"Of course."
Li Yuanzhao frowned and said, "Do you think I can't do it on my own? Why don't we go back and have another match? Last time, we didn't settle the score!"
Li Yun snorted coldly. His recent sparring sessions with Li Yuanzhao had been nearly even, with neither of them clearly ahead. However, considering their ages, he was slightly behind. After all, Li Yuanzhao was a year younger than him.
In terms of their physical talent, he was also at a disadvantage. He was at the seventh level, while his sister and Li Yuanzhao were both at the eighth level. So, his words weren't really aimed at Li Yuanzhao but rather at that guy who had made him so angry later on.
Thinking about how he had once been beaten badly by a useless person made him particularly furious. Thankfully, only the heavens and the earth knew about it, along with him and Li Hao.
Every time he saw Li Hao over the years, he felt his teeth clench with anger. If it weren't for the fact that Li Hao was always accompanied by the Second Master and the Fifth Master, he would have taken the chance to get revenge.
Seeing Li Yun cast a cold glance at Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao, though younger, wasn't foolish. After spending years with Li Hao and hearing all sorts of strange stories, he had matured a bit more than his peers, even if he couldn't fully understand everything yet.
That's why he picked up on Li Yun's meaning right away and intentionally shifted the focus onto himself. Noticing that Li Yun only dared to make veiled jabs, he didn't want to push it further, so he smiled at Li Hao and said, "Brother Hao, I heard that Sister Xue'er will be back in a year."
"Yeah," Li Hao replied with a slight smile.
"I heard from my master that in the Sword Cottage, you need to be at least at the Spirit Travel stage to come down the mountain. Could it be that Sister Xue'er will break through to the Spirit Travel stage next year?" Li Yuanzhao asked curiously.
The Spirit Travel stage was for fourth-level experts, capable of going deep into dangerous places to fight monsters. They could carve a bloody path even at the borders and serve as lieutenants in the army, just below generals!
It's important to note that next year, Bian Ruxue would only be fifteen years old. That kind of progress would place her among the top talents even among those at the ninth level.
Most of the famous figures out there were at the ninth level, which was just the starting point for top geniuses. The limits of their physical talent were just the beginning!
The opportunities, hard work, and understanding that followed would only widen that gap.
Nearby, when Li Yun heard "Sister Xue'er," his ears perked up, and he couldn't help but glance over at Li Hao.
The seed of feelings that had sprouted in his heart as a child seemed to be stirring again. However, thinking about the Spirit Travel stage made the young man's expression darken a bit. Now that he understood the differences in cultivation, he realized how far away that goal was.
"That's right," Li Hao nodded. The Spirit Travel stage was indeed a guarantee of safety in the martial world.
He glanced at a shadow not far away with a complicated expression, feeling a mix of amusement and annoyance at that guy who had been too long without a proper lesson.
"Fifteen years old at the Spirit Travel stage is really impressive. If she comes to the Tanshan Academy, the academy head will probably come out to greet her personally and take her in as a disciple," Li Yuanzhao couldn't help but exclaim.
The three of them had only reached the perfect stage of the Zhou Tian realm and were still a bit away from the next stage. They had come to the Tanshan Academy hoping to find an ancient hero to guide them.
This was their mother's instruction, but they didn't know the specifics.
"Her master is the Sword Saint, so it's not comparable," Li Hao reassured them.
In truth, these guys were also talented. The reason they hadn't joined a famous mountain was that it seemed there was an unspoken rule among the direct descendants of the Li family. They could join famous mountains, but only if they became direct disciples of a top master like the Sword Saint.
Otherwise, they would stay in the family to train until they were strong enough to join major powers and showcase the Li family's prestige among the younger generation.
This kind of requirement was only for the direct descendants. The branch family members were different; once they had a solid foundation, they had already joined many famous mountains and teachers, making the Li family name known in various forces.
Even without the main lineage, the branch family members had already become young leaders in many second- and third-tier forces.
This also gave the Li family significant prestige in the martial world, not just limited to the military camps at the borders.
"That's true," Li Yuanzhao sighed. Being taught by a Sword Saint-level master was something to envy. At the very least, you needed to start with the ninth-level physical talent; that was the minimum requirement.
At this moment, a large carriage, as big as a house, rolled down the street, led by a fierce-looking beast. In Qingzhou City, everyone knew this was the vehicle of the Divine General's Mansion.
Pedestrians quickly stepped aside, pointing and whispering. It was clear that this carriage was carrying the true heirs of the Li family, heading to the Tanshan Academy for training.
Those martial heroes and young masters from various states who had rushed here felt restless at the aura emitted by the beast and stopped in their tracks. Some were so frightened that they ran to the side of the road, not daring to block the way, while the coachman struggled to pull the reins.
The authority of the Divine General's Mansion was fully displayed at that moment.
Before long, the carriage came to a stop, and the driver announced in a loud voice that they had arrived at the Tanshan Academy.
The Tanshan Academy was not far from the Divine General's Mansion, making them neighbors.
Once the carriage halted, the expressions of Li Yuanzhao and the other two became slightly serious. Although they were also talented, they usually trained in the mansion and had never truly shown themselves in front of outsiders. Being young, it was natural for them to feel a bit nervous.
Li Hao, however, didn't feel much. Once the carriage stopped, he casually stood up and lifted the curtain.
Light streamed in, and at the same time, a cacophony of lively sounds rushed in, filling the carriage as if he had just opened a window to a bustling world!
The three inside snapped back to reality, seeing Li Hao standing calmly at the carriage door, quietly looking around with his usual faint smile, appearing at ease.
Li Zhining's eyes narrowed slightly, as if memories from the past were surfacing, but she quickly regained her composure, and the moment passed.
When all three stood outside the carriage, they were greeted by a lively scene.
The vast square was filled with people, bustling with activity. Most were young boys and girls carrying swords, knives, and spears, full of energy.
Among the crowd, some young nobles dressed in fine clothes were surrounded by attendants, creating a barrier around them.
There were also young ladies in elegant dresses, with graceful maids holding umbrellas to shield them from the sun, standing out prominently among the crowd.
Everywhere you looked, there were young martial artists packed tightly together.
At that moment, the few people standing on the carriage became the center of attention for everyone.
After all, the Divine General's carriage was too eye-catching.
According to the rules of Dayu, a dragon vein could pull a carriage for an emperor with up to nine heads, for a prince with seven heads, and only marquises and officials at the fifth rank could use five-headed dragons. Others, including scholars and noble families, could only use three or two-headed dragons.
Commoners and wealthy merchants without titles could only use a single beast for their carriage and were not allowed to use any dragon vein beasts.
Although Li Hao and the others had no titles, as the son of a marquis, they could still enjoy the glory of their father.
"Is that the Divine General's Mansion?"
"The Li family of Qingzhou City, the thousand-year-old Divine General's Mansion, really has a grand presence!"
"Another four spots gone. I heard the Tanshan Academy has limited spots. How frustrating!"
"Hmph, I, Lin Yan, will definitely lead my Liu Zhou Lin family to rise and compete with the world!"
"I heard there's a useless person from the Li family this generation. I wonder if he has come?"
The thousand-year glory made countless people envious and jealous, igniting the ambitions and drive of many young people. Among the noise, there was a sense of eagerness to try.
Li Yun, Li Yuanzhao, and Li Zhining's faces were tense. Although they appeared strong and calm on the surface, their fingers were already sweating, revealing their inner nervousness.
It felt as if those gazes could burn them. Li Yun couldn't stay any longer. With a cold expression, he said, "Let's go first."
He took his sister Li Zhining and jumped off the carriage. Amid Ming Bo's "Young Master, take care," they moved into the crowd like tigers in a forest.
People around them unconsciously stepped aside, not respecting the youth but the surname behind him.
"Brother Hao, let's go too," Li Yuanzhao swallowed hard and said to Li Hao.
Li Hao, however, slightly raised his toes, looked around, and sniffed lightly. Soon, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Let's go!"
After saying that, he jumped off the carriage, and the people around hurriedly made way, not daring to block the path of the young man in fine clothes.
Li Yuanzhao quickly followed, but after a few steps, he grabbed Li Hao's sleeve and said, "Brother Hao, aren't we going the wrong way? The Tanshan Academy isn't that way."
"I know," Li Hao replied without looking back. "But there's food ahead."
Fame can wait, but food comes first!
(End of Chapter)