Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 307

Volume 3 - Chapter 47: Your Son is a Prodigy - Part 1

The news of Li Hao completing his cultivation retreat spread quickly. It wasn't long before Ji Yunyue and others arrived to visit him.

Upon seeing him again, they all noticed subtle changes in Li Hao's aura.

However, with his All-Manifestations Attribute concealing his energy, they were unable to discern the specifics of his transformation.

Li Hao asked and learned that his integration of the Painting Dao and cultivation of the Qi Meridian had taken five days in total.

“When will I be able to see my mother?”

Li Hao inquired.

“The Arid Sea is almost calm. You’ll be able to see her soon.”

Ji Yunyue retrieved a ten-inch-tall ancient mirror from her spatial realm and spoke gently, “This is the Sky-Gazing Mirror, a sacred treasure borrowed from the family head. It can reveal the situation on Prison Sky Island. You can see Qingqing right now.”

Li Hao expressed his gratitude and took the mirror. Under Ji Yunyue’s guidance, he infused his energy into it and immediately felt his consciousness sink into the artifact. A massive map materialized in his mind.

The map depicted the entirety of the Ji Family's Sacred Land Secret Realm. By concentrating his thoughts, Li Hao could observe the entire region.

The very fact that this artifact had been lent to him further demonstrated the Ji Family’s recognition of him.

Li Hao could feel their goodwill but refrained from peering into other areas indiscreetly. Instead, he focused his attention on the extreme north of the Sacred Land Secret Realm, as directed by Ji Yunyue.

The mirror’s surface began to display an image as if piercing through clouds and mist, revealing a vast expanse of ocean.

The sea was deep and dark red, as though a pool of coagulated blood lay at its depths.

Waves surged above while clouds gathered, occasionally stirred by sweeping sea winds.

Li Hao was inwardly astonished. The Ji Family's Sacred Land Secret Realm was far more expansive than he had imagined.

Based on the map’s scale, the area he had previously seen accounted for only one percent of its total expanse!

At the center of this vast ocean lay a pitch-black abyss. Viewed from above, it resembled a massive, bottomless eye in the ocean’s heart.

Above this colossal abyss hovered a floating island, swaying slightly with the fierce winds at high altitude.

Three enormous chains extended from different angles of the island, anchoring it like the strings of a kite to prevent it from soaring even higher.

Focusing his thoughts on the island, Li Hao saw several mountain peaks and cave residences. Amid the mountains stood a small thatched hut.

In front of the hut, a figure bent over, moving stones to rebuild a collapsed stone wall beside the hut.

Her clothing was tattered, her hair disheveled and gray from neglect. Dirt and dried mud streaked her face and arms.

Despite her unkempt appearance, Li Hao instantly recognized the woman who had cradled him in her arms fifteen years ago.

He had not expected that their first reunion would present her in such a disheveled state.

She was entirely different from the graceful and elegant woman he remembered from the Divine General Mansion.

Li Hao's expression darkened, and a mix of anger and complex emotions welled up within him. He took a deep breath and asked, “With my mother’s cultivation, she shouldn’t be in such a wretched state. Was her cultivation crippled?”

Ji Yunyue and the others, having also seen the image, exchanged uneasy glances. They were well aware of the situation on Prison Sky Island.

That place was one of extreme peril, reserved for imprisoning the Ji Family's most heinous criminals.

For someone like Ji Qingqing, whose crimes were relatively minor, her punishment was considered lenient. Other prisoners included traitors, demon conspirators, and those who had slaughtered family members for treasures.

Some were executed outright, while others were spared through ancestral pleas for mercy, resulting in exile to this place.

“Qingqing's cultivation has not been crippled.”

Fearing that Li Hao might misunderstand, Ji Yunqing quickly explained, “If her cultivation were abolished, she wouldn’t survive on Prison Sky Island for even a few days. It would be no different from execution.”

“Exactly. Besides, Qingqing possesses pure bloodline talent and is considered a prodigy in our clan. She reached the Three Immortals Realm in her teens. Crippling her cultivation would have been a waste,” Ji Yunyue added.

She gazed at the mirror’s image and elaborated, “Her current state is due to the unique laws governing Prison Sky Island.”

“In the Arid Sea surrounding the island, ordinary people cannot cross, not even those in the Absolute Technique Stage, unless they wield a Dao Domain to counter the sea’s rules.”

“At the desolate abyss at the sea’s center, even Dao Domains are ineffective. It is an absolute no-fly zone where sound cannot travel, and the world's energy is completely severed!”

“Thus, cultivation is impossible on Prison Sky Island. Any energy consumed there cannot be replenished.”

“Prisoners must rely solely on their physical strength to endure. Those who can’t will inevitably perish there.”

Ji Yunyue spoke softly, “When Qingqing was sent to Prison Sky Island, her spatial realm was filled with food and supplies. Even the family head turned a blind eye. We planned to resupply her every ten years to avoid raising suspicion. While she has no worries about food and drink, the environment there is indeed harsh.”

Ji Yunqing nodded and sighed, “Fortunately, the Imperial Court intervened. The other prisoners on the island dare not provoke Qingqing. Most of them hope for release someday and would not risk offending someone with connections outside. While her days are hard, you needn’t worry about other dangers.”

Li Hao silently observed the woman in the mirror as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. Seemingly sensing something, she raised her head and looked toward the sky.

Her gaze appeared to penetrate the mirror, locking eyes with Li Hao.

Li Hao felt an inexplicable sensation as if their bloodlines resonated.

However, the woman in the mirror only looked briefly, her expression puzzled, before retreating into the hut to rest.

Li Hao continued observing for a moment longer before shifting his gaze to other areas of Prison Sky Island. He saw several caves where ragged Ji family prisoners, resembling wild men with disheveled hair and filthy bodies, either sat listlessly or lay sprawled.

Some scratched marks onto the stone walls, seemingly recording the passage of time.

Although the number of prisoners was not large, a single glance was enough for Li Hao to feel the pervasive desolation and oppressive despair enveloping the island.

He decided not to intrude further, withdrew his consciousness from the Sky-Gazing Mirror, and handed it back to Ji Yunyue. “How long will it take for the Arid Sea to calm enough for me to cross? Can I traverse it using a Dao Domain?”

“Child, there’s no need to rush. The Arid Sea should settle by tomorrow,” Ji Yunyue said, her tone gentle. “You saw it earlier—the sea is already calming. Even with a Dao Domain, the crossing is difficult. Without energy replenishment, the return journey would be perilous. The safest option is to use a boat.”

“Tomorrow, I will accompany you,” she continued. “Additionally, we’ll need to collect a Twinflower before bringing your mother back. Without it to neutralize her poison, leaving the unique environment of Prison Sky Island and the Arid Sea would quickly lead to her death.”

“She’s been poisoned?” Li Hao’s expression darkened.

“It’s not the kind of poison you’re thinking of,” Ji Yunyue reassured him. “It’s a special toxin administered to all Prison Sky Island prisoners to prevent them from escaping or being secretly rescued by family elders.”

“As long as they remain on the island, they won’t suffer any adverse effects and will live like normal people. But leaving the island without the antidote would cause severe consequences.”

Li Hao nodded in understanding, realizing how strict the Ji family’s control over its prisoners was.

“Child,” Ji Yunqing said warmly, “since you’ve completed your cultivation retreat, why don’t you visit your grandfather first? He’s been longing to see you ever since hearing about your achievements.”

Li Hao glanced at them, seeing the hopeful light in their eyes. Remembering the lingering will of Li Tianzong’s remnant soul, he felt a twinge of guilt and nodded.

Seeing Li Hao agree, both Ji Yunyue and Ji Yunqing beamed with joy. They immediately escorted him to the Ji family’s ancestral hall.

On the way, Li Hao inquired, “Why haven’t I seen that senior, Ji Tianchao?”

At the mention of Ji Tianchao, Ji Yunqing and Ji Yunyue exchanged peculiar glances.

“Recently, people from the Qin family have been wandering outside the Secret Realm, causing trouble for our Ji family,” Ji Yunqing explained. “They claim someone saw a youth claiming to be from an Ancient Holy Clan enter this place before disappearing. They’ve come to investigate.”

At this, both looked at Li Hao.

Li Hao paused, slightly surprised. Had someone noticed his movements during his journey here?

Yet he hadn’t sensed anyone.

“According to the Qin family’s description, this youth defeated a Qin family prodigy, even besting Qin Tianchen, one of the Qin family’s top ten geniuses and a master in the Absolute Technique Stage. They said the youth was only fourteen or fifteen years old...”

Ji Yunqing stopped and studied Li Hao carefully.

Seeing the peculiar expressions on their faces, Li Hao realized they had already guessed that the person described by the Qin family was him.

He could only sigh in resignation and nodded.

Both elders exchanged knowing looks and then burst into laughter.

“We suspected it might be you,” Ji Yunqing said with delight. “Lately, the Great Wilderness Heaven has been abuzz with tales of an Ancient Holy Clan youth cutting down prodigies and triumphing over stronger opponents. Your reputation precedes you!”

“Are the rumors true? Are you really from an Ancient Holy Clan? Isn’t your father from beyond the Great Wilderness Heaven?”

Li Hao shook his head. “That’s nonsense. I made it up because I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to handle the truth.”

“...”

The two elders were momentarily speechless.

Of all the explanations they had considered, this was the last one they expected.

Unable to handle the truth? Did he mean he feared that the Qin family and the other clans’ young elites might suffer a complete mental collapse if they knew?

You’re surprisingly considerate... The two elders chuckled inwardly. But thinking of Li Hao’s displayed strength, they understood how his actions had likely dealt significant blows to many young elites.

Some would fall into despair, while others might begin idolizing Li Hao as though he were a reincarnated deity.

Before Li Hao, all other prodigies paled in comparison.

After all, in Ancient Holy Clans, strength alone determined respect.

“The family head also suspected it was you and sent Ji Tianchao to handle the Qin family,” Ji Yunqing said with a smile.

“They wouldn’t dare cause real trouble here. This is Ji family territory, after all. If they push us too far, we’ll kill every single one of them and see what the Qin family does about it. Worst case, we go to war. At least we’d have the advantage of striking first.”

Ji Yunyue added, her tone cold but resolute. Though a woman, her determination and ferocity were no less than any man’s.

Hearing this, Li Hao was momentarily at a loss for words, gaining a deeper understanding of the ruthless ways of the Ancient Holy Clans.

Before long...

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