The Name of Eternals

Chapter 35: Ancestral Shrine

A few months later.

By the side of the Blackwater Demon Lake.

Li Hao pulled up a level eight Celestial Stage fish demon and swiftly sliced it with his sword. He then set up a large pot over a fire and started cooking.

Scaling, skinning, and deboning the fish, his movements were as smooth as flowing water.

This time, he didn't add any chili peppers. Instead, he made a nourishing soup, finding various wild mushrooms to throw in and boil together.

The rich aroma of the mushrooms wafted from the edges of the iron lid, and the two old men fishing by the lake subtly sniffed the air, frequently casting their gazes over.

With Li Hao's announcement of "Let's eat," the two old men seemed to vanish, reappearing by the pot with their tableware in hand, elegant jade chopsticks alongside rough, makeshift ones from twigs, all simultaneously diving into the pot.

"Not bad!" Li Muxiu praised Li Hao with a thumbs-up after slurping a piece of fish.

Old Man Feng also smiled as he ladled a bowl of fish soup, savoring it slowly.

This fish made quite a contribution, adding not only to his fishing experience but also to his culinary expertise. Li Hao estimated that his culinary skills would likely reach the third level of art, following chess.

"Here, little one, try some too." Li Hao picked up a piece of fish and placed it on a nearby leaf, and a snow-white figure darted out, eagerly nibbling at the fish.

"Is this a fox? You've raised it like a dog," Old Man Feng chuckled.

He had been back for a few months, but he hadn't shared what he had been doing with Li Muxiu and Li Hao, nor did they ask.

"It's not much different," Li Hao replied with a smile.

Halfway through the meal, Li Hao sensed the timing was right and asked, "Granduncle, I'm planning to attempt the Soul Inheritance Stage soon. Can you take me to the ancestral shrine?"

"Hmm?"

Both old men paused, looking at Li Hao.

Li Muxiu was stunned. "You want to attempt the Soul Inheritance Stage? Are you already at the peak of the Celestial Stage?"

"Yes." Li Hao nodded.

He had deliberately waited a few months to tell the old man because his progress was astonishingly fast, almost unbelievable.

"Really?" Feng Bo Ping also forgot to continue eating and stared at Li Hao in surprise.

He knew that this kid could be playful, but he would never joke about cultivation.

However, attempting the Soul Inheritance Stage at the age of eight?

That was a bit exaggerated, to say the least.

"Your Dragon River Divine Meridian has reached perfection? How is that possible? Even if you weren't a martial arts waste body, your father only reached the Soul Inheritance Stage at nine."

Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao with doubt. He knew this kid wouldn't joke about such matters, but the situation seemed impossible. Even the most prodigious talent he'd seen, like Li Junye, only reached the Soul Inheritance Stage at eight and a half!

And that person was someone who cultivated day and night, intelligent and diligent.

But Li Hao…spent all his time fishing with him, sometimes the entire day. When did he have time to cultivate?

"Uh, it's true." Li Hao realized he might have overestimated the old man's ability to handle surprises, but there was no turning back now, so he had to brace himself and explain.

"Did your meridians open up on their own?"

Li Muxiu examined Li Hao closely. "Even with your high talent for body refinement, it would take at least seven to eight years, if not a lifetime, to reach the Soul Inheritance Stage. How could you achieve this in just one year?"

"Isn't it simple? Let the little rascal show us," Feng Bo Ping suggested.

Li Muxiu nodded, "Yes, show us."

"Alright."

Li Hao stood up, moved away from the pot, and then mobilized all his energy, activating 54 major meridians. The powerful energy surged through his body, and he temporarily withheld the concealment effect of the "Vastness" attribute, allowing the energy waves to burst out.

Li Muxiu and Feng Bo Ping's eyes widened in disbelief. Li Muxiu's reaction was even more exaggerated, dropping his chopsticks into the pot.

He stared at Li Hao in shock, utterly speechless.

"Is this... real?"

As a formidable Four-Pillar Stage expert, how could he be mistaken?

Fifty-four meridians, full and complete, clearly indicating the pinnacle of the Celestial Stage! Yet, the child before them was only eight years old!

Feng Bo Ping was stunned for a moment before turning to Li Muxiu, saying with a look of resignation, "Your Li family really can produce all kinds of monsters. First, there was that kid Li Junye, and now there's this little rascal. If other martial families knew, they'd probably go green with envy and try to slander you again!"

Li Muxiu still hadn't fully recovered, simply staring at Li Hao.

This was not only a testament to a monstrous talent reaching the Celestial Stage pinnacle but also indicated one thing—Li Hao's meridians were open!

This meant that Li Hao was no longer a martial arts waste body and could cultivate!

Moreover, such talent surpassed even Xiao Jiu and was undoubtedly the foremost in the third generation!

In fact, even looking back ten generations, such talent was unrivaled!

Countless thoughts swirled in his mind, and suddenly, Li Muxiu felt a surge of guilt and self-reproach.

Such a genius, yet he had been leading him to eat, drink, and play every day, wasting precious time, wasn't he?

"Granduncle?"

Li Hao retracted his energy and noticed the granduncle was lost in thought, prompting him.

Li Muxiu snapped back to reality, instinctively reaching for his chopsticks to maintain composure, but they were already in the soup. He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly before looking deeply at Li Hao:

"How did your meridians open up?"

"It was like a dream."

Li Hao said, "One day, I dreamed of cultivating, and suddenly, when I exerted force, I felt light and free. After waking up, I found cultivation incredibly easy, clearing meridians without hindrance."

"..."

The two elders were left speechless.

Opening meridians while sleeping?

Wasn't he just talking nonsense?

But aside from Li Hao's explanation, they couldn't find any other explanation.

"Could it be that this kid's previous meridian blockage was pseudo-blockage?" Feng Bo Ping, stroking his sharp white beard, pondered aloud:

"I've heard some martial arts waste bodies are temporary. Some practice for a while and suddenly open up. Maybe he's one of them."

"Possibly," Li Muxiu nodded. He had heard of this possibility, though it was extremely rare.

"Now that this kid can cultivate, your Li family is really something, rising again with a true dragon. Impressive," Feng Bo Ping sighed repeatedly.

Li Muxiu, however, let out a sigh, saying, "If I'd known this, I would've trained him properly. Wasting so much time with us fishing every day."

Li Hao was startled by the words and quickly said, "Old man, you aren't going to force me to cultivate, are you?"

"What do you mean by forcing you to cultivate?"

Li Muxiu retorted angrily, "Now that your meridians are open, don't you want to cultivate well and achieve great fame in the future?"

"Don't joke."

Li Hao immediately replied, "Granduncle, please don't harm me. I don't want to join the army and fight. Life is too comfortable now. Fame is something even dogs wouldn't want. Anyone who wants it can have it!"

Li Muxiu was speechless. Normally, others would be eager to make a name for themselves, but this kid seemed to be spouting nonsense.

"Hahaha..."

Next to him, Feng Bo Ping laughed heartily, "It seems this little rascal is nothing like Junye. I think he's quite right. Fame? Throughout history, fame is fleeting, and wealth is never enduring."

Li Muxiu's expression changed slightly, feeling a sharp sting in his heart.

Once, Li Junye emerged dazzlingly, such a stunning figure.

But he had vanished like a comet, quickly falling.

He looked at Li Hao, who was watching him nervously.

Li Muxiu's heart felt as if it had been squeezed. If this child were sent to the battlefield, who could guarantee he wouldn't become the second Li Junye?

Forget it... Li Muxiu sighed heavily, saying, "Since you don't want to pursue fame, fine. In the future, just live like me, stay in the Li family, enjoy life, and be a nameless old fool."

Feng Bo Ping laughed, "Who dares call the Fist Saint nameless? Unless they want their mouth punched crooked."

Li Muxiu gave him a glare and said to Li Hao, "In the future, when your parents find out and come back, I'll swallow my pride and take their scolding. Now, kid, hurry up and eat!"

He flicked his fingers, and the chopsticks flew out of the pot. Then he picked up a twig, peeled it to make chopsticks, and began eating again. But it was clear he was not as carefree and joyful as before, carrying some heavy thoughts.

Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, being able to continue fishing with the granduncle was good.

Although he could fish by himself, fishing with the old man by the demon lake provided both life protection and the opportunity to catch big ones, a delightful thing.

Sitting by the pot, Li Hao resumed eating.

"Granduncle, about the Soul Inheritance..."

"Hmph, just eat, and we'll go afterward," Li Muxiu said, giving Li Hao a glance, then resumed eating the fish.

Li Hao felt reassured and began eating heartily.

...

...

The Li family ancestral shrine, located deep within the General's Mansion, nestled in a carved-out mountainside.

Outside the mountain, security was tight, with heavily armored guards, but on the mountain's stairway, only fallen leaves lay scattered, empty and deserted.

Before the towering and solemn ancestral shrine, in the flat plaza, several large cauldrons stood, incense curling upward.

Two figures descended from the sky, landing in the plaza outside the shrine before walking up the steps.

Here, even Li Muxiu, who usually carried a light-hearted demeanor, restrained his expression, maintaining a calm and respectful presence as he led Li Hao inside.

"Second Brother, what brings you here?"

A calm voice, like a tranquil lake, resonated from within, soothing and calming the mind of anyone who heard it.

Li Hao looked inside and saw numerous ancestral tablets arranged before a golden statue, which was none other than the Li family's ancestor, the founding general, Li Tianyuan!

Amidst these tablets, an old man with long eyebrows and a beard sat alone on a prayer mat, with a chessboard set before him, quietly playing a game of solitaire.

"Of course, I've brought a youngster for the ancestors to inspect," Li Muxiu said, stepping inside.

Upon hearing this, the old man slightly raised his head, his gaze, as tranquil as an ancient well, rippling with a hint of surprise as he caught sight of Li Hao, who followed over the threshold:

"A soul inheritance, is it? This child seems even younger than Junye. Second Brother, are you joking?"