The beginning of hiding his talents

Splash!

In the rear courtyard of the Li residence, something hit the water, sending spray more than ten feet into the air.

"Oh, the eleventh time."

By the lake, Zhang Lata sat gloating, drinking and making sarcastic remarks.

"Old Man Zhang, that mouth of yours really is annoying."

Li Ziye clambered ashore in a sorry state and lay on the ground, panting. "Why hasn't Old Qin come back yet? It's been almost ten days."

"Perhaps things aren't going smoothly."

Zhang Lata sighed softly. "The Imperial Academy is the Head of the Confucians' territory. Who under heaven could take anything from his hands?"

"I've heard you mention this Head of the Confucians more than once. Is he that powerful?"

Li Ziye was puzzled. Of everyone he had met, the strongest were this Old Man Zhang and his fairy master. He actually knew little about other experts.

"Powerful hardly covers it."

Zhang Lata said with feeling, "Within Great Shang's capital, the Head of the Confucians is the strongest man under heaven."

"That powerful?" Li Ziye asked in surprise.

"The Head of the Confucians has never been defeated in Great Shang's capital because it is where Confucian scholars from across the world gather, making its Fortune abundant. As the teacher of all Confucian scholars under heaven, he can draw upon the Confucian School's Fortune. No one can match him," Zhang Lata explained.

"What is Fortune?" Li Ziye asked in confusion.

"Something intangible and elusive."

Zhang Lata thought for a moment, then said, "Like this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, you can neither see nor touch it, yet it truly exists. Only someone who has reached the Head of the Confucians' level can draw upon the power of this Fortune. Ordinary people cannot."

"Not even you and Old Qin?" Li Ziye asked in astonishment.

"No."

Zhang Lata said calmly, "Our realms aren't high enough."

"Aren't you both already sword immortals? Is there a realm even higher than a sword immortal?" Li Ziye asked, puzzled.

"Yes."

Zhang Lata said calmly, "The human body has five internal organs, corresponding to a cultivator's five Five Divine Treasures. Opening each Divine Repository brings you into an entirely new realm. Thus, the path of cultivation actually has five realms in total. Qin Enuo and I have both opened our fifth Divine Repository, making us Fifth Realm martial artists. As for the title of sword immortal, it is merely what ordinary people call us."

Here, Zhang Lata paused before continuing, "According to legend, above the Fifth Realm lies an even higher realm. The five organs refine five kinds of Qi. Great cultivators who reach this step refine the five kinds of Qi and gather the three flowers. Upon attaining mastery, they ascend amid radiant clouds, rising from mortals to immortals."

"Why does that sound like such bullshit?"

Li Ziye asked in shock, "People really ascend and become immortals?"

"I've never seen it."

Zhang Lata said indifferently, "Actually, I think it's bullshit too. Just listen and leave it at that. Over the past thousand years, only the Head of the Confucians might have touched the realm above the Fifth Realm."

"Then wouldn't that make the Head of the Confucians invincible under heaven?" Li Ziye clicked his tongue.

"At least within Great Shang's capital, the Head of the Confucians is unmatched."

Zhang Lata nodded. "However, the Head of the Confucians rarely leaves the capital. Whether his true realm has surpassed the Fifth Realm, or how far beyond it he has gone, no one knows."

"What about the first Sword God from a thousand years ago?" Li Ziye seemed to remember something and asked.

"His realm was probably about the same as the Head of the Confucians'."

Zhang Lata thought for a moment. "Too much time has passed. No one can be certain."

"How enviable."

Li Ziye sighed, then could not help asking with some concern, "If the Head of the Confucians is that powerful, could something happen to Old Qin?"

"That won't happen."

Zhang Lata shook his head. "The Head of the Confucians isn't bloodthirsty. Besides, with Qin Enuo's strength, even if she cannot defeat him, she should be able to get away."

"Young master."

Just as the two finished speaking, a servant hurried in from outside the rear courtyard and said urgently, "A letter from the capital."

At this, surprise crossed Li Ziye's face, and he reached out to take the letter.

Very soon, however, Li Ziye's expression darkened, and a fierce chill filled his eyes.

"What happened?"

Seeing this, Zhang Lata sensed something was wrong. In all his time at the Li residence, this was the first time he had seen the boy so furious.

"Something has happened to Sister Youwei."

Li Ziye stood and said gravely, "Old Zhang, I need to go to Great Shang's capital."

What had to come had finally come. There was no escaping it.

"Now?" Zhang Lata asked in surprise.

"Now."

Li Ziye nodded, then turned and headed toward the study.

His father should have received the news too.

In the study, Li Baiwan sat with a dark expression. His usually smiling face was now filled with murderous intent.

With a bang, Li Ziye pushed open the door and entered the study. "Old Li, I'm going to the capital."

"All right."

Li Baiwan did not stop him. He said gravely, "Be careful in everything you do once you reach the capital. Remember, no matter what you do, the Li Family will always be your staunchest support."

"Understood."

Li Ziye answered and was about to leave when he was called back.

"Son!"

Li Baiwan called to him and asked, "Are you going to keep hiding?"

"Of course."

Li Ziye stopped and said calmly, "On this trip to the capital, the Li Family's legitimate son will begin to give himself away. Not only is he no genius as the world claims, he is merely a conceited son of a wealthy merchant, with a few obvious little tricks, but mostly just someone who thinks himself clever. He has no strength, yet stirs up trouble everywhere. People always feel a sense of achievement when they see through a lie. Only when they uncover the true face of the Li Family's legitimate son themselves will they believe it without a doubt."

Here, Li Ziye paused before continuing, "That way, no matter how far out of line I act, certain people won't feel threatened. Instead, they will be even more tolerant. What could a genius built on empty boasts ever amount to?"

After hearing his son's words, Li Baiwan fell silent. A moment later, he nodded. "We'll do as you say!"

Ever since Junsheng had left, Little Ziye had clearly become more cautious in how he handled things.

Nearly ten years had passed, yet there was still no news at all of Little Ziye and the others' second uncle.

At this thought, Li Baiwan opened his mouth and said, "Son, your second uncle..."

"Don't mention him!"

Li Ziye's expression turned cold, and he turned to leave.

An hour later, carriages gathered before the Li residence.

Apart from Li Ziye's carriage at the very front, every carriage behind it was loaded with potent medicinal herbs, gold, silver, and jewels.

Of course, there was also a carriage filled with fine wine.

It had been prepared for Zhang Lata.

"This old man was born to toil his whole life."

Watching jar after jar of fine wine being loaded onto the carriage, Zhang Lata sighed, looking thoroughly displeased.

"Old Zhang, there's even more fine wine in the capital. As long as you want to drink it, I'll buy it all for you," Li Ziye solemnly promised before the carriage.

"At least you brat have a conscience." Zhang Lata sighed, then climbed into the carriage.

Li Ziye followed him aboard. The convoy set off at once, making its way in grand procession toward the outskirts of Yuzhou City.

Li Baiwan stood before the Li residence, watching the departing convoy with an exceedingly complicated expression.

Both he and Little Ziye knew the dangers of the capital, but under the present circumstances, they could no longer simply endure everything.

Others had already raised their palms to their faces. Were they supposed to do nothing and offer their cheeks to be slapped?

The Li residence did not want trouble, but neither did it fear trouble.

Half a day later, outside Yuzhou City, the convoy rumbled along. Inside the foremost carriage, the two sat facing each other, neither speaking.

Zhang Lata continued drinking by himself. He was making this trip solely to protect the boy. Anything else was none of his concern.

With his eyes closed, Li Ziye used the spare time on the road to continue practicing the Flying Immortal Formula's internal cultivation method.

Half a month had passed since he opened his first Divine Repository, yet he remained at the early stage of the First Realm, still far from breaking through to the middle stage.

The carriages rumbled, dust billowing behind the convoy. Everyone traveling with them now was a trusted member of the Li residence. Even the most ordinary maid had to have a spotless background, secretly investigated by the Li residence down to the last detail.

Although Li Ziye had always resisted going to the capital, he was not entirely unprepared.

He did not want to go, but all along, he had still been making preparations for this day.

In the sky, the blazing sun traveled west. The setting sun sank behind the mountains, and night approached.

The convoy stopped and made camp on the spot.

Among the party, a dozen or so men took turns patrolling, alert to any unexpected incident.

The wilderness was cold at night, and bonfires were lit throughout the camp for warmth.

Li Ziye sat before a bonfire, watching the dancing flames in silence.

Zhang Lata tossed him a jar of wine. "Have a drink to ward off the cold."

"Thanks."

Li Ziye caught the wine and tilted his head back for a drink, his left hand clenched tightly, a cold glint flashing through his eyes from time to time.

"Once we reach the capital, you'll have to be more careful about how you act. Crouching tigers and hidden dragons lurk there. It's not like Yuzhou City, where you can do as you please," Zhang Lata reminded him.

"I know."

Li Ziye took another drink, feeling the fiery warmth in his belly. "Good wine."

"Monkey wine."

Zhang Lata said calmly, "Drink sparingly. I don't have much either."

"To think you were hiding something this good."

Li Ziye tipped his head back for another mouthful, then wiped his mouth and tossed the remaining wine back. "No more. I still need to practice my swordsmanship later."

"Actually, you don't need to be in such a hurry."

Zhang Lata reminded him, "Everything needs moderation. Going too far is as bad as falling short. If you train too hard, your body might not be able to bear it."

"I understand. I'll be careful."

Li Ziye nodded. "Old Zhang, with my current cultivation, what chance would I have against a martial artist at the Third Prince's level if we fought again?"

"None whatsoever."

Zhang Lata answered truthfully, "That Third Prince has already opened his second Divine Repository. He is an entire major realm above you. On the martial path, each realm is a separate heaven. The chances of defying the divide and slaying an immortal above your realm are extremely slim."

Here, Zhang Lata paused briefly before continuing, "You started relatively late, and talent isn't your advantage either. It's only natural that you lag behind the Third Prince and the others. Take it slowly. As long as you can master the Flying Immortal Formula, your future martial attainments will not fall short of anyone's."

"I'm afraid I can't wait that long. Enough talk. Time to practice."

Li Ziye spoke softly, then picked up the Pure Jun Sword beside him and continued practicing the second move of the Flying Immortal Art.

Before the bonfire, Zhang Lata watched the youth practicing his swordsmanship in the wilderness, a peculiar glimmer passing through his world-weary eyes.

Going to the capital now was indeed a little premature.

Still, he had high hopes for this boy.

Because this fellow was ruthless enough-not just toward others, but even more so toward himself.

To put it bluntly, the boy was a madman.

Boom!

In the wilderness, sword light tore through the air, and a boulder shattered with the sound. The youth wielded his sword, improving bit by bit, slowly but visibly.

At dawn, Li Ziye was so exhausted he could barely move. Yet he forced himself to endure his fatigue and sat cross-legged, seizing the moment when day and night changed places and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was richest to practice the Flying Immortal Formula's internal cultivation method.

An hour later, everyone had packed their belongings and was ready to depart.

Li Ziye slowly opened his eyes and gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, clearly sensing that the sea of True Essence within the Divine Repository in his chest had grown considerably compared to before.

"It seems that when practicing the Flying Immortal Art, the more exhausted I am, when my Qi is empty and my strength spent, the better the results."

Li Ziye clenched his fists. If that was the case, he still was not ruthless enough with himself.

"Madman."

Zhang Lata shook his head helplessly, then bent down and entered the carriage.

Had he been half as diligent as this boy back then, he would not have lost that contest to the charlatan from the Western Regions.

Not far away, Li Ziye strode over. Before boarding the carriage, he glanced east, a cold gleam flashing through his eyes.

Sister Youwei, I'm coming.

The Li Family's people aren't for others to bully as they please!