Thousand-Battler Martial Master!

In the small courtyard. Li Hao looked at his teacher with an eager, expectant gaze. "Teacher, do you have any injuries?" "Heh!" Yuan Shuo laughed arrogantly. "What a joke. Injure me? Before supernaturals emerged, I swept across the world! After they appeared, I became an honored guest of the Night Watchers. And while the Night Watchers don't represent the entirety of the supernatural world, they are the single largest organization in the supernatural realm. Tell me, who could possibly injure me?" "..." That wasn't the answer Li Hao was looking for. He couldn't help pressing, "Teacher, Captain Liu said every single Hundred-Breaker martial master carries hidden injuries. You were a top-tier martial master back in the day. Is it because of accumulated hidden injuries that you've never been able to advance into a supernatural?" "That's him! He's just useless!" "..." *Why do you have to be so stubborn?* Li Hao felt deeply exhausted. His teacher was wonderful in every way except for his stubborn mouth. The man refused to admit he had hidden injuries no matter what, which left Li Hao utterly helpless. "Then..." Li Hao had no choice but to be more direct. "Teacher, there has to be a reason why you still haven't advanced to the supernatural realm to become a Starlight Master, right?" "Because I was too strong!" Yuan Shuo felt his student was getting a bit too bold lately. What did he mean by that? Poking at his sore spots? Heh! Fat chance! Of course, it was also because Yuan Shuo felt telling Li Hao wouldn't accomplish anything. If that was the case, why bother talking about it? What difference would it make if the kid knew? Now Li Hao was truly getting anxious. His teacher was simply too stubborn. He tried again, "Teacher, if your hidden injuries were completely healed, would you have a chance to advance to Starlight Master?" "Did you come looking for me just for this?" "Yes." "You must have too much time on your hands!" Yuan Shuo was speechless. Was this kid bored or something? He had no choice but to explain, "Don't overthink it. There are many reasons why I can't advance—both external and internal!" "Could you be more specific, Teacher?" "..." Yuan Shuo frowned and stared at him for a moment before speaking slowly. "I possess the Five Animals Breathing Art, and the Night Watchers once provided me with mysterious energy, some of which I absorbed... But because my strength was too great back then, I required far too much mysterious energy. That's the first reason!" Li Hao nodded. A shortage of mysterious energy. "I'm advanced in years, and my physical functions have declined. That's the second!" Li Hao nodded again. His physical constitution was no longer strong enough to withstand the violent impact of a Hundred-Breaker breakthrough? "Back in the day, I made several powerful enemies. Some of those fellows have already become supernaturals, and some are even leaders of supernatural organizations. They once exerted pressure on the Night Watchers. That is an external factor, and the third reason!" "As for the fourth..." Yuan Shuo suddenly chuckled, glanced at Li Hao, and said lazily, "I simply don't want to advance." "..." Li Hao was completely dumbfounded! What did that mean? The first three reasons made sense, but what was with the fourth? Didn't want to advance? Did that mean the first three were nonsense and his teacher actually could advance? Seeing his student looking utterly lost, Yuan Shuo smiled again. Teasing Li Hao was always quite amusing. Seeing Li Hao's distressed look, Yuan Shuo stopped joking and let out a wistful sigh. "The first three reasons are true, and so is the fourth. A few years ago, I actually still had hope of advancing to the supernatural realm. But back then, I was unwilling to settle..." Yuan Shuo shook his head with an unnameable self-derision. "Back then, the supernatural realm had already been developing for over a decade. Some of my 'old friends' had walked the supernatural path for more than ten years, and they were already quite far ahead... If I had advanced from Hundred-Breaker at that time, I would have faced greetings from those 'old friends' the moment I stepped into the supernatural realm. "Remaining an ordinary martial master actually kept me safe. The moment I became a supernatural, even the Night Watchers would have found it difficult to shelter me. Right now, I'm just an old martial master, not a Starlight Master, so they don't dare move against me rashly, nor do they view me as a major threat..." Li Hao vaguely understood. Not advancing was due to lingering concerns. Yet... wasn't that like drinking poison to quench a thirst? Evidently, Yuan Shuo was not the timid type to shrink from danger. He laughed again. "A few years ago, I was still full of grand ambitions. What I thought back then was that my martial arts had to advance first! I wanted to step into the Thousand-Battler realm before advancing to supernatural! If I entered the ranks of Starlight Masters as a Thousand-Battler martial master, even if I was a decade behind in advancing, I wouldn't fear any powerful enemy the moment I crossed over!" At this moment, Yuan Shuo suddenly radiated an overbearing wildness! To Li Hao, he felt even more brazenly arrogant than Liu Long! He had wanted to use the status of a Thousand-Battler martial master to step straight into the supernatural realm, becoming a top-tier powerhouse among Starlight Masters, bridging the decade-long gap and catching right up to those 'old friends.' Yet, clearly, he had failed! Li Hao furrowed his brows. "Teacher, you mean that a few years ago, you chose not to advance because you believed you couldn't match your enemies even if you did, so you waited to reach the Thousand-Battler realm in martial arts to catch up all at once?" "Precisely!" "Then... something went wrong?" Li Hao didn't know how strong a Thousand-Battler was, but he knew his teacher had stepped into the Hundred-Breaker realm many years ago. If Yuan Shuo still held such ambition a few years back, it meant he had genuinely possessed a chance at success. Why had he given up now? Yes, given up. If he hadn't given up, Li Hao doubted his teacher would be speaking this way, talking about grand ambitions from years ago in the past tense. Yuan Shuo chuckled softly. "Yes, a small problem came up. But that was fine too—it helped me give up! I tried to get the Night Watchers to help me find a solution, but it never worked out. With no other choice, I could only accept my fate! "Actually, it turned out to be a good thing..." Yuan Shuo smiled merrily. "If not for that, I wouldn't have been in the mood to take on any students!" In the past, he had been too busy striving to reach Thousand-Battler. Because of that, he hadn't taken on any students for years. Ever since his hopes of reaching Thousand-Battler were shattered, he had lost much of his drive to pursue the supernatural realm. He had asked the Night Watchers to help find ways to nourish his body, but they kept deflecting and stalling until he completely abandoned the idea. Now, all he could do was spend his twilight years quietly nestled inside the Silver City Ancient Academy. Of course, it was precisely because he had too much free time that he had the leisure to accept students. Outsiders had wondered why he suddenly took on an apprentice again. The reason was very simple: he was bored out of his mind! His martial arts cultivation could advance no further, and the supernatural realm remained closed to him. Taking on a student at such a time was quite pleasant. He had chosen Li Hao because the young man wasn't stupid and could at least absorb some of his knowledge. If not Li Hao, was he supposed to pick Zhang Yuan? That blockhead! "Teacher, do you still have a chance now to advance to Thousand-Battler and then become a supernatural?" Yuan Shuo sighed softly. "I know what you're thinking. You're in danger, and I know that too... But with my current, half-crippled Hundred-Breaker strength, I'm afraid I might really be inferior to Liu Long..." It was a bitter reality. Yuan Shuo, the Five Animals Grandmaster who had once dominated an entire region, could now only resign himself to admitting he fell short of Liu Long. "If you're frightened, my previous offer still stands—come hide here with me. They won't dare come after you here so easily. After all, I'm still useful to the Night Watchers, and their archaeology still relies on me..." Li Hao scratched his head and ears in frustration. Only in front of his teacher did he reveal the restless anxiety typical of a young man. "Teacher, I..." Not knowing how to put it into words, he thought for a moment before suddenly standing up and heading toward the house. "Teacher, I got my hands on something good. Why don't you try it and see if it works for you!" "Something good?" Yuan Shuo nearly laughed out loud! This kid was truly amusing. What kind of good thing? How good could it be? In his lifetime, Yuan Shuo had seen far too many treasures—so many he couldn't even remember them all. His condition was not so simple. His very foundation had been damaged! It hadn't even been that long ago—a little over three years, during an exploration of ancient civilization ruins. Luck had turned against them that day. Because they fled a step too late, numerous Night Watchers perished, and his own hopes of advancing to Thousand-Battler were crushed in that very expedition. Otherwise, he might have already advanced into the supernatural realm in secret by now, perhaps even chatting and laughing alongside those 'old friends.' Li Hao entered the house, but Yuan Shuo paid it little mind. Recalling that day, he gently touched his chest where his heart lay. The injury back then had been devastating, piercing straight through his heart. If not for his exceptionally tenacious vitality, he would never have made it back alive. Yet, he was an old man in his seventies, after all. Surviving such a severe wound had cost him any remaining hope along the martial master path. *Perhaps... I still need to find a chance to advance to the supernatural realm. Maybe there's still a way to remedy it then,* he thought to himself. In truth, while he seemed to have given up, he had never truly surrendered. He still wanted to break into the supernatural realm! It was just that advancing with a broken body was vastly more difficult than a few years ago. Li Hao had seen him practicing Tortoise Fist... and it truly was Tortoise Fist. The divine tortoise brought longevity; nourishing the body came first! It was a health-preserving fist art he had reconstructed from various ancient texts! It wasn't meant to boost combat strength, but to nurse his body back to health. He still intended to make one final gamble—to charge at the supernatural realm, or charge at Thousand-Battler! Whatever the path, he had to make one last push! Even if it killed him, he had to try, or he would die with regret! There was no need to tell the outside world any of this. The Night Watchers currently assumed he had given up and were reluctant to provide rare treasures to aid his recovery. *If I can still pull it off... just you wait!* Twenty years ago, when he dominated his domain, many of today's supernatural overlords had been mere fledglings before him! Now they walked all over him. If he didn't teach them a lesson, his heart would never find peace. Hiding in Silver City for years, living humbly under the Night Watchers' protection just to survive—it was utterly suffocating! Rarely did Yuan Shuo find himself lost in thought like this. He reminisced about the past, recalling the glory days. As for Li Hao, the kid could do whatever he wanted; he was familiar with the house anyway. Yuan Shuo leaned back in his chair, dwelling on random thoughts. Shortly after, Li Hao emerged. He carried a cup of water. Yuan Shuo smiled. "There's water out here. Why did you go inside to pour a cup?" "Teacher, take a sip." Yuan Shuo paused slightly, tilted his head to look at Li Hao, and then peered into the cup. He asked hesitantly, "Did you poison it? Trying to kill me off to inherit my estate? I've already written a will leaving everything to the Night Watchers. If you take anything, you might lose your little life!" "..." Li Hao was speechless, though he didn't take it to heart. His teacher often enjoyed talking nonsense. "Teacher, just try it!" Yuan Shuo looked at the cup, stroked his short beard, and suddenly understood. He chuckled. "Mysterious energy? Infused into water? Still... it's truly useless! Besides, with my current condition, absorbing mysterious energy actually makes me feel miserable..." He had guessed a bit of what was going on. *Ah, whatever. For the sake of my student's filial piety, I'll drink it!* His injuries had never healed, leaving his body frail. Having mysterious energy tear through him would indeed be troublesome. Yet, Yuan Shuo remained a Hundred-Breaker martial master. How much mysterious energy could a single cup of water hold? Not even 0.1 units! Even if it were pure mysterious energy, it wouldn't amount to much. He might as well drink it and put the kid's mind at ease. *Is this sword-infused water?* He had already guessed its origin. Feeling somewhat amused, he glanced at Li Hao. The sword was kept on Li Hao's person, so sword-infused water wasn't much different from Li Hao's bathwater. *Sigh!* *What an exceptional teacher I am. Just to avoid breaking my student's heart, I'm even drinking his bathwater!* Yuan Shuo had absorbed mysterious energy from supernatural items before, and it had never done him a bit of good! With countless thoughts swirling in his mind, Yuan Shuo took the cup and downed it in one gulp. Before even swallowing it into his belly, he began shouting, "Good! Excellent effect! Li Hao, you truly are a dutiful—" Li Hao's face turned green. *Teacher, you haven't even swallowed it yet!* *Is that really necessary?* Yuan Shuo laughed heartily, offering exaggerated praise. But as the water settled into his stomach and he prepared to joke some more, he suddenly froze. A wisp of mysterious energy unfurled within his body. There was no violent impact! It was gentle! A warm current! Incredibly soothing! He had never experienced such gentle mysterious energy before. Every form of mysterious energy he had ever encountered was violently domineering, packing tremendous destructive force. He was stunned. Li Hao reminded him, "Teacher, the breathing art!" Right, the breathing art! To prevent the energy from thrashing inside him, Yuan Shuo hadn't even circulated his breathing art earlier. He had been afraid the violent impact would make him spit blood and lose composure. Now, he rapidly circulated the Five Animals Breathing Art, bracing himself to cough up blood. Yet... Yuan Shuo's mouth fell open, his eyes widening into saucers. What was going on? The energy was swiftly absorbed, but just like before, it remained a warm current. Like a soothing hot spring, it gently washed across the depths of his heart, bringing immense comfort. Absorbing mysterious energy had always been synonymous with agonizing pain. Yet here he was, experiencing pure comfort—a warmth that sank deep into his very bones. "Ahhh!" Yuan Shuo couldn't help letting out a soft groan. The corner of Li Hao's mouth twitched. The sound his teacher made was... difficult to describe. It sounded just like an old cat in heat! The next instant, Yuan Shuo bolted to his feet. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief! This wasn't ordinary mysterious energy! He stared fixedly at Li Hao. This was absolutely not regular mysterious energy. Yuan Shuo had seen every kind of mysterious energy under the sun, but never anything like this. Even medical-type mysterious energy caused pain upon entering the body. Medical mysterious energy merely forced injuries to knit back together after the pain. This, however, was fundamentally different! Yuan Shuo said nothing, silently experiencing the sensation. He was far stronger than Li Hao, possessing vastly superior experience and insight. He felt it, analyzing the process. "Healing... nourishing... nurturing the flesh... nourishing the spirit!" The shock in Yuan Shuo's eyes was plain to see. He could even feel that his damaged heart, scarred and broken for years, was slowly knitting together. Yet... there was too little of it. He was simply too strong! A single cup of water contained far too little. The wound on his heart was roughly five centimeters long, and right now, less than half a centimeter had healed. Even ten times this warm current wouldn't be enough! Moreover, the further healing progressed, the harder it became. Still... this was simply too precious. What on earth was this? Given Yuan Shuo's formidable strength and the power of the Five Animals Breathing Art, he absorbed the entire warm current in an instant without letting a trace leak out. There wasn't nearly enough to satisfy him, let alone dissipate into the air. Besides, starlight energy was inherently easier to absorb than raw mysterious energy. And now it was gone! Yuan Shuo felt a pang of craving and longing, but the next moment, he realized something and let out a soft sigh. With an indescribable touch of regret, he forced a smile. "Not bad. But this stuff... you should keep it for yourself! Your sword is extraordinary! However, this kind of mysterious energy must be extremely scarce... Don't squander it. Use it sparingly." "Teacher, was it effective?" Li Hao looked at him with an expectant face, paying no mind to the rest of what Yuan Shuo had said. "It was average!" Yuan Shuo chuckled. "Just so-so!" He understood supernatural items; the mysterious energy stored within them was never plentiful. He was already old! Even if he absorbed it all, it might not yield any real results. It was better left for the boy! Giving it to him would be a waste. At that moment, countless thoughts raced through Yuan Shuo's mind. For a brief second, he had felt an impulse... In his younger days, he might have demanded it on the spot. Now, however, he let it go. He was old, his heart had softened, and knowing that such energy was scarce quickly snuffed out the urge. *Yuan Shuo, oh Yuan Shuo, don't ruin the image of a benevolent mentor in your student's eyes.* "Average?" Li Hao felt a wave of disappointment upon hearing that. Was it really that ineffective? That shouldn't be! Of course, maybe it was because his teacher was too strong and a single cup of water was simply too little? Thinking this, Li Hao refused to give up and hurriedly said, "Teacher, let's try a few more times—" "Forget it!" Yuan Shuo cut him off. Li Hao remained stubborn. "Teacher, you definitely just drank too little! You're too strong, so there was no obvious effect... That cup of water was just an experiment. A larger amount should definitely do something... The dog at my place drank a cup the day before yesterday, and its coat became noticeably glossier!" Li Hao urged eagerly, "Teacher, if drinking water isn't enough, try absorbing it directly! I absorbed some last night—about ten times the amount in that cup—and it was quite effective..." Yuan Shuo: "..." He stared silently at Li Hao. A dog drank a whole cup? Last night Li Hao absorbed ten times that amount? What in the world was he talking about?! Yuan Shuo was thoroughly confused. Li Hao's jade sword was tiny. He could guess how much mysterious energy it held with his eyes closed. Yet... what was Li Hao going on about?! Could the Li family sword truly be that extraordinary? At this moment, Yuan Shuo could no longer maintain his aloof master persona. He coughed, his voice dropping to a low, suppressed tone. "You... Hao, are you saying you still have a lot of this energy?" "I don't know!" Li Hao shook his head. "But after absorbing some last night, the mysterious energy flowing out didn't seem to decrease at all! I think there should still be plenty left. If you absorb it all, Teacher, it might really work." "It didn't decrease at all?" Yuan Shuo stroked his beard and stared at Li Hao. "When you infused that water just now, you just dipped it casually?" "Yeah!" "..." Yuan Shuo accidentally plucked out a whisker, blowing it away with a sharp breath. Looking back at Li Hao, the expression in his eyes shifted. Could it be real? How was that possible?! "You... how about... how about you let me try absorbing a bit directly?" Yuan Shuo could no longer suppress his temptation. Earlier, he had intended to leave it for Li Hao, but the thought that this little scoundrel was feeding it to a dog—squandering it like a madman instead of acting like a sensible person—made him think: *Why shouldn't I try absorbing a little more?* Seeing that his teacher had agreed, Li Hao breathed a sigh of relief. He hurriedly retrieved the jade sword and handed it over. Yuan Shuo took the jade sword, his brow furrowing slightly. He couldn't sense any supernatural aura! Was it self-protective, or in a dormant state? Or did it require Li Hao to activate it? The weapons mentioned in the local ballad truly were out of the ordinary, quite distinct from the supernatural items he had seen before. "Can it be drawn out?" Yuan Shuo pondered for a moment before gently circulating his breathing art. In the next instant, a surging warm current came pouring forth! "Ahhh!" Yuan Shuo groaned aloud. An exquisite comfort penetrated deep into his bones, far surpassing any earthly pleasure from his youth. So much! Such dense, extraordinary mysterious energy! It really could be drawn out! At this moment, Yuan Shuo felt his spirit soar into the heavens, his entire being floating on air. He felt utterly intoxicated! The potent mysterious energy rushed out, pouring steadily into his body. His heart began greedily absorbing it. And inside his body, it wasn't just his heart; the fine fractures deep within his blood vessels and the old fissures along his bones drank it in hungrily. Every part of him, from head to toe, absorbed the energy without pause! His body seemed desperately starved for it. He had once been a supreme martial master on the cusp of becoming a Thousand-Battler, a figure akin to a grandmaster. That also meant he carried an immense accumulation of hidden injuries. It felt like ascending to immortality! In this moment, Yuan Shuo completely forgot about leaving some for Li Hao. His craving was absolute; he thirsted for this energy. This was an elixir of immortality! *Just a little more, just another sliver... I'll just take a tiny bit more...* The thought echoed in his mind. A moment later, relying on the transcendent willpower of a grandmaster, Yuan Shuo snapped awake, regaining his composure in an instant. To recover his senses in such a state spoke volumes of his extraordinary mental fortitude! With the jade sword pinched in one hand, he clenched his other fist, calming the tempest of shock within his chest. He looked toward Li Hao, his gaze having shifted entirely. He suddenly said in a grim voice, "Your trouble might be greater than you can possibly imagine!" "..." Li Hao was bewildered. Weren't you just absorbing mysterious energy? Why bring this up all of a sudden? Was his teacher planning to rob him? He felt like saying that he still had a stone saber, while the jade sword was an ancestral heirloom—could his teacher rob the other one instead? "This thing... surpasses every supernatural item I have ever seen. Whoever is targeting it might already know its true value. If they do, your trouble will be astronomical! They will stop at nothing to get it. And the key is... this sword likely hasn't been unsealed!" Yes, it wasn't unsealed! Even with Yuan Shuo's vast experience, he was shaken to the core. Nine times out of ten, this sword remained sealed. The mysterious energy he had absorbed was merely a fraction stored inside, not its true essence. The sword itself was the real treasure. Even in this state, Yuan Shuo had nearly lost his self-control. One could only imagine the frenzy it would stir among the world's powerhouses once unsealed. "The Eight Great Families of Silver City..." Yuan Shuo murmured. He had always thought that even if the legends spoke of Eight Great Families in a tiny place like Silver City, what of it? The world was vast, and Silver City was pitifully small. How remarkable could the local families possibly be? Yet at this moment, doubts crept in. Could they truly have ties to ancient civilizations? An unsealed sword! Checking his condition, he realized to his astonishment that the injury to his heart had already healed by thirty percent. It was unbelievable. Didn't that mean absorbing it three to five more times would fully mend his heart? And one or two more times would erase all the hidden injuries across his body? With another session or two, could his physical form... could it return to the peak of his youth, granting him a shot at Thousand-Battler? *Don't kid yourself!* *I gave up. I resigned myself... Could I really strive for Thousand-Battler again?* *And... if I reach Thousand-Battler and then charge into the supernatural realm... wouldn't I... wouldn't I have even better prospects than a few years ago?* Swallowing hard, he couldn't stop the thoughts from racing. His heart began to pound with vigorous life. Looking at Li Hao, he suddenly asked, "Did you tell anyone else?" Li Hao felt a little nervous. Why that tone? Was his teacher really going to rob him? "Teacher... calm down, please stay calm! I haven't told a soul. Only I know—oh, and a dog." "Good!" Yuan Shuo nodded, but then felt something was off. *I know too!* Li Hao had said only he and a dog knew... Why did that sound like an insult? "Do not tell anyone else!" Yuan Shuo warned sternly, adding, "And... you idiot, you shouldn't have told me either!" Li Hao chuckled awkwardly. "How could I not? Teacher, you gave me treasures as precious as the New Book of Five Animals and the Five Animals Breathing Art without a second thought. Besides, you've looked after me all these years. Even if I didn't tell my father, I would still have to tell you!" "Heh!" Yuan Shuo sneered. "Your father is six feet under. Does that mean you want me in the dirt too?" "...That's not what I meant..." "Fine, I understand your intentions!" Yuan Shuo looked down at the jade sword, tossed it back to Li Hao, and fell silent for a moment before speaking. "I still think this mysterious energy is limited. You cannot squander it recklessly. Giving it to a dog—feeding it to a dog—you really aren't acting like a human being!" "Teacher, how do you feel?" "Decent!" "Then absorb some more..." "No need!" Li Hao was a clever young man. He had clearly seen the shock on his teacher's face earlier. Now, he said gravely, "Teacher, I'm in grave danger! As good as this mysterious energy is, I'm afraid I won't live to enjoy it! If you can truly advance to Thousand-Battler or become a Starlight Master, at least my life will be secure!" "Hide here with me for a year!" Yuan Shuo's eyes shone brightly. "After a year, if you can absorb this mysterious energy consistently to build a solid foundation, I guarantee you'll reach Hundred-Breaker! At the very least, you'll advance to Starlight Master as a Hundred-Breaker martial master. That way, when you become a supernatural a year from now, you won't be weak even among the Night Watchers!" "Teacher, are you sure hiding here will work? If they can't get it, what if word leaks out, drawing others or even the Night Watchers' greed?" A ruthless edge surfaced on Li Hao's face. "Teacher, even you call it precious, and with all your years of archaeological experience, you consider it an incredible treasure. What about others? Right now, the best solution is to silence the witness permanently!" Li Hao gestured fiercely, bolstering his own resolve. "Many people might know the ballad of Silver City's Eight Great Families, but they don't know the specifics. Yet the person who killed Zhang Yuan probably does! In the eyes of outsiders, Silver City is just a small place, and supernatural items here wouldn't be worth mentioning, certainly not enough to draw the attention of big figures! "I don't have the strength for it! But if you can advance and kill that person, Teacher, that would be the best protection for me... Unless you aren't confident you can advance or kill that guy?" "..." Yuan Shuo stared blankly at his student for a long while before murmuring in dazed disbelief, "Kid, when did you become so ruthless? Talking about silencing witnesses like it's second nature?" *I never taught him that!* *Everything I taught this kid was about cultivating moral character and studying diligently. I never taught him to go around slaughtering people to silence them!* Li Hao grinned, looking rather like a sly little fox. "Teacher, I've spent a whole year in the Inspectorate after all. What kind of case haven't I seen? What kind of dossier haven't I read? After seeing so much of it, I've gotten used to it!" At that moment, Yuan Shuo felt the Inspectorate was truly leading the young astray. Li Hao had gone bad! A pang of heartache struck him. The person he had wanted to nurture was supposed to be a good man. "Teacher, if you can absorb it, then absorb it! You're so powerful, yet you only took a tiny sliver—it felt like less than what I absorbed last night!" "..." Yuan Shuo still looked somewhat hesitant. Li Hao adopted an aggrieved, impatient look, as if scolding someone who failed to live up to expectations. "Teacher, rather than letting outsiders benefit, it's better for you to take it! Just tell me straight: can absorbing this help you advance? If not, maybe I should try offering it to Captain Liu. If he advances, he might become quite formidable too..." "Bullshit!" Yuan Shuo cursed loudly. "What right does Liu Long have to compare himself to me? Never mind Liu Long—even his old man, Liu Hao, once known as the Silver Spear of the Three Spears of Silver Moon, had to stay flat on the ground and respectfully call me Master Shuo when he met me!" Li Hao said nothing, though his curiosity was piqued. Was Liu Long's father a martial master too? He had been called one of the Three Spears of Silver Moon, but 'Silver Spear'... didn't sound all that great! In speech, it sounded uncomfortably close to 'Lecher Spear'—like some flower-plucking bandit! "So be it!" At this moment, Yuan Shuo's eyes gleamed with brilliant resolve. "Since you don't even care, wouldn't it be pathetic for me, Yuan Shuo, to keep hesitating? Fine, fine! I'll absorb it! At worst, once I succeed, I'll go snatch some good treasures to make it up to you!" The light in his eyes flared to a terrifying intensity! "If I can truly heal my injuries, purge my hidden damage, and advance to Thousand-Battler... even without becoming a supernatural, a Thousand-Battler martial master dares to challenge the world! It's only been twenty years—I refuse to believe this tiny Silver City has no room left for a Thousand-Battler!" Yuan Shuo cast aside all remaining reservations! The opportunity, the hope—everything was right before his eyes! He looked at Li Hao with immense gravity. "Don't worry. Even if I drain this sword dry, I will find a way to seize the weapons of the other families for you!" With that, he shed all hesitation and pushed the Five Animals Breathing Art to its utmost limit. A thick, potent wave of mysterious energy surged forth! "Get lost!" Right then, a furious roar exploded from Yuan Shuo's throat. "I am passing down the Five Animals secret arts to my student! Anyone who dares approach will find out whether an old Hundred-Breaker martial master can still kill!" With that single roar, the surroundings fell instantly dead silent. The figures lurking on the perimeter—those guarding him and those monitoring him—vanished into thin air. No one dared spy on a Hundred-Breaker martial master transmitting secret arts. Unless a powerhouse from the Night Watchers arrived in person, weaker Night Watchers would simply be offering themselves up like lambs to the slaughter before Yuan Shuo. Besides, things had not yet deteriorated to an open rupture. In an instant, heaven and earth turned tranquil. Though the tiger had grown old, its majestic terror remained! Li Hao hadn't seen the hidden watchers, but his blood surged with excitement all the same. This was his teacher—a supreme expert of the martial master path from years past who could still intimidate the surroundings even in an era dominated by supernaturals. *Thousand-Battler...* Li Hao murmured the word, his heart brimming with anticipation. Between a Thousand-Battler martial master and the Red Shadow, who was stronger? *Teacher... you must succeed!* This was his greatest trump card, his most reliable backer.