The Name of Eternals

Chapter 180: Reinforcements, Haotian Flag

"Hmm?"

As Li Hao ate his buns, he suddenly found the taste familiar, as if he had eaten them somewhere before. He looked up and recognized the elderly man running the tea stall. It was the same tea stall owner he had met on his way to Qizhou to slay demons.

"It's you?"

Li Hao looked at the old man in surprise.

"Hmm?"

The old man looked at Li Hao with a puzzled expression.

Li Hao focused on the old man's aura but found that he was just an ordinary person.

"Boss, did you used to run a tea stall on the border of Qizhou?" Li Hao asked.

The old man looked surprised and said, "You know this old man?"

"I passed by before, and you even taught me how to make these buns," Li Hao said.

The old man seemed to recall and said, "Oh, it's you. What brings you here?"

"I should be asking you that. Weren't you running a tea stall in Qizhou for many years?"

"I heard some young martial artists talking about how business was good here, so I thought I'd give it a try. And sure enough, business is much better here. Look."

As they spoke, several well-dressed young men rode up from outside Longguan Road and dismounted when they saw the tea stall.

"Old man, give us some tea!"

"It's not polite to call him old man. You should call him boss."

"You're too particular. We're adventurers now. Calling him old man makes us sound more dashing."

"My father said to be polite when traveling; otherwise, you'll get beaten."

"Oh, you're rhyming now."

The young men sat down, joking and laughing, glancing at Li Hao, assuming he was also here to see Cangya City.

"Coming right up."

The old man cheerfully served them a pot of hot tea. "We also have some buns and snacks. Would you like some?"

"Sure, give us some. One for each."

"Got it."

The old man busily prepared their order, speaking to Li Hao as he worked, "Young hero, are you here to join the fun in Cangya City too?"

"I live here."

Li Hao drank his tea and ate his buns, asking, "From Qizhou to here is quite a journey. Did you come alone? The road isn't easy."

The young men at the nearby table were surprised by Li Hao's words and looked over curiously. One of them, more outgoing, eagerly asked, "Brother, do you live here? Did you just buy a place or join the army?"

"Brother, have you met General Haotian?"

"The journey is long and tough, but taking it slow makes it enjoyable," the old man said with a smile.

Li Hao was momentarily distracted by the young men. He glanced at the tea stall owner again, thinking it was odd but dismissing it as a coincidence. "Boss, I'm leaving."

After finishing his meal, Li Hao stood up and spoke to the owner. He then looked at the young men and smiled, "The border is very dangerous. You should go somewhere else."

"Then why are you here..."

The young men, feeling competitive, wanted to argue but fell silent when they saw Li Hao fly away, disappearing into the sky.

Flying.

A fifteen-mile marker!

The young men, realizing the extent of Li Hao's power, were left speechless.

Despite looking their age, Li Hao was a fifteen-mile realm expert. Quickly, their surprise turned into excitement.

"Guys, hurry up and eat. Let's go too."

The young men became even more eager.

"They're really impatient..."

The old man shook his head with a smile.

...

...

Li Hao quietly returned to Cangya City and entered his small courtyard.

Seeing Li Hao, the patrolling masters saluted him. Li Hao waved them off, letting them continue.

Ren Qianqian was practicing in the yard. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes and saw Li Hao. She quickly got up and ran over.

"Young master, you're back."

"Yes. Any news?"

"Nothing here."

Ren Qianqian said, "But Senior Hongzhuang received a military report this morning. I don't know the details."

Li Hao recalled the strict checks at the city gates and asked Ren Qianqian, "Find me some clean clothes. I need to ask around."

"Sure."

Ren Qianqian nodded.

Li Hao released his soul and scanned the city, quickly locating Li Hongzhuang. He teleported to the general's residence where she was staying.

Li Hongzhuang was practicing with her sword when she sensed him. Seeing Li Hao, she relaxed and said, "Hao'er, you're back? It usually takes six or seven days to travel from Tianji Tower."

"Just got back."

Li Hao sat on a chair, picked up a snack, and asked, "I heard from Qianqian that there's a military report. The soldiers seem to be on alert. What's going on?"

"The demons that were wandering outside Liangzhou pretended to retreat but are now gathering in the western frontier to attack."

Li Hongzhuang frowned as she spoke. "The intelligence was sent by Fifth Brother. It was discovered last night and delivered this morning."

"Those demons are indeed relentless!"

Her eyes flashed with anger.

Li Hao nodded, having anticipated the situation outside the pass.

"How's the situation in the western frontier?"

"Not clear yet."

Li Hongzhuang shook her head. "Fifth Brother only said we should be on guard here too. The demons might invade, so we must stay vigilant."

"I've ordered the entire city to be on alert and sent several elite scouts outside the pass. The first team has returned, having scouted eight hundred miles, but found no demons."

Li Hao hadn't mentioned his previous sweep outside the pass. The area within five thousand miles had already been cleared by him.

It was normal for scouts to find nothing within eight hundred miles.

However, with demons gathering to attack the western frontier, they might regroup to attack Tianmen Pass. Just because he had cleared the area before didn't mean it was safe now.

He said nothing more and waited for her scouts to return with updated information.

If demons did come, he would clear them out again.

The city had eaten all the demons from his last sweep, so new food supplies wouldn't hurt, saving him procurement costs.

Now independent from the Li family, he supported himself with rewards and by selling demon materials.

Previously, he had borrowed money from Song Qiumo, a debt and favor he hadn't repaid yet.

"If the other scouts find no demons, it means they are concentrating on the western frontier," Li Hongzhuang said. "We'll need to assess the situation there."

"But it's also possible the demons are splitting their forces, and the main army hasn't reached us yet. I'll send more scouts over the next few days."

Li Hao nodded, agreeing with her caution.

"Keep me informed."

He prepared to leave.

"You returned after only five days in Yongzhou. Didn't the Tianji Tower master let you read more?"

"He let me read everything."

"Why back so soon?" Li Hongzhuang asked, puzzled.

Because I finished reading... Li Hao smiled and waved her off, "I've been traveling for days without a bath. Need to freshen up."

"..." Li Hongzhuang was speechless. Did he hurry back just for a bath?

Before she could ask more, Li Hao left the general's residence, vanishing from sight.

"This guy..."

Li Hongzhuang shook her head, amused. She couldn't understand how Li Hao, so carefree, achieved such a high level of cultivation, contrasting sharply with the disciplined Divine General's family members. Yet, Li Hao was more outstanding than anyone else.

Back in the small courtyard, Li Hao washed up, changed clothes, and informed Elder Feng, who was secretly in charge of the array. He then remembered he had returned too hastily to buy any local specialties from Yongzhou.

But he was mainly worried about a demon attack on Tianmen Pass, as the demon intelligence network couldn't be unaware of his departure.

"Since they didn't attack while I was away, their main force must be targeting the western frontier."

"Even if they took the pass, they would have to retreat once I returned due to the numerous battle flags here."

Li Hao knew the demons had seen the power of his battle flags. Seeing them on Cangya City's walls would make them hesitate.

Shaking his head, he decided to focus on defending Tianmen Pass.

"The world is becoming chaotic..."

Li Hao felt the need to work harder. He asked Ren Qianqian to invite the young Chess Saint, Xu Zhouyuan.

Li Hao treated these artistic masters with great respect.

Ren Qianqian, following Li Hao's lead, politely invited Xu Zhouyuan from his inn.

Xu Zhouyuan, over seventy years old with white hair, had average martial arts talent and hadn't cultivated much. He relied on his fame to afford some health-strengthening pills. But as a mortal, he couldn't handle powerful elixirs, only those slightly extending his lifespan and strengthening his body.

His attendant, seeing Ren Qianqian, was flustered and quickly invited her in.

Xu Zhouyuan, hearing of the young master's invitation, smiled. Remembering their intense chess match, he eagerly accepted.

Ren Qianqian presented ten taels of gold, a gift from Li Hao.

Xu Zhouyuan tried to decline, but Ren Qianqian insisted it was Li Hao's custom.

He reluctantly accepted, having received over a dozen such bags before.

"It's hard to refuse such generosity..."

Xu Zhouyuan followed Ren Qianqian to the small courtyard, his face full of smiles.

Nearby noble children, recognizing Ren Qianqian, were amazed at her respectful invitation, assuming Xu Zhouyuan to be a formidable senior.

When the innkeeper revealed he was merely a mortal, known as the Chess Saint, they were shocked.

"A chess player?"

They were astonished that such a man would be treated so courteously by the Sword Servant prodigy.

...

In the small courtyard, Li Hao had prepared snacks, tea, and a clean mat.

Hearing the carriage, he knew the elder had arrived.

When Xu Zhouyuan entered, Li Hao greeted him warmly, "Senior, thank you for coming."

"Young General, you're too kind," Xu Zhouyuan said modestly. Despite his fame, in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, martial strength was paramount. Chess was considered a minor art.

"No need to be formal, please have a seat." Li Hao led him to the table, pouring tea.

Xu Zhouyuan, accustomed to Li Hao's hospitality, remained courteous, saying, "Young General, you're too polite."

Serving the powerful was like serving a tiger. As a scholar among warriors, Xu Zhouyuan felt the pressure.

"Senior, relax."

Li Hao smiled, signaling others to leave, and invited Xu Zhouyuan to begin.

The elder, initially formal, soon immersed himself in the game.

Ren Qianqian, aware of Li Hao's dislike for interruptions during chess, akin to warriors being disturbed during training, quietly retreated to practice while keeping watch.

The courtyard returned to tranquility.

Sunlight fell on the eaves, illuminating Xu Zhouyuan's shoes left outside, and the green grass growing between the stone slabs.

Piece by piece, they played in silence.

Xu Zhouyuan, absorbed in the game, lost his initial restraint, fully engaging in the match.

The first game ended with Li Hao barely winning.

Xu Zhouyuan, with five-dan skill, could easily turn the tables if Li Hao made a mistake.

Seeing the experience prompt on his interface, Li Hao smiled and invited another game.

This peace was broken by a sudden shout.

"Report!!"

Xu Zhouyuan, deep in thought, was startled, dropping his piece on the board, displacing some white stones.

A massive black hand slammed down, shattering the radiant golden light of the array, and with a thunderous crash, the foundation of the defensive line was crushed.

With the array broken, the Great Wall was breached, and a flood of demons poured through the gap, rushing towards the city.

Many Xuanzi Battalion soldiers, spitting blood, fell, unable to hold on.

"Father!"

Li Wushuang watched as Li Xuanli, gravely injured, crashed into the city wall, breaking the stones. His armor was dented, and his indestructible body was heavily wounded.

Li Wushuang hurried to support him.

"Retreat! Quickly retreat!"

Li Xuanli, looking at the three hovering demon kings, was filled with anger but forced himself to remain calm for his daughter's sake.

"Withdraw the line, retreat now!"

"Send the distress signal!"

He urgently commanded.

The deputy quickly relayed the orders, and smoke signals rose in the sky.

"Cover the governor's retreat!"

Seeing this, other generals quickly gathered, their expressions serious, knowing it was a life-or-death moment.

Without a Four Stages Realm expert to hold the line, the broken array and three demon kings were unstoppable!

"Kill!!"

A Three Immortal Realm general roared, throwing his spear and leading his troops into battle.

Thousands of soldiers clashed with the demon tide, blood and limbs flying, the battlefield as clear-cut as black and white pieces on a chessboard.

"Report!!"

Xu Zhouyuan, his gaze returning from the disrupted chessboard, looked at the reporting officer.

The officer, kneeling before Li Hao, presented a report. "Young General, we have a military report from the governor of Liangzhou!"

Li Hao frowned slightly, annoyed by the interruption but knowing the importance of the report. He took it.

Before he could read it, Li Hongzhuang, in bright red armor, rushed in.

She rarely removed her armor, even sleeping in soft armor, ready for battle at any moment.

"Did a bloodied messenger just arrive? Is there trouble in the western frontier?!"

Seeing Li Hao, she asked urgently.

Li Hao's expression changed as he quickly read the report.

"The western frontier has fallen, led by demon kings!"

Li Hao's eyes darkened. The western frontier had fallen so quickly?

Hearing Li Hongzhuang's earlier mention of scouts detecting demons last night, the information arrived this morning. Now, in the afternoon, the demons had attacked and breached the defenses within hours.

The western frontier had defensive arrays. But with three demon kings, it was no wonder.

Li Hao frowned, surprised by the lack of Four Stages Realm defenders in the western frontier. How could its defenses be so weak?

"Demon kings!"

Li Hongzhuang's pupils contracted, and she urgently asked, "What about Fifth Brother? Is he alright?"

Her heart clenched, remembering the funerals of their third and sixth brothers, the mourning, and the white funeral clothes.

"He's fine for now."

Li Hongzhuang sighed in relief, her heart calming slightly. "Did he ask for reinforcements? How do they plan to hold the line with the array broken?"

Li Hao shook his head, reading the report again. "He didn't ask for reinforcements, just warned us to be cautious and watch for demon kings. They've withdrawn to the second defensive line."

Li Hongzhuang was stunned but understood. Her face was complicated as she asked, "Should we help?"

Li Hao pondered. There was a shadow clone managing the array here, capable of holding the fort.

As he weighed his options, another voice rushed in.

"Report!"

A Haotian soldier entered, urgently reporting to Li Hao, "Young General, we saw warning signals from outside the pass. Scouts were attacked!"

Both Li Hao and Li Hongzhuang's faces changed.

With the western frontier breached, demons were also attacking here?

"Do we know how many?" Li Hao asked.

"Not yet."

Li Hao looked at Li Hongzhuang, whose face had turned grim.

Li Hao saw her intention to follow Li Xuanli's example and withdraw to concentrate their forces, delaying until reinforcements arrived.

He considered it briefly. With his shadow clone in charge of the array, they could hold out.

"This report indicates they've likely already retreated to the second line. You and Li He should take my battle flag and go."

"You two are Three Immortal Realm experts. Traveling at full speed, you can reach them quickly."

Li Hao planned to have them carry his marked battle flag to aid in the fight, while he stayed to guard Tianmen Pass.

After dealing with the demons here, he could then assist further if needed.

His battle flag, containing fifty percent of his power, was a formidable weapon, capable of rivaling a Dao Heart Realm expert's full-strength strike, providing significant support to his uncle.