https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-171-Li-Hao-Emerges-Liangzhou-in-Peril-First-Update-/13450210/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-173-Heavenly-Shadow-Stele-Third-Update-/13450215/
Chapter 172: The Heavenly Mechanism Art
Chapter 172: The Heavenly Mechanism Art (Second Update, Requesting Monthly Votes)
In a deep lake two thousand miles west of Liangzhou.
Beneath the lake, dark shadows slowly floated in the water, like colossal creatures lurking in the abyss, exuding a terrifying aura.
Suddenly, a red bird swooped in with a whistling sound.
As it neared the lake, it transformed into the form of the Red-Dressed Maiden.
She stopped above the deep lake, bent down, and respectfully said, "Tianji Hall’s Hongyun pays respects to the Elders of Dragon Gate."
The calm lake surface suddenly stirred, and a dark shadow emerged, rapidly contracting into the form of an old man.
"What is it?" the old man asked, his gaze calm as he looked at the young woman in the long dress.
"News has just come in. General Haotian from Heavenly Gate Pass has just emerged from seclusion and seems to be heading to the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, temporarily leaving Liangzhou. Our hall believes this is a good opportunity to attack Liangzhou", Hongyun said respectfully.
Though their forces were different, Tianji Hall always treated these Great Demons and Demon Kings with the utmost courtesy.
"Is that the Li Family's young brat?"
The old man raised an eyebrow. He had heard of Heavenly Gate Pass’s exploits before, and the news had spread among the Demons outside Liangzhou that Heavenly Gate Pass was not to be approached.
From the intelligence obtained from Lord Fengshan of the Sainthood Immersion Palace, that young man indeed had the ability to slay Demon Kings. The Thousand Caves Ghost Lady had died at his hands, making him incredibly dangerous.
Splash!
The water suddenly rippled, and a fierce dragon head emerged, covered in golden light, transforming into the form of a serene and aged Daoist priest. He was none other than the wanted Dragon Lord, who had joined Dragon Gate and now served as one of its Elders.
"Have you seen it with your own eyes?" the Dragon Lord immediately asked Hongyun, his gaze intense.
Hongyun respectfully replied, "No, but based on our intelligence, there is a ninety percent chance that it is true."
"Do you want to ambush that young man?"
The old man next to him, seeing through the Dragon Lord's intentions, his eyes cold, said, "Don't think too much about it. According to previous intelligence, to slay that young man, at least three Demon Kings working together would be required. Put your personal vendetta aside. Since you've joined Dragon Gate, prioritize Dragon Gate's interests."
The Dragon Lord's brow furrowed, and his face darkened. "It's not about personal vendetta. This is a rare opportunity. That young man's growth rate far exceeds your imagination. I fear that if we don't kill him soon, the Great Yu Divine Dynasty will have another True Person!"
"You're overthinking it."
The old man shook his head. "Do you really think we would let him grow unchecked? Even if he were a monster, what difference would ten years make? Or even five years? Ha! Not even five months would be enough!"
"Once the Grand Elder emerges from seclusion, he will take care of him. No one can stop it!"
The Dragon Lord's expression flickered, and he nodded. "If that's the case, I won't say more."
Hongyun cautiously asked, "Are you waiting for the Grand Elder to emerge from seclusion before attacking Liangzhou?"
"We will consider it. Thank you for the information, Miss Hongyun", the old man said with a smile.
Hongyun immediately understood she was being dismissed.
She inwardly cursed but smiled on the surface, exchanging a few pleasantries. Seeing the indifferent responses from the others, she didn't linger and turned to fly away.
"Hmph, wanting nothing in return, yet trying to extract information."
Once she left, the old man's smile faded, and he said to the Dragon Lord, "The Grand Elder will emerge from seclusion soon, probably within the next few days. At that time, it won't matter whether the boy is in Liangzhou or not. Go and inform the various halls of Dragon Gate to gather!"
"Finally, we're going to attack?"
The Dragon Lord took a deep breath. His face, serene and dignified, showed a hint of fervor, and a bloodthirsty glint appeared in his eyes.
...
...
The Main Tower of the Heavenly Mechanism Tower is located in Yongzhou, adjacent to Liangzhou.
Compared to Liangzhou's vast and sparsely populated land, Yongzhou is closer to the south, with a warm climate year-round and abundant resources. The Tower Lord of the Heavenly Mechanism Tower often resides here, and it is also a heavily defended territory of the Five Divine General Manors, the Helian Family.
For the past three hundred years, there has been no record of Demons breaking into Yongzhou.
The people live here in peace and prosperity, and this tranquility has attracted many noble families to migrate here. After stable development, many prominent century-old families have emerged.
The journey from Liangzhou Heavenly Gate Pass to Yongzhou's Tianji Main Tower takes six days on horseback.
Li Hao and the Three Eternities Realm Receptionist Tower Master, flying together, can make the round trip in just two days.
If Li Hao were to travel at full speed on his own, it would take him only one day.
This Receptionist is none other than the Tianji Mountain Man who presided over the previous Discussion Conference. He had witnessed Li Hao slay the Young Demon King at the conference and now, as he guides Li Hao, he is quite courteous, not putting on any airs of seniority.
Martial Artists are different from Civil Officials; they value strength above all else.
Civil Officials may speak of respecting the wise, but in daily life, they often adhere to the principles of respecting teachers and elders, and valuing seniority.
Even a Young Scholar would be criticized for criticizing an ordinary, ignorant elder, and some might even be harshly criticized to the point where they wish for their own demise.
The current emperor's favor for civil officials has also influenced many martial generals and Martial Artists in the realm, causing them to adopt a bit of scholarly pretension and a fondness for ranking by seniority.
"Chief Elder said that if General Hao Tian comes, he can stay and meditate for as long as he wishes", Tianji Mountain Man said with a smile to Li Hao.
"If you put it that way, I might just stay indefinitely", Li Hao replied.
"That would be most welcome."
Tianji Mountain Man laughed heartily.
The fact that Li Hao had been stationed at Heavenly Gate Pass for three years was no secret to the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, so they knew he couldn't stay in the tower for an extended period.
Before long, the two arrived at the heart of Yongzhou, a city called Tianji City.
From a distance, they could see a towering building standing majestically within the city.
Li Hao's gaze swept over the city, where the streets were bustling with people, the atmosphere lively and vibrant.
As they traveled along, he could sense the unique charm of Yongzhou, which was somewhat different from other regions. Here, the countryside was filled with young men in fine clothing and spirited horses, and many mountains had groups of young men banding together to slay demons.
Despite the dangers, merchant caravans could be seen everywhere in the outskirts.
The number of Demons here was clearly fewer than in other regions.
Li Hao could already feel the peace and prosperity.
Only in such a tranquil and prosperous place would there be so many young men, full of energy and eager to gain fame by slaying demons.
Soon, the two arrived at the Tianji Main Tower.
The Heavenly Mechanism Tower has seven towers, each guarded by a Tower Master.
Although Tianji Mountain Man is also a Tower Master, he is a "floor" Tower Master.
To be more precise, he is a Floor Master.
Each Heavenly Mechanism Tower has nine floors, managed by three Floor Masters like Tianji Mountain Man and a true Deputy Tower Master, making it extremely powerful.
This is one of the reasons why the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, stationed in Yongzhou, rarely faces Demon invasions.
At this moment, Li Hao was brought to the Main Tower.
Outside the Main Tower, on the training ground, numerous disciples of the Heavenly Mechanism Tower were cultivating. In the distance, there were high mountains, waterfalls, deep pools, and treacherous ravines, all shrouded in mist, creating a scene that resembled a sacred paradise.
As Li Hao landed, he looked up at the plaque of the Heavenly Mechanism Tower and heard a voice drift into his ears:
"Young General, your tea is ready, please come up."
It was the voice of Chief Elder Lu Chunsheng.
Li Hao looked up and saw a figure in white standing atop the Heavenly Mechanism Tower, smiling at him.
"Chief Elder is waiting for you", Tianji Mountain Man said with a smile.
Only Fourth Establishment Realm experts receive the honor of being greeted with tea by the Chief Elder. Even the noble princes of the Imperial Clan seldom receive such treatment, making this young man an exception.
"Thank you for the guidance."
Li Hao smiled, bid farewell to him, and then flew to the top of the tower, entering from the Pavilion.
The rooftop turned out to be a spacious and elegant area, with a long table for burning incense, a guqin placed horizontally, and the fragrance of tea wafting through the air.
"Please."
Lu Chunsheng, dressed in white like snow, looked refined and elegant, gesturing lightly to Li Hao.
Li Hao sat down on the cushion by the tea table and smiled. "Thank you for the invitation, Lord Lu."
"That's merely the reward you deserve."
Lu Chunsheng smiled, examining Li Hao with a slightly intense gaze that quickly softened again. "It seems the rumors are true, Young General. Have you perhaps already reached the Three Immortalities?"
Li Hao was only fifteen, and asking this of any other youth his age would seem absurd and insane. But with Li Hao, it wasn't so hard to believe.
"Hmm."
Li Hao, seeing he had been recognized, didn't hide it. After all, he had already exposed himself by slaying demons Beyond the Pass.
Although Lu Chunsheng was prepared for this, his eyes still narrowed slightly in surprise, and the tea in his cup rippled gently.
"Indeed, Young General, you are a rarity of the ages."
Lu Chunsheng spoke with a smile, his voice tinged with a light sigh.
Even with his vast knowledge and experience, such talent still left him amazed, and he felt even greater admiration for the emperor who had recognized Li Hao's potential.
Li Hao smiled and took a sip of tea. "Good tea."
"The tea is made with spring dew from March, which gives it a slight sweetness." Lu Chunsheng said casually, but his tone betrayed his satisfaction.
Li Hao, seeing this, didn't hesitate to help himself to a few more cups before turning to the guqin. "Lord Lu, do you also play the guqin?"
"Somewhat, somewhat."
Lu Chunsheng smiled. "I've heard that Young General has a wide range of interests and is very learned. How about playing a tune?"
"Perhaps Lord Lu could start, to cleanse my ears", Li Hao suggested modestly.
Lu Chunsheng smiled, but didn't insist further. He stood up and walked to the guqin.
He sat down gracefully, adjusted his posture, and began to play.
The melodious sound of the guqin filled the air.
Li Hao listened quietly, then was slightly surprised. He had assumed that Lu Chunsheng's claim of "somewhat" was modest, but it seemed he really did mean it.
Seeing Lord Lu immersed in his playing, Li Hao picked up his teacup and continued to sip slowly.
The tea was still the best.
Lu Chunsheng's skill, Li Hao estimated, was around the second rank. For someone with talent, that would be the result of about seven to eight years of dedicated practice. For someone without talent, it would take two to three decades.
Soon, the tune ended, and Lu Chunsheng opened his eyes, smiling at Li Hao. "I've made a poor showing."
Indeed, Li Hao thought, but he smiled and said, "Not at all, Lord Lu's skill is quite impressive. You must have practiced for a long time."
"Half a score of years", Lu Chunsheng said with a light laugh.
"Very well played."
Next time, don't play... Li Hao's expression showed his praise.
"Would Young General like to play a tune as well?" Lu Chunsheng's smile grew wider, and his gaze became more warm and inviting.
Li Hao shook his head. "My skill is quite limited, so I'll pass."
"Young General is still young. To be able to study the Dao of the guqin while cultivating is already a rare achievement. There's no need to worry about making a poor showing", Lu Chunsheng reassured him, feeling a bit guilty for having been too absorbed in his own playing and possibly undermining Li Hao's confidence.
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "Lord Lu, I'm in charge at Heavenly Gate Pass and need to get back. Could I take a look at the cultivation techniques?"
Lu Chunsheng sighed inwardly with regret but said, "Of course, Young General, please follow me."
He led Li Hao downstairs. "Feel free to choose any secret manuals here. If you find one you like, I can give it to you."
Li Hao looked at the array of secret manuals, feeling as if he had entered a library.
All the manuals were spotlessly clean.
Li Hao turned and asked, "How long can I stay?"
"As long as you like", Lu Chunsheng smiled.
Li Hao smiled back and said earnestly, "Thank you, Lord Lu."
Lu Chunsheng smiled, explained the categories of the secret manuals, and then left Li Hao there while he went back upstairs.
Li Hao wasn't at the Fourth Establishment Realm, so Lu Chunsheng wasn't worried about him stealing the manuals and hiding them in the Heavenly Earth Space. Besides, he had records of all the manuals, so he wasn't concerned about theft.
(End of Chapter)
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