Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 329

Volume 3 - Chapter 60: His Name

Just as the old general of the Xia family was about to return, he suddenly heard the sound of bones and blood bursting. Startled, he turned his head and saw a terrifying scene.

The arrogant, carefree demeanor of the great demon from moments ago was gone. Its physical body had been crushed as if by some immense force, leaving no time to reveal its true form.

From the burst flesh and blood, a figure struggled to break free but was immediately subjected to tremendous pressure. It howled in despair as it dissolved into nothingness, its soul utterly annihilated.

The heart-wrenching scream in its final moments left the soldiers atop Liyang City's walls stunned, staring at the bizarre scene in bewilderment.

On the official road below the city walls, a young man rode a horse leisurely toward the tightly closed gates. He looked up and said, "Sir, could you have them open the gates for me?"

The boy’s shout snapped the Xia family general out of his daze. He looked down and was instantly gripped with dread.

The young man sat on horseback with an air of tranquility, his expression calm and composed. Though dressed plainly in rough linen, his features were as exquisite as flowing clouds in a painting. His unique temperament left a lasting impression, exuding an aura of serene detachment.

Looking beyond the boy, the old general saw the bloodied official road behind him. The tide of demons lurking on both sides had all fallen, their lifeless bodies scattered.

"You..."

The old general's pupils contracted as he stared at the youth in shock. To him, this young man appeared more terrifying than the demons.

Meanwhile, on the city walls, the abrupt and inexplicable death of the great demon in the Three Immortals Realm drew other generals of the Xia family to the defensive formation. Upon seeing the situation outside, they found only a lone boy on horseback.

"Did you kill that demon?"

The Xia family general dared not ascend into the sky. He quickly landed in front of the young man. If the boy truly killed the great demon, his strength would be terrifyingly high—surely at the Fourth Pillar Realm.

And to achieve such power at his age, only one name came to mind.

The name belonged to someone from Liang Province.

"Yes," Li Hao nodded slightly. Such a trivial matter didn’t warrant concealment. "I heard the Xia family was in trouble and happened to pass by, so I dealt with it for you."

Hearing the boy's admission, the general’s pupils contracted further, and his voice trembled. "You... you are that Haotian Major General?!"

His face showed astonishment, quickly giving way to excitement.

The deeds of Liang Province had long been spread far and wide. Although it was beyond the Xia family’s jurisdiction, the boy’s reputation had reached every army across the Nineteen Provinces of Great Yu.

Alone, he held back the demon hordes and saved the border of Liang Province from complete collapse. His actions were akin to those of a young hero who once defended Cangzhou decades ago—a rising star whose brilliance illuminated the heavens.

Moreover, this boy could slay demon kings. With him here now, Liyang City was undoubtedly saved!

Seeing Li Hao’s smile, the old general of the Xia family suddenly realized his rudeness and quickly bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Haotian Duke!"

They had always referred to him as "Major General" due to widespread rumors, but the imperial court had already issued his official titles.

After all, it had been two months since the great battle ended.

...

The titles had been sent to Qing Province and delivered to the illustrious Divine General Mansion, where they were received on his behalf. The announcement from the imperial capital declared his new rank to the world.

He was granted the title of a Third-Class Duke!

Skipping the rank of marquis entirely, he was directly made a Duke of Great Yu. His title placed him above countless influential officials, commanding respect even from most royal princes.

Beyond the noble title, his military rank had also been elevated. From Haotian Major General, he had become the Grand Commander of Liang Province—a First-Class Official in the Great Yu hierarchy.

With such a position, only a handful within the entire divine dynasty could outrank him. Even among the most senior members of the Five Divine General Mansions, only a select few could compare to the level he had now attained.

"Duke?"

Li Hao appeared slightly surprised. Though he had anticipated recognition, he hadn’t expected to skip directly to a duke's title.

He recalled how "Uncle Nine" had saved Cangzhou decades ago. Although his contributions were no less significant, the enemy forces in Cangzhou had been neither as numerous nor as powerful. However, the intervention of a vassal state behind the scenes had led Uncle Nine to pursue them to the royal court outside the pass, ultimately costing him his life.

"No need for formalities," Li Hao said as he motioned for the old general to rise.

The Xia family general stood up and said excitedly, "Duke, with your presence here, the people of Liyang City are saved. On behalf of the city's residents, I thank you for your great kindness!"

With that, he prepared to kneel in gratitude.

Liyang City had been under siege for days, its citizens living in fear. The impending doom of a demon slaughter had loomed large over everyone, but now, it felt as though the dark clouds had parted, revealing the light.

Li Hao raised a hand to stop him. "It was a minor matter, nothing deserving such formal thanks. If you must express gratitude, see if there are any famous paintings or chess manuals in the city. Gather them for me instead."

The general was taken aback, but he had heard that aside from martial arts, the boy excelled in the arts, being proficient in painting, chess, and calligraphy. Moved by this thought, he quickly replied with a smile, "Of course, we have plenty. I’ll have them brought to you immediately."

He then instructed his men to open the city gates and invited Li Hao inside with the utmost respect.

At the same time, several young Xia family generals arrived in haste.

The old general quickly recounted how the demons outside the city had been slain. When they learned it was the work of this young man and discovered his identity, they were left dumbfounded, staring at him in disbelief.

"Is it really him?"

Among the young generals, a female warrior named Xia Qingshuang gazed at the boy in a daze. Her thoughts drifted to the official road in Qizhou two years ago.

Back then, the youth sitting quietly in a carriage had left a deep impression on her. At only fourteen years old, he was already defending a city.

Not long after, she heard more about him—his name resounding across Qingzhou.

Later, at fifteen, he saved Liang Province and became renowned throughout the land.

“This is Xia Qingshuang, a prodigy of the Xia family,” the old general introduced. “And this is Xia Yucheng...”

The old general went on to introduce the young generals to Li Hao, hoping to foster a connection between them and this remarkable figure.

Though they were aware that Li Hao had severed ties with the Li family, his reputation no longer required the backing of the Divine General Mansion. His own deeds were more than enough to establish his renown.

A duke at not yet sixteen, with the power to slay demon kings—none dared provoke him.

During the introductions, the young Xia family generals, constrained by Li Hao’s status and titles, all bowed respectfully. Despite their awe and excitement, they also felt a tinge of awkwardness.

As members of the younger generation and proud representatives of the Xia family, they were seven or eight years, if not over a decade, older than Li Hao. Yet now they found themselves bowing to him, their pride seemingly bending as well.

The Five Divine General Mansions might oversee different regions, but their ranks and titles were unified under the Great Yu dynasty. Li Hao’s current standing guaranteed him the utmost respect anywhere he went. Disrespecting him would mean defying not just Li Hao but also the emperor and the laws of the dynasty.

Li Hao, still seated on horseback, gave a slight nod, acknowledging their greetings without much ceremony.

The group exchanged pleasantries before escorting Li Hao to the city lord’s mansion.

...

Inside the mansion, two of the young generals exchanged uneasy glances. Both felt embarrassed, recalling how they had strongly opposed using the "Haotian Banner" during their earlier discussions. They had doubted its ability to inspire fear among the demons, believing it would only bring shame to the Xia family.

Now, the very person they had dismissed stood before them, making their earlier objections feel shallow and foolish.

"General Haotian, how did you manage to kill that great demon in the Three Immortals Realm? None of us saw you make a move..." Xia Yuanming asked curiously.

He had been the most vocal critic of using Li Hao’s banner, but now that the man himself was here, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity. After all, Li Hao’s feats, including the slaying of seven demon kings, were well-documented and undeniable.

Hearing this, Xia Qingshuang also fixed her gaze on Li Hao. She remembered rumors from his time guarding Qizhou, which claimed he had already reached the Fifteen Li Realm at the age of fifteen.

Now, only two short years later...

"Your level isn’t high enough to understand, even if I explained," Li Hao replied calmly, his tone devoid of mockery.

Xia Yuanming flushed with embarrassment and frustration but refrained from arguing. Given that Li Hao had just saved Liyang City, he let it slide and said no more.

The old general, however, found Li Hao’s response perfectly reasonable. He shot a reproachful glance at Xia Yuanming, thinking it inappropriate to pry into a warrior’s combat techniques.

“General, rumors had it that you were being pursued by a demon king of the Void Realm. Have you just managed to escape?” the old general asked tactfully, steering the conversation in a different direction.

For weeks, countless eyes had been focused on the River of Death beyond Liang Province, anticipating news of Li Hao. Unexpectedly, the man they sought had appeared here in Youzhou instead.

“Something like that,” Li Hao replied briefly before asking about the situation in Liang Province.

Although he had gleaned some information earlier from a passing innkeeper, he wanted to hear the details from the Xia family general, who was better informed.

Once he was satisfied, Li Hao felt a sense of relief. The situation in Liang Province had indeed stabilized.

However, while peace had returned to Liang Province, other regions of Great Yu had descended into chaos.

The old general then began discussing the state of Youzhou. Currently, Youzhou was besieged on all sides and engaged in war with Gluttony Valley, one of the top demon factions. If not for Li Hao’s intervention today, the demons in the northwest would have likely broken through soon.

Liyang City, as dire as its situation was, was not even the main battlefield of Youzhou.

Further east, the conflict had already reached its peak, with reports of heavy battles flooding in. Most of the Xia family’s forces were concentrated there.

Finishing his explanation, the old general suddenly knelt on one knee before Li Hao and implored, "Duke, please lend your strength to aid the Xia family in this crisis!"

The younger Xia family generals were stunned. They had not expected their elder to bow so deeply to Li Hao.

Li Hao helped the old general to his feet, frowning slightly. “This isn’t something I can intervene in lightly. You’d best consult your family head before making any decisions.”

Hearing this, the old general realized the boy was as sharp-minded as he was powerful. It was clear that mere personal requests would not sway him.

“I’ll report this to our family head immediately. I hope you can stay in Liyang City for a few more days,” the old general said earnestly.

Li Hao nodded slightly. “That’s fine, but I’m on my way back to Liang Province and cannot stay long—three days at most.”

“Three days...”

The old general tensed but agreed without hesitation. He quickly arranged accommodations for Li Hao.

However, Li Hao declined to stay in the city lord’s mansion. Instead, he requested a quiet courtyard elsewhere in the city.

Once Li Hao had departed, the old general immediately dispatched messengers with urgent letters, to be delivered to the Xia family with utmost haste.

As Li Hao entered the city, a bird demon spying from above observed everything.

Seeing the corpses of the demons along the official road and the fallen great demon of the Three Immortals Realm, its initially relaxed demeanor turned to panic. It nearly lost its feathers in fear.

When it saw the young man being respectfully invited into the city by the Xia family, there was no doubt in its mind that he was responsible for everything.

A boy capable of effortlessly slaying a great demon—and clearly still young—could only be one person.

Could it be that the young general of Liang Province, said to be trapped in the Netherworld-Level River of Death, had returned?

Realizing this, the bird demon hurriedly fled, flying a hundred miles away to where the demon army of the Three Immortals Realm was stationed.

Atop a mountain, two great demons were feasting. One concealed its aura as it gnawed on a human leg, enjoying its wine in apparent leisure.

The bird demon from Tianji Hall arrived in a frantic rush and delivered its report.

“What?!”

“That brat from Liang Province came here?!”

“Wasn’t he supposed to be trapped in the River of Death?”

The two great demons’ faces fell, their expressions shifting from disbelief to fear as they repeatedly confirmed the report with the bird demon.

In the end, they ordered the demon army to retreat immediately.

Like a receding tide, the massive demon horde withdrew swiftly, a sight secretly observed by Xia family scouts outside the city.

Meanwhile, the bird demon relayed the news back to Tianji Hall.

The branch in Youzhou deliberated quickly and sent the information to the frontlines of the demon battlefield.

Almost at the same time that the Xia family in Youzhou City received the message, the Gluttony Valley master on the demon battlefield also heard the report from Tianji Hall.

The young general of Liang Province—he had arrived in Youzhou!

Table of Content - Next Chapter >>>