Volume 3 - Chapter 2: Li Family's Tenth Son, Li Hao! - Part 1
"Fourth Master?"
Although Li Hao had deduced the man's identity, he still tentatively asked for confirmation.
"Hmm?"
Li Xiaoran heard the address and gave Li Hao a once-over before saying, "Are you the little rat my second brother mentioned?"
"..."
Not knowing how the Second Master had described him to this elder brother, Li Hao could only nod wordlessly.
"Li Xiaoran!"
The Candlefire God and two other demon kings had already caught up. Looking at Li Xiaoran, Lu Yuan's eyes initially narrowed before a faint sneer appeared on his face.
"Still haven't freed that elder brother of yours?"
The casual expression on Li Xiaoran's face tightened slightly. Glancing at the Candlefire God and Madam Yin, he squinted and asked:
"What, even those of the Void Realm have stepped in now?"
Seeing this, Li Hao quickly sent him a voice transmission: "Fourth Master, they have joined forces to attack Liang Province, which is nearly overrun. You must be cautious; the one radiating flames seems to have one foot in the Supreme Dao Stage!"
Li Xiaoran's gaze flickered at the transmission but his expression remained composed and unreadable.
"Attacking Liang Province together? Then why are they here?"
Countless thoughts raced through Li Xiaoran's mind. With the dominators of the Void Realm and the Dragon Gate Grand Elder joining forces, Liang Province’s stationed forces would be utterly unable to resist.
"Why are they hunting you?"
Li Xiaoran sent a voice transmission: "Do you have the Sacred Heart Talisman? Besides them, are there any other demon kings?"
"They failed to catch me," Li Hao transmitted back. "As for other demon kings, I only saw six or seven of them, all of whom I killed."
"..."
Li Xiaoran was momentarily stunned, glancing at Li Hao in disbelief.
What was this supposed to mean? He didn’t even know how to respond.
When Li Hao had flown over, Li Xiaoran had seen his aura clearly—he was undoubtedly at the Three Immortals Realm.
Killed demon kings? And six or seven of them?
However, judging by the speed Li Hao had displayed, it was far beyond what was typical for the Three Immortals Realm. Even among those in the Absolute Technique Stage, it was exceptional.
There were too many unanswered questions, but Li Xiaoran had no chance to ask. The Candlefire God’s flaming Dao Domain had already begun to expand, and at the same time, Madam Yin gathered black moonlight, creating countless beams of lunar brilliance that formed a killing array around them.
Earlier, their excessive words were meant to savor the spectacle of familial betrayal and vent their resentment. But now, they had no intention of wasting another word.
Sensing their imposing momentum, Li Xiaoran’s expression changed slightly. Li Hao hadn’t been wrong; the opponents indeed possessed Dao Domains.
But compared to other Supreme Dao Stage experts he had encountered, these two seemed somewhat different—they hadn’t truly stepped into that realm.
Even so, their power was terrifying. How had Li Hao survived against them to reach this place?
"You leave first; I'll hold them off!"
"Fourth Master, you can't hold them off," Li Hao quickly responded. "They have Dao Domains. Our only options are to flee or to use the River of Death to kill them—if they dare to enter!"
Li Xiaoran hesitated momentarily. He had assumed Li Hao came here seeking his help to escape, but now it seemed the young man intended to use the River of Death instead?
Seeing the escalating aura from the other side, Li Xiaoran immediately understood. He didn’t waste more words. If it were only three opponents at the Absolute Technique Stage, he could risk his life to fight them. But with Dao Domains forming, he was outmatched.
"Fine, you go first; I'll follow shortly!" Li Xiaoran quickly said.
"Let's go together," Li Hao insisted.
It was their first meeting, yet this Fourth Master was willing to shield him from three Absolute Technique Stage demon kings. The gesture left Li Hao with a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite put into words.
"Hmph, no one’s leaving!"
The Candlefire God sneered. Suddenly, he raised a hand, and a stream of divine fire shot from the crack between his brows, piercing straight toward Li Hao.
Clang!
Li Xiaoran’s eyes widened in fury, and a brilliant blade light cleaved out.
"Boundless Thunder Dao!"
Lu Yuan moved to intercept the blade light. Countless streaks of lightning gathered around his dragon claws as he roared and struck at Li Xiaoran with full force.
Madam Yin, meanwhile, activated her lunar killing array, unleashing countless beams of moonlight aimed to annihilate Li Hao.
Li Xiaoran was stunned. He hadn’t expected both husband and wife to focus their attacks on Li Hao and to be so ferocious in their methods. Was such force necessary against someone at the Three Immortals Realm?
He roared, his bamboo hat flying off as his tattered clothing exploded, revealing a muscular frame. His white hair whipped around him as his skeletal frame crackled with power. He stepped forward, unleashing his ultimate technique.
"Carefree Blade of the Heavenly Horizon!"
A dazzling blade light slashed out, reducing the distance of heaven and earth to a single step, obliterating space itself.
At the same time, this slash transcended the constraints of technique, becoming intangible—untraceable as the wind itself.
This strike was unavoidable and guaranteed to land, even surpassing the pull of Dao Rhythms.
Boom!
The blade light cleaved through the divine flames, extinguishing them completely.
However, Li Xiaoran himself bore the brunt of Lu Yuan’s lightning claws. The Limitless Thunder Dao raked across his body, leaving a deep, bone-revealing gash that oozed blood.
Everything happened in a split second.
Li Hao’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected Li Xiaoran to put forth such effort to protect him, even as the enemy attacked with all their might. Anger surged within him, and with a roar, he unleashed a punch that shattered the cascading moonlight of Madam Yin’s lunar killing array.
Terrifying waves of fist energy erupted from his body as he drew on the power of heaven and earth, once again stepping into the state of Immortal Ascension.
Li Hao’s body transformed into a vortex of raging energy, his strength gathering in a frenzied storm. The sight stunned Li Xiaoran, who had just been gravely wounded. Staring at Li Hao, his shock was evident.
"Die!"
Lu Yuan seized the opportunity to attack again, his strikes carrying a thunderous fury aimed to kill Li Xiaoran outright.
Li Xiaoran, though injured, quickly reacted. Though he didn’t understand the depths of Li Hao’s power, the younger man had already exceeded his expectations.
Turning to face his attacker, Li Xiaoran unleashed his ultimate technique once more.
This time, the strike was laced with wrath, and the blade light tore through the crackling lightning, outpacing Lu Yuan’s movements. The strike connected with Lu Yuan’s head, carving a deep gash into his dragon skull and nearly splitting it apart.
Lu Yuan’s defense, fortified with the power of the Limitless Thunder Dao, was still not enough to completely block the strike. The wound on his head bled profusely, his vision swimming.
Even so, Lu Yuan’s attack landed on Li Xiaoran, the residual power of his Limitless Thunder Dao scorching Li Xiaoran’s hand. Though much of the force had been mitigated, his palm was left charred and blackened.
Between the two of them, Li Xiaoran’s injuries were lighter.
In that brief moment of exchange, the Candlefire God and Madam Yin turned their attention fully to Li Hao. The divine flames and moonlight surged forward like a day-and-night convergence, seeking to crush him completely.
Li Hao roared, his entire body glowing with a golden-red light. He pushed his body into a state of divine strength once more, his aura surging like an unyielding tide. A series of punches shattered the oncoming attacks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The impact of their clash shook the heavens and earth.
Madam Yin’s Black Moon skill, imbued with terrifying penetrative power, was destroyed but not without consequence. It left deep wounds on Li Hao’s fists, its destructive force surpassing even that of Lu Yuan’s Limitless Thunder Dao.
Meanwhile, the Candlefire God’s divine flames were dispersed by Li Hao’s strength, though the scorching heat charred his skin black. Remarkably, new flesh regenerated almost instantly, glowing with vitality.
“Go quickly!”
Li Xiaoran, stunned by Li Hao’s terrifying strength, yelled urgently.
The Candlefire God’s Dao Domain was nearing completion.
Li Hao responded via voice transmission: “Fourth Master, I still have the Sacred Heart Talisman. You go first, and I’ll follow immediately!”
Li Xiaoran hesitated for a moment. With Li Hao’s extraordinary talent, possessing a Sacred Heart Talisman wasn’t surprising. Relieved, he transmitted back: “Come quickly!”
Without wasting time, Li Xiaoran unleashed a flurry of blade strikes, forcing the Candlefire God and Lu Yuan back.
The ferocious wind of his blades pressed down on them, the Candlefire God’s forehead gleaming with golden light as he released a divine beam that blocked the blade energy. Though the attack was neutralized, the residual force forced him to take several steps back.
Lu Yuan, on the other hand, had no choice but to roar and pivot defensively, encasing himself in Limitless Thunder Dao. Despite his best efforts, another strike from Li Xiaoran landed on his skull, causing blood to gush out once more. He felt as though his head might be severed at any moment.
Inwardly, he was terrified. Li Xiaoran, the fourth son of the Li Family, was far more formidable than he had imagined. Even more frightening, his blade techniques had reached a level that was almost impossible to counter.
After forcing his enemies back, Li Xiaoran began retreating rapidly. The Candlefire God’s Dao Domain was seconds away from completion—if he didn’t leave now, escape would no longer be possible.
Turning, he saw Li Hao had not activated his Sacred Heart Talisman and hesitated briefly.
At that moment, Li Hao let out a deafening roar, his blood spraying into the air. His blood vessels seemed to burst as he drew on the power of six heavens, channeling it all into a single punch.
The immense force behind this punch shattered Madam Yin’s Black Moon and extinguished the divine flames of the Candlefire God.
Seizing the opening, Li Hao launched himself out of the collapsing Dao Domain. His body, like a crimson comet, smashed into the ground. Gritting his teeth, he forcibly shut down the flow of energy from the heavens.
Thankfully, he hadn’t pushed himself to the absolute limit, and with all his effort, the raging power within him finally subsided.
Li Xiaoran was stunned.
Li Hao hadn’t used the Sacred Heart Talisman—he had relied on his own physical strength to withstand the attacks.
The realization struck Li Xiaoran hard. He had been protected by a junior who had taken on three powerful enemies alone.
His expression shifted repeatedly before he rushed over to grab Li Hao. Without hesitation, he carried him toward the towering monument nearby.
“Quick! Enter the River of Death!”
In the heat of the moment, Li Xiaoran didn’t have time to question Li Hao’s immense strength. Carrying him, they stepped into the River of Death.
“This is a Netherworld-Level River of Death. Once you enter, make sure to find me. I’ll be at the Divine General Mansion!”
Li Xiaoran urgently reminded him.
The Netherworld-Level River of Death was notoriously perilous. Only those at the Fourth Pillar Realm dared venture into it. Even for Supreme Dao Stage experts, passing through it was an uncertain endeavor.
The Divine Dynasty of Great Yu had no recorded instance of anyone completing a Netherworld-Level River of Death.
The monument glowed faintly as they approached.
On the back of the monument, Li Hao saw a miniature temple, resembling one he had seen at the Tangong Academy. However, the two statues within the temple appeared far more decrepit.
Covered in peeling mud and colorful, tattered garments, the statues were barely recognizable.
At that moment, a golden page emerged from Li Hao’s chest. It was the very same River of Death registration document he had obtained when he first entered.
Li Hao’s heart trembled. Now that his cultivation was stronger, the River of Death seemed even more enigmatic.
This golden page had remained hidden within his body, undetectable during his cultivation. It was a power that transcended his comprehension.
As the golden page floated out, a register from the temple flew toward it, collecting the page within.
Suddenly, the scenery before Li Hao shifted. It was as though time and space were twisting, and the world was revolving.
Countless lights flickered, and the monument, Li Xiaoran, and the three demon kings disappeared from sight.
Even his own strength seemed to vanish, stripped away by an unseen force.
...
Amid the rapid transformations, several golden characters coalesced before his eyes:
[You have entered the River of Death.]
[Confirmed place of origin: Great Yu Dynasty, Qingzhou.]
[Challenger: Chong Er.]
Simultaneously, streams of information poured into Li Hao’s mind:
- River of Death Territory: Dragon City River of Death.
- Completion Status: 0%.
- Main Mission: Guard Dragon City for ten days (not yet activated).
- Side Mission:
- Growth (Triggered).
Mission Details: Survive until the age of eighteen before Dragon City’s destruction and achieve mastery in the arts.
Progress: 0.01%.
- Growth (Triggered).
Li Hao frowned. Survive until eighteen? How long would he need to stay here?
Before he could contemplate further, the divine patterns swirling before his eyes vanished.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed in his ears, shaking his eardrums:
“Heavenly Elder! It’s born!”
“It’s a boy!”
Li Hao felt himself being squeezed through a narrow passage. When blinding light appeared, he instinctively shut his eyes.
As he adjusted to the light, several gigantic faces loomed before him.
Li Hao was dumbfounded.
What was going on?
“Fangmei, you’ve worked hard.”
A stern-faced middle-aged man now wore a warm smile, gazing tenderly at a pale, beautiful woman beside him.
Gradually, Li Hao’s vision cleared. Looking at the woman, he thought she resembled his grandmother in some ways.
The beautiful woman, drenched in sweat from the exertion of childbirth, held Li Hao in her arms. Despite her exhaustion, her face was filled with love and joy.
“Child, from now on, you are the tenth son of the Li Family…”
Li Hao froze.
What… was happening?!