Follow the path of Dao from infancy

Back to Qingzhou.

Li Hao and the others, carrying the mission letter from the Monster Suppression Department of Cangyu City, returned to Tan Palace Academy to report.

The letter bore the official seal of the Monster Suppression Department, and all five of them received full marks in their evaluations.

Upon receiving the letter, Su Yehua wasn’t surprised.

After all, with two young masters from the Li family joining the mission, the Monster Suppression Department in Cangyu City, possessing the slightest bit of discernment, wouldn’t make things difficult for them.

As for the truth behind the letter, she couldn’t be bothered to scrutinize it closely. After all, background was a part of one’s strength too.

Even she had to show some courtesy to these young masters and ladies of the Li family, in consideration of the face of the Divine General Mansion.

Jianghu was never outside the city but within it.

After the reporting was over, Ren Qianqian found Li Hao and expressed her wishes; she had made up her mind.

Li Hao, however, didn’t agree immediately, but instead asked her to discuss with her parents. After all, becoming an attendant sword servant was a serious matter. It wasn’t easy to break away once one joined; learning the peerless technique of the Li family would bind her to them for life, and even giving up one’s cultivation level wouldn’t set her free.

After Li Hao finished speaking, Ren Qianqian revealed that she lost her mother when she was young and didn’t wish to discuss it with her father. This was a decision she could make on her own.

Seeing this, Li Hao was even less inclined to agree and suggested that it would be better for her to communicate with her father.

The young lady was inexperienced in the ways of the world, and he couldn’t just spirit her away so easily. Otherwise, if her grandmaster father caused a commotion at the mansion in the future, although the Li family wouldn’t be afraid, it would still be an unsightly mess.

Having refused Ren Qianqian, Li Hao took Li Yuanzhao and returned to the long-missed Mountain and River Courtyard.

He placed the box containing the head of the Tiger Robe Immortal in his room and, with other delicacies collected from Cangyu City, had Qing Zhi deliver a portion to the fifth elder guarding the family shrine, while he took the rest to Listening Rain Tower.

Not finding the second elder at Listening Rain Tower, Li Hao saw the daylight and instantly knew that at this time, the second elder was likely fishing by the shore of Black Water Lake.

He immediately flew out from Listening Rain Tower, heading for the shore of Black Water Lake.

Before long, the vast expanse of Black Water Lake came into view.

Li Hao found the second elder’s usual fishing spot and, indeed, saw his and Elder Feng’s figures.

Noticing someone approaching, the two turned their heads to look.

Li Hao descended from the sky, landing next to them, and said with a smile, “Second Elder, Elder Feng, how was the catch today? Who caught more?”

“It’s Hao Er.”

Feng Boping’s face showed a smile as he said, “Of course, I’m the one who caught more!”

Li Hao’s ability to fly didn’t surprise them; they already knew about his approximate cultivation level.

After all, at the age of twelve, this young fellow had, in front of the two elders, accidentally fished up a small flood dragon from the Divine Travel Realm.

That had shocked and envied them greatly.

The shock was from Li Hao’s frightening talent, surpassing even that of Li Jiulang, who was said to be a once-in-a-millennium genius.

But their envy was due to this lad’s luck for actually managing to catch a flood dragon!

As for the silly dragon that was caught, they were both angry and annoyed, and after Li Hao cooked it, they ate several portions with gusto.

While eating, they muttered to themselves, “Why didn’t it bite my hook? Is my hook not attractive?!”

Words aside, trouble aside, seeing the talent Li Hao displayed, even the fame-indifferent Li Muxiu was tempted, on the spot, to teach Li Hao martial arts and hoped he would focus more and not waste his time in frivolous pursuits.

With such talent, added to his personal teaching, Li Hao’s future achievements might even surpass his own. If the Li family could produce a True Immortal, it would truly cause an earthquake across the land.

But Li Hao promptly sought the advice of Elder Feng, the Saint of Thieves, who had a more open view and persuaded Li Muxiu to relent.

With the example of Li Jiulang, Li Muxiu gave up the idea, allowing Li Hao to choose the life he liked.

Li Muxiu had also realized early on that even if he forced Li Hao to cultivate, the youngster would probably not do so wholeheartedly, which was quite frustrating.

He was puzzled, seeing that, without witnessing Li Hao’s training, his realm was nonetheless soaring rapidly.

Because of Li Hao’s persistence, his cultivation affairs were not widely publicized by Li Muxiu, so others in the mansion were still unaware.

At that moment.

Hearing Feng Boping’s smug laughter, Li Muxiu gave him an annoyed glance, “What’s the use of catching more? They’re all small fish and shrimp. I’m aiming to catch a dragon.”

Neither of them used fishing rods while fishing; they simply used energy from heaven and earth as lines to pierce through the bodies of small demon fish, guiding them to where bigger fish or flood dragons might be hunting for food.

“Catch one first, then talk,” Feng Boping laughed.

Li Muxiu snorted lightly, noticing the packages in Li Hao’s hands, and said, “Where did you buy these? Weren’t you at Tan Palace Academy bullying the kids?”

“I just went on a mission for the academy, brought back some delicacies from Cangyu City,” Li Hao said with a smile as he shared the food with the two elders: “Here, these are delicious.”

“Wow, there’s dairy crisp in this twisted doughnut,” Feng Boping took a bite and commented, “The taste is good.”

“You’ve grown thoughtful, kid,” Li Muxiu said, laughing as he picked up some food and started eating.

At this moment, the white fox Xiao Rou joyfully ran over. Li Hao squatted down to embrace it in his arms and took out a piece of roasted meat for it, “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you.”

“This little fox of yours, just like a cat, sure loves to eat fish,” Li Muxiu commented.

Xiao Rou, holding the roasted meat with her two small paws, chewed meticulously. Hearing the words of Second Elder, she revealed a fox’s typical grin, her eyes curving into slits.

Li Hao smiled, rubbed her head, and let her eat to the side. He also took out a portion for himself, sat down beside the two elders, and began to eat, chatting idly as he did.

“It shouldn’t be long now before your father returns,” Li Muxiu said while eating a crispy biscuit.

“Oh?” Li Hao expressed in surprise.

Could the war that had lasted for over a decade finally be coming to an end?

“I heard there’s been a twist at the Northern Yan battlefield, and the Holy Palace intends to retreat,” Li Muxiu explained.

Li Hao’s eyes brightened. Does this mean he would get to see his parents?

“Little Hao Er, it’s been over a decade since you’ve seen your parents, do you still recognize them?” Feng Boping teased with a smile.

Li Hao thought for a moment; the images of his parents in his memory had indeed gotten somewhat blurry.

Li Muxiu gave Feng Boping a disgruntled glare. It was quite the unwelcome reminder. He then said to Li Hao:

“It just so happens that your generation has all grown up. The Li Family’s True Dragon seat will likely be decided this year. With your father back to support you, securing the True Dragon seat should be almost certain,” he said.

“With Hao Er’s talent, is there any dispute? If it was up to me, I’d give him the True Dragon seat right now,” Feng Boping said as he ate.

Li Muxiu shot him a glance, “I wish it were that simple. Do you think managing the vast affairs of the Li Family is like being a lonely old man like yourself? We must keep other branches of the family satisfied. We can’t favor one over the other and foster resentment in their hearts.”

He then turned to Li Hao and said, “Right, Hao Er?”

“Mhm,” he replied.

Li Hao nodded with a smile.

He had long heard talk of the True Dragon seat from his Second Elder.

Each generation, the Li Family would select a True Dragon who would receive the most abundant resources from the family, and also receive assistance from numerous ancestors in the ancestral shrine to enhance the quality of their soul!

The number of soul forms that one could condense in the Soul Succession Realm was closely linked to the targets inherited from the ancestors.

There were eighty for the Four Stands Realm.

Yet, there exists another method to increase the number of condensed souls, a secret technique created by the ancestors of the Li Family.

With the combined effort of the ancestral spirits, the quality of the soul forms could be elevated, reaching a level comparable to the True Human tier inherited by the royal families.

That is, 180 condensations!

Upon reaching the Divine Travel Realm, they would also help condense the Divine Soul, expanding the reach of the Divine Soul Realm.

Furthermore, upon attaining the Fifteen Li Realm, they would also help by imbuing the power of the ancestral spirits, pushing the Fifteen Li Realm beyond the pinnacle genius level, achieving top-tier standards.

The so-called True Dragon is to be unrivaled in their realm, truly invincible.

At the same time, as a True Dragon of the Li Family, one must bear the duty of enhancing the power granted by the ancestral spirits, and take on the legacy of the entire Li Family. Without any mishaps, they are expected to become the head of the family.

If there are millions of prodigies in the world, reaching the ninth-ranked battle physique would put one in the first-rate category. And for a ninth-ranked prodigy of the Li Family, coupled with numerous supreme cultivation techniques, this would be considered among the top echelons.

And the True Dragon would surpass the top-tier!

Although Li Hao was already at the Fifteen Li Realm, if he became a True Dragon, he would still enjoy the reshaping and assistance of the ancestral spirits for the previous realms.

Apart from the Soul Succession Realm, Li Hao felt that he had yet to reach the limits of the other realms.

Even for the Soul Succession Realm, he didn’t know whether he could continue to progress and was quite eager about it.

Of course, the most important aspect was that if he didn’t take the seat of a True Dragon, it was highly likely to fall to another individual.

Had it not been for the poisoning incident years ago, Li Hao wouldn’t particularly care about the position of the True Dragon. After all, being a True Dragon carried with it immense responsibilities: to carry on the legacy of the Li Family, a millennium-old noble house, push through all obstacles, and perpetuate and magnify its glory. He knew very well how taxing it would be.

Only, someone had attempted to ruin him for the sake of their son’s prospects years ago, scheming more than a decade in advance. Naturally, Li Hao couldn’t let them get their way. He had been waiting for this day.

“The test for the True Dragon looks at all aspects, not just innate talent but also temperament, connections, contributions, and so on,” Li Muxiu told Li Hao. “Sending you to Tan Palace Academy was also to let you get out and make some friends, not just keep company with us old folks all the time.”

Feng Boping sneered, “Don’t kid yourself; talent is definitely the most important. Everything else is just icing on the cake.”

“Get out of here, don’t lead Hao Er astray,” Li Muxiu said with a stern look.

“Haha…” Feng Boping burst into laughter.

Li Hao smiled quietly, listening to the two elders’ banter.

Before long, the line of the Second Elder’s fishing rod twitched; something had taken the bait.

As the sun set into dusk and stars began to sprinkle across the riverside sky, with the evening drawing near, Li Hao cooked a demon fish that Feng had caught, preparing a barbecue that served as dinner for the three men and a fox.

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