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Chapter 200: Fourth Stage Body Dao, Bone Measurement!
Chapter 200: Fourth Stage Body Dao, Bone Measurement! (First Update, Seeking Monthly Votes)
As soon as Li Hao entered the main hall, he heard a series of poetic recitations.
"White feathers float on green water, red palms stir the clear waves... Haha, quite amusing, quite amusing!"
"Little Ten, did you write this after seeing the geese in the courtyard? It's quite vivid and detailed, haha. My son can write poems at four years old!"
"Mr. Kong said that my son is a rare poetic talent, one that only comes around once in a hundred years. If we cultivate him well, he might even become a second-place winner in the imperial exams!"
Li Tianzong, his "father", held a piece of paper and paced around the hall, a broad smile on his face.
Chen Hefang sat beside him, her gentle smile in place. "Look at you, so thrilled. It's just a few poems. When did you start to enjoy these scholarly things?"
"Anything my son does, I like."
Li Tianzong laughed. "There are plenty of generals who can lead armies, but how many can write poetry? I'll show these poems to those guys later. Ha, those barbarians are only fit to listen to the poetry of a child. They might not even understand the meaning of my son's poems!"
As he spoke, he noticed Li Hao walking in and immediately waved him over.
"Little Ten, come here."
Li Hao was slightly stunned. He had expected that the man would tolerate his painting, and likely wouldn't mind poetry, but he hadn't anticipated such genuine happiness.
A few poems written at four years old brought this father such joy.
Yet, a young man who gained fame at fourteen only received a resounding slap.
"Um."
Li Hao walked over.
Li Tianzong lifted Li Hao up, found a chair, and sat down, placing Li Hao on his lap.
"Come, tell your father about this poem, 'Suspected to be the Jade Terrace Mirror, flying high in the azure clouds.' Tsk, tsk, how did your little mind come up with that?"
It's a copy... Li Hao thought to himself but only gave a silly chuckle on his face.
Chen Hefang watched with a helpless expression and said to Li Tianzong, "Don't spoil him too much. Little Ten has exceptional talent, but he should focus more on the Martial Dao. In a couple of years, he will truly embark on the path of cultivation."
"It's still early. When it's time for real cultivation, Little Ten can focus then."
Li Tianzong waved his hand. "I believe that with Little Ten's intelligence, he can excel in both literature and martial arts. If he becomes a marshal, he must be well-versed in military strategy. Otherwise, he'll just be a mere warrior, suitable only for following orders. If he were a general, it would be a disaster!"
Chen Hefang shook her head helplessly, knowing his temperament and not pressing the matter further.
Li Hao, his mind racing, took the opportunity to speak to his "father."
"Father, can I go to the Rain Listening Pavilion tomorrow?"
"Do you know what the Rain Listening Pavilion is?" Li Tianzong couldn't help but laugh.
"A place that houses cultivation techniques." Li Hao replied.
Li Tianzong turned to Chen Hefang. "See? Little Ten hasn't even started cultivation, and he's already curious about the Martial Dao."
Chen Hefang gave him a gentle scolding glance but smiled, feeling reassured by Li Hao's words.
She was indeed a bit worried. Li Hao's intelligence was a good thing, but if he delved too deeply into his talents, he might become distracted and neglect the Martial Dao.
"If you want to go, I'll have Old Zhao take you."
Li Tianzong said to Li Hao. "But you mustn't be mischievous in there. If you damage any cultivation techniques, I will punish you."
"I'll just take a look."
Li Hao smiled.
At that moment, the "brothers" who had been cultivating in the training grounds returned. Li Tianzong waited for them to return to the courtyard before calling Old Zhao to serve the meal, preparing to eat.
Seeing this, Li Hao closed his eyes and skipped over the dinner.
When he opened his eyes again, his hand was being held by another, walking toward a pavilion.
Li Hao immediately recognized the pavilion as the Rain Listening Pavilion.
And the person holding his hand was Old Zhao.
"Little Young Master, this is the Rain Listening Pavilion. When you go inside, remember to greet Uncle Four and don't dirty the cultivation techniques. I won't accompany you."
Old Zhao earnestly instructed.
Li Hao nodded, then looked surprised and asked, "Fourth Uncle?"
"Uh-huh."
Old Zhao simply nodded without offering any explanation, leading Li Hao to the Rain Listening Pavilion.
This scene reminded Li Hao of the first time he had come here, following Li Fu.
Old Zhao negotiated with the guards at the entrance and showed them the token given by Li Tianzong.
At this point, Li Tianzong had already become the True Dragon of the Divine General Manor, overseeing all affairs within the manor.
Understanding the situation, the guards allowed Li Hao to pass.
Li Hao looked at the familiar steps and stairs, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia.
He entered the building and noticed that all the furnishings were just as he remembered them.
"How did you get here?"
A voice sounded, and Li Xiaoran's figure gracefully descended.
Li Xiaoran waved his hand, closing the doors of the Rain Listening Pavilion, and then cast a Soundproofing Barrier, enveloping the two of them.
"Why is it you?"
Li Hao asked curiously, "Where is Second Uncle?"
"You should call him Second Uncle."
Li Xiaoran reminded him, "You must always remember your identity here. Don't talk about seniority or show any disrespect. Get used to it and avoid any slip-ups."
Li Hao nodded, taking his words to heart.
"Your Second Uncle was quite carefree in his youth, always drifting from place to place. He's not in the Divine General Manor right now. He's either socializing in a tavern with his rowdy friends or enjoying himself somewhere, or perhaps he's off sightseeing."
Li Xiaoran continued, "I'm the one in charge here now, and he's not at the manor."
Li Hao could tell that despite the Soundproofing Barrier, his Fourth Uncle was still cautious in their conversation, not fully speaking as he used to.
Recalling the rumors he had heard about Second Uncle in the Divine General Manor, it seemed he was indeed quite carefree in his youth, unlike the other elders.
It was only in his later years that he settled down.
Or perhaps it wasn't due to his age, but because others had run into trouble...
"Has Second Uncle not gone fishing?" Li Hao asked curiously.
Li Xiaoran glanced at Li Hao and said, "Fishing? He was the most restless person. How could he possibly go fishing? He was the one who gave Father the most headaches when he was young, always misbehaving and the least obedient."
Li Hao was taken aback. Second Uncle didn't like fishing?
But in his memories, Second Uncle would always head to the lake to fish whenever he had free time.
He would sit there for days on end.
Li Hao's eyes flickered, realizing that time had not only smoothed out his rough edges but also tamed his youthful restlessness and recklessness.
"Did you come here to see me?" Li Xiaoran asked.
Li Hao refocused his thoughts. "I came to look at the cultivation techniques here, to get a head start on familiarizing myself with them."
Li Xiaoran shook his head. "You're still too young for cultivation. I know you're eager, but you mustn't be hasty. The more you rush, the more likely you are to run into problems. Starting cultivation too early can lead to bone deformation or premature release of bone marrow power, which you won't be able to control, ultimately slowing down your cultivation progress."
"Over the centuries, our Li Family has adhered to the Five-Year Bone Measurement, beginning cultivation at the age of six. This schedule has been refined over generations and is the most reasonable."
"Even if you're impatient, the earliest you should start is after the Five-Year Bone Measurement. By then, your bones will be more developed, and although there are still risks, it is the earliest age for safe cultivation."
"I'll just take a look, not practice", Li Hao said.
Although Fourth Uncle wasn't exactly an outsider, some secrets were best kept to himself.
He had come early to prepare his body, nurturing his tendons and bones.
His physical body was at the Seventh Rank of Flesh Dao, having transcended the Three Eternities Realm with his flesh, mastering numerous Body Refinement Techniques, and cultivating to the True State, even reaching the Transcendent Level!
His understanding of the physical body could be considered among the best in the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty, standing out as one of the top-tier martial artists over the centuries!
Those who could surpass him were few and far between, almost non-existent.
After all, it was generally believed that pure Body Cultivators could only reach the Zhou Tian Realm, which was their limit.
Those who could achieve Soul Succession were rare anomalies, unexplainable oddities.
In other words, the Soul Succession Realm was the limit for pure Body Cultivators, while he had reached the Three Eternities Realm!
Based on his understanding of Flesh Dao, Li Xiaoran's words were mostly correct, but he was the exception.
Cultivation before the age of six was not recommended due to the nature of Cultivation Techniques.
Most Cultivation Techniques put pressure on the body, especially Body Refinement Techniques, which could directly damage the body. Practicing them poorly could lead to disabilities, severe injuries, or even death.
For example, the Iron Sand Palm required repeatedly grinding the palms in iron sand and applying medicinal ointments to form multiple layers of calluses, with fine iron sand embedded in the pores and calluses, creating a hardness comparable to iron.
However, these were low-level, ungraded Cultivation Techniques that had minimal benefits and often caused self-injury.
Higher-grade and Peerless Body Refinement Techniques, on the other hand, activated the potential within the flesh and blood, using treasure medicines to stimulate it to the maximum extent, thereby strengthening the tendons, bones, and flesh.
If one cultivated to a very deep level, the Cultivation Techniques themselves could draw in the qi of heaven and earth to temper the body.
But these techniques also placed pressure on the body.
Although Li Hao had forgotten the specific insights of the Seventh Rank of Flesh Dao, he remembered that among the Body Refinement Techniques he had previously integrated, there was one that did not burden the body and could nourish the bones.
It was like remembering that there was an essay question on the back of a test paper.
He might have forgotten the exact title and content, but he wouldn't forget that there was an essay question.
After all, even college students are human.
Now, if he could elevate his Flesh Dao to a higher rank and gather enough Cultivation Techniques, he might be able to synthesize them using his insights from Flesh Dao and deduce that Body Refinement Technique that nourished the body.
This way, by pre-nourishing his body and absorbing more Strange Blood, his future Cultivation path would be smoother!
"Alright."
Seeing Li Hao's response, Li Xiaoran did not try to stop him.
Although the Li Hao in front of him was only four years old, the Li Hao outside was fifteen and old enough to make his own decisions, so he wouldn't interfere too much.
"I'm going to accelerate time. You might see me in a state similar to sleepwalking, but don't worry about it", Li Xiaoran said.
Li Hao nodded, feeling somewhat curious about what he would look like to others when he accelerated time.
This was a good opportunity to observe through Li Xiaoran's acceleration.
Soon, Li Hao saw Li Xiaoran close his eyes.
He then quickly opened them again, this time with a gentle, elder-like smile, and said, "You stay here and take your time. I'm going upstairs."
With that, he turned and went up the stairs.
Li Hao watched him go. Although it was a brief observation, he sensed a subtle change in Li Xiaoran.
While not immediately apparent, if compared over a short period, the difference was more noticeable.
In simple terms, the current Li Xiaoran seemed to more naturally embody his younger self.
Conversely, the Li Hao he had just spoken to showed some inconsistencies in his demeanor, suggesting that the younger appearance was not as perfectly maintained.
Li Hao understood the situation clearly. It seemed that his usual disguise also had some minor changes when he accelerated, revealing a few inconsistencies that didn't quite match his identity.
But these inconsistencies made it more real.
Recollecting his thoughts, Li Hao approached the nearby shelf and began browsing through the books.
With his familiarity with the Rain Listening Pavilion, he now knew his way around quite well. He even remembered where many cultivation techniques were placed, on which floor and which bookshelf.
However, the Rain Listening Pavilion in this era had a few cultivation techniques that Li Hao had never seen before, from the time of Li Tianzong.
Fortunately, the changes weren't significant and didn't affect Li Hao much. He began flipping through the books one by one.
He started with the Lower Grade Body Refinement Techniques, as they were easier to master.
Once he mastered them, the Flesh Dao on his panel would appear, allowing him to add points directly. Then, when he reviewed Upper Grade cultivation techniques, he could easily master and record them.
Before long, Li Hao finished reading a Lower Grade Body Refinement Technique.
By a stroke of coincidence, the book he picked up was the very first cultivation technique he had studied, "Hundred Refinements of Stone Skin."
As he mastered the cultivation technique, a prompt appeared on Li Hao's panel.
Flesh Dao: Not Mastered (Can Add Points)
Cultivation Techniques: Hundred Refinements of Stone Skin (Not Mastered)
Art Skill Points: 4
Without hesitation, Li Hao began adding his Art Skill Points to the Flesh Dao one by one.
With each point added, a flood of information surged into his mind. Li Hao didn't rush; he waited until he had fully absorbed the information before adding another point.
This process of adding points and absorbing information took about half an hour. By the end, Li Hao's Flesh Dao had reached the fourth stage!
The Painting Heart had also been consumed by the Flesh Dao, helping him break through the bottleneck.
At just four years old, reaching the fourth stage of Flesh Dao!
Li Hao couldn't help but imagine how terrifying he would be if he started cultivation now!
But he held back. Starting cultivation at this age would put too much strain on his body, potentially hindering his progress in the middle stages.
As Li Xiaoran had said, the ideal age to start cultivation was five.
Li Hao himself had started cultivating a Body Refinement Technique just after turning five, and by the time other children were just starting their cultivation at six, he had already reached the Tenth Level of Power Mastery.
This early start had put some pressure on his body, but the subtle damage was eventually eliminated when he reached the seventh stage of Flesh Dao and entered the Three Eternities Realm.
Now, in the Mourning River, Li Hao was confident he could reach the Three Eternities Realm, but there was no need to rush. He decided to first nurture his bones and wait until he was six to start cultivation, which would allow him to make a smoother transition.
Li Hao glanced at his panel. "Hundred Refinements of Stone Skin" had been refined into "Golden Skin Thousand Forgings", an Upper Grade Body Refinement Technique.
And it had reached the True State level!
Li Hao smiled and began browsing through other Body Refinement Techniques.
This time, he flipped through the books much faster, quickly grasping the content.
Most Lower Grade cultivation techniques only required a brief glance to master and record.
Once a technique was recorded on his panel, it was immediately refined into an Upper Grade cultivation technique at the True State level.
Li Hao searched through the Rain Listening Pavilion like a gale sweeping away the last of the clouds, voraciously absorbing Body Refinement Techniques.
As one Body Refinement Technique after another was recorded, Li Hao's memory was continuously filled.
Even his four-year-old body and consciousness began to feel drowsy.
But Li Hao forced himself to stay awake, knowing that if he fell asleep, he might not wake up until he was five.
He hoped to deduce the cultivation techniques on his own before the Bone Measurement.
He continued to absorb and integrate various Body Refinement Techniques, and his Panel gradually filled with cultivation techniques he had deduced on his own using the Fourth Stage Flesh Dao.
For every few cultivation techniques he recorded, one would be deduced automatically.
These deduced cultivation techniques quickly reached Perfection or True Form Level.
Finally, when he was extremely drowsy, a cultivation technique called the Starlight Nurturing Body Technique appeared on Li Hao's Panel.
A flood of information surged in, and Li Hao's eyes lit up.
This was the cultivation technique he needed!
He was pleasantly surprised that his Fourth Stage Flesh Dao had indeed allowed him to deduce it.
He had been worried that even if he recorded all the cultivation techniques here, his Fourth Stage Flesh Dao insight might not be enough to deduce anything.
In his current state, he didn't have the energy to stay awake and earn one Art Skill Point.
After all, he was still a four-year-old child with no cultivation, and his mental strength was equally limited.
At this moment, Li Hao relied on his willpower to stay awake. Instead of falling asleep, he sat inside the pavilion and slowly practiced the Starlight Nurturing Body Technique.
This cultivation technique was best practiced at night, using the starlight to nourish and refine the body. Unlike other Body Refinement Techniques, it didn't bring about a sudden qualitative change but gradually purified the body of impurities, making it more transparent and powerful, with star energy hidden within the bones.
After one cycle of practice, Li Hao could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep without even checking his body.
When Li Hao woke up again, it was to the sound of a shocked exclamation.
He opened his eyes to see himself standing in the courtyard, with a white-bearded old man beside him.
The old man's face was familiar; he was the Daoist from Qingqiu Mountain who had performed Bone Measurements for several generations of the Li Family.
Qingqiu Mountain was outside Qingzhou, while this was Dragon City. As Li Xiaoran had mentioned, due to Li Tianzong's memories, various elements had merged, causing some strange changes that were unexplorable, as doing so could easily expose him.
"Th-th-this..."
The old man, with his youthful appearance despite his white hair, looked at Li Hao in shock, stammering and unable to form a complete sentence.
In the courtyard, besides the old man, Li Tianzong, Chen Hefang, and the other "older brothers" were also present. Li Hongzhuang, who was three years old, stood at the back, his head tied in buns, his small face full of curiosity and surprise.
"What's wrong?"
Li Tianzong, seeing the old man's reaction, frowned and his face darkened. "Just say it directly!"
When he was not smiling, his face exuded a heavy aura of authority, causing the old man to quickly regain his composure and exclaim:
"Great news, Duke Rank, it's great news!!"
"What?"
Li Tianzong looked at him in surprise and suspicion. If he didn't know the old man was from Qingqiu Mountain, he would have thought he was a midwife.
"Don't beat around the bush. You've seen Ninth-Rank War Bodies before. The Li Family is full of exceptional individuals. What's so surprising?"
Li Tianzong scolded, "What was Little Ten's Bone Measurement?"
(End of Chapter)
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