181-183

Chapter 181: Reinforcements, the Haotian Banner (Third Update)

"Hmm?"

Li Hao was eating a steamed bun, suddenly finding the taste familiar, as if he'd had it somewhere before.

He looked up, and the old man running the tea stall seemed vaguely recognizable. He suddenly recalled encountering this very tea stall owner on his way to Qizhou to slay demons.

"It's you?"

Li Hao looked at the other man in surprise.

"Hmm?"

The tea stall owner looked at Li Hao with a puzzled expression.

Li Hao's gaze pierced through, sensing the other's aura, but found it to be that of an ordinary, unremarkable person.

"Boss, weren't you running your stall near the border of Qizhou before?" Li Hao asked.

The tea stall owner looked at Li Hao in astonishment, saying, "You know this old man?"

"I passed by once, and I even learned how to make these buns from you," Li Hao replied.

Hearing Li Hao's words, the tea stall owner seemed to recall the encounter as well, realizing,

"So it's you! How come you're here?"

"I'd like to ask you the same thing. How did you end up here? Weren't you running your stall in Qizhou for many years?"

"Well, I heard some young heroes drinking tea here say that business was good in this area, and that they were all heading this way. So I figured I'd join the fun and came here too,"

The tea stall owner chuckled, "And you know what? Business here really is much better. Look."

As he spoke, several young men in fine silk and brocade rode in from outside the Dragon Pass, and upon seeing the tea stall, dismounted.

"Old man, a bowl of tea!"

"Calling someone 'old man' is rude. You should call him 'Boss'."

"Hey, you're being too formal. We're江湖 people now, calling him 'old man' is more潇洒."

"My father said, when you're out in the world, don't mistake rudeness for潇洒, or you'll get beaten up."

"Whoa, you even rhymed that."

The young men casually sat down, chatting and laughing. They glanced at Li Hao, seeing that he was around their age, and simply assumed he was another youngster who had come to Cangya City to see the sights.

"Coming right up."

The tea stall owner greeted them with a cheerful smile, handing them a pot of hot tea. "We also have some buns and pastries, would you like some?"

"Sure, a few, one for each of us."

"Coming right up."

The tea stall owner readily agreed.

He turned back to his stall, bustling about, and said to Li Hao, "Young hero, are you here to join the excitement in Cangya City as well?"

"I live here."

Li Hao sipped his tea and ate his bun, asking, "The journey from Qizhou to here is long and arduous. Did you come alone? Such a long road isn't easy to travel."

The young men at the next table overheard Li Hao's words and were surprised, immediately turning their attention to him. One of them, a rather outgoing fellow, excitedly asked:

"Brother, you live here? Did you just buy a place, or did you join the army?"

"Brother, have you seen the esteemed Haotian Junior General?"

"The journey is indeed long, and the road is rough, just take it slow."

The tea stall owner chuckled, "As long as you can reach the place you want to go, even if it's slow, it's still a beautiful journey."

Li Hao was interrupted by the young men, and he glanced back at the tea stall owner, finding it a bit strange, but coincidences happen all the time. Perhaps he was overthinking things.

"Boss, I'm leaving now."

Li Hao finished his food, stood up, and spoke to the owner.

Then he turned back to look at the young men, smiling, "The border is quite dangerous, you'd be better off going somewhere else to play."

"Then how come you..."

The young men, filled with youthful vigor, were immediately displeased by his mature and cautionary tone, and were about to challenge him, but they saw Li Hao turn and step into the air, disappearing outside the tea stall.

Levitation.

The mark of a Fifteen-Mile Realm cultivator!

The words of the young men died in their throats.

This fellow, who looked about their age, was actually a Fifteen-Mile Realm cultivator!

But soon, they exchanged glances and became excited.

It's said that many people are flocking to Cangya City these days, countless geniuses all wanting to challenge the legendary young man. It seems to be true.

You can encounter geniuses anywhere here!

"Brothers, eat quickly, let's go too."

The young men suddenly became quick and efficient.

"What a bunch of impatient fellows..."

Seeing this, the tea stall owner shook his head and chuckled.

...

...

Li Hao quietly returned to Cangya City and back to his small courtyard with a fence.

Several Grandmaster-level patrol officers saw Li Hao and immediately saluted, but Li Hao waved them off and told them to continue their patrol.

Ren Qianqian was cultivating in the courtyard, and hearing the commotion, she opened her eyes and looked over. When she saw it was Li Hao, she immediately stopped her cultivation, got up, and ran over.

"Master, you're back."

"Mm, has anything happened recently?"

"Nothing here."

Ren Qianqian said, "But this morning, Senior Hongzhuang received a military dispatch. I don't know the details."

Li Hao recalled the strict inspections of the city guards upon entering the city, and his eyes flickered. He said to Ren Qianqian:

"Get me some clean clothes, I'm going to ask what's going on."

"Okay."

Ren Qianqian nodded.

Li Hao released his divine sense, scanning the entire city, and quickly found Li Hongzhuang's location.

He flickered, disappearing from the courtyard and arriving at the City Commander's Mansion where Li Hongzhuang resided.

Li Hongzhuang was in the midst of a meditative sword practice, and suddenly felt a disturbance. She looked up and saw Li Hao appear like a gentle breeze, and she was relieved, saying:

"Hao'er, are you back? From the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion to here, even with the fastest travel, it should take at least six or seven days, right?"

"Mm, just got back."

Li Hao sat down on a nearby chair. Seeing some pastries, he casually picked one up and popped it into his mouth, asking:

"Qianqian said there was a military dispatch. The soldiers seem to be on high alert when I came back. Is something happening?"

"The demons that were previously roaming around the borders of Liangzhou have indeed feigned retreat. They are now gathering in the western border of Liangzhou, preparing to attack."

Li Hongzhuang's brows furrowed as she spoke of this matter. "It's news from Fifth Brother. He discovered it last night, and sent a fast messenger, the dispatch arrived this morning."

"These demons, they truly have an unyielding demonic heart!"

Her eyes flashed with killing intent and anger.

Li Hao understood. He had also guessed about the situation outside the pass earlier.

"How's the situation in the west?"

"We don't know yet."

Li Hongzhuang shook her head. "Fifth Brother only said that we should also be on guard, that the demons may attack at any time, and that we should keep a close watch on our scouts, not to be lax."

"That's why I've put all the city's soldiers on high alert today, and sent several teams of elite scouts outside the pass. The first team has already returned from 800 miles out, but they haven't seen any demons."

Li Hao hadn't mentioned his earlier clearing of the area outside the pass to Li Hongzhuang. The 5,000 miles outside the pass had long been cleared by him.

It was normal for the scouts to not find any demons within 800 miles.

However, now that the demons were gathering to attack the western border of Liangzhou, they might also regroup their forces and attack Tianmen Pass. After all, it was the southern pass of Liangzhou.

Just because it was cleared before didn't mean it was still clear now.

Therefore, Li Hao didn't say anything, he would know the situation once the scouts returned.

If those demons dared to come, he would clear them out again.

It just so happened that the demons he had slain before had been eaten by the city for over a month, and they were all gone.

Adding some more ingredients wouldn't be a bad idea, it would save him some procurement expenses.

Now that he was separated from the Li family, he was self-reliant, and his money came from his own earnings, from the rewards he received and from selling demon materials.

Before, he had no money, and Song Qiu'mo had paid for everything. He hadn't had a chance to repay her for the money and the favor.

"If the other scouts don't find any demons, it means that the demons may be concentrating their forces on the western border."

Li Hongzhuang said, "Then we'll go and investigate the situation in the west."

"But it's also possible that the demons have split their forces, and the main army hasn't reached our side yet. I'll send people to investigate for the next few days."

She wouldn't underestimate or neglect the situation. With the speed of the demon army, it wasn't uncommon for them to travel a thousand miles a day. The powerful demons among them could act as vanguards, and in less than half a day, they could reach a thousand miles away and attack a city in advance.

Li Hao nodded, it was indeed a prudent approach.

"Tell me if anything happens."

Li Hao was about to get up and leave.

Li Hongzhuang looked at him and said, "You were only gone for five days in Yongzhou, and you're back already? Didn't you take a good look at the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion, or did the Pavilion Master not let you see much?"

"No, he let me look at whatever I wanted."

"Then why did you come back so soon?" Li Hongzhuang was surprised.

Because he had finished looking... Li Hao smiled slightly, waved his hand and said, "I've been traveling for too long, and I haven't had a bath in days. I'm going to change my clothes."

"..." Li Hongzhuang was speechless. He couldn't possibly be in a hurry to come back just to take a bath, could he?

Before she could ask further, Li Hao had already stepped out of the Commander's Mansion and disappeared from her sight.

"That guy..."

Li Hongzhuang couldn't help but shake her head, finding it amusing. She couldn't understand how Li Hao, with his carefree nature, could cultivate to such a level. It was a stark contrast to the disciplined and orderly children of the God General's Mansion, yet Li Hao was more outstanding than anyone else.

Back in the courtyard.

Li Hao took a quick shower, changed into new clothes, and sent a message to Old Man Feng who was secretly protecting the place. Then he suddenly remembered that he had returned in a hurry and hadn't had a chance to stroll around Yongzhou and bring back some delicious local specialties.

However, his main concern was the possibility of demons attacking Tianmen Pass. After all, the news of his departure would likely not be able to be concealed from the Demon Celestial Mechanism Hall.

"They didn't take advantage of this opportunity to attack Tianmen Pass. It seems that the main force has indeed moved to the west?"

"Perhaps they think that even if they capture Tianmen Pass in my absence, I'll just drive them back when I return. After all, there are too many of my banners here."

Li Hao knew that the demons outside the pass must have witnessed the power of his banners, at least the Celestial Mechanism Hall was aware of it.

If they still dared to come after seeing the banners planted on the walls of Cangya City, they must be quite courageous.

Shaking his head, Li Hao stopped thinking about it. Since the demons were attacking the west, it meant they had plans to invade Liangzhou, and he had to guard Tianmen Pass.

"The world is starting to fall into chaos..."

Li Hao felt that he needed to work harder. He asked Ren Qianqian to invite the young chess sage, Xu Zhouyuan.

Li Hao was extremely polite to these masters of the arts.

Ren Qianqian, following Li Hao's attitude, went to the inn where the young chess sage resided, and with a very polite manner, conveyed Li Hao's invitation.

Xu Zhouyuan was already over seventy years old, with white hair and a frail body. Due to his mediocre martial arts aptitude, he hadn't cultivated, but he had used his fame to accumulate some wealth and bought some health-enhancing pills to take.

But he was a mortal with a fragile body, and couldn't take too strong medicinal pills. Therefore, the pills he took only extended his lifespan a little longer than that of an ordinary old man, and made his body slightly more robust.

His attendant, upon seeing Ren Qianqian, was startled and quickly invited her in.

Xu Zhouyuan learned that the young man had taken an interest in him again, and a smile spread across his face. Thinking back to his previous chess matches with the young man, the fierce battles that ended in a draw, he felt a surge of excitement and readily agreed.

Ren Qianqian offered ten taels of gold to the young chess sage.

Xu Zhouyuan quickly refused, but Ren Qianqian said it was the young master's custom.

He had no choice but to accept it.

...He had already accepted over ten bags of gold before.

It was hard to refuse such kindness, hard to refuse...

Xu Zhouyuan, with a beaming smile, followed Ren Qianqian into the carriage, heading towards the small courtyard with a fence.

The young masters of the surrounding aristocratic families recognized Ren Qianqian and exclaimed in surprise. Seeing her humble and respectful attitude towards Xu Zhouyuan, they assumed that the old man was a Four-Establishment Realm master.

However, after the carriage had gone far, they learned from the innkeeper that the old man was just a mortal, nicknamed the Young Chess Sage.

"A chess player?"

Everyone was surprised. A mere mortal, and yet the sword-servant prodigy treated him with such courtesy?

...

In the small courtyard with a fence, Li Hao had already prepared pastries and tea, and had also laid out a cool mat.

When he heard the sound of the carriage, Li Hao knew that the old master had arrived.

When Xu Zhouyuan entered the courtyard, Li Hao immediately stood up to greet him, saying, "Senior, thank you for coming."

"Young General, please don't be so polite to this old man." Xu Zhouyuan quickly replied. Although he was nicknamed the Young Chess Sage and had quite a reputation, the Great Yu Dynasty was ultimately based on martial arts.

In this world, the most respected were the martial artists.

Chess? It was just a trivial, insignificant art.

"Not at all, Senior, please." Li Hao ushered him to a seat and poured him tea.

Xu Zhouyuan had experienced Li Hao's hospitality before, but he didn't take it for granted, and remained cautious and polite, saying, "Young General, you're too kind."

Serving a superior is like walking on eggshells. This was the way of scholars and artists serving a general.

"Senior, please don't be so formal."

Li Hao smiled, waved his hand to dismiss the others, and gestured for the young chess sage to begin.

Xu Zhouyuan, who had just taken a sip of tea, immediately put it down and began to pick up chess pieces from the chess box.

Ren Qianqian knew that Li Hao didn't like to be disturbed while playing chess. If he was interrupted, he would become furious, just like a martial artist who was disturbed during cultivation.

She was used to it by now.

She retreated to the side and began to cultivate on her own, while also keeping watch for Li Hao.

The courtyard returned to a tranquil state.

Sunlight shone on the eaves and corridors, falling on the shoes Xu Zhouyuan had taken off outside the corridor, and on the tender green grass growing between the cracks in the bluestone slabs.

One piece here, one piece there, the two of them played chess in silence.

Xu Zhouyuan gradually entered a state of flow, no longer as constrained as before, his entire being immersed in placing the pieces.

One game ended, and Li Hao barely won.

The young chess sage's chess skills were extremely high, at the level of a fifth-dan player. Li Hao occasionally made a mistake, and he could easily lose.

Seeing the experience prompt appear on his panel, Li Hao smiled slightly and beckoned the other to continue.

This tranquility continued until a sharp shout suddenly broke the silence.

"Report!!"

Xu Zhouyuan, who was lost in thought about his next move, was startled by the loud and powerful shout, and the chess piece he was holding fell onto the board.

It happened to knock a white piece out of place.

Bang!!

A huge, dark hand slammed down. The brilliant golden light on the formation flickered incessantly, countless divine runes spinning rapidly, but ultimately it couldn't withstand the force. With a loud bang, it shattered!

The huge demonic hand crashed down, smashing the foundation stones outside the formation!

As the formation broke, a gap was torn in the Great Wall, and in an instant, countless demon hordes swarmed in, pouring through the gap under the huge demon king, breaking through the Great Wall and charging towards the city!

Many soldiers of the Xuan character battalion spat blood and fell to the ground, unable to withstand the attack.

"Father!"

Li Wushuang saw the figure flying back, Li Xuanli severely injured, crashing into the city wall, shattering the stones. His armor was dented, and even his indestructible body couldn't withstand the impact, he was badly injured.

Li Wushuang rushed over and helped Li Xuanli up.

"Quick, retreat!"

Li Xuanli got up, looked at the three demon kings hovering in the air, his face flushed red with anger and blood surging, but the sight of his daughter calmed his mind:

"Contract the defense line, retreat quickly!"

"Quick, send out the distress signal!"

He roared urgently.

The deputy commander who came to help, upon hearing this, quickly sent out orders, and at the same time, smoke signals rose into the sky.

"Protect the Governor's retreat!"

Seeing this, the other generals quickly gathered, their eyes solemn, knowing that it was a matter of life and death.

There was no Four-Establishment Realm cultivator here, and with the formation broken, the three demon kings were unstoppable!

"Kill!!"

Three Immortal Realm generals roared, brandishing their spears, leading their troops into battle.

Millions of soldiers and countless demon hordes collided, like two raging rivers crashing together. Blood and limbs flew everywhere, the battlefield was divided into two distinct sides, like the black and white pieces on a chessboard.

"Report!!"

Xu Zhouyuan's gaze returned from the disrupted black and white pieces on the chessboard, and he looked up at the reporting officer.

The officer had already reached the courtyard, and seeing Li Hao's figure, he immediately knelt on the bluestone slab in front of the chess table, presenting a report: "Young General, a military dispatch from the Liangzhou Military Governor!"

Li Hao frowned slightly, his chess game was disrupted, and he was displeased, but the military dispatch was a matter of great importance, so he didn't show his displeasure, and beckoned the officer to hand over the dispatch.

Before he could even open it, a figure rushed in, Li Hongzhuang in bright red armor.

She had been stationed at the border for a long time, and except for bathing and sleeping, she never took off her armor.

Even when she slept, she wore soft armor, ready to get up and fight at any moment.

"I just heard that war horses have entered the city, and the messenger was covered in blood. Has something happened in the western border of Liangzhou?!"

Li Hongzhuang asked Li Hao anxiously.

Li Hao's expression changed slightly, and he quickly opened the military dispatch, his eyes scanning through it.

"The western border has fallen, a demon king is leading the attack!"

Li Hao's eyes darkened. The western border had fallen so quickly?

He had just heard Li Hongzhuang say that their scouts had spotted the demons gathering last night, and the intelligence arrived this morning. It was now afternoon, so from the time the demons gathered to the time they launched the attack, it was only a dozen hours.

The western border had formations to protect it.

However, three demon kings... it was no wonder.

Li Hao frowned, he wasn't surprised to see three demon kings in the demon horde, but he was surprised that the western border didn't have a Four-Establishment Realm cultivator stationed there.

Was the defensive force in the west so weak?

"Demon King!"

Li Hongzhuang's pupils constricted when she heard Li Hao's words, and she quickly asked, "Then what about Fifth Brother? How is he?"

Her heart constricted, and images of her third and sixth brothers' deaths flashed before her eyes, as well as the funeral ceremonies she had attended, the low mournful sounds that filled the mansion, and the white mourning clothes.

"He's safe for now."

Li Hongzhuang immediately relaxed, her heart returning to her chest, and she quickly asked, "Then... is Fifth Brother asking for reinforcements? Now that the formation is broken, how are they going to defend?"

Li Hao shook his head, glanced at the military dispatch, sighed, and put it away:

"He didn't ask for reinforcements, but he told us to be careful and watch out for the demon king. Also, he said that they have already contracted their defensive line and retreated to the second line of defense."

Li Hongzhuang was stunned, and then she understood. Her expression was complex, and she said to Li Hao, "Then... should we go help?"

Li Hao pondered for a moment. There was a dark side clone controlling the formation here, and it could also defend the city for a while.

While he was weighing his options, another voice rushed into the courtyard.

"Report!"

A Haotian Army soldier rushed in and said to Li Hao anxiously, "Young General, we saw warning smoke signals outside the pass, and some scouts have been attacked!"

Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang both changed color.

The western border had just fallen, and now demons were coming here?

"Do you know how many there are?" Li Hao asked.

"We haven't been able to investigate yet."

Li Hao looked at Li Hongzhuang, and her face also became grim.

Li Hao saw what she was thinking. She wanted to do the same as Li Xuanli and contract the defensive line, concentrate their forces, and delay until reinforcements arrived.

He remained silent for a moment, then said, "Based on the time it took for this military dispatch to arrive, they should have already retreated to the second line of defense. Let's do this, you and Li He go with my banner."

"You two are both at the Three Immortal Realm, if you travel at full speed, you can reach there in the shortest amount of time."

Li Hao planned to have them take his banner to assist in the battle, while he remained in Tianmen Pass.

Once he dealt with the demons here, if he still had time, he would go to help.

His banner contained 50% of his killing power, which was a terrifying attack in itself, comparable to a Dao Heart Realm cultivator's full-strength strike!

This would also help his Fifth Uncle defend against many demons.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 182: Swords Rise Amidst Smoke and Fire (Part 1)

Li Hao, speaking to Li Hongzhuang, secretly transmitted the details of his battle flag to her.

Li Hongzhuang paused, her expression slightly stunned after hearing Li Hao's words. Battle flags imbued with his sword techniques?

This was the realm of inscription arrays, a feat only achievable by the Celestial Observatory. How had Li Hao managed it?

She looked at Li Hao with a questioning gaze, transmitting her inquiry.

Li Hao, however, offered no explanation. "Time is of the essence, Senior Hongzhuang," he said. "If you wish to provide reinforcements, depart quickly. I'll give you fifty battle flags."

Li Hongzhuang finally understood, realizing there was no time to delve into Li Hao's secrets. Her nephew harbored too many mysteries, impossible to unravel. His astonishing talent alone defied explanation, attributable only to an extraordinary natural gift.

"I won't leave."

A figure materialized, Li He.

He stared at Li Hao, acutely aware that he was no longer a match for his young master. His expression, besides solemnity, held a newfound sincerity.

"Young Master," he said, "at such a critical juncture, the Heavenly Gate Pass is also under attack by demons. Please, allow me to accompany you this time."

The last time the Heavenly Gate Pass faced imminent danger, he had been knocked unconscious by a formidable Four Pillars Realm expert and sent away. The incident had haunted him ever since, a mixture of gratitude for Li Hao's decisive action and shame for his own failure to fulfill his duty.

"My duty is to protect the Young Master," Li He declared with unwavering resolve. "Even if I die, I shall die before you."

Li Hao was speechless. The Li family's martial practitioners were indeed a breed of unwavering loyalty.

Li Hongzhuang glanced at him, recalling the intelligence gathered from the Heavenly Gate Pass. Her expression was complex. She should have stayed to defend the pass, but with a Four Pillars Realm expert present and Li Hao's own formidable strength, her brother, Li Xuanli, needed her more urgently.

"Hao'er," she said promptly, "let him stay. I can make the journey alone, and it will be faster."

Li Hao considered this. It made sense.

Li He's presence, besides carrying the battle flags, would be of little use.

Immediately, his soul departed his body, soaring into the air. He flew towards the ramparts of Cangya City, selecting fifty out of the hundred battle flags he had marked within a hundred miles beyond the pass. He gathered them and brought them back to the courtyard.

The fifty flags, stacked together, reached the height of several haystacks.

Li Hongzhuang enveloped the flags with her object manipulation technique. Having heard Li Hao's instructions on how to use them, she addressed him.

"I'm going," she said. "Be careful here."

She gave Li Hao a deep look, and upon receiving his nod, she shot into the sky, carrying the flags towards the interior of the state. Unleashing her body-shifting speed, she surged forward at full power.

The Heavenly Gate Pass was three thousand miles from the Western Frontier battlefield. Reaching the second line of defense, as Li Xuanli had mentioned, was another two thousand miles.

With object manipulation speed, covering dozens of miles in a single breath, she could reach her destination quickly.

However, this was the peak speed achievable during combat, unsustainable for long durations. The release of energy was like a floodgate, the longer it lasted, the exponentially greater the energy expenditure.

By the time she reached the battlefield, she would likely be depleted of her combat prowess.

The entire Liang State was vast and expansive, with hundreds of cities scattered across its expanse. Each city's territory covered hundreds of miles, encompassing numerous towns and villages, along with vast stretches of wilderness, spanning ten thousand miles in diameter.

Even if she utilized the Unfading Power for maximum speed, she would exhaust herself halfway through the journey. The Unfading Power's effects couldn't be sustained for that long.

At this moment, Li Hongzhuang disregarded the need for conservation, pushing herself to the absolute limit.

Furthermore, she didn't allow Li He to accompany her. Her purpose was to unleash the Unfading Power.

With the energy surge, she could achieve her maximum speed.

Li He, being merely at the Unbroken Realm, couldn't keep up with her pace.

…

After Li Hongzhuang's departure, Li Hao immediately summoned the Haotian Army, ordering the city to be sealed off.

He also sent out a signal indicating a demon incursion, alerting any nearby martial practitioners to either seek refuge within the city or find hiding places.

Li Hao suddenly realized that if the Western Frontier was in danger and demons still dared to attack the Heavenly Gate Pass, it was likely that the Eastern and Northern Frontiers were also under assault.

Thinking of the Eastern Frontier, he furrowed his brow. He hadn't paid attention to that region, and he didn't intend to.

The Northern Frontier was too far away, practically on the opposite side of Liang State, ten thousand miles across. It was impossible to send reinforcements in a short time.

"Contract the defensive lines," he mused. "If the Eastern and Northern Frontiers are defeated, they'll likely retreat to the second line of defense as well. The news of the frontier's fall should have reached various parts of Liang State. If those noble families want to survive, they'll send reinforcements."

"Moreover, with such widespread chaos, the imperial army should also arrive."

"All we need to do is hold the second line of defense and buy time."

"But with a Demon King in the West, there are likely others in other regions. As the defensive lines contract, the demon forces will converge, and the pressure will likely be even greater."

Li Hao's eyes flickered. He took a deep breath. The fifty battle flags he had given Li Hongzhuang might not be enough.

He summoned a Grandmaster, a military officer in the Haotian Army, and extracted another twenty battle flags. He instructed the Grandmaster to ride a swift steed, carrying the flags to reinforce the Western Frontier's defensive line.

The Grandmaster received the order and rode out of the pass on a Blood-Red Steed.

Li Hao instructed the scouts to continue gathering information from beyond the pass, to determine the type and number of demons.

"Didn't we teach them a lesson during the previous purge?" he wondered. "The Heavenly Dipper Palace knows my strength, yet they still dare to invade. There are likely at least four Demon Kings or more…"

Li Hao's gaze grew serious. The upcoming battle would be a tough one.

"Young General…"

Xu Zhouyuan, having overheard the alarming news, trembled slightly. For the first time, he directly experienced the blood-soaked atmosphere of the frontier soldiers.

Li Hao issued a series of commands. The courtyard was now empty.

Hearing Xu Zhouyuan's voice, Li Hao turned to him, seeing his nervousness. He offered a gentle smile. "Senior, don't worry. The Heavenly Gate Pass will be safe."

He then returned to his seat. "We still have time. Let's finish this game of Go."

Xu Zhouyuan was stunned. Looking at the composed young man in the face of danger, he felt a surge of shame.

Though not a martial practitioner, he had lived for seventy years, yet his composure paled in comparison to this young man.

"Then I shall accompany the Young General in finishing this game."

Xu Zhouyuan took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

Meanwhile, outside the Heavenly Gate Pass.

Seven hundred miles away, in a wild expanse of towering ancient trees.

A vast horde of demon figures surged forward like a tidal wave, led by four powerful Three Immortals Realm demons.

"The Eastern and Western Frontiers have fallen, haven't they?" one demon boasted. "The Dragon Gate and the Vast Void Realm are indeed formidable. Liang State will soon be ours!"

"Their forces should be concentrated in the inner regions now," another demon said. "If they don't contract their defenses, they'll die even faster."

"That brat in the Heavenly Gate Pass," a third demon snarled. "He destroyed our lairs, desecrated our ancestral grounds. I wonder if he'll be able to hold his ground this time!"

"Once that kid leaves, we'll break through the Heavenly Gate Pass," another demon said. "We'll make our contribution and claim our share of the territory."

These leading demons were those who had been driven away by Li Hao during the previous purge of the area outside the pass.

Warned by the Heavenly Dipper Palace, they had left beforehand and hidden themselves, avoiding any danger.

However, their lairs had been destroyed and marked with flags, preventing them from returning.

"Esteemed elders," a bird demon from the Heavenly Dipper Palace reported, swooping in. "The Haotian Young General hasn't returned yet. He went to the Heavenly Mechanism Tower six days ago. Even if he only spent a day in contemplation, and assuming he travels at a normal pace, he won't be back until tomorrow."

Li Hao had concealed his tracks when he left the pass, making it impossible for the Heavenly Dipper Palace to detect him. They could only rely on the Heavenly Mechanism Tower's intermediaries to make educated guesses.

Currently, they had mobilized the Heavenly Dipper Palace's intelligence network in Yong State to help gather information outside the Heavenly Mechanism Tower.

However, the Heavenly Mechanism Tower was also a master of intelligence gathering. The Heavenly Dipper Palace was originally modeled after it, and they didn't dare get too close to the Heavenly Mechanism City. Thus, Li Hao's whereabouts could only be speculated upon.

"Humph, the one on the city walls is just a clone, isn't it?" a Three Immortals Realm demon scoffed. "Similar to our demon arts, just a scare tactic."

They had encountered clones before, and most possessed only a tenth of their original power, which was considered quite good.

"While he's away, let's launch a surprise attack!" another demon suggested.

After a brief discussion, they reached a decision and immediately ordered the army to advance.

Soon, the scouts sent to investigate reported the demons' movements back to Li Hao.

"Report!"

A shout echoed through the courtyard.

Xu Zhouyuan, just about to place a black stone, nearly dropped it. He quickly looked up.

Li Hao paused, his eyes narrowing slightly, gesturing for the scout to report.

"General," the scout reported, "we have detected the demon horde outside the pass. Their numbers are estimated to be around fifty thousand, and it seems there are two Three Immortals Realm demons among them. The strength of the other demons is currently unknown."

Li Hao raised an eyebrow.

Fifty thousand?

That's all?

If a Demon King was leading the charge, they wouldn't bring only fifty thousand troops, unless they were trying to conceal their presence, lull their enemies into a false sense of security, or launch a swift attack.

But for a swift attack, a Demon King's own power would suffice. It would be quiet and fast, avoiding alarming the demon horde.

After all, the combined power of fifty thousand demons wasn't enough to withstand a few blows from a Demon King.

"Continue scouting and report back," Li Hao instructed.

"Yes."

The scout departed.

Li Hao turned back to the Go board, noticing a vacant spot for a black stone. He smiled and placed a white stone.

"Young General…" Xu Zhouyuan swallowed nervously.

Li Hao smiled gently. "Senior, with the inner inscription array and me here, it's too late to escape now. It's either life or death. Rest assured and accompany me in finishing this game."

Xu Zhouyuan was taken aback. Then, he realized that escaping was indeed impossible at this point. If the Heavenly Gate Pass fell, the demons would attack in an instant. Their carriages and horses wouldn't be able to outrun them.

He calmed his mind, taking a sip of tea. Sitting within this perilous city, his thoughts seemed clearer, his courage bolstered. He picked up the Go stone and began to ponder his next move.

As the demon horde neared the pass, the scouts continued to relay information to Li Hao.

The demon horde was getting closer.

A hundred miles outside the pass.

The demon horde saw the scattered flags planted across the landscape. The four Three Immortals Realm demons' faces contorted in a mixture of fear and rage, as if experiencing a nightmare.

"Order the troops to avoid those flags," one of the demons commanded. "Don't touch them."

The vast demon tide, previously spread out, contracted and slowed down.

"I'll protect those flags," another Three Immortals Realm demon said, releasing his power to cover the flags and prevent them from being touched.

The demon horde continued its advance, soon reaching the Heavenly Gate Pass.

Meanwhile, on the ramparts of the Heavenly Gate Pass, the soldiers stood ready.

Looking at the massive beast tide surging towards them, the Haotian and Blood煞 Armies' faces were grim.

At the same time, the news reached Li Hao's ears.

"They've arrived?"

Li Hao narrowed his eyes. Whether or not a Demon King was hidden within the demon horde would soon be revealed.

"Qianqian."

Li Hao called out softly.

Ren Qianqian had already finished her cultivation, her mind unsettled by the constant reports and unable to focus.

Hearing Li Hao's call, she instantly understood his intention. She turned and ran into the house, retrieving Li Hao's sword from its scabbard.

The scabbard had been crafted by the Myriad Instruments Tower when they forged the Three-Forged Dragon Soaring Sword for Li Hao. It was used to store the precious blade.

Ren Qianqian opened the scabbard, and with a sharp clang, the Dragon Soaring Sword flew out. The bright blade's light illuminated Ren Qianqian's eyes, transforming into a golden beam of light. Like a playful dragon, it carved an arc across the sky above the courtyard before hurtling towards the area outside the city walls.

The entire Cangya City was only sixty miles in diameter, a medium-sized city. Li Hao's object manipulation range extended to a hundred miles.

On the streets, numerous young masters and ladies from noble families and talented youths from various states gathered, rushing towards the city walls.

They had heard about the demon attack, but instead of fear, they felt a strange excitement.

Usually, they had to search high and low to find demons to slay. Now, they could witness a demon horde firsthand.

As they rushed towards the walls, a golden light suddenly streaked across the sky above them, carrying a terrifying aura of power and killing intent.

The golden light, like a dragon's roar or a tiger's growl, flew towards the area outside the city walls.

"What is that?"

"It looks like a sword!"

"Quick, let's go see!"

Filled with astonishment, the crowd chased after the golden light, rushing towards the scene.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 183: Decisive Strike Against the Demon Tide (Part Two)

"Roar!!"

With the demons' ferocious roar, the encroaching demon tide, like a dark cloud, surged forward, engulfing the pass.

On the city walls, the Blood煞 Army's deputy commander barked orders, "Activate the formations!"

A golden light erupted over Cangya City, and a protective formation enveloped the walls.

"So many war banners!"

Amidst the demon tide, the four three-Immortal Realm Great Demons noticed the countless Haotian War Banners planted on the city walls, their expressions shifting slightly.

"But, at this close range, if those banners unleash their power, wouldn't they also harm their own people?"

"But we don't know if the formations within these banners only target demons."

The four Great Demons, their eyes filled with grave concern, had anticipated this scene, but they hadn't expected such a vast number of banners.

"Break through the city first, let the lesser demons destroy the banners, and then we'll retreat!"

They had devised a plan, and after a brief pause, they sounded the charge.

Instantly, the demon horde behind them responded, surging towards the city bathed in golden light.

But at that very moment, a dragon's roar echoed from the distance.

It seemed to originate from dozens of miles away, its sound resonating and sweeping across the land!

The four Great Demons all raised their heads, and the numerous soldiers on the city walls couldn't help but look up as well. They saw a golden streak of light, a brilliant meteor, soaring through the sky above them, speeding towards the city.

"It's a sword!"

"It's the Dragon Soaring Sword!"

The faces of the Great Demons changed drastically. They recognized the renowned blade.

Since falling into Li Hao's hands, the sword's reputation had grown even further, its terrifying might echoing throughout the five thousand miles beyond the pass!

As they identified the Dragon Soaring Sword, it had already roared out of the formation, its body imbued with Li Hao's spiritual energy. With Li Hao's presence and the command token, the sword pierced through the formation without hindrance.

Whoosh!

The demonic spirit within the Dragon Soaring Sword awakened, letting out a deafening roar that shook the land for a hundred miles beyond the pass!

Then, like a true dragon plunging into the sea, it unleashed a torrential wave of sword energy. In an instant, the sword body seemed to shatter like ice, releasing countless sword rain, forming a terrifying sword tide!

A single sword, standing tall, dominated the sky!

The boundless sword tide, like a raging sea, surged forward, crushing towards the fifty thousand demon army.

The Dragon Soaring Sword, surrounded by divine light, was like a golden dragon, weaving through the demon tide with incredible speed. It was like a golden lightning bolt, carving golden arcs through the demonic ranks.

Wherever it passed, demon bodies were pierced, and those with weaker cultivation were torn apart by the sword energy's cutting force, unable to even cry out.

The sword tide also swept forward, colliding violently with the oncoming demon tide. In an instant, the demons at the forefront were pierced through by the sword tide, countless blood splattered, and demonic auras dissipated, as if riddled with holes!

Such a shocking sight left the soldiers on the city walls speechless with astonishment.

Many of these Haotian Army soldiers were from the various states who had come to reinforce Li Hao earlier. When they arrived, they had only seen Li Hao, battered and bruised, in a desperate struggle against several demon kings.

Their impression of Li Hao was still that of the boy who had stood alone on the banks of the Dragon River in Dayue City, his finger pressing down against the heavens.

After all, that hadn't been long ago.

But the power unleashed by the Dragon Soaring Sword now left them speechless.

A single sword decimated fifty thousand demons!

Among them were dozens of Heavenly Man Realm demons. And unlike the martial arts discussions where they observed a code of conduct and fought one-on-one, these demons could have combined their powers to attack!

Yet, they were still routed, utterly defenseless!

The scions of various noble families within the city, who had followed Li Hao, some climbed the nearby towers to gain a better view, others summoned their spiritual senses to watch from afar in the sky above the city.

Seeing the endless sword tide outside the formation and the golden dragon sword weaving through it, they were all stunned into silence.

"Is that sword… the young general's?"

"It's his sword, I recognize it, it's the Dragon Soaring!"

"The foremost of the renowned swords, it's that very sword!"

Many of the noble scions were familiar with famous swords, their shapes and appearances depicted in illustrations that circulated throughout the land.

What made a sword renowned wasn't just its name, but its form and appearance, known to all under the heavens!

Now, under the watchful eyes of the entire city, the Dragon Soaring Sword unleashed a thousand sword tides, slaughtering the demon army.

This scene of carnage and shock was less like a demon tide attacking a city and more like a golden dragon, the sword, dancing and slaughtering demons with ease!

Blood flowed like rivers, countless demons roared in defiance, only to be pierced through instantly, like paper, like tofu, facing no resistance under the Dragon Soaring Sword!

As the Dragon Soaring Sword cut deeper into the demon tide, it soon moved towards the four Great Demons.

In the small courtyard surrounded by a fence.

Li Hao gently placed a piece on the go board.

As the demon tide surged towards the city, he had sensed the presence of four three-Immortal Realm beings among them. Two of them were hidden, hence the scouts hadn't detected them. It was a deliberate tactic by the Great Demons to lull them into a false sense of security.

A clear and a hidden attack, just like the pieces on the board, black and white meeting.

Apart from these Great Demons, there was no trace of a Demon King, perhaps hidden even deeper.

But it didn't matter. Eradicating this demon tide was enough.

In the face of absolute power, petty tricks were useless.

"Capture!"

Li Hao surrounded four black pieces, picking up the one in the middle. This was also an extension of Xu Zhouyuan's black pieces, an attempt to seize more white territory, but Li Hao had cut it off.

Bang!!

The Dragon Soaring Sword suddenly pierced through the void, slashing towards a three-Immortal Realm Great Demon!

"Damn it!!"

The Great Demon was terrified. The sword's power was too overwhelming. Could it be that the young man hadn't gone to the Heavenly Mechanism Tower and was instead stationed within the city?

Or was it just a clone controlling the sword?

He roared, revealing his true form, a massive bull, and slammed his horns against the divine sword.

His demonic aura surged, forming a massive, upright bull demon behind him, a trace of extremely rare ancient demon king bloodline dormant within his blood.

At this moment, the phantom bull's eyes glowed crimson, and it attempted to sweep its hand to seize the Dragon Soaring Sword.

But the Dragon Soaring Sword erupted with even more powerful and explosive sword energy. It was like a dragon's roar piercing through a howl, instantly dodging the Great Demon's horns and striking towards its head.

With a muffled bang, it was like a dull impact.

The skull shattered.

The golden divine light of the Dragon Soaring Sword vanished above its head, and the Great Demon's eyes widened, pupils constricting, but his body remained frozen in place.

In less than two seconds, brilliant sword light split from his body in all directions. His body, like shattered porcelain, was riddled with countless cracks that emitted a thousand divine lights, before violently exploding.

Countless flesh and blood splattered, raining down around him, his entire body torn apart!

A spiritual soul escaped from his body, but it was severely injured, screaming as it fled, burning its soul to accelerate its speed.

But the Dragon Soaring Sword was even faster, instantly catching up and slicing through the fleeing soul.

The soul, like burning gold paper, convulsed in the air as the sword's edge passed through, its body burning, struggling to crawl forward, its eyes filled with despair, unwillingness, and profound regret.

But ultimately, its soul burned out, leaving nothing behind, like a gust of wind, dissipating into nothingness.

The Dragon Soaring Sword roared towards the other three Great Demons, relentless, unleashing even greater power.

"Damn it, what kind of power is this?!"

"Run!"

The remaining three Great Demons were horrified. A single sword had pierced through a three-Immortal Realm being, instantly killing it.

That was an Unbroken Realm being, with a body like a divine weapon, yet it was sliced into countless pieces of flesh by the divine sword?!

At this moment, they finally believed that the young man hadn't left Cangya City. It had all been a ruse, a deliberate trap!

But their realization came too late.

They scattered and fled, abandoning the demon tide they had gathered, only caring about their own survival.

But the Dragon Soaring Sword was incredibly fast, instantly catching up to another three-Immortal Realm demon. Despite the demon's terrified roar and desperate resistance, the sword unleashed a sky-piercing sword energy, hundreds of feet long, as if cleaving down from the clouds, splitting its body in two!

Such power sent a surge of excitement and thrill through the onlookers on the city walls, their fists clenched tight.

After killing one, the Dragon Soaring Sword turned to pursue the other two Great Demons. The main sword body pursued one, while a dragon formed from countless sword lights, split from the main sword tide, chased after another.

The demon pursued by the sword dragon fled in panic. He was also an Unbroken Realm being, but the previous bull's effortless demise had instilled fear in him, and he had no desire to resist.

Seeing the main Dragon Soaring Sword pursuing his former "brother-in-arms," he felt a surge of joy.

He fled for his life, but the sword energy tide behind him swept forward. He roared, "Shatter for me!"

Just the split sword energy wanted to kill him, did they think he was a soft persimmon?

He roared in anger, his palms like divine iron, unleashing a vast demonic aura that condensed into a mountain-like palm print, pushing it forward.

But as soon as it made contact, he sensed something was wrong. The penetrating power of the sword dragon was far stronger than he had imagined.

The demonic palm shattered, countless sword lights dispersing, washing over his body.

His body was pierced with a thousand stings, like countless steel needles, and countless blood splattered from his body.

"Aaaaaah!!"

He roared in anger, revealing his true form, but as he was halfway through transforming, a sudden sword energy struck him. His soul and power seemed to be instantly snatched away by death.

It felt like his blood and marrow were instantly drained.

"How… how could…"

His pupils constricted, his eyes filled with horror, but even more so with despair.

He could feel his life force rapidly fading, like falling into a bottomless abyss.

He wanted to summon his soul to escape, but his soul was like falling off a cliff, desperately trying to climb out of his body, but it couldn't, and eventually fell with his body.

Thump!

His body collapsed to the ground, kicking up dust.

Countless sword energies struck him, tearing his body to pieces.

Meanwhile, the main Dragon Soaring Sword had caught up with and slain another three-Immortal Realm Great Demon.

The demon was an Unshrinking Realm being, unleashing his Unshrinking power, fully exploding, even burning his soul and bloodline. But the true dragon sword spirit flew out from the Dragon Soaring Sword, its aura once belonging to a Demon King, and cut him down with a single strike.

His physical body couldn't withstand the Dragon Soaring Sword's blade. Although his power was immense, it was like rotten wood, unable to withstand a single blow.

After dealing with the Great Demons, the Dragon Soaring Sword returned to the demon tide, countless sword tides falling like rain, blood raining down everywhere.

The demons let out shrill cries, scattering in all directions, but they were all enveloped by the sword energy.

These fifty thousand demons, while containing many Heavenly Man Realm and Fifteen Mile Realm beings, were incredibly powerful overall. But Li Hao, when he was only at the Fifteen Mile Realm, had slain a similar number of demons in Cangyu City in Qizhou!

Times had changed. None of these demons escaped. In less than half an incense stick's time, including the four three-Immortal Realm Great Demons, all of them perished.

Outside the city, corpses littered the ground, blood flowed like rivers.

Countless demon bodies were torn apart, scattered everywhere, like a hellish scene.

The Dragon Soaring Sword drew a golden arc, hovered for a moment, then, like a golden rainbow, flew back into the formation, soaring towards the center of the city, towards the small courtyard surrounded by a fence.

Countless people looked up, watching the divine sword retract its golden light and land within the city.

They knew that was where the young man was.

From beginning to end, he hadn't appeared, only a single flying sword, had slain fifty thousand demons, and four three-Immortal Realm Great Demons!

That young man… was only fifteen years old!

Compared to the battle that had shocked the world in Dayue City, the boy had become even more terrifying!

The entire city was silent, a brief silence before erupting in thunderous cheers.

On the city walls, countless soldiers embraced each other in excitement. This battle, which had filled them with tension and anxiety, had ended before it even began, before they had even joined the fight.

The young man's power alone had shattered the demon tide!

"Haotian Young General!!"

Someone, it was unclear who, started a wave of excited shouts.

Countless soldiers couldn't help but raise their arms in cheers.

Some excitedly grabbed the military flags on the city walls, waving them in the wind, shouting loudly!

Within the city, the many noble scions, young men and women, merchants who had come to do business, and the citizens who lived there, all heard the shouts from all directions.

At this moment, the young man's name echoed in their minds.

Haotian!

(End of Chapter)