Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 304

Volume 3 - Chapter 45: Fifteen Years Apart - Part 1

As the Sage’s Mark disappeared, the eyes of everyone in the crowd fixated on the young man.

Even those in the Ji family who had never witnessed such a scene before could see that the boy seemed to have received the blessing of a sage!

“The Sage’s Mark... he actually received the Sage’s Mark...”

“Could our Ji family be about to produce another Third Ancestor?”

“Heaven has eyes! Heaven truly has eyes!!”

Among the crowd, some of the Ji family elders, their hair and beards completely white, trembled as they raised their arms and shouted passionately with tears streaming down their faces.

They all recognized the Sage’s Mark—it signified that Li Hao had caught the attention of a sage and had been accepted as their disciple!

With Li Hao’s current talents, being guided by a sage almost guaranteed his entry into the Dao Seeker Realm.

Following a sage, listening to the sound of the Dao—how could he not achieve enlightenment?

Taking one step further, he might even place one foot into the Semi-Saint Realm!

Given Li Hao’s previously displayed potential, this was highly probable.

These Ji family elders, who had survived since ancient times, were overwhelmed with emotion. It was as if they could already see the dawn of a glorious new era for the Ji family in the Great Wilderness Heaven!

They recalled the family’s most illustrious age, when the Third Ancestor of the Ji family had wielded a divine spear, defeating countless enemies in the Great Wilderness, leaving no one to challenge them. That era had established the Ji family as one of the Ancient Holy Clans, earning recognition from the other clans and securing their vast territory, where no one dared to intrude.

Hearing the emotional cries of these family elders, other onlookers were left dumbfounded.

The Sage’s Mark? Comparable to the Third Ancestor?

Even if they didn’t understand what the Sage’s Mark entailed, they knew the Third Ancestor’s status within the Ji family—second only to the Founder Ancestor!

And yet, these elders were saying that the boy could potentially rival the Third Ancestor?

While the crowd stood in stunned silence, Ji Tianchao and Ji Daoxin had already rushed over to Li Hao’s side.

“Child!”

Ji Tianchao, suppressing his excitement, asked hastily, “That is the Sage’s Mark! Did you see the sage?”

Li Hao nodded and asked, “Was that person an ancestor of the Ji family?”

Upon seeing his nod, Ji Tianchao and the others took a deep breath, their excitement barely contained.

Unlike Li Hao, who remained composed, they, having lived in the Great Wilderness Heaven, deeply understood the immense reverence held for a sage—beings of supreme existence!

A single wisp of their aura was enough to send most people fleeing in terror.

Even catching a mere glimpse of a sage was considered the highest honor!

“No, the Founding Ancestor of our Ji family has long since ‘retired.’”

Ji Daoxin glanced at Li Hao. Seeing that the boy seemed relatively calm and unaffected, he couldn’t help but smile wryly. If it had been any other Ji family prodigy, they would likely be jumping with excitement.

“Sages transcend worldly existence. According to ancient legends, many sages have long withdrawn, with some said to reside on a dewdrop, others hidden within the vast cosmos of a speck of dust, and still others roaming the realms beyond the heavens, free from the mortal world. In any case, they are impossible to find—unless they choose to reveal themselves.”

Hearing Ji Daoxin’s explanation, Li Hao appeared somewhat surprised. He had no real understanding of the Sage’s Realm.

To shrink down to the size of a dust mote and hide within the world?

To roam freely beyond the heavens?

He couldn’t imagine what such a realm entailed or the kind of power it wielded. It seemed to belong more to the realm of myth than to martial cultivation.

However, he knew that after reaching the Three Immortals Realm, one was already on the path of transcendence.

Even regrowing severed limbs was outside the scope of mortal martial artists.

Li Hao pulled his thoughts back to the present. For now, his priority was to refine his Dao Heart. The Sage’s Realm... was still too far away for him.

Unless one of his skills could break through the ninth stage and his state of mind reached enlightenment, it was beyond his reach.

“Now, can I go see my mother?” Li Hao asked.

Hearing this, Ji Daoxin chuckled, “Aren’t you curious to know more about the Sage’s Realm? Our Ji family has detailed records on such matters.”

Clearly, his words carried a subtle hint, suggesting that staying with the Ji family would bring many benefits.

“Compared to that, I’d rather bring my mother back first,” Li Hao replied.

Ji Daoxin’s gaze sharpened slightly, the smile on his face fading. He studied Li Hao deeply before saying,

“Don’t worry. You’ll see your mother very soon.”

Then, turning to Ji Tianchao, he said, “This child is now entrusted to you. He is your grandson, after all. By relation, he is also my great-grandson.”

Pausing for a moment, Ji Daoxin glanced at Li Hao again but refrained from asking the boy to address him as Great-Granduncle.

Since becoming the head of the family, he had intentionally distanced himself from others in the family to avoid complications in daily matters.

Ji Daoxin looked at Li Hao with a trace of benevolence in his eyes. While the boy’s unparalleled potential thrilled him, he was even more impressed by Li Hao’s filial piety toward his mother.

Someone with such deep bonds would, if treated well by the Ji family, never betray them.

Ji Daoxin turned and left, leaving Li Hao in the care of Ji Tianchao and the others. Before departing, he cast a glance at Ji Qingyuan, who was among the crowd. The latter noticed and met his gaze briefly.

In that fleeting exchange, Ji Qingyuan understood the family head’s intentions: to find an opportunity to reconcile with the boy.

In the future, Li Hao was destined to become the Ji family’s War God. His status would rival, if not surpass, that of Ji Qingyuan, with the potential to enter the Semi-Saint Realm, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Third Ancestor, who lay in the magic coffin.

If anyone were to later whisper about the incident in the Hall of Deliberation, it would inevitably cause some awkwardness.

Ji Qingyuan understood the patriarch’s concerns. Looking at the boy surrounded and revered by Ji Tianchao and the others like a star among the heavens, he sighed inwardly.

While he was the leader of the collateral branch, the divide between the main and collateral branches did not apply to the War God.

That boy had clearly risen above such distinctions. Ever since he became the Dao Seed, the concept of main versus collateral lineage no longer applied to him.

Even if Ji Qingyuan stubbornly resisted, most of the collateral Ji family members would likely refuse to follow suit.

The Ji family, despite thousands of years of internal struggles, had always taken pride in their prodigies and War Gods, setting aside personal grievances unless there was deep enmity.

This contradiction and unity were the unique qualities that allowed the Ji family to thrive in the Great Wilderness Heaven.

Having never met Li Hao before, Ji Qingyuan bore no personal grudge against him. Now that the boy was both a Dao Seed and a Sage’s disciple, it was even less necessary to remain at odds.

With a heavy heart, Ji Qingyuan began to ponder how best to resolve their prior tensions.

...

Meanwhile, Ji Tianchao, seeing Li Hao’s questioning gaze, quickly said,

“Your mother is on Prison Sky Island, the most distant place in the Sacred Domain of our Ji family. Don’t worry; once we’ve made the necessary arrangements, you’ll be taken to see her immediately.”

“How long will that take?” Li Hao asked.

“At most six or seven days,” Ji Tianchao replied with a smile. “In the meantime, you can stay in your mother’s palace. If you miss her, the Sky-Gazing Mirror sacred treasure allows you to view her on Prison Sky Island anytime, although you won’t be able to communicate with her.”

Li Hao thought for a moment and agreed.

Not wanting to linger in the bustling crowd, Ji Tianchao swiftly led Li Hao away, disappearing from the Abyssal Sky Monument.

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