Reinforcements

Inside Dongxin City, the world had been turned upside down. Men like Yu Qiao were regional overlords in their own right, and naturally knew how to deal the most devastating blow to the Duke of Dingguo's prestige. In this era, half-true rumors were the deadliest of all! At that moment, a massive blaze raged through the Duke's Residence. A fire conjured by a Metamorphosis-stage combatant left the servants powerless, no matter how desperately they fought to put it out. They could only watch helplessly as the flames spread, engulfing the entire estate in the blink of an eye. This spectacle only served to prove one thing: something had happened to the Duke of Dingguo. Otherwise, no matter how fierce the fire was, the Duke should have been able to extinguish it. More importantly, ordinary people would never dare set fire to the Duke's Residence in the first place. "Has the Duke fallen?" "We're done for! Is war breaking out?" "Probably not, right? If the Duke really is dead... whoever comes next, won't we still just be commoners under them? It's not like we're officials... As long as it isn't pirates or bandits, what does it matter..." Meanwhile, the residence was not entirely empty of defenders. Soon, several Three Suns powerhouses took to the air in all directions, swiftly suppressing the chaos, while the Dingguo Army outside the city deployed immediately to guard against surprise assaults from any quarter. Yet rumors were easy to spread and hard to dispel! Even though the residence's men went around proclaiming that the Duke was unharmed and had already quelled a petty disturbance, few believed them. Preconceptions ruled the day; people were far more inclined to believe Yu Qiao and the others. If nothing happened, where was the Duke? Why had the Duke's Residence burned down? Was Red Beard truly dead? If Red Beard really had been slain, the death of the Eastern Sea's greatest pirate was cause for nationwide celebration to most. As for whether he had been colluding with the Duke, the common people couldn't say for sure, but given the rumors, they were more than happy to believe it. *** In that single moment, the news spread far and wide. Linjiang Province. The various factions were still gathered in discussion over how to deploy their forces, how to attack Nandu, and how to lure Li Hao out... A smile played across Fan Chang's face. With these people assisting him, he was confident that Silver Moon would suffer some losses this time, finally satisfying his thirst for revenge! The Earth-Overturning Sword, the Bright Sword, Li Hao—all of them deserved to die! As they talked, they prepared to address the final item on today's agenda: the timing of their march... Suddenly, the communication jades resting against many people's chests began to vibrate. In an instant, many turned to look at one another and swiftly pulled out their communication jades. Something monumental must have occurred—it was not just one or two people receiving messages, but nearly everyone present. Fan Chang received an intelligence report as well. Initially disinclined to read it, he saw everyone else checking theirs and produced his communication jade to take a look. With one glance... Fan Chang froze. And he was not the only one. In a flash, the entire hall fell into absolute silence. Not the slightest breath could be heard, as though the room had transformed into a graveyard. Only after a long pause did a ragged gasp break the quiet. "Impossible!" "A fabrication!" "Bullshit! That's utterly ridiculous!" Several people barked out denials. It couldn't be true! Others wore grim expressions. This was not the work of a single intelligence network. One source might be mistaken, but when multiple factions sent the same dispatch at the exact same moment, how could all these powerhouses from the major factions have faulty intelligence? After a long time, someone spoke, their voice hoarse with shock. "The Demon Sword... has left Silver Moon... When did this happen?" "Just days ago, he showed himself in Silver Moon! Word was that he returned to White Moon City..." Incredible! Here they were, still scheming over how to force him into the open. Now, he had appeared. Yet this kind of appearance was something they would have given anything not to see. "The Duke of Dingguo's Residence holds countless experts, and Red Beard is a Metamorphosis-stage powerhouse! And not just him—rumor has it that the four generals of Heaven, Earth, Mystery, and Yellow might all be at the Metamorphosis stage, while the Duke of Dingguo himself is a top-tier martial master. The Xu family suppressed the twenty-one eastern provinces so thoroughly that even Yu Qiao and his peers couldn't breathe... How could Li Hao have routed them?" "The details are still sparse, so we can't be certain. The reports only say the residence was burned, not that the Duke and the others are definitely dead..." Murmurs rippled through the crowd, none able to conceal their horror. The Demon Sword, Li Hao! Back during the clash of the Three Swords of the North Sea, the weakest had been the Demon Sword Li Hao. Powerful as he was to have slain a late-stage Rising Light, many had still believed that given the right opportunity, he could be brought down. Yet now... a basin of icy water had been dumped over their heads, chilling them to the bone. A march of ten thousand li! In their eyes, this was Li Hao's counterattack and warning: *You want to kill me? Fine, then I'll kill you first!* The Duke's Residence was doomed to a fight to the death against him, so he had struck there first, stealing the initiative to launch an assault on the very day of their grand memorial ceremony. Fan Chang took a deep breath. His hands trembled faintly before he forced them steady. Lowering his voice, he said, "Calm down, everyone. Detailed news hasn't arrived yet, and we need to verify the specifics! I've witnessed Li Hao's strength myself. Just days ago, killing a late-stage Rising Light pushed him to his limits... There's no way he could have reached the level of slaying Metamorphosis-stage combatants in the blink of an eye. If he had, he wouldn't be the Demon Sword—he'd be a divine sword!" He didn't believe it! He couldn't believe that in a mere handful of days, Li Hao had grown strong enough to annihilate a major power. After all, the Duke's Residence was far stronger than the Governor's Office of Linjiang. The Duke of Dingguo commanded multiple Metamorphosis-stage experts. His forces were arguably even more formidable than those of the Plain King. A hegemon who anchored the entire east—how could such a figure be slain so easily by Li Hao? He refused to believe it! Gradually, the crowd managed to regain some composure. After a long silence, someone asked, "Then what about the offensive on Nandu...?" "Offensive, my ass!" someone cursed. "Li Hao is already gone! What are we going to Silver Moon for—to engage in bloody life-or-death battles with those Silver Moon martial masters? What's the benefit in that?" Everyone had come for Li Hao, not to slaughter Silver Moon experts. Killing Li Hao yielded the divine sword that could aid their breakthroughs. What bloody use was killing Silver Moon martial masters? Gambling their lives for Li Hao's divine sword was one thing, but throwing themselves into reckless brawls with Silver Moon martial masters was the last thing they wanted. Hearing this, Fan Chang cursed inwardly. As Silver Moon's neighbor, he desperately wished these people would march directly into the province. But now, none of them were willing. Since the core target, Li Hao, had fled, only an idiot would go pick a fight with Silver Moon. Fan Chang sighed inwardly, a heavy weight pressing on his chest. Was Silver Moon truly a cursed land of demons? Li Hao had actually carried out a ten-thousand-li raid on the Duke of Dingguo's Residence. Although those present weren't saying it aloud, fear was clearly gnawing at their hearts. If no further news arrived, some might even pack their bags and head home! It was terrifying! A duke's residence boasting multiple Metamorphosis-stage experts and numerous Rising Lights had been breached. It sounded utterly preposterous; not even the top powerhouses of the Nine Departments or the royal family would dare claim they could breach the Duke's Residence. Everyone waited for what came next, waiting for further word. Anxious tension filled the hall. Cups of tea and wine were drained one after another. In the cold climate of Linjiang, the room had grown uncomfortably stifling. *** White Moon City. *Pfft!* Kong Jie spat out a mouthful of tea, his mind completely blank. The next instant, he took to the sky. He wasn't the only one. At that moment, Huang Yu shot up from the military encampment in the distance. Over by the administration office, Director Zhao didn't fly, but he whipped his head toward the distant Martial Guard Army base, nearly grinding his back teeth to powder. "Go ask where Li Hao is!" he ground out. Deputy Director Zhou said nothing, vanishing on the spot. Where was Li Hao? Li Hao's divine boat was still parked in the plaza, and his Demon Hunt Corps was still in secluded cultivation. It had only been three days, so no one had thought anything of it—every time Li Hao returned, it was like this. Yet where was Li Hao now? Or was someone sowing chaos and deliberately impersonating him? Director Zhao considered this, only to find the idea utterly absurd! How could that be? He knew the Duke's strength all too well. Three of his major generals were in the Metamorphosis stage, and word had it that Red Beard had attended today as well, another Metamorphosis-stage combatant. The Duke of Dingguo himself, even without unsealing his power, could be counted as a Metamorphosis-stage fighter. A full five Metamorphosis-stage powerhouses, along with over a dozen Rising Light experts. Against such might... even Silver Moon, under its current restrictions without unsealing, wouldn't necessarily prevail. Yet now, news arrived claiming the Duke of Dingguo had been slain! Who could possibly believe that? In the distance, two figures tore through the air! In the blink of an eye, they landed above the Martial Guard Army base. "Liu Long, Hao Lianchuan, come out and see me!" Kong Jie bellowed. Inside the hall in the distance, Liu Long was cultivating. Hearing the shout, he opened his eyes, frowned slightly, and walked outside. "Director Kong!" He cupped his fists toward the two men in the air, then greeted Huang Yu. "Commander Yu!" "Gentlemen, what business brings you here? The commander is currently in secluded cultivation. Your disturbance and raised voices could easily cause him to suffer a deviation..." Over to the side, Hao Lianchuan stepped out as well, chiming in, "Exactly! Barging straight into the Martial Guard Army compound—isn't that crossing the line? Minister Hou may have left, but the Night Patrollers—" "Cut the bullshit!" Kong Jie erupted. Hao Lianchuan froze. Kong Jie cursed, "Do you take me for a fucking idiot? Is Li Hao still here? Do you really think I'm that stupid?" "..." Beside him, Huang Yu remained silent. *Pretty much.* There was no point in struggling. For them to only learn about this after news had already spread from the east, what else were they if not idiots? Hao Lianchuan looked somewhat embarrassed and gave a dry cough. "Why the foul language? Director Kong, this isn't proper. What on earth happened?" Had Li Hao's whereabouts been exposed? Everyone had remained in seclusion for three days without setting foot outside; Hao Lianchuan knew full well it was to provide cover for Li Hao. Had Li Hao done something? Kong Jie was near tears of frustration. "What happened? Li Hao slipped away ages ago, didn't he? Did that bastard take off the moment he got back? Good heavens, he ran all the way to the Duke of Dingguo's Residence in the east! He wrecked the estate, seized the Wind-Chasing Boot, killed a Metamorphosis-stage expert, and supposedly even slaughtered the Duke of Dingguo and wiped out his entire household before setting the place on fire... The entire dynasty is in an uproar! If the Duke really is dead, the twenty-one eastern provinces will descend into chaos overnight..." Liu Long and the others stood with mouths agape, staring in stunned disbelief as if listening to a myth. What? Are you talking about Li Hao, or someone else entirely? "Did Li Hao leave on the very day he returned?" At this point, Hao Lianchuan no longer dared hide the truth. Terribly embarrassed, he murmured, "I... I'm not entirely sure. Minister Li's movements aren't something he'd report to me..." "Then shut your mouth!" Kong Jie turned to Liu Long. Liu Long's brows knitted slightly, and he nodded. "The commander said he had a minor matter to attend to and stepped out for a bit." *A minor matter, my ass!* *You call that a minor matter?!* *Fine!* *Every single one of these bastards kept their mouths shut tight.* Driven to wit's end, he noticed the Martial Guard soldiers emerging from behind them. Fixing his gaze on one of them, he snapped, "Wang Chao! You men hail from the Inspectorate. Li Hao leaves, and you help cover for him without even reporting to the Inspectorate?" In the crowd, Wang Chao and the others were still reeling from the shock. Hearing Kong Jie's accusation, Wang Chao replied blankly, "Director... we genuinely didn't know!" Did they really not know, or were they feigning ignorance? Kong Jie felt like coughing up blood, but at this point, words failed him. Coming here had merely been to confirm whether Li Hao had truly left. Now that it was confirmed, the one in the east was almost certainly Li Hao. He scoffed, turned, and left. Huang Yu said nothing and swiftly vanished alongside him. Outside the Martial Guard Army base, the Bright Sword's eyes flickered. She shot into the air, following Huang Yu and Kong Jie. She didn't ask questions, her face merely etched with doubt. Kong Jie was at a loss for words. Earlier, when they asked for her help, she had ignored them, claiming she was waiting for Li Hao... Well fine, let her wait! He casually tossed her a communication jade. The Bright Sword caught it, inspected the contents, and her expression shifted drastically. She murmured, "How is that possible!" As the former chief steward of the Duke's Residence, she understood its strength better than anyone. Setting aside everything else, Li Hao couldn't hope to challenge any of the three major generals, not to mention the Duke himself, whose power was immense. Even she was no match for him; had she not unsealed her strength last time, she would never have been able to stand against the Duke of Dingguo. Yet now... She frowned slightly. "The news might not be true. The Duke isn't so easily killed. Push him into a corner and he will unseal his power; there are very few people in this world capable of killing him then." It was impossible! Kong Jie and Huang Yu nodded slightly. Still, Kong Jie said heavily, "Even if he didn't kill the man, something major definitely happened. Otherwise, no one would leave the residence to burn untended. If the Duke isn't dead and Li Hao isn't dead either... that means the people from the Duke's Residence have set out to hunt him down. That's the only reason they would ignore the unrest!" With a bit of careful deduction, one could piece together the general picture. If that was the case... Li Hao was in grave danger. What madness had possessed that lunatic to pick a fight with the Duke of Dingguo? The Bright Sword said nothing, vanishing from the spot. "Where are you going?" "Sword Gate!" "..." Kong Jie fell silent. It seemed she was heading to Hong Yitang. Was she planning a rescue? He looked toward Huang Yu. Huang Yu said gravely, "Let's go find Old Zhao first. If Li Hao isn't dead, he's likely being hunted down right now. But... it's too far! And this time isn't like the last. Last time, it was merely the Duke's son leading the pursuit against the Bright Sword. This time, Xu Qing himself is likely leading the hunt... We might not make it in time." Nor could they necessarily leave. A large number of powerhouses had gathered near Linjiang, as they well knew. Furthermore, pirate bands like the White Shark Pirates and the Starlight Pirates were stirring restlessly. The few of them couldn't easily pull away. Kong Jie took a deep breath. "Let's wait for detailed reports. They should arrive soon. There were many attendees at the memorial ceremony today, not just a couple of people. They can't all be dead, so detailed intelligence will surface shortly... But we must figure something out... Li Hao might be in terrible danger!" Huang Yu nodded. That went without saying. After a pause, Kong Jie gave a wry smile. "Old Huang, this Li Hao... he stirs up even more trouble than his master! His master wouldn't dare pull a stunt like this, launching a direct raid on a Duke. In the two hundred years since the Heavenly Star Dynasty was founded, no one has ever dared attack the residences of the Three Dukes!" The very first! His audacity was off the charts. If Li Hao managed to survive this raid... his renown would completely overshadow Yuan Shuo's. No matter how famous Yuan Shuo was, had he ever dared attack a Duke's residence? Yuan Shuo's fame was confined mostly to the Silver Moon martial arts world; across the broader realm, only a few older-generation martial masters remembered him. But Li Hao—with this single move, supernaturals across the realm, and even the common populace, would remember his name. He had kicked down the front door of the Eastern Hegemon! *** At this moment, every corner of the realm was abuzz with discussion and tremors of shock. Heavenly Star City, Night Patrollers Headquarters. Hou Xiaochen had previously been nursing a headache over the entire world hunting Li Hao. Now, he let out a sigh. The ones nursing headaches were the rest of the world; if Li Hao didn't die, they would be the ones losing sleep. Inside the modest office, several powerhouses from Silver Moon waited for further word. Soon, their gazes turned toward their vibrating communication jades. Hou Xiaochen picked his up, examined it for a long while, and finally let out a breath. "It wasn't a frontal assault. That kid hid inside his dog, disguised as a Great Demon of Mount Kui and a descendant of ancient demons. He conned the Duke of Dingguo into offering up the Wind-Chasing Boot with both hands. He even used the Mount Kui ancient demon to intimidate the powerhouses of the twenty-one provinces. Then Li Hao directed a scene himself, provoking a clash between Yu Qiao's group and Xu Qing. Afterward, he killed Xu Xing, General Huang, and several others, plundered Xu Qing's treasury, and used some unknown method... something extremely peculiar to directly annihilate Red Beard and three Rising Light experts under him..." "Right now, the Duke of Dingguo is leading the Generals of Heaven and Earth in pursuit of him!" At these words, Jade Rakshasa first sighed in relief, then frowned. "So to say, he truly did kill a Metamorphosis-stage combatant... even if he relied on some external method?" "Yes." "Does he have any more of those methods left?" Hou Xiaochen chuckled. If he knew that, he would be a god. Chief Steward Yu said heavily, "Xu Qing is no weakling..." "He is very strong!" Hou Xiaochen's smile faded. "Even I wouldn't dare claim I could defeat him. That man might be on the same level as the Plain King—immensely powerful! What's more, he's bringing two Metamorphosis-stage powerhouses and multiple Rising Lights with him to hunt Li Hao. They want revenge, but they also want the Li family's divine sword and the complete pair of Wind-Chasing Boots!" "With two divine weapons in his grasp, Xu Qing will kill Li Hao even if it means unsealing his power!" At this point, he exhaled. "Little Yu... go! Be careful. Seek out Li Hao, and make it quick..." "Minister..." "You can unseal your power; Golden Spear cannot!" Thinking further, he frowned. "No, wait. Go to Sky Sword Mountain! Go right now. If the Sky Sword is still in secluded cultivation, call him out directly. Tell him I need his help. The Demon Sword, Li Hao... calling him the Eighth Sword of Silver Moon today is something no one would dispute! Have the Sky Sword go rescue him in person. Hurry!" "Understood!" Jade Rakshasa knew the minister doubted she could handle the rescue alone. Still tense, she asked, "Can Li Hao... hold out until then?" No matter how fast they were, they couldn't reach him in an instant. "We do what we can and leave the rest to fate... That kid wouldn't act so recklessly without some confidence. He seized the Wind-Chasing Boots; perhaps he can use them. If so, his speed will be extraordinary... In the short term, they might not catch him!" Then he added grimly, "My greatest fear is... with Li Hao being pursued outside Silver Moon, countless powerhouses from all directions will be drawn to act. He was already a target; now, doubly so! Carrying two divine weapons on his person—who wouldn't want to kill him?" Jade Rakshasa said no more and departed at once. Off to seek the Sky Sword's aid! Hou Xiaochen took a deep breath and looked toward the silent Golden Spear. "Time to get to work!" "Hm?" Hou Xiaochen said in a low voice, "Li Hao has shaken the world. Can we old-timers afford to look weak in comparison? In passing... let's stir up Heavenly Star City so no one has time to make trouble elsewhere... Take the Martial Guard Army. Starting today, purge the hidden agents of the Three Great Organizations within Heavenly Star City! Oh, and have the Night Patrollers assist in the investigation. Send word to those young fellows—as members of the Night Patrollers, they are being conscripted by the Heavenly Star Governor-General. If they're afraid of offending people, they don't need to bother coming back!" Golden Spear's expression shifted slightly, and he nodded. "Understood!" The minister was finally making his move. Hou Xiaochen waited until he had left before turning toward the east, his brows furrowing once more... *That lunatic Li Hao!* Though he had known the Duke's Residence wouldn't let Li Hao off, directly charging into the east was sheer madness. Who had been the last person to do something so insane? He searched his memory for a long time, unable to recall anyone quite so mad. Not even Yuan Shuo had been so utterly brazen. *** At this moment, the entire world was watching. Soon, genuine intelligence reports leaked out, drawing jeers from some and awe from others. "Xu Qing is an absolute fool!" "To be swindled by a wet-behind-the-ears kid!" "Still, that Demon Sword is not to be underestimated. His guts are terrifying. To dare step outside Silver Moon under these circumstances and take the initiative to attack... And whatever method he used to kill Red Beard, nobody could identify it. It might be a technique from the ancient civilization. The boy may have obtained some lethal trump card inside Battle Heaven City; we must not take him lightly!" "He causes even more havoc than his master, and he's far more ruthless! He killed two of Xu Qing's direct descendants—no wonder Xu Qing has gone mad. More importantly, he currently holds two divine weapons... plus the Xu family's treasury!" In an instant, many had the same realization. On this day, the major organizations and even regional warlords quietly dispatched operatives toward the east. Li Hao was being pursued by Xu Qing and his men! Divine weapons, treasures, and supposedly even the Spring of Life. The name of the Demon Sword was etched indelibly into their minds. Everyone recognized that this young man was insane, audacious, and exceptionally resourceful. Though they openly ridiculed Xu Qing, inwardly they reasoned that his deception had involved ancient demons. That beast Li Hao brought with him might genuinely possess an ancient demon bloodline, supposedly carried out from Battle Heaven City. Could it be... that dog demon was a true descendant of the ancient demons in Battle Heaven City? If so, Li Hao hadn't entirely lied to him. It was indeed an ancient demon, and one with a formidable backing—Battle Heaven City itself. *** The news spread with blistering speed. In the Central Region, within a secluded mountain forest. Deep beneath the earth, the soil suddenly loosened, and a head poked out. Shaking his head, he looked at the sky outside, his face breaking into a broad grin. "Damn it, finally out! Took me more than ten days!" He had been inside the ruins for over ten days. He had nearly perished in there. Fortunately, things had gone relatively smoothly. Right now, Yuan Shuo was in an excellent mood, feeling thoroughly refreshed. Naturally, the harvest had been substantial. "A pity that monster plant was dead. The Spring of Life it left behind wasn't much... Then again, it was fortunate it was dead. If it were alive, I might not have matched it." He climbed out of the ground. Behind him, the Jade Light Sword seemed to have reaped no small harvest either, her smile radiant. Yuan Shuo was truly reliable. This expedition of digging through the earth and excavating ruins had been riddled with traps, but the rewards had been immense. In just over ten days, the Jade Light Sword felt her strength had grown by leaps and bounds. Delightful! Yuan Shuo grinned cockily. "Now no one can say the disciple has surpassed the master! That kid only killed a pirate commander from the White Shark Pirates, and who knows if he even did it himself. I've fused four forces now, and the fifth isn't far behind... Come on, let's find a mid-to-late Rising Light to test my hands on. If it's easy, I'll go play with a peak Rising Light!" Old Yuan was overflowing with swagger. A mere ten-odd days—fewer than twenty from start to finish. No matter how formidable his disciple was or how many swords he possessed, he couldn't possibly have made massive leaps in such a short span. *The disciple surpassing the master?* *I'm about to completely fuse all five forces! Once successful, even if I remain in the Spirit Accumulation realm without breaking into the next stage, no ordinary Rising Light will be able to stand against me.* He was in high spirits! This ruin excavation hadn't been in vain. Behind him, the Jade Light Sword reminded him, "Check your communication jade to see if there's any news..." "Threw it away!" Yuan Shuo rolled his eyes. "It wasn't mine to begin with; it belonged to someone else. Why would I carry it while grave-robbing? To let people track me? Jade Light, use your head." "Besides, what could possibly happen in such a short time?" Even so, he still wanted to find someone to ask if anything had happened lately. "Let's go. I recall there's a Feitian Assassins' Pavilion stronghold ahead. Let's gather some intel..." Just as he was about to set off with the Jade Light Sword, he glanced up at the sky. A figure flashed past and vanished. Before he could look closely, another figure tore through the air behind it. He grew wary. *Looking for me?* *Have I been tracked?* *I didn't bring a communication jade, though.* Just as the thought crossed his mind, yet another figure streaked across the sky at blistering speed. None of them were weaklings. All of them seemed to be hurtling toward the east, flying and burrowing without regard for energy consumption, as if driven by desperate urgency. Yuan Shuo grew suspicious. *What's going on?* *Did something big happen?* He extended his senses. Further away, another powerhouse was tearing through the sky at extreme speed. Yuan Shuo's gaze shifted. Leaping up, he shot directly into the heavens! In a flash, he appeared before the newcomer. The middle-aged man halted instantly, his face tight with caution. But the moment he recognized Yuan Shuo's face, his expression transformed into sheer terror! He spun around to flee! Yuan Shuo threw a punch, laughing, "An old acquaintance! Hahaha, aren't you... what's-your-name? Why run? I'm not going to eat you! I remember meeting you over twenty years ago. Which province was it again? Your old man was a high-ranking official there, wasn't he?" The man's expression twisted. Sensing the lethal threat behind him, he halted, spun around, and pleaded hurriedly, "Brother Yuan, I was just passing through! I didn't see a thing! I'm with the Night Patrollers now—a branch minister, in fact! I'm not with the Three Great Organizations..." Yuan Shuo chuckled. "Night Patrollers? Forget it, I don't care! Hand over your communication jade! By the way, I just saw plenty of folks flying overhead, all in a rush like they're heading to pick up free money. You too—spill it, where are you all off to?" The middle-aged man's expression shifted strangely. He murmured, "Brother Yuan, you don't know?" "Cut the crap! If I knew, why would I ask you?" Seeing his impatience, the man took a deep breath. "This matter is actually related to you, Brother Yuan. The Demon Sword is in trouble!" *The Demon Sword!* Yuan Shuo froze. *What Demon Sword... Li Hao?* Li Hao was Li Hao; he really wasn't used to people calling Li Hao the "Demon Sword." Earning an epithet meant widespread recognition—it meant the realm acknowledged that title. Ordinary martial masters never received such treatment. Especially in this era, making a name for oneself was extraordinarily difficult! Was this the result of Li Hao killing that commander from the White Shark Pirates? "Did the White Shark Pirates go after him for revenge?" The middle-aged man stiffened, glancing at Yuan Shuo. *Your news... is centuries out of date!* The White Shark Pirates were ancient history; nowadays, even White Shark himself might not dare pick a fight with Li Hao. "No, it's the Duke of Dingguo!" "Oh, right, he killed Xu Feng, didn't he?" Yuan Shuo had guessed that much. He sighed. "I knew the truth couldn't stay hidden for long..." With that, he glanced down at the communication jade. As he read, his mind drifted. After a long while, he narrowed his eyes at the middle-aged man. "This news is from today?" "Yes!" "Why did he go to the Duke's Residence? It says here he already had one Wind-Chasing Boot..." The man hastily added, "Brother Yuan, scroll back. There was another massive piece of news several days ago!" Yuan Shuo scrolled back quickly. After a moment, he laughed. "He killed the Duke's eldest son days ago... The boy has certainly grown ambitious! If I didn't know I'd only been in seclusion for ten-odd days, I'd have thought I was gone for a decade!" "So Xu Qing is leading men in pursuit of him right now. Why are all of you sprinting eastward?" The middle-aged man felt uneasy and said quickly, "I... I was only going to gather intelligence. If possible, to lend a hand to the Demon Sword. After all, he's your disciple, Brother Yuan..." "Am I an idiot, or are you?" Terrified, the man stammered, "No... I'm just... As you can see, brother, with my meager strength at early Rising Light, how could I harbor ill intentions? I'm just going to look..." Yuan Shuo chuckled, thought for a moment, and said, "Forget it, I'm no slaughtering fiend. Plenty of people are going, so one more or less makes no difference... But don't leak word of my whereabouts. Not a peep about me appearing here! If you do, I'll remember you... What was your name again?" The man was at a loss for words, his eyes darting around. Yuan Shuo smiled. "Don't try to lie to me. I remember trading blows with you back in the day. I might not recall your name now, but a quick check will turn it up... I'm a kind-hearted man, but my disciple is ruthless! If he doesn't die, I'll send him to pay you a visit. How does that sound?" The man's face blanched. "My name is Zhou Long!" "Right, right, that was it! Your father was a deputy director in the Administrative Office..." "He's the director now," the man said cautiously. "Ah?" Yuan Shuo blinked. "He's not dead yet?" The man remained silent. "Good. Having a notable background is fine; it's the ones with no background who are impossible to track down... Fine, go about your business!" Yuan Shuo said with a grin, "I'll borrow your communication jade for a bit. Don't you dare report it lost. If I stop receiving updates, I'll drop by your home to visit you when I have time!" The middle-aged man smiled wryly. Yuan Shuo chuckled, said no more, and vanished. Seeing him go, the man couldn't help but call out, "Brother Yuan, the east is perilous! Don't risk your life—the Demon Sword has stirred up far too much trouble this time!" Yuan Shuo seemed to recall something. He glanced back up and suddenly laughed. "I remember now! When we clashed back then, I beat you down, and you clung to my leg crying, 'Spare me, brother!' Wasn't that you?" The middle-aged man's face flushed crimson! "No wonder you seemed familiar! I've beaten too many people to remember them all... You were that cowardly fellow... Excellent, now I remember completely!" Yuan Shuo laughed. "You've always had a strong instinct for survival. Very good—not a word about seeing me! Understand?" With that, Yuan Shuo dropped to the ground and looked at the Jade Light Sword. "I'm heading east. You go play on your own." Wu Hongshan looked at him, frowning slightly. "Did something happen?" "Yeah. That unfilial brat causes trouble every single day. I used to think I was the greatest harbinger of calamity and devilry, but it turns out... I was wrong!" Yuan Shuo chuckled, remarkably calm. He looked at Wu Hongshan. "You're too weak. Even though your progress has been decent and you might hold your own against an ordinary early-stage Rising Light now... you're still too weak! Go play with the Three Great Organizations on your own. Just be careful..." "What about you?" "I'm going to find my unfilial disciple!" Yuan Shuo smiled. "Otherwise, everyone will think I, Yuan Shuo, am completely dead! That dog Hong Yitang actually thought he could replace me. I worked so hard to nurture such a magnificent disciple, and he tried to snatch him away... If I don't show up, people will think Li Hao has no master!" He added, "Give me all the divine energy stones and Spring of Life on you!" Without a word, Wu Hongshan handed over a storage ring. It contained the spoils Yuan Shuo had shared with her earlier, saying good fortune should be shared. Now, he took it all back. Clearly, he felt his current strength was not enough. He needed to grow stronger rapidly. Stronger than he was now! Taking the storage ring, Yuan Shuo said nothing more, waving a hand. "Take care of yourself. You can wait for me in Heavenly Star City, or roam freely as you please!" "When will you return?" "No idea." Yuan Shuo chuckled and darted away like a swift bird, vanishing into thin air in the blink of an eye, breathtakingly fast. Wu Hongshan watched for a moment, then turned and departed. *Too weak...* Those words stung. The Jade Light Sword, one of the Seven Swords of Silver Moon, was now being looked down upon. He hadn't even asked her opinion before deciding not to bring her along, clearly convinced she would only drag him down. Wu Hongshan moved swiftly, vanishing into the landscape. *Then I won't stay this weak!* Now that the barrier had been broken, she would forge ahead with fierce resolve! *** In the distance, Yuan Shuo flew faster and faster! As he flew, he gnashed his teeth! He swallowed every drop of life essence in his grasp, his vitality surging, his five viscera vibrating. "They all think I'm dead!" *Every single one of them—killing whoever they want, grabbing whoever they please.* *What is this?* *Has my blade grown dull, or have your skulls grown thicker?* *Xu Qing...* *Xu Qing!* Thirty years ago, they had crossed paths once. Xu Qing had certainly not been weak, and he was undoubtedly even stronger now. But back then, had he not been a member of the Xu clan, Yuan Shuo would have lopped off his head just the same! A towering rage ignited within him! Mount Futu, the Three Great Organizations, the Duke's Residence... All those pests he hadn't managed to wipe out back then were acting so high and mighty now. And the Plain King... *I may have fallen behind for a few years, but I'm not as fragile as you think.* He flew faster and faster... The east was far away. He didn't know if he would make it in time... but it didn't matter. If Li Hao died, he would slaughter the Xu family to avenge him. Bullying the young only to summon the old—it seemed this old man hadn't been strong enough, hadn't possessed enough deterrence. *** The realm trembled. And at this very moment, Li Hao was gasping, panting violently. Swallowing a drop of Spring of Life, he healed some of his injuries. His inner strength surged once more, and the Wind-Chasing Boots flared to life, carrying him through the air and pulling him away from his pursuers once again! Right now, only three people could keep up with him. Xu Qing, and the Generals of Heaven and Earth. The trio remained hot on his heels, their speed astonishing. Xu Qing's expression was frosty! He said nothing, simply maintaining the pursuit. From the Duke's Residence to this point, they had chased him for hundreds of li, long leaving Dongxin City behind. Li Hao was fast, but three Metamorphosis-tier combatants were by no means slow. As for the other Rising Light experts, they had all been left in the dust. At this moment, Xu Qing's legs moved like whirlwinds. Rather than flying like a supernatural, he glided across the ground. Each glide even surpassed the two Metamorphosis-stage generals, spanning hundreds of meters with a single movement. The distance between them remained around four to five thousand meters. But whenever Li Hao exhausted his inner strength and experienced a lull after a burst of speed, his pursuers would rapidly close in, maintaining an unyielding pace. In terms of raw speed alone, Li Hao was far slower. Only by relying on the Wind-Chasing Boots could he repeatedly widen the gap. Ahead, Li Hao gasped for breath. Right now, not only was he running for his life, but he was also carrying Black Panther. The black dog was fast, but still a step behind Metamorphosis-stage combatants. At this point, it was literally a dog riding a man! Li Hao had no time to mind Black Panther, who clung tightly to his shoulders as Li Hao carried him through burst after burst of movement. With one in front and the others behind, the four men and one dog moved in utter silence. Neither side made any loud commotion. Why draw a crowd during a life-or-death pursuit? Li Hao feared that more people would put him in greater danger. Xu Qing feared that more people would tempt someone to snatch the prize! He had to kill Li Hao! Without Li Hao's death, his humiliation could never be washed clean. Of course, to a seasoned politician like him, the crux lay in the immense rewards: two divine weapons, and the Li family's divine sword, which might allow him to unseal his battle strength without fear of repercussions. Thus, the four maintained a tacit silence, sprinting forward with heads down. Anxiety flickered in Li Hao's eyes. That old man's speed surpassed all expectations. If this dragged on, he might not be able to outlast him. Although sword energy was continually replenishing his reserves, activating the Wind-Chasing Boots also consumed divine intent. Once his divine intent ran dry... escape would be impossible! *Should I head toward Mount Kui?* Li Hao pondered. Going to Mount Kui might bring no small amount of trouble to the giant serpent. Having just cleared the serpent of suspicion, dragging trouble back to Mount Kui... wouldn't that be improper? Yet if no one intercepted these pursuers, he genuinely might not escape. *Silver Moon is too far, and Mount Kui... isn't necessary...* Thoughts flashed through his mind, but deep down, Li Hao had already made his decision. The next moment, he veered off course, sprinting toward the west! In that direction lay the Eastern Sea. Xu Qing's expression shifted slightly. *Is Li Hao heading for the Eastern Sea?* *Does he want to plunge into the ocean?* He swiftly pulled out a communication jade and transmitted an order. Whether on the Eastern Sea or on dry land, this was all his domain! For Li Hao to dream of escaping the east was sheer fantasy!