38. The Academy of Tan Palace

Chapter 38: The Academy of Tan Palace

The era name "Qingyuan" was established the year Li Hao was born, a testament to the Emperor of Yu's deep regard for the Li family. This dynasty, standing for over three thousand years, still resembled a mighty lion. Though gradually aging and weakening, its accumulated power provided peace and prosperity to most of its territories, deterring demons from the Eight Desolations and Wildernesses from recklessly entering the inland, and ensuring that the vassal states continued to pay tribute annually!

In this year, in the Yougu Mountains at the border of Yunzhou, 86-year-old General Jiang Tianshou set out to battle amidst the cheers of the border herdsmen. He led over 30,000 royal cavalry and, in just three days, annihilated 100,000 tiger and leopard demon clans invading the border, expanding the territory by a thousand miles, his name spreading across nineteen states!

In this year, the twelve-year-old prodigy Mingyue Sword broke through the Ninth Heaven Gate and became a direct disciple at Qiandao Palace, listening to the sage's teachings, gaining fame throughout the world!

And the old grandmaster, who had been in seclusion on Wanfeng Mountain for thirty years, also descended the mountain this year, dueling with someone by Chishui Lake, attracting people from all over the world to witness it. The outcome, however, remained unknown to anyone.

It was now late autumn in October.

Fallen yellow leaves covered the land of Qingzhou.

The doors of the Academy of Tan Palace, a sacred place for cultivation in Qingzhou City, known as the "Leap Fairy Gate," opened after six years of closure.

The news swept across the states.

Countless young talents, sons of nobles, and princesses flocked from all over the world, competing for fame and opportunities.

However, in a small courtyard of the God General's Mansion, not far from the Academy of Tan Palace, a young man sat leisurely.

He listened to the sound of falling leaves in the courtyard, brewed a pot of green tea, and quietly played a game of chess.

It seemed as if the noise and competition outside had nothing to do with him.

"Fifth Uncle, you lost again."

With the black piece placed down, the last escape route of the white chess was blocked, a decisive victory.

The young man took a sip of tea from the cup beside him, smiling as he spoke.

His lips were red, and his teeth were white. His eyes were like bright stars, clear yet deep. His youthful face had soft and defined contours, and his fair skin seemed untouched by the sun, exuding a cool, moonlit hue. His fingers holding the piece were slender and strong, his nails translucent, without a trace of blemish.

After he finished speaking, the old man sitting across from him twitched his mouth, furrowed his brows, and carefully scrutinized the chessboard, finally finding no way out. Frustrated, he tossed the white piece back into the chess (qi) basket with his fingertips.

"You brat, your chess skills are getting more refined."

Fifth Uncle Li Qingzheng said, though he praised the young man, his eyes were filled with particular resentment.

Having immersed himself in the art of chess for most of his life, his proudest achievement was now repeatedly thwarted by this young man, winning only occasionally, which made him very depressed.

"It's all thanks to your good sparring, Fifth Uncle." The young man, Li Hao, grinned humbly.

"Little rascal!"

Li Qingzheng rolled his eyes at him, wanting to play another game but feeling a bit deflated when he looked at the chessboard.

He still hadn't figured out how he lost the last game.

At this moment, the sound of dead leaves crunching underfoot echoed, and a snow-white figure darted over, leaping into the young man's arms without a word—a white fox.

The fox had orange-red ears, adding a lively touch with its bright colors.

Li Hao rubbed the white fox snuggling in his arms, sniffed it, and frowned: "Why do you smell like medicine again? Where have you been sneaking food this time?"

The fox buried its head deeper into Li Hao's embrace, as if trying to avoid answering.

Just then, Li Hao heard footsteps. He looked up and saw a young maid in a green dress running over, around sixteen or seventeen, with bright eyes and white teeth, quite beautiful.

She came to the pavilion breathlessly, seeing Li Qingzheng, hurriedly bowed and greeted him, then quickly said to Li Hao, "Young master, Xiao Rou went to the madam's kitchen again and overturned the madam's beauty soup. They're looking for the culprit everywhere in Changchun Courtyard…"

Li Hao was speechless. He pulled the little head out of his arms and said, "I told you not to be mischievous everywhere. Do you want a beating?"

The little fox tried to turn its head away, not daring to look Li Hao in the eyes, as if it knew it had done wrong.

"If this continues, I'll hand you over to the madam to be dealt with, and she'll strip you of your fur!" Li Hao threatened.

The fox seemed to imagine the scene and shivered, turning its head to look at Li Hao pitifully.

"You're already at the Celestial Stage, yet you still can't speak..." Li Hao said, helplessly looking at the fox's pitiful eyes.

He turned to the maid Qingzhi and said, "Later, you go and apologize to the madam for me, and take a plate of perilla cake I made. Also, what about today's cotton jade oil crisp? Did you buy it?"

Qingzhi pouted softly, "I always have to go. Every time it causes trouble, I'm the one who gets scolded."

"What?"

"Nothing, I'll go buy the cotton jade oil crisp first." Qingzhi quickly said and then ran off like a green cloud.

"This little girl is getting more and more unruly." Li Hao shook his head with a wry smile as he took a sip of tea.

Li Qingzheng glanced at him, "How many proper ones are there in your courtyard?"

Li Hao nearly spit out his tea, looking at the old man speechlessly: "Fifth Uncle, that's a dangerous thing to say."

Li Qingzheng snorted coldly: "The servants don't stand properly, and the maids walk around frantically. Look at the other courtyards, where isn't everything in order? Even this little fox demon is mischievous everywhere. It's only a matter of time before it gets caught and cooked. The upper beam is crooked, and the lower beam is slanted. Mainly you, with such a bright future, you just had to mess around. Our ancestors, could they not compare to a demon dragon?"

At this point, his temper flared, his beard bristling and eyes glaring.

Apparently, this matter still irked him after so many years.

Back when Li Hao was eight, he clearly could have entered the Soul Fusion Stage but delayed it himself for a year.

When the ancestors in the ancestral hall couldn't contain their curiosity and sent him to find the boy again, they discovered that Li Hao had already entered the Soul Fusion Stage.

He used body refining techniques to slay a flood dragon and inherit its soul.

Although it was a dragon soul, how could a mere small dragon compare to the ancestors of the Li family?

Moreover, inheriting a demon soul meant taking on its nature; inheriting a demon soul could result in a murderous and violent temperament.

Fortunately, over the years, Li Hao didn't exhibit such traits, likely because he had been playing chess with himself regularly, absorbing his influence... which made him feel gratified.

However, that demon dragon soul lowered Li Hao's potential in the Soul Fusion Stage, meaning he could only be considered above average.

Compared to the top-tier Soul Fusion Stages of various sects and schools, he was far inferior.

After all, when others released their soul form, it was the ancestors of the Four Stages, while his was a demon dragon.

And the ancestors of others had slain countless demon dragons in their lifetimes; just the dragon-slaying aura of their soul form could probably scare Li Hao into submission.

Thinking about this, Li Qingzheng was filled with rage.

The ancestors in the ancestral hall were also furious.

As a son of the Li family, he inherited a demon dragon soul, which was a disgrace to all the ancestors.

Some even suggested severely punishing Li Hao, locking him in the Li family's dungeon to teach him a lesson.

Even Li Muxiu, who had been accompanying Li Hao as a semi-caretaker, received scoldings from the ancestors...

But the second brother deserved it!

Because the second brother was too indulgent and spoiled the boy, he ended up being so unruly!

If it weren't for Li Hao's exceptional chess skills, he would have given the boy a good thrashing himself.

Thinking of this, and looking at the chessboard in front of him, Li Qingzheng's anger burned even hotter.

How did he lose?

Ever since stepping out of the ancestral hall that year, he felt that the calm state he maintained for decades was increasingly disturbed.

"I feel great. The servants are comfortable, and I am too."

Li Hao gave the old man a cheeky smile.

"You're so lax, your servants are lax too. When your father returns, see how he handles you." Li Qingzheng huffed.

Li Hao said, "What if he forbids me from playing chess with you?"

"He wouldn't dare!"

Li Qingzheng immediately glared.

Li Hao chuckled. At this moment, the sound of footsteps approached again, but it wasn't that maid Qingzhi.

He looked over curiously and saw a familiar face, Xuejian from Changchun Courtyard.

Over the years, the young girl had become more dignified and charming.

Behind her followed two little maids, walking quietly and with their eyes downcast, evidently much more disciplined than those in his courtyard… but also more fatigued.

Seeing Fifth Uncle there, Xuejian hurriedly bowed and greeted him. Surprised yet looking at Li Hao, she thought it was well-known within the mansion that this young master of Shanhe Courtyard spent his days frivolously, yet he got along well with the two old masters.

"Young master, the madam asked me to inform you that the Academy of Tan Palace has opened this year. Here is the invitation sent to the mansion, and the madam asked me to bring one to you."

Xuejian lowered her head respectfully and handed Li Hao an invitation with a black-and-white double-fish cover.

Though she might not hold Li Hao in high regard, her attitude left nothing to be criticized.

Li Hao knew this girl was always very tactful, smiling as he accepted it, then casually tossing it to the side of the mat, saying, "Thank you, Miss Xuejian."

Xuejian glanced down, seeing the precious invitation that warriors across the world scrambled for, just casually placed aside. Remembering the young master's temperament, he was just as the madam had anticipated.