Hao Ren didn't consider him with the so called big forces, as long as the Yin gu didn't die, the big forces won't come to target him. After the Empress left, Old Douglas also greeted Hao Ren and left the place. It was a bit too much for him to come over here tonight. The twists were bad for his heart.
After the people left, Hao Ren took out the Chaos Sword and placed it across his legs and sat down in the void to cultivate with his eyes closed. Yin came out to check how it was all so silent, when she saw the scene and sighed before activating a small scale world level isolation barrier. Before she headed to the cellar of the house, where Alka, Ramji and Deepa were sitting with anxious expressions on their faces.
Earlier, Yin had told them to hide here when she detected the presence of the invader. She smiled and said, "It is all fine now, don't worry. You should sleep in my room, Baba is cultivating outside and the situation is now under control."
The three children sighed and thanked her before they left the cellar. Yin took out a jade token from her space ring and circulated her spiritual energy through it. She was quick and passed a daily log of complaints to Han Lingshi on the other side. She said, "The reason he has not yet started the teleportation formation is because he is very focused. This period of time has become sort of a secular seclusion for him."
The next few days were busy. Hao Ren would go to the Alchemist Association to refine pills then he would come back and teach his students and dedicate his night to comprehend the way of the sword.
In the past five days, Hao Ren had gained a lot of respect within the city. Many people would come to pay him respect, and present gifts.There initial motive was to get in his good books, after all, you didn't get a chance to greet a six star, Grandmaster Alchemist everyday.
Hao Ren didn't mind it, he paid the people in kind and refined high quality pills for them. It was the 6th day when a guard from the palace came to the Alchemist Association to inform him that the three sword fairies had agreed for the duel.
Hao Ren was happy, and he sent back a message that he would be coming over to the location they selected to learn from them. He had no idea who these people were and thus he preferred to keep his stance lowered.
His motive in this country was to only get stronger and not conquer, otherwise, he could have let that Empress die and wait for the chaos to take control slowly. Hao Ren was a simple man, he knew that a big force won't do him good but a good force will make a big difference.
The young man finished refining his last batch of the pills and went outside the city where the three sword fairies had called him to spar. Hao Ren was not concerned about them setting up any ambush. If it came to that, he would kill them.
He came to a mountain top which was flattened by someone and while he stood on the ground, he could sense a strong sword intent channeling in the surroundings. Although it was shallow, it was there. Hao Ren closed his eyes and began to comprehend whatever he could while waiting.
He didn't know how much time had passed before he opened his eyes. When he did open his eyes and looked around, he found the three ladies standing in some distance, gazing at him.
Hao Ren cupped his fist and greeted them as he said, "I apologize for my brashness, fairies, but the sword intent here was so mystical that I couldn't help but try to figure it out."
The ladies shook their heads and one of them said, "You think too much, Master Hao. When we came here for the first time, we were similar to you. Master left this peak to make sure that someone could inherit his mettle."
Hao Ren smiled as he stood up straight and said, "Well, indeed, who wouldn't want to be the disciple of such a strong sword elder."
The three ladies nodded, and one of them asked, "Master Hao, would you like some time to prepare, or shall we fight?"
Hao Ren took out his sword directly and said, "I am very agitated and eager to learn fairies, please begin."
The three of them looked over at each other and then the youngest looking one said, "Fine, I will go. If I win, you will buy me the Higher spirit sword."
The two ladies nodded, and the youngest one stood up from the stool and walked over. She stood ten meters away and said, "I am Yan Ling. I seek your guidance."
That said, she clasped her fist to greet Hao Ren. How returned the gesture and said, "Hao Ren, thank you for your guidance."
The two people stood facing each other. Hao Ren was wearing a common white robe with his long hair tied behind his back with a ribbon, and he held a black sword.
On the other hand, Yan Ling was wearing silver battle armor with a phoenix engraved on the breast plate. She held an ice blue sword. The other two ladies looked at them from the side and one of them said, "Begin!"
The two of them dashed forward, and in a blink the battle began. The blades clashed and the surroundings echoed with metallic clangs. The young man didn't hold back and the two people began to clash with just their sword skills.
Hao Ren was using his sword akin to that of a snake. As soon as there was a loophole, he would attack but then he would pull back as well. After hundred exchanges, Yan Ling was at a disadvantage, however, she did not continue to display her spiritual techniques and attacks to him.
She opened up the gap between them and said, "I concede."
Hao Ren thanked her for being generous and accepted the victory. Then the second lady asked, "Master Hao, do you wish to rest?"
The young man shook his head, and said, "Lady Yan only used her sword skills and she didn't even cast one Spirit Attack, so I didn't use that much energy." Get full chapters from novel⸺fire.net
The lady stood up from her seat and said, "I am Gao Toro. Thank you for your guidance."
Hao Ren clasped his hands and bowed but not anymore. This was the second time and he had already introduced himself. The young lady took out an icy sword. She said, "This sword is called Yuki. Please be careful when facing it."
The young man nodded, and then the lady from before again said, "Begin!"
The two people moved and the peak was again filled with sword echoes. After a few minutes, Gao Toro stopped holding back and she said, "Eagle Wing Slash."
This attack was a release of sword energy accumulated in the blade over time. Hao Ren watched the claw type attack coming towards him, and he took a deep breath before he raised his hand to block the attack.
Gao Toro, Yan Ling and the third girl were all shocked, but when they wanted to help, they saw that the attack landed square on the forearm leaving behind only a faint white mark across the har.
The young man chuckled and said, "Good, now my turn. Please be careful, Lady Gao. Chaos Slash."
Just a single slash, and the attack was successfully countered, however, following that a wave of cold hit Hao Ren. The young man raised his brows and channeled his spiritual flame inside the body to dispel the cold that was trying to seep through his body.
He commented, "Good attack, General Gao, this is good. Come again, please."
Gao Toro chuckled and said, "Good!"
The battle unfolded and the intensity increased. Hao Ren was careful to manage the intensity of his attacks when facing the attack made by Gao Toro. The latter was surprised that even after exchanging five hundred attacks with Hao Ren, she was yet to figure out his style. Suddenly, she realized something and said, "Master Hao, you are truly commendable. Even after such a long battle, I cannot see through the pattern that most of the sword cultivators display in their moves. All your strikes are smooth and different yet they connect very well. I concede, I cannot defeat you, Master Hao."
Hao Ren clasped his fist and said, "Your compliment is going to bloat me, General Gao. Thank you for sparring with me."
Finally, the last lady stood up. She was wearing a black armor and said, "I am Yuntao Hachi. Thank you for indulging me."
Hao Ren returned the gesture and said, "May I take a five minute break to regain my strength, Lady Yuntao Hachi?"
The lady wasn't surprised, and she nodded. Hao Ren sat down on the ground and began to cultivate to regain his strength.