Silver Moon.
White Moon City.
Early in the morning, a convoy stretched like a long dragon across the main street.
A black banner emblazoned with a ferocious tiger and the character “Li” hung high, snapping in the wind like a haughty beast roaring over mountain and forest.
Civilians gathered along the street to watch.
Looking at the departing convoy, some felt bewildered.
Was it the garrison?
If so, why had they never seen this banner before?
Many grew curious.
The convoy consisted of more than twenty large trucks and several smaller vehicles. A spectacle of this scale had happened once before in early October, when Hou Xiaochen, one of Silver Moon’s titans and Director of the Night Patrollers, had departed for the Central Region.
Who was it this time?
“Which general is setting out?” someone asked in a hushed voice, unable to contain their curiosity.
Farther down the line, a man sitting atop one of the large trucks twitched his ears. Having caught the question, he bellowed, “The Governor-General of Heavenly Star, Grand Commander of the Heavenly Star Commandery, and Director of the Silver Moon Night Patrollers, Grand Commander Li, leads his army today to Heavenly Star to quell the turmoil, escorted by the Demon Hunt Army!”
The proclamation caught everyone by surprise.
Wasn’t Grand Commander Li in Heavenly Star?
When had he returned?
Of course, that hardly mattered right now.
The crowd erupted into buzzing chatter. “Is there about to be a war? Not long ago, Director Hou took over a thousand martial masters, and today Director Li is taking away so many more... Are they going to take the Silver Moon martial masters to Heavenly Star and turn the whole place upside down?”
“Our Silver Moon men really are fierce! Didn’t you hear? Leading an army to Heavenly Star to suppress the turmoil... Heh heh... Let those southerners witness just what northern men are made of!”
“...”
Excited discussions rippled in every direction.
Unlike his low-key departure last time, there were simply too many people this time around. Li Hao had originally intended to return to Heavenly Star City quietly, but given the numbers, Silver Moon’s leadership had suggested he make a grand, open departure like Hou Xiaochen had, marching straight toward Heavenly Star City in a full convoy.
A thousand soldiers had arrived from the Silver Moon Army, joined by several dozen from the Demon Hunt Corps—making the group even larger than the force the Martial Guard Army had deployed last time.
However, they did not have nearly as many powerhouses as before.
At present, the strongest member of the Demon Hunt Corps was Liu Long, who had only just stepped into the Spirit Accumulation realm. Aside from him, there was Wang Ming at the Three Suns realm, and Hao Lianchuan, who had stubbornly insisted on tagging along. Hao Lianchuan was at the peak of the Three Suns realm.
According to Hao Lianchuan, a peak Three Suns practitioner had no room to display his talents in Silver Moon anymore. With nothing major happening within their borders, staying here was a total waste of his strength.
Amid the chatter of the onlookers, the men on the trucks threw out their chests, standing tall with distinct military pride.
The Demon Hunt Corps occupied two separate vehicles, while the thousand-man contingent sent by the Silver Moon Army rode in the trucks behind them.
At this moment, in one of the rear vehicles, a young officer clad in a crisp military uniform was gazing out at the surroundings. The adjutant beside him lowered his voice. “Chiliarch, the Demon Sword hasn’t shown up yet.”
The young man gave a slight nod without replying.
Commander Yu had ordered him to lead his subordinates to follow Li Hao to Heavenly Star. In truth, he didn’t quite know how to feel about it.
In Silver Moon, major warfare was unlikely to erupt anymore.
Heavenly Star, however, was a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den, packed with Divine Power experts. In a single battle, more than a dozen Divine Power figures had perished, and Rising Lights were treated like mere weeds. The thousand-man contingent he led was originally considered an elite force, with almost every soldier hovering at the threshold of martial mastery, just a single step away from the Ten-Slayer realm.
His centurions were all genuine martial masters, and he, as chiliarch, was at the complete Hundred-Breaker realm.
Yet... what did that count for?
In an age where supernaturals ran rampant and martial masters broke through to Thousand-Fighter to shatter class barriers, this army, even equipped with modern firearms, could not withstand a single Three Suns practitioner.
Perhaps they could force a Three Suns back, but if a Rising Light appeared at random... they would all be wiped out in an instant.
He didn't understand why Commander Yu had sent a force like theirs to Heavenly Star City.
Nor did he understand what a figure like the Demon Sword could possibly need them for.
To do menial chores?
Or just to bolster his prestige?
Up front, Wang Ming had claimed they were going to suppress the turmoil in Heavenly Star. To the young chiliarch, that sounded like a joke—nothing more than slapping gold onto their own faces. Compared to the Martial Guard Army that had left with Director Hou, they lagged far behind.
Almost every single one of the nearly one thousand men in the Martial Guard Army had been a Hundred-Breaker martial master, not to mention their multiple Thousand-Fighters and top powerhouses like Golden Spear.
What were they compared to that?
Glancing back into the truck bed, he saw excitement, nervousness, feelings of inadequacy, and unease playing across his soldiers' faces.
Evidently, they too felt they were simply too weak.
Within the Silver Moon Army, they were elites, but everyone knew that once they stepped outside, they were pitifully weak.
Despite the countless thoughts racing through his mind, he barked in a low voice, “Stay on alert! Scout the perimeter! Once we exit the city, the vanguard will lead the way...”
Beside him, the adjutant sighed and murmured, “There’s no need for us to do that, Chiliarch. Can’t you see the Demon Hunt Corps ahead already dispatched people to dismount and scout the road?”
The young man frowned. “They are them, and we are us. Just because they did it doesn't mean we sit idle!”
The adjutant wanted to say it was all pointless anyway.
If someone truly came to assassinate Li Hao, no amount of scouting by nobodies like them would make a shred of difference.
Yet under the circumstances, he chose not to press the matter.
The convoy rolled briskly toward the city gates.
...
Meanwhile, scouts quickly transmitted the news outward.
...
Heavenly Star City.
The Inspectorate.
The Director of the Inspectorate glanced at his transmission jade and gave a scoffing chuckle, shaking his head. He didn't even bother to say much. It was nothing more than an attempt to build momentum and put on a grand front.
A thousand Silver Moon troops, along with fifty-odd veterans of Li Hao's old unit, the Demon Hunt Corps he had founded.
The strongest among them was a mere Thousand-Fighter or Three Suns...
And those thousand Silver Moon soldiers were basically ordinary mortals, with barely any martial masters among them...
What use was marching such an army to Heavenly Star City, even if he brought a hundred thousand of them?
Let alone a hundred thousand, even bringing a million would achieve nothing.
“Returning home in glory... Does he think coming to Heavenly Star City is meant for living in luxury?”
The Director of the Inspectorate was rendered speechless.
Why had Li Hao suddenly developed a taste for empty ostentation?
That was hardly a good sign.
As Director of the Inspectorate, he had seen far too many geniuses and understood how these things went. When people grew content with indulgence after a taste of success, their fortunes never lasted. Li Hao had clearly become intoxicated by his victory in Heavenly Star, genuinely treating the imperial capital like his own backyard, bringing a thousand-man escort to revel in the luxuries of the Central Region.
He had grown arrogant!
Fortunately, the Inspectorate had not invested too much into the fellow.
Too young to withstand temptation.
...
At that moment, he was far from the only one thinking this way; many shared the exact same thought.
Bringing a thousand-man army to Heavenly Star was pure posturing. It wasn't the formidable Martial Guard Army, which at least possessed decent strength; dragging along a thousand ordinary soldiers was nothing short of putting on airs.
Even the Silver Moon soldiers themselves thought so.
They assumed they had been brought along to run errands and bolster appearances.
Otherwise, why would the Demon Sword need them?
To help him slay enemies?
Kill Three Suns?
Kill Rising Lights?
Or kill Divine Powers?
Outside the city.
As the convoy rolled through the gates, Li Hao stood waiting, clad in silver armor. He had shifted his gold armor to silver, remaining as understated as ever.
Li Hao stood by the city gates, waiting for the vehicles to emerge.
He had originally considered leaving ahead of them, but grew concerned that something might happen to these troops given their meager strength. In the end, he chose to travel together, lest they be ambushed and wiped out without him even knowing who was responsible.
The convoy slowly pulled up.
“Halt!”
The vehicles ground to a stop.
The passengers leaped down, and Liu Long called out, “Demon Hunt Corps: fifty-four expected, fifty-five present! All accounted for!”
There was an extra person!
That extra person was, of course, Hao Lianchuan.
Including Liu Long, there were exactly fifty martial masters, alongside four supernaturals: Yun Yao, Li Meng, Hu Hao, and Wang Ming.
Li Hao looked at Hao Lianchuan with a slight frown and said quietly, “Director Hao, are you sure you want to follow us? With Director Hou gone from the Silver Moon Night Patrollers, you, as acting director, are leaving too...”
Hao Lianchuan's smile vanished. He looked at Li Hao for a long moment before answering, “I don't want to stay. Staying will only make me grow weaker and weaker!”
He refused to stay behind!
Li Hao said no more. From behind, the young chiliarch jogged over and saluted. The Silver Moon Army’s salute was different from the Battle Heaven Army’s, less imposing and consisting of a simple raised hand.
“Grand Commander Li! Silver Moon Army, White Moon Guard: one thousand and twenty expected, one thousand and twenty present! All accounted for, awaiting your orders, Grand Commander!”
Li Hao nodded slightly and looked at the young man. “What is your name?”
“This subordinate is Huang Taiming!”
“What is your relation to Commander Yu?”
“Commander Yu is the supreme commander of Silver Moon!”
“I mean your personal relation.”
Huang Taiming frowned slightly, but answered nonetheless, “Commander Yu is this subordinate’s distant grandfather. My great-grandfather and Commander Yu’s father were first cousins...”
Such a relationship was close in name, but quite distant in reality.
In other words, Huang Yu’s great-grandfather and this man’s great-great-grandfather were the same person—separated by multiple generations.
Viewed this way, he could hardly be considered a beneficiary of nepotism.
Li Hao chuckled. He had found himself paying attention to such matters recently, likely provoked by Zhang Liang, who had constantly looked down on him and accused him of riding on connections.
“Not bad!”
Li Hao nodded, looking him in the eye. “Then you should know that starting today, you are no longer the Silver Moon Army, but part of the Demon Hunt Army. Are you prepared for that?”
“Prepared!” Huang Taiming shouted in response.
“Do you hold any resentment over being made to leave your homeland?”
“None! As soldiers, this is our duty. However... as soldiers, we hope to stand on the battlefield, rather than...”
He hesitated for a second before roaring out, “Rather than being decorative pieces! Even if we are weak, even if we are fragile and vulnerable, we do not wish to be mere ornaments hauling luggage in Heavenly Star City! We joined the military years ago to slay enemies!”
His words carried a trace of indignation.
He refused to accept being dragged to Heavenly Star City merely to serve as Li Hao's ornamental facade.
Li Hao laughed. “Isn't that obvious? If not to kill enemies, did I bring you along for fun? Do I look like I have free time on my hands? Do you think I have so much spare coin that I can feed a thousand of you for nothing? I can barely feed myself, and your Commander Yu won't be paying your wages anymore—from now on, you're on my dime!”
Li Hao let out a soft laugh. “So, before you came, Commander Yu must have told you that following me means a nine-in-ten chance of death. Do you think a nine-in-ten chance of death is for pretty vases? You lot aren't qualified to be vases anyway!”
Huang Taiming was taken aback.
He really wants us to slay enemies?
But... whom can we possibly kill!
That was a glaring, sorrowful problem. If they weren't going to be ornaments, they would have to fight, but the enemies Li Hao provoked were completely beyond their ability to face. Going against them would be pure suicide.
“Alright, enough nonsense. Change your gear!”
“What?”
Li Hao barked coldly, “Change your gear! Don’t make me repeat myself!”
With a wave of his hand, suits of armor materialized on the ground. “Commander Liu, have your men help them suit up. A unified uniform! From now on, everyone wears armor. The era of firearms is drawing to a close, and the age of supernaturals and the extraordinary has fully arrived! Even city-destroying bombs struggle against true experts—a Rising Light can dodge them with ease...”
Staring at the over one thousand suits of armor, Huang Taiming’s expression shifted. “My Lord, this is...”
“Address me as General!”
Li Hao said indifferently, “You should have some knowledge of this. This is ancient civilization armor, possessing immense defensive power...”
Huang Taiming had indeed seen it before; he even knew it was the armor of the Battle Heaven Army.
Even so, he could not conceal his shock.
He could not help but say, “General, this is too wasteful! From what I know, this armor only exhibits its true effectiveness when worn by Hundred-Breaker or Thousand-Fighter martial masters. With so many suits of armor... we... we are too weak!”
A sense of inadequacy washed over him.
Li Hao said calmly, “You will grow stronger sooner or later. Following me, are you afraid you'll stay weak forever? Enough, put them on! Otherwise, dressed in mismatched uniforms, you look like a ragtag band. Once you don the armor, we won't be riding in trucks anymore.”
With a flick of his sleeve, the Giant Kun Divine Boat that he had previously left with the Demon Hunt Corps appeared, rapidly expanding in size. This time, he did not plan to return by land, but aboard the divine boat.
Expanded to full size, it could easily hold five thousand people, let alone one thousand.
It merely consumed some divine energy stones.
The thousand soldiers silently began changing their equipment, guided by members of the Demon Hunt Corps. Barely a sound was made. Though this force was weak in individual strength, their discipline far surpassed that of the Demon Hunt Corps; there was not the slightest disorder.
That was a welcome sign.
These were all seasoned veterans who had served for years; some had fought in battles, killed enemies, and seen blood.
Troops like these were easy to organize, free of troublemakers stirring up constant fuss. Under Huang Yu’s command, the Silver Moon Army was exceptionally disciplined. Moreover, everyone knew Li Hao was a top powerhouse, so none dared to step out of line.
Before long, an army of a thousand armored warriors stood assembled.
Instantly, an imposing, disciplined military presence radiated from their ranks, making them appear extraordinarily formidable and fierce.
“Do you all know how to use cold weapons?”
“Yes!”
Huang Taiming, now clad in black armor, answered with a thumping heart, “In the army, Commander Yu had us begin training with cold weapons five years ago! Our White Moon Guard specializes in spears and sabers, though we are less proficient with swords. We can also serve as cavalry, but because of the long journey, we didn't bring our warhorses!”
Huang Yu had truly planned ahead, directing the Silver Moon Army to train with cold weapons five years prior. Evidently, he had prepared for the return of close-quarters combat. While firearms were powerful, most practitioners who reached the Hundred-Breaker realm could easily dodge bullets.
Once at Thousand-Fighter, small pistols were entirely useless, and even artillery shells were largely ineffective because they were too slow to hit their mark.
This saved a great deal of trouble!
“Take your time getting used to the black armor. It comes equipped with integrated weaponry capable of shifting into various forms—sabers, spears, swords, or halberds. With the black armor protecting you, even if your cultivation is lacking, an ordinary Moon Glow expert will struggle to breach your defenses. However, the concussive force might still kill you through the armor...”
By simply donning the armor, these ordinary soldiers gained defensive capabilities on par with Hundred-Breakers and Moon Glow practitioners, elevating their overall combat readiness in an instant. Of course, that was still far from enough!
“Board the vessel! Leave the vehicles behind for Silver Moon to reclaim!”
The massive ship settled onto the ground, expanding further and revealing far more functional compartments than before.
Without a word, the soldiers began boarding in an orderly, silent fashion.
Liu Long glanced at Li Hao with a hint of shock. Where had he obtained so many suits of armor?
Naturally, he didn't pry.
He boarded alongside the others.
Li Hao remained below, continuing to wait.
A moment later, a small car pulled up near the city gates. Deputy Director Zhou stepped out, jogging over while panting for breath. “I’m late, I’m late! I set off early, but Old Zhao insisted on stopping me and tangled with me for ages... Apologies, apologies!”
Li Hao laughed. “It's only natural Director Zhao couldn't bear to let you go. After all, you worked together for forty years. How many forty-year spans does a man get in life?”
“Ah, you can say that again!”
Director Zhou chuckled as well, glancing at the massive flying vessel before them. “We're taking a flying ship?”
“Yes, it's more convenient.”
“Very good, though it burns through coin.”
He glanced over at the black-armored soldiers and raised an eyebrow, not particularly surprised. After all, Li Hao had already told him he was now a division commander in the ancient army, so procuring a few thousand suits of armor was only natural.
“Shall we board, then?”
“Please!”
Deputy Director Zhou smiled. “The Grand Commander first!”
Li Hao gave a helpless chuckle and stepped onto the ship. Behind him, Deputy Director Zhou looked around. “Where is Black Panther?”
“Off taking care of an errand. It will return shortly!”
Deputy Director Zhou asked no further questions.
Once aboard, they entered the main cabin, where the thousand soldiers stood in dead silence.
Seeing Deputy Director Zhou, many looked surprised.
Anyone who had spent years in White Moon City knew his face well. The Deputy Director of the General Administration Bureau—why was he here too?
Li Hao addressed the ranks: “At my invitation, Director Zhou has joined the Demon Hunt Army! Starting today, Director Zhou will serve as Chief of Staff of our Demon Hunt Army!”
The crowd was stunned!
From Deputy Director of an entire province to Chief of Staff of a thousand-man unit—even if it was a Demon Hunt Army led by the Demon Sword—the difference in status was immense, wasn't it?
Nearby, Hao Lianchuan puffed out his chest, desperately wanting to remind Li Hao that he was still the Acting Director of the Night Patrollers.
With old man Zhou becoming Chief of Staff, what about me?
Director Zhou offered a genial smile. “Thanks to Commander Li thinking highly of me, I will be serving as your colleague from now on. I ask for everyone's support and guidance.”
“You honor us, sir!” several powerhouses quickly replied. The man had been a high-ranking regional official, after all. It was genuinely astonishing that Li Hao had managed to poach him away; was Director Zhao weeping back at his office?
No one had any objections to his appointment as Chief of Staff. If nothing else, he had governed a population of over a hundred million people; he was exceptionally skilled in logistics and finance, exactly the kind of talent an army needed.
As for military strategy, that remained to be seen.
Li Hao spoke again: “Find your quarters according to your assigned numbers. There is no need to stand around here; there are living areas aboard this divine boat. Huang Taiming, you and your officers stay behind.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Don’t say ‘yes, sir’—answer with ‘nuo’!”
“Nuo!”
The soldiers responded in unison. That was the beauty of regular soldiers: they didn't ask questions; they simply did as their commander ordered.
To the side, Deputy Director Zhou stroked his small mustache and smiled, casting a glance at Li Hao. Was he trying to revive the traditions of the Battle Heaven Army?
Li Hao harbored no small ambitions.
In the ancient civilization, the Battle Heaven Army had been an elite fighting force.
...
Once the rest had filed into the rear cabins, only a few people remained on deck.
Without lingering on formalities, Li Hao walked to the prow. The divine boat soared into the sky, the colossal vessel shooting toward the distant horizon.
“The newly joined White Moon Guard is too weak and requires reinforcement!”
“At the very least, they must step into the Ten-Slayer realm first. Reaching the late Hundred-Breaker realm shouldn't pose too much difficulty...”
Li Hao continued, “Complete Hundred-Breaker is a bottleneck... However, if they cannot advance further as martial masters, I suggest they snap their supernatural locks to become supernaturals! Supernaturals do not require profound comprehension; snapping a lock is all it takes. Once a Hundred-Breaker martial master breaks through, they can generally reach Solar Flare, allowing them to advance swiftly. After all, the force of a martial master is exceedingly difficult to comprehend.”
Huang Taiming’s heart stirred. He offered no objection, merely nodding.
Whether as supernaturals or martial masters, growing stronger was all that mattered to them.
It didn't make much difference. Unlike Hong Qing and the others who had practiced martial arts since childhood and had a deep understanding of the martial dao, granting them a chance to grasp force, these regular soldiers knew very little of martial philosophy. Relying on themselves to comprehend force would be monumentally difficult!
Becoming supernaturals, on the other hand, offered a far easier path to advancement.
Beside them, Deputy Director Zhou was eager to prove his worth. Smiling broadly, he said, “Leave these minor matters to me! That includes compensation, benefits, and calculating military merits—I can handle all of it.”
Li Hao glanced at him. Deputy Director Zhou chuckled and added, “For a mere thousand men, it's no trouble at all. I can handle it alone. However, if our numbers expand in the future, I may need a few assistants.”
All by himself!
Li Hao’s heart stirred and he nodded. The old man certainly wasn't going to idle about.
Then again, having cost two hundred drops of the Spring of Life—which could sell for twenty million divine energy stones in the Central Region, enough to hire a massive army—handling these administrative details was the bare minimum.
Seeing Li Hao agree, Deputy Director Zhou smiled again. “Commander Li, since our departure has already been made public, we might as well make it even grander. Display the Tiger Banner and let all four quarters know that the Demon Sword is coming! This time, we will pass through Linjiang and cross the Three Northern Provinces. There is no need to attack anyone—simply deterring the northern provinces will suffice!”
“We must make a great show along the entire journey. It serves as both deterrence and a declaration of renown, letting the world know that wherever the Tiger Banner flies, Commander Li is present! Sometimes, even when you aren't there in person, a single banner can carry the weight of a Divine Power expert!”
Li Hao pondered the advice and nodded in agreement.
“Along the way, we can also wipe out some bandit gangs to improve coordination. The Demon Hunt Corps can lead the assaults while the White Moon Guard cleans up the battlefield, teaching them to work together... Large-scale army operations are vastly different from small skirmishes.”
Deputy Director Zhou offered a few more suggestions, and Li Hao agreed to them all with nods.
The massive flying ship tore through the sky at tremendous speed.
It began traversing city after city.
At every city they passed, someone would proclaim from above that the Governor-General of Heavenly Star was passing through, requesting safe passage. In no time, word of the Tiger Banner, Li Hao, and the flying ship spread throughout the Silver Moon lands.
...
Linjiang.
The Governor-General’s Mansion.
Fan Chang frowned slightly. Below him, an officer gritted his teeth and said, “That Li Hao is far too arrogant! Flying straight through our airspace aboard a massive ship, demanding unhindered passage the entire way! Even upon reaching Linjiang territory, he shows no sign of restraint!”
“Judging by his trajectory, he might even fly right over our Linjiang Prefecture city... Governor-General, shouldn't we teach him a lesson?”
Fan Chang glanced at him and said after a long pause, “Are you going to fight him?”
That was a monster who had slain multiple Divine Power powerhouses!
Li Hao’s current strength was leagues beyond what it had been during the battle at the North Sea.
“We have city-destroying bombs...”
Fan Chang gave him a look. “Do you dare use them?”
City-destroying bombs were indeed formidable. Given Li Hao’s arrogance in flying right through the open sky, launching eighty or a hundred bombs might prevent him from dodging and wipe him out.
However... half of Linjiang would be obliterated alongside him!
More importantly, what if Li Hao escaped?
Killing a bunch of ordinary soldiers would achieve nothing!
The subordinate officer fell silent, though he still felt thoroughly aggrieved. Linjiang was a major province, yet someone from Silver Moon was flying directly over their heads without the slightest intention of stopping. It was sheer insolence!
This Li Hao was truly... reckless!
Fan Chang, on the other hand, held his peace. Those whom heaven wishes to destroy, it first makes mad!
Li Hao was indeed acting with supreme arrogance right now, dragging along a thousand weaklings as if he were truly invincible, crossing the entire continent in plain view. He was hardly the only one infuriated by such behavior.
Yet at this stage... tolerance and concession were the only options.
That man was crazy enough to kill even Directors of the Nine Departments!
If the Nine Departments hadn't launched an all-out retaliation yet, was Linjiang Province supposed to wage war against Li Hao on its own?
What a joke!
The next moment, his brows knitted together and he walked outside. In Linjiang Prefecture city, people looked up at the sky, where darkness seemed to fall, blocking out the clouds and the sun!
“The Governor-General of Heavenly Star travels through! Where is the Governor-General of Linjiang?”
“Step forward to pay your respects!”
The cold shout resonated across the entire area, shaking the hearts of everyone in Linjiang Prefecture city!
The Demon Sword?
How arrogant!
Rumors had already spread over the past few days that the Demon Sword was leading an army toward the Central Region and would soon pass through Linjiang Prefecture. No one expected him to actually arrive—and the moment he did, he demanded the Governor-General of Linjiang come forward to pay homage.
Strictly speaking, both men were of equal rank.
Was this a blatant provocation?
The citizens of Linjiang Prefecture trembled with fear.
Inside the Governor-General's Mansion, several men around Fan Chang turned livid with rage. But Fan Chang pressed a hand down to calm them, soaring into the air with a hearty laugh. “Fan Chang greets the Marquis of Heavenly Star!”
Just as he was about to say more, an indifferent voice cut him off: “Stand down. I am merely passing through. Under your governance, Governor-General Fan, your territory is in utter disarray, overrun with bandits. It requires serious reform. Your troops are worse than outlaws, butchering civilians to claim false military merits! Once I return to Heavenly Star, I will certainly submit an imperial memorial impeaching you. Reflect on your conduct!”
Fan Chang’s expression twisted into an icy glare!
He gave him face, yet the boy spat on it!
This Li Hao was beyond overbearing!
Who do you think you are?
You...
He wanted to erupt in fury, but the colossal ship was already sailing past overhead. Li Hao’s voice rang directly beside his ears: “Count yourself fortunate that I have no intention of moving against you today. Otherwise, do not think I have forgotten the battle at the North Sea! You dared to ambush me back then. Were it not for the constraints of the Nine Departments, I would have severed your head today!”
Fan Chang’s heart trembled. He said nothing more, descending silently to the ground with bitter hatred burning in his eyes.
His strength was inferior!
Although this was his territory, if an all-out battle truly erupted... even if he could match a Divine Power expert, if Li Hao went on a rampage, the foundation Fan Chang had accumulated over decades might be wiped out entirely.
Clearly, Li Hao still harbored reservations about the Nine Departments and dared not slaughter senior officials at will.
However, if Fan Chang actively sought trouble... the other man would cast all restraint aside.
He began to understand why Li Hao had flown directly through his airspace: it was a deliberate provocation.
“Hmph, do you think this governor would fall for your trick?”
Fan Chang cursed inwardly and said no more, watching the great ship glide into the distance.
Meanwhile, the residents of Linjiang Prefecture were secretly awestruck. Amid their shock, a tiny ember of hope flickered within them—would the Demon Sword truly submit a memorial to impeach Governor-General Fan?
Could he bring him to justice?
That the people lived in misery and the army was worse than bandits was their daily reality!
They clung to a sliver of hope... even while knowing it was a long shot. The Central Region could barely control the north, and though Li Hao was a northerner, Silver Moon had no authority over Linjiang.
Yet on this day, the people of Linjiang all learned of Li Hao, learned of the Tiger Banner, and witnessed Li Hao’s brazen audacity in openly berating the Governor-General of Linjiang to his face.
...
The giant vessel continued its flight across the heavens.
Wherever it passed, bandits and garrison forces alike scattered out of its path. The terrifying aura of the Demon Sword slaying Divine Power experts had yet to fade from memory.
...
The North Sea.
Along the coastline.
A dog lay resting by the shore, waiting patiently. Waves rolled and surged in the waters nearby.
A moment later, a massive serpent poked its head above the water. Its colossal skull was the size of a millstone as its mental fluctuations rippled out: “Demon Venerable, can Lord Li truly assist me in transforming into a dragon?”
Black Panther ignored it.
The giant serpent didn't mind, though it felt rather anxious. The previous night, Black Panther had rushed to Kui Mountain because Li Hao had one unfinished piece of business: this serpent had previously provided assistance, and Li Hao had promised to find a method for it to transform into a dragon.
Although he possessed no such method, he now understood how breakthroughs worked, so he naturally hadn't forgotten his word.
He had instructed Black Panther to summon the serpent to wait for him at the North Sea.
“Demon Venerable, there are demon tribes residing in the North Sea as well. My rash entry might provoke conflict...”
“Roar!”
Black Panther transformed into a massive golden hound, its aura surging violently. The serpent immediately pressed itself flat against the sea surface, falling utterly silent.
Indeed, with the noble Demon Venerable present, what was there to fear?
Even if there were demons in the North Sea, they would have to submit!
Only then did Black Panther rein in its aura. This snake was truly annoying!
As they waited, a massive flying vessel tore through the sky toward them. Excitement flared in the serpent’s eyes. Had he arrived?
Boom!
The great ship descended toward the sea, churning up towering waves.
To the utter shock of Liu Long and the others, an unimaginably colossal serpent emerged from the water, sending out mental ripples: “A humble serpent of Kui Mountain greets the Great Venerable!”
Li Hao laughed heartily. “You are too polite, Snake King! Back then, you chose not to expose my identity to the Duke of Dingguo. I have kept that favor firmly in mind. A few days ago, I visited an ancient city to consult my seniors about methods of transforming into a dragon and gained some insights... However, pressed by military duties, I could not travel to Kui Mountain in person and had Black Panther summon you here instead. I hope you will forgive the slight!”
“The Great Venerable is far too gracious!”
The Snake King became even more reverent. This was a supreme figure, yet he had gone out of his way to consult ancient city elders on its behalf—that showed remarkable consideration.
Its giant eyes swept over the figures on the deck. Seeing the others provoked little reaction, but catching sight of the smiling Deputy Director Zhou made it feel a wave of dread. Shocked inwardly, it soon accepted it as normal—the Great Venerable was, after all, a formidable figure inheriting the legacy of the ancient civilization.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director Zhou and the others stared back at the giant serpent. Was this the Kui Mountain Snake King?
Formidable!
It was likely at the peak of the Transmutation stage, wasn't it?
Li Hao stepped through the air, descending without further ado. He reached out toward the creature's massive head, his voice transmitting directly into its consciousness: “The elders of the ancient city told me that you belong to the serpent race. Serpents and dragons are entirely distinct lineages; there is no need to obsess over dragon transformation! Moreover, you are still too weak, so do not aim for what is currently beyond your reach. For now, purifying your existing bloodline is enough. I shall use the Li family divine sword to help purify your blood, and breaking through to the Divine Power realm will be child’s play!”
The serpent’s mind trembled. No need to transform into a dragon?
Too weak?
Serpents and dragons are not of the same race...
Each word echoed in its mind, leaving it entranced. This was guidance from an ancient powerhouse, something to be engraved deeply into its heart.
The next instant, streams of extraordinary energy flooded into its body.
The serpent immediately felt the difference!
Its blood began to boil!
As the serpent squirmed with restlessness, Li Hao continually channeled sword energy into its frame, continuing his mental transmission: “Once you step into the Divine Power realm, Snake King, you will rank among the top great demons of this era. At present, the Heavenly Roc and Phoenix peaks among the Seven Sacred Mountains were both founded by avian demon tribes. Why shouldn't you establish a Kui Mountain Sacred Land to gather terrestrial beasts and even marine demons under your banner?”
The Snake King was moved. “Great Venerable...”
“Kui Mountain divides the northern and eastern continents. The north is where my Silver Moon resides, and Silver Moon will sooner or later unify the realm, restoring the glory of Neo Martial! When the realm is united, securing the eastern continent may very well require your assistance!”
“Furthermore, the demon race is currently scattered, and some demons slaughter innocents and devour humans indiscriminately. You attained sapience early, Snake King, so you must understand humanity's past dominance. If demons act recklessly, it will only bring catastrophe upon your kind. In these turbulent times, our generation must rise with the wind. Ancient eras had Demon Venerables; why can't a new king be born today?”
The Snake King’s mind shook violently. It dared not utter a sound, rapidly absorbing the sword energy as its blood boiled ever more fiercely.
Yet it weighed Li Hao’s words carefully.
Did this man intend to vie for supreme dominion over the realm?
Found a demon sacred land at Kui Mountain, rally demons from all quarters, and fight alongside him to conquer the eastern continent?
Thoughts flashed rapidly through its mind. The Snake King transmitted cautiously, “Great Venerable, the Kui Mountain demons are lacking in strength. Even if this humble serpent steps into Divine Power today, we only have a handful of Rising Light demons...”
That was formidable, certainly!
However, compared to the Seven Sacred Mountains, they still lacked heritage, possessing far fewer Rising Light and Transmutation experts.
“No matter! As long as your faction grows strong enough to lend me a hand, I will use the divine sword's power to help purify your lineage’s bloodline, and you will achieve higher realms in time!”
“The second energy revival is about to begin. If you do not strive now... you will lose your chance! Once ancient demons awaken and ancient demon plants emerge into the world, modern demons like you will all be reduced to mere vassals!”
The serpent shuddered. Li Hao added, “We are already nearing the second revival. Do not miss this final window of opportunity.”
“The Great Venerable speaks the absolute truth!” the Snake King replied hastily, its ambition ignited.
“Additionally, serpents can take to the sea. Here in the North Sea, I may require your assistance as well. Not long ago, I slew the North Sea King, who commanded numerous dukes... The North Sea has fallen into chaos, which presents an opportunity for you!”
“This humble serpent understands!”
The serpent dared say no more. Its bloodline was already on the verge of breaking through to Divine Power, and under Li Hao’s assistance, its blood underwent rapid purification. In an instant, brilliant golden light erupted from its scales!
Thick mist rose across heaven and earth.
The sound of a roaring river surged through its veins as its bloodline power thrummed. The serpent threw its head back and slammed its tail against the ocean, sending colossal waves crashing toward the sky!
Boom!
Thunderous roars shook the four quarters!
A moment later, an enormous serpent emerged, blotting out the sky, faint golden light shimmering across its scales.
Director Zhou watched with a flicker of awe.
The purifying effect of sword energy on demon bloodlines was astonishingly potent!
The serpent had crossed the threshold with ease, stepping directly into the Divine Power realm.
At that moment, even Black Panther looked on with a trace of envy. Yet this was the culmination of years of accumulation; it had not happened overnight. The serpent had merely lacked a catalyst!
Sword energy had served as that catalyst.
The serpent’s giant eyes shone with intense gratitude and excitement.
“Thank you, Great Venerable, for fulfilling my path!”
The Snake King was thrilled to the core. It had broken through without needing to transform into a dragon. The ancient elder was right after all: it had been aiming too high.
Purifying its own bloodline rather than chasing dragonhood was perhaps the true, proper path.
Feeling the immense resilience of the serpent’s physical body, Li Hao was slightly awed as well. No wonder the demon race could establish two of the sacred mountains.
After crossing into the Divine Power realm, this creature showed no signs of instability whatsoever.
Its foundation was already rock-solid.
Unlike human Divine Power practitioners who needed to stabilize their five visceral organs, this giant serpent, having achieved Divine Power, was likely not a shred weaker than Hu Xiao!
“You are welcome. I was merely fulfilling my promise,” Li Hao said with a smile. “However, please remember this, Snake King: whether human or demon, each has their own path of cultivation. Devouring humans... is not the righteous path!”
“This humble serpent will engrave it upon my heart!”
The serpent bowed low, daring not speak another word.
“Then go about your business, Snake King. I must head to the Central Region...”
“Allow this humble serpent to clear the way for the Great Venerable...”
The Snake King dared not linger, swiftly gliding forward. The ocean parted before it, carving out an open channel through which the giant vessel followed. Flanking them, not a single demon beast or pirate dared show their face; the sight of that sky-scraping giant serpent alone was enough to reveal its terrifying power!
Witnessing this from afar, observers were utterly dumbfounded!
This Demon Sword truly possessed extraordinary means.
...
On the deck, Deputy Director Zhou stroked his mustache and smiled, sending a voice transmission to Li Hao: “Well done. Planting a stake within the demon race beforehand is a wise move. From what I see, that serpent fears you immensely.”
“Those who know more fear more. That serpent has received guidance from someone before!”
Director Zhou nodded slightly, remarking nonchalantly, “Natural enough. There are countless remarkable figures in this world; never underestimate anyone under heaven!”
His words seemed to carry a deeper meaning. Li Hao nodded, choosing not to pry.
Sitting cross-legged on the deck, Li Hao resumed his cultivation.
Countless wisps of mysterious energy poured into his body, churning continually to stimulate his supernatural locks.
Returning to Heavenly Star City meant facing countless daunting tasks. Without sufficient strength, it would all end in failure.
Director Zhou glanced at him, then at the soldiers cultivating inside the cabins, sighing inwardly. Whether encountering Li Hao was a blessing or a curse for these people remained to be seen.
With an endless supply of sword energy, their strength progressed at lightning speed.
Yet the stronger they grew, the more perilous the days ahead would become.
Besides... had this kid Li Hao forgotten about the two hundred drops of the Spring of Life? Why hadn't he handed them over yet?
Chapter 232