Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 356

Volume 3 - Chapter 77: Return to Cangya City

In Qingzhou, a certain city lay in ruins. Demonic creatures occupied the area, with corpses scattered everywhere. Bloodstains splattered across collapsed buildings, and demons were gnawing on the remains of soldiers, pulling out their organs. Severed limbs and entrails littered the streets. Survivors, a mix of merchants, scholars, and martial artists, had been herded into open spaces among the destroyed buildings. They trembled like pigs in a pen, their identities and skills meaningless before the demons. Even a noble young lady, attempting to cry, was hastily silenced for fear of angering the fiends.

Their grief was nothing more than noise to the demons, who found it unbearably annoying. Someone muttered a desperate prayer, “Who will save us?” The survivors gazed toward the distant horizon, hoping for the arrival of the Great Yu Army to subdue the demons.

Occasionally, the demons selected someone from the group, dragging them a short distance away to be torn apart alive. The survivors trembled at the horrifying screams. Some, terrified to their limit, lost control of their bowels, collapsing limp on the ground. When picked up by the demons, their bodies remained soft as though they had no bones.

Suddenly, a fiery figure streaked through the sky, seated atop a blazing beast. As it approached the city, the figure slowed, revealing a youth with a grim expression. Without any visible motion, a gust of clear wind swept across the area, transforming into dozens of sharp sword qi. The qi moved so swiftly that the demons began falling before they could even register what was happening. Startled, the remaining demons roared in anger, yet they couldn’t locate their enemy. By the time they realized the figure atop the Crimson Flame Great Demon, it was too late—their companions’ corpses littered the ground.

In mere moments, the city’s demons were eradicated. Those that had been feasting on human remains still had bloody limbs in their mouths as they collapsed into the dust. The sudden turn of events left the survivors stunned. Among them were martial artists hiding their strength, waiting for an opportunity. One, a Spiritual Wandering Realm expert, was the first to notice the fiery figure overhead and exclaimed, “Someone’s here to save us! That must be a general from the imperial court!”

As the exclamation spread, others slowly reacted. Ordinary elders with poor eyesight could only make out a fiery silhouette in the sky. To them, it was as if a deity hovered there. They fell to their knees, crying out in gratitude.

The youth, Li Hao, sighed softly. After confirming no demons remained, he urged the Candlefire God to continue their journey to the next city. Before returning to Liang Province, he intended to clear out the demonic infestations in the devastated cities he had passed through.

Some cities had already been pacified by the Li Family Army, while others had not yet been reached. Greedy demons still haunted certain areas, harming the populace. The faster they reclaimed lost territory, the fewer casualties there would be.

As Li Hao departed, a blue-clad young woman arrived, accompanied by an elderly man. Hovering above the city, she glanced downward, her expression calm. With a wave of her hand, the golden bracelet on her wrist emitted a clear chime. Black mist rose from the city ruins, accompanied by the anguished cries and furious roars of spirits. The mist was absorbed into the bells on her bracelet until it completely disappeared. She lowered her hand, surveyed the destruction below, and shook her head slightly before flying off with her companion.

A few hours later, the Li Family’s pacification army arrived, their banners fluttering in the wind. They entered the city only to find it already purged of demons. Startled, the soldiers questioned local martial artists and notable families, learning of a general riding a Crimson Flame Great Demon who had eradicated the invaders. Hearing this, the Li Family soldiers were astonished, recalling the unforgettable sight of that fiery figure in Qingzhou’s skies.

When the commoners asked for the general’s name, the soldiers didn’t withhold the answer. Soon, the name "Li Hao" spread among the survivors. Some wealthy families even proposed erecting a golden statue of the Haotian General in the rebuilt city to ward off future demons and honor their savior.

...

In less than a day, Li Hao, astride the Candlefire God, had traversed most of Qingzhou. After confirming that more than ten cities were demon-free, he directed the Candlefire God toward Liang Province, leaving the remaining clean-up to the Li Family Army.

The next day, amidst the damp morning mist, Li Hao reached the border of Liang Province. Spotting the familiar Dragon Pass Path, he felt a sense of nostalgia. From the sky, the once-dangerous path resembled a majestic dragon extending from the border, its greenery vibrant and alive with birdsong. Dismounting from the Candlefire God, Li Hao allowed the beast to assume its human form to avoid alarming the townsfolk.

As he walked along the Dragon Pass Path, an elderly man’s voice called out from behind, “Young man, are you heading to Cangya City?”

Li Hao turned to see an elderly herbalist with his grandson, their baskets full of freshly picked herbs and mushrooms. Surprised for a moment, Li Hao smiled, the scene reminding him of two years ago. The old man hadn’t recognized him as the youth he had once advised against entering the Dragon Pass Path, but Li Hao remembered. Smiling, he replied, “Yes, I’m going to Cangya City. The path ahead leads there, right?”

Hearing this, the old man shouted the same familiar words as before, “May you heroes from great families find success on your journey!” Li Hao’s smile deepened. “And may you have bountiful harvests every day,” he replied, watching the pair leave.

As he continued on the Dragon Pass Path, Li Hao noticed the changes over the years. The once perilous region now showed signs of prosperity. The tea stall by the roadside was gone, replaced by bustling vendors. His steps grew lighter, almost as if he was returning home.

...

“I must have kept Feng Lao waiting for too long,” Li Hao thought. “Qianqian must be close to a breakthrough in her cultivation. I wonder how the Little White Fox is doing…” His thoughts wandered as he neared Cangya City. From a distance, he could see the city's walls adorned with banners bearing his name, the flags rippling majestically in the strong wind. A grand array enveloped the city, imbuing it with an aura of security and order that was uncommon for a border city.

Compared to the increasing bustle of the outer city, the center of Cangya City had a spacious clearing cordoned off from the rest. At its heart stood a humble, rustic courtyard surrounded by a fence. Shadowed figures patrolled the area, their powerful presences revealing them as Heaven and Man Grandmaster Realm warriors under strict vigilance.

Li Hao extended his divine sense and saw a young woman practicing sword techniques within the courtyard. Smiling faintly, he transmitted his voice directly to her: “I’m back.”

The girl, Ren Qianqian, froze mid-movement, startled by the familiar voice. She glanced around in confusion before quickly realizing the truth. Dropping her sword, she rushed out of the courtyard and spotted Li Hao not far away.

“Y-Young Master?” she stammered.

She stood there in disbelief, her eyes darting between the young man’s face and his bearing. Although he seemed slightly changed, his voice and aura were unmistakable—it was indeed Li Hao. Memories of hearing that his doppelgänger had vanished, leading many to assume he had perished, made her hesitant.

“Am I dreaming?” Ren Qianqian murmured to herself, rubbing her eyes. When she opened them again and saw Li Hao standing there, tears welled up uncontrollably. Throwing herself into his arms, she sobbed, “Young Master, you’re alive!”

Li Hao was momentarily taken aback but soon let her cry. After a while, when her tears soaked his shoulder, he patted her back gently and said, “Silly girl, why are you crying? I’m here now.”

Once Ren Qianqian calmed down, Li Hao led her back into the courtyard. Meanwhile, the patrolling Heaven and Man Grandmasters in the shadows were utterly stunned. They had assumed this was a young noble from a powerful family, but upon hearing the sword maid’s exclamation, they realized this was none other than the Haotian General himself.

The realization left them wide-eyed with shock. Only a short time ago, the disappearance of Li Hao’s doppelgänger had caused widespread despair throughout Cangya City. Even powerful figures like Li Tiangang had confirmed the news, cementing the belief that Li Hao had fallen. The thought of his return filled the patrolling masters with overwhelming emotions.

...

Li Hao spent some time catching up with Ren Qianqian. He introduced her to the Candlefire God and Xiyan, briefly recounting their travels. Upon learning about his doppelgänger’s disappearance, he was surprised but quickly pieced together the likely cause—it was either due to severing his bloodline connection or the grave injuries he had suffered.

He resolved to create a new doppelgänger, stronger and more advanced than the previous one, which had remained static in power since its creation. But before undertaking the process, he planned to seek out techniques for refining the spirit and controlling artifacts. His Dao mastery had already reached the seventh stage, and by acquiring these techniques, he could push the limits of the Spiritual Wandering Realm and Fifteen-Li Realm.

Presently, his Tongli Realm, Zhoutian Realm, and Soul Fusion Realm were already at their extreme limits. However, his Spiritual Wandering Realm and Fifteen-Li Realm still had room for improvement. With these realms perfected, Li Hao could consider challenging the limits of the Fourth Pillar Realm.

...

“Where is Feng Lao?” Li Hao asked Ren Qianqian, slightly puzzled.

He had been back for quite some time, yet Feng Lao hadn’t appeared. Even if Feng Lao had gone fishing out of boredom, he wouldn’t have ventured far. After all, Feng Lao was a man who always kept his promises.

...

Table of Content - Next Chapter >>>