Chapter 131: A Gift Spanning Ten Thousand Miles

Seeing the scene before them, Li Hao and the others were stunned — even Feng Bo Ping wore an expression of surprise.

When they finally recognized the woman’s face, Li Hao froze, his mind reeling in disbelief.

It wasn’t just anyone.

It was the gluttonous Water Qilin — Song Qiumo — from the Cold Pool.

What? Li Hao remembered clearly: she had sworn before the First Palace Master of Tan Palace and the ancestral spirits of the Song family to garrison Tancheng Palace, bound by oath not to leave lightly.

Yet here she stood — ten thousand miles away, at the frontier of Liangzhou.

In the gaze of all present, Song Qiumo stepped forward slowly, dragging two demon beasts as large as small hills behind her, until she reached the edge of the frontier pass.

She caught sight of Li Hao’s dazed expression, and smiled. The biting wind around her seemed to soften, warming into something gentle and bright.

“Well, old friend,” she teased lightly, “no welcome? What’s this?”

Her voice, clear and pure like spring water, snapped the others back to their senses.

Li Hongzhuang and Li He stared at Li Hao in shock. As members of the Li Clan, raised since childhood in Qingzhou City, they knew only too well the legendary reputation of this Great Demon King from Tan Palace Academy.

But this… this was the Qilin Demon King — and she had come all the way for Li Hao?

From what they knew, the Water Qilin rarely descended from her mountain. She was a creature of legend, rarely seen outside her domain.

Li Hao snapped out of his stupor and laughed. “Once I deal with this one, I’ll welcome you properly.”

He still clutched the giant toad demon, its massive bulk still struggling toward the gate — but now, Song Qiumo’s arrival blocked its escape. The beast trembled violently, its plump, greasy body quivering on the ground, too terrified to move.

Even if it could break free from the grip of a child, two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators stood nearby — escape was impossible.

Despair filled the toad demon’s heart. It hated Li Hao with every fiber of its being. Its only hope now was to beg for mercy, hoping that surrendering to the human race might spare its life.

“Need help?” Song Qiumo glanced at the trembling beast, her casual question sending shivers through its entire body.

The toad’s fat quivered. Thick, sticky sweat oozed from its pores as it stammered:

“P-Please, elder… I’m sorry! Spare me! I’ll be your servant, your slave — do anything you want… I…”

It never finished.

Li Hao simply tightened his grip, yanking the beast back toward the camp with a strength that could move mountains.

The toad demon’s mind warred in agony. Should I resist? If it fought, it might still have a spark of defiance. But if it didn’t… would it die?

In the end, after a storm of inner turmoil, it lay still — utterly submissive — as Li Hao dragged it across the ground, leaving a long, scorched trail behind.

“Young man,” the toad pleaded, voice cracking with desperation, “I meant no harm! I’ve cultivated for millennia, lived a life of kindness, helped countless others! It was the Old Dragon who forced me!”

It knew its fate now hung by a thread — in Li Hao’s hands.

Li Hao smiled. “Do you have a Combat Scripture?”

“What?” The toad blinked, startled.

“Well… yes, I do,” it stammered. “But demon beast combat scriptures are tailored to our kind. Each race has its own. I… I absorb the essence of sun and moon, and draw power from the marshlands beneath the earth…”

“Show me.”

Li Hao cut it off, voice calm.

The toad hesitated, eyes flickering with doubt. “I don’t have it on me… you could come to my home…”

“Now,” Li Hao said firmly.

The toad flinched. It felt the cold edge of his killing intent. Though furious, it forced a nervous grin. “Oh! I just remembered — I do have one on me!”

With a grotesque motion, it opened its mouth, and its tongue shot out — coiled around a massive scroll, slick with thick mucus.

Li Hao flicked his hand. A force of object manipulation peeled away the slime, then pulled the scroll safely aside.

He studied it for a moment, then smiled.

Then, without warning, he drew the Pig Tusk Sword and charged forward.

Fishing experience had already been harvested. Even if he released the beast and tried again, the return would be negligible — repeated fishing on the same prey offered almost no new experience.

Seeing Li Hao’s sudden attack, the toad demon’s eyes flared with fury and hatred.

“Damn you!” it roared. “Even if I die, I’ll drag you down with me!”

It had considered killing Li Hao during the drag — but now, with no hope of escape, it unleashed a torrent of toxic mist.

But the mist was instantly blocked by a shimmer of water — Song Qiumo had intervened.

Then, a thin stream of water surged into the toad’s mouth.

In an instant, its body swelled like a balloon.

It screamed in agony — blood shot from its eyes like arrows, spraying from every pore. Its body bloated, then deflated rapidly, shrinking into a shriveled husk.

Li Hao stepped back just in time, avoiding the spray.

Moments later, the toad was nothing but a desiccated, wrinkled corpse — like a body left submerged in water for months.

Li Hao turned to Song Qiumo, a mix of awe and resignation in his voice. “I could’ve handled it myself.”

“Ah, don’t be like that,” she said with a light, teasing smile. “Are you blaming me?”

Li Hao scratched his head, admitting defeat. “Alright, I was wrong. Thank you — today, I truly owe you.”

“Don’t mention it,” she replied. “If I hadn’t come, you’d still be fine.”

She glanced at the clouds above, where Feng Bo Ping hovered silently.

“I thought you were struggling. I didn’t expect to find you with backup. Maybe I came a little too late.”

Li Hongzhuang and Li He exchanged glances — of course. The Great Demon King had come for Li Hao.

Li Hao quickly smiled. “Not at all! Without you, those beasts would’ve escaped. So… how did you get here? Did you just finish fighting that Dragon Lord?”

Song Qiumo sighed, disappointment in her tone. “He was watching from the shadows. I wanted to ambush him, but he’s too alert.”

She smirked. “Still, that Old Dragon is nearly my equal. I couldn’t hold him long. If not for the other Foundation Realm here, we’d have had a real contest.”

Feng Bo Ping chuckled faintly. “You’re too modest.”

Song Qiumo glanced at him — then her eyes widened slightly. Recognition flashed in her gaze.

She looked back at Li Hao, and couldn’t help but smile — a rare, genuine one.

This guy… really doesn’t care who he gets close to, does he?

“I came to deliver a sword art,” she said.

“A sword art?” Li Hao blinked.

“You forgot?” she teased. “You’re an Apprentice Master of Tan Palace Academy. According to our agreement, once your lectures are complete, you’re entitled to Tancheng Palace’s Ultimate Technique.”

She drifted forward, landing gracefully before Li Hao.

A faint, elegant fragrance — like orchids and crisp fruit — filled the air. Li Hongzhuang and Li He felt a sudden pressure, their bodies tensing instinctively, but quickly relaxed when they sensed no malice.

“But I only taught two classes…” Li Hao began.

Before he could finish, Song Qiumo reached into the void — and pulled out a book.

The title on the cover was unmistakable: Taiji Qiankun Sword, the ultimate technique of Tancheng Palace.

“Palace Master said the remaining lessons would be recorded,” she smiled. “You can return to teach when you have time.”

Li Hao stared at the book, silent for a moment.

Back when he taught at Tancheng Palace, he was still the world-renowned prodigy of Qingzhou City.

Yet even then, the Palace had set strict conditions.

Now, stranded beyond the Heavenly Gate Pass, she had crossed ten thousand miles to deliver this.

“Thank you,” he said softly, taking the book.

Li Hongzhuang and Li He exchanged a look. They understood — Song Qiumo’s words were meant for them.

This gift wasn’t a sign of personal favor toward Li Hao.

It was an obligation to his position as Apprentice Master.

Helping Li Hao wasn’t a favor to the Li Clan — it would likely backfire.

Yet here she stood, risking the wrath of the Li Clan just to deliver an ultimate technique.

The depth of Tancheng Palace’s commitment to Li Hao was undeniable.

Li Hongzhuang looked at Li Hao. She had served for years at this garrison, waiting in vain for reinforcements.

And now, in less than a day, two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators had appeared — one above, one below — to protect him.

The figure in the clouds — Feng Bo Ping — she couldn’t recognize. Likely concealing his identity.

But the Water Qilin? She rarely left her mountain. And yet she had come — a journey of ten thousand miles.

What kind of power does this child possess… that two such figures would risk everything for him?

Not because of the Li Clan?

She doubted it.

Li He stood in silence, eyes sharp, memorizing every detail — to report back to the Duke Rank.

Since the Battle of Yanbei, Li Tiangang had risen from Second-Class Marquis to Third-Class Duke — a leap in status.

Only elders of the clan typically reached Duke rank. And even then, one-eighth Duke was usually the highest possible — rare enough to be considered a peak.

Above that? Divine Rank — nearly impossible. Only Founding Divine Generals were granted such titles.

Decades ago, Li Junye had saved hundreds of cities and countless commoners during the fall of Cangzhou — and was promoted from Captain to Marquis in one jump.

It was unprecedented — a stunning debut.

If Li Junye had started as Marquis, he might have been granted a title of Duke or even higher. But starting so low — the leap was unimaginable.

Now, staring at the two Foundation Realm cultivators before him, Li He felt oddly out of place — too conspicuous.

And after witnessing Li Hao’s combat prowess, he realized his own protective role was barely noticeable.

“Hey,” Song Qiumo said, hands behind her back, scanning the ruins. “There’s a city here, isn’t there?”

Li Hao closed the sword manual with a sigh. “It’s been reduced to rubble.”

As he spoke, he noticed the dying peacock demon — still clinging to faint breath.

Without hesitation, he凝聚 True Energy into a fishing hook, casting it with precision, latching onto the creature’s head and yanking it in.

【Fishing Experience +2820】

Wow. Still that much?

Li Hao couldn’t help but admire the bounty.

He’d already gained around 8,000 experience from the toad demon.

Now, with this crippled peacock, the fishing was effortless — and he still earned nearly a third of the full potential.

That brought his total fishing experience to about 35,000.

One more Three Immortal Great Demon, and he’d reach the threshold of sixth level.

Feng Bo Ping watched, unable to hide his disbelief. “You’re fishing even the dying?”

Li Hao chuckled sheepishly. “Well… if the experience’s there, why not? I’m a fisher, after all.”

He sighed inwardly. I should find some paper later. This demon corpse can’t go to waste — gotta draw it down.

Conditions here were poor — no proper tools for painting. But a corpse of a Three Immortal Great Demon? That alone could yield a massive amount of Painting Path experience.

Rare opportunity. Waste would be unforgivable.

“Such a brutal end,” Song Qiumo murmured, raising an eyebrow.

She said nothing more.

“Traveling all this way… hungry?” Li Hao asked.

Song Qiumo laughed. “No small steamed buns here.”

“I can make you some,” Li Hao said with a smile — then paused. “But I’ll need your help gathering ingredients. There’s nothing here.”

“Ah,” she said, eyes narrowing. “So you’re trying to get me to help you scavenge — while you benefit from the association.”

She saw through the simple conditions. Food and drink here could only come from demon beast corpses.

Caught red-handed, Li Hao couldn’t help but flush. “Shared joy, shared burden!”

“And shared trouble?” she asked, eyes gleaming.

“I’ll come,” Li Hao said with a grin.

Song Qiumo studied him for a moment — then laughed, a sound like silver bells ringing in the wind.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end