Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 281: Chapter 159: What Is a Heaven-Sent Genius?

This world was called the Jiuzhou Continent. It was home to twelve nations, and the cultivation realms of these nations were divided into two types: Martial Arts and Immortal Skills.

The cultivation methods for Martial Arts felt both familiar and foreign to Li Chang’an. They consisted of seven realms: Skin Training, Muscle Training, Muscle Training, Bone Training, Marrow Cultivation, Blood Refining, and Refining Spirit.

These seven realms corresponded to Martial Apprentice, Martial Artist, Innate Martial Artist, Martial Arts Grandmaster, Grandmaster of Martial Arts, Martial Saint, and Martial God, respectively.

These realms were not unfamiliar to Li Chang’an.

He had just cultivated them in his previous world, where he had even created the Martial Scripture by combining the Nine Heavens Chaos Decision: Milky Way Chapter and the Nine Heavens Chaos Decision: Body Tempering Chapter.

The Martial Arts Realms of this life only differed from his last world in their cultivation order.

Of course, aside from that, the steps for tempering the body were clearly far more refined than in his previous world.

’It stands to reason that the upper limits of the Martial Dao in this world are likely much higher than in the last one.’

Moreover, Martial Dao cultivation was not the pinnacle of cultivation on the Jiuzhou Continent.

The Jiuzhou Continent also had even more powerful and terrifying Immortal Skills, which were divided into four realms: the Sea of Reincarnation, the Daoist Palace, the Four Extremes, and the Immortal Platform.

Only after cultivating the Martial Dao to the Unity of Divine Soul and achieving the Martial God Realm could a Martial Artist then cultivate Immortal Techniques and become an Immortal who roamed free throughout the world.

Li Chang’an had gathered all this information by secretly reading books while his tutor was lecturing.

After all, he was the Crown Prince.

He could choose not to learn, but the tutor could not choose not to teach.

’As long as the tutor was teaching, he was learning; he just never let it show.’

’Clearly, the power ceiling of this world was much higher than the previous few worlds Li Chang’an had entered.’

’In a normal world of Martial Dao, cultivating to the Martial God Realm was already nearing the very peak.’

’But in this world, a Martial God was only taking the first step on the path of the Immortal Dao.’

Just as Li Chang’an was about to shoo away his two tag-alongs, Li Yuanqing and Li Shiran, to find a place to continue cultivating in secret, Emperor Wu of Zhou arrived.

Following behind Emperor Wu of Zhou was an old man whose hair and beard were entirely white, yet whose complexion was ruddy and healthy.

Looking at Li Chang’an, who already stood as tall as his waist, Emperor Wu of Zhou said, “Crown Prince, this is your Grand-teacher. From now on, he will be teaching you to read, write, practice Martial Arts, and pursue Cultivation. If you still refuse to mend your ways and do nothing but play around, even if your Grand-teacher can forgive you, I will not!”

Li Chang’an stopped and glanced at the old man, who had an immortal-like bearing.

’Normally, Li Chang’an wouldn’t have cared about some second-rate tutor brought in by Emperor Wu of Zhou. Whether they came or went was of no concern to him.’

’The reason was simple: with the accumulated experience from his previous lives, Li Chang’an’s attainments in the Martial Dao had long since surpassed what ordinary people could ever hope to achieve.’

’The tutors hired for him were never skilled enough; their lectures were a joke.’

’With that time, Li Chang’an would rather secretly read a book or steal a moment to cultivate.’

But this old man before him was clearly different. His power was enough to make Li Chang’an take him seriously. He bowed to Grand-teacher Li Lin and said respectfully, “Grand-teacher!”

Hearing Li Chang’an speak of his own accord, Li Lin stroked his beard and chuckled. “Your father says you’re rotten wood that can’t be carved, but I don’t believe it. I came here today specifically to see if you are truly as hopeless as your father claims. Are you willing to cultivate with me?”

Li Chang’an said earnestly, “I am willing!”

Li Lin was very pleased with his attitude. He glanced at Emperor Wu of Zhou beside them and snorted coldly. “Didn’t you say the Crown Prince had no interest in learning? Why is it that he’s willing the moment I arrive?”

Witnessing this scene, Emperor Wu of Zhou was also a bit dumbstruck.

He glanced at the impeccably behaved Li Chang’an, then at the indignant-looking Li Lin. After a long moment, he forced himself to say, “Th-th-this… I don’t know either…”

Li Chang’an also looked up at the sweating Emperor Wu of Zhou and smiled sweetly. “The tutors Father Emperor has hired in the past were all too shallow in their knowledge. They were unworthy of being my masters. But you, Grand-teacher, are different. I am willing to follow you and cultivate!”

Hearing this, Li Lin couldn’t help but laugh heartily. “Good child, good child! Truly the prodigy of our Great Zhou! Those incompetent fools out there are indeed not worthy of consideration. From now on, I, your Grand-teacher, will personally instruct you!”

Originally, Li Lin had only intended to come and assess the situation, with no real plans to become Li Chang’an’s teacher.

’After all, he himself had yet to escape the sea of suffering and attain immortality, so how could he have time for anyone else?’

But Li Chang’an’s words were truly pleasant to hear, and they also showed him Li Chang’an’s talent and disposition. For a five-year-old child, just being able to express himself clearly was already quite impressive.

But Li Chang’an didn’t just express himself clearly; his logic was also exceptionally rigorous.

So rigorous, in fact, that he had even deceived his own father into truly believing he had no interest in learning!

Emperor Wu of Zhou was dumbstruck by this revelation.

He had genuinely been fooled by Li Chang’an’s facade and had never imagined that his son’s unwillingness to study was because he felt the tutors weren’t good enough.

Of course, Li Chang’an himself had never said so.

He had done it on purpose, with the goal of not having a smooth-sailing life as a highly praised Crown Prince.

[Ding! You have succeeded in Defying Fate!]

[At the age of five, you have taken a master and successfully become the Closed-door Disciple of the Imperial Family’s Martial God, Li Lin. Although your reputation in the city and the Imperial Court is poor, in the minds of your father and your ancestor, you now appear exceptionally mysterious!]

[Rebirth Evaluation has increased. You have been awarded an additional 10,000 Rebirth Points!]

…

After this incident, although Emperor Wu of Zhou couldn’t help but still have some lingering doubts, he finally gave up the idea of replacing the Crown Prince.