Chapter 37: Chapter 34 Flawless Body, Ten Million Pounds!
When the Cycle Heaven Realm reached Perfection with 54 meridians, it meant an additional 4320 cycles of strength, which was over eight hundred thousand jin of colossal force!
However, the royal family had access to the “Dong Huang Scripture,” Dayu’s top Meridian Opening Skill, capable of opening 62 meridians, adding 8 meridians of Cycle Heaven strength which, when converted, provided only about 600,000 jin of extra force.
But this was not Li Hao’s limit.
The Great Yin Channel was worth ten meridians, equivalent to 2480 cycles, which was close to 500,000 jin!
In addition, the Meridian Opening Skill that Li Hao practiced was not just the Dragon River Divine Meridian; the Nine Revolutions Starry Sky Skill was also a Meridian Opening Skill, along with three mid-to-high-tier Meridian Opening Techniques and several lower-tier ones.
However, those lower-tier ones only opened the easiest meridians, which were already covered by the mid-to-high-tier techniques, rendering them ineffective.
But the Nine Revolutions Starry Sky Skill, combined with the three mid-to-high-tier techniques, enabled Li Hao to open up major meridians not covered by the Dragon River Divine Meridian, bringing his total to 69 types of opened meridians!
He had already surpassed the number of meridians opened by the “Dong Huang Scripture” of the royal family!
Li Hao was not yet satisfied. Currently, he planned to rely on his own physical insights to deduce the fourth layer of the “Primordial Skill” and break through the Flawless Body!
‘The first chapter gathers the power of Yin and Yang from heaven and earth, the second layer encompasses the celestial stars, the third layer the hard-to-notice Mystic Veins within the human body. For the fourth layer, I hope to open the Great Yang Meridian and combine the Yin and Yang channels!’
Li Hao’s ideas were not whimsical; with the insights from the fifth stage of the Physical Body Path, he considered himself half a Grandmaster in Body Refinement.
What is a Grandmaster? It is someone who can create martial arts and establish their own schools!
How the fourth layer of the original “Primordial” should be cultivated, Li Hao did not know; nor did he need to. It was likely that the Li Family had not been able to gather the complete scripture for years, and it had probably been destroyed, becoming dust in history.
If that was the case, he would just continue writing a new chapter for this top-tier Body Refinement Technique!
Let the pearl no longer be covered in dust!
Several days later.
By the Blackwater Demon Lake.
Li Hao sat outside the Fishing Terrace when suddenly, an insight struck him, his Blood Qi surged, and bones beneath his skin subtly trembled. The Qi Force in his body danced back and forth within the 69 major meridians, eventually rushing with immense pressure to the crown of his head, almost causing his brain to burst!
This was an exceedingly dangerous endeavor, but Li Hao’s control over his body was extremely fine-tuned; he could even fold his ears shut and move each bone as flexibly as his fingers, exerting force at will!
With a thunderous crash, his brain seemed to vibrate, and he was assailed by waves of swelling and pain.
Li Hao gritted his teeth and endured until that powerful Qi Force suddenly found an escape, rushing out before returning through the same gap, creating a cycle inside his body!
A gleam of brilliant light shone in Li Hao’s eyes, filled with excitement and agitation.
At last, it was done!
The Great Yin Channel was a wandering meridian, appearing randomly anywhere in the body at different times, making it extremely difficult to locate and control. Hence, it was called the Mystic Vein, also implying the elusive and mysterious.
But the Great Yang Meridian was fixed, located inside the skull.
Comparatively, the Great Yang Meridian was even more dangerous than the Great Yin Channel. Nobody dared to try opening it; failure could result in idiocy or disability at best, or at worst, a burst skull leading to instant death!
While a single meridian could account for the strength of ten, the enormous risk involved to gain just a little more power deterred ninety-nine percent of people from attempting it.
The reason being, almost all who had tried failed.
Only certain Martial Arts fanatics and unrivaled geniuses would even consider engaging in such madness!
Now, with the Great Yang Meridian opened, Li Hao instantly felt as if the Mystic Vein had found an anchor and no longer drifted around. Instead, it gradually approached the Great Yang Meridian, the two intertwining.
“Yin and Yang combined, I shall call the fourth layer, Yin and Yang… no, Flawless Body!”
Li Hao summoned the interface, and as his will commanded, the entry for Primordial Skill on the interface actually advanced to the Fourth Layer, named Flawless Body, Minor Accomplishment!
He immediately circulated the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse, repeatedly transferring the Qi Force within his body to familiarize himself with the process.
Soon, under the entanglement of Yin and Yang, a faint special vortex of power emerged.
Through the swirl, Li Hao seemed to glimpse a golden light within his skull.
He tried to reach it with his Qi Force, only to realize it was extremely distant, far beyond his grasp.
“Legend has it that there are a total of 108 major meridians in the human body; if all of them were opened, perhaps… I might be able to touch that golden light,” Li Hao thought, as a sense of enlightenment washed over him.
This was an insight from the Physical Body Path, enriched by a wealth of cultivation memories, giving him an understanding of the body that was beyond ordinary people.
Body Refining is not simple, nor is it as unpromising as the elders said. On the contrary, Li Hao felt that the tiers of Body Refining Techniques within Listening Rain Tower were inadequate; even the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body placed at the sixth floor could advance to the Soul Succession Realm only by its fourth layer!
And the other Cultivation Methods aimed directly for the top.
There were multiple reasons why Body Refiners were not highly valued including the difficulty of cultivation; Li Hao also believed the scarcity of techniques was a factor.
If the techniques collected by the Li Family were so few and far between, what about elsewhere?
Li Hao looked at the interface; the previous Flawless Body Minor Accomplishment had now become Great Accomplishment!
The intersection of the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse seemed to connect all the major meridians, allowing all the Qi Force to be instantly concentrated and orchestrated within, like erecting a Dragon Spine in the body!
Li Hao tried it out and suddenly threw a punch.
With a whoosh, the punch whipped through the air like the roar of a tiger, actually pressing down the surface of the water several zhang ahead, creating waves and ripples seven or eight meters in diameter!
If this punch had really hit solidly, it would have been like a cannonball hitting the water, bursting forth with a tremendous splash!
Li Hao was slightly stunned and shock shone in his eyes.
Through the refined sensations of his flesh, he knew just how terrifying the power of his punch was.
With the full strength of his major vessels condensed, his power had doubled!
You should know that at this moment, with his Yin and Yang Dual Pulse condensed, and along with the 69 major vessels he had originally cultivated, it’s as if he had 89 major vessels.
With each vessel circulating 248 times, his body’s strength had already reached 4.5 million jin!
Under the doubled burst, it was close to 9 million jin!!
This was almost reaching the divine power of 10 million jin, and even a Zhou Tian Realm True Dragon wouldn’t possess such fierce strength.
Even royal talents, wielding top-notch luck and the Meridian Opening Skill, only have a strength of 2 million jin, unless they also activate two major vessels. If there’s only one, they lack the ability to instantly condense the energy of all major vessels and unleash double the power!
“No wonder that uncle of mine is so terrifying, with both pulses converging to instantly double the strength—too frightening,” Li Hao murmured.
Bright and peculiar lights burst forth in Li Hao’s eyes. He dared not imagine how formidable it would be if all 108 vessels in his body were developed!
You must realize, an ordinary martial artist at the Zhou Tian Realm would have only 20,000 jin of strength.
Although that’s the lower limit, the very lowest level of existence, 90 percent of warriors at the Tenth Layer of the Zhou Tian Realm had at least several hundred thousand jin of strength. However, compared to Li Hao, the gap was still too vast.
“With my current strength, I could easily crush those elite Cycle Realm soldiers from the Yuan Camp, even at the Tenth Layer,” Li Hao thought to himself.
Elite soldiers from the Yuan Camp at Tenth Layer only had a massive strength of 500,000 jin, appearing as mere children before him.
Royal talents were four times stronger than the soldiers from the Yuan Camp, and he was four times stronger than those royal talents!
Li Hao retracted his fist and regulated his breath.
Having just unleashed double the power of Yin and Yang, he felt a significant consumption of physical strength which was not sustainable for regular use. However, it was enough to deliver a fatal blow in a critical exchange.
When his body had relaxed and recovered, Li Hao looked toward the demon lake but did not see Second Uncle’s figure. He said he went to track the old dragon’s trail in the demon lake; who knows where he had ended up going.
This demon lake stretched for thousands of miles, with deep waters. Hiding a Dragon Demon inside, it really was hard to detect.
At that moment, a faint movement suddenly transmitted over.
Li Hao’s ears twitched, and he quickly turned his head to look, only to see a snow-white figure swaying amidst the withered yellow leaves, as though hiding.
He flashed over to the figure and it turned out to be a snow-white little fox, similar in size to a newborn puppy.
After taking a closer look, Li Hao saw that the little fox did not have any demonic aura—it seemed to be a common wild fox.
“Little guy, how did you get here? Where are your parents?” Li Hao bent down and picked up the little fox from the leaves.
The little fox’s ears had a touch of orange-red, seeming like a mix between a white fox and a red fox. When Li Hao picked it up, it immediately struggled and pushed against his hands with its little paws.
Li Hao placed it on his hand and looked around but did not see any sign of adult foxes. Perhaps the little thing had sneaked out from its nest.
Seeing this, Li Hao put it back on the ground for its parents to find it.
The little fox struggled in the leaves, too small to move swiftly or with agility.
Li Hao smiled and paid it no more heed, returning to the lake to continue fishing.
Before long, a figure flashed back. It was Li Muxiu.
Seeing that his hands were empty, Li Hao knew that the hunt for the Dragon Demon had failed. The old master had tried countless times over the past half-year, proving that the Dragon Demon was extremely cautious and cunning. To cultivate to a level that caught Li Muxiu’s attention, it must have lived for thousands of years at least.
“Hmph.”
Seeing Li Hao’s cheerful demeanor, Li Muxiu snorted disapprovingly and said with a flick of his sleeve: “What about you, air force?”
“Caught a small one, in the Power Passage Realm,” said Li Hao with a he-he.
Li Muxiu rolled his eyes, even more annoyed.
As the sun set in the west, Li Muxiu, in a hurry, could only fish up a Power Passage Realm fish demon to avoid the risk of returning empty-handed and then took Li Hao back to Qingzhou City.
Before leaving, Li Hao noticed that the little fox had crawled to a distant place and yet was still not found by its parents. He asked the old master to help check, only to find a pool of blood and some snow-white fox fur after a search. From the looks of the scene, the adult fox had been eaten by some demon beast.
Such occurrences were common in the wild. Li Hao sighed, found the little fox struggling to climb cluelessly around, and brought it back to Qingzhou City with him.
In the yellowed fallen leaves of the Mountain and River Courtyard, a touch of snow-white was added henceforth.
Chapter 38: Chapter 35: Ancestral Temple
Several months later.
By the Blackwater Demon Lake.
Li Hao hauled up a fish demon of the Eighth Layer of Zhou Tian Realm, casually drew his sword to slay it, then set up a cauldron over a fire to cook.
Scaling, skinning, deboning—his movements were as fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water.
This time, without adding spicy peppers, he prepared a nourishing soup, tossing in some wild mushrooms to cook together.
The rich mushroom aroma drifted out with the steam from the edge of the iron lid, making the two elders fishing by the lake sniff the air and cast occasional glances.
As Li Hao announced, “Let’s eat,” the two elders materialized beside the cauldron like phantoms, each already holding their own eating utensils—a pair of exquisite jade chopsticks and a pair of rough ones made from tree twigs—simultaneously diving into the pot.
“Tsk, tsk, not bad!”
Li Muxiu slurped up a slice of fish and gave Li Hao a thumbs up.
Old Master Feng also smiled as he served himself a bowl of fish soup, savoring it slowly.
The contribution of this fish was significant, adding several dozen points to his cooking experience along with the fishing practices, Li Hao figured his Cooking would be the first artistry to reach the third segment after Chess Tao.
“Here, little guy, try some.”
Li Hao picked up a piece of fish and placed it on a nearby leaf, and a white figure darted out to nibble on it.
“That’s a fox, and you’ve raised it to be a dog,” Feng laughed.
He had been back for several months now, and as for what he did, he didn’t tell Li Muxiu or Li Hao, and naturally, they would not ask.
“There’s not much difference,” Li Hao chuckled.
Halfway through the meal, Li Hao felt the timing was right, and said to Old Master Li Muxiu, “Second Grandpa, I’m planning on breaking through to the Soul Succession Realm soon, do you have time to take me to the ancestral shrine?”
“Hmm?”
Both elders paused with their chopsticks and turned to look at Li Hao.
Li Muxiu inquired in astonishment, “You’re going to break through to the Soul Succession Realm? You’ve reached Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection?”
“Hmm,” Li Hao nodded.
He had deliberately delayed mentioning this to the old master to avoid progressing too quickly, which might appear too shocking and outlandish.
“Really? For real?” Feng Boping put aside his eating and drinking altogether, staring at Li Hao in astonishment.
He knew that even though the boy played around, he would never joke about cultivation.
But at the age of eight, breaking through to the Soul Succession Realm?
That seemed a bit too far-fetched.
“Your Dragon River Divine Meridian is at perfection already? Impossible. Even if you disregard your disability in Martial Arts, even your father didn’t step into the Soul Succession Realm until he was nine.”
Li Muxiu looked doubtfully at Li Hao, knowing he wouldn’t make such a pointless joke, but still found it unbelievable. He had seen prodigies with shocking talent, like Li Junye, who also reached Soul Succession at eight and a half years old!
Furthermore, that person was diligent, day and night, intelligent, and extremely hard-working.
But Li Hao… spent his days fishing with him. Sometimes, they fished for an entire day. When did he have the time to cultivate?
“Um, it’s true,” Li Hao felt he might have overestimated the old master’s capacity to cope, but there was no turning back now, so he reluctantly carried on.
“Could it be that your meridians have cleared on their own?”
Li Muxiu scrutinized Li Hao: “Even though you have an extraordinary talent for Body Refinement, breaking through to Soul Succession would at least take seven or eight years, or even a dozen years to a lifetime. How can Meridian Opening Perfection be achieved in just a short year?”
“That’s simple, just let the young lad show us,” Old Master Feng intervened.
Li Muxiu agreed with a nod, “Right, show me.”
“Fine then.”
Li Hao immediately stood up, away from the cauldron, then stirred his Qi Force, activating 54 major meridians throughout his body, with formidable Qi waves surging all over. He briefly suppressed the concealment effect of the “All-Encompassing” attributes, allowing the Qi waves to burst forth from his body.
Li Muxiu’s and Feng Boping’s eyes went wide with disbelief, Li Muxiu’s reaction even more so, as his chopsticks fell into the pot.
He looked at Li Hao in a daze, slack-jawed.
“Is it really true?”
As a Four Stands Realm powerhouse, how could he be mistaken?
54 meridians, full and robust, a bona fide perfection of the Perfect Zhou Tian Realm!
But the boy before him was only eight years old!
After a moment of being stunned, Feng Boping turned to look at Li Muxiu with a speechless expression, “Your Li Family really knows how to breed monsters. First, it was that kid Li Junye, and now it’s this one. If the other Divine General Mansions knew about this, they’d probably be green with envy and thoroughly scrutinize you guys!”
Li Muxiu had yet to snap out of his shock, just staring blankly at Li Hao.
This wasn’t just a freakish talent of Perfect Zhou Tian, it also revealed something else—Li Hao’s meridians were unblocked!!
It meant that Li Hao was no longer a Martial Arts invalid, he could cultivate!
And with such talent, he would definitely become the number one of the Li Family’s next three generations!
Even considering the past ten generations, this aptitude would unquestionably be the best!
Countless thoughts swirled in his mind at that instant, and Li Muxiu suddenly felt a surge of guilt and self-reproach.
Such a genius, and yet he had been leading him astray every day with trivial pursuits: eating, drinking, playing, fishing indiscriminately. Had he not severely hindered his progress?
“Second Grandpa?”
Li Hao finished cultivating and noticed his second uncle lost in thought, so he reminded him.
Li Muxiu came back to his senses, and the first thing he wanted to do was grab the chopsticks to maintain his composure, but they had already fallen into the soup. He couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, then stared deeply at Li Hao:
“How did your meridians become so unblocked?”
“It seemed to happen in a dream.”
Li Hao said, “One day I had a dream, and in the dream I was cultivating. Suddenly, as I exerted myself, my whole body felt relaxed, and when I woke up, cultivation seemed extremely simple. I went through meridian opening without any obstacles.”
The two elders were speechless.
Did you unblock it all in your sleep?
You’re surely speaking in your dreams now.
But other than what Li Hao said, they couldn’t find any other possibility.
“Could it be that this boy’s previous meridian obstruction was a feigned obstruction?” Feng Boping pinched his sharp white beard, pondering:
“I’ve heard that some martial arts invalids are temporary, and some become unblocked suddenly during practice. He might be one of those.”
“Maybe.” Li Muxiu nodded. He had also heard of such a possibility, but the chances were extremely low.
“Now that this boy can cultivate, your Li Family is truly impressive. A true dragon has fallen, yet another one stands. Tsk tsk.” Feng Boping couldn’t help but express his admiration.
Li Muxiu sighed and said, “Had I known it would be like this, I would have nurtured him properly. He has been wasting a lot of time hanging around with us.”
Li Hao was startled by these words and quickly said, “Elder, you aren’t going to force me to cultivate from here on, are you?”
“What do you mean force you to cultivate?”
Li Muxiu said irritably, “Now that your meridians are unblocked, don’t you want to properly cultivate and establish a great and illustrious reputation in the future?”
“Stop joking around.”
Without a second thought, Li Hao hurriedly said, “Second Uncle, don’t ruin me, I don’t want to join the army and go to war. Life is too comfortable now, and fame and honors, a dog wouldn’t even want them, let whoever wants them have them!”
Li Muxiu was at a loss for words. Others would have been thrilled at the chance to become famous, but this kid, what nonsense was he talking about.
“Hahaha…”
Feng Boping burst into laughter, “It seems this little scoundrel is nothing like Jun Ye. I think what he says is quite right. Fame? Youngsters have pursued fame since ancient times, but in the end, wealth and honors aren’t for this world!”
Li Muxiu’s expression shifted subtly, and deep down he felt as if a fishbone had pierced his heart, painfully stabbing him.
Li Junye had once emerged dazzlingly spectacular.
But afterwards, like a shooting star, he briefly shone before falling rapidly.
He looked at Li Hao, who was nervously watching him.
Li Muxiu’s heart felt like a flower being crumpled. If he sent this child to the battlefield, who could guarantee that he wouldn’t become a second Li Junye?
Forget it… Li Muxiu sighed deeply and said, “If you don’t want to compete for fame, so be it. From now on, just like old me, stay at the Li Family, live a life of leisure, and be an unknown old invalid.”
Feng Boping chuckled, “Who dares say the Fist Saint is unknown, unless his mouth hasn’t been knocked crooked by you yet.”
Li Muxiu shot him an annoyed look and said to Li Hao, “From now on, when your parents hear the news and come looking, I’ll set aside my old pride and take their scolding. Kid, come and eat!”
After saying that, he flicked his finger and a pair of chopsticks flew out of the pot. He then pulled over a branch, peeled it to make chopsticks, and began eating, but it was noticeably less carefree and joyous than before, as if burdened with heavy thoughts.
Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief; no matter what, as long as he could continue fishing with the old man, it was good.
Although he could fish on his own, fishing at the Blackwater Demon Lake with the old man meant not only assured safety but also the chance to catch big fish, which was a delightful prospect.
Sitting by the pot, Li Hao continued eating.
“Second Uncle, about the Soul Succession…”
“Hmph, eat up, and afterwards, I’ll take you there,” Li Muxiu glanced at Li Hao and then started eating the fish vigorously.
Li Hao felt at ease and began to eat and drink heartily.
The Li Family ancestral hall was located in the deepest part of the Divine General Mansion, carved into a mountain slope.
The security outside the mountain was tight, with warriors clad in heavy armor, but there were only fallen leaves on the steps leading up the slope, empty and silent.
Outside the majestic and solemn ancestral hall on the flat square stood several large cauldrons with incense wafting from inside.
Two figures descended from the sky, gliding toward the square in front of the ancestral hall, and then ascended the steps on foot.
Even Li Muxiu, the old man, reined in his usual playful demeanor and took on a calm expression as he led Li Hao up the steps with measured pace.
“Second Brother, what brings you here?”
A calm voice came from inside, as tranquil as a placid lake. Just the voice itself seemed to settle one’s myriad of thoughts.
Li Hao looked inside and saw many ancestral tablets on display. Among them prominently stood a golden statue of the Li Family’s founding divine general, Li Tianyuan!
Off to the side in front of the ancestral tablets was an old man with a long beard and eyebrows, sitting alone on a cushion, with a chessboard placed before him, playing against himself, gently making his moves.
“Of course, I’m bringing the younger generation over for the ancestors to take a look,” Li Muxiu said as he stepped over the threshold and entered.
Upon hearing this, the old man slowly lifted his head, and as his gaze landed on Li Hao, who had just stepped through the threshold, his unfazed eyes revealed a hint of ripples:
“Soul Succession? This child seems even younger than Jun Ye. Second Brother, you can’t be joking, can you?”
Chapter 39: Chapter 36 Ancestor’s Rules
“I can take a joke, but I dare not joke with my ancestors,” Li Muxiu spoke indifferently.
The elder with long eyebrows slightly furrowed his brow, thinking indeed it was so; although his second brother was often casual, he was always very proper in this ancestral hall.
He asked, “Could it be that this child appears young, yet he is nine years old?”
“Eight years old.”
“Eight years old?!”
The elder with long eyebrows was stunned, waves of emotion rippled through his eyes, “Are you saying he achieved Perfect Zhou Tian at eight years old?”
“Correct.”
Having said this, Li Muxiu then walked to the cushion in front of the golden statue, and kneeled down to worship.
“Hao Er, come here.”
After kowtowing three times, he called out softly while kneeling.
Li Hao immediately walked to his side.
“Kneel down and kowtow to the ancestors.”
Li Hao did as he was told, kneeling on the cushion and kowtowing respectfully to all the spirit tablets in turn.
Li Muxiu lifted his head and spoke softly, “Descendant Li Muxiu, today I bring the junior here, to listen to the teachings of our ancestors, please bestow upon us the inheritance!”
As these words fell, the numerous spirit tablets above seemed to tremble slightly.
Li Hao had finished his kowtowing when he looked up, only to see a series of spectral figures materializing before the spirit tablets, seated in the air. Some wore scholar’s robes and white gowns, others were clad in heavy armor, and some even had half their bodies missing, wrapped only in a battle banner.
Clearly, these were the ancestors of the Li Family.
“Tsk, another fine seedling indeed.”
“Perfection in the Zhou Tian Realm, yet with a youth’s bone structure, just over eight years old, even mightier by three points compared to that little fellow twenty years ago!”
“Who would have thought that the good fortune of my Li Family in the past hundred years would be so thriving? We must caution those youngsters not to become arrogant, or else this child will be their lesson.”
The many spectral ancestors chatted and shared their opinions in gentle murmurs.
When Li Hao entered the ancestral hall, he had already temporarily retracted his Myriad Attributes, not sure if these ancestral spirits could ignore the concealing effects of Myriad Attributes; still, it was better not to invite unnecessary trouble.
“This child is talented and clever, I’ll not interfere. You grant it.”
“With such talent, only ancestors like you are fit to bestow it.”
After some exchange, many of the ancestral shadows gradually faded once again, returning to the spirit tablets, leaving only four spectral figures still suspended above the tablets. They merely watched Li Hao quietly, without speaking.
“I—” the figure holding a spear was just about to speak, when suddenly, a burst of light emanated from the central statue of the golden body, as if coming to life.
The other few shadows couldn’t help but look over, immediately bowing their heads in a slight nod.
While the rest of the spirit tablets also trembled slightly, emitting a nearly uniform voice, “We pay homage to our ancestor.”
In front of the golden statue, a figure with a tall stature and broad shoulders sat cross-legged, more substantial in form compared to the other shadows.
His features were identical to the golden statue.
“If you can uphold my oath, you will receive my inheritance,” the middle-aged man looked down at Li Hao, his expression gentle and tranquil, undisturbed by any ripple.
Li Hao could feel the old man next to him trembling slightly, seemingly quite excited, and he also recognized this spectral figure to be the Li Family’s original ancestor, Li Tianyuan!
“We pay homage to our ancestor!”
Old Master Li Muxiu bowed his head and kowtowed.
Li Hao immediately followed suit, imitating him.
“In my time, I followed Emperor Dayu in his campaigns, subduing countless demons and tribes throughout Donghuang, and I made two oaths to the Emperor that have continued the Li Family’s glory for a thousand years,” spoke the spirit of ancestor Li Tianyuan.
“The first oath is that the people of the Li Family shall vow to protect the Li Family unto death, through thick and thin!”
“The second oath is to defend the Dayu Dynasty to the death, to share the same fate with Dayu!”
“Can you do this?”
After speaking, Li Tianyuan fixed his gaze on the Li Hao below.
Li Hao looked shocked. Vow to protect the Li Family to death? Did the Li Family refer to certain people or everyone?
The ancestral hall was deadly silent, with all eyes seemingly converged on the young child, waiting for him to speak.
After a long silence, Li Hao finally spoke softly, “Ancestor, forgive my dullness, for I am confused.”
“Speak,” the spirit of Li Tianyuan said, his expression serene.
“Does protecting the Li Family mean everyone, including the branches of the clan?”
Li Hao asked carefully, “Does this protection imply safeguarding them, or does it mean I cannot harm them?”
“You only protect the direct bloodline. Since it’s protection, you naturally cannot harm them; otherwise, if you chop off their limbs and leave them just a breath, it could still be considered protection,” stated Li Tianyuan, clearly indicating the severity of the oath.
Li Hao asked, “Then… what if there are traitors in the family’s direct line, or if someone schemes against me?”
“Such degenerates, you can hand them over to those who haven’t entered the ancestral hall to continue their souls.”
“But if such degenerates attack or ambush me first, wouldn’t I only be able to hide?” Li Hao spoke.
“He who inherits my soul, within the same realm excluding the Royal Family, shall be invincible!”
Li Tianyuan said indifferently, “If you wish to avoid them, it is effortless. If you encounter those above your realm, you just need to flee for your life, there is no need for unnecessary heroics.”
“What if they die in front of me while I stand by and do nothing?”
“You must intervene to save them, even if they are unworthy,” Li Tianyuan said. “However, when the unworthy face justice, you may choose to be absent, so your heart’s oath will not be broken, and you won’t be hurt.”
Li Hao thought for a moment. That could indeed be a solution.
“But that seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?”
As a prodigy, encountering a Li Family peer in the same realm, he could only hide away.
Even if the other party faces misfortune and he witnesses it, he still has to help? That seems rather unreasonable.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Li Muxiu’s expression changed slightly, and he promptly whispered to Li Hao.
Li Tianyuan’s heroic spirit, however, did not get angry but calmly looked at Li Hao and slowly said, “Indeed, it is not fair, but do you know why I would have talents eligible to succeed the ancestral spirits in the family shrine endure such injustices and make such heart’s oaths?”
The Li Family indeed has a family shrine and many ancestral heroic spirits, but not every member of the Li Family is eligible to inherit these spirits—their standards are quite high.
Li Hao shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“It is for continuation.”
Li Tianyuan spoke slowly, “The first heart’s oath is to prevent gifted members of the family from becoming spoiled and arrogant, disregarding the lives of the ordinary and mediocre within the clan, even to the point of breaking away from the family after ascending with the resources of the clan and seeking their fortune recklessly.”
“Therefore, this restriction may seem unfair to the talented, but at most, it is a minor grievance, yet the benefit is that it can sustain the family, passing down the legacy from generation to generation!”
Li Hao thought it over. From the perspective of the ancestors, this was indeed the case.
“And the Li Family’s thousand-year existence, unextinguished and not feared by the Royal Family, is due to the second heart’s oath!”
Li Tianyuan spoke calmly, “Originally, there were twelve divine generals who campaigned with the founding emperor. Now, in the Dayu Divine General Mansion, there are only five seats, of which two rose in recent hundreds of years. The descendants of those old fellows from the past have long been obliterated by the sands of time, and the remaining ones have concealed their identities, their whereabouts unknown.”
“These two heart’s oaths may seem like restrictions, like chains, but in reality, they are for the continuation of the bloodline!”
“Otherwise, with the Li Family’s thousand years of accumulated military merits, its connections, the number of generals, and the prestige within the army, how could the Royal Family dare to empower them so readily, and why wouldn’t they use Imperial Skill to weaken and harm us?”
Hearing this, Li Hao was momentarily stunned.
From the perspective of this old ancestor, it had indeed been achieved.
The benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
For a divine general lineage to continue for a thousand years with just a casual remark, its difficulty was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
Perhaps it was because the Royal Family knew that the Li Family’s top talents would inherit the ancestral spirits in the family shrine and had these two heart’s oaths, that they allowed the Li Family its current glory.
“Now that you are fully aware, are you willing to make the heart’s oaths?” Li Tianyuan asked calmly yet earnestly.
Li Hao pondered and remained undecided, still unsure of what to do.
He always felt that these two heart’s oaths were like a curse upon the Li Family.
Though they ensured a thousand years of glory, were they not also a tight shackle?
Generations of honor, this hall full of heroic spirits, six out of nine in the previous generation dying in battle, how many in each generation died a natural death?
Instead, those ordinary members within the family seemed to be mostly protected and able to enjoy their old age.
Being a prodigy… in the Li Family, it seemed more of a misfortune.
Because they had to bear the weight of the entire Li Family on their shoulders!
In this case, it would be better to inherit the spirit from a martial temple, at least to be free and easy.
Li Tianyuan seemed to discern Li Hao’s hesitation, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes, and then his figure gradually faded away, leaving only his echoing voice:
“This child is talented but lacks determination; let him consider it further.”
The other memorial tablets quivered slightly as if to bid farewell to the ancestor before also becoming silent.
Li Muxiu was taken aback, then looked at Li Hao helplessly but did not say more in front of the ancestral tablets. Instead, he stood up with a deep bow and then led Li Hao out of the family shrine.
Seeing this, Li Hao felt an inexplicable sense of relief and followed Elder Muxiu out.
Before leaving, his gaze involuntarily glanced at the chessboard. He couldn’t help it, possessing a chess heart. As Jian Wudao once said, among a thousand weapons, a lover of swords will see the sword first.
That is only the stage of affection, let alone when it takes hold of the heart.
Among ten thousand things, Li Hao would notice the chessboard at first glance.
“Elder, black piece on the seventh line, thirteenth spot, can win,” he said.
After speaking, Li Hao followed his Second Uncle out of the family shrine.
Outside, it seemed to have started to drizzle, a thin, unending rain.
Li Muxiu sighed; it was the perfect time for fishing, with the lake assimilating fresh water and the Demon fish liking to come up for air, but at the moment, he was not in the mood.
“Don’t overthink, just reflect on it yourself,” Li Muxiu knew Li Hao was playful, unwilling to be bound, and couldn’t talk him into it.
The boy was too young and occasionally willful.
Li Hao nodded.
The Elder himself had inherited the spirit in the family shrine, which showed that, despite seeming carefree, he was deeply concerned for the Li Family.
Inside the shrine, the old man with the long eyebrows withdrew his gaze. He was not familiar with Li Hao, nor did he care how Hao felt since he would come back eventually.
As his eyes fell back on the chessboard, his fingers gently pinched a piece about to make a move when he suddenly let out a soft exclamation.
Chapter 40: Chapter 37: Establishing a Soul with Heaven and Earth
A year later.
By the edge of Blackwater Demon Lake, the aroma of fish soup wafted into the air.
The two elders sat next to a large pot with their bowls and chopsticks, and Feng Boping followed the customary sip of soup before eating. He scooped up a spoonful of fish soup and slowly savored it, not being able to help but exclaim:
“This kid’s cooking skills could almost rival those of the Imperial Kitchen.”
“Tsk, I’ve been eating it for a year and still haven’t gotten tired of it, which is really strange.”
Li Muxiu was also surprised; he had not expected Li Hao to possess such remarkable culinary talent, a skill that was getting better and better.
“Feng, have you ever eaten from the Imperial Kitchen?” Li Hao asked with a smile.
“I’ve stolen a taste.”
Feng Boping’s face, though aged, bore a hint of a mischievous smile, reminiscing as he smacked his lips, “That half a bowl of leftover soup even had my saliva in it. I wonder which concubine ended up with it.”
“You old thief, if you had served it to Emperor Yu, you would have lost your head,” Li Muxiu said, clearly not amused. He had some understanding of his old friend’s audacious escapades and found them incredibly bold.
Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh. He knew this Saint of Thieves spared nothing and no one; last time, the old man even tried to give him a silk scarf thin as a cicada’s wing, supposedly used by some sect’s saintess. It was only when his second elder chased the old man down half a river with a shoe that he gave up on gifting the scarf.
This had become one of Li Hao’s regrets; he felt that sometimes the second elder meddled a bit too much…
“Life’s pleasures must be fully enjoyed; after all, you have to try everything,” Feng Boping said cheerfully.
Li Hao also picked up his bowl and began to eat, listening to the elders’ banter. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and words appeared before his eyes:
[You have comprehended the Spirit of Cooking]
Li Hao’s eyes glinted briefly before returning to normal, the revelation falling within his expectations.
Since his Cooking skill reached the third tier at the fastest speed, he had sought ways to deepen his involvement, often visiting the kitchen to communicate and learn from the chefs.
These chefs, upon meeting Li Family’s young master, the favored genius, dared not neglect him. Though the matter was extremely odd, they were completely open and exhaustive in sharing their knowledge with Li Hao.
Through deep conversations with the chefs, Li Hao’s horizons had broadened immensely. He learned of the vastness of the culinary arts, which were no less nuanced than Chess Tao.
An array of ingredients, various seasonings, heat control, culinary techniques, removing fishiness, and countless other methods.
These revelations gradually made Li Hao fall in love with cooking, exploring it like a vibrant new world.
Unconsciously, he moved beyond the phase of cooking for experience and genuinely grew fond of the culinary arts.
Even without the incentive of gaining experience points, he would take opportunities to show off his cooking by preparing various dishes.
Lately, with the confectionaries being delivered to Mountain and River Courtyard, he would taste each carefully. If they were made poorly, he would even overturn them and call the cook responsible to offer his personal criticism.
Once it entered his heart, he inevitably became earnest and strict.
Just like casual gamers in video games who wouldn’t mind losing but those who would rage upon defeat were usually the ones who seriously sought victory.
Now, with the prompt of having comprehended the Spirit of Cooking, Li Hao didn’t feel too overjoyed. After dedicating himself to something, he became indifferent to the outcomes, as it had been with his earlier understanding of Chess Spirit.
Nevertheless, with this State of Mind, he could now attempt to break through to the fourth stage of Control Path.
The three chatted leisurely, finishing their meal and drinks. Li Hao picked some choice bones to feed to the little white fox by his side.
The little white fox was a year and a half old, still petite and delicate, its coat lustrous, snow-white. Li Hao had been feeding it Spirit Fruits infused with medicinal properties, along with its daily fish soup, setting it on a path of cultivation, reaching the fifth level of Power Passage Realm.
From a wild fox in the mountains, it was now halfway to becoming a demon, with a slight demonic aura.
If it could reach the Zhou Tian Realm, it would develop spiritual intelligence.
Demons in the Soul Succession Realm could already “appear and vanish like ghosts.”
After finishing lunch, they went fishing for the afternoon.
However, Li Hao only caught one fish demon at the second layer of Zhou Tian Realm. His luck in fishing was not good today.
After packing up, he returned to Listening Rain Tower. Carrying the little white fox, Li Hao went back to Mountain and River Courtyard and shut himself in his room. Only then did he reveal his panel and, after some consideration, decided to use his new State of Mind for a breakthrough in Control Path.
Soon, his Control Path progressed from the third to the fourth stage.
The third stage of Control Path had enabled rapid progress in opening his channels, and now at the fourth stage, he wondered whether he would gain new insights into the major channels and the Qi Circulation Skill.
As he finished allocating points, a rush of information flooded his mind. After a while, Li Hao slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes were clear and bright, with a hint of astonishment.
The world he saw seemed to have undergone some marvelous changes, and the deep insights in his mind told him that this universe was far more wonderful than what he had seen before.
The world was alive with spirit!
“Demons and monsters gain insight from the stars, the sun, and the moon… Soul Succession, with the blessing of the soul’s intention, inherits not only the soul’s intent but must also abide by certain ‘agreements.’”
“Humans may inherit from other humans, from demons, or from myriad races.”
“Likewise, humans can also receive the inheritance of myriad races, the spirits of mountains and specters, the legacies of True Dragons and Phoenixes, or even… the inheritance of the stars, the sun, the moon, and the very earth itself!”
Seeing many martial arts secrets within Listening Rain Tower, and with his own numerous cultivation methods, Li Hao suddenly felt an epiphany.
To inherit from humans, one must carry on their intentions.
To inherit from demons, one must carry on their nature.
But to inherit from the heaven and earth, one must carry on their profundity!
“I will establish my soul with heaven and earth!” Li Hao’s eyes blazed with intense light.
He activated his Myriad Attributes, enveloping his flesh. Unless he himself made a large commotion with his punches and kicks, others would not be able to detect it.
Then, the Qi Force in his body surged through his major channels, with the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse emerging, converging at the top of his head.
In an instant, his body’s strength crazily surged, containing a terrifying force within.
This force seemed as though it would burst forth from his body, breaking through that elusive barrier of nothingness.
He wanted to connect with heaven and earth, to question the sky, the earth, and borrow that bit of strength!
As if sensing Li Hao’s intense will, a vast and terrifying pressure enveloped him like an actual mountain crashing down, causing all his bones to crackle with stress, some unable to bear the weight.
The weight of the world, heavier than Mount Tai!
Li Hao’s eyes reddened, and he roared in his heart.
The terrifying power of the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse erupted, and in an instant, his Qi Force doubled, reaching nearly ten million catties!
That boundless willpower seemed to be lifted up by sheer force!
But then, it was heavily suppressed again!
Li Hao’s body bent, and his feet deeply embedded into the floorboards.
He clenched his teeth, knowing that relying solely on Qi Force was not enough as he had not glimpsed the essence of heaven and earth!
What were the true features of heaven and earth?
It’s the sky, the white clouds, the mountains and rivers, the myriad things on earth… all parts of the world, but not the complete picture of the world!
And he needed to stand his soul upon heaven and earth, what form would that world take in his heart?
In Li Hao’s mind emerged a Buddhist martial art from the seventh floor of the Listening Rain Tower, within which there was a line of Buddhist scripture.
Buddha has no form.
If even the Buddha has no form, how could heaven and earth have a form?
“I stand within this world, I am the form reflected by this world!”
A sudden burst of light exploded in Li Hao’s eyes, his spirituality and Qi Force seemed to surge out together, breaking through an invisible checkpoint and reaching directly into the world!
All of his Qi Force gathered and condensed his essence, energy, and spirit above his body, vaguely manifesting a shadow, that was his own likeness.
Establishing his own form as the form of the world, establishing his soul with the world as its foundation!
At that moment, Li Hao stepped into the Soul Succession Realm.
It seemed an endless strength flowed through the world, through the voids in all directions, pouring into his body.
Every curtain in the room was shaking violently, yet the doors and windows were shut—where was this wind coming from?
In the courtyard, within the pavilion.
As Li Hao embarked on his cultivation, Li Fu no longer followed him like a shadow, but they still resided in the same courtyard.
At this moment, he was playing chess in the courtyard, not because he enjoyed it, but because Li Hao once strongly invited him, teaching him, so that now in his leisure, it seemed the only pleasure he could find.
He was engrossed in a game with Zhao, fighting a battle across the chessboard.
If Li Hao were to see the game, he would only have one comment: “Amateurish pecking.”
Suddenly, both men seemed to pause in their move, involuntarily looking toward a certain direction.
An inexplicable sense of shock, as though something magnificent was awakening, filled them with astonishment, as if it was the misconception of a divine premonition.
What was this thing?
The next moment, both stopped their game and rushed towards Li Hao’s room, for an abnormal event surely meant the presence of a demon.
As they burst through the door in haste, they saw the room in disarray, with vases that sat on the edge of shelves already fallen and shattered on the floor.
And there was Li Hao, his legs embedded in the wooden planks, breathing faintly as if he had practiced a vigorous technique.
“What’s going on?”
Seeing that there was no ambush, the two men relaxed, and immediately hastened to Li Hao’s side.
Li Hao had already calmed the impact of the power from entering the Soul Succession Realm, and Myriad Attributes hid his extraneous aura. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Li Hao exhaled and said, “I was just practicing.”
“You brat, why not go practice in the courtyard,” Li Fu said irritably, yet without suspicion.
Li Hao’s Body Refinement in the Zhou Tian Realm was hardly a secret, and he was aware of it, although the specific details were unclear to him.
“I just had a sudden insight.” Li Hao explained.
“Well, that’s quite good.”
Zhao laughed, although the vases on the floor were centuries old and quite precious, as long as Li Hao made progress in his training, everything was worth it.
Having reassured the two men, Li Hao continued to savor the power of the Soul Succession Realm in his room, which was far superior to the Zhou Tian Realm.
No wonder it was said that only those who reached the Soul Succession Realm were eligible to be the guardians of a city.
And at this moment, he was only nine years old, yet already capable of commanding a city!
After entering the Soul Succession Realm, Li Hao’s life remained as usual.
Day by day, he ate and drank, either going out fishing, drawing or playing chess in the courtyard, or running to the kitchen to cook.
As time went by, the young master started coming up with new ideas, learning poetry and playing the qin, seemingly ever more determined to drift away from ‘proper pursuits.’
Time flew by, spring went and autumn came.
In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.
The Qingyuan Era, year fourteen.
That year, Li Hao turned fourteen.
Chapter 41: Chapter 38 Tan Palace Academy
“The Qingyuan Era” was the newly established reign title in the year Li Hao was born, highlighting the deep favor bestowed upon the Li Family by Emperor Yu.
This dynasty, which had stood for over three thousand years, was still like a majestic lion. Though it had gradually aged and weakened, its mighty presence profoundly protected most of the land in peace, preventing the daring demons from wantonly setting foot within the territory, and ensuring the tribute-paying vassal states continued their annual offerings!
In that year, on the Yunzhou border within the Secluded Valley Mountain Range, the eighty-six-year-old veteran general Jiang Tianshou embarked on a campaign amid the cheers of the border shepherds. Leading more than thirty thousand royal cavalry, in just three days, he annihilated over one hundred thousand Tiger-Leopard Demon Clansmen that plagued the border, extending the territory by a thousand miles, his fame spreading across nineteen provinces!
That same year, a twelve-year-old prodigy known as the Bright Moon Sword braved the nine heavenly gates and, as a Direct Disciple, entered the Gan Tao Palace to listen to the teachings of the sage, becoming renowned throughout the world!
Also in that year, a secluded old Grandmaster who had retreated for thirty years atop Wanfeng Mountain descended to engage in a duel by the shore of Redwater Lake, drawing onlookers from all over. The final outcome, however, remained unknown to all.
Now, in the deep of October’s autumn.
The withered yellow leaves covered the ground of Qingzhou.
The sacred training ground of Qingzhou City, known as the Leap Immortal Gate – Tan Palace Academy, also opened its doors that had been sealed for six years.
Once the news broke out, it swept through the provinces.
Countless young talents, heirs and princesses swarmed from all over the world like shoals of fish, racing towards this opportunity for fame and fortune.
Meanwhile, in a small courtyard of the Divine General Mansion not far from Tan Palace Academy in Qingzhou City, a young man sat leisurely.
He listened to the sound of the fluttering leaves in the courtyard, brewed a pot of green tea, and quietly played a game of chess.
As if the hustle and bustle and the struggle taking place outside the courtyard,
were unrelated to him.
“Young Master, you’ve lost again.”
The last move of the black piece sealed off the white piece’s final escape route, a checkmate.
The young man picked up the tea cup beside him, took a gentle sip, and said with a smile.
His lips were red and teeth white; his eyes shone like bright stars, clear and profound. His face, still bearing a touch of youthful softness, carried defined and yet gentle lines. The skin was pale as if long shielded from the sun, with a hint of moon-like coolness. His fingers, holding the chess piece, were slender and strong with translucent nails, free of any impurity.
After he spoke, the corners of the mouth of the old man sitting across the chessboard twitched. He scrutinized the chessboard with a frown and eventually, unable to find a way out, frustration made him toss the white pieces back into the chess (qi) box.
“You lad, your skills in Chess Tao are becoming increasingly exquisite.”
Li Qingzheng, referred to as the Fifth Master, said even though he was praising the young man, his eyes reflected a deep resentment.
Having immersed himself in it for the better part of his life, his proudest and most satisfying skill in Chess Tao was continuously defeated by this youth recently. Winning the occasional game only added to his irritation.
“It’s all thanks to your good training, Fifth Master,” the young man, who was Li Hao, said with a modest chuckle.
“You cheeky boy!”
Li Qingzheng glared at him, not in good spirits, intending to play another round, but then he eyed the current game and felt somewhat deflated.
He still hadn’t figured out how he lost this last game.
At this moment, the sound of crunching dry leaves underfoot arose, and a snowy white figure swiftly darted over and jumped into the young man’s arms without a word – it was a white fox.
The white fox had reddish-orange ears, which added a touch of liveliness to its appearance.
Li Hao rubbed the white fox nuzzling in his arms and frowned, “Why do you smell of medicinal herbs again, where did you sneak off to eat this time?”
At these words, the white fox burrowed deeper into Li Hao’s embrace, as if trying to avoid answering.
Just then, Li Hao heard footsteps and looked up to see a figure in green, briskly approaching. It was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old maid with bright eyes and white teeth, quite pretty.
Panting, she arrived outside the gazebo, greeted Li Qingzheng with a bow, and then hastened to Li Hao, “Young Master, Xiao Rou has been to the Great Lady’s kitchen again. She knocked over the Great Lady’s beauty-preserving medicinal soup, and now they are searching for the culprit all over the Eternal Spring Court…”
Li Hao was speechless, dug the little head out from his embrace, and said with a lack of patience, “I told you not to be mischievous everywhere. Do you want to be spanked again?”
The small head of the white fox struggled to turn away, not daring to meet Li Hao’s eyes, apparently aware of the trouble it had caused.
“If you keep this up, I’ll hand you over to the Great Lady to deal with you properly, and she’ll shave off all your fur!” Li Hao threatened.
The thought seemed to scare the white fox, causing it to tremble and, with a pitiful look, it turned its head to gaze at Li Hao.
“You’re already in the Zhou Tian Realm, why can’t you talk yet…” Li Hao said, looking at the pathetic eyes of the white fox and feeling rather helpless.
He turned to address the maid, Qing Zhi, “Later on, apologize to the Great Lady on my behalf and send over a tray of the Perilla Cakes I made. And, have you bought today’s Cotton Jade Pastries?”
Qing Zhi muttered under her breath, “It’s always me who has to go. Every time it makes trouble, I’m the one who gets scolded.”
“What?”
“Nothing, I’ll go buy the Cotton Jade Pastries right away.” Qing Zhi said quickly, then ran off swiftly like a streak of cloud.
“This little maid is becoming more and more unruly,” Li Hao said, lifting his cup of tea and shaking his head helplessly.
Li Qingzheng gave him a glance, “How many in your courtyard are actually serious?”
Li Hao almost spat out his tea, looking at the old man speechlessly, “Fifth Grandpa, those words shouldn’t be said carelessly.”
Li Qingzheng snorted coldly, “The house servants stand without poise, and the maids walk around frantically. Go see the other courtyards, where everything is prim and proper. This little demon fox too, always causing mischief everywhere. Sooner or later, she’ll be caught and stewed. It’s all because the top beam is not straight and the bottom beams are crooked, mostly because of you. You had a bright future ahead, but you chose to create a mess. Could our family’s ancestors really be inferior to a demon dragon?”
At this point, he was so angry that he was blowing his beard and glaring.
Clearly, even after several years, this matter still troubled him deeply.
In the year he turned eight, Li Hao could have entered the Soul Succession Realm, but he himself delayed it for a year.
As a result, when the ancestors in the ancestral hall couldn’t wait any longer and sent for him to find the boy, they discovered that Li Hao had already inherited a soul.
By using Body Refining Techniques to slay a flood dragon, he inherited a demon dragon soul.
Although it was a dragon’s soul that he inherited, how could a mere dragon compare with the Li Family’s illustrious lineage of ancestors?
Moreover, demon souls are prone to inherit their nature, making it hard for him to avoid a temperament of slaughter and brutality upon inheriting a demon soul.
Fortunately, over the years, Li Hao hasn’t shown this side of him, mostly it’s due to playing chess with me all the time and being influenced by me… He stroked his beard, feeling satisfied.
However, that demon dragon soul has lowered Li Hao’s qualifications for soul inheritance, dooming him to be considered just above average within the Soul Succession Realm.
He might seem sufficient in the face of most in the Soul Succession Realm, but compared to the cream of the crop from various factions, he would look quite inferior.
After all, others manifest the soul of an ancestor from the Four Stands Realm, while we have a demon dragon.
And the ancestors of others have slain countless demon dragons before, just the dragon-slaying momentum that comes with their soul might be enough to scare Li Hao down.
Thinking of this matter filled Li Qingzheng with anger.
The ancestors in the ancestral hall were also uncontrollably furious.
As a son of the Li Family, yet inheriting a demon dragon’s soul, where did that leave the faces of our venerable ancestors?
There was even an ancestor who proposed to punish Li Hao severely, lock him in the Li Family’s dungeon and let him thoroughly learn his lesson.
Even Li Muxiu, who was often by Li Hao’s side acting as a half-caretaker, was rebuked one by one by the ancestors…
But my second brother deserved it!
Just because my second brother coddled and indulged the boy too much and didn’t care about anything, that’s why he became so unruly!
If it weren’t for Li Hao’s skill in playing chess, I would need to give this boy a harsh lesson myself.
Thinking this, Li Qingzheng’s anger at the chessboard in front of him flared up even more.
How did I lose!
Since stepping out of the ancestral hall that year, he felt that his decades-long Peaceful Heart Realm was becoming increasingly disturbed.
“I feel pretty good, the servants are comfortable, and so am I.”
Li Hao gave the old man a sheepish smile.
“With you being so lax, your servants are lax too. Wait until your father comes back, see how he’ll deal with you.” Li Qingzheng snorted coldly.
Li Hao said, “What if he stops me from playing chess with you?”
“He wouldn’t dare!”
Li Qingzheng’s eyes widened immediately.
Li Hao chuckled, and just then, another set of footsteps approached, though the sound didn’t belong to the girl Qing Zhi.
He looked in surprise and saw a familiar face—Xuejian from Eternal Spring Court.
Only now, after several years had passed, the girl who used to be young had developed an air of graceful charm.
Following her were two maidens, with bowed heads and demure expressions, walking silently, obviously much more proper than those in his own courtyard… and also much more hardworking.
Seeing that Fifth Grandpa was also present, Xuejian quickly bowed and greeted him with respect, and while she was surprised, she couldn’t help but glance at Li Hao. Everyone in the mansion knew that this young master of Mountain and River Courtyard was neglectful in his studies, yet he managed to get along quite well with both of the elder lords.
“Young Master, the Lady has sent me to inform you that Tan Palace Academy has opened for the year. This is the invitation sent by the academy to the mansion, and the Lady asked me to deliver a copy to you,” Xuejian said, bowing her head in reverence as she handed a black and white double fish-adorned invitation to Li Hao.
Although she might not have much respect for Li Hao in her heart, her demeanor was impeccable.
Li Hao, aware of the girl’s exceptional handling of matters, took the invitation with a smile and then casually tossed it aside on the mat, saying, “Thank you, Miss Xuejian.”
Xuejian glanced down and saw that the precious invitation, sought after by martial artists all over the world, was carelessly placed to the side. Thinking of the young master’s character, it was as the Lady had predicted.
