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“That’s right, you all hurry along now; this kid alone is enough to take me back,” the Ji family elder said impatiently.
“Big brother, is it really so?!”
Li Xiaoran’s eyes suddenly reddened as he looked at Li Tianzong.
Li Tianzong was silent. He turned to Li Hao and said, “Anyway, it’s just one glance and not seeing would be fine. Being able to see that I have a fine grandson like you, I am already utterly content.”
“Since I am going to fade away sooner or later, I will pass on this strength of mine to you; perhaps it will take you to greater heights!”
Li Hao understood his intention but shook his head slightly: “I have yet to grasp the essence of the Tao, your strength, if given to me, will only enhance the power of my Divine Soul; it cannot help me break through to the next realm.”
An increase in the strength of one’s Divine Soul is indeed a great thing, but for Li Hao, practicing certain Divine Spirit Cultivation Skills could achieve that.
How could he let this old man perish in soul and spirit for something that could be achieved through Cultivation Techniques?
Li Tianzong paused, feeling an urge to cry: “But my dear grandson, I have not given you anything yet, and you almost died for me…”
“You have already given,”
Li Hao looked at him and revealed a hint of a smile, saying, “You have acknowledged my paintings, those pleasures I indulge in when I am not attending to my duties…”
Hearing this, Li Tianzong felt even more sorrowful and said, “How minor those things are! My grandson, with your unparalleled talent, do you not deserve praise?”
Li Hao fell silent for a moment, then smiled again, and said to Li Xiaoran, “Fourth uncle, please take grandfather back; be careful on the road.”
Li Xiaoran, upon hearing that his big brother Li Tianzong was soon to fade away, still felt dazed, somewhat distraught. Coming back to his senses, he said:
“I understand, Hao Er, you must also be careful, and if I don’t see you by the time I get back, I’ll come looking for you!”
“No need for you to come looking; this kid is much stronger than you,” scoffed the Ji Family elder. Being the source of the Mo River’s persistent obsession, he knew everything that had happened inside and was extremely satisfied with Li Hao’s performance.
Such talent, even within their Ji Family, would be considered exceptional.
“Fourth Uncle, farewell.”
Li Hao then bade them goodbye.
“This looks like the border of Great Wilderness Heaven, where Demons abound, and their strength is formidable; you should also be cautious,” Li Xiaoran said.
Li Hao nodded.
“Get moving now, stop dawdling,” the Ji Family elder couldn’t help urging.
Li Xiaoran and Li Tianzong exchanged glances, thinking to themselves that this uncle from their family surely lacked patience.
After some more admonitions, entrusting Li Hao with information about the Great Wilderness Heaven that they knew, the Ji Family elder, upon hearing half of it, interjected:
“I will tell the boy along the way; you all hurry along now!”
Hearing this, the two finally desisted, reasoning that since the other was a powerful member of the Ji Family, he would likely guide Li Hao.
The group bid farewell.
Li Hao, remembering the issue with Heavenly Gate Pass, said to Li Xiaoran, “Fourth uncle, after taking grandfather back, please also take a trip to Heavenly Gate Pass for me; greet my Sword Servant and tell her that I won’t be able to return for now, that she along with my avatar will need to hold the fort at Heavenly Gate Pass.”
He referred to her as the Sword Servant, not mentioning Feng, mainly because he was worried that the other would not accept Feng’s identity.
And once the message reached Ren Qianqian, it would naturally be relayed to Feng, who would understand what he meant.
“Hmm.”
Li Xiaoran nodded, thinking of the rumors he had vaguely heard about Li Hao and Li Tiangang, his expression slightly shifted, but seeing his elder brother still present by his side, immediately restrained himself from any reaction.
After saying their goodbyes, Li Hao watched Li Xiaoran and Li Tianzong leave together. They followed the main path, determined the direction toward the Dayu Divine Dynasty, then flew off.
“We should be on our way, too.”
The Ji Family elder said.
Li Hao gazed longingly one last time, then withdrew his gaze, nodding slightly.
…
…
Li Xiaoran flew in a straight trajectory across the wilderness with Li Tianzong. Continue your adventure with M-V-L
Every few hundred li, they would pause to verify their direction.
As they progressed, he finally located their exact position, and couldn’t help but reveal a joyous expression:
“This is the outer boundary of Liangzhou Territory; if we look at that path up ahead, we can just pass by Heavenly Gate Pass on our way back.”
“Heavenly Gate Pass?”
Li Tianzong asked curiously, “I just heard Hao Er mention, is he in command there? Hao is so young; how can he be allowed to start leading troops into battle now? He’s still at the age for cultivation.”
Li Xiaoran laughed somewhat unnaturally and said, “Hao Er is exceptionally gifted, as you’ve seen. The pace of his cultivation is astonishing; starting training early isn’t a bad thing.”
“That’s true. He’s only fifteen outside, yet at that place, by eighteen, he can match the Demon King of the Grand Tao of Peace Realm,”
Li Tianzong’s eyes gleamed continuously as he spoke, showing a mix of excitement and amazement: “To have such a descendant in the Li Family, I can indeed die without regrets!”
Hearing him say the words “die without regrets.”
Li Xiaoran’s face shifted slightly, falling silent as he recalled what Li Hao had just mentioned—that his elder brother would only be able to take one last glance before dissolving into nothing.
His heart soured as he spoke no more, bowing his head to hasten their journey.
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