Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 336

Volume 3 - Chapter 64: Guided by the Blood of Ancestors

The once fiery battlefield of brutal slaughter was extinguished by the torrential downpour.

The rain poured relentlessly. With the rear of the demonic horde severed by the rain of swords, their charge lost its momentum. Combined with the sword energy from atop the city walls, the previous dire situation—where retreat was the only option—was quickly stabilized.

On the city walls, submerged by the flood of demonic creatures, the Xia family’s battle flag once again fluttered proudly.

The overwhelming pressure on the soldiers suddenly lifted. After slaying the demons before them, they found no further enemies charging forward.

Dumbfounded, they stared in disbelief at the miraculous reversal unfolding before their eyes.

“This… this is…”

“Who is controlling the swords? Who is saving us?!”

“Have we… been saved?”

The armies—both the Xia family’s forces and the militia conscripted from various martial sects—stood dazed, gazing past the defensive line.

Beyond the defensive line was a veritable purgatory. Countless streams of sword energy descended, piercing through the demonic tide, reducing them to wailing corpses.

Even the Three Immortals-level great demons, with their colossal forms, attempted to flee into the distance. Yet, like moths struggling in a storm, they were soon engulfed by the rain of swords, crashing to the ground without another sound.

“Who… is that?”

At the center of the defensive line, Xia Changkong, the Supreme Commander overseeing the second line of defense, looked up in shock.

Beneath the river of sword energy sat a young man atop the fiery back of a crimson demon. His entire being radiated an energy like pure white mist, visible to the naked eye, which surged upward into the heavenly torrent of swords, transforming into endless streams of sword energy that swept downward in destruction.

Beside the youth stood the Xia family’s Patriarch and Xia Yuanwu, his own brother.

“Patriarch… Yuanwu…”

Xia Changkong froze for a moment, stunned that the Patriarch had personally arrived on the battlefield. What of the Lord of Gluttony Valley?

He instinctively glanced toward the rear of the demonic horde but saw no sign of activity.

On the battlefield, only a few elders of Gluttony Valley remained, fleeing in panic toward the distance. They were relentlessly pursued by massive streams of sword energy.

Soon, one injured elder attempted to block the sword energy with his physical body, underestimating its lethality. He was swiftly drained of vitality, collapsing lifelessly.

Gluttony Valley demons, notorious for their brutal consumption of blood and unparalleled physical strength rivaling that of the dragon clans, were reduced to ordinary prey under the devastating force of 1% lethality from the sword energy.

Li Hao’s gaze remained calm and unchanging as he watched the demons fall under the rain of swords. When the battlefield had almost completely quieted, he withdrew the tide of swords.

“Both of you, deal with the remaining stragglers. I’m leaving now,” Li Hao said to Xia Linglong and Xia Yuanwu beside him.

The two snapped out of their stupor, their faces pale with astonishment. In just this brief moment, nearly tens of millions of demonic creatures on the battlefield had been annihilated.

It was terrifying!

Was this the power of the Supreme Dao Realm? It far exceeded their imagination.

“Rest assured, General Haotian, we’ll handle the rest. Once we’ve cleaned up here, we’ll dispatch troops to reinforce Qingzhou immediately!” Xia Linglong quickly promised.

Previously, her offer to dispatch troops was out of obligation. Now, however, she felt the Xia family’s forces were insignificant in the presence of someone like Li Hao, suitable only for liberating the occupied villages and towns of Qingzhou.

After all, no matter how strong Li Hao was, it was impossible for him to personally defend the entirety of Qingzhou within such a short time.

“Mm.” Li Hao nodded, not refusing her goodwill.

He then gently patted the head of the Candlefire God, signaling it. The creature’s blazing flames surged, and its powerful, kirin-like hooves struck the ground. It galloped through the battlefield, tearing across the horizon in a blaze of light, swiftly departing from the battlefield.

...

On the defensive line, numerous generals, clan leaders, and martial sect masters gazed upward at the figure riding away atop the crimson demon. The scene burned into their memories.

They didn’t know who that young man was, but they knew the Xia family would have answers.

...

...

In Qingzhou, the once-prosperous Qingzhou City was now under strict lockdown. Civilians were confined indoors, and the bustling street markets were cleared to free up wide avenues for the swift movement of troops.

Golden arrays shimmered atop the four city walls, shielding the city. Outside, a massive demonic horde gathered in overwhelming force.

On the walls, soldiers of the Li family and the Qingzhou City defense forces stood vigil with heavy expressions. Days of constant fighting had left them mentally and physically exhausted, but no one dared to relax.

Three days ago, through the Li family’s secret techniques, they learned that over half of Qingzhou had fallen. Hundreds of cities had been destroyed and occupied by demons. Qingzhou, the Li family’s ancestral home, had suffered its most devastating blow in centuries.

When the news reached the other cities that had narrowly avoided destruction, many refused to believe it, thinking the military reports were mistaken. However, when waves of refugees flooded in from ruined cities and villages, the grim reality became undeniable: Qingzhou was in grave danger.

Centuries of peace had dulled the population’s awareness of the threat posed by demons. The occasional demon captured and paraded by the Demon Subduing Division had become little more than a spectacle for curious onlookers. But now, with the demon tide sweeping through, fear and despair engulfed every city in Qingzhou. Each settlement remained on high alert, bracing for attacks.

Yet, compared to the devastation already spreading through Qingzhou, even Qingzhou City was encircled on all sides, facing imminent collapse.

On the city walls, Li Muxiu and Li Xiaoran stood guard. Both looked markedly older—hair grayed and faces etched with deep lines—as though they had aged decades within mere months. The brutal toll of the war was evident.

The Li family had already suffered two devastating blows in this campaign.

Over a month ago, following the dispersal of Li Tianzong’s heroic soul, Li Muxiu and Li Xiaoran had investigated the River of Death. Though enraged, they refrained from direct confrontation and chose to secretly scout the area. To their shock, they discovered that the strength of the demon forces gathered outside the River of Death exceeded all expectations.

Both the Dragon Gate and the Sacred Palace had mobilized nearly all their forces. Their leaders personally oversaw the campaign, intent on eliminating Li Hao.

The Li family refrained from acting impulsively, choosing instead to exploit this opportunity to attack the Dragon Gate’s stronghold.

The timing was ideal. The Sacred Palace’s stronghold had already been destroyed by Prince Qing, and the Dragon Gate’s base was similarly vulnerable.

Through intelligence obtained from Tianji Tower, the Li family pinpointed the location of the Dragon Gate’s lair. With approval from the imperial court, the Li family and the royal army launched a combined assault, spending over half a month to obliterate the stronghold.

When news of the attack reached the Dragon Gate’s forces outside the River of Death, their leader flew into a rage and advanced their plans to strike Qingzhou City, mobilizing their forces directly.

Fortunately, Li Xiaoran and Li Muxiu anticipated this reaction. They withdrew from the River of Death and returned to Qingzhou City in time to strengthen its defenses. When the Dragon Gate’s leader learned of the destruction of his base, his fury fueled a hasty, ill-prepared attack on Qingzhou City. The Li family’s foresight thwarted this ambush, forcing the Dragon Gate and Sacred Palace to reveal their intentions prematurely.

After the failure of their covert operations in Liangzhou and Qingzhou City, the Dragon Gate and Sacred Palace abandoned subtlety. Instead, they called upon demonic forces from all regions, launching an overwhelming offensive against Qingzhou.

Thus began a protracted and brutal battle. Both sides suffered staggering losses over the course of a month-long conflict. Despite their efforts, Qingzhou ultimately fell.

The Li family retreated to fortified defensive lines, sacrificing much of Qingzhou’s territory. They continued to retreat, fighting desperate battles as they fell back to Qingzhou City—their final stronghold.

Reinforcements dispatched by the imperial court were intercepted en route by another faction of demonic forces. Not only did they fail to reach Qingzhou, but they suffered heavy losses as well.

The siege of Qingzhou was not limited to the forces of the Sacred Palace and the Dragon Gate. Other top-tier demonic factions joined the assault, including those who remained stationed outside the River of Death, awaiting the return of their master in the Void Realm.

When the Li family sought aid from the Xia family in Youzhou, they learned that Gluttony Valley had launched an attack on the Xia family. This assault was clearly intended to pin down the Xia family and prevent them from assisting Qingzhou.

Though the five Divine General Mansions often engaged in competition and rivalry, they traditionally supported one another in times of crisis. As the closest Divine General Mansion to the Li family, the Xia family would have been a natural ally. However, Gluttony Valley’s intervention severed this lifeline.

Despite sending pleas for aid across the region, Qingzhou’s calls were met with silence. The province was effectively isolated, surrounded by the demonic horde.

The sheer number of demons gathered for this campaign far exceeded those in Liangzhou, signaling their determination to utterly crush Qingzhou.

From the borders of the province, the Li family retreated step by step, abandoning their defenses as they went. They discarded their equipment and supplies, narrowly escaping with their lives as they fled toward Qingzhou City.

If Qingzhou City fell, their last hope would be the Divine General Mansion itself—a lone ship in a vast sea, perilously close to capsizing.

Li Xiaoran’s expression was somber. Over the past month of relentless fighting, both he and Li Muxiu had narrowly escaped death on multiple occasions.

The Dragon Gate’s leader, once recorded in intelligence reports as being at the Half-Step Dao Domain, had ascended to the Supreme Dao Realm.

The Sacred Palace’s master, already a Supreme Dao Realm cultivator, had been gravely injured in a battle with Prince Qing of Yanbei, causing his cultivation to drop to Half-Step Dao Domain. Even so, he remained an immense threat.

If not for Li Muxiu’s Half-Step Dao Domain cultivation and his ability to sustain a Dao Domain barrier, the Li family would have long since been wiped out. His resilience had significantly delayed Qingzhou’s collapse. Otherwise, Qingzhou would have fallen a month ago, and Qingzhou City would already be in ruins.

But now, even this desperate resistance was nearing its end.

“Their target is us—the Li family. They intend to erase the Divine General Mansion from existence!”

After over a month of fighting, Li Xiaoran had pieced together the demons’ true objective: the complete eradication of the Li family. This assault was merely the first step in their conquest of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.

This plan had likely been in motion for decades. The sequential deaths of the Nine Dragons and the frequent demon attacks on Li family-controlled territories now appeared to be calculated moves targeting the Li family.

Their goal was to sever the Li family’s bloodline, ensuring the family had no heirs. If another few decades passed, the Li family’s main bloodline would weaken. The dragons they raised would pale in comparison to those nurtured by other Divine General Mansions.

This, then, would be the perfect moment to strike.

However, the demons had unexpectedly accelerated their plans.

Li Muxiu’s eyes were dark and heavy as he adjusted his breathing. Earlier, he had driven back the Sacred Palace’s master in a fierce battle outside the city’s protective formation. Though victorious, the fight had drained him significantly.

The Sacred Palace and Dragon Gate leaders took turns engaging him in combat, wearing him down and leaving him on the verge of collapse.

“No word yet from Boundless Mountain?” Li Muxiu asked, his expression grim as he gazed westward.

The demonic horde covering the hills exerted an immense psychological pressure on the city’s defenders. Yet Li Muxiu’s gaze remained steady as it pierced through the mass of demons, searching for a distant hope.

Beyond the mountains lay Boundless Mountain.

The Li family had a close relationship with Boundless Mountain, offering incense and support over the years. Furthermore, Li Qianfeng, a direct descendant of the Li family, was a personal disciple of the Boundless Buddhist Lord.

But the request for aid sent to Boundless Mountain had yielded no response. Whether the message had failed to reach them or whether the mountain itself was embroiled in its own troubles was unknown.

“Send word to Tian Gang. I can’t hold on much longer. The time has come for the Li family to summon its last defenders.”

Li Muxiu withdrew his gaze, knowing that Boundless Mountain could no longer be relied upon. He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with sharp resolve.

Li Xiaoran hesitated, his expression shifting subtly, but he remained silent.

He understood that the moment had come for the Li family to stake everything in a final, desperate bid.

The glory of the past must now return to protect this legacy and heritage.

If the ancestral shrine were destroyed, the scattered branches of the bloodline would be meaningless.

The thousand-year legacy of the Divine General Mansion was not merely about its bloodline but its profound foundation. If that foundation were shattered, even a surviving bloodline would struggle to rise again.

After all, success often depended on the right timing and opportunity, which could not be recreated.

“I understand.” Li Xiaoran looked at his elder brother, nodding slightly before rising and flying toward the Divine General Mansion.

Soon, he landed in the courtyard of the Divine General Mansion.

Within the Hall of Mountains and Rivers, numerous figures gathered in the main hall. At the forefront stood a tall, imposing man exuding an aura of authority: Li Tiangang.

Seated beside him in armor was his wife, Ji Qingqing. Alongside them were He Jianlan, Li Xuanli, Gao Qingqing, and the other women of the various branches.

However, their former finery was replaced with battle armor. Their faces were cold and resolute, ready to charge into battle at a moment’s notice.

“Still no word from Boundless Mountain…”

“Nor from the Sword Saint of the Southern Sword Manor…”

The hall was filled with a somber silence. The once-vast network of allies of the Divine General Mansion now seemed to have vanished entirely.

Only a few minor sects and forces who had benefitted from the Li family’s kindness arrived to help, but they lacked the strength of a Four Extremes cultivator. The strongest among them barely reached the Three Immortals Realm.

At this critical juncture, what the Li family needed most was an Absolute Technique cultivator capable of sharing the burden with Li Muxiu.

The elder’s lone effort to hold back the Dragon Gate and Sacred Palace leaders, one of whom was in peak Supreme Dao Realm, was unsustainable. He could fall at any moment.

A flash of light announced Li Xiaoran’s arrival outside the hall. Without hesitation, he strode inside, scanning the grim faces of those present before fixing his gaze on Li Tiangang.

“Elder Brother says it is time. Prepare the ancestral rite and summon all bloodline descendants of the Li family with the Blood of the Ancestors Array.”

“This battle is to the death. Victory means survival; defeat means extinction!”

His voice was deep and cold. “This is our last chance. Elder Brother can hold on no longer.”

At his words, the gathered members of the Li family froze. None seemed surprised, though their faces were etched with sorrow.

The fall of Qingzhou and the demonic tide outside the city left no doubt in their minds—this moment was inevitable.

The activation of the Blood of the Ancestors Array would signal the Li family’s true moment of life and death. This ancient rite, powered by the family’s bloodline, could only be invoked in the face of absolute annihilation—a last resort for the Divine General Mansion.

With their bloodline scattered across the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, the thousands of years of branching descendants represented an immense latent force. Through the Blood of the Ancestors Array, every one of them would feel the call.

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