Chapter 108: Identification (7K, Combined Base Chapter)

“Lin Wujing!”

A furious shout rang out, then Li Qingzheng, clad in a snow-white robe, appeared as if teleporting, standing before Li Hao.

His usually gentle eyes now shot out cold lightning, causing the temperature in the courtyard to plummet abruptly.

He did not address Lin Wujing by his Buddhist title “Great Saint Bodhisattva,” but called him by his given name—this was already a grave insult! Yet Lin Wujing turned and regarded him coldly: “This is your Li family’s True Dragon selection—you’re willing to kill each other? Had I not intervened in time, Qianjin Gang would already be dead. Are you blaming me now?”

These words left Li Qingzheng momentarily speechless. He was enraged because Lin Wujing had interfered in the Li family’s True Dragon selection, but if he now accused him, it would imply he had tacitly approved Li Hao’s attempt to kill Li Ganfeng.

That, of course, was impossible.

Had Lin Wujing not acted, he himself would have intervened.

With his cultivation base at the Four Standing Realm, even half-open eyes would have been enough to stop it in time.

“This is the Li family’s True Dragon selection. Hao’er knows his limits. Please show proper respect!”

In the end, Li Qingzheng still uttered words to reclaim dignity—words meant not just for Lin Wujing, but for everyone else present, clearing Li Hao’s name.

In that instant, he had seen clearly: Li Hao had intended to kill.

Having slain countless demons beyond the border, his sensitivity to killing intent was razor-sharp.

Yet, besides Li Hao, he also sensed killing intent from Li Ganfeng! The relationship between these two youths was far from the harmonious bond shared by other cousins, let alone compared to the warm camaraderie of the Li family’s Nine Sons in their father’s generation.

Though bound by blood, they were still separated by distance.

Li Qingzheng sighed inwardly—this was not the first time such a thing had happened. In the Li family’s thousand-year history, such bloodshed was inevitable; even the imperial lineage of that one bloodline had witnessed bloody struggles, all buried and suppressed.

Precisely because of this, the Li family instituted character trials, and “Universal Love” remained ancestral teaching.

“Hmph!”

Lin Wujing knew Li Qingzheng was merely pretending, and sneered: “Ganfeng’s eyeballs need immediate treatment—if the brain is damaged, he’ll become a fool. Are you Li family going to do anything about it?!”

“Ganfeng!”

Hearing this, Liu Yuerong turned pale with terror. The once-beautiful lady of the Liu family now abandoned all pretense of composure and rushed forward, unleashing her Fifteen Li Realm cultivation.

Most Li family daughters-in-law were martial cultivators; frailty was rare. Moreover, with the Li family’s countless treasures and secret medicines, even those with mediocre talent could be pushed to the Fifteen Li Realm.

Below the Heavenly Sage Realm, resources and bone potential alone could propel one forward—this was the early acceleration granted by a great clan’s depth.

Liu Yuerong rushed to Lin Wujing’s side, staring at her son’s eye sockets, where chopsticks were embedded, blood gushing continuously. Her heart clenched, tears welling instantly.

She trembled, wanting to touch him but dared not. Then, as if remembering something, she whirled around and glared furiously at Li Hao:

“You little brat—he’s your cousin! How could you strike him so brutally?!”

Li Hao’s eyes held only regret—he had failed to kill him outright.

Hearing her words, he couldn’t help but sneer. Cousin? You’re my dear second mother, aren’t you? But what have you ever done? Ahead, Chen Hefang, stunned by the sudden turn of events, paled. Her decades-old Buddhist prayer beads nearly snapped under her grip.

The loss of her sixth son made the sight of blood among the younger generation dizzying, yet after years of managing the Li family, she quickly regained her composure and spoke: “The hour is late. Since our True Dragon has been chosen, please all take your leave.”

Her words were polite, but everyone knew the old lady no longer wished guests to witness the spectacle.

Many felt regret—such ferocity between two youths surely hid deep, fascinating grudges.

He Jianlan swiftly stepped forward, organizing staff to escort all guests out of the mansion.

Li Tiangang’s face was dark, but now was not the time to rebuke Li Hao. Suppressing his rage, he personally saw Jian Wudao and Chu Jiuyue out of the courtyard.

Both understood the Li family’s current embarrassment and did not linger.

Though Li Hao’s ruthless strike surprised them, it did not shock them deeply.

After all, noble youths always carried hidden grudges unknown to outsiders.

Moreover, this was the True Dragon competition—tension was inevitable. The previous generation’s Nine Sons had avoided bloody conflict mainly because Li Jiulang was so extraordinary, and they were full brothers with deep bonds.

Compared to Li Hao’s brutality, they were more astonished by the immense power he had displayed in mere moments.

It far surpassed anything they had ever seen from a Fifteen Li Realm cultivator.

The surge of power Li Ganfeng unleashed at the critical moment—whether a secret technique or external force—was undeniable.

His master was the Buddha Lord; such a trump card was unsurprising. But no one expected it to be shattered so brutally by Li Hao, nearly killing him before it could even be fully revealed.

This generation’s Li True Dragon cannot be underestimated!

“How could this boy’s sword art reach such a level? How is that possible…?”

As Jian Wudao departed, he cast one last glance at the boy standing in the courtyard. His shock had subsided, but doubt lingered in his eyes.

Years ago, that child had shown no passion for the sword—like a mere branch, utterly indifferent.

With such a disposition, how could he have forged such a brutal, ferocious sword intent?! “Quick, save my son!”

As the guests dispersed, Liu Yuerong urgently addressed Lin Wujing and the old lady.

Chen Hefang knew delay was dangerous. She led the way immediately, guiding Lin Wujing to the Green Lotus Courtyard’s rear, while ordering the family’s divine physician summoned.

Liu Yuerong followed closely; the other ladies, seeing this, also hurried after them, eager to see the extent of Li Ganfeng’s injuries—his recovery was now paramount.

After seeing Jian Wudao and others off, Li Tiangang returned to the courtyard.

He strode toward Li Hao, glaring at him furiously.

With no guests left, Li Tiangang glared at Li Hao:

“I’ve never disciplined you, but you’ve become too reckless!”

Li Hao was about to speak of the poison pill, but hearing this, he retorted: “Didn’t you hear how that woman just called me?”

“You—!”

Li Tiangang flew into a rage. He had heard it, but assumed it was his second sister’s panic over Ganfeng’s life, her hatred making her speak without restraint: “I’ll go see how Ganfeng is first. Then I’ll deal with you!”

Before finishing, he vanished like a gust of wind, sprinting away.

His own son had inflicted such grievous wounds—he had to go check. Otherwise, how could he ever maintain this kinship?

Li Qingzheng turned back, looked at Li Hao, his eyes complex: “Hao’er, why were you so impulsive?”

Li Hao’s face was expressionless, as if lost in silence. Hearing Li Qingzheng’s words, he slowly forced a smile: “Fifth Uncle, this is what that woman owes me.”

Li Qingzheng froze, puzzled.

Li Hao said no more, turning instead toward the Green Lotus Courtyard. The time had come to reveal what had happened years ago.

Li Qingzheng watched Li Hao’s retreating back, his eyes flickering. Over the years, he had come to understand this boy well—he cared nothing for fame, fortune, or power. In the True Dragon contest alone, this child had no reason to kill.

What, then, was the true cause?

He took a deep breath, deciding to head to the rear courtyard first, to see how Li Ganfeng fared.

With a flicker of his figure, Li Qingzheng vanished.

In the courtyard, Li Mingguang, Li Sibei, and other third-generation Li family members stared at Li Hao in shock.

Everything had changed too fast—they were still stunned.

Among the crowd, Li Yuan stood with mouth agape, staring at the boy who had always followed him. He now felt a strange unfamiliarity radiating from “Hao-ge.”

Suddenly, Li Mingguang stepped forward, blocking Li Hao’s path: “Where are you going?”

His gaze was cold and fierce, his face filled with anger as he fixed Li Hao with a glare.

As the eldest among the third-generation cousins, he was both shocked and furious at Li Hao’s actions. He and Li Sibei had both abandoned their claims to the True Dragon—not out of lack of ambition, but because they respected these two cousins. Seeing his cousin’s fury, Li Hao suppressed his emotions. He felt no ill will toward this man; in fact, Li Mingguang’s earlier conduct had earned him some favor.

“I’m going to see him.”

Li Hao smiled.

“Don’t pretend! You deliberately struck to kill!” Li Mingguang snapped.

Li Hao’s smile faded slightly. He looked at him and said: “Yes. It was deliberate.”

“You—!”

Li Mingguang hadn’t expected Li Hao to admit it so easily. Enraged, his pupils shrank, and a terrifying Three Imperishable aura erupted from him.

But he did not move—because as the inheritor of the Li ancestors’ spirits, attacking Li Hao would break his heart oath.

“I thought you had peerless talent, that I saw the spirit of Ninth Uncle in you. Yet you turn out to be this kind of person. How could His Majesty have placed such faith in you…”

Li Mingguang gritted his teeth, seething with fury.

“Do you think, now that you’ve won the True Dragon title, you can act without restraint?”

Li Sibei stepped beside his brother, standing shoulder to shoulder, eyes coldly fixed on Li Hao.

Li Hao glanced at them, paused, then said: “I have my reasons. If you wish to know them, follow me to the rear courtyard.”

“What reason justifies harming your own flesh and blood?!”

Li Mingguang roared.

“Big Brother Mingguang… maybe… maybe Hao-ge really has a reason?”

Li Yuanzhao ventured forward timidly.

Hearing the chubby boy’s words, Li Hao glanced at him. A warmth passed through his heart, and he smiled at him.

Seeing Li Hao’s smile, Li Yuanzhao felt the strangeness vanish—familiarity returned to the boy.

His heart steadied. He felt he’d spoken correctly, and his courage swelled. He opened his mouth to speak again—

But Li Sibei cut in coldly: “Shut up. You’re too young. Don’t meddle in this!”

Li Yuanzhao opened his mouth, then stammered, unable to reply.

Li Wushuang, Li Yun, and other siblings also approached, their expressions complex as they stared at Li Hao.

Li Wushuang recalled the slap Li Hao had delivered to her rear that day. Now, she felt a mix of shame and anger, yet also confusion.

Though Li Hao had struck hard that day—so hard she couldn’t sit for weeks—she had sensed no killing intent, only discipline. Nothing like today’s murderous intent.

She had offended him, yet he had never wished her dead. Clearly, he was not a bloodthirsty man.

Or perhaps, as Big Brother Mingguang claimed, Li Hao had revealed his true nature now that he’d secured the True Dragon title?

Li Yun shrank back, staring at Li Hao with fear. Had his elder sister not been beside him, he wouldn’t have dared approach. His childhood shadow of Li Hao had only deepened now.

“Hmph. My mother was right—he’s from the Great Wilderness. His vicious nature is inherited. Like mother, like son!”

Li Jiangying and Li Rumeng also approached, sneering at Li Hao.

[101] Both siblings resented Li Hao for seizing the True Dragon title. Li Rumeng especially felt that if their father hadn’t called her back to join, she might have had a chance to shine too.

Hearing the other’s words, Li Hao’s gaze turned icy, and he caught the information: Da Huang Tian? But his mother wasn’t from some minor clan—how could she be from Da Huang Tian? Having grown up in the Li family and often chatted with Second Master, Fifth Master, and Master Feng, Li Hao possessed far more top-tier knowledge than these third-generation brats.

And Da Huang Tian wasn’t exactly a secret.

Beyond the eastern continent guarded by Da Yu, in lands where humanity had never set foot, a realm teeming with demons and monsters—this was Da Huang Tian.

Rumor had it that the demons of Da Huang Tian were far more cruel and terrifying than those near Da Yu.

The demons around Da Yu were merely weak tribes driven out from Da Huang Tian, unable to survive there.

Deep within Da Huang Tian, ancient ferocious beasts roamed, so terrifying that even those of the Four Standing Realm dared not venture lightly.

To the people of this world, Da Huang Tian was like the vast, uncharted ocean of a pre-technological age—mysterious, perilous, boundless! “Do you know about my mother?” Li Hao fixed his gaze on the other.

Li Rumeng raised an eyebrow. “What? Didn’t your father tell you? Oh, right—I forgot. You’ve never lived with your father, and he probably couldn’t bring himself to say it anyway—after all, he’s a barbarian savage…”

Crack.

Li Hao lashed out with a slap. Five bright red palm marks appeared on Li Rumeng’s face, blood oozing from her lips, a tooth flying out.

“Li Hao!!”

Beside her, Li Jiangying snapped back to reality. Seeing his sister struck, he flew into a rage, glaring at Li Hao, his soul image rising above his head.

But the ancestral soul he inherited wasn’t from the Li family—it was from the Wang family!

So if he attacked Li Hao, he wouldn’t break his heart oath.

Yet his fury, under Li Hao’s cold gaze, was forcibly pushed back; his body, poised to lunge, gritted its teeth and froze in place.

He recalled how this monstrous man had nearly killed Li Ganfeng in public. Even setting aside Li Ganfeng’s status, the man was the direct disciple of the Infinite Buddha Master—and still, Li Hao hadn’t spared him a second thought.

If he moved, he’d get nothing but trouble.

And right now, no senior family members were here to back them up—they’d all rushed off to the Blue Lotus courtyard.

“You—”

Li Mingguang, caught off guard by Li Hao’s sudden strike, was stunned. Li Hao’s slap had been faster than anyone imagined—even quicker than when he’d attacked Li Ganfeng. Too shocked to react, he froze.

But when he came to, his eyes burned red with fury: “Do you really think I won’t dare strike you? If I’d known this, I never would’ve listened to Mother! I’ll compete for this True Dragon seat too!”

Li Hao had no patience. He coldly said, “If you want to compete, you’d better be able to win—don’t act like you’re letting me have it!”

Li Hao’s icy gaze locked onto Li Rumeng. “Insult my mother again, and I’ll make you regret it for life.”

Seeing Li Hao’s terrifying gaze, Li Rumeng’s spoiled, pampered nature cracked. She clutched her face, furious and frightened.

Li Hao no longer cared to press her about his mother. If she knew, it was likely from her mother, Lady Wang. He could ask his father later—or Fifth Master, or Second Master. He’d find the truth eventually.

The story he’d been told before was probably a lie.

Thinking of it, Li Hao felt a surge of anger. Why? He was her son—how could strangers know his mother came from Da Huang Tian, while he didn’t? His eyes turned glacial as he walked toward the Blue Lotus courtyard.

Even if they healed Li Ganfeng, he’d expose the poison pill and publicly strip him of his status.

He wanted his second mother to watch as the son she’d schemed so hard for was utterly ruined.

Seeing the aura radiating from Li Hao, everyone’s expressions changed. No one dared to stop him.

They’d come to confront him, expecting an explanation, an apology. Instead, he’d just laid it all out—no more pretense.

Now, they didn’t know what to say.

“Big Brother Hao…”

Bian Ruxue stood by the table, staring at his retreating back, feeling utterly alien.

Whether it was Li Hao defying her master or now striking with such cruelty—it didn’t match the warm, gentle figure she remembered.

That figure had never held grudges, always treating everyone with kindness.

But why…

As Li Hao stepped out of the courtyard, Ren Qianqian hurried after him, clutching the black sword case.

The girl’s head still spun. Everything had changed too suddenly; her heart pounded wildly.

But the black sword case in her hands snapped her back to reality—she was Li Hao’s sword attendant.

A sword attendant never leaves his side.

…

…

In the Blue Lotus courtyard.

The Li family’s physician, an elderly man from the same generation as Li Qingzheng, was summoned. He was a collateral branch descendant, with mediocre cultivation talent.

But his lineage was a medical bloodline, and most of his descendants became physicians, passing down the craft through generations. Though collateral, his status within the mansion was high.

Now, everyone gathered around Li Ganfeng and the physician.

Liu Yuerong gripped her handkerchief tightly, palms slick with sweat, her face flushed with anxiety—but she dared not speak.

Other ladies, including He Hefang, stood silently nearby, their expressions filled with concern.

The quiet treatment finally ended.

With Lin Wujing’s aid and the use of a divine medicine taken from the Li family’s treasure vault, the pierced left eye had stopped bleeding and hadn’t damaged the brain.

To restore the eyeball, Li Ganfeng would need to reach the Three Imperishable realm, where limbs could regenerate and nerves regrow.

Though the procedure had been perilous, the outcome was good. Once the eye was bandaged, everyone exhaled in relief.

The physician bowed and took his leave from He Hefang, asking no further questions.

As the physician stepped out of the courtyard, he met Li Hao approaching. Li Hao asked, “Is he healed?”

The old physician, recognizing Li Hao’s attire as a direct Li family heir, dared not be careless. Assuming he’d come to inquire after Li Ganfeng, he smiled warmly: “The wound is stabilized. In a couple of days, the scabs will form completely.”

Li Hao nodded. The Infinite Mountain Bodhisattva had moved too fast—he hadn’t struck deep enough. He knew this injury meant little to the other.

Though losing an eye hindered vision, with his talent, Li Ganfeng had a high chance of reaching the Three Imperishable realm—and one day, regrow the eye.

Inside the courtyard.

After Li Ganfeng’s wound healed, Liu Yuerong rushed to ask him anxiously.

Was he in pain? Could he see? Where else was hurt? A mother’s genuine concern poured out in every word.

Li Tiangang stood nearby, his face grim, as if pierced by thorns.

Li Ganfeng’s body had calmed, but the temporary surge of his major meridians had drained him severely. He was weak, his face pale.

He looked at his mother and whispered, “Mother, I’m fine.”

Hearing this, Liu Yuerong’s tears spilled uncontrollably, falling in large drops.

But quickly, she wiped them away with her handkerchief, then whirled to face Li Tiangang.

“Li Tiangang!”

Liu Yuerong’s face was filled with grief and fury. She’d always called him affectionately “Little Seven” or “Marquis”—now she spat his full name. Her rage was clear: “You’ve raised a fine son! What a wonderful teacher you are!”

“A wolf’s heart! After all these years I’ve cared for him—he’s an ungrateful beast!!”

Her furious cries echoed through the courtyard. Everyone fell silent.

“Ganfeng went to the mountains at six and never returned home. I went to visit him. They were meeting for the first time—just a first meeting! What grudge could there be? Why strike so brutally?!”

“Is it just for the True Dragon seat? If you wanted it, Li Tiangang, I’d have given it to your son! Why incite him to harm mine?!”

Li Tiangang’s face darkened. He had no reply.

Though he hadn’t incited or instructed.

But if a son is untaught, it is the father’s fault. Li Hao’s transgressions were his to bear—he could not evade them.

“Second Sister-in-law, I will give you and Second Brother a full accounting,” Li Tiangang said, voice low, his eyes a storm of fury.

He Hefang’s expression shifted. “Little Seven, Hao’s just impulsive. Maybe he lacks battle experience and lost control. Be gentler…”

Liu Yuerong didn’t wait for her to finish. Tears in her eyes, she turned to He Hefang: “Big Sister, have I ever wronged you? Is my son nearly dying just because he was ‘impulsive’ and ‘accidental’?!”

He Hefang’s face paled. Facing Liu Yuerong’s tear-filled, furious gaze, she chose silence for the first time.

“Big Sister!”

At that moment, Li Tiangang spoke again. His gaze was dark, terrifying. “Hao’s current state is my fault. I failed to raise him beside me, so he’s been spoiled by all of you!”

“You’ve indulged him, shielded him—you think you’re caring for him. I understand.”

“But if you won’t discipline him, I will.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the courtyard.

At that moment, Li Hao entered.

Father and son locked eyes.

“Unfilial brat!!”

Li Tiangang’s fury surged. He roared: “Come here, kneel down, and kowtow to your Second Aunt!”

Li Hao raised an eyebrow. He’d known since Li Mingguang’s misunderstanding that others were waiting for an explanation.

He’d come here for that very reason.

He just hadn’t expected his father to be this furious.

“Have Second Aunt come out. And bring Fifth Master, Grandmother—they all need to witness this,” Li Hao said, expressionless.

Hearing this, Li Tiangang thought he was repenting. His anger softened slightly.

He didn’t need to go inside to summon them—everyone had already arrived.

Behind him, Li Mingguang, Bian Ruxue, and others entered the courtyard, standing behind Li Hao.

The entire courtyard was filled with Li family ladies and direct heirs.

Fifth Uncle Li Xuanli and Eighth Uncle Li Fenghua were among them, watching Li Hao with complex expressions.

To them, this prodigy of the Li family bore the shadow of Li Junye—and they felt a quiet kinship.

But Li Junye would never strike his own kin.

Seeing all gathered, Li Hao turned to the mother and son. The second mother, who had always feigned warmth and smiles toward him, now showed no mask—only fury and hatred.

But at this moment, no one thought her anger and hatred were out of place.

Li Hao let out a faint cold laugh. “Second Lady, the sins you committed back then have borne fruit today—how does the taste sit with you?”

Liu Yuerong’s face, filled with hatred and fury, froze. A sharp pain pierced her heart, making her chest tremble violently.

Everyone paused, turning to look at Liu Yuerong.

Liu Yuerong’s face flushed with rage. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You injured Qianfeng and harmed your own clan brother—now you dare to lie?!”

Li Hao no longer bothered playing along. He sneered: “When I was one and a half years old, you took me to your courtyard and forced me to swallow poison, destroying my divine blood—do you really forget that?”

At these words, everyone’s expressions shifted slightly as they turned to Liu Yuerong.

Inside, Liu Yuerong was seized by dread; a chill surged through her. Especially when meeting Li Hao’s furious gaze, she felt her mind go utterly blank.

She remembered that incident clearly—even now, she often recalled it in her dreams.

But how could this child know? “What are you babbling about?”

Though her mind rang with noise, Liu Yuerong appeared only slightly dazed. Years of careful planning and sharp cunning allowed her to recover instantly. “What does it have to do with me that you failed to awaken your divine blood?!”

Since Li Hao revealed his cultivation base, everyone learned his background. Moreover, Li Tiangang had long ago hinted that Li Hao likely possessed divine blood and urged everyone to help him embark on the path of cultivation.

But when they asked Li Hao, he admitted he had never awakened it.

Still, their first thought turned to Li Hao’s mother—the woman who emerged from Dahuang Tian.

Given her peculiar bloodline, its fusion with Li Tiangang’s could easily have suppressed Li Hao’s divine blood, preventing his awakening.

And his cultivation realm was so formidable, far surpassing even the top prodigies—likely due to that woman’s bloodline as well.

Everyone held this belief, for in their minds, it was the only reasonable explanation.

“You sought forbidden medicine from Wuliang Mountain to destroy my divine blood and pave the way for your son—you plotted this over a decade ago. Did you truly think no one knew?”

Li Hao watched her perform with cold disdain. “There’s a saying: if you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place.”

Liu Yuerong’s heart quaked, yet her face remained furious. Her mind raced as she snapped: “Do you think seizing the Li family’s True Dragon gives you license to slander? Do you have proof for these accusations?!”

“Indeed.”

Beside them, Lin Wujing spoke coldly: “This was originally your Divine General’s household matter—I had no right to interfere. But since it involves Wuliang Mountain, I must speak up.”

“Wuliang Mountain has no such forbidden medicine as you claim, Young Master Li. You are now the True Dragon—though your succession ceremony remains incomplete—you must answer for your words!”

“To slander Wuliang Mountain and the Buddha Master—even the Divine General’s household must provide an explanation!”

Hearing this, Li Hao burst into laughter.

“Wuliang Mountain, indeed. Buddha Master, indeed. How much do you truly know about Wuliang Mountain? Do you know every detail? And could it be that you’re backing this boy today because you were involved in that incident all along?!”

Lin Wujing’s expression darkened. His gaze turned icy as he fixed it on Li Hao.

“Good, good, good. No wonder you’re the Li family’s True Dragon—you speak without a shred of evidence!”

Li Hao’s laughter faded. “I wouldn’t dare say this today unless I had proof.”

He turned to Liu Yuerong and sneered: “Second Lady, you thought I was too young to remember anything. Let me tell you—I remember everything.”

These words made Liu Yuerong turn pale.

Li Hao then turned to the other ladies, scanning each of their faces.

“I remember at age one, Ninth Lady embroidered a sachet for me!”

“I remember at age one, I drank Fifth Lady’s breast milk!”

At this, Li Wushuang and his two siblings stared in surprise at their own mothers.

Gao Qingqing froze, then her face flushed crimson. She shot Li Hao an angry glare, yet inwardly she was stunned—could Li Hao truly remember events from when he was one? They all knew he was precocious; it wasn’t impossible.

Li Hao recounted, as if listing household treasures, every detail from when he was one year old.

When he finished, everyone in the courtyard exchanged uneasy glances.

These events were so distant, many had forgotten them—but now, hearing Li Hao speak, fragments of memory stirred back.

This child truly remembers what happened when he was one! (End of Chapter)