Arrival at White Moon

Outside Silver City. Three people, three motorcycles. This time, Li Hao and his companions had not taken a car. Aside from Wang Ming, who was familiar with White Moon City, Southern Fist He Yong had stuck to them like a shadow. Choosing to ride motorcycles had also been inspired by He Yong. Despite his advanced age, the old man was remarkably trendy. Word had it that motorcycles were wildly popular in the Central Region, whereas they were rare in Silver City. Even so, the several Galaxy conglomerates had some reserves in Silver City, so with Li Hao's and Wang Ming's statuses, procuring two had posed no real problem. The three sped along at a breakneck pace. The wind howled! The night was clear and pleasant. Even at this speed, their conversation was completely unimpeded. "Senior Nan, these bikes are fantastic! Is everyone riding them in the Central Region now?" Li Hao was intensely curious about the Central Region. In truth, it was a broad designation encompassing over twenty provinces. "They're far more convenient than cars, and they consume less energy!" He Yong shouted over the wind, then laughed heartily. "Also, my surname isn't Nan, so don't call me Senior Nan!" Southern Fist was merely a moniker. He Yong had shadowed Li Hao the entire way. Both Li Hao and Liu Long suspected that this man wasn't just searching for Yuan Shuo; he might harbor other objectives, perhaps even keeping an eye on Silver City's Eight Great Families on behalf of the imperial family. At present, however, since he had chosen to follow them openly and aboveboard, it meant he had no immediate intent to harm or kill them. Even if he did, Li Hao wasn't afraid. Having an extra free bodyguard and enforcer was quite a perk. How high a price would one normally have to pay to hire a Three Sols expert? After a pause, He Yong continued, "These things are great. Unlike old-generation motorcars, they run on either inner force or mysterious energy. Whether you're a martial master or a supernatural, once you get your hands on one, you never have to worry about running out of fuel!" He Yong grew animated as he spoke. "The Central Region is far more prosperous than you can imagine! It's completely different from the frontier. If the frontier is still isolated and only semi-reformed, then the Central Region can truly be called a modern nation!" He sighed with deep emotion. "The social structure there is entirely different! The Central Region even has dedicated supernatural academies, where countless supernaturals receive systematic development!" "There are also academies for martial masters. Although martial masters have declined, a few old-timers still persist!" "Mighty financial syndicates exist there, rapidly rising by excavating ancient civilization ruins." "The Three Great Organizations you know of have developed far faster in the Central Region than you could ever imagine! While they haven't founded nations or openly seized provinces, several central provinces have already begun accepting them, even establishing supernatural academies belonging to the Three Great Organizations within their borders!" To Wang Ming, these words sounded like utter gibberish. Incredulous, he roared while steering his bike, "How is that possible?! The Three Great Organizations are wicked cults! Not to mention anything else, the Central Region is the core territory of the Nine Departments and the dynasty! How could they ever allow them to recruit openly?" It was impossible! It defied all reason. "Strength is king!" He Yong's expression was indifferent. "You must understand that the Three Great Organizations are immensely powerful. Take Red Moon, for instance. Aside from Ziyue, every single one of the Seven Moons is at the Rising Light level! They also have an Elder Council full of Rising Light experts!" "People like Ying Hongyue... might have already surpassed that level!" "Over the past twenty years, supernaturals have developed rapidly. Within three to five years, they are bound to enter the next stage. Starlight, Lunar Nether, Solar Radiance, Three Sols, Rising Light—currently, they've only developed to the fifth stage, but there are far more than five supernatural locks discovered. As more ancient ruins are unearthed, more and more secrets will emerge. The Central Region... is already an entirely different world!" "Silver Moon is still stuck where it was twenty years ago. Honestly, it's a bit behind the times, even stubbornly set in its ways..." He Yong sighed, tinged with helplessness and sorrow. "Still, it isn't just Silver Moon. Apart from the Central Region, the entire dynasty's frontier borders are like this nowadays. It feels as though the world has split into two distinct tiers." "With more and more experts in the Central Region, they look down on the frontier with utter contempt. They call it the frontier... but in their eyes, Silver Moon isn't a borderland; it's a savage wilderness!" A savage wilderness! The moment those words dropped, both Li Hao and Wang Ming froze. A savage wilderness... what did that mean? They seemed to grasp the implication, yet they still couldn't comprehend how Silver Moon had been reduced to that. Certain history books described savages as people who drank blood and ate raw meat! Did people from the Central Region really view Silver Moon as nothing more than a realm of uncivilized brutes? He Yong said loudly, "The Silver Moon martial arts world was indeed powerful twenty-odd years ago, but supernaturals are advancing at breakneck speed now, while Silver Moon's supernatural development lags dreadfully behind. Aside from Hou Xiaochen, you only have a handful of Three Sols experts keeping up appearances. But in the Central Region, while Rising Light might be the pinnacle today, tomorrow someone or some organization could unlock the mysteries of the realm beyond!" "There are even supernatural cities forming in the Central Region!" Wang Ming asked blankly, "What is a supernatural city?" He didn't understand. Or rather, he had an inkling, but could hardly believe it. "A city made up entirely of supernaturals!" He Yong shouted, "In your eyes, supernaturals are mysterious, right? But do you know how many provinces there are in the Central Region? Do you know the population? Over two billion! Silver Moon is barren ground for supernaturals, but in the Central Region, one in every thousand people is a supernatural..." Wang Ming swiftly ran the numbers in his head. One in a thousand meant ten thousand per ten million, a hundred thousand per hundred million... Didn't that mean the Central Region had over two million supernaturals?! Two million! He was utterly dazed. He had some understanding of the Central Region, but having never been there, his knowledge came only from snippets shared by travelers. Two million supernaturals? That was... impossible! How could that be? Across Silver Moon, the entire Night Patrollers organization and its urban branches had no more than a thousand supernaturals at most, and that even included quite a few Rising Light experts. The Three Great Organizations, the Sword Sect, Bright Island, and a few minor groups combined accounted for perhaps one to two thousand more. Altogether, the entire province of Silver Moon certainly held no more than five thousand supernaturals! And that was including the garrison, the Inspectorate, and the General Administration combined. Yet Silver Moon had a population of over a hundred million. In the Central Region, the ratio was one in a thousand, whereas in Silver Moon, it was one in twenty thousand—only one supernatural for every twenty thousand people. A twentyfold difference! "Why is that?" Li Hao was equally astonished. "Aside from Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters, becoming a supernatural requires energy infusion. Not everyone can become one. Even if Silver Moon is somewhat backward, a twentyfold difference is absurd! Why would the Central Region produce so many supernaturals?" Two million might not sound immense given their vast population. Yet two million supernaturals was greater than the total population of two Silver Cities combined. Li Hao hadn't taken the concept of a 'supernatural city' seriously before, but thinking about it now, with so many supernaturals, would forming a city where they gathered be difficult? Supernaturals possessed great might across metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. If they set their minds to it, they could construct a city on a barren wasteland in no time with that many hands. Seeing them both shaken, He Yong laughed heartily. "First, Silver Moon keeps supernaturals under wraps, so very few ordinary people know about them. In the Central Region, relentless warfare means everyone knows supernaturals exist, so they hold no mystery, and everyone yearns to become one." "Second, energy infusion depends on the consumption of mysterious energy. The major organizations, the Nine Departments, and the imperial family's core are all concentrated in the Central Region, along with all the resources, so they never lack mysterious energy... Furthermore, continuous warfare causes supernaturals to fall regularly, scattering mysterious energy upon their deaths. Many commoners stumbled into the supernatural realm purely by accident." "Third, the Central Region has excavated countless ancient ruins, even discovering secret storehouses of divine energy stones... likely strategic reserves from the old era with immense stockpiles!" "Fourth, information travels much faster in the Central Region. The moment a supernatural technique is invented, it spreads rapidly. The same goes for energy infusion methods, which have been overhauled multiple times. Meanwhile, Silver Moon is still using your own homegrown Energy Channeling Method, which hasn't even shaken off the framework of martial masters!" Silver Moon's Energy Channeling Method was essentially a modified breathing technique. The Central Region's methods were completely different—far better suited for supernaturals to channel energy! "Fifth, the Central Region is the core of the entire Heavenly Star world, where mysterious energy particles are denser. Silver Moon, after all, is merely a remote frontier." "..." As his words settled, Li Hao and Wang Ming fell silent. Was the Central Region really that powerful? Wang Ming soon thought of something and retorted, "If the Central Region is so mighty, why weren't the people who came from there particularly impressive? Look at that Rising Light—our Director still ran him through with a single spear thrust! And you martial masters are still no match for Teacher Yuan!" Quit bragging! You boast two million supernaturals, countless geniuses, and endless experts... yet didn't our side still skewer one dead in a single strike? "Young man, putting martial masters aside for a moment, Yuan Shuo can be considered the crowning jewel of the last generation of martial masters, which is why he is exceptionally strong. But the Central Region has no shortage of Thousand-Battlers, and some have gone into seclusion to seek the path beyond Thousand-Battler. You can only say that Yuan Shuo has taken a step ahead; it doesn't mean he's invincible among martial masters!" "As for supernaturals, Hou Xiaochen is one in hundreds of millions. He was likely a Thousand-Battler martial master in his early years, a prodigy of martial arts who spent decades building his foundation, whereas supernaturals have only existed for twenty years... But that doesn't mean he can stay on top forever!" He Yong continued, "Every region produces a few anomalies and geniuses, but we cannot use them to represent the overall strength of an entire territory. They are simply not representative of the norm, understand?" After a beat, he added, "Some of the Central Region's geniuses and powerhouses simply look down on the frontier and refuse to come here. You should know that certain Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters start at Solar Radiance, step into Three Sols shortly after, and reach Rising Light in just a few years... Right now, a portion of those Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters have walked very far along the Rising Light path, and some even hope to break the sixth supernatural lock to become a completely new tier of expert beyond Rising Light!" Li Hao smiled. Everything He Yong said might well be true. Yet why was he telling them all this? Li Hao spoke up. "Senior, if the Central Region is so powerful, why do they still care about Silver Moon? The Three Great Organizations have stationed plenty of people here, you came, and many others have arrived... Some are even terrified of what Director Hou might do. Since the Central Region is confident it can resolve everything soon, why should it care about a 'savage' expert like Director Hou?" If you're all so formidable, what are you afraid of? He Yong chuckled. "It's not fear... Forget it, there's no need to belittle Silver Moon. It is our homeland, after all, and Hou Xiaochen and his peers truly are peerless talents. I only tell you youngsters this so you understand that sitting in a well and looking at the sky is no virtue!" "To be blunt, had I never left Silver Moon, I might still be at Hundred-Breaker culmination today. But after leaving, my horizons broadened. Even though I haven't stepped into Spirit Nourishing, I've developed my own insights along the Thousand-Battler path!" Li Hao fell silent. Perhaps the man had a point. Seeing more and expanding one's horizons truly broadened the mind. Take himself: had he only compared himself to the Demon Hunt Squad, he would have considered himself the strongest long ago. But once he witnessed that sword strike, saw that retreating figure, and beheld that murderous butcher... He suddenly felt that even if Hou Xiaochen was terrifyingly strong and shook the world, what of it? Nothing more. Li Hao wasn't deeply awed. He was merely shocked by how deeply Hou Xiaochen had hidden his strength. But to claim Hou Xiaochen was invincible would be a joke. Whether it was the ancestor's sword strike or the ancients he had glimpsed, every single one gave Li Hao the impression that Hou Xiaochen was someone they could crush effortlessly. If someone appeared right now and slapped Hou Xiaochen to death, people like Wang Ming would find it unbelievable, perhaps even lose their minds. Li Hao, however, would merely think: *Ah, so the modern era has experts like that too.* Thus, when He Yong advised them to go out and see the world, Li Hao didn't think he was entirely wrong. Yet was the world He Yong and his peers had seen truly broader than Silver Moon? Not necessarily! Silver Moon possessed extraordinary ruins. Li Hao doubted even the Central Region could match them. Take the stone gate ruins, or Battle Heaven City—were the Central Region's ruins truly superior to those? ... The three motorcycles sped along. Li Hao, who struggled with cars, took to riding this machine like a fish to water. Wang Ming remained lost in the world He Yong had painted, sinking into self-pity and despondence. Li Hao, on the other hand, had already put it out of his mind. So what if the Central Region was like that? He Yong had been observing the two of them. Seeing Li Hao's calm expression as he continued driving, completely unaffected and undeterred, He Yong smiled and spoke again. "Li Hao, care to visit the Central Region? If you want, skip White Moon City and come with me straight to Heavenly Star City." "You should know that Heavenly Star City is the center of the world! It has countless wonders you've never seen before. Things you consider priceless today might just be playthings to people there..." "There are plenty of martial masters and even more supernaturals. Countless experts gather in Heavenly Star City." "It houses the renowned Royal Supernatural Academy, academies founded by the Nine Departments, and innumerable Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters. Even the major organizations send representatives to exchange pointers and advance the development of supernatural power together..." Li Hao replied with utter composure, "Forget it. I'm just a country bumpkin who hasn't seen the world. Maybe I'll go in the future, but right now, I'm an unsophisticated hillbilly even in Silver Moon. I haven't even visited White Moon City yet; going there will broaden my horizons plenty." He truly was a bumpkin! A thoroughly unsophisticated one. In his entire life, he had only visited one or two cities, both roughly the size of Silver City. He had never set foot in White Moon City, a metropolis of thirty million people. Was it prosperous? He had no idea. What would a city of thirty million even look like? He had no clue. When a White Moon City native like Wang Ming spoke of it, Li Hao sometimes couldn't even fathom its grandeur. Heavenly Star City was simply too far away. Traveling there from here meant crossing multiple provinces. Even a Rising Light expert would need three days to arrive, and according to He Yong, that required taking airplanes and express trains, transferring repeatedly, before flying the rest of the way. It wasn't as if one could fly all the way directly. Attempting to fly the entire distance would kill anyone. Ten thousand li—even a Rising Light expert couldn't endure flying ten thousand li. It was unimaginably distant. Seeing his reaction, He Yong said no more. He had only thrown out the suggestion casually; he would have been stunned if Li Hao actually agreed. Li Hao had no interest in asking further questions. Wang Ming, however, had finally collected himself. Unable to suppress his curiosity and unafraid of another blow to his pride, he asked, "Senior Nan, I've heard the Central Region is plagued by constant warfare, utterly chaotic, with the common folk displaced and destitute... Yet why do you describe it as so prosperous?" "The Central Region is vast!" He Yong smiled. "The chaos you speak of only affects certain areas, and open fighting is diminishing these days. It rarely affects ordinary people. Even if a war breaks out over a city, to the Central Region as a whole, it's insignificant!" "Silver Moon Province has thirty-odd cities, while the Central Region has nearly a thousand... A war over a single city would cause an immense sensation in Silver Moon, but out of a thousand cities in the Central Region, who cares if one descends into turmoil?" Wang Ming nodded, nearly losing control of his bike. He couldn't resist asking, "Um... a twenty-year-old Solar Radiance must be rare in the Central Region too, right?" *I'm only twenty!* He Yong burst out laughing. "Well... there are actually quite a few! Of course, that's mainly because there are many Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters. In the supernatural academies, some seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds start out at Solar Radiance... Still, they aren't exceedingly common. If you went to the Central Region, you could barely count as a minor prodigy." A minor prodigy? Wang Ming was rendered speechless. Li Hao remained calm. Seeing Wang Ming look so thoroughly battered, he said quietly, "What Senior says may well be true, but those academy supernaturals and Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters probably grew up sheltered under the wings of the powerful... How many of them have truly fought their way up through blood and battle?" He Yong offered no reply. Li Hao continued, "The Silver Moon martial arts world was once famous far and wide; people said that if you wanted real combat, you came to Silver Moon! Perhaps that's the only virtue of this savage land in their eyes—at least we've all tasted blood!" Wasn't that precisely what 'drinking blood and eating raw meat' implied? Whether martial masters or supernaturals, people in Silver Moon felt little remorse after taking a life. Killing was ingrained in their bones; when Li Hao and Wang Ming killed for the first time, neither had felt much of anything. Why? Because every Silver Moon native, whether martial master or supernatural, grew up that way. Though the Central Region had many wars, those geniuses likely grew up cushioned in safety, didn't they? He Yong smiled. "Fair point. Silver Moon certainly has its strengths." Li Hao added, "Senior, as a martial master who walked out of Silver Moon, you claim the Central Region has many Thousand-Battlers, even plenty within the imperial family. Yet you manage to thrive comfortably among them. I imagine that owes much to your past experiences in Silver Moon, doesn't it?" "Spot on!" He Yong agreed readily. "You're right about that. The Central Region has plenty of Thousand-Battlers, but anyone claiming they can match us... is giving them far too much credit! Of course, the younger generation might not measure up. Take your leader Liu Long—he has combat experience, but in the Central Region, he wouldn't necessarily stand at the top. But your teacher, myself, or any of the martial masters who made a name for themselves in Silver Moon back then—any of us going to the Central Region would be grandfather-tier figures in the realm of martial arts!" That was enough. Perhaps the man was boasting a bit, but the fact that he fared well in the imperial family was undeniable. Otherwise, why would they let him roam around as he pleased? They might have even entrusted him with specific missions. Li Hao said nothing more; there was no need. The Central Region... was too far away. ... From Silver City to Cross-Cut Gorge was over a thousand li. Crossing the gorge and reaching White Moon City took another thousand li, totaling more than two thousand li in all. The newly trendy motorcycles traveled swiftly. Cruising at roughly a hundred li an hour was effortless, yet by daybreak on the fourth, Li Hao and his companions had only just cleared Cross-Cut Gorge. Reaching White Moon City would likely take until evening. On the other side of Cross-Cut Gorge. The three of them were experts in their own right. Carrying their motorcycles, they had descended straight into the grand canyon, ridden through it, and then carried the bikes up the opposing cliff face—a feat impossible for ordinary people. By now, all three were exhausted. After a full night of travel, even if their bodies held up, their minds felt weary. Beyond Cross-Cut Gorge, roads faintly appeared in the distance, looking quite orderly. Further off, the outlines of city buildings were visible—other towns, as White Moon City was still far ahead. Unlike the desolate wilderness of Silver City, this side was no longer barren. Li Hao watched quietly. He could even see people working in the distant fields. Around Silver City, traveling too far from the urban area meant entering an unpopulated wasteland! The group sat down where they were to rest, drink water, and eat some biscuits to stave off hunger. Seeing Li Hao staring into the distance, Wang Ming walked over. "The closest town here is Gu City, only several dozen li from us. Continuing forward, we'll pass Yaoguang City, and then another two hundred-odd li brings us to White Moon City!" Li Hao had studied the map. He nodded at the explanation, glancing into the distance once more. "White Moon City has a population of thirty million, but looking at the map, it doesn't seem that vast—certainly not thirty times the size of Silver City. Don't people feel crowded on ordinary days?" Wang Ming laughed, and He Yong chuckled as well. Wang Ming chuckled, "Not at all!" "Li Hao, you underestimate White Moon City. Put it this way: most buildings you see in Silver City are three stories high, occasionally six, and ten stories at the absolute maximum." "In White Moon City, thirty-story buildings are everywhere!" Li Hao chuckled as well. "I see... Stacking floor upon floor. If there isn't enough ground, they use height to relieve the pressure. But doesn't that feel oppressive?" "Surrounded by towering skyscrapers, living there must feel suffocating." Wang Ming shrugged. "Never felt that way!" He Yong chimed in, "White Moon City is manageable. In Heavenly Star City, buildings over a hundred stories are common, and these days they even have supernatural architecture. For instance, an earth-element Rising Light expert can construct a skyscraper a hundred or even a thousand meters tall in a single day..." Wang Ming added, "Li Hao, when you get to White Moon City, don't embarrass yourself. It's different from here. White Moon City is packed with cars and people. Also, unlike Silver City where the Inspectorate basically runs the show, over there the General Administration, Inspectorate, Night Patrollers, and garrison carry roughly equal weight. The Night Patrollers don't handle day-to-day administration; overall, the General Administration holds the reins." "Besides, small cities have one advantage: there's nobody you truly can't afford to offend. In White Moon City... we need to keep a low profile. You could accidentally bump into the son of an army commander or get into a brawl with the grandson of an administration director... On top of that, White Moon City has numerous massive corporations evolving into financial conglomerates, and they employ plenty of supernaturals..." Fearing that Li Hao's ignorance of these intricacies might land him in trouble, Wang Ming explained everything with tireless patience. Finally, he added, "Of course, you were personally recruited by the Director, so nobody will dare mess with you lightly. Still... we can't run crying to the Director for every little thing, right?" Li Hao nodded slightly. Wang Ming grinned. "Don't worry, though—you've got me! My Wang family carries some weight too." Li Hao hadn't asked before, but now his curiosity was piqued. "Is your family with the Tiger Wing Army as well?" "No!" Wang Ming explained, "The garrison is split into three branches. The Tiger Wing Army is just one. Then there's the Silver Moon Army, the central army, which serves as the nominal core of the three forces. Finally, there's the White Dragon Army, which is where my family is based." The White Dragon Army. Li Hao asked, "Is your father a commander like Hu Dingfang?" "Ahem..." Wang Ming coughed awkwardly. "Hardly! A commander... definitely not! Otherwise, with such an illustrious background, why would I join the Night Patrollers? My dad... my dad isn't much. It's mainly my grandfather. My grandfather is the deputy commander of the White Dragon Army." His grandfather was the highest-ranking member of the Wang family. In truth, that was formidable enough—impressive, even! Yet Li Hao didn't find it particularly astounding at this moment. Chiefly because he had met Hu Dingfang, commander of the Tiger Wing Army. No wonder Hu Dingfang had barely acknowledged Wang Ming when Wang Ming greeted him last time... It made sense. Hu Dingfang's peer was the White Dragon Army's commander; while he certainly knew the deputy commander, the deputy commander's grandson was hardly worth his attention. "Hu Dingfang doesn't look very old. How did he become the commander of the Tiger Wing Army?" Li Hao was curious. Was it purely due to strength? Did the military care only about strength now? Wang Ming pondered for a moment before answering, "Commander Hu really isn't that old—around forty, I think. He's indeed the youngest of the three army commanders, having led the Tiger Wing Army for eight years now. He took command in his early thirties." "I don't know the exact details, only that a little over a decade ago, something went wrong in the Tiger Wing Army—whether a mutiny or an ambush by supernaturals, I'm not sure... In any case, many people died that time, and Commander Hu nearly lost his life as well..." He continued, "Afterward, the Tiger Wing Army went through years of turmoil until Commander Hu stepped forward. With formidable strength and decisive ruthlessness, he suppressed the chaos and reorganized the Tiger Wing Army, after which he took full command. A lot of heads rolled back then." "Since the veteran generals had mostly perished, despite his youth, Commander Hu commands immense prestige in the Tiger Wing Army today!" Li Hao grew pensive. Hao Lianchuan had mentioned that Hu Dingfang knew the Five Animals Art, specifically the Five Animals Breathing Technique... Had Hu Dingfang's rapid advancement—already a late-stage Three Sols expert—been related to the Five Animals Breathing Technique? Who had taught it to him? Certainly not his teacher, or Yuan Shuo would have mentioned it. His senior martial sister? Li Hao's brow knitted slightly. He knew he had a senior martial sister in White Moon City. Around thirty-something years old. He didn't know her full name, only that it contained 'Hua.' His teacher had mentioned her a few times, but always brushed past the subject quickly, dropping it after a brief, instinctive reference. Since even Hao Lianchuan knew, his teacher must have known that Hu Dingfang practiced the Five Animals Breathing Technique. Yet he hadn't killed him... Whether that was due to insufficient strength or other reasons, the fact that his teacher never brought it up meant he had tacitly permitted it, or deemed it unnecessary to mention. Li Hao nodded and dropped the subject. He Yong, however, spoke up. "Hu Dingfang is indeed a fine talent in the military, but when it comes to the figure who commands the greatest prestige in Silver Moon's armed forces, that would be Commander Yu of the Silver Moon Army!" Knowing Li Hao wouldn't recognize the name, he smiled and explained, "Commander Yu is a veteran general who has commanded the Silver Moon Army for thirty years. When I left, he was already the supreme military commander of all Silver Moon!" "He is the one you truly need to pay attention to." "For no other reason than that he once held great renown in the Silver Moon martial arts world." "He was part of the martial arts world?" Li Hao was startled. He Yong shook his head. "No, but he is a martial master! Back in your teacher's heyday, when he ran rampant, there was no one he didn't dare challenge! Yet your teacher sparred with him once. Neither of them ever revealed who won or lost, but from that day forward, your teacher carried out several missions for the military. Everyone on the outside knew your teacher either owed him a favor or had forged a bond of friendship through that fight." "Anyone who can forge a friendship with your teacher... or rather, anyone he didn't beat to death, did so for a reason. Of course, he might not have dared kill him anyway, given his status." "In truth, none of us knows the full extent of his strength. Nor did he ever need to rely on sheer power to suppress the martial arts world; back then, the martial arts world and the military stayed out of each other's way. But you should certainly keep an eye on him. Whether he is a supernatural or a martial master today, none of us can say for sure." Li Hao nodded. Wang Ming added, "He keeps a very low profile, but his prestige is absolute. When my grandfather mentions Commander Yu, it's mostly with reverence. Among the three armies, the Silver Moon Army is probably the only one that has seen real, large-scale warfare. The other two don't carry nearly as much killing aura." "A war?" Li Hao felt uncultured once again. "How could there have been a major war?" "You wouldn't know," Wang Ming explained. "It happened about twenty years ago. Several provinces rebelled, seeking to break away from the dynasty's rule. The Silver Moon Army was ordered south, and Commander Yu led them to battle the rebel forces. Because we were closer, before the Central Region's armies could even deploy, Commander Yu shattered an allied rebel army of over five hundred thousand troops from three provinces... No one knows the exact tactical details, but the Silver Moon Army only had around a hundred thousand men at the time. To win against such odds and crush the rebellion was nothing short of miraculous!" "It was tied to the Three Great Organizations," He Yong added. "The shadows of the Three Great Organizations lurked behind that three-province rebellion. They had likely uncovered secrets about supernatural power by then. The exact motive behind the rebellion remains unclear to this day—after all, keeping a low profile would have served them better back then... But later, people said the Three Great Organizations might have already formed at that time, and their clash over vital discoveries ultimately triggered the upheaval across three provinces!" "Commander Yu suppressed the rebellion, triumphing over superior numbers... The central government holds records on the matter, but they are strictly classified. From what I understand, Commander Yu may have eliminated several top powerhouses from the Three Great Organizations in the end. As for the precise truth, probably only he knows." "..." The two continued filling in Li Hao's gaps in knowledge. Wang Ming's openness was expected, but He Yong—whatever his motives—freely shared intelligence that originated from the imperial court without the slightest hesitation. Gradually, Li Hao developed a clearer picture of White Moon City. This metropolis of thirty million was a hundred times more complex than Silver City! Countless untouchable titans resided here. The heart of all Silver Moon beat within its walls. Beyond the active dignitaries, there were retired heavyweights who had returned from the Central Region, prominent figures with relatives serving in key positions across other provinces, and many, many more... All were figures Li Hao couldn't afford to cross. Hou Xiaochen wasn't his father. And even if he were, there were still people the sons of titans dared not provoke. Hou Xiaochen had not rebelled. As long as he hadn't, his status in Silver Moon was not supreme. Li Hao committed every detail to memory. Finally, as they were about to remount their bikes, Wang Ming recalled something and said, "Right, one more thing about the Night Patrollers! Remember this: within the Night Patrollers, Director Hou is the highest authority, but the second-in-command isn't Director Hao—it's Chief Steward Yu!" "Chief Steward Yu... the woman who's always following Director Hou?" "Yes!" Li Hao knew that woman... was terrifyingly strong! A Rising Light! Previously, Li Hao hadn't been certain, but after witnessing the slain Red Hair, he knew she was a genuine Rising Light expert. "Is she Director Hou's wife?" "No." Li Hao found that odd. "They seem very close, though." "Who knows? Just don't speak out of turn," Wang Ming chuckled. "Chief Steward Yu has looked after Director Hou for years. Calling her not his wife... is basically a technicality. Director Hou rarely involves himself in the day-to-day affairs of the Night Patrollers; she's usually the one giving the orders." He Yong sneered. "If I were Hao Lianchuan... I would have quit long ago. Letting a woman walk all over me!" Ignoring him, Wang Ming continued, "Number three is Director Hao. Director Hao is an easygoing man, very approachable. When people run into trouble, they usually go to Director Hao to get it sorted. Only if he can't resolve it do they turn to Chief Steward Yu." Wang Ming laughed. "Chief Steward Yu can have a sharp tongue, but if you take a problem to her and she agrees to solve it... it's practically guaranteed to get solved! Director Hao, on the other hand... he agrees readily enough, but out of ten matters, he only manages to resolve half." Li Hao couldn't help but laugh. Hearing Wang Ming put it that way, he felt Hao Lianchuan was rather pitiable. For his subordinates to view him like that showed his competence was... passable at best. The bikes roared to life once more. The three didn't linger. Even when passing people or towns, they never stopped. Their three flashy motorcycles drew plenty of stares, but no one dared make a move. With He Yong looking as fierce as he did, who would dare cross that bearded brute? ... White Moon City. Hao Lianchuan walked out of the General Administration looking utterly exhausted, his head throbbing with a headache. Shortly after stepping out, a figure approached him—a young man in his twenties, wearing an Inspectorate uniform that was noticeably brighter than Hao Lianchuan's and trimmed with gold embroidery. The youth wore his hair rather long, tinted with a faint greenish hue. The moment he saw this person walking toward him, Hao Lianchuan's headache worsened. Someone from the Night Patrollers headquarters! Headquarters had dispatched five people this time. Aside from their leader, who rarely showed his face, the other four had been running amok these past two days. The fellow before him was no lightweight either. Yu Xiao, twenty-six years old, male, early-stage Three Sols! A twenty-six-year-old Three Sols was virtually nonexistent in Silver Moon, but not uncommon in the Central Region. There were even twenty-year-old Three Sols there; six years older meant an entirely different generation in this era! Dispatched from headquarters specifically to handle frontier affairs, he was naturally no slouch. In fact, this fellow was the weakest among the group! Evidently, headquarters had taken no chances: one Rising Light and four Three Sols, with two of the other three Three Sols being peak-stage experts. "Director Hao!" Yu Xiao strode over with a practiced, superficial smile. When Li Hao smiled, nobody thought it fake, but when this man smiled, Hao Lianchuan instantly found it dripping with insincerity. "Special Commissioner Yu!" Hao Lianchuan forced a smile. "Are you heading into the General Administration on business?" "No." Yu Xiao's smile remained thin. "I came specifically to find Director Hao. Director Hou previously mentioned going into closed-door seclusion. This is already the third day—isn't he finished yet? Perhaps we could visit him. Headquarters had us bring some precious healing medicines this time; they're quite effective..." "Ah... I'll have to ask Chief Steward Yu about that later." Hao Lianchuan had no desire to entertain him, yet had to keep up appearances. Yu Xiao nodded, seemingly unbothered, and added, "Furthermore, headquarters is very concerned about Yuan Shuo! We heard his disciple will be arriving in White Moon City any day now, and word has it this disciple possesses the bloodline of the Eight Great Families..." Hao Lianchuan nodded slightly. "Yes, that's true." "Headquarters' intention is that if we can acquire the method for Spirit Nourishing... Of course, that's open to discussion. We simply wish to meet this Li... Li Hao, was it? And ask a few questions. As a member of the Night Patrollers, that shouldn't be an issue, right?" Hao Lianchuan frowned. "Well... that can be arranged. But as the Special Commissioner knows, the martial arts world has its rules. Matters involving core secrets cannot be shared lightly..." "He is a Night Patroller, not a martial artist!" Yu Xiao chuckled lightly. "Besides... where is there a martial arts world anymore? The rivers and lakes, the martial arts world... gone long ago! Director Hao, please stop harping on about the martial arts world. What era do you think this is? If we're strictly talking about the martial arts world, how could a common roughneck like Li Hao even qualify to join the Night Patrollers?" He found the fat man before him utterly exasperating. Still clinging to the martial arts world! What year was it? Supernaturals had been ascendant for over twenty years. Today, the rivers and lakes were dry, and the martial arts world was dead. Even the Thousand-Battler grandmasters of the Central Region could only scrape by on their last breaths. Even if Yuan Shuo had stepped into Spirit Nourishing, that only matched the Three Sols level. Was Three Sols considered formidable? Was it rare? In the Central Region, even Rising Light experts had fallen, to say nothing of Three Sols. He, Yu Xiao, was only twenty-six and already a Three Sols! He was on the verge of reaching the mid-stage. Yuan Shuo had killed Sun Yifei, true, but Yu Xiao didn't consider himself inferior to Sun Yifei—that old fossil was long past his prime! As for the method of Spirit Nourishing, he held little interest in it. What interested him far more was the bloodline of the Eight Great Families, something even Ying Hongyue cared about. Their attention was focused on Li Hao himself. As for Yuan Shuo, perhaps the martial masters cared, or perhaps high-ranking figures cared for the sake of the organization as a whole. He didn't need to. None of the envoys dispatched this time needed to. They cared about what this Eight Great Families bloodline could offer them, or whether it could bring them personal opportunities and merit—such as taking Li Hao back to headquarters to bait Red Moon into a trap. Hao Lianchuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Understood! Once Li Hao arrives, I'll have him meet with the Special Commissioners." He did not refuse. Yu Xiao smiled warmly. "Splendid. No need to worry; we're all on the same side. Would we harm him? Meeting us will be a blessing for him. The Central Region has far more treasures, after all. If he makes a good impression, even divine energy stones aren't out of the question..." Hao Lianchuan kept his thoughts to himself. "Does the Special Commissioner have any other business?" Yu Xiao frowned briefly before smoothing his expression. This fat man seemed eager to be rid of him, which grated on his nerves. Suppressing his irritation, he continued, "One minor matter. Headquarters also tasked us with conducting an audit of the Silver Moon Night Patrollers' finances, personnel, and equipment allocations!" "Director Hao has no objections to that, I presume?" Hao Lianchuan beamed. "None at all! That's only proper. Drawing pay for phantom personnel is a common issue elsewhere, but we don't engage in such practices. Feel free to investigate. If you need cooperation, just say the word, Commissioner." "Then I'll be blunt. I heard... there's something called the Silver Moon Martial Guard... An establishment that doesn't exist on paper and has never been reported to the top..." "Oh, that?" Hao Lianchuan wore a bewildered expression. "You'd have to ask the military. I genuinely have no idea. That sounds like a military designation; why doesn't the Special Commissioner ask Commander Yu?" Yu Xiao frowned, staying silent for a long moment before replying, "We will look into it. That's all for now. Notify us once Li Hao arrives in White Moon City!" "Certainly, without fail!" Hao Lianchuan watched him leave. The moment Yu Xiao vanished from sight, the smile faded from his face. A mixture of disdain and helplessness gave way to a weary sigh. How pathetic! He, Hao Lianchuan, was only a Three Sols today, while a wet-behind-the-ears kid was also a Three Sols. The worst part was that the kid strutted around with his nose in the air, and Hao Lianchuan had no ground to push back. At that thought, he chuckled again. Li Hao... As expected, everyone cared about the Eight Great Families. He wondered if this kid's arrival in White Moon City would bring him a few pleasant surprises. Just as he was pondering this, his communicator rang. He answered, and a voice came through: "Director Hao, Wang Ming has brought Li Hao to report." "He's here?" "Yes, right at the entrance." "Wait for me! I'm coming back immediately. Before I arrive, no one is permitted to take Li Hao away!" "Understood!" Hao Lianchuan hurriedly got into his car and sped toward the Night Patrollers headquarters. Finally here! If the fellow had delayed any longer, Hao Lianchuan would have had to travel to Silver City to drag him over himself. ... At that moment, Li Hao stood in the ground-floor lobby of the Night Patrollers building, glancing around with curiosity. Was this the Silver Moon headquarters of the Night Patrollers? It was so small! Along the way, he had seen towering skyscrapers, leading him to imagine the Night Patrollers headquarters would be magnificent and grand. Instead... it was just a modest, aged building accompanied by a large courtyard. And that was it! Of course, there were plenty of light orbs. Hao Lianchuan didn't seem to be present, though Chief Steward Yu was. That massive light orb of hers was blindingly bright. Li Hao dared not look too closely. He couldn't detect Hou Xiaochen—or rather, had no way of detecting him. Face-to-face, Li Hao wouldn't dare stare at that man, as the glare was too piercing; yet from a great distance, he couldn't see clearly at all. It was similar to his experience with Qiao Feilong back then, whom he couldn't discern until standing directly before him. At this moment, Li Hao looked around like a country bumpkin, observing everything. He was gauging the overall strength of the Night Patrollers. There didn't seem to be any Three Sols around... Truly bleak. One Rising Light, and the only Three Sols was probably Hao Lianchuan. Hou Xiaochen's strength was an unknown. Could the Night Patrollers really possess only this much strength? If so, rebelling was an absolute joke. Were all the elites in the Martial Guard? Yet the Martial Guard consisted entirely of martial masters. Li Hao had originally assumed they would have some hidden strength. At least here, he saw no sign of it. As he looked around, Wang Ming was chatting with someone nearby. Suddenly, Li Hao glanced back toward the entrance. Outside the lobby, a relatively young woman walked in. Seeing Li Hao, she appeared somewhat excited and asked, "Are you Li Hao?" Li Hao blinked dumbly and nodded. "You're finally here..." Before she could say more, a fat man came rushing in from behind, laughing boisterously. "Xiao Hao, you're finally here!" With that, he stepped forward and gave Li Hao a swift hug. Li Hao was utterly baffled. Why the sudden affection? Hao Lianchuan's voice whispered in his ear, "Ignore this woman! She's Hu Dingfang's person—his wife's guard. You just arrived in White Moon City; don't get mixed up in anything!" Li Hao said nothing, but understanding dawned in his heart. Hu Dingfang's wife's guard... Not even Hu Dingfang's own guard. Five Animals Breathing Technique... Senior Martial Sister? He understood! Hu Dingfang was his senior martial sister's husband, and the Five Animals Breathing Technique had been passed to him by her. Yet their teacher had never permitted anyone outside the sect to practice it. In that single moment, Li Hao grasped many things. Maintaining his dazed, wooden expression, he appeared as though he wanted to speak, but Hao Lianchuan grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the stairs. Li Hao waved a hand at the woman, as if bidding farewell. Hao Lianchuan cursed inwardly. *Damn it, why are you pulling me?* *Do you even know where my office is?* *Dragging me along... and damn, you've got serious strength!* "Director Hao... I haven't reported in yet... Why are you dragging me..." Li Hao appeared to be "dragged" upstairs, looking completely bewildered. "Director Hao—no, Uncle Hao, I haven't been assigned a dormitory yet. I can't stay at your place, that wouldn't be proper..." *Who the hell invited you to stay at my place?!* Hao Lianchuan rolled his eyes. What was wrong with this kid? The two quickly ascended the stairs. Once they were out of everyone's sight, the smile returned to Li Hao's face. "Director Hao, I was scared to death coming here. Seeing a familiar face was a relief. Seeing you, Director Hao, felt like seeing my late father..." *Damn!* Hao Lianchuan was completely speechless. Looking at Li Hao again, he suddenly chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "Nicely done!" "..." Li Hao looked at him, and seeing that the praise was genuine, gave a shy smile. "It was nothing. Director Hao, I won't listen to anyone but you! From now on in White Moon City, you're like a parent to me—even more worthy of my respect than Director Hou. Whatever happens, I'm coming straight to you!" Hao Lianchuan's smile stiffened slightly. "Latching onto me, are you?" "Not at all!" Li Hao chuckled. "Director Hao, I genuinely feel close to you. Seeing you feels like seeing family. I was terrified just now, really. The moment I saw you, I suddenly relaxed and felt right at home!" Hao Lianchuan was thoroughly speechless. He had underestimated this kid. Li Hao hadn't been this brazen before; how had he become exponentially more shameless the moment he set foot in White Moon City? "Cut the chatter. Come on, let's sit in my office for a bit. Director Hou hasn't emerged from seclusion yet; once he does, you can see him..." "Whatever Uncle Hao says goes!" Li Hao nodded eagerly, pledging his total allegiance! Arriving in White Moon City as a stranger in a strange land, Old Wang claimed he could help with anything, but who cared about a mere Solar Radiance? A Three Sols was far better! Moreover, Hao Lianchuan held power and status, so cozying up to him was the smart move. Li Hao and Hao Lianchuan exchanged glances, both wearing wide smiles. After smiling for a moment, Hao Lianchuan let out a sigh. "You really look like my late son!" Li Hao's expression froze. Hao Lianchuan... was a bachelor! What a load of rubbish! Wang Ming had told him about this before. Not a single word out of this man's mouth was true. ... With Li Hao's arrival in White Moon City, his name quickly began circulating through certain circles. Descendant of the Eight Great Families, disciple of Yuan Shuo. These two identities alone were enough to ensure that the moment he stepped foot in this place, eyes immediately turned to him. Even though Li Hao was merely a Hundred-Breaker martial master. Yet at this moment, his name appeared frequently on the lips of powerful figures. Before long, word spread that Li Hao and Hao Lianchuan were close as father and son, taking many by surprise. Since when had Hao Lianchuan become so tight with Li Hao? Had he deliberately won Li Hao over during his trips to Silver City, or had something else happened? Supposedly, the two had embraced tightly upon meeting, refusing to let go... News of this left more than a few people furrowing their brows.