Chapter 372: To Mount Mount Wuliang

The more Li Hao thought about it, the more likely it seemed—given Old Feng's nature, even if he were to leave, he would never depart without saying goodbye, unless some sudden emergency had occurred.

"Your Highness, do you know who that person from the Tai Ping Dao Realm was in that battle?"

Li Hao asked immediately.

"It was probably Mo Luo," Jiang Jiang Lichen said. "I didn't examine closely, but the overwhelming demonic aura released at the time was unmistakable—so your friend is most likely already gone."

"Mo Luo?"

Li Hao froze.

"You don't know?" Jiang Jiang Lichen glanced at him, then realized the boy before him was only in his teens; how much time could he possibly have spent learning about top-tier cultivators beyond practicing cultivation and swordplay?

"Eight hundred years ago, Mo Luo emerged suddenly, causing chaos everywhere. The Buddhist sect sent elite cultivators to suppress him, but they were all slaughtered—he broke through their ranks and vanished for over two hundred years. When he reappeared, he was already in the Tai Ping Dao Realm, spreading chaos once more…"

Jiang Jiang Lichen continued: "Five hundred years ago, the Buddha himself intervened, but Mo Luo sensed it in advance and escaped. That battle shook heaven and earth. Though they failed to kill Mo Luo, the entire world witnessed the Buddha's terrifying power. I wonder if your Divine General's Mansion has any records—during that battle, the Buddha revealed a Dao Domain of the fifth tier!"

Jiang Jiang Lichen glanced at Li Hao: "Slightly weaker than you now, but five hundred years have passed. The Buddha was once a prodigy of his age—over such a long time, he has only grown more terrifying, even among the top tier of the Tai Ping Dao Realm."

"Three hundred years ago, a Bodhisattva was publicly slain by Mo Luo. The Buddha issued a decree across all Buddhist sects: eternal pursuit of Mo Luo."

"Since then, Mo Luo has rarely appeared. Rumors of him surface occasionally across the land, but their truth is hard to verify—many are merely demons or corrupted humans using Mo Luo's name to frighten others."

"If you want to find Mo Luo, you can't do it alone. My Great Yu Divine Dynasty has been hunting him for years and still haven't caught a trace. In truth, for a being of the Tai Ping Dao Realm, a manhunt holds no real meaning."

"If you truly want to find Mo Luo, you might ask at Mount Mount Wuliang—they've fought him before. I've heard they've been secretly investigating these past years, though I doubt it'll help much."

Jiang Jiang Lichen finished speaking. Li Hao's face darkened. Mo Luo? Old Feng had no connection to him—why would Mo Luo attack him? Was it merely a chance encounter, triggering a killing instinct? At that moment, soldiers rushed into the courtyard, bowed to Li Hao, and reported:

"General General Hao Tian, we have news on the person you're wanted!"

"What?"

Still caught in Jiang Jiang Lichen's words, Li Hao froze at the soldier's announcement, then sharply turned toward him:

"Where?!"

"At Mount Mount Wuliang."

The soldier flinched and hurriedly added: "Mount Mount Wuliang just announced they've captured the long-time thief, Master Feng Bo Ping, and will execute him at noon tomorrow atop the Lingshan summit!"

Li Hao's pupils contracted. A faint ringing filled his skull, then his entire body seemed to ignite with burning blood.

Execute Old Feng? Wait—Mo Luo, Mount Mount Wuliang? Li Hao turned to Jiang Jiang Lichen. "Your Highness, are you certain you didn't misidentify him earlier?"

Jiang Jiang Lichen was equally stunned—he now knew Master Feng Bo Ping was the man Li Hao sought.

"Strange… Could Mo Luo have delivered him to Mount Mount Wuliang? But they're mortal enemies…"

Jiang Jiang Lichen muttered to himself, then suddenly paled as a thought struck him: "So that's why he said that…"

"What?"

Li Hao asked, a wild thought forming in his mind.

Yet thinking of Candlefire God and Yin Lady, it didn't seem so impossible.

Jiang Jiang Lichen looked at Li Hao, silent—but their eyes met, and both understood the other's thought.

Li Hao's expression turned grim. Suddenly, memories surfaced: years ago, by the lakeside, while fishing, Old Feng had casually spoken of something.

He had stolen a sacred artifact from Mount Mount Wuliang during the Buddha's meditation retreat and used it to suppress the Mo River.

It was a holy relic, said to carry the aura of a Saint, capable of halting the expansion of a deadly Mo River.

This act had been discovered by the Buddhist sect afterward, sparking furious outrage and a nationwide manhunt for Master Feng Bo Ping.

But Master Feng Bo Ping's movements were elusive—he had never been caught by the Buddhists in all these years.

Now, he had finally been captured.

Li Hao felt a pang of sorrow. Old Feng had no fixed home, wandering endlessly—that was why no one could ever catch him.

But now, from Qingzhou to Liangzhou, then through Tianmen Pass—each time he intervened, his trail grew clearer, exposing him to the Buddhists, who finally tracked him down and seized him.

Once a rootless leaf, now he had roots—and thus revealed his weakness. Once, the boy had been the weakness of that couple from Yanbei, assassinated by demons; he grew into the hardest stone.

Now, he himself had become Old Feng's weakness, binding him here.

Li Hao lightly pressed his chest, feeling a faint tearing sensation. Old Feng must have known he was exposed, knew he was in danger—yet he still secretly guarded Cangya City, fulfilling the promise between them.

This bond surpassed all words.

"Let's go—to Mount Mount Wuliang!"

Li Hao gritted his teeth at Candlefire God.

Jiang Jiang Lichen stared at him. "You're going to rescue him? If I recall correctly, you're a Duke now. With your age, two more great deeds could make you a First-Class Duke—or even elevate you to Divine Noble. You'll enjoy worship for millennia, and someday stand a chance at the Saint Realm. Are you certain you'd risk it all for a thief?"

"Glory and fame mean nothing compared to sharing wine with a true friend."

Li Hao's eyes turned icy as he looked at Candlefire God in his true form and mounted him. "Let millions despise me—it takes only two or three true companions to make life worth living."

Seeing Ren Ren Qianqian hurrying forward, anxious, Li Hao softened his gaze slightly and whispered: "Wait here for me. Cultivate well."

Jiang Jiang Lichen, hearing Li Hao's words, paused. He had assumed this boy, like others, chased fame and fortune, yearning for eternal renown—but now he realized he was wrong.

His imperial brothers and younger generations, all scheming and fighting—weren't they all chasing the same "name"? "True companions—only two or three suffice. What a perfect phrase…"

Jiang Jiang Lichen murmured, then burst into laughter. "Boy, I accept you. Old man will go with you. The Buddha isn't an easy foe—if needed, I'll draw my sword alongside you!"

"Your Highness, you're imperial royalty—don't involve yourself. This is my personal matter."

Li Hao gestured for Candlefire God to depart.

Candlefire God immediately galloped upward, soaring swiftly into the sky.

Jiang Jiang Lichen laughed loudly: "Where I go is my own business. What does royalty or nobility mean to me? I am Jiang Jiang Lichen—the God of Swords!"

As he spoke, he too rose into the air, tracing mystical steps, following Li Hao's shadow.

In an instant, the two raced out of Tianmen Pass, one ahead, one behind.

Li Hao glanced back at Jiang Jiang Lichen, who had truly followed. This prince was unlike any other—somewhat mad.

"The Buddhist sect is patronized by the imperial family. Going like this will surely cause repercussions," Li Hao frowned.

Jiang Jiang Lichen accelerated violently, catching up to Candlefire God without falling far behind. He laughed: "What repercussions? Will the Buddha go complain to my shrewd older brother? Let him come—let him suffer. Causing him trouble is my favorite pastime!"

Li Hao's eyes narrowed slightly—he realized Jiang Jiang Lichen meant the Hearing Hearing Yu Huang.

Clearly, these two brothers were not on good terms.

Yet the Hearing Hearing Yu Huang had sent Jiang Jiang Lichen to meet him…

"Earlier you said you owed your freedom to me. The Emperor sent you to escort me in exchange for releasing you—were you imprisoned before?" Li Hao glanced at the shackles on Jiang Jiang Lichen's wrists.

Jiang Jiang Lichen laughed: "Correct. He promised me that once you're safely escorted, I may strike him with one sword. After this is done, I'll return to the capital and collect that sword strike from him!"

Li Hao froze. He recalled the kind old man playing chess beneath the willow tree—and suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. The Emperor's investment in him seemed… too great.

He took a deep breath, pushed the thoughts aside, and urged Candlefire God to increase speed.

Meanwhile, the news of Mount Mount Wuliang's public execution of the Saint Thief Master Feng Bo Ping spread across all major factions.

Many factions that had been robbed by Master Feng Bo Ping rejoiced at his capture.

Those nearby rushed to Mount Mount Wuliang, hoping to extract the locations of his stolen treasures before the execution.

The news also reached the Divine General's Mansion in Qingzhou.

When Li Mu heard it, he froze, then turned deathly pale.

When Li Mu heard the news, he froze, then his face turned ashen.

(End of chapter)