Eternal Renown

A throbbing, intense pain!

Li Hao struggled to open his eyes, finding it incredibly difficult.

Finally, he managed to open his eyes a slit.

The dim light revealed an ancient palace, majestic and solemn, with a grand dark golden dragon-scaled carpet in front of him.

At the end of the carpet, on a set of stairs, sat a majestic giant with an awe-inspiring presence, his gaze as piercing as a torch in the night, emitting a captivating light.

Where am I? Wasn't I playing a game?

Oh, my phone ran out of battery, and I was about to charge it...

Li Hao's mind was sluggish, feeling dazed and confused as he blankly observed his surroundings.

Damn, did I fall asleep holding my phone again?

But this didn't seem like a dream.

"At the age of nineteen, he bravely led the three armies, defeated the Royal Court, vanquished the great demon, and ended the century-old chaos in Cangzhou. Such a heroic figure is not only a loss to your Li Clan but also a sorrow for the countless citizens of our Great Yu Dynasty!"

"Commander Xing, step forward and receive the imperial decree!"

A solemn voice echoed through the grand hall, deafening in its authority.

Li Hao managed to look up and saw numerous officials in court robes standing on both sides of the carpet, their heads bowed. Is this... the imperial palace?

The Great Yu Dynasty... I don't recall such a dynasty in history.

As Li Hao puzzled over this, a tall and sturdy giant suddenly stepped forward from the side. His erect posture exuded a chilling aura, as if one could smell the bloodshed and slaughter just by looking at his back.

"Today, Li Jiunye, the ninth son of the Li Clan, is bestowed the title of First Rank National Guardian Marquis, promoted to General, and granted the honor of burial in the imperial mausoleum. He is awarded ten carts of ancient treasures, three Yu Long Seals, and ten measures of gold!"

"Starting today, the entire nation will mourn for three days, and the imperial court will abstain from meat for seven days to honor the heroic spirit of the National Guardian Marquis!"

With such an extravagant reward, everyone in the hall was stunned.

At the age of only nineteen, he had been bestowed the title of marquis and appointed as a general!

Moreover, the title of 'National Guardian' was unprecedented. In the past, there had been no such honor, and it would likely be difficult for anyone to achieve this in the future.

After all, being granted the rank of First Rank Marquis at the age of nineteen was an extraordinary feat.

"Your humble subject, on behalf of the ninth brother, accepts the imperial decree and thanks His Majesty the Yu Emperor!"

The towering figure, as sturdy as a mountain, knelt on one knee. His deep voice lacked joy or excitement but carried a hint of hidden sorrow, his throat hoarse.

"This is what your Li Clan deserves. It is I who owe you!"

"Commander Xing, is that your son? I wish to bestow him a name, do you consent?"

"Your subject has no merit and dares not accept the Emperor's grace!"

"The sons of the Li Clan are all heroes of the Great Yu Dynasty! As the National Guardian perished on the battlefield, your son was born. Perhaps this is the cycle of heaven's path. Heaven took away my beloved general and granted the Great Yu Dynasty another valiant son."

"I hereby name him... Hao!"

"May he inherit the aspirations of the National Guardian, sweep away the chaos in the Great Yu, and unify Donghuang!"

"Your Majesty, this name is too noble, and I fear my son may not be worthy..."

"No matter, a son of the Li Clan deserves it!"

A single name, Hao?

Li Hao was taken aback, then felt like laughing. What a coincidence, sharing the same name as me!

Wait a moment.

Could the child he mentioned be me?

Li Hao looked down and saw himself in a swaddling cloth, tiny hands and feet, fair and delicate, cradled in the arms of a beautiful woman wearing military armor.

"Attendant, bring the Dragon Blood Jewel to Hao'er."

Soon, Li Hao saw a pale-skinned elderly man with a solemn expression approach, holding a dark red jade pendant with dragon engravings.

A slender, fair hand gently took the pendant, and the beautiful woman holding him whispered, "Thank you for the Emperor's kindness."

What's going on here...

Li Hao blinked, wondering if this was a dream.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he could no longer stay awake, falling into a deep sleep.

...

...

Qingzhou City, Divine General Manor, Li Clan.

The Great Yu Dynasty had five Divine Generals, and the Li Clan was one of them.

With nine generals in the family, all known for their loyalty and bravery, the Li Clan was among the most prestigious of the nobility. They enjoyed endless wealth and glory.

However, beneath this splendor, it was built upon the sacrifices of their own flesh and blood.

Six of the nine Li brothers had already perished!

The youngest, the ninth brother, had only joined the military for two years and had just been promoted to a military commander. Unexpectedly, during the Cangzhou campaign, he led tens of thousands of cavalry in a charge, conquering fifteen cities and slaying a hundred demons.

He established a reputation for ten generations and became the Li Clan's sixth warrior to die in service to the country.

Now, his golden statue stood in the Martial Temple, revered by the people.

At this time.

It had been about three months since the 'National Guardian' was bestowed.

After several months, the Li Clan's members had gradually emerged from their grief, and the shadows of sorrow on their faces had faded somewhat.

Today, there was a joyous occasion in the manor, and the usually quiet place was bustling with activity.

Nobles from various states and court officials either came in person or sent representatives to Qingzhou. Luxurious carriages lined up at the entrance of the Divine General Manor, attracting the attention of passersby.

It was the 100-day celebration of Li Hao, the son of Commander Xing and the seventh brother of the Li Clan.

Born with a silver spoon, this heavenly pride had been named by the Yu Emperor at birth, his fame spreading across the land. As a scion of a martial general's family, there was no doubt that he would have a place in the future of the world.

As the saying goes, it's best to curry favor early.

Inside the Divine General Manor, in a room in the Mountain River Courtyard.

Li Hao, cradled in his mother Ji Qingqing's arms, curiously observed the bustling and vibrant scene outside.

After several months, Li Hao had come to realize that he wasn't dreaming but had... crossed over to another world.

This was not a historical dynasty but the Transient Realm.

Here, there were warriors, great demons, swordsmen, and government officials.

Fortunately, the Great Yu Dynasty was powerful, and demons and monsters were forbidden, so there weren't many daring to enter the realm. As a result, the people lived prosperous lives, especially those born into top-tier noble families like Li Hao.

Days were filled with anticipation!

"Hao'er, to be honest, I never wanted you to be born into the Li family. Do you know that?" Outside, amidst the bustling noise, Lady Ji Qingqing, his mother, spoke with a hint of sorrow, her voice low and faint.

Li Hao looked up at his mother in surprise.

At this moment, his vocal cords were not fully developed, and he couldn't speak. But even if he could, he wouldn't dare ask why, lest he scare this young lady to death.

Although Ji Qingqing appeared as a young lady in her early twenties to him, she was still a young girl.

However, the months of meticulous care and warmth had made him feel a sense of dependence towards this mother.

"Your mother had already chosen a name for you, Le Ping, Li Le Ping! I only wish for you to grow up happy, safe, and healthy. Unifying the world is the dream of the royal family, not the Li family, and certainly not mine..."

Ji Qingqing whispered to herself. The fawning faces of the aristocrats outside didn't make her feel vain or happy; instead, they seemed a bit glaring.

"The name given to you by Emperor Yu is a sign of hope for the Li family after the death of Jiulang. It carries the expectations of the Great Yu Dynasty and is both an encouragement and a driving force for the Li family..."

She didn't continue.

This heavy expectation, now resting on her child, made it easy to imagine the immense pressure he would face in the future, given the favor he was receiving today.

Li Hao looked at the sadness between the young lady's eyebrows. At this moment, she was no longer the revered Seventh Lady of the Divine General Manor, nor the formidable Iron-Faced Female General on the battlefield, but simply a mother.

Unable to speak, he buried his head deeper into her chest.

He tried to convey his comfort through body temperature.

Feeling the movement in her embrace, Ji Qingqing looked down at her child's long eyelashes and beautiful face, her expression softening instantly.

She held Li Hao gently, her slender hands soothing the toddler, as if also comforting herself:

"No matter what, your mother will help you. Your father has already entered the Triumphant Immortal Realm, and there's a chance you've inherited his strength."

"Even if your martial aptitude is mediocre in the future, with the strength inherited from your father, you'll be able to catch up to the footsteps of your father's generation and won't fall behind your peers."

"No matter what happens in the future, your mother will stand before you and never let anyone harm you..."

She whispered to herself.

"The hundred-day banquet is about to start. What are you doing here?"

At that moment, the robust figure of Martial Commander Xing approached, his palm gently encircling Ji Qingqing's waist. "What are you thinking about? Are you unhappy?"

"Of course not."

Ji Qingqing composed herself, smiling as she looked up, but she didn't share her inner thoughts with her husband. She knew the stubborn nature of the Li family's sons, who took pride in dying on the battlefield. Her personal feelings couldn't compete with the thousand-year glory of the Divine General Manor.

"Have all the sisters-in-law arrived?"

"Yes, they're all here, waiting for you and Hao'er."

Martial Commander Xing glanced at Li Hao and ruffled his little head, but his rough palm felt like a knife, making Li Hao roll his eyes.

Why couldn't this big-footed father be more gentle?

Ji Qingqing carried Li Hao to another room filled with ladies from various courtyards, and a chorus of chattering voices immediately surrounded them.

"Oh, Hao'er is so handsome! He's even more dashing than Jing'er when she was young."

"Yes, Shuang'er, look at your little brother. He's so adorable."

"Oh, his little eyes are staring at me!"

Not only were the ladies from the various courtyards present, but their children were there as well. The youngest ones, barely one or two years old, clung to their parents' legs, their eyes wide with curiosity, gazing at the swaddled Li Hao.

A few other children, around five or six years old, stood by, looking mature beyond their years, not playful at all. They seemed bored but dared not leave, showing little interest in this new little brother.

"Come, Hao'er, let Fifth Lady hold you."

A beautiful woman picked up Li Hao, her face filled with adoration. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Oh, is Hao'er hungry?"

"He just ate this morning."

The woman didn't doubt it, assuming Li Hao was hungry. After hearing Ji Qingqing's confirmation, she stopped worrying and gently kneaded Li Hao's little face, giggling.

The other ladies also gathered around to play with Li Hao, and as the time approached, they began presenting their gifts one after another.

Ji Qingqing tried to decline, but the gifts were still forced into her hands.

These were treasures that money couldn't buy. On Li Hao's hundred-day banquet, the gifts alone filled half of the Mountain River Courtyard, all of them rare and priceless.

Among them was a jade bracelet, like a piece of emerald, that Fifth Lady placed on Li Hao's soft little hand, claiming it had a nourishing effect on the spirit.

Li Hao, who had been feeling a bit weary from the constant chattering, felt a cool sensation flowing through his small hand after putting on the bracelet, and his spirit indeed seemed to improve.

His drowsiness vanished, and his mind became sharper.

He squinted, and a blurry cluster of characters suddenly appeared before his eyes.

As his head continued to develop over the past few months, these characters gradually became clearer, and at this moment, they were as clear as if he had put on glasses.

...

(End of Chapter)