Chapter 76: Secret Technique
Returning to Qingzhou...
Li Hao and his companions carried the mission letter issued by the Demon Subduing Division of Cangyu City, and reported back to Tangong Academy.
...
The letter bore the official seal of the Demon Subduing Division, awarding all five of them perfect scores.
Su Yehua received the letter without surprise. After all, with the two young masters of the Li family among them, any officials with a bit of discernment over at the Demon Subduing Division in Cangyu City wouldn’t dare give them trouble. She didn’t bother examining the letter for authenticity—background was just as much a form of power as any other.
Even she had to treat the young masters and ladies of the Li family with some courtesy, out of respect for the Divine General Mansion.
The real conflict wasn’t outside the city walls; it was within.
Once the report was over, Ren Qianqian sought out Li Hao, expressing her resolve and determination.
Li Hao, however, did not immediately agree. He suggested she discuss it with her parents first. After all, becoming an attendant sword servant was a significant decision—once she joined the Li family and learned their secret techniques, her fate would be tied to theirs forever. Even crippling her own cultivation would not free her.
When he finished, Ren Qianqian revealed that her mother had passed away when she was young and that she was unwilling to speak to her father about this matter. She would decide on her own.
Seeing this, Li Hao still refused, insisting that it would be better for her to communicate with her father. She was still young and inexperienced; he couldn’t just take her in so casually. Otherwise, should her Grandmaster father come to the Li family in a fit of rage, it would be embarrassing, even if the Li family could handle it.
After declining Ren Qianqian’s request, Li Hao took Li Yuanzhao back to the long-missed Shanhe Courtyard.
He carefully placed the box containing the head of the Tiger-robed Immortal in his room, then grabbed the other delicacies he had gathered from Cangyu City and had Qingzhi bring a portion to Fifth Granduncle, who was guarding the ancestral hall. The rest, he carried to Tingyu Pavilion.
Not finding his Second Granduncle there, Li Hao glanced at the sky and instantly deduced that at this time of day, Second Granduncle was most likely fishing by the shore of Blackwater Lake.
Without delay, he soared into the air, flying from Tingyu Pavilion towards Blackwater Lake.
...
Soon, the vast expanse of Blackwater Lake came into view.
Li Hao located the familiar fishing spot of his Second Granduncle and, as expected, found both him and Granduncle Feng there.
Noticing someone approaching, the two men turned to look.
Li Hao descended from the sky, landing beside them with a cheerful grin. “Second Granduncle, Granduncle Feng, how’s the catch today? Who’s caught more?”
“Oh, it’s Hao’er.”
Feng Boping smiled and said, “Of course, I’ve caught the most!”
Neither of them was surprised by Li Hao’s ability to fly; they had long been aware of his approximate cultivation level.
After all, when he was twelve years old, the boy had fished up a young flood dragon right in front of them. At the time, they were both shocked and envious.
They were stunned by his terrifying talent, surpassing even Li Jiulang, the so-called genius of the millennium. But what they envied was his luck—the boy had actually caught a flood dragon!
As for the unfortunate creature, after Li Hao stewed it, they had devoured several hearty servings of it, all while lamenting, “Why didn’t it bite my hook? Was my bait not tempting enough?”
Despite their banter, seeing Li Hao’s talent stirred a deep desire in Li Muxiu, a man who had long renounced worldly ambition. He wanted to teach Li Hao martial arts, to guide him to focus on his potential rather than waste time on trivial pursuits.
With such talent and his personal instruction, Li Hao could one day surpass him. If the Li family produced a True Person, it would shake the entire world.
But Li Hao had sought help from Old Feng, who was known for his carefree nature and tendency to discourage conventional thinking, ultimately persuading Li Muxiu to drop the idea.
And with the example of Li Jiulang, Li Muxiu relented, allowing Li Hao to live as he pleased.
Muxiu knew that if he forced Li Hao to cultivate, the boy would probably resist wholeheartedly, which only added to his frustration. To this day, he wondered why Li Hao’s cultivation soared despite the apparent lack of effort.
Respecting Li Hao’s decision, Muxiu had not publicized his cultivation level, so none of the others in the mansion knew about it.
...
At this moment...
Hearing Feng Boping’s smug laughter, Li Muxiu rolled his eyes, “What good is quantity? They’re all small fry. I’m aiming to catch a dragon.”
Neither of them used rods to fish; instead, they crafted lines from pure energy, which pierced the bodies of small fish demons, guiding them to swim into areas where larger fish or flood dragons might feed.
“If you can catch one, I’ll believe it,” Feng Boping chuckled.
Li Muxiu snorted, glancing at the bundles Li Hao was carrying. “Where’d you get all that? Weren’t you just out bullying the kids at Tangong Academy?”
Li Hao chuckled, “I was just completing a mission for the academy and brought some treats back from Cangyu City.”
Li Hao handed the snacks to the two elders. “Here, this one’s delicious.”
“Oh, there’s cream filling in this twist pastry!”
Feng Boping bit into one and clicked his tongue. “Not bad at all.”
“You’re thoughtful, as usual,” Li Muxiu smiled, selecting a few bites.
At this moment, the little white fox, Xiaorou, scampered over joyfully. Li Hao knelt to pick it up, handing it a piece of roasted meat. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you.”
“You little fox, more like a cat with your love for fish,” Li Muxiu teased.
Xiaorou daintily held the meat with its small paws, nibbling happily, its eyes squinting into classic fox smiles as it listened to Second Granduncle’s comment.
Li Hao smiled and gently rubbed its head, setting it down to eat on its own. He took a portion for himself, sat beside the two elders, and joined them for a casual chat.
“In a little while, your father should also be returning,” Li Muxiu remarked as he munched on a piece of crispy flatbread.
“Oh?” Li Hao was taken aback.
Could the war that had lasted over a decade finally be coming to an end?
“I’ve heard that the Yanbei battlefield has seen some unexpected changes, and the Sacred Palace seems to be planning a withdrawal,” Muxiu said.
Li Hao’s eyes lit up. Did this mean he would soon see his parents?
“小耗子,” Feng Boping teased, “it’s been more than ten years since you’ve seen your parents. Will you even recognize them?”
Li Hao paused. His memories of them had indeed become hazy over time.
Li Muxiu glared at Feng Boping, silently reprimanding him for bringing up such a sensitive topic. Then he turned to Li Hao and said:
“Coincidentally, your generation has all grown up, so the clan’s True Dragon Seat should be decided this year. With your father’s support, you’re practically guaranteed the position.”
“With Hao’er’s talent, there’s no dispute,” Feng Boping said between bites. “If it were up to me, I’d give him the True Dragon Seat right now.”
Li Muxiu shot him a look, “I would, too. But with the extensive heritage of the Li family, it’s not so simple. We can’t favor one side and leave others resentful.”
He turned to Li Hao. “Isn’t that right, Hao’er?”
“Mm.”
Li Hao nodded with a smile.
He had heard of the True Dragon Seat before. Each generation, the Li family selected one True Dragon who would receive the largest share of family resources and the assistance of the ancestors’ spirits to elevate their Soul Aspect.
The Soul Fusion Realm allowed up to eighty condensations of the soul...
But the Li family’s ancestral secret technique could push the Soul Aspect to a level comparable to the imperial lineage’s True Person stage.
This meant up to 180 soul condensations!
At the Spiritual Wandering Realm, they could also strengthen his soul, expanding the range of his Divine Soul...
At the Fifteen Li stage, he would receive a boost from the ancestral spirits, bringing him above even the most exceptional talents, achieving a level of extraordinary excellence.
To be a True Dragon meant to surpass all peers, reigning supreme.
As the Li family’s True Dragon, while benefiting from the strength of the ancestors’ spirits, he would also bear the responsibility of upholding the clan’s legacy. Undoubtedly, the future family head would hold this position.
If worldly talents were likened to a first-class Battle Body, a Li family member of comparable talent would be top-tier.
And the True Dragon was beyond first-class.
...
Though Li Hao had reached the Fifteen Li stage, becoming the True Dragon would still allow him to enjoy the ancestors’ empowerment across his past and future stages.
Even in the Soul Fusion Realm, he wondered if there was still room for growth. This possibility intrigued him.
Most importantly, if he didn’t take the True Dragon Seat, it would likely go to someone else.
Had it not been for the incident years ago, when someone poisoned him for their child’s ambition, Li Hao wouldn’t care about the position. Being a True Dragon carried immense responsibility—he would need to lead the thousand-year-old clan into the future, breaking through all obstacles to preserve and expand its legacy.
Exhausting, to say the least.
But when someone tried to destroy him for their own gain, plotting for over a decade, he could not allow them to succeed. He had been waiting for this day.
“The True Dragon trials will evaluate all aspects—not just talent but also temperament, connections, and achievements,” Muxiu said to Li Hao. “Sending you to Tangong Academy was to give you opportunities to make friends. You can’t just hang around with us old folks all the time.”
Feng Boping snorted. “Let’s be honest, talent is the most critical factor. Everything else is just icing on the cake.”
“Stop corrupting Hao’er,” Muxiu scolded, glaring at him.
“Haha...” Feng Boping laughed heartily.
Li Hao smiled quietly, listening to the elders' teasing.
...
Soon, Second Granduncle’s line stirred—something had taken the bait.
As the sun set and stars began to emerge, Li Hao prepared grilled fish demon caught by Feng Boping for dinner, feeding all three of them and Xiaorou.