Chapter 42: A Sword That Brings Snow
At the edge of the cliff, besides Li Hao and his companions, many others lingered, occasionally glancing around.
Clearly, falling from this height meant certain death, their bodies shattered to pieces. The perilous nature of this place made many hesitate.
Yet, on the iron chains spanning the cliff, seven or eight figures displayed their various skills, cautiously advancing.
Some moved with calm composure, walking steadily on the swaying chains as though navigating ocean waves. It did not affect them in the slightest, their feet seemingly glued to the chains.
Others stretched their arms wide to maintain balance, carefully testing each step.
Still, others chose a less graceful but exceptionally stable approach—clinging to the chains and inching forward like silkworms.
If the test were merely to cross the chains, nearly everyone present could manage. However, this trial was undeniably about testing courage.
Suspended high above the ground, who wouldn’t feel their legs tremble?
“If you lack even this bit of courage, how could you ever face demons?”
Among the seven who had already passed the trial, a young man clad in luxurious attire bore a cold expression. He stepped forward, leaping gracefully onto the chain and landing without a wobble.
Clearly, he had chosen a method that emphasized elegance, walking across with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of tranquility and ease.
The young man’s actions immediately drew the attention of many onlookers, their faces showing surprise. Soon, someone recognized his identity.
“The cloud-pattern embroidery on his cuffs—he’s from the Su family of Yunzhou!”
“The Su family? One of the three great families of Yunzhou, known for their profound foundation.”
“No wonder this kid is so bold. The Su family’s territory borders regions plagued by frequent demon activity; he’s probably been tempered by experience.”
The crowd buzzed with chatter. Those who had been hesitant showed expressions of inner struggle.
“Hao-ge, let’s go too.”
Seeing someone take the lead, Li Yuanzhao felt slightly unsettled and urged Li Hao.
Li Hao scanned the area near the cliff but didn’t see anyone from Tangong Academy, a faint trace of doubt crossing his heart.
Logically, Tangong Academy should have sent people to receive them here. Otherwise, what was the point of the invitation?
“Alright.”
Unable to wait any longer, Li Hao finally agreed to Li Yuanzhao’s suggestion.
“Hmph, there’s no way to cut corners on this trial.”
Si Xiaolan sneered at Li Hao. Clearly, she was still upset about how he had relied on his background to breeze through the first trial, finding it unfair.
“Is that so?”
Li Hao looked at the girl with mild surprise. That she dared mock him suggested she was unaware of his background. Still, he decided not to bicker with her.
“You know, there’s a saying...”
Li Hao pondered briefly before replying, “Little girl, when traveling, it’s not about fists or just having someone backing you up.”
“Huh?”
Si Xiaolan frowned. His words sounded oddly familiar.
“That’s because just having someone backing you isn’t enough—you also need someone ahead of you!”
Li Hao chuckled lightly, then raised his head with a composed air, muttering softly:
“Yuanzhao, come.”
“Hao-ge, do you want me to carry you?”
Li Yuanzhao immediately understood. He’d heard from the elders in their household that Li Hao’s aptitude was subpar, relying solely on body refinement. Since he’d never seen Hao-ge display martial skill, this idea had long been on his mind. He wouldn’t let Hao-ge lose face.
Li Hao smiled faintly and patted him on the shoulder.
Catching on, Li Yuanzhao bent down.
Without hesitation, Li Hao leaped onto his back, then waved at the dumbfounded Si Xiaolan.
“See you on the other side.”
Before the words even settled, Li Yuanzhao took off. With a single leap, he covered dozens of meters and landed on the chain.
The chain swayed violently, yet with Li Hao on his back, Li Yuanzhao kept his footing as if glued to the chain. Without waiting for the chain to stabilize, he began sprinting across, as though running on solid ground.
With his Zhoutian Realm perfected and his years of training at the martial field, this trial was a trifling matter for him.
Seeing the figure speeding across the chain, everyone at the cliff edge, save for Si Xiaolan, was wide-eyed. They’d seen people show off before but never so recklessly. It was as if he were running on flat ground!
And he was carrying someone!
When they noticed the distinctive attire of the two, sharp-eyed individuals recognized them as members of Qingzhou’s premier family. They were instantly enlightened but couldn’t help feeling a bit shaken. Rumors often fell short of reality, yet today the truth exceeded the tales.
Soon, the luxuriously dressed Su family youth, who had taken the lead, was overtaken by the sprinting Li Yuanzhao.
The former, who had been strolling leisurely with hands clasped behind his back, maintained his composed demeanor. But as the wind rushed past, his face betrayed a moment of astonishment...
Before long, Li Yuanzhao reached the other side.
The chain, spanning a thousand meters, connected two mountain peaks shrouded in white mist.
Li Yuanzhao’s rapid movements dispersed much of the mist. Upon reaching the other side, he leaped onto solid ground, immediately drawing attention from those nearby.
Li Hao jumped off his back, patting Li Yuanzhao’s shoulder as he surveyed the area.
Clearly, they weren’t among the earliest arrivals, as several others who had cleared the earlier trials were already gathered here.
In front of these "candidates" stood youths dressed in the uniform robes of Tangong Academy. Around seventeen or eighteen years old, they wore black-and-white robes that gave them a refined and otherworldly appearance.
Of course, the elegance was only apparent when the robes were worn by someone with a good physique. For others with more ordinary appearances, the robes were less flattering...
“Who is that? So impressive!”
“Ran across with someone on his back?!”
“One’s daring to carry, and the other’s daring to be carried!”
“Shh! Careful. They’re from the Divine General Mansion’s Li family…”
The surrounding crowd of onlookers whispered among themselves.
Li Yuanzhao stepped forward and addressed a youth from Tangong Academy, asking, “Is there another trial here?”
“Indeed. This is the final trial.”
The youth clearly recognized Li Yuanzhao’s identity. After all, having spent several years training in Qingzhou City near the Divine General Mansion, it was hard not to know who he was.
“To pass this trial, you must survive a single exchange against one of us.”
If the first trial tested fundamental skills and the second tested courage, the third trial seemed designed to intimidate newcomers.
Li Yuanzhao’s small eyes gleamed with eagerness as he clasped his fists in salute. “Please enlighten me!”
He then stepped back several paces, assuming a martial stance.
“You may choose a weapon,” the youth reminded him with a faint smile.
“It’s just one exchange; I won’t need one,” Li Yuanzhao replied.
The youth’s gaze flickered slightly, feeling a touch of disrespect. However, recalling the reputation of the Li family’s prodigies, he decided not to take offense and instead grew curious about testing him.
He discarded his sword and advanced with his fists.
The youth’s punch carried the momentum of a fierce tiger pouncing or a wolf lunging, his attack swift and powerful.
Li Yuanzhao, however, shifted his footing smoothly, dodging like a loach slipping through a crevice. Then, with a sudden turn, he countered with a punch of his own.
Bang!
The two fists collided with a resounding impact. The youth staggered three steps back, while Li Yuanzhao merely sank his stance to steady himself.
The youth’s face was filled with surprise. While he hadn’t used his full strength, that punch still carried a force of over ten thousand catties—equivalent to the power of a typical third stage of the Zhoutian Realm.
This surpassed the entry-level requirements for the trial, which only demanded the Tongli Realm's completion. Yet, he had almost been overwhelmed by Li Yuanzhao’s strength!
“At least the fifth stage of the Zhoutian Realm, maybe even the seventh or eighth! Or perhaps he’s trained in top-tier energy circulation techniques or meridian-clearing methods!”
The youth’s expression grew serious. Clearly, the rumors were true—the Li family’s scions were indeed extraordinary, nurtured with abundant resources far surpassing their peers.
The onlookers, witnessing the youth being forced back in a single exchange, were equally stunned. They stared at Li Yuanzhao as if he were a monster—was this the legendary genius of the Divine General Mansion?
...
The chain swayed again as several figures leaped to the other side. Among them were the Su family youth from Yunzhou, Si Xiaolan, and others.
The Tangong Academy students quickly explained the trial rules to the newcomers. Upon hearing the requirements, their expressions turned grim.
After all, while they might qualify as geniuses to enter Tangong Academy, their opponents were individuals who had already trained there for years. Facing these seasoned students, even surviving one exchange seemed daunting.
Si Xiaolan glanced at Li Hao and, seeing that he was still present, felt both annoyed and resigned. She knew he had an invitation, which meant he would likely bypass this trial altogether.
Compared to those who had to endure every hardship, his journey seemed unfairly smooth—such was the disparity brought by birth.
“It’s your turn.”
A burly Tangong Academy student addressed Li Hao.
Li Hao smiled faintly. As Si Xiaolan’s expression screamed "I knew it," he pulled out the invitation. “I have an invitation.”
He had no intention of wasting energy bullying people like Li Yuanzhao had.
“An invitation?”
All eyes turned to him, filled with surprise, envy, and even a touch of jealousy.
The burly student froze for a moment, clearly having heard of such invitations. He frowned slightly, took the invitation, and studied it for a moment before returning it.
“Even with an invitation, you’ll still need to pass a basic trial. I can hold back slightly.”
Li Hao blinked in confusion.
The student testing Li Yuanzhao and several other Tangong Academy students overseeing the trials collectively smacked their foreheads in exasperation. Great—this inflexible one had gotten stuck on his principles again.
“Let’s begin.” The burly student’s energy surged as he readied himself for a fight.
Li Hao asked with a sigh, “Do you even know what the invitation means?”
“I’ve already said I’ll hold back. But you must demonstrate some level of skill. Otherwise, people might think Tangong Academy panders to the powerful by handing out free passes.”
The burly student’s gaze was resolute, his stance firm.
Li Hao couldn’t help but chuckle.
They said people came in all forms, and this guy was evidently the stubborn, straight-shooting type.
“Pfft…” Nearby, Si Xiaolan couldn’t hold back her laughter. Her bright eyes sparkled with glee as she watched the scene unfold, relishing Li Hao’s predicament.
She had expected him to waltz through the trial effortlessly, yet here he was, facing someone unexpectedly persistent. She found herself admiring the burly student’s rugged, honest charm.
“You can pick any weapon,” the student said seriously, gesturing to a nearby weapons rack.
Li Hao sighed but didn’t feel annoyed. After all, being meticulous wasn’t a bad trait.
He strolled to the weapons rack, selected a sword, and returned to face the student.
“You’re using a sword?” The burly student’s eyes flickered as he nodded. “Fine, then you can attack first.”
Drawing his sword from his back, his gaze sharpened with the focus of a true swordsman.
“You go first,” Li Hao replied.
“If I attack first, you may not get the chance,” the burly student said, his words deliberate and weighty.
“...Alright.”
Li Hao sighed again, casually twirling the sword in his hand.
He activated the sword technique: Falling Snow Sword Technique.
“Hm?” Si Xiaolan’s eyes widened as she suddenly felt a chill, as if snowflakes were drifting through the air. A biting frost seemed to seep into her skin, and she instinctively looked up.
“It’s only autumn… Why does it feel like it’s snowing?”