As for the Ji surname, they also wouldn't dare claim it, otherwise if the matter reached the Divine General Mansion, there would likely be repercussions.
"Hao, the painting you expressed interest in purchasing earlier, I have given it some thought and would like to offer it to you as a gift, would you still care to have it?"
Bai Chunhai, accompanied by his disciple, stepped forward with a smile and said.
His disciple, a burly man, looking at the imposingly seated youth, felt anxious and hastily said, "Earlier, I was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai, please forgive me."
After speaking, he bowed his head deeply.
A Grandmaster must not be humiliated, as it easily leads to bloodshed.
But Li Hao didn't take the other party to heart and said to Bai Chunhai with a smile, "Since that's the case, I thank you."
Seeing Li Hao willing to accept the gift, Bai Chunhai felt an inexplicable joy and a smile appeared on his face.
If it had been anybody else asking for his painting before, they would have certainly been met with disdain, but this young man was an exception.
From the outskirts of the crowd, Li Wushuang had already released the signal, and as the city defense came to an end, she also withdrew from the battle.
She had heard all that Li Hao just said, her expression exceedingly complex, as she clutched the sword in her hands, biting her lower lip.
This cousin of hers was actually serious about breaking away from the Li Family, making such a statement in public would surely spread even further.
If he truly severs ties completely in the future, would she and Li Hao still be considered cousins?
She felt a mysterious heartache.
Before long, Li Hao received the famous painting sent by Bai Chunhai.
After glancing at it, he naturally wouldn't take it up in public but handed it to Ren Qianqian to hold.
Afterwards, he bid farewell to these Grandmasters with a cupped fist salute and then took Ren Qianqian, departing the debating grounds and walking towards the outside of Dayue City.
Having achieved his purpose for coming here and having had an extra debate, which was quite fruitful, Li Hao needed to hurry back to Heavenly Gate Pass.
Leaving the city, Li Hao saw a tumultuous army of iron hooves rolling in from afar, within which he spotted the banner with the character 'Xuan', probably triggered by his cousin's distress signal, calling that uncle over.
However, the camp where he was stationed was some distance from here and could not arrive so swiftly.
Li Hao had no intention of greeting the other party and quietly flew away with Ren Qianqian through another high altitude route.
...
...
Dayue City nearly fell!
Wan Shan, the minor Demon King, led a large demon army in a sneak attack, startling with the appearance of a Four Stands Realm Demon King. They were repelled by a mysterious powerhouse!
This news spread across all the states, and a more detailed military report was swiftly sent to Dayu State, the sacred imperial city.
At the same time, another military report traveled over thousands of mountains and waters, returning to Qingzhou, delivered to the Heavenly Origin Divine General Mansion.
Within the Mansion's council hall, Li Tiangang summoned the family's retainers, the ladies of various households, and Li Muxiu to discuss matters.
On the table was a massive map of Liangzhou's rivers and mountains; Li Tiangang had also taken out the several secret reports they had received earlier. The situation in Liangzhou was more grim than others had imagined.
Among them, Gao Qingqing wore the gravest and most solemn expression.
Because her husband, Li Xuanli, was currently stationed in Liangzhou, with six of the Li Family's nine sons fallen in battle, she was extremely concerned that her own husband would become the seventh to perish.
Ever since Li Xuanli was ordered to set out for Liangzhou, she had not slept well, invariably waking from nightmares, where she saw herself appearing at a spirit tablet, attending funerals that had once been for other people.
But upon lifting the lid of the coffin, she saw the person lying inside was none other than her own husband, with a ghastly pale face. She woke up from the nightmare screaming several times, her hair soaked with tears.
Li Tian Gang, while discussing strategies and the traces of demons on the map, also noticed that his fifth sister-in-law looked unsettled and couldn't help but inwardly sigh. He was even more anxious than her and didn't want his fifth brother to come to harm.
In the midst of their conversation, a war report from Liangzhou arrived.
Hearing it was from Liangzhou, everyone's gaze shifted over.
However, the war report was first handed to Li Tian Gang. His heart sank as he quickly opened it; there were actually three of them.
He looked over each report quickly, yet attentively.
The first report talked about the demon activities detected outside Liangzhou.
The second was about the discussions of martial arts masters in Dayue City.
The third detailed the attack by demons on Dayue City.
Li Tian Gang's brow furrowed upon finishing the first report and his eyes slightly widened with the second.
Upon reading the third report, a look of shock couldn't help but show on his face.
Seeing the change in Li Tian Gang's expression, everyone else started to become tense.
"Tiangang, what's the situation?" Li Muxiu asked with a frown.
Although he was not fond of the other party, such serious matters could require his intervention at any moment. He may need to set out to aid Liangzhou and needed to understand the situation.
Li Tian Gang held the war report for a long time without speaking. Only after everybody else expressed their concern did he pass the reports to them to read for themselves.
Gao Qingqing read through them quickly, and only after confirming that the reports did not mention what she was most anxious and fearful about, did she breathe a sigh of relief, then was immediately stunned into silence by the information inside.
"Hao Er actually participated in the tournament of masters?"
"How is that possible, he actually defeated Li Qianfeng's senior brother, Qin Wuque, who dominated the Qian Dragon List for three years as a demon talent. In this period, he was revered as the number one in Dayu!"
"And he also fought and defeated all the grandmasters present?"
"Wasn't Hao Er just a recent entrant into the Heavenly Human Realm? How could he beat a Great Grandmaster?"
Everyone who saw the report about the tournament of masters was shocked, and they couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Li Muxiu also read it and his face instantly lit up with joy, his eyes sparkling as he said repeatedly, "Good, good, good!"
He burst into laughter.
At this moment, he felt the most relieved and happy he had in a long time.
That pesky kid, he's always full of surprises!
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Li Muxiu laughed heartily, also secretly astounded by Li Hao's terrifying rate of growth. He had experienced it before, but now it seemed even faster.
That child used to only care about having fun. Has he finally decided to put in effort and cultivate earnestly?
Is this his true speed of cultivation?
Li Muxiu laughed joyously and looked towards Li Tian Gang. Seeing his silent and speechless demeanor, he let out a cold chuckle and said:
"Li Tian Gang, that direct disciple of the Buddha Lord, Qin Wuque, entered the Heavenly Human Realm at the age of nineteen with extremely high aptitude!"
"Back in the day, you also entered the Heavenly Human Realm at nineteen, didn't you? Now, Hao has defeated you at your prime!"
"And with just a single finger!"