Chapter 512
He looked up at the ice sculpture for a few seconds, then lowered his head, questioning life for a moment, before raising it again to look at her.
Suddenly, his hand was gently taken by the ice sculpture, and a delicate, soft sensation enveloped him.
Li Mo was taken aback, realizing his hand was clasped in hers, resting against her exquisite face.
Ying Bing smiled softly, her bright eyes sparkling as she gazed at the dazed boy in front of her.
“Childish.”
“.....”
Li Mo leaned back slightly, feeling a sudden breathlessness.
It was like the first encounter in life, like a long-awaited reunion, like regaining something lost after a beautiful dream had faded. From a scene of spring's warmth to waking in a sunny day, it felt as if sunlight flowed quietly, something rising with the wind, and even when the wind ceased, it continued to thrive...
“Ice sculpture.”
“Hmm?”
“After we pass through the noon gate, can we just stay in the carriage?”
“Sure.” Ying Bing nodded.
Li Mo was momentarily stunned. “But I haven’t even said why...”
“Then why?”
Looking into her eyes, filled with laughter, Li Mo forgot the serious lines he had prepared. All his reasons suddenly felt inexplicably pale.
Well, fine.
He had indeed learned a bad habit from Shang Wu—protecting his food.
And it seemed he had surpassed his teacher...
The noise from outside felt like a storm brewing, as if he were in the clouds during a downpour. It was a beautifully sunny day, yet he could still sense the roar of the mountains and the sea.
The noon gate was treated like a dragon gate, casting shadows on the map of the nation, showcasing the latest rankings of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
The Qianlong List was also present today, though the Qianlong Conference had already passed.
“Have you heard about the Qianlong List...”
“What era is this? Why are you still looking at the Qianlong List? Check out the Baihua List instead!”
“For example, the new nickname for Li Shaoxia.”
“Ugh... I told my wife the same thing. She just let me out today.”
Among the crowd, a few gentlemen exchanged polite gestures, their shared admiration evident.
“Shen Chui, Xiao Bawang, Wang Qi—none of these are easy to drop, but Li Shaoxia has indeed made a name for himself in the capital, captivating everyone.”
“Did you know? The sword that Li Shaoxia borrowed that day, although its material hasn’t changed, its sword energy has surged, becoming even sharper.”
“Right, right! The best sword in our village is almost ready to give birth to sword intent!”
“Doesn’t that make him a benefactor to many swordsmen?”
“That complicates things. It seems we have to add a nickname for swordsmen too, but it’s a shame to drop any of his current ones...”
“Hey, don’t forget, he’s still the owner of Wanchun Pavilion and Fengyue Xiaozhu. He’s loaded, so how can we not add to that?”
The crowd in the teahouse was intrigued, their attention shifting from admiring the beauties to discussing the top nickname on the Qianlong List.
From the outer city to the inner city’s noon gate, there were teahouses, taverns, and splendid pavilions in succession.
In the carriage, Li Mo, holding Ying Bing’s hand, also heard the discussions outside.
With the commotion surrounding Shen Chui, Li Mo had to divert his attention.
“I just remembered, Tian Miao seems to have sent me a message.”
“What did she say?”
“She said her master approved, and they’re giving me a sword immortal nickname.”
As he spoke, Li Mo glanced at the Qianlong List hanging high above the noon gate, excitement hidden in his brows.
“But today, I have to return the Tianren Divine Sword.”
Ying Bing frowned slightly.
“Ice sculpture, you’re not thinking of ways to keep the divine sword, are you?” Li Mo chuckled, bemused.
To his surprise, Ying Bing looked at him coolly and nodded slightly.
Li Mo: “....”
Wait, is she really considering this?
“The divine sword has served its purpose in my hands.”
Li Mo showed no signs of reluctance.
“On that day, I used the divine sword to summon a thousand swords into the sky. Now, with thousands of swordsmen, I’ve earned their respect, so it’s no wonder Tian Miao said my nickname as a swordsman is well-deserved.”
Little Li, the swordsman, remained true to his original intention.
He wielded his sword to seek recognition, and now, where better to shine than on the grand stage of the Qianlong?
The divine sword had already brought him what he desired.
“I wonder what Yantian Sect has named me?”
Little Li felt a flicker of anticipation.
After all, he had put in so much effort, and now it was finally time to reap the rewards...
Meanwhile, names began to flash across the Qianlong List, reaching the top three. When the second name appeared, the crowd erupted in gasps and discussions.
The name “Han Xianzi” was frequently heard.
After all, she was now officially ranked second on both lists.
“If you ask me, she should be first on both lists; I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“It might take a few more years for her to surpass the empress on the Baihua List, but the Qianlong List is hard to say. But that doesn’t matter; they have nothing to compete over…”
“The top spot is out!”
In the next moment, the noon gate was alive with vibrant colors, radiant light filling the air, and the grand characters appeared:
【Qianlong List First: Li Mo】
【Martial Arts: Observing the Divine Nine Apertures, terrifying mastery in horizontal training, comparable to Xuanbing, Chui Dao reaching the divine, swordsmanship like tempered steel, able to wield the Tianren Divine Sword, seemingly due to Han Xianzi’s careful teaching, a natural talent in forging, divine intent unclear, yet surpassing divine form.】
【Achievements: Defeated the former Qianlong Sixteenth, Helian Wu, with the potential of a divine general, able to wield a hundred kinds of weapons, amidst the chaos, slaying the former national master, dispelling the blood god’s phantom, shaking the southern borders, and at the Qianlong Conference, defeating many renowned talents, including Xie Xuan, Ning Que, and Prince Jiang Yu... In the battle with Han Xianzi, it seems he was merely performing for the audience, hence not counted...】
【Nickname: Wang Qi Xiao Bawang, Li Qun Jianhao.】
“The nickname really changed!!”
“Chui is gone? Well, not many have seen him use a hammer...”
“This new nickname is quite unique, yet fitting.”
“Haha, Brother Li must be getting his wish fulfilled this time.”
“Brother Li has walked a thin line in the way of the sword; this is what he deserves.”
Huang Donglai, Xiao Qin, and Murong Xiao, each watching the Qianlong List from behind, wore smiles of joy for their friend.
They all knew that Little Li had always harbored a dream of becoming a swordsman.
Now, with his name at the top of the Qianlong List, shining across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, echoing through the four seas, he was a diligent soul who had finally reaped his rewards.
They exchanged glances, understanding each other’s thoughts.
My brother is the top of the Qianlong List; I truly have face. When Brother Li is at his peak, how can there be no prestige?
“Li Qun Jianhao!”
The three of them shouted in unison.
Instantly, others joined in, creating a chorus that resonated.
“Li Qun Jianhao!”
Throughout the inner and outer cities of the imperial capital, everyone was shouting this name in unison, and golden rain began to fall from the sky. This name would leave a vivid mark in the annals of the Great Yu Dynasty...
And they remained blissfully unaware.
Listening to the roar of the crowd, the bronze carriage was eerily quiet, as if a pin could be heard dropping.
Little Li Jianhao wore a face of disbelief, his eyes vacant.
He never expected this; he had given so much...
“Forget your Li Qun Jianhao!”
“I’m still the King of the Lotus Sword!”
---
Chapter 579: Baihua Second, Empress Chu Ge?
The little Li Jianhao, now feeling melancholic, truly wished for a group chat to calm down; otherwise, he feared losing his sanity.
Unfortunately, there was no group chat in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
He could only take a deep breath, inhaling the essence of the ice sculpture, gradually calming his emotions.
Seeing Li Mo’s face filled with existential doubt, Ying Bing tilted her head.
“Isn’t this nickname nice?”
Li Mo didn’t know how to explain. “It’s not that it’s not nice... it’s just that... you wouldn’t understand what it means...”
“Benefiting the masses is called Li Qun?” Ying Bing pondered for a moment, seeming to find it quite fitting.
“.....”
After being stared at for a while, Li Mo was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. He suddenly felt that this nickname made a certain sense.
Why bother being so concerned?
Li Qun Jianhao is just Li Qun Jianhao...
Once the Qianlong List was revealed, the noon gate transformed from a grand spectacle into a blooming garden, with onlookers holding their breath in anticipation.
Now, the main event of the day was about to begin!
Countless gazes converged at the noon gate, petals scattered along the path, creating a flurry of floral rain.
【Baihua First Hundred】: “Qiao Liuzhu.”
【Baihua Ninety-Ninth】: “Tan Jingqiu.”
【Baihua Ninety-Eighth】: “Wang Ning.”
...
As names appeared, the Baihua participants would step down from their carriages, adorned in splendid attire, passing through the noon gate amidst ethereal melodies.
Though summer had already arrived, the city was filled with a riot of colors, captivating the eye.
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