Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 306

Volume 3 - Chapter 46: Painting Dao Enlightenment, Qi Meridian

The two members of the Ji family were initially surprised, but they eagerly complied with Li Hao's request and quickly fetched paper and brush.

Li Hao took the brush and ink, levitating a blank sheet of paper, using his object manipulation power as a painting board. He swiftly ground the ink.

As the brush and ink flowed, Li Hao began to sketch the gradually clear image of the woman from his memory onto the improvised painting board.

Draped in fine silk, the elegant figure stood tall. Fully immersed in the process, Li Hao quickly finished one painting.

Yet he didn’t stop. Dipping the brush in ink again, he continued painting.

One painting after another grew increasingly intricate, progressing from the woman, to the courtyard, to the civil and military officials at the banquet celebrating the hundredth day.

The scrolls carried the essence of his spirit, resembling a series of connected illustrations. They continued until the depiction of the couple leading an army out of their home.

Li Hao’s brush never faltered as he gradually unveiled those sealed, blurry memories.

A child gazing out, alone, in the courtyard.

A child tilting his head to watch the snow fall in the courtyard.

A hunched old steward, watching from a distant pavilion, his face full of smiles but his eyes radiating sorrow.

Household servants sweeping fallen leaves occasionally glanced at the young master, smiles flickering in their gazes.

In the snowy courtyard, the small child played and chased snowballs with the servants.

A noblewoman carried the child, leading him to another courtyard where a four- or five-year-old practiced swordsmanship.

The child lay on the bed, staring beyond the room’s door, shadows looming faintly.

The noblewoman held the child in her arms, her kind smile concealing sharp edges within her crescent-like eyes...

The brushstrokes flowed unceasingly.

A small “shadow” appeared beside the child, accompanying him in foundational medicine baths, blood refinement, and training. Meanwhile, a middle-aged man in a green robe joined the courtyard.

Under the starry night sky, the man and child drank together beneath the moonlight.

Finally, there was the image of a severed hand in a green sleeve presented in the main hall.

Li Hao’s brush hesitated briefly, and two clear tears fell onto the brush handle he held.

“Master...”

No one else remembered his name, but Li Hao still did. His first master: Lin Haixia.

A gentle name, yet belonging to a man of iron will and unyielding courage.

Li Hao felt a rupture in his mind, as though something had broken. The Painting Dao experience, which had already reached the full sixth segment, now prompted a subtle sound of advancement.

...

[Painting Dao Experience +726...]
[Painting Dao Experience +682...]

Immersed in past memories, Li Hao remained unaware that his Painting Dao had already achieved spiritual enlightenment.

Only those moments from the past grew ever clearer in his mind.

But when Li Hao reached the image of the severed hand, he stopped painting.

After a long time, his emotions gradually calmed, and he finally noticed the notifications of his Painting Dao experience. His gaze flickered slightly, but he felt no particular joy.

“To seek but not attain, and to not seek but gain—these are two entirely different states of mind.”

When his Culinary Dao had achieved spiritual enlightenment before, Li Hao had realized that the more one desires a breakthrough, the more it becomes an unyielding shackle.

Only when one’s state of mind undergoes a fundamental transformation can such attachments be left behind. Thus, even rapid improvement no longer brings excitement.

It was like plucking a fallen leaf—everything unfolded naturally.

Li Hao paused briefly and noticed that the ink on his brush had already dried.

Though it seemed like only a brief lapse in concentration, quite some time had passed outside.

Li Hao didn’t stop. Glancing at the painting of the lively girl, he picked up the brush again and painted the woman whose image had completely crystallized in his memory.

With the extraordinary artistry of the seventh segment of Painting Dao, his brushstrokes appeared effortless. Yet the figure on the paper seemed to leap off the page, her gentle gaze meeting the young man beyond the painting. Her eyes held a warmth that made her appear as though she stood alive before him.

This was no realism painting but an ink painting. Even the brushstroke shading on her sleeves revealed traces of ink washes. However, her expression defied mere art—it was imbued with life.

Li Hao set aside his brush and ink. With a flicker of intent, his object manipulation power gathered the scattered paintings on the floor. He arranged them neatly, ensuring all the ink had dried before stacking them.

The topmost painting in this stack of memory-filled scrolls was of that gentle, lively woman.

After completing this, Li Hao’s divine sense swept out, sensing beyond the hall. He noticed that aside from the original attendants, many others were waiting outside.

He frowned slightly, guessing that they had come because of his Dao Seed identity.

He had no intention of entertaining them. Instead, he brought up his personal panel, setting a barrier around himself to prevent any surveillance.

Although others couldn’t see his panel, he planned to assign points, which would likely cause his aura to intensify significantly.

Currently, Li Hao’s panel displayed:

• Body Dao: 7 segments

• Royalty Dao: 6 segments

• Sword Dao: 6 segments

• Fist Dao: 6 segments

• Movement Dao: 6 segments

A total of 31 Art Skill Points had been consumed.

The various arts he had mastered were:

• Chess Dao: 5 segments

• Fishing Dao: 6 segments

• Music Dao: 4 segments

• Calligraphy Dao: 3 segments

• Sculpting Dao: 3 segments

• Culinary Dao: 7 segments

• Painting Dao: 7 segments

In total, 35 Art Skill Points.

He still had 4 points remaining, which were currently unused. Unless Li Hao chose to learn new Martial Dao techniques, such as techniques involving spears or blades, they were of no immediate value.

After all, mastering parallel weapon arts added little to his strength.

Moreover, the world of weapons was vast—there were eighteen primary weapon categories alone. Mastering every single one would be impossible.

Having achieved a second spiritual enlightenment in state of mind, Li Hao decided to assign points to Royalty Dao.

Though Sword Dao was also crucial, greatly enhancing his offensive power and the levels of various sword techniques, Li Hao preferred to prioritize improving his cultivation realm.

A higher cultivation level made overwhelming techniques with pure strength much easier.

Additionally, Royalty Dao encompassed meridian-opening methods and spirit-refining techniques.

[State of Mind: Painting Dao Enlightenment (Usable)]

Li Hao made no hesitation and assigned points to Royalty Dao.

As the notification disappeared, the “Usable” tag beside Painting Dao Enlightenment changed to “Unavailable.”

At the same time, a torrent of vast knowledge surged into his mind.

The influx of information was immense. If Li Hao had been a mere toddler, he might have been rendered an empty shell, unable to withstand the impact.

The knowledge concerning Royalty Dao—from mortal transformation to the transcendent—was thoroughly detailed and began unraveling before Li Hao’s eyes, being rapidly absorbed by his mind.

Li Hao carefully digested and integrated the insights from this Dao realm.

When he fully assimilated the knowledge, he noticed that his techniques for meridian opening, spirit refining, and object manipulation had undergone significant evolution.

However, the most profound transformation was not in the anticipated areas of spirit refining or object manipulation—it was in the meridian-opening methods!

The previous pinnacle technique, the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique, had evolved into the Star Zhoutian Technique!

The Dragon River Divine Veins had transformed into the Dragon Abyss Divine Veins!

These technique upgrades elevated Li Hao’s understanding of meridian opening to an entirely new level.

The 108 meridians, along with the Yin-Yang Dual Meridians, had already reached the pinnacle of major meridians within the body.

But with Royalty Dao achieving seven segments and ascending to the transcendent, Li Hao glimpsed a new revelation.

If mortal meridians had reached their peak, why not transcend mortality?

Sitting cross-legged, Li Hao circulated the celestial energy within his body, letting it flow through his major meridians. Then, it leapt beyond the 108 meridians.

The celestial energy coiled and condensed, gradually forming a new, ephemeral meridian within his body.

A Qi Meridian!

This Qi Meridian connected and interlinked the 108 major meridians, forging a unified flow.

Though the Qi Meridian was thin, it resembled a simulated, entirely new major meridian!

...

With the condensation of this Qi Meridian, Li Hao immediately felt his energy surge anew. Each meridian opened brought immense power.

Let alone that the methods of energy circulation had also improved; each meridian could now circulate energy two thousand cycles, and opening one meridian resulted in a strength increase of over 400,000 jin.

The Qi Meridian, in turn, offered even greater capacity and faster circulation!

“108 meridians aren’t the limit. Beyond mortal meridians lie Qi Meridians...”

Li Hao’s gaze turned introspective as he pondered the transcendent insights of Royalty Dao’s seventh segment.

The pinnacle of mortal meridians was the Heaven-Earth Meridians. But what was the pinnacle of Qi Meridians?

Li Hao couldn’t imagine. Even mortal pinnacles had caused countless geniuses to falter. For the pinnacle of transcendence, perhaps even the ancient holy clans of the desolate age had no records.

Considering this, Li Hao resolved to explore further if given the opportunity.

At that moment, his celestial energy surged as he continued to condense Qi Meridians within his body.

One. Two. Three...

When he reached twelve Qi Meridians, the techniques and Dao realms he had mastered were stretched to their limits, preventing further condensation.

The twelve Qi Meridians had greatly bolstered Li Hao’s power, though not to the level of a qualitative transformation. Yet he understood that this was merely the beginning of a new path.

The road beyond the pinnacle.

Once this new pinnacle was fully realized, its terrifying potential would be fully unveiled.

Beyond the meridian-opening techniques, Li Hao shifted his focus to spirit refining and object manipulation.

Time flowed quietly as his refinements progressed.

The enhancements to his spirit refining and object manipulation techniques pushed his capabilities in the Divine Wandering Realm and the Fifteen-Li Realm to unprecedented heights.

However, his repertoire of techniques in these realms was relatively limited. His Divine Wandering distance improved from fifty li to ninety li.

Similarly, his object manipulation range expanded to nearly one hundred li.

Though not yet at their ultimate limits, Li Hao could sense he was close.

With a few more top-tier techniques in these areas, he believed he could breach the pinnacle.

Immersed in his cultivation and deduction, Li Hao remained focused until three knocks sounded at the hall door.

Receiving no response from Li Hao, the person outside fell silent again.

Two more days passed. Having fully absorbed the insights of Royalty Dao’s seventh segment, Li Hao familiarized himself with all related techniques before dispelling the barrier around him.

“The limits of the Divine Wandering Realm and the Fifteen-Li Realm are within reach.”

Li Hao thought to himself, curious about the potential abilities these ultimate states might bring.

Opening the door, he saw a group of Ji family members waiting outside.

Before Li Hao could speak, the elders of the Ji family brightened at the sight of the young man stepping out. They hurriedly greeted him.

“Master Ji, you’ve emerged!”

Li Hao raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in attitude. He nodded slightly and asked, “What do you need?”

“The younger generation was rude before. I’ve brought them to apologize to you,” one elder said.

Beside the elders stood several individuals with bruised and swollen faces, both men and women, old and young alike.

Li Hao frowned slightly and shook his head. Were they deliberately beaten up to garner sympathy?

Nevertheless, sensing their genuine intention to apologize, he dismissed the matter.

“It’s all in the past. You may leave.”

Li Hao said this plainly.

“Master Ji, if you’re still angry, feel free to vent. Whether you wish to scold or strike, these brats are at your disposal,” an elder quickly added.

Li Hao frowned and replied, “Just don’t disturb my cultivation.”

Seeing Li Hao’s displeasure, the elder chuckled awkwardly, not daring to press further, and immediately gestured for the others to leave.

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