Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 257

Volume 3 - Chapter 20: Peace in Liang Province

Liang Province, one month earlier.

With reinforcements arriving from various regions, the crumbling frontlines against the demon forces were swiftly stabilized. Most cities that had been captured by the demons during their rapid assaults were quickly reclaimed.

Throughout Liang Province, battle flags fluttered in the wind. To prevent the demons in some cities from causing excessive harm to the civilian population, Li Tiangang and Li Xuanli devised a plan. They withdrew light cavalry units from the main army, outfitting them with Haotian Battle Flags, and sent them ahead to various cities. Their mission was to intimidate the demons, scout the situation, and respond accordingly.

If the situation turned dire, the light cavalry would await reinforcements. However, if the Haotian Battle Flags alone were enough to deter the demons, the troops could act swiftly to rescue the civilians trapped within.

After all, even a single day of delay could mean tens of thousands of civilians falling prey to the demons as food.

Thus, when it came to reclaiming territory and rescuing civilians, speed was paramount.

As the clarion call of the grand counteroffensive resounded, the medium and small demon factions that had joined the three major demon forces to take advantage of the chaos were thrown into panic. None had expected the frontlines to collapse so rapidly.

Based on the advantageous intelligence provided by Tianji Hall, the demons had been confident that conquering Liang Province was a sure thing. However, the situation had been completely reversed.

Suddenly, ancient memories of fear embedded in their very bloodlines were rekindled within these demons—memories of a time when this ancient dynasty had left them scarred.

Demon factions with older members among their ranks chose to retreat, hoping to disappear amidst the chaos in Liang Province and avoid being tracked.

They knew that if they were placed on wanted lists, survival beyond the borders would become almost impossible, leaving them to live a life of constant hiding.

...

“Why? Why did we lose so quickly?”

“Wasn’t it said that the Grand Elder of Longmen would lead us to break through Liang Province?”

Within the demon ranks, many great demons roared in anger, demanding answers from the bird demon emissaries of Tianji Hall.

The bird demons of Tianji Hall could only swallow their bitterness. Though they were demons, they naturally supported the three major forces. Yet they had never revealed that even the Lord of the Void Realm had personally descended upon the battlefield.

This was a closely guarded secret of the war. If word spread and any of these informed demons were captured by the humans, the information would surely be leaked.

“According to frontline intelligence, Longmen has already fallen. For more details, you’ll need to pay with blood jade.”

Using the same response, the bird demons of Tianji Hall addressed every demon faction seeking answers.

Regardless of the outcome of the war, Tianji Hall stood to profit greatly, which was one of the reasons it remained one of the top demon forces, ranking alongside factions like Longmen, despite its lack of overt combat strength.

Some demons, uninterested in the reasons for their defeat, chose to flee for their lives. They knew that in due time, this information would become public knowledge and could be obtained for free.

Others, wealthier or more impatient, paid the price to immediately obtain the details from the bird demons of Tianji Hall.

They quickly learned that the Lord of the Void Realm had personally taken command. However, a young human major general had emerged out of nowhere, taking the battlefield by storm. He had slain seven demon kings in succession before being pursued beyond the borders of Liang Province by both the Void Realm Lord and the Grand Elder of Longmen.

News of this spread rapidly among the demons. Those who had long resided outside Tianmen Pass were startled but not entirely surprised. They were well aware of the fearsome reputation of the young general who had once stood guard at Tianmen Pass.

Elsewhere in Liang Province, demons unfamiliar with this figure were shocked to hear that yet another peerless prodigy had emerged among the humans.

Elder demons lamented, recalling the events in Cangzhou more than a decade ago when a young general had similarly risen to prominence. With just a few thousand cavalry, he had single-handedly stabilized an entire province and held it against all odds.

Now, fifteen years later, another young general had appeared, as if history were repeating itself. It seemed to foretell that the fortunes of humanity had not waned and that three mighty blades still hung poised over the heads of the demon race.

Terrified by the mere mention of Haotian, the demons scattered in retreat.

This recovery campaign required little military effort. With the Great Yu royal army’s fifty-thousand-strong force arriving to encircle Liang Province, many fleeing demons were eliminated.

Although the imperial forces had initially been dispatched as reinforcements, they now found themselves merely handling the aftermath. The retreating demons were met with overwhelming force, suffering heavy casualties. Those few who managed to escape left behind their obliterated tribes and shattered alliances, along with memories steeped in pain and terror.

...

“Report to His Highness!”

A vanguard soldier returned from reconnaissance, bearing the black imperial banner of Yu, its majestic characters flying in the wind.

“Thirty li ahead lies a city abandoned by its demon occupiers. Troops have taken over and are rallying the remaining defenders and civilians while treating the wounded.”

The vanguard dismounted quickly, relaying the information with practiced efficiency.

Before him was a crimson-scaled flood dragon, its massive body stretching over a hundred feet. On its back stood a young man clad in golden divine armor, his cape fluttering in the breeze.

Addressed as “His Highness,” his extraordinary status was evident.

The “Yan” character engraved on his divine armor marked him as a prominent figure among the dozens of princes of the Great Yu Dynasty—Jiang Yan, the Thirteenth Prince.

Famed for his valor and exceptional achievements at a young age, Jiang Yan was said to be so formidable that, were he not born into the royal family, he would have already been titled a marquis.

Listening to the vanguard’s report, Jiang Yan frowned slightly. “I heard that city was held by a powerful demon. How many troops did it take to drive them off so silently?”

“None, Your Highness. Not a single soldier was harmed,” the vanguard replied with deference, elaborating further on the details.

Jiang Yan’s sword-like brows rose in surprise, but his expression soon turned cold.

“Hmph, the Haotian Battle Flag? To think a mere battle flag could frighten off a powerful demon—what a joke!”

“Is our Great Yu’s ancestral imperial banners any less intimidating than this Haotian Battle Flag? It seems these demons have grown too complacent under my father’s mercy!”

“Pass my command!”

His face darkened as he continued, “Slay every demon encountered along the way. Leave none alive. Capture any greater demons. Once Liang Province is pacified, I shall build a sacrificial platform and execute these demons to terrify the rest of their kind!”

“Let the demons know the price of invading the sacred lands of Great Yu!”

...

As the royal army advanced, reinforcements from other provinces also arrived in Liang Province to lend support.

These forces included disciples of noble families, members of martial sects, and local provincial troops. Hearing of Liang Province’s plight, reinforcements came from all directions.

However, with each province spanning tens of thousands of li, military deployments, even with the use of special army artifacts to hasten their march, inevitably took time.

By the time these reinforcements arrived, the battlefield in Liang Province was already nearing cleanup. This campaign, from the demons’ initial assault to the restoration of peace, had taken less than ten days.

The remaining task was to scour the region for demons who had hidden themselves in rural areas and villages, waiting for the situation to settle before resuming their atrocities.

After all, with the defensive lines broken, countless demons had flooded into Liang Province. Its vast expanse required meticulous investigation to uncover every last one.

...

“Seventh Brother, we just finished interrogating a bird demon from Tianji Hall. Haotian lured the three demon kings toward the River of Death, where Fourth Uncle is stationed,” said Li Xuanli, hope gleaming in his eyes.

“With Fourth Uncle’s help, Haotian might escape unscathed. The situation around the River of Death is something Fourth Uncle has ample experience with,” replied Li Tiangang, letting out a sigh of relief.

Li Xuanli nodded. “If Fourth Uncle is involved, there’s a chance Haotian can use the river to slip away. Are the demon kings still stationed outside the river?”

“They’ve gone in as well.”

“In that case, this presents a rare opportunity for us to trap them like fish in a barrel!” Li Tiangang’s eyes glinted with sharp determination.

Li Xuanli nodded. “But the Candlefire God is at the half-step Supreme Dao Realm. To hunt him down, we’ll need to call on Second Uncle, and even that may not be enough. We’ll also need to enlist some of the Divine Generals from other provinces, like the foundational pillars of the Shenjiang Mansion. If we could persuade that old lady from the Xia family...”

He paused, shaking his head. “That old lady has guarded the Xia family for years without leaving. It’s unlikely she would intervene over this matter.”

“What about the Buddha Lord?” Li Xuanli suggested thoughtfully.

Li Tiangang narrowed his eyes. “The Buddha Lord might not personally act. At most, he’d send a Bodhisattva. You should have realized by now what the situation in Liang Province truly represents.”

Li Xuanli, recalling Lin Wujing and certain rumors, nodded slightly.

“But the true cultivators of Qiandao Palace wouldn’t easily leave their sanctuary. We can’t let this golden opportunity slip by, can we?”

“Let’s involve the royal family. Have them issue a summons. Jiang Yan and Jiang Chong, the two princes, are already here. If they can rally others, like the Sword Saints and other powerful figures, and even the commander of the Imperial Guard, the Candlefire God won’t escape alive!”

Li Tiangang’s eyes shone with cold determination.

“Understood,” Li Xuanli said, nodding.

...

As peace returned to Liang Province, Prince Jiang Yan joined forces with the Liang Province military and the Shenjiang Mansion. Together, they erected a grand sacrificial platform within the province, using the remains of nine demons at the Three Immortals Realm to perform a ceremony.

Officially, this was presented as a ritual to honor the fallen civilians of Liang Province, though its true purpose was to strike fear into the hearts of the demons.

News of the ceremony quickly spread, further terrifying demons beyond the borders.

Once the sacrifices were complete, messages began to spread across the land.

...

At the Xia family’s estate, in a simple courtyard, an elderly woman tended to her poultry, scattering feed for the chickens and ducks.

“Come on, come on.”

The old woman threw a handful of grain to the little yellow chicks pecking eagerly at the ground, their small beaks clattering against the grains.

Suddenly, the courtyard door creaked open. A middle-aged woman in patched clothing walked in, holding a letter. Her simple appearance was accentuated by a grey wooden hairpin, though her snow-white skin, as smooth as lamb fat jade, betrayed her elegance.

The elderly woman, reclining in a wicker chair, gently rocked back and forth as she watched the chicks with a serene expression. She looked up only when the middle-aged woman approached and extended the letter.

“Madam, it’s a letter from the Li family,” the woman said softly, her tone full of deference.

Taking the letter, the elderly woman opened it and read slowly. After some time, she closed it with a soft sigh and murmured, “The dynasty’s fortunes are waning, and these old schemers are growing restless.”

“Madam, should we go?” the middle-aged woman asked cautiously, her voice low. “This is indeed a rare opportunity. If the Candlefire God possesses a Dao Domain, he won’t perish in the River of Death. When he emerges, it will be the perfect moment to hunt him down.”

The elderly woman tucked the letter behind her chair and threw another handful of grain to the chicks.

“Tianji Hall has likely already passed this intelligence to other demon factions. Though the demons often fight among themselves, they understand the principle of mutual survival.”

...

“The Ancient Demon Hall and the Void Realm Lord may not intervene, but Gluttony Valley, Longmen, and the Sacred Palace will undoubtedly send reinforcements.”

“This is both an opportunity and a trap,” the elderly woman said.

Kicking one of the larger chicks lightly, she chuckled, “Don’t eat everything yourself. Leave some for the others.”

The largest chick, looking slightly aggrieved, scuttled toward the middle-aged woman’s feet for protection.

The woman shifted her foot slightly and asked, “Madam, does that mean we should wait and see?”

“Wait,” the elderly woman replied softly.

...

At the Wang family residence, three figures gathered in a grand hall resembling a palace.

“We’ve just received another letter from the Li family. Liang Province has been pacified,” said a burly, authoritative man. “Previously, when Li Tiangang issued the Eight Directions Summons for reinforcements, our Wang family was too far away to respond in time. By the time we could have arrived, the situation would already have been resolved. If we don’t show some gesture of support now, we might be criticized.”

“Hmph, criticized by whom? What do these demon affairs have to do with us? We’ve already given them troops from the Wang family. Isn’t that enough?” scoffed a thin, sharp-faced middle-aged man.

“Let’s not bring up old grievances,” said the elderly figure seated above them, his tone low and calm. “Past conflicts are like fleeting clouds, too complicated to untangle.

“Right now, the situation in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty is the real issue. The demon threat is secondary. The problems surrounding the River of Death are growing increasingly severe.”

The elderly man sighed deeply, his brow furrowed with both worry and faint anticipation.

“Zhendong is currently working toward breaking through to ten thousand merit points. I wonder what changes will occur once he reaches this milestone.”

The authoritative man on the right said, “It should lead to some significant transformation. Over the years, our family’s research and challenges surrounding the River of Death have shown that the Merit Rankings are far more than just a title.”

“The 98th ancestor reached ten thousand merit points in his day. Wasn’t it recorded that he gained an extraordinary reverse fate opportunity? His fortune soared, and it led to our Wang family producing so many exceptional talents over the years.”

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