Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 436

Volume 3 - Chapter 126: The Divine Blood Dao Body and the Rising Sword God - Part 2

Li Hao did not decline the goodwill gestures sent his way by various parties. As long as their intentions were sincere, he graciously accepted their kindness.

After all, behind these prodigies stood powerful forces. None of them were lone wanderers. A prodigy without background or connections would have long since met a tragic end in some dark alleyway.

The Land of Saints was never short of prodigies, yet even they had to bow their heads and rely on the protection and resources of these factions.

Though these connections offered little immediate benefit to Li Hao, he knew they might prove useful in the future. Additionally, he could leverage these relationships to gather masterpieces of art, calligraphy, and chess manuals to expand his collection.

...

Within the Alchemy Courtyard.

Li Hao carried a basket of rare spiritual fruits gifted by an inner-sect prodigy and sought out Lin Shanhai, intending to share them with the elder.

These rare fruits had the property of nourishing the body. While their effects on Li Hao were modest, their crunchy texture and exotic fragrance made them a delightful treat.

“Thanks to you, I get to enjoy such a feast again,” Lin Shanhai remarked with a smile. He brought out his treasured tea leaves and brewed a pot for Li Hao. The two sat together, chatting casually while savoring the fruits.

In recent days, Li Hao’s courtyard had been bustling with visitors. The constant stream of well-wishers reminded Lin Shanhai of the grand banquet he hosted when he first became a senior alchemist—a similarly lively occasion.

“It’s because of you that I’m reaping the rewards,” Li Hao replied with a laugh.

Lin Shanhai smiled at his words, a hint of emotion flashing through his heart.

In life, it was hard to discern the sincerity of smiles during one's hardships. Only when one reached the pinnacle of success could their true character be revealed.

Even without Lin Shanhai, Li Hao’s current connections would allow him to thrive effortlessly. If he so desired, other alchemists would be eager to form close ties with him.

Yet, Li Hao remained at the elder’s residence, neither hurrying nor fretting. The visitors who learned of Li Hao’s connection to Lin Shanhai often took a roundabout approach, offering him benefits as well.

However, Li Hao treated Lin Shanhai with the same humility and courtesy as before. Their relationship had grown closer over time, to the point where lighthearted banter—calling each other “brat” or “old fogey”—had become commonplace.

“Now that your injuries have mostly healed, what are your plans?” Lin Shanhai asked.

Though he had lived for over a millennium and encountered countless individuals, Lin Shanhai still found Li Hao enigmatic, particularly when it came to his desires and ambitions.

Li Hao seemed like a gentle breeze, rising and falling as it pleased. Beyond his hobbies of painting and sculpting, nothing appeared to truly matter to him.

Alchemy, martial arts—things others pursued fervently—barely seemed to catch his eye.

“If you don’t mind, Lin Lao, I plan to stay here a while longer. Once I complete a top-tier painting, I’ll consider my next steps,” Li Hao replied.

The Land of Saints was vast, but for now, he preferred to remain secluded here, honing his skills in artistry and other crafts. When the time came, he would seek vengeance against the Void Saint.

...

Lin Shanhai studied Li Hao’s calm and clear eyes, trying to decipher his true intentions but finding nothing but sincerity. He could only let out a bitter laugh.

“This is the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, a place countless people dream of entering. With your current status and connections, you could obtain almost anything you desire here!

“If you wished to practice martial arts, just hint at it, and even the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters would gladly open the gates of the inner sect for you. They might even arrange for a Semi-Saint to personally mentor you.

“Even if your aptitude for martial arts is average, the Semi-Saints would likely still take you as a disciple, considering the strength of your current connections.

“If alchemy is what you seek, just say the word, and I’ll give you two of my three advanced pill recipes. Others would also be willing to exchange with you.

“Yet you stay here, in this treasure trove of opportunity, just to paint?” Lin Shanhai asked, his tone filled with exasperation.

Li Hao could understand the elder’s sentiments. Smiling faintly, he replied, “There’s no rule that says you can’t paint in a Holy Land. Being in a tavern doesn’t mean you must drink; being in an academy doesn’t mean you must study tirelessly. The environment is simply that—an environment. Letting it dictate one’s actions is the dullest way to live. Life’s journey is long, filled with many landscapes, but I remain who I am.”

“The essence of an environment is the collective effort of people doing the same thing to create it,” Lin Shanhai retorted. “Walking your own path amidst it all will only make you stand out.”

He briefly considered persuading Li Hao to integrate more with his peers but realized that Li Hao’s connections were now even broader than his own. If anyone needed advice, it was likely Lin Shanhai himself.

With a bitter laugh, he added, “Strange how someone so unconventional manages to be so well-liked.”

Li Hao chuckled, raising his teacup. “Cheers to that.”

“Bah!” Lin Shanhai grumbled good-naturedly but still clinked his cup with Li Hao’s. Together, they drained their tea, both savoring the experience.

Their conversation did not escape Lin Qingying, who stood nearby. Her gaze softened as she absorbed their exchanges. Over time, she had come to understand Li Hao better.

While she didn’t fully agree with his perspective, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of admiration for his carefree approach to life—an existence that few could afford.

Still, she had her own path to follow. When she ascended to the pinnacle, becoming a Saint and mastering her ultimate swordsmanship, she too would find the same joy he seemed to possess.

With this thought, her eyes brightened, and her sword aura grew more harmonious and fluid.

...

Months passed.

Li Hao finally completed the transformation of all his divine blood into dao force, thanks to the abundant energy within the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. If the energy in the Land of Saints was already richer than the mortal world, then the energy here was even purer and more concentrated.

Had he been in the mortal world, filling his divine blood with dao force might have taken seven to eight years. Here, it had taken just over half a year.

Li Hao now understood why some in the Dao Seeker Realm could live for over a thousand years.

Beyond breakthroughs and epiphanies, the grinding accumulation of time was also necessary for cultivation.

Often, a single retreat could last decades or even a full cycle of sixty years.

...

As Li Hao completed his Divine Blood Dao Body, he realized it was likely stronger than most dao bodies.

Many prodigies in the Dao Seeker Realm had unique dao bodies, such as the Sword Bone Dao Body or the Dao Heart Dao Body.

Some were born with sword bones that grew stronger with cultivation. By the Dao Seeker Realm, they could infuse dao force into these bones, gaining an additional reservoir for their energy and enhancing their combat power.

Li Hao, however, found that even with his Divine Blood Dao Body perfected, he hadn’t reached the limit of the Dao Seeker Realm. Instead, it felt like he had simply completed one aspect of it.

He speculated that reaching the pinnacle of the Dao Seeker Realm might require achieving the Ninth Segment of Path Control.

After all, without the ability to manifest laws with a single word, one could hardly claim to have reached the extreme.

...

With the Divine Blood Dao Body complete, Li Hao shifted his focus entirely to the path of painting, immersing himself in his art with newfound dedication.

Meanwhile, the Sword Ancestor Holy Land grew increasingly lively with the official commencement of the Sword God Battle.

For ordinary disciples, though they had little chance of participating, witnessing the clashes between high-ranking prodigies would provide immense inspiration for their own cultivation. Observing the exchanges of those typically out of reach would help them comprehend techniques and strategies, furthering their own paths.

“Child, are you ready?”

In the Alchemy Courtyard, Lin Shanhai gazed at Lin Qingying, who was clad in simple azure robes, his expression tinged with concern.

Though he knew his granddaughter was outstanding, the other Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were no pushovers. The upcoming battle was certain to be a storm of blood and steel.

Lin Qingying, however, maintained her usual calm. Her serene demeanor remained unchanged, but her bright eyes gleamed with a profound sharpness born of years of cultivation. Everything she had worked for was culminating in this moment.

“Qingfeng, let’s accompany Qingying to the arena,” Lin Shanhai called out to Li Hao. “You’ll get a chance to witness how top-tier prodigies fight. Perhaps it will spark your interest in martial arts. It’s always beneficial to train, regardless of aptitude.”

“Alright,” Li Hao replied with a nod, not declining the invitation.

After all, this tournament would be a showcase of the finest techniques and combat methods among the Land of Saints’ prodigies. It was a rare opportunity to observe and record top-tier techniques for future reference.

Additionally, if possible, Li Hao planned to use his connections to access the Sword Tower within the Holy Land and study its collection of martial techniques.

After all, his Dao Domain still required a variety of techniques to fill it, enabling him to expand its layers further.

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