"Quick, surround and kill him!"
In mid-air, Lu Yuan rushed forward at breakneck speed, his body twisting and turning as he swiftly advanced.
He roared in anger, ordering the Demon Kings outside the city to assist him, but more importantly, he wanted to force a mistake from Li Hao and create an opportunity to strike back.
Upon hearing the furious shout of the Great Elder of Dragon Gate, Bai Shijun, and the other Demon Kings were filled with suspicion.
This was Lu Yuan, after all!
Famous among the Demon Kings and a master of the Absolute Learning Realm, was he really asking for help?
"Can't even deal with Lu Yuan?!" Bai Shijun exclaimed in disbelief.
The killing moves of the Absolute Learning Realm were incredibly powerful, capable of easily taking the life of someone in the Reversal Realm.
And yet, he was being pursued by Li Hao?
Bai Shijun recalled how the Great Elder had previously mentioned going to Tianmen Pass to take care of that eyesore.
Could it be that he had been chased all the way from Tianmen Pass?
His heart clenched at the thought, and he felt a mix of frustration and anger.
Just what kind of son did Li Tiangang have?
Back then, he had repeatedly sent people to assassinate him, each time with foolproof methods, only to fail again and again.
The first assassination attempt had been carried out by someone in the Refinement Realm.
The most challenging part of that mission had been infiltrating the General's Mansion.
Yet, despite the odds, they had succeeded in getting inside.
At that time, the child had only been six years old, and they had thought it would be a sure thing. But the assassin in the Refinement Realm had failed.
Later, he had sent two Dragon Generals in the Fifteen Miles Realm to ambush and assassinate Li Hao. Even Li Junye of the Li Family had probably not reached the Fifteen Miles Realm when he was fourteen years old.
With such a huge advantage, the assassination should have been a guaranteed success, but they had failed again and, even worse, been counter-killed.
It was only through the information sent back by the Tianji Temple that he learned the boy had been hiding his strength and was actually the most monstrously talented cultivator in the Li Family in a thousand years.
Not long after, the battle in Yanbei ended, and as the various demon clans clamored to leave, he was reprimanded by the Great Elder of the Holy Palace.
As his hatred festered, he also heard various rumors about Qingzhou and the Li Family.
And now...
The infant he had tried to assassinate in his cradle was chasing after the Great Elder of Dragon Gate right before his very eyes?!
Bai Shijun felt like the world had turned upside down, and he struggled to believe what he was witnessing.
But Lu Yuan's roar, shaking the heavens and the earth, was undeniably real, as was the heart-shaking dragon might that accompanied it.
However, Bai Shijun did not move.
Having cultivated for thousands of years, he was one of the Demon Kings with the highest talent, and he could tell that Lu Yuan's call for help was not a request for them to join the fight, but... a desperate plea for rescue!
If even Lu Yuan couldn't defeat Li Hao, they would only meet their end faster if they joined the battle.
Having lost his chance at the Reversal Realm, Bai Shijun's body froze at the memory of Li Hao's terrifying sword formation, and he seemed not to hear the desperate cries for help.
The Demon Kings in the Grand Void Realm also sensed that something was amiss. They, too, had heard of the young general who had suddenly appeared at Tianmen Pass, and the Tianji Temple had sent them a lot of information about the young hero. That was why they had chosen to bypass this pass and leave the task of killing him to Lu Yuan alone.
Now, however, their plan had failed.
"Great Elder!"
As the Grand Void Realm Demon Kings hesitated, several Demon Kings from Dragon Gate took the lead, rushing towards Lu Yuan while shouting at the others:
"What are you all standing there for? Are we going to let a single human boy scare the Demon Alliance into disarray?!"
With these words, the complexions of the various Grand Void Realm Demon Kings turned red, and they felt ashamed.
Indeed.
Had they really been intimidated and stopped in their tracks by the reputation of a single boy?
"Kill!"
"Assist Brother Lu Yuan and take down that human brat!"
The Grand Void Realm Demon Kings joined the battle, but one of them quickly released a distress signal for the Grand Void Realm.
Initially, they hadn't planned to call for help; they had merely used the Tianji Temple to send a signal to Lu Yuan, asking him to come and break the formation quickly.
Now, however, with Lu Yuan defeated, they had no choice but to seek aid.
This call for help would undoubtedly affect Yin Furen, who was currently fighting the Great Desert Sword Saint, but they could not worry about that now.
As the numerous Demon Kings rushed out, the overwhelming demonic aura that had been pressing against the defensive formation outside the city lines dissipated, and the demons flew towards the boy who was rushing through the air.
On the city walls, within the formation.
Li Xuanli, Li Tiangang, and the others finally reacted, their faces filled with shock.
Li Hao was actually chasing after that Demon King?!
How was that possible?!
Li Xuanli and Li Tiangang were both stunned, their shock mixed with confusion.
This scene was beyond their imagination and comprehension.
That was a Demon King!
How old was Li Hao?
He was only fifteen years old this year, and not long ago, when he had suppressed the world's Grandmaster, he had only been in the Heaven-Man Realm. In the short year since then, even if Li Hao was a monster, it was impossible for him to have reached the level where he could confront a Demon King, was it not?
They wanted to help Li Hao, but it was already too late, not to mention that it was a battle between Demon Kings, and they simply couldn't interfere.
Li Tiangang suddenly turned to Li Hongzhuang and demanded, "Give me five battle flags!"
"What are you going to do?" Li Hongzhuang asked in surprise.
"Of course, I'm going to save that good-for-nothing brat! Doesn't he know where he is? How dare he come here? Hurry up and give me the battle flags!" Li Tiangang barked angrily.
"I'm coming with you too," Li Hongzhuang insisted.
"You go with Fifth Brother to kill the demon tide and lure the other Demon Kings back. If they return, immediately retreat back to the formation!" Li Tiangang instructed.
Turning to the side, Li Tiangang addressed Qianji, "Senior, I'd like to trouble you to help guard us from the sidelines!"
Ever since yesterday, when the battle flags had intimidated the Demon Kings, the demon tide had camped outside the defensive lines, leaving them with no other options.
The demons were waiting for reinforcements, and so were they.
However, Dayu State was tens of thousands of miles away; it wasn't a distance that could be covered in a short time.
Among the various Divine Generals' Mansions, the closest ones were the Li Family and the Xia Family.
But Li Tiangang knew that even if he sent a message back, asking his second uncle, Limuxiu, to come, he must not leave Qingzhou.
Because Lianggzhou, which was guarded by the Li family, might be a feint, and the real target could be Qingzhou!
After all, the Holy Palace, Dragon Gate, and even the Grand Void Realm had already shown their hands, effectively severing ties with the Great Yu Divine Dynasty. Yet, the Sect Master had not appeared, which could only mean that he was elsewhere!
Therefore, he could only pin his hopes on the Xia Family.
However, there was still no sign of the Xia Family, and the other Divine Generals' Mansions were even further away, at least half a day's journey.
And from last night until now, half a day had indeed passed.
Perhaps if they held on for a little longer, reinforcements from the other Divine Generals' Mansions would arrive.
The reason for the crisis in Liangzhou was that the three top demon forces had gathered and chosen to launch a swift attack on Liangzhou.
Each of these top demon forces was comparable to a Divine Generals' Mansion, and their secretive assembly here for a swift offensive meant that they intended to completely shatter the superficial peace that had existed for thousands of years, triggering a full-scale war between the Divine Dynasty and the demons!
Liangzhou was just the prelude to this grand war!
Upon hearing Li Tiangang's words, Qianji immediately said, "General, I'll go with you."
"No, you need to stay here to receive them. Just hold on!" Li Tiangang replied without hesitation.
Without giving Qianji another chance to speak, he took the five battle flags from Li Hongzhuang. He had already learned about the usage of these flags from her the night before.
Just as he was about to step out of the formation, a tremendous explosion shook the heavens and the earth, startling everyone within and outside the defensive lines.
Li Hao and Lu Yuan, the Demon King, were locked in a fierce battle, their bodies clashing in close combat. Lu Yuan was knocked to the ground, his fall creating an earthquake-like rumble.
Such a display left those on the city walls astonished, and countless powerful demons within the demon tide were left speechless.
Li Hao's body was enveloped in murderous intent, his divine majesty erupting as he dove in for the kill.
However, the Demon Kings from the Grand Void Realm and Dragon Gate had already given chase, and in an instant, numerous attacks were unleashed. Demonic lights slashed, and violet fires burned, engulfing Li Hao completely.
Witnessing this, Li Tiangang's eyes widened in fury as he roared, "Stop!"
He took a step out of the formation and rushed towards the battle.
Despite his many grievances against Li Hao, he couldn't just stand by and watch his son die.
But the next moment, amidst the violet fires and demonic attacks, a divine light burst forth, repelling all the incoming strikes.
The young man's figure seemed akin to a supreme god, his entire body glowing with a radiant golden light, and he was completely unharmed!
Li Tiangang, who was rushing over, was stunned, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp as if he had seen something unbelievable.
He was shocked and dazed. Was that really his son?
In just over a year, had he become so terrifyingly powerful?
At this moment, Li Hao's eyes shone like divine rays, cold and piercing. He paid no heed to the other Demon Kings as he charged straight towards Lu Yuan.
With a loud bang, Li Hao's feet stomped heavily on Lu Yuan's waist and abdomen, forcing his body to sink into the ground.
Lu Yuan let out a painful roar, and Li Hao's attack was like ten thousand mountains pressing down on him, causing his refined dragon body to creak under the pressure, his bones cracking and scales shattering.
It had been a long time since he had suffered such serious injuries.
Before Lu Yuan could counter-attack, a heavenly law image appeared behind Li Hao.
This time, his heavenly law image didn't need to be retracted!
Drawing upon the power of the earth's veins, the hundreds of feet tall heavenly law image loomed like a giant overlooking the world, its body radiating a golden divine majesty.
Li Hao roared to the heavens, his anger echoing through the skies.
The Dharma Form of the heavens and earth seemed to roar wordlessly, its mouth gaping as it grasped Lu Yuan's enormous dragon body with both hands, then violently yanked and swung with all its might!
A thunderous boom shook the earth, causing the ground to fissure across the entire battlefield. The demon horde, crouched in the distance, was shaken, struggling to maintain their balance.
Lu Yuan was slammed to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth. Despite his exceptionally refined physical body, the tremendous impact jolted his internal organs, threatening to expel them from his body.
Li Hao unleashed his overpowering divine might, his Dharma Form swinging Lu Yuan's body wildly and smashing it onto the plain behind the demon horde with relentless force.
This astonishing display left the countless Liangzhou warriors and the young and old of the aristocratic army atop the city walls stunned and speechless, their eyes bulging.
That was a Demon King, after all, yet the boy wielded his massive divine soul to batter it like a wild dog!
"Stop!!!"
The Demon Kings of Dragon Gate, upon witnessing this scene, roared in fury, manifesting their true forms. They spewed demonic flames and blades, charging towards Li Hao with killing intent.
The other Demon Kings of the Grand Void Realm were shocked, their pupils contracting, but they didn't hesitate. They frantically unleashed their attacks on Li Hao, aiming to block him and give Lu Yuan a chance to escape.
A torrent of attacks from the numerous Demon Kings rained down on Li Hao once more, overwhelming and all-encompassing. It seemed as though they would tear the heavens apart and shatter the earth!
Li Tiangang watched in horror, snapping back to his senses. He hurriedly pursued at full speed, but the distance was too great, and the other Demon Kings were closer. His intervention would be too late!
"Hao'er!!!" he bellowed.
"Li Hao!"
On the city walls, Li Wushuang's face drained of color, and she covered her mouth in dismay.
"Hao'er!"
Li Xuanli's eyes reddened, but he was powerless to assist.
A deafening rumble reverberated as countless blades tore through the void and shattered the earth.
Those within the defensive lines fell silent, some shedding scalding tears. But as the dust and smoke cleared, a golden figure remained standing, unharmed!
His posture was erect, like a spear piercing the heavens and standing firm upon the earth. The boy's shoulders seemed to be propping up the entire tumultuous sky!
In that moment, the entire battlefield fell silent, enveloped in a brief hush.
Having endured the furious attacks of numerous Demon Kings, Li Hao had miraculously emerged unscathed!
As Li Wushuang beheld this, tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes.
Li Tiangang, who had been rushing over at breakneck speed, also witnessed this, and he froze for a moment. Suddenly, he felt a sense of surrealness.
It seemed that the boy no longer needed his protection.
In the year since he had left the Li Family, he had blossomed into an even more dazzling figure.
That radiance made him seem almost like a stranger.
Was that really his son?
This realization should have filled him with joy, but for some reason, his mind suddenly flashed back to that snowy day.
To that solitary, slender figure taking its first steps out of the Li Family's threshold.
His heart clenched painfully, and he felt an indescribable sensation.
It was akin to the anguish he had felt on the Yanbei battlefield when he had bid farewell to his wife, the agonizing desire to hold on but being unable to do so.
Roar!
Suddenly, Lu Yuan's roar snapped everyone back to attention.
The Dharma Form of the heavens and earth still clutched Lu Yuan's body, swinging it wildly. Blood flowed from Lu Yuan's scales, and he roared as he slammed his dragon claws onto the ground, unleashing his ultimate technique, the Limitless Thunder Path.
His body erupted with countless rays of thunder, bursting forth in a dazzling display. This sudden eruption allowed him to break free from the grasp of the Dharma Form.
"Die!!!"
Lu Yuan bellowed in rage, his fury reaching its peak. He channeled his boundless power, and his aura rapidly intensified.
Dark clouds gathered above his head, and countless bolts of lightning converged.
The other Demon Kings also regained their senses, witnessing Lu Yuan's aura return to its peak. Without hesitation, they gathered around him, intending to join forces to slay this boy.
"How could his physical body be so strong? Am I hallucinating?"
One of the Demon Kings asked, shaken to the core.
The other Demon Kings remained silent, without answers.
Having withstood their countless attacks, Li Hao had somehow blocked them with his physical body alone, an feat even they as Demon Kings could not accomplish!
"Kill!"
Lu Yuan continued to channel his ultimate technique, roaring at the other Demon Kings.
These Demon Kings also realized that Lu Yuan was preparing a deadly strike, so they didn't hesitate to rush towards Li Hao, providing cover for Lu Yuan.
Boom!
The Dharma Form suddenly lifted its foot and swept out horizontally, kicking a Dragon Gate Demon King, who resembled a dragon-flood hybrid, and sending it flying.