Four seas encircled the Central Region: the East, South, West, and North Seas were all interconnected. Though tributaries ran between them, the four seas ultimately joined to form a ring embracing the central mainland.
At that moment, Li Hao was fleeing toward the East Sea.
In the North Sea, eight great pirate fleets held sway, with the Starlight Pirate Crew being the strongest.
The East Sea had pirates as well. While they were not quite as rampant as those in the North Sea, their numbers were still considerable. Red Beard, for instance, had been among the foremost. Most of these pirates were secretly kept and fed by regional overlords and powerful clans.
Nurturing bandits to enhance one's own importance was one motive, plundering wealth was another, and blockading the mainland was yet another...
Li Hao's decision to take to the sea was because the silver armor possessed the ability to travel underwater, making flight easier than on land and far more discreet. On land, even ducking into mountain forests confined him to a limited area. The sea was different; anywhere in the boundless deep would require a painstaking search to comb through.
As a martial master, once he escaped their line of sight, those pursuers would never track him down.
Li Hao set his resolve.
There was another factor: the sea was home to great demons, and some of them were exceptionally formidable. A martial master might go unnoticed, but a super would be detected in no time. Li Hao and Xu Qing would manage, but the two Metamorphosis-stage supers would likely face a siege from great demons the moment they entered the maritime territory.
Originally, he had contemplated using the giant serpent to stall his pursuers. Remembering his debt of gratitude, however, he had chosen the sea instead.
Sword energy surged wild and unceasing.
As he ran, Li Hao retrieved a treasure—the Heavenly Gold Lotus.
All eight of its petals were still intact.
He plucked one off and swallowed it. A cool stream of energy welled up, pouring into his five internal organs and reinforcing his five forces.
His aura fluctuated slightly. In the rear, Xu Qing seemed to sense it, and his expression shifted. In the next instant, he abruptly accelerated, crossing thousands of meters in a flash to close the distance!
Li Hao's blood surged. Unleashing the Blood Blade Technique, he channeled vigor into the Wind-Chasing Boots, shooting forward like a bolt and speeding up once more!
Xu Qing watched Li Hao's flight with cold eyes, his voice carrying a biting chill: "Li Hao, do you really think you'll have the chance to wait for Silver Moon's rescue, as the Bright Sword did?"
Li Hao kept silent.
There was no point in exchanging words.
Xu Qing trailed behind him again, his tone softening slightly: "As long as you return the Wind-Chasing Boots to me, it isn't impossible for us to wipe the slate clean. A shared smile can dispel all enmity; such is the martial world. You kill me, I kill you. I underestimated you, and so I lost a son and a grandson... That was merely inferior skill. But hatred need not drag on forever. Give back the boots, and you go your way across the open avenue while I cross my single-plank bridge. How about it?"
Li Hao still said nothing.
*I'm not an idiot!*
*If I gave you the Wind-Chasing Boots, would I have any chance of survival left?*
*I wouldn't even be able to run!*
In the next instant, Li Hao suddenly veered, altering his trajectory and tearing ahead in a new direction. Xu Qing's expression tightened, and he cursed under his breath.
Li Hao, meanwhile, did not care in the slightest.
*Ambush me?*
*Bring a top-tier martial master if you want to try!*
*Up ahead on that low hill, that blazing orb of light was like a miniature sun—do you think I'm blind?*
Evidently, Xu Qing knew he was bound for the East Sea, so he had already positioned men ahead to intercept him. Even a split second of delay might allow Xu Qing and his group to catch up, surround Li Hao, and cut him down!
Yet Xu Qing had still underestimated Li Hao. Those eyes had always been his greatest safeguard when fleeing for his life.
From early on, he had relied on them to spot the red silhouettes and narrowly escape time after time.
Behind him, Xu Qing wore an unsightly scowl. He sent a voice transmission to the two Metamorphosis-stage supers tailing him: "This man might be a Heavenly Eye cultivator. He can sense or see things ahead."
A Heavenly Eye cultivator!
The Duke of Dingguo's Residence possessed such individuals too; every faction kept a few, differing only in degree of prowess. But their departure had been too rushed to bring one along, and an inferior one might not have seen anything anyway.
Li Hao was also a martial master, making him even harder to discern.
...
Li Hao panted heavily.
Glancing back, he knew he had sword energy replenishing him, and the two Metamorphosis-stage supers behind him had mysterious energy and divine energy stones to offset their consumption, though their recovery was not as swift as his.
Yet Xu Qing... Li Hao felt a tremor in his heart.
This man was terrifyingly powerful!
His inner force was pushed to an extreme. Li Hao rarely saw him stop or pause to recover spent energy, which meant the man's vigor and inner force had both achieved an extraordinary state.
Consequently, his expenditure was not severe.
If he were hunted by mere Metamorphosis-stage supers, Li Hao's Wind-Chasing Boots and the Starry Sky Sword's reserves would make it almost impossible for them to catch him.
But a martial master—and an overwhelmingly powerful one at that... That was what gave Li Hao such a headache.
...
Behind him, Xu Qing was frowning just as deeply.
*He burns through inner force so rapidly, and utilizing the Wind-Chasing Boots can't be cheap. How is he keeping this up continuously...*
As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes glinted.
*The Li family's divine sword!*
*It must be.*
For Li Hao to reach this level in such a short time, that Li family sword had undoubtedly played a vital role. Earlier, Xu Qing had briefly caught up to him and even landed a punch, but he had felt how astonishingly robust the young man's internal organs were.
Greed flickered in Xu Qing's gaze.
If he could obtain that divine sword, thoroughly temper his five organs, and unseal their power without reservation, he might well become the foremost figure in the world. He was already formidable; if others remained unable to unseal their strength, how could anyone match him?
He pulled out a communication jade again to transmit messages.
Not only that, he sent a voice transmission to the two generals: "Go ahead and wait near the East Sea. Despite his twists and turns, his final destination will either be the East Sea or Mount Kui! He definitely has ties to that giant serpent of Mount Kui... Disregard that for now. He's trying his hardest to sever ties with the serpent, so he probably doesn't want to drag it into this... You two go to the East Sea first. Requisition the East Sea pirates with all haste and blockade the waters for me!"
"Your Grace, what about you..."
"No matter!"
The two generals pondered for a moment and quickly departed.
They had a clear understanding of the Duke's might.
Though everyone appeared comparable under current restraints, once he unleashed his unsealed power, even the Bright Sword at her peak would be beaten to death. Xu Qing was simply reluctant to unseal himself, as every unsealing was a gamble with his life.
For Xu Qing, things had not yet reached that desperate stage.
As for capturing and killing Li Hao, he had no guarantee he could immediately use the Li family's divine sword. If he were certain he could use it right away to seal his organs, he would have unsealed his full might without hesitation and run Li Hao down in an instant.
The two generals swiftly departed.
Ahead, Li Hao saw them leave. He glanced back, his expression shifting repeatedly.
This Xu Qing was truly troublesome.
Those two had likely left to set up an ambush along the coast.
Even if an ambush failed to catch him off guard, sealing off the entry points would still make it hard for him to plunge into the ocean.
"Xu Qing, you've got quite the nerve!"
Li Hao finally spoke, laughing loudly amid the howling wind: "Looks like today is the day you die! Keep chasing, and watch out for the Bright Sword and the Earth-Overturning Sword teaming up to invite you for tea!"
Xu Qing remained stone-faced, his voice utterly indifferent: "Li Hao, if you believe the Duke's Residence's intelligence network is truly so pitiful..."
"If it isn't pitiful, how did I sneak inside?"
"..."
Xu Qing had no retort.
He fell silent.
Yes, it was indeed pitiful.
Li Hao had left Silver Moon without his knowledge. But under normal circumstances, how could Li Hao have departed at that time, and how could he have come straight to the Duke's Residence? Leaving aside Xu Qing, who in the entire realm besides that black dog could have guessed it?
Seeing that Li Hao was entirely impervious to taunts, Xu Qing considered his options. While maintaining his swift pursuit, he spoke again: "Li Hao, right now, my desire to kill you stems merely from solving the trouble with my five organs. Your vengeance against the Xu family was only out of fear that I would strike first... But to me, the deaths of two sons and a grandson are negligible. I have dozens of children and grandchildren; losing a few is no great matter!"
"How about this? You possess the bloodline of the Eight Families. Agree to one condition, and I won't kill you. I won't seek vengeance against you, nor will I take your treasures... In fact, I'll even assist you. What do you think?"
"Do you take me for an idiot?"
"No, you don't understand!"
Xu Qing said softly, "You must realize that even during the ancient civilization, the Eight Families were not necessarily the strongest beings! Ancient Human Kings, ancient Sovereigns—there were countless mighty figures in ancient times!"
"The rise of my Xu clan, or rather the rise of every prominent family and power in this era, is intertwined with ruins. Yet for many ruins, we are incapable of accessing the core areas, whereas the Eight Families... might be able to!"
"To everyone, claiming your divine sword is merely a means to advance to the next stage. But if another path exists, why must we hunt you down? My Xu clan controls a ruin, and it is the very foundation of our rise!"
"The Wind-Chasing Boots are nothing special. Even though they are one of the Eight Families' divine weapons, from what I've learned, the Liu family was not particularly prominent in the ancient era. But the ruin in my possession was the dojo of a truly supreme powerhouse..."
Xu Qing chuckled softly. "If you are willing, like your master, to explore a ruin on my behalf, I could even choose to shield you, just as Hou Xiaochen did!"
"A ruin?"
Li Hao asked, though his feet only moved faster.
*Go to hell!*
"Yes, a ruin! An exceptionally critical ruin. Silver Moon isn't the only place with ancient sites. In the ancient era, the eastern continent was also watched over by incomparably formidable beings. The Eight Guardian Families merely guarded a gateway leading to a mysterious realm... That doesn't mean the Eight Families were the absolute strongest!"
"The ruin held by the Xu clan has been excavated for over a century, yet we still haven't reached its limits. That city is named Star Suppressing City! As long as you help me unlock it... I, Xu Qing, give you my word. Not only will I forgo vengeance for my descendants, I will also help you exact your revenge!"
Xu Qing spoke with utmost sincerity.
In truth, this was genuinely what he was thinking at this moment. Seeing that Li Hao could wield both the Wind-Chasing Boots and the Starry Sky Sword, might be a Heavenly Eye cultivator, and was even followed by a descendant of an ancient demon...
He truly harbored such an intention.
*Have him help me unlock the ruin!*
*Wouldn't an unimaginably powerful ancient city surpass Li Hao's divine sword?*
The Eight Families had not been the strongest in the ancient civilization; they merely bore heavy responsibilities. Meanwhile, Star Suppressing City, according to fragmentary records, had once produced supreme powerhouses capable of standing invincible beneath the heavens!
Beings that perhaps not even an ancient Human King could match.
Of course, ancient texts were difficult to verify, but Xu Qing knew for certain that supreme treasures existed there.
...
Ahead, Li Hao's mind stirred. *Star Suppressing City!*
Xu Qing's two legitimate sons were named Xu Zhen and Xu Xing—could their names have derived from this ruin?
It was a certainty that the Xu clan controlled a ruin.
Otherwise, where had those Sky-Breaking Armors come from?
Where had those divine energy stones come from?
Judging by this, the ruin held by the Xu clan was likely formidable. Even now, the Xu clan had not finished exploring it, despite boasting numerous Metamorphosis-stage experts.
Was it another place similar to Battle Heaven City?
Of course, Li Hao had no interest. He lacked the time and strength to explore Battle Heaven City, let alone a ruin in the eastern continent.
"Really?"
Disinterested as he was, Li Hao still feigned curiosity: "I don't trust your word. If you're genuinely sincere... kill Ying Hongyue for me, and I'll explore the ruin for you... Even if you kill me afterward, I won't feel cheated."
"Why make such impossible demands?"
Xu Qing shook his head, stepping on air as he closed the distance again. "My Xu clan knows a great deal about the Three Great Organizations. We've funded Yama considerably, and I don't mind telling you that there are even members of my Xu clan within Yama... But Red Moon is the strongest of the three! Not only the strongest, but also the most mysterious. Furthermore, Ying Hongyue might be the most terrifying presence among their leaders! According to the classifications of supers, he has completely stepped into the sixth tier, and might even be at the peak of the sixth tier!"
"Even if I unseal my combat strength, nine times out of ten I wouldn't be his match..."
He continued, "However, if you're willing to help me, that equation changes! Besides, you want revenge, but your thinking is far too naive. Ying Hongyue's rise was partly due to his own genius and strength, but the crucial point is that he is not a lone wolf!"
"Wasn't your master powerful back then? But why couldn't he seize the chance to rise, and ended up surpassed by others instead? That is the fate of lone wolves! Look at the Three Great Organizations, the Nine Departments, the Imperial Clan, the princely manors—which of them isn't a massive faction? Ying Hongyue has mighty backers supporting him as well... It even touches upon classified secrets. Much of what you see today is merely what people allow you to see; reality is far more complex!"
Xu Qing said softly, "Take my Xu clan, for example. Li Hao, you don't truly believe that the foundation of our dominion over the East consists solely of me and a few generals, do you? Your rampage through the Duke's Residence came unexpectedly, so the Xu clan couldn't react in time. That was the result of long-standing peace; the clan grew dull... But you must realize, who treats territory on the surface as their core domain? Ruins and ancient cities—those are where powerhouses are stationed year after year!"
"I say all this merely to make you understand: you took the Wind-Chasing Boots and wrecked the Duke's Residence. If you refuse to cooperate, then even if I don't kill you, death will still find you!"
Li Hao felt a slight jolt in his chest.
*True?*
*False?*
Xu Qing implied that the Xu clan had more experts than this, most of whom remained inside ruins and ancient cities.
Many factions seemed to operate this way.
For instance, Red Moon was rumored to possess an Ancient God Guard.
They spent their days exploring ruins, rarely showing themselves.
*Ruins...*
Li Hao had explored very few ruins, yet in two of them, he had encountered powerhouses from the ancient civilization—those Battle Heaven Army warriors and that little tree. If he could find them, couldn't others do the same?
Could he have been the only lucky one?
Xu Qing added, "Not only can you and I join forces, but the entities behind us can also cooperate! The method you used earlier to kill Red Beard should be that recorded... origin avatar, right? You're truly cooperating with an ancient demon plant, aren't you? The Mount Kui Imperial Palace might be a farce, but you've certainly met an ancient demon plant. Was it in Battle Heaven City? It seems the descendants of the Eight Families are favored after all. In truth, we've encountered such beings too, but we couldn't approach them, much less cooperate..."
Li Hao said nothing, continuing his rapid flight.
Xu Qing was trying to shake his resolve while also lulling him into complacency. The Duke had clearly picked up his pace just now, closing the gap from four or five thousand meters down to just over three thousand meters.
With a burst of speed, Li Hao crossed over two thousand meters in an instant, widening the gap once more.
Naturally, that drained a massive chunk of his inner force.
Behind him, Xu Qing scowled in frustration. The Xu clan's supreme treasure, which he himself could not use, was being wielded so vigorously by Li Hao—and its performance was truly astonishing!
The distance covered in that instant was immense.
If he could use it, wouldn't he be able to instantly close in and kill any opponent of the same rank? Who could block that?
Li Hao was using it merely to flee, but in Xu Qing's eyes, those boots were a lethal weapon for slaughter. In the martial realm, speed reigned supreme!
Xu Qing sped up again... This time, even his five organs trembled faintly, his blood surging with an impulse to unseal. This speed was already pushing past his limits.
If he kept this up, he might truly have to unseal his power.
"Li Hao, don't force my hand! You're a Silver Moon martial master; you ought to know that once I unseal my five organs, you will undoubtedly die!"
Ahead, Li Hao laughed: "Come on then! Try it! The barefoot man fears not the one wearing shoes. I'm all on my own; if I die, so be it! But you? The Duke of the Xu clan, the overlord of the East—once you unseal, can you seal yourself back up? Do you think having my sword will let you seal it? You held the Wind-Chasing Boots for so many years; could you use them? Much less the foremost divine sword! Are you as idiotic as those outsiders?"
Xu Qing fell silent.
This was precisely what made him more wary than the others. Having possessed one, he knew how exceedingly difficult it was for an outsider to master one of the Eight Divine Weapons. It was never an instantaneous feat; even if possible, it required observation and gradual grinding over time.
"Li Hao, don't forget that restoring the five organs isn't achievable solely through the divine sword. Sufficient Spring of Life or Blood God Seeds can do the same! Do you think the Xu clan has stored no Spring of Life or Blood God Seeds over the years?"
"Then bring it on!"
Li Hao laughed heartily: "Unseal yourself! Even if you have them, how much do you possess? How long can they sustain you? Can you truly suppress it after unsealing? The stronger you are, the harder it is to suppress!"
*Intimidating me?*
*I'm not afraid!*
Of course, the Xu clan undoubtedly possessed the Spring of Life; Xu Qing simply had not resolved to take the gamble. Li Hao was also somewhat anxious; if this old bastard truly threw caution to the wind and unsealed his strength, things would become dire!
Seeing the miles fall behind them, Li Hao began to feel a headache coming on.
His sword energy was draining too quickly!
He barely had enough time to replenish it. Fortunately, he had absorbed a tremendous amount earlier while healing the Bright Sword, stocking up a substantial reserve; otherwise, once his sword energy ran dry, he wouldn't even have a moment to recover.
In this short span, he had fled two to three hundred li.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Li Hao suddenly changed direction again. Xu Qing frowned, growing increasingly certain that Li Hao had a Heavenly Eye. Such people were indeed difficult to deal with.
Murderous intent flashed in his eyes!
Duke's Residence experts had been waiting in ambush up ahead, but their trap was foiled once more.
*Only a martial master... could hope to evade his detection!*
Xu Qing knew well that Heavenly Eye cultivators were remarkably effective at spotting supers, but far less adept against martial masters. At this stage, everyone ambushing him was a super, rendering their efforts useless.
After a moment's thought, Xu Qing brought out his communication jade again.
Relying on supers to halt Li Hao was nearly impossible.
Shortly after the message was sent...
Li Hao, still fleeing at full speed, suddenly felt a prickle across his scalp. Scanning the surroundings, he saw no supers aside from Xu Qing tailing him. Could it be a martial master?
He raised his guard!
Did the Duke of Dingguo still have powerful martial masters under his command?
As he wondered, the fur on Black Panther's back bristled. "Woof, woof, woof!"
Black Panther let out a frantic bark!
Li Hao's expression twisted. At that very moment, three objects resembling artillery shells tore through the sky, plunging straight toward him as though locked onto his coordinates.
Behind him, Xu Qing watched coldly.
*Li Hao, you underestimate a grand faction far too much.*
*Not to mention, I've been tailing you all along.*
*You've likely never tasted the bite of a city-destroying bomb.*
*Why do solitary martial masters, even peak powerhouses, rarely dare provoke major factions?*
*This is the reason!*
He pulled back slightly. Right then, the three shells plummeted from the heavens. With his scalp tingling with dread, Li Hao engaged the Wind-Chasing Boots to warp away, but the city-destroying bombs were simply too fast!
Moreover, the three shells arrived from three different angles in what appeared to be a precision strike, sparing only the Duke of Dingguo in the rear.
If he wanted to flee, the only way was backward!
Li Hao realized instantly that the Dingguo Army had launched an attack, guided by the coordinates the Duke of Dingguo was feeding them.
"Break!"
Li Hao roared, his blood surging as his intent flared, vaulting thousands of meters in an instant. But in the next breath, the shells burst midair like rings of energy, detonating in an instant!
There was no sound—only overwhelming energy sweeping across the surroundings.
Trees, rocks, and hills were ground directly into powder under the bombardment.
Behind, the Duke of Dingguo retreated continuously, murmuring softly: "Do you think the dynasty has stood until now solely because of supers and martial masters? Do you think the reason everyone hesitates to rebel is merely fear of being the first bird to catch the bullet?"
Neither was the true reason!
It was simply because no one had yet emerged who could withstand a city-destroying bomb and survive.
Even now, with so many powerhouses walking the earth!
According to the Duke's judgment, unless a super reached the sixth tier or a martial master fully unsealed their power, no one could endure a city-destroying bomb. Yet the weapon had its flaws as well.
Indiscriminate destruction!
Difficult to lock onto individual enemies.
This strike succeeded only because he had continuously fed them coordinates. Against an adversary stronger than oneself, it was utterly useless.
Yet no matter how many flaws it possessed, the city-destroying bomb remained effective and terrifyingly deterrent. In that instant, the three shells blazed with brilliance, bathing heaven and earth in blinding radiance.
Total silence!
Then, a cataclysmic shockwave swept outward, making heaven and earth rumble!
Even from a great distance, the Duke of Dingguo stumbled slightly from the tremor. His ears rang as though he were deafened, and sound vanished from the world. He shut his eyes; the piercing glare threatened to blind him.
Li Hao had to be suffering far worse!
As for whether it had killed Li Hao, Xu Qing doubted it. With the Wind-Chasing Boots, the fellow's desperate sprint should have carried him outside the core blast zone, but he would definitely be wounded!
He estimated that even if Li Hao escaped, leaving the entire blast perimeter would not be easy.
These city-destroying bombs truly lived up to their reputation as ancient doomsday weapons designed against foreign races.
*Rumble!*
The thunderous roar echoed outward only after leveling everything in sight. The ground cracked in all directions, immense fissures spreading across the terrain.
Far in the distance, someone witnessed the spectacle. Pale with horror, they hastily recorded it:
"The Duke of Dingguo pursues the Demon Sword, deploying three city-destroying bombs... The Demon Sword... caught within the blast radius!"
...
At that moment, Li Hao felt as if he were floating.
He had never seen a city-destroying bomb before, nor had he ever experienced its power.
Silver Moon had issued threats with them a few times, but had never dared deploy one. Rumor had it that the Central Region had used them, but Li Hao had never witnessed it.
Now, he had seen it firsthand.
Three of them!
They had cut off three directions. He had sprinted forward relentlessly and barely cleared the blast core at the moment of detonation. Even so, the expanding shockwave hammered him with excruciating agony!
The silver armor manifested, fissures spidering across its surface.
Black Panther on his back leaped off, expanding into a massive golden dog. With a wretched howl, the golden fur across its back was obliterated instantly.
In the blink of an eye, it had become a bald dog!
Li Hao's internal organs were battered by the ferocious energy wave. Had his five organs not been exceptionally strong, that single shockwave would have shattered them and killed him.
Though alive, he was bleeding from all seven facial orifices!
The cracks on the silver armor were slowly mending, but their presence proved the impact had exceeded the armor's immediate tolerance.
Blood gushed from his mouth.
Li Hao scooped up the hairless hound and glanced back. Xu Qing was steadily retreating, now nearly ten thousand meters away!
In the distance, Xu Qing opened his eyes and saw Li Hao burst through the air, fleeing once more. Xu Qing's face was chillingly cold: "You cannot escape! Li Hao, that was merely a warning! With me tracking you, your location is exposed at all times. That was only three shells... Do you wish to endure a saturation strike of ten, or even thirty?"
Ahead, Li Hao fled into the distance without looking back!
*Thirty shells?*
Yes, he might not outrun that many, but would Xu Qing dare fire them?
He wouldn't be able to withstand the fallout either.
Besides, Li Hao did not believe these weapons could be fired without limit!
He had been unprepared the first time; although he had sensed danger, he hadn't realized its source. Now that he knew what to look for, he saw the telltale energy fluctuations the moment the bomb hurtled through the sky.
A city-destroying bomb was a colossal composite of concentrated energy.
It was likely an energy explosive.
Similar to the device Fan Chang had dropped back then, but far more powerful—though presumably much harder to launch.
Behind him, Xu Qing scowled.
This Li Hao was remarkably persistent.
He was visibly injured, with cracks and scorch marks covering the silver armor, and the hound descendant of an ancient demon had been severely mauled. Yet Li Hao still refused to yield.
"Li Hao, running further offers no path to survival. Cooperate with me..."
"Cooperate with your mother!"
Li Hao roared, soaring into the air and streaking away: "Keep chasing! I'm heading for populated areas. Blast them if you have the guts—it's not my territory anyway!"
*Boom!*
Dragging the wailing Black Panther along, Li Hao vanished in a flash.
Xu Qing's face turned icy as he used his communication jade to direct the Dingguo Army once more.
As Li Hao fled through the air, his expression warped again. In a manic surge, he channeled every drop of inner force into the Wind-Chasing Boots. Shells rained down from the heavens once more!
*Boom!*
A moment later, a massive shockwave obliterated a small hill ahead. Li Hao's staggering figure vanished yet again.
...
"It's very close..."
*Pfft!*
Li Hao spat blood, his eyes glinting fiercely. There had to be a Dingguo Army garrison nearby; otherwise, the bomb couldn't have arrived so swiftly!
It was too fast!
Launching required time.
It couldn't strike on command without proximity.
He looked up at the sky, then shot through the air once more.
Rushing at top speed for less than a minute, Li Hao spotted an army encampment!
The moment Li Hao appeared, *boom!*
Countless physical artillery shells fired toward him, while heavy machine guns below rattled ceaselessly, spraying bullets toward the sky. Several Three Suns experts and even a Rising Light combatant flew up from the camp in the blink of an eye, their expressions grim.
The Demon Sword!
Troublesome indeed!
Li Hao let out a roar, slashing out a strike that tore open the sky. With a thunderous boom, sword light plunged downward, instantly cutting down countless soldiers, while several of the supers fell to his blade in the space of a breath.
Sensing the whistling rush of the Duke of Dingguo approaching from behind, Li Hao swung his sword rapidly, slaying over a hundred men in moments. With a final full-powered strike, he slashed toward the heart of the camp!
*Boom!*
With a tremendous blast, the structure blew apart to reveal an enormous launch apparatus. Sword energy crisscrossed, snapping the contraption with a resounding crack!
Without lingering for further slaughter, Li Hao shot away through the air!
The Duke of Dingguo had arrived.
Xu Qing looked utterly grim. This was the glaring flaw of city-destroying bombs: to strike swiftly and lock onto a target, the launcher couldn't be too far away, which made it vulnerable to powerhouses tracing the trajectory back to slaughter the crew and destroy the launcher.
The camp was in disarray. Several wounded soldiers knelt in deference upon seeing the Duke.
"Forgive us, Your Grace!"
Xu Qing said nothing, leaving behind only a single command: "Repair the launcher!"
Then he resumed the chase.
Having been caught in the blast radius of city-destroying bombs twice in succession, Li Hao was in agonizing pain despite avoiding the direct centers. Black Panther had suffered even worse injuries, whining continuously. Had the dog been capable of speech, it would likely be cursing Xu Qing's ancestors by now!
...
"I can't go on like this..."
Li Hao coughed up more blood. The Dingguo Army likely maintained numerous garrisons. If he drew near the next encampment, he might be targeted and bombarded again. A few more volleys, and he would be jolted to death before Xu Qing could even lay a hand on him!
"I have to enter the sea..."
Li Hao spat another mouthful of blood. Earlier, he had avoided the coast for fear that the two generals were preparing an ambush there, repeatedly shifting directions. But now... he had no other choice!
Land was far more dangerous!
If this continued, survival would be impossible. This was the Duke of Dingguo's home territory. Only now did Li Hao understand why major factions were not to be provoked lightly.
It wasn't merely their abundance of powerhouses; even a group of ordinary soldiers could inflict fatal harm.
...
Meanwhile, in Silver Moon.
Director Zhao looked over the intelligence report, his face darkening as he said in a low voice: "Xu Qing deployed city-destroying bombs. Even though it wasn't within an urban zone, deploying them... is something all factions previously forbade!"
Contending for supremacy, killing, waging war...
All of that was normal.
Yet the rulers understood one principle: indiscriminate use of city-destroying bombs would easily invite retaliation. A single bomb couldn't wipe out an entire city, but dropping twenty or thirty onto a major metropolis like White Moon City would leave the civilian population decimated, even if the city itself weren't entirely leveled!
Thus, a tacit agreement had long existed among the various factions.
Except when dealing with the Three Great Organizations, city-destroying bombs were never to be used.
Silver Moon possessed them as well, but only brandished them as a deterrent against the Three Great Organizations, never actually firing them.
Huang Yu slammed the table!
With an unsightly and solemn expression, he said, "It seems Xu Qing couldn't catch Li Hao. That bastard dared defy the pact and launch city-destroying bombs... Damn him!"
Director Zhao was silent for a moment.
After a pause, he looked into the distance and said abruptly, "Take the Silver Moon Army, bring three launch platforms and thirty city-destroying bombs, and go fire a few rounds over the North Sea for fun! If the other factions don't sanction the Dingguo Army... then we'll inaugurate an era of mutual bomb-slinging!"
Without a word, Huang Yu vanished from the room.
Beside them, Kong Jie snorted, "If you ask me, drop them straight onto Linjiang!"
"Do you intend to wipe out the civilians of Linjiang?"
Director Zhao glanced at Kong Jie. Kong Jie fell silent. The North Sea was fine; it was populated by pirates, and commercial ships could simply be avoided. But dropping them onto Linjiang... would cause countless casualties.
Kong Jie said in irritation, "Xu Qing has abandoned all restraint just to kill Li Hao... Empty deterrents won't bother him much. The East is his domain; what use is a threat from across the realm?"
Huang Yu's display might produce some effect, but more likely, Xu Qing would merely face political condemnation after the fact.
At present, neither the Nine Departments nor the Imperial Clan would intervene heavily.
To expect them to dispatch troops to crush the East right now?
A pipe dream!
Silver Moon's move would only prompt the factions to tighten restrictions on bomb deployments in the future, but it wouldn't eliminate them entirely.
Once someone emerged who could withstand the impact of a city-destroying bomb, the weapon would cease to serve as a balancing line among factions anyway.
Director Zhao said nothing to that, merely asking, "Have the Bright Sword and the Earth-Overturning Sword set out?"
"They should be on their way. I have no means to track them."
Director Zhao nodded slightly. Yet the distance was simply too great.
Reaching the East was not a matter of a few moments; for now, Li Hao could rely only on himself.
Kong Jie sighed as well.
In his view, Li Hao had been too rash this time. Likely, not even Li Hao had anticipated that Xu Qing would resort to city-destroying bombs. With a powerhouse tracking you and relaying your coordinates, evading the bombardment was nearly impossible.
"Li Hao is, after all, the deputy chief of the Silver Moon Night Patrol. Have the Inspectorate send a missive to Heavenly Star City, condemning Xu Qing and urging Heavenly Star City to step in and halt the conflict..."
Kong Jie rolled his eyes!
*Has Old Zhao lost his mind?!*
*Is that even possible?*
"Go when you're told!"
Director Zhao frowned. "We must at least occupy the moral high ground to justify our subsequent actions. Otherwise, whatever we do will be improper! As for the feud between Li Hao and the Xu family, make no mention of it. Deny everything. If they have evidence, let them take it to the Night Patrol; the Xu clan has no law enforcement authority, and Xu Qing is neither Night Patrol nor Inspectorate!"
"Also, don't forget to mention that Silver Moon dispatched Li Hao to suppress the Red Beard pirates... As for the deaths of Xu Xing and the others, who saw Li Hao do it? Everyone only witnessed him slaying Red Beard. Is Xu Qing pursuing Li Hao relentlessly just to avenge a pirate?"
Kong Jie mused, "You want to use righteousness to force Xu Qing's hand? He cares about his reputation for the sake of his ambitions."
"No chance!"
Director Zhao shook his head. "Xu Qing won't back down so easily. This is merely to deter him from using the Dingguo Army again!"
With that, he waved his hand. "Go, be quick about it. Spread the news far and wide, and don't forget to submit a commendation for Li Hao. Shouldn't the higher-ups grant a reward for slaying a pirate lord of the East Sea? Li Hao likes promotions... give him one! With Hou Xiaochen gone, the Night Patrol is missing a provincial governor-level official... Apply for Li Hao to take the post!"
"This... Fine!"
Kong Jie wasn't entirely clear on what Old Zhao was aiming for, but this was better than doing nothing at all.
Soon, Kong Jie departed.
Once he was gone, Director Zhao pondered for a moment, hesitated, and finally picked up the red communicator on the desk, dialing a number. When the line connected, he said in a heavy voice, "Mobilize the Silver Moon Shadow Guards in Dingbian and the three adjacent provinces. Have them guide Li Hao, intercept Xu Qing, and buy Li Hao some time..."
"Milord..."
"Just do it!"
"Yes!"
The call disconnected shortly.
Director Zhao gazed eastward again, his brow furrowing slightly. The distance was still too vast. Ancient teleportation arrays had long been lost; otherwise, they could have teleported across.
Near Silver Moon, it would have been manageable, but in the East, even Silver Moon had scant forces to deploy.
Men like Kong Jie and Huang Yu could have met Li Hao had he been nearby, but across such vast distances, traveling there was unfeasible.
"The East... the East..."
"Yu Qiao, the Marquis of Dongji, the Divine Sun Society..."
After prolonged deliberation, he picked up the communicator once more and dialed another number. This red communicator was part of the dynasty's most classified communication network, constructed at tremendous cost in manpower and resources.
It was more advanced than communication jades, but only top-ranking officials were authorized to possess one.
Moreover, there was a high likelihood of dynasty surveillance. Yet Director Zhao could no longer afford to care; communication jade networks operated in small circles and isolated systems, incapable of swiftly reaching outsiders.
A moment later, the call connected.
A slightly bemused chuckle came from the other end: "Director Zhao? What wind has prompted Director Zhao to call me today... I am truly honored!"
"Marquis of Dongji, how about Dongji Province deploying troops to threaten Dingbian? At the very least, force the Generals of Heaven and Earth to return to Dingbian..."
"Is Director Zhao joking?"
The noble marquis on the other end chuckled with amusement. "The dynasty still stands; Director Zhao truly knows how to make a jest!"
"When the Silver Moon realm opens once more... Dongji Province may enter Silver Moon bearing a medallion!"
At these words, the Marquis of Dongji fell silent for a heartbeat before replying: "Difficult! Even if the two generals return, I'd say the Demon Sword is still doomed. You underestimate Xu Qing, and you underestimate the Xu clan! Xu Qing is merely playing cat and mouse right now; Li Hao cannot slip through the Xu clan's net!"
"Just do your part."
"Very well! But... this is the dynasty's communication network..."
"Indeed."
Director Zhao smiled. "Would the dynasty eavesdrop on us? Our conversation is strictly classified. If the dynasty monitors us... it means they have lost all trust in us, and aren't they afraid of drawing outrage from all ninety-nine provinces? Thus, this information will not leak. If it does... then something is undeniably wrong with the dynasty for monitoring even us. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Hahaha! Well said, well said!"
The Marquis of Dongji laughed. "Very well, I shall make arrangements. But if Xu Qing values Li Hao more than all of Dingbian, there's nothing I can do."
"Just carry it out."
"Alright. Director Zhao, do not forget your promise."
"Silver Moon people do not break their word."
"Good, that I believe!"
The call ended.
As for whether the dynasty was listening, neither man cared deeply. Even if overheard, what of it?
The dynasty might very well relish seeing such a spectacle unfold!
Director Zhao let out a soft breath. That was all he could do; as for the rest... Li Hao would have to fend for himself.
...
Meanwhile, Xu Qing, who was still hunting Li Hao down, suddenly frowned a short while later. Checking his communication jade, his face turned ash-gray!
"Three minutes ago, the Marquis of Dongji announced that rebel forces had coerced officers and men of the Dingguo Army into launching city-destroying bombs, causing turmoil in the East. The Dongji Army is marching immediately to quell the rebellion, and requests the Duke's Residence to open its gates and join forces to suppress the rebels..."
"Bastard!"
Xu Qing was enraged. What audacity!
The Marquis of Dongji was actually mobilizing troops!
Of course, the man might merely be posturing to intimidate him, but... six of the eight great generals were dead, his two deputy commanders—his own sons—were dead, and he himself was not with the army.
Though he could command from afar, if the Dongji Army truly launched an assault... his forces would undoubtedly collapse.
Gnashing his teeth, he took out his communication jade after a long hesitation and sent a swift message to the two generals.
Regardless of whether the threat was posturing or genuine, powerful figures had to return to oversee the situation.
Only with the two generals holding the fort would the Marquis of Dongji hesitate to act rashly.
"What a Silver Moon!"
He snorted coldly. Without a doubt, someone from Silver Moon had bought off the Marquis of Dongji.
Otherwise, how could that fellow take a stand so readily!
Handling these matters had cost him precious time. Xu Qing snorted once more and shot through the air, resuming his pursuit of Li Hao. Losing the two generals was of no consequence; this development would only make everyone warier of Silver Moon. Those Silver Moon bastards would get what was coming to them!
...
At that very moment, over the North Sea.
Two figures tore through the air with staggering speed, their towering auras causing surrounding powerhouses, pirates, and merchant vessels to scatter in terror.
Hong Yitang wore a bitter expression.
*Damn it all, here we go again—how many days has it even been?!*
*Last time I had to rescue the Bright Sword, and now it's Li Hao's turn. Can't you people stay out of trouble for even a few days?!*
Chapter 194