Chapter 265: The Yu Emperor

"Unfortunately, no one believes this except us."

The thin middle-aged man sneered: "They only think our Wang family is bluffing, using this to lure them into helping. This bunch of guys, they won't get up early without profit. Without profit to drive them, even if the Mo River extended to their hometowns, they would choose to move rather than clear and solve the Mo River!"

"People are all like this, can't blame others."

The old man shook his head slightly: "The pity is that ten thousand merit points is too difficult, requiring the destruction of a Youdu-level Mo River ten times. Unless Zhendong is in the Taiping Dao Realm, it is impossible to complete."

"Let's talk about the Dragon City Mo River matter in Liangzhou first."

The majestic-faced middle-aged man said: "That Li Clan youth attracted those three demon kings into that Dragon City Mo River, intending to perish with them in the Mo River."

"That Mo River is extremely dangerous, even more troublesome than other Youdu-level Mo Rivers, ranking in the top ten of Youdu-level Mo Rivers."

"That Li Xiaoran has Li Clan bloodline, with natural advantages added, but over these years, he hasn't made much progress, so this time he might not have any gains either."

"This is indeed a rare opportunity to catch a turtle in a jar. If we can kill that Taixu Realm Master, the Taixu Realm will surely be severely damaged, falling from a top-tier force, allowing the Demon Suppression Division to send people to clear it, easing the pressure on the borders."

"But the Shenggong and the Longmen will likely not stand idly by, and they might anticipate that we have actions, leading to a great war."

"What do you think, should we invite Uncle Zhendong out, or should we go ourselves? If that old lady from the Xia family chooses not to care, we will retreat in time."

"I don't think it's worth it."

The thin middle-aged man said: "Uncle Zhendong is already tired enough from clearing the Mo River, and now he has to run around for this kind of thing. Back then it was agreed that they guard the borders and we manage the Mo River. Now that their messy affairs also need us to manage, isn't it ridiculous?"

The majestic man looked at the old man, who remained silent for a long time before saying:

"I will go myself, go there and see first. Once Zhendong leaves the Mo River, let him rest first, and if necessary, he can come over later."

"Uncle, are you really going?"

The thin middle-aged man was stunned and couldn't help but say: "Our Wang family has already cut ties with these demons. Over these years, they have been slaying demons and eliminating devils, making contributions, although the Li Clan lost six sons, they can be considered to have done their duty, and at least they have gained a bright reputation!"

"But who will remember the people of our Wang family who died in the Mo River? Even their names will be removed from the merit list. Now go ask the people of the world, who still remembers that the Wang family was also a Divine General Mansion?!"

"We help them, who will help us eliminate the Mo River?"

The old man heard his excited words and was silent for a moment before looking at him and saying: "I am going, not carrying the responsibility of the Wang family, but the conscience of a martial artist!"

"Humans and demons are irreconcilable. Slaying demons and eliminating devils is the martial arts goal of our generation of martial artists. If one has martial arts skills but lives in the city like a coward, what is the meaning of that?"

"The merits of the Wang family, although the world does not know, heaven knows, earth knows, the Emperor knows, and the descendants of our Wang family all remember, that is enough!"

The thin middle-aged man saw his determined gaze and was stunned. In the end, he didn't say anything more.

Great Yu State, Shengcheng Imperial Capital.

In the majestic Imperial Palace, in a deep courtyard.

Slap! Following a crisp sound, in the courtyard where peach blossoms were in full bloom, in the pavilion, two figures sat leisurely playing chess.

One was the Yu Emperor, and the other wore a luxurious flood dragon robe, aged around forty, but with a few white hairs at his temples.

His waist token was engraved with a "Qing" character. Everyone in the Imperial Palace and the entire Shengcheng Imperial Capital knew that this waist token represented only one identity: Prince Qing, Jiang Qingshan.

In the Jianghu outside the temple, he had another title: Qingshan Dao Lord!

"Imperial Brother, you won again."

Jiang Qingshan saw the black pieces blocking the road, cutting his territory into pieces, completely cutting off his throat, and smiled helplessly, bowing his hands.

The Yu Emperor laughed lightly: "You are always modest. Playing chess like this is no fun."

"Imperial Brother's chess skills are superb, how dare I be modest? I have already gone all out, but my skills are inferior to others. I must practice more when I go back." Jiang Qingshan smiled bitterly.

The Yu Emperor heard this and was very pleased, a faint smile hanging on his lips, saying:

"Your chess skills indeed need improvement. You should find a better chess player to accompany you in your mansion to practice well. For decades, you haven't even been as good as a child, not a bit of progress."

Jiang Qingshan was dumbfounded and smiled bitterly: "Imperial Brother is humiliating me. Although my chess skills are not as good as Imperial Brother's, I can still exchange a few moves with the Little Chess Saint. How could I not be as good as a child?"

Seeing that he was unconvinced, Hearing Yu Huang smiled, but thinking of that carefree youth under the willow tree, his smile faded again, and he said nothing.

He stopped the chess piece in his hand and said lightly: "You already know about the Liangzhou matter. Do you have any plans?"

Jiang Qingshan saw this and stopped playing with the chessboard, saying seriously: "The Shenggong, the Longmen, and the Taixu Realm are attacking Liangzhou, and other demon forces are also restless, staring at other states, making other states unable to spare too much energy."

"They want to use Liangzhou as a gap. Once they occupy Liangzhou, they can drive straight up with the demons of the Wei River, attacking other states, and by relying on the terrain of Liangzhou, land can be defended and water can be attacked. This is wanting to get serious with our Great Yu!" 【265-43

Hearing Yu Huang nodded slightly and said, "You should also be aware of the situation behind them."

Jiang Qingshan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded: "I heard that the Li Clan's son lured the master of the Grand Void Realm into the Mo River in Longcheng. Now is a good opportunity to catch a turtle in a jar. Did Your Imperial Highness summon me to have me go and surround them?"

"I will have you surround them, but the target is not the Mo River in Longcheng."

Hearing Yu Huang's fingers tapped lightly on the chessboard, his eyes falling on the black piece that had fallen off the board, and he smiled:

"Sometimes, the outcome of this game of chess is not decided within the chessboard, but outside of it."

"That Great Elder of the Longmen, Lu Yuan, made a move, cooperating with the Candle Zhu Huoshen to try and take Liangzhou. According to secret reports from the front line, that Candle Zhu Huoshen originally didn't intend to show his face, but only had to appear because he encountered that child, who was too thorny to handle."

"But the Sect Master of the Longmen and the many Elders of the Shenggong did not participate in this battle."

"Tell me, where do you think they all are?"

Jiang Qingshan's heart stirred, and he quickly had an answer, but he shook his head and said: "Your younger brother is dull-witted, I ask that Your Imperial Highness enlighten me."

Hearing Yu Huang said indifferently: "The older generation of the Li Clan did not show themselves; they should have also realized the problem. Besides wanting to swallow Liangzhou, they also want to take advantage of this to make a big haul and flatten one of the Divine General Mansion's strongholds as well!"

"The three major forces have come out, their cards are already on the table. Fortunately, the Li Clan is smart and did not leave rashly."

"Now that they are gathered in Qingzhou, it is exactly when their own sect grounds are empty. This is a good opportunity for a hunt!"

Jiang Qingshan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said: "Is Your Imperial Highness planning for me to go and exterminate their lair and pull out their roots?"

"After more than ten years in Yanbei, that Shenggong should also pay a price!"

Hearing Yu Huang nodded slightly, looking at the bright peach blossoms in the courtyard: "It is always spring here, but outside the courtyard, it is already autumn."

"I haven't gone autumn hunting with you for many years, and I don't know how your hunting skills are; have they regressed?"

A smile appeared on Jiang Qingshan's face, and he said: "Compared to Your Imperial Highness, I am naturally inferior, but if I patrol a mountain peak, I will definitely ensure there isn't half a living soul left!"

"Then I will wait for you to return to drink!"

Hearing Yu Huang laughed.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingshan stood up, bowed respectfully, and performed a salute, which counted as formally receiving the order.

After seeing Jiang Qingshan off.

Chu Jiuyue walked slowly back to the pavilion, seeing Hearing Yu Huang, who was still lost in thought while staring at the chessboard, and said:

"Your Majesty, are you thinking about that child?"

Hearing Yu Huang withdrew his gaze and let it fall upon him: "Tell me, has the destiny of my Great Yu Divine Dynasty truly declined?"

Chu Jiuyue's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, my Great Yu Divine Dynasty is protected by the late Emperor; it is naturally prosperous and enduring. How can you speak of decline!"

"If it hasn't declined, then why, more than ten years ago, did the Li Clan's Ninth Son die outside the borders at such a young age, with no bones left?"

"Why is that child, only fifteen years old, already trapped in danger? They are all the hope of my Great Yu Divine Dynasty, the pillars of the future, but the heavens seem unwilling to give them time."

Hearing Yu Huang stared at the distant blue sky outside the courtyard and said in a low voice: "If we gave that child another ten years, even just ten years, it would be enough."

Chu Jiuyue was slightly silent.

Thinking of the secret memorials sent back from Liangzhou, he knew this was true.

At fifteen, cultivating to the Three Imperishable Realms, and with a cultivation base so solid it is hard to imagine, killing a Demon King with the Three Imperishable Realms, and even fighting a battle in the Absolute Learning Realm—it can be called incredible!

Such a genius, it would be no exaggeration to say he has the potential to ask the Sages.

Perhaps it is precisely because of this that he was able to attract the master of the Grand Void Realm to abandon the overall situation of the battlefield and pursue him alone... Chu Jiuyue thought to himself.

"Your Majesty, that side of the Liangzhou Mo River..."

Hearing Yu Huang fell into silence. After a long time, he said: "Go and summon the Ninth Brother. Let him go personally, and at all costs, bring him back!"

Chu Jiuyue's pupils shrank slightly. Are they actually going to release that madman?

"Your Majesty, but if this happens..."

"Are you afraid?"

Hearing Yu Huang looked at him indifferently, his expression already calmed down: "If he comes out, his first sword will probably strike me, but it doesn't matter. For that child, I will bear it."

"Your Majesty..."

Chu Jiuyue's heart was shaken; he did not expect Hearing Yu Huang to make such a risky move.

That Ninth Prince... is not someone to be trifled with!

In this vast Imperial Palace and Royal City, and even among all the royal nobles, everyone is deeply wary of that existence.

In the past, he was the madman who almost split the Imperial City in half with one sword!

The Battle of Liangzhou ended, and there were undercurrents everywhere.

The five-hundred-thousand-strong Imperial Army still guarded Liangzhou, waiting for the situation outside the Mo River.

And after Li Tiangang discussed with the two princes, they combined with the Liangzhou Army and dispatched a total of two hundred thousand elite troops to the Mo River in Longcheng.

They set up camp outside the Mo River, formed military formations, and prepared to rescue Li Hao and Li Xiaoran, who might emerge from the Mo River at any time. At the same time, they were also prepared to deal with the master of the Grand Void Realm; if they could ambush the opponent, it would also be a good thing.

Although two hundred thousand troops could hardly harm the Dao Realm, this place was not just an army; many powerful experts were hidden within.

The news of various powerful experts rushing over or making excuses had already fallen into the hands of Li Tiangang and the others, so they made strategic deployments in advance.

However, time passed.

Before any conflict could arise outside the Mo River, a huge commotion occurred in the Yanbei region instead.

The Green Prince led a million-strong army to occupy the Shenggong, flattened the Shenggong's secret Sacred Mountain grounds, destroyed the mountain gate, and killed countless demons.

Now, the Shenggong's precious Sacred Mountain grounds had their spiritual springs cut off and their peaks destroyed, turning into a mess. This news reached the demons and soon fell into the ears of the demons gathered in Qingzhou.

"Damn it, that Qingshan Dao Master is so ruthless!"

"He actually went on an expedition personally. I heard the Palace Master of the Shenggong was seriously injured and fled."

"The other Shenggong Elders went back first, but it should be too late."

In the secret grounds of Qingzhou, many ferocious figures were entrenched here, but they were all Elders of the Longmen.

When the situation in Liangzhou reversed, some Elders of the Shenggong knew that the ambush plan in Qingzhou was going to fail.

Once Liangzhou was stabilized, the old guys of the Li Clan would have no reason to leave the Divine General Mansion again.

In this way, their ambush would be meaningless.

However, just after the Shenggong Elders retreated, the bad news from Yanbei arrived.

No one expected that the Qingshan Dao Master would take this opportunity not to support Liangzhou, but instead aim his spearhead at the lair of the Shenggong!

When the news of this battle arrived, the bird demon Elder of the Heavenly Pivot Hall reported it personally. At this moment, the many Elders of the Longmen, including the Sect Master of the Longmen, felt surprised and angry.

At the same time, there was also some lingering fear.

Their forces left behind to guard the mountain gate and demon lair were even thinner. If another prince were sent to encircle and suppress them, they feared their own home would suffer as well.

After some discussion, they had no choice but to choose to retreat.

The two old guys of the Li Clan remained behind closed doors, clearly having guessed their actions, and continuing the ambush was meaningless.

"Contact the Shenggong and go to the Mo River. There is no way back now; we must rescue the Candle Zhu Huoshen."

"This piece of trash, he's already at the Half-Step Dao Realm, and he still can't take down a little brat!"

"Has the Grand Void Realm been hiding from the world for too many years, to the point where they don't even know how to eat people anymore?"

The many Elders of the Longmen were all complaining, their hearts filled with anger.

This time, Liangzhou was not taken, and the Li Clan in Qingzhou was not flattened; the plan was a complete failure.

And when the many intelligence reports from the Heavenly Pivot Hall were returned, looking at the overall situation, they discovered that the reason this plan failed was because of one variable: the young general named Haotian!

The opponent came from the Li Clan, it was the Li Clan again! Not only the Longmen, but the many Demon Kings of the Shenggong were also filled with hatred.

Inside the Divine General Mansion.

When Li Muxiu learned the news that the lair of the Shenggong in Yanbei had been uprooted, he couldn't help but laugh heartily.

He knew that His Imperial Majesty would never let people down.

The lair of the Shenggong in Yanbei was taken, and the Palace Master fought alone and was defeated by the Green Prince. Both sides erupted with the power of the Taiping Dao Realm; it could be considered hidden very deeply.

But the Green Prince was more skilled, defeating him, and with the million-strong army sweeping through—all elite royal soldiers—the entire Sacred Mountain was flattened.

This battle could be considered famous in the demon world, letting them see that this aging lion still had the deterrent power to strike with all its might and bite through the enemy's neck!

"Those guys in Qingzhou should be feeling lingering fear by now."

"Wait a little longer, wait a few more days, and I will leave quietly and go to Liangzhou."

Li Muxiu came to the ancestral hall and explained his plan to Li Qingzheng: "You also know the situation in Liangzhou. These guys are definitely not honest and won't let us ambush the Candle Zhu Huoshen, so their alliance will fall apart."

"But the Candle Zhu Huoshen must die!"

Cold light flickered in Li Muxiu's eyes, and he said: "Besides, I want to go and pick up Hao'er and the Fourth Brother, otherwise they will also be in danger."

"But that Candle Zhu Huoshen is at the Half-Step Dao Realm. Can you block him?"

Li Qingzheng looked worried.

Li Muxiu narrowed his eyes and said: "It's just the Half-Step Dao Realm, who isn't one!"

Li Qingzheng was slightly startled and couldn't help but look at him in astonishment, "You, you have also touched it?"

Li Muxiu nodded slightly, his expression suddenly becoming a bit sad, and he said: "It was a sudden enlightenment during a chat while fishing with Hao'er these past few years. Speaking of which, I have to thank that child..."

Li Qingzheng became a bit excited, but seeing him mention Li Hao, he thought of the youth who had sat in the courtyard and played chess with him for four or five years, and he also sighed in his heart, saying: "It's a pity that Tiangang's temper is too stubborn, and that child's temper is also stubborn. However, since you have now touched that step, you can finally be considered to have caught up with the Eldest Brother's footsteps."

"Eldest Brother..."

Li Muxiu thought of the Eldest Brother who was ambushed, besieged, and killed by the Sect Master of the Longmen and many Demon Kings during the Battle of Longcheng, and his fists couldn't help but clench slightly.

At that time, he was still out traveling in the mountains and rivers, chasing after the young lady he was always thinking about.

When he learned the news, he finally woke up. Since then, he returned to the Li Clan, took over from the Fourth Brother, guarded the Listening Rain Tower, and also cut off contact with that young lady.

Although many people advised him that this matter had nothing to do with him—during the Battle of Longcheng, Li Tianzong was personally leading the army to guard it, and the others were not there, having their own places to guard.

But Li Muxiu felt it was not like that.

Since he was a child, he was not favored by his father, his temperament was scattered, and he was idle without a job.

He was free, so he felt guilty, and this guilt had always taken root in the bottom of his heart, unwilling to look back.

"I heard Hao'er reached the Three Imperishable Realms and can contend with Demon Kings. I don't know how he cultivated."

Li Qingzheng saw the lonely and sad look in his Second Brother's eyes and immediately changed the subject, smiling and saying: "Now that we are bringing him back, we shouldn't need to compete with that little guy Li Qianfeng anymore; he can be directly designated as a True Dragon."

"Tiangang shouldn't have any objections either. After all, after this battle, Hao'er's merits are obvious to all, and he should be enfeoffed as a Marquis!"

Hearing his words, Li Muxiu came back to his senses, a flash of anger crossed his eyes, and he snorted coldly:

"That is natural. This merit is not inferior to Little Nine's back then. Hao'er is only fifteen years old, and he is already being enfeoffed as a Marquis. I want to see how Tiangang can still say that his son's temperament is not good enough!"

"The matter back then can also be considered a misunderstanding. I don't know why Tiangang was so impulsive at the time, not waiting for Hao'er to finish speaking, sigh!" Li Qingzheng shook his head and sighed.

Li Muxiu's expression changed slightly, and he said in a low voice: "It's just that I don't know if Hao'er is still willing to come back, and if he is still willing to acknowledge me as his Second Uncle."

Li Qingzheng looked at him and recalled the back of the youth who walked out of the Divine General Mansion alone in the wind and snow, and he fell silent for a moment.

As time passed.

After Liangzhou was pacified, everyone's attention was focused on that Mo River outside the borders.

The territory where this Mo River was located was originally Great Yu territory, but it was only separated later because of the Mo River.

This shows how thorny this Mo River is, making the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, which has always attached great importance to its territory, have to cede territory to avoid it. This is something that top demon forces have never been able to do.

Li Tiangang sat in command in the western border of Liangzhou, the territory closest to the Mo River, observing the movements at any time.

As another month passed, Li Tiangang finally couldn't bear it anymore and found Li Xuanli to hand over the place to him to guard.

"I want to go to Tianmen Pass."

Li Tiangang said.

"You want to go see Hao'er? But I heard that it is only his martial arts avatar."

Li Xuanli immediately knew his thoughts.

While recovering Liangzhou earlier, they also sent people to inquire about the situation at Tianmen Pass, but learned that there were no traces or movements of demon invasions there.

In this regard, they could understand; after all, the deterrent power of Li Hao's battle flags was too strong, and with them filling Tianmen Pass, no demons should dare to go there.

Moreover, when they recovered Liangzhou, they also learned news about Li Hao from the bird demons of the Heavenly Pivot Hall they captured.

Five thousand li outside the pass, everything was cleared by Li Hao, and no demons dared to invade! In addition, the demons' attack on Liangzhou this time was intentionally avoiding Tianmen Pass!

These two pieces of news made them and other soldiers, including the powerful experts from various parties who came to reinforce them, feel shocked.

No one expected that the demon army, which gathered the three top demon forces, would dare to face the million-strong army in the eastern and western borders, but would not dare to invade the southern border pass guarded by that youth! One person can rival a million troops!

Combined with the power Li Hao displayed on the battlefield, everyone was silent besides being shocked.

The youth's combat power is indeed worthy of such caution and awe from the demons.

Those who know whether you are weak or not are often not your teammates, but your opponents.

Similarly, only you know who on the other side is the weakest.

Undoubtedly, they hadn't noticed the youth's growth yet, but the demons outside Tianmen Pass had already learned their lesson deeply.

Besides this, Li Tiangang wrote to the Imperial Palace, hoping that His Majesty could send more battle flags to assist them in guarding Liangzhou.

But it took several days to get a reply; the Imperial Observatory had no such means for the time being, and they asked Li Tiangang to go and ask Li Hao where he learned such heaven-reaching means.

Upon receiving this reply, Li Tiangang was a bit dazed.

He thought of what the Candle Zhu Huoshen said when he appeared, and he felt as if the blood in his whole body was jumping.

That sword formation battle flag was something that child figured out himself? Who helped him?

Li Tiangang realized that his understanding of this son seemed really too little.

Besides Hearing Yu Huang's appreciation and the love of the older generation in the family, this child also had some secrets that even he didn't know.

He wrote to his Second Uncle to ask in the middle, but the response he got was slightly mocking: He is your son, you ask me, who do I ask? Li Tiangang had long learned about this Second Uncle's temper, so he didn't get angry.

But from this reply, he realized that this Second Uncle should also not know.

After all, this matter is of great importance, and even if that Second Uncle was angry at him, he wouldn't be vague about such things.

Since that was the case, he could only know by asking Li Hao personally.

Now Li Hao has been slow to return from the Mo River, and his life or death is unknown.

He planned to go to Tianmen Pass first to see; it is said that Li Hao's martial arts avatar also has simple mobility, and perhaps it carries a part of his memory.

Besides asking about the battle flags, he also wanted to know more about whether Li Hao had the confidence to escape from the Mo River and return.

With that Fourth Uncle who has been raiding the Longcheng Mo River for more than ten years accompanying him, he should be fine...

(End of chapter)