Chapter 37: Establishing the Soul with Heaven and Earth
A year later...
By the Blackwater Demon Lake, the enticing aroma of fish soup wafted through the air.
The two elders sat by the large pot, bowls and chopsticks in hand. Feng Boping, adhering to his habit of sipping a spoonful of soup before meals, carefully ladled some fish soup into his bowl and tasted it slowly, exclaiming with admiration:
“Xiao Haozi's cooking skills are almost on par with the Imperial Kitchen's.”
“Tch, I've eaten this for a whole year and still haven’t gotten tired of it. Quite strange.”
Li Muxiu also expressed his amazement. He hadn’t expected Li Hao to possess such an exceptional talent for cooking, and his skills were only improving.
“Has Old Feng actually eaten from the Imperial Kitchen before?” Li Hao asked with a smile.
“I once snuck some.”
Feng Boping’s face, framed by his youthful countenance and silvery hair, showed a mischievous grin. Smacking his lips as if relishing the memory, he added, “That leftover half-bowl of soup still had my saliva in it. I wonder which concubine it was served to afterward.”
“You old rascal! If that bowl had been served to Emperor Yu, you’d have lost your head for sure!” Li Muxiu said, clearly aware of some of his old friend's audacious escapades.
Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh. He already knew this so-called "Saint of Thieves" would steal anything. The last time, the old man had tried to gift him a silken scarf as light as cicada wings, supposedly stolen from a holy maiden of a certain sect. That incident had ended with the second uncle chasing him down half the river wielding a shoe, putting an end to the scarf's gifting.
This had become a slight regret in Li Hao's heart, making him think that his second uncle sometimes meddled a bit too much...
“Life is short, so one should indulge in its joys. After all, everything is worth a try,” Feng Boping chuckled.
Li Hao joined them in eating as he listened to their banter. Suddenly, he felt a jolt in his heart, and faint words appeared before his eyes:
[You have comprehended the Culinary Dao Heart.]
Li Hao’s eyes briefly brightened before returning to normal, as he had expected this outcome.
Since achieving the third stage of Culinary Dao at an unprecedented pace, he had been working to integrate his heart into the craft. This often involved spending time in the kitchen, conversing with master chefs.
Despite finding Li Hao’s actions peculiar, these chefs dared not slight the young scion of the Li family, a peerless talent. They freely shared their knowledge, broadening Li Hao’s horizons and deepening his understanding of the Culinary Dao, a path no less profound than the Chess Dao.
The myriad ingredients, the diverse seasonings, the precision of heat control, the techniques for removing unpleasant flavors—it was a rich and vibrant world that gradually captivated Li Hao, as if he were exploring a dazzling new universe.
Before he knew it, he had moved past cooking merely for experience points and had developed a genuine love for it. Even without gaining experience, he often found excuses to display his skills, cooking whenever he could.
Recently, he had even scrutinized the snacks delivered to Shanhe Courtyard. If they were poorly made, he wouldn’t hesitate to overturn the dish and summon the offending chef for a personal critique.
Once something touches your heart, you can’t help but become earnest and exacting.
It’s like a casual gamer in a competitive game—losing doesn’t matter. But the one breaking down in frustration is usually the one playing to win.
Now, with the Culinary Dao Heart comprehended, Li Hao was neither overly thrilled nor indifferent. When one takes something seriously, the outcome becomes secondary—just as it had been with his Chess Heart.
Still, with this new mindset, he could now attempt the fourth stage of Royal Dao.
...
After their leisurely meal, the three chatted for a while before Li Hao selected a few choice fish bones to feed a nearby little white fox.
At a year and a half old, the small white fox remained petite and delicate, its snow-white fur shimmering with a healthy sheen. Thanks to the spiritual fruits infused with medicinal properties that Li Hao regularly fed it, along with its daily intake of fish soup, the fox had embarked on the path of cultivation, reaching the fifth level of the Tongli Realm.
Having evolved from a mere wild fox, it now possessed faint traces of demonic aura. If it managed to reach the Zhoutian Realm, it would gain spiritual intelligence.
Upon reaching the Soul Fusion Realm, such a creature could achieve “ghostly and elusive” abilities.
...
After lunch, they spent the afternoon fishing.
However, Li Hao only managed to catch a Tongli Realm second-level fish demon, marking a rather unlucky fishing day.
Returning to Tingyu Pavilion at day’s end, Li Hao cradled the little white fox and headed back to Shanhe Courtyard. Once inside his room, he shut the door, brought up his interface, and deliberated before channeling his newfound mindset into advancing his Royal Dao.
In no time, his Royal Dao ascended from the third to the fourth stage.
Previously, his third-stage Royal Dao had allowed him to rapidly clear his meridians. Now, with the fourth stage, what new insights might it bring regarding the Great Meridians and the Zhoutian Fortune Technique?
As the enhancement process concluded, an influx of information flooded his mind. After a long while, Li Hao slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was clear and sharp, tinged with astonishment.
The world before him seemed to have undergone a wondrous transformation, and his newfound understanding revealed that this world was far more extraordinary than he had ever imagined.
Heaven and Earth possess spirit!
“Demons and monsters comprehend the stars and moon… To reach the Soul Fusion Realm, one must imbue their soul with intent. Inheriting the soul's essence, however, also requires adhering to certain 'agreements.'”
“Humans can inherit from humans, from demons, and even from all the myriad races.”
“Likewise, humans can inherit the legacies of myriad races, the spirits of mountains and ghosts, or even the true dragons and phoenixes. Alternatively… they can inherit the stars, the moon, and the legacy of Heaven and Earth itself!”
...
Recalling the martial techniques and cultivation methods he had studied in Tingyu Pavilion, Li Hao suddenly felt an enlightening clarity.
To inherit the soul of a human requires carrying their intent.
To inherit the soul of a demon requires carrying their nature.
To inherit the soul of Heaven and Earth requires carrying its vast weight!
“I will establish my soul with Heaven and Earth!”
A fierce light erupted from Li Hao’s eyes.
He activated the All-Manifestations Attribute, enveloping his body in its power. Unless he caused an immense commotion, no one could sense his movements.
With that, his strength surged along his Great Meridians, and the Yin-Yang Dual Meridians appeared simultaneously, converging at the crown of his head.
In an instant, his entire body was filled with a terrifying surge of power.
This overwhelming energy threatened to burst out of his body, striving to shatter the intangible barrier that stood in his way.
He sought to connect with Heaven and Earth, questioning the heavens, seeking the earth, and borrowing their strength!
Sensing Li Hao’s intense determination, a vast and oppressive force descended upon him, enveloping him like a mountain. His entire body groaned under the strain, his bones creaking audibly as they struggled to bear the weight.
The weight of Heaven and Earth exceeds that of Mount Tai!
Li Hao’s eyes turned bloodshot as he roared internally.
The terrifying power of his Yin-Yang Dual Meridians erupted, instantly doubling his strength to nearly ten million jin!
With this immense willpower, it seemed as though he could lift the heavens. Yet, the crushing force pressed down even harder!
Li Hao’s body bent under the strain, his feet sinking deep into the wooden floor.
Gritting his teeth, he realized that brute strength alone was insufficient. He had yet to glimpse the true "form" of Heaven and Earth.
What is the form of Heaven and Earth?
The sky, the clouds, the rivers and mountains, the myriad things of the earth—all of these are parts of Heaven and Earth but not its entirety.
For him to establish his soul with Heaven and Earth, what form did it take in his heart?
A memory of a martial scripture from the seventh floor of Tingyu Pavilion surfaced in his mind, containing a line of Buddhist wisdom:
The Buddha is without form.
If the Buddha has no form, how could Heaven and Earth have one?
“I exist within this Heaven and Earth; I am its reflection!”
Li Hao’s eyes flashed with brilliance as his entire spirit and strength surged forward, breaking through an invisible barrier and directly connecting with the essence of Heaven and Earth!
All of his strength merged into his vital essence. Above his body, a faint phantom began to materialize—it was his own image.
Establishing himself as the form of Heaven and Earth, and using Heaven and Earth as the foundation of his soul!
At that moment, Li Hao entered the Soul Fusion Realm.
An infinite surge of power poured into his body from the heavens, the earth, and the void.
Inside the room, the curtains fluttered violently despite the closed doors and windows. Where could this wind be coming from?
...
In the courtyard pavilion.
Since Li Hao began his cultivation, Li Fu no longer accompanied him everywhere. However, he remained in the same courtyard.
At this moment, Li Fu was playing chess in the pavilion, not out of passion but because Li Hao had insisted on teaching him. Now, in his spare time, it had become his sole pastime.
Across the board, Zhao Bo was his opponent, the two engaged in an intense battle of wits.
If Li Hao were to see the game, he would undoubtedly remark, “Amateurs clashing.”
Suddenly, the two paused mid-move, looking in the same direction.
An inexplicable sense of unease gripped them, as if some colossal force had awakened, leaving them startled and uneasy, like a divine intuition gone awry.
What was that?
The two immediately abandoned their game, rushing toward Li Hao’s room. Unusual occurrences were never to be ignored.
Bursting into the room, they found the space in disarray, with several vases toppled and shattered on the floor.
Li Hao stood there, his feet deeply embedded in the wooden floor, breathing lightly, as though he had just finished an intense training session.
“What happened?”
Seeing no signs of an attack, the two let out a sigh of relief before quickly approaching him.
Li Hao had already calmed the surging energy from his breakthrough and hidden his external aura with the All-Manifestations Attribute. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he exhaled and replied, “I was just practicing.”
“You rascal! Why don’t you train in the courtyard instead of tearing up your room?” Li Fu scolded, though there was no suspicion in his tone.
Li Hao’s cultivation in refining the Zhoutian Realm was no secret to them, though they didn’t know the specifics.
“I suddenly had some insights,” Li Hao explained.
“Well, that’s good.”
Zhao Bo chuckled. Although the broken vases were centuries old and highly valuable, any progress in Li Hao’s training was worth the loss.
With their concerns eased, Li Hao remained in his room to carefully savor the newfound power of the Soul Fusion Realm, which far surpassed that of the Zhoutian Realm.
No wonder it was said that reaching the Soul Fusion Realm marked the qualification to guard an entire city.
At only nine years old, Li Hao had already achieved the power to command a city!
...
After entering the Soul Fusion Realm, Li Hao’s life resumed its usual rhythm.
Every day, he ate and drank, fished by the lake, painted, played chess, or spent time in the kitchen honing his culinary skills.
Over time, the young master discovered new hobbies, delving into poetry and music, seemingly straying further from "proper" pursuits.
Time passed swiftly, with spring turning to autumn.
In the blink of an eye, five years had gone by.
In the 14th year of the Qingyuan Calendar...
Li Hao turned fourteen.