With the three Demon Kings beaten back, the Demon Tide outside the pass also collapsed in a one-sided rout, scattering in every direction. Most, however, never escaped, hacked to death beneath a flurry of blades.
The Grandmasters returned to camp, paying their respects to Lu Chunsheng and Li Muxiu in turn before gathering before Li Hao.
Nearly all of them were drenched in blood. Some had suffered grievous injuries: severed arms, torn calves wrapped in bandages, or eyes and half their faces ripped away by demons, leaving mangled flesh that had already been dusted with medicinal powder.
Had Lu Chunsheng not arrived in time, most of them would have been wiped out in this battle.
"We won!"
Someone said it, and the others immediately rallied a little.
Compared with their losses, far more demons had died here.
Yet among the fallen were also many hot-blooded souls who had gathered from the various prefectures, now laid to eternal rest.
Li Hao said nothing. He merely bowed deeply to them.
Although the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had guided and arranged their arrival, the sacrifices these people had made were very real.
Lu Chunsheng did not linger. He told Li Hao, "I'll wait for you at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion."
Then he turned and drifted away, vanishing without a trace.
A troop of warhorses galloped toward them from the distance. The figure leading them wore bright crimson Battle Armor—it was Li Hongzhuang, who had previously returned to Qing Prefecture.
Seeing Li Hao's body covered in mangled flesh and blood, even she, who had witnessed countless soldiers die in battle, felt her eyes grow wet. She stepped forward. "I came too late!"
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "Thank you for bringing reinforcements."
"Why are you thanking me?" Li Hongzhuang said, her eyes red.
Li