Chapter 282: A Thousand Years of Glory
Qingzhou, within the Divine General's Mansion.
Everyone who first heard the news was shocked.
Just after hearing that the Boundless Mountain was going to execute the Thief Sage, the next thing they knew, the Buddha Lord had been killed?!
And on the spiritual mountain, no less. Who would be so bold and ruthless?
Not long after, Li Muxiu returned to the Divine General's Mansion with firsthand news.
He had initially planned to abandon everything and go for a rescue, but since Li Hao had resolved the issue, there was no need for him to follow through with his plan. The Divine General's Mansion still needed his protection.
When Li Muxiu returned, everyone immediately asked for details, concerned if it had anything to do with him.
After the battle in Qingzhou City, they already knew that Li Muxiu was at the half-step Dao realm, but they were unsure if he had other hidden strengths. The Buddha Lord was at the Peaceful Dao realm, and while there was a difference between the two realms, only Li Muxiu himself knew how vast that difference was.
Seeing their concerns, Li Muxiu smiled wryly and explained the situation.
Though he arrived late, he could sense that the destruction at the scene was beyond what the Peaceful Dao realm could cause.
Moreover, with Li Hao's strength, if he were to kill someone at the Peaceful Dao realm, it wouldn't have caused such a large commotion. It would have been an instant kill, just like how Li Hao had subdued the two wild god leaders outside Qingzhou City—they didn't even have the chance to stand before him!
With that, the answer was clear.
The Buddha Lord had hidden his true strength and had already reached the Enlightenment realm!
Although Li Muxiu was surprised, he also felt it was expected.
After all, it had been a long time since the Buddha Lord had fought openly. Who could have known if he had broken through in secret?
"What, it was Hao'er?"
"He killed the Buddha Lord?"
"And the Buddha Lord was at the Enlightenment realm?"
With a series of revelations from Li Muxiu, Li Xuanli, He Jianlan, and others were stunned, staring at him in disbelief.
The Enlightenment realm Buddha Lord was killed by Li Hao! Previously, Li Hao had already amazed them by subduing the two wild god leaders outside Qingzhou City. Now, in such a short time, he had managed to kill the Buddha Lord?! The Enlightenment realm was the same level as the True Master of Qiandao Palace!
Did this mean Li Hao had the strength to rival that True Master?! "What was Hao'er thinking? Although the Buddhist sects had some minor activities, the Buddha Lord hadn't done anything outrageous. At least no one could hold anything against him. Why did Hao'er kill him?"
He Jianlan, after recovering from her shock, asked in confusion.
The Boundless Mountain was a righteous force with widespread connections and few enemies.
Among the crowd, Li Tiangang remained silent, but his expression turned grim.
Li Muxiu knew it was time to explain everything clearly. He sighed and said, "It was to save the Thief Sage, who had done a favor for Hao'er."
Everyone was stunned, then fell silent.
Killing the Buddha Lord for the Thief Sage?
"Can the Buddhist sect swallow this? Although there aren't many Buddhist disciples in the Sacred Land of Brahma, they are scattered across the nineteen states with numerous temples and followers. They might cause unrest, and the people will suffer."
Xiao Yujing asked, knowing well the vast influence of the Buddhist sects.
"I knew it, I knew he would cause big trouble sooner or later!"
Li Tiangang suddenly gritted his teeth.
Everyone looked at him in surprise. He Jianlan frowned and said, "What do you mean? Hao'er might have been impulsive, but it was out of gratitude."
"Gratitude? Still defending him?"
Li Tiangang's face was grim. "Does gratitude justify killing innocents? Does gratitude justify extreme actions? Now that he has killed the Buddha Lord, unless he is strong enough to contend with the True Master, he will face severe consequences and might even bring disaster to Dayu!"
"Tiangang, is it that serious?" Ji Qingqing asked.
Li Xuanli wanted to say something but seemed to realize something and his face changed slightly.
Li Tiangang looked at the frowning He Jianlan and others, then laughed self-mockingly. "You all think too simply! With his current strength, he can indeed rival that True Master. But the Buddha Lord hid his strength. Do you think that True Master hasn't? The Enlightenment realm is divided into two sub-realms: the True Master realm and the Dao Law realm!"
"The Buddha Lord never clashed openly with the Dao Palace, only competing secretly because he couldn't defeat the True Master!"
"This means that the True Master is likely at the Dao Law realm, a realm he reached long ago during the previous emperor's reign…"
Hearing Li Tiangang's words, everyone was stunned. The specifics of the Enlightenment realm were new to them as they were far from reaching that level.
Even the Peaceful Dao realm was a goal most could never achieve.
"But even if the True Master is stronger, so what?"
He Jianlan frowned. "Hao'er is a hero with great potential. Such a strong person is a pride and hope for our people. Wouldn't it be better to ally with him rather than consider him a threat?"
Li Tiangang sneered. "Sister-in-law, you women think too simply. The emperor's heart is hard to fathom. Hao'er dares to kill the Buddha Lord so boldly. Isn't the emperor worried he might one day usurp the throne?"
Everyone's expressions changed, and a chill ran through them.
The emperor's heart is hard to fathom. Serving an emperor is like serving a tiger. Despite the emperor's current favor towards Li Hao, what happens if he sees him as a threat? Even one's own son, if holding too much power, would be eliminated preemptively. That's why Li Tiangang said that unless Li Hao could rival the True Master, if the emperor turned against him and sent the True Master after him, the outcome would be uncertain.
"If the emperor orders the True Master, there are only two outcomes: either the True Master loses, and Hao'er wins. But what kind of person is Hao'er? Even when I scolded him, he dared to draw his sword on me. If the emperor treats him like that, will he spare the emperor?"
Li Tiangang looked at everyone.
Everyone's faces turned grim.
"Hao'er is just and fair. He wouldn't act as you say…" He Jianlan gritted her teeth.
Li Tiangang's face twitched, staring at her before continuing: "If he loses, he either escapes by sheer luck or dies! Both outcomes are undesirable, yet now these are the only two possibilities!"
He looked angry and regretful.
Everyone else fell into deep thought.
"But Hao'er is so strong, with great potential. Such a talent should be the pride and hope of our people. The emperor might not be as foolish as you think, right?"
He Jianlan glanced at her sister-in-law, Jiang Xian'er.
Jiang Xian'er shook her head slightly, indicating no offense, and added: "I also believe Father won't act like that. Hao'er has always been kind-hearted, protecting a city at fourteen, now a marquis with many military achievements. Father would honor him!"
Li Tiangang saw her sincerity, knowing she deeply loved her family and spoke without reservation.
"I hope so. With demons and monsters lurking, internal strife is the last thing we need, especially at this level."
Li Tiangang showed his frustration, clenching his fists:
"If I had known, I would have killed that thief outside the pass!"
"I shouldn't have been soft-hearted because of his past deeds…there wouldn't be this trouble now, even if it meant being labeled as unjust!"
"You knew?"
Everyone looked at him in shock.
Li Tiangang, ashamed, looked at Li Muxiu with a hint of anger.
Li Muxiu, seeing his look, frowned deeply without responding.
He was still pondering if the emperor would become suspicious of Li Hao. After all, Li Hao had no blood relation to the emperor.
As officials and generals, they feared overshadowing their sovereign. Li Hao's increasing strength made Li Muxiu proud, never jealous, but outsiders were unpredictable.
He couldn't fathom the emperor's heart, feeling concerned.
If Hao'er won, it was fine. He could persuade him. But if Hao'er lost, he was in danger.
"The Buddhist disciples are numerous, with influence even in the court. If they pressure or manipulate the emperor, it will be a major issue!"
Li Tiangang said gravely.
Ji Qingqing's face turned pale. She turned to Li Xuanli: "Fifth Brother, why don't you go to the capital and plead with the emperor? Speak well of Hao'er, let him know Hao'er's true nature. Even with a sword, he wouldn't rebel."
Li Xuanli quickly assured her, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. I'll definitely plead for Hao'er. He's saved my life and our family. We will do everything we can!"
Li Tiangang pulled his wife back, saying, "Qingqing, don't make it difficult for Fifth Brother. It's not an easy task."
Li Xuanli angrily retorted, "Of course I'll go to the capital and plead. Hao'er is like a nephew to me, regardless of his surname!"
Li Tiangang, relieved, looked at everyone: "If only you hadn't interfered when I disciplined him. I thought I was too harsh, but now it seems I was right. Unrestrained power without discipline leads to disaster!"
"Are you still blaming us? Without Hao'er, Qingzhou would be in chaos!"
He Jianlan retorted angrily.
"If I had disciplined him, he could still save Qingzhou. Would my discipline diminish his talents? His abilities are the result of the bloodline of Qingqing and me!"
Li Tiangang retorted coldly.
He Jianlan had no answer, finding it hard to refute.
"I'll go to the capital and ask my brothers to plead with the emperor. Hopefully, they can help Hao'er."
Jiang Xian'er said, lifting her skirt and leaving the council hall.
"Now, it's up to the emperor. Don't be too pessimistic. The True Master might not intervene."
Li Muxiu said, his eyes flashing with concern.
Everyone looked at him, puzzled.
Li Muxiu continued, "Haven't you noticed? The True Master hasn't appeared in a long time. Despite the constant demon troubles, he hasn't acted, not even during the major events in Liangzhou, Qingzhou, or Youzhou…"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"Could it be…" Li Xuanli's voice trembled.
Li Muxiu shook his head, "No. After the battle in Qingzhou, when the wild god avatars appeared, I understood. The wild gods must be watching the imperial palace. If he leaves, the entire capital will fall!"
Everyone was stunned, then took a deep breath.
"So the emperor won't easily deploy the True Master?" Ji Qingqing asked with hope.
Li Muxiu nodded slightly, "Likely not. But I can't gamble with Hao'er's life. The safest way is to plead with the emperor. With our family's standing, the emperor should consider. Killing Hao'er would injure the True Master, and if demons invade, and we refuse to help, the consequences would be dire…"
"The emperor should weigh this."
Everyone felt somewhat relieved.
"If Hao'er wins, it's best. But demons might take advantage. We must avoid such a war, or the people will suffer." Li Muxiu added.
Everyone nodded. War was hardest on soldiers and civilians.
"But if we plead and the emperor holds a grudge, what then?"
Wang Xiangru asked coldly, "Our family's thousand years of glory could be lost."
Everyone's expressions changed. Li Muxiu said gravely, "Remember, you owe Hao'er your life."
"I owe nothing. My father was late to Qingzhou, but he would have helped anyway."
Wang Xiangru retorted angrily, "He's cut ties with our family. This is his own doing."
Li Tiangang, ashamed, lowered his head, "Sister-in-law, I apologize on his behalf. I failed to discipline him."
"Humph." Wang Xiangru turned away.
"Don't be too pessimistic. Maybe the emperor will be grateful to Hao'er for dealing with the Buddhist influence."
Gao Qingqing tried to comfort everyone.
Li Muxiu's eyes flickered, "Indeed. The emperor might appreciate Hao'er's actions."
Li Tiangang snorted, "Even so, his recklessness is alarming."
No one spoke further. It all depended on whether the emperor would become suspicious of Li Hao and fear his power.
The emperor's true feelings for Li Hao remained uncertain.