Not long after Li Hao and his companions left, a piece of news sent shockwaves through the entire dynasty.
It was extremely secretive, yet it spread like wildfire.
The news did not originate from anywhere else—it came straight from the Red Moon organization.
Perhaps Li Hao's transformation had provoked someone.
Perhaps the sheer might of the Silver Moon martial masters had made someone lose face, especially after one of them taught the Black Widow a harsh lesson.
Shortly after Li Hao's group departed, word spread: the Li family divine sword possessed suppressive and sealing capabilities. Put simply, if one's five viscera faced destruction, the Li family divine sword could suppress the crisis and even strengthen the organs.
The Bright Light Sword and the Earth-Overturning Sword had only dared to unseal their combat power without restraint because Li Hao was present.
Yuan Shuo's shattered heart had mended only because of what Li Hao brought to the table.
Not only that, Hou Xiaochen's earlier battle and Silver Moon's recent restlessness were all attributed to Li Hao. Because Li Hao was there, and because the Li family divine sword was there, those people could act with complete impunity!
No matter how formidable Silver Moon experts were without unsealing, they were at most on par with the Transformation phase, never surpassing it.
The weaker ones had not even attained the Transformation phase.
Yet solely because of Li Hao, every one of these individuals could become a top-tier powerhouse transcending Rising Light!
If Li Hao was not killed and the Li family divine sword was not seized, Silver Moon... would remain invincible and untouchable!
***
This news spread with lightning speed.
The Nine Departments, the Three Great Organizations, the Seven Divine Mountains, and the various great families all received this intelligence from Red Moon at that moment. The entire message laid bare the true function of the Li family divine sword.
It was useful to martial masters, and even more useful to supernaturals!
Why were there currently no supernaturals above Rising Light walking the world?
Or rather, even if they existed, why did they not dare show their faces, step out in public, or even lift a finger?
Because their five viscera were not strong enough either.
For a supernatural to advance beyond Rising Light, they also needed to unlock a sixth supernatural lock. Setting aside the four limb locks and the single elemental lock they had unlocked initially, the sixth lock under normal circumstances could only be a second lock within the five viscera.
Doing so would trigger an elemental conflict among the organs, potentially rupturing them!
Except for those rare individuals who blazed alternative paths—such as breaking the supernatural lock in the head—everyone else advancing step-by-step had to break a second lock among their five viscera.
Every single person had to walk this perilous path!
Therefore, the report claimed that the Li family divine sword might resolve the greatest dilemma plaguing supernaturals today.
This was no baseless speculation!
Going forward, one needed only to observe whether the Bright Light Sword lived and whether the Earth-Overturning Sword was injured to see the truth.
It was effortlessly verifiable!
The Bright Light Sword had snapped five supernatural locks in succession. If even she could survive... what else did Li Hao's appearance fail to prove?
It proved everything!
It proved that all of Silver Moon would swiftly become an exceedingly perilous territory, where Silver Moon martial masters would act ever more recklessly, casually unsealing their combat strength to transcend Rising Light and slaughter vast numbers of supernatural experts!
The moment this intelligence dropped, the highest echelons across the entire dynasty were thrown into turmoil.
***
At this moment, Li Hao and his group had yet to receive any such news.
Yet the revelation had already triggered massive tremors.
In the Central Region.
Hou Xiaochen had just assumed the post of Heavenly Star Commander when he abruptly received this intelligence. He froze in place for a long time, staring toward a certain direction before exhaling slowly. "Ying Hongyue!"
Only a Silver Moon martial master understood Silver Moon martial masters best!
Fortresses were always breached from within.
Outsiders knew nothing of the martial masters' exact circumstances, nor whether Silver Moon martial masters possessed any unique traits, nor anything else. Ying Hongyue, however, knew everything like the back of his hand. On top of that, he had always dedicated himself to the Eight Great Families' bloodlines.
Now that Ying Hongyue had made such information public... a careful verification would inevitably confirm it.
Even if it contained some speculation or intentional framing.
Yet... just as Hou Xiaochen had previously framed Ying Hongyue, Li Hao had now become a thorn in the side of every non-Silver Moon martial master—a target marked for death. Anyone wishing to subdue Silver Moon had to eliminate Li Hao first!
No matter the price!
It was not merely to take down Li Hao, but also for the Li family divine sword. This was a treasured blade capable of breaking their bottlenecks and propelling them past Rising Light; it could repair the five viscera and suppress internal organ turbulence!
Hou Xiaochen drew a deep breath. This time was entirely different from before.
"Li Hao... was too high-profile..."
He should not have done that this time.
Hou Xiaochen guessed that Kong Jie and the others had sent Li Hao.
Yet they likely never imagined Li Hao would reveal himself so brazenly in front of so many people to rescue the Bright Light Sword, and even bring the Earth-Overturning Sword along. What they originally envisioned was probably rescuing the Bright Light Sword in secret and having her lie low for a while.
Now... that would be difficult.
This was no longer a dispute over a single treasure; it concerned advancement across the entire supernatural domain and the future struggle for hegemony. In an instant, Li Hao had become a prize coveted by everyone under the heavens.
*Kill Li Hao, claim the world!*
Though no one had openly chanted such a slogan, that very thought had likely taken root in everyone's heart.
"Ying Hongyue... you truly are something..."
Hou Xiaochen gazed into the distance, then turned his eyes north, his expression turning solemn.
He was certain that on this day, the entire Heavenly Star Dynasty would know no peace. Everyone would rush to uncover the truth!
Although those in the ruins had been silenced, some had made it out alive—people like Qi Gang, Hu Qingfeng, those from the Heavenly Star Army, and the Southern Fist...
These people might not deliberately leak information, but they would certainly have to disclose bits and pieces. Pieced together, outsiders could easily deduce parts of the truth behind the ruins.
Coupled with the Bright Light Sword and the Earth-Overturning Sword's current condition, everyone would soon verify that while Red Moon's report contained plenty of speculation, it was overwhelmingly plausible. Moreover, as one of the people who understood the Eight Great Families best, Ying Hongyue would not casually circulate fabricated nonsense.
Ying Hongyue's intention was glaringly obvious.
Just like Hou Xiaochen's past schemes, this was an open plot... Are you tempted?
Do you want to seize the divine sword?
Do you want to suppress Silver Moon?
If so, go find Li Hao, kill Li Hao, and claim the sword!
As for whether you can use it once seized—how would you know without trying?
Even if you truly cannot use it, burying it away would still be far better than leaving it in Silver Moon's hands. If that Silver Moon pack could unseal their power with reckless abandon, it would be an absolute catastrophe!
***
Red Moon Headquarters.
Inside the palace hall.
Ying Hongyue read a book and sipped tea, utterly at ease, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
*None of you take me seriously, do you?*
*The Northern Fist emerges and immediately bullies my people. The Silver Moon crowd slaughters my concubines without batting an eye, showing not a shred of mercy. No matter how you look at it, we are all Silver Moon martial masters who once shared the same roll of honor.*
*Must you be so ruthless?*
*In that case... let us play a game!*
Ying Hongyue originally had no intention of speaking out—or rather, he had not deduced much at first. But after tracing the Bright Light Sword's flight path straight toward Silver Moon, and recalling the clues Li Hao had casually let slip about the Bright Light Sword bullying the junior...
Connecting the dots backward and forward, he deduced several key points. Clearly, Li Hao must have pulled off something similar inside the ruins.
Perhaps suppressing injuries for Hou Xiaochen, or perhaps for the Earth-Overturning Sword...
Regardless, the Bright Light Sword must have witnessed it, which was why she recklessly forced Li Hao to agree to her terms. Otherwise, she would never have sought her own death like that, nor gone out of her way to coerce Li Hao.
After untangling the threads, Ying Hongyue had deduced the rough utility of the Li family divine sword.
He might not know the exact details, but he was confident he was right on the mark, and that was enough.
Just like before, no one knew the purpose of the Blood God Seeds, yet when Hou Xiaochen spread word, people were still eager to test it out... This proved many things. In this era, those who held power were fundamentally unrestrained!
Supernaturals might not understand unsealing, and even if told, they would not grasp the martial masters' condition. Ying Hongyue, however, understood it completely. Thus, the information he released was something that would only reveal the truth upon verification!
As he leisurely enjoyed his tea, a masked powerhouse hurried in. "Chief, Feitian, Yama, and numerous other organizations and individuals wish to establish communication with you... Should we connect?"
Ying Hongyue chuckled.
*Can't wait, can they?*
Understandable. What the Li family sword solved went beyond martial masters' issues. Martial masters could at least suppress themselves and choose to unseal, but for supernaturals, this was a matter of life and death!
Certain individuals had actually broken past Rising Light, yet they all hid away in their shells, not daring to move an inch because a single movement could spell death.
Others were trapped at the Transformation phase, not daring to shatter their supernatural locks. Yet their growing power would eventually shatter them automatically. Once shattered, they would advance; once they advanced... it was a nine-in-ten chance of death. Those who survived became like the current old fogies—hiding, lurking, terrified of showing their faces.
Using them as single-use weapons was fine, but a prolonged eruption would rapidly blow apart their internal organs!
Naturally, everyone was anxious.
Ying Hongyue chuckled, his smile strikingly handsome.
"Connect them. Of course we connect them... Pipe them all in together. I can't be bothered to talk to each of them one by one. Tell them: if they don't like speaking, they can keep their mouths shut and hide. Just listen to me in silence!"
"Understood!"
The masked figure below said no more and moved swiftly to make arrangements. Moments later, a massive projection screen materialized before Ying Hongyue, dividing into grid boxes that revealed figure after figure.
Some revealed their true forms openly, while others concealed their faces and origins.
No one spoke.
Gradually, more joined until the grand screen was filled with boxes.
Ying Hongyue sipped his tea, relaxed and carefree.
Once every frame was illuminated and no new participants joined, he spoke with a smile. "Don't ask me whether it's true; judge for yourselves! An expert like the Bright Light Sword cannot stay hidden forever. Besides, you must have received news that they lingered at the North Sea for a full day and night... Did two grown men really spend that time playing games with an old hag?"
"Even if the Bright Light Sword stays in hiding right now, you all know the truth of the matter..."
With that, Ying Hongyue added, "Moreover, what you care about most is probably whether the Li family divine sword can be used without the Li bloodline, correct?"
From the screen, someone spoke up directly: "Indeed, that is precisely our primary concern! Whether Silver Moon is powerful or arrogant is of no interest to me. I only care about whether it can truly suppress internal organ turbulence and mend the five viscera. Currently, some take alternative routes—using the Fountain of Life to sustain vitality, or Blood God Seeds like you do to strengthen the organs, or other treasures... but these treat the symptoms, not the root cause! We cannot keep relying on them indefinitely, nor can we use them when breaking a second organ, a third organ, and so on. The road ahead is long. If the Li family divine sword can permanently eradicate this latent hazard... nothing could be better!"
Ying Hongyue looked at the speaker and smiled. "Brother Yama is direct as always, unlike Flying Sword, who skulks in the shadows all day long!"
No one responded to the jab.
He did not care, smiling lightly. "Lacking the Li bloodline... is no major issue! I know a few methods that might allow one to wield the Li family divine sword. There are constraints... but those constraints can be broken!"
"What methods?" Yama inquired directly from the screen, his tone brimming with authority.
"You don't know?"
Ying Hongyue looked at him. After a moment of thought, Yama answered, "Harvest Li Hao's blood for a transfusion? Or sacrifice and refine Li Hao to fully unlock the Li family divine sword, allowing it to be used smoothly? Or directly suppress the divine sword; once its master dies, it can be subdued through forceful suppression."
"Look, don't you already know plenty of ways?" Ying Hongyue chuckled. "Then why ask me? Did you expect me to guide you by the hand?"
He then looked around at the screens and smiled. "Any other questions?"
A slightly shrill voice came through the screen: "Beside Li Hao are the Earth-Overturning Sword and the Bright Light Sword. What is their combat power once unsealed? What state are Silver Moon martial masters truly in? When converted into supernatural force, what realm can they rival?"
Ying Hongyue pondered for a moment before replying with a smile, "That is genuinely difficult to judge; each individual is different... But on the martial master side, none of them have actually stepped into the next level, which is beyond Rising Light. Unsealing at most allows them to rival those beyond Rising Light. Right now, no one has formally named this new realm beyond Rising Light, though I know some old fogies and schemers have actually broken through... they simply dare not expose themselves... No matter. By my estimate, their strengths should be roughly on par!"
"For example, the Bright Light Sword slew five generals with a single strike. I imagine those who have broken a sixth supernatural lock could achieve the same, could they not? Everyone is essentially in the same boat: they lack endurance, and you who have broken a sixth supernatural lock also lack endurance... You're all premature shooters..."
As he spoke, he laughed, amused and mocking. "As long as you capture Li Hao, or pin him down, or stall him... they won't be able to recover. The Bright Light Sword's light energy can offer some minor healing... but as long as you carry the Fountain of Life, can't you achieve the same?"
"The Bright Light Sword held on for twelve hours before near-total collapse... That was her limit! Others will fare even worse; their full-power bursts will deplete them even faster!"
From the screen, another cold voice spoke: "Brother Hongyue, it is said that Blood God Seeds possess a similar effect. You want us to deal with Li Hao and Silver Moon... and we are willing. But we wonder if Brother Hongyue could provide some support. Not everyone possesses the Fountain of Life. Could you spare some Blood God Seeds?"
"Flying Sword, why is your mouth so wretched?" Ying Hongyue laughed. "How about I ask you to support me with some women—send over your wife and daughter..."
"Done!" Flying Sword Immortal replied with utter indifference. "If you are willing to part with a large batch of Blood God Seeds, what harm is there in giving them to you?"
Ying Hongyue burst into hearty laughter. "As expected of the dynasty's top assassin! Cold-blooded enough—I like it! However... forget the Blood God Seeds. I don't even have enough for myself. If you have the guts, come ask me for them in person. I'll give you a few. Dare to come?"
Flying Sword Immortal fell silent.
In the past, he might not have feared doing so.
Now that the function of the Blood God Seeds had been revealed, many secretly speculated about the state of Ying Hongyue's five viscera.
Was he a supernatural or a martial master?
Regardless of which he was, this man might have already shattered his limits, becoming an invincible powerhouse who could unleash his full might without restraint.
Facing such an entity, everyone was wary and unwilling to tear away all pretense of civility. Otherwise, the conflict over the Blood God Seeds would have erupted into open warfare long ago.
After laughing for a moment, Ying Hongyue continued, "Cultivating Blood God Seeds is far too difficult, let alone high-tier ones. I know you're all tempted, but compared to the Li family divine sword, Blood God Seeds are garbage. Over all these years, I haven't nurtured many, and I've consumed them all myself. The weak ones left behind are useless to you. That Li family divine sword, on the other hand, shouldn't require much time or excessive cost... By my estimation, feeding it some divine energy stones and the like should do the trick."
"You've all seen how much capital Li Hao possesses. How many days has it been since his rise? What kind of profound foundation could he possibly have? Back when Yuan Shuo's injuries healed, they likely began using the Li family divine sword. That means the price paid back then was negligible! Once you acquire it, the results will exceed your expectations!"
Another voice asked in a low tone, "Red Moon has been pursuing the Li family divine sword all along. Did you know of this long ago? Or was there another reason?"
Ying Hongyue replied bluntly, "Does that have anything to do with you? Is that the focus today? Who do you think you are—you ask and I'm supposed to answer? Let me be clear: I am using you all to deal with Li Hao and Silver Moon. Do you truly take me for your father, expecting me to answer whatever you ask?"
"..."
A momentary silence fell, and the questioner flared with fury!
Those capable of contacting Ying Hongyue directly were no ordinary figures; they were hegemons and leaders of their respective factions.
Yet to be humiliated like this before everyone... The man was incensed and on the verge of snapping, when Ying Hongyue chuckled playfully again. "Alright, just a joke, don't take it to heart! Even if you get angry... you can't bite me to death anyway, so why upset yourself? Must you invite a formidable enemy upon yourself to be happy? Be good and don't make a scene. Besides, everyone is watching—show some breadth of mind!"
Instantly, the man fell silent, swallowing his rage. He knew that speaking again right now... would only be utterly humiliating!
Silence was far better!
"Very well, that's all for now. By the way, keep a close eye on those fellows lately. Northern Fist, Tyrant Saber, and the rest have all emerged. That Sky Sword fellow has kept quiet all this time, making no sound; be on guard against him too. And Hou Xiaochen... don't botch things up, or it won't look pretty!"
Having said this, he raised his teacup with a smile. "To dealing with Silver Moon, and to a higher future... a toast to all of us. Once you finish drinking, let us go kill Li Hao together. Remember, someone like him is difficult to kill, so don't be stingy. Bring along your single-use combat assets... The worst outcome is death, but if you win, you'll enjoy a lifetime of wealth and glory! I trust every faction has those who have broken their sixth supernatural lock... By the way, with so many gathered today, shall we name the sixth realm?"
He chuckled merrily. "Back then, Rising Light was named after the nine suns, which I always found distasteful. How about picking a better name for the next realm? This is a major transformation. Why not call it... the Pinnacle? 'Standing atop the highest peak,' capturing the essence of the summit..."
Yama said coldly, "Enough. Do you think we haven't read those ancient texts? Why mimic the ancients? It is utterly meaningless! Ying Hongyue, if you wish to call it that, do so yourself. Once this level formally emerges and more people attain it, a name will naturally follow. There is no need for you to worry over it!"
"Look at you—last time, you were the first to propose 'Rising Light'... which sounds genuinely awful!"
Ying Hongyue teased with a laugh. "Then let us leave it at that. We shall chat more later. Once you capture Li Hao or seize the Li family divine sword... remember to give me a heads-up."
No one replied, and the screens soon dimmed one after another.
Once every screen went dark, Ying Hongyue's smile vanished, replaced by a sigh. "Plunging the common folk into misery... what a sin, what a genuine sin. I've brought yet more trouble upon Silver Moon. I wonder if a few more of my old friends will perish... What a pity, what a pity!"
Though words of pity left his mouth, a radiant smile bloomed across his face once more.
"Where is Cyan Moon?" he asked aloud.
In this vast base, Cyan Moon was the only veteran remaining. Yet since coming out, he had not seen her.
A subordinate below promptly reported, "Lady Cyan Moon went to Heavenly Star City..."
"Nonsense!"
Ying Hongyue frowned slightly, but his brow soon smoothed out. "Forget it, let her be. These people have wild temperaments and refuse to listen; she'd better be careful not to suffer a loss!"
With that, he smiled again. "Never mind her. As for the Council of Elders, instruct the First, Second, and Third Elders to head out together for a stroll. Each is permitted to carry one drop of the Fountain of Life, and each will be rewarded with a peak Rising Light Blood God Seed! Don't rush into action. Observe the situation. If the Earth-Overturning Sword and Bright Light Sword are pinned down... playing the fisherman who reaps the spoils works just as well!"
"Understood!"
Someone hurried off to pass the orders.
The Council of Elders held many powerhouses; Haixiao and Red Hair were among them, but their rankings were low. Now, Ying Hongyue had directly mobilized the top three elders.
"Also, notify the Ancient God Guards to dig three feet into the earth and locate that mole, Yuan Shuo! That old fellow has probably gone grave-robbing again!"
Ying Hongyue frowned slightly. "For the past few decades, that old bastard focused entirely on excavating graves. We must beware of him unearthing some treasure; that fellow grows remarkably fast... Even if he fails to unearth treasures, unearthing a few behemoths... would be enough to give everyone a headache!"
He shook his head and sighed. "The ignorant know no fear—or rather, he simply doesn't care. If he truly excavates one or two living ancient civilization beings... heh, we can all wait for our doom!"
That lunatic would never care about the consequences.
Yet Ying Hongyue had to care. Even if something was to be dug up, it could not be now. Digging them up at this juncture could easily trigger catastrophic variables. If he dug up an easygoing entity, well and good; if he dug up a violent, ferocious monster... a slaughter across all quarters would ruin all the fun.
"Understood!"
Another Ghost Face departed below.
Numerous Ghost Faces were stationed here year-round, awaiting orders at any moment to handle external communications.
"Oh, right—stir up more chaos in the Three Northern Provinces. Silver Moon is rather peaceful right now, and Huang Yu and those fellows have far too much time on their hands... Give them something to do! The imperial family has remained quiet all this time, but I doubt they aren't anxious now. If the Li family divine sword is lost, their Heavenly Star ruins will be lost forever... Ah, I almost forgot to mention: Li Hao's divine sword can open the Heavenly Star ruins... Hahaha, send word in all directions and spread this news as well, so the imperial family can join in the fun!"
A Ghost Face below said in a deep voice, "Chief, it is not advisable to fall out with the imperial family right now. If this news leaks, the imperial family might strike back against us severely!"
Ying Hongyue considered this, then smiled and nodded. "True enough! Let us drop it then. The news already shared is more than enough to get everyone to pull their weight."
Soon, he turned and walked away.
He remained dashing and unbothered, utterly untroubled by the irritating matters of Silver Moon.
Li Hao and his companions were improving rapidly... but so what?
***
Silver Moon.
General Administration Bureau.
A group of people sat in heavy silence.
Kong Jie spoke up, sounding somewhat irritated: "Can we get the Bright Light Sword to hide? We should have anticipated this earlier... With Hou Xiaochen gone, no one reminded us, and I completely overlooked this angle. Did Director Zhao fail to foresee it as well? Now that some of the Li family divine sword's capabilities are exposed... trouble will come knocking wave after wave!"
He truly had not considered this earlier.
In his view, few people would think in that direction. He had always believed supernaturals understood nothing about martial masters, subconsciously overlooking that certain individuals understood martial masters all too well!
Director Zhao exhaled softly. "I did consider it, but she still had to be saved. Furthermore, I assumed that even if Ying Hongyue and his sort knew, they would keep it to themselves because they wanted to seize it even more; broadcasting it to the world would only work against them... I never expected him to go public..."
"Never expected it?" Kong Jie complained in frustration. "How could you not expect it? What kind of man is he—do you still not know? He's a textbook psychopath. Harming others without benefiting himself isn't something he's doing for the first time..."
Huang Yu cut in, "Enough, complaining now achieves nothing!"
He said gravely, "Saving her was the priority back then. An emergency calls for expedient measures, and sending Li Hao was the best course of action."
Kong Jie snapped irritably, "And now, Li Hao is in immense trouble! I was the one who negotiated with him and sent him to rescue her. You two—I suspect you even schemed against me! This outcome might have been part of your calculations all along! The moment Hou Xiaochen left, did you two bastards intentionally set me up?"
"..."
The two remained silent, ignoring his outburst.
Kong Jie sneered, "Nine times out of ten, that's it! Speak plainly—what are you two after? Forcing Li Hao out of Silver Moon? Or using Li Hao to draw everyone's attention so you can pull something off? It seems our four-way pact is null and void, and you've pushed me out, haven't you?"
He had never been one to overthink things, because over the years, Hou Xiaochen had always been in his corner. Hou Xiaochen had plenty of schemes, so most of the time, Kong Jie simply followed his lead.
Now that Hou Xiaochen was gone, these two had likely forged further agreements and cut him out entirely.
Director Zhao frowned slightly. "We had no such intention. First, this truly was unexpected! Second, it was indeed an emergency calling for expedient measures! Third, an uncertain hazard is far better than the Bright Light Sword perishing. Besides, Li Hao accepted payment himself; he ought to weigh the risks on his own, as he wasn't carrying out an official duty! Fourth, as long as he remains in Silver Moon, we will continue to shield him. If this escalates out of control, it spells trouble for us as well... Nobody wants to invite trouble intentionally. Lastly, this is tied to Li Hao's own high-profile conduct. If he had ambushed and waited in the shadows instead of charging straight out... these troubles could have been avoided! Frankly, his direct charge caught us off guard. In our view, he has always been someone who plans before acting, never striking without absolute certainty. Given his grudge with the Bright Light Sword, do you think we ever anticipated he would charge out in broad daylight to save her?"
"Had he not, the Bright Light Sword would have perished..."
Kong Jie tried to argue further, but Director Zhao shook his head. "I already stated that sending Li Hao was merely doing what we could and leaving the rest to fate... Though I must admit, his choice defied my expectations. These unfolding troubles are indeed partly our oversight."
Pausing briefly, he continued, "I understand that you feel guilty, but do not let emotions cloud your judgment. We are discussing countermeasures, not merely venting."
"Then what do you propose we do?" Kong Jie calmed down, eyeing him. "You have plenty of ideas—what should we do?"
Director Zhao rubbed his temples, then said after a moment, "First, kill the chicken to scare the monkeys: send Silver Moon experts out to slaughter a few meddlers! Second, cast the Li family divine sword out and let them fight like dogs over a bone! Third, have Li Hao claim that all eight divine armaments share this capability, giving Ying Hongyue a taste of the same predicament... though people might not believe it. Fourth, make Li Hao vanish and lie low temporarily... which offers greater safety. Fifth, find someone to impersonate Li Hao, head to the Central Region, and stir up chaos to draw everyone's attention there!"
He laid out several options.
Kong Jie weighed them, cursed inwardly, and eventually said, "I'll try contacting Li Hao... Also, hand me a communication jade. I'll give it to Li Hao so he can share intelligence, lest he remain completely in the dark!"
Huang Yu and Director Zhao exchanged a glance and nodded.
At this juncture, Li Hao indeed needed one. Otherwise, his intelligence would be far too cut off.
Right now, nobody knew where Li Hao was hiding, and he might not even be aware of the news.
Kong Jie took the communication jade pendant and left shortly after.
Once he was gone, Director Zhao sighed. "Tell me, is this an accident, or was it inevitable?"
Huang Yu said calmly, "Who knows? Had he stayed hidden until the very end, waiting for an opportunity before showing himself... naturally, there wouldn't be this much trouble. But had he done so, you and I would have looked down on him. Yet he chose to step forward. We might think highly of such a Li Hao, but it truly has brought immense trouble upon him—and upon us!"
Calling it deliberate would be inaccurate.
They had anticipated some risks, yet they never expected Li Hao to actually charge straight in. It had caught both of them off guard, leaving them unsure whether to laugh or weep.
Director Zhao sighed. "Forget it, we will meet troops with generals and water with earth! Li Hao's willingness to charge out and save someone... proves he is changing. In that case, we cannot chill his heart. Go take a trip yourself and keep watch in secret, in case they are overwhelmed."
"If I leave... White Moon City..."
Huang Yu frowned slightly. "And the military—the others aren't particularly reliable."
"No matter, I will keep watch."
Director Zhao added, "Bring along our stockpile of the Fountain of Life. Li Hao is a rather capricious fellow; if he develops too many doubts, he might not be willing to save you, so rely on yourself!"
Huang Yu was speechless.
Without another word, he turned and left. Having remained within the military for so long in relative isolation, his departure could be concealed to the greatest extent possible.
After everyone had departed, Director Zhao leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.
After a long while, he muttered softly, "Ying Hongyue..."
That bastard truly made a habit of harming others without benefiting himself. What was the point?
*Yuan Shuo, oh Yuan Shuo, you stir up trouble all day without cleaning up after yourself. Look at what you've left behind—a pile of massive headaches.*
*Meanwhile, you're off gallivanting carefree, probably digging up another grave.*
***
While storms raged outside and countless individuals went mad with anxiety over Li Hao, the three individuals with virtually no external intelligence remained completely oblivious.
As for communication jades, they possessed a few, but this level of intelligence was not broadcast openly; it was circulated only among certain top experts.
None of Li Hao's group had received the news, and Li Hao had long since discarded his communication jade to prevent anyone from pinpointing his location.
At this moment, none of them were dwelling on such matters.
Even Hong Yitang had not given it much thought.
He assumed it was no big deal: few people knew, the Southern Fist would not talk, and non-martial masters did not understand the martial master system. Experts who cultivated to this level would not spread such secrets lightly if they found out.
The Bright Light Sword was singularly focused on absorbing dark-element energy, having no spare thoughts for anything else.
As for Li Hao himself, he had considered the possibility at times... but as more people came to know of it, he cared less and less. Occasionally, he even harbored a wild desire to experience what it felt like to have the whole world as his enemy.
Such was the drawback of reading too many books.
Reading biographies of legendary heroes always made one project oneself into their shoes, longing to take a wild gamble. Ever since reading the chronicle of the Battle of Nanjiang, Li Hao's mind had run rather wild.
Otherwise, given his past cautious nature, he would never have acted rashly. Even if the Earth-Overturning Sword had stepped in, Li Hao would never have struck without absolute certainty that he could slaughter every witness.
Thus, even if Li Hao learned of the news, he might not care.
He might even sigh in wonder: *To think I would have my day in the sun... how splendid!*
Yet none of this was known to outsiders. Even Hong Yitang at his side had no idea that Li Hao possessed a restless, impatient heart that refused to be lonely.
At this moment, Li Hao and the others were holed up in an obscure small city.
Li Hao was taking inventory of his battle spoils while channeling dark-element energy into the Bright Light Sword. Naturally, he did not forget Hong Yitang, informing him how many divine energy stones were needed for how much sword energy... Li Hao knew Hong Yitang had taken a storage ring from a Transformation-phase supernatural, and he was scheming to fleece him dry.
The Transformation phase represented the strongest cohort in the world today; their treasures were bound to be plentiful.
Li Hao had no intention of being overly greedy—charging half as a processing fee was fair enough. Ordinary people could never enjoy such treatment.
Hong Yitang was utterly speechless!
Yet after weighing his options, he agreed. He had no choice; Li Hao held a monopoly on this trade. Sword energy could strengthen and stabilize the five viscera, and no one wanted weaker organs. Both martial masters and supernaturals faced this exact bottleneck today.
Furthermore, he still had one large divine energy stone left, and the Bright Light Sword had repaid her debt. With a modest fortune on hand, he could afford a round of indulgence and enjoy himself thoroughly.
Seeing this, the Bright Light Sword was equally eager to empty her coffers. Both were drained dry by Li Hao, that little vampire.
Aside from their personal swords, they were almost ready to sell everything to Li Hao in exchange for sword energy.
Amidst this mixture of agony and bliss, Li Hao spent the days while the tempest raged outside.
Not until the two powerhouses had their pockets emptied completely, unable to produce a single copper, did Li Hao halt the supply of sword energy.
Hong Yitang felt a lingering sense of loss!
*That felt magnificent!*
Pity he had sold even his last large boulder of a stone to Li Hao for sword energy... Right now, he truly could not produce a single penny.
To be fair, he still had a few treasures, such as one remaining Heavenly Gold Lotus seed... but after repeated deliberation, he held back. He had to keep a trump card treasure hidden away; having a completely bare storage ring would be far too shameful.
If he was killed one day and his storage ring was seized, the victor would mock the Earth-Overturning Sword to death!
A renowned top martial master capable of slaying Transformation-phase experts, left with an empty storage ring!
The Bright Light Sword sighed as well, looking somewhat forlorn. She had absorbed a great deal of dark-element energy, causing her mustache to thin considerably and her Adam's apple to shrink, but... it was still not enough!
She wanted more, yet Li Hao refused to provide any. The Wind-Chasing Boots had bought only this much. Moreover, the main reason was that Li Hao had nearly exhausted his own stock of divine energy stones.
Of course, the payoff was immense: his physical body and five viscera had been strengthened significantly. Even his supernatural locks felt different—for the first time, he sensed that the supernatural lock on his heart was nearing saturation!
The amount absorbed this time had likely reached a volume of one hundred thousand cubic meters.
Even Li Hao felt an ache in his teeth at the sheer quantity.
Converting it into divine energy stones did not sound like much—a hundred stones could yield one hundred thousand cubic meters of mysterious energy—but what Li Hao absorbed was pure essence, which was by no means comparable.
Moreover, a tremendous amount was wasted in the conversion process.
Not until mid-October did the trio finally step out from their hiding spot and head toward White Moon City.
Shortly after approaching the vicinity of White Moon City, a message flashed within Li Hao's armor:
*Soldier Kong Jie, call attempts: 300...*
Li Hao froze. *Has he gone mad?*
*It's only been a few days. Were you calling me once every hour?*
He even contemplated blocking Kong Jie. Every time that fellow called, it was never good news!
Moments later, before Li Hao could call back, another communication alert from Kong Jie flashed on screen.
At that exact instant, Kong Jie was overjoyed!
"Fuck!"
*The connection finally went through! That bastard Li Hao has come within a thousand li of White Moon City! Who knew where he had vanished over the past few days? If he hadn't shown up soon, I would've suspected he'd been assassinated—or slaughtered by Hong Yitang and the others out of greed to take his treasures and run!*
Chapter 185