Chapter 252: I Wish You Were Really My Son

"It's here."

Li Xiaoran's figure appeared from nowhere, standing behind Li Hao, staring at the pitch-black area a hundred miles outside the city.

There, the figures of demons gradually appeared, rushing out from that darkness, as if crawling out of an abyss.

"Fast enough."

Li Hao didn't expect that the main mission of guarding Longcheng had just started, and the demons appeared. At this moment, it was dawn, which meant he had to persist until dawn ten days later!

During this period, he couldn't rest.

Both were looking at the outside of the city. Withered grass flew, and the demon tide outside the sky swept and rushed over, getting closer and closer.

And on the command tower on the city wall, Li Tianzong's figure appeared there, wearing battle armor, his divine power awe-inspiring.

He ordered the order to be passed, and the deputy general beside him used flags of various colors as signals to pass the order in all directions, and beacon fires of different colors rose above his head, passing the order to other directions of the city.

Soon, the demons approached.

In an instant, following Li Tianzong's order, countless rockets flew out from the city wall, and many Heavenly Human Tianren Zongshi Realm cultivators also controlled their own weapons, flying out of the city to kill.

Li Xiaoran and Li Hao also took action, raising their hands and shooting out sword light and knife light, their weapons flying dozens of miles, killing into the demon tide.

Nine demon souls were attached to the end of the Frost sword, and the huge upper body was baring its fangs and brandishing its claws. In the demon tide, it was hunting everywhere, and in an instant, many demons lost their lives, including Heavenly Human Realm and even Three Imperishable Realm great demons.

Li Hao watched the decimal point behind the Mo River pass progress jump rapidly, and his heart settled slightly, manipulating the Frost sword to sweep rapidly.

His aura surged, setting off a sword tide, like a green sword river, sweeping the demon tide, and immediately cleared a large area.

Li Xiaoran's knife light wandered among them, specifically beheading great demons, also sounding like thunder.

"You stay here, I'll go to the other side."

Li Xiaoran said to Li Hao: "Be careful to guard against those two sneaking in the demon tide."

"Understood."

Li Hao nodded, the two separated, but not far apart, able to respond in time if there was a situation.

With their action, the offensive of the demon tide was greatly relieved.

But not long after, earth-shattering roars came from the demon tide, and two ferocious demon king figures rushed out from inside, killing toward the Frost sword.

Li Hao's expression was cold, his divine thought turned, manipulating the Frost sword to kill back directly.

The sword tide surged, countless demons were shot through, and two brilliant sword lights condensed, killing toward the two demon kings.

What made Li Hao regret was that he hadn't collected that "Yellow Sparrow Map" during this time, so his panel attributes didn't have the fatal attack attribute.

That Yellow Sparrow Map was obtained in Liangzhou. Although Li Tianzong sent people to search for Li Hao, perhaps due to the cognition of obsession, it was not found for a long time.

Without this attribute, Li Hao clearly felt that in this kind of chaotic battle and group attack, his attack means seemed a bit weak.

Otherwise, just setting off an endless sword tide would have a chance to behead the demon king, but now, he needed to use his true power to pose a threat to them. In this case, the consumption increased a lot.

Bang! Bang!

Both demon kings were slashed back by Li Hao's sword light, seriously injured. Li Hao manipulated the Frost sword to chase rapidly, the demon soul roared, and soon entangled and bit the bodies of the two demon kings, then the flying sword beheaded them, straightly split their huge bodies, and opened their stomachs.

The sword light turned, and the escaping divine souls were also beheaded and extinguished together.

Two demon kings in the Dao Heart Realm didn't hold up for three rounds under Li Hao's hands

The soldiers on the city wall let out bursts of cheers, and an overwhelming number of fire arrows and the weapons of many Grandmasters also flew out, assisting Li Hao in slaughtering the demon tide and striking down those that had slipped through the net.

While Li Hao was holding down the city wall, deep within the demon tide, three figures sat on a hilltop, surrounded by numerous demons whistling past, constantly charging forward.

"That brat has actually cultivated to this extent so quickly."

"It feels like there isn't much difference compared to the outside. No wonder he could cultivate to the Three Imperishable Realms at fifteen."

"This brat must have a great secret, or he carries a rare treasure, or perhaps it's a Sage reincarnated using the bloodline of this Divine General's Mansion!"

The three figures stared at the blue sword light constantly flying past in front of them, their eyes cold and gloomy; they were none other than the Candle Zhu Huoshen and Lu Yuan.

Beside them, Lady Yin had also come; she was not guarding outside the Mo River as Li Xiaoran had speculated.

At this moment, the cultivation bases of the three of them were also the same as they were outside.

The Candle Zhu Huoshen had opened a Dao Domain, isolating the rules and maintaining his and his wife's original cultivation bases.

As for Lu Yuan, he relied on his Dragon Clan bloodline to grow rapidly among the demons until he recovered to his original cultivation base.

"Sage reincarnation, hmph, that's just a legend."

The Candle Zhu Huoshen sneered, dismissive of Lu Yuan's words, knowing that the other party saying this was to intensify the killing intent in his heart toward Li Hao.

"Just wait. Today is only the first day. Even without us making a move, they won't be able to hold on. Those big guys haven't even made a move yet."

Lu Yuan did not argue, only staring coldly at the city wall.

He dared to enter because the Dragon Gate Demon King had once entered this Mo River and had some understanding of the special rules here.

Ten days of attacking the city; today was only the first day.

They sat on the mountain watching the tigers fight, not intending to make a move immediately, but waiting for a flaw and the right moment.

"That Li Xiaoran has tried repeatedly here, yet he has always been able to retreat unscathed; he must have found a way to survive and exit. As soon as he prepares to retreat, we will make our move," the Candle Zhu Huoshen said.

Lu Yuan nodded.

They waited quietly, while the demons outside the city wall suffered countless casualties, their corpses piling up like mountains and blood flowing like rivers.

This massive war made both Lu Yuan and the Candle Zhu Huoshen look solemn. It was only because the number of demons here was large enough—even they didn't know exactly how many there were—otherwise, they would have been wiped out long ago.

With Li Hao, Li Xiaoran, and many famous city-defending generals making their moves, the demon tide soon collapsed.

But except for the places guarded by Li Hao and Li Xiaoran, there were still some damages in other areas.

Li Hao's expression was solemn. It was only the first day, and he had already killed five Demon Kings; this scale was already comparable to many demon forces attacking Liangzhou.

Dinner was delivered from the mansion to the city wall. Li Hao sat on the ground, eating and drinking with these soldiers.

The five Demon Kings he had slain were retrieved by him, and their essence blood was refined using the Ten Thousand Blood True Demon Art, further refining his physical body and strengthening it a bit more.

The black clouds on the horizon were extremely heavy and could not be seen clearly. Li Hao had asked Li Xiaoran if anyone had been sent to scout the black territory beyond the border.

Li Xiaoran told Li Hao that as long as one went to that black region beyond the border, one could never return.

It was not simply being killed by demons, but caused by the special rules of the Mo River, and also the influence caused by Li Tianzong's obsession, which had merged into the rules.

During the Battle of Longcheng, that black region meant the demon army, meaning that stepping into it meant certain death.

Therefore, it contained the law of certain death.

Unless one was in the Great Peace Dao Realm, one could not break the rules with the Dao Realm and roam the forbidden zone.

That night, demons came to attack one after another, keeping the soldiers on the city wall tense and afraid to rest.

By the second day, the offensive of the demon tide was even more ferocious. The places guarded by Li Hao and Li Xiaoran already required them to treat it seriously to hold them.

In the vast demon army, Demon Kings lurked. Li Hao stood alone in the Three Imperishable Realms, suppressing and killing the Demon Kings.

And among these Demon Kings, there were already those in the Fate-Reversing Realm, who withstood Li Hao's attacks and fled far away.

While Li Hao and Li Xiaoran were fighting the demons, the rest of the Li family's children also gathered together, helping and assisting each other, guarding one side together.

On all four sides of Longcheng, Li Hao and Li Xiaoran guarded one side alone, while the other two sides were guarded by the older generation of the Li family's collateral branch.

"So many Demon Kings!"

On the north side of Longcheng, four young figures gathered, their expressions solemn.

Li Xuanli, the eldest among them, looked out at the vast demon tide outside the city. He watched the collateral seniors manipulating divine weapons to slaughter and fight the Demon Kings, secretly clenching his fists.

"Including Little Nine, we have all stepped into the Three Imperishable Realms, but we don't dare to leave the city at all."

"The Demon Kings' attacks are guaranteed to hit; once we show our heads, we will definitely be attacked. These demons hate our Li family the most."

Several of them had solemn expressions, only daring to manipulate divine weapons to slaughter in the demon tide.

"Unfortunately, we don't possess the terrifying power of Old Ten; only Old Ten can kill Demon Kings."

Li Junye stood straight, manipulating the Eternal Night Divine Sword.

He was peerless in both spear and sword, entering the Sword Dao with spear intent, stepping into the Tianren Zongshi Realm, and then breaking through the Three Imperishable Realms. Now he had reached the Indestructible Realm, progressing rapidly.

He was originally the most dazzling person among the nine sons, but now he was overshadowed by Li Hao's brilliance.

"Stop talking about him. Let's think about how to solve these demons and share the burden for Father," Li Tiangang said sternly.

Li Junye stared closely at the demon tide, thinking:

"These Demon Kings are all in the distance, not daring to get close, only using those low-level demons to test us. If we can lure them over and cooperate with the uncles hidden in the dark, we should be able to solve a few."

"Lure the enemy?"

Li Xuanli's eyes flickered: "That's not a bad idea, but the Demon Kings' attacks are too terrifying; we might not be able to withstand the first strike."

"I have the Sage Heart Treasure Talisman, which can withstand it for a moment."

Li Junye said: "I will go lure them; you wait for me here."

"Old Nine, don't go. This is too risky. Father said we should only stay within the magic formation and not step out," Li Tiangang said immediately.

Li Junye glanced at the demon tide and said: "Seventh Brother, don't worry, I have a sense of proportion."

Saying this, he suddenly recalled the Eternal Night and then rushed out of the magic formation.

The Demon Kings in the demon tide seemed to sense something and immediately looked toward Li Junye.

"Little brat of the Li family, you actually dare to seek death!"

One of the multi-eyed demon dragons roared and suddenly killed toward Li Junye.

Two other Demon Kings noticed Li Junye and also abandoned the fight with the older generation of the Li family's collateral branch, killing toward Li Junye.

Li Junye's expression was calm and unhurried. He swung his sword in a rage, but was easily slapped away by a Demon King, who then unleashed a bolt of black lightning that struck Li Junye.

Li Junye was in no hurry to use the Sage Heart Treasure Talisman. At this moment, the Demon King was not close enough. He forced out all his strength, operated his ultimate technique, protected his whole body, and chose to take the blow head-on.

With a bang, his body flew backward, spitting out blood. He was paralyzed, his skin torn, and his body charred black.

Seeing this, the other Demon Kings attacked again. Li Junye hurriedly crawled back toward the magic formation.

Seeing this, the Demon Kings became even more anxious, pursuing faster. At this moment, Li Junye ignited the Sage Heart Treasure Talisman.

The other older generation of the Li family's collateral branch heard Li Xuanli's voice transmission and already knew Li Junye's plan, immediately roaring as they killed their way out.

The rest of the older generation hidden in the city also drew their swords, rushed out of the magic formation, and fought with the Demon Kings.

Several Demon Kings were shocked and wanted to retreat, but it was already too late, and they were soon surrounded and killed.

At this time, Li Junye had already been dragged back into the magic formation by Li Tiangang.

"Ninth Brother, you were too risky!" Li Tiangang couldn't help but roar angrily.

Li Junye curled his lips and smiled: "But it succeeded, didn't it?"

"Go heal your wounds quickly, stop talking," Li Xuanli said hurriedly.

Li Junye immediately calmed his mind, took a medicinal pill, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, healing his Indestructible Treasure Body.

With Li Junye's lure, several Demon Kings were killed, the offensive of the demon tide was greatly reduced, and the pressure on the defense suddenly decreased a lot.

These Demon Kings seemed not as rational and cunning as the Demon Kings outside the Mo River, perhaps influenced by some residual thoughts; seeing the Li family bloodline, they pounced like they had been injected with chicken blood.

On the third day, Li Junye repeated his old trick, going out of the city to lure them again.

But a figure suddenly rushed out from among the Demon Kings, fiercely slapped out a palm, shattered the divine light of the Sage Heart Treasure Talisman that Li Junye had hurriedly ignited, slapped him away with one palm, and shook him to death on the spot!

"Old Nine!!"

Seeing this, Li Tiangang and the others were furious, their eyes splitting, and they let out roars.

That Demon King was impressively in the Absolute Learning Realm. His strike was like thunder, directly slapping onto the Longcheng magic formation, attacking continuously.

Li Tianzong rushed over quickly. Hearing the sorrowful roars of Li Xuanli and the others, shock appeared in his eyes, but there was even more sorrow.

He clenched his fists and ordered the Third Brother hidden in the dark to go out of the city and solve that Demon King.

Li Xuanyin killed his way out with a spear, fighting the Demon King until the sky went dark, but it was hard to tell the winner.

That night, when Li Hao and Li Xiaoran learned the news of Li Junye's death in battle, both were silent.

The several who had died one after another before had already made them anticipate this scene in their hearts.

But everyone was born because of Li Tianzong's obsession, so they didn't feel too much sorrow in their hearts.

The real Li Junye died in Cangzhou, saving countless common folk from fire and water.

Now, with the destruction of Longcheng later, the whole city would be buried, and everything had just begun.

It was the third day now, and Li Hao and Li Xiaoran were each under great pressure. Seven or eight Demon Kings appeared in the demon tide, and there was also a Demon King in the Absolute Learning Realm sitting in command.

Li Hao's Xia Qingshuang Sword was entangled by that Absolute Learning Realm Demon King and could not be freed, causing the magic formation to also suffer many attacks from Demon Kings.

"Tomorrow, this magic formation should be broken."

In the gap when the demon tide temporarily retreated, Li Xiaoran rushed to Li Hao's side and said: "By then, we can only retreat to the Divine General's Mansion. The magic formation inside the mansion can still hold on for a while."

Li Hao did not expect that he would see the signs of the city being broken on only the third day.

And up to this point, that Candle Zhu Huoshen and the old dragon Lu Yuan had not made a move.

"If we retreat to the Divine General's Mansion, that Candle Zhu Huoshen should come over, open a Dao Domain outside the mansion, and attack the magic formation," Li Hao's expression was heavy.

Li Xiaoran sighed: "The situation this time is much better. Before, if it were just me, the magic formation would have been dilapidated by the third day, barely holding on. Now that you are sharing one area, the pressure is reduced, and others can reinforce other places, so it is still considered to have been held intact."

Li Hao was silent.

In the evening, Li Hao saw a group of figures walking on the city wall. Looking carefully, they were actually some female generals.

They were all dressed in armor, and among them was "Mother" Chen Hefang.

"Little Ten, you must be tired too."

Chen Hefang saw Li Hao, her stern eyes becoming tender. She stepped forward and said: "Your father asked me to call you, to have you go back for a trip; there is something important he wants to tell you."

Li Hao couldn't help but look at her twice: "You all are..."

"There are no ghosts in the Li family who covet life."

Chen Hefang said softly: "For the sake of the common people, the Li family can fight to the last drop of blood!"

Hearing this, Li Hao's heart was shaken.

The other female generals saw Li Hao and also showed smiles.

"I heard Little Ten is the most promising, standing alone in the Three Imperishable Realms; he is truly amazing."

"My Li family has such a son, and it does not disgrace the glory of our ancestors."

"Good child, go back quickly."

These female generals were Li Hao's aunts, etc. Li Hao couldn't recognize them, but he knew they were all people of the Li family.

"It should be to inform you about the ancestral hall," Li Xiaoran transmitted his voice.

Back then, he was also informed of this news when the city wall was about to break.

Li Hao was slightly silent, then bid farewell to the "Mother" and the female generals before him, and leaped back to the mansion.

After returning to the Divine General's Mansion, Li Hao saw that the courtyard, which used to be prosperous and full of guests, was now filled with desolate fallen leaves, and there was no one even sweeping the ground.

In the empty courtyard, there were only a few servants.

The rest might have put on armor to join the city defense army, or might have been dismissed; only a few familiar faces remained.

Li Hao saw the young Uncle Zhao, who was also wearing battle armor, seemingly ready to go into battle to slay demons at any time.

"Young Tianren Zongshi, you are back. Tianren Zongshi is waiting for you in the main hall." Uncle Zhao saw Li Hao and bowed in salute.

Li Hao glanced at him, his lips moved slightly, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

Turning around and entering the main hall, he saw that "Father" sitting in front of the dining table, just sitting alone and deep in thought.

Hearing footsteps, Li Tianzong looked up. In his bloodshot eyes, a bit of dark evil spirit was faintly revealed, seemingly like a heavy, gloomy evil aura.

Li Hao felt the other party's aura become icy and eerie. However, this feeling disappeared in the blink of an eye. When Li Tianzong saw Li Hao, a bit of tenderness appeared on his previously low and icy face.

"Little Ten, come over and sit."

Li Tianzong greeted Li Hao, his voice kind and peaceful.

Li Hao nodded. Having received the voice transmission from Li Xiaoran, he was prepared in his heart.

However, now that most of the nine sons of the Li family had fallen, such tragedy—even knowing that everyone else was born from Li Tianzong's obsession—made Li Hao sigh secretly.

Even if one were watching a play, it would be hard not to be touched and sigh at the tragedy in the play.

Not to mention, he was experiencing it personally; the expressions of concern and the humble love that those "older brothers" showed him on a daily basis were all real.

It was just that in reality, they didn't have such an opportunity.

"Little Ten, you are the most outstanding genius in my Li family for thousands of years."

Li Tianzong greeted Li Hao to sit beside him. At this moment, only they were at the table; Li Tiangang, Li Xuanli, and the others were still on the city wall, on guard at all times.

Li Hao sat silently, listening silently, waiting for the other party to speak about the ancestral hall.

"These days, I have seen your growth in my eyes."

Li Tianzong looked at Li Hao with gentle eyes and said softly: "I like the carvings you gave us very much, as well as the paintings you made for me and your mother; I will treasure them. The food you made is also very delicious; it is the most delicious I have ever eaten..."

"What virtue or ability do I, Li Tianzong, have to have a son like you."

He stretched out his broad palm, gently patted Li Hao's shoulder, and said:

"I am very happy for the company during this period."

Speaking of this, he smiled again, then whispered with some regret:

"It's a pity, if you were really my son, that would be great..."