Prestige

"Of course."

Li Yuanzhao frowned and said, "Do you think I can't do it on my own? How about the two of us go back and spar again? We didn't decide a winner last time!"

Li Yun gave a cold snort. In the past two years, his sparring matches with Li Yuanzhao had been almost evenly matched, neither able to come out ahead.

But in terms of age, he had lost by half a step.

After all, the latter was a year younger than him.

In terms of the Battle Body talent from the Bone Measurement, he had lost as well. He was seventh grade, while his younger sister and Li Yuanzhao were both eighth grade.

Therefore, his words naturally were not aimed at Li Yuanzhao, but at the one on the other side, the fellow who had left him secretly annoyed after he later came to understand things.

Whenever he thought that he had once been thrashed black and blue by a piece of trash, fury burned especially fiercely in his heart. Fortunately, only heaven knew, earth knew, and he and Li Hao knew.

All these years, whenever he saw Li Hao, he felt so angry his teeth itched. If not for Second Master and Fifth Master always accompanying Li Hao, he would not have let the chance for revenge slip by.

Li Yuanzhao saw Li Yun cast a cold glance toward Li Hao. Though he was young, he was not stupid, especially after spending so many years with Hao Ge and hearing all those magnificent, strange stories. Among them were tales of gods, ghosts, spirits, and monsters, and also tales of the viciousness of human nature. Though he still could not completely understand them, he was somewhat more mature than his peers.

Precisely because of this, he had heard Li Yun's meaning from the start, and had deliberately turned the spearhead onto himself.

Seeing that Li Yun only dared to make veiled barbs, he could not be bothered to take it seriously, lest everyone be made unhappy. He smiled at Li Hao and said, "Hao Ge, I heard Sister Xue'er will be coming back in another year."

"That's right."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Li Hao's mouth.

"I heard from my master that according to the Sword Hermitage's rules, you have to reach at least the Spirit Wandering Realm before you can descend the mountain. Could Sister Xue'er break through to the Spirit Wandering Realm next year?" Li Yuanzhao asked curiously.

The Spirit Wandering Realm was the fourth realm, a level where one could be considered a powerhouse. Outside, such a person could delve deep into a tiger's den to slay demons and vanquish monsters. On the border, they could carve out a bloody path and hold the post of army commandant, second only to a general!

One had to know, next year, Bian Ruxue would only be fifteen.

This kind of progress, even among the ranks of top geniuses with Ninth Grade Battle Bodies, belonged to the very peak.

Most of those famed throughout the world had Ninth Grade Battle Bodies. That was merely the starting point for top heavenly prodigies, merely the upper limit shown by Bone Measurement!

And all the opportunities, effort, innate talent, and comprehension that came after would continue widening such a gap.

Beside them, when Li Yun heard the words "Sister Xue'er," his ears immediately pricked up, and his eyes could not help glancing toward Li Hao's side.

The seed that had once sprouted in his young heart seemed faintly about to reveal its tender pointed tip again.

However, thinking of the words Spirit Wandering Realm, the youth's expression grew a little heavier and more dejected. Precisely because he now understood things and knew the disparity in cultivation, he knew just how unreachable that distance was.

"That's right."

Li Hao nodded. To walk the jianghu at the Spirit Wandering Realm could be considered a guarantee of one's life.

He glanced at a certain complicated-looking shadow not far away. While secretly finding it amusing, he also felt that this brat was rather asking for a beating.

It had been too long since he had been dealt with, and he actually still dared to pine after her.

"Spirit Wandering Realm at fifteen. That's really amazing. If she came to Tan Palace Academy, I reckon even the palace master would personally come out to welcome her, and she'd directly enter the inner palace as a Personal Disciple," Li Yuanzhao could not help sighing.

The few of them had only reached perfection in the Circulation Realm, still a bit short of Soul Inheritance.

This time, entering Tan Palace Academy was also so they could use the ancient heroes of Tan Palace to inherit their souls.

This was their mother's instruction. As for the specific reason, they did not know either.

"Her master is the Sword Saint, after all. There's no comparing," Li Hao comforted him.

In truth, these fellows were geniuses too. The reason they had not entered famous mountains was only because the direct descendants of the Li Family seemed to have an invisible rule: entering a famous mountain was fine, but if one was to become a disciple, then one had to take a master on the level of the Sword Saint and become their Personal Disciple.

Otherwise, they would remain in the residence to cultivate, and once their cultivation had achieved some success, they would then enter the various great powers, show their first glints of brilliance, and display the might of the Li Family's younger generation.

This kind of standard applied only to the direct line. Those born of concubines were different. Like branches spreading leaves, after laying a firm foundation, they had long since entered many famous mountains and studied under famous masters, and had also made the Li Family's name resound among powers everywhere.

With the true dragons yet to emerge, merely the concubine-born disciples had already become outstanding young talents in many second- and third-rate powers.

This also made the Li Family's prestige in the jianghu extremely weighty, and not limited only to the military camps on the border.

"That's true." Li Yuanzhao sighed. Instruction from a famous master on the Sword Saint's level was not something one could envy. At the very least, Ninth Grade Battle Body aptitude was the starting point, the lowest threshold.

At this moment, Flood Dragon Lions opened the way, and a huge carriage like an RV drove along the street. In Qingzhou City, there was no one who did not know this was a carriage from the Divine General Residence.

Passersby dodged aside one after another and pointed from the sides. Just from the direction it was going, they knew that those riding inside were most likely true dragons of the Li Family, heading to Tan Palace Academy to cultivate.

Those roaming heroes of the jianghu who had rushed over from various provinces, and the young masters and young ladies of famous clans and noble houses, were riding in carriages of their own. When they encountered the demonic aura emanating from the Flood Dragon Lions, all their mounts grew restless and uneasy, stopping where they were. Some were so frightened they madly ran toward the roadside, not daring to block the way, and no matter how hard the coachmen pulled, they could not drag them back.

The majesty of the Divine General Residence was fully displayed at this moment.

Before long, the carriage came to a stop. Uncle Ming, who was driving, informed them in a warm voice that they had arrived outside Tan Palace Academy.

Tan Palace Academy was not far from the Divine General Residence to begin with; they could be considered close neighbors.

When the carriage came to a steady stop, the gazes of Li Yuanzhao and the other two narrowed slightly.

Although they were also heavenly prodigies with extraordinary aptitude, they usually cultivated inside the residence and had never truly revealed themselves before outsiders. On top of that, they still had the minds of youths, so at this moment, a trace of nervousness was inevitable.

Li Hao did not feel much. Once the carriage stopped, he leisurely rose and casually lifted the carriage curtain.

Light shone onto his face. At the same time, countless lively, clamorous voices rushed over as if racing one another, flooding into the carriage. It was as though with one casual lift, he had lifted open a flourishing mortal world! The three inside the carriage came back to their senses and saw Li Hao standing leisurely at the carriage doorway. Amid that countless clamor, he quietly looked around, a faint smile on his face as always, his expression calm and composed.

Li Zhining's eyes narrowed slightly, as if a little of her past memories had surged up, but very quickly, she sobered. That lifted corner closed once more.

When all three rose and came outside the carriage, only then did they see just how lively the scene outside was.

The vast square was packed with figures, a dark, surging mass rubbing shoulders and brushing elbows. Most of them were young men and women carrying weapons such as sabers, swords, and spears on their backs, brimming with youthful vigor.

In the crowd, there were also some youths dressed in luxurious clothes, with attendants following at their sides, making the area around them forbidden to strangers.

There were also young girls in rainbow skirts and feathered garments, with graceful maids holding umbrellas beside them to block the scorching sun. Among the crowd, they too stood alone like a lone tree, especially conspicuous.

As far as the eye could see, all of them were densely packed young martial artists.

And at this moment, the few standing on the carriage instantly became the focus of everyone's gaze.

After all, the Divine General Residence's Flood Dragon Lion carriage was far too eye-catching.

Great Yu stipulated that when dragon-veined beasts pulled a carriage, the emperor could have nine when traveling, feudal kings and princes seven, and only Hou-rank Nobles and officials of Principal Fifth Rank were qualified to use five Flood Dragon Lions. As for the rest—the scholar-officials, Scholar Clans, famous houses, and the like—they only had the qualification to use three or two.

Ordinary commoners and wealthy merchants without official titles could only use a single mount to pull their carriages, and moreover could not use mounts with flood dragon clan dragon veins.

Although Li Hao and the others held no titles themselves, as sons of a Hou-rank Noble, they could also enjoy the glory of their forebears.

"That's the Divine General Residence?"

"The Li Family of Qingzhou City, the thousand-year Divine General Residence. It really is imposing!"

"That's another four slots gone. I heard Tan Palace Academy's slots are limited. Infuriating!"

"Hmph, I, Lin Yan, will definitely lead my Liuzhou Lin Family to rise from my generation and contend with heaven and earth!"

"I heard this generation of the Li Family has a piece of trash. Wonder if he came?"

A thousand years of glory made countless people envious and jealous, and also stirred who knew how much heroic spirit and drive in the hearts of the youths. Amid the clamor was even more eagerness to try.

Li Yun, Li Yuanzhao, and Li Zhining's faces were taut. Although they forced themselves to remain calm on the surface, sweat had already beaded on their fingers, revealing the nervousness in their hearts.

These gazes seemed as if they could scorch people. Li Yun did not stay any longer. With a cold, tense face, he said, "We'll go first."

Then he brought his younger sister Li Zhining and jumped down from the carriage. Amid Uncle Ming's "Young master, take care as you go," they entered the crowd like fierce tigers entering the forest.

The people around them unconsciously moved aside. What they respected was not the youths, but the surname behind them.

"Hao Ge, let's go too." Li Yuanzhao secretly swallowed and said to Li Hao.

Li Hao, however, rose slightly onto his toes, looked around, and lightly sniffed. Very soon, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Let's go!"

After speaking, he jumped down from the carriage. The people around them moved aside one after another, not daring to block the path of this richly dressed youth.

Li Yuanzhao followed closely behind, but after they had only walked a few steps, he grabbed Li Hao's sleeve. "Hao Ge, aren't we going the wrong way? Tan Palace Academy isn't over there."

"I know."

Without looking back, Li Hao said, "But there's food up ahead."

Fame and titles were behind him, but delicious food was ahead!