https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-20-Comprehensive-Body-Cultivation/13449780/
Chapter 19: Shallow Blessings
Chapter 19: Shallow Blessings
Li Hao took the sword, his thoughts racing.
He no longer cared about hiding his abilities; instead, he was weighing the pros and cons.
Displaying Sword Techniques and showcasing his talent would undoubtedly astonish everyone.
Even without revealing his physical cultivation, using an ordinary child's body to wield a sword, he could still demonstrate a hint of the Ultimate Tidal Sword Technique. With the Sword Saint's keen eye for the Sword Dao, he should be able to see Li Hao's potential in the Sword Dao.
Having the Sword Saint as a master meant no one would dare covet his abilities.
However, becoming the Sword Saint's disciple would mean following him to the Southern Sword Hut for cultivation.
While the Sword Hut was a holy land for Swordsmen, its overall depth and resources might not match the Divine General Manor or the Rain Listening Pavilion.
Li Hao needed to improve through the Chess Dao and other arts. Given the Sword Saint's stern and serious demeanor, he would likely be extremely strict and might not tolerate Li Hao's "unorthodox" pursuits.
Or, could he become the Sword Saint's disciple and negotiate to stay at the Divine General Manor for his teachings?
But the Divine General Manor might not allow a powerful outsider, on par with the Li family's first generation, to reside there for long. The Sword Saint might not agree to such an arrangement either.
"Forget it, he doesn't need to demonstrate."
At that moment, Jian Wudao's voice came, slightly displeased.
Li Hao, who was still contemplating his decision, was taken aback and looked at Jian Wudao.
He Jianlan quickly reacted, saying, "Elder Sword Saint, why is that?"
"He doesn't have the eye for the sword, nor does he love it. At his young age, his thoughts are already muddled. He's not the right material for sword practice."
Jian Wudao's face returned to its usual indifference. If not for this being the Divine General Manor, he would have already turned and left without further explanation.
"Elder Sword Saint, the child is just nervous. Perhaps you could give him a chance to show his skills..." Li Fu interjected hurriedly. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and missing it would be a great loss.
But before he could finish, Jian Wudao glanced at him.
The cold, blade-like gaze made Li Fu feel a chill in his throat, as if his life was being cut short, and he fell silent.
"Elder Sword Saint, Hao has grown up in the manor and hasn't seen much of the world. He can't practice martial arts, so it's normal that he doesn't have much experience with swords", He Jianlan said, her brows furrowed.
Jian Wudao treated He Jianlan differently from Li Fu, given her status as the current First Lady of the Divine General Manor and its acting head. He glanced at her and shook his head lightly.
"I understand your concerns, but you don't use swords, and you don't understand the Sword Dao. If he were to reach an ordinary level or even become a mortal expert, with my guidance, he might barely manage. But to reach the peak, to meet the minimum standards of the Sword Hut, he falls far short."
"For sword practice, I only look at two things: Sword Dao talent and a feeling for the sword."
"Good talent but no feeling for the sword can only achieve a second-rate level."
"But a genuine love for the sword, even with average comprehension, can lead to a first-rate level once the Sword Heart is achieved!"
Rarely speaking so much at once, Jian Wudao decided to be clear and straightforward.
He looked at Bian Ruxue and said to He Jianlan, "When that little girl came over, holding the sword, I could see the sword in her eyes. She loves the sword. Among a thousand weapons, she would immediately spot the sword!"
"Even with average talent, she will achieve great things through daily practice and the cultivation of the Sword Heart, not to mention her exceptional talent."
Then he turned to Li Hao, "This child, his eyes show no trace of the sword. Even when he holds it, there's no emotion. His talent is irrelevant."
"He is not suited for the path of the Sword Dao!"
He gave his final assessment.
With those words, He Jianlan was left speechless.
Silence filled the courtyard.
He Jianlan hesitated, but seeing the determined look in Jian Wudao's eyes, she knew further persuasion was futile. Inviting the Elders would undermine the Li family's dignity.
She glanced at Li Hao, her eyes filled with complexity, and sighed inwardly.
She was well aware that the child had a wild nature, often playing chess with the servants in the courtyard. Such trivial skills were mere diversions in times of peace.
But with Li Tiangang and his wife absent, she couldn't be too strict. A few words of reprimand went unheeded, and when the child sneaked off with the servants, she was powerless.
Is this all fate?
As He Jianlan remained silent, Jian Wudao, having said his piece, no longer cared about others' thoughts. He had been clear enough. If the Li family insisted on forcing the child into his discipleship, he wouldn't be gentle.
He then turned to the little girl, his eyes revealing a hidden fondness, and his usual coldness melting slightly. He smiled and asked, "Little girl, what's your name?"
"Bian Ruxue."
The little girl answered honestly.
She then looked at Li Hao and said to the old man, "Can you let Brother Hao demonstrate? Brother Hao is very smart, much smarter than Xue'er."
Jian Wudao smiled slightly. What good is being smart? Aren't all the scholars and literati in the imperial court smart?
Moreover, just now he noticed that Li Hao’s eyes were filled with complex thoughts and many considerations. At such a young age, this indicated that his mind was not pure, making it even harder for him to lay a solid foundation in the early stages of the Sword Dao. Instead, he would be distracted and waste his own potential.
This is why some precocious children often end up blending into the crowd later in life, while some quiet and unremarkable kids eventually achieve great things.
Jian Wudao didn’t particularly like the term "late bloomer." He believed it was a result of the world’s ignorance, unable to see through the protective layer that true geniuses possess.
Focus and dedication—these are the qualities of a genius.
Some seemingly clever children know a little bit about everything, can interject in adult conversations, and make adults laugh and praise them for their intelligence. However, in the realm of cultivation, the worst trait is to be self-smart.
Being down-to-earth and steady, with a bit of spiritual insight, is the best foundation.
“Xue’er, come with me to cultivate on the mountain,” Jian Wudao said gently.
“Will you take Brother Hao with us?” Bian Ruxue looked up and asked.
“Just you.”
“I won’t go then.”
Bian Ruxue immediately said, stepping back as if afraid he might force her to go, and she clung to Li Hao’s arm. “I want to stay with Brother Hao. I won’t go anywhere.”
Jian Wudao’s expression changed slightly, and his brows furrowed.
However, although Bian Ruxue was exceptionally talented, she was still a child. He didn’t get angry but turned to He Jianlan and said, “First Lady, I will take Xue’er with me. When she has achieved in her cultivation, I will bring her back. Of course, in a few years, you might hear about the fame she will bring.”
He spoke with confidence because as soon as he announced it, many people in the world would immediately recognize the name “Bian Ruxue.”
The new disciple of the Wudao Sword Saint—this title alone would be enough to make her famous across the entire region!
He Jianlan nodded slightly, naturally having no reason to refuse Jian Wudao’s words.
Li Hao had already come to his senses by now. His lips twitched, but he didn’t say anything. It was for the best that someone else had made the decision for him, saving him the trouble of deliberating.
“Brother Hao, I won’t go.”
Bian Ruxue clung tightly to Li Hao’s arm, her eyes red and timidly said.
Li Hao was also reluctant for the little girl to leave, but he understood that this was an opportunity for her.
If she stayed at the Divine General Manor, she would be limited to his side, even though she could still cultivate.
But becoming a disciple of the Sword Saint meant gaining significant connections and the chance to see a broader world.
Out of selfishness, he wanted to keep the girl by his side; having such a little tail around made him feel secure and happy.
But for Bian Ruxue’s sake, he chose to let go temporarily and said softly, “Xue’er, be a good girl. Follow this old man to cultivate, and when you achieve something, you can come back to see me. Then I’ll take you out for a treat.”
“I won’t go. I don’t want to cultivate. I don’t want to practice the sword anymore. I hate the sword!” Bian Ruxue burst into tears.
Jian Wudao’s brows furrowed, realizing he had underestimated the little girl’s attachment to this boy.
After all, they were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together.
He thought to himself that if it came to it, taking Li Hao as a disciple would also be fine. A girl with such talent was worth fighting for, even with a broken trinket.
“Be a good girl, you’re a big girl now and can’t keep crying,” Li Hao wiped her nose with his sleeve and said gently, his heart aching a little.
The adults in the courtyard watched silently as one child consoled another.
Many of them had complex expressions, feeling both jealousy and admiration. Children were just children, after all, and didn’t understand the value of such an opportunity. If their own children had a chance to go to the Sword Hut, they would kick them out immediately to experience a mother’s loving foot.
Finally, Li Hao managed to calm the little girl down.
Bian Ruxue, with tear-stained eyes, said, “We’ll make a deal. Brother Hao, you have to wait for me to come back. You can’t leave here, no matter what.”
“Okay,” Li Hao patted her forehead and smiled, nodding.
Jian Wudao’s expression also relaxed, and his gaze towards Li Hao softened slightly.
Although he could ignore Bian Ruxue’s feelings and take her by force, she was just a child. No matter how reluctant she was now, after half a year at the Sword Hut, time would smooth things over.
But it was better if she went willingly.
After all, with such talent, time was precious and couldn’t be wasted.
“Xue’er has a gentle personality, old man. You have to protect her well and make sure no one bullies her,” Li Hao, having calmed Xue’er, looked up at Jian Wudao and said earnestly.
Jian Wudao raised an eyebrow at Li Hao’s informal address but didn’t get angry, considering the child’s sake. He said calmly, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Xue’er. No one in the world will be able to bully her while she’s with me!”
“Alright,” Li Hao looked at him deeply, then turned to Bian Ruxue. “Xue’er, if anyone bullies you at the Sword Hut, write it down in your little notebook. I’ll make sure to bully them back for you in the future.”
The adults around them took his words as a child’s emotional outburst, not taking them seriously.
Before leaving, Jian Wudao thought for a moment and said to He Jianlan, “Our Sword Hut has a Body Cultivation Secret Manual. I’ll send it over to your Rain Listening Pavilion. With it, you should be able to reach the sixth level. Let this child try it out.”
He Jianlan was delighted and quickly thanked him, then added hopefully, “Can Hao’er really not become your disciple?”
Jian Wudao left, leaving behind only one sentence: That child has good fortune, but shallow blessings.
(End of Chapter)
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