The Name of Eternals

Chapter 237: Fifteen Years Apart

As the Saint's Mark faded, the eyes of everyone present focused on the young man.

Even those Ji family members who had never witnessed such an event could see that the boy seemed to have received a blessing from a Saint!

"A Saint's Mark, he actually obtained a Saint's Mark..."

"Could our Ji family be on the verge of producing a third ancestor?"

"Heavens, you truly have eyes, you truly have eyes!!"

Amidst the crowd, some elderly Ji family members, with white hair and beards, trembled with excitement, tears streaming down their faces as they shouted.

They recognized the Saint's Mark, which signified that Li Hao had been chosen by a Saint and taken as a disciple!

Given Li Hao's current talent, being favored by a Saint for teachings almost guaranteed his entry into the Dao-Seeking Realm.

Listening to a Saint's teachings in person, how could one not comprehend the Dao?

And going a step further, it was possible to have one foot in the Saint Realm!

Considering Li Hao's previously displayed talent, this possibility was immense.

These elders, who had survived from ancient times, were moved to tears, as if they could see the Ji family rising to glory once more in the vast wilderness!

In the Ji family's most glorious era, the three ancestors wielded divine spears, defeating all in the wilderness, unchallenged, securing the Ji family's position and recognition among other ancient holy clans, claiming vast lands that no one dared to trespass!

Hearing the tearful and excited cries of these family elders, the others were somewhat dumbfounded.

A Saint's Mark? Comparable to the three ancestors?!

Even if they didn't understand what a Saint's Mark was, they knew that the three ancestors held the highest status in the Ji family, second only to the founder! These elders were saying that the boy could potentially match the three ancestors?

While the crowd was in shock, Ji Tianchao, Ji Daoxin, and others quickly flew to Li Hao's side.

"Child!"

Ji Tianchao suppressed his excitement and asked, "Was that a Saint's Mark? Did you see a Saint?"

Li Hao nodded and asked, "Was that our Ji family ancestor?"

Seeing Li Hao nod, Ji Tianchao and the others took a deep breath, struggling to contain their excitement.

Unlike Li Hao, they lived in the vast wilderness and understood the exalted status of a Saint, a supreme existence! Even a trace of a Saint's aura could deter many.

Just glimpsing a Saint was an unparalleled honor!

"No, our ancestor has long since 'retired.'"

Ji Daoxin glanced at Li Hao, noting the boy's calm demeanor, and couldn't help but smile. If it were any other Ji family prodigy, they would be ecstatic.

"Saints transcend the mundane world. It is said that ancient Saints have long hidden away, some in a drop of dew, some in a speck of dust containing vast universes, and others exploring outer heavens, away from the mortal realm. They cannot be observed unless they reveal themselves."

Li Hao was surprised by Ji Daoxin's words, having no real concept of the Saint Realm.

Able to shrink to the size of dust and hide within the world? Able to transcend to outer heavens? Li Hao couldn't imagine what such a realm would be like, with what kind of power it entailed, feeling it surpassed the level of martial artists and belonged to myth and legend.

But after reaching the Three Immortal Realms, it seemed he was already on the path to the extraordinary.

Regenerating limbs was not within the realm of ordinary martial artists.

Li Hao refocused, knowing he still needed to refine his Dao heart first. The Saint Realm... was too far for now.

Unless one of his arts could break through to nine segments, merging with his mind.

"Can I see my mother now?" Li Hao asked.

Hearing this, Ji Daoxin smiled and said, "You're not interested in learning more about the Saint Realm? Our Ji family has detailed records on these matters."

Clearly, he was hinting that staying with the Ji family had many benefits.

"I'd rather bring my mother back first," Li Hao replied.

Ji Daoxin's eyes narrowed slightly, his smile fading as he looked deeply at Li Hao and said, "Don't worry, you'll see your mother soon."

He then turned to Ji Tianchao and said, "Take care of this child. He is your grandson, which makes him my great-grandson."

Saying this, he looked at Li Hao again but did not ask him to call him great-granduncle.

Since becoming the family head, he had deliberately distanced himself from relatives to avoid complications during family discussions.

Ji Daoxin looked at Li Hao, his eyes showing some affection. Despite Li Hao's astonishing talent, what impressed him more was the boy's filial piety towards his mother.

Such deep feelings would ensure he wouldn't worry about betrayal in the future if the Ji family treated him well.

Ji Daoxin turned and left, leaving Li Hao with Ji Tianchao and the others. Before leaving, he glanced at Ji Qingyuan in the crowd, who sensed it and looked back.

With just a brief exchange, Ji Qingyuan understood the family head's intention: to find an opportunity to resolve his conflict with the boy.

In the future, Li Hao would undoubtedly become the Ji family's war god, equal in status to Ji Qingyuan, and even potentially step into the semi-Saint realm, standing alongside the third ancestor in the demonic coffin.

If someone were to remind Li Hao of the events in the council hall, it would be awkward.

Ji Qingyuan understood the family head's intentions. He glanced at the boy surrounded by Ji Tianchao and others like stars around the moon, sighing inwardly.

Though he was the leader of the illegitimate branch, the conflict between legitimate and illegitimate branches had nothing to do with war gods.

The boy had clearly transcended the legitimate-illegitimate divide. As soon as he became the Dao Seed, this distinction no longer applied to him.

Now, even if he stubbornly resisted, other illegitimate family members would likely not agree.

The Ji family, though it had internal conflicts for thousands of years, felt pride in its prodigies and war gods, unless there were personal grudges.

This strange contradiction was why the Ji family could continue to thrive in the vast wilderness.

Ji Qingyuan had never met Li Hao and bore no grudges. Now that the boy was the Dao Seed and had received a Saint's inheritance, he saw no reason to continue the conflict.

Sighing inwardly, Ji Qingyuan pondered how to resolve this grudge.

Meanwhile, Ji Tianchao noticed Li Hao's questioning look and said, "Your mother is on Prison Island, deep within our Ji family's sacred realm. It's a remote place. Don't worry, we'll arrange for you to see her as soon as possible."

"How long will that take?" Li Hao asked.

Ji Tianchao smiled and said, "No more than six or seven days. In the meantime, you can stay at your mother's palace. If you miss her, there's the Heavenly Viewing Mirror, a sacred treasure that allows you to see her on Prison Island, though you won't be able to communicate."

Li Hao thought for a moment and agreed.

With the crowd around, Ji Tianchao disliked the noise and quickly led Li Hao away, disappearing from the Ultimate Dao Monument.

The onlookers, seeing the boy taken away by the war god, started discussing excitedly, no longer caring about Li Hao being of mixed blood.

Ji Xuanshen and other prodigies watched the boy leave, only snapping out of their daze after a long while.

Everything felt like a dream.

Before the sacred bell rang, who could have predicted they would experience such an extraordinary upheaval today?

"A Saint's Mark. Who knew igniting four extreme realms could trigger a Saint's Mark? Why didn't the elders and my father ever mention this to me?!"

"Would it have helped? You can't even condense the Heavenly Meridian."

"..."

"That guy, what is his other half's lineage that it's so terrifying?"

"Could his mother have married into another ancient holy clan?"

The prodigies whispered among themselves, still reeling from what they had witnessed.

Though most of them hadn't fought, Li Hao's epic battle with Ji Xuanshen had left them in awe.

Even Ji Xuanshen, with his sacred bone, had lost, breaking the myth of the Dao Domain. The most terrifying part was, the boy was only in the Three Immortal Realms!

"Do you think he'll be invincible below the war god level once he steps into the Fourfold Realm?"

"...Don't you think he already feels a bit invincible below the war god level now?"

"Stop contradicting me. I mean truly invincible."

"So do I..."

...

In the splendid palace, Ji Tianchao and others led Li Hao inside.

"This is where your mother lived. Your grandfather has passed, but his spirit remains in the ancestral shrine. You can visit him if you have the chance. He would be thrilled, especially after hearing what you did today..."

Ji Yunqing smiled as he introduced the place to Li Hao.

Li Hao's mind wandered to his grandfather, thinking of the elder related by blood.

He wondered if his grandfather had reached the Li family and fulfilled his wish.

"You must have a deep bond with your mother, traveling so far and facing such dangers to come to the vast wilderness."

Ji Yunyu smiled kindly.

Is it deep? Li Hao pondered.

When he first transmigrated, at the hundred-day banquet, his "mother," who still seemed like a young girl, had already left.

Fifteen years.

He had long forgotten her appearance, though he vaguely remembered her gentle eyes.

And her words:

"I've already thought of a name for you, Le Ping, Li Le Ping... I only wish for your happiness and peace..."

"...No matter what happens, I will stand by you and never let anyone hurt you..."

These words, Li Hao had not forgotten.

So this time, it was his turn to protect her from the storms.

"How long did you spend with your mother? Did she teach you your martial arts?" Ji Tianchao asked curiously.

Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "About a hundred days."

"Hmm?"

Ji Tianchao and the others were puzzled. Did he misspeak, a hundred days? Li Hao knew he would have to explain his precocity once he brought his mother back. He was no longer afraid of revealing such abilities.

So, he spoke calmly and openly, "Yes, my mother left for the border to fight when I was a hundred days old. Most of my martial arts are self-taught."

Ji Yunyu was stunned and quickly asked, "And later? How long before she returned?"

"She didn't return."

Li Hao said, "She was exposed and brought back here, so I came to find her."

Hearing the boy's calm words and seeing his smiling face, Ji Tianchao and the others were speechless, forgetting what to say.

So, this mother and son hadn't seen each other in over a decade?

"How old are you?" Ji Yunyu asked, her voice trembling.

"Fifteen."

"You remember things from when you were a hundred days old?" Ji Tianchao couldn't help but ask.

Li Hao nodded, "I've been precocious since I was young. I remember everything clearly from a few months after birth."

The others exchanged shocked looks.

So, the boy and their niece had only spent a hundred days together.

The supposed deep bond between mother and son was far thinner than they had imagined.

But thinking of Li Hao's actions—fighting bloodily, defeating prodigies, and resisting the sacred bone, all for his mother—they were moved, wondering what the boy was thinking.

"Fifteen years... How could Qingqing be so careless!"

Ji Yunyu couldn't help but feel heartache for the boy, though she knew she shouldn't criticize his mother in front of him.

Ji Tianchao and the others were silent, realizing that their grandson's dedication and even taking his mother's surname to redeem her was not due to deep maternal affection, but quite the opposite.

Only a hundred days of bonding. If not for Li Hao's extraordinary memory, he might not remember his mother at all.

"Do you hate your mother?" Ji Yunqing asked.

Li Hao was surprised and shook his head, "Of course not. I had a comfortable life, well-cared for, while she had her own responsibilities. Fighting on the battlefield is tough."

His lack of hatred also stemmed from being a transmigrator with a mature soul, not overly attached.

Hearing his words, the others felt a deep, unspoken sorrow, as if a thorn had pricked their hearts. Ji Yunyu turned away, hiding her tears with her sleeve.

"Good boy, when your mother sees you, she'll be so proud!" Ji Tianchao's eyes were red, but he smiled warmly at Li Hao.

The others felt compassion. Although they didn't know the full story, a mother spending only a hundred days with her child was inexcusable.

Now, this boy risked his life to free her, enduring challenges and humiliation, fighting ancient prodigies. His genuine love moved them to tears.

"Qingqing was too inexperienced as a mother, but she bore a clever and kind son."

The fourth elder spoke with a hoarse voice.

"You came here for Qingqing, risking your life. Weren't you afraid of dying?" Ji Yunqing asked, holding back her pain.

Li Hao shook his head, "I believed in Senior Yun Ge. Even if I couldn't see her, I would survive. If I could see her, I would try my best. I had the power, so I had to act."

Mentioning Ji Yunge, the others fell silent, understanding now why the third brother praised this boy so highly.

No wonder the lofty third brother held him in such high regard.

This child... left them speechless, his genuine nature more precious than his talent!

"Good boy, rest now. I'll have the Heavenly Viewing Mirror brought to you so you can see your mother. She can't see you yet, but soon you'll be together."

Ji Tianchao spoke gently.

He patted Li Hao's shoulder, pointing to a side hall, "This is where your mother lived. Take a good look around."

Li Hao nodded slightly.

The others, seeing this, let him rest. Having fought many prodigies, Li Hao hadn't taken any divine medicine yet. Anyone else would be exhausted.

Once they left, Li Hao looked around the luxurious palace, exploring it. He soon found a painting on a wall.

It depicted a young, graceful, and beautiful girl.

She exuded a lively and pure aura, her eyes bright and innocent, yet filled with intelligence.

Li Hao's hazy memories seemed to clear, the face with only bright eyes emerging from the mist.

He realized the girl in the painting was his mother in her youth.

Li Hao felt a sense of connection and called for the servants left by Ji Yunyu to prepare paper and ink for him.