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Within the city.

Li Hao, whose presence was hidden, and Li Xiaoran instantly recognized the three figures that suddenly burst out from the battlefield as the pursuing Candle Flame God and Lu Yuan, their eyes sharp and frosty.

Ms. Yin was also among them, which meant there was no one guarding outside Mo River.

Indeed.

Leaving Ms. Yin alone to guard was also unlikely to restrain either Li Hao or Li Xiaoran.

“They’ve indeed been watching us constantly…”

Li Xiaoran’s gaze was sharp as a knife, and he said, “This array probably won’t withstand the attacks from the Taiping Tao Domain for long. We must make our move quickly. If you can’t hold up, retreat immediately. There should be many Sacred Heart Talismans in the secret vault, you took them all, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

Li Hao nodded.

Having inherited the True Dragon, in that secret vault were not only the divine weapons of the Li Family’s ancestors but also many treasures that had been passed down for hundreds of years, including many Sacred Heart Talismans.

Such precious items were stacked thickly in the secret vault, representing the deep foundation of the Li Family.

Among them were several offensive Sacred Heart Talismans that could pose a significant threat to the Tao Heart Realm.

Li Hao wanted to test the might of the Candle Flame God’s Dao Domain partly because he had a wealth of treasures from the Li Family’s secret vault to squander. Here, his advantage was even greater than on the outside.

In any case, all this was due to Li Tianzong’s obsession, so spending them would not cause any regret.

“Kill!”

Li Hao suddenly charged out. Although Feng was not present and he had not learned the Heaven and Earth Traceless Skill,

His strength had been continuously refined and enhanced, and as he advanced his cultivation to the Three Immortal Realms, restrictions from the rules weakened. This led him to a vague sense during his comprehension of the movement technique, ultimately deriving the Heaven and Earth Traceless Skill on his own.

With the Sixth Stage of the Tao Realm in movement technique, and using those occasional flashes of “inspiration” for reference, it wasn’t difficult to extrapolate.

Now, combined with many peerless movement techniques of the Li Family, his speed was even faster.

Moreover, aided by the several paintings and zither scores he had collected, his movement technique was also bolstered by these portraits, and with just a blink of an eye, he exploded at full speed. Like teleportation, he crossed over ten miles and appeared in front of the array.

Bang!

Li Hao’s hand wielding the Green Frost Sword furiously slashed down.

He possessed an array token, and his attack directly penetrated the array, slashing onto the Candle Flame God.

The Candle Flame God did not anticipate Li Hao would return with a counterattack, and certainly not that he would leap out in an instant. His eyes constricted as he instinctively attempted to dodge, but Li Hao’s swordsmanship was also at the Sixth Stage, and the Sword Intent of Endless Sea cut through space, striking directly.

Without the pull of Dao charm, the sheer speed made it extremely difficult for anyone to evade.

An intense fiery essence erupted as the Candle Flame God’s Dao Domain was unfurled. Witnessing the sword light that Li Hao cleaved into his Dao Domain, he was shocked, and his eyes blazed with furious killing intent.

Far too audacious!

How dare he attempt a counter-kill?

He was in a state with an unfurled Dao Domain. A mere Three Immortal Realms, who gave him the audacity!!

With a boom, the divine flames within the Dao Domain exploded, and the sword brilliance dominated the sky. The fierce impact shook the array, causing it to ripple extensively, with countless divine runes flickering rapidly, as if about to burst open.

The clashing force of their attacks nearly tore through the array!

The Candle Flame God stumbled back several steps, his pupils dilating slightly, horror in his eyes.

Within his Dao Domain, his Martial Arts were the rule, the order!

In the Flame Tao Extreme Realm, he could burn all things to ash. Everything could be destroyed and incinerated within his Dao Domain.

If he were amidst a battlefield of countless people, he would merely need to extend his Dao Domain, and all surrounding Tianren Sect Grandmasters, Three Immortal Realms practitioners, and even those in the Tao Heart Realm or the Ultimate Study Realm would turn to charred fireballs in an instant!

Only those who relied on defying fate could barely struggle and escape.

Even Li Hao’s Sword Qi and the Divine Weapon would be burnt and melted under the jurisprudence of the Flame Tao Extreme Realm!

In reality, Li Hao’s Sword Qi indeed melted, but as it did, the residual power of the Sword Qi forced the Candle Flame God back!

The force contained within that Sword Qi seemed capable of splitting a hundred mountains!

“What kind of Divine Power is this!”

The Candle Flame God was shocked. This was the first time someone had pushed him back while his Dao Domain was expanded, and by a practitioner of the Three Immortal Realms?!

When he looked up, he saw Li Hao glowing in Red Gold, like a War God, emanating an endless aura of murder and ferocity.

Having cultivated in Mo River, it accounted for eighteen years with the accelerated time, but in reality, it was just under two months.

It was the first time Li Hao truly unveiled his power!

This terrifying divine might that reverberated out left everyone on the nearby city walls completely astonished, as they stared at the young man.

“Little Tenth…”

Chen Hefang and the other Aunties like Li Qingling watched the young man’s figure in shock. Explore stories at mvl

They couldn’t imagine that the child could be so tremendously powerful and fearsome.

Three Immortal Realms?

The might he emitted at that moment made even them, who were of the same realm, feel a sense of trepidation, as if they could be snuffed out and obliterated in an instant.

What was more terrifying was that Li Hao had actually forced back the supreme Demon King of the Taiping Tao Domain with a single sword strike, utterly inconceivable!

Li Xiaoran, who followed close behind, found his movement speed was just a fraction slower than Li Hao’s. Witnessing the scene, he stood dumbfounded, astounded.

Was this the confidence Li Hao had in challenging the Taiping Tao Domain?

Being indomitable within the Dao Domain was a common consensus in Martial Arts, yet this very moment, the myth was broken by Li Hao, who was without a Dao Domain!

“It seems, as long as the power is great enough, even the rules of the Dao Domain can’t suppress instantly!”

Li Hao’s eyes were icy as he deduced the uniqueness of the Taiping Tao Domain from that single stroke of his sword.

While the rules of the Dao Domain would suppress and strangle all foreign entities that intrude, if the power was condensed strongly enough, it could barely hold on.

Because suppression and strangulation required a little time.

Just a little bit of time, but the stronger the power, the longer this time could be extended!

Therefore,

The Dao Domain, is not unbreakable!

Kill!

Li Hao struck with his sword once more, bolstered by his Divine Power status and the connectivity of the Heaven and Earth Vein, he reached out and tossed a piece of godly medicine into his mouth, and his whole body’s aura grew once again.

There was one advantage in the Mo River, his ability to cultivate so quickly also benefited from being able to swallow godly medicine, no longer cut off from it.

In a situation where he didn’t have to consider consequences, even godly medicine with side effects, Li Hao could devour them eagerly, using every possible means to enhance his strength during this time!

After all, once he left the Mo River, everything would be in vain.

Boom!

The second sword strike, like roaring waves, condensed myriad Sword Qi and furiously descended.

The Candle Flame God came back to his senses, feeling a divine rage in his heart, as if an emperor had been provoked and his robes sullied by a common beggar, an insult to him.

A golden light split open on his forehead, like a vertical pupil, shooting out intense Divine Fire. With the boost of the Dao Domain, this Divine Fire seemed capable of burning everything, creating the illusion of scorching black smoke in the space.

As the sword light fell into the Dao Domain, it rapidly burned and melted away, but the sword light was like a stick of wood condensed to the extreme; the surface was continuously burned, yet the inside was incredibly solid, piercing through dozens of yards of the Dao Domain and colliding with that intense Divine Fire, only then did the sword light turn into a whiff of flame and dissipate.

It was clearly just Sword Qi, yet there was a sense of it being like straw being rapidly burned away.

Li Hao’s expression slightly changed, the Dao Domain was indeed extraordinary, if the opponent seriously deployed the Dao Domain, with the power boost, his Sword Qi could pose a threat but it was very limited.

After all, the opponent’s strength in itself was enough to dominate the Ultimate Study Realm.

“This youngster!”

Lu Yuan caught up and saw Li Hao actually on par with the Candle Flame God, not falling behind, which shocked him to the core.

The rate of the opponent’s growth scared him.

“Husband, I am here to assist you!”

Ms. Yin arrived, waving her hand releasing the Dark Moon, like a sickle’s blade, fiercely slashing down.

But Li Hao stood inside the Array, the black curved blade striking the Array, triggering waves of divine patterns, yet it couldn’t break through at once.

At the same time, several figures from within the city were also speeding over, clearly sensing the presence of a Demon King at the Ultimate Study Realm and thus wanting to assist Li Hao in repelling him.

Li Xiaoran also made his move at this moment, with saber light sweeping across the sky, he directly chopped at the Dark Moon, shattering the moonlight.

“Half-step Tao Realm, do you still need the help of others?!” Read exclusive content at mvl

Li Xiaoran roared furiously, slashing another saber strike towards Lu Yuan, the saber light slower to start yet faster to arrive, cutting through space and directly chopping onto Lu Yuan’s head.

Lu Yuan had previously witnessed the terrifying nature of Li Xiaoran’s saber technique, now both shocked and furious, his body flashed with lightning, tearing through the saber light, yet he was still injured, with blood dripping down from the top of his head.

“Bastard!”

Lu Yuan raged, one-on-one, he might not be the match for Li Xiaoran.

“I will kill him myself!”

Hearing Li Xiaoran’s roar, the Candle Flame God raised his hand to stop his wife Ms. Yin from coming to assist, his eyes blazed with gold flames, burning in their sockets. His splendid golden pupils stared intently at Li Hao:

“Do you dare to come out?”

Li Hao sneered, “Do you think I am a three-year-old child?”

Raising his hand, he swung his sword consecutively.

Sword light constantly emitted, hammering against the opponent’s Dao Domain; each strike was terribly fearsome, if not for the Dao Domain, they were enough to slash horizontally for hundreds of miles, cutting off mountains, splitting rivers.

But in this Dao Domain, traveling several yards, it burst into flames, the Sword Qi rapidly waning.

“You truly fancy yourself in competition with me?”

The Candle Flame God felt like laughing in anger, but paid no further attention to Li Hao. Previously, Li Hao had caught him off guard, allowing Li Hao to repel him within the Dao Domain. Now, as he poured a great deal of power into the Dao Domain, Li Hao’s attacks were simply unable to touch him and would be consumed by the domain’s rules!

“Wait until I break your Array, then I will kill you!”

The Candle Flame God began to attack the Array frantically, wanting to shatter it.

The older generation of the Li Family, enraged, struck out with a flurry of attacks, but as they entered the opponent’s Dao Domain, they were incinerated, vanishing without a trace.

Only now, as they witnessed the Sword Qi that roamed freely within the Dao Domain, did they deeply realize how terrifyingly powerful this member of the Li Family’s main lineage was!

“Ends of the Earth Carefree Saber!”

Li Xiaoran also furiously unleashed his Peerless Technique, as the saber light seemed to sever the void. Upon the figure of the locked-on Candle Flame God, a majestic mountain phantom faintly appeared, seemingly pressing down from above.

That was the edge of the world the saber light aimed to reach.

But the moment the giant mountain phantom appeared, it was burned away. As the saber light rapidly approached, the saber intent got incinerated, causing the speed to slow down. The originally almost instantaneous saber light now had traces to follow!

With a thud, the Candle Flame God raised his hand and slapped out, a mighty surge of scorching heat and blazing intent shattering the saber intent.

His eyes were cold. Despite crushing Li Xiaoran’s Peerless Technique with a casual strike, he did not feel exhilarated. On the contrary, he felt an ashamed anger.

Those two from the Li Family had actually dared to brazenly charge into his Dao Domain, it was utterly disgraceful!

“Die!”

The violent flaming fist hammered down on the Array, and the divine patterns on the Array actually started to smoke, giving off a feeling of melting.

Li Hao’s pupils constricted as he struck out with his sword again and again, driving the great veins of his body, harnessing the Power of Heaven and Earth from all directions, slashing with all his might.

His strength now was stronger than outside, as due to the influence of the Ten Thousand Blood True Demon Skill, his physical body was refined to an even more extreme extent, reaching the level of the Eighth Cast Divine Weapon.

Boom!

The sword light chopped down on the lava-like intense fist. The Sword Qi ignited itself, yet the fiery light was only slightly reduced.

Although Li Hao was able to attack the Candle Flame God in the Dao Domain, his power was still not enough due to the suppression by the domain.

The attacks of others melted away as soon as they flew into the Dao Domain, not even leaving ashes behind.

“We can’t hold them off any longer.”

Li Xiaoran’s expression was ugly as he transmitted his voice to Li Hao.

Li Hao’s gaze grew even colder, he took a deep breath and entered the Transforming Immortal Realm.

The Heaven and Earth Vein, like a water pump, frantically drew the power of the surrounding world, Li Hao’s strength surged wildly, divine light shot from his eyes, and his hair flew about in anger.

He raised the Green Frost Sword and swung it out again, the sword light seemed to draw all the light from the sky, condensing into an autumn-water-like, extremely cold Sword Intent, and suddenly slashed out.

The green sword light shone like a divine rainbow, reflecting outward, instantly flying into the Dao Domain, turning into a flame-burning sword light without decreasing in speed, heading straight for the Candle Flame God.

The Candle Flame God’s face changed slightly, the divine fire on his forehead shot out again, but it was torn apart by the burning Sword Qi, and then the Sword Qi continued, attacking once more.

The Candle Flame God was shocked and roared as he swung his fist to smash it down.

Bang!

The fire from the punch reverberated, and the sword light was dispersed by this punch, but the terrifying force left a sword mark on the fist of the Candle Flame God.

The Candle Flame God was injured!

“My lord!”

Ms. Yin was shocked when she saw this scene.

The Taiping Tao Domain, actually injured by someone from the Three Immortal Realms?!

“You!”

The Candle Flame God, his fist in pain, was also stunned, never expecting to be injured within his own domain.

However, Li Hao’s eyes bloomed with divine light, revealing a more intense killing intent, as he seemed to have discovered the limits of what the other’s domain rules could suppress.

At this moment, he had transformed 30% into an Immortal, and in combination with his current refined body and the enhancement of many divine medicines, he could barely injure the Tao Realm!

“Bastard!”

The Candle Flame God trembled with rage, and golden flames spread rapidly from his eyes to his entire body, like a deity bathed in fire, facing off against Li Hao who was covered in Red Gold, across an Array as if in a battle between gods!

“I will kill you!”

The Candle Flame God roared and swung his fist at the Array again.

But before his fist even fell, the Array suddenly burst apart.

Li Hao and the Candle Flame God were both stunned, Li Hao’s pupils contracted as he looked into the distance, only to see a young man in a black torn robe standing in the eastern sky, leisurely retracting his palm.

Clearly, it was he who had destroyed the Array.

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“The Taiping Tao Domain!”

Li Xiaoran’s pupils contracted, and he urgently transmitted his voice to Li Hao, “There’s a change, run!”

“Finally willing to make a move, a bunch of damned dead souls!”

The Candle Flame God, upon seeing the torn-robed youth, flashed a hint of anger in his eyes, but quickly repressed it.

The other party was a genuine top Demon King of the Taiping Tao Domain.

He had been patrolling everywhere with the Tao Realm in the hope of uniting them to break through Dragon City after encountering these terrifying presences lurking in the Abyss.

Only two figures had just responded to the summon, while the others, previously agreed upon, now ignored his calls, seeming to look down upon them.

Li Hao’s expression also changed; without the Array to block them, although he now had the power to barely fight the Candle Flame God, another from the Taiping Tao Domain had appeared!

It was only the third day, yet such an unexpected change had occurred.

At that moment, Li Hao suddenly saw ancient characters gathering in a golden light, it was a prompt from the Mo River:

The main mission has changed:

Defend Dragon City for one day.

The countdown has started…

Seeing the characters jumping about above, they were archaic symbols like Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, etc., seemingly representing a countdown by the minute and second.

Li Hao’s expression shifted slightly, from an original 3/10 defense time, it was now suddenly shortened to one day?

Were the Demons launching their full attack ahead of schedule?

Seeing the Candle Flame God before him, Li Hao seemed to understand and, although feeling angry, he also knew that this was as far as they could go.

To continue fighting would put himself at risk and would also endanger Li Xiaoran.

“Let’s go!”

Li Hao growled lowly, and suddenly unleashed seven or eight sword lights to slash at the Candle Flame God. At the same time, he attacked towards Lu Yuan and Ms. Yin to cover for Li Xiaoran’s retreat.

Li Xiaoran had previously witnessed Li Hao’s terrifying movement technique and didn’t say much now; he took the lead in rushing out, unleashing two Peerless Techniques while also heading toward the Divine General Mansion.

However, while retreating, his mind continuously focused on Li Hao, ready to protect him at all costs, even if it meant burning his own Divine Soul, should Li Hao be in danger.

This was the hope of the Li Family, as well as the true hope to free his older brother!

“Arghhh…”

Suddenly, a fierce and mournful roar burst forth from the Divine General Mansion.

The figure, shrouded in surging black aura, resembled a Demon, a ghostly specter, with a grim face, roaring as it attacked the youth in the torn robe who had broken the Array.

“Big brother…”

Li Xiaoran recognized at a glance that it was Li Tianzong.

Originally, after defending Dragon City for four days, once the city was breached, the other party was supposed to undergo a transformation, as if obsession was awakening, entering a state akin to demonic possession.

But now that Dragon City was breached ahead of schedule, the other party had entered that state prematurely.

Li Xiaoran’s eyes filled with sorrow, knowing defending Dragon City was his older brother’s last obsession before death.

“`

Boom!

At a distance, Li Tianzong, with his ghostly figure, clashed with the young man in the tattered robes, causing an earth-shattering commotion.

Li Xiaoran glanced over and saw that his elder brother, who was already formidable, had now soared in strength under this state; from just the Ultimate Study Realm, he now possessed the power of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm!

“Let’s go!”

Li Xiaoran said to Li Hao, holding back the pain in his heart.

Li Hao also looked back, his eyes flickering, but said nothing and quickly flew towards the Divine General Mansion. Experience more tales on mvl

Their speed was extremely fast, with the Candle Flame God and Lu Yuan pursuing them from behind.

But the older generation of the Li Family’s cadet branch, including Li Xuanyin, emerged one after another, charging towards the Candle Flame God to block his pursuit.

“Seeking death!”

The Candle Flame God’s eyes were cold, his Dao Domain spread out, enveloping an area of one li.

His body shot out directly, the Dao Domain propelling him like an invisible fireball. Along the way, all the buildings crumbled to ashes.

The soldiers who touched the Dao Domain, unable to dodge in time, also burst into flames and extinguished in an instant.

With the Dao Domain activated, the Candle Flame God advanced forcefully, slaughtering his way into the city, paying no attention to other people coming at him.

Among the old generation, some were of the Four Stands Realm, but their attacks barely extended ten meters into the Dao Domain before turning into little flames. Before the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, under the Dao Domain, all were mere ants!

Li Hao and Li Xiaoran arrived at the Divine General Mansion in a blink, and seeing the splendid and towering divine mansion, they did not hesitate to rush in.

Bang!!

Suddenly, a violent boom erupted from within the Divine General Mansion.

A gigantic black furry paw emerged from the depths of the Divine General Mansion, sweeping down with a mighty crash, causing the entire mansion to tremble violently.

Li Xiaoran and Li Hao involuntarily stopped, staring in shock at the massive demonic paw—how could such a thing appear inside the Divine General Mansion?!

Li Xiaoran’s expression abruptly changed, and he exclaimed in astonishment and anger, “No good, it’s the ancestral hall!”

He accelerated fiercely, bursting forth with all his might, pulling himself forward with the rhythm of the Tao, constantly teleporting.

Li Hao accelerated with all his strength, entering the Divine General Mansion. His pores tightened, a premonition of dire misfortune overwhelming him.

He noticed that the Array outside the Divine General Mansion had not been destroyed.

How did this demon get in?

Soon, just as they set foot in the Divine General Mansion, the Candle Flame God pursuing them collided with the Array, shaking the Array with his Dao Domain, burning it as a golden light enveloped and surrounded the Divine General Mansion.

This Array’s strength was even greater than that of Dragon City’s Array. The Candle Flame God, furious, kept punching, causing the divine patterns of the Array to tremble slightly.

“This, this is…”

By the time Li Hao and Li Xiaoran reached the ancestral hall, they felt as if their blood had frozen, a chilling feeling spreading from their heads to their toes.

The ancestral hall stood halfway up the mountain, but now, the entire mountain had been flattened, and the halls and buildings of the ancestral hall were destroyed.

A hundred-zhang tall demon with a body like a bear, black fur all over, and a fierce face with white ivory tusks coldly and indifferently scanned Li Hao and Li Xiaoran.

At the side, middle-aged Li Qingzheng, covered in blood, had an expression of anger twisted to the extreme.

“The ancestral hall…”

Li Xiaoran stood in midair, somewhat in a daze.

The sacred place of the Li Family, the exit from the Mo River, was now shattered by a single palm strike.

“Still trying to leave from here? Stay and join us in eternal slumber,” the demon said with a cold sneer.

An unusual wave of energy emanated from its body, and Li Hao’s pupils dilated instantly, recognizing the unfolding of the Dao Domain.

And the demon’s Dao Domain unfolded even faster, in the blink of an eye.

“I am no half-baked Dao Realm practitioner.”

The hundred-zhang tall demon noticed the astonishment on Li Hao’s face, and with a nonchalant sneer, his massive body turned, the ground thundering beneath him as he swung his paw towards Li Hao. The black furry palm seemed to blot out the sky, giving a sensation of unbounded reach.

“You should die!!”

Li Xiaoran roared in frenzy, his meridians appearing to burst, releasing a sky-high momentum, unleashing his most powerful Peerless Technique in a single slash.

In an instant, the light of the blade illuminated heaven and earth, then abruptly disappeared, splitting a horrifying chasm in the void, rapidly extending and colliding with the demon’s Dao Domain, actually tearing a twisted seam into it.

The invisible blade light extended swiftly, striking the coarse black palm with a boom, carving a wound half a meter deep.

The hundred-zhang tall demon seemed not to have expected that someone of the mere Ultimate Study Realm could penetrate his Dao Domain and wound him; a flicker of surprise showed in its indifferent eyes, but soon turned into an even colder chill:

“Peerless genius, you taste even better.”

Its aura surged, the Dao Domain spread like the aurora, rapidly expanding to envelop both Li Hao and Li Xiaoran.

“You leave, I’ll hold him off.”

Just as Li Hao was about to act, Li Qingzheng appeared in front of him, shaking with anger, streams of crimson divine light extending from his body, releasing a heaven-shattering malevolent aura.

This malevolent aura coalesced into a blood-red shadow behind him, resembling some majestic entity.

His veins burst, his aura tearing apart his robe, revealing his burly upper body.

Blood-red energy burst from his pores, and his presence surged. He was, astonishingly, burning his Divine Soul!

“Go!”

Li Qingzheng bellowed, suddenly lifting his hand, a dazzling spear light shooting out, forming a black arc in the air, striking the encroaching Dao Domain, forcing the expansion of the Domain to a standstill at the tip of the spear!

At that spear tip, an ultimate force gathered, resisting the spread of the Dao Domain, sparking an endless might.

“`

Li Xiaoran and Li Hao both felt shocked; the strength displayed by Li Qingzheng before their eyes, whether due to the influence of the Mo River or an intrinsic aspect of his being, exceeded their imagination.

Li Xiaoran felt a grief-stricken heart, forcibly suppressing his anger as he turned and charged towards the collapsing ancestral hall.

Li Hao also knew that the other was risking his life at this moment to buy them time; even though he was filled with rage, he could only turn and flee, rushing into the ancestral hall.

Li Xiaoran’s power to command objects swept through, lifting the broken tiles of the ancestral hall, only to find that the ancestral tablets within had all been destroyed!

Only a single tablet emitted a dim golden light.

That was the tablet of the first ancestor, Li Tianyuan.

Its golden statue had already shattered, and only this small tablet remained now.

As the two of them arrived, they immediately sensed many weak and fading thoughts on the tablet, which turned out to be the spirits of other ancestors.

“You have arrived…”

“Regrettably, we cannot hold on any longer.”

“I’m afraid there’s no way to send you out…”

Waves of sentiments tinged with sorrow transmitted their consciousness, but just as they conveyed a segment, they dissipated.

Under the accumulating attack of the Hundred-Zhang Demon from the Grand Tao of Peace Realm imbued with Dao Domain, they had only enough time to gather all the ancestors’ strength to protect the first ancestor.

In life, they were powerful, some dominating for hundreds of years in unparalleled splendor, others single-handedly challenging Dayu’s nineteen provinces, establishing a reputation for hundreds of generations.

But in death, with only their Divine Souls and remnants, their power greatly diminished. Even the Ultimate Study Realm could pose a serious threat to them, let alone the Grand Tao of Peace Realm.

“It’s a pity that the Li Family’s descendants, who were once the prodigies of Ancient Sages, have to die here…”

“If we die, remember to kill all the demons here…”

More ancestors transmitted their last bits of consciousness, laden with endless regret, dissolving into the tablet.

The hazy golden light gradually faded into silence.

Li Xiaoran and Li Hao both stared blankly at this last remaining ancestral tablet.

Although they knew all this arose from Li Tianzong’s obsessions, the words they heard still made their blood surge with a desolate feeling.

“Child, do not grieve.”

The spirit of Li Tianyuan emerged above the tablet and addressed Li Xiaoran and Li Hao, “In the Li Family, there are no ghosts that cling to life, only the heroic spirits that die in battle!”

“Which of you is willing to don my remaining spirit and slay the demons?”

Li Xiaoran and Li Hao looked at the first ancestor before them; had they been outside, Li Xiaoran would have certainly bowed first in salute, but at this moment, all he felt was desolation.

“Let it be me.”

Li Xiaoran said to Li Hao, “Hao Er, go find a way to live. I’ll buy you time.”

“There are no routes to life left.”

Li Hao spoke bitterly, “I have no clue at all. The only possible way out… is probably to hold on, to live another day.”

Li Xiaoran felt a profound sense of disappointment; indeed, he too did not know where to find a second path to survival.

Without the ancestral hall, there was only one way out: death.

If they possessed the power of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, they could rely on the Dao Domain to go elsewhere, not being confined within Dragon City, using the Dao Domain to evade the rules of the Mo River and surviving a day wouldn’t be difficult, but neither of them was from the Grand Tao of Peace Realm.

“I wonder if older brother’s consciousness has recovered. If it has, let him use his Dao Domain to protect you, but Big Brother can’t leave Dragon City…”

Li Xiaoran’s expression changed continuously, showing signs of despair.

He himself did not fear death, but this time Li Hao was with him.

If Li Hao died here, Li Xiaoran felt it would be more painful than his own death.

“Since that’s the case, child, then let’s go down fighting together.”

Li Tianyuan’s heroic spirit saw the plight of the two and immediately made a decision for them, his form flickering and turning into a golden light, merging into Li Hao’s body.

In an instant, Li Hao’s body seemed to be clad in a suit of golden divine armor.

The Divine Soul transformed into a flaming armor, enveloping Li Hao’s entire body, and at the same time, it was accompanied by surges of immense strength.

Boom!

A figure suddenly shot through the air and smashed brutally onto the ground a hundred meters away.

Li Xiaoran and Li Hao turned around and saw that it was Li Qingzheng, covered in blood, his spear already broken.

“Little fifth!”

Li Xiaoran was about to rush over in a hurry.

But Li Hao stopped him, whispering, “You go find a way to survive, I’ll handle this.”

A chilling murderous intent flashed in his eyes, his body covered in golden light, combined with his state of divine power, radiating an unimaginable divine majesty.

Seeing the hundred-zhang demon’s Dao Domain bearing down to kill Li Qingzheng, Li Hao suddenly raised his sword and swung it out.

The Sword Qi swept across, actually blocking the Dao Domain for a moment.

This casual sword strike wielded a power comparable to Li Qingzheng’s full-force outburst when he burned his divine soul.

At the same time, with the power of object manipulation, Li Qingzheng’s body was dragged to another place. Li Hao looked up, holding Qing Shuang, facing the towering body of the hundred-zhang demon.

“Hm?”

The hundred-zhang demon also noticed Li Hao’s extremely vigorous aura at the moment, although it was only of the Three Immortal Realms, it made even him take a more serious notice.

“If you were of the Four Stands Realm, I might have to take you a bit more seriously, but just a mere Three Immortal Realms…”

The hundred-zhang demon sneered and then raised his hand to suppress down, bringing his Dao Domain crashing forward.

“How did you get into the Divine General Mansion?”

Li Hao asked.

“Naturally, it was by using a formation command token, otherwise why would someone be sent to kill the ten sons of the Li Family? Their tokens had already been swapped out.”

As the hundred-zhang demon finished speaking, his Dao Domain bore down.

Li Hao’s expression turned sour. Was it because of this?

“Fourth Uncle, run, find a way out! Don’t die!”

Li Hao quickly transmitted his voice, then facing the oppressive Dao Domain, he fiercely slashed his sword towards the sky.

“Kill!”

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This sword released a divine light that covered the sky, like the first ray of light at dawn that disperses the darkness.

The sword light penetrated the Dao Domain, subjected to the suppression of the Dao’s rules. The opponent’s Dao Domain was not of the flame path, and so it did not incinerate the Sword Qi. Instead, it carried a terrifying power to compress and collapse, attempting to crush the Sword Qi.

But the Sword Qi was wrapped in divine light, dazzling to the point of piercing through, and viciously struck the chest of the hundred-zhang demon, severing many of its hairs and leaving behind a wound.

However, that wound was visibly healing at an incredible speed.

“Hmph!”

The hundred-zhang demon was furious, raising its giant palm and striking down repeatedly.

Li Hao’s body flickered swiftly, his sword forcing back the massive palm, both pulling distance from each other.

The demon was right, their realms differed too greatly, a full major realm’s limit away.

Now filled with various divine medicines, graced by the heroic spirit of the Prime Ancestor, Li Hao’s power surged like the raging rapids of a river, just enough to fully wound the opponent, yet unable to inflict a fatal blow.

“Ancestor, I’m going all out now.”

Li Hao took a deep breath, saying solemnly.

“Come on, a warrior’s death is without regret.” Li Tianyuan’s consciousness transmitted.

Li Hao didn’t wish to die in battle, but now he had no choice.

He extended the Heaven and Earth Vein, lifting the restrictions on his body. Instantaneously, the vast qi of heaven and earth poured into his body.

Originally at the Transforming Immortal Realm, now he pushed it further, from thirty percent to fifty percent!

And then to seventy percent!

As terrifying power gathered around Li Hao like a storm, the heavens and earth changed color, with clouds and mist swirling around.

“`

“Huh?”

Seeing Li Hao’s imposing momentum, the hundred-zhang demon’s expression changed slightly, a hint of solemnity in his eyes, “This strange sensation, it’s somewhat familiar. Are you the prodigy Ancient Sage from the Great Wilderness Heaven?”

Li Hao did not answer. In a life-and-death battle, there was no need for words.

Kill!

His body ruptured and bled, Divine Blood of red-gold flowing, infused with the Power of Heaven and Earth that turned his hair silver-white, as if he was burning his life away.

Suddenly, he unleashed multiple Illustrated Handbook Attributes, charging at his opponent.

The moment he struck, he gave it his all.

Sword Dao Reincarnation!

It was as if the world fell silent for a moment when the Green Frost Sword, like autumn water, slashed out a pitch-black sword beam.

That sword beam, like a black thunderbolt, tore the void, reversed light and darkness, and everything congealed into one sword strike, directly tearing through the Dao Domain!

The Dao Domain was forcibly cleaved by the black sword beam, and then, like thunder pushing forward unstoppable, the sword beam sliced through like a knife through silk, aiming straight at the hundred-zhang demon.

“What!”

The hundred-zhang demon’s pupils shrank in shock, unable to believe his Dao Domain could be torn apart?

“My Dao Domain is invincible!”

The hundred-zhang demon roared, his Dao Domain closing in, striving to crush the black sword beam, and frantically wearing down its martial realm and power.

Various martial realms like thunder, fire, wind, and snow revealed themselves, the sword light producing all kinds of phenomena as it was worn away, but still not losing momentum.

What seemed like a single sword beam was actually the overlay of thousands of sword beams, each one a full-force eruption from Li Hao.

It was only at this critical threshold of transformation that Li Hao could instantly muster such a tremendous force, shaping it into a heaven-shocking, ghost-weeping sword strike!

With a loud boom.

In the midst of the hundred-zhang demon’s angry palm swing, the sword light shattered the dark light within his palm, blood spraying wildly as ghostly black Demonic Qi escaped.

Li Hao, howling, leaped forward, cloaked in the power of his ancestors’ spirits, wielding the Green Frost Sword and stepping into the Dao Domain, slashing down on the demon’s head.

“You!”

The hundred-zhang demon’s skull was torn apart, blood spraying wildly, more black Qi emanating from his body as it rocked backward in shock, staring at Li Hao.

The sword-cleaved Dao Domain closed in, enveloping Li Hao, but to the demon’s horrified discovery, the Domain failed to instantly shatter Li Hao’s body.

Li Hao’s body was trembling, yet it withstood the Domain’s rule-based Suppression; his body continuously broke apart, his bones cracking loudly, but it seemed he could hold on for a while!

This sight was beyond the hundred-zhang demon’s comprehension, inconceivable.

This was the Dao Domain!

Furthermore, he could feel that the rules of his Dao Domain hadn’t failed; it was just that Li Hao’s physical body was simply too formidable, comparable to a top Divine Weapon!

“Kill!”

Li Hao roared, sword slashing fiercely.

His body, comparable to that of a Divine Weapon forged eight times, was nearing a ninth, not even the Dao Domain could instantly destroy a weapon of this caliber.

Even a Divine Weapon beyond seven forgings would take some time to be refined in the Dao Domain.

Lu Yuan’s body, comparable to a six-forging Divine Weapon, was already among the elite of the Ultimate Study Realm, but the gap was vast compared to Li Hao at this moment.

With sword light furiously slashing, Li Hao ignored his own wounds as he launched a fierce attack.

The hundred-zhang demon, too, was enraged, having never suffered such humiliation.

He raised a surging Demonic Qi, his body burning like a black flame, repeatedly striking with his palm, his enormous demon hand easily able to cause a city to quake and sink from prosperity into a basin. Yet now, it was being pushed back by Li Hao’s sword light.

In the distance, Li Xiaoran, anxiously contemplating an escape route, also witnessed Li Hao’s battle, startled.

Although aided by the spirits of his ancestors, the might Li Hao himself burst forth with was even more terrifying.

Seeing this scene, his anxiety intensified; a talent like Li Hao must not die at the Mo River.

Besides the ancestral hall, where could there be a way out?

Li Xiaoran continued to recall every clue from past explorations, vaguely sensing he was onto something.

At that moment, a massive tremor came from outside the Divine General Mansion; Li Xiaoran looked and saw a vast demon cloud sweeping over. The Array had been broken, and all the demons from outside the city were slaughtering onto the ramparts, engaged in fierce battle.

And among them, the most dazzling figures were Li Tianzong and the young man in tattered robes.

“Big brother, if you still have consciousness, give me a sign…”

Li Xiaoran’s eyes filled with sorrow, he bit his lip, continuing to follow the trail of thought he had just now.

Meanwhile, Li Hao and the hundred-zhang demon were locked in an intense fight, both soaked in fresh blood.

Li Hao’s blood scattered within the Dao Domain, instantly compressed and burst, the Domain containing an unimaginably oppressive gravity, where any common being of the Ultimate Study Realm would explode upon entering.

“Die!!”

Li Hao bellowed, drawing even more of the Power of Heaven and Earth, exceeding the 70% threshold, and pushing to a higher degree.

And this meant he could lose control at any moment.

As an even wilder power surged, Li Hao recklessly created hundreds upon thousands of layers around his body.

He wasn’t unaffected by the Dao Domain; rather, he continually resisted the Domain’s effect with his power, like water soaking through paper, which would take but a moment if only a single sheet, but a whole book would take a bit longer to soak through.

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Li Hao’s sword light, like a black thunderbolt, directly ripped through half of the hundred-zhang demon’s head.

The hundred-zhang demon, left with only a mouth, still roared, his body exploding with power, energy surging wildly.

Li Hao, however, rammed headfirst into his head, and upon seeing the blood spatter, a thought occurred to him, he reached into the demon’s brain and fiercely activated the Ten Thousand Blood True Demon Skill!

“`

With the violent power operating like an intense pump drawing water, the hundred-zhang demon let out a scream, its blood power being incessantly drawn toward Li Hao’s arm.

“What kind of evil cultivation technique is this?”

The hundred-zhang demon bellowed in shock and fury, finding the domineering technique evil even for a demon.

“Your obsession should disperse now!”

Li Hao’s eyes were chillingly cold, and seeing the opponent’s aura continuously wilt, he sensed an opportunity.

The Green Frost Sword danced around him, slicing out dark sword beams to block the power of the Dao Domain while his hands and even his whole body reached deep for the demon’s brain.

Under the nourishment of the flesh and essence, Li Hao’s shattered body showed signs of repair.

But the Power of Heaven and Earth had become violent, enveloping both Li Hao and the hundred-zhang demon.

Li Hao’s absorption rate increased, and with a series of miserable screams, the demon’s body knelt down, the surrounding Dao Domain that had been frenetically closing in suddenly halted, then dissipated.

As the Dao Domain faded, Li Hao’s arms felt as if a weight of thousands of pounds had been lifted, and he violently tore through the demon’s body.

Blood splattered, and Li Hao broke into its body, absorbing vigorously.

With the demon king’s blood power absorbed into his body, Li Hao’s physical form continued to condense, but it seemed that his transformation into an Immortal entered an unstoppable phase.

As the Power of Heaven and Earth tore at Li Hao’s body, and he simultaneously refined his flesh, this cycle of destruction and rebirth transformed and reborned his body.

Li Hao emerged bathed in blood, exuding Blood Qi like an Asura god of war, and with a sudden raise of his hand, he cleaved the surrounding Heaven and Earth.

The power of Heaven and Earth was instantly interrupted, and the disintegration of Li Hao’s body halted.

Li Hao controlled his body to close up, suppressing the Immortal transformation.

It was fortunate that the recent body refinement increased his control over his physique significantly, allowing him to pull back just in time to prevent losing control.

Li Hao took a few quick breaths and rapidly consumed a handful of divine medicines, feeling his body rekindle like a furnace, burgeoning with vitality.

Such consumption would leave great drawbacks in martial arts, but Li Hao had no pity for this body.

Once his vitality recovered to its peak, Li Hao stepped out from the hundred-zhang demon’s carcass, and upon seeing the Candle Flame God still aggressively assaulting the Divine General Mansion, murderous intent surged in his eyes.

At this moment, the adversary seemed far less of a threat than before.

Li Hao could feel that his physical body had reached a new level; the tearing of the Power of Heaven and Earth and the condensing of his flesh had elevated his physique to match that of a Nine Cast Divine Soldier.

Whoosh!

Li Hao took a step, instantly appearing at the Array’s location.

Upon seeing Li Hao appear abruptly, the Candle Flame God showed a flicker of surprise, but then, disregarding it, he continued to break the array.

Otherwise, Li Hao would be able to attack from within the array while he could only defend from outside.

However, Li Hao didn’t plan to let the array take any more strain; he stepped forward, entering directly into the opponent’s Dao Domain.

“Huh? You’re actually seeking death…”

The Candle Flame God raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, but then he immediately sensed Li Hao’s provocation.

He suddenly operated his Dao Domain with full force, intending to incinerate Li Hao.

Li Hao felt the intense heat searing him, his blood as if boiling. This time, he didn’t release much power to block the Dao Domain, instead extending his finger and using his body to probe.

His fingertip stung painfully, as though pressed against a searing hot iron plate.

But even so, it wasn’t immediately reduced to ash.

With his body alone, Li Hao could already withstand the Dao Domain.

However, not for long.

With this, Li Hao could direct all the power that was isolating the Dao Domain into attacking.

“Die!”

Li Hao went all out in his assault, pushing himself to extremes.

Without the separation of power, relying solely on his physique, he was like standing in boiling water.

But his will was iron-strong, unshaken, no trace of pain on his face—only his eyes burst forth with a divine look as he swung his sword with all his might.

“What?!”

The Candle Flame God, seeing Li Hao’s state, was horrified, shocked that Li Hao could withstand the rules of the Dao Domain with just his body?!

He couldn’t comprehend nor imagine that such a thing could exist.

But upon closer inspection, he was astounded to find that Li Hao had condensed his physique to the strength of a Nine Cast Divine Soldier.

Among demons, that made him a monstrous entity!

You should know that the return on body refinement is extremely low, requires a long time, and demons do not take the route of pure body refinement.

Bang!

The sword light furiously slashed, and the Candle Flame God suddenly lifted his hand, pulling a fire halberd from the space of Heaven and Earth, smashing it towards the sword light.

The fierce collision almost flipped the Candle Flame God’s arm, and the glow of the fire halberd was shattered.

Li Hao re-entered the state of transforming into an Immortal, drawing on the Power of Heaven and Earth, ramping it up to eighty percent directly.

The Heaven and Earth Vein converged rapidly, an immense power filling him, and Li Hao stepped forth consecutively, executing the Heaven and Earth Traceless Skill, and the black sword light, like a fierce storm, hacked down relentlessly.

Previously, the Divine General Mansion’s Array had isolated the fight between Li Hao and the hundred-zhang demon, which the Candle Flame God had not probed. Now, with Li Hao unleashing his full power, the Candle Flame God instantly felt terrified.

He bellowed in rage as he swung the fire halberd, but Li Hao’s onslaught forced him into retreat, causing him to question his life.

In his own Dao Domain, he was actually being suppressed by someone from the Three Immortal Realms—this was absolutely preposterous! Enjoy exclusive content from мѵʟ

“My lord…”

Ms. Yin, upon witnessing this scene, was also dumbstruck, her beautiful eyes gaping in disbelief.

Lu Yuan, who had intended to assist from the side, was so frightened that he froze in place, staring at Li Hao as if he had seen a ghost.

This relentless killing all the way here made Li Hao far more terrifying than when he had seen him at Heavenly Gate Pass.

Bang!

The sword light, like black thunder, ferociously struck the Candle Flame God’s shoulder, tearing off an arm in the process.

The Candle Flame God lowly growled, the blood spurting from his wound incinerated by fierce flames to stop the flow. He looked at Li Hao, with his silver hair and white threads, in shock and fury, realizing the opponent had used some kind of extremely terrifying secret technique.

“Power reaching its pinnacle, able to shatter the Dao Domain? How is that possible…” The Candle Flame God felt his understanding being overturned. His Dao Domain continued to burn Li Hao’s body, but Li Hao’s healing power was terrifyingly formidable. His flesh that was destroyed kept regenerating.

The Candle Flame God, now truly enraged, unleashed his Unwithering Strength, instantly materializing an arm, and then clashed with Li Hao once more.

The two fought so fiercely that the heavens and earth seemed to fall apart, leveling the streets outside the Divine General Mansion to the ground. Everywhere they went was scorched black, incinerated by the Dao Domain.

Ms. Yin and Lu Yuan exchanged glances, spotting the horror in each other’s eyes. Despite being in the Ultimate Study Realm, they couldn’t intervene in this fight!

That youth was too terrifying. If they let him leave alive, he would quickly become a figure to be reckoned with, as fearful as the Buddha Lord, and turn into the third person in the Dayu Divine Dynasty that struck fear into others!

Bang!

The body of the Candle Flame God was cleaved by Li Hao’s sword and slammed into the ground far away, carving out a scorched, deep crater that extended for hundreds of meters.

Li Hao once again swung his sword to kill, the Green Frost Sword, forged from cold iron, had also become red-hot after a prolonged battle in the Dao Domain. The nine sword souls on it dared not show themselves, to avoid being incinerated by the Dao Domain the moment they emerged.

Only the innate hardness of the Divine Weapon allowed it to hold out in the Dao Domain.

“Die for me!”

The Candle Flame God roared, emerging from the ground, not dodging but also cleaving with his fire halberd.

They pierced through each other, Li Hao cutting off half of his body, and his own arm severed in the process.

The flesh of the Candle Flame God wriggled, regrowing rapidly under the Unwithering Strength, but he was only halfway through when he saw Li Hao’s severed arm had already regenerated, coming for him once more.

The speed of physical regeneration was several times his!

The Candle Flame God was struck in the face by the sword light and chopped down.

Li Hao attacked again, but from within the depths of the crater, a streak of firelight surged towards him.

By the time Li Hao dispersed it, he saw the Candle Flame God transforming into a long rainbow, trying to flee far away.

Ms. Yin had already taken the opportunity to retreat earlier, vanished from sight.

When Lu Yuan saw the Candle Flame God running away, he finally came to his senses, cursing angrily in his heart but trembling with fear, he turned to flee, rushing towards another direction, deeply afraid of being targeted by Li Hao.

“Why are you fleeing? Weren’t you going to break the formation and kill me?”

Li Hao pursued the Candle Flame God, shouting angrily.

Hearing Li Hao’s words, the Candle Flame God was so infuriated his complexion turned crimson, but he was powerless with rage.

He felt a rage and tremor in his heart, knowing he was no match for this mad youth without resorting to his ultimate trump card.

Let the other dead souls wear down Li Hao!

“You will die sooner or later!”

The Candle Flame God suppressed his anger, his gaze icy, and with a sudden slap, he used a Holy Heart Talisman to boost his speed once more, disappearing in the blink of an eye as he flew out of Dragon City.

The Half-step Taiping Dao Realm Demon King was chased away by Li Hao in a rout.

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Seeing the opponent wrapped in runes, accelerating, Li Hao immediately slapped a Holy Heart Talisman as well. Covered in talisman light, he pursued at full speed.

But just as he left the city walls, Li Hao sensed a strange, dangerous omen. It seemed that behind that wave of demons outside the city, there were a few extremely cold gazes, watching him.

Among them, there were likely several Ping Tao Realm Demon Kings!

During this brief hesitation, the Candle Flame God had already flown into the dark forbidden area a hundred miles outside the city, all in the span of half a breath.

There were rules that promised certain death to the Human Race, and while Li Hao could withstand the rules of the Dao Domain, he might not be able to violate the Mo River rules.

Li Hao had an ugly look on his face. At this point, he had even given up hope of escaping the Mo River, yet even if he were to die here, he wished to kill the Candle Flame God before his death.

To prevent the enemy from escaping and bringing disaster to Liangzhou.

However, it now seemed that even this wish was difficult to fulfill.

Li Hao gazed sharply for a moment, then decisively turned and dashed at full speed towards another part of the city.

Lu Yuan was flying toward the outskirts at full speed; he wasn’t one of the undead here. Even if these dead souls died, they wouldn’t vanish, forever reincarnating in the Mo River until the Mo River was cleared and resolved, when they would finally be freed.

But if he died here, he would truly die.

However, it felt much harder to leave the city now than when he had entered.

At the spot he aimed for escaping, several older generations of Li Family soldiers appeared to block him—though their cultivation was not as high as Lu Yuan’s, they were utterly fearless in the face of death.

Lu Yuan roared in fury, releasing thunder to repel these men.

But at that moment, a beam of light whistled hurriedly from behind him.

Lu Yuan turned in dread, only to see a black sword light streaking across the sky, cleaving across fifty miles!

The furious slash of the sword light decapitated Lu Yuan, and the Dao Intent within it shattered his Divine Soul in an instant.

The massive dragon corpse fell from the sky.

This Ultimate Study Realm elder of Dragon Gate couldn’t withstand a single peak-condition sword strike from Li Hao!

It was mainly because Li Hao was empowered by many forces at this moment, including numerous divine medicines and the heroic spirits of his ancestors, etc.

Most importantly, his physical body, refined to be comparable to a Nine Cast Divine Soldier, was nearing the limit of the Immortal Realm, and the vastness of the Heaven and Earth power he attracted during his ascendance was beyond imagination.

Back when he was merely in the Heavenly Human Realm, Li Hao could fight against the Tao Heart Realm and withstand attacks from the Defying Fate Realm by relying on forty percent of his ascension. Now, with the Heaven and Earth Vein and approaching the Three Immortal Extreme Realms, his power was even more fearsome.

Li Hao glanced at the bisected dragon corpse, stepped over it, activated the Ten Thousand Blood True Demon Skill, absorbing its essence, and once again refined his body.

As the dragon’s corpse dried up, Li Hao felt a slight sense of relief in his heart, having dealt with one of the three Great Demon Kings.

He didn’t take another look at the ancient dragon, which had cultivated for tens of thousands of years and was famous throughout Dayu, and turned around to head towards the city walls.

By the time Li Hao arrived, he saw that the top of the walls had been overwhelmed by a tide of demons, with corpses of soldiers and demons scattered everywhere, blood flowing like rivers.

Chen Hefang, Li Qingling, and other women from the Li Family, who had come earlier to reinforce the wall, were already nowhere to be seen.

Li Hao enveloped the battlefield in his Qi but detected no trace of them.

This meant that they were most likely overwhelmed by the tide of demons, possibly already devoured by the mouth of some demon or in the belly of another.

Li Hao took a deep breath and wielded the Green Frost Sword to enter the tide of demons, weaving through the battlefield.

Soon, Li Hao realized that the presence of his other “brothers” had also dissipated.

Now that the north city wall had been breached, it was likely that those few, given their temperament, had also perished in the tide of demons.

Li Hao sighed inwardly and continued to fight against the tide of demons, doing his best to hold them off.

If he fought with all his might, there was still a chance of holding the defense for a day.

With Li Hao’s addition to the fight, the battlefield was swept clean, his Sword Qi crisscrossing, tearing through the tide of demons.

The previously faltering situation was immediately propped up by Li Hao’s intervention.

The tide of demons was unrelenting, and Li Hao fought desperately. Without the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, he didn’t need to enter the state of transformation. Relying solely on the recovery power of the Heaven and Earth Vein, he could maintain a half-Unwithering Realm state; a war of attrition was not difficult for him.

Within the tide of demons, many Demon Kings burst forth, seeming to see hope for escape, charging towards Dragon City.

Li Hao fought valiantly, slaying these Demon Kings, and transformed the essence and blood power within their bodies to refine his own flesh, making it stronger and stronger, with many Body Refinement techniques pushing his body to even more extreme limits.

The battle continued, and Li Hao relieved the pressure on the north side before heading towards the east side of the city.

He was like a sword on the battlefield, shuttling everywhere, continuously assisting the broken defenses at various points.

But Dragon City was too large. Even with Li Hao’s support, there were still places being infiltrated by demons, with civilians scattering throughout the city.

As Li Hao continued the fight, he ordered the Li Family’s army to contract their defense lines, retreating to the inner circle of Dragon City.

Since the Array was gone, they had to rely on human walls to stop them.

Time flew by.

As the time approached the halfway mark, Li Hao suddenly heard an angry roar.

He saw a huge demon’s figure fall from the sky, crashing into the city.

Li Hao recognized that it was the true form of the young man in the torn robe who had fought against Li Tianzong for a long time without a decisive outcome. Now, however, his body was covered in cracks, and as he plummeted down, his Divine Soul dimmed.

Li Tianzong, engulfed in pitch black smoke, swooped down furiously, the black smoke engulfing the demon’s true body quickly, with horrifying sounds of tearing and the squelching of flesh coming from within.

Li Hao tried to probe with his Divine Soul but was blocked by the black smoke.

His action seemed to disturb something. The black smoke suddenly roiled and then contracted like a whale absorbing water, gathering on a single figure.

It was Li Tianzong.

The Demonic Qi rolled off him, but his eyes had turned blood-red, and he seemed to be muttering something under his breath.

Li Hao, with his extraordinary hearing, quickly made out what the other was saying.

“I must hold on…”

“I must hold on…”

Li Tianzong seemed delirious, mumbling indistinctly.

Feeling Li Hao’s gaze, he suddenly looked up, his eyes violent, with none of his previous composure or gentle smile.

Li Hao felt a chill in his heart at the stare, sensing he was being targeted.

He was internally alarmed, realizing that Li Tianzong was not in the right state, seemingly turned into what Li Xiaoran described as an untouchable state.

As Li Hao’s expression grew solemn, Li Tianzong’s blood-red eyes seemed to freeze for a moment, reflecting Li Hao’s image. After a pause, the violent killing intent in his eyes gradually revealed a hint of lucidity.

“Go quickly… to the city…”

Li Tianzong shouted loudly, but it seemed to trigger something, his expression quickly twisting into one of pain.

With a roar, his body suddenly shot up from the ground, heading towards the outskirts of the city, shouting, “Let me go!!”

The shout resonated over Dragon City, and outside the city, several lurking figures began to exude stronger Qi.

“What’s happening?”

At this moment, hiding among the demons outside the city, the Candle Flame God and his wife Ms. Yin, who had concealed their Qi and remained hidden, were waiting for the Soul Death Demon Kings to break through the city, deplete Li Hao, and then take their chance to strike.

Seeing Li Tianzong, who was defending Dragon City, charge out like a demon, they were both taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

This was their first visit to the Mo River, and many things were unknown to them. Usually, a first visit was only for gathering information.

The Candle Flame God noticed that several Dao Realm Demon Kings from within the tide of demons, who previously looked down on him, now seemed eager to act, exuding overwhelming momentum.

“Are they targeting Li Tianzong?”

The eyes of the Candle Flame God flickered with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

Just then, a scene that shocked him to the core occurred.

Several Dao Realm Demon Kings rushed out of the tide of demons and surrounded Li Tianzong, not to attack, but to crash into him.

Li Tianzong’s appearance was even more frightening; he grew giant like a demon, his body expanding massively, and he swallowed several Demon Kings whole.

“This…”

The Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin’s pupils shrank in shock at this sight.

Seeing Li Tianzong, after devouring the Demon Kings, radiate a terrifying Demonic Qi, turning into a ghastly and demon-god-like figure, he roared to the heavens, his hair flying and his body growing as large as a wild beast.

He suddenly turned around, his footsteps trampling amidst the wave of demons, charging towards Dragon City:

“All of you, die, die…”

From his eyes burst a cruel red light, slaughtering his way into the city.

And as his body underwent a horrifying transformation, a vast change also emerged within Dragon City.

Li Hao saw Li Tianzong, who had turned back to kill, wreathed in a sky-high Demonic Qi that was even more fearsome than that of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, towering like a Demon God.

As he stepped over Dragon City, all the soldiers who had been diligently fighting the demon wave suddenly came to a halt.

Then, they all emitted billows of black Qi from their bodies, resembling demons or specters coming back to life, joining the wave of demons and turning to slaughter the city’s civilians.

Those civilians also started to emit black Qi, transforming into demons, destroying buildings and houses everywhere.

Li Hao hovered mid-air, witnessing this sudden horrifying change, and was completely dumbfounded.

It was just the invasion of the demon wave before, but now, even the soldiers and civilians of Dragon City had turned their weapons, becoming demons!

Is this the true difficulty of breaching the Mo River?

Li Hao felt a bone-chilling coldness, a taste of bitterness.

The task of guarding Dragon City for ten days would usually show such transformations by the eighth or ninth day, even on the tenth day.

Even if they cooperated with everyone to hold Dragon City, in the end, they would still have to face the transformation of all the soldiers within, including Li Tianzong’s transformation.

Why would this happen?

Li Hao could not comprehend how anyone could overcome such difficulty.

Even the Grand Tao of Peace Realm would be impossible!

Roar! Roar!

At that moment, terrifying roars echoed throughout the city.

Those soldiers who were initially fighting the demons now had black light shining from their eyes, riding on the backs of the very demons they had previously considered mortal foes, destroying and demolishing everything within the city.

Moreover, a multitude of demons, as if going mad, started converging towards Li Hao.

“Hao Er!”

From a distance, Li Xiaoran’s figure swiftly approached, equally shocked by this scene.

Now, almost the entire city had fallen.

Except for the Divine General Mansion, where the Array had yet to shatter.

Outside the Divine General Mansion, the sky and earth were covered in demons and transformed soldiers, and now it seemed that the only protectors left were Li Hao and Li Xiaoran.

Just the two of them to face all this and protect Dragon City, that was the real challenge.

Li Hao wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. He knew that the Mo River at the ghostly-tier was perilous, but this was his first time truly feeling it.

No wonder his second uncle said that even those at the Four Stands Realm should not easily enter a ghostly-tier Mo River, as it was very easy not to return…

“So this is it…”

Li Xiaoran came near Li Hao, staring at the swarming demons from all sides, his face turning pained and bitter as he seemed to understand.

“The final battle for Dragon City confronts us with the resurrected obsession of our elder brother…”

“Turns out what we ultimately have to guard is our elder brother…”

He felt grief, an obsession turned demonic.

His elder brother’s life-long obsession had been to protect Dragon City, but in death, it had instead become the greatest threat to protecting the city by the Mo River.

Watching Li Tianzong approaching step by step through the void like a Demon God, Li Xiaoran said sadly:

“Elder brother, wake up, we’ve come to take you home!”

Li Tianzong’s stride seemed to pause for an instant, but it was only a very faint moment before he continued stepping forward.

On his shoulder, chest, and back, multiple ferocious demon heads grew, mocking and looking down at Li Hao and Li Xiaoran with disdain:

“Prepare to stay here as part of this burial ground, to accompany your elder brother, for none of you shall leave.”

“He will never wake up again, you’re all going to die!”

“No one is leaving this Mo River, stay and join us!”

Amid their cold mockery, Li Tianzong’s eyes glowed fiercely red as he stepped forward, his mouth murmuring as if chanting:

“I must protect Dragon City, no one shall approach, I will lead all the soldiers home, I want to take them home…”

“I want to… take them home!”

His eyes ablaze with red light, his body emitted an Abyssal demonic aura, far surpassing the demonic power of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm.

Li Xiaoran roared in sorrow, “Elder brother, the battle of Dragon City ended long ago, only you did not return, only you did not return!”

Boom!

Li Tianzong suddenly raised his hand, launching a terrifying bolt of lightning.

Li Xiaoran didn’t even have time to react, seeing only a blur before his eyes, but Li Hao noticed it, his expression changing rapidly as he hurriedly raised his sword to strike.

Sword Qi shattered the thunderous intent.

Li Hao shielded Li Xiaoran behind him, looking up at the towering Li Tianzong taking giant strides like a hundred-zhang Demon God, and whispered to Li Xiaoran at his back:

“Fourth Uncle, step back and let me try.”

“Hao Er, what are you going to do?”

Li Xiaoran couldn’t help but look at him, his eyes filled with sorrow, nothing but despair.

This despair wasn’t about dying here, but rather about Li Hao dying here, about their elder brother being trapped here forever, unable to find release.

Who else could take their elder brother away from here and back to the family shrine, if they were to perish here?

Li Hao said nothing, just quietly watched Li Tianzong as he drew ever closer, his grip on his sword tightening.

Flashes of the past two months crossed his mind, including the low words from last night’s banquet.

“If only you were my son…”

Li Hao’s energy surged wildly, and at that moment, he opened himself completely, allowing the Power of Heaven and Earth to flow through him unrestrained.

“Since you wish to go home, allow me to pave a section of the road for you.”

“Let’s see if my life can be exchanged for…”

Li Hao said softly, taking a step forward.

This step was toward death, but also toward an unprecedented extreme, transforming into the utmost pinnacle of immortality!

He had no other choice, to not battle was to die, and rather than such an end, he chose to stake his life in a final gamble!

“Hao Er, what, what are you saying?”

Li Xiaoran felt a jolt through his body when he heard Li Hao’s murmur, immediately followed by the sight of the surrounding power converging, crazily pressing toward Li Hao’s body.

That power coalesced into a storm, isolating him, and the mere gathering of force made it feel impossible for him to approach.

In the center of this vortex of power, Li Hao’s body shone with a brilliant golden light, and his hair, previously restored to a lustrous black, once again turned silvery-white, strand by strand.

From black to snow-white, it seemed as if his life force was fading too.

Li Xiaoran was stunned, feeling as if the blood in his body had frozen. He guessed what Li Hao was about to do.

His mouth slightly agape, he wanted to call out to stop him, but he couldn’t utter a single word when it came to his lips.

Was there any other hope?

No.

He couldn’t help shedding tears, never having imagined that after years of effort with no hope, in the end, a child would have to gamble with his life!

He looked at Li Tianzong approaching like a Demon God and said in grief, “Big brother, please wake up, your grandson has come to take you back!”

Boom!

In response was Li Tianzong’s suddenly lifted fist, like a black meteor shrouded in thick smoke, smashing wildly toward the two of them.

Meanwhile, the surrounding Demons surged forth like a tide, clearly about to be affected by the fist’s power, yet still insanely charging toward them.

Li Xiaoran immediately understood that the current situation was influenced by the Mo River. They were facing not the Demons, nor Li Tianzong, but the Mo River itself!

The Mo River sought to use the numerous Demons and Li Tianzong’s hand to leave them, the living, behind as companions for the deceased in eternal slumber!

Under the roar of the fist force, there was a dazzling green sword light that forcibly halted the gigantic fist in its tracks.

But it paused only briefly before smashing down directly again.

Surrounded by an aura, Li Hao entered a Divine Power state, his Red Gold colored body also began to crumble at this moment, his transformation into an immortal already exceeding the critical threshold of eighty percent.

Still, his aura continued to climb, giving the sensation of charging toward the Abyss of Death.

However, Li Hao’s expression calmed down at this moment, and the Green Frost Sword in his hand whistled out a piercing screech, slashing again at that fist.

The sword spirit within the blade wailed, emitting piercing roars, and finally managed to bounce that hand away.

Li Tianzong’s body paused, his eyes redder than blood, and he growled, “All soldiers, follow me to kill, to break out!”

He seemed to mistake this place for the battlefield of Dragon City from long ago, viewing Li Hao in front of him as a Demon, leading all the soldiers to overcome this deadly barrier.

Li Hao said nothing. The Green Frost Sword, fluttering in mid-air like cracking ice, released a vast river of Sword Qi that swept around and protected Li Xiaoran’s body within, slashing at the Demons and transformed soldiers.

Perhaps the real way to pass through the Mo River was to assist Dragon City in a desperate fight against the Demons during the ten-day siege, ensuring that the Array would not break, letting the soldiers of Dragon City also be reduced to almost nothing. Then, during this transmutation stage, there would finally be a chance to survive by oneself, solving everything.

This was valuable intelligence, but whether it could be brought out was another matter.

The river of Sword Qi cleared the Demons around Li Xiaoran, Li Hao looked toward Li Tianzong, who was already unfolding his Dao Domain to kill.

“Fourth Elder, take care of yourself. Try to live on. I’ll see if I can fight for a chance at life for you!”

Li Hao murmured quietly.

This was also to repay the kindness Li Xiaoran had shown when he helped outside the Mo River.

The chance at life he planned to fight for was to defeat Li Tianzong, to kill all the Demons. That way, when the Mo River ended, Li Xiaoran would be able to leave.

But to achieve that, he had to reach the limit of transforming into an immortal, to have a sliver of hope.

Li Hao had no confidence in himself.

As he spoke, he soared into the sky, seemingly gathering all the momentum of the heavens and the earth, and with a fierce punch, he aimed to halt Li Tianzong’s body, blocking the battlefield ahead to avoid affecting Li Xiaoran.

Boom!!

Li Tianzong too lifted his fist and howled down, as if heaven and earth had collided, the terrifying shockwave knocked unconscious or killed all the Demons within dozens of miles.

Li Hao’s body was rapidly crumbling, yet also rapidly regenerating and healing, bathed in blood, like a figure made of blood.

Li Tianzong’s Dao Domain unfolded, his will opening and extending instantly to four or five miles, enveloping Li Hao’s body within, not even allowing a chance to escape. This was the true speed of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm’s Dao Domain.

At this moment, many types of regulations appeared within the Dao Domain, not just one. It included regulations controlled by other Demon Kings from the Ping Tao Realm, and now they were all superimposed and merged together.

The pressure of several regulations came crashing down, causing Li Hao’s body to rapidly disintegrate, like being unravelled and peeled.

But luckily, his body reached the strength of the Nine Cast Divine Soldier, barely able to sustain for a breath’s time.

Utilizing this brief moment, Li Hao’s movement technique shifted, bringing many movement techniques to their limit, escaping the confines of the Dao Domain almost like teleportation.

Just exiting the Dao Domain, the speed of his disintegration slowed down.

However, Li Tianzong seemed to have set his sights on Li Hao, and pursued him with stride as large as a comet.

As Li Hao backed away, he also ascended quickly, increasing the distance, drawing even more Power of Heaven and Earth.

His body once again tore apart, deteriorating, as if it would disperse.

When transformation into an immortal surpassed ninety percent, Li Hao’s skin had burst open, his flesh exposed, resembling a figure crawling out of a blood pool, horrendously ghastly.

Yet Li Hao’s absorption did not stop, continuing to push toward that limit.

The power between Heaven and Earth pressed down even more wildly, by this point uncontrollable, and everything rushed toward that destructive limit.

“`

Soon, Li Hao’s transformation into an immortal had reached ninety-nine percent.

His flesh fell from his body, and his internal organs dropped out of his chest cavity, leaving his body like an incomplete shell, unable to support itself anymore.

Based on Li Hao’s previous experience in the Heavenly Human Realm, if he were to fully transform into an immortal, his consciousness could only be retained for a moment before it vanished.

That would be the ultimate instant.

But now, his physical body had strengthened considerably, tens of times beyond that of the Heavenly Human Realm, which allowed him, even under extreme conditions, to barely maintain consciousness for a few breaths.

Boom!

Li Hao’s body completely merged with heaven and earth, reaching the limit of transformation into an immortal.

All flesh seemed to vanish from his body; his consciousness as if detached and merged into this vast and expansive world.

At this moment, Li Hao heard all the sounds of the world quiet down.

The myriad roars within Dragon City, the bellowing of demons, all disappeared.

His hearing seemed damaged, his body feeling as if it had fallen into a vast lake, and then, his consciousness, like a branching spider web, connected with the entire lake.

He himself was the world!

The three realms of Grandmaster Realm: self, world, and all beings.

At this moment, Li Hao seemed to have truly “glimpsed the world.”

He suddenly realized the direction his path of seeking the Dao should take.

But there was no chance or time for him to consolidate his state of mind at this moment.

Perhaps he might never have the chance again.

An unimaginable power connected to his consciousness, making Li Hao the ruler of this world at that moment.

He felt the vast and mighty power surging throughout his body, both rampantly colliding and recklessly destroying.

He was unprecedentedly powerful, yet unprecedentedly vulnerable!

His life was coming to an end.

All of this happened and ended in an instant; Li Hao’s consciousness moved from the world back to himself, and he saw his body disintegrating and perishing. His calm eyes revealed a murderous sharpness, and suddenly, he invoked the Unwithering Strength!

In an instant, his previously disintegrating body began to slowly revive and heal!

A power like the resurgence of all things allowed new flesh to keep growing, filling up the once incomplete and hollow body, and the flesh returned.

His physique was strong enough to compare with the Nine Cast Divine Soldier, and he was in a state of Divine Power, which exponentially increased his self-healing ability. Coupled with the Unwithering Power at this moment, he was finally able to withstand the full transformation into an immortal and its destructive decay.

As his body condensed, it also split apart, but it seemed to be coalescing.

The destruction inflicted on his body by the extreme transformation into an immortal did not stop; it only appeared to have stopped.

During these countless moments of disintegration and rebirth in the blink of an eye, his flesh continued to condense, and his physical body was refined to an even more extreme level.

However, once the Unwithering Strength ended, Li Hao’s life would also come to an end, completely transformed into an immortal and disappearing between heaven and earth!

The duration of Unwithering Strength was only three minutes.

Mighty Demonic Qi swept in, and Li Tianzong, with blood-red eyes, bellowed, “You cannot stop me!!”

Li Hao looked up and saw those red, furious eyes staring fixedly at him, the face twisted and filled with deep murderous hate, no longer gentle as before.

But Li Hao knew that the Li Tianzong before him was not the Li Tianzong he had known before.

He was not angry, his eyes were calm, simply gripping the sword in his hand tighter, feeling the body that kept disintegrating and regenerating, as well as the tearing pain, and softly said,

“I won’t stop you, I’m just guiding your way.”

The Green Frost Sword in his palm seemed to sense its master’s state of mind and suddenly burst with dazzling green frost, tearing through the demon-tainted black sky with a streak of green light.

Magnificent Sword Intent condensed in Li Hao’s palm. This Nine Cast Divine Sword now showed cracks on the blade as if it were about to shatter.

The sword body couldn’t withstand the vast heavenly and earthy forces poured into it by Li Hao.

Li Hao did not retreat further; instead, he charged straight at Li Tianzong.

His body entered the Dao Domain; yet it seemed as if when he stepped, lotuses bloomed beneath his feet. The Dao Domain’s field of force rules were automatically pushed away by his body, unable to get close!

His bloodied form, like an Exiled Immortal Facing the Dust, crossed Li Tianzong’s Dao Domain, the sword light like a rainbow, gently falling down.

But this seemingly gentle strike carried the thunderous brilliance of silver white light, easily slicing through the Dao Domain, cutting towards Li Tianzong’s body.

Li Tianzong seemed to sense the danger, suddenly looking up, his blood-red eyes glared fiercely at the dazzling sword light. He roared, and on his body, heads of Demon Kings, like Demonic Qi condensed, emerged, howling:

“Must block it!!”

Roar!!

Li Tianzong roared, raising his hand to summon a long spear from the space between heaven and earth.

The spear, dark as iron with spiral dragon patterns wrapped around it, ignited with sky-reaching divine flames as he grasped it, and he forcefully thrusted it towards the sword light.

With a thud, Sword Qi dominated, shaking heaven and earth.

A power beyond the Dao Realm tore and vented, devastating buildings and demons within ten miles below.

Li Tianzong roared skyward, but the spear was forced back inch by inch, and his aura became more ferocious; the Demon Kings also revealed ferocious expressions, roaring:

“Useless, you can’t escape!”

With a thud, the spear was knocked aside, and the sword light pierced straight through, directly falling to the ground.

The entire ground of Dragon City violently shook, as if struck by a magnitude ten earthquake.

And Li Tianzong’s body was grazed by the sword light, his blood spraying, cut straight through!

From shoulder to thigh, a sword wound was ripped open.

But the heads of the Demon Kings on his body roared, quickly mobilizing the Demonic Qi to congregate and mend the torn wound.

“`

Li Hao saw it, but his eyes remained calm. At this moment, only he could comprehend the immense power he held. He had taken control of this world, becoming the true incarnation of an Immortal God!

He raised his hand, and endless strength converged from all directions. It then condensed into countless strands of Sword Qi, overlapping each other to form three silvery-white sword beams, striking Li Tianzong in an instant.

All this was the work of a moment, summoning and condensing power beyond imagination.

Immortals can command the wind and rain, omnipotent.

At this moment, Li Hao wielded the Power of Heaven and Earth, borrowing the majesty of this world to display such capabilities.

No matter how powerful the Dao Domain was, it could not truly destroy the heavens and the earth, nor the void; hence, Li Hao couldn’t be surrounded by the Dao Domain, let alone be destroyed!

Bang!

Three consecutive sword lights shattered the Dao Domain, defied the rules, and slashed directly onto Li Tianzong’s body, severing his arm and cleaving open his chest, from which an even stronger Demon energy emanated.

In the distance, the Candle Flame God and Ms. Yin stealthily approached, hoping to land the final blow on Li Hao, but were shocked by the terrifying scene unfolding before them.

Li Tianzong, who had consolidated multiple Dao Domains, was actually being suppressed by Li Hao at this moment!

“What did he do, how could this be?”

Ms. Yin’s eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

But the Candle Flame God’s pupils contracted, his heart pounding wildly; an ancient inheritance memory surfaced, making every hair on his body stand on end.

“That seems to be the power of a Saint…”

He muttered to himself, overwhelmed and indescribable.

Li Tianzong’s enormous body staggered backward, grievously wounded by Li Hao’s Sword Qi, with blood spraying all over.

However, his eyes emitted a more terrifying red glow, and he let out an enraged roar. The head of the Demon King on his body wanted to roar threats at Li Hao, but suddenly, as if being drained by something, it all changed color.

“Damn it…”

Before the heads of the Demon Kings could roar, they shrunk back into Li Tianzong’s body, seemingly pulled in by a force.

Afterward, the Demonic Qi around Li Tianzong grew denser, and the wounds on his body swiftly healed. His severed limbs regrew.

“Anyone who stands in my way dies!!”

His eyes, like blood-stained weeping, emitted a roar, and behind him, emerged several shadowy figures of the Demon Kings, adding a terrifying momentum. The Dao Domain concentrated, gathering onto his spear, soaring through the sky.

This thrust was like thunder, piercing the heavens, as if it could tear apart the sky above Dragon City.

Li Hao raised his hand as well, unleashing the strongest form of his swordsmanship, the Sword’s Ultimate Reincarnation!

Spring, Autumn, Winter, Summer, encompassing dozens of types of swordsmanship, all condensed into the Four Seasons.

In the end, as the Four Seasons revolved, they transformed into a pitch-black sword beam.

This sword beam was like the night, capable of devouring everything, overshadowing all things.

Within it was a terrifying Extinction Principle, which fiercely clashed with the spear.

A violent rumble ensued, and Li Tianzong’s body tore apart, his demonic body shattered, as he burned his whole body’s blood vessels and Divine Soul to erupt with boundless might.

Meanwhile, Li Hao’s own body was bleeding, continually breaking apart. Summoning his strongest sword earlier had forced him to tap into even more strength, causing his Unwithering Strength to be overwhelmed. What should have lasted three minutes now halved.

Li Hao knew his time was running short.

Seeing the frenzied Li Tianzong rushing towards him, he likewise met the assault head-on.

The two clashed fiercely in the void, their punches and kicks colliding, creating terrible shockwaves.

“Soldiers, attack together!”

Li Tianzong roared again, and the transformed soldiers of the entire city turned into black smoke, drifting toward his body to merge into one.

Li Hao’s expression changed upon seeing this. If he truly allowed his opponent to merge, even in his Immortal state, he might not be able to withstand it.

Why be so persistent?

Li Hao gazed into those red, raging eyes and sighed softly.

He really wanted to look up at the world one more time, if only for the last time.

But he knew he had no time left.

“I will get you back home…”

Li Hao raised his hand, the Green Frost Sword had shattered, but he mustered his power to solidify the fragments into a broken blade, wielding it once more to deliver the strongest Sword Intent.

Three consecutive strikes, one slashing towards the demons and soldiers within the city, the other two landing on Li Tianzong.

The demonic might on his body was scattered, his body burst open, and his chest cracked.

And as he unleashed such a powerful attack, Li Hao’s flesh and blood deteriorated rapidly, the solidified Green Frost Sword also turned to debris, leaving him no choice but to charge forward, continuously swinging his fists.

Boom boom boom!

Blow after blow, his fists pummeled Li Tianzong’s massive demonic form, punching holes everywhere, Demonic Qi rattling and dissipating from within.

Li Tianzong let out a roar of fury, and yet his body was completely overpowered by Li Hao.

He seemed to realize that he had failed.

“I want to go home, I wish to bring you all back home…”

He let out a wounded beast’s mournful roar, tears of hot blood flowing from his eyes, seemingly returning to the despair of Dragon City’s collapse.

Boom!

Li Hao’s final punch was swung, crushing the demonic presence within him completely, the giant demon body disappeared, plummeting straight down into the city.

Li Hao’s body had become horrifying, the flesh of his chest and abdomen all fallen off, leaving behind nothing but a broken shell.

Even the Unwithering Strength could not alleviate it, and it was quickly running out.

Li Hao turned his head towards the city, suddenly raised his hand, and drew in all the Power of Heaven and Earth, unleashing it with a swing.

A wave of Sword Qi rippled out from his side, spreading rapidly, its destructive force comparable to the Dao Domain’s extension, erasing all the demons and mutated soldiers it passed, not even a scream could be emitted in time.

This included some Great Demons from the Three Immortal Realms and even the Demon King, none had the power to resist.

The Candle Flame God tried to flee, but that force came too fast. He blocked with all his might using his Dao Domain, roaring in rage, but his body was submerged nevertheless.

“Hao Er!”

Li Xiaoran rushed over from afar, only to see Li Hao’s body fading away like dust.

Li Tianzong climbed out of the deep pit, his hair disheveled, but with no sign of demonic presence on him, no dark Qi, and the red in his eyes had disappeared.

He looked around, and when he spotted Li Hao almost vanishing in mid-air, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he hurriedly rushed over.

“My child!”

He sped over like a rainbow, arriving in front of Li Hao, trembling as he saw the dissipating body:

“How could you do something so foolish!”

Li Hao felt his consciousness being pulled by the Power of Heaven and Earth, about to dissipate, he saw Li Tianzong who seemed to have regained clarity, he smiled weakly:

“Now, you should be able to go back…”

Beside him, golden lettering appeared, notifying Li Hao that the main quest was complete.

Does this count as clearing the game?

Li Hao wanted to look closer, but his vision was already blurry, everything seemed to be receding, and it felt like he was being tugged into the vast Heaven and Earth, to blend in completely.

“If I’ve cleared it, then I should be able to let go, right…”

Li Hao murmured to himself.

His body, like dust, faded from sight in front of Li Tianzong and Li Xiaoran.

Li Xiaoran, who had chased over, was also covered in the blood of demons, he stared blankly at Li Hao disappearing like a wisp of clean breeze, completely gone.

The young man’s last words, faint as spider silk, reached his ears, causing him to break down in tears.

With Mo River’s passage, big brother Li Tianzong could be freed.

But, Li Hao couldn’t return anymore!

Liangzhou, a month ago.

With reinforcements arriving from all sides, the frontline collapse of the demons led to the swift recapture of most cities that had been quickly occupied by the demons.

Around Liangzhou, battle flags soared. To prevent the demons lingering in some cities from harming the people excessively, Li Tian Gang discussed with Li Xuanli about withdrawing a Light Cavalry Unit from the main army. Replacing the unit with the Haotian battle flags, they would head to various cities first to deter the demons and scout the situation.

If the situation looked grim, they would wait for the main army, but if the battle flags could intimidate the demons in those cities, they could rescue the trapped citizens ahead of time.

After all, even a single day’s delay could result in tens of thousands of citizens falling victim to the demons.

Hence, when it came to reclaiming territory and rescuing the people, speed was of the essence.

After the clarion call of this grand counterattack was sounded, the many small- and medium-sized demon forces that had followed the three great demon powers into battle, trying to fish in troubled waters, were in a state of panic, not expecting such a swift collapse at the frontlines.

Originally, upon hearing the numerous favorable battle reports from Tianji Palace, they believed the demons’ occupation of Liangzhou to be a done deal, almost certain. Yet, the situation had reversed.

Memories of fear, branded in the ancient dynasty within their veins, resurfaced.

Many forces with elder demons within their ranks chose to withdraw, taking advantage of the chaos in Liangzhou that made it difficult to be tracked.

If they were put on the wanted list, it would be tough to find a place to live outside their own territories; they’d have to constantly hide and dodge.

“Why, why was there such a swift defeat?”

“Wasn’t it said that the Great Elder of Longmen would lead us to breach Liangzhou?”

Amongst the demons, many Great Demons roared in anger, questioning the Bird Demon from Tianji Palace.

The Bird Demon from Tianji Palace felt bitter inside. Being demons themselves, they naturally sided with the three great powers, and what’s more, they had not yet revealed that the master of the Great Void Realm had personally come to the battlefield.

This was secret information about the war, not to be leaked to prevent these informed demons from being captured by the Human Race and the information becoming known to them.

“According to frontline intelligence, Longmen has been defeated. For the specific reason, you will need to pay with blood jade.”

The same phrase was given by the bird demon from Tianji Palace in response to the demon forces.

Regardless of the outcome of the war, the money Tianji Palace earned would not be any less.

This was also why Tianji Palace, while seemingly lacking in combat power, could still rank among the top demon forces, on par with powers like Longmen.

Some demons chose to simply flee for their lives, not bothering to inquire further, knowing that in time such information would naturally become public, and they could learn it for free later on.

Yet some of the wealthier and more irritable demons, though annoyed, still chose to purchase the intelligence immediately, and soon learned the detailed reasons from the mouth of the Tianji Palace bird demon.

Master of the Great Void Realm personally led the command, but a young general of the Human Race emerged, joining the battlefield, slaying seven Demon Kings, and was chased by the master of the Great Void Realm and the Great Elder of Longmen, fleeing outside the territory of Liangzhou.

This news spread swiftly among the demons. The demons that normally resided outside Heavenly Gate Pass and had moved elsewhere were surprised but not overly shocked upon hearing this information, for they had long known of the might of the young general guarding Heavenly Gate Pass.

The other demons scattered around the exteriors of Liangzhou, however, were truly astounded that an extraordinary talent had been born within the Human Race!

An elder demon lamented, recalling the incident in Cangzhou from over a decade ago.

It was a young general who had emerged out of nowhere, leading only a thousand Iron Cavalry, single-handedly pacified an entire province and guarded it.

Now, fifteen years later, another young general had emerged, seemingly a cyclic destiny. This also seemed to indicate that the fate of the Human Race had not declined and still hung like a three-edged sword over the heads of the demons.

The demons collapsed upon hearing the name Haotian, scattering in a frantic escape.

This reclaiming operation did not consume much military strength, and with the Dayu Royal Family’s army arriving to reinforce, surrounding Liangzhou, they annihilated many fleeing demons.

The original five hundred thousand royal troops that came as reinforcements now only had to deal with the cleanup work. Consequently, the fleeing demons faced the sweeping tide of the vast army, suffering heavy casualties. A smaller number of demons who managed to escape did so with their races exterminated and forces destroyed, leaving only a handful of minor demons to get away with memories filled with fear and agony.

“Report, Your Highness!”

The scout returned, bearing the Emperor Yu’s banner, with the flying characters for Xuan in Emperor Yu’s distinctive black color.

“Thirty li ahead, the demons in that city have abandoned it and fled. Now a military force is taking over there, rallying the remaining guards and citizens in the city to treat the wounded.”

The scout dismounted swiftly and reported in detail.

In front of him was a dragon, its body covered in red scales and over a dozen zhang long, with a young man standing on its back wearing golden divine armor, his cape billowing in the wind.

Being called ‘Your Highness’ suggested his extraordinary status.

The ‘Yan’ character on his divine armor’s chest made his identity clear and was familiar to the court and noble families. He was one of the few extraordinarily famous princes among the dozens, the thirteenth Prince, Jiang Yan.

At such a young age, he had already established incredible accomplishments and was known for his bravery; had he not been born into the royal family, he could have easily been ennobled as a Marquis.

At the moment, Jiang Yan slightly furrowed his brows upon hearing the scout’s words and said, “It is said there was a Great Demon presiding there. How many troops did they use to repel it so quietly?”

“Reportedly, not a single soldier or piece of weaponry was harmed.”

The scout replied respectfully, lowering his head and explaining the situation in detail.

After listening, Jiang Yan’s eyes, beneath his arched brows, showed surprise, which then turned to a cold sternness:

“Humph, the Haotian battle flag? It’s laughable that a mere flag could deter a Great Demon!”

“Is the ancestral banner of the Dayu Royal Family not more intimidating than that Haotian battle flag? It seems that father has been too merciful towards these demons in recent years!”

“Transmit the order!”

His face was cold as he said, “Slay all demons encountered along the way, leave none alive, capture the Great Demon alive, and after Liangzhou is pacified, I will construct a high altar and refine the Great Demon to awe the demons of the world!”

“Let these demons know the fate that awaits those who dare invade the territory of the Dayu Divine Dynasty!”

As the royal army rushed to the scene, forces from other major states also hurried to Liangzhou, reinforcing the battlefield.

These forces consisted of scions of noble families, various Jianghu sects, and local armies from each state—learning of Liangzhou’s plight, reinforcements were sent from all directions.

However, with each major state spanning seventy to a hundred thousand miles of vast territory, unless the armies used certain secret military assets to hasten their march, reinforcement often took time.

By the time all the allied forces had arrived, the cleanup of the Liangzhou battlefield was almost at its end—the campaign from the demons’ initial attack to its conclusion took less than ten days in total.

What remained was the sweeping of demons lurking in various places within the territory. Some of these demons had fled to towns and other locations to hide, waiting for the commotion to die down before continuing to endanger the populace.

After all, with the defense line broken, it was unknown how many demons had poured in, and Liangzhou covered a large area that needed to be thoroughly examined.

“Old Seven, we’ve just interrogated a Bird Demon from Tianji Palace. Hao Er has drawn the three Demon Kings to Mo River, where your Fourth Uncle is stationed.”

In the Liangzhou Military Department, hope flared in Li Xuanli’s eyes as he said, “Perhaps, with Fourth Uncle’s help, Hao Er might not come to harm. Fourth Uncle does have considerable experience with Mo River.”

Li Tian Gang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, “With Fourth Uncle there, there’s hope of escaping via Mo River. So, the Demon King is now guarding outside Mo River?”

“He’s gone in too.”

“In that case, this is valuable intelligence; we can catch the turtle in the jar!”

Li Tian Gang’s eyes started to glimmer faintly.

Li Xuanli nodded: “But the Candle Flame God is at a Half-step Taiping Dao Realm. To hunt him down, we’d have to ask Second Uncle to come over, and even that might not be enough. We still need the assistance of those few from the Divine General Mansion wielding the Sea-Calming Divine Needles. If we could get help from that old lady of the Xia Family…”

He paused, then shook his head—the old lady had been anchoring the Xia Family for many years and rarely left; it was unlikely that she would take action for this matter.

“Why not ask the Buddha Lord?” proposed Li Xuanli thoughtfully.

Li Tian Gang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he said, “The Buddha Lord might not intervene; he might just send a Bodhisattva to make do. You should have seen clearly what happened in Liangzhou this time!”

Li Xuanli thought of Lin Wujing and certain rumors, nodding subtly:

“But the True Masters of the Gan Tao Palace are loath to leave their abode—surely we can’t let this rare opportunity slip by?”

“Let’s ask the imperial family to step in. With their call to arms, I’ve heard that Princes Jiang Yan and Jiang Chong have both arrived. Let’s discuss with them. If they can summon other powerful figures like the Sword Saint to unite in a siege and also call upon the commander of the imperial guards, the Candle Flame God is sure to die!”

A cold light flickered in Li Tian Gang’s eyes.

“Agreed.”

Li Xuanli nodded in response.

With the rebellion in Liangzhou quelled and peace restored, Prince Jiang Yan, in collaboration with the Liangzhou Army and the Divine General Mansion, constructed a high altar within the state and sacrificed nine Great Demons of the Three Immortal Realms to heaven.

This act was ostensibly to honor the souls of the Liangzhou populace, but in reality, it was intended to intimidate the demons.

The news spread rapidly, inciting even greater fear among the demons beyond the borders.

After the Demon Sacrifice Ritual concluded, messages were sent out to all corners.

…

At the Xia Family.

In a plain courtyard, an old lady was tending to the poultry, feeding chickens and ducks.

“Cluck, cluck.”

She took out a handful of rice and threw it in front of several chicklings, letting them peck at the grains.

The little yellow chick pecked at the rice demurely, savoring its meal with relish.

Suddenly, the gate to the small courtyard was pushed open, and a middle-aged woman in patched clothing walked in, holding a letter in her hand.

She appeared simple, with a gray wooden hairpin in her hair, yet beneath the coarse hemp sleeves, her skin was white as mutton fat, seemingly delicate enough to break at the slightest touch.

The elderly woman was sitting in a rocking chair, gently swaying, watching the little yellow chick peck at the rice in front of her with a benevolent expression on her face.

Only when the middle-aged woman came closer did she look up and naturally glanced at the letter in the other’s hand, her smiling face becoming slightly reserved.

“Madam, it’s a letter from the Li Family.”

The middle-aged woman spoke in a gentle and respectful tone.

The old woman reached out for the letter and read through it slowly. After a while, she gently closed the letter and murmured,

“Now that the country’s fortune is waning, these old fellows have started getting restless.”

“Madam, shall we go?”

The middle-aged woman cautiously whispered, “It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that Candle Flame God with the Dao Domain should not fall into the Mo River. Once he emerges, it’ll be an ideal time for the hunt.”

The old woman placed the letter behind the rocking chair and grabbed another handful of rice to throw to the little yellow chick at her feet:

“The Tianji Palace must have already shared this intelligence with other demon powers, right? Demons, although often at odds with each other, still understand the principle of mutual interdependence in survival.”

“The Ancient Demon Palace and the Great Void Realm don’t get along; they’ll likely not send reinforcements. But Gluttonous Valley, Dragon Gate, and the Holy Palace will all send people.”

“It’s both an opportunity and a trap.”

“This battle could well be bait for the demons.”

As she spoke, she gently kicked one of the little yellow chicks with her foot and chuckled, “Don’t be greedy and eat it all. Leave some for the others.”

The biggest little yellow chick was nudged aside, looking somewhat aggrieved and then huddled closer to the feet of the middle-aged woman.

The middle-aged woman shifted her stance slightly before saying, “So Madam, do you mean that we should just observe the situation for now?”

“Let’s wait.”

The elderly woman said softly.

…

The Wang Family.

Within a palace-like hall, three figures were gathered.

“We’ve just received another letter from the Li Family; Liangzhou has been pacified.”

One of the figures, a burly man with a dignified face, spoke in a low voice, “Li Tian Gang had sent out the Eight Directions Orders asking for assistance earlier. Our Wang Family is too far away. By the time we sent help, it would have been over. Since we didn’t respond last time, if we don’t show some gesture now, we might be criticized.”

“Hmph, what of criticism? Such matters concerning demons are none of our business. Haven’t we already divided our forces among them? Isn’t that enough?” Another gaunt middle-aged man said coldly.

“Those are all things of the past; let’s not bring them up again.”

An elderly figure seated at the head of the group spoke in a low voice, “Grievances and grudges are all past smoke, untraceable.”

“The current situation under the Dayu Divine Dynasty is that the threat of demons is a minor issue. The problem with the Mo River is becoming more serious by the day.”

“Zhen Dong is currently striving for those ten thousand merit points, but it’s unclear what special changes will occur once he reaches the ten thousand.”

With a sigh, worry tinged his brows, yet he seemed to carry a hint of hope as well.

“There should be some changes. Over the years, our research and challenges regarding the Mo River show that the merit ranking is not simply an empty name or merely a title.”

The authoritative man on the right said, “An ancestor of our 98th generation broke ten thousand in merit, didn’t he? It’s recorded that he seemed to have received an extra chance to defy fate, and it was his thriving fortune that led to the flourishing of talents in our Wang Family over these years.”

“It’s a pity that no one but us believes this kind of thing,”

The thin middle-aged man snorted coldly, “They just think that our Wang Family is tricking people, luring them to help with false promises. These guys will never rise early unless there’s profit in it. Without any benefits driving them, even if the Mo River extends to their hometown, they would choose to move rather than solve the problem of the Mo River!”

“That’s just how people are; you can’t really blame anyone else,”

The elder shook his head slightly and said, “Unfortunately, ten thousand merits is too hard to obtain; it requires the destruction of a Youdu-level Mo River ten times. Only the Eastern Protector is in the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, otherwise it would be impossible to complete.”

“Let’s talk about the Mo River in Liangzhou Dragon City first,”

The authoritative-faced middle-aged man said, “That Li Family young man lured those three Demon Kings into the Dragon City Mo River, probably planning to perish together with them in the river.”

“That section of the Mo River is extremely dangerous, more troublesome than other Youdu-level Mo Rivers—it could rank within the top ten of such rivers.”

“Li Xiaoran has the blood of the Li Family, a natural advantage, but even so, there hasn’t been much progress over the years. It’s uncertain if there will be any achievements this time.”

“Indeed, this is a rare opportunity to catch a turtle in a jar, to kill the sovereign of the Great Void Realm. The Great Void Realm will surely be severely wounded, falling from the top forces, allowing the Monster Suppression Department to dispatch people to clean up, easing the pressure on the border.”

“But other holy palaces and the Dragon Gate will most likely not sit idly by and may even anticipate our actions, leading to a major battle when the time comes,”

“What do you think, should we ask Uncle of the Eastern Protector to come out, or should we go ourselves? If the old matriarch of the Xia Family chooses not to intervene, we can withdraw in time,”

“I don’t think it’s worth it,”

The thin middle-aged man said, “It’s hard enough for Uncle Eastern Protector to clean up the Mo River, and on top of that, to run around for this kind of thing, isn’t it laughable? It was agreed back then that they would guard the border, and we would take care of the Mo River. Now they want us to manage their mess as well, isn’t that a joke?”

The authoritative man looked at the elder, who was silent for a while before finally saying,

“I’ll make a trip myself first, go there and see. Wait for Uncle Eastern Protector to emerge from the Mo River, let him rest before he comes over if necessary.”

“Uncle, are you really going?”

The thin middle-aged man was stunned and couldn’t help saying, “Our Wang Family is no longer involved with these demons. Over the years, they have been killing demons and making meritorious deeds, and although the Li Family has lost six sons in battle, at least they did their duty and earned a clear conscience! But who will remember those from our Wang Family who died in the Mo River? Even the Merit Board will erase their names; ask anyone in the world now, who remembers that the Wang Family is also part of the Divine General Mansion?”

“Who will help us clear the Mo River if we help them?”

The elder listened to his agitated speech, fell silent for a moment, then looked up at him and said,

“My journey is not about shouldering the responsibilities of the Wang Family, but about the conscience of a martial artist! Man and demons are inherent enemies; slaying demons and removing evils are the martial goals of our kind. If one possesses martial skills but lives a cowardly life in the marketplaces, what’s the point? The world may not know of the Wang Family’s merits, but heaven knows, earth knows, the Emperor knows, and the descendants of our Wang Family remember—that’s enough!”

The thin middle-aged man saw his resolute look, was taken aback, his lips trembling slightly, and in the end, he said no more.

…

…

In Dayu State, the holy capital, Yuzhou.

Within the majestic imperial palace, inside a deep courtyard.

Snap!

With a crisp sound, in a courtyard abloom with peach blossoms, two figures sat leisurely across from each other playing chess in a pavilion.

One was Emperor Yu, and the other wore luxurious Jiao robes. He looked about forty, but with a few strands of white hair at his temples.

On his waist placard was engraved the character “Qing,” and everyone in the imperial palace and even the entire Yuzhou knew that this only represented one identity—the Prince Qing, Jiang Qingshan.

In Jianghu outside the court, he had another name—the Green Mountain Taoist Master!

“Brother Emperor, you’ve won again,”

Jiang Qingshan watched as his own territory was dissected beyond redemption by the black stones, completely severing his lifeline, and he could only smile wryly as he conceded with a bow.

Emperor Yu chuckled, “It’s not fun to play chess if you keep letting me win.”

“I wouldn’t dare let you win, Brother Emperor. I have given it my all, yet skill is inferior to yours. I must practice more when I return,” Jiang Qingshan replied with a bitter smile.

Emperor Yu, pleased by the statement, couldn’t stop smiling as he said,

“Your chess skills indeed need improvement. I should find a better chess player to visit your residence to sharpen your skills. After so many years, you haven’t improved a bit, not even as good as a child.”

Jiang Qingshan was left speechless, and with a forced smile said, “Brother Emperor, now you’re making fun of me. My chess skills may not match yours, but I can hold my own against the little chess sage. How could I not be better than a child?”

Seeing his brother unconvinced, Emperor Yu laughed, but his smile faded as he thought of the carefree youth beneath the willow tree. He remained silent.

He put down the chess piece he was holding and said softly, “You already know about the situation in Liangzhou, what are your plans?”

Jiang Qingshan, seeing this, stopped fiddling with the chessboard, and seriously replied,

“Holy Palaces and the Dragon Gate, the Great Void Realm is attacking Liangzhou, and other demonic forces are also eager to move, eying the other states, preventing them from allocating too many resources elsewhere.”

“They aim to use Liangzhou as a breach, and once Liangzhou is secured, they plan to invade other states with the surge of the Aquatic Clan demons from the Wei River, and then rely on Liangzhou’s terrain, defensible by land and attackable by water forces. They are truly serious about taking action against our Dayu State!”

Emperor Yu nodded slightly and said, “You must also be aware of the situation behind them.”

Jiang Qingshan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded, “I heard that the Li Family lad lured the sovereign of the Great Void Realm into Dragon City Mo River. Now is an excellent opportunity to catch a turtle in a jar. Brother Emperor, did you summon me here to join the hunt?”

“I asked you to hunt, but the target isn’t Dragon City Mo River.”

Emperor Yu’s fingers lightly tapped on the chessboard, his gaze falling on a black piece that had dropped off the board, and he smiled, saying,

“Sometimes, the outcome of the game isn’t decided on the board, but rather outside of it.”

“That elder Lu Yuan from the Dragon Gate made his move, cooperating with the Candle Flame God in an attempt to take Liangzhou. According to secret reports from the front lines, the Candle Flame God hadn’t planned to make a move, but was forced to show himself because that child was too troublesome.”

“However, the master of Dragon Gate and many elders from the Sacred Palace didn’t participate in this battle.”

“Where do you think they all might be?”

Jiang Qingshan’s heart stirred, quickly coming up with an answer, yet he shook his head and said, “This younger brother is dull, please enlighten me, older brother.”

Emperor Yu spoke indifferently, “The older generation of the Li Family didn’t show themselves, which means they must have realized the issue. Besides wanting to encroach on Liangzhou, they also want to take advantage of the situation to make a big score and flatten the Divine General Mansion as well!”

“With three major forces making their moves, everything is out in the open. Luckily, the Li Family is smart and didn’t rashly leave.”

“Now that they are gathered in Qingzhou, it is exactly when their own territory is at its weakest—this is the perfect time to hunt!”

Jiang Qingshan’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Older brother, are you suggesting that I go and eradicate their lair, pulling out their roots?”

“Northern Yan has been unchallenged for over a dozen years; the Sacred Palace should pay a price!”

Emperor Yu nodded slightly, looking at the vivid peach blossoms in the courtyard, “I have evergreen seasons here, but outside the courtyard, autumn has arrived.”

“It’s been many years since I hunted with you; I wonder how your hunting skills have held up. Have you regressed?”

Jiang Qingshan’s face showed a hint of a smile, “I am certainly no match for older brother, but if I hunt a mountain, I will make sure there isn’t a single survivor left!”

“Then I shall await your return for a drink!”

Emperor Yu laughed.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingshan stood up, bowed respectfully, and formally accepted his command.

After seeing Jiang Qingshan off,

Chu Jiuyue walked slowly back to the pavilion, saw Emperor Yu still staring at the chessboard, lost in thought, and said,

“Your Majesty, are you thinking about that child?”

Emperor Yu’s gaze became focused, landing on him, “Do you think that the fate of our Dayu Divine Dynasty is truly declining?”

Chu Jiuyue’s face changed slightly, hurriedly saying, “Your Majesty, the Dayu Divine Dynasty is blessed by the former emperor and will surely prosper for eternity. How can there be any decline?”

“If it hasn’t declined, then why, over a decade ago, did the ninth son of the Li Family die young, with not even his bones left in foreign lands?”

“And why that child, at just fifteen, found himself in peril? They were both the future hope and backbone of our Dayu Divine Dynasty, but it seems as if the heavens are unwilling to give them time.”

Emperor Yu gazed into the distant blue sky outside the courtyard and murmured, “If only that child had another ten years—even just ten more years would have been enough.”

Chu Jiuyue fell silent for a moment. Chapter Your:

Thinking of the secret dispatches from Liangzhou, he knew these words were true.

At fifteen, reaching the Three Immortal Realms, and with cultivation so solid it was almost unimaginable, to slay the Demon King and even battle in the Ultimate Study Realm was truly incredible!

Such exceptional talent could be described as having the posture of a Saint without exaggeration.

Perhaps, it was for this reason that he managed to draw the attention of the master of the Great Void Realm, who abandoned the bigger picture on the battlefield to pursue him alone… Chu Jiuyue thought to himself.

“Your Majesty, about the situation at the Liangzhou Mo River…”

Emperor Yu fell silent for a long while before he finally said,

“Send for the ninth brother, have him go in person at any cost, and bring him back!”

Chu Jiuyue’s pupils contracted slightly. Was he actually planning to release that madman?

“Your Majesty, but if we do this…”

“Are you afraid?”

Emperor Yu looked at him dispassionately, his expression already calming, “If he comes out, I suppose the first stroke of his sword would strike me, but no matter, I can bear it for that child.”

“Your Majesty…”

Chu Jiuyue was shaken, never expecting Emperor Yu to make such a risky move.

The ninth prince… was not someone to be taken lightly!

In this vast imperial palace and the city beyond, to all the nobility and royalty, that existence was a topic shrouded in silence.

In those days, he was nearly a madman who nearly split the imperial city with a single stroke!

…

The battle of Liangzhou ended, with undercurrents stirring everywhere.

The royal army of five hundred thousand still stood guard in Liangzhou, waiting for the situation beyond the Mo River to unfold.

After consultation with two princes, Li Tian Gang joined forces with the Liangzhou Army, sending out two hundred thousand elite troops toward Dragon City Mo River.

They set up camp outside the Mo River, forming a military formation, ready to rescue Li Hao and Li Xiaoran whenever they emerged and also to counter the master of the Great Void Realm; striking the enemy would be a good outcome.

Although two hundred thousand troops wouldn’t harm the Dao Domain, it wasn’t just any army—many masters were hidden among them.

News of masters heading over or making excuses had already fallen into the hands of Li Tian Gang and others, therefore strategic arrangements were made in advance.

But as time passed,

no quarrel broke out outside the Mo River, instead, there was great upheaval in the Northern Yan Region.

Prince Qing led an army of a million and took the Sacred Palace, leveling the secret lands of its Sacred Mountain, destroying the gates, killing countless demons.

Now, the Sacred Palace’s treasured domain, its spirit springs cut off, its peaks ruined, has turned into a wasteland.

This news spread among the demons, and soon reached the ears of those gathered in Qingzhou.

“Dammit, that Green Mountain Taoist Master is vicious!”

“He actually led the charge himself. I heard the Palace Master of the Sacred Palace was seriously injured and managed to escape.”

“The other elders of the Sacred Palace have returned, but it’s probably too late.”

Hidden in a secret place in Qingzhou, there were many fierce figures, all elders from the Dragon Gate.

When the situation in Liangzhou turned around, some elders of the Sacred Palace realized that the ambush plan in Qingzhou was going to fail.

Once Liangzhou stabilizes, the old members of the Li Family will have no reason to leave the Divine General Mansion.

As a result, their ambush had become utterly meaningless.

However, no sooner had the elders of the Sacred Palace retreated than bad news from Northern Yan arrived.

No one expected that the Qing Mountain Master would seize this opportunity to not support Liangzhou, but instead turn his spear against the Sacred Palace’s stronghold!

The news of this battle was personally reported by the bird demon elder of Tianji Palace, and at this moment, the numerous elders of Dragon City, including the master of Dragon City, all felt surprised and angry.

At the same time, they were somewhat relieved.

Their defensive force left behind at the mountain gate and demon nest was even weaker, and if another prince were sent to encircle and suppress the enemy, they feared their own home might also suffer.

After some deliberation, they could only choose to retreat reluctantly.

The two old men of the Li Family had shut their doors and not come out; obviously, they had guessed their movements and knew that continuing the ambush would be fruitless.

“Contact the Sacred Palace, go to Mo River, there is no turning back now, we must rescue the Candle Flame God.”

“This waste, at Half-step Tao Realm, still can’t take down a little brat!”

“Has the Great Void Realm been avoiding the world for too many years, that he has even forgotten how to devour people?”

The numerous elders of Dragon City were full of complaints, their hearts filled with anger.

This time, not only had they failed to take down Liangzhou, but the Li Family of Qingzhou also remained unscathed; the plan was a complete failure.

And as the many pieces of intelligence from Tianji Palace were gathered and the overall situation reviewed, they realized that the failure of the plan was due to a variable, which was none other than the young general known as Haotian!

He came from the Li Family—again, the Li Family!

Not just Dragon City, but also the numerous Demon Kings of the Sacred Palace were filled with resentment.

…

Inside the Divine General Mansion.

Upon hearing the news that the stronghold of the Sacred Palace in Northern Yan had been uprooted, Li Muxiu couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He knew that his majesty would never let anyone down.

The Sacred Palace’s stronghold in Northern Yan had been wiped out, the Palace Master fighting alone, defeated by Prince Qing, with both sides unleashing the power of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, having kept their strength profoundly hidden.

But Prince Qing proved to be even more skillful, defeating him, and with the sweeping advance of a million-strong elite royal army, the entire Sacred Mountain was flattened.

This battle could be said to have shaken the demon world, showing them that this aging lion still had the power to struggle and bite off the enemy’s neck!

“Those guys in Qingzhou must be scared by now.”

“Just wait a bit longer, a few more days, then I’ll quietly leave for Liangzhou.”

Li Muxiu went to the ancestral hall and explained his plan to Li Qingzheng: “You know the situation in Liangzhou; these guys definitely won’t be compliant and let us ambush the Candle Flame God, that would cause their alliance to fall apart.”

“But the Candle Flame God must die!”

A cold light flashed in Li Muxiu’s eyes, and he said: “Additionally, I have to go and bring back Hao Er and the fourth brother; otherwise, they might also be in danger.”

“But with the Candle Flame God at Half-step Tao Realm, can you stand against him?”

Li Qingzheng asked with concern.

Li Muxiu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he replied: “Half-step Tao Realm, that’s all, isn’t it common!”

Li Qingzheng was slightly stunned, looking at him in astonishment, “You, you’ve also touched upon it?”

Li Muxiu nodded slightly, his expression suddenly turning somber, “It was an epiphany during one of those years spent Fishing with Hao Er, chatting idly, when you think about it, I should thank that boy…”

Li Qingzheng became somewhat excited, but when he mentioned Li Hao, thinking of the young boy who had sat with him playing chess in the courtyard for four or five years, he couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s a pity that Tiangang is too stubborn, that boy is also stubborn, but now that you’ve touched that step, it’s like finally catching up to big brother’s footsteps.”

“Big brother…”

Chapter Find:

Li Muxiu thought of his eldest brother, who had been ambushed and killed by the master of Dragon City and several Demon Kings during the battle of Dragon City, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

At that time, he had been traveling and pursuing the girl he had long yearned for.

When he heard the news, he came to his senses, returned to the Li Family, took over from the fourth, stood guard in the Listening Rain Tower, and cut off contact with that girl.

Although many had persuaded him that this matter had nothing to do with him, during the battle of Dragon City, Li Tianzong himself had led the troops to defend the city, others were not present, each stationed at their own places.

But Li Muxiu felt it wasn’t so.

He had always been out of favor with his father, had a casual temperament, and held no office.

Being unoccupied, he felt guilty, and this guilt had always taken root in his heart, unwilling to look back.

“I heard that Hao Er has reached the Immortal tier, and he can even contend with Demon Kings, I don’t know how he trains.”

Seeing the second brother’s forlorn and grieving eyes, Li Qingzheng quickly changed the subject, smiling, “Now that we’re bringing him back, there should be no need to compete with that little fellow Li Qianfeng anymore, we can directly acknowledge him as the True Dragon.”

“Tiangang shouldn’t have any objections either, after all, Hao Er’s martial achievements are witnessed by all after this battle; he ought to be made a marquis!”

Hearing his words, Li Muxiu came back to his senses, a flash of anger in his eyes as he coldly snorted,

“Naturally, his achievements are in no way inferior to little ninth’s of the past, Hao Er is only fifteen years old, being appointed a general and made a marquis, I want to see how Tiangang will still criticize his son, calling him unfit!”

“The past incident was a misunderstanding, and I don’t know why Tiangang was so impulsive back then, didn’t let Hao Er finish speaking, ah!” Li Qingzheng shook his head and sighed.

Li Muxiu’s gaze shifted slightly, murmuring, “Only, I don’t know if Hao Er will be willing to come back, willing to recognize me as his Second Uncle.”

Li Qingzheng glanced at him, recalling the solitary figure of the boy leaving the Divine General Mansion in the snowstorm, and fell silent for a moment.

…

As time passed.

After Liangzhou was pacified, everyone’s attention turned to the otherworldly Mo River.

The Mo River, originally part of Dayu’s territory, was separated from it later due to the river itself.

This illustrates the difficulty that the Mo River has posed, compelling the highly territorial Dayu Divine Dynasty to cede land, something not even the top demonic forces have managed to do.

Li Tian Gang was stationed in the western region of Liangzhou, constantly monitoring the situation, closest to the Mo River.

As another month passed, Li Tian Gang could no longer endure, and he found Li Xuanli to take over the surveillance.

“I’m going to Heavenly Gate Pass.”

Li Tian Gang said.

“Are you going to see Hao Er? But I heard that’s just his Martial Arts avatar.”

Li Xuanli immediately understood his intent.

While reclaiming Liangzhou, they also sent people to scout Heavenly Gate Pass, only to learn that there were no traces or tumults of demon attacks there.

In this regard, they could understand, since Li Hao’s war flags were too intimidating. Strewn across Heavenly Gate Pass, they should deter any demons from daring to approach.

Moreover, when they reclaimed Liangzhou, they obtained information about Li Hao from a captured Bird Demon from Tianji Palace.

Beyond the pass by five thousand li, all had been swept clean by Li Hao; no demons dared to violate that area!

Furthermore, the demons deliberately avoided attacking Heavenly Gate Pass during their assault on Liangzhou!

These two pieces of news shocked both them and all other officers and soldiers, including the reinforcements from various powers.

No one had expected that the demon army, which united three top demonic forces, would dare to face the million-strong army of the East-West Territory but not invade the southern pass guarded by that youth!

One man equivalent to a million-strong army!

Considering the power that Li Hao exhibited on the battlefield, everyone was not only shocked but also fell silent.

That youth’s combat abilities truly warranted such cautious reverence from the demons.

Often, it is not your allies who know if you are weak, but your opponents.

Similarly, only you know who is the weakest on the opposite side.

Undoubtedly, they had yet to realize the growth of that youth, but the demons outside Heavenly Gate Pass had already deeply learned their lesson.

Besides, Li Tian Gang had written to the imperial court, hoping His Majesty would send more war flags to help them defend Liangzhou.

But it took several days to receive a reply that the Heavenly Observatory did not have such means at the moment and suggested Li Tian Gang ask Li Hao where he learned such heaven-reaching techniques.

Upon receiving this reply, Li Tian Gang was somewhat stupefied.

He thought of the words spoken by the Candle Flame God when it appeared, feeling as if his blood was pulsating through his body.

That Sword Array war flag, did that child create it himself?

Who helped him?

Li Tian Gang realized that he knew far too little about his own son.

Besides being valued by Emperor Yu and cherished by the older generation of his family, this child also had secrets unknown even to himself.

He had previously written to his second uncle to inquire, but the response he received was somewhat mocking: “He is your son, you’re asking me? Who should I ask then?”

Having long been accustomed to his second uncle’s temper, Li Tian Gang was not angered by the response.

But from the reply, he realized that his second uncle likely did not know either.

Given the importance of the matter, even if that second uncle was angry with him, he would not be vague about something like this.

Thus, he could only learn the truth by asking Li Hao himself.

Now, with Li Hao having not returned from the Mo River for a long time, his life or death unknown,

he planned to first visit Heavenly Gate Pass to see, as he heard that Li Hao’s Martial Arts avatar could move on its own and might hold a fraction of his memories.

Apart from inquiring about the war flags, he was also keen to find out if Li Hao was confident of extricating himself from the Mo River and returning.

With his fourth uncle, who had tackled Dragon City Mo River for over a decade, by his side, he should be unharmed…

“`

Liangzhou, on Dragon Pass Road.

Dressed in the Marshal’s golden armor, Li Tian Gang sped along.

Although Liangzhou was now peaceful, a great battle might erupt at any moment near the Mo River in Dragon City just beyond the border, which is why he had not yet removed his armor.

After many years, setting foot on Dragon Pass Road again, Li Tian Gang felt nostalgic. When he saw the clean and empty road, he was somewhat surprised.

Ever since his third and sixth brothers died defending Dragon Pass Road, the demons there had grown increasingly rampant. He heard that travelers who ventured out from nearby borders were repeatedly attacked by demons, indicating that quite a few had infiltrated the region.

However, he couldn’t blame his younger sister Li Hongzhuang, who had taken over the defense of this place. Despite being a woman, she not only donned armor and went into battle but also faced relentless demon forces outside Heavenly Gate Pass and three formidable Demon Kings. It was already an achievement to hold that pass.

The yearly military reports spoke of heavy losses, illustrating just how difficult it was to defend this place.

That was also the reason to shrink the defenses and abandon Heavenly Gate Pass.

He had originally wanted that child to experience the perils of the battlefield. Unexpectedly, that soon-to-be-abandoned pass had now become the safest place in Liangzhou.

Even such a catastrophe, a demon army numbering in the millions, chose to avoid that route and attack elsewhere.

Li Tian Gang’s eyes flickered as he gazed at the ancient road’s thriving cypresses, feeling surprised and also a trace of quiet pride.

Thinking of soon seeing that child’s face, his eyes grew eager. Although it was only a split-off part of him, his heart had shattered when he saw Li Hao purposefully lure away the three Demon Kings, his and Qingqing’s only son.

Whenever others discussed Li Hao’s extraordinary talent and how stunning he was, he appeared cool and even somewhat aloof on the surface, but inside, he couldn’t help feeling proud and pleased.

After all, that was his son, Li Tian Gang’s son!

“Guest, would you like a cup of tea?”

A cheerful voice interrupted Li Tian Gang’s thoughts.

Li Tian Gang walked over leisurely, and seeing a tea stall nearby, he slightly raised his eyebrows and asked,

“Old man, there are no patrols around Dragon Pass Road, and demons could appear at any time. You dare to set up a stall here?”

The tea stall owner smiled and said, “General, you speak of the past. This place isn’t like that anymore. Don’t you know? Ever since General Haotian took charge of Heavenly Gate Pass, no demons dare to step foot here. In my opinion, even the Imperial City might not be as safe as this!”

Li Tian Gang’s eyes darkened, “Old man, you are of age. The Imperial City is not something that should be lightly disrespected. You should be more careful in the future!”

The tea stall owner realized his faux pas and hurriedly made a placating smile, “Yes, yes, I spoke too much. General, would you like to have a cup of tea?”

“Even if there are no demon attacks, with no one around, how can you have any business?”

Li Tian Gang glanced at the deserted Dragon Pass Road, thought for a moment, then casually took out a piece of silver coin.

Although he was a general, he had the habit of carrying some money when he traveled. He had been taught by his father, Li Tianzong, from a young age that as a Dayu General, one must never casually use things belonging to the common people; otherwise, how would soldiers differ from bandits?

“This is too much.”

The tea stall owner, taken aback by the sight of the silver coin, hurriedly went to give him change.

But Li Tian Gang had already strode forward, “No need for change.”

“Hey, General, I haven’t served you tea yet!”

“Drink a cup yourself.”

Watching the golden-armored general leaving, the elder at the tea stall wiped the silver coin and tucked it away, his face breaking into a joyful smile,

“He carries a fierce aura, but he is indeed a kind-hearted person.”

In front of Cangya City.

Li Tian Gang gazed at the majestic and imposing new city, his eyes focused. The city walls were filled with fluttering flags, bearing that familiar and revered symbol.

Along Dragon Pass Road, he had also seen several battle flags, surmising it must be these flags that brought such tranquility to the road.

At this moment, the city’s defending commander noticed Li Tian Gang, immediately recognizing the Marshal’s armor, and was surprised. Someone immediately flew from the city walls to greet him respectfully,

“Greetings, Marshal!”

Li Tian Gang gave a slight nod, “Where is Li Hao?”

The commander’s heart skipped a beat. Inside their city, they referred to him as Marshal Haotian, forbidden to mention Li Hao’s real name.

But the man in front of him, he recognized as the legendary Duke, the Great Warrior.

“Are you asking about the real Haotian General or…?”

“What do you think?”

Li Tian Gang interrupted him coldly.

The commander’s face shifted slightly, thinking he had been foolish. With Marshal Haotian’s support, Liangzhou achieved remarkable military exploits, which had spread to the Imperial City. They all knew that Marshal Haotian’s real self wasn’t there, so how could the Great Warrior in front of them not know.

“Marshal Haotian is in the city…”

“Take me to him.”

Li Tian Gang commanded.

The commander respectfully agreed and immediately led the way.

As the commander entered the city and walked briskly, Li Tian Gang proceeded slowly, observing his surroundings.

Seeing this, the commander quickly adjusted his pace to match his.

Li Tian Gang surveyed the city. Along the way, he saw shops, vendors, and elegantly dressed young nobles—aristocratic young masters, ladies in fine silk—creating a harmonious atmosphere of content citizens.

The interactions between these noble offspring and humble vendors were quite cordial, indicating competent management.

The bustling and orderly scenes resembled those of a central regional state city.

At that moment, many people on the street, noticing Li Tian Gang’s golden armor, looked on in surprise and started whispering among themselves.

Li Tian Gang intended to look around more, but seeing the curious gazes of the people, his brows furrowed. He abruptly took to the air and instructed the commander:

“`

“Lead the way.”

The officer, upon seeing this, immediately took to the air and increased speed.

Li Tian Gang followed him at full speed to the city center, where there was an open area that seemed to be the lord’s mansion.

The surrounding buildings were all neat and imposing, but in contrast, that open area was a humble fenced courtyard, which looked extremely simple, yet the presence of patrolling officers lent it a certain majesty.

“Is that where he lives?”

Li Tian Gang frowned, “They have the time to build civilian homes, how come they don’t build a more decent lord’s mansion.”

“Replying to the Marshal, General Haotian said that his old friend likes this little yard, so he kept it as is,” the officer responded.

Li Tian Gang slightly raised his eyebrows, thinking of the child’s capricious nature, he secretly sighed; surely even here at the Frontier Pass, that nature hadn’t changed.

It is said that if a youth is not disciplined, they are unlikely to change for life. He knew that the other party’s character was probably already set and afraid it could no longer be changed.

However, thinking of Li Hao’s current reputation, as well as all that he had done in Liangzhou, he felt there was no point dwelling on this issue anymore.

Soon, both of them landed in front of the fenced courtyard.

“Who is this?”

The two guards at the gate, both from the Haotian Army, were formed from the warriors and grandmasters from various states, only familiar with some military rules, but their grasp of other military affairs was rather shallow.

Therefore, when they saw Li Tian Gang’s attire, although they found it impressive, they did not immediately recognize him.

“This is the Great Public of Punitive Military, Marshal of Punitive Military!”

The leading officer immediately said.

Li Tian Gang frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased. He had just thought that it was unnecessary to delve into Li Hao’s loose disposition, but now it seemed that this disposition had also spread to the soldiers under his command.

Not even recognizing his own identity, if he encountered another Divine General Mansion, he might inadvertently offend.

And who knows what such disorganized soldiers would be like on the battlefield.

Although he knew Li Hao was very strong in himself, he surely couldn’t expect to handle everything alone, especially if he was to inherit the mantle of True Dragon.

If everything depended on the True Dragon, then ten lives wouldn’t be enough.

The two guards jumped in fright upon the introduction.

Even though they had not recognized Li Tian Gang, the great name of the Marshal of Punitive Military had been famous in Northern Yan for over a decade. They instantly knew that the middle-aged man before them was Li Hao’s father.

The pair quickly paid their respects, and their appearance made Li Tian Gang’s brows furrow even deeper. Glowering, he said:

“Hasn’t he trained you at all? You have no discipline. If you all went to battle like this, what kind of discipline would you have? A rabble!”

The two lowered their heads nervously, and one of them muttered:

“General Haotian said that with him around, we wouldn’t need to go to battle, and that we have undergone strict training. Usually, we won’t make mistakes unless it’s an accident…”

Li Tian Gang couldn’t help but scoff, “What a grand tone, if he handles everything, then what’s the use of you? Who does he think he is? How many lives does he have?”

Seeing the two shivering with their heads down, he didn’t bother to scold them further, and said, “Open the gate.”

“Marshal, please wait a moment, I’ll go inform General Haotian…”

One of the guards said in desperation, turning and running into the yard.

Li Tian Gang’s expression changed slightly.

The other guard hurriedly explained to Li Tian Gang, “Please calm your anger, Marshal. Our general told us to report to him no matter who comes, otherwise it would spoil his mood.”

A stern light flickered in Li Tian Gang’s eyes as he said, “Mood? What mood?”

This guard was also a grandmaster who had been famous for many years, surely able to tell that the Marshal was already angry, so he quickly tried to offer an apologetic smile:

“General Haotian usually likes to take a nap during the day, or play chess, paint; if he is rudely disturbed…”

Li Tian Gang’s expression turned sour; he hadn’t expected Li Hao to still be indulging in such leisure activities without restraint at the Frontier Pass!

He had thought that Li Hao’s startling cultivational progress and strength were due to his own inspiration, culled from rigorous cultivation at Heavenly Gate Pass.

Yet, he seemed to be enjoying himself just as always.

He hadn’t changed, not at all!

Li Tian Gang took a deep breath, thinking of the previous defense line and the battle achievements of Li Hao, as well as the current state of Liangzhou, he felt the anger rising in his heart slowly dissipate.

He sighed inwardly. Although the other party hadn’t changed, his talent was indeed extraordinary. Even amidst comfort and enjoyment, he still possessed that astonishing combat power and had also saved countless lives in Liangzhou.

With such distinguished merits, he found it hard to rebuke.

And he knew that the kid was stubborn, and he had come here this time to try and ease the father-son relationship.

At this moment, the courtyard gate opened again, and the guard came out, appearing nervous and uneasy.

He glanced at Li Tian Gang, and as Li Tian Gang noticed his expression, his own face turned stormy.

“Um…”

The guard said nervously: “General Haotian said he does not wish to receive guests, asking you to go back.”

“Insolent child!”

Li Tian Gang was enraged. As a father who had personally come to visit, he had already lowered himself to Li Hao, and to be turned away?

Where was the slightest respect for the father?

“Did he personally say that? Tell him to come out and see me himself!”

Li Tian Gang’s face chilled, considering that it might be Li Hao’s clone, which might not retain much of the main body’s consciousness, he held back his anger.

“General Haotian is painting.”

“Painting what, for goodness’ sake? As a general, does he think he can create a world-renowned masterpiece?!”

Li Tian Gang had no patience for further words and pushed past the guard in front of him. The guard attempted to block him, but Li Tian Gang glared with both eyes, emitting the aura of the Four Stands Realm.

The awe-inspiring deterrence made the two guards horrified, leaving them stiff and immobile.

He kicked open the courtyard door and walked inside.

Inside, he saw two figures leisurely seated, one cross-legged with a sword laid across his thighs, eyes closed in contemplation.

The other was painting, brushstrokes sweeping over paper.

At that moment, both were startled by the sound of the breaking courtyard door and looked towards Li Tian Gang.

Ren Qianqian immediately recognized Li Tian Gang’s appearance, was startled, and hastily stood up, saying, “Uncle.”

The Li Hao of the shadow sat in front of his painting, frowning slightly. The memories he had inherited were few, most of the time spent painting or playing chess in an old and empty courtyard, gazing up at the stars in solitude.

Occasional glimpses of some faces were those of women clad in fine silk brocade.

He found the face before him somewhat unfamiliar, yet it stirred a sense of recognition. Still, instinctively, he felt a profound repulsion.

“This is the General’s residence, who allowed you to intrude!”

The Li Hao of the shadow’s expression grew colder as he set aside his brush, stood up, and assumed a battle-ready stance.

The command left by Li Hao to his shadow copy was to defend Cangya City to the death.

“Such leisure indeed!”

Li Tian Gang, upon seeing Li Hao’s division painting, couldn’t help but feel an urge to laugh. Even his division had the same temperament?

“Do you know who I am?” he asked with an icy face.

“Whoever you are, you need to follow my rules in this place!” the Li Hao of the shadow declared in a cold voice.

“Does the division really have no memory?”

Li Tian Gang furrowed his brow. The Martial Tao Division Skill was rare indeed, and he had some understanding of it. It was an external incarnation, very difficult to condense and control, but the final result was rather ordinary.

After all, if a division could inherit just one-tenth of the original’s power, that was already quite good.

And if you cultivated other cultivation techniques with the same difficulty, your power could increase by one-third, which is several times more efficient than relying on a division!

The only benefit of a division was that it could help with some minor tasks. However, for the powerful, there was no shortage of servants to order about unless it was to handle some private matters. When it came to fighting, a division was rather insignificant.

If Li Hao was still by his side, he would never approve of him wasting time on such a cultivation technique.

But he was already accustomed to Li Hao’s character. He couldn’t even control him in chess or painting, let alone what cultivation technique he practiced.

“You followed Hao Er here. Do you know if there’s a life-and-death connection between his division and the original?” Li Tian Gang asked Ren Qianqian standing beside him.

Ren Qianqian looked anxious and said, “I’m not very clear about the young master’s affairs.”

“Aren’t you his personal maid?” Li Tian Gang frowned.

“…But I never inquire into the young master’s affairs.” Ren Qianqian said, looking down.

Li Tian Gang huffed coldly in annoyance and then addressed the Li Hao division before him, “Your original is trapped in the Mo River. Do you know that? Can you sense it? Is there a life-and-death connection between you and the original?”

“This is my business, there’s no need to answer you. Please leave, or don’t blame me for being impolite!”

the shadow aspect of Li Hao said.

Li Tian Gang wanted to laugh in annoyance, “I’m the Marshal of Liangzhou, Heavenly Gate Pass is under my jurisdiction, I make the calls here. You’re telling me to leave?”

“You can be in the city, but not in this courtyard.”

the shadow aspect of Li Hao said, frowning.

Li Tian Gang’s eyes flashed with cold anger, “I’ve come to fetch you, to see if you can inquire into your original’s situation, and you want to send me away?”

“Qianqian, see the guest out.”

the shadow aspect of Li Hao said with a chilly face.

Ren Qianqian hesitated and looked at Li Tian Gang with uncertainty, “Uncle, why don’t you wait for the young master to return before discussing this?”

“Where do you get off speaking here!”

Li Tian Gang gave her a cold glance.

This glance pierced like a sword, causing Ren Qianqian to turn deathly pale, stumbling backwards.

The expression of the shadow aspect of Li Hao changed abruptly, with cold light overflowing in his eyes. With a gesture of his hand, the Dragon Soar Sword, previously sheathed where Ren Qianqian had been seated cross-legged, unsheathed with a roar, emitting a golden dragon’s cry.

The Divine Sword gathered its might and slashed down without hesitation.

Li Tian Gang’s eyes flashed with anger, and he slapped out his hand, shattering the golden light on the sword, but his own face suddenly changed color.

The might of this sword far exceeded his expectations, much stronger than he had imagined.

He took two steps back and had to stop himself with a deep breath.

“Are you the original or a division?!”

Li Tian Gang raised his head, looking at Li Hao before him with a mix of shock and doubt.

The gaze of the shadow aspect of Li Hao was cold, with the golden light of the sword standing horizontally before him, he said, “If you linger further, I will treat you as an intruder!”

Li Tian Gang’s face turned ugly upon hearing those uncompromising, icy words.

“I’d like to see how you plan to deal with your father!”

Li Tian Gang clenched his fists, his aura becoming visible.

Just then, a figure like a gentle breeze suddenly descended, appearing between Li Tian Gang and Li Hao as if by teleportation.

“Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

The voice that carried was sharp and cold as Feng Boping stared at Li Tian Gang with icy eyes.

Feng Boping had sensed Li Tian Gang’s arrival from the beginning and had moved from the courtyard to the clouds, trying to conceal his presence.

But seeing him clash with Li Hao’s division, he could no longer remain seated.

“Hao Er is currently trapped in the Mo River, a level of nether river where life and death are uncertain. Do you really intend to kill his division here?!”

Feng Boping said in a chilled tone.

“You are…”

Li Tian Gang’s gaze sharpened as he saw Feng Boping appear so suddenly. He had long been aware that there was a Four Stands Realm expert assisting Li Hao, allowing Hao to stand his ground upon his arrival at Heavenly Gate Pass.

It must be the person before him.

He scrutinized the newcomer, and his expression suddenly changed, exclaiming angrily,

“You’re the Thief Saint?!”

Feng Boping had originally avoided revealing himself by staying away from the courtyard, as the only people in the vast Li Family he was related to were no more than Li Hao and Li Muxiu.

Stepping forward now was a reluctant move, but since he had decided to show himself, he was prepared for his identity to be exposed.

“It’s me.”

“So it’s you who has been following Hao Er in secret?!”

Li Tian Gang was somewhat shocked, his eyes wide with anger, “What are your intentions? What are you planning?”

Feng Boping replied with a cold laugh, “Without me, your son wouldn’t even have made it to Heavenly Gate Pass. Do you know, the moment he stepped out of the Li house, how many pairs of demon eyes were viciously fixed on him? You pushed a fourteen-year-old child out the door; do you know what he’s carrying?!”

“He’s bearing the wrath of all the demons your Li Family has provoked over the past thousand years!”

“He’s carrying that hatred for your Li Family; without me, your son would have been dead long ago!!”

“You ask what my intentions are? My intention is to keep him alive, to let him live with his spine straight!”

Li Tian Gang retorted angrily, “But if not for you, Hao Er wouldn’t even have dared to leave the Divine General Mansion. It’s your protection that made him so bold, enabled him to defy me like this!”

Feng Boping was provoked to laughter, saying, “Even if he chose to remain in the Divine General Mansion just to scrounge by and save his own life, so what? Would he listen to you? During your decade-plus absence in Northern Yan, has your son ever lost to anyone else by half a point?!”

“Does he need your teaching? Does he?! “

Li Tian Gang, hearing these angry, almost roaring words, couldn’t help but pause. Indeed, the separation of over a decade in Northern Yan made him feel guilty about Li Hao.

In terms of innate talent, the boy truly wasn’t inferior to anyone.

But precisely because of that, he needed to be guided onto the right path.

“You, a thief, naturally wouldn’t understand the ethics of our traditions, matters of sovereign and subject, of filial piety!”

Li Tian Gang stared coldly at Feng Boping, saying, “Do you think that those who achieve great things can convince the masses with ability alone? Even as an officer or a general, relying on power to suppress your subordinates might work, but on the battlefield, you might just get a knife in your back!”

“The government may be stronger than the people, but the government is like a boat, and the people like water. Although water appears weak, it can overturn the boat!”

“Even the current Emperor must adhere to rituals and virtue, balance kindness and severity. What counts sheer bravery?!”

Feng Boping laughed, but it was a cold laugh, “Are you talking about yourself? Can’t you see, whose banners now flutter uncertainly all over Liangzhou?”

“Whose valor is being praised by countless commoners?!”

“Is it yours, Li Tian Gang? Is it the Li Family’s?!”

“Isn’t it all achieved by Hao Er on his own?!”

Li Tian Gang exploded with rage, “This is why I came here. Whose battle standard is it? Surely it can’t be yours!”

Feng Boping sneered, “Whose name is on the battle standard, that’s who made it. Isn’t that obvious? Or do you still think there’s some other hermit or grand master involved? Even if there were such a person, why would they help Hao Er? Have you thought about that?!”

Li Tian Gang was momentarily stunned, a multitude of thoughts flashing through his mind. For a moment, he found himself at a loss for words.

Seeing him speechless, Feng Boping sneered,

“Even if there is such a grand master, do you think he would help Hao Er for the sake of the Li Family? If your Li Family had such influence, then why, having lost six out of nine sons in battle, has there never been such a grand master to offer help?!”

Li Tian Gang’s complexion turned unsightly, but he also realized that what the other party said was not entirely unreasonable.

“Really? Hao Er made it himself?”

Li Tian Gang stared at him, suppressing his anger as he asked.

Feng Boping let out two cold laughs, but did not answer.

Li Tian Gang, seeing his reaction, took no offense but instead felt a stir of surprise and excitement in his heart.

If it was truly crafted by his own son, no matter how he came to possess such a secret technique, just having that ability meant what was there to worry about the demons at the frontier passes of the various states in the future?

If they could mass-produce such standards, with the Li Family’s reputation, it would surely be enough to defend the entire Dayu Divine Dynasty!

“Is it really your own work?”

Li Tian Gang’s gaze shifted past Feng Boping to look at Li Hao’s split form.

The shadowy Li Hao spoke with a cold gaze, “It’s none of your business, get out!”

Although he knew the person before him was only Li Hao’s split form, and didn’t recognize him, seeing someone with his own son’s face talk so rudely still ignited a spark of resentment in Li Tian Gang’s heart.

Feng Boping’s eyes were cold as he said, “What’s the point of these questions? With Hao Er’s life in question, even if he did create it, what of it?”

“If he’s dead, everything is gone!”

Li Tian Gang’s face paled slightly, his voice cold, “The heritage of the Li Family is beyond your comprehension. With my fourth uncle there, he knows the Dragon City Mo River not just like the back of his hand, but is also quite familiar with it. Hao’s own combat ability is not lacking, so being careful, he won’t encounter trouble. I’ve already stationed hundreds of thousands of troops outside Dragon City Mo River, just waiting for them to emerge, then we will escort them back!”

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“You, a thief, a vagrant person, what do you know about connections, about heritage?!”

Feng Boping’s lips trembled slightly with anger, but he held back any rebuttal at the tip of his tongue.

He too hoped that the foundation of the Divine General Mansion was indeed as Li Tian Gang claimed, powerful enough, so that Hao would return safely.

“Hopefully your Divine General Mansion truly lives up to its renown.”

Feng Boping snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, “I can’t be bothered to argue with a junior like you. Just mind yourself. If you want to fight, this old man will accompany you, but don’t even think about hurting Hao Er again!”

“Back then, outside the Divine General Mansion, I didn’t show myself because I didn’t want to smear the Li Family’s name. Now, here, it’s no longer your turn to be rampant!”

“So, I should thank you, should I?”

Li Tian Gang sneered and said, “You, a thief who commits evil everywhere, who instructed you, who gave you benefits to meddle in the affairs of the Li Family? It was you who led Hao Er astray, wasn’t it?!”

“Haha…”

Feng Boping was so angered he laughed, saying, “Hao and I hit it off from the first meeting—you say I’m the one instigating?!”

“Isn’t it? If not for you, Hao Er would still be in the Divine General Mansion by now. When he left the city and encountered the demon attack, he would have been brought back by Li He!”

Li Tian Gang’s cold voice said, “You keep saying it’s for Hao Er, but that’s a matter between father and son. When did it become your place to intervene?”

“What standing do you have to get involved in the affairs of the Divine General Mansion? And Hao Er is also the Li Family’s next True Dragon—what are you plotting?!”

Feng Boping’s cheek twitched slightly, wanting to rage, but the words “When did it become your place to intervene” extinguished the retort that had come to his throat.

Thinking of his life wandering without roots, he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

“No matter what you think, the infamy I carry in this life is more than just this; it’s nothing more than the chirping of noisy insects.”

Feng Boping’s expression calmed down, just quietly staring at Li Tian Gang:

“But today, as long as I’m here, you won’t even think about harming Hao Er!”

“Do you really think you can compete with me?”

Li Tian Gang narrowed his eyes and said, “I’m not unreasonable. If it weren’t for the fact that you did indeed protect Hao Er, I would have arrested you and sent you to the imperial prison long ago!”

“Is that so? Then try it. That would be a great achievement, at least enough to have your peerage raised from a third-grade duke to a second-grade one.”

Feng Boping’s mouth curved up slightly, saying derisively, “I’ve long wanted to experience the Li Family True Dragon’s methods!”

Hum!

All of a sudden, the Dragon Soar Sword vibrated and floated in front of Feng Boping.

The hilt faced Feng Boping, but the tip pointed towards Li Tian Gang.

Dark Li Hao, sensing the escalating power between the two, took a step to stand beside Feng Boping, coldly saying, “Trespassers will be killed without mercy!”

Li Tian Gang’s face changed instantly upon seeing the floating Divine Sword, and seeing Li Hao stand by Feng Boping in defense, his expression turned ugly, a surge of blood fury flashing in his eyes:

“Say that again?!”

Feng Boping, aware of the power Dark Li Hao was summoning, glanced again at the Divine Sword floating before him, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, but he quickly subdued it and said in a low voice:

“Hao Er, just stand guard here for me. I’ll personally find out and show him if the so-called thief can shake the Li Family’s True Dragon!”

Taking a step forward, he addressed Li Tian Gang, “Li Tian Gang, do you dare to step outside and put yourself to the test with me?”

“Hmph, a sneaky rogue thief also dares to talk to me like that.”

Li Tian Gang’s eyes were fixed on him, and in the next moment, the silhouettes of the two men disappeared from the courtyard in an instant.

“Feng!”

Ren Qianqian saw Feng Boping and Li Tian Gang disappear, her face changing instantly, unable to help herself from calling out anxiously.

But the heavens and earth were silent without a trace of them, only a surging sound coming from a far distance.

Both intended to avoid Cangya City and in the blink of an eye had sped off countless miles away.

Swoosh! Dark Li Hao took a step and chased after them.

“Young Master!”

Ren Qianqian was anxious, but could only see the Dragon Soar Sword turn into a beam of golden light following Li Hao’s figure, disappearing into the sky.

…

…

Outside Liangzhou Territory, by the Dragon City Mo River.

As Li Hao’s body tore apart and vanished, he felt his consciousness being ripped to shreds as well, merging into the universe, then melting away bit by bit like accumulated snow.

The more he melted, the weaker his consciousness became.

The feeling was extremely peculiar, and terrifying, as if something was slowly eating away at him.

Darkness, coldness, dampness, silence.

All sorts of unsettling sensations closed in, and Li Hao tried to struggle, but he was like a salted fish nailed to a chopping board, utterly powerless to move.

His world became blurry, the light dim.

In his vanishing vision, Li Hao saw Li Tianzong and Li Xiaoran’s anguished roars, but it seemed they couldn’t see him; their gazes did not focus on his consciousness, but rather mourned to the vast cosmos.

Li Hao wanted to say goodbye with a smile, but he had no body left.

The darkness closed like a shut window, engulfing the last streak of light.

Li Hao felt his consciousness disintegrating, as if plummeting into an endless abyss.

My superfluous life ends here, does it?

But at least in dying, I seem to have done one last good deed, marking a fitting end.

Li Hao thought to himself, feeling a chill envelop him in the darkness, while the sound of the river’s clear flow seemed close at hand.

At the same time, a voice seemed to rise from the depths of his heart:

“Don’t you want to go home?”

It was less of a voice and more like a thought that emerged from within.

Home…

Li Hao’s thoughts drifted, floating to that grand, empty courtyard, then out from the courtyard, over countless mountains and rivers.

Floating toward Heavenly Gate Pass, to the small fenced courtyard, then down Dragon Pass Road, past blossoming flowers along the way.

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This journey was filled with snowstorms and clear skies; the landscapes changed, but the laughter and cheer that accompanied him did not.