Chapter 21: Chapter 19 Shallow Blessings
Translator: 549690339
Li Hao received the sword, his thoughts swiftly spinning.
Now he did not care to deliberately hide anything, but was weighing the pros and cons.
Displaying his swordsmanship, revealing his talent, would certainly dazzle the crowd.
Even without exposing his Body Refinement, using just an ordinary child’s body to wield the sword, although he could not exhibit the Tide Sword Skill at its peak, with just a hint of its quintessence and the Sword Saint’s sharp eye for swordsmanship, his potential in the sword arts should be recognizable.
Having a Sword Saint as a mentor, he naturally did not worry about others coveting his skill.
However, becoming a disciple meant following the other to the southern Sword Hut to cultivate.
That place is a holy land for swordsmen, yet its overall heritage might not match the depth of the Divine General Mansion, nor the richness of Listening Rain Tower.
And he needed to enhance his swordsmanship through Chess Tao and other arts. Given the Sword Saint’s stern and no-nonsense demeanor, it was likely he would be extremely strict and might not tolerate his “distractions.”
Or perhaps, upon becoming his disciple, he could negotiate with him, and have him stay at the Divine General Mansion to teach him?
But the Divine General Mansion might not accommodate a foreign expert, comparable to a generation of the Li Family, staying within its premises for long… And the person in question might not agree either.
“Forget it, he doesn’t need to perform.”
At this moment, Jian Wudao’s voice came, with a hint of displeasure.
Li Hao, who was pondering his options, was startled upon hearing this and looked towards him.
He Jianlan, snapping back to reality, hurriedly said, “Sword Saint, why is this so?”
“He has no sword in his eyes, does not love the sword. At such a young age, his thoughts are scattered and he lacks the makeup for sword training.”
Jian Wudao’s expression turned indifferent again. Were it not for the setting in the Divine General Mansion, he would have already turned to leave, not bothering to explain further.
“Sword Saint, the child must be nervous inside, why not give him a chance to demonstrate…” Li Fu from behind hastily added, as it was an opportunity of a lifetime, too great a loss to miss.
But before he could finish, the other gave him a glance.
That sword-sharp, indifferent gaze made Li Fu feel a chill in his throat, as if his life was being sliced apart, and he involuntarily stopped speaking.
“Sword Saint, Hao Er has been sheltered in the mansion since he was young, has not seen much of the world, and he couldn’t practice martial arts. Naturally, he hasn’t handled swords much, so it’s normal for him not to have an affinity for them,” He Jianlan said with furrowed majestic brows.
However, Jian Wudao didn’t treat He Jianlan the way he did Li Fu, as she was after all the contemporary madam of the Divine General Mansion and in charge; he gave her a glance and subtly shook his head:
“Madam, I understand your considerations, but you don’t wield a sword, you don’t understand swordsmanship. If it’s just about reaching a common standard, or becoming a high-level expert in the secular world, with my guidance it would be feasible.”
“But aspiring to reach the pinnacle, to meet the minimum standard of my Sword Hut, that’s far beyond reach.”
“In training with the sword, I only look at two things: swordsmanship talent and the feeling for the sword.”
“Good talent, but no feeling for the sword, can only achieve a second-rate standard.”
“Love for the sword itself, even with average understanding, one day when the essence of the sword is grasped, they can enter the ranks of first-rate!”
Unusually verbose this time, Jian Wudao made himself absolutely clear.
He looked at Bian Ruxue and said to He Jianlan, “When this young girl came over, holding the sword, I could see in her eyes the sword, her love for it. Out of a thousand weapons, she would spot a sword at a glance!”
“With that, even if her talent is lesser, as she continues to practice swordsmanship, cultivating the essence of the sword, her future achievements will be great, not to mention her excellent talent.”
Having said this, he turned to Li Hao: “This boy, however, doesn’t have the slightest hint of a sword in his eyes. Even when he took the sword, there was no emotion. No matter his talent, it’s no longer important.”
“He is not suited for the path of swordsmanship!”
He gave his final appraisal.
After these words, He Jianlan was completely silenced.
Silence filled the courtyard.
He Jianlan wanted to speak, but seeing the determined look in the other’s eyes, she knew further persuasion was useless unless they called upon the clan elders, which would be too demeaning for the Li Family’s status.
She looked down at Li Hao with a complex gaze and sighed inwardly.
She was all too aware that this child was wild by nature, often indulging in games of chess with the house servants in the courtyard; such trivial skills were no more than playthings in prosperous times.
Yet with Li Tian Gang and his wife not present, she couldn’t discipline him too strictly. After telling him off a few times without being heeded, and the child secretly enlisting servants to accompany him, she was at her wits’ end.
Indeed, was all of this simply fate?
As He Jianlan remained silent, Jian Wudao, having made his point, paid no more mind to what others thought. He had been explicit enough; if the Li Family insisted on foisting the child onto him, he would not be courteous.
At this moment, looking at the little girl beside him, his eyes couldn’t hide the affection as the coldness on his face melted a bit, and he said with a smile, “Little girl, what’s your name?”
“Bian Ruxue.”
The little girl answered honestly.
Then, looking at Li Hao, she said to the old gentleman, “Can you let Brother Hao demonstrate a bit? Brother Hao is very smart, much smarter than Xue’er.”
Jian Wudao smiled faintly. What use is being clever? Aren’t those scholars and literati in the imperial courts all clever?
Moreover, he had already noticed the complex thoughts lurking in Li Hao’s eyes, the heavy considerations within. At such a young age, his impure heart would make it even harder to lay a solid foundation in the initial stage of sword training, leading him to distraction and delay.
This is why some precocious children eventually fade into the crowd, while some inconspicuous and reticent ones may become great figures later in life.
Jian Wudao did not like the phrase “late bloomer,” to him it was the ignorance of worldly people who could not see through the protective exterior of true talent.
Focus and dedication, these are the qualities of genius.
Some seemingly clever children, who know a little about everything and can interject in adults’ conversations, eliciting laughter and praise for their intelligence, are exactly what one should avoid in the path of cultivation.
Solid and steady, with a bit of Spirit, that is the best seedling.
“Xue’er, come with me to cultivate in the mountains,” Jian Wudao said gently.
“Then will you take Brother Hao with us?” Bian Ruxue asked, looking up.
“Just you.”
“Then I won’t go.”
Bian Ruxue said immediately, taking a step back as if afraid he might forcibly take her away, snuggling beside Li Hao and hugging his arm, “I want to be with Brother Hao, I won’t go anywhere else.”
Jian Wudao’s expression changed slightly, and his brows furrowed.
However, Bian Ruxue, despite her exceptional talent, was after all still a child, and he did not get angry, but turned his head to He Jianlan and said, “Madame, I’m taking Xue’er with me. When her cultivation bears fruit, I’ll let her come back. Of course, it might not take many years before you hear of her renown outside.”
He spoke with confidence because the moment he announced it, many people in the world would immediately recognize the name “Bian Ruxue.”
The new protégé of the Sword Saint Jian Wudao, with this title alone, she would be famous throughout the province!
He Jianlan nodded slightly, naturally finding no reason to refuse Jian Wudao’s words.
Li Hao had already recovered his composure, his lips twitched slightly, it was fine, she had made her choice for herself, saving him the trouble of pondering.
“Brother Hao, I won’t go.”
Bian Ruxue clutched Li Hao’s arm tightly, her eyes red and a hint of timidity in her voice.
Li Hao also did not want to see the little girl leave, but understood that this was her opportunity.
Staying in the Divine General Mansion, she could cultivate, but everything else was limited to what was around her.
Being the disciple of a Sword Saint, just the mentorship alone was a significant connection, and she could experience a much broader world outside.
Selfishly, he wanted to keep the little girl, having such a little tail around made him feel secure and happy.
But considering Bian Ruxue’s welfare, he elected to let go for now, softly saying, “Xue’er, be obedient. Go cultivate with this old master, and once you have achieved something in your cultivation, you can come back to see me. Then I’ll take you out for something delicious.”
“I won’t go, I don’t want to cultivate, I won’t practice the sword anymore, I hate the sword!” Bian Ruxue suddenly burst into tears.
Jian Wudao’s brows furrowed as he realized he had underestimated the little girl’s attachment to the boy.
After all, they were said to be childhood sweethearts who had grown up together.
In his mind, if it truly didn’t work out, taking Li Hao as well might be an option. With the girl’s talent, even with a worthless accessory, she was still worth competing for.
“Be good, you’re already a big girl, you can’t always cry,” Li Hao wiped her nose with his sleeve and gently reassured her, feeling a pinch in his heart and a reluctance to let go.
The adults in the courtyard silently watched one child console another.
Many had complicated looks in their eyes, jealousy and envy mixed together. Children were still children, unaware of their fortunes. They too wished their own offspring could enter the Sword Pavilion—for them, the mothers would have kicked those children out the door long ago to let them taste how their mother’s kick felt.
Eventually, Li Hao managed to soothe the little girl.
Bian Ruxue, with tear-stained eyes, said, “Then we have a deal, Brother Hao. You must wait for me to come back, right here, and not go anywhere else.”
“Mhm,” Li Hao replied, touching her forehead with a nod and a smile.
Jian Wudao’s face also relaxed, his gaze at Li Hao even softened a bit.
He could have ignored Bian Ruxue’s wishes and forcefully taken her away; after all, she was just a bigger child, and no matter her reluctance now, a half year’s stay at the Sword Pavilion would smooth it over with time.
But now that she was willing to go with him willingly, it was naturally a better outcome.
Such talent should not be delayed; time was precious.
“Xue’er is tender-hearted, old man, you must protect her well for me, don’t let anyone bully her,” Li Hao said reassuringly to Jian Wudao, after calming Xue’er.
Jian Wudao raised an eyebrow slightly at Li Hao’s address but didn’t get angry considering the child’s behalf and said indifferently, “Young fellow, don’t worry. I will take good care of Xue’er. By my side, no one in this world will be able to bully her!”
“Good,” Li Hao took a deep look at him and then told Bian Ruxue, “Xue’er, if anyone bullies you in the Sword Pavilion, write it down in a little notebook, and I will bully them back for you later.”
The adults dismissed the child’s words as deep affection of youth, not taking them seriously.
Before leaving, Jian Wudao paused, and turning to He Jianlan, he said, “In my Sword Pavilion, there is a Body Refinement secret manual. I will send someone to drop it off later. Placed in your Listening Rain Tower, it should allow one to reach the sixth level. Let the child try it.”
He Jianlan was delighted, quickly expressed her thanks, and then clung to hope, “Can Hao Er truly not become your disciple?”
Jian Wudao walked away.
Leaving behind only one sentence, that child is fortunate, but his destiny is shallow.
Chapter 22: Chapter 20: All-Round Body Refinement
Translator: 549690339
“`
As Jian Wudao left with Bian Ruxue, the courts were filled with the ladies and their attendants, all eager to catch a moment before departure and to say a word.
Some even arranged for their children to practice swordsmanship on the path leading out of the estate.
Yet none managed to attract Jian Wudao’s attention.
Access to the Jian Villa was not easy, which made the desire to enter it all the more coveted.
The colors of the courtyard seemed to fade with the departure of the ladies, returning to the empty silence of the falling autumn leaves.
Li Hao held the sword Bian Ruxue had practiced with, silently watching the gate of the courtyard for a long time before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
He then handed the sword to Li Fu behind him and said, “Uncle Fu, put this on the sword rack in my bedroom, and tell the maids they needn’t clean it every day.”
Li Fu took the sword with a sense of loss, looking at Li Hao’s profile with reluctance and a touch of self-reproach and guilt, he solemnly said, “Starting today, I will no longer indulge you. I will confiscate your chessboard, and you need to start cultivating!”
Li Hao was startled and looked up, saying, “Uncle Fu, you don’t think that this old man refused to take me as his disciple because of chess, do you? That would be an injustice!”
“I don’t care.”
Li Fu said with a stern face, “It’s common to find a good horse, but not a good horse trainer. Missing an opportunity that comes your way because you were not well prepared is your fault. From now on, you must always be ready in your best form, waiting for that chance that could come at any moment.”
“Opportunities in life are rare, what hope is there if you miss them!”
Li Hao protested the injustice, seeing that Li Fu was serious, and asked, “Then, Uncle Fu, what do you think constitutes a successful person?”
“As a son of the Li Family, you should make a name for yourself, defend the borders, and protect the people of the nation—that is success!” Li Fu said without hesitation and with conviction.
“Being a member of the Li Family is indeed tough,” Li Hao said with a bitter smile.
“Since you bear the Li surname and enjoy its immense wealth, you must take on this responsibility,” said Li Fu coldly.
Have I really enjoyed it? Li Hao mused with an internal wry smile, but then thought of the pastries and fresh fruits sent by Fifth Lady, and the nutritious porridge from the eldest lady… well, that did count as enjoyment.
“Uncle Fu, when you talk about cultivating, do you mean Body Refinement?”
“Of course.”
Li Fu glanced at him, as if to say, what other path is there for you besides Body Refinement?
Body Refinement was unpopular because it was hard to cultivate, had a low upper limit, and required great insight coupled with technique to compete with other experts.
And among those who were forced to choose Body Refinement, some could persevere through hardships but might not necessarily have the insight required.
After all, the sculpting of pain can lead to beauty, but it can also twist the soul.
After some wrangling with Uncle Fu, Li Hao made a deal—he was willing to cultivate, but his chessboard could not be confiscated, and he had to have someone to play with every day.
Li Fu could only agree, planning to talk about further cultivation once Li Hao had started.
In the days that followed, Li Hao was forced to spend some time cultivating using a basic Body Refinement secret technique that Li Fu had taught him.
With an understanding of the Physical Body Path, his progress was swift, which surprised Li Fu, who did not expect Li Hao to be such a promising candidate for Body Refinement.
Li Hao deliberately controlled his progress to prevent Uncle Fu from completely taking his leisure time away and only reached Great Accomplishment in the basic Body Refinement technique after three months.
Even so, the results excited the battle-hardened man to the point of tears, and he immediately wrote a letter to Northern Yan overnight to share the good news and his joy with the couple on the border.
And after a long and relentless accumulation, Li Hao’s Chess Tao level finally advanced.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 7]
[Cultivation Level: Power Passage Realm, Level Ten]
[Swordsmanship: Level Two (Flying Phase) (Hidden Bow)]
[Skills: Endless Sea·Tide (Peerless) Falling Snow Sword Skill (Peerless)]
[Physical Body Path: Level One (Myriad Forms) (Tiger Press)]
[Skills: Stone Skin Hundred Refinements (Great Accomplishment) Thousand Jiaos Holy Body (Minor Accomplishment in Jiao Fiend Body) Taichu (Entrance into Starry Body) Barbarian Bull Strength (Great Accomplishment)]
[Chess Tao: Level Four (1/10000)]
[Chess Manual Collection: Myriad Forms, Tiger Press, Flying Phase, Hidden Bow]
[State of Mind: Chess Spirit]
[Skill Points: 1]
Li Hao glanced at Li Fu, who was always by his side, and chose not to immediately use the Skill Point to upgrade his skills.
If it had been Swordsmanship, simply infusing the memory would suffice, but he wanted to use his Skill Point on the Physical Body Path first to ensure his own strength and safety.
The insights of the Physical Body Path could inevitably lead to changes in the Body Refinement techniques and his body, which would cause too much commotion.
On this day.
Li Hao followed Li Fu to the Listening Rain Tower.
Upon learning of Li Hao’s talent in Body Refinement, He Jianlan granted him the privilege of entering and leaving Listening Rain Tower at will, allowing him to select secret techniques indoors.
Of course, Li Fu could not enter.
Though he was a confidant of Li Tian Gang, he was not part of the core members of the Li Family’s direct lineage, so his status was different.
Li Fu didn’t mind, the Listening Rain Tower was a heavily guarded place of the Li Family. Despite the absence of many guards around, no one would dare to come here to steal treasures.
This place was safer than any lady’s courtyard in the estate.
Li Fu stood guard downstairs while Li Hao went upstairs alone.
“`
Now at an age where he is considered sensible, He Jianlan did not let Xuejian accompany and watch him anymore; it was just him ascending the stairs alone.
Li Hao had heard that the old Sword Saint delivered a Body Refinement secret manual to the sixth floor two months ago, and he immediately headed straight to the sixth floor.
Soon, he located a new secret manual that had appeared.
“Dragon Cicada Void Body”
Li Hao started to flip through it.
With the understanding of the first segment of the Physical Body Path, he quickly grasped the basics.
Collected.
Soon, the panel displayed this Body Refinement secret technique, and it advanced to the second layer, Great Accomplishment.
The Dragon Cicada Void Body had six layers; each layer refined would forge a different physique.
The first layer was the Static Cicada Body, which could sense the slight trajectories of air flowing over the body.
The second layer was the Subdued Dragon Body, storing within the body the strength comparable to a dragon or elephant.
The third layer was the Shedding Shell Body, granting the ability to exert force and tread through the air.
…
His body made slight cracking noises, and Li Hao could feel that upon entering the Subdued Dragon Body, another surge of power was born within him, probably weighing over ten thousand pounds!
Although he was still in the Power Passage Realm, his strength was vastly different compared to the average practitioner in the same realm.
With a thought, Li Hao wondered, if he cultivated several more Body Refinement secret manuals, could he accumulate even more strength?
Thinking leads to action; he immediately began to search for them on each floor of the Listening Rain Tower.
Before long, he found seven or eight Body Refinement secret manuals, all of middle to high quality. With enough practice, they could just barely reach the level of first-rate martial artists.
Quickly, as one secret manual after another was collected into the panel, Li Hao felt unusual changes taking place in his body, making his limbs more robust.
There was no change in his Cultivation Level on the panel, and Li Hao originally thought his strength would increase again, but it did not. However, some of these Body Refinement secret manuals were Claw Refining Skills, some practiced the legs, others Bone Tempering or Organ Refining.
He could feel that although the strength did not increase much, these parts received a qualitative enhancement.
Li Hao guessed that it might be because his physique was too strong, having already stimulated most of the Physical Strength, so these slightly inferior secret manuals were unable to provoke more physical strength but could enhance the corresponding parts.
His Stone Skin Hundred Refinements manual could increase the hardness of the skin, but it was overshadowed by the Jiao Demon Body from the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body.
The epidermal enhancement brought by the Jiao Demon Body was akin to dragon scales, far superior to that of Stone Skin Hundred Refinements, making it hard for the latter’s effects to shine through.
But other Body Refinement secret manuals complemented areas not yet covered by the previous ones on the sixth floor.
Bones, liver, ears, eyeballs, and other parts all improved accordingly.
While the strength did not change much, the power in actual combat underwent an earth-shattering change.
Li Hao had an epiphany that he needed to collect various Body Refinement techniques, temper his body with them, and if he could practice every part of his body to a consistent standard, he would be invincible!
At that moment, the rich heritage of the Listening Rain Tower truly made Li Hao realize how precious this place was for martial artists.
There were not many manuals on Chess Tao, but there was an abundance of Body Refinement secret manuals – this place had plenty!
Li Hao excitedly searched for the Body Refinement secret manuals within the tower and collected them one by one.
Time passed.
It wasn’t until sunset that Li Hao walked out of the tower holding a Body Refinement secret manual.
In the distance, it appeared as if dusk crows were flying across the sky, and the faint scent of food and firewood came from the front courtyard, signaling that it was time for dinner.
Li Hao stretched lazily and flexed his muscles and joints.
There were so many secret manuals in the Listening Rain Tower that after searching all afternoon, he had only discovered a tenth of them, and that was just the Body Refinement category.
Li Hao did not collect all the secret manuals. For instance, the “Barbaric Bull Strength” that Li Fu previously forced him to learn provided no enhancement for him as it had been surpassed by stronger ones.
For example, if two manuals both focused on claw skills, having researched the stronger one, practicing the inferior would yield no effects since the stronger manual would have already trained the palms to a high level.
Unless the inferior manual targeted different areas for training, in which case it could serve to fill any gaps.
“You finally came out.”
Seeing Li Hao emerge, Li Fu was a bit speechless, having waited all afternoon; this fellow hadn’t gotten confused by the choices had he?
He picked up the manual in Li Hao’s hand to look, a middle-grade Body Refinement secret manual,”Dragon Spine”, focusing primarily on strengthening the back.
“Is this all you picked?” Li Fu felt somewhat helpless, “Didn’t you go to the sixth floor?”
“I did, but I couldn’t understand it,” Li Hao said offhandedly.
Li Fu thought about it and realized it made sense. The manuals on the sixth floor were all peerless, and even he would have to practice them for months to grasp the mere basics.
“Don’t rush to practice this one for now. I’ll ask the Fifth Lady later to see if there’s a suitable one for you in Listening Rain Tower. This one’s too specialized,” said Li Fu, hoping that Li Hao would practice a more comprehensive Body Refinement technique that covered the entire body so there would be fewer weaknesses.
“Alright then,” Li Hao did not decline and casually said, “Let’s go, I’m starving. What’s for dinner tonight?”
Li Fu felt a bit helpless regarding Li Hao’s lack of interest in martial arts; the two turned and left the front of Listening Rain Tower.
Before long, they bumped into an old man wearing a straw hat, shouldering a fishing rod and carrying a fish basket. Dressed simply, he looked utterly ordinary.
Upon seeing the man, Li Fu’s eyes narrowed, his expression immediately became solemn, and he quickly stopped and stepped aside, respectfully saying, “Li Fu pays respects to Second Uncle.”
Chapter 23: Chapter 21 Fishing
Translator: 549690339
Uncle?
Li Hao was astonished. In the mansion, Li Fu’s seniority was calculated according to his father’s generation. The only ones who could make him call them ‘Uncle’ were of the Li Family’s older generation.
“Oh.”
The old man didn’t pay much attention to Li Fu’s respectful greeting, merely answering casually before his gaze shifted and he noticed the richly-dressed Li Hao with a Dragon Blood Jade Pendant at his waist and the Body Refinement secret manual in his hands.
“I heard the Li Family has a martial arts cripple, is it this child?” the old man asked casually.
Li Fu bowed with his hands clasped, extremely respectful, “Reporting to Uncle, it is indeed Hao Er. He is the child of Lord Xingwu, born with blocked meridians, unable to practice martial arts.”
“Oh ho ho…” The old man slightly smiled, “So, it’s that stubborn fellow’s child, huh? Tch, the little guy plans to undertake Body Refinement, huh? That’s a tough path.”
Li Fu still maintained a respectful demeanor, “Though Body Refinement is a difficult path, to let this child have accomplishments in the future, there’s no choice but this.”
“Pfft.”
The old man scoffed with disdain, “How great an accomplishment can Body Cultivation be? Even if one reaches the height of those few historical Body Cultivators, what of it? In the midst of thousands of troops, they’re but a slightly larger pebble at best.”
Li Fu smiled bitterly, knowing that the other’s words were not wrong, and only said, “But as a son of the Li Family, to die on the battlefield is also an honor.”
Upon hearing this, the old man’s smile vanished, his face suddenly darkening as he let out a cold huff.
“What nonsense are you spouting, should my Li Family’s sons only die on the battlefield? What honor, I think your brains have gone bad!”
“To survive from the battlefield, that’s what’s truly called ability!”
“Err…” Li Fu was somewhat stunned by the sudden reprimand, having heard that this uncle was known for his eccentric personality and unorthodox actions in his youth, indeed different from ordinary people.
“Is this what Li Tiangang thinks, or is it your own thought?” the old man seemed somewhat angry as he asked.
Li Fu carefully said, “It’s what the Lord and us think…”
“Hmph, that boy Tiangang, really has lived to become more and more incompetent.”
The old man snorted, “What ability is it to force a child, if you have the ability, let him break through the Three Immortals himself, and enter the Four Stands Realm, then he can defy the heavens and change his fate.”
“Regardless of any cripple, disability, or foolish dullard, all of them can be transformed into unparalleled geniuses. Instead of making the child strive, why not put in some effort yourself, knowing that you’re incompetent, huh?”
“Ah, this…”
Li Fu was left speechless and did not dare to respond.
The Four Stands Realm? Although it’s easy to say, how easy is it to enter that realm!
In the entire Dayu, the number of people who have reached that step can be counted on one’s fingers.
By the side, Li Hao couldn’t help but smile, thinking the old man was quite adorable.
He had thought he was meeting a stern elder of the clan, like Li Fu, who would tirelessly give him some good guidance, likely telling him to work hard, that only through suffering could one achieve success, and so on. Yet, what he said was quite the opposite.
“Our grand Divine General Mansion, can it not afford to raise a child?”
Seeing that Li Fu had no words in response, the old man huffed, “We fight wars, risking our lives, and several of our kids have died on the battlefield. Can’t we allow a junior to properly enjoy the hard-earned wealth and honor?”
Li Fu, trembling with nervousness, could only nod his head in agreement, not daring to speak.
The old man gave Li Fu a dismissive glance, knowing that it was useless to speak with such a blockhead. He had seen too much from his youth and knew well the beliefs and styles rooted in the hundreds of years of tradition of the Li Family.
However, a glint appeared in his eyes as he caught the little guy at his side snickering and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.
“You little thing, I call your father useless, and you laugh?”
“Old man, I think you’re right,” Li Hao replied.
“Hao Er!” Li Fu, startled, scolded, “Don’t be disrespectful, how do you speak to your elders!”
But the old man didn’t get angry, instead, he was taken aback, “What did you call me?”
“Old man,” Li Hao said with a smile, “It’s not like I can call you a young fellow, right?”
The old man’s face darkened slightly, “Has no one ever taught you how to address your elders?”
“You call me little thing, I call you old man, we should be even,” Li Hao said, “Surely someone has taught you how to address your juniors, right?”
Li Fu, sweating profusely, hurriedly covered Li Hao’s mouth and said to the old man, “Uncle, please don’t take it to heart with this child, His father and mother went to the Northern Yan battlefield when he was born, and no one was there to discipline him, this is why he’s become a bit wild, lacking manners…”
The old man slightly raised his eyebrows and huffed lightly, saying, “The child does have a point, let’s consider it even then.”
Li Fu was stunned, then immediately sighed with relief, “Thanks to Uncle for his generosity!”
Li Hao pulled away Li Fu’s sweaty hand from his mouth, wiped his cheek with his sleeve where it had touched, then glanced at the old man’s fishing basket, inquiring, “Only caught one? It’s so small, who’s it for?”
The old man spoke indifferently, “I, the old man, don’t fish for eating. Fishing is a pleasure, you’re still young, you wouldn’t understand.”
“If it’s just for fun, then your fishing skills are too poor,”
Li Hao said, “To catch only one fish, what’s the difference from the air force?”
When it came to the air force, the old man reacted as if he had been stepped on, his response even more vehement than before, glaring at Li Hao:
“What do you know, you greenhorn? I wasn’t seriously fishing today. I also went to Xinhu, a lake I’m not familiar with. Wait until tomorrow, and you’ll see how many I catch for you!”
To add credibility to his words, he brought the basket closer to Li Hao’s face and said, “Do you think this is just a regular little fish? This is a demon! If I were to let it out, this fellow here might not even be able to beat it!”
Obviously, “this fellow” he referred to was Li Fu standing beside them.
Li Fu, hearing this, had an embarrassed look on his face. What does this have to do with him?
“Uncle, keep that dangerous demon away from Hao Er…” he said cautiously.
The old man snorted, “In my basket, do you think it can still turn the heavens upside down?”
“A demon?”
Li Hao, hearing this, became curious as he examined the small fish in the basket.
The little fish was only as long as a chopstick, with a golden back and a red belly. Strangely, the fish’s skull above its eyes had eyelash-like scales facing backward.
As Li Hao leaned in for a closer look, the little fish seemed to notice the ignorant Human Race child and glared back fiercely.
Li Hao could clearly feel the hatred and murderous intent in the fish’s eyes and couldn’t help but exclaim in awe—it was his first time seeing a demon up close.
“Old man, are your fishing skills really so impressive that you can catch a demon? How about you teach me?” Li Hao asked with his head raised.
If he remembered correctly, fishing was indeed considered an art within the categorization of the panel, alongside carving, painting, playing the zither, and others.
He had thought that fishing could only catch fish, but in this world, it turned out one could also catch demons.
How is this any different from practicing martial arts?
The old man was taken aback for a moment, his eyes gleaming with interest.
“You want to learn fishing?”
“Yeah, can I?”
“Of course, you can!”
The old man burst into laughter and said, “Rare that you have an eye for this, unlike those blockheads. Why practice some broken Body Refinement technique? I’ll teach you fishing and let you see my skills tomorrow. I’m not just bragging—today I was just unfamiliar with Xinhu…”
Still explaining at the end, he clearly couldn’t let go of Li Hao’s ‘air force’ comment and wanted to prove himself.
“Ah this…”
Li Fu was dumbfounded and bewildered standing aside; he had finally gotten Li Hao to settle down and practice martial arts, and now he was being led astray?
“Uncle, Hao Er actually has a great talent for Body Cultivation. In just a short three months, he achieved Great Accomplishment in a low-grade Body Cultivation technique. He’s definitely a promising seedling. You can’t hold him back!”
As Li Fu spoke, he braced himself—it would be better to take a beating and lie in bed for half a month than for this to happen.
“What’s all this talk about talent? Even if he masters it, how strong can he be? Can he match the Li Family’s ten thousand soldiers?”
The old man said indignantly, “Do you really want to turn such a refined and adorable child into a little blackie by making him undergo Body Refinement?”
I won’t become a little blackie… Li Hao thought to himself.
Hearing no more from Li Fu, the old man couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. He snatched away the ‘Dragon Spine’ manual from Li Hao’s hand and stuffed it into Li Fu’s arms:
“Off with you. What’s the use of learning such rubbish? There’s no future in it. Hao, right? Let’s go, have you not eaten yet? I’m going to slaughter this demon for you—to nourish your body.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Li Hao nodded again and again, thrilled.
“Uncle, you… you can’t do this!” The calling from Li Fu behind them was filled with desolation.
Being led away by the old man, Li Hao also got to witness the courage of this Li Family’s uncle. His cooking spot was actually on the seventh-floor balcony of the Listening Rain Tower, a place where the Li Family’s most precious manuscripts from over the centuries were kept.
And now, not far from these ancient manuscripts, possibly older than any of them, a fire was burning.
Through their conversation, Li Hao also learned the old man’s name, Li Muxiu.
Muxiu, as in the rest needed to recuperate.
And also… the resolve to not stop until one is Immortal.
Chapter 24: Chapter 22: At Ease
Translator: 549690339
The golden-backed red-bellied fish in the basket was released, and it turned out to indeed be a demon. The moment it sprang from the basket, it soared into the air in front of the pavilion, transforming into a body tens of feet in size. Its fish scales were as sharp as knives, its fins like pointed banners, and from its mouth came the pleading voice of a pitiable woman:
“Elder, I swear never to harm another human life again, please spare me.”
The huge, fierce fish head actually nodded up and down, as if imitating a person’s bowing in empty space.
Li Hao, smelling the pungent fishy odor hitting his face, couldn’t help but pinch his nose, almost vomiting.
This fish… really is fishy!
“If I spared you, wouldn’t I just be a pushover?”
Elder Li Muxiu’s words plunged the demon fish into instant despair, trembling with rage yet not daring to lash out.
“Into the pot!”
Li Muxiu raised his hand and pointed.
Although the demon fish was pleading, it had transformed into its true form and was prepared to flee at a moment’s notice. Seeing that the elder was not going to let it go, it immediately started to sway its body, planning to fly away into the distance as if the air were a lake.
However, before its body could even twist away, it suddenly trembled as if electrified. Blood violently spurted from its gills, and its fierce body split apart in mid-air as if countless invisible blades were chopping it on the board of the void.
And what was miraculous was that the blood that sprayed out didn’t even hit the ground before a breeze carried it away, disappearing from sight.
The demon fish carcass, with its flesh burst and separated, left behind only a fist-sized, dark purple, round and lustrous demon core, along with several pieces of snow-white fish flesh.
Elder Li Muxiu raised his hand, and the demon core fell into a boiling pot of water. The snow-white fish flesh, sliced by invisible blades into wings of cicadas, floated down into the pot after the water began to boil.
At that moment, the elder somehow produced a salt container, delicately spooned out two scoops, and threw them into the pot before covering it again and proceeding to cook.
Li Hao watched this entire process with amazement, developing a concrete understanding of the strength of martial artists in this world.
This is what demons are, and this is what powerful martial artists are!
“Elder, that purple meatball is the demon core, right? Isn’t it supposed to be eaten raw?” Li Hao curiously asked.
“Where did you hear that?”
Li Muxiu glanced at him sidelong and said indifferently, “Aren’t you afraid to be grossed out? Demon cores need to be processed with many medicinal herbs to be effective, and you can’t just mix them haphazardly. After all, demons of different types have differences. Relying on professional alchemists for classification is essential. Eating raw… Heh, that’s like ordinary people hunting tigers and using tiger bone to brew soup for strengthening—can you digest it if eaten raw?”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I’m treating it as an ingredient. Though a lot of potency will be wasted, eating this has little meaning for me. I’m just tasting it. For you, have some soup and a few slices of fish to fill the belly later. You’re not yet able to handle a demon core of this level.”
“I see.”
Li Hao nodded, not feeling any regret or loss.
After all, within the Divine General Mansion were countless elixirs and treasures. Not to mention raw materials like this demon core, there were finished pills refined from them.
However, after his Foundation Establishment failure, he had already tested and found that these spiritual medicines were to him like plain food; they could only fill his stomach, and their extraordinary medicinal effects would be entirely blocked.
Despite the abundance of spiritual medicines, the mansion’s distribution to each household’s members was extremely restrained.
After all, common medicines are three parts poison. Relying on pills might lead to rapid progress, but to reach the pinnacle realms, most still depended on their own strength to avoid backlash.
…
The water in the pot boiled again, and the heat caused the lid to shake gently.
The elder, with a merciless grip, picked up the ceramic knob of the lid and opened it. The steam dispersed instantly, but a light breeze dispersed it, preventing any moisture from reaching the pavilion’s beams and columns.
A scent of fish meat wafted through the air, but it was mixed with an undertone of fishiness.
Li Hao furrowed his brow slightly. Even though he had not tasted it, his instincts told him it wouldn’t be delicious.
“Come on, try it.”
Li Muxiu somehow conjured up a pair of chopsticks, dark and slick, wiped them on his clothes, then plunged them into the pot, picking up a piece of demon core resembling braised pork balls, and devoured it heartily.
At the same time, he flicked his palm, and a swaying branch outside the pavilion broke off and flew to his hand.
He handed it to Li Hao: “Peel off the bark and it’s ready to use.”
Li Hao made no pretense to disagree.
But he wasn’t a rigid person; he sat down next to the elder with a carefree demeanor on the top floor of the revered Listening Rain Tower, casually peeled off the green bark of the branch in his hand, snapped it, and used it to pick up a piece of translucent fish flesh from the pot.
To Li Hao’s surprise, the fish flesh hadn’t fallen apart upon being boiled, remaining intact like jelly when picked up, both tender and silky.
He picked up the lid to shield himself from splashing broth, and slurped it down with a hiss.
“How’s the taste?”
“Not bad, quite good actually, just a bit fishy.”
“Fishy? I don’t feel it at all.”
“Of course you don’t, you reek of it yourself.”
“Hey, you little brat, watch how you talk to me.”
“I’m just stating the facts. I didn’t say anything wrong.”
“Hmph, you only dare to act this way because you’ve met me. If you were with someone else, they would’ve spanked you until your butt split into eight pieces.”
“I wouldn’t bother talking to anyone else.”
“Ho, you’ve got quite an attitude.”
Thus, the old and the young started to eat away, the elder not showing any seniority and the youngster not acting timid. After finishing the fish and soup, both leaned back, spread their legs, and in unison let out a contented sigh:
“Ah, that’s comfortable!”
They bore a striking resemblance in that pose.
“You, this kid…” Li Muxiu glanced at Li Hao and suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
Li Hao smiled faintly, resting his hands behind his head, looking forward across the eaves into the night sky. The faint starlight gradually emerged from the horizon.
A gentle breeze blew from below the Listening Rain Tower and the surrounding mountains, bringing with it a sense of coolness and relaxation.
Suddenly, he thought to himself that the pleasures of the mortal world, being surrounded by servants,
couldn’t compare to the freedom and comfort of this moment.
Lying still and resting for a while, Li Hao suddenly thought of something, turned his head, and said, “Old man, there must be some techniques to your fishing, right?”
“Why, you want to learn now?”
Li Muxiu looked at him with interest.
“I’m going to get started tomorrow. How about we see who catches more?” Li Hao said with a chuckle.
Li Muxiu couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this.
Who would have thought that the Li Family, known for their wooden-headedness, would produce such a witty and clever child?
“Good, from now on, you’ll learn fishing with me. I’ll teach you that fishing is also a form of cultivation; with one throw of my hook, the Three Immortal Realms would twist their mouths!” Li Muxiu said with a light laugh, his eyes brimming with pride—not about his cultivation level, but about his fishing skills.
Li Hao heard this and couldn’t help but chuckle, even imagining the scene and laughing out loud.
A scene of a Three Immortal Realms powerhouse, standing at the pinnacle of countless martial artists, getting his mouth twisted by a fishing hook… Too damn vivid!
“What are you laughing at, don’t believe me?” Li Muxiu raised an eyebrow, his face slightly stern.
Li Hao said with a laugh, “Believe, of course, believe. It’s just that the scene is too hilarious.”
And with that, he burst into laughter again.
Upon thinking it over, Li Muxiu also found the concept amusing and chuckled, saying, “Tomorrow when we get there, I’ll teach you how to fish. Practice a bit first; talking about it now doesn’t make sense anyway. Let’s sleep early tonight. I’ll go get you a fishing rod.”
After saying this, he stood up, patted his butt, and with a swish gathered up the residual embers and iron pot on the platform, vanishing them into his sleeve.
Then, with a single step, he disappeared into the vast night.
The next day.
Early in the morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Li Muxiu woke Li Hao up.
Fortunately, Li Hao had gone to bed early the night before and didn’t feel too groggy, so he asked, “Are we going that early?”
“Of course, the best time to fish is early in the morning when they’re most likely to bite.”
Li Muxiu had a smile on his face. Normally, when he went fishing, it was just him, his rod, and his basket, but today, with the addition of this youngster, his enthusiasm for fishing intensified.
“This is your fishing rod. Hold onto it well.”
The old man produced a black fishing rod from nowhere and handed it to Li Hao.
Li Hao took it and found it quite heavy, but for his Power Passage Realm Perfection strength, it was nothing. In fact, his strength was ten times that of a normal person at Power Passage Realm Perfection.
But Li Hao estimated that this fishing rod would require someone at least in the fourth or fifth level of the Power Passage Realm to handle it with ease.
Seeing that Li Hao took it effortlessly, a flash of surprise crossed Li Muxiu’s eyes, and he said, “It seems that Li Fu wasn’t exaggerating; you do have a talent for Body Refinement. Which Body Refining Skill did you master to Great Accomplishment?”
Only then did Li Hao realize that the old man had chosen the fishing rod based on his cultivation level, putting some thought into it.
The Barbarian Bull Force was an inferior Body Refining Skill; achieving Great Accomplishment equaled the strength of around the sixth level of the Power Passage Realm.
