Chapter 88: A Stirring Event
Once Zhao Bo and Li Fu had left, Yu Xuan looked toward Li Tiangang, hesitating before speaking:
"Marshal, you just returned yesterday. Having a conflict and misunderstanding like this with the young master might harm the bond between father and son. Should you perhaps go and comfort the young master?"
Li Tiangang glanced in the direction where Li Hao had left, realizing that his attitude earlier had been a bit too harsh. However, the memory of Li Hao's cold gaze ignited a nameless fury within him.
He patted Yu Xuan's shoulder and said, "You've endured enough of this child's antics today."
Yu Xuan quickly bowed and said, "Marshal, you’re too kind. I don’t mind, but it’s the young master who..."
"I’ll check on him later," Li Tiangang sighed. "Even if I was wrong, this child has been spoiled for years and has developed too much of a temper. And to say we could dispose of the painting however we wished—since the painting contains Qingqing, his mother, is it worth abandoning it just because of this quarrel? Absurd!"
Yu Xuan opened his mouth slightly as if to speak but stopped, unsure how to offer advice.
After all, he didn’t understand such matters—he was an orphan from the battlefield, and strict discipline left him reluctant to overstep his bounds.
At that moment, a figure suddenly flew in from the horizon.
Li Tiangang looked up, and upon recognizing the newcomer, a smile immediately spread across his face.
"Second Uncle!"
He called out eagerly and strode out of the corridor to greet him.
"You’ve found time to visit? I was just about to thank you."
Li Muxiu descended into the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over Li Tiangang’s imposing figure. He sighed.
"You’ve grown tougher after over a decade of frontier battles. Where’s Qingqing?"
Li Tiangang froze briefly before murmuring, "She’s gone."
"Gone?"
Li Muxiu frowned deeply, fixing his gaze on Li Tiangang. "Is she coming back?"
Li Tiangang was taken aback and looked at his second uncle.
"I’m asking you a question," Li Muxiu said impatiently.
Li Tiangang hesitated. "Second Uncle, do you mean to say you knew about Qingqing..."
"Hmph, did you really think you could hide it from everyone? Back then, who didn’t know? Your father knew, your mother knew!"
Li Muxiu snorted. "Otherwise, do you think your marriage would have been allowed?"
"My father and mother knew..." Li Tiangang stood as if struck by lightning, stunned into silence. After a long moment, his eyes became slightly misty.
Li Muxiu casually released a barrier of energy around them and fixed his gaze on him. "Tell me the truth. Is she coming back?"
Li Tiangang clenched his fists and slowly shook his head. "She’s not coming back."
Not coming back... Li Muxiu took a deep breath, then, recalling something, quickly asked, "I wasn’t at the manor yesterday due to some matters. I heard you returned yesterday. Does anyone else know the situation? What about Hao’er? Does he know?"
Faced with the series of questions, Li Tiangang shook his head again. "I didn’t explain in detail. Everyone thinks Qingqing is..."
"Hao’er doesn’t know either?"
Li Muxiu immediately followed up.
Li Tiangang nodded slightly.
Li Muxiu paused momentarily, then sighed.
"You’ve done the right thing. It’s better if Hao’er doesn’t know. Since Qingqing isn’t coming back, there’s no need for Hao’er to know. Let him believe she’s dead."
Hearing this, Li Tiangang’s body trembled slightly. But in the end, he clenched his fists and said nothing.
"You were able to end the war in Yanbei. Was it because of Qingqing?" Li Muxiu asked suddenly.
Li Tiangang shook his head slightly and replied, "That was only part of it. The main reason is that after years of fighting, the Sacred Palace has grown weak."
Li Muxiu snorted coldly. "Those demons... Once Hao’er ascends to the True Dragon position and the family has an heir, I’ll make a trip myself to deal with those millennial demon kings!"
"Second Uncle, the family still needs you to hold the fort."
Li Tiangang smiled wryly, well aware of his second uncle’s temper, and changed the subject.
"Speaking of Hao’er, I was about to thank you, Second Uncle."
"Thank me for what? Taking care of Hao’er is my duty. He’s the only nephew among all of you I actually admire. The rest of you—including you—are nothing but blockheads." Li Muxiu spoke bluntly.
Li Tiangang felt helpless at being criticized but did not retort.
Back in their youth, his second uncle had disdained most of their family’s nine brothers, except for a select few.
He hadn’t expected Li Hao to win over his eccentric second uncle’s favor. Smiling, he said, "If not for you reversing his fate, Hao’er wouldn’t have achieved today’s success. I’ll forever remember this debt."
"Huh?"
Li Muxiu was startled. "Reverse his fate? For Hao’er?"
"Hmm?" Li Tiangang looked at him, puzzled.
Even Yu Xuan, standing nearby, wore a surprised expression as he gazed at the family’s cornerstone.
"Second Uncle, Hao’er is only fourteen but has already reached the Fifteen Li Realm. If not for you..."
Li Tiangang’s words were cut off.
"You’ve got it wrong."
Li Muxiu suddenly understood the misunderstanding and huffed.
"Sure, I’d love to reverse Hao’er’s fate, but I used up my chance years ago. What opportunity do you think I have left?"
"Besides, with Hao’er’s unparalleled talent—unmatched in history—he doesn’t need any fate reversal. If anything, tampering with him might ruin him!"
"...What?"
Li Tiangang, usually calm and composed from years of warfare, could not hide his shock.
It wasn’t his second uncle?
Hao’er reached this level of cultivation purely through his own talent?
Yu Xuan was equally stunned, staring at the old patriarch in disbelief.
Li Muxiu chuckled at their reactions, finding them amusing.
"Indeed, Hao’er’s talent is extraordinary—beyond imagination. He’s not just a regular genius."
Li Tiangang, regaining his composure, muttered, "But wasn’t it said that Hao’er’s meridians were sealed?"
As Li Hao’s father, such news couldn’t have been false. No one had any reason to deceive him, especially since Li Hao inherited his mother’s bloodline. Such conditions weren’t implausible.
"They were sealed."
Li Muxiu sighed. "And that’s what makes it terrifying. According to Hao’er, his meridians were unsealed in a dream. I investigated and found it to be a rare case of pseudo-meridian sealing—where the channels aren’t fully blocked. Such occurrences are ten thousand times rarer than complete sealing. Most children born in commoner families with muddied bloodlines experience true sealing."
"His meridians became fully functional when he was about six or seven years old."
Meridian sealing wasn’t unusual among ordinary families, but it was a rare phenomenon in a place like the Divine General Mansion.
Li Tiangang listened with wide eyes.
He had weathered countless battles and seen endless bloodshed without flinching, yet this revelation left him speechless.
Did this mean that Hao’er had only started cultivating around the age of six or seven?
No foundational cultivation stage, no blood refinement phase—just seven years to reach the Fifteen Li Realm?
And from what he’d learned, Hao’er spent much of his time wandering about aimlessly, barely practicing...
No wonder even Second Uncle referred to this as "terrifying"!
Li Tiangang, who had considered his younger brother, Li Jiulang, the most extraordinary prodigy he had ever known, now realized that his son, Hao’er, surpassed even that.
This was his son!
Li Tiangang’s body trembled slightly, his heart brimming with excitement.
Yu Xuan, too, was utterly dumbfounded, unable to utter a word.
The seemingly carefree young master was actually such a monstrous talent?
Li Muxiu, noting their reactions, smirked in satisfaction. He relished seeing their stunned expressions.
It wouldn’t do for only him, Old Feng, and Old Wu to have been shaken by this discovery.
"Where’s Hao’er?" Li Muxiu asked, glancing around.
Li Tiangang, still brimming with emotion, replied, "Hao’er should be in his courtyard."
Li Muxiu nodded. "I came here for two reasons. First, to check on you. Second, to handle some matters. Now that you’re back, I can rest assured and take care of my business. I’ll leave Hao’er in your care."
"With Hao’er at his current level of cultivation, he’s already free to roam the martial world. He doesn’t need my care," Li Tiangang said with a smile.
Li Muxiu’s smile faded as he gave him a meaningful look. "No matter how strong he is, he’s still just a fourteen-year-old child."
"When I say ‘care,’ I don’t mean protecting him from others—I mean ensuring he isn’t left alone. Do you understand?"
Li Tiangang froze, his smile slowly fading into silence.
Care... companionship?
Suddenly, he recalled the questions Hao’er had posed to him earlier.
"What would happen if I focused solely on becoming a grandmaster, as you wish?"
"What if I were the greatest prodigy of the millennium? What then?"
Li Tiangang took a deep breath, his expression shifting.
So, that child had been trying to say that even if he excelled, what would he gain in return?
Praise from his parents? Or their company?
Thinking about his fourteen years of campaigning in Yanbei, Li Tiangang sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of guilt. He had indeed failed in his duties as a father.
He turned to Li Muxiu and said, "Second Uncle, I understand. I’ll take care of Hao’er and make up for the years I’ve missed."
Li Muxiu smiled. "Good. I won’t keep you. I’ll see Hao’er and then head out."
"Second Uncle, may I ask what you’re planning to do?" Li Tiangang asked quickly.
"An old acquaintance and I have arranged to meet—to discuss the rain," Li Muxiu replied with a mysterious smile before turning to leave gracefully.
...
Li Hao returned to his courtyard.
The moment he stepped inside, a white fox, Xiao Rou, darted out from somewhere and leaped into his arms.
Li Hao snapped out of his thoughts and smiled as he stroked Xiao Rou’s soft fur. "Where did you run off to earlier? I couldn’t find you."
The white fox glanced up at him with a slightly aggrieved expression, burying its head in his chest without a word.
Li Hao didn’t think much of it, cradling the fox as he walked to his desk. Sitting down, he idly picked up a chess piece from the board beside him, rolling it between his fingers as he leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window.
Suddenly, a figure jumped in through the window, startling him.
"What are you doing here? Didn’t Old Wu come to play chess with you?"
The intruder was none other than Li Muxiu.
Li Hao blinked in surprise before regaining his composure. Smiling, he said, "Second Grandpa! Got some free time? Let’s go dragon-fishing."
Li Muxiu glared at him. "Dragon-fishing? Do you really think you can catch one? Your father’s back—shouldn’t you spend more time with him?"
Li Hao’s lips curled into a smirk as he replied, "If I managed to catch a flood dragon last time, surely I can catch a true dragon next time."
"You’ve got quite the imagination. Last time was pure luck!"
Li Muxiu rolled his eyes and added, "I’ll be away for a while. If you’re determined to fish, go with your Feng Grandpa. Don’t go alone—there’s still an old dragon lurking in that lake. Even at Fifteen Li, it’s dangerous."
Li Hao grinned. "Got it."
...
Meanwhile, in Changchun Courtyard...
“What?!”
In the main hall, He Jianlan’s teacup slipped from her hands, spilling tea onto the carpet. The liquid soaked into the fabric, scattering tea leaves everywhere.
Yet she paid no mind, standing abruptly and staring at Li Fu in shock. “Say that again?”
Li Fu couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at her reaction—it was exactly what he had anticipated. Who wouldn’t be stunned upon hearing this news for the first time?
He respectfully replied, “Madam, the Marquis instructed me to inform you that a family banquet will be held to celebrate Young Master Hao’er’s breakthrough to the Fifteen Li Realm.”
He Jianlan stared blankly at him. Li Fu was a soldier, not one to lie about such matters, especially when the order came directly from Li Tiangang.
But Li Hao... reaching the Fifteen Li Realm?
Her mind raced with flashes of realization, like fireworks bursting into place, bringing clarity.
Had everything over the years been a façade?
Not only could Hao’er cultivate, but his talent surpassed imagination!
That wretched Seventh Brother of hers—did he not trust her enough to reveal this? He even went so far as to deceive her about something so monumental?
Surely, this must have been Li Tiangang’s doing. Otherwise, how could a mere child understand how to orchestrate such a charade?
He Jianlan’s emotions surged—a mix of joy, anger, and frustration, but ultimately, joy triumphed.
“Hao’er has reached the Fifteen Li Realm... He’s only fourteen years old.”
She murmured to herself, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and delight.
The room fell silent.
The maids, servants, and even her personal attendant stood dumbfounded, all digesting the shocking news.
For years, they had seen Young Master Hao’er come and go from Changchun Courtyard, always relaxed and seemingly uninterested in cultivation.
Who could have guessed that today, he would reveal such monstrous talent?
Among them, the personal maid Xuejian was particularly stunned.
She had vivid memories of accompanying the young master to Tingyu Pavilion years ago. At the time, she thought he was merely a mischievous child indulging in fanciful whims. She had only gone with him because of orders, never suspecting he might have been secretly cultivating all along.
And back then, how old had he been?
For him to hide his abilities so flawlessly... it was both awe-inspiring and chilling.
“I understand,” He Jianlan finally said, snapping back to reality. She cast a sharp glance at Li Fu. “Tell Seventh Brother I’ll be having words with him later.”
Li Fu maintained his composure, neither confirming nor denying his foreknowledge of the matter.
Usually as blunt as a block of wood, he had once impressed her with his stern and candid advice regarding Hao’er’s situation. She now realized it had all been an act—his supposed sincerity was a sham.
Li Fu, you sly ‘honest man.’
...
News of the upcoming family banquet spread swiftly through Changchun Courtyard, reaching the kitchens and other branches of the Li family’s vast estate.
Unlike before, He Jianlan made no attempt to keep the announcement discreet. She directly instructed the maids and messengers to inform everyone:
The banquet was to celebrate Li Hao’s achievement in reaching the Fifteen Li Realm.
That single declaration sent shockwaves rippling across the Li family.
In the sparring grounds at the Ninth Courtyard, the news left everyone dumbfounded.
The martial instructors and veteran soldiers, seasoned warriors who had witnessed countless prodigies, were left speechless.
One of them, an old drillmaster, was particularly shaken. He had introduced Hao’er’s fiancée to the Sword Saint’s sect and was well-acquainted with the young master’s situation.
Yet the young master, once rejected outright by the Sword Saint, had now reached the Fifteen Li Realm?
Was this some kind of joke?
The Sword Saint’s disciple—Hao’er’s fiancée—was likely only at the Spiritual Wandering Realm!
The news not only stunned the instructors and veterans but also ignited an uproar among the Li family’s side branches training on the sparring grounds.
“Fourteen years old and already at the Fifteen Li Realm...”
The words pierced their minds like sharp thorns, shattering their understanding of what was possible.
Was this the terror of a true prodigy born of the main lineage?
...
In Shuihua Courtyard, Liu Yurong was seated before a bronze mirror, carefully arranging her hair.
The reflection showed a stunningly beautiful woman. Despite being over forty years old, her youthful complexion and graceful demeanor made her look no older than thirty. Her lithe figure and poised elegance exuded a mature charm.
Her maid was just fastening a hairpin when a servant girl entered the room, bowing respectfully before delivering the news.
Liu Yurong barely spared the servant a glance, nodding casually for the girl to proceed.
Soon, a senior maid from Changchun Courtyard entered and delivered the announcement.
“What?”
Liu Yurong, who had been admiring her reflection with satisfaction, froze mid-motion and spun around.
Her sudden movement caused one of her jade hairpins to swing forward and tap her forehead.
“Celebrating Li Hao’s breakthrough to the Fifteen Li Realm? Li Hao?!”
“Yes,” the senior maid replied with a low bow.
Liu Yurong stared at her, mind buzzing with disbelief.
Was this true? A prank? Impossible?
That child, in the Fifteen Li Realm?!
A wave of dizziness washed over her as she processed the information. It felt as though she hadn’t slept the previous night, and her vision momentarily darkened.
Within seconds, a multitude of fragmented memories surfaced, piecing themselves together into a coherent explanation.
Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to suppress the turbulent emotions swirling within her.
Finally, she dismissed the senior maid with a polite but forced smile. Then, her expression turned icy as she summoned her trusted steward.
“Investigate immediately and confirm the truth.”
Not long after, the steward returned with a definitive report.
“It’s true.”
Liu Yurong’s expression darkened. How could this be possible?
Unless... Li Hao had never been a so-called martial waste. Years ago, when Lin Haixia had been sent back to care for him, she must have been instructed to hide the truth about his situation.
It all made sense now.
The story of a failed foundation-building phase was a fabrication, a carefully constructed lie meant to deceive them.
Good job, Li Tiangang. With your honest appearance, who would’ve thought you’d play such mind games?
This must have been Ji Qingqing’s idea. That strange woman was always full of schemes.
Liu Yurong clenched her teeth in frustration, her thoughts racing back to the scene at Shanhe Courtyard years ago. She vividly remembered finding the boy’s body soaking in medicinal liquid, his skin pale and wrinkled.
At the time, the treatment had seemed utterly ineffective, with no absorption of the medicinal properties. Such commitment to deception—it was truly ruthless.
“No. I have to inform Qianfeng immediately so he can prepare.”
Liu Yurong’s mind cleared as she hastily instructed her attendants to bring her writing materials. She needed to draft a secret letter.
...
Meanwhile, across the Li family’s vast estate, the announcement of the family banquet sent waves of astonishment through every courtyard.
The revelation of Li Hao’s achievement in reaching the Fifteen Li Realm at just fourteen years old shocked everyone.
For many, it was even more earth-shattering than when the famed Li Jiulang had reached the Grandmaster Realm at seventeen.
Li Hao had always been perceived as carefree, more interested in painting and fishing than cultivation. He’d spent his days playing and wandering, so much so that even those who occasionally saw him in passing had dismissed him as unremarkable.
Yet now, this boy—barely a teenager—had reached a realm that some could only dream of in their lifetime.
...
In Piaoxue Courtyard, siblings Li Yun and Li Zhining sat in stunned silence after hearing the news.
They had initially thought Li Hao had simply reached the Soul Fusion Realm, as the Black and White Hall required for entry.
But this? This was something else entirely.
Fourteen years old and already far beyond their reach.
Nearby, Li Wushuang stood quietly. When she first heard the news, her reaction was almost imperceptible—a slight narrowing of her eyes.
After all, she had personally experienced Li Hao’s strength yesterday, feeling the force of his Fifteen Li Realm cultivation firsthand.
Li Xuanli and Gao Qingqing, who had also heard the announcement, were equally astonished.
When Li Zhining, still processing her shock, muttered something about special exceptions, Li Wushuang turned to her.
“What do you mean by exceptions?”
Li Zhining hesitated, then answered, “Tangong Academy. Hao’er’s acceptance into the Black and White Hall... it must have been an exception.”
She explained what she knew about the academy and the unusual circumstances of Hao’er’s admission.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuanli frowned. “So, those old scholars at the academy knew about Hao’er’s abilities before we did?”
Gao Qingqing, quicker to recover from her surprise, began to piece things together. “They must have discovered his talents during their mission outside the academy. That’s likely when Hao’er revealed his strength.”
She paused, her mind turning. “And since they likely assumed the Li family already knew of Hao’er’s abilities, they wouldn’t have thought it necessary to inform us. They probably even worried about leaking the news, given the risks of attracting malicious intent.”
Hearing her analysis, Li Xuanli sighed in exasperation.
“That was some incredible coincidence,” he muttered.
The mention of potential dangers seemed to trigger something in Gao Qingqing. She turned to her eldest daughter, Li Wushuang. “You must be extra cautious when you go out. Remember, the Qian Kun Ranking isn’t just a list of human geniuses—it’s also a hunting list for the demon clans.”
Li Wushuang nodded. The Qian Kun Ranking was renowned as a list of extraordinary human talents, but its notoriety among the demon clans made it a double-edged sword.
For centuries, the enmity between humans and demons had led to countless assassinations of promising geniuses. And yet, the prestige of the ranking continued to draw ambitious cultivators.
In this world, most martial artists pursued one thing above all:
Fame.