"Senior Sword Saint, this is Heavenly Gang's son, Li Hao."
While the maid went to fetch Bian Ruxue, He Jianlan introduced him to the white-haired elder beside her. "As it happens, Hao's name was bestowed by the Yu Emperor himself. What do you think of this child?"
At the mention of the Yu Emperor, the white-haired elder glanced at the woman and immediately understood her little calculation. He felt a trace of displeasure, but said nothing and began studying the child before him.
Li Hao also looked up and studied him.
Hearing First Madam's form of address for the old man, he was somewhat startled and understood why Uncle Fu had reacted so strongly.
While searching for game records in the Listening Rain Pavilion earlier, he had also leafed through accounts of interesting happenings in the martial world and the deeds of its great figures.
Among the figures recorded over the past hundred years, only three had been hailed as Sword Saints.
One lived in the Sword Hermitage in the south, one had retired to Yellow Sand Green Lake in the Northern Desert, and the last was like a divine dragon whose head might be glimpsed, but never its tail.
All three were masters of the sword who had shaken the world with their blades, earning the revered title of Sword Saint.
Which of the three Sword Saints was strongest had also been a subject of endless debate among busybodies over the past century.
His own third uncle possessed extraordinary talent in Sword Dao. With a single slash, he had shattered half of Jing Province's martial world and Demon Forest, yet even he had not earned the title of Sword Saint. That alone showed how terrifyingly powerful this old man was.
Which of the three was he?
The old man's gaze met the boy's, and Li Hao immediately saw the sword intent hidden deep within the elder's eyes, gathered like an ocean, like an abyss.
Yet that sword intent lay beneath a pair of dark, tranquil eyes. Without his understanding at the second stage of Sword Dao, he would never have been able to glimpse it.
"I hear Heavenly Gang's child failed both Foundation Establishment and blood fusion, and has no talent for Martial Dao?"
Sword Wudao looked impassively at the child before him. In the eyes of the world, the Qilin Child of the Divine General Residence was an exalted existence, second only to imperial offspring. To him, however, that counted for little, and he certainly had no need to watch a child's face and cater to his moods.
He Jianlan's expression stiffened slightly, and she gave a small nod.
"That is correct. That is why I hoped you might see whether this child has any talent for the sword, Senior Sword Saint. If he can temper his body and cultivate the sword in the future, he could still serve the country and guard a region for Great Yu."
At the word "guard," Sword Wudao's eyes flickered, and his gaze softened somewhat.
Given his standing, as long as the older generation of the Li Family did not appear, he had no need to concern himself with the thoughts of these second-generation members and juniors.
But the Li Family's great achievements over the centuries truly commanded respect. In particular, during the intermittent fighting at the borders over the past several decades, six of the Li Family's nine sons had fallen, all of them on the battlefield. That fact alone was enough to inspire solemn reverence!
"I'll take a look at them both in a moment," Sword Wudao said calmly.
Delighted, He Jianlan nodded.
Soon, Xue Jian brought Bian Ruxue before them. The little girl looked at the dense crowd of adults, visibly nervous.
Out of habit, she stood behind Li Hao, hiding half her body behind him.
She had seen a scene like this before, when Li Hao underwent Foundation Establishment and Bone Measurement. But the looks those adults had given him afterward had made her sad.
"Senior Sword Saint, this is the Sword Dao prodigy I asked Bai Jing to tell you about."
Once Bian Ruxue arrived, the military elder beside them stepped forward and spoke respectfully.
Sword Wudao nodded slightly. He had come mainly because his third disciple had pleaded tirelessly, describing the little girl from the Divine General Residence as nothing short of miraculous. He, too, cherished talent, so he had descended from the Sword Hermitage to make a journey through this flourishing, prosperous world.
"The tenth layer of the Power Through Realm, at completion. Strong, well-developed bones. Not bad."
Sword Wudao discerned the little girl's cultivation realm at a glance, satisfaction showing in his eyes. He had heard she possessed a ninth grade battle body-an exceptional aptitude. He would have little need to worry about her future cultivation.
"Little girl, demonstrate the sword technique you're best at," Sword Wudao said.
Looking at this unfamiliar, imposing old man, Bian Ruxue grew nervous and instinctively glanced at Li Hao.
Li Hao understood that Xue'er's opportunity had arrived. Smiling, he immediately nudged her forward and said, "Don't be afraid. Don't be nervous. I'm right here beside you."
With Li Hao's encouragement, much of Bian Ruxue's timidity faded, and she nodded. The little girl promptly walked to one side, and without waiting for He Jianlan's signal, everyone obediently cleared a space for her.
Soon, Bian Ruxue's sword swept into motion, like snow, like a waterfall. Her movements were as light as a startled swan, her swordplay deft and practiced, with a hint of returning to pristine simplicity.
Sword Wudao, who had immersed himself in Sword Dao for nearly a century, immediately caught that quality. The elder's keen, narrow eyes, like the edges of a sword, abruptly widened, revealing delight he could not conceal.
This was far more than a talent for Sword Dao. She was a Sword Dao prodigy rarely seen in a hundred years!
At her age, cultivating a Superior Sword Art to perfection already put her on par with his most outstanding disciple, let alone the fact that she now showed traces of the spiritual grace of supreme perfection.
What a peerless seedling for the sword!
"Hahaha..." Sword Wudao could not help bursting into laughter. His hearty voice shook the dead leaves from a nearby tree, sending them fluttering down.
Worth it. More than worth it!
This journey into the mortal world had not been in vain.
Hearing the Sword Saint's booming laughter, everyone around him immediately knew that the little girl's destiny had taken flight from this moment onward.
Though living in the Divine General Residence already made her exceedingly privileged and the envy of the world, only meeting a renowned teacher like the Sword Saint truly set her on the path to the summit. In the future, she might become a household name, remembered for ten generations!
In an instant, countless complicated gazes in the courtyard converged on the little girl holding the sword.
Bian Ruxue lowered her sword. Feeling all those eyes upon her, she looked nervously toward Li Hao.
Li Hao gave her a toothy smile and a thumbs-up.
Bian Ruxue knew what that gesture meant: he was praising her for doing wonderfully.
The little girl relaxed and broke into a smile as well.
"You recommended her well. Very well indeed!"
Sword Wudao, who had worn such a stern expression and an aura of innate authority just moments earlier, now laughed as he clapped the military elder beside him on the shoulder. Had the man not been an old acquaintance of his third disciple and recommended her so insistently, he would never have picked up such a peerless sword prodigy so effortlessly.
"You're too kind, Senior. It is Xue'er's good fortune to become the Sword Saint's disciple," the military elder said, overwhelmed by the favor.
Though the two looked much alike, both appearing to be men in their sixties, their actual ages and standing were worlds apart.
Sword Wudao smiled, in excellent spirits. He walked up to the little girl, bent down, and asked warmly, "Little girl, you like swords, don't you? Shall I take you somewhere to cultivate?"
Bian Ruxue paused, then asked, "Where?"
"The Sword Hermitage."
Smiling, Sword Wudao named the sacred place yearned for by swordsmen throughout the world. "I'll teach you swordplay there and give you the finest sword arts."
Bian Ruxue did not understand. She only asked, "Is it far?"
"About nine thousand li south of here. For you, that would count as far," Sword Wudao said with a smile.
Bian Ruxue immediately looked toward Li Hao nearby and asked, "Brother Hao, are you going too?"
Only then did Sword Wudao realize he had forgotten another child.
He Jianlan came over at just the right moment and said with a gentle, composed smile, "Senior Sword Saint, you've forgotten to examine Hao's talent for Sword Dao. I hear he also has quite a natural feel for it."
"That's right, Senior."
Li Fu, standing nearby, was excited and hurried to seize the opportunity. "When Xue'er practices her swordplay, the young master often watches and offers her some good suggestions. Although the young master has never cultivated, I believe he seems to have his own understanding of Sword Dao, and some talent for it as well."
Somewhat surprised, Sword Wudao glanced at Li Hao, his brow suddenly creasing slightly. But with He Jianlan beside him, he immediately said, "Very well. Give him a sword and let him demonstrate. Any sword moves will do."
"Thank you, Senior Sword Saint!"
Overjoyed, Li Fu thanked him excitedly, then said to Bian Ruxue, "Miss Xue'er, please lend your sword to the young master."
Bian Ruxue nodded obediently and handed her sword to Li Hao.
(End of chapter)
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