The Name of Eternals

Chapter 155: Demon King's Treasured Blood

As the reconstruction of Cangya City continued, Li Muxiu quietly bid farewell to Li Hao. He could see that Li Hao had no desire to return to Qingzhou and wouldn't lower his head. With the three demon kings driven away and Tianmen Pass temporarily safe, he felt more at ease.

Learning that Li Hao had slain the black bird demon king left him both shocked and proud. It became clear that Li Hao no longer needed the protection of the Li family. If not for the attack by four demon kings, Li Hao could have defended himself.

Even the attack by four demon kings would pose a risk to Four Absolutes-level practitioners, let alone Li Hao, who was only at the Heaven realm. While pleased with Li Hao's rapid growth, Li Muxiu couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret and melancholy.

However, seeing the many warriors from various states rallying around Li Hao, he understood this might be the best outcome for him.

Not long after Li Muxiu's departure, officials from the Demon Suppression Division arrived. Leading them was a commander and three demon suppression generals. The commander was at the Four Absolutes level, while the three generals were at the Three Immortals level.

Interestingly, Li Hao recognized the commander as Xiang Yuguang, whom he had seen supporting Li Qianfeng at the True Dragon Banquet. As one of the seven commanders of the Demon Suppression Division, Xiang Yuguang had initially chosen the wrong side. Upon hearing the news from Tianmen Pass, he hurried over to meet the young man he had briefly encountered at the banquet months ago.

By the time Xiang Yuguang arrived, Li Hao's body had mostly healed thanks to his recuperative techniques. He wore fresh clothes and appeared calm and clean.

In the newly rebuilt courtyard, Li Hao sat on a bamboo mat in the corridor, his feet dangling in the air. Beside him, a small table held a teapot and some snacks, giving off a leisurely vibe.

"Young master, I heard about the demon king's incursion. I'm here to register and investigate the incident," Xiang Yuguang said warmly, standing in the courtyard but feeling somewhat awkward. The last time they met, he had misjudged and sided against Li Hao. Now, he hoped to make amends.

"Hmm."

Li Hao was friendly, not taking the opportunity to mock Xiang Yuguang, acting as if he had forgotten the past incident. "What do you need from me?"

"I'll show you the investigation results for confirmation," Xiang Yuguang replied with a smile, feeling slightly uneasy. As a commander, he wasn't even invited to sit, suggesting that the young master still held a grudge.

"Alright," Li Hao replied, sipping his tea—a subtle hint for the guest to leave. Xiang Yuguang, feeling helpless, smiled and took his leave.

At the gate, the three demon suppression generals watched Li Hao curiously. The young master, who had no regard for their commander's face, was indeed bold.

Li Hao had been a topic of interest due to his public defeat of a minor demon king. His strength rivaled theirs, and in time, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with Four Absolutes practitioners.

"Only fourteen, so incredible."

"Yeah, what were we doing at fourteen?"

"I don't know about you guys, but I was still battling Divine Wandering demons..."

The three generals whispered among themselves until Xiang Yuguang returned, prompting them to stand properly.

After the investigation team left, Song Qiumo entered the courtyard. Li Hao immediately invited her to sit and poured her a cup of tea.

"Clear and sweet, not bad," she commented after taking a sip, making Li Hao smile.

"I'm heading back to Qingzhou," Song Qiumo said, glancing at Li Hao.

He had anticipated this. With the three demon kings repelled, the area was temporarily safe. The arrival of the Demon Suppression Division provided additional deterrence against the demons. Xiang Yuguang, despite everything, was still a Four Absolutes practitioner.

Demons could challenge the border guards but feared the relentless pursuit of the Demon Suppression Division, whose sole purpose was to hunt them down.

"You don't need to worry about me here. You might need to sort out some administrative tasks back in Qingzhou after being away for so long," Li Hao said.

Managing the Four Absolutes level demons required official approval, which was stringent.

"Small matter," Song Qiumo smiled. "For now, there should be no more disturbances here. I'll wait for you in Qingzhou in three years."

"Alright," Li Hao nodded.

While he had no desire to return to Qingzhou, he wouldn't mind visiting with a friend like her there.

With a slight smile, Song Qiumo handed him her empty cup. "Another, please."

"Sure," Li Hao refilled her cup.

They continued like this for a while, sipping tea in silence. After finishing, Song Qiumo gave Li Hao one last look before leaving without turning back, disappearing from the courtyard.

Shortly after Song Qiumo's departure, the courtyard welcomed more visitors. This time, they were from the Astrological Observatory, experts in formation arts. Most city formations were designed and maintained by them.

The leader was a Star Official, a Three Immortals-level practitioner of high status, technically a half-rank above Xiang Yuguang. Mastery of formation arts required both martial prowess and immense intellectual capacity, making such officials rare and highly regarded.

A thousand years ago, demons had infiltrated the Astrological Observatory to steal formation scrolls, but the complexity of these arts meant the stolen knowledge remained rudimentary.

The Star Official, an elderly man with sparse white hair and a serious demeanor, was greeted warmly by Li Hao. The young master offered tea, but the elder declined, saying they were there to work, not to socialize. He took Li Hao's city lord token and set off to work, behaving much like a focused scholar.

The accompanying officials were similarly serious, their eyes occasionally flickering with thought. Only one young girl seemed lively, staying behind to chat with Li Hao.

"Don't mind my master; he's always like that," she said with a bright smile. Li Hao noticed her low rank insignia and responded kindly.

"You should learn from him and study formations more."

The girl's smile faded as she pouted. "You're just like my master, always saying such boring things."

Li Hao chuckled and said no more. The girl looked at him, expecting a fellow youthful spirit but finding him mature beyond his years. Pouting, she ran after her master.

"Xianglan, stop dawdling. We have work to do," an older official called out. Despite their similar rank, the age gap was vast.

"Got it," she replied, elongating each syllable. Despite her playful tone, her gaze turned serious upon seeing the vast cemetery. This was her first time at the border and her first encounter with such a sight.

Returning to the courtyard, Li Hao gathered Ren Qianqian and the little white fox to deal with the demon king's corpse. Ren Qianqian had returned on horseback the day after the battle, likely having stayed nearby rather than returning to Qizhou. Li Hao didn't question her; their relationship had a natural ease.

They arrived at an enclosed area in the city where the black bird demon king's corpse lay like a small hill, the surroundings sealed off.

"What do you plan to do with this demon king's body?" Feng Boping appeared beside Li Hao, still amazed by the sight.

Only he and Song Qiumo knew the truth of the battle—Li Hao had slain the demon king. Such a feat was kept secret to avoid unnecessary attention.

Li Hao's unique martial state was beyond Feng Boping's understanding, but he trusted the boy he had watched grow up.

"Make a feast for everyone," Li Hao said seriously.

Feng Boping was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "You really are something."

"The demon king's meat should be quite good. It's the least I can do for everyone who helped," Li Hao said.

"Indeed," Feng Boping agreed. "But besides the meat, the demon king's core is a treasure. It can help you understand its path and lay the foundation for your future in the Four Absolutes realm."

He pointed out the valuable golden feathers on the demon king's back, essential for crafting divine weapons. Li Hao nodded; these were indeed prized materials.

"Prepare a container for the demon king's blood. I have plans for it," Li Hao said.