Chapter 76: Secret Technique

Return to Qingzhou.

Li Hao and the others returned to Tan Palace Academy with the mission scroll issued by the Cangyu City Demon Suppression Bureau.

The scroll bore the official seal of the Demon Suppression Bureau, and all five received a perfect rating.

Su Ye received the scroll and wasn’t surprised.

After all, two Li family young masters had accompanied them on this mission; the Cangyu City Demon Suppression Bureau, if they had even a shred of sense, wouldn’t make things difficult for them.

She didn’t bother scrutinizing the truth behind it—after all, background was also a form of strength.

Even she had to show a degree of courtesy to these Li family young masters and young ladies out of respect for the Divine General’s Mansion.

The martial world was never outside the city walls—it was inside them.

After registration was complete, Ren Qianqian sought out Li Hao and expressed her intention; her mind was made up.

Li Hao didn’t immediately agree, but told her to discuss it with her parents first, since becoming a personal sword attendant to the family was a major matter—once committed, she couldn’t simply walk away; once she learned the Li family’s ultimate arts, she would be bound to the Li family for life, even if she destroyed her own cultivation base.

After Li Hao finished speaking, Ren Qianqian revealed that she had lost her mother as a child, and as for her father, she refused to consult him—this matter was hers alone to decide.

Seeing this, Li Hao refused again, urging her to speak with her father first.

The girl was too young and inexperienced; he couldn’t so easily lure her away, or else one day her master father might storm the mansion—though the Li family wasn’t afraid, it would still be embarrassing.

After rejecting Ren Qianqian, Li Hao returned with Li Yuanzhao to the long-absent Shanhe Courtyard.

He placed the box containing the Tiger Robe Immortal’s head in his room, then carried the other delicacies collected from Cangyu City, sending one portion to Fifth Elder guarding the Ancestral Shrine, and bringing the rest to Tingyu Tower.

He didn’t find Second Elder at Tingyu Tower; glancing at the daylight, he immediately knew Second Elder was likely fishing by the Black Water Lake at this hour.

He immediately flew through the air, leaving Tingyu Tower, heading for the Black Water Lake.

Soon, the vast Black Water Lake came into view.

Li Hao found the spot where Second Elder often fished, and indeed saw him and Wind Elder.

Sensing someone’s approach, the two turned to look.

Li Hao descended from the sky and landed beside them, grinning: “Second Elder, Wind Elder, how was today’s catch? Who caught more?”

“Ah, it’s Hao’er.”

Feng BoPing smiled and said: “Of course it was me!”

Neither was surprised by Li Hao’s aerial flight—they already knew his approximate cultivation base.

After all, when he was twelve, the boy had accidentally caught a small dragon of the Spirit Traveling Realm right before their eyes.

They had been stunned and envious then.

Stunned by Li Hao’s talent—it was terrifying, even surpassing Li Jiulang, the once-in-a-millennium prodigy.

But envious of the bastard’s luck—he actually caught a dragon! They had been furious at the foolish dragon, and after Li Hao cooked it, they devoured several pieces with great relish.

As they ate, they muttered inwardly: Why didn’t it bite my hook? Isn’t my hook tasty enough?!

Still, despite their teasing, seeing Li Hao’s talent, even the detached Li MuXiu had immediately entertained the idea of teaching him martial arts, hoping to ground him and stop him from wasting his time on frivolities.

After all, with such talent and his personal guidance, Li Hao might even surpass him; if the Li family could produce a True Person, it would shake the entire world.

But Li Hao had promptly appealed to Wind Elder, who saw things more clearly and, with a certain detached air, talked Li MuXiu out of it.

Added to that, the example of Li Jiulang had finally dissuaded Li MuXiu, allowing Li Hao to choose the life he preferred.

Li MuXiu had long realized that even if he forced Li Hao to cultivate, the boy wouldn’t take it seriously—this was deeply frustrating.

He was also puzzled: he’d never seen Li Hao train, yet his realm advanced rapidly.

Because of Li Hao’s insistence, Li MuXiu never publicized his cultivation progress, so no one else in the mansion knew.

At this moment.

Hearing Feng BoPing’s triumphant laugh, Li MuXiu gave him an annoyed look: “What’s the point of catching more? All you caught are small fish and shrimp—I’m after dragons.”

Neither of them used fishing rods; instead, they shaped the energy of heaven and earth into threads, piercing the bodies of small demon fish and guiding them to waters where larger fish or dragons might feed.

“Catch one first,” Feng BoPing chuckled.

Li MuXiu snorted, noticing the bags of food in Li Hao’s hands: “Where did you buy these? Weren’t you bullying kids at Tan Palace Academy?”

“Just completed a school mission—brought back some tasty treats from Cangyu City.”

Li Hao grinned and handed the food to the two elders: “Here, try this—it’s delicious.”

“Oh? There’s milk cream inside these twisted dough sticks.”

Feng BoPing took a bite and murmured: “Tastes great.”

“You’ve got a thoughtful heart, boy.”

Li MuXiu also smiled and took his share, picking at it. At that moment, the white fox Xiao Rou dashed over happily; Li Hao crouched down, hugged her, and handed her a piece of roasted meat: “Don’t worry, you won’t be left out.”

“This little fox of yours, just like a cat—loves fish,” Li MuXiu said.

Xiao Rou held the roasted meat with her tiny paws, chewing slowly; hearing Second Elder’s words, she gave her signature fox smile, eyes curving into slits.

Li Hao smiled, ruffled her head, and told her to eat over there; he then took a portion for himself, sat beside the two elders, and ate while chatting.

“Your father should be returning soon,” Li MuXiu said, eating a crisp biscuit.

“Oh?” Li Hao was surprised.

Was the war finally ending after more than a decade?

“Rumors say there’s been trouble on the Yanbei front—the Sacred Palace plans to retreat,” Li MuXiu said.

Li Hao’s eyes brightened slightly—so he’d see his parents again? “Little Rat, you haven’t seen your parents in over a decade—do you even remember them?” Feng BoPing teased.

Li Hao thought—his memories of them were indeed hazy.

Li MuXiu shot Feng BoPing an annoyed look—he was poking at a sore spot. He turned to Li Hao: “Since all of your generation have grown up, the family’s True Dragon slot should be decided this year. With your father back to support you, securing the True Dragon slot is all but certain.”

“What’s there to debate about Little Rat’s talent? If it were me, I’d give him the True Dragon slot right now,” Feng BoPing said between bites.

Li MuXiu gave him a look: “I’d like to, but do you think our vast Li family estate is like your lonely, childless self? We must ensure the other branches are satisfied—we can’t favor one over another and let resentment fester.”

He turned to Li Hao: “Hao’er, you agree, right?”

“Mm.”

Li Hao nodded with a smile.

He had long heard Second Elder mention the True Dragon position.

Each generation, the Li family selects one True Dragon, who receives the greatest share of family resources and gains the aid of countless ancestral spirits to elevate the rank of their Soul Image!

The number of times one can refine a Soul Image in the Soul Continuation Realm is directly tied to the target of one’s Soul Continuation.

The standard is eighty times.

But there is another method to increase the number of Soul Refinements—the secret technique created by the Li ancestors.

By uniting the ancestral spirits, the rank of the Soul Image can be raised another tier, reaching the level of the imperial family’s True Person tier.

That is, 180 Soul Refinements! At the Spirit Traveling Realm, they will also assist in refining the Spirit Soul, expanding its range.

Additionally, at the Fifteen-Li Realm, they will imbue the cultivator with ancestral spirit power, elevating the Fifteen-Li Realm beyond even top-tier prodigies to an elite standard.

The term “True Dragon” means supreme dominance within one’s realm—unrivaled.

Simultaneously, as the Li family’s True Dragon, one must bear the burden of the entire Li family’s legacy, drawing upon ancestral spirit power to carry the family forward, overcoming all obstacles and ensuring its continuation.

If a thousand prodigies exist in the world, those with Ninth-Rank Battle Bodies rank among the top tier; but a Li family Ninth-Rank prodigy, combined with their supreme arts, qualifies as elite.

The True Dragon, however, is beyond elite! Even though Li Hao is already at the Fifteen-Li Realm, if he becomes the True Dragon, he will still benefit from ancestral spirit assistance in reshaping and enhancing all prior realms.

Except for the Soul Continuation Realm, Li Hao felt none of his other realms had reached their limits.

Even in the Soul Continuation Realm, he didn’t know if further improvement was possible—and he was quite eager to find out.

Of course, the most important point: if he didn’t claim the True Dragon slot, it would almost certainly go to someone else.

Had it not been for the poisoning incident years ago, Li Hao wouldn’t have cared about the True Dragon position—after all, becoming True Dragon meant bearing immense responsibility, shouldering the thousand-year legacy of the Li family, pushing forward, breaking through all barriers, and preserving its legacy.

Just thinking about it was exhausting.

But someone had once, for the sake of their own son’s future, tried to destroy him, plotting for over a decade—Li Hao would not let them succeed. He had been waiting for this day.

“The True Dragon trial examines all aspects—not just talent, but also character, connections, and achievements.”

Li MuXiu told Li Hao: “Sending you to Tan Palace Academy was meant to get you out, meet friends, and not spend all your time with us old folks.”

Feng BoPing scoffed: “Don’t lie—talent is the key. The rest are just bonuses.”

“Shut up, don’t corrupt Hao’er,” Li MuXiu glared.

“Hahaha…” Feng BoPing laughed loudly.

Li Hao smiled, quietly listening as the two elders teased each other.

Soon, Second Elder’s line stirred—he had a bite.

As the sun set and stars scattered along the riverbank, when night fell, Li Hao roasted one of Wind Elder’s caught demon fish and served it as dinner for the three men and the fox.

…

(End of Chapter)