by Feng Yise
In Leng Hongxiu's courtyard, Leng Hao had a respectful look, carrying some fawning, and a bit of caution.
One had to say, this Leng Hao was a fierce and ambitious person too.
Many years ago, before Leng Hongxiu became family head, Leng Hao already acknowledged the other party as foster father and ingratiated himself with him in all manners.
One could say that he was a character who was capable of dealing with people.
Although he was a bastard child, his status in the family was still quite high.
Being brothers with the young patriarch, foster father and son with the second master, all these were not what just anybody could achieve.
Of course, Leng Hao doing so was actually just to make his life a little better, his future a little brighter.
He did it.
Except, even he himself also did not expect that Leng Hongxiu would actually become the family head one day, and his close brother, Leng Xu, actually became the Leng Family's marginalized figure.
This made his thoughts stir.
In terms of talent, he was inferior to Leng Xu. But Leng Hao always felt that he was only like this because he was inferior to Leng Xu in terms of resources.
One had to know how much he paid for the sake of today!
As long as he could become the young patriarch, when he grasped power in his hands, his cultivation speed would definitely go up, and his position would also be more stable.
Perhaps one day, he could take charge of the Leng Family!
One had to admit, Leng Hao's schemes were very elaborate.
When Leng Hongxiu saw this gorgeous Dazzling Crane Plumage Garment, his eyes could not help lighting up.
This garment worn on his daughter, Leng Qiuling, would definitely be as beautiful as a fairy.
The Leng Family's most talented descendant was not Leng Xu, let alone Leng Hao, but the Leng Qiuling who was known as an iceberg-beauty.
Several hundred years ago, Leng Qiuling gained enlightenment on Dao on the Heavenspan Mountain at the age of 500 and stepped into the realm of Celestial Deity.
And now, several hundred years passed again, Leng Qiuling already broke through to the Fifth Firmament Celestial Deity Realm!
Such talent, placed in the entire imperial capital, it was an extremely dazzling existence.
In contrast, Leng Xu paled much more in comparison.
What Leng Hongxiu valued the most was also this daughter.
What did it matter if he had no sons?
With this daughter, it was enough!
For Leng Qiuling to be able to become the family head, it naturally had great connection to Leng Qiuling.
Among peers, Leng Hongxiu was not without competitors. But the elders council let him take over the family head with unanimous agreement.
In reality, Leng Qiuling was not just his, Leng Hongxiu's pride, she was also the Leng Family's pride.
The reason why Leng Hao put so much effort on Leng Hongxiu was naturally because of Leng Qiuling too.
"Not bad, very good! Huhu, Hao-er, you're very thoughtful!" Leng Hongxiu nodded his head in satisfaction.
To martial artists, beauty was naturally secondary. The most important thing was that this Dazzling Crane Plumage Garment was a celestial deity mystic treasure, its defensive power extremely strong.
But beauty and tangible benefits being paid equal attention to, who would refuse?
Leng Hao smiled and said, "This is what this child should do! These few years, Foster Father has taken good care of me, Young Sister Qiuling and I are closer than actual brothers and sisters. What does this little thing count for?"
Leng Hongxiu gave Leng Hao a glance and said smilingly, "Hao-er, I've discussed with the elders council a few days ago. They feel that Xu-er continuing to hold the position of young patriarch now is indeed rather awkward. Of course, you also have to bring out the corresponding strength. Ten days later, you and Xu-er will have a competition. The victor will become the new young patriarch! I have no biological son, but you're my son!"
When Leng Hao heard this, he prostrated on the ground, tears on his face as he said, "Foster Father, this child … this child, really don't know what to say."
Leng Hongxiu helped him up and said smilingly, "It's been so many years, does Father still not know your character? You're different from the rest. Back then, I haven't risen to power yet. Qiuling's talent also hasn't been revealed yet, and you got quite close to our family."
Leng Hao's face was extremely moved, but in his heart, he was filled with ecstasy.
So many years of investment, it was finally time for the returns. How could he not be agitated?
Leng Hao was different from the rest. When others were hugging the family head's t.h.i.g.h, he did not go.
Because he did not have that qualification.
Hence, he deliberately approached Leng Xu and Leng Qiuling.
When Leng Qiuling was very young, he saw that terrifying cultivation talent of Leng Qiuling's one time. At that time, he decided to invest in her.
Along with Leng Hao's standing rising, his ambition also grew greater and greater.
Leng Hongxiu said, "I know that your strength is stronger than Xu-er's. But this competition is of utmost importance. Sharpening the spear just before going into battle, even if it's not sharp, it will also be bright. These ten days, you cultivate well, don't be distracted by other things."
Leng Hao bid farewell and left. A beautiful figure stepped out of the void.
"Father!"
Leng Hongxiu looked at his daughter with a doting look and said with a smile, "You and Hao-er played since young. Why is now that you're not even willing to meet him now?"
Leng Qiuling frowned slightly and said, "Big Brother Leng Hao he … changed!"
Leng Hongxiu said, "People will always change. Come, try put on this Dazzling Crane Plumage Garment. This kid is thoughtful too."
Leng Qiuling instinctively resisted a little, but seeing that Father was very enthusiastic, she finally still put it on.
...
In Leng Xu's courtyard, Leng Xu was drowning his sorrows in wine again.
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "There are still ten days, then it's the battle to determine the young patriarch. But you're being dispirited here. Is it really okay?"
Leng Xu directly raised the jar and said to Ye Yuan, "Drink! This kind of lousy thing, care about it for what?"
Ye Yuan pressed down his wine jaw and shook his head and said, "Treat you as a brother, I'll say a few words from the bottom of my heart. If you won't listen, just take it as I didn't say anything."
Seeing Ye Yuan's solemness, Leng Xu could not help being surprised.
These few days, Ye Yuan had been drinking with him to relieve boredom all along, and never said a word.
Today, no idea why, he would actually be so serious.
Leng Xu already regarded Ye Yuan as his only brother now, and naturally attached great importance to his attitude.
He nodded his head, put down the wine jar, and said, "You say."
Ye Yuan said, "This battle, you must go! Furthermore, you must win!"
Leng Xu's brows furrowed and he said, "What for? Brother Ye, I …"
Ye Yuan interrupted him, saying, "I know that you're not inclined towards the position of young patriarch. But it's precisely because of this that you have to go even more! You can disregard this empty reputation. But if you even lose your heart of martial arts, you'll be a walking corpse in the future! This kind of person, who will think much of you? I'm willing to drink with you because I feel that your character is unrestrained and carefree, and not because you're a good-for-nothing! Moreover, your father made you the young patriarch. Do you want to tell everybody that the former family head appointed a good-for-nothing?"
Ye Yuan's words were akin to a series of thunderbolts, which sounded out in Leng Xu's heart.
Ye Yuan continued and said, "Your father was killed; your brother betrayed you. You indeed have sufficient reason to be decadent. But you a
sk yourself, are you resigned to it? Your father's grudge, are you not avenging anymore? Also, Leng Hao, he already wants to send you to your doom. Once he holds power, do you feel that he'll allow you to live? Therefore, this battle, you have to win! Even if after you win, you tell everyone that you feel it is beneath your dignity to be their young patriarch!"
Leng Xu's gaze gradually changed.
From hazy, it became resolute.
Indeed, he had far too many things to do!
Lifting his head, Leng Xu downed the jar of wine and said, "Brother Ye, thank you!"
Chapter 1848 - What the Hell Happened?
"Young Patriarch, it's not good!"
Leng Hao was currently cultivating in closed-seclusion when the black-clothed man suddenly barged in.
The battle to determine the young patriarch was about to come to an end immediately, the black-clothed man observed his speech and countenance, and already quietly changed his term of address.
Sure enough, the moment Leng Hao heard, his mood immediately became much better.
"Mn? What's going on?"
The black-clothed man said, "A few days ago, Leng Xu was still spending his days dispiritedly and indulging in excessive drinking every day. Since yesterday, someone saw him practicing the sword in the courtyard, seemingly very hardworking."
The moment Leng Hao heard, he laughed disdainfully and said, "What is ten days of effort enough to do? No matter how he trains, he's also not my match! You came to interrupt my cultivation for this matter?"
The black-clothed man was startled inwardly and said, "Young Master's many years of hard work has already reached the most critical juncture. You mustn't be careless!"
Leng Hao's brows furrowed. He thought about it and said, "Forget it, your reminder makes sense. There's a bottle of Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder here, enough to make the person's divine essence not circulate smoothly. You find an opportunity and let my good younger brother consume it. This battle, I want to beat him openly and uprightly!"
As he said, Leng Hao fished out a small bottle and passed it to the black-clothed man.
The Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder was colorless and tasteless. Even if one drank it, it would not be discovered either.
Only during the competition would flaws be revealed.
The black-clothed man smiled when he heard that and said, "Many years of long-cherished wish finally becoming real. This lowly one congratulates young patriarch in advance here!"
...
The ten-day period passed in a twinkle. On this day, many people gathered on the Leng Family's practicing field.
The Leng Family's disciples, family guards, even servants, all came to watch this battle of young patriarch.
"Heh, the superficiality of human relationsh.i.p.s, the old family head passed away unexpectedly. Now, Leng Xu can't even keep the position of young patriarch."
"This battle is also just a formality. Leng Xu's strength is not as good as Leng Hao's to begin with."
"If Leng Xu is sensible, he should have directly given up today."
...
The fickleness of human nature was nothing more than this.
The old family head had already died for many years. Now, Leng Hao was akin to the noon-day sun. Everyone all knew that he was about to become the young patriarch. There naturally would not be anyone who would go and fawn on Leng Xu anymore.
In a large family clan like the Leng Family, human relationsh.i.p.s were even colder.
Perhaps because he was about to become the young patriarch, Leng Hao seemed very enthusiastic. He had long arrived at the ring.
For this kind of important event, Leng Hongxiu as well as the Leng Family's elders also all showed up one after another. Only Leng Xu failed to show up.
An elder was somewhat impatient from waiting and said with a cold snort, "Humph! This Leng Xu is also too outrageous, making so many of us elders wait for him alone! I think that he, this young patriarch, really don't have a need to continue to be one anymore."
"Leng Xu is too undisciplined and carefree. He's normally not very respectful to elders. Speaking of which, Leng Hao this child is really not bad."
The other few elders also seemed rather impatient and echoed in agreement.
When Leng Hao heard these elders' discussion, he was pleased with himself inwardly.
These elders, he normally waited upon them nice and cozily. How was it condescending like Leng Xu, not paying any attention to the elders at all?
Hence, Leng Xu's position of young patriarch also sent him onto the road to ruin.
Leng Hao smiled when he heard that and said, "This battle is very important. Young Brother Xu preparing longer is understandable. Hope that elders can be patient and wait a while longer."
Leng Hao's words immediately made the elders feel content.
Even Leng Hongxiu also could not nitpick any problem, secretly nodding his head.
Except, that celestial maiden-looking woman next to him furrowed her brows, appearing somewhat uncomfortable.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd, automatically opening up a path.
A handsome young man leaped lighting, jumping onto the ring.
He looked at Leng Hao and said with a faint smile, "It's still Big Brother Hao who understands me. Such an important battle, how can I not prepare properly?"
The current Leng Xu, the decadence on his face was swept clean, his spirits soaring, like he gained a new lease on life.
When Leng Hao saw that faint smile of Leng Xu's, he could not help being surprised in his heart.
In the past, what he saw in Leng Xu's eyes was pain and decadence. But the Leng Xu today seemed to be different from in the past.
What the hell happened in these ten days?
Suddenly, his face changed and he said, "You actually broke through!"
Leng Xu nodded as he smiled and said, "Today's opponent is Big Brother Leng Hao. So how can I not work harder?"
Seeing the surprise on Leng Hao's face, a hint of delight flashed across in Leng Xu's heart.
Today, he wanted everyone to know that he, Leng Xu, was the Leng Family's number one genius!
This young patriarch, I don't want it!
Of course, him being able to break through was naturally all thanks to Ye Yuan.
His realm was just initial-stage Fourth Firmament Celestial Deity. Originally, it was naturally impossible to break through so quickly. It was Ye Yuan's void spirit divine pill that let him break through to middle-stage in a short ten days.
Leng Hao's realm was late-stage Fourth Firmament Celestial Deity. This way, the gap between the two immediately narrowed significantly.
Although Leng Hao's talent was pretty good, Leng Xu's was clearly a notch higher. His law comprehension was stronger than Leng Hao's!
Leng Hao's expression was somewhat awkward as he smiled and said, "Haha, very good! However, my realm is still higher than yours, there's absolutely no way that I lose to you!"
Leng Xu looked at Leng Hao and said with a calm smile, "Is that so? Big Brother Leng Hao, you've always been the big brother in my heart. You're my goal to catch-up and surpass! And today, I'm going to catch-up from behind!"
He was not joking. Leng Hao's strength indeed looked down on everyone among the Leng Family's junior generation.
Otherwise, with his illegitimate identity, it was also impossible to be recognized as the young patriarch.
Leng Hao had always been an irreplaceable elder brother in Leng Xu's heart. Hence, that was why he would be so decadent being edged out by Leng Hao.
A stalwart image crumbling in one's heart, this blow was tremendous.
But under Ye Yuan's help, he finally still got up.
Seeing that confident gaze of Leng Xu's, Leng Hao sneered incessantly in his heart.
Leng Xu already drank the Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder, even if his realm broke through again, it was also useless!
This battle, it could only be him who won
!
Leng Hongxiu smiled and said, "Since Xu-er has also come, then this battle for young patriarch begins."
With the battle starting, sword energy immediately crisscrossed on the stage.
The two people were experts in the sword, law comprehensions were also both comprehended to rank five. The cultivation method that they cultivated was also pretty much the same.
However, the late-stage Fourth Firmament Celestial Deity Leng Hao actually could not gain any advantage over Leng Xu!
The more Leng Hao fought, the more alarmed he got. Leng Xu's power of law also improved!
What the hell happened in these ten days?
Why did Leng Xu become like a different person from before?
Furthermore … why didn't the Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder show effect until now?
Leng Hao was practically going crazy in his heart!
"Big Brother Leng Hao, being absent-minded, you'll lose!" Leng Xu said with a smile.
Leng Hao was startled inwardly, the force from his hands increasing a bit more.
But he was very puzzled. Why didn't the Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder show effect until now?
"Is Big Brother Leng Hao waiting for the Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder to take effect? Don't need to wait. I indeed drank the Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder, but … the poison has already been detoxified!"
Right at this time, Leng Xu suddenly opened his mouth again.
Leng Hao was wildly shaken in his heart. The Heavenly Fragrance Tendon Softening Powder's poison was resolved!
How was this possible?
Chapter 1849 - Spectacular Blunder
This sudden change shook Leng Hao's mind.
For a moment, he was actually suppressed by Leng XU.
"No way, I absolutely can't lose!"
A voice shouted in Leng Hao's heart.
He prepared for so many years, living like a dog.
Now that he had a chance to turn things around, how could he lose?
"Xi Yu Hao Ling Sword!"
Leng Hao shouted. A sword emerging, the four directions trembled, the entire ring teemed with his sword intent.
"So strong! Indeed worthy of being Leng Hao, to actually cultivate my Leng Family's strongest sword style, Xi Yu Hao Ling Sword, to such a level!"