Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1811 Chapter 473: Great Battle
Previously on Follow the path of Dao from infancy...
Upon reaching Dragon Gate City, Li Hao and Shi Miao fell into a regular routine, with each pursuing their personal cultivation.
From time to time, Shi Miao would drop by the first floor to check on Li Hao, and finding him deep in cultivation, she would linger silently close by for a bit before slipping away, careful not to interrupt him.
Days flew by, yet the city's vibe stood apart from other places, wrapped in gloomy shadows and heavy with a looming crisis, the atmosphere thick with the metallic tang of impending bloodshed.
In what seemed like no time at all, seven years slipped away.
Atop the mountain spring, Li Hao spotted a Yaoqin taking shape from the cascading waters in front of him. With a gentle pluck of its strings, melodic waves spread out, weaving through endless threads of harmony, each one infused with the essence of diverse laws. Each sonic surge carried the might of numerous laws, holding immense destructive force.
"Just a little more..."
Li Hao sensed he was merely a single step from hitting the third stage's bottleneck.
Boom! Boom!
All of a sudden, the mountainside shook violently, and a thunderous dragon's cry resounded from the skies overhead.
Li Hao glanced upward and caught sight of a golden dragon soul illusion racing toward the summit.
"The tower master has summoned everyone—hurry and assemble."
The dragon soul illusion urged in a rush, as a gleaming golden pathway materialized in its wake, stretching across the full height of Dragon Shield Tower up to the pinnacle.
A cold shiver ran through Li Hao, for he realized a fierce conflict must be on the horizon; otherwise, the tower master would never interrupt anyone's cultivation or rest so abruptly.
Wasting no words, he leaped up from the spring, got dressed in a flash, and noticed Shi Miao's silhouette materializing out of the void.
In her grasp was the tower insignia from his level, granting her unrestricted passage.
"The tower master has called us—I fear it's an assault by ancient demons."
Shi Miao informed Li Hao swiftly, her face etched with seriousness. "In the fight ahead, stick close to me and avoid any rash moves. This kind of massive conflict is no small matter, and the mightiest ancient demons could ambush without warning, shattering even the sturdiest defenses. It's wiser to stay under the radar if you want to last longer."
Li Hao grasped that her words stemmed from worry over him, so he replied, "Rest easy, I'll watch my step."
Shi Miao gave a nod, and together they trailed the golden glow to the tower's apex.
Upon arrival, seven more figures waited there, their eyes locking onto the pair, particularly Li Hao.
Li Hao picked up on the weight and concern in their stares; clearly, he was seen as the vulnerable one in the group.
"A formidable enemy force is invading—gear up for combat."
Long Ying scanned the assembly and declared with gravity.
Duan Yuan and the rest acknowledged with nods, already suited in battle gear, donning celestial helmets and armor.
"For this mission, beyond the earlier Dragon-cutting Army, we're also covering the Nine Camps' Kun Dragon Army!"
Long Ying announced with a heavy tone. "The area is broader, so we'll need to drive the Six Harmonies Dragon Scale Array to its utmost to shield them completely!"
"The Kun Dragon Army falls to us too?"
Duan Yuan and the others' expressions shifted subtly, while Liuli voiced her astonishment. "Has something gone wrong at Dragon Shield Tower?"
"No, other tasks are in play elsewhere, which means we shoulder extra burdens."
Long Ying denied it with a shake of his head, though his eyes turned to Li Hao. "Brother Haotian, you've got the formation down pat, but you're only at Immortal King Realm First Level—your strength falls short. I've obtained this Blast Realm Pill; it can elevate you briefly to Immortal King Realm Second Level, though it'll bring repercussions later, like a heavy toll on your lifespan..."
Before his words trailed off, the purple-black glowing pill in his palm was blasted aside by a surge of force.
Shi Miao stated icily, "He'll use my portion—no way is he touching that stuff!"
Long Ying's lips parted slightly before he let out a wry laugh, understanding that Immortal Emperor's disciples would shun such elixirs. Beyond the issues he noted, they risked fractures in one's realm, hindering future progress in cultivation.
The group was fully aware of this; in quiet accord, no one pressed Li Hao. They themselves wouldn't swallow it save in desperate straits.
"With that settled, Brother Haotian, you'll manage the dragon tail. Shi Miao, your strength edges out Duan Yuan's, so I'll claim the dragon's head while you seize the heavenly claw!" Long Ying instructed.
Shi Miao's brow furrowed; she wished to object since it would separate her too much from Li Hao, but prior to her protest, Li Hao sent her a mental message. "Keep it this way. We're here to hone our skills, so battling ancient demons is the point—otherwise, I'd just drag everyone down and render it pointless."
At Li Hao's words, Shi Miao looked his way and detected resolve and firmness in his gaze. She realized this youth's spirit went beyond self-preservation, embracing a care for the wider world as well.
"Watch yourself out there."
Shi Miao cautioned.
She was aware Li Hao possessed that elite set of immortal armor along with the End of Immortal Sword, granting him superior defenses compared to most in the tower. Should issues arise, she could rush to his aid promptly; else, she'd refuse to depart, no matter his stance.
Buzz!
Right then, a colossal dragon's bellow thundered beyond the tower, akin to a bull's bellow or a tiger's roar from ocean depths, profound and overpowering.
Long Ying lifted his hand, dropping the tower's veil, and the walls grew see-through, unveiling the outer vista. The grand Dragon Gate City loomed with endless structures, and from these colossal edifices, crowds streamed forth, some unveiling their true shapes with billowing demonic auras, others hailing from dragon lineages.
These appeared as twisted variants of dragonkind, including winged lizard-like crawlers, plump scaled beasts like goats, and massive horned crocodile forms with draconic tails from the Crocodile Dragon Clan.
In the Eastern Domain, the Demon Race dominated, yet they formed part of the True Realm's Ten Thousand Races. Humans were few and far between, and beneath the Ancestor Dragon Court's oversight, these demons avoided infighting. During onslaughts from ancient demons, they shouldered the defense of the Eastern Domain, as this land and the True Realm were their cherished homeland.