Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 412

Volume 3 - Chapter 112: The Triple Divine General, Eternal Guardian Deity

Readers who have seen the title "Saint of Laws" in the previous chapter may want to revisit its latter section for updated content that connects to this chapter. However, skipping it will not affect the story's flow.

...

Twenty layers, thirty layers...

Several days later, as techniques were recorded and absorbed, the number of Dao Domains increased to forty-nine, adding thirty-four new types.

Each Dao Domain adhered to unique rules; some were quite similar, with apparent differences that dissolved into subtle nuances.

These domains included numerous top-tier royal techniques. Except for the Divine General Mansion's core techniques, almost everything else from their collection was present here.

As the Dao Domains increased, Li Hao distinctly sensed that the accumulation of layers was edging toward a qualitative transformation, no longer just a numerical addition.

Previously, when facing a Dao Law Realm practitioner, his Dao Domains were easily infiltrated by laws. Now, with forty-nine layers stacked together, there was an unshakable solidity that was unmistakable.

He decided to find Qin Zhenren to test his Dao Domains against the laws.

Before doing so, he explored the Dao Repository Hall thoroughly. Apart from cultivation manuals, he found educational texts on Daoist principles, but nothing like chess manuals or famous paintings.

Li Hao let out a bitter laugh. In this martial-centric world, finding such artistic treasures would require seeking them among the populace.

Fortunately, with Emperor Yu’s assistance, collecting famous paintings and chess manuals had become much more feasible.

Dusting off the dirt from his pants, Li Hao pushed open the door of the Dao Repository Hall and saw two figures still waiting for him after several days. Smiling, he said:

"You’ve waited long enough. I’d like to meet your master."

"General Haotian, you’re too polite. We thought you’d stay in there for a whole month," Qingjingzi replied with a smile.

The two appeared genuinely surprised that Li Hao had emerged so quickly.

The Dao Repository Hall housed techniques from across the realm. Even spending a month there without food or drink wouldn’t suffice to peruse everything.

They guessed that Li Hao had only chosen a few of the top-tier royal techniques for study.

These royal techniques were once exclusive to the imperial family, but with Emperor Yu’s decree, Li Hao was free to study them.

"Very well, let me take you to him."

The youth, Ming Yuejian, immediately nodded. He seemed somewhat nervous, lacking the usual arrogance typical of a top prodigy.

Under their guidance, Li Hao arrived at a hidden chamber within Qiandao Palace and met the elderly Daoist.

The man was seated before a memorial tablet, seemingly mourning.

Qingjingzi brought Li Hao forward, gazed at his master’s back, and the memorial tablet dedicated to his senior brother above, and softly said:

"Master, General Haotian wishes to meet you."

Qin Zhenren’s vacant eyes trembled slightly before refocusing. Slowly turning around, he saw the three youthful figures brimming with energy. The boy standing in the center stood out the most.

His gaze flickered. Two years ago, when this youth rose to fame, Qin Zhenren hadn’t imagined that the Dao lineage of Great Yu would ultimately fall not to his painstakingly cultivated disciples but to this self-made boy who grew up outside the imperial palace.

He already knew Li Hao’s past. Even with the Divine General Mansion’s invaluable resources, they alone couldn’t have nurtured such a remarkable prodigy.

"This time, the aid you provided is beyond words. Has His Majesty spoken to you about the incense offerings?" Qin Zhenren asked softly.

Li Hao nodded and explained his intentions.

Hearing Li Hao’s request to test his Dao Domain against laws, Qin Zhenren was somewhat surprised. He narrowed his eyes at the youth. Despite the terrifying power he displayed when slaying six Dao Law Realm cultivators, Qin Zhenren subconsciously regarded him as a top Dao Seeker.

However, Li Hao’s true cultivation had yet to reach that level.

Qin Zhenren smiled bitterly to himself. How far must martial arts be pushed to cross such a vast realm with such immense power?

He readily agreed to the request, and the two ascended into the sky above Qiandao Palace.

...

Qingjingzi and Ming Yuejian followed curiously, gazing upward at their master and the youth.

During the battle in the imperial palace, they had only heard of it but hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. Their master had placed them in a hidden formation to preserve the incense offerings and prevent their deaths.

Now, seeing the young man standing on equal footing with their master, as though peers, they couldn’t help but watch intently.

"Then I will make my move," Qin Zhenren said. Once Li Hao nodded, he unleashed his Dao Laws. Instantly, a surge of laws swept toward Li Hao.

Li Hao released his forty-nine layers of Dao Domains, which enveloped him in overlapping layers.

When the laws struck the Dao Domains, they slowed as if plunging into deep water, their penetration growing sluggish.

Eventually, the laws reached Li Hao, but their power had waned significantly, and with a casual wave, Li Hao dispersed them.

It was clear the forty-nine layers of Dao Domains couldn’t fully block the laws, but they could greatly impede them.

Seeing this, Qin Zhenren’s pupils contracted, a flicker of astonishment appearing in his eyes.

During the earlier battle, he had seen Li Hao use fifteen layers of Dao Domains and assumed that was his limit. But now—forty-nine layers?

Had he comprehended them all in the Dao Repository Hall?

The thought seemed almost impossible, yet forty-nine layers shattered Qin Zhenren’s understanding. Never before had he seen someone grasp so many Dao Domains.

With such insight, Li Hao could likely have entered the Dao Seeker Realm long ago if he focused on it.

Below, Ming Yuejian looked up at the sky. Observing how Li Hao simply waved his hand, he turned to Qingjingzi with confusion. "Is the fight already over?"

Qingjingzi, who had maintained a calm demeanor, now wore a dazed expression. A look of astonishment glimmered in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded and murmured, "It's over."

Having reached the Fourth Pillar Realm, Qingjingzi could perceive the presence of Dao Domains. However, Ming Yuejian, despite his exceptional talent and status as a top prodigy in Great Yu second only to Li Hao, was still in the Heaven and Man Realm. The disparity in their cultivation left him unable to comprehend what had just occurred.

Forty-nine layers of Dao Domains. Qingjingzi had counted them carefully. Even so, his mind was in turmoil.

"Is this what true prodigy-level genius looks like?" Qingjingzi thought to himself. Compared to Li Hao, he suddenly felt as insignificant as a speck of dust. Could his martial path even graze the edge of such brilliance?

For the first time, Qingjingzi's Dao Heart wavered. A sense of disillusionment and weariness toward his martial pursuits crept into his mind.

"Qingjingzi, remember your Dao title. Guard your heart. To remain untainted is to follow the Way of Non-Action. The mortal world holds a myriad of paths. You are who you are," came Qin Zhenren’s voice, echoing in his disciple’s mind.

Qingjingzi trembled, snapping out of his gloomy thoughts. He quickly expelled his negative emotions, bowed slightly in gratitude, and regained his composure.

He turned to Li Hao once more. Though his gaze remained complex, it had become much steadier.

Qin Zhenren sensed the restoration of his disciple’s Dao Heart and sighed silently. To think that just witnessing this youth’s talents could shake the foundations of his pupil’s spirit—this was extraordinary.

At this moment, even Qin Zhenren couldn’t help but wonder if Li Hao was the reincarnation of a Saint.

...

The test concluded. Li Hao cupped his hands in farewell to Qin Zhenren. Just as he was about to leave, Qin Zhenren called out, "General Haotian, what are your plans going forward?"

Li Hao paused briefly before replying, "First, I’ll visit some old friends and bid them farewell. Then, I’ll head to the Immortal Sect to deal with that Holy Son. Eliminating him will prevent future trouble. After that, I’ll return to the mortal world to explore the places I’ve never seen. I promised a friend that I would show her everything—from the earthly realm to the heavens."

Hearing Li Hao’s answer, Qin Zhenren nodded slightly. The departure of that Holy Son had left him uneasy, worried that the individual might seek reinforcements. If that were to happen, it might involve a Semi-Saint, or worse, a full-fledged Saint.

However, a Saint descending to the mortal realm would harm their own incense-based sanctity. Saints needed to maintain a certain distance from the mortal plane to preserve their divine power.

Unless someone sought to achieve Sainthood through sacrificial rituals, such Saints—focused solely on the Dao—rarely meddled in worldly affairs.

"Before you leave, General, I will prepare a generous gift for you," Qin Zhenren said.

"Oh? What might that be?"

"You don’t have a suitable weapon yet, do you?" Qin Zhenren replied with a faint smile. "Qiandao Palace itself is built from a fragment of a Dao Tribulation Imperial Weapon. I will forge a sword from this fragment and present it to you."

Li Hao was momentarily stunned. "A Dao Tribulation Imperial Weapon?"

His gaze shifted to the imposing Qiandao Palace below. Upon closer inspection, he discerned faint traces of its true nature.

"Unfortunately, the sword will only be exceptionally durable. The weapon’s imperial might has long since dissipated," Qin Zhenren lamented.

Li Hao nodded slightly. Indeed, he lacked a reliable divine sword. The initial Dragon Sky Sword was too fragile in his hands, breaking easily under his immense power. Other Sacred Heart Treasures were merely comparable to his physical resilience and were hardly indispensable.

"No matter. As long as it’s sharp and sturdy, that’s enough," Li Hao said.

Qin Zhenren nodded in agreement and set a three-month timeframe for the weapon’s creation. Li Hao, in no rush, knew he had other matters to attend to in the meantime.

After bidding farewell to Qin Zhenren and his two disciples, Li Hao departed from Qiandao Palace.

...

Upon his return to the imperial palace, the previously destroyed halls had been fully restored. In this martial-driven world, reconstructing buildings was an easy task for skilled warriors.

When Emperor Yu saw Li Hao again, his expression was even more complex. "You brat! If the Wang family hadn’t informed me, how much longer were you planning to keep this hidden from me?"

Though his words carried blame, his tone revealed genuine concern.

"What are you referring to?" Li Hao asked, feigning ignorance.

"Chong Er is you! And this Merit Treasury was also your doing. You..."

When Emperor Yu had learned this from Wang Zhendong and the others who had come to aid them, he had been thunderstruck, utterly at a loss.

Although Li Hao was formidable, Emperor Yu knew the river's affairs were extraordinarily complicated—far beyond the reach of brute strength alone.

To have saved the imperial palace and created the Merit Treasury that brought fortune to countless warriors of Great Yu...

Looking at the youth before him, Emperor Yu found himself at a loss for words.

"These are trivial matters. I only did them for survival," Li Hao replied with a faint smile, dismissing the significance of his actions. Then he asked, "Your Majesty, are the famous paintings and chess manuals still being collected for me?"

Emperor Yu snapped back to attention and chuckled wryly. "I’ve already dispatched two divisions to help search and gather them for you."

Li Hao nodded in satisfaction before bidding the emperor farewell.

Before Li Hao could leave, Emperor Yu added, "Though you have already amassed countless merits, and titles such as ranks are redundant for you, to ensure incense offerings for your future, I will bestow upon you an official title and announce it to the world."

"Very well," Li Hao replied, neither agreeing nor objecting.

...

As Li Hao departed from the imperial palace, a decree was issued throughout the royal city, proclaiming his titles to the world.

The decree enumerated Li Hao’s countless feats and revealed his identity as Chong Er.

For saving three provinces—Liangzhou, Youzhou, and Qingzhou—he was awarded the title of Divine General.

For saving the imperial palace and preserving the Daoist incense offerings, he was granted another Divine General title.

These three Divine General honors were combined into one, and Emperor Yu broke imperial precedent to bestow upon Li Hao the title of Great Yu’s Celestial General, granting him a vast territory and founding the Celestial General Mansion in his honor. He was further designated as the Eternal Guardian Deity!

With the decree’s announcement, the nineteen provinces of Great Yu were left in an uproar, trembling with awe.

Within all the Divine General Mansions and noble families, shockwaves rippled.

Each word of the decree immortalized Li Hao’s feats. The name Haotian reverberated across the nineteen provinces.

The title of Celestial General placed him equal to the emperor, granting him control over all life and death within Great Yu. Even the imperial family itself could be punished by him if necessary.

...

This was akin to becoming the God of War—a second emperor of Great Yu in all but name.

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