Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1817 Chapter 475: Jianlong Pass Falls (Part 2)

Shi Miao noticed the looks on their faces, and her knitted brows eased somewhat as she gave a light nod. Though doubts about them had lingered in her mind before, she chose to set them aside right then. Her silhouette shimmered briefly before she arrived at Li Hao's side, inquiring, "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay."

Li Hao shook his head, a grin spreading across his features.

The opening clash had gone well, allowing him to sense the sheer dread of the elite conflict zone at the frontier.

Even in his current Immortal King status, peril of total ruin still loomed in certain instants.

Shi Miao gazed at him with mild reproach and sent her words mentally, stating, "No need for that—avoid burning your True God Blood. It's your key asset, but replenishing it after the burn proves quite arduous."

While Li Hao might produce True God Blood through devouring Ancient Demon Flesh, the recovery demanded immense quantities. It stood as a wildly unconventional cultivation approach compared to typical methods, yet it ultimately taxed his own body heavily.

Li Hao recognized her worry for him and dipped his head a little, replying, "I won't resort to it casually, only if it's absolutely vital."

Shi Miao acknowledged with a nod, realizing the prior crisis had been dire with few alternatives. Still, Li Hao lacked other paths, whereas she possessed them.

"Brother Haotian, we misjudged you before. Never thought you'd match our level so well."

Gui Xuanbing from the Ghost Tribe addressed Li Hao.

The rest directed their attention toward Li Hao as well. Apart from Shi Miao, his showing had caught them off guard, without hindering the group. That burst of power from him earlier, along with the swift reversal against the Yan Ghost Array, outshone many among them.

Duan Yuan's gaze shifted subtly, soon displaying genuine respect as he spoke to Li Hao:

"I lacked vision back then—please pardon my rudeness."

Li Hao understood his intent, shook his head smilingly, and responded, "That happened ages ago. Now that we're allies battling side by side, no point in bringing it up."

Duan Yuan paused briefly at Li Hao's easygoing demeanor. He'd anticipated some grudge or icy distance akin to Shi Miao's, yet Li Hao appeared utterly unconcerned with old grievances.

A surprising sense of warmth welled up inside him. Li Hao's broad-minded nature earned his respect, leading him to cup his fists toward Li Hao once more, holding back further words.

Witnessing this, the others broke into smiles too, fostering a warm and upbeat vibe all around.

Across the entire field of combat, triumphant shouts from the forces burst forth simultaneously, surging like an overwhelming tide brimming with vibrant vigor.

Inside the fortress, the Dragon Drum resounded, calling for withdrawal.

Long Ying and the team broke down the Dragon Array, with the troops offering unified gratitude to the nine before heading back into the city as one.

"This round, taking out five Yan Ghost Arrays marks the highest Immortal Merit haul in a millennium."

On the uppermost story of the seventh tier in Dragon Shield Tower, Long Ying eyed the group and declared, "Per tradition, rewards follow group consensus. I suggest primary honors to Shi Miao—who disagrees?"

Duan Yuan and the rest turned to Shi Miao. Without her halting the Ghost Witch Formation beforehand, doom would have claimed them. So, opposition stayed absent now.

Long Ying inclined his head, "None against it—primary credit to Shi Miao. For top-tier merits, I nominate two: Duan Yuan and Haotian. Any objections?"

The assembly shared looks, yet silence prevailed.

Duan Yuan ranked just behind Long Ying and shone brightly in the fray. Li Hao's unexpected prowess stood out too. Though positioned at the rear, he synced with the ranks to stall the Yan Ghost Array, rapidly slaying one and aiding in crippling another, thus delivering solid aid.

Shi Miao and Li Hao shared a glance but held their peace. Immortal Merit held little sway over them, and they saw no reason to decline.

"For the coming fight, Haotian ought to handle the dragon's body."

Liuli suggested.

"Yes, Haotian clearly possesses the skill for it."

The group agreed with nods.

"Brother Haotian, are you at First Level or Second Level in the Immortal King Realm? Your presence feels like it's dropped back to First Level. Did you consume some Divine Medicine before?"

Gui Xuanbing questioned with interest.

Li Hao figured explaining the Carving technique would prove tricky, so he simply nodded.

"Any drawbacks?"

Gui Xuanbing pressed on.

The others zeroed in on Li Hao too, as boosting cultivation briefly—like the pill Long Ying had offered earlier—tended to bring harsh repercussions.

From their view, any harm to Li Hao's base would spell a huge setback.

"It just shortens lifespan a bit."

Li Hao kept it brief, since forfeiting five centuries of life sat fine with him.

Despite Li Hao's casual tone, expressions among the group flickered, falling quiet as they grasped the steep price he paid.

After all, as a direct disciple of the Immortal Emperor, he held supreme status, yet he readily gave up years in combat.

"Then for the next bout, Brother Haotian takes the dragon's tail, with extra backing from us."

Long Ying stated.

The others concurred. Before, their support for Li Hao aimed at boosting Immortal Merit doubles, but now a true urge arose to shield this gifted young fighter.

In him burned a spark of promise, the promise for tomorrow!

Once Immortal Merits wrapped up, Long Ying directed the team to recuperate.

Li Hao headed back to their levels alongside Shi Miao.

With Extreme Dao Chaos over, Li Hao sensed utter weariness and frailty throughout, devoid of true power. He immersed in the mountain spring, quietly rebuilding, sensing the Divine Blood in his Immortal Body revive and fortify.

The drain on his core gradually lifted as moments ticked by.

Battlefield moments from before flashed through Li Hao's thoughts. The epic struggle etched deeply, from the City Lord's Quasi-Emperor duel, the arrays' fierce assaults, to the ominous pall of the Ghost Witch Formation…

"That clash from a hundred thousand years back had to be a hundred or thousandfold fiercer than today…"

Li Hao's mind wandered distant, aware this fight's peak forces hit Quasi-Emperor only. The ancient war engulfed the full True Realm, felling Great Emperors and myriad Quasi-Emperors—an unimaginable cataclysm!

"My strength remains far too frail… I need to carve my Emperor Road for even a slim shot at enduring such clashes ahead."

Li Hao pondered inwardly.

The Musical Rhythm resounded in his consciousness, roused by the myriad savage cries on the field earlier.

Above all, the City Lord's ancestral dragon bellow ignited soldiers' blood and spirits.

Every element under heaven carries its unique resonance…

Li Hao gently shut his eyes, resembling one in slumber, while bathing in the mountain spring.

Shi Miao, done mending in her tower, headed straight to Dragon Shield Tower's first level to look in on Li Hao. She found him in the spring, seemingly asleep, enveloped in odd Daoist Charm, with Ten Thousand Dao Laws swirling like a silken sheath.

Startled at first, she soon grasped Li Hao entered Tao Realm enlightenment and settled silently nearby, avoiding any interruption.

Time flowed onward.

Immortal Merits got filed, cleared, and doled out. Long Ying arrived to notify, but Shi Miao intercepted, barring entry to spare Li Hao's practice.

Throughout Dragon Gate City, across towers and spots, all recovered post-conflict.

In the City Lord's Mansion.

Qingxuan, Long Potian, and the four Great Commanders gathered in the Council Hall, reviewing losses and the Ancient Demons' assault aims.

"Clearly, they targeted the Teleportation Array, clarifying those prior signs' intent."

"Given this setup, we have to call for help from Jianlong Pass. Without it, another Ancient Demon push might overwhelm us.

"This wave hit hard, yet we stood ready. They held back from all-out, opting to pull away."

The commanders added their thoughts.

"Dragon Gate City forms a key part of the second line's hundred cities and must stay firm," one commander emphasized gravely.

Long Potian nodded faintly, then creased his brow, "Yet Jianlong Pass, on the front line, strains with supplies too. Rather than burden them, better to draw aid from fellow hundred cities. Jianlong Pass can't falter."

"Agreed."

Qingxuan nodded, backing the City Lord's view.

Their hushed debate carried on.

Suddenly, three more years slipped by.

In Li Hao's first ten years within the Eastern Domain, he awoke in the peak's mountain spring.

Simultaneously, a confidential dispatch marked by Dragon Blood raced to Dragon Gate City's City Lord's Mansion.

The seal shattered, unleashing a dragon's howl that bore a chilling alert:

Jianlong Pass has fallen!