Parting of Ways

Everyone received Southern Fist's message. Li Hao was far too busy to bother answering. Hong Yitang went ahead and blocked him altogether. Why let him harass them? He hadn't made it in time for the battle anyway. Who told him to be Southern Fist instead of Southern Leg? With legs that slow, he'd missed his chance and would just have to wait for next time. Heavenly Star City was simply too far. Still, Southern Fist had only himself to blame for rushing back there. Hong Yitang had no sympathy for him. Besides, the fellow had scampered back to the imperial family in such a hurry that some benefit was probably waiting for him there. Otherwise, knowing full well that benefits were to be had on Li Hao's side, why else would he have run off so quickly? At this moment, Li Hao was constructing the Five Bridges. His inner force connected, and his divine intent stabilized. With the ancient text *Five Bridges Construction Method* as a guide, he had something to consult and was far from clueless. Yuan Shuo and the others hadn't bothered building them, but Li Hao paid that no mind. Just as Yuan Shuo said, they already possessed a foundation, whereas Li Hao's foundation was poor. He had to take things step by step. His sudden explosive advancements had granted him great strength, but it was far too hollow and unstable. There were many basic fundamentals he had yet to master. Strictly speaking, barely three months had passed since he had stepped into the Ten-Slayer realm. In those three months, even as he advanced by leaps and bounds, countless flaws had also crept into his cultivation. Even from the very first time he touched the Five Animals Art, it had only been three years in total. As Li Hao constructed the Five Bridges, he turned these matters over in his mind. The ancient texts he had brought back from Battle Heaven City echoed through his thoughts as well. He had memorized them backwards and forwards, yet there were still gaps and misinterpretations in his understanding of certain points. With two top swordsmen and a martial arts grandmaster right beside him, Li Hao did not hesitate to ask for advice whenever he hit a snag in his cultivation. *** Time slipped by in the blink of an eye. Three days passed in an instant. A vast number of divine energy stones were consumed. Finally, Hong Yitang opened his eyes and said, "I'm heading back first. Without me at the Sword Gate, now that there are more disciples than before, I need to check on things." Bright Light Sword looked surprised. *Leaving already?* *Given such an incredible opportunity, you're not going to cultivate?* Over the past few days, Bright Light Sword had been overjoyed. In just three days, she had completely filled her third organ's supernatural lock at astonishing speed. The progress was far better than a year or two of cultivating on her own. She wished she could stay in seclusion here until the day she died. Why on earth was he leaving? As for Li Hao, over the past three days, he had mainly been smoothing out his system. By now, the construction of his Five Bridges was nearly complete. Hearing Hong Yitang announce his departure, Li Hao furrowed his brows slightly. "Will it be safe to head back right now? In Silver Moon, the enemy's strength is mainly concentrated in White Moon City, but the Sword Gate is still quite a distance from there..." Hong Yitang chuckled. "No matter! They won't rashly make a move against me. The cost outweighs the gain—what good does killing me do them? To stand a chance of killing me, they would have to send at least one sixth-stage expert, and even then they couldn't be certain. Besides, at this stage, none of the sixth-stage powerhouses are fully consolidated in their realm." At that point, he paused, thought for a moment, and added, "The Five Animals Breathing Art might also be of great use to sixth-stage superpowers. I can sense a bit of it, and those superpowers can probably sense it too. I'm afraid you master and disciple will both be facing no shortage of trouble." He hesitated briefly, then continued, "Not just the two of you, but Yuan Xingwu and Chen Yuhua as well!" His expression grew somewhat grave. "Even though the version they cultivate isn't the final iteration of the Five Animals Breathing Art... once word spreads far and wide, people will inevitably be tempted. Think it through for yourselves; I won't interfere in the affairs of the Five Animals Sect." At this stage, most people hadn't realized this yet. Or rather, they didn't understand the true profundity of the Five Animals Breathing Art. Xu Qing had actually caught on to quite a lot during his final moments. Unfortunately for him, he was dead. Otherwise, Xu Qing would certainly have realized just how pivotal the Five Animals Breathing Art was. Even those who practiced the Five Animals Breathing Art might not fully grasp it. Li Hao himself hadn't understood before, thinking that all breathing techniques were like this. Now, however, he had begun to see it. If nothing else, when he coordinated with his master, that sensation of their spirit, intent, and blood essence linking together was profoundly wondrous. Furthermore, it could be applied to Origin God Armaments, which made it all the more remarkable! Having said his piece, Hong Yitang turned to Yuan Shuo. "As for this breathing technique of yours, you modified part of it yourself, but its origins are surely anything but simple, aren't they?" Yuan Shuo cast him a sideways glance. "Does that have anything to do with you?" "..." Hong Yitang cursed silently. *This old bastard really has a punchable face. With that attitude, someone's going to beat him to death sooner or later.* Of course, after decades of this, one got used to it. After rebuffing him, Yuan Shuo rubbed his chin and chuckled. "Naturally, its origins aren't simple. The Five Animals Art wasn't originally a single manual. I referenced numerous secret techniques and synthesized them into one—all of them top ancient martial arts! As for the breathing technique, it was modified from an ancient art said to have been left behind by an ancient Sovereign..." At this point, he shook his head. "Originally, the Five Animals Breathing Art didn't possess these wondrous effects. Only after the rise of superpowers did it gain these unique properties... It might be connected to sword energy. Without sword energy to complement it, its effects aren't nearly as pronounced." He looked at Li Hao. "Pairing sword energy with the Five Animals Breathing Art is what makes it peerless. Perhaps among the ancient martial secret techniques I referenced, there was an art passed down from your ancestors. If the Five Animals Breathing Art is used on its own... it's formidable, certainly, but it could never reach this level of efficacy." Li Hao fell into deep thought. "So... even if it truly leaks out, unless they can obtain sword energy as well, the results won't be anything extraordinary." Yuan Shuo spoke with a touch of pride. "What can a mediocre fool do even if they obtain the Five Animals Breathing Art? In their hands, it would amount to nothing more than just another secret technique. In the hands of someone skilled, it's a top-tier art; in the hands of an incompetent, it's entirely ordinary! Do you think just anyone can comprehend five distinct momentums?" "As long as you know what you're doing!" Hong Yitang pressed the matter no further. "In that case, I'll be on my way." "Suit yourself." Yuan Shuo couldn't be bothered to mind him. He was in no rush to leave. Hong Yitang looked over at Bright Light Sword. She pretended not to notice. Hong Yitang chuckled. "Let's go. There will be other opportunities in the future. Absorbing too much all at once isn't necessarily a good thing; it's better to build your strength step by step." Bright Light Sword felt utterly helpless! *If you want to leave, just leave on your own!* Yet since he had already framed it that way, as a veteran martial master, she understood the logic behind his words. She could only sigh and say, "Then I..." The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to curse. *Why am I heading back to Silver Moon?* *I don't even have a sect there. What is this lunatic dragging me along for?!* Still, matters having reached this point, her skin wasn't thick enough to insist on lingering. She had no choice but to say, "Let's travel together then. It'll be safer on the road, lest we run into a sixth-stage powerhouse." Seeing that the two were preparing to depart, Li Hao rose and said, "I still have a bit of the Spring of Life here. It's troublesome whenever you have to unseal your power... and I might not always be around. Please take a few drops with you, seniors." He had originally possessed seven drops, then obtained nine more, bringing his total to sixteen. He produced two bottles and placed three drops into each. For simple unsealings that weren't too catastrophic, this should be enough for them to mend their own damage without needing Li Hao to intervene personally. Hong Yitang glanced at him and smiled, then looked over at Yuan Shuo. He took the bottle directly and laughed. "Find me if you need anything down the road!" Bright Light Sword didn't stand on ceremony either. Martial masters of Silver Moon rarely played at false modesty. Having something was always better than nothing. At worst, the next time Li Hao got into a fight, she would simply come back and fight another round on his behalf. Both took their bottles and, without bothering to bid Yuan Shuo farewell, swiftly vanished into the night. Yuan Shuo waited until they were completely gone before letting out a scoff. "At least they know when to leave! If they stayed any longer, did they expect to celebrate the New Year here?" With that, he turned to Li Hao. "It's just as well that those two left. With them around, there were certain things I couldn't freely discuss with you." Li Hao blinked, surprised. *What?* Martial masters were generally quite open-handed, unless it involved the core secret arts of their own sect. Sure enough, Yuan Shuo spoke up: "I've made some modifications to the Five Animals Breathing Art. In the past, the breathing technique was primarily an adjustment of inner force and blood essence—strengthening both through inhaling and exhaling. Once I stepped into the Thousand-Battler realm, I made another adjustment, hoping to integrate momentum into it, but I never had the time to properly ponder it out. During my time in the Central Region, I spent a good deal of thought on it..." "A few days ago in the ruins, I made the final adjustments. Over these past three days, after fusing my five momentums, I made a few more fine tunings..." Yuan Shuo briefly summarized his progress before steering back to the main point: "A breathing technique is the root, the origin of all power... What I spoke of with Hong Yitang and the others was merely a path, a broad direction; how they walk it is entirely up to them." "What I want to impart to you now is the essence of breathing techniques, which is also the essence of a martial artist. Why power can be drawn into oneself and generated from within—all of that is credited to the breathing technique." "Remember: the breathing technique is the bedrock... Li Hao, all external applications are mere techniques! Superpower techniques, martial arts, combat skills, battle methods... all of these are techniques, while the method itself is the root!" "If a martial master is likened to a great tree, then the breathing technique is the sun, the water, and the soil. On the surface, without them, the tree might still appear to be a tree... but it will wither sooner or later. Only when the method remains can it continue to grow forever!" A flash of insight struck Li Hao's heart. He nodded. "I understand what you mean, Master. So this new version of the Five Animals Breathing Art... can strengthen momentum?" "Precisely!" Yuan Shuo chuckled. "That's why Hong Yitang warned that people might target those two disappointing senior disciples of yours... It doesn't matter! The version they possess is actually quite old—an iteration from many years ago, far less profound than the one you currently cultivate." "Times change and progress. Even if the old version leaks out, what does it matter?" "In truth, after reading those ancient texts, you and I both know that hoarding secrets and treasuring one's own broom isn't how martial arts advance... But in this era..." Yuan Shuo gave a cold sneer. "In this era, if you don't hoard your secrets, you're courting death! Even if I were to pass it on, it wouldn't be now, and certainly not before those fellows have stabilized their realms, creating trouble for myself. Looking back, I even regret carelessly sharing the things I researched in my younger years..." Li Hao nodded. A slight tremor of excitement stirred within him. "Master, once I cultivate this version of the Five Animals Breathing Art, will my five momentums surge in power all at once?" "What are you dreaming about?!" Yuan Shuo was speechless. "It merely makes it easier for you to fuse your five momentums. It's true that the method is the root, but a method isn't some miracle treasure that lets you advance overnight! It is the foundation upon which you cultivate step by step. Natural treasures can be exhausted, but only the method serves as an enduring root system!" Li Hao realized his misunderstanding and nodded. From that point on, Yuan Shuo spoke no more aloud. Instead, through mental transmission, he began imparting the new version. Not only that, but even across the transmission, he employed the exclusive cipher of the Five Animals Sect. Clearly, Yuan Shuo took this matter with utmost seriousness; he had no intention of letting the latest version of the Five Animals Breathing Art leak into the outside world. Beside them, Black Panther's ears pricked straight up toward the sky. Alas, it couldn't hear a single thing. The hound was beside itself with anxiety! Yuan Shuo noticed, but couldn't be bothered to care. If the dog devoured sword energy, so be it, but the core method could not be casually imparted. The creature was a demon after all; if it ran off one day, it could easily cause endless trouble. All treasures were external objects; only the method was the true fountainhead of one's own power. Li Hao listened in silence. He absorbed, comprehended, and internalized each word. The new Five Animals Breathing Art felt substantially more complex, encompassing far more than before. Previously, it had only touched upon basic facets like inner force, breathing rhythm, and the circulation of blood essence. This time, however, the method involved the operation of momentum. The moment momentum was introduced, the difficulty multiplied exponentially. Furthermore, one had to admit that his master was truly an erudite genius who kept pace with the times. He had never rested on his laurels with a single fixed method, but had continually refined and improved it as his own strength grew. Among the martial masters of Silver Moon, Yuan Shuo was on the older side, already in his seventies, whereas many other masters were barely in their early fifties. Despite his age, his talent had never been lacking. Yet he had ended up in the most miserable state in the end... largely because he had squandered immense amounts of time on such pursuits. His studies were far too eclectic. Unifying the five momentums alone had cost him decades. Long before he dominated the martial world, several of his contemporaries had already stepped into the Thousand-Battler realm. Back then, Yuan Shuo could only be considered an invincible existence within his own cultivation level. Yet precisely because of his stubborn persistence over those years, once he finally stepped into the Thousand-Battler realm and shattered through his bottlenecks, his progress was meteoric. Even Li Hao, who drank sword energy like plain water, had been unable to catch up to him. Such were the benefits brought by the fusion of the five momentums. Master and disciple exchanged insights regarding the new Five Animals Breathing Art, and Li Hao began transitioning to the new technique. After circulating it for just a short while, Li Hao began to feel the difference: sword energy flooded into him at an even faster pace. And that was merely the baseline effect. More crucially, under its circulation, his five internal organs seemed to be enveloped by a peculiar energy that coaxed the momentums within them, creating an interconnected sensation throughout his entire body. It integrated all the power across his frame. Somewhat surprised, Li Hao remarked, "Master, why does this feel like it carries a hint of the Blood Saber Art?" Yuan Shuo burst into hearty laughter. "You felt it? That's right—the new version actually referenced the Blood Saber Art! The Blood Saber Art unifies essence, qi, and spirit, except that it directly extracts everything in a self-destructive, explosive burst! I modified it and integrated it into the Five Animals Breathing Art. While its explosive burst isn't as intense as the Blood Saber Art, it doesn't harm the body; instead, it nurtures oneself." Li Hao was filled with admiration. To seamlessly integrate ancient martial secret arts on a whim—his master was truly formidable. The Blood Saber Art was indeed far too damaging to the body. Were it not for sword energy, Li Hao wouldn't have dared to employ it recklessly. Now that his master had unified it within the breathing technique, no wonder it could draw upon the full power of the body and even incorporate momentum into the cycle. It was truly magnificent. Li Hao committed all of this to memory and practiced circulating it for a time. After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Shuo added, "I've offended too many people, so sometimes it's inconvenient for me to say too much. You, however, get along decently with those old fellows... When you have time, you can borrow their secret techniques to study. None of the secret arts of Silver Moon are simple. If you have enough patience, you can eventually try fusing those secret techniques as well... If nothing else, you already know the Nine-Fold Forging Force; you can try incorporating it into the Five Animals Breathing Art. Li Hao, in a person's life, anything can happen." He sighed softly. "Having revised the breathing technique to this point, I doubt I'll produce another version anytime soon... As for you, you may walk far beyond me. But ancient martial arts don't fully align with our path, and you must walk the road ahead on your own... Learn more, accumulate more, and in the future, try modifying techniques yourself." "As for the overarching direction, it revolves around nothing more than supernatural locks, momentum, blood essence, and the physical body. The explosive power of the Nine-Fold Forging Force doesn't appear out of thin air; it comes from latent potential within oneself. In essence, the Nine-Fold Forging Force is a method of stimulating potential and applying power. I've always felt that it is exceptionally well-suited for integration into the Five Animals Art." Li Hao started to speak, then hesitated. After a moment, he nodded. Suddenly, an immense pressure weighed upon him. *With my half-baked martial mastery, can I really integrate new arts into the technique?* It felt extraordinarily difficult. It required vast stores of knowledge and deep pools of experience, neither of which he possessed just yet. Yet he understood the meaning behind his master's words. Li Hao's progress was not slow; in fact, it was faster than his own. If this continued, Yuan Shuo would not be able to experience realms he himself hadn't reached. Any method he tried to invent out of thin air would not suit Li Hao. When that time came, if Li Hao wanted to advance, he could rely only on himself. Yuan Shuo patted Li Hao's shoulder with a smile. "There's no need to feel overly pressured. Some things seem terribly difficult, but when the time is right... they simply fall into place naturally! The more you see, the easier it becomes to understand, comprehend, and master things thoroughly. You don't necessarily have to lock yourself away in seclusion and memorize everything by rote. Reading ten thousand scrolls and traveling ten thousand li are both forms of the Dao." "Understood!" Li Hao nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, Master. I know what to do: first imitate, then match, and finally surpass. So I'll imitate you first, then match your level, and finally surpass you!" Yuan Shuo's smile stiffened slightly. He nodded. "Well said!" Though his mouth praised the boy, he was cursing inwardly! *Not a chance!* *I won't give you the opportunity; I'll stay a step ahead of you no matter what! It sounds gratifying to hear, but as a master... how could I resign myself to being overtaken?!* Yuan Shuo did not linger on the topic. Instead, he said, "Once I absorb a bit more sword energy, I'll be leaving as well..." "Eh?" Li Hao started. "You're leaving, Master?" *Why?* "Of course!" Yuan Shuo chuckled. "No banquet lasts forever! The truly strong stand on their own; they are inherently solitary... Look at Sky Sword and the others—do they cluster together all the time? People like Huang Yu might stick together all day, but they won't remain like that indefinitely either. If you want to break through, if you want to walk further... everyone must have their own world!" "This world is still full of splendor!" Yuan Shuo said with a chuckle, "Battling the heavens, battling the earth, battling mortals, battling the ancients... all of it is thrilling! If you had stayed by my side the entire time, could you have reached where you are today? Likewise, if I were to follow you constantly, I would lose my own soul." "Sword energy is wonderful, but it is not everything!" He looked directly at Li Hao. "You must remember this as well. Sword energy is magnificent, but you cannot rely on it forever. If one day the sword disappears, will you simply stop cultivating?" Li Hao nodded once more, letting out a breath. "I've taken everything you've said to heart, Master!" Having said this, he hesitated for a second before finally asking, "Master, Martial Uncle Hong said that this era is warped. He wants to change it, but he feels powerless. He wants to do something, yet faces constraints at every turn. Master, do you think... what he said makes sense?" Yuan Shuo frowned slightly. Only after a long silence did he reply, "The logic holds, but remember: everyone's path is different! Be it the domineering path, the benevolent path, the slaughter path, or the demonic path... you don't have to copy anyone else! Hong Yitang's path aligns with the receptive earth; it suits his nature. If you asked me to walk that road, it wouldn't suit me. I am suited to my own path. And what about you? What is your path? You're still young—walk more, see more, and don't let yourself be swayed by them. They want to impose their own realizations onto you, but that is inappropriate! When you have traveled the world, tasted the full spectrum of life, known the pinnacle, known glory, known ruin, and known despair... only then might you understand what you are truly suited to do." Yuan Shuo patted his disciple once more and smiled. "You must hold firm to your own convictions... At this stage, there is only one thing: vengeance! They think you'll be blinded by hatred, but I believe you won't! Vengeance is your conviction at this stage... do not break that conviction. When you stepped out of Silver Moon and headed east, I understood that you were already pondering these things. You didn't want to remain in Silver Moon and bring trouble to others... That is the right mindset." "Our own affairs must be resolved by ourselves! Just like back then, when I could have fled Silver City... but fleeing would inevitably have brought immense turmoil and trouble to certain people... like Hou Xiaochen and the rest. I couldn't leave, but you had to!" Speaking of his past, he gave a self-deprecating laugh and shook his head. "A dozen years ago, I could have run... yet I stayed in Silver City. Do you know why?" Li Hao shook his head. "Because the price of my escape would have been catastrophic... not for me, but for Silver Moon, which would have paid a terrible toll... Your master has weathered the tides of this world for so many years; how could I have had no hidden cards?" He sighed softly. "For instance... digging up some ancient fossil to turn heaven and earth upside down in battle! But if that happened, disaster would follow. Sometimes, a person shouldn't overthink things, yet one is forced to consider the consequences." Li Hao's pupils constricted slightly. "Master, you mean...?" "Haven't you encountered them yourself?" Yuan Shuo smiled. "If even you could unearth a demonic plant, in a world this vast, could there truly be only one place where ancient civilization beings remain? But remember one thing: times have changed, the era is different. Beware of letting the tiger out of the cage. Every era has its righteous and its wicked!" He offered no further details, merely cautioning, "Be it Battle Heaven City or the demonic plant you unearthed, you may converse with them, you may cooperate with them... but under no circumstances may you lose yourself! You are Li Hao. As for the identity of a descendant of the Eight Great Families... cast it aside!" "The responsibilities of the Eight Families, the glory of the Eight Families, everything belonging to the Eight Families... has nothing to do with you!" Li Hao's breathing quickened. After a long silence, he nodded firmly once more. "Understood!" Yuan Shuo broke into a smile. *Good, so long as you understand.* *Live as yourself!* He did not want his disciple living beneath the shadow of others. If you did, would you still be Li Hao in the end? Whether strong or weak, living as oneself was best. *** Ever since Yuan Shuo imparted the revised Five Animals Breathing Art, master and disciple spoke little. Instead, they devoted themselves entirely to absorbing sword energy. Yuan Shuo had no desire to interfere excessively with Li Hao or overcorrect him. That was how he had always taught: explain it a few times, and if you get it, you get it; if you don't, too bad. He didn't expect anyone to be an exact duplicate of himself. As for Li Hao, it took him a full five days to finally construct the rudimentary Five Bridges. The moment they were formed, he felt a distinct difference. A circulation had formed among his five internal organs. Now, strengthening them would no longer be nearly as cumbersome as before. Next, there was one more task Li Hao had to accomplish. Rooting the five momentums into his five internal organs. Only by doing so would he truly complete the foundational cultivation of Spirit Nourishing. After that, his next objective would be the fusion of the five momentums. Five days was perhaps the longest single stretch of continuous cultivation Li Hao had ever undertaken. By now, he had forgotten everything in the outside world. Yuan Shuo, too, had been absorbing sword energy without sleep or rest. Taking advantage of having his disciple nearby, if he didn't gorge himself to his heart's content, he would be doing himself a disservice. Master and disciple, along with a dog, incurred no small consumption. Combined with Hong Yitang and the others during the first few days, in just a short span, they had burned through a staggering fifty thousand divine energy stones. Such an expenditure could drive a decent-sized faction into utter bankruptcy. Yet great consumption yielded great rewards. On the sixth day, Li Hao attempted to integrate his wood sword momentum first into his internal organs, as wood sword momentum corresponded to the liver. According to Yuan Shuo, Spirit Nourishing meant nurturing the momentum, not merely locking it away. Following Yuan Shuo's guidance, Li Hao attempted to root the momentum little by little into the liver's supernatural lock. But when the roots gently pressed into the lock that bound the willow tree, an intense counter-force pushed back. It seemed completely unwilling to allow the momentum to take root. Several attempts ended in failure. Li Hao opened his eyes, scowling deeply. He had assumed it would be simple, only to discover that the difficulty was immense. After pondering for a while, a ruthless streak took over. *What if... I shatter a bit of the supernatural lock first? The heart's lock can be actively broken in parts, but the other four organs can't. That doesn't matter, though—normally, supernatural locks can't be directly touched, but for me, they can.* How to do it was simple enough. Fuse the five momentums, use sword momentum as the overarching commander, bore a hole straight through that heavy lock, and forcefully drive the momentum inside to take root. That would settle it! In the next instant, Li Hao showed no mercy. The five momentums instantly merged into his sword momentum, erupting in full force as they stabbed straight toward the liver's supernatural lock binding the little tree! *Clang!* This time, an audible sound of clashing metal reverberated across the spiritual plane. Beside him, Yuan Shuo's eyes snapped open, his face nearly purple. He stared at Li Hao, his brow furrowed. *What is this brat doing?* *Is he... destroying his supernatural lock?* He opened his mouth to speak... but ultimately held his tongue. *Forget it, the boy won't die anyway; sword energy is his greatest guarantee.* He guessed that Li Hao was about to resort to brute force again! Internally, he couldn't help but curse up a storm. *This kid couldn't possibly be planning to forcefully bash open the supernatural lock and stuff the momentum inside, could he?* When he had taught Li Hao Spirit Nourishing, this was emphatically not how it was supposed to be nurtured! This thing had to be coaxed, like coaxing a wife—gently, patiently. If one day didn't work, take two days; if two days didn't work, take three... As long as one spent enough time gently wearing it down, occasionally feeding the supernatural lock a bit of sword energy and blood essence, and tucking a sliver of one's own momentum inside with each pass, success would follow before long. Yet this brat Li Hao possessed not a shred of patience. Yuan Shuo felt an agonizing headache! *This fellow truly is a reckless brute sometimes!* Of course, he had the backing to be reckless, so there was nothing to be done. Having fused his five momentums, integrating them into his supernatural locks hadn't been hard for Yuan Shuo, yet it had still taken him over a month. Rooting each single momentum had required at least a week or so. And Li Hao...? Roughly half an hour later, Li Hao opened his eyes, coughed up a mouthful of stagnant blood, and chuckled. "Master, that's one momentum down! My wood sword momentum is planted right inside the supernatural lock. Does this mean I've officially stepped into Spirit Nourishing?" "..." Yuan Shuo rolled his eyes so hard they nearly flipped back into his skull! As he spoke, Li Hao raised an eyebrow slightly. "Master, the supernatural lock doesn't seem to be feeding any power back to my momentum." Yuan Shuo rubbed his aching temples. "You forcefully shoved it inside—do you expect it to happily feed you power? It's already doing well by not shattering your momentum! Just wait. Once your momentum gradually harmonizes with the supernatural lock and momentum and lock become one, the feedback will begin." The brat was giving him an ulcer. Curse though he might, the boy really had settled one lock in half an hour. How could that not be infuriating? Deciding that out of sight was out of mind, Yuan Shuo literally blocked his ears and resumed absorbing sword energy. Meanwhile, Li Hao launched into another round of violent cultivation. Cultivating this way could save him at least a month of time. If time could be saved, naturally it was best to save it. As for why others couldn't do the same... that was because they lacked sword energy; let them grind away slowly. Over the following period, Li Hao battered his supernatural locks one by one. *Refuse to let me root? Then I'll beat you into submission!* After repeated beatings, the five supernatural locks felt practically battered into submission. In the end, Li Hao's five momentums were successfully driven into the locks. However, the five supernatural locks still remained independent entities. The day they could merge into one would mark Spirit Harmonization. Yet Li Hao wanted more than just that. Having concluded this stage, he spoke up once more: "Master, I have another question. If I comprehend other sword momentums, can I root them into the supernatural locks of my four limbs, spine, and Purple Mansion? Do you think that's feasible?" Yuan Shuo raised his brows. "Spine? Purple Mansion?" "Yes. One corresponds to the physical body's supernatural locks, and the other to the skeletal locks, right? Didn't you notice them, Master?" This time, Yuan Shuo couldn't hold back and let out a string of curses: "You guzzle sword energy day in and day out! You absorb so much that you can't even digest it all, so it all ends up feeding the supernatural locks—of course they're going to manifest! For the rest of us, there isn't even enough to nourish our five organs, let alone our four limbs... Where would we get so much latent potential to stimulate those extra locks..." After venting a bit, he finally answered, "In theory, it shouldn't be a problem. The five organs form a cycle—a minor cycle! The human body is a grand cycle. Fundamentally, they are the same, just on an expanded scale. Are you planning to win by sheer quantity?" Li Hao nodded. "Completely fusing the five momentums isn't something I can comprehend right away, even with your guidance. It might take time—who knows how long. But if I can comprehend new momentums by practicing other arts, manifesting and strengthening momentums is actually simpler. If they are ultimately governed by the overarching sword momentum, that could be another viable path." Yuan Shuo nodded. "A decent idea!" "Martial Uncle Hong suggested it." "Shut your mouth!" Yuan Shuo felt thoroughly drained. He regretted praising it; to think it had been Hong Yitang's idea all along. However, he soon added, "The idea is sound, but there is one crucial point: is your overarching sword momentum strong enough? Can it truly govern all of them? The single strike from your ancestor was indeed mighty, but when you comprehended it, you were far too weak... Perhaps you should return to Silver City and view that sword strike once more!" Li Hao's heart stirred, and he nodded. Yet he soon furrowed his brows. "Master, I might not be able to see it again right now. Viewing it requires activating my bloodline power, and back then, only a Blood God Seed could accomplish that—and it had to be stronger than me... Given my current strength, even a peak Rising Light Blood God Seed might not suffice. It would take at least one at the Transformation stage..." "Then go find the Red Moon!" Yuan Shuo replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "The Red Moon side definitely still has them." *Fair enough.* Li Hao let out a soft laugh and nodded. Perhaps it really was time to settle scores with the experts of Red Moon. Moreover, his master was entirely right: perhaps he should return and view that strike once more. When he had witnessed it originally, he had been far too weak. What he had seen back then might not have been the complete picture. Now that his five momentums were rooted in his supernatural locks, Li Hao resumed absorbing divine energy stones, strengthening his five organs, his physical body, and his bones. Next, Li Hao planned to continue saturating his supernatural locks to capacity. A two-pronged approach! No rule stated that one couldn't saturate supernatural locks during Spirit Nourishing. Wealth gave one license to be willful; with a mountain of divine energy stones at his disposal, Li Hao possessed the confidence to do as he pleased. On the eighth day of cultivation, Yuan Shuo stood up, interrupting Li Hao's session. Li Hao opened his eyes and looked at Yuan Shuo. He knew his master was preparing to leave. In truth, there were times when he didn't quite understand his master. At this stage, staying with him and cultivating with sword energy would surely provide his master with the greatest assistance. Whether he went out to dig graves or kill enemies, wasn't it all for the sake of resources anyway? Yuan Shuo exhaled a long breath, his spirit and vitality radiating fullness. Glancing at Li Hao, he smiled. "These past few days have been quite fruitful, but I've lingered long enough. I'm going to track down a few old friends for some fun... If you head to the Central Region, keep your wits about you. While you're advancing, others are advancing as well; no one is standing still. With the divine sword and the Wind-Chasing Boots in your possession, no shortage of people will be eyeing you. Until the day you surpass the sixth stage, they will never give up." Li Hao nodded, feeling a twinge of sorrow. Yuan Shuo, on the other hand, showed not a shred of sentimentality, chuckling, "Alright, I'm off. You brat, travel more, see more of the world... And this dog—don't keep dragging it along everywhere. It's lazy, gluttonous, and makes far too conspicuous a target!" Black Panther looked rather depressed. *This old man is truly wicked!* Yuan Shuo patted Black Panther's head and laughed. "Stupid dog! As a great demon, carrying on like this won't do! A demon ought to have a demon's ambitions... I know of a place called Heavenly Roc Mountain. There's a great demon there, a Heavenly Roc. If you manage to kill it... you'll have a bright future ahead!" "Don't think that picking up a few tricks by tailing humans makes you invincible. Demons inherit the legacy of ancient demons; there are things demonkind can use that humans cannot... None of the descendants of ancient demons are weaklings. At this stage, the secret techniques of modern martial masters aren't necessarily superior to those ancient demon inheritances." Whether Black Panther took it to heart or not, he didn't care. He had merely offered a few words of advice. Soon, Yuan Shuo turned and walked away, casual and free, completely unburdened by melancholy. Behind him, Li Hao rose and watched him go. Only after Yuan Shuo had faded into the distance did Li Hao sigh softly: "Just say you're going to find Jade Light Sword. Why bother with all that grand talk? Sigh!" *At such an advanced age, he still has the heart to chase after a woman. Ah, Master... it seems an apprentice really can't compete with the charms of a woman.* In the distance, just as he was about to disappear from view, Yuan Shuo twisted his head back toward Li Hao, his eyes blazing with murderous intent! *This rebellious disciple!* *I really want to clean house! Spread rumors all day long, will you?!* *Who's going after a woman?!* Cursing furiously in his heart, he recalled something and gave a soft huff. *I'm just going to see whether Jade Light Sword has been beaten to death or not! What on earth is that brat's head filled with?!* Of course, he did feel a slight pang of melancholy. Leaving Li Hao meant he would have to fend for himself again. Still, that was for the best! People of his generation were never meant to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor, nor did they care to. Aside from a shameless moocher like Southern Fist, neither Yuan Shuo nor the others had any interest in that sort of life. *** After Yuan Shuo departed, Li Hao spent a few more days absorbing sword energy, rounding out his cultivation time to ten full days before finally deciding to leave. This was the longest secluded cultivation he had ever undertaken. A full ten days. By the time he emerged, it was already late October, practically on the doorstep of November. Continuing to cultivate indefinitely might have allowed him to saturate his supernatural locks, but simple saturation wouldn't bring as massive an improvement as one might imagine. Momentum was still the linchpin. Li Hao needed his momentum to become stronger, and he also wanted to return and witness that sword strike once more. And for all of that, one thing was indispensable: a Blood God Seed capable of stimulating his bloodline. Moreover, it had to be of a high grade. Otherwise, if his momentums became too strong while his overarching sword intent failed to command them, and he still hadn't fused the five momentums, the five momentums would scatter like loose sand. Li Hao's combat strength would actually diminish as his momentums grew stronger. Taking all these factors into account, Li Hao brought Black Panther along and embarked once more on his journey. As for Black Panther, it paid Yuan Shuo's words no mind whatsoever. It had no intention of leaving; following Li Hao to eat and drink his fill was far too comfortable. Going out to fight to the death was far too miserable. *** On the final day of October, Li Hao walked out of the villa and headed south. South of Dongbin lay the Central Region. Heading north would lead back to the northern territories. Li Hao did not choose to turn back. He wanted to see the Central Region, witness the true powerhouses of the center, and open his eyes to the world.