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Chapter 251: Encounter in Youzhou
Chapter 251: Encounter in Youzhou
Li Hao's mount, the Candlelight Deity, was now partially revealed, though not in its full form. After all, the Candlelight Deity's true body was over a hundred zhang tall, and its movements could cause the ground to shake, creating too much commotion.
Returning to his homeland, Li Hao felt a long-missed sense of nostalgia. Despite the stark contrast between the Great Wasteland Sky outside and inside, the energy drifting through the air was clearly much weaker, making it a desolate place.
But it was this "desolate" earthy scent, deeply ingrained in his bones, that he had breathed since he was a child in this world. It was very comforting.
This comfort was different from the comfort of cultivation, but it brought a sense of ease and joy to his mind and body.
His thoughts wandered over the mountains, to the Heavenly Gate Pass, to the Wattle Yard, and to the old man in the small courtyard, as well as the little girl holding a sword.
If he had the time, he could invite that gluttonous woman to share a barbecue again.
Thinking of those occasional peaceful moments amidst the wind and snow, a slight smile crept onto Li Hao's lips.
He urged the Candlelight Deity to continue on.
Using the Heaven-Earth Spectrum, Li Hao saw that the number of his markers had decreased from 100 to 96, a loss of only four War Banners. This was the total number of War Banners he had left at the Heavenly Gate Pass, suggesting that they might have been damaged by accident. However, this number indicated that the Heavenly Gate Pass was likely safe.
The Candlelight Deity carried Li Hao through the air, with mountains and lakes rushing by below.
Seeing the vast gorges and lakes, Li Hao could sense the presence of Demons within them, making his heart itch with excitement. He noted these places in his mind, as they were all excellent spots for wild fishing.
He could invite Old Feng to come along for some leisurely fishing later...
At this moment, Xiyian, transformed into a red wooden ring around Li Hao's wrist, lifted a small red beard, which swayed curiously in the wind, taking in the new surroundings outside the Great Wasteland Sky.
"Where are we going?"
"First, to see some old friends, then to explore this land."
"Okay."
Xiyian's small red beard extended onto Li Hao's arm, allowing her to see everything more clearly.
Li Hao didn't stop her, letting the Clear Wind blow past his face.
"Should we go straight ahead?"
The Candlelight Deity asked in a low voice.
"You don't recognize the way?" Li Hao was surprised.
"I don't have much memory of it."
"None at all of Liangzhou's surroundings?"
"None of Liangzhou either."
"..."
Li Hao was momentarily speechless. It seemed that Senior Yunge had thoroughly erased their memories.
If this ruler of the Void Realm were to see his old companions, he might not even remember them.
"Do you have any memory of the Void Realm?"
"A little."
"How much is a little?"
"I remember there was a mountain, and many Lesser Demons who feared me."
"..."
Li Hao nodded. He had heard that the Void Realm had secluded itself for a thousand years, and it seemed that the impressions left by a thousand years of seclusion still lingered.
"Since you don't recognize the way, let's go straight ahead. We'll cross any mountains we encounter and eventually make it back to Dayu", Li Hao said.
On his return journey, he encountered some Demons, and occasionally Xiyian would detect rare Divine Medicines, which they would go to collect. This led them off their original path.
By the time they tried to find their way back, they were already lost.
The Great Wasteland Sky was shrouded in miasma, and the terrain was similar, making it difficult to navigate. Li Hao himself wasn't particularly good with directions (he was a bit of a directionally challenged person). However, he used his Dao Domain to clear the miasma, aimed in the right direction, and used the most straightforward method to travel in a straight line, eventually finding his way out.
Now, he would use this straightforward method again, continuing to travel in a straight line.
Once they entered Dayu, he could ask for directions and find his way.
After all, he had once seen the Nineteen Provinces geomantic map, which was considered a secret within the Divine General Manor. It was only because Master Zi had a carefree personality that he allowed a young man like Li Hao to browse through it.
However, despite being lost, these few days of travel were not entirely fruitless.
Apart from rushing along, Li Hao would channel the power of heaven and earth during his breaks to heal Candlelight Deity and Lady Yin, helping them recover their cultivation. This, in turn, attracted the attention of many demons.
These demons were like mosquitoes drawn to the scent of blood, and Li Hao naturally didn't let them go, slaying them all. He refined their demon blood using the Spirit Sacrifice True Demon Art and then transferred it to Xiyian.
The essence blood of these Demon Kings no longer had much effect on Li Hao.
His physical body had been refined to an unimaginable degree, seemingly reaching a bottleneck. Unless he found an extreme and superior refinement method, there would be little improvement.
Xiyian, on the other hand, retained her innate ability to absorb blood and convert it into nourishment. With Li Hao's assistance and the divine medicines gathered along the way, her strength had greatly increased. Her cultivation, which had been at the Dao Mind Realm, had now advanced to the Fate Reversal Realm.
Moreover, her body had become extremely resilient, reaching a strength comparable to a fifth-cast divine weapon.
Even among those of the same realm, the physical bodies of the Dragon Race might not match hers.
The wind howled as Candlelight Deity carried Li Hao, galloping across tens of thousands of miles, flying over mountains infested with demons.
These demons, sensing the great demon king aura of Candlelight Deity, were all alarmed and hurriedly bowed their heads.
As Li Hao passed, he casually smote any mountains with lingering human race auras, wiping out the demons on them.
However, he ignored the other demons that fed on demons or those that cultivated heaven and earth energy in seclusion.
As they continued forward, Li Hao gradually began to see war banners and tattered armor hanging from tree branches along the way. He knew he was getting close to Dayu.
Now, as he reentered the Jianghu, he no longer needed a sword in his hand.
The grass and trees of heaven and earth could all transform into the sharpest sword qi, capable of slicing through anything.
“The Xia Clan, huh…”
Li Hao saw a war banner on a mountain, the characters fluttering in the wind. His eyes flickered, realizing he had entered the territory of the Xia Family.
After a while, upon seeing some scattered villages at the border, Li Hao immediately had Candlelight Deity use the demon transformation technique to change from its fire lion dragon-tailed form into an ordinary horse.
Otherwise, riding a Demon King into the territory would be too ostentatious, and he would quickly become the center of attention.
Taking advantage of the night, he descended in an uninhabited wasteland. Soon, a young man on horseback galloped out from the wilderness, riding onto the official road and heading to a town.
The town had no arrays, making it easy for demons to infiltrate unnoticed. However, Li Hao noticed that most doors and windows were adorned with demon-suppressing talismans.
A quick scan revealed that they were all low-grade talismans. If ordinary lesser demons approached, they would ignite, emitting a red light that would track the demons.
But for great demons, a single breath could blow them away, rendering them useless.
The town was modest, but at night, it was brightly lit. The sound of opera and the beating of drums echoed from the town center, creating a lively atmosphere.
Children carrying lanterns ran and played, heading towards the center of the town.
Li Hao’s divine sense swept over the town, revealing a dilapidated Demon Suppression Bureau in addition to the courthouse. However, the entrance to the Demon Suppression Bureau seemed to be in a bustling market, with the ground littered with rotten vegetables left by street vendors.
Perhaps this is what they mean by "small but complete."
The Demon Suppression Bureau was empty, with only two or three of its officers present, their buttons not even fully fastened, perfectly fitting the town's rustic and casual style.
Li Hao smiled slightly and retrieved the corpse of a demon he had hunted along the way from the Heavenly Earth Space. Using Object Control, he delivered it to the storage room of this simple Demon Suppression Bureau under the cover of night. He then found a silver chest under a bed in a locked room and took a few silver ingots from it.
It was a fair trade.
If they had submitted that demon's head, they would have likely received a substantial reward.
As the silver ingots flew back into Li Hao's hands in the dark, he found a secluded alley and had the Candlelight Deity transform into a young man. Unlike when he had pursued Li Hao, the deity did not have divine flames burning all over his body, nor did he exude a formidable aura. Instead, he concealed his aura and hid the divine light.
Despite this, the Candlelight Deity's stern face still gave off an intimidating vibe.
Standing in this quaint town, his unique presence made him stand out.
Li Hao led him to an inn and asked the waiter to prepare two sets of clothing and a room for them.
Currently, Li Hao's clothing was still the divine attire he had constructed with his power, but he had hidden its radiance, making it appear relatively ordinary.
He planned to rest a bit tonight, ask for directions, and then set off back to Heavenly Gate Pass the next day.
"Sir, are you also heading to Liyang City to reinforce the defenses?"
The waiter was extremely courteous, even a bit respectful.
He could tell that Li Hao was no ordinary person, not because of his clothing, but because of his eyes and aura.
The Candlelight Deity, standing behind Li Hao, had a calm gaze that no one dared to meet directly.
Although both Li Hao and the Candlelight Deity had deliberately concealed their auras, they still stood out.
"Liyang City?"
Li Hao's thoughts churned, and he immediately realized he was in the territory of the Xia Clan.
This was the main base of the Xia Clan, Youzhou.
It was not far from Liangzhou.
"Reinforcements for Liyang City? Is there a demon invasion there?"
Li Hao asked, somewhat surprised.
The Great Provinces defended by the Five Great Divine General Manors were generally the most stable and prosperous, heavily guarded, and demons dared not invade.
"You don't know?"
The waiter was taken aback but kindly explained, "Sir, from your accent, you're not from Youzhou. If you're here for sightseeing, you should leave as soon as possible. Youzhou has not been peaceful recently."
"Oh?"
Li Hao's eyes flickered. "Tell me more."
Soon, from the waiter's account, Li Hao learned about the recent situation in Youzhou. Liyang City, a strategic point on the border, had been frequently attacked by demons. Several other border cities in Youzhou had also been hit, causing widespread panic.
This town was a fair distance from Liyang City, but some young men from noble families had heard about the unrest in Youzhou and had come in groups to slay demons, hoping to earn merit and fame.
"It seems the battle in Liangzhou was just an appetizer for these demons. They have broken ties with the Great Yu Divine Dynasty and are planning to never rest."
Li Hao frowned, sensing a storm of demonic activity brewing, threatening the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
He then asked the waiter about the situation in Liangzhou.
(End of Chapter)
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