Chapter 67: Come With Me to Slay Demons

When Li Hao hurriedly returned over Cangyu City, he saw a vast expanse of demonic clouds rolling in from the north.

But instead of heading north first, he went straight to the governor’s mansion to assess the situation.

Yet when he scanned with his spiritual sense, he witnessed this scene inside the mansion.

“Demon Suppression Office?!”

At the same time, Yue Shuhong and the broad-faced giant both noticed Li Hao’s Xuan robe and froze.

Though it was the Demon Suppression Office, he was merely the most ordinary Demon Suppression Envoy.

Yet from Li Hao’s entrance alone, he could not possibly be just an ordinary envoy.

“You are…”

Yue Shuhong frowned—he had no recollection of any young prodigy in the city’s Demon Suppression Office.

But Li Hao ignored the city guard and turned to fix his gaze on the broad-faced giant: “You’re Hu Pao? Are you the Hu Pao Immortal?”

The broad-faced giant smirked, revealing a ferocious grin: “That’s right—your Tiger Uncle, boy. You know my name? Looks like I’ve got a bit of a reputation beyond Cangyu City.”

Li Hao’s fingers tightened on the hilt of his blade, causing the hilt to slowly warp.

He took a deep breath and said: “Seven years ago, you ambushed a Captain on the Qizhou highway. Do you remember?”

“Hm?”

The broad-faced giant raised an eyebrow, his eyes instantly glacial: “You mean that man from Yanbei Army? What’s your connection to the Li family?!”

Seeing the man admit it, Li Hao’s killing intent could no longer be restrained: “I’m Li!”

Hu Pao Immortal’s pupils shrank slightly; his aura surged violently. He looked past Li Hao, coldly at Yue Shuhong:

“Brother Yue, it seems this boy just overheard our conversation. What should we do now?”

“Your collusion with the demon clans has been exposed. Even if you escape me today, you’ll still be ruined. You know the penalty under Great Yu’s law for allying with demons, don’t you?”

His gaze turned vicious: “Why not kill this boy? I’ll forgive your momentary madness.”

Yue Shuhong’s expression grew grim as he stared at Li Hao’s back.

But after a moment, he shook his head with a cold laugh: “Hu Pao, if I follow you now, I’m truly insane. Today, it’s either you dead or me dead—we swore when we first allied that we’d die in the same year, same month!”

“Pah, fool!”

Hu Pao Immortal spat a foul, stinking saliva and snarled: “You short-lived humans think you’re worthy to die alongside me?”

As he spoke, he lunged at Li Hao first. Behind him, the tiger spirit roared—a thunderous bellow that could instantly stun even a Soul-Linking cultivator.

Yet this thunderous roar merely ruffled the black hair on Li Hao’s forehead.

His eyes were dark and deep, like lightless voids.

Only when Hu Pao Immortal’s massive body rushed close did Li Hao suddenly raise his hand.

With a thud, he spread his five fingers and pressed them onto Hu Pao Immortal’s forehead, then slammed down hard, cracking the solid stone slab beneath.

The clash happened in an instant—like lightning and fire. Yue Shuhong, still halfway through drawing his sword, froze mid-step, his foot suspended in air.

The jagged, blade-edge-chipped Demon-Slaying Blade spun in Li Hao’s grip and drove deep into the side of Hu Pao Immortal’s neck.

Hu Pao Immortal stared in shock, disbelief rising—he couldn’t fathom such power, such skill! But what met his gaze was a pair of eyes colder than ice.

“I won’t let you die so easily.”

Li Hao’s voice was a whisper.

As he spoke, he proved his words with action.

The blade sliced along Hu Pao Immortal’s neck, tearing away his shoulder, his back fur, and all the hide in one motion.

Cooking method: skin and stew!

The most common technique for skinning prey—perfected to near-Dao-level mastery. The sudden stripping of flesh sent Hu Pao Immortal roaring in agonized fury.

From its throat came a tiger’s roar; its skin split open, black-and-yellow fur erupting wildly, revealing its true form.

As its true form emerged, the basement felt cramped.

The massive tiger spirit behind it lunged at Li Hao—but behind Li Hao, his own spirit appeared.

Its body matched Li Hao’s in size; with a single casual palm strike, it shattered the tiger spirit’s skull. The furious palm wind hurled the tiger spirit backward. When its head reformed, the spirit was far thinner—its eyes filled with terror.

Unmatched!

“How you killed Uncle Lin seven years ago—I’ll make you repay it slowly,” Li Hao said, each word deliberate.

His broken blade, still sharp under spiritual cover, pierced Hu Pao Immortal’s neck. Li Hao’s foot pressed down on the demon’s forehead, pinning it like a steel nail—unable to lift its head.

It twisted and thrashed wildly, desperate to escape beneath Li Hao’s foot.

At that moment, golden light flickered in Li Hao’s eyes—he activated the chess-pattern power embedded in his Body Dao: Tiger Press. *Tiger Press*: Slight boost to physical strength, with intimidation effect. When embedded in sword art, enhances power and presence.

Now unleashed, Li Hao radiated the majesty of a thousand-year-old great tiger—the king of the forest. Cold light shot from his eyes, forcing all beasts to kneel.

Beneath Li Hao’s foot, Hu Pao Immortal trembled violently, eyes glazed in shock.

It felt crushed beneath a true Tiger King—no will to resist remained.

Its whole body shook like a sieve; the agony left it utterly devoid of ferocity.

“Spare me! Spare me! I was wrong! I’ll do anything! I’ll even be your servant—” Hu Pao Immortal wailed in trembling terror.

Li Hao said nothing. His blade sliced swiftly, peeling off the entire tiger hide from head to tail.

Hu Pao Immortal screamed in unbearable pain but lay trembling on the ground, too terrified to flee.

Beside them, Yue Shuhong stared, stunned. Was this truly the same Hu Pao Immortal who had always sneered at him for over twenty years?

Skin off. Bones out. Tendons cut!

Blood poured like a river from Hu Pao Immortal’s massive body. It bled profusely, begging endlessly—but Li Hao remained unmoved.

This bloody, brutal scene struck deep into Yue Shuhong’s mind. He felt icy cold, trembling with dread.

After nearly half an hour of torment, Li Hao severed Hu Pao Immortal’s head, now a bloody, barely breathing ruin.

He plunged the broken blade into Hu Pao Immortal’s back, then lifted the skull—its eyes wide with terror and emptiness—and said coldly: “Seven years ago, did you participate in this tiger demon’s ambush on my Li family?”

Yue Shuhong shuddered. Though the boy didn’t turn, he felt the chilling aura covering his entire body.

Now he knew death was inevitable. He laughed bitterly: “I deserve death—but I’d never frame the loyal.”

Li Hao said coldly: “Then did you collude with demons, secretly delivering humans to them as food?”

Yue Shuhong’s face twitched. He nodded: “Yes. All of it. Delivering humans to demons, harming my own kind—it was all me.”

He spoke with bitter self-mockery: “At first, I only gave them condemned prisoners—waste to be used. But when prisoners ran out, they pressured me. I had to send them bandits… even civilians.”

“Why?”

Li Hao turned, staring at him.

“Why ally with demons?”

Yue Shuhong smiled bitterly, eyes filled with sorrow: “When I first arrived, I wanted to cleanse the demons, purify the land. But I soon learned human strength has limits. These demons can’t be eradicated—they breed too fast, multiply too wildly. Great Yu is no longer the invincible dynasty of centuries past. These years, it’s been declining…”

“I petitioned for reinforcements, for troops—but every request vanished into silence.”

“Who will save Cangyu City?”

He laughed bitterly, looking at Li Hao: “If I don’t offer them human sacrifices, more will die. I, Yue Shuhong, am powerless—only by bearing the city’s sins can I protect these people!”

“I know I deserve death today. I ask for nothing. But I hope… I may be buried in Cangyu City. That alone would be enough. I beg you, Young Master… grant me this!”

As he spoke, he lifted his official robe and knelt on both knees.

He removed his black official cap and placed it aside.

His disheveled hair brushed his cheeks, streaked with tears.

Li Hao stood beneath the warm glow of the oil lamp, gazing down at the middle-aged man’s face, untouched by light—seeing the hot tears streaming down it.

He fell silent for a moment, then looked away, speaking coldly: “You do deserve death. But your crimes are for the imperial court to judge—not me.”

“Now that great demons press upon us, if you still have strength… come with me to slay demons!”

With that, he placed the massive tiger skull on the table beside him and turned to leave.

(End of Chapter)