https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-239-Painting-Dao-Enlightenment-Qi-Vein/13450356/
Chapter 238: Fifteen Years Apart
Chapter 238: Fifteen Years Apart
As the Sage Mark disappeared, all eyes in the crowd turned to the young man.
Even the many Ji Family members who had never seen such a scene could tell that the young man seemed to have received the Sage's blessing!
"Sage Mark, he actually received the Sage Mark..."
"Is our Ji Family about to produce another Three Ancestors?"
"Heaven has eyes, Heaven has eyes!!"
In the crowd, some elderly Ji Family members, with white hair and beards, trembled with bodies and tears in their eyes, waving their arms wildly in excitement.
They all recognized the Sage Mark, which meant that Li Hao had been favored by a Sage and taken as a disciple!
Given Li Hao's current talent, if he could receive the Sage's teachings, entering the Enlightened Realm was almost certain.
Listening to the Dao's teachings by the Sage's side, how could one not gain enlightenment?
And taking it a step further, he might even be halfway into the Sage Realm!
Given the talent Li Hao had previously displayed, this possibility was significant.
The elderly members of the Ji Family, who had lived through ancient times, were moved to tears, as if they could see the glorious era of the Ji Family rising again in the Great Wasteland Sky!
In those most glorious days, the Three Ancestors of the Ji Family wielded the Divine Spear, defeating all in the Great Wasteland, with no one capable of challenging them. This secured the Ji Family's status as an Ancient Holy Clan, gaining recognition from other Ancient Holy Clans, and claiming this vast Ji Family Territory, which no one dared to trample upon!
Hearing these old family treasures cry out in passionate excitement, the others around them were taken aback.
Sage Mark? On par with the Three Ancestors?!
Even if they didn't know what a Sage Mark was, the status of the Three Ancestors in the Ji Family was second only to the Ancestor!
These elders actually said that the young man could aspire to be on par with the Three Ancestors?
As everyone was stunned and bewildered, Ji Tianchao and Ji Daosin, among others, quickly flew to Li Hao's side.
"Child!"
Ji Tianchao, barely containing his excitement, quickly asked, "That was the Sage Mark, did you see the Sage?"
Li Hao nodded and asked, "Was that the Ji Family Ancestor?"
Seeing Li Hao nod, Ji Tianchao and the others took a deep breath, their excitement becoming even more difficult to control.
Unlike Li Hao, they lived in the Great Wasteland Sky and understood just how exalted the Sage's status was, as the highest and most revered existence!
A mere wisp of the Sage's aura could scare off many.
Even a glimpse was an unparalleled honor!
"Not the Ji Family Ancestor, he has already 'Retreated.'"
Ji Daosin glanced at Li Hao, noting that the young man seemed not overly excited. He felt a mix of amusement and sorrow, knowing that if it were another Ji Family prodigy, they would likely be ecstatic to the point of madness.
"Sages transcend the mundane. Ancient Sages are said to have long retreated, some hidden in a drop of dew, others in a speck of dust, and some wandering beyond the heavens, no longer in the mortal world. In short, they are beyond our reach unless the Sage reveals themselves."
Hearing Ji Daosin's words, Li Hao was somewhat surprised. He indeed had no concept of the Sage Realm.
Could one shrink to the size of a speck of dust and hide in the universe?
Could one transcend to beyond the heavens?
Li Hao couldn't imagine what such a realm would be like, what kind of power it would wield, feeling it was already beyond the level of a Martial Artist and belonged to the realm of myth and legend.
However, reaching the Three Eternities Realm seemed to be the path to the extraordinary.
Regrowing a severed arm was already beyond the realm of a mortal Martial Artist.
Li Hao refocused his thoughts. He needed to first refine his Dao Heart, and the Sage Realm... was still too distant for him.
Unless one of his arts could break through the ninth level and enter the Dao.
"Can I go and visit my mother now?" Li Hao asked.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Ji Daosin couldn't help but laugh. "Don't you want to ask more about the Sage Realm? The Ji Family has detailed records about these matters."
Clearly, his words hinted that if Li Hao were to stay with the Ji Family, there would be many benefits.
"Compared to those things, I would rather bring my mother back first", Li Hao said.
Ji Daosin's gaze sharpened, and the smile on his face faded. He looked deeply at Li Hao and said, "Rest assured, you will see your mother soon."
Then, he turned to Ji Tianchao and said, "I will entrust this child to you. He is also your grandson, and by extension, my great-grandson."
As he said this, he glanced at Li Hao again, thought for a moment, but did not ask the boy to call him Great-Uncle.
Since becoming the Patriarch, he had intentionally distanced himself from other familial relationships to avoid complications during meetings.
Ji Daosin looked at Li Hao, his eyes showing a hint of kindness. Li Hao's extraordinary talent delighted him, but what he appreciated even more was Li Hao's filial piety toward his mother.
Such a person, who values family ties so deeply, would surely not betray the Ji Family in the future.
Ji Daosin turned and left, waving his sleeve as he went. He handed Li Hao over to Ji Tianchao and the others. Before leaving, he glanced at Ji Qingyuan in the crowd, who also looked back at him.
Their eyes met briefly, and Ji Qingyuan understood the Patriarch's intention: to find an opportunity to resolve the conflict with the young man.
In the future, Li Hao would surely become a War God of the Ji Family, and his status would not be inferior to Ji Qingyuan's. He might even enter the ranks of the half-saints, standing alongside the Three Ancestors who sleep in the Demon Coffin.
If someone were to mention the events in the meeting hall to Li Hao in the future, it could be embarrassing.
Ji Qingyuan understood the Patriarch's intentions. He looked at the young man surrounded by the Ji Family members like stars around the moon and sighed inwardly.
Although he was the leader of the Secondary Lineage, the conflict between the Main and Secondary Lineages had nothing to do with a War God.
The young man had clearly transcended the boundaries of the Main and Secondary Lineages. The moment he became a Dao Seed, those distinctions no longer applied to him.
Even if he still stubbornly resisted, many members of the Secondary Lineage would likely disagree.
The Ji Family had been in conflict between the Main and Secondary Lineages for thousands of years, but when it came to the family's prodigies and War Gods, they were always proud collectively, unless there was a personal grudge.
This was the contradictory yet unique aspect of the Ji Family, and it was the reason they could continue to prosper in the Great Wasteland Sky.
Ji Qingyuan had never met Li Hao before, so there was no enmity between them. Now that the young man was a Dao Seed and had received the Sage's inheritance, becoming a potential Sage disciple, there was no need to continue the conflict.
Sighing inwardly, Ji Qingyuan's thoughts turned to how he could resolve this issue.
Meanwhile, Ji Tianchao noticed Li Hao's questioning gaze and said, "Your mother is on Heavenly Prison Island, deep within the Sage Realm of our Ji Family, in the most remote place. Don't worry; once we have everything arranged, we will take you to see her as soon as possible."
Li Hao asked, "How long will it take?"
Ji Tianchao smiled and said, "At most, six or seven days. You can stay in your mother's palace in the meantime. If you miss her, we have the Sky Observation Mirror, a holy treasure that allows you to observe Heavenly Prison Island. You can see your mother's movements at any time, though you won't be able to communicate with her."
Li Hao thought for a moment and agreed.
With many people around, Ji Tianchao, who disliked crowds, didn't stay long. He immediately took Li Hao and flew away, disappearing before the Ultimate Dao Stele.
The crowd, having witnessed the young man being taken away by Ji Tianchao, the War God, gradually came back to their senses. They began to chatter excitedly, their earlier concerns about Li Hao being a Mixed Blood forgotten in the excitement.
Ji Xuanshen and the other Prodigies stared at the direction the young man had left, only snapping out of their daze after a long while.
It all seemed like a dream.
Before the Holy Bell rang, who could have imagined that they would experience such an incredible upheaval today?
"Sage Mark—never thought a Four Extremes Realm cultivator could activate a Sage Mark. Why didn't the elders or my father ever mention this to me?!"
"Would it have made any difference even if they did? You couldn't even condense a Heaven-Earth Meridian."
"..."
"That guy, what kind of lineage does his other half have? It's terrifying."
"Could it be that his mother married into another Ancient Holy Clan?"
The Prodigies whispered among themselves, still reeling from the day's events.
Though most of them hadn't participated in the battle, Li Hao and Ji Xuanshen's clash had left them thoroughly impressed.
Even Ji Xuanshen, who had used a Sacred Bone, had been defeated, shattering the legend of the Dao Domain. Most frightening of all, the young man was only at the Three Eternities Realm!
"Do you think, once he reaches the Fourth Establishment Realm, he'll be invincible under the War God?"
"..."
"Don't you think he already gives off that vibe of being invincible under the War God?"
"Stop nitpicking. I mean truly invincible."
"Exactly what I meant..."
...
...
In the grand and luxurious palace, Ji Tianchao and the others led Li Hao inside.
"This is where your mother lived. Your maternal grandfather has passed away, but his Heroic Soul is still in the Ancestral Hall. You should visit sometime. I'm sure Old Thirteen will be thrilled to see you, especially after hearing about what happened today..."
Ji Yunqing smiled as he introduced the place to Li Hao.
Li Hao's eyes flickered, thinking of his maternal grandfather.
He wondered if the grandfather, who shared his blood, had already arrived at the Li Family, and if his wish had been fulfilled.
"You traveled thousands of miles to come here, delving deep into the Great Wasteland Sky, enduring great hardships. Your bond with your mother must be very strong, right?"
Ji Yunyue's face softened into a kind, grandmotherly smile as she spoke.
Strong? Li Hao's thoughts churned.
When he first crossed over, at the Hundred Day Feast, the "mother" he saw was still a little girl.
Fifteen years had passed.
He had almost forgotten her appearance, but he still vaguely remembered her gentle eyes and the words she had spoken:
"Actually, Mother had already thought of a name for you, Li Le Ping... Mother only hopes you will be safe and happy..."
"..."
"No matter what happens in the future, Mother will always stand behind you and will never let anyone hurt you..."
Li Hao couldn't forget those words.
So, this time, it was his turn to protect her.
"How long have you been with your mother? Did she teach you your cultivation techniques?"
Ji Tianchao, unusually curious, asked.
Li Hao thought for a moment and replied, "About a hundred days."
"Hmm?"
Ji Tianchao and the others were taken aback. Had he made a mistake, or did he say a hundred days?
Li Hao knew that once he brought his mother back, he would have to explain his precocious abilities. He was no longer afraid to reveal these minor talents.
So, he spoke frankly, "That's right. Mother went to the Border Pass to fight during my Hundred Day Feast. Most of my cultivation techniques are self-taught."
Ji Yunyue was surprised and quickly asked, "What about after that? When did she return?"
"She never did."
Li Hao explained, "It seems her identity was exposed, and she was brought back here, which is why I came to find her."
Hearing the young man's calm words and seeing his smile, Ji Tianchao and the others were left speechless, momentarily at a loss for what to say.
So, this mother and son hadn't seen each other for over a decade?
"You, how old are you this year?"
Ji Yunyue's voice trembled as she spoke.
"Fifteen."
"Do you remember what happened a hundred days after your birth?" Ji Tianchao couldn't help but ask.
Li Hao nodded. "I was precocious from a young age. I remember everything that happened a few months after I was born clearly."
The group exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes.
So, the child before them had only spent a mere hundred days with their niece.
The deep bond between mother and son, it seemed, was far less substantial than they had imagined.
But thinking about all that Li Hao had done, the relentless battles in the Training Ground, defeating geniuses, and standing up to Sacred Bone, what must this child be thinking?
"Over a decade... How could Qing Qing be so foolish!"
Ji Yunyue knew it wasn't right to speak ill of Li Hao's mother in front of him, but she couldn't help it. Her heart ached for the child before her.
Ji Tianchao and the others remained silent, having assumed that this grandson's disregard for everything, even taking his mother's surname, and coming here for redemption, was due to a deep bond with his mother. It turned out to be the opposite.
With only a hundred days of interaction, if not for Li Hao's extraordinary memory, there might be no trace of his mother in his mind at all.
"Do you, hate your mother?" Ji Yunqing couldn't help but ask.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. "Of course not. I had a life of luxury and was well cared for. She has her own responsibilities, and the battlefield is a harsh place."
There was another reason he didn't hate her. He was a transmigrator, a mature soul, and had never placed much attachment on her.
Hearing the young man's words, the group fell silent, as if pierced by a sharp thorn. Ji Yunyue turned away, her sleeve covering her face as she wiped away her tears.
"Good child, when your mother sees you this time, she will be so proud of you!"
Ji Tianchao's eyes were also red, but he held back his emotions, smiling warmly at Li Hao.
The others felt a pang of sympathy. Though they didn't know the exact reasons, a mother who spent only a hundred days with her child was unacceptable by any standard.
Now, this child had risked his life to enter the Great Wasteland, come to the Ji Family, and endured various provocations and humiliations, challenging ancient geniuses. This genuine affection moved them to tears.
"Qing Qing, as a new mother, was too inexperienced. But she has given birth to a clever and obedient son."
Fourth Brother whispered, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Qing Qing, you came here to save her, aren't you afraid of dying?" Ji Yunqing asked, trying to suppress her pain.
Li Hao shook his head. "I trust Senior Yunge. Even if I can't see her, I can still protect myself. If I can see her, I'll give it a try. Since I have this power, I should use it."
Mentioning Ji Yunge, the group fell silent again. Only now did they understand that all the praise Ji Yunge had given this young man was not exaggerated.
No wonder even the proud Third Brother held him in such high regard.
This child... was beyond reproach. His genuine emotions and character were rarer than talent!
"Good child, you should rest well. I'll have someone bring the Sky Observation Mirror, so you can see your mother. Unfortunately, she is on Heavenly Prison Island and can't see you, but you will meet soon."
Ji Tianchao said gently.
He patted Li Hao on the shoulder and pointed to a side hall. "This is where your mother lived. You can take a look around."
Li Hao nodded slightly.
Seeing this, the others also let Li Hao rest. After all, he had battled numerous geniuses and hadn't taken any divine medicines. Anyone else would have collapsed from exhaustion.
As they gradually left, Li Hao glanced around the opulent palace, looking at everything. He then noticed a painting on one of the walls.
The painting depicted a graceful, lively young girl.
She exuded a vibrant and youthful aura, her eyes filled with innocence and wisdom.
Li Hao's hazy memories seemed to surface and become clearer at that moment.
The face with only bright eyes seemed to pierce through the mist and appear before him.
Li Hao gazed at it for a moment and realized that the young girl in the painting was his mother when she was young.
Li Hao suddenly felt a sense of connection. He called the people Ji Yunyue and the others had left behind and asked them to prepare paper and ink for him.
(End of Chapter)
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