After the small battle when Hao Ren took control of the Biron Kingdom, the news spread throughout the Spirit Siphon Continent, some people were stunned and some credited luck. They even went as far as to say that Hao Ren was lucky that he attacked a weaker nation and is riding a temporary wind of success.
The young man didn't bother with such people, he was used to them. One of the forces called Star Clouds Sect tried to venture inside the borders of the Biron Kingdom when the formation crew was amidst of setting up the barrier, but over fifty experts in the Dao Dust realm were slayed by Ye Yue who was guarding that position.
The Star Cloud Sect sent twenty Dao Land level experts who were dealt with by Hao Mei alone. The scary battle proficiency made the sect hesitate and the barrier was erected properly. After all, losing seventy high level experts was not something worth it. The disciples of the experts were hateful and they tried to attack the barrier, however, they couldn't even cause the barrier to ripple.
After that, one year had passed and the Biron Kingdom had been reformed completely. The people couldn't even believe the changes they had gone through in the past few months, but their lives had changed completely and the number of talents in the country was growing faster than ever before.
None of the nobles dared to do anything bad, nobody got away with the abuse of power. Every city had a challenge platform and if someone wanted to settle any issues, they would fight each other. Hao Ren also set up academies where the young were guided in the ways of cultivation. However, something new had been established. Once a week, the people of all the cities or town were asked to pray for the safety of the nation.
None of the people were averted to it, because after bearing the flag and the marks of the Crescent Moon Empire, the prayers were akin to a blessing to the rulers and majority of them went to Han Lingshi.
Han Lingshi and Hao Ren had returned to the Crescent Moon Palace, they were sitting face to face and the young lady said, "Ren, these days I am feeling that my Dao comprehension has been getting smoother and smoother, what is this?"
Hao Ren smiled and said, "I told you about the Sage realm, right? This is the first sign. From now on, when you try to comprehend the Dao, try to condense a halo of spiritual energy around yourself and engrave the Dao comprehension on the halo. Gradually, you will be able to condense a Halo of the Dao Sage."
Han Lingshi frowned and asked, "Won't the Halo dissolve in the surroundings?" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel(ꜰ)ire.net
Hao Ren shook his head and said, "The halo condensed from your comprehension will stay with you, why will it dissolve?"
Thinking about it, the girl nodded and then she said, "I will try. What about you? I know that the majority of the Prayers aids me, what will you do?"
Hao Ren replied, "I have been focusing on my sword path now a days, and will move ahead in realms when I have realized the limits of sword dao."
Han Lingshi frowned and said, "I don't . Why do you have to take the hard way and I can sail smoothly with the aid of the incense?"
Hao Ren replied calmly, "You are thinking too much. Your cultivation technique may have been modified but it is still the nine revolution empress sutra at the core. You need the acknowledgement of the citizens to grow stronger."
Han Lingshi sighed and said, "I feel so complicated regarding this entire thing. You know I feel like I am betraying the people of the nation."
Hao Ren shook his head and said, "It's not like that, when you become a sage, you can hold lectures and help them grow stronger. There is no such thing as betrayal here. I will tell them about the method to become the sage when I have achieved it. Don't worry."
Han Lingshi sighed and said, "I don't know.."
The young man frowned and asked, "Then do you just want to keep on giving whatever you have? If you spoil them so much then you will end up dry. Do you want that? Maybe, but I don't, and I can't care less about the world, but if anything tried to limit your future I will destroy that reason be it gods, demons, buddhas or even the citizen."
That said, he stood up and left the pavilion. Han Lingshi was surprised, but then she sighed. Ye Yin appeared beside her and said, "Your Majesty, if I may?"
Han Lingshi nodded gently and Ye Yin said, "His majesty has always done what you wanted, and he has been keeping the interest of the populace above his own or yours all this time. If you keep on insisting, I am worried that he might actually slay a few people and destroy his image."
Han Lingshi sighed and said, "Well, what can I say, we both want more strength and power, however, the price it comes with makes me uncomfortable. I cannot help but think, what if the people found out and they thought of us as those other strong people."
Ye Yin shook her head and replied, "Your Majesty, you are looking too deep into it. Even if you are asking them for the devout incense, it is nothing compared to what they had to sacrifice before you became the Queen."
Han Lingshi sighed over and over again and at this moment, Agnee approached the pavilion. She looked at the two ladies and then turned around. Han Lingshi asked, "Agnee, what happened?"
The girl shook her head and said, "What else, Baba is fighting with Uncle Jian and they are basically going all out. I wanted to know what was going on so I came over. Baba is making mistakes and he has been hit three times already."
Han Lingshi frowned and she vanished from her spot to appear outside the arena. She found that almost all of the Ye Generals were there, watching the two people spar. Hao Ren had been learning sword arts this past year and he was also now a Sword Grandmaster, and had touched upon the surface of the Sword intent.
The young man did not yet break through the realm of the sword saint. He fought with Ye Jian and the attacks caused him to retreat. They didn't compare in terms of cultivation realm, but sword skills. It was a routine that allowed the two of them to recognize their weaknesses and dwell deeper on the path of swords.
Hao Ren had taken five hits, his strong body prevented him from being hurt, and he also understood the nature of the sword energy. Before this battle, he had always been calm and collected, and today when he made mistakes, Ye Jian being the cruel sword saint, exploited them.
As the duel continued and Hao Ren understood the things that he was lacking. Suddenly, he stopped and Ye Jian noticed this. He took back all the sword intent that was rushing around him. Everyone noticed this, and before they could even ask anything. Ye Jian waved his hand and cast a isolation barrier. He appeared beside everyone and said, "Young Master is having an epiphany, seal the area and no one is to disturb him."
The people cased layers upon layers of isolation barrier. Hao Ren stood in the center of the arena with his eyes looking at the void in a daze. He was questioning himself, why did he fight so hard? Why did he feel so angry today? What would happened if he let go of the weapon? Would he still be himself if he did so?
Han Lingshi watched the situation from the side, and let out a breath of relief. She said, "Go, handle your tasks, don't worry about him, I am here."
The people wanted to stay but they nodded and left. Hao Ren lost the concept of time and stood frozen in one place. Gradually an hour passed, then a day, then a week, and finally even after a month, Hao Ren didn't move. Everyone was shocked, they have been rotating the placement to guard him, yet when they saw no movement in his body, they couldn't help but worry.
Suddenly, in the evening, the wind around the arena began to pick up pace. The people sensed it and they all arrived to see what was going on. However, in the end they all could only look at Ye Jian. The young man sighed with a bitter smile and said, "He has managed to understand the sword intent."
The winds became sharp and then even when they looked at Hao Ren their eyes felt prickly. All the people who had a sword could sense their swords shivering a bit. The phenomena didn't stop here, the shivering of the swords intensified.
Hao Ren was completing his comprehension of the sword, and the winds around him condensed into several hundred of transparent swords, and they revolved around him. Ye Jian gulped a mouthful and said, "He mastered the sword domain."
However, even this wasn't the end. Ye Jian asked, "Where does the limit lie?"