Divine Powers

"Hahaha!" Laughter rippled across the sea. The group scattered and fled, an exhilarating sense of freedom welling in everyone's chest—like birds taking to the endless sky or fish diving into the boundless deep. Cathartic! The martial masters of Silver Moon had stayed quiet for far too long. Today, a circle of top martial masters had joined hands to surround and slay Xu Qing, the overlord of the East. Who wouldn't find that thrilling? *That's what you get for killing Heavenly Cripple Foot!* Put charitably, Silver Moon martial masters were a band of experts pursuing freedom. Put bluntly, they were a bunch of bandit-like outlaws. They possessed certain bottom lines, but those boundaries weren't particularly high either. Yet Xu Qing's covert murder of Heavenly Cripple Foot had crossed that line. Had Xu Qing killed Heavenly Cripple Foot openly in direct combat, this lot would probably have mocked the dead man instead: *Useless cripple, embarrassing Silver Moon. Losing in a fair duel to an outsider martial master—serves him right for getting beaten to death.* They were just that hypocritical and complex a crowd. Yet today, they had all come. To rescue Li Hao! A Silver Moon martial master could be killed, but not like this. Xu Qing, that old bastard, bullying the young was unacceptable... Even if Li Hao had been the one looking for trouble, Xu Qing should have sent a scion of the same generation! Well... they really were that shameless! Laughter echoed over the water. Northern Fist's booming chuckle drifted from afar. "I'm off first! Li Hao, as a Silver Moon martial master, you need to follow the rules! We Silver Moon folk get called barbarians all because rule-breaking brats like you tarnish our name... Be a good person. Next time we meet, let's hope it's not under these circumstances. Charging straight at the Xu family... Couldn't you have asked that Zhao fellow for an official document first? Claim that the Xu family was rebelling, breeding bandits to bolster their own power, colluding with pirates, or plenty of other crimes... and wipe them out on behalf of the dynasty! Look at you now, acting just like a bandit. How disgraceful!" As the last word fell, he had vanished. Northern Fist and Tyrant Saber had barely unsealed themselves. Having arrived late and fought for only a brief time, neither needed Li Hao's help to suppress anything. Now that the fight was over and the enemy dead, these experts—who could barely stand the sight of one another—had no intention of lingering to catch up. They weren't in the mood! Besides, Yuan Shuo was right here, and they could hardly bear to spare the old monster a second glance. They didn't even bother saying goodbye! Northern Fist hadn't mentioned Yuan Shuo once, while Tyrant Saber was even colder, leaving without uttering a single word. They simply weren't walking the same path! Don't be fooled by their apparent unity abroad; back in Silver Moon, on equal footing, news might spread tomorrow that Tyrant Saber had killed Northern Fist, Northern Fist had killed Bright Light Sword, and Bright Light Sword had killed Southern Fist... Yes, it was truly that ridiculous. Those two could leave, but Earth-Overturning Sword and Bright Light Sword could not. Both had unsealed significant portions of their power and still needed Li Hao's assistance to suppress their backlash. Thus, at this moment, the group of four people and one dog stayed together. Yuan Shuo wore a sneer of pure disdain! Even if he were weaker, he was still utterly contemptuous, not bothering to look at the two of them. The other two reacted much the same, ignoring Yuan Shuo in return. Earth-Overturning Sword was slightly better, but Bright Light Sword wouldn't look his way at all, knowing that if she glanced at him, Yuan Shuo would smirk coldly as if itching to strike her. Evidently, the old monster held grudges. He remembered the rumor that had gone around. Bright Light Sword had once bullied Li Hao. Li Hao also sensed the bizarre tension. Just moments ago, these figures had fought side by side in seamless harmony, yet the instant the enemy fell... why did they look ready to break into an all-out brawl at any second? Hong Yitang wasn't so bad, but Li Hao's own master... why was he looking at Hong Yitang with hostility as well? Hong Yitang appeared completely composed. Unflustered and unhurried, he drifted leisurely over the East Sea. Yuan Shuo sneered repeatedly. Hong Yitang knew why Yuan Shuo was sneering. While his face remained serene, he sneered back in his heart: *Go ahead and be jealous. Do you feel like you're about to lose your disciple?* *Heh!* *Serve you right for running off to the Central Region. If you hadn't shown up this time, your disciple... might have become mine before long.* *Heh!* Of course, Hong Yitang didn't particularly covet the boy either. Damn it all, Li Hao stirred up far too much trouble; it was impossible to keep up. Over the past few days alone, Hong Yitang had fought multiple battles for Li Hao's sake. He felt the kid was even more belligerent than Yuan Shuo. Just as well—let Yuan Shuo take him and cause chaos together! Among the four people and one dog, aside from Black Panther whimpering in agony, both Li Hao and Yuan Shuo were heavily injured. The other two had unsealed their locks, leaving their internal organs on the verge of collapsing, yet everyone braced themselves in absolute silence. When no one was around, one could groan. With others present—especially rivals—one might lose a battle, but never face. Even if the agony was killing them, they refused to let out a peep. Seeing that no one was speaking, Li Hao had no choice but to break the silence. "Where are we going to heal?" They had to find a place! They couldn't just keep drifting across the sea forever, could they? All three of them were trying to act colder than the next. Couldn't someone just name a destination instead of flying around aimlessly? "Ask him!" Bright Light Sword and Earth-Overturning Sword turned toward Yuan Shuo in unison. Yuan Shuo appeared rather smug, but Hong Yitang remarked placidly, "A man who has spent decades digging graves and burrowing tunnels has safehouses everywhere. He might even have excavated under the sea. There should be a place. He's been to the Eastern Continent, and he's been to the East Sea; otherwise, how could he have brawled with Xu Qing back then?" Yuan Shuo's gaze turned chilling. "Don't think that igniting a couple more locks gives you the right to look down on everyone! Is my business yours to discuss?" Earth-Overturning Sword replied calmly, "Fair enough. I won't mention it next time. After all, you're older, so I should yield to you. Isn't that right, Brother Yuan?" "..." Li Hao kept his mouth shut. *These two aren't going to fight right here, are they?* They hadn't fought earlier! Besides, Hong Yitang had possessed a decent temper before. Why did he seem so prickly today? There was a clear hint of provocation. As for his own master... the old demon had always been this arrogant, which came as no surprise. Bright Light Sword, meanwhile, seemed to act like a total bystander, utterly silent and practically gloating. Her expression all but screamed: *Fight! Go on, fight!* Sure enough, not a single Silver Moon martial master was normal. Li Hao grumbled internally. The arrogant Sky Sword hadn't even given the rest of them a glance after speaking a single sentence to Yuan Shuo; the man had suppressed the old duke with one sword strike, then turned and left. Northern Fist's insistence on rules was somewhat hypocritical. Tyrant Saber was cold and haughty. In Li Hao's eyes, none of these people were entirely sane. Still... their arrival to reinforce him had felt undeniably satisfying. As fellow Silver Moon natives, meeting a fellow townsman naturally stirred warmth and sentiment—compatriots were simply more reliable. Yuan Shuo scoffed, too disdainful to argue further. In front of his disciple, he showed considerable restraint. After all, maintaining the persona of an enlightened expert and scholarly figure wasn't easy. His disciple had always believed him to be a kind-faced, benevolent elder, and he couldn't let that image crack. As for Li Hao... he might have thought that in the past, but he certainly didn't anymore. All that could be said was that his master was far too immersed in his own act. Having heard so many rumors about his master, if Li Hao still believed him to be benevolent, gentle, and refined, he would be a fool. "Let's go. To Dongbin. I have a house there, though I haven't visited in years. I'm not sure if it's still standing or if someone has squatted in it." Earth-Overturning Sword wore a look that said, *I knew it.* He had expected as much! The group sped forward, flying swiftly toward Dongbin. *** Meanwhile, the news had already detonated. Today, the entire upper echelon of the dynasty had witnessed a magnificent drama. Inside the Inspectorate. The director had returned. Looking over the intelligence, he chuckled. "Just as I said: when two tigers clash, one is bound to die! A good death... Xu Qing was just too useless, and the Xu family too cowardly. They didn't even manage to kill a single Silver Moon martial master. Getting only half a show leaves a bad aftertaste!" Had a few died on each side, an all-out war would have erupted between Silver Moon and the Xu family, turning heaven and earth upside down as both threw out their trump cards. In the end, Silver Moon might have unearthed its ancient relics, and the Xu family theirs, leading to a clash of ancient forebears, then a grand war between East and North, and then... that would have been truly entertaining! No one knew his inner thoughts. Those standing around remained silent. The chief director of the Night Patrol was present, as was Deputy Director Huang Long. Both served concurrently as deputy directors of the Inspectorate, and both had arrived to attend this high-level meeting to analyze the fallout. After all, a high-ranking official, a frontier viceroy, and the overlord of the East had perished. The matter had to be addressed. Otherwise, the majesty of the dynasty would vanish completely. The Xu family was, after all, one of the three founding ducal houses. Huang Long was the first to speak. "Director, let us discuss the aftermath. Li Hao and the other Silver Moon bandits directly executed the Duke of Dingguo. How should this be handled?" "The Marquess of Dingguo!" The director corrected his title, frowning. "Don't treat this lightly! Don't treat official decrees as empty paper! Xu Qing was the one who initiated the use of city-destroying bombs, which was an error—a fundamental, catastrophic error. I don't care whether he did it for self-preservation or to kill an enemy; it was impermissible! That was the penalty the dynasty imposed upon him and the Xu family. If you use the wrong title in a formal setting again... I'll have to make you suffer a bit!" Huang Long clamped his mouth shut. Within the Night Patrol, he dared to clash with the chief director. Here, however, he did not dare challenge this man. The Nine Departments had existed for eighty years. This man was the second director of the Inspectorate; the first had been his father, who held the post for fifty years. The son had now presided for thirty. Not a single director of the Nine Departments was easy to deal with. Having spoken, the director did not dwell on the matter. He glanced around the room, not bothering to solicit their opinions. After pondering for a moment, he smiled. "Let's do this: send a document to Silver Moon. Didn't Silver Moon request a promotion for Li Hao? Approved! Li Hao went there to suppress bandits and slew Red Beard, the pirate of the East Sea. He has performed meritorious service!" Huang Long's expression shifted slightly. The next instant, the director continued, "In addition, issue wanted notices for Earth-Overturning Sword, Bright Light Sword, Northern Fist, Tyrant Saber, and that Five Animals Old Demon. Those five banded together to murder the Marquess of Dingguo, a heinous crime. Have the Military Law Department deploy the Heavenly Star Army directly to encircle and suppress them, and request the Plain King's assistance. The imperial family also has an obligation to eliminate these great outlaws!" "Since the old duke isn't dead and is still breathing... and his son is the one who died... let the old duke choose another son to inherit the title of Marquess of Dingguo. He has plenty of sons anyway; the marquisate remains with the Xu family!" After laying down these directives, the director considered briefly before adding, "Right, regarding Dongbin's reckless launch of city-destroying bombs: the director of Dongbin's General Administration Bureau bears undeniable responsibility. Starting with him, down to the garrison marshal, the local branch director of the Inspectorate, and the local branch director of the Night Patrol—strip every single one of them of their posts!" "As for Sky Sword Manor... forget it. Sky Sword intervened only to trade a single strike with the old duke... a martial sparring between supernaturals, perfectly normal. We'll leave it be." Issuing bounties on the Silver Moon martial masters, having the ducal house choose a replacement to take over the marquisate, promoting Li Hao, and purging Dongbin's top officials... In just a few words, he settled the entire affair. Someone moved to object, but the director, who didn't look particularly old, slapped the table. "That settles it! It's hardly worth fussing over. The death of a former marquis is a loss to the dynasty, but Xu Qing was an eyesore anyway... Have the imperial family bestow a posthumous title. Huang Long, head to the imperial court shortly to request the decree!" Huang Long's face shifted, but he nodded nevertheless. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Director, regarding Li Hao's promotion... is that not... open to reconsideration?" A Provincial Governor! That was a towering figure in the Inspectorate hierarchy. Hou Xiaochen had been a Provincial Governor, as had Kong Jie. Generally speaking, a single province had only two such posts, depending on whether the local Inspectorate director and Night Patrol head were powerful enough. In weaker provinces, there might only be one, chosen between the two. Rank-wise, Huang Long himself was essentially a Provincial Governor; it was just that titles mattered less in Heavenly Star City than actual authority and personal strength. The director looked at him, seemingly puzzled. After a pause, he smiled. "Why? Do you have an objection?" "No, it's not that..." "Then it's settled!" The director continued, "Right, I almost forgot you're also the Northern Commander of the Night Patrol. Here's a task for you... Take charge of hunting down the five outlaws. Kill as many of those five as you can!" Huang Long felt as though he had just swallowed a fly. Yet the director was correct. This... this was indeed the responsibility of the Northern Commander. Pursuing and eliminating great outlaws! However, those five figures—even the weakest among them, Yuan Shuo—were monstrously powerful now. Having fused five forces, Yuan Shuo had leapt straight into the Metamorphosis stage. What was more, his disciple wasn't weak either. Escaping from Xu Qing's clutches—even if Xu Qing hadn't initially unsealed himself—meant facing the strength of the Metamorphosis stage. This meant Li Hao possessed the power to contend with that level. Factoring in his methods for slaying Red Beard... even a Metamorphosis expert would have to tread carefully. How was he supposed to deal with them? Huang Long understood in his heart that this was the director's punishment for speaking out of turn. Within the Nine Departments, rule was virtually dynastic; what the director said was final and brooks no argument. Yet he was truly unwilling! Silver Moon merely gained five wanted criminals, suffering no practical loss whatsoever. As for the ducal residence... he didn't care much about them either, but the director's actions were an obvious favor to Silver Moon. Why? He couldn't fathom it. The director of the Inspectorate shouldn't have any ties to Silver Moon. Was he merely watching two tigers fight from the mountain? And then there was Hou Xiaochen... At that thought, he suppressed his desire to press further on the matter and shifted topics. "Director, I will do my utmost! Also, regarding Deputy Director Hou Xiaochen... his recent rampage at Heavenly Star Academy..." The director seemed to ponder the matter for a moment before smiling with subtle amusement. "Right. Even if he was executing an assignment, his demeanor was excessively brutish! Executing an instructor directly within the academy—even if the man was guilty, a trial was required! The Inspectorate and the Night Patrol possess enforcement authority, but it cannot be abused!" At this, he slammed the table, his tone turning frosty with apparent anger. "Hou Xiaochen grew too comfortable being the top authority in Silver Moon and forgot this is Heavenly Star City! Demote him by one grade to Senior City Inspecting Commissioner! Forfeit three years of salary as a warning to others!" Huang Long's brow furrowed at once. Beside him, another deputy director also frowned slightly. "Director, is that not... too lenient? Heavenly Star Academy is an institution of higher learning established jointly by the Nine Departments and the imperial family. Hou Xiaochen's conduct was utterly unbridled." The director nodded again. "True! It is a bit lenient, nothing more than a slap on the wrist. He won't learn his lesson..." He seemed to hesitate, or perhaps he was deliberately waiting for the room to quiet down. Only when everyone fell silent did he speak: "In that case, doesn't he hold the nominal title of Heavenly Star Commander? Order him to capture or execute one thousand members of the Three Great Organizations within three months, including no fewer than one hundred Three Suns and no fewer than ten Rising Lights, to redeem himself through meritorious service... That will be all!" The moment those words were uttered, the faces of everyone present shifted. What did this mean? Directly unleashing Hou Xiaochen into open warfare against the Three Great Organizations? With the backing of one of the Nine Departments—the Inspectorate, the very organ of law enforcement... What was the director actually planning? Did he intend an all-out war with the Three Great Organizations, or was he borrowing their blades to get rid of Hou Xiaochen? No one knew for sure. Both were possible. Had the death of the Duke of Dingguo made this man restless as well? Huang Long and his peers felt deeply uncomfortable. With this order, Hou Xiaochen possessed a formal mandate backed by the director's authority to strike at the Three Great Organizations. Given Hou Xiaochen's temperament, he might seize the pretext to mobilize experts from both the Inspectorate and the Night Patrol. After all, this was the direct command of the Inspectorate's director. Even though Huang Long and the chief director served as deputy directors, the Inspectorate—as one of the Nine Departments—still wielded immense rallying power and executive authority. Its prestige remained formidable. "Alright, meeting adjourned!" Seeing that he was about to sweep out of the room, another deputy director below was forced to speak up. "Director, there is still one matter left unresolved." "Oh? There's more?" "Yes." The man braced himself and said, "A formal dispatch arrived from the Department of Administration, raising once again the proposal to merge agencies and unify enforcement..." The premise was straightforward. The Department of Administration suggested carrying out a reform across the ninety-nine provinces to establish the primacy of a single provincial head. For Silver Moon, for instance, the General Administration Bureau should be formally recognized as holding supreme command, explicitly placing all other administrative bodies under its jurisdiction. They had even proposed establishing the post of Governor-General as a permanent office. In fact, several provinces had already implemented this model, such as Linjiang. The local General Administration Bureau was upgraded and renamed the Governor-General's Residence, with the bureau director serving concurrently as Governor-General. The director chuckled. "Do they think the world isn't chaotic enough? Insisting on manufacturing local warlords, or do they believe that since they hold sway over most General Administration Bureaus, creating a little chaos will strip power from the other eight departments?" No one answered. Too much hung in the balance. When the Nine Departments were originally established, the Department of Administration was ranked first. However, the Military Law Department and the Inspectorate were by no means weak. Though the Department of Administration held primacy in name, the latter two held military command and local law enforcement respectively—power of immense weight. In recent years, the Department of Administration had sought to consolidate authority, proposing the establishment of Governor-General posts multiple times. Every attempt had been voted down! With the topic raised once more, the director considered it and laughed. "It's not entirely out of the question! However, we cannot simply appoint the director of a General Administration Bureau as Governor-General. That is utterly inappropriate. When the mansion is teetering on the brink of collapse, how can we let scholars run the show!" At these words, everyone's expressions changed drastically. A prudent veteran quietly cautioned, "Director, mind your words!" *The mansion teetering on the brink of collapse!* The Heavenly Star Dynasty had stood for two hundred years. On the surface, the Nine Departments were secure and the imperial family kept a low profile; aside from the Three Great Organizations stirring up trouble, all seemed peaceful. With the application of technology unearthed from ancient ruins, there was even an illusion of flourishing prosperity. Yet a leader of one of the Nine Departments had actually uttered such words... It was spine-chilling. Even if many harbored similar thoughts, none dared say it aloud. "Hahaha, fine, I won't say it. Reply to them along those lines." With that, he turned and walked out. Only after he had departed did the crowd let out a quiet breath of relief. Huang Long seized the opening to air his grievances: "The director not only spared Silver Moon's Li Hao from punishment, but even promoted and rewarded him. Isn't this just feeding such reckless arrogance? If you ask me, that Li Hao is a source of chaos. How long has it been, and how many has he killed?" "Today he dared storm a ducal residence. Tomorrow, he might dare storm the Nine Departments!" Among those present, some gave polite, noncommittal chuckles, others pretended not to hear, and one answered evenly, "If you object to the director's decision, take it up with him. Complaining to us serves no purpose." Huang Long cursed inwardly! *If talking to him worked, would I be talking to you?* *Wasn't I just trying to get you all to sign a joint objection?* Meanwhile, the chief director, who had sat as impassive as a Buddhist statue throughout, picked up his large teacup and leisurely strolled toward the exit. He hadn't uttered a single word from beginning to end, entirely at ease, as though none of this concerned him. The others were already accustomed to it. Instead, their discussion drifted to other matters—the audacity and madness of the Silver Moon martial masters, their formidable strength, and the power of the sixth-stage expert who had appeared. As the debate continued, fresh news arrived. A high-ranking official hurried into the hall and announced in a ringing voice, "A piece of news has just begun circulating and is spreading rapidly..." Everyone pricked up their ears. Having been engaged in the meeting, they hadn't paid attention. What news had spread? Fixated by so many stares, the official's scalp tingled, and he hastened to explain, "Because a sixth-stage expert appeared in the East, Superpower City swiftly released a public notice, formally naming the realm and promoting it everywhere..." Several people froze, and the next moment, someone cursed, "Superpower City? What business is it of theirs to meddle! Who gave them the right to name it?" This was not merely a matter of naming. It was a question of dominion over the supernatural sphere. Even if it were to be named, that was the Night Patrol's duty; they were the sole officially recognized, lawful enforcement agency wielding supernatural power. Superpower City was also situated in the Central Region. It was a metropolis built and inhabited exclusively by supernaturals. Someone had once mentioned it to Li Hao, though he hadn't paid much attention at the time. Another official slapped his forehead in vexation. "We didn't think of it in time, and they beat us to the punch! Those bastards... truly shameless! Well, out with it—what name did they give it?" "The Divine Power Realm!" "What?" "The Divine Power Realm!" The messenger repeated himself. Some looked bewildered, some frowned slightly, while others seemed to realize something, their faces shifting. "Did they explain why they chose that name?" "There is an explanation! It is said that in the sixth stage, one breaks two locks upon the five internal organs, fusing two elemental supernatural powers. Once the realm stabilizes, one acquires divine powers! One truly possesses the might to shatter cities and destroy nations..." Divine powers! At that moment, several people understood and remarked coldly, "It seems Superpower City has produced a Divine Power Realm expert! No wonder they were in such a rush to proclaim their strength and lure more supernaturals to settle there. It seems... the repercussions of the battle in the East are fully unfolding!" Those at the sixth stage were growing impatient. With the appearance of the old Duke of Dingguo and Sky Sword, if the Nine Departments, the imperial family, the Three Great Organizations, and the various regional overlords didn't reveal theirs now, they would be left behind. Without a sixth-stage powerhouse presiding over them... Even though the Duke of Dingguo's Residence had suffered catastrophic losses, the presence of a single sixth-stage expert was enough to compensate for everything and even draw more experts and factions to pledge allegiance. For no other reason than that they possessed an existence beyond Rising Light. For Superpower City, publicizing the realm's name at this juncture was secondary; the crux was using an unsubtle method to announce: *Come to Superpower City—we have a Divine Power Realm expert!* Had they lacked one, how could they understand the stage? Without understanding it, they would never have been able to name it. Instantly, everyone saw through their intentions. Even Huang Long could not help snorting coldly. "Superpower City? A malignant tumor no better than the Three Great Organizations, yet they dare step forward now!" "Ahem!" Someone coughed softly. A city where countless supernaturals congregated, standing openly in the Central Region, was naturally not simple; one had to be careful not to stir up trouble. Everyone knew who stood behind it, so they refrained from speaking further. "It seems the fallout from Xu Qing's death will continue to ferment for some time. Just watch—those sixth-stage experts will pop up one after another. If they don't... they'll probably worry about others eyeing their territory." Someone smiled wryly, shaking their head in helplessness. Another frowned. "Then... what about the Inspectorate?" Indeed! Sixth-stage experts were emerging elsewhere. How would the Inspectorate respond? As one of the Nine Departments, if the Inspectorate lacked a sixth-stage expert, what authority would it have left? How could it intimidate the four corners of the land? Right then, an amused voice drifted in from outside: "Announce to the public that my father, the previous director of the Inspectorate, has stepped into the Divine Power Realm. Since Superpower City has already announced it, we might as well adopt the name!" Everyone was stunned! *Your father?* *The first director!* Several were shaken, unable to help asking, "The old director... is still alive?" "Nonsense. If Xu Qing's father is still breathing, could my father be dead?" "..." There was no reply to that. Yet soon, their expressions shifted. If the first director was still alive, what about the other eight departments? What about the previous Heavenly Star King? During the great upheaval eighty years ago, those individuals had been towering figures, already in their forties or fifties. Eighty years had passed since then; by age, they would all be well over a hundred years old. In the ancient civilization, that might not have been considered old. In this era, however... it was ancient! Whether for supernaturals or martial masters, higher realms brought greater peril. A strong physique meant nothing if the internal organs remained fragile and liable to rupture. How had those figures managed to survive to this day? Could they... have been sustained by the Spring of Life all along? That was a chilling thought! Having delivered that single sentence, the director did not show himself again, vanishing entirely. The others spoke no more. Now, they couldn't help wondering: what level of strength did their current director possess? Though he appeared youthful, he was already around seventy years old and had served as director for thirty years. His strength was unquestionably formidable. *** The aftershocks continued to spread. The name of the sixth stage began circulating swiftly. The Central Region learned of it immediately. When the news reached the North, the upper echelon naturally found out at once, though it might take a long time to filter down to the common folk. Divine Power! Superpower City in the Central Region had promptly supplied the name and explanation: *Dual powers give birth to divine powers; a single force can shatter a city.* *** In Silver Moon. Director Zhao glanced at Huang Yu. After a moment of thought, Huang Yu nodded slightly. "The name isn't bad. Clearly, they prepared it well in advance. Among the five elemental energies, fusing two powers can indeed produce an extraordinary ability of immense destructive might..." Director Zhao also nodded, smiling. "Furthermore, the Inspectorate's ruling has arrived. Li Hao is promoted; the others... are all placed on the wanted list!" Huang Yu replied nonchalantly, "Then issue the warrants! Distribute the arrest notices and execute the dynasty's orders! Attach a bounty: anyone who slays one of the five demons shall be rewarded with one hundred divine energy stones!" "..." Director Zhao stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words, before finally chuckling. "Old Huang, you're... being a bit too much!" "A hundred isn't a small amount." Huang Yu maintained his perpetually calm and solemn demeanor. "Silver Moon is too poor. Li Hao took thirty thousand stones earlier, so where would we find extra stockpiles? The higher-ups didn't mention a reward either, but we can't expect people to work for free. A hundred divine energy stones can be traded for one hundred thousand cubic meters of mysterious energy, or even countless Star Coins. Slaying just one instantly makes a person fabulously wealthy... That is more than enough!" *The hell it is!* Director Zhao cursed inwardly, keeping a straight face. What a joke. Still, this worked out nicely. "Let's do that, then. Distribute the notices and circulate their portraits... A hundred divine energy stones for anyone who kills one. Silver Moon must uphold the dynasty's rule!" "Understood!" The two met each other's eyes and nodded in tacit agreement. Beside them, Kong Jie had been ignored and hadn't spoken, lost in contemplation. Once the two finished talking and noticed his silence, they asked with some curiosity, "Old Kong, what are you thinking about?" Kong Jie knitted his brows. "I was wondering... Sky Sword stepped into Divine Power. Between him and us fully unsealing, who would be stronger? Judging from the intelligence, unless we completely sever our supernatural locks... our unsealed state might fall short against Divine Power!" That was a frustrating realization! When the old duke intervened, the four experts hadn't directly clashed with him, but it was clear that even after witnessing their strength, the old duke had still dared to attack. Only upon seeing Sky Sword did he choose to back down. This implied... a Divine Power Realm expert might be able to defeat the likes of Earth-Overturning Sword. Director Zhao chuckled. "Unless you completely unseal, or fully sever a supernatural lock... you're very likely inferior! However, completely snapping a lock on the five organs requires time to absorb and digest... At that point, it's virtually equivalent to Divine Power. If you don't believe me, you can try snapping one right now; perhaps you'll step into this so-called Divine Power Realm as well." It merely required time to assimilate, however. Xu Qing had practically reached that threshold; he had completely severed a supernatural lock. Naturally, he hadn't dared sever two, as an explosive surge in power would have caused his body to burst and kill him. A martial master's inner strength was simply too ferocious. Kong Jie was speechless. What nonsense. *Why don't you try snapping one yourself!* *I certainly won't!* "What was Sky Sword thinking?" Kong Jie still couldn't fathom it. After a long silence, he shook his head. "Forget it, no point dwelling on it! What concerns me now is whether that kid Li Hao will return. If he does... I'll have a headache. If he doesn't, I think I'll have a headache too." A troublemaker through and through! Today he had turned five powerful experts into wanted outlaws; tomorrow, all of Silver Moon might end up on the wanted list. Thinking of this, he frowned. "The various factions will soon put forward their sixth-stage experts. Regardless of whether their realms are stable, they'll reveal them first. What about our Silver Moon...?" "Sky Sword!" Director Zhao chuckled. "He's the master of Sky Sword Manor, and isn't he from Silver Moon? He'll do!" Kong Jie was thoroughly rendered speechless. *Damn it, you can do that?* He rolled his eyes and continued, "Right, what about Yuan Shuo... He achieved the grand completion of his five forces this time. Do you think he can step directly into the next level, or... will he have to take the same path as us—saturating his supernatural locks, then finding ways to strengthen his internal organs before attempting to advance...?" "Ask him. How would we know?" Director Zhao shook his head. "So many Silver Moon martial masters took action this time, but the drawback has become glaringly obvious: unsealing a martial master... is far too troublesome! Although martial cultivation places greater emphasis on strengthening the self than supernatural cultivation... if this bottleneck cannot be overcome, the future of martial masters remains limited." "The supernaturals are no different; they haven't resolved this issue either," Kong Jie remarked. "At the current stage, those in the Divine Power Realm are mostly relying on treasures to sustain themselves—either the Spring of Life, Blood God Seeds, or other relics. Very few have stably stepped into the sixth stage." "Sigh, let's wait and see!" The men talked a while longer before letting the matter rest. As for the wanted notices... they were a farce, and none of them took them seriously. *** On this day, wave after wave of news sent shockwaves through the supernatural domain. Xu Qing slain. Martial masters unsealed! The sixth stage of the supernatural realm! Any of these was enough to shake the world. Yet on this same day, a comparatively modest piece of news began circulating among a circle of youths. The Divine Master Roll had updated. It had been a long time since the roll was revised, but today brought major shifts: several names had been removed, several added, and the most prominent and eye-catching addition was the name "Demon Sword Li Hao." A figure who had previously been an insignificant nobody in the North had now appeared on the Central Region's Divine Master Roll. Moreover, the Divine Master Roll had previously listed only supernaturals. Today, a martial master had been included. Li Hao! The Divine Master Roll selected the strongest, most renowned experts under thirty years old in the Central Region. It wasn't that martial masters were barred from entry, but that prior to this, no martial master under thirty had ever qualified to make the list! In fact, Li Hao was not the only new entrant; the Divine Master Roll also recorded monstrous beasts. Any great demon of the demon race that had awakened within the past ten years, provided it possessed sufficient renown and power, would also be recorded. This time, an additional great demon was listed: Golden Hound. Yes—Black Panther. However, few knew Black Panther's name, and its breed and demonic lineage were difficult to determine, so it was ultimately designated by the name Golden Hound. On the Divine Master Roll, Li Hao was ranked twenty-seventh. Yes, merely twenty-seventh. His greatest recorded battle achievement was neither slaying the Metamorphosis-stage Red Beard nor killing General Huang, but executing Xu Zhen... That was Li Hao's only publicly confirmed feat. Slaying a Metamorphosis expert and escaping Xu Qing's pursuit had not been factored in. Many who received the list scoffed in disdain! What kind of bogus ranking was this! The Demon Sword was ranked only twenty-seventh? Then Red Beard had died an utterly humiliating death, and figures like General Huang had perished for nothing. However, the Divine Master Roll provided an explanation: it recorded only confirmed combat capability. Li Hao's true strength was likely best represented in the North Sea battle, where he had slain Xu Zhen with a single sword strike, placing his power between the late and peak Rising Light stages. In that light, the ranking matched Li Hao's apparent strength. Of course, if judged by his slaying of a Metamorphosis expert... Li Hao would be top three at the very least, and contending for first would not be out of the question. Black Panther, by contrast, was ranked higher than Li Hao—at eleventh. Its recorded feat: slaying a late Rising Light and suppressing a peak Rising Light, which also stemmed from the North Sea engagement. Black Panther's final act of swallowing that peak Rising Light hadn't been witnessed, so it went unrecorded. Its strength, however, was logged as peak Rising Light. Evidently, the top ten on this roll likely all possessed Metamorphosis-level combat power. At thirty years old, those who had encountered supernatural power early belonged to the very first generation of supernaturals, potentially becoming Heaven-Blessed Godly Masters as early as age ten. In terms of seniority and standing, some had already risen to become regional overlords. Nonetheless, this list circulated only within a limited scope, read primarily by the younger generation, while others rarely glanced at it and took it with a grain of salt. After all, if you believed the roll and treated Li Hao as an ordinary late Rising Light... you wouldn't even know how you died. Yet the greatest effect of this list was spreading Li Hao's moniker of "Demon Sword" completely across the supernatural circles of the Central Region. Supernaturals in the Central Region now virtually all knew that such a formidable martial master roamed the two continents of the East and North. Before this, news had merely circulated among the upper echelons, with no one deliberately attempting to make Li Hao famous. The Divine Master Roll had handed Li Hao a massive surge in renown. *** "Intriguing!" At that moment, inside a grand palace, someone chuckled. Ying Hongyue glanced over the roster and remarked with a light smile, "Quite interesting. This Divine Master Roll feels somewhat like an imitation of a supreme expert from the ancient civilization... ranking experts to test the waters step by step, provoking experts from every faction! For now, it only covers the younger generation, and only the Central Region, but it has already begun encompassing the four directions. Going forward, it might expand further... until finally, the experts of the entire dynasty, perhaps even the entire world, are swept onto it... Building fame first, then spreading out gradually..." Beside him, Orange Moon, whose injuries had only recently healed, asked with some confusion in a low voice, "Leader, do you mean someone is pulling the strings behind the Divine Master Roll?" "The Divine Master Roll... the Roster of Life and Death..." Ying Hongyue chuckled. "Since ancient times, anyone who engages in ranking experts is either an idiot or an expert! And an expert with wicked intentions at that, hahaha... Stirring up chaos! In literature there is no undisputed first, but in martial arts there is no second. Even if you don't wish to compete, as the hegemon of a faction, how can you afford not to?" "Consider how many died back when Silver Moon's Roster of Heroes was released—are you not aware?" He turned to Orange Moon with a brilliant smile. "How many perished just to climb onto that list? A single general's triumph is built upon ten thousand rotting bones; who among those on the roster doesn't have souls wailing beneath their feet?" Orange Moon nodded, speaking no further. She was merely curious... who had created this Divine Master Roll? Even with Red Moon's intelligence network, they had failed to unearth the answer. Ying Hongyue smiled. "My guess... the most likely candidate is the imperial family. If not them... it means another faction is rising, lurking in the shadows, possessing an intelligence network that is anything but weak." The imperial family! Orange Moon pondered for a moment and nodded. "That is indeed possible." She then said, "Leader, Li Hao is growing stronger by the day, as are Yuan Shuo and the others... If this continues..." Ying Hongyue's smile faded slightly. After a brief pause, he said slowly, "Have the Council of Elders and the Ancient God Guards mobilize. Await an opportune moment, then move to eliminate Li Hao!" With that, he looked at Orange Moon. "And as for you lot, it's time you worked a little harder!" "Yes, I will." Ying Hongyue said no more. Standing up, he walked inward while saying, "Before Li Hao returns... go trade for Purple Moon. Huang Yu and the others aren't willing to completely tear up our relationship just yet. Raise the price—ten drops of the Spring of Life!" Orange Moon's expression shifted slightly, and she hastily said, "Thank you, Leader!" "As it should be!" Ying Hongyue smiled and soon vanished from sight. Orange Moon lingered no further and departed swiftly. The leader had emphasized acting before Li Hao returned... Clearly, he knew that Li Hao was riding high on soaring momentum and acting with utter abandon. Once that boy returned... he might well execute Purple Moon on the spot. The likelihood of that was over ninety-nine percent; the youth was an utter lunatic.