177-180

Chapter 177: A Decisive Strike (Part Two)

The spear shot forth like a phoenix's cry, imbued with dazzling divine fire, leaving no room for evasion!

Completely locked on!

Lord Fengshan's earlier retreat was a deliberate ploy to lure Li Tiangang away from the formation. His aim was to pierce Li Tiangang's physical body, ravage his soul, and fling him before Li Hao, forcing him to witness his father's gruesome demise in utter despair!

Just as the divine spear was about to strike, a brilliant divine aura erupted. A fiery blade slashed upwards with furious force!

"Shatter!!"

The blade severed the spear's radiance. Simultaneously, the sudden burst of divine might and overwhelming aura momentarily stunned Lord Fengshan!

Seizing this fleeting opening, Li Tiangang's eyes blazed with divine light. He roared towards the heavens as his divine blade cleaved downwards, splitting Lord Fengshan in half!

Golden blood splattered like sparks, accompanied by Lord Fengshan's agonizing scream. He hastily retreated, his eyes wide with terror as he looked up.

Li Tiangang, wielding his divine blade, strode towards him.

His aura soared to the clouds, like the blazing sun, resembling a wrathful god engulfed in flames!

Was that the Four Pillars Realm?!

Lord Fengshan's pupils constricted in shock. Li Tiangang had been concealing his true cultivation, masquerading as a Three Immortals Realm cultivator!

The realm he now revealed was undoubtedly the Dao Heart Realm!

This true dragon of the Li family had, unbeknownst to them, become a Four Pillars expert!

"Nine Steps Against Heaven, prepare to die!!"

Li Tiangang cast aside all pretense, his black hair whipping in the wind as his Four Pillars Realm aura surged forth.

It was precisely because of his breakthrough that he dared to step out of the formation and confront the demon king.

Apart from Li Junye, he was a rare prodigy, having reached the Three Immortals Realm at the age of 23. This cultivation speed was enough to shake the world, yet he had kept it hidden.

After over a decade of battles in Yanbei, he had long since ascended to the peak of the Three Immortals Realm, touching the threshold of the Dao Heart Realm.

Shortly after his battle with Li Hao in Qingzhou, he had stepped into the Four Pillars Realm, finding his Dao Heart.

The Laws of All Creation!

This was his Dao, his heart!

Thump! Thump! Thump!!

He unleashed his self-created Grandmaster Martial Art, taking several strides forward. The very earth around the defensive line seemed to tremble with each step. His aura intensified, his divine flames growing brighter and more ferocious!

After six steps, his aura was like a deity descending, roaring as he swung his blade.

The heavens seemed to tear apart. All things had their laws, and he adhered to the laws of heaven and earth, rectifying chaos, seeking to restore order to all that was amiss!

Kill!

The dazzling blade, like a radiant sun, unleashed a wave of divine power and destructive might.

Lord Fengshan, reduced to half a body, was consumed by terror. Li Tiangang was merely in the Dao Heart Realm, yet the aura he exuded sent shivers down his spine, a feeling of insurmountable power.

The humiliation he had suffered outside the Heavenly Gate seemed about to repeat itself.

His eyes turned crimson as he spewed forth divine fire and lightning, roaring as he revealed his true form.

However, his half-phoenix form appeared desolate. He used divine fire to condense the missing half, becoming a hybrid of flesh and flame, roaring as he unleashed true phoenix fire!

The surrounding temperature surged once more. The earth cracked, threatening to transform into magma. The air shimmered and distorted.

Centuries ago, he had swept through a city, reducing its inhabitants to ashes with a mere flyby. Now, the full force of his true phoenix fire, even its residual heat, was enough to crack the bodies of Unbreakable Realm cultivators!

Boom!

The overwhelming flames were cleaved apart. Li Tiangang emerged from the inferno, taking his seventh step, his aura surging once more.

"Fate Defying Realm, I shall sever your fate!"

Li Tiangang's eyes were cold as lightning. His blade danced, unleashing hundreds, thousands of strikes, dispersing the sea of fire and targeting Lord Fengshan's true form.

Lord Fengshan was both terrified and enraged. He had no second life to spare. If he perished, his millennia of cultivation would be for naught!

Shame and resentment filled his heart. He had been defeated by that young brat before, and now, facing Li Tiangang, he was once again driven to such a desperate state!

"Phoenix Soul, Blood Condensation!!"

He roared, activating the trace of true phoenix blood within his lineage.

Indeed, he wasn't a true phoenix but a member of the Fire Cloud Sparrow clan. However, an ancestral phoenix soul had awakened within his bloodline, guiding him on his cultivation path since his youth.

Over the years, he had long since abandoned his sparrow identity, embracing the phoenix as his own.

He had even altered his appearance to resemble a phoenix, loathing his sparrow heritage.

He had come to see himself as a true phoenix!

Now, driven to the brink, the sliver of phoenix pride within him finally ignited his true phoenix spirit. He chose to fight with all his might, burning his true blood!

Once this phoenix blood was exhausted, his connection to the phoenix lineage would be severed, but in this moment, he was a true phoenix!

As divine runes surged forth, an ancient and desolate aura enveloped him, like an extinct phoenix reborn. His feathers shimmered like gilded gold, imbued with divine light and pure crimson divine power.

With an open beak, he spat out a golden lotus.

The lotus burned with flames, radiating a pulsating light.

Li Tiangang's gaze hardened. He took a deep breath and stepped forward once more, taking his eighth step!

His aura surged again. Simultaneously, he unleashed his self-created Grandmaster Martial Art, the blade technique he had named:

"Xingtian Blade!!"

The blade rose like a towering peak, its light illuminating half the defensive line.

The dazzling radiance seemed to cleave the heavens as it crashed down upon the golden lotus.

The terrifying impact sent shockwaves through the formation. Golden runes flickered and emerged, absorbing the devastating force.

Elsewhere, the searing aura was scattered by the blade's light, blasting outwards for hundreds of miles. The earth blackened, grass turned to ash, forests became charcoal, and lakes instantly evaporated into mist!

If such power were unleashed within a city, it would be annihilated in an instant.

Li Tiangang's armor glowed red-hot, scorching his body as if he were trapped in a furnace. Even his body, as resilient as a treasured armor, impervious to blades and swords, felt unbearable pain. Yet, his eyes grew colder, like iron, as he charged towards Lord Fengshan.

Lord Fengshan's aura rapidly weakened. Although he had burned his true phoenix blood, the amount within him was simply too meager.

As the middle-aged man, like a wrathful god, closed in, he saw a fleeting image of the young man from outside the Heavenly Gate striding towards him. Despair filled his eyes.

His aura was depleted, leaving him powerless to resist.

Without the phoenix blood, his emotions fluctuated wildly, consumed by fear, trembling, and desperate pleas for mercy.

"Save me!!"

He turned and fled, his cries for help devoid of any dignity.

As his voice echoed, two streaks of cold light shot towards Li Tiangang, arriving in the blink of an eye.

But Li Tiangang didn't dodge or even glance at them. He suddenly executed a movement technique, swift as a roc, closing the distance to Lord Fengshan.

"Die!!"

Ignoring the attacks, Li Tiangang swung his blade with fury.

With a resounding boom, the divine might of the blade enveloped Lord Fengshan, severing his head.

A soul, resembling a fire sparrow, flew out, desperately trying to escape. But Li Tiangang raised his hand, summoning a radiant divine palm that descended upon the sparrow soul, capturing it.

"No, spare me..."

Lord Fengshan pleaded frantically.

But Li Tiangang remained unmoved, clenching his fist.

The soul let out a piercing shriek before falling silent. A Fate Defying Realm demon king had fallen.

When Lord Fengshan had burned his phoenix blood, Li Tiangang had realized that this Fate Defying Realm demon king seemed to have exhausted his chances of defying fate. Otherwise, he wouldn't have resorted to such desperate measures.

Therefore, even at the risk of injury, he had to eliminate him. If he allowed him to recover, killing him would become far more difficult.

Boom! Boom!

The two attacks that had been launched earlier struck Li Tiangang as he finished slaying Lord Fengshan, sending him crashing to the ground.

The scorching earth cracked, forming a crater dozens of meters deep. Li Tiangang climbed out and swiftly took to the skies, spotting two figures standing before Lord Fengshan's corpse.

"Damn it!"

Seeing that Lord Fengshan was truly dead, the two newcomers were enraged.

They wore strange robes, their attire resembling intertwined vines, their style bizarre.

Li Tiangang recognized them instantly. They were from the Great Void Realm.

"Even the Great Void Realm has decided to intervene!"

Li Tiangang's eyes turned icy. He had detected the presence of the Dragon Gate and the Sacred Palace, but he hadn't expected the Great Void Realm, which had remained secluded for over a thousand years, to join the fray.

They were one of the most powerful demon factions, but they had maintained a policy of seclusion for many years, their relationship with the Great Yu Dynasty characterized by mutual non-aggression.

At this moment, the gravity of the situation truly dawned upon Li Tiangang. The Great Yu Dynasty was in grave danger!

The involvement of the Great Void Realm wasn't merely a threat to Liangzhou but a significant omen.

In recent years, not only had the Li family suffered casualties in battle, but other Divine General households had also experienced frequent conflicts.

Six of his brothers had fallen. Compared to the peace of centuries past, the current situation was dire.

This indicated that the demons surrounding the Great Yu Dynasty were growing increasingly restless.

Now, even the Great Void Realm, which had remained hidden for a millennium, had emerged.

These thoughts filled Li Tiangang with resolve. He tightened his grip on his divine blade, his eyes blazing with divine light. If chaos was imminent, he would rectify it, restoring order to the world!

"Li Tiangang!"

The two Great Void Realm demon kings, one an elderly figure, the other a handsome youth, glared at Li Tiangang. Their eyes held a flicker of anger, but it wasn't overwhelming.

Lord Fengshan had been a rogue demon king, unaffiliated with any faction. He had joined their alliance solely for revenge, which was why they had allowed him to lead the vanguard and showcase his abilities.

But they hadn't expected him to be slain by Li Tiangang so easily!

Their intelligence had been flawed. Li Tiangang had concealed his cultivation, which was actually the Four Pillars Realm.

Moreover, for a Dao Heart Realm cultivator to achieve a cross-realm victory was truly terrifying.

"Four Pillars Realm, no wonder you dared to step out of the formation!"

"Very well, regardless of your realm or what you're hiding, you shall die today!"

The two Great Void Realm demon kings' eyes radiated cold light. They didn't attack immediately but instead sent out sound transmissions, summoning the other demon kings in their alliance.

Li Tiangang had slain Lord Fengshan, and although they didn't care about Lord Fengshan's life, their pride had been wounded.

It was best to ensure his demise by surrounding him!

After all, they couldn't be expected to shoulder the entire burden of this offensive.

Seeing that they weren't rushing to attack, Li Tiangang's heart filled with alarm. He swiftly turned and charged back towards the formation.

"Trying to escape? Too late!"

The two demon kings reacted instantly. The elderly demon king unleashed a wave of grayish light that reached the formation behind Li Tiangang in an instant, enveloping it and transforming into a gray mist that shrouded Li Tiangang.

Within the mist, all five senses vanished, leaving him disoriented.

Sensing this, Li Tiangang closed his eyes, channeling all his power into his arms, and unleashed another blade strike.

The fiery power cleaved through the gray mist, creating an opening. However, beyond the opening lay a direction different from the formation.

His heart sank. He knew that the demonic technique had affected him, causing him to lose his bearings.

"All things have their order. Begone, do not obstruct my Dao!"

Li Tiangang roared, divine light erupting from his chest. He replaced his physical sight with his mind's eye, his consciousness with his Dao Heart.

His Dao Heart, embodying the Laws of All Creation, followed the guidance of the Great Dao, quickly finding the right direction.

Boom!

His divine blade sliced through the mist, creating a path. He spotted the formation and then, using himself as a projectile, he displaced the air outside the formation, his body vanishing in a flash, reappearing within the formation.

He possessed the formation's command token, allowing him to enter directly.

With a flicker, he vanished into the formation.

"Don't let him escape!!"

The young demon king, who had just arrived, unleashed a sword strike, but it missed, as Li Tiangang had already entered the formation.

The sword light struck the formation, causing ripples of divine runes to spread.

Inside the formation, the ten thousand Yuan Character Battalion soldiers, bearing the brunt of the sword's impact, felt their blood surge and their expressions shift slightly.

"Marshal!"

Yu Xuan rushed over. Seeing the terrifying aura emanating from Li Tiangang, he wasn't surprised, knowing that Li Tiangang had stepped into the Four Pillars Realm. However, his voice was filled with urgency,

"A massive demon horde is assaulting the edge of the defensive line! Demon kings are leading them, attacking various points. The formation is about to collapse!"

"How many are there?"

Li Tiangang's expression changed. As he spoke, he focused on regulating his internal state, recovering his strength with all his might.

He knew that a fierce battle was about to begin.

He had to seize every opportunity to rest and recuperate.

"Three!"

Yu Xuan replied swiftly. "One from the Dragon Gate, one from the Sacred Palace, and one from the Great Void Realm. Including the two here..."

He glanced outside the formation.

The brilliant golden formation glowed brightly. Beyond the thin membrane-like barrier, the elderly and young demon kings from the Great Void Realm were furiously attacking, sending ripples across the formation.

Furthermore, in response to their earlier summons, two more demon kings had arrived, clad in black robes. They no longer bothered to conceal themselves, tearing off their robes.

Beneath, they wore gleaming golden armor, adorned with crude stripes, clearly demon-forged.

Compared to human armor, their appearance was less refined and intricate.

"Li Tiangang, come out!"

"Hiding inside won't save you!"

"Once I break this formation, you'll be the first to die!"

The demon kings roared insults at Li Tiangang as they continued their assault on the formation.

Witnessing the death of Lord Fengshan before their eyes, although they didn't care about his fate, their pride had been wounded.

Li Tiangang's face darkened. He had anticipated a calamity in Liangzhou, but he hadn't expected the Dragon Gate to send so many demon kings, and the involvement of the Great Void Realm had exceeded his expectations.

These demons weren't planning a slow, drawn-out war like in Yanbei. They intended to conquer Liangzhou swiftly!

"Quickly, form the battle array! Protect the formation with all your might!"

"Activate the formation's demon souls!"

Li Tiangang issued rapid commands.

Orders spread like wildfire across the entire defensive line through signal fires.

Inside the Black Stone Great Wall, countless arrows rained down upon the demon horde. Demon-slaying talismans, oil, and boulders were launched through the formation by catapults, causing heavy casualties among the demons.

But the demons were like locusts or ants, their numbers endless, stretching beyond the horizon.

Gaps created in their ranks were instantly filled.

The ground was a sea of black, the sky a swarm of flying creatures. The overwhelming demonic aura coalesced into a black cloud, blanketing the border.

Sunlight was obscured, leaving only a dim twilight and the deafening roars of the demons outside the formation.

Their shrieks were piercing, sending chills down the spines of even seasoned veterans.

If not for the protection and morale boost provided by the battle formations, many would have succumbed to fear, their legs turning to jelly.

The entire army stationed at the border sprang into action, taking their positions on the wall in swift rotations. Archers fired volley after volley, their longbows practically smoking from the constant use.

Following the signal fires, the formation activated. Yuan Character Battalion soldiers, clad in heavy armor, dispersed across the entire defensive line.

Their numbers were far greater than anticipated. Previously, they had blended in, wearing the attire of other units. The Heavenly Dipper Palace had only detected the gathering of fifty thousand Yuan Character Battalion soldiers, but in reality, Li Tiangang had secretly amassed two hundred thousand!

Now, these hidden soldiers donned the armor of the Li family's most elite troops, each set costing a fortune.

Two hundred thousand Yuan Character Battalion soldiers were an unstoppable force, capable of sweeping through the lairs of Three Immortals Realm cultivators with ease.

The Li family's Yuan Character Battalion had a total strength of one million!

Over a decade of fighting in Yanbei had taken a heavy toll, reducing their numbers to just over seventy thousand.

Now, Li Tiangang had deployed two hundred thousand, demonstrating his commitment to defending Liangzhou.

Of the remaining fifty thousand, thirty thousand were stationed in Yanbei, while the other twenty thousand were permanently based in Qingzhou.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 178: Formation Shattered, Ten Demon Kings, Desperate Situation! (7K Double Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes!!)

Li Tiangang transferred another 40,000 soldiers from the 200,000 strong army, adding them to the previous 10,000. They were tasked with providing a continuous flow of energy to the formation.

Simultaneously, as the demon souls within the formation were activated, roars erupted from within.

The demon soul that had previously submerged into Li Tiangang's body had already returned to the formation.

Now, replenished with energy, it charged out again, along with four other Undying Realm Great Demons.

They surged into the oncoming demon tide, targeting the Three Imperishable Realm Great Demons.

Fueled by the formation's energy, they were at their peak state, attacking with extreme ferocity and fearlessness.

Soon, several Three Imperishable Realm Great Demons were severely injured and forced to retreat behind the demon tide, leaving their Celestial Realm demon commanders to lead the charge!

These demons surged forward relentlessly, but under the fierce onslaught of the five Great Demon souls, countless were killed or injured in the blink of an eye.

However, more Three Imperishable Realm Great Demons formed formations and encircled the lone demon souls.

Apart from these five Undying Realm demon souls, there was also a Demon King soul within the formation.

It roared out now, charging towards a Demon King stationed further away from the defensive line.

This Demon King was none other than the Dragon Lord, who had appeared as the vanguard of the Dragon Gate Sect.

With a bounty on his head, this was the time for the Dragon Gate Sect to prove themselves.

He continuously attacked, disrupting the formation and depleting its energy. Once the energy was exhausted, the formation would naturally collapse.

Now, as the Demon King soul entangled him, the Dragon Lord revealed his true form, emitting a resounding dragon roar as he engaged in a fierce battle.

The entire vast Eastern Border's defensive line had plunged into all-out war.

The boundless demon tide, countless demons, and the border warriors who rose up to resist and fight back, all fought to the death.

Countless arrows rained down on the overwhelming demon tide. Dragon Sparrows screeched across the sky, and fire rained down, creating a scene of epic proportions.

Beacons of smoke rose into the sky, reporting the military situation from various locations.

Li Tiangang hovered in the air, his face grim and cold, overseeing the entire battlefield from within the formation.

He continuously issued orders, deploying troops and reinforcing critical points.

After years of campaigning in the Northern Yan, his understanding of military strategy was profound, and his comprehension of formation structures was also extraordinary.

Currently, he was utilizing the Yuan Character Battalion soldiers to replenish the formation's energy, occasionally recalling besieged demon souls and using the formation's power to help them escape. They would then charge into another location, appearing and disappearing unpredictably on the battlefield.

Demons near the defensive line were ambushed by the suddenly emerging demon souls, suffering heavy casualties.

"Just a measly Six Aspects Star Formation, and you think you can stop us?!"

"Li Tiangang, you little brat, let's see how long you can hold on!"

At this moment, outside the formation facing Li Tiangang, including the elderly Void Realm Demon King and the young Demon King, along with two Demon Kings from the Dragon Gate Sect, there were four Demon Kings!

And at both ends of the defensive line, there were two more, making a total of six Demon Kings who had appeared!

Boom!!

The four Demon Kings, their faces filled with murderous intent, attacked simultaneously. Terrifying attacks bombarded the formation, causing divine light to erupt across the sky.

The golden light on the formation trembled, and the divine runes flickered rapidly like afterimages, absorbing and resisting their attacks.

Within the formation, with each attack from the four Demon Kings, the 50,000 soldiers of the Yuan Character Battalion trembled, their faces flushed red.

Their bodies were enveloped in a radiant glow, as all their strength and energy were absorbed by the formation, transformed into the power to resist the Demon Kings' attacks.

The Six Aspects Star Formation could channel their power as a catalyst, drawing upon the power of the celestial stars and transforming it into the formation's might.

Otherwise, relying solely on the power of 50,000 men, they wouldn't be able to sustain it for even a single incense stick's worth of time.

"Let's focus on one point!"

The elderly Void Realm Demon King, a Ten Thousand Year Vine Demon, said. His arms withered, and a new sprout-like branch emerged from his cheekbones.

Following his words, the other three Demon Kings immediately gathered, focusing their attacks on the spot he had marked.

Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly. He abruptly raised his divine saber, taking several steps forward, once again executing his Martial Dao Ultimate Technique.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With each step, his aura surged. He fiercely slashed out, unleashing a brilliant saber light like a divine moon.

The saber light pierced through the formation, striking the four Demon Kings' combined attack.

A violent collision erupted, unleashing terrifying energy that impacted the formation.

Although the four Demon Kings' attacks didn't directly hit the concentrated point of the formation, they were extremely close. Coupled with the shattering of Li Tiangang's saber light, the uncontrolled energy also slammed into the formation, causing a devastating impact.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Within the Yuan Character Battalion, soldiers continuously spat out blood.

Some could no longer stand, their bodies swaying.

Even some of the higher-ranked squad leaders were pale as sheets, their strength nearly drained.

But their eyes remained resolute, staring fixedly at the Demon Kings outside the formation, each filled with a fearless murderous intent.

This was the most elite army of the Li family, built over thousands of years.

The most ordinary soldiers in the Yuan Character Battalion were considered elite in other armies.

Li Tiangang's face was grim as he scanned his surroundings. He could see the vast black tide outside the defensive lines on both sides.

Such a massive demon offensive had only occurred a few times during his decade-long campaign in the Northern Yan. Most of the time, the demons only launched small-scale incursions, constantly probing and unwilling to risk significant losses.

The Palace Master of the Sacred Palace clearly valued his own life more.

But the Void Realm and Dragon Gate Sect seemed much more reckless.

"Transmit the order! Open small gaps in the formations at dangerous points, release some demons inside, and let the Law Character Battalion's guards hunt them down to relieve the pressure on the formation!"

Li Tiangang quickly issued the order.

Li Fu nodded and immediately relayed the order to all fronts.

At this moment, the four Demon Kings outside the formation attacked again.

They discovered that although their attacks were blocked by Li Tiangang and couldn't be concentrated on a single point, the close-range impacts still caused significant damage to the formation.

"Let's see how long you can last!"

The young Demon King from the Dragon Gate Sect, with curved horns on his head, sneered, "This time, we won't let you summon those aristocratic martial artists from Liangzhou."

Li Tiangang's heart sank. Among the many orders he had issued earlier, there were also instructions to summon the garrison troops from various cities to join the battle.

And to gather the strength of the aristocratic martial artists.

After all, when the nation was in peril, what good were aristocratic families?

If the border was breached and demons invaded, those aristocratic families wouldn't be able to withstand it either.

"Activate the Nine Abyss Netherfire Formation!"

Li Tiangang's face was stern, his eyes piercing like a discerning deity, devoid of any emotion or fluctuation. Undeterred by the Demon Kings' words, he calmly issued a series of commands.

His divine soul soared into the sky, overlooking the entire battle line. He judged the situation in more distant areas through the signals from the beacons and the occasional war hawks that flew back and forth to deliver messages.

These were demon war hawks that the Li family had subdued and trained. They weren't strong in terms of attack power, but they were extremely fast. In this great war, they served as signal officers, supplementing the precise information that the beacons couldn't convey.

Following the order, the runes on the Six Aspects Star Formation reversed, activating another formation to overlay it.

The combination of the two formations drastically increased the energy consumption, but it also granted the formation terrifying offensive power.

In an instant, countless demons charging at the formation were struck by the sudden flashes of crimson light, bursting into flames on the spot.

Even some Celestial Realm Great Demons were scorched by the Netherfire, forcing them to retreat and frantically pat out the flames on their bodies.

This flame was extremely terrifying, capable of burning the soul. If left unchecked, even Celestial Realm demons would be incinerated!

With the activation of the Nine Abyss Netherfire Formation, the demon tide's offensive was significantly slowed, and their charge lost momentum.

However, within the defensive line, the highest level of combat readiness was initiated. In the various battalions supporting the formation at each node, countless soldiers exerted all their strength, pouring their power into the formation.

"Hmph!"

Outside the formation, the four Demon Kings' expressions changed slightly. They snorted coldly and attacked again.

The formation spewed out blazing Netherfire, but while it affected the Three Imperishable Realm demons, it had little impact on them, the Demon Kings. They casually extinguished the flames and continued to bombard the formation.

Li Tiangang occasionally slashed out with his saber, but separated by the formation and facing four Demon Kings, the damage he could inflict was limited.

Surveying the entire battle line, Li Tiangang's gaze grew increasingly solemn. He knew that at this rate, the formation could only hold for half a day at most, and then the defensive line would be breached!

If it were just the demon tide, relying on the formation's power and his command, he could minimize the impact and drag the battle into a war of attrition, just like in the Northern Yan campaign.

But now, the attacks of these Demon Kings were causing immense damage to the formation. Each attack was more devastating than the charge of thousands of demons, and their concentrated power caused greater destruction, forcing the formation to divert more energy for repairs.

Seeing the four Demon Kings continuing their relentless assault, Li Tiangang's eyes turned cold. He had to stop their concentrated attacks, or the formation wouldn't be able to withstand a few more before collapsing.

He was bound here and couldn't reinforce other parts of the battle line.

"Since you want to attack, then I'll send you to your deaths!!"

A surge of murderous intent welled up within him.

Then, his gaze locked onto the Demon Kings. As if driven to desperation, he roared and charged out of the formation, wielding his divine saber.

Seeing Li Tiangang finally lose his patience, the four Demon Kings sneered. This was the moment they had been waiting for. Once the formation was broken, their demon tide would surge forward, unstoppable.

"Daring to come out, you're truly seeking death!"

The Demon Kings attacked instantly, seizing the opportunity to launch a fierce assault on Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang took eight steps forward, his divine saber in hand, facing the four Demon Kings alone. Two of them were Fate Reversal Realm, and the other two were Dao Heart Realm. But his eyes shone with defiance, fearless.

"You're just mere beasts! What can you do besides ganging up on me?!"

Li Tiangang taunted, but his saber struck with ferocity.

The four Demon Kings joined forces, blocking Li Tiangang's saber strikes. Sensing his power, they were secretly alarmed. No wonder he could slay Feng Shanjun. Li Tiangang's combat prowess was truly terrifying. Within the same realm, he probably had no equal.

"True Dragon of the Li family, your reputation is well-deserved. I'll grant you a swift death!"

The Void Realm Vine Demon Elder said.

"Grant me death? You're not worthy!"

Li Tiangang roared furiously, suddenly charging towards him.

The Vine Demon Elder sneered, his body abruptly revealing its true form. His feet rooted into the ground, giving him a towering presence as countless branches and withered vines shot out from his arms.

These withered vines were incredibly tough, like divine weapons, whipping towards Li Tiangang.

Even more vines transformed into a spiderweb, attempting to envelop Li Tiangang and restrict his movements.

The divine soul behind Li Tiangang suddenly emerged. It clasped its hands together and then fiercely unleashed a divine flame palm strike, pushing forward and pressing down on the withered vines. The vines ignited and burned.

"Great Flame Raging Palm!"

He roared, unleashing palm strikes one after another. Divine palms surged out, shaking the heavens and earth. Facing the fierce attacks of the four Demon Kings, he surprisingly held his ground for a while.

The more they fought, the more astonished the four Demon Kings became. It was said that during the Northern Yan campaign, Li Tiangang single-handedly challenged over ten Three Imperishable Realm Great Demons and killed more than half of them. The rumors were indeed true.

Now that he had stepped into the Four Pillars Realm, although only at the first step of Dao Heart Realm, he already possessed the aura of invincibility within that realm!

Even the two Fate Reversal Realm Demon Kings were momentarily suppressed by Li Tiangang's might.

But they also noticed that he had unleashed the power of the Undying Realm, his energy flowing endlessly. However, this state couldn't last.

Using the power of the Undying Realm so early, he probably thought that with the protection of the formation, he could recover and adjust sooner.

"Kill him! Don't let him return to the formation!"

The Vine Demon Elder roared.

He spewed out his gray mist-like demon art, enveloping Li Tiangang.

Although it had been countered by Li Tiangang before, any amount of disruption was beneficial.

The other two Demon Kings circled around to the formation, blocking Li Tiangang's retreat.

Li Tiangang was like a ferocious lion charging out of its den, roaring and unstoppable. But once the power of the Undying Realm faded, it would be his demise!

The other Fate Reversal Realm elder from the Dragon Gate Sect also unleashed his true power, revealing his true form. The small, curved horns on his head, resembling bull horns, grew into larger, menacing, and sinister-looking horns as his true form was revealed.

He wasn't a true dragon, but his shape resembled one, except for a long, sharp fin-like spine on his back.

"Roar!"

He roared and charged towards Li Tiangang within the gray mist.

He had a parasitic seed on his body, given to him by the Vine Demon Elder. This allowed him to see clearly within the gray mist demon art and remain unaffected.

Currently, within the gray mist, Li Tiangang was like a headless fly, slashing around blindly, lost in direction.

However, as the fish-dragon-like Demon King attacked, Li Tiangang seemed to suddenly sense something. He fiercely unleashed a saber beam towards the formation.

Then, he broke through the gray mist demon art and fled towards the formation.

"Don't even think about escaping!"

The two Demon Kings who had been waiting there swiftly attacked.

The young Demon King, whose sword strike had missed earlier, allowing Li Tiangang to escape, now saw his chance. He roared and charged with all his might.

But Li Tiangang didn't dodge. He directly lunged at the young Demon King, slamming him hard into the formation.

However, the young Demon King wasn't blocked by the formation. He passed straight through it like a water membrane.

When he saw the golden light of the formation sweep past him from behind, the young Demon King was stunned, momentarily disoriented as if experiencing weightlessness.

But in the next moment, he suddenly realized something. He looked down and saw a black formation token stuck to his chest.

Li Tiangang actually had two formation tokens!

At this moment, he had been carried by Li Tiangang into the formation.

The good news was that he had broken through the formation.

The bad news was that he was the only one who had broken through.

The young Demon King's pupils constricted. He instantly felt a sense of terror. Being trapped alone within a formation was incredibly dangerous!

Not to mention, Li Tiangang before him was extremely ferocious.

"You!"

He roared in anger and shock. Without hesitation, he instantly unleashed his true form. Demonic aura surged out of him like reversed blood as he swung his sword at Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang quickly snatched back the formation token from his chest and sneered. Divine light erupted from his eyes as he roared:

"Die!!"

Bang!

His hands were covered in divine flames. The Great Flame Raging Palm directly empowered his arms as he unleashed a heaven-shaking saber strike with explosive power.

Xingtian Saber, Second Form!

The terrifying saber edge seemed to tear the nearby military camp tents apart. Saber aura, like lightning and divine light, carrying blazing flames, fiercely cleaved through the young Demon King who had transformed into his true form.

The sword light shattered, and the young Demon King let out a shrill roar, but his body was engulfed by the blazing saber light, split in half with a single strike!

A Dao Heart Realm Demon King was no match for him in a single blow!

Although he had unleashed nearly his full strength at this moment, this display of power also shocked the three Demon Kings who were frantically attacking outside the formation.

Flames erupted from the torn body, the power of the Great Flame Raging Palm's Martial Dao Ultimate Technique.

A divine soul frantically escaped from within. Without the protection of a physical body, it only had its soul power. But without hesitation, it burned its soul and fled into the distance.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Li Tiangang took a large stride forward, giving chase. His divine saber flew out of his hand, propelled by his object control power, and slashed out, cleaving the divine soul in two.

The young Demon King's divine soul let out a piercing scream, a demonic sound that shook the nearby soldiers within a radius of several kilometers. Some of them coughed up blood, their eyes and noses bleeding.

"Li Tiangang, even as a ghost, I won't let you off easy!!"

The young Demon King's divine soul roared in despair. His demonic aura suddenly erupted, summoning a torrential downpour from the sky. The raindrops were like countless sharp swords, piercing towards the military camp.

His own divine soul rapidly withered.

Bang!

The saber light struck, obliterating it.

In the blink of an eye, Li Tiangang had killed two Demon Kings.

"Li Tiangang!!"

The three Demon Kings outside the formation were enraged, roaring furiously, especially the Vine Demon Elder.

Li Tiangang paid them no heed, immediately grabbing his divine saber to block the raindrops.

These raindrops pierced through the military camp, killing numerous soldiers in the formations on the spot.

Some of them hit the Yuan Character Battalion. These soldiers were fully focused on channeling their power into the formation, completely defenseless and with no spare energy to protect themselves. Instead, in their final moments, they poured even more power into the formation.

They used their own flesh and blood to withstand the Demon King's final attack. The result was their bodies instantly pierced by the raindrops, exploding into a bloody mess.

As their comrades exploded and shattered around them, the remaining Yuan Character Battalion soldiers only trembled slightly, but none of them flinched.

Their power was integrated with the formation, and they knew how much pressure the formation was under. They couldn't afford to fail.

Li Tiangang wiped out nearly half of the raindrop attack. Seeing the devastation around him, his face was grim. Although he had killed a Demon King, they had also suffered significant losses, with at least a thousand casualties.

In terms of numbers compared to a Demon King, it was a worthwhile trade.

But these soldiers were his brothers in arms, who had charged alongside him through countless battles.

His eyes reddened slightly as he turned to glare at the three Demon Kings.

Now, with one fewer Demon King attacking, the pressure on the formation from the three Demon Kings' simultaneous attacks was slightly reduced.

Li Tiangang's Undying Realm power was also exhausted, and fatigue washed over him. He needed to recover.

He grabbed a handful of pills from the Heavenly and Earthly space he had created and stuffed them into his mouth, quickly swallowing them down. They were all extremely precious elixirs, helping him rapidly regain his strength.

"Li Tiangang, you're courting death!"

The Vine Demon Elder's eyes were blazing with fury, his face twisted in a狰狞grimace as he stared at Li Tiangang. "Do you really think you can defend Liangzhou? What are you? Do you know that the Grand Elder of the Dragon Gate Sect has also arrived, but he's not in the Eastern Border? Guess where he went?!"

Li Tiangang's pupils constricted at his words. The Grand Elder of the Dragon Gate Sect?

That was an existence of the Absolute Art Realm!

Although there was a significant gap between the Fate Reversal Realm and the Dao Heart Realm, with various techniques and Martial Dao Ultimate Techniques, one could still fight and contend against them.

But the gap between the Absolute Art Realm and the Fate Reversal Realm was like the difference between the Four Pillars Realm and the Three Imperishable Realm!

Any Absolute Art Realm expert was a peak combat force, close to the pinnacle of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty!

His heart pounded as he looked at the two Dragon Gate Sect elders beside him, realizing that they weren't bluffing. It was highly likely that it was true.

However, his expression remained unchanged, still cold and stern, not letting them see through his thoughts or shake the morale of the army.

"So what if the Grand Elder comes? He'll still die!" he said.

The Vine Demon Elder was so angry that he laughed. "You're worthy of saying that? If you hadn't hidden your cultivation, if we had thought you were just a Three Imperishable Realm trash, would the Grand Elder not even be interested in coming to the Eastern Border?!"

"If you had revealed your cultivation earlier, you would be dead by now!"

"With this formation, how many attacks from the Dragon Gate Sect Grand Elder can it withstand?!"

"But don't worry, the Grand Elder has gone elsewhere to hunt. I heard your son is at the Heavenly Gate Pass in the south? Haha, the Dragon Gate Sect Grand Elder will let you and your son reunite in his belly!"

He burst into laughter.

Li Tiangang's pupils constricted, his eyes turning even colder:

"Trying to disturb my mind? No one in the Li family fears death. Do you think I'll go south just because you say so?"

"Whether you go or not, the result will be the same."

The Vine Demon Elder's eyes were filled with malice. "We didn't intend to take you seriously at first, thinking you were just trash, thinking we could easily sweep this place clean. Since you're so stubborn, then we'll have to show you the true power of the Void Realm!"

As he finished speaking, figures whistled through the sky behind him, approaching rapidly.

Li Tiangang focused his gaze, his pupils suddenly shrinking.

One, two, three... seven!

They were all Demon Kings!!

It was said that when the Void Realm secluded itself, there were five Demon King elders. Now, after a thousand years, their numbers had surged!

Although the Great Yu Divine Dynasty had been sending Shadow Guards to investigate the Void Realm's movements and gather intelligence over the years, they had only discovered seven. If you added the Vine Demon Elder and the young Demon King who had just been killed, the actual number was nine!

And now, they had all come!

"It seems the world has forgotten the might of the Void Realm for far too long."

The seven approaching figures each possessed a unique aura. Some were dark and sinister, some were radiant like the scorching sun, and some were like phantoms, elusive and unpredictable.

At this moment, one of them, a woman in a noblewoman's long dress with a pink flower on her forehead, looked at the formation indifferently. Her gaze swept across the scene and quickly noticed the missing figure beside the Vine Demon Elder.

Soon, she seemed to catch a scent, her expression changing slightly. She looked into the formation and immediately saw the massive corpse of the young Demon King in his true form.

"Yin Kui!"

The noblewoman let out a piercing shriek.

The scream, like a mournful cry, echoed in all directions. Her originally snow-white, delicate, and stunningly beautiful face was now twisted with rage.

"You dare kill my son!!"

The young Demon King was actually her child!

One Demon King giving birth to another.

From this, one could imagine how terrifying this noblewoman-like Demon King was, having cultivated for countless years!

Li Tiangang's expression changed slightly. He recognized her at a glance. She was one of the earliest elders of the Void Realm, nicknamed Lady Yin.

She possessed the bloodline of the ancient Demon King Taiyin Youying, and it seemed she was a direct descendant, making her extremely formidable.

Even more terrifying was that she was likely a Demon King of the Absolute Art Realm!

"Ying Teng, is this how you looked after my child?!"

Lady Yin glared furiously at the Vine Demon Elder.

The Vine Demon Elder's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly said, "This old servant is guilty! It's all because that brat was too cunning, tricking the Young Master into the formation."

"Shut up!"

Lady Yin slapped him furiously. A resounding slap echoed across his face.

The Vine Demon Elder's body swayed, flying over ten li away, his cervical vertebrae fractured.

But he was a Vine Demon. He quickly twisted and crawled back, trembling as he looked at Lady Yin. "This old servant accepts the punishment. Please calm your anger, Madam."

"I'll deal with you later!"

Lady Yin's gaze, however, fell on Li Tiangang within the formation. Her beautiful face was now distorted and ferocious. "You deserve to die! Your entire Li family deserves to die!!"

Li Tiangang's heart sank. He hurriedly roared, "Shift the formation! Withdraw the Nine Abyss Netherfire Formation!"

The runes on the formation rapidly reversed. The Nine Abyss Netherfire Formation was withdrawn, and the formation no longer possessed offensive power, focusing entirely on defense.

"Just a measly Six Aspects Star Formation, and you think you can stop me?!"

Lady Yin shrieked, her fingernails growing rapidly. A black hole-like shadow suddenly appeared behind her.

It was a phantom of a black moon.

She raised her hand and fiercely swung it, the black moon phantom slamming into the formation.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Within the formation, the 50,000 soldiers of the Yuan Character Battalion almost simultaneously spat out blood. A third of them fainted on the spot, their eyes rolling back, blood flowing from their seven orifices, their breaths barely clinging to life.

The formation shook violently, its divine runes flickering like phantoms, erupting with boundless divine light as it barely held on.

"Break for me!!"

Lady Yin roared, attacking repeatedly.

The black moon phantom struck rapidly. With each impact, another batch of the remaining Yuan Character Battalion soldiers collapsed, and those who remained coughed up blood.

Li Tiangang's pupils constricted, his body turning ice-cold. The Void Realm had come out in full force, completely exceeding his expectations.

Weren't they afraid that the True Cultivators of the Qiandao Palace would intervene and annihilate them all?!

"Quickly, inform the Qiandao Palace!"

"Inform the other Divine General Mansions! In the name of the True Dragon, send out the eight directional command flags, summon the experts from their families to reinforce us!"

Li Tiangang roared urgently.

Under his watchful gaze, the formation trembled and flickered, its divine light rapidly dimming.

With the simultaneous attacks of the other six Void Realm elders, finally, with a loud bang...

The formation completely shattered!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 179: Saving the World, Not Alleviating Suffering (First Update)

Qing Province City, Heavenly Yuan Divine General's Mansion.

In the mansion's meeting hall, the wives of the various courtyards gathered, except for the Shuihua Courtyard.

These ladies held the reins of their husbands' former connections. If their husbands joined the army, the military camps they once commanded, though now under Li Tiangang's leadership, still had their own networks and influence.

Now, a Ten Thousand Li Command Flag from Liang Province had been transmitted through a secret technique.

This was the Eight Directions Command Flag, used only when a major province was in dire straits and facing a bloody battle. It could travel ten thousand li instantly, exceeding the speed of ordinary military reports and letters. Crafted by the Bureau of Astronomy, it contained a special formation.

Whenever the Eight Directions Command Flag appeared, it meant that one region was facing devastation, and it also meant that a descendant of a Divine General might fall!

"Sister-in-law, is this from Tiangang? What exactly is the situation in Liang Province?"

Among the many wives, Gao Qingqing was the most anxious at this moment, her eyes red-rimmed, on the verge of tears.

Twenty years ago, the Eight Directions Command Flag had also been sent from Heaven's Gate Pass. That time, it was the fall of the Li family's third son, and Heaven's Gate Pass had almost fallen. It was no wonder she was so anxious now.

She feared that her husband would also follow in the footsteps of others.

"Could it be news from Cang Province?"

Wang Xiangru frowned. Currently, Li Fenghua was guarding Cang Province, but since Li Junye had cleared out all the demons outside Cang Province more than a decade ago, nothing major had happened in Cang Province these years.

However, demon invasions were unpredictable, sometimes extremely sudden, without prior intelligence.

He Jianlan's expression was grave. After reading the message carried by the Command Flag, she looked at Li Muxiu beside her and said, "Second Uncle, Tiangang said that Liang Province is in dire straits. The Empyrean Realm has entered the world, and the Dragon Gate and Sacred Palace have joined forces to invade Liang Province."

Hearing her words, Li Muxiu's eyelids twitched.

He immediately realized that the Empyrean Realm, which had been secluded for a thousand years, entering the world was definitely a very bad sign.

It seemed to be some kind of omen.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangru secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her expression calming down.

Gao Qingqing's face instantly turned pale. Li Xuanli was in Liang Province, serving as the military governor, at the forefront. If Liang Province was in danger, he couldn't escape. Even if he died, he would die fighting there!

As a son of the Li family, as a descendant of a Divine General, how could he abandon the billions of people in a major province and become a deserter?

This was the tribulation within the Li family's bloodline!

They had known and loved each other since childhood, never thinking about these things. Only after marrying into the Li family did she deeply understand the sorrow and tragedy of the Li family's sons.

Gao Qingqing almost fell off her chair, her whole body trembling.

Seeing her state, the other wives remained silent.

Once upon a time, they had been the same.

At this moment, they all thought of their fallen husbands, their eyes dimming.

"Aren't they afraid of death? Aren't they afraid of the True Person flattening them?"

Third Madam Lou Wanqing asked in confusion.

"I'll leave for Liang Province now," Li Muxiu said.

He Jianlan shook her head and immediately said, "Tiangang sent the order back only to inform us of this matter, not to ask for reinforcements. He especially instructed Second Uncle, you must stay in Qing Province and not go there under any circumstances."

"Why is that?" Gao Qingqing exclaimed.

Li Muxiu was stunned, suddenly realizing something, his expression changing slightly.

"Tiangang said that he's worried that the demons dared to launch such a large-scale attack without any intention of guarding against Second Uncle. It's very likely that, apart from Liang Province, there are also Demon Kings from the Empyrean Realm and Dragon Gate hidden outside Qing Province, or even their Sect Masters!"

He Jianlan said solemnly, "Once Second Uncle leaves, they might immediately invade Qing Province and head straight for our Divine General's Mansion."

Li Muxiu's face darkened. He had already realized this.

If they relied solely on the Fifth Brother, they might not be able to withstand it. Although the Divine General's Mansion also had formations, and so did Qing Province, they wouldn't be able to conquer it in a short time.

But if he went to Liang Province, even at full speed, it would take two days to go back and forth.

After all, he still needed to conserve some strength to join the battle in Liang Province. He couldn't use his utmost speed to teleport.

"How could this be..."

Gao Qingqing's face was drained of all color. She had thought it was a call for reinforcements, but it turned out that Li Tiangang was asking Second Uncle not to send any.

"Then what about Liang Province? Are we just going to watch it fall, wait for death?" she couldn't help but say.

He Jianlan understood her feelings and knew that comfort was useless at this moment. She simply said calmly, "Qingqing, don't worry yet. Tiangang has sent orders to the other Divine General's Mansions. The True Person from the Qiandao Palace must have received it, and most likely Wuliang Mountain as well. Under the command of the Eight Directions Command Flag, even if there were some past grievances, they should still send reinforcements!"

"If they can spare one or two senior experts, Liang Province should be able to stabilize."

Upon hearing this, Gao Qingqing's trembling heart stabilized slightly, but she was still chilled to the bone.

"I'll send a message to Second Sister and Fourth Sister to see if they have a chance to go and reinforce," Li Muxiu said after a moment of silence.

Those two were married daughters, considered to have one foot outside the Divine General's Mansion, with their own husbands and influence.

As direct descendants of the Divine General's Mansion, they were not weak. Although they were not at the Four Pillars Realm, they were all at the peak of the Three Indestructibles Realm.

In such a crisis, asking them to risk their lives was embarrassing for him, but in such a predicament, he could only do so.

"Can we write a letter to Fifth Aunt?" Gao Qingqing suddenly thought of something and asked hurriedly.

That Fifth Aunt was from the older generation, even Li Muxiu had to address her as Aunt.

She had already retired long ago, living an ordinary life.

In her early years, she was a famous female general who had fought on the battlefield and slain countless demons, just like Li Hongzhuang now.

Li Muxiu fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'll try."

With that, he got up and left.

He Jianlan sighed softly without speaking.

"I'll write a letter to the Emperor," Ninth Madam Jiang Xian'er said.

She and Li Junye only had a marriage agreement. After Li Junye died in battle, she voluntarily married into the Divine General's Mansion with his armor. Over the years, she had dedicated herself to the affairs of the mansion.

He Jianlan glanced at her with a gentle expression and said, "We're too far from Dayu Province. It's too late to send a letter now. If the True Person receives the Eight Directions Command Flag, it depends on what he decides to do."

"We have to try. Even if the reinforcements are late, they might still be able to play a role if they can arrive," Jiang Xian'er said seriously.

Hearing this, He Jianlan didn't stop her anymore.

...

...

Wuliang Mountain, Brahma Pure Land.

In the spiritual mountains deep within the mountain range, Lin Wujing arrived at this Pure Land with a purple-gold Eight Directions Command Flag.

The purple-gold light streaked across the sky, illuminating the Brahma Pure Land, and countless people saw it.

"Buddha, it's the Eight Directions Command Flag from Liang Province, an urgent request for reinforcements!"

Lin Wujing first paid his respects to the Buddha before speaking calmly.

Buddha Wuliang sat on the lotus platform, his expression gentle and compassionate. He gently pinched his fingers, golden runes flickering in his eyes. After a moment, he said, "I'm aware of the tribulation in Liang Province. This tribulation also indicates that the karmic fire that our Dayu Divine Dynasty has suppressed for three thousand years is finally about to erupt."

"Buddha, what do you mean?"

"Slaughter, killing, indulgence, pleasure... greed, anger, ignorance, all muddled in this prosperous age. Time cycles, cause and effect, this tribulation cannot be avoided."

Buddha Wuliang said slowly, "Behind the demons in Liang Province, there is a great evil lurking. We cannot act rashly."

Lin Wujing's expression changed slightly, realizing something.

Buddha Wuliang looked at another female Bodhisattva beside the lotus seat and said softly, "Miaoshan, you take the Command Flag and go to Liang Province to subdue the demons."

"Yes, Buddha," the female Bodhisattva replied with a serene expression, bowing her head.

"Remember, Bodhisattva is compassionate, saving the world, not alleviating suffering."

"The sea of suffering is boundless, all caused by one's own sins. Only our true Buddha can ferry them across," Buddha said softly.

The female Bodhisattva immediately understood his meaning and nodded.

Saving the world lies in spreading goodness, while alleviating suffering lies in stepping into the sea of suffering oneself and helping them push their boat forward.

Buddha's words needed to be contemplated.

...

...

Beams of purple-gold light shot out from the sky above Liang Province. Even Four Pillars Realm experts would find it difficult to intercept them.

This was the light of the Eight Directions Command Flag. When you saw the purple-gold light streaking overhead, the actual Command Flag was already thousands of miles away.

And at this moment, on the eastern border of Liang Province.

With the combined efforts of Madam Yin and the numerous Demon Kings, the concentrated power erupted, and the impregnable formation finally shattered!

The moment the formation shattered, the fifty thousand soldiers of the Yuan Character Battalion all fainted from the shock. Some soldiers with lower cultivation levels died on the spot, their heads buzzing, only a wisp of their souls escaping from their bodies.

Li Tiangang's pupils constricted as he watched the shattered golden light of the formation, countless runes collapsing. At this moment, the entire eastern border defense had truly fallen!

Countless demons from the demon tide, seeing the shattered golden light, all let out bloodthirsty and excited roars, charging forward excitedly.

The pressure on the defense line surged, countless arrows and attacks sinking into the demon tide like stones into the sea, instantly swallowed up.

As the entire defense line bore immense pressure, in front of Li Tiangang, including Madam Yin and the other Empyrean Realm Demon Kings, as well as the Vine Demon Elder and the two Dragon Gate Demon Kings, a total of ten Demon Kings, their gazes all fell upon Li Tiangang.

"Li Tiangang!!"

Madam Yin's eyes were fierce and cold, her face already cracked, revealing a hint of her true form. Near the lower edge of her cheekbone, a green eye opened.

"Die!!"

She suddenly raised her hand, a gust of Yin wind and sharp claws whistling past, expanding in the wind, transforming into thousands of zhang, as if trying to tear apart the entire city wall!

Li Tiangang's expression changed drastically. The medicinal power of the pills he had taken earlier had already been released significantly. He swung his saber and slashed furiously, but the saber light was covered by the sharp claws. With a bang, his body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground, creating a deep crater.

The violent impact, despite the protection of his armor and his own Indestructible Body, still caused him to spurt out a mouthful of blood.

"Marshal!"

Yu Xuan, Li Fu, and the other accompanying deputy generals saw this and shouted anxiously, rushing over.

"Don't worry, they'll all die!"

At this time, the Vine Demon Elder and the other Demon Kings also flew into the territory, stepping into the airspace of Liang Province's eastern border!

Yu Xuan looked up. Ten Demon Kings hovered in the air, like ten scorching suns shaking the world. At this moment, no one could help but feel despair.

But he had fought alongside Li Tiangang for many years. Although he was only at the Heaven Human Realm, he was a veteran of countless battles.

"Marshal, I'm afraid we can't hold this place anymore!"

Yu Xuan stood up and roared, "Marshal, you retreat first. Let us buy you some time."

With that, his body suddenly erupted with violent energy waves, actually shattering all the major meridians in his body, his strength venting madly.

At the same time, his soul burned, his entire being as if torn apart by divine light, erupting with a sky-piercing aura.

Li Tiangang's always calm and composed expression finally changed at this moment.

"Marshal, go!"

Nearby, numerous Dharma Character Battalion guards all rushed over, forming a formation in front of Li Tiangang.

At the same time, Yu Xuan had already unleashed all his power, like a scorching sun, charging towards the ten Demon Kings, trying to block their path!

"A mere ant!"

The Vine Demon Elder only glanced at him, sneered, and casually flicked a vine whip hundreds of zhang thick. With a bang, he extinguished the roaring and shouting figure of the scorching sun on the spot.

It was like casually swatting a firefly.

How could a mere firefly compete with the brilliance of the moon?

"Yu Xuan!!"

Li Tiangang's eyes were bloodshot, his divine saber erupting with blazing divine flames.

"Marshal!"

Li Fu also blocked his path, hurriedly saying, "We can't hold this place anymore. It doesn't matter if we die, but you can't!"

"Stay calm, Marshal!"

The other two accompanying deputy generals also said hurriedly.

As they spoke, they also stepped forward. Although they knew their cultivation was low and they couldn't stop them, as soldiers, how could they retreat?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 180: He's Worthy of Your Pride (Part 2)

"Not even worthy of being called weaklings. You dare to obstruct me?"

"Die!"

The Elder Vine Demon took the lead, eager to rectify his earlier oversight. He raised his hand and struck out, his palm erupting with a purplish-black imprint formed from withered vines. It contained the Grandmaster Martial Realm's Extreme Principle he had cultivated, pressing down with immense force.

The void in his palm seemed to tear apart. The approaching soldiers, forming a Tiger-Dragon Formation, roared with the might of tigers and dragons. A brilliant golden light surged forth, colliding with the palm imprint!

With a deafening boom, the palm imprint, containing a storm of razor-sharp blades, shredded the dragon-shaped golden light and continued its descent.

The military formation, composed of only a few thousand soldiers, was no match for a Demon King. It was instantly crushed into a bloody pulp, reduced to a pool of gore!

The might of a Demon King was truly terrifying!

Li Tiangang trembled, his eyes bloodshot, his breathing ragged.

On the battlefield, he was always as calm as steel, commanding the entire army. But at this moment, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by emotion.

A frenzied killing intent surged through his mind like a tidal wave. He gripped his divine blade tightly, struggling to control his body. The other part of him, honed by countless battles, remained冷静and rational, reminding him that the Eastern Border was truly lost!

Since it couldn't be defended, they could only retreat, contracting the defensive line!

Contract the line, then join forces with his Fifth Brother, Li Xuanli, at the Western Border, establishing a defense at the pre-determined secondary line.

At the same time, they could await reinforcements from the various clans and the mobilization of the Liangzhou aristocratic families.

These aristocratic families should not be underestimated. Individually, they were insignificant compared to the Li Clan's iron cavalry. But the combined strength of the families from across Liangzhou, encompassing hundreds of cities, would form a formidable force!

This force wasn't inherently awe-inspiring, only because they were usually fragmented. But if united, they could become a power capable of shaking even the mightiest armies.

Thinking of the millions of Liangzhou citizens behind him, Li Tiangang gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with hatred as he glared at the approaching ten Demon Kings. Without hesitation, he turned and fled!

Military law was absolute, and he himself adhered to it. Despite his emotions urging him to fight to the death, his rationality prevailed, forcing him to choose retreat.

Otherwise, with no one to command, Liangzhou would fall even faster!

"Tiangang, farewell..."

Li Fu watched Li Tiangang's retreating figure, a sense of relief washing over him. A wistful smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, he addressed Li Tiangang not as the Marshal of the army, but by the nickname they had used since childhood.

Li Tiangang's body jolted. He turned to look at Li Fu, his eyes reddening, hot tears welling up.

He had witnessed the funerals of his brothers, seen countless mutilated corpses of his fellow soldiers in Yanbei. Now, Li Fu, the orphan taken in by the Li Clan, who had been his childhood companion, was also leaving.

"Tiangang, reconcile with your son. Young Master, he's actually worthy of your pride..."

Li Fu said softly.

"Silence!"

Before he could finish, the Elder Vine Demon strode forward, his palm descending.

Li Fu's spirit surged from his body, blazing with divine light, roaring as it charged towards the attack.

But the descending demonic palm was like a mountain, crushing down without emotion or resistance.

With a sickening thud, Li Fu's body was pulverized, his spirit and physical form obliterated!

Li Tiangang, already sprinting away, felt his eyes burning with rage, blood vessels bursting. He nearly shattered his teeth.

But he only spared a single glance before turning and continuing his desperate flight, roaring commands at the surrounding troops: "Law Battalion, heed my order! Engage the demonic tide with all your might!"

"Yuan Battalion, heed my order! Retreat with me!!"

He chose to take the battalion designation established by his ancestors, leaving behind the Law Battalion soldiers he had personally trained.

Staying behind meant certain death, complete annihilation!

Against a demonic tide led by Demon Kings, there was no chance of survival!

Hearing Li Tiangang's commands, the entire battlefield erupted in a thunderous response.

The Law Battalion soldiers, their eyes sharp as blades, burned with an even more ferocious killing intent. They charged fearlessly towards the demonic tide.

Tasked with holding back the demonic horde, they felt no despair, no resentment, only the ironclad discipline of soldiers obeying orders.

Each one of them charged towards the demonic tide with the resolve of a martyr, burning their spirits in this desperate situation, severing their own meridians, all to slay as many demonic beasts as possible!

Smoke and fire billowed as the entire defensive line was overrun. Countless demonic beasts surged forward like a raging torrent.

"Trying to escape?!"

Madam Yin, who had been fixated on Li Tiangang, wouldn't allow him to get away. Her figure flickered, teleporting repeatedly, covering hundreds of miles with each jump. In the blink of an eye, she caught up to Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang roared, spinning around and slashing with his divine blade, its flames blazing as it targeted Madam Yin's hand.

The emerald green eye on Madam Yin's cheek suddenly widened, unleashing a strange demonic technique. Li Tiangang's body trembled, his attack slowing. With a resounding boom, he was sent flying by a single palm strike.

The palm landed directly on his armor, extinguishing the divine light that protected it.

Li Tiangang tumbled through the air, spitting out mouthfuls of blood. His Indestructible Body, unmatched among Three Immortals cultivators, could only barely withstand a fatal blow from a Transcendent Realm expert.

"I will make you pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold, for how you killed my child!"

Madam Yin's eyes blazed with fury. She launched a series of attacks, each strike accompanied by dark light that seemed to tear at the sun and moon, unleashing a torrent of demonic energy towards Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang roared, wielding his Executioner's Blade, but he could only shatter two of the demonic attacks before being struck again. His ribs cracked, his hands split open, his entire body felt as if it had been trampled by ten thousand elephants, his bones on the verge of shattering.

Madam Yin sneered. She hadn't even used her true power yet, hadn't even resorted to her ultimate technique, relying solely on her superior cultivation to overwhelm him.

This Li Tiangang, capable of challenging a Fate Defying Realm expert as a Dao Heart Realm cultivator, was indeed a prodigy of his generation. But the four stages of the Four Pillars Realm were vastly different, each surpassing the gap between major realms.

"The True Dragon of the Li Clan, is it? After I kill you, I will refine your spirit into a servant, forcing you to witness the destruction of your Li Clan!"

Madam Yin sneered, reaching out with her hand. A dark wind enveloped her palm, attempting to pull Li Tiangang towards her, ready to utterly destroy his physical body.

Li Tiangang's eyes were bloodshot. Ignoring the searing pain in his chest, he charged forward once more, utilizing the Heaven Defying Nine Steps.

With each step, his aura surged, resisting the pulling force behind him.

He strained like an ox pulling a heavy cart, sprinting with all his might.

After nine steps, his entire body crackled with divine light, resembling a deity.

Madam Yin's eyes narrowed, her gaze icy. She abruptly twisted her hand, summoning a vast amount of demonic energy that coalesced into a gigantic phantom of the Taiyin Netherfire. It roared, charging towards Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang roared back, slashing with his Executioner's Blade, sending a wave of blade light soaring into the sky.

The phantom, resembling a monstrous beast, part serpent, part dragon, part tiger, part lion, its body covered in scales and fur, its eyes blazing with Taiyin divine light, shattered the blade light and continued its descent.

Just as Li Tiangang was about to be crushed beneath the demonic palm, a scorching sword wind swept through the air. The phantom's claws vanished, severed by the attack.

Then, Li Tiangang's figure teleported, reappearing dozens of miles away.

Madam Yin's expression shifted. She glanced towards Li Tiangang's side, where a figure wearing a bamboo hat and tattered grey clothes had appeared. He looked ordinary, like a wandering traveler.

But in his hand, he held a sword. And that hand, that sword, seemed to radiate with the brilliance of the moon, captivating the eye, making it impossible to look away.

It felt as if averting one's gaze would result in being cut, pierced by that sword!

Madam Yin's eyes narrowed, her emerald green eye contracting, then widening in sudden fury.

"You're the Desert Sword Saint?!"

Madam Yin recognized the figure, her face contorted with rage.

There were three Sword Saints in the world. One resided in the Southern Sword Hut, another roamed the Northern Desert, his whereabouts unknown. The third was even more mysterious, a phantom, his location a complete enigma.

And the one before her, with that blazing, brilliant sword intent, could only be the Desert Sword Saint.

The bamboo hat lifted, revealing a gaunt face with a messy beard, his appearance unkempt.

His eyes were indifferent as he calmly glanced at Madam Yin. "Even the Tai Void Realm, secluded for a thousand years, must involve itself in this conflict?"

Madam Yin's gaze turned cold. "A tree desires stillness, but the wind will not subside. Since this conflict has reached us, blame your Great Yu Dynasty for its excesses. You have monopolized these vast lands, constantly expanding your territory, seizing all the spiritual mountains and blessed lands. It's time to relinquish some of them!"

"What you desire is more than just 'some,' isn't it?"

The Desert Sword Saint said calmly. "I simply cannot understand why you chose Liangzhou."

"Could it be because you were unaware that I hail from Liangzhou?"

Madam Yin's expression flickered. The Desert Sword Saint was four or five hundred years old. His birthplace had long been forgotten. Moreover, after rising to prominence in Liangzhou, challenging and defeating experts across the land in his youth, and earning the title of Sword Saint at the age of sixty, he had vanished, last seen residing in the desert.

Hence, he was known as the Desert Sword Saint.

The desert was separated from Liangzhou by vast distances. No one had imagined he would return.

"With your status, why should you care about your birthplace? Must you wade into these troubled waters?" Madam Yin glared at him coldly.

The corners of the Desert Sword Saint's lips curled into a faint smile. "No matter how high one's achievements, one's roots remain. I will naturally protect my homeland. I advise you to retreat while you can. I have killed too many, and I am weary of it."

"Then let's see if you can protect this Li today!"

Madam Yin's eyes turned icy. She launched an attack.

The Desert Sword Saint turned to Li Tiangang beside him. "General Li, you should go. I will hold them off here. Liangzhou still needs you."

Li Tiangang had regained his composure. He took a deep breath. "Thank you!"

Without further ado, he swiftly turned and fled, wasting no time.

"Stop him!"

Madam Yin roared furiously.

The Demon Kings behind her immediately gave chase. Two of the Dragon Gate Demon Kings charged into the Li Clan's army, leaving the pursuit of Li Tiangang to the Tai Void Realm experts.

With a sharp clang!

The Desert Sword Saint's sword flashed. A black line, a deep fissure, appeared on the ground before him.

"Let's see who dares to cross this line."

"Don't be so arrogant!"

Madam Yin attacked, unleashing her ultimate technique. At the same time, she revealed her true form, transforming into a gigantic creature resembling a lion-serpent hybrid.

A silver crescent moon mark appeared on her forehead, the symbol of the Taiyin Netherfire bloodline.

She unleashed her ultimate technique, summoning a black crescent moon that hurtled towards the Desert Sword Saint.

A hint of seriousness flickered in the Desert Sword Saint's eyes.

With a deafening boom!

The battle erupted, the two figures clashing fiercely.

The remaining Demon Kings swiftly crossed the black line carved by the sword energy, pursuing Li Tiangang.

The Desert Sword Saint's eyes blazed with cold light. He unleashed a burst of sword energy, forcing back the Demon King who had crossed the line first. He too was a Transcendent Realm expert, and now, facing Madam Yin and seven other Demon Kings, he showed no fear, determined to hold them off single-handedly, buying time for Li Tiangang's escape.

A devastating battle ensued, sword energy soaring into the sky, demonic techniques unleashing a torrent of dark light and illusions, shaking the heavens and earth.

Within the distant defenses, the various battalions formed formations, fighting the demonic tide with unwavering determination.

The Yuan Battalion, however, retreated while fighting, gradually converging into a stream under the cover of the other battalions, heading towards the location indicated by Li Tiangang's signal.

...

...

Liangzhou, Western Border.

Dark clouds gathered ominously above the border, heralding the approach of a demonic tide.

Since the previous night, scouts had been reporting sightings of demonic beasts gathering a thousand miles beyond the border, putting Li Xuanli on high alert.

He knew that the demonic beasts who had feigned retreat were finally making their move.

Recalling the letter Li Hao had sent him, Li Xuanli felt a surge of gratitude. He had heeded Li Hao's warning, maintaining vigilance and ordering constant scouting beyond the border. It had proven to be the right decision.

Now, the demonic beasts' movements, from their gathering to their advance, were all under his surveillance. He had made thorough preparations for the impending battle.

"Have you informed the Eastern Border? They are likely to face a demonic invasion as well!"

"We haven't detected any Demon Kings among these beasts. They might be heading there!"

Li Xuanli said to his lieutenant.

"We have already sent a message."

The lieutenant replied immediately.

"What about Heaven's Gate Pass? Have you sent them a warning, told them to be cautious?"

"We have dispatched a messenger."

Li Xuanli nodded slightly, then turned to his daughter, Li Wushuang, who stood beside him, clad in armor. He sighed.

"I had arranged for a carriage to take you away from here. Why must you be so stubborn? If your mother finds out, she'll twist my ears off when I get back!"

Hearing this, Li Wushuang's usually stern face softened into a slight smile.

Although she had grown up away from the God General's Estate, during her brief return, she had observed the deep affection between her parents.

As their daughter, she was happy for them.

"Mother wouldn't do that. She knows about the battle here. If you were to return, she'd be worried sick about you losing an ear." Li Wushuang smiled.

Li Xuanli's eyes flickered. He nodded gently. "Your mother must be terribly worried right now."

Li Wushuang rolled her eyes playfully. "Father, with the enemy at our doorstep, can you please focus on the present situation?"

Li Xuanli glanced at her. "The present situation is that you should leave immediately and not hinder us here."

"A Li Clan descendant never retreats from battle. Don't forget, I also bear the surname Li!"

Li Wushuang declared.

However, as she uttered those last words, a figure flashed through her mind, her expression changing slightly.

Li Xuanli's gaze shifted to the distance. He said in a low voice, "They're here!"

Li Wushuang's eyes sharpened, her spirit surging forth to observe the approaching enemy.

A vast demonic tide swept towards them, its numbers matching their intelligence reports.

Li Xuanli immediately ordered his lieutenant to sound the war horns, signaling the start of the battle.

Atop the city walls, the defensive weapons were ready, the artillery towers loaded.

Boom!

As the demonic tide reached the ambush formation laid outside the city, it triggered the traps. Explosive power erupted, disrupting the demonic horde, tearing gaps in its ranks.

Li Xuanli's eyes were cold, his expression unwavering. This was just the beginning of the battle.

But just then, three figures suddenly burst from the demonic tide, approaching at incredible speed.

With a series of booms, they launched a barrage of attacks, their combined might shaking the border formation, causing violent tremors.

The formation's runes flickered wildly.

Li Xuanli's face paled. Including himself, the other generals, all Undying Realm experts, were shocked.

"Demon Kings!"

"They're Demon Kings!"

Hidden within the demonic tide were three Demon Kings! Their intelligence had only detected a dozen or so Undying Realm Greater Demons leading the horde. Even that scale was formidable, but to have Demon Kings concealed within...

"Quickly, Xuan Battalion's A Company, defend the formation!"

Li Xuanli roared urgently.

Li Wushuang's pupils constricted, her body trembling, her breath catching in her throat.

Demon Kings!

Watching the three Demon Kings hovering in the air, relentlessly bombarding the formation, each strike sent shivers down her spine, making her feel suffocated.

"Master should be coming, but he's only one person..."

Li Wushuang's face was tense as she stared at the imposing figures of the Demon Kings.

Last night, when she had received the report of the demonic beast gathering a thousand miles away, she had immediately sent a message to her sect, requesting the aid of the elderly Thousand Machines Master.

But it would take time for him to arrive.

Even if he did arrive in time, could he possibly withstand three Demon Kings?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The formation shuddered under the relentless assault of the three Demon Kings.

A volley of arrows rained down, but they were deflected by the Demon Kings' robust bodies, unable to inflict any damage.

It was like standing in a downpour, unharmed even after hours of relentless rain.

Li Xuanli immediately ordered his troops to cease the futile arrow attacks, directing them to focus on the approaching demonic horde instead.

He then drew his own sword, summoning five Undying Realm generals, and soared into the sky.

"Father!"

"Stay put!"

Li Xuanli roared back, not turning his head.

...

...

South, Heaven's Gate Pass, Cragcliff City.

The city bustled with activity. Hawkers and merchants peddled their wares, young scions of aristocratic families roamed the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure, only to be stopped outside his courtyard.

Meanwhile, on the Dragon Pass Road outside Cragcliff City, a figure sped towards the city.

It was Li Hao.

Lu Chunsheng had escorted him to the border of Yongzhou province. From there, he had traveled south, activating his Myriad Forms attribute to conceal his presence, finally returning to Heaven's Gate Pass.

The Dragon Pass Road was no longer the desolate path he had encountered on his first arrival. There were tea stalls along the roadside, and occasional travelers could be seen passing by.

Li Hao approached a tea stall and requested a cup of hot tea from the owner.

Then, catching a whiff of delicious steamed buns, he ordered two baskets and began to eat.

(End of Chapter)