Follow the path of Dao from infancy

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...

Within Heavenly Gate Pass.

Li Hongzhuang stood atop the city wall, gazing into the distance, yet Li Hao had still not returned. Her eyebrows knitted slightly, as an inexplicable thumping sensation arose within her heart.

It was as though she had a premonition of unease.

"General, has Marshal Haotian not returned yet?"

A Grandmaster hurriedly came to ask.

Li Hongzhuang was taken aback and asked, "What did you call him?"

"Marshal Haotian," the Grandmaster replied, puzzled.

Li Hongzhuang's expression shifted slightly; earlier, Li Hao had been stationed in Dayue City and distinguished himself. Later, having defended Heavenly Gate Pass and contributed greatly, His Majesty had conferred upon him the rank of Marshal. This news had already made its rounds in the court and had long since been relayed back to Qingzhou the Li Family.

Now, Li Hao's military banners fluttered all around the city's ramparts, with the words "Haotian" billowing in the wind. Most of the people in the city had changed how they addressed Li Hao.

It seemed no one called the young man "Young Master of the Li Family" anymore.

Perhaps in private, everyone still remembered that this youth was of the Li Family, bearing the honorable surname of the Divine General Mansion, but as time passed, would anyone still remember?

Li Hongzhuang's thoughts drifted away until the Grandmaster's question pulled her back.

She furrowed her brow and asked, "What do you need him for?"

"General, it's not me who's looking for him. The Star Bureau Official is seeking Marshal Haotian," said the Grandmaster. "Their Array seems to be constructed and they wish to ask the Marshal to test it."

Li Hongzhuang glanced into the distance and said, "I'll go take a look first."

With that, she soared into the air and quickly reached the opposite side of the city's ramparts.

Li Hongzhuang landed, where an elderly Star Bureau Official and a few disciples were waiting.

"General," greeted the official, upon seeing Li Hongzhuang's bright red armor and the insignia on her shoulder with a slight bow.

Li Hongzhuang did not dare presume superiority and quickly raised her hand in return, then said, "You've all worked hard."

"It is our duty," replied the official. He glanced around and asked, "Where is Marshal Haotian?"

Li Hongzhuang's brows imperceptibly furrowed, and she replied calmly, "He's gone beyond the pass to slay demons."

"When did he leave, and how come I didn't see any troops marching out?" asked Xia Xiang Lan from behind, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Li Hongzhuang glanced at her and said, "He went alone, without an army."

"Alone?" Xiang Lan was taken aback, then quickly asked, "Why didn't he take an army? Isn't that dangerous?"

"..."

Li Hongzhuang was momentarily speechless, struck by what seemed like an off-the-cuff question. Was there no danger? How could there not be?

To say there was danger... But how could she allow that young man to venture alone?

She paused briefly, then realized and responded, "The dangers outside the pass are such that our soldiers cannot keep up with him; they would only slow him down."

At this, she suddenly felt a burning sensation on her face.

What seemed normal on any given day now felt slightly embarrassing when spoken aloud.

Despite also being stationed at the Frontier Pass, they seemed to be there just for show.

"Is he that strong?" Xiang Lan looked at her in surprise.

Li Hongzhuang was silent for a moment, then thought, yes, that young man was indeed very strong.

So strong that even she, his younger aunt, could not keep up with his pace.

Maybe if her Ninth Brother were still alive, he could have stood shoulder to shoulder with that young man, or perhaps he would be waiting further ahead, in a distant part of the journey, for him.

"Xiang Lan, show some respect," scolded the Star Bureau Official. Although he did not enjoy idle chatter, he could read the room. The rumors about that young man and the Li Family were too sensational, and he had heard of them too. He immediately asked Li Hongzhuang,

"General, do you know when the young marshal will return?"

"..."

Li Hongzhuang had no answer; when Li Hao left, he had said nothing.

Seeing Li Hongzhuang's silence, the Star Bureau Official looked at her with a peculiar gaze and said no more, only adding, "In that case, we will wait a few more days for the young marshal to return."

"Thank you for your patience," Li Hongzhuang finally replied.

"Has he always been like this?" Xiang Lan asked Li Hongzhuang.

Li Hongzhuang frowned, as if she had not heard her, feeling almost powerless to respond to the young girl's words.

Seeing herself ignored, Xiang Lan just pouted slightly. After her master led Li Hongzhuang away, she looked towards the outside of the city where the vast expanse of melting snow stretched out:

"What kind of demon is he battling against?"

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Three thousand li beyond the pass.

A dragon-bird with a colorful, iridescent glow fled in panic, shooting rapidly between the peaks, shedding its feathers, which scattered in every direction.

Behind it, a golden divine light sped after it, dramatically accelerating and slicing toward its wings.

The dragon-bird let out an angry roar. With a flap of its wings, it created a thunderous sound and a barrage of lightning fell like a dense storm, striking the area nearby.

But the golden divine light suddenly curved into an arc, like a crescent moon, slicing at another spot. The sharp edge swiftly drew a line of blood; the dragon-bird's side was torn open, its internal organs nearly spilling out.

In pain, it screeched and its eyes filled with terror. It said, "I have no quarrel with you; why must you push me to death?!"

Li Hao's figure quietly appeared from another direction, throwing a punch. The overwhelming power of the punch seemed to seal the space around the dragon-bird, along with the air, all pressing down with that single blow.

The dragon-bird cried pitifully as it crashed into a mountain peak, creating a large crater as rocks tumbled into the ravines.

The golden light followed closely, diving into the dust and piercing through the head of the dragon-bird, which hadn't gotten up.

"You..."

The dragon-bird's eyes widened in despair and anger as it stared at the approaching youth, but it no longer had the strength to rise.

The Dragon Soar Sword flew back into its sheath. Li Hao looked at the dying dragon-bird, shaking his head slightly. He released a slender thread, winding around the dragon-bird's corpse, and dragged it up.

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