Chapter 434: Compete According to One’s Own Abilities

coming too!" With an unwavering expression on her face, Zhao Yanzi stood firmly in the downpour without budging.Hao Ren furrowed his brows and rushed back into the room. From a rack behind the door f...Chapter 434: Compete Based on One's Own Abilities

Hao Ren was startled by Zhao Kuo's sobbing curses.

"Uncle Three!" Zhao Yanzi couldn't bear to watch any longer and called out. In her view, Zhao Kuo had no reason to take Hao Ren out for his bad mood since Hao Ren had already done enough in the matter!

Zhao Kuo ignored Zhao Yanzi and continued staring at Hao Ren. "Did my father transfer his thousand years of power to you or others"

"To me." Hao Ren looked straight into Zhao Kuo's eyes as he answered.

“My father gave you the general’s token. Did he give it to anyone else” Zhao Kuo raised his voice and asked again.

Hao Ren shook his head, “No.”

"Then why did Father choose to hand over the Black Dragon Spear directly to you instead of someone else" Zhao Kuo shouted almost violently.

Looking at him, Hao Ren was momentarily speechless.

“Father trusted you so much that he gave you the Black Dragon Spear and made you general. He also transferred his thousand years of power to you!” Zhao Kuo bellowed with bulging eyes.

"The Black Dragon Spear, Father asked me to give it to you, hence I accepted it! Did my father mention anything about transferring the general’s token or his thousand years of power to me" Zhao Kuo continued shouting.

“He didn’t.” Hao Ren could only shake his head.

"Then that means he gave them to you!" Zhao Kuo lifted his nose slightly and glared at Hao Ren.

Hao Ren was momentarily stunned by Zhao Kuo's generosity. A thousand years of power meant reaching the peak of the Heaven Stage directly!

With Zhao Kuo’s cultivation experience, it might be possible to utilize these powers right away! He could immediately recover to the peak of the Heaven Stage!

"I, Zhao Kuo, will rely on my own abilities to reach the Heavenly Dragon Realm!" Raising the Black Dragon Spear, his muscles bulged as he said, "Father, you just watch!"

He then turned and looked at Hao Ren. “If you have any ability, defeat me next time!”

"I'll" be sure to." Hao Ren calmly shot back.

"Good!" Zhao Kuo retracted the Black Dragon Spear, took two steps forward, and pushed Hao Ren aside with his powerful body. He then walked out of Zhao Guang’s palace.

Zhao Guang looked at Chancellor Xia and others beside him. "No one is to speak about my father’s matter."

"We will strictly abide by the Dragon King's orders." Elder Lu, Elder Sun, and Chancellor Xia immediately lowered their heads in response.

Although Zhao Haoran had been retired for many years, his passing would certainly cause a significant stir within the dragon clan circles.

Hao Ren was just establishing his authority in the Dragon God Temple. If this news were to spread, it would undoubtedly be very unfavorable for the situation at Donghai Palace.

Zhao Haoran's four bodyguards returned to America and kept guarding the manor as usual, making Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu believe that Zhao Haoran had already gone back to America. This was exactly what Zhao Haoran meant by not spreading the news.

"Will Marquis Zhuang also be staying here tonight" Chancellor Xia asked respectfully when facing Zhao Guang.

"Yes, Ah Ren will stay here too and we'll go back together tomorrow," Zhao Guang replied.

"Uncle, I'm going to your place first to pick up some things," Hao Ren immediately said.

"Alright, go ahead then," Zhao Guang handed the house keys over to Hao Ren.

Handing over the keys so freely indicated that Zhao Guang had completely accepted Hao Ren as part of his inner circle with no reservations whatsoever.

Holding onto the keys, Hao Ren exited the palace.

Since neither Zhao Guang nor Zhao Hongyu mentioned anything about what was left at the Dragon God Temple in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, Hao Ren didn't ask either.

Chancellor Xia looked at Hao Ren's departing figure and said to Zhao Guang, "Your Majesty, you've found a very good son-in-law."

Zhao Guang nodded briefly before looking up at the damaged palace again. "Prepare for dinner then."

Holding onto his qi sword, Hao Ren flew out of the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace’s range and set up a protective barrier around himself as he headed towards Zhao Yanzi's home.

Now that he had reached Intermediate Geng level, using his qi sword for flight didn't cause him nearly as much fatigue anymore. While it wasn’t as fast as Little White’s speed, it was more than sufficient for daily travel.

Ordinary dragon cultivators were not allowed to fly freely in the air, especially within city limits. As Hao Ren had once been Su Han's assistant auditor, he naturally could fly wherever he pleased within Donghai City thanks to his status.

Once he got a formal auditor’s position, he would be able to fly around at will anywhere within the first layer of heaven.

*Dong!*

Hao Ren landed in front of Zhao Yanzi's home and removed the barrier before taking out his key to unlock the door and enter.

This was the first time he had been inside their house when everyone wasn't there. The quietness of the place gave off a cozy feeling.

Hao Ren headed straight for Zhao Yanzi's second-floor room and took what he needed from her desk.

The pink bed in Zhao Yanzi’s room was covered with tangled-up cartoon-patterned blankets, giving it an untidy appearance. When she left the house, it clearly hadn't been properly tidied up.

A pair of plastic slippers were carelessly discarded by the bedside, and atop her bed mixed in among the sheets were some of her undergarments that had been changed out of.

She must've overslept and hurriedly got dressed when Zhao Hongyu called for her before rushing to the Dragon God Temple. Hao Ren could easily guess what happened by looking at her room’s state.

Hao Ren casually glanced around, then noticed a strawberry-patterned thong carelessly tossed in a corner beside her desk.

This girl… really isn't very neat…

Hao Ren helplessly touched his forehead and thought, Zhao Hongyu must be really tired to take care of her troublesome daughter.

However, Hao Ren had no interest in helping clean the room. He took what he needed and left the house before quickly flying towards the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea.

In just half an hour of going back and forth, it looked like preparations were being made for something important, with lanterns hanging and decorations put up.

Chancellor Xia personally directed some palace guards to hang lanterns and set up decorations.

"Chancellor Xia, what are you doing" Hao Ren walked over and asked.

"Haha, Young Master Hao, the Dragon Boat Festival is also known as the Dragon God Festival. It's a big day for dragon cultivators, we need to celebrate..." Chancellor Xia replied.

“Oh, I see.” Hao Ren vaguely remembered his grandmother mentioning that the Dragon Boat Festival was not only in memory of Qu Yuan but also a time to worship the Dragon God.

He didn't expect that the Dragon Boat Festival would indeed be a major holiday for dragon cultivators. No wonder the annual Dragon Temple examination would choose to take place around this festival every year.

"Young Master Hao, please sit and rest. These trivial matters will be handled by your humble servant..." Chancellor Xia bowed towards Hao Ren before turning to the guards, "Raise those three lanterns on the left a bit higher."

“Let me help too!”

Hao Ren rolled up his robe sleeves and walked over to give a hand to two palace guards struggling with a table.

The two palace guards felt the weight lighten suddenly when Hao Ren came to their aid, turning around in surprise upon seeing him. Hao Ren was personally appointed by Old Dragon King Zhao Haoran as the Grand General of the Eastern Sea and though Zhao Kuo had returned, his position hadn't changed yet. Having the Grand General offer his assistance truly made these two little soldiers feel honored.

"Young Master Hao, how could you possibly help with this" Vice Chancellor Xia hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

“It’s fine!”

Hao Ren put in a bit more effort and lifted the hundred-pound round table alone. He often exercised his muscles with basic boxing techniques, hardened his body with lightning cultivation methods, and reached the middle grade of Level Gen, making it effortless to carry this wooden board weighing over a hundred pounds.

“Kid, catch!”

A shout came from Zhao Kuo at one of the palace gates far away as he threw an enormous round table towards Hao Ren.

Hao Ren turned around and saw the hundred-pound wooden board flying his way.

In a moment of surprise, Hao Ren quickly let go of the heavy wooden board in his hand and reached out to catch this one flying towards him.

Boom!

Holding the wooden board with both hands, Hao Ren spun around on the spot to dissipate the force coming from it. Just as he was about to place the wooden board down on the ground, Zhao Kuo shouted again, “Again!” A heavy round table made of sandalwood flew towards Hao Ren.

Hao Ren used his previous technique and caught this far-flying wooden board too, placing it beside him. Zhao Kuo’s method of throwing was quick and precise; Hao Ren's palms were already a little warm after two throws.

“More!”

Zhao Kuo threw another one over.

The sandalwood round tables were usually stored in palace buildings similar to warehouses, only being taken out for big banquets like tonight. As the former Grand General, Zhao Kuo returned to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea and saw the soldiers busy preparing exercises without hesitation; he joined them immediately.

Hao Ren reached out and caught the high-thrown nanmu round table, placing it to one side.

The two personal guards beside Hao Ren immediately lifted one of them and carried it towards a large square area.

"Hey!" Zhao Kuo picked up two round tabletops with both hands and threw them over to Hao Ren.

Hao Ren focused on the trajectory of the flying round table, snapped his fingers twice as he held onto the edges of the tabletop with his hands, then firmly placed it beside him.

"Great!" The soldiers busy preparing for the banquet couldn't help but temporarily stop their work to clap and cheer.

Whish! Whish!

Another two round tables flew over a distance of five hundred meters towards Hao Ren.

Hao Ren used both hands to catch the two round tables, his feet remaining perfectly still.

The soldiers around him immediately gathered and moved these round tables to their designated locations.

Zhao Kuo stood at the palace entrance while Hao Ren stood in the center of the square. The two alternated throwing and catching with incredible ease, saving a large amount of time that would have been spent moving things back and forth by soldiers.

Zhao Kuo's speed increased rapidly; so did Hao Ren's catch speed.

Within two hours, Hao Ren didn't know how many round tables he had caught. He only saw personal guards coming in groups of ten or more to move the round tables away.

His arms were a bit sore, but wasn't this also a kind of training

"The last one!" Zhao Kuo threw a massive round tabletop that was as large as a boat towards Hao Ren.

The round table descended toward Hao Ren's head. He raised his hands to support the tabletop, yet he couldn’t stop its strong spinning force. Thus, with all his might, he pushed off and started rotating in midair together with the table!

This classic move was just like “Lushan Shenglong Ba,” a legendary martial arts technique!

But Hao Ren's goal wasn't to destroy this round table but rather to prevent any damage. This was akin to catching an egg that had fallen from ten meters high and ensuring it didn’t break, demanding extremely precise control over force. It was even more challenging than cracking the egg with one punch.

Bang!

Hao Ren landed on his feet completely dissipating the spinning force of the round table.

"Great!" Seeing Hao Ren catch it so beautifully, the soldiers couldn't help but cheer again.

Hao Ren exhaled lightly and handed off this last round table to six personal guards who had rushed over. The six personal guards stretched out their arms, each lifting one edge of the heavy tabletop with difficulty, carrying it to the farthest eastern end of the square.

With some free time now, Hao Ren turned around to look at the square.

The spacious square was now filled with red round tables. Looking out, he saw that there were as many as four hundred tables!ey could manage."Alright then," Hao Ren nodded when he saw no objections from them. He walked upstairs to his own bedroom.According to what the Lu sisters had said, passing this night would restore hi...