Chapter 30: Chapter 27 True State of Skills
Translator: 549690339
Hearing Li Hao’s words, Li Muxiu was taken aback.
He gazed at Li Hao steadily, then suddenly burst into laughter, but his eyes revealed a trace of sorrow.
“So many affairs from ancient times to present are brushed off with laughter; it is ridiculous how many people in the world are far less insightful than a child,” he said.
With that, he turned around.
Li Hao suddenly noticed the old gentleman secretly wiping away tears.
This was a strong man on par with a Sword Saint, yet he was crying; what could have brought him to tears?
Li Hao, wisely choosing to remain silent, waited a moment until Li Muxiu seemed to have adjusted his emotions and turned back toward him, smiling:
“I just mentioned that there are two methods to break through to the Zhou Tian Realm. Thousand Jiaos is one, and the other is the Zhou Tian Breathing Skill,” he continued.
“Within Listening Rain Tower, there are two such methods, both of the highest caliber. Mastering one to perfection allows for a hundred and eight Circulations within a single meridian, while the other can achieve a hundred and twenty-eight Circulations. Across the entire Dayu, they are considered top-notch, and it’s likely that only the royal family’s All Heavens Zhou Tian Skill practiced within the palace could surpass this Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill,” he explained.
“One hundred sixty-eight Circulations, truly unparalleled in this world.”
“That powerful?”
Li Hao exclaimed in surprise. Reaching seventy-two Circulations was already considered superior; the fact that the royal family’s method could more than double that figure, didn’t that mean within the Zhou Tian Realm the royal family was virtually invincible?
“Of course, otherwise how could the royal family command the world?”
Li Muxiu continued, “This is known as monopoly over Cultivation Techniques. Apart from the royal family, no others may learn or practice it; that’s why powerful families last through the ages—by monopolizing a domain.”
Li Hao nodded in understanding; wasn’t Listening Rain Tower doing exactly the same?
With this tower alone, it was enough to ensure the prosperity or decline of the Divine General Mansion throughout the generations.
“However, the more supreme the Cultivation Technique, the harder the training, hence it also puts one’s comprehension to an extreme test; it’s not something anyone can master casually. In our Li Family, although there are quite a few who practice the Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill, even more people opt for the other skill, the Heavenly Gang Zhou Tian Skill,” explained Li Muxiu.
“The reason is simple; if it takes you five years to learn the Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill, but you can learn the Heavenly Gang Zhou Tian Skill in three, then in three years, those who practiced the latter will surely win in a competition!”
“You might think, in just two more years, you could surpass them, but never underestimate the importance of those two years. When you finally perfect the Hundred Battles after two years, others may have already reached the Soul Successor Realm, one step ahead is always leading the way!” stated Li Muxiu.
Li Hao nodded.
One should practice the Cultivation Technique that matches one’s aptitude—this was key.
Otherwise, it’s like an elementary school student trying to understand high school lessons, unable to grasp anything while being surpassed by those who progress step by step, a waste of precious time.
“Since you have an excellent talent for Body Refinement, I suggest you challenge the Zhou Tian Realm with Thousand Jiaos. With your comprehension, you should have the prospect of mastering it within three years,” Li Muxiu advised.
“By then, at ten years old in the Zhou Tian Realm, with a hundred Circulations in one meridian, you would only be slightly inferior to your father,” he said.
“He’s that formidable?”
Li Hao was astonished.
Average people, at the age of ten, if they have achieved Power Passage Realm Perfection, they’re considered pretty decent.
The Divine General Mansion was filled with marvels, and naturally, the expectations were higher, but reaching the Zhou Tian Realm at ten was also a mark of genius, right?
“If my memory serves me right, Li Junye’s talent was slightly inferior to yours. He perfected the Power Passage Realm at seven years old—your current age—and perfected the Zhou Tian Realm at nine, the Soul Succession Realm at twelve, and the Divine Travel Completion at sixteen… That lad later went off to join the military, and I’m not clear on the specifics after that,” said Li Muxiu, shaking his head.
Li Hao inwardly gasped in amazement at these incredible feats.
Consider that Uncle Lin was also regarded as having a decent talent, yet he was still in the Divine Travel Realm in his forties.
And here were the geniuses… perfecting it by the age of sixteen.
And this was still considered inferior to that Ninth Uncle?
Li Hao was momentarily at a loss for words, but thinking about Ninth Uncle’s talent, which stood out among the tens of millions of martial artists across the nineteen states of Dayu, he found some consolation.
“Once you step into the Zhou Tian Realm and are cultivating the Qi Circulation Skill, you must also learn the Meridian Opening Skill specific to that realm. Your father, within two years, mastered both the extremely difficult top-level martial arts—the Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill and the Dragon River Divine Meridian—to reach Perfect Zhou Tian, second only to the royal family amongst his peers,” Li Muxiu continued.
“Apart from the difference in Qi Circulation Skills, the Meridian Opening Skill is the same; the ordinary skills open one layer for each meridian, reaching the Tenth Layer of Circulation Realm means ten channels!”
“With a mid-level Meridian Opening Skill, when perfected, there would be eighteen channels, and for a high-level skill, thirty-six channels!”
“For the most supreme skills, there would be fifty-four channels!”
“The Dragon River Divine Meridian is our Li Family’s finest Meridian Opening Skill, offering five channels to be opened with each of the first nine layers, and nine channels upon perfecting the tenth layer!” explained Li Muxiu.
Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao, smiling and asking, “Now do you understand how much of a gap exists between the supreme Meridian Opening Skills and Qi Circulation Skills, and the ordinary ones?”
Li Hao counted on his fingers and took a sharp breath, visibly shocked.
Both at Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection, the top-tier versus the ordinary differed by over fifty-fold—a gap as vast as the heavens from the earth!
Should both Qi Circulation and Meridian Opening be of ordinary grades—ten channels, ten Circulations—the power they could unleash was only marginally superior to that of the first layer of the top-tier Qi Circulation Techniques.
The disparity was simply unimaginable!
This also made Li Hao realize just how precious and important resources were on the path of Martial Arts.
Average martial artists without any background could only cultivate ordinary Cultivation Techniques, becoming fodder at their cultivation level.
And such disparities would, for countless martial artists, drive them to climb upwards by any means necessary, whether by currying favor with connections or through their own struggle, all leading down a bloody path of ruin.
For this reason, top-notch martial artists could possess everything, renowned throughout the realm.
This path was not easy to walk.
“If you were born with obstructed meridians, the difficulty of opening your meridians would increase, which could slow you down. However, with our Li Family’s top-notch Cultivation Techniques, at most you would fall from the ranks of the top prodigies. In the eyes of the common martial artists, you would remain an untouchable genius,” Li Muxiu said.
In the Li Family, far too many geniuses were born.
Having held high positions for so long, they had seen countless other minor forces and families rise meteorically like comets.
Therefore, it was only extreme outliers like Li Tian Gang and Li Jun Ye that could catch the attention of these old timers, while the rest were akin to the numerous illegitimate descendants in the training fields—merely qualified members of the family.
Li Hao nodded slightly but didn’t speak.
“The fish is ready.”
Li Muxiu lifted the clay cover, and the scent of fish drifted out.
He extinguished the firewood and took it away, then said to Li Hao, “Eat first. After you finish, practice here on your own. I have to go out this afternoon. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me tonight.”
“Okay,” Li Hao responded.
The “chopsticks” used for skinning yesterday had not been discarded, and the old man handed them to Li Hao again.
Li Hao followed suit, wiping them on his clothing before reaching into the pot to pick out meat and start eating.
This time, Li Hao no longer felt the fish was too strong-flavored but savored the sweet and tender delicacy instead.
After finishing the meal, Li Muxiu packed away the pot and the chopsticks, gave Li Hao a piece of advice, then with a sleeve flutter, he stepped forth and disappeared into the horizon.
Li Hao stretched lazily and walked over to the bookshelf containing the Cultivation Techniques, quickly finding the several books the old man had mentioned, all preserved in the glass cabinet on the seventh floor to slow the decay of the books.
Of course, Li Hao believed that the Li Family definitely had copies of these Cultivation Techniques stored in secret places.
In fact, these displayed copies might well be duplicates.
Li Hao flipped through the Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill and the Dragon River Divine Meridian, but for a while, he couldn’t incorporate them into his panel—an indication of their status as top-notch skills.
He brought up his panel and, seeing the two Skill Points he had accumulated, he didn’t hesitate to allocate them all to the Physical Body Path.
In an instant, vast amounts of information poured into his mind. When the first wave finished, a second one followed.
It took him a full quarter of an hour to gradually digest it all, and his eyes revealed a look of enlightenment.
He checked the panel again and saw that the skills he had mastered had undergone earth-shattering changes.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 7]
[Cultivation Level: Tenth Layer of Power Passage Realm]
[Swordsmanship: Second Phase (Flying Phase) (Hidden Bow)]
[Skills: Endless Sea·Tide (Perfected) Falling Snow Sword Skill (Perfected)]
[Physical Body Path: Third Phase (All Encompassing) (Tiger Press)]
[Skills: Stone Skin Hundred Refinements (True Form) Thousand Jiaos Holy Body Third Layer (Hundred Jiao Body Great Accomplishment) Tai Chu Third Layer (Subtle Body Great Accomplishment) Dragon Cicada Void Body Third Layer (Leap Shell Body Great Accomplishment)…]
[Chess Tao: Fourth Phase (5/10000)]
[Fishing Tao: First Phase (112/500)]
[Chess Manual Collection: All Encompassing, Tiger Press, Flying Phase, Hidden Bow]
[Fishing Manual Collection: None]
[State of Mind: Chess Heart]
[Skill Points: 0]
…
The enhancement to the Third Phase of the Physical Body Path propelled the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body to the third-layered Great Accomplishment, and simultaneously, Tai Chu and Dragon Cicada Void Body also reached the third layer, achieving Great Accomplishment!
However, what surprised and astonished Li Hao the most was the low-grade Body Refinement Skill known as “Stone Skin Hundred Refinements.”
The realm indicated behind it reached “True Form”!
Li Hao’s mind automatically gathered countless details about the Stone Skin Hundred Refinements technique, enabling him to perform it beyond mere perfection.
The stages of Body Refinement are similar to those of artistic skills, consisting of Beginner, Minor Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, and Perfection.
These correspond to the techniques’ Beginner, Dexterous, Perfect, and Ultimate stages.
But what the hell is this “True Form”?
A higher stage beyond Ultimate Perfection?!
Apart from Stone Skin Hundred Refinements, all other low-grade Body Refinement Skills also bore the “True Form” tag!
Barbaric Bull Strength (True Form), Li Hao could feel, had its original flaws overcome. He intuitively acted upon the insights in his mind and started to perform the skill.
Strength flowed through his body, Qi Force erupted, and his veins bulged like bull tendons, concentrating upon his fist at the will of his mind.
With a whoosh, he threw a punch, and the curtains on the terrace over ten meters away were set dancing by the force of his punch!
This Barbaric Bull Strength, upon reaching True Form, brought a significant boost to his strength, at least four to five times more effective than before!
Moreover, it possessed a sense of returning to the essence, where every movement transcended the original Barbaric Bull Strength’s flavor, embodying an indescribably harmonious and rounded momentum.
It was as if this was the true face of Barbaric Bull Strength!
Subsequently, Li Hao started practicing the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body.
In a flash, the vast force within his dantian began to stir, spinning like a windmill.
Chapter 31: Chapter 28: The Unity of Qi Force, 100,000 catties!
Translator: 549690339
Qi Circulation Completed!
Like a robust python, the Qi Force rapidly weaved through his body; even though it was his first execution, the abundant memories in his mind were as if he had been immersed in this path for decades. The moment his body mobilized the Qi Force, he entered a state of innate, instinctive action.
Faint rumbles of thunder seemed to sound within his meridians; a major channel was opened by the penetrating Qi Force. With the major channel opened, the Qi Force flowed unobstructed, zipping back and forth within it, completing sixteen circulation cycles in a single breath!
Then, Li Hao executed the move for a second time, this time with even greater proficiency, his body gradually synchronizing with his memory.
In a single breath, thirty-eight circulation cycles.
The third time, fifty-two cycles in a single breath.
The fourth time, the fifth time… until after the seventh time, he reached a hundred cycles in a single breath!
The Hundred Jiao Body is also called the Hundred Cycle Body because, when cultivated to Great Accomplishment, it could reach exactly one hundred circulation cycles, no more, no less!
At this moment, Li Hao glanced at his panel and saw that his Cultivation Level was no longer at the tenth layer of Power Passage Realm but had entered the Zhou Tian Realm, the first layer!
Having officially stepped into the Zhou Tian Realm, Li Hao felt the Qi Force surging and tumbling in this major channel, brimming with tension. Compared to before, it was like his body had suddenly grown an extra spine, and he “stood” upright.
With every movement, he could casually circulate his Qi, unleashing far greater strength than before!
As Li Hao felt a sense of joy in his heart, he then proceeded to execute the primordial technique.
According to the memories of practice, he would refine from the second layer, the Starry Body, to the third layer, the Mystic Vein Body!
With practice, the Qi Force inside Li Hao’s body became even more wild and furious, like the raging waves of a great river!
Li Hao discovered that the Mystic Vein Body also contained a Qi Circulation Skill, not inferior at all to the Hundred Jiao Body, and even more terrifying!
Li Muxiu didn’t tell him about this, mostly because the old man had not deeply researched this martial art. After all, it was about Body Refinement, and it was also an incomplete text; the old man probably hadn’t considered letting Li Hao cultivate it.
As Li Hao practiced it again and again, he became familiar with it, and his body underwent a tremendous change, slowly opening up a second major channel!
This channel was extremely thick and robust, capable of accommodating far more Qi Force than the first channel!
This channel was the core of the Mystic Vein Body, the Mystic Vein!
Through the description in the cultivation technique, Li Hao knew that in martial arts, this Mystic Vein had another name: the Great Yin Channel.
Li Hao looked at his Cultivation Level and saw that even though he had opened a second major channel, he was still at the first layer of the Zhou Tian Realm, with no advancement.
This Great Yin Channel was like a hidden vein, not included in the count of other major channels.
The Hundred Jiao Qi Force originally in the first major channel also began to flow into the Great Yin Channel, circulating back and forth between the two. Yet, the Qi Force that almost filled the first channel felt like a small stream inside the Great Yin Channel, scarcely able to collide and churn against the walls of the channel.
Sounds like thundering rolls and tiger roars emanated from within Li Hao’s body, as if a dormant beast was slowly awakening and opening its eyes.
The external force emanating from his rampaging Qi Force scattered the dust around his body, leaving no speck of dust within three feet!
The insights into the initial stage of the Physical Body Path’s third level granted Li Hao a profound understanding of both Cultivation Techniques, allowing him to immediately feel that the Qi Circulation Skills of both techniques overlapped and intertwined.
With a thought, he executed both techniques simultaneously, and quickly, the two Qi Circulation Skills began to interact. The Qi Force split into two streams, chasing each other like twin dragons within his major channels.
As Li Hao practiced more and grew more familiar, the two streams of Qi Force began to intertwine and merge.
This was the mutual integration of Cultivation Techniques!
The overlapping parts were merged, and the intersecting areas became one. As a result, his Qi Force circulated even faster.
From one hundred cycles in a channel, he reached one hundred and thirty-two cycles!
This was an increase of thirty-two circulation cycles!
This achievement had already surpassed the Li Family’s top-tier Qi Circulation Skill, the “Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill”.
One should know that aside from the royal family, this was one of the top-tier Qi Circulation Skills within Dayu, coveted and sought after by martial artists the world over.
At this moment, with the Qi Force roaming the Great Yin Channel, Li Hao realized that there was a special, extremely yin and cold force flowing through his body. Should he practice certain techniques like the Cold Ice Palm or Ice Soul Body, he would achieve twice the results with half the effort!
After completing his practice session, Li Hao planned to look up what this Great Yin Channel was.
However, he continued to practice the third top-tier Body Refinement Skill, the Dragon Cicada Void Body.
However, compared to the first two, the third layer of this technique was slightly inferior.
The Flying Phase, which also contained a Qi Circulation Skill, only had seventy-two cycles. In other words, cultivating this technique alone could also help Li Hao break through to the Zhou Tian Realm.
Flying Phase allows the use of Qi to control force for brief periods of hovering flight.
One must know that the ability to hover in the air is a power possessed only in the Soul Succession Realm.
However, the capability of the Leaping Shell Body to hover in the air still cannot compare with that of the Soul Succession Realm. It merely has some special effects in certain battle situations, but it does not significantly enhance head-on combat prowess.
But the second layer of the Dragon Cicada Void Body is rather powerful. Previously, when Li Hao was in the first stage of the Physical Body Path, he only achieved minor proficiency in the second layer. Now, the second layer’s Subdued Dragon Body has reached perfection!
This brought him a terrifying force as violent as a dragon or an elephant, purely derived from increased physical strength, amounting to at least 20,000 jin (approximately 12,000 kilograms) of tremendous force!
Li Hao estimated that his raw physical strength alone was around 50,000 jin (approximately 30,000 kilograms) at the moment.
Yes, it was that exaggerated.
Now at the third stage of the Physical Body Path, Li Hao could roughly sense the state of his body without the need to go through any trials or tests.
If combined with the circulation of his inner Qi, merging Qi Force with strength, he could unleash a force of about 100,000 jin (approximately 60,000 kilograms)!
One cycle of Qi Force circulation equates to the force of one cauldron.
At this moment, Li Hao circulating it 132 times amounted to 132 cauldrons, and with two channels, that was 264 cauldrons!
With each cauldron equivalent to 200 jin, that was about 50,000 jin (approximately 30,000 kilograms) of force.
Such a force was enough to easily shatter an ordinary martial artist at the Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection with one punch.
An ordinary martial artist at the Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection with ten meridians circulated ten times, represents the lowest level of the Cycle Heaven Realm, with hardly any hope of advancing to the Soul Succession Realm, and a Qi Force of only around 100 cauldrons, which is about 20,000 jin (approximately 12,000 kilograms).
While at the first layer of the Zhou Tian Realm, the circulation of one meridian ten times equates to an increase of 2,000 jin in strength. Though this is almost double when compared to the ordinary Power Passage Realm’s 3,600 jin of Qi Force, those of Divine Blood can double their strength in the Power Passage Realm to 7,200 jin of force. Even at the Power Passage Completed stage, they are capable of contending with common martial artists at the first layer of the Zhou Tian Realm!
That is the strength of those with Divine Blood.
Moreover, this doesn’t include the enhancements provided by additional techniques and Cultivation Techniques.
After all, which martial artist doesn’t master at least two main Cultivation Techniques?
Especially those of Divine Blood with their rich familial resources, their Cultivation Techniques are bound to be of high level, widening the gap even further. A typical martial artist with Divine Blood who has completed the Power Passage stage can easily defeat those at the second or third layer of the Zhou Tian Realm with their techniques.
Some exceptional prodigies can even engage in battle across four or five layers above their own!
And once they reach the Zhou Tian Realm, the disparities in Cultivation Techniques and cultivation resources lead to an even greater divide in martial power and cultivation speed.
Just the two Peerless Techniques of Qi Circulation from the Li Family, when both reaching Great Accomplishment, would provide one million jin of force at the perfection of the Zhou Tian Realm!
And the weakest would only have 20,000 jin, a gap of over fifty times!
However, martial artists at the usual Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection rarely cultivate just the weakest Qi Circulation Skill of ten cycles, which represents the absolute lower limit.
Everyone has some fortune; even without it, by struggling and fighting on their own, whether enlisting in the military, they can gain access to a Medium Grade Qi Cultivation Skill and a Medium Grade Meridian Opening Technique for breaking through eighteen channels.
The Yuan Camp of the Li Family, once led by their ancestors, means that any soldier selected for it can cultivate high-grade techniques for Qi Circulation and Meridian Opening. Taken out, they are all strong martial artists of the same realm; thus, the Yuan Camp’s ten thousand soldiers are more formidable than a common army of a million!
Li Hao, feeling the surging Qi Force inside him, showed a slight smile on his lips.
The terrifying enhancement brought by the Cultivation Techniques far exceeds that of Divine Blood. After all, Divine Blood can only stimulate and double the basic strength of 3,600 jin in the Power Passage Realm, but the skills brought by Cultivation Techniques cannot be doubled.
To him now, an increase of merely over 3,000 jin in strength is not worth mentioning.
“Without considering techniques like Tiger Press, Flying Phase, or the Endless Sea Sword Skill, just with physical combat, I should be able to easily defeat Jianghu martial artists at the Tenth Layer of the Zhou Tian Realm who do not have any powerful background. However, I am still far from competing with those soldiers at the perfection of the Zhou Tian Realm from the Yuan Camp,” Li Hao thought to himself.
The soldiers of the Yuan Camp were fierce tigers of Dayu, and within the Demon races of Northern Yan, they were synonymous with death itself.
Once they marched under the banner of Yuan, even demons would tremble with fear, for in the perfection of the Zhou Tian Realm, their training in high-grade Qi Circulation and Meridian Opening Techniques granted them a force of 500,000 jin!
How terrifying would an expedition of ten thousand such soldiers be?
Moreover, the Zhou Tian Realm is just the weakest level within the Yuan Camp.
“Right now, I am only barely able to spar with soldiers of the Yuan Camp around the third or fourth layer of the Zhou Tian Realm, but with their rich combat experience, I might not even come out as their equal,” Li Hao admitted.
Despite the significant improvements, Li Hao’s heart remained unswelled.
He continued to integrate the third layer of the Dragon Cicada Void Body’s Qi Circulation Skill, and by eliminating the overlapping parts, his speed of Qi circulation once again increased, reaching 143 cycles in one breath!
That was fifteen cycles more than the Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill, and the difference of fifteen cycles in one meridian, once accumulated to the Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection, would result in a massive gap.
But, compared to the royal family’s All Heavens Zhou Tian Skill, it still fell short.
Li Hao then practiced various other Body Refinement Techniques of upper, middle, and lower grades several times, achieving complete synchronization between memory and body.
This led to a substantial boost in his physical strength, reaching about 15,000 jin (approximately 9,000 kilograms), after all, it was the cumulative interweaving of dozens of techniques. Furthermore, all parts of his body were greatly enhanced, with vision, hearing, and skin sensitivity all strengthened several fold.
In combat, these would all have a considerable impact on the outcome.
Afterward, Li Hao began searching through the materials in the building regarding the Great Yin Channel.
Chapter 32: Chapter 29: Every Member of the Li Family is Outstanding
The martial arts within the building were complex and categorized, but perhaps due to the Great Yin Channel being too obscure, Li Hao searched for several hours and failed to find any related records in any cultivation technique.
In contrast, he acquired two more low-grade Body Refinement Skills, which gave his body a slight boost once again.
That evening, Li Muxiu returned, stepping through the air, with a somewhat weary look on his face.
Seeing Li Hao holding the Dragon River Divine Meridian cultivation method, Li Muxiu shook his head with a smile and said, “What, you’re thinking of opening your channels already? Have you stepped into the Zhou Tian Realm, or are you just being overly ambitious?”
“I just stepped in,” Li Hao said.
Li Muxiu was taken aback and couldn’t help asking, “You’ve entered the gateway to the Hundred Jiao Body?”
“Mhm.”
Li Hao nodded. Great Accomplishment could be considered as entering the gateway, right?
“Come, show me what you’ve learned.”
Li Muxiu didn’t waste any more words; he simply asked Li Hao to demonstrate. He would know the true extent of it at a glance.
Li Hao didn’t hold back either, he freely began to perform the techniques.
Although his exposure to these techniques hadn’t been for long, his grandfather gave off a very open and straightforward feeling. If his grandfather had any thought of harming him, Li Hao wouldn’t even be able to defend himself.
Besides, it was just the Great Accomplishment of the Hundred Jiao Body; surely that didn’t count as anything too significant, did it?
As he swung his fists, his Qi Force surged tumultuously. In an instant, an aura akin to a Jiao Dragon emerging from the sea emanated from Li Hao’s body.
Li Muxiu watched with a focused gaze, which soon turned into a stunned expression.
Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao in astonishment. If it were merely the gateway to the Hundred Jiao Body, it wouldn’t be anything special – at most, a rather exceptional talent. The Li Family wasn’t short on talents; you could throw a stone and either hit a servant or a talent.
But from the gateway to minor accomplishment, then to Great Accomplishment, that’s the Great Accomplishment level of the Hundred Jiao Body!
Entered the gateway in one day and reached Great Accomplishment in one day?!
Good heavens, such a cultivation talent for Body Refinement was certainly not inferior to little nine’s talents for cultivation, was it?
Li Muxiu couldn’t help but size up Li Hao. Was this child’s talent for Body Refinement really that exceptional? However, it was a pity that it was only Body Refinement talent.
With this thought, Li Muxiu couldn’t help but heave a deep sigh in his heart.
Although he didn’t like pursuing fame and fortune, being able to cultivate was absolutely a good thing for anyone.
After Li Hao finished demonstrating, he saw his grandfather lost in thought, and with innocent eyes, he took the opportunity to ask, “Grandfather, on another Primordial Cultivation Skill I saw the words ‘Mystic Vein.’ What is this Mystic Vein?”
“You looked at that secret text as well? You didn’t start cultivating it, did you?”
Li Muxiu regained his senses, his brows furrowed suddenly, and his expression became serious.
He stared at Li Hao’s innocent little face and realized he might be overthinking it. This kid was too young; if he had been distracted by other cultivations, how could he have managed to bring the Hundred Jiao Body to Great Accomplishment today?
Before Li Hao could answer, Li Muxiu continued earnestly, “You have a great talent for Body Refinement, and that’s a good thing, but do not squander it! How many talents out there, because they’re young and arrogant, relying on their intelligence, study this and that, and end up knowing a little about everything, deemed jack of all trades, but guess what? They get smacked to death by a slap from those among their peers who are left behind.”
“Others only need to practice one move; if that move is strong enough, deadly enough, they can be unrivaled!”
Li Muxiu said, “You see people being named Sword Saint, Blade Saint, and even titles like Arrow King. They’re all famous figures; do they not understand the value of well-rounded development? But they all specialize in their fields, continuously advancing! A person’s life is limited, and it’s hard enough to reach the end of one path, let alone two; pursuing both is simply ruining one’s own future!”
Having said this, he addressed Li Hao, “Families like ours, we have an advantage in that we have a strong foundation, a relatively comfortable growth process, whereas those Jianghu heroes without background have to face all kinds of complexities from a young age, the hardships of life, and so forth, forced to learn whatever they can to survive.”
“But we are different; we have the luxury to choose!”
“They delve into poisons, medical skills, boxing, and swordplay, but so what? They may have an advantage when facing someone of the same realm, but how much time do you have to spend learning these? If it’s ten years, others spending the same ten years on one thing will have a higher realm than you. When the time comes, just being one or two levels higher in realm is enough to easily overpower you!”
“Therefore, only when you reach your limit, with no hope left in your life, should you consider broadening your scope. Otherwise, it’s unnecessary before that point.”
He spoke with heartfelt earnestness, and Li Hao understood his grandfather’s perspective.
Being a jack of all trades was powerful indeed, but time did not permit it.
However, this was for the average martial artist.
As for himself, Li Hao had the advantage of a system panel.
But without a sufficient number of Artistic Skill Points, Li Hao too could only specialize in the Sword Path and Physical Body Path. Indeed, even now, he prioritized the Physical Body Path and personal cultivation above all else.
After solemnly advising Li Hao, Li Muxiu sighed and resumed his casual demeanor, saying, “The Mystic Vein you mentioned comes from the Primordial Body Refining Skill. That’s also why this incomplete skill is allowed on the sixth floor. But to learn to open the Mystic Vein, you need to progressively cultivate to the third layer, which takes far too much time. This skill is even harder; those with high comprehension might take five to eight years, and those with lower comprehension, twenty or thirty years, might find it challenging!”
“Therefore, although the Mystic Vein is precious, it must be forsaken.”
“Oh?”
Li Hao wore an expression of curiosity, wrapped his legs, and sat cross-legged.
“The Mystic Vein, also known as the Great Yin Channel, is rumored to be one of one hundred and eight veins in the human body besides the normal meridian channels!”
Li Muxiu said, “My Li Family’s strongest, the Dragon River Divine Meridian, allows for the opening of fifty-four channels, while the royal family’s Dong Huang Scripture permits sixty-two. That’s already the strongest Meridian Opening Skill.”
“But reaching one hundred and eight is still too far off, so whether or not there really are that many has always been mere speculation.”
“However, outside of these one hundred and eight, there are two major veins, which are the Great Yin Channel and the Great Yang Meridian!”
“When these two major channels are opened, the cultivation techniques practiced will carry some special powers, making attacks fiercer and more domineering. At the same time, these two channels can hold more Qi Force and circulate it through the Zhou Tian Realm!”
He glanced at Li Hao and said, “If you can circulate a hundred cycles in one vein, then in the Great Yin Channel, you could achieve a thousand cycles—a tenfold difference! You could stack and accumulate a hundred cycles of Qi Force within the Great Yin Channel!”
“And a thousand cycles in one vein are not just a quantitative accumulation; it’s a qualitative transformation of explosive power. The specifics will become evident in battle. Hence, those who can open these two special channels are geniuses among geniuses, the best of the best, once in a hundred years!”
Li Hao suddenly understood—besides the Great Yin Channel, there was also the Great Yang Meridian.
The existence of these two special channels was equivalent to an extra twenty meridians.
Considering that the strongest technique of the royal family encompasses only sixty-four meridians, opening both special channels could mean an increase by one third!
By then, even if one were to practice the Li Family’s Dragon River Divine Meridian, it could unleash a force surpassing that of the royal family!
“It’s extremely difficult to open these two special channels; it requires fate, talent, and comprehension, and outside forces can hardly assist,” Li Muxiu observed Li Hao and said. “In the second generation of our Li Family, only three people have opened one special channel, and it’s only your ninth uncle who possesses both channels, showing unparalleled talent.”
With that, he couldn’t help but sigh.
Li Hao was somewhat stunned.
From what he had said, he thought such occurrences were extremely rare, yet within the second generation of the Li Family, there were already three individuals with such a meridian? And the ninth uncle, both?
“Little Nine was born with the innate Great Yang Meridian, while he opened the Great Yin Channel himself later in life. Even your old man only had one special channel, similar to your father.”
Li Muxiu shook his head as he spoke.
Li Hao was speechless—this ninth uncle was truly extraordinary.
“Alright, just focus on your cultivation,” Li Muxiu said to Li Hao. “Your talent is exceptional, but you were born with blocked meridians, making it more difficult for you than other Body Refinement practitioners. If you are unlucky, the Zhou Tian Realm might be your limit, so don’t be distracted. Refine the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body well. If you can reach the Fourth Layer, you may have a chance to break through to the Soul Succession Realm.”
“By then, you would be considered a martial artist who can stand on your own, at least not someone who can be easily killed.”
Li Hao nodded.
Seeing Li Hao so obedient, Li Muxiu felt gratified and said, “In your free time, take a look at the Dragon River Divine Meridian. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me. Your father and the others all had to learn by themselves. Although there were instructors, your grandfather had quite a temper and never taught directly. It was always officers from the military who taught, and often before the instructor finished explaining, your father and his siblings had already mastered it. Little Nine could even extend the knowledge further, heh…”
It seemed that recalling that time brought a touch of a smile to the old man’s face.
Li Hao felt somewhat helpless.
There were too many prodigies in the Li Family, making his own extraordinary abilities seem rather ordinary.
Of course, he hadn’t leveraged all his efforts on collecting Skill Points yet, otherwise, he could have made further progress.
But life isn’t just about cultivating—it also includes living, or else, what would be the purpose of reliving this life?
In the following days, besides following the old master for morning fishing sessions, Li Hao spent his afternoons immersed in books about Qi cultivation techniques and secrets of meridian opening.
Half a month went by, and he had successfully added three top-notch scriptures to his panel.
Li Hao believed his comprehension was quite good; after all, he needed to grasp the basics to add them to his panel, and he managed one every five days, not too shabby for maintaining the Li Family’s reputation.
He heard that direct descendants of the Li Family took about half a month to grasp the basics of the supreme scriptures.
However, with the mindset of a person who had lived two lifetimes, Li Hao wasn’t proud. He merely considered it a normal performance.
It was just that these three scriptures were not part of the Body Refinement Realm, so his understanding of the third phase of the Physical Body Path remained unaffected even after adding the scriptures.
Instead, a new attribute of a great path appeared in his panel.
[Control Path: Not yet started]
Li Hao guessed that these three scriptures were part of the normal cultivation methods for martial artists, and that Control Path probably corresponded to the normal cultivation path.
Its name was just slightly odd.
But Li Hao didn’t think too much of it. As long as he could add points, it was fine.
And so, he once again realized the scarcity of Skill Points.
“Besides fishing and playing chess, it’s time to consider painting and even cooking…”
These were the types of arts recorded in the game, and without a doubt, they all could increase Skill Points.
Chapter 33: Chapter 30 Two Sages and the Little Mouse
As soon as he thought of it, he acted on it.
Li Hao asked Zhao to prepare the paints, as well as brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone for him, and after fishing with the old master each day, he would ask to return to his Mountain and River Courtyard to rest.
Li Muxiu didn’t say much about this; his principle in nurturing Li Hao was to let him grow freely.
Although Li Hao showed exceptional talent in Body Refinement, Li Muxiu didn’t force him to train arduously every day. If Li Hao wanted to seek his guidance, he would earnestly provide it; if not, he would take the child to wander the mountains and waters, fishing in the wild every day.
In the Mountain and River Courtyard, within the spacious courtyard.
Li Hao had someone bring over two stools, one tall, one short, and started to draw on the easel like an art student.
Zhao earnestly advised him, but Li Hao turned a deaf ear. Zhao was completely helpless in the face of this young master who was fond of indulging in pleasures and neglecting his duties, leaving no choice but to hand him over to Li Fu.
Li Hao had long since figured out how to deal with Li Fu, impressing him by demonstrating the second level of the Jiao Dragon Body.
Li Fu watched, dumbstruck, suspecting he was seeing things, and asked Li Hao to perform it again. Upon seeing it clearly the second time, the man was so moved that his eyes welled up with tears.
He simply attributed it to his second uncle’s cultivation and teaching that allowed Li Hao to master the second level of this peerless Body Refinement technique in less than a month. While grateful to the second uncle, he was also surprised and excited about Li Hao’s talent in Body Refinement.
Such talent was even more impressive than mastering the Great Accomplishment of the Bull Strength in three months, truly a first-rate Body Refinement genius.
Seeing his wildly excited demeanor, Li Hao was secretly glad he didn’t directly demonstrate the third level Hundred Jiao Body in front of him, after all, not everyone possessed the old master’s vision and capacity to handle such things.
As a trade-off, Li Hao promised Li Fu that he would seriously cultivate with his second uncle, but only under the condition that when he was doing something else, Li Fu wouldn’t intervene.
While this delighted Li Fu, it also caused him some consternation. Li Hao’s talent in Body Refinement was so high, he now wished Li Hao would spend all day cultivating outside of eating and sleeping, so he could catch up to the prodigies with ninth-grade battle bodies. Yet, Li Hao’s temperament was particularly laid-back, which left Li Fu feeling quite helpless.
After much back and forth, Li Fu finally relented to Li Hao’s persistence.
So, Li Hao began to paint openly in the courtyard.
With each stroke of the brush, words soon appeared before his eyes.
[Art of Painting: Level 0 (1/100)]
It really worked.
Li Hao smiled knowingly and then began to paint with great flourish.
Having experience with Chess Tao and Fishing Tao, Li Hao guessed that the better he painted, the more Painting Experience he would gain.
So, he didn’t treat it too casually, but instead began to paint quite earnestly.
However, in his previous life, he was a businessman who had spent decades immersed in commerce; what did he know about painting?
He did have a bit of understanding of girls who could paint…
For his first attempt at painting, Li Hao chose to do a portrait sketch and picked out the most beautiful maid in the courtyard to stand before the easel.
Then, with confidence, he picked up the brush; for a person, draw a circle first, then a line, a slant and a flick, followed by another slant and flick.
Hmm, it needs some hair.
Done!
[Painting Experience +1]
Hisss… painting is indeed difficult.
Li Hao smiled wryly to himself.
Next to him, Zhao sneaked a glance at the easel and asked hesitantly, “Young master, what is this you’ve drawn?”
“Can’t you see? It’s a person!” Li Hao replied indignantly.
“That doesn’t look like…” Zhao was a bit puzzled.
Huffing, Li Hao said, “You’re saying it doesn’t look like it on the outside, right? That’s because you don’t understand the deeper meaning of my art. Look at this circle; you think it’s a head, but it’s not. It represents being slick. Look at this line; you think it’s a body, but it’s not. It signifies that to stand tall, one must be slick. Zhao, you still have a lot to learn; don’t be so straightforward and impulsive!”
“Uh, but isn’t that a bunch of scribbles on the circle supposed to be hair?”
“Not exactly, and yet it is. It’s both hair and dreams!”
“Dreams?”
Li Hao said nonchalantly, “Dreams belong at the top of your head, seems logical, right? This lush hair represents many people’s dreams, also logical, right?”
Zhao was bewildered.
Having finished his rambling, Li Hao continued to paint.
Zhao and Li Fu exchanged looks, both baffled as Li Hao kept painting dozens of almost identical drawings, while the beautiful maid remained standing in front of the easel, seemingly just for background decoration; what was the point?
Clearly, this young master had no talent in the Art of Painting, unlike his skill in chess.
But since it was all just frivolous pursuits that squandered his Martial Arts potential, they were too indolent to probe any further.
Li Hao painted quickly, and soon there was a pile of discarded paper on the ground. Before long, his experience had accumulated to one hundred.
All of it was accumulated bit by bit.
Li Hao felt quite exhausted.
[Art of Painting has been raised to Level One]
[Skill Points+1]
As the text prompt emerged, a surge of insights into the Art of Painting flooded his mind. Li Hao closed his eyes for a moment and soon digested the information completely. In an instant, he realized how much of a novice he had been previously.
When he resumed his brushwork, his strokes carried a divine charm. Quickly, the graceful figure of a woman emerged on the paper, full of life and poise.
Li Fu and Zhao, who were idly looking around, caught a glimpse unintentionally and were momentarily stunned, their eyes widening in astonishment.
It wasn’t long before Li Hao added finishing touches with deft strokes of his brush to the lips, dipped in rouge to apply the colors, and in no time, the image on the canvas stood out vividly and elegantly.
[Painting Experience+13]
Li Hao couldn’t help but feel elated. Indeed, the more meticulously and beautifully he painted, the more his Painting Experience increased.
And he had finally become someone who could paint.
“Young master, this is…” Zhao stared at the canvas, dumbfounded. Just earlier, he was drawing crude stick figures, and now he had reached this level of skill?
Could the young master be a genius who learned to paint in merely a short moment?
Or was he pretending before?
Or perhaps… those stick figures, as the young master claimed, really depicted “inner meaning”?
His preconceived notions were strongly challenged.
“Basics, don’t overthink,” Li Hao said indifferently.
Zhao didn’t understand, but that didn’t stop him from being profoundly shaken.
After painting a few more pictures and feeling increasingly adept, Li Hao had Li Fu and Zhao stand before the canvas. He painted a portrait for each of them, capturing a dynamic gaze, one showing a time-worn kindness while the other a sternness that betrayed a hint of awkwardness, looking away, both strikingly realistic.
Seeing the completed paintings in their hands, both men showed diverse expressions, their emotions complex.
The young master’s talent was rarely seen in the world; had he been born into a family of literati, he would have been treasured.
What a pity that this was the Divine General Mansion where one was born to defend the legacy of Dayu.
Once the paint on the canvas dried, both men unconsciously rolled their paintings carefully and cherished them, a sign of their earnestness.
They would remember, in the year they turned seven, the young master painted a portrait for them.
This was the first time in their lives they had received a painting of themselves.
Time flies, and half a year later.
On the calm shores of Blackwater Demon Lake, three figures were fishing at a distance of over ten meters apart: two elders and one child.
Needless to say, the child was Li Hao. Among the elders, besides Li Muxiu, there was another person, a fishing companion of Li Muxiu. Li Hao had heard the old man introduce him as Feng Boping, a ‘Thief Saint’ with an interesting name.
According to the Thief Saint, he had chosen the name himself. It did not mean he only acted when things were calm but that after he made his move, everything would remain undisturbed.
In their leisure time while fishing, Li Muxiu even lightheartedly shared stories of the Thief Saint’s exploits with Li Hao, revealing he truly lived up to his name.
Many of the forces that had been stolen from by the Thief Saint only discovered their treasures missing months or even years later.
Oftentimes they were initially clueless about the theft, rendering them unable to track down who had stolen the treasures or when the theft had occurred, or even to discern whether it was an inside job…
Reputation well-concealed, treasures seek their owners, this was the Thief Saint Feng Boping.
On the shore, Li Hao expertly set up a large pot, simultaneously cleaning the fish demon he had just fished up, gutting and cutting it up while occasionally glancing at his swim bladder.
The fishing rod at the other end was fastened to the shore with a rope threaded through a hole and tied to a large stone; should there be any activity, he’d be able to react promptly.
At this moment, Li Hao deftly handled the fish demon’s innards with his sword, his movements skilled.
Both Li Muxiu and the Thief Saint had grown accustomed to this sight. Although it was only fish being prepared, they had long recognized Li Hao’s remarkable talent in the art of the sword. When Li Muxiu first saw Li Hao wield a sword, he even ridiculed him, thinking that Jian Wudao lacked insight for missing out on a real treasure.
The Thief Saint, Feng Boping, also held a fondness for this lively lad who enjoyed Fishing Tao and showed no qualms about his sensitive identity. He had earnestly promised that he would search far and wide for a precious medicine capable of opening Li Hao’s meridians.
Soon, snow-white fish meat hit the pot.
Li Hao also kneaded some fresh coriander and chili peppers into the mix, and the fragrant spicy aroma immediately spread, drawing the elders’ gazes again and again.
Their lines were cast far out into deep waters, using their bodies as the pole, with the line invisible and no float visible; they could sense any ripple through the line alone.
“Both of you, the food will be ready in three minutes,” Li Hao said with a smile.
Having spent a lot of time together, Li Hao’s address for Li Muxiu had become ‘Second Elder’ and Feng Boping as ‘Old Feng,’ while the two elders had come up with a nickname they thought fitting and vivid for Li Hao:
Little Hao.
