The Name of Eternals

Chapter 179: He is Worthy of Your Pride

"Not even worthy of being called weaklings, and you dare to block our way? Die!"

The vine elder took the lead, wanting to make up for his previous oversight. He raised his hand and struck out suddenly, his palm emitting a purple-black print formed by withered vines. This contained the ultimate meaning of his self-created martial realm, pressing down with immense power.

The void in his palm seemed to be sliced apart. The Tiger Dragon Formation formed by the arriving soldiers erupted with the might of a tiger's roar and a dragon's cry, shooting out a brilliant golden light to collide with the palm print! With a loud bang, the storm of blades within the palm print shredded the dragon-like golden light, pressing down directly.

The army formation formed by only a few thousand soldiers could not stop a demon king. They were crushed into a bloody pulp on the spot, turning into a puddle of blood! The power of a demon king was terrifying and unstoppable!

Li Tiangang's body trembled, his eyes bloodshot, his breathing heavy.

On the battlefield, he had always been as calm as iron, commanding the entire army. But at this moment, he found it difficult to control his emotions.

A surge of violent killing intent washed over his mind like a tidal wave, but he gripped his divine blade tightly, restraining his body. The rationality honed by long years of battle told him that the eastern frontier could not be held any longer!

Since it couldn't be held, they had to retreat and shrink the defensive line!

Retreating and shrinking the line, then joining up with his fifth brother Li Xuanli in the western frontier, and holding the second line of defense they had originally planned.

At the same time, they could wait for reinforcements from various families and the assembly of Liangzhou's noble families.

Don't underestimate the power of these noble families. Individually, they might not be much in the face of the Li family's iron cavalry, but when united, the combined strength of hundreds of cities could form a formidable and terrifying force! This force was not usually awe-inspiring because they were a loose collection, but if united, they could shake the foundations of any army.

Thinking of the millions of civilians in Liangzhou, Li Tiangang gritted his teeth, glaring hatefully at the ten demon kings approaching. Without a word, he turned and ran!

Military law was as unyielding as a mountain, and he adhered to it strictly. Despite his emotions urging him to fight, his rationality forced him to choose retreat and escape!

Otherwise, without anyone to guard Liangzhou, it would fall even faster! "Tiangang, farewell..."

Li Fu looked at the retreating figure of Li Tiangang, feeling relieved and smiling with satisfaction.

At this moment, he did not address him as "commander" but by the childhood nickname they had used while playing together.

Li Tiangang's heart trembled, he turned to look at Li Fu, his eyes red and tears hot.

He had witnessed the funerals of many brothers, and in the northern frontier, he had seen countless mutilated corpses of his comrades. Now, Li Fu, an orphan taken in by the Li family and his childhood playmate, was also leaving him.

"Tiangang, reconcile with your son. Young master is worth your pride..."

Li Fu said softly.

"Silence!"

Before he could finish speaking, the vine elder took a big step forward and struck out with a palm.

Li Fu's soul burst out from his body, burning with intense light, roaring as it charged forward.

But the descending demonic palm, like a giant mountain, pressed down without emotion and without resistance.

With a loud bang, Li Fu's body was turned into a pulp, his soul and body utterly destroyed! Li Tiangang, rushing into the distance, had eyes filled with blood, veins bulging. He clenched his teeth so hard they nearly broke.

But he only took one last look before turning and running wildly, shouting orders to the surroundings, "Fa Zi Battalion, listen to the order! Hold back the demon tide with all your might!"

"Yuan Zi Battalion, listen to the order! Retreat with me!!"

He chose to take the camp name created by his ancestors, leaving behind many soldiers he had personally trained in the Fa Zi Battalion.

And staying behind meant death, total annihilation!

In the face of a demon tide led by demon kings, there would be no survivors! Hearing Li Tiangang's order, the entire battlefield responded with a roar like a mountain collapsing into the sea.

Those in the Fa Zi Battalion, their eyes like blades, only showed more ferocious killing intent. Fearlessly, they charged into the demon tide.

Being left to hold back the demon tide and cover the retreat, they did not feel despair or anger, only the ironclad discipline of the military.

Every one of them fearlessly charged into the demon tide, burning their souls and breaking their own meridians to kill more demons in their final moments! Smoke and flames rose, the entire defensive line was trampled as countless demons surged like a flood.

"Think you can escape?!"

Madam Yin had been watching Li Tiangang closely and wouldn't let him escape. Her figure moved like lightning, covering hundreds of miles in a breath, quickly catching up to Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang roared and swung his divine blade, the flames of the blade slicing towards Madam Yin's hand.

The green eye on Madam Yin's cheek suddenly glowed, casting some strange demonic magic that made Li Tiangang's body shudder, slowing his swing. With a loud bang, he was sent flying by a slap.

The slap landed on his armor, extinguishing the divine light on it.

Li Tiangang rolled on the ground, spewing blood. His otherwise indestructible body barely kept him from being crushed by a single slap from a master of the Absolute Realm.

"You killed my child. I will repay you a hundredfold, a thousandfold!"

Madam Yin's gaze was fierce and cold, her hands sending out waves of dark energy, each like a tearing claw, filled with demonic light, slamming towards Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang roared, swinging the Executioner's Blade. But after destroying two waves of demonic light, he was struck again, his chest bones shattered, his hands bleeding, feeling like his entire skeleton was about to break.

Madam Yin sneered. She hadn't even used her full strength, nor her ultimate skill, just her overwhelming power.

This Li Tiangang could challenge the Reverse Fate Realm with the Heart of the Dao Realm, a true prodigy of his time, but each step in the Four Establishments was as vast as a great realm itself.

"Li family's True Dragon, after I kill you, I will turn your soul into my servant, making you witness the fall of your Li family!"

Madam Yin sneered, reaching out to grab Li Tiangang, shadow wind covering her hand, ready to tear apart his body.

Li Tiangang, his eyes bloodshot, pushed through the pain in his chest and continued to rush forward, performing the Reverse Heaven Nine Steps.

Each step increased his aura, resisting the pulling force behind him.

He charged forward like an ox pulling a cart, covered in divine light, resembling a deity.

Madam Yin's eyes narrowed, turning cold. She twisted her hand, gathering immense demonic energy, forming a huge shadow of Taiyin Youying, which roared and slapped towards Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang roared, swinging the Executioner's Blade, the blade light piercing the sky.

The beast-like shadow, resembling a serpent, dragon, tiger, and lion, covered in scales and fur, shot out beams of Taiyin divine light, breaking the blade light before slamming down.

As Li Tiangang faced imminent destruction under the demonic palm, a blazing sword wind swept in, cutting off the shadow's claw.

Then, Li Tiangang's figure seemed to teleport, appearing dozens of miles away.

Madam Yin's expression changed, looking towards Li Tiangang. Beside him was a figure wearing a straw hat and ragged gray clothes, seemingly ordinary like a wanderer.

But the figure held a sword, and that hand and sword shone brightly like a full moon, drawing all attention, making it hard to look away.

It felt like averting one's gaze would result in being slashed and pierced by the sword. Madam Yin's eyes narrowed, the green eye squinting before suddenly widening in anger.

"You are the Desert Sword Saint?!"

Madam Yin recognized him, her face filled with rage.

There were three sword saints in the world: one in the southern Sword Cottage, one in the northern desert with an unknown residence, and another even more mysterious, whose whereabouts were unknown.

The blazing, brilliant sword aura of the one before her could only belong to the Desert Sword Saint.

The straw hat lifted, revealing a thin face with scruffy beard and unkempt appearance.

His eyes were indifferent as he calmly looked at Madam Yin, saying, "Void Realm, secluded for a thousand years, must you be drawn into this turmoil?"

Madam Yin's gaze was icy, replying, "The tree wishes to stand still, but the wind will not stop. Since this turmoil has involved us, blame your Great Yu Dynasty for being too overbearing, occupying these thousands of mountains and rivers, constantly expanding and seizing spiritual lands. It's time to yield some!"

"You want more than just 'some,' right?"

The Desert Sword Saint said calmly, "I just don't understand why you chose Liangzhou."

"Do you not know that I hail from Liangzhou?"

Madam Yin's face changed slightly. This Desert Sword Saint was over four or five hundred years old. His place of birth had long been forgotten, and no one expected that he, who had risen from Liangzhou, would return. In his youth, he had challenged various states, sweeping across the lands. By the age of sixty, he had earned the title of Sword Saint and then disappeared, last seen residing in the desert. Thus, he was known as the Desert Sword Saint.

The distance between the desert and Liangzhou was vast, separated by thousands of mountains and rivers. No one thought he would come back.

"With your status, why bother with your origins? Must you wade into these troubled waters?" Madam Yin asked coldly, her gaze fixed on him.

The Desert Sword Saint's lips curved into a faint smile. "No matter how high one's achievements, it all starts from where one was born and raised. I naturally have to protect my homeland. I advise you to retreat. I have killed too many and am already tired of it."

"Then let's see if you can protect this man named Li today!" Madam Yin's eyes turned cold, and she struck suddenly.

The Desert Sword Saint turned to Li Tiangang beside him and said, "General Li, you should leave now. Liangzhou still needs you."

Li Tiangang regained his composure, took a deep breath, and said, "Thank you!" Without further words, he quickly turned and left without hesitation.

"Stop him!" Madam Yin roared in anger.

The demon kings behind her swiftly pursued, while two dragon gate demon kings charged into the Li family's army, leaving the task of chasing Li Tiangang to the Void Realm.

With a swift motion, the Desert Sword Saint's sword light drew a deep black line on the ground before him.

"Anyone who dares to cross this line, try it." "Don't be arrogant!" Madam Yin struck suddenly, unleashing her ultimate skill and revealing her true form. She transformed into a massive creature resembling a lion and a snake.

A silver moon mark appeared on her forehead, symbolizing the bloodline of Taiyin Youying.

She unleashed her ultimate skill, condensing a black crescent moon that charged towards the Desert Sword Saint.

The Desert Sword Saint's eyes showed a hint of solemnity.

With a loud bang, a fierce battle erupted, and both sides quickly engaged in combat.

The other demon kings swiftly crossed the line drawn by the sword light, chasing after Li Tiangang.

The Desert Sword Saint's eyes flashed coldly, sending out a beam of sword energy to force back the first demon king who crossed the line. He was also in the Absolute Realm. Facing Madam Yin and the other seven demon kings, he showed no fear, determined to hold them off and cover Li Tiangang's retreat.

A fierce battle broke out, with sword energy soaring into the sky, and various demonic spells and lights clashing, causing the earth and sky to shake.

In the distant defensive line, each battle camp formed up, fearlessly fighting against the demon tide.

The soldiers of the Yuanzi Battalion fought while retreating, gradually converging under the cover of other camps towards the location signaled by Li Tiangang.

Liangzhou, Western Frontier.

Dark clouds loomed over the border, signaling the approach of the demon tide.

Since last night, scouts had reported the gathering of demons a thousand miles beyond the border, causing Li Xuanli's body to tense up.

He knew that the demons who had pretended to retreat earlier were finally making their move.

Thinking of the letter from Li Hao, Li Xuanli felt a slight relief. Trusting Li Hao's words, he had not relaxed his vigilance and had scouts continuously monitor the area beyond the border. This proved to be correct.

Now, as the demon tide moved from gathering to advancing, the entire city was under his surveillance, and they had made early preparations for battle.

"Have you informed the Eastern Frontier? They might also face a demon invasion!"

"There are no signs of a demon king among these demons. The demon kings might have gone there!"

Li Xuanli instructed his deputy.

"They have been notified."

The deputy responded immediately.

"What about Tianmen Pass? Have we sent a message there to warn them?"

"Someone has been dispatched."

Li Xuanli nodded slightly, looking at his daughter Li Wushuang, who was dressed in military armor, and sighed:

"I arranged for a carriage to take you away from here, but you insisted on staying. If your mother finds out, she'll twist my ears off when I get back!"

Hearing this, Li Wushuang, who had been solemn and tense, couldn't help but smile slightly.

Although she had left the Divine General's Mansion since childhood, she had seen in this short period upon returning that her parents were deeply in love.

As a daughter, she was happy to see this.

"Mother wouldn't do that. If she knew about the battle here, she'd be worried sick about you losing an ear." Li Wushuang smiled.

Li Xuanli's eyes flickered, and he nodded gently. "Your mother must be worried sick right now."

Li Wushuang rolled her eyes at him slightly and said, "Father, with the army about to engage, could you focus on the present situation?"

Li Xuanli glanced at her and said, "The present situation is for you to leave quickly and not drag us down."

"Is there any reason for a son of the Li family to retreat in the face of battle? Don't forget, my surname is also Li!"

Li Wushuang said.

However, as she spoke the last few words, a figure suddenly flashed in her mind, causing her face to change slightly.

Li Xuanli's gaze fell into the distance, and he said in a low voice, "They're coming!"

Li Wushuang's eyes turned cold, and she released her soul to observe.

The vast demon tide rolled in, just as they had scouted.

Li Xuanli immediately instructed the deputy to prepare the signal horns for battle.

On the city walls, all the defensive weapons were ready, and the watchtowers were fully equipped.

With a loud boom, the demon tide triggered the ambush formations laid outside the city, causing explosions that ripped through the demon tide, creating gaps.

Li Xuanli's eyes were cold and unwavering. This was just the beginning of the battle.

But suddenly, three figures shot out from the demon tide, approaching at extreme speed.

With a loud bang, the three figures struck the border formation with immense power, causing intense vibrations.

The formation's runes shimmered and flickered rapidly.

Li Xuanli's face changed drastically, as did the faces of the other soldiers and the immortal generals.

"Demon kings!"

"There are demon kings!"

Hidden within the demon tide were three demon kings. Previously, they had only detected over a dozen Three Immortal Realm demons leading the tide, which was already a massive force. But it turned out there were also hidden demon kings!

"Quick, Xuanzi Battalion A, guard the formation!"

Li Xuanli shouted urgently.

Li Wushuang's pupils contracted, her body trembling, her breath nearly stopping.

There were demon kings! Watching the three demon kings hovering in the air, continuously attacking the formation, each strike made her heart pound, feeling like she couldn't breathe.

"Master should come, but he's alone..."

Li Wushuang's face tightened, staring at the demon kings' imposing figures.

Last night, after detecting the demon gathering a thousand miles away, she had sent a message to her sect, hoping the Thousand Mechanism Elder would come to help.

But it would take time for him to arrive.

However, even if he arrived, could he stop these three demon kings?

Boom, boom, boom! The formation shook under the full assault of the three demon kings.

Some arrows flew towards them, but upon hitting the demon kings, they were deflected by their strong bodies, unable to cause any harm.

It was like being drenched in rain for hours without getting hurt.

Li Xuanli immediately ordered the frontline not to waste arrows, directing them instead towards the approaching demon tide.

He then drew his sword, calling upon five immortal generals to ascend and fight.

"Father!"

"Stay put!"

Li Xuanli shouted, not looking back as he charged forward.

...

...

Southern Region, Tianmen Pass, Cangya City.

The city was bustling, with vendors and merchants calling out, noble children wandering the streets, trying to visit the legendary figure but being blocked outside the courtyard.

Outside Cangya City, on the Longguan Road, a figure was speeding along.

It was Li Hao.

Lu Chunsheng had brought him to the border of Yongzhou, and he had flown all the way from the southern border, using his myriad forms to hide his presence, finally returning to Tianmen Pass.

Now, Longguan Road was lined with tea stalls and occasional passersby, a stark contrast to the desolation when he first arrived.

Li Hao stopped at a tea stall and asked the owner for a cup of hot tea.

He then smelled the aroma of steamed buns, surprised, and ordered two baskets, starting to eat.