Li Hao and his companions departed quickly, not daring to linger in the area.
As for absorbing the mysterious energy, there was no rush. It was already September 21, and only seven days remained until the next opening of the ruins.
***
At the same time.
Cross-Cut Gorge.
As the ruins' scheduled opening drew near, Cross-Cut Gorge was already packed to the brim, even though no one knew whether it could be unsealed this time and an agreement had yet to be reached.
The Three Great Organizations and the Silver Moon authorities made up only part of the crowd.
In truth, a far greater number came from the nineteen northern provinces, joined by various powerhouses who had traveled all the way from the Central Region.
The original entrance of the ruins was currently cordoned off by a joint force of the Night Patrol and the military.
Although the forces stationed there were not overly formidable, no disputes had broken out. Hou Xiaochen was still here; so long as he neither left nor died, few dared to stir up trouble recklessly.
Right at that moment, as countless onlookers watched...
A sudden, relentless rumble erupted!
The next instant, a group wearing ghost-face masks came stampeding into view.
People from Red Moon!
There were quite a few of them, led by several Three Suns experts.
Yet right now, they were fleeing in utter disarray.
The supers wandering through the gorge scrambled out of the way. When it came to Red Moon, many had crossed swords with them in secret, but on the surface, the Three Great Organizations remained terrifyingly powerful, and nobody was eager to provoke them head-on.
Seeing this pack of Red Moon experts rushing in, none dared to block their path.
Just as that thought crossed the spectators' minds, a thunderous rumble of footsteps approached from behind. A troop of figures charged forward, many clad in black armor. Among them was an elderly man who looked to be in his fifties. Unarmored, he held a long spear and thrust it violently forward!
The spear howled through the air!
*Boom!*
A deafening explosion rang out. Several of the fleeing Red Moon Three Suns whirled to retaliate, unleashing their supernatural energy, but the spear punched straight through their counterattack. Amid a resounding blast, an early Three Suns powerhouse was impaled right through the torso and pinned to the ground, vomiting blood without stop!
One of the remaining Three Suns roared in fury, "Golden Spear! You've already surpassed Three Suns! By laying hands on us, aren't you afraid our Red Moon will drop all pretense and slaughter everyone indiscriminately?"
Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals.
That was the unspoken rule of engagement.
Otherwise, with powerhouses on both sides, everything would descend into chaotic carnage and countless casualties.
The moment the name "Golden Spear" was shouted, many faces paled.
The head of the Three Spears of Silver Moon!
He was the strongest known martial master in the open world today—a figure who had surpassed the Three Suns level, and perhaps the undisputed number one expert in the current martial arts world.
Hong Yitang and Southern Fist aside, Sky Sword had converted to a super, Tyrant Saber was presumed dead by everyone except a handful of old acquaintances, and Yuan Shuo had only slain peak Three Suns so far, having yet to clash directly with a Rising Light.
In today's world, only Golden Spear had exchanged blows with Lanyue just yesterday. In that instant of collision, both had fallen back, yet Golden Spear had retreated entirely unscathed from the hands of a Rising Light. He was already universally acknowledged as the greatest in the martial arts realm.
As for Yuan Shuo, because he had not fought a Rising Light, his exact strength remained impossible to gauge.
Golden Spear, Yuan Shuo, Li Hao...
Currently throughout the Heavenly Star Dynasty, these three martial masters were renowned far and wide, deterring all four directions.
They had transcended the conventional Thousand-Battler level, truly stepping into the next major realm for martial masters.
Hearing that Golden Spear was the pursuer, many felt a sense of clarity.
No wonder even several Three Suns joined together were fleeing for their lives.
Not to mention, Golden Spear was leading the Martial Guard Army.
Golden Spear's voice rang out, cold as ice: "Who said this old man has surpassed Three Suns? Besides... when it comes to breaking rules, you lots are far more shameless! Why don't you tell me where Haixiao and Banshan have gone?"
Who broke the rules first?
Since that was the case, why bother talking about rules at all!
Golden Spear let out a low bellow: "Kill!"
"Kill!"
Behind him, a group of martial masters charged forward in black armor, fiercely imposing. These martial masters were even stronger than the Demon Hunt Corps, boasting numerous Hundred-Breaker culmination experts. Like an unstoppable wave following Golden Spear's breach of the Three Suns line, they hunted down and slaughtered the Red Moon supers.
Among them, Mad Saber's disciple Wang Qing and Kong Jie's daughter Kong Youyun were even brawling directly against Three Suns!
This was Golden Spear's personal guard. It was not large, numbering only about eighty men, not even forming a full hundred-man company.
Yet their combat power was exceptionally terrifying.
Of these eighty, twenty were at Hundred-Breaker culmination, while the rest were all late Hundred-Breakers. Every single one wore black armor, making them vastly more elite than Li Hao's Demon Hunt Corps.
When they joined forces, even Three Suns had to retreat.
*Boom!*
A chain of explosions resonated.
Just as several Three Suns were battling soaked in blood, a bolt of lightning erupted in the distance, detonating beside Golden Spear with a tremendous crash.
Golden Spear roared and thrust his spear outward!
*Rumble!*
Another thunderous blast rang out as the lightning was shattered on the spot. In the distance, Purple Moon strode through the air, her expression grim. "Golden Spear, with the ruins opening imminently, must you push things this far?"
Golden Spear replied with utter detachment: "You... aren't qualified to speak of such things! If your mother came, that would be more like it. I'd love to see what kind of strength the Black Widow possesses these days!"
Purple Moon's face darkened.
The Black Widow!
She glared at Golden Spear and scoffed, "If my mother truly came, you wouldn't survive three bouts against her!"
As the number-two figure of Red Moon, her immense strength went without saying.
Claiming he wouldn't last three bouts might not even be an exaggeration.
Still, Purple Moon's arrival—a peak Three Suns equipped with the Thunder God Armor—commanded respect in her own right.
At this moment, Golden Spear gestured with his hand, and the Martial Guard Army swiftly regrouped, halting the slaughter.
The remaining Red Moon supers quickly rallied behind Purple Moon. Not only that, but several more Three Suns appeared in succession behind her. In the blink of an eye, a full six Three Suns arrived, bringing their surviving count to a total of ten Three Suns.
Only then did Purple Moon let out a small breath of relief.
These martial masters... were simply terrifying!
Golden Spear, the former head of the Three Spears, had advanced far along the martial path today and possessed incredible might. When there weren't enough Three Suns to counter him, combined with his formidable personal guard, they far outclassed the ordinary Night Patrol.
On the Night Patrol's side, aside from Hou Xiaochen, the rest didn't pose too much pressure on them.
Yet the Martial Guard Army had deployed its full force over the past several days, striking terror into every faction.
Only now did the name of the Silver Moon martial masters truly echo across the land once more.
Even if top powerhouses were rare among martial masters, they had shown the supers just how terrifying it was when martial masters formed an organized army.
Without a Three Suns, a standard company could not match a hundred-man martial master unit at all.
Yet Three Suns were hardly cheap cabbages found everywhere.
Even after conscripting experts from nineteen provinces, Red Moon had only assembled thirty-some Three Suns. And by now, quite a few had already fallen—Li Hao alone had slain three.
Not even in the Central Region did Three Suns die at such a rate.
Lately, the three northern provinces had been in turmoil for days, yet only two Three Suns had perished there, which had sent shockwaves through the region as if their own fathers had died.
In Silver Moon... the very day the Martial Guard Army marched out, a Three Suns was killed, and Golden Spear had slain another just yesterday.
In this brief span, two Three Suns had fallen to the Martial Guard Army alone.
Right now, the fellow pinned to the ground was clearly on his last breath as well.
Purple Moon's brow furrowed in mounting irritation.
Waging war in Silver Moon had truly been a terrible decision.
Three Suns were dying in batches!
Li Hao had killed three, Golden Spear had killed three, Yuan Shuo had killed three back then, Hou Xiaochen had killed a Rising Light, and four Three Suns had gone missing just a few days ago...
In merely a month, Red Moon had lost thirteen Three Suns and one Rising Light in Silver Moon!
Such losses were something neither Purple Moon nor Lanyue could bear.
Yesterday, Lanyue had personally taken action, originally intending to ambush Golden Spear. Instead, Golden Spear had caught him off guard. Lanyue was a mid-stage Rising Light, not an early one, yet even so, he had failed to subdue Golden Spear in short order!
Of course, Golden Spear hadn't been able to defeat him either, being slightly disadvantaged.
Yet martial masters were fiercely resilient. At Golden Spear's caliber, Lanyue could never hope to dispatch him easily.
None of that was the crux of the problem, however.
The real issue was that Lanyue hadn't arrived today not because he had fled, but because a woman had set her sights on him, landing him in deep trouble. At the thought of that woman, Purple Moon's complexion shifted slightly.
Jade Rakshasa!
Jade Rakshasa had finally made her move. The moment she struck, she shook all sides, sending Lanyue fleeing in humiliation. Even now, it was unknown whether Lanyue could successfully shake her off.
Silver Moon... was becoming increasingly perilous!
Just as she was pondering this, a wave of sonic booms rolled in.
The next instant, several figures descended from the sky.
Lanyue's hair was disheveled, stripped of his previous poise, looking thoroughly dark and sullen. However, he had suffered no serious wounds, as two figures had touched down beside him: a cloaked individual and a dignified man with a square, authoritative face.
"The Equality King!"
"An elder from the Feitian Elders Council?"
Muffled murmurs rippled through the surroundings. Major figures had arrived!
Yet their arrival did not appear entirely smooth.
The next moment, a cool, aloof figure drifted down. Her face was somewhat pale, her eyes laced with murderous intent. She gave Golden Spear a slight nod, then looked at the three opposing powerhouses and said coldly, "A pack of useless trash!"
"..."
None of the three powerhouses uttered a word.
The Equality King frowned slightly, Lanyue's face turned black with anger, and the Feitian elder beneath the cloak was hidden from view.
Jade Rakshasa!
Now, glancing between Jade Rakshasa and Golden Spear...
Someone had already recognized them.
In the distance, behind a massive boulder, an elderly martial master trembled with excitement. "I knew it... The Night Patrol's Chief Steward Yu was no ordinary person... It really is her!"
"Master, who is she?" an inquisitive young martial master asked.
"Jade Rakshasa!"
"Ah? One of the Thirty-Six Heroes?"
"Yes!" the old martial master said, his voice quivering with emotion. "It must be her! Only figures like them could cow all four directions and sweep across the realm! Back then, the martial masters of Silver Moon were famed throughout the world. What were supers back then? When supers first emerged, the Silver Moon martial masters beat them so badly they didn't dare step foot into Silver Moon... It wasn't until martial masters reached the Thousand-Battler realm and found the road ahead severed, while supers advanced to Three Suns and Rising Light, that martial masters declined... But now, they've found the path!"
"*Cough, cough*... Master... uh... isn't Jade Rakshasa a super now...?"
"So what if she's a super? She's still a martial master!"
The old man snapped furiously, glaring at his outspoken disciple.
Who said she was a super?
She was a martial master!
Even though... she had already converted to a super, he refused to acknowledge it, unwilling to admit that martial masters were inferior to supers.
The disciples held their tongues. If their master said so, then so be it.
Besides, she truly was one of the top martial masters back then, an illustrious name recorded on the Roster of Heroes.
***
Whispers and discussions broke out in every corner.
On another cliff above the gorge stood several figures. Among them, a very young man with traces of white frost clinging to the tips of his hair stood at the front of the group. Gazing toward the commotion below, his voice carried a calm, unmistakable arrogance: "Is that Jade Rakshasa?"
"Yes, that's her!"
Behind the young man, an elder said in a low voice, "Golden Spear and Jade Rakshasa have both joined the Night Patrol. Add in Yuan Shuo, who departed not long ago; Earth-Overturning Sword, who founded Sword Gate; Southern Fist, who headed to Northern Silver; Jade Light Sword, who travels alongside Yuan Shuo; Sky Sword in the Central Region; Mad Saber serving in the military... The renowned Silver Moon martial masters of the past are still active across the dynasty's soil!"
Who dared claim the Silver Moon martial realm was dead?
It still lived!
It was merely continuing in a different manner, each carving out their own path, each finding their own resting place.
Many among the Thirty-Six Heroes were still active.
The young man nodded slightly and murmured, "You forgot—on Red Moon's side, there are several of the Thirty-Six Heroes as well. Orange Moon, the Black Widow, Ying Hongyue..."
At this mention, the elder nodded too. "Indeed. Among Red Moon's Seven Moons, several are figures from the Thirty-Six Heroes..."
Curiosity flickered across the young man's face. "Jade Rakshasa was one of them too. Why did she turn against Ying Hongyue?"
"It isn't entirely clear. Most likely... Hou Xiaochen truly is the Sickbed Ghost. Word has it that Hou Xiaochen once spared her life and let her go instead of killing her..."
The young man nodded once more, sighing with emotion. "Silver Moon truly is a cradle of talents! No wonder every faction wants to come here. Still, they seem to be waiting for something, whereas we've merely come ahead as an advance scout to survey the situation..."
With that, the young man smiled. "And while we're at it, we can enjoy the spectacle, take a look at the Battle Heaven City ruins, and perhaps... even claim a powerful Origin God Armament if the opportunity arises."
"Young Master, it would be best to abandon that notion!"
The elder warned solemnly, "Word has it that Hou Xiaochen will enter personally! Hou Xiaochen is no simple man. If he truly is the Sickbed Ghost, he was already a top martial master in his early years. When martial masters become supers, none turn out weak—let alone a premier martial master like him. One can deduce his caliber just by looking at his subordinates, Golden Spear and Jade Rakshasa. Hou Xiaochen is either at peak Rising Light or something even stronger..."
"Just because he slew Red Hair with a single spear thrust?"
The young man frowned slightly. "That spear strike doesn't prove much. Even a mid-to-late Rising Light, armed with a Heaven-tier Origin God Armament and catching Red Hair completely off guard, could have achieved the same result!"
Hou Xiaochen was undeniably formidable.
However, which exact stage of Rising Light he belonged to remained difficult to determine.
The elder shook his head. "Red Hair couldn't have been entirely unprepared. Therefore... do not underestimate Hou Xiaochen."
"I'm not underestimating him. I merely believe that once he enters, the Three Great Organizations won't let him off easily. Besides... they might not be the only ones."
The young man chuckled. "Those who want Hou Xiaochen dead are far from few."
The elder said no more.
That was a fact.
Hou Xiaochen was a thorny figure.
Even within the Night Patrol, there were those who wished for his demise.
Once he entered the ruins, what he would face went far beyond just the powerhouses of the Three Great Organizations.
The young man shifted the subject, asking curiously, "By the way, it's said that the Old Demon of Five Animals' disciple killed six Three Suns two days ago and fled toward Cangshan in Northern Silver. Has any news come through?"
"None."
The elder shook his head. "Cangshan is no safe haven. Our family records indicate it is exceptionally perilous, harboring numerous great demons, including terrifying existences that surpass the Rising Light level!"
"What a pity. Hopefully he doesn't perish in Cangshan. Young geniuses on the martial path are already exceedingly rare."
The young man smiled. "The Central Region has a few young martial master talents, but... they're merely ordinary. For this man to slay multiple Three Suns shows he possesses genuine capability. As expected of the personal disciple of the Old Demon of Five Animals, head of the Thirty-Six Heroes..."
The elder did not reply.
Having genuine ability was a given.
However, the young man spoke with a touch of condescension, and the elder chose not to point it out. Perhaps this youth was strong—perhaps even surpassing Hu Qingfeng, who had come from the Central Region Night Patrol.
Yet... one should never underestimate any martial master.
Yuan Shuo's disciple, once advanced, would become a Rising Light super, not necessarily any weaker than the youth before him. Being condescending... would only cause one to lower their guard.
While they were conversing, a figure in the distance suddenly waved toward them. It was an elegant, youthful-looking woman currently chatting with several young people on the cliffside.
Seeing her wave, the young man nodded slightly and transmitted his voice to the elder: "Madam Bai certainly has a wide circle of acquaintances. Isn't her husband right here in Silver Moon? Why is she mingling with the Liu family again?"
The Heavenly Star Liu family was immensely renowned.
The Liu family carried another moniker: the God of Wealth.
Among the Nine Departments, the Minister of Finance was that very old man from the Liu family, an extraordinarily terrifying figure. However, those who had come to Silver Moon were likely only members of collateral branches. Though they still warranted respect, they weren't direct-line descendants of the Liu family, so the young man didn't pay them much mind.
The elder replied via voice transmission: "This woman is no simple character either. Though not one of the Thirty-Six Heroes, she was a renowned Silver Moon martial master back then who married into the Bai family. Her husband is currently deputy commander of the Tiger Wing Army, while another branch of the Bai family in Heavenly Star City is on good terms with the Bureau of Military Law, and is even rumored to have ties to the imperial family... She isn't as simple as she appears."
The young man nodded slightly.
***
On the other side, Heart-Piercing Beauty Madam Bai was chatting with several youngsters. Seeing the frost-haired young man in the distance, she waved a greeting, then whispered, "What brought him to Silver Moon?"
Beside her, another young man glanced in that direction with a mix of disdain and jealousy, casually brushing it off: "Probably got suppressed too hard by those people in the Central Region and came here to catch his breath."
A younger woman—or rather, a girl—standing next to him asked curiously, "Brother, who is he?"
She didn't seem to recognize the figure.
The young man was reluctant to explain, but seeing his sister's curiosity, he muttered vaguely, "Xu Feng."
Xu Feng.
The girl pondered the name with a blank look. Moments later, realization struck, and she exclaimed excitedly, "Is he... is he that Frost Swordsman Xu Feng from the Divine Master Roster?"
"What Divine Master Roster!" the youth grumbled in annoyance. "Just a wild list compiled by a bunch of half-baked hacks, and you actually take it seriously!"
The girl giggled. "Brother, are you jealous?"
"Me, jealous of him?"
The girl laughed mischievously. "He's one of the ninety-nine dragons and phoenixes among men on that roster! The Divine Master Roster only records ninety-nine top powerhouses under thirty years old—that's an average of barely one per major province! Even though Xu Feng is ranked toward the bottom—number ninety-seven a few days ago, I think—he's still incredibly formidable!"
Or rather, exceptionally formidable!
Extremely powerful!
Although it was merely a list for those under thirty, thirty years encompassed many powerhouses, especially since supers had only emerged twenty years ago.
The girl remained thrilled and animated.
Beside them, Madam Bai smiled without speaking.
The Divine Master Roster... was similar to the Roster of Heroes from back then. It wasn't an official ranking, merely a list compiled by certain individuals, and naturally contained exaggerations. Some people kept low profiles while others flaunted themselves; it could never capture everything.
Strictly speaking, its prestige didn't match the former Roster of Heroes. At least the Silver Moon Thirty-Six Heroes had been universally acknowledged by the entire martial world back then.
This Divine Master Roster, on the other hand, was primarily popular in the Central Region. The surrounding provinces would never endorse it. Having never fought in the Central Region, why would they admit that the Central Region's youth were superior to theirs?
Calling it the Central Region Youth Divine Master Roster might be more accurate.
Still, that Xu Feng ahead was a mid-stage Rising Light ice-attribute Heaven-Blessed Divine Master, possessing terrifying strength, yet was only ranked ninety-seventh. That proved the roster held a decent amount of credibility.
Figures like Hu Qingfeng hadn't even made the list.
Just as Madam Bai was pondering this, a tremendous crash from above shattered everyone's thoughts.
The crowd looked up in unison.
In the distance, Jade Rakshasa thrust a palm outward. Amid a thunderous blast, lightning erupted, driving Lanyue and his companions into retreat.
A lightning-attribute powerhouse!
Of course, the lightning Jade Rakshasa wielded now appeared somewhat peculiar, carrying a dark purplish hue and packing immense destructive force when detonating.
That rumble of thunder drew everyone's focus back to the confrontation.
***
Above the gorge.
Chief Steward Yu's expression remained as frosty as ever.
After striking with a single palm, she made no further move, merely stating with cold detachment, "Lanyue, however many people Red Moon is hiding, bring them all out! The Elders Council couldn't have sent only Haixiao, who was stationed in the three northern provinces to begin with... If your goal is to deal with Minister Hou, you alone aren't worthy!"
*Not worthy?*
Those words made blood rush to Lanyue's face, fury flashing in his eyes.
With an indifferent gaze sweeping across the surroundings, Jade Rakshasa said slowly, "Is it Cyan Moon? Or Green Moon? Since you've arrived, why not show yourself? Both Lanyue and Purple Moon are merely second- and third-generation figures... They might do against youngsters, but I'm no longer young."
Right at that moment, laughter drifted from afar.
A voice laced with faint grievance called out, "Sister Purple Moon, we're both still young. How could you say you're old?"
Purple Moon was momentarily taken aback before realizing the speaker wasn't referring to her.
It was directed at Jade Rakshasa!
The first-generation Purple Moon!
A faint smile appeared on Jade Rakshasa's chilly face, though the smile looked unnervingly harsh. "Purple Moon is indeed young, but I've aged. I expected Cyan Moon, but to think it was you, Green Moon..."
The next instant, a figure materialized abruptly in front of Lanyue and the others.
She possessed a voluptuous figure, wearing a flowing green dress, her long green hair drifting in the wind. A radiant smile graced her face, making her appear exceptionally striking.
Green Moon, one of Red Moon's Seven Moons!
However, Golden Spear frowned slightly at her appearance. After a long pause, he sneered, "So it's you... Green Peacock!"
His brows drew tightly together. "Green Peacock, even someone like you is worthy of being Green Moon? I always wondered how Ying Hongyue assigned those ranks. Why Jade Rakshasa was relegated to Purple Moon, while learning that the Black Widow was Orange Moon made me realize how shameless Ying Hongyue truly is—anyone who sleeps with him gets a higher rank! Now I see it clearly; it really is true. You, Green Peacock, weren't even equal to the Heart-Piercing Beauty back then, yet you dare stand above Jade Rakshasa?"
The usually taciturn Golden Spear had suddenly become remarkably outspoken, his voice dripping with indignance!
At these words, not only did Green Moon's expression change, but Madam Bai in the distance was rendered speechless.
*Why drag me into this?*
Still, Green Moon being the Green Peacock... was something even she hadn't known.
Golden Spear truly was well-informed.
Green Peacock had possessed some fame, but as Golden Spear said, she hadn't measured up to Heart-Piercing Beauty back then.
Green Moon glared icily at Golden Spear, her smile vanishing completely. "Golden Spear, times have changed!"
Golden Spear's vital energy surged toward the sky!
He barked furiously, "No matter how much times have changed, it's not the place of a wanton peacock like you to lecture this old man! Even if Ying Hongyue came in person, I'd curse him to his face for his shamelessness! What kind of rubbish ranks a bedmate who's been ridden by a thousand and mounted by ten thousand above Jade Rakshasa? Has he forgotten that he too is one of the Thirty-Six Heroes? What right does he have to humiliate Jade Rakshasa!"
"..."
At this moment, even Jade Rakshasa was at a loss for words. *This old man... enough already!*
She didn't care all that much herself.
Yet this old man took it so deeply to heart.
It was a good thing she hadn't bothered speaking to him earlier, or he would have erupted into curses long ago.
What infuriated Golden Spear was nothing else than Ying Hongyue ranking Jade Rakshasa, one of the Thirty-Six Heroes, as the last of the Seven Moons, while elevating the previously obscure Green Peacock above her.
The Black Widow was one thing—she had been one of the Thirty-Six Heroes as well.
But this woman? Golden Spear found it entirely unacceptable; it was a disgrace to the prestige of the Thirty-Six Heroes.
Furious to the core, he shouted, "Ying Hongyue has slept with women so much his brain is waterlogged! Sooner or later, I'll lop off that water-filled head of his!"
At this moment, he seemed to understand why Jade Rakshasa had defected.
It was simply too insulting!
Meanwhile, Chief Steward Yu was completely speechless. She knew this old man was obstinate, but this was the first time she had witnessed his extreme stubbornness—he was working himself into a fury over nothing more than an enemy's ranking.
Opposite them, Green Moon's aura erupted, an overwhelmingly powerful pressure sweeping outward.
Late Rising Light!
In that instant, the terrifying force caused even Golden Spear to sway slightly. Yet the old man's expression remained resolute as he glared coldly at Green Moon.
Late Rising Light? So what?
It was only natural!
Lanyue was a mid-stage Rising Light, and there was still Cyan Moon in between, so it was hardly surprising that this wanton peacock had reached the late stage. But he remained disgusted. She merely had Red Moon backing her, not any genuine talent of her own!
Since when was she fit to step over Jade Rakshasa?
Green Moon glared back coldly, her aura growing increasingly ferocious. Just then, a surge of saber intent erupted—*clang!*
A saber cry rang through heaven and earth!
The next moment, a streak of saber light tore through the void. Behind Golden Spear, delight surfaced on Wang Qing's face.
Moments later, a tall man in a navy military uniform landed heavily. Emotionless, he stared at Green Moon and said coldly, "Wanton peacock, what—relying on becoming a super to look down on us?"
He stepped forward, his saber intent piercing the sky!
"Today, all three standing before you are figures you once had to look up to! Just because you gained a bit of capital, you think you're something special? If you brought the Black Widow, that would still hold some dignity. What kind of thing do you think you are?"
Green Moon's face turned utterly hideous!
As an esteemed late Rising Light and one of Red Moon's Seven Moons, she was a top-tier powerhouse even in the Central Region, where powerhouses of every faction gave her face.
Yet here, she was being subjected to blatant humiliation!
And yet... and yet... she too had been a Silver Moon martial master, and she knew full well how arrogant these people had been back then. She simply hadn't expected that after all these years, they would remain just as arrogant!
"Mad Saber!"
Green Moon's voice was frigid. "Stop living in the past! Twenty years have passed—supers have ruled for twenty years, and martial masters... have declined! Wake up to reality!"
Golden Spear let out a sudden sigh. "If outsiders said this, so be it. No matter how useless you were, you were still a Silver Moon martial master back then. To think you would speak like this too... Truly, garbage remains garbage!"
When supers said such things, they could pretend not to hear it. But to see a former Silver Moon martial master utter them with mockery and gloating...
They disdained to share the same air with her!
Even when others spoke of it, it was with sighs, regret, and unwillingness...
Yet this woman seemed utterly gleeful!
No wonder powerhouses across the martial realm despised her. Ying Hongyue certainly had quite an appetite.
Green Moon scoffed, disdaining to argue further or bring up past affairs. She said coldly, "I see no need to continue this pointless slaughter! The ruins will open soon. Or do you government dogs plan on monopolizing the benefits for yourselves?"
They had cursed her, so she cursed them right back!
Even if she was shameless, they were hardly any better!
Hadn't they also become lapdogs of the imperial court?
The pot had no right to call the kettle black!
Sure enough, the moment those words landed... even Golden Spear ceased arguing, his face set in a stony silence.
Back then, they had looked down on the Martial Guard Army, yet today they were part of it, with Golden Spear even serving as its leader. Being cursed for it... he had nothing to say, having long prepared himself for such criticism.
Fortunately, it was Green Peacock doing the cursing, which he could tolerate; had it been another of the Thirty-Six Heroes, he would have found it unbearable and shameful.
Though his current strength might not match Green Moon's, he didn't care.
The martial path was advancing once more, and a direction had been found. In time, they would catch up to these powerful supers sooner or later. What was there to fear?
Chief Steward Yu, having had her spotlight stolen, didn't mind either.
Waiting until they had finished, she said calmly, "Green Moon, before we negotiate, recall Haixiao first. Otherwise... this encirclement won't stop! Even if you've arrived, what of it? The minister simply chose not to leave the city these past few days. If he did... do you truly believe you have any chance of victory?"
"Also, Banshan seems to have gone there as well..."
Jade Rakshasa turned toward the cloaked powerhouse. "Which elder of the Feitian Elders Council are you?"
The cloaked figure spoke in a raspy, eerie voice: "I have long forgotten my name, as it is unworthy of polite company. I merely possess a code name, though I wonder if Jade Rakshasa has heard of it: Chi Ming!"
Chi Ming?
At that name, Jade Rakshasa pondered for a moment before offering a faint smile. "I seem... to have heard of it! Seven years ago, a martial master in the Central Region who was said to have reached the peak of Thousand-Battler was assassinated, seemingly by an expert from Feitian... If I recall, that was Chi Ming. Was that you?"
"Jade Rakshasa truly possesses keen insight!"
The elder chuckled raspily. "To think such meager fame could be remembered by you is my honor!"
Seven years ago, an assassin of peak Thousand-Battler martial masters.
Seven years later, a Rising Light powerhouse.
In the era of supers, the strong remained strong, advancing rapidly. To become an elder of Feitian required shocking accomplishments—whether through assassination or open slaughter, each was immensely formidable.
Chief Steward Yu said no more. Four Rising Light powerhouses stood before them, and others might be lurking in the dark. Though everyone looked down on this Green Peacock, she was a genuine late Rising Light powerhouse.
Continuing the fight wouldn't yield any advantage.
The Equality King was formidable, and Chi Ming wouldn't be weak either; they had simply been spectating earlier without interfering, which was why Lanyue had lost face.
Among the Three Great Organizations, there was cooperation, but there was also competition.
Not wishing to prolong the exchange, she spoke again: "Recall Banshan and the others, and then we will discuss the ruins! The minister has ordered that he must see Li Hao standing here safe and sound. Otherwise... don't even dream of entering the Battle Heaven City ruins!"
The Rising Light powerhouses frowned slightly.
Green Moon said coldly, "Purple Moon..."
Jade Rakshasa looked at her.
Green Moon smiled faintly. "Never mind. Since you disregard our past ties, I shall simply call you Jade Rakshasa! Jade Rakshasa, I'm afraid Hou Xiaochen doesn't have the final say over the Battle Heaven City ruins. Look around—how many powerhouses have gathered here? Besides us, there are people from the Nine Departments, young geniuses from the Divine Master Roster, provincial hegemons, nobility, and generals... Does Hou Xiaochen wish to antagonize the entire world?"
"Or does Hou Xiaochen truly think of himself as the King of Silver Moon? Since when did Silver Moon belong to him alone?"
These words were thoroughly venomous!
Yet Chief Steward Yu remained utterly calm: "What's wrong with the King of Silver Moon? He *is* the king of Silver Moon! What of the Nine Departments? What of the imperial family? In Silver Moon, they all have to lie low! If you don't accept it, feel free to try him!"
"..."
The surroundings fell terrifyingly quiet.
This was Hou Xiaochen's closest confidante, yet she had spoken such words openly!
It was simply unbelievable!
What was Hou Xiaochen thinking?
Or was Jade Rakshasa intentionally setting Hou Xiaochen up?
Even Green Moon was taken aback. Was this woman insane?
Chief Steward Yu remained composed: "What are you staring at? If the minister went to the imperial court in Heavenly Star City to demand a princely title, with the imperial family's current plight, they'd love nothing more than to see him tear faces with the Nine Departments. Wouldn't they grant a mere title? What's so special about a King of Silver Moon!"
Now *that* was arrogance!
Yet her words silenced the onlookers. In all honesty, that was genuinely possible!
Green Moon frowned, unwilling to continue bickering over this, and said coldly, "Haixiao and the others went to Cangshan and lost contact long ago. Perhaps in a few days, that Li Hao will return on his own. Do you truly intend to antagonize the whole world for the sake of a single Li Hao?"
Losing contact was true, but not wanting to recall them was also true!
No one wished to capture Li Hao more than Red Moon, and no one was less willing to give him time to grow. If they couldn't capture him, killing him was the only alternative!
Both sides stood locked in an unyielding standoff over the matter.
Right at that moment, another group arrived in the distance.
This group wasn't strong, but they approached swiftly under the escort of a contingent of soldiers.
Moments later, an elderly man appeared before everyone, slightly out of breath. After catching his breath, he broke into a smile: "Everyone's here? Good, good!"
"Ladies and gentlemen... hear me out. Right now, Silver Moon is locked in chaotic strife, suffering severe casualties, and the common folk are sorely disturbed... The General Administration Bureau orders all factions to cease hostilities and prioritize negotiation!"
"The Battle Heaven City ruins are a legacy of the ancients, not the exclusive property of any single faction. The essence of ancient civilization belongs to the people of today, regardless of region or strength. No further arms shall be taken up recklessly..."
The old man shook his head as he held forth before this assembly of powerhouses, reciting as if reading an official dispatch. Toward the end, he added, "Director Zhao decrees: all factions may enter the ruins. However, since the ruins lie within Silver Moon and Silver Moon holds the title of host, should any party enter... appropriate compensation should be rendered. Specific agreements may be negotiated with the Night Patrol."
"We hope all powerhouses will think twice before acting! The General Administration Bureau pities the people of Silver Moon and does not wish to see endless war... If anyone remains dissatisfied, Director Zhao has stated beforehand: ten city-destroying bombs will be launched into Cross-Cut Gorge each month without cease, and every time the ruins open, city-destroying bombs will be deployed... Everyone, whether you choose to force your way in, consider your options carefully!"
The old man finished in one breath, puffed, and smiled. "This is the decree of the Silver Moon authorities. All factions, take heed!"
Golden Spear said displeasedly, "Director Zhou, the Three Great Organizations are still hunting a centurion of my Martial Guard Army. Are we simply to ignore it?"
Director Zhou sighed. "Every sip and bite is predestined by heaven! Li Hao... struck first. Now... he has entered the territory of Cangshan, which lies outside Silver Moon's jurisdiction. We can only hope he takes care of himself."
"However, the moment Li Hao steps back into Silver Moon territory, should the Three Great Organizations persist in their pursuit... the General Administration Bureau will immediately report to the Nine Departments, and all official personnel within Silver Moon must join forces to slay them!"
"For now, Silver Moon still belongs to the dynasty!"
Director Zhou spoke with righteous gravity, looking around. "Our General Administration Bureau cares about nothing else: if people from the Nine Departments are in Silver Moon at that time and refuse to obey orders, they will be treated as traitors! Unless the realm of Silver Moon is truly seized by another, the General Administration Bureau will brand you with the crime of treason, and no one will be able to overturn it. Even if people from the Nine Departments flee back home, they can expect an empire-wide warrant for their arrest!"
In the shadows, several powerhouses cursed inwardly!
This old bastard sure knew how to throw official weight around!
Still, at a time like this, they had no choice but to swallow it. Otherwise, they would have to join the Three Great Organizations or become rogues. If they wanted to operate within the Nine Departments, they couldn't afford to be branded traitors by a provincial bureau. Even if they could appeal, it would be an immense hassle!
Director Zhou caught his breath and added, "That is all I have to say. Peace is paramount! Although the Three Great Organizations are evil-energy organizations, Silver Moon is willing to let bygones be bygones. As long as you turn over a new leaf and return to the righteous path, our bureau is willing to open a door of convenience for these three evil-energy organizations..."
Hearing him repeat "evil-energy organization" over and over, the powerhouses from all three factions felt fury boil within them!
Director Zhou continued, "Slaughter is not the way to resolve problems. The bureau does not wish to see everyone engage in further killing. Starting today, the Silver Moon authorities' arrest warrants against the three evil-energy organizations are temporarily suspended! We hope everyone abides by the laws of Silver Moon and does not make a fatal mistake!"
With that, he turned and left.
At this moment, whether it was the Three Great Organizations, the watching spectators, or the Night Patrol, all were left somewhat speechless!
For the General Administration Bureau to intervene now was truly... unexpected!
Was this offering both sides a graceful way out?
Otherwise, this standoff truly had no easy resolution.
As Deputy Director Zhou departed as hurriedly as he had arrived, he climbed into a small vehicle in the distance and glanced back at the gorge. He shook his head and sighed: "A bunch of brutes, fighting from dawn to dusk. You kill me, I kill you... You can't even kill them all, so what's the point!"
If you want to slaughter, just wipe them all out in one go.
Otherwise, in a clear stalemate, did they really have to fight to the death?
Everyone was puffing their chests with no one to smooth things over. Ah well, the General Administration Bureau would just serve as the lubricant. Hopefully, with this face-saving out, everyone would go explore the ruins peacefully.
Whatever grudges they had, they could settle them inside.
Even if they turned the ruins upside down and killed each other off, the fallout outside wouldn't be too severe.
Thinking this, the old man felt it was best for all these murderous maniacs to enter the ruins. The sooner they went in, the sooner things would quiet down. A perfectly fine Silver Moon had been ruined by these bloodthirsty fiends!
Chapter 143