Chapter 8: Force Mastery
Chapter 8: Force Mastery
This year, the military situation on the Yanbei border grew increasingly dire. Battle reports poured in, and shortages of weapons and supplies became a pressing issue. King Pingcheng's collusion with the Great Demon revealed another hidden force, further complicating and intensifying the conflict.
The Divine General Manor buzzed with discussions, all worrying about the front lines.
Rumors spread that the imperial court was in constant turmoil over the matter, with numerous proposals being debated daily.
However, the snowstorm that enveloped the imperial court, though it drifted into the Mountain and River Courtyard, did not touch the two young figures there.
At the age of five, Li Hao underwent his Bone Measurement.
"Feeble bones, no unusual color, no unusual light, no condensed marrow..."
The old Taoist who conducted Li Hao's Bone Measurement was invited from Qingqiu Mountain. With his crane-like white hair and youthful face, he scrutinized the young boy with a look of surprise and doubt. If it weren't for the presence of the First Lady of the Li family, he might have suspected that this was a case of a changeling, a common intrigue among noble families.
"Bone Quality: lowest rank. War Body unclassified, just the normal bones of an ordinary child."
The old Taoist finally gave his Bone Measurement result.
Upon hearing this, the faces of Lady He Jianlan and the other ladies darkened. The Fifth Lady couldn't help but interject, "You must be mistaken, Hao'er... How could he possibly have such poor potential?"
The other ladies remained silent. This old Taoist was a familiar face at the Divine General Manor, having measured the bones of children from all the courtyards. He had never been wrong.
Moreover, Li Hao's previous Foundation Building and Blood Dissolution attempts had both failed, so they were somewhat prepared for this outcome. Now, seeing the result, it seemed almost as expected.
Li Hao quietly observed the expressions of those present. The Second Lady was there as well, her face equally sorrowful, perhaps even more so.
But how many of them genuinely felt sorry for him, he couldn't tell.
"Brother Hao."
Bian Ruxue tugged at Li Hao's sleeve, her face filled with anxiety.
Though she didn't understand what was happening, she could sense that Li Hao had lost something.
Li Hao looked at the pitiful little girl and couldn't help but smile.
He pinched her soft, chubby cheeks. He should be the one feeling sad, but this little girl would likely surprise everyone when she underwent her Bone Measurement in a couple of months.
The old Taoist left, and the crowd dispersed.
Like the receding tide, the Mountain and River Courtyard returned to its usual calm, leaving only the two young figures and Lin Haixia, who stood nearby.
That night, the long-abstinent officer drank alone in the Mountain and River Courtyard.
Smelling the alcohol, Li Hao's curiosity was piqued. He found a small jade cup and, holding the bottle, was about to pour himself a drink when the half-drunk Lin Haixia glared at him and snatched the bottle away, scolding him harshly, "You're really daring, drinking alcohol!"
"I'm just keeping you company", Li Hao said with a grin.
"What do you know? Drinking is for adults", Lin Haixia grumbled.
"Drinking alone is so lonely. It's better to have company", Li Hao tried to grab the bottle again, but the officer raised his hand, and Li Hao couldn't reach it.
Lin Haixia glared at Li Hao, intending to scold him, but upon hearing his words, he fell silent.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered that this little boy had been alone ever since his parents left after the Hundred Day Feast.
Yes, he must want someone to keep him company, just like how Xue'er cried all the way to the Divine General Manor when her father wasn't around...
He glanced at the vast and beautiful Mountain and River Courtyard. No matter how beautiful the scenery, it couldn't replace the companionship of his parents.
Lin Haixia said nothing, took another few swigs of alcohol, and then looked at Li Hao, who still wore a relaxed smile. He suddenly realized that in the two years he had been here, he had never seen this little boy cry.
"Hey."
Perhaps the alcohol had loosened his tongue, and Lin Haixia no longer addressed Li Hao as "young master." In his eyes, this was just a little kid.
"Do you miss your parents?"
Li Hao was taken aback by the question.
Immediately, the image of the little girl who used to hold him and worry aloud by the window came to mind.
Five years had passed, and he had long forgotten the warmth of that embrace, but the sorrow in her eyes had left a deep imprint on his heart.
"I do", Li Hao looked up at the starry night sky and said softly, "The war in Yanbei must be tough. I hope they're safe."
Lin Haixia was stunned.
He had expected the child to be sad or to have forgotten his parents, given that he had been so young when they left. But this child not only remembered them but also worried about the safety of the commander and others.
For a moment, Lin Haixia felt a sharp pain in his heart, a mix of sympathy and affection.
He rubbed his eyes and took another deep swig of alcohol.
"Uncle Lin, are you crying?"
"Nonsense, it's just the alcohol. What do you know!"
The night air grew cold.
Lin Haixia was drunk.
The drunk Lin Haixia recited battle poems in the courtyard, waving his fists, and eventually collapsed like a pile of mud.
Li Hao instructed the servant to carry him back to his room to sleep, so he wouldn't be eaten by mosquitoes.
Two months later.
It was time for Bian Ruxue's Bone Measurement.
The same old Daoist from Qingqiu Mountain performed the Bone Measurement for Bian Ruxue in the same courtyard, at the same spot.
In no time, the old Daoist's eyes widened, and he looked at the little girl with excitement, laughing loudly, "Bones as strong as gold, iron, divine jade—divine bones indeed! Seven-colored dark light, full and patterned bone marrow—this is the supreme grade, Ninth-Rank War Body! Haha, no wonder you are a child from the Divine General Manor, you truly don't disappoint. The Heaven and Earth List will soon have a new addition!"
As he said this, he glanced down and saw Li Hao standing nearby, his smile freezing.
He then coughed awkwardly.
Phew, he almost forgot about this record-breaking little guy from the Divine General Manor.
This time, only He Jianlan was present; the other ladies from the manor were not interested in Li Hao's betrothed and did not come.
Hearing the old Daoist's words, He Jianlan and Lin Haixia both smiled.
Then, they both glanced at Li Hao.
Although Li Hao lacked Martial Dao aptitude, having a wife with such extraordinary potential would provide him with a reliable future.
"Wow, you're amazing, little girl."
Li Hao smiled and pinched the dazed little face of Bian Ruxue, who still looked bewildered, clearly not understanding what was happening.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Bian Ruxue didn't look happy but rather pouted slightly.
At that moment, all she could think was that if the old grandpa had treated Brother Hao the same way, it would have been better.
He Jianlan saw the old Daoist off, and in the courtyard, Lin Haixia began to teach Bian Ruxue about the Martial Dao.
The little girl was already five years old and starting to understand things, so it was time to teach her some knowledge.
A Ninth-Rank War Body could break through realms as easily as eating and drinking. Once she started cultivation, she would likely break the first realm within a year.
Two realms within three years.
And within ten years, she would reach the peak of the Third Immortalities.
This was the terror of a Ninth-Rank War Body!
The Martial Dao's Three Immortalities were Force Mastery, Circulating Heaven, and Soul Continuation.
Each realm had ten levels.
The Fourth Realm was Divine Roaming.
Lin Haixia was a Fourth Realm expert.
And he was already in his forties.
Consider this: in ten years, Bian Ruxue would only be sixteen.
A sixteen-year-old Soul Continuation tenth-level expert would be a luminous and brilliant presence, capable of serving as a city guardian, a true powerhouse.
For an ordinary Martial Artist, reaching Circulating Heaven by sixteen would be quite remarkable, allowing them to join a prestigious mountain sect.
...
...
With the final move, the chess game was over.
Li Hao won.
Experience points +2.
Li Hao yawned, glanced out the window, and saw the little girl practicing sword techniques with Lin Haixia. Her posture was wobbly and adorable.
He withdrew his gaze, dismissed the servant who had been playing chess with him, and then summoned the interface.
A year had passed, and his Chess Dao experience was finally full.
He gained another Art Skill Point.
Without hesitation, Li Hao allocated the point to Flesh Dao.
Soon, a vast amount of information about the 1st Rank flooded his mind. He frowned slightly as he absorbed it, but after a moment, he had fully digested it.
Numerous insights about Body Refinement Techniques surged into his mind. Li Hao felt a stirring and closed the window, then the door. He then set up his stance and began to practice.
He started the Body Refinement Technique called "Hundred Refinements of Stone Skin."
As he assumed the stance, his body moved like a dragon or a tiger, and his body emitted a series of cracking sounds.
His blood, meridians, and bones seemed to twist, and his cells were activated, making his entire body feel hot.
After completing the "Hundred Refinements of Stone Skin", Li Hao's skin was flushed red, and steam rose from his body. His hair was soaked with sweat, and his face was covered in tiny droplets.
Li Hao felt something and summoned the interface to check. He saw that his Cultivation level was no longer "Mortal" but "Force Mastery, third level!"
Li Hao could feel an unprecedented strength surging through his body, as if he could easily shatter stones and split boulders.
Overwhelmed with joy, he practiced the technique again.
This time, with more strength and a more standard posture, his skin became even redder, and steam rose like smoke.
After the second practice, Li Hao saw his Cultivation level rise to fourth level!
He continued practicing.
Third time, fourth time.
By the eighth time, his Cultivation level stopped rising and stabilized at Force Mastery, seventh level!
(End of Chapter)
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