This year, the conflict on the Northern Yan border grew increasingly tense, with constant battle reports. There were problems with weaponry and military supplies, and Prince Pingcheng's collusion with the Great Demon implicated yet another force behind the scenes, making the war situation even more complex and difficult.
Within the Divine General Mansion, there was much discussion and concern for the frontline.
It was said that the court was also in constant debate over this matter, with many proposals being put forward.
But although the storm of politics blew into the Mountain and River Courtyard, it did not touch upon those two young figures.
At five years old, Li Hao underwent the usual bone measurement.
"Weak bones, no special color, no special glow, no marrow condensation..."
The elderly Taoist measuring Li Hao's bones was from Qingqiu Mountain, with the looks of a crane-haired youth. He examined the little boy before him with doubt. If it wasn't for the presence of the Li family's lady, he might have even suspected a case of switched at birth—a grudge between noble families, with the young master being secretly replaced.
"Bone talent, inferior to inferiors, battle physique not of any rank, just a normal skeleton of an ordinary child."
The elderly Taoist eventually concluded the bone measurement.
Upon hearing this, ladies such as He Jianlan had difficult expressions, and the fifth lady couldn't help but say, "Are you sure you're not mistaken? How could Hao'er... How could he possibly have such a talent?"
The other ladies remained silent. This elderly Taoist was a familiar figure in the Divine General Mansion, having measured bones for the children of various courtyards, never making mistakes.
Moreover, since Li Hao's Foundation Establishment had failed before, and then his Blood Melting failed, they were all well-prepared for this outcome. Now seeing this result, it was almost as expected.
Li Hao quietly scanned the expressions of everyone present. That second mother of his was also there, her face even more sorrowful, perhaps even more so than the others.
Yet, of all these people, how many were truly upset for him, he couldn't tell.
"Brother Hao."
Bian Ruxue clutched at Li Hao's clothing, her little face full of tension.
Although she did not understand what was happening, she felt that Li Hao seemed to have lost something.
Li Hao looked at the pitiful expression on the little girl's face and couldn't help but grin.
He pinched her tender little face; he should be the one to feel sad, after all. In two months' time when she had her bones measured, she would probably astound everyone.
The elderly Taoist left, and the crowd dispersed.
It was like the receding tide; the Mountain and River Courtyard returned to calm, with only the two small figures left, and Lin Haixia standing nearby.
That night, the military officer, who had refrained from drinking for many years, drank alone in the courtyard.
Smelling the alcohol, Li Hao also developed a craving. He found a small jade cup and, hugging the bottle, was just about to pour himself a little when Lin Haixia, who had gotten tipsy, gave him a fierce look. She snatched the bottle from his hand and scolded with rare anger, "You're incredibly bold, even daring to drink alcohol!"
"I'm just keeping you company," Li Hao said with a cheeky smile.
"What do you know? Drinking is for adults," Lin said irritably.
"Drinking alone is lonely; it's better to have company," Li Hao tried to snatch the bottle back but couldn't reach it as the military officer lifted his hand higher.
Lin Haixia gave Li Hao a look, intending to reprimand him, but hearing his words, she suddenly fell silent.
It was then she suddenly remembered that this little guy had been alone since his parents left after the hundred-day banquet.
Yes, he must want company too. When Xue'er's father wasn't around, the little girl had cried all the way to the Divine General Mansion…
Looking out at the vast Mountain and River Courtyard, with its beautiful interior, Lin realized that even the most scenic beauty could not replace the accompaniment of parents.
Lin Haixia said nothing, poured herself another two gulps of alcohol, then looked at Li Hao, who wore a carefree smile. Out of the blue, she remembered she had been at this place for two years and had never seen the little guy cry.
"Hey."
Perhaps the alcohol was getting to her, but Lin Haixia couldn't be bothered with formalities and no longer called Li Hao 'young master'; in her eyes, he was still a little brat.
"Do you miss your parents?" she asked.
Li Hao was taken aback.
His mind conjured up the image of the young girl holding him at the window, mumbling to herself in sorrow.
Five years had passed, and he had already forgotten the warmth of that embrace, but the sorrow in those eyes had instead been seared into his heart.
"I guess I do," Li Hao gazed up at the starry night sky and said softly, "It must be hard fighting in Northern Yan, I hope they're okay."
Lin Haixia was stunned.
She had thought the child would become sad or had perhaps forgotten his parents, since they were not around when he was so young, and he probably had no concept of them.
But not only did he remember, he harbored no grievances and was even worried about the generals.
For a moment, Lin Haixia felt as if her heart had been harshly stabbed; she felt a pang of heartache.
She rubbed her eyes and tipped her head back to gulp down more alcohol.
"Uncle Lin, are you crying?"
"Nonsense, it's just a spilled drink, what do you know!"
The night wind turned cold.
Haixia became drunk.
The drunken Haixia began reciting war poems in the courtyard, practicing her punches and kicks, and eventually collapsed like a heap of mud.
Li Hao instructed a house servant to carry her back to her room to sleep, to avoid feeding the mosquitoes.
Two months later.
It was time for Bian Ruxue to have her bones measured.
It was the same elderly Taoist from Qingqiu Mountain, in the same courtyard, at the same spot, measuring Bian Ruxue's bones.
It wasn't long before the old Taoist's eyes widened, and he looked at the little girl with barely concealed excitement, laughing loudly, "Bones like Gold Iron Divine Jade, Divine Bones indeed, seven-colored dim light, bone marrow full and flowing with patterns, supreme quality, Ninth Layer Peerless Battle Body! Haha, worthy of a child from the Divine General Mansion, truly not disappointing. The Qiankun List will surely add a new name in the future!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Li Hao when he looked down and his smile instantly stiffened.
He then coughed twice, feeling slightly embarrassed.
That was close, he had almost forgotten about this record-breaking little fellow from the Divine General Mansion.
This time, only He Jianlan was beside them, other ladies from the various courtyards were not interested in Li Hao's daughter and did not come over.
Hearing the old Taoist's words, both He Jianlan and Lin Haixia's faces broke into smiles.
Then, both of them glanced at Li Hao at the same time.
Although Li Hao did not have martial arts talent, having such a wife with peerless talent, he would have support for his future.
"Amazing, little girl."
Li Hao said with a smile as he pinched the cheeks of the cluelessly cute Bian Ruxue, who still had a clueless expression on her face, clearly not understanding what had happened.
Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Bian Ruxue did not look happy but instead pouted slightly.
At this moment, the little girl only wished that the old grandfather had treated Brother Hao the same way earlier.
After sending off the old Taoist, Lin Haixia started to teach martial arts knowledge to Bian Ruxue in the courtyard.
The little girl was already five years old and had started to understand things; it was time to teach her some things.
A Ninth Layer Peerless Battle Body, breaking through realms as easily as eating and drinking—once she started her cultivation, it was estimated that within a year, she would break through the First Realm.
In three years, break through two realms.
In less than ten years, reach the peak of the Third Realm.
This is the terrifying part about the Ninth Layer Battle Body!
The three realms of martial arts are the Power Passage Realm, Circulation Realm, and Soul Succession Realm.
Each realm has ten layers.
The Fourth Realm is Divine Traveling.
Lin Haixia is a Fourth Realm strong practitioner.
And he, this year, is already over forty.
One should know, in ten years, Bian Ruxue would be merely sixteen years old.
A sixteen-year-old at the tenth layer of the Soul Succession Realm would be an existence as dazzling as the moon, capable of overseeing a city as the city's guardian, a true strong practitioner.
While an ordinary martial artist, being able to step into the Circulation Realm at sixteen, would already be quite an accomplishment, enough to be accepted into a prestigious clan.
...
...
With the placement of the piece, the game of chess was decided.
Li Hao won.
Experience Points +2.
Li Hao yawned, glanced out the window, and saw the little girl practicing swordsmanship with Lin Haixia, her posture awkward and adorable.
He withdrew his gaze, told the house servant who had been playing chess with him to leave, and then pulled up his panel.
After a year, he finally had enough experience in Chess Tao.
He had earned another Skill Point.
Without hesitation, Li Hao chose to add the point to the Physical Body Path.
Soon, a complicated surge of information flooded in, and he frowned slightly as he endured it. After a while, he had slowly digested it all.
As insights about the Body Refinement Realm came to mind, Li Hao felt inspired, closed the window, the door, and then started practicing poses in his room.
He began practicing the Body Refinement Art, "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements."
As he assumed his pose, his body moved like a dragon in flight and a leaping tiger, and his body emitted cracking sounds.
His blood, meridians, and bones all seemed to twist, and the cells in his body seemed to be activated, his whole body burning hot.
With the completion of one set of "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements," Li Hao's entire skin turned red and emitted steam, while his hair was wet with sweat, his little face covered with dense beads of sweat.
Feeling something special, Li Hao checked his panel and was astonished to find that his attribute in cultivation level had changed from ordinary to the Power Passage Realm, Third Layer!
Li Hao could feel an unprecedented strength filling his body, as if he could easily split rocks and crack steles.
He was extremely delighted and then repeated the practice once more.
This time, with abundant strength, his posture was more precise, and his skin swelled even redder, with heat wafting like smoke.
After practicing the second time, Li Hao saw his cultivation level had unexpectedly risen to the Fourth Layer!
He then continued to practice.
The third time, the fourth time.
Until after the eighth round, his cultivation level no longer increased and settled at the Seventh Layer of the Power Passage Realm!