Volume 2 - Chapter 50: A Visit from the Demons
The western frontier of Liang Province.
The towering city walls, reaching a hundred zhang in height, were lined with soldiers clad in black armor, standing in strict formation and maintaining a vigilant watch.
Within the city, large-scale war machines were being assembled, while massive war carts, as enormous as small buildings, were being hauled by dragons and lion-like beasts. These carts were transported from the interior, loaded with arrows, weapons, and provisions.
The military camp bustled with activity. Soldiers carried out their respective duties, patrolling and standing guard.
From time to time, war eagles returned to the camp from beyond the border, delivering reports of their reconnaissance.
...
“How strange. Those demons have gone quiet.”
Inside the command tent of the camp, Li Xuanli, seated in the commander’s chair, furrowed his brows in thought.
Reports had come back that the group of demons eight hundred li away had retreated eastward.
This group of demons had lingered near the western border for a long time, launching sporadic raids. Among them were three Three Immortals Realm great demons, whose actions seemed calculated to provoke the Liang Province forces into crossing the defensive line in pursuit. However, Li Xuanli had not taken the bait.
Now, their sudden retreat seemed abrupt and suspicious.
Considering other intelligence, could these demon attacks on Liang Province’s borders have been nothing but a feint?
Was their true objective to tie down the Li family’s military strength?
“Father.”
A figure ran into the command tent—it was none other than Li Wushuang.
Seeing his beloved daughter, Li Xuanli’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly, and he chuckled softly.
“I heard you led a team to eliminate a group of demons outside the defensive line earlier. How did it feel?”
At the mention of this, Li Wushuang’s tone turned exasperated. “They were just a bunch of minor demons.”
Li Xuanli chuckled inwardly. If he hadn’t known they were minor demons, he wouldn’t have let her take action.
“Even if they are minor demons, you shouldn’t pursue them too far. You must understand that the military laws in the camp are as unyielding as mountains. Demons are cunning beyond imagination, especially those who dare to invade the border. They always have strategists behind them and should be treated as devious adversaries.” Li Xuanli offered his guidance.
“I understand.”
Li Wushuang replied, “That’s actually why I came to see you. I extracted some intelligence from one of the minor demons we captured. They were only feigning an attack; in reality, they’ve already retreated.”
“Oh?”
Li Xuanli raised an eyebrow. “How did you get that demon to talk?”
“I paid a visit to the torture chamber earlier and picked up some techniques,” Li Wushuang replied.
Li Xuanli was momentarily speechless and then sighed with a wry smile. “A girl like you shouldn’t go to such a messy place... Nevertheless, this matter requires further investigation. I’ll look into it.”
“Further investigation?”
Li Wushuang was taken aback.
“Of course,” Li Xuanli said with mild irritation. “The demons I let you fight were only at the Spiritual Wandering Realm at best. Demons of that level are nothing but cannon fodder. They wouldn’t know any real battle plans unless the great demons intentionally let them in on it.”
Li Wushuang paused, a trace of realization dawning on her. “Father, are you saying this could be a scheme within a scheme?”
Li Xuanli nodded slightly. “It’s possible, though I might just be overthinking it. Regardless, I’ll investigate further. You should rest easy for now.”
“Alright then.”
Seeing his determination, Li Wushuang nodded reluctantly and left the tent.
Once she was gone, Li Xuanli’s expression grew serious. After a moment of contemplation, he called for his personal adjutant and ordered the drafting of two letters.
One was to be sent to Qingzhou, warning them to be vigilant of the demons’ movements.
The other was to be sent to the Eastern Frontier, to Li Tiangang.
“If these demons are a diversion, their true target might be Qingzhou. If it’s a real attack, this retreat could mean they’re planning to strike the Eastern Frontier. I wonder what’s happening on Tiangang’s side...”
His eyes flickered with thought. Suddenly, another possibility came to mind, and he ordered his adjutant to write a third letter, this one addressed to Tianmen Pass.
“That boy... Although he recently drove away three demon kings, those demon kings are likely nursing a grudge. They might vent their fury on Liang Province or join forces with other demon kings to attack Tianmen Pass. Additionally, the revelation of the Dragon Gate’s location and the long-standing grudge between the Sacred Palace and the Li family might lead to trouble...”
“We must ensure he remains cautious.”
...
In the Eastern Frontier, along the battle line.
The Blackstone Great Wall stretched endlessly across the landscape, covering the entirety of the defensive line.
Six hundred li beyond the wall, two figures sped through the air. Their auras were suppressed, revealing none of their power.
One of them wore a luxurious crimson-gold robe, his face as handsome and elegant as a jade sculpture.
The other was clad in a black robe with a hood, their entire figure shrouded in shadow.
“That’s the location where Li Tiangang is stationed,” the black-robed figure said in a low voice. “Feng Shanjun, I understand your desire for revenge, but even if you charge in now, you may not succeed in killing Li Tiangang. The defenses here are bolstered by formations. With our current strength, breaking through won’t be easy.”
“If we attack now, we’ll only alert them and ruin our plans.”
The crimson-gold-robed man was none other than Feng Shanjun, who had narrowly escaped with his life from under Li Hao’s command.
His eyes burned with golden flames as his gaze pierced the void, settling on the military camp within the defensive line. Killing intent surged in his eyes.
“I know. I’ve already promised not to jeopardize your plans,” Feng Shanjun replied coldly.
Hearing this, the black-robed figure relaxed slightly and smiled faintly. “No need to rush. In a year, when the elders of our clan emerge from seclusion, we’ll flatten Liang Province. At that time, we can also deal with that brat who humiliated you.”
Feng Shanjun’s voice turned icy. “Dealing with that brat is one thing, but Li Tiangang must die by my hands!”
“Of course,” the black-robed figure agreed readily.
Feng Shanjun took a deep, resentful look at the defensive line in the distance, his hatred barely restrained. For now, he held himself back.
The Li family’s army was formidable. Breaking through their formation in haste was unlikely to yield success.
...
At Tianmen Pass, seven hundred individuals volunteered to join the military and defend Cangya City, protecting this crucial stronghold.
Li Hao officially incorporated them into his forces, recorded their names, and submitted the household registry and personnel roster to Liang Province's Military Governor, Li Xuanli—his fifth uncle.
Li Hao, tasked with guarding Liang Province, also held the title of Military Governor, granting him authority to mobilize troops from all cities within the province. This included the city guards, who were bound to obey his orders unconditionally.
The roster required entry into the records and official approval. Without this process, any soldiers who died in battle would lack recognition and receive no proper burial, leaving their bodies untended, their names unsung, and their spirits wandering as lonely ghosts.
After completing the registration process, Li Hao hosted the Star Official, an elderly man who had been assisting with the activation and testing of Cangya City’s formation.
As a border stronghold, the city’s formation was the Five Mystical Star Array, which contained the battle souls of five Three Immortals Realm peak demons. These souls were empowered by the energies of the heavens and stars, their strength comparable to that of two Dao Heart Realm demon kings.
The array was sufficient to defend against a single demon king’s assault, capable of holding out for at least half a day. Additionally, all soldiers in the city could channel their strength into the array to further enhance its power. The formation could also bolster the combat abilities of its defenders, allowing them to draw strength from the demon battle souls it contained.
“Please inspect the formation, young general,” the Star Official said.
With the activation of the array, the five battle souls of the great demons manifested as spectral projections at various points in the city—one at the center, and one at each of the four walls.
These battle souls, remnants of the royal family’s ancient victories, served as essential components of the formation.
Li Hao soared outside the city and observed as the entire formation enveloped Cangya City. From any direction of attack, the five demon battle souls could instantly converge at a single point to launch a counterattack.
“I’ll conduct a simple test,” Li Hao announced.
The true effectiveness of the formation could only be determined by assessing whether the battle souls could unleash their full strength.
Instead of drawing his Dragon Sky Sword, Li Hao raised his fist and delivered a strike.
The punch harnessed the power of the surrounding heavens and earth, forming an enormous fist imprint that descended like a mountain.
At first, the onlookers atop the city walls watched with eager anticipation, but as the punch grew in size and intensity, their expressions turned grim.
The five demon battle souls roared and surged forward in unison.
However, under the suppressive force of Li Hao’s punch, the battle souls, as if they were small beasts trying to topple a mountain, could not halt its momentum. They were forced into retreat, step by step.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One by one, the five battle souls were slammed against the golden barrier of the array, causing ripples of energy to spread across its surface. The array’s color seemed to pale slightly under the impact.
Li Hao promptly withdrew his power and returned to the city.
The Star Official stared at him, momentarily dumbfounded. After a pause, the old man asked, “Young general, was that your full strength?”
“No,” Li Hao replied with a shake of his head. “That was just thirty percent of my power.”
The Star Official hesitated, his brows knitting together as he inspected the formation’s intricate runes. “This shouldn’t be happening...”
Li Hao, too, found the demon battle souls’ performance unexpectedly lackluster. He consoled the Star Official, saying, “No need to rush, senior. Take your time and inspect everything thoroughly. Perhaps there’s a minor issue somewhere.”
The Star Official considered his words and nodded.
Nearby, Xia Xianglan felt a pang of guilt. Could the problem lie in the segment of runes she had carved earlier?
After taking his leave from the Star Official, Li Hao sought out the newly recruited warriors and instructed them to procure a large quantity of fabric for making military flags—the more, the better.
The following day, Li Hao received news from Liang Province’s Military Governor, approving the enlistment of the seven hundred recruits.
Additionally, he received a letter from his fifth uncle, Li Xuanli. Every word of the letter expressed concern, warning him to remain cautious of potential demon king retaliation.
Li Hao sighed softly as he put the letter away, instructing Ren Qianqian to store it in a wooden box in his quarters.
Later that afternoon, a bird arrived at the pass, bearing a message for Li Hao. It requested an audience with the young general.
The notion of a demon paying a visit was unexpected for Li Hao, but he agreed to meet the messenger.
The bird demon transformed into the shape of a child around seven or eight years old, dressed in simple orange robes. Led by the guards, the child entered the small courtyard, where he saw a young girl practicing swordsmanship and a young man sitting nearby, sketching casually.
At the young man’s feet lay a small white fox, which lazily glanced at the child.
The child shuddered under the fox’s gaze, his face tensing with nervousness as he approached Li Hao.
“Young... young general,” he stammered.
“From Tianji Hall?”
Li Hao didn’t turn around as he continued sketching the corpse of a ghost mistress in the distance, quietly earning experience in the Dao of Painting.
With his divine soul meditating high above, observing the surroundings, and his vision extending past the courtyard walls, Li Hao could see the grotesque and bloated corpse of the ghost mistress.
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