Ancestral Hall

Several months later.

By Blackwater Demon Lake.

Li Hao yanked up a fish demon at the eighth level of the Circulation Realm, casually cut it down with one sword strike, then set up firewood and a great pot to cook it.

He scaled the fish, skinned it, and picked out the bones, his movements flowing like drifting clouds and running water.

This time he did not add Chili Pepper. He made a nourishing soup instead, finding a variety of wild mushrooms and tossing them in to boil together.

The rich fragrance of mushrooms drifted out with the hot steam along the edge of the iron lid. The two old men fishing by the lake both sniffed lightly and kept glancing over.

As Li Hao's call of "time to eat" fell, the two old men's figures appeared beside the great pot like phantoms. They had already taken out their own tableware, exquisite jade chopsticks and crude chopsticks rubbed from twigs, both plunging into the pot at the same time.

"Tsk, tsk, not bad!"

Li Muxiu slurped down a slice of fish and gave Li Hao a thumbs-up.

Old Feng was also smiling, ladling himself a bowl of fish soup and savoring it slowly.

This fish had contributed quite a bit. Aside from fishing experience, it had added dozens more points of cooking experience for him. Li Hao estimated that his Path of Cooking would be the first art to reach the third segment after chess.

"Come, little one, you try some too."

Li Hao picked up a piece of fish and tossed it onto a leaf beside him. A snow-white figure darted out and immediately ran onto the leaf to gnaw at it.

"This is a fox, and you've raised it into a dog," Old Feng said with a laugh.

He had been back for several months already. As for what he had gone to do, he had not told Li Muxiu or Li Hao, and the two of them naturally did not ask.

"There isn't much difference," Li Hao said with a smile.

When they were halfway through eating, Li Hao felt the timing was about right and said to Old Master Li Muxiu, "Second Master, I'm planning to attempt the Soul Succession Realm soon. When you have time, could you take me to the Ancestral Hall?"

"Hmm?"

The two of them put down their bowls and chopsticks at the same time and looked at Li Hao.

Li Muxiu said in a daze, "You want to attempt the Soul Succession Realm? You've already reached perfection in the Circulation Realm?"

"Mm." Li Hao nodded.

He had deliberately delayed telling the old man for several months because he was afraid his progress was too fast and would be a little shocking to the world.

"Really?" Feng Boping could not even be bothered to keep eating and drinking, staring at Li Hao in astonishment.

He knew this kid might fool around and mess around, but he would never joke about cultivation.

Only, attempting the Soul Succession Realm at eight years old?

Was that not a bit outrageously exaggerated?

"You've already cultivated the Dragon River Divine Meridian to perfection? How is that possible? Never mind that you're a crippled body for martial arts, even your father only stepped into the Soul Succession Realm at nine back then."

Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao in puzzlement. Though he knew this kid would not be so bored as to tease them with something like this, this sort of thing could not be true. Even the most monstrous geniuses he had ever seen, such as Li Junye, had only succeeded in soul succession at eight and a half! And the other party had cultivated bitterly day and night, with keen talent and extreme diligence.

But Li Hao... spent all day fishing with him, sometimes fishing for an entire day. Where did he have time to cultivate?

"Uh, it's true." Li Hao felt he seemed to have overestimated the old man's ability to bear it, but things had already come to this, so he could only bite the bullet and say it.

"Could it be that your meridians opened on their own?"

Li Muxiu sized up Li Hao. "Although your talent in body refinement is extremely high, attempting soul succession should at least keep you stuck for seven or eight years, even a dozen years or a lifetime. How could you possibly open all your meridians in just one short year?"

"That's simple enough. Have Little Mouse show us and we'll know," Old Feng said.

Li Muxiu nodded at that. "That's right. Show me."

"All right."

Li Hao immediately stood up and moved farther away from the pot, then stirred up the strength throughout his body and activated his 54 Great Meridians. A majestic wave of qi coursed through his entire body. For the moment, he restrained the concealment effect of the "Myriad Manifestations" attribute, and the wave of qi immediately surged out through his body.

Li Muxiu and Feng Boping's eyes suddenly widened until they were round, disbelief filling them. Li Muxiu's reaction was even more exaggerated; the chopsticks in his hand fell into the pot.

He stared at Li Hao in astonishment, dumbstruck.

"It's... it's real?"

As an expert of the Four Establishments Realm, how could he possibly see wrong?

54 meridians, wholly full and complete, absolutely the great perfection of the Circulation Realm! But the child before them was only eight! Feng Boping stared blankly for a moment before turning to look at Li Muxiu, saying with a speechless expression, "Your Li family really can raise any kind of monster. First there was that kid Li Junye, and now there's this kid. If the other Divine General Residences found out, they'd probably be so green-eyed they'd submit several fierce impeachment memorials against you again!"

Li Muxiu still had not come back to his senses and only stared blankly at Li Hao.

This was not merely monstrous talent at the perfection of the Circulation Realm. It also proved one thing: Li Hao's meridians were open!!

That meant Li Hao was no longer a crippled body for martial arts. He could cultivate! And such talent was even more terrifying than Xiao Jiu's. He was absolutely the number one of the next three generations! Even looking across the ten generations before him, this aptitude was the undisputed number one!

Countless thoughts turned through his mind in that instant. Suddenly, a surge of guilt and self-reproach welled up in Li Muxiu's heart.

Such a genius, yet he had taken him to eat, drink, play, and fish in the wild every day, neglecting proper work. Had he not badly delayed him?

"Second Master?"

Li Hao withdrew his power and, seeing Second Master lost in thought, called out to remind him.

Li Muxiu came back to himself. His first instinct was to pick up his chopsticks and maintain his calm, but the chopsticks had already fallen into the soup. He could not help giving a bitter laugh, then gazed deeply at Li Hao.

"How did your meridians become unobstructed?"

"It seemed to be a dream."

Li Hao said, "One day I had a dream. I was cultivating in the dream, and suddenly I felt like I exerted force, and my whole body became relaxed. Then when I woke up, cultivation felt extremely simple. I opened my meridians all the way, without the slightest obstruction."

"..."

The two old men were left speechless.

They opened on their own while you were asleep? You're probably speaking in your sleep right now.

But aside from Li Hao's explanation, they could not find any other possibility.

"Could it be that this kid's blocked meridians before were false blockage?" Feng Boping pinched his pointed white beard, looking thoughtful as he said,

"I've heard that some crippled bodies for martial arts are temporary. Some people practice and practice, and then suddenly they become unobstructed. He might be that kind."

"Possibly." Li Muxiu nodded. He had also heard of such a possibility, but the odds were extremely low.

"Now that this kid can cultivate, your Li family is truly formidable. One true dragon fell, and another stood back up. Tsk, tsk." Feng Boping sighed repeatedly.

Li Muxiu instead sighed and said, "If I'd known this earlier, I would have properly nurtured him. Spending all day mixing with us wasted quite a bit of his time."

Li Hao was startled when he heard this and quickly said, "Old Master, you're not going to force me to cultivate from now on, are you?"

"What do you mean, force you to cultivate?"

Li Muxiu said irritably, "Your meridians are unobstructed now. Don't you want to cultivate properly and establish illustrious achievements in the future?"

"Don't joke around."

Li Hao hurriedly said without even thinking, "Second Master, don't hurt me. I don't want to join the army and fight wars. These days right now are too comfortable. Achievements and fame? Not even dogs want that stuff. Whoever loves it can have it!"

Li Muxiu was speechless. If it were anyone else, they would have long since been thrilled and eager to become famous under heaven. But this kid was something else. What nonsense was he saying?

"Hahaha..."

Beside them, Feng Boping burst out laughing. "Looks like Little Mouse and that child Junye are completely different. I actually think what he said is quite right. Achievements and fame? Since ancient times, fame and merit come from the young; in the end, wealth and honor never reach the human world!"

Li Muxiu's expression changed slightly. It was as if his heart had been pierced by a fishbone, stabbing him hard.

Once, Li Junye had appeared out of nowhere, so dazzling.

But later, he had been like a shooting star, like an epiphyllum blooming for an instant, falling rapidly.

He looked at Li Hao, who was staring at him nervously.

Li Muxiu's heart felt as if a flower had been kneaded in someone's hand. If this child were sent to the battlefield, who could guarantee he would not become a second Li Junye?

Forget it... Li Muxiu let out a heavy sigh and said, "Since you don't want to fight for achievements and fame, that's fine. From now on, just stay in the Li family like this old man, eat, drink, play, and be an unknown old good-for-nothing."

Feng Boping laughed. "Who would dare say the Fist Saint is unknown? Unless his mouth hasn't been punched crooked by you yet."

Li Muxiu shot him an irritated glare and said to Li Hao, "If your parents learn this news and come looking in the future, I'll throw away this old face of mine and take their scolding. Kid, hurry over and eat!"

After saying that, he flicked a finger, and the chopsticks in the pot flew out. Then he pulled over another twig, stripped off the bark to make chopsticks, and began eating, but he was clearly no longer as relaxed and cheerful as before. It was as if some heavy thoughts had been added.

Li Hao let out a breath of relief. No matter what, as long as he could continue fishing with the old man, that was fine.

Though he could also go fishing by himself, fishing with the old man at this demon lake came with both a guarantee of his life and a chance to catch big goods. That was a downright beautiful thing.

Sitting by the pot, Li Hao continued eating.

"Second Master, about the soul succession..."

"Hmph, hurry up and eat. I'll take you there later." Li Muxiu glanced at Li Hao, then began eating the fish meat forcefully.

Li Hao relaxed and also began eating and drinking in great mouthfuls.

The Li Family Ancestral Hall was located in the deepest part of the Divine General Residence, on a hollowed-out mountainside.

The security outside the mountain was strict, all warriors clad in heavy armor, but on the steps of the mountainside there were only fallen leaves, empty and deserted.

Outside the towering and solemn Ancestral Hall, several great cauldrons stood on the flat plaza, fragrant incense curling within them.

Two figures descended from the sky, flying over and landing on the plaza outside the Ancestral Hall. Only then did they proceed up the steps on foot.

Here, even Old Master Li Muxiu reined in the casual laughter in his expression. His face was calm as he led Li Hao slowly inside.

"Second Brother, what brings you here?"

A calm voice came from within, like a tranquil lake. Just the voice alone seemed to quiet the many thoughts in a person's mind along with it.

Li Hao looked over and saw many ancestral tablets displayed inside. Among these tablets stood a golden-bodied divine statue, none other than the Li family's ancestor, that Founding God General, Li Tianyuan! Beside the prayer mat before the many tablets sat an old man with a long beard and long brows, sitting alone on a prayer mat. In front of him was actually a chessboard. He was playing against himself, gently placing a stone.

"Of course I'm bringing a junior here for the ancestors to take a look at." Li Muxiu spoke as he crossed the threshold and walked inside.

Hearing this, the old man raised his head slightly. His gaze swept over Li Hao, who followed closely across the threshold, and a faint ripple appeared in his ancient-well-without-waves eyes. "Soul succession? This child looks even younger than Junye was. Second Brother, surely you aren't joking?"