The prefectural city of Clear River was brightly lit. Although it was already past midnight, the streets were still filled with people. It was bustling and noisy. The dazzling lanterns and bustling stages all attracted people to stop and linger around like it was some grand festival. However, today was not a festival.
Most of the common people had no idea why they were celebrating. They only knew that the prefectural city had become lively with a stroke of the pen from the prefectural prefectural city. They vaguely knew it was because of the Scarlet Hawk commander, Li Qingshan.
However, the entire cultivation community of the Ruyi commandery was shaken up by this. Li Qingshan's name rang through the Green province, spreading to the other provinces.
The lanterns on the upper floor were resplendent. A grand banquet was currently being held. Streaks of light constantly flew over and were invited into the building. However, only Foundation Establishment cultivators who had undergone the first heavenly tribulation at the very least had the right to set foot on the platform on the top floor, and they had to be a little more careful with their words and actions.
In a corner of the platform, Gu Yanying and Han Anjun were discussing something. Han Anjun, who had always been stern, smiled slightly too. The Marquis of Ruyi listened to them from one side, and to their left and right were all Golden Core cultivators who had undergone the second heavenly tribulation.
Although there were fewer of them due to the disaster of the Exhibition Matches of the Nine Prefectures, and everyone had concealed their auras, the presences they gave off still made people feel slightly pressured.
"They're here!" Gu Yanying suddenly looked back at the horizon.
Under everyone's gazes, Li Qingshan descended from the sky with Han Qiongzhi.
Li Qingshan was dressed in a set of azure, tight robes. His bearing was as lofty as a mountain, making him look around proudly. Han Qiongzhi was dressed in splendid clothes too. She wore a fiery-red palace dress that was as bright as fire, outlining her graceful figure. They were truly a perfect match, as if they were a match made in heaven.
In the past, there had even been people who found it difficult to understand why the daughter of the Han family would take the initiative to pursue a kid from the countryside.
It was rumored that Han Anjun had vehemently objected to it. Because of this, she had almost fallen out with the Han family. In the end, she even ended up living together with him without any status.
Although the cultivation community was not as particular about birth and etiquette as the secular world, it had basically become a laughing stock among the aristocratic clans of the Clear River prefecture and Ruyi commandery. They all said that Han Qiongzhi had become infatuated. However, Han Qiongzhi never cared about these rumors, and Li Qingshan didn't have the time to listen to such gossip.
Now, everyone admired Han Qiongzhi's foresight. Such a peerless genius was enough to make a large sect flourish. It would be easy for him to establish an aristocratic family that was not inferior to the Han Family!
No matter how pessimistic Han Anjun was about this relationship, he couldn't help but nod slightly at this moment. Merely from the perspective of a cultivator, he couldn't help but sigh with admiration.
He had admired Li Qingshan from the very beginning. The reason why he refused to accept Li Qingshan as his son-in-law was not because he despised Li Qingshan's low birth as the rumors said. On the contrary, he was worried that his daughter would not be able to control such a man, and it was indeed so. In his entire life, the only woman with such magnanimity was probably the smiling Gu Yanying beside him who held a folding fan.
Fortunately, she had abstained from romantic relationships, so it was impossible for her to have any thoughts about Li Qingshan. Otherwise, his daughter really would be done for. Li Qingshan was not an irresponsible person either. What he did was equivalent to declaring his relationship with Han Qiongzhi once again.
Han Tieyi was happy for his elder sister too. His brother-in-law did things as he pleased, completely different from "infatuation". At least he had not let down his elder sister's love.
"Daughter, speaking of which, you knew commander Li first. I think you even saved him back then!"
In the small garden on the top floor, the patriarch of the Hua family said to Hua Chenglu. His voice was filled with pity.
Even though Hua Chenglu had become much more mature after the Wisdom Imbuement, she could not help but roll her eyes at her father before raising her head again.
Back then, she was still a little girl. She was ignorant about the matters between men and women. Now that she thought about it, she did feel a hint of regret. If she had taken action first back then, this lustful elder brother would not have turned her down at all with her charm! Sigh, first impressions are the strongest in everything …
Suddenly, she shook her head. What am I thinking about? Big sister Han treats me like her own younger sister. How can I think about something so shameful?
She was not envious of the limitless glory. She just wanted to stay by his side legitimately. Once feelings arose, it was difficult for her to forget them. Female cultivators really did have the heaviest tribulations of love. Suddenly, she understood her elder brother a little. Since she had already fallen in love with a man like that, what interest would she have in other men? She would be better off focusing on cultivation.
Hua Chenglu sighed gently. This could be considered a good thing! At the very least, she was not as obsessed with the word "love" as Hwa Seung-zan was.
Because of Gu Yanying, Hwa Seung-zan did not appear tonight. Even if he drank a thousand cups of Water of Oblivion, he would still fall in love at first sight if they met again. This was something he understood.
The patriarch of the Hua family shook his head. The Han family had really struck it rich! However, he also understood that even if his daughter was willing, he might not have agreed. His objections would definitely have been even more intense than Han Anjun's. Who would have thought that a country bumpkin could actually reach such a level in a mere dozen or so years!
Everyone had different thoughts as they cast different gazes at Li Qingshan. Li Qingshan remained unperturbed. He looked down and smiled.
This celebration was Liu Changqing's suggestion. Originally, Li Qingshan might not have accepted it with his personality, but when he considered his own plans, he still agreed.
However, since he was already here, there was no need for him to care about keeping a low profile!
Tonight, he would make Li Qingshan's name known throughout the world, completing the ambition of that mountain village teenager in the past!
In that instant, Li Qingshan's aura completely erupted. Demon qi surged, and malice surged into the air. The stars and moon dimmed in comparison!
Everyone felt a tremendous pressure weigh down on their heads, filled with pressure and aggressiveness. Even their breathing became rather difficult. If it were not for the fact that this power only spread out in all directions aimlessly and did not target a single person, no one present apart from the Golden Core cultivators would have been able to endure it.
The Golden Core cultivators were even more shocked, Didn't he just undergo the second heavenly tribulation? How is he so powerful? If they really fight, there probably aren't a lot of people present who are his opponent!
On a tall tower in the distance, Yin Xiaochou stood with his sword on his back. He silently closed his eyes and sensed the aura. He sighed. "Is this the Demon Suppression Statuary? It really is powerful. No, it's not just the cultivation method. It's also because of this person. The Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga has produced such a genius. Among the younger generation of the Sword Collection palace, no one can surpass him apart from first senior brother! Fortunately, he doesn't come from the Umbral Yin sect, or he would definitely become a great problem. "
"Stop showing off. You can go down now!" Han Qiongzhi secretly pinched Li Qingshan. In the beginning, she felt rather proud of receiving the attention of so many people, but as time went on, she began to feel uneasy.
"Aren't I trying to make you proud?" Li Qingshan replied with a smile.
"Hmph, I think you're doing it for your own happiness!"
Han Qiongzhi said. So be it if he had suddenly entered secluded cultivation for a few years, but the first person he went to after emerging was actually Hua Chenglu. She had actually only found out he had emerged from secluded cultivation after receiving a notification.
Li Qingshan knew why she was angry. Following the principle of a lion using its full strength even when hunting a rabbit, he first completely refined the half of the Cursive Sword Calligraphy he had obtained from Mo Yu before handing it to Chu Danqing. Afterwards, he comprehended the sword intent within it. He spent two days on this. Time was tight, so he did not have the time to go to her.
In her anger, Han Qiongzhi did not even watch his battle with Yin Xiaochou. Of course, she also knew that he had undergone the second heavenly tribulation a long time ago, so there was no reason for him to lose, let alone face life-threatening danger.
Li Qingshan also knew that he had done something slightly wrong, so he tried to persuade her. "Zhi 'er, it's all my fault. Don't be angry. I'll definitely make it up to you tonight, so you can resolve the pain of yearning you've endured these past few years!"
"I don't want to. You can go find other women to pass your time!"
Han Qiongzhi turned him down flatly, but her heart softened. She was very curious about what she would have to do so that she would never be able to forgive this reckless man. As long as he said a few more sweet words, all of her anger would vanish.
"Which woman can compare to my Zhi 'er?"
Li Qingshan said with a smile. He landed on the second floor, and he did not purposefully hold back, nor did he purposefully release his emotions. He clasped his hands in greeting, then took his seat and toasted the Golden Core cultivators one by one.
The first was obviously Han Anjun. His father-in-law did not say anything, and he drank all the wine in his cup in one gulp.
Next was his superior, Gu Yanying. Commander Gu said, "Congratulations!" Then she said, "Come to my Waterside Pavilion of Listening Wind tomorrow!"
Li Qingshan said, "That's exactly what I intend to do!"
Afterwards, Li Qingshan drank to his heart's content. The entire building was filled with guests and hosts.
Qian Rongzhi withdrew her gaze and began patrolling the building. This was her duty as a White Wolf guard.
Suddenly, a voice rang out, "May I ask if you're senior Qian Rongzhi?"
Qian Rongzhi turned around and saw a handsome young man standing there. He said, "I'm Lin Xuan, also from the Hundred Schools of Thought of the Clear River prefecture. I'm still cultivating in the school of Daoism right now, so I've heard of senior's great name a long time ago!"
Qian Rongzhi had heard of this name before. He was a rising star from the Hundred Schools of Thought of the Clear River prefecture. He had made quite a name for himself in the past few years, but she had seen far too many geniuses in her life. Let alone Li Qingshan and Little Ann, even she herself had been crowned as a genius now. She had once received Yin Xiaochou's letter of challenge, but she had completely ignored it.
As a result, she did not believe a measly Qi Practitioner like that was worth his attention. She only found his gaze to be sincere and his bearing to be gentle, which made her recall a distant memory for some reason.
"What's the matter?"
… …
The next morning, lotus flowers flowed endlessly in the Waterside Pavilion of Listening Wind, filling the surroundings with a refreshing fragrance.
Li Qingshan and Gu Yanying sat before one another, tasting tea together. They were very leisurely.
Gu Yanying placed down her teacup. "In other words, you've made up your mind about going to the Mist province!"
Li Qingshan smiled. "The world is pressing. With my cultivation, I can't possibly remain a Scarlet Hawk commander, and according to my knowledge, there's no empty position for me in the Green province!"
Gu Yanying said, "And, with your name right now, neither the imperial government nor the Hawkwolf Guard will let you leave. Even the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga can't do anything about it!"
Having a resounding name was both a good thing and a bad thing. A supreme genius who had undergone the second heavenly tribulation before the age of thirty was something that even the imperial government could not help but value. They had to keep them within the system. Although the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga was renowned throughout the Green province, it was impossible for them to contend against the Hawkwolf Guard or even the Great Xia empire.
"Oh right, you should return to the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga to take a look!"
"There's no rush for that." Li Qingshan planned on pushing the first seven layers of the Demon Suppression Statuary to the peak before attempting the eighth floor of the Demon Suppression hall.
"That girl of yours has already emerged!"
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