Chapter 6: The Three Sacred Lands
In addition, as his mastery in the Sword Dao improved, Li Hao’s understanding of the Boundless Sea - Tides technique advanced from the “Perfect” stage to “Supreme Perfection.”
His vast repository of Sword Dao knowledge made Li Hao feel as if he had wielded a sword for decades. The Tide Sword Technique, which he had already honed to an extraordinary level, now revealed small flaws in his eyes. These imperfections weren’t due to his skill but were limitations within the technique itself.
After all, no single sword technique could be flawless—much like a perfectly crafted rod that could strike and smash but would never cut. Now, however, Li Hao found ways to bridge this shortfall, thanks to his own insights into the Sword Dao.
Li Hao recalled a military swordsmanship instructor who had taught Li Qianfeng. The instructor had once said that beyond the three standard realms of any skill, there exists a fourth—Supreme Perfection. Today, Li Hao had reached this elusive fourth realm.
However, even though he had refined his Sword Dao and elevated his Tide Sword Technique to Supreme Perfection, Li Hao had never once put it into practice, only refining it repeatedly in his mind. Despite this, he felt a strong sense of certainty that if he held a sword, he could execute the technique precisely as he had envisioned.
Yet, he couldn’t foresee what kind of strain such a technique might impose on his body. His current child’s physique was far too fragile, and even upon reaching adulthood, he suspected that an ordinary body would struggle to withstand the brilliance of that move. It would require an immensely powerful constitution.
“What use is an exquisite sword technique if I can’t wield it? It’s like grasping at the moon’s reflection in water.”
“Perhaps I should find a body refinement technique—if I can add it to the collection…”
The Li family’s library was vast, brimming with martial arts manuals of every kind. All of these were housed in the Divine General Mansion’s Tingyu Pavilion.
In Qingzhou City, there were three sacred sites renowned throughout the land, places that countless martial artists yearned to visit. One was the Black and White Hall of Tangong Academy; another was the Hundred Sparrow Garden of the Rogue Pavilion; and the last was the Tingyu Pavilion of the Li family’s Divine General Mansion.
Li Hao planned to visit when an opportunity arose.
But before that, the mansion had meticulously prepared a unique blood elixir for him, ready to be used. Like last year, he and Bian Ruxue would undergo blood-melting simultaneously, and the rare blood used for his ritual was of the highest quality, crafted from the bones of a thousand-year-old great demon—a sixth-grade supreme treasure.
Moreover, word had it that his father, the Marquis of Punishment on the Yanbei frontline, had gone out of his way to slay a three-thousand-year-old great demon, bringing its remains back to the Divine General Mansion. This boosted the potency of the blood elixir to new heights.
The lifespan of a three-thousand-year-old demon was almost as long as the Dayu Dynasty itself. In awe, Li Hao gained a newfound appreciation for his father’s strength.
With Lin Haixia’s assistance, the blood-melting process began. Scarlet liquid with a strange fragrance covered Li Hao’s body, filling him with nervous anticipation.
It wasn’t long before familiar text flashed before his eyes:
{Unknown substance detected, beginning analysis…}
{Analysis failed, substance has been automatically isolated.}
“…”
Li Hao was speechless.
This time, however, a pang of guilt struck him. After all, this precious elixir had been painstakingly procured by his father, who risked his life for it, and now it was wasted.
Lin Haixia felt a similar disappointment. Seeing no reaction from Li Hao’s body, he began trembling slightly, his frustration more intense than Li Hao’s. Yet, recalling the previous failed Foundation Building experience, he didn’t lose his composure. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing his feelings of disappointment.
“Uncle Lin, did it fail?”
“…Yes.”
Lin Haixia opened his eyes with a tired expression. Glancing at Li Hao’s young face, he suppressed a bitter smile. Born into the Divine General Mansion, Li Hao had access to a wealth of top-tier martial resources, yet he seemed cursed to be unable to benefit from any of it. It was hard to tell if his fate was fortunate or unfortunate.
“Uncle Lin, do you think this elixir could be used by that little girl instead?” Li Hao asked.
Lin Haixia nodded. Since Li Hao couldn’t enjoy its benefits, it would be best if the young girl did.
“That’s wonderful,” Li Hao said with a smile, relieved it wouldn’t go to waste.
Lin Haixia managed a faint smile, telling him, “Young master, let me help you wash this off. Go get some rest.”
His smile was forced, and his eyes held a hint of sorrow.
“Yes.” Li Hao nodded, choosing not to point it out.
...
News of Li Hao’s failed blood-melting quickly reached the various lady courtyards. In Shuihua Courtyard, Liu Yurong listened as a maid whispered the report. She raised her eyebrows slightly but didn’t show any satisfaction, only shaking her head quietly.
She had secretly gone to inquire from someone on Mount Wuliang and confirmed that the elixir would have no adverse effects. In other words, the child was simply born with a naturally disabled constitution, his only fortune being that he was born to the Li family and into the womb of Ji Qingqing.
If she had known this sooner, she wouldn’t have even needed the elixir.
A crippled body, even with Divine Blood, would be of little use.
If anything, it would only make her own son, Qianfeng, seem even more extraordinary in comparison. After all, when the third generation of the Li family gathered, one would stand as a wasted talent, while the other would be a true dragon among men. It was obvious who the family matriarch would favor in her decision.
While Li Hao’s blood-melting failed, the young girl’s was a great success. After absorbing the special blood meant for Li Hao, Bian Ruxue’s martial potential rose even further. In the coming days, with steady nourishment, her results would be clear by the time her bones were measured at age five.
Hearing this news, Li Hao felt genuinely happy for her, though he had his own frustration to deal with. Playing chess against himself no longer brought him any experience in the Chess Dao, so he had to resort to finding the maids and servant girls to play with him.
Despite their usual obedience, the maids were all hesitant to agree to this task. Li Hao had failed at blood-melting and had no aptitude for martial arts. Now he wanted to play chess...
They knew the young master had a natural talent for chess, but in the Li family, a martial household, such a talent was insignificant—if not seen as a waste of time!
If the main lady caught wind of them indulging in such “idle pursuits,” she would likely vent her frustration on them for Li Hao’s lack of martial skills.
...
In the Divine General Mansion, the servants were sharp and avoided any potential misfortune. Left with no other option, Li Hao approached Lin Haixia.
Upon learning that Li Hao wanted him to play chess, Lin Haixia was speechless. He had no understanding of such a game and felt resigned about the young master’s optimism.
Still, he didn’t refuse outright.
“Maybe this last year before his bone measurement will be his final days of happiness…” Lin Haixia thought.
He promised Li Hao that once he finished with Bian Ruxue’s arrangements, he would play chess with him.
From that day on, the pavilion often held the sight of a tall figure and a small one engrossed in a chess game, with a little girl standing on her tiptoes, curiously watching.
Now and then, Li Hao, leaning over the board, would shout:
“You can’t place it there—it has to go on the intersection, not in the boxes!”
“That’s not breaking the rules; it’s called capturing!”
“It’s completely surrounded—you can’t place it in there anymore!”
“You’re so clueless. I’ve explained it three times already.”
After a round of chess, Li Hao was exhausted yet gained a single point of experience. This process was far more tiring than playing by himself. Whenever Lin Haixia violated the rules, the entire game had to be restarted, forcing Li Hao to teach the rules as they played.
Initially, Lin Haixia had thought it would be an easy favor, but with the complexity of the rules, he couldn’t keep his expression straight. After several days, Lin Haixia vanished, leaving Li Hao stomping in frustration. With no other option, he resolved to visit Tingyu Pavilion.
...
Tingyu Pavilion stood to the north of the Divine General Mansion, built into the mountain.
The mansion covered an expansive area, where even carriages could travel. Apart from the courtyards of each lady, there were mountains, scenic lakes, and gardens.
Weathered by the elements, Tingyu Pavilion appeared as an unassuming seven-story building nestled halfway up the mountain. Yet across the land, countless eyes dreamed of glimpsing its true grandeur.
However, none dared cross the golden wall.
With the elderly steward Zhao Bo from the Shanhe Courtyard accompanying him, Li Hao arrived in front of the pavilion. Setting Li Hao down, Zhao Bo kindly advised, “Young master, this is a restricted area in the Li family. Even the ladies of each courtyard need the head lady’s permission to enter. Let’s head back.”
Apart from the Li family’s second generation, only two ladies had free access to Tingyu Pavilion—one of whom was the head lady.
“Didn’t I tell you to send someone to inform her? I’m only here to take a look; it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?” Li Hao said casually, hands clasped behind his back.
Zhao Bo was long used to his young master’s mature demeanor, still unsure of whom he had picked it up from. But he just wore a worried expression and said, “There’s no response yet, and the head lady might not agree. Even if you have the right to enter, young master, you’re still very young…”
“So what if I’m young? Are you looking down on me?” Li Hao frowned.
“I wouldn’t dare, young master,” Zhao Bo responded hastily.
Feeling bored, Li Hao quietly observed Tingyu Pavilion. The ancient, weathered structure had seven stories, and he had heard that after Li Qianfeng’s bone measurement reached a ninth-class battle body, that very night, his mother had obtained permission from the head lady to retrieve a martial art from the pavilion’s top floor—the Boundless Sea.
The Boundless Sea comprised four moves in total, each of extreme difficulty. It was said that only his third uncle had mastered the final move, nearly slicing half of Jingzhou with a single strike.