Chapter 159: Repaying the Li Family's Second Favor (Catch-up 23)
As Li Hao broke through the bottleneck and pierced through the Gate of Life within his physical body, a vigorous life force emanated from within him, circulating and breathing outside his body before contracting back inside.
This life force gradually settled into his meridians and flesh, transforming into an indomitable power.
This indomitable power permeated his entire being, ready to be activated in times of danger, allowing him to unleash the maximum amount of strength.
Normally, the three realms of the Three Imperishables had immense gaps between them.
The Undying Realm breaks free from mortal bounds, allowing regeneration of lost limbs, but the Unbreakable Realm goes even further by ensuring the body remains untouched by harm. It is akin to a divine weapon, allowing one to act without worry of self-harm from the exertion of powerful techniques, pushing the limits of violence.
Thus, in terms of explosive power, the Unbreakable Realm naturally surpasses the Undying Realm, almost doubling its might.
As for the Indestructible Realm, it is a complete release, akin to having two lives, while also being able to channel endless power, manifesting moves beyond the physical body's normal limits.
This is the intimidating power of the Indestructible Realm.
At this moment, through his cultivation of two body-refining techniques, Li Hao had reached the peak of the Three Imperishables.
But he felt that this was still far from his true limit.
If other realms had their limits, then the Three Imperishables also had theirs.
The Three Imperishables involve cultivating the body to a transcendental state, a turning point in cultivation that transforms the body.
Li Hao wanted to explore the limits of the Three Imperishables.
Without resting, he continued to cultivate the third body-refining technique.
Previously, relying on his insight into the sixth level of the Way of the Physical Body, he had deduced the fifth layer of the Primordial Art, known as the Primordial Body.
With this, the technique could be considered complete.
However, now that the insights of the seventh level of the Way of the Physical Body had surged into him, the technique had once again quietly evolved, transforming into the Supreme Body!
Return to the Primordial, Supremacy Above! If the Primordial unifies power, then the Supreme transcends!
A breath of celestial qi emerged from within Li Hao, communicating with the power of the world, refining his being, and infusing his flesh and blood with a divine essence, glowing with a subtle golden radiance.
Within his pores, a golden ocean seemed to churn, his flesh and blood rapidly transforming, and his physical power climbing higher.
The life force within him became increasingly dense, constantly churning and refining.
At the Indestructible Realm, if it took others a day to regenerate a lost limb, Li Hao would only need an hour.
If he combined it with the attribute of Biding Time and Staying Concealed, he might be able to regrow it in half that time.
As he cultivated the Supreme Body, Li Hao's physical body became even more robust; not only his self-healing abilities, but also the degree of his Unbreakable body, surpassed that of a typical Three Imperishables cultivator.
After a moment, the raging energy around Li Hao calmed.
A majestic and ethereal aura emanated from every pore of his body.
The Supreme Body was cultivated.
True Form Layer!
His body seemed to exist independently and yet also like a distant light refracting upon this world, giving him a sense of standing in the mortal realm while being detached from it.
The Supreme Body was a state of the physique, not an offensive power, but its defensive effect was extremely exaggerated, transcending the mortal realm. Many techniques and skills could not be imposed upon him.
With Li Hao's body completely relaxed and no exertion of force, he walked through the pouring rain without a single drop touching him.
The aura emanating from his pores caused the falling dust and snow around him to naturally part way.
When under attack, his body instinctively defended itself, making it difficult for fists and weapons to make contact.
If facing an opponent of the same realm, by unleashing the full power of the Supreme Body, he could even briefly become an untargetable entity, transcending the physical realm.
Li Hao didn't know how this Supreme Body state would fare against a cultivator at the first step of the Four Establishments Realm's Dao Heart Realm.
As he retracted his power, Li Hao suddenly felt his pores vibrating slightly.
It seemed like something was about to burst out of his body.
A scorching sensation emerged, as if his entire body was placed in a furnace, his blood surging uncontrollably.
His pores seemed to be breathing heavily, exhaling scorching auras, and his body was veiled in a faint golden glow.
As the surging of his qi and blood accelerated, the golden glow became more dazzling.
Until a certain valve was opened, suddenly, in the span of a single breath, the power within Li Hao's body seemed to explode, his muscles tensing, and a surging power emerged.
His flesh and blood transformed into a reddish-gold color, and his senses, such as sight and hearing, abruptly increased. His eyes seemed capable of piercing through space, seeing seven or eight times farther than before.
His hearing became more acute; he could even hear the sounds of insects crawling in the forest dozens of li away, and their forms and the marks of their footsteps in the snowy mud appeared like echoes in his mind.
Li Hao's mind also became clearer, accompanied by a strong sense of excitement and a desire for destruction.
Li Hao was astonished, as these were not the characteristics of the Supreme Body.
He quickly examined himself and soon discovered the reason.
It seemed that he had... reached the limit of the Connection Power Realm! This peculiar state was the temporary state one entered after surpassing the limits of the Connection Power Realm.
Li Hao sensed his physical power once more. Before cultivating the True Jade True Demon Art, his physical strength had reached five to sixty thousand pounds, but now it had explosively increased to a hundred thousand pounds.
Li Hao sensed the surging blood within him, his physical might climbing higher. It escalated from a million pounds to four or five million, and finally, to over ten million pounds!
As he reached this level, Li Hao's flesh and blood turned a dark golden color, and his pores emitted countless dark golden lights that sparkled like stars.
His heart pounded fiercely, and his breathing quickened.
Li Hao regulated the blood flow within his body, gradually calming himself and withdrawing from this limit state.
After a moment, the power coursing through his body diminished, returning to its previous level of a million pounds.
"The limit of the Soul Succession Realm is the Heaven and Earth Law Image."
"Is this peculiar state of physical empowerment the limit of the Connection Power Realm?"
Li Hao's eyes sparkled as he tentatively named this state "Divine Power."
Connection Power Extreme, Divine Power.
Based on its initial display, it could temporarily increase his physical strength tenfold in a short period!
And it wasn't just strength that was amplified.
If it were merely a matter of physical strength increasing from a million pounds to ten million pounds, it wouldn't be that astonishing. After all, the Imperial Clan's Cycle Heaven Realm cultivators could achieve ten million pounds of strength by cultivating supreme meridian and qi-channeling techniques.
However, in the Divine Power state, one's physique was also enhanced.
Currently, at the Three Imperishables Realm, entering the Divine Power state turned his flesh and blood into a reddish-gold color. Li Hao's self-healing abilities and the extent of his Unbreakable body were ten times that of a typical Three Imperishables cultivator! A severed arm that would usually take an hour to regenerate could now be mended in just a few minutes! In comparison, an ordinary cultivator at the same realm would need at least a day or two to regrow a lost limb.
The disparity was enormous.
Even if one suffered severe injuries in battle, a brief restraint would allow their body to heal, enabling them to unleash their combat prowess once more.
Like Elder Feng, when he was ambushed by the demon and his abdomen ripped open, it took half a day to heal even with the aid of pills.
While the Four Establishments Realm was undoubtedly stronger, their healing capabilities didn't surpass those of the Three Imperishables Realm by a significant margin, as they were not specialized body cultivators.
"After reaching the limit of the Connection Power Realm, when I practice other techniques, my physical strength can still increase. This Divine Power state doesn't seem like the Heaven and Earth Law Image of the Soul Succession Realm; it's not a true limit but rather a threshold of some sort."
"Upon reaching this threshold, I can briefly activate the Divine Power state."
"Perhaps, reaching 360 soul condensations and unlocking the Heaven and Earth Law Image isn't the limit of the Soul Succession Realm, and it's just that I haven't attained a higher level yet..."
Li Hao's eyes flickered, and if the second possibility were true, the path of martial cultivation would be incredibly profound.
It was common knowledge that most cultivators didn't even reach a hundred soul condensations.
360 soul condensations were already earth-shattering, and even the Imperial Clan rarely exceeded 160.
"Now, I've touched the limits of both the Connection Power Realm and the Soul Succession Realm."
"The major meridians of the Cycle Heaven Realm are not yet fully opened. If I can enter the Spirit Realm and raise my Way of the Spiritual Dao to the seventh level, I should be able to open up all the major meridians in my body."
"There's also another method, which is to find more meridian techniques and use them to complement each other, gradually opening up the remaining meridians."
"I'll pay the Tower of Destiny a visit next time and see if I can find suitable techniques."
"Currently, I have 98 major meridians, and the Yin-Yang dual meridians are already opened. That leaves me with 10 more to go to reach the standard 108 major meridians!"
"I wonder what state I'll achieve once all the Cycle Heaven meridians are opened."
Li Hao's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
When he had opened the Yin-Yang dual meridians, he had vaguely glimpsed a golden light, like a heavenly gate standing tall but out of reach.
Perhaps, once all his meridians were opened, he would be able to step into and touch that heavenly gate.
Through his cultivation journey, Li Hao had realized that the states achieved at the limits of each realm were the most formidable in terms of combat prowess.
For example, the Terrestrial Immortal Realm of the Heaven-Man Realm allowed one to become an earthly immortal with a single breath of celestial qi, enabling them to even clash with Four Establishments Realm cultivators.
Of course, the main reason he could slay the black bird demon king was due to his Yellow Sparrow Painting, which granted him a 1% fatal attack attribute.
Otherwise, the black bird demon king would have at least had a chance to escape, and it wouldn't have died.
However, the power one attained at the moment of complete immortal ascension was uncertain, and whether it could kill a Dao Heart Realm cultivator remained to be seen.
Previously, when Li Hao had partially ascended, his flesh had rotted away, and he estimated that he had reached about thirty percent.
Once it exceeded forty percent, it would be extremely difficult to pull oneself back without external help, as it was a critical point.
He had only managed to stop the process with the assistance of Elder Feng and Song Qiu Mo, who helped sever his connection to the heavens and earth.
Without external aid, death was certain.
But conversely, within the forty percent threshold, one could borrow this power at the risk of danger.
At the brink of life and death, it became the ultimate trump card, capable of turning the tables!
"I wonder what the limit of the Three Imperishables Realm is like?"
Li Hao's heart was filled with anticipation, and he had a vague guess, but the possibility seemed so incredible that it only fueled his yearning.
Regaining his composure, Li Hao continued to cultivate the fourth technique.
Dragon Cicada Vacuum Body.
This technique had also been deduced to a higher level, surpassing the original scope of the art itself.
From within the energy tempest, Feng Boping could sense a formidable aura that made even him feel a sense of gravity.
Outside the mountain, Li Hongzhuang's expression was solemn, and the several Blood Sha Army vice-generals by his side stared intently at the peak, their eyes filled with awe.
They could sense that the young man inside seemed to have... reached the Three Imperishables realm!
The occasional hint of his aura made their hearts skip a beat.
The opponent didn't seem to be even fifteen years old yet.
Was this the most outstanding genius of their Li Family in a thousand years, surpassing their ancestors?
At the foot of the mountain, Ren Qianqian sat cross-legged, holding her sword. The energy tempest swirling around the peak also spread to her, and she absorbed it.
Her inner aura was constantly climbing, and her soul-self was refining.
In front of her knees, Xiao Baihu lay curled up on a pile of snow, looking listless.
Ever since it had eaten the demon king's flesh and blood, it had been in a constant state of lethargy. However, the color of its eyes had changed from black to a tinge of orange, darkening and taking on a deep reddish hue.
At this moment, as the energy storm gathered, Xiao Baihu merely opened its eyes slightly before closing them again, indifferent to the energy that quietly seeped into its fur.
Li Hao continued his cultivation.
He meticulously practiced and comprehended the intricacies of each technique, mastering them one by one.
From sunrise to noon, the aura on the mountaintop flickered, and the indescribable feeling that occasionally emerged made Li Hongzhuang and the others below feel their hearts jump.
Finally,
The peak seemed to fall into a long silence.
The surrounding heaven and earth energy no longer increased but slowly contracted until it turned into a gentle breeze and disappeared.
On the summit, only Li Hao's silhouette remained, sitting quietly.
His clothes were tattered, torn during his dragon transformation.
Through the gaps in his ragged clothes, one could see a body that appeared to be forged from pure gold.
All auras were masked by his Omnipresent Attribute.
However, despite this, the innate transcendence of the Supreme Body and the hint of evil energy contained within the Mingyu True Demon still gave the young man an indescribable air.
Li Hongzhuang stared, her eyes slightly unfocused.
She felt that the young man had changed drastically and was no longer the Li Hao she knew.
A solitary master.
Li Hao had already walked his own path and had now reached even higher realms.
Opening his eyes, Li Hao's eyes seemed to contain a hint of starlight, and his gaze was calm, like a serene lake.
Sensing the two figures at the foot of the mountain, Li Hao looked down and saw Xiao Baihu curled up, seemingly asleep. A gentle look came into his eyes.
After practicing and comprehending all his techniques, Li Hao's physique had reached an unprecedented level.
Although he hadn't tested it, Li Hao felt that if he encountered the great demon king again, he might even be able to... fight it!
He would have to test it himself to know his limits.
A slight regret was that although he had reached the Undying Realm limit in his cultivation of various techniques, and his internal power was like a vast ocean, he still felt somewhat distant from his true limit.
Li Hao stood up, his movements natural, but it seemed as if he was lifting the entire mountain with the heaven and earth energy around him, giving the impression that the heavens were rising with him.
Li Hao looked up at the clouds, his gaze piercing through the clouds to where Feng Lao was, and the two locked eyes. Li Hao smiled.
Feng Boping sighed. Indeed, he had reached the Three Imperishables realm.
Even though Li Hao had concealed his aura, he could still feel that this young man was truly a monster.
Li Hao descended the mountain, and as the heaven and earth energy dissipated, Ren Qianqian gradually ended her cultivation. Opening her eyes, she saw the jade-like young man standing before her.
"Young Master," Ren Qianqian quickly stood up and greeted him.
Li Hao noticed her aura and saw that she had reached the tenth level of the Soul-Body Realm.
In just half a year since returning from Dayan City, her cultivation speed was quite impressive.
After the demon king's feast, all the warriors in the city had benefited, and most of them had improved their cultivation. Ren Qianqian's progress was also evident.
However, below the Master Realm, one could quickly rise with sufficient resources. With the right resources, rapid progress was not just a pipe dream.
Of course, consuming pills to improve one's cultivation might result in a somewhat unstable foundation. Proper nourishment, on the other hand, was a different matter.
"It seems you're close to the Divine Travel Realm, too," Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian smiled and said, "Yes, I'll start preparing for my soul refinement soon."
Li Hao nodded and said, "When we return to the city, I'll write down a soul refinement technique for you to follow."
Ren Qianqian's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Li Hao smiled and then bent down to pick up Xiao Baihu from the snow.
Xiao Baihu opened its eyes slightly, saw that it was Li Hao, and closed them again, feeling secure.
Li Hao noticed the changes in Xiao Baihu but found no signs of illness. It didn't seem to be a big problem; most likely, it had just overeaten.
Ren Qianqian nodded and followed closely.
Li Hongzhuang stepped forward and asked eagerly, "Hao'er, did you break through in your cultivation?"
"Mhm."
Li Hao nodded slightly, leaving the details unspoken.
He left Li Hongzhuang standing there in the snow, dumbfounded.
Earlier, she had vaguely sensed some aura but hadn't dared to be sure. Now, there was no room for doubt.
...
...
Outside the Shenjiang Manor in Qingzhou City, a huge set of nine beast cauldrons attracted onlookers from the roadside, who whispered and speculated about what was sealed inside.
Upon receiving the report, He Jianlan from Changchun Court immediately ordered people to welcome the Blood Sha Army escorts from outside the manor.
As the nine beast cauldrons were unloaded, the other ladies from the various courts also arrived, curious about what was inside.
The cauldrons were sealed with molten iron, making it impossible to peek inside.
"What's inside?"
He Jianlan looked at the middle-aged vice general escorting the cauldrons, knowing that he was a close confidant of Li Hongzhuang and a distant relative of the Li family. She addressed him politely.
"Reporting to the Madam, I am here under the General's orders, delivering the Demon King's precious blood on behalf of Young Master Li Hao."
The vice general bowed respectfully.
He Jianlan was taken aback upon hearing Li Hao's name, and the other ladies also paused briefly.
Nowadays, within the Shenjiang Manor, the two characters of his name carried a sense of awe.
"Demon King's blood?"
Gao Qingqing stared at the nine beast cauldrons in surprise. Such a large quantity—was this the blood of a great demon king at the Four Establishments Realm?
Next to her, Li Yun and Li Zhining also stared, feeling the term "Demon King" was incredibly distant and awe-inspiring.
He Jianlan paused for a moment, then her expression changed slightly as she recalled what Li Hao had said before he left the manor.
Was this, then, the repayment of the second favor? He Jianlan's eyes welled up, but she quickly composed herself and said, "Please trouble all of you to deliver this Demon King's blood to the Shanhe Court."
"Yes, Madam."
The middle-aged vice general accepted the order.
But before he could leave, He Jianlan hastily asked, "How is Hao'er doing at the border? Is this demon... the father of that little demon king?"
The vice general shook his head. "The Myriad Mountains Demon King gathered three demon kings to invade, and this is the precious blood of one of them. The Myriad Mountains Demon King and the other two managed to escape."
"Four demon kings!"
Everyone's faces paled, and they exclaimed in shock.
Even on the grand battlefield of Yanbei, where all of China focused its attention, the simultaneous appearance of four demon kings would be enough to shake the court.
Not to mention Tianmenguan, that solitary fortress.
"Then Hao'er..." He Jianlan's face turned pale, and her body trembled as if she could barely stand.
The vice general quickly reassured her, "Madam, rest assured. The demon kings have been driven away, and Young Master Li Hao is safe and sound. With the help of the Master of Tianjilou and his Second Uncle, those demon kings didn't stand a chance and were all killed."
He Jianlan's expression eased, but her palms were sweaty.
Although she hadn't witnessed it herself, she could imagine how perilous the battlefield at Tianmenguan must have been.
And yet, Li Hao, after surviving such a great calamity, chose to return the demon king's blood, not out of gratitude to the Li family, but to repay a debt.
However, what Li Tiankang had sent back years ago was only the blood of a 3,000-year-old demon at the Three Imperishables Realm, while this was the precious blood of a 10,000-year-old demon king.
The difference in repayment was staggering.
"In a couple of years, will that child... truly leave the Li family?"
He Jianlan held back her tears, feeling bitter and emotional.
After a while, she waved her hand, signaling for the vice general to leave.
Then she instructed the maid beside her, "Write a letter to Liangzhou and inform Tiankang that his son has repaid his debt of gratitude!"
The others fell silent upon hearing He Jianlan's words.
Among them, the Eighth Madam, Wang Xiangru, gave a faint, mocking smile without saying anything.
Previously, when her daughter, Li Rumeng, was slapped by Li Hao, an investigation was launched, and they only later found out the reason. Although the others didn't voice their opinions, their faces clearly showed that they felt it served her right.
As her mother, she couldn't swallow this grievance.
However, with Li Hao's current momentum, she couldn't say anything either.
...
...
In the eastern battle camp of Liangzhou, the border was guarded by a continuous black stone wall stretching across the frontier.
Beyond the border, the land was pitch-black, with scorched grass and felled trees in the forest, ensuring maximum visibility.
This prevented demon beasts from sneaking up under the cover of night.
For a hundred li in every direction, there was nothing to obstruct the view.
At this moment, outside the battle camp, many officers were dragging the corpses of demon beasts back to the camp.
The ground was stained with blood, and there were carts and stretchers carrying injured and fallen soldiers.
A great battle had just taken place, resulting in heavy casualties among the demon beasts.
Although there were casualties among the officers, the number was not high.
"... Reporting to the Marshal, we annihilated 43,255 demon beasts. Our side suffered 720 heavily wounded, over 1,000 lightly wounded, and 321 fatalities!"
An officer stood before Li Tiankang and reported solemnly.
Chapter 160: Gathering Storms
Upon hearing the battle report, Li Tiangang's furrowed brows remained unchanged, and he merely nodded slightly.
Then, he turned his gaze towards the dark land beyond the vast frontier.
"These demons have been harassing us repeatedly, testing our military might in the east."
"With Fifth Brother guarding the west, the demons are well aware of our strength. They might try to invade from the north or south..."
As he mentioned the south, his eyes narrowed slightly.
South of Liangzhou lies the Tianmen Pass.
Thinking of that pass, he also thought of the stubborn and unyielding young figure, and those proud and cold eyes.
The frown between his brows deepened.
"Marshal, after Young Master slew the Little Demon King in Dayue City, the Old Demon King of Wanshan will surely seek revenge."
Beside him, Li Fu spoke with a worried expression.
Looking at the wounded soldiers all around, he thought of the young man at Tianmen Pass and the harsh winds and snow at the border.
Li Tiangang remained calm and said, "That Little Demon King had peerless talent. The Old Demon King of Wanshan will definitely not let this go. He might even collude with other demons to invade."
"Then..." Li Fu glanced at him.
Li Tiangang said calmly, "With the protection of a Four Establishments cultivator, who is an old friend of Second Uncle, and the kirin from the Tan Palace, Hao'er should be safe."
"This time, as I lead the army to Liangzhou, I'll leave the affairs of the mansion to my sister-in-law. With no one to watch over Second Uncle, and no one able to control him, he will most likely head to the Tianmen Pass."
"With their presence, even if the Old Demon King of Wanshan gathers the other two demon kings outside Tianmen Pass for an attack, they should be able to protect themselves. This is also a good opportunity to sweep away the demon kings outside the pass, leaving it to the Demon Suppressing Bureau to deal with. There's no need to abandon the Tianmen Pass then."
The previous decision to abandon the Tianmen Pass was a difficult choice.
If they could keep it, that would be for the best.
After all, this place was established by the previous emperor and the ancestors of the Li family, soaked in the blood of countless predecessors.
Li Fu was slightly stunned. If this was the case, weren't they using Li Hao to lure the demon kings outside the pass?
"With Young Master's involvement, won't the battle against the Four Establishments cultivator be too dangerous?" Li Fu asked with concern.
"If he doesn't want to be involved, he just needs to retreat quietly. The God General Mansion will always welcome him back as long as he lowers his head."
Li Tiangang said coldly, "The letter I sent him earlier gave him a way out, but he's too proud to admit his mistake, and he didn't even bother to reply!"
"Since that's the case, let those demon kings teach him a lesson. Let him experience cruelty and despair, and once he knows the value of life and death, he'll realize how ridiculous his arrogance is!"
"But Young Master is still young, and it's normal for him to have a youthful temperament. Won't this approach..."
"Enough."
Li Tiangang waved his hand, interrupting him. "This is the Eastern Frontier. Liangzhou could erupt into danger at any moment. With the Dragon Gate's presence detected earlier, as well as the Holy Palace in Yanbei, an old acquaintance, we plan to shift our base to Liangzhou. This might be a battle no less intense than the one in Yanbei. Don't let your mind wander!"
Li Fu opened his mouth slightly, let out a bitter smile, and fell silent.
At that moment, a flying sparrow dove down like an arrow from the clouds.
Li Tiangang looked up, then raised his hand. The rapidly diving sparrow stopped and landed on his forearm.
The sparrow's chest puffed up, and it spat out a scroll from its beak.
"It's from the Madam."
Li Fu recognized the little bird demon as one of the battlefield couriers specially raised by the God General Mansion.
Li Tiangang took the scroll, opened it, and scanned its contents. His expression changed slightly.
"Marshal, has something happened in Qingzhou?" Li Fu asked.
Li Tiangang's face turned gloomy, and he crushed the scroll into ashes with a pinch of his fingers.
"The second favor..."
Li Tiangang's fingers, which had crumbled the scroll, curled into a slight fist.
He thought back to the day in Yanbei when he had heard that Li Hao was unable to cultivate. The young man had charged out of the army alone and slain a powerful demon, bringing its precious blood back.
Now, the boy had sent him the treasure blood of the Nine Tripod Demon King, returning the favor from those years.
Was this considered settling the debt?
Li Tiangang felt a surge of emotions in his heart—a mix of distress and anger.
He could even picture the young man's cold eyes as he returned the demon king's treasure blood.
Additionally, the scroll mentioned that there were four demon kings attacking Tianmen Pass. Fortunately, the Heaven's Secret Tower and Second Uncle had sent reinforcements, driving away the demon kings.
Four demon kings—such a formidable force. Even though Li Tiangang was not at Tianmen Pass, he could sense the perilous situation there.
Regarding the assistance from the Heaven's Secret Tower and Second Uncle, he had expected as much, and he felt a mix of relief and complicated emotions that he couldn't quite describe.
He suddenly understood that the young man's fame would attract the attention of too many people, even without the Li family's connections.
Forcing him back with brute strength would be too difficult, as too many people would stand in the way.
And these people would only fuel the young man's stubborn determination.
"Are we planning to defend Tianmen Pass for three years and then make a move?"
Li Tiangang murmured to himself, a cold glint appearing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, calming his emotions, and refocused his thoughts on the battlefield in Liangzhou.
After all, the world talked about the father and son's battle, and although most people condemned Li Hao for his unfilial behavior, they were still talking about the Li family.
Li Tiangang would not let such a scandal happen again.
Once the situation in Liangzhou settles down or the Eastern Frontier stabilizes, Li Tiangang plans to personally go to Tianmen Pass and drag him back!
He never took that so-called agreement seriously, so tearing it up would be no big deal.
He won't let Li Hao leave the Li family so easily.
...
...
Beyond the Great Wall, where black stones lay strewn, there lies a marshland a thousand miles away.
The marsh stretches for hundreds of miles, its mud bubbling and churning, with occasional bursts of mud bubbles.
A putrid stench wafts from the marsh, and at this moment, the mud stirs, giving way to a colossal figure—a giant flood dragon.
Its body coils and winds through the marsh, its scales caked in mud, and its emerald eyes seem to hold a potent venom.
"Have you found out anything? Li Tiangang is indeed stationed in the Eastern Frontier."
"Li the Fifth is in the west, and Li Tiangang is in the east. In Cangzhou, traces of the eighth elder of the Li family have been revealed."
"The two old fellows of the Li family will be stationed in Qingzhou."
Several figures appeared above the mud and swamp, clad in black robes, but the edges of their garments revealed a luxurious, dark golden lining.
"Now, our people have not yet moved to Liangzhou, but the wind we've stirred has already put the Li family on edge like a startled bird."
One of the black-robed figures let out a bizarre laugh, his forked tongue flicking out to lick his cheeks and nose as he spoke.
The figure next to him frowned in displeasure at the sight. "Must you keep up with that disgusting habit? We are on the path to becoming dragons, striving to shed our flood dragon forms, yet you insist on retaining your snakelike nature. It's truly nauseating."
"That's you," the first figure sneered. "I have no intention of becoming a dragon. I aim to become a great serpent!"
There was more to his words than met the ear—he intended not just to become a serpent but a serpent that devours dragons!
"Hmph!"
The others responded with cold snorts, expressing their disapproval.
"Did you come here just to bicker? If you have something to say, say it. I want to get back to my beauty sleep."
The mud flood dragon in the swamp spoke lazily.
"The elders instructed me to call upon you from time to time to harass the Eastern Frontier, restrain Li Tiangang, and keep him in check. Soon, this place will be handed over to the Holy Palace to manage."
"The Holy Palace and Li Tiangang are old foes. They've been fighting since Yanbei, and they've vowed to flay him alive and devour him raw. This time, without the help of the Blade Saint from Yanbei or the favor owed by the Great Desert Sword Saint, let's see how Li Tiangang will defend himself!"
"Liangzhou is a barren land that has never produced any heroes or outstanding figures. Even if there were, they're either dead or long gone."
"Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that we might lose, I'd love to cause some trouble for Li Tiangang myself."
"Let's forget about it. That brat Li Tiangang may not be from the older generation of the Li family, but he's reached the peak of the Three Immortals realm. They say he slew over a dozen great demons of the Three Immortals realm in Yanbei. He's terrifying!"
"It's a good thing that the ninth elder of the Li family died in battle in Cangzhou. Otherwise, our demon race would have one more formidable enemy to deal with!"
"Enough idle chatter. We still need to head north."
"The north borders Youzhou, where the Xia family holds their ground. It might be tricky to break through from there."
"The best route would've been from the south, but now that we know Li Tiangang's son is there, guarded by four Establishment cultivators, we have no choice but to change our plans."
As the black-robed figures spoke, they waved at the mud flood dragon in the swamp and flew northward.
"That Xia family, I've heard they don't get along well with the Li family. Let's go test the waters and see if they'll cross the border to help if we invade from the north."
One of the black-robed figures suggested.
...
...
Tianmen Pass, Cangya City.
With the help of many warriors, Cangya City has been mostly restored.
The Star Master Elder from the Directorate of Celestial Phenomena, along with his students, is busy setting up arrays, sweating profusely in the process.
Xia Xianglan, usually lively and playful, is now calm and focused as she assists her master, learning as she helps.
But every now and then, she glances up, her eyes landing on a spot within the city—the outline of the fenced courtyard.
Li Hao has sent his modified Spirit Refinement Technique to Ren Qianqian. This technique, once mastered, can reach a level comparable to the one practiced by the imperial family.
The Spirit Refinement Technique he cultivates himself is a combination of several techniques, allowing him to surpass the imperial family's version.
While Ren Qianqian cultivates in the camp, Li Hao takes up the Dragon Cloud Sword and tosses Little White Fox onto the bamboo mat in the courtyard before leaving the pass alone.
The three demon kings have escaped, but he hopes to encounter them in their lair.
Li Hao is eager to test his skills against a demon king.
Chapter 161: Slaying Demons Beyond the Pass
Outside the pass, the cold wind blew in gusts.
Li Hao flew through the air, heading towards more distant lands.
This time, he didn't have to worry about ambushes from Demon Kings or rely on Feng Lao's protection to escape.
Even though he was only at the peak of the Three Immortals, Li Hao felt that he could fight a Demon King of the Dao Heart realm without needing to ascend.
Unfortunately, when he tried to add another attribute point to increase his physical cultivation from the seventh to the eighth stage, he was prompted that he needed to temper his Dao Heart.
The first step of the Four Establishments realm was the most crucial, even though it was the weakest.
Li Hao could only rely on himself to find his Dao Heart and improve.
Li Hao felt that once he found his Dao Heart and added the attribute point, he would likely step into the peak of the Four Establishments realm in one go, reaching the level of that Buddhist Sage.
At that time, aside from the Imperial Court, there would probably be no place in the Great Yu Dynasty that could hinder his progress.
Within three hundred li beyond the pass, Li Hao had already flattened the area with his might.
Now, as he passed through again, he only encountered a small number of lowly demons and monsters that had wandered in from elsewhere, seeking a place to settle and find food. Li Hao casually destroyed them as he flew by.
The demons and monsters in this wilderness were like weeds; if you didn't clear them out regularly, they would grow back.
Li Hao planned to make some military flags to plant in these areas, letting all demons know that this land was off-limits to them.
Seven hundred li away was the Myriad Mountains region.
In the past, this place had been a forbidden zone for humans, where they dared not tread. If they did, the Myriad Mountains Demon King would capture and kill them, and even the Great Yu Divine Dynasty would be unable to intervene.
But now, Li Hao stepped into this forbidden land without hesitation.
Along the way, he casually slew four demons at the Heaven and Man realm.
These demons had established their lairs on their respective mountain peaks, each controlling a territory of about a hundred li, and they did not infringe on each other.
Li Hao didn't give them a chance to speak, simply raising his hand to destroy them and flatten their mountains.
When Li Hao arrived in this once-forbidden region, he found that the myriad peaks and ridges were silent and deserted.
There were only a few demons at the Revolving Heaven realm, their spiritual intelligence not yet fully developed.
The rest of the demons had disappeared without a trace.
Either they had perished in the great battle or fled upon hearing the news.
As Li Hao flew by, he saw caves dug into the mountainsides by the demons, now filled with a putrid stench.
On the mountain peaks, there were flags made by the demons in imitation of those used by humans, with the characters "Myriad Mountains" written on them. These flags now hung tattered and askew on the cliffs, devoid of their former majesty.
Li Hao released his divine soul, sweeping his consciousness through the entire Myriad Mountains region.
He encountered a few small demons, snarling and baring their fangs, and crushed them with a casual wave of his hand.
Near the center was the mountain peak that had once belonged to the Myriad Mountains Demon King. The peak was surrounded by treacherous cliffs, and a stone staircase led up to the summit, which was adorned with a grand and magnificent palace.
The palace, like a golden hall, stood tall in these deep mountains, exuding an air of royalty mixed with a hint of demonic aura.
Around the palace stood sculptures of the Myriad Mountains Demon King's original form—a giant lion—with dragon and phoenix motifs at their bases, as if to appease and flatter the lion.
Li Hao flew by, casually smashing the sculptures with a wave of his hand.
With his current physical strength of a million jin, he could easily split mountains and shatter rocks with a casual gesture.
If he were to use his Object Manipulation ability, he could move mountains with a single thought or slice through peaks with a mere notion.
"You didn't leave in a hurry, it seems," Li Hao remarked as he surveyed the palace, finding it devoid of anything of value aside from the decorative jewels and jade embedded within its structure.
But these items held little worth to demons aside from their ability to shine brightly.
After searching the entire area, Li Hao found nothing of interest. The caves of the Three Immortals demons were also empty, indicating that they had prepared escape routes and planned their retreat long before the great battle.
Li Hao kicked the grand palace of the demons, reducing it to rubble, and then soared into the sky, leaving the place behind.
He changed his direction and headed south, toward the Dragon Mountain Daoist Abbey.
...
...
At the Dragon Mountain Daoist Abbey.
The once bustling abbey was now deserted, its vast enlightenment grounds empty and silent.
The incense that had once burned continuously now consisted of only a few sticks, their ashes barely noticeable.
Two small demons that had not yet taken form sneaked in through a dog hole at the back of the abbey, their eyes gleaming with malicious joy at the sight of the empty grounds.
They scurried over to the incense, puffing out their chests as they prepared to inhale the fragrant smoke.
But suddenly, a shadow fell over them, and a putrid stench filled the air, accompanied by the sound of buzzing insects. The two small demons froze in terror, unable to struggle or scream as they were enveloped by the shadow. They soon dissolved into bloody water, and the lingering demonic aura that drifted from their bodies was sucked into the mouth of a mummified demon.
"How dare wild mountain demons come here to absorb the dragon incense!" the mummified demon snarled. This incense was no ordinary offering; it was made by mixing the blood and flesh of special demons. When burned, it released a unique demonic aura that could enhance one's cultivation.
"My dear, it's just the two of us left now. Let's leave too; the Dragon Master probably isn't coming back."
"Leave? Where could we go?"
The mummy demon shook his head. "If the Dragon Master returns and finds us missing, he will hunt us down."
"We can escape to the north of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. The war in Yanbei just ended, and many demons died. There should be plenty of vacant territories for us to claim as our own and establish our rule." The seductive centipede woman suggested.
"But there's a Saint Palace up there. Although they retreated thousands of li after their defeat, we would still need to ally ourselves with the Saint Palace if we were to go there. After all, we are not mere wild demons," the mummy demon replied with a shake of his head.
"Also, I suspect that the Dragon Master might have gone to join Dragon Gate. I heard from the Dragon Master earlier that Dragon Gate plans to attack Liangzhou. I wonder if they will choose Tianmen Pass as their breakthrough point. If they do, the Dragon Master will come back, and we can follow him into battle, claiming our share of the spoils. We will surely gain numerous benefits that way."
"Dragon Gate..."
The seductive centipede woman's eyes lit up at the mention of those two words. As a scaly demon, she yearned to enter Dragon Gate.
It was said that numerous true dragons resided within, and they even taught the cultivation technique for demons to transform into dragons and overcome tribulations.
"Since my dear husband has such a plan, I shall heed your words." The seductive centipede woman spoke softly, her voice filled with allure.
The mummy demon smiled and was about to embrace her when he suddenly sensed something and turned his head.
As he looked, his pupils constricted.
Not far away in the dojo, a noble-looking young man stood, quietly observing them.
"It's you!"
The mummy demon recognized the young man's appearance and was terrified to his core, his soul nearly scared out of its abode.
During the previous attack on Tianmen Pass, he had been the only Three Unbreakables demon to escape, and he had personally witnessed the power of this young man.
Ordinary Three Unbreakables were no match for him!
Yet, the young man had dared to pursue them all the way here, a thousand li away from Tianmen Pass.
"A human?"
The seductive centipede woman looked at Li Hao with confusion, intending to smile alluringly and deal with him. But sensing her husband's shocked exclamation, her heart sank, and she felt an ill omen.
"You were saying something about Dragon Gate earlier. Tell me more about it." Li Hao smiled.
"How dare you come here? This is our demons' territory!" The mummy demon glared at Li Hao, but his mind transmitted a message to the seductive centipede woman beside him. "Go and kill this brat. I will deal with whoever is backing him."
Upon hearing this, the seductive centipede woman scanned their surroundings but could not detect any other figures. Nonetheless, she did not dare to be careless. She released her alluring charm and asked, "Who are you, cute little human? Don't you find your sister here beautiful?"
The lower half of her body, the centipede, retracted, transforming into a pair of slender, fair-skinned long legs that swayed gracefully as she walked towards Li Hao.
A demonic wind swept through, and the seductive demon's art was unleashed, which would typically affect those in the Heaven and Man realm.
Li Hao stood still, unmoving.
Bang!
Suddenly, as if slapped by an invisible force, the seductive centipede woman's head exploded.
Blood splattered, and the alluring smile on her face froze in place.
Her body flew backward and landed on the side, transforming into a huge centipede, but her head had already been blown to pieces, revealing a soul that floated out, eyes filled with terror.
What kind of human was this, possessing the power of the Three Unbreakables, yet her husband had sent her to her death?
The mummy demon, who was about to turn and flee, froze in place, his raised foot stiffening.
He couldn't even manage to hold him off for a moment?
"My patience is limited, so speak up." Li Hao's tone was indifferent, and a sword qi rose from the ground like a shooting star, piercing through the mummy demon's shoulder before returning to hover in front of his eyes.
The cold killing intent caused the mummy demon's heart to race.
Compared to their previous encounter, the young man's strength seemed to have increased to a level he couldn't comprehend.
Could he have reached the Four Establishments realm?
The mummy demon thought his mind must be playing tricks on him; this was impossible.
Faced with impending death, the mummy demon swallowed his saliva. Under Li Hao's coercion, he revealed everything he knew.
After he finished speaking, Li Hao did not hesitate to slash out with his sword qi, piercing the mummy demon's body and destroying his soul.
As for the seductive centipede woman's soul, Li Hao showed no mercy. With a wave of his hand, the power of the heavens and the earth converged, obliterating her soul.
The mummy demon was only at the Unbreakable Body realm. Attempting to reveal his true form and fight Li Hao was futile due to the vast gap in their strength.
However, according to his Second Uncle, Dragon Gate was one of the top factions among the demons.
The powerful beings within Dragon Gate were said to be on par with the might of the Divine Generals.
If Dragon Gate were to assemble all its forces and launch an attack on Liangzhou, the entire region would likely be engulfed in the flames of war.
The Li family might not be able to defend such a vast territory on their own.
Shaking his head slightly, Li Hao chose not to dwell on these thoughts for now. For the time being, these were merely rumors, and his priority was to safeguard Tianmen Pass.
Li Hao released his divine soul and searched through the dojo, discovering some leftover demon resources, although none of them were particularly rare or valuable.
He found four demon cultivation techniques and stored them in his panel. All of them were body refinement techniques.
Standing in the dojo, Li Hao practiced each of the four techniques one by one. However, as some of the body parts they focused on refining overlapped, they only increased his physical strength by three hundred thousand jin.
Now, his physical prowess had reached one million three hundred thousand jin.
When enhanced by divine power, his strength soared to thirteen million jin, making his body exceptionally robust even among demons.
Leaving the Dragon Mountain Daoist Abbey, Li Hao stomped his foot, causing the entire dojo to crumble and collapse.
Then, he turned and headed toward the sacred peak of the Saint Demon King.
However, when Li Hao arrived, he found that this place, too, was deserted. The demons who had gathered beyond the Three Passes to kill him had abandoned their lairs and fled to unknown locations.
Li Hao felt a twinge of disappointment. Previously, he had been afraid of encountering these demon kings and had only dared to fish at the outskirts of the passes. Now that he wanted to find a demon king to test his skills, he couldn't seem to find any.
Helpless, Li Hao could only shift his attention to more distant places.
He slashed and destroyed the sacred peak, then left the area and ventured deeper into the unknown regions.
...
Fire Melting Cave.
A hundred li outside the cave, the land was barren, covered only in black rocks. Inside the cave was an active volcano, with lava flowing and churning.
Red snakes and fire lizards coiled around the edges of the lava pool, some taking on a semi-demon form with lizard-like upper bodies and snow-white human legs, clinging to the cave walls like geckos.
At that moment, a small black-winged sparrow flew into the cave from outside.
Upon landing, it transformed into a six or seven-year-old girl with a delicate and exquisite appearance. However, her demeanor was mature beyond her years, and after a quick scan of her surroundings, she immediately lowered her head to transmit a message.
Not long after, the lava began to surge, and a giant scarlet-scaled python rose from the depths of the pool, its body coiled. The overwhelming demonic aura it exuded was unrestrained.
The most peculiar feature was its forked neck, which bore three serpent heads.
"Tianji Palace, what news do you have about the situation I tasked you with investigating? Did those beings from the Grand Void Realm truly descend into the mortal realm?"
The little girl, upon seeing the massive three-headed python, displayed a respectful attitude. "Three Heads, please rest assured. I, from Tianji Palace, will certainly fulfill your requests. We have successfully gathered all the information you required."
"Indeed, beings from the Grand Void Realm have entered the mortal realm. This time, they plan to attack Liangzhou, invited by the Saint Palace and Dragon Gate. Dragon Gate will take the lead in this endeavor, with the Saint Palace and Grand Void Realm beings as their support."
"Additionally, the Myriad Mountains Demon King failed in his attack on Tianmen Mountain, and both the Dragon Lord and the Saint Demon King have fled their respective territories, leaving them vacant."
"As for the Grand Mentor of the Northern Frost Kingdom, he was a subordinate of the Myriad Mountains Demon King, and he has also retreated. The Northern Frost Kingdom is currently without a Grand Mentor, and if you are interested, Three Heads, you can send someone from your faction to fill that position."
Hearing the little girl's report, the giant scarlet-scaled three-headed python's eyes glinted. One of its heads let out a cold laugh.
"That old demon king is truly foolish. It's good that his stupid son met his end. I heard that he was killed by a human. We should really express our gratitude to that brave soul."
"What about Dragon Gate's invitation? Should we accept it?"
Another head asked.
The three heads seemed to possess independent thoughts, as their tones and manners of speech differed.
The central and largest head remained silent, its gaze solemn and profound. It spat out two blood-red orbs, similar in appearance to agate, which flew toward the little girl. "This is your payment."
"Thank you, Three Heads."
The little girl caught the orbs and couldn't hide her delight. She then asked respectfully, "Is there anything else you require of me?"
"Not for now. You may leave."
"Yes."
The little girl acknowledged and, with a sweep of her demonic aura, transformed back into the black-winged bird and flew out of the cave.
As soon as the black bird exited the Fire Melting Cave, it ascended rapidly, soaring toward the clouds. It unleashed a secret technique, causing its body to fade from view.
Just as it was about to completely disappear, a golden sword light shot through the air, severing its wings.
Chapter 162: Alone, Dominating Three Thousand Miles (Two Chapters Combined)
The black bird cried out in terror as it turned to face the incoming flying sword.
A figure approached at an astonishing speed, his mastery over aerial movement startling the bird.
The black bird hastily turned to flee in another direction, but with the loss of one of its wings, its speed was greatly reduced. It unleashed its innate demonic abilities, using its demonic energy to form a wing-like shadow. At the same time, the howling winds around it parted, allowing it to move without resistance.
It darted forward like a bolt of lightning, but suddenly, the surrounding space seemed to collapse, rapidly closing in on it.
Bang!
The black bird's body was seized, and it struggled violently in mid-air.
Li Hao's figure stepped forward, and the Dragon Rising Sword returned to its sheath in his hand after circling through the air.
"So tiny, yet a Heavenly Being?"
Li Hao examined the black bird, which had revealed its true form and was only half a meter in size.
"I've heard that among the demons, there's a faction called the Celestial Hall of Heavenly Mechanism. It's modeled after the Tianji Tower and is composed of a group of weak bird-like beasts. They wander among the demon tribes, trading and selling information for their survival, and they excel at concealment and exploration..."
Hearing the young man's muttering, the black bird's pupils contracted, and its heart raced.
It had recognized the young man's appearance—the peerless genius who presided over the Heavenly Gate. How could he be so deep in the demon's lair? If it died here, even the Great Yu Divine Dynasty might not be able to avenge it.
"Spare my life! I'm just a wild demon, absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon to cultivate. I've never taken a life..."
The black bird pleaded desperately, no longer daring to struggle.
According to the information it had, this young man could tear apart immortals, let alone it.
"There's a scent of flesh and blood on you; you're not as innocent as you claim."
Li Hao spoke softly.
He scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense, his soul emanating a divine pressure that caused the black bird's body to tremble.
Li Hao's spiritual sense searched the area, following the traces of the black bird's demonic energy to a hilltop where a small amount of demonic energy was gathered, likely the location of its lair.
"Let's go, I want to take a look at your nest."
Li Hao lifted the black bird with his power of control and flew away.
"Spare my life! I only feed on the flesh and blood of demons, I would never harm humans..."
The black bird pleaded in terror.
But Li Hao ignored it.
"You, you deserve to die!"
Rage filled the black bird's eyes, and it struggled to pounce on Li Hao.
However, before it could get close, it was blocked by Li Hao's power of control.
Despairing, the black bird glared at Li Hao with hatred, its inner energy suddenly expanding before it spat out a mouthful of blood. Its demonic energy dissipated, and its life force rapidly faded.
Li Hao watched in surprise as the black bird chose to end its own life.
"I haven't even started interrogating you yet."
Li Hao's heart stirred, wondering if this bird was indeed from the Celestial Hall of Heavenly Mechanism. Ordinary bird demons wouldn't choose death so readily.
Even if it was from that faction, to be cultivated to the point of such resolute suicide was indeed a rare and admirable quality.
Li Hao squeezed its body and saw that its heart had been torn apart by its own demonic energy, ceasing to function.
However, within its neck pouch, there were two pieces of blood jade, crimson like carnelian.
The blood jade emanated a rich and fragrant scent of flesh and blood, along with an extremely vigorous demonic energy.
Li Hao collected them, thinking that they would make a nice snack for Little White Fox later.
Then, Li Hao flew directly towards the hilltop.
...
In the Fire Melting Cave.
The three heads of the Three-Faced Leader were discussing whether to accept Dragon Gate's invitation.
Earlier, they had avoided discussing it in front of the bird demon from the Celestial Hall of Heavenly Mechanism because they didn't want to provide him with free information.
"It's the way of the world. Dragon Gate's expedition to Liangzhou is likely not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a long-planned strategy."
"The rewards offered by Dragon Gate are indeed attractive. I think it's worth taking the risk. At worst, we'll be wanted, but we can always retreat back to the Great Desolate Heaven."
"Are you stupid? If we join Dragon Gate, we won't have to worry about being wanted anymore."
While two of the heads discussed, the largest and central head remained silent.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a gust of cool wind blew into the cave.
The three heads turned simultaneously and saw a figure approaching.
As the figure drew near, the scorching temperature within the cave seemed to decrease significantly.
The numerous demons sleeping on the cave walls, resembling lizards, were startled awake. Their eyes, filled with demonic energy, fixed on the young man who had entered their lair.
"A human?!"
The Three-Faced Leader was stunned when it recognized the youth, its faces changing slightly.
"The portrait given by the Celestial Hall earlier looks just like him!"
"The genius of the Li family?"
The two heads of the Three-Faced Leader looked at Li Hao with a mix of astonishment and suspicion. They hadn't expected the target that the black bird had been investigating to appear before them so directly.
At that moment, they saw Li Hao holding a dead black bird in his hand—the Hall Master of the Celestial Hall who had just left them.
The central and largest head's eyes shone with a crimson flame, scanning past Li Hao to observe the passage behind him for any hidden companions.
Wind Elder had accompanied Li Hao, but at that moment, he was leaning against the slope outside the cave, sipping wine leisurely.
Due to the distance, the Three-Faced Leader couldn't detect Wind Po Ping's presence, and they concluded that there was only the young man in the cave.
"I feel like I'm dreaming."
"Is this a sweet dream? I don't want to wake up!"
The two snake heads chuckled.
The large central head, however, fixed its gaze on Li Hao, asking, "Human, what brings you here?"
Li Hao surveyed the cave, having only detected a small amount of demonic energy from the hilltop earlier. But now, upon entering, he found a substantial number of demons, including a large creature.
However, to his disappointment, the three-headed snake before him only exuded an aura of the Three Immortal realm.
It was not a Demon King.
"I came to find some practice." Li Hao stated.
"?"
"?"
"?"
All three heads of the Three-faced Leader wore expressions of confusion.
Had this human genius lost his mind? They were a thousand and eight hundred miles from Heavenly Gate, surrounded by their own demon territory. Even if this young man cried for help, it wouldn't arrive in time.
Others came to slay demons, but he came to practice?
"Big brother, we ought to treat our guest well then."
"We understand the rules of hospitality too."
The two snake heads snickered with a hint of malice.
The central, massive snake head stared at Li Hao and uttered a single word: "Attack!"
In an instant, the countless demons covering the cave walls, resembling lizards, screeched and rushed towards Li Hao.
A cacophony of shrill laughter filled the air as the horde leaped towards him.
But the next moment, a crisp dragon's roar echoed, followed by a flash of golden light that circled protectively.
The countless demons rushing towards Li Hao seemed to freeze in mid-air, their bodies bursting apart along with their souls, annihilated by the same sword.
Among them were also many Heavenly Being demons, but they fared no better than the lesser demons, all pierced through by the sword.
Demon blood splattered everywhere, and at the same time, Li Hao lifted his finger, forming a sword finger with two fingers, and slashed at the three-headed red snake.
A majestic sword aura surged forth, causing all three heads of the Three-faced Leader to change colors, their expressions a mix of shock and anger.
The lava beneath its body churned, surging towards Li Hao like a sea of fire.
But the rushing sea of lava and fire was frozen in mid-air, solidified by Li Hao's power of control.
At the same time, the sword aura slashed, leaving a terrifying wound on its red scales.
"What kind of attack is this!"
"It hurts!"
"How could my Red Flame Treasure Body be broken so easily?"
The two snake heads cried out in pain.
The central, massive snake head wore an ugly expression, finally understanding why this young man dared to come here alone.
It was at the peak of the Three Immortal realm, second only to the Demon King, or one could say, it had one foot already in the Demon King realm, held back only by its inability to find its Dao heart.
But now, in the face of this young man, it sensed the breath of death.
"Unite the three faces!"
The massive snake head roared.
Its body undulated, surging out of the lava, while the two screaming snake heads sank into its body.
"Big brother, you must avenge us!"
"Big brother, it's up to you now!"
As the two snake heads sank and disappeared, their angry roars echoed.
The original three-headed serpent transformed into a single massive serpent, its aura surging as it spewed a mouthful of scarlet mist, its tail lashing out at Li Hao with the force of a thousand weights.
Li Hao stood unmoving, and the Heavenly Law Image appeared behind him.
With a loud bang, the massive arms of the Heavenly Law Image wrapped around the lashing serpent's tail, halting its formidable force, before yanking it and swinging the Red Serpent wildly.
"You..."
The Three-faced Leader stared at the young man, shocked.
...
Outside the cave, a cold wind blew gently.
Wind Elder leaned against a large rock, having finished his snacks. He brushed off the crumbs from his hands and suddenly sensed something, turning towards the cave entrance.
He saw Li Hao walking out, his sword in hand, his clothes untouched by blood, as if he had just strolled through a scenic spot.
"So fast?"
Wind Elder was a little surprised. Although he expected Li Hao to succeed, it seemed a little too easy.
"Too weak."
Li Hao shook his head slightly, a bit disappointed that it had only taken the power of the Heavenly Law Image to kill the serpent demon.
He had even given his opponent a chance to unleash some ancient Demon King's bloodline, but the resulting power boost hadn't been significant.
"..."
Wind Elder was speechless. The Three-faced Leader inside had been at the peak of the Three Immortal realm, the same realm as Li Hao, yet it had been crushed so effortlessly?
He smiled bitterly, recalling how Li Hao had killed a Demon King while in the Heavenly Being realm and in that strange state. Perhaps this outcome wasn't so surprising after all.
"What now?"
"Continue."
"Alright."
The two men immediately transformed into two gusts of wind and left the hilltop.
Deep within the Fire Melting Cave, a hellish scene unfolded, with the bodies of slaughtered demons everywhere.
The massive body of the Three-faced Leader lay in segments, its blood extinguishing the lava. Its once majestic and enormous snake head was smashed flat, brain matter oozing out, with only a single intact eyeball remaining.
The light in that eyeball dimmed and faded, slowly going dark.
"Monster..."
Its final soul fragment slowly faded away.
On the mountaintop, two robust figures indulged in a feast, with numerous leather bags hanging from the branches below them, containing humans and demons alike.
The air was thick with the stench of blood, and the ground was littered with remains and bones.
"Brother Yuan, that old man from Beirin Country has sent us another batch of tender meat. They're so plump and delicious."
"Brother, let's not rush. These delicate humans are quite a delicacy too. We should play with them first."
"Haha, indeed."
They drank heartily and tore off a snowy white leg, devouring it with gusto.
Suddenly, a whistling sound cut through the air as something flew towards them.
"Hmm? What is this daring to intrude on our territory?"
The two figures looked up simultaneously and saw a noble-looking young man approaching through the air.
"Human?"
They were taken aback, surprised by the unexpected visitor: "Could it be someone from Beirin Country?"
However, as the young man drew closer, they realized something was amiss. They couldn't discern the depth of his cultivation, nor could they fathom his true realm.
This could only mean one of two things: either he cultivated an obscure concealment technique, or his realm surpassed theirs.
But both of them had reached the Three Immortal realm.
Could this be some ancient human monster disguised as a youth?
Before they could ponder further, a flying sword shot out, slicing through the air towards them.
The two beasts roared in fury, revealing their true forms—a four-armed giant ape and a golden-striped tiger.
Their auras surged as they unleashed their ancient demon bloodlines, shrouding the surrounding area in their menacing presence. Each of them brandished their weapons, the ape wielding four at once, as they charged towards the incoming sword.
A loud bang reverberated as the sword's yin-yang energy pulled and tossed their weapons aside, severing the ape's arms in the process.
The ape fell from the sky, mid-roar.
The golden-striped tiger, undeterred, pounced towards Li Hao.
Li Hao raised his palm, slowly pushing it downwards.
His palm channeled the power of control, harnessing the might of the surrounding ten li, and crushed it down like a mountain.
The tiger roared in defiance, swiping its claws to resist, but it was futile. It was pressed down onto the mountaintop, crushing it under their weight, and reducing it to rubble!
The Dragon Rising Sword danced in Li Hao's control, turning into a golden light that swiftly pierced the ape's body. With lightning speed, it arced through the air, beheading the ape, whose head tumbled down.
The sword light plunged into the collapsed mountain, and soon, a tiger's roar echoed, laced with agonized screams.
In mere moments, two Three Immortal realm demons lay dead.
The Dragon Rising Sword soared back into its sheath at Li Hao's side.
Li Hao glanced at the corpses and released his soul, lifting the bodies with his control power. These were valuable spoils of war, and their flesh would make for a delicious meal. Their bodies could also provide materials for refining artifacts.
He would have to remove their organs first, though.
"Wind Elder, can your spatial world still accommodate things?" Li Hao asked, turning to Wind Elder.
Upon reaching the Dao Heart realm, one could use their Dao Heart to create a spatial world for storage.
During their fishing trips, Er Ye and Wind Elder had effortlessly produced fine wine and fishing rods from their spatial worlds.
"These two demons are too big. They won't fit," Wind Elder replied, shaking his head. "The spatial world is quite small and only suitable for carrying small items."
Li Hao nodded and used two dark lines to wrap around the demon corpses, dragging them along as they continued their journey.
"Let's go," Li Hao said.
And with that, they continued on their exploratory path.
Not long after Li Hao and Wind Elder left, a dark blue-winged bird flew towards Mount Wu Feng from the distance.
As it neared the mountain, the bird was shocked by the sight of the collapsed peak.
Its sapphire-blue feathers shimmered as it dove down, its eyes widening in horror.
"This... This place is gone too?"
It fluttered down to the ruins, its sapphire light flickering as it surveyed the area.
Soon, it spotted traces of blood and the lingering auras of the two demon corpses.
"They're dead too..."
The dark blue bird trembled, its eyes wide with fear. It took to the skies, soaring high, and from its wings, it produced a jade whistle, which it blew with all its might.
Strange sound waves reverberated, like a signal.
In an instant, countless ordinary-looking birds halted in the air within a three-hundred-li radius, all focusing on the dark blue bird.
They listened intently, as if deciphering some hidden message in the wind.
"Human invasion?!"
Once they comprehended the message, these birds didn't hesitate. They all produced whistles and blew them urgently.
As the sound traveled farther and farther, birds within a thousand li radius came to a halt. Then, two of these birds abruptly changed direction and flew toward another location.
At the same time, in front of the Fire Melting Cave that Li Hao had previously left...
A palm-sized bird, entirely black like a crow, flew swiftly and landed on a boulder. It pecked casually, a small insect in its beak.
It appeared to be an ordinary bird.
But as its eyes shifted, sensing no movement in the surroundings, it quickly swallowed the insect and flew toward the Fire Melting Cave.
Soon, the cave's gruesome scene was revealed.
The Three-Faced Leader's body, broken into seven or eight segments, and the corpses of countless demons littered the ground.
Inside, the bird quickly found the body of a black bird.
"Hall Master!"
The crow-like bird flew to its side, carefully examining it, only to find that it had indeed died by suicide.
"No wonder the Hall Master's soul-drawing talisman is broken."
Sadness flashed in the bird's eyes, but it soon used its beak to tear open the black bird's feathers and chest, revealing its bloody insides.
Soon, on its squeezed internal organs, it spotted a message formed by wriggling blood vessels.
It was a very brief message.
And it was the last piece of intelligence left by the Hall Master before his death.
Their Celestial Hall lacked combat strength but moved among the top demon factions, relying primarily on their expertise in intelligence gathering.
At this moment, after deciphering the message formed by the wriggling blood vessels, the bird's pupils constricted, and it was filled with shock and astonishment.
"That human, Li Hao, from the Li family, actually dared to venture alone into demon territory?"
It was stunned. If this news spread, nearby demons would surely go crazy.
Moreover, it also knew that countless demons bore grudges against the Li family.
If they learned of the young man's whereabouts, they would surely come from thousands of miles away to kill him!
Previously, when the young man was within the pass and in the Great Yu Dynasty, quite a few demons had already tried to attack him, tempted by the opportunity.
Only the presence of the Four Establishment Realm cultivators by the young man's side had deterred some demons from acting on their impulses. But now, this young man was no longer within the dynasty's territory, and even if there were Four Establishment cultivators secretly following him, this was not their home turf. How could those demons let this chance slip by?
As these thoughts raced through its mind, suddenly, a whistle pierced the air.
The bird paused, listening intently, and then its face changed color.
That young man was still venturing deeper?!
"This is too crazy. Is that young man trying to attract all the demons to attack him?"
It glanced at the Hall Master's body on the ground, took a deep breath, and proceeded to peck at the black bird's insides, destroying the message left by its dying companion.
The young man had killed their Hall Master, and thus, had offended their Celestial Hall.
Although they did not engage in combat and only specialized in intelligence, they were experts at borrowing the knife of others to kill.
Whoosh!
The bird immediately took flight, leaving the Fire Melting Cave.
...
As Li Hao traveled through the mountains and rivers, slaughtering demons along the way, news of his exploits also spread through the Celestial Hall.
Birds scattered in all directions, perching on mountaintops.
"Hmm? What's this little bird demon doing here, asking for death?"
On one such mountaintop, a demon, mid-slumber, opened its eyes and glanced at the intruder, ready to squash it.
But the next moment, the bird hurriedly spoke:
"I am Qingniao of the Celestial Hall, under Black Cloud Lord. Please leave immediately. A human is heading this way to hunt down demons."
"Celestial Hall?"
The demon's raised claw paused, and it let out a light laugh. "What human dares to come here? Do they know I'm hungry?"
"It's that human genius from the Li family, the chosen True Dragon, Li Hao!"
Qingniao quickly added, "He has already killed five Three Immortal Realm demons, including the Undying Realm Three-Faced Leader. You should flee at once!"
Black Cloud Lord's eyes widened at this news, and his face changed color.
"The Li family? That damned God General Mansion Li family?"
"Even the Three-Faced Leader was killed by him?"
He was shaken. The Three-Faced Leader was quite well-known and held a certain status within a thousand li radius. Yet, even he had been slain.
"He's coming soon, Black Cloud Lord. You must leave now!"
Qingniao urged, its voice filled with anxiety.
Black Cloud Lord reacted swiftly, not daring to linger. He quickly gathered his treasures from his cave and took to the skies, heading far away.
At the same time, he transmitted his voice to Qingniao: "I, Black Cloud Lord, now owe your Celestial Hall a favor. I will definitely repay this debt in the future."
"I still need to inform other demons. Farewell for now."
Qingniao replied and then flew off into the distance.
Similar scenarios were playing out elsewhere.
Many birds of the Celestial Hall were spreading news of Li Hao's massacre of demons. Some demons chose to flee, while others in the Undying Realm decided to stay and face Li Hao in battle.
They would soon meet their demise.
As the Dragon Rising Sword drank more and more blood, Li Hao's fame grew. He dominated three thousand li, and none could stand against him.