Chapter 73: The True Dragon of the Li Clan

A Yuan Character Camp soldier glanced at the young monk, recognizing his identity at a glance. He gave a brief nod before turning and entering the Diamond Heart Hall to deliver the report.

Not long after, a少年 clad in an Azure Robe layered with the Half-Path Xuanhuang Robe emerged from the Heart Palace. Tall and upright, with sharp brows and star-like eyes, his piercing gaze—framed by bold, angular brows—held a cold, resolute intensity. A sword hung at his waist, radiating an aura of unyielding pride, as if he were a celestial dragon basking in the sun.

"Senior Brother Song," Li Qianfeng acknowledged the monk with a slight dip of his head.

"Li Qianfeng… do you still remember me?" A graceful woman stepped forward, her eyes lighting up as she fixed them on the youth.

Li Qianfeng glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "You… are?"

"A year ago—Qingfeng Ridge!" Her voice trembled with hope. "You don’t remember?"

"Qingfeng Ridge…" Li Qianfeng’s expression softened, a flicker of memory stirring in his eyes. "The spirit beasts there were already eradicated."

"I’m Mou Yulan," she said quickly. "You saved me back then—blocked that attack from the Yinwind Snake Spirit Beast. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead."

Li Qianfeng narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here?"

"I promised I’d repay your kindness," she blurted out, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I swear—this life, I will marry no one but you!"

"Ah," Li Qianfeng arched a brow. "So you’ve come to repay kindness… with betrayal?"

Mou Yulan froze.

Beside them, the young monk stared at Li Qianfeng in stunned awe. To face such a beautiful woman and utter such a cold, ruthless statement—this disciple truly lived up to being the Buddha’s direct heir.

"I just want to repay you…" she whispered, lip trembling, wounded by his indifference.

She had journeyed a thousand miles, used every connection she had, only to be met with this icy rejection.

"Family background?" Li Qianfeng remained unmoved by her distress, his tone calm.

Mou Yulan hesitated, then said, "My family, the Murong Clan, is the foremost in Bai Feng City. My father is the clan chief. He reached the Fifteen Li Stage in his youth, roamed freely across the land, and built a wide network of allies. Now he’s ascended to the Human-Heaven Stage. With the right fortune, he might even reach the Three Immortalities in this lifetime."

"Your father’s age?"

"Only just turned fifty-four."

"Already old," Li Qianfeng murmured, shaking his head. "With such potential, even reaching the Three Immortalities would be difficult. And even if he did, he’d still be nothing before the Li Clan. Your family’s status is far too low."

Mou Yulan opened her mouth, but words failed her.

She knew, deep down, that none of Emperor Yu’s families could match this youth’s lineage.

She clenched her teeth. "But my mother said—when two hearts are truly in love, why should bloodline matter? I don’t care about dowry! I’ll give up everything—just take me!"

"Your words are greedy," Li Qianfeng said coldly. "I am worth more than any dowry. Marrying me is like gaining half a province. My marriage will be decided by my mother. I will only wed someone of equal standing—like a princess of the Imperial Clan or a noble lady of the realm. Your family? She’d never deign to notice you."

Mou Yulan’s face paled. She stood frozen, speechless.

She had never expected this. She, a woman, had confessed her love, even offered herself—only to be dismissed as unworthy.

The young monk looked at Li Qianfeng with awe. This brother truly was a celestial being.

"But what if the one you marry… isn’t someone you love?" Mou Yulan pressed, her voice breaking. "What if you’re forced into a union you hate?"

Li Qianfeng stared blankly ahead. "Marriage is a transaction. Why speak of love? I have only my sword. Everything else is mere clutter."

Silence fell.

The two stood frozen in the stillness. Before them stood a prodigy—bright as the sun and moon, a true dragon of the heavens. Yet his heart was utterly devoted to the blade. Romance, affection—such things were meaningless to him.

Mou Yulan remained silent for a long time before whispering, "I… understand. If… if I were to become your concubine… would you accept?"

She lifted her gaze once more, her eyes locked onto the towering figure before her.

The young monk’s expression flickered. He turned his head slightly, unable to bear watching.

This is what Master meant by worldly devotion…

"Concubine…" Li Qianfeng mused. "A master’s daughter is barely acceptable. But you must wait—until I am formally married before I take a concubine."

"I’ll wait!" she said instantly.

"Very well," Li Qianfeng nodded, then turned to the monk. "Senior Brother Song, did you bring the Registration Ledger? I’m ready to descend from the mountain."

The monk snapped back to reality, nodded, and withdrew a ledger and ink brush from within his robe.

"Brother Qianfeng has been on the mountain over a decade. Are you returning home?"

"Indeed. But before that, I must claim an official title."

Li Qianfeng took the brush, began filling out the form. "Senior Brother Song jokes. Every Li Clan descendant must establish their own official title. Especially now—this return is to vie for the True Dragon Seat. Having a title is… advantageous."

He spoke lightly, yet with quiet confidence. In a few swift strokes, he completed the registration and handed the brush back.

The monk blew on the ink to dry it, then closed the ledger and tucked away the brush with a smile. "Brother Qianfeng is overly cautious. With your cultivation level, who could possibly challenge you for the True Dragon’s seat?"

Li Qianfeng offered a faint smile, his eyes drifting toward the horizon.

In his mind, a figure surfaced—the one his mother had mentioned during her visit.

Li Wushuang.

A year ago, when he’d descended to slay demons, he’d heard of her. She had already entered the Qian Rank of the Heaven and Earth Ranking List! A Nine-Level Combat Body, a true disciple of a master, only a year and a half younger than him—already renowned in the martial world, having carved her name ahead of him.

She was his greatest rival.

Though they had never met, Li Qianfeng felt a strange, instinctive awareness—she was chasing his footsteps.

A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Let her see. My back is not one anyone can follow.

He believed in himself. He believed in his sword.

"Can I go with you?" Mou Yulan seized the chance, voice trembling with hope.

She looked at him with wide, pleading eyes, still haunted by the image of that single sword strike—crushing the Yinwind Snake Spirit Beast in a flash.

"If you can keep up, you may come," Li Qianfeng replied, his tone indifferent to her fluttering emotions.

…

…

In Cangyu City, peace had returned after the spirit beast crisis.

Li Hao and his companions prepared to head back home.

The Demon-Subduing Bureau had nothing left to do—only cleaning up the carcasses outside the city walls. No demon creatures dared approach Cangyu City now, unless they were low-minded, foolish minor demons.

Li Hao, meanwhile, had been busy gathering ancient calligraphy, poetry, and classics throughout the city. His haul was substantial.

Name: Li Hao

Age: 14

Cultivation Level: Peak Fifteen Li Stage

Sword Dao: 6th Level (Flying Segment) (Hidden Bow)

Sword Technique: Sea Without Shore (True State), Snowfall Sword Art · Avalanche (True State)

Body Dao: 6th Level (Ten Thousand Phenomena) (Tiger Press)

Body Technique: Gold-Skin Refinement · Diamond Saint (True State), Thousand Dragon Sacred Body · Transforming into a Serpent (True State), Tai Chu 5th Level (Tai Chu Body True State), Dragon Cicada Vacuum Body · Dragon Soaring (True State)

Yi Dao: 6th Level

Control Technique: Heavenly Pole Celestial Circuit Scripture · Heavenly Pole (True State), Hundred Battles Celestial Circuit Scripture · Wushuang (True State), Dragon River Divine Meridian · Dragon Breath (True State), Nine Turn Starlight Scripture · Ninefold (True State)

Fist Path: 6th Level

Boxing Art: Half-Step Invincible Fist, 6th Level (Supreme Perfection), Heaven-and-Earth Penetrating Fist (Supreme Perfection)

Movement Dao: 2nd Level

Body Technique: White Phoenix Step (Supreme Perfection)

Go Art: 5th Level (18,322 / 50,000)

Painting Dao: 5th Level (8,273 / 50,000)

Poetry & Classics: 3rd Level (4,999 / 5,000)

Music & Melody: 3rd Level (4,999 / 5,000)

Fishing Dao: 5th Level (21,827 / 50,000)

Culinary Dao: 6th Level (99,999 / 100,000)

Go Manuscript Collection: Ten Thousand Phenomena, Tiger Press, Flying Segment, Hidden Bow, Conceal Light and Hide Brightness, Seven Phoenixes Light the Lamp

Masterpiece Painting Compendium Collection: Thousand Mountains, Birds Flying, Snow Mountain Spirit Fox, Qilin Galloping Horse, Sea of Blood Ferocious Serpent, Mountain-Winding Scroll, Qiongqi Mountain and Peak

Poetry & Classics Collection: Zhao Xinhuan’s Poetry Collection, Song Yuan’s Poetry Collection

Music Score Collection: Phoenix Seeks the Phoenix, You Lan, Moon Chimes, Little Hujia

Fishing Scroll Compendium Collection: Empty

Culinary Recipe Collection: Empty

Mind State: Chess Heart (Consumed), Painting Heart (Consumed), Fishing Heart (Consumed), Cooking Heart (Consumed)

Art Skill Points: 1

This journey had yielded two Chess Manuals: Conceal Light and Hide Brightness and Seven Phoenixes Light the Lamp.

Li Hao chose to embed Conceal Light and Hide Brightness into his Body Dao. The effect manifested immediately.

Conceal Light and Hide Brightness: In a relaxed state, the body heals rapidly. Severed limbs can slowly regenerate.

It was impressive—though he hadn’t sustained any injuries.

Seven Phoenixes Light the Lamp, however, was a powerful technique for trapping enemies in formation.

Li Hao debated whether to use it in his Sword Dao or Yi Dao. After careful thought, he chose the Yi Dao.

As the technique took root, its effect revealed itself:

Seven Phoenixes Light the Lamp: After seven cycles of Qi circulation, one’s power temporarily doubles.

Li Hao stared, stunned.

This… is too strong.

The "circulation" referred to the Pulse-Opening Technique and Qi Circulation Technique. If he could complete seven full cycles, his strength would double?

And at his current level—Yi Dao 6th Level—most of his combat scriptures had already reached True State. Under deep Dao insight, even lower-tier scriptures could evolve into Upper-Grade Cultivation Techniques.

With every level-up of his combat scriptures, his meridian network expanded dramatically—increasing from 69 to 98 meridians.

Qi circulation cycles rose from 248 to 369.

His innate Qi circulation power alone totaled over 8 million jin.

With the instantaneous doubling effect of his Yin-Yang Dual Meridians, that reached over 17 million jin.

Even the Imperial Clan, at 2 million jin, was barely one-ninth of his strength. Now, with this effect active? It would be eighteen times stronger.

The gap was immeasurable.

But Li Hao knew this was a short-term, explosive surge—damaging to the body in the long run.

And he hadn’t yet opened all 108 Major Meridians. There was still room to grow.

The only one he’d fully reached was Soul Inheritance—where he had forged his Cosmic and Earthly Soul Form.

This journey had been a massive success.

Beyond the two Chess Manuals, he’d acquired three masterpieces, two poetry collections, and four musical scores.

For now, he chose not to embed them.

He believed his true potential would only be unlocked when he reached the Human-Heaven Stage.

Only then would he know his weaknesses—and fix them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end