Chapter 818: My Name Is Hao Tian

Li Hao sensed the intent behind the question, fell into brief silence, then whispered, "It was bestowed by the elder."

"Which elder?"

The noblewoman asked again, her tone now edged with pressure.

Li Hao felt the atmosphere in the hall suddenly turn icy; his pores tightened, the pressure in the air far exceeding what a Immortal Lord could endure.

Yet he had just traversed the Southern Region, enduring the gaze of that Supreme Avatar—how could he now be cowed here?

"Forgive me, but I cannot speak of it."

Li Hao bowed slightly, maintaining proper etiquette.

The noblewoman had not expected such composure from this boy—his appearance merely pleasing, otherwise ordinary. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes as she stepped gracefully into the hall, taking the main seat. A maid handed her immortal tea; wisps of steam curled above the cup, forming a white dragon of mist, condensed with dragon blood qi.

Drinking this tea improves the body, infusing the immortal form with dragon qi, strengthening physique and health—one cup equals years of ordinary True Immortal cultivation.

Yet the noblewoman did not even glance at it; her gaze remained fixed on the boy, seated high above, radiating an air of superiority.

"How well do you know this elder?"

She asked softly.

Seeing the probing continued, Li Hao frowned slightly. He realized there was a misunderstanding—what he had presented was a marriage contract.

No wonder the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul had said bringing this item to the Su family would grant him what he sought.

If he married into the Su family, he could move freely within it—and easily find Xie Xiaoxiao's reincarnation.

But to sell himself into this household was not his wish. He only wished to stand beside that woman.

"May I ask your ladyship's name?"

Li Hao did not answer, but asked instead.

"Impudent!"

The personal maid beside her instantly narrowed her eyes, as if two cold stars had flared—she glared coldly.

The noblewoman's eyebrows slightly furrowed, yet seeing the boy's simple attire and ignorance of protocol, she deemed it unremarkable. She had no interest in nitpicking such trivialities, and spoke calmly:

"I am the matriarch of the Su family. I oversee all matters of the household, especially marital arrangements in the inner quarters."

Li Hao had assumed she was the head of the Su family—he had not expected a woman. Now he understood, and bowed his head: "Lady Su, I have come only to see one person—preferably to remain by her side. I humbly beg your ladyship's permission."

"Who?"

Lady Su's eyes narrowed slightly. She already knew the answer, and a faint cold smile touched her lips. The single word carried sharpness and chill.

Yet the boy before her shook his head. "I do not yet know her name. I only know she is within the Su family."

"Oh?"

Lady Su's eyes lifted slightly, studying the boy's open, sincere gaze. Inside, she sneered. How many soul-years had passed since someone dared deceive her? The other concubines in the inner quarters knew far better how to charm with beauty and wit—and now they all stayed quietly in their own courtyards, Buganzaoci.

"You have come bearing the marriage contract. This was a promise made by our ancestors. Our Su descendants dare not refuse."

Lady Su's gaze remained calm, unreadable. "Yet the contract only states that the bride must be a peerless talent among our future generations—it names no specific lineage or person. Now, I have four daughters, all unmarried, all rising stars of the Gusu Emperor Star. You are handsome, and I suspect your soul-years are considerable—you must be an exceptional man to have received such a contract from that elder. I shall offer you my most beloved daughter. What do you say?"

Li Hao froze, his expression changing instantly. He had no intention of marrying here.

Nor was he foolish. Though Lady Su now spoke gently, vastly different from her earlier demeanor, he saw clearly: she did not welcome this match.

If neither side wished it, why cling to the contract? In his view, it was unnecessary.

"Lady Su, I have come only to find one person. I have no intention of marrying."

Li Hao rose and bowed again.

Deep in her eyes, Lady Su's cold smile flickered, but her face softened. "Do you disdain my Su daughters? If you refuse, that elder may blame us. We Su family cannot bear such blame—we would be accused of coercion, of betraying our ancestors' wishes. I beg you, do not make this difficult for me."

Li Hao said, "I can explain to that elder myself. I will not burden you."

Lady Su's eyes narrowed slightly. "You have traveled far—you must be weary. Yao Qin, take him to rest."

Then she suddenly remembered something. "What is your name?"

Li Hao, too, realized he had not introduced himself. The noblewoman had just now remembered to ask. He paused, then whispered:

"I am Hao Tian."

The Black Tortoise Emperor Soul had said the True World's human population was immense—a single immortal city held hundreds of millions; a single immortal dynasty held thousands of cities. Hundreds of thousands shared names—no need to conceal his.

Besides, this was the Northern Region. His qi signature had been severed, his face subtly altered by the Black Tortoise Emperor Soul's power. Even if prodigies from the Southern Region stood before him, they could only suspect—never confirm. After all, identity was confirmed not by name or appearance, but by qi signature—unique as a fingerprint.

"Hao Tian…"

Lady Su nodded slightly, then ordered her maid to escort the boy away.

"Lady Su, I wish—"

Li Hao did not wish to waste time. He longed to see Xie Xiaoxiao's reincarnation—or rather, Shi Miao's. But the maid beside Lady Su, clad in moon-blue robes, stepped forward coldly and said:

"Mr. Hao Tian, this way."

Li Hao looked toward Lady Su. She smiled, but said nothing.

"I truly did not come for the marriage contract."

Li Hao took a deep breath and spoke earnestly again.

Lady Su smiled gently. "You are tired. Rest first, or I shall be accused of poor hospitality."

"Please."

The maid extended her hand, her tone bordering on command.

Li Hao's expression darkened slightly, but he held his tongue. Before seeing Xie Xiaoxiao's reincarnation, he would not provoke the Su family.

After Li Hao was led away by Yao Qin, another maid, Zhi Yan, watched the matriarch's face grow colder, her expression turning icy. She ventured cautiously:

"Madam, that boy pretends ignorance, using retreat as advance. Will you truly accept this marriage? His contract may be stolen. If you agree, won't you elevate him to the heavens?"

Lady Su's gaze swept to the threshold the boy had just crossed. "You understand nothing. This is a Dao treasure—how could it be discarded? It still bears the Emperor's aura. He is likely the descendant of that Emperor, or someone he favored…"

Then she recalled she had forgotten to use the Soul Lifespan Mirror in Jingwei Hall to examine the boy's soul-years.

Yet she soon dismissed it. A True Immortal who could carry such a contract must be a human prodigy. Her earlier words to him were not mere flattery.

But human prodigies were countless. To court her daughter? Arrogant.

Besides, among humans, who could rival the Lin family's prodigy?

"Wait until the master returns to decide. If we must marry, we will not give Muqing to him. The contract demands a match with our top-tier bloodline—but if Muqing is already betrothed, we cannot forcibly break it."

Lady Su's eyes flickered. The contract was poorly written, full of loopholes. Back then, her ancestor and that Emperor—both of the highest status—had spoken lightly, never foreseeing the future. Now, as matriarch, she could not ignore such matters.

This concerned the Su family's future, the entire Gusu Emperor Star's balance, even human influence in the Northern Region. Such weight could not be decided by a casual word from ages past.

The cause of that year, the effect of this day—even an Emperor could not glimpse the future across endless eons.

"Place him in the small villa. Do not disturb the other children in the inner quarters. Let them not see too much splendor and grow greedier…"

Lady Su's voice was light as she gave the order.

Zhi Yan bowed and immediately sent a message via her token to Yao Qin, who had taken the boy away.

…

Yaoqin received the mental message and instantly understood; having served beside her mistress for ten thousand years, her mind was sharp and perceptive—how could she not grasp her mistress's intent?

Yao Qin received the message and understood at once. Having served the matriarch for ten thousand years, her mind was sharp. She knew her mistress's intent.

She turned her figure on the rainbow path, altering course, and said to the boy behind her: "This way."

She said "this way," but her tone was cold, devoid of courtesy.

Li Hao sensed the maid's prejudice, but paid it no mind. He frowned, feeling helpless and anxious. He had thought presenting the item would grant him access to Xie Xiaoxiao's reincarnation—but now, complications arose.

He glanced around, observing the courtyards along the way: immortal gardens filled with divine trees and spirit seeds; maids and servants whose qi signatures were extraordinary—all True Immortals, with Immortal Lords overseeing various areas.

"Sir, do not stare where it is improper."

Yao Qin noticed the boy's wandering gaze and sneered inwardly. The contract was not even sealed, yet he already sought to plunge into this world's ultimate splendor—what a dream.

Yet since the matriarch had not outright rejected him, nor expelled him, she gave no overt hostility. Soon, she led Li Hao to the quieter western section of the Su estate—a vast complex of gardens and halls, far more modest than the areas he had passed, yet still opulent beyond imperial palaces.

This was the Small Villa, where the Su family received guests of mixed status. Different quarters served different ranks. The Small Villa was for ordinary families.

"This is Haiyue Hall. You will reside here for now. The matriarch will summon you if needed."

Yao Qin turned to Li Hao, then glanced aside. Servants and maids instantly gathered, bowing in haste, each greeting her with reverence: "Greetings, Miss Yao Qin!"

As the matriarch's personal maid, her status in the Su household was extremely high. Heads of each courtyard fawned upon her.

"Summon?"

Li Hao's frown deepened. Was this not effectively house arrest?

"Can I wander freely around here?"

Li Hao asked.

Yao Qin had anticipated the question. Without hesitation, she replied: "Within the Small Villa, you may roam freely. But elsewhere—there are ladies present. Do not trespass."

Her words were reasonable enough.

Li Hao fell silent. At this point, many things were beyond his control. As in the Southern Region, so now in the Su family.

Seeing his silence, Yao Qin's lips curled slightly. Watching the boy's defeat brought her a strange satisfaction. She despised such fortune-seekers. Especially when she imagined one of the Su family's dazzling daughters—perhaps even one of them—being wed to this man. It felt like a pearl buried in mud, a divine treasure broken.

"See that he is well attended. If anything goes wrong, it will be your fault."

Yao Qin told the steward of Haiyue Hall.

The middle-aged steward, a True Immortal, bowed with obsequious flattery, nodding vigorously.

After Yao Qin left, the steward and several maids hurried forward, asking if Li Hao wished to rest or tour the grounds, offering to guide him.

Li Hao had no interest in leisure, but he would not wait idly. He asked the steward to show him around the Small Villa—he might, by chance, encounter Xie Xiaoxiao's reincarnation.

The steward agreed and accompanied Li Hao as they wandered through the entire Small Villa.

The Small Villa was vast—larger than the imperial palace. Each courtyard and hall bore barriers that blocked spiritual sense from probing.

Li Hao walked the entire circuit. Many courtyards were inaccessible—occupied. All he saw were the Su family's beauty and splendor. He saw no one he sought.

He sighed, preparing to return to Haiyue Hall and wait.

Since Mrs. Su had received him and hadn't thrown him out outright, Li Hao felt she wouldn't make him wait long—there would surely be a result.

Just as he turned to leave, a thunderous roar suddenly echoed from the distant sky, accompanied by the tremor of sword cries, vibrating like a dragon's roar; a massive spiritual manifestation flashed past, its collision force spreading outward.

But when that shockwave struck the garden wall, it was blocked by the barrier and dissipated into nothing.

Li Hao halted and looked over. Though at some distance, he could sense two Immortal Lord realm cultivators fighting—one wielding a sword, and his sword Dao cultivation was not low, reaching the fifth level of primordial origin.

In the Su family, someone dared to fight openly?

Li Hao was surprised; the butler beside him hurriedly said, "Sir, over there is the Su family's Grade-Terrace Training Ground. The young master likes to spar there."

Li Hao understood, and was about to look away when suddenly two long rainbows streaked across the distant horizon, robes fluttering; one figure wore a blue-green robe, like a cool hue of deep summer, entering his sight.

Li Hao froze instantly, his pupils slightly dilating; the rainbow expanded before his eyes dozens of times over, and soon, the face of the blue-green robed figure appeared clearly.

Li Hao felt his heart jolt—those features, those lively eyes, that flawless face—it was Ying Xiaoxiao!

It was her. She was really here?

Reincarnated body?

Li Hao's mind rang with a dull roar, trembling slightly; every drop of his blood felt as if it had suddenly boiled.

Whoosh!

His figure shot upward violently, roaring as it shattered the air, revealing his Ultimate Realm power; without conscious thought, he unleashed the Void Return teleportation and movement technique, stepping forward in an instant to stand before the rainbow, before the woman.

(End of Chapter)