Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 321

Volume 3 - Chapter 55: Xiyan

Li Hao did not stop; he continued his deductions.

Soon, the third supreme technique, the transformation of the Myriad Flood Dragon Body into the Ancestral Dragon Divine Body, also reached the Dao Domain level.

The Dao Domain's law was one of solidification, capable of compressing and crushing everything within the domain.

With the expansion of this third Dao Domain layer, the previously faint Dao Intent was immediately and completely isolated.

However, isolation was not annihilation. The Dao Intent of a Saint could not be destroyed unless one shattered it with their own Dao!

Li Hao took no rest, continuing to deduce other techniques.

Quickly, layer upon layer of Dao Domains unfolded, covering the area around his body.

Within this abyss, Li Hao sat cross-legged. An unimaginably terrifying aura emanated from him. A total of nine layers of Dao Domains overlapped, completely isolating the decaying Dao Intent outside, rendering it incapable of approaching.

As for the other supreme techniques, Li Hao could only deduce them to the supreme skill level. Turning them into Dao Domains was constrained by the techniques' own limitations and lacked sufficient insight.

Unless his Body Dao advanced by another stage, he would not be able to fully compensate for these deficiencies.

Still, deducing several dozen supreme techniques to the level of supreme skills was already astonishingly remarkable.

Li Hao stood up and began practicing within the abyss. His entire body of flesh and blood compressed and contracted. Without access to the power of heaven and earth, he drew on the demonic blood from the Blood Lake, refining it with the Sacrificial True Demon Technique, converting it into the power of heaven and earth to temper himself.

His aura continued to rise and condense, his flesh and blood rapidly transforming, and his physical strength swiftly increasing.

Previously, his strength was less than two million catties. But as Li Hao continued his practice, it climbed to three million, four million, and five million catties!

This was already five times the strength of a typical Divine Power state!

Merely advancing from the seventh stage of the Body Dao to the eighth stage, coupled with the transformations brought by numerous techniques, resulted in such an astounding increase.

"I wonder, if I were to reach ten million catties, would I break through another limit?"

Li Hao's gaze shifted. However, for that to happen, he would need to find dozens more body-refining techniques that did not overlap with the ones he currently practiced, which would not be easy to obtain.

Without dwelling on it further, he resumed his practice and absorption.

The Blood Lake, which had once sought to claim his life, had now become a source of nourishment.

It was not until this moment that Li Hao took the time to sense the Blood Lake. The pure blood energy it contained was not as overwhelming as he had imagined. The demon saint had been dead for ten thousand years. Before its death, its physical body was severely depleted, its blood essence burned away, leaving only decayed remnants.

Even so, it had still been a demon saint. Li Hao spent several days absorbing the Blood Lake's pure power completely, transforming it entirely to refine himself.

His physical strength increased again, rising from five million catties to about seven million catties, equivalent to twice the power of a Divine Power state.

His body's toughness had also significantly improved. Although Li Hao was unsure of the exact extent, he felt that even without releasing any power, his body alone could likely enter another's Dao Domain without sustaining injuries.

Now, with layers of Dao Domains isolating him, Li Hao transferred the Candlefire God and Yin Lady from the Qiankun Belt into his Spatial Realm, along with other miscellaneous items. He initially planned to discard the now-damaged Qiankun Belt, as it was no longer useful to him.

But on second thought, it was thanks to this artifact that they had survived.

Li Hao decided to keep it. Then, with a stomp of his foot, he soared into the air. With nine layers of Dao Domains protecting him, their combined power rendered the abyssal laws of flight restriction ineffective.

It wasn't long before he emerged from the abyss, ascending into the high skies.

He looked up and saw the Prison Sky Island, the size of a silver disk, suspended in the sky. The three Abyssal Sky Locks had returned to their original positions, evidence that a significant figure from the Ji family had arrived to handle the matter.

However, it seemed they had not noticed him deep within the Blood Lake.

Even so, Li Hao harbored neither misunderstandings nor resentment. The chaotic Dao Intent over the Blood Lake had likely blocked any attempts to investigate.

...

Li Hao glanced at the Prison Sky Island and then looked away, his gaze calm, free of love or hate.

With a flicker of his figure, he retracted eight layers of his Dao Domains, leaving only one, and crossed the Arid Sea. Without hesitation, he flew straight away from this perilous land, seemingly bidding farewell to his past.

The vast Arid Sea, under the acceleration of Li Hao's Dao Domain, took only a short time to traverse.

Upon leaving the Arid Sea, the surrounding power of heaven and earth gathered rapidly, absorbed by his Spatial Realm, replenishing and nourishing his body.

Passing a solitary peak that guarded the Arid Sea, the elder stationed there was napping, but the sound of rushing wind startled him awake. He looked up and caught sight of a young figure soaring into the distance.

"Who is that…?"

The elder muttered in confusion. He could only see the youth's silhouette, unable to sense his aura.

Traveling tens of thousands of miles, Li Hao descended upon a hill and quickly opened his Spatial Realm. He released the Candlefire God and the Yin Lady, who were still curled up together, their bodies partially fused. A Dao Domain enveloped them, covering only their immediate surroundings. The extreme yang and extreme yin bloodlines continued to swirl around them.

Li Hao observed them carefully. It didn’t take long for him to discern the problem—they had chosen to fuse in a moment of desperation, but their strength had been insufficient, leaving the fusion incomplete.

Without external intervention, they might remain in this half-fused state for many years…

Nestled within their Dao Domain was Xiao Chi Xu, who had been saved by proximity. Taking advantage of the protective barrier, it had narrowly escaped death.

Li Hao wasted no time. He swiftly mobilized the Spatial Realm’s power, channeling abundant energy from the surrounding heavens and earth, guiding it toward the pair.

As this endless stream of energy poured in, the extreme yang and extreme yin bloodlines on their bodies slowed their spiraling motion and gradually sank into their respective forms.

Before long, their bodies began to change, appearing to grow and awaken.

The Candlefire God was the first to open its eyes, its gaze filled with confusion as it looked around. Upon seeing Li Hao, a sense of closeness emerged in its expression.

“Where is this place?”

Li Hao did not answer but said simply, “Withdraw your Dao Domain.”

The Candlefire God hesitated for a moment but obeyed instinctively, as if a deep-seated imprint made it trust the youth before it implicitly. Moreover, it sensed no killing intent from Li Hao.

As the Dao Domain dissipated, Li Hao reached out and gently picked up Xiao Chi Xu, cradling it in his palm.

The faintest trace of life force emanated from the crimson tendril. Li Hao suddenly remembered the Dao Rhythmic Blood Fruit in the Qiankun Belt. He had not consumed it earlier, as it held little value for him, intending instead to save it for Ren Qianqian.

This fruit, formed by the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King, was an extension of its own essence, making it ideal for restoring Xiao Chi Xu’s vitality.

Li Hao quickly retrieved the fruit, directing an immense yet meticulously controlled flow of energy. The energy was gentle, much like the moment when Xiao Chi Xu had lightly cradled him in the Blood Lake.

This energy, combined with the Dao Rhythmic Blood Fruit, transformed into a rich, crimson liquid and a stream of pure energy that slowly infused Xiao Chi Xu.

Li Hao watched closely. Soon, the faint life force in Xiao Chi Xu began to strengthen bit by bit.

He exhaled softly in relief.

As Xiao Chi Xu’s aura continued to grow stronger, the speed at which it absorbed energy increased. Before long, its body stretched and grew. A tiny tendril raised itself and swayed gently, its voice weak and bewildered:

“Am I… alive again?”

“It seems so,” Li Hao replied calmly.

“Then… does that mean none of us died?”

“Mm.”

“Wow!”

Xiao Chi Xu immediately wrapped itself around Li Hao’s arm, extending two small tendrils that resembled hands, waving them excitedly.

“We didn’t die! We’re alive! Is this a dream? How did you do it? I was even thinking of going to the River of Death to find you!”

Li Hao’s lips curved into a faint smile. “It seems you were smart enough not to sacrifice everything after all.”

“Are you angry at me?” Xiao Chi Xu hesitated, shrinking slightly.

“Take a guess.”

Xiao Chi Xu scanned its surroundings and finally confirmed that this wasn’t a dream—they had truly escaped the terrifying abyss alive.

Relaxing completely, its two tiny tendrils touched each other nervously, like a pair of small hands fidgeting.

“I mean, I am a demon after all. If I’d sacrificed everything for you, other demons would’ve laughed at me, even in death. Besides, even if I had given you what was left of me, it wouldn’t have been much. As a demon, I can only die at the hands of humans—that’s the only way to die with dignity!”

“You’re quite concerned about saving face.” Li Hao chuckled softly.

“So, you’re not mad at me, right?” Xiao Chi Xu immediately asked.

Li Hao replied with a smile, “Why would I be? You don’t owe me anything.”

“Does that mean our agreement still stands?” It asked cautiously.

“Of course.”

Li Hao raised his hand. “Pinky promise.”

“Yes, pinky promise!”

Xiao Chi Xu quickly coiled around Li Hao’s pinky, renewing their agreement.

“Wherever you want to go, I’ll accompany you.”

Li Hao spoke softly, then smiled faintly. “Once we leave this place, I’ll find some divine medicines and rare materials to help you recover your body.”

“You said it! Are you going to charge interest?”

“Yes, one bite a day.”

“But I’m not fully recovered yet!”

“Then it’ll go on your tab.”

“How long can I owe you?”

“That depends on when you pay it back.”

“…”

After a brief silence, Li Hao asked, “What should I call you from now on?”

“I don’t know. Everyone calls me the Crimson Blood Vine Demon King.”

“Do you have a proper name?”

“Isn’t Crimson Blood Vine Demon King a name?”

“That’s more of a title.”

“Well, I can’t think of anything… Why don’t you just give me one?”

Li Hao glanced at the moonflowers blooming on the hill and said, “How about Xiyan?”

“A name from a flower?”

“Yes.”

“So, from now on, I’ll be called Xiyan? Xiyan… I have a name now?”

“Mm.”

“It sounds nice! From now on, I’ll be Xiyan. If anyone calls me Crimson Blood Vine Demon King, I won’t respond!”

Li Hao smiled. As Xiyan coiled around his wrist like a crimson ring, his gaze softened, becoming more serious.

He turned to look at the Candlefire God and the Yin Lady, who had also awakened. As Ji Yunge had said, their past memories seemed to have disappeared. Now, they appeared especially close to him.

“From now on, you’ll follow me,” Li Hao said.

The two quickly nodded.

Their bodies separated from their half-fused state, transforming into the forms of a young man and woman who knelt before Li Hao.

Li Hao raised his hand, channeling more of the surrounding heaven and earth energy. With careful control, he infused it into their bodies.

Their bones and flesh began to grow slowly, their auras strengthening. Their appearances seemed to age by a year or two.

Li Hao planned to gradually help them regain their former strength on the journey back.

Now, their restored strength was no longer of concern to him.

Placing them back into his Spatial Realm, Li Hao took a step forward and disappeared from the hill in an instant.

...

On the Ji family’s Sacred Mountain...

A month and a half had passed since Li Hao’s supposed death, but the grief still lingered among the Ji family members, unable to dissipate. Though no one spoke of it anymore, the sorrow was palpable.

At the Ji family ancestral shrine, an elderly heroic spirit sat on the threshold, gazing into the distance, tears streaming down his face daily.

His daughter was gone, and the most outstanding grandson as well.

He never expected to shed so many tears and endure so much heartache, even in death.

Outside the shrine, several mountain peaks stood in a connected chain, home to the Yun branch of the Ji family.

“News from the investigation has arrived.”

Inside a hall nestled within the peaks, Ji Tianchao and the others looked visibly dejected. In just over a month, they seemed to have aged significantly.

“His father was from the Li family of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. That child was the most exceptional genius of the Li family in a thousand years, but he fought with his father and was forced out of the family.”

“Recently, we heard that he saved an entire province and countless millions, becoming a contemporary hero, admired by countless geniuses, and even appointed as a general and a marquis by the Jiang Emperor…”

“No wonder he used the surname Ji…”

“But Qingqing…”

As they read through the investigation report, their expressions darkened, and their sorrow deepened.

It was hard to imagine what that youth had endured to make it to this point.

“Is this fate? Is the Ji family’s destiny truly so dim…” Ji Yun Yue muttered, her face marked by desolation.

Ji Yun Qing’s lips quivered slightly as though she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

At that moment, Ji Tianchao suddenly raised his head and looked toward the horizon.

His once somber gaze turned sharp with surprise.

Staring intently, he waited.

Before long, a dark shadow broke through the sky, approaching swiftly.

As the figure drew closer, Ji Tianchao froze, his eyes widening inch by inch until they brimmed with incredulous shock.

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