Volume 2 - Chapter 32: Battle of Four Pillars
Behind Song Qiumo, Li Hao and Feng Lao also appeared.
Upon hearing the words of the elderly man in the daoist robe, Li Hao immediately understood—this elder was none other than the Dragon Lord of the Dragon Mountain Dojo.
“Hmph, I had anticipated that you might hide in the shadows and deliberately lure us in. I just didn’t expect you to endure for so long. For this human boy, is it really worth it?”
The burly elder with golden hair stared coldly. He had come searching for the Dragon Lord to deal with this unexpected situation.
Song Qiumo replied indifferently, “No matter how patient I am, it can’t compare to yours. Your own son died, and you managed to hold back for half a year before coming. Are you that afraid of me, or do you simply have so many sons that one doesn’t matter?”
“Afraid of you? You dare to think so!”
The Myriad Mountains Demon King roared like a lion, his voice shaking the heavens and earth. The snow on nearby mountain peaks collapsed under the force of his roar.
The overwhelming divine might he emitted could cause anyone below the Four Pillars Realm to tremble in fear. However, besides Li Hao, the only other presence on the scene was the Little White Fox.
When Li Hao had returned, he had secretly placed the Little White Fox outside the camp. As for himself, he remained unaffected by the menacing aura, only feeling slightly deafened by the sound.
“Why waste so many words? What are you afraid of? Are you worried we have more ambushes?”
Li Hao spoke calmly, “Don’t worry, we have no ambushes. Everyone else has already left. It’s just the three of us here.”
The golden-haired elder’s eyes overflowed with killing intent as he glared at Li Hao with bloodshot eyes. Yet Li Hao’s words, rather than provoking him, made the furious elder restrain himself and regain a semblance of calm.
The more composed Li Hao appeared, the more uncomfortable the elder felt.
“Are you trying to scare me? I’ve lived for ten thousand years—how old are you? You’re not even a fraction of my age, and you think you can intimidate me?!”
The golden-haired elder growled lowly.
Li Hao chuckled inwardly at the elder’s words, sensing the latent fear beneath his bluster.
He had deliberately spoken in such a manner, playing the “empty city stratagem,” knowing that this old demon king had delayed seeking revenge for his son because of his overly cautious and suspicious nature.
Caution invariably bred doubt and hesitation.
Even if the elder attacked next, this doubt would linger in his mind, creating an opening that could provide some advantage in the battle.
Not engaging with the old demon king any further, Li Hao instead turned his gaze toward the Dragon Lord. With a confident smile, he said,
“So, this is the Dragon Lord. I’ve long heard of your reputation. Now that the three of you have crossed the boundary, I’ll tell you this—if any one of us escapes alive today, you will face endless pursuit from the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.”
“Is it worth it?”
The elderly man in the daoist robe glanced deeply at Li Hao. At that moment, Li Hao withdrew his All-Manifestations attribute, revealing the aura of the Heaven and Man Grandmaster Realm.
Upon sensing Li Hao’s cultivation level and combining it with the intelligence he had received, the Dragon Lord felt a mix of astonishment and gravity.
For someone at the Heaven and Man Realm to have slain that Little Demon King—it was shocking news when he first heard it. Beyond his initial surprise and awe, the Dragon Lord had even felt a certain satisfaction that night, sleeping peacefully and dreaming sweetly.
Why?
That Little Demon King was too monstrous. If he had been allowed to grow and join forces with the Myriad Mountains Demon King, the territory outside Tianmen Pass would fall entirely under their control.
Even though he had once shared a slight camaraderie with the Myriad Mountains Demon King...
Friendship was one thing; brothers were another. But your son’s death? That didn’t stop him from feeling pleased.
Thus, the Dragon Lord harbored a favorable impression of this human youth. Yet, that sentiment didn’t stop him from accepting the benefits offered by the Myriad Mountains Demon King and coming here to kill him.
“If all of you die here today, no one will live to spread the news.”
The Dragon Lord spoke indifferently.
Li Hao chuckled lightly. “Are you so confident? Killing me might not be difficult, but if the two beside me were determined to flee, could you really stop them?”
The Dragon Lord sneered but did not answer.
His arrival meant he had already prepared for the consequence of being hunted by the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
“Whatever he promised you, I can offer better.”
Li Hao made no effort to hide his words from the Myriad Mountains Demon King, attempting to tempt the Dragon Lord openly. “If you join us and help us kill this Myriad Mountains Demon King, his territory will be yours. Furthermore, your actions today will not be considered a violation of the boundary but an act of righteous vengeance, assisting us.”
“Under such circumstances, the Great Yu Divine Dynasty could even issue you a Xing Token, granting you military merit and unrestricted access to the territory.”
“In addition, I can personally promise you further benefits. You are aware of my talent, and with the emperor’s favor, my future is limitless. As long as you agree, you will be my sworn brother!”
“Hah! Do you think such petty tricks can sway us?”
The Myriad Mountains Demon King sneered, but his heart burned with anger.
The Dragon Lord cast a deep look at Li Hao and said calmly, “Your offer is tempting, but unfortunately, your scheme is too childish. I’ve lived for tens of thousands of years, and we have known each other for millennia. He is my sworn brother!”
“I can offer more.”
Li Hao smiled faintly. “State your demands. I can meet them.”
“Hmph, save your breath.”
The Dragon Lord smirked and turned to the Myriad Mountains Demon King. “I will handle the Water Qilin. This boy is all yours, elder brother.”
The Myriad Mountains Demon King nodded, glaring at Li Hao with murderous intent. Just as he was about to speak, Li Hao suddenly gave the Dragon Lord a subtle glance.
The Myriad Mountains Demon King’s expression shifted as he glanced at the Dragon Lord.
The Dragon Lord, having noticed Li Hao’s action, was momentarily confused, as he hadn’t received any sound transmission from him. When he saw the Myriad Mountains Demon King’s gaze, he immediately understood.
With a stern voice, he declared, “Elder brother, this boy is full of tricks and deceitful schemes. Do not let him speak further. Since I’ve given my word, I won’t betray you!”
The Myriad Mountains Demon King studied the Dragon Lord for a moment before giving a slight nod. However, despite the reassurance, he couldn’t shake off a sense of unease.
The relationship between them wasn’t strong enough to foster absolute trust; it was primarily bound by shared interests.
He took a deep breath, aware that he had already fallen into the boy’s verbal traps, which made him more wary. His frustration intensified, and he yearned to tear Li Hao apart.
“This Water Qilin, this lackey of the human race, is yours to handle,” the Myriad Mountains Demon King said, aiming to separate the battlefield.
The Dragon Lord also noticed the Myriad Mountains Demon King’s unease and sighed inwardly. He couldn’t help but admire the human boy’s cunning. Beyond his extraordinary talent, his wit was as sharp as a blade.
“Agreed!”
He gave a resolute response. Suspicion had already taken root, and further words would only be futile. The Dragon Lord decided to prove his loyalty through action.
Song Qiumo sent a sound transmission to Li Hao: “Should I draw him away, or stay here?”
She was worried that during the fight, the opponent might launch a sudden attack on Li Hao, using him as a target and thus becoming a burden on her defense. This could expose weaknesses in her own stance.
“Draw him away,” Li Hao replied via sound transmission.
Song Qiumo nodded slightly and said to the Dragon Lord, “Shall we finish our earlier duel somewhere else?”
“Just as I hoped,” the Dragon Lord said coldly, turning and flying off.
Song Qiumo followed immediately.
As they departed, the Myriad Mountains Demon King exhaled in relief. He sneered at Li Hao and said, “Boy, your death is inevitable!”
Not giving Li Hao a chance to respond, the Myriad Mountains Demon King attacked ferociously.
“Do you think it’s just the two of us here?” Li Hao called out swiftly.
The Myriad Mountains Demon King laughed loudly. “The more you speak, the more I know you’re bluffing!”
With ruthless force, he lunged at Li Hao.
Feng Lao stepped forward, intercepting the attack. A surge of green light erupted from his hand, blocking the Myriad Mountains Demon King’s strike.
Meanwhile, Li Hao leaped backward, flying toward another side of the battlefield to avoid distracting Feng Lao.
“You, go kill him!”
The Myriad Mountains Demon King turned to the black-robed man beside him, who responded with a cold gleam in his eyes. As Li Hao retreated, the black-robed man’s figure vanished in an instant, appearing before Li Hao as though teleporting.
Li Hao’s pupils constricted, but he was already prepared.
In the past, he wouldn’t have been able to detect such a Four Pillars Realm teleportation technique. But now, with a single breath of celestial energy within him, he could sense the fluctuations of the opponent’s movements.
As the enemy’s attack tore through the air toward him, Li Hao responded decisively, drawing his Dragon Sky Sword. The blade slashed forward with a roar, gathering the power of heaven and earth, echoing like the cry of a dragon!