Transformation

Panic and dread. With Yellow Moon killed in the blink of an eye, reduced to a pile of mush, the Red Moon powerhouses who knew the truth wore looks of terrified dismay. It had only been a moment! Yet Yellow Moon, a late Rising Light expert, had died just like that—without even getting the chance to shout a single word before she perished. It proved that her assailant was frighteningly powerful, possessing crushing might. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to offer no resistance at all. At the very least, she should have called for help or shouted the enemy's identity... but she had done neither. Under such circumstances, how could they not panic? ... Meanwhile, Li Hao and his companions swiftly darted through the streets. Instead of heading straight back toward the city gate, they converged in a tavern along the second street, ducking inside and staying out of sight. Inside the tavern. Hong Yitang dissipated his bronze armor, revealing his true form. He brought out a flagon of wine, smiled, and raised an eyebrow at Li Hao. "Have a cup?" "..." Li Hao exhaled and shed his silver armor. It shrank into a tiny button-like sphere that hung around his neck. That was the marvel of silver armor. Through the armor, Li Hao had even learned that golden armor could be completely drawn into the body, surfacing only when needed. Silver armor was slightly inferior in comparison, unable to be fully internalized. This was because silver armor was standard-issue equipment. Gold armor belonged to generals and was unique to the individual. For silver armor, you had to surrender it upon a promotion or demotion, whereas gold armor did not need to be returned—it was personal gear. Southern Fist had it the worst. He had to clumsily strip off the black armor and stow it into his storage ring. Black armor was mass-produced, common gear. Back in the day, there had been far too many black-armored soldiers, so the crafting hadn't been particularly painstaking; this stuff had to be put away manually. The three sat down in the tavern, ignoring the panicked crowds outside. Hong Yitang poured a cup for each of them. Southern Fist showed no restraint, picking his up and knocking it back. Li Hao had never really drunk alcohol before... well, he had secretly sipped some a few times, but he had never thought wine tasted good. Now, he picked up the cup and took a tentative, tiny sip. This time, however, it felt different. A rich, concentrated aroma exploded across the tip of his tongue! It carried a hint of pungency, yet was imbued with a mellow smoothness, nothing like what he had tasted before. Seeing his expression, Hong Yitang chuckled, raised his cup, and took a drink. "I felt your moves next door just now. Li Hao, I've realized you overthink far too much!" "What?" "Too many stray thoughts, so your Dao isn't pure!" Hong Yitang smiled. "Southern Fist has the right idea. He fights when he wants to fight and plays dumb when he wants to play dumb, but he never takes a loss or holds back his frustration! As for you, you ponder too much and consider too much. When you throw a punch or thrust a sword, sometimes you're decisive, but mixed within that decisiveness is thirty percent hesitation and restraint." At these words, Southern Fist was about to flare up in offense, but after a second thought, he held back and said nonchalantly, "That's true. Li Hao, compared to your master... you're a bit lacking! Of course, you're young, so that's normal. Still... you really lack the martial master's unstoppable momentum and utter fearlessness—the spirit of daring to draw your blade and fight even against tens of thousands of enemies!" "Your martial talent is extraordinary, not just ordinary brilliance. You are genuinely gifted, as anyone can tell from your comprehension of force. But when you fight... though you fight fiercely, you're..." After a long pause, he spat out a phrase: "Not reckless enough!" "What?" Li Hao looked somewhat puzzled. Southern Fist said irritably, "That's the common flaw of scholars. You weigh every consideration thoroughly. But remember: on the battlefield, it's impossible to cover every single base! You always like to plan ahead, calculate everything, and keep it all foolproof. You either use overwhelming strength against weakness, or meet strength with superior strength... Have you ever challenged someone above your realm? Probably never, right? That's not a good thing. Even though you knew Old Hong and I were holding the fort right next door, you still fought so timidly. It didn't sit well with us." Li Hao thought about it and said earnestly, "I have. Back when I was in the Ten-Slayer realm, I beat a Hundred-Breaker martial master to death!" It was true! Southern Fist rolled his eyes, while Hong Yitang couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, back then you must have felt a great sense of accomplishment, extremely exhilarated, right?" Li Hao recalled the moment and nodded! Yes! "And now? Even though you beat a peak Three Sols expert to death, did you feel truly exhilarated?" Li Hao shook his head, took a sip of wine, and thought for a moment. "But right now, I'm no match for a Rising Light..." "Why do you think that?" Hong Yitang frowned. "You possess three forces, don't you? You know the Blood Saber Art, and you suffer no major backlash after erupting with it, right? Your internal organs are powerful, your physical body is resilient, you have silver armor, and you possess that indestructible little sword... Under such conditions, you still don't dare fight a Rising Light? Do you insist on surpassing him in cultivation realm to crush him before you dare engage in battle?" Li Hao scratched his head, speechless for a long while. Southern Fist rolled his eyes vigorously. "Frankly speaking, you beat a peak Three Sols to death before even unleashing your force. Your three forces are reportedly capable of fusing, just like Yuan Shuo's. You clearly have what it takes to try battling a Rising Light. Guess whether your master fought Thousand-Battlers back when he was at the Hundred-Breaker realm?" Li Hao shook his head; he didn't know. "He did!" Hong Yitang took up the thread. "Back then, Yuan Shuo fought several veteran martial masters. There were quite a few Thousand-Battlers back then. While not many in Silver Moon, there were a fair number in the Central Region. Did you think Yuan Shuo was only famous in Silver Moon? In the Central Region, he had formidable achievements as well, slaying more than one Thousand-Battler... Of course, that was after his Five Forces achieved great completion! In fact, quite a few Silver Moon martial masters had ferocious battle records and fought against Thousand-Battlers! Silver Moon martial masters are the strongest; fighting across realms is nothing unheard of." "That's why nowadays people only mention how many Silver Moon martial masters Yuan Shuo defeated, rarely bringing this up. Silver Moon martial masters are exceedingly proud and considered outside Thousand-Battlers inferior even to a Silver Moon Hundred-Breaker culmination." Hong Yitang continued, "Right now, you could actually find a Rising Light or two to spar against. As long as they aren't converted martial masters—especially those who converted after comprehending force—you are guaranteed to win!" Li Hao looked at him with lingering uncertainty. Hong Yitang sighed. "'With me, there is invincibility!' Haven't you read the ancient texts? Regardless of whether it's true, you must firmly believe that victory is yours! Li Hao, blindly believing books is worse than having no books at all. You studied martial arts with Yuan Shuo for too short a time, and Yuan Shuo was in a trough. There are many things you haven't learned; you're missing something vital... It's a pity Yuan Shuo isn't here, or he would surely teach you!" "Now, it falls to us to teach you some basic common sense on his behalf." Southern Fist nodded as well. "Exactly! Yuan Shuo would normally teach these things, but according to convention, it requires you to wander the martial world, paying visits to sects, issuing challenges, and exchanging pointers. In the process, Yuan Shuo would gradually guide you on how to become a proper Silver Moon martial master." "Every Silver Moon martial master came up that way. Of course, that was in the past. Nowadays... Silver Moon martial masters have declined considerably, not necessarily stronger than outside martial masters anymore." Both men sighed with wistful emotion. Hong Yitang said, "Back when we wanted to rise, we had to fight our way up step by step to build a reputation! It wasn't about bitter cultivation at home until reaching Thousand-Battler, thinking you were invincible... That's a joke. You had to carve out your name piece by piece until the whole world knew who you were!" "When you fought in northern Silver Moon and killed six Three Sols experts, all of us who heard the news felt that Silver Moon martial masters finally had a successor. Southern Fist shadowed you back then partly to watch over you..." This time, Hong Yitang didn't disparage Southern Fist, but said earnestly, "I believe that Heavenly Sword, Tyrant Saber, and the others in the Central Region must have thought the same upon hearing the news—that the Silver Moon martial world had a worthy successor! Yuan Shuo's final disciple truly possesses the spirit of a Silver Moon martial master! Golden Spear and Mad Saber would certainly be inclined to lend a hand and view you in a new light. Jade Rakshasa and the other veteran martial masters would likewise feel you have a boundless future..." Li Hao zoned out slightly. In that moment, a wave of dazed realization washed over him. He finally understood why he had run into these two in Mount Cang. It turned out... they had deliberately followed him there. Not because of his status as a descendant of the Eight Great Families, nor for any other reason, but simply because his performance in that battle had displayed the true style of a Silver Moon martial master and promised a future for their kind. These senior martial masters all believed Li Hao had immense promise! So that was why! Southern Fist spoke up again: "People like us may harbor old grudges and grievances, but to tell the truth, watching the Silver Moon martial world wither away and seeing the younger generation amount to nothing, only for a formidable talent to finally emerge... everyone wants to see if this outstanding youth can go further. It's not about forcing you into a fight to the death, but rather that at the appropriate moments, you shouldn't hold back so many reservations. Believe it or not, even if your identity were exposed, and even if Hou Xiaochen tried to stop them, at least Golden Spear and Mad Saber would rescue you with absolute certainty if they could!" "Not for any other reason, but because you, Li Hao, are the peerless prodigy of this generation's Silver Moon martial world. Just like your master—he killed so many people back then, so why do you think he remained unscathed? Leaving Silver Moon aside, when he killed Thousand-Battler martial masters in the Central Region, many veteran Silver Moon martial masters stepped forward to support him and even fought on his behalf so Yuan Shuo could withdraw safely!" "Martial masters are selfish and cold-blooded... but martial masters also understand a fundamental truth: every era needs a vanguard!" Southern Fist spoke solemnly: "Why is our generation of martial masters so strong, boasting so many powerhouses? Back then, anyone capable of breaking through your master's shackles was by no means weak. Your master was the benchmark of that era; breaking his shackles meant one could venture further... And the reason generations of martial masters could go further was precisely because they had such a vanguard, a benchmark of the era... Li Hao, don't you wish to become the martial benchmark of this era?" He didn't mince words, bluntly declaring that their generation of martial masters was the strongest! And Yuan Shuo accounted for seventy percent of the credit. Without Yuan Shuo serving as that benchmark to break through, even those who attained the Thousand-Battler realm would never have reached where they were today. Li Hao looked toward Hong Yitang... This man had never been defeated by his master, and he was formidable too! Hong Yitang laughed. "Why are you looking at me? Your master was indeed formidable. Truth be told, when he challenged me, I wasn't confident I could match him, so I chose to concede. Winning wouldn't have brought much honor, and losing would have been downright humiliating. He was also the one who pushed me into becoming stronger, or else... I couldn't afford to lose face! My own master hailed me as the greatest prodigy of the time. I stepped into the Thousand-Battler realm very early—I don't know whether Hou Xiaochen or I broke through first, but both of us did so very early on." "Therefore, when your master issued the challenge and I declined, it actually became a source of pressure, compelling me to keep moving forward. Otherwise, if I, a Thousand-Battler, had been defeated by your master, how could I have continued showing my face in the martial world?" Li Hao was somewhat surprised, but soon relieved. So Hong Yitang had already been a Thousand-Battler back then! The greatest prodigy... Hou Xiaochen was also said to have advanced to Thousand-Battler early on. These individuals had reached the realm far ahead of others and were even more formidable than his master. Yet under the pressure of his master—the pressure exerted by a mere Hundred-Breaker—these Thousand-Battlers had felt immense strain. One could only imagine how arrogant and domineering the Five Animals Beast King had been in those days. Yuan Shuo, with his five forces fused, had indeed been terrifying. Two powerful martial masters were now instructing Yuan Shuo's apprentice in his stead. Originally, these duties should have belonged to Yuan Shuo. Had Yuan Shuo not left, Li Hao wouldn't have lacked these insights and experiences; Yuan Shuo would have imparted them step by step. Unfortunately, he had not had sufficient time to teach him. To prevent Li Hao from straying down the wrong path, both martial masters now hoped to guide him forward using their own hard-won experience. Li Hao now also gained a tangible, heartfelt appreciation for Silver Moon martial masters—the older generation of martial artists. After some thought, he ventured, "Do both martial uncles mean... I'm sometimes too calm?" "Correct!" Southern Fist laughed. "A martial master should be brimming with hot blood! Look at the soldiers of the Battle Heaven Army: they're dead now, but when they lived, their blood was probably boiling, their hearts filled with conviction and purpose! When truly slaughtering the enemy, they never waste a thought on leaving themselves a way out! You, Li Hao, aren't even afraid of dying, yet you dread this and fear that. What on earth are you afraid of?" "Even if you made the whole world your enemy, so what?" "Your sword drives forward without hesitation, but your character... well, that's up for debate!" Southern Fist grinned. Hong Yitang nodded slightly as well. "Weighing gains and losses, knowing when to advance and retreat—these are good traits. We aren't saying they're wrong. When your master encountered powerful foes, he knew to flee and knew when to fear. Nobody is truly fearless, and nobody is foolish enough to court death for nothing... However, as long as you have thirty percent certainty, you can give it a shot. At fifty percent, it's an even split between victory and defeat. Yet you insist on pursuing eighty or ninety percent certainty. You demand far too much perfection!" Li Hao drank a cup of wine and sank into deep thought. Was that true? To be honest, he hadn't felt that way himself, but hearing it now, it seemed entirely accurate. Perhaps... it came down to experience and background. He hadn't been walking the martial path for very long. Li Hao had always preferred hiding a trump card in front of others, afraid of exposing his bottom line completely. This was a habit born from the vigilance he had maintained over the past year or so. Thus, before others, he tended to be somewhat reserved, deliberately holding back thirty percent of his power when striking, fearing that others might see through him. Last time, when he slaughtered the six Three Sols experts, he had fought with unbridled exhilaration because he knew that once everyone present was dead, the problem vanished. But this time, knowing that powerful figures were nearby and that he couldn't kill everyone, Li Hao had chosen to hold back thirty percent, not daring to be too conspicuous. Killing Xie Gang just now had clearly lacked the sheer thrill of dispatching those six Three Sols, and had felt even less satisfying than finishing off Yu Xiao and Huang Jie. In hindsight, it had indeed felt somewhat timid. Had he been left to himself, Li Hao wouldn't have dwelled on it. Now, having been called out by the two of them, thoughts churned in his mind. As he pondered... Seeing him lost in thought, Southern Fist said with a headache, "Stop analyzing how to answer every single time you speak. Just be a bit more natural, even a bit thoughtless. Nothing bad will happen if you say the wrong thing; no one's going to blame you! A twenty-year-old living like a sixty- or seventy-year-old—that bastard Yuan Shuo really was unreliable in teaching you!" Li Hao felt exceedingly awkward. "Enough, as long as you understand. With Old Hong and me here, just treat everyone outside as already dead, as people who won't make it out alive... Do as you please. If someone actually manages to walk out alive... we'll deal with that when it happens!" Li Hao nodded. "In other words, from now on, I should assume none of them will make it out. So it doesn't matter how much I reveal—dead men tell no tales, right?" That was precisely the mindset he had held when dealing with the Three Sols. "Right!" Hong Yitang chuckled. "If changing your mindset immediately is too difficult, then just think of it that way! That way, your punches and sword strikes will be far more uninhibited. You definitely won't end up like just now—watching you execute Nine-Fold Forging Force was agonizing to behold!" That feeling was like wilting halfway through making love—suffocatingly frustrating, making one itch to step in and take over! "Why couldn't your Nine-Fold Forging Force condense its force? It wasn't just because your opponent was mediocre and reinforcements arrived too quickly; your own psychological state played a part. Next time, find an early Rising Light and focus entirely on fighting him with single-minded devotion. You don't necessarily have to rely on Nine-Fold Forging Force; even without it, you'll gain insights... I believe your force will inevitably take form!" Hong Yitang concluded, "Do you know why I showed you that sword strike at the end? It was to show you... in conduct and character, be grand and magnificent! If that doesn't work, being overbearing and cold-blooded like Southern Fist works too! Your talent is exceptional—the bloodline of the Eight Great Families is one aspect, and your comprehension of force is another. We truly can't bear to see you go to waste on the martial path..." With Li Hao being as formidable as he was, Earth-Overturning Sword had actually uttered the words "go to waste." And Southern Fist appeared to agree wholeheartedly. Clearly, neither of them approved of Li Hao's current style of conduct. With Li Hao's temperament, if outsiders disapproved, he wouldn't have cared... but in martial arts, he truly was a late starter. Now that seniors were willing to offer guidance, he was eager to learn with an open mind. In an area where he wasn't adept, it paid to heed the experiential wisdom of these elders. Seeing that Li Hao didn't offer any counterarguments, the two exchanged glances and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This kid truly was gifted. They had simply found it unbearable to watch, which was why Hong Yitang had insisted on waiting for Li Hao to arrive before delivering that final sword strike; otherwise, before Green Moon and the rest could have seen anything, the battle would have ended long before. Now it seemed that strike hadn't gone to waste. Having concluded the lesson, Hong Yitang dropped the topic and smiled cheerfully. "Killing Yellow Moon yielded a good deal of military merit. I now have thirty-five points, a full ten-point increase. Old He, you have less than me now, don't you?" Southern Fist scoffed, saying nothing. He did have less; he was only at thirty-one points now, up from twenty-eight. Evidently, in dealing with Yellow Moon, even though he hadn't landed the finishing blow, he had still earned military merit—and quite a bit, three whole points. This meant that military merit did not strictly require landing the killing blow. Li Hao checked his own data as well. Although he had removed his silver armor, it remained on his person, so its functions were unaffected. Li Hao glanced at his own... twenty-one points. It was lower than both of theirs, and by a substantial margin. Southern Fist was already at thirty-one, and Hong Yitang was at thirty-five, pulling ahead significantly. Slaying Xie Gang had only netted him two points of military merit. Early and mid Three Sols seemed to yield only one point, while late and peak Three Sols appeared to award two. Li Hao didn't understand the system completely; in any case, he would take whatever it gave. Li Hao didn't mention his military merit, instead remarking, "The city must be in chaos by now. With Yellow Moon dead, Red Moon will surely be thrown into a panic. On top of that, so many supers have died—together, we've slain twenty to thirty Three Sols and over a hundred Solar Flares... Now that everyone has pulled back, a single glance will reveal how many are missing. Ambushes probably won't work anymore." "Even though so many have died, the enemy remains powerful... Senior martial uncles, do you have any good ideas for dealing with them?" Hong Yitang shook his head. "No grand strategies. Just one principle: adapt to whatever comes! Fight if we can. To be honest, even if the Battle Heaven Army truly collapses, what of it? Can those people actually take the city? Don't forget, there are even stronger existences within the city! We haven't explored the entire military camp yet; who knows if there are more powerhouses? Those red armors aren't necessarily weak—as an inspectorate corps, they might only take the field at the very end..." Li Hao nodded. "Then I won't overthink it either. Just as both martial uncles said, I'll find an opportunity, pick an early Rising Light, and fight him head-on with everything I've got! If I can comprehend Water Force this time, it'll count as a success. If I get lucky and master Wood Force as well, then I'll have nothing left to complain about..." Southern Fist said regretfully, "It's a pity neither of us knows the Willow Catkin Sword!" Li Hao paused, startled. "What do you mean?" "You don't know the Willow Catkin Sword? That's normal; the art has been lost. That sword technique is actually well-suited for comprehending Wood Force. It doesn't guarantee Wood Force—different people attain different insights—but it would grant you at least some comprehension regarding Wood Force." Li Hao's heart stirred. "Um... I know it!" "What?" "I know the Willow Catkin Sword. Martial Uncle He, can it really help me comprehend Wood Force?" Southern Fist fell silent, merely staring at Hong Yitang as if to say: *Damn it, this guy doesn't just have talent; his luck is ridiculous too.* Indeed, for a descendant of the Eight Great Families to survive this long without dying, his fortune was truly first-rate. Hong Yitang said nothing more on the subject, standing up. "Alright, if you know it, all the better. Figure it out yourself. We won't meddle in your specific training, lest Yuan Shuo accuse us of teaching you nonsense. We're only offering suggestions; after all, we aren't your master." With that, he smiled. "Let's head back. Ambushes are pointless now. Next, charge alongside the army a few times, and you'll experience something different. In the past, martial masters liked enlisting in the army to slaughter alongside the ranks; that was how Hundred-Breakers and Thousand-Battlers were forged. Otherwise, where would you find so many people to charge against? Hone yourself slowly. You have a great deal left to learn—not just combat strength, but other things as well!" Li Hao nodded hurriedly. He sighed with feeling. "An elder in the family is like a treasure in the house. Both martial uncles are truly kindhearted!" "..." The two couldn't be bothered to respond. They didn't appreciate the phrasing. *You're the old one!* We martial masters never admit to being old. Li Hao added, "Martial Uncle Southern Fist said I can speak freely and even be thoughtless without consequence. You won't take offense, will you, senior martial uncles?" "..." Southern Fist rolled his eyes, ignoring him. Donning his black armor, he said, "Kid, don't get too arrogant! I served the imperial family for many years and know far more than you. The imperial family places great emphasis on martial arts. Among today's imperial family, several princes and princesses are formidable experts. They enjoy the best teachers and the best resources, and their instructors aren't just one or two individuals, but an entire team. Several of those princes and princesses possess terrifying strength!" "Even I can't guarantee victory against them!" "The imperial family has kept a very low profile. Ever since the Nine Departments forced their abdication, they've bided their time, yet they have been quietly accumulating strength all along." "Also, don't underestimate the Nine Departments!" Having fully donned his black armor, he smirked. "The Nine Departments managed to force the mighty imperial family to abdicate. What do you think they relied on? Righteousness? Sentimentality? That's all bullshit—they relied on sheer strength! As early as eighty years ago, the Nine Departments possessed formidable power. What they've revealed today is merely the tip of the iceberg... Did you really think the Nine Departments rule the dynasty using scholars? Have people like Hou Xiaochen endured all these years only because they dare not openly rebel?" Li Hao manifested his silver armor as well, asking curiously, "Why is everyone so secretive?" "A bunch of old fogies—many like us, caught in an awkward limbo between high and low. If they make a move, it's painful! If they don't, they can only take the beatings and play the obedient grandson. That's one reason. The second is that the Nine Departments, the Three Great Organizations, and the imperial family all likely share certain secrets. Actually, I know a few too, but I'm not telling you; there's no point." *Then keep your mouth shut!* Li Hao was speechless and didn't bother asking. Earlier, Deputy Director Zhou had also put on an air of *I know many secrets, come ask me*, and Li Hao hadn't asked him either. Now, the same thing was happening again. *Suit yourself!* Hong Yitang merely chuckled, completely unbothered. He pushed open the door and stepped out, pulling it shut behind him. Walking toward the inner city, he said, "Don't listen to his nonsense. The main reason lies elsewhere. It involves the struggle between the Nine Departments and the imperial family, as well as the power struggles with the surrounding provinces. It's essentially a reshuffling process. Many people want to eliminate the competition... and some even want to elevate a true Human King!" "People's hearts are divided, and popular support isn't strong enough. Certain individuals are deliberately orchestrating wars and crises to make the common people endure hardship, while concealing their own strength and feigning weakness before their rivals, hoping to emerge victorious in the end and become the sole hegemon of this dynasty! Right now, the Nine Departments, the imperial family, and the provincial factions form three major forces. The Three Great Organizations merely survived by riding the coattails of ambitious figures. Otherwise, did you think it was that easy to gain a foothold in the early days?" A Human King? Li Hao chuckled. "A Human King?" "Indeed." "Isn't that wishful thinking?" Li Hao smiled. "I know the ancient civilization had a Human King, terrifying beyond measure. Could such an existence really be born in this day and age?" "The present is not necessarily inferior to the past. Take it one step at a time, Li Hao. Don't assume that modern people are puny just because you've seen glimpses of ancient might. Don't look at it that way—everything remains unknown!" Hong Yitang continued, "If you think like that, why practice martial arts, strive to transcend, or seek the Dao at all? If you've already decided the ancients are stronger than you and impossible to surpass, and since the ancient civilization perished anyway, what's the point of cultivating? Everyone dies—dying now is death, dying later is death, so why bother seeking the Dao? Was your master insane to insist on pursuing the Spirit Nourishing martial path?" "The ancients were strong, that cannot be denied. Compared to them, we are mere toddlers learning to walk. But you must realize: in just twenty years of development, supers have already given rise to beings who may surpass Rising Light. If twenty years isn't enough to surpass the ancients, what about thirty? Forty? Or even a hundred or two hundred years?" "If the goal of modern people isn't to surpass the ancients... then our existence holds little value!" Li Hao came to an abrupt halt, staring at Hong Yitang. Hong Yitang didn't stop walking. "Your master isn't here, or... he'd give you a slap! Believe it or not, in Yuan Shuo's heart, he thinks he's greater than the ancients and will surpass them sooner or later. Otherwise, why would he adapt the Five Animals Art? Did you think the Five Animals Art he unearthed was incomplete? No, it was definitely complete; he simply believed he could create something even more powerful! Learn from the ancients, extract the essence and discard the dross—imitate first, match them second, and surpass them in the end... That is the path of modern men!" Li Hao nodded solemnly. Indeed, deep down, he had believed the present was inferior to the past. He had witnessed mightier existences—the ancestor's single sword stroke, the Sovereign who wrote the Battle Heaven characters, the peerless slaughter of the figure who might have been the Human King... Consequently, he had always felt modern people were weak. Yet... were future generations truly incapable of surpassing them? He thought of his master. Hong Yitang said that if his master were here, he would slap him... Would he? Perhaps! He recalled when his master had witnessed that wisp of sword energy pierce clean through his palm. He couldn't remember every detail of his master's reaction that day, but he vaguely recalled the progression: first lingering dread, then alarm... followed by excitement! Sheer exhilaration! A kind of *I knew there were stronger existences, I knew there was a greater path* elation. That thrill had been so profound that his master had refused to let Li Hao heal him, preserving the bloody hole until it healed on its own. At this moment, Li Hao felt deeply that he was inferior to his master. Of course, an instant later, he rallied his spirits! Presently, he was inferior to many people—Hong Yitang, Southern Fist, Hou Xiaochen... who among them wasn't stronger than him? Who among them wasn't more resilient? Who among them didn't think further ahead or know more? Yet... I am still young! My journey has only just begun. Strictly speaking, it had been less than three months since he started! As long as he progressed step by step, he would eventually surpass them all one by one. Li Hao's spirits soared in an instant. *Yes, I can do it too—first surpass everyone around me, then surpass the ancients, then the ancestors, the Sovereign, and the Human King...* This trip to Battle Heaven City felt increasingly like an immense harvest. Not in terms of combat strength, but a metamorphosis of his state of mind, an emotional maturity, a deeper comprehension of the martial path, and a redefined orientation for his life's goals. In this moment, Li Hao was undergoing continuous transformation. No one was born invincible, and no one was born a flawless sage... He had far too many flaws, yet right here and now, he was improving step by step. Li Hao now mingled with the two men with the mindset of a student. These veteran martial masters all possessed shining qualities worthy of emulation. ... When the three silver commanders saw Li Hao again, they vaguely sensed a difference. The commander of the Seventh Regiment cast a puzzled glance at Li Hao. "Commander Li, well done... However, why do you feel somewhat different?" "Learning brings progress!" Li Hao's divine intent rippled as he humbly sought advice. "Elder brothers, as a member of the Battle Heaven Army, if an army battle or a charge breaks out shortly, is there anything I should pay attention to?" The Seventh Commander's voice sounded somewhat mechanical: "Charge! Charge until the enemy ceases to exist! Do not retreat, do not flee. Trust the companions beside you, trust your comrades, trust your fellow soldiers! Your enemies are only those before your eyes... As long as your comrades remain at your flanks, pay them no heed! The Battle Heaven Army is a force worthy of your complete trust... Eras may change, but people remain people, and comrades remain comrades... That will never change!" Li Hao nodded, unsure how much he had truly absorbed. The Seventh Commander gazed into the distance at the supers on the square, suddenly remarking, "If their hearts were united, they could surely breach our defenses. Alas... this is why, since ancient times, victory has always belonged to the unified side! Even in our era, when peerless powerhouses like the Human King arose, it was the same. They were not born invincible; they ascended step by step over the corpses of their foes. Had the Human King stood alone, he might not have reached the pinnacle, for he had a host of trustworthy companions. When hearts are united, a hundred battles bring a hundred victories!" With that, he abruptly raised the longsword in his hand, his voice tinged with a touch of emotion: "Therefore... as a recruit, if battle breaks out shortly, you may observe and watch first... I will teach you how to be a true soldier! True soldiers are invincible... Even if they fall, they fall to superior might, never to broken resolve!" Li Hao nodded heavily. He felt more and more that the greatest gains from this expedition did not stem from martial power, but from the philosophies of these ancient and modern men. Having grown up in the small town of Silver City, Li Hao had stepped out into the wider world, witnessed all of this, and was rapidly shifting his perspectives. ... At the same time. On the square, large numbers of rogue cultivators began retreating. Only when they noticed that several powerful figures were missing did panic start spreading. Far too many people were gone! Over by Red Moon, Green Moon looked terribly grim. Showing no emotion depended on the circumstances. Now that even Yellow Moon was dead, how could she not feel shock and fury? Lanyue and Purple Moon remained silent as well. All three leader-level figures wore grave, heavy expressions. What on earth had happened? Just then, Xu Feng retreated to the square and spoke up: "When I rushed over earlier, I saw a black-armored warrior kill someone. The victim was Yama's Xie Gang. The assailant possessed formidable strength and likely used... a martial secret art!" Xu Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. "I suspect a powerful martial master donned the black armor to conceal his tracks and deliberately slaughter people!" Nearby, Hou Xiaochen glanced at him, not bothering to respond. *Idiot!* Why bring that up right now? To sow panic? Even if you knew, there was no need to say it aloud. Voicing it wouldn't make you look clever; it would only destabilize people's morale, causing rogue cultivators to panic and eye everyone around them with suspicion. These powerhouses from the Central Region were still far too green! Sure enough, at his words, several rogue cultivators grew visibly unsettled, casting strange, suspicious glances at the martial masters beside them. Beside Xu Feng, the elderly man frowned slightly, stepped forward, and transmitted his voice: "Young Master, let us await the decisions of the Three Great Organizations and the Silver Moon authorities. We need not concern ourselves with this for now." Xu Feng glanced at the old man, frowned slightly, and nodded. The old man said no more. Hou Xiaochen cast another glance at the old man, smiled, and looked away. Golden Spear eyed the old man with suspicion, finding him somewhat familiar yet unable to place him for the moment. Frowning, he sank back into thoughts of Earth-Overturning Sword and Southern Fist, paying him no further attention. Chief Steward Yu sent a voice transmission to Hou Xiaochen: "Director, that man... feels familiar, yet somewhat strange. Did he come out of Silver Moon?" "Yes." "The Director knows who he is?" "Mm. Better left unsaid, though. He's very strong—exercise caution. He may have his own reasons for aligning with the Xu family. Since he disguised his appearance, he probably doesn't want old acquaintances like us to recognize him... Let's spare him the embarrassment!" Hearing this, Chief Steward Yu pressed no further, though her thoughts raced. *Very strong*—coming from the Director's mouth, that meant the man was truly formidable. And a pure martial master at that. For a pure martial master to reach such heights, he ought to be an old acquaintance. She pondered... and made a guess. Could it be Northern Fist? Surely not? Northern Fist was such a mighty, proud figure—how could he lower himself to serve as a retainer to the Xu family? If not Northern Fist, then who? Name after name flashed through Chief Steward Yu's mind, yet she couldn't pinpoint him. In broad strokes, there were only so many candidates; if so... he truly was an old acquaintance. ... In the distance. The old man glanced over in their direction. Seeing Chief Steward Yu look his way multiple times, he gave a slight nod without speaking. He merely followed quietly behind Xu Feng, a hint of complex emotion lurking deep within his eyes. Silver Moon... things and people truly change with time. He looked back toward the city, feeling a pang of nostalgia. *Earth-Overturning Sword, Southern Fist... can neither of you bear the loneliness either?* First Yuan Shuo left Silver Moon, then Hou Xiaochen slew a Rising Light, followed by Jade Rakshasa stepping forward, Golden Spear appearing, Mad Saber showing himself, and now Earth-Overturning Sword and Southern Fist taking action one after another. In the Central Region, Heavenly Sword and Tyrant Saber seemed to be on a killing spree as well... Jade Light Sword lagged slightly behind, unsure whether she could catch up. Yuan Shuo went without saying—he certainly would. Jade Light Sword was overly stubborn, but her mind was simple; with Yuan Shuo guiding her, she might catch up very quickly as well. What about Golden Spear? He glanced toward Golden Spear, who seemed lost in his own world. Had he been shaken by the blow? A faint smile surfaced deep in the old man's eyes. *Serves you right!* *Back then, you insisted on taking shortcuts. If you had shattered Yuan Shuo's shackles on your own, would you be merely comparable to an early Rising Light today? You just had to believe Hou Xiaochen's nonsense... Whether you can shatter the shackles in your own heart—or shatter the shackles Hou Xiaochen placed upon you—depends entirely on yourself, Golden Spear.* Hou Xiaochen was stronger than Yuan Shuo. If Golden Spear could break through that, he would ascend to a higher level, turning a misfortune into a blessing. A moment later, he looked toward the distant wall. A silver figure had appeared there—likely the black-armored warrior Xu Feng had seen killing people... a martial master... All sorts of thoughts welled up. *Battle Heaven City, Eight Great Families... could it be that disciple of Yuan Shuo's?* A touch of nostalgia surfaced in the old man's eyes, quickly suppressed. He cast one final look at Xu Feng. Easily acquired power was simply too difficult to master; having smooth sailing all the way was not necessarily a good thing. Hopefully, Battle Heaven City would serve as the catalyst for his transformation. Without undergoing a metamorphosis, he would never be able to contend with the true elite. Even as a super, the path to transcending limits was not closed. The true elites of the Central Region, despite being supers, were foes even Heavenly Sword and his peers dared not underestimate in the slightest. Energy was merely a tool—how one wielded it was what truly mattered. At this moment, the old man radiated a subtly different aura. In the distance, Golden Spear—still immersed in his thoughts—suddenly snapped his head around, looking at the old man once more. This time, an extra layer of emotion flickered across his face as he stared at the elder in sheer disbelief! He stared for several beats, wanting to speak, but ultimately held his tongue. Hou Xiaochen glanced that way as well, smiled, and turned back. Kong Jie stroked his chin, casting a half-smiling glance at the old man as though having figured something out, crossing his arms with an amused expression of someone watching a good show. This place was growing more and more intriguing! Old Hou making Battle Heaven City public had actually done a good deed, bringing together so many old friends. If Heavenly Sword, Tyrant Saber, and Yuan Shuo were dragged here too, along with Huang Yu and the rest... haha, that would be truly entertaining—a full reunion of the Silver Moon martial world! Pity Eyebrow-Level Staff had been beaten to death. That murderer Yuan Shuo had better stay far away; how many old friends had he already slaughtered? At this moment, these powerhouses didn't seem particularly anxious or terrified over Yellow Moon's death. What was there to fear? They had seen far crueler things. It was merely the death of a Heavenly Mountain Goddess. She hadn't even made the Thirty-Six Heroes list; dead was dead, and her life was worth less than Eyebrow-Level Staff's. On the day Eyebrow-Level Staff died, they had mourned for a time. In their hearts, they hadn't spared Yuan Shuo from curses: *That bastard went around killing indiscriminately again!* Right now, they didn't think much of it. Slain by the combined efforts of Earth-Overturning Sword and Southern Fist, the Heavenly Mountain Goddess should have felt honored. Even if Ying Hongyue were here, he couldn't find fault with it. While the powerhouses were lost in their own thoughts... In the distance, Equality King spoke in a deep voice: "We can't delay any longer. We must join forces, launch a frontal assault, and take them down! Otherwise, give up completely and wait out the three days to leave the ruins!" If this dragged on, their numbers would only dwindle, and the danger would only escalate. The Rising Light experts had already caught the scent of impending peril. "Director Hou, do you have any thoughts?" Hou Xiaochen was utterly placid. "None. If we join forces, we proceed according to the previous plan. If you don't wish to join forces, each camp can fend for itself and find its own way into the inner city. You have the greater numbers; you call the shots!" The others cursed him roundly in their hearts! They truly wished they could throw caution to the wind and eliminate this bastard first. He always wore that calm, breezy expression, acting as if he were infinitely capable! A moment later, Green Moon gritted her teeth. "Then let us seize the moment and take them down! If we can't take them down, or if someone slacks off... then we withdraw!" Yellow Moon's death had rattled her composure. Hou Xiaochen smiled and nodded. At this moment, he was genuinely curious: what were Li Hao and his two companions planning to do? Perhaps he would find out soon enough. Those fellows had disrupted his plans again. And Hong Yitang... I really want to test your sword!