Chapter 272: News About Elder Feng
When Li Hao saw the other person, the other person also saw Li Hao. Through the disheveled hair, a pair of deep, restrained eyes looked over, with a calm gaze that carried an inherent sharpness.
A master of the Absolute Art level... Li Hao carefully observed, and although the person had a sharp gaze, there didn't seem to be any killing intent.
He glanced around; the courtyard hadn't been damaged, which relieved him.
"May I know who you are, Senior?" Li Hao asked, sitting down on the usual guest cushion and taking a sip of the already brewed tea.
"The surname is Jiang, Jiang Lichen."
The elder's eyes were cold and stern, not minding Li Hao's actions but staring intently at his face. "You sure made me wait!"
Surname Jiang... Li Hao was stunned for a moment. That was the royal family's surname. Was this elder a member of the royal family? Given his current status as a duke, even if he met a royal, he need not perform grand ceremonies.
"Does the prince have business with me?" Li Hao asked, glancing at the man's attire, which looked more like a beggar's clothes. This prince seemed quite unusual.
"I was waiting outside the River of the Dead to receive you, but you disappeared to Youzhou. When I heard and chased to Youzhou, you had already gone to Qingzhou. By the time I reached Qingzhou, you were back here..."
The more Jiang Lichen spoke, the angrier he seemed. He had never been so thoroughly outmaneuvered in his life.
"…"
Li Hao was speechless. He didn't realize that during his travels, someone was trying to catch up with him. It seemed he had inadvertently given this prince quite the runaround.
All he could do was offer an awkward smile. "When I get the chance, I will personally thank His Majesty."
"Hmph, I don't care if you thank him or not. Besides, I didn't even manage to catch you. What's there to thank? You're his general; it's his duty to send someone to get you."
Jiang Lichen scoffed, "My meddlesome brother does make mistakes. Look at you now, a Taiping Daoist at such a young age. Quite impressive!"
"Just fortunate."
Li Hao quickly humbly responded.
"Even though you led me on a wild chase, thanks to you, I was able to come out. Let's call it even!"
Jiang Lichen seemed to resolve his own grievances and gratitude, talking as if it was settled. Whether it was truly resolved, he would decide.
He then focused on Li Hao, glancing at his hands. "I hear you also use a sword?"
"Mm?"
Li Hao was surprised, nodding. "I know a bit."
"Hmph, I saw the aftermath of the battle outside Qingzhou City. The lingering sword energy wasn't bad."
Jiang Lichen dismissed Li Hao's modesty, speaking bluntly. "Your hands don't look like those of a sword wielder. But there are always exceptional talents. I was six when I first practiced swordsmanship, already achieving perfect moves. Back then, my hands were delicate and smooth, yet far surpassed those of the common folk!"
"You're a Taiping Daoist at such a young age, clearly a smart one. Let me see your swordsmanship!"
As he spoke, an immense aura radiated from Jiang Lichen.
Li Hao was taken aback, realizing the aura now carried killing intent.
"Prince, what are you doing?" Li Hao frowned.
"Draw your sword. Show me your swordsmanship!"
Jiang Lichen's eyes bore into him.
"Are we sparring? But you won't win," Li Hao shook his head.
"It's not just about Daoist domains. My swordsmanship can break through any domain! My pursuit is the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Even without a domain, I can break through domains. Even without the Dao, I can cut through it with my sword!"
Jiang Lichen's eyes shone with a fervent belief in his extreme pursuit of swordsmanship, beyond mere arrogance—pure, intense dedication.
Li Hao, seeing this, nodded. "Alright, but this is not the place. Follow me."
"Why need a special place? Anywhere is fine."
Jiang Lichen, eager for the challenge, was ready to draw his sword.
"This is my courtyard. Like you with your sword, it's something I cherish."
Jiang Lichen paused, considering, and then nodded, suppressing his urge.
"I'll wait!"
With that, he soared into the sky, heading out of the city.
Li Hao exhaled, instructing Ren Qianqian to stay put before following him.
Soon, they arrived at a hill outside the city.
"Where's your sword?" Jiang Lichen asked.
"Anything can be a sword."
Li Hao broke a dead branch, holding it like a sword.
Seeing this, Jiang Lichen laughed heartily. "Good! I was once like that, but now, a sword is a sword. Nothing else can be."
He drew a black, tattered long sword from his waist. It had no scabbard, its blade already bared, resonating with a sharp cry like a proud dragon.
"Come, show me your domain. No need to hold back. Any domain, I can break it with a single strike!"
Jiang Lichen's hair fluttered wildly, his aura fierce and unrestrained, becoming a living sword.
Li Hao, seeing his determination, unleashed his domain without holding back.
The domain of awe!
As the domain enveloped Jiang Lichen, a pressure pressed down, meant to suppress and restrict.
But Jiang Lichen's eyes burned with a battle fervor, power bursting from his acupoints, forming countless sword energies stored in his veins.
Li Hao had one breath of celestial energy hidden in his abdomen, while Jiang Lichen had countless sword energies hidden in his heart. Despite the domain's pressure, he unleashed his power, swinging his sword.
Whoosh! A brilliant flash like a silver moon burst out, carrying an undeniable intent, slicing through the domain.
Li Hao was taken aback, seeing his domain pierced by a sharp force.
He considered layering another domain but decided against it.
Feeling a surge of battle spirit, he swung the branch, unleashing a sword energy.
The two sword energies collided, both dissipating without clear victory.
But Li Hao's branch broke.
He knew without the domain's support, he would have lost in pure swordsmanship.
"Your swordsmanship isn't pure enough!"
Jiang Lichen's gaze was fierce, disappointed. "Is this your best? It's not enough!"
With a roar, he struck again, breaking through the domain once more, his sword light like a heavenly beam.
Li Hao swung the branch again, meeting the attack.
The energies clashed, neither gaining ground.
But the branch snapped.
Li Hao knew without the domain, he would lose in swordsmanship.
"You're only half a sword saint."
Jiang Lichen, standing unharmed in the domain, looked coldly at Li Hao. "But for your age, not bad. Maybe in ten years, you can compete with me."
Li Hao nodded, not denying it. His swordsmanship was at the sixth level of understanding, not yet transcendent, while Jiang Lichen seemed at the seventh or eighth level.
To break through the domain with pure swordsmanship, the sword had to be nearly divine.
"Is this your full strength? Show me your real power. Let's see if it can sharpen my sword!"
Jiang Lichen demanded, eyes burning with resolve.
Seeing his determination, Li Hao nodded. "Alright."
Releasing the broken branch, he unleashed four layers of domains.
The sudden, overwhelming pressure made Jiang Lichen's eyes widen, then burn brighter with excitement.
"Good!"
His aura flared, his spine gleaming like a sword.
Soaring up, he gathered his power into a single strike.
But another layer of domain fell.
Six layers crushed down, like giant hands gripping him, suppressing his light, freezing him.
Li Hao held back from fully unleashing the domain, to avoid tearing him apart.
"You…"
Jiang Lichen's eyes barely moved, filled with shock.
Li Hao withdrew the domain.
Jiang Lichen's light burst out, but he remained still, staring at Li Hao.
After a while, he rushed forward. "Six layers of domains? Is that your limit?"
Li Hao shook his head.
Jiang Lichen, momentarily lost, then laughed. "Good! I thought my sword was sharp, but there's still a long way to go!"
"When I can break your domain, that's when I'll reach the Dao!"
Li Hao, intrigued, asked, "Are you familiar with the Daoist realm?"
"Familiar? You want to know?"
Jiang Lichen, seeing his interest, didn't hide it. "Even with your background, unless your ancestor told you, some secrets aren't written down. Old folks take them to the grave."
He continued, "The Daoist realm has levels. First is the True Man realm, second is the Dao Law realm."
"Qiandao Palace's True Man is at the True Man realm, breaking through domains to touch the true Dao. From skill to Dao, that's the True Man realm."
"Dao Law realm is even more mysterious, with Dao laws following words, controlling nature, understanding the world's laws beyond skill, into true power."
"Skill is the surface, Dao is the bone, law is the flesh."
Jiang Lichen looked at Li Hao. "All techniques and absolute skills are still at the surface. Absolute skills barely touch the truth but stay outside the door of Dao."
"When you cross the threshold, you enter the Dao, using it to move laws, using a little force for great power."
Li Hao, surprised by the detailed explanation, saw the vast gap.
True Man and Dao Law realms.
Dao Law could command nature, like a god.
No wonder the two ancient gods' avatars were hard to kill, with Daoist power that was almost indestructible. Daoist power shaped their bodies, barely affected by domains.
One realm difference was like heaven and earth.
"You're talented. If you can see past fame and settle here to cultivate, you'll achieve greatness."
Jiang Lichen advised. "Don't listen to my brother. Running around saving fools, if the world dies, so what? Commoners are born to be trampled. Early death means early rebirth in a rich family, better than a lifetime of toil."
Li Hao was speechless. It was hard to believe a prince spoke like this, sounding more like a villain.
"And Dayu is deeper than you think. Even without you in Youzhou or Qingzhou, if demons cross the line, someone will kill them."
Jiang Lichen scoffed, his eyes flickering. "Dayu is weak but still has hidden cards. The great formations in the god general cities aren't just for show. Stay and cultivate in peace."
With that, he flew back to the city.
Li Hao, stunned, followed him back to the courtyard.
Seeing Jiang Lichen sit back down, Li Hao realized he might be staying.
"Prince, what about the great formations?"
Jiang Lichen waved dismissively. "Knowing less is better. Fewer distractions, clearer mind."
Seeing his reluctance, Li Hao sighed. "Prince, I'm busy here. You should find another place."
"I won't leave until I break your domain."
Jiang Lichen snorted, ignoring Li Hao, his gaze briefly on Ren Qianqian, then back to his tea.
Ren Qianqian, relieved by Li Hao's return, felt uneasy under Jiang Lichen's disdainful glance. She wondered why he seemed to look down on her.
Li Hao, realizing Jiang Lichen was staying, gave up trying to persuade him.
Time passed.
Soldiers reported no news of Elder Feng, despite searches. Even Tianji Tower found nothing, not about Feng, nor the missing fox. Li Hao had asked Tianji Tower to help search, but they had no leads.
Ren Qianqian mentioned the fox vanished one day, initially thought playing, but never returned. Searches found no trace, not even battle signs, just a trail that abruptly ended.
"Hope it's not in trouble…"
Li Hao sighed.
"Looking for someone?"
Jiang Lichen, immersed in sword meditation, overheard and raised an eyebrow. "I saw a fight outside the River of the Dead. Might be your person."
Li Hao, surprised, asked, "Did you see who?"
"Didn't pay much attention, but one had good footwork. Too bad, faced a Taiping Daoist."
Li Hao's heart pounded. Good footwork?
"When was this?"
"Half a month ago."
"Half a month…" Li Hao was stunned. That was after Elder Feng's encounter with Li Tiangang.
Could it be Elder Feng stayed secretly guarding Cangya City, then faced another battle?