Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 353

Volume 3 - Chapter 75: Friends from Afar - Part 1

Li Tiangang also gazed at the young man's retreating figure with a complex expression. His fingers tightened slightly, a mix of nervousness, anticipation, confusion, and sorrow reflected in his demeanor.

In the past, he had clashed with the young man, who had renounced the Li family name and left the illustrious Divine General Mansion.

Who would have thought that today, their ancestor would personally invite him to return?

He couldn't help but ask himself: Had he truly been wrong? And was his mistake so grave?

He had built his dao heart upon the laws of all things, but at this moment, that steadfast foundation seemed to waver.

Li Hao was equally surprised. He had never expected the Li family ancestor to go to such lengths for him. It was unexpected, and yet, there was a faint sense of regret.

But his regret was not born of remorse. It stemmed from knowing he had to wound their hearts.

The moon waxes and wanes, a cycle as ancient as time itself.

When he severed his bloodline in the Abyss, there was no turning back. Many things were missed or mishandled, leaving regrets in their wake. A shattered mirror, even when mended, still bears its cracks, reflecting a fractured image.

"Senior, I am grateful for your kindness," Li Hao said with a slight bow.

"But breaking the rules for me is not worth it. The centuries of glory your predecessors earned through fighting demons and slaying foes cannot be tarnished because of me. Family traditions are upheld by rules and discipline; without them, a generation may shine brightly, but ten thousand generations will wither into obscurity."

"I no longer share the Li family bloodline. Even if I were a True Dragon, I could not win the approval of all. Moreover, my heart is set. The responsibilities of the Divine General Mansion are not mine to bear."

...

With those words, he cupped his hands in salute and solemnly expressed his gratitude.

Hearing Li Hao's words, He Jianlan and the others paled, their hopes extinguished like a flickering flame snuffed out.

Li Tiangang, still kneeling, froze in place. His face twitched involuntarily.

In the past, he had demanded the young man follow the rules, live properly, and abide by laws. Yet the young man had been carefree, unruly, and indifferent to discipline.

Now, that same family law and discipline had become the young man's excuse to sever ties with the Li family.

The very standards he had imposed had been used to cut away everything.

"You..."

Li Tianyuan, too, was momentarily stunned. Clearly, he had not expected Li Hao's refusal to be so resolute.

After a brief silence, he spoke again. "Child, even if you are not a True Dragon, that is fine. What the Li family owes you, we elders can repay. The position of the Li family's True Dragon can be granted through the power of our soul force. Even if you are not one, let us condense a soul form for you!"

Li Hao's mind flashed to the memories of Dragon City and the River of Death, where he had inherited the True Dragon's mantle and donned the persona of their ancestor in battles.

But those memories belonged to Li Tianzong.

He wondered if that old man, before fading into nothingness, had found solace in that moment.

With a quiet sigh, Li Hao turned to the Li family ancestor before him and said:

"Senior, your kindness is something I cannot accept. Condensing a soul form consumes too much of your strength. Please do not do this for me. The Li family owes me nothing; we are already even."

In the River of Death at Dragon City, the Li family ancestor had once condensed a soul form for him, helping him break through the bottleneck of 360 soul condensations. But Li Hao believed that, with more effort and by gathering additional manuals on soul condensation techniques, he could have achieved it on his own.

There was no need to deplete the soul force of these heroic spirits.

After all, these spirits had once been human heroes who fought demons and vanquished foes on the battlefield. To shorten the remnants of their existence for his benefit filled him with guilt.

Hearing Li Hao's reply, Li Tianyuan fell silent once more.

He had hoped to gather the power of many heroic spirits as both a repayment for Li Hao's aid and as a way to leave a mark in Li Hao's heart, in case the Li family ever faced trouble in the future.

Yet the young man before him seemed unmoved.

To a martial artist, such an offer was of unparalleled value and could greatly enhance one's strength. Yet this young man regarded it as if it were as light as a feather.

"Child..."

Li Tianyuan furrowed his brow, his gaze fixed on Li Hao as though he wanted to persuade him further.

"Senior."

Li Hao interrupted with a smile. "If we cannot be bound by bloodline ties, then if you'd like to consider me a friend, I would welcome that."

"To have friends come from afar—what a joy it is."

"I appreciate your goodwill. Please, do not try to make me stay."

With those words, he lowered his head slightly as a gesture of respect. His gaze then landed on Li Yuanzhao, and he smiled faintly. "If you have time, you're welcome to visit me."

"Mm!"

Li Yuanzhao's eyes brimmed with sorrow, but he nodded vigorously, his reluctance to part evident in his gaze.

Li Tianyuan and the other heroic spirits of the Li family's ancestors stood in silence. They knew that the young man was resolute in his decision, and no words could persuade him to stay.

Li Tianyuan's expression darkened slightly. He turned to Li Xuanli in the hall and said, "The position of the Li family's True Dragon will now fall to you."

After these words, he nodded slightly to Li Hao and then soared away.

The other ancestors followed suit, their expressions varied but heavy with sadness. They offered their thanks to Li Hao before retreating to the ancestral shrine.

Li Hao's timely aid to Qingzhou City had been a great kindness to them—one they found difficult to repay.

But the young man seemed indifferent to it all, leaving them with an inexplicable sense of unease.

Li Hao walked toward the courtyard gates. Li Yuanzhao and the others quickly followed. Li Wushuang hesitated, wanting to call out to him, but remembering how even the ancestors had failed to keep him, she lowered her gaze in despondence.

Li Mingjian and Li Zhining exchanged glances, their eyes conflicted.

Never before had the Li family shown such regard for anyone—not even their parents or grandparents.

Yet in their generation, there appeared a young man of unparalleled brilliance.

And yet, this young man was like a dragon that had leaped from shallow waters to soar in the heavens, no longer willing to dwell among them.

Then again, who could dare call the Divine General Mansion a "shallow pond"?

It was simply that the young man's world was too vast... or perhaps, it was the ties that bound him which had been severed...

"Oh, right. Where is that noblewoman who poisoned me?"

As Li Hao reached the courtyard, he suddenly asked.

The crowd was momentarily stunned. Li Xuanli, having just been appointed as the True Dragon by their ancestor, was still unprepared to take on such a heavy responsibility. Although the ceremonial rites had yet to occur, his new role meant he was already burdened with the duties of the True Dragon.

After a brief pause, prompted by an elbow from his wife, Gao Qingqing, he quickly regained his composure and replied, "She’s in her quarters. Do you wish to see her? I can take you there. Whatever punishment you deem appropriate, given your current status... it is entirely justified."

As he spoke, his mind raced with concerns over potential repercussions. Thoughts of how Li Hao’s actions—should he kill Liu Yurong—might affect the reputation of the Divine General Mansion, flashed through his mind.

Yet just as swiftly, he dismissed those worries. Given Li Hao’s current title as a duke, poisoning him was a crime punishable by death. Though it would stain the Divine General Mansion’s name, the matter could be smoothed over politically.

After all, if the Liu family sought revenge, they would have to weigh their actions carefully against Li Hao’s growing influence. It was likely they would even send lavish gifts as an apology.

Such is the nature of large clans: the family’s prosperity outweighs a moment of anger or the reputation of one individual.

With these thoughts swirling, Li Xuanli quickly caught up with Li Hao.

"Then I’ll trouble you," Li Hao said with a faint nod.

The others instinctively followed. After all, the conflict that had driven Li Hao to sever ties with the Li family had been ignited by Liu Yurong’s poisoning.

Although the scandal had been suppressed, known only within the Divine General Mansion, the matter had left its mark. Now, was the young man about to exact his revenge?

Li Tiangang’s expression darkened, memories flooding his mind of his second brother, who had once shielded him from a blade. That man had cared for him since childhood and entrusted him with his wife and children before his death.

Now, though...

Guilt and sorrow gripped Li Tiangang. Still, he knew he no longer had any grounds to intervene.

Even so, deep within his heart, he hated Liu Yurong. But his hatred was entwined with brotherly love, which had led him to shield her in the past.

...

Ji Qingqing, however, quickly scrambled to her feet and dashed after him, her face etched with grief. She couldn’t believe that the child had truly left so decisively.

...

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