Chapter 40: Prestige

“Of course.” Li Yuanzhao frowned slightly. “You think I can’t make it on my own? How about we go back and settle things once and for all? We didn’t finish last time.”

Li Yun snorted coldly. In the past two years, their sparring matches had been evenly matched—neither could claim superiority. But age told a different story. Li Yuanzhao was a year younger than him. And in terms of Bone Quantification Combat Body Talent, he was clearly outclassed: he was only Seventh-Level, while both his younger sister and Li Yuanzhao were Eighth-Level.

So when Li Yun spoke, it wasn’t aimed at Li Yuanzhao at all. It was directed at someone else—the one who had, after years of hard lessons, made him realize just how foolish he’d once been. The thought of having been soundly beaten by a Worthless One still burned in his chest. Thankfully, only heaven, earth, and the two of them knew the truth.

For years, seeing Li Hao had made him grind his teeth in silent rage. If not for the constant presence of Second Master and Fifth Elder, he wouldn’t have let the chance to take revenge slip away.

Seeing Li Yun shoot a cold glance toward Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao—though small—was no fool. After all, he’d spent years listening to the wild, wondrous tales told by Hao Ge, stories of gods, spirits, monsters, and the darkest depths of human nature. Though he couldn’t fully grasp them yet, he was far more mature than most his age.

That’s why he immediately understood Li Yun’s meaning. So he deliberately shifted the focus onto himself.

Seeing Li Yun only dare to whisper barbs under his breath, Li Yuanzhao didn’t bother to press further. He didn’t want to spoil the mood for everyone. Instead, he turned to Li Hao with a smile. “Hao Ge, I heard that next year, Sister Xue is coming back.”

“Yeah.” A faint smile touched Li Hao’s lips. “My master said the rule at Sword Pavilion is that one must reach the Divine Travel Realm before descending from the mountain. Could Sister Xue actually break through to that realm by next year?”

Li Yuanzhao’s eyes lit up with curiosity. The Divine Travel Realm was a Fourth Realm powerhouse—someone capable of plunging deep into tiger dens to slay Spirit Beasts and purge evil. Even in the Frontier, such a warrior could carve a bloody path and serve as a Military Captain, second only to the General himself.

And next year, Bian Ruxue would only be fifteen. That kind of cultivation speed was nothing short of astonishing—among the top-tier prodigies of Ninth-Rank Combat Body, she stood at the very peak.

For most legendary figures in history, the Ninth-Rank Combat Body was merely the starting point—the baseline of Bone Quantification. What truly separated the great from the merely talented were the endless opportunities, relentless effort, and innate genius that followed.

Beside him, Li Yun stiffened at the mention of “Sister Xue.” His ears perked up, and his eyes flickered toward Li Hao, restrained but sharp.

A seed planted long ago in his heart stirred faintly—just a hint of a sprout. But then he remembered the term “Divine Travel Realm,” and his expression darkened. Now that he understood cultivation gaps, he knew just how impossibly distant that level truly was.

“Indeed.” Li Hao nodded. Reaching the Divine Travel Realm meant survival in the wandering martial world.

He glanced briefly at a shadowy figure not far away, a flicker of amusement crossing his mind. Still hasn’t learned his lesson after all this time, he thought, and now he dares to look?

“Fifteen years old, Divine Travel Realm… that’s truly terrifying.” Li Yuanzhao sighed in awe. “If she came to Tan Palace Academy, the Palace Master himself would have to come out to greet her. She’d be admitted straight into the Inner Palace as a direct disciple!”

They were all still only at Circulation Realm Perfection, still far from Soul Inheritance. This trip to Tan Palace Academy was their hope—to inherit the soul of ancient heroic figures from the ancient times.

It was their mother’s command, though the reason remained a mystery.

“She’s trained under the Sword Saint,” Li Hao said gently. “Of course, she’s beyond comparison.”

In truth, they were all prodigies. But the reason they hadn’t joined the Sacred Mountain was due to an unspoken rule within the Li Clan’s main branch: one could join, but only under a Sword Saint-level master—becoming a direct disciple. Otherwise, one remained in the family estate to cultivate, waiting until strong enough to enter major sects and rise to fame, showcasing the might of the Li Clan’s young generation.

This standard applied only to the main branch. Illegitimate branches were different—like branches spreading from a tree, they had long since secured positions under numerous Sacred Mountain masters, making the Li Clan name known across various factions.

Even without the true Dragon, the illegitimate offspring had already become rising stars in many second- and third-tier powers.

This was why the Li Clan carried such immense prestige—not just in the Frontier military camps, but across the entire realm.

“True,” Li Yuanzhao murmured. “A Sword Saint as a master… that’s something no one can envy. Even the baseline for such talent is a Ninth-Rank Combat Body. That’s the minimum threshold.”

---

At that moment, Jiao Shi led the way, the massive, car-like carriage rolling through the streets of Qingzhou City. Everyone knew it—the residence of the Divine General.

The people on the streets parted with reverence. Whispers followed, pointing and speculating. Anyone could tell: this carriage carried a true dragon of the Li Clan, en route to Tan Palace Academy for cultivation.

The carriages of wandering warriors, noble heirs, and high-born youths from across the provinces trembled at the mere presence of Jiao Shi’s Spirit Beast Qi. Some stopped dead in their tracks, others fled in panic, refusing to be near the path. Even the drivers couldn’t pull their horses back—fear had seized them.

The authority of the Divine General’s Residence was on full display.

Soon, the carriage came to a halt. Ming Bo spoke softly from the front, “We’ve arrived at the outer gate of Tan Palace Academy.”

The academy wasn’t far from the residence—neighbors, in fact.

As the carriage settled, Li Yuanzhao and the others tensed slightly. Though they were prodigies—far from ordinary—most of their cultivation had taken place within the family estate. They’d never truly faced the outside world before. And being so young, a flicker of nervousness crept in.

Li Hao, however, remained calm. As soon as the carriage stopped, he stood up leisurely and casually lifted the curtain.

Sunlight poured in, and with it, a roar of noise—laughter, chatter, footsteps, music, the whole vibrant heartbeat of a thriving world. It flooded the carriage like a wave, as if merely lifting the curtain had torn open the veil between peace and the living world.

The three inside snapped back to reality. There stood Li Hao, standing at the doorway, his face bathed in golden light. Amid the chaos, he calmly scanned the surroundings, a quiet smile on his lips, utterly composed.

Li Zhi Ning’s eyes narrowed slightly—like a memory stirring beneath the surface. But she blinked, and the moment passed. The curtain closed once more.

When they stepped out together, the full spectacle of the scene unfolded before them.

An enormous plaza teemed with people—shoulder to shoulder, packed tightly. Most were young men and women carrying swords, knives, spears—vibrant with martial spirit.

Among them, a few youths in luxurious robes walked with attendants trailing behind, their surroundings strictly off-limits to strangers.

And there were girls in rainbow silk robes, attended by graceful maids holding parasols to shield them from the scorching sun—elegant and striking, standing out in the sea of warriors.

Everywhere, thick with young warriors—thousands upon thousands.

And yet, the moment the carriage door opened, the eyes of the entire crowd turned toward them.

The Divine General’s Jiao Shi carriage was impossible to ignore.

Emperor Yu’s regulation: Dragon Vein pulling the carriage. Imperial processions used nine heads. Princes and dukes, seven. Marquises and those holding fifth-rank official posts—five. Lower-ranking officials and gentry could only use three or two. Commoners, even wealthy merchants without titles, were limited to one-headed steeds—and never allowed Dragon Vein mounts.

Though Li Hao and his companions held no official titles, they were sons of a marquis—entitled to inherit their father’s glory.

“Is that the Divine General’s Residence?”

“Qingzhou City’s Li Clan—millennia-old Divine General’s Residence. Truly magnificent!”

“Four more spots taken. Did you hear? Tan Palace Academy’s quotas are strictly limited—only Qi people qualify!”

“Hmph. I, Lin Yan, will rise from my family, the Lin of Liuzhou. I’ll rise to rival Heaven and Earth!”

“I heard this generation of the Li Clan has a Worthless One. Wonder if he’s here?”

Centuries of glory stirred envy and admiration in countless hearts, igniting the heroic spirit within every young dreamer. The crowd buzzed with eagerness, ambition, and fierce desire to prove themselves.

Li Yun and Li Yuanzhao, their faces tense, forced calm on the surface. But their fingers were slick with sweat—betraying the nerves beneath.

The gaze of so many felt like fire on skin. Without another word, Li Yun turned, his face cold. “We’re leaving.”

He grabbed his younger sister’s hand and leapt down from the carriage.

“Young Master, please take care,” Ming Bo called after them.

They stepped into the crowd like a tiger entering the forest—no one dared block their path. Not out of fear of the youth, but because of the name behind them.

“Hao Ge,” Li Yuanzhao swallowed hard, glancing at Li Hao. “Let’s go.”

But Li Hao only rose slightly on his toes, scanning the crowd. He inhaled deeply, then his eyes sparkled. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, he leapt down, and the crowd parted instinctively—no one dared stand in the way of such a luxuriously dressed youth.

Li Yuanzhao followed closely—then stopped after just a few steps, tugging at Li Hao’s sleeve. “Hao Ge… aren’t we going the wrong way? The academy’s not over there.”

“I know.” Li Hao didn’t turn back. “But there’s food ahead.”

Honors come later.

Delicacies lie first.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end