Chapter 150: The Border-Crossing Ren Ren Qianqian

"Oh?"

Hearing Li Hao's words, Zhou Zhou Haitang was slightly surprised.

He was, after all, a Tianren Tianren Zongshi, and had personally extended an invitation—yet someone had refused him.

Yet, considering what his own disciple had just said, this youth could approach without stirring the candle flame, proving he possessed profound martial foundations; once he reached the Fifteen-Li Realm, his chances of crossing into the Tianren Realm far surpassed those so-called cultivation prodigies.

Someone like this, if not a rare genius, must have been nurtured by a prestigious clan.

"Buying a painting? What kind of painting?"

Zhou Zhou Haitang lightly raised an eyebrow.

Li Hao shook his head slightly and said only: "The painting is in Bai Bai Chunhai's possession—I'd appreciate it if you could introduce me."

"You seek him not to become his disciple, but merely to acquire a painting?"

"Mm."

Zhou Zhou Haitang studied Li Hao closely, and Zhou Linger and the other three beside him stared at Li Hao in utter astonishment.

A Tianren Zongshi stood before him; all Li Hao had to do was nod, and he could immediately become his disciple—what an invaluable opportunity.

"Then wait. That old man hasn't arrived yet—he's probably on his way. He'll appear at the Tianren Zongshi Gathering in three days; you'll see him then."

Zhou Zhou Haitang picked up the teacup beside him, took a small sip, and spoke calmly.

Lifting the tea was a signal to leave.

Since Li Hao had no intention of becoming his disciple, he wouldn't press further.

Good horses are common, but connoisseurs are rare.

Having learned of Bai Bai Chunhai's whereabouts, Li Hao had no reason to linger; he obtained the inn's contact address from him and left the tavern.

His three disciples rushed out after him; Zhou Linger, fuming, said: "Father rarely wants to take on a disciple—how could you be so ungrateful? Or have you already joined a sect?"

"?"

Li Hao looked at her in confusion.

"Linger."

The young man quickly pulled Zhou Linger aside and said to Li Hao: "I'm sorry—she speaks bluntly; don't take it to heart."

Li Hao had no interest in further conversation; the dagger and the escort had already settled the debt.

Without another word, Li Hao turned and walked toward the Wumiao, wondering whether Ren Ren Qianqian had finished her soul inheritance.

"His martial foundation is extremely deep—he must be from a renowned school," said the girl in plain white robes, watching Li Hao's retreating figure.

Hearing this, Zhou Linger felt both ashamed and angry: "Isn't my father a renowned school? What do you mean by that?"

The girl in white robes snapped back to herself, startled, and quickly said: "I didn't mean it that way…"

"Hmph!"

…

When Li Hao returned to the Wumiao, he saw Ren Ren Qianqian standing beneath an eave outside, hugging her sword and looking around.

Li Hao waved to her.

The girl spotted him and immediately ran over, beaming.

"How did it go?"

"A Fourth-Standing elder saw my swordplay and thought I had potential."

Ren Ren Qianqian's face glowed with unrestrained joy—among all the spirits in the Wumiao, the only Fourth-Standing hero had chosen her.

Though her father was a Tianren Zongshi, inheriting a Fourth-Standing spirit was still extremely difficult; it was the highest tier of inheritance Zizhi outside the imperial family.

She had entered the Tancgong Academy hoping to inherit there, but that came with many restrictions.

Inheritance in the Wumiao had the loosest conditions.

Most of these heroes' requirements were simple: when the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty faced crisis, one must step forward!

Yet in over three thousand years of Emperor Da Yu's history, even when true crises arose, they occurred on the borders, guarded and resolved by the Divine Generals' Offices—no need for these heroes to intervene; thus, this condition was effectively meaningless.

Unless one joined the army and built merit on the frontier.

"Fourth-Standing? Not bad," Li Hao smiled.

"Thanks to the sword intent you taught me—I doubt I'd have caught that elder's eye otherwise."

Ren Ren Qianqian looked at Li Hao, her eyes sparkling.

Li Hao chuckled: "It was all your own insight—I merely pointed you in a direction."

Ren Ren Qianqian shook her head slightly; she didn't agree, but didn't argue further, only silently memorizing it.

"So where to next?"

"Wander around, eat, have fun—wait until the Tianren Zongshi Gathering in three days."

Li Hao said: "We'll also listen in on the gathering, see how these Masters' martial paths compare—you should watch too; it'll help you when you eventually enter the Tianren Realm."

"Alright!"

Ren Ren Qianqian's face lit up with delight.

Li Hao immediately led her away from the Wumiao; the two strolled slowly through the streets, glancing left and right, admiring the customs and scenery of Liangzhou.

That evening, in one part of the city, a lively event was held.

The Ranking Challenge.

Combat on a stage, with rewards from the city governor's office given according to rank.

With Masters from across the land converging, talents from every province had gathered—far grander than the Tancgong Academy's recruitment; the city was packed with people.

Countless prodigies met but had no outlet for their energy, so the city governor's office launched this event to warm up for the Tianren Zongshi Gathering.

The Ranking Challenge restricted participants to three realms: Soul Inheritance, up to Fifteen-Li.

Those below Soul Inheritance needn't show off—just sit in the crowd, munching sunflower seeds.

Li Hao had no interest in such commotion; if he stepped onto the stage, even Fifteen-Li Realm cultivators couldn't match his finger—he'd be bullying children.

But Ren Ren Qianqian had just inherited her spirit and was brimming with enthusiasm; Li Hao didn't want to dampen her mood, so he accompanied her here, to the outer edge of the Soul Inheritance stage.

"It's you?"

Just arriving, fatefully, Li Hao encountered Zhou Linger from earlier.

Beside her was the girl in white robes, Xu Xu Waner; both were Soul Inheritance Realm, having hurriedly eaten dinner after hearing the news and rushed here, eager to compete.

Their senior had gone to the Spirit Travel stage, also planning to fight and test himself against talents from other provinces.

"Young Tianren Zongshi, do you know them?"

Ren Ren Qianqian tiptoed forward, hearing the voice and looking up in surprise. "Just met them."

Li Hao said.

"Why are you here? You're just Soul Inheritance too?"

Zhou Linger, seeing Li Hao's cold demeanor, raised an eyebrow slightly, speaking with a hint of mockery.

Xu Xu Waner, however, studied Li Hao curiously; hearing the title "Young Tianren Zongshi," and recalling his actions earlier—giving away an expensive dagger just to be guided to Bai Bai Chunhai… he certainly seemed like a carefree, wealthy young master.

"Hm?"

Ren Ren Qianqian sensed the hostile tone and stepped forward, coldly saying: "Don't be disrespectful!"

Zhou Linger froze, sensing her aura—she too was Soul Inheritance Realm—and frowned: "Who are you? Her maid?"

Ren Ren Qianqian merely stared coldly at her, saying nothing.

Zhou Linger grew irritated under that gaze but realized Li Hao's status might be more complex than it seemed—why else would he casually gift a priceless dagger just to be guided to find Bai Bai Chunhai?

And he sought that Tianren Zongshi not to become his disciple or learn, but merely to buy a painting.

"Hmph!"

Under Xu Xu Waner's tugging, she held back her temper, letting out only a cold snort.

At that moment, commotion rose from the stage, accompanied by cheers.

A closely matched duel had ended, one combatant defeated.

"Let's go."

Zhou Linger immediately told Xu Xu Waner, then glared at Li Hao: "That move with the dagger—want to come up and spar with me? Win, and I'll respect you."

Li Hao glanced at her with boredom; this girl had never been beaten—she was truly spoiled.

"Do you even have the right to challenge my Young Tianren Zongshi?"

Ren Ren Qianqian frowned and replied coldly.

Zhou Linger, enraged, shouted: "If your Young Tianren Zongshi's so powerful, why isn't he on the Fifteen-Li stage? Why are you here? If you've got guts, get on the stage and prove it!"

"If you want to fight, I'll do it."

Ren Ren Qianqian said.

"You? Just Soul Inheritance, right? Don't say I'm bullying you."

Zhou Linger laughed bitterly and leapt onto the stage.

Ren Ren Qianqian said to Li Hao: "Young Tianren Zongshi, I'll face her."

"Be careful—she's Soul Inheritance Fourth Layer. You've just inherited; you're still unfamiliar with your power. Don't hurt her," Li Hao said.

Nearby, Xu Xu Waner, hearing Li Hao's words, froze—had she misheard?

This youth clearly saw Zhou Linger's realm, yet warned a newly inherited cultivator not to hurt Zhou Linger? "I'll control myself," Ren Ren Qianqian said.

Then she too leapt onto the stage.

The previous victor had already stepped down; as Zhou Linger and Ren Ren Qianqian took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Aren't you worried?"

Xu Xu Waner, seeing Li Hao's calm expression, couldn't help asking curiously.

"I am a bit worried."

Li Hao had a decent impression of the girl in the plain white dress and smiled back: "Hope she doesn't hit too hard and make your precious cry."

"..." Xu Xu Waner was speechless.

At that moment, the contest on the stage began.

Zhou Linger unleashed her soul form, also using the Fourth Standing Realm as her soul foundation; the soul form radiated immense pressure.

Ren Ren Qianqian likewise summoned her soul form to counter the opponent's aura, then drew her sword and charged forward—she used her own blade.

Long Xiao, meanwhile, had been temporarily returned to Li Hao before he stepped onto the stage.

Sword light flickered, as if countless flower-like blades spun, raining down like droplets.

Zhou Linger jumped back in alarm, swiftly drawing her knife; clashing sounds rang out—ding-ding-dang-dang—but soon, a single blade sliced through the knife shadows and rested against Zhou Linger's throat.

The battle ended.

Below the stage, Xu Xu Waner stared in stunned disbelief—she actually won! Wasn't that girl only at Soul Foundation Realm?

And what kind of sword art was that? So complicated!

Onstage, Zhou Linger stared blankly at the blade before her; its snowy edge reflected her face, filled with dazed confusion.

Ren Ren Qianqian glanced at her, then with a soft *zing*, twisted her wrist and sheathed the sword, turning to face the crowd below: "I invite the next challenger."

Clearly, she intended to continue challenging, calling for other prodigies to step up.

Her clash with Zhou Linger had merely been a warm-up.

Though their realms differed by four levels, and she had only just entered Soul Foundation Realm without time to consolidate her cultivation, her sword art vastly surpassed her opponent's.

Though the clash of knife and sword seemed fierce, she never met force with force—instead, she used finesse to deflect, then delivered the decisive strike.

Hearing Ren Ren Qianqian's words, Zhou Linger snapped out of her daze, her face flushing crimson with shame and fury, eyes welling up, lips bitten as she dashed off the stage.

"Linger."

Seeing this, Xu Xu Waner forgot her own desire to compete and rushed after her.

Onstage, as Ren Ren Qianqian issued her challenge, someone soon stepped up.

Not long after, another fierce battle erupted.

Ren Ren Qianqian defeated four opponents in a row, until finally she was defeated by a woman at Soul Foundation Realm Eighth Level.

Seeing Ren Ren Qianqian descend the stage with a slightly dejected expression, Li Hao smiled and said: "Once you consolidate your cultivation and grasp the true essence of your Thousand Feather Sword Art, you would have won that match."

"True essence... too hard." Ren Ren Qianqian smiled bitterly.

Li Hao felt slightly exasperated—you lost after crossing eight levels within the same realm, and your opponent is a prodigy too; why do you still feel wronged?

"Young Tianren Zongshi, if you fought using only Soul Foundation Realm First Level power, how many moves would it take you to win?"

Ren Ren Qianqian suddenly turned to Li Hao, her eyes filled with hope and curiosity.

She knew Li Hao was a genius, his cultivation speed terrifyingly fast; she could never catch up to him in realm, but she wanted to chase after the shadow of his past self.

"Me?"

(End of Chapter)