“Such mighty achievements, none of the Li Family’s ancestors could ever match.”
He looked at the youth in the crowd, surrounded by others like stars circling the moon, and felt somewhat bewildered.
Li Hao was also checking Emperor Yu’s injuries at this moment. After the six men were slaughtered, the Law Power on Emperor Yu’s body had dissipated, and both his crushed arms and self-amputated legs had regenerated.
Apart from feeling a bit weak, there were no serious issues.
Li Hao then approached the elder Daoist, seeing his breath weak, he asked, “Can you heal yourself?”
Master Qin, limp on the ground, looked up at the youth blocking the light, his gaze extremely complex and with a bitter smile, he said,
“I am unharmed, thanks to you this time.”
“It’s good to hear you’re okay.”
Li Hao nodded; he had no Divine Pills or magical medicines to treat the other party.
Other Jianghu powerhouses who had come to reinforce also came forward one after another to thank Li Hao.
Among them were the Spear Saint Wang Xiezh, the Saber Saint Zu Han, and others, all of whom were renowned for hundreds of years and had once had their moment of glory.
Looking at the handsome and young face before them, they all felt a sense of resignation, feeling their age.
Other members of the Imperial Family also came forward to express their gratitude to Li Hao.
Outside the crowd, Li Muxiu did not step forward but quietly watched that dazzling youth with a hint of satisfaction and a smile in his eyes, happy for him.
When he saw Li Tian Gang beside him, the smile in his eyes receded, and he coldly said,
“Back then, you were so critical. Now, do you think this son of yours is adequate?”
Li Tian Gang’s body trembled slightly, but he didn’t turn to look at him and only silently gazed at the youth.
He felt an insurmountable chasm between them, cutting off their connection.
Could it be that he really was wrong?
To uphold the Law of All Things as doctrine, to follow the law and its principles, was that truly a mistake?
He was now feeling bewildered.
At this time, Emperor Yu took Li Hao, along with Master Qin and other injured members of the Imperial Family, towards the back hall of the Imperial Palace.
Li Muxiu glanced over but did not follow. Instead, he slowly turned and headed towards the outside of the Imperial Palace. As a servant, he intended to survey the Imperial City and if any demon remnants were found, he would deal with them.
Other people also began to leave, only Li Tian Gang still stood there, his expression wooden, his eyes bewildered and pained as he watched the departing figures of Li Hao and Emperor Yu.
The boy never looked back at him from beginning to end, not even to say goodbye.
His expression was somewhat desolate, and he kept asking himself.
Was he indeed wrong?
Truly wrong?
With each question, his Taoist heart crumbled a bit more, and his cultivation waned a bit.
Suddenly, a voice emerged beside his ear, “With the Law of All Things, what wrong have you done?”
That voice was indifferent and calm, seemingly emotionless, transcending all attachment.
Li Tian Gang was startled and looked around, but saw no one.
At this moment, only he remained in the square, with others either heading to heal, cleanse the Imperial City of demon scourge, or assist with the repairs.
“Who?!”
Li Tian Gang’s face changed, his eyes keenly searching his surroundings.
“I am the Holy Master of Law, you cannot see me, and there was Immortal Gate activity here, I noticed the Law and its dedicated hearts, so I came to investigate.”
The voice spoke calmly, “I am asking you, where do you think you have erred?”
A Holy Master of Law?!
Li Tian Gang’s heart shook, and his pupils slowly dilated, a Legalist Saint?!
He could never have imagined that here, he would encounter the legendary Holy Master of Law!
That was a Saint!
Laws of the mortal world, the dynasty’s legal code, protocols between monarchs and ministers, and more, all established and propagated by them.
Although they left no trace, their reputation spread everywhere in the mortal world like an ancient tale.
And now, was he actually facing the true avatar of a Saint?
Li Tian Gang suddenly felt as if he had encountered a relic from ancient times, feeling bewildered and lost.
“I…”
Li Tian Gang slightly opened his mouth but was unsure how to respond.
“Never mind, let me deduce it.”
After the voice finished, it seemed as though a gust of autumn wind had raised the dust on the ground, blowing Li Tian Gang’s battle armor cloak.
Moments later, as the wind quietly settled, the voice spoke again,
“So that’s how it is.”
Li Tian Gang was taken aback, “Saint, you…”
“What do you think your mistake is?” the voice calmly asked him again.
Li Tian Gang’s face fluctuated with emotion; facing a question from one at the Saint Realm, he felt a trembling and nervousness in his heart, as if all his thoughts could not hide.
He bowed his head and said, “I shouldn’t have constrained him with common laws and rituals; people are different from one another, I…”
“So, you think there’s something wrong with the rites and laws?” the Holy Master of Law’s emotionless voice contained a hint of chill.
Li Tian Gang’s heart panicked, and he quickly said, “Not at all, I would never dare to question!”
“You say you dare not question, yet your Tao heart is crumbling.”
The Holy Master of Law coldly continued, “All things abide by laws. That you can comprehend this demonstrates that my teachings have been effective, showing you have good perception and are a true person of understanding. But now, because of this matter, you have abandoned the path you stood by, and that is the real mistake!”
Li Tian Gang was stunned.
“From beginning to end, where have you erred?”
“If I granted you the power of the Tao Comprehension Realm, capable of suppressing everything, and you used the rites and laws to properly instruct, would the outcome not be better?”
Li Tian Gang was dumbfounded. This thought had flitted through his mind before, but now that the other party voiced it, he suddenly felt a sense of penetrating enlightenment.
The Tao heart that had previously been crumbling now started to stabilize once again and gradually solidified.
“Without the rites and laws of sovereign and subject, without penal laws, how could the world’s ugliness be sternly punished?”
“Without law there would be no order, and without order there would be destruction and chaos!”
The voice of the Holy Master of Law, like grand truths, poured into Li Tian Gang’s mind, causing his head to buzz:
“If there were no laws, the world would have long been destroyed, and all things would face annihilation; how could the laws be wrong?”
Li Tian Gang was inwardly shaken, speechless.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of blood within him, the confusion in his eyes dissipated, slowly revealing an excited fervor.
Ever since Li Hao stepped out from the Li Family, nearly everyone in the family had stood against him, leaving him feeling isolated and unsupported.
But now, the words of this Supreme Saint of Law gave him a feeling of intense validation.
He was not wrong; indeed, he truly wasn’t!
The others were wrong!
His only fault lay in not being strong enough to defend his own laws!
His Tao heart surged forth suddenly.
Having once presided over the Ministry of Punishment, how could he not know that without weapons and strength, how could evildoers be brought to justice?
The laws were not wrong; the mistake was that he did not possess the strength to enforce them!
It felt as though he suddenly leapt out of his previous mindset, and a long-held breath of frustration in his heart found an outlet at last.
Moved by the words of the Supreme Saint of Law, he promptly said, “Thank you, Saint, for guiding me out of my confusion!”
“You possess a sincere heart of law; you may join my disciples for cultivation. One day, you may replace me, becoming the Supreme Saint of Law. I will tell you about that child, blood connections cannot be severed, he has already broken the law!”
The voice of the Holy Master of Law carried a trace of severity.
Li Tian Gang was slightly startled and his expression changed as he said, “That child only acted so because of his exceptional talent, I hope you can be lenient…”
“You need not worry. I will not harm him. He has scorned the laws, I will re-educate him, and have him return to you as your son,” said the Holy Master of Law.
Li Tian Gang was stunned, feeling an inexplicable excitement, and quickly said, “Really?”
“Take your leave from the mundane world. I will take you under my wing for cultivation, to become my junior disciple. Such talent as your child has will surely enter the Immortal Gate in time, and you will witness it yourself,” said the Holy Master of Law calmly.
Li Tian Gang was inwardly shaken. Was the Holy Master of Law taking him as a disciple?
He felt both shock and excitement, and even those who had previously entered the Immortal Gate, who had gone to cultivate within powerful forces, could not necessarily meet a Saint.
And now, that very presence came down to the mundane world to take him as a disciple.
This was a Supreme Saint of Law, acknowledged by heaven and earth!
His words left Li Tian Gang touched and unable to calm his emotions.
“Disciple pays respect to master,” he said.
Li Tian Gang quickly knelt to pay his respects to his teacher.
“Rise, and go sever worldly ties. The next time you come to the mortal world, at least a hundred years will have passed, which will be a thousand years in human time,” the Holy Master of Law said calmly.
Li Tian Gang promptly nodded. He had some understanding of the difference between time within the Immortal Gate and the mortal world.
He quickly got to his feet, his gaze, however, turned towards the Imperial Palace, his eyes flickering with complexity.
But soon after, he turned and sped off, preparing to hurry back to the Li Family to bid farewell to his ancestors and to his older brother and sister-in-law, also to share the joyous news.
If he could enter under the Holy Master of Law, should the mortal world face such disasters and demon calamities again, even if his own strength was insufficient, he could ask his master for assistance. This was like finding a towering mountain for support!
The Divine General Mansion of the Li Family would thus become a guardian deity for Dayu!
Even if it was just the news spread, Li Tian Gang believed that no reckless powers would dare to provoke Dayu again.
Excited, as he passed through the Imperial Capital and saw Li Muxiu clearing out the demons from the city, he glanced at this second uncle. He hesitated for a moment, but did not approach to speak.
Ever since the matter with Li Hao, the other party had been cold as water to him. Moreover, now that his Tao heart had consolidated, he was dissatisfied with many of this second uncle’s actions.
In the future, once his cultivation reached higher realms, he would come back to educate this second uncle and convert his thoughts.
With this in mind, Li Tian Gang flew straight onward, leaving the Imperial Capital behind.
Meanwhile, Li Hao was surrounded and thanked by everyone in the back hall of the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Yu had the others go and recuperate, not to disturb Li Hao further, knowing the young man’s disposition, disliking polite formalities.
Once the others had left, Emperor Yu sighed softly and said to Li Hao, “We owe this escape from disaster entirely to you. How should I repay you? With your current strength, a title is out of the question, but if you have any requests, just speak them, and I will grant them!”
At the last three words, his voice seemed to grow a bit heavier, exuding exceptional sincerity.
Li Hao smiled and replied, “Didn’t I tell you before, Your Majesty? About the sheet music and paintings. Have you forgotten?”
Emperor Yu spoke irritably, “I’m being serious here. Don’t be flippant.”
I am serious too… Li Hao gave a wry smile and said, “Your Majesty, I truly cherish them and really want them. If you think they’re not enough, then… I heard that the Dao Treasury Hall in Gan Tao Palace holds the secret manuals from around the world. May I have a chance to visit there?”