Xuanqing Guard

Back home, Shen Hao didn’t go to sleep, but sat in meditation in his bedroom, using cultivation to substitute for rest.

Now that he had the "Great Five Elements Technique," Shen Hao’s worry was actually that his cultivation speed was too fast.

His Gathering Spirit Realm Fifth Layer was already maxed out, and within reach was the small bottleneck to the Sixth Layer. If it were anyone else, they’d definitely be raring to go, ready to break through and advance. But Shen Hao wasn’t flustered at all; instead, he diligently honed his foundation, rather wasting some time than allowing the slightest instability before his breakthrough.

But even with this caution, the day to advance to Gathering Spirit Realm Sixth Layer was getting closer and closer. By Shen Hao’s estimate, at the latest by the end of May, he’d no longer be able to suppress the surging True Qi in his body and would have to hit the Sixth Layer bottleneck.

Honestly, calling it a "breakthrough" was less accurate than calling it "tearing it apart," because at least before the Primordial Pill Realm, these small realm bottlenecks posed no obstacle to him.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, as soon as Shen Hao arrived at the Public Office, he saw Wang Yiming waiting at the door.

"What’s up?"

"Sir, yesterday’s commotion at the training grounds became a laughingstock. Early in the morning, all four Hundred Households’ Chief Officers were in the conference hall getting royally chewed out by Lord Kuang." Wang Yiming looked delighted at others’ misfortune.

"Heh, didn’t you go watch yesterday? How was it?"

The day before, the "Grand Arena" led by Kuang Shengyuan was officially held at the garrison’s big training field. Pretty much every Hundred Households Station in Fengri City’s jurisdiction went, except for necessary stay-behind personnel. Of course, Black Banner Battalion didn’t go—the invitation never even reached them.

Shen Hao was invited, but he’d found an excuse not to attend. It wasn’t about not giving face, but a carefully weighed decision. He knew that so-called "Grand Arena" was sketchy, and with the previous "Grand Martial Competition" as a standard, the outcome was obvious. If he’d gone, Kuang Shengyuan’s face would probably have suffered even more.

Looks like he’d had good foresight.

Shen Hao hadn’t gone, but Wang Yiming went—as a helper, and also to give Black Banner Battalion some presence.

"Sir, that ’arena tournament’ was exactly what the name says, just nonstop arena fighting, nothing else."

Hearing this, Shen Hao paused with his teacup, turned his head and laughed, "So the entire thing was just arena matches? Nothing else?"

If it was a sect’s arena tournament, it might have been called "exciting"—since sect cultivators, whether in cultivation or technique, far outclassed loose cultivators. Back at the celebration match for Chang Baifeng from a second-tier sect, Shen Hao had really had his eyes opened. But the duels within the Xuanqing Guard’s Hundred Households Stations... well, honestly, just boring.

Just picture it—a bunch of Qi Refining Realm folks, at best Gathering Spirit Realm First or Second Layer, hacking at each other on stage with Yanji Sabers... one or two matches might be bearable, but with four Hundred Households Stations all doing the same...

"Lord Jiang’s face was black the whole time, he didn’t say a word, even during the awards he put on a poker face and barely spoke. In the end, he just watched it through to the end, didn’t even acknowledge Lord Kuang’s banquet. Captain even left halfway, didn’t bother with farewells."

Shen Hao laughed out loud. Jiang Cheng probably went just for Kuang Shengyuan’s sake. He’d heard before that Kuang Shengyuan initially wanted to mimic the "Grand Martial Competition" and invite some big guests, but in the end, the notice was too short, Commander Lord Pang flatly declined, and only sent a Civilian Official.

"There’s no need to gloat. We’re all Xuanqing Guard—don’t create internal barriers yourselves. Pass the word down, make sure no one goes mocking them, or we’ll have trouble."

"Subordinate’s already instructed everyone below, don’t worry."

Kuang Shengyuan lost face this time and will definitely look for ways to recover. Easiest would be to just swallow his pride, copy Black Banner Battalion’s training, then next time there’s a "Grand Martial Competition", join in early.

Actually, Shen Hao didn’t mind making the "Grand Martial Competition" bigger in scale, but by then, the rules would need to be clearly drawn.

Collecting his thoughts, Shen Hao started working on the paperwork on his desk.

...

After mid-5 p.m., Shen Hao was reminded by the gatekeeper that Housekeeper Hu from home was looking for him.

Hu Tian?

Only then did Shen Hao tidy up his desk and step out to report off-duty. As soon as he exited the Thousand Households Station gate, he saw Hu Tian standing by the roadside, anxious to come over yet a bit hesitant. Even Hu Tian instinctively didn’t dare approach the Xuanqing Guard’s gates.

"Master Shen, Master Nie is at home."

"Master Nie? Nie Yun came?"

"Yes, Master Nie arrived not long after noon. I said I’d fetch you, but he wouldn’t let me, said he didn’t want to disturb your duties. Now that the hour is past, I figured you might lose track of time, so I came to find you just in case."

"Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!"

Nie Yun was Shen Hao’s good friend—mentor and mate. With his friend visiting, Shen Hao was in a great mood, and urged Hu Tian onto the carriage, telling the guard to drive home quickly.

"Master Shen, don’t be anxious! Master Nie isn’t just waiting around. I had Li Erfu serve up his specialty drinking dishes, and took three jars of the best Wuliangye from the cellar for him. He’s having a great time, playing finger-guessing games with Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk."

"What? Playing finger-guessing with Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk?!"

Shen Hao remembered he’d taught Xia Nu how to play ’Chaotic Chopping Wood’—Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk must have learned from her. Nie Yun also knew ’Chaotic Chopping Wood’, taught by Shen Hao as well. Only... playing with two little girls... Actually, with Nie Yun, nothing was off the table.

Hu Tian kept smiling at the side, "That’s right. When Master Nie loses he drinks, and if Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk lose they drink sour juice. When I left, they were going wild in the backyard."

"Where’s Xia Nu?"

"Chased away by Master Nie. Said it wasn’t appropriate for Xia Nu to serve."

Shen Hao shook his head, laughing. Say Nie Yun’s unreliable—well, yes. Half the time, he doesn’t act like a top expert in Primordial Core Realm Perfection at all. But in some things, he’s careful, never leaving anyone with gossip material.

The coach sped ahead, and as they arrived at the door, Xiaoma came out of the cellar hugging a wine jar.

"Give it to me. Have Li Erfu make some more good dishes and send them out back." Shen Hao took the wine jar from Xiaoma and headed to the backyard.

Even from afar, the shouts of their game could be heard.

"On (three) the mountain, the wind is strong, Second Brother, your move..."

"Alright, good bro, your turn! Get going!"

...

What shocked Shen Hao was that Nie Yun was actually being suppressed—every time, Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk could guess his move dead on, and ten matches out of ten, he would lose seven.

And Shen Hao realized, Nie Yun wasn’t letting them win, and his moves weren’t bad either—he lost simply because those two little brats, Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk, were just too ruthless!

"Aiya! Lost again?! Are you two sure you aren’t cheating?"

"Master Nie, how could we possibly..."

"Alright, alright, enough, your master’s back now, I’m not playing with you two rookies, boring!"

Shen Hao: "..."

Seriously, you’re one of the famous Jingxi Double Eagles, big hero and all—do you have no sense of dignity at all?