Slaughter

Inside and outside the city, as far as the eye could see, formidable foes stood on every side. In the distance, a thundering roar erupted. Before the battle within the city walls could even begin, a mighty roar from the coast shattered the heavens and earth. "Huang Yu of Silver Moon, come and fight!" With that bellow, a spear tore across the sky! At that moment, piercing the firmament, Huang Yu charged forward brandishing his spear. "Futu, you dare bar my path?" The furious roar resounded in all directions. Huang Yu’s eyes were bloodshot. "If Silver Moon does not fall today, I will raze your Mount Futu to the ground tomorrow and wipe out your entire clan!" His vital energy and blood surged forth, piercing through heaven and earth. The Lord of Mount Futu remained silent. The Man-Eater, Huang Yu! One of the three commanders of the Martial Guard Army, supreme commander of the Silver Moon garrison, a top-tier powerhouse. With a single spear, he had once swept across the realm, striking terror into the hearts of all and making many martial masters of Silver Moon's martial arts world wail in misery. Of the three commanders, two had already arrived. *Boom!* Another deafening blast rent the sky. A fist, a saber. Northern Fist and Tyrant Saber! The two had not moved alone. They advanced side by side, forcing a cloaked figure out of the darkness—an expert of Feitian. Northern Fist gave a brilliant grin. "Northern Fist of Silver Moon. A pleasure to meet you! Would you happen to be First Elder An Wushen of Feitian Pavilion?" "Indeed, it is I," the cloaked figure replied softly, vanishing instantly. In the next breath, a long saber ripped through the void, its blade-light bridging the expanse between heaven and earth. "Get out here!" Tyrant Saber was true to his name—unrivaled in his domineering might. Giving the other man no chance to fade back into the shadows, his saber cleaved through the air with a thunderous roar, forcing An Wushen to manifest once more. "Gentlemen... why must you?" An Wushen said softly, "We have no desire to fight Silver Moon to the death. We were merely commissioned to stall you for a bit. Unless the two of you fully unseal yourselves, you will find it difficult to defeat me!" Northern Fist chuckled. "Step aside!" "A man takes payment to rid another of troubles!" Then there was nothing more to say. In an instant, heaven and earth shook as a fist plunged down, setting the Heavenly Star Sea boiling. Fighting together, these two masters who had yet to fully break their seals actually forced a Divine Power cultivator backward step after step. Even farther away. The three elders of Red Moon wore grim expressions. No one stepped into view, but a long sword slashed across the sky, accompanied by an indifferent voice that pierced heaven and earth: "Let Ying Hongyue come!" *Boom!* A sword sweep cleared the sky, stirring thunderbolts as its sword intent surged toward the heavens. Sky Sword had arrived! The renowned martial masters of Silver Moon were arriving one after another. *** Inside the city, all remained quiet as before. Hu Xiao had not made a move, and the others were also waiting for something, their eyes fixed on the land outside the walls. "Sky Sword, Northern Fist, Tyrant Saber, the Man-Eater..." Hu Xiao murmured, "And the Five Animals King and Jade Light Sword have also arrived, while Southern Fist, Golden Spear, Jade Rakshasa, and Sickbed Ghost are right here..." A slight smile crept onto his face. "Li Hao, if they all die here today, do you think the Silver Moon martial arts world will still exist?" Sky Sword was formidable! Even though the three Red Moon elders' cultivation in the Divine Power Realm was not entirely stable, Sky Sword alone with his sword was actually suppressing three Divine Power experts. It had to be said that such strength exceeded expectations—his own realm was evidently rock-solid. Northern Fist and Tyrant Saber, on the other hand, had to join forces just to fight one enemy, which showed that Sky Sword’s strength had surpassed theirs. That the Man-Eater could handle the Lord of Mount Futu was not unexpected. In the past, the three commanders had always been a cut above the rest, operating at a higher tier as Thousand-Battlers, while Yuan Shuo and his peers had only been Hundred-Breakers. Even as he spoke, a figure came soaring across the sea, riding the mist and clouds as towering waves swept over heaven and earth. "Heheh, all our old friends from Silver Moon are here! I might as well join the fun!" The newcomer moved at blinding speed, lashing out with a whip kick that seemed to shatter the very space around it. Yet in the next instant, a massive roar erupted. The man was flung backward, coughing up blood. His lecherous chuckle vanished, replaced by helpless resignation as he shook his head. "Thunderbolt Leg of Silver Moon! I've disgraced you, my brothers!" Thunderbolt Leg, one of the Thirty-Six Heroes, had rarely been heard from over the years, yet he had rushed here today. Only... his strength was not particularly overwhelming; he was repelled in a single exchange. Out upon the sea, Old Duke Xu gave a light cough and looked toward him, remarking softly, "I hear that the techniques of Thunderbolt Leg and Heavenly Cripple Foot originally came from the same lineage. You two were tangled in grievances for decades, and our Xu family killed Heavenly Cripple Foot for you. Why not hand over the secret technique of Thunderbolt Leg in exchange?" "Your son died such a miserable death!" This was the first time Li Hao had laid eyes on Thunderbolt Leg. He was a wretched old man, somewhat vulgar, leaping and bounding like a flea with a piercingly grating laugh. "Old Duke—no, Old Marquis... come, lick your granddaddy's foot! Lick it well, and I'll give you the secret technique!" Vile insults spewed incessantly from his mouth. The old duke took no offense. Releasing his water and fire supernatural powers, he unleashed colossal waves like roaring dragons across the sea, with flames blazing upon the water's surface, making the Heavenly Star Sea appear strikingly brilliant. Thunderbolt Leg retreated again and again, unable to halt his decline. His injuries worsened in an instant, blood spilling from his lips. There were simply too many experts! As of now, Yama's experts among the Three Great Organizations had yet to show themselves, yet six Divine Power experts had already revealed themselves in the blink of an eye. A moment later, Yama's powerhouse appeared as well. The moment Yuan Shuo showed himself, a figure stepped in front of him. The newcomer possessed a refined bearing, entirely unlike the others from Yama. He had the demeanor of a scholar, chuckling softly. "The Five Animals King has arrived. Chujiang offers his greetings!" King Chujiang of the Ten Kings of Yama! Yuan Shuo rolled his eyes. "I thought Yama himself would come to stop me. Sending a little ghost instead—are you looking down on me?" "It should be enough," King Chujiang replied with a light chuckle. "The Five Animals King is no weakling. Unfortunately... you are twenty years too late. Otherwise, none would dare claim they could take you down. I would not dare, nor would the leader of Yama. But... twenty years have passed, haven't they?" Seven Divine Power experts had now revealed themselves. And from the Silver Moon martial arts world, it seemed no one else was coming. In some places, fierce combat had already erupted, while in others, they were still chatting casually. Yuan Shuo, for instance, was bantering with King Chujiang as if in no hurry at all. *** Inside the city. Hu Xiao watched for a while, then turned to Li Hao with a smile. "Is there anyone else?" He then looked at Hou Xiaochen. "Seven Divine Power experts. Is such a lavish welcoming gift sufficient?" "Count us in, and that makes twelve in the Divine Power Realm. Surely that shows enough respect for the Silver Moon martial arts world, doesn't it?" Hu Xiao said softly, "'All martial masters under heaven hail from Silver Moon.' No one refutes this, nor can they. Therefore, to see off the Silver Moon martial masters, we prepared thoroughly. We knew you would come!" Hou Xiaochen gave a faint smile, his aura growing increasingly formidable as he sighed with emotion. "Director Hu, I must admit... you truly think highly of us! Still, if nothing else, seeing Thunderbolt Leg here is quite something. I hunted him for over twenty years, but he hid so quickly that I never caught sight of him. Today, I finally have." He chuckled. Thunderbolt Leg's absence all these years was indeed related to him, or rather, to the Martial Guard Army. He had hunted Thunderbolt Leg for over two decades. More than twenty years ago, Thunderbolt Leg had fought someone and accidentally killed many bystanders. From that day forth, Hou Xiaochen had pursued him, only for the man to vanish without a trace. Yet today... here he was. Not all martial masters of Silver Moon were good men. There were villains among them too. Most had been slain, but a few survived. Thunderbolt Leg, in Hou Xiaochen's eyes, was a scoundrel. Far off, fighting the old duke alone, Thunderbolt Leg’s vulgar laughter echoed across the sea. As if sensing that Hou Xiaochen might be talking about him, even though he couldn't hear it, he guffawed, "Hou Xiaochen! Huang Yu! Come catch your granddaddy! Hahaha, can't catch me, can you? Do you know where I’ve been hiding these past twenty years? You don't, do you!" "Let me tell you, don't drop your jaws in shock... Over these years, I took nine wives and sired twenty-eight brats! I've been living as a wealthy landlord in Linjiang with vast fortunes, enjoying myself to the absolute fullest!" "Whenever you tried to hunt me down, I scurried back to Linjiang! Hahaha, you never could catch me! Fan Chang of Linjiang knew who I was and sheltered me the whole time! Hehehe, sweet and comfortable! If I don't die today, I'm heading off to join Dali... Go on, keep chasing me!" His laughter was wildly arrogant. Yet he was being battered mercilessly. The old duke was casually using his supernatural powers, yet Thunderbolt Leg was forced back step after step, coughing up blood repeatedly. The gap between them was substantial; his strength was at best slightly above the Metamorphosis stage, and only marginally so. Across the various battlefields, aside from Sky Sword who stood at a standoff against three Divine Power experts, only Huang Yu held a slight advantage against the Lord of Mount Futu. And was this truly all? Li Hao looked back, suddenly remarking, "The Three Great Organizations sent five Divine Power experts. That caught me somewhat off guard. I thought you would collude with the pirates—say, the great bandit of the North Sea. I captured his grandson, yet the North Sea King didn't come? And what about Chief Hou's former superior, the Plain King? He didn't come either?" These were the formidable enemies he had anticipated. Yet Red Moon had sent three Divine Power experts at once, which was completely beyond his expectations. That was too many. Li Hao had thought that someone like Ying Hongyue would either send no one at all or send one just to watch the show... but sending three was truly surprising. Hu Xiao said meaningfully, "Haven't some of the Silver Moon martial masters failed to arrive as well?" Such as the Earth-Overturning Sword, the Bright Light Sword, and the Laughing Freak. Those people had not yet appeared. Li Hao understood and nodded. "Fair enough!" "Aren't you afraid?" Hu Xiao looked at Li Hao with a faint smile. "Li Hao, your recklessness brought about this very outcome. Don't you feel any regret?" He sought to crush his spirit. He wanted to see Li Hao break down. *Because of you, look at the terrible consequences.* *A great many Silver Moon martial masters will likely never walk out of Heavenly Star City today.* Beside him, Southern Fist sneered, his vital energy soaring toward the sky. "Old bastard, looking down on Silver Moon martial masters? Let's see how many of you we can drag to our graves today!" With that, he bellowed, "Northern Fist, you useless trash! Can you only fight one opponent alongside Tyrant Saber? Do you even deserve the name Northern Fist?" In the distance, blood seeped from the corner of Northern Fist's mouth as he sighed. "What else can we do? Unless we snap our supernatural locks, how could we possibly match Divine Power experts! The little brat stirred up trouble and forced us to risk our lives... I told him just the other day to keep a low profile and obey the rules!" *** They bantered and traded insults across the distance. Meanwhile, Li Hao kept his head lowered, appearing to be in deep thought, as if drowning in regret. Hu Xiao ignored him and looked toward the coast once more, his brows lifting slightly. "Are the Earth-Overturning Sword and Bright Light Sword truly not coming?" Clearly, he was still waiting. Waiting for those two! Not only him, but even the Divine Power experts by the sea seemed to be holding back their full strength, waiting for those martial masters to show up. They seemed afraid that if they killed these people too quickly, those two would flee. *Boom!* At that very moment, a beam of sword-light blazed in all directions. As twin swords combined, the heavens turned and the earth overturned; the sea seemed to flip upside down. Two figures strode through the air. The Earth-Overturning Sword cleaved through the void, and with a loud crash, a figure rose from the seabed. Clad in yellow robes, looking exceptionally dignified, he gave a faint chuckle. "Hong Yitang, your senses are sharp! Last time you killed General Qian Feng, I meant to seek you out directly... Now there is no need!" He looked at the Earth-Overturning Sword, then at the Bright Light Sword. Both of them appeared somewhat disheveled and out of breath, as though they had rushed here over a great distance. Hong Yitang exhaled softly. "Plain King, you turn up every single time! You were behind the chaos in the three northern provinces, you were in the Battle of the North Sea, and you were involved with the Martial Guard Army back then. You truly are a nuisance!" "Among the Nine Princes of the imperial clan, you are probably the most meddlesome." A faint smile appeared on the Plain King's dignified face. "It is not that I am meddlesome, but that you Silver Moon martial masters have stirred up turmoil throughout the world from antiquity to this day. The realm's chaos begins in the north!" *** At this moment, Hu Xiao let out a long breath. They had arrived! He had waited until now precisely out of fear of scaring these two away. Now that they had arrived, his mind was at ease. With the Earth-Overturning Sword and Bright Light Sword here, wiping them out today would mean very few prominent martial masters remained in the vast Silver Moon martial arts world. The Laughing Freak might be Zhao Shuguang, and the only other relatively strong one was Kong Jie. None of them were a concern anymore! As for how those two had arrived so quickly, the Nine Departments had contributed significantly—even arranging helicopter escorts along the route. Yes, the Nine Departments had done so blatantly, solely out of fear that they wouldn't come! Now that they were here, it was all for the best. At this moment, Li Hao also sighed inwardly. *I set the execution for three days later precisely because I didn't want you to come. Why bother?* *Silver Moon martial masters... are all so foolish.* *This is not Silver Moon; this is Heavenly Star City.* *Yet now that you're here... what else can be done?* Hou Xiaochen's spear had already manifested, and a pair of cicada-wing gloves appeared on Jade Rakshasa's hands, radiating a chilling malice. At this point, there was no need for further words. In an instant, someone struck! *Boom!* Metal collided with wood as an overwhelming momentum erupted. The marshal from the Military Law Department’s Heavenly Star Army charged straight for Hou Xiaochen, spear in hand, his Divine Power surging forth! Two supernatural powers merged, extraordinarily potent. Hou Xiaochen gave a sharp cry and thrust his spear forward. The Fire Phoenix Spear blazed with blinding radiance, shaking heaven and earth. *Rumble!* A section of the city wall collapsed instantly. All around, the nobles scrambled in terror. Li Hao's plan for a public execution was completely shattered. Southern Fist and Jade Rakshasa attacked in succession. In midair, Qin Lian, at the peak of Rising Light, hesitated for a fraction of a second before gritting her teeth and brandishing her sword, lunging toward a Metamorphosis-stage foe! Yet... the disparity between the two sides was far too great. They had originally hoped for reinforcement from the Silver Moon martial masters outside, but who could have anticipated such an outcome? Outside the city, the roaring blasts suddenly intensified. Sky Sword had struck! At that moment, it seemed as if only this single sword existed in the entire world. In the next breath, Sky Sword's cold, arrogant voice echoed across the lands: "You three pieces of trash think you're worthy of stopping me?" *Boom!* The long sword trembled, and three Divine Power experts were actually forced back a step, their faces pale with shock. Sky Sword... was this strong? He was terrifyingly powerful! Even Hu Xiao couldn't help but glance sideways. What an astonishing Sky Sword! His Divine Power Realm was completely consolidated, which explained his brazen arrogance. Three Divine Power experts had to join forces just to intercept him—a treatment afforded to no one else. Elsewhere, in that same breath, the martial masters unleashed their vital energy and spirit. The Earth-Overturning Sword's strength surged drastically, but the Plain King was not to be outdone. His smile remained intact. "Hong Yitang, you are strong. All nine of your supernatural locks are saturated, aren't they? But... it seems I am much the same!" He was a martial master too! Yes, a martial master. Vital energy erupted from him, potent to the extreme, until the void itself seemed to fracture. He maintained his smile. "Bright Light Sword, step aside. Let the pirate of the North Sea play with you; I will play with Hong Yitang!" The Bright Light Sword's expression shifted slightly. In the next moment, her sword pierced the sea. From beneath the waves, a bare-chested old man stepped forward, brandishing a pair of twin axes with an exceptionally ferocious aura! The North Sea King! He glanced at the Plain King without a word, looked at the Bright Light Sword, and finally turned toward the distance, roaring at the top of his lungs, "If anything happens to my grandson, Hu, don't blame me for turning on you!" Hu Xiao's voice carried from afar: "Naturally, nothing will!" "Good!" With that, the North Sea King swung an axe at the Bright Light Sword, growling coldly, "Last time, when you killed my grand duke, you should have known this day would come!" The Bright Light Sword frowned slightly, dodging swiftly. She glanced at the Earth-Overturning Sword, then turned and fled. Staying here would only hold Hong Yitang back. This North Sea King had actually stepped into the Divine Power Realm as well. By this point, every martial master understood... this time, all the factions had spared no effort. They had made up their minds to exterminate them once and for all. Five Divine Power experts from the Three Great Organizations, Old Duke Xu, the Lord of Mount Futu, the Plain King, and the North Sea King—nine Divine Power experts hunting the reinforcing martial masters on the periphery. And inside the city, there were five Divine Power experts plus seven Metamorphosis experts—no, counting Huang Long and Qi Zhao, there were nine Metamorphosis powerhouses. For this battle, the Nine Departments had deployed a staggering fourteen Divine Power experts. It exceeded everyone's wildest imagination! *** At this moment, even inside the Inspectorate, the director was somewhat stunned and shaken, muttering, "They've all gone mad. Their realms aren't even consolidated yet, and they've all rushed out..." Beside him, his father stroked his beard. "It's normal enough. The threat posed by Silver Moon's martial masters is too great. Since they decided to act, of course they would cut the weeds and dig up the roots. It's just surprising that even though they knew it was likely a trap, those Silver Moon fools still rushed here one after another!" He shook his head and looked at his son. "Forget it, let's just stay huddled here. We won't offend anyone; losing a bit of power doesn't matter... We can't afford to provoke them! I was thinking that if it were just three or five Divine Power experts, we could add some icing to the cake... but Old Hu and the rest didn't give me the chance..." "Add icing to whose cake?" the Inspectorate director asked. The Seven Departments, or Li Hao and his group? The old man chuckled. "Guess?" "Not interested in guessing!" The director looked at the screen and shook his head. "Forget it, just as you said... let's lay low for now. We can't afford this trouble; they've all lost their minds." Divine Power experts were showing up more commonly than cabbages. For someone like him, whose realm was not yet entirely stable, staying at home was far safer. The former director nodded as well. It was best for father and son to keep a low profile, lest they become targets. Among the Nine Departments, they were the only ones who hadn't taken a stance. The Department of Finance had suffered losses, and Li Hao could technically be considered one of their people. Sticking their necks out now... would be extremely dangerous. *** North Gate. Li Hao still hadn't moved. Even though battle had erupted around him—Southern Fist, Hou Xiaochen, Jade Rakshasa, and Qin Lian had all joined the fray, and even Black Panther had charged forward with a roar—Li Hao remained still. He wasn't trying to look cool; he was merely waiting. Waiting for someone to come! The Starry Sky Sword in his hand trembled slightly. He had practiced the Sword Nurturing Art for a long time, but it hadn't yielded any grand results. Now that the five forces were merged, this might be his final sword strike as a martial master! His inner strength... had been completely absorbed, leaving only a trace lingering within the sword—the final vestige of what once was. Once this strike was unleashed... he would no longer be a martial master. Perhaps his heart would remain one, but his power would not. He looked toward the Divine Power experts and asked softly, "Is no one coming to kill me?" The Starry Sky Sword seemed to dance with excitement, cheering and waiting. *Is none of you coming?* "Does killing you require our personal intervention?" Hu Xiao chuckled and looked at Huang Long. "Take him down!" Huang Long froze! *Why? You are all standing right here, so why don't you strike?* Hu Xiao said nothing. The time had come to test Huang Long, to force a clean break between him and the Inspectorate, and to test Li Hao to see if the young man had any hidden trumps left. An Origin Talisman? Or something else? Whether Huang Long lived or died... didn't matter in the least. Huang Long cursed inwardly. Glancing at the people beside him, he gritted his teeth and sent a voice transmission: "Attack together! He has killed a Metamorphosis expert before; he still has strength!" The old bastard clearly wanted a pledge of allegiance from him. *Damn it!* As he cursed in his heart, Hu Xiao's voice sounded by his ear: "No need to worry. If you succeed today... we will provide everything you need to break through to the Divine Power Realm!" Huang Long's eyes lit up! In the next instant, he let out a roar and threw a punch toward Li Hao. Under the watchful eyes of several Divine Power experts, what could Li Hao possibly do? The others seemed to have received promises as well, launching their attacks in unison! Not far away, Big Eyes and her companions swayed on their feet, wanting to intervene... but ultimately held back. Stepping in would be suicide. Li Hao, however, frowned. Huang Long and his ilk were mere small fry, easily dealt with at any time. Killing Huang Long was fine, but it wasn't the outcome he desired right now. For his final strike as a martial master, he had wanted to offer it to a Divine Power expert. What a pity! Li Hao let out a soft sigh of regret. This was perhaps the greatest regret of his martial journey: failing to slay a Divine Power Realm expert using the martial path. "Sever myself." A soft murmur escaped his lips. The sound was not loud, yet it seemed to reverberate through every heart, echoing between heaven and earth. One strike! At this moment, all of Li Hao's remaining inner strength flowed into the small sword. Once this blow was unleashed, he would no longer be a martial master. Whether divine intent or sword intent, they would merely serve as auxiliary forces to protect his five organs from now on. The five forces would be completely extinguished, retreating into his organs; even if unleashed, they would lack power without inner strength to back them. A fierce tiger roared; a mountain peak trembled! They seemed to realize that after today, they might be trapped within his organs for the rest of their existence. Worse still, if Li Hao failed to recover, the locks around his five organs would eventually snap, and they... would perish completely. *Roar!* The tiger roared; mountains shattered! This strike was too swift. As it descended, tearing through the void, the Divine Power experts' expressions changed, and they stepped back instinctively! *Crack!* It sounded as if space itself had shattered. Li Hao sheathed his sword, the blade now dull and lifeless. Huang Long, Qi Zhao, Vice Minister Zhou, and three other vice ministers all froze in front of Li Hao. Six powerhouses—two at the Metamorphosis stage, four at the peak of Rising Light. In this instant, all came to a dead halt. Huang Long, who had charged at the very front, suddenly forced his head to turn toward Hu Xiao, as if asking... *Why... didn't you save me?* Hu Xiao's expression turned grave. He murmured, "Is this your hidden trump? You wanted to drag a Divine Power expert down with you? Li Hao, you truly exceed expectations!" *Boom!* The six bodies detonated simultaneously! The gruesome sight silenced the surroundings in an instant. Even the combatants paused mid-clash, their eyes turning toward Li Hao in unison. Six powerhouses, including two at the Metamorphosis stage, had been slain in a single strike! "Well done!" From somewhere unknown, a tsunami of cheers suddenly erupted, only to be choked off a second later. The commoners of the city had watched this unfold and couldn't resist crying out in astonishment, but they quickly realized the danger and clamped their mouths shut. Li Hao drew a ragged breath and shook his head, looking at the pulverized remains with a self-deprecating smile. "What a bloody... waste!" Slaying six experts in a single blow brought him no joy. He had never truly placed Huang Long in his eyes. It was a pity the Divine Power experts hadn't stepped forward. Around him, everyone's expressions flickered. What a terrifying strike! Yet they also sensed something amiss. That strike had clearly consumed everything Li Hao had; his inner strength and force seemed to have been extinguished in its wake! Did this mean... Li Hao had completely exhausted himself? Hou Xiaochen's face tightened. Casting all thoughts aside, his aura erupted to its absolute zenith. He thrust his spear forward, and with a thunderous roar, the marshal of the Military Law Department was blasted backward through the air! "Count me in!" Another Divine Power expert moved instantly—the deputy director of the Department of Internal Affairs lunged forward, two Divine Power experts attacking in unison. Meanwhile, Southern Fist, Jade Rakshasa, and the others were tied down by the Metamorphosis-stage fighters. Hu Xiao said nothing more. At this point, it was enough. Everything that needed to be tested had been revealed. It was time for Li Hao to die, bringing this farce to an end. A ruler manifested, striking down toward Li Hao. It seemed to lock down heaven and earth, sealing off every escape route as it descended upon him. Li Hao raised a brow, then turned his gaze in another direction. Without a word, a figure strode through the air from within the city. A punch flew out! This single fist shook the entire battlefield, leaving even Southern Fist dumbfounded, while Northern Fist hurriedly looked over from afar. *Boom!* The ruler shattered on impact, a powerful Origin God Armament disintegrating in an instant. Yao Si walked over in silence, his eyes fixed on Hu Xiao. Then he looked at Li Hao, a faint grin curling his lips. "You called me disgusting?" He bared his teeth. "When I was conquering the realm, you weren't even born! And you dare call me disgusting?" He pointed toward the grim-faced Hu Xiao. "You call this old fossil disgusting, I have no objections. But you called *me* disgusting?" He seemed deeply offended by those words. Furious, his vital energy rattled heaven and earth as he sneered, "The Night Patrol handles its own affairs—since when did the Nine Departments get a say? Since when did you, Hu Xiao, have the right to interfere? Did you ever put Yao Si in your eyes? Huang Long, that useless dog—I couldn't be bothered with him, yet he strutted around so arrogantly! A pity he died so quickly, or I would have taught him that the Night Patrol isn't a place just anyone can meddle in!" With that, he hurled a fist forward, and a massive dragon roared into existence! "Die!" *Boom!* Vital energy shook the sky, flushing Yao Si's face red. Hu Xiao’s expression changed as he countered with a palm strike, causing chains to manifest in the void and wrap toward his opponent. "Yao Si, you still haven't given up!" "Bullshit! You're the one who should die!" *Boom!* The blast shattered nearby buildings into rubble. Fortunately, Li Hao had given a warning the day before, so no civilians dared linger here. Yao Si had chosen to strike! Not only that, he bellowed fiercely, "Night Patrol, anyone who still listens to me, kill them! Crush these rebels!" As Yao Si joined the fray, the eyes of the remaining vice ministers and Big Eyes' trio lit up. Yao Si had come! This old minister had been frighteningly quiet for the past five years, leading everyone to believe he had gone completely into dormancy. No one expected him to strike today. Though having one more Divine Power expert still seemed insufficient to win, it was far better than before. Moreover, his very first move had tied down the strongest of them all, Hu Xiao, which left many deeply shaken. These old directors were truly formidable. On the ground, Li Hao was surprised, but a smile soon broke across his face. He looked around and suddenly felt... this wasn't bad at all. They had all come, and that was good! It seemed... not quite so terrifying after all. Hou Xiaochen roared like a madman, suppressing two Divine Power experts single-handedly and driving them back step after step, his combat prowess unmatched. The remaining two Divine Power experts exchanged glances and hesitated no longer, lunging straight for Li Hao. One was the head of the Myriad Monster Hall under the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the other was a deputy director of the Department of Commerce. Both were Divine Power experts. Ignoring the rest of the battlefield, their only goal now was to execute Li Hao! Nearby, the spear-wielding man from the trio gritted his teeth and roared, "Kill!" He thrust his spear forward! A mantis trying to stop a chariot! Yet he attacked anyway, unable to hold back any longer. Now that even Yao Si had appeared, as long as Li Hao stayed alive, this battle might draw out even more experts to support them. There would always be those who could not stomach injustice! "Old Spear!" Big Eyes shouted, cursing under her breath. In the next second, her eyes flushed blood-red as a faint wave of divine energy rippled outward. The space around Li Hao seemed to vanish into nothingness. The saber-wielding man followed close behind, slashing toward the two Divine Power experts while muttering a curse. *Utter madness!* *** At this moment, Li Hao paid no heed to them. The silver armor on his body suddenly vanished. Having reached this point, everyone who needed to appear had appeared, and everyone who needed to strike had struck. He ceased overthinking. With the silver armor gone, Li Hao looked toward the sky. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead, and lightning flashed within them. In the next instant, fierce gales howled, accompanied by rolling thunder! A tempest of lightning erupted! It seemed as though a deluge was about to fall. The gale swept through, kicking up countless grains of sand until even the projection screens blurred, plunging the entire city into darkness. The two Divine Power experts were still furious at the fools trying to block their path. Suddenly, both looked up! A bolt of purple lightning materialized in the void. Their faces fell. *A supernatural power?* *Where did a supernatural power come from?* *There's another one?* Just as that doubt arose in their minds, Li Hao vanished. He was gone—no one had even seen him move. Wind and thunder merged, plunging the surroundings into darkness save for the lightning dancing through the air. The two Divine Power experts, whose realms were not yet fully consolidated, grew intensely alert. In the next instant, Hu Xiao, who was locked in combat with Yao Si, suddenly felt his expression shift. Just as he was about to shout, a sudden tremor seized his heart! *Boom!* A thunderbolt detonated with an ear-splitting roar, sounding as though the entire city were blowing apart! "Hu Xiao, former Director of the Department of Penal Law! You drafted the new laws, yet violated them yourself—you deserve death!" A frigid voice reverberated between heaven and earth. "Let wind and thunder descend upon you, and suffer the baptism of lightning!" *Rumble!* In an instant, it seemed as if tens of thousands of thunderbolts crashed down at once. At that moment, tremendously powerful auras flared within the city as directors and former directors shot into the air one after another! In the next instant, their faces all changed. In the distance, Yuan Shuo, who had been hopping around and cursing, suddenly froze. Struck by King Chujiang's palm and sent flying, coughing up blood, he seemed not to feel the pain at all as he stared wide-eyed toward the city! "Supernatural..." he muttered. *Supernatural...* *My disciple has become a super?* *How did my disciple become a super!* From every direction, combatants halted their slaughter, their gazes piercing through the thunder and tempest to peer inward. At that moment, they beheld a colossus resembling a god of thunder. Li Hao wielded no sword. Wearing the Wind-Chasing Boots, he shattered the void in a single stride, appearing before Hu Xiao like a phantom—ignoring the two Divine Power experts entirely to strike at Hu Xiao directly. He had arrived in a mere instant. Without another word, a giant fist of lightning materialized and struck out. Hu Xiao, who was clashing with Yao Si, roared as flames swept across heaven and earth, only to be blasted apart by that single punch! Lightning shattered everything! Li Hao's arm locked around Hu Xiao's neck like an iron shackle. Flames erupted with a roar, followed by the shattering of a massive mountain—earth and fire combined, his realm consolidated. Both energies detonated against Li Hao, tearing his flesh and opening bloody gashes. Yet Li Hao remained indifferent. Was being injured terrifying? Not in the slightest! *Crack!* Locking the man's neck with one arm, he hammered downward with his fist. *Boom!* The earthen armor shattered! Another punch! Then another! In a single breath, it seemed as if thousands of blows had rained down. Hu Xiao coughed up blood wildly, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Li Hao!" From deep within the city, a middle-aged man shot through the air, roaring furiously, "Li Hao, you dare!" *Boom!* Lightning detonated once more. The arm Li Hao had wrapped around the man's neck tightened into a vice-like grip, lifting Hu Xiao off his feet. "Today, Hu Xiao of the Department of Penal Law, one of the founders of the Nine Departments, is executed here!" A cold declaration rang out across the world. In the next instant, a fist slammed straight into his face! Countless waves of mysterious energy erupted. Hu Xiao screamed repeatedly, his internal organs rupturing, yet he still could not halt that fist. Every defensive supernatural power on his face shattered. *Boom!* His head blew apart! Li Hao casually tossed the headless corpse into the air. In the next instant, he vanished as if teleporting, a streak of lightning flashing through the void. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Before anyone could react, Old Duke Xu, who had been suppressing Thunderbolt Leg, suddenly felt his expression change. *How could this be!* The thought had barely formed when a figure appeared before his eyes. Li Hao seemed to have stepped across the void, appearing directly in front of him. There was no waste of words. Because Thunderbolt Leg was weaker and on the brink of being beaten to death, Li Hao had come here first. Without a sound, he threw a punch, followed immediately by another! The Wind-Thunder Fist was simply too fast! Not only that, but all mysterious energy in the surroundings seemed to be pulverized in an instant. The speed was terrifying—Li Hao walked the path of wind and thunder, and the wind attribute inherently signified speed, to say nothing of the Wind-Chasing Boots on his feet. In an instant, the old duke scrambled to defend himself, fusing water and fire. Yet if even Hu Xiao could not withstand it, how could he? A hundred punches rained down in rapid succession! *Boom!* A gaping hole appeared in his chest. The old duke stared at Li Hao in utter disbelief, his five organs pulverized entirely. He parted his lips. "You... the Divine Power Realm..." *Weren't you a martial master?* "Thank you all for helping me see through so many things!" Li Hao smiled faintly. With a *crack*, he crushed the man's skull. He casually tossed the corpse into the sea. In a flash, he vanished once more. Far away, someone roared, "Quick, surround and kill him!" *Boom!* From within the city, several exceedingly formidable Divine Power experts lunged toward Li Hao's location. Li Hao had attained Divine Power! *** Meanwhile, Li Hao roamed within the hurricane, vanishing with the wind. When he reappeared, he was already in front of the two fleeing Divine Power experts—the ones from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Commerce. They had wanted to flee, but Yao Si had brought one down with a single blow. Just as Yao Si prepared to strike again, he couldn't help but curse under his breath! A colossal foot resembling a mountain descended instantly, stomping the fallen Divine Power expert into mangled pieces with a thunderous crash! Everyone was dumbfounded! Not only had Li Hao stepped into the Divine Power Realm, his realm was rock-solid, his physical body terrifyingly robust, and most crucially, he possessed the Wind-Chasing Boots, granting him blinding speed! This sight stunned every onlooker. Yet in the next breath, the enemies took some solace. Before long, several figures appeared around Li Hao—all white-haired elders, their faces grim to the extreme as they stared at him in disbelief. "You broke your supernatural locks?" One of them looked at Li Hao, deeply shaken. Li Hao did not reply. He vanished in an instant. *Boom!* Trading a blow with one of them, both sides stepped back, but Li Hao disappeared again. *Boom, boom, boom!* Explosions rang out endlessly! Li Hao's voice was frigid and merciless: "All Silver Moon martial masters, unseal your combat strength to the limit! Slaughter them all! I have the time to help you suppress it afterward!" The words had barely fallen. The first to unseal his power was none other than Yao Si. In an instant, Yao Si severed the supernatural locks throughout his body, leaving behind only the faintest sliver. He threw a punch forward. *Rumble!* With a massive roar, the fleeing Divine Power expert from the Department of Commerce was punched clean through! He cursed, muttering, "Why didn't you say so earlier!" Exhilarating! Hou Xiaochen was also profoundly shaken, equally astonished, and filled with a mixture of rage and regret. He suddenly let out a savage roar, his aura surging wildly once more, tinged with madness and fury! "Damn you! You ruined him!" *Cough, cough, cough...* A bout of violent coughing drowned out all other sounds. A spear rent the void. He was furious, he was filled with regret, and he wanted to kill! *Boom!* The spear pierced the heavens, skewering the skull of the Military Law Department's marshal in an instant, leaving him with an expression of reluctance and utter shock. Hou Xiaochen was in a berserk fury! Raising his spear, he charged toward the second man. "You will suffer Silver Moon's vengeance—an unceasing, relentless vengeance! You will face the wrath of every martial master of Silver Moon, the vengeance of all our accumulated heritage! You have ruined the genius of this generation!" The spear rent the air once more. Flames even began to lick across Hou Xiaochen's body, yet he paid them no mind. The heir of the Eight Great Families had been ruined by these people! *Boom!* A spear thrust that seemed to originate from ancient times tore the other Divine Power expert into shreds! "Yao Si, you made the right choice!" "They... will die!" Hou Xiaochen stared coldly at the figures surrounding Li Hao, then suddenly turned and charged toward the sea. Southern Fist and the others quickly followed. Yao Si's expression shifted slightly, but Li Hao's voice drifted over: "Minister Yao, leave none alive! As for here... these old bastards won't find it so easy to kill me!" Yao Si said no more, tearing through the void in an instant. *Boom!* Upon the sea, the battle erupted into absolute savagery. Meanwhile, the former directors encircling Li Hao grew slightly pale. Li Hao was simply too fast! They had never imagined Li Hao could be this powerful. The key was his speed; they could not keep up with him. *Rumble!* A streak of lightning darted among them repeatedly, the blasts shaking heaven and earth. In the distance, two figures emerged. The Inspectorate director’s expression shifted, and he suddenly roared, "How dare the Three Great Evil Organizations invade Heavenly Star!" *Boom!* He threw a punch across the distance toward the outskirts of the city. His elderly father also bellowed, "Today, the Inspectorate will execute the rebels and purge the evil powers! None of you are leaving!" His speed was even greater. Vanishing in the blink of an eye, he materialized over the sea a moment later, blocking the fleeing King Chujiang. King Chujiang's face twisted in horror! He screamed, "It's you—" "Die!" The former director of the Inspectorate let out a fierce shout that drowned out all other noise. A single saber strike shattered the void. Supernatural powers, mysterious energies, and martial skills were all cleaved into pieces before that blade! Filled with despair, King Chujiang was sliced clean in two. The old director spat out a mouthful of blood, looked back toward the city, and then glanced at Yuan Shuo, who was coughing up blood. He smiled faintly. "Your disciple is formidable!" Yuan Shuo glared at him coldly without saying a word. The old director gave an awkward cough and vanished in an instant. Yet shock still lingered in his heart. How on earth had Li Hao become a Divine Power expert? Was this a blessing or a curse? At this moment, even he found it hard to judge. But in every direction, frenzied slaughter had broken out—some fleeing, others giving chase.