Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 390

Volume 3 - Chapter 100: The Upgraded River of Death

Wang Yongzhi almost blurted out in shock, his voice echoing through the quiet mountainside.

The many Wang family dignitaries who followed him in were momentarily stunned. Then, as if a string deep within their hearts had been plucked, they felt their pulses quicken.

Chong Er?

This name was even more prominent to the Wang family than the renowned Haotian General!

Everyone turned their astonished gazes toward Li Hao, their eyes locking onto the golden paper in his hands.

Although the golden paper was only the size of a palm, the cultivators present, with their extraordinary abilities, could count the legs of a fly from a kilometer away—much less scrutinize a piece of paper up close.

Name: Chong Er
Merit: 100100...

Their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. It really was true!

Chong Er—Li Hao was Chong Er?!

Mouths slightly agape, they stared at Li Hao in awe.

None of them had expected that this supremely mysterious Chong Er, who had even disregarded the imperial title of Divine General, was the same Li Hao who had stirred up waves of chaos across the lands!

But soon, as if a flash of light pierced through their minds, everyone experienced a sudden, enlightening realization.

Ah... so that’s why!

When the Battle of Liang Province erupted, Li Hao had single-handedly lured three Demon Kings to the borders of the River of Death.

The River of Death was a location meticulously recorded in the Wang family archives: Dragon City River of Death, Underworld-Level, Difficulty: Supreme.

It was clear that Li Hao’s survival and escape weren’t due to his status as a Li family member protected by some heroic remnant soul’s obsession. Instead, he had cleared the River of Death!

The timeline aligned perfectly.

“It really is you...”

Wang Yongzhi regained his composure, staring at Li Hao with amazement.

When the Merit Treasury opened and the name "Chong Er" resounded throughout the Great Yu Dynasty, they had speculated that it might be Li Hao. Yet, Li Hao never appeared, and the difficulty of the Dragon City River of Death seemed impossibly high.

After the Wang family had lost many soldiers attempting to conquer the River of Death, they petitioned the emperor to abandon the area, cutting it off as foreign territory. From then on, they stopped paying attention to it.

However, the Wang family records ranked this River of Death among the top five most difficult Underworld-Level Rivers of Death they had explored.

Forced to cede land, it was an unparalleled challenge.

Even the Blade Saint Li Xiaoran had failed to clear it after countless attempts. While they had briefly suspected Li Hao, they ultimately dismissed the notion.

After all, at the time, Li Hao was being hunted by the Void Realm Dominator. If he entered the River of Death, the difficulty would only escalate, making it even more impossible to clear.

And yet, the impossible had become reality.

Moreover, the evidence was undeniable—the information about the River of Death on the golden paper couldn’t lie. To their knowledge, no force could manipulate the River of Death, except for certain mysterious objects brought out from it, such as the relics associated with the Ksitigarbha Buddha.

“I knew it was him! I said so during the discussions—who denied it? Step forward!”

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted. It was a middle-aged man, his face flushed with excitement.

But another person next to him nudged him with an elbow and gestured with his mouth, “It was the Patriarch and Uncle Zhenfeng.”

“...”

Two cold gazes swept over simultaneously, and the middle-aged man immediately fell silent. Though it was the height of summer, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, breaking into a cold sweat.

“Ah, well, it’s a bit crowded here. I think I’ll step outside for some air.”

He muttered awkwardly.

In the cavernous hall of the mountain, his words were thoroughly unconvincing, but no one bothered to challenge him.

He bowed to Li Hao. “Congratulations to the Haotian General—no, I should say Haotian Divine General. Congratulations, congratulations...”

With that, he really did step outside for some fresh air.

The others, upon hearing his words, had expressions that carried not just shock but also a complex mixture of emotions.

Indeed, a Divine General... The youth before them was no longer merely a general but a Divine General comparable to the founders of the Five Divine General Mansions!

Single-handedly opening the era of the Merit Treasury and turning the tide to save three provinces—two monumental achievements, gathered in one person.

It was unimaginable what kind of sensation the revelation of Li Hao’s identity as Chong Er would cause once it spread.

In the crowd, Wang Zhenping’s aged face also showed a trace of astonishment.

He repeatedly examined the golden paper, narrowing his eyes to confirm he hadn’t seen wrong.

Instantly, he recalled his earlier remarks in the hall and felt a stinging embarrassment on his face.

Experience and intelligence?

Though the Wang family’s knowledge of the Rivers of Death was indeed extensive, containing many secrets unknown to outsiders—such as the relics tied to the Ksitigarbha Buddha—boasting about them before the person ranked first on the Merit Ranking seemed ludicrous and self-defeating.

“Divine General?”

Li Hao raised an eyebrow at the middle-aged man’s words. Since the man was of the same generation as Wang Yongzhi, he shouldn’t be speaking nonsense.

“You didn’t know?”

Wang Yongzhi looked at Li Hao in surprise before suddenly realizing, “Ah, no wonder you didn’t go to court to claim it. His Majesty declared that you would be awarded the title of Divine General. The opening of the Merit Treasury has had such a profound impact—it’s terrifyingly far-reaching for the future of the Great Yu Dynasty. Not only does it help us solve the problem of clearing the Rivers of Death, but it also raises the limits for warriors. It’s truly a blessing for generations to come.”

Li Hao blinked. They made him a Divine General?

How did he not know about this?

Well, he had just returned, so it was likely old news by now. Besides, no one had known his identity.

“Besides the title of Divine General, is there any other reward?” Li Hao asked curiously.

Wang Yongzhi hesitated before saying, “I think there is... but you’ll have to meet His Majesty to find out the specifics.”

Li Hao nodded, then turned his attention to the illusory map floating above the Ksitigarbha Buddha before him. The map shimmered with golden light, marking several spots.

“So, which one do we choose?”

Wang Yongzhi snapped out of his thoughts, glanced at the map, and suddenly smiled. “Oh, I just remembered, I happen to have some free time. I’ll accompany you.”

“Patriarch, I also have some free time. Let me help,” another person chimed in.

“I miss Uncle Zhendong. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him; I’d like to visit him too,” said a third.

Others quickly followed suit, their responses quick-witted. Even those who normally carried themselves with composed authority now scrambled for reasons to join, except for two elderly men, Wang Zhenfeng and Wang Zhenping, who remained silent.

Wang Zhenfeng watched the usually serious group with amusement, finding their antics entertaining. On the other hand, Wang Zhenping appeared lost in thought, as though the revelation had shaken him deeply.

“You lot...” Wang Yongzhi glared at them before turning back to Li Hao. “Haotian Divine General, you don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all,” Li Hao replied with a slight shake of his head.

Wang Yongzhi let out a sigh of relief and then summoned a golden paper in his palm. It displayed detailed records of his ventures into various Rivers of Death, along with his accumulated merits.

Li Hao glanced at it briefly. Although the total merit value of over 5,000 was far less than his own, it was evident that each point had been earned through numerous arduous battles.

Others also brought out their golden papers as Wang Yongzhi pointed to a glowing spot on the map. “This one. Use your divine sense to select it.”

Li Hao did as instructed. In an instant, it felt as though his consciousness was being drawn into the golden light. Reflexively, his Dao Domain spread across his body as he sensed himself being transported elsewhere.

When the disorienting sensation of traveling through space subsided, Li Hao found himself in a dilapidated town.

The town was eerily silent. Tavern flags swayed in the wind, but the buildings lining the streets were in ruins. Charred corpses lay motionless by the roadside, their backs turned toward him. The cold wind howled, carrying an ominous wail, giving the town a foreboding and ghostly atmosphere.

Before long, one by one, golden lights appeared around Li Hao as Wang Yongzhi and the others arrived.

“Is this the place?” Li Hao asked.

Wang Yongzhi scanned their surroundings and nodded. “Yes, this is the River of Death. Let me see where Uncle Zhendong is.”

As he spoke, his divine soul emerged from his body, sinking into the ground. However, moments later, it shot back out, his expression tinged with surprise. “What’s going on? The rules within this River of Death seem to have strengthened!”

Underworld-Level Rivers of Death typically contained basic rules. Before their arrival, Wang Yongzhi had already explained that this one enforced a “hand-foot reversal” rule. Simply put, to move their legs, they needed to think about moving their hands, treating their hands as feet and vice versa.

While challenging, the rules of an Underworld-Level River of Death generally only affected the body. Yet now, even Wang Yongzhi’s divine soul was affected.

He had intended for his soul to ascend, but instead, it burrowed into the earth.

“Hm?” Li Hao frowned slightly. Feng Lao’s remnant soul was here, and he couldn’t afford any mishaps.

“Be cautious. Something seems to have changed in this place,” Wang Yongzhi warned, his face growing tense. Based on his experience, sudden changes in a River of Death were rarely good news.

Soon, his divine soul soared above the town, locating a figure near the outskirts. “I’ve found Uncle Zhendong. Follow me.”

As he spoke, Wang Yongzhi’s movements appeared slightly erratic. He paused, stepped backward first, then corrected himself to move forward—albeit with some awkwardness.

The others, though prepared, instinctively stepped back when they tried to advance, their faces turning grim.

“Not only are the hand-foot rules reversed, but all movements seem to be inverted. To move forward, you must step backward!” Wang Yongzhi called out.

The group quickly adjusted, their expressions growing increasingly serious. The intensified rules suggested the River of Death was undergoing a transformation—an upgrade.

Could this Underworld-Level River of Death be evolving into an Underworld-Level River of Death?

...

After a moment of hesitation, the group gradually adapted, managing to walk with difficulty. However, in combat, such inversions would undoubtedly lead to chaos as old habits interfered with their actions.

Seeing their struggles, Li Hao extended his Dao Domain, enveloping them.

Soon, the group began moving backward unintentionally before catching on.

“I’ll lead the way,” Li Hao said.

His expression was serious, his divine sense already scanning the entire town. While he saw the figure Wang Yongzhi mentioned—Wang Zhendong—he was more concerned about the pitch-black fissure outside the town. The darkness crept closer, inching toward the town with an ominous slowness.

His divine sense couldn’t penetrate the darkness. Approaching it even slightly made him feel an icy chill, an instinctive sense of danger.

“Dao Domain...”

The Wang family members looked envious as they felt the protective field of Li Hao’s Dao Domain. This was the might of a Supreme Dao Realm cultivator, an overwhelming ability to negate even the most stringent rules.

Under Li Hao’s guidance, they reached the outskirts of the town.

Here, four figures sat together. One was a robust old man with a chiseled face and steely gaze, exuding an aura of unwavering strength. Beside him were three others: a middle-aged man and a young man and woman.

“Uncle Zhendong,” Wang Yongzhi called out respectfully, his demeanor becoming notably humble. This old man was the Wang family’s current pillar of strength.

Wang Zhendong’s expression, sharp as a blade, turned grim. “Why have so many of you come here?!”

“Uncle Zhendong, what’s going on here?” Wang Yongzhi asked, knowing better than to joke in the River of Death.

“This River of Death is undergoing fusion!” Wang Zhendong’s voice was heavy as he scrutinized them. From the moment they had arrived in the town, he had taken note of their presence. Now, his tone carried a stern warning.

“Who allowed all of you to come? Don’t you know the rules?”

Wang Yongzhi and the others’ faces fell. It was rare for Wang Zhendong to display such severity.

“Fusion? Is it colliding with another Underworld-Level River of Death?” Wang Yongzhi couldn’t help but ask. “But there aren’t any other Rivers of Death nearby.”

“It appeared not long ago—something not visible in the mortal realm...” Wang Zhendong’s gaze swept over them slowly. “It’s a Hell-Level River of Death!”

Hell-Level River of Death!

The moment those words were spoken, Wang Yongzhi and the others felt their hearts jolt, their faces paling in fear.

A Hell-Level River of Death—one of the most terrifying phenomena, capable of claiming the lives of even Supreme Dao Realm cultivators. It was considered the ultimate taboo.

The fact that this Underworld-Level River of Death had collided with a Hell-Level River of Death and was undergoing fusion explained why the rules had intensified so drastically.

Wang Yongzhi felt his hair stand on end, and the others trembled uncontrollably.

Being members of the Wang family, they understood better than most the sheer horror of a Hell-Level River of Death. The name alone signified that anyone who encountered it faced almost certain death, an eternal descent into hell!

...

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