Chapter 215: Li Tiangang's Wrath

On the Dragon Pass in Liangzhou, a figure clad in the golden armor of a marshal rode forth – Li Tiangang.

Despite the current peace in Liangzhou, the ever-looming threat of war beyond the border with Dragon City and the Mo River meant he remained armed and ready.

After many years, returning to this Dragon Pass brought a surge of nostalgia to Li Tiangang. However, he was surprised to find the path clear and empty.

Ever since his third and sixth brothers had perished defending this pass, demonic creatures had become increasingly bold in their incursions. News of travelers being attacked by these beasts on the nearby border roads had become commonplace, indicating that numerous demons had infiltrated the area from both sides of the Dragon Pass.

Yet, he could not fault his younger sister, Li Hongzhuang, who had taken up the mantle of guarding this place after them. She was a woman, but she had fearlessly taken up arms. Moreover, the demonic forces beyond Tianmen Pass were formidable, with three demon kings exerting their influence. Merely holding their ground at that pass was already a challenging task.

The annual military reports conveyed the severity of the situation, detailing heavy casualties. It was clear just how difficult it was to defend that position.

This was also the reason for the decision to retract the defense line and abandon Tianmen Pass.

Initially, he had wanted to bring that child to witness the harsh realities of the battlefield. But now, that soon-to-be-abandoned pass had ironically become the safest place in Liangzhou.

Even amidst this calamity, with millions of demonic creatures amassing their forces, they chose to detour around this route, opting to attack from elsewhere.

Li Tiangang's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the ancient path lined with lush cypress trees. He felt a mix of surprise and a subtle sense of proud satisfaction.

Anticipating the imminent reunion with the child, his gaze softened, although it was just an avatar. When he had witnessed Li Hao risking his life to lure away the three demon kings, he had felt a pang in his heart. That brave young man was his only son, born to him and Qingqing.

Whenever others praised Li Hao's exceptional talent and brilliance, Li Tiangang maintained a stoic exterior, even appearing cold at times. But deep down, he couldn't help but feel proud and pleased.

After all, Li Hao was his son!

"Customer, would you like some tea?"

A clear voice interrupted Li Tiangang's train of thoughts.

Li Tiangang strolled over to the nearby tea stall, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Old man, with no patrols around and demons lurking nearby, are you not afraid to set up shop here?"

The tea stall owner laughed, "General, are you referring to the past? Things are different now. Don't you know that since the Heavenly General Li Hao took up residence in Tianmen Pass, not a single demon has dared to step foot here? In my old man's opinion, this place might even be safer than the Imperial City!"

Li Tiangang's eyes darkened slightly, "Old man, you're quite aged yourself. Be careful with your words regarding the Imperial City. It's not something to be taken lightly."

Realizing his slip of the tongue, the tea stall owner quickly apologized, "Yes, yes, I tend to ramble. General, would you like a cup of tea?"

"Even without demon attacks, there's no one around here. How do you get any business?" Li Tiangang scanned the deserted Dragon Pass, then reached into his pocket and produced a silver ingot.

Although he was a general, he always carried some money when traveling. From a young age, his father, Li Tianzong, had instilled in him the values of a Great Yu General—never to take what belonged to the common people. Otherwise, how would they be any different from bandits?

"That's too much!" The tea stall owner was flustered and overjoyed by the silver ingot, and he quickly offered to get change.

But Li Tiangang had already turned and was striding away. "Keep the change."

"Hey, General, I haven't served you tea yet!" the tea stall owner called after him.

"Have a cup yourself," came the reply.

As the tea stall owner watched the golden-armored general depart, he polished the silver ingot, tucked it into his pocket, and smiled broadly. "A formidable aura, but a kind soul."

Before the majestic walls of Cang Cliff City, Li Tiangang's eyes narrowed slightly. The city walls were adorned with flags bearing a familiar, awe-inspiring name.

Along the Dragon Pass, he had also spotted several battle flags, and he surmised that they were the reason for the calm and peaceful atmosphere along the route.

At that moment, the guards on the city walls spotted Li Tiangang as well, and they immediately recognized his marshal's battle armor. Startled, one of them quickly flew down from the walls and approached respectfully. "Greetings, Marshal!"

Li Tiangang gave a slight nod. "Where's Li Hao?"

The guard's heart skipped a beat. Within the city, they referred to him as General Haotian, and they were forbidden from using Li Hao's original name.

But the marshal before him was none other than the renowned duke, Duke Xingwu.

"Are you referring to General Haotian's true body, or..." the guard began.

"You tell me," Li Tiangang interrupted coldly.

The guard's expression shifted as he realized his mistake. General Haotian's heroic aid in Liangzhou and his astonishing achievements had become known even in the Imperial City. They were aware that General Haotian's true body was not in the city, so how could the famed Duke Xingwu not know?

"General Haotian is in the city..." the guard replied.

"Take me to him," Li Tiangang ordered.

The guard respectfully acknowledged the command and led the way.

The guard entered the city at a swift pace, but Li Tiangang walked slowly, taking in his surroundings.

Noticing this, the guard quickly adjusted his pace to match the marshal's.

Li Tiangang surveyed the city, observing the shops, vendors, and elegantly dressed young talents along the way. There were young masters from prestigious families and beautifully dressed young ladies, all contributing to an atmosphere of peace and prosperity.

The interactions between the aristocratic youths and the commoners seemed harmonious, suggesting effective governance.

The bustling yet orderly scene resembled that of a bustling state capital.

At that moment, many passersby noticed Li Tiangang's golden armor and turned to stare, whispering among themselves.

The general promptly complied and accelerated, also taking to the skies.

Following his guide, Li Tiangang flew swiftly through the city until they reached a spacious area where a humble bamboo fence surrounded a small courtyard that appeared to be the City Lord's mansion.

The surrounding buildings were impressively grand and neatly arranged, but the courtyard itself stood out for its simplicity. However, the presence of patrolling generals outside the courtyard lent it an air of authority.

"Is that where he lives?" Li Tiangang frowned. "They have the time to build civilian houses but not a proper City Lord's mansion?"

"Reporting to the Marshal, General Haotian said that his old friend preferred this humble courtyard, so he kept it as it is," the guide replied.

Li Tiangang's brows furrowed slightly as he thought of the child's carefree nature, and he sighed inwardly. It seemed that even in this remote borderland, his son's personality remained unchanged.

The saying 'a young man who is not disciplined will remain unruly for life' rang true, and he knew that his son's character was likely set in stone, impossible to change.

However, considering Li Hao's current reputation and his remarkable achievements in Liangzhou, Li Tiangang felt that there was no point in dwelling on this matter anymore.

Soon, the two landed in front of the bamboo-fenced courtyard.

"Who is this?" The two guards at the entrance, both members of the Haotian Army, were originally warriors and Grandmasters from various states who had been incorporated into the army. They were well-versed in military rules but lacked a deeper understanding of other military matters.

As a result, despite recognizing the grandeur of Li Tiangang's attire, they failed to identify him immediately.

"This is Duke Xingwu, the Marshal of Xingwu!" the guiding general promptly introduced.

A slight frown appeared on Li Tiangang's face, and he felt a twinge of displeasure. Just moments ago, he had thought that Li Hao's carefree nature wasn't worth pursuing, but now he realized that this attitude seemed to have extended to the soldiers under his command as well.

The fact that they couldn't even recognize his identity meant that they might offend other Divine General Mansions.

Moreover, he wondered how these undisciplined troops would fare in battle.

Although he knew that Li Hao was exceptionally powerful himself, he couldn't rely on his son for everything, especially if he were to inherit the True Dragon.

If the True Dragon had to handle everything personally, even ten lives wouldn't be enough.

The two guards were startled by the introduction and immediately bowed in fear. Although they hadn't recognized Li Tiangang, the name Duke Xingwu had been renowned in Yanbei for over a decade, and they instantly realized that the middle-aged man before them was Li Hao's father.

"We pay our respects to the Marshal!" they said in a hurry, their faces filled with trepidation.

Seeing their reaction, Li Tiangang's brows furrowed even deeper, and he said coldly, "Hasn't he trained you at all? You have no discipline whatsoever. If you were on the battlefield, you'd be a disorganized mess!"

The two guards lowered their heads, and one of them whispered, "General Haotian told us that as long as he is here, we won't need to go to the battlefield. We have received strict training, and we rarely make mistakes unless there are unexpected circumstances..."

Li Tiangang couldn't help but scoff, "Quite bold words. If he handles everything, what's the point of having you? Who does he think he is, and how many lives does he think he has?"

Seeing their trembling and fearful expressions, Li Tiangang didn't bother to continue reprimanding them. Instead, he ordered, "Open the door."

"Please wait, Marshal, while I inform General Haotian..." One of the guards, feeling as if he had just been granted a reprieve, quickly turned and rushed into the courtyard.

Li Tiangang's expression darkened slightly.

The other guard, trying to ease the tension, explained, "Please calm your anger, Marshal. Our General has instructed that all visitors must be announced beforehand, or else it might disrupt his pastime."

A stern glint appeared in Li Tiangang's eyes as he asked, "What pastime?"

The guard, himself a well-known Grandmaster for many years, could sense the marshal's anger and could only offer a forced smile as he replied, "General Haotian enjoys taking afternoon naps, playing chess, and painting. If he is disturbed unexpectedly..."

Li Tiangang's expression turned ugly as he realized that Li Hao, even in this remote borderland, was still indulging in leisurely pursuits. He had expected that his son's extraordinary cultivation and combat prowess were a result of his own influence, pushing Li Hao to train diligently at Tianmen Pass.

But it seemed that Li Hao hadn't changed at all and was still enjoying his pastimes.

'He hasn't changed. Not one bit!' Li Tiangang thought to himself.

Taking a deep breath, Li Tiangang's anger gradually dissipated as he recalled the earlier events at the defensive line, Li Hao's remarkable battle records, and the current situation in Liangzhou.

He sighed inwardly, acknowledging that despite his son's unchanged nature, his talent was indeed exceptional. Even amidst comfort and leisure, Li Hao still possessed that world-shaking combat power, and he had also saved the lives of countless people in Liangzhou.

With such remarkable achievements, Li Tiangang found it difficult to reprimand him further.

Moreover, he knew that his son was stubborn, and his visit to Liangzhou was partly to improve their father-son relationship.

Just then, the courtyard gate opened again, and the guard reappeared, his face tense and anxious.

He glanced at Li Tiangang, and the marshal's expression darkened further as he noticed the guard's demeanor.

"Umm..." The guard hesitated, then said, "General Haotian says he doesn't want to meet with anyone, and he asks that you return."

"You insolent brat!" Li Tiangang's anger flared. As his father, he had personally come to visit, which was already a concession on his part, yet Li Hao dared to refuse to see him?

There was no respect for their father-son relationship!

"Did he say that himself? Tell him to come out and see me!" Li Tiangang's face turned cold as he thought of the avatar, which might not possess much of the original Li Hao's consciousness. He suppressed his anger with effort.

"Young General Haotian is painting," the guard explained.

"Painting? As a general, does he think he can create another masterpiece that will astonish the world?" Li Tiangang was getting impatient with the conversation and decided to take matters into his own hands. He pushed the guard aside and strode toward the courtyard.

When the guard tried to block his path, Li Tiangang glared at him, his body emanating the aura of the Four Establishment Realm.

Within, he saw two figures seated casually. One had their legs crossed, a sword resting across their lap as they meditated with closed eyes.

The other was painting, brush in hand, about to apply ink to the canvas.

The sudden sound of the courtyard door bursting open startled both of them, and they turned their gazes toward Li Tiangang.

Ren Qianqian immediately recognized Li Tiangang and stood up, stammering, "Uncle..."

The dark side of Li Hao sat in front of his painting, his brow furrowed slightly. He had inherited few memories, and most of the time, he found himself in an ancient, empty courtyard, painting, playing chess, or gazing up at the starry sky in solitude.

Occasionally, he would catch glimpses of faces, always those of silk-robed and satin-clad women.

The face before him now was somewhat unfamiliar, yet it also carried a hint of familiarity. But instinctively, he felt a deep sense of rejection toward it.

"This is the General's Mansion. Who gave you permission to trespass?"

The dark side of Li Hao's face turned cold, and he set his brush aside, rising to his feet and assuming a battle-ready stance.

The order Li Hao had left for his dark side was to defend Cang Cliff City at all costs.

"So, you really know how to enjoy yourself!"

Li Tiangang saw that Li Hao's dark side was indeed painting and couldn't help but feel like laughing in anger. Even his dark side had this temperament?

"Do you know who I am?" he asked coldly.

"Regardless of who you are, you must follow my rules here!" the dark side of Li Hao replied in an icy tone.

"Does your dark side have no memory at all?"

Li Tiangang frowned, "The Martial Dark Side Technique is indeed rare, but I have some understanding of it. It's an external incarnation, extremely difficult to condense and master, but the final result is rather average."

After all, a dark side could inherit one-tenth of the power of the original body, which was already quite impressive.

However, if one were to cultivate other techniques of similar difficulty, their strength might increase by a third, several times more than what a dark side could achieve!

The only advantage of a dark side was that it could handle some minor tasks, but for a strong cultivator, there was no shortage of servants to command. Unless it was for something private, a dark side was not very useful in combat.

If Li Hao were still by his side, he would never have agreed to waste time cultivating such a technique.

But Li Tiangang had long since accepted Li Hao's temperament. He couldn't even get him to focus on chess or painting, let alone practice martial arts.

"Since you followed Hao'er here, do you know if there is a life-and-death connection between his dark side and his original body?" Li Tiangang asked Ren Qianqian, who stood beside him.

Ren Qianqian's face was tense as she replied, "I'm not sure about Young Master's affairs."

"Aren't you his personal handmaiden?" Li Tiangang frowned.

"I... I never pry into the Young Master's affairs," Ren Qianqian lowered her head and said.

Li Tiangang coldly snorted in anger, then turned to the dark side of Li Hao and said, "Your original body is trapped in the River of Extinction. Do you know that? Can you sense it? Is there a life-and-death connection between you and your original body?"

"This is my business, and I don't need to explain it to you. Please leave, or I won't be so polite!" the dark side of Li Hao said.

"I am the Marshal of Liangzhou. Tianmen Pass is within my jurisdiction. I have the final say here, and you're telling me to leave?" Li Tiangang's face turned cold.

"You can stay in the city, but not in this courtyard," the dark side of Li Hao said with a frown.

A cold light flashed in Li Tiangang's eyes, and his voice carried a hint of anger. "I came here to bring you back and to see if you could sense anything about your original body's situation. And you want me to leave?"

"Qianqian, see the guest out," the dark side of Li Hao said coldly.

Ren Qianqian looked at Li Tiangang, her face filled with hesitation. "Uncle, why don't you wait until Young Master returns?"

"Who are you to speak here?" Li Tiangang glared at her coldly.

That glance was like a sharp sword piercing her heart, causing Ren Qianqian's face to turn deathly pale as she took a few steps back.

The dark side of Li Hao's face changed, and his eyes shone with a cold light. With a wave of his hand, Ren Qianqian's previous seat, where the Dragon Xiao Sword was stuck in the ground, suddenly unsheathed, roaring out a golden dragon's cry.

The divine sword gathered its power without hesitation and slashed out.

Li Tiangang's eyes narrowed in anger as he slapped out with his palm. The golden light on the sword shattered, but his own face changed as well.

The power of this sword exceeded his expectations; it was far more powerful than he had imagined.

His body took two steps back, and he had to exert himself to stop.

"Are you the real body or the dark side?"

Li Tiangang looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment as he stared at Li Hao.

The dark side of Li Hao's eyes were cold, and the golden sword light stood upright in front of him. "If you stay any longer, I will treat you as an intruder!"

Li Tiangang's face darkened as he heard these cold and ruthless words.

"I'd like to see how you, as my son, would deal with me!" Li Tiangang clenched his fists, and his body emanated a powerful aura.

Just then, a figure descended like a gentle breeze and suddenly appeared between Li Tiangang and Li Hao, as if he had teleported.

"Haven't you caused enough trouble?"

A cold voice rang out, and Feng Boping's eyes were icy as he glared at Li Tiangang.

When Li Tiangang had first arrived, Feng Boping had sensed his presence and moved from the courtyard to the clouds, intending to hide his presence.

But seeing the conflict between Li Tiangang and Li Hao's dark side, he couldn't remain seated any longer.

"Hao'er is currently trapped in the River of Extinction, a river of the Youdu level. His life hangs in the balance, and you want to destroy his dark side here?" Feng Boping said coldly.