184
Chapter 184: Whose Banner, Whose Name? (Third Update, 10,000-Word Chapter)
Liangzhou, Western Frontier.
The flames of war consumed the land, leaving a scorched expanse for a thousand miles around.
The Blackstone Long Wall, once a formidable bulwark erected here, lay in ruins. Blood stained the bricks, and shattered remnants littered the landscape.
The ground was strewn with corpses, a macabre mix of demon and human soldiers. Some bodies were bisected at the waist, their limbs severed, yet still clung to the flesh of their demonic foes with their teeth.
Other demons were riddled with holes, but their sharp fangs held onto human remains, as if tearing at them even in death.
Both sides had fought with every ounce of their strength, their ferocity and bloodlust fully unleashed on this battlefield that held the fate of countless lives.
Broken weapons, shattered armor, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere, yet this battlefield was now silent.
The human forces had retreated, and the demons had followed, leaving only the occasional stray demon from the fringes of the demonic horde, sneaking onto the cooled battlefield in search of fresh corpses for sustenance.
A monkey-like demon clambered onto the crumbling ramparts, where a tattered banner hung like a rag. It picked up the broken flagpole and shook it vigorously.
The banner fluttered in the wind, the Xuan character twisting and turning in the breeze, but soon fell limp and lifeless.
The young demon let out a series of delighted chirps, finding amusement in the act, and shook the pole again.
The fluttering banner swirled...
And a grand pursuit battle commenced!
The battlefield was five thousand miles west of the frontier.
Across the vast plains, a colossal tide of demons surged forward, like a black wave rising from the horizon. They scaled mountains, crossed rivers, relentlessly pursuing their prey.
Ahead, a vast army charged towards a distant city.
Signal fires erupted along their path, relaying urgent messages.
From the city walls ahead, reinforcements surged forth, not to meet the enemy head-on, but to sacrifice themselves as a rearguard.
"Faster, faster!"
Li Xuanli, covered in blood, was barely holding onto consciousness despite the medicinal concoctions he'd consumed to staunch his wounds. His body was exhausted beyond measure.
Yet, he knew he could not fall. His blood surged through his veins, fueled by a surge of righteous anger.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Behind them, the demonic tide was visible on the horizon, closing in fast.
Within the ranks, a signal flare shot into the sky. A general, a collateral branch of the Li family, glanced back at the approaching demon horde and abruptly reined in his horse, slowing his pace.
He roared out a command, ordering his battalion to halt and hold the line, buying Li Xuanli precious time.
Li Xuanli was the commander-in-chief. He could not fall here, or the remaining defenses would surely crumble.
Furthermore, Li Xuanli was a direct descendant of the previous generation of the Li family. Of the nine sons of that generation, only three remained. How could they afford to lose another?
He recalled his mother's words from his childhood: direct descendants were noble, while collateral branches were to show deference and respect.
The Li family's thousand years of glory were built upon the backs of their direct lineage.
As a youth, he had been rebellious, believing himself destined for greatness.
But as he matured, witnessing the funeral of the sixth direct descendant of the Li family, and observing how the direct lineage always charged into the thick of battle, he finally understood.
The difference between direct and collateral branches wasn't just birthright, but the weight of responsibility that rested on their shoulders.
Having served under Li Xuanli for many years, this collateral general was deeply impressed by the direct descendant.
Just as his mother had said, direct descendants were noble, and collateral branches were of lesser value.
Perhaps his mother had been afraid he was too young and might inadvertently offend a direct descendant, hence the repeated teachings.
But those words had taken root deep within his heart, leaving an indelible mark.
Gazing at the approaching demonic tide, a smile crept onto the collateral general's face.
"My own mother said I was of lesser value. What does it matter if I die alongside these demonic beasts?"
"Come!"
He raised his long halberd, letting out a thunderous roar, leading his battalion in a counter-charge against the tide.
Li Xuanli saw the signal fire and turned to look at the figure fading into the distance. It was a brother-in-arms, a comrade he'd shared countless battles with.
They had once shared drinks and laughter in the barracks, their bond transcending the artificial divisions of direct and collateral branches.
He had promised to witness his friend's rise to nobility, to erect a monument for his mother, and to bury her in the Li family cemetery.
But all of that was slipping away.
His eyes welled up, and he wiped them with his hand, unsure if it was blood or tears.
He didn't stop, but gritted his teeth and roared, "Faster!"
The entire army accelerated, charging towards the forward defenses.
Along the five-thousand-mile stretch, several border cities stood, strategically positioned on the outskirts of the territory.
Those cities had chosen to stand their ground, to serve as a rearguard for Li Xuanli.
When the demonic tide breached the frontier with such speed, these border cities were doomed. Thus, they chose to die defending their homelands.
A city nurtures its people!
However, these cities, faced with the overwhelming demonic tide, were like reefs swallowed by a black wave, instantly submerged.
They barely caused a ripple, their protective formations holding for a brief moment before being shattered by the three Immortal Realm demon lords within the demonic horde. In the face of the relentless onslaught, the citizens and soldiers of the entire city were reduced to the demonic horde's prey.
Wherever the demons went, it was like a plague of locusts, leaving no survivors.
However, with the army in hot pursuit, the demons didn't linger to savor their feast. Some carried their victims in their mouths, devouring them while chasing, while others were lured by the tempting morsels and lingered to feast, only to be swatted to death by their commanding demon lords.
Despite the carnage, the demonic army's advance through the cities showed no signs of slowing down.
In their wake, only blood and the remnants of corpses remained.
"They're coming, they're coming!"
Within the defensive lines, the soldiers on the city walls anxiously watched as the vast army thundered towards them. Behind them, even further in the distance, was the relentless pursuit of the demonic tide.
"Quick, prepare to receive them. Once they enter the city, activate the formation immediately!"
"Summon the Heavenly Observatory for orders!"
"Lower the drawbridge!"
Orders cascaded from the top of the city walls.
The defenders here were also Immortal Realm cultivators, incredibly powerful, yet their faces were etched with tension and seriousness. The intelligence from Li Xuanli's side was grim: three demon kings had breached the defensive lines!
While the demonic tide was formidable, it wasn't insurmountable, at least not for delaying tactics.
But the whereabouts of the three demon kings were unknown, keeping them on edge.
The earth trembled as three hundred thousand battered soldiers galloped towards them, like an earthquake.
Li Xuanli saw the city walls within reach, saw that the defenders were ready to receive them, but his eyelids twitched. He roared,
"Activate the formation first!"
His roar echoed for a hundred miles, infused with his spiritual energy, reaching the defenders within the lines.
On the city walls, the Immortal Realm commander heard the order and his expression changed. He suddenly realized something and immediately commanded, "Quickly, activate the formation!"
Activating the formation would impede Li Xuanli's troops, as they only possessed the activation tokens for the frontier formation, not this second line of defense.
Especially with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, none of whom possessed the tokens. These tokens were incredibly difficult to manufacture, and only commanding officers were allocated one.
"Humph, quick-witted, are you?"
Three figures materialized out of thin air, the three demon kings who had previously breached the frontier formation. They appeared as if teleporting, having been stealthily pursuing the army.
They had refrained from killing Li Xuanli and his army earlier, precisely to allow them to enter the second line of defense and trigger the closure of the formation.
This way, they could easily breach it and swiftly conquer the second line of defense, pushing deeper into the heart of the territory.
Speed was of the essence. If they were swift enough, Liangzhou wouldn't have time to react, and the reinforcements from His Majesty the Yu Emperor might not arrive in time.
These humans were like a tightly wound coil, where one move could set off a chain reaction. They not only needed to break through the city but also needed to be quick, otherwise, if they were stalled, they would fall into a disadvantage.
They had experienced this scenario countless times. The war in Yanbei a decade ago was a prime example.
Whoosh!
The three demon kings, no longer bothering with stealth, sped towards their target.
One of the demon kings raised a hand and struck out, attempting to disrupt the formation.
With a thunderous boom, a crude, spear-like divine weapon shot forth, accompanied by a howling gale of demonic energy, piercing through the air.
The formation began to solidify, but the spear was incredibly fast, crashing into the city walls, obliterating the ramparts and killing or injuring hundreds of soldiers nearby. Even Heavenly Man Realm cultivators were pale and reeling from the aftershock, their blood churning and their bodies feeling numb.
"Quick!"
At the moment the spear shattered the city walls, the formation solidified at the last second.
Bang! Bang!
The other two demon kings' attacks landed, but were blocked by the formation, causing countless divine runes to flicker.
The demon king who had unleashed the spear roared, summoning it back, but found that it didn't respond. The formation was blocking his command.
His ability to control the weapon was unable to penetrate the formation.
"Damn it!"
The weapon fell, and the demon king spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling saliva, annoyed but not panicked.
His disguise had been exposed, and while he was reluctant, he would simply have to spend a little more time.
Once the formation was broken, the weapon would naturally return.
There were no Four-Standing Realm cultivators among these troops, and he didn't care if he had a weapon or not.
"Li Xuanli, you're quick-witted, aren't you? I'll just rip your head off!"
The demon king's body was covered in a network of blue veins, his eyes flashing with cold light. He charged towards Li Xuanli's army.
Li Xuanli saw the three demon kings and knew that his suspicions were correct. As he watched them turn and charge, his expression darkened. He growled, "Form the array!"
The galloping army quickly converged, forming a battle formation.
Forming a battle formation on horseback demonstrated their rigorous training.
Among the numerous banners of the Li family's army, the Yuan Battalion was the elite, but the Xuan Battalion soldiers were also highly skilled, mostly cultivating mid-grade and high-grade cultivation techniques.
Ordinary aristocratic youths, at the same cultivation level, might not be able to defeat a Xuan Battalion soldier, unless they were exceptionally talented prodigies.
Boom!
As the battle formation solidified, a peacock-like phantom burst forth from the array, letting out a mournful cry as it charged towards the demon king.
"Humph, since the formation is up, you might as well die outside!"
The three demon kings turned their fury towards Li Xuanli and his army, raising their hands to upheave the earth. The ground rumbled and rose into platforms, intending to trap the entire army.
Inside the city, the Immortal Realm commander immediately ordered the Heavenly Observatory to repair the damaged section of the city walls.
Fortunately, not much of the formation had been destroyed, only slightly reducing its power. If repaired promptly, it could be restored.
"Quick, open node 34 of the formation. Who is willing to lead a force out to support General Li?!"
As the commander roared, several generals stepped forward:
"Commander, I am unworthy, but I am willing to open a path for General Li!"
"Commander, let me go. I am willing to open a path for General Li!"
"I will surely carve a path for General Li, I will personally draw the attention of the demon king!"
The generals spoke out one after another.
Their words weren't just fueled by a surge of bloodlust. Some were collateral branches of the Li family, others had received favors from the Li family in the past, and still others were orphans rescued by the Li family from a city ravaged by demons years ago.
These threads of connection, woven together, formed a river. This was the Li family's network, the foundation of their thousand years of influence and authority!
The Liangzhou commander took a deep breath and quickly pointed to two junior generals, saying, "The two of you, it's up to you!"
"This subordinate obeys!"
The two junior generals' eyes sharpened as they responded loudly, then quickly soared into the air, leading their troops and roaring,
"Brothers, follow me out of the city! Those who die in battle will be granted posthumous honors, their names etched in history!"
"Kill!"
The two junior generals led their troops, bursting forth from a separate section of the formation that had been opened on the side, then flanking the main battlefield, charging towards the two demon kings.
Bang!
The three demon kings struck out, like a collapsing sky, a torrential wave of demonic energy sweeping down, crushing Li Xuanli's army. The peacock phantom that had just taken flight was struck down, crashing into the earth.
The peacock let out a mournful cry, and thousands of soldiers spat blood, tumbling from their horses and rolling into the hooves.
But the Crimson Blood Horses were intelligent and didn't abandon their masters. They stopped after galloping a short distance, turned around, bit onto their master's armor, and tossed them back onto their backs before continuing their charge.
Beside Li Xuanli, Li Wushuang spat blood. She was also a part of the battle formation, and her face was now as pale as paper, her blood churning.
Above her, the overwhelming demonic might pressed down, death never felt so close.
She was about to rupture her major meridians and ignite her spiritual energy to bolster the formation when Li Xuanli, sensing the fluctuation in his daughter's aura, glared at her angrily and roared,
"Don't be foolish, it's not time yet."
Tears streamed down Li Wushuang's face. She had never felt the brutality of the battlefield so keenly. The countless soldiers who had died on the frontier were still fresh in her mind.
It was because of their sacrifices that they had managed to escape to this second line of defense.
"You have a Ninth-Rank Battle Body, exceptional talent. Don't waste it here. You have a future!"
Li Xuanli said in a low voice, "Quickly leave the formation. I'll have Uncle Jian protect you. Blend in with the crowd and enter the city from the side."
As he spoke, he quickly handed Li Wushuang a formation token.
Li Wushuang trembled. It was her father's token.
The activation token for the second line of defense!
These tokens were extremely rare, not only because they were difficult to create, but also because too many tokens could easily be lost. If they fell into the hands of the demons, the formation would be rendered useless!
"Father!"
Li Wushuang's voice was filled with sorrow.
"Go!"
Li Xuanli roared, "When you reach my level of cultivation, then you can think about slaying demons and defending the realm. You still have a long way to go. Don't be foolish!"
Li Wushuang's eyes were bloodshot, her tears flowing freely. At that moment, she finally understood that all the talk of genius and prodigy was meaningless.
Only true strength mattered.
Otherwise, no matter how many accolades they received, they were useless in the face of life and death.
She was too weak, so weak that a single demon lord could easily kill her!
Her cultivation speed was already fast, but it wasn't fast enough, not nearly fast enough!
"Go!"
Li Xuanli glared at her once more, then gave a silent nod to another Immortal Realm general beside him.
The general understood and immediately jumped onto Li Wushuang's warhorse, concealing his aura and removing his general's armor. He ordered the surrounding troops to disperse, covering Li Wushuang as she escaped to the side of the city.
The army dispersing would make the front line even more vulnerable to the three demon kings.
This would only lead to a faster death, but it was the only option.
If they stayed together, they would be quickly annihilated by the three demon kings. It was better to scatter and fight!
Li Xuanli knew that the demon kings were targeting him. He took a deep breath and soared into the air, roaring,
"Beasts, dare you face me in single combat?!"
"You dare?"
The three demon kings didn't fall for the bait. They only wanted to kill him quickly and then destroy the city's formation.
"Die!"
One of them, a blood-robed elder with a cold expression, raised his hand and shot out a beam of blood, like a giant ruler, crude in appearance but aimed directly at Li Xuanli's head, intending to crush him instantly.
He was a Dao Heart Realm cultivator, and his attack was certain to hit.
Li Xuanli felt an overwhelming sense of dread, as if he had been isolated from the battle formation. His heart pounded, and he roared, unleashing his spiritual energy fusion, his aura surging as he drew upon the power of the formation and struck out with a fist.
With a loud bang, his fist collided with the blood ruler, sending a wave of bloody energy scattering outwards.
Another demon king raised a hand, and countless purple whips, like lightning bolts, lashed down, striking Li Xuanli.
His armor was instantly torn to shreds, his cloak ripped apart. The unbreakable body he had cultivated for years at the Divine General's Mansion was once again severely injured, riddled with cracks and scorched marks.
His body plummeted into the ranks, creating a deep crater in the ground.
The nearby Xuan soldiers quickly surrounded him, forming a protective formation.
The rest of the army continued to disperse, charging towards the various parts of the city.
"Father!"
Li Wushuang saw Li Xuanli's grievous injuries and her eyes turned red, but she didn't call out loudly. She just bit her lip, crimson blood flowing into her mouth.
She knew that her father was using his life to draw the attention of the demon kings, allowing her and the other soldiers to escape.
"Miss, don't look at the demon kings, or they'll notice you."
The Immortal Realm general behind her whispered.
Li Wushuang felt a surge of frustration and anger, but she still retracted her gaze and lowered her head.
"Xuanli!"
At that moment, a sharp, angry shout echoed through the air.
Several figures were seen racing towards them from the distance within the defensive lines.
Li Wushuang heard the voice and looked up, seeing a familiar figure, her master, Thousand Mechanisms Daoist.
"Master is here!"
Li Wushuang's eyes lit up, as if she had seen a beacon of hope.
"Uncle Jian, it's Master, my Master is here!"
She couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.
Li Jian looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
In the distance, besides Thousand Mechanisms Daoist, two female generals were galloping towards them, both appearing to be in their forties.
They were Li Mu Xiu's second and fourth sisters.
They had married into other families decades ago and had become noblewomen. Now, upon receiving Li Mu Xiu's message, they had immediately retrieved their long-forgotten armor and weapons, donning them and rushing to the scene with the utmost speed.
Their journey had taken its toll, their makeup smudged, as if they had reverted to their youthful days on the battlefield.
They knew that unless the Li family was in dire straits, Li Mu Xiu, with his eccentric personality, would never seek their help.
Therefore, they had acted without hesitation, arriving here as quickly as possible.
"Three Demon Kings!"
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist's gaze was solemn as it fell upon the three large demon kings.
He had white hair and youthful features, appearing ethereal and elegant.
"Old Man Thousand Mechanisms!"
The three demon kings noticed him and their eyes narrowed, a sneer playing on their lips.
"Do you dare come alone?"
One of the demon kings stepped forward, his demonic aura surging, like a dark cloud that enveloped him, vaguely taking the form of a coiled, two-winged wyvern.
"Yuanlong!"
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist's face changed upon seeing him. This was an elder from the Dragon Gate, and a high-ranking one at that, with formidable strength, a Realm of Calamity cultivator.
"Are the Li women here too? It seems the Li men are truly going to be wiped out!"
Another demon king sneered, half of his face split open, revealing sharp fangs and a bright red tongue. His limbs twisted and contorted, revealing his true form, a grotesque insect-like creature.
"You deal with him, I'll kill this brat!"
The demon king with the blue veins on his face said.
He raised his hand, grabbed a boulder from the ground, and hurled it towards the army. At the same time, he struck out with a palm, intending to crush them all.
"Stop!"
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist roared, striking out with a swift movement. A white beam of light shot forth, shattering the boulder and lashing out at the demon king's palm.
"You dare be distracted!"
Yuanlong Demon King's eyes were filled with killing intent. He suddenly struck out, the wyvern phantom he had manifested lunging forward, spewing a cloud of poisonous demonic mist.
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist flicked his sleeve, dispersing the mist and said to the two Li family sisters beside him,
"Quickly, you two go and rescue General Li. I'll hold them off!"
Both of them understood the gravity of the situation and quickly dispersed, rushing towards Li Xuanli.
"Do you think you can fight us three alone?!"
The other insect-like demon king let out a shrill cry and lunged at Thousand Mechanisms Daoist, spitting out a blood-red sword, unleashing a sharp beam of dark light.
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist raised his hand and summoned a golden seal, smashing it towards the blood-red sword.
"Who gave you the audacity!"
Yuanlong Demon King roared, suddenly revealing his true form. His dragon body swept across the sky, his tail lashing down.
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist was startled and quickly erected a golden barrier. He clapped his hands repeatedly, striking out at the dragon's tail.
But the dragon's tail was covered in countless shimmering scales, incredibly sharp and destructive. It shattered his palm strike and struck him directly.
With a loud bang, Thousand Mechanisms Daoist's body slammed into the ground below.
The blood-red sword immediately bypassed the golden seal and shot towards him.
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist roared, releasing his spiritual energy and summoning a divine weapon, a long whip, which he used to entangle the blood-red sword.
The blood-red sword was entangled by the whip and struggled violently, but Yuanlong Demon King roared and charged down.
The earth trembled as Thousand Mechanisms Daoist and Yuanlong Demon King clashed, both Realm of Calamity cultivators, their battle shaking the heavens and earth.
On the other side, the demon king with the blue veins on his face shook off the divine weapon in front of him. It was a nine-section whip. Now that Thousand Mechanisms Daoist was engaged with Yuanlong Demon King, the whip had lost its sharpness and was easily knocked away.
"Die!"
He swooped down towards Li Xuanli below, his true form revealed as a massive spider.
Countless threads, like poisonous blades, shot out, instantly piercing through the many Xuan soldiers protecting Li Xuanli. Their bodies were pierced by the spider silk, their spiritual energies extinguished, denying them even a chance to enter the Martial Temple.
"Stop!"
Two angry shouts rang out.
Then, golden light appeared, and a burning sacred talisman shot forth, transforming into a purple divine bell that enveloped Li Xuanli. It was a Sacred Heart Talisman.
The spider demon king roared, spitting out more spider silk to engulf the purple bell. His gaze, however, shifted towards the two Li family female generals.
"Seeking death!"
He was annoyed, his eyes widening, shooting out beams of blue light, intending to kill the two women.
Li Qingling, however, suddenly ignited a Sacred Heart Talisman, which transformed into a green light that wrapped around her, increasing her speed to a phantom-like level.
She quickly grabbed her fourth sister's hand and charged towards Li Xuanli, using the talisman's speed to escape.
Li Xuanli also had a Sacred Heart Talisman, but he had used it during the defense of the frontier to block a fatal blow.
Seeing his two aunts appear, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and urged, "Why did you come? You must leave!"
"Don't talk, just grab me!"
Li Qingling urged.
She grabbed Li Xuanli's arm and pulled him, intending to rush towards the city.
But suddenly, a figure roared through the air and crashed into the ground in front of them, creating a deep crater.
The three looked up, and the figure was Thousand Mechanisms Daoist.
He was covered in blood, his appearance disheveled, no longer the ethereal and elegant figure he had been.
The three were shocked. Thousand Mechanisms Daoist, a Realm of Calamity cultivator, had been defeated so quickly?
At that moment, two terrifying auras suddenly rose, causing the three to be horrified, and causing a wave of panicked shouts to erupt from the city walls.
The three turned to look, and they saw, besides the three demon kings, two more figures had appeared.
"You're awfully slow."
One of them wore white clothes, handsome and elegant, with a refined appearance.
But compared to his usual composure, his eyes were now filled with a deep, cold intensity.
"Saint Palace, White Divine Lord!"
"Blood Lake Jiao Demon!"
On the city walls, many recognized the identities of the two demon kings.
Besides White Divine Lord, the other was an elder from the Dragon Gate, also a demon king, with strength comparable to Yuanlong Demon King.
Now, five demon kings stood in the sky, as if about to swallow the heavens and earth.
The terrifying demonic aura enveloped them, like a dark cloud, causing Li Xuanli and Li Qingling to widen their eyes in disbelief, but more so in despair.
The many soldiers on the city walls were also speechless, unable to utter a word.
How could there be five demon kings?!
"Master…"
Li Wushuang, who was nearing the formation, turned back upon seeing this scene, her initial surprise turning into shock and disbelief.
Her powerful and invincible Master, had been defeated?
How could this be?
Master had come.
But even Master had been defeated!
Li Jian, who was protecting her, also lost his cheerful expression, his face as dark as a pot. He realized that this second line of defense was also doomed.
Five demon kings, who could possibly stop them?
Rumble~~!
In the distance, countless demonic hordes surged forward.
While the three demon kings were momentarily delayed, the demonic tide had caught up.
And the generals and soldiers who had stayed behind to impede them had already been swallowed by the demonic tide, only briefly slowing their advance before they accelerated again.
Despair!
At this moment, both outside and inside the city, everyone felt despair.
The appearance of the five demon kings was like an eclipse, their terrifying aura making people afraid to even whisper.
A thousand soldiers were like paper in the face of the demon kings, unable to offer any resistance.
And the formation of this second line of defense wouldn't be able to hold either!
All eyes were on Thousand Mechanisms Daoist in the deep crater, the only Four-Standing Realm cultivator remaining, the last glimmer of hope.
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist slowly rose from the ground, disheveled and his hair loose.
He looked up at the five demon kings slowly approaching, his steps faltering. There was a large wound in his abdomen, a sneak attack by White Divine Lord that had nearly pierced his heart.
His face was pale and covered in cold sweat. For hundreds of years, he had never suffered such a severe injury.
Seeing the five demon kings surrounding him, he knew that unless he used his Calamity Chance, he wouldn't be able to escape.
But he had already used his Calamity Chance.
Was he going to die here?
"Old man, it seems you don't have a Calamity Chance anymore!"
White Divine Lord caught a glimpse of the sadness in Thousand Mechanisms Daoist's eyes and sneered.
The demonic tide followed their footsteps, pressing closer to the remaining troops outside the city.
The surging tide seemed poised to devour Li Xuanli's army in an instant.
Li Xuanli's eyes were filled with despair, but soon, a surge of bloodlust and rage erupted within him. He roared, "Xuan Battalion, listen up! This is our final stand! Fight alongside me to the death!"
His roar echoed throughout the camp and reached the city walls.
"Humph, a mayfly trying to shake a giant tree!"
White Divine Lord sneered and raised his hand to kill Li Xuanli first.
He had been feuding with Li Tian Gang in Yanbei for years, harboring a deep hatred for him. Now, he felt an even stronger urge to kill his brother.
Just as he was about to strike, a furious shout echoed from the horizon.
"Stop!!"
It was a woman's shout!
The voice was clear and sharp, yet it traveled for hundreds of miles, reaching the ears of White Divine Lord and the other demon kings.
The demon kings were all surprised. Could it be that another Li woman dared to come?
"Little sister!"
Li Xuanli almost instantly recognized the voice, it was his youngest sister, the one guarding Tianmen Pass.
His normally angry face was now rarely seen with panic. In this desperate situation, no matter how many people came, it was useless. His little sister coming here was just to be a sacrifice!
"Hongzhuang, don't come!!"
His eyes were red and watery, and he roared.
But in response to his roar, a piercing sound tore through the air!
A dark shadow shot across the sky, like a sharp arrow, like a meteorite from the heavens, tearing through the air, crossing the vast plains, and striking the ground directly beneath the demon kings!
Dust and debris erupted, creating a ten-meter-deep crater.
And in the crater, a flagpole stood!
The flagpole had been wrapped in cloth to reduce wind resistance, and now, as it landed, the spiritual energy that Li Hongzhuang had used to control it dissipated.
The cloth wrapped around the flagpole slowly slipped down, unfolding.
The wind ruffled it, revealing a military banner!
The ten-meter-long banner stood slanted on the vast battlefield. As the wind blew, the two characters, Haotian, unfurled.
White Divine Lord, who was about to attack, saw the two characters on the banner and his footsteps halted. His pupils constricted.
At the same time, his heart seemed to tremble violently.
Was it that boy, the god of war?!
He quickly looked up towards the horizon, only to see a series of dark shadows rushing towards them.
They were banners, one after another, shooting towards the ground where the demonic tide was advancing.
As the ground exploded, the banners were revealed, and the Immortal Realm demon lords who were commanding the demonic tide, after a brief moment of surprise, upon seeing the unfurled "Haotian" characters, trembled violently and revealed expressions of horror.
They immediately roared in anger, ordering their entire army to halt.
Demonic howls erupted, causing the surging tide of demons to slow down rapidly.
Finally, they stopped about four or five miles from the banners.
Seeing that they were only a few thousand miles away, the Immortal Realm demons within the demonic tide were sweating profusely and secretly relieved.
The information from the Heavenly Dipper Palace was frequent, and they had long known the situation outside Tianmen Pass.
This matter had already spread among the upper echelons of the demon forces. The Dragon Gate and the Saint Palace had even taken Li Hao's banner back to study it, resulting in the death of an Immortal Realm demon lord.
Everyone knew that Tianmen Pass was guarded by that boy, the hardest nail in Liangzhou.
It was also the place they planned to swallow and destroy last!
The Haotian banner planted five thousand miles outside the pass, intimidating all demons, had already earned a fearsome reputation.
"Don't, don't damage that banner!"
A demon lord who knew the secret roared loudly.
He was afraid that some reckless demon would crush the banner.
The sudden appearance of the banner, and the demons' strange reaction, caused Li Xuanli and the others, who were facing despair, to freeze.
What was going on?
Thousand Mechanisms Daoist was also stunned, looking at the banner in surprise.
Everything seemed to be because of this banner.
The demons were extremely afraid of this banner.
But the Yuan banner of the Li family ancestors, which stood on the battlefield, symbolizing the invincible Yuan Battalion, had never had such power.
Whose banner was it, and whose name was on it?!
After seeing the banner clearly, Li Xuanli was shocked. Being in Liangzhou, he naturally knew who owned this banner.
Hao'er had come too?
He quickly looked up and scanned the distance, but he only saw a bright red figure rushing towards them, his little sister, Li Hongzhuang.
On Li Hongzhuang's back, there was a large bundle of banners, which she was now lowering.
"Fifth Brother!"
Li Hongzhuang called out anxiously.
Li Xuanli's eyes swept over her back, and he quickly asked, "Has Hao'er come too?"
His voice was filled with tension, both anticipation and fear. He was afraid that if Li Hao came, he would also be in danger.
He knew that Li Hao was protected by a Four-Standing Realm cultivator, and if Li Hao came, the Four-Standing Realm cultivator would most likely come too.
But there were five demon kings here!
Li Hongzhuang pursed her lips slightly and didn't answer. She was worried that her answer would be overheard by the demon kings.
While she didn't know how much Li Hao intimidated these demon kings, it was best to keep quiet.
At this moment, White Divine Lord's gaze swept over Li Hongzhuang's figure and then fixed on the place she had come from, as if anxiously waiting for something.
But no figure appeared there.
However, White Divine Lord didn't dare to relax.
He knew that besides being incredibly powerful, that boy was also extremely cunning. Perhaps he was hiding, waiting for an opportunity to strike!
The previously overwhelming momentum outside the city had come to a brief halt due to Li Hongzhuang's arrival.
Countless demons within the demonic tide stopped in front of the banners on the ground, afraid to move forward.
The demon kings also stopped in front of the banners, refraining from attacking.
This bizarre scene left everyone on the city walls stunned.
The demons seemed to be afraid?!
"The Haotian Banner… could it be the one from Tianmen Pass?"
"Impossible?"
On the city walls, the Liangzhou commander muttered to himself.
The young general's reputation was too loud. Even if he didn't deliberately inquire, he had heard about it from his subordinates.
But, was this banner the young man's?
Why were these demons so wary?!
It was too strange!
"The boy from Tianmen Pass is here too?"
The demon kings all looked towards the distance with solemn expressions.
Although they didn't see the boy's figure, they all felt a sense of unease.
Rumors about the boy had already spread among their major forces, and he had been placed on the kill list.
Facing three demon kings alone, forcing a Realm of Calamity demon king to use his second life, it was simply brutal.
If he came here too, the battlefield wouldn't be easy to predict.
The most crucial thing was that they hadn't seen Li Hao.
Had he come or not?
If he hadn't come, then why was his banner here?
If he had come, why hadn't they seen him?
——Tathagata.
"Damn it!"
"You little brat, come out if you dare!!"
"Hiding like a coward, what kind of skill is that!"
The demon kings looked around and roared angrily.
This sudden outburst caused everyone on the city walls to be stunned.
What were the demon kings doing?
Who were they calling out to?!
"That seems to be the flag of the Haotian Young General!"
"Yes, that's right. I went to Tianmen Pass, didn't see him, and came back, but I saw this flag!"
"It's his flag!"
"It's the flag of the Haotian Young General!"
Within the city walls, some of the hastily assembled aristocratic troops, a few young men recognized Li Hao's banner and let out shouts of shock and excited surprise.
This sound quickly spread, and in an instant, everyone was in disbelief. It was truly the Haotian Young General's banner!
The banner of a mere young general, causing the demonic horde that had breached the border and pursued them for five thousand miles into the interior to halt their advance, intimidating all demons!
Even the demon kings were wary because of it?
Did that young man have such a reputation?!
Li Wushuang, who had been escorted into the city's protective formation by Li Jian while the demon kings were distracted, heard the shouts within the city and froze.
She stared blankly at the banner fluttering on the battlefield, the two characters swaying in the wind.