Chapter 38: Tangong Academy
The "Qingyuan" era name was established in the year Li Hao was born, reflecting Emperor Yu's deep favor toward the Li family.
This dynasty, standing for over three thousand years, still resembled a majestic lion. Although it was gradually aging and weakening, its accumulated might was profound. It safeguarded most of its territory, ensuring peace and prosperity, while deterring the demons and monsters from the Eight Desolations and Four Wilds from invading its inland regions. Furthermore, the vassal states, which had long submitted to its rule, continued to pay tribute annually.
That same year, the 86-year-old veteran general Jiang Tianshou marched into battle amidst the cheers of borderland shepherds. Leading an army of over thirty thousand Jiang Family Iron Cavalry, he eradicated one hundred thousand Tiger-Leopard Demon Clan invaders within just three days, expanding the empire's borders by a thousand li and earning renown across nineteen provinces.
Also in that year, the prodigious 12-year-old Ming Yuejian passed the Nine Heavenly Gates and was accepted as a personal disciple into Qiandao Palace, where he listened to the Daoist teachings of the sages, becoming famous throughout the world.
That year, the reclusive grandmaster of Wan Feng Mountain, who had been in seclusion for thirty years, descended from the mountain to engage in a duel by the shores of Chishui Lake. The battle drew spectators from all corners of the land, yet the outcome remained unknown to all.
...
Now it was late autumn in October.
Withered yellow leaves blanketed the land of Qingzhou.
The spiritual haven of Qingzhou City, known as "Tangong Academy" and bearing the reputation of the "Gate to Immortality," opened its gates after six years of closure.
News of this event swept across the provinces like wildfire.
Countless young talents, noble scions, and princesses flocked from across the land, like carp swimming upstream, vying for fame and fortune as well as a chance at opportunity.
Within Qingzhou City, in a small courtyard near Tangong Academy that belonged to the Divine General Mansion, a young man sat leisurely.
He listened to the sound of falling leaves within the courtyard, brewing a pot of green tea, and calmly playing a game of chess.
The noise and competition outside the courtyard seemed to have nothing to do with him.
"You lost again, Fifth Master."
A black stone was placed, blocking the final retreat of the white stones—a decisive move.
The young man picked up a teacup beside him, took a light sip, and smiled as he spoke.
His lips were rosy, his teeth white, and his eyes sparkled like stars, clear yet deep. His youthful face had soft but well-defined contours, and his pale skin, almost moonlit in tone, hinted at a lack of exposure to the sun. The hand holding the chess piece was slender and strong, with translucent fingernails unblemished by any impurities.
The elderly man sitting across the chessboard twitched the corners of his mouth upon hearing this, furrowing his brows as he scrutinized the chessboard. Finding no escape, he angrily tossed the white stone back into the chess container.
"You rascal, your chess skills keep improving."
Li Qingzheng, known as Fifth Master, spoke begrudgingly, though his words carried a hint of praise.
He had spent most of his life mastering the art of chess, proud of his skill. Yet recently, this boy had defeated him repeatedly, with the occasional win for himself becoming a rarity. It frustrated him endlessly.
"It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Fifth Master," the young man, Li Hao, replied with a cheeky grin, his tone humble yet playful.
"You brat!"
Li Qingzheng glared at him good-naturedly, intending to start another game. But as he looked at the current board, he hesitated, feeling dispirited.
He still hadn’t figured out how he had lost the last game.
...
Just then, the sound of dried leaves crunching underfoot broke the silence. A snow-white figure darted over at lightning speed, leaping into Li Hao's arms without hesitation. It was a white fox.
The fox’s ears were tinged with a vibrant orange-red hue, adding a playful touch to its lively appearance.
Li Hao stroked the fox as it snuggled into his arms, then sniffed and frowned. "You smell like medicine again. What have you been sneaking this time?"
The fox buried its head deeper into his embrace as if trying to avoid the question.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and Li Hao looked up to see a young maid in a green dress running over. She seemed around sixteen or seventeen years old, with bright eyes and pearly white teeth, and an air of charm about her.
Panting for breath, the maid stopped outside the pavilion. She bowed respectfully to Li Qingzheng before addressing Li Hao anxiously, "Young Master, Xiaorou ran into Madam's kitchen again and spilled her beauty-enhancing medicinal soup. Now everyone in Changchun Courtyard is looking for the culprit..."
Li Hao chuckled, pulling the fox’s head from his arms. He said sternly, "I told you not to cause trouble everywhere. Do you want a beating?"
The little fox tried to turn its head away, avoiding Li Hao’s gaze, as if it knew it had done something wrong.
"If you keep this up, I’ll hand you over to Madam and let her deal with you. She might even strip all your fur!" Li Hao threatened.
The fox seemed to imagine the scenario and shivered in fear. It turned back, looking at Li Hao with pitiful eyes.
"You’re already at the Zhoutian Realm, yet you still can’t speak. What’s the matter with you?" Li Hao muttered, exasperated by its behavior.
Turning to the maid, Qingzhi, he instructed, "Go apologize to Madam on my behalf. Take a plate of perilla cakes as a peace offering. Oh, by the way, did you get the cotton-flour pastries today?"
Qingzhi pouted softly, muttering, "You always make me clean up after her. Every time she causes trouble, I’m the one who gets scolded."
"What was that?"
"Nothing! I’ll go buy the pastries now." Qingzhi quickly changed her tune and dashed off like a breeze.
"This little girl is becoming less disciplined," Li Hao remarked with a shake of his head, sipping his tea helplessly.
Li Qingzheng gave him a side glance. "Who in your courtyard is well-behaved?"
Li Hao almost spat out his tea. Looking at the old man, he said helplessly, "Fifth Master, you shouldn’t say such things."
Li Qingzheng snorted coldly, "Your household staff stand around like idlers, your maids run about like headless chickens, and even this little fox of yours wreaks havoc everywhere. If you compare your courtyard to others, where everything is orderly and proper, it’s clear your place is completely out of control. And it’s all because of you. You were meant to have a bright future, but you’ve chosen to waste it. Tell me, can a Dragon Soul be better than our family’s ancestral souls?"
As he spoke, his anger flared again, his face red with frustration. This matter clearly remained a sore spot for him even after several years.
When Li Hao was eight years old, he had the opportunity to enter the Soul Fusion Realm early. Yet, he deliberately delayed for a year. By the time the family’s ancestral elders asked him about it, they discovered he had already fused with a soul—not one from the family’s illustrious ancestors, but the soul of a demon dragon.
Using body-refining techniques, Li Hao had slain a flood dragon and fused with its soul.
While the Dragon Soul was indeed powerful, how could it compare to the prestigious ancestral souls of the Li family?
Moreover, demon souls had inherent traits. By fusing with a demon soul, Li Hao risked developing a bloodthirsty and violent nature.
Fortunately, over the years, Li Hao had not displayed such tendencies. Li Qingzheng attributed this to their regular chess games and the positive influence of his own demeanor. Stroking his beard, he felt a glimmer of satisfaction.
Still, the demon dragon's soul had lowered Li Hao’s potential within the Soul Fusion Realm. While he was considered above average in that realm, he was far from the elite talents of other prominent sects and clans.
For instance, when others activated their Soul Aspect, they manifested the spirits of ancestors at the Fourth Pillar Realm. Li Hao, however, only had a demon dragon. Worse still, the aura carried by those ancestral spirits—especially their natural dragon-slaying pressure—could easily overwhelm him.
This thought made Li Qingzheng angrier. The elders in the family’s ancestral shrine had been equally outraged, seeing Li Hao’s actions as a humiliation to the family’s legacy.
Some even proposed harsh punishments, such as confining him to the family dungeon to "teach him a lesson."
Li Muxiu, who had been acting as Li Hao's caretaker and occasional guardian, wasn’t spared either. The ancestral elders reprimanded him for being overly indulgent and letting the boy run wild.
But truthfully, Li Qingzheng thought, his second brother deserved it.
By spoiling the boy and turning a blind eye to his antics, Li Muxiu had allowed Li Hao to grow so unruly. Were it not for Li Hao’s exceptional chess skills, Li Qingzheng would have personally disciplined him long ago.
Looking at the chessboard, Li Qingzheng's frustration surged once more.
How had he lost again?
Ever since leaving the ancestral shrine that year, he felt that the state of calm he had cultivated for decades had become increasingly difficult to maintain.
Li Hao chuckled nervously. "I think it’s fine as it is. My staff are comfortable, and so am I."
"You’re comfortable now, but your lax attitude affects everyone under you. When your father returns, he won’t be pleased to see this mess," Li Qingzheng retorted with a cold snort.
Li Hao grinned. "What if he forbids me from playing chess with you anymore?"
"He wouldn’t dare!"
Li Qingzheng’s eyes widened in indignation.
Li Hao laughed mischievously. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. The rhythm was steady, and it didn’t belong to Qingzhi.
Looking up curiously, he saw a familiar face—it was Xuejian from Changchun Courtyard.
Years had passed, and the once-young girl now carried herself with a dignified air and graceful charm.
Two young maids followed behind her, their heads slightly lowered, their movements silent and deliberate—far more disciplined than the lively chaos of Li Hao’s courtyard.
Seeing Li Qingzheng, Xuejian immediately bowed respectfully. She glanced briefly at Li Hao, her expression calm but slightly curious. Everyone in the mansion knew that the carefree young master of Shanhe Courtyard spent his days idling about. Yet, he seemed to have a good relationship with the family elders, especially the two old masters.
"Young Master," Xuejian said politely, "Madam asked me to inform you that Tangong Academy has opened its doors this year. The academy sent invitations to the mansion, and Madam instructed me to deliver yours."
She held out a black-and-white invitation resembling two intertwined fish. Her demeanor was respectful, though her true thoughts about Li Hao remained concealed.
Li Hao had always admired Xuejian’s composure and understanding of propriety. Smiling, he accepted the invitation and casually tossed it onto a nearby mat. "Thank you, Miss Xuejian."
Xuejian lowered her gaze slightly, noticing how the invitation—coveted by martial artists throughout the land—was treated so carelessly. She thought to herself that the young master’s behavior was exactly as Madam had predicted.