Chapter 334

Following Xia Linglong out were other Xia family elders, both direct and collateral. Standing by Xia Linglong's side, they were all full of curiosity, secretly sizing up this youth.

This youth who had stepped out of the Tianyuan Divine General Mansion in Qingzhou was now being personally welcomed by their family head in their Xia family's Zhenwei Divine General Mansion. Such an honor, even when that Eunuch Chu from the side of Emperor Yu came by imperial decree, had never received such treatment, only being invited into the mansion and welcomed out of the courtyard.

But at this moment, they didn't feel it was strange.

After all, this was an existence who became a Duke at fifteen and was appointed Commander-in-Chief!

"Greetings, Senior Xia Linglong."

Li Hao cupped his hands in greeting, which counted as having paid his respects.

Xia Linglong smiled beautifully, her luxurious clothing fully displaying her nobility. Possessing both the grace and majesty of a family head and the gentle warmth of a woman, she invited this youth into the mansion and treated him as an honored guest.

Along the way, except for the two Xia family elders, other famous generals and noble ladies of Xia Linglong's generation all followed behind, curiously sizing up this youth who was only fifteen and already walking side-by-side with the family head.

"His aura, we actually can't see through it."

The two Xia family elders also had solemn expressions. Rumors were not as good as meeting in person; meeting in person, they felt that the rumors about this youth were not exaggerated at all.

Arriving at the East Pavilion Courtyard, Xia Linglong invited Li Hao to the seat of honor, ordered people to pour tea and pay respects, and began to converse with Li Hao.

"I heard that General Haotian previously, for the sake of the billions of people in Liangzhou, did not hesitate to sacrifice himself to lure away that Candle Zhu Huoshen of the Tai Xu Realm, causing it to be trapped deep in the Youdu-level Mo River. I wonder when General Haotian returned?"

Xia Linglong asked curiously.

This youth's appearance was without any movement. When all provinces and His Majesty were looking forward to it, he appeared from Youzhou. She even suspected whether their Xia family's intelligence network was paralyzed, or if it hadn't been reorganized for too long, breeding too many corrupt moths.

Li Hao was somewhat surprised. Listening to the meaning of this Xia family head, it seemed she also didn't know that the Mo River had long been cleared.

In that case, Li Xiaoran didn't spread the news? Li Hao's eyes flickered; the Li family's move should have another intention.

"Recently."

Li Hao said, without going into detail.

Xia Linglong saw that Li Hao was unwilling to talk much about the Mo River, so she didn't pursue the question. After all, the Merit Treasury was now open, and this Mo River intelligence was extremely precious, not to mention it was a Youdu-level Mo River.

"Regarding the Liyang City matter, our Xia family thanks General Haotian on behalf of the Liyang people."

Xia Linglong's smile faded, and she said solemnly.

Favors are hard to repay, but she didn't let it pass vaguely.

This was Youzhou, and the Xia family ultimately had to accept this favor. Even if it were a fierce general sent by His Majesty, they would have to record three parts of the favor.

"Small matter, Senior need not mind."

Li Hao smiled lightly, really not taking this matter to heart; it was just a matter of convenience.

It had nothing to do with fame or favors. As a human, seeing demons slaughtering, he ultimately couldn't sit idly by.

Xia Linglong talked about the deeds in Liangzhou again, borrowing these to praise the youth, in order to ease the unfamiliar atmosphere between them.

It was just that, seeing Li Hao only respond lightly, without the slightest arrogance or pride in his expression, Xia Linglong couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised in her heart. Under such sky-high merits, it was very difficult for anyone to remain calm.

With the conversation, she gradually felt that this youth had a free and easy nature, was not bound by trifles, like a chivalrous knight of the rivers and lakes, possessing chivalrous spirit, and also elegant warmth.

She couldn't help but secretly compare him with the younger generation of the Xia family in her heart. But after comparing, setting aside cultivation, this easygoing and flexible nature of being calm in the face of change had already surpassed most of the younger generation.

She sighed secretly in her heart. Being the same ancient and solemn military family, why could that Li family cultivate such an uninhibited and intelligent child?

While their Xia family was all like following a script, being rule-abiding. This could certainly allow them to become famous generals step-by-step, but for this Divine General Mansion that was superficially brilliant and illustrious but actually already old and decrepit, it inevitably lacked a bit of vitality.

Besides having extremely high martial arts talent, Xia Linglong was also intelligent and familiar with human relations. When she wrote the letter to invite Li Hao earlier, she had already collected the intelligence she had gathered about this youth. During the conversation, she followed the other party's preferences and didn't directly open her mouth to invite Li Hao to take risks for their Xia family.

After all, opening her mouth to ask someone to help fight the Gluttony Valley Master was really a bit difficult for people.

As the banquet food was served, Xia Linglong accompanied Li Hao to discuss poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She had shallow involvement in these aspects, but after conversing with Li Hao, she discovered that this youth didn't just have a simple hobby, but had extremely deep attainments.

This made her greatly amazed. It was hard to imagine that a youth whose martial arts were so superb would still have the heart to study other things, truly being well-versed in both literature and martial arts as rumored.

Fortunately, she had prepared early and invited an old gentleman from the Hanlin Palace who had retired in Youzhou to come to the mansion, hoping that when Li Hao stayed in the Xia family mansion, he wouldn't feel bored.

Unexpectedly, when this old gentleman was invited during the banquet, the old gentleman learned of Li Hao's identity and was immediately excited, grabbing Li Hao's hand and reporting the poems Li Hao had casually recited in the brothel one after another.

Every time he reported a sentence, he would ask Li Hao, is this also written by you?

Li Hao felt a bit embarrassed inexplicably, having a feeling of being caught copying books. Facing a demon king hadn't made him feel this guilty...

"Fighting three thousand miles in one body, one sword once blocked a million masters!"

The old gentleman's thin bones were trembling, his eyes filled with hot tears, and he said: "Only the heroic spirit of the General could write such a poem!"

During the banquet, Xia Linglong and others were also shocked by the poems of Li Hao recited by the old gentleman. They only felt their blood surging, and the strong wine drunk into their throats was like a raging fire, igniting the blood in their bodies, making them wish they could immediately lift their swords and rush to the battlefield to fight the demons to the death!

Although they were martial generals and didn't study poetry much, they could hear the good and bad and the meaning. At this moment, they were all looking at the youth in shock.

The iron blood in that poem, the clanging heroic spirit of ten thousand feet, and the domineering spirit of looking down on the world, combined with the youth's battle achievements of defeating the Longmen Great Elder alone and fighting the master of the Tai Xu Realm, their eyes were radiating light, looking at the youth with love and complex eyes like hungry wolves, feeling a kind of hatred for why the other party didn't have the surname Xia.

Why didn't their Xia family sons give birth to such a heaven-defying talent!

Xia Linglong's eyes also changed from initial surprise to complexity. Two lines in the poem recited by the old gentleman were remembered by her, feeling like the state of mind she had when she galloped on the demon battlefield.

Sleeping in the wind and eating in the dew, swearing not to resign.

Drinking blood instead of rouge.

She was a woman, but on the battlefield, she used blood to apply rouge for herself.

What others embroidered were brocade handkerchiefs; what she embroidered was the Great Yu landscape.

First hearing the youth's name, she only thought the youth was a heaven's pride. Watching the youth's intent closely, she felt the youth was not of the mortal world.

During the banquet, Xia Linglong and many Xia family members were all amazed by Li Hao's erudition throughout. Halfway through the meal, Xia Linglong looked at the old gentleman from the Hanlin Palace talking happily with Li Hao. She sat on the side, but her eyes were slightly distracted.

She suddenly felt a bit of retreat, not knowing whether she should tell the youth about the eastern battlefield, or whether she should invite him to participate in the war.

If this youth were given a few more years, he would definitely be able to protect the entire Great Yu in the future. But now, she had to let the other party take risks, which made her feel a kind of sin in her heart.

The banquet ended, and Xia Linglong hadn't opened her mouth for a long time. Li Hao had heard about the situation in Youzhou in Liyang City, especially that the eastern part was in chaos and had sacrificed countless people.

He saw that this family head didn't mention this matter, felt surprised in his heart, and asked: "I heard that there is war in the east of Youzhou, and the situation is worrying. Do you need my help?"

Xia Linglong was tightened by Li Hao's question. Looking at the youth's sincere and bright eyes, she suddenly couldn't bear it, shook her head and smiled:

"Although there is war, my Xia family can pacify it."

"Family head."

Xia family elder Xia Yuanwu saw Xia Linglong avoiding this, and couldn't help but change color slightly.

Although he also extremely admired this youth, Youzhou was now in an extremely dangerous moment. This youth's strength rivaled the Supreme Art Realm and was definitely a great help! Other Xia family members saw Xia Linglong's meaning, and while their faces changed, they also felt complex.

The admiration and love for this youth made them all feel unbearable in their hearts, but thinking of the war situation in the east and the danger of Youzhou, they felt even more pain.

In this contradictory and complex emotion, their faces all became somewhat unnatural.

Li Hao noticed this and was somewhat puzzled. He said to Xia Linglong: "Senior Xia, just say whatever you have. Whether it can be done, we'll talk about it later."

At this moment, he also saw that this Xia family inviting him over was not just for the Liyang City matter.

Xia Linglong heard Li Hao's words, her face changed slightly. She stared at this youth. At this moment, that old gentleman from the Hanlin Palace also noticed that the atmosphere at the dinner table was wrong and immediately stopped talking, just watching them quietly.

Xia Yuanwu and others looked at Xia Linglong, anxious in their hearts, wanting to speak, but hindered by family rules and Xia Linglong's majesty, they didn't dare to offend or overstep.

Xia Linglong looked at Li Hao's eyes for a long time. She was silent for a moment, sighed lightly in her heart, considered the matter of the Youzhou people, and finally said what she had originally intended to say.

"Gluttony Valley Master?"

Li Hao heard Xia Linglong's words, his eyes moved slightly.

This was also a great demon king. When the Candle Zhu Huoshen didn't expose the power of the half-step Dao Realm, the other party was equal to the Candle Zhu Huoshen's status.

But compared to the Tai Xu Realm, the Gluttony Valley's foundation was still thinner. It rose five hundred years ago, and with its bloodthirsty and cruel style, it grew wildly, rising to a top-tier demon force in just five hundred years, making people hear its name and tremble.

Many border cities heard the Gluttony Valley's prestige and didn't even dare to guard the city, fleeing overnight.

Being attacked by other demon forces, there was still a way to live, and there was a possibility of waiting for reinforcements to arrive. But the Gluttony Valley demons were all extremely bloodthirsty and cruel, and could gnaw a city clean overnight, not even letting go of mice.

Li Hao had long ago turned over stories about these top-tier demon forces in the Listening Rain Tower.

"Is it only the Gluttony Valley?" Li Hao asked.

Xia Linglong's eyes were solemn, she looked at Li Hao and said: "That's right, the Shenggong and that Longmen are besieging Qingzhou. Currently, only the traces of the Gluttony Valley are seen in Youzhou. There might be other forces behind it, but it's only a possibility." "Besieging Qingzhou?"

Li Hao heard Qingzhou, and couldn't help but jump his eyelids.

Liangzhou had just been pacified, and this Youzhou already had war. How could Qingzhou be besieged? "What is the situation in Qingzhou?" Li Hao asked hurriedly. In his mind, many faces appeared: that gluttonous woman, those two old gentlemen, the First Madam, Yuanzhao, and those students of the Tan Palace Academy...

And those snack shops on the street.

His heart tightened.

Hearing Li Hao's urgent words, Xia Linglong and others were surprised, immediately understanding that it turned out this youth really didn't know about the Qingzhou matter.

Maybe he just came out of the Mo River and didn't understand the situation outside... Xia Linglong immediately judged in her heart. Seeing Li Hao's urgent appearance, she felt lost and regretful in her heart, knowing that there was basically no hope for Li Hao to help Youzhou, but she still stated what she knew in detail:

"I heard that most of Qingzhou has fallen. The leaders of the Shenggong and Longmen have both made moves and have already fought outside Qingzhou City. Currently, they should still be fighting. It's just that after this Gluttony Valley attacked Youzhou, we have less understanding of the situation on the Qingzhou side."

She said this, seeing the urgency in the youth's eyes, and said in a low voice:

"If you want to reinforce Qingzhou now, it's still in time. My Xia family can lend you our battle flag to boost the momentum for Qingzhou."

Lending the battle flag meant that Li Hao could go to Qingzhou and send troops to raise the Xia family battle flag, disguising them as Xia family troops coming to reinforce.

Although the Xia family's battle flag was not as useful as Li Hao's battle flag, its deterrent power to demons was still extremely strong. After all, this meant the Xia family had entered Qingzhou, which was a force. This made the Shenggong and Longmen attacking Qingzhou have to weigh it, at least being able to briefly win a little time.

Li Hao heard the other party's words, knowing that this was the Xia family entrusting a piece of their glory to him. For a Divine General Mansion, this was a great return of favor.

He had no heart to eat now, stood up and said: "I thank the Xia family for the people of Qingzhou. There is no time to lose, let's set off."

Li Hao remembered the map of the nineteen provinces. If he remembered correctly, the eastern border of Youzhou was also the route to Qingzhou, just slightly deviating from the direction.

"Then I wish General Haotian a triumphant return..."

Xia Linglong and many Xia family members also stood up from the banquet, their faces complex. This youth came from Qingzhou, and now reinforcing his hometown at the first opportunity was also human nature. They had no reason to keep him.

"Hmm? What are you still stunned for? Lead the way, let's go to the eastern border and solve that Gluttony Valley along the way."

Li Hao was about to set off, seeing Xia Linglong and others still standing there, just sending him off with cupped hands, and couldn't help but call out.

"What?"

Li Hao's words made the Xia family crowd stunned. Xia Linglong reacted, bewildered: "You, you want to help us attack the Gluttony Valley first?"

"Matter of convenience, let's set off quickly."

Li Hao said.

Hearing Li Hao's big tone, the Xia family elder Xia Yuanwu couldn't help but speak: "General Haotian, that Gluttony Valley Master is at the peak of the Supreme Art Realm. Although he hasn't mastered the Dao Realm, he is also very difficult to deal with. If you are really willing to make a move, we can lure him to the Ming River area of Youzhou..."

"It's not that troublesome. I'll just slaughter him for you."

Li Hao interrupted his words, thinking of all their worries and doubts, and didn't waste time, saying straightforwardly: "I can also solve the Peaceful Dao Realm. You don't need to worry."

"!!"

The Xia family crowd was stunned, looking at Li Hao in shock, suspecting that the youth had misspoken.

Li Hao didn't have time to waste. In the time it took to explain to them, he could probably have killed that Gluttony Valley Master dozens of times.

He looked at Xia Linglong and said: "Senior Xia Linglong, lead the way?"

Xia Linglong was stunned, looking at Li Hao's casual gaze, and suddenly realized that this youth had left the Mo River and hadn't died after being hunted by that Candle Zhu Huoshen, so he must have made another breakthrough.

Could it be that he was already able to rival the Peaceful Dao Realm?

This thought was too terrifying, but this youth had created too many miracles. She only felt her heart trembling. Although she didn't dare to believe it, since Li Hao said so himself, she could only choose to believe.

"Good, I will lead the way for you!"

Xia Linglong was extremely decisive, raised her hand to summon, and a divine spear flew over from afar, landing in her hand.

"I will go too."

Xia Yuanwu said quickly, also calling his weapon.

Whether what Li Hao said was true or false, Li Hao was willing to make a move, and he could also help at this opportunity.

"You all follow at full speed. I might be a bit fast."

Li Hao gave the Candle Zhu Huoshen a look. The Candle Zhu Huoshen nodded slightly, its body suddenly turned, and the raging flames swept past, changing from the appearance of a youth to the ferocious beast appearance of a fire lion with a dragon tail. Its hooves were like a Qilin, and also like a lion, strong and majestic.

It soared into the air, emitting flames and scorching aura, heat waves sweeping through the entire Zhenwei Divine General Mansion.

Li Hao flipped up and sat on its back, then let Xia Linglong point out the direction.

Xia Linglong and others looked at the youth sitting on the back of the demon, like a god in the fire, all shocked and horrified.

That youth was actually a demon, yet they hadn't noticed it at all! Such means could only explain that this demon was extremely terrifying, exceeding their imagination.

Xia Linglong held the divine spear and flew into the sky, feeling the aura emitted by the demon Li Hao was sitting on, only feeling bursts of terrifying pressure, making her heart palpitate, having an incredible feeling that this demon's strength was stronger than hers! "Go!"

Li Hao shouted.

His voice brought Xia Linglong and others back to their senses. If they had some doubts and concerns earlier, they were now full of confidence. Xia Linglong quickly pointed to the position and said: "Over there!"

Whoosh! Flames swept, the Candle Zhu Huoshen ran with four hooves, quickly stepping on the firelight, rushing extremely fast.

So fast!

Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu saw this and were both surprised, hurriedly chasing.

Except for the two of them, another Xia family elder was also full of shock, but stopped in mid-air, staying behind to guard the Xia family Divine General Mansion.

"My god, did I see that right!"

"Was that a mount of the Four Standing Realms?"

"He said he would slaughter the Gluttony Valley Master along the way. Did I hear wrong?"

"I don't know, but I heard he defeated the Longmen Great Elder earlier. Now... maybe he's even stronger?"

After Li Hao and Xia Linglong left, the Xia family crowd in the courtyard was shocked, exclaiming in confusion.

That youth was elegant and gentle, looking approachable, but at this moment, showing a bit of his edge, he gave people a feeling of being invincible.

That figure sitting on the back of the demon, surrounded by divine fire and flames, also ignited hope in their eyes. Perhaps, that youth could really solve the Youzhou disaster?...

Li Hao sat on the Candle Zhu Huoshen, galloping like lightning all the way.

Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu used the Xia family's top-tier movement techniques, flying at full speed, but only barely caught up. Both were surprised, unable to see the background of the demon Li Hao was sitting on.

The Xia family elder who went to reinforce Liangzhou earlier was not Xia Yuanwu, so he hadn't recognized the Candle Zhu Huoshen's identity.

And the Candle Zhu Huoshen appeared very rarely, leading to no one recognizing its appearance.

About half an hour later, under Xia Linglong's guidance, they arrived at the eastern battlefield of Youzhou, at the second defense line.

This full-speed journey was only something the Candle Zhu Huoshen could support, while Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu were almost forced to use their imperishable power, and their physical strength was almost exhausted at this moment.

After all, this whole journey was running at near full speed, which even the Four Standing Realms couldn't bear.

Fortunately, the retained imperishable power allowed them to still have combat power after arriving at the battlefield.

From far away, Li Hao heard the sky-piercing roars coming from the battlefield.

His face looked slightly gloomy. This feeling was like when he chased that old dragon to the defense line battlefield in Liangzhou.

Raising his head to look, he saw a towering defense line on the plain ahead, countless demons like a torrent, attacking, and the magic array on that defense line had already been destroyed. Humans and demons were mixed together in a chaotic battle.

Li Hao looked around, sensing several powerful auras entrenched behind the demon tide.

But these auras were not strong enough, at most the Inverse Fate Realm.

"Gluttony Valley Master, get out here!"

Li Hao said lightly.

The youth's sharp voice, like thunder surging in the sky, rolled out rapidly, instantly accompanied by whistling strong winds, spreading across the entire vast battlefield, just like thunder shaking the ears of thousands of demons on the battlefield.

(End of chapter)