Chapter 168: Demons' Visit
In the western border of Liangzhou, sentries clad in dark armor stood in rows atop the towering hundred-foot-tall walls, maintaining a strict vigil.
Within the city, numerous large war machines were being assembled, and colossal dragon elephants and crocodile lions hauled massive war chariots, the size of small buildings, from within the city. These chariots were loaded with arrows, weapons, and provisions.
In the military camp, everyone had their assigned duties, from patrolling to standing guard.
One by one, war eagles returned to the camp from beyond the border, bringing back the latest intelligence.
"Strange, those demons have suddenly gone quiet," remarked Li Xuanli, seated in the commander's tent, his brow furrowed in thought.
The scouts had reported that the group of demons 800 li away had retreated eastward.
This particular group of demons had been lingering in the western border, launching occasional attacks. Among them were three Great Demons of the Sanbuxu Realm, and their actions seemed deliberately provocative, as if to goad the defenders into pursuing them beyond the defensive line. But Li Xuanli had not taken the bait.
Now, however, the demons had chosen to retreat, which seemed rather abrupt.
Considering other intelligence, could it be that the demon attacks beyond the borders of Liangzhou were merely a ruse?
Their true objective might be to tie down the Li family's military might?
"Father," a figure rushed into the tent, revealing herself to be Li Wushuang.
Seeing his beloved daughter, Li Xuanli's furrowed brows relaxed, and he smiled gently, "I heard that you led a squad to slaughter a group of demons outside the defensive line earlier. How do you feel about it?"
Mentioning this matter, Li Wushuang huffed in annoyance, "They were just a bunch of minor demons."
Li Xuanli smiled to himself, knowing that he wouldn't have let her engage if he hadn't been certain they were minor demons.
"Even though they were minor demons, you must never pursue them too deeply," he cautioned. "You should know that military discipline is paramount in this camp. Those demons are more cunning than you can imagine, especially the ones that come to invade our borders. They are often commanded by strategists and should be treated as treacherous fiends."
"I understand," Li Wushuang replied. "I came to tell you that I obtained some intelligence from interrogating one of the minor demons. They were feigning an offensive, but in reality, they have already retreated."
"Oh?" Li Xuanli's eyebrows arched in curiosity. "How did you manage to get that information out of the minor demon?"
"I learned some techniques from observing the interrogations in the punishment room," Li Wushuang explained.
Li Xuanli was left speechless for a moment, a wry smile on his face. "My dear daughter, you shouldn't go to that grim and chaotic place... However, this information needs further verification. I'll investigate it myself."
"You're going to investigate further?" Li Wushuang asked, surprised.
"Of course," Li Xuanli said, a bit exasperated. "The minor demons you were sent to kill were at most in the Shenyou Realm. How could they possibly know anything about battle plans? In a real fight, they'd be nothing but cannon fodder. Unless, of course, the Great Demons intentionally let them in on their plans."
Li Wushuang paused, absorbing this information. "Father, are you saying this is a double bluff?"
Li Xuanli nodded slightly. "It's also possible that I'm overthinking it. In any case, I'll look into it further. You just focus on getting some rest."
"Alright," Li Wushuang agreed, seeing the determination in her father's eyes. She nodded and left the tent.
After she left, Li Xuanli's expression turned solemn. He pondered for a moment, then summoned his personal attendant and instructed him to write two letters.
One letter was addressed to Qingzhou, urging them to be vigilant against possible demon activity.
The other was for Li Tiangang in the eastern border.
"If the demon attacks are a diversion, their true target might be Qingzhou. And if they are indeed planning a real assault, this retreat could be a prelude to an attack on the eastern border. I wonder how Tiangang and his troops are faring..."
His eyes narrowed in thought, and then he remembered something else. "Write another letter to Tianmen Pass," he instructed.
"That child may have just driven away three Demon Kings, but those kings are likely nursing their wrath. They might take out their anger on Liangzhou, or they could join forces with other demon kings to attack Tianmen Pass. Now that the Dragon Gate's whereabouts have been exposed, the Holy Palace, with its longstanding grudge against the Li family, might also send people our way..."
"We must warn him to be cautious."
...
Liangzhou, eastern border.
The Great Wall, a black stone barrier, stretched endlessly, covering the entire battle line.
Six hundred li outside the city, two figures approached with howling speed, their auras carefully restrained. One wore a luxurious robe of reddish-gold, his face as beautiful as jade, exuding an air of elegance and nobility. The other was clad in a black robe, his face hidden in the shadows cast by his hood.
"Ahead lies the area guarded by Li Tiangang," the black-robed figure said in a deep voice. "Lord Fengshan, I know you seek vengeance, but even if you rush over there now, you may not be able to kill him. There are defensive arrays along this border, and with our current strength, we cannot break them easily."
"I know," replied the golden-robed man, his eyes burning with golden flames as he pierced through the void to gaze upon the military camp beyond the defensive line. His eyes blazed with killing intent. "I promised you that I wouldn't disrupt your plans rashly."
Hearing this, the black-robed figure relaxed slightly and smiled. "Lord Fengshan, there's no need to be anxious. In a year's time, our clan's elder will emerge from seclusion. By then, we will trample over Liangzhou, and I can help you deal with that brat as well."
Lord Fengshan's voice was cold as he said, "Dealing with that brat is a separate matter, but Li Tiangang... I want to torture him to death with my own hands!"
"That can be arranged," the black-robed figure assured him.
Over there was the massive army of the Li family, and it would indeed be difficult for them to breach the array in a short amount of time.
...
Inside Tianmen Pass.
Seven hundred people volunteered to enlist and guard Cang Cliff City, defending this crucial pass.
Li Hao registered and organized them, then submitted their household registers to the military governor of Liangzhou, the Fifth Uncle, Li Xuanli.
As the appointed defender of Liangzhou, he also took on the role of military governor, with the authority to deploy troops within the region, including the defensive guards of various cities. With his orders, they had to comply unconditionally.
These registers needed to be entered and audited by him; otherwise, if these soldiers died in battle, no one would collect their bodies or commemorate their achievements without Li Hao's intervention, and they would be considered solitary heroic souls, wandering aimlessly.
Not long after returning.
Li Hao received the star pavilion elder, and under his accompaniment, he began to inspect the formation of this Cliff City.
Being a border city, the formation was ranked as a Five Stars Array, sealing away five mighty demon battle souls at the peak of the Sanbuxu Realm within it. By borrowing the power of the heavens and stars, their strength was amplified to match that of two Demon Kings at the Dao Heart Realm.
Defending against a solo attack from a Demon King was well within its capabilities, and it could hold out for at least half a day.
Moreover, all the soldiers in the city could infuse their power into the formation, further amplifying the might of the battle souls. They could also borrow strength from the formation, allowing the battle souls to enhance their own abilities, greatly increasing the commander's combat power.
"Please inspect the formation, General."
As the formation was activated, Li Hao witnessed the illusory figures of five mighty demons appearing from various parts of the city, each guarding one direction and the center.
These battle souls were consumables for the formation and also the accumulated spoils of war of the royal family over countless years.
Li Hao flew out of the city and saw that the entire city was covered by the formation. From any direction of attack, the five demon souls could instantly arrive at the breach with the help of the formation's power and launch a simultaneous assault.
"Then I'll give it a simple try."
Li Hao said.
The key to determining if there were any defects in the formation's construction was whether the battle souls could exhibit their corresponding strength.
Li Hao didn't use the Dragon Rising Sword but instead threw a punch, channeling the power of the surrounding heavens and earth. It transformed into a massive fist imprint that descended with overwhelming pressure.
At first, the soldiers on the wall watched with eager anticipation, but as the fist imprint continued to expand, their expressions turned solemn and tense.
Roar!
The five demon souls roared and charged forward together.
However, in the face of the oppressive fist imprint, they were like small beasts trying to shake a mountain, unable to halt its momentum in the slightest. They were forced to retreat step by step.
Bang, bang, bang!
The five demon battle souls crashed into the golden barrier of the formation, causing ripples of light to spread across it. The color of the formation seemed to have faded significantly.
Li Hao quickly retracted his power and flew back.
The star pavilion elder stared blankly at Li Hao, dumbfounded for a moment before reacting and asking, "General, did you use your full strength just now?"
"No."
Li Hao shook his head. The previous punch was just a casual strike, using only about thirty percent of his strength.
The star pavilion elder was slightly taken aback, then furrowed his brows as he scanned the formation runes on the city walls, murmuring, "That shouldn't be..."
Li Hao also felt that the five mighty demons shouldn't be this weak, so he consoled, "Senior, don't worry. Let's take our time and check if there's a minor issue somewhere."
The star pavilion elder thought about it and agreed.
Although Li Hao's attack was intimidating and awe-inspiring, he felt that even if Li Hao had reached the Four Establishments Realm, he shouldn't have been able to suppress the five demon souls so easily. There seemed to be an issue with the power transmission of the formation.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, General. I'll inspect it further."
The star pavilion elder said.
Xia Xianglan felt a bit guilty, wondering if the problem lay in the formation rune she had inscribed earlier.
Li Hao bade farewell to the star pavilion elder and then found the martial artists who had enlisted earlier, instructing them to purchase a large quantity of fabric for making military flags. The more, the better.
The next day.
Li Hao received a message from the military governor of Liangzhou, informing him that all seven hundred enlistees had been approved.
Additionally, he received a letter from his Fifth Uncle, filled with words of concern and caution, urging him to be vigilant against possible retaliation from the Demon Kings.
Li Hao sighed and put away the letter, asking Ren Qianqian to place it in the wooden box in his room.
That afternoon, a bird demon arrived at the pass and requested an audience with Li Hao through the guarding soldiers.
A visit from a demon was something Li Hao hadn't anticipated, and he immediately granted the audience.
The bird demon transformed into a child of seven or eight years old, wearing plain orange clothing. As it was led into the bamboo fence courtyard by the soldiers, it saw the sword-practicing girl and the boy sketching a painting on the other side, with a little white fox lying lazily at his feet.
The boy's heart skipped a beat as he felt the demon's gaze, and he nervously approached Li Hao:
"General, er, General Li."
"From the Celestial Hall?"
Li Hao, who was sketching the distant ghost mother's corpse to gain painting experience, didn't turn around, only responding casually.
There was a soul sitting cross-legged in the sky, keeping watch over the surroundings. Through its perception, Li Hao could also see the ugly, bloated corpse of the ghost mother beyond the walls of the bamboo fence courtyard.
Chapter 169: Planting a Flag, a Thousand Miles Away
Seeing Li Hao instantly see through his identity, the boy's face twitched slightly.
He snuck a glance at the peaceful-looking youth, finding it hard to associate him with the fierce and formidable figure he had witnessed beyond the pass.
However, he knew that at this moment, any misstep on his part could cost him his life.
"Paying respects to the Young General."
He bowed respectfully and then said cautiously, "I was sent here on orders. Earlier, when you were clearing the area beyond the pass, you destroyed the palace caves of three Demon Kings. They have asked us, the Celestial Plate Hall, to come and inquire about how you intend to compensate them, Young General."
"Compensation?" Li Hao looked at him with a hint of surprise. "What kind of compensation do they want?"
"They hope that you will apologize and promise not to invade their territory again, maintaining a peaceful coexistence. In return, they can also guarantee that Tianmen Pass will remain undisturbed, allowing you to successfully defend it for three years."
The boy spoke respectfully, but his voice trembled slightly.
Li Hao narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled faintly. "So, they know that I'm supposed to be stationed here for three years. It seems you know me quite well. Since that's the case, tell them that the compensation is right here. They can ask for anything they want, but they have to come and get it themselves."
"This..."
The boy's face fell, and he said, "Young General, we are negotiating here. Please don't be angry. Surely you won't stay at Tianmen Pass forever. I advise you to reconsider."
"Hmm?"
Li Hao's gaze intensified as if it contained the weight of a thousand jun, bearing down on the boy and causing him to tremble. The feathers on his body rose from his skin, almost revealing his true form.
His body bent, and he knelt on the ground.
"Spare me, Young General! Spare me..."
The bird-like boy pleaded, his beak-like mouth quivering.
Li Hao retracted his gaze and said indifferently, "I've said what I have to say. If they want compensation, tell them to come themselves. How dare they ask for compensation while cowering in fear? Hasn't your Celestial Plate Hall informed them how I flattened their mountain stronghold?"
The boy said anxiously, "We told them, but they're very angry..."
Li Hao interrupted him. "Could it be that your real purpose here is to test my patience or something else?"
The boy's heart contracted sharply, and he was so scared that he almost screamed. But he managed to force a smile and said, "How could that be? We of the Celestial Plate Hall, although a demonic force, never involve ourselves in human wars, and we do cooperate with your kind at times. We are merely delivering a message."
"Oh? Then tell me, who do you cooperate with among our human race?"
"Th-that... I don't know about that. My cultivation is too low..." The boy shivered as he spoke.
Li Hao didn't feel like playing along with this minor character any longer. "Get lost."
"Yes, thank you, Young General, for sparing my life..."
Feeling the oppressive force on his back dissipate, the boy scrambled to his feet and prepared to leave.
"Wait."
Li Hao stopped him and said coldly, "Are you going to leave empty-handed? Qianqian, give him my military flag."
Ren Qianqian, who had been listening intently by the side, was startled by the request but quickly reacted. She hurriedly pulled out a military flag from the side of the courtyard and threw it to the bird-demon boy.
The boy caught the flag and looked at Li Hao with a mixture of tension and confusion.
"Take my military flag and scram back to your demonic lands. Plant my flag on the farthest mountain I reached during my sweep. Your Celestial Plate Hall should know which mountain that is, right?"
Li Hao's eyes turned icy as he stared at the bird-demon boy. "The next time I go on an inspection tour, if I see that my flag has fallen or is damaged in any way, I will raze the area beyond the pass once more, and this time, I will expand the scope of destruction!"
"Also, from now on, your Celestial Plate Hall had better watch your step when dealing with me."
Feeling the unabashed killing intent emanating from Li Hao, the bird-demon boy was left stunned and trembling.
He wanted a demon to help this young man plant his flag? And it couldn't be allowed to fall or be damaged?
It was common knowledge that Li Hao had swept through a distance of five thousand li beyond the pass, a region that was deep within demon territory! Now, this young man intended to plant his military flag right under the noses of the demons—it was a blatant act of humiliation and intimidation! Arrogant, overbearing, and brazen!
In the boy's eyes, the previously peaceful and gentle youth had vanished, replaced by a youthful battle god who looked down on the world, commanding reverence and trembling submission.
"I... I understand."
The bird-demon boy, after recovering from his shock, agreed with a trembling voice.
He knew that the only reason he would be able to walk out of this courtyard alive was if he carried out Li Hao's request. Otherwise, he wouldn't make it past the gates.
After the bird-demon boy left, trembling and unsteady, Ren Qianqian stepped forward, her face filled with astonishment.
"Young Master, did you really flatten the lairs of the Demon Kings when you went beyond the pass?"
Li Hao nodded slightly, and seeing her dumbfounded expression, he smiled and said, "You focus on your sword training. One day, you'll be able to do the same."
Ren Qianqian's heart skipped a beat, and she smiled bitterly inwardly. Her previous aspiration had merely been to surpass the level of a grandmaster.
Demon King... That was a being of the Four Establishments realm.
However, Li Hao's words seemed to open up an even vaster world before her.
Her eyes sparkled, and her motivation to cultivate doubled.
Just as she turned to leave, eager to start her sword practice, Li Hao called out to her, asking her to fetch some stationery as he wanted to write a letter.
Ren Qianqian obediently went to the room to retrieve some paper and ink, asking curiously, "Young Master, who are you writing this letter to?"
"To the military headquarters in Liangzhou," Li Hao replied.
"Oh?" Ren Qianqian was puzzled, as Li Hao didn't seem to have much of a connection with that place.
"The fact that the Celestial Plate Hall sent a demon here is likely a test of some sort," Li Hao explained as he wrote. "If they had accurate intelligence, those Demon Kings wouldn't dare to mention compensation, much less threaten me. I think this bird-demon was sent to test my limits or perhaps to see if I intend to stay here for the full three years..."
Combining this with the military report and warnings he had received from his Fifth Uncle, he had a vague suspicion, but perhaps he was overthinking it. Nonetheless, it was better to be cautious.
What exactly had he done beyond the pass?
Soon, Li Hao finished writing the letter and handed it to Ren Qianqian, instructing her to deliver it to Li Hongzhuang so that it could be sent to his Fifth Uncle, Li Xuanli.
After taking care of this matter, Li Hao withdrew his thoughts and resumed his painting.
...
The bird-demon boy flew out of the new border town, his eyes darting nervously at the many warriors and soldiers watching him. Once he was out of their sight, he soared into the sky.
He flew into the clouds and accelerated, not slowing down until he had traveled seven or eight hundred li. There, a few flying birds awaited him in the clouds.
"Why did you steal a military flag?"
One of the red-feathered birds transformed into a red-skirted girl, recognizing the flag in the boy's hand as Li Hao's battle standard. She asked, puzzled by his actions.
The boy almost choked at her accusation. Steal?
Why would I risk my life to steal his flag?
"Protector, I didn't steal this. That kid forced it on me," the bird-demon boy explained, referring to Li Hao as "that kid," a sign of his growing boldness.
"Oh?" The red-skirted girl was intrigued. "Why did he give you his flag?"
"He told me to plant it on the mountain he flattened and warned that it must not be damaged. Otherwise, he'll hold the Celestial Plate Hall responsible and ravage the lands beyond the pass once more," the boy replied, his voice filled with resentment.
The red-skirted girl and the three other birds exchanged astonished looks. This was too domineering!
"What about the task of testing him? How did that go?" the red-skirted girl asked, her eyes flicking toward the direction of Tianmen Pass.
"He's too shrewd. I barely brought it up before he almost saw through me," the bird-demon boy said, his earlier resentment turning into a lingering sense of dread. "From what he said, he doesn't plan on leaving Tianmen Pass anytime soon. That agreement seems to be genuine."
The red-skirted girl frowned, her brows knitting together as she instructed the boy to recount the details of his encounter.
As she listened, her frown deepened. "This youth is indeed a great threat to us. We must inform the Dragon Gate and the Holy Palace about him. Such a danger must be eliminated, or it will bring endless trouble in the future."
"Indeed." The bird-demon boy nodded in agreement.
"However, it seems he doesn't plan on leaving Tianmen Pass anytime soon and won't be involving himself in the war in Liangzhou. When the time comes for the great elder of the Dragon Gate to emerge from seclusion, we can deal with him then," the red-skirted girl added, glancing at the flag in the boy's hand.
"Go ahead and plant the flag there. Consider it a mountain gifted to him. Send word to the surrounding demons and beasts to stay away from that mountain for now, so we can avoid any immediate conflict," she instructed.
"Yes," the bird-demon boy acknowledged.
The group of flying birds continued on their journey, heading even further away.
...
Liangzhou, in the western region.
A blood eagle flew into the military camp and landed on the arm of a lieutenant's aide. The lieutenant took the letter wrapped in oil paper from the eagle's beak and quickly delivered it to Li Xuanli's tent.
"A letter from my sister?" Li Xuanli was surprised to receive a response so soon after sending a letter to Tianmen Pass.
It was a sensitive time, and frequent correspondence was not a good sign, as it increased the risk of their messages being intercepted.
He opened the letter and quickly scanned its contents, his expression turning solemn as he read.
"Do the demons intend to attack Liangzhou?"
"How does Hao'er know this?"
Li Xuanli was both surprised and puzzled to find that the letter was from the young man.
The letter didn't explain the reason behind the warning, only stating that it was a speculation and that he should be cautious of the demons' movements.
Combining this information with the previous retreat of the foreign demons, Li Xuanli's heart sank. Could their withdrawal have been a ruse, and they never intended to leave Liangzhou?
He put away the letter and immediately summoned the lieutenant's aide, instructing him to keep a close eye on the movements beyond the pass, not overlooking even the tiniest detail. He also ordered the scouting team to extend their reconnaissance to more distant areas.
...
...
Time flew by.
Tianmen Pass, Cangya City.
Not long after the bird-demon boy's departure, Li Hao once again ventured beyond the pass. Along the way, he encountered demons and beasts that had returned to the areas he had previously cleared, swiftly dealing with them.
When he reached the farthest mountain, he saw his military flag still standing, with no demons or beasts in sight. It seemed they had been keeping their distance, and he even noticed some birds secretly keeping watch. Satisfied, Li Hao continued his inspection, traveling from east to west.
Wherever he went, the members of the Celestial Plate Hall were on high alert, quickly notifying the surrounding demons and beasts to evacuate.
These creatures abandoned their unfinished lairs and fled, only returning once the youth had passed by. But the constant fear and anxiety were taking their toll, and some of the demons and beasts decided to relocate, unable to bear the tension any longer.
Even if it meant crowding into the territories of more powerful demons and beasts, they preferred the peace of mind.
Once the situation beyond the pass had calmed down, Li Hao called upon his warriors, instructing them to use their connections to spread a message. He was seeking various masters skilled in painting, chess, and other arts, inviting them to visit Cangya City.
During this period, Li Hao also dissected the ghostly beauty's corpse, cooking it along with the other large demons and beasts to prepare meals for his companions.
His culinary skills improved rapidly, and after reaching the seventh level, he found that he needed 500,000 points of experience to advance to the eighth level.
A four-establishment realm demon king could provide three to four hundred thousand points of experience, a significant boost to his previous progress bar of 100,000 points.
Fortunately, by sketching the corpses of these demons and monsters, Li Hao's painting experience also reached the sixth level bottleneck. All he needed to do now was to infuse his heart and soul into his art to advance to the seventh level.
However, before that, Li Hao intended to seek out a specific art form to help him attain the 'entering the heart' state, breaking through the restrictions of the third level of his body technique. This way, he could directly add points to reach the sixth level, drastically improving his speed, and even some of the powerful Four Establishments realm demon kings might not be able to escape his grasp.
Li Hao gathered various refining materials obtained from the demons and monsters, along with the Dragon Skyward Sword, and sent them to the Wanqi Tower for secondary forging, leaving his signature on the items.
The Wanqi Tower was a semi-official force, and since Li Hao was a border general, they dared not tamper with his belongings.
Li Hao tried the formation constructed by the Star Palace Official twice more, easily suppressing the five powerful demons each time.
The Star Palace Official checked repeatedly but couldn't find any issues with the formation. Finally, he realized the problem might lie with Li Hao himself and suggested that Li Hongzhuang, a peak Three Unyielding realm general, test it out.
As a result, Li Hongzhuang was defeated and bruised by the five demons outside the formation, confirming that the problem didn't lie with the formation but with Li Hao's extraordinary strength.
The Star Palace Official and his students were left speechless. They had scrutinized the formation countless times, pulling out their hair in frustration, only to find that the issue had nothing to do with their formation at all.
The boy's abilities were simply too abnormal.
Who would have thought that this fourteen-year-old boy possessed strength surpassing that of a typical demon king?
The Star Palace Official and his students felt both helpless and secretly thrilled. Li Hao's existence undoubtedly signaled the future rise of the Great Yu Dynasty, and given more time, the Great Yu would have yet another new war god, standing shoulder to shoulder with the real person from the Qian Dao Palace!
The Star Palace Official bid farewell to Li Hao, taking his students with him.
Before leaving, Xia Xianglan looked back at Li Hao with a hint of reluctance and asked, "Will you stay here forever?"
"Once there are no more demons or monsters daring to invade, I will leave," Li Hao replied with a smile.
Xia Xianglan nodded and added, "I'm from the Xia family. Our families are both from the Shenjiang Mansion. If you have time, you're welcome to visit the Xia family anytime."
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "But I'm not from a Shenjiang Mansion family. I'm just a wanderer."
"But you..."
Xia Xianglan wanted to say something more, but the Star Palace Official interrupted her and called out to her, giving Li Hao a meaningful look before leaving with his students.
Li Hao saw them off beyond the Dragon Pass and then turned back.
Time flew by as he waited idly.
The dangerous area beyond the pass had rarely been this peaceful. The city was bustling with construction, becoming more prosperous and lively.
With the influx of merchant caravans and escort agencies from various cities, news of the security of Tianmen Pass and the thriving city of Cangya spread far and wide.
As a result, some people chose to settle down in Cangya, buying or renting houses and starting their businesses.
Even with the additional transportation costs, the prices of the goods they sold were still competitive, attracting more and more people to the city.
The world is bustling, all for profit.
More and more people flocked to Cangya City, and with demand came supply, followed by tourists and wandering martial artists who came to admire the scenery beyond the border.
Li Hao sat in the courtyard of his humble abode within the city, undisturbed.
He chose to immerse himself in music, playing the zither daily and listening intently. Occasionally, he ventured outside the city to sit on the snowy mountains, quietly listening to the sounds of spring—the melting snow.
Now, the snow beyond the pass was gradually melting, revealing large patches of black soil that had been buried under the white blanket.
And from this black soil, tender green shoots began to sprout, signaling the arrival of spring.
As Li Hao progressed in his musical pursuits, reaching the 'entering the heart' state, some of the masters of various arts that his subordinates had invited through their connections also arrived in Cangya City.
Li Hao invited them to his courtyard, where they indulged in music, painting, chess, and wine, resembling the leisurely lifestyle of a noble young master.
However, the warriors at the border knew of Li Hao's exceptional talent, and their curiosity toward him was mixed with awe rather than any ulterior motives.
Li Hongzhuang found it intriguing that Li Hao chose to cultivate his artistic pursuits instead of focusing solely on martial arts, but she didn't interfere. She valued results, and regardless of Li Hao's cultivation methods, his achievements were already far beyond the reach of others.
That was more than enough.
These masters initially thought that Li Hao's interest in the arts was merely a passing fancy and that he was mostly interested in socializing and building connections.
However, as they delved into discussions with Li Hao, some of them struggled to keep up with his insightful questions, and they couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and respect for the young man.
While they revered warriors for their strength, their true admiration, appreciation, and joy came from finding someone who could appreciate and discuss the arts they had dedicated their lives to.
Through these masters, Li Hao sought out renowned artworks.
And indeed, he stumbled upon some unexpected treasures.
One master painter offered a precious painting that he had cherished for many years.
Additionally, a master of chess, known as the 'Little Chess Saint,' gifted Li Hao two chess manuals, although one of them was not considered a famous text and couldn't be recorded.
They also provided Li Hao with leads on other famous paintings and the collectors who owned them.
Li Hao recorded all the information and planned to visit these collectors later to see if they would be willing to part with their treasures.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, the snow had melted, signaling the arrival of spring.
Chapter 170: Twin Li Hao, the Dragon Pass is Impassable
The spring rain fell softly, shrouding the distant mountains and forests outside the pass in a silvery haze.
The gentle pitter-patter of raindrops landed on the thatched fence of the courtyard, splashing onto the seams of the green stone slabs within, carrying with them the scent of damp earth.
In the kitchen, a kettle boiled, and two figures sat across from each other.
One was Li Hao, and the other... was also Li Hao.
Indeed, at this moment, the two figures sipping tea and engaged in a game of chess were both Li Hao.
In appearance, they were identical.
However, the other Li Hao seemed a bit dull, his gaze slightly wooden.
"As expected, not very quick-witted."
Li Hao placed a piece on the board, winning yet another game, but gaining no experience.
Even in this form of competition, the system recognized it as a match between himself and himself.
But it didn't matter about the experience, as Li Hao was immersed in the art of chess, finding it enjoyable even without any rewards.
The doppelganger before him, identical in appearance, was created from the painting given by that artist.
The painting was titled "The Two-Faced Man."
It depicted a young girl with a long, flowing skirt, gazing off into the distance, her eyes fixed on the fading light of day.
Seemingly simple, the painting concealed countless intricate details, blending light and shadow with masterful symmetry.
With subtle variations in the thickness of the brushstrokes, the swaying skirt was brought to life with just a few simple lines, each fold and crease capturing the play of light and shadow to perfection—a truly terrifying display of skill.
The soft reddish hue of the twilight sky, the subtle shades and tones, all seemed to emanate from a flame burning on the paper itself.
With his own skill in the art of painting at the sixth level, Li Hao felt that he fell far short of this masterpiece.
He suspected that to meet the requirements for inclusion in the system's catalog, one might need to attain the ninth level of mastery.
Such a sublime level of artistry was rarely achieved in the mortal realm, and even over millennia, only a handful of paintings or masterpieces had earned such distinction.
And each one of them carried a legacy spanning countless generations, their significance immeasurable.
After being included in the system, the painting "The Two-Faced Man" disappeared from the world, leaving Li Hao with a sense of regret.
Upon integrating "The Two-Faced Man" into his Fleshly Body technique, Li Hao gained an extremely peculiar attribute.
The Two-Faced Man: Using one's own flesh and blood, construct a dark side physical body possessing 30% of the original body's capabilities.
Destruction of the dark side body does not harm the original body.
The original body and the dark side are independent and do not share memories or vision.
Upon destruction of the dark side body, this attribute will reset—(Can only construct one dark side body)
The original body can issue commands to the dark side body, which will possess simple thought processes of the original.
...
Previously, when Li Hao had obtained attributes from integrating chess manuals, paintings, and musical scores, they had all served to amplify certain abilities. However, "The Two-Faced Man" granted him a direct ability.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the previous attributes were also a form of ability.
For example, the Fatal attribute was an extremely bizarre ability that granted a 1% chance of instant death.
However, the ability of the Two-Faced Man was more tangible.
In combat, this special attribute didn't provide much of a boost. It was like having an additional ally, but with only a third of Li Hao's capabilities.
After testing, Li Hao found that although it was supposed to be a third of his strength, the actual combat power fell far short.
Due to the reduction in abilities, this dark side doppelganger couldn't utilize the special states of the Martial Arts Ultimate Realm, such as the Heaven and Earth Law Image, Divine Power, and Ascension.
Its physical strength was only 300,000 jin.
The internal energy was not Immortal Energy, and even with a full-body burst, it barely reached 4,000,000 jin.
To put this into perspective, the royal family possessed 2,000,000 jin of energy.
The soldiers of the Yuanzi Camp had 500,000 jin.
This was only twice the strength of the royalty.
Fortunately, the Yin-Yang Dual Meridians were not blocked, and by activating their power, the doppelganger could achieve 8,000,000 jin, four times the explosive power of the royalty.
Abilities like Astral Travel and Object Manipulation were also reduced, only about twice as powerful as the royalty.
Based on this dark side doppelganger's combat power, Li Hao estimated that it could handle some undecaying great demons, but if it encountered a Demon King, it would likely be crushed in an instant.
However, Li Hao had no intention of using this doppelganger for combat. Its purpose was to keep him company during chess games or to run errands, and it was quite convenient for those tasks.
Moreover, constructing this dark side doppelganger was effortless. It was formed from one of Li Hao's severed fingers, which regenerated in just a matter of minutes.
The healing ability of the dark side doppelganger was also significantly reduced. When Li Hao tested it against Li Hongzhuang, it was only about twice as fast as hers.
Aside from these minor issues, what truly frustrated Li Hao was the doppelganger's abysmal chess skill. In this regard, its ability was only about a third of his own.
However, chess was different from martial arts. Playing against someone with a third of your skill was like having your moves seen through instantly—it was too clumsy, and winning brought no satisfaction.
The only consolation was that this dark side doppelganger could run errands for him and occasionally clear out demons outside the pass.
It was a pity that the dark side doppelganger couldn't earn panel experience from its tasks. Otherwise, with experience doubling, it would have been truly delightful.
In addition to the attribute gained from the painting, the chess manual given by the Little Chess Saint also bestowed a special attribute.
The manual was named "The Cosmos Diagram."
Cosmos referred to the heavens and the earth, and the manual consisted of 19 horizontal and 19 vertical lines, requiring 361 pieces to fill!
Li Hao embedded this manual into his Control technique and gained another peculiar attribute.
The Cosmos Diagram:
Choose any object as a marker and infuse it with 50% of your strength.
Once the marker is destroyed, the infused strength will be unleashed in an explosive release.
Total markers: 180.
...
180 referred to the number of black or white pieces placed on the board and was also the total number of markers Li Hao could create simultaneously.
In his experiments, Li Hao infused his strength into a military flag, and during the process, he could also imbue it with his swordsmanship.
He injected a single sword technique and 50% of his strength into the flag, turning it into one of the markers.
When the flag was destroyed, the sealed sword energy and strength would burst forth, covering the surrounding area indiscriminately.
This was similar to the array constructed by the Star Officer elder.
However, Li Hao's method was simpler and more concise, suitable only for himself.
Under the attribute of Biding One's Time, the 50% strength consumed by Li Hao would take half a day to recover.
Outside the pass, the number of military flags kept increasing, each one a stinging slap in the face to the demons and monsters in the area.
As the number of flags grew, a certain demon could no longer bear the humiliation.
On a day of pouring rain, a demon of the Unbreakable Realm roared and charged towards a hill where it had been building a new lair. Halfway through construction, the lair had now been flattened, leaving only a barren hilltop and a battle flag bathing in the torrential rain.
Upon seeing the characters "Hao Tian" on the flag, the demon's eyes turned bloodshot with rage.
"Lord Longze, no!" cried a bird demon from the Tianji Temple as it hurriedly flew towards the scene.
But the demon paid no heed. It had grown tired of living in fear and having to hide and flee at regular intervals. It decided it would be better to just find a new home elsewhere.
It intended to tear every last one of that damn human brat's flags to shreds and then be on its way.
After all, the world was vast, and there were plenty of other places to call home.
Bang! With a swipe of its sharp claws, the demon engulfed the flag, shattering the pole and ripping the fabric.
But before it could sneer in satisfaction, a soaring sword energy burst forth from the flag, as if cleaving the heavens and the earth! The relentless downpour was swept away, sliced apart by the powerful sword energy.
Then, the sword energy tore through the clouds, bringing the spring rain to a halt.
With a mighty slash, it descended!
Like an immortal's casual sword strike from the ethereal realm, the sword energy cleaved through the air!
The demon's pupils contracted as it stared in shock, unable to believe what it was witnessing. Where had this attack come from?!
Roaring with rage, the demon unleashed its demonic energy, causing its scaly armor to swell as it tried to block the sword energy.
But in the next moment, the sword energy sliced downwards, splitting its body in two with a loud bang! The sword energy then melted and shattered into countless tiny sword energies, raining down like a storm.
If it had only been its body that was cleaved, the demon might have still escaped with its life. After all, a "mere fatal injury" was not enough to kill a demon of the Three Unbreakables Realm.
Even if its heart were pulverized, as long as it fled the battlefield in time, took its medicine, and protected its lifeblood, it could still survive.
Regenerating its shattered heart with its bodily regeneration abilities wouldn't be too difficult.
However, in this moment, as the countless sword energies washed over it, one of them instantly pierced its body, and before the demon could even struggle, its soul was extinguished! Its massive body fell limp, crashing onto the slope and lying there before the tattered flag.
The bird demon that had arrived earlier had been so startled by the soaring sword energy that it had stopped in its tracks and quickly retreated, its speed so fast that it managed to escape the range of the sword energy.
It was only when the countless sword energies finished scouring the demon's corpse and disappeared that the bird demon snapped out of its daze, stunned beyond words.
"Th-This flag has a sword formation on it?!"
"Impossible!"
"When did the Dushi Jian of the Great Yu Shenchao become capable of setting up such a terrifying and intricate formation?!"
The bird demon's feathers trembled as it spoke, its entire body shaking. Despite the arrival of spring, it felt a chill that was colder than the harshest winter.
For some, this spring might be a season of hope and renewal.
But for the demons, it was a cruel and bitter winter.
The bird demon's body went limp, and it blew on a mystical whistle. Soon, a large flock of bird demons from the Tianji Temple gathered around.
When they saw the clear circle in the sky above the hilltop, they were all equally astonished, chirping and chattering as they asked what had happened.
As they learned the reason, they all froze, their eyes wide as they stared at the quiet hilltop.
The corpse of the Three Unbreakables demon lay prostrate, unmoving.
A single military flag had slain a powerful demon of the Three Unbreakables Realm!
And there were more of these flags... as far as they could recall, over thirty of them had been planted!
Moreover, every few days, a few more would be added, claiming the hills within a five-thousand-li radius, those dense with heavenly energy, as their own.
"These are all that boy's battle flags!"
"Is he trying to turn this entire five-thousand-li area into his territory?!"
The red bird transformed into the appearance of a red-skirted maiden, her pretty and delicate face filled with shock.
As someone who worked in intelligence, she had seen a lot and was well-versed in the many talented and monstrous individuals of the Great Yu Shenchao over the past hundred years.
However, the brilliance of the past century paled in comparison to what she had witnessed in just this short year!
The terrifying might of that astonishing youth seemed to exude a domineering aura that suppressed all under heaven, even from thousands of miles away.
She suddenly understood why that young man dared to come and hold down the fort at the border pass alone.
It wasn't a blessing for the demons and monsters, but a blessing for that young man.
He was far more ruthless and fearsome than the stories told about him in Qingzhou. He was like an unleashed malevolent god, truly unleashing his sharp claws and fangs!
"Quick, quickly notify the others, and under no circumstances should anyone go near that military flag. Later, we'll find someone to move it, and we'll see what kind of sword formation is on that flag." The red-skirted maiden hurriedly instructed.
The many birds complied with solemn expressions and quickly dispersed.
...
In the bamboo fence courtyard.
Li Hao saw a panel notification pop up in front of him, noticing that the marker count had changed from 35/180 to 34/180.
He immediately realized that one of the markers had been destroyed.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow and sent his dark side doppelganger to investigate, while also asking Tianji Temple for an explanation.
Not long after, the dark side doppelganger returned, bringing back the corpse of a Three Unbreakables Realm demon along the way.
At the same time, a bird demon from Tianji Temple was waiting along the route, mistaking the dark side doppelganger for Li Hao. It apologized and explained the situation.
The doppelganger didn't say anything and casually snapped the bird demon's neck.
Tianji Temple was furious when they learned of this, but they dared not retaliate. The next day, they sent another bird demon to inquire about the reason, to which Li Hao expressed that this was only the first lesson.
Actions often carried more intimidation than words.
The messenger bird demon returned, trembling, and relayed Li Hao's words back to Tianji Temple, leaving them both angry and helpless.
However, after this incident, Tianji Temple spread the news of Li Hao's ferocity even more vigorously. The Three Unbreakables Realm demons heard these stories and, although they were skeptical, they didn't dare to take the risk. Eventually, they all slowly left the area outside the pass, choosing to find opportunities elsewhere.
Although some of the mountains, hills, and swamps outside the pass were considered the "ancestral lands" of many demons, they knew that as long as that young man was stationed at Tianmenguan, this ancestral land didn't belong to them.
Fortunately, demons had long lifespans and were more patient than humans. They could wait for a few decades or even a hundred years for that young man to leave.
A hundred years was but a blink of an eye for some powerful demons.
The area outside the pass became increasingly quiet.
Only empty landscapes remained.
In the thousands of miles outside the pass, demons were nowhere to be seen, except for the occasional small demon who wandered in, unaware of the situation.
...
Time flew by.
After the spring rain, the hot summer arrived.
Cang Cliff City became even more bustling and prosperous, with more travelers passing through.
On a scorching summer day, there were sparse travelers and a caravan on the road to Cang Cliff City, known as the Dragon Pass.
And in a dense forest, dozens of miles outside the Dragon Pass.
A large, obese demon crawled out from the forest.
Soon, it spotted the wide and snowy-white Dragon Pass ahead, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
Just as it was about to crawl forward, a tree in the forest suddenly spoke up: "Don't go any further."
"Hmm?"
The demon paused and turned to look at the speaking tree demon, whom it hadn't noticed until it spoke.
Its face changed slightly, and it coldly asked, "What's the matter?"
The old tree demon rasped, "Any further ahead is the Dragon Pass. You must not cross it; that is human territory!"
"Humans?"
"Hasn't this road been our demon territory for a long time now? How dare they come here?"
"You must be from another state."
The old tree demon gently swayed its branches, as if shaking its head. "What you're talking about is the past. Nowadays, there aren't any demons left there. All that remains are our corpses, a mountain of them, and a sea of blood!"
"Hmm?"
The obese demon frowned and looked towards the Dragon Pass, but all it saw were mouth-watering humans, like little walking treats.
"Do you see that military flag over there?"
The old tree demon's branches pointed towards a flag pierced through a tall stone along the Dragon Pass. "See that flag? If you go any closer, that strong scent of human blood on you will bring you nothing but death."
"Hmph, trying to scare me with a mere military flag? I've eaten entire armies before. If you weren't so withered, I would have made a meal out of you already!" the obese demon sneered.
Without another word, it continued towards the Dragon Pass.
"Grandpa, it's not listening to you," said a small branch next to the old tree demon.
The old tree demon sighed but didn't say anything.
At that moment, the obese demon had already reached the Dragon Pass and was rushing towards the few figures in the distance.
Its eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and the wind from its movement caused the flag on the tall stone to flutter.
However, just as it was about to get close, a gust of cool wind suddenly swept through.
On this hot summer day, the breeze brought a refreshing chill as it blew past the obese demon.
"What...?"
The obese demon's pupils constricted as it tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Its body suddenly split open, its internal organs spilling onto the ground, and its blood flowing freely.
That gust of wind seemed to have come from Cang Cliff City at the end of the Dragon Pass.
Or perhaps it was the sword energy that the young man had casually thrown out a year ago, which had slain a demon back then. That sword energy had lingered on this road and, a year later, returned to where it had started...