Chapter 474: The Aftermath of the Battle
Chapter 474: The Aftermath of the Battle
The battle at the border has intensified.
The Ancient Demon Tide has already breached the second Defensive Line and is now gathered before the third Defensive Line, engaging in a life-or-death struggle with the border defenders of Qinghe Moe City.
Meanwhile, behind the Ancient Demon Tide, Li Hao and Mi Xueyao have been feasting for two months, greatly enhancing their Soul Spirits.
Li Hao's Soul Spirit golden bones have condensed to 72, with nearly half a bone forming each day, allowing him to fully condense a golden bone every two days. This is the maximum rate he can achieve by fully refining and absorbing the essence daily.
According to the Venerable Spirit of the True Venerable Tower, after reaching the Soul Spirit Ultimate Realm, the next steps are to condense spirit essence golden veins, followed by Soul Spirit bones, then soul spirit true blood, and finally the True God Seal!
Currently, Li Hao's Soul Spirit golden bones have not yet produced soul spirit true blood, and the ultimate limit of True God remains a distant goal for him.
However, Li Hao can feel that his Soul Spirit has undergone a qualitative leap compared to two months ago.
His Divine Sense range has expanded several times, and in terms of soul spirit strength alone, he can barely match a Fourth or Fifth Tier Immortal Lord!
It's worth noting that he is currently only a Third Tier True Immortal, and such a powerful Soul Spirit is already beyond comprehension.
Apart from Li Hao, Mi Xueyao's Soul Spirit has also seen significant improvement. Her true cultivation is at the Fifth Tier Immortal Lord Realm, but her Soul Spirit is comparable to that of a Seventh Tier Immortal Lord among the ancient demons. When facing the Immortal Lord Realm of the True World's ten thousand races, she can even match an Eighth Tier Immortal Lord.
Now, after two months of daily feasting, her Soul Spirit has improved to the point where it can rival a Ninth Tier Immortal Lord.
Such an extraordinary rate of improvement has brought her immense joy, and she has become even more diligent in her daily search for ancient demon remains.
Although half of the ancient demon remains she finds are taken by Li Hao, the rapid improvement in her Soul Spirit each day has gradually made her less concerned about it.
Moreover, apart from cultivation, it must be said that the ancient demon remains, when transformed into various delicious dishes by Li Hao, have a wide range of flavors, all of which are incredibly delicious.
Even she, who has never been particularly interested in gourmet food, has developed a fondness for it, as if opening a new door to the world of culinary delights, realizing that food can be so diverse and rich.
"The war over there is almost over, I guess. We should be ready to return."
Li Hao, eating slices of demon meat and cold garlic meat, asked casually.
Mi Xueyao, sitting beside Li Hao, was eating her own portion. After two months of companionship, they seemed to have formed a tacit understanding, and she had unknowingly grown accustomed to being with Li Hao. She chuckled and said with a light snort:
"I checked today. Although the battle is intense, it seems there's a true army behind the Ancient Demon Tide that hasn't shown itself yet."
"I don't think it will end soon. This Ancient Demon Tide attack is fierce, and it might not just be a second wave!"
As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Li Hao.
She knew that apart from the Wheel King Clan, the Di Jiang Clan, another royal race among the ancient demons, had not yet appeared in this attack.
The ancient demons are feigning weakness, presenting only a second wave to mislead the Human Race. It remains to be seen whether the Human Race has fallen for the trap.
If they underestimate the threat, it could result in a bloodbath.
Her eyes flickered, and she then thought about the matter of the Di Jiang Clan, shaking her head slightly. Although the plan is ingenious, the Ancient Demon Clan is not a monolithic entity and may not be willing to break through the border defenses of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, thereby attracting the aid of the Heavenly Palace.
"Oh?"
Hearing her words, Li Hao frowned and asked, "Are you sure? If that's the case, we need to send this information back. It's crucial military intelligence."
Mi Xueyao was taken aback. She had only intended to make Li Hao feel a bit nervous, but she hadn't expected him to come up with such an idea. Her thoughts raced, and she quickly said:
"Don't overthink it. If I know this news, the Marshal defending that area isn't foolish either. He must have noticed the prolonged battle and taken precautions already."
Li Hao remained silent, pondering how to relay the information back.
Even if it was just to give them a warning, it would be better than nothing.
Mi Xueyao, being an ancient demon, was likely telling the truth.
Seeing Li Hao's expression, Mi Xueyao seemed to understand the young man's thoughts and instantly regretted speaking out. She said, "The Wheel King Clan is still over there, but they have also joined the battle. For safety, let's wait a bit longer before we report it together."
Li Hao mused, "Let's eat first, and then we'll go check it out."
Mi Xueyao knew she couldn't persuade him otherwise, feeling both annoyed and sighing inwardly.
This young man, a prodigy of the Human Race, was willing to risk his life to relay critical information. If the Ancient Demon Clan had more individuals with such courage, they would have no trouble swiftly ruling the True World.
After ten thousand years of conflict with the True World's ten thousand races, she had heard and seen many heroes who sacrificed themselves for the greater good of their race.
It was thanks to such people that the ten thousand races managed to hold their ground and prevent a total collapse.
Li Hao quickly finished eating. Seeing Mi Xueyao dawdling, he urged, "Come with me, and we'll eat when we get back."
Mi Xueyao reluctantly replied, "I'm an Immortal Lord Realm, not your servant. Be a bit more polite. You treat me like a maid, summoning me whenever you want!"
"Are you coming or not?"
Li Hao asked with a frown.
Mi Xueyao stood up angrily, knowing that this brat was about to use cooking as a threat again.
Over the past two months, she had compromised several times during their disputes, all because of this.
She had considered imprisoning Li Hao and making him her personal cook, but the thought of the Futu Emperor Heart Tower held her back. She wasn't sure if Li Hao had any other trump cards, and she didn't want to cause a commotion that might attract the Wheel King Clan's pursuit.
"You..."
She gritted her teeth, feeling a sudden sense of injustice in her heart, for she had never been treated this way, not even in her childhood.
She stomped her foot, packed away her unfinished food, and huffed, "Fine, let's go."
Li Hao, seeing her reaction, turned and flew off.
Mi Xueyao followed, clenching her teeth in frustration.
Soon, they concealed their auras and cautiously approached the third defensive line.
Despite her anger, Mi Xueyao still used Immortal Dao Laws to shield Li Hao, blending their auras with those of the Ancient Demon Clan. Even a Perfect Immortal Lord Realm's divine sense would not detect them.
In the starry sky several thousand miles ahead, various Immortal Techniques and Immortal Weapons clashed, ancient gongs resonated, and Thunder Dragons roared, creating an intensely chaotic scene.
Mi Xueyao scanned the Ancient Demon Tide, spotting the Di Jiang Clan and the gradually joining Wheel King Clan. Her gaze then fell on the battlefield strewn with corpses, and she felt a sudden greed.
If she could join the battle and collect all these remains, it would be wonderful...
But she quickly regained her senses, feeling a bit ashamed of her thoughts. As an ancient demon, she shouldn't be hoping for more casualties. It was truly unbecoming...
However, their deaths would provide her with sustenance and contribute to her cultivation. It was a noble honor for them, and in the future, when she led the charge against the ten thousand races of the True World, they would have played their part...
Li Hao, meanwhile, focused on the Human Race within the Ancient Demon Tide, observing the numerous war camps engaged in fierce combat. The Tiger Lion Army, in particular, fought with great ferocity, and casualties were constant.
In the battlefield, ancient demons of the Immortal Lord Realm howled and roamed, ready to descend upon any segment of the front at any moment. Meanwhile, within the immortal army, Immortal Lords would suddenly emerge to cleanse the ancient demons.
Being in such a battlefield, one was always at risk of unforeseen dangers. Even Li Hao wasn't confident he could remain unscathed, especially considering that deep within the Ancient Demon Tide, there were surely king-level ancient demons. If one of them were to personally launch a sneak attack, he might not even have time to call for Elder Wang.
"Hmm?"
After a moment of intense scrutiny, Li Hao noticed something amiss. Although the Tiger Lion Army was fierce, they maintained a tight defense. Any gap that appeared was immediately filled by a new camp, ensuring the defensive line remained solid and unbreakable.
Recalling Mi Xueyao's words, Li Hao suddenly felt that her reasoning seemed flawed. The border had been in conflict for tens of thousands of years; it made no sense for it to collapse just because he had arrived. The generals here weren't that foolish, and he wasn't a beginner.
He took another look and became increasingly convinced that the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty might have already anticipated the ancient demons' strategy. Feeling a bit more at ease, he told Mi Xueyao, "Retreat."
Mi Xueyao's gaze pulled away from the wreckage, her eyes reflecting a mix of regret and reluctance. However, she sighed in relief when she saw Li Hao finally change his mind. She immediately led him back to their previous hideout.
"I told you, but you wouldn't listen."
Mi Xueyao sat back on the stone block, pulling out the leftover roasted demon meat she hadn't finished earlier. She continued to enjoy it, muttering under her breath.
Li Hao ignored her and focused on refining the flesh and blood within his body.
Time flew by, and another month passed.
The number of Soul Spirit bones in Li Hao's body increased from 72 to 87, a steady and consistent growth.
The ancient demon corpses he had collected in his Heavenly Earth Space hadn't been fully consumed yet. During this period, he had been eating the remnants Mi Xueyao brought back from her searches outside.
As Li Hao continued to savor the delicious meat, in the border area of Qinghe Moe City.
On the immortal platform, three figures stood, gazing at the front lines that had been locked in battle for three months.
The Tiger Lion Army soldiers were visibly exhausted, and many Heavenly Wolf Army soldiers were filled with fear. Additionally, many sect disciples had retreated to the rear, though they were eager to earn immortal merit, their lives were more important. They would occasionally band together to fill gaps and slay ancient demons, retreating quickly when danger approached.
"They can't hold on much longer. Has the Peacock Army gathered yet?"
The Silver-Haired Black-Helmeted Youth asked the Deputy General beside him.
The middle-aged Deputy General, holding a command token, replied, "There's also a large-scale invasion by ancient demons in the north at Lizhu Mo City. The Peacock Army is primarily stationed there, and currently, only three Class A war camps have been dispatched here!"
Each Class A war camp numbered ten thousand, totaling thirty thousand soldiers.
Beside them, the Heterochromia Woman's eyes were deep and serious. "The number is a bit low. Behind the Ancient Demon Tide, the Di Jiang Clan is lurking. Fortunately, we left Immortal Technique seals on the remnants we found, allowing us to detect their traces."
"They know we've detected them, which is why they haven't made a move yet."
The Silver-Haired Black-Helmeted Youth said gravely, "Relying solely on the Peacock Army, if the Ancient Demon Tide truly erupts, we might not have the upper hand in a direct confrontation."
The Heterochromia Woman remained silent.
The elder standing in the middle, his eyes profound and authoritative, slowly said, "The Ancient Demon Tide has gathered the bulk of its forces here. The rear is likely unguarded. Dispatching a Peacock Army to attack from the rear could be highly effective!"
The Silver-Haired Black-Helmeted Youth's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Will it be in time? It seems they can't hold on much longer."
"Don't worry. The Di Jiang Clan is known for being cautious and cowardly. They won't launch an attack easily. We still have time."
The elder's gaze swept over the dark expanse behind the battlefield. "If we had an army there right now, they would be defeated without a doubt!"
"Unfortunately, the Ancient Demon Tide destroyed the Immortal Arrays along their path during their initial attacks. Otherwise, we could use this immortal platform to monitor their movements", the Heterochromia Woman sighed.
The old man shook his head. "There’s no need to dwell on what we’ve lost. Prepare to send a signal for the Cloud Troops that were left behind to gather. Send a detachment of the Peacock Army to flank them. Don’t send too many to avoid alarming the enemy!"
Seeing him issue orders, the silver-haired, black-helmeted young man nodded and immediately instructed the Deputy General to relay the commands.
At the first Defensive Line.
Li Hao and Mi Xueyao were eating and drinking when suddenly, Li Hao noticed a brilliant red light appearing in the distant depths of space, as if stars were exploding.
Li Hao was momentarily stunned and immediately put down his food, soaring into the air to get a better view.
"It can’t be..."
Mi Xueyao followed, her expression changing. Could they have really breached the Human Race’s border defenses?
Li Hao didn’t speak, but he waved his hand, gathering all the food on the ground into the Heavenly Earth Space and said, "Let’s go check it out."
Mi Xueyao didn’t hesitate either. She raised her hand, invoking the Immortal Dao Laws to conceal their auras, and then followed closely behind.
As they approached, Li Hao saw the crimson light resembled a fiery ball, hovering behind the immortal army.
At the same time, two armies suddenly emerged from the immortal army, clad in emerald Peacock armor, forming a massive formation array that resembled an immense Immortal Deity. With a wave of their hands, they effortlessly crushed ancient demons the size of mountains.
"It’s the Peacock Army!"
Li Hao and Mi Xueyao said in unison.
The Peacock Army, a Class A war camp, possessed combat strength equivalent to the Eighth Level of the Immortal Lord Realm, making them highly intimidating on the battlefield.
The even stronger Dragon Battle Army, also a Class A war camp, was comparable to the Tenth Level of Perfection in the Immortal Lord Realm, ranking just below the Chu Immortal Army in power.
With the two Peacock Armies taking action, the chaotic situation on the battlefield was quickly dispersed. Many ancient demons were instantly destroyed, crushed by the immense Immortal Deity’s hand in the formation array.
This Immortal Deity was robust, enveloped in Karmic Fire, which could burn Soul Spirits, specifically trained to combat ancient demons.
At the same time, several auras suddenly appeared in the distance.
Li Hao and Mi Xueyao turned to look and saw that in the quiet, dark depths of space, a series of Immortal Lord Realm auras were rushing over.
Although they were only at the First or Second Levels of the Immortal Lord Realm, their numbers were increasing, from seven or eight to over a dozen.
"How could there be people here?"
Mi Xueyao was surprised.
Li Hao was equally astonished. He had visited this place several times before and never noticed anyone hiding along the way.
Behind the Ancient Demon Tide, there were other Immortal Lord Realm beings besides them.
These Immortal Lord Realm auras quickly converged, forming a small force that charged toward the Ancient Demon Tide.
Some of the powerful auras behind the Ancient Demon Tide seemed caught off guard by the Human Race’s attack from behind and hastily prepared to defend.
At the same time, a massive Immortal Deity strode from the distant starry sky, charging toward the rear of the Ancient Demon Tide, another Peacock Army formation in tow.
"Where did they come from? Could it be that your Human Race has a powerhouse who has comprehended the spatial origin to the Seventh Level, silently opening a spatial teleportation array behind the enemy?"
Mi Xueyao couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.
Space, as one of the Nine Sequences, ranks second. While a few top geniuses can comprehend and master it, most only grasp it superficially, and the deeper one goes, the greater the obstacles.
If someone could comprehend the spatial origin to the Seventh Level, their significance would extend beyond their combat strength. They would receive top-tier treatment in any major faction.
After all, the ability to directly open a long-range, covert teleportation passage to transport an army behind the enemy, or even directly into the enemy’s main camp, is a terrifying threat!
"If such an existence were stationed on this battlefield, this campaign would be unnecessary", Mi Xueyao murmured to herself.
Such a being would have a decisive impact on a larger battlefield. Their appearance here would be the final blow.
(End of Chapter)
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