Eternal Heavenly Emperor-Chapter 294 - 284: Old Grudges Between War Kings

Chu Hao’s expression immediately darkened.

He and Luo Ping did not have a deep friendship, but he had received many favors from Luo Ping, which is why he proposed conditions to the Spiritual Spring Sect to accept Luo Ping as a True Disciple. However, if Luo Ping was bullied within the Spiritual Spring Sect, it would become his responsibility.

How could he not be angry?

"Senior Brother Luo, what’s going on?" Chu Hao asked, his eyes emitting a trace of chill that surprised Ke Ruoshan, who hadn’t expected this seemingly mild-mannered young man to radiate such an intimidating presence when angered.

Luo Ping forced a smile, saying, "It’s nothing, just sparred with someone and got hurt a bit."

"Since it was a spar, was it necessary to go so hard?" Chu Hao certainly didn’t believe him, and pressed, "Senior Brother Luo, tell me the truth."

Luo Ping sighed and said, "Actually, it’s my fault. I’m not very talented, yet I became a True Disciple, which made some people jealous. They deliberately picked faults, and I, full of youthful vigor, couldn’t stand the provocation and accepted their challenge, only to realize during the fight that the person’s strength was far above mine."

"Who was that person?" Chu Hao asked.

Luo Ping hesitated, showing a troubled expression.

"Don’t worry about it." Chu Hao waved his hand.

"It’s an ordinary disciple named Han Tao," Luo Ping said somewhat ashamedly, feeling embarrassed that a True Disciple had been beaten by an ordinary disciple.

"Han Tao?" Ke Ruoshan chimed in.

"Sister, do you know him?" Chu Hao turned and asked.

"I don’t know Han Tao, but I do know his brother," Ke Ruoshan paused, then continued, "Han Zongxin, the third disciple of Deacon Tu Honglie, who just broke through to Warrior a year ago."

Hearing this, Luo Ping’s expression changed repeatedly and finally dimmed.

Chu Hao was indeed very strong, but even he was only a Martial Sect. Could he really be considered equal to a Warrior? Besides, he already owed Chu Hao a huge favor, how could he drag him down with him?

It was Tu Honglie again.

Chu Hao laughed inwardly. He had just beaten up Feng Haizhong and his brothers, unintentionally making an enemy of Yue Feng, and now another with Han Zongxin. Well, since he had already offended an Eighth Tier Warrior, another First Tier Warrior wouldn’t make much difference.

"Where are your fellow senior brothers and sisters, just watching you get bullied?" He frowned, observing the number of cabins here, and guessed that Luo Ping must have five or six senior brothers and sisters. Could all these True Disciples really be no match for Han Tao?

"They..." Luo Ping sighed, apparently reluctant to speak ill of them, but seeing the determination on Chu Hao’s face, he finally said, "Although Master accepted me as his disciple, they all refuse to acknowledge me as their junior brother."

In the midst of his anger, Chu Hao could not help but reflect inwardly on whether promoting Luo Ping directly to this position might have been a bit too much.

If Luo Ping genuinely possessed the strength befitting a True Disciple, he could naturally hold his own. However, since he couldn’t even defeat an ordinary disciple, mentioning it was only self-humiliating, bringing shame to his Master and fellow disciples.

But what had Luo Ping done wrong to deserve such treatment?

"Let’s go meet this Han Tao," he said decisively.

"Chu Hao!" Luo Ping exclaimed in surprise. He knew Han Tao had a powerful background, so why was Chu Hao still determined to proceed? He felt both puzzled and excited.

Chu Hao patted his shoulder and said, "It’s okay, Senior Brother Luo. Even if I can’t beat him, there’s still my Senior Sister."

Ke Ruoshan’s expression darkened. Was this junior brother really counting on her for help? Yet, she didn’t refuse and said, "Junior brother, you might not know this, but actually, our master has some conflicts with Deacon Tu."

"Oh, what kind of conflicts?" Chu Hao suddenly became curious.

"Master and Deacon Tu are about the same age and were even contemporaries on the Fledgling Dragon List. In the previous session, Deacon Tu was thirty-seventh and our master forty-second; in the following session, our master was seventh, Deacon Tu ninth," Ke Ruoshan whispered, seemingly afraid that Zhang Tianhua might suddenly appear and scold her.

"Master had long decided to come to the Spiritual Spring Sect, but Deacon Tu originally intended to join another Sect. However, not willing to be surpassed by Master, he also chose the Spiritual Spring Sect."

"The two have been rivaling for over a hundred years, both now Eighth Tier War Kings, trying to see who can break through to War Venerate first."

Chu Hao found it odd and asked, "Don’t War Kings have, like martial masters, two hidden Life Springs?"

"Of course!" Ke Ruoshan nodded affirmatively, then smiled bitterly, saying, "But reaching the Ninth or even Tenth Tier War King is almost as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"For example, taking no account of the geniuses on the Fledgling Dragon List, just in one county alone there must be at least a dozen people who have reached the Nine Meridians as martial masters or Martial Sects. Yet, of those, at most only one-tenth can become Ninth Tier Warriors, and for Ninth Tier War Generals, that drops to one percent."

Chu Hao took over the conversation, saying, "Only one in a thousand can achieve the rank of Ninth Tier War King."

Ke Ruoshan nodded, adding, "Both master and Deacon Tu tried to break through to Ninth Tier War King but neither succeeded, so they set their competition on reaching War Venerate."

Out of a thousand top geniuses, only one could become a Ninth Tier War King.

That is to say, in a state’s generation of youth, at most only one or two people can achieve such a feat, and in times of bad luck, not even one might emerge in several generations.

"Because Master and Deacon Tu are always openly and secretly contending, the competition among us disciples is also fierce. So, if you want to teach Han Tao a lesson, you don’t have to worry about it—not if Han Zongxin steps in, I won’t let him pick on the weak with his strength," Ke Ruoshan said, her aura fully dominating by the end of her statement.

"Haha, thank you then, Senior Sister," Chu Hao replied with a laugh.

"However, if the other side doesn’t have a Warrior, I would be embarrassed to step in," Ke Ruoshan’s tone shifted, "You two should go ahead, I’ll keep an eye out from the shadows. If Han Zongxin shows up, I’ll handle him."

Indeed, among the ordinary disciples, although there were martial masters due to the advantage of age, Warriors were hardly ever seen. Thus, if Ke Ruoshan were to accompany them, it would simply be bullying.

"Sounds good!" Chu Hao nodded, then said to Luo Ping, "Senior Brother Luo, let’s go."

Luo Ping was now naturally much more confident; his previous choice to swallow his anger was inevitable given his lack of strength. Now with the support of Chu Hao’s arm, he was fearless and eager to vent such bitterness.

He hadn’t provoked anyone, so why should he suffer?

The two set out, walking down the mountain, with Ke Ruoshan following covertly.

After about ten minutes, they arrived where the ordinary disciples lived.

Unlike true disciples who lived next to the master, ordinary disciples all lived together, much like students in a dormitory.

Chu Hao had caused quite the stir just a day before, but since it had only been one day, many had not heard of him; thus, his appearance drew at most a few extra glances. However, seeing Luo Ping caused quite a few people to laugh.

"Eh, isn’t that True Disciple Luo?"

"Tsk tsk, didn’t Senior Brother Han just beat him up a dozen days ago? Is he here today to regain face?"

"Can’t say it was a beating; they just had a little sparring, and True Disciple Luo was no match."

"Hahahaha, I’ve never seen a weaker true disciple than True Disciple Luo."

"If I were him, I would’ve long faced too much shame to be any true disciple."

"Really don’t know how he became a true disciple."

Upon entering, they immediately encountered the scoffing and mocking of the crowd. Naturally, they became defiant; each person’s martial arts talent was no less than Luo Ping’s, some even stronger, yet frustratingly, Luo Ping was a true disciple, and they were just ordinary disciples.

They guessed Luo Ping must have some connections with the sect’s higher-ups, but having been beaten and the assailant unpunished, what did that tell them?

Luo Ping’s connections weren’t strong, after all.

Of course, even though his connections weren’t strong, he was still a true disciple, which was evidently far more influential than their backgrounds. Thus, they couldn’t vocally assault a true disciple like Han Tao did, but scoffing was certainly harmless.

Hearing this cold words, Luo Ping’s expression turned exceedingly ugly.

"Senior Brother Luo, don’t take it to heart. Your talent is not weaker than theirs; it’s just that they have always been in a First Grade sect, while you have just arrived. It’s only natural you’re momentarily outmatched," Chu Hao consoled.

Luo Ping immediately nodded, saying, "I understand."

Where could the treatment of a true disciple compare to that of an ordinary disciple? The cultivation resources were at least tenfold. Otherwise, why would these ordinary disciples be so envious? Although Luo Ping might not be considered a genius in Cang State and was only marginally second-rate in Tianhe County, he still had some ability.

As long as the cultivation resources kept up, his achievements would certainly be far higher than those of the ordinary disciples here.

"True Disciple Luo, what are you doing here today? Trying to get back at someone?"

"Oh, and you brought some help."

"Just a Single-Meridian martial master, I could suppress him with one hand."

"As expected, like attracts like. A person like True Disciple Luo can only associate with a Single-Meridian martial master."

A few were particularly malicious, openly mocking Luo Ping, unlike some who merely muttered among themselves.

Chu Hao smiled slightly and said, "Where’s Han Tao, I’d like to have a little spar with him."

"Haha, hahaha," after a moment of surprise, everyone started laughing.

Han Tao was a Nine-Meridians martial master, but he possessed an ancient technique that allowed him to suppress his aura by two minor realms, making him appear just like a Single-Meridian martial master. Luo Ping had been duped by this, agreeing to a spar only to discover during the battle that the other’s power completely overwhelmed him.

Was Chu Hao foolish, coming here to be tricked again?

"Senior Brother Han, Senior Brother Han, someone is here challenging you!" Immediately, a few thrill-seekers went to call Han Tao.

Luo Ping naturally knew Chu Hao couldn’t possibly be a Single-Meridian martial master; how else could he have claimed the top spot on the Fledgling Dragon List? Clearly, like Han Tao, he had a secret technique to hide his true cultivation.

Heh, Han Tao had tricked him once, now it was that guy’s turn to be tricked. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)