The Name of Eternals

Chapter 134: Deadly Attributes

Winter snow fluttered down, cloaking the world in silver.

Cold winds blew through the pass.

In the small courtyard, Ren Qianqian was practicing her swordsmanship in the snow. The sword wind howled, swirling the snow around her. She moved with light steps, as agile as a butterfly, her sword strikes light and precise.

"The sword techniques are just appearances. You need to grasp the essence and true meaning of the sword's trajectory," Li Hao said, squatting in the snow, carefully building a snowman. He patted and shaped it, occasionally glancing at the practicing girl to offer a few pointers.

Ren Qianqian stopped, puzzled. "The sword's trajectory?"

"Yes," Li Hao nodded. He noticed the snowman was missing two branches for arms, so he stood up, bent down, and picked up a branch from beside the woodpile. "Watch this."

He held the branch and shook it gently, dislodging the snow. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he moved the branch in a flowing motion, catching the falling snow back onto it, returning it to its original state.

Ren Qianqian was stunned.

"Your sword needs to connect with the environment around you, making it both precise and sharp," Li Hao explained. He returned to the snowman, gently shook off the snow from the branch again, and placed it as one of the snowman's arms.

Ren Qianqian fell into deep thought, looking down at her sword. After a moment, she resumed her practice with renewed insight.

Over the past few days, aside from Li Hao's occasional guidance, both Li Hongzhuang and Song Qiumo had offered her pointers during their free time. Their advice, like Li Hao's, focused not on the surface level of sword techniques but on deeper understandings from the perspective of a master, discussing their insights into the true essence of swordsmanship.

This guidance had both pros and cons. The downside was that it often felt vague and difficult to grasp. However, if she could comprehend their meanings, her progress in swordsmanship would be rapid, harnessing sword intent to control her blade, akin to pursuing her own path to mastery.

Ren Qianqian continued practicing her swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, Li Hao continued building a second snowman.

Outside the pass, an old horse came galloping in.

The scarlet horse raced into the pass, stopping outside the small courtyard.

Li Hongzhuang, who was tending the fire in the kitchen, sensed something was amiss and rushed out of the courtyard.

"Are you from the Xuan Battalion of Liangzhou?" Li Hongzhuang asked, noticing the silver insignia on the old soldier's armor. Her eyes brightened. "Has Fifth Brother arrived in Liangzhou? Is he here to support us?"

The old soldier dismounted and quickly saluted, handing over a military report. "The general has just arrived in Liangzhou and sent me to deliver this report to the commander."

Li Hongzhuang took the report and quickly scanned it. Her expression changed, becoming sharp and cold. "These demons are indeed plotting against Liangzhou!"

She folded the report and took a deep breath. "You must be tired from your journey. Would you like to rest here for a while?"

"No, the general is waiting for my return. Do you have any messages for me to take back?" the old soldier asked respectfully, curious about the situation. He had seen many demon corpses along the way and had expected a desolate military camp, not this cozy little courtyard.

Recalling the report's contents, which included information on the demons' activities and a concerned letter from her fifth brother, Li Hongzhuang quickly wrote a reply. She handed the letter to the old soldier, who tucked it into his sleeve, mounted his horse, and rode off.

After the soldier left, Li Hongzhuang called Li Hao over and handed him the military report.

"Fifth Brother says the demons outside Liangzhou are becoming restless. Some cities have already been infiltrated by demons. They plan to work from within to overrun Liangzhou. He's come to oversee the situation," Li Hongzhuang explained. "Our Tianmen Pass might face a large-scale demon attack soon!"

Li Hao read the report, noting his fifth uncle's concern. He remembered their brief conversation at the family banquet and replied, "If they come, we'll fight. If they attack, we'll cook a big pot of stew!"

Li Hongzhuang smiled wryly but felt reassured by the presence of two fourth-rank masters. If things got too dangerous, they could always retreat in time. It was just a matter of when the demons would invade.

Storing the report, Li Hao called everyone for lunch.

With the snowfall, the pass now had an abundant water source. Li Hongzhuang, no longer burdened by constant demon attacks, had taken the time to wash her hair, which now flowed like black ink over her shoulders. Her once bloodstained red armor was now clean, making her look like a warrior straight out of a painting.

Li Hao had built several large wooden tubs, using melted snow to create hot springs. They soaked in the tubs, eating roasted meat, drinking wine, and chatting leisurely with Feng Lao. Life in the pass felt almost like a vacation spot.

The harsh winter seemed less daunting with the proper shelter.

In the days that followed, Li Hao took Song Qiumo out hunting demons by day and returned to the small courtyard by night. Life became routine.

The demons they hunted provided Li Hao with significant experience in painting, bringing him close to upgrading to the sixth rank.

His fishing experience also grew steadily, slowly nearing the sixth-rank threshold.

Unfortunately, the three immortal-level demons seemed to have fled the vicinity of Tianmen Pass. Li Hao found several caves with traces of powerful demons but learned from captured lesser demons that the stronger ones had left days ago.

He collapsed these caves and left discreet marks, hoping to track any returning demons.

Days passed.

As Li Hao hunted demons, he continued to refine his mastery. His initial ambition to master all of creation's forces proved challenging.

What is the essence of all things?

Mountains, rivers, plants, and animals—all were part of creation. But the sheer number made individual mastery impractical, even with a lifespan of ten thousand years. Li Hao's sixth-rank fleshly insight allowed him to grasp their essence quickly, but he sought unity, not diversity.

He wanted to integrate the essence of all things, a task that seemed self-imposed and could only be completed by himself.

As he hunted and traveled with Song Qiumo, Li Hao observed the world. He saw shrubs, flowers, the moon, and streams. He saw snow melting in sunlight and tender leaves enduring the cold.

All things shared a force, but what was their commonality?

A gust of wind brushed his face as he gazed at the distant mountains and nearby forests, feeling he was on the brink of understanding something profound.

As winter deepened, snow became more frequent.

After hunting two more fifteen-mile demons, Li Hao and Song Qiumo returned.

In the courtyard, Li Hao continued building structures. With no immediate demon threat, he expanded the camp without fear of destruction.

Li Hongzhuang asked, "Are you planning to rebuild the old city?"

Li Hao smiled, "If the demons don't come, it could be done."

Li Hongzhuang pondered this. She occasionally scouted for demons but found fewer in the area. Even near the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King's territory, she didn't encounter many. This discrepancy from her fifth brother's report led her to speculate that the demons might be avoiding Tianmen Pass due to the presence of two fourth-rank masters.

With no clear evidence, she decided to wait a bit longer. If the situation remained quiet, she would send a letter to her fifth brother, advising caution elsewhere.

Periodically, Song Qiumo traveled to nearby cities for supplies, bringing back food, paper, and other essentials. One day, she returned with additional items for Li Hao.

She brought back a chess manual and two famous paintings.

These were items Li Hao had asked Song Qiumo to find.

Delighted, Li Hao quickly added the chess manual to his abilities.

The manual was "New Chess Learning," a beginner's guide.

After some thought, he integrated it into his Object Mastery skill, gaining a new attribute:

"New Chess Learning": Increases object manipulation speed by 20%.

This attribute, while not as dramatic as some, provided a passive, permanent boost without additional energy expenditure, making it highly valuable.

The two paintings brought different attributes.

One, "Bright Spring Shrimp," increased water affinity by 20% when integrated with his physical mastery. This attribute enhanced his comfort with water, such as snow and hot springs, and potentially boosted cold-related skills.

The other painting, "Yellow Sparrow Catches Insect," depicted a classic story of a mantis catching a cicada, unaware of the sparrow behind it. This painting granted a unique attribute when integrated with his Object Mastery:

"Lethal Effect": 1% chance of a fatal strike when attacking undetected.

This attribute seemed similar to "Hidden Bow," which doubled attack power when undetected, but with a 100% chance. The "Lethal Effect" was only 1%, making it less reliable but potentially devastating.

Although the 1% chance seemed low, its potential for an instant kill, regardless of defenses, made it intriguing. While usually facing lower-level opponents, where such an effect was unnecessary, against higher-level foes, the stealth and surprise required made it a risky but powerful ability.

Overall, these attributes, though subtle, were free enhancements requiring no additional training.

Seeing Li Hao's excitement, Song Qiumo smiled and shared more good news:

"I also found another painting in the possession of a master."

Li Hao's eyes lit up. "Can it be purchased? What does he want?"

"I haven't contacted the master yet but learned he'll be in Liangzhou's Dayue City for a gathering," Song Qiumo explained. "There's a grand event there, where the Tianji Hermit invites masters to discuss their arts. This master is likely attending."

"A gathering of masters?" Li Hao was surprised. This event, recorded in the Rain Listening Tower's anecdotes, occurred once every sixty years, inviting masters to share and validate their martial arts. Promising young talents often attended, seeking enlightenment and growth.

Many masters led reclusive lives, focused solely on their paths. Such gatherings were rare opportunities for them to exchange insights, sometimes inspiring young prodigies to break through to new realms.

Such events often saw a few prodigies make significant breakthroughs, gaining fame and recognition.

Li Hao pondered the distance. "Dayue City is quite far. A round trip would take a day..."

Song Qiumo added, "The city has defensive formations. Although I have a Dayu-issued pass, it's only valid in Qingzhou. For Liangzhou, I'd need to register and get approval, which requires Song Yufeng's sponsorship."

Li Hao realized Song Qiumo couldn't handle this task alone. Registering and getting approval were time-consuming, especially for a fourth-rank demon king, posing a potential threat to city security. Cities were cautious about granting access to such powerful beings.

Given the risks, Li Hao understood the need for stringent measures.

Li Hao looked at Li Hongzhuang. "Senior Hongzhuang, can you go to Dayue City for me?"

Li Hongzhuang, surprised by Li Hao's dedication to a painting, understood his passion. She had seen his focus on painting, though he seemed indifferent to training, relying on his incredible natural talent. This dedication to side pursuits while excelling in martial arts was rare.

"I don't feel like traveling. Why don't you go yourself?" Li Hongzhuang suggested, recalling her own youthful passion for painting, now replaced by her warrior's resolve.

Li Hao, seeing her reluctance, considered the practicality. With nearby demons cleared and fewer encounters, a brief absence seemed manageable.

"If you want to go, I'll watch the pass for a few days," Song Qiumo offered, lounging in a cushioned chair.

Li Hao smiled. "Thank you, Senior."

Song Qiumo, slightly displeased with the term "Senior," didn't object further.

With Song Qiumo guarding the pass, Li Hao felt reassured. Her presence deterred any significant threats, allowing him to leave temporarily.

"Qianqian, prepare to come with me to Dayue City. There's a martial temple there for your soul fusion," Li Hao said, standing up.

Ren Qianqian's eyes lit up with excitement, quickly agreeing.

Li Hao patted the little white fox on his shoulder. "You've reached soul fusion too. Where will you go?"