Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 238

Volume 3 - Chapter 8: Grasping the Sword Again - Part 1

"Comparable to the aptitude of a Saint reborn!"

The old Daoist of Mount Qingqiu stopped holding back his surprise. Beyond the joy on his face, he was visibly excited. He said, "Young master's bones far surpass the Ninth-Class Battle Body. Such a phenomenon—I haven't encountered anything like this in thousands of years!"

After Mount Qingqiu pledged allegiance to the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, it withdrew from worldly affairs. The old Daoist, an elder fox demon of great seniority, was known for his vast experience.

"Oh?"

Li Tianzong's eyes gleamed. Aptitude comparable to a Saint reborn?!

Chen Hefang and the others were equally shocked, staring in astonishment at the old Daoist of Mount Qingqiu.

"For a standard Ninth-Class Battle Body, at least one primary bone in the body, like a piece of divine metal or jade, would emit a faint multicolored glow. Its surface would be adorned with flowing patterns, a sign of a supreme-grade constitution," the old Daoist explained, his voice trembling with excitement. "But young master's bones—every single one—are like that!"

"Seventy-two primary bones, all radiating divine light, with patterns flowing across their surfaces as if they carried innate Dao patterns!"

"When the young master embarks on the path of cultivation, he is certain to soar to unimaginable heights. Comparable to a Saint reborn, his journey will be unstoppable, breaking through realms as effortlessly as eating or drinking—unmatched by anyone!"

Hearing the old Daoist's words, Chen Hefang and the others snapped back to reality, their faces a mixture of joy and shock as they turned their gazes toward Li Hao.

This was the legendary assessment of aptitude!

Normally, a Ninth-Class Battle Body was already the pinnacle, but Li Hao's entire skeleton radiated divine brilliance, exuding a majesty comparable to a Saint reborn!

True Saints had always been the stuff of legend. It was said that Saints resided in isolation, transcendent and unworldly. Currently, the closest person to a Saint within the Great Yu Divine Dynasty was the Real Person of Qiandao Palace.

"Haha! Excellent! Truly my son!"

Li Tianzong burst into hearty laughter, his face radiating pride and joy.

"Congratulations, Duke! Congratulations, Madam!"

The old Daoist of Mount Qingqiu bowed respectfully to offer his congratulations. As his gaze swept to the child beside him, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. Such an aptitude—more terrifying than even the Great Yu Founder Emperor’s in his youth.

This branch of the Li family, brimming with exceptional talent, was poised to lead the family to renewed glory!

"No wonder he's the tenth one!"

"Well done, Old Ten! You secretly surpassed us by a huge margin!"

"Old Nine, it looks like you’ve been left in the dust by the little one!"

The "older brothers" excitedly gathered around Li Hao, some slinging their arms over his shoulders, others tousling his hair. Their joy and enthusiasm were evident.

Among them was Old Nine, Li Junye, who was two years older than Li Hao and already showing remarkable comprehension and aptitude on the martial training grounds at the age of seven.

Still a child, Li Junye was all smiles as he looked at Li Hao, saying, "Tenth brother, in just one more year, you’ll be able to start cultivating too!"

"Do you think Old Ten will catch up to us?"

"Looks like we’ll need to work harder ourselves."

The other "brothers" laughed as they chimed in.

Li Hao looked at these "uncles" surrounding him, his expression complicated. While he was aware of his current identity and joined in with their banter, the generational leap still felt awkward to him.

As his gaze swept across their genuinely smiling faces, Li Hao could sense the true camaraderie and affection they shared as brothers, free of any barriers.

This harmony, of course, was thanks to the elders' teachings, coupled with the fact that they were all born of the same mother.

Despite the enthusiasm and physical closeness, Li Hao felt somewhat uncomfortable and wanted to break away.

However, with all eyes on him, any deviation from the behavior of his "caretaker" self might expose him. Thus, he had no choice but to endure for the moment.

"You little rascal, you really are something!"

"Why does the youngest end up being the smartest? Did Mother save all the best for last?"

"Are you implying Big Brother is the least clever?"

"Hey, stop pinching me! Ow, ow, it hurts!"

Li Hao's "brothers" surrounded him, playfully teasing and roughhousing. Some even used Li Hao's body as a shield in their games.

Dragged one way and then another, Li Hao’s hair ended up a complete mess, resembling a bird’s nest.

Seeing their exuberance, Li Hao felt a mix of helplessness and amusement. While his mature soul made it difficult for him to truly blend in and play along, the atmosphere still filled him with an inexplicable sense of comfort and ease.

...

That same day, Li Tianzong publicly announced the news and held a grand banquet.

The Divine General Mansion was abuzz with celebration.

Li Hao gazed at the brightly lit mansion and the nine children of the Li family laughing and playing at the feast. His eyes grew distant.

Was this the Li family’s former glory?

Compared to the desolate courtyards filled with only women, this was far livelier.

...

When they all married someday, the household would surely reach its peak of liveliness.

But for some reason, even while immersed in the noise, Li Hao felt as though he stood apart, detached from it all.

The clamor surrounding him only made his heart grow calmer, quieter—even colder, as if the night itself were seeping into his soul.

Because he knew that the Li family beyond the River of Death no longer had such scenes of harmony.

And he, too, was no longer a part of the Li family.

"Tenth brother, what are you thinking about?"

Eldest Brother Li Xingbei approached, holding a wine cup. After mingling with the nobles and dignitaries who had come to offer congratulations, he now stood before Li Hao, smiling as he asked, "Is the food not to your taste? Just tell me, and I’ll have them prepare a whole new table for you."

"Could it be that Old Ten is nervous because of all the people?" Li Fengping teased, though his tone was lowered.

After speaking, he let out a hearty laugh.

"Several dukes just now mentioned proposing matches for Old Ten!" Li Jianming, who appeared to be around fifteen years old, said with a grin, his youthful energy evident.

Li Hao remembered that this Third Uncle had eventually died at the border suppressing demons. His only daughter had joined the army to avenge him and had not returned to the Li family for many years.

"Indeed. When it was Old Nine’s turn, plenty of proposals came in too, but Father rejected them all," Li Xingbei added with a smile. "Now that Old Ten has even greater potential, even a royal match would require some careful consideration from Father."

Surrounded by his brothers, Li Hao sat at the table, listening silently. When he noticed several figures approaching from afar, including one whose presence made him uncomfortable, he quickly turned his gaze away and shut his eyes, attempting to fast-forward through the situation.

The laughter and clinking of cups around him gradually faded, and the scenery shifted. A wave of weakness washed over him, and when Li Hao opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a bed.

Reaching out to touch his surroundings, he realized his arms were limp and powerless.

A figure sitting nearby, dozing off, suddenly awoke with a start. The person jumped up and rushed to his bedside.

“Tenth brother! Are you feeling better?”

Li Hao turned his gaze to the familiar face and, recalling the bone-measuring ceremony, identified him as Li Ziye, the sixth son of the Li family.

This was also Li Yuanzhao’s father.

However, at this moment, Li Ziye was only about ten years old, still looking youthful and immature. Yet the concern and worry in his expression were genuine and undeniable.

Perhaps due to his connection with Li Yuanzhao, Li Hao felt a natural sense of affection for him. With some hesitation, he asked, “Sixth brother?”

“You’re finally awake! Earlier, during the banquet, a demon disguised as a noble nearly assassinated you!” Li Ziye let out a sigh of relief before immediately raising his voice and shouting toward the door.

“The tenth young master has woken up!”

The mention of a demon attack sent a chill through Li Hao’s heart. He was only five years old, yet a demon had already been so eager to kill him that it dared to infiltrate the Divine General Mansion itself.

Was this due to a flaw in the River of Death, or did the demon possess some extraordinary infiltration abilities?

“Thankfully, Fourth Uncle acted swiftly and killed the demon in time,” Li Ziye continued, addressing Li Hao.

Hearing this, Li Hao felt a surge of relief. It seemed that Fourth Uncle had been keeping an eye on him, which allowed him to intervene promptly.

“Big Brother and the others were also injured, but they’re recovering now,” Li Ziye added.

Li Hao asked, “Other than me, is everyone else alright?”

“Everyone else is fine—just some minor injuries. The demon’s main targets were you and Ninth Brother,” Li Ziye explained. “Ninth Brother was standing farther away, so his injuries aren’t serious.”

“That’s good,” Li Hao replied, reassured.

By this time, news of his awakening had spread, and a crowd quickly gathered.

“Tenth young master, are you alright?” Chen Hefang hurried over, her face filled with worry and concern.

Li Hao also saw his other “brothers” arrive, though there was no sign of Li Tianzong.

“Where’s Father?” he asked.

“Father went outside the city to slay demons. He’s determined to seek justice for you,” Li Fengping replied. His forehead was bandaged, suggesting he had sustained an injury.

Li Hao remained silent for a moment.

He understood that he needed to start cultivating as soon as possible.

Glancing at the concerned faces of those around him, he closed his eyes once more, fast-forwarding through the recovery period.

...

When Li Hao opened his eyes again, he was seated in a small study, a blank canvas before him. His body had fully recovered, and the earlier weakness was completely gone.

The room was empty, a stark contrast to the earlier bustle, but Li Hao quickly adjusted. Picking up his brush, he began to paint.

As he worked, he pondered the next steps in his cultivation journey. He needed to expand his skills quickly to accumulate ability points.

Partway through his painting, the door opened, and Li Hongzhuang walked in.

Now three years old, Li Hongzhuang had already begun her foundation building.

“Have you finished your foundation-building session for today?” Li Hao asked.

“Mm.”

Li Hongzhuang nodded. Despite being only three years old, she was exceptionally well-behaved and intelligent, displaying a bright and clever demeanor. She replied...

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