Chapter 225: Known to All Demons

Watching Li Hongzhuang's departing back, Li Xuanli, Li Qingling, and the others all wore worried expressions.

As long as the Demon Kings didn't show themselves, they were still top-tier combatants who could influence the situation on the battlefield.

But once the Demon Kings appeared, they had to hide everywhere on this battlefield, avoiding the Demon Kings, unless they had Four Standing Realm protection, they could charge and kill.

But there weren't that many Four Standing Realm experts; if there really were, those demons wouldn't have launched such a large-scale attack on Liangzhou.

Even if Four Standing Realm reinforcements from all sides arrived, it would take time. Right now, the only thing they could rely on were the war banners in Li Hongzhuang's hands.

Liangzhou, East Side.

On a plain, beacon fires rose into the sky one after another, reflecting to a very far distance.

Over a hundred thousand Yuan-character camp soldiers and the remaining hundreds of thousands of Liangzhou border defense troops were retreating while covering each other.

Behind them, the demon tide had not yet struck; the ones chasing these hundreds of thousands of troops were just six Demon Kings.

The other Demon Kings had not yet been seen, nor had that Lady Yin. Clearly, she was entangled by that Desert Sword Saint; otherwise, if that Lady Yin had pursued, they would never have been able to escape this far.

"Hold on a little longer, the second defensive line is right ahead!"

Li Tiangang was covered in blood. His Power of Non-Decay had recovered midway, and he had struck once more. With a full-force eruption, he had slowed the Demon Kings' pace, winning time for the army to retreat.

But now, the injuries all over his body were healing slowly, and his battle body had been severely damaged repeatedly, causing the healing speed to slow down.

Although he had already covered his body in medicinal powder and had eaten a stomach full of healing treasures, the medicinal effect was not immediate; it would take at least an hour or two of absorption and transformation.

"Follow me to block the demons!"

A general roared in his ear.

Li Tiangang turned to look, and another ten-thousand-man legion of the Yuan-character camp had slowed down, staying behind to intercept the Demon Kings.

Situations like this had happened several times along the way.

His expression was ugly, but he was powerless to stop it.

Although the Eight Directions Order had been sent out, capable of reaching hundreds of thousands of miles away and crossing various provinces, those reinforcements needed time to travel.

But now, these demons didn't even give them a chance to catch their breath. From the rapid attack on the border until now, the sun had not yet set.

"Faster, even faster!!"

Li Tiangang roared. He did not despair; behind him were hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and he had to lead them out.

*Boom! *

Behind him, the earth shook.

The ten thousand Yuan-character camp soldiers who had stayed behind had just formed an array to fight when they were attacked by the five Demon Kings in unison, breaking their formation and suppressing them all.

This ten-thousand-man legion could easily flatten a city, but now, in front of the Demon Kings, they were vulnerable.

It only blocked them for a few breaths of time.

The sound of horse hooves vibrated in his ears; Li Tiangang could almost hear the violent heartbeat of the Red Blood Horse beneath him.

This warhorse was tired too.

But it was still galloping with all its might. The Red Blood Horse had spirit and knew that stopping meant death.

The sun set in the west, shining from the front of the plain, somewhat blinding.

But the orange-yellow afterglow, like residual blood, scattered on the armor of these remnants, appearing so desolate.

Li Tiangang saw the city in the distance, saw the second defensive line, but as far as his eyes could reach, his body might not be able to reach.

Was this his twilight too?

Li Tiangang gazed into the distance; besides anger, there was more melancholy.

A lifetime of fighting, slaying countless demons, was he going to fall here too?

Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother... Figures appeared before Li Tiangang's eyes, and he suddenly felt that death wasn't so scary after all.

Because Father and they were all waiting for him on the other side.

But... Qingqing.

Li Tiangang thought of that beloved wife, his heart aching. He had wanted to cultivate to a higher realm, step into the peak of the Four Standing Realms, pacify the demon disasters in the four provinces guarded by the Li family, and then go to the Great Desolate Heavens to find her.

But now, there was no chance.

A parting in Yanbei was a parting forever.

Li Tiangang soon thought of another figure, that stubborn teenager.

He sighed inwardly; in the end, he still wouldn't have the chance to teach him.

He hoped Second Uncle and the others wouldn't continue to indulge him. After he died, he should return to the Li family.

At that time, the position of the True Dragon could be considered to have a successor.

He just didn't know if he could shoulder this heavy responsibility and lead the Li family forward.

The setting sun shone on Li Tiangang's face, reflecting the many regrets in his eyes.

He sighed softly. From the distance measured by the naked eye, combined with the army's marching speed and the speed at which they had been chased by the Demon Kings along the way, he knew they couldn't reach that defensive line.

Someone had to stay behind to block the Demon Kings.

Either the entire Yuan-character camp stayed behind to fight with all their might, winning a path to survival for him.

Or he stayed behind himself, winning a path to survival for the hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

Without a doubt.

Li Tiangang chose the latter.

He patted the Red Blood Horse beneath him gently and whispered, "You're tired too, go."

The Red Blood Horse seemed to understand, and tears actually dripped from its large eye sockets.

Li Tiangang's body stood in the air, only to see the Red Blood Horse also slow down and stop, staying in place, refusing to leave.

Li Tiangang couldn't help but smile.

Afterward, he took a deep breath, turned around suddenly, and roared, "Everyone, listen to my order, advance at full speed!!"

"The second defensive line is right ahead!"

"Charge!!"

He roared loudly, his voice echoing in all directions.

The hundreds of thousands of troops heard it and saw the figure that had stopped. Some realized what was happening, their eyes reddening.

"Next, I leave it to you, Fifth Brother..."

Li Tiangang turned his head to look at the unreachable city wall, thinking to himself, he didn't know if Fifth Brother was there.

Unfortunately, there was no chance to see him one last time.

He chuckled softly and was about to withdraw his gaze when he suddenly saw a black dot appear.

He was somewhat surprised. His eyes focused, and he immediately saw the face of the black shadow clearly; it was none other than his little sister.

Li Tiangang's heart shook. He immediately thought of the distress signal he had just released. His original intention was to call for help from the garrison within the defensive line or Four Standing Realm experts who had arrived in Liangzhou to reinforce the line.

As a result, only his little sister had come.

Alone.

Li Tiangang's expression changed drastically, and he roared, "Hongzhuang, don't come over!!"

"Too late!"

As the voice echoed, six demon auras surging with killing intent had already descended behind Li Tiangang.

The Vine Demon elder among them raised his hand in anger, and thousands of vine whips lashed out like lightning, intending to capture Li Tiangang and return to make up for his previous mistake.

Li Tiangang roared, his aura steaming, and drew his divine blade to slash.

But at the same time, the other five Demon Kings also attacked in succession. With a *boom*, Li Tiangang's body flew backward, crashing into the ground, creating a deep pit and sliding over a hundred meters before stopping.

The six Demon Kings moved like thunder, pursuing him. Just then, a sound of breaking air came from tens of miles away.

*Whoosh! *

The war banner fluttered, and as it neared the six Demon Kings, it suddenly burst open.

Li Hongzhuang actively destroyed the war banner, releasing the sword array.

A brilliant sword light swept out, forcing the six Demon Kings back, but the sword light also dissipated.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, the second and third war banners flew over in succession, landing in front of Li Tiangang and protecting him.

Li Tiangang had just climbed up from the ground, preparing to break his meridians and fight a desperate battle, when he saw this sudden turn of events.

He was stunned for a moment, and before he could react, he saw Li Hongzhuang's figure flying over and landing beside him.

"Seventh Brother, are you okay?"

Li Hongzhuang immediately protected Li Tiangang behind her and looked at the six Demon Kings, her expression ugly. Although she had the war banners on her back, she felt somewhat uncertain.

She had thought Fifth Brother's situation was bad enough, but Seventh Brother's was even more perilous.

"Why did you come? Run!"

Li Tiangang roared.

"Let's go together!"

Li Hongzhuang said quickly.

"Then no one will be able to leave!"

Li Tiangang was furious. Although he knew Li Hongzhuang had good intentions, this was a critical moment, and it was no time to be indecisive.

"It's okay, with Hao'er's war banners covering us, we can leave!"

Li Hongzhuang said quickly.

Li Tiangang suspected he had misheard. His angry face froze, and he said:

"What did you say?"

His gaze shifted, and he noticed that the war banner stuck in front of him had unfolded, with the characters "Haotian" fluttering on it.

That was the "Hao" of Li Hao!

"He came too?"

Li Tiangang couldn't help but want to turn his head and look around.

Li Hongzhuang transmitted her voice: "Hao'er is sitting in Tianmen Pass, only letting me bring his war banners to reinforce."

"What use can his war banners have..."

Hearing that Li Hao was still sitting in Tianmen Pass, Li Tiangang couldn't help but feel anger rising.

Now that the war situation was so tense, they should quickly shrink the defensive line. Continuing to hold Tianmen Pass would only allow the demons to break through from the side.

When Liangzhou was gone, what was the point of guarding a Tianmen Pass?

Although he was angry, he knew Li Hao was too young. Although his talent was peerless, he didn't understand military strategy. But, if Li Hao didn't understand, didn't the Four Standing Realm expert beside him understand?

Before Li Hongzhuang could explain the wonders of the war banners, the six Demon Kings in front of them had already stopped. The sword array released by the previously burst war banner made their expressions solemn.

Seeing the numerous military banners on Li Hongzhuang's back, they immediately thought of a certain piece of intelligence they had scouted earlier.

Li Hongzhuang stared closely at the six Demon Kings. Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, she immediately realized that these Demon Kings likely knew Li Hao's reputation.

What exactly had that child done to make these Demon Kings so wary?

Li Hongzhuang couldn't help but be curious, but unfortunately, she was no longer by Li Hao's side and couldn't ask.

"Go!"

She seized the opportunity and said quickly to Li Tiangang.

She turned back first. Li Tiangang gritted his teeth; things had come to this, he could only retreat while fighting.

Just as the six Demon Kings were about to pursue, Li Hongzhuang detonated the two war banners on the ground.

Instantly, two sword Qi blasts shot out, pouncing toward the six Demon Kings.

Seeing this scene, Li Tiangang had already reacted. The sword Qi that had shot out from the previously burst war banner didn't seem to be Li Hongzhuang's attack, or perhaps it was some hidden means.

"What is this?" Li Tiangang asked hurriedly.

"It's a sword array."

Li Hongzhuang said quickly, "Hao'er's war banners are sealed with this sword array, comparable to a Dao Heart Realm attack."

Li Tiangang was stunned. These war banners were actually sealed with a sword array?

Based on his understanding of the Imperial Observatory, they shouldn't be able to do this; after all, the war banners were too small, and even if they condensed magic arrays on the war banners, they couldn't reach Dao Heart Realm power!

Could it be a secret method of the Imperial Observatory?

He was shocked and suspicious, but why would such a secret method be used on Li Hao's war banners?

He had fought in Yanbei for over a decade and had never received such support from the Imperial Observatory.

Or was it that it hadn't been developed before?

Li Tiangang suddenly thought that His Majesty Emperor Yu thought highly of Li Hao, believing him to be the next True Dragon of the Li family. He heard that he had even bestowed that top-tier famous sword of the world upon Li Hao and promoted him to a high official and general.

It must be that His Majesty cherishes talent... Li Tiangang thought to himself. No wonder that child could hold Tianmen Pass; with His Majesty's secret help, and these war banners having such might, what was difficult about guarding a mere Tianmen Pass?

The favor that child received was far more than he had imagined.

Even His Majesty favored him.

He sighed inwardly, preparing to wait until this battle ended, and if there was a chance, he would go back to Tianmen Pass to have a good talk.

Since Li Hao received so much favor, things had come to this; as long as Li Hao didn't do anything outrageous, he wouldn't care anymore. ===== CHAPTER 226 =====