Chapter 8: Tongli Realm

That year, the warfare along Yanbei’s border grew increasingly dire, with battle reports pouring in constantly; weapons and grain supplies were failing, and Prince Pingcheng’s collusion with the great demon had unearthed yet another faction, making the war situation even more complex and arduous.

Inside the Divine General’s Mansion, discussions raged as everyone worried for the front lines.

It was said the imperial court was locked in daily, endless debates over the matter, with countless proposals floated.

But though this storm of court intrigue drifted into Shanhe Courtyard, it did not settle upon the two small figures within.

At five years old, Li Hao underwent his bone measurement as usual.

“Bones frail, no unusual color, no unusual glow, no marrow condensation…”

The old Taoist who measured Li Hao’s bones was summoned from Mount Qingqiu—white-haired and ruddy-faced—he stared at the boy before him in disbelief; had it not been for Lady Li, the head of the Li household, standing nearby, he would have suspected this was a fox swapping a prince’s child—a noble family’s bitter feud, with the young master secretly replaced.

“Bone quality: lowest grade. Combat body not ranked. Merely the normal bones of an ordinary child.”

The old Taoist finally delivered his verdict.

Hearing this, the expressions of Lady He Jianlan and the other ladies darkened; the Fifth Lady couldn’t help exclaiming, “You didn’t misread it, right? How could Hao’er possibly have such talent?”

The other ladies remained silent; this old Taoist was a familiar face in the Divine General’s Mansion, having measured the bones of every child in every courtyard, never once mistaken.

Moreover, Li Hao’s earlier failures in Foundation Establishment and blood dissolution had already prepared them for this—so seeing this result felt almost expected.

Li Hao quietly scanned the faces around him; the Second Lady was among them, her expression equally sorrowful, even more so.

Yet he could not tell who among them truly grieved for him.

“Hao-gege.”

Bian Ruxue tugged at Li Hao’s sleeve, her small face tense with worry.

Though she didn’t understand what had happened, she could feel that Li Hao had lost something.

Seeing the little girl’s pitiful expression, Li Hao couldn’t help smiling.

He pinched her soft, chubby cheek; it was he who should be grieving—this little girl would undergo her bone measurement in two months, and she’d surely astonish them all.

The old Taoist left, and the others dispersed.

Like tide receding, Shanhe Courtyard returned to stillness, leaving only the two small figures and Lin Haixia standing nearby.

That night, the soldier who had abstained from alcohol for years drank alone in Shanhe Courtyard.

Smelling the wine, Li Hao’s appetite stirred; he fetched a small jade cup, picked up the bottle, and was just about to pour himself a sip when Lin Haixia, half-drunk, glared at him, snatched the bottle from his hand, and scolded him in rare anger: “You’re audacious beyond measure—how dare you drink wine!”

“I’m just keeping you company,” Li Hao grinned.

“You don’t understand—drinking is for adults,” Lin Haixia snapped.

“Drinking alone is so lonely. It’s better with company,” Li Hao tried to snatch the bottle back, but Lin Haixia raised his hand, keeping it out of reach.

Lin Haixia glared at Li Hao, ready to scold him again—but then he fell silent, struck by Li Hao’s words.

Only then did he suddenly remember: this child, since his parents left after their hundred-day banquet, had been utterly alone.

Yes—he must also want someone to be with him. When Xue’er’s father was away, that little girl had cried all the way to the Divine General’s Mansion…

He glanced at the vast courtyard beyond the pavilion—its scenery beautiful, yet no beauty could compensate for the absence of parents beside you.

Lin Haixia said nothing, drank two more gulps, then looked at Li Hao’s calm, smiling face—and suddenly realized he’d been here two years, yet had never once seen this child cry.

“Hey.”

Perhaps the alcohol had taken hold; Lin Haixia no longer bothered addressing him as Young Master—in his eyes, this was just a brat.

“Do you miss your parents?”

Li Hao froze at the question.

Instantly, the image of the little girl hugging him by the window, murmuring sadly to herself, surfaced in his mind.

Five years had passed; he’d forgotten the warmth of that embrace, yet the sorrow in her eyes had burned itself into his heart.

“I do,” Li Hao said softly, gazing at the star-strewn night sky. “The war in Yanbei is hard to fight. I hope they don’t come to harm.”

Lin Haixia was stunned.

He’d assumed the child, upon hearing mention of his parents, would either be heartbroken or have forgotten them entirely—after all, he was so young when they left; surely he had no real concept of them.

Who knew this child not only remembered, but harbored no resentment—instead, he worried for the commander and the others.

In that moment, Lin Haixia felt as if a needle had pierced his heart—he felt a pang of sorrow.

He rubbed his eyes, then tilted his head and drank deeply.

“Uncle Lin, did you cry?”

“Nonsense—it’s wine spilled. What do you know?”

The night wind turned cold.

Haixia was drunk.

Drunk, Haixia recited battle poems in the courtyard, swung his fists and feet, then collapsed like mud.

Li Hao ordered the retainers to carry him to his room to sleep, lest he become mosquito bait.

Two months later.

Bian Ruxue’s bone measurement arrived.

Again, the same old Taoist from Mount Qingqiu stood in the same courtyard spot, measuring Bian Ruxue’s bones. In moments, his eyes widened in astonishment; he stared at the little girl, then burst into laughter: “Bones like divine golden jade, sacred bones! Seven-colored inner glow, marrow brimming with luminous streaks—supreme grade, ninth-rank combat body! Ha! No wonder you’re a child of the Divine General’s Mansion—you never disappoint! Another name will soon grace the Qiankun Rankings!”

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Li Hao—and his smile froze.

He cleared his throat awkwardly twice.

Close call—he’d nearly forgotten the Divine General’s Mansion had this record-breaking brat.

Only He Jianlan was present this time; the other ladies, uninterested in this little girl betrothed to Li Hao, had not come.

Hearing the Taoist’s words, He Jianlan and Lin Haixia both smiled.

Then, both glanced at Li Hao.

Though Li Hao had no martial talent, with such an unparalleled talent as his wife, his future would still have support.

“Amazing, little girl.”

Li Hao smiled and pinched Bian Ruxue’s dazed, adorable cheek; she still looked utterly confused, clearly not understanding what had happened.

Hearing Li Hao’s praise, Bian Ruxue did not rejoice—instead, she pouted slightly.

Right now, the little girl only wished: if only the old man had treated Hao-gege the same way.

After seeing the Taoist off, He Jianlan, in the courtyard, began teaching Bian Ruxue martial knowledge.

The girl was five now, beginning to understand—some things must be taught.

Ninth-rank supreme combat body—breaking realms is as easy as eating and drinking; once she begins cultivation, she’ll likely shatter the first realm within a year.

Two realms within three years.

Within ten years, reach the peak of the third realm.

Such is the terrifying power of the ninth-rank combat body! The three martial realms are Tongli, Zhoutian, and Jihun.

Each realm has ten levels.

The fourth realm is Shenyou.

Lin Haixia was a fourth-rank cultivator.

And he was already over forty.

Remember: ten years from now, Bian Ruxue would be only sixteen.

A sixteen-year-old, tenth-level Jihun cultivator—she would shine like the moon, capable of commanding a city as its guardian, a true powerhouse.

Meanwhile, an ordinary martialist who reached Zhoutian at sixteen was already remarkable, worthy of joining a famed mountain sect.

…

…

With the final move, the game was decided.

Li Hao won.

Experience +2.

Li Hao yawned, glanced out the window—little girl was practicing swordplay with Lin Haixia, her posture crooked and adorable.

He turned away, dismissed the retainer who’d played chess with him, then called up his panel.

A year had passed—his chess experience was finally full.

Another skill point earned.

Without hesitation, Li Hao allocated the point to the Body Path.

Immediately, a torrent of complex information surged in; he winced slightly as he endured it, then gradually absorbed it all.

Insights into body cultivation flooded his mind; he stirred, closed the window, locked the door, then assumed a stance in his room and began training.

He practiced the “Stone Skin Hundred Refinements” body cultivation technique.

As he took his stance, his body moved like a dragon’s glide, a tiger’s leap; inside him, bones cracked and popped.

His blood, meridians, and bones all twisted; his cells activated, his entire body burning hot.

When the “Stone Skin Hundred Refinements” routine ended,

Li Hao’s skin glowed crimson, steaming with heat; his hair was soaked with sweat, his small face covered in beads of perspiration.

Li Hao sensed something, called up his panel, and saw—his cultivation base was no longer “ordinary.” It now read: Tongli Realm, Level Three!

He felt unprecedented power surging through his body—enough to easily shatter stone slabs.

Overjoyed, he practiced the routine again.

This time, with greater strength and more precise form, his skin grew even redder, steam rising like smoke.

After the second round, his cultivation level rose to Level Four!

He continued training.

Third round. Fourth round.

Until the eighth round ended, his cultivation base ceased to rise, stabilizing at the seventh level of Tongli Realm! (End of chapter)