Chapter 199: Demon Visitors

Western border of Liangzhou.

On the towering hundred-zhang-high city wall, soldiers clad in black armor stood in rigid rows, on high alert.

Within the city, numerous massive war machines were being assembled, along with giant dragon-elephants and jiao lions dragging war carts as large as small houses, transported from within the region and loaded with arrows, weapons, and grain supplies.

In the military camp, everyone performed their assigned duties, patrolling and standing guard.

War eagles continuously flew back into the camp from beyond the border, bringing back reconnaissance reports.

"Strange, these demons have gone silent."

In the camp, Li Li Xuanli sat on the general's seat, frowning in deep thought.

Intelligence indicated that the group of demons eight hundred li away had retreated eastward.

These demons had lingered along the western border for a long time, launching sporadic attacks, with three Great Demons of the Three Imperishable Realm lurking among them—their movements seemed deliberately designed to provoke them, luring them to break through the defensive line in pursuit—but he had not taken the bait.

Now, this group had chosen to retreat, abruptly.

Considering other intelligence, could this demon assault along Liangzhou's border truly be a ruse?

Was their goal merely to tie down the Li family's military strength?

"Father."

A figure sprinted into the military tent—it was Li Li Wushuang.

Seeing his beloved daughter, Li Li Xuanli's furrowed brow softened, and he smiled lightly:

"I heard you led a squad to exterminate a group of demons beyond the frontline—how was it?"

At the mention of it, Li Li Wushuang snapped: "They were all minor demons."

Li Li Xuanli smiled inwardly—he wouldn't have let her fight if he'd known they were minor demons.

"Even if they're minor, don't chase them deep. Remember, in the camp, military discipline is as unyielding as mountains. These demons are cunning beyond your imagination, especially those sent to invade our borders—they're all directed by strategists. Treat them like treacherous ghosts." Li Li Xuanli instructed.

"I know."

Li Li Wushuang said: "I came to tell you this—I got intel from one of the minor demons. They're feigning attack, but have already retreated."

"Oh?"

Li Li Xuanli raised an eyebrow. "How did you get that out of the demon?"

"I visited the interrogation chamber before and picked up a few tricks." Li Li Wushuang said.

Li Li Xuanli fell silent, offering a faint, wry smile: "You're a girl—why go to the interrogation chamber? It's filthy and chaotic… Still, this needs further verification. I'll look into it."

"More investigation?"

Li Li Wushuang was startled.

"Of course," Li Li Xuanli grumbled. "The minor demons you were ordered to kill were at most Spiritual Travelers. How could such low-level demons know battle plans? They're just cannon fodder—unless what they know was deliberately leaked to them by the Great Demons."

Li Li Wushuang froze. "Father, you mean this is a scheme within a scheme?"

Li Li Xuanli gave a slight nod. "But it might also be my overthinking. Either way, I'll investigate further. You rest easy."

"Alright."

Seeing his resolve, Li Li Wushuang nodded and left.

After she departed, Li Li Xuanli's expression turned grave. He pondered a moment, then summoned his personal guard and ordered him to write two letters.

One was to be sent to Qingzhou, warning them to remain vigilant against demon movements.

The other was to be sent to the eastern border to Li Li Tiangang.

"If these demons are a ruse, their target is Qingzhou. If this retreat is real, it may mean an attack on the eastern border—I wonder how Li Tiangang is faring…"

His eyes flickered. Suddenly, he remembered something else and ordered the guard to write another letter—to Tianmen Pass.

"That boy just drove off three Demon Kings, but they harbor grudges—they'll likely vent their rage on Liangzhou, or even ally with other Demon Kings to assault Tianmen Pass. The trail of Longmen has been exposed; the Sheng Palace and the Li family have long-standing enmity—they might send agents too…"

"He must be warned."

…

Eastern front of Liangzhou.

The endless Great Wall, strewn with black stones, stretched across the entire frontline.

Six hundred li beyond the wall, two figures rushed forward, their auras suppressed. One wore a magnificent crimson-gold robe, his face like polished jade—handsome and noble.

The other wore a black robe with a hood, entirely shrouded in shadow.

"Ahead lies the territory guarded by Li Li Tiangang."

The black-robed figure murmured: "Lord Fengshan Jun, I know you seek revenge, but even if you charge now, you won't kill Li Li Tiangang. This border is protected by a talisman array—our strength cannot easily break through."

"And this attack would alert them, scare off the snake."

The noble man in crimson-gold was none other than Lord Fengshan Jun, who had escaped death at Li Hao's hands.

His eyes burned with golden flames, piercing through space to see the military camp within the defense line—filled with murderous intent:

"I know. I promised you I wouldn't disrupt your plans lightly."

Hearing this, the black-robed figure exhaled in relief and smiled: "Lord Fengshan Jun, no need to rush. When our clan's Elder emerges from seclusion in a year, we'll flatten Liangzhou—and we'll help you deal with that brat too."

Lord Fengshan Jun growled: "Dealing with that brat is secondary. Li Li Tiangang—I'll crush him myself, until he dies!"

"No problem."

The black-robed figure agreed at once, smiling.

Lord Fengshan Jun gazed deeply at the distant defense line, his heart seething with hatred—but he restrained himself.

That was the Li family's main army; even together, they couldn't break through the array in an instant.

…

Within Tianmen Pass.

Seven hundred volunteers had enlisted to defend Cangya City, to guard this pass.

Li Hao enrolled them, registered their names, and submitted the household roster to the Liangzhou Military Directorate—the Fifth Uncle, Li Li Xuanli.

? CO

He had been appointed to defend Liangzhou and now held the post of Military Directorate Viceroy, with authority to command troops across all cities in Liangzhou—including garrison forces. Under his single order, all must obey unconditionally.

This roster needed his recording and approval; otherwise, if these soldiers died without Li Hao's intervention, no one would collect their bodies or erect monuments or grant them posthumous honors—they'd be remembered only as fallen heroes, wandering ghosts.

He returned not long ago.

Li Hao received the Star Master elder, who accompanied him to activate the talisman array of Cangya City.

As a frontier city, its array was a Five-Yu Xuan Star Array, sealing five Great Demons at the peak of the Three Imperishable Realm, amplified by celestial forces to roughly match the combat power of two Dao Heart Realm Demon Kings.

It could easily defend against a single Demon King's assault, holding out for at least half a day.

Additionally, all soldiers in the city could channel their strength into the array, further boosting the war spirits' power, and even borrow power from the array to have the war spirits empower themselves, greatly enhancing the commander's combat ability.

"Please, Young General, inspect it."

As the array activated, Li Hao saw five spectral war spirits of Great Demons emerge from various points across the city—four along the walls, one at the center.

These war spirits were consumables of the array, accumulated battle trophies of the imperial family over centuries.

Li Hao flew out of the city and saw the entire city enveloped by the array—any attack from any direction would allow the five demons to instantly converge at that point and strike simultaneously.

"Then I'll test it simply."

Li Hao said.

Whether the array had flaws depended on whether the war spirits could unleash their full power.

Li Hao did not use Long Xiao Sword—he raised his hand and punched.

The punch drew power from the surrounding heavens and earth, forming a massive fist imprint that descended like a crushing weight.

On the city walls, the soldiers had begun with eager anticipation—but as the fist imprint grew larger, their expressions turned grim and tense.

ROAR!

The five demons roared and charged together.

Yet beneath the crushing fist, the five demons were like tiny beasts trying to shake a mountain—they couldn't halt the fist's advance, retreating step by step.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

All five war spirits slammed into the array's golden barrier, shaking it into rippling waves—the array's glow visibly dimmed.

Li Hao swiftly withdrew his power and flew back.

The Star Master elder stared blankly at Li Hao, then finally spoke:

"Young General, did you use your full strength?"

"No."

Li Hao shook his head—it had been a casual punch, only three-tenths of his power.

The Star Master elder blinked, then frowned, scanning the array's secret inscriptions on the walls, murmuring: "That shouldn't be…"

Li Hao also felt the five Great Demons were too weak—he comforted: "Elder, don't worry. Take your time to check again. Maybe there's just a small flaw."

The Star Master elder thought it over and agreed.

Although Li Hao's attack had been terrifying in momentum, he believed that even if Li Hao had reached the Four Stand Realm, he shouldn't have crushed the five demons so easily—it must be an issue with the array's power transmission.

"Sorry to trouble you, Young General. I'll check again."

The Star Master elder said.

Xia Xia Xianglan felt a pang of guilt—had her earlier engraved inscriptions been flawed?

Li Hao bid farewell to the Star Master elder, then found the newly enlisted warriors and ordered them to purchase as much fabric as possible for making military banners.

The next day.

Li Hao received word from the Liangzhou Military Directorate: all seven hundred recruits had been officially enrolled.

He also received a family letter from his Fifth Uncle, filled with concern, warning him to be vigilant against the Demon Kings' revenge.

Li Hao sighed, tucked the letter away, and told Ren Ren Qianqian to store it in the wooden box in his room.

That afternoon, a flying bird arrived before the pass and requested to see Li Hao.

A demon paying a visit was something Li Hao had never anticipated; he immediately ordered the visitor admitted.

The bird demon transformed into the form of a child aged seven or eight, wearing a plain orange-yellow robe. When the soldiers led him into the fenced courtyard, he saw a girl practicing swordplay in the center, and a boy seated on a bench nearby, idly sketching a painting.

At the boy's feet lay a small white fox, glancing at him lazily.

The boy's heart jolted under that gaze; he approached Li Hao with nervous expression.

"L-Lord General."

"From the Huang Tianji Hall?"

Li Hao was sketching the corpse of the Wanku Wanku Gui Niang from a distance, gaining Painting Dao experience; he did not turn, only spoke calmly.

A spiritual soul sat hovering high above, monitoring the surroundings; even though it had leapt over the courtyard's fence, Li Hao could still see the grotesque, bloated corpse of the Wanku Wanku Gui Niang.