Unsheathing the Sword!

A vast sea and boundless sky. The divine boat streaked across the water. Looking out upon this far wider expanse, Li Hao felt completely refreshed and clear-headed. Unlike the Moon Sea, where coastlines were visible on both flanks, making it feel rather narrow despite being called a sea, the North Sea stretched endlessly beyond the horizon. Li Hao stood at the prow, gazing into the distance in every direction. This was the North Sea. The dynasty's heartland—the Central Region—was encircled by water on all four sides. The four seas to the east, south, west, and north carved the dynasty into two massive landmasses. Li Hao glanced south. That direction led to the central continent. Yet records from the Battle Heaven Army suggested that, in ancient times, that place might have merely been an island rather than any core continent. As Li Hao observed his surroundings, the little sword in his hand danced lightly. It drifted with the wind like willow catkins. His swordsmanship favored lightness and agility. The divine boat sped onward. Far in the distance, Li Hao faintly discerned clusters of light. Though distant, they were close enough for him to spot, meaning they were not truly that far away. The small vessel darted toward the lights. Moments later, a merchant vessel came into view. There appeared to be people on deck. Li Hao swept his gaze over it. Seeing they were not pirates, he did not bother lingering. The small boat cleaved through the water and vanished. Someone on the deck seemed to catch a fleeting glimpse of something, but could not see clearly. In the cities, another sensational rumor would likely spread about a giant fish emerging at night in the deep sea, darting as swiftly as a shuttle. …… Soon, the small boat surged ahead. Another ship appeared. Outwardly it seemed no different from a merchant vessel, yet inside it was packed with supernaturals. A single sweep revealed two Three Suns and nearly a hundred supernaturals. At sea, ninety-nine percent of such crews were pirates. There was a slim chance it was a terrestrial military unit suppressing pirates... but that was exceedingly rare! Li Hao kicked off the deck and leaped into the air. In an instant, he traversed the void and landed atop the large ship. His ears twitched slightly, listening to the conversations within. A moment later, he confirmed their identities: they were indeed pirates. The next instant, sword light flared! *Boom!* A deafening roar echoed as the cabins blew apart. A swarm of supernaturals shouted in alarm, and the Three Suns bellowed in rage as sword light illuminated the sky. "Who are you? What grievance do you hold against us?" one Three Suns roared. "We belong to the Sea-Breaking Army..." The so-called Sea-Breaking Army was merely a fig leaf for the Sea-Breaking Pirates, one of the eight major pirate crews. Li Hao swung his sword, sending a head flying into the air. "Five Animals Sect, Li Hao!" Li Hao chuckled lightly and brought his sword down. In every direction, the pirates exploded into gore! The Three Suns who had just spoken had already lost his head. In the blink of an eye, every supernatural on the ship was wiped out completely. Reaching out, he snatched several storage rings into his grasp. Not bothering to search further, he did a quick check to ensure no living souls remained, then drove his sword straight through the hull. Water instantly surged in, and the vessel began to sink. Li Hao paid it no more mind. Stepping into the air, he returned to the divine boat. It had not taken long at all. When injustice crossed his path, drawing his sword swept away a thousand troubles. He did not like pirates. For a martial master, what was liked was liked, and what was disliked was made to disappear through one's own means. After leaving Silver Moon, Li Hao seemed far more uninhibited. "Time to go!" Seeing the dog still playing in the water with a pirate who had leaped overboard, Li Hao called out. A faint grin seemed to appear on the dog's face. It swiped a paw to crush the life out of the last pirate, splashed several times, and swam back onto the boat. The small vessel continued its sprint while the large ship behind them slowly sank into the depths. A hundred-man detachment from one of the eight major pirate crews, led by Three Suns experts, thus vanished into the boundless sea within moments. Li Hao sped along his way. Whenever he spotted a pirate ship along the route, he would stop and slaughter them outright. As for finding the Bright Light Sword... this was also a method. Perhaps if he killed enough people, the Bright Light Sword would reveal herself. Dawn had arrived. At sea, sunrise was extraordinarily breathtaking. A crimson sun seemed to rise straight out of the ocean, bathing the entire expanse in brilliant red. Li Hao looked into the distance, his brow slightly furrowed. It had been about three hours since he entered these waters. The Giant Kun Divine Boat was exceptionally fast, having covered at least a thousand li by now. Yet he still had not caught sight of the Bright Light Sword. Li Hao was also worried about missing her; the ocean was simply too vast. If she was traveling along a different corridor, Li Hao might not be able to spot her. He could see clusters of light. In an open area without obstructions, he could even detect a Rising Light's aura from ten thousand meters away. But ten thousand meters was only twenty li. In the middle of this vast sea, twenty li was far too narrow a window. "Finding her won't be easy!" Li Hao sighed and turned to the dog. "Black Panther, catch any scent?" Black Panther twitched its nose and shook its head. Even its sense of smell had limits. Locating someone in this boundless sea was truly no simple task. *Perhaps... I can capture a powerhouse and ask.* Li Hao mused. In the North Sea, the eight major pirate crews possessed extensive intelligence networks and ought to know where the Bright Light Sword was. However, none of the eight major pirate crews were easy to provoke. *Or maybe a large merchant caravan, a trading group...* There were also numerous maritime merchant fleets at sea. They transported goods from the Central Region out to the peripheries and shipped rare treasures from the frontiers back to the center. Crossing the four seas, their business was vast, and powerful factions backed them. These people were also well-informed. Moreover, those who traveled the seas generally maintained decent relations with the pirates. Some merchant fleets might be traders one moment and pirates the next—or so the records left behind by Golden Spear and the others claimed. Otherwise, Li Hao would never have known such nuances. Searching for someone across the boundless sea remained difficult. Still, with a plan in mind, Li Hao picked up speed. In the blink of an eye, he covered another hundred li. Ahead, three ships appeared, though it was unclear whether they belonged to a merchant fleet or pirates. Drawing closer to sense them, he judged they were likely a merchant fleet. Pirates had an obvious trait: there were no ordinary people aboard their ships. Even if pirates trained newcomers, they did not do so aboard their ships; they had bases, either on islands or along the coast. Merchant ships also had supernatural escorts, but not in great numbers. A flag fluttered atop the lead merchant vessel ahead. Li Hao was, after all, a vice director of the Night Patrollers now, so he recognized the more prominent banners. A single glance was enough to tell him it was the Gold Coin Flag of the Finance Department, one of the Nine Departments. A merchant fleet of the Finance Department? Li Hao recalled the young man from the Liu family who had been killed previously; he had hailed from the Finance Department. Though that had little to do with Li Hao—it had been Qi Gang and Hu Qingfeng who killed him. Each of the Nine Departments possessed its own independent banner. Of course, there was also the dynasty's Heavenly Star Flag, but that flag had not flown for many years. There was actually a Three Suns expert holding down the fort on this ship. It seemed the Finance Department's strength was quite formidable. With that in mind, Li Hao stepped into the air and flew toward the large ship in the distance. A young man in his thirties aboard the ship glanced around, his expression suddenly shifting. Dawn had already broken, allowing the young man to immediately spot the powerhouse soaring through the sky toward them. No aura was leaking from him! He was either a peak martial master or a Rising Light powerhouse. "Who goes there? We are the Four Seas Corporation under the Finance Department, directly subordinate to the Nine Departments..." *Boom!* Even as the young man spoke, Li Hao touched down on the deck. The young man's face drained of color. Instantly, more than a dozen supernaturals gathered, filled with intense vigilance and anxiety. Who possessed the audacity to attack a merchant fleet of the Four Seas Corporation? At that moment, Li Hao produced a medallion in his palm. "Senior City Inspecting Commissioner of the Night Patrollers..." "Audacious!" Hearing that he was a Night Patroller, one of the supernaturals bellowed, "A mere Night Patroller dares trespass upon a Four Seas Corporation merchant vessel? Which department are you from?" Li Hao froze for a moment, then chuckled. "Cowering like mice before pirates, yet acting bold and mighty against the Night Patrollers!" With those words, he kicked out! *Rumble!* With a thunderous crash, the man was sent flying across the deck, slamming violently into the planks. Li Hao then turned to the young leader. The young man had just opened his mouth to speak when a flash of sword light gleamed. Cold sweat drenched the young man from head to toe as strands of his hair began falling out one by one. "People say the Nine Departments and the Three Great Organizations are cut from the same cloth. I didn't believe it before, but now... you aren't much different." Li Hao said this because the young man had looked ready to strike. Once Li Hao revealed his identity as a Night Patroller, the other party had actually seemed poised to attack. Yet before Li Hao revealed his identity, this fellow had been trembling with apprehension. This was a merchant fleet subordinate to the Nine Departments? They felt even worse than the pirates! The young man swallowed hard. "City Inspecting Commissioner... I..." "Save your breath. Have you received any news? The Bright Light Sword is being hunted down and has reportedly entered the North Sea region. Do you know her exact location?" The young man was startled, deeply shocked internally. What was this about? Inquiring about the Bright Light Sword meant this person was undeniably formidable. Was he a peak martial master? Or a peak Rising Light powerhouse? Yet could such a figure merely be a City Inspecting Commissioner? He did not dare say anything more and hurried to answer, "Two hours ago, we received word telling us to steer clear..." "What channel do you use to communicate?" The young man paused again, hesitating briefly before producing a jade pendant. "This is a message jade pendant excavated from an ancient civilization. It was put into use several years ago. All the major organizations and agencies... have them." Puzzled, he cast a covert glance at Li Hao. Could this man... be an impostor? With this level of strength, there was no reason for him not to know about this. "This message jade pendant can transmit messages across three thousand li. Currently, every organization or agency can achieve rapid response because within a certain area, there is always a message relay station... Messages can be forwarded to a specific person or broadcast on a large scale. However, it takes a bit of time, and sometimes the relay station might not receive the message promptly..." Li Hao took the jade pendant, somewhat surprised. *Is that so?* *Such methods exist?* He genuinely had not known about this. No wonder certain pieces of news spread so swiftly. For instance, when a battle erupted in the Eastern Region, Silver Moon received word in under five hours. Even the swiftest couriers could never match that speed. The ancient civilization... truly was remarkable. Of course, one could see as much just from the armors. Li Hao took the pendant and examined it. Small characters appeared to be displayed on its surface. Seeing Li Hao's interest, the young man explained nervously, "This type of message jade pendant can only store ten messages due to limited internal engraving space. When a new message arrives, it displays automatically. If you wish to send a message back, there is a red button on the pendant; pressing it and inputting the information will transmit it to the nearest relay station." It was not terribly convenient, but it was far superior to modern communication devices. Li Hao inspected it. Indeed, several messages were stored inside. The most recent one was from two hours ago. *"The Bright Light Sword has entered the North Sea. Powerhouses from all quarters are in pursuit, and a grand battle is imminent. All personnel in the North Sea, steer clear. The Bright Light Sword is formidable, and her pursuers are numerous..."* She had already entered the North Sea two hours ago! Li Hao quickly recalled the map of the North Sea. The North Sea stretched across a vast expanse. Entering from the east, the Bright Light Sword could have flown a thousand li in two hours at most. Meanwhile, he himself had covered about a thousand li into the North Sea. Calculating it this way, the distance between them remained quite considerable. The North Sea did not merely run from Silver Moon to the East Sea; even past Silver Moon, it was still the North Sea, only no longer bordering Silver Moon. Even so, there was still a gap of at least three thousand li between them. Even if both Li Hao and the Bright Light Sword advanced at full speed, meeting would take another two to three hours. And that was assuming both moved continuously at full tilt, covering four to five hundred li an hour. "No wonder I couldn't find her..." Li Hao felt helpless. It would still take two to three hours. Factoring in the time already spent, the Bright Light Sword had been fleeing for nearly ten hours now, yet she was still alive. Under such circumstances, she might not be able to travel at full speed anymore. For him to rush over might take several more hours. While Li Hao checked the messages, cold sweat continued to drip down the young man's face as he covertly observed Li Hao. A Night Patroller... There were many Night Patroller branches in the vicinity. Linjiang, Beihai, Haiyue—it could be any of them. Which province's powerhouse was this man? Or was he merely using a false name? Li Hao examined the message jade pendant, then looked at him. "Can I borrow this?" "Of course!" The young man nodded vigorously. "If you need it, my lord, please take it." "Does this have tracking?" The young man paused, hesitated, and nodded. "Yes, though we cannot view it ourselves. Only... only certain relay stations have access to check." "If I want to inquire about intelligence, do I need a code, a specific opening, a password, or something similar?" The young man groaned inwardly, feeling deeply conflicted and not daring to answer. Losing a message jade pendant was nothing, but transmitting messages did indeed require specific cipher codes. This was precisely to prevent theft and unauthorized prying into Nine Departments secrets. Losing the pendant was a minor matter, but leaking the code was a grave offense! Li Hao seemed to understand and smiled. "What, the Night Patrollers can't even receive a bit of intelligence support?" "No, it's just... my lord, the Night Patroller system is slightly different from ours... I..." "Fine!" Li Hao did not press him. Looking at the surrounding supernaturals, he smiled faintly. "You haven't been acting as pirates, have you?" "Huh?" Li Hao said placidly, "You don't usually do what pirates do, do you?" The young man felt a chill in his heart, sensing an underlying danger, and shook his head repeatedly. "Absolutely not! We are, after all, a corporation under the Nine Departments, unlike the others. If word got out... ahem, we cannot bring shame upon the Nine Departments." "It doesn't really matter either way," Li Hao chuckled suddenly. "Those running trade on the high seas, whether merchant fleets or pirates... are essentially cut from the same cloth! Still, a corporation under the Nine Departments wouldn't stoop to plundering ordinary civilians along the coasts, right?" "How could we!" the young man replied hastily. "We have never done such a thing!" Li Hao said no more, turning to leave. Unable to hold back, and having just lost his message jade pendant, the young man cautiously asked, "May I dare inquire... your name, my lord...?" The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them; he should not have asked. Those who didn't know better might think he intended to seek revenge. He had no such intention. It was just a lost jade pendant; finding an excuse would suffice. Besides, he genuinely was no match for this man, so higher-ups wouldn't punish him harshly. Asking now... wouldn't that make things worse? Li Hao pondered for a moment, then smiled. "Silver Moon's Li Hao!" The young man froze as Li Hao stepped into the air and flew away. Silver Moon's Li Hao! The young man was stunned for a moment. Once the figure had completely vanished, his expression shifted drastically. "Silver Moon's Li Hao... Five Animals Sect disciple, Yuan Shuo's student, heir of the Eight Great Families..." How... how had this man come out? Wasn't he still in Silver Moon? The crucial point was not that, but rather a message about Li Hao stored inside that very jade pendant. His face instantly drained of color. He silently prayed Li Hao had not noticed it. In reality, Li Hao had seen it long ago and simply did not care. *"After the Four Seas Corporation enters Silver Moon Province and concludes its trade, remain in Silver Moon for a period to gather all intelligence regarding Silver Moon's Li Hao..."* Li Hao was not in the least surprised that the Nine Departments were keeping tabs on him. He would not even be surprised if the Nine Departments targeted him to seize the Li family's sword. Even if the Nine Departments intended to take direct action and execute him, Li Hao would not find it strange. Thus, the young man's worry about Li Hao discovering the message and seeking trouble was entirely superfluous. The young man stared in the direction Li Hao had departed, his eyes flickering. Beside him, someone could not help but grumble, "My lord, this Li Hao is far too arrogant. By the look of it, he seems to be heading to find the Bright Light Sword. Flaunting himself like this, he'll die a violent death sooner or later! There are plenty of people who want him dead..." The young man shot him a glare, frowning slightly, before finally saying after a long pause, "If the ones who boarded just now had been powerhouses from the Three Great Organizations or the eight major pirate crews... would you dare open your mouth right now?" "Huh?" The subordinate froze, bewildered. *Of course I wouldn't!* *How ruthless are those people?* Seeing this, the young man sighed inwardly and said no more. What Li Hao had said earlier was entirely accurate: people feared the Three Great Organizations and the eight major pirate crews, but strangely enough... they truly did not fear official authorities. Because they were subordinates of the Nine Departments! This was an everyday phenomenon. Against outlaw organizations, they were helpless; against official figures with names and ranks, they had myriad ways to strike back. However, one must not forget this person's other identity. Just as the young man turned to walk back, he abruptly added, "He is a Silver Moon martial master!" The man who had just spoken froze. Around him, several others paled slightly as well. They had almost forgotten that detail! This was a Silver Moon barbarian! He was no ordinary Night Patroller from the Central Region, but a savage from Silver Moon. There were also Silver Moon martial masters operating in the Central Region—like the Sky Sword, who killed without blinking. Then there was Yuan Shuo, whose fame had soared recently. Those were all ruthlessly vicious Silver Moon martial masters. And now, the Bright Light Sword, who had slain five Rising Lights with a single sword strike, was likewise a Silver Moon martial master. Evidently, the identity of a Silver Moon martial master carried far greater deterrence than that of a Night Patroller. In an instant, no one dared utter another word. Night Patrollers were easy to bully, but Silver Moon martial masters were not. …… The small vessel continued to cleave through the waters. Li Hao reflected on what had just transpired, scoffed softly, and shook his head. A few thoughts rose in his mind, only to be quickly dismissed. The Nine Departments... To be fair, life across the various regions remained passable today, and the adoption of modern technology had brought great convenience to the populace, allowing people to get by reasonably well. All of this was largely credited to the Nine Departments. Before being superseded by the Nine Departments, the imperial family had ruled the realm for a hundred and twenty years, during which governance had turned sour—heavy taxation, blatant disregard for human life, and endless royal malfeasance. Those had been truly bitter times. Therefore, toward the Nine Departments, though the people were far removed and understood little, they still harbored a degree of trust and gratitude. Yet the more Li Hao learned, the clearer it became that the Nine Departments had themselves become the dragon. Inaction was the greatest sin. Permitting supernaturals to run amok, allowing the Three Great Organizations to rise, and letting internal power struggles fester unchecked... Thoughts surfaced one after another, only to be promptly quelled. *None of this concerns me for now.* The urgent priorities were raising his strength and rescuing someone. Taking someone's money meant resolving their crisis; Li Hao understood this principle well enough. Now that he had an approximate location for the Bright Light Sword, Li Hao accelerated once more. The Giant Kun Divine Boat seemed almost airborne, cleaving the wind and riding the waves faster and faster. This was precisely what Li Hao found so immensely satisfying about this Origin God Armament—it was truly magnificent. …… Roughly a thousand li away from Li Hao. The Bright Light Sword let out a fierce cry and slashed out with her sword. With a deafening boom, a powerhouse blocking her path was blown to pieces. Spitting a mouthful of blood, she fled rapidly, her eyes filled with cold ferocity! The next instant, her ears twitched. She dove straight into the ocean and vanished within the blink of an eye. A moment later, powerhouses emerged from all directions. One of them inspected the scene and spoke calmly, "She is at her wit's end! Still, it is best not to press her too closely right now. Beware her dying counterattack!" "Heading in this direction, she might be trying to reach Silver Moon for help... But in Silver Moon, with Hou Xiaochen gone, who would save her?" "Intelligence has arrived: the key figures of Silver Moon are all still in place. In particular, Huang Yu of the military has never left White Moon City... There is nothing to worry about." "..." Powerhouses conversed with one another. Toward the rear, a middle-aged man cupped his hands to all sides. "The Wind-Chasing Boots are an ancestral heirloom of my Xu family. Whether you kill the Bright Light Sword, seize her treasures, or pursue other ends... none of that matters. My father has stated in advance: whoever retrieves the Wind-Chasing Boots, the Xu family is willing to offer ten thousand divine energy stones and one Origin God Armament in exchange. As for any other treasures on the Bright Light Sword's person, we will claim none of them!" "The Wind-Chasing Boots are a pair, and the Bright Light Sword only took one. If anyone else obtains it, you will have no way to use it; it would be nothing more than an ornament... The Duke of Dingguo's Residence will also remember your assistance with deep gratitude!" "Young Duke Xu is too polite!" Some responded with smiles, while others ignored him entirely. The price offered by the Xu family was hardly meager. In fact, it was exceptionally high! For rogue cultivators or those lacking the power to contest the Xu family, it was naturally an enticing deal. Ten thousand divine energy stones was something no one could turn down; with a bit of luck, they might just pick it up. Yet for large organizations and major agencies, seizing the Wind-Chasing Boots was the true prize. They had no need for what the Xu family offered. To reach the Rising Light realm and dare join the hunt for the Bright Light Sword—who among them was not a powerhouse? Who among them was not a top figure from their respective factions? At the rear of the crowd, the young duke of the Xu family was none other than the eldest son of the Duke of Dingguo: Xu Zhen, the father of Xu Feng. At this moment, the middle-aged man frowned deeply. Very few had responded favorably! *Damn it!* he cursed inwardly, feeling utterly helpless. Who could have foreseen that after severing her supernatural locks, the Bright Light Sword could hold out for so long? It was unbelievable. Although she was now at her wit's end and dared not unleash top-tier combat power any longer, the protracted pursuit had drawn in far too many powerhouses. If this continued, whether they could reclaim the Wind-Chasing Boots would become a serious question. His father had ordered him to lead the pursuit... If he botched this, his younger brother would give him no breathing room. Xu Zhen cursed under his breath and continued leading his men in pursuit. Of the eight great generals, five had been slain. The remaining three had important duties elsewhere and had not followed along. However, the Duke's Residence was not without other powerhouses. Accompanying him now were several guest retainers and elders of the Duke's Residence, all seasoned experts from the east. The Duke of Dingguo's Residence was not the sole overlord of the eastern provinces, but with its formidable strength, it had recruited many eastern powerhouses. The eastern provinces were unlike the north; the entire northern region was somewhat harsh and cold. Supernatural energy there was sparse. Silver Moon was the most extreme, with virtually no mysterious energy leaking out. The east, on the other hand, had substantial mysterious energy, second only to the Central Region. Beside Xu Zhen, a white-haired elder transmitted a message as they tracked: "Vice Commander, quite a few people have arrived. Too much time has passed. The Nine Departments, the Three Great Organizations, the Seven Sacred Mountains, and even people from the imperial princely estates are here." *People from the princely estates!* Xu Zhen frowned slightly. Was the imperial family trying to stick its hand in as well? He recognized some faces, including experts from neighboring provinces. Those people might not dare offend the Duke's Residence, but the factions the white-haired elder had just listed would pay no heed to any Duke's Residence. "Hasn't Red Moon retreated across the board? Red Moon sent people too?" "This subordinate seemed to sense the aura of the Black Widow... It is said she originally intended to go to Silver Moon, but was lingering in the North Sea, so she received word immediately and diverted here..." Xu Zhen understood: the Black Widow, Orange Moon. "I heard her daughter was captured and she was told to surrender herself... Would she truly dare enter Silver Moon?" "That remains unclear. Word from Red Moon claims Ying Hongyue announced publicly that they are willing to trade treasures for Purple Moon. If Silver Moon refuses, Red Moon will retaliate... My guess is Silver Moon won't want to completely burn all bridges in an all-out war; they will likely agree to the trade." Lately, Red Moon had not taken direct military action, but they had been building momentum. Purple Moon was captured, Orange Moon was dispatched to mount a rescue, and Red Moon offered terms: exchange for treasures. If Silver Moon refused, they would fight to the bitter end... Thus, Orange Moon had not crossed into Silver Moon territory, waiting instead for a reply. However, with Hou Xiaochen's departure, Silver Moon had not yet handled the matter and had given no response. Purple Moon remained imprisoned within the Inspectorate. As the group conversed, their pace did not flag. Every one of them was swift, and Xu Zhen was by no means useless. The Duke of Dingguo had only two legitimate sons, alongside several concubine-born sons who lacked succession rights. Xu Zhen and his younger brother were the sole contenders for the ducal title, and the two had competed openly and covertly for years. Neither dared slacken in martial arts or supernatural cultivation. Xu Zhen was not a martial master but a supernatural user. He had long reached the late Rising Light stage and was advancing toward the peak. Though not as mighty as certain figures on the field, he was no weakling. His son, Xu Feng, had been an exceptional talent among the third generation—a mid Rising Light at a very young age. Unfortunately, he had died in Silver Moon. The more he thought about it, the more grief and fury surged through Xu Zhen. Originally, that son had scored him countless points, earning him favorable treatment from the old man. But ever since Xu Feng died, the old man's attitude toward his second brother had improved drastically. There was no helping it: the second brother's daughter was also a genius. Though slightly inferior to Xu Feng, she had now stepped into the Rising Light realm. Fortunately, she was female; had she been male, Xu Zhen would have lost even more sleep. "Only by slaying the Bright Light Sword, reclaiming the Wind-Chasing Boots, and washing away the Duke's Residence's shame can I recover my standing." With that resolve, Xu Zhen bellowed, "Move! Keep tracking, stay glued to her! Do not give her any chance to recover or catch her breath! Her light power can heal wounds, but even that has limits—it cannot sustain her forever!" By now, everyone understood why the Bright Light Sword had lasted until this point. Her power was unique. Not only could it kill, but it could also mend injuries. She had suppressed her wounds all this time; an ordinary person would have perished long ago, yet the Bright Light Sword remained alive, possessed of astonishing vitality. …… Ahead, the Bright Light Sword dove into the sea depths. Soon, her unfocused gaze regained clarity, and she continued pressing forward. Someone was relentlessly tracking her; she could not shake them. At this juncture, she could not afford to unleash her full power. Doing so would cause her to detonate. In fact, unleashing peak Rising Light strength was her absolute limit right now; otherwise, these pursuers would never have dared shadow her so closely. The power within her body was nearly exhausted. Had she not been a martial master, she would have run out of energy long ago. As a martial artist, her body could still generate a trickle of inner force. Retrieving a pill, she swallowed it down. Her flagging spirits rallied slightly once more. She did not know how much longer she could endure—perhaps an hour, perhaps ten minutes... but she was simply unwilling to yield. At this moment, a faint pang of regret surfaced in her heart. Before taking action, perhaps she should have contacted Silver Moon. Even if she couldn't secure reinforcements, she could have had Silver Moon dispatch Li Hao toward the east so that she could obtain his aid rapidly. Of course, Li Hao would likely have refused, but the Bright Light Sword felt there might have been ways to persuade him. Yet thinking about it now was too late. The core issue remained that the Duke was far more powerful than anticipated. Without unsealing, he had withstood her attacks completely unharmed. That was the truly terrifying factor that had forced her to sever all her supernatural locks. …… In the North Sea. As Li Hao pushed forward, more merchant ships appeared along the way, and so did more pirates. What was even more startling was that the dynamic between certain pirates and merchant ships was not the life-and-death struggle one might imagine! Li Hao even watched some pirates board a merchant vessel. Then, accompanied by fawning ship stewards, they cheerfully returned to their pirate ship. Faint voices drifted to his ears: "You can take down the White Shark flag now. That useless White Shark suffered a massive loss in Silver Moon; there won't be any room left for him in the North Sea. That spares you an expense. The cut meant for White Shark can be waived from now on. Of course, the shares for the other crews will increase slightly, but it shouldn't exceed what you were paying White Shark..." "Many thanks, officer!" A ship steward bowed and scraped in flattery. These words drifted on the wind straight into Li Hao's ears. *Collecting fees... collecting taxes... 'officer'...* *No, these are pirates.* He was certain they were pirates. Yet now, these pirates were openly levying taxes here. They no longer resorted to outright pillaging! Pillaging was draining the pond to catch the fish. Levying taxes—even heavy ones—still left maritime trade immensely profitable. Merchant fleets were more than willing to pay, for even after paying exorbitant fees to the pirates, lucrative profits remained. Li Hao did not strike again; there was no time to spare. He committed certain faces and flags to memory. The eight major pirate crews of the North Sea each flew their own banners. The White Shark Pirates, previously ranked fourth, bore the flag of a massive shark. The most famous and powerful pirate crew in the North Sea was the Starlight Pirate Crew. They boasted that wherever starlight reached was their territory. Their entire crew was rumored to number over ten thousand supernaturals... though whether that was true or false was hard to verify. However, their powerhouses were genuinely numerous. While the White Shark Pirates had only three commanders, the Starlight Pirate Crew supposedly did not use commanders. Their chief styled himself the King of the North Sea, and beneath him were nine other powerhouses titled the Nine Starlight Dukes, all self-proclaimed dukes. Their banner bore ten stars, signifying shimmering starlight, symbolizing that the King of the North Sea and the nine dukes ruled the Starlight Pirate Crew together. These details flashed through Li Hao's mind. He did not know if he would encounter these people on this trip. As the foremost power in the North Sea, it was impossible for them to ignore the commotion entirely; they might well get involved. As he pondered, Li Hao's heart stirred. He retrieved the object from earlier—the message jade pendant. A line of characters was displayed on its surface: *"Four Seas Corporation Vessel No. 307: You have deviated from your course. Do not proceed forward. Eight hundred li ahead, a fierce battle erupted ten minutes ago; the Bright Light Sword slew one Rising Light. Alter your heading immediately!"* Li Hao paused. *Is that meant for me?* He soon realized it likely was. The ship he had boarded earlier seemed to be No. 307. This meant the relay station had pinpointed the pendant's location and detected the vessel's deviation. Though they were still eight hundred li apart, at Li Hao's and the Bright Light Sword's speeds, they might collide very soon. *A bit useless... or are they intentionally trying to mislead me?* Li Hao mused. His speed was blisteringly fast, incomparable to that of a large ship. Could the relay station's tracking fail to notice the anomaly? Of course, it was also possible that such location pings were only transmitted at periodic intervals, meaning they might not have known where Li Hao was earlier. Li Hao paid it no further heed. *Eight hundred li?* *Ten minutes ago... That means we're close to crossing paths.* Li Hao accelerated once more. The Bright Light Sword was still alive and had even slain another Rising Light—she was remarkably tenacious... At this stage, Li Hao no longer dwelled on past grievances. First, he had taken money to do a job; second, after severing her supernatural locks, she was still hanging on. That indomitable spirit truly resembled that of a Silver Moon martial master. Of course, she had always been one. He tore across the waters: one hundred li, two hundred li... Li Hao did not stop, hurtling forward for nearly four hundred li at top speed. It took a heavy toll on his energy. By now, he spotted clusters of light—not the Bright Light Sword, but several Three Suns and Rising Lights... seemingly establishing a blockade line ahead. In the distance, powerhouses hovered in the sky. One of them even had golden light gleaming from his eyes, sweeping across the surroundings. A powerhouse seemed to spot Li Hao's direction, and a voice boomed across the waters: "The Starlight Legion has blockaded this area! Unrelated parties are forbidden from entering!" "Friends from afar, the Bright Light Sword has slain our brothers of the Starlight Legion. This blood debt must be repaid! Anyone who dares interfere makes an enemy of our Starlight Legion!" "..." The powerhouse's voice echoed continuously. Around the perimeter, several other powerhouses hovered. Some cursed under their breath, while others' eyes flickered, biding their time. Clearly, the Bright Light Sword had been hemmed in. She was trapped within the waters ahead. The Starlight Pirate Crew had mobilized as well. Not far from Li Hao, several figures stood atop the sea surface. One sneered, while another clicked his tongue in awe. "Did the Duke of Dingguo hire the Starlight Pirate Crew? That's quite a lavish move. There are at least ten Three Suns here, plus two Rising Lights overseeing the line... And this is just one direction... Are the other directions blocked as well?" He was thoroughly astonished! These North Sea pirates had truly become an overlord! "Not necessarily the Duke of Dingguo; it might be another faction..." Someone chuckled, followed by sound transmissions that Li Hao could not hear. Li Hao frowned. This pirate crew had truly established a consensus of fear; nobody dared provoke them. These pirates ran rampant on the sea. The North Sea was a strategic corridor connecting the nineteen northern provinces with the Central Region. Once the North Sea was cut off, communication between the two sides was severed. Yet no one had stepped in to purge these pirates. Li Hao looked toward the two Rising Lights; both were merely at the early Rising Light stage. He glanced at Black Panther, who also raised its head to look at him. Li Hao suddenly smiled. "One for you, one for me... Even pirates get to strut their stuff now. These days, there's no shortage of bizarre spectacles!" Others might fear them, but he did not. A man with nothing to lose feared nothing. What did he have to be afraid of? Would these people dare run wild in Silver Moon? While onlookers murmured, the pirate powerhouses in the air carried haughty expressions! The North Sea was their domain. No matter how formidable someone was on land, once they reached the sea, they had to hold back and submit! The Bright Light Sword was doomed. And the Starlight Pirate Crew would be the ultimate victor this time. Someone had offered a staggering bounty: thirty thousand divine energy stones, three drops of the spring water of life, and ten Origin God Armaments... to buy the Bright Light Sword's corpse and the Wind-Chasing Boots. As for who made the purchase, these pirates did not know, but they were certain it was no individual. It had to be a colossal faction that found it inconvenient to show its face—possibly one of the other two founding Dukes. The three ducal estates had never been on friendly terms. To snatch the Wind-Chasing Boots, those factions wouldn't mind paying an exorbitant price. The two Dukes overseeing the south and west were perhaps too far away to arrive in time, which was why they offered such a massive bounty to purchase the Bright Light Sword's corpse and the boots outright. The two Rising Light powerhouses were still lost in their thoughts, still projecting their intimidation outward. Right at that moment, an outcry seemed to ripple around them. The next instant, one of them looked up and saw something utterly unbelievable. It was... a sword! "Insolence..." The man bellowed, his heart seized by terror. Who was it? *Roar!* Like the roar of a ferocious tiger, like the eruption of a volcano, the roar exploded beside his ears. A piercing shriek tore through his eardrums as a longsword radiated brilliance across heaven and earth, piercing through the firmament with a deafening boom! The sword descended! A single slash brought down blinding sword light. *Bang!* The early Rising Light powerhouse roared furiously, yet he was shredded like a tattered rag by the sword light. The longsword swept down, and with a wet squelch, split him clean in two! Li Hao made a casual scooping motion, and the corpse fell into the small boat below. Not far away, the other Rising Light was horrified. The very next second, before he could process what was happening, a dog lunged silently and instantly. Just as the Rising Light was about to flee, the hound swiped a paw—nine overlapping waves surged, churning the sea into a frenzy! *Boom!* Towering waves swept across the waters. Amidst the churning swells, Black Panther struck with its claw, tearing the man to shreds on the spot! The surrounding area fell dead silent. The Three Suns pirates scattered in instant panic. Yet sword light flickered, and in the blink of an eye, the pirates' heads went flying one after another. In every direction, the watching powerhouses retreated rapidly, several wearing looks of absolute terror. "Who was that?" "That tiger's roar... It resembles the Five Animals Art..." "That sword light..." "It's Li Hao! Demon Sword Li Hao! He actually came, and he's bold enough to slaughter powerhouses of the Starlight Pirate Crew outright..." "That dog..." "..." Powerhouses fled in every direction, sheer horror in their eyes. Two Rising Lights had been slaughtered in an instant! This Li Hao was terrifying. Li Hao had no intention of concealing his tracks. Since he had already come this far, trying to hide would be treating everyone else as blind. In the span of a breath, he slaughtered every last pirate. Li Hao laughed heartily, feeling exceptionally magnificent. The next moment, he stepped into the air and flew forward. The Bright Light Sword should be somewhere close by. To act so blatantly, Li Hao naturally possessed the capital to back it up. Right now, Li Hao was brazen and aggressive, unsheathing his sword to slay enemies without the slightest mercy. Great pirates, formidable factions—whoever stood in his path this time, if he could kill them, he would slaughter them all!