A Fool

Leaving the Imperial Palace, Li Hao chuckled to himself. That little tree seemed rather naive. It might have inherited the old tree's memories, but compared to those sinister old relics, it was hardly corrupt at all. One could tell from its tone that it had skimmed quite a bit for itself, but in Li Hao's eyes, it was truly negligible. The imperial family selling a drop for a hundred thousand divine energy stones was perhaps an inflated price, but if anyone else tried to trade with a demon plant, Li Hao would be shocked if they weren't charged thirty to fifty thousand a drop. Of course, those other demon plants being traded with were likely far stronger and needed reviving. For instance, if Li Hao were to trade with General Huai, the general might feel cheated even at a million divine energy stones a drop, let alone a hundred thousand. Since General Huai hadn't revived yet, every drop he parted with came straight from his dormant reserve. The same held true for all powerful demon plants. The little tree, on the other hand, was not an ancient demon plant in the true sense, so the energy it required to awaken was far lower. Consequently, the price it quoted to Li Hao was not actually exorbitant. The little tree thought making a seventy percent profit was massive, while other demon plants would find seven times the profit far too meager to fuel their recovery. Li Hao took stock of what he had gained this time. Was trading divine energy stones for the Spring of Life worth it? Entirely! Divine energy stones were of limited use to him now. He had retained a million stones, primarily for the Little Sword to absorb and convert into sword energy, which would last him a long time. For the Little Sword to unseal further, it required higher-tier treasures. For example, high-grade divine energy stones with denser energy, powerful divine weapons, and the like. Converting all the miscellaneous clutter in his possession into treasures he could actually put to use was the wisest choice. *** More than an hour later, Li Hao landed outside White Moon City. His very first arrival in White Moon City felt like it had only happened yesterday. Back then, he had left his hometown full of trepidation. Yet returning now, he suddenly felt White Moon City was so close at hand. To the outside world, it was his homeland. Though Li Hao felt his true home was only Silver City, once one ventured into the Central Region, all of Silver Moon became home. Upon landing, his golden armor transformed into a trench coat. The cold wind howled bleakly. When he first met Liu Long, Liu Long had also worn a trench coat. It was the scorching heat of summer back then, and in the blink of an eye, nearly six months had passed. Barely half a year. The world remained, but everything had changed. This journey through the east and the Central Region had filled Li Hao with countless emotions. White Moon City was as bustling as ever. Though bitter cold, life here did not seem so miserable. Walking through the city streets, there were still grumbles and complaints. In the past, whenever Li Hao heard such grievances, his immediate thought was that every official in Silver Moon was an incompetent fool who had run the place into the ground. Looking around now, however, while the people's clothes were not glamorous, at least they had warm clothing on their backs. With thick coats and some color in their cheeks, it showed they were reasonably well-fed—at least they did not starve. It did not look as glamorous as the Central Region. Yet the glamour of the Central Region was built on darkness behind the curtain. A Central Region city devoid of beggars was the true anomaly, whereas seeing beggars in Silver Moon was normal. Patrolmen from the Inspectorate were still patrolling the streets, and the common folk paid them little mind. The Inspectorate patrolling was business as usual, was it not? Whether in Silver City or Silver Moon, the Inspectorate carried out routine patrols. Catching thieves and handling ordinary cases—Li Hao had participated in all of it before and never thought much of it. Now, with a deeper perspective, he realized Kong Jie had actually done a commendable job. He was in no rush to visit the Night Patrol or the Martial Guard Army's encampment. After a moment of thought, he directed his steps toward the garrison headquarters. Huang Yu had previously come to his aid, but Li Hao had not yet properly conversed with Commander Yu. That was one reason; the second was that his Senior Martial Sister and her husband were both in the garrison. Li Hao pondered this. Hu Dingfang had extraordinary ties with the Bai family, and the Bai family colluded with the imperial clan. Was his Senior Martial Brother-in-law an imperial plant? Chen Yuhua knew the Five Animals Breathing Art. And many coveted it. Even if it was only the original version, plenty of people likely wished to seize it. Did Hu Dingfang's rise to power have anything to do with the Five Animals Breathing Art? His teacher had never spoken of it, nor even brought it up. In the past, Li Hao had not concerned himself with such matters. Now, having seen the Three Great Organizations, the Seven Sacred Mountains, and even the City of Supernaturals coveting these secrets, he had to go see for himself, ask, and investigate. *** The garrison headquarters was situated in the western district. The western outskirts served as the encampment. Silver Moon maintained only three hundred thousand troops, which was not a large force; relative to Silver Moon's population of nearly a hundred million, this army was quite small. This number had remained constant for many years. Ever since Dali in the north vanished, Silver Moon had been reducing its military over the years rather than expanding it. Such a troop size did not place too heavy a burden on Silver Moon's finances. The garrison was divided into three armies: the Silver Moon, White Dragon, and Tiger Wing Armies, each numbering one hundred thousand men. Huang Yu oversaw the central force, the Silver Moon Army; Hu Dingfang commanded the Tiger Wing Army; and the White Dragon Army was led by Ren Tianchuan, with Wang Ming's grandfather serving as vice commander. Li Hao was not well-acquainted with the commander of the White Dragon Army, though they had briefly crossed paths in Battle Heaven City. The man had struck him as taciturn. Li Hao also wanted to see what the military of this era was like. He had seen a few armies elsewhere, and all were utterly useless and corrupt, devoid of spirit. By now, Li Hao had arrived at the western encampment. From a distance, thunderous shouts drifted through the air. Even in the dead of winter, the army was drilling. In this era of supernatural ascension, ordinary people enjoyed little security, and conventional armies were no exception; drills had long grown lax elsewhere. Yet the Three Armies of Silver Moon continued their rigorous training. Like an invisible man, Li Hao passed through layers of perimeter defenses and walked directly into the grand drill grounds. The three armies were in the midst of training! There were supernaturals, but very few. Martial masters led the soldiers through their exercises, steam rising from every man's head amidst an unbroken chorus of shouts. At the center of the drill grounds stood an elderly man radiating imposing vigor. Huang Yu! Li Hao was somewhat surprised. At this moment, Huang Yu was throwing punches! "Kill!" "Kill!" At Huang Yu's thunderous roar, the drilling soldiers thrust their fists forward and roared in unison. Spears gripped, they thrust forward! The men followed his lead in lockstep. In an era where firearms dominated the military, Huang Yu was leading his troops in basic hand-to-hand combat training. In the distance, Huang Yu, who was drilling the troops, seemed to sense something. He glanced toward Li Hao's direction, paid it no further mind, and continued the routine. "Hah!" "Kill!" A dense killing intent permeated the air. This army appeared to have seen actual combat, standing stern and imposing. Divided into thousand-man squares, each unit was led by a martial master, drilling in unison. After a while, Huang Yu tossed his spear to an officer and shouted, "Continue the drills!" With that, he leaped into the air and vanished from the spot. The army continued its training. A few officers glanced over in confusion. Rain or shine, Commander Yu led the drills almost every day unless an urgent matter took him away. Why had he departed halfway through today? Suddenly, someone's vision flickered. In a distant spot where nobody had been standing, a figure abruptly materialized. Several were startled—who had infiltrated the barracks? However, seeing Commander Yu walk over put them at ease. *** "What brings you here?" Huang Yu spoke, his brow furrowing slightly. "Trespassing into a military encampment without permission is no light matter. Prying into military secrets carries the penalty of death under the law! Of course, you are a powerful expert, so executing you would be no simple task... Let there not be a next time!" Li Hao nodded. "I simply wanted to see the Silver Moon Army. Having seen it now, its reputation is well-deserved. The northern barbarian army of Silver Moon maintains strict discipline and hasn't decayed." "Naturally." Huang Yu replied calmly, turning to walk toward the rear. "Do not speak here." "Yes!" Li Hao responded reflexively and followed behind. Huang Yu cast a glance at him, offering no further comment. As the two strode deeper into the grounds, Huang Yu remarked casually, "The Silver Moon Army has been a fierce force since ancient times! We may not be numerous, but the northern barbarian army is renowned throughout the realm. It's just that after the rise of supernaturals, the army's role was greatly diminished. Still... it matters little. "Leave the powerful to the powerful. A disciplined, formidable army will always serve a purpose, whether to soothe the populace or put down minor unrest. It handles those with ease." Li Hao nodded. At times, powerful experts played a massive role, but that did not render conventional forces obsolete. Besides, he could tell these troops were far from ordinary. "Commander Yu, are they all martial masters?" "No." Huang Yu shook his head. "Even though supernaturals have risen and martial masters have multiplied, how could they all be martial masters? They've merely learned a few basic secret arts to bolster their vitality, and absorbed tiny amounts of mysterious energy and divine energy stones. They are far stronger than ordinary folk, but far inferior to supernaturals or the Ten-Slayer realm... "Of course, ten or so of them working together can take on a Starlight Master or a Ten-Slayer. 'Ten-Slayer' merely refers to cutting down ten ordinary soldiers; against the fearless Silver Moon Army, a Ten-Slayer realm expert probably couldn't fell ten of them." Pride laced his words. "Commander Yu, why not cultivate more martial masters rather than keeping the soldiers at roughly the same level? Concentrating your resources might produce more experts..." Spreading resources so thin seemed inefficient. "No, no, you're mistaken. An army is a cohesive unit. Concentrating resources to produce a few experts is of limited use; instead, it disrupts coordination and deployment. "There are experts in the ranks, but they are segregated into independent units. For instance, if you reach the Ten-Slayer realm, you join a squad of Ten-Slayers... They must not be intermingled. Too much disparity drastically reduces synergy!" Li Hao realized the logic and nodded. It made sense. As they spoke, they entered a small building. Inside, soldiers snapped to attention and saluted Huang Yu. "Commander Yu!" "At ease." Huang Yu gave a slight nod. Seeing Li Hao, the officers looked surprised. Some did not recognize him, but several high-ranking officers appeared to identify him, their eyes widening in bewilderment. Li Hao! Li Hao's name had spread far and wide; the upper echelons knew of him and had seen his portrait. What was Li Hao doing back from Heavenly Star City? Stepping into an inner office, Huang Yu gestured for Li Hao to sit. The office was sparse and practically empty save for a small bookshelf and a desk. "When did you return?" "Last night." "I see." Huang Yu offered no further remarks or inquiries, leaving an awkward silence hanging in the room. Seeing this, Li Hao took the initiative to speak. "Commander Yu, this is the Silver Moon Army's encampment. Are the White Dragon and Tiger Wing Armies not stationed here?" "Nearby." "I have a question I'd like to ask Commander Yu. Did you give the nod for Hu Dingfang to become commander of the Tiger Wing Army?" "I did." "His ties to the Bai family and the imperial clan..." Huang Yu looked at him. "Are you asking whether he traded the Five Animals Breathing Art for that position?" "Yes!" Li Hao did not hide his intent, nodding. "My Senior Martial Sister passed the Five Animals Breathing Art to him. Master never said anything to me about it, but now the Three Great Organizations are all hunting for it. I want to understand the situation." "And if he did, will you clean house?" Huang Yu said calmly, "He is the commander of the Tiger Wing Army. Moving against him is moving against me. Setting everything else aside, would you still persist?" Li Hao frowned. He met Huang Yu's gaze. Huang Yu suddenly smiled. "What, hesitating?" Li Hao raised his brow. "Commander Yu came to my aid previously, and I am deeply grateful for that. However, if he truly bought his position with the Five Animals Breathing Art, and you learned it as well, Commander Yu... if you step in, this matter will end here. But the debt of your assistance will be considered settled, and neither my master nor I will pursue the breathing art any further." "Can you speak for Yuan Shuo?" "I believe... I can!" Li Hao looked directly at him and answered. Huang Yu chuckled. His smile seemed somewhat stiff, and after a pause, he said, "It wasn't because of the Five Animals Breathing Art. Hu Dingfang wouldn't dare leak it indiscriminately while your master is still alive! His rise to commander of the Tiger Wing Army does have something to do with your master, though. When your Senior Martial Sister came to see me back then, she did intend to borrow your master's prestige... Still, Hu Dingfang is relatively decent." He pondered for a moment before adding, "As for the Bai family, to who you are today, they are nothing significant. Merely imperial informants planted across the provinces; such people exist everywhere. Yet here in Silver Moon, the Bai family has gradually distanced itself from the imperial clan." He looked toward Li Hao. "With me in the military, there won't be major issues. What you worry about will not happen!" Silver Moon was stronger and more self-assured than people imagined. Huang Yu did not place much stock in such concerns. He continued, "There's no need to harbor open hostility toward Hu Dingfang. All these years have passed, and the Five Animals Breathing Art has been revised multiple times. Let it rest." Li Hao reflected on this and nodded. "As long as he doesn't spread it carelessly, my master hasn't objected, so naturally I won't do anything. But the rules of the martial world still stand. If he leaks it recklessly, I will intervene!" "You little rascal!" Huang Yu laughed, dropping the matter. The martial world of Silver Moon was indeed like this; at the very least, leaking core sect arts was strictly forbidden. He moved past the topic and asked instead, "What do you think of the Silver Moon Army?" "Strong... but not enough!" Li Hao answered, "Three hundred thousand men against several million supernaturals in the Central Region. Even if the Silver Moon Army is formidable, where ten soldiers can fight one supernatural, thirty thousand enemy supernaturals would still crush them... Of course, that's in cold-weapon combat. Factoring in firearms, it might prove somewhat effective." "Indeed!" Huang Yu nodded, considering his words. "That is why the Silver Moon Army's overall strength needs enhancement. Do you have any ideas?" *What does that mean?* Li Hao kept his composure. "What does Commander Yu have in mind?" "Enhancement through mysterious energy is viable, but as you know, mysterious energy is too volatile and easily leads to self-destruction!" *Understood!* Sword energy! Li Hao felt a twinge of a headache. Was he expected to supply sword energy to the entire Silver Moon Army? *Good heavens!* How much would that consume? Besides... once they all became martial masters, could the army even afford to sustain them? If nothing else, martial masters consumed far more food and resources than ordinary men. "Furthermore, I heard that the Demon Hunt Corps seems adept in a small-scale military formation..." Li Hao's headache worsened. "Commander Yu... you certainly don't hold back!" He had merely dropped by for a look, yet Huang Yu had hit him with a devastating combo right out of the gate—demanding sword energy wasn't enough, he wanted the formation too. Huang Yu smiled. "I'm merely proposing it. It doesn't have to happen, but what if it succeeds? You could consider it. Offering you the post of vice commander isn't out of the question! Silver Moon folk should help Silver Moon folk, after all!" "I will consider it." "You secured the backing of the Battle Heaven Army and obtained an official rank, yet you lack manpower and powerful experts. Even if the entire Martial Guard Army is folded in... once you are promoted in the future, it still won't be enough! "Rather than recruiting strangers, you would be better off picking men from my ranks. They may not be elite, but they are disciplined soldiers who obey orders... If you can eventually become the supreme commander of the Battle Heaven Army... with countless legions under your command, sweeping across the realm at your word... what would a Rising Light or Divine Power expert matter before a million-strong host? Li Hao, the three hundred thousand men of the Silver Moon Army are excellent raw material!" He looked at Li Hao and smiled faintly. "What do you think?" Li Hao gazed back without a word. This man seemed to know a great deal. Huang Yu continued calmly, "Currently, you are not the only one to have attained the rank of regiment commander. Silver Moon... has others! But division commander rank is exceedingly difficult. Only at the division commander level can one command ten thousand suits of ancient armor! A corps commander is even harder, but should someone become a corps commander, an entire army of a hundred thousand could take the field clad in ancient armor! "Why do you think Silver Moon has consistently maintained only three hundred thousand troops instead of a million or three million?" Li Hao seemed to catch his drift, raising his brow slightly. "Commander Yu means... these soldiers can be armored at a moment's notice?" "We have too few suits!" Huang Yu did not deny it. "To date, the Silver Moon Army possesses three thousand armors." In other words, three regiments! Li Hao's eyes flickered. "Battle Heaven Army armors?" "No!" Huang Yu shook his head. "Battle Heaven City has achieved a higher level of awakening, and... unlike other cities, Battle Heaven City has supreme experts presiding over it. Obtaining authorization there is exceptionally difficult. You managed it through a stroke of fortune; consider how Hou Xiaochen entered Battle Heaven City multiple times and still failed to gain authorization, and you will understand. "You must realize that aside from the Eight Major Cities, there are other ruins. In smaller cities, gaining recognition is somewhat less difficult... "Unfortunately, some of those smaller ruins were completely destroyed long ago. After years of exploration, Silver Moon has only managed to secure the authority of three regiment commanders." Surprised, Li Hao then understood. "Commander Yu is one of them?" "Indeed." Huang Yu nodded slightly. "Now that you have attained the rank as well, Silver Moon possesses four thousand armored combatants. But that is far from enough... Rising to the level of division commander is simply too difficult." "What about the imperial clan?" Li Hao asked. "The Black Armor Army has quite a number..." "They are also only at the regiment commander level. They simply have greater numbers and more individuals who secured authorization, encroaching step by step rather than directly attaining division commander rank. You must grasp the distinction. The ancient civilization's assessment for the rank of division commander is extraordinarily stringent... Strength and military merit are both indispensable!" Li Hao understood. A division commander was a true apex expert. According to Director Wang, they could tear through the void and traverse a thousand li in an instant. Even with lowered standards, it was highly improbable that anyone at this stage could meet the requirements. The imperial family had indeed secured the authorization of the Heavenly Star Army, but apparently through multiple regiment commander positions rather than a division commander. "With the difficulty being so immense, I feel it might actually be easier to cultivate a cohort of experts instead," Li Hao remarked. Huang Yu shook his head. "It is not the same. When numbers are small, you cannot see the full picture. Once the ranks swell and these ancient armors resonate with one another, you will truly understand the terrifying might of an ancient army! "Silver Moon yearns for the emergence of a division commander, or even an army group commander, to equip the entire Silver Moon Army. When that day comes, Silver Moon will fear no enemy!" Huang Yu was merely musing aloud; he knew full well the sheer difficulty involved. What he had his eye on right now was Li Hao's regiment commander authorization. Since Li Hao wasn't recruiting, why not lend the authority to the Silver Moon Army? "I will think about it!" Li Hao smiled, neither accepting nor refusing. He currently commanded a reinforced regiment—a different beast entirely. He possessed 2,300 spare suits of armor, and the Martial Guard Army had over 500. Combined, they numbered nearly 3,000. Still, looking at the Silver Moon Army, their foundation was indeed solid. Moreover, they were trained soldiers; their combat awareness, coordination, and discipline far outstripped loose martial masters. Even the Martial Guard Army, strictly in terms of discipline, was inferior to the Silver Moon Army. This visit hadn't been in vain after all, Li Hao mused. *The Silver Moon Army, huh?* It seemed quite promising! After some consideration, he said, "If Commander Yu is interested, select a thousand-man unit of your finest troops from Silver Moon and send them to Heavenly Star City. I intend to establish a martial arts academy there... In name only, of course, but it will need some backing. It can't be an empty school once opened; that would be pointless and embarrassing." Bringing a thousand men along would help bolster his presence. Huang Yu's eyes shifted. "A martial arts academy? Are you trying to emulate the ancient civilization's martial arts universities?" "Something like that." In truth, it was not. Li Hao thought to himself that it was merely a front. Still, having a thousand-man military contingent from Silver Moon join the academy would dispel suspicion, making people think it was just Silver Moon folk keeping to their own circle. "A thousand men..." Huang Yu's thoughts stirred. "Do you need them simply as guards, or for something else?" "Not as guards!" Li Hao shook his head. "If possible, I wish to incorporate them into the Battle Heaven Army system." "You..." Huang Yu's brows furrowed. "You only possess the authorization for a thousand men. From what I gather, you already intend to absorb the Martial Guard Army..." "Yes. Absorbing the Martial Guard Army and then taking in another thousand won't pose any difficulty!" "..." Huang Yu could no longer maintain his composure. Staring at him, he asked hesitantly, "What do you mean?" "My regiment is a reinforced regiment! It can take on additional men..." Huang Yu's jaw dropped. Stunned for a long moment, he could not resist cursing under his breath, "Does the ancient civilization play favorites through the back door too?" What in the world! A reinforced regiment? He had never even heard of such a thing. "Then the armor..." "I have it!" Li Hao looked at him and smiled. "Does Commander Yu possess armor from other branches?" "What?" "For example, from the Black Armor Army or the Void Breaking Army... I can go to Battle Heaven City and exchange them for Battle Heaven armor. My reinforced regiment can recruit more men." Huang Yu was utterly bewildered. After a long pause, he asked slowly, "How many men... can you recruit at most?" "I don't know." "What?" "I didn't ask, and they didn't specify!" Li Hao chuckled. "The division commander in Battle Heaven City didn't set a limit; he merely said I could recruit additional personnel without specifying the exact cap." *That works too?!* Huang Yu was genuinely dumbfounded. At this moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to curse! Were ancient civilization soldiers corrupt as well? Going through the back door! To become a regiment commander, the rest of them had to undertake all manner of trials, seize every scrap of fortune, and rely on sheer coincidence... Earning the rank was arduous beyond belief. Yet what about Li Hao? The moment he arrived in Battle Heaven City, he was granted the position. And now, he had even secured a reinforced regiment! What sort of logic was this? Huang Yu felt an intense surge of envy and jealousy. *So what if you're from the Eight Great Families?* *Bah!* Though fuming internally, he kept his composure aloud. His mind raced, taking a sharp breath. If that were the case... the Silver Moon Army could truly be equipped! He quickly nodded. "Very well. I will arrange for our finest elite forces to go. A thousand men, correct... Do you have any specific requirements?" "They must be literate and physically sound; whether they are martial masters doesn't matter. Also, fewer troublemakers, and they must follow orders! They need to be sharp-witted; no simpletons..." Huang Yu chuckled. After brief consideration, he nodded firmly. "Agreed!" This was an excellent opportunity. He thought for a moment and suggested, "How about you take an honorary title in the Silver Moon Army..." "Forget it!" Li Hao shook his head. "No one pays me a salary anyway. Right now, I'm the acting chiliarch of the Martial Guard Army, Deputy Director of the Night Patrol Headquarters, Deputy Director of the Inspectorate, Deputy Director of the Silver Moon Night Patrol, Heavenly Star Governor-General, Heavenly Star Marquis, and Deputy Commander of the Heavenly Star Commandery... yet I recently realized not a single person pays my salary!" The higher his titles, the less money he saw. Everyone assumed another department was paying him, so none of them did. Furthermore... the administration was a chaotic mess! With so many departments involved, none of the major bodies seemed inclined to issue him a paycheck. As it stood, Li Hao possessed countless grand titles but nothing tangible to show for them. What was the use of an honorary title! Huang Yu laughed out loud. To think this fellow was still fretting over his salary—truly an eccentric! "Very well, then... When do you return to Heavenly Star City?" "Once I finish my business here." "Understood. I'll make the arrangements immediately and have them set out on their own. They should reach Heavenly Star City in about a week." At this point, he hesitated. "You can exchange armor for Battle Heaven armor?" "Yes." "That works too?" He paused before asking cautiously, "Then... does that apply to the Black Armor Army?" "The Heavenly Star Army? Of course!" Huang Yu's heart leaped. After a moment of thought, he said in a low voice, "Back when Silver Moon went to war with the Heavenly Star Dynasty, we slew many of their Black Armor troops... That was many years ago. Silver Moon sealed away a portion of the black armors, but they could never be used, so... they aren't kept with me. I'll search for them on your behalf. Back then, over ten thousand Black Armor soldiers invaded Silver Moon, and the older generation of martial masters wiped out several thousand of them... There must be at least a thousand suits of black armor..." Li Hao drew a sharp breath. "When did this happen?" "Two hundred years ago!" Huang Yu smiled. "Some martial masters across the Silver Moon martial world might have kept them as personal collections... If your teacher's sect lineage is intact, he might even have some stored away! When the Heavenly Star Dynasty was founded two hundred years ago, Silver Moon was the very last to submit. We battled the Black Armor Army for months, suffering immense casualties, but many suits of black armor were left behind. Later, the dynasty wanted to reclaim them, but everyone claimed they had been looted by martial masters... As a result, the animosity between Silver Moon martial masters and the dynasty lasted a very long time... The dynasty always sought to recover them, but never succeeded." Li Hao grimaced. So two hundred years ago, martial masters had already butchered countless Black Armor soldiers. Huang Yu said no more on the topic, though his thoughts were churning. He asked again, "Any armor from other military branches will do?" "Any of them!" "Then give me a few days!" Huang Yu grew increasingly excited. "I need to gather them. By the way, regarding your transition into a supernatural... did Battle Heaven City say anything about that?" "They did." "What did they say?" "'Do good work.'" "..." *Just that?* Huang Yu looked puzzled. *Just that? Nothing else?* For a moment, Huang Yu felt an odd sense of disbelief. Silver Moon was predominantly ruled by martial masters, and every ancient city was governed by ancient martial masters. Supernaturals relied on external power, yet those ancient martial masters had raised no objection? One had to realize this wasn't mere speculation. Ancient cities throughout Silver Moon were notoriously hostile toward supernaturals. For instance, in Battle Heaven City, any supernatural who entered was immediately besieged! This wasn't an isolated incident; nearly every ancient ruin was the same. That was precisely why everyone believed the ancient civilization harbored deep hostility toward supernaturals! Yet Li Hao... Could it be due to the Eight Great Families? Pondering this, Huang Yu refrained from prying further. Li Hao had nothing more to say either. Having inspected the Silver Moon Army, he intended to head to the General Administration Bureau. Old Hou had items for him to deliver to Director Zhao. *** Bidding farewell to Huang Yu, Li Hao swiftly made his way to the General Administration Bureau. Half an hour later. He met with Director Zhao and Deputy Director Zhou. Director Zhao looked at Li Hao. In the small office, only the three of them were present. Deputy Director Zhou actually shared an office with Director Zhao... an odd arrangement indeed! "Director Zhao, Director Hou asked me to deliver this to you!" Li Hao produced a storage ring, not having looked at its contents. Director Zhao took it and inspected it briefly. After a moment, he nodded slightly and looked at Li Hao with a faint smile. "You've matured quite a bit. Hou Xiaochen left some black ink inside the storage ring. Had anyone other than me checked it, it would have sprayed all over their face. It seems you truly didn't look." "..." Li Hao was speechless! *How bored can you be?!* *Black ink?* *What was Old Hou thinking?!* Was he the sort of person to snoop? He had wealth and resources aplenty; even if there were mountains of gold and silver inside, he wouldn't care in the slightest. Director Zhao let out a chuckle and dropped the subject, looking at Li Hao. "You've done quite well in Heavenly Star City. Knocking down their arrogance is a good thing. We've grown old, lacking that impetuous passion, but in this era—or any era, for that matter—without passion, can one truly be called young? "The arrogance of youth is what being young is all about!" He was fully supportive of Li Hao's audacious conduct. If a youth wasn't arrogant, was he supposed to wait until he was an old man? "Thank you for your understanding, Director!" "It's nothing, a minor matter." Director Zhao spoke with calm detachment, adding, "I am aware of your purpose in returning this time. Hou Xiaochen mentioned that you wish to establish a firm foothold in Heavenly Star City... That is up to you. Silver Moon cannot offer much support, but one thing is certain: should another great battle erupt, given sufficient time... Divine Power reinforcements will arrive! And definitely not just Huang Yu alone. The premise is... you must give us advance notice to allow enough time!" Li Hao couldn't help but ask, "How many Divine Power experts does Silver Moon still have?" "Not many." Director Zhao laughed. "Do you think Divine Power experts are everywhere? Furthermore, Silver Moon doesn't have many supernaturals. When I say 'Divine Power,' it is merely an analogy, not necessarily referring strictly to the Divine Power Realm!" At this, he added, "Additionally, I can give you a roster... of some friends in Heavenly Star City. You may seek them out if necessary. They might not be able to offer immense assistance, but they can be of some use. I also hope you won't kill indiscriminately and end up slaughtering them..." *Undercover agents?* Li Hao understood. "I don't kill indiscriminately. I only kill bad people!" "It makes no difference." Director Zhao smiled faintly. "In this era, good people, bad people... the line is blurred! Calling everyone a villain wouldn't be far off." Having said that, he warned, "Also, remember this: if a second supernatural revival occurs... you must rush back to Silver Moon! Otherwise, you will surely perish! Heavenly Star City is relatively safe for now, but once the second supernatural revival hits... colossal upheavals will follow!" Li Hao understood and nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Director!" "No need to stand on ceremony." Director Zhao had only touched upon the matters briefly. Li Hao then spoke quickly, "Director Zhao, I also require several things: a vast quantity of seeds, and preparations to receive refugees... I intend to open up a maritime route, or break through the blockade from Linjiang to Silver Moon... Winter is arriving, the Three Northern Provinces are in turmoil, and there are far too many refugees..." Director Zhao's expression instantly changed, his brows knitting tightly. Deputy Director Zhou also snapped his head up to stare at Li Hao. The two exchanged glances, feeling an excruciating headache coming on. This was no small matter! It could drag Silver Moon straight into disaster! Frowning deeply, Director Zhao said, "There is no need to force your way through. If you inform Linjiang that we are willing to take in refugees... you could ask for one million or three million, and they would send them over immediately! Because so many refugees would instantly crush Silver Moon's economy... Do you understand?" Li Hao nodded. "I can provide food... but it requires time. Let alone three to five million, even for thirty to fifty million, I can provide food... In fact, an influx of refugees has its benefits—land reclamation, construction, building a transportation network spanning all of Silver Moon... They can work. It has been this way since ancient times. As long as there is enough food and clothing... at least in the short term, people won't ask for much!" Director Zhao let out a breath. "If you try purchasing grain right now, you'll find... that no amount of money can buy it!" "It doesn't matter. I'll have a demon plant grow it..." "Is there a demon plant that foolish?" Director Zhao froze. "How is that possible? They struggle just to revive themselves and consume immense energy. Unless a demon plant has lost its mind, who would cultivate grain for you?" "..." Li Hao was stunned. *Cultivating grain... makes one a fool?* *The little tree... is an idiot?* Director Zhao looked incredulous, and Deputy Director Zhou's eyes widened. *Did you run into a brain-dead demon plant?* In this day and age, what demon plant would do such a thing! Otherwise, did he think the major factions wouldn't have done the same? The crux of the matter was that demon plants simply refused! The gains didn't justify the losses; it was a sheer waste of energy. With that time and energy, wouldn't it be better to elevate their own strength? Li Hao was struck dumb, letting out a dry chuckle after a long pause. So it turned out the little tree was genuinely a massive idiot! It hadn't raised any objection whatsoever! Meanwhile, the minds of both directors were racing. *There's actually a demon plant that stupid in existence?* *Good grief!* *Had we known, we would have tried digging around too!* *Where did he dig that thing up?* In an instant, an urge seized both of them. Perhaps... they ought to dig around everywhere as well. Maybe they too could dig up a few foolish demon plants.