Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 235

Volume 3 - Chapter 6: Who Dares to Mock My Son - Part 2

At the dining table, a child stood up and spoke. It was none other than Xiao Li Tiangang.

The fact that Li Hao could paint had long spread far and wide. His older brothers had all seen his artwork, and they were astonished to find sketches of themselves within them. However, no matter how much Xiao Li Tiangang searched, he couldn’t find one of himself.

Li Hao glanced at him. Though only eight or nine years old, the boy's brows and eyes already bore a faint resemblance to the Li Tiangang of his memory.

Li Hao said nothing, continuing to eat quietly.

“Old Ten, why aren’t you answering me?”

Xiao Li Tiangang called out anxiously.

Li Hao closed his eyes briefly. The scene before him shifted rapidly, skipping ahead several days...

He stood in the courtyard, his body being wiped down by a maid. Judging by the situation, he had just absorbed some strange blood.

The tutor arrived, leading Li Hao to study literacy.

Each day after absorbing the blood, he was required to attend literacy lessons. Only after those lessons ended did he have free time.

This time, Li Hao didn’t skip ahead. He obediently followed along to study, but now he actively participated in the process. The old tutor taught material Li Hao already knew, so he held a brush and began writing poems in his notebook while listening to the lesson.

[Poetry and Calligraphy Experience +53]

[Poetry and Calligraphy Experience +46]

...

With each poem he completed, his Poetry and Calligraphy Experience steadily increased.

Halfway through the lesson, the old tutor noticed Li Hao focused intently on his writing. Curious, he leaned in for a closer look and froze in place.

What Li Hao had written were not characters from the lesson but several complete poems.

The old tutor quickly grabbed Li Hao’s notebook and examined it carefully. The more he read, the wider his eyes became. In the end, he looked at Li Hao in disbelief.

“Did... did you write all of this?”

Li Hao nodded.

This wouldn’t reveal his true identity; it would only showcase his talent for poetry. Discussing topics like Liangzhou, the Candlefire God, or other entities beyond his current status would be out of place and could cause suspicion.

“This... this…”

The old tutor was so astonished that he couldn’t close his mouth.

This was the work of a prodigy—a talent unparalleled in the present age, with the makings of a great scholar!

To compose poetry so soon after learning to write was a feat that would cause a stir even in the most prestigious scholarly families.

And Li Hao wasn’t just born into a military household; he was also a rare poetic genius. Such brilliance was almost unheard of!

Furthermore, the tutor knew of Li Hao’s astonishing aptitude for cultivation. It was already widely known throughout the Divine General Mansion that he was the most talented individual in the Li family in hundreds of years.

A perfect blend of literary and martial prowess!

“I must inform the master of this immediately!”

The old tutor exclaimed excitedly, “If the master learns of your incredible talent and intelligence, he will be overjoyed!”

Li Hao thought of his "grandfather." His eyes flickered slightly, and an inexplicable trace of anticipation stirred within him.

Throughout history, children who could recite poems after learning their letters were considered geniuses. Some great scholars could compose verses about chickens and ducks after two or three years of literacy, but such achievements were often nurtured by the eloquence of their scholarly families.

However, there were also those born with innate talent, regarded as stars of the literary heavens.

The old tutor, unable to contain his excitement, rushed out of the classroom. Meanwhile, Li Hao, as usual, headed back to his small room to paint.

Immersing himself entirely, he thought of the painting displayed on the main hall’s cabinet. His gaze became focused and resolute as he devoted himself to the task.

...

As Li Hao’s brush danced across the canvas, he meticulously captured every stroke and outline.

He was utterly absorbed, his mind wholly consumed by the act of painting.

“When your skills improve, draw a portrait of me too. Include all your brothers and Little Hongzhuang...”

“When the painting is complete, I’ll treasure it forever. My son is not only gifted in martial arts but also has exceptional talent in the arts. Ha-ha…”

Li Hao’s brush flowed seamlessly as he poured his heart into the image. The outside world seemed to vanish, leaving only the figure on the canvas, which gradually took shape—a towering, majestic Divine General of peerless valor.

The figure’s expression was stern, yet his gaze was warm. His posture was upright and imposing, exuding an extraordinary presence that overshadowed all others.

As he completed the final stroke, a system notification appeared before his eyes.

Li Hao ignored it at first, sitting still for a long moment before recalling the message. He summoned the system interface to check.

[You have comprehended the Heart of Painting.]

[Mental State: Heart of Painting.]

Li Hao was momentarily stunned. At this stage, his Painting Dao experience hadn’t even reached the saturation point of the third rank, yet he had already comprehended the Heart of Painting.

He remained silent for a moment before gently blowing on the paper to dry the ink. Carefully, he placed the completed painting aside, treating it with far more care than usual.

Then, he picked up another blank sheet and resumed painting.

One painting followed another...

As his Painting Dao experience reached the third rank and quietly advanced to the fourth, his skill points increased.

Li Hao checked his accumulated skill points. Aside from the one used to reach the first rank of Sword Dao, he now had four remaining. Three came from Painting Dao, and two from Poetry and Calligraphy.

Chess, carving, and fishing—these arts had yet to be explored.

Li Hao thought of Tingyu Pavilion. It was about time to visit that place.

The thought of Tingyu Pavilion brought to mind Second Master. Li Hao couldn’t help but wonder what he might have looked like in his youth.

At dinner, Li Hao left his small room and returned to the main hall...

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