Fourth Master of the Li Family

Achoo!

In Liang Prefecture, at the Azure Cliff City camp inside Heaven's Gate Pass.

Inside the Firewood with its snow-covered roof, Feng Boping, who was adding new firewood, suddenly sneezed, nearly extinguishing the Firewood in the stove.

He rubbed the tip of his nose, wondering to himself, "Why does my nose suddenly itch? Could someone be talking about me?"

Li Hao kneaded the dough beside him, and once it was ready, he tossed it onto another warm stone to ferment.

He then beckoned to the Dragon Sky Sword, and used it to cut the flesh and blood of the Demon he had picked out, quickly chopping them into minced meat.

"Such a fine sword, and you're using it as a kitchen knife?"

Feng Boping shook his head at the sight.

"Make the most of everything."

Li Hao smiled and, after preparing all the ingredients, began to cook.

After returning from Great Yue City, they resumed their peaceful life within Heaven's Gate Pass.

As for the Demon Outside the Pass and the whispers of the wind inside, they were all cut off by the swirling snow. Only daily hunting Angling, and three meals a day, remained.

It was almost lunchtime, so Li Hao asked the Little White Fox to call Song Qiumo and Li Hongzhuang over to prepare for lunch.

"It smells so good!"

Li Hao 'Li Hao culinary skills impressed them all. Besides their own worries, they looked forward to his delicious meals every day.

While eating, drinking, and chatting, Li Hao asked Song Qiumo for help to go to a nearby city in the afternoon to purchase a batch of supplies for the residents.

Now, in addition to their Hedge-Enclosed Courtyard, Li Hao has also built some other residential Dwelling around the camp.

Having the ability to Object Manipulation within the Fifteen Li Realm, participating in construction became extremely convenient. He split open a distant mountain, cut and transported the rocks inside, and built simple stone houses.

"Are you really planning to build another city here?"

Before Song Qiumo could speak, Li Hongzhuang spoke first, swallowing a piece of meat as she stared at Li Hao.

"It's not rebuilding, it's just restoring the original city."

Li Hao smiled and said, "Since we have nothing else to do anyway, and we're going to be defending a city, we should at least have a city, right?"

Li Hongzhuang gave him a deep look, then said nothing more, "If these Demon stop attacking, there's no problem. The only concern is that what's built in the front might be destroyed in the back."

"Just keep guarding it."

What if we can't hold it?

"Then let's rebuild it."

"..."

Seeing the boy's carefree demeanor, Li Hongzhuang fell silent, but a sense of anticipation arose in her heart.

If this city could be rebuilt, suppressing and deterring all the Demon Outside the Pass, restoring its former glory to what it was a hundred years ago, so that those ferocious Bloodlust Demon dared not invade, if Third Brother and Sixth Brother were to witness that scene, they would surely weep...

She lowered her head and forcefully tore off a piece of Roast Meat tendon from her hand, only to find it tasted salty.

"I heard you killed that Ten Thousand Mountains Little Demon King Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King. What if I leave and he takes the opportunity to launch a sneak attack?"

Song Qiumo frowned. When Li Hao returned from Great Yue City, several people asked him about it, and Li Hao briefly explained what had happened there. Only then did she learn that Li Hao had killed the only son of a Demon King.

Moreover, that Lesser Demon King Heavenly Talent extremely talented, and she was also Demon Race, so she could understand how much potential that Lesser Demon King had.

If converted to Human Race, he could even be roughly compared to Li Hao.

As a result, such Demon Prodigies was actually killed by Li Hao, one can imagine how Anger the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King must have been.

The fact that the other party arranged for a Demon King to secretly protect this Lesser Demon King shows how much they value him. Even if he encountered a single Four Establishments Realm, he might not be in trouble. It's just that they didn't expect him to run into the combination of Feng Boping and Li Hao.

"I have Shadow Threads planted within a 300-mile radius of this area. If any Demon invade, I will be alerted and there will be time to retreat."

Li Hao smiled.

The Shadow Threads of the Sixth Dan of Angling, combined with the Hidden Bow attribute, make it difficult for even Four Establishments Realm to detect.

In addition, the Famous Painting he had previously obtained from Grandmaster Bai Chunhai, titled "River Snow Painting," was embedded into the Imperial Dao by him, providing it with the concealed attribute of environmental assimilation of the power of Object Manipulation.

His powerful attacks are concealed and difficult to detect, making them a Perfection match for Fishing Line.

Even a close-range probe from the Four Establishments Realm would find it difficult to detect, let alone from 300 miles away where the opponent was completely unprepared.

However, to maintain such a long Fishing Line, Li Hao had to constantly channel his internal energy. If it weren't for the fact that he had opened up 98 Great Meridian in his body, plus the Yin Yang Dual Meridians, he simply wouldn't have been able to sustain it.

Currently, it can only barely fill the gap in the absorption and transmission of energy.

"I'll go."

Li Hongzhuang said to Li Hao, "Senior Song is right. Although you have this senior's protection, you killed the Lesser Demon King. I heard that the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King dotes on this only son and treats him like a treasure. If he hasn't come over these days, he's probably waiting for Senior Song to leave."

Song Qiumo's eyes flickered slightly as she glanced at Li Hao and said softly:

"I originally planned to stay for only six months, but now that you've encountered this situation, I'll stay with you for three years."

Li Hao's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at her, but his face remained mocking as he said, "So, you're not going to take care of the Sandalwood Palace anymore?"

"Three years is nothing. I've been taking care of things for nearly a thousand years. It's not a big deal," Song Qiumo said calmly.

Li Hao knew that it wasn't as easy as she made it sound. Song Qiumo was Demon King recorded in Qing Prefecture and couldn't leave for long.

Staying here for six months is probably the most they can do; three years would be too much to ask of her.

"Let's see, maybe they won't be able to endure it for six months."

Li Hao said, feeling a certain urgency about his own strength.

Of course, he had another way out.

That means we should temporarily abandon this place.

But he was unwilling to break that three-year agreement unless he faced certain death.

Song Qiumo nodded slightly. It was indeed a bit of a long time to talk about this now. She said softly, "If the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King comes, we will most likely be facing a three-headed Demon King!"

She had mentioned this matter before. Both Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang's eyes were slightly serious. Apart from the two Demon Kings in the Ten Thousand Mountains Domain, the Dragon Lord who had fought with Song Qiumo earlier would most likely also take this opportunity to intervene.

This seemingly peaceful Heaven's Gate Pass is actually facing a terrifying catastrophe at any moment.

Li Hao simply nodded slightly and said nothing more.

In the following days, everyone continued their normal lives in the Small Courtyard, seemingly carefree, but in reality, they were all secretly on guard against the Demon King's attack at any moment.

However, the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King did not seem to be enraged to the point of losing control, and did not choose to make a move.

Perhaps seeing that Li Hao still dared to operate within Heaven's Gate Pass, the Demon King became wary, worried that there might be a hidden figure behind the young man. Therefore, he chose a safer approach: to wait for Song Qiumo to leave.

Or perhaps, they are waiting for a flaw and an opportunity.

On this day, two letters were delivered to the Small Courtyard.

They all came from that Divine General Residence in Qing Prefecture.

A letter, with Li Tiangang's handwriting on the cover.

Upon seeing the words on the cover, Li Hao crumpled the letter between his fingers, then tossed it into the kitchen and Firewood.

The other letter was unsigned. Li Hao opened it and glanced at it; it was from the Second Master.

The letter, besides expressing longing and concern, also discussed the matter of the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King.

Li Muxiu, concerned that the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King might act recklessly due to its grief over the loss of its cub, advised Li Hao to prepare for an attack by three or four Demon Kings.

At the same time, he also pointed out a way for Li Hao: if he encountered danger or the situation was not good, he should ask Old Feng to quickly take him to another place Beyond the Border Liang Prefecture.

That place is a secret realm, within which flows the Mo River, and it is at the Nether Capital Tier!

Only those at the Four Establishments Realm have the confidence to escape from this extremely dangerous place. Its extensions are virtually unstoppable, so it can only be contained and designated as Forbidden Zone.

However, Li Muxiu pointed out this secret place of the Mo River not so that Li Hao could use this dangerous place to kill the Demon King, but because Li Muxiu's younger brother was stationed in this secret place.

That is, Li Xiaoran, the Fourth Master of the Li Family.

In Li Muxiu's generation, there were six sons; three died, leaving three remaining.

Li Qingzheng, who was in charge of the Ancestral Shrine, Li Muxiu, who was in charge of the Listening Rain Pavilion and the Divine General Residence's Mansion, and the Fourth Master of the Li Family, Li Xiaoran.

The other side is stationed outside that Youdu-level Mo River.

The area where the Youdu-level Mo River extends was once within the territory of Liang Prefecture. However, because the Mo River could not be crossed and was extremely difficult to destroy, that area was designated as Forbidden Zone and also considered Beyond the Border.

A Youdu-level Mo River, forced even the Great Yu Dynasty to directly declare the loss of that territory.

However, the reason the other party was stationed there was not to check on the condition of the Mo River, but because the Heroic Soul of the Li Family were drowning in that Mo River.

That Heroic Soul was Li Hao's biological grandfather, Li Tianzong.

When Li Hao Angling before, he heard Second Master mention that Fourth Master was not at the Divine General Residence for many years, but was outside a certain Mo River in a certain place, repeatedly challenging and assaulting that Mo River, trying to pass through it and bring back the Heroic Soul of his Eldest Brother who was drowning inside.

Unexpectedly, the Mo River was located Beyond the Border Liang Prefecture.

Li Hao pondered for a moment, then put the letter away.

In the days that followed, the Ten Thousand Mountains Demon King remained silent, but Li Hao once again received a reward from Yu Emperor in the Imperial Capital, delivered by Eunuch Chu Jiuyue.

"Bo-rank Noble, we meet again."

Chu Jiuyue saw several figures in the Hedge-Enclosed Courtyard, just like last time, but compared to last time, this place had a more lived-in Aura, like a comfortable rural countryside.

Li Hao smiled and ushered him into the courtyard. After receiving the Imperial Edict, he learned that it was an award of a noble title, elevating him from Third-rank Bo-rank Noble to a first-class earl.

In addition, he bestowed upon them numerous gifts of gold, Treasure Artifact, servants, and so on.

Li Hao hasn't yet checked the Fief he received last time; it's probably still being managed by his servants.

He wasn't particularly interested in these things, but considering that he would be leaving Heaven's Gate Pass in three years, having his own Fief to settle down in then would be a good thing.

After receiving the Imperial Edict, Li Hao invited Chu Jiuyue to stay for dinner, and this time Chu Jiuyue did not refuse.

When they were thoroughly enjoying their meal, they rolled up their sleeves and sat with their legs spread apart by the pot, completely disregarding their image.

After eating and drinking her fill, Chu Jiuyue rode back contentedly. Before leaving, she secretly handed Li Hao a Treasure Talisman, telling him that this was the true gift Yu Emperor intended to bestow upon him on this trip— the Sacred Heart Treasure Talisman.

In times of crisis, it can save his life.

Li Hao was extremely surprised. He often chatted with Second Master and Fifth Master, so he knew about this item.

This is something only experts at the Four Establishments Realm would use, and it is also an extremely precious item.

All weapons and Treasure Armor in the All Under Heaven are classified into grades, such as the Treasure Artifact used by Heavenly Circuit and Soul Inheritance.

The spiritual items used to progress from the Spirit Wandering Realm to the Heaven and Human Grandmaster Realm.

Then there are the Divine Weapon Divine Armor used by those in the Three Immortalities Realm and Four Establishments Realm. For example, the Dragon Firmament in Li Hao's hand belongs to the level of Divine Weapon, and it is the most famous one among them.

However, this refers to the greatest fame, not the highest rank.

Some Divine Weapon, once forged, are rarely seen in the world; those who have seen them may already be dead.

Regardless, this sword belongs to the top-tier Divine Weapon category.

Above that is the Sacred Heart Heavenly Treasure, which is extremely rare. Even ordinary Four Establishments Realm may not possess it, and only a few Four Establishments Realm experts have it.

This Sacred Heart Treasure Talisman is even more precious; it is a consumable item and extremely rare even for those at the Four Establishments Realm.

The Sacred Heart Treasure Talisman in Li Hao's hand was not for attack, but for self-preservation.

If it is an offensive Sacred Heart Treasure Talisman, it can even pose a threat and cause damage to those in the Four Establishments Realm.