The Night Watchers headquarters.
Li Hao's office.
Li Hao leaned back in his chair, staring up toward the ceiling. When Wang Ming pushed the door open and stepped in, Li Hao was still lost in thought.
"Senior Brother, congratulations!"
Wang Ming was all smiles.
Li Hao glanced at him. Wang Ming beamed. "I heard you attended a meeting with Director Hou and the leaders this morning. Only four people went from our side! That's incredible—are you getting a promotion, Senior Brother?"
Of the four who had gone, Li Hao held by far the lowest rank.
Li Hao, however, had no interest in discussing it.
Today had dealt him quite a blow.
However high-spirited he had been yesterday, he was just as dispirited today.
He had originally assumed that after yesterday's events, he might not be top five in all of Silver Moon, but a spot in the top ten would surely be his for the taking.
Yet after what he saw today... screw that!
And that was only what had surfaced—what about what remained hidden?
Silver Moon was by no means simple.
Li Hao now recognized this deeply: Silver Moon was extraordinary. In a normal province, there was no way so many people would conceal their true strength. They were all supreme powerhouses—why bother hiding?
Moreover, it was not just one or two.
The leaders of all the major institutions were concealing their might.
He had never been able to see through people like Hou Xiaochen.
Was it merely difficult to read them, or was their realm so high that he couldn't see through them at all?
Had they surpassed the Rising Light realm?
And what were they hiding from?
If his inability to see through them meant they were beyond Rising Light, then today alone he had seen four individuals who exceeded that level. Were there such people in the Central Region as well?
Most likely... yes!
Were those who claimed to be at the Rising Light realm truly just Rising Light?
What about leaders like Ying Hongyue?
Rumor had it that the Rising Light realm had only recently emerged. But Li Hao suspected these bastards might operate under a rule: only after breaking into the next realm would they make the previous one public.
For example, only after reaching the Rising Light level would they announce its existence to the outside world.
There was definitely a group of people who stayed a step ahead of everyone else.
Supernatural abilities had existed for twenty years. In the past, new realms had been updated every few years. Rising Light had reportedly been announced in the Central Region years ago, yet here in Silver Moon, people hadn't even known the name of the realm before.
This delay in information led many in Silver Moon to believe that the Rising Light realm was brand-new, when in reality it had been around for several years.
...
Mulling this over left Li Hao rather irritated.
Soon, however, he relaxed.
A sudden smile touched his lips.
This only made things more interesting.
"Old Wang, let's go for a drive. While we're out, we'll visit an old friend."
"Captain Liu?"
"No, best not to see Sister Liu for now. Let's go visit Senior Southern Fist."
"Huh?"
Wang Ming blinked, baffled. Why go see Southern Fist?
Li Hao had his own reasons.
Apart from Yuan Shuo, Southern Fist He Yong was the strongest martial master he had ever met—a pure martial master who had not transitioned into a supernatural.
The man had undergone three blood exchanges, rivaling a Three Sols expert.
What did that mean?
Reaching Thousand-Combatant with a single force was merely comparable to a Solar Flare. Yet He Yong had forcefully elevated himself an entire realm. Li Hao felt that blood exchange might be another viable path.
His master's path was not necessarily wrong.
Still, the path beyond Thousand-Combatant was far from settled. There might be other routes, and he wanted to learn more.
Right now, there were still several forces he had yet to comprehend.
If that was the case, could undergoing multiple blood exchanges swiftly boost his combat power?
A force was elusive: sometimes an epiphany struck out of nowhere, and you understood it in an instant.
Other times, it could leave you stuck for a lifetime.
Counting sword momentum, Li Hao had already grasped three forces. Once one entered Thousand-Combatant, further comprehension became even more difficult. Who knew how long it would take to grasp the rest? Looking at the sea wouldn't help much if his Nine Refinements Force hadn't reached the ninth fold.
Thus, he decided to visit Southern Fist.
And not just Southern Fist. After this visit, he also intended to see Wang Henggang, that Iron Cloth expert.
If there were other Thousand-Combatant masters in the city, he wanted to pay them a visit as well.
As for the Martial Guard, if they had many Thousand-Combatants who possessed forces, Li Hao would be more than happy to spar and exchange pointers with them.
A vague plan was forming in Li Hao's mind.
Back then, when his master had challenged the martial heroes of Silver Moon one by one, it had been to draw upon everyone's strengths to make up for his own shortcomings and comprehend their forces, ultimately allowing him to fuse the five forces.
The path of invincibility recorded in ancient texts also called for challenging foes in every direction to gather the force of invincibility.
All of it showed that fighting and sparring more could never hurt.
...
Wang Ming didn't pry into why Li Hao wanted to see Southern Fist.
Since Li Hao had spoken, and there was nothing pressing at the Night Watchers anyway—the extermination campaign against the Three Great Organizations was still only on paper, with no actual deployments yet—they were quite free.
The sports car roared to life once more.
Before long, they were cruising toward an affluent district in the southern suburbs.
He Yong was wealthy and never short of money.
As a martial master from the imperial family, he had bought a large, classical courtyard house near the southern outskirts upon his arrival. He lived with ease and elegance, far better than Li Hao and the others who stayed in dormitories.
The southern suburban villa district.
This community was quite impressive. It actually employed two Ten-Slayer experts and two Starlight masters as security guards, which immediately raised its prestige and ensured safety.
To most people, Ten-Slayers and Starlight masters were practically supermen.
With them patrolling the neighborhood, security was absolute.
However, when Li Hao and Wang Ming flashed their Night Watcher badges, the guards swiftly pushed the gates open and waved them through without daring to ask a single question.
Perhaps it was only in places like this that the prestige of the Night Watchers could truly be felt.
"What a great environment!"
Sitting in the car, Li Hao looked out at the scenery and nodded in admiration. It was even nicer than his villa back in Silver City.
The residences here were half-concealed among lush greenery, carrying the tranquil air of a hermit's retreat.
As for mosquitoes and bugs, special devices had been installed to repel them, with faint traces of mysterious energy circulating. There was no need to worry about pests at all, showing just how much care had gone into the community's construction.
Wang Ming didn't care much, remarking offhandedly, "It's decent. Not too expensive either—just ten million or so for a place."
"How much?"
Li Hao clicked his tongue. That expensive?
Wang Ming rolled his eyes.
*Screw you!*
Was ten million a lot?
It was a massive sum!
Living on a salary alone, one could forget about ever affording it. But the Night Watchers paid their salaries in mysterious energy! A single cubic unit of mysterious energy could fetch a million on the outside. Looked at that way, was the house really expensive?
As for divine energy stones, their value on the open market was measured in the hundreds of millions... although nobody would ever sell them!
In truth, once someone became a supernatural, only the weak continued to use mundane currency for trade. What use was more money to the truly strong?
Starlight and Lunar Nether cultivators still needed money to get by.
Once you reached Solar Flare, earning money was child's play no matter where you were tossed.
Wang Ming couldn't be bothered to argue with Li Hao and added, "If you like it, I'll buy you one."
"No thanks."
"Why not?"
"I don't take bribes!"
"..."
Wang Ming was rendered speechless. Who said a gift was a bribe?
This guy!
As they spoke, the car pulled up before a residence.
...
At that very moment.
Inside the grand courtyard.
He Yong was chatting with someone when his eyes suddenly shifted toward the exterior gate. The faint rumble of an engine came from outside.
The person talking to him heard the sound as well.
With his scruffy beard, He Yong looked like a typical rough martial artist, yet sharp brilliance gleamed in his eyes.
Sitting across from him was an exquisite woman who appeared to be in her thirties. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, and she wore a high-class gown popular in White Moon City, tailored long enough to cover her heels.
Hearing the noise, the woman looked at He Yong.
He Yong's eyes flickered. "A supernatural... at the Solar Flare level!"
There was a familiar quality to the presence.
He recognized it—Wang Ming!
Why was he here?
And someone else seemed to be with him... Li Hao!
Yes, it was definitely Li Hao.
He Yong was surprised. Why had these two come to his place?
Back in Silver City, they had been desperate to shake him off.
As he was wondering, a knock sounded on the front gate, followed by Wang Ming's booming voice: "Senior Southern, open up! We've come to visit!"
The woman looked at He Yong and smiled. "A friend of yours?"
"A friend?"
He Yong grinned, showing his teeth as he rose. "You could say that. An acquaintance across generations—just has a big mouth."
The woman chuckled and stood as well. "Then I shall take my leave."
"Alright."
He Yong said nothing more, and the two walked out together.
They stepped out of the main house into the spacious courtyard. He Yong took his time, walking unhurriedly. This prompted Wang Ming at the gate to grow anxious.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
"Senior Southern, aren't you home? I heard voices inside! You're not refusing to welcome us, are you?"
The woman covered her mouth with a light chuckle. "He certainly is an impatient one."
He Yong was amused and exasperated. As he walked, he said, "He's gotten cocky. He used to keep a low profile, but now that he's back in White Moon City, he probably feels protected and fearless."
He chuckled at his own words.
Fair enough. The boy was a Night Watcher, and Hou Xiaochen had just impaled a Rising Light to death with a single spear thrust. Why would Wang Ming fear Southern Fist anymore?
After a few steps, He Yong opened the gate.
Wang Ming had been grinning broadly, about to speak, when he caught sight of the woman. He paused slightly, then glanced at Southern Fist with a knowing grin.
He Yong didn't bother explaining. He gave a short laugh and nodded toward Li Hao.
The woman glanced at Wang Ming, then at the silent Li Hao, and smiled softly. "Brother He, I won't disturb your guests. Come visit my place whenever you have time."
"Certainly!"
"Then I shall take my leave!"
She gave a slight nod to Wang Ming and Li Hao, then walked out of the courtyard. Outside, a car swiftly pulled up. The woman climbed inside and gracefully departed, her long dress trailing behind her.
Wang Ming glanced back after her and smirked.
He Yong laughed as well.
Li Hao was in no mood to laugh. Glancing at Wang Ming, he frowned. "Show some composure. Don't pull that look at everyone you meet. If you offend someone you can't handle, you'll be in trouble."
Wang Ming's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"A Thousand-Combatant martial master," Li Hao said calmly. "Senior Southern Fist truly keeps company with remarkable people. As expected of a renowned master from back in the day! Any casual friend of yours is a rare Thousand-Combatant martial master."
Wang Ming was stunned, unable to believe it. "A Thousand-Combatant? I didn't sense anything!"
Li Hao smiled. "That's just your lack of discernment! Not only is she a Thousand-Combatant, she's the kind who has slaughtered countless foes. She may look young, but I'd guess... she's around fifty!"
"Around fifty. Twenty years ago, she would have been at least thirty."
Li Hao pondered for a moment, then laughed softly. "Back then, famous female martial masters in the Silver Moon martial world were few and far between. Among the Seven Swords, there was the Jade Light Sword and the Bright Light Sword; among saber artists, the Willow Leaf Saber; in boxing, the Embroidered Spring Fist; in palms, the Heart-Destroying Palm..."
Li Hao looked at He Yong and smiled. "That lady just now... wouldn't happen to be the Heart-Piercing Beauty of the Piercing Feet Sect, would she?"
He Yong grinned. "Sharp eyes! How did you figure it out?"
"Her dress trailed all the way to the ground, deliberately concealing her legs and feet."
Li Hao smiled composedly. "There was nothing unusual about the rest of her body, but since she took such care to hide her feet, she was very likely the Heart-Piercing Beauty. My master mentioned her several times. That woman loved to pierce through people with her kicks—faster than any blade. When her piercing feet struck, who knows how many martial masters had their hearts burst."
"From her bearing, she didn't seem to have broken through to Thousand-Combatant recently. That means she wasn't in Silver Moon before. Did she come from the imperial family as well?"
He Yong looked deeply at Li Hao, surprised and amused. After a long moment, he said, "Kid, you carry yourself with far more confidence and ease than before. What, feeling secure now that you're in White Moon City?"
Li Hao shook his head with a smile. "No, I've simply come to terms with a few things. Don't mind me, Senior."
With that, he smiled again. "Senior, aren't you going to invite us in for a seat?"
"Hahaha!"
He Yong burst into hearty laughter. "Interesting! Come on in! Frankly speaking, seeing you act so cautious and timid before, you didn't look like Old Demon Yuan's disciple at all. Now you've got some of his flavor. Back in the day, when Old Demon Yuan was your age, he was just as arrogant."
"Senior has seen my master at my age?"
Li Hao chuckled. "My master is in his seventies now, on the older side. Fifty years ago, he probably had just stepped into the Hundred-Breaker realm. Senior Southern Fist can't be older than my master, can you?"
Yuan Shuo was considered an older martial master; Southern Fist ought to be somewhat younger.
He Yong chuckled. "I've seen him. I'm only a few years younger than your master. When he was twenty, he was already fairly well known. He wasn't as famous as he later became, of course, but back then he traveled far and wide following his master..."
*Master's master?*
Li Hao had rarely heard about him and felt curious. "My master's master..."
"Yeah, he made quite a name for himself back then, though he was eventually eclipsed by Yuan Shuo. Old Demon Yuan didn't originally cultivate the Five Animals Art. Later on, he went grave-robbing, unearthed the Five Animals Art, and modified it himself to establish the Five Animals Sect as it is today!"
The Five Animals Art was created by Yuan Shuo, or rather adapted from an ancient text.
That meant the Five Animals Sect's true lineage only began with Yuan Shuo.
Li Hao nodded and did not ask further.
Leading them inside, He Yong continued, "Heart-Piercing Beauty... nobody has called her that in years. Everyone calls her Madam Bai now! She got married. She's not affiliated with the imperial family and doesn't run in my circles; she only came to see me because her old friends are in Silver Moon."
He smiled. "Come to think of it, you might even know her husband."
"Who?"
Wang Ming was puzzled. "A Thousand-Combatant martial master... I haven't heard much about her. Her husband's family is surnamed Bai? To marry a Thousand-Combatant, he must be someone extraordinary. Are there any experts surnamed Bai in White Moon City?"
He Yong chuckled. "You said it yourself—White Moon City!"
Wang Ming froze.
After a long pause, he gasped, "The Bai family of White Moon City?"
"Exactly!"
Li Hao, however, looked confused.
Wang Ming quickly explained, "White Moon City! It wasn't originally called White Moon City. People just started calling it that over time, and gradually everyone forgot its original name. Eventually, even official records adopted it."
"Silver Moon took its name from the first characters of Silver City and Moon City. Nowadays, many assume it comes from the second character of White Moon City, but that's wrong. It was so long ago that unless you're a local native, you generally wouldn't know."
As a born-and-raised native of White Moon, Wang Ming knew the history well. He hurried on, "The reason 'White' was added to Moon City is that eighty years ago, the Bai family served as city lords here for a hundred and twenty years! It wasn't until the imperial family stepped behind the scenes, the Bai family was ousted, and the General Administration Directorate was established that the Bai family ceased to govern."
City lords!
An ancient title.
Eighty years ago, a city lord was the supreme ruler of a city. The Bai family had inherited the title hereditarily, governing as the lords of White Moon City and commanding the entirety of Silver Moon.
Eighty years later, few people still remembered them.
Li Hao was surprised. "The Bai family... Senior Southern Fist, you mean the Heart-Piercing Beauty married into the Bai family?"
"Yes," He Yong smiled. "The Bai family is currently split into two branches: one in Heavenly Star City, and one remaining here. You know of the White Dragon Army, right?"
Li Hao looked at Wang Ming in surprise.
Wang Ming scratched his head sheepishly. "I forgot to mention it, but the White Dragon Army was actually founded back when the Bai family was in power. After they stepped down, it became one of the three garrison armies. That's why I immediately thought of the Bai family when Senior Southern brought it up."
Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "The current commander of the White Dragon Army..."
Wang Ming shook his head. "He has nothing to do with the Bai family. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said there were no Bai family experts around. The current commander is Commander Ren Tianchuan—you might have seen him this morning."
Li Hao recalled the commander who looked to be in his fifties. He hadn't heard the man speak, but his aura was formidable—a peak Three Sols powerhouse.
By now, the three of them had entered the house.
He Yong smiled. "It's not that the Bai family lacks experts in White Moon City; they simply keep a low profile. When I said you might know her husband, I wasn't talking nonsense. You know Hu Dingfang, right? Have you heard of Bai Yuanqing, the deputy commander of the Tiger Wing Army?"
Wang Ming froze again. "That pale-faced commander? I almost forgot his name—everyone just calls him the Pale-Faced General..."
Li Hao remained utterly lost. He didn't know the man.
How did this tie back to the Tiger Wing Army?
The situation in Silver Moon was indeed complicated.
He Yong continued, "That's him. Madam Bai is married to him. The Bai family played a major part in allowing Hu Dingfang to become commander of the Tiger Wing Army at such a young age. Things in Silver Moon are quite tangled."
"The Bai family backed Hu Dingfang as local powerhouses, while their branch in Heavenly Star City has ties to the Bureau of Military Law. Thus, Hu Dingfang is considered a legitimate representative of the Bureau. Since the garrison answers to the Bureau of Military Law, Hu Dingfang's pedigree is impeccable."
Li Hao was baffled. "Why didn't the Bai family push Bai Yuanqing to become commander instead?"
"Hu Dingfang is no simple figure either!"
He Yong smiled. "Hu Dingfang had other backing. It was originally very difficult for him to secure the commander position, but rumor has it his wife is quite capable and contributed significantly."
With that, he cast a meaningful look at Li Hao.
Li Hao replied nonchalantly, "She's my senior sister—no need to beat around the bush, Senior. What great ability could she possibly have?"
He Yong burst into laughter. "Of course she has ability! Your master has a good relationship with Huang Yu. The exact details are unknown, but the two know each other and share a friendship. Back then, your senior sister supposedly went to Huang Yu, and Huang Yu subsequently supported Hu Dingfang's promotion. The Bai family had no choice but to swallow their pride and accept it. After all, Hu Dingfang was technically supported by them too, so they couldn't turn hostile. Besides, many factions didn't want to see the Bai family rise again, so Hu Dingfang's ascent gained widespread backing from the upper echelon."
"..."
Li Hao felt a headache coming on. A random woman he ran into could somehow trace a connection straight back to him.
At first there was no relation, then it tied to his senior sister, which led to Yuan Shuo, and once it reached Yuan Shuo, it involved Li Hao.
Li Hao shook his head helplessly.
Indeed, in this world, pass through just a few people, and you could link yourself to anyone. By that logic, he truly had some connection to this Heart-Piercing Beauty.
He Yong understood the dynamics of Silver Moon thoroughly.
Seeing that Li Hao seemed exasperated, he smiled. "Getting a clear picture actually has its benefits. At least you can trace the threads one by one. Once you do, you'll find it fascinating. For instance, Hou Xiaochen and Huang Yu seem completely unrelated on the surface, but thirty years ago, the two of them ate and drank together and had quite a good relationship. Yet thirty years later, they act like total strangers."
Li Hao raised his eyebrows.
He Yong added, "Trace it further, and you'll discover that the timing of your Night Watchers' Chief Steward Yu appearing perfectly aligns with the disappearance of a certain someone!"
Li Hao's interest was piqued. "Tell me, Senior."
"You know about Red Moon, right?"
"..."
*Naturally!*
He Yong chuckled. "When Red Moon was founded, they spoke of the Seven Moons Ascending the Sky! Red, orange, yellow, green, azure, blue, and purple. The first generation's Purple Moon was actually a female expert from the Silver Moon martial world. Purple Moon was stationed in Silver Moon all along. Yet that first generation's Purple Moon vanished very quickly—before long, she disappeared without a trace. Word was she was assassinated. And right after that, Chief Steward Yu appeared in your Night Watchers."
"The second-generation Purple Moon simply inherited the mantle. But it seems your Director Hou didn't take kindly to that title, and with a thrust of his spear, *crack*, he snuffed the second-generation Purple Moon out!"
"By the time the third-generation Purple Moon came along, maybe Ying Hongyue grew smarter. Do you know who the third-generation Purple Moon—the current Purple Moon—actually is?"
Li Hao was utterly dumbfounded. "Who?"
"The current Purple Moon is actually the daughter of Orange Moon! Orange Moon is a woman and was close friends with the first-generation Purple Moon. And so, the third-generation Purple Moon has lived to this day without dying..."
Li Hao blinked.
Wang Ming looked equally stunned.
He understood what this implied.
The first Purple Moon was the current Chief Steward Yu.
The second Purple Moon was killed by Hou Xiaochen simply because he disliked the title.
And for the third Purple Moon, Ying Hongyue had grown cunning—he picked the daughter of Chief Steward Yu's close friend... How could Hou Xiaochen bring himself to kill her?
What kind of tangled mess was this?!
Li Hao let out a long breath. "Senior, you shouldn't speak recklessly. How could that be?"
"Don't believe me?"
He Yong laughed. "Back in the day, the first Purple Moon was known as the Jade Rakshasa. Hou Xiaochen is so brazen he didn't even bother giving her a new name—he just calls her Xiao Yu. If she isn't the Jade Rakshasa, I'll do a handstand and eat shit!"
"..."
Li Hao felt dazed. After a long silence, he forced a smile. "Forget it, Senior. Let's not talk about martial gossip. I have no interest in it. Whoever they are has nothing to do with me!"
Yet he sighed inwardly.
The first Purple Moon... was Chief Steward Yu?
What in the world?
He bore a blood feud with Red Moon.
After a moment's thought, he couldn't resist asking, "How many years has Chief Steward Yu been with the Night Watchers?"
"Like I said, she vanished very early on. It's been about fifteen years."
Li Hao calculated carefully. Back then, Red Moon probably hadn't initiated their Eight Great Families project yet.
Thinking of that, he felt slightly relieved.
Otherwise, if she had been involved in that scheme, Li Hao would have felt deeply conflicted over whether he ought to seek revenge.
This old man Southern Fist was definitely mischievous!
Having spent years in the imperial family, he knew countless secrets.
Yet he intentionally chose these matters to talk about—first Hu Dingfang, then Chief Steward Yu—both carrying links to Li Hao, seemingly stirring up trouble on purpose.
Of course, it might also have been a subtle warning.
Li Hao now regretted running his mouth and identifying the Heart-Piercing Beauty, which had prompted the old man to ramble through a mountain of gossip.
"Senior, let's leave them aside!"
Li Hao smiled. "The reason I came to visit today is that I have a favor to ask."
"Blood exchange?"
Southern Fist cut straight to the chase. "Do you want to ask about the exact process, the specific transformations, or the actual method?"
Li Hao was taken aback. He was that direct?
Southern Fist grinned again. "Simple. Come, fight me! Beat me down, and I'll tell you! I guarantee I won't hold anything back."
Li Hao raised his eyebrows.
He Yong leaned back in his chair with casual arrogance. "What, you don't dare? Or can't you? Is that all a swordsman is made of? Yu Xiao and Huang Jie died awfully fast. Yu Xiao appeared first. Even if Huang Jie was killed by Hao Lianchuan, did Yu Xiao choke to death on water?"
Li Hao's brow furrowed slightly.
He knew people would speculate, but he hadn't expected someone to expose it to his face so quickly.
He Yong... was just as the rumors said. Southern Fist appeared crude, but he possessed a bold yet meticulous mind!
He Yong chuckled, eyeing Li Hao. "Interested in sparring? To be honest, I'd like to see how formidable a Thousand-Combatant swordsman really is. I once sparred with a Thousand-Combatant swordsman in the Central Region, and the result was... utterly pathetic!"
"Of course, he wasn't a Silver Moon swordsman. There was a top-tier swordsman in the Central Region—the Sky Sword of old. But he transitioned into a supernatural and became unimaginably powerful, a top figure even among Rising Light experts, a true heavyweight!"
He Yong laughed. "Sky Sword is fearsome, while Earth-Overturning Sword is currently cowering like a rat, so I can't be bothered with him. Jade Light Sword and your master are currently hunting Red Moon members everywhere, and Bright Light Sword has vanished... To be frank, Silver Moon swordsmen are too rare to encounter these days. How about playing a round with me?"
Li Hao looked at He Yong, then said in a deep voice, "Senior... do you truly wish to spar?"
He Yong raised an eyebrow. "I'm somewhat inclined... Naturally, don't pull your master's trick of turning every spar into a killing match! Your master only killed because he deliberately sought out opponents of equal strength, where there was a ninety percent chance of someone dying. As for the two of us... I don't know whether I vastly outmatch you or you vastly outmatch me. A life-and-death struggle is unnecessary; there's unlikely to be an even match between us."
"Although I came to Silver Moon to witness the might of Spirit Nourishing, the one I wanted to see was your master, not you."
Hearing this, Li Hao shook his head. "Then forget it!"
"Why?"
"A swordsman does not spar. Once the sword is drawn, blood must flow!"
He Yong frowned, then let out a sigh. "Then let's drop it. Someone once said those exact words—that fellow Sky Sword. He slaughtered countless foes in the Central Region; drawing his blade meant taking a life!"
Shaking his head with regret, He Yong said, "A pity. I have matters to attend to, and since I haven't seen your master yet, I don't want to fight to the death with you right now. Even if I won, people would mock me for not daring to fight Old Demon Yuan and bullying his disciple instead... I'd lose all face."
Beside them, Wang Ming couldn't resist chiming in: "Senior might not necessarily beat my senior brother..."
Since the secret was already out, he didn't mind flattering Li Hao a bit.
He Yong chuckled. "Perhaps!"
With that, he looked at Li Hao. "I know why you came. Martial masters all yearn to grow stronger—or rather, nobody doesn't want to become stronger. But the blood exchange method isn't really suitable for you. Your physique is already robust; undergoing blood exchange might not grant you a rapid surge in combat power."
Li Hao frowned. Was he unwilling to share?
That was understandable.
After all, this was the path He Yong had carved out, and not everyone was willing to impart their secrets. Li Hao hadn't revealed the secrets of Spirit Nourishing either, had he?
Still, he had hoped to gain at least some insight.
"Don't overthink it," He Yong smiled. "It's not that I'm unwilling, but that there's no need!"
"Of course, that doesn't mean I have nothing to tell you."
He Yong thought for a moment. "You're a swordsman. If you want to grow powerful again, there is a way—it just depends on whether you have the guts."
"What way?"
"The Fire Phoenix Spear!"
Li Hao was stunned again. How had this looped back to the Fire Phoenix Spear?
"Hou Xiaochen was bound to have been a top-tier martial master back in the day—one of the three commanders had to be him! Back then, he was almost certainly a Thousand-Combatant. As for whether he is a martial master or a supernatural today, even I can't say for sure."
"However, when he killed Red Hair with a single thrust, I discerned a few things: his spear still holds spear intent, and it still holds spear momentum!"
He Yong said gravely, "Go ask him to lend you the Fire Phoenix Spear. Origin God Armaments have a unique trait: after years of nourishment, the soul within will awaken! Once the soul of an Origin God Armament awakens, it inherits certain qualities from its wielder—such as force!"
"If you can borrow the Origin God Armament and get your hands on the Fire Phoenix Spear... provided you have the money, gather some divine energy stones to stimulate it. Don't fight Hou Xiaochen himself—that's meaningless, as he's far too powerful for you! But if you clash with an unmastered Fire Phoenix Spear, you might reap unexpected gains."
"Experience Hou Xiaochen's force. Feel the ferocity of that spear strike that killed a Rising Light... When your sword intent collides with that spear intent, as long as you aren't killed by the weapon, you will gain tremendously!"
"You might even use the opportunity to comprehend Hou Xiaochen's force. He was immensely powerful back then, and he remains so today..."
Li Hao's eyes gleamed. "Is what Senior says true?"
"Nonsense!"
He Yong laughed. "Why would I lie to you? Not just Hou Xiaochen—there's Huang Yu too. If you could borrow his weapon, you would also gain insights. In truth, any weapon nourished by a martial master over many years carries a portion of their spirit intent."
"An Origin God Armament is the best choice, because it possesses a soul!"
At this point, He Yong added, "Additionally, regarding those sealed Origin God Armaments from ancient civilizations: if they had a master back then and their spirit intent hasn't dissipated, you could unseal them and try. But... that's far too dangerous! Such armaments carry massive uncertainty. If the original wielder was too powerful and the intent left behind is too overwhelming, you're finished. Once the armament's soul awakens and strikes you down with a single move, you're dead."
"So it's best not to experiment recklessly. An Origin God Armament like the Fire Phoenix Spear, which has been unsealed for years, at least possesses some stability."
He Yong truly knew an extraordinary amount.
Li Hao absorbed every word eagerly.
Soon, he nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"
Although he hadn't obtained the specific blood exchange method, He Yong had provided invaluable pointers. Li Hao was genuinely pleased. He also realized that while these veteran Silver Moon martial masters might hold sectarian biases and would never casually pass down secret techniques, they didn't mind sharing foundational insights.
Hong Yitang was like this, and so was He Yong.
Even Liu Long had gifted Li Hao the Nine Refinements Force shortly after meeting him. In certain respects, they were remarkably magnanimous.
"No need to be polite!"
He Yong smiled at Li Hao, looking playful. "I'm glad to see martial masters grow stronger! And along the way, I'd like to see just how terrifying Hou Xiaochen's strength really is. If his spear can't kill you, it means his force is... well, still within an acceptable range for me!"
"If you get killed by his spear, it means the man is horrifying beyond measure, and I'll get as far away from Silver Moon as quickly as possible."
Li Hao laughed and nodded, not minding being used as a whetstone.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "Senior, are there martial masters in the Central Region who can rival Rising Light?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
He Yong shrugged. "Who knows? Martial masters all keep a low profile. Ever since supernaturals rose to prominence, martial masters have been treated like dirt. Unless they convert into supernaturals, they stay completely under the radar. I know of those who can slay Three Sols. As for slaying Rising Light... I've never seen it with my own eyes. But that doesn't mean they don't exist."
"The path beyond Thousand-Combatant isn't limited to a single route. Spirit Nourishing isn't necessarily the only way!"
He pondered for a moment and said, "For instance, I know of one man... He might not be weak at all. Sky Sword converted into a supernatural and became exceptionally fearsome among Rising Lights, but this fellow never converted and is just as formidable..."
"Who?"
"Tyrant Saber!"
He Yong said gravely, "Seven years ago, I saw Tyrant Saber once. That man unleashed a single saber strike that tore the heavens and split the earth! I'm certain he wasn't a supernatural, but a martial master! Yet that day, he cleaved a Three Sols expert in two with a single strike—even earlier than your master did. Seven years have passed since then; who knows what stage he has reached now."
Tyrant Saber!
"Tyrant Saber's blade... gave me the feeling that the path he walks is extraordinary! That fellow didn't strengthen his physical body, didn't undergo blood exchange, and didn't temper his five organs. He was strengthening his saber intent, turning himself into a blade!"
Li Hao fell into deep thought. "Senior means that Tyrant Saber transformed himself into a saber? He tempered his spirit intent and force, while his physical body remained relatively fragile—is that it?"
"Correct!"
He Yong nodded once more. "Back then, Tyrant Saber gave me the impression that his spirit intent was invincible! But his physical body was quite frail—not even as strong as mine. I suspected that if he didn't unleash his saber intent, a single punch from me would have killed him right then and there."
Strengthening force and spirit intent to the absolute pinnacle, completely disregarding the physical body...
Li Hao learned yet another lesson.
This was another method of advancement.
To grow stronger, martial masters were indeed forging ahead. His master was not the only one exploring the martial path; many masters across Silver Moon were doing the same.
He Yong enhanced his blood qi, Tyrant Saber honed his spirit intent, Sky Sword converted to a supernatural, and his master nourished the five organs...
Every veteran martial master walked a distinctive path of their own.
Even those who had converted into supernaturals had not necessarily forgotten the martial path—nor could they ever truly forget it.
The martial world was truly fascinating.
Li Hao felt a twinge of regret that he hadn't lived through that bygone era.
Tyrant Saber, Sky Sword, Southern Fist, the Three Spears, the three commanders of the Martial Guard... that era must have been thrilling.
Of course, the present era wasn't bad either.
The rise of supernaturals was also brimming with myriad mysteries.
Li Hao did not look down on supernaturals. Even though he had slain several supernatural experts, that did not grant him the right to underestimate them. Truly formidable supernaturals might well be beyond imagination.
Afterward, Li Hao chatted with Southern Fist for a long time.
They discussed interesting anecdotes from the past martial world, with Southern Fist speaking and Li Hao listening.
They spoke of the forces of past martial masters, and exchanged old gossip...
Prior to this, He Yong would never have shared such things with Li Hao; he had had no interest in chatting with him.
Now, however, He Yong was eager to talk.
Yet he didn't even spare a glance at Wang Ming.
For no other reason than Wang Ming was not qualified!
Martial masters were deeply pragmatic.
The reason He Yong was willing to talk at length with Li Hao was that he had deduced Li Hao had slain a Three Sols expert with his sword. That alone had earned today's conversation.
...
They talked for a very long time, until dusk began to settle.
He Yong let out a breath, clearly in high spirits. He said cheerfully, "I'm in a good mood today. Kid, chatting with you has been a pleasure, even if your master wasn't here."
"It's been a long time since an outstanding junior appeared in the martial world. As a senior, I'll give you one last piece of information for free..."
Li Hao perked up his ears.
This time, Southern Fist chose to use voice transmission, shielding it from Wang Ming.
"Remember: if you want to comprehend more forces, stay in Silver Moon! If you want to go further on the path of a martial master, stay in Silver Moon to grow strong! Silver Moon is an extraordinary place! A long, long time ago, this might well have been the center of the world! Any random tree or blade of grass here, if ancient enough, might be where some invincible powerhouse once gained enlightenment... Here, martial masters can become even stronger!"
"Countless people covet Silver Moon! Hou Xiaochen refuses to leave, and I suspect it's because he is still walking the martial path and hasn't reached its end, so he isn't willing to depart lightly."
"In the past, few people knew, but nowadays quite a few do! Soon, powerful supernaturals will flock to Silver Moon... because Silver Moon might harbor something that can solve the hidden flaws of supernaturals, as well as treasures that can make supernaturals even stronger!"
"This place will soon become the focal point of the world. Even if some depart briefly, they will quickly return. Your master will return; even if Hou Xiaochen leaves this time, he will come back... The powerhouses of the Central Region will all come!"
"Ying Hongyue, King Yanluo, Feitian—all of them will descend upon Silver Moon!"
"The Central Region is merely a stepping stone for them to build their strength. Their ultimate destination lies in Silver Moon!"
A smile crossed He Yong's lips as he concluded his transmission: "Even the imperial family will come! The imperial family is inextricably linked to Silver Moon. No one knows where the ancient ruins they unearthed back then are located... but I have an inkling. They might very well be in Silver Moon!"
Li Hao drew a sharp breath inwardly and looked at He Yong.
He Yong smiled, speaking aloud this time: "Go on back. Martial masters... will rise again in the end! This land belongs to martial masters—it was in the past, and it will be... in the future! Supernaturals can also convert back into martial masters; they're just missing a few crucial pieces right now... Some have ventured far along the supernatural path not because they abandoned the martial way, but to advance even further. They are extraordinarily powerful now. Once the flaws of supernatural conversion are resolved... very soon, a host of veteran martial masters will return!"
Li Hao's eyes flickered. He said nothing more, simply nodding and cupping his hands. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"
With that, he turned to Wang Ming. "Let's go!"
Wang Ming was still somewhat bewildered, but he had caught the key phrase: supernaturals could convert back into martial masters.
He was overjoyed. Though he wanted to ask more, seeing Li Hao leave, he had no choice but to follow briskly. Bubbling with excitement, he whispered, "Supernaturals can convert into martial masters—we struck gold!"
Li Hao was speechless.
*Did you completely forget the next sentence?*
Converting supernaturals into martial masters came with troubles that had yet to be resolved.
Did this guy only hear what he wanted to hear?
...
Long after Li Hao and Wang Ming had left.
He Yong watched their departing figures and suddenly smiled. "Martial masters... the martial world... the jianghu!"
*Now this is getting interesting!*
*I, Southern Fist, will rise once more upon this ancient land. Just you wait!*
Chapter 118