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“Li Xuanli, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I can’t have children?”

Li Xuanli was taken aback, immediately realizing his slip of the tongue, and didn’t dare to resist with his power, pleading continuously:

“Madam, I was wrong—it was a slip of the tongue, a pure slip of the tongue.”

“I think you’ve just spoken your true thoughts!”

“Madam, how could you say that? I could never get enough of my own children. To me, those three are outstanding, incomparable to anyone!”

“Hmph!”

…

Within Shuihua Courtyard.

Upon learning the news from the steward, Liu Yue Rong’s face turned pale, and she nearly lost her balance.

How could this be?

Only fourteen years old, and he’s being made a count?

Even if he did save the entire city’s populace, it shouldn’t mean skipping directly over the rank of knight and baronet!

Just being a baronet is already remarkable enough, so why would he be made a count?!

Keep in mind, even He Jianlan’s children, who had joined the military years ago, are only counts now, and Li Hao is just fourteen this year!

Liu Yue Rong clenched her teeth in frustration, cursing the foolish monarch internally.

But outwardly, she dared not show any question or emotion, venting only within her heart.

There are only two months left, even if extended for another six months or even a year.

Where would her son Qianfeng find the kind of merit that amounts to a count’s?

Achieving merit relies not just on strength, but also on opportunity.

Go to the frontier?

That’s too dangerous!

After a while, Liu Yue Rong steadied her mind, thinking that it was a relief that merit was just a bonus, not the deciding factor.

Mount Wuliang had already sent back a message, telling her not to worry, that Qianfeng had been called back and would be helped to seize the True Dragon title.

Now, Liu Yue Rong could only place her hopes on the immense powers of the Infinite Buddha Lord.

…

…

Time flew by.

Since the announcement of the Li Family True Dragon decision, the outside world became greatly agitated.

After receiving the summons from his sect, the proud young Li Qianfeng had planned to return to his family to observe the situation but now had to return to his sect first.

Soon after he returned to his sect, he found out that his cousin, Li Hao, had been made a third-class count!

This completely shattered his pride, and his expression grew ugly.

The merit for slaying the Great Demon he had achieved earlier also resulted in an award, but it was only a first-class knighthood.

Normally, this would have already been extremely impressive, jumping over third-class and second-class knighthood.

But compared to Li Hao, there was still a difference of three entire ranks, a whole baronetcy!

Putting aside his identity as a cousin within the family, he would have to bow and respectfully address Li Hao as ‘Lord Count’ and bend over in salutation!

What a disgrace!

Under these blows, faced with his master’s help, Li Qianfeng had wanted to refuse, to rely on himself.

But now, he could only acquiesce.

He carried the hopes of too many people.

By the time Li Qianfeng returned to Mount Wuliang, many forces and gifts had also been delivered to the Kunxindian Hall of Mount Wuliang.

Similarly, even more gifts made their way to the Mountain and River Courtyard.

Many groups, sensing that the decision for the Li Family True Dragon would be between these two young masters, began to position themselves and make early connections.

When the previous generation of the Li family was younger, and their sharp edges not yet defined, it was not clear who would become the True Dragon, and to foster a relationship with the future True Dragon of the Li family, one would have to please them all, spreading efforts evenly, but this was too costly to sustain.

Now that the target has become clearer, investments can be more focused, and the more one invests, the more likely they are to establish a relationship.

In the early years, when Li Qianfeng had just started his apprenticeship at Mount Wuliang, many had begun making strategic gift-giving over a decade ago.

Facing the rise of Li Hao, it was too late to shift alliances; they could only follow through with their initial path.

…

While the storm brewed on all sides and undercurrents converged, Li Hao, one of the parties at the center of this maelstrom, leisurely rode on horseback to Tan Palace Academy.

He first visited Qiumo from the Water Qilin in the Cold Pool and drew two more paintings for her, also bringing her some crisp pastries.

Song Qiumo glanced at them and said she didn’t like such dry foods.

Li Hao, smiling, encouraged her to try them.

If you say try, I’ll try.

Song Qiumo, not wanting to spurn Li Hao’s kindness, took a taste. After that, she immediately asked Li Hao where she could buy these treats.

Seeing her enjoyment, Li Hao honestly admitted that he made them himself.

Upon hearing this, Song Qiumo looked at Li Hao with envy.

Li Hao didn’t wait for her to ask and offered that next time he would bring more.

At his words, Song Qiumo revealed a satisfied smile, and with a graceful gesture, a Seven-Leaf Purple Grass flew out from the Cold Pool.

This purple grass was deep violet all over, exuding a shimmering luster, quite lovely to behold.

She handed the grass over to Li Hao and said, “This is Thousand-Year Mysterious Dark Grass; absorbing it while refining medicine can ward off the invasion of frostbite and is of great assistance in cultivating frost-related Cultivation Techniques. Even if you do not practice this kind of technique, it will bolster your defenses against attacks from water Demons in the future!”

Li Hao looked at it and shook his head, “You should keep this precious medicine for yourself. I don’t need it.”

“Why?”

Song Qiumo was stunned. She immediately said, “I know that the Li family is wealthy, but this Thousand-Year Mysterious Dark Grass should also be a scarce treasure for you.”

Indeed, Li Hao knew this, but his circumstances were special.

Treasure though it may be, he could not absorb it, and it would be of no use to him.

Compared to the boosts from his abilities, he didn’t lack the effects of such treasures, for just entering a single Cultivation Technique into Ultimate Perfection could surpass it.

After all, the body has its limits, and once at that limit, no amount of medicine will help.

While he could use it for others, the item was precious, and it would have been effective for Song Qiumo, who probably planned to wait for it to age further before using it herself.

“Keep it for yourself to use, I’m not lacking anything,” Li Hao said with a smile.

Song Qiumo was astonished and stood there in disbelief.

To fulfill her promise and protect Tan Palace Academy, she had seen many Tan Palace disciples with ulterior motives attempt to cozy up to her over the years.

Seeing Li Hao coming to the Cold Pool to paint, as if he was intentionally getting close to her, she thought it was the same case, but to her surprise, when she offered him a treasure, she was rejected.

Besides this treasure, she didn’t have much else to offer.

Others came to form relationships of convenience.

But Li Hao didn’t seem to need this.

Being the son of the Divine General Mansion with monstrous talent, why would he go to such lengths to curry favor with a member of the Demon Race at the Four Stands Realm?

“Do you really not want it?” Song Qiumo hesitated.

Li Hao, with no choice, said, “If you have plenty of this stuff and insist on giving it to me, I’ll take it back and feed it to pigs.”

“You wish.”

Hearing this, Song Qiumo rolled her eyes. Feed pigs, what pig would be worthy of it?

In his heart, however, Li Hao was thinking it wouldn’t be bad to take it back for Li Yuanzhao…

Over at Alpha Academy of Tan Palace Academy, the unsuspecting Li Yuanzhao suddenly sneezed, looking around in bewilderment. Who is cursing me? Could it be that brat, Li Yun!

Elsewhere, Li Yun sneezed abruptly and spun around, locking eyes with Li Yuanzhao, instantly connecting.

In front of the Cold Pool, Song Qiumo gathered the medicinal treasure and placed it back into the pool to be nurtured. It was slightly wounded from being taken out just now, but being a treasure with vibrant life force, it would soon take root again and recover.

“Next time, bring more of the food you just had,” Song Qiumo winked at Li Hao.

Li Hao smiled and waved his hand: “Feeding you well is tough, but satisfying a craving should be doable.”

Saying this, he bid farewell and left.

Song Qiumo watched the young man’s receding figure for a long while, a smile gradually curving her lips.

Then she turned silently and dove back into the Cold Pool.

As for Li Hao, he made his way to the Black and White Hall.

He had previously notified Palace Master Song Yufeng that he wished to teach today.

Since he had taken on the role of a nominal instructor, he should fulfill his duties, especially since he was free at the moment.

When Li Hao arrived at the Black and White Hall, he suddenly heard a shouting voice coming from inside:

“Get out! Stand outside the door!”

“Day in and day out, what doggerel are you writing? Are you here to learn martial arts or to study?!”

“If it weren’t for the sake of your father’s face, and your father’s earnest pleading, with your talent, how could you possibly be admitted to the Black and White Hall?”

“It would be good enough if you could stay in the external Alpha Academy!”

Li Hao was startled and his expression turned a bit strange.

This speech, it seemed quite contrary to expectations.

It was as if he was saying, why are you studying books, this is PE class! PE class, do you hear me, go to the field!

Isn’t that a bit too refreshing?

However, this place is Tan Palace Academy, where literary studies are naturally disregarded.

Li Hao stepped inside.

The Black and White Hall consisted of two separate halls, the Black Hall and the White Hall.

The Black Hall for disciples in the Soul Succession Realm and the White Hall for those in the Divine Travel Realm.

Pall Master Song Yufeng had requested Li Hao to teach in the White Hall, which is what he was now facing, not far from the Black Hall, hence it was habitually referred to collectively.

Looking around, the interior of the White Hall was extremely spacious, yet there were only fifty seats, neatly organized, neither more nor less.

Inside, Li Hao saw a familiar figure, Song Yueyao.

She sat in the front, wearing the same White Hall uniform, yet stood out strikingly, like a beautiful scene.

In front of the students, a young man in his twenties with his head hanging, his face flushed with redness and embarrassment, was receiving a lecture.

The one scolding him was an old teacher with white hair, naturally the lecturer of the White Hall.

Li Hao was somewhat at a loss, this young man, though in the Divine Travel Realm, would be considered a formidable individual in his own right if thrown into the Jianghu outside the academy.

Yet here, he was being lectured like a primary school student.

“If I catch you bringing those useless books to class again, you might as well not come at all, don’t spoil the whole batch with one rotten apple!”

“Get out, stand outside!”

The elder’s temper was extremely volatile as he shouted in anger.

The young man’s face was beet red as he bit his teeth and walked out, but when he got to the door and saw Li Hao, he paused in his steps.

At this moment, the other students also noticed the newly arrived Li Hao.

“It’s him.”

Song Yueyao was surprised, then she remembered what her grandfather had said, her eyes lighting up. Was he here to give a lecture?

She didn’t believe Li Hao could teach anything profound; although he was advanced in the Fifteen Li Realm and above her in cultivation level, having a high cultivation level didn’t mean he could teach others, let alone that Li Hao was only fourteen years old, just a younger brother in her eyes.

“Eh, this person looks familiar.”

Lin Feifei, Song Yueyao’s close friend, said in surprise, feeling she might have seen him before somewhere.

Song Yueyao gave a wry smile; she hadn’t mentioned to Lin Feifei that Li Hao was the one who had passed through the Mo River that day.

It wasn’t surprising they didn’t recognize him. Who paid attention to what those men looked like on ordinary days?

They were just clumps of dirt and trees.

“Who is this guy?”

“He looks young, is he new here?”

The surrounding students whispered among themselves.

The young man who had bumped into Li Hao flushed again, not expecting to lose face in front of a newcomer. He was also somewhat surprised; this new fellow looked quite young. He must be some noble family’s young master.

“Still standing there for what, not scram to stand outside yet!”

Angry shouts came from behind, and the young man hurriedly walked out.

At that moment, the elderly teacher also noticed Li Hao, and immediately recognized him. He had been present when Li Hao was given special permission to enter the Black and White Hall previously.

In the past few days, Li Hao’s name was all over the city of Qingzhou, a fourteen-year-old earl, sensational to everyone.

“Li has arrived, are you here to exchange? Please, come in,” said the elder, Sun Hongdian, his fury vanishing and a smile appearing, treating Li Hao with utmost courtesy.

This stark contrast in attitude left the students below utterly astonished, their mouths agape.

When had they ever seen the old firecracker so submissive?

Probably only when the Palace Master occasionally appeared, right?

“Yeah, hello,” replied Li Hao with a smile, approaching for a handshake out of habit.

As they shook hands, his other hand covered the back of the other man’s hand and gave it a shake.