Chapter 75: A Lesson
“Hmm?”
Both of them were startled. Such minimal damage from the battle?
“How is that possible? Even with the assistance of the Fifteen Li Realm, in the chaos of battle, there would still be significant casualties. Could it be that the information you provided was incorrect, and the number of demons wasn’t as high as reported?” Xia Yong demanded sharply.
The coachman trembled in fear and hurriedly replied, “This lowly one would never dare to deceive you. The number of demons was immense, a teeming mass. I heard there were forty or fifty thousand and even saw with my own eyes seven or eight Spiritual Wandering Realm Great Demons, as well as a Crimson Flood Dragon. But thanks to the young master of the Li Family, they were all slain, saving the city from disaster.”
The Crimson Flood Dragon—it must be the one driven out of the Sacred Palace, that same dragon... Xia Qingshuang’s eyes flickered, her expression turning grave.
That Crimson Flood Dragon was not an ordinary Fifteen Li Realm Great Demon. With its demonic arts honed in the Sacred Palace, it was only slightly inferior to their own.
“I didn’t expect the third generation of the Li Family to produce someone so capable,” Xia Qingshuang remarked.
“Hmph, meddling in others’ affairs. This isn’t Qingzhou; it’s not the Li Family’s territory.”
Xia Yong now believed the coachman’s words. Snorting coldly, he added, “To parade around showing off after just entering the mortal world—preposterous! Doesn’t the chaos at the Yanbei Battlefield guarded by the Li Family suffice for them?”
“Hey!”
From within the carriage, Li Yuanzhao could no longer contain his anger. “How dare you speak like that! We helped your Xia Family resolve the demon calamity, and yet you blame us?”
“Hmm?”
Hearing the chubby youth shout, both Xia Yong and Xia Qingshuang were taken aback.
Xia Yong’s expression shifted. “You’re a member of the Li Family?”
“Of course!” Li Yuanzhao replied, his face red with fury.
These students from Tangong Academy wouldn’t dare impersonate someone from the Li Family... Xia Yong felt a twinge of embarrassment. He had only meant to grumble behind their backs but was overheard instead.
Given the circumstances, admitting fault would tarnish the Xia Family’s reputation. His expression hardened as he said coldly, “For a Li Family disciple to get into Tangong Academy, their talent must be... nothing exceptional.”
“You!”
This remark provoked the entire group.
Although Tangong Academy was not on the level of Wuliang Mountain or the Divine General Mansion, it was still one of the top academies in the world. Gaining admission was no small feat.
How could it be belittled as though it were a second-rate institution?
Du Qiuyue and the others were indignant but dared not speak up—after all, this was the Xia Family.
Li Hao, however, felt slightly surprised. It was hard to believe there existed someone with such low emotional intelligence. No wonder ancient military generals often lost out to civil officials. With a mind like this, offending others seemed inevitable.
“Yong, let’s go.”
Xia Qingshuang realized Xia Yong’s comment had gone too far. She had no desire to linger and suggested they head to Cangyu City. If all was well there, they could return home promptly.
Xia Yong snorted but took the opportunity to step down and prepare to leave.
Li Hao’s voice rang out. “Leaving just like that?”
“Hmm?” Xia Qingshuang frowned, her gaze falling on the youth sitting at the center of the carriage. She immediately noticed he seemed to be the core of the group.
“We helped you resolve the demon calamity. Forget a word of thanks; does your Xia Family have the right to criticize the Yanbei Battlefield guarded by the Li Family?” Li Hao said coldly.
If the Yanbei Battlefield hadn’t been mentioned, he wouldn’t have bothered.
But his parents were still at Yanbei. Although he hadn’t seen them in over a decade and felt little familial bond, he couldn’t forget the three-thousand-year-old demon corpse his rough-edged father sent back, or the concerned gaze of his youthful mother.
In his heart, they were family.
“And who are you to start trouble? The Li Family has been fighting at Yanbei for over ten years, repeatedly petitioning the court for supplies and weapons. Can’t that be criticized?” Xia Yong’s face darkened as he glared at Li Hao.
“Scoundrel! How dare you insult Brother Hao!”
Li Yuanzhao was furious. If not for recognizing the other two as formidable experts, he would have struck out himself.
“My Li Family has been at war for over a decade, enduring countless hardships in silence. Isn’t it the court’s duty to provide supplies?
“And what of your Xia Family? Have you never sought aid from the court? Both being part of the Divine General Mansion, you should understand the difficulty of defending the border. Yet here you are, mocking us. Is this the Xia Family’s code of conduct?” Li Hao’s voice was icy.
“You’re also part of the Li Family’s third generation?”
Xia Yong’s face flushed with shame. “Your Li Family is lawless! You’re not even out of Qizhou yet, and you dare question the Xia Family’s millennia-old code? Slap him!”
...
He, being a Fifteen Li Realm expert, moved to execute the punishment immediately. Under his Object Manipulation Ability, others had no choice but to comply.
Yet Li Hao didn’t even raise a hand. Instead, he locked eyes with Xia Yong, his gaze sharp and commanding. A burst of Object Manipulation Power descended, pressing down upon Xia Yong.
With a mournful cry, Xia Yong’s Purple-Horned Horse buckled.
This battle-hardened steed, a match for the Crimson Blood Horse, had slaughtered countless demons and exuded a ferocious aura. Yet now, its legs gave out, and it knelt forward in submission.
On its back, Xia Yong’s face twisted in shock. He tried to leap into the air, but the oppressive force pinned him down, sending him tumbling off the horse.
Scrambling up in a disheveled state, Xia Yong looked at the youth in the carriage, fear flashing across his face.
How could this boy, dressed in academy robes, possess such domineering Object Manipulation Power, surpassing even his own?
“You’re... Fifteen Li Realm? How is that possible!”
Xia Yong’s voice trembled with disbelief. This youth was so young yet already on par with his own cultivation level. Moreover, the sheer dominance of the boy’s Object Manipulation Power far surpassed his own.
Xia Qingshuang’s expression shifted as she fixed her gaze on Li Hao. “Which young master of the Li Family are you?”
Li Hao, however, couldn’t be bothered to answer. His tone remained frosty as he declared, “I demand an apology. If you don’t, no one will be leaving here today.”
“You!”
Xia Yong bristled with fury. “This is Qizhou, not Qingzhou!”
“Even if we were standing at the gates of your Xia Family estate, you would still need to apologize!” Li Hao replied firmly, each word dripping with authority.
“Very well, then let’s see if you can bear the consequences!”
With a roar, Xia Yong summoned his Divine Soul, which took the form of a golden light, and launched a powerful strike toward Li Hao.
Li Hao remained seated, calm and unmoving. A golden glow flashed behind him as his own Divine Soul emerged. It retaliated with a single devastating punch.
This was the Half-Step Invincible Fist, a supreme technique passed down by his second uncle.
The technique was even more formidable than the fourth move of Boundless Sea · Tides, but Li Hao did not exert his full strength.
With a thunderous boom, their energies collided. In an instant, Xia Yong’s Divine Soul melted like snow before a blazing furnace, completely disintegrating under Li Hao’s punch.
Xia Yong staggered back, his face turning ghastly pale as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He stared at Li Hao with unbridled fear, raising a trembling finger but unable to utter a single word before collapsing unconscious to the ground.
All of this had occurred in the blink of an eye. By the time it ended, Li Hao’s Divine Soul had already returned to his body.
Xia Qingshuang snapped out of her shock, her face darkening. A shattered Divine Soul was a grievous injury. Even with the Xia Family’s abundant treasures, Xia Yong would be bedridden for at least six months to a year. For an ordinary cultivator, such damage might take decades to heal fully.
What a ruthless strike.
Xia Qingshuang glared at the young man in the carriage. His expression remained as cold as ice as his sharp gaze turned toward her.
“Wasn’t your retaliation a bit excessive?” Xia Qingshuang asked through gritted teeth.
“If it weren’t me sitting here today, and instead another Li Family member, they would have either had to swallow their anger or endure a slap,” Li Hao said icily. “Your Xia Family dared to demand a Li Family member be slapped in public. That’s bold indeed. Not killing him outright is already my mercy!”
Xia Qingshuang’s eyes flashed with indignation, but she knew she was in the wrong. Moreover, she was no match for this young man.
Without another word, she waved her hand, lifting Xia Yong’s unconscious body into the air and placing him back onto his horse. “In recognition of your efforts to save Cangyu City, I won’t make this difficult for you. Let’s consider the matter settled here.”
She snapped her whip, urging her horse forward, and departed swiftly with Xia Yong in tow.
Initially, she had intended to visit Cangyu City, but with Xia Yong gravely injured, she had no choice but to return to the Xia Family to ensure he received treatment and avoided lasting damage.
...
As the Xia siblings disappeared into the distance, those within the carriage finally pieced together what had happened. Li Hao’s confrontation with Xia Yong had likely been a clash of Divine Souls, something they, as yet unconnected to their souls, could not perceive.
“How unreasonable the Xia Family is!” Li Yuanzhao fumed.
“I didn’t expect them to be like this.”
Ren Qianqian frowned, her heart already leaning toward loyalty to Li Hao and seeing herself as one of his followers, if only in spirit. His words at the teahouse had instilled great respect for the Li Family in her.
Now, witnessing the arrogant and unreasonable behavior of the Xia Family, also part of the Divine General Mansion, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Li Hao watched the retreating figures but refrained from further action. Instead, he shook his head slightly and instructed the coachman to resume their journey.
This incident was nothing more than a brief interlude. Li Hao didn’t take it to heart. In such a large family, there were bound to be arrogant members. While he had heard of the Xia Family’s remarkable achievements, this encounter had left his impression of them somewhat diminished.