Chapter 33: Soul Inheritance

"That monkey..." Li Hao broke open a Crispy Delight Pastry, slowly savoring each bite as he recounted the next part of the tale to the three eager little listeners. In the pavilion, Zhao Bo and Li Fu watched from afar, exchanging helpless smiles.

Young Master must’ve picked up these stories from some old scroll or folk tale book. If only he’d channel even half this passion into Body Cultivation... he’d surely become something great one day.

Still, after watching Li Hao’s carefree ways for so long, they’d grown used to it. Let things unfold naturally—just as Second Master once said: The Li family doesn’t lack a Body Cultivation powerhouse. But this child… he might just be missing a happy childhood. Without parents by his side, this little joy might be all he has.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the story ended. Li Hao gently shooed the three children away, giving the most rambunctious one—Li Yun—a final warning:

"Go back and behave. Don’t get your mother’s wrath again."

Earlier, when he’d heard about the Monkey King’s rebellion in Heaven, Li Yun had been ecstatic. So young, yet already showing rebellious spirit—arguing with his mother over switching from sword to staff, only to later admit, under his mother’s strict guidance, that swordplay truly suited him better.

"Yeah," Li Yun mumbled, face turning red, then darted off like a startled rabbit.

"Big brother Hao," whispered Li Zhi Ning, her voice soft and sweet. "I’ll come see you tomorrow."

"Big brother…" Li Yuanzhao, the chubby little one, stammered, then fell silent, eyes downcast.

"Go on, go on!" Li Hao waved them all away with a playful sigh.

Once the children had vanished into the distance, Li Hao finally settled into quiet focus, returning to his painting. After gathering dozens of Painting Dao Experience points, moonlight began to spill across the sky.

After sharing dinner with Li Fu and Zhao Bo, he returned to his room and pulled out a martial arts treatise he’d taken from the Pavilion of Listening to Rain. It wasn’t a combat scripture—rather, a comprehensive guide to the various realms of cultivation.

"Continuation of Soul Realm—literally, Inherit the Soul."

"For ordinary cultivators without backing, the standard path is to join a Martial Temple. If blessed by a Heroic Soul’s favor, one may inherit its essence."

"Alternatively, enlist in the army—there, one may venerate the Souls of Fallen Warriors from Emperor Yu’s era, receiving a fragment of their Heroic Soul’s will."

"Or, join a Sacred Mountain sect, where masters and clan sects alike preserve ancestral Heroic Souls..."

Li Hao read silently, his eyes flickering with inner light.

He summoned his Character Panel.

---

【Name: Li Hao】

【Age: 8】

【Cultivation Level: Ten-Heavy Heavenly Circuit Stage】

【Sword Dao: 3rd Level (Flying Segment) (Hidden Bow)】

【Sword Technique: Sea Without Horizon · Tidal Wave (Perfection), Snowfall Sword Art (True State)】

【Body Dao: 5th Level (Ten Thousand Phenomena) (Tiger Press)】

【Body Technique: Stone Skin Thousand Smelts (True State), Thousand Dragon Sacred Body 4th Level (Jiao Body Beginner), Tai Chu 3rd Level (Spiritual Abyss Body Perfection), Dragon Cicada Vacuum Body 4th Level (Dragon Soul Body Beginner)...】

【Yi Dao: 3rd Level】

【Control Technique: Heavenly Pole Celestial Circuit Scripture (Perfection), Hundred Battles Celestial Circuit Scripture (Perfection), Dragon River Divine Meridian (Perfection), Nine Revolutions Star Scripture (Perfection)...】

【Go Art: 4th Level (28/10,000)】

【Fishing Dao: 2nd Level (97/1,000)】

【Painting Dao: 2nd Level (231/1,000)】

【Culinary Dao: 2nd Level (736/1,000)】

【Go Manuscript Collection: Ten Thousand Phenomena, Tiger Press, Flying Segment, Hidden Bow】

【Fishing Scroll Compendium Collection: None】

【Masterpiece Painting Compendium Collection: Thousand Mountains Bird Flight Painting, Snow Mountain Spirit Fox Painting, Qilin Steed Painting】

【Culinary Recipe Collection: None】

【Mind State: Chess Heart (Embedded)】

【Art Skill Points: 0】

---

The panel had grown noticeably longer than before. Though Li Hao had omitted dozens of Body Cultivation combat scriptures, the list remained dense and sprawling.

The six Art Skill Points earned from Painting, Cooking, and Fishing had all been spent. His Body Dao had ascended from Level 3 to Level 5. And just like with Go Art, the jump from Level 3 to Level 4 had presented a threshold—one that required true heart to pass.

Now, thanks to the Character Panel’s prompt, that refined Chess Heart—once a mere mental state—could now be Embedded into another cultivation path.

He did so, transferring it into Body Dao. The gate opened smoothly. Yet, despite the success, his fondness for Chess Skill remained unchanged—no increase, no decrease.

Meanwhile, his affection for Body Dao didn’t grow either. It stayed exactly as it was: neutral, natural.

The Character Panel could transfer Mind States, but it couldn’t transfer emotional resonance.

Then came the real revelation: when Body Dao reached Level 4, the lower-tier cultivation techniques he’d once used began to undergo a strange transformation. Built upon their original foundations, they evolved into higher-tier combat scriptures.

Stone Skin Hundred Smelts became Stone Skin Thousand Smelts.

Wild Ox Strength evolved into Ox Demon Ferocity.

Each enhanced technique amplified the body’s power, triggering massive physical upgrades.

Every other lower-tier combat scripture followed suit—each one transforming, refining, and strengthening the flesh. The result? His raw physical strength now reached 80,000 jin—a staggering force.

Even his top-tier Body Cultivation techniques, though not changing in rank, had all advanced to their fourth layer.

But here, a new problem emerged.

Simply relying on celestial energy was no longer enough. Even with Body Dao at Level 5, the external requirements of these ultimate techniques remained unmet.

For example: to advance Thousand Dragon Sacred Body to its fourth layer, one must personally slay a Jiao Dragon, capture its soul, refine it, and bind the serpent spirit within—only then can one break through the celestial barrier and enter the Continuation of Soul Realm.

Dragon Cicada Vacuum Body faced the same obstacle: the fourth layer, Dragon Soul Body, required a drop of True Dragon Essence Blood.

Without fulfilling these external conditions, no matter how deep his understanding of the technique, or how many insights he gained, it would be like a skilled cook with no ingredients—powerless to act.

But for Li Hao, these requirements weren’t insurmountable.

All he needed was to ask.

Li Moxiu could resolve them in an instant.

Still, the inheritance methods for these two techniques were considered unconventional paths—side roads, not the mainstream. Even if successful, they’d place him only in the mid-tier of the Continuation of Soul Realm.

Because in this realm, one’s strength ultimately depended on the power of the inherited Heroic Soul.

Thus, major powers maintained their edge—far ahead of ordinary cultivators.

A master from the Sacred Mountain, for instance, could have a direct disciple inherit from the Ancestral Heroic Soul Pavilion. If their Qi circulation was strong, and the soul’s favor granted, they could ascend instantly—the highest path of all.

After all, those who could pass down Heroic Souls were ancient titans—beings of the Four Foundations Realm, capable of defying fate itself. Such power was rare even among Emperor Yu’s era.

A single fragment of their soul’s legacy was like a key to a treasure vault, unlocking boundless benefits.

But for those without such lineage?

Unless they were unusually gifted, the only viable path was to join a Martial Temple and inherit a Heroic Soul.

And the Heroic Souls within Martial Temples?

They were the legends of old—some strong, some weak. No two alike. It came down to whether the inheritor’s potential and character resonated with any of them.

The last option?

Spirit Beasts—Jiao Dragons, mountain spirits, ghostly demons.

They didn’t hold back on offering souls. But their spirit essence was too faint, their inheritance too limited.

Born into the Li family, Li Hao had countless choices. And the best?

Enter the Li Clan Ancestral Hall.

There, the spirits of every generation of ancestors were enshrined—from the founding Divine General who helped Emperor Yu conquer the heavens, down to the dozens of generations since. Among them were elite warriors beyond count.

And because of bloodline connection, inheritance was easier, more natural. This was one of the reasons why martial families endured across centuries.

What is heritage, if not the ability to pass down strength through generations?

Once he inherited there, and then advanced the two supreme Body Cultivation techniques—capturing the Jiao Dragon’s soul, and securing True Dragon Essence Blood—it would merely strengthen him. It wouldn’t grant him entry into the realm itself. The gap would remain, but now, he’d be ready to close it.

Still, before all that, Li Hao intended to further enrich his foundation.

His Yi Dao—just as he’d expected—was the core of true cultivation. The Circulation Technique, Meridian Opening, Soul Control in the Continuation of Soul Realm, even the later stages of Divine Travel Realm—all would depend on it.

With Yi Dao at Level 3, he had successfully mastered both of the Li family’s supreme Circulation Techniques—and perfected them.

Most others, even prodigies, dared only one. Because each technique, when cultivated, was like rebuilding the Ten-Heavy Heavenly Circuit Stage from scratch.

But with the insight of Yi Dao Level 3, Li Hao achieved it effortlessly—just a few rehearsals, and it was done.

Yet here was the astonishing part:

The two elite circulation scriptures differed slightly from the ones embedded within his Body Cultivation techniques.

Their paths overlapped less. Their patterns intersected wildly.

And the result?

His Circulating Qi circuit skyrocketed—from 143 circuits to a single, continuous flow of 248 circuits.

Yes. Two hundred and forty-eight.

An absurdly high number.

Even the imperial family’s All-Heavens Celestial Circuit Scripture, famed for its 168 circuits, fell 80 circuits short.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end