year."
"Yes."
A smile appeared on Li Hao's lips.
"My master said that the Sword Hut has a rule that one must reach the Divine Wanderer Realm to leave the mountain. Could it be that Xue'er will break through to the Divine Wanderer Realm next year?" Li Yuanzhao asked curiously.
The Divine Wanderer Realm was the Fourth Realm, a realm where one could delve into the tiger's den to slay demons and monsters, and even carve a bloody path through the border, capable of serving as a military commander, just a step below a general!
After all, next year, Bian Ruxue would only be fifteen years old.
Such progress, even among the top geniuses with Ninth-Rank War Bodies, was considered outstanding.
Most of the renowned figures in the world were Ninth-Rank War Bodies, but that was just the starting point for the top prodigies, the upper limit of Bone Measurement!
The various opportunities, efforts, and innate talents would continue to widen the gap.
Li Yun's ears perked up at the mention of "Xue'er", and his eyes involuntarily glanced towards Li Hao.
The seed that had sprouted in his heart during his childhood seemed to be about to show its tip once again.
However, thinking of the Divine Wanderer Realm, the young man's face darkened and fell, knowing from his current understanding that it was an incredibly distant goal.
"Indeed."
Li Hao nodded. The Divine Wanderer Realm offered a degree of safety in the world.
Glancing at a figure with a complex expression not far away, he found it both amusing and slightly exasperating.
Too long without a good beating, and the boy was daring to think about it again.
"A Divine Wanderer Realm at fifteen, that's truly impressive. If she comes to Tan Palace Academy, the Palace Master would probably welcome her personally, and she would be directly admitted as an inner palace disciple", Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but marvel.
They were only at the Complete Circulation Realm, still a step away from Soul Continuation.
Their entry into Tan Palace Academy was also to seek the ancient heroes of Tan Palace to advance to Soul Continuation.
This was their mother's instruction, though they didn't know the specific reasons.
"Her master is the Sword Saint, so it's not comparable", Li Hao consoled them.
In truth, these few were also considered geniuses. The reason they hadn't joined a famous mountain was due to an unwritten rule for the Li Family's Main Lineage: they could join a famous mountain, but only if their master was of the caliber of a Sword Saint, and they became their direct disciples.
Otherwise, they would remain in the Li Family manor to cultivate, and once they achieved a certain level, they would join major forces, showcasing the might of the Li Family's young generation.
This standard only applied to the Main Lineage. The Secondary Lineage, on the other hand, had spread out like branches and leaves, joining many famous mountains and masters, and had already established the Li Family's reputation in various forces.
Even without the True Dragon, the Secondary Lineage had produced young standouts in many second- and third-tier forces.
This greatly enhanced the Li Family's prestige, not just in the military camps along the border but throughout the martial world.
"Yes." Li Yuanzhao sighed. Being taught by a Sword Saint-level master was something to envy, and it required at least Ninth-Rank War Body potential as the bare minimum.
...
At this moment, the Dragon Lion led the way, pulling a massive carriage that resembled a limousine through the streets. Everyone in Qingzhou City knew that this was the vehicle of the Divine General Manor.
Pedestrians hurriedly made way, pointing and whispering to each other. It was clear that the carriage was likely carrying a True Dragon of the Li Family, heading to Tan Palace Academy for cultivation.
The carriages of martial artists and nobles from various regions grew restless and stopped in their tracks when they sensed the demonic aura emitted by the Dragon Lion. Some even fled to the side of the road in terror, unable to be held back by their drivers.
The authority of the Divine General Manor was evident in this moment.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt. Uncle Ming, the driver, gently informed them that they had arrived at the entrance of Tan Palace Academy.
Tan Palace Academy was not far from the Divine General Manor, making them close neighbors.
As the carriage steadied, the expressions of Li Yuanzhao and the other two slightly tensed.
Although they were all prodigies with exceptional potential, they usually practiced within the manor and had never truly shown their skills in public. Their youthful nature made them a bit nervous at this moment.
Li Hao, however, seemed unaffected. Once the carriage stopped, he calmly stood up and casually lifted the curtain.
Light flooded his face, and at the same time, a cacophony of sounds rushed into the carriage, as if the lifting of the curtain had unveiled a bustling world!
The three of them recovered their composure and saw Li Hao standing at the door of the carriage, calmly surveying the surroundings with a faint smile on his face, completely at ease.
Li Zhining's eyes narrowed slightly, as if a flood of memories surged within her, but she quickly regained her composure, and the curtain she had lifted fell back into place.
When the three of them stepped out of the carriage, they were greeted by a scene of bustling activity.
The vast square was packed with people, shoulders brushing against each other. Most were young men and women carrying various weapons like swords, knives, and spears, full of vitality.
Among the crowd, some wealthy young men were accompanied by servants, creating a no-entry zone around them.
There were also young women in exquisite attire, with graceful maids holding umbrellas to shield them from the sun, standing out in the crowd.
Everywhere, the square was filled with young martial artists.
At this moment, the few standing on the carriage quickly became the center of attention.
After all, the Dragon Lion carriage of the Divine General Manor was too eye-catching.
According to the Dayu regulations, imperial carriages could be pulled by nine Dragon Veins, while those of feudal lords and princes could use seven. Marquises and officials of the fifth rank were allowed to use five Dragon Lions. Other scholar-gentry and noble families could only use three or two.
Ordinary commoners and wealthy merchants without titles could only use one mount, and it could not be a Dragon Vein of the Dragon Clan.
Although Li Hao and his companions had no titles, as the children of a marquis, they could enjoy the glory of their father's rank.
"Is that the Divine General Manor?"
"The Li Family of Qingzhou City, a thousand-year-old Divine General Manor, truly impressive!"
"Another four spots are taken. I've heard that Tan Palace Academy has limited spots, so frustrating!"
"Hmph, I, Lin Yan, will lead the Lin Family of Liuzhou to rise in my generation and challenge the heavens!"
"I heard that this generation of the Li Family has a waste of a person. I wonder if he's here?"
The thousand years of glory made countless people envious and jealous, and it also stirred the ambition and drive in the hearts of many young people. The noise was filled with a sense of eager anticipation.
Li Yun, Li Yuanzhao, and Li Zhining's faces were tense. Although they appeared calm on the surface, their fingers were sweating, revealing their inner nervousness.
The gaze of the crowd felt like it could burn, and Li Yun, unable to bear it any longer, said coldly, "Let's go."
He then led his sister, Li Zhining, off the carriage, and like a tiger entering the forest, they entered the crowd, with Uncle Ming calling out, "Young Master, please be careful."
The people around them instinctively made way, not out of respect for the young people but for the surname they bore.
"Hao, let's go", Li Yuanzhao said, swallowing hard, to Li Hao.
Li Hao, however, slightly raised his toes, looked around, and took a light sniff. His eyes soon lit up, and he said, "Let's go!"
He then jumped off the carriage, and the people around him quickly made way, not daring to block the path of this well-dressed youth.
Li Yuanzhao followed closely behind, but after a few steps, he tugged at Li Hao's sleeve. "Hao, are we going the wrong way? Tan Palace Academy isn't in that direction."
"I know."
Li Hao replied without turning back. "But there's food ahead."
Titles and achievements can wait, but food cannot!
(End of Chapter)
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