Reporters, newspaper agencies...
Li Hao was actually hearing these terms for the first time, but after looking into them a bit, he roughly understood what they were.
Products of civilizational evolution.
The Duke of Dingguo, who championed himself as open and just, had introduced newspapers to the east. In truth, they were merely a mouthpiece to sway public opinion and brainwash the populace.
Such things seemed to have existed in the ancient civilization era as well, though they appeared slightly different back then compared to now.
Back at the hotel, Li Hao found several newspapers and read through the articles carefully.
"The Duke of Dingguo issued a statement today: In light of the unrest in the Central Region, the twenty-one eastern provinces are willing to open their doors wide to welcome central refugees to take shelter in the east and start anew."
"Resolution from the Duke's Residence today: The world is in turmoil, and the people are restless. Following disasters in Tai'an Province, the Duke's Residence sympathizes with the plight of the victims and has immediately allocated one million jin of white rice for disaster relief..."
"The Dingguo Army is recruiting new soldiers. Any eastern citizen aged sixteen to thirty is eligible to enlist. If one person joins the army, their entire family shall be exempt from taxes..."
"General Xu Zhen, Left Route Marshal of the Dingguo Army, inspected the East Sea today and drove away the East Sea pirates. Moved by the hardships of the common folk, he has ordered a three-year tax exemption for coastal residents..."
"..."
There were plenty of newspapers in the hotel, all published by an agency called the Dongmin Daily.
For common folk, news in this era was relatively accessible, yet they remained utterly ignorant of the affairs of high-ranking figures.
Even an educated person of this era like Li Hao knew very little. Back at the Silver City Ancient Academy, he had known of the Nine Departments' existence, but had not even known which nine they actually were.
And he was considered one of the rare scholars of this era.
Evidently, others had even fewer sources of information. Now, these newspapers provided them with one. Even if few people were literate, as long as one person could read, the news would spread like wildfire.
Li Hao's eyes flickered. "Clever tactics!"
Every line oozed the Duke of Dingguo's Residence's supposed compassion and charity toward the common folk.
Yet to Li Hao, it was all pure nonsense.
Take Xu Zhen's inspection of the East Sea to "drive away the East Sea pirates"—was that true? If so, where had the massive hordes of pirates currently roaming the East Sea come from?
Or take disaster relief. One million jin sounded substantial, but it was merely five hundred tons. Was five hundred tons really a lot? A whole province had been struck; how could the victims number fewer than a million? If each person ate only half-full, one million jin would barely sustain a million people for a day or two. But could a disaster be resolved in a day or two?
Moreover, the Duke of Dingguo's Residence was the nominal ruler of the entire east. This was their basic duty. Yet here it was, splashed grandly across the newspapers, circulating throughout the east to leave the common people weeping in gratitude.
"Newspapers... quite a useful invention!"
They were a sharp tool for shaping public opinion.
In an era where leaving a city meant losing contact with the inside, and even powerful figures had to rely on communication jade slips to relay messages, mass-circulating newspapers could easily blind the masses and win their hearts.
"The Duke of Dingguo must have excavated some ruins... and obtained records from the ancient civilization," Li Hao deduced.
He didn't know much about newspapers. In the ancient civilization records, what was mentioned most was actually "television"—a tool that could project one's image across the realm to reach the entire world. That was a truly terrifying instrument.
Of course, this era was distorted. Airplanes and artillery had already been manufactured, yet things like televisions remained unbuilt. Perhaps the rulers didn't care, or perhaps... someone deliberately suppressed them. If such technology existed, information would circulate too quickly, making it difficult to control the populace.
The more people knew, the more they thought; the more they thought, the more demands they made.
When people lived their whole lives in backwater villages, they harbored no grand ambitions. But if they saw the lavish, decadent world outside every day, they would inevitably yearn to venture out and claim that lifestyle for themselves.
"The Duke of Dingguo..."
Li Hao peered out the window toward the brightly lit estate in the distance: the Duke of Dingguo's Residence.
This duke who oversaw the east was certainly capable. At the very least, he wielded this method of swaying hearts quite skillfully.
Strictly speaking, the living standards in the east seemed fairly good—noticeably wealthier than the north.
"An ambitious schemer..."
Li Hao labeled him as such. Ambitious schemers were by no means rare in this era.
The Duke's Residence had lost so many Rising Lights, yet many clearly remained. It showed just how many experts they commanded. Still, it seemed the Duke had yet to completely unify the east. Otherwise, there would be no need to invite dignitaries from the eastern provinces to his son's seventh-day memorial. He was likely using the occasion to intimidate them, lest local warlords across the eastern provinces seize upon the residence's heavy losses to break free from his control.
"Disguise myself as a reporter and slip inside?"
It sounded simple enough.
Yet Li Hao wondered: would the Duke of Dingguo's Residence truly be that easy to infiltrate? Could one simply spend eight to ten thousand coins and waltz in?
At a time like this, hardly anyone would pay eight to ten thousand just to gawk at a spectacle. If anyone did... they were probably up to no good.
"These newspaper agencies are clearly controlled behind the scenes by the Duke's Residence. In an establishment of their own, would they really let someone enter just by tossing a bit of coin?"
Li Hao pondered for a moment, then looked toward the distant estate again.
Suddenly, he chuckled!
Glancing at Black Panther, Li Hao said, "Dog, when you turned into that giant golden dog earlier, your body was huge—big enough to swallow a person..."
Black Panther shook its head violently!
*This dog doesn't eat people! Don't frame me!*
Li Hao chuckled. "Rather than sneaking around, why don't we walk in broad daylight? The sneakier you act, the more suspicion you attract. They won't pay as much mind to those who enter openly, but anyone trying to slip in through the shadows... they'll probably get caught immediately."
"The Duke's Residence is holding a grand memorial. How about the demon race pays a visit?"
Black Panther looked bewildered.
Li Hao explained, "Aren't you a great demon? Just swallow me into your belly. You can't speak, but I can! I can transmit spirit waves without leaking any aura. Then I'll stuff some divine energy stones inside your stomach so divine energy leaks out, disguising you as a supernatural great demon. You're a martial master dog, so no one will see through it. I'll manufacture a Three Suns aura for you—how about a Three Suns great demon? As for what we'll impersonate... why not the giant serpent's lineage from Mount Kui? Even though you aren't a snake, no one said Mount Kui can only have snakes."
"We'll walk in openly... but a black dog might draw unwanted attention, since you killed people last time and were seen. Can you turn back into that golden hound?"
Black Panther stared at him with wide doggy eyes.
*Is this really necessary?*
*It sounds so dangerous!*
"Don't worry. Mount Kui's great demons—I refuse to believe the hegemon of the east doesn't know about them. The Duke of Dingguo has immense ambition; he wouldn't dare provoke Mount Kui's great demons lightly. Even if they're cautious, they won't fret too much over a great demon arriving as an open guest... The more openly we appear, the less suspicious we'll seem. I get the feeling the Duke's Residence is currently relaxed on the outside but tightly guarded on the inside..."
This was a martial master's intuition, bolstered by his observations.
The Duke's Residence harbored numerous experts.
They weren't gathered in one place; some locations were likely their hiding spots. Yet in Li Hao's eyes, it was all the same—as long as they were supernaturals, their energy would reveal them.
For now, he didn't know how the martial masters were stationed.
Furthermore, impersonating Mount Kui's demon lineage had another perk: the other eastern provinces wouldn't dare clash with Mount Kui's demons before figuring out what was going on.
Black Panther blinked. It couldn't quite wrap its head around it—appearing out in the open was actually safer? Humans were so complicated!
"Trust me!" Li Hao smiled. "Only this way can we get close to the ancestral hall. As an envoy, there's no way the Duke's Residence will deny you access; they might even invite you to attend the memorial."
Rubbing his chin, Li Hao added, "Of course, I can't rule out the possibility of bad blood between the Duke's Residence and the demon race... but it's unlikely. If they were truly enemies, the Duke would have marched an army to Mount Kui long ago. Besides, even with grudges, ambitious men like him would put them aside the moment they see a chance for cooperation."
Over at Mount Kui, there was a transformation-stage great demon, and perhaps multiple Rising Light great demons.
Against a force like that, the Duke of Dingguo definitely wouldn't dare provoke them lightly.
Black Panther scratched its head with a paw—a habit picked up from Li Hao. It looked bewildered, but didn't bark. Whatever Li Hao said, it would do.
"Let's go outside the city. Tomorrow when the memorial begins, we'll fly right in..."
Unable to fathom Li Hao's thinking, Black Panther could only go along with it.
Soon, the young man and the hound drove their beat-up little car away from the hotel.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Duke of Dingguo's Residence.
People bustled about.
The ancestral hall of the residence was a hive of activity as a flock of servants hurried to set things up. Tomorrow was not only the Duke's Residence's grand memorial, but dignitaries from numerous eastern provinces would also attend.
It was a memorial, but also a demonstration of might to intimidate all sides.
The deaths of multiple Rising Lights had left the east unstable; certain factions were no longer content to heed the Duke's Residence.
Xu Xing was inspecting the premises with utmost diligence.
Soon, a subordinate hurried forward to report, "Second Young Master, the delegations from every province have arrived and are properly settled! We are unsure if the eastern chiefs of the Three Great Organizations have arrived in person... but they replied that they will not disrupt the Duke's Residence's memorial."
"Some eastern representatives from the Nine Departments and the Imperial Clan have arrived as well... though others have not."
"Additionally, several individuals have slipped into the newspaper agencies. We cannot verify whether they merely want to watch the spectacle or harbor ulterior motives..."
Xu Xing nodded slightly and exhaled. "Keep a tight watch on all of them. Dig up their backgrounds immediately. Tomorrow... we might need to use their severed heads to intimidate those guests!"
"Understood!"
After a moment's thought, Xu Xing added, "Furthermore, investigate the envoys from each province thoroughly. Guard against potential assassins. Once their identities are confirmed, set up supernatural detectors at the gates tomorrow... but remain vigilant against martial masters slipping in as well."
"This subordinate shall see to it at once."
Once the man departed, Xu Xing took a deep breath. This was his first time handling such a monumental affair in his capacity as the next heir of the Xu Family. He refused to let any mistakes happen, and he certainly didn't want the eastern powers to look upon him as a laughingstock.
Above all, he hoped everything would go smoothly, and even exceed his father's expectations—such as reaching agreements with the leading figures of the other twenty eastern provinces, or even winning their genuine allegiance.
That would be the ideal outcome!
As he was deep in thought, the communication jade slip in his robes buzzed faintly.
He hastily retrieved it. Jade slips were rarely used unless something critical occurred. What had happened now?
Looking at it, he froze.
"Urgent report: At the border of Dingbian Province, a golden great demon is flying through the air. It has harmed no one. When a Three Suns expert approached to investigate, the great demon transmitted an unusual wave, proclaiming that it hails from Mount Kui as the Dragon Envoy, sent to Dongxin to pay respects to the Duke and discuss grand affairs!"
"..."
Xu Xing was stunned.
A great demon from Mount Kui!
A demon had actually come at this time? He hurriedly replied, "Assign people at once to clear a path for the Mount Kui great demon! Keep it away from crowds and out of everyone's sight..."
After sending the reply, his expression shifted repeatedly. He rushed toward the rear courtyard.
This was a matter beyond his authority to decide.
A great demon!
Ordinary people knew little about great demons at this stage, but those among the upper echelons were well aware that the demon race was rising and becoming a terrifying power.
Among the Seven God Mountains, Heavenly Roc Mountain and Phoenix Mountain were demon-controlled.
Within the Four Seas, demon experts lurked as well.
Moreover, throughout the four regional mountain ranges, the demon race was rapidly ascending.
Mount Kui was the dividing line between the northern and eastern continents. He naturally knew of it, as well as the colossal serpent residing there—a terrifyingly mighty beast said by scouts to possess at least transformation-stage strength.
Even among transformation-stage figures, its immense size gave it monstrous power, and rumors said it was on the verge of transforming into a dragon!
If it truly became a legendary dragon... it would be horrifyingly formidable. Even his father had admitted that if the great serpent succeeded in transforming into a dragon, he might not be able to match it even if he unsealed his power.
Dragon Envoy!
The moment he heard this title, Xu Xing knew the visitor likely genuinely came from Mount Kui, because ordinary people had no idea that the serpent was attempting to transform into a dragon.
...
Soon, in the rear courtyard.
Seeing his son rush inside, Xu Qing already knew what had occurred. He looked at his son, wanting to hear his thoughts.
Xu Xing spoke rapidly, "Father, an urgent dispatch from the front lines reported that a golden great demon has arrived from Mount Kui. It possesses around Three Suns strength and claims to be the Dragon Envoy of Mount Kui! It said it came to Dongxin to pay respects to Father and discuss grand affairs... Father, what do you think...?"
Xu Qing glanced at him and asked impassively, "What are your thoughts?"
Xu Xing hesitated before replying swiftly, "Father, the demon race is an alien species, and all factions are wary of them. They have risen rapidly, but apart from Heavenly Roc Mountain and Phoenix Mountain, no other demon faction has formally established a recognized foothold. The demons are also seeking breakthroughs and greater benefits... Yet even the Nine Departments and the Imperial Clan dare not openly speak of cooperating with them, as it would easily become an indelible blemish..."
Yes, a blemish.
Xu Xing said hesitantly, "I believe... we should neither offend nor provoke it. We should secretly usher it into the Duke's Residence, entertain it with platitudes, and then send it on its way..."
Xu Qing nodded slightly and smiled. "Is that all?"
Not knowing his father's intentions, Xu Xing could only bite the bullet and say, "Your son is dim-witted, which is why I came to seek Father's guidance."
Xu Qing smiled and said slowly, "For the demon race to send someone at this juncture—and a Mount Kui demon at that—is quite intriguing."
"Mount Kui has always stood as the divide between the northern and eastern continents. Mount Kui harbors numerous Rising Light great demons—not just that single one. According to our intelligence, there are no fewer than five Rising Light demons there!"
"We have always stayed out of each other's way. They dwell in Mount Kui, while we hold the eastern continent; our paths rarely crossed..."
"However, Mount Kui is a strategic choke point. If we are content to remain confined to the eastern continent, we can ignore Mount Kui. But if we intend to march northward and trample Silver Moon beneath our boots... the waterways hold too many variables, and water-dwelling demons are plentiful. Rerouting an army from the East Sea to the North Sea and then into the Moon Sea... might not be as safe as marching over land."
Xu Xing glanced at his father, roughly discerning his intent, yet remained hesitant. "However, colluding with the demon race... if such an accusation sticks..."
"Foolish!" Xu Qing frowned. "What collusion? Have you not read the ancient texts I told you to study? Back when the ancient civilization flourished, the human race governed the demons as well. The ancient Human Kings subdued them, and the demon race guarded the oceans, famous rivers, and great waterways on humanity's behalf. For the demon race to pledge allegiance is, if anything, a sign of imperial destiny!"
Having said that, a trace of suspicion entered his voice. "Yet Mount Kui's great demons have had little contact with our Xu Family. Why seek us out now?"
He paused, thinking aloud, "Currently, the Duke's Residence has suffered heavy losses among its experts, leaving the various factions restless. If we can reach an accord with Mount Kui, it would be magnificent news. It would intimidate those with wandering minds; at the very least, the provinces bordering Mount Kui wouldn't dare harbor disloyalty!"
It was a good thing. Reaching an accord could overawe the eastern warlords.
The only worry was... Mount Kui might harbor ill intent.
Pondering further, he added, "Moreover, the serpent race reigns supreme in Mount Kui. The one who arrived this time is not a serpent. Does that signify a lack of regard, or some other reason?"
The sudden appearance of this golden great demon was truly abrupt.
He too felt suspicious.
After repeated consideration, he said, "Do this: first, have someone swiftly escort this great demon to the Duke's Residence. I wish to speak with it in person... No, you conduct the talks!"
It was better not to appear personally at the outset; he would simply listen from the background, avoiding an awkward impasse if negotiations broke down.
Xu Qing frowned, deep in thought. A sudden realization struck him: "Nowadays, it's not unheard of for people to raise tamed demons. We must proceed cautiously... Have General Tian make a swift trip to Mount Kui..."
He hesitated again. Going directly to ask whether they had sent an envoy? If they truly had, how embarrassing would that be? They had dispatched an envoy in good faith, and the Xu Family was responding with paranoid doubt. Given the fiery temperament of the demon race, that could easily cause offense.
Xu Qing found himself in a dilemma.
Yet as a cunning schemer, he genuinely worried whether someone was deliberately manipulating a demon to ensnare him.
After pondering, he instructed, "Have General Tian travel to Mount Kui under the guise of returning courtesy, reporting that their envoy has arrived safely in Dongxin City, and that the Duke's Residence is committed to the peaceful coexistence of humans and demons..."
Xu Qing laid out the pretext, and Xu Xing nodded in comprehension.
Still, Xu Xing felt his father was making a mountain out of a molehill. Overly cautious!
He had merely worried that cooperating with demons would invite hostility, whereas his father was going so far as to verify if this was truly Mount Kui's envoy.
On second thought, Xu Xing kept quiet. If it wasn't genuine, it would indeed become an enormous embarrassment.
It seemed his father wanted to meet this great demon tonight in advance to prepare for tomorrow.
...
Meanwhile, Li Hao had truly squeezed inside Black Panther's belly.
Black Panther didn't look huge from the outside, but the internal space of its stomach was remarkably vast. Li Hao finally understood how this creature could devour so much.
Moreover, Black Panther was no longer black; it was golden.
Li Hao had originally planned to dye its fur, but Black Panther had merely shaken its head and given its body a tremor, causing its coat to turn completely golden.
Naturally, when Black Panther had previously transformed into a golden hound to swallow the white-haired elder, no one besides Li Hao's group had witnessed it. By that time, Qian Feng, who was at the transformation stage, was already dead, Fan Chang had fled, and those observing from the shadows had long scattered in panic. Black Panther had only assumed the form of a golden hound at the very last moment.
Thus, Li Hao had no concerns about anyone recognizing Black Panther in this state.
As for the Duke sending someone to visit Mount Kui's demon, Li Hao hadn't even considered the possibility. He expected that upon hearing a Mount Kui demon had arrived, the Duke of Dingguo would either be delighted or politely turn it away—he definitely wouldn't dare offend it lightly.
As for traveling to Mount Kui to verify its legitimacy... in Li Hao's eyes, that would require insane guts; weren't they afraid of getting eaten by the great serpent?
This was a blind spot for Li Hao.
He was too young and lacked experience. Doing this for the first time, he had left a glaring loophole. A seasoned veteran of the pugilistic world would never take such a gamble. Though the internal affairs of the demon race were hard to probe, they weren't completely inaccessible. Once exposed, it would be walking straight into the tiger's den!
Yet Li Hao was currently basking in smug satisfaction, thinking his scheme was ingenious.
People cleared the path ahead the entire way.
Li Hao couldn't see them, but he could sense their presence. He continually responded on Black Panther's behalf, keeping his tone aloof and sparse. A great demon possessed its pride, even if it was only a Three Suns demon. In this manner, Li Hao returned to Dongxin City.
This time, no one dared charge him an entrance fee.
Upon entering Dongxin City, a Rising Light expert soon arrived to receive him.
"Welcome, Mount Kui Dragon Envoy. I am the Second Steward of the Duke of Dingguo's Residence..."
Li Hao swept his spirit intent brazenly over the man, taking in his appearance: a middle-aged man with somewhat effeminate features and decent strength—mid-stage Rising Light.
Those at the Rising Light realm were all heavyweights, yet the Duke's Residence possessed quite a few.
"Where is that Duke of yours?"
"..."
The Second Steward frowned slightly before quickly smoothing his expression, inwardly cursing: *Demons truly are uncouth!*
*Did you honestly expect the Duke to welcome a measly Three Suns little demon at the city gates in person? Do you really fancy yourself the lord of Mount Kui?*
"The Duke is indisposed..."
"What?"
"The Duke has fallen ill..."
"So weak? He can even fall ill? Is he about to kick the bucket?"
Li Hao acted as coarse and vulgar as possible. In his impression, great demons were all pretty much like this; even Rising Lights were boorish, let alone a Three Suns demon. If anything, he felt he hadn't been reckless enough.
The Second Steward's expression twitched, but he quickly said, "The Envoy misunderstands. It is merely that the young Duke was tragically murdered by scoundrels, so the Duke's spirits have been somewhat unsettled lately. Please accompany me to the Duke's Residence; the Second Young Master is already awaiting your esteemed arrival..."
"Is this Second Young Master of yours any good?"
Black Panther ambled along behind him, glancing left and right, while Li Hao handled the talking.
"Well... the Second Young Master possesses brilliant intellect and formidable strength..." The Second Steward smiled, leading Black Panther forward along quiet back streets to avoid dense crowds.
As they walked, he probed, "Tomorrow, the Duke's Residence will hold a grand memorial for the eldest young master, who was slain by villains. Might the Envoy's arrival today be related to this matter...?"
"Oh, oh, oh, the memorial! I know, Lord Dragon God mentioned it. It's just a dead guy, what's there to memorialize? Dead is dead! In our demon race, when someone dies, we eat them right away. Are you guys going to eat your eldest young master tomorrow?"
Nausea welled up in the Second Steward's chest. He cursed inwardly again: *Barbarian demon! Eating is all you think about!*
Failing to pry anything useful, he didn't push further and continued guiding Black Panther. Before long, they reached the Duke of Dingguo's Residence.
The residence had opened its back gate rather than the front.
The back entrance was under tight security with no onlookers in sight, unlike the front gate teeming with people.
As the back gate swung open, Xu Xing was waiting in the courtyard.
His eyes brightened slightly upon seeing the now-golden Black Panther. Its posture was imposing, clearly hinting at an extraordinary bloodline. Its cultivation, however, was somewhat modest—judging by the leaked energy, it seemed to be around the mid-stage Three Suns.
Still, demons possessed potent bloodlines and robust physical bodies; in a real brawl, an ordinary Three Suns would hardly be its match.
"Pardon our lack of hospitality, Dragon Envoy!" Xu Xing stepped forward with a smile.
Black Panther cast a glance at him while Li Hao boldly swept his spirit intent over Xu Xing without the slightest courtesy. Xu Xing seemed to sense it; he frowned in mild discomfort, though he quickly relaxed his brow.
*Are demons really this impudent?*
Scanning him, Li Hao also furrowed his brow slightly. A martial master!
He wasn't a supernatural!
It was hard to pinpoint his exact strength, but one thing was certain: he was formidable. Judging from his blood vitality and physical body, he was likely a top-tier martial master. To what extent, however, was difficult to tell.
All Li Hao knew was that Xu Xing possessed force.
*He feels weaker than Southern Fist... maybe... roughly on par with Golden Spear?*
Li Hao made an estimation, but couldn't say for sure. That was the tricky part about martial masters—unless they fought and revealed their prowess, gauging their strength was nearly impossible.
Of course, it wasn't entirely unfeasible; it had been possible during the ancient civilization era, but required specialized treasures or exceptionally immense spirit intent. At present, Li Hao clearly hadn't reached that level.
"You're a martial master?" Li Hao asked bluntly. "What's your cultivation? Can you make decisions here? You're that Second Young Master... can you speak for your Duke's Residence?"
Xu Xing was momentarily stunned by the direct interrogation. Suppressing his irritation, he smiled. "Naturally. Please step inside to talk, Envoy... this is not an appropriate place for conversation."
Inside the belly, Li Hao tapped Black Panther: *Stop staring, follow him.*
Black Panther was merely curious, having caught the scent of something delicious. Roused by Li Hao's nudge, it withdrew its doggy gaze and followed Xu Xing inside.
...
At this moment, in the rear hall of the Duke's Residence, Xu Qing and several experts were seated together, watching a projection displayed in the hall. It clearly revealed Black Panther, Xu Xing, and the others.
It was crystal clear!
Not only that, but a glowing dot appeared over Black Panther. From their experience, they knew this was the indicator of a Three Suns realm entity.
Aside from Xu Xing, the Second Steward and the supernaturals trailing behind all displayed glowing dots.
Furthermore, the ground appeared semi-transparent, as if the projection could penetrate the earth and reveal everything beneath.
And that was merely one area.
As the group walked toward the reception hall, the projection shifted along with them. Every person who appeared, if they were a supernatural, was marked with a distinct glowing dot.
In the rear hall, a bearded warrior seated below Xu Qing couldn't help but marvel, despite having seen it many times before, "My Lord Duke, this treasure is truly miraculous! With it, no one can escape your discerning eyes!"
Beside him, an enchanting woman smiled coquettishly. "Indeed. People claim that among the three ducal residences, the Duke of Dingguo's Residence is the most lax, with a bustling square right outside its gates... Little do they know that not even a mosquito can enter without the Duke's notice. Any scoundrel who assumes this estate can be breached at whim is simply courting death!"
Xu Qing remained calm. "Merely the wisdom of the ancients. A pity that over all these years, only a single set of this equipment was excavated, and it cannot be replicated. Otherwise, if installed across the east and throughout the dynasty, where could anyone hide from justice?"
It was a marvelous treasure, but unfortunately, there was only one.
Its range was limited, barely covering the Duke's Residence, and it was dreadfully expensive, consuming vast amounts of divine energy stones. Yet Xu Qing didn't mind; with this device running, he slept and ate much easier.
If anyone wished to sneak into the residence... a supernatural infiltrator would be exposed instantly!
As for martial masters, though their energy remained concealed, their physical forms still showed up clearly on the visual projection. Any outsider's presence would trigger an immediate alarm.
He said no more on the subject. The people before him were his trusted generals; knowing of the device was harmless and would inspire deeper awe, but it was not something to be widely publicized. It was the primary reason no one had ever succeeded in spying on the Duke's Residence all these years.
Even the Bright Light Sword, who had served here for so long, had never known of its existence. After all, Xu Qing had long known that Silver Moon martial masters could never be fully tamed.
"My Lord Duke, Mount Kui only sent a Three Suns little demon... they certainly put on quite the airs!"
"The demon race knows nothing of human etiquette; there is no need to take offense. I see that this demon has an uncommon bloodline, though I cannot discern its species. It resembles a dog, yet also a wolf. Mount Kui is dominated by serpents, yet a creature of neither kind has arrived... I wonder what this means."
"..."
The generals conversed in low voices while watching. Soon, sound and fluctuations began broadcasting from the projection, allowing them to hear every word.
Just then, the bizarre golden beast spoke: "This king comes on behalf of the Mount Kui Dragon God. We won't beat around the bush with humans. Lord Dragon God is on the verge of advancing, but lacks certain components... We hear your residence possesses the Wind-Chasing Boots of the Eight Great Families... Lord Dragon God sent me to borrow them for a period. Once the Dragon God completes its metamorphosis, you will be handsomely rewarded!"
The moment those words were uttered, before Xu Xing could even react, the experts in the rear courtyard experienced an abrupt change of expression.
In the front hall, Xu Xing frowned instantly. "The Envoy must be joking..."
Li Hao immediately barked, "Who's joking? Who has time to joke with you? You humans might not even know how to use that thing, and we heard you already lost one of them... What's left is useless to you anyway. Why not lend it to Mount Kui? If you lend it, we're friends! Lord Dragon God said that anyone who lends us treasures is a friend, and anyone who refuses is an enemy!"
A throbbing headache hit Xu Xing.
Were demons always this blunt?
And demanding the Wind-Chasing Boots right out of the gate!
Damn it! This was troublesome!
As his head pounded, Li Hao continued, "Don't think we're borrowing it for free!"
Li Hao's spirit intent fluctuated intensely. "Lord Dragon God said that if you lend it to us, Mount Kui can dispatch five Rising Light demon kings to fight for you for a time! Furthermore, we are willing to pay five drops of the Spring of Life each year as compensation for borrowing the divine weapon!"
With that, Li Hao manipulated Black Panther's paw to wave. Black Panther was utterly bewildered: *You're actually puppeteering this dog now?*
In the next instant, a small vial appeared!
A single drop of verdant Spring of Life manifested. Xu Xing's expression shifted, his eyes flickering. Li Hao was audaciously bold: "Look at this—have you humans ever seen such a thing? This is a supreme treasure! It was bestowed upon our Mount Kui's Lord Dragon God when paying homage to the Guardian God of Mount Kui..."
Xu Xing's countenance altered. "Guardian God?"
"You don't know?" Li Hao spun lies off the cuff without blinking. "Deep within Mount Kui lies an Imperial Palace! Within the Imperial Palace, the Lord Guardian God has presided for tens of thousands of years—immortal, undying, wielding godlike might! Pioneering the Origin Dao and condensing the Lake of Life, it forged the glory of our Mount Kui! Were it not for the Guardian God's duty to protect the Imperial Palace, making it inconvenient to leave Mount Kui, a puny Duke's Residence like yours could be wiped out with a snap of its fingers!"
Xu Xing was left dazed.
In the rear courtyard, Xu Qing snapped the wooden armrest of his chair. His face shifted, visibly shaken. "Imperial Palace, guardian demon plant, Lake of Life, Origin Dao..."
He was thoroughly rattled!
"Mount Kui... was the sanctuary of an ancient Sovereign?"
His subordinates looked bewildered, but Xu Qing was shaken beyond measure, his thoughts spinning. "It is said that in the ancient civilization era, supreme existences included the Human Kings, as well as others known as Sovereigns... Inconceivable entities possessing monstrous might, capable of shattering stars at will... Their temporary abodes were called Imperial Palaces, typically guarded by demon plants... Demon plants are mighty demons born of trees and flora, capable of producing the Spring of Life. And the 'Origin' refers to the Dao pointing directly to the essence of martial arts. How strong that is cannot even be fathomed, but anyone connected to such concepts was an apex entity—at least, in this era, an existence that not even breaking six supernatural locks could ever hope to rival..."
"What's more, an existence that has lived tens of thousands of years... Unbelievable!"
His subordinates gasped in horror, exchanging stunned glances. "My Lord Duke, could there truly be experts surviving from the ancient civilization? What terrifying existence could live for tens of thousands of years?"
"Hard to say..." Xu Qing shook his head, looking extraordinarily grave. "I originally thought Mount Kui was merely ruled by a powerful serpent clan. But to think... if what this demon says is true, Mount Kui is far more terrifying than Heavenly Roc Mountain or Phoenix Mountain!"
"Still... for them to demand the Wind-Chasing Boots..."
He frowned. What did the Wind-Chasing Boots have to do with the serpent's transformation?
With that thought, he pulled out his communication jade slip and swiftly sent a message to Xu Xing.
...
In the front hall, Xu Xing discreetly checked the message, then quickly spoke, "Envoy, forgive my presumption, but why would Senior Dragon God require my Duke's Residence's ancestral treasure for its advancement?"
"You don't even know that?" Li Hao feigned anger. "We don't care about your so-called treasure! What we want is the origin aura inside that ancient divine weapon! These ancient divine weapons were forged from the corpses of formidable ancient demon plants and demon beasts. The more powerful the weapon, the mightier the ancient demon used to craft it! The Wind-Chasing Boots allegedly carry a sinister, chilling aura that matches Lord Dragon God's ancient martial Origin Dao. The Dragon God doesn't want some piece-of-junk boot; it wants the origin aura within! Once it comprehends it and advances, those useless Wind-Chasing Boots will be junk to us... we wouldn't want them even as a gift, and will naturally return them to you!"
"Then... will that damage the Wind-Chasing Boots?"
"Of course not!" Li Hao held forth with supreme confidence. "The origin aura is completely different from modern martial arts and supernatural powers. You humans don't walk that path anyway. Furthermore, this is a demon race origin, so it's even less suited to you. Even if the origin is extracted, it represents no loss to you... You might not understand, but Lord Dragon God said that if you don't get it, you can consult someone who does. One look at you and I can tell how shallow your knowledge is!"
He added, "Besides, wasn't the other boot taken by someone else? What useless trash you are! If you lend this one to the Dragon God first, the Dragon God promises that upon advancing, it will hunt down that Bright Light whatever-Sword... kill her, extract the origin aura from the second boot, and give the recovered boot to you as an extra reward!"
Hearing this, Xu Xing's expression shifted slightly.
...
In the rear courtyard, Xu Qing and his subordinates exchanged flickering looks.
If they lent it to the serpent, the serpent would actively hunt down the Bright Light Sword upon advancing?
If that happened...
Xu Qing quickly sent another transmission to Xu Xing.
In the front hall, Xu Xing said immediately, "But the Bright Light Sword is in the Silver Moon lands..."
"Nonsense! Lord Dragon God knows that, which is why it must advance before going! The so-called Silver Moon martial masters aren't frightening; Mount Kui fears them not! What is truly terrifying are the entities buried beneath Silver Moon's earth... That is what Mount Kui is wary of! Unless Lord Dragon God successfully advances and transforms fully into a Divine Dragon, even it dares not rashly set foot there! Silver Moon was the core of heaven and earth during the Neo-Martial era, ringed by eight ancient cities and guarded by eight mighty demon plants—some of which may still survive! Rumor has it the Taboo Sea flowed into Silver Moon, and ancient sea demons still dwell there... Mount Kui intends to unify the Four Seas, and we need power..."
Li Hao bragged outrageously, spinning wild tales.
Believe it or don't.
He dropped all kinds of ancient terminology. Those who understood would get it; those who didn't... well, surely someone in the Duke's Residence had some ancient knowledge and wouldn't be totally clueless.
It would be best if he could scam them into handing over the Wind-Chasing Boot directly!
Even if he couldn't, he needed to make them utterly convinced that he was a genuine envoy, well-versed in ancient secrets, backed by a Mount Kui with unfathomable origins...
If that failed, he could ask to look at it under the guise of an appraisal.
Mainly, Li Hao was terrified that the Xu Family might display a fake Wind-Chasing Boot during tomorrow's memorial. If that happened, snatching it would be a wasted effort.
...
Li Hao's tirade genuinely shocked Xu Qing and the others in the rear.
Even the calculating Xu Qing wore a heavy, grave expression.
The Mount Kui serpent seemed to know vast amounts of ancient lore—even a minor demon under its command spoke of such secrets with ease. It appeared the existence of an Imperial Palace was very likely true.
And Mount Kui intended to unify the Four Seas?
Talk about colossal ambition!
Xu Qing rubbed his temples in frustration. If true, Mount Kui could not and must not be offended. Yet only one Wind-Chasing Boot remained. They called it "borrowing," but once handed over, would it ever be returned?
Yet refusing to lend it was just as disastrous; it would offend the Mount Kui lineage. Based on what they knew before, offending them wasn't unthinkable, but now, they truly couldn't afford to make an enemy of them!
Right at that moment, the communication jade slip in his palm vibrated. A line of text appeared:
"Reporting to the Duke: I have arrived at Mount Kui. After considerable effort, I secured an audience with the Mount Kui Serpent King. When questioned about the envoy, the Serpent King merely stated that it was the descendant of an ancient demon and of noble status, refusing to elaborate on anything else before expelling me from the mountain..."
Xu Qing was taken aback. What did that mean?
Descendant of an ancient demon?
Refusing to say anything else—was that a denial, an admission, or sheer disdain to explain?
He felt thoroughly bewildered, yet one thing was certain: the golden demon was of ancient demon descent and possessed noble status. Even the great serpent called its status noble... Could it be... could it be the descendant of an ancient demon from the Imperial Palace?
Were there surviving ancient demons in the Imperial Palace alongside the demon plant?
The thought sent a shiver through Xu Qing.
Just how many secrets lay buried in Mount Kui?
...
At the same time.
Within Mount Kui, the colossal serpent watched the human expert depart. It felt somewhat puzzled, but possessing sharp intellect, it vaguely guessed what was happening. Soon, it dismissed the matter: *This king said nothing.*
*I never acknowledged any envoy... If they dare come looking for trouble later, this king is not to be trifled with!*
*Descendant of an ancient demon, possessing noble status—that wasn't a lie at all.*
Every word it had spoken was true; it had already given them plenty of face. As the Demon King of Mount Kui, having shown such courtesy, it wouldn't hesitate to strike back if they came looking for trouble later.
*What is that Battle Heaven City youth planning?*
The great serpent wondered, but soon stopped caring. The youth had claimed to be executing military duties, so it wouldn't interfere.
Earlier, he had asked it to help block powerful pursuers... had he meant the Duke of Dingguo's Residence?
As expected of an ancient family's heir—what colossal guts! The Duke of Dingguo's Residence was not a power to provoke lightly. Still, Mount Kui was its territory, and it didn't fear the Duke of Dingguo. If that youth could help it transform into a dragon... it would gladly assault the Duke's Residence directly!
...
At this moment, Xu Qing sank into deep contemplation.
If this golden great demon was truly a descendant of an ancient demon from the Imperial Palace, it was truly not someone to cross.
They might dare provoke the serpent.
An ancient demon, however... Who knew if those ancient demons were still alive, or how strong they were? Anyone surviving to the present would be terrifying beyond imagination. They truly could not afford to offend such a background.
He transmitted another message to Xu Xing.
Xu Xing quickly followed up, "Envoy, pardon my intrusion, but according to Senior Dragon God of Mount Kui, the Envoy descends from an ancient demon lineage. Might we have the honor of meeting the Envoy's venerable forebears?"
Li Hao felt a jolt in his heart!
*Holy crap!*
*How long have I even been here, and you people already sent someone to meet the serpent?*
Li Hao's heart went freezing cold for a second... But listening closely, it seemed... the serpent hadn't exposed him.
An ancient demon lineage... Was that all the serpent had said?
What a fright!
Cold sweat broke out on Li Hao. He realized he had been careless. He had assumed Mount Kui was far away, never expecting them to send someone over so swiftly. He had also thought that posing as a great demon wouldn't arouse too much suspicion, never anticipating they would be this paranoid.
Fortunately, the serpent hadn't blown his cover; otherwise, the situation would be drastically different right now.
Still, this might cause some trouble for the serpent afterward.
A thousand thoughts flashed through Li Hao's mind, yet he maintained his bluster: "Do you think you're worthy? Besides, our ancestors are in slumber and do not stir unless monumental events unfold. The world may be changing... Never mind, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. If you want an audience, sure—once you become a supreme expert, I can take you to the Imperial Palace. Do you dare go?"
Xu Xing gave an awkward smile, but felt certain of one thing: this demon truly came from the Imperial Palace!
Terrifying!
No wonder a mere Three Suns little demon could serve as Mount Kui's envoy; it possessed an astonishing background!
Now, refusing was impossible, yet agreeing was out of the question. He could only say, "This matter is of grave importance. Please be patient, Envoy; I shall confer with my father..."
"What a hassle!" Li Hao snapped irritably. "You humans are so indecisive! Or did you actually lose the whole pair instead of just one? Don't even think of deceiving our demon race... If you truly lost them, just say so! Don't fool around with us, or the consequences won't be something you can shoulder! Setting aside whether you lend it or not, let this king have a look at the Wind-Chasing Boot later to verify that it's still in your possession. If it's not even here, your family isn't qualified to discuss anything with this king... you'd just be wasting my time!"
"Furthermore, we aren't even sure if this Wind-Chasing Boot is genuinely the treasure of the Eight Great Guardian Families... We will talk only after seeing the real thing. If we don't, then your Xu Family has deceived Mount Kui—so prepare for Mount Kui's vengeance!"
"..."
Xu Xing stood utterly speechless.
*Vengeance?*
*Who the hell deceived you!*
*You came knocking on our door yourselves, and before negotiations have even begun, you're already threatening vengeance! As expected, demons are demons—completely lacking patience and devoid of reason!*
Having almost invited the wrath of a host of demons out of nowhere, Xu Xing felt his head throbbing.
Saying no more, he hurriedly offered a few soothing words, instructed the Second Steward to take Li Hao to the guest quarters to rest, and rushed off to the rear courtyard. He knew his father had been watching all along, and only his father could make the call now.
Meanwhile, Li Hao was also thoroughly spooked.
*Still too young!*
Next time he pulled a stunt like this, he had to plan out every detail in advance. If the great serpent had bluntly told them there was no envoy, he would have been in deep trouble.
*Must remember this lesson...*
Li Hao reflected, then began pondering whether he should inquire about methods to transform into a dragon on the serpent's behalf, seeing as it had backed his bluff.
He certainly had no such techniques himself. Whether Battle Heaven City had any was unknown, but he could ask the little tree when he had the chance.
*At least they'll show me the Wind-Chasing Boot... and once they do, I'll have an opportunity to snatch it!*
As these thoughts crossed Li Hao's mind, another suspicion arose: something felt off about the Duke's Residence. Ever since stepping inside, he had sensed a persistent surveillance. Moreover, Xu Xing kept checking his communication jade slip, thinking Li Hao wouldn't recognize it, but Li Hao knew full well what it was.
Could Xu Qing be secretly watching and monitoring everything?
If so... that was rather alarming; Li Hao hadn't spotted anyone observing them.
Of course, he had noticed several massive clusters of light over in the rear courtyard. Perhaps Xu Qing was there. Did that mean Xu Qing could monitor the front courtyard and even listen to their conversation from the rear?
*The Duke's Residence must possess a monitoring system—and an exceptionally potent one, given that even I couldn't detect it... Even here, I feel as though I'm being watched.*
Li Hao felt a surge of relief. Fortunately, he hadn't been reckless enough to sneak in directly. He had originally toyed with the idea of tunneling his way inside—thank goodness he hadn't actually done it.
Chapter 189