A Multitude of Experts

North Gate. At this moment, the area was completely deserted. Inside the city, a long procession was making its way toward the gate. Along the streets, none of the residents dared show their faces. They hid silently behind windows and walls, stealing glances from the shadows. Spectacles like this were beyond their station, far too perilous for them to witness. Yet every single person cared. *** After marching for roughly an hour, some of the nobles were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. The hazy silhouette of the North Gate finally came into view. A few aristocrats breathed sighs of relief. Any further, and their legs would have given out completely. They had finally arrived. Everyone turned their eyes toward the young man at the head of the column. *Do you know?* *Of course you know!* *In just a little while, your hour of death will be at hand. Why must you remain so utterly obstinate?* At the front, Li Hao remained as calm as ever, his eyes scanning in every direction. There were so many supers gathered today, and so many powerful figures among them. Yet it seemed his adversaries knew he could perceive things others could not; surprisingly, there was not a single glowing cluster of light near the North Gate. It made sense. Judging from Li Hao's past battles, it was only natural for outsiders to conclude that he was a Heavenly Eye cultivator. Behind Li Hao, a motorcade slowly trailed along. It was the contingent from the Night Patrol. Naturally, they had no interest in walking. They rode in cars, yet none ventured past Li Hao and his men, content to linger in their wake. Inside one of the vehicles, Huang Long stared coldly ahead without uttering a word. Further back, Deputy Director Zhou wore an equally grim expression, his eyes fixed on Li Hao. Of the eleven directors and deputy directors of the Night Patrol, every single one had come except for Yao Si—including Hou Xiaochen. Hou Xiaochen sat all the way at the rear with his eyes closed, resting his spirit, yet he was also the man everyone watched with the greatest vigilance. *** Inside the imperial palace. Clad in armor and grasping a massive warhammer, Southern Fist was walking toward the exit. A young man draped in yellow robes stood before him with a sincere expression. "Master He, stay!" Southern Fist looked at the young man, appearing exceptionally calm on this day. "I am a Silver Moon martial artist." That was his only reason. Today, he had no room for opportunistic schemes. It was simply because he was a Silver Moon martial artist. And so, he would go. "Master He..." The young man sighed softly. "I know it is difficult to persuade you. But to persist when you know it is impossible is truly unwise! If Master He is willing to stay... once I reclaim the realm, I shall avenge Vice Governor-General Li on your behalf." "I am a man of the martial world!" He Yong laughed boisterously and stepped into the air. Glancing down at the Nine Departments, he sneered, "I'll be waiting for you to come kill me!" With those words, he tore through the sky! From all directions, people looked up, some watching in awe, others sneering. Southern Fist... had actually come out. After all these years, those Silver Moon barbarians remained unchanged, clinging to their stubborn ways to the bitter end. Hiding in the imperial palace under the Ninth Prince's protection, killing him would have been difficult even if someone wished to. Yet Southern Fist had still chosen to step forth at this juncture. It was not entirely unexpected, but it reinforced the notion that Silver Moon martial artists were thoroughly unreasonable. *** The Martial Guard Army slowly halted. They had reached the North Gate. At this moment, there was no one near the gate. Beyond it lay an expansive plaza, a vast, flat plain stretching directly toward the coast of the Heavenly Star sea. Li Hao dismounted from Black Panther's back. With a clear command, he ordered, "Escort the prisoners to the execution ground!" "Understood!" With a low shout, Mu Lin waved his hand. The Martial Guard Army swiftly dragged three hundred individuals out from the front of the crowd. Among them were several Three Suns experts whose faces were dark with rage. Some sneered, while others trembled in terror. A few writhed and twisted their bodies, trying to prevent the soldiers from getting close. *Thud!* A short-tempered soldier struck out with a brutal punch, sending blood spewing from a noble's mouth before dragging him away like the rest. Soon, across the massive plaza ahead, the nobles were hauled up one after another. Li Hao walked forward and stepped into the air. In the blink of an eye, he stood atop the modest city wall. Turning to look behind him, a faint smile played upon his lips. "The Night Patrol is carrying out an execution. If any of you wish to watch, come join me!" As soon as his voice rang out, the sound of tearing air approached from the distance, followed by booming laughter: "Let me see! Let's see who dares touch us when we chop off several hundred dog heads!" With a heavy thud, Southern Fist landed on the wall. Clad in bronze armor, a great warhammer in hand, frost clung to his thick beard, and his eyes gleamed with murderous ferocity. Li Hao smiled faintly but said nothing. Southern Fist had come... Was it a surprise? Not entirely. Yet for an opportunist to step forth at this moment, it was likely no longer out of self-interest. The human heart was indeed a complex thing. Li Hao remained silent. A moment later, the motorcade came to a halt below. Huang Long and his group wore impassive expressions. Without a word, they stepped into the air one after another and flew toward the city wall. Since Li Hao had invited them to observe the execution, they would indulge him. Naturally, they landed some distance away from Li Hao, maintaining a gap of roughly a hundred meters. One high-ranking Night Patrol official descended after another. Aside from Yao Si, all ten deputy directors were present. Three commanders were there as well, along with more than a dozen Rising Light experts, including Big Eyes and her companions. The Night Patrol was far from lacking in powerful figures; at this very moment, nearly thirty Rising Light experts were assembled on the wall. Their thoughts were varied. Some remained silent, some seemed to anticipate something, and others stared at Li Hao without speaking a word. The Night Patrol had originated from humble beginnings among the common folk. Many of its members had risen from the lower classes—in fact, they formed the majority. Yet over twenty years, some had forgotten their roots, while those who still remembered could only yield to reality, just like Yao Si. Li Hao swept his gaze over the assembly. Finding no sign of Yao Si, he did not dwell on it. Ignoring these officials, he looked down at the plaza below. The nobles whose names were on the roster craned their necks upward, glaring with venomous hatred and fury. Li Hao said calmly, "Prisoners, kneel!" No one complied. The next instant, the surrounding soldiers of the Martial Guard Army took action. Crackling snaps echoed across the plaza as the soldiers struck with ruthless force, snapping the legs of several nobles with brutal kicks. With dull thuds, bodies collapsed to the ground, accompanied by relentless, agonized shrieks. "Li Hao!" someone roared in outrage. "We are nobles! Even in death, nobility has dignity!" Li Hao replied coldly, "To the law, there is no distinction between nobles and commoners. You have all committed capital crimes; you are heinous, unforgivable villains! Since ancient times, if a prince breaks the law, he must be punished just like a commoner! The dynasty's laws still stand. Unless Heavenly Star completely collapses, your crimes are punishable by death!" Glancing at the hour, Li Hao drew out a dossier of official documents. At the sight of this, several faces shifted slightly. The next instant, a powerful figure streaked through the air and landed briskly, wearing a faint smile. "Vice Governor-General Li, I am Qi Zhao, Dean of the Adjudication Court under the Department of Criminal Law. According to the law, the crimes these individuals are accused of must be verified by the Department of Criminal Law. Is that their verdict dossier in your hands? If so, please allow me to review it!" Smiling, he looked directly at Li Hao. *Aren't you speaking of the law?* *Then hand that document over to me!* *If you do not abide by the law, then everything you do today is illegal, and you, Li Hao, are nothing more than someone abusing private authority for personal ends.* He sought to fundamentally deny the legitimacy of Li Hao's execution—to prove him wrong. In their dealings, whether in public or behind closed doors, the nobility often acted with seamless calculation. They would not simply rush in to assassinate Li Hao right away; even if they succeeded, it would do nothing to salvage their lost prestige and standing. The Dean of the Adjudication Court and the President of the Trial Court were the two most powerful figures beneath the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department of Criminal Law. This man was a powerful cultivator at the Transmutation stage, even stronger than some deputy directors. A true wielder of authority. Li Hao looked at him, then down at the documents in his hands. Smiling, he asked, "Dean Qi wishes to verify them?" "Correct!" Qi Zhao nodded. "This is standard procedure, and it is the law. If there are any discrepancies, we will not let a single criminal go unpunished, but neither can we wrongfully convict an innocent man. Vice Governor-General Li harbors a bias against the nobility and has proceeded directly to execution without thorough verification. This does not conform to the law..." Li Hao chuckled, studying him for a long moment before saying, "Dean Qi, you are mistaken." "Hm?" Qi Zhao looked back at him. *Mistaken? In what way?* "Twenty years ago, the Nine Departments enacted a new law!" Li Hao said placidly. "The new statute stipulated that the supernatural and the mundane would be governed separately. The Night Patrol represents the supernatural; any crime committed by a super falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Night Patrol! Your Department of Criminal Law only governs ordinary mortals, whereas the Night Patrol is the authority over supers! Tell me, then... is there anyone present who is not a super?" Li Hao revealed a faint smile. "Not only do they fall under the jurisdiction of my Night Patrol, but so do you, Dean Qi!" His gaze gradually turned chilling. "Do you understand now, Dean Qi? Furthermore, as a senior official of the Department of Criminal Law, do you not even know the fundamental laws?" Qi Zhao frowned slightly. "Such a provision was indeed enacted twenty years ago, but super abilities had only just emerged back then, and the laws were incomplete. The Night Patrol was merely granted temporary oversight of supers. Twenty years have passed since then. Times change, and the laws undergo reform... Just a few days ago, the Department of Criminal Law submitted a proposal for a new law. The Night Patrol will no longer have exclusive jurisdiction over supers..." "Has it been ratified by the Nine Departments and the imperial family?" Li Hao looked at him steadily. "If it has passed, where is the document bearing the seals of the Nine Departments and the imperial crest?" "Naturally, we have it!" The man produced an official document. Li Hao narrowed his eyes, reached out, and drew it into his grasp. After glancing over it, he said indifferently, "The Inspectorate, the Department of Finance, and the imperial family have not affixed their seals." "A simple majority is sufficient!" Qi Zhao replied calmly. Coming up here, he had naturally prepared for this. The Department of Finance had shut its doors completely, refusing to get involved. The Director of the Inspectorate had vanished, allegedly entering secluded cultivation. And the imperial family had always maintained this stance—refusing to seal whatever the departments issued, dragging things out indefinitely. Even so, the seals of seven departments were more than enough to constitute a majority. Li Hao gave a slight nod and smiled. "Very well, I understand. However, it is useless against me." "Is Vice Governor-General Li no longer willing to speak of the law?" Qi Zhao chuckled. Li Hao shook his head. "No. It is simply that this document does not conform to regulations! As the concerned party, the Night Patrol knew nothing about it..." "I knew of it!" Huang Long stepped forward, stating indifferently, "I am aware of this matter, and I approved it!" "And who do you think you are?" Li Hao looked at him with an amused smile. "A mere deputy director, yet you truly consider yourself important? Did Director Yao agree to it?" Huang Long glared at him coldly. "Director Yao is unwell. I am currently overseeing all affairs. What is improper about that?" "Do you possess the official seal of the director?" Huang Long's brow furrowed, his tone flat. "Li Hao, playing these petty games is useless!" Li Hao laughed aloud. "When I discuss the law with you, you claim I'm playing petty games. When I discuss martial strength with you, you want to lecture me on the law! Who is truly playing games here—doesn't the whole world know? You are not the director, nor do you hold the director's official seal. What right does a mere deputy director have to make decisions on behalf of the Night Patrol?" No longer bothering with him, Li Hao looked upward. A supernatural artifact seemed to be recording everything from high above, broadcasting the feed to every screen across the city. A thin smile curved Li Hao's lips. "A temporary change to the law will not stand! It does not follow procedure, nor does it follow protocol! Or could it be that the Seven Departments believe this world—this dynasty—no longer has any need for laws? If that is the case, then please disband the Department of Criminal Law!" Silence fell. Qi Zhao frowned slightly and glanced toward Huang Long. It seemed this fellow had failed to obtain a document sealed by Yao Si. To think he couldn't even manage such a trivial matter! Huang Long cursed inwardly as well. Recently, Yao Si had refused to manage anything or get involved in any disputes. Whenever someone went looking for him, he simply avoided them, claiming he would not participate. Where on earth was Huang Long supposed to find Yao Si to get a seal stamped?! Li Hao smiled faintly. "Thus, the law remains the law of before! Neither of you need interfere any longer. I am about to read their crimes, to give everyone an explanation and to grant these condemned souls a clear reason for their deaths. Let us ask the world: do these people deserve to die?" The two men opened their mouths to speak again, but Li Hao's gaze instantly turned razor-sharp. A surging wave of force erupted from him, exerting an uncomfortable pressure that startled them both. Li Hao was formidable indeed... yet both of them were cultivators at the Transmutation stage. "Wu Yu..." Li Hao began reading aloud. *** At this moment, the entire city was listening. In the distance, atop a towering building, a gathering of powerful figures stood watching. Some surveyed their surroundings, some listened in silence, and one frowned slightly, remarking indifferently, "We cannot allow him to continue reading. If he keeps this up... the blow will be far too severe!" From among the crowd, an elderly man coughed lightly and said with a faint smile, "No. Give him time; let him read! Some people haven't arrived yet. From what I know, several Silver Moon barbarians are rushing here and are still on the road... Once Li Hao dies, those people will scatter, which will make dealing with them far more troublesome. As for what he's reading, once Li Hao is dead, we can simply claim it was all fabricated by him. It is of no consequence!" It was rare for them to join forces like this, and everyone harbored their own calculations and motives. They had to wait! They had to wait for the Silver Moon martial artists to arrive so they could wipe them out in a single stroke! Otherwise, striking now before the designated time would be premature. For instance, figures like Northern Fist and Tyrant Saber were nowhere to be seen. While they knew Yuan Shuo had arrived, and news had reached them of Huang Yu's arrival as well, it was still not enough. Had the Earth-Overturning Sword and the Bright Light Sword arrived? What about the Sky Sword? Even if the others had not yet made it, the Sky Sword was not far away and might still appear. "Still, it will cause no small amount of unrest..." someone whispered. At this moment, Li Hao was reading their crimes with a resonant voice, and with projection devices scattered throughout the city, the entire populace was listening. Another person laughed softly. "What does it matter? Even if it is true... in the end, they will be declared innocent, and from then on, none of these commoners will dare resist ever again!" The ultimate goal was to kill Li Hao. As long as those who defied them were eradicated, no future rebels would ever emerge. Another expert frowned. "Did these juniors truly commit so many atrocities over the years? I even recognize a few of them. They seemed quite well-behaved in ordinary times; how could they have committed such heinous offenses?" After all, there were older martial masters who had transitioned to supers among them. Having spent long periods in seclusion, listening to these accounts left them feeling faintly unsettled. "They did go a bit too far... They should be reprimanded afterward. Executing a few in private to deter the rest would suffice." Someone nodded slightly, yet still disapproved of Li Hao conducting a public execution. If Li Hao had simply killed them in private, they wouldn't have wanted to go to war with Silver Moon at this moment. A public execution and a private killing were two entirely different matters. Not everyone present necessarily approved of the nobles or believed they were blameless, but nobles and commoners—even when committing crimes—should not receive the same treatment or punishment. A public execution was an open provocation against the Nine Departments and imperial authority. The experts who had voiced their discontent fell silent once more. *** Meanwhile, Li Hao read briskly. Across the city, a restless stir began to spread. Some people wept quietly in grief—living victims of these crimes. Others were filled with righteous indignation, yet felt completely powerless to act. And some prayed in silence... praying that these perpetrators would truly be slain. Earlier, some had only felt a passing thrill at the prospect of nobles dying without understanding why, but at this moment, they were gritting their teeth in pure fury! A pack of beasts! Every last one deserved to die! And for beasts such as these, there were still people trying to protect them? *** Atop the city wall. Li Hao read for a long time. Silence reigned all around. Huang Long, Qi Zhao, and the others frowned without uttering a word; the fact that the hidden experts had not yet made a move meant they felt the time was not yet ripe. Yet listening to these accusations proved uncomfortable for them as well. In this moment, it felt as though countless pairs of eyes were boring into them from afar, wishing to tear them to pieces. After roughly an hour of reading at a steady pace, Li Hao finally finished detailing the dossiers of all three hundred individuals. He raised his voice, declaring, "And this is merely the tip of the iceberg! Time was too short to thoroughly investigate every fact, and these three hundred were merely chosen at random from two thousand six hundred and forty-two nobles! Among those remaining, I fear no less than ninety percent are guilty!" Li Hao said indifferently, "Today is only the first batch. There will be a second, and a third... These people acted with utter tyranny, disregarded the law, and slaughtered without mercy. Their crimes are beyond redemption! According to the law, all shall be executed!" "The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office hereby decrees... all shall be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public!" "Guards, prepare for execution!" With that order, three hundred soldiers of the Martial Guard Army stepped forward, sabers drawn. "Li Hao!" Huang Long barked. "Ten o'clock was the execution time you proclaimed... It is only nine right now!" There were still people who hadn't arrived! Furthermore, he, Qi Zhao, and several others were responsible for the safety of the nobles present. Li Hao glanced at him, smiled, and seemed to remember something. "I nearly forgot. There is still one judgment left unread!" Huang Long froze. *Another one?* Li Hao drew out yet another official document. "Huang Long, First Deputy Director of the Night Patrol, Deputy Director of the Inspectorate, Northern Commander... You slaughtered the innocent, indiscriminately launched city-destroying bombs, displaced tens of millions of civilians, and caused the tragic deaths of a million souls. You provided shelter to various factions and knowingly violated the law as an officer of it, compounding your guilt!" Li Hao sighed. "Huang Long, I don't even wish to continue reading your charges; they are simply too numerous! You colluded with the Three Great Organizations, conspired with pirates, butchered the innocent, and served as a protective umbrella for evil... Crucially, you instigated a war against the Three Great Organizations, yet instead of exterminating them, you indiscriminately deployed city-destroying bombs... You are guilty! Your crimes are beyond counting!" Huang Long's face turned ashen. "What right do you have to judge me? I am your superior! Leaving aside that these charges are entirely false, even if you believe this seat is guilty, it should be submitted to the Nine Departments for adjudication..." "No, no, no. You've forgotten—you are a super. The Night Patrol is sufficient to judge you." "Even then, it would never fall to you!" Huang Long roared in fury. Li Hao was mad! He actually dared to pass judgment on a deputy director—a true member of the dynasty's upper echelon, not some minor noble beneath him, nor a mere chiliarch. Huang Long held an exalted status and immense power, standing at the Transmutation stage. Aside from the directors of the Nine Departments themselves, he was among the pinnacle figures in both strength and authority. Yet Li Hao dared attempt to pass judgment on him! It was utterly laughable! Li Hao smiled and produced a seal. "Naturally, I possess the authority. Director Yao felt his strength was failing him, so he temporarily entrusted the official seal of the court to my care. At present, all affairs of the Night Patrol fall under my purview, and you are no exception!" "Sentence Huang Long to death!" *Clack!* The seal came down upon the document. Huang Long's expression twisted violently! *Yao Si!* *Damn it, what is Yao Si playing at?!* He had actually handed the seal over to Li Hao! Had Li Hao coerced him, or had Yao Si grown impatient and decided to get rid of Huang Long himself? Fury flared within him! Yet at that exact instant, Li Hao's voice echoed in his ears, resounding in the hearts of countless onlookers, booming across the entirety of Heavenly Star City: "An enforcer of the law who knowingly defies it—Huang Long shall be executed to serve as a warning to all!" In a flash, Li Hao seemed to transform into a fierce tiger, pouncing forward before the onlookers could even react! Beside him, Southern Fist moved without a whisper of sound, his vital blood erupting like a tempest. *Boom!* A punch smashed forth! Huang Long roared like an enraged beast, unleashing a fist of his own that howled like a colossal dragon, causing the heavens and earth to change color! *Li Hao wants to pass judgment on me? He has lost his mind!* Beside them, Qi Zhao was also about to intervene when Li Hao's voice rang out once more: "Anyone who attacks a law enforcer shall be slain without mercy!" Qi Zhao's expression flickered, but in the next instant, he gritted his teeth and struck regardless! *Slain without mercy? You'll have to see if you have the ability first!* Huang Long roared even louder, "Kill! Slay this bastard for me!" Behind them, among the Night Patrol contingent, several Rising Light experts looked ready to move. Farther off, silhouettes swiftly materialized in the distance, their brows furrowed. Li Hao had struck ahead of schedule, and more importantly, he had initiated the attack to kill Huang Long. They were caught slightly off guard; if they did not appear now and Huang Long was truly slain, it would become an absolute farce. As for the Silver Moon martial artists who had yet to arrive... they could no longer afford to wait! In an instant, more than a dozen figures manifested. Among them, several radiated auras that seemed to blanket the heavens and earth. A slow, carrying voice rolled outward: "Li Hao, you slaughter the innocent and conspire with the Three Great Organizations to murder loyal subjects. You cannot be allowed to live!" Someone called out softly, not requiring any evidence. It was merely an announcement, a formal declaration before striking. In a breath, these figures flew toward the North Gate. Li Hao turned his head to glance at them. A quick sweep revealed twelve individuals. There did not seem to be many Divine Power experts—only five, with the remaining seven at the Transmutation stage. Five Divine Power experts, seven Transmutation stage cultivators—clear at a glance. The auras of the Divine Power experts were tumultuous and wild, a consequence of an unstable foundation from recent breakthroughs. Yet their potent auras swept across heaven and earth, instantly rendering the entirety of Heavenly Star City as silent as a graveyard! Seeing this, Huang Long was overcome with delight, sneering in his heart. *If you hadn't attacked me, you might have lived a little longer. But you insisted on seeking death! By attacking me, you forced their hand. Now, wait for your death!* Li Hao sighed softly, gazing into the distance and murmuring, "You truly think highly of me. Five Divine Power experts, seven at the Transmutation stage... You've certainly spared no effort to kill me!" The assembly of experts stepped through the air, unhurried. An elderly man spoke slowly, "You have been in Heavenly Star City for barely a few days, yet you have engaged in wanton slaughter, colluded with the Three Great Cults, and butchered loyal subjects. Toward the likes of you, only complete eradication will strike fear into the hearts of Heavenly Star's wicked ways!" "And who might you be?" Li Hao looked at the group without the slightest trace of fear, merely smiling. "Since you intend to kill me, you must have a pretext. The pretext is established, but who are you? What authority do you possess to pass judgment on me? I am the Heavenly Star Vice Governor-General. If someone wishes to kill me... it can't just be any random passerby, can it? Otherwise, it would set a terrible precedent. One couldn't even serve as an official without fearing death at every turn!" Twelve people stood before him—eight men and four women, all well advanced in years. The elderly man who had spoken first stood at the very front, stating calmly, "I am Hu Xiao, former Director of the Department of Criminal Law and its current Honorary Director. Do I possess the authority to judge you?" Li Hao smiled and nodded. A former director had truly come. He then looked toward the other four Divine Power experts. A woman said indifferently, "First Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Affairs!" Another elderly man in brocade robes declared placidly, "Minister of the Hall of Myriad Demons under the Department of Foreign Affairs." "Marshal of the Heavenly Star Army under the Bureau of Military Law!" "First Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce!" Five Divine Power experts stated their affiliations. None were ordinary figures; all were prominent luminaries from the various departments. A former director leading four deputy directors. Judging by their appearance, those four had likely only just broken through to the Divine Power Realm. At this moment, no members of the Three Great Organizations had shown themselves, nor were there any from the Seven Sacred Mountains or the pirates of the four directions. Every single one was an official authority figure! Evidently, they still wished to preserve some semblance of face. Li Hao said nothing more, merely glancing toward the distance... where powerful auras were ascending one after another. He even sensed the aura of that old duke from the Xu family. Clearly, there were other Divine Power experts present. However, they were not here to deal with Li Hao, but rather to intercept the Silver Moon martial artists coming to his aid. The old duke was not the sole Divine Power expert; to guard against a gathering of Silver Moon masters, multiple Divine Power auras were rising into the sky. The seven Transmutation stage cultivators also hailed from the various departments or the imperial family. "Has anyone come from the Department of Administration or the Department of Merit Assessment?" Li Hao ceased his attack on Huang Long, turning to face the group with another question. "Liu Qi of the Department of Merit Assessment!" A middle-aged man smiled faintly and nodded. "Li Hao, a pleasure to meet you." "Xie Yong of the Department of Administration!" another man spoke, his tone tinged with regret. "The Department of Administration believed that certain matters could be resolved through discussion. What can be settled through negotiation does not necessarily require force. But it seems... Vice Governor-General Li has already succumbed to madness!" "And what of the imperial family?" No one answered. It seemed no one from the imperial family had arrived. Li Hao smiled. Had they truly not come... or were they concealed in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity? The Seven Departments had dispatched five Divine Power experts and seven at the Transmutation stage in one go... It could truly be said that they had spared no expense. One could only guess how many resources had been consumed to produce those four newly advanced Divine Power experts. One could tell just from their auras that their foundations were still somewhat unstable. Beside him, Southern Fist took a deep breath, glancing at Li Hao and then at Hou Xiaochen. They were in massive trouble! The reinforcements from outside would most likely never make it in time. The old duke of the Xu family had arrived, and they could also sense the aura of the Pagoda Mountain Master—an old acquaintance, likely present to deal with Yuan Shuo or the Sky Sword, as an established veteran among the strong. Southern Fist had better intelligence than Li Hao, and he could faintly detect the auras of the Three Great Elders of Red Moon. Those three seemed... seemed to have all advanced to Divine Power! It was unbelievable! Counting those figures alone, there were already five Divine Power experts waiting on the perimeter, and in truth, there were likely even more... A bitter grimace appeared on Southern Fist's face. *Fuck!* *Is the entire world out to kill Li Hao?* Over a dozen Divine Power experts, along with a horde of Transmutation stage cultivators... This was certain death! Even if he burned through everything he had, he might not be able to slay a single Divine Power expert. Even if Hou Xiaochen was slightly better off than him, it wouldn't be by much. It was over! Yet having come this far, he felt no fear. Not far away, the faces of the Night Patrol experts were deathly pale. So many powerful figures! Far too many! Big Eyes and her companions were utterly dumbfounded. Looking at the scene here, and then toward the coastline, they were completely stunned. They had known that every faction would contribute their strength to kill Li Hao, but they had never imagined it would escalate to such a scale! "Divine Power... there are more than ten of them..." Big Eyes sent a bitter, strained voice transmission to her two companions. They hadn't anticipated this. Truly, they had never expected it. She had thought there might be three, perhaps five... but she had never imagined that the Nine Departments alone would produce five Divine Power experts. Hu Xiao, the former Director of the Department of Criminal Law, looked at Li Hao with profound calm. "Li Hao, you are exceptionally talented, immensely formidable. But you must understand... sometimes, youth itself is a fault. Our past tolerance of your actions was merely a reluctance to bother with you; it did not mean you were truly invincible under heaven!" To kill Li Hao this time, they had genuinely paid a staggering price. Many believed that two or three Divine Power experts would suffice to kill Li Hao. But who were these old schemers? A cabal of figures who had once overthrown the imperial family—wily and ruthless to the bone. Who among them didn't know how difficult someone like Li Hao could be? Once the decision was made, they would naturally commit their full might to eradicate him! Thus, Hu Xiao had personally led the vanguard, bringing four Divine Power experts with him. Even setting aside the Divine Power cultivators, those Transmutation stage experts alone were enough to give Li Hao his fill of trouble. "You truly think highly of me!" Li Hao sighed in admiration. They truly did! Even he hadn't anticipated that so many top-tier figures would arrive all at once. He had thought five or six, perhaps seven or eight at most, would already be an overwhelming number. Yet... there was an entire assembly waiting on the periphery as well—hegemonic figures from major factions and institutions: deputy directors, directors, dukes, mountain masters... "It is only me you want. It has nothing to do with Southern Fist and the others. You won't slaughter the innocent, will you?" Li Hao wore a faint smile. Hu Xiao replied indifferently, "Li Hao, do you truly believe everything remains within your grasp? The likes of He Yong and Hou Xiaochen—do you think they can escape?" Not far away, the people around Hou Xiaochen had completely scattered, leaving him standing alone in the open. Hou Xiaochen looked at Li Hao. "You... what delusions are you still clinging to? With so many people deployed, do you think it is merely to kill you alone?" He chuckled softly. "Whether it is me or the Sky Sword, we are all part of their calculations, all targets marked for death... It is not just you. Silver Moon... has always been like this, besieged by the entire world!" At this moment, Heavenly Star City fell terrifyingly quiet. Countless faces turned pale. *** In the slums, a projection screen hung in the air, around which a vast crowd had gathered. Yet... every face was drained of color. Divine Power! That recently named realm had already become common knowledge; everyone knew that Divine Power was the symbol of invincibility. And now... five of them had appeared! Those who were clever could glean from the conversation that there were likely even more, intercepting the Silver Moon reinforcements. *Thud!* Someone kicked the ground, hanging their head in utter silence. Hope had died within them. When Li Hao read the crimes of those nobles, they had felt a surge of exhilarating triumph. But... with the emergence of these experts, everyone knew... it had failed! Li Hao was going to die. *** Inside Nine Dragons Pavilion, the female manager remained silent. Beside her, someone burst into raucous laughter: "Hahaha, these Silver Moon barbarians! Passing judgment? Who could he possibly judge? Today, judgment falls upon him! Judgment falls upon Silver Moon!" "Manager Jiao, come, have someone bring more wine! My treat—bring out the finest vintage!" "Bring the wine! Bring the wine!" The crowd clamored. The female manager kept her head lowered, not looking at them as she quietly retreated toward the back. The sky remained the same sky, yet for some reason, it felt exceptionally dark today. *To kill him, you all... are truly merciless!* *** Xiao Ye felt her soul leave her body. Turning toward Yao Si's seat... Yao Si was gone. She didn't pay it any mind, merely staring blankly at the small screen in the office, feeling utterly lost and helpless... Vice Governor-General Li was going to die! Why? Those people had committed monstrous, heinous crimes—were all of you blind? Were you all deaf? Hu Xiao of the Department of Criminal Law—she had heard of him; his name was even recorded in the history books. Eighty years ago, he was the trailblazer who established the new legal code! He had overthrown the imperial dynasty and instituted the new laws, ushering in an era of peace across the realm where crime dwindled to near nothingness. Why... eighty years later, had he stepped forward to lead the slaughter against Vice Governor-General Li? Why? She could not understand! A figure of such stature, an existence revered by countless people—even to this day, even with the Nine Departments rotting to the core, the nine former directors were still idols worshipped by multitudes. Yet... Hu Xiao's appearance shattered everyone's illusions! Why? Xiao Ye stared blankly, feeling as though her beliefs were crumbling away piece by piece. So it was true... the Nine Departments were rotten to the very core! Not a shred of illusion remained. *** At this moment, Heavenly Star City was enveloped in profound darkness. Dark clouds pressed down from above, blotting out every last sliver of light. *** On the wall, Li Hao let out a soft sigh. Hu Xiao of the Department of Criminal Law! Truth be told, this was beyond his expectations as well. The grand justice who had crafted the new legal code had come today... to kill him. Whether it was disappointment or self-mockery, Li Hao shook his head. Below, the nobles grew ecstatic, though anxiety still lingered within them, fearful of being swept up in the collateral damage. Twelve experts stepped forward through the air. Huang Long swiftly regrouped with Qi Zhao and Deputy Director Zhou. Looking back at the Night Patrol contingent, several people hesitated, while others quickly hurried over to join them. In the blink of an eye, three more deputy directors had assembled at his side. The remaining officials did not join them, merely stepping back. Huang Long sneered inwardly. *A pack of fools! Still trying to act noble and aloof at a time like this.* Including himself, there were five deputy directors—exactly half of the ten present—while Hou Xiaochen and the other four made up the other half. He calculated in his mind that once Hou Xiaochen and his lot were dead, he would settle the score with these holdouts. That was fine too! After today, there would no longer be any dissenting voices within the Night Patrol. As for Yao Si... he had actually dared to hand the official seal over to Li Hao. Even if Huang Long didn't trouble him, others surely would. Just wait and see! Huang Long felt an overwhelming wave of vindictive satisfaction sweep through his chest!