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The previously planned "modest gift" now seemed indeed very modest.

Moreover, since Li Hao had single-handedly resolved a disaster by slaying the Gluttonous Valley Master and essentially saved Youzhou from a dangerous situation alone, it would be almost insulting not to offer something significant in return.

Among the demons the Xia Family old lady had been raising, there were also two Demon Kings. They had been guarding important locations for the Li Family for many years and had sold quite a bit of effort during times of crisis. This time, Xia Yuan Wu came as the old lady had instructed, to offer one to Li Hao so he could personally choose.

Giving a four-stands realm demon, especially with a specially formulated Blood Covenant by the Xia Family that made rebellion very unlikely, was undoubtedly a grand gift.

At this moment, Xia Yuan Wu spoke these words, but Li Hao just slightly shook his head and declined.

For him, a typical four-stands realm demon meant little, and signing a Blood Covenant was utterly pointless.

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After all, even a demon of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm was utterly helpless in front of him.

Instead of keeping it by his side for mundane tasks, it was better to leave it in the Xia Family, which at least guarded four states and often went on campaigns that could put the demon to some use.

Seeing that Li Hao remained unmoved, Xia Yuanwu secretly lamented, for this was something other Divine General Mansions had long coveted, yet it seemed to hold no appeal for the young man in front of him.

He looked troubled, knowing that mere words of thanks would seem insincere.

Li Hao noticed the other's dilemma and after a moment's thought, his mind stirred. The Xia family was also a millennia-old Divine General Mansion. Their collection of Cultivation Techniques was not much less than that of the Li Family, and certainly more valuable than some Demon King-level tamed beast.

"Would you like to visit Lingyuan Pavilion?"

At Li Hao's words, Xia Yuanwu was stunned. That place was where the Xia family stored their most valuable Cultivation Skill Manuals, akin to the Li Family's Listening Rain Tower.

"If it's difficult, seeing just half would be fine," Li Hao said.

Xia Yuanwu's expression eased slightly. The Lingyuan Pavilion was one of the foundations of the Xia family. For a powerful cultivator like Li Hao, with a strong Divine Soul, a mere glance could commit to memory the contents, though mastering them all might not be possible. But for major powers, Cultivation Techniques were crucial to establishing their legacies.

Like the Sects of Jianghu, where Cultivation Techniques are central and the highest secrets.

"If General Haotian agrees to keep it confidential and observes it personally, the Lingyuan Pavilion can be fully accessible to General Haotian," Xia Yuanwu said. "However, I need to go back and report to the Family Head before I can give General Haotian a definite answer."

Apart from some techniques that even direct members of the Xia Family might not learn, Lingyuan Pavilion essentially gathered ninety-nine percent of the Xia Family's techniques.

For example, the old grandmother's unique demon-taming skill was not included there since it was passed down through one lineage only and stored in the Xia Family's Secret Vault, a real foundation of their house.

"Okay."

Li Hao nodded his agreement. His main intention was to use these techniques to deduce more refined techniques. Even if he taught Ren Qianqian or someone else, he would teach his own far-evolved versions of these original techniques.

After some more pleasantries, Xia Yuanwu set off to return to Youzhou.

Liangzhou was not far from Youzhou, and two days later, Xia Yuanwu once again rushed to Liangzhou Tianmenguan to inform Li Hao of the Xia Family's decision:

"The Family Head has agreed. General Haotian, you may visit Lingyuan Pavilion at any time."

Li Hao smiled, surprised that the Xia Family's head had such resolve.

He immediately left some war banners at Tianmenguan and then took Ren Qianqian with him to broaden her horizons. Since following him to Tianmenguan, the young girl had been confined to a small courtyard, which inevitably was somewhat dull.

The Candle Flame God, feeling slightly discontent when Ren Qianqian climbed onto his back, snorted, and Li Hao gently patted its head, leaving it no choice but to accept.

On the way, Li Hao started talking to Xia Yuanwu about asking the Xia Family to help find Master Feng. Xia Yuanwu had heard of Feng Boping and expressed surprise, but agreed to assist as much as possible.

In less than half a day, Li Hao had returned to Youzhou.

This time, considering the pace of the old gentleman, Xia Yuanwu, he did not rush the journey. After all, besides reaching their destination, the scenery along the way was also important.

Upon arrival at the Xia Family's residence, just as they reached the gate of the Divine General Mansion, he saw Xia Linglong personally there to welcome them again. This time there were a few more people with her, including three elders whose aura was contained yet profound, obviously from the older generation of the Xia Family.

Seeing the young man step down from the back of the Candle Flame God, the former elders who led armies felt compelled to watch intently.

In Youzhou, his sword had slain the Gluttonous Valley Master and stirred up the Sword Tide to quell disasters—an event witnessed by millions.

Moreover, when they first rushed to aid Qingzhou, they learned that the Dragon Gate and Holy Palace besieging Qingzhou City had also been annihilated by Li Hao.

The leaders of those two major forces were all from the Grand Tao of Peace Realm. For years, they had been a major concern for several Divine General Mansions. Yet now, in one fell swoop, Li Hao had cut them down, shocking the older generation.

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Xia Linglong gazed tenderly at the young man before her, smiling as she invited him inside.

Seeing him again, her feelings had shifted from before. Having witnessed Li Hao kill the Gluttonous Valley Master alongside Xia Yuanwu and learning about Li Hao's defeat of the Old Demon Kings, Dragon Absolute God, and Feng Lingxiao in Qingzhou, she knew, despite his teenage years, he had already reached the pinnacle of Dayu.

Apart from the True Person of Gan Tao Palace, perhaps only the Buddha Lord, widely recognized as the second strongest, could contest him, and the outcome was still uncertain.

Many of Xia Linglong's generation, including the next, as well as those of Li Hao's age, had also hurried over, observing from a distance within the mansion.

Knowing that the legendary young man was visiting, many young members of the Xia family were extremely excited, both curious and respectful.

Born into the Marquis family, they bore the glory of the Xia Family and inherently admired the strong. After all, in the military, confrontations depended not on words but on tangible skills.

And those straightforward natures also prevailed among the Marquis-born; disliking empty talk, they valued tangible realms and tangible achievements as the most convincing.

And Li Hao had both.

Whether it was his enviable cultivation in the Four Stands Realm or his tangible feats in slaying Demon King leaders, each was enough to leave his peers in the dust.

"Originally, they said he reached the Fifteen Li Realm at fourteen, logically, his cultivation speed should have slowed down, but instead, it accelerated."

"Is this the Haotian General? Indeed, he is as young as the legends say."

"I heard that he severed the Gluttonous Valley Master with a single sword, and in the Grand Tao of Peace Realm, he is also at the Killer God level."

Many young members of the Xia Family observed from afar, whispering among themselves.

Among them, some extraordinarily talented prodigies had complex expressions; it was not envy but the awareness of a vast gap, a blow to their confidence.

They were still competing with their peers, not yet dominating, while that young man was already exalted by their parents and even older generations, standing out like the crane among chickens.

The gap was simply too vast.

Upon reaching the Xia Family's guest hall, Li Hao sensed the warm atmosphere of the Xia family and immediately told Xia Linglong that he wished to visit Lingyuan Pavilion.

Noticing Li Hao seemed to dislike the noise, Xia Linglong saw a sense of quiet in the young man's bones. Wherever he went, it was as if he was sitting on a lonely peak, serene and distant.

She promptly had other members of the Xia Family leave and then accompanied Li Hao to Lingyuan Pavilion.

Li Hao had Xiyan wait on the Candle Flame God while he was there.

He also asked the old gentleman, Xia Yuanwu, to take care of Ren Qianqian.

Ren Qianqian had been nervous and restrained all along, yet her heart was full of excitement and astonishment; she had not expected Li Hao to receive such a reception at the Xia Family, also a Divine General Mansion.

Seeing Li Hao about to leave her side, her heart tensed, but she still obediently nodded and flashed a reassuring smile to Li Hao.

Seeing the girl's discomfort, Xia Yuanwu, aware of the dignity of the General Mansion and the Marquis family, led her to his courtyard to ease her nerves.

Meanwhile, Li Hao reached Lingyuan Pavilion.

Xia Linglong smiled and said, "Haotian General, this is the heart of my Xia Family, Lingyuan Pavilion, where the spirits soar. Built by our ancestors, it was their hope that all the world's martial arts would be gathered here for future generations to freely cultivate and master various skills, creating a brilliant era of martial arts."

Li Hao nodded and said, "If you speak of a martial arts era, then you need to share the Cultivation Techniques."

Xia Linglong looked at the young man, somewhat surprised, then pursed her lips and smiled.

"Haotian General is right. My family was indeed planning to distribute Low to Mid Grade Skills throughout various martial academies, teaching the common people. Although this would mean verbal battles with the scholars at court, it wouldn't be too difficult. The real challenge is that demons rampage outside the borders, and external threats persist, risking internal strife."

Li Hao was slightly surprised, pondered for a moment, then immediately understood.

The external threats were the demons. If martial arts were widely and cheaply, or even freely, shared, the number of martial artists would rapidly increase. But with more martial artists, disorder ebbs, leading to internal strife.

Some Jianghu martial artists, possessing martial skill but lacking martial virtue, would act selfishly for profit, competing and even colluding with demons for personal gain.

Should demons infiltrate and conspire with these Jianghu sects, the simultaneous outbreak of internal and external threats could hasten Dayu's decline by promoting martial arts.

But suppressing demons and cultivating more martial artists was a contradiction.