Chapter 255: Incidental Resolution (Part 2)
Chapter 255: Incidental Resolution (Part 2)
Accompanying Xia Linglong were other elders from the Xia Clan’s Main and Secondary Lineages. Standing beside Xia Linglong, they all curiously and stealthily observed the young man.
This young man, who had stepped out from the Qingzhou Heavenly Origin Divine General’s Mansion, was now being personally welcomed by their Patriarch at the Zhenwei Divine General Manor. Such an honor was even greater than what the eunuch Chu, who had come with the Emperor Yu’s imperial decree, had received. He had merely been invited into the manor, not met at the gate.
But at this moment, none of them found it strange.
After all, this was a fifteen-year-old Duke Rank official, appointed as Commander General!
"Salutations, Senior Xia Linglong."
Li Hao cupped his hands in a respectful greeting.
Xia Linglong smiled charmingly, her luxurious attire exuding both the dignity of a Patriarch and the gentle grace of a woman. She invited the young man into the manor, treating him as a distinguished guest.
Along the way, apart from two elderly members of the Xia Clan, other renowned generals and distinguished ladies of Xia Linglong’s generation followed behind, curiously observing this young man who, at only fifteen, was already walking alongside the Patriarch.
"His aura is so profound, we can’t even fathom it."
The two elderly members of the Xia Clan had solemn expressions. The rumors about this young man were not exaggerated; in fact, they fell short of the reality.
Arriving at the Eastern Pavilion Courtyard, Xia Linglong invited Li Hao to the guest of honor’s seat, had tea served as a gesture of respect, and began conversing with him.
"I heard that General Haotian previously risked his life to lead the Void Realm’s Candlelight Deity into the Yudu Grade Deceased River to save the millions of commoners in Liangzhou. When did General Haotian return?"
Xia Linglong asked curiously.
This young man’s appearance had been completely unexpected. While everyone in the various states and the Emperor himself were eagerly awaiting news, he had suddenly appeared in Youzhou. She wondered if their Xia Clan’s intelligence network had failed or if it had become too corrupt and inefficient.
Li Hao was somewhat surprised. From the Patriarch’s words, it seemed she was unaware that the Mourning River had already been cleared.
So, Li Xiaoran hadn’t spread the news?
Li Hao’s eyes flickered. The Li Family must have had some other intentions.
"Recently."
Li Hao replied, not elaborating further.
Xia Linglong, noticing that Li Hao was unwilling to discuss the Mourning River, didn’t press the matter. After all, with the Virtue Treasure Vault now open, information about the Mourning River, especially the Yudu Grade Deceased River, was extremely valuable.
"The people of Liyang City thank General Haotian for your help."
Xia Linglong’s smile faded, and she spoke solemnly.
Favors were hard to repay, but she didn’t want to gloss over it.
This was Youzhou, and the Xia Clan had to acknowledge this favor, even if it was from a formidable general sent by the Emperor. They would remember it three times over.
"It was a small matter, Senior. There’s no need to worry about it."
Li Hao chuckled, not taking it seriously. It had been just a matter of convenience.
It wasn’t about fame or favors. As a member of the Human Race, he couldn’t stand by and watch demons massacre innocents.
Xia Linglong then brought up his previous deeds in Liangzhou, praising the young man to ease the awkwardness of their first meeting.
However, seeing that Li Hao only responded lightly, without any hint of pride or arrogance, Xia Linglong felt a bit surprised. Under such overwhelming achievements, it was rare for anyone to remain so composed.
As they continued to talk, she gradually sensed that this young man had a carefree and easygoing nature, much like a Jianghu swordsman. He possessed both the chivalrous spirit and the refined gentleness of a cultured person.
She couldn’t help but compare him to the younger generation of the Xia Clan. Setting aside cultivation, his calm and adaptable demeanor already surpassed that of most of the young people in the clan.
She sighed inwardly. Both were ancient and prestigious martial families, yet how could the Li Family nurture such an unconventional and intelligent child?
While the Xia Clan adhered strictly to tradition, this adherence, though ensuring a steady path to becoming renowned generals, inevitably robbed the once-glorious Divine General Manor of its vitality.
Xia Linglong, apart from her exceptional talent in the Martial Path, was also astute and well-versed in social graces. When she wrote to invite Li Hao, she had gathered intelligence on this young man and tailored her conversation to align with his preferences, avoiding direct requests for him to take risks for the Xia Clan.
After all, asking someone to assist in a battle against the Gluttony Valley Lord right off the bat was quite a tall order.
As the banquet progressed, Xia Linglong engaged Li Hao in discussions about poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She had dabbled in these arts, but she was surprised to discover that Li Hao’s interest was not superficial; he had a profound mastery of these disciplines.
This left her in awe. It was hard to imagine a young man so exceptional in the Martial Path also dedicating time to such diverse pursuits. He truly lived up to the reputation of being a paragon of both literary and martial prowess.
Fortunately, she had prepared in advance, inviting a retired elder from Youzhou, known as Hanjindian Old Sir, to the manor. Her hope was that this elder would keep Li Hao entertained and prevent him from feeling bored during his stay at the Xia Clan.
However, when the elder was introduced, he became immediately excited upon learning Li Hao’s identity. He grabbed Li Hao’s hand and began reciting the poems Li Hao had casually recited in a brothel, asking after each one, “Did you write this too?”
Li Hao felt a bit awkward, as if he had been caught copying from a book. He had never felt so uneasy, not even in the presence of the Demon King…
“A single body fights across three thousand miles, a single sword once led a million troops!”
The elder, though frail, trembled with emotion, his eyes brimming with tears. “Only a general with such grandeur could write such poetry!”
The others at the banquet, including Xia Linglong, were also deeply moved by the elder’s recitation of Li Hao’s poems. They felt their blood boil, and the fiery liquor in their throats seemed to ignite their martial spirit, making them yearn to draw their swords and rush to the battlefield to fight the Demons!
Though they were military generals and not well-versed in poetry, they could still appreciate the profound meaning and the indomitable spirit conveyed in the verses. They looked at the young man with awe, their eyes shining with a mix of admiration and complexity, almost wishing he were a member of the Xia Clan.
Why hadn’t the Xia Clan produced such a prodigy?
Xia Linglong’s eyes, initially filled with surprise, now held a complex expression. She had remembered two lines from the poems the elder recited, feeling they resonated with her own mindset on the Demon battlefield.
“I vow to endure the hardships of camping in the open and dining in the wind.”
“I drink blood as if it were rouge.”
As a woman, she had used blood to paint her face on the battlefield, while others embroidered silk handkerchiefs, she embroidered the mountains and rivers of Dayu.
Upon first hearing of the young man’s name, she had thought him a prodigy. Now, upon seeing his true character, she realized he was far beyond the ordinary.
Throughout the banquet, Xia Linglong and the others were continually amazed by Li Hao’s extensive knowledge and talents. Midway through the meal, as she watched the elder and Li Hao engaged in a lively conversation, she found herself lost in thought.
She suddenly felt hesitant, unsure whether to bring up the Eastern Border battlefield and whether to invite him to join the fight.
If given a few more years, this young man would surely become a protector of all Dayu. Asking him to risk his life now made her feel guilty.
As the banquet drew to a close, Xia Linglong hesitated to bring up the topic. Li Hao, having heard about Youzhou’s dire situation, especially the chaos in the east and the countless sacrifices, was surprised that the patriarch had not mentioned it. He inquired:
“I’ve heard that the eastern part of Youzhou is in turmoil and the situation is dire. Do you need my help?”
Xia Linglong’s heart tightened at Li Hao’s question. Looking into his sincere and bright eyes, she felt a pang of sympathy and smiled, shaking her head.
“Though there is turmoil, the Xia Clan can handle it.”
"Patriarch."
Elder Xia Yuwu couldn't help but change his expression when he saw Xia Linglong avoid the topic.
Although he greatly admired this young man, Youzhou was now in a perilous situation, and this young man's strength, comparable to the Ultimate Mastery Realm, was absolutely a significant help!
The other members of the Xia Clan saw Xia Linglong's intention and their faces changed, showing a mix of complex emotions.
Their admiration and fondness for the young man made them reluctant, but thinking about the Eastern Border's battles and Youzhou's dire situation, they felt even more pain.
In this contradictory and complex emotional state, their expressions became somewhat unnatural.
Li Hao noticed this and felt somewhat puzzled, so he said to Xia Linglong:
"Senior Xia, just say whatever you have to say. Whether I can do it or not is another matter."
At this point, he realized that the Xia Clan had invited him here not just to thank him for the Liyang City incident.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Xia Linglong's expression changed slightly. She gazed intently at the young man, and at that moment, the Old Sir from Hanjindian also sensed the tension at the dinner table and stopped talking, simply watching them quietly.
Xia Yuwu and the others looked at Xia Linglong, feeling anxious. They wanted to speak up but were restrained by family rules and Xia Linglong's authority, so they didn't dare overstep.
Xia Linglong and Li Hao's eyes met for a while. She fell silent for a moment, sighed lightly in her heart, and after considering the situation of the Youzhou commoners, she finally spoke the words she had originally intended to say.
"Gluttony Valley Lord?"
Li Hao's eyes flickered at Xia Linglong's words.
This was also a Great Demon King. Before Candlelight Deity revealed his Half-Step Dao Realm power, their status was equal.
However, compared to the Void Realm, Gluttony Valley's foundation was somewhat thin. It suddenly rose to prominence five hundred years ago and, with its Bloodthirsty and Savage style, grew wildly, rising to the top of demon forces in just five hundred years, striking fear into the hearts of many.
Many border cities, upon hearing the name of Gluttony Valley, wouldn't even dare to defend their cities and would flee in the dead of night.
Being attacked by other demon forces might leave a chance for survival and the possibility of waiting for reinforcements, but the demons of Gluttony Valley were extremely Bloodthirsty and Savage. They could devour an entire city in a single night, leaving not even a rat behind.
Li Hao had long read about these top demon forces in the Rain Listening Pavilion, treating them as storybooks.
"Only Gluttony Valley?" Li Hao asked.
Xia Linglong's gaze was serious as she looked at Li Hao and said, "That's right. The Holy Palace and Dragon Gate are besieging Qingzhou. Currently, only Gluttony Valley's presence has been detected in Youzhou. There might be other forces behind them, but that's just a possibility."
"Besieging Qingzhou?"
Li Hao's eyes twitched at the mention of Qingzhou.
Just as Liangzhou had been pacified, Youzhou was already in turmoil, and now Qingzhou was under siege?
"What's the situation in Qingzhou?" Li Hao asked urgently, the faces of many people flashing through his mind: the gluttonous woman, the two Masters, First Lady, Yuanzhao, and the students of Tan Palace Academy...
And the many pastry shops on the streets.
His heart tightened.
Hearing Li Hao's urgent question, Xia Linglong and the others were surprised and immediately realized that this young man truly didn't know about Qingzhou.
He might have just come out of the Mourning River and wasn't yet aware of the outside situation... Xia Linglong quickly made a judgment. Seeing Li Hao's anxious expression, she felt a sense of disappointment and regret, knowing that the hope of getting Li Hao to help Youzhou was slim, but she still carefully relayed what she knew:
"Qingzhou is said to have fallen to a large extent. The leaders of the Holy Palace and Dragon Gate have already intervened, and they have advanced to the outskirts of Qingzhou. They are still in combat, but after Gluttony Valley attacked Youzhou, we have had less information about Qingzhou."
She continued, noticing the urgency in the young man's eyes, and whispered:
"If you need to reinforce Qingzhou now, there's still time. The Xia Clan can lend you our War Banners to bolster Qingzhou's strength."
By lending the War Banners, she meant that Li Hao could go to Qingzhou and deploy soldiers under the Xia Clan's War Banners, making it appear as if the Xia Clan was sending reinforcements.
Although the Xia Clan's War Banners weren't as effective as Li Hao's, they still had a strong deterrent effect on the Demons. After all, it would mean that the Xia Clan was directly intervening in Qingzhou, which would make the Holy Palace and Dragon Gate, who were attacking Qingzhou, think twice. At the very least, it would buy some time.
Li Hao, hearing her words, understood that she was entrusting him with a significant honor for the Xia Clan, a great favor for the Divine General Manor to repay.
He had no heart for eating at that moment, stood up, and said, "I thank the Xia Clan on behalf of the people of Qingzhou. Time is of the essence; let's set out."
Li Hao remembered the geomantic map of the Nineteen Provinces. If he recalled correctly, the eastern border of Youzhou was also the route to Qingzhou, though it would require a slight detour.
"May General Haotian return victorious..."
Xia Linglong and the other Xia Clan members also stood up, their faces complex. The young man was from Qingzhou and was now rushing to reinforce his homeland, which was only natural. They had no reason to hold him back.
"Huh? What are you all standing around for? Lead the way. We'll take care of Gluttony Valley on the way."
Li Hao was about to set out when he noticed Xia Linglong and the others still standing there, merely bowing in farewell. He couldn't help but call out.
"What?"
Li Hao's words caught the Xia Clan members off guard. Xia Linglong, recovering from her shock, asked, "You, you want to help us attack Gluttony Valley first?"
"Sure, it's no trouble. Let's go."
Li Hao replied.
Hearing Li Hao's bold statement, the elder Xia Yuanwu couldn't help but interject, "General Haotian, the Lord of Gluttony Valley is at the peak of the Ultimate Mastery Realm. Although he hasn't reached the Dao Realm, he's still a formidable opponent. If you're willing to help, we can lure him to the Ming River in Youzhou..."
"No need for that. I'll take care of him for you."
Li Hao cut him off, realizing they would have various concerns and doubts. He decided not to waste time and said straightforwardly, "I can handle the Great Peace Dao Realm. You don't need to worry."
"!!"
The Xia Clan members were stunned, looking at Li Hao in shock, wondering if the young man had misspoken.
Li Hao had no time to waste. The time it would take to explain could be used to kill the Lord of Gluttony Valley several times over.
He looked at Xia Linglong and said, "Senior Xia Linglong, can you lead the way?"
Xia Linglong was taken aback. Seeing Li Hao's casual demeanor, she suddenly realized that this young man had survived the pursuit by the Candlelight Deity from the Mourning River, likely having made significant breakthroughs.
Could it be that he has already reached the Great Peace Dao Realm?
The thought was too shocking, but the young man had already created too many miracles. She felt a tremor in her heart, though she found it hard to believe, she had to trust Li Hao's words.
"Alright, I'll lead the way!"
Xia Linglong was extremely decisive. She raised her hand, and a long spear flew from a distance, landing in her grasp.
"I'll come too."
Xia Yuanwu quickly added, summoning his own weapon. Regardless of whether Li Hao's words were true, if Li Hao was willing to help, he could provide support during this opportunity.
"Try to keep up. I might be a bit faster."
Li Hao gave the Candlelight Deity a meaningful look. The Candlelight Deity nodded slightly, his body suddenly transforming. Flames enveloped him, and he shifted from a youthful form into a fierce, monstrous creature with a fiery lion's head and a dragon's tail, his hooves resembling those of a qilin or a lion, powerful and majestic.
It soared into the sky, its body radiating flames and intense heat, the scorching waves sweeping over the entire Divine General Manor.
Li Hao sprang up, leaped onto its back, and sat down, then had Xia Linglong point the way.
Xia Linglong and the others gazed at the young man seated on the demon's back, feeling as if he were a god in the midst of flames, all of them shocked and amazed.
The young man was actually a demon, yet none of them had noticed it before!
Such a feat could only mean that this demon was incredibly terrifying, far beyond their imagination.
Xia Linglong held the Divine Spear and soared into the sky, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from the demon Li Hao was riding. She felt a sense of awe and an indescribable feeling, as if the demon's power surpassed her own!
"Go!"
Li Hao commanded.
His voice snapped Xia Linglong and the others back to their senses. Any doubts or concerns they had before were now replaced with renewed confidence. Xia Linglong quickly pointed in the direction and said, "Over there!"
Whoosh!
Flames surged, and the Candlelight Deity galloped, its hooves stomping on the fire, rushing forward at an incredible speed.
So fast!
Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu were taken aback and hurried to catch up.
Apart from the two of them, another elderly member of the Xia Clan was also stunned, but he remained in mid-air, staying behind to defend the Xia Clan Divine General Manor.
"Good heavens, am I seeing things?"
"Is that a Fourth Establishment Realm mount?"
"Did I hear him right when he said he would casually kill the Gluttony Valley Lord?"
"I don't know, but I heard he defeated the Dragon Gate Grand Elder before. Now... he might be even stronger?"
After Li Hao and Xia Linglong left, the Xia Clan members in the courtyard were all in shock, their voices filled with astonishment.
The young man had always been refined and gentle, appearing approachable, but now, with a hint of his true strength, he exuded an invincible aura.
The figure seated on the demon's back, surrounded by divine flames, ignited a glimmer of hope in their eyes. Perhaps, this young man could truly resolve the Youzhou turmoil?
...
...
Li Hao sat on the Candlelight Deity, racing at breakneck speed.
Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu used the Xia Clan's top-tier Body Movement Techniques, flying at full speed, but they could only barely keep up, both of them amazed and unable to fathom the true nature of the demon Li Hao was riding.
The elderly Xia Clan member who had previously rushed to Liangzhou was not Xia Yuanwu, so he failed to recognize the Candlelight Deity.
Moreover, the Candlelight Deity rarely appeared, so few people knew what it looked like.
About half an hour later, guided by Xia Linglong, they arrived at the eastern battlefield of Youzhou, the second Defensive Line.
Traveling at such high speeds, only the Candlelight Deity could maintain it. Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu were almost pushed to their limits, their endurance nearly depleted.
After all, they had been flying at near full speed the entire way, and even a Fourth Establishment Realm cultivator would find it exhausting.
Fortunately, they had retained some endurance, allowing them to still be combat-ready when they reached the battlefield.
From a distance, Li Hao heard the deafening roars from the battlefield.
His expression turned slightly grim, reminiscent of the time he had chased the old dragon to Liangzhou's Defensive Line battlefield.
Looking up, he saw a towering Defensive Line on the plain ahead, with countless demons surging like a flood, attacking it. The array on the Defensive Line had already been shattered, and the Human Race was now engaged in a fierce battle with the demons.
Li Hao scanned the area, sensing several powerful auras behind the Demon Tide.
But these auras were not strong enough, at most reaching the Fate Reversal Realm.
"Gluttony Valley Lord, come out!"
Li Hao's voice, sharp and commanding, rolled out like thunder in the sky, instantly accompanied by howling winds, spreading across the vast battlefield, like a thunderclap in the ears of the countless demons.
(End of Chapter)
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