Chapter 47: The Eight Stages of the Martial Dao

When Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao returned to the foot of the mountain, the square below was already aglow with lanterns. Though night had fallen, the scene remained vibrant and bustling, the crowds showing no sign of thinning.

Li Hao couldn’t help but think of the night markets from his previous life. He inhaled deeply, and carried on the crisp evening breeze was the savory aroma of charcoal-grilled meat. His appetite flared instantly.

“Let’s go find something to eat.”

On the Gate Ascension Stair, youths from all across the realms—prodigies from noble families—rushed toward the summit, each eager to claim their official title.

Yet at the peak, a young figure leapt down with a sudden burst of motion, hurtling straight into the sea of people below, into the heart of the Secular Prosperity.

…

Not long after, relying on his own culinary instincts, Li Hao expertly picked out some delicious treats from the sea of stalls. He packed everything up carefully. Both he and Li Yuanzhao ended up with full arms, eating as they walked toward the carriage, drawing curious glances from passersby.

“What’s that smell?”

Inside the carriage, Li Yun—already impatient and restless—sniffed the air and froze for a moment. He hastily pulled back the curtain.

The scent hit him like a wave—rich, smoky, mouthwatering. And there they were: Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao, cheeks glistening with grease, devouring their food with obvious delight.

“Fu Bo, you’ve waited long enough. Here.”

“Ming Bo, this one’s for you. Enough?”

Li Hao smiled, handing out portions generously—everyone got a share. Of course, he didn’t forget Qingzhi, his devoted maid, who received her own treat.

With the rest of the bags in hand, he stepped into the carriage.

The interior was lit by oil lamps, casting warm golden light across the faces of the siblings. Their eyes flickered toward Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao, drawn by the tantalizing scent. Their expressions were slightly flushed, their mouths watering in quiet anticipation.

“I thought you’d gone back already,” Li Yuanzhao said, sitting down and taking a bite of roasted meat. Then, remembering something, she reached into her arms and passed two more bags to Li Zhi Ning. “Zhi Ning, want some?”

Li Zhi Ning hesitated, about to refuse—but the fragrance wafting from the bag made her pause.

At the same time, she caught sight of her brother’s throat, subtly twitching as he swallowed. She glanced at him, then quietly accepted the bag.

“Thank you, Yuanzhao Ge.”

“If you’d left earlier, you’d have missed out on this,” Li Yuanzhao said with a grin.

Li Zhi Ning said nothing. She glanced at the figure beside her—Li Hao—only to find he hadn’t once looked in their direction. Her eyes dimmed slightly, a faint trace of melancholy flickering beneath the surface.

But she didn’t dwell on it. She opened the bag and handed one to Li Yun.

“Brother.”

“I’m not eating,” Li Yun snapped, turning away with a frown. “Street vendor food—no idea if it’s even clean. Filthy.”

“Not washed? Doesn’t mean it’ll kill you,” Li Yuanzhao shot back, insulted.

“Hey!” Li Yun glared, but then realized he had no real ground to stand on. He grunted, turned his head sharply, and leaned out the carriage curtain, pretending the night view was suddenly fascinating.

Li Zhi Ning sighed inwardly. She knew her brother couldn’t bring himself to admit he was tempted. But the scent kept drawing her in. She picked up a piece and took a small bite—her eyes immediately brightened.

This flavor… it was even better than the delicacies they’d eaten at home.

“Ming Bo, aren’t we leaving?” Li Yun called from the front, voice muffled through the curtain.

Ming Bo had a piece of grilled meat still in his mouth. He quickly grabbed the reins, urged the Jiao Shi into motion, and turned the carriage back toward the estate.

…

Back at the manor, Li Yun and the others parted ways with Li Hao.

The three returned to their respective homes, each to their own family.

In the Frost Snow Courtyard, Fifth Lady Gao Qingqing sat in the main hall, embroidering. The sudden burst of footsteps from a servant girl nearly made her prick her finger. She stood up hastily, dropping her needlework, and rushed to the courtyard gate.

There, she saw a boy and a girl approaching, accompanied by Li Ming.

“How did it go? Everything go smoothly?” Gao Qingqing asked, her voice laced with eagerness.

Li Ming stood quietly by, smiling. Li Zhi Ning nodded. “Yes, Brother and I both passed into the Class A Academy.”

“Both of you… in a single day?” Gao Qingqing’s face lit up with surprise. She reached out and kissed her son’s forehead.

Li Yun flushed slightly, pulling away with a grumble. “Don’t need to show off,” he muttered, walking stiffly toward the main hall.

Gao Qingqing didn’t mind. She kissed her daughter’s forehead too, then took her hand and led her back inside, calling out to the House Steward: “Quickly, reheat the Evening Meal!”

Li Zhi Ning shook her head. “Just heat Brother’s portion. I’ve already eaten.”

“What did you eat?” Gao Qingqing asked, surprised.

“Street food from the vendors. It was amazing.”

“Hmph. Don’t get sick later,” Li Yun muttered from ahead, unimpressed.

Gao Qingqing chuckled, pulling her daughter down beside her. They chatted, reliving the day’s events.

“My child. Half a day to master it? Not bad at all.”

“And he entered the Class A Academy too?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

She nodded slowly. “He’s exceptionally bright. Too bad he chose the Body Cultivation path. His ceiling is too low. Otherwise, he might have been the true dragon of your generation.”

Li Zhi Ning thought of that calm, indifferent face—the one who’d stood silently through it all. She’d heard this sentiment from her mother countless times before.

And deep inside, a quiet pang of regret stirred.

“Hmph. What’s so impressive about that? If Sister were here, she could’ve done it in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense,” Li Yun scoffed from across the room.

The mention of his elder sister stirred a storm within him—envy, admiration, pride, and a touch of bitterness, all tangled together.

Gao Qingqing smiled gently. “Your sister is clever, yes. But you’re not far behind. You’re all my greatest pride.”

Li Yun’s stern expression softened slightly. As the House Steward brought out the reheated Evening Meal, he took a bite. His face slowly relaxed, and a genuine smile spread across his features.

…

In the Mountain and River Courtyard, Li Hao returned to his residence with Li Fu and Qingzhi.

Moonlight bathed the courtyard in silver. The House Steward Zhao Bo hurried out in his outer robe, exclaiming, “Young Master, you’re back! Was it successful? Let me heat your Evening Meal.”

“No need, Zhao Bo. I ate already,” Li Hao said with a smile. “Didn’t bring you any, worried the food might cool on the way.”

“Such thoughtfulness,” Zhao Bo replied, smiling. He knew Li Hao wasn’t lying—the grease still clung faintly to his lips.

Li Fu, who had waited outside the carriage earlier, hadn’t had a chance to speak. Now, he couldn’t restrain himself.

“How was today’s sensation?”

Li Hao paused, then answered, “The food was great.”

Li Fu stared blankly. That’s not what I meant.

He pressed further. When he learned Li Hao had entered the Class A Academy, both Li Fu and Qingzhi exchanged wide-eyed looks of delight.

…

At Tan Palace Academy, the “Yue Xianmen” Trial had concluded.

Many young aspirants who’d arrived too late stood gazing up at the Gate Ascension Stair, sighing in regret. Some tried to use connections, hoping to squeeze in a few extra spots—but the answer was firm: the quota was full.

A total of 825 students.

Some asked why they couldn’t admit more. They offered exorbitant tuition fees.

But the response was simple:

There were only 825 seats available.

Thus, countless noble heirs sighed, turned, and left.

The grand feast that had drawn the entire Qingzhou region slowly faded into silence.

Yet on the mountain’s peak, with the official start of term, the atmosphere burst into life.

Four halls stood: A, B, C, and D.

Class A Academy had only fifty seats.

Class B Courtyard: two hundred.

Class C and D followed—details too numerous to list.

Within each hall, besides the new students, a few returning students lingered—those who’d failed to graduate the previous year.

Now, in Class A Academy, Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao sat side by side in the second row. All the new students had arrived.

Ahead, Li Hao watched Shen Yunqing—flanked by two returning students from Class A—carry in a stack of Tan Palace Academy uniforms, distributing them one by one. From now on, they’d wear identical attire.

It reminded Li Hao of his past life—back when he’d been in middle or high school.

He glanced around. The faces around him were young, barely more than children. A wistful smile tugged at his lips. A pang of nostalgia.

Once the uniforms were handed out, Shen Yunqing explained the academy’s basic rules: no private combat, no disrespect toward ancestors, no bullying, and so on.

After she stepped away, a tall, slender woman entered—the kind whose waist seemed to sway like a willow in the wind.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, with ink-black hair, delicate features, and a gaze like moonlight on a snow-capped peak.

She introduced herself as Su Yehua—Dean of Class A Academy, and First Teaching Master.

The woman who’d just left—Shen Yunqing—was merely the instructor for the Movement Technique class.

This first lesson was to be taught by Su Yehua herself.

Li Hao immediately noticed the change. The moment she entered, the once noisy hall fell silent. The boys and girls who’d been chatting casually now sat upright, their eyes fixed on her.

“Martial Path has eight stages,” Su Yehua said, standing before them. Her eyebrows, shaped like willow leaves, carried a cool, clear qi—but her lips curled into a gentle, warm smile.

“The first four are: Tongli (Unifying Strength), Zhou Tian (Circulating Qi), Soul Inheritance, and Shen You (Spirit Travel).”

“Then come the final four: Fifteen Li, Tianren, Three Immortalities, and Four Foundations.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end