Chapter 590: The Laws of the Flesh
Though Su Zhenyuan loved his four daughters deeply, as the family head, his word was final within the Su clan. Once he agreed, the matter was set in stone—no one could change it, unless the slumbering ancestor awoke.
Su Qingmei knew this well. She opened her mouth as if to argue, but forced herself to swallow the words. Her gaze shifted to the boy, eyes flashing with a cold, murderous glint.
"Muqing, though this child is only at the first level of the Immortal Lord Realm, your father and I saw his soul lifespan: just ninety-six years, not even a full century. Such a soul lifespan is proof of unparalleled talent—no less than any direct heir of a great clan!"
Su Zhenyuan fell silent. Though he favored Muqing's match with the Lin family's imperial son, the marriage contract was their ancestor's will. He spoke up for Li Hao out of fairness. If his daughter happened to develop feelings, he'd have no choice but to bow to fate.
"Soul lifespan under a hundred?" The three daughters all looked up in shock, staring at their father.
Even they themselves had never reached such cultivation within a mere hundred years of soul lifespan!
Among them, the one with the greatest talent—Su Muqing, the unrivaled true phoenix of the Su clan in fifty thousand years—had barely stepped into the True Immortal Realm by her hundredth year. Her brilliance had shaken the entire Gusu Imperial Star, pairing her perfectly with the Lin family's imperial son.
Yet now this boy… Could his talent even surpass Muqing's?
All three pairs of eyes fell on Li Hao, filled with awe.
Su Muqing's eyes wavered with disbelief. But as she saw his unwavering gaze locked on her, her anger surged back like a tide. Gritting her teeth, she snapped, "Even if that's true, I'll never marry him! Who knows if he's just eaten some rare elixirs? If it's just about cultivation level, I could reach the Immortal Lord Realm peak long ago. If he truly had such ability, why would he need to cling to my Su family?"
At her words, Su Wanqing and Su Wanxue nodded slightly. Their father had said this boy had an Emperor behind him—obtaining chaos-grade treasures would be child's play. Pure cultivation level alone didn't prove anything. What mattered was whether his foundation was solid and his combat ability real.
Su Zhenyuan had considered the possibility of rare elixirs. Yet if an Emperor truly nurtured this boy, it wouldn't be done recklessly; his growth must have been solid. His cultivation was unlikely to be hollow.
He said calmly, "Xiao Hao's talent should be beyond question—"
"I don't care about his talent!" Su Muqing cut him off furiously, eyes red. "I already swore with Zhexuan that we'd never part!"
Being interrupted made Su Zhenyuan's face darken. He exhaled a heavy, cold snort, his rare anger showing as he said with an icy face, "I have decided. No more arguing. A hundred years from now, if you still feel nothing for him, and he fails to win your heart, you can refuse. Until then, you will obey."
The cold snort thundered through Su Muqing's heart like a hammer blow. Her face turned pale. She stared at her father in a daze, as if he'd become a stranger. Slowly, her eyes shifted to the boy who still stared at her.
In that moment, she threw away all courtesy. All her grievance and fury surged forth unfiltered. Her eyes burned with hatred as she spat, "Ten years, a hundred, even a thousand or ten thousand years—"
"I, Su Muqing, will never, ever fall for you!"
Her words were sharp as needles, echoing through the grand hall, stabbing like icy daggers at the slender figure of the boy.
Li Hao remained silent. To him, this Su Muqing was just a stranger. Everything he did was only for the one who had crossed time to stand by him, fighting the world before the Supreme One. Compared to that, what did a mere century of companionship matter?
Seeing Li Hao unmoved, Su Muqing felt her rage turn into helpless frustration. She bit back a growl, gave a cold snort, and stormed off.
In a flash, Li Hao's figure flickered after the flowing blue dress of that girl of memory, following close behind.
"You!" Su Muqing almost exploded with rage seeing him tailing her. Her face flushed an angry crimson.
She spun around, eyes blazing as her aura surged. Her hair and dress fluttered wildly in the immortal energy storm. Yet the boy stood firm, unwavering.
His calmness only infuriated her further. Her gaze darted toward her father inside the hall, eyes now glinting with bitter resentment, before she turned and fled.
As the two departed, Su Wanqing and Su Wanxue exchanged a long look, both shocked by the events that had just unfolded.
"Father, Mother, we will take our leave," Su Wanxue finally said, bowing deeply.
With their father's nod, they slipped away quickly, relieved to escape the heavy air. In their hearts, curiosity burned for this boy. To reach the Immortal Lord Realm within a century, nurtured by an Emperor, proved his extraordinary potential. Yet why insist on attaching himself to the Su family?
In the now-empty grand hall, only Su Zhenyuan and Su Qingmei remained.
"Wife, do not try anything foolish," Su Zhenyuan warned, his eyes dark and stern, radiating an unyielding authority. "If that boy comes to any harm, it will mean our Su clan has broken our promise. I will not forgive it."
Su Qingmei's face paled at his words. His tone left no room for doubt: this was an iron command.
"Do you really want Muqing to marry a boy like that?" Su Qingmei asked softly. "Even if his talent is extraordinary, he clearly wants to use Muqing to cling to our Su family's power. With such intentions, his heart can't be pure, and his path of cultivation will never go far. His Dao heart can't be strong."
Hearing his wife's gentle yet worried words, the coldness in Su Zhenyuan's eyes slowly faded. He let out a long sigh and said, "Everything is determined by fate. That Emperor behind the boy let him come with the marriage contract at this moment, perhaps because he saw something we cannot. Maybe there's a deeper meaning. You don't understand how far an Emperor's eyes can see, or what they can perceive…"
A deep trace of fear flickered in his eyes. Then he shook his head and continued, "Setting that aside, since the marriage contract is real, and the boy himself is real, there's no reason to refuse. If I rejected it, where would that leave our Su family's ancestors? This isn't just about fearing the Emperor or honoring a promise—it's about respecting our own ancestors."
Su Qingmei froze for a moment, her heart trembling slightly as she realized the depth of her husband's integrity.
Her eyes softened. "Husband, I misjudged you earlier. But Muqing will suffer because of this. She will resent you as her father."
"When she shoulders the burden of the family in the future, she will understand…" Su Zhenyuan sighed, but when he remembered his beloved daughter's resentful eyes as she left, bitterness rose in his heart.
Su Qingmei gently grasped his large, calloused hand. "I will talk to Muqing myself. She'll come to understand your difficulties. A mere hundred years will pass quickly."
Su Zhenyuan nodded slightly and clasped her delicate hand in return, his eyes softening with love.
…
Su Muqing's residence lay deep within the Su family's inner compound, in the Lake Pavilion Garden.
The garden had nine scenic spots, seven courtyards, and three cultivation grounds.
Su Muqing lived in the Celestial Courtyard, the main courtyard with the densest immortal Power. Like the gardens of the other three little phoenixes, Lake Pavilion Garden was of the highest standard granted to direct heirs. But because of Muqing's extraordinary talent and bloodline, she had inherited the true phoenix legacy among the direct line. Her courtyard was further enhanced with divine herbs and chaos treasures, making its immortal Power even richer than the gardens of Su Wanqing and the other sisters.
After returning from the Imperial Bright Hall, Su Muqing headed straight to the Celestial Courtyard, her face dark and stormy the entire way.
Seeing Li Hao following her inside, she nearly lost control, shouting furiously, "This is my private courtyard! What are you doing here?"
"Accompanying you."
"I don't want your company!" Su Muqing roared.
Li Hao stared into her eyes, as if trying to see past them, into the depths of her soul, to find that slumbering primordial spirit.
Expressionless, he said, "I won't interfere. Do whatever you like. As long as I can see you, it's enough."
"You… you!" Su Muqing stomped her foot in fury, but quickly forced herself to calm down, her face icy. "Don't think this will impress me. How ridiculous!"
At that moment, the Celestial Courtyard's steward and servants hurried over to greet them. But when they saw a young man openly arguing with Su Muqing, their eyes went wide in shock. Within the Su family, who among the younger generation dared stand up to the true phoenix?
"Nanny Wu! Throw him out!" Su Muqing ordered, pointing furiously.
Nanny Wu, who had cared for Muqing since childhood, immediately obeyed. Releasing the full might of her Immortal Lord Realm peak cultivation, she prepared to suppress and eject Li Hao.
Li Hao's brow furrowed. He quickly declared, "Your father said I have equal rights with you. Anyone who raises a hand against me commits the same crime as attacking you!"
Nanny Wu froze mid-step. She was shrewd enough to see from their argument that this boy was no ordinary person. His words made her break into a cold sweat.
Su Muqing's face grew colder. "You're a shameless scoundrel! This only makes me hate you more!"
"That doesn't matter," Li Hao replied.
"You!" Su Muqing's chest heaved violently with rage. Since childhood, everything had gone her way. She had been like an untouchable fairy, but today she was humiliated again and again.
Seeing Muqing's reaction, Nanny Wu realized the boy wasn't lying and felt her head start to ache.
"Nanny Wu! What are you waiting for? Throw him out! If something happens, I'll take responsibility!" Su Muqing screamed.
Nanny Wu nearly groaned aloud. When things went wrong, when had young mistresses ever been punished? It was always the servants who suffered.
Before she could figure out what to do, a whistling sound cut through the air as Yaoqin, Su Qingmei's personal maid, arrived.
She looked over the scene, her eyes flashing strangely as they settled on Li Hao.
Having seen his soul lifespan revealed earlier in the hall, Yaoqin's impression of him had changed slightly. Whatever his behavior, he was unquestionably a peerless genius.
"Miss Muqing," Yaoqin said, her voice respectful but clear enough for all to hear, "Madam sent me to remind you: keep your Dao heart pure. Do not be distracted by outside matters. Focus on your cultivation. A hundred years will pass in the blink of an eye."
Su Muqing's face twitched, her eyes turning even colder. Her mother's words meant only one thing: she was expected to accept her fate.
She took a deep breath, shooting Li Hao a hateful glare. "Fine. I'll wait and see. In a hundred years, I'll watch you crawl from my Su family like a beaten dog!"
When she finished speaking, she turned without a backward glance and entered her room.
Li Hao's figure flickered, immediately following her inside.
"Young master, that is the miss's private chamber, you…" Nanny Wu's face changed, and she rushed to stop him.
Without looking back, Li Hao said, "I know my limits."
Nanny Wu was dumbfounded. 'You know your limits? The problem is, I don't even know you!'
She turned to look at Yaoqin, quickly sending a voice transmission: "Miss Yaoqin, who exactly is this boy? He said he has equal status with the miss. Is that true?"
Yaoqin stared at Li Hao sticking to Su Muqing like a stubborn leech, dazed for a moment. When she heard Nanny Wu's question, she withdrew her gaze and nodded. "Yes, it was personally promised by the family head."
"This…" Nanny Wu was stunned. Before she could ask more, Yaoqin had already vanished with a flicker.
Inside the room, Su Muqing's face darkened as she saw Li Hao enter. "Do you plan to stand there watching me sleep and bathe?"
"If I could, that would be best," Li Hao replied calmly.
"…Get out!" Su Muqing's face flushed red—not from shyness, but sheer rage.
Li Hao said, "A hundred years might be short, but counting each day, it's still a long time. How about we get along peacefully?"
"Heh, just looking at you makes me sick." Su Muqing sneered coldly without mercy.
Li Hao fell silent.
Seeing his refusal to leave, Su Muqing took a deep breath. She realized she needed a practical solution; otherwise, she'd have this person shadowing her for a century, causing endless inconvenience.
"If you insist on staying, fine. But you're forbidden from approaching my sleeping chambers. Stay in the courtyard. If you don't agree, I'll go to father right now—even if I have to threaten my life!" Su Muqing said coldly.
Li Hao considered it, then nodded. "Alright."
Seeing him show at least some boundaries, Su Muqing secretly felt relieved, but immediately sneered. "Then it's settled. And know this: seeing you only makes me hate you more!"
Li Hao gave no response. He had already recognized that the girl before him was not the one he sought; he was only here to protect her body and the soul that had yet to awaken.
"Hmph!" Su Muqing snorted coldly. She turned away and headed deeper inside. "Right behind the main hall is my bedroom. Leave now."
Li Hao paused for a moment, then stepped out of the main hall.
The door slammed shut with a powerful force, rattling in its frame, as if venting her anger.
Nanny Wu rushed up just as he stepped outside, ready to speak. But Li Hao looked at the tightly shut doors first, then turned to her. "You are the steward here?"
"I am, young master. May I ask…" Nanny Wu stammered, uncertain how to address him.
"Please tidy up one of the nearby rooms. I will stay here," Li Hao said.
Nanny Wu froze, glancing at the sealed doors, hesitating.
Li Hao glanced at her and, seeing her reluctance, said no more. Instead, he took a piece of divine wood from his spatial storage, sat down directly in front of the bedroom doors, and began carving with immortal Power gathering at his fingertips.
Very soon, two chairs and a small table took shape under his skillful hands.
Nanny Wu and the nearby servants exchanged bewildered looks at this strange scene.
Nanny Wu decided it best to ask Su Muqing herself and quickly ushered the other servants away.
Not long after, when Nanny Wu returned from the bedroom, she saw the boy sitting at his freshly carved table, arranging black and white game pieces for a round of Go. She was surprised but kept her distance, calling over a maid to order the staff to stay away from him, as instructed by the miss.
"That guy…" Inside, Su Muqing used her divine sense to see Li Hao's actions. His persistence only fueled her anger, but she soon withdrew her sense and entered her cultivation chamber.
Outside, as he waited, Li Hao gradually calmed himself.
After leaving the Southern Region, he had broken through to the twelfth level in his Painting Dao, embedding its true essence into his Flesh Dao, stepping into the Immortal Lord Realm. But he hadn't yet had time to fully explore his new power or the changes in his body.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Soul Lifespan: 96]
[Realm: Immortal Lord Realm, First Level]
[Sword Dao: Level Eleven (Initial Sword Immortal)]
[Flesh Dao: Level Twelve (True Lord)]
[Control Dao: Level Eleven (True Immortal)]
…skipping the thousand-character panel details.
Li Hao's gaze swept over his cultivation panel. Although it had grown longer with his many Daos and techniques, he still took it all in at a glance.
Since reaching the Immortal Lord Realm, he realized the biggest difference from before: previously, he only grasped the source of the Dao. No matter how profound his insights, he mostly wielded origin power—a nascent form of the Great Dao.
Now, however, in every direction he looked, he could see the laws of the immortal Dao manifesting around him like countless chains weaving through space—branches blooming from the seed of the Dao.
If the Dao origin was a seed, the immortal Dao laws were its leaves and branches.
To fight using these branches was far more powerful, marking the difference between an Immortal Lord and a True Immortal—unless the seed itself was extraordinarily strong.
"Flesh Laws…" Li Hao's eyes glimmered as he sensed the raw, primal Dao laws of flesh swirling around him.