Chapter 34: Chapter 31 Perfection
“The young lad’s cooking skills are getting better and better,” said the old man with a hearty laugh, “I’ve been fishing my whole life and have long since grown tired of fish. But the fish dishes that the kid makes are something I could still eat.”
Feng Boping laughed heartily, flicked his sleeves, and took the lead to sit on the large rock next to the pot; with a wave of his hand, a cup and jade chopsticks appeared in his palm like picking flowers.
Although he and Li Muxiu shared similar tastes, there were certain differences between them. Feng Boping was somewhat finicky about cleanliness and had a fondness for beautiful jade, using luxurious bowls and chopsticks even for eating, which did not pale in comparison to the royal clan within the court.
He handed Li Hao a clean pair of bowl and chopsticks with a smile yet did not bother Li Muxiu, instead quietly awaiting the boiling pot.
Li Hao estimated the time was about right, then flipped the lid over, setting it aside on some leaves. The rich aroma burst forth immediately. Ignoring the usual courtesies of elders first and children last, he reached straight in with his chopsticks to grab some meat.
“You guys wait for me,” exclaimed Li Muxiu as he hurried over, hastily fashioned a pair of chopsticks from a twig, and began stirring in the pot.
Although Feng Boping was particular about cleanliness, he didn’t say anything about Li Muxiu’s actions. Li Hao felt this was probably the feeling of lifelong camaraderie.
The three of them ate with great relish. Despite the significant age difference, neither of the two older men pulled rank on Li Hao. Sometimes you would call me ‘kid’, and I would call you ‘old man’, showing carefree personalities.
“I didn’t expect you to bring out new tricks in cooking fish.” Li Muxiu, after drinking a mouthful of spicy soup, clicked his tongue in appreciation.
Li Hao smiled. Indeed, in the past six months, his self-taught drawing and cooking had both steadily improved, reaching the second level.
So had his Fishing Tao.
Maybe there really was something to the newbie protection phase theory. In the first month, his fishing success rate was extremely high, but now it seemed rare to catch anything. Sometimes he would even stay up until midnight, forced to find a shallow spot and catch a Power Passage Realm demon fish to avoid returning empty-handed.
As they talked, suddenly, Li Hao’s gaze darted toward the fish bladder, which was gently touching the water surface.
There was movement!
He swiftly put down his bowl and chopsticks and crouched, rushing over to the fishing rod. Right at that moment, the fish bladder suddenly plunged underwater.
Li Hao quickly set the hook and pulled on the line, which immediately tightened on the other end, transmitting a tremendous force. A massive commotion came from beneath the water as well.
“This kid…”
The two elders, seeing this, both revealed a hint of envy—they couldn’t believe this youngster had gotten a bite first.
Soon, the commotion under the water grew stronger, and a demon beast emerged from the surface. It was not a fish demon, but a shrimp demon with a hardened shell!
It was four or five meters long, covered in spikes, with fearsome pincers capable of crushing rocks.
At that moment, the shrimp demon was grabbing the fishing line with its pincers, its bulging eyes glaring at Li Hao on the shore. Seeing that it was just a little kid, it screeched in fury, yet it was also filled with dread. Where did this wild child come from, possessing such strength?
Its struggles became more violent, but the fishing line was given to Li Hao by Li Muxiu, impervious to water and fire, and able to withstand a million catties of force, something a common Zhou Tian Realm shrimp demon could not break.
Soon, under the dragging, the shrimp demon’s body slowly neared the shore. Its eyeballs showed a struggle, contemplating whether to mutilate itself to escape the hook and flee for its life.
Just then, Li Hao on the shore staggered as if he couldn’t steady the fishing rod.
“Hmm?”
The shrimp demon hesitated upon seeing this.
After a tug-of-war, the shrimp demon felt that this child was only slightly more powerful than itself, and had it not been for the injury caused by the fish hook, it might not have been defeated.
It’s eyeballs rotating, the shrimp demon tried to pull Li Hao into the water, but each time, Li Hao managed to stead himself in the nick of time, narrowly securing his position.
Eventually, after a fierce struggle, the shrimp demon, pained by the pulling, couldn’t help but let out its vicious nature. It shrieked and surged towards the fishing platform, intent on crushing this ignorant, annoying brat.
But as it came ashore, the previously wobbling child suddenly steadied himself, his face revealing a relieved and beaming smile.
This isn’t good!
The moment the shrimp demon realized something was amiss, a massive force suddenly transmitted from the fish hook, pulling its unbalanced body in mid-air directly towards him.
With a woosh, something like a silver light streaked by—what was that, so bright?
The next moment, the shrimp demon knew nothing more as the world went dark.
A massive shrimp head rolled away as Li Hao casually stuck his sword into the ground beside him. He then dragged the body over near the cooking area, not far from the two elders, saying, “It’s a pity it didn’t bite earlier. Otherwise, I could have added some shrimp paste to your meal at noon.”
Seeing how effortlessly Li Hao dealt with the Zhou Tian Realm shrimp demon, both elders smiled. They had hidden their breaths earlier, which is why the shrimp demon hadn’t detected them, emboldening it.
Li Hao cast the bait again and continued to eat and drink.
“This Zhou Tian Realm level nine demon was so easily slain by you, you must have also reached a small level of achievement with the Li Family’s Dragon River Divine Meridian,” Feng Boping said with a laugh.
Li Hao did not deny it.
A small level of achievement? He had already reached perfection.
The regular fishing session came to an end as the sun dipped low in the western sky. Li Hao said goodbye to the two gentlemen and the Thief Saint, who mentioned he had to take a long trip and would be away for half a month.
Clearly, some treasure was about to be stolen somewhere.
Li Muxiu had long been accustomed to departures, and with a smile, he said goodbye and led Li Hao back to the Divine General Mansion.
Now that Li Hao had taken an interest in fishing, Li Muxiu did not continue to introduce him to the “traditional rules” of fishing and went straight back to the Listening Rain Tower.
Outside the tower, Li Fu, as usual, was waiting there, but this time, beside him stood a young maid, precisely Xuejian from the Eternal Spring Court.
Seeing the elder and younger returning, Xuejian couldn’t help but size up Li Hao.
She had long heard that this Second Master was eccentric; many ladies and mistresses from the various courts wished to send their children to him for guidance, but he paid attention to no one. Unexpectedly, he would be so close to Li Hao, a child with no talent for martial arts.
As such thoughts went through her mind, Xuejian’s gentle face betrayed no hint of them; she smiled, showing her teeth, and stepped forward to explain her purpose.
It turned out that Lady He Jianlan was thinking of Li Hao, who had already been studying Body Refinement Realm techniques for quite some time, and wanted him to enter the martial training grounds to practice with other youths from the family.
Of course, Li Fu had long learned of this news from Xuejian’s mouth, and as she spoke, eagerness spread across his face, almost as if he wished to nod in agreement on Li Hao’s behalf.
But after hearing this, Li Hao and Li Muxiu looked at each other and both laughed.
Li Muxiu knew Li Hao’s words carried little weight and refusal might lead to persistent entanglements, so he waved his hand and said, “The little guy is fine following me. I can teach him well enough, going to the martial training grounds would be a waste of time.”
The old master grumbled internally, sending the boy to the martial training grounds, wasn’t that just bullying?
The disciples in the martial training grounds were at best in the Zhou Tian Realm, and those with higher talents would study under famous mountains or join the military.
Letting Li Hao, a boy who could easily kill ninth-layer demons of the Zhou Tian Realm, go to the martial training grounds would be like beating up children and kicking women. What’s the difference?
Hearing the old master’s refusal, both Li Fu and Xuejian became anxious.
But Xuejian, as if having anticipated this response, immediately spoke sincerely and gently, explaining that it would only take a short practice in the mornings at the martial training grounds to hone real combat experience and practice skills with peers.
Li Fu nodded repeatedly at her side, agreeing fervently.
While following his uncle would afford the best guidance, he was also concerned that the old master might be leading Li Hao astray; after all, though the uncle was powerful, he appeared to be rather… unfocused.
He had never heard Li Hao discuss matters of cultivation with his uncle. Instead, they would become excitedly engrossed in conversations about which fish to catch, how to set the hook, and so on…
Furthermore, even disciples of a Sword Saint like Li’s uncle had to spar with peers of the same realm. Otherwise, the teachings that remained mere theory would ultimately be understood more slowly.
When Li Muxiu heard what Xuejian was suggesting, he nearly rolled his eyes. Would sparring with those kids from the family be more challenging than outwitting demon fish while fishing?
It should be noted, fishing for Zhou Tian Realm demons was not just brute labor. These demon fish had gained intelligence and knew danger; they would rather tear their bodies than escape the hook. And dealing with Soul Succession Realm demons was even harder to manage.
Put simply, fishing is a comprehensive skill involving intelligence, stealth, deception, showing weakness, and engaging in a battle of strength—all of it.
For these reasons, the old master had been addicted to it for half his life and was still as enthralled as ever.
With an outright refusal and feigned anger, threatening to beat someone up if it was mentioned again, Xuejian and Li Fu could only accept it reluctantly.
Once Li Hao had put away the fishing gear in the Listening Rain Tower, he went back to the courtyard with Li Fu, learning along the way that Northern Yan had sent a letter. Their eyes lit up at the news, and they hurried to the Eternal Spring Court.
A family letter was in Lady He Jianlan’s hands; she sat upright in the hall, her demeanor noble and dignified.
“Tiangang is running short of military funds; I need to attend court tomorrow…” A pensive look crossed He Jianlan’s eyes.
Just then, Li Hao and Li Fu rushed in hurriedly. Li Fu still had the sense to remember propriety, but Li Hao had already barged in. Li Fu tried to stop him but failed and ended up following him in a fluster.
When they faced He Jianlan’s gaze, the man’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he quickly bowed to apologize.
“Is it from them?” Li Hao hurriedly asked.
He Jianlan’s gaze shifted to Li Hao, and upon sensing the faint smell of the water on him, she knew he had just returned from fishing with his uncle.
Seeing Li Hao’s expectant look, He Jianlan did not mind the boy’s rashness and nodded slightly.
“What… what does it say?” Li Hao asked, his eyes full of anticipation.
He Jianlan paused slightly, a fleeting look of tenderness in her eyes, but it quickly vanished as she spoke softly,
“It’s a military report from Northern Yan. Your father says they’ve just slain a group of demons, and there are issues with grain and provisions.”
She did not give details, as it involved military affairs.
“Did they encounter any dangers, did they mention me?” asked Li Hao.
He Jianlan’s fingers tightened slightly around the letter as she nodded and said with a smile,
“Your parents asked me to feed you well and not to overexert yourself. They also inquired about what you’ve recently eaten, whether you’ve caught a cold, or whether you have been obedient to your elders…”
After listening quietly to the lady’s words, Li Hao said, “Could I see the letter, please? I can read.”
He Jianlan closed the letter and shook her head slightly, “No, it contains military matters, and you’re still too young.”
“Alright then,” replied Li Hao, and then he said, “Please write back on my behalf, let them know I’ve been eating well. My cooking is pretty great; I can make tasty food by myself. Also, tell them I’m diligently cultivating my body, which is strong, so I won’t catch a cold. I go fishing with the second uncle every day without hardship. The uncle treats me very well, and he even praised my cooking. When they return, I’ll let them have a taste.”
“And also, tell them to take good care of themselves and not worry about me. I’m safe here in the Divine General Mansion, with both the uncle and you backing me up, nobody bullies me.”
Chapter 35: Chapter 32: The Child King Li Hao
Hearing her child’s careful instructions word by word, He Jianlan’s expression tightened slightly. She nodded gently and said warmly,
“Great Lady will convey all that you have said; you need not worry. Practice well with your Second Grandfather, obey his words, and avoid acting rashly. When you have free time, you may also go to the martial training ground to practice, where you are always welcome.”
She had not asked Li Hao to go to the martial training ground before for fear he would be bullied, but now that Li Hao had embarked on his cultivation path, visiting the training ground for sparring and real combat practice would be beneficial for his progress.
After Li Hao left with Li Fu, He Jianlan couldn’t help but let out a gentle sigh.
By her side, Xuejian, seeing her demeanor, asked cautiously, “Why do you sigh, madam?”
“Xiao Qi is busy with military affairs in Northern Yan, perhaps too busy to remember. This couple, too, after so many years without seeing each other, I wonder why they don’t send more letters to inquire about the child. Hao Er is actually very understanding…”
He Jianlan murmured softly, her tone laced with a hint of helplessness and reproach.
Xuejian, quick-witted, was taken aback and said, “Could it be that what madam just said was all…”
He Jianlan glanced at her, and Xuejian immediately stopped speaking, bowing her head but unable to resist quietly looking towards the courtyard entrance, where the small figure had already walked far away.
So all the words of concern and greetings madam had just expressed were made up by her? Yet the young master had taken them seriously…
Back at Mountain and River Courtyard.
Li Hao had not yet taken out his drawing board when he received another letter delivered by a house servant. Seeing the signature, a smile emerged on his face, and the feeling of loss in his heart dissipated.
Although he did not have much contact with that couple from Northern Yan, strangely enough, in the quiet of some late nights, he somewhat missed them.
Maybe it was the warmth of that embrace, which somehow came back to him in a dream.
Or perhaps it was those genuine eyes, which he had not forgotten to this day.
The letter in his hand was from Sword Saint’s retreat, naturally sent by that lovely young girl.
Ever since she went to the retreat, she would send letters every so often. Initially, it was one every three to five days. Later, as the letters said, her Sword Saint Master became stricter, wanting her to focus more on cultivation, so the frequency of writing letters gradually decreased. But now, he still received one every month.
The letter no longer contained daily matters since she had written about them so many times already. The cultivation at Sword Saint’s retreat was quite monotonous and repetitive, such was the nature of foundational training.
Li Hao opened the letter, sat on the sunlit lounge chair, and with a smile, leisurely read every word, leaving none unread.
Inside, he saw a misspelled word, accompanied by a circle and a cross, indicating that she wrote the wrong character but didn’t know the correct one and simply skipped it.
In his mind, Li Hao could almost picture the young girl scratching her head in frustration as she sat writing the letter, and he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
The letter described her recent meals and the precious medicine her Sword Saint Master had obtained for her. Her cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Zhou Tian Realm, and she had opened twenty-one mystic veins, practicing the most powerful Qi Circulation Skill in the retreat.
Li Hao had heard Second Grandfather mention that the retreat’s Qi Circulation Skill was the Galaxy Sword Qi Skill, a top-tier technique. If one achieved Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection, they could open up to 49 veins!
In comparison to the Li Family’s 54 veins “Dragon River Divine Meridian” Cultivation Technique, it was only ever so slightly inferior.
Besides, the young girl had already opened the Taiyin Mystic Vein and was highly favored by her Sword Saint Master.
Seeing this, Li Hao couldn’t help feeling happy for her. The Dragon River Divine Meridian Cultivation Technique was not shared outside the direct lineage and was off-limits to even Bian Ruxue, his fiancée, as well as all the wives of the various courtyards, including the Great Lady He Jianlan.
However, the techniques they were allowed to practice were also top-notch, only slightly less superior.
If someone possessed extremely high talent and could open up two special major veins by themselves, they could compensate for the gap in foundational techniques. However, such talented individuals were few and far between in the world.
After reading the letter, Li Hao called for a house servant to prepare pen, ink, paper, and a letter for him.
He wrote with ease and care, slowly finishing a piece, sharing his recent endeavors in painting, cooking, and the joys of fishing, as well as befriending an interesting elderly predecessor.
Of course, the letter did not mention the title or the name of the Thief Saint.
After all, Feng in Dayu belongs to the antagonists, unpopular among the various forces; it was only someone with the casual and unconstrained nature of the Second Master who would become close friends with such a person. However, outsiders were unaware of their relationship, otherwise, they would have loudly cursed behind their backs, “Colluding with corrupt officials, no less!”
Having finished, Li Hao, as usual, casually drew a small emoji to encourage her to work hard at her cultivation and to strive together.
After entrusting the letter to a house servant for mailing, Li Hao moved his drawing board over and began to draw as usual. Now at the second level in the Art of Painting, his technique had improved even more than before.
The changes in his seemingly simple sketches were not significant, but upon closer inspection, it was evident that the eyes in his paintings had become more lifelike, as if gazing out from the paper itself.
While he was in the midst of an unfinished painting, a group of figures came galloping into the courtyard, their noise preceding them, and from a distance, someone yelled, “Hao, we’re here!”
Looking up, he saw three rowdy kids tumbling their way over.
They were the only child of the Sixth Lady, Li Yuanzhao,
the second son and third daughter of the Fifth Lady, Li Yun and Li Zhining.
On the day they said farewell to Bian Ruxue as she departed for the Sword Cottage, these legitimate “classmates” came to the Mountain and River Courtyard to see her off and thus had met Li Hao.
Afterward, that kid Li Yun came over multiple times, inquiring about Bian Ruxue’s whereabouts and when she would return. It was then that Li Hao realized this young rascal, not even fully grown, dared to set his sights on his little girl.
However, he didn’t stoop to arguing with the kid.
He simply spanked him soundly, swelling the boy’s buttocks.
Then, after a bit of intimidation and threats, he made sure the young brat didn’t dare complain to the Fifth Lady, because after all, it’s no fun when adults get involved in children’s squabbles.
Of course, the main reason was that he could win.
Since then, Li Yun would carry a hint of a shadow and fear around Li Hao, but that didn’t stop him from coming back to the Mountain and River Courtyard. He later brought his sister and the other youngster from the Sixth Lady’s to bolster their courage and came over together.
After several interactions, Li Hao easily became the king among these three children.
“Hao, last time you were telling us about the monkey that got suppressed, but you haven’t finished. What happened next?”
Li Yuanzhao, plump and short, ran up to the drawing board, his dirty little hands hesitating to touch the paper, lest he get a knock on the head from Li Hao.
“Yeah, yeah,” Li Yun nodded repeatedly, his head bobbing like a pecking chicken, already tamed by Li Hao.
Next to him, the little girl Li Zhining handed Li Hao a food box, her bright eyes sparkling as she said, “Brother Hao, this is the crispy cake my mother made. We’ve all tried it, and it’s really delicious. We brought some for you.”
“I haven’t tried it yet,” Li Yuanzhao blurted out, instantly exposing a flaw, and reached out his dirty little hand, fresh from martial practice at the training field, to grab some. But Li Zhining twisted her body to dodge and gave him a fierce glare.
The little fatty instantly looked at her with a mix of hurt and appeal.
Li Hao laughed and, without any hesitation, took the food box and opened it. A pleasant aroma wafted out. He tried a piece and found it indeed delightful, then he shared the rest with the others, saying, “You go grab a little stool for yourselves and come over. Eat while I finish the story.”
“Zhao, chairs!” Li Yun immediately bellowed.
Li Hao knocked on his head in annoyance, “Zhao is not someone you can order around; get it yourself!”
Covering his head, Li Yun appeared somewhat timid and muttered something unintelligible. He then pointed at a house servant and ordered, “You, bring me a stool over here.”
The servant did not dare disobey and went to fetch it with a smile.
Li Yuanzhao and Li Zhining, familiar with the routine, ran into the house to find small stools for themselves and sat down obediently beside Li Hao.
Chapter 36: Chapter 33: Continuing the Soul
“That cheeky monkey…”
Li Hao broke apart the crispy pancake, savoring it slowly while continuing the story for the three eagerly anticipating youngsters.
In the pavilion, Zhao and Li Fu watched from a distance, both wearing helpless smiles.
The young master had somehow come across these storybooks. If only he would devote all that effort to Body Refinement, surely he would achieve great things in the future.
However, having watched Li Hao be carefree for so long, they had come to accept many things and let nature take its course, just like Second Master had said—the vast Li Family didn’t lack a specialist in Body Refinement, but that child might lack a happy childhood without his parents around. Perhaps this was the only joy he had.
As the sun set into dusk and the story ended, Li Hao shooed away the three youngsters, particularly reminding the most mischievous among them, Li Yun:
“Go back and behave, don’t get beaten by your mother again.”
This little guy had become so excited when he heard the part about causing havoc in the heavenly palace, showing his rebellious streak by arguing with his own mother and wanting to switch from swordsmanship to using a staff. Afterwards, under his mother’s direct guidance, he still felt that the sword suited him better.
“Hmm.” Li Yun’s face turned red, and he ran off quickly.
“Brother Hao, I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.” His sister, Li Zhining, said with a gentle, timid smile.
“Brother Hao…” Li Yuanzhao, the little chubby boy, also hesitated to speak.
“Go on, go.”
Li Hao waved them all away with his hand.
After the children had all left the backyard, Li Hao calmed his mind and continued to paint.
After gaining dozens of skill points in the Art of Painting, the moon had already risen.
Li Hao had dinner with Li Fu and Zhao. After returning to his room, he picked up a book on martial arts taken from the Listening Rain Tower and flipped through it.
This book was not about cultivation techniques but rather served as an introduction to various realms.
“Soul Succession Realm, as the name implies, involves inheriting a prior soul!”
“For those without background, ordinary people can enter the Soul Succession by joining a martial temple. If favored by Heroic Spirits, they too can undergo soul succession.”
“Furthermore, by enlisting in the army, one can worship the souls of soldiers who died in past Dayu wars and possibly receive a legacy from a Heroic Spirit!”
“Moreover, joining famous mountains, great teachers, or sects also allows access to ancestral Heroic Spirits…”
Li Hao quietly read, his eyes flashing with light.
He pulled up his panel to check.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 8]
[Cultivation Level: Tenth Layer of Circulation Realm]
[Sword Dao: Three Stages (Flying Phase) (Hidden Bow)]
[Sword Skill: Endless Sea·Tide (Perfected) Falling Snow Sword Skill (True Form)]
[Physical Body Path: Five Stages (Myriad Forms) (Tiger Press)]
[Body Techniques: Stone Skin Hundred Refinements (True Form) Thousand Jiaos Holy Body Fourth Layer (Thousand Jiaos Body Beginner) Primordial Third Layer (Enter the Ghost Body Perfection) Dragon Cicada Void Body Fourth Layer (Dragon Soul Body Beginner)…]
[Control Path: Three Stages]
[Control Techniques: Heavenly Gang Zhou Tian Skill (Perfection) Hundred Battles Cycle Heaven Skill (Perfection) Dragon River Divine Meridian (Perfection) Nine Revolutions Starry Sky Skill (Perfection)…]
[Chess Tao: Four Stages (28/10000)]
[Fishing Tao: Two Stages (97/1000)]
[Art of Painting: Two Stages (231/1000)]
[Culinary Dao: Two Stages (736/1000)]
[Chess Catalogue Collected: Myriad Forms, Tiger Press, Flying Phase, Hidden Bow]
[Fishing Catalogue Collected: None]
[Famous Paintings Collected: Thousand Mountains Birds Flying Painting, Snow Mountain Spirit Fox Painting, Kylin Steed Painting]
[Cooking Recipes Collected: None]
[State of Mind: Chess Heart (Embedded)]
[Artistic Skill Points: 0]
The panel now was visibly longer than before, even though Li Hao had omitted dozens of Body Refining Techniques, it was still a dense list.
From Fishing, he had received 6 points of Artistic Skill, which he had used up completely. His cultivation in the Body Path had risen from the third phase to the fifth phase. Crossing from three to four, there was a threshold similar to Chess Tao that required an inner connection to upgrade further.
At that moment, following a prompt on the panel, the previously condensed chess heart could actually be embedded like a chess manual.
Once the chess heart embedded into the Body Path cleared the hurdle, Li Hao’s affection for chess skills did not diminish at all.
On the contrary, although he had passed the mental barrier in the Body Path, he didn’t develop any extra affection for it, still feeling the usual about it.
The panel could transfer state of mind, but it seemed unable to transfer the power of emotions.
And when the Body Path reached phase four, the many low-grade Body Refinement Skills underwent a remarkable transformation, all evolving into higher-level techniques.
Stone Skin Hundred Refinements transformed into Stone Skin Thousand Refinements, and Barbarian Ox Strength into Bull Demon Barbarian Strength, enhancing the techniques and their effects, bringing significant improvements to the physical body.
The other numerous inferior grade techniques did the same, causing all organs throughout his body to undergo new transformations and enhancements. Now, just in terms of physical strength, he had reached eighty thousand catties!
While the several peak Body Refinement Arts, even though there was no grade transformation, they had all entered the fourth layer.
However, at the fourth layer, he encountered some peculiar issues.
Merely depending on the energy of heaven and earth was no longer sufficient to meet the practice conditions of these peak Body Refinement Arts. Even if his cultivation in the Body Path advanced to phase five, he couldn’t eliminate the external obligatory conditions.
For example, to practice the fourth layer of Thousand Jiaos Holy Body, one must personally slay a Jiao dragon, capture its soul, and refine oneself, subduing and imprisoning its soul to break through the Circulation Realm and step into the Soul Succession Realm.
The Dragon Cicada Void Body was the same; the fourth layer, the Dragon Soul Body, required a drop of true dragon blood to be completed.
Without resolving external conditions, no matter how much physical comprehension he had, even if he knew how to practice, it was like a skilled wife unable to cook without rice, with no solution at hand.
Luckily, these two practice conditions were not difficult to meet for Li Hao.
With just a word, Li Muxiu could resolve them in minutes.
However, the methods of inheriting the soul in these two Body Refinement techniques were both unorthodox, and even if successful, they were considered mid-tier in the Soul Succession Realm, not outstanding.
The strength of the Soul Succession Realm depends on the strength of the inherited Heroic Spirit’s legacy.
Thus, major powers still maintained their advantage in this regard, creating a vast gap from ordinary Martial Artists.
Famous mountain Grandmasters could let their Direct Disciples worship before the Heroic Spirit Hall of their ancestors, and if lucky, receive the legacy of a Heroic Spirit ancestor, ascending in one step, which is considered top-tier.
After all, those capable of passing down Heroic Spirits were ancient old monsters from ages past, at least possessing the Four Stands Realm existence that could defy the heavens and change fate!
Such strength in Dayu could be counted on fingers.
The inheritance from even a trace of their soul’s will, like a key to a treasure trove, was immensely beneficial.
Whereas for Martial Artists without this background and heritage, unless they had extraordinary talents and took oath under a famous mountain, their only choice would be to inherit a soul from a Martial Temple.
The Heroic Spirits in the Martial Temples were heroes of ancient times, of varying strength, uneven and not all complete, dependent on the inheritor’s own talents and disposition, to see which Heroic Spirit would choose them.
Lastly, there were the likes of Jiao dragons and mountain Demons of lesser kinds.
Such Great Demons were not stingy with their souls, but as their spirits were too weak, the inheritance they could offer was limited.
Being born into the Li Family, Li Hao had countless choices, among which the best option was to enter the Ancestral Hall of the Li Family.
There were the lineage’s ancestral spirits worshipped, from the first generation, that ancient Divine General who opened the Dayu lands with Emperor Dayu, to the many generations that followed, including many top-tier powerhouses.
Moreover, due to the connection by bloodline, inheriting the soul became easier, which was one of the reasons why Martial Arts Noble Clans remained powerful over ages.
Heritage, what is heritage? It’s the existence that can be passed down through layers.
After successfully inheriting a soul in the Li Family Ancestral Hall and continuing to practice the two peak Body Refinement Arts, capturing the Jiao soul and the True Dragon soul will merely strengthen himself, not allow him to ascend just by that—the difference is significant.
However, before that, Li Hao planned to let his own accumulation deepen further.
The Control Path, as he thought, corresponds to normal cultivation.
Qi Circulation Skill, channeling veins, future Soul Succession Realm’s control of souls and even the Divine Soul Realm, most likely all depend on the existence of the Control Path.
With the understanding from the third phase of the Control Path, he practiced both of the Li Family’s top Qi Circulation Skills to perfection.
You should know, others, even if naturally gifted, would only dare to practice one, since each practice was equivalent to redoing the ten layers of the Circulation Realm!
But with the insight from the third phase of the Control Path, Li Hao moved smoothly through several practices and easily completed them.
And the two top Qi Circulation Skills, compared to the inherent Qi Circulation Skills in the Body Refinement arts, had some differences, which resulted in fewer overlaps than the two Body Refinement Qi Skills, causing a multitude of intermixing, hence leading to a rather exaggerated situation.
Li Hao’s Qi Circulation reached, from 143 cycles, to a lineage…
248 cycles!
Yes, to an extremely exaggerated extent, surpassing even the All Heavens Zhou Tian Skill of the Imperial Family’s 168 cycles by a whole 80 cycles!
