131. Repaying the First Favor to the Li Family
Chapter 131: Repaying the First Favor to the Li Family
Seeing Li Hao casually chatting with this great demon king, Li Hongzhuang and Li He felt extremely conflicted.
They could see that this great demon king was very fond of Li Hao, as if they were close friends. This kind of relationship couldn't be attributed to the prestige of the Li family or even Li Hao's own extraordinary talent.
After all, this was a Four Pillar Realm great demon king.
Even if Li Hao had unparalleled talent, his future potential would most likely be the Four Pillar Realm at best, barely reaching the heights of that True Man of Qiandao Palace.
Surpassing the Four Pillar Realm was extremely difficult. In the Four Pillar Realm, each step was like crossing a chasm, as difficult as ascending to the heavens!
In the clouds, Feng Boping nodded slightly at Song Qiumo before fading into obscurity, without descending to exchange pleasantries.
He was used to being free and disliked entangling himself in mundane affairs. He didn't have much to say to other Four Pillar Realm beings, and only a few people could have a good conversation with him.
If not for Li Hao's presence, he would be a wisp of wind in the human world, wandering freely between heaven and earth.
When the wind rises, the heart remains still; when the heart moves, the wind cannot be calmed.
"How long do you plan to stay here?" Li Hao asked after greeting Song Qiumo and bringing her into the camp.
Song Qiumo looked around, seeing the city reduced to small mounds of dirt, and couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly.
Then she saw the sword-wielding girl, Ren Qianqian, and the little white fox looking nervously at her. She smiled.
"How long do you want me to stay?" She asked Li Hao casually.
"Naturally, the longer, the better," Li Hao replied without hesitation.
Song Qiumo smiled and said, "I thought you were living in poverty, so I came to offer a little help, hoping you would be grateful and repay this favor when you reach the Four Pillar Realm. But now I see my visit is merely icing on the cake."
"Maybe this desolate land beyond the pass is just missing you, a beautiful flower," Li Hao said with a smile.
Song Qiumo didn't expect such a response and blushed slightly. She rolled her eyes at Li Hao and said, "I can stay for up to six months."
Li Hao nodded, understanding she had commitments, and six months was already very generous.
"Whatever you want to eat in these six months, I'll make it for you," Li Hao said with a smile.
"I want little crispy pastries."
"No problem."
Since the camp lacked flour and other ingredients, Li Hao found paper and pen, writing down all the ingredients he needed. He included many of his favorite foods, along with ink, paper, and a chessboard for entertainment.
Li Hao asked Li Hongzhuang for a map of Liangzhou, giving it to Song Qiumo to buy supplies from the nearest city, which was still a thousand miles away from the pass.
Originally, with Old Feng by his side, he had to guard against any Four Pillar Realm demon kings, but now with Song Qiumo's help, the camp's supplies could finally become abundant.
Li Hao used his power to gather wood and stones, building a small fenced courtyard around the dirt mound.
Inside the courtyard, he built several buildings from wood.
A Fifteen Mile Realm expert as a foreman seemed to be in the perfect position.
Seeing Li Hao slowly transforming this dilapidated camp, Li Hongzhuang had an illusion that this boy might rebuild the city that was once destroyed.
However, it felt a bit unreal. The great demon king said she would stay only for six months. After that, it would just be the Four Pillar Realm senior in the clouds, and it was unclear how long he would protect Li Hao.
Such top-tier experts rarely stayed bound to one person.
Soon, Song Qiumo returned with a large amount of supplies and food.
Li Hao had Ren Qianqian and the little white fox help move everything into the fenced courtyard.
Although the little white fox couldn't yet take human form, it used its small paws to carry items like mats and blankets, walking on its hind legs, stumbling toward the courtyard.
After half a day of work, the place looked brand new.
The newly built courtyard still had the fresh, forest scent of new wood, lacking a bit of human touch.
But a courtyard needed people to have life.
Li Hao lit a fire in the courtyard, selecting some of the best parts of the demon bodies for grilling.
He had Ren Qianqian watch the fire while he kneaded the dough to make pastries for Song Qiumo.
If one ignored the blood-soaked demon corpses and the piles of bodies outside the fenced courtyard, the scene inside was quite warm and cozy.
Li Hongzhuang felt a bit empty, as if there was nothing for her to do.
With two Four Pillar Realm experts guarding the camp, the news would soon spread, and except for some foolish little demons, the big ones wouldn't dare to come close.
She no longer needed to keep her sword ready for battle.
After being tense for over a decade, her body slowly began to relax.
So she sat by the fire, smelling the delicious aroma of grilled meat, watching the busy boy knead dough, and felt like she was dreaming.
Never had she imagined having such a leisurely moment at this perilous pass.
Soon, the dough was ready. With Li Hao's infused power, the fermentation sped up.
Li Hao cooked the pastries and also made a batch of fried crispy pastries for Song Qiumo, adding some coriander and other spices for extra flavor.
"Dinner's ready!" Li Hao called, inviting Old Feng to join.
Now that Old Feng's presence was known, he no longer needed to hide, except for his identity.
They sat around the fire, eating and drinking casually.
Old Feng enjoyed his food and drink, occasionally praising Li Hao's cooking.
Li Hao, seeing him in good spirits, slyly took his wine bottle and had a sip, feeling refreshed.
Old Feng noticed and glared at him, reclaiming his wine bottle, which was nearly empty.
Seeing Li Hao's close and casual interaction with this senior, Li Hongzhuang and Li He were even more puzzled by the boy.
After the meal, Old Feng left the courtyard, disappearing from sight, looking extremely carefree.
Watching him leave, Li Hao sighed, knowing the old man didn't want to stay in the courtyard too long, lest his identity be recognized by Li Hongzhuang and the others, potentially causing trouble. So he chose to sit alone on a mountain peak, accompanied by the wind.
Li Hao felt guilty and went to organize the demon corpses.
He planned to brew a good batch of wine for the old man.
Picking and choosing, Li Hao cut some good parts from several Three Immortal Realm demons, returning to the courtyard to start brewing.
Song Qiumo lounged in the side room of the courtyard, yawning, looking bored.
Occasionally, her gaze would fall on the busy figure in the courtyard, a slight smile on her lips.
Today, she came to deliver a sword manual, and the boy had casually put it in his pocket, not even glancing at it since.
To him, supreme martial arts and the vast wealth of the God General's Mansion seemed less valuable than the mundane tasks in the kitchen.
Truly a peculiar boy...
In the evening, Li Hao finally arranged the wine jars and buried them in the cellar behind the courtyard to ferment.
As the red sunset bathed the courtyard, Li Hao finally had some leisure, sitting on a self-made wooden rocking chair, gently swaying, and took out the sword manual to read.
Taiji Heaven and Earth Sword.
The union of yin and yang.
Li Hao read page by page, and as he finished, a prompt appeared, indicating he had entered the introductory level.
Li Hao put away the manual, leaning back in the chair, closing his eyes to ponder.
With the sword technique recorded, numerous insights flowed into his mind. The sword intent and core of the technique unfolded like peeling silk.
What is Tai?
Greater than great.
What is great?
Heaven and earth are great!
"All things in the world have their principles. My understanding of concepts and principles is still shallow. These sword techniques and martial arts seem to have commonalities. If they can be integrated, perhaps a comprehensive art can be created!"
Li Hao had an epiphany.
Having entered the Tianren Realm, his spirit merged with the heavens, transcending the mundane. His thoughts were no longer limited to the techniques themselves. He could perceive their mysteries without adhering to their forms.
His path as a master was all-encompassing, but now he felt he had only taken a small step. To truly reach the end, his journey as a master would have to peak.
What sights would he see then?
Li Hao's thoughts drifted slightly, then he smiled.
Everything should go naturally.
Like his heart as a master, just right and natural.
All things in the world need no deliberate pursuit, like the sun shining on the earth, not by intention but by natural order.
To greedily seek that light, chasing the sun like Kua Fu, would lead to exhaustion and death.
The sun's warmth can't be stared at directly.
The moon's cold light reflects the past and present.
There's no need to cling to one side of the world; everything has its beauty.
The world is so, people are so, and so are the arts.
Li Hao felt his mindset had improved slightly. The many techniques in his mind seemed to change, but the pinnacle of mastery was still far off.
He smiled, unfazed, and took up his drawing board and pen, his spirit rising to observe the piled demon corpses.
He casually sketched, capturing their forms.
These demons were dead, but drawing their corpses still gained experience.
Li Hao's painting experience grew rapidly, approaching the sixth stage.
Two days passed.
During these peaceful days, no demons appeared outside the courtyard, and the boy enjoyed the tranquility, drawing thousands of pictures, repeatedly depicting the demon corpses, maxing out the experience. His painting skills broke through to the sixth stage, earning an art skill point.
The experience needed for the sixth to seventh stage was one hundred thousand.
He needed to accumulate one hundred thousand experience points, reach the sixth stage's peak, and then have his painting reach the spiritual level to advance to the seventh stage.
"Spiritual level, when will I reach it..." Li Hao murmured, feeling it was still out of reach.
He stopped painting and continued writing martial arts manuals.
He recorded the upgraded techniques he had refined, one by one.
At noon, smoke rose from the courtyard, and a group of fast-riding figures arrived outside the camp.
Feng Boping seemed to sense something, his eyes changing, and he vanished from the roasting fire.
The group was used to his comings and goings and didn't mind, focusing on the new arrivals outside the courtyard.
Li Hongzhuang saw the newcomer and was stunned, "Eunuch Chu?"
She recognized the man; when her father received the emperor's edict, it was this man who personally delivered it.
Chu Jiuye rode into the pass, his eyes slightly heavy as he saw the devastated land and pitted ground.
The soil here was dark red, like it had absorbed endless blood.
He looked around, soon spotting the ruined camp, with many torn tents piled in one place.
On the other side was a black mound, a mountain of demon corpses, some already showing signs of decay.
He smelled the stench of rot and frowned but quickly returned to normal, his eyes falling on the camp center, revealing surprise.
Compared to the chaos and bloodshed outside, the camp center held a unique fenced courtyard.
The courtyard was filled with smoke, like a rural home.
But how could there be a rural home here?
He rode forward, followed by several palace guards.
Arriving at the courtyard, Chu Jiuye saw the scene inside, his eyes meeting Song Qiumo's indifferent gaze. She had no reaction.
Chu Jiuye noticed Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang, realizing the tranquility was due to the great demon king's presence.
He felt surprised, knowing the secluded nature of Tangu Palace. They had broken their principles.
Dismounting, Chu Jiuye entered the courtyard.
"An edict from the Yu Emperor, to Earl Li Hao," he declared.
Li Hao recognized the familiar face and clapped the flour from his hands, bowing slightly, "Eunuch, long time no see."
"Earl Li, how have you been?" Chu Jiuye smiled.
Li Hao frowned slightly, nodding, "All is well."
"The Yu Emperor, grateful for your courage in defending the pass, bestows upon you a treasured sword. Please accept it," Chu Jiuye said simply.
There were no bystanders, so he didn't need to say too many formalities.
Li Hao saw the dark golden sword handed over, surprised but accepting it with both hands, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Eunuch Chu."
"There's no need to thank me; I'm just a messenger."
Chu Jiuye smiled and continued, "The emperor has decreed that if you wish, you may go to Dayu Prefecture at any time to join the outer hall of Qiandao Palace and listen to the teachings of the saints."
Hearing this, Li Hongzhuang and Li He stood up, looking at Li Hao in shock.
This young master was so favored by the Yu Emperor?
Practicing in Qiandao Palace was a privilege usually reserved for royal offspring.
Even among the royal family, competition was fierce; not every prince could make it.
And Li Hao, a son of the God General's Mansion with a sensitive identity, being invited to practice in Qiandao Palace showed an intimate relationship with the royal family. How would the other four God General's Mansions view this?
The favor was overwhelming.
Li Hao understood the significance and was surprised. Had the emperor seen him before? Could it be the old man he played chess with under the willow tree?
Otherwise, there seemed to be no other possibility.
Looking at Chu Jiuye's kind eyes, Li Hao bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty. But I have a task to complete here. I hope the emperor understands."
Chu Jiuye was surprised, examining Li Hao closely. Did this child really want to stay here?
He knew about the father-son battle and the details. Li Hao seemed determined to cut ties with his father, even giving up his noble name and fortune, and now the opportunity to practice in Qiandao Palace.
Chu Jiuye gazed at Li Hao, "You're still young; don't make rash decisions."
"Thank you, Eunuch," Li Hao replied.
Chu Jiuye knew he couldn't persuade him, nodding, "I'll relay your decision."
Li Hao nodded.
Chu Jiuye glanced at him one last time before mounting his horse and leaving.
As he rode out of the camp, Chu Jiuye thought, "I might have left too early. That barbecue smelled good..."
His stomach growled.
Shaking his head, he couldn't bring himself to turn back and continued his journey.
...
In the courtyard.
After Chu Jiuye left, Li Hongzhuang and Li He heard the conversation and saw Li Hao's resolve. They wanted to speak but couldn't, feeling helpless.
Even the chance to practice in Qiandao Palace was refused, showing his determination. They knew their words would be in vain.
Li Hao returned to the fire, Song Qiumo's gaze on the sword in his hand, "A fine sword."
Li Hao drew the sword slightly.
With a hum, the sword unsheathed, a flash of light like a dragon's roar.
Just the unsheathing of the blade was blinding.
"It's Long Xiao!"
Li He exclaimed, his eyes full of awe.
Li Hongzhuang was also shocked, not expecting such a precious sword from the Yu Emperor.
This was the top of the ten famous swords!
Its fame and status surpassed Yong Ye. Though Yong Ye took ten years to forge, it was sealed after three years of use.
But Long Xiao had been in the Dayu Dynasty for centuries, held by several powerful figures, once wielded by a sword saint.
"Indeed, a good sword."
Li Hao tapped the blade, hearing a low dragon's roar, feeling the cold edge.
Examining it, he sheathed the sword and handed it to Ren Qianqian.
Ren Qianqian, holding her own sword, took Long Xiao with both hands, her eyes full of wonder and excitement.
She had heard of Long Xiao's fame, a top-tier sword she never dreamed of touching.
"Dinner's ready, let's eat."
Li Hao smiled.
Li Hongzhuang and Li He, deep in thought, joined the meal. Feng Boping reappeared silently, ready to eat.
Li Hao's reward didn't concern him much; he glanced at Long Xiao and resumed eating and drinking.
That night.
Li Hao copied 124 martial arts manuals, all from the Li family's collection, upgraded through his insights.
He also included three unique techniques he created after reaching the master realm, incorporating his understanding of the all-encompassing principles.
These three unique techniques were also bundled for the Li family.
However, learning them required a prerequisite.
After writing, Li Hao entrusted Song Qiumo to deliver them to the nearest city in Liangzhou, where the Li family had troops to send them back to the Li family.
...
Days later.
In Qingzhou City, in front of the God General's Mansion.
Several giant lizards arrived, carrying large bundles.
The leader dismounted and showed his identity token to the gatekeeper, speaking a few words.
Soon, the message reached the Mountain River Courtyard.
In the study, Li Tiangang was reviewing interrogation results, his face grim.
A guard entered, reporting the situation outside.
Li Tiangang was stunned, slamming the table, "Returning the first favor to the Li family? What does he mean? He sent back many martial arts manuals?"
The guard nodded, and Li Tiangang's face darkened, "Bring everything in. I want to see how he returned them!"
Soon, the large bundles were brought to the Mountain River Courtyard.
Besides the bundles, there was a letter.
Yuxuan handed the letter to Li Tiangang, who opened the bundles, finding them full of books.
Li Tiangang read the letter, seeing neatly written lines.
The writing was superior to most warriors.
After reading, his face grew dark.
He took a few books and quickly read them.
The martial arts inside matched the letter, all upgraded.
After several books, the courtyard was eerily silent.
Zhao Bo and Li Fu stood by, worried.
"Good, very good!"
After several books, Li Tiangang's eyes showed shock and anger.
The books he read were indeed high-level techniques, as the letter claimed!
Not only did the sender return the techniques, but he also improved them!
The total was 124 books.
Plus three unique techniques.
Li Tiangang was incredulous; his son had learned so many techniques!
Over a hundred!
In just fourteen years, he learned over a hundred?
Balancing so many techniques while reaching the Fifteen Mile Realm and gaining insights in battle, becoming a master?
Li Tiangang felt conflicted, impressed by his son's talent yet angry.
Such talent was unheard of; even a reincarnated demon might not achieve this.
Had he been too harsh?
But recalling his son's cold eyes and drawn sword, his warmth quickly cooled.
Despite the talent, his temperament was unsuitable for leading the Li family, even drawing a sword against him. How could he trust him with the family?
In these troubled times, he couldn't afford mistakes. Even a thousand-year legacy could be destroyed, leaving him unable to face his ancestors!
He took a deep breath and reviewed the remaining books.
The books had names, and he handed the high-level ones to Yuxuan for verification, personally examining the unique techniques.
Even Yuxuan wasn't authorized to review these.
He also summoned the elders from the Listening Rain Tower, who managed and recorded the Li family's secrets.
These elders were the family's living encyclopedias, familiar with the family's history and techniques.
They meticulously reviewed the books.
The other courtyards, hearing the news, were surprised and hurried to the Mountain River Courtyard.
After a day and night, the elders confirmed all the techniques were genuine and intact.
Hearing this, Li Tiangang felt a mix of emotions, shocked and proud, yet angry.
The other elders were also stunned.
These were over a hundred high-level techniques, a rare find even for masters who focused on creating unique techniques, rarely spending time on others.
It had been a thousand years since they had acquired so many high-level techniques at once.
During a historical purge of rebellious sects, the family had collected hundreds of techniques, including about a hundred high-level ones.
Now, all these techniques were returned by Li Hao?!
Could it be several Four Pillar Realm experts aiding him?
The elders were most shocked by Li Hao's ability to learn over a hundred techniques in just fourteen years, unheard of.
Could several Four Pillar Realm experts be helping Li Hao?
Most shockingly, they knew Li Hao had spent years in the Listening Rain Tower, learning whatever he wanted. As a legitimate son, it wasn't a problem.
But in just fourteen years, he had learned over a hundred techniques, which was extraordinary.
How could he find the time and energy?
"Tiangang, are you satisfied now!"
Li Muxiu, hearing the news, came over. Seeing the situation, he coldly stared at Li Tiangang.
Others were also shocked, realizing the significance of Li Hao's gesture.