Volume 2 - Chapter 41: The Second Favor Returned to the Li Family - Part 2
The myriad auras were all concealed by the All-Manifestations Attribute.
Even so, the inherent transcendence of the Supreme Body and the faint trace of demonic aura from the Mingyu True Demon Body made the young man exude an indescribable aura.
Li Hongzhuang gazed intently, momentarily entranced.
She had a feeling that the changes in the young man were vast; he was no longer the Li Hao from before.
A master walks their path alone.
Li Hao had already forged his own path and reached a higher realm.
When he opened his eyes, starlight seemed to shimmer faintly within them. His gaze was calm, like a tranquil lake.
Noticing the two figures at the base of the mountain, Li Hao lowered his head and glanced down. He saw the little white fox curled up, appearing to sleep soundly, and his eyes softened.
After refining and deducing all his cultivation techniques, Li Hao’s physique had reached an unprecedented level.
Though untested, Li Hao felt that if he were to encounter another Great Demon King, he might be able to face it in battle!
What he could truly achieve, however, would require personal verification.
There was a slight regret—despite his progress in numerous techniques, though he had reached the pinnacle of the Undying Realm, his internal strength, vast as an ocean, still seemed to fall just short of the ultimate limit.
Rising to his feet naturally, Li Hao seemed to draw upon the power of heaven and earth across the entire mountain peak, as though the world itself lifted with him, giving the impression that heaven and earth were elevated alongside him.
Li Hao looked toward the clouds, his gaze penetrating deep into the mist, meeting Feng Lao’s eyes. The two exchanged looks, and Li Hao smiled faintly.
Feng Boping sighed. As expected, this was the Three Immortals Realm.
Even though Li Hao had concealed his aura completely, Feng Boping still felt it—this young man was truly a monster.
Li Hao floated down to the foot of the mountain. As the dispersing energies of heaven and earth faded, Ren Qianqian also finished her cultivation and opened her eyes, only to see the youth standing before her, warm and refined like jade.
“Young Master.”
Ren Qianqian quickly stood up from the ground, calling out sweetly.
Li Hao glanced at her aura—Tenth Level Soul Fusion Realm.
Since returning from Dayue City, achieving such progress in less than half a year was a respectable cultivation speed.
At the banquet hosted by the Demon King earlier, the martial artists of the entire city had benefited, with most seeing their cultivation advance. Ren Qianqian’s improvement had been particularly evident.
However, below the Master Realm, rapid improvement could often be achieved solely through resources. With sufficient resources, advancing by leaps and bounds in a short time was not a pipe dream.
Of course, relying on pills for advancement often left one’s foundation unstable, but nourishing the body through food was another matter entirely.
“It seems you’re close to the Spiritual Wandering Realm,” Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian smiled. “Indeed. I’ll begin preparing for Spirit Refinement soon.”
Li Hao nodded. “When we return to the city, I’ll write you a Spirit Refinement Technique. Follow it to cultivate.”
Ren Qianqian’s face lit up with delight. “Really?”
Li Hao smiled faintly and bent down to scoop up the little white fox lying in the snow.
The little white fox opened one eyelid, saw that it was Li Hao, and closed its eyes again with ease.
Li Hao noticed the little white fox’s unusual state. Upon checking, he found it was neither ill nor injured; it was likely just overfed.
“Let’s go back,” Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian nodded and followed closely behind him.
Li Hongzhuang approached hurriedly and asked, “Hao’er, your cultivation... have you broken through?”
“Mm.”
Li Hao gave a slight nod but did not elaborate, leaving Li Hongzhuang standing in the snow, stunned.
Earlier, she had faintly sensed some auras but had not been certain. Now, there was no longer any doubt.
...
Qingzhou City, outside the Divine General Mansion.
Nine massive beast cauldrons were being transported, creating such a grand scene that many passersby stopped to watch, whispering amongst themselves and speculating about the contents sealed within the cauldrons.
In the Changchun Courtyard, upon hearing the report, He Jianlan immediately ordered her people to receive the Blood Fiend Army stationed outside the mansion.
As the nine beast cauldrons were placed down, other ladies from the various courtyards also arrived, having heard the news. They examined the cauldrons curiously, unsure of their contents.
The cauldrons were sealed with molten iron, making it impossible to investigate.
“What’s inside these?”
He Jianlan looked at the Blood Fiend Army deputy general leading the convoy. Recognizing him as a trusted aide of Li Hongzhuang and a collateral descendant of the Li family, she addressed him warmly.
“Reporting to the Lady, I have been ordered by the general to deliver the Demon King’s precious blood on behalf of Young Master Li Hao,” the middle-aged deputy general said respectfully, bowing.
He Jianlan was momentarily stunned, and the mention of Li Hao’s name caused the other ladies present to pause as well.
These days, the name “Li Hao” resonated like thunder within the Divine General Mansion.
“Demon King’s precious blood?”
Gao Qingqing looked in astonishment at the nine beast cauldrons. Such an enormous quantity—was this the blood of a Fourth Pillar Great Demon King?
Beside her, Li Yun and Li Zhining stared blankly at the cauldrons, the term “Demon King” feeling impossibly distant to them.
He Jianlan, after her initial surprise, quickly recollected herself. She vividly remembered what Li Hao had said when he left the mansion.
Now, was this the second favor being returned?
He Jianlan’s eyes grew misty, but she quickly composed herself and said, “Please transport this Demon King’s precious blood to the Shanhe Courtyard.”
“Yes, Lady.”
The middle-aged deputy general accepted the order.
But before he could leave, He Jianlan hurriedly asked, “How is Hao’er at the border? This Demon King... was it the father of the Little Demon King?”
The middle-aged deputy general shook his head slightly. “The Myriad Mountains Demon King had gathered three Demon Kings to invade. This is the blood of one of those Demon Kings. The Myriad Mountains Demon King and the other two managed to escape.”
“Four Demon Kings!”
Everyone present turned pale with shock.
Even on the Yanbei Battlefield, which was a stage of national importance, the simultaneous appearance of four Demon Kings was enough to alarm the imperial court.
Let alone at Tianmen Pass, a solitary fortress.
“And Hao’er...” He Jianlan’s face turned pale, and her body trembled as though she could not stand upright.
The middle-aged deputy general quickly reassured her. “Lady, please do not worry. The Demon Kings have been driven away, and Young Master Li Hao is unharmed. The master of Tianji Tower and Second Uncle were present. If the demons had not fled swiftly, they would all have perished.”
He Jianlan’s expression eased slightly, though her palms were slick with cold sweat.
Though she had not seen it with her own eyes, she could already imagine the perilous battlefield of Tianmen Pass.
Li Hao had survived such a calamity, yet he chose to send back the Demon King’s precious blood—not as a gift to the Li family, but as repayment of a favor.
Years ago, Li Tiangang had returned with the blood of a Three-Thousand-Year Three Immortals Great Demon. Now, Li Hao offered the blood of a Ten-Thousand-Year Great Demon King.
The disparity in this reciprocation was enormous.
“In two more years, that child... will he truly leave the Li family?”
He Jianlan suppressed her tears, a bitter and sorrowful feeling filling her heart.
After a long pause, she waved her hand, signaling the deputy general to leave.
Then, she instructed a maid, “Write a letter to Liang Province, informing Tiangang that his son has repaid the favor!”
The others remained silent upon hearing He Jianlan’s words.
Among the crowd, the Eighth Madam, Wang Xiangru, let out a faint sneer but said nothing.
Back then, her daughter Li Rumeng had been slapped by Li Hao. An investigation later revealed the reason, and though no one commented openly, their expressions screamed, “She deserved it.”
As her mother, Wang Xiangru couldn’t swallow this grudge.
However, with Li Hao’s current rising status, she dared not say anything either.
...
Liang Province, in the Eastern Frontier War Camp.
An unbroken line of defenses formed a black-stone Great Wall stretching across the border.
The land beyond the border was pitch black, with burnt vegetation scattered across the ground. Trees in the mountain forests had been cut down to keep the area as open as possible, maximizing visibility and preventing demons from sneaking closer under the cover of darkness.
The area within a hundred li was entirely unobstructed.
At this moment, outside the war camp, numerous soldiers were dragging demon corpses back toward the encampment.
Blood stained the ground in many places.
Carts and stretchers carried wounded soldiers and the remains of the fallen.
The camp had just endured a great battle, with heavy casualties inflicted upon the demonic forces.
Though the soldiers had suffered some losses, the number of wounded and dead among their ranks was relatively low.
“...Report to the Marshal: 43,255 demons were annihilated. Our forces sustained 720 severe injuries, over 1,000 minor injuries, and 321 deaths!”
A military officer approached Li Tiangang and solemnly delivered the report.