Foundation Establishment, peerless talent (double-length chapter)

"Hao'er..."

Li Xuanli clenched his fists, his heart filled with grief.

The smiles on the faces of the Li Family Soldiers and the Liang Province Commander beside him also vanished, and they all remained silent.

The older generation of the Xia Family and Chen Family who rushed to the rescue were slightly taken aback when they heard the thunderous shouts, as they had never seen a general with such a prestigious reputation.

Moreover, there were many arrogant Aristocratic Family Army who had gathered from various cities, and they were shouting even more excitedly than the soldiers.

It should be noted that although the Aristocratic Clan and warlords of the Great Yu Dynasty had some interactions with each other, they looked down on each other.

The warlords looked down on the shallow and opportunistic nature of the Aristocratic Clan families who were greedy and afraid of death, regarding them as the parasites and intractable diseases that plagued Great Yu.

The Aristocratic Clan feared the warlords' power and were looked down upon by them, so they also looked down on the warlords, secretly despising their blind loyalty, stubbornness, and inflexibility.

The fact that they are so unified at this moment is truly an incredible sight.

"Li Hao..."

Li Wushuang was also covered in blood. She followed the soldiers and charged out to kill the scattered Demon. At this moment, she was exhausted and her hands were weak.

The calls around her were all of that boy's name.

Her face was deathly pale as she asked her father, "Should we go find him?"

Li Xuanli's heart skipped a beat, as if a sharp thorn had pierced his Heart Entry. His voice was hoarse as he asked, "Search? Where should we search?"

Li Wushuang's face turned even paler. Yes, the world is vast, where could she possibly search?

That boy... has already been lost by the Li Family!

She couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow.

As someone of Li Hao's generation, she knew that the young man had done exceptionally well, yet he tragically died young.

Beside him, Li Tiangang also heard Li Xuanli's words. His expression changed, and his large, burly body trembled slightly, as if the blood in his body had turned to ice.

Where to find it...

Being pursued by three masters of the Unique Skill Realm is extremely dangerous, not to mention that one of them is at the half-step Great Peace Dao Realm!

He remained silent for a long time before saying in a low voice, "Fifth Brother, let's treat the wounded and reorganize the remaining forces first, and then deal with the Demon Calamity in Liang Prefecture."

"I'll go find him after the battle is over."

Li Xuanli glanced at him, knowing that any words of comfort would be futile at this moment, and said:

"I'll send two light cavalry squads to track him down. Perhaps Hao'er is fortunate enough to escape this calamity?"

Li Tiangang's eyes flickered slightly as he thought that the child was indeed favored by countless people and was truly blessed.

He nodded and said, "That's right. Let them take their Military Banner with them too... If they encounter any other Demon Past way, their Military Banner can provide some protection."

Now he had to admit that his son's reputation was even more renowned than that of the Li Family's Yuan Character Camp.

At least in this battle of Liang Prefecture, and in Liang Prefecture itself, everyone will know about it from now on.

Including Demon.

Li Xuanli nodded. He knew this without being told. Currently, only Li Hao's Military Banner was the most effective in Liang Prefecture. If they raised their own Battle Flag, most of the Demon would put up some resistance, or even kill them depending on the situation. But it was hard to say if they used Li Hao's Battle Flag.

No one knew whether the Battle Flag was real or fake, and the child was renowned for turning the tide of battle, slaying seven Demon Kings, sweeping across the universe, and establishing his Heaven and Earth with the Battle Flag.

Many of their achievements will spread throughout the Demon world.

Among these Demons are those from the Tianji Hall who roam freely and possess a keen grasp of Intelligence, unless they are some ignorant, uncivilized little demons from the wilderness.

"Let's go explore somewhere else, the three of us. Since we're here, let's see how many remnants are left."

The old man from the Chen Family spoke, his eyes cold and menacing. His battle robes were stained with blood from the previous fight with the Demon. Although he looked white-haired, he exuded a Bloodlust and Killing Aura.

The older generation of the Xia Family nodded, glanced at Li Tiangang, and with his keen hearing and sharp eyes, he understood the general situation from the surrounding discussions and the calls of those Aristocratic Family Army.

The fact that this Second Defense Line has been able to hold out until now is entirely thanks to the help of Li Tiangang's son.

He had slain seven Demon Kings in succession, and their Demon King were still scattered across the battlefield, forming hills that were extremely horrifying.

Even these old guys admit they might not be able to pull off such a feat.

Not to mention that the other party also attracted away three masters of the Unique Skill Realm. The sovereign of the Great Void Realm, Candlelight God, even revealed a shocking secret: he had already reached the half-step Great Peace Dao Realm and was almost on par with the Buddha Master.

"It seems we've all lost to the next generation of the Five Divine General Residences..."

"The Li Family True Dragon, unmatched by anyone..."

The old man of the Xia Family sighed inwardly, thinking of his own outstanding younger generation, comparing them in his mind, and couldn't help but shake his head.

The difference is too obvious.

However, the fact that the Li Family's True Dragon is so outstanding may not necessarily be a bad thing for the upcoming situation.

Thinking of those many hidden Intelligence, the old man of the Xia Family became even more solemn.

"When the people suffer, we all have a responsibility. This old Daoist priest will accompany you two on this journey once more."

The Thousand Machines Daoist flicked his whisk and addressed the two.

He glanced at his disciple in the distance again, his eyes flickering slightly. The scene of him going to the Li Family to take on a disciple flashed through his mind for no apparent reason.

When he led Unparalleled away, no one paid any attention to the young man standing beside him.

Who could have predicted that today, they would shine so brightly, more dazzling than anyone else?

He himself was saved because of the other person, and thus owed them a debt of gratitude.

Having lived for hundreds of years, he finally made a mistake...

He sighed inwardly, feeling regretful. He sent a telepathic message to Li Wushuang, telling her to be careful. Then, he left with the elders of the Xia and Chen families and began to sweep through Liang Prefecture, searching for the remaining traces of the Demon King.

Beyond the Border Liang Prefecture, in the Dragon City Fallen River.

Inside the Divine General Residence, in the Green Lotus Courtyard.

Having felt sleepy while absorbing knowledge of Sword Dao, and having taken a nap, Li Hao has now turned two years old.

At that moment, in a corner of the courtyard, Li Hao was huddled together with the young man Li Xiaoran.

Now that Li Hao can speak, the two can communicate.

"No one else matters, but in front of your grandfather, who is also my Eldest Brother, you must conceal your identity. Never let him know that you came from outside the Mo River."

Li Xiaoran looked around, then set up a soundproof Barrier and whispered, "In front of others, even if you seem strange, as long as it doesn't happen often, they won't notice anything. But it's different in front of my Eldest Brother. His obsession has a self-awareness; the entire Dragon City exists because of him."

"If he notices your unusual behavior and realizes you came from outside the Mo River and not from his son Li Shilang, he will banish you, or even kill you. Remember this!"

Li Hao nodded with a solemn expression.

Li Xiaoran was always very cautious when she came to see him, probably because she was disguising her identity.

Strangely, he has no name here, only the title Li Shilang.

Perhaps the old man only had Nine Sons in his lifetime, and this child was an exception, so he didn't think about the name of his tenth child, hence the way he was addressed.

"Did you also start as a baby when you came in?" Li Hao asked curiously.

"Pretty much, they all start from the beginning."

Li Xiaoran nodded, a hint of melancholy in his eyes, and said, "Before my Eldest Brother died, he always felt that he hadn't tried hard enough, Grand Battle."

"This idea might explain why this Mo River has such unique rules, while the rules for other Mo River at the Nether Capital Tier are all different."

"I see..." Li Hao understood, and asked curiously, "So we entered together, but you entered many years before me?"

"That's right, time here is very strange, you've already sensed it. I've actually been here for a long time. During this time, besides cultivating, I've also been searching for traces of those Demons. They've already lurked in Dragon City, and when the Battle of Dragon City breaks out after you turn eighteen, those Demons will all show themselves."

"I'm going to kill them before they're gone!" Li Xiaoran's eyes blazed with Killing Aura intent.

Li Hao sensed the Aura emanating from him; this Fourth Master had already cultivated to the Three Immortalities Realm.

Li Xiaoran looked at Li Hao, seemingly understanding Li Hao thoughts, and said:

"My identity does give me an advantage in navigating this Mo River, so I've always been the one guarding it. Every time I enter, I'm basically using my original identity. I suspect this was a deliberate arrangement made by my Eldest Brother before his death, driven by his unwavering determination."

"My Eldest Brother also wants to be free and wants me to take him home..."

As he said this, a hint of sorrow flashed in his eyes.

Li Hao paused for a moment, then asked, "If I demonstrate remarkable talent, will it be exposed?"

"Won't."

Li Xiaoran quickly composed himself and shook his head, saying, "No matter how shocking it is, it's fine, as long as you don't say anything strange or inappropriate, things that he wouldn't consider important to you."

Li Hao understood; in other words, as long as everything aligned with his current development trajectory, it was fine.

"If we spend more than ten years here slowly, how much time will have Past outside?" Li Hao asked, having been worried about this issue before.

It's unclear whether the three Demon King entered the Mo River, whether they were guarding outside, or whether they turned back to Liang Prefecture.

Are you worried about the Demon King outside?

Li Xiaoran noticed Li Hao's worry and smiled, "Don't worry, they've all entered this Mo River too. Several years before you were born, the Candlelight God relied on his ability to open the Great Peace Dao Realm, Dao Realm he could ignore some special rules and directly attacked Dragon City, intending to kill you and me quickly."

"But he underestimated the power of our Li Family, and he also underestimated the power of my Eldest Brother's unwavering determination!"

"Several years ago, in a great battle, my Eldest Brother led the heroic Heroic Soul of the Li Family Ancestral Hall and repelled him. The enemy should now be lying in wait outside Dragon City, waiting for the opportunity to attack Dragon City in the future."

Li Hao was slightly taken aback. The other side had actually come to attack several years in advance?

He had only just entered the Mo River, and the other person had even entered after him, yet their timeline within the Mo River had somehow moved ahead of his?

"Since the Great Peace Dao Realm can disregard the rules, wouldn't the Buddha Master be able to easily resolve this if he were to intervene?" Li Hao asked curiously.

Given the Li Family's influence, it's not impossible to ask Buddha Master to intervene; it just depends on whether the price offered is high enough.

"You can only ignore some of the rules, and even if you are in the Great Peace Dao Realm and can roam freely with your Dao Domain, you can only protect yourself at most. If you violate some taboos, you will be in danger. The things here are too profound. You will gradually feel it," Li Xiaoran said.

Li Hao felt a chill run down his spine. Even a powerful figure like the Buddha Master would face taboos and danger if he came. What exactly was hidden here?

"Besides the Candlelight God, I guess Old Dragon Lu Yuan is here too. At most, Madam Yin will be left outside to look after things."

Li Xiaoran looked at Li Hao and said, "They chased you here because of your talent, right? I remember your birthday is the same as Xiao Jiu's death anniversary. You're fifteen this year?"

Li Hao nodded.

Li Xiaoran couldn't help but sigh, saying, "That explains why you were able to attract them here. A fifteen-year-old at the Three Immortalities Realm, and that terrifying power that erupts from a desperate situation—no wonder they were so desperate to kill you. You're even more terrifying than Xiao Jiu. That Heavenly Gang Tian Gang really raised a fine son!"

He didn't notice Li Hao's furrowed brow and continued:

"The time in this Mo River is strange, but the time you are awake here is the same time that has Past outside. That Old Dragon Lu Yuan must have come in as well. Demon King from the Dragon Gate once came to this Mo River, and after escaping, he must have shared Intelligence about this place with the Dragon Gate. Old Dragon Lu Yuan has Intelligence in his hands, and since the Candlelight God has entered, he will most likely take him in with him."

"This defense of Dragon City will be more difficult than ever before."

His expression was solemn as he said to Li Hao, "But this is also an opportunity for you. Starting anew will allow you to refine your original Martial Dao, identify its flaws, and the new insights you gain will be taken with you when you leave the Mo River."

"When the external world reflects on and complements one's own Martial Dao, there will be a significant improvement."

"You're only two years old now. Although you still have sixteen years, you don't have that much time to actually cultivate. Only when you reach the Spirit Wandering Realm will you be able to go without sleeping for several years."

"Therefore, the time you spend cultivating here will actually be shorter than what you would have spent outside, so you'll have to work twice as hard!"

Li Hao understood this and said, "I know, take care of yourself too."

Seeing a maid searching for Li Hao in the distance, Li Xiaoran knew it was almost time, so he carried Li Hao to the maid and teased him all the way.

Li Hao also played the role of a two-year-old child, beaming with joy.

"Young Master, so you've been here."

The maid breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Li Hao, and then bowed to Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran waved goodbye to Li Hao with a teasing smile.

Li Hao watched him walk out of the courtyard and sit in the maid's lap. He pondered for a moment, then closed his eyes.

In the Courtyard, Li Hao was soaking in a huge medicine vat.

He is three years old now.

In the Divine General Residence, the Foundation Establishment established at age three, the Blood Fusion at age four, the Bone Measurement are measured at age five, and cultivation begins at age six. This is the most suitable cultivation process after thousands of years of research.

Practicing spiritual cultivation too early can easily damage the bones and inhibit physical growth, having the opposite effect.

Li Hao accelerated time to the age of three in order to Foundation Establishment.

Once he fails to Foundation Establishment, he'll have more time to do other things.

At this moment, there were many figures standing in the courtyard.

"Mother" Chen Hefang, and "Grandpa" Li Tianzong.

There were other brothers, including their little sister, Li Hongzhuang, who was only one year old and had just started walking.

Foundation Establishment was a major event, Li Tianzong personally came to help Li Hao Foundation Establishment. His other brothers also came. Li Hao saw his eldest uncle, second uncle, third uncle, and so on, whom he had never seen before... all of them looked like teenagers and children.

Some already exude heroic spirit, while others, though their faces are still youthful, already possess a heroic air between their brows.

Li Hao wasn't too serious about other people, but he felt a bit nervous when facing his "father," Li Tianzong.

Li Xiaoran once said that the other party is conscious and their behavior can change at any time, so you must never reveal any flaws in front of them.

"Light incense."

Li Tianzong gave the instructions.

A middle-aged Steward in the courtyard respectfully agreed and placed an incense stick in the incense burner next to him.

Li Hao recognized the man as Uncle Zhao, only he looked younger and his back wasn't as hunched.

He felt a strange mix of warmth and sadness, and suddenly realized that when he left the manor, he had left something behind.

Some precious memories and friendships.

I wonder how Uncle Zhao is doing now, whether his maid Qingzhi is still being so boisterous, and whether Yuanzhao is practicing his cultivation properly and eating well, Yuanzhao no one tells him stories anymore?

"So fast!"

At this moment, Li Tianzong's exclamation broke Li Hao's thoughts.

Li Hao was taken aback and looked down at the medicine barrel.

But then he saw the black Medicinal Liquid in the medicine barrel, and some of the Medicinal Liquid was even darker black, which was being absorbed into his body.

Li Hao was stunned.

He blinked hard, brought up the Panel, but saw no indication that he could not absorb the Medicinal Liquid.

What's going on?

Li Hao was taken aback.

He remembered that he should be able to isolate the Medicinal Liquid, and could only rely on the points added to the Panel.

But now, he could feel waves of intense and strange power surging into his body, making him feel hot all over.

Is this Foundation Establishment feels like?

I'm actually in the Foundation Establishment?

Li Hao froze, then a chill ran down his spine. Was the Panel broken?

He looked at it repeatedly and found that the Panel would pop up at any time when he called it, without any changes.

Could it be because of the Mo River of Death?

The Mo River is extremely mysterious; to this day, no one knows its source or can explore it.

Li Hao was puzzled, but suddenly, he seemed to understand the reason.

The Panel isolates the absorption of the Medicinal Liquid, thus isolating itself from its original form.

But now, this infant body of his is not his true body; it is the body from the Mo River.

Li Xiaoran had previously said that once he left the Mo River, he could take his Martial Dao insights with him, but his actual cultivation level would not be able to synchronize with his physical body outside.

In other words, if you don't cultivate well here, you'll remain at the same cultivation level when you leave.

He cultivated himself to a higher level here, and after leaving, he returned to his original state.

The realm of martial arts attained here cannot be taken out; only the insights gained from Martial Dao and the things integrated into one's thoughts and memories can be taken out.

Therefore, strictly speaking, these Medicinal Liquid were not absorbed by his main body, but by his body in the Mo River, which is why the Panel did not isolate them.

Well... even though he understood the reason, Li Hao found that he couldn't seem to be happy.

They solved a terrible case.

"However, I can see here how fast I can cultivate if I can absorb various things and add points to the Panel, reaching the limit of growth," Li Hao Dark Dao to himself.

At this moment, as the Medicinal Liquid flowed in, Li Hao felt his entire body become scalding hot, and his small body was filled with a surging sense of power.

So this is what Foundation Establishment feels like... Li Hao felt as comfortable as if he had received a massage.

While Li Hao was enjoying himself, Li Tianzong, Chen Hefang, and the others outside were all stunned.

The other "brothers" of Li Hao, who had completed the Foundation Establishment ahead of time, were also shocked as they watched the changes inside the medicine barrel.

This speed far surpasses theirs.

"Wow, so fast! Is it going to be absorbed within the time it takes for One Incense Stick to burn?" said the eldest brother Li Xingbei.

"He's so much faster than me, even faster than Ninth Brother! That's incredible!" Second Brother Li Fengping exclaimed in amazement.

As Li Tianzong watched the Medicinal Liquid in the medicine barrel gradually lighten in color, gathering towards Li Hao's body like a dragon sucking water, he was initially shocked, but soon burst into hearty laughter.

"Excellent! Truly worthy of being the son of Li Tianzong!"

He burst into laughter, looking at Li Hao with obvious delight.

Li Hao, however, was comfortably enjoying himself.

In the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the Medicinal Liquid in the medicine barrel became clear, as Li Hao had absorbed all of it.

Li Tianzong had already sent Uncle Zhao to deliver a second bucket to Li Hao, and then poured it in as well.

After absorbing three buckets in a row, Li Hao's body was finally full.

Li Tianzong was also stunned, muttering, "Twice as much as Xiao Jiu!"

Li Hao felt his whole body and felt as light as a swallow. On the first day of Foundation Establishment, his body had changed and his physique had undergone a great transformation.

Li Hao didn't stop. He closed his eyes for a moment, and five days later, he had jumped a bit too much.

But Li Hao felt that his body was significantly stronger than before, which meant that he had been fully absorbing the Foundation Establishment Liquid during the few days he had skipped.

Since that's the case, Li Hao immediately closed his eyes again, making time jump even faster, so that each time he opened his eyes it was several days later.

He would check his body each time to make sure he was following the normal trajectory, and then quickly skip over it again.

Time fast-forwarded, and soon it was a year later.

Blood Fusion in a four-year-old.

Because Li Hao was exceptionally Heavenly Talent, Li Tianzong killed a Demon King for him and used its precious blood to Refinement Li Hao's essence.

However, the precious blood was diluted, and the first attempt was only a small one.

For ordinary Blood Fusion to be effective against Demon at the Heaven and Man Realm, one must already be from a wealthy and powerful Aristocratic Clan.

Only a select few top sects' Personal Disciple use Demon at the Three Immortalities Realm.

As for the Demon King's Precious Blood, few people would use it. First, it's too precious and difficult to obtain. Second, its potency is too strong; a four-year-old child simply cannot withstand it and is more likely to be infected by the Demon Blood, transforming into a half-demon.

Li Tianzong also tried cautiously, not giving too much precious blood the first time.

But soon, Li Hao's absorption speed surprised him again; the diluted Demon King's Precious Blood was quickly absorbed by Li Hao.

"Okay, okay."

Li Tianzong couldn't stop smiling. He was overjoyed and surprised by his youngest son's talent. This was definitely the most outstanding Heavenly Talent in the Li Family in thousands of years, in his opinion!

After Blood Fusion at the age of four, Li Hao, though still a child, already possessed a remarkable strength.

Li Hao didn't skip ahead. Instead, he fast-forwarded to a free moment when he wasn't soaking in the Strange Blood, found Uncle Zhao, and asked him to find him Go Board.

Although Uncle Zhao was surprised by Li Hao's strange request, he also doted on this Heavenly Talent talented young master and did not stop him, sending a servant to purchase a set.

Taking advantage of his free time, Li Hao went to his Small Courtyard, where he not only recited poems but also found brushes, ink, and Xuan paper, and hid in a side room to paint.

The courtyard was relatively quiet now, as all the "brothers" had gone to the Martial Arts Arena. Only Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang, who was two years younger than him, were in the courtyard.

Two-year-old Li Hongzhuang was inexplicably very attached to Li Hao. When Li Hao hid in a side room to secretly draw, the little girl found him.

Looking at the little girl who was actually his aunt, running towards him with her pink and tender face calling "Older Brother," Li Hao felt a mix of helplessness and strangeness.

He didn't know how he and the little girl had become so close while they were jumping around so fast, and how she seemed so affectionate towards him.

Helpless, Li Hao could only find some snacks and have her sit quietly to the side while he drew.

This familiar feeling reminded Li Hao of that Courtyard where he used to play Chess and paint, with a Little Tail following him.

But later, the Little Tail broke off.

Li Hao shook his head slightly, composed himself, and continued to quickly trace the design on the paper.

With a loud bang.

Just as Li Hao was enjoying his painting and gaining more experience with the moving Painting Dao, the door to the side room was suddenly pushed open.

Li Tianzong's tall figure walked in. Seeing Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang there, his eyes flickered and landed on Li Hao:

What are you doing?

Li Hao's heart skipped a beat, but now that he had been seen through, he couldn't hide it anymore, so he could only helplessly say, "I was drawing."

Li Tianzong glanced at the Drawing Board, his stern expression softening as he said:

"If you're going to draw, then draw. Why are you hiding here? Your mother has been looking for you for ages."