Volume 2 - Chapter 42: The Gathering Storm
Upon hearing the battle report, Li Tiangang's furrowed brows did not relax, and he only nodded slightly.
He then directed his gaze toward the blackened lands beyond the vast territory.
"These demons are constantly harassing us, probing the strength of our forces stationed in the east."
"The west is guarded by Fifth Brother, and the demons have undoubtedly scouted that. They may strike from either the north or the south..."
As he mentioned the south, his eyes narrowed slightly.
To the south of Liang Province was the Tianmen Pass.
Thinking of that stronghold, an image of a resolute and unyielding young figure flashed through his mind, along with those steadfast, piercingly cold eyes.
The furrows on his brow deepened further.
"Marshal, earlier, the young master slew the Minor Demon King in Dayue City. The Myriad Mountains Demon King will surely not let this go easily," said Li Fu worriedly from the side.
Glancing at the many wounded and disabled soldiers around him, Li Fu thought of that young man at Tianmen Pass. He was well aware of the harsh winds and snow along the borderlands.
Li Tiangang's expression remained unchanged as he said, "That Minor Demon King possessed unparalleled talent, and the Myriad Mountains Demon King will never let it rest. He may even collude with other demons to launch a joint invasion."
"Then..." Li Fu glanced at him hesitantly.
Li Tiangang calmly replied, "Hao'er is under the covert protection of someone at the Fourth Pillar Realm, an old friend of Second Uncle. Additionally, there is the qilin from the Tangong Academy. He should be safe."
"This time, as I lead the troops to Liang Province, all internal affairs will be managed by my sister-in-law. As for Second Uncle, no one watches him, nor can anyone restrain him. He will most likely be unable to sit still and will head to Tianmen Pass."
"With them there, even if the Myriad Mountains Demon King gathers the other two Demon Kings outside Tianmen Pass for an assault, they will hold their ground. Moreover, this provides an excellent opportunity to clear out the Demon Kings near Tianmen Pass, allowing the Demon Subduing Division to handle the aftermath. If successful, we won’t have to abandon Tianmen Pass."
The prior decision to abandon Tianmen Pass had been one of desperation.
If it could be preserved, that would undoubtedly be preferable.
After all, it was a site established by the late emperor and the ancestors of the Li family, soaked with the blood of countless valiant predecessors.
Li Fu was momentarily stunned. If that was the plan, wouldn’t it mean using Li Hao as bait to lure out the Demon Kings outside the pass?
"Will the young master be in too much danger if he gets involved in battles at the Fourth Pillar Realm?" Li Fu asked, his worry evident.
"If he doesn't wish to participate, he can retreat quietly. All he has to do is lower his head, and the Divine General Mansion will always welcome him back," Li Tiangang said coldly. "I even sent him a letter earlier, giving him a chance to de-escalate matters. Yet, his arrogance prevents him from admitting fault—he didn’t even bother to reply!"
"In that case, let those Demon Kings teach him a lesson, so he learns what cruelty and despair mean. After he experiences the brink of life and death, he’ll understand just how laughable his defiance is!"
"But the young master is still so young. It's natural for him to have a youthful spirit. Isn’t this method a bit too harsh..."
"No need to say more."
Li Tiangang cut him off with a wave of his hand. "This is the Eastern Frontier. Liang Province is on the brink of danger at any moment. Earlier reconnaissance reports revealed signs of activity from the Dragon Gate. Additionally, the Sacred Palace of Yanbei, our old nemesis, plans to use Liang Province as a breach point. This could be a battle as fierce as those in Yanbei. Don’t lose focus!"
Li Fu opened his mouth slightly, let out a bitter laugh, and refrained from saying more.
At that moment, a sparrow dove down from the clouds like an arrow.
Li Tiangang looked up, raised his hand, and the diving sparrow stopped abruptly, landing on his forearm.
The sparrow's chest puffed up, and a message scroll emerged from its beak.
"It's the cloud sparrow of the madam," Li Fu recognized. This bird demon was a battlefield messenger specifically raised by the Divine General Mansion.
Li Tiangang unrolled the scroll and scanned its contents. His expression shifted slightly.
"Marshal, has something happened in Qingzhou?" Li Fu couldn't help but ask.
Li Tiangang’s face darkened. With a pinch of his fingers, the scroll turned to ash.
"The second debt repaid..."
His fingers clenched into a loose fist.
He recalled how, years ago in Yanbei, when news came that Li Hao could not cultivate, he had charged alone into enemy lines, slaying a Three Immortals Great Demon to retrieve its precious blood and deliver it home.
Now, that young man had sent back the Nine Cauldrons Demon King’s blood, repaying the favor from all those years ago.
So, was everything settled between them now?
A mix of sorrow and anger churned in Li Tiangang’s heart.
In his mind, he could vividly picture the cold glint in the young man’s eyes when returning the Demon King’s blood.
The scroll had also mentioned that four Demon Kings had attacked Tianmen Pass. Fortunately, with reinforcements from Tianji Tower and Second Uncle, the Demon Kings were driven away.
Four Demon Kings. Even without being at Tianmen Pass, Li Tiangang could imagine the danger.
As for the reinforcements from Tianji Tower and Second Uncle, he had expected their involvement. While he sighed with relief, complicated emotions stirred within him.
He realized that the young man had already made a name for himself across the world. Even without the Li family’s connections, many others would value him.
Trying to force him back through sheer strength alone would only encounter resistance.
Those people would inevitably become his source of support, bolstering his resolve.
"So, his plan is to defend Tianmen Pass for three years before cutting ties?"
Li Tiangang muttered under his breath, his eyes turning cold. He took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and refocused on the battlefield in Liang Province.
He understood that the young man’s obstinate spirit meant he was determined to forge his own path.
The battle in Qingzhou had elevated the Li family’s reputation, but it was a reputation built on mockery and shame.
After all, a fight between father and son led many to rebuke Li Hao for his unfilial behavior. Yet, at its core, the criticism still reflected poorly on the Li family.
Li Tiangang was resolute in ensuring such disgrace would never happen again.
Once the situation in Liang Province was under control, or the Eastern Frontier stabilized, he planned to personally visit Tianmen Pass and drag Li Hao back.
That so-called agreement? He had never taken it seriously. If it needed to be torn up, so be it.
He would never allow Li Hao to sever ties with the Li family so easily.
...
...
Outside the Blackstone Great Wall, a thousand miles into the swamp...
The swamp stretched for hundreds of miles. Within it, the muddy waters churned, occasionally punctuated by the eruption of mud bubbles.
A foul stench permeated the air. Suddenly, the swamp’s surface stirred violently, and a massive figure emerged—a Flood Dragon.
Its serpentine body coiled within the swamp, scales smeared with mud, and its emerald-green eyes gleamed with a venomous aura.
"Have you confirmed it? Li Tiangang is indeed stationed in the Eastern Frontier," the creature growled, its voice low and rumbling.
"To the west is that Fifth Brother of the Li family, to the east is this Li Tiangang, and in Cangzhou, the Li family’s Eighth Brother has revealed his presence."
"The two old relics of the Li family are still stationed in Qingzhou."
Several figures in black robes hovered above the swamp, their garments frayed at the edges, revealing dark golden inner linings that radiated a sense of luxury.
"Although our forces have yet to fully mobilize in Liang Province, the stirrings of conflict have already left the Li family as skittish as startled birds," one black-robed figure sneered.
As he spoke, his forked tongue darted out, licking his own cheek and nose.
Another black-robed figure, noticing this habit, frowned with visible disgust.
"Can you stop with that revolting behavior? We’re aiming to transcend and become true dragons, shedding our serpent origins. Clinging to such habits is nauseating."
"That’s your goal. I, on the other hand, have no intention of becoming a dragon. I aim to become the greatest serpent," the first figure replied with a sinister grin.
His true ambitions, however, were far more insidious—not just to become a serpent but to devour dragons and rise above them.
"Hmph!"
The others scoffed at him in disdain.
"You’re here to argue, are you? Say what needs to be said and leave. I was just about to settle in for some rest," the Flood Dragon muttered lazily from the swamp.
"The elders have decreed that you are to periodically send smaller demons to harass the Eastern Frontier. Keep Li Tiangang preoccupied and unable to mobilize. Soon, the Sacred Palace will take over operations here."
"The Sacred Palace has long been at odds with Li Tiangang. They fought each other from Yanbei to this region. The Sacred Palace swore they would flay him alive and devour him. This time, there’s no Sword Saint of Yanbei or Desert Sword Saint to lend him aid. Let’s see what Li Tiangang can do to hold the line!"
"Liang Province is barren and desolate, devoid of outstanding heroes. Even those who once existed are either long dead or faded into obscurity."
"Hmph, if he weren’t so formidable, I’d have gone to cause trouble for him myself."
"Forget it. That Li Tiangang brat may not be one of the older generation, but he’s already at the peak of the Three Immortals stage. Back in Yanbei, he reportedly slew over a dozen Three Immortals Great Demons in succession—truly terrifying!"
"Fortunately, the Li family’s Ninth Brother perished in Cangzhou. Otherwise, our demon clan would have one more formidable enemy!"
"Enough idle chatter. We still need to scout the northern territories."
"The north? That’s the border with Youzhou, where the Xia family is stationed. They’re quite tricky to deal with. A breakthrough from there won’t be easy."
"Breaking through from the south would have been ideal, but we’ve heard that Li Tiangang’s son is stationed there, protected by someone at the Fourth Pillar Realm. We have no choice but to adjust our plans."
The black-robed figures conversed briefly with the Flood Dragon before bidding it farewell and flying toward the north.
"The Xia family... I’ve heard their relationship with the Li family isn’t great. Let’s probe them first and see if they’ll cross borders to assist."
One of the black-robed figures suggested as they departed.
...
...
At Tianmen Pass, in Cangya City...
With the aid of numerous martial artists, Cangya City had been largely restored.
An elderly official from the Si Tianjian, known as the Star Officer, worked tirelessly alongside his students to construct an array, their efforts leaving them drenched in sweat.
Xia Xianglan, typically lively and playful, had adopted a quieter demeanor. She diligently assisted her master while closely observing and learning the array construction techniques.
Occasionally, she would glance toward a part of the city, hoping to catch sight of the fenced courtyard, though she could only make out its faint outline.
Inside that courtyard, Li Hao had inscribed and modified a method for refining the soul, writing it down for Ren Qianqian. This soul-refining technique was capable of reaching levels rivaling the royal family’s own methods.
As for his own cultivation, Li Hao had integrated multiple methods to surpass even the royal family’s techniques.
While Ren Qianqian immersed herself in cultivation within the camp, Li Hao picked up the Dragon Sky Sword, tossed the little white fox onto a bamboo mat in the courtyard, and walked alone out of the stronghold.
The three Demon Kings had already fled. Whether he could find them in their lairs remained uncertain.
Li Hao now urgently needed a Demon King to test his skills.