Chapter 132: Repaying the Li Family's First Favor (7K Two-in-One Chapter) (Part 1)
Seeing how casually Li Hao chatted with the Great Demon King, Li Hongzhuang and Li He couldn't help but feel a mix of complex emotions.
They could both tell that the Great Demon King favored Li Hao immensely, treating him like an intimate friend. This relationship was certainly not due to the Li family's reputation, and even Li Hao's own talent might not be enough to attract such attention.
After all, this was a Great Demon King who had reached the Four Establishments realm.
Even if Li Hao's talent was extraordinarily exceptional, his future potential would likely peak at the Four Establishments, barely scratching the surface of the true might possessed by the likes of the Realized Sage of Qian Dao Palace.
As for transcending the Four Establishments, that was an incredibly difficult endeavor. Each step within that realm presented an insurmountable chasm, a challenge akin to ascending to the heavens!
Up in the clouds, Feng Boping nodded slightly at Song Qiumo before disappearing from view. He didn't bother to descend and engage in pleasantries; he was accustomed to his freedom and disliked entanglements with worldly matters. Even among his peers in the Four Establishments, there were only a handful with whom he could converse comfortably.
If not for Li Hao's presence here, he would have been like a drifting cloud, wandering leisurely through the world.
When the wind stirs, the heart remains unmoved. When the heart stirs, the wind cannot be calmed.
"How long do you plan to stay here?" Li Hao asked Song Qiumo after their brief reunion, leading her back to the camp.
Song Qiumo surveyed their surroundings, her gaze falling on the small mound of earth that was all that remained of the city. She paused for a moment, then noticed Ren Qianqian, the sword-wielding girl, and the little white fox that watched her anxiously. A smile tugged at her lips.
"How long do you want me to stay?" she asked Li Hao casually.
"Of course, the longer the better," Li Hao replied without hesitation.
Song Qiumo pouted and smiled, "I thought you were struggling and in dire straits, so I came to lend you a helping hand, expecting you to be overwhelmed with gratitude. Then, when you reach the Four Establishments, you could repay this favor. But it seems I was wrong, and my help is merely icing on the cake."
"This desolate land beyond the pass may be barren, but it needs a flower like you to bring it to life," Li Hao said with a smile.
Song Qiumo was taken aback by the young man's words, her cheeks flushing slightly. She shot him a playful glare before replying, "I can only stay for half a year at most."
Li Hao nodded, understanding that she had other commitments. Even half a year was a rare luxury.
"During this half year, you can eat whatever you like," Li Hao said with a smile.
"I want Xiao Xiangsu," she said.
"No problem," he assured her.
The camp lacked flour and other ingredients, so Li Hao fetched paper and a pen, writing down all the ingredients he needed. He took the opportunity to sneak in some of his personal favorites, including ingredients he enjoyed, as well as writing utensils like ink, paper, and brushes.
He also added a chess set, something to pass the time during their leisure moments.
However, with no equally skilled opponent to play against, there was little chance for him to improve his chess skills.
But Li Hao didn't mind; he could always keep it for when the right opponent came along.
Li Hao obtained a feng shui map of Liangzhou from Li Hongzhuang and gave it to Song Qiumo, asking her to procure the necessary ingredients from the nearest city.
Even the closest city was a thousand miles away from this remote pass.
Previously, with Elder Feng by their side, they had to remain vigilant against potential Four Establishments Demon Kings, restricting their movements. Now, with Song Qiumo's help, they could finally replenish their camp's supplies and improve their living conditions.
Li Hao used his object manipulation abilities to gather trees and stones, constructing a fenced-off courtyard around the small mound of earth.
Within the courtyard, he built wooden structures and pavilions, transforming the desolate camp.
Having a Fifteen Mile realm cultivator as their foreman was indeed the best arrangement.
As Li Hao gradually transformed the dilapidated camp, giving it a new face, Li Hongzhuang felt a sense of illusion. It seemed as though this young man's presence here would restore the city that had once been destroyed!
However, that feeling seemed too good to be true. After all, the Great Demon King had mentioned that she would only stay for half a year.
Once she left, only the Four Establishments elder hovering in the clouds would remain. It was uncertain how long he would stay to protect Li Hao.
Such pinnacle powerhouses rarely tethered themselves to a single person for long.
Soon enough, Song Qiumo returned from her procurement trip, bringing back a bounty of supplies and provisions.
Li Hao asked Ren Qianqian and the little white fox to help unload and move the supplies into the fenced courtyard.
Although the little white fox couldn't assume human form yet, it carried lighter items like mats and blankets, walking on its hind legs and carefully navigating its way into the courtyard.
After a busy day, the place had been transformed.
The newly constructed courtyard still smelled of fresh wood and greenery, lacking the warmth of human habitation.
But that was the nature of a courtyard—it came to life when people lived in it.
Li Hao built a fire in the courtyard and selected some of the plumpest parts from the demon corpses, skewering them and roasting them over the coals.
He asked Ren Qianqian to keep an eye on the fire while he kneaded dough, preparing to make biscuits for Song Qiumo.
If one ignored the river of blood and mountain of corpses outside the fenced courtyard, the scene within was rather cozy and heartwarming.
However, Li Hongzhuang felt a sense of emptiness, as if there was nothing left for her to do.
With two Four Establishments cultivators present, the news of their strength would surely spread, deterring all but the most foolish of demons.
She no longer needed to keep her sword at the ready, braced for battle at any moment.
Her body, which had been tense for over a decade, finally relaxed in this moment.
She sat by the fire, inhaling the savory aroma of grilled meat, and watched the young man beside her busy kneading dough. It all felt like a dream.
She had never imagined that at this perilous pass, she would one day experience such tranquility.
Before long, the dough was ready, and with Li Hao's infused power, the fermentation process was accelerated.
Li Hao baked flatbreads over the fire and fried a batch of Xiao Xiangsu, a type of crispy, fragrant pastry, for Song Qiumo.
He added chopped coriander and other spices to enhance the flavor.
"Let's eat!"
Once everything was prepared, Li Hao invited Elder Feng to join them, and they gathered around the campfire to enjoy their meal.
Now that Elder Feng's presence was known to Li Hongzhuang, he saw no need to conceal himself further, aside from keeping his identity a secret.
The group chatted casually as they ate and drank, with Elder Feng focused on his meal, savoring the grilled meat and washing it down with wine.
Li Hao passed him a flatbread stuffed with grilled meat.
Feng Laolei realized what he was doing and glared at him, snatching the bottle back. His wine was already running low.
Seeing Li Hao's casual and intimate demeanor with the elderly man, Li Hongzhuang and Li He found the young man even more inscrutable.
After finishing their meal, Feng Boping patted his buttocks and strode out of the courtyard, vanishing without a trace. He seemed utterly unfettered.
Li Hao watched the direction in which the old man had left, a sigh escaping his heart. He knew that the old man had chosen to sit alone among the branches of the distant mountain peaks, keeping company with nature, to avoid being identified by Li Hongzhuang and the others, which might affect Li Hao.
Feeling ashamed, Li Hao got up to sort through the demon corpses.
He intended to brew a good jar of wine for the old man.
After carefully selecting and cutting out the best parts from several Three Immortals demons, Li Hao returned to the courtyard and began the brewing process.
Song Qiumo, on the other hand, was lying in the side room of the courtyard, yawning and looking bored.
Occasionally, her gaze would drift to the busy figure in the courtyard, and a slight smile would tug at her lips as she found the scene amusing.
She had come today to deliver the sword manual, and the ultimate skill of the Tan Palace had been casually tucked away by the young man. She had observed that since receiving the manual, Li Hao hadn't even glanced at it a second time.
To this peculiar young man, the ultimate techniques of the world and the immense wealth of the Divine General's Mansion seemed to pale in comparison to the homely atmosphere of the kitchen.
What an intriguing little fellow...
By the time the evening arrived, Li Hao had finally finished setting up the wine jars and buried them in the cellar behind the small courtyard to ferment.
As the fiery sunset cast its glow, Li Hao finally had some free time to sit in the bamboo fence courtyard, rocking gently in a self-made rocking chair crafted from trees. He took out the manual from his embrace and slowly began to flip through it.
Taiji Qiankun Sword.
Yin and Yang in harmony.
Li Hao flipped through the pages, and upon finishing the manual, a prompt appeared in his vision, indicating that he had attained a basic understanding of the technique.
Li Hao promptly closed the manual and leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes to contemplate the art.
As he absorbed the sword technique, a flood of information surged into his mind, and the essence and core of the sword art gradually unfolded through his introspection and interpretation, like unraveling a complex thread.
What is Tai?
It is greater, with a little extra.
What is Da?
The heavens and the earth are great!
"All things in the heavens and the earth have their own paths. My understanding of this concept is still insufficient and shallow. It seems that all these sword techniques and cultivation methods have commonalities. If they can be integrated, perhaps a new art encompassing all things can be created!"
Li Hao had a moment of enlightenment.
Having reached the Heaven and Man Realm, he had entered the Heavenly Gate, achieving unity of body and spirit, and thus, was considered to have taken half a step towards transcending the mortal realm.
His thoughts were no longer constrained by the techniques themselves. He could now glimpse the wonders of all kinds of cultivation methods without being bound by their forms.
His path of the grandmaster was that of all things, but now, Li Hao felt that he had only taken a small step on this path. If he could truly reach the end, then his journey as a grandmaster would be considered to have peaked.
What kind of scenery would he behold then? Li Hao's thoughts drifted slightly, and he couldn't help but smile gently.
Let everything flow naturally.
Just like his path of the grandmaster, it was perfect when it was just right, and that was the natural way.
One shouldn't force oneself to conform to or pursue all things in the world. Just like how the sun shines on the earth, it is not a deliberate act, but a natural cycle.
If one greedily chases after that ray of light and pursues the sun, it would be like the legendary figure who chased the sun and ended up dying of exhaustion and thirst.
The sun's warmth may be comforting, but one must not look directly at it.
The moon may seem cold, but it illuminates the ancient and modern times.
One shouldn't be fixated on a single aspect of the world; all things in the world have their unique charm.
This is true for the heavens and the earth, for people, and for cultivation techniques.
Li Hao felt that his mental state had subtly improved, and the various cultivation techniques in his mind seemed to be evolving subtly, but they were still far from the pinnacle of the grandmaster's path.
He smiled gently, unconcerned, and instead, waved his hand to summon paper and brush. Then, his spirit and soul soared, observing the pile of demon corpses in the distance.
He began to sketch, stroke by stroke, capturing the essence of the dead demons.
Although these demons were deceased, sketching their corpses still provided valuable experience.
Li Hao swiftly sketched one portrait after another, and his experience in the art of painting rapidly increased, inching closer to the sixth tier.
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
During these two days, the bamboo fence courtyard enjoyed unusual tranquility, with no demons appearing.
The young man in the courtyard relished the peace and spent his time painting. He created thousands of paintings, depicting the demon corpses over and over again, extracting almost all the experience he could, and successfully breaking through to the sixth tier of the art of painting. This breakthrough earned him an art skill point.
The experience required to advance from the sixth tier to the seventh tier was 100,000.
He would need to accumulate another 100,000 experience points to reach the sixth-tier bottleneck, at which point he would need to infuse his paintings with spirit, allowing him to advance to the seventh tier.
"Infusing spirit, when will I be able to infuse spirit?" Li Hao muttered to himself, feeling that he hadn't yet grasped the essence of this concept.
He stopped painting and continued to transcribe the cultivation techniques, meticulously recording the ones that could enhance their grade through deduction.
At noon, smoke curled from the bamboo fence courtyard as a group of fast-approaching horses arrived at the camp.
Feng Boping seemed to sense something, and his eyes narrowed slightly. His figure flickered, and he vanished from beside the roasting meat.
The others were accustomed to his sudden appearances and disappearances and paid it no mind. Instead, their attention turned to the new arrivals outside the courtyard.
Li Hongzhuang's eyes widened slightly as she recognized the visitor, "Chamberlain Chu?"
She remembered him from her childhood when her father had received the imperial decree. It was this man who had personally delivered it.
Chapter 132: Repaying the Li Family's First Favor (7K Two-in-One Chapter) (Part 2)
Chu Jiuyue rode his horse into the pass, his eyes narrowing slightly at the chaotic scene of the camp, with its pitted and scarred ground.
The soil here was a reddish-brown, as if soaked with countless bloodstains.
His gaze swept the area, soon falling on the ravaged camp, where many tents were piled together in disarray.
On the other side was a pile of demon corpses, stacked like a small hill, some of them already showing signs of decay.
He caught whiffs of the putrid stench of rotting flesh, and his expression turned slightly unpleasant, but it quickly returned to normal. His eyes then landed on the center of the camp, and his eyes widened in surprise.
But how could there be a farmhouse at this border pass?
Chamberlain Chu rode his horse forward, with a few court attendants following close behind.
As he approached the bamboo fence courtyard, Chu Jiuyue clearly saw the scene within, his gaze briefly meeting with Song Qiumo's as she sat by the campfire. Her eyes remained indifferent, showing no reaction.
Recognizing Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang, Chu Jiuyue's heart skipped a beat. No wonder the atmosphere was so serene; it was due to the presence of this formidable Demon King.
He felt a tinge of surprise, as it seemed that the reclusive nature of the Tan Palace had been set aside as an exception.
Dismounting, Chamberlain Chu entered the small courtyard.
"His Majesty, the Yu Emperor, has sent a decree, and requests the presence of Count Li Hao to receive it."
Chamberlain Chu announced in a soft voice.
Li Hao, noticing the familiar figure, quickly patted his hands to remove the flour and stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Chamberlain Chu, it's been a long time since we last met."
"Is young master Li doing well?" Chamberlain Chu inquired with a smile.
Li Hao frowned slightly and nodded. "Everything is fine."
"His Majesty admires your bravery in guarding the border and has bestowed upon you a precious sword. Please accept it." Chamberlain Chu conveyed briefly.
There were no bystanders around, so he saw no need to elaborate further.
Li Hao was surprised to see the dark golden sword presented to him and accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Chamberlain Chu."
"You're welcome, but there's no need to thank me. I'm merely the messenger."
Chamberlain Chu smiled and continued, "His Majesty has instructed that if you so wish, you may go to Dayu Province at any time to join the Outer Hall of Qian Dao Palace for cultivation and to listen to the teachings of the Sage."
Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhuang and Li He stood up, their faces filled with shock as they looked at Li Hao.
This young master had gained such favor from the Yu Emperor? Only members of the royal family had the qualification to cultivate in the Qian Dao Palace throughout the generations.
Moreover, even among the royal family, the competition for this opportunity was fierce, and not every prince was qualified.
Li Hao, as the young master of the Shen Jiang Fu, was likely to be the future true dragon. Such a sensitive identity, coupled with the offer to cultivate in the Qian Dao Palace, would create an extremely close relationship with the royal family. How would the other four Shen Jiang Fu view this? This favor was indeed a bit frightening.
Li Hao understood the weight of these words. He was astonished and wondered if the Yu Emperor had really met him before? Could it be that old man he played chess with under the willow tree?
There didn't seem to be any other possibility.
Seeing the smile in Chamberlain Chu's eyes, Li Hao bowed and said, "Thank you for the Emperor's kindness. However, I have a mission to fulfill, and I hope His Majesty will forgive me."
Chamberlain Chu was a little surprised. He carefully observed Li Hao for a moment, then said, "You're still young, and some decisions should not be made too hastily."
"Thank you for conveying the message, Chamberlain Chu," Li Hao replied.
Realizing that his persuasion was futile, Chamberlain Chu nodded slightly and said, "Since you have made up your mind, I will deliver your response as it is."
Li Hao nodded in acknowledgment.
Chamberlain Chu looked at him for a moment, then turned and left without lingering. He mounted his horse and rode away from the camp.
After traveling several dozen miles from the camp, Chamberlain Chu suddenly thought of something and muttered to himself, "It seems I left a bit too early. That roasted meat in the courtyard smelled quite delicious..."
His stomach growled softly.
Shaking his head, he knew he couldn't turn back now, so he urged his horse forward and continued on his way.
...
...
Back in the courtyard, Li Hongzhuang and Li He had also heard the conversation between Li Hao and Chamberlain Chu. From Li Hao's response, they could sense his determination, and they wanted to say something but found themselves at a loss for words. They could only sigh inwardly.
The fact that Li Hao was willing to give up the opportunity to cultivate in the Qian Dao Palace showed how firm his resolve was. They knew that any attempt to persuade him would be futile.
Li Hao returned to the campfire and sat down. Song Qiumo's gaze fell on the sword in his hand, and she said indifferently, "That's a nice sword."
Hearing this, Li Hao held the hilt and gently drew the sword from its sheath.
A sharp hiss filled the air as the sword was unsheathed, emitting a dragon's roar that seemed to tear through the heavens and earth.
Just the momentary flash of its edge as it left the sheath was enough to strike fear in the hearts of onlookers.
"It's Long Xiao!" Li He exclaimed in a low voice, his eyes filled with awe and seriousness.
Li Hongzhuang's face also changed slightly as she recognized the renowned sword.
This was the foremost among the top ten famous swords! Its fame and status surpassed that of Yong Ye, which had only been unsheathed for three years before being sealed away again after a decade of forging.
On the other hand, Long Xiao had been passed down through several powerful individuals in the Great Yu Dynasty over the centuries and had once been a Sword Saint's companion.
"Indeed, it's a fine sword," Li Hao agreed, gently tapping the blade, which elicited a deep, rumbling dragon's roar that seemed to shake the very air with its murderous aura.
After examining it for a moment, Li Hao sheathed the sword and handed it to Ren Qianqian.
Ren Qianqian hung her own sword at her waist and carefully took the Long Xiao with both hands, her eyes sparkling with excitement and surprise.
She had heard of the fame of Long Xiao, and now she was actually holding it in her hands. Even her father had never had the opportunity to lay eyes on it.
"The meat is ready. Let's eat," Li Hao smiled and announced.
Li Hongzhuang and Li He snapped out of their daze, their eyes filled with complex emotions. At the same time, a figure quietly reappeared—it was Feng Laolei, who had just left.
He didn't seem to care much about the reward Li Hao had received and only glanced at the Long Xiao sword before taking out his wine gourd, ready to eat and drink.
That night.
Li Hao finished transcribing the 124 cultivation techniques, which were the total number of Li family techniques he had learned in the Listening Rain Tower. The ones he transcribed were all advanced versions that he had deduced and improved.
Li Hao packaged these three secret manuals together with the rest and sent them back to the Li family.
However, learning these three secret manuals would not be an easy task; there was a prerequisite to fulfilling that goal.
After he finished writing.
Li Hao handed them to Song Qiumo, asking her to deliver them to the nearby Lianzhou City and find the local Li family military garrison there. From there, they could send someone to forward the package back to the Li family.
...
...
Several days later.
Qingzhou City, Shen Jiang Fu.
Several giant Jiao Lions galloped towards the city, their massive bodies capable of carrying seven or eight people each. Some of these beasts had large bundles tied to their backs.
The leader of the group dismounted from his Jiao Lion in front of the gatekeepers and presented his identity token, whispering a few words to them.
Soon, the message reached the Shan He courtyard.
In the study, Li Tiangang was flipping through the interrogation results, his face grim and his eyes flashing with a steely light.
At that moment, a guard entered and reported the situation outside the mansion.
Upon hearing the news, Li Tiangang banged the table and stood up abruptly, his face twisted with anger as he exclaimed, "Repaying the Li family's first favor? What does he mean by that? Are you saying he returned a lot of cultivation techniques?"
Seeing the guard nod, Li Tiangang's face turned ashen. "Bring everything here! I want to see for myself how he repaid us!"
Soon, the large bundles from the backs of the Jiao Lions were delivered to the Shan He courtyard.
In addition to the bundles, there was also a letter.
Yu Xuan took the letter and handed it to Li Tiangang, casually opening one of the bundles to reveal numerous books inside.
Li Tiangang tore open the letter and read the elegant yet neatly written words inside.
The handwriting was clearly more refined than that of the Shen Jiang Fu's warriors.
After reading the letter, his expression turned ugly.
He reached out and took a few of the books, quickly flipping through them.
The cultivation techniques inside seemed to be written in the same style, indicating they were penned by the same person.
After perusing one book, he moved on to the next, and then the next, one after another.
The courtyard was eerily silent, devoid of even the slightest sound.
Zhao Bo and Li Fu stood by, their faces filled with worry.
"Good, very good!"
After flipping through several books, Li Tiangang's eyes reflected a mix of anger and shock.
These randomly selected books were all of superior quality, just as the letter had stated! Not only had the other party returned the cultivation techniques, but he had also gone above and beyond, repaying with interest!
The total number of books was 124.
In addition, there were also three secret manuals.
Li Tiangang was incredulous. How could that son of his have learned so many cultivation techniques?
Over a hundred!
In just fourteen short years, how was it possible to learn that many?
While cultivating so many diverse techniques, he had also managed to advance his cultivation to the Fifteen Mile realm and even achieved a breakthrough to the Heaven and Man realm during their battle.
At this moment, a seed of doubt took root in Li Tiangang's heart.
Such talent was unheard of. Even if a demon had reincarnated and seized a human body, it might not have been able to achieve such a level.
Could it be that I was wrong about him?
Was I too harsh on him?
But soon, the image of that cold, sword-wielding gaze flashed in his mind, and the warmth in his heart quickly cooled.
While his talent was extraordinary, his temperament was not suitable for becoming the true dragon of the Li family. If he could draw his sword against his own family, what would stop him from doing the same to other members of the Li family?
If the Li family was placed in his hands, Li Tiangang would never be at ease.
At present, the Great Yu Dynasty was facing turbulent times, and he had to steer this ship carefully, allowing no room for error. Otherwise, even a millennium of glory would be destroyed in an instant, and he would have no face to meet their ancestors.
Taking a deep breath, Li Tiangang picked up the rest of the cultivation manuals and began to flip through them.
These manuals had names, and he assigned the superior-level techniques to Yu Xuan for verification, while personally inspecting the secret manuals himself.
Yu Xuan's status and achievements were not yet sufficient to casually browse through secret manuals.
At the same time, Li Tiangang summoned several elders from the Listening Rain Tower. These elders were lifelong servants of the Li family, and some of them were illegitimate offspring of Li Muxiu's generation. They assisted Li Muxiu in managing and overseeing the Listening Rain Tower.
These elders were also living encyclopedias of the Li family's secrets.
Any cultivation techniques collected by the Listening Rain Tower would be reviewed by these elders.
As the elders sprang into action, news spread to the other divisions, leaving everyone astonished and surprised. Soon, people from the other divisions rushed to the Shan He courtyard.
After a day and a night, the elders finished examining all the cultivation techniques, confirming that they were all cultivable and without defects.
Upon receiving this news, Li Tiangang's emotions were a complex mix of shock, pride, joy, and a rage that defied description.
Hearing the elders' report, He Jianlan and Li Xuanli were astounded.
These were hundreds of superior-level cultivation techniques! Even for a grandmaster, aside from spending their entire life refining their own secret techniques, it would take a considerable amount of time to refine other techniques, and few would bother with such an endeavor.
To collect so many superior-level techniques into the Listening Rain Tower was something that hadn't happened in a thousand years.
Back then, various sects wreaked havoc on the country, defying imperial laws, and the Shen Jiang Fu was tasked with sweeping through and exterminating these sects. In the bloody aftermath, they acquired hundreds of cultivation techniques, among which were a hundred or so superior-level techniques.
And now, all these techniques were being returned by Li Hao?!
Could it be that several Four Establishments realm experts helped Li Hao refine these techniques? What shocked them even more was the knowledge that Li Hao had spent most of his time with his second uncle in the Listening Rain Tower. With his status as a direct descendant, he had free access to the tower and its resources.
However, the fact that Li Hao had learned over a hundred techniques at the age of fourteen was a bit too exaggerated.
Where did he find the time and energy for all of this?
"Tiangang, are you satisfied now?"
Li Muxiu, startled by the commotion, rushed over. After learning about the situation, his face remained grim, and he glared icily at Li Tiangang.
Hearing his words, the others' faces changed as well as they understood Li Hao's intention in returning these techniques.
Chapter 133: Turmoil (Additional Chapter 1425)
The return of so many cultivation techniques at once showed just how determined the child was to sever his father-son relationship with Li Tiangang.
He Linglan glanced at Li Tiangang, whose face was ashen, and sighed, "Tiangang, you are still his father. Don't hold a grudge against Hao'er anymore. If it weren't for the open-mindedness of Father and the older generation, your marriage with Qingqing would have faced countless obstacles, and your child would have also suffered all sorts of criticism."
"They all say that Hao'er is fortunate, but where is his fortune? Despite being born into a military family and growing up with fine clothes and rich food, neither you nor Qingqing have ever accompanied him. That child waited for the two of you for fourteen years, only to be reunited with you briefly before this huge conflict arose."
"If this continues, your father-son bond will truly be gone."
"Old Seventh." Li Xuanli's eyes held a complex expression as he said, "I've seen Hao'er, and he's really not as bad as you say. If that child were my son, I would be overjoyed. He knows how to respect others and is by no means impetuous. Moreover, you saw the results of the interrogation..."
As he spoke, his eyes flickered as if he had thought of something, and he couldn't help but sigh.
"Seventh Brother, you can't blame Hao'er for the slap that Rumeng received," Li Fenghua interjected, glaring at his wife, Wang Xiangru.
Wang Xiangru glared back at him, unafraid of his wrath.
Li Fenghua's anger rose, and he clenched his fists, but eventually relaxed them. He recalled his father's teachings—a man's fists are for conquering the world, not for hitting his wife. For this reason, he had endured for many years.
"Seventh Brother, even if you think Hao'er is carefree and idle, regardless of how carefree he is, his cultivation surpasses that of his peers. Since he has this talent and the capital to be carefree, why must you pressure him so harshly?" Jiang Xian'er spoke softly.
Hearing everyone's persuasion, Li Tiangang remained silent, his face grim.
He was well aware of what they were saying. To say that he didn't feel any remorse at this moment would be a lie. However, whenever he thought of the child's cold expression, his anger ignited.
Especially with the return of these cultivation techniques, the child's attitude was so resolute. He was his father, after all! They shared a bond of flesh and blood, connected by tendons even if bones were broken. Even if he had misjudged, could the child draw his sword against him?
And all because of a demonic beast, the child had turned against him.
How much regard did the child have for him as his father?
"It won't be that easy to break free," Li Tiangang said, taking a deep breath as his eyes turned icy. "Although I don't know how he managed to obtain these cultivation techniques, what he owes the Li family is not limited to this."
"Guarding the border for three years is no simple task. Chaos is about to unfold in Liangzhou!"
Hearing his words, everyone was taken aback.
Li Xuanli asked, "Old Seventh, what do you mean? This concerns the millions of people in Liangzhou."
Li Tiangang glanced at him. Since things had come to this point, there was no need to hide certain confidential reports.
Besides, he had been planning to make arrangements soon, and today's events had merely expedited the process.
"Do you know why I ordered the troops to withdraw from Tianmen Pass and Hongzhuang to return?" Li Tiangang asked.
"That place has been guarded by Third Brother and Sixth Brother for many years. Our Li family has suffered countless casualties and shed endless blood there. If we withdraw, it will be as if we are abandoning everything!" Li Tiangang's eyes turned cold and harsh.
"It's not that I don't want to defend it, nor is it that His Majesty is unwilling to protect it. The truth is, we simply can't hold it!"
"Beyond Tianmen Pass in Liangzhou, demons and monsters are gathering, preparing to unleash turmoil. Tianmen Pass will bear the brunt of their assault and become the first obstacle they must overcome."
"Recently, three extinct rivers appeared in Liangzhou, all of them at the Yu Du level. One city was affected by the extinct river, and half of it sank and was submerged overnight, resulting in countless casualties."
"Now, the elders of the Wang family have gone there to try and temporarily defeat the extinct river. We can't hope to pass through, but if we can destroy them, we can at least erase the three extinct rivers and prevent them from continuing to spread and extend."
"The demons plan to take advantage of this opportunity to invade the Great Yu Dynasty, using Liangzhou as their breakthrough point."
"Over the years, the demons have been eyeing our Great Yu Dynasty, viewing our billions of miles of land and our people as their feast. They have been plotting and biding their time. Not long ago, the Xia family suffered heavy losses. Two four-standing demon kings invaded, and one of the elders of the Xia family has fallen!"
As he revealed one shocking piece of news after another, everyone was stunned.
Li Tiangang, the true dragon, held the most crucial intelligence network within the Li family, and none of them had expected such turmoil to be unfolding outside.
"Tiangang, since Liangzhou is so perilous, why did you still send Hao'er there...?" He Jianlan snapped back to her senses and asked anxiously.
With a cold face, Li Tiangang said, "I originally intended to grind away his stubbornness, but I never expected that there would be four-standing realm experts secretly protecting him, going against my wishes!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Li muxiu.
Li muxiu flew into a rage. "If it weren't for the protection of the four-standing realm, do you really think Li He could have kept your son safe?"
"Don't forget that the child's talent has already been revealed. Those demons and monsters who hold a grudge against our Li family would not sit idly by and watch him grow and rise to power!"
"At the critical moment when he needed protection the most, you pushed him out of Qingzhou, out of our base. You exposed him to the wind and snow, and you still want to harm him?"
Li Tiangang could no longer suppress the anger in his heart, and he shouted, "If it weren't for your spoiling, would Hao'er have ended up like this? Would he have run away from home over such a trivial matter? Would he have the audacity to sever ties with me now?"
"You!" Li muxiu's face turned bright red with anger, and he trembled with rage, unable to speak.
"Tiangang, your Second Uncle meant well. You can't talk to him like that," He Jianlan said, her face changing slightly.
The others looked at Li muxiu, and although this old man had always been at the God General's Mansion, because he had done some strange things in his youth and had even argued with their father, their impression of him wasn't very good.
Over the years, only He Jianlan had been relatively close to Li muxiu and understood his temperament.
Li Xuanli nodded, replying earnestly, "No problem, leave it to me. I've been recuperating from my injuries these past years, and I'm almost fully recovered. I should have been the one to go to Yanbei in the first place."
Li Tiangang shook his head. "Why are we still differentiating between each other?"
Li Xuanli's eyes reddened slightly at his words, but he held back and remained silent.
Li Fenghua spoke up, "Old Seventh, just give the order if you need anything."
"Eighth Brother, just focus on guarding Cangzhou. That place was won back by Little Nine at the cost of his life, so we can't afford any mistakes," Li Tiangang said solemnly.
Li Fenghua nodded slightly, understanding the importance of this. It was precisely because of this that he had diligently guarded Cangzhou over the years, rarely returning to the God General's Mansion.
It was also because of this dedication to his duty that he had neglected the discipline and companionship of his children, resulting in both of them being spoiled by his wife. Now, he realized that trying to discipline them had become extremely difficult.
Moreover, his wife, being from the Wang family, was unafraid of him due to her powerful backing.
As a result, witnessing the intense battle between Li Tiangang and Li Hao, he couldn't help but empathize with Li Tiangang, unconsciously siding a little more with him and understanding the helplessness he felt as a father.
"Since that's the case, Fifth Brother, you should prepare and set off soon. The sooner you get there, the sooner you'll be able to assess the situation. As for Tianmen Pass, you don't need to worry about it," Li Tiangang instructed.
Li Xuanli was slightly taken aback. "What about Hao'er...?"
"He has the protection of the Four-Standing Realm experts. If the situation turns unfavorable, he will naturally return. Unless he truly doesn't value his life!" Li Tiangang said coldly.
Li Xuanli's expression changed slightly, but he sighed inwardly without saying anything.
"Elders," Li Tiangang addressed the group of elders with a slight bow. "Please take these cultivation techniques to the Listening Rain Tower."
The elders nodded slightly, maintaining their neutrality in Li Tiangang's family matters and adhering to their duties over the years.
"What about these three secret manuals...?" one of the elders hesitated.
Li Tiangang's face darkened slightly as he recalled the content of the letter.
"What about these secret manuals?" He Jianlan asked, puzzled.
The elder softened his tone and explained, "Madam, Young Master Li Hao mentioned that if we were to accept these three secret manuals, we must promise that Li Qianfeng will not be allowed to practice them. Only then will he allow us to have the manuals."
Everyone was taken aback, exchanging glances as they hadn't expected the child to still hold on to this matter.
However, given that the father-son battle had erupted over this issue, it was understandable that he would keep it in mind.
"There is also another option," another elder said. "The other option is for Li Qianfeng to be able to practice these secret manuals, but he cannot inherit the position of the true dragon of the Li family."
He Jianlan looked at Li Tiangang. "Is this true?"
Li Tiangang nodded, his face grim.
The others exchanged glances, relieved that Liu Yueyong was not present, as she would have surely erupted in anger upon hearing this.
"This child really knows how to calculate," a hint of a smile appeared on He Jianlan's lips.
Li Tiangang glanced at her and coldly snorted, "Trying to blackmail us with these three secret manuals is simply wishful thinking. He's so scheming, not at all like a child!"
"He's clearly clever, but in your words, he becomes scheming!" Li muxiu couldn't hold back and spoke out again.
Li Tiangang frowned but remained silent.
Li Xuanli pondered, "Hao'er's actions are not meant as a threat. He's using a clever strategy. If Qianfeng were to practice these secret manuals and inherit the true dragon position, there's no guarantee that he won't hold back some techniques. In the future, if Qianfeng were to use these manuals against Hao'er in battle, the true dragon would crumble before Hao'er."
"Even if Qianfeng were allowed to learn them, without the true dragon's aura, these manuals would still put Qianfeng completely under Hao'er's control for life."
"What about the others?" Wang Xiangru's face changed as she thought of her own children. She had been hoping that they could learn these techniques as well.
Li Xuanli glanced at her and said softly, "The others are far behind Hao'er. Whether they learn these techniques or not won't make much of a difference."
Hearing this, Wang Xiangru's expression changed again, feeling awkward and embarrassed.
However, she had to admit that for now, she couldn't refute his words.
Among the younger generation, only the one personally taught by the Buddha Lord had a chance of catching up to Li Hao.
The rest, no matter how flawless these secret manuals were, would be helpless before Li Hao due to the vast gap in their realms.
Nevertheless, she still felt a sense of dissatisfaction in her heart.
There was still a long way to go, and being one step ahead didn't guarantee eternal superiority. Once they reached a certain height, they would inevitably stagnate at a bottleneck for decades. At that time, the current lead of a few years would be erased, rendering it insignificant.
Her two children might not be exceptionally outstanding, but with the backing of the Wang and Li families, they had advantages that Li Hao couldn't match. In the future, there might still be opportunities for them to compete with him.
With these thoughts, she felt slightly better, but her opinion of Li Xuanli soured, and she coldly huffed inwardly.
"In that case, I think we should accept them first. After all, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. As for whether or not to practice them, it's up to Qianfeng to decide. If he chooses to practice them, it means he's willing to be under Hao'er's control. If he refuses, he'll have to find other secret manuals to cultivate," one of the elders suggested.
"That's right. The Listening Rain Tower has numerous secret manuals. As long as he cultivates another manual to its peak, he can still achieve the level of 'one technique to break all techniques.' There won't be much difference," another elder agreed.
After some discussion, the group ultimately decided that they should accept the three secret manuals.
Seeing their agreement, Li Tiangang, who had been inclined to do the same, remained silent.
Chapter 134: Liu Yuerong's Trial (Guaranteed Two-in-One Chapter)
After the cultivation techniques were taken away by the elders, Li Tiangang sent everyone out of the courtyard and returned to his study, picking up the interrogation report he had been reading earlier.
This was the second time he had looked through it, simply to check for any omissions.
Not long after, he finished reading it for the second time.
Li Tiangang fell silent, standing still as he gazed at the practice area in the courtyard.
There stood a dragon tendon grass target, now tattered and covered in snow.
Whoosh!
An arrow shot out and hit the bullseye, causing the arrow's tail to tremble slightly.
"See, I told you I could hit it!"
The child jumped up and down in excitement.
"Haha, well done! With a little more practice, you'll surpass your second brother from back then," said a tall, sword-bearing youth with a smile.
"I've already surpassed him. Little Seven's innate talent for archery is much better than mine," said another youth with a slender face, smiling as he ruffled the delighted child's head.
"Don't exaggerate. You blew up the head of that huge demon thirty miles away with a single arrow, and the whole army saw it," said the sword-bearing youth, admiration in his eyes.
The slender-faced youth smiled but remained silent, turning to the child, and said, "Last time you said you wanted a treasure knife of your own. Look, what is this?"
He brought out a curved dagger, about the length of a palm, from behind his back.
The child's eyes lit up, and he eagerly took it, asking, "Second brother, did you buy this for me?"
"Second brother hunted a huge serpent, took its tooth and scales, and had someone forge this for you," the sword-bearing youth said enviously.
"Thank you, second brother!"
Overjoyed, the child held the curved dagger in his hands, unable to put it down as he played with it lovingly.
Suddenly, a child's cry rang out from another part of the courtyard, strong and powerful.
The two youths looked over and smiled simultaneously, "Little Nine-Nine wet the bed again."
They walked towards the source of the cry, and the child followed eagerly. As they walked away, their figures gradually faded and disappeared.
The light and shadows of the past fell silent once more. The warm spring sunshine was gone, leaving only the snow-covered courtyard.
The once-new dragon tendon grass target was now worn and tattered.
The laughter had faded, and though the target remained, the archer would never return...
Li Tiangang's palms clenched slightly, and he slowly took a deep breath before turning and walking out of Shanhe Court with a solemn expression.
Yu Xuan and Li Fu wanted to follow, but he stopped them with a raised hand.
Without a word, he walked out into the snow, his hands clasped behind his back.
Soon, Li Tiangang arrived at Shuihua Court.
As he pushed open the door, the guard at the entrance saw Li Tiangang and was momentarily stunned, his eyes showing a hint of panic as he quickly bowed.
Li Tiangang strolled into the courtyard and saw a young figure practicing swordplay, the wind whistling with each swing of the sword.
He glanced over, and the youth noticed, pausing in his practice to look back. However, his gaze was cold, with a hint of anger lurking within.
Li Tiangang said nothing and averted his gaze, heading straight for another pavilion.
There, a graceful figure in a green-faced long skirt was leaning on the railing, watching the youth practicing swordplay in the courtyard.
Li Tiangang entered the pavilion from the side, but the beauty's expression did not change much. She continued to watch the youth in the courtyard without turning back, but her lips pressed together slightly, revealing her inner turmoil.
Silence fell in the pavilion.
After a while, Li Tiangang spoke first, "Second sister-in-law, the interrogation results have been delivered to me, and you have personally signed and confirmed them. Is there anything else you would like to say?"
Liu Yuerong's body remained still, and after a while, she slowly said, "What do you want me to say, Li Tiangang? Do you want your sister-in-law to kneel down and apologize to you? Or do you want my son to kneel and kill us both?"
As she spoke, she slowly turned around, her pitch-black eyes fixed on Li Tiangang.
Li Tiangang fell silent for a moment before saying, "Since the second sister-in-law has confessed to the interrogation results, Tiangang will handle this according to the law."
"Oh, so we're following the law now..."
Liu Yuerong's eyes suddenly flashed with intense emotion, filled with resentment and hatred, "You used the Thousand-Needle Soul Gu Law to force a confession. If I hadn't confessed, I would have died in that prison. Li Tiangang, you are truly ruthless. You are harsh to your son, and you are harsh to us orphans. How can you face your deceased elder brother?"
Li Tiangang looked at the anger and hatred on her face and fell silent.
Back then, when she and his second brother were together, she was always like a well-bred lady, gentle and smiling. She would bring him snacks and treats and never forget to get him gifts when they went out to the market.
They were all young then, carefree and ambitious, as if they had no worries in the world.
But now, as their gazes met, it was difficult to discern what the other was thinking.
Time had changed everything, and the people had changed too.
"Second sister-in-law, according to the country's law, you will be stripped of your title as a first-class noble lady and demoted to a scholar-official."
Li Tiangang took a slight breath and said in a low voice, "According to the family law, you intended to harm the direct descendant of the family. You should be exiled and put to death. But considering your second brother's past contributions, from now on, you will stay in this Shuihua Court. As long as the Li family exists, we can still guarantee your life of wealth and honor."
Liu Yuerong glared at him with resentful eyes. "Why was Feng Ping so foolish and stupid back then? His talent was no worse than yours, Li Tiangang. Qian Feng had divine blood in his veins, and he had already achieved the Three Immortals when he married me!"
"But he was so stupid to do such a foolish thing, taking a sword for you and still insisting on going to battle despite his severe injuries, ultimately leaving no remains..."
As she spoke, her teeth clenched in anger, and her eyes welled up with tears of hatred. "The year he died, Qian Feng had just been born!"
"He lost his father as soon as he was born!!'
Li Tiangang's chest rose and fell slightly, but he remained silent as stone.
"If not for you, he wouldn't have died. If he hadn't died, after Xiao Jiu's death, the position of True Dragon would have been his!"
"If he were still alive, how could he allow you to bully us, a widow and her child? If he were still here, why would I have to go to such lengths to poison your monstrous son!"
"All of this is your fault! Your fault!!"
Liu Yuerong's emotions collapsed, and she sobbed and roared in anger.
In the courtyard, a young figure suddenly appeared, standing between Liu Yuerong and Li Tiangang. It was Li Qianfeng, his eyes cold as he glared at the tall man before him.
"I will take responsibility for my mother's actions. You will not punish her!" Li Qianfeng declared coldly.
Li Tiangang looked into those icy eyes, and his heart twinged with a sense of familiarity. He had seen those eyes recently.
In terms of generational order, this young man was his nephew, who should address him as "uncle."
But at this moment, all Li Qianfeng's eyes held was the coldness of a stranger, even hostility.
Hearing Li Qianfeng's words, Liu Yuerong was startled and quickly pushed him away. "Don't interfere. This has nothing to do with you. Leave!"
Li Tiangang realized that Liu Yuerong had confessed not only because of the interrogation's punishment but also because she didn't want to implicate her son any further. After all, no one in the mansion believed in her innocence anymore, and her denials would be futile.
"Li Tiangang, you can imprison me, but Qianfeng is innocent. He's still young and knows nothing," Liu Yuerong said, her eyes flashing with anger.
Li Tiangang replied slowly, "I will only act according to the law. If Qianfeng hasn't broken any rules, I won't interfere. As long as he doesn't violate any laws or family rules in the future."
Hearing this, Liu Yuerong's tensed shoulders relaxed, and she began to cry and laugh hysterically. "Feng Ping, you have a good younger brother..." Her words carried both sarcasm and sadness.
Li Tiangang remained silent, neither explaining nor saying anything more. He merely gave her a deep look, then glanced at the young man before him and slowly said, "Qianfeng, regarding the outcome of the True Dragon competition, I have reported to our ancestors, and it will not be counted. You and Hao'er can still compete. I've given Hao'er three years, and you will have the same amount of time. If you can defeat him in three years, the position of True Dragon will be yours."
Li Qianfeng's body trembled slightly as he stared at Li Tiangang.
"Is it true?" he asked.
Li Tiangang didn't repeat himself. The young man before him wouldn't even address him as "uncle," let alone show any warmth. His emotional detachment was evident.
However, Liu Yuerong knew Li Tiangang's temperament and realized he was being sincere. She couldn't help but laugh and say, "Li Tiangang, since Father's passing, you truly haven't changed at all these years. It was always going to be your son who won. That monster—who could possibly defeat him?"
"If you had just a bit of personal bias and handed over the position of True Dragon to him, why go through all this trouble? You Li family men are truly blockheads, incredibly foolish!"
Li Tiangang glanced at her and replied calmly, "Perhaps. But the people of Yu the Great need these blockheads. Your family, the Lius, are renowned for their quick wit, but what have you accomplished these years? Taking advantage of the situation to amass wealth, evading taxes under the protection of the Li family... Do you think I'm unaware of all this?"
Liu Yuerong's face paled as she heard these words.
"If you don't want others to know, don't do it yourself," Li Tiangang said, turning to leave the Watery Court.
Outside the courtyard, the captain of the guards approached and bowed, awaiting orders.
"Seal the courtyard. Don't let her take a single step out!" Li Tiangang commanded as he strode away.
...
...
In the Snowfall Court, Li Xuanli returned and asked his wife, Gao Qingqing, to prepare ceremonial clothing and items for their journey to Liangzhou. With the army, speed was of the essence, and he intended to depart as soon as possible to address the hidden demon threat in Liangzhou.
"Father, are you going to Liangzhou to suppress the demon?"
Three figures appeared in the main hall, and Li Wushuang's eyes sparkled as she asked.
"Mhm."
Li Xuanli turned to the three children, a smile spreading across his face. He beckoned them closer and said gently, "While I'm away, you must listen to your mother and behave. Understand?"
"Father, are you going to Tianmen Pass? Are you going there with him?" Li Wushuang asked anxiously.
Li Yun and Li Zhining also fixed their eyes on Li Xuanli, awaiting his answer.
"Tianmen Pass?"
Li Xuanli was taken aback, immediately understanding who his daughter was referring to. His expression changed slightly, and he sighed.
"I'm heading to the Liangzhou Li Family Army Camp. Tianmen Pass is a border outpost, and the troops have already been withdrawn. I don't know when that child will return, or if he truly intends to stay there for three years. If demons invade, his position will be extremely dangerous..."
Concern filled his face as he spoke.
Li Xuanli nodded slightly. "After I arrive in Liangzhou, I will send a military report to notify him and advise him to be extra vigilant. Ideally, he should return immediately. That child is truly stubborn. Is there really nothing that can be done to reconcile the rift between father and son? Sigh..."
Gao Qingqing rolled her eyes at him. "Don't just stand there and talk without considering the consequences. Mind your own business when it comes to others' affairs. If you're going to Liangzhou, you should focus on taking care of yourself first. If you really want to send a letter to that child, then tell him that his fifth mother has prepared the soft jade candy with beef that he loved to eat when he was little, and it's waiting for him when he returns."
Li Xuanli nodded slightly and gently squeezed his wife's hand.
Then, he turned to the three children and said, "These days, the world is in turmoil with demons and monsters running rampant. It's not as peaceful as it used to be. You must also cultivate diligently and not rely solely on your current abilities to roam around and show off, understand?"
"Father, I want to go to Liangzhou too," Li Wushuang said.
"Me too," Li Yun quickly added.
Although Li Zhining didn't say anything, her big eyes were fixed on her father, full of anticipation.
Li Xuanli rolled his eyes, knowing that his words had fallen on deaf ears. He huffed in annoyance and said, "I don't have the energy to take care of all of you. Don't even think about coming along and causing trouble for me."
"Father, they might not be able to, but I can go," Li Wushuang quickly betrayed her siblings. "I need to go out into the world and gain experience. During the True Dragon competition, I realized just how big the gap is between me and them. I want to go out and slay demons to improve my cultivation!"
Li Yun and Li Zhining glared at their older sister, feeling betrayed. Hadn't they agreed to ask their father together? Now she was throwing them under the bus? The siblings glared at their sister, their eyes filled with anger.
It seemed like their older sister was only here to make them look bad.
Hearing his daughter's words, Li Xuanli sighed. "You shouldn't compare yourself to them. One is an even more exaggerated case than your Ninth Uncle, and the other is a personal disciple of the Buddha himself. For you to have such cultivation at your age is already impressive, and you're ranked within the top thirty on the Qiankun List. Father is already very proud of you."
"It's not enough. I only want to be the first!" Li Wushuang declared, her eyes determined. "If I slack off like this, I'll soon be left behind and won't even be able to see their backs!"
Seeing her stubbornness, Li Xuanli thought for a moment and said, "Alright, with your cultivation, it might be good for you to go out and gain some experience in the army."
"Father..."
Li Yun and Li Zhining immediately spoke up.
"Don't even think about it," Li Xuanli cut them off.
"Father, you're being unfair!" Li Yun protested.
"Yes, you're being partial. If you're unfair, I'll beat you up, believe it or not?" Li Wushuang added.
"...Fine, fine, fine..." Li Xuanli relented.
...
...
In Liangzhou, at the Tianmen Pass.
Within the fenced courtyard of the pass...
As the firewood burned out, Li Hao saw that Song Qiomo and Feng Lao had finished their meal. He smiled, patted his buttocks, and stood up, saying, "The weather is nice today. Why don't we go out for a walk and kill some demons?"
Song Qiomo asked curiously, "Aren't you going to start cultivating the sword techniques first?"
"Practicing the sword is best done through actual combat. That's when you improve the fastest," Li Hao laughed.
"I think you just want to use my hand to kill more demons, don't you?" Song Qiomo saw through his intentions but didn't seem angry.
"It helps with digestion," Li Hao smiled.
"True, I'm getting bored staying here anyway. I'll accompany you for a walk," Song Qiomo agreed as she stood up.
Feng Laopao remained calm and said, "With her accompanying you, that's enough. I'll stay here."
Li Hao knew that the old man wanted to stay behind to guard the pass, so he nodded slightly and turned to take the Dragon Rising Sword from Ren Qianqian's hand.
"Can I come too?" Ren Qianqian asked eagerly.
"You're still too weak. Stay here and cultivate. When it's time for your soul continuation, will you be using your father's connections or going to the Martial Temple?" Li Hao asked.
"Martial Temple. My father has already chosen the Martial Temple for me," Ren Qianqian replied immediately.
"Good. When you break through, I'll ask Qiomo to send you to the Martial Temple. But you need to hurry up. She'll only be here for half a year," Li Hao smiled.
Hearing this, Ren Qianqian realized that her cultivation was indeed too low, and she couldn't even keep up with Li Hao's pace.
Li Hao held the sword and turned to leave. A white shadow darted out, and Xiao Baihu climbed up his trouser leg, perching comfortably on his shoulder as if he weighed nothing.
Li Hao ruffled the little fox's head affectionately, not bothering to shoo him away. He strolled out of the camp, holding the sword and releasing his soul sense. With Tianmen Pass as the center, he scanned the surrounding area.
Soon, about forty miles away, Li Hao detected some hidden demons and monsters.
With Song Qiomo by his side, his life was guaranteed, so Li Hao didn't have to worry about a Four Establishments Realm Demon King attacking him. He flew straight towards them, sword in hand.
A crisp sound rang out as the Dragon Rising Sword left its sheath. From a distance of twenty miles, the flying sword resembled a rainbow, slicing through the air and cutting down several demons hiding in the forest.
The sword light was snow-white, like a howling silver dragon, slicing through the demons' bodies as if they were tofu, erasing their souls in the process.
These demons didn't even have time to react or understand what had happened.
Li Hao rode the wind, flying casually in the air. His perception first extended towards the Dragon Pass Road, and with his power over objects, he picked up the demon corpses on the road and threw them into the wilderness and forests outside the road.
He wanted these demons to know that this road was meant for humans, not for their kind to tread upon.
After dealing with these demons, Li Hao flew towards the nearby wilderness, encountering numerous large and small demons along the way, all of which he casually slaughtered.
Beings at the Divine Wander Realm, or even the Fifteen-Mile Realm, were no match for him.
As for the Heaven-Man Realm demons, they were already considered minor demon kings ruling over a region, but even they were powerless against the piercing might of the Dragon Rising Sword, their rough hides and flesh torn apart like dry branches.
Li Hao flew over hills and forests, leaving behind a trail of demon corpses in his wake.
He intended to sweep the area clean of all demons, restoring the place to its state from thousands of years ago and turning it into a demon-free zone!
Song Qiomo accompanied Li Hao on his casual stroll, but she rarely had the chance to take action.
She had long realized that Li Hao brought her along mainly to guard against surprise attacks from powerful demon kings. The rest of the demons were easily dealt with by Li Hao.
Aside from wielding his flying sword, Li Hao often used his fishing line and hook when encountering demons of the Fifteen-Mile Realm, reeling them in and killing them while simultaneously gaining fishing experience.
Days passed.
Within a hundred miles of Tianmen Pass, not a single demon could be seen, all having been slaughtered.
Li Hao's fishing experience had also reached two hundred thousand points, nearing the ten million bottleneck.
Li Hao began to venture further afield to continue his sweep.
Meanwhile.
A thousand miles away from Tianmen Pass.
On the peak of a giant mountain surrounded by ranges, there was a Daoist abbey.
The abbey was enveloped in mist, and the morning bell tolled.
Numerous cultivators sat in the spacious abbey, clad in simple robes with their hair tied up, resembling immortals.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice horns or protruding scales on their heads.
Their robes had holes in the back, from which various types of tails protruded. Their clasped hands, raised in prayer, were either delicate human palms or clawed with bumpy scales.
This was the Dragon Mountain Abbey.
In front of the cultivators was a platform where a mummified corpse, clad in Daoist robes, was preaching. Its face was half-green and half-blue, and it was surrounded by swirling yin spirits. Insects crawled in and out of the collar of its robe, entering through its ears or nose and then back into its body.
This corpse was none other than the Three Immortals demon who had escaped from Tianmen Pass a few days ago.
The Peacock, Bull Demon, and Giant Frog had all perished at Tianmen Pass, leaving only it to flee back.
Such a huge loss was no small matter for the Dragon Mountain Abbey.
Behind the abbey, on a waterfall, an old man clad in ancient Daoist robes sat in meditation.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, a cold light flashing in their depths as he spoke in a detached tone, "What brings you here, sir?"
Behind him, a figure slowly materialized. It was a bewitching woman in a fiery red dress, half her face adorned with floral patterns. With a mesmerizing gaze, she said with a smile:
"Dragon Master, I heard that the disciples you taught all perished at that Tianmen Pass. What a pity."
"Are you here to pick a fight?"
The old man's eyes turned icy.
"I'm just feeling sorry for you. Why are you taking your anger out on me...?"
The bewitching woman put on an innocent and helpless expression, batting her eyes as she said, "I'm here to ask if you've given any thought to my previous proposal about joining our army. It's a rare opportunity."
The old man frowned, falling silent.
"What are you still worried about? That Real Man from the Qian Dao Palace won't dare to come out."
The bewitching woman spoke gently, "Otherwise, that Holy Imperial City would have fallen and turned to ashes by now."
"This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. Back then, the humans recklessly expanded, forcing us out of our homeland and into the fringes of the Great Wilderness. It's time we struck back!"
As she spoke, a murderous glint appeared in her eyes.
The old man said slowly, "If we're going to attack Liangzhou, from which direction do you plan to approach?"
"Originally, I thought we could join forces and march straight through Tianmen Pass."
The bewitching woman's expression turned gentle and charming, "But recently, I received some intelligence. Apparently, something big happened in Qingzhou City involving the Li family. Their genius with talent rivaling that of Yu the Great himself has left home and been exiled here. He's protected by four Establishment Realm cultivators, and I believe you've already encountered them."
"So, if we continue to attack through Tianmen Pass, we'll have to face those four Establishment Realm cultivators, which would be too costly and not worth it."
"We've changed our route."
"Since this pass has become a tough nut to crack, let's bypass it for now. Once we raze Liangzhou to the ground, what use will this tiny pass be? We can always come back and savor the taste of that old human later..."
Chapter 135: Deadly Attributes
The winter snow fell gently, blanketing the world in a silvery hue. Chilling winds howled through the pass, yet within the fenced courtyard, a different scene unfolded.
Ren Qianqian practiced her sword in the snowy yard, her movements graceful as a butterfly. The sword wind whistled, swirling the snow around her as she danced with lightness.
"The sword techniques are but an outer expression; you must grasp the trajectory, essence, and true intent of the sword," came a voice from beside her.
Li Hao, crouched in the snow, was meticulously crafting a snowman. He patted and shaped it, occasionally glancing up to offer guidance to the young swordswoman.
Ren Qianqian paused, confusion furrowing her brow. "The trajectory of the sword?"
"Mhm." Li Hao nodded, then rose to fetch a pair of twig-like branches to serve as the snowman's arms. "Look, like this."
He gave the branch a gentle shake, causing the snow clinging to it to fall off. With a swift flick of his wrist, he sent the branch dancing through the air, recapturing every flake that had fallen, returning it to its original snowy state.
Ren Qianqian stared, transfixed.
"Your sword must interact with the environment around you," Li Hao explained. "That's what makes it truly sharp and seamless." With that, he returned to the snowman and shook off the excess snow before attaching the branches as arms.
Ren Qianqian fell into thought, her gaze dropping to the sword in her hand. After a moment, she resumed her practice, her movements now infused with newfound contemplation.
These past few days, aside from Li Hao's occasional pointers, Li Hongzhuang and Song Qiumo would offer their insights during their leisure time.
Like Li Hao, their guidance went beyond mere sword techniques, delving into deeper understandings of the sword's path from the perspective of grandmasters.
Such advice could be a double-edged sword—sometimes vague and elusive, yet immensely beneficial to those with high enlightenment. Should one grasp their meaning, their progress in the sword's path would be rapid and profound, allowing them to wield their swords with the intent of a grandmaster.
Ren Qianqian continued her practice as Li Hao began work on a second snowman.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from beyond the pass. A crimson-blooded horse raced into view, coming to a halt outside the small courtyard.
Li Hongzhuang, who had been tending to the stove, sensed the commotion and rushed out.
"Are you from the Xuanzi Camp of Liangzhou?" she asked, her eyes lighting up at the silver insignia on the old soldier's armor. "Has the Fifth Brother arrived in Liangzhou? Is he here to lend aid?"
The soldier dismounted and bowed swiftly. "General has just arrived in Liangzhou and sent me to deliver a military report to the commander."
Li Hongzhuang took the proffered report and quickly scanned its contents. Her expression soon turned grim, her eyes hardening with determination.
"These demons dare to plot against Liangzhou!" she exclaimed, a chill in her voice.
She folded the report and took a deep breath before addressing the soldier again. "You must be weary from your long journey. Won't you come in and rest?"
"No need, General. The commander is awaiting my return. Do you have any message for him?" the soldier asked, his head bowed respectfully. His heart was filled with surprise as he recalled the demon corpses he had seen on his way here, and the once-grand Cangya City that had fallen to the demons, according to rumors. He had expected a desolate military camp, yet here he found a cozy fenced courtyard.
A reply... Li Hongzhuang thought of the letter tucked within the military report, filled with her fifth brother's concern for her.
He warned her of the demons, inquired about her well-being, and asked her to look after Li Hao, ready to retreat at any time... His words were few, but they conveyed his warmth and care.
"Wait here," she said, turning back into the courtyard. She asked Li Hao for ink and paper, swiftly wrote a reply, and handed it to the waiting soldier.
The soldier tucked the letter into his sleeve, mounted his horse, and bid Li Hongzhuang farewell before galloping off.
Once he was gone, Li Hongzhuang called Li Hao over and handed him the military report.
"Fifth Brother says that the demons outside Liangzhou are stirring," she explained. "Some cities have already been infiltrated, and they plan to attack Liangzhou from within. He has come to oversee the situation."
Li Hongzhuang glanced at Li Hao. "We might face a large-scale demon assault on Tianmenguan soon."
Li Hao perused the report, his eyes falling on the words of concern from his fifth uncle. He recalled their brief exchange during the family banquet and the impression the man had left on him.
Putting his thoughts aside, he replied, "We'll face them head-on. If they come, we'll cook up a storm!"
"... " Li Hongzhuang couldn't help but smile wryly. With two grandmasters at the Four Establishments realm here, there was no need for panic. Should the situation call for it, they could always retreat. The only question was when the demons would make their move.
Putting the report away, Li Hao called everyone to a hearty lunch.
The snowfall had provided an ample water source for their bathhouse.
Li Hongzhuang's once greasy hair, now free of demon invasions these past few days, had been washed and brushed, hanging like strands of dark ink over her shoulders. Her bloodstained crimson armor had also been cleaned, ready for battle at a moment's notice, though her flowing hair lent her a more relaxed air, like a female general from a painting.
Li Hao had crafted several large wooden tubs, turning them into makeshift hot springs by melting snow for water each evening.
Soaking in the tubs, they feasted on grilled meat and drank wine while casually chatting with Feng Laosi, enjoying a life of leisure amidst their guard duties.
This borderland outpost had truly become a vacation retreat.
The heavy snowfall, though bleak and cold, was rendered harmless by their shelter.
In the following days, Li Hao spent his mornings hunting demons with Song Qiumo and his afternoons resting in the courtyard, maintaining a regular routine.
The demons they hunted provided ample Painting Path experience, bringing him close to the sixth tier.
His fishing experience also increased gradually during these hunting trips, slowly approaching the sixth-tier bottleneck.
Li Hao casually collapsed these caves and left subtle fish markings, intending to return to investigate if any demons passed through.
Days turned into weeks.
As Li Hao hunted the demons, his Master's mindset gradually improved.
Initially, his pride had led him to seek enlightenment from all things in heaven and earth, a far more challenging path than the ordinary Master's Way.
The world beyond the door he had kicked open was broader than he had imagined.
What are all things?
What is the origin of all things?
These were the questions that constantly occupied Li Hao's thoughts.
Mountains, rivers, fish, insects, beasts—all were part of the myriad things.
But their number was vast, and to understand each individually would take an immeasurable amount of time, even with a lifespan of a hundred thousand years.
Li Hao possessed the insight of the sixth level of the Physical Realm, and he could grasp the essence of the myriad things at a glance. Mastering them all would not be difficult, but what he sought was not diversity, but unity!
He wanted to fuse the essence of all things into one, a task that was self-inflicted torment and one that he could only accomplish himself.
During their hunting expeditions, Li Hao and Song Qiuemo also explored the mountains and rivers beyond the pass.
From understanding oneself to glimpsing the heavens and the earth, Li Hao saw shrubs, flowers, the moon, and streams.
He saw the melting snow under the sunlight and the resilient young leaves stubbornly enduring the heavy snowfall.
All things possessed a unique power, but what was the common thread that bound their strengths?
Snow could freeze all things, yet a single ray of sunshine could pierce through it.
Tender leaves, though fragile, could not be snuffed out by the snow.
Birds and beasts could walk, destroy trees, and tremble in the snow, seeking food before hurrying back to their nests.
Thus, what was the power of all things?
As a cold wind brushed his face, Li Hao gazed at the distant mountains and nearby forests, his heart seemingly touching upon something profound, only for it to slip away in the next instant.
As winter approached, snowfall became more frequent.
On this day, they had hunted down two more demons at the fifteen-li level, and Li Hao and Song Qiuemo were returning together.
The number of demons in the wilderness beyond the pass far exceeded those within.
Outside the fenced courtyard, Li Hao had been building houses one after another.
Now that there were no demon attacks, these houses would not be destroyed immediately.
Li Hongzhuang asked, "Do you intend to rebuild the original city?"
Li Hao smiled, "If the demons don't come, why not?"
Li Hongzhuang fell into deep thought.
During these days, she had occasionally left the camp to search for traces of the demons.
But Li Hao had cleared out the nearby demons, and when she ventured to the outskirts of the Wan Mountain Demon King's territory, she did not dare to go deeper. Still, it seemed that the number of demons in that area had also decreased significantly, and there was no sense of a massive demon army gathering.
This did not quite match the information in the military reports sent by her fifth brother.
However, she did not doubt his intelligence; instead, a thought took root in her mind.
Could it be that these demons, aware of the presence of two Four Establishments realm masters at Tianmenguan, were planning to bypass it?
There was no way to verify this speculation, so she decided to wait and see. If there were still no movements outside Tianmenguan after some time, she would send a letter to notify her fifth brother, so he could be on his guard in other places.
...
Every few days, Song Qiuemo would go to the nearby cities to purchase supplies—vegetables, noodles, spices, and the paper that Li Hao needed for painting.
On this day, Song Qiuemo returned with some extra treats for Li Hao.
A set of chess manuals and two scrolls of famous paintings.
These were items that Li Hao had asked Song Qiuemo to help him find.
Upon receiving them, Li Hao was overjoyed and immediately stored them in his panels.
The chess manual was titled "New Chess Classic."
It was a guide designed to help beginners quickly master the game.
After some contemplation, Li Hao integrated it into his Control Way, and a corresponding attribute emerged:
"New Chess Classic": Control speed increased by 20%.
Compared to other chess manuals, the attribute granted by this set seemed rather ordinary and not as dramatic as "Seven Stars Lighting the Lamp." However, like the "Myriad Attributes," it was always active once equipped, a passive skill.
It did not require additional consumption of Li Hao's power, had no side effects, and provided a permanent percentage increase.
As his control speed improved, this 20% boost would become even more significant.
As for the two famous paintings, Li Hao could not determine what special attributes they would bring, so he decided to try embedding one into the Physical Realm and the other into the Control Realm.
The first painting, "Shrimp in Clear Spring," was embedded into the Physical Realm, and it granted a 20% water system affinity attribute.
Li Hao didn't quite understand what this attribute did, but he felt a sense of closeness when he touched the snowflakes, as if they were old friends.
Soaking in the hot springs also became a more comfortable experience.
If one were to cultivate an ice-type technique, this attribute would provide a boosting effect.
Other than that, it seemed rather useless for now.
The other painting, "Yellow Oriole Catching an Insect," was embedded into the Control Realm. It depicted a classic tale of a mantis stalking a cicada, only to be preyed upon by a yellow oriole.
And the attribute it bestowed was quite peculiar:
It had a 1% chance of a fatal effect when the attack was not yet revealed!
This effect seemed similar to "Hidden Bow," where the power of the attack doubled when the strike was hidden and not exposed.
But "Hidden Bow" doubled the power and had a 100% probability.
In contrast, this painting provided a mere 1% chance, a pitifully small number.
However, those words, "fatal effect," seemed to spark the imagination.
Could it be that it ignored the realm and defense of the target, and once it hit, there was a 1% probability of a guaranteed kill?
If so, the effect of this painting would be quite terrifying.
For higher-realm foes, it would be difficult to hide his attacks, as they could easily discern his moves.
Unless it was in the heat of battle, where his opponents were too focused to notice his sneak attack.
But such opportunities were rare, and even if he did manage to land a blow, the 1% probability of success made it incredibly unlikely. If he did succeed, the amount of luck consumed would be staggering, and he'd have to be careful with every step, lest he accidentally trip and break his own neck.
Nevertheless, any additional power was better than none.
This extra strength required no cultivation on his part; it was like getting something for nothing.
Seeing Li Hao's elated expression, Song Qiuemo smiled and delivered another piece of good news:
"In addition to these, I've also heard about the whereabouts of a famous painting, said to be in the hands of a Grand Master."
"Oh?" Li Hao's eyes lit up at the mention. "Can we buy it? What does the owner want in return?"
"It's just a rumor. I haven't made contact with the Grand Master yet, but I've traced their whereabouts. They should be heading to Dayue City in Liangzhou soon."
Song Qiuemo explained, "I heard that there will be a grand gathering in Dayue City, where the Tianji Mountain Sect will invite Grand Masters from all over to discuss the martial path."
"A gathering of Grand Masters?" Li Hao was somewhat surprised.
He had read about this event in the records of Tingu Tower. It was a once-in-a-zodiac-cycle occasion.
Inviting Grand Masters from across the land to share and validate their martial arts.
These Grand Masters would also bring their proteges, allowing them to listen and benefit from the discussions, even if they weren't directly involved. This was an incredible opportunity for their martial arts cultivation.
Most Grand Masters preferred to remain secluded in the mountains, devoting themselves to their solitary cultivation and the pursuit of their unique martial paths. It was only during such gatherings that they would descend from their solitary havens to interact with their peers.
It was said that during past assemblies, there were always a few proteges who astonished the crowd with their exceptional talent. By merely listening to the discussions, they would break through and attain the realm of a Grand Master, their names forever etched in the annals of history.
Every gathering would witness the rise of one or two such prodigies.
Thus, in addition to the Grand Masters, fifteen-li-realm geniuses would also flock to the event.
"Dayue City is quite a distance away. Even at full speed, it would take a day to get there and back..." Li Hao mused aloud.
"Dayue City has a city formation," Song Qiuemo said. "Although I have a travel permit issued by the Great Yu Dynasty, it's only valid within Qingzhou. If I want to enter Liangzhou, I'll need to go through the registration and verification process at the provincial capital, and I'll need Song Yufeng to vouch for me."
Li Hao understood that this was something Song Qiuemo couldn't help him with.
The registration and verification processes were notoriously time-consuming.
Especially for a Fourth Establishment realm demon king like him; the authorities would be extremely cautious.
After all, once they issued a travel permit, allowing him into the city, if he went on a rampage, he could swiftly destroy an entire city.
By the time news of the city's destruction reached the higher-ups, the demon king could have already wreaked havoc elsewhere, causing chain destruction and immense damage to the entire province.
Moreover, the nobles within the city would strongly oppose such a decision.
To them, a demon king was like a tiger unleashed from its cage. Even if they were told it wouldn't harm anyone, no one would dare take that risk.
Li Hao turned to Li Hongzhuang, "Aunt Hongzhuang, would you mind making a trip to Dayue City for me?"
Li Hongzhuang was surprised by Li Hao's persistence regarding the painting. However, having witnessed his passion for art these past few days, she could understand. This nephew of hers seemed to have devoted all his energy to these unconventional pursuits, showing little interest in cultivation.
Aside from that one night, she hadn't seen him cultivate at all.
Despite his terrifyingly fast cultivation speed, he lacked enthusiasm for it, yet his realm surpassed that of his peers. Li Hongzhuang could only attribute it to sheer luck, as if the heavens were forcing-feeding him success.
"I'm too lazy to go," Li Hongzhuang replied. "If you want it, why don't you go yourself?"
She had no interest in such paintings. When she was younger, she had enjoyed them and even embroidered replicas, stitching the artwork onto handkerchiefs.
But ever since she picked up the sword, she hadn't touched a needle again.
The only paintings in her eyes now were the snowy landscapes beyond the pass and the countless demons she had to slay.
Li Hao felt a bit helpless but then thought of a feasible solution.
In recent days, he had hunted down all the demons within three hundred li of the pass.
The demons farther away seemed to be in hiding, as the numbers they encountered during their hunts were dwindling.
Even if he left for a few days, it shouldn't be a problem.
"If you're going, I can stay here and keep an eye on things for you," Song Qiuemo offered, noticing Li Hao's dilemma as she lounged in a soft, fur-covered chair.
"Then I'll have to thank you, Senior," Li Hao said with a smile.
Song Qiuemo gave him a slight glare, seemingly displeased with the term "Senior," but she didn't comment further.
With Song Qiuemo watching over the place, Li Hao could rest assured.
Her presence would be far more effective at deterring demons than his own.
These past few days, they hadn't encountered any demons, and Li Hao guessed it was due to the news of Song Qiuemo's battle with the dragon lord spreading among the demon circles outside the pass. The demons now knew that although the Tianmenguan pass was empty, with the previous army having retreated, it was now more formidable than ever.
Without a demon king personally leading the charge, no demon would dare to risk crossing the border, for they knew that doing so would result in inevitable annihilation!
"In that case, Qianqian, get ready to accompany me to Dayue City. There seems to be a Martial Temple there, so you can undergo the Soul Continuation ritual while we're there," Li Hao said as he stood up.
Ren Qianqian's eyes sparkled at the mention, and she quickly acknowledged.
Li Hao ruffled Little White Fox's head affectionately, "You've also reached the Soul Continuation realm. Where do you plan to go for your ritual?"