197-200
Chapter 197: From Liangzhou to An'an
"Fifth Brother, you were the one who wasn't careful."
Another five-year-old boy said with a mischievous grin.
The sparring between the three children came to a halt. The older boy, displeased, snorted softly. "If you keep attacking like that, I'll get serious next time!"
"Fifth Brother, if you get serious, you'll be bullying me."
The five-year-old boy chuckled.
"Hmph, who told you to keep ambushing me?"
"Father said, things like fighting and killing don't count as ambushing. Military strategy is about cunning!"
"We're just practicing."
Watching the children bicker, Li Hao's eyes flickered. From their conversation, he could roughly guess their identities.
His thoughts stirred, and a golden light appeared before his eyes.
Li Hao glanced at Chen Hefang, but she seemed oblivious to the golden light hovering in front of him. The characters formed by the light followed his gaze, casting a faint glow on her cheek.
[Growth] Task Progress: 5.6%.
Li Hao quickly calculated in his mind. It seemed he was just over a year old.
In that case, he should be able to speak and walk now.
"Mother?"
Li Hao paused, tentatively speaking, and a clear voice emerged from his mouth.
Chen Hefang, hearing the tender call, was momentarily stunned. She immediately lowered her head to look at Li Hao, her smile turning into surprise:
"Shilang, can you call me Mother? Say it again, let me hear it."
"Mother."
Though feeling a strange sensation, Li Hao gritted his teeth and called out again. It seemed his vocal cords were indeed fully developed.
Seeing Li Hao so intelligent, actually understanding her words, Chen Hefang's face bloomed with a radiant smile, repeatedly saying "Good, good, good."
The children in the courtyard, hearing the commotion, ceased their training and gathered around.
The three-year-old boy, who had been brandishing a stick, ran over, but forgot to drop his weapon, nearly swinging it towards Li Hao's head. Chen Hefang quickly intervened, blocking the blow.
"Junye, don't hurt your younger brother."
Chen Hefang chuckled softly, without reprimanding the child.
Little Li Junye was also startled. He quickly threw the wooden stick aside and leaned closer, curiously observing Li Hao.
"Brother can talk now?"
"Call me Brother!"
The older Li Xuanli exclaimed in surprise.
While another, more robust boy, Li Tiangang, directly demanded Li Hao call him Brother, with a pompous air, teasing the infant.
Another child, seemingly Li Fenghua, was fair-skinned and possessed gentle eyes, seemingly inheriting more of Chen Hefang's temperament. He simply smiled, remaining silent, with a somewhat shy demeanor.
Li Hao understood that these were all the remnants of his great-grandfather's obsession, or rather, fragments of his memories.
The veracity of these memories was yet to be verified.
After all, even he was being addressed as Shilang, indicating that certain factors could alter their memories.
Seeing these fellows pinching his cheeks, acting like curious toddlers, Li Hao felt a touch of helplessness. He closed his eyes, and after a dozen seconds, he felt the surrounding sounds gradually fade away, as if being pulled away by something.
After several minutes, Li Hao opened his eyes again, only to find a wooden stick hurtling towards him, aimed at his forehead.
He was startled but reacted swiftly, rolling to the side to avoid the stick. He felt a wooden sword in his hand and instinctively swung it out.
With a thud, he parried the opponent's stick. Li Hao then saw that it was the three-year-old Li Junye who had attacked him.
He was now standing in the same training courtyard he had seen earlier, a sword in his hand.
Remembering what the Fourth Master had said, he must have fast-forwarded a period of time, and now he was also participating in this training.
Li Hao looked at his hands and feet, not much different from before, probably only a couple of months older.
"They really start training from infancy..." Li Hao sighed inwardly. It seemed the training environment of his previous life was somewhat different from the time he spent alone in that courtyard.
Seeing the other boy swing his stick again, Li Hao spun around. Though his memories of cultivation were sealed, his accumulated combat experience seemed to linger. He swung his sword, striking the opponent's hand, knocking the wooden stick away.
Thwack.
The stick fell to the ground, but Li Hao didn't have much strength. Li Junye just rubbed his hand, not crying or complaining, but picked up the stick again.
Seeing the other boy ready to attack again, Li Hao quickly said, "No more, I'm tired."
This kind of training held little meaning for him.
Li Junye, seeing Li Hao surrender, also stopped in confusion.
Li Hao looked towards Chen Hefang, who was smiling and beckoning him:
"If you're tired, come over and rest for a while, have something to eat."
Li Hao dropped the wooden sword and ran over, climbing onto a chair. Just as he was about to grab a cake, he saw Chen Hefang take his small hand and carefully wipe the sand and grit from between his fingers with a handkerchief. Then, she gently tapped his forehead:
"Always so greedy."
Li Hao felt a strange sensation, but still held the cake and ate it.
The courtyard was filled with the sounds of wooden swords clashing. Li Hao stared at Li Xuanli for a moment, and a prompt suddenly appeared before his eyes:
[Basic Skills Learned, Record Them?]
Here it comes!
Li Hao's heart leaped with joy, and he immediately chose 'Yes'.
Soon, a new message appeared on the panel:
Swordsmanship: Untrained (Can Add Points)
Sword Technique: Xuanjian Treasure Record (Untrained)
Skill Points: 0
Li Hao thought of the numerous sword techniques in Tingyu Tower. This sword technique was merely a high-grade sword technique, but it was a good choice for beginners.
Next, he needed to obtain Skill Points.
Li Hao finished his cake, clapped his hands, and hopped off the small stool:
"Mother, I'm going to play."
"Hmm?"
Chen Hefang looked at Li Hao with some surprise, but didn't stop him. She simply instructed a nearby maid to keep an eye on Shilang.
Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that his grandmother, in her youth, was quite lenient with her children.
He immediately turned and wandered around the courtyard.
First, he needed to familiarize himself with the surroundings.
As for Skill Points, based on the current situation, Li Hao planned to start with poetry and literature.
Painting and chess were beyond his reach for now, and even if his grandmother was lenient, seeing him glued to a chessboard all day would likely earn him a scolding.
The maid followed closely, so Li Hao could only murmur to himself, reciting famous poems from his past life.
Soon, experience prompts popped up before his eyes:
[Poetry and Literature Experience +28, Poetry and Literature Experience +32...]
Although Li Hao hadn't grasped the essence of these poems, merely reciting them, the experience gained from these famous works was substantial.
His panel automatically recorded the Poetry and Literature path.
The experience required to go from Level 0 to Level 1 was only 100 points.
Just by babbling a few famous poems, his Poetry and Literature experience reached Level 2, earning him two Skill Points.
Li Hao immediately used them on Swordsmanship, increasing it to Level 1.
He kept the other point, intending to use it on a body-tempering technique once he began his cultivation.
At this moment, with Level 1 Swordsmanship, the Xuanjian Treasure Record he had just recorded instantly rose from Untrained to Mastery!
A wealth of swordsmanship insights flooded his mind, and Li Hao inwardly groaned, "Here we go again."
Previously, when he had absorbed this kind of knowledge, it had caused him excruciating headaches.
Now, his young body was once again experiencing the sensation of being overwhelmed by information.
Li Hao clutched his head, feeling a sharp pain.
The maid beside him was startled by Li Hao's sudden distress and hurriedly sent for a physician. She held Li Hao close, intending to take him back for treatment.
As he was jostled, the headache intensified. Li Hao struggled to finish the absorption process, feeling utterly exhausted.
Now, not only was his body back to infancy, but his mental fortitude seemed to be as well.
Li Hao felt drowsy, unable to hold on any longer, and fell asleep.
...
...
While Li Hao and Li Xiaoran entered the Mo River, at the second line of defense in Liangzhou, the war reached its most intense moment.
Without Zhuohuo Shen and Lu Yuan, and others to command, the Taixu Realm, Shengong, Longmen, and other demon kings, who had infiltrated Liangzhou from other borders, secretly sabotaging vital cities and severing communication lines.
Now, hearing the dire situation at the second line of defense, they all rushed to the scene.
The appearance of several demon kings made the situation at the second line of defense tense again.
But at this moment, reinforcements from the Xia family arrived.
The reinforcements were the older generation of the Xia family, Four-Establishment Realm masters, who, along with the Qianji Mountain Man, jointly blocked the subsequent demon kings.
Shortly after the Xia family's arrival, another Four-Establishment Realm master appeared, an elder from the Chen family.
Due to the relationship with Chen Hefang, the Chen family, as one of the Five Great Marshal's Manors, had always maintained a good relationship with the Li family. However, due to the vast distance, their immediate departure resulted in a delayed arrival. After all, it was a journey spanning tens of thousands of miles, across several large states.
With the continuous arrival of reinforcements, a thunderous battle erupted at the second line of defense.
The twenty war banners that Li Hao had previously dispatched were also delivered to the second line of defense by the Heavenly Man Grandmaster clad in Haotian Army armor.
The addition of the twenty war banners further stabilized the situation, severely injuring a demon king, nearly killing it.
Outside the battlefield, in a high altitude, a figure appeared, standing on auspicious clouds.
Lin Wujing's gaze fixed on the battlefield, his face grim. He had initially thought he was coming to alleviate suffering, but it turned out to be merely adding to an already flourishing situation.
Looking at the unified banners fluttering majestically on the battlefield, his eyes were filled with both shock and anger. During the previous struggle for the True Dragon at the Li family, he had witnessed the young man's abilities firsthand. He never imagined that in just over a year, the other party would grow to this extent.
"Have they gone to the Mo River?"
Lin Wujing asked in a low voice.
A child-like girl beside him, respectfully replied, "Yes, they've gone in that direction. We just received news that they've all entered the Mo River."
Lin Wujing's eyes flickered, but he didn't say anything.
After a moment, he said, "Go ahead."
The child-like girl nodded, then flickered into a green bird and flew away.
"Qingzhou hasn't come..."
Lin Wujing looked towards the battlements, where a figure was fighting a demon king, emitting a dazzling light. It was the Li family Duke who had guarded Yanbei for over a decade.
His rank and merits were already comparable to the older generation of the Li family.
And the realm he displayed at this moment had also reached the Four-Establishment Realm.
His eyes flickered, and he didn't linger, quickly charging towards the battlefield.
As the auspicious clouds appeared, he raised his hand and unleashed a lotus-shaped purple light, silently attacking a Longmen demon king.
When the demon king noticed Lin Wujing, it was too late. He was instantly severely injured by the purple Buddhist light, spitting out blood.
"Damn it!"
The Longmen demon king roared, seeing that the situation was completely out of control, his heart filled with anger and despair.
Lin Wujing didn't say a word and joined the battle.
For a time, the battle shook the heavens and earth. Some Longmen demon kings escaped, calling out to their Grand Elder, but received no response.
The remaining demon kings of the Taixu Realm also learned that their master and mistress had disappeared while pursuing the Haotian Young General, filling them with anger and despair.
Another day passed.
The Imperial Army arrived with reinforcements, sweeping across Liangzhou, driving away the demons who were taking advantage of the chaos. The flames of war raged everywhere.
Just as the battle outside the second line of defense subsided, Li Xuanli ordered the remaining troops to raise the Haotian banner and sweep through the cities, completely driving the remaining demons out of Liangzhou!
With Li Hao's earlier diversion of the three Absolute Realm demon kings and the arrival of reinforcements from all sides, the precarious situation in Liangzhou, which had almost been annihilated, was finally temporarily stabilized.
The demons' swift surprise attack failed. Once the Great Yu Divine Dynasty's aid arrived, they would no longer be able to fight, especially with Zhuohuo Shen and Lu Yuan and other high-ranking demon kings missing.
"We've held them off!"
Li Xuanli looked at the blood-red setting sun outside the defense line, at the countless corpses of demons piled up on the ground, wiped the blood from his face, and couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Li Hongzhuang's scarlet battle armor was even more stained with blood, her hair tangled with flesh and gore. Her face also showed a smile, but soon, seeing the fluttering banners, her expression subtly changed.
At this moment, as the battle subsided, the remaining soldiers raised their banners and cheered in joy.
But some were filled with grief, searching the battlefield for the bodies of their loved ones and friends.
Others wept with their faces buried in their hands, overcome with sorrow.
The border soldiers, who had endured countless battles, remained relatively numb, with little change in expression, only a sense of relief after surviving.
However, among the aristocratic troops who were participating in such a major battle for the first time, there were countless sounds of joyful weeping and figures embracing each other in sorrow.
Great joy and great sorrow caused those young men and women who had once dreamed of wielding swords and roaming the world to mature overnight.
"Father! I survived!"
Some of the older generation of aristocratic families searched frantically for their descendants on the battlefield.
Some emerged from beneath fallen banners after the battle ended, their faces filled with surprise.
On the battlefield, clusters of survivors gathered around a waving banner.
The deterrent power of these banners prevented the demons from mercilessly killing them, forcing them to avoid these stubborn obstacles.
This allowed them to survive.
"We survived, we all survived!"
"Thanks to the military banners, those demons were afraid when they saw them, just like torches scare away wild beasts!"
These survivors, having experienced this great battle firsthand, deeply understood the immense sense of security that the banners brought.
That deterrent power didn't come from the banners themselves, but from the two characters written on them!
For a time, besides the various sounds of weeping and joy on the battlefield, there was a thunderous roar that shook the clouds.
Millions of people, chanting a single name.
The sound, like the roar of a mountain and sea, reached the city walls, falling upon the ears of Li Xuanli and the others, causing the joy they felt for protecting countless people to quickly vanish, their faces turning grim.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 198: Foundation Establishment, Unparalleled Talent (Combined Chapter)
"Hao'er..."
Li Xuanli clenched his fists, his heart filled with sorrow.
The Li family soldiers and the Liangzhou military commander beside him also lost their smiles, falling into a silent hush.
The older generation of the Xia and Chen families, who had rushed to provide reinforcements, were momentarily stunned by the thunderous roar of the crowd's cheers. They had never witnessed a general garner such a formidable reputation.
Moreover, among the crowd were many proud members of the various city-based aristocratic armies, who were shouting even louder than the regular soldiers.
It was important to remember that the aristocratic families and warlords of the Dayu Divine Dynasty, while maintaining some level of interaction, generally held each other in disdain.
The warlords looked down upon the aristocratic families, deeming them shallow and self-serving, greedy and cowardly, seeing them as the parasites and ailments of Dayu.
The aristocratic families, in turn, feared the warlords' intimidating power and, fueled by the warlords' contempt, reciprocated with their own disdain, secretly scorning their stubborn loyalty and lack of adaptability.
The sight of such unified fervor was truly an incredible spectacle.
"Li Hao..."
Li Wushuang was also covered in blood. She had charged alongside the soldiers, hunting down scattered demons and slaying them. Now, she was utterly exhausted, her hands trembling with fatigue.
The calls she heard, all echoed the young man's name.
Her face was devoid of color as she asked her father, "Should we go look for him?"
Li Xuanli's heart jolted, feeling as if a sharp thorn had pierced his soul. His voice was hoarse as he replied, "Look? Where do we even begin to look?"
Li Wushuang's face paled further. Indeed, the world was vast, where could they possibly find him?
The young man... had been lost by their Li family!
A wave of sorrow washed over her.
As someone of Li Hao's generation, she knew that the young man had already achieved remarkable feats, yet his life had been tragically cut short.
Nearby, Li Tiangang also heard Li Xuanli's words. His expression shifted, and his massive, imposing frame trembled slightly. The blood in his veins seemed to turn icy cold.
Where to look...
The pursuit of three Absolute Mastery realm experts was incredibly dangerous, especially considering that one of them was on the verge of achieving the Half-Step Taiping Dao realm!
He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a low voice, "Fifth Brother, we should prioritize treating the wounded and injured, reorganizing our remaining forces, and resolving the demon calamities across Liangzhou.
After the battle concludes, I will go search for him."
Li Xuanli glanced at him, understanding that any attempt at comfort would be futile. He said, "I'll dispatch two light cavalry squads to track him. Perhaps Hao'er is blessed with profound good fortune and managed to escape this ordeal?"
Li Tiangang's eyes flickered. He thought about how the child had been showered with the favor of countless individuals, truly blessed with remarkable good fortune.
He nodded, "Indeed. And have them carry his banner. Wherever his banner goes, it will offer protection to those who encounter other demons along the way."
At this point, he couldn't deny that the young man's reputation surpassed that of the Li family's Yuan Battalion.
At least in this Liangzhou campaign, within Liangzhou itself, his name would become known to everyone, without exception.
Including the demons.
Li Xuanli nodded. He understood this without needing to be told. Currently, only Li Hao's banner held the most power in Liangzhou. If they raised their own banners, the demons would likely resist, even attacking depending on the situation. But with Li Hao's banner, it was a different story.
No one knew whether the banner was real or not. Furthermore, the child's reputation was immense. In this battle, he had turned the tide, slain seven demon kings, swept across the heavens, and established his dominion with his banner.
These feats would spread throughout the demon circles.
Among these demons were those who roamed freely under the Tianji Palace, possessing a keen understanding of certain intelligence. Unless it was some ignorant, insignificant demon from the wilderness.
"Let us three also go and investigate other areas. Since we're here, let's see how many remnants remain."
The Chen family elder spoke, his eyes icy cold. His battle robes were stained with blood from the earlier fight with the demons. Though he appeared frail with his white hair, he exuded an aura of bloodlust and killing intent.
The older generation of the Xia family nodded, glancing at Li Tiangang. He was sharp-eared and quick-witted. From the snippets of conversation and the cheers of the aristocratic armies, he had grasped the general picture.
The success of holding the second line of defense until now was entirely due to the assistance of Li Tiangang's son.
Having slain seven demon kings, their corpses still lay scattered across the battlefield, like imposing hills, a terrifying sight.
Even they, the elders, doubted whether they could achieve such a feat.
Not to mention that he had also lured away three Absolute Mastery realm experts. The Taixu realm master, the Candlelight God, had revealed a shocking secret – he was on the verge of achieving the Half-Step Taiping Dao realm, almost reaching the level of a Buddha.
"It seems that the next generation of the Five God Generals' Manors has been outclassed by us..."
"The Li family's true dragon, unmatched..."
The Xia family elder sighed inwardly, thinking of his own outstanding younger generation. Comparing them, he couldn't help but shake his head.
The gap was too obvious.
However, the exceptional talent of this Li family's true dragon might not be a bad thing for the upcoming situation.
Thinking of the various pieces of confidential information, the Xia family elder's expression grew more serious.
"The common people are suffering, and we all have a responsibility. This old Daoist will accompany the two of you on another round."
The Thousand Mechanisms Daoist gently flicked his whisk, addressing the two elders.
He then glanced at his disciple in the distance, his eyes flickering slightly. The scene of his visit to the Li family to accept a disciple flashed unexpectedly in his mind.
When he took Wushuang away, the young man standing beside her was ignored by everyone.
Who could have imagined that he would shine so brightly today, surpassing everyone else?
Even he himself had been saved by the young man, owing him a debt of gratitude.
Having lived for centuries, he had made a rare mistake in his judgment...
With a sigh in his heart, he felt regret. He sent a voice transmission to Li Wushuang, urging her to be cautious, and then departed with the elders of the Xia and Chen families to scour Liangzhou and search for the remaining demon kings.
...
...
Outside the borders of Liangzhou, within the Dragon City's Death River.
Within the God Generals' Manor, in the Green Lotus Courtyard.
Having previously felt drowsy from absorbing swordsmanship knowledge and then taking a nap, Li Hao had reached the age of two.
Currently, in a corner of the courtyard, Li Hao was with the young man, Li Xiaoran.
Li Hao could now speak, and the two could communicate.
"Everyone else doesn't matter, but in front of your grandfather, who is also my elder brother, you must absolutely protect your identity. Never let him know that you came from outside the Death River."
Li Xiaoran looked around cautiously, setting up a soundproof barrier before whispering, "In front of others, even if you act strangely, as long as it's not too frequent, they won't notice anything. But it's different in front of my elder brother. His obsession has its own consciousness, and the entire Dragon City exists because of him."
"If he senses your abnormality, if he knows that you're from outside the Death River and not his son, Li Shi Lang, he will expel you, or even kill you. Remember that!"
Li Hao's expression turned serious, and he nodded.
Li Xiaoran was being extremely careful when visiting him, likely also disguising his own identity.
Strangely, he didn't have a name here, only a designation: Li Shi Lang.
Perhaps the old man only had nine sons when he was alive. The existence of Li Hao as an exception in this place meant that he hadn't considered a name for a tenth child, so he became known by this designation.
"Did you also enter as a baby?" Li Hao asked curiously.
"More or less, it's the same for everyone,"
Li Xiaoran nodded, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Before my elder brother died, he always felt that he hadn't worked hard enough, that's why he was defeated."
"Perhaps it's this kind of thinking that led to the unique rules of this Death River. The rules of other Netherworld-level Death Rivers are different."
So that's it... Li Hao understood, and asked curiously, "Then, among those who entered with us, did you come in many years before me?"
"That's right. Time is strange here. You've already felt it. I've actually been here for a long time. During this time, besides cultivation, I've also been searching for traces of those demons. They've already infiltrated Dragon City. When you turn eighteen, the Dragon City battle will erupt, and those demons will appear."
"I need to eliminate them beforehand!" Li Xiaoran's eyes flashed with killing intent.
Li Hao felt the surging energy emanating from him. This Fourth Uncle had already reached the Three Immortals realm.
Li Xiaoran looked at Li Hao, seeming to understand his thoughts, and said:
"My identity does give me an advantage when passing through this Death River, so this Death River has always been guarded by me. Every time I enter, it's basically with my original identity. I guess this is also a deliberate arrangement of my elder brother's obsession."
"My elder brother also wants to be liberated, he wants me to take him home..."
As he spoke, a flicker of sadness crossed his eyes.
Li Hao fell silent for a moment before asking, "If I show exceptionally amazing talent, will it expose me?"
"No."
Li Xiaoran quickly composed himself, shaking his head. "No matter how amazing, it's fine, as long as you don't say anything strange, anything that he wouldn't expect you to know based on his impression of you."
Li Hao understood. In other words, as long as everything aligns with his current developmental trajectory, it's okay.
"If we slowly spend a few decades here, how much time will pass outside?" Li Hao asked, having been worried about this issue earlier.
He wondered if the three demon kings had entered the Death River, whether they were guarding outside, or had turned back to Liangzhou.
"Are you worried about the demon kings outside?"
Li Xiaoran saw Li Hao's concern and smiled, "Don't worry, they've all entered this Death River. A few years before you were born, the Candlelight God, relying on his ability to activate the Taiping Dao realm, was able to ignore some of the special rules within the Dao realm and directly attack Dragon City, intending to quickly kill you and me."
"But he underestimated the power of our Li family, and he underestimated the power of my elder brother's obsession!"
"In the great battle several years ago, my elder brother, leading the ancestral spirits of the Li family's ancestral hall, repelled him. He should be lurking outside Dragon City now, waiting for the future attack on Dragon City to seize the opportunity to strike again."
Li Hao was stunned. The other party had actually attacked years ago?
He had just entered the Death River, and the other party had even entered after him, yet in the timeline of this Death River, they were ahead of him?
"Since the Taiping Dao realm can ignore the rules, wouldn't the Buddha be able to easily resolve this if he intervened?" Li Hao asked curiously.
Considering the Li family's connections, it wasn't impossible to invite the Buddha to intervene, but it depended on how great the offered compensation was.
"They can only ignore some of the rules. And even if someone in the Taiping Dao realm can traverse with their Dao domain, they can at most protect themselves. If they violate certain taboos, they will also be in danger. The things here are too profound, you will gradually feel it." Li Xiaoran said.
Li Hao's heart was filled with awe. Even a powerful figure like the Buddha would face danger if they violated taboos. What secrets were hidden within this place?
"Besides the Candlelight God, I guess that old dragon, Lu Yuan, has also come. Outside, at most, the Yin Madam is left to watch over things."
Li Xiaoran looked at Li Hao, "They chased you here because of your talent, right? I remember your birthday is the same as Little Nine's death anniversary. This year, you're fifteen?"
Li Hao nodded.
Li Xiaoran couldn't help but exclaim, "This explains why you attracted them. A fifteen-year-old in the Three Immortals realm, with that terrifying power in desperate situations. No wonder they're so desperate to kill you. You're even more terrifying than Little Nine. Tiangang, that bear of a guy, really did produce a good son!"
He didn't notice Li Hao's frowning expression, and continued, "Time is strange in this Death River, but the amount of time you're conscious here is the same amount of time that passes outside. That old dragon, Lu Yuan, must have come in too. The Dragon Gate once had a demon king come to this Death River. After escaping, he would definitely share the information about this place with the Dragon Gate. Lu Yuan has the information, and since the Candlelight God came in, he would probably bring him along as well."
"This time, guarding Dragon City will be more difficult than ever."
His expression turned serious as he told Li Hao, "But it's also an opportunity for you. Recultivating allows you to refine your original martial arts and find any flaws. And the new insights you gain from your cultivation will be taken out with you when you leave the Death River."
"When they interact with your own martial arts outside, it will also lead to a significant improvement."
"You're only two years old now, although you still have sixteen years, but the time you can truly cultivate is not that much. Unless you cultivate to the Divine Wandering realm, you can go for several years without sleeping."
"So the time you spend cultivating here is actually shorter than if you were outside, you have to work extra hard!"
Li Hao understood this, "I know, you take care of yourself too."
Li Xiaoran saw a maid searching for Li Hao in the distance, knowing that it was about time. He carried Li Hao to the maid and teased him along the way.
Li Hao also played the role of a two-year-old child, letting out cheerful laughter.
"Young Master, you were here all along."
The maid was relieved to see Li Hao and bowed to Li Xiaoran.
Li Xiaoran waved his hand, with a teasing smile, and said goodbye to Li Hao.
Li Hao watched him walk out of the courtyard, sitting in the maid's arms. He pondered for a moment before closing his eyes.
...
In the courtyard, Li Hao was immersed in a large medicinal tub.
He was now three years old.
In the God Generals' Manor, the optimal cultivation process, developed over centuries of research, was to establish a foundation at three, refine blood at four, measure bones at five, and begin cultivation at six.
Cultivating too early could damage bones and hinder physical growth, counteracting the desired effects.
Li Hao accelerated time to three years old for the purpose of establishing his foundation.
If his foundation establishment failed, he would have more time to do other things.
Currently, there were several figures standing in the courtyard.
His "mother," Chen Hefang, and his "grandfather," Li Tianzong.
Also present were his other "brothers," including his younger sister, Li Hongzhuang, who was just one year old and learning to walk.
Foundation establishment was a major event. Li Tianzong had personally come to oversee Li Hao's foundation establishment, and his other "brothers" had also come. Li Hao saw his "older brothers" he hadn't met before, his "uncles," all of whom were young men and children.
Some were already full of youthful vigor, while others, though with childish faces, had a hint of bravery in their brows.
Li Hao didn't pay much attention to the others, but when facing his "father," Li Tianzong, he felt a sense of nervousness.
Li Xiaoran had said that the other party was conscious, and his actions could change at any moment. He absolutely could not reveal any flaws in front of him.
"Light the incense."
Li Tianzong instructed.
A middle-aged steward in the courtyard responded respectfully, lighting a stick of incense in a nearby incense burner.
Li Hao recognized him as Zhao Bo, only younger and without the same hunched back.
He felt a strange sense of warmth and sadness, suddenly realizing that when he had left the manor, he seemed to have left something behind.
Precious memories and affection.
He wondered how Zhao Bo was doing now, whether the maid Qingzhi was still boisterous, whether Yuanzhao had anyone to tell him stories, and if he was cultivating and eating well.
"How fast!"
At this moment, Li Tianzong's exclamation broke Li Hao's train of thought.
Li Hao was startled and looked down at the medicinal tub.
He saw that the black medicinal liquid in the tub had strands of even darker black liquid adhering to his body.
Li Hao was stunned.
He blinked rapidly and brought up his panel, but saw no indication that he couldn't absorb the medicinal liquid.
What was going on?
Li Hao was bewildered.
He remembered that he should have been isolating the medicinal liquid, only relying on the panel's stat points.
But now, he could feel a wave of intense and strange energy surging into his body, making his whole body feel hot.
Was this what foundation establishment felt like?
He, was he actually establishing his foundation?
Li Hao was stunned, then his heart skipped a beat. Was his panel broken?
He checked repeatedly, finding that the panel could still pop up at any time when called upon, and there were no changes.
Could it be because of the Death River?
The Death River was extremely mysterious, its origin unknown and untraceable.
Li Hao was puzzled, and suddenly, he seemed to understand the reason.
The panel's isolation of medicinal liquid absorption was isolating his original body.
And now, this infant body wasn't his true body, it was a body within the Death River.
Li Xiaoran had said earlier that when he left the Death River, he could take the martial arts insights from here with him, but the specific cultivation level couldn't be synchronized with his outside body.
In other words, if his cultivation here was poor, when he went out, he would still be at the same level.
If his cultivation here was stronger, he would still return to his original level when he went out.
The cultivation level here couldn't be taken out, only martial arts insights, things integrated into his thoughts and memories, could be taken out.
Therefore, strictly speaking, these medicinal liquids weren't being absorbed by his original body, but by this Death River body, which is why the panel didn't isolate them.
Well... although he had figured out the reason, Li Hao found that he couldn't be happy.
He'd solved a pointless mystery.
"However, here, I can see what happens if I can absorb all kinds of things, combined with the panel's stat points, and achieve maximum growth. What level can I reach the fastest?" Li Hao thought to himself.
At this moment, as the medicinal liquid flowed in, Li Hao felt his entire body become scorching hot, and his small body was filled with a powerful sense of energy.
So this was what foundation establishment felt like... Li Hao felt a comfortable, massaging sensation throughout his body.
While Li Hao was enjoying himself, Li Tianzong and Chen Hefang, along with the others outside, were stunned.
The other "brothers" of Li Hao who had completed their foundation establishment earlier were also shocked by the changes in the medicinal tub.
This speed was far beyond theirs.
"How fast, is he going to absorb it all within one stick of incense?" Li Xingbei, the eldest brother, said.
"It's much faster than mine, even faster than Ninth Brother. It's incredible!" Li Fengping, the second brother, also exclaimed in amazement.
Li Tianzong watched the medicinal liquid in the tub gradually lighten, like a dragon sucking water, converging towards Li Hao's body. After his initial shock, he burst into a hearty laugh.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Truly worthy of being my Li Tianzong's son!"
He laughed, his face full of affection as he looked at Li Hao.
Li Hao, however, was simply enjoying himself.
Within half a stick of incense, the tub was clear, the medicinal liquid completely absorbed by Li Hao.
Li Tianzong had already instructed Zhao Bo to bring a second tub for Li Hao, which was then poured in.
After absorbing three tubs in succession, Li Hao's body was finally full.
Li Tianzong was speechless with astonishment, muttering, "More than double the amount Little Nine absorbed!"
Li Hao felt his entire body, feeling light as a feather. Just on the first day of foundation establishment, his body had undergone a transformation, his physique drastically changed.
Li Hao didn't stop. After closing his eyes for a moment, he fast-forwarded to five days later, skipping ahead quite a bit.
But Li Hao felt that his body was clearly stronger than before, apparently during those skipped days, he was also absorbing the foundation establishment medicinal liquid with all his might.
If that was the case, Li Hao immediately closed his eyes again, allowing time to jump forward even faster, each time opening his eyes a few days later.
He would check his body each time to make sure it was progressing normally, then quickly skip ahead again.
Time continued to fast-forward, soon reaching a year later.
Four years old, blood refinement.
Because of Li Hao's extraordinary talent, Li Tianzong had a demon king slain for him, taking its precious blood to refine for Li Hao.
However, the precious blood was diluted, only a small amount used for the first attempt.
For ordinary blood refinement, using the blood of a Heaven and Man realm demon was already a sign of a wealthy and influential aristocratic family.
Only a few top sect's direct disciples would use the blood of a Three Immortals realm demon.
As for demon king's blood, few people would use it. Firstly, it was too precious and difficult to obtain. Secondly, its potency was too strong, a four-year-old child couldn't withstand it, and it would easily lead to infection, turning them into a half-demon.
Li Tianzong was also being cautious, not giving too much precious blood at first.
But soon, Li Hao's absorption speed surprised him again. The diluted demon king's blood was quickly absorbed by Li Hao.
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
Li Tianzong couldn't stop smiling, overjoyed by his young son's talent. This was absolutely the most exceptional talent the Li family had seen in centuries, in his understanding!
After Li Hao's blood refinement at four years old, although he was still a child, he already possessed a wild, untamed strength.
Li Hao didn't continue skipping ahead. Instead, he fast-forwarded to a time when he wasn't immersed in the blood, finding Zhao Bo and asking him to find a chessboard for him.
Although Zhao Bo was surprised by Li Hao's unusual request, he was extremely fond of this exceptionally talented young master and didn't object. He instructed a servant to purchase one.
Li Hao took advantage of his free time to go to his small courtyard. Besides reciting poetry, he also found ink, brushes, and paper and went to a side room to paint.
The courtyard was relatively quiet now, as the other "brothers" had gone to the martial arts field. Only Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang, who was two years younger than him, were in the courtyard.
The two-year-old Li Hongzhuang, for some reason, was very clingy to Li Hao. When Li Hao hid in the side room to secretly paint, the little girl found him.
Looking at the little girl who, in reality, was his younger paternal aunt, pink and tender, calling him "brother" and running over, Li Hao felt a sense of helplessness and strangeness.
He didn't know how he had played with the little girl during his rapid time jumps, but she seemed very affectionate towards him.
Li Hao was helpless and could only find some snacks to keep her quietly seated beside him while he painted.
This familiar feeling made Li Hao think of the courtyard back then, when he was playing chess and painting, with a little tail behind him.
Only later, the little tail was gone.
Li Hao shook his head slightly, collected his thoughts, and continued to quickly sketch on the drawing paper.
With a bang.
Just as Li Hao was painting with gusto, watching his painting experience increase steadily, the door to the side room was suddenly pushed open.
Li Tianzong's tall figure walked in. Seeing Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang there, his eyes flickered, landing on Li Hao:
"What are you doing?"
Li Hao's heart instinctively skipped a beat, but now that he had been seen, he couldn't hide it. He could only reply helplessly, "Painting."
Li Tianzong glanced at the drawing board, his stern face softening, "Painting is fine, why are you hiding here? You made your mother search for you for a while."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 199: Who Dares to Mock My Son? (Extra Chapter for Alliance Leader 'Ci哩Ci哩', Thank You!)
Li Hao was somewhat surprised that the other party hadn't erupted in anger or reprimand.
The man's features were imposing and valiant, his thick brows exuding an aura of natural authority. Yet, his current gentle expression softened the inherent sternness, lending a gentle, spring breeze-like warmth to his countenance.
"What are you drawing? Let me see."
Li Tianzong approached, his gaze falling upon the figure sketched on Li Hao's drawing board. He could vaguely discern the outline of a woman.
Li Hao's artistic skills were still in their nascent stages. His current drawing was rather crude, and Li Tianzong curiously asked, "Who is this drawing supposed to be?"
"Mother."
Li Hao was referring to the "mother" of this body, Chen Hefang.
He felt a slight blush creep onto his cheeks. His current artistic abilities were still quite poor; it wasn't even a proper portrait, lacking any real resemblance.
If he were to draw a wanted criminal, the criminal could likely come and claim the poster, and no one would recognize them…
Li Tianzong, upon hearing Li Hao's words, paused for a moment before breaking into a smile. "It's quite good," he said, "but your mother is far more beautiful than this depiction. You need to practice more."
Li Hao's surprise deepened. From the sound of it, the other party wasn't discouraging him from pursuing this "sideline."
"I will strive to improve," Li Hao replied.
Li Tianzong ruffled his small head. "Once your skills improve, draw one for me as well. Include your brothers, and Little Hongzhuang."
He glanced at Little Hongzhuang, who was seated nearby, enjoying some pastries.
Little Hongzhuang: "?"
Her bright, watery eyes looked questioningly at the two, unsure of what they were discussing.
Li Hao, despite the rough handling of his head by the large hand, felt the warmth of the palm, a warmth imbued with affection. He was momentarily stunned. Though he was in Mohe River, and the "father" before him was his long-deceased grandfather, he felt an inexplicable sensation in his heart.
It was as if a long-unhealed wound was finally beginning to mend.
He fell silent for a moment before nodding earnestly:
"I will hone my artistic skills!"
Li Tianzong chuckled. "When you're done, I'll treasure them. My son not only possesses exceptional martial talent but also remarkable artistic flair, haha!"
He laughed for a few moments before continuing, "But don't forget to learn your letters. Once you turn five and undergo the bone assessment, you'll begin daily cultivation technique readings. Understand?"
His expression turned slightly serious.
"Yes!"
Li Hao nodded, a bright smile gracing his face.
Two rows of pearly white teeth shone brilliantly against his childish cheeks.
"Come, let's take you to eat something delicious."
Li Tianzong scooped Li Hao into his arms, then used his other hand to embrace Little Hongzhuang, holding them both close, one on each side, as he exited the side room.
Upon reaching the courtyard, Chen Hefang saw Li Tianzong carrying Li Hao and Little Hongzhuang. She quickly rushed over, gently chiding him:
"Look at you, they're not so young anymore. You still carry them around. Aren't you afraid of others making fun of you?"
"Who dares to mock my son?"
Li Tianzong's eyebrows shot up, a hint of authority in his voice. Then, he laughed again, saying, "The situation outside Dragon City isn't good. It's rare for me to be home, so naturally, I want to spend more time with the children."
"You must also take care of yourself when you're out,"
Chen Hefang's face, previously adorned with a smile, was now filled with worry as she heard him mention Dragon City.
Li Tianzong shook his head with a smile. "It's all trivial matters. I'll handle it. Let's not talk about these things at home. Let's go get some delicious food. We'll go to the martial arts field and see how the eldest and the others are training. If anyone isn't performing well, I'll send them to the famous mountains outside."
Chen Hefang couldn't help but smile, knowing his nature. She didn't persuade him further and instructed a maid to fetch some pastries from the kitchen.
Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at them. While the current warmth was precious, watching his "brothers" train at the martial arts field wouldn't be of much benefit to him.
The time spent in his conscious state would be returned to his body when he left Mohe River. He opted to accelerate and skip through it.
As the couple, with gentle words, led Li Hao and Little Hongzhuang to the martial arts field, Li Hao, while they observed the other "brothers" training, closed his eyes and activated the acceleration.
Days passed in a blur.
Li Hao continued to refine the Demonic King's Blood every day. He would jump to his free time and continue to practice drawing, accumulating artistic experience.
With each stroke, Li Hao's mind gradually calmed. He felt a sense of inner relaxation as he focused entirely on his art in the side room.
One drawing paper after another was peeled off, and the figures depicted on them became increasingly clear and beautiful, gentle and refined.
Once his artistic skill reached level 2, Li Hao's brushstrokes became as if guided by a god. His control over the brush significantly improved, allowing for more precise depictions, and he could now clearly draw portraits, bringing them to life.
Li Hao meticulously drew portraits of Chen Hefang, Li Tianzong, Little Hongzhuang, and others. The artistic experience he gained varied depending on the subject he was drawing.
The floor of the room was littered with discarded drawing paper.
It wasn't until the sky began to darken in the courtyard and Zhao Bo called him for dinner that Li Hao finally stopped. He then immediately chose to accelerate and skip ahead.
The surrounding scenery shifted, and it was a few days later, during another free time period.
He was still sitting in the side room, drawing, but to Li Hao's surprise, all the scattered drawing paper on the floor had vanished.
Li Hao pondered for a moment, deciding that drawing was his top priority.
Each time he closed his eyes and accelerated, it was at least three or four days later, making it difficult to control. If he accelerated for a slightly longer period, it would be half a month later.
While drawing, Little Hongzhuang pushed open the door and peeked in, sneaking in to give Li Hao a piece of pastry.
Li Hao's drawing was interrupted, but he didn't get angry. He smiled and took the pastry with his mouth, eating while asking, "Hongzhuang, where are my drawings?"
"Father took them away."
"Took them away?"
Li Hao's heart tightened slightly.
Little Hongzhuang held a wooden toy horse in her hand, pushing it along the ground as she recalled, "Father said to Mother during dinner that he wanted Uncle Zhao to pack them all up. He said that when you get your own house later, he'll put them in your courtyard for your wife to see your artistic talent when you were young."
She was only two years old, yet her speech was clear, repeating what she had heard without missing a word.
After finishing, she looked up at Li Hao with confusion, "Tenth Brother, what does 'getting your own house' mean? And what's a 'wife'? Is it delicious?"
The little girl was full of questions, but she saw that the "Tenth Brother" was sitting in front of the drawing board, as still as a statue, without speaking or responding.
…
Time skipped forward with each acceleration, and Li Hao, with each time travel, tried to jump to his free time and then come to the side room to draw.
What happened during the skipped time, he had no memory of, only occasionally gleaning information from Little Hongzhuang.
After seven consecutive jumps, several months had passed in Mohe River, but to Li Hao, it felt like he had been sitting and drawing for seven days straight.
The scattered drawing paper around him disappeared with each jump.
Those drawing papers that he had carelessly thrown on the floor were, during one jump to the dinner time point, seen placed on a cabinet next to the main hall.
Previously, the cabinet held various precious artifacts, such as divine weapons, ceramics, and jade gifts from the royal family. Now, most of them were removed, replaced by stacks of drawing paper.
"My son's artistic skills are improving by leaps and bounds. The tutor says his literacy is also progressing rapidly. He learns after only one teaching, haha!"
At the dinner table, Li Tianzong laughed heartily.
Li Hao, however, remained silent.
This was the first time he had accompanied his "father" and "mother" for dinner since arriving in Mohe River.
This time, he didn't skip ahead. He held his rice bowl and ate silently.
"Tenth Brother, I heard you drew a picture for all of us. Why isn't there one of me?"
At the dinner table, a child stood up and spoke. It was Little Li Tiangang.
The fact that Li Hao could draw had spread throughout the family. His brothers had all seen his artwork, finding their own sketches within them, each one stunning. But Little Li Tiangang searched high and low, unable to find his own portrait.
Li Hao glanced at him. Though only eight or nine years old, his features already bore a resemblance to the Li Tiangang of his memory.
Li Hao didn't say anything and continued to eat his rice.
"Tenth Brother, why aren't you answering me?"
Little Li Tiangang urged, his voice rising.
Li Hao closed his eyes slightly, and the scene before him rapidly changed, jumping to several days later.
He stood in the courtyard, his body being wiped down by a maid, indicating that he had just finished absorbing Demonic Blood.
The tutor came and took Li Hao to learn literacy.
Every day after absorbing the blood, it was time for literacy. Once literacy was over, it was Li Hao's free time.
Li Hao didn't jump again. He obediently followed the tutor, but this time he actively participated. The things the old man taught, he basically knew, so while listening to the lesson, he took out his notebook and started writing poetry.
[Poetry & Literature Experience +53]
[Poetry & Literature Experience +46]
…
As poem after poem was written, his Poetry & Literature Experience increased.
The old man was halfway through his lesson when he saw Li Hao diligently writing. He nodded in silent admiration and leaned closer to take a look, only to be stunned.
It wasn't the characters he was teaching, but several poems.
The old man quickly grabbed Li Hao's notebook and examined it carefully. The wider his eyes grew, the more incredulous he became, finally looking at Li Hao in disbelief:
"These… these are all written by you?"
Li Hao nodded.
This wouldn't expose him. It could simply be considered his poetic talent.
Only if he talked about Liangzhou, the Demonic King Candlelight God, or other things that he, in his current identity, would never have been able to come into contact with, would it reveal his identity and create a dissonance with the current situation.
"This… this…"
The old man was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.
This was simply a prodigy of the age, with the potential of a great scholar!
Just learning to read and he could write poetry? Even if he were born into a family of great scholars, it would be enough to shock the entire household!
Let alone being born into a military family. Having such poetic talent was incredibly rare!
Moreover, he knew that Li Hao's cultivation talent was also terrifying, a fact that had already spread throughout the General's Mansion. He was the most talented individual the Li family had seen in centuries!
A master of both martial arts and literature!
"I must tell the master about this!"
The old man exclaimed excitedly, "If the master knows you have such talent and intelligence, he'll be overjoyed!"
Li Hao thought of the "grandfather," his eyes flickering slightly, a strange sense of anticipation rising within him.
Since ancient times, being able to recite poetry as soon as one learned to read was considered a sign of a young genius. Some great scholars, when they were just two or three years old, could point at chickens and ducks and compose a poem.
But that was due to the constant exposure to eloquent language in the daily conversations of their families of great scholars. Even their casual interactions were filled with ornate language. Of course, some were simply born with such talent, hailed as the reincarnation of Wenqu Star.
At this moment, after the old man excitedly rushed out of the classroom, Li Hao, as usual, went to the side room to draw.
He immersed himself completely, his mind filled with the drawings. He thought of the drawings displayed on the cabinet in the main hall, and his eyes became serious and focused, fully engaged.
Draw…
Li Hao's brushstrokes danced, carefully feeling every stroke.
He was completely absorbed, his thoughts consumed by the artwork. He seemed to hear nothing and perceive nothing else.
Only the figures on the drawing gradually became clearer, a tall and imposing figure of a mighty general!
His expression was stern, yet his eyes were gentle. His posture was upright, dominating the surrounding world, unparalleled.
With the final stroke, a text prompt appeared before Li Hao.
But Li Hao ignored it.
He sat quietly for a long time before regaining his composure. Then, remembering the prompt, he checked the panel.
[You have grasped the Heart of Painting]
[State of Mind: Heart of Painting]
Li Hao was taken aback. His artistic experience hadn't yet reached the saturation point of level 3, yet he had already grasped the Heart of Painting.
He fell silent for a moment, gently blowing on the drawing paper before carefully placing it aside, no longer carelessly discarding it on the floor.
Then, he took another piece of white paper and continued to draw.
One drawing after another.
His artistic experience continued to increase.
When it reached level 3 and was full, it silently rose to level 4, and his Art Skill points increased by one.
Li Hao looked at his current accumulated Art Skill points. Besides the one he had spent on Swordsmanship level 1, he had 4 points remaining, 3 from Painting and 2 from Poetry & Literature.
He hadn't touched Go, Carving, or Fishing yet.
Li Hao thought of Listening Rain Tower. It was time to go and see it.
Thinking of Listening Rain Tower, Li Hao thought of Second Master, wondering what he looked like in his youth.
During dinner, Li Hao left the side room and returned to the main hall.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 200: Four Stages of the Flesh Dao, Bone Assessment! (First Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets)
As soon as Li Hao entered the main hall, he heard a series of voices reciting poetry from within.
"White fur floats on green water, red claws stir the clear waves… Haha, interesting, interesting!"
"Did Little Ten see the big geese in the pond and write this? It's quite vivid and detailed, haha, my son could compose poetry at four years old!"
"Master Kong said that my son possesses a poetic talent unseen in a hundred years. If he's properly cultivated in the future, he might even be able to achieve the rank of Second Place in the Imperial Examination!"
"Father," Li Tianzong, was seen pacing the hall with a piece of paper in his hand, a wide smile plastered across his face.
Chen Hefang sat beside him, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Look at how excited you are. It's just a few poems. When did you start taking a liking to these literary scholars and their works?"
"Anything my son does, I love."
Li Tianzong chuckled, "There are many generals who can lead troops into battle, but how many can compose poetry? I'll take these poems to those fellows and let them hear. Humph, those roughnecks only deserve to listen to a child's poetry. Perhaps they won't even understand the meaning behind my son's verses!"
As he spoke, he noticed Li Hao entering and beckoned him over.
"Little Ten, come here."
Li Hao was slightly stunned. While he had anticipated that the other party wouldn't mind poetry given their tolerance for his drawing, he hadn't expected such a joyous reaction.
A few poems written at the age of four had brought a wide smile to this father's face.
Yet, the same son, who would achieve renown throughout the land at fourteen, would only receive a resounding slap.
"Mm."
Li Hao walked over.
Li Tianzong scooped Li Hao up in his arms, found a chair to sit down on, and placed Li Hao on his lap. "Come, tell your father, what about this poem? 'Resembling a mirror in a celestial palace, soaring in the azure clouds.' Tsk tsk, how did your little head come up with that?"
Copied… Li Hao thought to himself, but only offered a silly grin in response.
Chen Hefang watched from the side, a look of helplessness on her face. She addressed Li Tianzong, "Don't spoil him too much. Little Ten has exceptional talent, but he should focus more on martial arts. In a couple of years, he'll truly embark on the path of cultivation."
"It's still too early. When the time comes for him to cultivate, we'll have Little Ten train properly."
Li Tianzong waved his hand dismissively. "I believe that with Little Ten's intelligence, he can excel in both literature and martial arts. In the future, if he becomes a Marshal, he'll need to be well-versed in military strategy. Otherwise, even with exceptional martial prowess, he'll just be a mere warrior, a soldier taking orders. If he were to command, it would be a disaster!"
Chen Hefang shook her head in exasperation, knowing his temperament and refraining from further persuasion.
Li Hao's mind raced, and he seized the opportunity to speak to his "father."
"Father, can I go to the Rain Listening Pavilion tomorrow?"
"Do you know what the Rain Listening Pavilion is?" Li Tianzong couldn't help but laugh.
"A place where cultivation techniques are stored." Li Hao replied.
Li Tianzong turned to Chen Hefang. "See? Little Ten hasn't even started cultivating, yet he's already curious about martial arts."
Chen Hefang gave him a gentle, reproachful look, but her eyes were filled with a tender smile, pleased by Li Hao's words.
She was indeed slightly worried. Li Hao's intelligence was a good thing, but if he delved too deeply into his literary talents, it might distract him and cause him to neglect martial arts.
"If you want to go, I'll have Zhao Bo take you there later."
Li Tianzong told Li Hao, "But you can't cause trouble inside. If you damage any of the cultivation techniques, I will spank you."
"I'll just look around."
Li Hao smiled.
At that moment, the "brothers" who were training in the martial arts arena returned. Li Tianzong waited for them to gather in the courtyard before instructing Zhao Bo to serve the meal.
Seeing this, Li Hao immediately closed his eyes and skipped ahead through the dinner scene.
When he opened his eyes again, his hand was being held by another, and they were walking towards a tower.
Li Hao immediately recognized the tower as the Rain Listening Pavilion.
And the one holding his hand was Zhao Bo.
"Young Master, the Rain Listening Pavilion is just ahead. When you go inside, remember to greet Fourth Uncle and don't dirty any of the cultivation techniques. I won't be following you."
Zhao Bo earnestly instructed him.
Li Hao nodded, then asked in surprise, "Fourth Uncle?"
"Mm."
Zhao Bo simply nodded, without offering any explanation. He led Li Hao to the front of the Rain Listening Pavilion.
It was just like the first time Li Hao had come here with Li Fu.
Zhao Bo spoke with the guards at the entrance, explaining the situation and presenting the token Li Tianzong had given him.
Li Tianzong was now the true dragon of the Divine General's Mansion, overseeing all matters within its walls.
The guards understood the situation and allowed Li Hao to enter.
Li Hao looked at the familiar steps and stairs before him, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia.
He entered the tower and examined it closely. Everything was just as he remembered it.
"Why are you here?"
A voice echoed, and the figure of the young Li Xiaoran gracefully descended.
Li Xiaoran waved his hand, causing the doors of the Rain Listening Pavilion to close. He then conjured a soundproof barrier, enveloping the two of them.
"Why is it you?"
Li Hao questioned, "Where's Second Master?"
"You should call him Second Uncle."
Li Xiaoran reminded him, "Always remember your identity here. Don't worry about seniority or offenses right now. Get used to it, and don't reveal any flaws."
Li Hao nodded, taking the words to heart.
"Your Second Uncle was always a carefree soul when he was young, wandering wherever he pleased. He's not currently in the Divine General's Mansion. He's either at some tavern making friends with rogues, or gallivanting around somewhere, or perhaps off on a mountain excursion."
Li Xiaoran explained, "I'm the one guarding this place now, since he's not in the mansion."
Li Hao could tell that, even with the soundproof barrier, Fourth Uncle was being cautious in his interactions. His words weren't entirely in line with their previous identities.
He recalled some rumors he'd heard about Second Master within the Divine General's Mansion. It seemed he had indeed been quite carefree in his youth, unlike the other elders.
Perhaps it wasn't age that changed him, but the fact that others had begun to disappear…
"Didn't Second Uncle go fishing?" Li Hao curiously asked.
Li Xiaoran glanced at Li Hao. "Fishing? He was the most restless person back then. How could he possibly go fishing? When he was a child, he was the biggest headache for Father. He was tough and strong, but the most disobedient."
Li Hao was stunned. Second Master didn't like fishing?
But in his memory, Second Master would go fishing by the lake whenever he had free time.
He'd sit there for a whole day.
Or even several days.
Li Hao's eyes flickered. It seemed that time had not only smoothed out his edges but also his youthful recklessness and restlessness.
"Did you come here to see me?" Li Xiaoran asked.
Li Hao's thoughts returned to the present. "I came to look at the cultivation techniques here, to familiarize myself with them."
Li Xiaoran shook his head. "You're still too young to cultivate. I know you're eager, but the path of cultivation must not be rushed. The more impatient you are, the more likely you are to encounter problems. If you cultivate prematurely, it can lead to skeletal deformities or the premature leakage of the power within your marrow, which you won't be able to control, ultimately slowing down your cultivation progress."
"For generations, our Li family has followed the tradition of bone assessment at five years old and cultivation at six. It's a system developed through generations of research, the most rational approach."
"Even if you're impatient, the earliest you can cultivate is after the bone assessment at five. At that time, the bones have begun to form, and while there are still some risks to cultivation, it's the fastest age to begin."
"I'll just look, I won't practice."
Li Hao said.
While Fourth Uncle wasn't exactly an outsider, some secrets were best kept to himself.
He had come here early, hoping to begin body tempering and nourishing his bones in advance.
His original body was at the seventh stage of the Flesh Dao, having used his physical body to break through the Three Immortal Realm, mastering numerous body tempering techniques and cultivating them to the True Form, even the Transcendent level!
His understanding of the Flesh Dao was arguably at the top echelon among the martial artists of the Great Yu Dynasty throughout its centuries-long history.
There were very few who could surpass him, if any. It wasn't an exaggeration to say there were none.
After all, among those who purely cultivated their physical bodies, the common belief was that the Heavenly Cycle Realm was the limit.
Those who could achieve Soul Inheritance were rare, like freaks of nature, inexplicable.
In other words, the Soul Inheritance Realm was the limit for pure body cultivators, but he had reached the Three Immortal Realm!
Based on his understanding of the Flesh Dao, what Li Xiaoran said was mostly correct, but he was an exception.
The reason for not cultivating before the age of six was due to the nature of the cultivation techniques.
Most cultivation techniques put stress on the body, especially body tempering techniques, which can directly damage the body. If not practiced correctly, they can lead to disability or even paralysis and death.
For example, the Iron Sand Palm technique requires repeatedly grinding the palm in iron sand, applying medicinal ointments, and developing multiple layers of calluses on the palm. The pores and calluses are then filled with fine iron sand, creating a hardness and strength comparable to iron castings.
However, this is a low-grade, unranked technique with minimal effectiveness and a high risk of injury.
Higher-grade body tempering techniques, on the other hand, activate the potential within the flesh through the technique and the aid of precious medicines, maximizing the stimulation and tempering of bones, flesh, and blood, thereby enhancing the body.
If cultivated to a very deep level, the technique itself can draw in the energy of heaven and earth to temper the body.
But all of these put pressure on the body.
Although Li Hao had forgotten the specific insights of the seventh stage of the Flesh Dao, he remembered that among the numerous body tempering techniques he had previously integrated, there was one that didn't put any burden on the body and could nourish the bones.
It was like remembering a composition prompt on the back of an exam paper.
He'd forgotten the prompt itself and how to write the essay, but he wouldn't forget the three words "composition prompt."
After all, even university students are human.
Now, if he could raise his Flesh Dao to a higher level and incorporate enough cultivation techniques, using his insights from the Flesh Dao to integrate them, he might be able to recreate that body-nourishing technique.
This way, by nourishing his body in advance and absorbing more exotic blood, his future cultivation path would be smoother!
"Alright."
Seeing that Li Hao was set on it, Li Xiaoran didn't try to stop him.
Although the Li Hao before him was only four years old, the other Li Hao was fifteen and had reached an age of understanding. He wouldn't interfere too much with his decisions.
"I'm going to accelerate time. When you see me later, I might appear to be in a sleepwalking-like state. Don't mind it." Li Xiaoran said.
Li Hao nodded, also curious about how he appeared to others when he skipped through time.
This was a good opportunity to observe it through Li Xiaoran's acceleration.
Soon, Li Hao saw Li Xiaoran close his eyes.
Then, he opened them again, but this time, he gave Li Hao a warm, elder-like smile. "Look around at your leisure. I'm going upstairs."
With that, he turned and walked upstairs.
Li Hao watched him go, and though it was only a brief observation, he had a feeling that the Li Xiaoran now was slightly different from the one before.
The difference was subtle, but if you compared them within a short period, it would be quite noticeable.
Simply put, the current Li Xiaoran seemed to be playing the role of his younger self more naturally.
In contrast, the previous Li Xiaoran, when talking to Li Hao, had subtle flaws in his demeanor, his disguise not entirely perfect.
Li Hao understood. His own usual disguise was probably the same. Compared to when he accelerated time, there might be minor changes, some inconsistencies that didn't quite fit his identity.
These inconsistencies, ironically, made it more realistic.
Collecting his thoughts, Li Hao went to the nearby shelves and began to browse.
With his knowledge of the Rain Listening Pavilion, he was now quite familiar with it, even remembering where many of the cultivation techniques were located, on which floor and which shelf.
However, there were a few cultivation techniques in this version of the Rain Listening Pavilion that Li Hao hadn't seen before. This was the Rain Listening Pavilion of Li Tianzong's era.
Fortunately, the changes weren't significant and didn't affect Li Hao much. He began to browse through the techniques one by one.
He started with the low-grade body tempering techniques, as they were easier to learn.
Once he mastered them, the Flesh Dao would appear on his panel, allowing him to directly add points. Then, when he browsed through the high-grade techniques, he could easily learn and record them.
Before long, Li Hao had finished reading a low-grade body tempering technique.
As if by coincidence, the one he picked up first was the very technique he had cultivated first, the "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements."
As he mastered the technique, a prompt appeared on Li Hao's panel.
Flesh Dao: Unmastered (Can Add Points)
Cultivation Technique: Stone Skin Hundred Refinements (Unmastered)
Skill Points: 4.
Without hesitation, Li Hao added his skill points one by one to the Flesh Dao.
With each point added, a flood of information poured in. Li Hao didn't rush, absorbing it all before adding another point.
This process of adding points and absorbing information took half an hour, and Li Hao's Flesh Dao reached the 4th stage!
The Painting Heart was also consumed by the Flesh Dao, breaking through the bottleneck for him.
At only four years old, his Flesh Dao was already at the fourth stage!
Li Hao couldn't believe it. If he were to cultivate now, how terrifying would he be?
But he held back. Cultivating now would put too much strain on his body and negatively impact his mid-term cultivation progress.
Just as Li Xiaoran had said, the fastest age to cultivate was five.
He had started cultivating body tempering techniques just after turning five, reaching the Tenth Level of the All-Power Realm before other children had even begun their cultivation journey at six.
This had put some pressure and strain on his body, but these subtle injuries had been eliminated when he later raised his Flesh Dao to the seventh stage and entered the Three Immortal Realm.
Now, in this Mortal River, Li Hao was confident that he could also reach the Three Immortal Realm, but there was no need to rush. He would first nourish his bones and then take a leap forward when he began cultivation at six.
Li Hao glanced at his panel. The "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements" had been upgraded to "Golden Skin Thousand Refinements," becoming a high-grade body tempering technique.
And its level was True Form!
Li Hao smiled slightly and began to search for other body tempering techniques.
This time, he flipped through the books faster, quickly grasping the essence of each technique.
Most of the low-grade techniques were only glanced at before being mastered and recorded.
And once recorded on the panel, they were immediately upgraded to high-grade techniques, reaching the True Form level.
Li Hao devoured the techniques in the Rain Listening Pavilion, absorbing them like a whirlwind.
As he continuously recorded body tempering techniques, his memories were constantly being filled.
His four-year-old body and consciousness began to feel drowsy.
But Li Hao forced himself to stay awake, as falling asleep could easily lead to him turning five.
He wanted to try and recreate the technique before the bone assessment.
He continued to absorb and integrate the numerous body tempering techniques, and his panel gradually displayed more techniques that he had independently deduced based on his 4th stage Flesh Dao.
Every few techniques he recorded, he would deduce a new one.
And those deduced techniques quickly reached perfection or the True Form level.
Finally, when he was extremely tired and drowsy, a technique called "Starlight Body Nurturing Technique" appeared on Li Hao's panel.
A surge of information flooded in, and Li Hao's eyes lit up.
This was the technique!
He was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that his 4th stage Flesh Dao would actually allow him to deduce it.
He had been worried that even if he recorded all the techniques here, his 4th stage Flesh Dao wouldn't be enough to deduce it.
In his current state, he didn't have the energy to stay awake and obtain another skill point.
After all, he was still a four-year-old child with the physical and mental capabilities of one.
At this moment, Li Hao, using sheer willpower, forced himself to stay awake instead of falling asleep. He sat in the tower and slowly began to practice the technique.
This technique was best practiced at night, drawing in the starlight of heaven and earth to nourish and temper the body. It didn't bring about drastic changes like other body tempering techniques. Instead, it involved being bathed in starlight day after day, eliminating impurities within the body, making it more transparent, and imbuing the bones with starlight, making them stronger.
After practicing it once, Li Hao could no longer hold on. He didn't even bother to feel the changes in his body before falling into a deep sleep.
When Li Hao woke up again, he was jolted awake by the sounds of exclamations nearby.
Li Hao opened his eyes and saw that he was standing in the courtyard, a white-bearded old man beside him.
Li Hao recognized the face. It was the old Daoist from Qingqiu Mountain, the one who had performed bone assessments for the Li family for generations.
Qingqiu Mountain was located outside of Qingzhou, while this was Dragon City. As Li Xiaoran had said, due to Li Tianzong's memories, many things had merged and undergone strange changes that were best left unexplored, as they could easily be disrupted or reveal his true nature.
"This… this… this…"
At this moment, the crane-haired, childlike-faced old Daoist from Qingqiu Mountain was staring at Li Hao in shock, stuttering, unable to form a complete sentence.
In the courtyard, besides the old Daoist, Li Tianzong, Chen Hefang, and the other "brothers" were also present. At the very end stood Li Hongzhuang, already three years old, with her hair tied in a bun, her small face filled with curiosity and surprise.
"What is it?"
Li Tianzong noticed the old Daoist's reaction, his brow furrowed, his expression darkening. "Speak plainly, there's no need to beat around the bush!"
When his face was devoid of a smile, a heavy sense of authority emanated from him, causing the old Daoist to quickly regain his composure. He quickly said,
"Great joy, Duke, it's great joy!!"
"What?"
Li Tianzong looked at him in surprise. If he didn't know that the old Daoist was from Qingqiu Mountain, he might have thought he was a midwife.
"Don't be cryptic. It's not like you haven't seen a Ninth-Rank Battle Body before. My Li family are all extraordinary individuals. What's there to be so surprised about?"
Li Tianzong reprimanded him, "How did Little Ten's bone assessment go?"
(End of Chapter)