The Name of Eternals

Chapter 159: Impending Storm

Upon hearing the war report, Li Tiangang's furrowed brows did not change, only a slight nod indicating his acknowledgment. His gaze turned towards the vast land outside, which was blackened from the battle.

"These demons keep probing, testing our forces in the east," he remarked. "My fifth brother guards the west, and the demons have already scouted that out. They might attack from the north or the south…"

As he mentioned the south, his eyes narrowed slightly. South of Liangzhou lay Tianmen Pass, and thinking of that pass, he thought of the unyielding figure of a young man with steely eyes. The wrinkles on his forehead deepened.

"Marshal, young master killed a lesser demon king in Da Yue City earlier. That old demon king from Wan Mountain surely won't let this slide," Li Fu said, his tone filled with concern. He looked at the wounded soldiers around him and thought of the young man at Tianmen Pass, knowing full well the harshness of the border winds and snow.

Li Tiangang's expression remained unchanged. "That lesser demon king was extraordinarily gifted. The old demon king of Wan Mountain won't let this rest easily. He might join forces with other demons to attack."

"Then…" Li Fu glanced at him.

"Li Hao has a Four Tribulations expert secretly protecting him, an old friend of Second Uncle's, and a qilin from Tan Palace Academy. He should be safe," Li Tiangang said calmly. "I led the army to Liangzhou, leaving the household matters to my eldest sister-in-law. With no one to watch over Second Uncle, he will probably head to Tianmen Pass."

"With them there, even if the old demon king of Wan Mountain gathers other demon kings to attack, they should be able to protect themselves. It's a good opportunity to clear out the demons around Tianmen Pass and let the Demon Suppression Division deal with them, sparing Tianmen Pass from abandonment."

The previous plan to abandon Tianmen Pass was a last resort. If it could be held, that would be the best outcome, considering it was established by the former emperor and Li family ancestors, soaked with the blood of countless predecessors.

Li Fu was momentarily stunned. If this was the plan, wasn't Li Hao being used as bait to lure the demons? "But the battles of Four Tribulations experts are extremely dangerous for young master, isn't it?"

"If he doesn't want to be involved, he can just retreat quietly. The Divine General's Mansion is always open for him to return," Li Tiangang said coldly. "We gave him a chance to make amends, but he's too proud to admit his mistakes, not even a reply to our letter!"

"In that case, let the demon kings deal with him. Let him see the cruelty and despair of the real world, and realize how foolish his arrogance is!"

"But young master is still young, with the spirit of youth. Isn't this…"

"No more," Li Tiangang interrupted, waving his hand. "This is the eastern front. Liangzhou is on the brink of danger. Recent intelligence detected the presence of Dragon Gate and even traces of the Yanbei's Holy Palace. This could be a tough battle, not inferior to the one in Yanbei. Focus on the task at hand!"

Li Fu opened his mouth slightly, then sighed and kept quiet. Just then, a swift flying bird darted down from the clouds like an arrow. Li Tiangang raised his hand, and the bird stopped abruptly, landing on his forearm.

"It's Lady's cloud sparrow," Li Fu recognized the small bird demon, a specially bred messenger from the Divine General's Mansion.

Li Tiangang took the letter from the bird's beak, scanned it, and his expression changed slightly.

"Marshal, has something happened in Qingzhou?" Li Fu asked, worried.

Li Tiangang's face darkened as he clenched the letter into ashes. "The second kindness…"

His fingers tightened into a fist. He recalled hearing about Li Hao's inability to cultivate back in Yanbei and how he had single-handedly slain a Three Immortals demon to bring its blood back. Now, that boy had returned nine cauldrons of demon king's blood, repaying the kindness of the past.

Was this truly a settlement?

Li Tiangang felt a mix of sorrow and anger. He could almost see the icy eyes of the boy returning the demon king's blood. The letter also mentioned that four demon kings had attacked Tianmen Pass, and only with the help of the Tianji Tower and Second Uncle had they been repelled. Four demon kings—such a situation, even without being there, he could imagine the danger.

For the support from Tianji Tower and Second Uncle, he felt a mix of expected relief and complex emotions. He suddenly realized that the boy's fame meant that, even without the Li family's influence, many would still value him. Pure force would not bring him back easily; too many would stand in the way, all aiding his stubbornness and spirit.

"Is he really planning to hold Tianmen Pass for three years and then cut ties?" Li Tiangang mused, his eyes cold. He decided that after settling Liangzhou's situation, or once the eastern front was stabilized, he would personally go to Tianmen Pass and drag the boy back. The so-called agreement didn't matter; he could tear it apart if needed.

He wouldn't allow Li Hao to leave the Li family so easily.

Outside the black stone wall of the long city, in a swamp stretching for hundreds of miles, a giant dragon-like creature emerged from the muddy waters. Covered in muck, its green eyes glowed with venom. A few cloaked figures hovered above, their inner garments luxuriously dark gold.

"We've detected Li Tiangang at the eastern front."

"The west is guarded by Li family's fifth member, the east by Li Tiangang. In Cangzhou, Li family's eighth member has surfaced."

"The two elders of the Li family still guard Qingzhou."

A cloaked figure laughed sinisterly, occasionally flicking a forked tongue to lick his cheeks and nose. Another figure frowned in disgust, "Can you stop that disgusting habit? We're here to transcend, shedding our snake form, and your behavior is revolting."

The first figure sneered, "That's your goal, not mine. I aim to become a great serpent!"

The others scoffed, irritated.

"We're not here to bicker. Speak your piece; I want to get back to sleep," the dragon in the swamp yawned lazily.

"The elders instructed you to gather minions occasionally to harass the eastern front, keeping Li Tiangang busy until the Holy Palace takes over."

"They've sworn to peel Li Tiangang alive. This time, there's no Knife Saint or Desert Sword Saint to aid him. Let's see how he withstands this!"

"Liangzhou's desolate land lacks heroes. Any who existed are long gone."

"I'd like to challenge Li Tiangang myself if we stood a chance."

"That kid's terrifying, having slain over a dozen Three Immortals demons in Yanbei!"

"Thankfully, Li family's ninth member died in Cangzhou; another strong enemy for our kind gone."

"Enough chatter. We need to scout the north."

"The north, bordering Youzhou, is guarded by the Xia family. Attacking from there is tricky."

"Breaking through from the south was ideal, but Li Tiangang's son is there with a Four Tribulations guard. We had to change plans."

The cloaked figures waved to the dragon, then flew northward.

"The Xia family's relationship with the Li family is strained. Let's test if they'll cross borders to help."

At Tianmen Pass, Cangya City was nearing completion with the help of many martial artists. The old Star Master and his students from the Astronomical Division were busy constructing arrays. Xia Xianglan, usually playful, was now quietly assisting her master, diligently observing and learning. Occasionally, she glanced towards a courtyard in the city, catching glimpses of the bamboo-fenced yard's outline.

Li Hao had written a modified spirit-refining method for Ren Qianqian, comparable to the royal family's. His method was superior due to multiple techniques he had combined. While Ren Qianqian cultivated, Li Hao, carrying his Longxiao Sword, left the pass, leaving the small white fox on a mat.

The three demon kings had fled, but he wondered if their lairs might hold some useful targets for practice. Li Hao needed a powerful demon king to hone his skills.