Chapter 25: Chapter 23 Rapid Growth of Experience
Translator: 549690339
Li Hao didn’t conceal anything and told the old man truthfully.
When Li Muxiu heard that it was Bull Strength, he nodded slightly without saying much, and then threw a backpack to Li Hao:
“Inside are the baits you’ll use. The demons of the Power Passage Realm are quite fond of them; which kind you’ll catch depends on your luck.”
After speaking, he was about to take Li Hao downstairs.
“What about my fish basket?” Li Hao asked.
“Ha…” Li Muxiu laughed, saying, “Let’s talk about it when you actually catch something. If you really do, we’ll share one.”
“Alright then.”
Li Hao didn’t insist.
As the pair reached the bottom of the stairs, they found Li Fu unexpectedly waiting outside the building.
“Second uncle, what are you…”
Seeing the fishing rod in Li Hao’s hands, Li Fu was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened slightly.
“What else? We’re going fishing,” Li Muxiu glanced at him, clearly uninterested in conversing with this blockhead.
Li Fu was on the verge of tears and said, “Second Uncle, Hao Er learned Bull Strength in just three months and achieved Great Accomplishment. He has an extremely high talent for Body Refinement. You, you can’t hold him back!”
“Didn’t you say the same thing yesterday? Can’t you come up with something new?”
Li Muxiu dug at his ear and said, “What future is there in Body Refinement? At most, you’ll end up at your level if you push it to the limit. Let me ask you, are you that strong? Can you hold off ten thousand soldiers?”
Li Fu was at a loss for words.
The ten thousand soldiers Li Muxiu referred to were naturally not ordinary troops but the elite warriors of the Li Family’s Yuan Camp. Ten thousand of these warriors were enough to break through half of Qingzhou City, far beyond what he could handle.
“Hao Er, don’t mind him, let’s go.”
Li Muxiu, seemingly worried that Li Fu might influence Li Hao’s thoughts, grabbed Li Hao’s little hand and whisked him away.
“Fu, you needn’t worry.”
Li Hao waved at Li Fu. Although this man was stern and rigid in his ways, Li Hao did not overlook his care and concern.
“Hao Er…”
Li Fu opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say more, but seeing Li Hao being pulled away, the boy’s bright smiling face as he looked back suddenly turned his words into silence.
“The vast Divine General Mansion, can’t it support one child?”
Yesterday’s words seemed to echo in his ears once more.
Li Fu fell silent.
Perhaps, in this moment, Hao Er was happy.
At least he could have a happy childhood…
Two figures, one old and one young, disappeared in an instant, leaving only the man standing there, who, after a long gaze, softly sighed…
…
…
With an experience akin to riding the clouds and traveling in the fog, Li Hao was led by Li Muxiu, soaring through the sky.
The courtyards of the Divine General Mansion rapidly passed underfoot. Li Hao saw maids and house servants drawing water and cooking early in the morning, the lady of the house strolling in the courtyard, and Fifth Lady taking her child to the training ground, earnestly giving instructions at the courtyard gate…
These scenes swiftly passed by, making Li Hao marvel that the human world was already so lively at the time he normally slept in.
“Are you scared?”
Li Muxiu looked down and asked indifferently.
“Afraid of heights? Well, not really,” Li Hao replied.
He felt no different standing in the sky than on the ground as if supported by an incredibly firm force.
The cold morning breeze seemed filtered of its chill, leaving only a cool wind that caressed his face and tousled his hair.
Li Muxiu smiled slightly and said, “I’m going to speed up now.”
After he finished speaking, Li Hao felt the scenery before his eyes suddenly blur as they zoomed through the air.
In the blink of an eye, they had flown out of Qingzhou City, heading for the vast wilderness outside the city.
Half an hour later, Li Muxiu slowly descended with Li Hao to the shore of a vast lake.
The lake stretched as far as the eye could see, with dark waves rolling.
Green water denotes depth, black water denotes an abyss.
It was clear that the lake was bottomless. The surface was only slightly rippled, appearing calm and peaceful.
But for this very reason, there was an eerie feeling, as if standing at the edge of an abyss.
Surrounding the lake were several large mountains with open terrain. Some were steep along the lake; others were more rounded and expansive.
They landed at the base of one of the mountains. Li Muxiu looked around expertly and said, “The water here is shallow; you can fish here. I’ll go to the middle of the lake to fish for the bigger ones. Take this with you; it can protect you in a pinch. Don’t worry, if anything happens on your side, just shout, and I’ll be there immediately.”
“Okay.”
Li Hao nodded and took the golden amulet handed over by the old man.
“Do you know how to bait? Let me watch you cast the line.”
Li Muxiu didn’t rush off, instead, he smoothed his hand over a large rock, which weathered away to become a fishing platform.
He waved his hand again to clear the messy bushes around, preventing the fishing line from getting caught on branches and weeds when casting the hook. Clearing those would inevitably delay a novice like Li Hao.
Li Hao jumped onto the stone fishing platform, opened the backpack, and found a bag of moist, red dough inside.
“For these little demons of the Power Passage Realm, dead baits are sufficient. Later, when you’re strong enough, I’ll give you live baits, which have a higher probability of success,” Li Muxiu commented.
Li Hao didn’t fuss and nodded. He skillfully pulled out a piece of bait and immediately smelled a fishy scent.
He kneaded the bait onto the fist-sized hook, which took quite a bit of bait to fully cover.
To Li Muxiu’s surprise, he observed Li Hao’s technique and asked, “Have you fished before?”
“No.”
Li Hao said, “Isn’t that how it’s done?”
“It is like that.” Li Muxiu nodded, taking another look at Li Hao but not dwelling on it any longer. He had realized yesterday after a few words that the child was bright.
“This stuff can conceal your scent,”
Li Muxiu pulled out a handful of powder from nowhere and patted it onto Li Hao’s body, then continued, “Cast the line now. If you manage to catch one today, I’ll bring you back here to play again tomorrow.”
“Okay,”
Li Hao nodded.
He then swung the fishing rod to cast the line as far as possible, hurling it a hundred yards out into the lake.
As the hook hit the water with a plop, a string of text suddenly appeared before Li Hao:
[Fishing Tao: Level Zero (1/100)]
[Fishing Experience +2]
A smile crossed Li Hao’s face; sure enough, the art of fishing from that game could also be logged into the panel.
What surprised Li Hao even more was that simply casting the line had earned him 2 points of experience!
Usually, he would only get one point for a game of chess.
An encounter with a slightly challenging chess game would give 2 points of experience.
This meant that fishing was like Chess Tao, which suggested that this lake belonged to the more dangerous ones and posed a greater challenge for fishing.
“Remember, be patient, stay quiet, and don’t disturb anything under the water.”
“Don’t look around; keep your eyes on the float.”
“It might feel a bit dull when you start fishing, but once you have a bite, you’ll understand that all the uneventful waiting was worth it,”
Li Muxiu instructed earnestly, worried that Li Hao’s childish impatience might lead him to give up soon.
After all, fishing was mostly something for older folks like them. A seven or eight-year-old child, full of energy, would hardly have the patience for such solitude.
“Hmm.”
Li Hao nodded.
Seeing Li Hao’s calm and composed manner, the corners of Li Muxiu’s mouth curled into a slight smile, and he refrained from saying more, quietly watching by the side.
Sensing no hook of his own, he stealthily released his spirit to probe the movements beneath the water, spotting two small fish swimming his way – one at the Power Passage Realm Fourth Layer and the other at the Seventh Layer.
“As expected of the beginner’s protection phase, there’s already some activity so quickly. Let’s see if he can reel it in,”
Li Muxiu felt a twinge of envy. Though he could use techniques to make the fish bite directly and greatly cultivate Li Hao’s interest in fishing, his own love for fishing made it impossible for him to settle for such dull practices.
Before long, Li Hao saw the float move.
His eyes lit up, and after a short patience, when the float was more than half submerged, he quickly pulled the rod up.
With that pull, the line went taut, something on the other end of the hook struggled fiercely, sending bursts of tremendous force through the line.
But in Li Hao’s hands, this formidable force felt like the friction of catkins, and with a strong tug, the other end uncontrollably jerked towards him.
“Don’t be too hasty, watch out for the fish getting off the hook,” admonished Li Muxiu from the side.
Li Hao’s heart tightened, and he promptly relaxed his pull a bit, then, under Li Muxiu’s guidance, started to skillfully play the fish.
The black waters of the lake churned violently, splashing high.
After fighting for about ten minutes, Li Hao finally dragged the exhausted Demon Fish ashore. It was four to five meters long, with a mouth full of sharp teeth capable of swallowing an adult whole.
If someone accidentally fell into the water, they would undoubtedly become a feast for this Demon Fish.
A fish of the Power Passage Realm had not yet learned to transform and had only just begun to show primitive intelligence, dominated by a bloodthirsty and vicious demon nature.
As the fish was pulled onto the shore, text appeared before Li Hao’s eyes.
[Fishing Experience +37]
Li Hao’s eyes slightly widened at the sight. Wow, just like that, almost half a bar of experience!
The Demon Fish ashore struggled fiercely and even opened its mouth viciously to lunge at Li Hao, intending to devour the member of the Human Race.
With a casual flick, Li Muxiu shrank the Demon Fish’s body, turning it into a small fish the size of a pellet. He scooped it up easily and tossed it into the fish basket.
“Kid, I didn’t expect you to get started so quickly,”
Li Muxiu laughed and said to Li Hao, “How does it feel? Tired? This fish was at the Seventh Layer of the Power Passage Realm. The force it could unleash underwater was enormous. Not even someone at the Eighth Layer might be able to keep the rod steady. You’ve got some skill!”
“Not tired,”
Li Hao grinned with a smile.
“Alright, then continue. Good, I’ll use this fish as bait,”
Li Muxiu, itching to fish, finished speaking, then picked up the fish basket and stepped forward, flying towards the distance, and in the blink of an eye, he was reduced to a mere dot.
Li Hao gazed distantly and observed the other party reaching the center of the lake. Even with his Visual Strength, he could only just make out a tiny dot.
Shaking his head, Li Hao didn’t look any further and continued to seize the time to grind for experience.
He baited the hook again and cast the line.
[Fishing Experience +2]
Li Hao sat on the fishing platform, staring intently at the float, waiting in silence.
The recent catch proved that reeling in a fish could earn more experience, so he remained focused.
Time slowly passed by.
Perhaps because the fight with the previous fish had taken too long, stirring up big splashes and alarming the surrounding fish, Li Hao ended up sitting for an hour without any movement on the float.
Could it be that the bait had already been stealthily eaten?
This thought surfaced in Li Hao’s mind, and he wanted to pull the hook up to check, but he held back.
He had thought of exploiting a bug by repeatedly casting the line, which would have been faster than simply fishing for experience.
But on the second cast, he gained only one point of experience.
On the third, he didn’t gain any at all.
Clearly, casting too frequently without a catch meant the experience gained just from casting was limited.
Right then, the still float suddenly twitched.
Li Hao’s nearly numb eyes instantly brightened, but before he could continue to wait, the float plunged into the water, disappearing from sight.
Li Hao hurriedly pulled the rod, and the line twanged tautly, with a colossal force transmitted from the other end in an instant, weighing dozens of cauldrons.
Chapter 26: Chapter 24: Fishing for the Dragon
Translator: 549690339
It’s a big one!
Li Hao instantly realized from the giant struggle that the thing in the water was not small. His heart went cold, and he dared not take it lightly. He didn’t yank the fishing line violently, as doing so could easily twist the mouth and unhook the catch. Instead, after tightening it, he gently eased the tension a bit, and then immediately pulled it tight again!
In the blink of an eye, the previously dark and calm surface of the water suddenly erupted into raging waves, churning so violently that they spanned a diameter of more than a dozen meters.
Li Hao could vaguely see an enormous shadow gradually being pulled from the bottom of the water and struggling fiercely near the surface.
The shadow was ghastly, around seven or eight meters long, and as it struggled, the splashes and waves it lifted spread even farther afield.
Li Hao tightened the fishing line and, following the same pattern of alternating slack and tension, slowly pulled the massive shadow closer to the shore.
The thing at the bottom of the water seemed to sense something and suddenly leaped out of the water, revealing a flat and enormous fish head with a mouth full of sharp teeth like countless sharpened bamboo spikes.
Its eyes, a ferocious and emerald green, fixed themselves onto Li Hao on the fishing platform. Upon seeing that it was just a seven- or eight-year-old child, the ferocity in the fish’s eyes turned to angry indignation.
“Ignorant brat, dare to fish for your grandpa catfish!”
The fish demon actually spoke human language, emitting a sharp, grating voice. It didn’t continue to struggle but instead swam rapidly toward the shore. The previously taut fishing line went slack in the water in an instant.
“Watch me eat you!!”
The distance of several hundred meters was swiftly closed beneath the churning waves. The fish demon, intending to swallow Li Hao whole, suddenly leaped toward the fishing platform about a zhang above the water.
As the fish demon made landfall, the following text appeared before Li Hao’s eyes:
[Fishing Experience +68]
[Fishing Tao advanced to Level One]
At the same time, numerous fishing skills flooded into his mind.
But at the moment, Li Hao couldn’t afford to absorb and digest this information as he tensed his scalp and focused his thoughts on the situation at hand.
The stench from the monstrous mouth was within inches, and he could even see the trembling of the pink, tender flesh inside the demon’s throat.
Li Hao, facing his enemy for the first time, felt a shock in his heart and a little nervousness, thanks to the fish demon’s intimidating appearance. Fortunately, its movements seemed as slow as a tortoise to his eyes.
In the Listening Rain Tower, he had collected three books solely dedicated to the practice of Visual Strength in the Body Refinement Realm.
Combining and revising them, he raised his Visual Strength to an extremely high level, far exceeding what the Power Passage Realm could offer.
At that moment, he bit the tip of his tongue and quickly regained his composure. Then, with a sidestep and bend of his body, Li Hao reached out his hand, grabbed the fish demon’s sharp teeth, and abruptly turned and flung it away!
All this happened in the blink of an eye, the whole motion seamless and fluid.
There was a thump—the fish demon hit the mountainside tens of meters behind the bank, its tail flapping hard against the ground, causing a tumult.
“What kind of demon are you?!”
After being smashed silly, the fish demon let out such a trembling exclamation.
It twisted its belly slightly, and years of cultivation made it feel the shadow of death at this moment. The pale, tender child before it, only seven or eight years old, was terribly frightening. It certainly couldn’t be of the Human Race, but must be the descendant of some Great Demon’s bloodline.
Li Hao listened to the fish demon’s words and couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Still, to prevent the fish demon from having any unforeseen tricks, he decided to end the fight quickly and lunged forward.
Pfft!
Suddenly, the fish demon’s gills bulged violently, and then it spewed a mouthful of black, fetid silt like a poison dart.
Li Hao had been cautiously guarding against unknown moves and the moment the black mud exited its mouth, he twisted his foot abruptly, dodging the attack. Then, pushing off with his feet, he rapidly closed the distance.
“Don’t, please spare me…”
The fish demon was terrified, attempting to beg for mercy, but Li Hao’s punch had already landed squarely on its forehead.
Just the terrifying concussive force of the flesh was enough to make the fish demon’s body shudder violently. Its skull caved in with a crack, green brain matter spilling out. Li Hao didn’t manage to dodge in time and got sprayed with quite a bit of it.
A strong fishy smell filled the air, almost causing him to retch.
No wonder the old man always smelled of fish. Constant fishing was bound to lead to such incidents now and then.
Although the fish demon’s tail was still thrashing against the ground, it seemed to be merely nerve spasms, lacking the previous ferocity.
Li Hao, to prevent it from feigning death, added two more punches. Only when the fish demon’s head had a hole smashed into it and green brain matter bubbled out did he stop his assault and step back, moving away from the fish demon’s body.
He thought to himself that the next time he went fishing, it might be wise to bring a sword.
“`
Otherwise, if they encountered an even more formidable creature, instead of catching fish, they might end up being bait.
Of course, with Li Muxiu by his side, Li Hao was basically safe; even the golden talisman the old man gave him had not yet been triggered.
However, Li Hao didn’t like to rely on others for everything.
After dealing with the fish demon, Li Hao then reflected on the numerous messages that had just appeared in his mind, many fishing techniques surfaced one by one, making him feel as though he had been fishing by the shore for over a decade.
Observing the water, measuring the line, concealing the hook, and so on… He was well-versed in various fishing skills. Li Hao went to the fishing platform, tidied up the fishing rod and the tangled line, baited the hook again, but this time with more skillful movements. With a roll and a stroke of his palm, he firmly wrapped the bait around the hook.
Afterward, he gazed at the black lake. The once dark waters now showed clear changes before his eyes.
His gaze could discern the subtle fluctuations of the water current, and he could see down to the depths of seven or eight meters. The ripples that settled after the water calmed seemed like patterns, delineating the directions of the currents beneath the surface.
Through these undercurrents, Li Hao’s mind conjured a judgment. Away from this spot, at the bottom of the lake, something was moving.
Near this fishing platform, after two major disturbances, it’s likely that nothing remained; the significant creatures from the depths had all fled.
A thought crossed Li Hao’s mind, and instead of casting his rod and waiting passively, he chose to take the initiative.
He carried the rod along the shoreline, occasionally peering intently at the water’s surface. The undercurrents below helped him determine the direction of his prey.
Soon, after walking about a kilometer, Li Hao stopped at a spot resembling a bay. He picked a solid mound of earth to cast his rod from.
This time, despite his vigorous casting, the heavy hook landed on the water with just a tiny ripple, without making the earlier pinging sound.
Following that, the line was pulled by the hook and slowly sank to the bottom.
Li Hao squatted slightly, waiting in silence.
In just a few short minutes, the swim bladder showed signs of movement.
Li Hao wasn’t surprised; with this cast, he had essentially delivered the bait directly near the creature below—it was like front-door delivery.
A swishing sound and the swim bladder plunged into the water. Ah, it seems to be an impatient fellow.
Li Hao chuckled softly and suddenly pulled up on the rod. A massive force came from the line, but during the first struggle, Li Hao could sense and judge that it was about two thousand pounds, likely just a fish demon of the Power Passage Realm with not fully manifested intelligence. No wonder the disturbance it caused in the water could be faintly detected from a kilometer away.
He still chose to pull up firmly and tug lightly.
The rod swayed left and right, and with every drag, the hook held on more tightly, not easily shaken off.
Quickly, after toying with it for seven or eight minutes, Li Hao pulled the exhausted fish demon out of the lake.
[Fishing Experience +23]
The fish demon ferociously lunged at Li Hao once on shore, but he punched it to death and flung it onto the hillside behind him.
Then he continued to bait the hook and fish.
There were still more beneath the water.
…
…
“This old dragon is quite cunning, not showing even a hint of its trace.”
Above the Demon Lake, Li Muxiu’s figure vanished into the high sky. He held no fishing rod, only a nearly transparent line that vertically plunged into the depths of the water.
His fishing skills had long reached the proficiency of ‘threading the line,’ allowing him to sense the situation below the water by the movements of the line at the bottom. This skill was no different from directly searching with his divine soul, peering into the depths.
He had cast his line as covertly as possible, but the old dragon showed no sign of life.
The small fish demon Li Hao had been fishing was eaten by another fish demon. It was a case of big fish eating small fish.
But his goal wasn’t to catch fish; it was to fish for dragons!
“Well then, it seems this old dragon must be in deep slumber today, hiding somewhere within this three-thousand-mile black lake.”
Li Muxiu shook his head slightly, scanning the expanse of the vast lake which seemed to stretch endlessly before him.
He sighed, reeled in his line, and, in the process, pulled out a fish demon about ten meters long, covered in spikes, which was meant to be bait for the dragon.
At that moment, with a flick of his finger, the fish demon’s body immediately contracted and shrank to the size of a palm-length black-spotted fish, which he threw into the fish basket.
“Wonder if that youngster has had any success, hope he hasn’t grown restless and ended up not catching anything afterward.”
Li Muxiu muttered to himself, picked up his fish basket, and flew back in the direction he had come from.
Chapter 27: Chapter 25: Show Off and Letters
Translator: 549690339
Soon, Li Muxiu landed on the previous fishing platform.
His gaze swept across the area, but there was no trace of Li Hao. His expression changed dramatically as he quickly looked around and immediately saw Li Hao crouching and hiding near a pile of dirt a kilometer away, fishing.
“Really can’t sit still, can he?”
Li Muxiu shook his head slightly and was about to head over when he caught sight of a fish demon with its head smashed in from the corner of his eye.
He was momentarily stunned, then his figure flashed, appearing instantaneously in front of the fish demon.
On closer inspection, he realized the wounds were caused by fierce punches.
Li Muxiu reached out and touched the body of the fish demon, carefully sensing it, and his face changed instantly.
Zhou Tian Realm? And around the third level!
This fish demon… was it killed by that kid?!
A look of surprise flashed across Li Muxiu’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but look towards the distant Li Hao. Without another word, he sprinted a kilometer, and in the blink of an eye, he was by Li Hao’s side.
“Boy!”
The sudden voice startled Li Hao.
He was concentrating intently on the swim bladder, somewhat engrossed, and hadn’t noticed when the old man had come over.
“Shush!”
Li Hao quickly gestured with his hand.
Li Muxiu paused, about to ask a question, but stopped himself as he followed Li Hao’s gaze towards the swim bladder.
He could see through to the bottom of the water, and there a fish demon was circling near the hook, seemingly hesitant.
What surprised Li Muxiu was that the hook was completely covered by bait, extremely well-hidden, and it was impossible to detect that there was a hook inside the bait.
When did he learn this skill of hiding the hook so well?
While Li Muxiu was astonished, the fish demon circling below finally couldn’t help itself. Although it felt uneasy, it couldn’t explain why, and under the temptation of the bait, it heatedly bit down impulsively.
It took the bait!
Li Hao’s eyes lit up as he waited for the swim bladder to sink, then he gave a strong pull.
The hook immediately secured the mouth of the fish demon, and the pain made it struggle, causing waves to churn in the water.
Li Hao was unceremonious, quickly pulling on the line, and utilizing the fish-playing skills he’d learned earlier, he skillfully dragged the fish through the water side to side, wearing out its strength.
A few minutes later, the fish demon was dragged onto the shore by Li Hao, a small demon in the sixth level of the Power Passage Realm.
Seeing how easily Li Hao handled it, Li Muxiu’s eyes flickered, and after Li Hao removed the hook from the fish demon’s mouth and tossed it onto the hillside behind them, Li Muxiu finally said, “That fish demon over there, did you kill it?”
“Hm.”
Li Hao nodded in admission.
There was no one else around, so lying was pointless.
“Do you know what realm that fish demon was in?” Li Muxiu slightly narrowed his eyes, staring deep into Li Hao’s eyes as if trying to see through his soul.
“Zhou Tian Realm?”
Li Hao estimated based on the burst of power from the fish demon in the water earlier.
It was definitely not Power Passage Realm.
“Correct, at least the third level of Zhou Tian Realm!” Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao, “You’ve only practised the Barbaric Bull Strength, probably up to the sixth level of Power Passage Realm at most. Tell me the truth, have you secretly practised anything else?”
Li Hao had already prepared his excuse and seeing Li Muxiu bring it up, he pretended to hesitate before nodding, “That’s right.”
“Which one?”
“The Thousand Jiaos Holy Body from the sixth floor,” Li Hao said.
Li Muxiu raised an eyebrow, what a coincidence? He had been thinking of teaching Li Hao this Body Refinement secret if it turned out he indeed had a talent for it, but to his surprise, the kid had already gone and learned it on his own and seemed to have grasped it quite deeply!
“How far have you gotten with it?” Li Muxiu asked seriously.
“The second layer,” answered Li Hao truthfully.
The second layer was the Jiao Dragon body, which could burst forth the strength of a half-dragon. Even without stepping into the Zhou Tian Realm, it could exert power comparable to the early stages of the Zhou Tian Realm. This could also explain how he had killed that fish demon.
Hearing this, Li Muxiu inwardly took a deep breath, the second layer?
He looked at the child in front of him, not even eight years old yet, and he had already reached the second layer?!
It seemed that Li Fu wasn’t wrong; this kid indeed had a talent for Body Refinement.
“Even with the Jiao Dragon body, hooking that fish demon is quite difficult. This little guy, you not only have a talent for Body Refinement, but also seem very promising in fishing!” Li Muxiu said with a face full of satisfaction and approval.
Li Hao scratched his head and laughed modestly, but inwardly he was scoffing. From the old man’s tone, it felt like his talent for Body Refinement wasn’t as pleasing to him as his potential in fishing.
“They all thought you were a Martial Arts waste. Who would have thought, at such a young age, you’ve already slain a Zhou Tian Realm creature, haha… ”
Li Muxiu burst into joyful laughter. No matter the future limits, at least at this moment, Li Hao’s combat ability was three parts stronger than those supreme talents with nine-grade battle physiques!
Ending his burst of laughter, Li Muxiu thought of something and looked down at Li Hao:
“Speaking of which, Li Fu probably doesn’t know about this, does he? When did you start practicing on your own? Why didn’t you tell him? Don’t you trust him?”
“I started learning when I first entered Listening Rain Tower a few years ago,” Li Hao said with an honest expression, “As for Fu… he never asked me.”
Li Muxiu rolled his eyes. “So if he doesn’t ask, you don’t tell, is that it? No wonder you were able to achieve Great Accomplishment in the Barbaric Bull Strength in just a mere three months. With such a foundation, isn’t practicing it as easy as eating and drinking? Was it your father who told you to keep it a secret?”
After thinking for a moment, Li Hao shook his head slightly.
“So it was your own doing?” Li Muxiu’s eyes narrowed.
Seeing Li Hao’s silence and lack of response, his mind raced through many thoughts, and a chill flashed in his eyes: “Could it be that someone in the residence is coveting you, which is why you’ve kept such a low profile?”
Chapter 28: Chapter 25 Show-off and Notes_2
Translator: 549690339
Li Hao looked into the old man’s eyes and saw the chilling killing intent within. He considered for a moment and merely nodded slightly.
“Who was it?”
Seeing that it was indeed so, Li Muxiu flew into a rage.
To let a seven-year-old child suffer such an indignity, those second-generation young mistresses were practically turning the world upside down!
Li Hao shook his head slightly and said, “I don’t want to say for now.”
“Why?” Li Muxiu blinked in surprise, staring at Li Hao, then he immediately understood the child’s thoughts:
“You don’t trust me? Think I might be related to those coveting you? Heh, you’re overthinking it; I have no sons or daughters, and there are few in this world worth my concern.”
Li Hao continued to shake his head without uttering a word.
Li Muxiu watched him with a stern face. After a moment, the anger on his face dissipated, and he nodded slightly, a touch of gratified smile emerging:
“We’ve just met, and we’re not exactly close, so it’s only natural for you to remain this cautious. However, if you’re reluctant to reveal who that person is, why are you willing to expose your strength in front of me? You could have easily let that fish demon off the hook and taken the rod away with no repercussions, continuing to hide.”
Li Hao smiled slightly and said, “Because, old man, you’re not bad at all.”
Li Muxiu was taken aback, looking at Li Hao’s radiant smile and those clear eyes, he was momentarily entranced.
After a long while, he came to his senses and couldn’t help but laugh with a hint of self-mockery.
“Then you are mistaken, I’m not a bad person, but when I do become ‘bad’, I’m not like a person at all.”
“Then what are you like?”
“When you step out of the Divine General Mansion, you’ll hear of my reputation outside,” Li Muxiu said with a smile.
Seeing this, Li Hao didn’t ask any further.
“You little rascal, so smart at such a young age, it’s a bit of a pity,” Li Muxiu sized up Li Hao, growing increasingly fond of the child. If such a seedling could practice normally, wouldn’t he be another little Jun Ye?
However, it was just a hint of regret, without much attachment.
After all, becoming Li Junye, what of it? Didn’t he also die in battle? It seems like the destiny of the Li Family’s boys.
“From now on, there’s no need to hide your Body Refinement talent from me. Display it openly and confidently; I’ve seen many geniuses, and yours is just the standard for top-notch geniuses; it won’t scare me, the old man,” Li Muxiu said indifferently. “If there’s anyone in the mansion who covets you, thinking you’re obstructing someone, I want to see if our Divine General Mansion can still accommodate a child with Body Refinement abilities.”
…
…
After sorting out the catch, Li Muxiu flew back to Qingzhou City with Li Hao.
To foster Li Hao’s interest in fishing, Li Muxiu did not land directly at Listening Rain Tower within the inner residence, but instead descended at the mansion’s main gate. Then, he had Li Hao carry the fish basket, and together, the old man and the child boldly strode into the residence.
“Old man, what is this about?” Li Hao asked, puzzled.
“You don’t understand, this is the fishing tradition,” Li Muxiu said with his head held high and chest puffed out, appearing quite proud and composed.
“That’s not including the one you killed, plus the one I used as bait; you caught four more after that, which for a beginner like you, is already a great harvest. You must show it off to everyone.”
“Is there such a rule?” Li Hao was astonished.
Li Muxiu gave him a glare, “If I say there is, then there is.”
“Mu Tianhou!”
The house servants and maids along the way were startled to see Li Muxiu, unable to understand why the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, who usually stayed in Listening Rain Tower, would be here. They quickly performed salutations and knelt.
Li Muxiu acted as if he saw nothing, ignoring them and walked straight past with Li Hao.
The two took many turns, intentionally passing through crowded areas.
In the practice yard, the family’s young members were training, and an older soldier was lecturing from above. Yet, Li Muxiu pushed open the door and entered.
The old soldier was about to frown, but upon seeing Li Muxiu’s face, he was shocked and quickly got up to greet him: “Old General of Yuan Camp pays respects to Mu Tianhou!”
“I’m in the middle of teaching.”
Li Muxiu, knowingly asking a question he already knew the answer to, said indifferently, “I took Hao Er out to go fishing today. It was his first time trying it, and he had no experience, yet he managed to catch these few little demons. Do you want to take them to accompany your drink?”
The veteran in the military was taken aback, and upon seeing the fish demons in the fish basket held by Li Hao, he quickly responded, “Thank you for the generous offer, my lord, but I’ve already got my drink accompaniment for today.”
A tactful refusal.
Having been in the mansion for many years, how could he not know the character of this old Marquis? He immediately understood that this was a routine show-off.
If he really took them, he’d surely incur the old man’s wrath, and he’d likely come in the middle of the night to give him a secret thrashing.
By then, he might not even be able to get out of bed tomorrow.
He dared not take such a risk.
“Oh, that’s fine then, continue with your lesson.” Li Muxiu spoke with casual indifference, then led Li Hao away.
Li Hao had a face full of confusion. Is this the fishing tradition? It’s too forced!
After passing the martial arts training ground, they went to Eternal Spring Court.
“Uncle, what brings you here? It’s almost time for lunch. Should I have the servants add a set of bowls and chopsticks for you? What would you like to eat?” He Jianlan was chatting leisurely with Fifth Lady of the Gao Family when she saw Li Muxiu; both of them quickly got up to greet him.
Li Muxiu indifferently said, “Hao Er caught a few small fish, so I thought we could make soup for you.”
“These were caught by Hao Er?”
He Jianlan was taken aback, looking at Li Hao holding the fish basket, and the few small fish within that were jumping and struggling vigorously.
“Otherwise, do you think I would fish for this kind of small fish?” Li Muxiu glared at her in annoyance, his face showing displeasure.
He Jianlan fell silent, knowing well that this uncle had a strange temperament. Disrespecting him was a minor issue, but one must never touch upon the topic of fishing.
“Yes, yes, since it’s a gift from Uncle, I shall gratefully accept it.” He Jianlan said immediately.
“Why thank me? It’s Hao Er’s fish.” Li Muxiu emphasized.
He Jianlan paused, then expressed helplessly, “Then, thank you, Hao Er.”
“No need to be polite, Great Aunt.” Li Hao chimed in quickly, while casting a sidelong glance at the old man, who was making him feel like he was on pins and needles, filled with anxiety and discomfort.
After handing over the fish to He Jianlan, when the elder and the young one had left, He Jianlan looked at the small fish, realizing they were all from the Power Passage Realm, and couldn’t help but be astonished.
She had previously heard from Li Fu that Li Hao had a talent for Body Refinement, and it seemed it was indeed the case.
“Did that child really catch these?”
Gao Qingqing was surprised as she looked at the small fish. Li Hao was known to be a Martial Arts invalid, and everyone thought he was just an ordinary person. Yet, he managed to catch small demons from the Power Passage Realm; this meant Li Hao had started to cultivate, and his progress wasn’t bad.
“Uncle wouldn’t lie about fishing.” He Jianlan stated.
She gazed toward the courtyard’s entrance, where the figures of the old man and the boy had disappeared: “It seems the child has started his cultivation journey on the path of Body Refinement. That’s a difficult path, the poor child.”
Gao Qingqing couldn’t help but shake her head slightly and sighed softly.
Even though Li Hao had a talent for Body Refinement, that path was too harsh, and not many could endure it to the end. If it were her child, she would rather they be an ordinary person and enjoy life in peace.
“It must be the seventh one’s doing… they’re really heartless.” Gao Qingqing whispered sorrowfully.
…
…
When they got back to Listening Rain Tower, Li Hao saw Li Fu waiting from a distance.
Li Muxiu saw him too and snorted softly.
Upon seeing the two of them, Li Fu immediately approached, and noticing the fish blood on Li Hao’s clothes, his expression changed, and he hurriedly said, “Uncle, Hao Er, he…”
“When fishing, it’s inevitable to have a struggle with fish demons. Don’t worry, I was beside him, so Hao Er wouldn’t get hurt,” Li Muxiu said unruffled.
Li Fu breathed a sigh of relief and then handed over something to Li Hao: “This is a letter from the Sword Cottage, it should be from Miss Xue’er, have a look.”
Chapter 29: Chapter 26 Top Body Refinement
Translator: 549690339
A letter from Jian Lu? Li Hao felt slightly astonished, and the image of the little girl who liked to cry couldn’t help but surface in his mind.
Having been away at Jian Lu for several months, he wondered how she was faring, whether she was getting used to sleeping there.
Opening the letter, Li Hao began to read it carefully.
The delicate and unfamiliar handwriting seemed to be that of the little girl herself, expressing both peace and yearning.
Perhaps because it was a rare chance to write and send a letter, the page was filled with detailed descriptions of her daily life at Jian Lu over the past several months, including taking a master, recognizing fellow disciples, training, learning the sword techniques, and so on—every little detail carefully written out.
Although the description was of everyday life, it conveyed profound longing.
At the end of the letter, the young girl seemed to realize she had little space left, saying she would train hard, striving to come down the mountain early and urging Li Hao to wait for her return.
Li Hao read quietly to the end, then gently folded the paper and replaced it in the envelope, tucking it into the brocade at his chest.
Beside him, Li Muxiu asked Li Fu what the situation at Jian Lu was.
Clearly, this old man, who only ever went fishing or stayed in Listening Rain Tower, was unaware of the younger generation’s matters like those concerning Li Hao. If not for the tumultuous news of Li Hao’s martial arts disability, which had once caused a stir throughout the mansion, he would not have heard of it.
When he learned the full story, Li Hao noticed the old man’s first reaction was a visible sigh of relief.
His expression seemed to say, “Ah, so Hao Er doesn’t have a talent for the sword; I almost thought that Sword Saint would take him away to train.”
Although he didn’t care about Li Hao’s training, if Li Hao truly had exceptional talent, he would not have obstructed it.
Afterward, Li Muxiu scoffed coldly, his expression displeased:
“That old fellow Jian Wudao, relying on his seniority, bullies Jian Lan because she dare not talk back, Humph! With a tier-nine war body and sword talent, which renowned family wouldn’t scramble to have her? He gets a bargain and still plays coy, settling with just a lousy body refinement secret text? One of these days, I must go up to Jian Lu and have this out!”
Li Fu, listening, started sweating and couldn’t help but smile wryly in his mind, not daring to interject.
Others would rejoice at the privilege of being taken as a disciple by a Sword Saint, who dared to haggle?
“Uncle, how was today’s catch, you got a big haul, didn’t you!”
Li Fu changed the subject, knowing the old master liked to be praised for his fishing skill. The man, who had always been upright, serious, and stern in the army, now showed a sycophantic and flattering smile, which looked quite awkward and clumsy.
Not knowing how to flatter but trying anyway was truly fatal.
Li Muxiu glanced at him indifferently and said to Li Hao, “See, Hao Er? This is the importance of our fishing tradition. You must show off your catch as much as possible, or those who don’t know might think you’ve returned empty-handed.”
You go straight home; how could anyone know you went fishing, and even if they knew, who would care… Li Hao thought bitterly.
“Let’s go.”
Li Muxiu ignored Li Fu and led Li Hao into Listening Rain Tower.
Li Fu hesitated, not stepping forward, and just before Li Muxiu entered the tower, he suddenly stopped but didn’t look back, saying:
“Little Fu, you need not worry about Hao Er’s training any longer, he truly has a talent for body refinement. I will teach him alongside my fishing.”
With that, he stepped directly into the play of light and shadow inside the door.
Li Fu was stunned, the complex and conflicting thoughts in his mind suddenly clearing as though a weight had been lifted.
He bowed deeply, expressing his thanks, and couldn’t help but feel happy and excited for Li Hao.
If Uncle himself was to provide instruction, it would certainly surpass his own teaching, after all, this uncle’s achievements are in no way inferior to that Sword Saint…
…
…
Although Li Muxiu seemed carefree, he was a man of his word, no doubt influenced by the military family’s teachings.
Upon entering the tower, Li Muxiu collected some firewood, set up a makeshift stove on the terrace, and began filleting the fish demon he had caught that day. Casually, he said to Li Hao, “If you have any questions during your training, just ask, and I’ll help you figure them out.”
Li Hao shook his head slightly, “Not at the moment.”
“No?”
Li Muxiu, in a displeased tone, said, “Are you implying you haven’t encountered any bottlenecks yet? Humph, these body refining techniques are quite formidable; it’s impressive if you understand them. Forget it, show me your practice; let’s see.”
Li Hao thought it unnecessary, but seeing that the old man truly wanted to teach him, he didn’t want to let down the kindness, so he diligently assumed the posture and rehearsed the movements.
Li Muxiu had intended to offer some pointers, but upon closer inspection, he found hardly any flaws and couldn’t help sizing up the youngster once more.
To have self-taught to this level was indicative of truly astonishing comprehension!
“Not bad, your current practice should have reached the Tenth Layer of Power Passage Realm, hasn’t it?” Li Muxiu said. Although he hadn’t sensed Li Hao in detail, to have practiced the second layer of the Jiao Dragon Body, his cultivation must have surely reached the Perfection of the First Realm.
Moreover, compared to the common perfection in the Power Passage Realm, the physical strength brought by Body Refinement was greater, slightly stronger than those at the same realm. Of course, this advantage exists in the early stages of cultivation.
As for the later stages…
Body Refinement had no later stages.
As everyone says, it is a hard path. One must know that normal cultivation is already extremely arduous, and to be called a hard path, one can imagine just how much more difficult Body Refinement must be.
Thus, very few could persevere to the end, and even if there were ones with great resolve, they often ended up withering away before their natural lifespan due to too slow progress with no breakthroughs.
“Hmm.”
Li Hao nodded in affirmation.
“Not yet eight years old and already at Power Passage Realm Perfection, such progress in cultivation could indeed catch up to the heels of those top geniuses.”
Li Muxiu said, “Next is the Zhou Tian Realm, where strength is turned into Qi, and Qi circulates throughout Zhou Tian. There are two methods to break through to the Zhou Tian Realm. The first is to enter the Hundred Jiao Body, forcibly breaking through with physical strength. The Hundred Jiao Body also involves Qi Circulation Skill. Cultivating it to perfection allows you to reach the pinnacle state of one-hundred Circulations.”
“It’s precisely for this reason that this Body Refining Technique could be placed on the sixth floor.”
Seeing Li Hao sit cross-legged and listen attentively, Li Muxiu explained in even greater detail:
“The Zhou Tian Realm has ten layers, but the disparity between each is huge. In the Power Passage Realm, enhancing strength through powerful cultivation techniques and awakening Divine Blood can create a gap, while in the Zhou Tian Realm, it’s through elite Qi Circulation Skills that the gap between the chosen ones and the common folk widens.”
“Ordinary martial artists without backgrounds mostly practice inferior skills, circulating Qi throughout ten Zhou Tians.”
“Mid to high-grade skills can achieve thirty-six Zhou Tian cycles!”
“As for superior skills, they enable the cycle of seventy-two Zhou Tians.”
He looked at Li Hao and said, “As for the pinnacle skills, they can complete one hundred Zhou Tian cycles! That’s the essence carried within the Thousand Jiao’s Holy Body, omitting Body Refinement altogether, it could still be considered an elite Qi Circulation Skill.”
“I see,” said Li Hao with a slight nod.
He had flipped through some books on the Zhou Tian Realm and had some understanding of it. If one cycle of Zhou Tian meant possessing one’s own strength multiplied, then ten cycles amounted to ten times that strength!
And one hundred Zhou Tian cycles meant one hundred times the strength – that was the disparity.
Especially as one advanced in the Zhou Tian Realm, with each layer’s meridian-opening, this compounded disparity became vast. By the Tenth Layer of the Zhou Tian Realm, the gap between ordinary Qi Circulation Skills and elite skills was like that between the earth and the sky.
Major forces, distinguished sects, and geniuses combined, the top Zhou Tian Realm martial artists, even if not reaching one hundred Zhou Tian cycles, would at least achieve seventy-two cycles, allowing them to easily sweep through common Zhou Tian Realm martial artists, the unsupported heroes of Jianghu.
“A pinnacle Qi Circulation Skill, in any distinguished sect, is almost of a heritage-preserving level, typically taught only to direct disciples or chosen successors.”
“Within Listening Rain Tower, there are three such pinnacle skills, and the Hundred Jiao chapter of the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body is indeed one of them,” Li Muxiu explained. “But even so, in our Divine General Mansion, it’s passed only within direct lineage, not to collateral family members, so as to avoid inverting Tiangang and causing social upheaval due to human greed.”
“The disparities in martial arts cultivation are ultimately for the sake of combat between individuals. Some people cultivate not to become the strongest, but to surpass others. Therefore, when they can’t surpass, to diminish others is also a way of surpassing and often more effortless than striving to improve oneself.”
“This is why top powers and distinguished sects keep their extraordinary techniques secret and do not pass them on. Once they are leaked, those who obtain them may instead meet with deadly misfortune.”
Li Hao asked, “Isn’t cultivation for the purpose of slaying demons?”
Li Muxiu’s tone paused, and he gave a glance, saying mockingly, “Slaying demons is the affair of a few martial artists, such as our Li Family and other Divine General Mansions. But most people live in tranquil and prosperous areas where demons are forbidden to tread, and there is hardly an opportunity to slay them. Even when there is, how many dare to do so?”
“Have you seen ordinary hunters, with no benefit, willingly go hunt fierce tigers and giant bears?”
“Our Dayu is in a golden age. During such times, people seek fame. Slaying demons is for fame, competing and fighting are for fame, founding sects and schools is also for fame!”
“For the sake of reputation and wealth, many pursue it continuously, a life not regretted in death!”
“Who doesn’t wish to be remembered by the world for thousands of years after death, enshrined in the martial temple, cast in a golden image, with incense burning for a millennium?”
His voice was somewhat impassioned, but it carried not so much aspiration as it did some suppressed anger.
“I don’t want that,” Li Hao shook his head slightly and said, “If I had a choice, I would choose to live forever.”
