Follow the path of Dao from infancy

"These Demons, indeed harbor undying demonic hearts!"

Her eyes brimmed with murderous intent and rage.

Li Hao suddenly understood; he had made similar guesses about the situation beyond the pass earlier.

"How is the situation on the Western Frontier?"

"For now, it remains unknown."

Li Hongzhuang shook her head, "My fifth brother only said that we should be on guard as well, as the Demons might invade at any time. He instructed us to keep a close watch and not to slacken."

"That's why today I had all the soldiers in the city on high alert and sent several teams of elite scouts beyond the pass. The earliest team to depart has already returned from eight hundred miles out without sighting any Demons."

Li Hao hadn't elaborated on his previous cleanup outside the pass to Li Hongzhuang; the area within five thousand miles had already been cleared by him.

Therefore, it was normal that nothing was discovered within eight hundred miles.

However, now that the Demons were amassing to attack Liangzhou's Western Frontier, they might also regroup and head towards Heavenly Gate Pass, given that it is a critical chokepoint on the southern side of Liangzhou.

Just because it was clear before, doesn't mean it remains so now.

Thus, Li Hao didn't say much, waiting for the return of the scouts she had dispatched to know the exact situation.

Should those Demons dare to come, he would clear them out once again.

It just so happened that the Demons he had slain earlier provided the city with food for over a month, which they had already run out of.

An opportunity to replenish the food supply wouldn't be bad; it would save him the expense of procurement.

Now that he had left the Li Family, he was self-reliant, and his finances were all self-earned, relying on the rewards he had previously obtained and selling Demon materials in exchange.

Previously, when he had no money, it had been Song Qiumo who had fronted the funds. He hadn't yet had the chance to repay her the money or the favor.

"If the other scouts don't find traces of Demons, it could mean that the Demons may have concentrated their forces to attack the Western Frontier,"

Li Hongzhuang said, "Then, we'll scout the Western Frontier's battle situation."

"However, it is also possible that the Demons have split up and their main force has not yet moved towards our area. I will continue to send people to scout in the coming days."

She would not underestimate or relax her vigilance; with the speed of the Demon army, traveling a thousand miles in a day was not surprising. With the Great Demons serving as the vanguard, in less than half a day, they could rush a thousand miles and attack a city in advance.

Li Hao nodded; indeed, this was a prudent approach.

"Inform me immediately if there's any situation."

Li Hao then prepared to rise and take his leave.

Li Hongzhuang cast a glance at him and asked, "You returned from Yongzhou after just five days. Didn't you thoroughly browse through Tianji Tower, or was it that the head of Tianji Tower was unwilling to let you see more?"

"No, he let me look as I pleased."

"Then why did you come back so soon?" Li Hongzhuang asked, surprised.

Because I finished... Li Hao smiled, waved his hand, and said, "I've been on the road too long; I haven't taken a bath in several days. I'll go change into fresh clothes first."

"..." Li Hongzhuang was somewhat speechless. You couldn't possibly have hurried back just to take a bath, could you?

Before she could continue to ask, Li Hao had already stepped out of the Divine General Mansion and disappeared from her sight.

"This guy..."

Li Hongzhuang couldn't help but shake her head, amused. She wondered how someone as casual as Li Hao could have cultivated to such an extent, a stark contrast to the strictly disciplined offspring of the Divine General Mansion, yet ironically Li Hao surpassed everyone in talent.

Back in the small courtyard.

Li Hao quickly washed and changed into new clothes, sent a message to Feng, who was secretly stationed nearby, and suddenly remembered that his return had been too hurried. He hadn't taken the time to stroll around Yongzhou to bring back some tasty local specialties.

However, his main concern was the possibility of a Demon invasion at Heavenly Gate Pass, as it was highly likely that the Demons of Tianji Temple would learn of his departure.

"To think they didn't seize the opportunity to attack Heavenly Gate Pass, could it be that their main forces have moved to the Western Frontier?"

"They might feel that even if they conquered Heavenly Gate Pass while I'm gone, they'd have to retreat when I return, given the numerous flags here."

Li Hao knew that the Demons outside the pass must have witnessed the power of his flags, especially those of Tianji Palace.

Seeing Cangya City's walls bristling with flags and still daring to come would indeed show courage.

Shaking his head, Li Hao didn't ponder further. Since the Demons were attacking the Western Frontier, it indicated they truly intended to strike Liangzhou, and he had to guard Heavenly Gate Pass well.

"The world is starting to descend into chaos..."

Li Hao felt it was time to exert himself; he sent Ren Qianqian to invite the young chess prodigy, Xu Zhouyuan.

When dealing with these masters of the arts, Li Hao was exceedingly polite.

Embracing Li Hao's attitude, Ren Qianqian approached the inn where the young chess master resided with much courtesy, conveying Li Hao's invitation.

Xu Zhouyuan, now well into his seventies with snow-white hair, possessed mediocre Martial Arts talent and had not cultivated. He relied instead on the wealth accumulated through his reputation to buy some health-maintaining elixirs.

But being a mortal with a frail constitution, he could not handle too strong a medicine, so the elixirs he took simply allowed him a slightly longer lifespan than an average mortal elder and a slightly more robust physical condition.

When his attendant saw Ren Qianqian, he was flustered with honor and hastily invited her in.

Xu Zhouyuan, hearing that the young master was in the mood again, also smiled. Recalling the previous close and indecisive matches, he too felt an itch for the game and promptly accepted the invitation.

Ren Qianqian presented Xu Zhouyuan with ten taels of Gold, handing it to the young chess master.

Xu Zhouyuan hurriedly tried to decline, but Ren Qianqian insisted it was the young master's rule.

He could only accept.

...He had previously taken more than ten bags like this.

One could hardly turn down such generosity...

With a beaming face, Xu Zhouyuan followed Ren Qianqian into the carriage, bound for the bamboo-fenced courtyard.

The scions of noble families who recognized Ren Qianqian immediately exclaimed in surprise, seeing her invite Xu Zhouyuan with such a humble and respectful demeanor. They assumed the old man must be a senior from the Four Stands Realm.