Volume 2 - Chapter 44: Single-Handedly Sweeping Three Thousand Li - Part 1
The black bird let out a miserable screech, its gaze filled with terror as it looked toward the source of the flying sword.
In the distance, a figure whistled through the air with incredible speed, its flight capability astonishing the bird.
The black bird hastily turned to flee in another direction. However, missing one wing significantly reduced its speed. It unleashed its innate demonic art, using demonic energy to form a shadowy wing. At the same time, it manipulated the fierce wind around it, splitting it apart to eliminate air resistance.
Like an arrow, it shot forward in an instant. But suddenly, the surrounding space seemed to collapse inward, converging with a mighty force.
Boom!
The black bird’s body was seized in mid-air, struggling violently.
Li Hao approached step by step, the Dragon Sky Sword spiraling through the air before returning to the sheath at his side.
“So small... Heaven and Man Realm?”
Li Hao examined the black bird, which had reverted to its true form, now only half a meter in size.
“I’ve heard there’s a force among the demon clans called the Tianji Hall. It imitates the Tianji Tower and is made up of weak combatant birds and beasts. They roam the various demon clans, delivering intelligence, trading in information to survive. They specialize in concealment and reconnaissance…”
Hearing the youth’s musings, the black bird’s pupils contracted in panic.
It had already recognized the youth’s face—the extraordinary genius stationed at Tianmen Pass. But why would he appear deep in demon territory?
If it died here, even the Great Yu Divine Dynasty wouldn’t be able to avenge him.
“Spare me! I’m just a small demon cultivating the essence of the sun and moon. I’ve never harmed a soul…”
The black bird desperately pleaded, ceasing its struggles entirely.
According to intelligence, this youth had torn apart demons at the Three Immortals Realm with his bare hands. Compared to them, it was nothing.
“There’s a bloody stench on you. You’re not as clean as you claim.”
Li Hao’s voice was soft.
His gaze swept the surroundings, and his divine soul surged forth. A natural immortal pressure emanated from it, making the black bird tremble uncontrollably.
Li Hao’s divine soul probed in all directions, following the traces of demonic energy left by the bird to a nearby mountain peak. There, faint demonic energy gathered—likely its lair.
“Let’s go. Take me to your nest.”
With the power of Object Manipulation, Li Hao carried the black bird as he flew toward the mountain.
“Spare me! I only consume the flesh and blood of other demons. I don’t harm humans…”
The black bird wailed in fear, pleading for its life.
But Li Hao paid no attention.
“You… You deserve to die!”
The black bird’s eyes glinted with ferocity as it suddenly lunged at Li Hao in a desperate struggle.
Before it could approach, the power of Object Manipulation repelled it.
The black bird fell into despair. It shot Li Hao one last venomous glare before its aura suddenly surged. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, its demonic energy dissipated entirely.
Li Hao looked on, startled. The black bird’s life force was rapidly fading—it had chosen suicide?
“I haven’t even interrogated you yet.”
A thought crossed Li Hao’s mind. Could it truly be from Tianji Hall? Ordinary bird demons wouldn’t resort to such decisive measures.
Even if this Tianji Hall existed, fostering such determination to die was commendable.
Li Hao squeezed its body, finding that its heart had been torn apart by demonic energy and rendered useless.
But within its gizzard, two pieces of blood-red jade, shimmering like rubies, lay hidden.
The Blood Jade emanated a rich, fragrant essence of flesh and blood, along with potent demonic energy.
...
Li Hao pocketed the jade. "This should make for a good snack for Xiao Baihu later," he mused.
Then, without hesitation, Li Hao flew straight toward the mountain peak.
...
Inside the fiery cavern, three heads of the Three-Faced Snake were deliberating whether to accept Dragon Gate’s invitation.
Earlier, they had avoided discussing the matter in front of the Tianji Hall bird demon, unwilling to provide free information.
“The situation has reached a tipping point. Dragon Gate’s attack on Liangzhou seems anything but impulsive; it’s clearly been long in the making.”
“The rewards Dragon Gate promises are quite tempting. I think it’s worth the risk. At worst, we’ll be wanted criminals. We can always retreat to Great Wilderness Heaven.”
“You idiot. Once we join Dragon Gate, why would we care about being wanted?”
Two heads bickered while the largest, central head remained silent.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept into the cavern.
All three heads turned in unison to see a figure gracefully entering.
With his arrival, the intense heat within the cavern seemed to diminish sharply.
On the rocky walls, many demons, resembling slumbering geckos, awoke simultaneously, their malevolent eyes locking onto the intruding youth.
“A human?!”
The Three-Faced Snake froze in astonishment, its expression shifting subtly.
“The image provided by Tianji Hall… it looks like him!”
“Li Hao, the genius of the Li family?”
Two heads studied Li Hao warily. They had not expected the target that the black bird had been sent to investigate would appear directly before them.
In his hand, Li Hao held the now-dead black bird, the same one that had just left this cavern.
The central head’s eyes gleamed with crimson-gold light as it scanned the passage behind Li Hao, searching for potential hidden allies.
Outside the cavern, Feng Boping leaned lazily against a hillside, sipping wine. His relaxed demeanor suggested he was unbothered by the situation.
Being far enough away, the Three-Faced Snake couldn’t detect Feng Boping’s presence, concluding that only the youth stood before them.
Was he delivering himself on a silver platter?
“I must be dreaming.”
“Is this a pleasant dream? I don’t want to wake up!”
The two heads laughed sinisterly.
The largest head fixed its gaze on Li Hao. “Human, why have you come here?”
Li Hao surveyed the cavern. From the mountain’s surface, he had only detected faint traces of demonic energy. Yet now that he was inside, he saw a considerable number of demons, including a massive one.
However, to his disappointment, the Three-Faced Snake before him only exuded the aura of the Three Immortals Realm.
Not a Demon King.
“I came to find a sparring partner,” Li Hao replied calmly.
“？”
“？”
“？”
The Three-Faced Snake’s heads wore identical expressions of bewilderment.
Was this human genius insane?
This place was 1,800 li from Tianmen Pass, surrounded by their demon territories. Even if the youth called for reinforcements, none would arrive in time.
Others came to slay demons; he came to train?
“Big brother, we must give him a warm welcome.”
“We understand hospitality,” the other two heads sneered.
The largest head issued a single command: “Attack!”
In an instant, the demons clinging to the cavern walls let out shrill cries, leaping toward Li Hao en masse.
Strange, piercing laughter echoed through the cavern as the swarm of demons pounced on him, creating a chaotic mass of shadowy figures.
But in the next moment, the crisp sound of a dragon’s roar rang out, and golden light surged forth, sweeping across the cavern in a single, radiant arc.
The demons that had lunged toward Li Hao froze mid-air, their bodies seemingly caught in place before bursting apart one after another. Even their divine souls were obliterated, leaving no trace behind.
Among these demons were several from the Heaven and Man Realm, but in the face of Li Hao’s sword, they were no different from minor demons. Each was effortlessly annihilated with a single strike.
The cavern was instantly painted red with demon blood.
Li Hao raised his hand, his fingers forming a sword gesture as he unleashed a mighty strike toward the Three-Faced Snake.
A surge of majestic sword energy erupted forth, slashing toward the serpent.
The Three-Faced Snake’s three heads turned pale simultaneously, their expressions oscillating between shock and fury. The magma below them roiled like an ocean, surging toward Li Hao in fiery waves.
But just as the magma waves advanced, they froze in mid-air. With the power of Object Manipulation, Li Hao had immobilized the molten flow.
At the same time, his sword energy descended, leaving a terrifying wound on the crimson scales of the Three-Faced Snake’s body.
“What kind of attack is this?!”
“It hurts!”
“My Crimson Flame Treasure Body was destroyed just like that?”
The two smaller heads let out agonized wails.
The central, largest head grimaced in disbelief. It finally understood why this human dared to come alone.
The Three-Faced Snake was a peak Three Immortals Realm demon, only a step away from becoming a Demon King, hindered only by its lack of a fully realized Dao Heart.
Yet in front of this youth, it could sense death looming.
“Three Forms Unite!”
The largest head roared, its massive body coiling as it emerged fully from the magma. The two smaller heads quickly sank into its body, their voices echoing as they disappeared.
“Big brother, avenge us!”
“Big brother, we leave it to you!”
With the disappearance of the two smaller heads, the Three-Faced Snake transformed into a single-headed giant serpent. Its aura surged exponentially, and its body emitted a dense, blood-red mist. The serpent’s tail lashed out fiercely at Li Hao.
Li Hao remained motionless. Behind him, a massive Heavenly Avatar materialized, its towering arms stretching forth to seize the serpent’s tail. The tremendous force of the strike was halted mid-swing as the avatar gripped the tail tightly and yanked, swinging the serpent through the air.
“You…”
The Three-Faced Snake’s remaining head looked at Li Hao in horror.
...
Outside the cavern, a chilly wind swept through the mountain.
Feng Boping leaned casually against a boulder, dusting off crumbs from the snack he had just finished. Sensing movement, he turned his gaze toward the cavern entrance.
Li Hao emerged, sword in hand, gliding out effortlessly. His clothes were spotless, not a trace of blood visible, as though he had just taken a leisurely stroll.
“That was quick?”
Feng Boping raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had expected Li Hao to win, but not this easily.
“They were too weak,” Li Hao replied with a faint shake of his head, his tone tinged with regret. The snake demon had been subdued effortlessly by his Heavenly Avatar, leaving him unimpressed.
Even after allowing the snake to awaken an ancient Demon King bloodline, the resulting power increase had been marginal.
“...”
Feng Boping fell silent. The Three-Faced Snake had been at the peak of the Three Immortals Realm, on par with Li Hao’s own cultivation level. Yet it had been utterly crushed.
Then again, recalling how Li Hao had slain a Demon King in an unusual state while still in the Heaven and Man Realm, this was hardly surprising.
“What’s next?” Feng Boping asked.
“We continue.”
“Fair enough.”
The two transformed into streams of light, vanishing from the mountaintop.
Within the depths of the fiery cavern, now resembling a blood-soaked inferno, all the demons had been annihilated.
The massive body of the Three-Faced Snake lay in pieces, its blood extinguishing the magma pools. Its once-imposing head had been smashed flat, brain matter oozing out, leaving only one intact eyeball.
The light in that eye dimmed rapidly, fading until only a faint glimmer remained.
“Monster…”
Its final trace of soul consciousness flickered briefly before fading into silence.
...