Chapter 91: Rank Title Reward and Enfeoffment 【First Update】

The day after the Li Clan’s banquet concluded.

Faraway in Yu Prefecture, the imperial capital.

Within that opulent palace—towering behind countless layers of high walls, a fortress of power that drew the gaze of countless souls across the realm—there stood an ancient hall, its presence spanning a thousand years. The air was solemn, solemn as the dark golden dragon-scale carpet stretched from the entrance all the way to the Dragon Throne Staircase within.

All the civil and military officials of Yu Prefecture stood in formation on either side—high-ranking ministers from the First Rank down to the Fourth Rank, such as provincial governors and the Grand Lecturer of the National University. Each bowed their heads, hands clasped respectfully. Even the lowest among them held enough authority that dozens of cities’ common people would tremble at their slightest command.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“The Qingzhou Li Clan held a family banquet yesterday, proclaiming their achievements across the realm. Another prodigy has emerged from the Li Clan!”

A dignitary spoke with reverence.

Upon the deep, solemn Dragon Throne sat a towering figure, his face aged, yet his posture unbent. Dressed in a nine-dragon black robe, his gaze burned like candlelight—unbearable, piercing, surveying the court below.

At the words, a faint smile flickered across his face.

“Your Majesty,” another voice chimed in, “it is said the Qilin Child—this Li Hao—is the very one you bestowed your blessing upon fourteen years ago!”

“He is also the son of Xing Wuhou, the Minister of Punishment who recently came to receive his enfeoffment!”

“Your Majesty’s wisdom is truly divine!”

The rest of the court echoed in unison, their voices thick with admiration.

“Fourteen years ago, the Marquis of National Protection quelled the century-long Demon Plague in Cangzhou, slew the Great Demon, and executed the Demon King. But he was caught in a Youdu-Level Mêhè—trapped in a realm beyond time and space—and perished in Cangzhou. To this day, his heroic soul has no resting place.”

“Perhaps this Li Hao is the reincarnation of the Marquis of National Protection—the General Star fallen from the heavens. A new savior bestowed upon Emperor Yu by heaven itself!”

A voice rose with fervor.

At the praises, the figure on the throne seemed to drift into memory, his eyes glinting with distant recollection. The infant who had once been granted the Dragon Blood Jade—now a young man, standing at the peak of his potential?

A soft smile touched his lips. His gaze flickered, as if flashing across the vast distance to Qingzhou, a thousand miles away.

“Your Majesty,” a voice suddenly cut through the celebration. “This child’s talent is unparalleled. Yet until now, he had never been known. The Li Clan must provide an explanation.”

The speaker stepped forward, his tone firm. “To conceal such a prodigy from Your Majesty is a grave offense—punishable by law!”

The court stirred in surprise. Heads turned. When they saw it was Houye Heilian, the noble of the Divine General’s Residence, they nodded in understanding. No surprise there.

Among the Five Divine General’s Residences, some were close allies—such as the Royal Family and the Li Clan, bound by marriage alliances. But others were rivals, even enemies. The Li Clan and Heilian Clan were among the latter—bitterly opposed, openly disdainful of one another.

The Emperor remained silent.

Then, a second martial general stepped forward—an experienced Second-Rank General who had once fought alongside the Li Clan. He bowed respectfully.

“Your Excellency, I believe the Xing Wuhou couple, after years of warfare in Yanbei, left their young son behind in the family compound, with no one to guide him. Naturally, they would wish to conceal his cultivation level, to prevent hidden threats from targeting him. Such caution is understandable.”

“Hmph!” Heilian Boya let out a cold hiss. “A child may be young, but within the Divine General’s Residence, he is guarded by countless martial generals. Who could possibly harm him? Are you questioning the loyalty of the Li Clan’s noble ladies? Do you doubt their devotion to protecting their young?”

The Li Clan’s noblewomen—most of them granted high titles, such as He Jianlan, First-Class National Lady—held immense prestige, even if they wielded no real power. They could enter the palace at will, speak directly before the Emperor. Even if they erred, the Judicial Bureau could not punish them without imperial decree.

“I maintain,” the general replied calmly, “that the Li Clan has spent generations pacifying demons, slaying countless spirit beasts. It is only natural they remain cautious.”

Heilian Boya sneered. “So you’re saying there are still spirit beasts daring to attack Qingzhou? Are you mocking the Li Clan’s strength?”

Another scholar stepped forward, smiling. “I believe the Li Clan’s caution is justified. Li Hao has now reached the Fifteen Li Stage—he possesses self-defense capability. In a few years, if he ascends to Master, he will be able to walk the world freely. No longer will secrecy be necessary.”

“Besides,” the man added, “Xing Wuhou has only just returned. He proclaimed the news widely—there was no intent to deceive Your Majesty. This is merely a minor matter. Why make such a fuss?”

“Precisely because it’s minor,” Heilian Boya insisted, “it must not be hidden. Deception is deception, no matter the scale.”

The court murmured. Many shook their heads in silent disapproval. This was typical of Boya—always finding fault, always stirring trouble. But they were used to it.

For years, whenever the Li Clan received enfeoffment, the Heilian Clan would find reason to object. The only time they stayed silent was after the tragic fall of the Li Family True Dragon fourteen years ago—an event that shook the entire realm. Otherwise, they were always quick to speak up.

Even now, after Xing Wuhou’s triumphant return from Yanbei—after quelling the spirit beast rebellion, repelling the Sacred Palace, and earning immense merit—Heilian Boya still found fault. He questioned the war expenditures, the strain on logistics, and even criticized Xing Wuhou’s command decisions. For years, the Heilian Clan and their allies had been relentless in their scrutiny, even suggesting impeachment of Xing Wuhou as Commander-in-Chief.

But the court knew: only the Heilian Clan could afford to speak this way. Anyone else would have been branded a traitor and executed on the spot.

And yet, despite their rivalry, no one could accuse the Heilian Clan of treachery. They had bled for the frontier, their blood staining countless cities. Their deeds were undeniable.

“This Boya is too eager,” thought many within the court. “Xing Wuhou has just achieved great merit. In such a moment, even if he caused a minor scandal, there would be no punishment. This is no time for petty quarrels…”

At that moment, Emperor Yu raised his hand, silencing the debate. He smiled faintly.

“Minister Liu speaks wisely. This is but a trifling matter. Not worth our concern. Xing Wuhou has fought valiantly, sacrificed his family for the defense of the border—his loyalty shines brighter than the sun. Let us turn now to the matter of Cangyu City.”

With the Emperor’s judgment settled, Heilian Boya shot a cold glance at the scholar, his lips curling in disdain. He said nothing more, turning instead to stare at the dragon pillar at the front of the hall—his silent protest: You may talk. I will not join.

The court understood. When Heilian Clan chose not to participate, it was peace. When they did, they always brought trouble. So they let it be, and began discussing the matter at hand.

“Cangyu City nearly fell. Yue Shuhong has already submitted his letter of repentance and is imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. His confession is clear. It was only thanks to the Young Master of the Li Clan that the city was saved. Truly, a hero in youth!”

“Based on the number of demons slain, he should be granted First-Class Son Rank.”

“Saving the city—protecting thousands of commoners—there should be an additional reward as well.”

The court erupted in debate.

…

…

Jingzhou, outside the Flying General City, deep within a dense forest.

Dozens of massive trees were crushed and flattened like weeds, split apart by a massive force. A monstrous tiger—over ten meters long—sprinted through the undergrowth, its body flanked by four enormous eyes, glowing with a blood-red aura of a spirit beast.

But now, several of those eyes were wounded, half-shut, weeping blood.

Suddenly, the tiger turned, roaring in fury.

Clang!

A beam of golden light streaked from the sky—like a bolt of lightning—cutting through the trees. A figure descended, wreathed in radiant golden light, a Buddhist wheel hovering behind him. Though his form was that of a youth, his expression was calm, devoid of killing intent—yet his actions were merciless.

“ROAR!!” The tiger bellowed. “Li Clan! I’ll never forgive you!”

“Then die.”

The youth clapped his hands. A surge of divine power crushed the beast beneath him.

From behind, a shadowy spirit beast surged forth—but before it could even clear a few meters, it was crushed by a single golden palm.

“Children! Avenge me! Kill those who slew me—Qingzhou Li Clan!”

The roar echoed through the forest.

But it was cut short. The demon soul shattered into chaos. The tiger’s body tumbled forward, crashing through a dozen trees before finally stopping. Its eyes were all half-closed, its breath gone.

In the amber depths of its final gaze—reflected in its dying pupils—was the silhouette of a young man sprinting from the woods behind, his feet kicking up dust that splashed onto the tiger’s eye.

The youth paused, stared for a moment, then delivered several sharp, forceful stomps, cracking the tiger’s skull open.

“Slaying this Great Demon… should earn First-Class Merit,” he murmured.

He was Li Qianfeng—descended from the mountain, now walking among the world.

He bent down, severed the tiger’s head, and turned to leave—when suddenly, a tiny, purple bird, no larger than a palm, shot through the air like a bolt of lightning, trailing a faint sonic whisper.

Li Qianfeng paused. He dropped the massive head and caught the bird midair.

This was a minor demon bird, a pet of his mother. Though its cultivation level was barely beyond the Circulation Realm—its combat power almost negligible—it could outfly even Divine Travel Realm martial cultivators.

Demon Clan cultivation was slow, but their innate abilities were unique—just as humans could cultivate rapidly, so too did demons possess their own supernatural talents.

The bird opened its beak and spat out a scroll of oiled paper.

Li Qianfeng unrolled it, his expression shifting from mild curiosity to shock.

Fifteen Li Stage? Li Hao? Who is this?

His eyes widened. Seventeen-year-old son of the Seventh Uncle?

A wave of disbelief washed over him.

Fourteen years old?

He had only reached the Fifteen Li Stage at seventeen.

This boy had done it three years early.

Though in the Human-Heaven Stage, three years was not a massive difference—still, it revealed a staggering gap in potential.

And Li Qianfeng remembered clearly: this pace surpassed even the Ninth Uncle.

The scroll crumbled instantly between his fingers, reduced to ash.

Dark clouds gathered on Li Qianfeng’s face.

His original target had been Li Wushuang—someone of the Divine Travel Realm. He hadn’t felt much pressure. In fact, he had reserved part of his focus to watch out for the Royal Family’s son and daughter—those two cousins. And also the only daughter of the Third Lady, the girl who had joined the army at fifteen and was now a Female General.

But they were older. Though accomplished, the True Dragon was more concerned with potential. Among peers, Li Qianfeng had believed himself first—seventeen, and already at the Fifteen Li Stage.

Now… this Li Hao.

A name he had never even noticed.

He couldn’t have reached this level through cultivation alone. The Ninth Uncle didn’t reach this stage until fifteen. Could the elders have intervened?

He frowned.

He recalled: the boy hadn’t taken a master. He had remained within the family estate.

That meant he had access to the older generation of the Li Clan.

But… weren’t the elders forbidden from influencing the younger generation before the True Dragon was confirmed? That would be a grave imbalance.

So… when I reach the Ancestral Hall, I must summon the Ancestral Spirits to verify. And should I inform my master?

Li Qianfeng glanced toward the distance, his eyes flickering with inner light—then, with a flash of pride, it was smothered.

No.

He lifted the tiger’s head, turned, and vanished into the forest—speeding back toward Flying General City.

With this merit, I’ll return early and see for myself.

…

…

Qingzhou, within the Divine General’s Residence.

The family banquet had ended. The Mountain and River Courtyard had quieted, but still hummed with more life than usual. Concubines and daughters from various branches of the family kept arriving, bearing gifts, bringing their children to greet Li Hao—hoping to gain a favorable impression from the future True Dragon of the Li Clan.

Among the illegitimate branches, some were polite and kind, others shy and nervous. A few had already mastered the art of flattery.

One by one, they were introduced to Li Hao. It gave him a rare glimpse into the struggles of these collateral relatives.

It made him realize: when he had been forced by his parents to fawn over another boy, it had felt awkward. But some of these children—already skilled at the game. As if maturity and experience had nothing to do with it. Some were more cunning, more eloquent than adults—purely a matter of innate character.

Li Hao himself was more laid-back—easygoing, drifting through life without urgency.

Another early morning.

Li Hao still lay in bed, lost in sleep—when a knock came at the door.

He opened his eyes. His spirit soul swept the area, and he saw Yu Xuan, his father’s trusted general, standing outside.

He rolled over.

“Another training session?”

Yu Xuan remembered the incident with the painting. A faint, wry smile tugged at his lips.

“Young Master,” he said, “Commander-in-Chief has ordered you to wash up and accompany him to the Ancestral Hall. We must seek the Ancestral Spirits’ judgment on the True Dragon matter.”

Li Hao raised an eyebrow. After a moment’s thought, he sat up and called for Qingzhi to help him change.

Soon, he was dressed. He pushed open the door and glanced at the young man.

“Let’s go.”

Yu Xuan knew Li Hao still bore a slight grudge over the painting incident. He didn’t care. He offered a respectful gesture.

“After you, Young Master.”

They walked through the winding corridors, finally arriving at the main hall.

There, Li Hao saw his father—already stripped of armor, dressed in white robes. But unlike the Fifth Uncle, whose aura carried a scholarly grace, his father radiated a cold, war-hardened presence. Years of battle had etched a stern, commanding aura into his face.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end