Chapter 332

Youzhou City, Xia Family Divine General Mansion.

In the East Pavilion Courtyard, a noble lady sat upright in the hall.

She looked to be in her forties, yet her skin was like congealed fat, more tender than a young girl's. Set off by her luxurious clothing, she seemed like a beautiful lady who had walked out of a painting, her demeanor dignified and noble.

She was not a wife, but the contemporary head of the Xia family, Xia Linglong, and also the True Dragon of the previous generation.

Because she had promised never to marry for life, she was able to qualify to compete for the True Dragon, and coupled with her outstanding talent, it was rumored that she was the most talented person in the Xia family in hundreds of years.

She entered the Three Imperishable Realms at twenty. Although she was not as good as that Li family monster who established the Imperishable at nineteen a dozen years ago, she had also been extremely brilliant, famous throughout the world, and known to all.

When she took over the Xia family, various demon forces bullied her for being a woman, laughing at the Xia family for being in decline, weak, and easy to bully. In other large provinces under the Xia family's rule, they caused chaos everywhere, leaving the people in dire straits.

But after Xia Linglong took power, she launched rapid attacks with thunderous means, slaying and repelling these demons.

In many battles, she led the army herself, wearing iron armor on the battlefield, her hands stained with the blood of countless demons. When she returned home, she would wear colorful dresses, apply rouge and powder, and enjoy flowers and tea like those noble ladies.

It was just that the books those noble ladies read were "Women's Analects" and "Wifely Studies," while what she held were military books, strategies, and maps of demon territories.

Half a month ago, the Gluttony Valley, which had been besieging the Mo River outside Liangzhou, suddenly shifted its offensive and launched an attack on their Xia family's Youzhou. This battle was caught off guard, and coupled with the Gluttony Valley elders leading the personal expedition, the eastern defense line was broken, and now half of eastern Youzhou had fallen.

The number of casualties and burned cities reached more than thirty.

Each city and the people in nearby towns and villages numbered at least four or five million, and some reached ten million.

Suffering such heavy damage in the main province guarded by her own family, she hadn't rested well for many days. The Gluttony Valley Master had been even more wanton, sneaking an attack on the Divine General Mansion, but was forced back by several uncles of the clan who practiced supreme arts.

It was just that this battle also made her feel that the strength of this Gluttony Valley Master could not be underestimated. Although he was not in the Dao Realm, he had few opponents among those in the Supreme Art Realm. His flesh and blood were refined, comparable to top-tier divine weapons, and the strongest supreme arts of the Supreme Art Realm had greatly reduced effects when landing on him.

What was fortunate was that the age of this Gluttony Valley Master was not as high as the Tai Xu Realm; he was a great demon king who had only risen five hundred years ago and had not yet stepped into the Dao Realm.

Otherwise, the Xia family would really be facing a catastrophe and would have to use their strongest foundation to block it! But even so, for the Xia family right now, it was already a situation of deep water and scorching fire.

"From the eastern battlefield, Xia Changkong sent news that the second defense line cannot be held. They are to retreat to the Ming River area and activate the third defense line there."

In the hall, an old man said in a low voice.

He was of the older generation of the Xia family and had already put on armor, ready to go on an expedition at any time.

His gaze fell on Xia Linglong, who looked like a noble lady in the hall. Although she was a woman, no one in the Xia family dared to underestimate her, and all were extremely respectful and reverent toward her.

"Family head, please let me go on the expedition and accompany Changkong to guard it!"

The old man volunteered. His eyes were like an eagle's, sharp as he said: "If the third defense line is lost, I will definitely fight the Gluttony Valley to the end!"

Others changed color one after another, wanting to speak but stopping, wanting to stop him but not knowing what to say. As a Divine General Mansion, this had always been their mission. Moreover, countless soldiers had already fallen on the front line, and they also had their own relatives.

"A bloody battle is the final choice, but it is not the goal."

Xia Linglong spoke, her autumn-water-like eyes devoid of their usual tenderness, leaving only coldness: "If the Gluttony Valley Master makes a move, even if it is the third defense line, you may not be able to hold it. Currently, the strength of the two sides is too different, especially the top-tier strength. At the same time, we must also guard against the possibility of other demon forces taking advantage of the chaos to make a move. Before the situation is clear, we must never easily put all our eggs in one basket!"

The old man's face changed slightly, staring at her, but he did not question her, instead waiting for her subsequent words.

After Xia Linglong paused slightly, she narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice:

"Feign defense at the third line and lure the Gluttony Valley Master into the Cang Ridge. There is a magic array buried there by our Xia family ancestors. Borrowing the power of the magic array, we will seal the Gluttony Valley Master, then we will kill our way to the front line, clear out all the demons, and finally have a great battle with the Gluttony Valley Master. This time, I am prepared to bring out the Ancestral Holy Treasure!"

Hearing her words, the old man's face changed slightly, and the others also had their pupils shrink.

They all felt the family head's enormous determination.

"But if this happens, once the third defense line is broken, that will be a loss of more than ten cities..." the old man couldn't help but say.

Xia Linglong stared at him and said: "Previously, I already had Seventh Uncle lead one hundred thousand troops to transfer the residents of those cities, leaving only a small amount of city defense force. It doesn't matter if the city is broken, as long as the people are still there. After the war subsides, our Xia family will send troops to help them rebuild the city."

"Have they all been withdrawn?" the old man couldn't help but ask.

Xia Linglong was silent for a moment before saying: "It's too late, but only by cutting off the wrist in time can we save more people. We have no choice."

Everyone was silent, and the old man was also silent. He knew that this niece was intelligent and planned strategies. Since she couldn't think of a better way, it meant there really was no better way.

"The request for aid was sent to Emperor Da Yu Province, but outside the Imperial City, it is said that demons are also entrenched, and they cannot provide reinforcements. Since the Battle of Liangzhou—no, it should be said, since the frequent demon sneak attacks in these decades, all aimed at the places guarded by the Li family, which almost caused the Li family to break its inheritance, I already had a premonition that these demons seemed to be plotting something big..."

Xia Linglong took a deep breath, her eyes cold, and said: "The Battle of Liangzhou was just a prologue. Fortunately, it was guarded by that youth. Otherwise, with the terrain of Liangzhou, once occupied by demons, the second would be a direct path to Youzhou, and coupled with invading other provinces through rivers, they could advance to attack and retreat to defend. Something big would happen!"

"Their quick attack failed, and they were cut in half in one go, so they could only shift, wanting to tear a gap from our Youzhou. This is just a beginning. His Majesty should have sensed it too, but has been slow to send reinforcements. If I am not mistaken, the real plan of these demons might not be Youzhou, but the Imperial City..."

"Now, it depends on who moves first, who can't endure it first."

"Therefore, we can only rely on ourselves!"

Hearing her words, everyone's faces were solemn, knowing that the thousand-year peace of the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty had been broken.

As people in the Divine General Mansion, often in contact with border war reports, they had long had such a premonition and also saw that the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty's deterrent power against these demons was weakening year by year.

But the demons were becoming more and more rampant. This battle was sooner or later; it was just unexpected that it would come so quickly.

"Heroes emerge in troubled times. That young hero has already emerged, which is enough to show that troubled times have arrived..."

Someone sighed lightly.

"Then I will go to the Cang Ridge area first and set up the array in advance." The old man said to Xia Linglong.

Xia Linglong nodded and said: "I trouble Fourth Uncle."

"Why thank me for slaying demons? You must not insult me." The old man snorted coldly.

Xia Linglong's cold eyes suddenly became a bit softer and said: "It is my fault."

The old man waved his hand and was about to get up. Suddenly, an arrow-like light flew over and landed in the Divine General Mansion.

The old man sensed it immediately, his face changed slightly, and he raised his hand to summon the message sent urgently by the Xia family's special secret technique.

"Liyang?"

Seeing the words on the surface of the letter, the old man's face changed slightly. It was a letter from Liyang!

Xia Linglong's expression also tightened: "Is Liyang unable to hold on so quickly?"

The old man pushed his palm, sending the letter in front of her.

Xia Linglong quickly flipped through it, her originally solemn expression slightly stunned.

"Liyang has fallen?"

"Is it fallen or a request for aid?"

Others learned that it was news from Liyang, and their hearts tightened. If the northwest fell again, the demons would attack Youzhou from both sides.

Xia Linglong finished reading the letter and couldn't help but raise her head, looking at the old man.

The old man's eyes revealed a questioning gesture.

Xia Linglong's eyes gradually erupted with brilliant light, and she said: "Liyang is safe!"

"They won?"

"Didn't they say earlier that their food supplies were cut off? The demons cutting off food supplies should be planning to use a siege strategy. They should have delayed for a period of time."

Everyone was stunned, then full of surprise.

Among the successive war reports, they could finally hear a piece of good news.

"Could it be that my son Xia Yuanming broke through in the heat of battle?"

"Your son is not as smart as Qingshuang. It should be Qingshuang, but she only stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm not long ago. She shouldn't have the ability to decide the battlefield, right?"

Hearing the good news, everyone's faces rarely looked good, and they even joked with each other.

Xia Linglong didn't keep them in suspense and said: "Everyone still remembers that young general who was titled Duke, right? He has come to our Youzhou!"

"Hmm?" "What!"

Everyone was stunned, then reacted. There was only one young general titled Duke in the entire Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty, and that was the one guarding Liangzhou.

They were certainly no strangers to him, and when the youth's deeds spread, a phenomenon appeared in the cities of various provinces: they would make some battle flags engraved with the two characters "Haotian" in the warehouse, in preparation for hanging them up when demon attacks and chaos broke out.

After the deterrent power of that battle flag spread, all parties treated this object as a strategic material.

Perhaps when one day the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty was in full danger, the youth's flag would be raised in cities everywhere, along with that mythical prestige!

Regarding this phenomenon, as people in the Divine General Mansion, although they were jealous of the youth's great fame, they also knew that only that youth could do it. Because of the special nature of that battle flag, its fame even exceeded the ancestral flags of the five Divine General Mansions.

"Are you talking about that General Haotian?"

"Isn't he in the Mo River outside Liangzhou? How could he come to Youzhou? Is he here specifically to provide reinforcements?"

"Liangzhou and Youzhou are not far. Maybe he heard the news? But I haven't heard the news of him leaving the Mo River. Instead, the demons outside the Mo River retreated a while ago to attack Qingzhou. Now there are no demons outside the Mo River. Maybe he didn't have a big battle after coming out, so we don't know?"

"The news couldn't be wrong, right? Qingzhou is almost falling. He is not in Qingzhou, but actually came to our Youzhou first?"

"Could it be that he doesn't know about Qingzhou?"

Everyone looked at Xia Linglong in surprise.

Xia Linglong also reacted. Indeed, if that youth came out, he should have gone to reinforce Qingzhou long ago. Could the news be wrong? But immediately, she thought of some things about the youth, her eyes flickered, and she immediately understood the reason in her heart.

It seems that the father-son battle in Qingzhou really had a huge impact. That youth really chose to leave the Li family and completely cut ties with the Li family! It's feared that not only was there no gratitude, but there was also hatred. Otherwise, why would he come to Youzhou instead of Qingzhou?

Thinking of this, a trace of doubt flashed in her heart. Although she didn't know what happened between the father and son, the youth could appear to save Liangzhou and even sacrifice himself to lure away the master of the Tai Xu Realm, which was enough to show that he had a benevolent heart and chivalrous spirit. What kind of mistake could have caused the Li family to treat him like this?

"The military book has no traces of being opened, and the secret patterns on it are not broken. The news is true, unless the demons have already invaded Liyang and forced them to write this message."

Xia Linglong said, but these words were also telling everyone that this news was absolutely true and could not be fake.

Because the Xia family sons there could not betray the family.

Everyone understood what she meant. Some showed joy and said:

"Regardless, he is willing to come and help our Xia family, which counts as a favor. Since Liyang City has been held, it is said that he can slay demon kings and has the power to rival the Supreme Art Realm. Why not invite him over and invite him to discuss together how to crusade against the Gluttony Valley Master?"

"Not bad. If he is willing, we can ask the Old Madam to give him a little chicken." Another person suggested.

Xia Linglong nodded slightly; she had the same idea.

The little chicken raised by the Old Madam was not a real little chicken, but a great demon.

The Xia family's cultivation method leaned toward controlling objects and refining spirits, so they were also good at taming demons and warhorses, etc.

The top-tier warhorses in the entire Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty came from the Xia family, and the imperial family's dragon-dragons were also raised and tamed by the Xia family. There was a position in the imperial court called the Dragon-Taming Master, which was held by the Xia family for generations.

Many hybrid mounts of high officials, such as the dragon-lions of Qingzhou, all came from the Dragon-Taming Division.

"Having such a strong reinforcement is worth any price." The old man said to Xia Linglong.

Xia Linglong nodded and immediately ordered someone to come and write a letter to be sent back to Liyang.

Liyang City.

The sentries outside the city returned and reported the news of the demon army outside the city all retreating to the Xia family old general and others.

Hearing this news, everyone was bewildered, never expecting that the demon tide that had made everyone in the city fearful and uneasy would retreat so easily, and leave so quietly.

Just because of the arrival of a youth.

One person entered the city, scaring away ten million demons outside the city!

Was this the youth's prestige? Previously, they had always heard various deeds of the youth from various news, and they only felt shocked and envious, even a bit jealous. But at this very moment, they truly felt how much deterrent power that youth had among the demons!

All the controversies and rumors were concretized at this moment.

The youth merely rode his horse into the pass, without a word to the demons, yet it surpassed their hoarse roars and desperate resistance!

This was the gap.

Several young Xia family generals all had complex expressions. They were the young generation of the Xia family, benchmarking against the young generation of the Li family, and that youth came from the Li family, but now, they had been completely defeated.

Tying the few of them together didn't even equal half of that youth, which made them feel sad.

Li Hao didn't stay in Liyang City for two days before receiving a reply from the Xia family. The Xia family head, Xia Linglong, personally wrote a letter inviting him to go to the Xia family Divine General Mansion for a gathering, to show gratitude.

Li Hao was somewhat surprised. He had wanted to leave after staying in Liyang City, as he should return to Liangzhou, but the Xia family head had personally and solemnly invited him. To decline this favor would be somewhat unreasonable.

Fortunately, the journey from Liyang City to Youzhou City was less than half a day, so it wasn't a delay.

What disappointed him was that the Xia family old general had collected some famous paintings and chess manuals for him, but none met the requirement of being true "masterpieces" and could not be collected.

This Liyang City was a border city, fighting wars all year round. The bows, arrows, and food stored here far exceeded the pens and ink of scholars; there was nothing he wanted.

"When we meet, maybe it wouldn't be bad to let this Xia family help look for them."

Li Hao thought in his heart, sat on horseback, and let the Xia family old general give him a customs clearance order.

The Xia family old general still wanted to personally accompany Li Hao, but Li Hao refused because the Candle Zhu Huoshen was unwilling to carry him.

With the customs clearance order, Li Hao had no need to hide, letting the Candle Zhu Huoshen fly at full speed.

Only to see the Candle Zhu Huoshen soar into the air, revealing its body like a fire lion with a dragon tail, and disappearing into Liyang City in the blink of an eye.

"Was that... a demon mount?"

The Xia family old general and Xia Qingshuang and others were all bewildered. They had dealt with demons all their lives, yet they hadn't recognized at all that Li Hao's horse was actually a demon transformed!

Moreover, the aura emitted by that demon made them feel fear; it was definitely not an ordinary great demon.

Youzhou City, Xia Family Divine General Mansion.

Li Hao came riding the Candle Zhu Huoshen. Only when approaching the city did he jump down, letting the Candle Zhu Huoshen transform into the appearance of a youth and follow him into the city.

The city was lively and prosperous. Li Hao didn't walk fast, letting Xiyan on his wrist watch along the way. Previously, in that small town, accompanying her to listen to a night of opera had made her happy for several days.

On the street, various lanterns, paper umbrellas, and rouge stalls were being sold.

Li Hao bought a bunch of candied haws and held it in his hand. From time to time, Xiyan would extend a cluster of small red whiskers to gently touch and steal a taste.

"So sweet~"

Xiyan secretly licked the candied haws, her small red whiskers very flexible, eating with great relish: "Although there's no nutrition, it's so delicious."

Li Hao smiled, "I haven't had a chance to cook for you yet. Wait until later, and I'll let you see my skills."

"Okay!"

Xiyan agreed fully.

Li Hao smiled slightly, took her to play around the street for a while, and then strolled to the Xia family Divine General Mansion.

Upon learning the news of Li Hao's visit, the Xia family was immediately alarmed, never expecting Li Hao to come so quickly.

Xia Linglong learned the news, immediately put down her teacup, personally ran out of the East Pavilion Courtyard, and came outside the mansion to welcome him.

When she saw the youth and the young man standing outside the mansion, Xia Linglong's gaze immediately fell on Li Hao. She had never seen the human appearance transformed by the Candle Zhu Huoshen. After all, the Candle Zhu Huoshen had avoided the world for too many years. Although it appeared in Liangzhou previously, its divine power was overwhelming, which was quite different from its aura-restrained appearance at this moment. Moreover, those who had seen it at that time could not describe its specific appearance to others.

"General Haotian, welcome to my Xia family mansion."

Xia Linglong said with a smile.

(End of chapter)