One year had passed, and Li Hao was now two years old. He no longer needed constant care, as he could now walk on his own and handle basic tasks independently.
Over the past year, he had pushed his cultivation to the limits of the Star Essence Nourishing Technique.
His progress was remarkable—he had completed a third of the spirit refinement process, but more importantly, his technique had reached mastery.
Even without deliberately cultivating, his body naturally absorbed star essence, strengthening him passively.
Just as he finished his daily cultivation session, the system panel materialized before him.
[You have taken another step in your life.]
[Reward: Nine Revolutions of Immortality]
[Nine Revolutions of Immortality: A cultivation technique created by a profound emperor.]
As the system's voice echoed in his mind, a surge of information about the technique flooded his consciousness.
The technique had nine levels, each revolutionizing the body, starting with First Turn: Apprentice.
Scanning the requirements, Li Hao saw that this technique demanded exceptionally strong bones and tendons to begin cultivation.
Fortunately, his body had been tempered over the past two years, making the initial stages easier for him.
He began with skin refinement, an essential step in strengthening the body.
However, as he cultivated, he quickly realized that the technique's requirements were far more demanding than he had anticipated.
The limits of skin refinement stretched beyond his expectations.
The skin, which he had always seen as a simple layer of protection, could be tempered to the hardness of metal, far surpassing conventional techniques.
His current realm was merely the initial stage of First Turn, not the true First Turn Fist Level. Yet, Li Hao continued diligently.
For two years, he had followed a strict routine and trusted his progress. This technique was vastly superior to normal body cultivation methods.
Regular techniques used blood circulation to refine the body, gradually transforming the cultivator over time. However, this approach had limitations.
As one progressed, the body tribulation would eventually block further advancement, requiring an innately powerful physique to overcome.
The Nine Revolutions of Immortality took a different approach—it incorporated the spiritual energy of heaven, assisting the body's evolution.
When combined with his Star Essence Nourishing Technique, Li Hao was certain that his physical body would be unparalleled.
These two techniques together granted him a 1.3x strength advantage over the average cultivator in the same realm.
This might not seem overwhelming, but a 30% power difference was enough to crush an opponent in close combat.
A Routine of Growth
Each day followed a strict schedule:
8:00 AM – Wake up and bathe.
8:30 AM – Eat breakfast.
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM – Play (which was, in reality, hidden cultivation).
1:00 PM – Lunch.
Afternoon & Evening – More cultivation, broken up by short periods of rest and play.
Despite his rigorous practice, he appeared as nothing more than an energetic two-year-old to those around him. His family never suspected that he was already cultivating at an astonishing rate.
As the weeks passed, his skin transformed. It became as resilient as diamond, though not yet on par with true rare minerals.
Under the sunlight, his jade-like complexion even reflected a subtle glow.
He was confident that even if he fought someone at the true First Turn level, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage. In fact, he might hold an edge over them.
But he couldn't stop there.
The second phase focused on blood refinement. His blood was strong, but not yet strong enough.
Most cultivators struggled with this step because they had to reinforce what already existed—doubling their body's natural physical foundation.
For example, if one's physical strength was at 5, this stage would push it to 10.
But because Li Hao's body was already 1.3x stronger than average, his strength would increase to 14 instead of 10.
This meant that, in every realm, he would remain significantly ahead of others.
Determined, he resumed cultivation, focusing on further enhancing his blood flow and strength...
A Year Later—A New Milestone
Twelve months passed. It was now Li Hao's third birthday. He sat quietly on his mother's bed, reflecting on his journey.
"After a year of relentless cultivation, I've reached the peak of the seventh level."
From the initial skin refinement, he had now reached brain refinement—a crucial phase.
Unlike the previous stages, this level focused on enhancing mental capacity.
The brain was the command center of the body, and refining it would enhance everything—reaction speed, perception, memory, and even emotions.
The brain refinement stage was divided into three sections. He had already completed two.
The final section revolved around combat intelligence, an area that required real-world battle experience.
As he cultivated, his memory and processing abilities increased by 1.4x, sharpening his mind far beyond that of an ordinary child.
His comprehension of techniques and past memories deepened, allowing him to analyze past experiences with greater clarity.
With this final step completed, he officially advanced to the Bone Refinement Realm, where he would focus on strengthening his skeletal structure.
Just then, a familiar ding echoed in his ears.
[You have taken another step in your life.]
[Reward: Heavenly Blossom Sword Art]
[Heavenly Blossom Sword Art: A sword technique created by a profound peak Second Turn master.]
A vision filled his mind—a silhouette practicing swordsmanship. The movements were fluid yet deadly, each strike carrying unparalleled precision. Li Hao felt an instinctual connection to the technique.
He stood up and imitated the movements, his small form slicing through the air with surprising sharpness. But something was missing—he needed an actual sword.
A Request
Stepping out of the bedroom, he searched for his mother. He found her in the courtyard, sweeping absentmindedly. Seeing him approach, she stopped and smiled.
"Hao'er, what are you doing outside? Didn't I tell you there's too much dust?"
Li Hao hesitated briefly before speaking. "Mom, can you ask Dad to buy me a wooden sword?"
His mother, Hi Jane, paused, momentarily caught off guard. "A wooden sword?" she repeated, curiosity in her tone. "Why do you want one?"
Li Hao answered with a hint of shyness. "I want to learn martial arts."
In their world, both martial artists and cultivators existed, but immortal cultivation reigned supreme. Even animals strove for immortality.
However, martial artists possessed a unique advantage—they could cultivate faster than immortals at lower levels.
Despite this, they ultimately hit a ceiling, unable to compare to high-level immortal cultivators.
Hi Jane pondered his request. "Martial arts, huh? Maybe we can enroll you in a training school…"
His father, Li Jin Hong, a blacksmith for martial artists, returned home later that evening. After dinner, Hi Jane relayed their son's request.
"Hao'er wants a wooden sword."
Li Jin Hong chuckled. "That's a coincidence. A noble family just ordered a sword for their three-year-old son to begin training. I'll craft one for Hao'er too."
He paused, then added with a smile, "I'll also find a friend to teach him once he's six."
...
The next day, Li Hao stood in the courtyard, mimicking the swordplay techniques ingrained in his mind. As his mother approached, she held something behind her back.
"Hao'er, look what Daddy and I got you."
She revealed a wooden sword and a martial arts manual—Light Sword Art.
Li Hao accepted the sword, but his focus remained on his Heavenly Blossom Sword Art. He practiced diligently, his skills improving rapidly.
With each passing day, his strength, technique, and resolve continued to grow.
The path to greatness had only just begun.