Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 417

Volume 3 - Chapter 116: Glory and the Extreme Realms Test

Seeing Emperor Yu personally come out to greet them, Jiang Ziyan and the others were taken aback. Immediately, they recalled the person Emperor Yu had mentioned earlier.

Confident in their status, they did not step forward but merely observed with their divine sense.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Qin Zhenren from Qiandao Palace sent a divine sense transmission directly to Li Hao:
"General, the sword I forged for you is ready. When will you come to retrieve it?"
"I'll come shortly," Li Hao responded.
"Very well, this old man awaits you," Qin Zhenren replied warmly before withdrawing his divine sense.

Emperor Yu then escorted Li Hao to the rear hall of the imperial palace.

Ren Qianqian followed alongside Li Hao, her demeanor somewhat reserved. This was, after all, the imperial capital, and even though her father was a grandmaster, she had never witnessed its grandeur. What’s more, the elderly man before her was none other than the sovereign of Great Yu himself—surprisingly gentle in appearance.

"Your Majesty, did my little fox demon turn up?" Li Hao inquired about the small white fox as soon as they entered the rear hall.

Previously, he had asked Emperor Yu to help find it, but there had been no news.

Emperor Yu shook his head slightly. "I instructed the Demon Subduing Division to conduct a full search. The division head personally led the effort, but we've found nothing so far. The clues are sparse, and there are simply too many fox demons. It will take some time."

Li Hao sighed. Where had that little creature run off to? Could it have met a tragic fate, becoming prey to other demons?

At this thought, his brows furrowed. "Then I'll trouble Your Majesty to continue your efforts."
"Fox demons are adept at hiding," Emperor Yu reassured him. "I’ve already spread word through the Demon Subduing Division. Perhaps one day it will come out of hiding, knowing that you’re looking for it."

Li Hao nodded. Then he asked, "What about the paintings and chess manuals?"

Emperor Yu chuckled. "I’ve managed to gather quite a few for you. I'll take you to appreciate them shortly."
"Good," Li Hao replied, curious about what strange attributes he might gain this time.

At this moment, several figures entered the rear hall. It was Jiang Ziyan and her group.

Seeing the youth conversing casually with Emperor Yu in the courtyard, their eyes flickered. Before heading to the immortal sects, they had never seen anyone other than the imperial family dare to interact so freely with their father.

If not for their recent return from the immortal sects and their cultivation advancements, they would have been as cautious and awed before Emperor Yu as they had been in the past.

Noticing his children and royal relatives approaching, Emperor Yu introduced them to Li Hao. He hoped that when Li Hao entered the immortal sects, he would inevitably join Shengshan and that the Jiang family and Li Hao could support each other in the future.

"...This is my daughter, Jiang Ziyan. Ziyan, this is the youth I mentioned earlier—the one who saved the Great Yu Divine Dynasty and is a benefactor to our Jiang family."

Although Emperor Yu did not explicitly instruct Jiang Ziyan to look after Li Hao, his gaze carried a certain weight.

Jiang Ziyan studied Li Hao. Although she was at the Dao Law Realm, she could not sense any of his aura. The only trace she had detected earlier was when he deliberately revealed a hint of his cultivation—merely the Dao Seeker Realm.

So young, yet capable of slaying six Dao Law Realm cultivators while still in the mortal world?

She found it hard to believe. But she knew her father would not lie, nor would he be easily deceived. Moreover, during the past few days, she had visited Qin Zhenren and learned roughly about that battle.

From her time in the immortal sects, she had seen countless extraordinary techniques, mystical arts, and the existence of the Martial Path Extremes. If someone combined all these, it was indeed possible to defy the odds in combat.

Furthermore, the youth before her was a reincarnated saint. The means he possessed would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

"General, thank you for aiding our Jiang family. I, Ziyan, will remember this kindness," Jiang Ziyan said softly. "Three days from now, the three great sacred lands of the Yunxia Realm will come here to recruit disciples. Their primary focus this time is on those who have mastered the Extremes, followed by top-tier talents. Since you’ve slain Dao Law Realm cultivators, you must have mastered several Martial Path Extremes?"

Li Hao, already informed about this event by Chu Jiuyue, merely nodded.

"Mastering even one Extreme can secure you a place in a sacred land. Mastering three might allow you to apprentice under a Semi-Saint, and if you master four, you could become a saint’s disciple..."

Jiang Ziyan glanced at Li Hao. "If the general can apprentice under a Semi-Saint, I hope you will consider choosing my Yuanshi Sacred Land. Even among the lands of the saints, Yuanshi Sacred Land is renowned, the foremost sacred land of the Yunxia Realm."

Li Hao’s eyes flickered as he began asking her about the lands of the saints.

...

Jiang Ziyan did not withhold any information and explained the general situation.

Li Hao learned that the lands of the saints were unimaginably vast, encompassing 33 smaller worlds and 108 sacred lands. No wonder they were called the lands of the saints.

Saints, rarely seen in the mortal realm, were like blazing suns there, illuminating countless dynasties.

However, even in the lands of the saints, meeting a saint was extremely difficult. Only those with unparalleled talent had a chance to encounter one.

Occasionally, when a saint taught or shared their insights, it would attract talents from all sides, turning into a grand gathering.

After a brief exchange, Jiang Ziyan and the others left, as they needed to identify potential royal talents to recruit for the immortal sects.

Li Hao, meanwhile, followed Emperor Yu to the royal treasury to view the paintings and chess manuals he had gathered.

Inside the treasury, rows of treasures were meticulously arranged. Emperor Yu gestured toward a section and said, "These are the ones. Pick whichever you like. If you need anything, just call for me. I’ll leave you to it for now, as I have matters of state to handle."

Li Hao nodded, watching Emperor Yu leave. The sovereign’s casual attitude, leaving an outsider alone in the royal treasury, seemed to indicate his absolute trust in him.

Once Emperor Yu was gone, Li Hao turned his attention to the numerous paintings before him. Activating his panel, he began scanning and recording them.

Soon, the system displayed a notification:

"Detected a famous painting: 'Roaring Moon over the Earth.' Would you like to collect it?"

"Collect," Li Hao responded without hesitation.

In the blink of an eye, the painting vanished from its frame, now added to his inventory. He examined it and embedded the painting into his Body Dao.

Moments later, the system generated an attribute:

Roaring Moon over the Earth: Grants penetration effect in attacks.

Li Hao paused, intrigued. A penetration effect?

This was the first time he had encountered such an attribute. It seemed incredibly potent, potentially allowing him to bypass the formidable defenses of certain dragon clans or other armored beings. Even spiritual barriers might prove ineffective. However, he would need to test this in actual combat to confirm its capabilities.

With anticipation, he continued scanning the treasury, collecting additional paintings and chess manuals. Not all of them met the criteria for collection, but he managed to acquire more than a dozen notable items, each bringing unique attributes.

...

Meanwhile, throughout the Nineteen Provinces of Great Yu, countless prodigies converged on the imperial capital.

The entire area surrounding the imperial palace was abuzz with excitement. Representatives from noble families, sects, and academies had gathered, their talents eager for an opportunity to be selected by the sacred lands.

In a bustling restaurant overlooking the imperial palace, several familiar faces had gathered. Among them were Li Wushuang, Li Yuanzhao, and others from the Li family.

"Do you think Brother Hao will also enter the immortal sects this time?" someone asked.

"Our mother insisted we come to try our luck," another replied. "I just hope we can succeed."

Seated by the window, Li Yuanzhao sipped his tea, gazing toward the palace. "It’s said that Brother Hao will attend. I’m eager to see him again after so long. He’s always been extraordinary, and now that he’s achieved so much, it feels surreal."

Li Wushuang and her younger sister Li Zhining were also present. Li Yun, on the other hand, had remained behind due to his comparatively weaker aptitude.

"This selection process is said to be extremely rigorous," Li Wushuang noted, her tone contemplative. "While I’d like to cultivate in the immortal sects, I don’t have strong attachments to the idea."

Aside from them, many other prodigies and influential figures from the Divine General Mansion had arrived. This time, it wasn’t only the younger generation who sought entry; even seasoned experts with extended lifespans hoped to seize this rare opportunity.

A thousand years ago, when the immortal sects last recruited disciples, they hadn’t limited themselves to the young. Many renowned veterans had been chosen to apprentice under saints, securing an incredible future for themselves.

Compared to the Li family, other Divine General Mansions were flourishing. This was largely due to the centuries-long machinations of demonic forces, who had specifically targeted the Li family, attempting to break them as the first step in their conquest.

As the capital buzzed with excitement, figures from the Desolate Abyss crossed the borderlands and headed swiftly toward the imperial capital, intent on participating in this grand event.

...

Meanwhile, Li Hao had completed his collection of paintings and chess manuals in the royal treasury and proceeded to Qiandao Palace.

Qin Zhenren greeted him warmly, presenting the newly forged Dao Palace Sword.

The sword was pitch black, exuding an air of profound depth. It lacked the vibrant brilliance of most sacred treasures, appearing almost like a lifeless object. However, its weight and sharpness were unparalleled.

Holding it, Li Hao felt as though he were gripping a mountain.

Without his immense physical strength—amplified by his recent breakthrough into the Dao Seeker Realm, granting him the power to lift nine million catties—it would have been impossible to wield the weapon effortlessly.

"A sword weighing a million catties. The heft is impressive," Li Hao remarked as he tested its balance. Despite its weight, he wielded it with ease, light as a feather. Even standing on a willow leaf, it would not bend under the sword’s weight.

"What will the general name this sword?" Qin Zhenren asked with a smile.

Li Hao considered for a moment before replying, "Since it represents the Dao Palace, let’s name it Gongming—Glory."

"Gongming," Qin Zhenren repeated thoughtfully. "A fitting name for such a sharp blade."

Li Hao stored the Dao Palace Sword, expressing his thanks before returning to the imperial palace to play two games of chess with Emperor Yu.

At Emperor Yu’s strong recommendation, Li Hao agreed to attend the immortal sects' selection. Not only did Feng Lao await him there, but he also had unfinished business with the Holy Son.

"I’ll kill who I need to and return," Li Hao assured Emperor Yu.

The emperor sighed. "I hope you’ll achieve sainthood while you’re there."

"I’ll try," Li Hao replied nonchalantly.

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Above the imperial palace, as the morning sun cast its rays across the sky, energy fluctuations suddenly surged like boiling water.

A beam of golden light appeared, illuminating the heavens with endless radiance.

This magnificent and transcendent aura startled the experts across the imperial capital, their gazes instantly locking onto the sky above the imperial palace.

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