261 Chapter 41: Repaying the Second Debt of Gratitude to the Li Family (Make-up for 22, 23)
With the bottleneck broken and the Gate of Life within his flesh pierced, a robust life aura diffused from within Li Hao’s body, circulating outside before retracting back into his body.
This life force gradually sank into the acupoints and flesh throughout his body, transforming into Unwithering Power.
This Unwithering Power spread throughout his entire body, ready to activate in times of peril and unleash the maximum extent of strength.
Normally,
the three realms of the Three Immortal Realms are vastly different from one another.
The Undying Realm breaks through the mortal coil, allowing for limb regeneration, but the Indestructible Realm doesn’t even suffer bodily damage, akin to a Divine Weapon. One can strike without any worries and need not consider the damage the cultivation technique does to oneself, enabling many cultivation techniques to be executed to even more violent extremes.
Thus, in terms of explosive power, the Indestructible Realm naturally surpasses the Undying Realm, nearly doubling its crushing force.
And the Unwithering Realm represents a complete release, akin to having two lives while also being able to vent endless strength and execute moves that exceed the normal limits of the body.
This is also the deterrent power that makes the Unwithering Realm so formidable.
At this moment, after two cultivation sessions, Li Hao had reached the pinnacle of the Three Immortal Realms.
But Li Hao could feel that this was still far from the true limit.
If all other realms had their limits, then the Three Immortal Realms also had their limit.
The Three Immortal Realms take body cultivation to the Transcending Mortality and Entering Sainthood stage, a transformation of the body’s essence. This is an extremely critical watershed realm in cultivation.
Li Hao also wanted to explore the limits of the Three Immortal Realms.
He did not stop; he continued to practice the third Physical Cultivation Skill.
Originally, by relying on the incomplete Primordial Cultivation Skill extrapolated from the Sixth Stage of the Physical Body Path, the fifth level was the Primordial Body.
Having the cultivation technique named after it could also be considered as perfection.
But now, as the insights from the Seventh Stage of the Physical Body Path surged in, this technique subtly evolved again, transforming into the Supreme Body!
Primordial returns to the root, while Supreme remains peerless!
If the Primordial gathers strength into unity, then the Supreme represents transcendence!
A breath of Immortal Qi flowed in and out of Li Hao’s body, connecting with the Power of Heaven and Earth, refining his being. His flesh seemed to be imbued with divinity, harboring a faint golden glow.
Within his pores, a golden ocean seemed to churn, his flesh rapid transforming as his Physical Strength continually climbed.
The life aura within him grew increasingly rich, constantly churning and condensing.
In the Unwithering Realm, if the regeneration of limbs for others took a day, then for Li Hao, it only required an hour.
If combined with the attribute of biding one’s time and honing one’s skills, it could possibly take just half an hour.
With the cultivation of the Supreme Body, Li Hao’s flesh became even more formidable, not just in self-healing ability but also in the degree of indestructibility, surpassing that of a typical practitioner of the Three Immortal Realms.
After a moment, the turbulent energy around Li Hao subsided.
An aura that was vast and elegant began to emanate from all over his body.
The Supreme Body had been perfected.
In its genuine state!
His body was independent yet seemed like a distant light reflecting here; there was a sense of standing in the mortal world yet transcending it.
With the perfection of the Supreme Body, it represents a physique, not an offensive power, but rather a defense.
However, the defensive effect is extremely exaggerated, peerlessly transcendent, with many cultivation techniques and skills unable to take effect against it.
When Li Hao walked through a downpour, completely relaxed and without exerting any power, not a single drop touched him.
The breath emitting from his pores would make surrounding dust and snow naturally shy away.
When under attack, his body would instinctively defend itself, with fists, feet, or weapons unable to make contact.
If he were to confront someone of the same realm, fully activating the state of the Supreme Body could even momentarily turn him into an untargetable being, transcending physical existence.
Li Hao didn’t know if this state of the Supreme Body were to encounter a powerful practitioner at the initial step of the Tao Heart Realm of the Four Stands Realm, which would be stronger or weaker.
As he concluded his practice, Li Hao suddenly felt his pores trembling minutely.
It seems as if something was about to emerge from his body.
A scorching heat welled up, as if he were in a furnace, his blood beginning to course uncontrollably fast.
His pores seemed to breathe heavily, exhaling a hot breath, his body faintly glowing with golden luster.
As his blood’s surging speed increased, the golden glow grew even more brilliant.
Until a certain valve opened up suddenly during a breath, all the power in Li Hao’s body erupted like an explosion, his flesh tensed, and a mighty force emerged.
His flesh turned to Red Gold, his vision and hearing drastically increased—his eyes seemed capable of piercing the void, seeing places seven or eight times further away.
His hearing became so sensitive that he could hear the sound of insects crawling in the forest dozens of miles away, and like an echo, the image of the insect and the patterns of its tracks through the snow mud emerged in his mind.
Li Hao’s mind also became clearer, yet it carried a strong sense of excitement and a desire for destruction.
Li Hao was astounded; this wasn’t a trait of the Supreme Body.
He quickly checked himself, and soon understood the reason.
It seemed he had… reached the limit of the Power Passage Realm!
This peculiar state was just a brief entry into the state after the limit of the Power Passage Realm.
Li Hao then felt the Physical Strength within his body; previously, when he practiced the Bright Jade True Demon Skill, his Strength of the Flesh reached five to six hundred thousand catties, but now it had surged to a million catties.
Li Hao’s body contracted, shifting from the form of a True Dragon back to a human figure; the tension and swelling within his body grew more pronounced.
“Is this the limit of the Power Passage Realm? But it seems I can cross this limit, and my Physical Strength can still increase!”
262 Chapter 41 The Second Favor Returned to the Li Family (Filler Updates 22, 23)_2
Li Hao felt the surging of blood throughout his body, as his physical strength climbed higher and higher, from a million jin to four or five million jin, and finally, it reached tens of millions of jin!
When he reached this level, the flesh and blood of Li Hao’s body turned dark golden, and countless similar dark lights sparkled within his pores like stars.
He felt his heart violently throbbing, his breathing somewhat hurried.
Li Hao controlled the blood within his body, gradually calming it down, withdrawing from this limit state.
After a moment, the strength throughout his body reduced, returning to the initial million jin.
“The limit of the Soul Succession Realm is the Heaven and Earth Law Manifestation.”
“Is the limit of the Power Passage Realm this strange state of physical excitation?”
Li Hao’s eyes flickered, and he temporarily referred to this state as “Divine Power.”
Power Limit Realm, Divine Power.
From the effects just now, it could temporarily increase his physical strength by tenfold!
And what increased wasn’t just strength alone.
If it were merely physical strength increasing from a million jin to ten million jin, that wouldn’t count for much, after all, the royal Zhou Tian Realm cultivators, practicing the Peerless Meridian Clearing Skill and the Qi Circulation Skill, could reach ten million jin of Qi Force.
But under the Divine Power state, physique was also amplified.
Now, in the Three Immortal Realms, entering this Divine Power state with red-gold flesh, Li Hao’s self-healing ability, and the indestructibility of his body, were all ten times their original levels!
An arm that would heal in an hour could now regrow in mere minutes!
And the typical immortals of the Three Immortal Realms would need at least a day or two to regenerate a severed limb.
The disparity was too great.
In battle, even if severely injured, a slight restraint would allow his body to heal and burst forth with fighting capability once more.
Like Feng, who was previously ambushed by a Demon and tore a huge hole in his abdomen, even with the aid of medicinal pills to assist, it took half a day to heal.
Although the Four Stands Realm was stronger, the healing ability compared to the Three Immortal Realms had not increased much, after all, they were not Body Refinement practitioners.
“After reaching this limit of the Power Passage Realm, if I practice other Cultivation Techniques, my physical strength can be elevated further. This Divine Power state feels unlike the Heaven and Earth Law Manifestation of the Soul Succession Realm, not a true limit, but some kind of threshold.”
“Reaching this threshold allows for the temporary excitation of this Divine Power state.”
“Perhaps, condensing the soul 360 times and opening the Heaven and Earth Law Manifestation is not the limit of the Soul Succession Realm, I just haven’t reached a higher level yet…”
Li Hao’s eyes shimmered, and if the second possibility were true, then the path of Martial Arts cultivation would be profoundly deep.
After all, the typical soul condensation is less than a hundred times.
“Now, I’ve touched upon these limits in both the Power Passage Realm and Soul Succession Realm.”
“The great meridians of the Zhou Tian Realm are still not fully opened. If I can achieve another Spiritual Awakening, and raise my Control Path to the Seventh Stage, I’ll be able to unlock all the major meridians within my body.”
“Another method is to find more Meridian Opening Skills, cross-reference them to find gaps, and open the remaining major meridians one by one.”
“Next time I visit Tianji Tower, maybe I’ll find suitable Cultivation Techniques.”
“Currently, I have 98 unlocked major meridians, the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse is already cleared, only ten shy from the common 108 meridians!”
“I wonder what state will be achieved once all the Zhou Tian Realm’s meridians are opened.”
Li Hao’s eyes flickered.
When he first opened the Yin and Yang Dual Pulse, he vaguely glimpsed a golden light, standing like a celestial gate, yet it was unattainably far.
If all the body’s meridians were opened, perhaps he could step in and touch it.
Through the process of cultivation, Li Hao also realized that attaining the state received at the limit of each realm brought forth the strongest combat capability.
For instance, in the Land Immortal Realm of the Heavenly Human Realm, with a breath of Immortal Qi, one could transform into an immortal, even capable of contending with the Four Stands Realm.
Of course, the main reason he could slay the Black Bird Demon King was relying on his Yellow Sparrow Diagram and its 1% fatal attack attribute.
Otherwise, the Black Bird Demon King would have at least had a chance to escape, not doomed to die.
However, it’s unknown what kind of power one would obtain at the moment of complete transformation into an immortal, and whether it would be possible to slay a Tao Heart Realm practitioner.
Li Hao had previously estimated his transformation level at around thirty percent.
Once it surpassed forty percent, it would become very difficult to pull oneself back, a critical point.
He was able to just barely stop it with the help of Feng and Song Qiumo blocking the heaven and earth.
Without external assistance, it would be certain death.
But conversely, within forty percent, although risky, that portion of power could be sacrificed to borrow.
At life-and-death junctures, it’s the most powerful trump card, capable of turning the tide in a desperate situation!
“I wonder, what could be the limit of the Three Immortal Realms?”
Li Hao’s heart was filled with anticipation, and he faintly guessed at a possibility, but it seemed somewhat inconceivable, furthering his yearning.
Gathering his thoughts, Li Hao continued to cultivate the fourth Cultivation Technique.
Dragon Cicada Void Body.
This Cultivation Technique had also been extrapolated to higher levels, already transcending the technique itself.
Besides, the Bright Jade True Demon Skill and the Five Organs Primordial Body that Li Hao previously looted, had all been extrapolated to higher levels as well.
The storm still swirled around the mountain peak, its imposing presence growing stronger instead of abating.
Through the energy tempest, Feng Boping could feel bursts of energy that even he found somewhat daunting.
And outside the mountain, Li Hongzhuang’s expression was serious. The several vice-commanders of the Bloodsha Army beside her were also intently focused on that mountain peak, their eyes revealing a frightened look.
They could feel that the youth inside seemed… to have reached the Three Immortal Realms.
The occasional reveal of that breath made them shudder.
The other party seemed to be not yet fifteen years old.
Is this the most outstanding talent that the Li Family has produced over thousands of years, surpassing their ancestors?
At the foot of the mountain, Ren Qianqian sat cross-legged, holding a sword, while the energy storm sweeping over the mountain peak also dispersed some of its fury, which she absorbed.
The aura within her was constantly escalating, her soul form condensing.
In front of her knees, a little white fox lay on a clump of snow, looking listless and out of spirits.
Since it had eaten the flesh and blood of the Demon King, it had been in a continual state of languor, its eyes changing from their original black to a shade of orange-yellow, a deepening color that grew dull and took on a dark crimson sheen.
As the energy storm gathered, it merely lifted its eyelids for a glance, then returned to its position on the snow, but the energy flowing around it was silently absorbed by the fur covering its body.
Li Hao’s cultivation continued.
Many cultivation techniques were practiced one by one, each one understood, each detail mastered.
From sunrise to broad daylight, the aura on the mountain peak flickered unpredictably, and the rare glimpse of an indescribable feeling made the eyelids of Li Hongzhuang and others outside the mountain twitch.
Finally.
There seemed to be a long-lasting calm within the mountain peak.
And the heavenly and earthly energy that had enveloped the mountain peak was no longer growing but slowly contracting until it turned into a breeze-like vortex and dissipated without a trace.
On the mountain summit, only the figure of Li Hao sat quietly.
His clothing was somewhat tattered, the result of the burst seams from the earlier dragon transformation.
From the gaps in his frayed clothes, an exposed body could be seen, forged like gold.
All sorts of auras were concealed by the Myriad Attributes.
Yet even so, the transcendental detachment inherent to the Supreme Body, coupled with the suppressed hint of malevolence from the Bright Jade True Demon, endowed the youth with an indescribable quality.
Li Hongzhuang gazed intently, her eyes slightly losing focus.
She felt that the youth had changed tremendously and was no longer the Li Hao from before.
Grandmasters walk alone.
And Li Hao had walked his own unique path, reaching for even higher realms.
Opening his eyes, Li Hao’s pupils seemed to contain concealed stars, his gaze calm, like a peaceful lake.
Noticing the two figures at the foot of the mountain, Li Hao looked down, and upon seeing the little white fox curled up as if in deep sleep, his eyes softened.
Having practiced and deduced all his cultivation techniques, Li Hao’s physique had reached an unprecedented level.
Although he had not tested it, Li Hao felt that if he were to encounter the Great Demon King again, he might well be able… to fight it!
The exact extent of his ability needed to be verified firsthand.
What was slightly regrettable was that despite having cultivated many techniques to the limit of the Unwithering Realm, with power vast as an ocean within him, he seemed to have some distance yet to reach the ultimate limit.
Li Hao got up and stood naturally, as if his movement urged the celestial and terrestrial forces upon the mountain to lift upward, creating a sensation as if the heaven and earth were rising with him.
Li Hao looked toward the clouds, and his gaze could directly penetrate to where Feng Boping lay hidden within. Their eyes met, and Li Hao smiled.
Feng Boping sighed in admiration, indeed, he was at the Three Immortal Realms.
Although Li Hao had concealed all his energy, he could still feel that this young man was truly a monster.
Li Hao floated down the mountain, and as the celestial and terrestrial forces dissipated, Ren Qianqian gradually ceased her cultivation. Now opening her eyes, she saw standing before her, the gentle and jade-like youth.
“Young master.”
Ren Qianqian quickly stood up from the ground and sweetly called out.
Li Hao glanced at her aura, Soul Succession Realm level ten.
Having returned from Dayue City, it was quite decent she could reach this level in just half a year of cultivation.
The feast from the Demon King had benefited all the martial artists in the city, with most of them experiencing an increase in skills, and Ren Qianqian’s improvement was particularly evident.
However, below the Grandmaster Realm, it was possible to swiftly elevate one’s level merely with resources—as long as the resources were sufficient, progressing a thousand miles in a day wasn’t just a madman’s dream.
Of course, relying on medicinal pills could result in a somewhat hollow realm of progress, whereas nourishment from food was another matter entirely.
“It seems you’re close to the Divine Travel Realm,” said Li Hao.
Ren Qianqian smiled, “Yes, I’m going to prepare for Soul Refining soon.”
Li Hao nodded, “When we return to the city, I will write a Soul Refining Skill for you, and you can follow it for your cultivation.”
Ren Qianqian was thrilled, “Really?”
Li Hao smiled and immediately bent down to pick up the little white fox in the snow.
The little white fox opened its eyelids to look, saw it was Li Hao, and closed its eyes again, reassured.
Li Hao noted the changes in the little white fox, but upon investigation, it wasn’t sick or anything serious; it was most likely just overfed.
“Let’s go, let’s head back,” Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian nodded and followed closely.
Li Hongzhuang approached him and quickly said, “Hao Er, this cultivation… have you made a breakthrough?”
“Mhm.”
Li Hao nodded slightly without going into detail.
Leaving Li Hongzhuang standing dumbfounded in the snow.
Previously she could vaguely sense some auras but couldn’t be certain. Now, there was no longer any doubt.
…
…
Outside Qingzhou City, at the Divine General Mansion.
The enormous Nine Honored Beast Cauldron being transported here, such a spectacle attracted the attention of many passersby, who stealthily discussed their speculations about the contents sealed within it.
Inside the Eternal Spring Court, He Jianlan heard the report and immediately ordered the escort of the Bloodsha Army to be admitted from outside the mansion.
As the Nine Honored Beast Cauldron was positioned, the ladies from the other courts also rushed to the news, eyeing the beast cauldron, uncertain of what was inside it.
The iron seal on top prevented any probing.
“What’s inside this?”
He Jianlan looked at the deputy commander of the Bloodsha Army who had escorted the cauldron, knowing he was a trusted follower of Li Hongzhuang and also an illegitimate member of the Li Family, and her attitude was quite cordial.
“”Madam, I am fulfilling General’s orders to deliver this precious blood of the Demon King back for Young Master Li Hao.”
The middle-aged deputy bowed respectfully before speaking.
He Jianlan was startled, and upon hearing the name Li Hao, the ladies from the other courtyards also showed a moment of surprise.
Now, within the Divine General Mansion, those two characters hold a reputation that is as profound as thunder after a lightning strike.
“Demon King’s precious blood?”
Gao Qingqing looked at the Nine Honored Beast Cauldron with surprise, such a large volume, could this be the blood of a Great Demon King from the Four Stands Realm?
Beside him, Li Yun and Li Zhining were also staring in bewilderment at the term “Demon King,” feeling it was incredibly distant.
After her moment of distraction, He Jianlan’s expression suddenly shifted slightly, she vividly remembered what Li Hao said when he left the mansion.
Was this now a repayment for the second favor?
He Jianlan’s eyes moistened slightly, but she quickly composed herself and said, “Then please trouble everyone to deliver this precious blood of the Demon King to the Mountain and River Courtyard.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The middle-aged deputy accepted the command.
But before he could leave, He Jianlan hastily inquired, “Is Hao Er doing well at the Frontier Pass? This Demon King… is it that little Demon King’s father?”
The middle-aged deputy shook his head slightly and said, “The Wan Shan Demon King gathered three Demon Kings to invade, and this is the precious blood of one of them. The Wan Shan Demon King and the other two have already escaped.”
“Four Demon Kings!”
Everyone’s faces changed drastically as they gasped together.
Even on the Northern Yan battlefield, such a prominent stage for the world’s attention, the simultaneous appearance of four Demon Kings would be enough to shake the court.
What’s more, at the Heavenly Gate Pass, that lone city.
“Then Hao Er…” He Jianlan turned pale, shaking, almost feeling unable to stand.
The middle-aged deputy hurriedly said, “Madam, there’s no need to worry. The Demon Kings have been driven off, Young Master Li Hao is unharmed. With the help of Master Tianji and the arrival of his uncle, had those demons not fled quickly, they would have all died.”
He Jianlan’s complexion finally relaxed, and she found that her palms were already sweating.
Although she had not witnessed it herself, she could imagine just how perilous the battlefield at Heavenly Gate Pass had been.
And Li Hao, having survived such a huge catastrophe, chose to send the precious blood of the Demon King back; this was not just to thank the Li Family, but to repay a debt of gratitude.
However, what Li Tian Gang had sent back in the past was merely the blood of a Three Immortal Realms demon that had lived for three thousand years. Now, this was the precious blood of a Ten Thousand Years Demon King.
The gap in this reciprocation was too great.
“In another two years, is that child… really going to leave the Li Family?”
He Jianlan suppressed her tears, feeling a bitter and uncomfortable sensation in her heart.
After a while, she gestured for the middle-aged deputy to step down with a wave of her hand.
She then said to a maidservant beside her, “Write a letter, to Liangzhou, tell Tiangang that his son has repaid his gratitude!”
The others, upon hearing He Jianlan’s words, stayed silent.
In the crowd, Wang Xiangru, the eighth lady, gave a soft sneer but didn’t speak.
Her daughter Li Rumeng was slapped by Li Hao back in the day, and after being investigated for the reason, although no one took a stance, the word ‘deserved’ was practically written on everyone’s faces.
As a mother, however, she couldn’t swallow this insult.
Yet, with Li Hao’s rising influence now, she couldn’t openly say anything.
…
…
In Liangzhou, at the Eastern Border War Camp.
The extensive defense line, a long wall built of black stone, stretched across the border.
The land beyond the border is pitch dark, the ground covered with scorched weeds, and the trees within the mountains and forests are all cut down to maximize the field of view.
Done to prevent demons from stealthily approaching under the cover of night.
Everything is visible for a hundred miles.
At this moment, outside the war camp, numerous soldiers were dragging the corpses of demons back to the camp.
Everywhere on the ground, fresh blood was spattered.
On some flatbed carts and stretchers, many wounded soldiers were carried along with the remains of those who had died in battle.
They had just gone through a large battle, causing grievous losses to the demons.
The soldiers had casualties too, but the numbers were not high.
“…Reporting to the Marshal, 43,255 demons have been annihilated, our side has 720 severely injured, over 1,000 with minor injuries, and 321 killed in action!”
An officer came before Li Tian Gang and reported earnestly.
Hearing the war report, Li Tian Gang’s furrowed brow remained unchanged as he simply nodded slightly.
Afterward, his gaze shifted toward the vast expanse of land beyond the black soil.
“These demons repeatedly harass us, testing our military strength in the eastern regions.”
“With Fifth Brother holding down the western side, the demons have long since investigated and might attack from the north or the south…”
When he mentioned the south, his eyes narrowed.
In the south of Liangzhou lies Heavenly Gate Pass.
Thinking of that mountain pass, he pictured the stubborn, unyielding figure of the young man and those stubborn, cold eyes.
The wrinkles between his eyebrows deepened.
“Marshal, since the young master previously slew the Little Demon King in Dayue City, that Wanshan Old Demon King surely wouldn’t let things rest easily.”
Next to him, Li Fu expressed his concerns with a worried tone.
Looking at the wounded and maimed soldiers all around him, he thought of the young man at Heavenly Gate Pass, knowing full well how harsh the borderland winds and snows could be.
Li Tian Gang remained expressionless, saying, “That Little Demon King was exceptionally talented, and the Wanshan Old Demon King will not let this go. He might collude with other demons to invade our territory.”
“Then…” Li Fu couldn’t help but glance at him.
Li Tian Gang calmly said, “Hao Er has a Four Stands Realm martial artist secretly protecting him, an old friend of my second uncle, and there’s also the Qilin from Tan Palace Academy. He should be safe.”
“As I lead the troops to Liangzhou this time, all matters in the mansion are temporarily handed over to my sister-in-law to manage. With no one to watch over my second uncle, and no one able to restrain him, he’s likely to be impatient and head for Heavenly Gate Pass.”
“With them there, even if the Wanshan Old Demon King summons the other two Demon Kings outside Heavenly Gate Pass to attack, they should be capable of defending themselves. It will also provide an opportunity to sweep clean the Demon Kings outside the pass, leaving it to the Monster Suppression Department to gnaw at their remains. There will be no need to abandon Heavenly Gate Pass then.”
The previously determined abandonment of Heavenly Gate Pass was a reluctant measure.
If it can be held, that is naturally for the best.
After all, this is a place founded by the former emperor and the ancestors of the Li Family, soaked with the blood of countless forbearers and soldiers.
Li Fu was momentarily stunned—if that were the case, wouldn’t it mean they are using Li Hao to lure the Demon Kings outside the pass?
“Wouldn’t the young master be in too much danger if he gets involved in a Four Stands Realm battle?” Li Fu couldn’t help but express his concern.
“If he doesn’t want to get involved, he should simply retreat obediently,” Li Tian Gang said coldly. “If he lowers his head, the Divine General Mansion is always there for him to return to.”
Li Tian Gang said in a cold voice, “The letter I sent him before was an opportunity for him to step down. He’s too high-spirited and proud to admit any wrongdoing, not even sending a reply back!”
“Since that’s the case, let those Demon Kings discipline him. Let him understand what cruelty is, what despair is. Once he has seen life and death, he will realize how ridiculous his defiance is!”
“But the young master is still young, and it’s normal for him to have youthful impetuosity. Might this approach be too…”
“No need to say more.”
Li Tian Gang cut him off with a wave of his hand, saying, “This is the Eastern Territory. Liangzhou could erupt into danger at any time. From the previous investigations, a figure from Longmen has appeared, and the Holy Palace from Northern Yan—an old comrade—intends to relocate, treating Liangzhou as a gap. This could be a fierce battle on a par with Northern Yan. Don’t get distracted!”
Li Fu opened his mouth slightly, let out a bitter laugh, and said no more.
At that moment, a sparrow dived down, plunging from the clouds like an arrow.
Li Tian Gang looked up and raised his hand, the swiftly diving sparrow halted rapidly, perching on his forearm.
The sparrow puffed up its chest and spat out a scroll from its beak.
“It’s the madame’s skylark.”
Li Fu recognized the little Bird Demon that served as a war message courier, specially bred by the Divine General Mansion.
Li Tian Gang took the scroll, unfolded it, and glanced at it, his expression changing ever so slightly.
“Marshal, could it be that Qingzhou is in trouble?” Li Fu couldn’t help but ask.
Li Tian Gang’s expression darkened, his fingers pinched the scroll, and it turned to ashes.
“The second favor…”
The fingers that had crushed the scroll clenched slightly into a fist.
He remembered when he was in Northern Yan, hearing about Li Hao’s inability to cultivate, he had charged out of the military formation alone, slain an Immortal Great Demon, and transported its treasured blood back.
Now, the young man had sent the Nine Cauldrons Demon King’s Treasured Blood, repaying that favor from the past.
Does that settle their debts?
An array of emotions, a mix of discomfort and anger, surged in Li Tian Gang’s heart.
He could even visualize the young man’s cold eyes when he returned the Demon King’s treasured blood.
Moreover, the scroll mentioned that there were not three but four Demon Kings attacking Heavenly Gate Pass. Fortunately, with the help of Tianji Tower and the arrival of his second uncle to reinforce, the Demon Kings were driven away.
Four Demon Kings—it was such a formation that, even though Li Tian Gang was not in Heavenly Gate Pass, he could sense the dangers there.
Towards Tianji Tower and his second uncle who had gone to help, he felt expectantly relieved and yet harbored indescribable complex emotions.
He suddenly realized, with the young man’s fame spreading far and wide, even without the connections of the Li Family, many would value him.
Trying to force him back by sheer strength would meet many obstacles.
And these people would all become the source of encouragement for the child’s stubbornness and pride.
“So, is he planning to defend Heavenly Gate Pass for three years, and then cut ties?”
Li Tian Gang muttered to himself, a chill appearing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, calming his emotions, and refocused on the battlefield in Liangzhou.
He understood that with the child’s stubbornness, he was certainly determined to see his path through to the end.
The great battle in Qingzhou had made the Li Family notorious throughout the land, but it was a name met with mockery.
After all, a father-son battle, though most people harshly criticized Li Hao, calling him unfilial, at the end of the day it was still about the Li Family.
He would not let such a scandal happen again.
Once the battle situation in Liangzhou was over, or once the situation in the Eastern Territory had stabilized, Li Tian Gang planned to personally go to Heavenly Gate Pass and drag the other party back!
That so-called agreement, he had never taken seriously to begin with, tearing it up wouldn’t matter.
He would not let Li Hao exit the Li Family so easily.
…
…
Outside the long wall of black stone, in a swamp a thousand miles away.
The swamp stretched for hundreds of miles, with mud churning within, and occasionally burst bubbles of mud would appear.
Waves of foul stench emanated from the swamp, and suddenly, a stirring of mud in one area extended a huge figure, which turned out to be a Jiao dragon.
Its body meandering, coiling in the swamp, covered in scales smeared with mud, its emerald-green eyes seemed to hold a strong poison.
“Have you found them out? That Li Tian Gang is indeed stationed in the Eastern Territory.”
“To the west is that Li Family’s Fifth Brother, and to the East is Li Tian Gang. In Cangzhou, the trace of the Li Family’s Eighth has already been revealed.”
“Those two old fellows from the Li Family still need to sit tight in Qingzhou.”
Several figures appeared above the murky swamp, draped in black robes, but the edges of the robes revealed the clothing inside, which was a dark gold color, the height of luxury.
“Right now, our people haven’t started shifting towards Liangzhou yet, but the mere rumors have already startled the Li Family like a spooked bird.”
One of the figures in black robes let out a strange laugh, occasionally sticking out a forked tongue to lick his own cheek and nose while speaking.
Another figure in black robes, upon seeing this subconscious gesture, furrowed his brow in displeasure, saying:
“Can you refrain from that disgusting habit? We are aiming for the tribulation to transform into dragons, striving to shed our Jiao form. You still keeping that serpentine nature is truly nauseating.”
“That’s you all. I have no plans to become a dragon. I will become a great snake!”
The aforementioned figure said with a sinister laugh.
In fact, he had truncated some of his thoughts, which was not only to become a great snake but also to become a snake that devoured dragons!
“Hmph!”
Upon hearing these words, several others snorted coldly, showing their dissatisfaction.
“Did you come here just to quarrel? Speak plainly. I still need to go back for some more sleep,” said the Mud Jiao lazily in the swamp.
“The Elders said to have you occasionally gather some little ones to attack the Eastern Territory, tying down Li Tian Gang and keeping him there. Before long, the Holy Palace will come to take over this place.”
“The Holy Palace and this Li Tian Gang are old foes, having fought from Northern Yan to here. They swore to flay and eat Li Tian Gang alive, and this time without the aid of the Saber Saint from Northern Yan or the favors from the Great Desert Sword Saint, let’s see what Li Tian Gang can do to block!”
“The lands of Liangzhou are desolate, without producing any prominent heroes. Even if there were any, they are either dead or have long since vanished.”
“Hmph, if it wasn’t for the fact that I couldn’t beat him, I would even want to go find trouble with this Li Tian Gang.”
“Let’s forget about it. This young rascal, Li Tian Gang, although not one of Li Family’s older generation, is also at the peak of Three Immortals. I heard that in Northern Yan, he even slew over a dozen Immortal Great Demons, extremely terrifying!”
“Luckily, that ninth of the Li Family died in battle in Cangzhou, otherwise our Demon Race would have one more formidable enemy!”
“Enough idle talk, we still have to go up North to check things out.”
“The North? That area borders Youzhou, defended by the Xia Family; it’s somewhat tricky, and cannot be penetrated through that flank.”
“Originally, breaking through from the South would have been best, but it turns out that Li Tian Gang’s son is over there, guarded by Four Stands Realm protectors, forcing a change of route.”
The figures in black robes chatted amongst themselves and waved to the Mud Jiao in the swamp, then flew off towards the North.
“That Xia Family, I’ve heard they’re not on the best terms with the Li Family. Let’s first go test the waters, see if the Xia Family will cross the border to help when we invade the North,” said one of the figures in black robes.
…
…
Heavenly Gate Pass, Cangya City.
With the assistance of many Martial Artists, Cangya City was now nearly perfected.
An elder from the Heavenly Observatory, a Star Bureau Official, along with his few students, was busy setting up Arrays, working till they were covered in sweat.
Xia Xiang Lan wasn’t as lively and playful as before, remaining quiet by her master’s side, diligently assisting and simultaneously observing and learning earnestly.
Occasionally, when she looked up, her gaze would fall upon the location within the city, but all she could see was the silhouette of the walled courtyard.
Li Hao had written his modified and integrated Soul Refining Skill for Ren Qianqian, a method that could cultivate to a level close to that of the Imperial Family.
The Soul Refining Skill he practiced combined multiple methods, enabling him to surpass the Imperial Family’s version.
While Ren Qianqian practiced in the camp, Li Hao grabbed the Dragon Soar Sword, tossed the Little White Fox onto the cool mat in the yard, and then left the mountain pass alone.
The three Demon Kings had fled, and he didn’t know if he would still encounter them in their lair.
Li Hao urgently needed a Demon King to practice his skills on.
Outside the pass, the cold wind blows in gusts.
Li Hao moved through the air, flying toward an even more distant place.
This time he no longer needed to worry about the possibility of being ambushed by a Demon King at any moment, necessitating seeking refuge with Feng to escape.
Though he was only at the peak of the Three Immortal Realms, Li Hao felt that even if he encountered a Demon King of the Tao Heart Realm, he could still fight without having to transform into an immortal.
Regrettably,
when he tried to increase his level, from the seventh stage to the eighth stage of the Physical Body Path, he was prompted that he needed to condense his Tao Heart.
The first step of the Four Stands Realm, the Tao Heart Realm, might be the weakest, but it’s of utmost importance.
Li Hao could only rely on himself to find that Tao Heart before being able to level up.
Li Hao felt that once he found the Tao Heart and leveled up, he might very likely step directly into the peak of the Four Stands Realm, which is the level of the Buddha Lord.
By that time, apart from the Imperial Court, there should be no place in the Dayu Realm that could stop him.
Within three hundred miles outside the pass, Li Hao had already fished and flattened the area before.
Now passing through again, Li Hao saw only a small number of minor demons, who had wandered here, settling down to seek food, and he killed them with a flick of his hand.
The demons in this wild area were like weeds, growing back if not cleared regularly.
Li Hao planned to make some of his own banners to plant in these areas afterward, to let these demons know that these lands were off-limits to them.
Seven hundred miles away lay the Wanshan District.
This place was formerly forbidden territory for the Human Race, entry forbidden or else the Wan Shan Demon King would capture and kill those who trespassed, and not even the Dayu Divine Dynasty could issue a warrant for him.
But now, Li Hao stepped directly into this land.
On his way, he casually slew four Heavenly Human Realm demons.
These demons occupied their own territories, each extending about a hundred miles, not infringing upon each other.
Li Hao didn’t give them a chance to speak, simply raising his hand to kill them and even flattening their territories.
When Li Hao arrived at this once forbidden district, he saw that the once picturesque Wanshan mountains were now deathly silent.
Inside, there were only a few minor demons of the Zhou Tian Realm, with little spirit intelligence.
The rest of the demons had vanished.
Either they perished in the great battle, or they fled the area upon hearing the news.
Racing through, Li Hao saw caverns the demons had carved into the mountainsides, reeking inside.
On the mountaintops, there were demon flags imitating the Human Race, with “Wan Shan” written on them, tattered and obliquely positioned against mountain slopes, stripped of their former pride.
Li Hao unleashed his Divine Soul to survey the entire Wanshan territory.
Encountering some minor demons with bared teeth, he simply slapped them to death.
Nearing the central area, the mountain peak of the Wan Shan Demon King was perilous, with a stone staircase leading to the summit, built in splendor.
At the summit stood a hall resembling a golden throne, standing like a palace in the deep mountains, fierce with a touch of demonic eeriness.
Around it were giant lion sculptures, depicting the true form of the Wan Shan Demon King, on whose pedestals dragons and phoenixes were carved, as if they were melodiously pleasing the giant lions.
Li Hao flew past, casually shattering them.
With a physical strength of one million jin, he could easily shatter mountains and rocks with his bare hands.
If he wielded objects with his power, with one thought he could move mountains, with another he could cleave peaks.
“You didn’t rush off too hastily.”
Li Hao saw that nothing was left inside the palatial halls, except the jewelry and jade inlaid as decorations, which held little value for demons besides their ability to shine.
Making a full round, Li Hao found no gains; the Immortal Realm demons’ dens were also empty, evidently having prepared an escape route before the great battle.
Li Hao kicked and shattered the grand hall, resembling a palace, then soared into the sky, leaving the place.
He changed direction, heading toward the southern area, to Longshan Taoist Temple.
…
…
Inside Longshan Taoist Temple,
The once bustling temple was now empty and quiet on the vast Enlightenment Ground.
The thin smoke of incense that used to billow was now reduced to just a few sticks burning—barely any ash remained.
Two untransformed little demons sneaked in, wriggling through a dog hole at the back of the temple. Seeing the deserted ground, they bared their teeth in secret delight.
They then ran to the incense, forcefully puffing up their chests, eager to suckle.
But suddenly, a shadow loomed over them, followed by the stench of rotting flesh and the buzzing of swarming insects, covering both small demons.
The two small demons showed a look of terror; before they could struggle or scream, they were completely enveloped and then dissolved into bloody water. The trace of demonic Qi squeezed from their bodies wafted into the mouth of a mummy-like demon.
“Mountain yokels, daring to suckle on dragon incense.”
The mummy demon snorted coldly. This incense was not ordinary; it was blended with special demon flesh and blood. The burning incense contained a unique demonic Qi, which, when inhaled for cultivation, could enhance Cultivation Levels.
“The Dragon Lord is taking his time returning. The last information gathered was that the attack on Heavenly Gate Pass failed.”
A seductive woman with the lower body of a centipede swam over, her fan concealing her face as she spoke softly,
“Husband, it’s just us here now. Shouldn’t we leave as well? The Dragon Lord probably isn’t coming back.”
“Leave? Where can we go?”
The mummy demon shook his head, “If the Dragon Lord comes back and sees we’re not here, he will hunt us down.”
“We can flee somewhere else, to the north of the Dayu Divine Dynasty, to Northern Yan. They just ended a battle there, and I heard that many demons died, so many territories should have been vacated. We could go there and declare ourselves kings,” the seductive centipede woman suggested.
“There is a holy palace over there. Although they retreated several thousand miles after being defeated, if we go there, we need to signal the holy palace, after all, we’re not just any ordinary yokel demons.”
