That year, the war at the Northern Yan border became increasingly intense. Reports of battles came continuously, and there were issues with weapons and provisions. Prince Pingcheng's collusion with the Great Demon unexpectedly revealed another force at work in the background, complicating the situation further.
Within the Divine General Mansion, people were in constant discussion, worried about the front lines.
It was said that arguments about this matter were ongoing daily at the court, with many proposals being put forward.
Yet, this turmoil did not seem to reach the two small figures in the Mountain and River Courtyard.
At five years old, Li Hao continued with his bone measurement as usual.
"Bones are weak, no distinctive color, no distinctive light, no marrow condensation..."
The elder conducting the bone measurement for Li Hao was an old Taoist invited from Qingqiu Mountain, with white hair and a youthful face. He looked at the small boy in front of him with suspicion. If not for the presence of Lady Li from the Li Family, he would even have doubted whether this was a case of swapping out the young lord in some family feud akin to the Crown Prince's case.
"Bone quality, low rank, war body not graded, just the normal bones of an ordinary child."
The elder finally delivered his verdict.
Hearing this, the faces of the ladies, including He Jianlan, turned a bit grim. The Fifth Lady couldn't help but say, "You must be mistaken, how could Hao Er... how could he possibly have such an aptitude?"
The other ladies remained silent; this elder was an old acquaintance of the Divine General Mansion and had measured the bones of children in all the courtyards without ever being wrong.
Moreover, Li Hao had failed in Foundation Establishment before, and Blood Melting had also been unsuccessful, already preparing them for this moment; seeing this result was just as they had expected.
Li Hao quietly scanned everyone's expressions, including that of the Second Mother, whose face also reflected sorrow, perhaps even more so than the others.
But among them, who was genuinely empathetic towards him, he couldn't tell.
"Brother Hao."
Bian Ruxue tugged at Li Hao's clothes, her small face full of tension.
Though she did not understand what was happening, she could sense that Li Hao seemed to have lost something.
Li Hao couldn't help but smile at the little girl's pitiful look.
He pinched her tender little cheek. *It should be me feeling sad; this little girl would probably astound everyone during her bone measurement in two months.*
The elder left, and everyone else dispersed.
Like the receding tide, the Mountain and River Courtyard returned to its peaceful state, leaving only two small figures and Lin Haixia standing by.
That evening, this officer, who had abstained from alcohol for many years, drank alone in the Mountain and River Courtyard.
Smelling the alcohol, Li Hao felt tempted. He found a small jade cup and was just about to pour himself a little when the half-drunk Lin Haixia gave him a glare, snatching the bottle from his hands, and uncharacteristically scolded him, "You're downright daring to even think of drinking!"
"I'm just keeping you company," Li Hao said with a cheeky smile.
"What do you understand, drinking is an adult's matter," Lin Haixia said, looking disgruntled.
"Drinking alone is lonely; it's nice to have someone accompany you." Li Hao attempted to snatch the bottle again, but with a lift of the officer's hand, he couldn't reach it.
Lin Haixia glared at Li Hao, intending to scold him further, but upon hearing his words, he suddenly fell silent.
It suddenly occurred to him that this little guy in front of him had been alone ever since his parents left after the three-month feast.
Indeed, he must also want company; Xue'er had cried all the way to the Divine General Mansion when her father wasn't around...
Glancing at the vast Mountain and River Courtyard outside the pavilion, the scenery was beautiful, but no amount of beauty could substitute for having one's parents around.
Lin Haixia didn't speak, taking another two sips of wine, then looked at Li Hao, who wore a carefree smile. He suddenly remembered that since arriving two years ago, he had never seen this little fellow shed a tear.
"Hey."
Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, but Lin Haixia didn't bother to address Li Hao as the young master, as he ultimately saw him as just a little brat.
"Do you miss your parents?"
Li Hao was taken aback by the question.
Immediately, an image flashed in his mind of a little girl who held him on the windowsill, lost in her own monologue.
Five years had passed, and he had long forgotten the warmth of that embrace, yet the sorrow in those eyes had somehow imprinted itself in his heart.
"I think so," Li Hao said, looking at the starlit night sky. "The war over in Northern Yan is hard, I hope nothing happens to them."
Lin Haixia was stunned.
He had thought that mentioning his parents would make the child sad or had assumed he had forgotten them, given they had not been around since he was so young and probably had no concept of who they were.
Who would have thought this child not only remembered but also harbored no resentment, and was even worried for the chief commander and them.
For a moment, Lin Haixia felt as if his heart had been pierced sharply, feeling a twinge of heartache.
He rubbed his eyes, tilted his head back, and took several more gulps of wine.
"Lin, are you crying?"
"Nonsense, it's the spilled wine, what do you know!"
The night wind turned cold.
Haixia was drunk, too.
A drunken Haixia recited poems of killing in the courtyard, flailed about with his fists and legs, and eventually collapsed like a heap of mud.
Li Hao instructed the house servant to carry him back to his room to sleep, so as not to become a feast for mosquitoes.
Two months later.
Bian Ruxue's bone measurement time had also arrived.
It was still that elder invited from Qingqiu Mountain, at the same spot in the courtyard, measuring Bian Ruxue's bones.
Before long, the elder's eyes widened, slightly excitedly looking at the little girl, laughing, "Bones like Gold Iron Divine Jade, a Divine Bone, a seven-colored mysterious hue, marrow full and flowing, a superior rank, Ninth Layer Peerless Battle Body! Haha, truly the child of the Divine General Mansion, never fails to amaze. Another name will be added to the Qiankun List in the future!"
Saying this, he happened to glance at Li Hao nearby, and his smile froze instantly.
Immediately, he coughed awkwardly a couple of times.
Narrowly avoided forgetting about this record-breaking little fellow of the Divine General Mansion.
This time only He Jianlan was present. The other ladies from the various courtyards weren't interested in this girl betrothed to Li Hao and didn't come.
Hearing the elder's words, He Jianlan and Lin Haixia both smiled simultaneously.
Then, the two looked at Li Hao simultaneously.
Although Li Hao lacked martial arts aptitude, having such an exceptionally talented wife meant he would have something to rely on in the future.
"Amazing, little girl."
Li Hao smiled and pinched the adorably dazed face of Bian Ruxue, who was still covered in confusion, obviously not understanding what had occurred.
Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Bian Ruxue didn't feel happy but instead pouted slightly.
At this moment, the little girl only wished that the elder had treated Brother Hao the same way earlier.
He Jianlan sent the elder off, and in the courtyard, Lin Haixia began to enlighten Bian Ruxue about martial arts knowledge.
The little girl was five years old, starting to understand things, and it was time for some education.
Ninth Layer Peerless Battle Body, breaking through realms like eating and drinking, could break the First Realm within a year upon starting cultivation.
Two realms in three years.
In less than ten years, reaching the peak of the Third Realm.
This is how terrifying a Ninth Layer Battle Body is!
The three realms of martial arts are Universal Force, Zhoutian, Soul Continuation.
Each realm has Ten Layers.
The Fourth Realm is Divine Traveling.
Lin Haixia was a Fourth Realm expert.
And he, this year, had already turned forty.
Imagine, in ten years, Bian Ruxue would be only sixteen years old.
A sixteen-year-old, Ten Layer Soul Succession Realm expert was as dazzling as a bright moon, capable of guarding a city as a commander, a true power.
For ordinary martial artists, reaching Zhoutian by sixteen was already quite impressive and could allow one to join a prestigious mountain sect.
...
...
With the final stone placed, the game of chess had reached a conclusion.
Li Hao won.
Experience Value +2.
Li Hao yawned, glanced out the window to see the little girl practicing swordsmanship with Lin Haixia, her posture awkward and very adorable.
Retracting his gaze, he dismissed the house servant who had been playing chess with him, then brought up his panel.
After a year, his Chess Tao experience was finally maxed out.
He gained another Skill Point.
Without hesitation, Li Hao chose to add it to the Physical Body Dao.
Soon, a flood of complex information surged, causing him to frown and endure for a moment before he had completely digested it.
Many insights about Body Refinement surged within him, prompting Li Hao to close the window, shut the door, and start exercising inside the room.
He began cultivating the Body Refinement technique "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements."
As he assumed the stance, his body moved like a dragon in flight or a tiger in motion, producing a cracking sound from within.
His entire body's blood, meridians, and bones seemed to twist, and even his cells felt activated with heat throughout him.
After completing a set of "Stone Skin Hundred Refinements," Li Hao's skin was crimson and steaming, and his hair was soaked with sweat, his small face covered with dense sweat beads.
Li Hao had a feeling, looked at the panel, and suddenly found that his attribute cultivation no longer showed as mortal but was at the Power Passage Realm, Three Levels!
Li Hao could feel an unprecedented strength coursing through his body, as if he could easily crack open a boulder.
Overjoyed, he began practicing again.
This time, with ample strength, his posture was more standard, and his skin turned even more red, the steam like smoke.
After the second practice, he saw that his cultivation had risen to the Fourth Level!
He continued to practice further.
The third time, the fourth time.
It wasn't until he finished the eighth set that his cultivation stopped rising, solidifying at the Power Passage Realm, Seventh Level!