[Congratulations, Host, on successfully collecting Yi Lin, a Hengshan disciple ranked 798th in the Compendium of Beautiful Women in the Martial World. Calculating rewards...] [Congratulations, Host, you have received 10 Attribute-less Inner Force, 999 Lesser Rejuvenation Pills, and 1,000 Villain Points.] [Congratulations, Host, you have received the Ancient Divine Tome: Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, and the martial technique: Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.]
"System, Yi Lin and I haven't consummated our marriage yet. Does the collection mission still count as complete?"
"Host, do you think women in ancient times were like women in modern times? Though they're women of the martial world, they're absolutely faithful in matters of the heart. If they agree to become your concubine, they won't let another man touch them again." The system explained.
Of course, if the mission target was someone like Li Shishi and the others, that was another matter.
"Extract inner force," Li Hao silently commanded. A tremendous surge of energy poured from the void into the Baihui Acupoint on the crown of his head. It coursed through his body once, then flowed into the vortex of inner force in his dantian.
Crack! A sound of something breaking came from within him, and Li Hao's cultivation reached the Houtian Realm.
At the Houtian Realm, one was already a minor expert in the martial world.
Cultivation realms were divided into third-, second-, and first-rate experts, followed by the Houtian Realm, then the early, middle, and late stages of the Xiantian Realm, then Grandmaster and Great Grandmaster. Above that, it was said, lay the legendary Golden Core Realm—the Shatter the Void spoken of by Daoists.
"Great Hero, please, hurry and save Senior Brother Linghu!" Just as Li Hao was lost in thought, poor Linghu Chong took another slash.
"Remember, my name is Li Hao, the Amorous Swordsman, also known as Hermit Ri Tian. From now on, you should call me husband. Of course, 'darling' or 'dear' will do too. Got it?" Li Hao said sternly.
[System, extract Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.]
While he had the chance, Li Hao also integrated Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking. That would give him much better odds against Tian Boguang.
[System, why is Treading Snow Without a Trace at maximum level, while Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking isn't even at the entry level?]
When Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking entered his mind, Li Hao was instantly dumbfounded. The difference was way too huge!
[Treading Snow Without a Trace came from the beginner's gift pack, so it is at maximum level. As for martial techniques outside the beginner's gift pack, the Host must comprehend them personally or spend Villain Points to enter a state of enlightenment. You can earn Villain Points by killing protagonists favored by fate in the Comprehensive Martial World, killing righteous sect members, or completing collection missions from the Gallery of Beauties.] [Spend Villain Points to comprehend Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking.] [Villain Points spent successfully. Comprehending Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking...]
"Husband, please, hurry and save Senior Brother Linghu!" After struggling with it for a while, Yi Lin finally called him the two words that embarrassed her so much.
If she didn't, Senior Brother Linghu really was going to die.
"Hold on tight." Li Hao tapped Yi Lin's chest a few times. She felt her acupoints unlock, and her strength as a third-rate martial artist returned.
"Ah!" Yi Lin cried out.
Her strength had only just returned, and before she could react, Li Hao scooped her up and swiftly floated outside.
Yes, floated—like a leaf.
Seeing Li Hao move with such grace, like an elegant young gentleman, Yi Lin was utterly entranced.
Li Hao's lightness skill had reached the consummate level of a Grandmaster. There was probably no one faster in the entire martial world.
Clang! Just as Tian Boguang decided he'd had his fun and prepared to finish Linghu Chong with one slash, Li Hao drew his sword and blocked Tian Boguang's swift blade.
"Done looking? If you are, get down. Your husband's about to fight." Li Hao glanced down at Yi Lin, then gave her a passionate kiss.
A minute later, Yi Lin shyly jumped out of Li Hao's arms and ran to Linghu Chong. She stuffed a pill with a fragrant herbal scent into his mouth.
Lesser Rejuvenation Pill: a miraculous medicine for healing injuries. Though its effects couldn't compare to the heaven-defying Great Rejuvenation Pill, which could bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bare bones, it was countless times more effective than high-grade wound medicine. As long as you still had a breath left, it would make you lively and vigorous in an instant.
Yi Lin's face was still burning. This was a world where looks mattered. Li Hao was handsome enough, and on top of that, he was highly skilled. After that passionate kiss, Yi Lin had promptly forgotten all about Linghu Chong.
If Li Hao hadn't given her the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill, she would have forgotten that the half-dead Linghu Chong was even there.
Seeing Yi Lin gaze at Li Hao like a newlywed wife, then looking down at his own completely healed body, Linghu Chong felt as if he'd lost five million.
Li Hao had stolen Yi Lin's heart, causing Linghu Chong's protagonist aura to flow to Li Hao. As their fortunes shifted, Yi Lin found Li Hao more and more appealing.
That was fate: something you couldn't see or touch.
"I, Tian Boguang, have roamed the martial world for decades, yet I've actually been blind to a man's worth. May I ask your name and whose tutelage you studied under?" Tian Boguang asked, watching Li Hao seriously.
When roaming the martial world, safety came first. He never touched disciples of powerful factions.
From Li Hao's earlier sword strike, he knew his opponent's inner force was no weaker than his own. That meant the man had to be at least at the Houtian Realm.
And Li Hao's elegant movement and strange speed as he arrived had also shown how extraordinary he was. If Tian Boguang laid a hand on him, he'd likely beat the younger man and bring the older ones down on himself. His good days would be over.
"This one is Li Hao, known as Hermit Ri Tian. The martial world calls me the Amorous Swordsman." Li Hao cupped his hands.
You, Tian Boguang, the Lone Traveler—your title's only a few words. My name would scare you to death: a whole sentence long.
[System: You think this is writing a novel review? You expect me to join you just because your name is longer?]
"The Amorous Swordsman Li Hao. I've heard of you. What do you mean by blocking my blade and stealing my woman?" Tian Boguang saw Yi Lin behind Li Hao and flew into a rage.
He'd worked diligently as a womanizer for over a decade, never slacking off. This was the first time he'd come across such a perfect beauty. But fate was against him: first Linghu Chong had gotten in his way, and now someone had snatched her right from under his nose. Was that infuriating or what?
"Stealing your woman? I haven't even settled the score with you yet. You held my wife captive for days. You think I don't exist?"
"Yi Lin, come here. Which hand of his touched you?" Li Hao pulled Yi Lin into his arms and pointed his iron sword at Tian Boguang.
The system had just informed him that Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking had reached mastery. His overall combat strength was now enough to take on a Xiantian expert one-on-one. He had the means to establish himself now; there was no need to hide anymore.
Of course, his Villain Points for riding the dragon and collecting Yi Lin had also been completely used up.
"Both hands did, but he touched me through my clothes." Yi Lin looked at Li Hao with a pale face, twisting the hem of her clothes nervously.
Oh no. Would her husband despise her now? Yi Lin's heart pounded with anxiety.
"Even through your clothes, that's unforgivable. He touched you with both hands, so he can leave both hands behind!" Li Hao said, his eyes turning savage.
Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking burst into action as Li Hao unleashed all the frustration he'd built up over the past few days. Target: Tian Boguang.
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