Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 296

Volume 3 - Chapter 40: I Don't Care About the Name Ji, but My Name Cannot Be Insulted! - Part 2

With such talent, no wonder Third Brother said that within the next decade, this boy might have the potential to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Old Ninth.

As they conversed, the sound of the sacred bell, imbued with Dao Rhythms, reverberated throughout the entire Ji family.

Even those cultivating in secluded caves heard the bell’s resonance. In an instant, radiant lights erupted from numerous caves as one extraordinary figure after another flew out.

“Who dares ring the sacred bell of my Ji family?”

“Who’s challenging a Dao Seed and acting so brazenly?!”

“Could it be that Ji Xuanshen has broken through?”

Countless prodigies of the Ji family paused briefly in front of their cave dwellings before heading swiftly toward Tiandao Mountain, atop the sacred mountain.

Aside from the Ji family’s prodigies, many of the elders who had been spectating at the Sacrificial Platform, as well as other prodigies who had arrived earlier to watch the commotion, were all enraged and made their way to the peak of Tiandao Mountain.

“How dare someone challenge a Dao Seed without awakening their Sacred Bones?”

“I want to see for myself how he gets crippled!”

A great multitude surged toward the mountaintop.

This sacred mountain, vast and imposing, featured a peak that encompassed plains, rivers, and mountains spanning over ten thousand miles. At that moment, on a towering summit, Li Hao and Ji Daoxin stood together.

The grand bell swayed, its toll echoing far and wide.

Countless figures rushed toward this Grandmaster Arena, Tiandao Mountain, gathering in droves.

“Who’s ringing the bell to challenge a Dao Seed?!”

An angry shout pierced through the sky. Though the speaker was still far away, his voice had already reached the arena.

Moments later, with the wind he stirred dissipating, a tall and robust young man came into view. Noticing Ji Daoxin, he quickly bowed before shifting his gaze to Li Hao, who stood beside the Ji family patriarch.

“Is it you?”

“It’s me,” Li Hao replied.

“Who are you? From which branch? Which generation? Why have I never heard of you before?” the robust young man asked, his eyes narrowing.

“You’ll hear about me from now on,” Li Hao answered calmly.

As more and more dazzling figures flew across the skies, the number of people arriving around the arena soon reached dozens.

These individuals were all Ji family prodigies. Many had been cultivating in their secluded caves, oblivious to the return of Ji Yunge. But the sacred bell, infused with Dao Rhythms, had reached their ears, compelling them to gather here.

“That’s Ji Leping. A mixed-blood who hasn’t officially joined the Ji family but has already changed his name, hoping to curry favor with us by bringing back Ji Yunge, the War God!”

“A despicable man trying to gain access to the resources and privileges of the Ji family’s prodigies? Not so easy!”

“Cripple him!”

Some of the Ji family prodigies who had gone to observe Li Hao at the mountain gate now stepped forward, their expressions cold as they looked at him.

Though Li Hao had defeated Ji Yufen earlier, it didn’t mean he could beat them. After all, none of them had chosen to intervene during the encounter in the Welcoming Hall.

...

“So that’s how it is.”

Hearing this, many of the arriving prodigies’ gazes turned icy.

To them, anyone challenging a Dao Seed was already a competitor, but a mixed-blood? That was intolerable!

“Without even a natural Sacred Bone, he dreams of becoming a Dao Seed? The Ji family has only one Dao Seed. Who does he think he is?”

“What a ridiculous name. Let’s get this over with quickly—I need to get back to cultivating.”

“Who’s first? If no one else steps up, I’ll go!”

Impatience grew among the crowd, their voices overlapping as they debated who should take the first shot.

Ji Daoxin glanced at Li Hao. Seeing the youth’s composed expression, entirely unshaken, he shook his head slightly and declared loudly:

“Now, Ji Leping challenges the Dao Seed. Who among you is willing to face him? If no one accepts, his challenge will be deemed successful!”

The rules for challenging a Dao Seed were straightforward: no group assaults or relay battles, but any other methods were fair game.

For every victory, Li Hao would earn a day’s rest.

“I’ll go first!”

“No, me!”

Among the dozens of prodigies, seven or eight immediately stepped forward, eager to fight Li Hao.

“I’ll do it! This time, I won’t hold back!”

Ji Mingque also stepped forward, his eyes icy. Earlier, Li Hao had caught his spear, infuriating him. Now, he sought a proper showdown.

Seeing the heated debate, Li Hao remained calm. “If you can’t decide, you can all come at me together.”

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

How arrogant! Did this boy have a death wish?

Even the prodigies who had initially been reluctant to step forward now narrowed their eyes, a cold light flickering within.

“You bastard! I’ll take you on!”

A figure shot onto the stage, his aura flaring as he drew his blade to strike.

The blade’s howl was like a dragon’s roar, echoing instantly before transforming into a dazzling river of light slashing down vertically.

Li Hao stood motionless. The blade light, guided by Dao Rhythms, reached him in an instant. Only then did he raise a fist, shattering the attack in one blow. He then disappeared in a blur, using Heaven and Earth Unbounded Technique to reappear directly in front of the enraged youth.

The youth’s pupils shrank, but before he could react, Li Hao’s fist slammed into his chest.

With a resounding boom, his chest caved in, bones shattering as the force of the punch sent him flying off the stage.

“What?!”

The crowd was stunned. The young man, a Fourth Pillar Realm cultivator, had been defeated in an instant!

“What incredible speed!”

“His aura... he’s not at Fourth Pillar Realm—he’s at the Three Immortals Realm?!”

Li Hao had kept his aura concealed earlier, leaving them unable to gauge his strength. Now, as he unleashed his power, they were shocked to discover his cultivation level.

Even so, his power seemed unmatched, surpassing what they expected of someone at the Three Immortals Realm.

In the crowd, Ji Yunyue and Ji Tianchao exchanged glances, their expressions slightly changing.

Three Immortals Realm?

Third Brother claimed he could contend with cultivators at the Absolute Technique Stage, yet he was only at the Three Immortals Realm. How was that possible?

Ji Yufen, who had been fuming in the crowd, suddenly froze, her anger replaced with disbelief. She was also at the Three Immortals Realm but lacked the sheer strength displayed by Li Hao.

Moreover, his movement technique had caught even Dao Heart Realm cultivators off guard. It was clearly a technique from the Absolute Technique Stage and had been cultivated to an exceptional level.

But where had he found the time to cultivate such a technique?

Li Hao's decisive attack subdued the crowd. Even those who had initially dismissed him now grew wary, their expressions darkening.

Yet, despite his display of power, this was still a competition for the position of Dao Seed, and defeating a Dao Heart Realm cultivator was far from sufficient to claim victory.

“You others needn’t step forward. Anyone below the Reverse Fate Realm should withdraw!”

A cold, calm voice broke the silence as a figure emerged from the crowd.

This prodigy exuded an oppressive aura as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his presence akin to an unmovable mountain. His words caused many to clench their fists in frustration, but none dared to challenge him.

“Then I shall take him on.”

A white-robed youth stepped forward from the gathering, his demeanor refined and his voice cold. He addressed Li Hao with an air of condescension, saying, “Tomorrow at this time, I’ll meet you here. Take your time to rest.”

Li Hao flexed his fingers and responded calmly, “There’s no need. I can settle this today.”

The white-robed youth was momentarily stunned, his gaze sharpening with icy intent.

“You said it yourself,” he replied. Without giving Li Hao the chance to retreat, the youth unleashed a burst of energy and stepped into the arena.

“A mere mixed-blood wants to join the Ji family? Ji Leping? What a laughable name. Once I cripple you, you’d better change your name and leave the Ji family for good!”

He raised his hand, and a gleaming sword appeared from the surrounding space. Immediately, a surge of tidal energy materialized behind him, the blade radiating an overwhelming sword intent.

Li Hao’s eyes flashed coldly as his voice rang out like thunder: “I don’t care about the name Ji, but my name cannot be insulted!”

“Prove it, then. Show if you’re worthy of your boasts!”

The white-robed youth wasted no time, unleashing an all-out assault. His body surged with energy as multiple supreme techniques intertwined. His Meridian Opening Technique and Energy Circulation Method surpassed even the techniques of the Great Yu Dynasty’s imperial clan.

Furthermore, his Soul Refinement and Condensed Dao Heart were similarly extraordinary, his soul having inherited the essence of an ancient ancestral saint, capable of condensing his soul 270 times!

With this immense power, he aimed to cripple Li Hao in one strike and establish dominance over the battlefield.

His terrifying aura condensed into the blade, which gleamed with dazzling lightning and fiery energy. As he stepped forward, the blade descended like a tidal wave, threatening to cleave the Tiandao Platform in two.

“So strong!”

“Ji Mingshou has grown even stronger! They say he’s mastered four supreme techniques, all cultivated to their True Form!”

“True Form... incredible!”

The crowd was awestruck as they watched the overwhelming display of power. The blade strike seemed to summon endless thunder and fire, shaking the arena with its intensity.

Li Hao’s gaze turned icy, his energy surging within him like a raging river. Rather than retreat, he advanced boldly, his steps steady as he charged head-on toward the blinding sword light.

Boom!

A ferocious wave of fist energy erupted like a hurricane, sweeping across the platform. The dazzling sword light was suppressed in an instant, its radiance dimming as though a cold moon had been swallowed by the blazing sun.

A single figure was flung backward, flying off the Tiandao Platform.

Several figures from the crowd rushed forward to catch the falling white-robed youth. Each of the rescuers felt their arms tremble as the impact fractured their bones.

It took the combined efforts of multiple people to finally stabilize the youth’s body. He had already fallen unconscious.

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