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Chapter 171: Li Hao Emerges, Liangzhou in Peril (First Update)
Chapter 171: Li Hao Emerges, Liangzhou in Peril (First Update)
The scorching summer sun blazed overhead.
In Cangya City, Li Hao sat in the Wattle Yard, savoring chilled fruits, occasionally offering pointers on Sword Art to Ren Qianqian.
Another year had passed, and he was now fifteen years old.
Ren Qianqian had just turned fourteen.
She had cultivated a top-tier Sword Art to the Supreme Level.
Among those of the same realm, apart from the Imperial Clan, few could match her.
After consuming the dishes prepared by the Great Demon and the Ghost Lady Demon King, which were rich in energy, her realm advanced rapidly. Within half a year, she had progressed from the Divine Wanderer Realm to the seventh level of the same realm.
This level of strength far surpassed that of the City Lord Li Hao had encountered during his demon-slaying expedition in Qizhou Cangyu City.
At just fourteen, Ren Qianqian now possessed the strength to independently govern an inland city.
In many such cities, life was peaceful, and the surrounding mountain demons were generally weak. The Divine Wanderer Realm was sufficient to deter them, and with the aid of the City Defense Array, even Tianren Realm demons could be held off for a short while, allowing time for reinforcements.
In addition to practicing the sword, Li Hao shared his insights on opening the Yin-Yang Dual Meridians with her.
Upon learning that Li Hao had successfully opened both major divine meridians, Ren Qianqian was both astonished and unsurprised, given Li Hao's overwhelming strength compared to others of the same realm.
Following Li Hao's guidance, Ren Qianqian managed to open the Yin Meridian by chance.
However, opening the Yang Meridian was extremely dangerous for those who were not naturally gifted. A single mistake could result in brain explosion.
Throughout history, countless geniuses had perished while attempting to force the opening of the Yang Meridian, including some who were considered potential successors to the True Person position.
Despite multiple attempts, Ren Qianqian lacked the confidence to try, and Li Hao did not encourage her. This was not a matter of bravery but rather of Qi channeling.
After all, while there were many brave martial artists in the world, those who could open the Yang Meridian were few and far between.
The difference between a brave warrior and a reckless one often lies in the outcome.
Knowing when to stop is also a form of wisdom.
With the Yin Meridian opened, Ren Qianqian now had the capital to compete with the royal family.
Most prodigies in the royal family had opened one divine meridian.
Those who had opened two were considered the outstanding figures of their generation, numbering only a handful.
In addition to practicing the sword, Li Hao occasionally took walks Beyond the Pass, often accompanied by Ren Qianqian.
They ventured into areas that were further east and west, as the region five thousand miles deep had already been explored, but the lateral expansion was only about a thousand miles.
Li Hao's presence caused a stir in the Tianji Hall, with demons frantically fleeing in all directions.
He captured some Fifteen Li Realm demons to serve as sparring partners for Ren Qianqian, providing intense training. With Li Hao watching over, the sessions were challenging but not dangerous.
Through this practical training, Ren Qianqian's combat skills improved rapidly.
Her battles with demons Beyond the Pass were detected by the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, and she was listed on the Heaven and Earth List.
Currently, both lists on the Heaven and Earth List ranked Li Hao at number one.
Ren Qianqian, on the other hand, had entered the Kunfeng List at fifth place and the Qianlong List at twenty-ninth place.
Her rising fame attracted the attention of many factions.
The most crucial factor was her young age.
At just fourteen, she had achieved such a high ranking and accomplishments. It was highly likely that she would enter the top ten of the Qianlong List and reach the Tianren Master Realm before the age of twenty-two.
As her fame grew, many people dug up basic information about her. They learned that she was the daughter of a Martial Master, a former student of the Tan Palace who had dropped out and was now serving as Li Hao's Sword Attendant.
When Li Hao's name appeared in this information, all the factions that were paying attention were taken aback, their focus immediately shifting.
Since Li Hao had single-handedly suppressed a Buddhist Disciple in front of the Grandmasters of the world, his name had become well-known among the young generation of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Any news related to Li Hao would quickly catch the attention of the masses.
Over the past six months, young men from various states have been flocking to Heavenly Gate Pass, eager to catch a glimpse of the young prodigy.
Some came to discuss and spar with Li Hao, believing that even a defeat at his hands would bring them fame across the land.
This has led to Cangya City becoming increasingly bustling and prosperous.
In times of chaos, people seek survival; in times of peace, they seek fame.
The Great Yu Divine Dynasty is now in decline, but this subtle downward trend is not something everyone can keenly perceive.
Throughout the mountains and cities, there are still many spirited young men, dressed in fine clothes, galloping across the land in pursuit of glory and honor.
Nobles and generals are all affected by this, unable to see through the chaos, let alone the young and inexperienced.
When the elders of these young men learned that the array in Cangya City had been rebuilt and that a Fourth Establishment Realm expert was secretly stationed there, and that the Demon King had been dismembered twice and cooked to treat the entire city, they did not stop their children from heading to this perilous Border Pass.
However, these young men were all stopped outside the Wattle Yard.
Inside the yard, young men played music and painted, while outside, the Haotian Army stood guard with utmost loyalty, and Grandmasters patrolled the area.
Even if a young man spent countless efforts to deliver a letter of introduction, Li Hao would simply hand it to Ren Qianqian to deal with.
It also served as a good opportunity for Ren Qianqian to practice.
Very few young men could defeat Ren Qianqian. According to the Heaven and Earth List, there were only about twenty such prodigies, all from prestigious families, and they would not come to Beyond the Pass to seek fame through Li Hao.
The rest were mostly young men over 22, some even in their thirties or forties, who could still put pressure on Ren Qianqian.
However, even if they defeated Ren Qianqian, they would still not get the chance to meet Li Hao.
The young man who had gained fame across the land was inside the small yard, and countless people looked forward to seeing him, yet they could not.
Fame and honor were just a wall away.
The path to glory is always arduous, which is why Li Hao chose to spend most of his time sitting.
Painting, playing chess, and playing music—all done while sitting.
If he could sit, he would never stand.
Over the past six months,
Li Hao has advanced his Music Daoheart Immersion to the fourth stage.
He used the Mindset he obtained to enhance his Body Movement Path.
With the Mindset breaking through the third stage bottleneck, and three consecutive skill points added, Li Hao's Body Movement Path reached the Sixth Rank.
When he previously added points to his Flesh Dao, he had 5 Art Skill Points left. Now, with Music reaching the fourth stage, he gained one more point, but used 3, leaving him with 3 points.
Li Hao kept these points in reserve, ready to use them for Mindset Spiritual Immersion on Yudao or Sword Dao when the time came.
After reaching the Sixth Rank in Body Movement Path, Li Hao's existing body techniques underwent a qualitative improvement, allowing him to advance his Cultivation Techniques to the rank of Supreme Body Movement and Cultivate to the True State!
Now, if he were to encounter those Demon Kings again, Li Hao was confident he could hunt them down and kill them one by one!
Unless they used the power of destiny to interfere.
But they would not have that chance again.
One day, the Dragon Dawn Sword, which had been sent to the Myriad Treasures Tower for forging, was personally delivered by the Three Immortalities of the Myriad Treasures Tower.
The man who brought it was a sturdy, middle-aged man who personally handed the Dragon Dawn Sword to Li Hao.
He personally delivered the divine weapon not only to ensure it did not get lost but also to see the young man who had gained fame across the land.
Li Hao had cut down a Lesser Demon King at the age of fourteen, a feat that made many seasoned experts uneasy.
"Young General, the Dragon Dawn Sword has undergone three forges and starfire tempering. You can feel its quality."
The middle-aged man, named Lu Cheng, spoke to Li Hao with great respect and ease.
Li Hao nodded, already aware of this.
Originally, he had planned for a second forge, using the materials from the Black Bird Demon King's body and its Demon Soul.
But after slaying the Thousand Caves Ghost Lady, he had the opportunity for a third forge.
If a divine weapon could be forged nine times, it had the potential to transform into a Sacred Heart Celestial Treasure!
These are weapons that Fourth Establishment Realm experts yearn for, with only a select few possessing them. Each Sacred Heart Celestial Treasure is a formidable weapon, capable of easily intimidating peers of the same realm.
To be classified as a Divine Weapon, it must contain at least a Demon King-level Demon Soul.
Originally, Dragon Dawn was a top-tier Divine Weapon primarily due to the powerful True Dragon Divine Soul it contained, far surpassing the current Black Bird Demon King and Thousand Caves Ghost Lady sealed within it.
After three additional fusions, its power has significantly increased. Even the manipulation of Dragon Dawn's own sword soul can now injure a Dao Mind Realm Demon King.
"Cut down six more Demon Kings, and it can be fused nine times, making it a Sacred Heart Celestial Treasure."
Li Hao's eyes gleamed.
A Sacred Heart Celestial Treasure requires at least nine Fourth Establishment Realm true souls for its creation, including those of Demon Kings and human beings.
Taking the Dragon Dawn Sword, Li Hao immediately felt the difference, not just in appearance but also in the weight and balance.
Originally, it concealed the scorching power of the True Dragon, but now it felt more soothing, as if a balance of yin and yang had been achieved.
Additionally, the blade seemed sharper, with a deeper hue.
Li Hao didn't test it in the city; otherwise, summoning the sealed sword soul would have caused a sensation.
"Thank you."
Li Hao said.
"It's my pleasure. The extra Demon King corpses you gave me are more than enough as a casting fee. In fact, we made quite a profit", Lu Cheng laughed, appearing very generous.
Li Hao smiled and said, "If I find more Demon Kings in the future, I'll have to trouble you again."
Lu Cheng was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh. Hearing Li Hao speak of "Demon Kings" so casually, as if they were certain to be slain upon sight, he realized that this young man was indeed different from the ordinary.
But he also knew that Li Hao had the protection of a Fourth Establishment Realm expert, and it might not be long before he received more Demon King corpses.
After all, Beyond the Pass was a perilous place, and encountering Demon Kings was not uncommon.
After a few more pleasantries, Li Hao bid farewell to the burly man.
Later that evening, after a hearty meal, Li Hao went to Beyond the Pass to test the sword.
In addition to the original True Dragon Sword Soul, the Demon Souls of the Black Bird Demon King and Thousand Caves Ghost Lady were also fused into the blade. With the three Demon King true souls in unison, the atmosphere was like a storm of yin wind and the howls of ghosts and dragons, creating a terrifying spectacle.
The sword light sliced through the air, easily cutting a trench hundreds of meters long.
Li Hao marveled, sheathed Dragon Dawn, and returned to the city for a comfortable night's sleep.
Time passed.
Unbeknownst to him, it had been over half a year since Li Hao's initial sweep of Beyond the Pass, which had scared off several Demon Kings.
Using the Heaven-Earth Spectrum attribute, Li Hao had created 180 Marking Moves into War Flags.
A total of 180 War Flags, with 80 of them planted on the mountain peaks of Beyond the Pass, where the heavenly and earthly energies were abundant, preventing Demons from establishing their lairs for cultivation.
The remaining 100 were distributed around the four sides of Cangya City, ready to block Demon invasions in critical moments.
As the number of war flags increased, Li Hao began to realize the terrifying potential of this attribute.
They were like small bombs, each storing half of his power. What did this mean?
If 100 war flags were destroyed simultaneously, the energy released would be a terrifying storm!
Although this power couldn't be linearly stacked, the simultaneous explosion would be enough to turn a 200-mile radius into a chaotic no-go zone!
Even Demon Kings would have to avoid its fury.
The only drawback was that the attack from a damaged war flag was indiscriminate, so Li Hao could only place them a hundred miles outside the city.
While ordinary military war flags wouldn't be placed so far out, Li Hao did so to avoid accidental destruction and the subsequent Marking Move explosion.
With these war flags and arrays, along with his shadow avatar stationed there, Li Hao felt that even if he were away, Cangya City could withstand a Demon King's assault for some time without being breached.
This way, he could also free himself up to do something else.
Li Hao had been longing for the reward from the Heavenly Mechanism Tower for a long time.
The Heavenly Mechanism Tower housed a vast array of cultivation techniques, none of which were inferior to those in the Rain Listening Pavilion. If he could find some other supreme Meridian Opening Techniques and Qi Circulation Techniques, Li Hao felt that he might be able to open all 108 Major Meridians!
Combined with the Yin-Yang Dual Meridians, a fully connected body would certainly bring about a significant enhancement, possibly even reaching the peak state.
According to the records of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, no one had ever achieved the complete opening of all meridians.
Perhaps there were some, but they just weren't recorded, or the books in the Rain Listening Pavilion were not comprehensive enough.
For example, that Buddhist Master or that True Person, Li Hao speculated, might have reached the level of complete meridian opening. After all, they lived for so long, with ample time to cultivate more techniques, refine themselves, and open more acupoints.
For this trip to the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, Li Hao didn't bring Ren Qianqian, planning to go and return quickly.
He left the Dragon Dawn Sword with his dark side avatar, who would guard Heavenly Gate Pass. He also told Old Feng not to follow him and to stay behind to watch over the place.
Even if he encountered a powerful Demon King, he could still escape if he couldn't win.
Moreover, after Li Hao reached the Sixth Rank of the Body Movement Path, Old Feng had taught him his own movement technique, the Heaven and Earth Traceless Technique.
Li Hao's cultivation of this technique was only slightly inferior to Old Feng's.
But with the acceleration attribute of the Tomes, it was more than enough to make up for it.
Thus, in terms of escaping, Li Hao was already a capable person.
Compared to himself, Li Hao was more concerned that the Demons might take advantage of his absence to attack Heavenly Gate Pass.
At this moment, using the Omni Attributes, Li Hao concealed his aura and followed the Heavenly Mechanism Tower's guide out of seclusion.
However, as soon as the guide left Heavenly Gate Pass, the bird demons of the Tianji Hall, hidden in the dark corners of Cangya City, detected his movements and relayed the information.
"That guide from the Heavenly Mechanism Tower has come out of seclusion!"
"According to previous intelligence, he came to Cangya City to pick up General Haotian. He won first place at the Grandmaster Conference and received a reward from the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, allowing him to visit and study cultivation techniques there."
"He's finally come out of seclusion and is about to leave Liangzhou?"
"Did anyone see him?"
"No, but he's likely concealing his presence."
"Could this be a ruse?"
The bird demons of the Tianji Hall chattered excitedly.
Beside the Red-Dressed Maiden stood a girl in a purple dress, a few years older than the Red-Dressed Maiden, about fifteen or sixteen years old. She had a delicate and charming appearance, with a strand of purple feather decorating her forehead among her black hair, adding a touch of nobility to her lively demeanor.
"Actually, he doesn't need to deliberately deceive us. Unless he's trying to lure us into attacking Heavenly Gate Pass, but the Dragon Gate and Holy Palace have already discussed their plans. They will first swallow Liangzhou and then remove this thorn!"
"He can't possibly know our plans, so his actions can only mean one thing: he's worried that we will attack Heavenly Gate Pass while he's away, so he's hiding his presence."
The Red-Dressed Maiden quickly said.
The girl in the purple dress nodded slightly and said, "That's right. His concerns are unnecessary. Attacking Heavenly Gate Pass without killing him would be meaningless. Now that this young man has gone to the Heavenly Mechanism Tower to study cultivation techniques, it will take some time. This is the best opportunity to attack Liangzhou."
"Go and inform the Dragon Gate side. See how much longer their Great Elder will be out of seclusion."
"Yes, Elder."
(End of Chapter)
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