Chapter 8: Realm of Strength Integration

This year, the war along the Yanbei border grew increasingly dire. Dispatches poured in nonstop—supplies were running thin, weapons were failing, and the treachery between Pingcheng King and the Great Demon only revealed a deeper, more sinister conspiracy. The battlefield had become a labyrinth of chaos and desperation.

Within the Divine General's Residence, murmurs filled the halls. Everyone was anxious, weighed down by the grim news from the frontlines. Even in the imperial court, debates raged daily, with countless proposals tossed about. Yet, though the storm of political turmoil swept through the mountains and rivers, it never touched the two small figures in the Mountain and River Courtyard.

Five years old, Li Hao continued his daily Bone Quantification as usual.

"Bone quality weak, no abnormal color, no radiant aura, no condensed marrow..."

The old Daoist from Qingqiu Mountain—his silver hair and youthful face a striking contrast—stared in disbelief at the boy before him. Had it not been for the presence of Elder Lady Li, he might have suspected some cruel trick: a royal swap, a palace intrigue, a stolen heir.

"Bone Quality: Lowest Rank. Combat Body not yet ranked. Simply ordinary, typical of a common child."

The verdict was final.

Hearing this, He Jianlan and the other Ladies’ faces darkened. Fifth Lady could not help but whisper, “Are you sure? Hao-er… could he really have such… nothing?”

The others said nothing. The old Daoist was a familiar face in the Residence—trusted, meticulous, having measured countless children across the various courtyards. He never made a mistake.

And besides, Li Hao had already failed his Foundation Establishment, then his Blood Melting cultivation—both setbacks had prepared them for this outcome. So seeing the result now felt almost… expected.

Li Hao quietly scanned the faces around him. Second Lady was there too, her expression heavy with sorrow—perhaps even deeper than the others.

But how many of them truly grieved for him? He couldn’t tell.

“Hao-gege,” Bian Ruxue tugged at Li Hao’s sleeve, her small face tight with worry. She didn’t understand what was happening, but she felt something had been lost.

Seeing her trembling little face, Li Hao couldn’t help but smile faintly.

He gently pinched her soft cheek. He should be the one feeling sorrow. But in two months, when it was her turn for Bone Quantification… she’d surely astonish everyone.

The Daoist departed. The guests dispersed.

Like the tide receding, the Mountain and River Courtyard returned to stillness—just two small shadows and Lin Haixia, standing silently beside them.

That night, the officer who had sworn off alcohol for years finally broke his vow. He sat alone in the courtyard, pouring himself a drink.

The scent of wine reached Li Hao’s nose. His mouth watered. He fetched a small jade cup, raised the bottle—only to be met with a glare from Lin Haixia, already half-drunk.

“You’re out of your mind!” she snapped, snatching the bottle away. “How dare you touch wine!”

“It’s just to keep you company,” Li Hao grinned.

“Don’t you understand? Drinking is for adults.”

“Alone, it’s so lonely. A little company makes it better.”

He reached for the bottle again—but Lin Haixia lifted her hand, blocking him.

She glared. Opened her mouth to scold—then paused.

And then she remembered.

This child… ever since his parents’ hundred-day memorial departure, he’d been utterly alone.

Of course he wanted someone to be with him.

When Snowy—Xuejian—had arrived at the Residence, her father gone, she’d cried all the way from the border.

Li Hao had no one.

She looked out at the vast, beautiful courtyard. Scenic, elegant… but no amount of beauty could replace the warmth of a parent’s presence.

Lin Haixia said nothing. She poured another mouthful of wine, then looked at Li Hao’s serene smile.

Suddenly, she realized—she’d been here two years now, and she’d never once seen this boy cry.

“Hey,” she muttered, the alcohol thick in her voice. She dropped the formal title. In her eyes, he was just a little brat.

“Do you… miss your parents?”

Li Hao froze.

A memory surfaced—of a girl, small and solemn, holding him on the windowsill, whispering to the stars, lost in sorrow.

Five years had passed. He’d forgotten the warmth of that embrace. But the sorrow in her eyes—still burned in his heart.

“I… do,” he said softly, gazing at the star-strewn night sky. “The war in Yanbei… it’s brutal. I hope they’re safe.”

Lin Haixia was stunned.

She’d expected tears. Or silence. Or forgetfulness.

But this child remembered. And worse—he was worried about them.

Something sharp pierced her chest. A pang of sorrow.

She rubbed her eyes, then took another long gulp of wine.

“Lin Shu,” Li Hao asked, “are you crying?”

“Nonsense!” she snapped, voice thick. “The wine spilled! You know nothing!”

The night wind turned cold.

Lin Haixia was drunk.

And as she swayed in the courtyard, she began to recite ancient war poetry, swinging her fists like a warrior in battle—before collapsing into a heap like broken clay.

Li Hao waved to a servant. “Take her inside. Don’t let the mosquitoes eat her.”

---

Two months later.

Bian Ruxue’s Bone Quantification day arrived.

Once again, the same old Daoist from Qingqiu Mountain stood in the courtyard, same spot, same ritual.

No sooner had he begun than his eyes widened. A spark of awe flared in his gaze.

“Bone like golden iron, jade forged by the heavens!” he laughed aloud. “This is divine bone! Seven-color inner radiance! Marrow pulsing with flowing patterns! Ultimate Grade! Ninth-Rank Combat Body! Ha! No wonder the Divine General’s Residence raises prodigies—you are truly exceptional! The Heavenly and Earthly Ranking List will soon welcome a new star!”

He paused, then glanced sideways—only to see Li Hao standing quietly beside the bench.

His smile faltered.

A faint cough. A moment of awkward silence.

Good heavens. Forgive me—I almost forgot about the record-breaking brat.

This time, only He Jianlan was present. The other Ladies had no interest in the child of Li Hao—his fate meant nothing to them.

Hearing the praise, both He Jianlan and Lin Haixia broke into smiles. Then, almost simultaneously, they turned to look at Li Hao.

Though he had no martial talent… having a wife like this—this kind of potential—was a future worth building.

“Such a fierce little one,” Li Hao chuckled, ruffling Bian Ruxue’s hair. She blinked, still bewildered, completely unaware of what had just happened.

But she wasn’t happy.

Instead, she pouted slightly.

She wished the old man had spoken that way to Hao-gege.

After the Daoist left, He Jianlan stepped aside. Lin Haixia began teaching Bian Ruxue the fundamentals of the Martial Path.

She was five now—old enough to understand. Time to begin.

A Ninth-Rank Combat Body—absolute peak. Breaking through realms felt as easy as eating or drinking. Once on the cultivation path, she’d likely break through the first realm within a year. Two realms in three years. And within ten years, reach the peak of the third.

That was the power of a true Ninth-Rank Body.

The three realms of Martial Path: Tongli (Unifying Strength), Zhou Tian (Circulating Heaven), and Ji Hun (Continuation of Soul). Each had ten levels.

The fourth was Shen You—Spirit Travel. Lin Haixia was a master of this stage.

And he was already over forty.

Imagine—when Bian Ruxue was sixteen, she’d be a Ji Hun master at ten levels. A star in the night sky. A city’s guardian. A true powerhouse.

Even a normal cultivator at sixteen who reached Zhou Tian was already extraordinary—enough to join a famed sect.

---

---

Placement of a stone in Go—this game is sealed.

Li Hao won.

Experience Points +2.

He yawned, glanced out the window. There, Bian Ruxue practiced sword forms—clumsy, wobbly, but utterly endearing.

He turned away, dismissed the servant, then summoned his Character Panel.

One year.

The Go Dao Experience had finally filled.

One more Art Skill Point unlocked.

Without hesitation, Li Hao poured it into Body Dao.

Instantly, a flood of complex information surged into his mind. He grimaced, then slowly absorbed it, his breath steady.

New insights into Body Cultivation Technique bloomed in his heart.

He closed the window. Locked the door. Then unrolled his mat and began training.

He practiced the Stone Skin Hundred Smelts cultivation technique.

As he assumed the stance, his body moved like a dragon in motion, a tiger leaping—cracks echoed from within. His blood, meridians, bones, every cell… all twisted and awakened. A searing heat spread through him, as if his very flesh was being forged anew.

When the final movement ended, his skin was crimson, steaming with heat. His hair was soaked with sweat, beads of moisture dotting his small face like dew.

He checked his Character Panel.

The Cultivation Level field no longer read Ordinary Stage.

It now read: Strength Integration Realm, Third Rank.

A surge of power flooded his body—raw, overwhelming. He could feel the strength to shatter stone with a single hand.

He was ecstatic.

He began again—this time with greater control, more power. His skin burned brighter, steam rising like smoke.

After the second round, his Cultivation Level leveled up to Fourth Rank.

He continued.

Third. Fourth.

By the eighth repetition, the progress stopped.

His level locked at Strength Integration Realm, Seventh Rank.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end