237-240
Chapter 237: The Sage's Mark
"Child, now that you've become a Dao Seed, the Ji Clan will dedicate all our resources to cultivate you. Many of these treasures are unlike anything you've ever seen,"
Ji Daoxin floated to Li Hao's side, speaking softly and gently. "There's also the ancestral legacy of Sacred Sound Teachings, which will help refine your Dao Heart, allowing you to smoothly and effortlessly ascend to the Four Pillars Realm."
"All of the Ji Clan's profound martial arts and techniques are open for your study, helping you gather the essence of martial prowess and forge your own unique skills."
"And the Taiping Dao Realm can also be of assistance..."
The profound heritage of the Ancient Saint Clan was incredibly potent, offering support for every stage of the Four Pillars Realm.
Other clans, at most, could rely on countless divine herbs and demonic blood to elevate their young to the Fifteen Miles Realm, which was their limit.
The Heaven-Human Realm required one to break through on their own. The Three Immortals Realm also demanded self-realization. The Four Pillars Realm was even more challenging, with the Dao Heart serving as an insurmountable hurdle.
Hearing Ji Daoxin's words, everyone turned to Li Hao, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Indeed, the Ji Clan's precious and top-tier resources were the envy of any talented individual.
As long as one possessed sufficient comprehension and innate talent, with the Ji Clan's full support, most could ascend to the Taiping Dao Realm!
And stepping into the Dao Realm meant that even in the Vast Wilderness Heavens, one would be a first-rate powerhouse. Unless a War God of the Saint Clans intervened, they would have virtually no rivals and rarely face death.
With a stable future and the right opportunities, becoming a War God was also a distinct possibility.
After all, the Dao Seed's ultimate purpose was to nurture the next generation of War Gods!
As for striving for the Sage Realm, that depended entirely on fate.
"Thank you, senior."
Li Hao bowed slightly, expressing his gratitude to the Ji Clan's patriarch. Then, he said, "I only wish to redeem my mother's sins. These resources, please bestow them upon other talented individuals."
Ji Daoxin was taken aback. The onlookers were stunned as well, staring at the young man in disbelief.
The patriarch had spoken so clearly, yet this young man still refused?
This was an opportunity countless individuals dreamt of, something even Ji Clan prodigies fought tooth and nail for.
Now that the opportunity was within this young man's grasp, he chose to let it slip away?
Ji Xuanshen, seated at the edge of the training grounds, stared fixedly at the young man. He had witnessed Li Hao's relentless battles, his near-death experiences, all for the sole purpose of redeeming his mother?
He disregarded the Dao Seed, the Ji Clan's countless precious cultivation resources, as if they were nothing?
Other prodigies were equally bewildered, never expecting such unwavering determination from this young man.
Especially those who had earlier mocked Li Hao for his supposed shamelessness in attempting to join the Ji Clan were now speechless, their mouths agape.
He was willing to relinquish the supreme Dao Seed position that was already his, let alone joining the Ji Clan.
"Is it because of what they said earlier? You're still young, don't act rashly," Ji Yunqing quickly interjected, hoping to persuade Li Hao to stay.
Upon hearing this, many felt a pang of anxiety, fearing repercussions from their families.
But Li Hao shook his head, saying, "I'm not angry. Yun Ge senior told me that if I became the strongest prodigy of the Ji Clan, I could redeem my mother's sins. That's why I came here."
Hearing the young man's calm words, everyone understood. From the very beginning, this young man never intended to stay with the Ji Clan.
He had fought tooth and nail, battling through countless prodigies, solely to redeem his mother's sins.
Ji Xuanshen's expression was complex, his heart filled with bitterness. But then, an indescribable feeling arose within him. His eyes shone with a newfound light as he gazed intently at the young man.
He seemed to understand what true, unparalleled pride meant.
This young man didn't care about resources. As he had said, without Sacred Bones, he would forge his own!
Compared to him, their Ji Clan prodigies seemed like arrogant geniuses with nothing but empty pride.
Ji Daoxin also realized that he might not be able to retain this young man. Moreover, in this young man, he truly saw the spirit of the exceptional prodigies the Ji Clan had produced over millennia.
True disdain for the world, coupled with unwavering integrity, refusing to yield!
If only such a person had been born into the Ji Clan...
Ji Daoxin sighed inwardly, glancing at Ji Tianchao and the others, giving them a subtle signal and transmitting a message:
"It seems we can only wait for Qingqing's return and ask her to persuade him. When the time comes, help Qingqing prepare, ensure she manages to keep her son."
"He risked his life to come here, his feelings for her must be profound. He should listen to her."
Hearing Ji Daoxin's decision to take a roundabout approach to persuasion, Ji Yunyue and the others understood. They felt the same way.
If they couldn't persuade him, let Qingqing do it herself.
They didn't want to lose such a promising grandson.
"Furthermore, I'll immediately dispatch individuals to the Outer Wilderness, to the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, to investigate his situation and uncover his past. Considering his current status, Qingqing's other transgressions for marrying outside the clan will be pardoned,"
Ji Daoxin transmitted through voice communication.
He believed that with this decision, the other elders in the clan, the older generation, wouldn't object.
Although the Ji Clan had internal strife between direct and collateral descendants, coupled with the hidden struggles between various branches, at least one thing remained positive: when facing external threats, they would unite against them. When encountering prodigies, they would treat them equally!
Compared to some clans that had completely decayed, the Ji Clan's current family laws and traditions were relatively intact.
Ji Yunyue and the others nodded slightly. Thinking about Li Hao's change of surname, a sense of curiosity arose within them. This young man had come to the Vast Wilderness Heavens alone. Where was his father? What about his paternal family and elders?
Could it be that Qingqing had married a weakling, someone unable to enter the Vast Wilderness Heavens?
After their voice communication ended, Ji Tianchao looked at Li Hao and suddenly asked, "How many Extreme Realms have you opened?"
His words surprised everyone. They looked at Ji Tianchao in confusion, then realized something and turned their attention to the young man.
Earlier, if not for Ji Xuanshen utilizing his Sacred Bones, they wouldn't have been able to see the young man's Heavenly Dao Manifestation. Li Hao had concealed his true abilities until the very end. They suspected that he might have other hidden trump cards.
While the probability was extremely low, bordering on the fantastical...
Li Hao looked at the old man who had stood up for him earlier, slightly surprised. Such a question was rather abrupt, as it concerned his martial arts, a private matter.
But seeing the anticipation in the old man's eyes, realizing it wasn't mere probing, he considered for a moment and transmitted, "Four."
Although they had their suspicions, Ji Tianchao's heart still trembled, knowing that Li Hao wasn't lying.
Earlier, he had sensed that Li Hao possessed more than the three displayed Extreme Realms, including the fourth, the Land Immortal Realm!
Others, seeing that Li Hao hadn't spoken but noticing the sudden excitement in Ji Tianchao's eyes, immediately understood that they were communicating through voice transmission.
Ji Tianchao took a deep breath and said to Li Hao with a smile, "Don't worry, within the Ji Clan, no one can harm you, unless they step over my corpse!"
His words were resolute.
Just from the fact that Li Hao had brought his third brother back, he would protect this grandson with all his might. Even more so now that Li Hao had displayed such exceptional talent.
Several individuals quickly inquired through voice transmission to Ji Tianchao, but he didn't respond. He simply said to Li Hao, "The Ji Clan possesses the Extreme Dao Steles. Go and try them. It's said that if one can ignite four Extreme Dao Steles, they will receive a Sage's inheritance!"
Ji Yunyue and the others were shocked, having understood the answer.
Ji Qingyuan, standing outside the training grounds, also changed his expression slightly, his gaze fixed on the young man.
"Sage's inheritance?"
Li Hao was puzzled.
Ji Tianchao nodded slightly, his voice filled with a hint of excitement, "Yes, child, you must try it. It's a tremendous opportunity!"
Seeing his seriousness and sincerity, Li Hao pondered for a moment and said, "Will it affect my departure from the Ji Clan?"
"..."
Ji Tianchao paused slightly. This child, was he so determined to leave the Ji Clan?
He recalled his third brother's words, that the young man had been able to clear the Oblivion River because he was unconstrained.
He sighed inwardly. Thankfully, the Oblivion River was formed due to his third brother's obsession, and similar rivers shouldn't appear in the future. Leaving a lingering attachment for this young man wouldn't cause any harm.
Besides, when Qingqing returned, perhaps this child would change his mind.
Ji Tianchao said, "It shouldn't affect it much."
"That's right, go and try it first," Ji Daoxin also quickly urged.
Seeing them all say this, Li Hao thought for a moment and agreed.
Their conversation spread, and everyone heard that the young man was going to test his martial Extreme Realms at the Extreme Dao Steles, causing a stir.
Ji Daoxin didn't waste any time and immediately led Li Hao away. The Extreme Dao Steles were not far from the Heavenly Dao Mountain, located on a steep slope resembling a half-broken bridge, with eight ancient, dark black steles standing upright.
"These are the Extreme Dao Steles. You simply need to unleash your peak state for each realm and attack the steles. The Dao Rhymes on them will capture and detect your abilities,"
Ji Daoxin explained gently to Li Hao.
Li Hao glanced at them and nodded.
"From lowest to highest, there are eight realms, from Unified Strength to the Four Pillars Realm!"
Ji Daoxin said.
Li Hao's heart stirred. Did the Four Pillars Realm also have a peak state?
He wondered what it would be like, but unfortunately, he hadn't yet reached the Four Pillars Realm.
Although the Merit Treasury contained Dao Hearts that could be exchanged, Li Hao discovered after browsing that they were incredibly expensive and only offered Xuan and Huang-grade variations.
A Huang-grade Dao Heart cost 20,000 merit points, while a Xuan-grade one cost 50,000.
Yes, from the Dao Heart descriptions in the Merit Treasury, Li Hao learned that Dao Hearts also had different grades. It was just that those who could reach the Four Pillars Realm in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty were already extremely rare, so there wasn't much emphasis on grading them. They were simply judged based on strength.
Dao Hearts were like soul manifestations. The vast majority of Dao Hearts were Huang-grade, with a few being Xuan-grade. Those like "Pursuing Eternity" or "Leaving a Legacy for All Time" were exceptionally grand Dao Hearts. After cultivating them, one would be among the strongest in the Dao Heart Realm.
More ordinary Dao Hearts might be "Perpetuating the Family Lineage" or "Maintaining Integrity and Propriety."
The variety of Dao Hearts within the treasury wasn't extensive, and Li Hao hadn't found any that suited him, so he hadn't chosen to exchange any.
After all, once exchanged, his mindset might also change, and Li Hao couldn't be certain if the self altered by external forces would still be himself.
Therefore, he preferred to cultivate his own Dao Heart.
Although the Merit Treasury contained many items, Li Hao discovered after browsing that there weren't many truly top-tier ones.
For example, Extreme Realm cultivation could be exchanged for the Divine Power Realm and Heavenly Dao Veins, but it required even more merit points.
The Land Immortal Realm wasn't available for exchange.
Neither were the Three Immortals Extreme Realms.
Therefore, relying on the Merit Treasury could help one become a prodigy, but it was difficult to become a top-tier prodigy. It seemed that anything requiring self-realization was scarce.
In other words, the Merit Treasury was like a collection of concentrated, super-resources.
Li Hao withdrew his thoughts and came before the Extreme Dao Steles.
The crowd that had initially gathered outside the Heavenly Dao Mountain, hearing that Li Hao was going to test the Extreme Dao Steles, also rushed over, including Ji Xuanshen and many other prodigies.
They had already seen that Li Hao possessed three Extreme Realms, and this was just a verification through the Extreme Dao Steles.
Li Hao didn't delay and quickly activated his Extreme Realm states, beginning the test at the Extreme Dao Steles.
Divine Power, Heavenly Dao Veins, Heavenly Dao Manifestation!
The three Extreme Realms were quickly revealed. Li Hao consecutively attacked the three steles, and the dark black steles simultaneously ignited with black Extreme Dao flames.
Seeing the burning steles, despite knowing that Li Hao possessed three Extreme Realms, everyone's expressions still changed slightly.
Li Hao skipped the fourth and fifth steles. Currently, his Dao Control was at the sixth stage, with no new skills entering his spirit, preventing him from reaching the seventh stage. Dao Control had a significant impact on the Divine Wandering Realm and the Fifteen Miles Realm, so he hadn't yet reached the peak of those realms.
Even after reaching Dao Control Stage Seven, he would still need numerous top-tier Soul Refinement and Object Control techniques to complement each other to cultivate to the pinnacle.
Li Hao came before the sixth stele.
"He has a fourth one?"
Ji Xuanshen's pupils constricted slightly upon seeing this.
From the fact that Li Hao had directly skipped the fourth and fifth steles, he realized something was amiss. Li Hao wasn't simply acting recklessly, but was acutely aware of which Extreme Realms he possessed.
Other prodigies also noticed this and changed their expressions.
Li Hao didn't hesitate. He exhaled a mouthful of immortal energy and directly punched the stele.
Soon, the Dao Rhymes on the sixth stele seemed to capture the immortal energy and instantly ignited with blazing black flames!
Seeing that Li Hao had truly ignited the fourth Extreme Dao Stele, Ji Tianchao's eyes lit up. He secretly clenched his fist in excitement.
The numerous Ji Clan members who had chased after them were stunned, staring at the scene in shock.
As members of the Ji Clan, they naturally knew the basics of the Extreme Dao Steles. Igniting one stele was a sign of a prodigy, two was a feat only Ji Xuanshen had achieved in the current generation!
And now, the young man had ignited four!
The burning black flames seemed to flicker in their eyes, reflecting countless faces of disbelief.
At that moment, the black flames on the four Extreme Dao Steles suddenly intensified. The flames rose, intertwined in mid-air, and the dark black Extreme Dao Steles seemed to tremble slightly, with a silver ancient character illuminating on each.
The ancient characters, like the embodiment of Dao Rhymes, rotated and expanded, then suddenly shot towards the sky, transforming into four silver pillars.
The silver pillars pierced through the clouds, then the silver light connected, outlining an ancient symbol before flickering and disappearing, as if merging into the void.
Ji Daoxin and Ji Tianchao, along with a few older Ji Clan members, widened their eyes, staring at the void with anticipation and excitement.
The onlookers were stunned, bewildered.
But not long after, a silver radiant light suddenly traversed the void, like a beam of light from thousands of miles away, abruptly illuminating Li Hao.
An ancient Sage's aura permeated the air, similar to the ethereal yet vast aura Ji Xuanshen had emitted when activating his Sacred Bones.
It seemed like a mere wisp of this aura could shatter mountains and rivers!
"That's... a Sage's aura!"
"Has a Sage descended?"
Numerous Ji Clan members widened their eyes in disbelief.
Ji Xuanshen was also stunned, having never witnessed such a scene.
Within the radiant light, Li Hao felt as if his entire body was immersed in a hot spring, incredibly comfortable. Then, he heard a vague voice:
"I await your arrival."
The voice translated into thoughts Li Hao could understand, imprinted on his heart.
When Li Hao looked again, the light had dissipated, and the world returned to normal.
But on Li Hao's forehead, a silver mark appeared, subtly fading into his skin.
As the mark sank into his body, Li Hao's mind was flooded with a series of messages. It was a majestic figure, seemingly seated in a world of immortals and gods, surrounded by radiant light and ethereal aura.
His entire being exuded boundless Dao power, as if embraced by the Dao of Heaven and Earth.
Just one glance made one want to bow in reverence.
That was... a Sage!
The ultimate goal pursued by countless martial artists in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, a Sage!
The Sages within the Divine Dynasty had long since vanished, becoming legends. Only the True Person of the Qian Dao Palace remained, a living powerhouse, overseeing the Great Yu realm.
Now, Li Hao had actually seen a living Sage and received a disciple's mark from him.
The mark contained a path, a path to the Sage.
Activating the mark would allow him to reach the Sage, become his disciple, and listen to the Sage's Dao Teachings!
Furthermore, the Sage's mark contained a strand of the Sage's power. If activated, even a Dao Comprehension Realm expert would find it difficult to break through, serving as a life-saving talisman bestowed upon a disciple.
Li Hao's eyes flickered as he felt the mark sink into his sea of consciousness. Activating it would allow him to meet the Sage, a tremendous temptation.
But Li Hao didn't have the intention to activate it now. He still had many unfinished matters.
The Sage seemed to understand that he had many attachments, which was why he said, "I await your arrival."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 238: Fifteen Years Apart
As the Saint's Mark faded, all eyes in the arena converged upon the young man.
Even the many姬 (Ji) family members who had never witnessed such a scene could tell that the youth seemed to have received a blessing from a Saint!
"The Saint's Mark, he actually obtained the Saint's Mark…"
"Our Ji family, will another Three Ancestors be born?"
"Heaven has eyes, Heaven has eyes!!"
Among the crowd, several elderly Ji family members, their hair and beards white, trembled with emotion, their eyes brimming with tears as they cried out in jubilation.
They all recognized the Saint's Mark, signifying that Li Hao had been favored by a Saint and taken as a disciple!
With Li Hao's current talent, if he were to receive the Saint's guidance and teachings, entering the Dao Comprehension Realm would be almost a certainty.
How could one not comprehend the Dao when they were by a Saint's side, listening to the divine sounds of the Dao?
And taking it a step further, there was a possibility of stepping one foot into the Saint Realm!
Given Li Hao's previously displayed aptitude, this possibility was extremely high.
As a result, these older generations of the Ji family, who had lived through ancient times, were filled with tears of joy, as if they saw the glorious era of the Ji family's resurgence in the Vast Wilderness Heaven once again!
In that once most glorious era, the Three Ancestors of the Ji family, wielding divine spears, had vanquished all foes in the Vast Wilderness, none daring to challenge them. This solidified the Ji family's position as an Ancient Sacred Clan, earning recognition from other Ancient Sacred Clans and seizing this vast Ji family territory, where none dared to trespass!
Hearing the excited cries and tearful pleas of these ancient elders of the family, the others around them were stunned.
The Saint's Mark? Comparable to the Three Ancestors?!
Even those unfamiliar with the Saint's Mark knew that the Three Ancestors held a status within the Ji family second only to the Founding Ancestor!
These ancestors were actually saying that the young man had the potential to rival the Three Ancestors?
While everyone was stunned and bewildered, Ji Tianchao, Ji Daoxin, and the others had already swiftly flown to Li Hao's side.
"Child!"
Ji Tianchao, suppressing his excitement, quickly said, "That was the Saint's Mark. Did you see the Saint?"
Li Hao nodded and asked, "Was that a Ji family ancestor?"
Seeing Li Hao's nod, Ji Tianchao and the others took a deep breath, their excitement becoming increasingly difficult to contain.
They, unlike Li Hao, lived in the Vast Wilderness Heaven and could truly understand the unparalleled status of a Saint, a being of supreme authority!
A mere wisp of their aura could frighten many.
Even a glimpse would be the highest honor!
"No, the ancestors of our Ji family have long since 'retired',"
Ji Daoxin glanced at Li Hao, noticing that the young man didn't seem overly excited. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. If it were any other Ji family prodigy, they would probably be ecstatic to the point of madness.
"Saints transcend the mundane world. Legend has it that the ancient Saints have long since retreated, some hidden on a dewdrop, others said to be concealed within the vast expanse of a dust mote, and still others roaming the Outer Heavens, no longer dwelling in the mortal realm. In short, they are beyond comprehension, unless a Saint chooses to reveal themselves."
Hearing Ji Daoxin's words, Li Hao was somewhat surprised. He truly had no concept of the Saint Realm.
Shrinking to the size of dust, hidden within the heavens and earth?
And transcending to the Outer Heavens?
Li Hao couldn't imagine what such a realm would be like, what kind of power they wielded. It felt like it was beyond the realm of martial artists, belonging to the realm of myth and legend.
However, after reaching the Three Immortality Realm, it seemed he was already walking the path of the extraordinary.
Regeneration of a severed limb was beyond the scope of ordinary martial artists.
Li Hao pulled his thoughts back. He needed to refine his Dao Heart first. The Saint Realm… was far too distant for him now.
Unless he could break through the nine stages in a certain art, and his heart entered the Dao.
"Now, can I go see my mother?" Li Hao asked.
Hearing Li Hao's question, Ji Daoxin couldn't help but laugh. "Aren't you going to ask more about the Saint Realm? Our Ji family has detailed records on these matters."
Clearly, he was hinting that Li Hao would benefit greatly if he stayed with the Ji family.
"Compared to that, I want to bring my mother back first," Li Hao replied.
Ji Daoxin's gaze sharpened, the smile fading from his face. He looked deeply at Li Hao and said:
"Don't worry, you'll see your mother soon."
Then, he addressed Ji Tianchao, "This child is entrusted to you. He is your grandson, and by extension, my great-grandson."
At this point, he looked at Li Hao again, then paused, choosing not to ask the boy to call him great-grandfather.
Since becoming the head of the family, he had deliberately distanced himself from his relatives, otherwise, it would be inconvenient during family matters.
Ji Daoxin looked at Li Hao, his eyes filled with a hint of kindness. Such astonishing talent filled him with joy, but more than that, he admired Li Hao's filial piety towards his mother.
Such a devoted heart, if the Ji family treated him well, how could they worry about betrayal?
Ji Daoxin turned and left with a wave of his sleeve, leaving Li Hao in the care of Ji Tianchao and the others. Before leaving, he glanced at Ji Qingyuan in the crowd, who sensed his gaze and looked back.
With just a brief exchange of glances, Ji Qingyuan understood the head of the family's intentions: to find an opportunity to resolve the conflict between him and the young man.
In the future, Li Hao would undoubtedly become a war god of the Ji family, his status not inferior to Ji Qingyuan's, and even with the potential to enter the ranks of a demigod, standing alongside the Third Ancestor slumbering in the demonic coffin.
If someone were to whisper in Li Hao's ear about what happened in the Assembly Hall, it would inevitably be embarrassing.
Ji Qingyuan understood the head of the family's intentions. He gazed at the young man who was being treated like royalty by Ji Tianchao and the others, sighing inwardly.
Although he was the leader of the illegitimate branch, the struggle between legitimate and illegitimate heirs had nothing to do with a war god.
The young man had clearly transcended the concept of legitimacy. The moment he became a Dao Seed, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate ceased to exist for him.
Now, even if he stubbornly refused to accept it, many of the other illegitimate Ji family members would likely disagree.
Although the Ji family had been embroiled in the struggle between legitimate and illegitimate heirs for thousands of years, when faced with a family prodigy and a war god, unless there was a personal vendetta, they always felt a shared sense of pride.
This was the contradictory and peculiar nature of the Ji family, the reason for its enduring prosperity in the Vast Wilderness Heaven.
Ji Qingyuan and Li Hao had never met, so there was no animosity between them. Now that the young man was a Dao Seed and had received a Saint's inheritance, a future Saint's disciple, there was even less reason to continue their feud.
Sighing inwardly, Ji Qingyuan's mind raced, pondering how to resolve this conflict.
Meanwhile, Ji Tianchao saw the questioning look in Li Hao's eyes and immediately said:
"Your mother is on Imprisoning Heaven Island, deep within our Ji family's Sacred Realm, in the most remote location. Don't worry, once we make the arrangements, we'll take you to see your mother immediately."
Li Hao questioned, "How long will that take?"
Ji Tianchao smiled, "At most six or seven days. You can stay in your mother's palace for now. If you miss her, there's the Sky Observation Mirror, a sacred treasure that can observe the situation on Imprisoning Heaven Island. You can see your mother's movements at any time, but you won't be able to communicate with her."
Li Hao thought for a moment and agreed.
There were many people around, and Ji Tianchao disliked crowds. He didn't linger long, immediately taking Li Hao and flying away, disappearing from before the Extreme Dao Stele.
Seeing the young man being taken away by the War God Ji Tianchao, the onlookers finally came to their senses and erupted in a flurry of excited discussions and cheers, no longer caring that Li Hao was of mixed blood.
Ji Xuanshen and many other prodigies stared at the direction the young man had disappeared in, taking a long time to regain their composure.
It all felt like a dream.
Before the Saint Bell rang, who could have imagined that they would experience such an incredible upheaval today.
"The Saint's Mark, I can't believe it, a Four Extremities Realm cultivator could trigger the Saint's Mark. The elders in the family, my father and the others, why didn't they ever tell me about this?!"
"Would it have been useful to tell you? You can't even condense a Heavenly Vein."
"..."
"That guy, what kind of background does his other half-bloodline come from? It's terrifying."
"Could it be that his mother married into another Ancient Sacred Clan?"
The many prodigies whispered among themselves, still reeling from what they had witnessed today.
Although most of them hadn't participated in the battle, Li Hao and Ji Xuanshen's earth-shattering fight had completely captivated them.
Even when Ji Xuanshen used a Saint Bone, he was defeated. The legend of the Dao Domain was shattered. Most frighteningly, the young man was only at the Three Immortality Realm!
"Do you think that when he reaches the Four Pillars Realm, he won't have any rivals below the War God level?"
"Don't you think he already feels a bit invincible below the War God level?"
"Stop nitpicking. I'm talking about truly invincible."
"That's what I meant…"
…
…
…
In a magnificent and luxurious palace, Ji Tianchao and the others brought Li Hao inside.
"This is where your mother lives. Your maternal grandfather has passed away, but his heroic spirit remains in the ancestral shrine. You can visit him when you have time. Old Thirteen will surely be overjoyed to see you, especially after hearing about what happened today…"
Ji Yunqing smiled, introducing the place to Li Hao.
Li Hao's eyes flickered, thinking of his maternal grandfather, and then of his paternal grandfather on his bloodline side.
He wondered if he had reached the Li family yet, and if his wishes had been fulfilled.
"You traveled thousands of miles, ventured deep into the Vast Wilderness Heaven, and endured countless hardships. Your relationship with your mother must be very deep."
Ji Yunyue's face softened into a kind grandmotherly smile.
Deep? Li Hao's mind raced.
When he first arrived, at his hundred-day celebration, the "mother" who was still a young girl in his eyes had already left.
Fifteen years had passed.
He had even forgotten her appearance, but he still vaguely remembered those gentle eyes.
And the words she had spoken:
"Actually, Mother has already thought of a name for you, Le Ping, Li Leping… Mother only hopes that you will be happy and safe…"
"...No matter what happens in the future, Mother will always be behind you, and will never let anyone hurt you…"
Li Hao hadn't forgotten these words.
So, this time, it was his turn to protect her.
"How long have you been with your mother? Did she teach you your cultivation techniques?"
Ji Tianchao was also unusually curious and asked.
Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "About a hundred days."
"Huh?"
Ji Tianchao and the others were all taken aback. Did he say something wrong? A hundred days?
Li Hao knew that once he brought his mother back, he would have to explain his precocious talent. He was no longer afraid of revealing these basic abilities.
Therefore, he was open and frank, calmly stating, "That's right. My mother left for the border to fight when I was a hundred days old. I mostly learned my cultivation techniques on my own."
Ji Yunyue was slightly stunned and quickly said, "What about later? When did she come back?"
"She didn't come back."
Li Hao said, "Later, it seems she revealed her identity and was brought here, so I came to find her."
Hearing the young man's calm words and seeing his smile, Ji Tianchao and the others were dumbfounded, momentarily forgetting what to say.
So, this mother and son hadn't seen each other for fifteen years?
"You, how old are you this year?"
Ji Yunyue's voice trembled.
"Fifteen."
"Do you remember what happened on your hundred-day celebration?" Ji Tianchao couldn't help but ask.
Li Hao nodded, "I was precocious since childhood. I remember everything that happened after I was a few months old."
The few of them exchanged glances, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
So, this child and their niece had only spent a hundred days together.
This so-called deep mother-son bond was far thinner than they had imagined.
But thinking of Li Hao's previous actions, his desperate struggle in the Dao Arena, defeating prodigies, resisting a Saint Bone, what was going on in this child's heart?
"Fifteen years… Qingqing, how could she be so foolish!"
Ji Yunyue knew that it was inappropriate to speak ill of Li Hao's mother in front of him, but she couldn't help it. She felt sorry for the child.
Ji Tianchao and the others were also silent, originally thinking that this grandson, regardless of the consequences, even taking his mother's surname, came here to redeem her, was a testament to their deep mother-son bond, but the reality was completely opposite.
Only a hundred days of companionship. If Li Hao hadn't had an extraordinary memory, he might not even have any memory of this mother.
"Then, do you hate your mother?" Ji Yunqing couldn't help but ask.
Li Hao was slightly stunned, then shook his head, "Of course not. I live a life of luxury, with people taking care of me. She has her own things to do. Fighting on the battlefield is very hard."
There was another reason why he didn't hate her. He was a time traveler, with the soul of a mature person, and he didn't have much attachment to begin with.
Hearing the young man's words, the few of them fell silent, as if pierced by a sharp thorn. Ji Yunyue turned her head, covering her face with her sleeve, secretly wiping away tears.
"Good child, when your mother sees you this time, she will be proud of you!"
Ji Tianchao's eyes were also slightly red, but he suppressed his emotions and smiled gently at Li Hao.
The others felt a pang of sympathy. Although they didn't know the specific reason, as a mother, she had only spent a hundred days with her child. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn't right.
And now, this child, in order to free her, had risked his life to enter the Vast Wilderness, braved dangers to come to the Ji family, endured all kinds of provocation and humiliation, challenged the Ancient Prodigies, this sincerity moved them, causing them to want to cry.
"Qingqing, as a new mother, she was too inexperienced. I didn't expect her to give birth to such a smart and well-behaved son."
The fourth brother whispered, his voice slightly hoarse.
"You came here to risk your life for Qingqing. Aren't you afraid of dying?" Ji Yunqing asked with a pang of heartache.
Li Hao shook his head, "I trust Elder Yun Ge. Even if I don't see her, I can still protect myself. If I can see her, I'll give it a try. Since I have this strength, I naturally have to use it."
Seeing Li Hao mention Ji Yun Ge, the few of them fell silent. At this moment, they understood that Ji Yun Ge's previous praise of the young man was not an exaggeration.
No wonder even the third brother, who was so arrogant, held him in such high regard.
This child… was flawless in their eyes. This sincerity and devotion were rarer than talent!
"Good child, rest well. I'll have someone bring the Sky Observation Mirror later, and you can see your mother. Unfortunately, she's on Imprisoning Heaven Island and can't see you, but you'll be able to meet soon."
Ji Tianchao said softly.
He patted Li Hao on the shoulder and pointed to the side hall, "This is where your mother lived. You can take a good look around."
Li Hao nodded slightly.
Seeing this, the others also asked Li Hao to rest. After all, he had fought against many prodigies in succession, and Li Hao hadn't taken any divine medicines yet. Anyone else would have collapsed by now.
After they left, Li Hao looked at this luxurious palace, looked around, and then saw a painting on one of the walls.
The painting depicted a graceful and beautiful young girl.
She exuded a youthful and vibrant aura, her eyes innocent and bright, yet filled with a lively intelligence.
Li Hao's hazy memories seemed to surface at this moment, becoming clearer.
The face with only bright eyes seemed to pierce through the mist and appear before him.
Li Hao stared intently, and immediately understood that the girl in the painting was his mother when she was young.
Li Hao suddenly felt a connection and called for the servants Ji Yunyue and the others had left to take his orders, asking them to prepare paper and ink for him.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 239: The Way of Painting Enters the Spirit, Qi Veins
Though surprised by Li Hao's request, the two姬 family members were eager to fulfill it, quickly fetching paper and ink.
Li Hao took the brush and ink, held the blank paper aloft, using his御力 as a canvas, and swiftly ground the ink.
With the brushstrokes flowing, Li Hao depicted the gradually clearer outline of the woman from his memory onto the canvas.
Silk and satin cascaded, a graceful figure stood tall. Li Hao poured his entire being into the task, and soon completed the first painting.
But Li Hao didn't stop, immediately dipping his brush in ink to continue painting.
Painting after painting, each more detailed than the last, from the woman to the courtyard, to the civil and military officials at the hundred-day banquet.
The paintings carried his heart and soul, like a series of interconnected scenes, until he depicted the couple leading their troops to war, stepping out of their home.
Li Hao's brush still didn't pause, capturing the fragments of his long-dormant memories, one after another.
A child stood alone in the courtyard, gazing into the distance.
A child looked up at the falling snow in the courtyard.
The stooped old steward, in a pavilion in the distance, wore a smile, but his eyes held a tender concern.
Servants and maids around him swept fallen leaves, occasionally glancing at the young master, their eyes filled with smiles.
The courtyard was blanketed in white snow, a small child chasing and playing snowball fights with the servants and maids.
A noblewoman picked up the child, taking him to another courtyard, where a four or five-year-old child was practicing swordsmanship.
Lying on a bed, he looked towards the door, as if two shadows lurked outside.
The noblewoman held the child, her smile affectionate, but the curve of her eyes was like two hidden, sharp blades…
Painting after painting unfolded.
A small tail followed the child, they took a Foundation Establishment medicinal bath together, underwent blood refinement, and a middle-aged man in green robes appeared in the courtyard.
Under the night sky, one big and one small figure drank wine under the vast expanse of stars.
Finally, a severed green sleeve was presented in the hall.
Li Hao's brush tip paused slightly, as if two clear tears fell onto the brush handle he held.
Master…
No one knew their name anymore, but Li Hao still remembered, that was his first master, Lin Hai Xia.
A gentle name, yet belonging to a man of unyielding spirit.
Li Hao felt as if something in his mind had shattered. His previously full Painting Way experience, which had reached the sixth stage, was now accompanied by a quiet notification.
[Painting Way Experience +726…]
[Painting Way Experience +682…]
Immersed in the memories of the past, he was oblivious to the fact that his Painting Way had entered the realm of the spirit.
Only those times became increasingly clear.
But when Li Hao painted the severed hand, he stopped drawing.
After a long time, Li Hao's thoughts gradually calmed, and he noticed the Painting Way experience prompts. His eyes flickered, but he didn't feel much joy.
To seek and not obtain, and to obtain without seeking, were two different states of mind.
When his Culinary Way entered the spirit realm, Li Hao realized that the more he craved a breakthrough, the more it became a shackle.
When his mindset completely changed, he would no longer have this obsession. Therefore, even with rapid improvement, he wouldn't feel surprised.
It was like casually picking up a fallen leaf, everything flowed naturally.
Li Hao paused for a moment, and then saw that the ink on his brush tip had already dried.
During his brief lapse in concentration, an unknown amount of time had passed outside.
Li Hao didn't stop, but looked at the painting of the lively young girl, then raised his brush again, depicting the woman whose image had become crystal clear in his memory.
With the extraordinary painting skills of the seventh stage, Li Hao's brushstrokes were casual, but the figure on the paper seemed to leap off the page, her eyes gazing at the boy outside the paper, her expression gentle, as if a real person stood before him.
This was not realism, but ink painting, the traces of ink rendering visible in the sleeves, but only the woman's expression was not like a painting, but lively and vibrant.
Li Hao put away his brush and ink, seeing the scattered paintings on the ground. With a thought, his 御力 enveloped them, arranging the scrolls neatly. Seeing that the ink on the scrolls had dried, he stacked them together.
On top of this stack of memory scrolls was the gentle and spirited woman.
Having done this, Li Hao's divine sense spread out, sensing the outside of the hall, seeing that in addition to the original attendants, many people were waiting outside.
He frowned slightly, guessing that it was probably because of his Dao Seed identity.
He had no intention of entertaining them, but instead brought up his panel, setting up a barrier around himself to prevent prying eyes.
Although others couldn't see the panel, he planned to add points, and his aura would likely intensify dramatically.
Currently, Li Hao's panel showed:
Bodily Way 7th Stage, 御Way 6th Stage, Sword Way 6th Stage, Fist Way 6th Stage, Body Technique Way 6th Stage.
A total of 31 Art Skill points spent.
And the many Art Skills he mastered:
Go 5th Stage, Angling 6th Stage, Music 4th Stage, Poetry and Calligraphy 3rd Stage, Carving 3rd Stage, Culinary 7th Stage, Painting 7th Stage!
A total of 35 Art Skill points!
He currently had 4 points remaining, which were not immediately needed, unless Li Hao mastered other martial arts, such as the Dao, Spear, etc., but that was meaningless to him.
After all, mastering parallel weapons wouldn't add much to his strength.
Moreover, there were countless types of weapons in the world, roughly categorized into eighteen types. He couldn't possibly learn them all.
Now, having obtained his second Spirit-Entering Heart Realm, Li Hao intended to use it on the 御Way.
Although the Sword Way was also crucial, greatly enhancing his offensive power and raising the level of various sword techniques, Li Hao preferred to enhance his cultivation first.
With higher cultivation, suppressing techniques with strength was easier.
Furthermore, the 御Way involved Aperture Opening Techniques, Spirit Refinement Techniques, and 御物 Techniques.
[Heart Realm: Painting Way Enters the Spirit (Usable)]
Li Hao didn't hesitate, directly choosing to add points to the 御Way.
As the prompt disappeared, the words "Usable" in front of "Painting Way Enters the Spirit" were preceded by the word "Not".
At the same time, countless vast amounts of information flooded into his mind.
The amount of information this time was still extremely vast. If Li Hao were still a two or three-year-old child, he would probably be overwhelmed and become a fool, unable to bear it.
Everything about the 御Way, from the mundane to the extraordinary, countless subtleties were dissected before Li Hao's eyes and absorbed by him.
Li Hao slowly digested and integrated these Dao realm insights.
When he had absorbed everything, he saw that his various Aperture Opening Techniques, Spirit Refinement Techniques, and 御物 Techniques on the panel had undergone a tremendous transformation!
However, the most significant change was not the advancement of the Spirit Refinement Techniques and 御物 Techniques that Li Hao had anticipated, but the Aperture Opening Techniques!
The original pinnacle technique, Hundred Battles Heavenly Cycle, transformed into Starry Sky Heavenly Cycle!
Dragon River Divine Vein, transformed into Dragon Abyss Divine Vein!
These transformations in techniques elevated his understanding of Aperture Opening Techniques to a higher level.
108 veins, plus the Yin and Yang dual veins, were already the ultimate in the body's major veins.
But the 御Way at the seventh stage, the extraordinary entering the sacred, allowed Li Hao to step into a new realm of understanding.
Mundane veins had reached their peak, why not transcend?
Li Hao sat cross-legged, the Immortal Qi in his body inhaled and exhaled, circulating through the major veins of his body, then leaping beyond the 108 major veins.
Immortal Qi swirled and condensed, gradually, a phantom-like vein was opened by Li Hao within his body.
Qi Vein!
This Qi Vein connected to the 108 major veins, interconnecting them.
The Qi Vein was thin, but it was like a newly created major vein!
With the condensation of this Qi Vein, Li Hao immediately felt his strength increase. It was worth noting that the opening of each major vein brought a significant increase in strength.
Moreover, the Qi Circulation Technique had also been improved, each major vein could circulate two thousand times, and the opening of each major vein meant an increase in strength of over 400,000 jin.
And the capacity of this Qi Vein was greater than that of mundane veins, and it circulated faster!
"108 major veins are not the limit, beyond mundane veins, there are Qi Veins…"
Li Hao's eyes were dazed, combining the various techniques and insights of the seventh stage of the 御Way, he glimpsed this path of transcendence in the Zhou Tian Realm!
The peak of mundane veins was the Heavenly Vein, he wondered what the peak of this Qi Vein would be?
Li Hao dared not imagine, the Extreme Realm had cut down countless geniuses, causing even peerless talents to stop, this extraordinary Extreme Realm, perhaps even among the Ancient Saint Clans, there were no records.
Thinking of this, Li Hao felt that he could explore it if he had the chance.
At this moment, his Immortal Qi circulated, continuously condensing Qi Veins within his body.
One, two, three!
When he condensed 12 Qi Veins, the techniques and Dao realm he mastered had reached their peak, and he could not condense any more.
The strength increase brought by these 12 Qi Veins, while not a qualitative change, made Li Hao understand that this was a brand new beginning.
The path beyond the Extreme Realm.
When it was truly perfected to its limit, its terrifying transformation would be revealed!
Besides the Aperture Opening Techniques, Li Hao also investigated the Spirit Refinement Techniques and 御物 Techniques.
Time passed quietly.
The transformation of the Spirit Refinement Techniques and 御物 Techniques pushed Li Hao's Divine Travel Realm and Fifteen Li Realm to higher states, but the techniques he mastered in these two realms were not many. His original Divine Travel Realm of 50 li was now increased to 90 li.
The 御物 Technique was similar, increasing to nearly a hundred li.
But it still hadn't reached its limit.
However, Li Hao felt that it wasn't far off.
If he could find a few more top-tier Spirit Refinement Techniques and 御物 Techniques, and they resonated with each other, he should be able to break through the Extreme Realm.
While Li Hao was immersed in cultivation and deduction, the hall door was knocked three times.
Receiving no response from Li Hao, the outside fell silent again.
Two days later, Li Hao absorbed all the insights brought by the seventh stage of the 御Way, familiarized himself with all the techniques, and then retracted the barrier.
"The limits of the Divine Travel Realm and Fifteen Li Realm are not far off."
Li Hao thought, wondering what kind of abilities the extreme states of these two realms would bring.
He pushed open the door and saw numerous figures of the姬 family standing at the entrance.
Before Li Hao could speak, seeing the young man who pushed open the door, the many姬 family elders waiting outside were overjoyed and quickly said:
"Young Master Ji, you're out."
Seeing the 180-degree turn in their attitude, Li Hao was a little surprised. He nodded slightly and said:
"What is it, everyone?"
"The younger generation below were ignorant before, and their words were offensive. I've brought them here to apologize to you."
Beside these elders stood a number of men and women with bruised faces, young and old.
Li Hao frowned slightly and shook his head. Were they deliberately making themselves look like that to gain sympathy?
However, sensing their desire to apologize, Li Hao didn't bother to pursue it further.
"It's all in the past, you can leave."
Li Hao said.
"Young Master Ji, feel free to vent your anger, beat or scold them, these brats are at your disposal." An elder quickly said.
Li Hao frowned and said: "Just don't disturb my cultivation."
Seeing Li Hao's displeasure, the elder chuckled awkwardly, not daring to say more, and immediately waved his hand, signaling for everyone else to leave.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 240: Your Son is a Prodigy
News of Li Hao's emergence from his cultivation retreat spread quickly, and soon, Ji Yunyue and others arrived to visit him.
Upon seeing him again, they all sensed that Li Hao's aura had subtly shifted.
However, Li Hao's All-Phenomena Attribute masked his true depth, preventing them from discerning the specifics.
Li Hao inquired and learned that his spiritual ink painting and Qi Pulse cultivation had taken a total of five days.
"When can I see my mother?"
Li Hao asked.
"The Wild Sea is nearly calm, you'll be able to see her soon."
Ji Yunyue retrieved a ten-inch tall ancient mirror from her spatial ring and said gently, "This is the Sacred Treasure Sky-Viewing Mirror. My family head and I have borrowed it for you. It can allow you to observe the situation on Imprisoning Heaven Island. You can see Qingqing remotely right now."
Li Hao expressed his gratitude and accepted the mirror. Under Ji Yunyue's guidance, he infused it with his energy, and instantly felt his consciousness sink into the mirror. A vast map appeared in his mind.
This map encompassed the entire Ji Family Sacred Land's hidden realm. As long as Li Hao focused his thoughts, he could observe the entire sacred realm.
The fact that they were willing to lend such an artifact further demonstrated the Ji Family's recognition of Li Hao.
Li Hao could sense their sincerity, but he didn't rashly pry into other areas. Instead, he concentrated his thoughts on the far north of the Sacred Land's hidden realm, as Ji Yunyue had instructed.
The mirror displayed a scene, as if piercing through clouds and mist, revealing a vast expanse of ocean.
The sea was deep and dark red, as if the seabed held a layer of settled blood.
Waves surged on its surface, clouds gathered, and occasional gusts of sea wind swept through.
Li Hao was secretly astonished. The Ji Family Sacred Land's hidden realm was far more expansive than he had imagined.
The Sacred Land he had previously seen, based on the map's scale, seemed to occupy only one percent of the total area!
In the center of this vast ocean was a pitch-black abyss, which seemed bottomless when viewed from above. It resembled a giant eye in the heart of the sea.
Above this enormous abyss was a floating island, swaying gently in the high-altitude winds.
At three points around the island, three thick, sturdy chains pierced through it, anchoring it like a kite, preventing it from soaring higher.
Li Hao continued to focus his thoughts on the island, observing several mountain peaks and caves on its surface. In one of the mountains, he saw a thatched hut.
A figure was bending down in front of the hut, moving stones and piling them beside it. Her clothes were tattered, her hair was disheveled, as if she hadn't washed it in a long time.
Her face and arms were covered in grime and dried mud stains.
Despite her unkempt appearance, Li Hao recognized at a glance the woman who had held him in her arms fifteen years ago.
Li Hao hadn't expected his first glimpse of her to be in such a dilapidated state.
She was a stark contrast to the graceful woman he remembered from the Divine General Manor, adorned in luxurious silks and fine garments.
Li Hao's expression darkened, a complex mix of anger and other emotions rising within him. He took a deep breath and said:
"With my mother's cultivation, she shouldn't be this disheveled. Could they have crippled her cultivation?"
Ji Yunyue and the others also saw the scene in the mirror and their faces changed slightly. They were all aware of the situation on Imprisoning Heaven Island.
It was an extremely dangerous place, hence its use as a prison for numerous Ji Family criminals.
Crimes like Ji Qingqing's were considered relatively minor there. Others, such as betrayal of the family, collusion with demons, and killing family members for treasures, were far more severe.
Some were executed on the spot, while others pleaded for mercy based on their ancestors' contributions and were spared, exiled to this island.
"They haven't crippled Qingqing's cultivation."
Ji Yunqing quickly explained, fearing Li Hao might misunderstand. "If they had crippled her cultivation, she wouldn't have lasted a few days on Imprisoning Heaven Island. It would be no different from execution."
"That's right. Moreover, Qingqing's bloodline is pure, and she's considered a prodigy within our clan. She reached the Three Immortality Realm in her teens. Crippling her cultivation would be a waste," Ji Yunyue stated.
She looked at the image in the mirror and said, "The reason for her state is due to the unique laws of Imprisoning Heaven Island."
"The Wild Sea surrounding Imprisoning Heaven Island is impossible to traverse for ordinary people, even those at the Absolute Art Realm. One must possess a Dao Domain and use their own Dao Domain's rules to counter the Wild Sea's rules."
"And the Desolate Abyss at the heart of the Wild Sea cannot be traversed even with a Dao Domain. It's an absolute no-fly zone, where sound cannot travel and the energy of Heaven and Earth is completely cut off!"
"Therefore, one cannot cultivate on Imprisoning Heaven Island. Any energy consumed is lost and cannot be replenished."
"The criminals imprisoned there can only rely on their physical strength to endure. If they cannot endure, they simply die there."
Ji Yunyue said softly, "When Qingqing was sent to Imprisoning Heaven Island, her spatial ring was filled with food and drink. The family head also turned a blind eye. We planned to send supplies every ten years. Doing it too frequently would invite gossip. She doesn't have to worry about food and drink, but the environment there is indeed harsh."
Ji Yunqing nodded and sighed, "Thankfully, the Heavenly Dynasty has sent word, so the other criminals on the island dare not provoke Qingqing. Besides, those criminals all hope to be released. Unless absolutely necessary, they won't easily offend someone with a powerful background outside. Your mother might have a hard life, but you don't need to worry about anything else."
Li Hao silently stared at the mirror. The woman in front of the thatched hut moved stones, rebuilding a section of the wall that had been blown down.
Then, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. As if sensing something, she looked up towards the sky.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through the mirror and meet Li Hao's.
Li Hao felt a strange, indescribable sensation.
It was as if they were connected by blood.
But the woman in the mirror only glanced at him, looking slightly confused, before entering the hut, seemingly to rest.
Li Hao continued to observe for a moment before shifting his gaze to other parts of Imprisoning Heaven Island. He saw several caves where Ji Family criminals, looking like wild men, were sitting or lying down in a state of listlessness, their bodies covered in dirt and their hair matted.
Some were using shards of stone to carve something on the mountain walls, as if recording the passage of time.
The number of criminals wasn't large, but with a single glance, Li Hao could sense the desolate and bleak atmosphere of despair that permeated the island.
He didn't continue to pry, but instead put away the mirror and said to Ji Yunyue, "How soon will the Wild Sea calm down? Can a Dao Domain carry me across?"
"Child, don't be impatient. It should be calm tomorrow. As you saw, the Wild Sea is almost completely still. Even if a Dao Domain takes you there, there's no energy to replenish it in the Wild Sea. If you traverse with a Dao Domain, the return journey will be difficult. The safest option is to take a boat."
Ji Yunyue immediately advised, "Tomorrow, I'll go with you. We also need to collect Twin Blossoms first, which will allow us to take your mother off Imprisoning Heaven Island. Otherwise, without the Twin Blossoms to counteract the poison, she'll quickly succumb to it when she leaves the island and the Wild Sea's unique environment."
"She's been poisoned?" Li Hao's face changed slightly.
"Not the kind of poison you're imagining. It's a special poison that all criminals on Imprisoning Heaven Island are forced to take. It's designed to prevent them from being rescued by family elders or escaping the island on their own."
"As long as they stay on the island, there's no danger. They're like normal people. But if they try to leave, there will be serious consequences."
Li Hao understood. It seemed the Ji Family's control over the criminals was extremely strict.
"Child, just let your great-aunt accompany you tomorrow. Now that you've emerged from your cultivation, why don't you go see your grandfather first? He's been hearing about you these past few days and has been eager to meet you."
Ji Yunqing said softly.
Li Hao looked at them, seeing the hope in their eyes and thinking of Li Tianzong's lingering soul and obsession. A sense of reluctance arose within him, and he nodded.
Seeing Li Hao's agreement, both of them showed joy in their eyes and immediately took him to the Ji Family Ancestral Shrine.
On the way, Li Hao inquired about the absence of the old elder, referring to Ji Tianchao.
Upon mentioning Ji Tianchao, Ji Yunqing and Ji Yunyue both looked at Li Hao with strange expressions.
Ji Yunqing said, "Recently, people from the Qin Family have been wandering around the edge of the hidden realm, causing trouble for our Ji Family. They claim that someone witnessed a youth claiming to be from the Ancient God Clan arriving here and then disappearing. They've come to investigate our Ji Family's hidden realm."
At this point, both of them looked at Li Hao.
Li Hao was slightly surprised. His journey had been observed by someone?
But he hadn't noticed anything.
"According to the Qin Family's description, the youth defeated a Qin Family prodigy, even Qin Tianchen, who is at the Absolute Art Realm. He's one of the Qin Family's Top Ten Prodigies, extremely powerful. And the youth was only fourteen or fifteen years old..."
Ji Yunqing simply looked at Li Hao, relaying this information piece by piece.
Li Hao saw the strange looks on their faces and immediately understood that they had guessed the person the Qin Family was referring to was him.
He couldn't help but show a look of helplessness.
He didn't try to hide it, simply asking, "Will this cause trouble for the Ji Family? Should I go and resolve it myself?"
"Is that youth really you?"
Ji Yunqing laughed when Li Hao admitted it.
Li Hao nodded.
The two exchanged glances, both with expressions of "I knew it."
But then they burst into laughter. Although they had already made their deductions, hearing Li Hao admit it personally was still a surprise.
"Your reputation has been spreading throughout the Great Wilderness Heaven recently. They say there's an Ancient God Clan youth who's slaughtering everyone, incredibly powerful, capable of defeating prodigies against all odds. We guessed it might be you."
"Are those legends true? Are you really from the Ancient God Clan? Isn't your father from outside the Great Wilderness Heaven?"
Both of them looked at Li Hao with curiosity.
"Nonsense. I had to say that, otherwise they wouldn't accept it."
Li Hao explained.
"..."
Both of them were speechless.
They had considered various reasons and explanations, but they never imagined it would be this.
Wouldn't accept it? Are they afraid that the Qin Family and other families' prodigies would see him and their Dao Hearts would shatter?
You're actually quite nice... They chuckled inwardly. But considering Li Hao's displayed strength, it was true that many families' younger generation had been deeply impacted.
These individuals were either depressed and dejected or viewed Li Hao as a reincarnated deity, praising him to the heavens.
The reputations of other prodigies paled in comparison to Li Hao.
After all, in the Ancient Aristocratic Families, strength was paramount.
"The family head also guessed it was you and asked Tianchao to deal with the Qin Family, which is why he hasn't come," Ji Yunqing said with a smile.
"They wouldn't dare to really cause trouble. This is Ji Family territory after all. If they really annoy us, we'll just kill everyone who came here, not a single one left. Let's see what the Qin Family has to say. At worst, we'll start a war. We at least have the advantage of striking first."
Ji Yunyue said, despite being a woman, her eyes flashed with a cold light that was in no way inferior to a man's when it came to battle.
Li Hao was speechless, getting a glimpse of the Ancient Aristocratic Families' way of doing things.
Not long after.
Li Hao arrived at the Ji Family Ancestral Shrine and met his grandfather.
Thinking of the ancestral tablets of the Ji Family's ancestors displayed in the shrine, Li Hao, after some thought, followed the Ji Family's customs and bowed in reverence.
Ji Yunqing introduced Li Hao's identity and then left the shrine with Ji Yunyue.
Ji Yunzhan, upon seeing his grandson, excitedly flew out from the ancestral tablets and began asking Li Hao about his life and experiences.
Li Hao also sat on a meditation cushion and chatted casually with the old man's spirit.
Despite it being their first meeting, there wasn't much awkwardness between them. Li Hao was relatively relaxed and easygoing, and casually brought up his mother's childhood.
Occasional laughter echoed through the shrine.
Ji Yunqing stood outside the shrine, hearing the laughter inside, and her eyes softened with a sense of relief.
The next day.
News arrived that the Wild Sea had calmed down.
Ji Yunyue came early, and Li Hao, who had waited a whole night, also got up and went with his great-aunt to the far north of the Sacred Land's hidden realm.
Thinking that he would soon be face-to-face with his mother, Li Hao felt a sense of anticipation. It wasn't that he harbored deep emotions, but rather a feeling of seeing an old friend from many years ago.
He still remembered the fervent care expressed in those seven letters.
He had kept the woman's sincerity in his heart.
...
...
Outside the Ji Family's territory.
In a desolate field of rocks, a figure hid in the shadows. It was Li Tiangang.
He intently watched the bustling area in the distance. A fierce battle had erupted there earlier, and the energy it released had drawn his attention, making him realize that it was the Ji Family territory he had been searching for.
He had been circling this area for four or five days, but it felt like he was going in circles.
He realized he had fallen into some kind of illusionary formation.
Initially, he suspected that his wife had deliberately left false information to prevent him from finding her and risking his life. But then he thought that she was willing to leave the route to the Great Wilderness Heaven. Even if he didn't enter the Ji Family territory, the surrounding area was extremely dangerous, and there was no need for her to deceive him.
If she really wanted to deceive him, she could have simply refused to provide any clues.
"Qingqing, Hao'er..."
Li Tiangang's eyes flickered with light, and he took a deep breath.
He suppressed his aura and waited for the commotion and conflict to subside and for the other party to leave. After a while, he cautiously approached.
When he saw the group of people with the ancient character "Ji" on their clothes, Li Tiangang felt both excitement and nervous apprehension. He knew he had finally reached the Ji Family's hidden realm, as his wife had mentioned.
The ancient character Ji was his wife's surname, one of the few ancient characters he recognized.
Seeing that the group was about to leave, Li Tiangang gritted his teeth and decided to take a gamble. Life or death, it was up to fate. He couldn't let the mistakes he made be borne by his children, including his wife.
"Wait!"
Li Tiangang stepped out and called out.
The numerous Ji Family members in front were startled and quickly turned their heads, their gazes fixed on Li Tiangang.
"Who are you?!"
Someone immediately shouted in a warning tone.
Li Tiangang quickly replied, "I am Ji Qingqing's husband. I've come to find my wife."
He didn't directly reveal his name and identity, fearing that the Ji Family members might attack without discrimination, causing trouble for the Li Family.
If they really wanted to kill their way out of the Great Wilderness Heaven and seek revenge on the Li Family, then he would have no choice but to seek protection from the Imperial Family.
Upon hearing Li Tiangang's words, the Ji Family members were stunned.
One of the elders, Ji Yunyu, the fourth brother of Ji Yunguo, Ji Lao Si, was among them.
"You're Qingqing's husband?"
Ji Yunyu was stunned when he heard Li Tiangang's words, and then he thought of the youth, and his eyes lit up.
"Yes..."
Li Tiangang felt immense pressure from the elder, his heart trembling slightly. He had encountered beings at the Taiping Dao Realm before, and the elder gave him a similar feeling.
The Ji Family truly was a hidden dragon and crouching tiger. Just any random elder was at the Taiping Dao Realm. His wife was right. If he hadn't reached the Dao Realm, coming here would have been a death sentence!
His body tensed, and he gritted his teeth, ready to apologize and offer his life in exchange for his wife and Li Hao's safety. But suddenly, the elder said to him:
"Did you get separated from your son? Why are you only coming now?"
His tone was surprisingly gentle.
Li Tiangang had spent a long time in the military and was adept at reading people. Hearing the lack of killing intent in the elder's tone, he was momentarily stunned, then his heart tightened:
"Senior, have you seen my son?"
He looked at the other party with some nervousness.
Ji Yunyu couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Your son came a few days ago. Why are you only coming now? Did you get lost in the formations outside?"
Li Tiangang's face turned slightly pale, but seeing the kind smile on the other party's face, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart:
"That's right. I'm a fool, and I was trapped in a formation. I didn't know, Senior, has my son offended anyone? I'm willing to apologize to you on his behalf. Even if I have to give my life to uphold the Ji Family's laws, I won't resist. I just beg you, Senior, to spare Qingqing and my son, Li Hao."
"Li Hao?"
Ji Yunyu was taken aback, the smile on his face disappearing as he stared intently at Li Tiangang, "You just said you're Qingqing's husband?"
Li Tiangang's face changed slightly when he heard the sudden coldness in the other party's voice. He didn't know what he had said wrong and felt uneasy, saying,
"Yes."
"You said your son is Li Hao?"
"...Yes."
"Nonsense!"
Ji Yunyu's face darkened, "Think carefully. What's your son's name?"
"My son..." Li Tiangang felt a sense of absurdity. Did he need to think about his son's name?
"I ask you, do you know Ji Leping?"
Ji Yunyu stared intently at him. Although he felt strange, he suddenly thought that the child had changed his surname to follow his mother, and there might be many reasons for it. Moreover, the man in front of him was at the Four-Establishment Realm, and there was no need for him to pretend to be stupid and come to his death.
"Ji Leping..." Li Tiangang was puzzled.
Suddenly, like an arrow from fifteen years ago, a memory pierced through his mind, hitting him squarely.
A sunny moment in the courtyard, when his wife's pregnant belly was swollen, she had said softly:
"Husband, if our child is a boy, let's name him Leping. Li Leping, how does that sound?"
"Good, whatever you want..."
Leping, Leping...
Li Tiangang's pupils constricted, and he felt his heart tremble. He also recalled the incident at the end of the father-son battle, when his second sister-in-law confessed in the interrogation hall.
The poisoning.
And the confrontation in the courtyard after the True Dragon War, when the youth had stated with certainty, "I remember everything from when I was a child!"
So, he truly remembered everything.
But after Li Hao was given his name, no one had ever mentioned it again. Even if he remembered, who told him?
Could it be that his wife's words while cradling the child were also imprinted on his memory?
Li Tiangang trembled slightly, feeling incredible, but at the same time, a heart-wrenching pain.
It was Ji Leping, not Li Leping. Had the child changed his surname to follow his mother?
He gritted his teeth slightly, but knew that this wasn't the time to argue about it. He had come here only to ensure Li Hao's safety, so he forced a smile:
"Yes, that's my son's nickname."
"Is he really your son?"
Ji Yunyu stared at him.
Li Tiangang quickly said, "Absolutely no falsehood. I know that my marriage to Qingqing violated your rules, but I'm willing to take full responsibility. I hope you won't make things difficult for them."
Seeing his sincere attitude and that he wasn't lying, Ji Yunyu's expression softened, and he chuckled, "Don't be nervous. Come with me."
Li Tiangang felt a slight relief when he saw the other party's attitude change, but he was still uneasy. He had heard countless times from his wife about the Ji Family's strict rules.
He also understood deeply that unless he possessed the strength of the Qian Dao Palace's True Person, he would have no chance of getting anyone back from the Ji Family. Otherwise, he would be coming to his death.
But it was too late to turn back now.
"Yes, Senior."
Li Tiangang bowed his head and followed.
The others were surprised and amazed to hear that he was indeed Ji Leping's father. They kept looking at him, wanting to see what kind of person the father of such a monstrous prodigy was, capable of nurturing such a talent.
Upon entering the Sacred Land's hidden realm, Li Tiangang was awestruck by the magnificent and majestic sacred mountains and numerous floating islands.
He finally understood that his wife's warnings about the Ji Family's danger were not empty words.
This was the ancient sacred clan of the Great Wilderness Heaven?
Li Tiangang's heart pounded wildly, and he felt that his hope was even more fragile.
He gritted his teeth slightly, feeling a sense of smallness and powerlessness, a feeling that had once made him incredibly resentful.
He was so powerless when his father died.
He was so powerless when his brothers died.
Even after succeeding his ninth brother as the True Dragon and guarding Yanbei for over a decade, he was still so powerless when his wife left.
Now, he felt it again.
This feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness.
"Don't be nervous. Your son is doing well here, and Qingqing will be released soon."
Seeing Li Tiangang's tense body and dejected expression, Ji Yunyu couldn't help but smile and comfort him.
Li Tiangang's heart jolted, and he suddenly looked up, staring in astonishment at him:
"Senior, is that true?"
"Of course. Your son is a prodigy of our clan!"
(End of Chapter)