Chapter 102: Famous Sword, Eternal Night
“You must be Xiao Hao?”
Standing outside the hall, besides Li Qianfeng, were also members of the third generation, including He Jianlan’s children.
Li Mingguang and Li Sibei were both around thirty-five years old.
In terms of age, they were significantly older than Li Hao and the others—almost double their age.
Both siblings had long been in the military, where they currently held general ranks and had achieved extraordinary cultivation levels. Li Mingguang had recently entered the first stage of the Three Immortals Realm, while his younger sister, Li Sibei, had been at the Heaven and Man Realm for many years.
In cultivation, these two were the most outstanding among the Li family’s third generation, far surpassing their peers.
The same was true for their military achievements.
After all, age was on their side.
However, He Jianlan had publicly declared in her early years that her children would not compete for the True Dragon Seat.
This statement, made publicly, carried great weight and naturally restricted them significantly.
Even if they had wanted to compete, Li Mingguang had only reached the Fifteen Li Realm at the age of eighteen and broke into the Heaven and Man Realm at twenty-five.
Now, ten years later, he had reached the Three Immortals Realm—a remarkable pace.
Yet, when compared to Li Qianfeng and Li Hao at the same age, he was far less accomplished.
At this moment, Li Mingguang was smiling as he scrutinized Li Hao.
Even before returning to Qingzhou, he had heard the name and held great expectations for this cousin he had never met.
Such dazzling talent had already surpassed that of their Ninth Uncle from back then.
Li Mingguang and his sister, Li Sibei, were born early enough to grow up alongside their Ninth Uncle as children. In fact, Li Mingguang was even a bit older than his Ninth Uncle.
However...
Generational hierarchies were strict. Even when facing his Ninth Uncle, who was two years younger, Li Mingguang had to bow his head respectfully and address him as "Uncle."
Apart from the rigid rules of the Li family, he did so willingly. As a child, he had trained and played alongside his Ninth Uncle, who later surpassed all others in cultivation.
Year after year, their Ninth Uncle shocked everyone at the estate, like a brilliant meteor streaking across the sky.
But, alas, the heavens envy extraordinary talent.
Fourteen years ago, when their Ninth Uncle fell, Li Mingguang was stationed at a distant border outpost. He marked the event by drinking an entire pot of wine alone.
Drinking in the army was a serious offense, but he did it anyway.
Afterward, he voluntarily submitted to punishment, receiving one hundred lashes. His back was flayed open, leaving his flesh mangled and bloody.
Even so, he didn’t flinch or knit his brows but instead smiled.
Later, however, in the solitude of his tent, he cried uncontrollably.
“Cousin.”
Li Hao nodded in greeting to Li Mingguang.
“I can’t even discern your cultivation level,” Li Mingguang said with a smile. “It seems you’ve been practicing some technique to conceal your aura.”
Li Hao responded with a faint smile.
Li Mingguang then turned to Li Qianfeng. Compared to Li Hao’s breezy demeanor, Li Qianfeng resembled a half-drawn sharp sword. Though restrained, he exuded a chilling edge, and his aura was immensely profound, far surpassing that of an ordinary Fifteen Li Realm cultivator.
Seeing the accomplishments of both younger cousins, Li Mingguang’s eyes showed a trace of relief.
“This time, I’ve returned to see you both compete for the True Dragon Seat. Neither your elder sister nor I will participate. Compared to you, we lack the qualifications. The future depends on you.”
Li Qianfeng nodded slightly. “Cousin, rest assured.”
Li Hao glanced at Li Mingguang, thinking that this cousin’s temperament bore some resemblance to his mother, He Jianlan.
Aside from his talent, his natural demeanor as an elder brother made him, in Li Hao’s view, quite suitable to be the head of the family.
“However, while you compete, don’t let it breed resentment or grudges,” Li Sibei interjected.
She and her brother had changed out of their military attire, now wearing elegant clothes. Yet their years of military service gave them a commanding presence, with straight postures and a sharpness uncommon in ordinary women.
“Elder Sister is right,” Li Hao said with a smile, nodding.
Li Qianfeng also nodded, his expression calm.
Seeing their agreement, Li Sibei smiled slightly, glancing past them to greet Li Wushuang and the others with a nod. She refrained from saying more, as it wasn’t the right time for lengthy conversations.
Before long, the elders who had been paying respects to their grandmother summoned the third generation into the hall.
Led by Li Mingguang, the group followed suit. Upon entering, they saw their grandmother, Chen Hefang, seated at the head of the hall. The elders and the mistresses of the various courtyards were seated on either side, while the concubines stood obediently behind them.
Li Mingguang, with his broad and sturdy frame, knelt in the center of the hall to pay his respects.
The others followed suit, kneeling in unison.
“You may all rise,” Chen Hefang said with a gentle smile.
As the group stood, Li Hao raised his head to observe his grandmother. Her hair was snow-white, neatly combed like strands of silver. Though aged, her complexion was smooth and rosy, free of liver spots, giving her an air of cleanliness and vitality.
Despite her advanced age, traces of her youthful beauty could still be seen. Though the years had aged her, her elegant bone structure remained refined.
As Li Hao studied her, Chen Hefang also examined her grandchildren.
She was most familiar with Li Mingguang, having held him as a child and watched him play at Qinglian Courtyard alongside Junye.
However, after the successive deaths of her eldest and third sons, followed by the untimely demise of her sixth and ninth sons, her hair turned white overnight. She entrusted the household affairs to her eldest daughter-in-law, He Jianlan, and retreated to Wuyou Mountain to pray for the return of Junye’s spirit.
Thinking of her sixth and ninth sons, Chen Hefang’s eyes grew sorrowful.
Countless nights over the years, she had dreamed of them running toward her as they did in their childhood—full of energy, vibrant and spirited, calling out, “Mother, Mother...”
Those two children had such hard lives. One left behind only a single son, while the other had not yet married.
They had endured grueling cultivation from a young age, yet had never experienced the splendors of the mortal world. Instead, they perished in distant battlefields.
“Mingguang, come closer and let Grandmother take a look at you.”
Chen Hefang quickly concealed her emotions, smiling warmly as she spoke.
Li Mingguang, seeing his grandmother’s white hair, felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He stepped forward and bent his tall and straight frame down in deference.
“At the border, do not be reckless in pursuit of glory,” Chen Hefang said softly, resting a hand on her grandson’s shoulder. “Our Li family already has enough accolades and prestige. I only hope you all live well.”
Her words brought tears to the eyes of many seated mistresses.
Jiang Xian’er, sitting at the far end, felt her eyes welling up. She subtly turned her head away.
These young men still stood here today, but how many of their fathers—those brilliant young men of the past—had returned?
Those bright and ambitious youths were now the fathers of these children and had been the husbands of these women.
Li Mingguang trembled slightly, nodding firmly. “Grandson understands.”
Chen Hefang’s gaze softened as she called Li Sibei forward. She studied the once-little girl, now a bold and heroic young woman. It was often said that daughters took after their fathers, and Li Sibei’s brows and features bore a striking resemblance to her father, Li Xingbei.
The more Chen Hefang looked, the more she liked what she saw. She couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
Afterward, her gaze shifted to the other grandchildren. As her eyes swept across their faces, she saw young and spirited expressions, already hinting at maturity and valor.
Although it was her first time meeting most of them, she found traces of familiarity in their features.
“Which one of you is Hao’er?”
Her gentle voice prompted Li Hao to step forward, slightly hesitant. “Grandson is here. Greetings, Grandmother.”
Chen Hefang carefully studied Li Hao before motioning with a smile. “Come closer and let Grandmother take a good look at you.”
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Li Hao obediently stepped forward and stood before her.
Chen Hefang examined him closely, then sighed lightly. “You resemble your mother so much!”
Li Hao’s expression flickered slightly, but he remained silent.
“It’s our first meeting, and Grandmother has little to offer you,” Chen Hefang said, her smile deepening. “I’ve heard you like to use swords. I’ll give you one.”
As she spoke, she gestured to a servant, who approached carrying a sword case.
Upon seeing the case, Li Tiangang immediately stood up. “Mother, this... this is Ninth Brother’s...”
Jiang Xian’er’s expression also sharpened slightly.
“Yes, it’s the sword your Ninth Brother once wielded—Eternal Night!”
Chen Hefang lovingly stroked the sword case and gazed at Li Hao with affection. “This sword is one of the Ten Great Famous Swords in the world. I’ve heard you use swords as well, so I’m entrusting it to you. Don’t let such a famed sword collect dust.”
Li Hao’s heart trembled. One of the Ten Great Famous Swords, it was a blade capable of slaying Fourth Realm Great Demons. Its edge was incomparably sharp.
Moreover, this sword contained a unique power, though it required sufficient cultivation to unlock its full potential.
For now, in his hands, it could only cut souls and dispel evil spirits—but even that was already significant.
“Thank you, Grandmother,” Li Hao said softly as he accepted it.
Though his voice was quiet, Chen Hefang could hear the solemnity in his tone. She smiled warmly.
The others remained silent. The sword had been sealed away for years, and now it was given to Li Hao. This demonstrated Chen Hefang’s fondness for her newly met grandson.
It was clear, however, that she also saw the shadow of Li Junye in him—radiant and dazzling.
Among the crowd, Li Qianfeng’s eyes darkened briefly, though he said nothing.
Liu Yurong wore a faint smile, but it seemed somewhat strained. However, with everyone’s attention on Li Hao and the black sword case, no one noticed her reaction.
After handing the sword case to Li Hao, Chen Hefang called Li Qianfeng forward.
“I’ve heard you’ve been cultivating at Boundless Mountain. I have three rare Buddhist scriptures here; I’ll give them to you.”
Li Qianfeng’s expression became slightly unnatural.
A famed sword for Li Hao, but Buddhist scriptures for him?
Still, he dared not show his displeasure. He bowed his head and said, “Thank you, Grandmother.”
Chen Hefang smiled. “Within these scriptures is a supreme Buddhist technique—the Great Compassion Hand. If you can master it, the technique’s power will not only enhance your martial skills but also greatly aid your future pursuit of the Sword Dao.”
Li Qianfeng was momentarily stunned but then showed a look of joy. “Thank you, Grandmother!”
Chen Hefang waved her hand, signaling for Li Qianfeng and Li Hao to step aside. She then called up the other grandchildren one by one, distributing meeting gifts. Though there were differences in value, the gap was not too wide.
When the meeting ended, the group gradually dispersed from Qinglian Courtyard.
However, Chen Hefang held back He Jianlan and a few other mistresses, seemingly to inquire about the estate’s affairs in recent years. She also asked Liu Yurong to notify the Fourth Realm Bodhisattva, who had recently arrived from Boundless Mountain, to come for an audience.
...
...
Time passed swiftly.
With the matriarch’s reemergence, Qingzhou City grew livelier.
Before long, the day of the True Dragon selection arrived.
The entrance to the Divine General Mansion was crowded with people, and the streets were packed. Numerous carriages arrived, carrying dignitaries and nobles. Many civil officials and military officers had come from all over the Nineteen Provinces of Great Yu to offer congratulations.
Such an event had not been seen in over a decade, and the atmosphere was as bustling as ever.
The threshold of the Divine General Mansion was nearly worn down by the influx of visitors.
Members of the Liu family began arriving one after another.
As an influential clan in an external province, the Liu family had prospered over the years due to Liu Yurong’s marriage into the Divine General Mansion. They had gained significant momentum, with rapid advancements in their political standings.
The Liu family was dominated by civil officials, with several ancestors having been top scholars. Many currently held high-ranking positions in the court.
In addition to the Liu family, other nobles, including counts and marquises, came to lend their support and demonstrate their connections to Li Qianfeng.
From the other four Divine General Mansions, representatives also arrived. However, they remained neutral, appearing to observe the strength of the Li family’s True Dragon contenders rather than openly supporting anyone.
The courtyard buzzed with noise and activity.
Inside the courtyard, however, Li Hao reclined on a lounge chair, basking in the sunlight.
Before long, Bian Ruxue came running back into the courtyard, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow, lifting the poetry book covering his face to shield against the sun. Turning his head, he saw a familiar figure.
With snow-white hair and a frame as solid as a sword, the man leading the group behind Bian Ruxue was none other than the Sword Saint, Jian Wudao.