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As Jian Wudao left with Bian Ruxue, the courtyard was filled with ladies trying to catch a final word with them. The colorful images of warblers and swallows flickered about as everyone tried to get closer before their departure.
Some even arranged for their children to practice swordsmanship along the path Jian Wudao would take as they left.
Yet it did not garner any attention from Jian Wudao.
The Sword Cottage was not easy to enter; hence, people longed to step into it.
The vibrant hues seemed to drain away along with the ladies of the courtyards. Once more, the place returned to the emptiness and silence of autumn leaves falling.
Li Hao stood holding the sword Bian Ruxue used for practice, gazing quietly at the courtyard gate for a long, long time before finally averting his gaze.
He then handed the sword to Li Fu standing behind him. He said, "Fu, place it on the sword rack in my bedroom. Let the maids know they don't need to clean it daily."
Li Fu received the sword dejectedly, looking at Li Hao's profile with a touch of reluctant concern, and some self-reproach and guilt. He spoke in a low voice, "From today onward, I will not indulge you anymore. I will confiscate your chessboard; you must start training!"
Li Hao was taken aback, looking up, he said, "Fu, you don't really think the reason I wasn't accepted as a disciple by that old man is because of chess, do you? That's not fair!"
"I don't care."
Li Fu's face darkened, "Fine horses are common, but a good judge of horses is rare. Missing opportunities right in front of you is because of your lack of preparation. From now on, you must always present your best self, ready for the few opportunities that might come your way."
"There are few opportunities in life. Once missed, what future do you have!"
Li Hao protested, sensing Li Fu's seriousness, he asked, "Then Fu, what do you think is considered successful?"
"Sons of the Li Family must make a name for themselves in the world, guard the frontiers, and protect the people of a nation, that is success!" Li Fu replied solemnly without hesitation.
"Then, being part of the Li Family is truly burdensome." Li Hao said with a bitter smile.
"Since you carry the Li surname and enjoy such immense wealth, you should bear this responsibility." Li Fu said coldly.
*Had he really enjoyed them?* Li Hao thought bitterly, but then he recalled the sweets and fresh fruits Fifth Lady sent, and the nutritious porridge Aunt gave... *perhaps he did enjoy them a bit.*
"Fu, the training you mentioned, is it Body Refinement?"
"Of course."
Li Fu glanced at him, implying that apart from Body Refinement, did he have any other paths to follow?
The reason Body Refinement wasn't popular was because it was arduous to train, had low ceilings, and required immense perception, combined with skills, to compete with other masters.
Those forced to choose Body Refinement often could grit their teeth and endure hardship, but might not have sufficient perception.
After all, hardship might produce brilliance, but could also warp the soul.
After some wrangling with Fu, Li Hao finally agreed to cultivate, but only if his chessboard would not be confiscated, and he could play with it daily.
Li Fu could only agree, planning to address it once Li Hao embarked on cultivation.
In the following days, Li Hao was forced to spend some time cultivating according to a basic Body Refinement secret manual Li Fu taught him.
However, with an understanding of the Physical Body Dao, he progressed rapidly, which surprised Li Fu. He hadn't expected Li Hao to actually be a promising Body Refinement candidate.
Li Hao slightly controlled his training pace, ensuring Fu would still allow him some entertainment time, achieving Great Accomplishment of that basic Body Refinement manual within three months.
Nonetheless, this achievement already moved the battle-hardened man to tears, as he wrote a letter late at night to Northern Yan, sharing the good news and joy with the frontier couple.
After a long accumulation akin to water dripping on stone, Li Hao's Chess Tao at the third stage finally advanced.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 7]
[Cultivation: Power Passage Realm Ten Layers]
[Sword Dao: Second Stage (Flying Phase) (Hidden Bow)]
[Skill: Endless Sea·Tide (Ultimate Perfection) Falling Snow Sword Skill (Ultimate Perfection)]
[Physical Body Dao: First Stage (All Phenomena) (Tiger Press)]
[Skill: Stone Skin Hundred Refinements (Great Accomplishment) Thousand Jiaos Holy Body (Jiao Demon Body Small Accomplishment) Primordial (Starry Body Beginner) Mann Ox Strength (Great Accomplishment)]
[Chess Tao: Fourth Stage (1/10000)]
[Chess Manual Collection: All Phenomena, Tiger Press, Flying Phase, Hidden Bow]
[State of Mind: Chess Heart]
[Skill Points: 1]
Li Hao glanced at Li Fu, who was inseparably following him, choosing not to immediately spend skill points to advance.
If it were for Sword Dao, it was merely about memory infusion. However, he wanted to first use the skill points on the Physical Body Dao, to ensure his own strength provided a sense of security.
Yet insights into the Physical Body Dao might cause changes in Body Refinement manuals, affecting the body as well, which was too conspicuous.
That day.
Li Hao followed Li Fu to the Listening Rain Tower.
Upon learning about Li Hao's talent in Body Refinement, He Jianlan granted Li Hao the privilege to enter and exit the Listening Rain Tower at will to select secret manuals from within.
Of course, Li Fu wasn't allowed in.
Though he was Li Tian Gang's confidant, he wasn't part of the Li family's core direct lineage, hence his status was different.
Li Fu wasn't bothered; Listening Rain Tower was a vital part of the Li family. Despite the apparent lack of guards nearby, no one would dare come here to steal treasures.
This place was safer than any lady's courtyard.
Li Fu waited downstairs as Li Hao ascended alone.
Now that he was of an age to understand propriety, He Jianlan didn't assign Xuejian to accompany and watch over him, leaving him to go up alone.
Li Hao had heard that the Sword Saint brought a Body Refinement secret manual two months ago and placed it on the sixth floor, so he went straight to the sixth floor.
Before long, he picked up a newly added manual.
"Dragon Cicada Void Body"
Li Hao began to browse through it.
With a Physical Body Dao first stage insight, he quickly grasped the basics.
Recorded.
Soon, this Body Refinement secret technique appeared on his panel, having reached the second layer of Great Accomplishment.
The Dragon Cicada Void Body had six layers, each refining a different physique.
The first layer was the Quiet Cicada Body, capable of detecting the subtle flow of air across the body surface.
The second layer was the Subdued Dragon Body, accumulating dragon-like power within.
The third layer was the Leaping Shell Body, able to tread the air using power.
...
Barely audible cracking sounds came from his body. Li Hao could feel that, upon entering the Subdued Dragon Body, another force burgeoned within, estimating around ten thousand pounds!
Although still at the Power Passage Realm Ten Layers, his strength was vastly superior to the average in the same realm.
Li Hao's thoughts flickered, pondering if cultivating more Body Refinement manuals might accumulate even more power.
Acting on the idea immediately, he searched through the Listening Rain Tower's floors.
Soon, he found seven or eight Body Refinement manuals, all of Superior quality. Mastering them could barely touch the first-tier Martial Artist level.
Quickly, as each manual was archived into the panel, Li Hao felt his body continuously altering, with his limbs becoming more sturdy.
The cultivation level on the panel remained unchanged. Although Li Hao had anticipated an increase in strength, it didn't manifest. However, some of these Body Refinement manuals refined claws, some legs, and others tempered bones or refined organs.
He sensed that while overall strength didn't increase much, parts of his body experienced qualitative enhancement.
Li Hao speculated that his physique was too strong, having already activated most of his physical strength, rendering these slightly inferior manuals unable to stimulate further strength yet enhancing specific parts.
His Stone Skin Hundred Refinements manual increased the hardness of his skin, but it was overshadowed by the Jiao Demon Body of the Thousand Jiaos Holy Body.
The enhancement of the dermis brought by the Jiao Demon Body resembled dragon scales, far surpassing the Stone Skin Hundred Refinements effect, making the latter's impact hard to notice.
However, other Body Refinement manuals supplemented areas not covered by the few sixth-floor Body Refinement techniques earlier.
Bone, liver, ears, eyeballs, and other parts all enhanced as a result.
While overall strength change wasn't significant, the practical application of strength in combat saw a transformative change.
Li Hao realized he needed to gather various Body Refinement techniques to temper himself. If he could train all body parts to a unified level, he would be invincible!
At this point, the abundant foundation in Listening Rain Tower made Li Hao truly appreciate how invaluable a place it was for a Martial Artist.
There weren't many chess manuals, but there were plenty of Body Refinement manuals here!
Ecstatic, Li Hao eagerly rummaged through the tower for more Body Refinement manuals, archiving each one.
Time passed.
When dusk fell, Li Hao finally walked out from within, holding a Body Refinement manual.
In the distance, faint cries of dusk crows seemed to fly across the horizon, with a gentle scent of food and burning wood wafting from the front yard, signalling dinner time.
Li Hao stretched, relaxing his muscles and bones.
With so many manuals inside Listening Rain Tower, he searched all afternoon, only uncovering one-tenth, just within the Body Refinement category.
Li Hao hadn't archived all the manuals. For instance, the "Mann Ox Strength" manual Fu imposed on him earlier held no benefit, being superseded by stronger ones.
For example, if two manuals both focused on claw techniques, and he cultivated the stronger one, the lesser one had no effect as the stronger manual had already advanced the palms to a high level.
Unless the lesser manual concentrated on differing areas, thereby filling any gaps.
"You finally came out."
Seeing Li Hao exit, Li Fu was somewhat exasperated. After waiting for an entire afternoon, he wondered if Li Hao had been overwhelmed with choices.
He picked up the manual Li Hao held, a Superior Body Refinement manual, "Dragon Spine," clearly aimed at back training.
"You only chose this?" Li Fu felt somewhat resigned, "Didn't you go to the sixth floor?"
"I did, couldn't understand it." Li Hao said casually.
Li Fu thought it made sense; those sixth-floor manuals were peerless. Not just for Li Hao; even he would need months of arduous practice to grasp the basics.
"Don't rush to practice this one. I'll later ask the First Lady which in Listening Rain Tower suits you; this one is too narrowly focused."
Li Fu hoped Li Hao could train a comprehensive Body Refinement technique that addressed the whole body, to avoid too many weaknesses.
"Alright." Li Hao didn't refuse, offhandedly saying, "Come on, let's head back for dinner, I'm hungry, what's for dinner?"
Feeling somewhat resigned about Li Hao's lack of focus on Martial Arts, Li Fu turned alongside him, departing the front of Listening Rain Tower.
Soon after, they encountered an old man wearing a straw hat, carrying a fishing rod on his shoulder and a basket of fish in his hand; he appeared simple and ordinary.
Upon seeing him, Li Fu's eyes narrowed, his expression turned solemn. He swiftly paused and stepped aside, respectfully saying, "Li Fu pays respects to Second Uncle."
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