Chapter 94: Radiant and Glorious 【Fourth Update】

"Freedom?"

"For example, you can't make me train anymore, nor interfere with anything else I choose to do," Li Hao said.

Li Tiangang was speechless.

Only then did he recall Li Hao’s usual habits—idle pursuits, squandering his extraordinary talent.

This was something he could never tolerate.

But… he had just promised Li Hao. To go back on his word now?

His eyes flickered with inner conflict.

Given Hao'er’s potential, he thought, even if he doesn’t cultivate for now, continuing his carefree life won’t matter much. When he grows up, becomes a True Dragon, inherits the family legacy, and feels the weight on his shoulders—the countless soldiers who look to him, the lives and hopes placed in his hands—he’ll likely throw himself into cultivation wholeheartedly.

With that thought, Li Tiangang nodded, smiling.

"Alright. I promise you!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Li Hao exhaled, relief flooding his chest.

From this father’s strict demeanor, it was clear he was the most rigid among the Li Clan—far stricter than Madam Da or any of the other elders. Without revealing his Character Panel, it was nearly impossible to explain Li Hao’s behavior.

He hadn’t shown his strength deliberately—because he knew, if Madam Da or the others saw how gifted he was, they’d only push him harder to cultivate.

It was like watching someone who could earn millions in seconds, yet just lying around playing games.

How dare they?!

But Li Hao was different.

He could earn millions in seconds—but he was doing it by playing games.

And he couldn’t say so.

Not without being laughed at, or worse—believed to be lying.

"Then I’ll go find Fifth Elder for a game of Go," Li Hao said.

It had been a while since he’d last visited Tancheng Palace, and after his journey through Cangyu City.

The old man must be lonely.

Li Tiangang’s eyelid twitched.

He had no words.

"Go if you must," he said finally, "but don’t disturb the Ancestral Heroic Spirits."

"放心，我有经验。"

Li Hao’s words nearly choked Li Tiangang.

Just as Li Hao turned to leave, Li Tiangang called out:

"Wait—there’s something else I haven’t told you. Two months from now is the True Dragon Selection. You’ll need to prepare. I’ve already had Yu Xuan check into it. Your biggest rival is likely the child from Second Aunt’s family."

The mention of Liu Yuerong sent a cold flash through Li Hao’s eyes.

He looked at his father, remembering the poison pill—almost spoke, but stopped himself.

If he revealed it now, he’d only alert his father.

And he wasn’t sure what the man’s methods were.

Li Tiangang wasn’t just a marquis and general.

He was also the Minister of Punishment, head of the Great Yu Penal Bureau.

His personal guard was known as the Law Character Camp, and he had been granted the title Xing Wuhou—a name feared across the realm.

But Liu Yuerong held an official noble title—First-Class Lady of the State.

The Ministry could only detain her temporarily, pending imperial approval.

To arrest her would trigger a chain reaction—her son would be frightened into hiding, likely retreating to Mount Wu Liang.

And that would be disastrous.

The possibility was too high.

From Li Hao’s perspective, his Fifteenth Mile Realm status was already exposed.

His natural talent was unquestionable.

The other side had little chance of winning.

It would be better to let them retreat quietly.

But that wasn’t what he wanted.

If she retreated to Mount Wu Liang, they’d have no power over her.

After all, her son was a direct disciple of the Wuliangshan Buddha Master—someone whose protection even the Divine General’s Residences couldn’t challenge.

Over the years, Li Hao had studied Mount Wu Liang closely.

The Great Yu Dynasty had three supreme powers.

First was Qian Dao Palace—undisputed, led by Emperor Yu, the realm’s strongest immortal.

Second was Mount Wu Liang, home to the Univerge Buddha, second only to the Emperor.

Third was Hanlin Pavilion—though filled with scholars, scribes, and high-ranking literati, they had no martial might.

Yet, they were backed by the Imperial Court itself—by Emperor Yu, a figure of terrifying power, shrouded in mystery, whose authority was absolute.

In this world, scholars couldn’t turn words into weapons.

Their power lay in documents—laws, decrees, regulations.

One paper could destroy a clan.

Even a First-Class Sect dared not protest.

To resist?

The army would descend in an instant.

Not just homes, but even the eggs in the house would be cracked open.

So though Hanlin Pavilion had no martial force, no one dared challenge it.

The law held equal weight to strength.

Only through the martial path protecting the literary way could Emperor Yu maintain peace for thousands of years.

Otherwise, martial cultivators slaughtering officials at will, ignoring the law—such a realm would collapse into chaos, its people starving, its civilization destroyed.

Below these three great powers came the Five Divine General’s Residences—semi-top tier.

Then came the Imperial Court’s departments—Demon-Subduing Bureau, Meh River Bureau, and others.

These were established by the court, their status unassailable.

No one dared provoke them—armies would sweep them away without mercy.

Beyond that were the Sword Pavilion, Qianji Mountain, and other first-class martial sects of the江湖.

If the Wuliangshan Buddha Master wished to protect his disciple, even the Divine General’s Residences couldn’t touch him.

And in truth, Liu Yuerong’s child had not officially entered the competition—innocent by all accounts.

But in Li Hao’s eyes, he had benefited from his mother’s favor.

So he must also bear the cost.

The poisoning incident—no real grudge, no personal feud.

It was all to clear the path for her son.

Li Hao wasn’t just fighting for the True Dragon Seat.

He wanted Liu Yuerong to watch as her child was crushed, his future ruined.

The poison pill he swallowed thirteen years ago?

It would finally unleash its brutal, devastating power—after thirteen years of silence.

Li Tiangang continued:

"Besides Second Aunt’s child, Elder Sister-in-Law’s two children are also contenders. But Third Aunt’s child is a girl—she’s already engaged in the military, so she’s automatically out."

"Her elder sister’s children are both over thirty, have earned merit, and hold general ranks. They’re serious challengers—but their natural talent still lags behind yours and Second Aunt’s child."

"Besides, Elder Sister-in-Law once said she wouldn’t let her child compete. I believe her."

Li Hao nodded. He already knew all this.

"Qianfeng’s child has less natural talent than you—but he’s trained under the Buddha Master. He’s cultivated his spirit and character, and now stands at Fifteenth Li Stage, achieving it at seventeen.

If we ignore you, his talent is truly impressive."

Li Tiangang admitted it himself.

He’d reached Fifteenth Li Stage around the same age, became a Master at nineteen, and entered the Three Immortalities at twenty-three.

That was prodigious—far beyond most.

(Though, of course, not quite on par with Ninth Brother, that madman.)

"Their connections are strong—thanks to the Buddha Master. And they’ve another advantage: official titles."

Li Tiangang turned to Li Hao.

"I’ve learned he’s already left the mountain, but hasn’t returned. He’s likely gathering official titles—another major bonus."

"Meanwhile, you’ve been idle in the manor, with no official title. It’s a slight disadvantage—but not fatal.

In the next two months, I plan to send you to the Frontier Region. Kill a Great Demon Head. That’ll earn you a title."

Hearing “official title,” Li Hao smiled faintly.

Beside him, Li Fu couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

Li Tiangang noticed their odd expressions and frowned.

"What’s so funny?"

Li Hao said nothing.

Li Fu, however, bowed respectfully.

"Marquis, the Young Master’s official title is likely quite high."

"Ah?"

Li Tiangang and Yu Xuan both turned to him, puzzled.

Li Fu smiled.

"Remember how I first learned of the Young Master’s realm? Cangyu City was attacked by a Demon Cataclysm. The Young Master single-handedly saved the entire city."

Li Tiangang and Yu Xuan froze.

They exchanged glances—shocked.

Saved the entire city?

To men who had spent their lives in war, the value of such a deed was crystal clear.

"Hao'er… you actually…?"

Li Tiangang stared at Li Hao, stunned—his eyes alight with pride and joy.

He had thought his son was idle, just playing.

But now, it turned out he’d quietly achieved something extraordinary.

Yu Xuan looked at Li Hao with deep respect.

Saving people from disaster—this is true merit.

Li Fu added with a smile:

"The Young Master’s reward should reach Qingzhou any day now."

He sounded genuinely excited.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"

Li Tiangang laughed heartily.

"Now the True Dragon Seat is as good as ours!"

Natural talent was top-tier.

And now, a colossal achievement on top of it.

Even if Li Hao’s character was a little scattered, the fact he’d achieved such a feat proved his worth in every other way.

That kind of gap was hard to close.

Even if Second Aunt’s child rushed to earn merit, in just two months, they wouldn’t have the chance to match this.

Merit wasn’t something you could just get.

Even on the frontier, with armies battling spirit beasts by the tens or hundreds of thousands—what was a Fifteenth Li Stage cultivator compared to the leaders of those hordes?

Most of them were Celestial Human Sect Masters.

Li Hao listened, then asked:

"So… if that’s the case, does that mean I don’t need to do anything else?"

Li Tiangang, still chuckling, sighed in exasperation.

This child—so long untrained—was truly too relaxed.

"If you won’t cultivate," he asked, "what do you plan to do?"

"Whatever comes to mind," Li Hao said. "Painting, playing the zither, writing poetry."

Li Tiangang’s mouth twitched.

None of those meant anything to him.

Had Li Hao said this earlier, he’d have dismissed them all.

But now, he had promised.

So he swallowed his pride and said:

"Fine. Do as you wish. I promised, and I’ll keep it."

"Good."

Li Hao nodded.

He didn’t expect his father to understand.

But as long as he was allowed—that was enough.

He bowed, then left to find Fifth Elder for a game of Go.

Li Tiangang didn’t stop him.

He let him go.

After Li Hao left, Li Tiangang sighed to Xuan Yu:

"I wonder… when will this child finally grow up?"

Li Fu smiled.

"Marquis, the Young Master is already far more mature than most of his age.

He’s going to see Fifth Uncle not for fun—but to keep him company."

Li Tiangang paused.

He thought of the lonely elder in the Ancestral Hall, and the lone Go board before him.

His expression softened.

Silence settled over him.

A few days later, Li Hao’s reward and enfeoffment arrived.

Honored for saving the city in crisis, protecting over a million citizens, he was granted the title of Third-Class Marquis, a city as his fief.

Ten chests of jewels and gold.

A complete set of Fifteenth Li Stage divine weapons and armor.

For military rank and official title, these were merely extras.

Like when Li Junye fell—his award included the Yu Dragon Decree and ten dou of gold.

The gold was nothing.

The real prize was the Yu Dragon Decree—an immunity token.

Three such decrees meant three times of exemption from death.

The magnitude of the merit was clear.

After the ceremony, Li Hao received the Imperial Edict and reward from the court’s top scholar, bowing in gratitude.

The news spread like wildfire—throughout the mansion, then beyond, into Qingzhou.

The Young Master of the Li Clan—only fourteen years old—was enfeoffed as a Baron, with his own fief.

And Li Hao’s heroic deed—defending the city—was told and retold, filling commoners with awe.

They cried out in admiration:

“No wonder he’s a Li Clan heir!”

Some even recalled rumors from ten years ago—whispers that this boy was of Warrior’s Wasteland constitution.

Now, those rumors seemed laughably false.

Li Hao’s name was now famous throughout Qingzhou—spreading far beyond.

Inside the mansion, the news stunned the ladies of each court.

He Jianlan was speechless.

Ever since Li Tiangang returned, Li Hao had kept dropping surprises—one after another.

She was nearly overwhelmed.

Was this really the child I once pitied?

He was so radiant, she could barely look at him.

"In the Frost Snow Courtyard," Gao Qingqing whispered, stunned.

How could this be?

She remembered her own advice to her child—stay away from Li Hao.

Now, she regretted it deeply.

Beside her, Li Xuanli clapped in delight.

"No wonder he’s the son of Seventh Elder!

His grace—equal to Ninth Elder’s at his age, even better!

Wait—Ninth Elder wasn’t this dazzling at fourteen!"

"Truly remarkable," she murmured.

"Seventh Elder truly knows how to raise a child!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end