https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-145-Li-Tiangang-He-Defeated-the-Younger-You-Part-2-/13450162/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-147-Fourth-Uncle-of-the-Li-Family/13450168/
Chapter 146: Give Him Some Room
Chapter 146: Give Him Some Room (1925 Additional Chapter for Monthly Votes)
When Li Muxiu spoke, the others' expressions changed slightly. Some looked at Li Tiangang, while others lowered their heads in silence.
Li Tiangang remained silent in the face of Li Muxiu's mockery, offering no response.
Seeing his reaction, Li Muxiu was somewhat surprised, having expected his words to enrage the other man.
Is he regretting it?
A thought crossed his mind, and then he heard He Jianlan say, "Second Uncle, please take another look at the letter sent by the Xuanli."
Li Muxiu was taken aback and glanced at He Jianlan, noticing her peculiar expression. He quickly opened the Military Report.
Soon, his pupils dilated slightly, a hint of shock appearing in his eyes.
That brat actually slew the Three Immortal Great Demon?!
Li Muxiu thought he understood Li Hao well, but now, the young man's rapid improvement had once again exceeded his expectations, or rather, shattered the talent ceiling of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Defeating all Grandmasters was already astonishing, but to kill a Three Immortalities Young Demon King at the Indestructible Realm was even more unbelievable!
If it weren't for the numerous Grandmasters who witnessed it, Li Muxiu would have doubted the accuracy of the report.
"Li Hao, Li Hao..."
Li Muxiu's lips trembled slightly. At this moment, he was more excited than anyone, envisioning the Li Family's impending peak of glory.
But then.
His eyes quickly darkened, a pain gnawing at his heart.
He turned to look at Li Tiangang angrily, seeing the other man's silent and unresponsive demeanor. He felt both angry and amused, but mostly sorrowful.
Blaming Li Tiangang was pointless now. He didn't know if the child would ever return.
"The Dragon Dawn Sword, that famous sword is said to be in the Imperial Clan's treasure vault. Now it's in Li Hao's hands. Was it granted by Emperor Yu? When did this happen?"
Gao Qingqing held the letter, muttering to herself.
Hearing this, Chen Hefang, sitting beside her, was taken aback. She immediately thought of the Eternal Night.
If the Eternal Night were in that child's hands now, it would surely bring him fame across the land.
But now, the Eternal Night lay dormant here, just like Xiao Jiu, quietly sealed in the darkness.
The grand hall fell silent, everyone lost in thought, digesting the news.
No one had expected that the young man, who had just left the Divine General Manor, would so quickly make a name for himself and shock the entire world.
When Li Tiangang had angrily criticized the young man, they all, though silent, had inwardly agreed to some extent.
Each of them basked in the glory of a thousand years, and the high-ranking officials who treated them with respect did so because of the Divine General Manor behind them.
But now, what people noticed was not the young man's identity, but his extraordinary talent!
"Tian Gang, why aren't you speaking?"
Li Muxiu looked at the silent Li Tiangang and said, "If you regret it, it's not too late to go to Heavenly Gate Pass and apologize to the child. Don't wait until the three years are up and everything becomes meaningless!"
Hearing Second Uncle's words, the ladies present were taken aback and couldn't help but look at Li Tiangang.
Li Tiangang's eyes slowly regained focus. He looked at Li Muxiu, seeing the anger in the other man's eyes, and his lips twitched slightly.
"Second Uncle, you've seen the child's talent, but do you approve of his actions?"
"Hmm?"
Li Muxiu frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Suppressing a Buddhist Disciple in public, disgracing Wuliang Mountain, and making an enemy of a Buddhist Master, suppressing all the Grandmasters—how many connections and forces do these Grandmasters have behind them? How many people can he anger?"
Li Tiangang said slowly.
Li Muxiu retorted angrily, "Are you suggesting we let others bully us? Are you afraid?!"
"Scared?"
Li Tiangang shook his head slightly. "Second Uncle, the reason you lost to my father and failed to become the True Dragon was because Grandfather made the right choice. Your sense of the bigger picture really isn't up to par."
"You're lecturing me?!" Li Muxiu's eyes flared with a mix of coldness and fury.
Li Tiangang looked at him calmly. "In the Li Family, we respect the Imperial Clan, but we naturally don't fear anyone else. The Wuliang Mountain secretly interfering in our family affairs is a debt I haven't settled yet!"
"What are the Grandmasters and their connections worth in the face of the iron hooves of my Fa Camp and Yuan Camp?"
"Who dares to speak a single word against the Divine General Manor?"
Li Muxiu said coldly, "What did you mean by what you just said?"
Li Tiangang replied, "I've said it before, Li Hao has enough talent. I've never thought he lacked talent, but his actions are too extreme and reckless!"
"He's still young, and I can forgive many of his actions, but forgiveness doesn't mean allowing and indulging him. Otherwise, wouldn't he end up just like you?"
"If he can't tolerate a single word of criticism, what will he amount to?"
"Take this incident, for example."
He picked up the envelope in his hand and threw it in front of Li Muxiu. "That Wuliang Mountain Buddhist Disciple provoked him. He could have just defeated him, which would have brought him fame. Even if the other party was angry, they wouldn't immediately seek revenge, or at least, when it comes to light in the future, others would think Wuliang Mountain was being petty."
"But by humiliating him so thoroughly, if they do seek revenge, and the matter becomes public, others will find it understandable!"
"The same goes for the Grandmasters. On the surface, they are nothing in front of the Li Family, but you can't guard against small-minded people all the time. Do you want to waste energy dealing with their underhanded tactics every day?"
"He always has better options, but he always chooses the worst one!"
Li Tiangang stared at Li Muxiu. "This is the problem with being pampered by you. His actions may feel satisfying, but what about the consequences?"
Children can be impulsive, but adults need to learn self-restraint!
"Releasing anger without restraint, if he were to bear the identity of the Li Family's True Dragon, his actions would represent the Li Family's intentions!"
"It would seem as if the Li Family is deliberately suppressing the Grandmasters, making them lose face!"
"Public opinion is like water; it can carry a boat or capsize it."
"People respect the Divine General Manor not just because we defend Dayu and spill blood on the battlefield, but also because we never bully the common folk or act unjustly."
"To put it simply, force can suppress rebellion, but it's only through magnanimity that you can win hearts!"
"He will lead armies in the future. Second Uncle has surely heard stories of generals who mistreat their subordinates and end up with their heads cut off while drunk?"
Li Muxiu was taken aback. He took a deep breath and said, "Well said. You have enough magnanimity for your soldiers and subordinates. Your heart can hold the people of Qingzhou, so why can't it hold one more child, especially your own son?"
"Because he is my son, he is different", Li Tiangang said, each word deliberate.
Li Muxiu laughed. "He saved the people of Daiyue City and Cangyu City, earning his ennoblement. Did you have such achievements at fourteen? How do you know he won't win the hearts of the people and the world's admiration?"
"Public opinion is water, and the Grandmasters are hands. Water can be guided by the hands. Sometimes, how the water flows depends on how the hands move", Li Tiangang said coldly.
Li Muxiu looked at him intently. "So, what do you mean? Are you really going to wait three years?"
Li Tiangang glanced at him, his gaze shifting to the letter in front of him. After a moment of silence, he slowly said:
"With the help of your friend and his own strength, he can certainly hold the Heavenly Gate Pass."
"But now that he has killed the Myriad Mountains Young Demon King, the Myriad Mountains Demon King won't let this go easily. Even with your old friend's protection, it will be difficult. If the other Demon Kings join forces to avenge their son, he will be in grave danger."
Li Muxiu raised an eyebrow, saying lightly, "I thought you hadn't considered this."
Li Tiangang ignored his sarcasm and said, "I will write a letter. Since he is young and impulsive, I will give him a way out."
Li Muxiu let out a sigh of relief and said, "Since you have this intention, I suggest you handle it in person."
"No time."
Li Tiangang shook his head slightly, tapping his fingers on the table.
"Second Uncle, don't forget what we were just discussing. Liangzhou is so vast, and the Demon Plague has appeared in Daiyue City. This shows that the Demons can no longer contain themselves. I need to go to Dayu Province to meet with His Majesty."
Li Muxiu frowned, giving him a few looks. He then thought about Li Tiangang's nature and realized that if Li Tiangang were to go, it might backfire.
He decided not to insist further.
No matter what, the fact that Li Tiangang was willing to back down was a good sign.
He sighed inwardly and then thought of Feng Boping.
He could almost picture his old friend's expression and smile in his mind.
The thought made his teeth grind in frustration.
That guy must have known about Li Hao's situation all along but didn't bother to write and tell him, probably just waiting to see his reaction.
"Old man, I'll show you what I can do the next time we meet", Li Muxiu thought to himself.
……
……
Wuliang Mountain, Vast Heaven Pure Land.
Deep within the mountain range, at the pinnacle of this sacred land.
Golden Buddha light shone brightly, and there was a staircase leading from the secular world to the foot of the mountain, allowing the suffering masses and the wealthy elite to come and burn incense and pray.
At the summit, within a sacred land enveloped by an array barrier.
Infinite Buddha Master sat on a lotus throne, his expression gentle and compassionate. To his left and right were two Bodhisattvas: Lin Wujing and a female Bodhisattva with a serene demeanor, though her brows were slightly furrowed.
In front of them, in the Buddha Hall's sacred light, several figures knelt, including two Buddhist Disciples.
"I am aware of the situation in Liangzhou."
Infinite Buddha Master's voice was gentle but resonant, like a bell, yet not jarring or harsh, as smooth as water.
"That young man's talent is unprecedented, making him the first in Dayu. You need not be disheartened by your defeat at his hands; everything is predetermined."
The two Buddhist Disciples, Qin Wuque and Li Qianfeng, were both startled by their master's words. They felt even more ashamed but also somewhat relieved and bitter.
Both were prodigies, yet they had suffered a crushing defeat. Their master's words seemed to imply that they could not be compared to him.
"Qiankun Vajra."
Infinite Buddha Master spoke softly, "You have three years left. Stay on the mountain and cultivate. If you can reach the Tianren Realm, you will have the chance to contend for the True Dragon Position. If not, remain in my sect, become an Arhat Bodhisattva, and avoid entanglements in the mortal world. Your Divine General Manor protects the people, and our Buddhist Sect saves the masses."
Li Qianfeng's heart trembled, and he bowed deeply.
"Yes, Master."
Beside him, Qin Wuque's eyes, which were filled with bitterness and despondency, flickered with a hint of brightness. He looked at the Buddha Master with a hint of confusion.
"Master, I am incompetent. That young man's Grandmaster Martial Realm is extremely formidable. Even if Qiankun reaches the Tianren Realm, he might still not be able to match him."
His question was not a challenge but a quest for understanding. He knew that his master had a reason for saying this to Li Qianfeng.
"The strength of the world has no fixed rules. Flowers bloom in March and wither in September. If you can make them bloom in September, even if they are not as brilliant, it is no matter."
"The Dragon Elephant is strong but cannot cross the river; the bird is weak but can traverse thousands of mountains and rivers."
Infinite Buddha Master continued softly, "Everything in the world follows a law. Heaven envies talent, and the overly strong are prone to breaking. That child has great talent, but he has already stepped onto a path of no return, a road destined to be difficult."
The two disciples were puzzled and did not understand the meaning. Were they to interpret that Li Hao was too arrogant and would bring about his own downfall?
Infinite Buddha Master said softly, "Go now. Cultivate well and overcome your Heart Demons to continue advancing."
"Know that all consciousness is illusory, and all actions in the world are like a dream. Only then can you achieve transcendence!"
(End of Chapter)
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