Famous Sword, Eternal Night

"You're Xiaohao?"

Besides Li Qianfeng, among the three generations standing outside the hall were He Jianlan's children.

Li Mingguang and Li Sibei are both around thirty-five years old now.

In terms of age, he was much older than Li Hao and others, almost twice as old.

Both of them had long been in the military and were now generals with extremely high cultivation levels. Li Mingguang had just entered the first stage of the Three Immortalities, while his sister, Li Sibei, had already entered the Heaven and Man Realm for many years.

In terms of cultivation, they were both the most outstanding among the three generations of the Li Family, far surpassing everyone else.

The same applies to their achievements.

After all, her age is a factor.

However, He Jianlan had said in her early years that her children would not compete for the True Dragon Seat.

Since this statement is made public, it naturally carries immense binding force.

However, even if we're talking about competition, Li Mingguang only entered the Fifteen Li Realm at the age of eighteen, compared to others of the same age.

At the age of twenty-five, he entered the Heaven and Man Realm.

Now, ten years Past, having reached the Three Immortalities, such progress is already extraordinary!

However, compared to Li Qianfeng and Li Hao, he is far inferior for the same age.

At this moment, Li Mingguang smiled as he sized up Li Hao.

He had already heard of this name before even returning to Qing Prefecture, and he had high expectations for this cousin he had never met.

Such extraordinary talent surpasses even that of Ninth Uncle back then.

He and his younger sister, Li Sibei, were born early and grew up with their Ninth Uncle. In fact, he is actually a bit older than his Ninth Uncle!

But.

Despite the seniority difference, when he saw his ninth Ninth Uncle, who was two years younger than him, he still had to obediently bow his head and respectfully call him "uncle."

Aside from the strict rules of the Li Family, he called him that willingly, after all, his Ninth Uncle, with whom he played and cultivated as children, had later become far ahead of others after embarking on his cultivation journey.

Every year, it amazes everyone in the courtyard, like a dazzling shooting star.

Unfortunately, fate is cruel to those with great talent.

Fourteen years ago, when Ninth Uncle passed away, he also shared a cup of wine with his troops in the distant Border Pass.

Drinking alcohol in the army is a major taboo, but he still drank it.

After drinking the wine, he voluntarily went to receive his punishment and was given a hundred lashes, which left his skin torn and bloody.

But he didn't even frown; instead, he smiled.

But when he returned to his tent, he wept uncontrollably.

"Cousin."

Li Hao nodded and greeted Li Mingguang.

"Even I can't see through your cultivation level. You kid, it seems you've cultivated Cultivation Method to conceal your Aura," Li Mingguang laughed.

Li Hao smiled slightly.

Li Mingguang then looked at Li Qianfeng beside him. Compared to Li Hao's Qing Feng, Li Qianfeng was like a sharp sword drawn half an inch from its sheath. Although it was restrained, it had already revealed its chilling sharpness, and its Aura was even more profound and powerful, far exceeding that of ordinary Fifteen Li Realm.

Seeing his two younger cousins so successful, Li Mingguang's eyes showed a look of satisfaction:

"We've come back this time to see you compete for the True Dragon. Your eldest sister and I aren't participating. In terms of talent, we're not as good as you. The future depends on you."

Li Qianfeng nodded slightly. "Don't worry, cousin."

Li Hao glanced at the other person and thought that his cousin's personality was somewhat similar to his First Madam's.

Putting aside his Heavenly Talent, Li Hao felt that his inherent elder brother demeanor made him somewhat suitable to be the Family Head.

"However, while you may compete, do not let it create enmity or cause you to hold grudges."

Beside her, her cousin Li Sibei gave her some instructions.

She and her Older Brother had both removed their armor and changed into brocade robes, but years of military service had given them an upright posture, and their eyebrows appeared more heroic than those of ordinary women.

"My cousin is right."

Li Hao smiled and nodded.

Li Qianfeng nodded, his expression calm.

Seeing the two express their opinions, Li Sibei smiled slightly, glanced past them, and nodded slightly to Li Wushuang and the others. Since it was inconvenient to talk much outside the hall, he didn't reminisce with them.

Not long after the older generation in the hall finished paying respects to their grandmother, they summoned Li Hao and three generations of the Li Family inside.

Led by Li Mingguang, the group followed one after another. Upon entering the hall, they saw their grandmother, Chen Hefang, sitting at the head of the hall, with the other elders and wives of each courtyard seated on either side. The remaining concubines stood obediently behind the wives of each courtyard.

Li Mingguang was tall and broad-shouldered. He knelt down as soon as he entered the hall.

The others followed suit, all kneeling down in worship.

"Get up, everyone," Chen Hefang said with a smile.

Everyone stood up, Li Hao looked up and examined his grandmother. Her hair was snow-white and neatly combed like Silver Threads. She looked old, with wrinkles on her skin but no age spots. Her complexion was rosy, and she looked like an extremely clean old lady.

Moreover, although she is old, it is still evident that she was an extremely beautiful woman in her youth; though she has aged, her bone structure remains exquisite.

While Li Hao was taking a look, Chen Hefang was also taking a look at her grandchildren.

She was most familiar with Li Mingguang; she had held him when he was a child and he often came to Green Lotus Courtyard to play, often with Jun Ye.

However, after the eldest and third sons died in battle one after another, followed by the deaths of the Xiao Jiu and Xiao Liu, her hair turned white overnight, General’s Residence to her eldest daughter-in-law, He Jianlan.

She herself went to Forget Sorrow Mountain to eat vegetarian food and pray for blessings, hoping that Xiao Jiu's Heroic Soul would return soon.

Thinking of Xiao Liu Xiao Jiu, Chen Hefang's eyes filled with sadness.

Countless times over the years, I've dreamt of them running towards me at night, as excited and spirited as when I was a child, calling out "Mother, Mother..."

Those two children have suffered so much; one is left with only one son, and the other is still unmarried.

He had cultivated himself diligently since childhood, and before he could even catch a glimpse of the world's splendor, he was buried on the frontier.

"Mingguang, come here, let Grandma take a look at you."

Chen Hefang concealed her emotions without revealing them, and said with a smile.

Looking at the grandmother's full head of white hair, Li Mingguang felt a pang of heartache. He stepped forward and bent the straight spine that had been held so high by her years of working hard in the outside world.

"At the Border Pass, do not be greedy for merit or act rashly. My Li Family already has no shortage of achievements and glory."

Chen Hefang gently stroked her eldest grandson's shoulder and whispered, "Grandma only hopes that you can all live well."

Upon hearing this, many of the ladies' eyes welled up with tears.

Sitting at the end of the table, Jiang Xian'er's eyes were moist, and she turned her head slightly.

These young men are still here, but how many of those young men from back then have returned?

Those spirited young men are now the fathers of these children and their husbands.

Li Mingguang's heart trembled, and he nodded vigorously. "Your grandson will remember."

Chen Hefang's eyes softened, and she called Li Sibei over to look at the little girl closely. Now she was a spirited young woman. It is said that daughters resemble their fathers, and her features were somewhat similar to her eldest son Li Xingbei.

Chen Hefang liked it more and more as she looked at it, and couldn't help but sigh.

Then, her gaze swept over her other grandchildren. Her eyes met their young faces, which were already showing signs of maturity and youthful vigor.

Although it was our first meeting, I could see many familiar faces in them.

"Which one of you is Hao'er?"

Chen Hefang said softly.

Li Hao paused slightly, then took a small half-step forward. "Grandson is here to greet Grandma."

Chen Hefang looked her up and down, then gently beckoned and said with a smile, "Come here and let Grandma take a look."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Li Hao obediently stepped forward and approached Chen Hefang.

Chen Hefang carefully examined Li Hao, then suddenly sighed softly and said, "He looks just like your mother!"

Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly, but he remained silent.

"Since it's our first meeting, Grandma doesn't have much to give you, but I heard you like swords, so Grandma will give you one."

Chen Hefang spoke, he summoned a servant to bring over a Sword Case.

Upon seeing the Sword Case, Li Tiangang couldn't help but stand up and say, "Mother, this... this is my Ninth Brother's..."

Jiang Xian'er's gaze also sharpened slightly.

"That's right, it's the Side Sword your Ninth Brother used to carry, Eternal Night!"

Chen Hefang gently stroked the Sword Case, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at Li Hao, and said, "This sword is one of the Ten Great Famous Swords Under Heaven. I heard you also use a sword, so I'm giving it to you. Don't let this Famous Swords be tarnished."

Li Hao's heart trembled. Ten Great Famous Swords Under Heaven —this was a sword capable of slaying Great Demon at the Four Establishments Realm; it was incredibly sharp.

Moreover, this sword possesses extremely special power, but it can only be unleashed when one reaches a certain level of mastery.

Currently, all he possesses is the ability to slay souls and exorcise evil spirits, and also its sharpness.

But that's enough.

"Thank you, Grandma," Li Hao said softly as he accepted the gift.

Although the child spoke softly, Chen Hefang could hear the seriousness in his words and couldn't help but smile.

The others remained silent. This sword had been sealed away for many years, but now it was being handed over to Li Hao, which showed how much the mother liked this grandson she was meeting for the first time.

However, this was mostly because Chen Hefang saw the shadow of Li Junye in Li Hao.

They were all so dazzling and bright.

In the crowd, Li Qianfeng's eyes darkened, but he remained silent.

Liu Yuerong smiled, but the smile seemed somewhat forced. However, everyone's attention was focused on Li Hao and the Black Sword Case, and no one paid attention to her.

After handing the Sword Case to Li Hao, Chen Hefang also called Li Qianfeng to her side.

She said softly, "I heard you are practicing Buddhism on Boundless Mountain. I have three treasured Buddhist Scriptures here, so I'll give them to you."

Li Qianfeng's expression was somewhat unnatural.

Why send Famous Swords to Li Hao and Buddhist Scriptures to him instead?

But he didn't dare show it, and instead bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Grandma."

Chen Hefang smiled and said, "This Buddhist Scriptures contains a top-tier Buddhist Sect Cultivation Method called the Great Compassion Hand. If you can master it, not only will the palm technique itself be incredibly powerful, but the improvement of this palm technique will also help your future Sword Dao cultivation."

Li Qianfeng was taken aback, but then a look of joy appeared on his face. "Thank you, Grandma!"

Chen Hefang waved for him and Li Hao to step aside, then called over her other grandchildren and gave them small gifts. Although the gifts varied, they were not significant.

After the meeting ended, everyone dispersed from Green Lotus Courtyard.

However, Chen Hefang stopped He Jianlan and the other ladies, seemingly wanting to inquire about the situation in the mansion over the years. At the same time, she also asked Liu Yuerong to inform the Four Establishments Bodhisattva, who had come down from Boundless Mountain to reside in the mansion, to come and meet them.

Time flies.

After the old lady came out of the mountain, Qingzhou City became even more lively.

Soon, the day of the True Dragon Selection arrived.

Outside the gates of the Divine General Residence, the streets were packed with carriages carrying high-ranking officials and nobles, as well as many civil and military officials who had come from all over the Nineteen Provinces to offer their congratulations.

Such a grand event happened once more than a decade ago, and it's just as lively now.

The threshold of the Divine General Residence was practically worn down by all the footsteps.

The Liu Family members arrived one after another.

In other states, the Liu Family was also a prominent local Lineage. In recent years, with Liu Yuerong marrying into the Divine General Residence, the Liu Family naturally benefited from the Li Family's influence and developed even more rapidly, with their official positions in the imperial court rising one after another.

The Liu Family produced mostly civil officials; several of their ancestors were top scholars in the imperial examinations and served as officials in the court.

Besides the many civil and military officials from the Liu Family clan, other Bo-rank Noble and Hou-rank Noble also came to visit, supporting Li Qianfeng and demonstrating their connections.

In addition, people also came from the Divine General Residence, but they were just ordinary visitors and did not take sides. It seemed that they were just here to see what kind of strength the True Dragon of the Li Family was.

The noise outside the courtyard continued unabated.

Inside the courtyard, Li Hao moved Reclining Chair and comfortably basked in the sun.

Not long after, Bian Ruxue ran back into the courtyard, followed by a series of footsteps.

Li Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, opened the Book of Poems that was hanging over his face to block the sunlight, and turned his head to look, only to see a familiar face.

With white hair and Steel Bone, and bones as strong as swords, walking at the very front Bian Ruxue was none other than the Sword Saint, Sword Wudao.