Bab 8: Chapter 8 Power Passage Realm
This year, the war on the Northern Yan border became increasingly intense, with continuous reports of battles and problems with weapons and provisions. Prince Pingcheng's collusion with the Great Demon also implicated another force, which made the situation even more complex and difficult.
The Divine General Mansion was abuzz with discussions and concerns for the front lines.
It was said that the royal court was also endlessly debating every day, with many proposals being put forth.
But although the whirlwind of politics swept through the Mountain and River Courtyard, it did not fall upon the two young figures there.
At the age of five, Li Hao underwent the bone-measuring ritual as usual.
"The bones are weak, with no unusual color, no unusual light, no condensed marrow..."
The one measuring Li Hao's bones was an old Daoist invited from Qingqiu Mountain, with hair white as a crane's and a youthful face. He looked at the little boy in front of him with surprise and suspicion, and if it weren't for the fact that the Li Family's lady was present, he might even have doubted whether a switch of the prince with a commoner's child had occurred due to some grudge within the Marquis family.
"Bone quality, low rank, War Body ungraded, just normal bones of a common child."
The old Daoist finally gave the result of the bone-measuring.
Hearing this, Lady He Jianlan and the others had difficult expressions, and the fifth wife couldn't help but say, "Are you sure you didn't see it wrong? Hao Er... how could he possibly have such poor quality?"
The other ladies said nothing; this old Daoist was a well-known figure in the Divine General Mansion, having measured the bones of the children from all families, and never made a mistake.
Moreover, since Li Hao had previously failed at Foundation Establishment and Blood Melting, they had already been bracing themselves for the worst. Now seeing this result, it felt more like something they had anticipated.
Li Hao quietly observed everyone's expressions. The second wife was amongst them, her face even more grief-stricken.
However, he couldn't tell how many of them were sincerely upset for him.
"Brother Hao."
Bian Ruxue tugged at Li Hao's sleeve anxiously, her little face full of tension.
Though she didn't understand what had happened, she could feel that Li Hao seemed to have lost something.
Li Hao looked at the little girl's pitiable appearance and couldn't help but crack a smile.
He pinched her tender little cheek, thinking to himself that he ought to be the one feeling sad. In a couple of months, when she underwent the bone measurement, she would probably astonish everyone.
The old Daoist left, and everyone else dispersed.
Like the tide receding, Mountain and River Courtyard returned to its calm state, with only those two small figures and Lin Haixia standing beside them.
That evening, the officer who had abstained from alcohol for many years drank alone in the Mountain and River Courtyard.
When he smelled the alcohol, Li Hao also felt tempted and got a small jade cup. Just as he was about to pour himself a little from the bottle, Lin Haixia, who was half-drunk, glared at him and snatched the bottle from his hands, reprimanding him in a rare outburst, "You're incredibly audacious, even daring to drink alcohol!"
"I was just keeping you company," Li Hao said with a grin.
"What do you know? Drinking is for adults," Lin Haixia said irritably.
"It's lonely to drink alone; it's better to have company," Li Hao was still trying to take back the bottle, but with a raise of the officer's hand, it was out of reach.
Lin Haixia glared at Li Hao, intending to scold him, but upon hearing his words, suddenly fell silent.
It was then that he suddenly remembered that this little fellow had been alone since his parents left after his hundred days celebration.
Indeed, he must also wish for company. When Xue'er's father wasn't around, that little girl was crying all the way to the Divine General Mansion...
Looking out at the vast Mountain and River Courtyard with its beautiful scenery, he thought how even the most exquisite view could not compensate for the absence of a parent's company.
Lin Haixia said nothing, pouring a few more shots for himself, then looking over at Li Hao who had a relaxed smile on his face, he suddenly remembered that in the two years he had been there, he had never seen this little fellow cry.
"Hey."
Maybe the alcohol was getting to him, but Lin Haixia couldn't bother addressing Li Hao as the young master. To him, this was after all just a little kid.
"Do you miss your parents?"
Li Hao was taken aback by the question.
Immediately, the image of the young girl holding him and talking to herself in worry at the window sill flashed through his mind.
Five years had passed, and he had long forgotten the warmth of that embrace, but the sorrow in those eyes had somehow been etched into the depths of his heart.
"I do," Li Hao looked at the starry night sky and said softly, "The battle in Northern Yan must be tough. I hope they'll be okay."
Lin Haixia was taken aback.
He had thought that the child would be saddened or perhaps had already forgotten about his parents, given how young he was when they weren't around him, probably having no concept of parents at all.
But to his surprise, not only did the child remember, but he also bore no resentment and was even worried for the commanders.
For a moment, Lin Haixia felt a sharp stab in his heart, and he felt a pang of pity.
He rubbed his eyes and tilted his head back to down a few hefty drinks.
"Uncle Lin, are you crying?"
"Nonsense, it's just spilled alcohol. What do you know!"
The night wind grew cold.
Haixia was also drunk.
In his drunkenness, Haixia recited martial poems, flung his fists and feet about, and eventually collapsed like a heap of mud.
Li Hao instructed a house servant to carry him back into the room to sleep, so he wouldn't be feasted on by mosquitoes.
Two months later.
It was time for Bian Ruxue's bone measurement.
The old Daoist priest from Qingqiu Mountain was still here, in the same position in the courtyard, measuring Bian Ruxue's bones.
In no time, his eyes widened with excitement as he looked at the little girl and laughed loudly, "Her bones are like Gold Iron Divine Jade, Divine Bones indeed, shining with a seven-colored light, her marrow abundant and streaked, of the highest quality, a Ninth Layer Peerless Battle Body! Haha, truly worthy of a child from the Divine General Mansion, never a disappointment. There'll soon be a new addition to the Qiankun List!"
At this, he happened to glance at Li Hao standing nearby and his smile abruptly stiffened.
He then coughed twice, feeling slightly embarrassed.
That was close, he almost forgot there was this record-breaking kid in the Divine General Mansion.
This time, only He Jianlan was by his side, the other courtyard madams were not interested in the Li Family's baby girl and hadn't come over.
Hearing the old Daoist's words, both He Jianlan and Lin Haixia had smiles appear on their faces.
Then, they both glanced at Li Hao at the same time.
Though Li Hao lacked martial talent, having such an extraordinary wife would give him something to lean on in the future.
"Very impressive, little girl."
Li Hao smiled, pinching the dumbly cute Bian Ruxue's face, who was still looking utterly confused, clearly not understanding what was happening.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Bian Ruxue didn't look happy but pouted slightly.
The little girl was only thinking that it would have been nice if the old gentleman had been like this to Brother Hao before.
After the old Daoist left, Lin Haixia imparted martial arts knowledge to Bian Ruxue in the courtyard.
The little girl was now five years old, beginning to understand, and it was time to start teaching her some things.
A Ninth Layer Peerless Battle Body could break through realms as easily as eating and drinking, guessing that after starting her cultivation, she would break the First Realm within a year.
Break through two realms within three years.
And in less than ten years, reach the peak of the Third Realm.
Such was the terror of a Ninth Layer Battle Body!
The three realms of martial arts were Power Passage, Circulation of Power, and Soul Continuation.
Each realm had ten levels.
The Fourth Realm was Divine Traveling.
Lin Haixia was a Fourth Realm expert.
And he was over forty this year.
Bear in mind, in ten years, Bian Ruxue would still be only sixteen years old.
A sixteen-year-old at the tenth level of the Soul Continuation Realm would be a dazzling presence, like the moon, capable of ruling a city as a city guardian, a true strong one.
Whereas an ordinary martial artist reaching the Circulation of Power at sixteen would be quite an accomplishment, enough to be admitted to a reputable mountain.
...
...
With the placement of a game piece, this chess game was decided.
Li Hao won.
Experience value +2.
Li Hao yawned, glancing out the window to see the little girl practicing swordplay with Lin Haixia, her posture awkward and utterly adorable.
He withdrew his gaze, dismissed the house servant who was his chess partner, and then brought up his panel.
After one year, his Chess Tao experience had finally maxed out.
He gained another skill point.
Without hesitation, Li Hao chose to add the point to Physical Body Dao.
Shortly after, a wave of complex information surged over him, causing him to frown and endure the influx. After a moment, he had slowly assimilated it.
Insights regarding the Body Refinement Art surfaced in his mind. Li Hao felt inspired, closed the window and door, and then started to practice in his room.
He began to practice the "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements" Body Refinement Art.
As he assumed his stance, his body moved like a dragon dancing and a tiger leaping, and popping sounds echoed from within.
Every blood vessel, meridian, and bone seemed to twist and turn, every cell in his body activated, his entire being burning hot.
Once the "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements" routine was done,
Li Hao's skin was flushed red, steaming with hot vapor, and his hair was drenched in sweat, his small face covered with dense beads of sweat.
Li Hao felt something stir within him, checked his panel, and to his surprise, found that in the attribute cultivation area of the panel, he was no longer a mere mortal, but had reached the Power Passage Realm, Third Level!
Li Hao could feel an unprecedented strength filling his body, seemingly capable of splitting stones and breaking steles with ease.
He was overwhelmed with joy; then he practiced the routine again.
This time, with abundant strength and more precise postures, his skin grew even redder, the heat rising like smoke.
After practicing the second time, Li Hao saw his cultivation level had actually risen to the Fourth Layer!
He kept on practicing.
The third round, the fourth round.
Until at the end of the eighth round, his cultivation level stopped increasing, settling at Power Passage Realm, Seventh Level!
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone