Li Hao Is Truly Honest

Inside the main hall. Li Hao conscientiously answered every question posed to him. Aside from things he genuinely could not reveal, he held nothing back. Only at the very end did someone in the crowd hesitate before speaking up: "Young friend Li Hao, is there truly no possibility of passing down the Five Animals Breathing Technique outside your sect?" Even at this stage, people still wanted to ask and try their luck. Could it really not be shared? In these times when martial arts were in decline, perhaps... they might be willing to teach it to outsiders? Li Hao put on a troubled look. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "No! At least, not right now. Unless my master gives his consent, I cannot make that call. But as for my master... it is not entirely impossible!" Li Hao pondered for another beat before continuing, "Perhaps everyone knows my master's character better than I do. He is stubborn, but he also believes in returning favors. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring! "To speak plainly, my master has remained in hiding to steer clear of danger. If you seniors return home and happen to encounter him, or witness him in perilous straits, and are willing to lend a helping hand... why shouldn't the Five Animals Breathing Technique be taught?" Li Hao spoke with utter bluntness. "When one's very life is on the line, who cares about such things? If someone saves my master, and he truly refuses to pass down the Five Animals Breathing Technique, come find me! Even if it infuriates him to death, I will teach it to you!" These words immediately caused a stir among the crowd. Save Yuan Shuo? Granted, Yuan Shuo was formidable now, but no matter how strong he was, he had not reached the level where he could rival a Rising Light expert. If Yuan Shuo truly headed to the Central Region to seek vengeance against Red Moon, they might actually run into him. Lending a hand if circumstances allowed was certainly not out of the question. A martial master's promise carried tremendous weight. When that time came, let alone the Five Animals Breathing Technique, they might even obtain far greater rewards. "Understood!" The martial master who had asked the question broke into a smile. "If we truly encounter Master Yuan wounded or in danger in the Central Region, we naturally won't stand idly by as fellow martial masters!" Li Hao cupped his fists. "Then I thank you all in advance!" With that, he concluded, "Everyone, I have answered everything within my ability to clear your doubts. If there are still things you do not understand, this junior is powerless to help! Lastly, though I harbor enmity toward Red Moon, I must remind everyone that Blood God Seeds are formless and incorporeal; aside from Origin God Armaments, there is no other way to harvest them. Please do not risk your lives for a Blood God Seed. The best path is not hunting down Red Moon's experts, but joining forces to compel Red Moon to surrender the method for nurturing Blood God Seeds!" Li Hao smiled. "That is the root of the matter! Only by cultivating Blood God Seeds can we martial masters forge a path forward! Here and now, on behalf of my master, I make this declaration: if Red Moon is willing to surrender their nurturing method—provided it is authentic and suitable for widespread cultivation—our Five Animals Sect will also share the Five Animals Breathing Technique to do our part in carrying forward the martial path!" The moment these words left his mouth, the entire hall and the second floor fell dead silent. When Li Hao brought up the Blood God Seed earlier, some people had already been thinking: even if Red Moon agreed to share their method, it wouldn't solve the core issue unless Yuan Shuo also shared the Five Animals Breathing Technique. Why weren't they asking Yuan Shuo to share his secret art? Yet unexpectedly... Li Hao added that they would share it too! At this, several people could no longer remain seated. Someone shouted urgently, "Can you truly make that promise on your master's behalf?" If everyone pooled their strength, it was not impossible. Red Moon was clearly bogged down in trouble and crisis. Ying Hongyue might not be able to hold out indefinitely. If they joined forces to pressure him into handing over the method, there was a real chance of success. And if the Five Animals Breathing Technique was shared at that time as well... it would be a match made in heaven! Li Hao nodded and said in a grave voice, "As long as we ensure the method is genuine and truly capable of nurturing Blood God Seeds, I can make that decision for my master! If anyone doubts my word, I can stake the reputation of the Night Patrollers as a guarantee! If Ying Hongyue dares to share his, would my Five Animals Sect begrudge a single secret technique? "However, without that method, passing down the Five Animals Breathing Technique would only benefit Red Moon in the end. No matter how foolish we might be, we won't let Red Moon reap the spoils!" The crowd thought it through and agreed. If the Five Animals Breathing Technique spread far and wide while only Red Moon knew how to cultivate Blood God Seeds, wouldn't Red Moon's power balloon overnight? "Young friend Li is truly righteous!" "Indeed! Since the cultivation method for Blood God Seeds benefits all martial masters, I believe we must give it a try. Ying Hongyue of Red Moon was once a martial master himself. Now that even the Five Animals Sect has made such a gesture, why shouldn't Red Moon?" If even Yuan the Old Demon, notorious for being stubborn and unreasonable, had agreed on his end, how could Ying Hongyue refuse? In an instant, all the pressure was shifted squarely onto Red Moon. Instead of scheming to wrest away the Five Animals Breathing Technique, it made far more sense to find a way to seize the nurturing method first. That way, the Five Animals Breathing Technique would be offered up voluntarily, yielding a double harvest that benefited everyone. "Many thanks to King Yuan for his righteousness! The Five Animals Sect is truly a shining beacon of our martial world!" At this moment, the martial masters showered him with polite praise. The Five Animals Sect was offering an inherited secret art, whereas Ying Hongyue only needed to surrender an unorthodox method. Who couldn't tell which carried greater weight? So what if Red Moon was powerful? If they refused to hand it over, the martial masters were no pushovers either. Ying Hongyue ought to know that while he could dominate the Central Region, he could never suppress the entire world! If they dared withhold it, martial masters would slaughter every last member of Red Moon outside the Central Region, assassinating their supernaturals one by one. In the art of assassination, even Feitian was no match for martial masters. Feitian supernaturals gave off energy fluctuations, but when a swarm of martial masters went on an assassination spree... even Feitian would have to step aside! ... Just like that, the briefing came to an end. Yet it left behind a hall full of agitated martial masters. Many of them began conferring among themselves about joining forces to apply pressure. Naturally, directly marching into Red Moon's territory was far too foolish. How would they pressure them? Through slaughter! They would begin hunting down Red Moon's members across the various provinces, killing until Ying Hongyue had no choice but to make the secret art public. That was the proper way. The martial masters were of one mind. Negotiations were pointless. Killing until Red Moon could no longer endure the losses was the best approach. ... On the second floor. Inside a private booth, Hong Yitang exhaled softly and said, "Red Moon is in for a great deal of trouble, unless they make the method public beforehand." Beside him, his wife sent a voice transmission: "If Ying Hongyue discloses the method outright, wouldn't that put the Five Animals Sect on the spot?" When that happened, would the Five Animals Sect actually hand over their technique or not? "Why would it put them on the spot? Besides, how could Red Moon ever bow their head so easily... As one of the Three Great Organizations, bowing down merely because of pressure from a mob of martial masters would ruin them. Even if Ying Hongyue knows that giving in might create trouble for Yuan Shuo... the invincible prestige he has spent years cultivating for Red Moon would shatter in an instant! Everyone in Red Moon would wonder: if he can make a secret art public today, will he hand over their lives tomorrow? "For a major faction, under such circumstances, they must grit their teeth and stand their ground rather than yield easily. Otherwise, everyone will use the same tactic to coerce them again and again! "It is just like the government. No matter how the Three Great Organizations threaten or coerce them, once real trouble strikes, they deploy city-destroying bombs. Even if it means reducing a city to ash, they will never compromise. Why are they so resolute? Precisely to eliminate the possibility of a second occurrence!" As the master of the Sword Sect, Hong Yitang saw through the matter clearly. If Ying Hongyue were purely a martial master acting on his own, this pressure might genuinely compel him to hand it over. However... he was the leader of a colossus. How could he possibly surrender it? Unless they truly reached the brink of total collapse, there was no chance. Short of suffering devastating losses, he would never bow his head. His wife understood his reasoning. She nodded slightly, then transmitted her voice again: "Did you hear what Li Hao and the others were whispering earlier?" "I caught a faint drift of it..." Hong Yitang frowned slightly, then quickly replied via transmission, "Pay it no mind. We can drop a quiet warning to our people not to get involved. Avarice blinds the mind, but Silver Moon still belongs to Hou Xiaochen. Even if people catch wind of this, unless they want to completely tear off the facade with Hou Xiaochen, who would dare take the risk?" Of course, there would always be reckless fools. Those people deserved whatever death awaited them. As for whether Li Hao would come to harm... Hong Yitang reflected on it and felt it was unlikely. This Li Hao was not necessarily simple. He seemed honest and gentle on the surface, but Hong Yitang had entered the ancient city with him. So many had died, yet Li Hao and his companions had walked out alive... Was that truly a stroke of pure luck? How many supernaturals had perished that day? Yet Li Hao, Liu Long, and their small band had escaped completely unscathed. That alone proved he was extraordinary. And yet, among everyone who came out together, nobody seemed to consider Li Hao anything special. The more Hong Yitang pondered this after emerging, the stranger it felt. A martial master who appeared unremarkable, possessing no extraordinary talents, had somehow strolled leisurely through the perils of the ancient city to the very end without a scratch. Though he seemed to have gained nothing of note, could someone like that... truly be simple? His wife said nothing more. After a moment's consideration, Hong Yitang transmitted, "In the end, we make our living in Silver Moon. Others might manage to straddle the fence, but it is difficult for us! As things stand, across the entirety of Silver Moon, only the two Three Sols experts of our Sword Sect remain outside their control... It is time to make a decision: do we throw in our lot with Hou Xiaochen, draw closer to the Three Great Organizations, or choose to relocate and seek a way forward in other provinces?" He had come to White Moon City with this very dilemma on his mind. It was a difficult choice! Yet refusing to choose was no longer an option. The Three Great Organizations and the Night Patrollers were now like fire and water. The Sword Sect had previously survived in the cracks between them, but that middle ground had vanished. He had to make a swift decision. "Yitang, must we really get dragged into this? You built the Sword Sect with your own two hands, pouring countless years of effort into it..." "We have no choice!" Hong Yitang watched Li Hao and the others depart below and transmitted, "Even someone as powerful as Yuan Shuo had to let his disciple join the Night Patrollers to seek protection. Yuan Shuo departed alone precisely to avoid being bound! In today's martial world, how many martial masters remain completely unconstrained? At least I, Hong Yitang, cannot manage it... When it comes down to it, our only choices are aligning with the Three Great Organizations or turning to the Night Patrollers!" Yet he harbored a deeper fear: joining the Night Patrollers might make them cannon fodder. Joining the Three Great Organizations... carried an even higher likelihood of that fate! At this moment, his gaze fixed on Li Hao's retreating back once more. His eyes flickered as he transmitted, "I will wait for Yuan Shuo to return!" "What?" His wife failed to follow his train of thought. Hong Yitang smiled and transmitted, "I will wait for Yuan Shuo to return to Silver Moon. In the meantime, I will use Yuan Shuo as an excuse to stall the Night Patrollers. If Yuan Shuo returns, and if even he is willing to join the Night Patrollers... my Sword Sect will follow his lead! "That man truly knows how to yield and when to strike, and his instincts are extraordinarily sharp. So many have died, yet he has always stayed alive, living openly and proudly. Now, his martial path has reached the pinnacle of Spirit Nourishing. As a martial master of his era, walking alongside him might not lead us astray." Still perplexed, his wife transmitted, "Will that really work?" "It will! Rest assured, Hou Xiaochen must also be waiting for Yuan Shuo's return... So there will be no issue!" Yuan Shuo would definitely come back. That man was wild and unyielding, but he had one redeeming trait: he remembered where his home was and where his disciple stayed. He was bound to return sooner or later. ... Li Hao, of course, had no idea what the Sword Sect had decided. Nor was he interested in knowing. At this moment, he began making his way back toward the Night Patroller headquarters. The distance was short, so there was no fear of danger here. Even if trouble came, it would happen on his walk home tonight. Having dealt with that first batch of people, another awaited him. The Night Patrollers from headquarters! Hao Lianchuan had already given him a heads-up beforehand. Sure enough, the moment he reached the entrance, a green-haired youth blocked his path. The young man wore a rather superficial smile, accompanied by Hao Lianchuan. "Li Hao!" Hao Lianchuan beamed warmly, waving him over. "Come here a moment!" Li Hao jogged over quickly. Hao Lianchuan said with a chuckle, "Let me introduce you. This is Special Commissioner Yu from headquarters. Though the commissioner is young, his strength is top-tier—an expert of the middle Three Sols!" Yu Xiao smiled, maintaining an air of feigned modesty. "You overpraise me. Middle Three Sols is hardly worth mentioning in the Central Region!" "Greetings, my lord!" Li Hao promptly saluted, his gaze filled with admiration, envy, respect, and yearning. That look immediately lifted Yu Xiao's spirits. So what if he was Yuan Shuo's disciple and a scion of the Eight Great Families? He was still merely a Hundred-Breaker martial master. A presence on the level of Lunar Nether! The disparity between them was like heaven and earth. Above him lay the three tiers of Solar Radiance, followed by early Three Sols. The chasm was vast enough that Yu Xiao had no reason to feel the slightest envy or jealousy toward Li Hao. "You are Li Hao, correct?" Li Hao nodded obediently, looking thoroughly docile. "Yes, my lord, I am Li Hao, from Silver City. I belong to the Five Animals Sect and also the Night Patrollers. Having only joined recently, I hope my lord will take care of me!" "Easy enough, easy enough!" Yu Xiao beamed. "There are a few things I would like to discuss with you. Do you have some time?" Li Hao replied eagerly, "Of course! Please ask away, my lord..." "Then let us find a place to sit down and chat." Yu Xiao disliked this location; it felt stifling to him. Li Hao glanced cautiously at Hao Lianchuan. Hao Lianchuan furrowed his brows slightly, then said, "Very well. Li Hao, accompany Special Commissioner Yu to the teahouse next door. Remember, don't talk out of turn!" Li Hao nodded vigorously. Yu Xiao couldn't have cared less, stating indifferently, "Then that settles it. Li Hao, follow me." "Yes, my lord!" Li Hao hurried after him as Yu Xiao set off. If he hadn't been waiting for Li Hao, he wouldn't have spent another second lingering here. ... A short while later. Inside a private booth at the teahouse. Li Hao hurriedly poured tea for Yu Xiao. Yu Xiao smiled. "Quite adept. Do you do this often?" Li Hao gave an honest grin. "In the past, I used to serve tea and pour water for my teacher. That is how we martial masters are. As we grow step by step, we must perform chores before our teachers will impart knowledge." "Old-fashioned traditions!" Yu Xiao sneered dismissively. "That is precisely why martial masters declined. Masters always love to hold something back, concealing whatever they can. Unlike us supernaturals, who have no need to flatter anyone!" Li Hao displayed a hint of envy mixed with helplessness. "Unfortunately, I cannot become a supernatural. I've tried..." Yu Xiao was not surprised and said with a light smile, "Normal. Having reached the Hundred-Breaker realm, your physical body is robust, making it difficult to break your shackles and awaken supernatural powers. Still, that is only because your shackles were reinforced by your inner force. If you truly find an opportunity, you might yet succeed." Li Hao nodded with a look of longing, though he seemed too timid to say more. Yu Xiao chuckled and gestured for him to take a seat. Li Hao obediently sat down. Getting straight to the point, Yu Xiao asked, "You are the heir to the Li family of the Eight Great Families, correct?" Li Hao nodded, then shook his head. "I don't know, but everyone says so. In truth, I know nothing about the Eight Great Families. But since Red Moon came after me, I figure that after all their years of research... it is probably true." "Your Li family sword..." "I surrendered it to the organization!" Li Hao answered promptly, "I'm not sure whether it is with Director Hao or Director Hou." Yu Xiao nodded thoughtfully. Taking a sip of tea, he pressed on, "At the briefing earlier, you said the Five Animals Breathing Art paired with a Blood God Seed allows martial masters to grow stronger rapidly, correct?" Li Hao nodded once more. "Is there truly no way to hand over the Five Animals Breathing Technique to the Night Patrollers? You could reap substantial benefits in return." Li Hao showed a conflicted and helpless expression. "That... without my teacher's permission, it is impossible. Otherwise, my teacher would purge me from the sect! My lord may not know, but this is a grave taboo in the martial world. Though the martial world of old is gone, my teacher... is still very much alive!" Seeing Li Hao's pitiful demeanor, Yu Xiao laughed. "It's fine. I only asked casually; I am not forcing you to surrender your secret technique. Of course, if you ever change your mind... the Silver Moon Night Patrollers might not be able to shoulder the consequences, but don't forget that our headquarters is in Heavenly Star City. That place... is not somewhere a martial master can run wild!" He chuckled softly. Li Hao looked awkward and kept his head down, not daring to speak. When Yu Xiao took another sip of tea, Li Hao quickly rose and refilled his cup. Leaning back in his chair, Yu Xiao watched him with an amused smile. After a moment, he spoke again: "Li Hao, your bloodline may possess unique traits. We currently need some of your blood for research. Do you have any objections?" "None at all!" Li Hao shook his head rapidly, saying with simple honesty, "If headquarters needs it for research, it is only natural! My lord, shall I draw some blood now?" "..." He truly is obedient! Yu Xiao had assumed the youth would put up some resistance or struggle. Now it seemed Li Hao truly treated the Night Patrollers as his sole lifeline. Everyone claimed Yuan Shuo was cunning and deceitful, yet this disciple of his... was genuinely simple and honest. Yu Xiao smiled and said, "Blood is one thing... Li Hao, headquarters will not mistreat you. However, what I need is not ordinary blood, but essence blood..." Now Li Hao looked troubled, his expression turning hesitant. "My lord... essence blood... losing even a single drop will severely damage my vitality. Back in the ancient ruin, I... I was already badly injured..." Yu Xiao frowned. "You are unwilling?" "No, no!" Li Hao shook his head hastily. "How could I be unwilling? Essence blood can be replenished eventually. I... very well, I will provide a drop of essence blood for my lord. But... could my lord wait a day or two?" Yu Xiao smiled. "Why?" Li Hao scratched his head. "Well... Director Hou rewarded me with some treasures. After consuming them, I can gather some essence blood, which will minimize my losses." "A Blood God Seed?" "Mhm!" Li Hao nodded with complete candor. Yu Xiao didn't think much of it, but murmured reflexively, "He truly treats you well..." Li Hao gave a bashful grin. "It's alright, I suppose. The main reason is that I rendered meritorious service this time, back in the ruins..." At this point, Li Hao abruptly clamped his mouth shut. He glanced up at Yu Xiao as if realizing he had said something he shouldn't have. Shrinking back timidly, he lowered his head. "Yes, Director Hou values me!" "..." Only then did Yu Xiao recall that this fellow had entered the ruins! Previously, he had assumed Hou Xiaochen merely favored Li Hao as a means to win over Yuan Shuo. Yet now... could there be an inside story? They had questioned several people about the ruins to learn the details, but just now, Li Hao claimed he had rendered meritorious service. What service? Yu Xiao's curiosity was instantly piqued. Everyone was intensely interested in that ruin. Sensing there might be more to this, he asked casually, "Li Hao, are there truly many treasures in the ruins?" Li Hao nodded eagerly. "So many! Divine energy stones are everywhere..." "You saw them inside too?" "Mhm." Seeing that he seemed reluctant to elaborate, Yu Xiao smiled and asked, "By the way, Li Hao, the ruins will open again next month. Will you enter?" "Yes..." The moment the word slipped out, Li Hao snapped his mouth shut and shook his head furiously. "No, no, I'm far too weak..." Yu Xiao immediately caught the discrepancy. Li Hao was going back in? It was said the ruins were connected to the Eight Great Families. Could there... could there truly be secrets he was unaware of? Yet as far as he knew, nothing special had occurred. Li Hao had even used his essence blood to try opening the city gates in the ruins, only to fail. So what was this supposed meritorious service? Yu Xiao's curiosity flared unbearably. Seeing that Li Hao was timid, he adopted an imposing air and cleared his throat. "Li Hao, you must understand that I was dispatched from headquarters. Our objective is to ensure the Three Great Organizations obtain zero benefits! "As a Night Patroller, concealing critical intelligence from your superiors is perilous and fatal. In severe cases, it can even be deemed treason..." Li Hao's face turned pale, but he didn't dare look up, mumbling, "No... I really didn't..." "Li Hao!" Li Hao looked up sharply, his face stark white. "My lord, I didn't... I didn't!" "Still being stubborn?" Yu Xiao scowled with a frosty expression. "Do you think headquarters hasn't gathered any intel at all?" Li Hao went completely pale. After a long pause, he stammered, "I... I didn't conceal it. I already reported it to the directors..." "Then let me ask you: is Silver Moon still under the dynasty's jurisdiction? Since it is, as your superior questioning you now, do you intend to keep hiding it?" Looking thoroughly dejected, Li Hao whispered, "But Director Hou told me not to leak a word. I'm afraid..." "Don't be afraid. Rest assured, I will keep it confidential for you. Don't you trust your superior?" Li Hao wrestled with his conscience for a long moment before nodding and whispering, "Actually... actually, it's nothing major, just two small matters. First, I didn't enter the city back then; I waited outside for the lords to emerge. By chance... by chance, I saw a weapon resembling a small snake that could actually fly! It flew out of the city, and I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. That snake-like weapon landed somewhere. Right around then, chaos erupted inside the city, so I didn't dare mention it. Later, I told Director Hou, and he instructed me not to tell anyone else." An Origin God Armament! The Shadow Snake Sword! Upon hearing this, Yu Xiao's eyes lit up. The moment Li Hao described it, he realized what it was. "You... saw that sword fly out?" "It wasn't a sword; it looked like a snake." *You idiot, what do you know? That was a sword!* Yu Xiao knew that Li Hao had likely never seen an Origin God Armament before. If he had, it was probably only the Fire Phoenix Spear that Hou Xiaochen used that day. His mind raced as he asked urgently, "Where did it land?" "On the eaves of an old house. Because I can't fly, I didn't dare go check. I thought it was some ancient beast from the city, so... I didn't dare meddle." An Origin God Armament! What an unexpected windfall! Yu Xiao's face flushed with excitement. An Origin God Armament was something he had no right to possess. Zhang Ting had only been granted one because she carried a vital mission; otherwise, how could a mere middle Three Sols be qualified to carry an Origin God Armament? If he could obtain it... From the looks of it, Zhang Ting truly was dead! No wonder they wanted Li Hao to go back in next time. Anyone who discovered the whereabouts of an Origin God Armament would place immense importance on it. "Can you pinpoint the exact location of that old house?" Li Hao hesitated. "It's difficult, but if I enter again, I can probably... probably find it. Or I could draw a map when I get back and hand it to my lord. It might not be entirely accurate, but it should be close enough." "Have you drawn a map for Hou Xiaochen?" "Not yet. Director Hou hasn't emerged from seclusion. Last time, I only mentioned it briefly, and he forbade me from speaking of it to anyone. Originally, I planned to inform him during this visit, but he hasn't shown himself, and I didn't dare speak recklessly to anyone else." So even Hou Xiaochen didn't know the exact location yet! Yu Xiao's eyes gleamed. If that was the case... perhaps... Of course, Hou Xiaochen would eventually emerge from seclusion. Once he did and questioned Li Hao, this coward would surely spill everything. Still, that wouldn't matter. By then, Yu Xiao would already know, and perhaps he could retrieve the Shadow Snake Sword ahead of time. Hou Xiaochen himself might not necessarily enter the ruins. Adopting an authoritative tone, he said, "Good. When you return today, draw up a rough sketch... and remember, not a word to anyone else!" "Understood!" Li Hao nodded. Then a darker thought crossed Yu Xiao's mind: what if Li Hao died before Hou Xiaochen emerged from seclusion? Wouldn't that mean no one else would ever know where the Shadow Snake Sword was? Naturally, that could only happen after Li Hao handed over the map. "You mentioned two matters. That was the first. What is the second?" Li Hao hesitated once more before answering honestly, "The second matter concerns my blood." "Hm?" Yu Xiao was puzzled. How did it concern his blood? Was his blood special? Could the blood of the Eight Great Families truly harbor some miraculous property? "It's like this..." Li Hao pondered briefly before whispering, "Director Hou... is truly injured, an old, lingering ailment where his five organs are severely damaged! However, I can heal his injuries. Once cured, his strength will increase by thirty percent." Yu Xiao almost laughed aloud. How could that be? You can heal him? Who are you trying to fool! "It's true!" Li Hao explained earnestly, "Actually, my blood has always had that kind of effect, though I didn't pay it much mind at first. That day, when Director Hou killed that red-haired man and suffered injuries, I couldn't bear to watch, so I gave him a drop of my blood... After consuming it, the director said my blood is a priceless treasure... That was why he had me come to White Moon City immediately. His seclusion these past few days is likely preparation for this very matter." "Nonsense... How could that be possible..." Li Hao seemed unwilling to be dismissed. Seeing that Yu Xiao didn't believe him, he gritted his teeth and said boldly, "My lord, it does not matter if you don't believe me. If you are willing to test it... make a tiny cut on yourself right now... I'll give you a drop of blood, and you'll know once you taste it." Yu Xiao furrowed his brows, but his emotions began to churn. Could it... really be true? Impossible! He frowned, but after a moment, he nodded. "Then let us test it!" With a flick of his energy, a small slit tore open on his fingertip, and blood began to seep out. Without hesitation, Li Hao gritted his teeth and slashed his arm, opening a shallow gash. Soon, a drop of blood welled up. As Li Hao gathered the blood, a surge of sword energy infused into it. He swiftly enveloped the droplet in inner force and offered it to Yu Xiao. Looking at the drop of blood, Yu Xiao frowned slightly, feeling a touch of revulsion. Yet... what if it were true? Suppressing his disgust, he swallowed the drop of blood. In an instant... Yu Xiao's mind suffered a massive shock. *Holy shit!* What was happening? At that moment, he felt an extraordinary sensation—far beyond ordinary! The wound on his finger knit together in the blink of an eye. Not only that, but he could feel the blood strengthening his physical constitution. Certain lingering internal injuries healed completely in a heartbeat. Inconceivable! How... how was this possible? He stared at Li Hao, his eyes brimming with horror and shock. This made no sense! If this was real, then Li Hao was practically a walking, human-shaped panacea! Furthermore... this idiot... this idiot was actually babbling about it to others! Good heavens! He was utterly appalled by Li Hao's sheer idiocy. Even if such a secret were true, how could anyone dare broadcast it? This was practically begging to be killed. At this moment, he strongly suspected Hou Xiaochen intended to consume this fellow, or perhaps keep him as a living elixir. Was Hou Xiaochen injured? Perhaps... he truly was. Whether true or false, once someone tasted the miraculous properties of Li Hao's blood, who could resist such temptation? Right now, a single thought consumed Yu Xiao... He wanted to kill Li Hao on the spot and refine him into a grand elixir... No, he couldn't! Hou Xiaochen knew! Moreover, everyone knew he had taken Li Hao away. He absolutely could not act rashly. If he did, a furious Hou Xiaochen would definitely kill him. Even if Hou Xiaochen couldn't kill him, the secret would be exposed to headquarters, and it would no longer belong to him! A grand elixir! This was vastly more precious than legendary treasures. With just a single drop of blood, he felt years younger. Then... what about all the blood in his body? Could it... propel him into the Rising Light realm, or even higher? In this moment, Yu Xiao felt on the verge of madness. Simultaneously, he was floored by Li Hao's foolishness and stupidity. Had the boy never considered that someone might want to murder him? Good heavens, did the Red Moon organization know? Could they have been targeting him for this reason as well? Did the blood of the Eight Great Families all possess this effect? No wonder Red Moon had relentlessly hunted members of the Eight Great Families... If that was the case, Ying Hongyue's terrifying strength suddenly made sense. Ying Hongyue... the next Ying Hongyue? Wouldn't whoever claimed Li Hao become the next Ying Hongyue? In that single instant, countless thoughts flashed through Yu Xiao's mind. He wanted to kill, to silence witnesses... No, he wanted to kill him to harvest his blood, and even his flesh! His flesh and blood were peerless treasures! He could never let Hou Xiaochen have him, absolutely not. If Hou Xiaochen truly was injured and recovered by consuming Li Hao's blood, the man would become terrifying. Even if Hou Xiaochen wasn't injured, Li Hao's blood was still a priceless miracle. A single drop was worth more than a divine energy stone. And that was just ordinary blood! At this thought, he even felt a pang of heartache—remembering that Li Hao had supposedly coughed up several drops of heart essence blood before, which people had ignored. *Damn it, what a waste!* He was tempted to draw more blood right now, but upon second thought, Hu Qingfeng had instructed him to acquire blood for research. If Hu Qingfeng discovered something from it... that would spell disaster. With this in mind, he asked solemnly, "Is your heart essence blood even more potent?" Li Hao nodded. "Definitely. Even holding it in your hand provides benefits." "Then... wait a few days before gathering heart essence blood. No rush!" He couldn't take that back to headquarters. Once he asked for it and Li Hao drew heart essence blood, the boy would look visibly weakened, making it easy for others to notice. Yu Xiao took a deep breath and said gravely, "This matter is of paramount importance. Do not recklessly speak of it to anyone else again; it will endanger your life! Li Hao, how could you reveal this so casually?" Li Hao gave a simple-minded grin. "I didn't! I only told Director Hou. He was injured fighting on my behalf, and I couldn't bear to see him coughing up blood. As for you, my lord..." Li Hao chuckled naively. "My lord is a genius from headquarters. I hear there are countless geniuses in the Central Region, so there must be many people like me there. Besides, when an esteemed lord from headquarters questions me, I cannot deceive you! We are all Night Patrollers, and the Night Patrollers stand for justice... so I'm not afraid!" *You idiot!* Yu Xiao cursed internally. *If we were out in the wilderness, I would butcher you this instant!* Right now, he had zero intention of telling Hu Qingfeng. In truth, Li Hao was equally certain he wouldn't say a word. How could he possibly tell anyone? If he did... Li Hao would gladly call him grandpa! Of course, even if he did tell Hu Qingfeng, it wouldn't matter. If Hu Qingfeng grew suspicious, he would definitely come to test it himself, and Li Hao wouldn't mind giving him a taste of normal blood... which would likely result in Yu Xiao getting beaten half to death by the Rising Light expert for feeding false intelligence. At this moment, Li Hao knew the bait had been taken. Anyone would be tempted in his shoes. An Origin God Armament and miracle blood... If someone could resist both, they were practically a saint. If so, Li Hao would admit he misjudged him, bear him no ill will, and praise him as a paragon of supernaturals! Now that greed had taken hold, once Director Hou emerged from seclusion, Yu Xiao would lose his chance. At this point, whether Li Hao should or could be killed, he simply *had* to be killed! Hou Xiaochen's impending emergence was the greatest pressure weighing on Yu Xiao. Sure enough, Yu Xiao suddenly asked, "Do you know when Director Hou will emerge from seclusion?" Li Hao shook his head, but added, "Probably soon. Secretary Yu said three days at most! There are many affairs to handle, so Director Hou cannot remain in seclusion for long." At that, Li Hao beamed. "Once Director Hou comes out, I can heal his injuries, and our Night Patrollers will become even stronger! Along with the arrival of the lords from headquarters, we might be able to wipe out the Three Great Organizations in one fell swoop!" *Naive fool!* Yu Xiao cursed silently, a sense of urgency seizing him. Three days! Three days at most... Time was extremely tight. In fact, Hou Xiaochen might emerge in less than three days. With that in mind, he said, "Here is what we'll do: go home today, draw the sketch, and keep it on you. When I find time, I will look for you, and you can hand it over... Remember, not a word of what we discussed today to anyone!" Li Hao nodded. "I won't!" Yu Xiao hesitated briefly, then retrieved an object from his pocket. It was a divine energy stone. Though it pained him to part with it, he handed it to Li Hao. "Take this. A divine energy stone. You should know what it is. A reward for you!" Li Hao looked overjoyed, his face flushed with excitement and disbelief. Then, he asked cautiously, "My lord... truly for me?" "Of course!" "Thank you, my lord!" In his overwhelming joy, Li Hao looked at him with envious eyes. "My lord, you... that item... how did you take it out? I saw Director Hao take things out like that too..." "Just a storage ring!" Yu Xiao laughed, speaking casually, "Storage rings can be found in certain ancient ruins. The Central Region is also researching them, and a batch has already been produced; some spatial supernaturals are manufacturing them. They are quite costly, though to people like us, they are nothing..." Li Hao's eyes turned red with envy. Yu Xiao chuckled and said, "Work hard. If you perform well next time, it is not impossible for me to gift you one!" Li Hao appeared overwhelmed by the favor and bowed hurriedly. "Thank you for your high regard, my lord!" "A small matter!" Yu Xiao beamed broadly. He took a sip of tea to suppress the excitement in his chest, then asked, "Do you live with Hao Lianchuan now?" "Yes, across the hall." Yu Xiao nodded. "Do you commute together as well?" Li Hao shook his head. "We came together this morning, but I walk back alone after work. Director Hao has to work overtime; as a director, he is very busy. Besides, it isn't far. Walking back by myself lets me get acquainted with White Moon City. As a newcomer, I know nothing about the place." "Oh, that's quite good!" Yu Xiao chuckled. "Young people should learn to be independent!" Li Hao grinned and nodded. "My lord is right. I will definitely be more independent. Back in Silver City, my teacher looked after me in everything, and his word was law. I never even considered independence..." *So he's just an obedient babe in the woods!* *No wonder!* At this moment, Yu Xiao understood why the youth was so naive. *Yuan Shuo, oh Yuan Shuo, you pampered your disciple into an absolute invalid.* *A giant infant!* *Wasn't this what people called a mama's boy?* *No, a master's boy!* "Did your teacher treat you very well?" Li Hao nodded vigorously. "Extremely well! He treated me like his own son. His ability to enter the Spirit Nourishing realm..." Here, Li Hao hesitated, but still whispered, "...was also related to me. My teacher warned me repeatedly never to leak it... My lord... please don't tell anyone, or my teacher will be furious if he finds out!" Yu Xiao's eyes flickered. *So that's how it was!* Back then, Yuan Shuo had been severely injured, and everyone thought he was ruined. To think this was the secret behind his resurgence! What a pity that he had coddled his disciple into an idiot who blabbed the truth on his own. Recalling the past, Li Hao looked sorrowful. "When my teacher was around, he treated me wonderfully. Aside from martial practice, he indulged me in everything—reading books, practicing martial arts. Over three years, he treated me better than my birth parents. It's all the fault of that abominable Red Moon... I hope Director Hou recovers quickly and slaughters them all!" Li Hao gritted his teeth in hatred. Yu Xiao seemed to remember something. "Right, if your teacher treated you so well, why did he let you join the Inspectorate back then?" Li Hao said candidly, "Teacher said joining the Inspectorate was safer, and more people would look out for me..." "So the matter of Red Moon killing people was discovered by your teacher?" "Mhm!" Li Hao nodded, looking embarrassed. "Teacher said reporting it would make the Inspectorate value me more. I... I'm ashamed to admit it, but it doesn't matter now that Teacher isn't here." At this, Yu Xiao chuckled. After a moment's thought, his smile softened. "Very well, I understand everything now. Li Hao, work hard. If you perform well, I will take you to the Central Region. Once there, you will see how vast the world is and broaden your horizons. "By the way, you have reached the culmination of the Hundred-Breaker realm, correct?" Li Hao nodded with a proud expression. "Yes, I killed Sun Moxian! That was when I broke through! My lord, my combat prowess is very strong. Director Hao said I can even rival some early Solar Radiance supernaturals. In Silver Moon, my strength is already near the peak, since there aren't many Solar Radiance experts around..." Yu Xiao smiled. *Yes, very impressive.* *Early Solar Radiance... big deal!* This fellow truly held nothing back, answering every question without hesitation. He almost found himself liking the boy. What a pity... what a pity! Sometimes, possessing a treasure was a crime in itself. His blood was simply too precious. "That will be all for today. Remember: aside from me, do not reveal any of this to anyone else who seeks you out, including others from headquarters. I say this for your own safety; not everyone is like me, understand?" Li Hao nodded. "Understood!" "Then head back for now... After work tonight, return home early to rest. A young man shouldn't overwork himself." "Thank you for your concern, my lord!" Li Hao beamed, looking thrilled. "Go on!" "My lord, I shall take my leave!" Li Hao departed in high spirits. Left alone in the private booth, Yu Xiao took a sip of tea, a sudden smile spreading across his face. An Origin God Armament, and Li Hao... Sipping his tea, he indulged in sweet reverie. That sensation... perhaps... perhaps draining all of Li Hao's blood would allow him to shatter his fifth supernatural lock! It was entirely possible! Rising Light? Coupled with an Origin God Armament... His eyes flickered. This might very well be the greatest opportunity of his life, allowing him to surpass Hu Qingfeng... No, what was Hu Qingfeng compared to the monstrous prodigies of the Central Region? Those were his true targets! He had to accomplish this before Hou Xiaochen emerged from seclusion! As for the secrets of the Eight Great Families and Red Moon's schemes, what did any of that have to do with him? This worked out perfectly... Perhaps he could disguise himself as an operative of Red Moon. He had no reason to target Li Hao, but Red Moon... had every reason! Who would ever believe he was the one who killed Li Hao? Impossible! Only Red Moon would go out of their way to take Li Hao's corpse. Everyone knew Red Moon had paid a steep price pursuing the Eight Great Families, and they routinely retrieved the bodies of their victims. "A perfect scapegoat..." He chuckled. After committing the murder, Red Moon would be the ideal target to take the blame! No one would suspect him! ... Meanwhile, Li Hao walked out of the teahouse and returned to the Night Patroller headquarters. Hao Lianchuan glanced at him, and Li Hao smiled and nodded. Hao Lianchuan was slightly surprised, transmitting his voice: "Will he make a move?" Li Hao nodded again. He certainly would! Was there any doubt? Rest assured, not only would he come, but he would likely strike faster than expected—perhaps even disguising himself as Red Moon... That way, nobody would find it suspicious if he was slain in the act. Lowering his voice, Li Hao said, "Director Hao, you must strike with absolute ruthlessness. Skewer him dead with a single spear thrust! Otherwise, I'm never doing this again!" Hao Lianchuan nodded, feeling bewildered. *Is he truly that certain?* He had assumed those fellows from headquarters possessed some degree of self-restraint. They wouldn't lightly make a move against Li Hao, especially since neither side had openly broken ties yet. He had only intended to test the waters... Yet Li Hao looked utterly confident. What on earth had the boy said to him? To trick a middle Three Sols expert from the Central Region into believing he absolutely had to kill him? Considering another possibility, Hao Lianchuan transmitted, "Could this draw the others along with him?" He certainly didn't want that Rising Light expert showing up. Li Hao shook his head. How could that happen? Who would casually share such a treasure with others? Hao Lianchuan grew increasingly baffled. He scrutinized Li Hao, wondering if this was real. The kid sounded so sure that Hao Lianchuan almost doubted his own judgment. "Tomorrow night!" Li Hao added. Tonight he would draw the map, and tomorrow morning he would arrive alongside Hao Lianchuan. Tomorrow night was the only opportune moment. Furthermore, Yu Xiao couldn't afford to wait too long; Hou Xiaochen's impending emergence was the ticking clock forcing his hand. Hao Lianchuan stared blankly. He had even predicted the exact timing! *Are you sure you aren't messing with me?* "Alright, Director Hao, I'm heading off to work..." *What work do you even have to do?* Hao Lianchuan wanted to press for details, but Li Hao ignored him and walked away. Hao Lianchuan felt an itch of curiosity, yet he could only endure it, cursing inwardly: *Fine, I'll wait and see. I want to see if Yu Xiao truly shows up to kill you tomorrow night... I find it hard to believe!* If it proved true, he could only conclude that this kid was a miracle worker! He wracked his brain, unable to fathom how Li Hao had hooked the man. The Five Animals Breathing Technique? Or something else? Yet the man was a supernatural; he wouldn't necessarily be tempted. Even if he were, murder wasn't the only way to obtain it. Hao Lianchuan began deducing and pondering the possibilities, but after a long while, he gave up. *Damn it, I have no clue what kind of bait he used!* Otherwise, he would have tried it himself. Clearly, the kid had real skill; he had vastly underestimated him.