Chapter 300: Chapter 58 Li Tian Gang, Come Out and Face Your Death!! (First Update)
Liangzhou, Eastern Territory.
Outside the black stone expanse of the Great Wall, the landscape of heaven and earth lay completely exposed.
The gray clouds were dark and oppressive, the grasslands without a breath of wind.
Within the Great Wall, however, lay the vast frontier defense line, where patrols clad in light armor made their rounds back and forth.
In the military camp, Li Tian Gang held a military dispatch in his hands, which contained information that had been scouted about the various conditions across Liangzhou.
To the north, there had been a Demon’s attack half a year ago, but he sent a secret letter to the Xia Family, asking them to dispatch frontier troops to help, which pushed back the Demon.
The Xia Family was initially reluctant to cross the border, since after all, this was a matter for the Li Family. Although the Xia Family had decent relations with the Li Family, sending troops to help across the border was somewhat reluctant, unless there was a major disaster that caused upheaval in various cities.
However, Li Tian Gang clearly stated in his letter that it was very likely a probe by the Demons. If the Xia Family did not act and chose to watch from the sidelines, the Demons outside of Liangzhou territory would take the north as their breakthrough, turning it into the largest battlefield.
When that happened, the battlefield would inevitably spread to Jizhou, under Xia Family’s control, and in turn would cause greater losses for them.
For this reason, he revealed part of the military intelligence of Liangzhou, the strict defense of the Eastern and Western Territories of Liangzhou, and the presence of Four Stands Realm powerhouses stationed in the Southern Heavenly Gate Pass. This eventually made the Xia Family realize that the fire could spread to them, so they joined forces with the Liangzhou Military Department in the north, driving away those Demons.
Since then, the north, just as Li Tian Gang had predicted, showed no more traces of Demons.
The Xia Family also witnessed the military decision-making of the current True Dragon of the Li Family, no wonder they had been able to fight against the Demons for more than a decade in Northern Yan despite severe disadvantages, and ultimately win.
“The Demons in the fifth brother’s area have not shown up for a long time now. These Demons pretend to feint a blow and withdraw, but unfortunately, the Demon tide in Liuzhou has not retreated and has not attacked either. Their feint is too obvious!”
“That is where the real containment is!”
“The true killing move of these Demons is not in Liuzhou, but in Liangzhou or Youzhou!”
Li Tian Gang’s eyes were piercingly cold. It had been almost a year since he came to Liangzhou to oversee the situation. Since his first arrival, when he repelled the invading Demons of the Eastern Territory, the Demons hadn’t dared to launch large-scale attacks again, only occasionally harassing the perimeter.
His gaze overlooked the entire panorama of Liangzhou, but beyond Liangzhou, he also penetrated insights into other provinces, judging the real intent of those Demons based on intelligence from various other provinces.
This was also the reason why he had stayed here for so long; although there were no battles, he had not left.
He had seen through the Demons’ intentions.
“Reconstruction of Cangya City…”
Li Tian Gang looked at the intelligence gathered in the report, and his face darkened.
In the south at Heavenly Gate Pass, with Li Hao stationed there, he naturally paid extra attention, but the consecutive news that came made it hard for him to feel elated.
Ever since Li Muxiu and the Chief of Tianji Tower, Lu Chunsheng, had come forward to assist Li Hao in driving away the Wan Shan Demon King and the other three old Demon Kings who had lingered outside the pass for many years, Heavenly Gate Pass had seen years of peace it had not known for a long time.
During this period of peace, the city that had once been left in ruins resembling mere mounds of earth was reconstructed.
That was supposed to be good news, even joyful.
Li Tian Gang could understand that.
But if it were just about rebuilding the city, that would have been the end of it, constructing Arrays meant reestablishing a defense line.
However, after the construction, all kinds of people from various provinces could come and go freely, the city gates wide open, with no apparent intention to bar entry, and many commoners had even relocated there, along with businesses setting up shop and so on, turning that Frontier Pass into a city developing like any other within the interior regions.
At present, Cangya City was flourishing and bustling, like a major city deep within the interior.
But this is not within the realm, it’s the frontier!
Demons can invade at any moment!
Especially when considering the current perilous situation of Liangzhou, if the demons were to attack Heavenly Gate Pass, it would result in a bloodbath, and countless would die or be injured!
“Just a bit of success, and he becomes arrogant.”
“Hong Zhuang as well, she didn’t stop him. The child may be ignorant, but shouldn’t she know better? After guarding the frontier for so many years, can she not see through the false prosperity!”
Li Tian Gang’s face was grim, as everyone close to the child seemed to dote on him excessively, allowing him to do as he pleased.
His second uncle did so, his fifth uncle did so, and so did his sister-in-law, and now, even his younger sister who had been stationed at the frontier for years was doing the same!
Was it just because the child had peerless talent?
He admitted that Li Hao’s talent was exceptional, far surpassing his, but for that very reason, indulgence was unacceptable!
Considering all of Li Hao’s actions, he regretted not intervening sooner.
The battle in Northern Yan had lasted far too long, preventing him from returning home in time, which had become his greatest regret these days.
“Bring me paper and pen.”
Li Tian Gang issued the order, intending to write a military order to have Li Hongzhuang at Heavenly Gate Pass disperse the city’s civilians.
As a frontier city, it only needed a small population for the circulation of supplies. Gathering so many civilians was simply harmful.
Upon hearing the command, Li Fu immediately turned to fetch paper and pen, but just then, a sudden roar came howling from the distant frontier:
“Li Tian Gang, come out and face your death!!”
The terrifying sound waves, despite the distance, caused the tent flaps of the military camp to tremble violently.
Li Fu, just stepping out of the tent, had his expression change drastically, a mix of shock and anger, as his Divine Soul burst forth from his back, leaping into the sky, looking out towards the distant frontier.
There, a tiny black dot stood with hands behind his back, suspended mid-air, wearing a splendid gold-trimmed war robe, his gaze cold and piercing.
Li Fu’s face subtly changed. Despite the distance, he could feel the other’s terrifying, abyssal pressure, sending shivers down his spine.
With his years of battlefield experience following Li Tian Gang, he recognized at a glance that it was the Demon King!
Before Li Fu could turn and report, such a commotion had already alerted all the nearby military camps along the frontier.
Li Tian Gang, hearing the thunderous shout, narrowed his eyes slightly. Had these beasts finally lost their patience?
He took a step out of the military camp, moving straight towards the sky.
Gazing from afar, outside the frontier defense line, the Demon King in the splendid gold-trimmed war robe met his gaze.
“It’s good that you’re still here!”
Feng Shan Jun felt a sense of relief upon seeing Li Tian Gang. All the rage he had pent up for so long could finally be vented.
That damn brat had ruined one of his lives!
Only one chance to defy fate, and to have used it up like that… It was akin to incurring a deathly grudge!
“Die!”
Feng Shan Jun bellowed, summoning a Crimson Flame Spear in his hand and suddenly charging over.
Inside the defense line, everyone was shocked and alarmed.
It was the first time a Demon King had attacked the city alone, issuing a challenge, it was outrageous!
“Set up the Array!”
Li Tian Gang’s eyes were cold as ice, yet not a hint of panic showed, but instead he bellowed furiously.
His roar spread throughout the field, instantly stabilizing the previously shaken morale of the troops.
Feng Shan Jun’s spear, trailing flames and divine light, had barely reached the frontier when it triggered the Array.
The Array burst out like thousands of golden rays, condensing into a protective shield that enveloped the defense line.
Above, golden Array patterns flowed, containing the profound power of stars and the celestial stem.
Feng Shan Jun’s attack was blocked by the Array, yet it trembled from his relentless assaults, his eyes rolling with flames of rage, continuously launching the spear at the Array, stirring up waves of golden light scattering in all directions.
At this time, within the military camps in the defense line, troops had already swiftly assembled, with remarkable efficiency.
The first to form up was the Li Family’s strongest military camp, Yuan Camp!
A full ten thousand Yuan Camp soldiers, connecting with the Array, injected their strength into it.
With the Six Phases Star Array being managed by the ten thousand Yuan Camp soldiers, it could withstand the Demon King’s attacks for the time it takes an incense stick to burn!
“Yu Xuan, quick, inform the other camps to enter full combat readiness, the demon army could come at any moment!”
Li Tian Gang swiftly ordered Yu Xuan, who stood by his side.
Yu Xuan was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized that the Demon King had risked being hunted to issue this challenge, most likely to draw their fire.
The fact that there was no demon tide beyond the pass indicated that the rest of the demon army might be heading towards other parts of the defense line.
He immediately accepted the command and went to carry it out.
Bugle calls blared one after another within the defense line, swiftly carrying the signal throughout, and in the blink of an eye, everywhere within the defense line resounded with the ancient calls of war elephants.
All the military camps within the defense line, hearing the call to arms, tensed up instantly, rapidly donning armor and picking up weapons, taking their posts, ready for battle at any moment.
Meanwhile, at the farthest end of the defense line outside the territory, towards the horizon, the ground began to shake, and a dense, dark mass swept towards them, like a black mudslide with an earth-shattering force.
Seeing that a demon tide was indeed attacking, the distant defense line immediately released battle signals.
Beacons shot into the sky, their piercing, bird-like whistles resounding.
These beacons were also seen by the soldiers at the other defense lines, sharply conspicuous.
Li Tian Gang also noticed and affirmed that his deduction had been correct.
“Kill!”
Li Tian Gang’s gaze turned icy, watching the Demon King who was persistently destroying the Array alone, he suddenly stepped out, borrowing the power of the Array to summon the imprisoned Demon Souls within!
However, he did not release the full might of the Array here, as they would need its strength for the upcoming demon onslaught.
He only called forth a single Demon Soul, merging it into his own body.
With a gesture of his hand, a brilliant Divine Blade flew out from the military tent, and one after another, pieces of armor that had been previously removed flew onto his body to be worn.
Shoulder armor, cape, protective chest mirror, armguards, kneecaps, combat boots, and so on.
In the blink of an eye, the war armor was all in place, he held the Divine Blade, the divine might blazing fiercely upon it.
“Die!”
Li Tian Gang took a step forward, like a domineering and mighty War God, bursting out of the Array and charging towards the Demon King.
“A mere Immortal daring to seek death!”
“Just like your accursed beast of a son, you can all die!”
Feng Shan Jun, seeing Li Tian Gang actually taking the offensive, couldn’t help but laugh, but his face became angry and ferocious.
The spear swept out fiercely, with intense flames burning the air into a hot, twisting distortion.
In sync with the power of the Dao, his attack was bound to hit its mark.
Facing this phoenix-flame spear, Li Tian Gang erupted with the Demon Soul’s violent cry, the Divine Blade’s divine might dazzling as it slashed fiercely.
The blade’s radiance was like a golden river, parting heaven and earth, severing the phoenix flames.
But as the phoenix flames shattered, they transformed into a sea of fire that suddenly surrounded Li Tian Gang’s body.
The intense heat made the golden patterns on the Array flicker and twist, the energy rapidly depleting.
Feng Shan Jun suddenly raised his hand, releasing a phoenix cry, his body spiraling rapidly, breaking through the sea of fire and thrusting his spear towards Li Tian Gang’s chest.
With a bang, Li Tian Gang’s body was forced back, slamming hard against the Array.
But then, Li Tian Gang’s body surged forward again, the Demon Soul within him sinking, merging into his body, his aura strengthened slightly as he continued to step forward and hack away.
“You want to emulate your son and slay a Demon King as an Immortal?!”
“Not enough! Not enough! Not enough!”
Feng Shan Jun’s eyes blazed with an intimidating light as he roared, “You are still far from matching your son!”
“Stupid beast, seeking death!”
Li Tian Gang’s eyes widened in fury as he suddenly slashed down an earth-shattering blade, power unleashing, the blade’s rainbow shining brightly.
Feng Shan Jun retreated, dodging the blade’s rainbow, and seeing Li Tian Gang pursuing him, a sneer appeared in his eyes. The spear swung fiercely, shattering the second blow of divine might from Li Tian Gang’s blade.
“You’re the one who’s going to die!”
Behind Feng Shan Jun, a pair of phoenix-flamed wings made of fire abruptly appeared, and then his body abruptly halted, surging with momentum as he lunged at Li Tian Gang.
His attack twisted the air before Li Tian Gang, and his body, like teleporting, appeared instantly!
The spear swept across, thrusting from above, heading straight for Li Tian Gang’s head.