Chapter 145: Li Tiangang, He Defeated the Younger You (Part 2)
Chapter 145: Li Tiangang, He Defeated the Younger You (Part 2)
"Final lesson?"
Hearing Li Hao's words, the White Hall disciples were all taken aback.
In the face of the overwhelming Demon Tide, with Daiyue City on the brink of destruction, Li Hao actually hadn't forgotten that he still owed them a lesson.
Buzz!
Before anyone could react, Li Hao's Dragon Dawn sword emitted a humming sound, bursting with Sword Qi like ice cracking, swirling around his arm.
"Rising Sea Tide!"
Li Hao ascended into the air, like an ethereal immortal, exuding a transcendent and composed aura.
His Cultivation Techniques rapidly circled within him, forcefully pushing out the third Seven Stars Lighting the Lamp. The surging power from his Major Meridians converged in his palm. In an instant, the crowd seemed to hear the sounds of seabirds and waves, but these were the sounds produced by the friction of the Sword Qi.
The Dragon Dawn sword flew from his hand, and at the same time, the city wall seemed to be enveloped in an illusion of surging waves. This was the boundless Sword Qi converging with Li Hao's strike.
The roaring Dragon Dawn sword transformed into a coiling True Dragon, carrying the vast sea tide, colliding with the Demon Tide several miles away!
In an instant, the Sword Tide surged and engulfed everything.
Amidst the waves, the Dragon Dawn sword, like a playful True Dragon, roared and galloped through, instantly breaking through and piercing through a vast expanse of Blood Fog. Countless Demons perished in the blink of an eye.
This terrifying scene left all the soldiers on the city wall and people like Shen Yunqing in a state of shock.
With his own strength, he was subduing a horde of Demons!
This strike incorporated the Rising Moon, Endless Sea, and the Falling Snow Sword Technique, blending the imagery of waves and avalanches. Its intricacy and secret technique level were barely on par with the newly comprehended Cyclic Sword Technique.
However, the Cyclic was a single burst, while this was a vast Sword Tide.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...
Sound waves reverberated throughout the scene as countless Blood Fogs in the Demon Tide exploded, being swept into the Sword Tide.
Soul Succession Realm, Divine Wanderer Realm, and even Fifteen Li Realm Demons were like grains of sand swept away by the waves, unable to resist or obstruct the overwhelming massacre!
Only some Tianren Realm Demons managed to resist, using Demon Arts and Spirit Treasures to barely protect themselves.
But as the Sword Tide continued to cleanse, more and more Demons perished, allowing more Sword Qi to merge and focus on attacking some Great Demons.
Moreover, these concentrated beams of Sword Qi gradually took on different Grandmaster Martial Realms.
Stars and moons, flowers and birds, falling leaves.
Decay, sharpness, speed.
Various Grandmaster Martial Realms flourished within the Sword Tide, like waves crashing into the Demon Tide.
Shen Yunqing's pupils contracted, his eyes wide open. Zhao Zongyuan urgently said, "Quick, pay attention!"
The White Hall disciples strained their eyes, trying to understand how this strike was born and how it could create such an overwhelming momentum and scene.
"Don't look at the Sword Moves; you won't understand. He's teaching you the Way, the Sword Dao!"
Shen Yunqing shouted, his face filled with excitement. He, too, was intensely focused, trying to remember the Sword Intent.
"Is this the Grandmaster Martial Realm he has comprehended? How can it encompass so much?"
Su Yehua stared in amazement, feeling a sense of disbelief. Her mind wandered, captivated by the countless waves in the Sword Tide, each wave representing a Grandmaster Martial Dao!
Among the defenders on the city wall, there were also Grandmasters, including those who had previously been defeated by Li Hao, such as Bai Chunhai and his disciples. They all stared at the scene in shock.
The young man standing there, Lin Chen Juekong, exuded a calm and imposing presence that seemed invincible.
The surging Sword Tide was even more terrifying, something never before seen or heard.
"Hurry, take a good look!"
Bai Chunhai, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly urged the burly man behind him, his disciple.
The burly man's eyes were already glazed over, completely entranced by the overwhelming wave of Sword Intent.
"Is this the limit of the Grandmaster Realm...?"
Bai Chunhai muttered to himself, suddenly thinking about the painting the young man had come to purchase. If they could survive this, would it really matter to part with it?
Outside the city, the Demon Tide had become extremely brutal. The surging waves had forcefully blocked them ten miles from the city, preventing any further advance.
The charging Demon army had become nothing but blood-soaked corpses, their bodies riddled with holes, some wounds tiny but deadly.
Among the Demon Tide, a Three Immortalities Demon led the charge, its eyes filled with shock, unable to fathom the attack a human Grandmaster could unleash.
Maintaining such a vast range of Sword Qi attacks, in terms of Qi Power alone, would be impossible unless one had reached the Indestructible Realm.
"Damn it!"
Its eyes were filled with ferocious hatred. The Young Demon King's death meant it could not easily retreat.
"Kill!!"
It roared, charging forward recklessly, heading straight for the Divine Sword that had transformed into a True Dragon.
At the same time, Dragon Dawn sensed the presence of this Three Eternities Realm Demon. It hummed and rose from the Demon horde, then swiftly charged towards the enemy.
"Devil Swamp Cover the Sky!"
The Great Demon roared, releasing countless black mud lights from its body. The ground beneath its feet rotted, turning into a swamp from which a mud dragon emerged, charging at Dragon Dawn.
With a resounding boom, Dragon Dawn burst forth with brilliant divine light, cutting through the mud dragon and instantly piercing the Great Demon's body.
The countless mud droplets were swept away by the tide of Sword Qi, completely submerged.
The Great Demon was panic-stricken. It was not in the Indestructible Realm, and its physical body was not strong enough to withstand such a terrifyingly sharp Divine Sword. Despite its hatred, the urge to survive overcame it, and it chose to flee.
Dragon Dawn pursued, but soon disappeared from sight.
Before the Great Demon could react, a dragon's roar came from behind, like a giant dragon leaping out of the Sword Tide, tearing into its body and shattering its physical form.
Countless waves of Sword Qi washed over it, instantly slicing its body into pieces.
Its Divine Soul was exposed, with nowhere to hide. It let out a blood-curdling scream, burning its Divine Soul to escape, but was struck down by Dragon Dawn's tail, extinguishing it instantly.
After dealing with the Great Demon, Dragon Dawn returned to the Demon Tide, continuing to roar and slaughter, cutting down countless Demons.
The vast Demon Tide, in a matter of moments, was decimated, leaving only a few thousand Demons who finally came to their senses and chose to flee in disarray.
Dragon Dawn pursued, and within a hundred miles, every remaining Demon was struck down by Li Hao's attacks. Not a single one escaped!
The people on the city wall, who had been on high alert, sweating with tension, were like waking from a dream, feeling as if it had all been an illusion.
In such a desperate situation, it had been reversed by one man and one sword, a feat that seemed impossible.
A humming sound broke through the air, like a golden divine light, swiftly returning from several dozen miles away and landing in Li Hao's hand.
Li Hao's face was slightly pale. The effort of slaying so many Demons had taken a significant toll on him.
In the past, outside Cangyu City, he had also slain numerous Demons on his own, and the number was about the same as today. However, his battle with the Young Demon King of Wan Shan had already drained him significantly.
The quality of these Demons was also much higher than those in Cangyu City. The Fifteen Li Realm Demons seemed to be minor leaders, and there were seven or eight Tianren Realm Demons, along with the Three Immortalities Great Demon, all capable of effortlessly destroying an ordinary city.
Li Hao took a moment to steady his breath, then turned to look at Su Yehua, the White Hall disciples, and the others behind him. He had done his best to demonstrate, and how much they could learn and remember would depend on their insight.
“I’ll check elsewhere.”
Li Hao said.
Then, he moved and headed toward the other city gates.
The Divine Soul emerged from his back, observing the world. Li Hao saw that the Demon Tide had already arrived at the other three walls, breaking out into chaotic battles.
He immediately flew out on his sword, plunging into the melee.
But this time, he had no more Qi Power to unleash the Sword Qi waves. He could only rely on the sharpness of the Dragon Dawn sword and the remaining Object Control power to swiftly cut through the demons.
Despite this, with the Dragon Dawn sword joining the fray, the pressure on the western wall's defenders quickly eased. Many Grandmasters who were about to be overwhelmed by the demons were saved by the golden Divine Sword, which swiftly circled around and cut down all the demons.
These Grandmasters recognized the sword and their expressions changed. They instinctively looked around and saw Li Hao flying over, his body weary.
During the previous Grandmaster Discussion, nine out of ten Grandmasters had faced Li Hao on the stage. They did not bear any hostility toward this young man. It was partly due to the connection with Wuliang Mountain and partly to use their interactions to reflect on their own flaws.
Regardless, their actions were in support of Wuliang Mountain. They hadn’t expected that this young man would treat them equally and be willing to come to their aid.
These Grandmasters looked at the young man with complex expressions, steadied themselves, and then re-entered the Demon Tide to support others.
Before long, the Demon Tide's assault on the western wall was also relieved. With Li Hao's help, the demons were all cut down and killed.
Once the crisis on the western wall was averted, Li Hao flew to the northern side.
The city gate here had already been breached, and demons had entered the city.
The Dragon Dawn sword swiftly cut through, quickly killing the few demons that had breached the defenses and entered the city. Then, the sword's light swept into the demon horde, slicing through them like cutting through melons and vegetables. Thanks to the sharpness and intimidation of the Dragon Dawn, Li Hao only needed to provide a bit of Object Control to create a terrifying killing force.
He was already close to Qi Power depletion and quite fatigued. If not for the Dragon Dawn sword, using his previously crafted Boar Fang Sword would have been much less effective.
This Divine Weapon was truly formidable. In the hands of a powerful user, it was akin to a superweapon in a city defense battle.
Li He and the Helian Family, along with another Three Eternities Realm cultivator, were keeping several Three Immortalities Great Demons at bay. Li Hao only needed to assist others in dealing with the remaining demons. The defenders from the western and eastern gates, who had been freed by Li Hao, also came to their aid.
The situation quickly turned in their favor, and the Demon Tide's defeat became inevitable.
Li Hao turned his head and noticed that the corpse of the Young Demon King of the Ten Thousand Mountains was missing, likely stolen away by some demon during the chaos.
He shook his head, feeling a bit regretful, but given his special circumstances, the corpse and its precious blood were of no use to him. A sword in his hand was enough.
As the Demon Plague gradually subsided, Li Hao sheathed his sword and casually tossed it.
The Dragon Dawn sword flew out, landing in the Discussion Field several miles away, sheathing itself into Ren Qianqian's embrace like a leaf in the autumn wind.
Ren Qianqian saw the Divine Sword return to its sheath and secretly sighed in relief, knowing that Li Hao was unharmed. She couldn’t sense the situation outside from here, as she hadn’t yet reached the Divine Wanderer Realm and couldn’t project her soul too far.
Li Hao floated in the air, looking around. The oppressive black clouds of demonic aura that had been present were now gone.
He wondered about Old Feng’s fate, feeling a bit worried. But then he remembered Old Feng's secret technique. While his direct combat power might not be strong, his ability to escape was unmatched, even by Second Uncle. The demons likely couldn’t harm him.
As Li Hao waited and pondered, a light laugh suddenly reached his ears:
“Young man, I told you to hold out for fifteen minutes, and you went and killed that Young Demon King.”
Li Hao turned around and saw a plain figure standing behind him. The robe was somewhat tattered, with bloodstains at the edges, but it didn't seem to be his own.
Li Hao let out a sigh of relief and immediately said, “What about those Demons?”
“They ran away.”
Feng Boping casually replied, “I could have chased them, but that would have taken me away from here. It’s hard to say what would happen if I pursued them to the border.”
“As long as you’re safe.”
Li Hao smiled, not particularly concerned about the life or death of the Demon King. If he didn’t kill it today, he could always do so in the future. Given time, he would be capable of handling it.
“You little brat, you were actually worried about me. Killing that Young Demon King exposed the Demon King’s weakness, allowing me to severely injure it. Otherwise, it might have gone berserk and tried to kill you.”
Feng Boping laughed.
From Feng Boping’s few words, Li Hao could imagine how intense the battle must have been on Old Feng’s side while he was engaged with his own opponent.
“Judging by the Young Demon King’s title, that Demon King is likely from the Myriad Mountains Demon King’s territory. I didn’t expect there to be two Great Demon Kings in those mountains. It seems some of our intelligence isn’t entirely accurate,” Li Hao said.
Feng Boping nodded slightly, “If a Demon King stays hidden, it’s not easy to detect them.”
He then looked at Li Hao, “Little Rat, you need to improve your strength as soon as possible. In half a year, there might be some trouble.”
Li Hao was taken aback and immediately understood the implications of Old Feng’s words. His eyes turned serious.
Today’s killing of the Young Demon King would surely spread among the Demons, reaching the Myriad Mountains Demon King. If there had been only one Demon King, Old Feng’s protection would have been enough. But now, with two Demon Kings, they would likely choose to attack after Song Qiumo leaves in half a year.
If they were even more desperate, they might strike sooner.
Either way, he had now made an enemy of the Myriad Mountains Demon King.
“Half a year…”
Li Hao sighed. If he abandoned the pursuit of the Grandmaster realm, he could focus on cultivating for the next six months. He might achieve Dao Heart Spiritual Immersion, thereby advancing to the Three Immortalities or even the Fourth Establishment Realm.
But missing the opportunity to reach the Grandmaster realm would make it much harder to achieve later, as his Dao Heart would be incomplete.
…
…
Old Feng’s figure disappeared, hiding in the shadows once more.
Li Hao returned to the Discussion Platform to meet Ren Qianqian.
“Young Master, are you alright?”
Ren Qianqian saw Li Hao and hurriedly asked with concern.
Li Hao’s face was pale, and he didn’t look well. The exhaustion from earlier, which he had suppressed through his physical strength, was now catching up with him.
After all, he had faced a series of challenges from Grandmasters, killed a peak Three Immortalities Young Demon King, and then exterminated nearly a hundred thousand Demons. The toll was significant.
“I’m fine. I just need some rest.”
Li Hao reassured Ren Qianqian and sat down to meditate.
Soon, other Grandmasters began to return. When they saw Li Hao resting there, their expressions turned serious. Many of them came over to thank him, as he had rescued them during the battle.
Li Hao’s willingness to help without holding grudges earned him their respect and admiration. Besides his exceptional talent, his character was also deeply impressive.
The other Grandmasters had heard about Li Hao’s solo defense of a section of the city wall and his subsequent reinforcement of other battlefields, wiping out a hundred thousand Demons. They all looked at him with complex expressions.
A prodigy of this caliber, even in folk tales, would be too incredible to write about.
“Sir Li, I apologize for my earlier rudeness and thank you for your help despite our past differences.”
Zhou Haitang approached and bowed slightly to Li Hao.
For a Grandmaster, this was the highest form of respect.
Li Hao frowned slightly and said coolly, “I don’t go by Li. Don’t call me by that surname. My surname is Ji.”
Hearing the young man’s words, everyone was taken aback. They then recalled the famous battle in Qingzhou City, their expressions changing. They remembered that this talented young man had severed ties with the Li Family.
However, they all used to think it was just a temporary burst of youthful defiance.
They believed that once the young man encountered setbacks and difficulties outside, he would naturally realize the protection the Divine General Manor provided and eventually choose to return.
But now, it seems that this young man is no longer a bird in a cage.
Describing him as a genius is no longer accurate; he has clearly become a first-class powerhouse capable of slaying Great Demons on his own!
Grandmaster Invincible, slaying Young Demon King—these two feats alone are enough to prove that he no longer needs any protection and can stand on his own!
For a moment, everyone was speechless and silent.
While the details and reasons behind that great battle were still a matter of speculation, the events of today were witnessed firsthand. They couldn’t imagine what could possibly make the Li Family treat such a world-class prodigy in such a manner.
To the point of forcing him to renounce his surname and leave home.
Zhou Haitang was slightly taken aback, a bit awkward, and nodded with a bow, avoiding the topic:
"If you need anything in the future, you can write to Iron Sword Peak or Lihuamen. I'll remember this favor!"
Li Hao nodded slightly, accepting the offer.
While he might not need it, who could predict the future?
The other Grandmasters also approached one by one to thank Li Hao, but they mostly avoided addressing him by his surname. Since Li Hao disliked being called "Li", they simply called him "Prince Hao."
As for his given name, they dared not use it, fearing that if the news reached the Divine General Manor, it might cause complications.
"Prince Hao, regarding the painting you mentioned earlier, I've considered it and am willing to gift it to you. Do you still need it?"
Bai Chunhai approached with his disciple, smiling as he spoke.
His disciple, a tall and imposing man, looked at the young man seated majestically, feeling uneasy, and quickly said, "I didn’t recognize your greatness earlier, please forgive me."
With that, he bowed deeply.
One must not offend a Grandmaster, lest blood be spilled.
But Li Hao didn’t pay much attention to him, smiling at Bai Chunhai instead, "Since that’s the case, I thank you."
Seeing Li Hao willing to accept the gift, Bai Chunhai felt a strange sense of joy, his face lighting up with a smile.
If anyone else had asked for a painting, he would have given them a cold shoulder, but this young man was an exception.
Outside the crowd, Li Wushuang had already sent a signal. Now that the City Governor’s meeting was over, she withdrew from the battle.
She had heard everything Li Hao said, her face a complex mix of emotions as she tightly clutched her sword and bit her lower lip.
Her cousin was truly planning to leave the Li Family, and saying it so publicly would surely spread the news again.
If he really cut all ties in the future, would they still be considered cousins?
She felt an inexplicable pain in her heart.
Soon, Li Hao received the famous painting from Bai Chunhai.
He glanced at it but didn’t display it in public, instead handing it to Ren Qianqian.
After bidding farewell to the Grandmasters with a bow, he left the Discussion Ground with Ren Qianqian, heading out of Daiyue City.
His purpose for coming here had been achieved, and he had also participated in the Discussion, gaining much. Now, Li Hao needed to return to Heavenly Gate Pass.
As they left the city, Li Hao saw a massive army of iron hooves rolling in from a distance, with the Xuan Flag waving among them. It was likely the signal for reinforcements released by his elder sister, summoning their Fifth Uncle.
However, the camp where he was stationed was quite far away, so they wouldn’t arrive so quickly.
Li Hao had no intention of greeting them and quietly flew away with Ren Qianqian from another direction.
...
...
Daiyue City was nearly lost!
Young Demon King Wanshan led a demon army in a surprise attack, and a Fourth Establishment Realm Demon King made a shocking appearance but was repelled by a mysterious powerhouse!
This news spread across all the provinces, while a more detailed military report was swiftly sent to the Imperial Capital of Dayu Province.
Simultaneously, another military report traveled across mountains and rivers, reaching Qingzhou and the Heavenly Origin Divine General’s Manor.
Inside the manor’s grand hall, Li Tiangang gathered the household ministers, the ladies of the halls, and Li Muxiu to discuss the matter.
On the table lay a large map of Liangzhou. Li Tiangang had also brought out several secret reports he had received earlier. The situation in Liangzhou was far more dire than anyone had imagined.
Among them, Gao Qingqing's expression was the most grave and worried.
Her husband, Li Xuanli, was currently stationed in Liangzhou. With six out of the nine Li Family sons already fallen in battle, she was deeply concerned that her husband might become the seventh.
Ever since Li Xuanli was dispatched to Liangzhou, she hadn't slept well, often waking up from nightmares. In her dreams, she found herself in the Memorial Hall, attending the funeral of another family member.
But when she lifted the coffin lid, she saw her husband's pale face lying inside. She had screamed in terror multiple times, her tears soaking her hair.
As Li Tiangang pointed to the map and discussed the strategies and the demons' movements, he noticed the uneasy expression on the face of his fifth sister-in-law. He sighed inwardly, knowing that he was even more anxious about this than she was. He didn't want anything to happen to his fifth brother.
During their conversation, a military report from Liangzhou arrived.
Upon hearing it was from Liangzhou, everyone turned their attention to it.
However, the military report was first handed to Li Tiangang. His heart sank as he quickly opened it, only to find that it contained three separate reports.
He read through them rapidly but carefully.
The first report detailed the demon situation outside Liangzhou.
The second report documented the grandmaster discussion in Daiyue City.
The third report described the detailed account of Daiyue City being attacked by demons.
As Li Tiangang read the first report, his brows furrowed. When he read the second, his eyes widened slightly.
By the time he finished the third report, his face was filled with shock.
Seeing the change in Li Tiangang's expression, everyone became tense.
"Tian Gang, what's the situation?" Li Muxiu frowned and asked.
Though he disliked Li Tiangang, this was a matter of great importance. He might need to intervene and provide support to Liangzhou, and he needed to be informed.
Li Tiangang held the military reports in his hands, silent for a long moment. After the others began to ask concerned questions, he finally passed the reports to them to read on their own.
Gao Qingqing quickly scanned the reports. When she saw that her worst fears were not realized, she let out a sigh of relief. However, she was soon stunned into silence by the information inside.
"Li Hao actually participated in the grandmaster conference?"
"How is that possible? He defeated Li Qianfeng's senior brother, Qin Wuque, who has been the top of the Qianlong List for three years and is considered the best in Dayu during this era!"
"And he debated with all the grandmasters and defeated them?"
"Li Hao just entered the Tianren Realm, how could he defeat even a Great Grandmaster?"
Everyone was shocked and couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief as they read the report about the grandmaster conference.
Li Muxiu also flipped through the pages, and his face immediately lit up with joy. His eyes sparkled as he exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent!"
He laughed heartily.
This was the most joyful moment he had experienced in a long time.
That brat, he always manages to surprise us!
Li Muxiu laughed with delight, inwardly marveling at Li Hao's terrifying growth rate. He had seen it before, but now it seemed even faster.
That child used to only care about playing and having fun. Is he finally determined to focus on cultivation?
Is this his true cultivation speed?
Li Muxiu laughed heartily and looked at Li Tiangang. Seeing the other man's silent, expressionless face, he let out a slight cold laugh and said:
"Li Tiangang, that Buddhist Master's personal disciple, Qin Wuque, entered the Tianren Realm at nineteen, a talent of the highest caliber!"
"Back then, you also entered the Tianren Realm at nineteen, right? Li Hao has defeated your younger self!"
"And he did it with just one finger!"
(End of Chapter)
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