All Are Paper Tigers

Through the darkness, an enormous airship cruised across the sky. Thousands were confined aboard. The two Rising Light experts were deathly pale, watching helplessly in despair and fury as Li Hao's inner force steadily seeped closer to their hearts. Li Hao paid them no heed. He remained thoroughly calm, meticulously infiltrating his inner force to wrap gently around their five viscera. His movements were delicate, as though he were an artisan absorbed in his work. It was often said that a focused man was at his most handsome, but Mu Xiaorong and her companion felt none of that charm—only cold terror. The sensation of having their hearts held in a vise made them feel as if their chests could rupture at any second. Li Hao frowned slightly and whispered, "Don't squirm! Supernatural energy is volatile. While inner force is stable, erratic movements will send supernatural energy surging and could easily detonate it, blowing your internal organs apart!" Mu Xiaorong's face was bloodless. "You know supernatural energy is unstable... We're already your captives. Doing this could blow our hearts out at any moment!" "It won't," Li Hao replied with a radiant smile. "I know my limits. So long as you don't unleash power beyond the Three Suns stage, your hearts won't burst. I haven't completely subdued you either; I simply don't want any unpleasant surprises. Understood?" Mu Xiaorong clenched her teeth in silence. Li Hao was flying them toward Heavenly Star City so openly. This would easily provoke a retaliatory strike from the Department of Finance. Once an all-out battle erupted, it would be exceptionally dangerous for them. "Governor-General Li, what on earth do you want?" Mu Xiaorong suppressed her terror. "Since you aren't killing us, there's no need for this. We will cooperate. If danger arises, we might even be able to help." "No need, no need!" Li Hao chuckled, waving a hand. "You are of such noble status; I wouldn't have the heart to wear you out." Mu Xiaorong was left speechless. Li Hao glanced outside. They were almost across the Heavenly Star Sea. Beyond the waters lay an uninhabited buffer zone, and right after that was Heavenly Star City. Would the Department of Finance send people? He smiled faintly, then turned to Mu Xiaorong. "You possess noble blood. Come, stand at the bow. Anyone from the Department of Finance—anyone from officialdom—won't dare strike you right away. The Directors of the Nine Departments hold supreme status; nobody dares harm their children... Don't you agree?" Mu Xiaorong turned pale again. Li Hao gazed into the distance, as if catching sight of glowing clusters rapidly approaching. Without another word, he seized Mu Xiaorong and tossed her directly onto the bow. His voice drifted out lazily, "I gave you an order, not a plea. Think about how to make sure the people on the other side don't strike you—or this ship..." With that, he turned back to the trembling nobles huddled in the cabin, a thin smile playing on his lips. "All descendants of Deputy Directors, step forward. All imperial clan members, step forward. You were enjoying yourselves so lavishly just a moment ago—now, go continue that revelry at the bow!" The crowd stood frozen in terror. They knew the bow was lethal; people would die there. Li Hao smiled. "That was the first warning. I don't like giving a third. You have one more chance..." The crowd stirred in panic. A moment later, a first person stepped forward, then a second... Shivering from head to toe, they dared not stall any longer. They knew full well how ruthless and terrifying this man was. The thousands of corpses on the island were still fresh in their minds. Those Rising Light experts who had normally stood high above them were nothing more than paper tigers before these attackers, butchered in the blink of an eye. Even now, none of them had figured out how many experts had actually descended upon them—they only recognized Southern Fist, while the rest were utter strangers. Roughly twenty people stepped out onto the bow, dead silent. Li Hao clicked his tongue in displeasure. He produced a massive divine energy stone, illuminating the entire bow. Eyeing the young men and women, his voice took on a chilling edge. "Come now, weren't you swaggering on the island? Keep swaggering! Men and women together... didn't you love to play? Play for me! Kiss, fool around, do whatever you like! Move! Let everyone see you having fun!" The group trembled violently. Mu Xiaorong glared at him, her face livid. Li Hao met her gaze, his expression turning icy. "I don't wish to slaughter members of the Nine Departments! But don't push me... otherwise, I can't guarantee how many of you survive this! Don't think killing you brings trouble. Yes, countless people want me dead, but because of that... I couldn't care less about offending a few more!" Shivering in dread, the crowd finally began to move. Some whispered stiffly to one another, some played drinking games with acquaintances, and some tremblingly pulled a companion close to plant kisses... They were going through the motions of revelry, yet their bodies shook uncontrollably. Li Hao terrified them to their core. Their arrogance had always rested upon their family backgrounds. Now, confronted by someone who cared nothing for their pedigree, they had no choice but absolute submission. Li Hao turned his gaze toward the distance once more. In the darkness, the lights of Heavenly Star City were too dense for him to see clearly, which was why he had no intention of entering the city proper. He simply slowed the vessel to buy his enemies more time; outside the city walls, supernatural auras were glaringly obvious. Far away, an enormous cluster of light was rocketing toward them, flanked by two smaller auras. Three Rising Light cultivators! Reinforcements had arrived. Not only that... Li Hao scanned their surroundings and abruptly looked back. Behind them, an immense cluster of light had appeared out of nowhere. It was glaringly bright and exceptionally powerful, closing in while gradually decelerating. Li Hao arched an eyebrow. A Transmutation-stage expert was tailing them from behind. Ahead: one Transmutation stage and two peak Rising Light experts. Those in front were predictable—most likely Wu Yong and his men. But the one behind... who was that? Friend or foe? Almost certainly a foe. Evidently, they had caught wind of something and tailed him the entire way. Southern Fist, Yang Shan, and Qin Lian lurking in the dark had failed to give any warning, yet the enemy was already less than ten li away—barely five thousand meters. Remarkable stealth capabilities. Darkness attribute? An assassin? Feitian! Li Hao deduced in an instant. A ninety percent chance it was an assassin from Feitian. Only such a specialist could bypass Southern Fist and the others so cleanly. Southern Fist was shadowing them from the shadows but had noticed nothing. To elite experts, five thousand meters was practically point-blank. A single Transmutation-stage cultivator dared come after him? They had to know he wasn't easy prey. In the east, three Transmutation-stage experts had hunted him down and failed; they wouldn't be foolish enough to send just one. *If they dare come, and if they suspect I'm here, they wouldn't believe a single Transmutation-stage cultivator could kill me...* Which meant they definitely carried a trump card. What could it be? An energy bomb? Something else? Whatever it was, Li Hao was certain it existed. Without one, no Transmutation-stage expert would be so bold. Thoughts raced through his mind. He stepped onto the bow, and in the next instant, he seemed to fade into thin air, vanishing entirely. The expressions of Mu Xiaorong and the others shifted dramatically. Li Hao... had fled! No—he had used them as bait while slipping into the shadows. What should they do? Mu Xiaorong transmitted her voice to the Rising Light expert from the North Sea. "He's gone. Should we run?" The North Sea expert ignored her, turning instead to the young man beside him. The young man gave a bitter shake of his head. What did these pampered capital scions know? They had no concept of how savage northern brutes truly were! As a North Sea pirate, he knew exactly what Silver Moon martial masters like Li Hao stood for. They would rather shatter as jade than endure as whole clay. If they failed to cooperate with Li Hao and kill their enemies, they wouldn't stand a prayer of surviving. A man like Li Hao would not hesitate to slaughter them all and flee to the ends of the earth when pushed to the brink. Escape? That was the height of folly. Waiting here was their only shot at a sliver of life. ... "A Transmutation-stage cultivator is tailing us from behind. Southern Fist, sneak over carefully... Black Panther, go with him!" Concealed within the shadows, Li Hao transmitted a command through his armor. He could direct Southern Fist, but not Black Panther. That was fine, though; Black Panther was currently with Qin Lian, who was the weakest link. The instruction meant Southern Fist, Qin Lian, and Black Panther were to advance together. "Watch out for any trump cards. It might be something capable of obliterating a Transmutation-stage cultivator in an instant... Southern Fist, hold the front. If they guessed I'm here, they wouldn't come unprepared; a single Transmutation stage wouldn't dare hunt me..." "What about you?" Southern Fist's voice came through the armor. "Someone seems to be approaching from the front..." "I'll be fine!" "Whether it's the Three Great Organizations or anyone else, they all dread the Nine Departments right now... Seeing so many Nine Departments scions, they won't strike lightly." Southern Fist said no more, slipping swiftly into the darkness to flank the target at the coordinates Li Hao had provided. "Governor-General Li, what about me?" Yang Shan asked. "You handle any martial masters who might charge in..." "Then..." "Execute the order!" Yang Shan dared not argue. Through this operation, he had truly come to know Li Hao: a ruthless figure whose combat power far exceeded the rumors. Slaying a peak Rising Light expert hadn't cost him the slightest effort earlier. Against such a monster... perhaps only the Divine Power Realm could truly subdue him. ... Wu Yong had been frantic, but as he flew, his pace gradually slackened. His communication jade vibrated continuously with messages. Scanning them rapidly, he picked out the critical ones. One came from the Director, instructing him to slow down and stay calm, adding that Liusha had already been dispatched to catch up. Another came from an assassin, reporting that an airship had been spotted departing Four Seas Island, seemingly packed with nobles, and that the assassin was currently tracking it. Furthermore, scouts had already reached Four Seas Island to survey the situation; a detailed report would arrive shortly. Wu Yong exhaled in relief. Good. He turned to the two Rising Light experts beside him. "Slow down. No rush." The two paused. Just moments ago, he had been frantic, yet now he was telling them not to hurry... Still, since Wu Yong had ordered it, they raised no objections. They eased their pace. As the three slowed down, the scene outside the city came into view. In the distance, an airship drifted through the night, its bow filled with men and women making merry. They could even see people playing drinking games and kissing openly in public... One Rising Light expert let out a breath and cursed under his breath, "I thought they were in deep trouble or dead! Looks like they're having the time of their lives!" Wu Yong frowned slightly as well. Were they all fine? He seemed to spot an important figure—the young lady from the Internal Affairs Department. A thought struck him. The distance between them had shrunk to a few thousand meters. He sent a transmission to her, but received no response. He frowned. Had she missed it, or... was there another reason? After a moment's thought, he transmitted messages to several other people he recognized aboard the vessel. Every single message vanished like a stone dropped into the ocean. At that moment, a sense of foreboding seized him. He whispered to his companions, "Stay sharp. Something is off with those people..." The two peak Rising Light experts tensed. Something off? The trio fell silent, concealing their presence as they cautiously crept closer. ... Yet to Li Hao, their three massive clusters of light were as conspicuous as beacons. He didn't strike immediately. Instead, he channeled vast amounts of inner force into the Wind-Chasing Boots on his feet. The boots were built for escaping, but they were equally potent for killing. In the realm of martial arts, speed reigned supreme. It might not hold true in every scenario, but right now, it was ideal. With these boots, Li Hao could cross three thousand meters in an instant when pushing them to their limit. Of course, he couldn't sustain such bursts indefinitely. When Xu Qing had pursued him before, he could only manage two or three consecutive dashes before needing to rest, recover, and use them again. "Four thousand meters..." Li Hao waited patiently, concealed in the darkness, utterly motionless. Three thousand five hundred meters... Li Hao remained dead silent. Then, in the next breath, he transmitted to Southern Fist: "Strike!" In the distance, a thunderous explosion erupted! Through the night, Southern Fist threw a punch that shook heaven and earth. His furious roar echoed in all directions: "Insolent wretch! An assassin of Feitian dares ambush senior officials of the Nine Departments?!" *Boom!* A fist to suppress the world! In that instant, it felt as though only that pair of fists existed beneath the heavens. Out of the darkness, a hound transformed into brilliant gold, silent yet savage, lunging with an unsheathed claw toward the black-robed figure! *Rumble!* Deafening collisions rolled across the night. Wu Yong and his companions blanched, snapping their heads toward the commotion. Wu Yong's expression shifted erratically as he transmitted, "Quick, go help—" "President, that... that looks like... Southern Fist?" Help? Southern Fist was an imperial powerhouse, and he was loudly proclaiming that he was combating a Feitian assassin. How could they help? Wu Yong cursed inwardly! Naturally, they would help under the guise of an accident! Something had gone wrong after all; Southern Fist was acting, which meant he had likely joined forces with Li Hao. Then where was Li Hao? Just as the thought crossed his mind, space rippled. A flash of silver armor materialized right before his eyes. Blindingly fast! No, it wasn't merely speed—it was practically teleportation. Li Hao appeared directly before the three of them, dropped an object, and vanished in the blink of an eye without ever looking back. Wu Yong didn't even have time to react. The next instant, realization struck. He didn't even have time to retrieve his divine power talisman. In sheer panic, without a second to warn his companions, he tore through the air to flee! *Boom!* A deafening, world-shaking blast erupted, rattling Heavenly Star City to its foundations. An energy bomb designed specifically to counter the Transmutation stage. A single blast was fully capable of slaying a Transmutation-stage expert. Of course, survival depended on the cultivator's strength. The stronger ones might escape with their lives, but severe injuries were inevitable. Amidst the monstrous roar, the two peak Rising Light cultivators were blown into flying fragments. One unlucky soul had his head blown to bits on the spot, while the other let out a mangled howl as his legs were vaporized into nothingness, hurtling through the sky. Wu Yong roared in fury as he tore through the air. *Boom!* A colossal wave of energy swept forward from behind. In a split second, a powerful aura surged from his body, and with a violent crash, he was blasted forward, spitting blood continuously. Yet a trace of relief flashed in his eyes. Merely injured, his five viscera jostled... *Squelch!* A sword pierced through the void! The timing was impeccably precise. Wu Yong threw a desperate punch, roaring, "I am the President of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce! How dare you! The Nine Departments will never let you off—" He wanted to frighten Li Hao off! He knew this was Li Hao. So long as Li Hao hesitated, so long as Li Hao balked at slaughtering him so openly before witnesses, Wu Yong could draw his divine power talisman and strike him down. Yet this opening was precisely what Li Hao had been waiting for. Silent and swift, the longsword struck! With a wet tear, an arm flew into the air. Wu Yong's face contorted in horror—that severed arm bore his storage ring! He lunged with his remaining hand to snatch it back. That bastard Li Hao! He had closed the distance instantaneously. The Wind-Chasing Boots... Wu Yong felt a wave of bitter regret. He had forgotten the boots were in Li Hao's possession and could unleash such terrifying utility. More importantly, where had this brat gotten an energy bomb?! There was no time to ponder. He could already faintly sense Liusha approaching from behind; he could not let Li Hao lead him by the nose. With that thought, he abruptly abandoned the storage ring, whirling around to flee into the distance. Li Hao's follow-up thrust missed its mark as his opponent pulled back his remaining hand and bolted. Li Hao raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. Snatching the severed arm, he glanced at the fleeing Wu Yong and chuckled. These Transmutation-stage cultivators certainly had some grit, choosing to abandon the prize so decisively in a crisis. In the next instant, within his five viscera, five supernatural locks snapped halfway through. A terrifying aura surged within his body. Gripping the severed arm, Li Hao triggered the Wind-Chasing Boots. He traversed space in an instant, thrusting with his sword, dodging back, activating the boots again, and striking once more! He ignored whatever Wu Yong tried to do, relentlessly thrusting his blade. *Squelch!* The sword sank deep into his foe's flesh. Without pausing, Li Hao withdrew, activating the Wind-Chasing Boots repeatedly. In the span of a breath, Wu Yong shrieked in agony, attempting to erupt with power only to hit empty air! The moment Wu Yong unleashed his energy, another sword struck! Each of Li Hao's thrusts was faster and deadlier than the last. In the next instant, Wu Yong felt as though a ferocious tiger had pounced upon him, tearing his heart from his chest with a single swipe... He wasn't dead yet, but he coughed blood uncontrollably, spitting through gritted teeth, "You... are not at peak Rising Light..." Li Hao's combat strength was definitely beyond peak Rising Light. Without a doubt! The intelligence was wrong. Absurdly, ridiculously wrong. Li Hao was even stronger than him. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that even at his absolute peak, he might not have bested this young man. Beyond his terrifying prowess, he wielded divine armaments. Rising Light? Li Hao had never considered himself a Rising Light cultivator; he was a martial master. And martial masters were fundamentally different from supers. Without a single word, Li Hao ran his sword straight through Wu Yong's skull. Wu Yong's eyes remained wide with disbelief as the light faded from them. This was the very first Transmutation-stage expert Li Hao had slain with his own hands. Not far off, the critically wounded peak Rising Light cultivator, whose legs had been vaporized, stared in sheer horror. Suddenly, a spark of hope ignited within him. "Liusha..." Liusha had arrived! She was just ahead, accompanied by several Rising Light cultivators. With Liusha here, he didn't have to die. Wu Yong was dead! Everyone had underestimated Li Hao. Everyone had underestimated his true combat strength, believing he was formidable only because of his divine armaments and the backing of Silver Moon. To most people, Li Hao himself couldn't hold a candle to a Transmutation-stage expert. Yet... was that truly the case? Meanwhile, Li Hao rapidly sifted through the storage ring. A crystal-like object caught his eye, bringing a faint smile to his face. He sensed a familiar aura from it, somewhat similar to the source talisman the small tree had given him. Except this one carried supernatural energy rather than source energy. *A lethal weapon crafted from divine power?* Li Hao mused. *How destructive is it?* Who knew? He would find out soon enough. Without a moment's hesitation, he tore through the void. The Wind-Chasing Boots proved their peerless value in this battle. With two consecutive leaps of three thousand meters, he covered six thousand meters in an instant. Six thousand meters away was precisely where Liusha and her entourage stood. Li Hao materialized directly in front of them. Liusha's expression twisted in shock. She had caught glimpses of the battle ahead, but before she could rush over, Li Hao had intercepted her! Without hesitation, Liusha produced an energy bomb. She took out one, paused for a fraction of a second, and brought out three more... yet hesitated to throw them. Their blast radius was catastrophic, and right now... they were still near the city gate. Wu Yong had only just stepped outside the city, while she was still technically within its boundaries. Causing such a massive explosion here would land her in immense trouble. If large numbers of garrison troops and civilians died, she would have no way to answer for it. In that single instant of hesitation, Li Hao flung the crystal straight at her. The next moment, Li Hao vanished. Liusha and the others thought Li Hao would hesitate, but he felt no such qualms. As for civilian casualties—there weren't any civilians in this desolate stretch. There were plenty of garrison soldiers, but if they died... Li Hao didn't care in the slightest! In Heavenly Star City, if you lined up all the officials and soldiers and executed nine out of ten, Li Hao would still bet some guilty bastards had slipped through. In midair, the powers of gold and fire intertwined. An instant detonation! Liusha's face morphed into horror as she frantically hurled the energy bombs in her hands! *Boom!* A cataclysmic roar flattened every building in the vicinity. Near the city gate, over a hundred garrison troops were vaporized into ash. The earth fractured, and a colossal wave of energy swept across the surroundings. "Ahhh!" Screams erupted as the Rising Light cultivators flanking Liusha were obliterated in an instant by the collision of two devastating forces. The area lit up like the sun. Li Hao's voice rang out like a judgment from the abyss: "Li Hao of the Night Patrol's Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is enforcing the law to execute evil supers! Liusha of the Heavenly Star Colosseum has slaughtered innocents, massacred garrison troops, and deployed energy bombs and divine power talismans! The Night Patrol will thoroughly investigate the origins of these weapons!" The thunderous shout reverberated across the skies. In that moment, the vast expanse of Heavenly Star City fell eerily silent. Not a sound stirred! *Boom!* A sword beam blazed across the heavens. Li Hao was far too swift. Before Liusha could pull back, he was already upon her. Liusha was heavily wounded, though the energy bomb had neutralized much of the divine power talisman's force. Despite her severe injuries, she still had fight left in her. She whipped out her remaining nine energy bombs. At such close range, throwing them meant mutual destruction. Yet... pushed to this brink, how could she hesitate? At worst, they would die together! Right then, a colossal fist struck even faster than Li Hao, punching straight through Liusha from behind. A massive broadsword cleaved down from the flank, while Li Hao's longsword tore through the air before her! Did she truly take Southern Fist and the others for dead men? Southern Fist had unleashed an aura of absolute fury, materializing directly in front of Li Hao to shield him from the imminent blast. With his constitution, he might survive it. Li Hao had paid for his services! Southern Fist was fast... but Li Hao was faster. Piercing through space in a flash, Li Hao appeared right before Liusha. A gaping hole pierced her chest, yet through clenched teeth, she sneered—she had already armed and hurled the energy bombs! They would perish together! Li Hao was terrifyingly strong, and Southern Fist and his allies were monstrously powerful. Yet... nine energy bombs had been triggered and released. She could already picture the cataclysm about to unfold. Li Hao hadn't run; he had actually charged right into point-blank range. Too bad—he was too late! Yet Li Hao paid the explosives no mind. He felt the volatile surge of energy, but he wanted to test something. In an instant, the Starry Sky Sword unleashed a tremendous vortex of devouring force. "Black Panther!" Li Hao roared! From the darkness, Black Panther gaped its jaws, unleashing an equally monstrous suction. The Starry Sky Sword and Black Panther began siphoning in tandem, as if intent on swallowing all the unleashed energy whole. Liusha stared in utter disbelief—the bombs... hadn't detonated. Meanwhile, Yang Shan hadn't been idle. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he gave a subtle signal. In the next instant, a sharp sword pierced the darkness, sinking with a wet *thud* directly through Liusha's skull. Qin Lian stepped into view. She hadn't shown herself much tonight, but under her husband's prompting, she stepped forward to claim the kill. Slaying a Transmutation-stage cultivator! Even if the target was already half-dead, claiming the merit would let Li Hao know that the couple wasn't just freeloading. Yang Shan darted forward, his voice booming like thunder: "Governor-General Li Hao of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is enforcing the law! Uninvolved personnel, clear the area! Wu Yong of the Four Seas Corporation and Liusha of the Heavenly Star Colosseum colluded with pirates, allied with demon beasts, and offered humans as blood-food to feed monsters! Their heinous crimes know no bounds, and they have been executed on the spot! Liusha attempted to destroy Heavenly Star City with a city-destroying bomb, but was stopped in time by Governor-General Li! Stand back to avoid collateral damage!" The roar shook the heavens! A Transmutation-stage expert howling at full lung capacity produced an earth-shattering volume. Meanwhile, the devouring vortex on Li Hao's Starry Sky Sword surged furiously, channeling an immense torrent of power into the small blade. Beside him, Black Panther let out a heavy burp, radiating waves of excess energy. The volatile power roiled within its belly, only to be instantly dissolved. As the bearer of the Demon Suppressing Emissary's bloodline, its ancestors had made their name through devouring. They could swallow any energy and consume any turbulent force. So long as it did not surpass their threshold, it was nothing more than a feast. At this moment, Heavenly Star City was deathly quiet. Then, Southern Fist's voice rang out: "Release the records!" Instantly, countless people throughout the city stirred. Operatives leaped into motion, scattering vast quantities of flyers across the sky. Flyers rained down upon Heavenly Star City like a downpour. Southern Fist roared again: "Broadcast it!" Back in the old tavern where Southern Fist had been drinking, the barkeep heard the command. Without a word, he hauled out a massive apparatus and aimed it toward the night sky. A colossal screen materialized above the city. A giant projection. Southern Fist glanced at Li Hao with a grin, raising his brows as if to say, *Not bad, eh?* Li Hao had instructed him in advance to publicize the truth so that all of Heavenly Star City would know the crimes of the Four Seas Corporation. Southern Fist had done far more than Li Hao had asked. On the gigantic projection, an image flickered to life. A massive avian beast! "No, no, no, I don't eat humans—they're blood-food offered up by the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce..." On the screen, Li Hao shattered the ground, revealing heaps of human bones along with dozens of terrified surviving women and children. "Is this what you've been eating?" "These are all just trash..." The dialogue continued. A heartbeat later, a terrifying force swept across the sky, and with a thunderous boom, the projection shattered into oblivion. Yet that horrifying scene was already seared into the minds of countless citizens. Man-eating beasts! Countless innocent humans offered up by the Four Seas Corporation. From far away, a voice drifted across the wind: "Li Hao, well done. However, some matters are best kept from the public. It isn't good to terrify the populace..." Li Hao's voice rolled across the heavens: "The Four Seas Corporation falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Finance. I understand Director Liu's heartache over his subordinates' wicked deeds, but I believe the people have the right to judge—the right to know that justice and righteousness still exist in this world!" Li Hao barked coldly, his words echoing across all quarters: "Night Patrol, scour the Heavenly Star Colosseum! Kill anyone who resists!" A fierce shout echoed from the distance: "Kill!" Golden Spear charged out, spear in hand, leading a massive detachment of the Martial Guard Army toward the Heavenly Star Colosseum! Around Li Hao, several figures suddenly materialized. Director Liu drifted through the shattered void like a gentle breeze, coming to a halt before them. Li Hao watched him with an impassive expression. Director Liu surveyed the scene, glanced at Southern Fist, and smiled, nodding. "Li Hao... you did very well!" "Mediocre at best." "Do you know something?" Director Liu gave a soft laugh. "The hearts of the common folk... are actually worth nothing at all!" This was transmitted via private voice. A placid smile rested on Director Liu's face as he looked at Li Hao. *Are you trying to stir up public sentiment? You need to understand that they are nobody. They can accomplish nothing. Even if they know the truth, what difference can it make?* In the next breath, Director Liu projected his voice far and wide: "I am Liu Yunqing! The Four Seas Corporation's collusion with pirates and butchery of innocents... breaks my heart! The Department of Finance bears undeniable responsibility. We shall fully defer to the commands and decisions of the Inspectorate's Night Patrol and the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office! Governor-General Li's combat strength is peerless, slaying Rising Light and Transmutation experts in an instant. Southern Fist He Yong possesses unmatched valor. I, Liu Yunqing, am deeply ashamed, and I urge the Nine Departments to convene and reward these heroes appropriately for excising this great cancer from our Heavenly Star!" With those words, his figure vanished. Li Hao watched silently. Once Liu Yunqing was gone, his voice boomed across the city once more: "The Inspectorate's Night Patrol Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office officially opens its doors today! Anyone with grievances may report to the Night Patrol Headquarters on Nine Dragons Street! Anyone with ties to scoundrels like Wu Yong and Liusha, turn yourselves in immediately! Today, this Governor-General has slain more than ten Rising Light experts and three Transmutation-stage foes! Unless a Divine Power Realm cultivator intervenes, I will secure justice for all of Heavenly Star!" "Justice lives in the hearts of the people! Should high-ranking officials of the Department of Finance prove to be implicated, though I am limited in ability, I shall invite the Director of the Inspectorate, Night Patrol Director Yao Si, and Deputy Director Hou Xiaochen to act together and purge the realm! We shall restore clarity and righteousness to this world!" Li Hao roared furiously, "Furthermore, on Four Seas Island, I apprehended thousands of individuals, including the grandson of the North Sea's supreme pirate lord and the scions of department directors! I will shield no one! I will investigate every last lead to determine who else colluded with the Four Seas Corporation, who butchered civilians, and who fed human beings to demon beasts! The Four Seas Corporation also conspired with the Three Great Organizations! Southern Fist He Yong has slain a Transmutation-stage elder of Feitian; I urge the imperial family to extend its protection over him to guard against assassination by the Three Great Organizations!" The voice resonated across the heavens. Yet the entire city was eerily quiet. Someone was flipping the table. He was violently dragging the filth of the highest echelons into the open, shaking the entire realm! Li Hao's actions were dangerously rash! Yet Li Hao wore a cold, detached smile. Since they had done it, they shouldn't fear exposure. If they cared nothing for public sentiment, what was there to fear? At that very moment, from the imperial palace that had remained silent for decades, an imposing, majestic voice rang out: "Li Hao of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office has eradicated a virulent cancer, and deserves immense reward! The imperial family has long retired from affairs of state and holds no treasures to bestow. We hereby grant Li Hao the title of Marquis of Heavenly Star—an honorary peerage to express our gratitude!" "We further bestow upon him a Marquis Manor! May Governor-General Li persevere in his righteous cause, defend the people, and restore justice and glory to our dynasty!" Tumult erupted across the city. The imperial family! The voice that had echoed across the entire metropolis clearly belonged to a pinnacle expert. Who was it? The Heavenly Star King? In that instant, the common folk were stunned, as if suddenly remembering that... they still had an emperor! Meanwhile, the experts of the Nine Departments looked exceedingly grim. *Li Hao, do you realize what you've done? By putting the Nine Departments on trial today... you've handed the imperial family an unprecedented opportunity! They can no longer sit idle. Li Hao, you truly know how to stir up trouble!* ... At the same time. Hou Xiaochen let out a soft sigh. *I knew you hadn't left, but... I never imagined you'd be this ruthless!* *You ripped away the Nine Departments' fig leaf in one brutal stroke.* *The imperial family saw their opening and has begun surfacing. Li Hao, stirring the pot like this... the storm that follows will be massive.* *I'm afraid even I might not be able to cover for you!* ... In the distance, Li Hao uttered not a word. He neither offered thanks nor declined the title. Marquis of Heavenly Star? Who would dare accept such a title? "Heavenly Star" was the name of the dynasty itself. By naming him the Marquis of Heavenly Star... the imperial family was practically praying for his death! So long as the title of Marquis of Heavenly Star existed, the Nine Departments would never let Li Hao rest. Li Hao suddenly chuckled. *Not bad at all.* *Then let's keep playing!* He looked toward Southern Fist and grinned. "Come, let's pay a visit to the Heavenly Star Colosseum. Bring those captives behind us... Kill anyone who dares attempt a rescue!" "Understood!" Southern Fist beamed broadly. This brat Li Hao... was truly vicious. He had declared open war on the Nine Departments! Of course, it wasn't all of them just yet—only the Department of Finance had completely torn off its mask. Countless perils would surely follow, but wasn't danger merely another word for opportunity? Southern Fist was in high spirits. As for blowing his cover... so long as there were benefits, who cared? Staying hidden was never meant to make him weaker; if exposure made him stronger, then let the world see. ... At this moment, the name Li Hao resonated through every corner of Heavenly Star City. Demon Sword Li Hao! A terrifying madman who had slain multiple Transmutation-stage experts. Within days of arriving in the capital, he had dismantled both the Four Seas Corporation and the Heavenly Star Colosseum. This time, the Liu clan was going to weep.