Chapter 241: How Did You Raise Him
Chapter 241: How Did You Raise Him
“My son... is a noble prodigy?”
Hearing Ji Yunyu's words, Li Tiangang was momentarily stunned, not sure what he meant.
That child, has become a Ji Family prodigy?
“That’s right. Your son brought back the Ji Family’s War God Spirit and, to see his mother, challenged and defeated all the Ji Family prodigies. His talent is truly unparalleled in history!”
Ji Yunyu said, his eyes glowing with admiration when he mentioned Li Hao.
The awe-inspiring battle on Heavenly Dao a few days ago was still fresh in his mind.
The other Ji Family members nearby also showed reverence when they heard Ji Yunyu talk about that young man.
Defeating all the prodigies—four simple words, but the difficulty was akin to climbing to the heavens. And that young man had accomplished it, forging an invincible legend with Three Immortalities!
“Challenged all the Ji Family prodigies?”
Li Tiangang's heart trembled.
He had long heard from his wife about how outstanding the Ji Family prodigies were, each a dragon among men, far surpassing those from the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. Any one of them could be as remarkable as his ninth brother, or even more so.
“Then, did he not offend any of you?”
Li Tiangang cautiously asked.
Defeating all the prodigies of a clan was a great humiliation. If not for the smile on Ji Yunyu's face, he would have thought Li Hao had already been killed in humiliation by the Ji Family.
“Ha ha, you worry too much. Your son is gentle and polite, not arrogant or rash. How could he offend us?”
Ji Yunyu laughed. “Moreover, it’s normal for a young man to have some spirit and temperament. Which prodigy isn’t young and spirited? If he didn’t have unique charm, he wouldn’t be called a prodigy—just a lucky inheritor of his parents' talent.”
Li Tiangang let out a sigh of relief and echoed, “As you say, Senior.”
“Is this your only son?” Ji Yunyu asked with a smile.
Li Tiangang nodded quickly, “Yes, my only son.”
“You’ve raised him well.” Ji Yunyu praised with a smile.
Li Tiangang was taken aback, his cheeks flushing slightly as he dared not meet the other man’s gaze.
Raising him?
Before the child left home, Second Uncle and Elder Sister-in-Law had told him about Li Hao’s situation in the Li Family over the years.
Apart from food and drink, the child had hardly used any of the Li Family’s cultivation resources, and Li Tiangang and his wife had never spent time with him. How could they talk about raising him?
“We’ve arrived. This is the Ji Family.”
Ji Yunyu said.
Li Tiangang looked up and saw the imposing mountain gate and the long, winding steps.
The mountain gate looked like it was forged from the bodies of a cluster of dragons, exuding an intimidating presence.
Li Tiangang’s eyes narrowed, immediately sensing the terrifying legacy of this ancient clan, which was even more magnificent and powerful than their Divine General Manor.
News of Ji Leping’s father’s arrival had already reached the Ji Family. As Li Tiangang followed Ji Yunyu up the mountain, many people gathered along the way, gazing from a distance at the father of the Dao Seed.
Since Li Hao defeated all the prodigies and secured the Dao Seed, winning the Sage Mark, and creating a series of sensational events a few days ago, almost everyone in the Ji Family had been talking about this strongest prodigy.
When discussing Li Hao, it was inevitable to mention his mixed bloodline.
People speculated widely, showing great curiosity about Li Hao’s paternal family.
Some even guessed that Li Hao’s mother might have secretly married into a hidden ancient noble family beyond the Great Wasteland, and the combination of two powerful bloodlines had produced such a prodigious talent.
“Is that Ji Leping’s father?”
“Fourth Establishment Realm, Fate Reversal Realm aura. His cultivation is decent, but not as powerful as I imagined.”
“I heard he’s from a dynasty outside the Great Wasteland Sky, the Jiang Family. The energy there is scarce, so reaching this level might already be considered a sign of great talent.”
On the mountain path, many Ji Family members watched from a distance, whispering to each other.
These conversations inevitably reached Li Tiangang’s ears. He suddenly felt the weight of their attention, as the Ji Family members seemed to be observing him because of Li Hao.
Thinking about what Ji Yunyu had said, that Li Hao had defeated all the Ji Family prodigies, Li Tiangang couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.
He had never doubted Li Hao’s talent, but he hadn’t expected that, even in this ancient clan, Li Hao could still lead the way and defeat all his peers.
When they reached the mountain’s interior, Ji Yunyu dismissed the others who had accompanied him to intimidate the Qin Family. He only led a few people, including Li Tiangang, to continue toward the Saint Mountain Peak.
“Senior, is my son and Qing Qing ahead?”
As they continued climbing, Li Tiangang's heart grew increasingly uneasy.
Ji Yunyu said, “Qing Qing is imprisoned on Heavenly Prison Island for her offenses, but your son has redeemed her, becoming a Dao Seed. This allows her to be pardoned, and you will see them soon.”
Li Tiangang was stunned. That child had already cleared his mother's name?
Suddenly, the scene from that day at the Divine General Manor flashed through his mind, when he had slapped the boy in anger.
His heart clenched painfully.
Could he still make amends?
He gritted his teeth, remaining silent but making a silent resolve. No matter how the boy blamed or questioned him, he would accept it, as long as the boy could forgive him.
When they finally reached the peak of the Saint Mountain, many of the Ji Family's high-ranking members and elders were already waiting.
Upon hearing that Ji Leping's father had arrived, they had all rushed to give a grand welcome.
In the past, if a man who had married into the Ji Family dared to show up, he would have been executed on the spot. But now, with his son being a prodigy like Ji Leping, they had to treat him with respect.
"These are the elders of our Ji Family", Ji Yunyu said, seeing the elders come forward to greet them. Some of them were from the Yun generation, but he didn't show any favoritism, introducing them all with a smile.
After all, family matters should not be aired in public. On this first meeting with Qing Qing's husband, it was important to present a harmonious face for the Ji Family.
Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly as he saw these elders. Although most of them concealed their auras, he could still sense that many were of the same level as his Second Uncle, and a few even exuded an overwhelming aura, likely reaching the Great Peace Dao Realm!
In the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, these were masters comparable to Buddhist patriarchs, and several of them were present here.
"Greetings, seniors."
Li Tiangang bowed respectfully.
The elders did not put on airs but quickly returned the greeting with polite conversation.
Li Tiangang was somewhat surprised by their courteous reception, feeling almost overwhelmed by the warmth.
His wife had told him about the Ji Family's strict clan rules and how he would face severe attacks and anger upon arrival. But what he encountered now felt surreal.
The stories he heard along the way and the casual mentions of Ji Leping by these elders made Li Tiangang realize that it was all because of that child.
His arrival had smoothed everything over, resolving all the troubles. Even the Ji Family, which he had dared not approach, had been won over by that child, who had redeemed Qing Qing and earned his recognition!
Amidst the polite chatter, Li Tiangang's emotions grew increasingly complex, hard to describe.
His father, Li Tianzong's words echoed in his mind.
That child is extremely talented.
If I don't bring him back, I'll die with regret!
Now, even these Ji Family elders, who were all powerful figures, spoke highly of the child.
Li Tiangang's heart was filled with guilt and confusion.
Had he really made a grave mistake?
"You are Ji Leping's father?"
A young voice came from the crowd.
Li Tiangang looked up and saw a group of young figures standing nearby, with one person at the forefront. It was a young man of extraordinary bearing, with a refined and ethereal presence, as if he transcended the mundane world.
What shook Li Tiangang was that the young man looked to be only twenty-six or twenty-seven, yet his concealed aura was no less formidable than Ji Yunyu's, who had led him up the mountain.
Is he in the Great Peace Dao Realm?
"Who are you?"
Li Tiangang asked cautiously.
"He is our Ji Family's former strongest prodigy, Ji Xuanshen!" an elder said, smiling as he introduced Ji Xuanshen and the other prodigies. "He is twenty-six years old and already in the Great Peace Dao Realm. He has the potential to become our Ji Family's War God. The others behind him are also prodigies of our Ji Family."
The elder then turned to Li Tiangang and said with a smile, "But they were all defeated by your son."
When Li Tiangang heard the young man's age and cultivation, he was already deeply shaken. But when he heard the elder's last words, his pupils dilated, and his face showed shock.
These are all Ji Family prodigies?
Li Hao defeated all of them?!
He had assumed that although Li Hao was strong, the Ji Family prodigies he defeated were likely only in the Fate Reversal Realm or at most the Ultimate Mastery Realm. But now, this young man was actually in the Great Peace Dao Realm!
Such a prodigy, and he was defeated by that boy?
"Perhaps your son has recently made a breakthrough in cultivation. It seems you don't fully understand his strength."
An elder, seeing Li Tiangang's stunned expression, couldn't help but joke with a smile.
The words were casual, but they felt like a heavy hammer striking Li Tiangang's heart, making his ears ring.
Not fully understand...
It seemed that was the case. If not for the boy exposing himself, Li Tiangang might not have truly known the extent of his cultivation in Qingzhou and Liangzhou.
Li Tiangang's eyes were complex, and he remained silent. His blood seemed to boil, and his heart was filled with a mix of complicated and painful emotions. He longed to see Li Hao immediately.
Ji Xuanshen sized up the middle-aged man, his eyes calm, and said, "I came here to understand how you cultivated him and what resources and cultivation techniques you provided."
Seeing the young man's inquiry, Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly. If it weren't for the other's calm and emotionless demeanor, he would have suspected that the other was intentionally mocking him.
He was at a loss for words.
Ji Xuanshen, noticing his silence, frowned slightly and said, "It's normal if you can't speak about these things. But I want to ask, is your ancestor a sage, or do you have some other lineage? Otherwise, how could he defeat me with the Three Eternities Realm?"
"Three Eternities Realm..."
Li Tiangang doubted his ears again. He thought the boy had condensed his Dao Heart and broken through to the Fourth Establishment Realm during his time in the Great Wasteland Sky. But to think he had defeated this Ji Family prodigy at the Three Eternities Realm, who was in the Great Peace Dao Realm?!
"Hmm?"
Ji Xuanshen gazed at him, a hint of confusion in his eyes. This man seemed shocked by everything he said, as if they were talking about someone else, someone he barely knew.
But didn't Elder Yun say that this man was the young man's father?
He was puzzled. As a Ji Family prodigy, he was used to being unrestrained and asked directly, "Are you really his father?"
Li Tiangang came to his senses. Hearing these words and seeing the doubt in the other's eyes, he felt a burning sensation on his face, extremely uncomfortable. He lowered his head and said, "The boy has grown too fast, and there are some things I don't fully understand. But I am indeed his father."
Ji Xuanshen looked at him for a moment, thinking that reaching the Fourth Establishment Realm was no easy feat. It was impossible for someone to come to the Ji Family and pretend to be someone else just to die. He nodded, not saying more, but a hint of regret appeared in his eyes.
It seemed that the young man's cultivation was unknown even to his father. Could it really be that his talent was that exceptional?
He was unwilling to admit it, as it would be a huge blow to them, the prodigies. To think that talent alone could surpass them, who had been nurtured with the Ji Family's resources, would mean that in terms of talent, they were completely outclassed.
"Seniors, may I ask where my son is now?"
Seeing the young man step back and stop questioning, Li Tiangang felt a weight lifted from his heart, a sense of relief. He immediately asked the surrounding elders, his heart filled with an intense desire to see Li Hao as soon as possible.
"That Le Ping insists on personally fetching his mother. He has already gone to Heavenly Prison Island."
In the crowd, Ji Yunqing approached and said to Li Tiangang with a gentle tone.
Li Tiangang's expression changed. Thinking of Li Hao and Qing Qing, who hadn't seen each other for over a decade, and how Li Hao had chosen to take his mother's surname rather than his own, he felt a pang of guilt. He had at least returned to the Li Family and spent some time with Li Hao during the First Rank period.
But thinking back to that time, and the angry slap, his expression darkened. He quickly said, "I will go as well. Senior, could you tell me where Heavenly Prison Island is?"
"That place is dangerous. It's best you wait here", Ji Yunqing smiled, trying to reassure him.
Li Tiangang shook his head, then bowed deeply, his eyes serious and pleading, "Please, Senior, allow me to see them. I feel guilty towards them. I should have come to the Ji Family to take responsibility, not leave it to a child. Please let me do something for them!"
Everyone was taken aback, exchanging glances.
Seeing his earnest plea, Ji Yunqing thought for a moment and said, "Very well. Now that the Wasteland Sea has calmed, it would be good for your family to reunite and return together, in a harmonious manner."
Hearing the word "harmonious", a warm and peaceful scene flashed through Li Tiangang's mind—a family of three laughing together.
He felt an indescribable excitement, yearning to see Li Hao and ask for his forgiveness.
After decades of battles in Yanbei, such a scene had always been his hope.
Now, with the armor laid down and the clamor of the border pass far behind, he longed for this scene—his wife sitting peacefully in the courtyard, his son fulfilling his filial duties before him.
(End of Chapter)
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