Chapter 409: Great Yu War God, Female Sword Immortal of the Mortal Realm

Seeing Li Hao's firm stance, Source Ancestor and the others tried to persuade him for a while, but to no avail, and eventually departed.

"Isn't there really any other way?"

"This Celestial Honored One is too ruthless! Does he really want to watch us all die miserably?"

"Stop talking about him. We considered all beings as straw dogs; now he considers us as straw dogs. This is just retribution."

Among the Saints, some were pessimistic and already saw the fate of the Heavenly Sacred Grounds.

The other Saints, though furious with Li Hao, knew in their hearts that they had brought this trouble upon themselves. It was just that facing life and death, they were driven to desperation and became angry at Li Hao for not forgiving them.

Under this oppressive and gloomy atmosphere, the Sword Saint remained silent for a long while before slowly saying:

"Although I am not familiar with Haotian, I have heard my senior brother say that this man values loyalty and righteousness, repaying kindness and avenging wrongs. You have all studied his Daoist scriptures. His Dao emphasizes naturalness and freedom from restraint. Our current situation is of our own making. However, if we want to save ourselves, there might still be a way."

"What way?"

Someone quickly asked.

Source Ancestor, God-King, and the others also looked at the Sword Saint.

The Sword Saint's mind conjured up the reincarnated form of his little disciple. His eyes flickered as he said, "He built the Sacred Ground, probably wanting to protect his relatives and friends. Let's find his relatives and friends and ask them to help persuade him. That would be better than us directly asking him."

Having said this, he continued, "Before that, we must also show him some performance to make amends, to block the gap and prevent more Ancient Demons from invading."

"Make amends? So many of us, and we have to act according to his wishes?"

A Saint's face turned ugly, finding it incredible.

Source Ancestor and God-King exchanged a glance, however, they felt the Sword Saint's suggestion was good.

"What's wrong with acting according to his wishes? You can choose not to, but don't beg for help then. Haven't you figured out our current situation yet?"

"Exactly, when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. The formation is失效 [shīxiào - ineffective/invalid/failed]. If you are capable, research a formation that can better conceal us from the Ancient Demons' detection."

"Now, we can only do as the Sword Saint says. It's just that blocking the gap is too dangerous. What if that Immortal Gate suddenly shatters..."

Many Saints agreed with the Sword Saint's idea. Things had come to this point, they could only choose to lower their heads. However, they couldn't help but worry about the danger of blocking the gap.

"To avoid total sacrifice, let's divide the task of blocking the gap into batches. If it is really someone's fate to perish during their watch, then so be it," Source Ancestor said.

With his words, he finalized the matter.

Although some Saints had complaints and still wanted to try other methods, they could only accept it helplessly now.

After a short discussion, based on strength and number, they were divided into three batches: one led by Source Ancestor, one led by God-King, and one led by many old Third Calamity Saints.

They would take turns guarding the Ancient Temple, rotating every three days.

After the discussion ended, the Saints followed Source Ancestor and God-King, heading to the Ancient Temple together.

"I don't know how many Ancient Demons have been released during this time. These Ancient Demons are cunning, there will likely be guards at this gap."

Source Ancestor and others cautiously arrived at the Ancient Temple.

Upon entering the Ancient Temple, they immediately felt a wave of malicious intent in the air, making people irritable.

They immediately knew that their guess was right, there were indeed Ancient Demons entrenched here.

When they arrived at the crack, they saw four Ancient Demons guarding the Stellar Immortal Gate.

As they noticed the Ancient Demons, these four Ancient Demons also noticed them and immediately let out intimidating roars.

"果然 [Guǒrán - As expected]..."

Source Ancestor and the others' faces sank. If they hadn't anticipated this and all come together, and had just sent one batch of Saints to guard, it would likely have come at a heavy price.

"Kill!"

God-King was extremely decisive, taking the lead and charging forward with his sword.

Soon, a great battle erupted in the Ancient Temple.

The four Ancient Demons, working together, put immense pressure on the Saints. However, they were united and helped each other, and outnumbered the demons by more than twenty to one, quickly managing to kill these four Ancient Demons.

Nevertheless, more than twenty Saints were injured, their Primordial Spirits weakened and in need of rest.

"God-King, according to the Fate Technique decision earlier, you will guard first, and I will come in three days," Source Ancestor said to God-King.

God-King nodded, wiping the Ancient Demon's blood from his sword. Then, he squatted down in front of the Ancient Demon's corpse to examine it.

"This Ancient Demon is comparable to Dragon Saint's level, it should be full of treasures. Perhaps it can be refined into weapons or made into precious medicine. Earlier, that Haotian Honored One took away the Ancient Demon's corpses, they must be of great use. Those of you who understand weapon and pill refinement, come and see if there's anything we can extract."

God-King called out.

Hearing this, several Saints immediately stepped forward. They were skilled in weapon and pill refinement and soon picked out the Ancient Demon's claws and cranial flesh.

Source Ancestor glanced at it and slightly shook his head, "Don't waste your effort. I've investigated it before. Although the Ancient Demon is dead, its flesh and blood contain a special soul-devouring power. Weapon and pill refinement will be affected, and it's impossible to refine anything."

Weapon and pill refinement both require using divine sense to control. During this process, the Ancient Demon's flesh and blood will constantly devour the soul. A single refinement attempt might result in serious self-injury, and success is not guaranteed.

Sure enough, hearing his words, those Saints skilled in weapon and pill refinement, after some investigation, their expressions slightly changed and they all shook their heads:

"Source Ancestor is right, it is indeed impossible to refine."

God-King raised an eyebrow, glancing at his old rival. As expected, this guy was always one step ahead, but kept it hidden and didn't speak up.

"Then why did Haotian Honored One take their corpses?" God-King frowned and asked.

Source Ancestor's eyes flickered. This was also something he wanted to ask Li Hao, but he knew it must involve Li Hao's secrets, and asking would just be rebuffed.

Li Hao had stayed in that Ancient Path for twelve years, it was impossible he didn't know about the peculiarity of the Ancient Demon's fleshly body.

"Perhaps he has some special method, or maybe it's a method taught by that Immortal God veteran he mentioned," Source Ancestor shook his head and said. This was the only explanation he could think of.

"Since he can utilize these Ancient Demon corpses, do you think if we send these corpses to him, would it count as befriending him and making amends?" Suddenly, a Saint proposed.

Hearing his words, Source Ancestor was slightly taken aback, then nodded and said, "That method is feasible. Tianyu, you will send these four Ancient Demon corpses to Haotian later. By the way, tell them about our plan to block the gap and let him see our sincerity!"

Xiao Tianyu's eyes flickered, and he nodded, "Understood."

"I'll go too." A Saint immediately said.

"I'll accompany Saint Tianyu for a trip, in case he encounters other Ancient Demons along the way." Another Saint quickly chimed in.

Soon, seven or eight people expressed their desire to accompany Xiao Tianyu.

Source Ancestor, seeing this, didn't stop them, though he was perfectly clear in his heart.

What fear of Xiao Tianyu encountering Ancient Demons, it was just an excuse. Now only Li Hao had a way to avoid disaster, and everyone wanted to change their image in Li Hao's eyes and curry favor.

God-King sat down on the steps, a slight sneer at the corner of his mouth. Ever since he was sealed away, he had never thought highly of these Saints.

"Apart from the Saints guarding with God-King, the rest of you, come with me to the mortal realm to visit the God General's Manor," Source Ancestor said, turning to look at the Supreme Saint of the Mo Family, "Is that Saint of the Jiang Family still in seclusion? It's time to ask him to come out."

The Supreme Saint of the Mo Family immediately understood Source Ancestor's idea and nodded, "I've already notified him. He agreed to try his best, but cannot guarantee success. Also, he said he must be given a chance for revenge, he wants to have a deathmatch with Saint Jiao."

Hearing this, a Saint among the crowd's expression subtly changed. Seeing the gazes of the Saints turning towards him, he immediately understood he had no choice.

Now, that descendant of the Jiang family had a close relationship with the Haotian Honored One. It was something he had anticipated that the other party would want to use this to avenge the past grudge.

"If the Saints do not intervene, I can give him a fair chance for Dao debate," Saint Jiao said in a low voice.

Seeing him agree, the Supreme Saint of the Mo Family nodded. If the other party had refused to be sensible, he would have had to take action personally.

"Earlier in the Land of Saints, there was also the ancestor of the Li family who suffered. I ordered people to rescue them all. Now, let's send them down to the lower realm together as well," Source Ancestor said, calling over another disciple of his and giving instructions.

Hearing his words, God-King glanced at him.

The other party had actually taken this step in advance.

...

...

Mortal Realm, Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

Yuzhou, within the Imperial Palace of the Imperial City.

A scarlet dragon scale carpet was spread across the floor, civil and military officials lined up on both sides. Accompanied by the dragging sound of chains, a chariot drove into the Imperial Palace from the Xuantian Gate.

On the chariot, chains were wrapped around, strung together with a bloody, gigantic head.

This head was seven or eight meters in diameter, bloodied and blurred, the skull broken, and several-meter-long fangs were exposed, making one's blood run cold.

In front of the chariot, a young general, clad in magnificent robes of war and armor. On the chest of the armor, there was a "平 [Píng - Peace]" character.

He jumped off his warhorse, the phoenix-wing plumes on his helmet fluttering, looking extremely valiant. He walked into the Imperial Palace hall.

As he stepped in, the whispering voices within the Imperial Palace seemed to disappear. Numerous gazes converged on this handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes.

This youth took off his helmet, stained with dried blood, holding it at his waist. He looked straight ahead, his steps calm and unhurried, walking towards the old emperor on the dragon throne at the end of the carpet.

"Your subject, pays respects to Your Majesty."

When he reached the front ranks of the civil and military officials, near the steps, the young man stopped, slightly bowed his head, but did not kneel.

The old man on the dragon throne did not show any dissatisfaction, but instead a face full of smiles, saying, "Good, good, good! You've had a tiring journey. Beloved ministers, congratulate General Li on his triumphant demon slaying!"

Following his words, all the civil and military officials in the court were invigorated, and shouted congratulations in unison.

"Rewards!"

When the congratulations subsided, the Yu Emperor, with a face full of smiles, said, "Marshal Li has guarded my Great Yu for a hundred years, his achievements will last for a millennium. Award two Yu Dragon Tokens, one city, one million in gold, and one hundred thousand good slaves!"

Following his words, the civil and military officials cheered again.

But the young man in front of the steps remained calm, without any change in expression.

Yu Emperor, seeing his expression, couldn't help but feel a trace of helplessness in his eyes. He said, "Beloved minister, you've had a long and tiring journey. Do you have any matters to report? If not, go and rest first. You're granted half a year's leave to recuperate well in the God General's Manor. Besides slaying demons and eliminating monsters, beloved minister should also focus on propagating your bloodline, do not waste your lineage."

The young man frowned upon hearing these words. He gazed at Yu Emperor. Seeing the helpless look of the Emperor, his expression slightly sank, and he nodded, "Your subject understands."

With that, he slightly bowed his hand and turned to leave.

Seeing his action, although a bit discourteous, the civil and military officials were long accustomed to it. And given his status, it was nothing.

"Marshal Li is truly formidable. That Demon King in the Hearkening Dao realm was said to have come from the depths of the Great Barren Heavens, breaching three cities of our Dynasty. No one could stop him, but Marshal Li killed him as soon as he took action."

"Yes, Marshal Li is a blessed general bestowed upon Great Yu by Heaven. He has already been ennobled as a God-Duke. His military rank is Grand Marshal of the World's Armies. Although this achievement is great, there are no higher titles to bestow. We can only reward him with some money and jewels. The treasures in the Royal Treasury are probably less than the wealth accumulated in the Li Family Treasury over these years."

"Marshal Li was ennobled as a God-Duke long ago, yet he still diligently accumulates merit. Could it be that he wants to become a Great Yu Heavenly General?"

As the young man departed, the court began to whisper again.

Yu Emperor, watching the young man's back, sighed silently in his heart. He knew the look in the young man's eyes before he left, and he knew what reward the other party wanted. But that thing was unique, and he couldn't give it.

Thinking of this, the image of that youthful figure with a casual smile couldn't help but appear in his mind.

A hurried hundred years had passed.

In the Land of Saints, only a dozen years had gone by. He wondered how the other side was doing.

Outside the Imperial Palace.

The young man left the court and directly rode his horse out of the main hall.

Among all the civil and military officials, only he could ride a horse within the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Capital. Even the Crown Prince was not allowed to do so.

Riding his horse away from the Imperial Palace, he came to a famous mountain not far from the Imperial City. This mountain was said to have been desolate a hundred years ago. Later, it was cleaved in half by a single sword strike, and then cleared out, simply because a female sword immortal had settled on this mountain and built a Daoist temple.

Mountains are not high, but with immortals, they become famous. Martial practitioners from all over the world visited, but were all turned away.

In that Daoist temple, there were only a few Daoists, like attendants of the female sword immortal, tidying up the temple and tending to the medicinal gardens she had cultivated.

"General Li, this is the residence of an immortal, you must not trespass."

At the foot of the mountain, the young man arrived on horseback. He was stopped at the bottom of the mountain path with thousands of steps.

Two women, dressed plainly, both in green robes and carrying swords, hurriedly stopped the young man.

A hint of displeasure appeared on the young man's face. Even the Imperial Palace he could enter and leave at will. There was nowhere in the world he could not go.

However, thinking of the figure on the mountain, he did not explode in anger. He dismounted and said, "Go and inform Immortal Ren that Li Ping'an has come to visit!"

The two women, hearing this, dared not say more. One of them quickly went up the mountain to report.

And this young man, with immense power and status in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, even second only to Yu Emperor, just quietly stood in front of the steps. The woman beside him felt so nervous she barely dared to breathe.

Their Immortal could refuse to see the Emperor, refuse to see anyone, and no one dared to do anything to her, because their Immortal had the strength to reach the pinnacle of the world. But they dared not slight this general in front of them, who held extremely prominent status.

After a moment, a green figure rushed down the steps. The woman who had gone to report returned, cautiously glanced at the young man, and said, "General Li, my Immortal says she is not receiving guests. Please return."

"Hm?"

The young man frowned upon hearing this. His patience, it seemed, had finally run out. He wanted to get angry, but then he held back. Taking a deep breath, he said: "I went to war this time and slayed a Hearkening Dao realm demon, obtaining its Dao scale. I've come to present it."

As he spoke, he turned his palm over and took out a dark brown scale flowing with Daoist aura.

A hazy mist emanated from the scale. Just the scale alone, it was like a divine weapon, giving people a sense of piercing sharpness.

He handed it to the woman, saying, "You take this and give it to Immortal Ren. Tell her, I am only here for a cup of tea before I leave."

The reporting woman's gaze was completely drawn to this scale at this moment. She could feel that this was an extremely extraordinary item. If it could be forged into a weapon, it would definitely be a world-renowned divine weapon.

She hurriedly and cautiously accepted it, holding the item with both hands, saying, "General Li, please wait a moment, I will go inform the Immortal."

With that, she turned and quickly went up the mountain.

The young man patiently continued to wait at the foot of the mountain. His handsome figure made the woman beside him's eyes flicker, with a hint of secret admiration.

Ever since the young man became famous, the most ideal marriage partner for women in the world was none other than him.

Ennobled as a God-Duke, holding a high position in the court, and himself from a distinguished God General family, achieving fame at a young age, his talent unparalleled for millennia. All kinds of glorious deeds and legends made this young man the subject of discussion and admiration for countless young women.

However, she knew that in the other party's eyes, it seemed there was only their Immortal.

While waiting, it wasn't long before the woman who went to report returned again.

Before she even approached, Li Ping'an's brow furrowed. Seeing the Dao scale in the woman's hand.

His face sank, she didn't accept it?

"General Li, my Immortal says, this item is precious, she cannot accept rewards without merit. Please take it back. She is not receiving guests..."

The woman held the Dao scale, cautiously looking at him, with reluctance and heartache in her eyes. But she still handed the Dao scale back to the deeply handsome general before her.

Li Ping'an was silent. After a long while, he took back the Dao scale, but a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes. He said, "I just want to pay a visit. If the Immortal is so unforgiving, then don't blame me for forcing my way in."

As he spoke, without waiting for the two women to cry out in alarm, he soared into the air.

He could slay Hearkening Dao realm demons, and he himself was already in the Hearkening Dao realm. These two women were only in the Three Immortalities realm, how could they stop him at all.

In just an instant, he directly appeared in the sky above the steps.

His gaze swept over, and he immediately saw a very simple thatched cottage before him.

This kind of small courtyard was like the courtyard where ordinary rural women lived, but inside, there was a figure in white robes as white as snow, sitting there, gently sketching, outlining the distant green mountain scenery.

Just a glimpse of her back silhouette, the anger in Li Ping'an's heart, for some unknown reason, completely dissipated.

He was slightly silent, not stepping forward, just standing there, as if unwilling to break and disturb this scene, quietly waiting.

But the woman in the courtyard had already sensed the arrival of this uninvited guest. The ink on her brush dried up. She casually placed the brush on the inkstone beside her. Then she sighed softly, not turning her head, and only said:

"General Li, you are busy with military affairs, don't waste time here."

Li Ping'an heard her voice, his expression softened. "I just want to have a cup of tea, Master."

"Don't call me Master. Seventy years ago, I already severed the master-disciple relationship with you. Back then, accepting you as a disciple was just because I didn't know your identity, it was just a coincidence."

The woman in white slightly frowned.

"Once a teacher, forever a father. No matter what, in my heart, you will always be my Master," Li Ping'an revealed a smile and said, "I'm just here for a cup of tea. Even Yu Emperor would not refuse me. Master is being a bit too unreasonable."

"I heard that you just made great contributions by slaying a demon. That Hearkening Dao realm demon came from the Central Continent of the Great Barren Heavens. There are Saint Dao lineages there. That demon must also have a Dao lineage. This battle must not have been easy, right? You should go back and rest early. I also have my own matters to attend to here."

The woman in white frowned.

Hearing these words, Li Ping'an smiled even more happily, "It seems Master is not completely indifferent to my affairs."

"Such a major event, even if I stay behind closed doors, news will always reach my ears," the woman in white's voice became colder.

"Yu Emperor gave me a lot of rewards this time, but they are all mundane things. If it's what I truly want, he is still reluctant to give it." Li Ping'an said to himself, a touch of indescribable light flashing in his eyes. He looked at the woman before him and said, "If this Dao scale is polished, it will definitely become an excellent sword hilt material. Master, please make sure to accept it."

"If you call me Master again, don't blame me for being impolite!" At this time, the woman in white's tone became icy cold.

Li Ping'an's hand holding out the Dao scale paused, his expression slightly changed. Finally, he said in a low voice, "Master, all these years you've rejected me, is it because my surname is Li?"

Speaking of this, a hint of suppressed anger was revealed in his voice.

The woman in white frowned, and coldly said, "It has nothing to do with your surname. The events of the past are long gone. He no longer cares, and naturally, I don't care either. It's just that your intentions are impure."

"Impure intentions? Is liking you considered impure intentions?" Li Ping'an clenched the Dao scale in his hand, a hint of anger in his eyes.

"Correct." The woman in white answered without hesitation, her tone resolute.

When the Immortal Gate was severed back then, she vaguely learned from Yu Emperor what had happened. In her grief, she wandered the world.

Twenty or thirty years later, her cultivation continued to climb, and soon she reached the Four Establishments Realm.

One day, she was wandering in a famous mountain, sitting alone on the mountaintop, listening to the sound of the spring, when a young man happened to come up the mountain, full of resentment.

They briefly interacted. She learned that the young man had run away from home in anger. And the young man had seen her sword techniques, and admired her so much he begged to become her disciple. After persistent pleading, she agreed.

Later, under her serious tutelage, the young man's talent was also extremely high. Many sword techniques he easily understood after being taught just once.

The young man gradually revealed his talent in the martial world. However, as they spent more time together, the way the young man looked at her seemed to gradually change.

She also noticed this, told the young man that he had already completed his apprenticeship, and sent him to experience the secular world.

Soon after, the young man's fame grew, and the truth about the young man's identity reached her ears. Only then did she realize that this young man was actually of the Li family of the God General's Manor, and moreover, the bloodline of that couple!

Then, the young man was found by the God General's Manor, joined the military, and established merits and achievements. He quickly became a figure of glory.

When the young man climbed the mountain again to find her, she severed the master-disciple relationship with him.

All of this happened seventy years ago.

Reaching their level of cultivation, aging was extremely slow. As long as they were willing, they could maintain their youthfulness forever.

The young man seventy years ago was only in his youth, while her appearance had not changed much, only her eyes held more maturity and tranquility.

"Is he really as good as the world sings about?" Li Ping'an gritted his teeth, hate in his eyes.

The woman in white noticed his tone and said coldly, "You should leave!"

"Is it worth it? It is said that during the Immortal Gate incident, maybe he already died long ago!" Li Ping'an roared angrily.

Ceng!

Suddenly, a chilling sword aura arrived in an instant, brushing past his cheek.

A bloodstain appeared, the touch ice-cold, and warm blood slowly seeped out.

"Say another word, and I guarantee your head will fall!"

The woman in white had already turned around at this moment, but her stunningly beautiful face was icy cold.

Li Ping'an felt the cold killing intent in her eyes, without a trace of the gentleness she had shown him in the past as master and disciple. His face was ugly. He knew that if he spoke again, the other party would really do it.

Countless times in the past, he had witnessed the other party's ruthlessness.

He gritted his teeth, threw down the Dao scale, turned and left down the mountain in silence, his face sullen.

When he leapt down from the steps and returned to the foot of the mountain, the wound on his cheek had already healed.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound flew over.

He looked back and saw it was the Dao scale he had thrown on the ground. It was thrown back down in an arc, landing at his feet, bouncing a few times.

His face became even uglier. And the two women beside him watched, stunned.

Li Ping'an clenched his palm, the Dao scale on the ground was drawn into his palm. The anger in his heart burned even more fiercely. He gritted his teeth and said, "One day you will regret it!"

With that, he flipped onto his horse, turning and leaving without looking back.

And on the mountaintop, the sword finger in the woman in white's hand trembled slightly and loosened. She looked at the painting in front of her. Her gaze swept over to the house next door. On the wall inside, many paintings were hanging, all of them paintings of a young man.

However, the poses were different.

There was a pose of him sitting by the chessboard under the eaves, a pose of him roasting food in front of a bonfire, a pose of him laughing with oil stains all over his mouth.

Those were all the appearances in her memories.

"You will come back... right..."

She murmured to herself, gazing at the paintings in the house.

Outside Yuzhou.

Li Ping'an led his personal guard team, who had just returned from demon slaying, leaving Yuzhou and returning to Qingzhou.

His face was gloomy all the way, not uttering a word.

The personal guards beside him were all greatly surprised. Someone asked, "Marshal, you've made such great contributions this time, hasn't Yu Emperor bestowed the Heavenly General title upon you yet?"

"Yes, if it weren't for Marshal's expedition, that demon would have been unstoppable. The entire Great Yu would have fallen into danger. We just killed it in advance before it could cause widespread casualties. Doesn't that count as a heaven-defying achievement?"

"With Marshal's merits and strength, I think it's enough to be ennobled as a Heavenly General. I heard that when that Heavenly General was ennobled in the past, his realm was the same as Marshal's, both in the Hearkening Dao realm."

"Could it be that Yu Emperor wants to suppress our Li family, not wanting our family to have two Heavenly Generals?"

"Hush!"

Li Ping'an, who had been riding his horse with his head down, also turned his head to fiercely glare at the personal guard who spoke, his face cold, saying:

"When we return to Qingzhou, go and receive a hundred military lashes yourself!"

The personal guard's face changed, not daring to refute, only obediently replying in agreement.

Riding their horses all the way, as they approached Qingzhou, Li Ping'an saw a towering statue outside the city walls of Qingzhou City.

The statue was of a young man with a gentle smile, but he looked upright and imposing, like an unparalleled young general.

He glanced at it, his gaze becoming even more gloomy.

This statue, within the Great Yu territory, everyone knew it was of Great Yu's only Heavenly General, Haotian.

When Li Ping'an was a child, he saw his parents often being depressed, as if always having something on their minds.

It was said that no one knew a son like his mother, but in fact, children's understanding of their parents is often clearer than parents' understanding of their children.

He felt very early on that his parents always had something weighing on their minds.

Even when they looked at him, their eyes often became dazed, as if they were absentmindedly thinking about something else.

At first, he thought it was because he wasn't smart enough, not outstanding enough, that made his parents worry. So he desperately tried to work hard, desperately cultivate. When he established his foundation at the age of six, he absorbed a large amount of exotic blood to build a top-tier nine-stage unparalleled foundation.

His cultivation speed progressed by leaps and bounds, quickly surpassing his peers, far exceeding other direct descendants within the God General's Manor.

But at this time, what he heard in his ears, besides praise for him, was another name that accompanied it.

And when his parents heard about his outstanding performance, instead of showing smiles as he had imagined, sadness appeared in their eyes.

This feeling made him feel lost, made him not understand.

He asked, but his parents only turned their heads away, avoided the matter, only saying that he had seen wrong, and then squeezed out a smile for him.

But he wasn't stupid, how could he not understand the difference between a squeezed smile and a genuine smile?

As he grew older, he heard more and more voices, and he seemed to understand. It turned out that he had an extremely outstanding older brother.

It was just that that older brother had betrayed the God General's Manor, and did not even recognize the Li surname.

That older brother was radiant, the only Heavenly General of Great Yu, overshadowing the light of the Five Great God General's Manors with his own strength, known throughout the world.

Only then did he understand the reason, resentment and pain in his heart. When he was in his teens, he chose to run away from home. He wanted to become stronger, cultivate to a higher realm. He wanted to break that unbelievable cultivation record, catch up to the other party's pace.

With his efforts, coupled with the God General's Manor's all-out resource cultivation, his cultivation progressed extremely fast. Later, he became a disciple of the current female sword immortal, and perfected his sword Dao foundation. His sword Dao progressed by leaps and bounds.

As he established military merits, from Earl to Duke, to the ennoblement of God-Duke, in just sixty years, he had already reached the achievements of the Li family's ancestors.

At the same time, he also inherited the Li family's True Dragon lineage, becoming the pillar of the Li family in this generation.

In the Li family, no one was not proud of him.

But in his heart, there was always a thorn.

In the mortal realm, he cultivated to the Hearkening Dao realm, and was gradually feeling he had reached a bottleneck, and it was difficult to improve further. He wanted to go to the world inside that Immortal Gate, wanting to prove to the world that he would be even more outstanding, but was now limited here.

"The Jiang family ancestor in the Qian Dao Palace recorded that above the Hearkening Dao realm is the Saint realm. Among the heavens, Saints are the strongest. Even she can only be considered a Half-Saint..."

Li Ping'an took a deep breath. This time back to Qingzhou, he planned to recover from his injuries and then explore that Immortal Gate.

If he could become a Saint, everything would be different, everyone would recognize him!

The sound of hooves stepped through the city gate. The people lining the streets saw the Crimson Flood Dragon warhorse and the figure on it, all cheering and shouting that Marshal Li had returned triumphantly.

(End of Chapter)