Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 352

Volume 3 - Chapter 74: Dismissing the True Dragon

Li Hao rose from bed, tidied himself up briefly, and set out with the Candlefire God and Xiyan, heading towards the Li Family Divine General Mansion.

This time, he came to retrieve his decree of appointment, along with the official seal and other items. "According to the old man, that couple refuses to hand them over. Since that's the case, I’ll take them myself."

Standing once more before the grand and majestic Divine General Mansion of the Li Family, Li Hao raised his head slightly, gazing at the bold, gilded characters above the gate. Memories of the past flashed through his mind like a whirlwind, but eventually, they all settled deep within his heart.

News of Li Hao’s arrival caused an uproar within the mansion. He Jianlan and others personally came to greet him at the entrance. After Li Hao explained the purpose of his visit, He Jianlan and the others felt a mix of tension and anticipation in their hearts, only to see their hopes dashed moments later. He Jianlan quickly invited Li Hao into Qingchun Courtyard and treated him like an honored guest. She personally brewed tea for him while instructing someone to inform Shanhe Courtyard and ask Ji Tiangang to bring the items.

Soon, word of Li Hao's presence spread, drawing everyone in the mansion out into the streets. They knew that meeting this young man again after parting might take a long time, perhaps even years, or maybe never again.

The once-quiet Qingchun Courtyard soon became lively. Meanwhile, in the ancestral shrine, where Ji Tiangang knelt in repentance, he had just returned from his patrol of Yuan Province's military affairs the previous night. He planned to pay his respects to the ancestors before resuming his duties, but once he entered the shrine, he hadn’t left since.

Inside, Ji Tiangang reported everything truthfully without excuses, fully aware of his errors. His narration carried a sense of regret and grief, deeply moving the many Li family ancestors listening to him. Shocked and enraged, their emotions eventually turned to sorrow as they processed the bitter truth: their family’s most promising genius, Li Hao, had been driven out of the Li Family by his biological parents. Late into the dark night, roars of anger echoed behind the shrine’s doors, their fury suppressed by the walls of the ancestral shrine.

Outside the shrine, Li Qingzheng sat beneath a newly blossomed peach tree, leaning against its trunk. Peach petals drifted down, some landing near his side where a jar of wine, brought back from Yunxia Tower, sat. He drank alone, hearing the echoes of rage from within the shrine but feeling no satisfaction. His heart remained calm, like a still lake, reflecting the moon above. The serenity of the ancestral shrine contrasted starkly with the warm lights illuminating every courtyard of the Divine General Mansion.

...

In Shanhe Courtyard, Ji Tiangang’s eyes were red with exhaustion as he received the message about Li Hao’s arrival. Initially joyful at the prospect of seeing him again, Ji Tiangang’s heart sank when he learned that Li Hao had come only for his decree and seal. The hope that had bloomed within him was extinguished, leaving behind a pang of sorrow. Ji Tiangang immediately left for Qingchun Courtyard.

When Ji Qingqing heard the news, her blank, hollow eyes regained clarity, and tears welled up. She hurriedly rose, leaping through the air directly toward Qingchun Courtyard. Others, like Li Yuan, Li Wushuang, and Li Yuan, also rushed over upon hearing the commotion. As they watched Li Hao surrounded by elders and relatives, this scene seemed both familiar and unusually fervent.

He Jianlan and others chatted with Li Hao, asking about his plans. Li Hao replied with a faint smile, saying, "I plan to travel the world, to see the mountains, rivers, and the scenery of various places. Since I came to this world, I might as well explore it to my satisfaction."

Hearing his words, Li Xiaoran, seated under the eaves of another house, let out a bitter smile. If the youth before him had still been part of the Li Family, such words would have felt nostalgic. Li Xiaoran remembered his own youthful days, wandering the mountains and rivers, challenging the world’s sects with his name concealed. Yet, unlike Li Hao, Li Xiaoran always had a home to return to. But where would this young man find his place to rest?

“Where is home?” The quiet murmurs within the hall were suddenly broken by a whistling sound. Ji Tiangang and Ji Qingqing arrived one after the other, standing on the eaves above. Li Xiaoran wiped away his bitter smile and composed himself.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere grew tense. Everyone's eyes fell on Ji Tiangang, whose hands were empty. He Jianlan’s face changed, her voice stern as she asked, “Where is it?”

Ji Tiangang ignored her question and walked straight into the hall, his eyes fixed solely on the young man seated there. His grief and regret burned in his chest like a searing fire. He took a deep breath and said hoarsely, "What must I do for you to forgive your mother and me?"

Li Hao frowned and replied coldly, "I’ve said it before: we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Stop calling yourselves my parents."

"But your mother had no other choice!" Ji Tiangang said, his teeth clenched. "Must you have my life for atonement?"

Li Hao’s brow furrowed even deeper, his gaze turning colder. "I’ve made it clear: the past is the past. Mountains are mountains, seas are seas. You are you, and I am me. Isn’t that clear enough?"

Ji Tiangang’s eyes reddened with anguish. “Do you have any idea how much we’ve suffered? Your mother weeps daily, consumed by regret. I... I’m in agony, too.”

Li Hao’s cold expression remained unmoved. He picked up his teacup and took a sip, as if he had already transcended the turmoil before him.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, He Jianlan’s emotions flared. She stood up and said sharply, “Tiangang, what’s the point of all this? Do you think your pain compares to Hao’er’s? He almost died! Can you even imagine that?”

Ji Tiangang’s face turned pale, and his expression became even more sorrowful. “But what can we do?” he asked, his voice trembling.

He Jianlan gritted her teeth. “Isn’t it clear? He has nothing to do with you anymore. He’s here to take what rightfully belongs to him—the glory he earned through his own merits in Liang Province. Did you bring it?”

Her words struck Ji Tiangang deeply. His hand trembled slightly as he raised his head to glance at He Jianlan, then at Li Hao, who was drinking tea silently without saying a word. Ji Tiangang clenched his teeth and asked, “You’ve severed ties with us, let go of our bloodline, and abandoned the past. Then why have you come back here?”

Li Hao placed the teacup down gently, his demeanor calm like a still lake. “Precisely because I’ve let go, I came here.”

This response caused He Jianlan and the others to feel a pang in their hearts. They understood that this youth had truly moved on, leaving the past behind. However, this also made him feel more distant than ever.

Ji Tiangang’s face darkened as emotions churned within him. “Do you want me to beg you? Fine, I’ll beg you now. I’ll do it in front of everyone. Will you come back to us then?”

He Jianlan’s face changed instantly. She scolded, “Is this how you beg? This attitude?”

Li Hao gently shook his head, gesturing for He Jianlan not to get angry. He turned to Ji Tiangang, his gaze solemn. “Stop this. Weren’t you always the one who upheld the rules? From my perspective, I no longer have any connection with the Li Family. What is the meaning of you withholding my decree and official seal?”

Ji Tiangang’s expression grew more complicated. Matters of the battlefield were something he could analyze and resolve with absolute clarity, but when it came to family matters, everything became a tangled mess. Deep down, he knew that handing over those items to Li Hao would signify a complete and irrevocable severance of their ties.

Ji Qingqing stepped forward, her face streaked with tears. She seemed about to plead with Li Hao, but upon seeing her tear-streaked face, Li Hao’s brows furrowed. He stood up, his voice cold. “It’s getting late. If you won’t give it to me, so be it. I won’t ask again.”

He turned to He Jianlan and the others, looking around the room. Then, he bowed deeply. “This junior will take his leave now. Thank you, esteemed elders, for the care you’ve shown me in the past. May we meet again if fate allows.”

With that, Li Hao performed a respectful bow to He Jianlan and began walking toward the exit, bypassing Ji Tiangang and Ji Qingqing.

“Stop right there!”

Ji Tiangang called out in desperation. Ji Qingqing tried to chase after him, but a force stopped her in her tracks—it was Li Hao’s Dao Domain. Without pausing, Li Hao continued walking until he saw a figure standing at the mansion gate. His steps slowed.

The coldness on Li Hao’s face melted away as he greeted the elderly man warmly, “Uncle Zhao, why didn’t you come to the banquet last night? I was waiting to offer you a toast.”

The butler, Uncle Zhao, wiped tears from his eyes and forced a smile. “Young Master, this old servant was busy with matters and couldn’t attend. Please forgive me.”

Li Hao smiled faintly, seemingly understanding the reason. “I’m no longer the young master of Shanhe Courtyard. From now on, just call me lad.”

Uncle Zhao shook his head slowly. “To me, you will always be the young master of Shanhe Courtyard.”

Li Hao’s lips moved slightly, and he looked at Uncle Zhao with genuine warmth. Without correcting him, he raised his hand, summoning a Demon King’s Heart from his storage space. “This is a Demon King’s Heart. It has the power to extend lifespan and rejuvenate the body. Take it.”

“No, no, I can’t possibly accept such a treasure,” Uncle Zhao refused hurriedly.

Li Hao pushed the heart into his hands. “It’s no great treasure. If I wanted more, I’d just kill another in Xinzhou. Take it, no excuses.”

Uncle Zhao’s hands trembled as he accepted it, his eyes misting over. This child hasn’t changed, he thought to himself. He still treats the grand pursuits of cultivation as transient and fleeting, while valuing the ordinary and the sentimental.

Li Hao patted Uncle Zhao’s shoulder and thought briefly of Li Fu, who had died in Liang Province. He sighed softly but said nothing further. As he stepped out of the gate, he glanced at the eaves across the way, where Li Xiaoran sat.

Li Hao nodded slightly and smiled faintly, bidding farewell to the elder who had fought alongside him in Mohe Courtyard. Li Xiaoran responded with a subtle nod, his thoughts unreadable.

As Li Hao reached the steps leading out of the courtyard, Li Yuan, Li Jianpeng, and others hurried over to stop him. Before they could speak, beams of golden light suddenly shot across the sky from the direction of the ancestral shrine.

The golden light revealed itself as the souls of countless Li family ancestors, rushing toward the courtyard. Among them, one figure stood out, his physique grand and imposing, his aura far surpassing that of the other ancestral souls. It was none other than the revered ancestor, Li Tianyuan.

The arrival of so many ancestors left everyone in the courtyard stunned. They hurriedly knelt in reverence, their voices trembling as they addressed the spirits. Servants, maids, and guards from nearby courtyards also dropped to their knees, awed by the presence of the ancestral souls.

He Jianlan and the others rushed out, their expressions a mix of shock and reverence as they knelt to pay homage. Inside the hall, Ji Qingqing and Ji Tiangang also dropped to their knees, their faces pale.

In an instant, only one figure remained standing amidst the sea of kneeling people: Li Hao.

Surrounded by the countless Li family ancestors, Li Hao looked slightly surprised.

Li Tianyuan gazed at Li Hao with a gentle expression. “We’ve all heard about what your parents have done. While we’ve reprimanded them, we cannot take their place in seeking your forgiveness. Nevertheless, for the sake of the rest of the Li Family, could you consider staying?”

Li Hao’s expression remained calm, his tone steady. “The kindness shown to me by the Li Family is something I have not forgotten. Whether it’s the mountains or the seas, we may meet again someday. I ask for your understanding.”

Hearing this, the ancestral souls’ expressions shifted. Some appeared sorrowful, while others sighed softly, understanding that severed ties could not be mended so easily. They had come not to coerce him but to make one final effort.

“Your father has erred greatly,” Li Tianyuan said gravely. “Despite his accomplishments on the battlefield, his conduct within the family has been tyrannical and unbalanced. From this day forward, we strip him of his title as the True Dragon.”

The courtyard fell silent, the announcement leaving everyone in shock. Few could believe that such a severe punishment had been imposed. Though Ji Tiangang’s achievements in defending Liang Province were undeniable, his actions toward Li Hao were an indelible stain on his reputation.

Ji Tiangang, already kneeling, lowered his head further, as if he had expected this outcome. Beside him, Ji Qingqing’s body trembled.

As for Li Hao, his expression remained calm, as though the matter had nothing to do with him.

Li Tianyuan’s gaze softened as he continued, “Even though you no longer bear the Li Family bloodline, if you are willing, I am prepared to make an unprecedented exception and declare you the True Dragon of the Li Family.”

The courtyard fell silent again. Every pair of eyes turned toward Li Tianyuan, astonishment and disbelief flickering in their gazes. The other ancestral souls, having been informed of Li Tianyuan’s intentions earlier, looked on with anticipation, their expressions solemn. They too understood the enormity of such a decision—breaking the precedent of bloodline inheritance was an act that defied the family’s ancient traditions.

“Should you accept,” Li Tianyuan added, his voice resolute, “the Li Family will dedicate all of its resources to your cultivation and will support you as you strive to reach the Dao Seeker Realm and beyond.”

The surrounding ancestors’ eyes shone with hope, reflecting the sincerity in their patriarch’s decision. Those gathered in the courtyard, including He Jianlan, Ji Qingqing, Li Yuan, and Li Wushuang, were visibly shaken by the announcement. They could barely comprehend the possibility of a person without Li family blood ascending to the position of True Dragon.

Yet, no matter how shocking the declaration seemed, their gazes inevitably turned toward Li Hao, their faces filled with anticipation and a faint glimmer of hope.

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