Chapter 1346 - Wushuang of the Li Clan
When Tianming returned to them, all the seniors of the Azuresoul Palace, Empyrean Sword Sect and Group of Celestial Maiden Halls stared hard at him. They felt a spark that had been absent for a long time and cheered at him like he was a celebrity. "Invincible Tianming, destiny of the heavens!"
The talented youths of the Myriad Solar Sects had defeated all three geniuses from the celestial orderian side, including the son of the sun emperor. That was far more shocking than the appearance of the Ninedragon Imperial Tomb. They were shedding tears of joy from witnessing such a miraculous event. No doubt this news would shock everyone on the sun, even those in the territory of the celestial orderians.
"This is an unprecedented miracle!"
From their gazes, one could tell that they had lived under the boot of the celestial orderians for far too long. Having been oppressed for countless years, they felt an ultimate catharsis from having their frustrations vented on their behalf by Tianming. They zealously looked at him, as if they were worshiping him. It was the foundation of them becoming Tianming's 'subjects' from whom he could draw Omnisentient Will, a crucial part of his cultivation. It was the first thing he had done that really left a lasting impression on those of the Myriad Solar Sects. He felt their faith flowing into his body like a torrent, brushing against his divine wills. He was only in his twenties, yet he was being viewed as a god by many supercentenarians.
He turned back and looked at Li Haochen, who bravely returned to his group in a calm demeanor. Though the cheers Tianming had received was yet another blow to Li Haochen's pride, Tianming noticed that he was taking it well. "Not bad. As expected of the sun emperor's son. After shifting his mindset, he's able to muster his will."
If Tianming was someone from their clan, he doubted he would necessarily be able to take the blow of losing like that. Either way, Li Haochen's decision to bravely live on was good news for Tianming. He suddenly heard a deep gulp. Turning, he saw that it was Long Wanying. Her beautiful eyes were red with tears as she looked at him. The gaze was filled with gentleness and affection, and even a kind of motherly love that reminded Tianming of his mother. Wei Jing had felt the exact same way after he’d defeated Lin Xiaoxiao and become a disciple of Heaven's Sanctum.
It was doubtless cathartic for Long Wanying, who had lost her husband and son and suffered from the trauma ever since. She began to see him as her own son, given how similar they looked. Before she realized it, her tears had begun uncontrollably flowing.
"Aunt Ying, why’re you crying? I really stuck it to Li Wushuang, didn't I? Shouldn't you be happy?" Tianming said.
"Yes... I'm happy... so happy that I'm crying. I think I'm going insane."
"Well, you know what they say. The insane and ignorant live the most blissful lives." He could see Gujian Qingshuang, Shi Yan, Yan Nuxia, and Ye Dongliu's expressions of deep shock. That finally hammered into him how significant his victory really was.
......
"I'm sorry, Aunt." Li Haochen took a deep breath and stood quietly in front of Li Wushuang. He clearly saw the cold expression on her face.
"Am I the one you should apologize to?" She stretched out her hand and audibly slapped him in front of everyone. Li Haochen's face flushed red and blackened from the strike. "The one you should be sorry to is your father!" She slapped him a second time. "The celestial orderians!" A third time. "Your ancestors!"
The three slaps had caused his face to bleed and swell. Long Youyou and Li Ruoshi watched as their tears flowed and they quickly knelt to beg for mercy on his behalf. Li Wushuang had a lot of influence among the celestial orderians. Though she didn't rank in the top five in power, her authority was far greater than that of the sun empress. There was no disputing that she was the second-in-command, having been cherished by the sun emperor since her childhood. The sun emperor saw this sister of his as more important than anything else and he was famous for being overprotective of her in his youth. That was why Long Youyou and Li Ruoshi would kneel to her, someone who could discipline even the sun emperor's son.
Even the Tumulus Pill God and others wanted to beg Li Wushuang to show him mercy after suffering that humiliating loss. However, they didn't expect that he would wipe off his blood and smile at his aunt. "Thank you for disciplining me, Aunt. I lost today, so I'm willing to accept the consequences, punishment, and scoldings. I promise that I’ll one day regain my honor on behalf of our ancestors and race."
Li Wushuang looked at him in shock. "How thick-skinned are you? You already lost all your honor! Do you think you can just take it back?"
"I understand that I didn't perform poorly today, but my opponent was even more spectacular. This must be a trial from the heavens. I will not cower and back down from it," Li Haochen said.
"Are you possessed or something? You might as well have killed yourself back there!" Li Wushuang's words completely shocked Li Haochen.
"Aunt, you seem to be suffering from my loss even more than I am," he said, shaking his head.
She merely coldly glared at him, not saying a word. However, the others could tell that she was going hysterical. No matter how hard she tried suppressing it, it was clear to see. She was raging from being so thoroughly humiliated. Was it from losing a seven-star universal manna? Definitely not. The treasure alone wasn't enough to make the darkness within her leak out like that. Li Ruoshi even asked him to shut up and say less.
On the other side, Yan Nuxia was hollering for Li Wushuang to immediately hand over the Solar Nucleus and leave. Li Wushuang looked past Li Haochen, pressing his head down and harshly pushing it. There was definitely something dark within her; this mysterious 'Lady Wushuang' was someone that nobody could afford to piss off. The last one that did was none other than the previous Whitedragon Emperor, Long Junxuan, and people knew what his fate ended up being.
Li Wushuang stepped forward, causing the other side's cheering to simmer down. She raised her chin and said, "Long Wanying, come here and take it."
"Don't go! It must be a trick," someone warned.
"What’re you saying? Do you think she can kill me in a single strike with everyone looking? Do you think I'm completely useless?" Long Wanying pushed Yan Nuxia's hand aside and approached Li Wushuang, someone against whom she held a deathly grudge. Every step she took caused the atmosphere to tense up. Li Wushuang reached the middle point between their two groups, and Long Wanying stopped right in front of her. The others were reminded that Li Wushuang had been trying to mess with Long Wanying from the moment she’d brought up the arrangement for their juniors to fight.