Understood

Leaving the Sword Sect liaison office, Li Hao did not return to the Martial Guard Army base. Instead, he made his way toward Night Patroller headquarters. In his mind, he was still turning over Hong Yitang's words. Was the Earth-Overturning Sword truly crippled? He didn't buy it. He had tested Hong Yitang several times. Though that old fox was watertight, he had been surprisingly generous when answering questions about the martial path. For the moment, Li Hao couldn't figure out the man's angle. If he wanted to hide, why not simply stay silent and play dumb? And looking back at his performance in the ruins, the man had seemed surrounded by mortal danger, teetering on the brink of death multiple times. Yet the reality was… he suffered nothing. In the end, he had walked out safe and sound, even if looking a little worse for wear. *Silver Moon really hides plenty of powerhouses. But… why?* Li Hao fell into deep contemplation. Why did so many formidable figures in Silver Moon choose to conceal themselves? Could it be that the powerhouses of the Central Region were so numerous and vastly superior to them? There had to be a reason. Otherwise, would all these people hide their strength for no rhyme or reason just to play the pig to eat the tiger? As a martial master, Li Hao knew all too well that concealing your strength indefinitely and refraining from combat for extended periods would eventually turn you into a genuine pig, no matter how high your cultivation or how formidable your prowess. If even he understood this principle, how could the veterans who had survived Silver Moon's turbulence fail to grasp it? As for doing it to stage a rebellion… rebellion required displaying strength even more! If everyone stayed in the shadows, which of the world's lords would think highly of you? Would the common folk believe in you? Would supernaturals respect you? Even if rebellion were the goal, this wasn't how one went about it. With so many masters, at least a few ought to have made their moves early on to spread their fame across the realm. After musing on it for a while, Li Hao gave a small shake of his head. *Forget it. It's none of my business.* A faint smile touched his face. At least the trip hadn't been in vain. Not only had he confirmed several of his theories, but he had also reaped substantial gains from the Sword Sect: a hundred sets of black armor and thirty martial masters. One had to realize that the entire Martial Guard Army possessed only around five hundred sets of black armor right now. That meant nearly half of the army went without it. And his unit was instantly fully equipped! Of course, when the Sword Sect handed them over to the Martial Guard Army, the army might not allocate every last one to him… but Li Hao certainly wouldn't let that happen. *** "Why are you back?" Chief Steward Yu's brow furrowed. The kid had barely been gone for the morning, yet here he was already. And what was with that disheveled look? Had he sparred with someone? Golden Spear? That was possible. Golden Spear hadn't been around yesterday, but he was probably back today. Mu Lin hadn't been able to scratch Li Hao; in the entire Martial Guard Army, Golden Spear was likely the only one capable of doing so. Li Hao scratched his head, looking helpless. "Mu Lin told me to organize a hundred-man squad for the Martial Guard Army, but I don't know the first thing about it. On top of that, I'm dirt-poor and have no reputation to my name. Even if I do, it's just the rotten notoriety my master left behind—enemies everywhere. How am I supposed to recruit anyone?" "..." Chief Steward Yu was left speechless. True enough, it was indeed a tall order for Li Hao. It was a major test of his abilities. Yet if he pulled it off, it would be of immense help to him. A martial master could be a lone wolf, but if one was so solitary that they had no friends and no connections, they would end up as the next Yuan Shuo, surrounded by enemies on all sides. "Then coming to me… what do you want?" Chief Steward Yu knew he had come to seek aid. A faint trace of a smile surfaced on her face. Li Hao had seemed modest and docile when he first arrived, but he had quickly shown his true colors. Just like his teacher, he was proud to the bone and didn't truly hold anyone in high regard. Even toward Hou Xiaochen, it was the same. Of course, technically, both master and disciple owed Hou Xiaochen their lives. Joining the Night Patrollers now was Li Hao's way of repaying that debt. And sooner or later, Yuan Shuo would take action once on Hou Xiaochen's behalf as well. Debts of gratitude were always the hardest to clear. Looking troubled, Li Hao thought for a moment before saying, "Right now, I have nothing to my name… I was hoping the Chief Steward could grant me a few privileges." "Speak." "First, finalize my promotion right away. With the title of Senior City Inspecting Commissioner, it'll be easier for me to go out and swindle—no, I mean, present my credentials so everyone knows I'm valued and hold status. Otherwise, if I go out right now as a junior Inspecting Commissioner and tell people to join my squad, they'll treat it as a joke!" Li Hao sighed. "I can't just draw my sword on everyone I meet and claim I'm amazing, can I? At a time like this, rank and status matter!" Chief Steward Yu considered this and nodded. "Fair enough. This afternoon, I'll make a trip to the Inspectorate and the General Administration Bureau to finalize it for you as quickly as possible." Li Hao wasn't wrong. A junior Inspecting Commissioner was too low in rank. As for strength… unless he fought, how could anyone tell since he wasn't a supernatural? He couldn't just beat up everyone he encountered. Li Hao continued, "Second, I want to go out and pull in some sponsorship…" "What?" Chief Steward Yu frowned. Pull in sponsorship? Li Hao explained, "I was worried that since I'm a newcomer, asking Director Hou for too many resources would put him in a tough spot. A newly formed team will definitely burn through more supplies. If Director Hou gives them to me, won't the other brothers in the Martial Guard Army feel slighted? But if he doesn't, I won't be able to get this team off the ground…" That was also true. After a moment's thought, Chief Steward Yu said, "Since it's your first time building a hundred-man squad, basic requirements can still be met…" "That's still not enough!" Li Hao said, "I want something else, nothing too grand—just a few honorary junior City Inspecting Commissioner quotas… I want to use those to solicit some sponsorship. Of course, I won't just hand them out to random people!" As for whatever sponsorship he brought in, he would naturally keep all of it for himself. Chief Steward Yu's brow knit slightly. Even an honorary City Inspecting Commissioner wasn't something to be handed out casually. A City Inspecting Commissioner was considered a senior official. After weighing it, she shook her head. "That won't do. A City Inspecting Commissioner requires a joint review from multiple departments. How about this: I can give you a few Inspecting Commissioner quotas. Those only require internal registration!" City Inspecting Commissioner was out of the question. There were plenty of Inspecting Commissioners, however, so that didn't matter much. Aside from the Ten-Slayer realm fighters, nearly everyone else in the Martial Guard Army held that title—at the junior level, of course. Those weren't worth much. As for whether Li Hao could leverage them into tangible benefits… that depended on his own skill. Li Hao grimaced. After a long pause, he finally nodded. "Alright! I was originally hoping to secure a City Inspecting Commissioner title to hustle Wang Ming. His family is wealthy and has military ties, so they might have chipped in a handsome sum. Now that it's only an Inspecting Commissioner quota, well, he's one himself." He let out a resigned sigh. Chief Steward Yu was rendered speechless. So his grand plan had been to swindle Wang Ming for sponsorship? The Wang family had money, but they needed to fuel their own development. How much could they spare for him anyway? What was he dreaming of! Reflecting on Li Hao's network, Chief Steward Yu didn't expect him to gather much backing. He had spent his whole life in a backwater place. In Silver City, Liu Long was the only person with decent strength, but possessing strength didn't mean Liu Long could provide material support. Neither of Li Hao's requests was unreasonable, nor did they carry tremendous practical significance. Seeing his downcast face, she smiled. Watching Li Hao agonize over this actually brought her a bit of amusement. "Do you have any other requests?" At this point, she didn't mind offering him some genuine support. Seeing that her mood seemed pleasant, Li Hao stopped being polite and said cautiously, "Chief Steward, could you grant me the usage rights to a treasure that aids in comprehending sword momentum? I know the Martial Guard Army has them, but they're all under Senior Golden Spear's management. As a newcomer, I need to establish authority. Having a treasure like that would make it much easier to win everyone over! For example, the army rule states that late Hundred-Breakers get to comprehend it once every six months… but I'm completely broke right now. How can I wait half a year? I need to advance the perks early to make them obey… What do you think?" Chief Steward Yu's brows arched slightly. After a long silence, she replied, "Such items are exceedingly rare, even within ruins. Not just any artifact will do! And since you're asking, you clearly don't want a consumable one that can only be used once or twice, but one that can be used repeatedly…" "Treasures that allow one to comprehend force are generally referred to as ancient dao-comprehension weapons. They help people perceive the dao and are outrageously expensive—priceless treasures that can't be bought even with divine energy stones…" Li Hao nodded continuously. Chief Steward Yu was talking a lot today, which meant… there was room for negotiation! Sure enough, she suddenly smiled. "It's not impossible to give you one. The director thinks highly of you, so it wouldn't be right to offer no support at all. However, there is a condition." "Please tell me, Chief Steward!" Li Hao blurted out. Chief Steward Yu looked at him for a moment and smiled. "The Origin God Armament inside Battle Heaven City… you must help the director claim it!" Li Hao froze. He glanced at her, frowning slightly. Chief Steward Yu's smile faded into a calm expression. "The Eight Great Families share common roots. Battle Heaven City has been confirmed as the ancient city of the Wang family among the Eight Great Families. Under normal circumstances, even if one manages to enter the inner city, trying to take that Origin God Armament is as difficult as ascending to heaven! "However, descendants of the Eight Great Families have a high probability of claiming it… provided you're still alive by the time you reach it." Li Hao frowned. After a prolonged silence, he replied steadily, "It's not impossible. But the risk and reward are completely out of proportion! I'm nurturing talent for the Martial Guard Army, not embezzling anything for myself. Even if you give me an ancient dao-comprehension weapon, I will be using it on the Martial Guard Army. Yet in return, I have to pay a massive price, perhaps even my life…" Pausing there, Li Hao added, "Of course, I can still agree! But… this isn't about the ancient dao-comprehension weapon. If I help Director Hou seize that Origin God Armament, the life-saving debt my teacher and I owe him… will be wiped clean! From then on, I will remain a member of the Martial Guard Army, but strictly as a subordinate to a superior, not as someone bound to a savior… Director Hou said it himself: everything has a price! "He never viewed it as an inescapable life debt either. Back then, he tasked my master with exploring thirty ruins. My master didn't finish the quota, so Battle Heaven City can count as me fulfilling it on his behalf…" Chief Steward Yu raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Even if your teacher's debt is cleared, what about yours? "One ruin exploration clears the debts of two people?" She understood Hou Xiaochen's mindset well, so if Li Hao wanted to clear the debt… clearing it was fine. For martial masters, owing a favor was indeed an effective way to make them risk their lives. Yet Hou Xiaochen understood even better that if a martial master could only ever be bound by personal debts, trouble would arise sooner or later. Certain people could not be held by emotional indebtedness alone; that would only drive them to sever all ties completely once the debt was paid. Li Hao said in a deep voice, "Because this Battle Heaven City ruin is far from ordinary, and the danger is exceptionally grave. Even Rising Light experts face fatal risks. Director Hou probably knows this better than I do; he might have even scouted it ahead of time and understands the peril within! Furthermore, this Origin God Armament in Battle Heaven City is no trivial object. I believe it's worth the lives of both my teacher and myself!" "Are the lives of you two so cheap?" Chief Steward Yu smiled. "The director believes your lives are far more valuable than this treasure." "The director flatters us!" Li Hao said softly. "Besides, the director will be entering as well. If he secures it himself, he won't need my help. If he can't, it means the danger is even greater. If I still manage to retrieve it… trading it for the lives of master and disciple ought to be worth it!" Chief Steward Yu pondered for a moment and nodded. "Done! I'll agree on the director's behalf. In addition, I will give you an ancient dao-comprehension weapon, though it doesn't have many uses left. If used by Hundred-Breakers, it will dissipate after a dozen or so sessions. For Thousand-Battlers, it might only last three to five times." It seemed different strength levels consumed its energy at different rates. If it only supported a dozen or so Hundred-Breakers, it probably wasn't top quality. Li Hao exhaled. "Deal!" This was an extra bonus! Not bad at all. When the Sword Sect people joined, he had to give them some sweet benefits. A dozen uses would be plenty if a few Hundred-Breakers could comprehend momentum and reach the Hundred-Breaker culmination. As for the Thousand-Battler realm, that required expanding one's momentum, which came down to luck. Once one comprehended momentum, expanding it was merely a process. Whether one could step into the Thousand-Battler realm depended on a martial master's own foundation and accumulation. Some masters could cross into the Thousand-Battler realm shortly after grasping momentum. Momentum was the entry ticket. If one obtained the ticket and still couldn't step into the Thousand-Battler realm, it simply meant their talent was lacking. They were no longer under the shadow of Yuan Shuo's intent suppressing them like the generation before. Chief Steward Yu was in a good mood. "Then it's settled. Anything else to say?" If not, he could leave. In her everyday interactions, unless there was formal business to discuss, she would dismiss people in a couple of sentences. The fact that Li Hao had chatted for this long was already an exceptional privilege. "One last thing!" Li Hao didn't dawdle and hurried to add, "If I bring Chief Liu Long over here, I hope the Night Patrollers can dispatch a Solar Luminary to oversee Silver City. Senior Huang Yun would be ideal. He's a wind-element user, so even if trouble strikes, he can run." "Hm?" Huang Yun? An early Solar Luminary… Of course, after coming out of the ruins, he had gained some benefits and had recently advanced to mid Solar Luminary. As a veteran Solar Luminary, he had been stuck at that stage for many years. A mid Solar Luminary… In the past, there was no way such an expert would be stationed in a tiny place like Silver City. Silver Moon had thirty-two cities in total, and Silver City was the smallest among them. Yet now, Silver City had Liu Long, a martial Thousand-Battler. If Liu Long came here, replacing him with Huang Yun was acceptable. With that in mind, Chief Steward Yu nodded. "That can be arranged!" It wasn't a major issue. A Solar Luminary overseeing Silver City was more than enough. Li Hao had seen plenty of Three Suns experts lately, but that didn't mean they were everywhere; it was simply that his horizons had expanded countless times in an instant. Nowadays, the Three Suns he met were the top echelon of Silver Moon or powerhouses from the Central Region. From the tiny Silver City, his perspective had vaulted from a small town straight to the absolute pinnacle of Silver Moon. In reality, supernaturals were still rare across the province, and Solar Luminaries were still peak powerhouses. "Thank you, Chief Steward!" Having achieved his goal, Li Hao broke into a wide smile. He didn't linger any longer. He needed to assemble the hundred-man unit as soon as possible. He hadn't harbored this ambition before, but now that he had taken up the mantle, he would see it through. There was strength in numbers, and besides, Li Hao had a few ideas of his own. *** A short while later, Li Hao relocated to Hao Lianchuan's office. "Minister, can we contact Silver City from here?" Hao Lianchuan glanced at him. "You want to reach Liu Long?" "Yes." "It can be done, but try to avoid discussing classified matters. Although the Night Patrollers have inter-city communications, they can be intercepted…" Li Hao didn't ask how they could be intercepted; he didn't care. Besides, this wasn't classified business. With Hao Lianchuan's permission, Li Hao followed him to an office on the fifth floor whose doors were usually shut. There were people inside, though they rarely came out. The room housed several machines—massive contraptions that Li Hao couldn't identify. They looked somewhat like ancient artifacts; he couldn't tell whether they had been excavated or replicated from antiquity. "Connect to Mu Sen in Silver City!" Hao Lianchuan instructed directly, then turned to Li Hao. "The Silver City Night Patrollers were newly established and haven't set up their communication system yet, but Mu Sen's side has the setup." Li Hao nodded. The technicians operated the machinery with practiced speed. Before long, Mu Sen's chubby face appeared on a massive screen. Mu Sen and Mu Lin looked strikingly alike! Mu Lin was slightly plumper, while Mu Sen appeared notably leaner. Mu Sen looked over, and upon seeing Hao Lianchuan, he hurriedly put on a fawning smile. "Minister Hao!" Li Hao remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the machine. It consumed mysterious energy; this device was still a supernatural object, not simple electronic communication equipment. "Bring Liu Long here at once. Li Hao has business with him!" Mu Sen wasted no words, immediately ordering his subordinates to contact Liu Long. The two weren't far apart; the Night Patrollers were right next door in the law enforcement building, and Liu Long rarely went out. In less than three minutes, Liu Long, still clad in his windbreaker, strode briskly into view. Catching sight of Hao Lianchuan, Liu Long offered a greeting before turning his gaze toward Li Hao. Li Hao didn't beat around the bush in front of these people. "Boss, I've joined the Martial Guard Army here and have been assigned to lead an independent hundred-man unit. The trouble is, I'm short on hands. If you don't mind, bring the Demon Hunt Squad over. There are greater opportunities here." At these words, Mu Sen looked surprised. Li Hao was forming a hundred-man unit on his own? A Thousand-Battler already? That was fast! He was somewhat astonished, though on second thought, reaching the Thousand-Battler realm… made sense. After all, Li Hao had already achieved Hundred-Breaker culmination before, so his progress was naturally swift. Still, for a fresh Thousand-Battler to earn recognition so quickly and lead a hundred-man squad was quite unexpected. Liu Long's brow furrowed slightly. Li Hao added, "The Night Patrollers will dispatch Senior Huang Yun to oversee Silver City. If necessary, I can have Wang Ming go as well." Beside him, Hao Lianchuan gave Li Hao a sideways glance. *Good grief, your authority has grown quite large, hasn't it? Deploying Solar Luminaries at your whim?* Wang Ming was also considered a prodigy among the Night Patrollers—a genuine genius. Wang Ming could sense five supernatural locks, meaning his path hadn't hit a wall. He had only broken three supernatural locks so far; if all went smoothly, he was capable of reaching the Rising Light level. Of course, talent was talent; whether one could actually step into Rising Light depended on serendipity and fortune. Yet Wang Ming's deployment was certainly not Li Hao's call to make. Unless… Wang Ming insisted on going himself. Was that possible? Hao Lianchuan pondered silently, uncertain. Liu Long deliberated for a brief moment before asking, "Should I bring everyone, or just come alone?" "All martial masters can come, and it's best if they all do. As for Sister Yun Yao and the others, you can ask their opinions, Boss. But if they come, they can only enter the Night Patrollers or the Martial Guard Army's logistics system." Li Hao added, "Right now, winds and clouds are stirring in White Moon City. Coming here offers greater opportunities! Silver City… can be set aside for now. Besides, you can meet many senior figures here: the Earth-Overturning Sword, Golden Spear, Jade Rakshasa, Southern Fist, Heart-Piercing Beauty…" Li Hao smiled. "The martial world… is back!" "Golden Spear?" Liu Long's eyes flickered. That was one of the top martial masters who, alongside his father, had been known as the Three Spears of Silver Moon. He… was still alive? As the son of Silver Spear, he no longer wielded a spear. Yet his father's reputation as Silver Spear still profoundly influenced him; the Liu family spear had once shaken the realm! Liu Long's expression shifted. Li Hao asking him to come clearly meant that Silver City was no longer the epicenter of chaos, and the Stone Gate ruin could be shelved for now. After weighing his options, he nodded. "Alright! I'll pack up today and arrive in White Moon City within three days… but Huang Yun must arrive within three days as well." Li Hao smiled. "No problem. Senior Huang Yun can fly and wields wind abilities; he's fast enough to make it in a single day." Hao Lianchuan felt like rolling his eyes! *You talk about Huang Yun as if he's your subordinate. If anyone should say that, it ought to be me.* Neither Liu Long nor Li Hao paid him any mind. Having finished his part, Liu Long prepared to leave, but paused and asked, "Is there anything you need me to bring, or anything you need me to do?" Once he left this time, who knew when he would return? Li Hao thought for a moment and smiled. "Nothing much. I left in a hurry last time and forgot to burn paper money for my friend. Trouble you to visit him, Boss, and tell him just one thing… next time I return to see him, I'll definitely bring along plenty of Red Moon powerhouses' heads!" Those words, dripping with killing intent, sounded entirely natural and composed coming from Li Hao's mouth. In that instant, even Mu Sen on the other side felt a chill run down his spine. This Li Hao had changed drastically after a single trip to White Moon City. Liu Long was momentarily startled as well, then nodded in agreement. Without further ado, he turned and left. Mu Sen wanted to chat for a bit, but just as he opened his mouth, Li Hao said, "Director Mu, Chiliarch Mu Lin said he misses you dearly and wants you to return to White Moon City soon." Mu Sen was taken aback. His brother missed him? Was this a joke? Yet Li Hao had no reason to lie, nor was there any need to. He nodded. "I'll make a trip back during my next leave. I never expected my elder brother to turn so sentimental." Li Hao smiled and said nothing more. Hao Lianchuan had the technicians cut the connection. Once the screen went dark, he looked at Li Hao and asked curiously, "Mu Lin misses his brother, and he told you about it?" "He misses beating him!" Hao Lianchuan was speechless. This kid had truly turned wicked! "Do you need my help assembling your hundred-man squad?" Hao Lianchuan hadn't known about this before, but he was feeling helpful now. Unfortunately, he wasn't a martial master. So Li Hao shook his head. "No need." *** Li Hao didn't linger long at Night Patroller headquarters. He was very busy. Busy comprehending the sword path, busy preparing the new unit. If he hadn't dropped by to take care of routine matters and contact Liu Long, he wouldn't have returned at all. *** An hour later. Li Hao returned to the Martial Guard Army base. Having run all the way back, he was fairly exhausted, but Director Hou's car wasn't something he could use whenever he pleased, which was rather frustrating. The moment he entered the main gate of the Martial Guard Army, Mu Lin caught his scent and appeared immediately. Sizing Li Hao up, he chuckled. "Was that the Fire Phoenix Spear earlier?" "Yes." "Good timing. The boss wants to see you!" Golden Spear! Li Hao had left him standing there earlier, so he felt slightly embarrassed now. Smiling, he said, "I really did have urgent business earlier, and I needed to tend to my injuries on the way. Senior Golden Spear isn't angry, is he?" "Not at all." Mu Lin walked alongside him. "Our boss is actually quite broad-minded. He's just a bit rigid and stern; as long as you follow the rules, you'll be fine! Remember, watch how you speak in front of him. Joking around isn't appropriate; he prefers people to be serious." Li Hao nodded. The two walked toward the office area. Mu Lin continued, "Also, the boss knows about you challenging several centurions earlier. He didn't say much about it, but don't lose your mind later and try challenging him. He's very strong!" "How strong?" Li Hao was somewhat curious. It was difficult to gauge a martial master's exact strength at a glance. Though he knew the man was formidable, he had little concept of just how formidable. "How strong?" Mu Lin thought about it, unsure how to put it into words. After a long pause, he finally said, "In short, terrifyingly strong. Last year, when we entered a ruin, the boss sent a peak Three Suns flying with a single spear strike. Even if he's not quite at the Rising Light level… I'd say he's practically there!" He let out a sigh. "After all, he was strong in his earlier years, and Director Hou has given him immense support over the years. Comparing him to an early Rising Light… shouldn't be much of a stretch, right?" Li Hao's eyes narrowed. That was indeed formidable. However… strictly speaking, if he had stepped into the Thousand-Battler realm years ago and enjoyed Hou Xiaochen's unwavering backing, yet was only comparable to Rising Light, he might actually be the weakest among the trio of Golden Spear, Tyrant Saber, and Sky Sword. Tyrant Saber had killed a Three Suns expert seven years ago, and Sky Sword had even slain powerhouses at the Rising Light level in the Central Region. Still, considering this man had relied on Hou Xiaochen to break Yuan Shuo's intent, Li Hao didn't dwell on it further. Soon, the two arrived before a small building. At the entrance stood a young man with a ramrod-straight posture, looking at Li Hao. He didn't seem old, thirty at most. Mu Lin transmitted his voice: "The boss's personal guard captain, Wang Qing. He stepped into the Thousand-Battler realm two years ago, quite capable. He doesn't use a spear; he's a saber specialist. "Speaking of which, you two might have a bit of a grudge. Back then, among the Four Direction Saber Kings of Silver Moon, your teacher killed two, leaving only Tyrant Saber and Mad Saber alive. This man is Mad Saber's disciple…" If Mad Saber was alive, where did the grudge come from? Li Hao thought about it. Nothing complicated—Mad Saber had likely been beaten half to death by his teacher without being killed, so a grudge had formed. He knew a bit about Mad Saber. Ever since figures from Silver Moon's martial world began surfacing one after another, he had done some reading. Setting Tyrant Saber aside as the strongest of the Four Direction Saber Kings, the fact that Mad Saber hadn't been killed meant he was no slouch either; he had simply stayed out of the public eye for many years. Mad Saber was said to specialize in the Blood-Bursting Mad Saber technique. His teacher had mentioned in passing that it was a saber art derived from ancient civilization, extraordinarily fierce. According to ancient records his teacher had read, the Blood-Bursting Mad Saber was merely one part of a lineage. Above it, there were allegedly even more terrifying saber arts, bearing names like the Emperor-Slaying Heavenly Saber and the Immortal-Annihilating Divine Saber… They sounded awe-inspiring. Yet today, those arts seemed lost to history, and Mad Saber had made his name in Silver Moon relying solely on the Blood-Bursting Mad Saber. As the two conversed via voice transmission, Wang Qing—whose frame was well-proportioned, though his right arm was visibly thicker—looked toward them. He nodded to Mu Lin first, then turned his gaze upon Li Hao. His tone wasn't cold, merely exceptionally calm: "Centurion Li, if you have time, we can spar." Li Hao looked at him and nodded, offering no refusal. Mad Saber's disciple! He might be strong, but… could he be stronger than Mu Lin? "The chiliarch is upstairs. You two may go up!" Wang Qing said no more and stepped aside to let them pass. *** As they climbed the stairs, Mu Lin transmitted: "That kid is quite tough. He's mastered the essence of the Blood-Bursting Mad Saber and comprehended saber intent." "I see. Is his master still alive?" "Alive." Mu Lin transmitted back: "Mad Saber has been alive all along. He just wasn't in Silver Moon for years and only returned a few years ago. He's currently serving in the military. I didn't pry into details, but I heard Commander Yu holds him in high regard." He had joined the Silver Moon Army? Li Hao's eyes flickered. Quite a few of these veteran martial masters had chosen to join major organizations. Golden Spear was in the Martial Guard Army, Mad Saber had gone to the Silver Moon Army, Southern Fist had aligned with the Imperial Family… All of them had likely received substantial benefits. "Then why did this Wang Qing come to the Martial Guard Army?" If his master was in the Silver Moon Army, why hadn't he gone there? "Wang Qing's saber intent differs somewhat from his master's. Instead, our boss's spear intent shares common ground with Wang Qing's style—unleashed like fire, incomparably fierce! While Mad Saber's blade is also ferocious, it lacks a bit of the driving force found in the boss's spear intent. So Wang Qing chose to come here on his own, specifically aiming for the boss." Li Hao understood. Mid-conversation, the two reached the second floor. The layout was spacious, with the entire floor belonging to Golden Spear. At the top of the stairs was a reception lounge. Golden Spear wasn't there, but in the office further inside. There was no secretary; Wang Qing essentially served as Golden Spear's aide. "Come in!" Before Mu Lin could call out, Golden Spear's voice drifted from within the office. Mu Lin led Li Hao inside. Pushing the door open, they found Golden Spear sitting upright. Seeing the two enter, a somewhat stiff smile appeared on his face. "Sit!" Mu Lin flopped down into a chair without the slightest hesitation. Seeing this, Li Hao promptly took a seat as well. Golden Spear stood up, cast an eye over Li Hao, swept his gaze over him, and nodded slightly. "Yuan Shuo's disciple. I've seen a bit of your strength; you haven't disgraced your master's name." "Senior overpraises me!" "No need to call me senior. This is the military—call me Chiliarch!" "Yes, Chiliarch!" Li Hao was exceedingly compliant. He felt no fear toward Golden Spear. As Golden Spear studied him, Li Hao raised his head and looked right back. The man possessed sharp eyes and a burly, imposing physique, appearing around fifty years old. He had a classic square face that radiated authority. People of Silver Moon were generally tall. Being located in the north, they were larger in stature than southerners. Seeing Li Hao meeting his gaze, Golden Spear locked eyes with him as well. No aura flared; he simply watched in silence. He stared for a long time. Seeing that Li Hao showed no hint of timidity, a faint smile finally touched his lips. "You have courage! However, upon entering the military, certain rules must be observed. Martial masters dislike restraint; as a martial master myself, I understand that intimately! "However, since you chose to join… you must compromise! Li Hao, I won't interfere with you normally, but while executing missions, you may only follow orders. Taking matters into your own hands is strictly forbidden! "That is the first point. Second, you are organizing a hundred-man unit. That is fine, but since you are building it, you must be responsible for it to the end! Casualties are permitted. But if the casualties are excessive, you are unfit to serve as a centurion… if losses exceed thirty percent, you pack up and leave on your own!" Golden Spear spoke solemnly: "Martial masters enjoy taking risks, and some take risks with other people's lives. While martial masters have their virtues, they also have flaws: they are solitary! Selfish! This is universally recognized among martial artists! Aside from their own disciples and kin, in the eyes of martial masters, everyone else's life and death are left to fate. That is the rule of the jianghu… but you must remember, this is not the jianghu!" He pointed a finger at Mu Lin. "This fellow is solitary as well! He once served as a centurion, and before long, nearly half the men under him were dead. That was why he was stripped of command. Although he is called a vice-chiliarch now… it's merely a hollow title. He leads no troops, nor does he possess the qualifications!" Mu Lin looked thoroughly depressed. Seeing Li Hao glance at him, he quickly defended himself: "That wasn't how it happened. We were unlucky that time and ran into immense danger. I was already being very responsible… forget it, I won't explain. The military doesn't offer chances for excuses anyway." He felt gloomy. A vice-chiliarch held high rank, but in practice, it carried less real power than a centurion. He wanted to lead troops too… but Golden Spear refused to give him the chance. Golden Spear paid no heed to his defense, keeping his gaze fixed on Li Hao. "No excuses are needed. Li Hao, here, you might learn what public duty means, what responsibility means! The Martial Guard Army will teach you in time! "As a martial master, you can lack a sense of responsibility and public duty. But as part of the Martial Guard Army, built at great expense by Silver Moon, you must possess them!" Li Hao nodded, though in truth, the words didn't resonate deeply with him. Golden Spear understood well; all martial masters felt roughly the same when they first entered the Martial Guard Army. Yet sooner or later, they would learn! Naturally, people might die during the process. Still, martial masters died all the time; what mattered was whether the death was worthwhile. Hou Xiaochen had established the Martial Guard Army and recruited large numbers of martial masters. Wandering martial artists who were once lone wolves had become members of the military today, and all of them had undergone some degree of change. "Jade Rakshasa just contacted me, telling me to give you an ancient dao-comprehension weapon. I can give it to you… but remember, every treasure and resource in the Martial Guard Army was bought with human lives! "Taking them now means you must give back in the future!" In that moment, Li Hao thought of Liu Long. When Liu Long first gave him mysterious energy, he had said similar things: certain resources were bought with human lives. Taking them for granted and complaining that it was too little was simply heartless. Nurturing and supporting you was solely in the hope that you would reciprocate down the road. If no one gave back, any team would crumble sooner or later. Li Hao nodded. "Understood!" "Good that you understand!" Having said this, Golden Spear abruptly changed the subject: "All of that, you will come to understand in time! Then there is your master. Yuan Shuo appears to have gone to the Northern Three Provinces. He hasn't stepped outside Silver Moon for many years. Ying Hongyue blocked every route out for him. Over these years, the Red Moon organization founded by Ying Hongyue has constantly prevented your master from leaving Silver Moon, giving him no opportunity whatsoever… Do you know why?" Li Hao thought for a moment. "Fear of my master?" "Yes!" Golden Spear said gravely, "Don't assume Yuan Shuo is incompetent just because you've met a few powerhouses… Your master was sealed inside Silver Moon for twenty years. Over those twenty years, people kept watch on him constantly to ensure he couldn't leave, terrified that once he stepped outside, the sky would be high enough for the bird to fly and he would leap over the dragon gate in a single bound! "Ying Hongyue didn't care if the rest of us left Silver Moon. The only person he dreaded was your master! "Therefore, now that your master has stepped out, the person who wants him dead most is Ying Hongyue. He knows all too well what will happen if your master is given enough time and opportunity." Li Hao looked at Golden Spear, not entirely sure what he was getting at. Golden Spear was blunt and stated directly, "As far as I know, among Red Moon's Seven Moons, Orange Moon and Yellow Moon vanished recently. There is a ninety percent chance they have gone to assassinate your master. Aside from Ying Hongyue himself, the second and third strongest powerhouses among the Seven Moons have gone after your master! And both of them have astonishing battle records in the Central Region, having slain Rising Light experts!" Taking a soft breath, he added, "Orange Moon was once a Silver Moon martial master as well, quite famous. You might know her moniker: Black Spider!" Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "The Black Widow?" "Yes, though she prefers to call herself the Spider." Li Hao considered this briefly, then said, "Understood!" *What did you understand?* Golden Spear was bewildered. Li Hao naturally understood: the current third-generation Purple Moon was Orange Moon's daughter. He needed to capture Purple Moon and use her life to threaten Orange Moon. How could he not understand that? If Orange Moon dared make a lethal move, he would seize Purple Moon and chop off an arm today, a leg tomorrow… Would Orange Moon dare make a move then? If she dared enter Silver Moon, Li Hao would enlist those hidden powerhouses to strike. As for whether they would agree, he would cross that bridge when he came to it. So he had understood clearly. Capture Purple Moon to threaten Orange Moon. That was what Golden Spear meant, right? In truth, Golden Spear was still suspicious. *Did you really understand?* His intention in saying this was simply to tell Li Hao not to slack off just because he felt strong now. He must never let his guard down; his master was in grave danger, and a figure like his master could die at any moment. The same went for Li Hao. Therefore, he needed to cultivate even harder! To ensure that if his master truly was killed one day, he would possess enough strength to take revenge. Yes, that was what he meant. Li Hao remained silent. The Black Widow… extraordinarily strong, having killed Rising Light experts. So what? The Black Widow's name also appeared on the Roster of Thirty-Six Heroes. Yet Li Hao felt little dread toward these people. His master had mentioned her once: she possessed no grand talent, nothing worth fretting over. Those who relied on flaunting beauty to lure men into traps weren't true powerhouses. She earned the Black Widow moniker because seven or eight of her husbands had died, and only she knew how they had perished. As for whether she cared about her daughter, she definitely did. After all, she was only a black widow, not a prolific broodmother. Li Hao didn't know if she had other children, but for Purple Moon to be assigned to Silver Moon as one of the Seven Moons, Orange Moon clearly cared deeply. And whether Chief Steward Yu would interfere… Li Hao wouldn't care either. If you kill my master, I'll kill your daughter. If Chief Steward Yu intervenes, I'll tolerate her for now, and after some time, kill them all together… Li Hao quickly suppressed that thought. He shouldn't think that way; Chief Steward Yu was treating him quite well right now. The conversation reached its end. Golden Spear watched the two depart, still perplexed. That kid had radiated intense killing intent just now—what on earth had he understood?