Chapter Twenty-Seven: Underestimated

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Underestimated by the Senior Sister During Registration

In this remote and secluded hall, there were only a handful of people registering. At that moment, as Li Hao and his companions arrived, a great throng followed behind them, forming a long, snaking line like a dragon.

The twelve young men and women responsible for handling registrations here all wore the same incredulous expression, as if all those people had been summoned by the few youths at the front. Although it was the first day—typically the busiest—they were, in fact, the most relaxed among the twelve registration points. Their location was the furthest away, and since riding mounts was forbidden within the palace grounds, everyone had to come here on foot. Thus, most avoided this distant hall, with only a few choosing to make the journey.

They had just been discussing how easy it was to oversee registration, not expecting such a sudden influx. What surprised them even more was that the crowd had gathered because of a single act of heroism by Li Hao—a spectacle that had drawn them all here.

The cultivators presiding over registration were all core disciples of the Inner Palace of the Myriad Treasures Palace. In order to better nurture young talent, the Lujiashan Star Domain entrusted many affairs to gifted disciples, leaving only those matters they could not handle to the palace elders, passing tasks up the hierarchy as needed.

Among these young cultivators overseeing registration were seven men and five women, all handsome or striking in their own way, and all roughly a hundred years old. Their cultivation was at the initial stage of the Realm-Breaking tier.

Though cultivators’ techniques and laws varied widely, their realms were the same.

“Men to the left, women to the right. Line up, one after another—don’t crowd,” called out a young man who appeared to be in his twenties.

There was a touch of personal motive in this arrangement; the hearts of young men and women are ever thus. The men wished to meet these pretty young ladies, and the women were curious to see the dashing boys—a sentiment as old as time.

Time passes, and youth’s brilliance is not always clear and bright; it can become clouded as well.

The young men and women obeyed the instructions, though a few shamelessly cut in line. As long as these minor transgressions did not hinder the proceedings, the registrars turned a blind eye.

“Next, next…” The young people of Myriad Treasures Palace had only called “next” a few times before it was Li Hao’s turn.

“Go on, don’t make trouble.”

The beautiful young woman handling Li Hao’s registration saw a child of about ten and thought to herself: another mischievous brat from some noble clan. With a hint of annoyance, she spoke to Li Hao.

“Hello, beautiful sister! My name is Li Hao, and I’m here to register.”

Li Hao’s face wore a gentle, harmonious smile as he addressed her.

“Little brother, everyone here says they’re here to register. How can you prove you’re truly here for that?” The young woman’s mood brightened at Li Hao’s sweet address. His handsome features and charming smile, coupled with his polite words, softened her. She spoke in a teasing tone, not taking his registration seriously at all.

“Sister, is there an age requirement for registration?” Li Hao asked calmly, undisturbed.

“There is—anyone over six hundred years old is not eligible,” she replied, still courteous and patient.

“Then, sister, is there any rule against those who are too young?” Li Hao pressed.

She shook her head, “No, there isn’t.”

Li Hao continued, “Do you think I look older than six hundred?”

A peal of silvery laughter rang from her lips. When she finally caught her breath, she answered, “Little brother, stop teasing me, will you? You don’t look a day over six hundred!”

“So, will you register me?” Li Hao asked.

At this, the young woman could only stifle another laugh, left speechless by Li Hao’s clever questions. The others, witnessing this verbal sparring, refrained from interfering, finding it highly amusing. None had expected Li Hao’s simple, witty retorts to leave the senior sister at a loss, or that he’d turn the scene into such merriment. The young woman felt thoroughly embarrassed, while those around burst into laughter.

Lu Xuemei, Lu Yao, Lu Zhengtian, Lin Huashu, Kuihu, and the others, hearing the uproar, all glanced over in curiosity, their eyes landing on Li Hao. They were eager to know what he had done to cause such delight.

In the end, the young woman could only shoot Li Hao a bashful, flirtatious glance before gesturing to the array-integrated registration mirror. “First, channel your cultivation law into the mirror, then use the laws of heaven and earth to write your name, age, and the selection events you wish to enter on the screen. Your details will then appear on the Judgement Hall’s roster.”

Li Hao responded with an unruffled “Thank you,” and, gathering his power, lightly placed his palm on the screen.

As Li Hao’s cultivation information appeared, everyone witnessed a most peculiar scene: Cultivation—Foundation Establishment, Grand Completion; Attribute—None.

Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, time, space, darkness—normally, all these attributes are clearly listed on one’s record. Li Hao’s, however, said simply “None.” How could this be explained?

The young woman in charge pondered for a long time, unsure what to do. She consulted her colleagues, all of whom suspected the registration array was malfunctioning. The surrounding youths whispered and speculated, but no conclusion was reached.

Then, each core member overseeing registration tried the array themselves; their own attributes displayed correctly. They concluded that Li Hao must possess some kind of mutated attribute, and many were envious. Li Hao himself was puzzled. Despite all his learning from the Divine Herbalist, he had never heard of a “none” attribute among the laws of heaven and earth.

Though baffled, he continued with the process. With flowing ease, he wrote his information on the screen in a bold, sweeping script: Name—Li Hao, Age—Ten, Events—All.

Everyone gaped in shock at the fluid and majestic calligraphy. No one had imagined that, at such a young age, Li Hao’s skill with the brush would be so profound. When he finished, silence fell. No one in history had ever dared register for all events at once—Li Hao had set a new record for the Lujiashan Star Domain.

Regardless of whether he would excel in the upcoming trials, his sheer audacity had already won the admiration of all the young people present. Seeing his cultivation—Foundation Establishment, Grand Completion—his age, and his masterful calligraphy, none regarded him as a mere child any longer.

Even without considering other factors, Li Hao’s age, cultivation, and calligraphy alone would single him out in the selection trials. No one who witnessed this moment dared underestimate him again; he was now viewed as a formidable competitor.

Having finished, Li Hao asked, “Is that all right, sister?”

The young woman overseeing registration was stunned for a long moment before stammering, “Y-yes… You may go!”

Even after speaking, she was still in a daze. In her heart, Li Hao possessed not only a unique and mutated power, but also extraordinary talent and calligraphic artistry. She had truly learned the meaning of the saying: beyond people, there are always greater people; beyond the heavens, higher heavens.

Only then did those present gradually recover from their shock and resume registering.

Meanwhile, Lu Yao faced a similar situation. She stated directly, “I’m here to register today.”

Lu Xuemei, standing behind her, quickly chimed in, “That’s right, she’s my younger sister—she’s really here to register.”

The young man handling their registration, distracted by Lu Xuemei’s ethereal beauty, conducted the process in a daze, hardly knowing how he managed it. Lu Yao, though still a child and not yet fully grown, was no less lovely; she simply served as a foil for Lu Xuemei for now.

After both sisters had registered, the young man emerged from his reverie, mortified at his own performance in front of these younger peers. If word got out, he wondered, how would he ever show his face again?

But no one cared about the young man’s embarrassment. There were still registrations to complete, and the flow of new arrivals soon pulled him from his awkward thoughts.

The registration for the other groups—Lu Zhengtian, Lin Huashu, Kuihu, and the rest—went off without incident. To speed up the process, they had split into small groups of one or two and, after registering, circled around the crowd for several minutes before regrouping.

Lu Zhengtian was the first to speak. “Brother Li Hao, Meier, Sister Yao, did your registrations go smoothly?”

Everyone replied in unison, “All went well.”

“This is my first time here, and there’s little to do over the next few days. I’d like to explore the area and see the sights. Let’s do it together!” Lu Zhengtian suggested.

“Great! I’d love that!” As soon as shopping and sightseeing were mentioned, Lu Yao grew the most animated, hopping about like a little sparrow and prompting laughter from the group.

“I haven’t seen my brother in years,” Lu Xuemei added. “Now that we have the time, I want to spend it with him. Who knows when we’ll meet again?”

She and Lu Zhengtian had been separated for twenty years, and she missed her brother dearly, wishing to make the most of these fleeting days together.

“Ten years have passed since winter’s end and spring’s return,
Friends scattered far and wide, rare to reunite.
Three thousand years vanish in a snap,
When and where shall we meet again?
Today, we gather here as one,
May our friendship last until dawn.”

At that moment, Lin Huashu, reflecting on how uncertain their next meeting might be, recited this verse. Normally, Lu Zhengtian would have teased Lin for his poetic musings, but now all were absorbed in the sentiment: it is easy to part, but so hard for true friends to meet again. Li Hao, too, thought of his family, from whom he had been long separated, and felt a deep, inexpressible melancholy.

After several minutes of silent walking, it was Li Hao who finally broke the stillness.

“Brother Zhengtian, Sister Xuemei, I won’t be joining you. I’d like to use these days to practice the Phantom Shadow Steps you gave me, brother, and also to study the Brushwork of Heaven and Earth that Brother Huashu lent me. Both will be of great help for the trials in three days.”

Li Hao’s longing to see his parents and find his grandfather was urgent, and his thirst for cultivation could not be quenched. He planned to bid farewell to his friends.

“Then I’ll look forward to seeing you shine in the selection trials, brother. The event lasts several months, so we’ll have plenty of time together. If you need to train, that’s fine.”

“Farewell for now, brothers and sisters. See you at the trials!”

“See you at the trials!” they all echoed in farewell. Li Hao, who had arrived with Lu Xuemei on the Ice Phoenix, now borrowed Lu Zhengtian’s mount and soared toward the outskirts of Lishui City.