Inside the hall, Li Hao's brow furrowed slightly.
A moment later, Liu Long walked in as well.
He glanced at Yun Yao. She appeared exceptionally quiet, saying nothing and merely watching Yuqi as if deep in thought.
Yuqi, on the other hand, seemed rather nervous.
She looked at Yun Yao and then back at Li Hao, momentarily unsure whether she ought to speak. She worried that this person was a supernatural illusion, yet feared that speaking up might expose even more secrets.
While she hesitated, Yun Yao spoke. "She should be my niece—my second brother's daughter."
A complicated look surfaced in Yun Yao's eyes. "I cannot be certain if she is... but if she is... matters become very complicated."
Li Hao's brow twitched. Yun Yao seemed somewhat agitated, yet also strangely detached.
Why?
"You are Yun Haoran's youngest daughter?"
"Yes."
Yun Yao was as calm as ever. Glancing at Deputy Director Zhou, she said slowly, "I am. Five years ago, I fled this place and went to Silver City, because I heard Silver City held a secret—a secret capable of upending the world."
She had not gone there by chance; she had deliberately sought that secret in Silver City.
Yet... regrettably, she had found nothing.
"Deputy Director Zhou, Martial Uncle Southern Fist, please step outside for a moment. I wish to speak with them in private!"
Li Hao had been conversing with several people just a moment ago. Now that he suddenly asked them to leave, Southern Fist felt curious and somewhat inclined to gossip. But seeing Li Hao looking at him, he had no choice but to depart speechlessly.
*What secret can't I know?*
*Isn't it just Yun Haoran's daughter and granddaughter?*
*What's the big deal!*
He truly did not care much. He had known Yun Haoran, but so what? The man was already dead!
Presumably, very few people cared about the Yun family nowadays. Even if word got out that they were alive, aside from those coveting the Yun family's ruin, nothing about them held any value to anyone.
Deputy Director Zhou also departed slowly, glancing at Yun Yao without saying a word.
...
Once the others had left, only four people remained in the hall: Li Hao, Liu Long, Yun Yao, and Yuqi.
Yuqi asked uneasily, "Governor-General Li, she... isn't a supernatural illusion, is she?"
"She is not."
Yuqi instantly grew excited, wanting to say something, but when she saw Yun Yao's calm expression, her apprehension returned. Her aunt did not seem very excited; she had looked somewhat emotional earlier, but not now.
Yun Yao looked at her, then spoke after a pause. "Xiaoqi, wait outside for a moment."
"You..."
"I have matters to discuss with the commander."
Though myriad questions swirled in Yuqi's mind—wondering how her aunt had returned from the dead, and why she was being told to leave now—she ultimately walked out with an anxious heart. She kept looking back at Yun Yao, as if trying to discern whether this was truly that daughter of the Yun family.
...
Only after Yuqi had departed did Yun Yao let out a soft sigh. She looked at Li Hao, then turned to Liu Long. "Five years ago, when I arrived in Silver City, I told Captain that I came from Heavenly Star City and that many people wanted me dead... I am grateful to Captain for taking me in all this time, never abandoning me just because I was being hunted."
Liu Long said in a deep voice, "I had heard of Director Yun's name in passing. I didn't say much in the past, but looking at it now, it seems Director Yun's affairs are far from over?"
"Indeed."
Yun Yao gave a slight nod. "Naturally they are not over. The key to opening the ruin my father controlled was taken away by me—and that is only one part of it."
"All factions care deeply about that ruin."
She looked at Li Hao and said slowly, "The ruin my father held is no ordinary site. In the ancient civilization era, there were countless powerhouses and supreme beings. The former master of the ruin held by the Yun family was not some top-tier expert; perhaps he did not even leave much of a name in ancient history. But our Yun family knows that this individual was undoubtedly extraordinary..."
Li Hao asked in confusion, "This ruin has an owner?"
"Yes!"
She nodded. "I do not mean that the master is inside, but rather that the ruin is named the Lü Zhen Research Institute."
Lü Zhen?
Li Hao stared blankly, then shook his head after a moment.
He had never seen this name in any ancient texts, nor had he ever heard of the person.
A surname of Lü?
An ancient text seemed to record that when the Human King first entered a martial arts university, he had a teacher surnamed Lü. Only... that teacher seemed to be a woman, as mention was made of her husband, who was also a notable figure.
Lü Zhen did not sound like a woman's name.
Yun Yao looked at Li Hao. "Commander may not know this person, but Commander does not know that the modern city-destroying bombs were actually created by him. He was a rare expert in the field of research during the ancient civilization era."
The creator of city-destroying bombs?
Li Hao's heart stirred.
Yun Yao continued, "Not only that, but during the ancient civilization, he spearheaded numerous projects. He was also a research expert in the mental and spiritual domain during the early Neo-Martial era, one of the first grandmasters of the Neo-Martial period to advance the study and cultivation of spiritual force..."
Li Hao was astonished. Really?
Such a figure should have been renowned; someone ought to know of him.
Lü Zhen... this was one of the few figures from the ancient civilization whose name could be spoken directly.
Earlier, Little Tree had mentioned that some ancient powerhouses could not be named, as doing so was perilous.
Lü Zhen... the fact that his name could be mentioned meant he wasn't overly powerful?
Li Hao pondered inwardly.
Yun Yao went on, "I am telling Commander this only to explain that while the tier of this ruin might not be exceedingly high, some of the crucial technologies within are of immense importance and involve far too many things. Furthermore... this is likely what many people desperately desire to obtain!"
Li Hao looked at her, still somewhat unable to grasp the crux of the matter.
With so many ruins out there, why fixate on yours?
Even if it was a research institute, to be frank, ancient cities held an abundance of technology. Why single out the Yun family's site?
Yun Yao clearly meant to tell Li Hao that the ruin held by the Yun family was extraordinarily significant, so much so that not a whisper of it could be leaked.
Seeing that Li Hao still didn't fully comprehend, Yun Yao sighed and abandoned all reserve, speaking softly. "Put it this way: the Lü Zhen Research Institute had another famous line of research, one that may also have some records in the history books... the eternal persistence of spiritual force!"
"Our Yun family once went out of our way to gather information about him. He was one of the grandmasters of the early Neo-Martial era. His daughter... was supposedly the teacher of the Human King! His son-in-law was the president of the top martial arts university back then, the Shanghai Martial Arts University, and the ancient Human King's own president."
"And he himself once spent several years in a secret realm accompanying a Sovereign. He was proficient in the martial paths predating the Neo-Martial era, as well as the Neo-Martial path itself."
Li Hao parted his lips. There was such a connection?
Yun Yao continued, "The eternal persistence of spiritual force... in conventional terms, immortality! Yuqi might have mentioned the Yun family's destruction to you, but what she told you was incomplete. My father's reforms were one aspect, but the critical factor was that word leaked out—some of the research from the Lü Zhen Research Institute was exposed."
Li Hao frowned. "The Yun family had always conducted research in secret; how could it leak?"
The ruin belonged exclusively to the Yun family, so how could it get out?
Yun Yao fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Initially, there was no problem. But later... later, my father delved deeper into the research, even having family members act as test subjects. In the end... something went wrong!"
Li Hao's heart twitched. "Your father used members of the Yun family as test subjects? He wanted immortality?"
"No!"
Yun Yao shook her head. "It is not as Commander thinks. Father was not researching immortality... my father... my father wanted to resurrect Lü Zhen!"
She drew a deep breath. "Or rather, whether it was Lü Zhen remains uncertain; perhaps... perhaps it was an ancient scholar from the ruin! My father sensed residual spiritual force remaining within the ruin. In addition, many of the technical terms, jargon, and techniques inside were either incomprehensible or lacked continuation. During that period, my father was obsessed with resurrecting that ancient whose spiritual force lingered."
"Thus, during that time, the Haoran Research Institute began investigating this matter as well. Father was simply too naive; he merely wanted to restore certain technologies... but he forgot that there might be more than one ancient powerhouse with lingering spiritual force."
"Father wanted to resurrect someone, but in the eyes of others, that was an ambition for hegemony, a refusal to remain ordinary. More crucially, if one seized those technologies, could one resurrect ancient beings and turn them into tools for oneself?"
Li Hao shook his head.
He had been somewhat bewildered earlier, but now he was wide awake, his eyes filled with shock. "You mean your father's death was actually because he sought to resurrect a powerhouse, and... word leaked! The Nine Departments and the imperial family learned of it, and they also wanted to resurrect ancient powerhouses... so they annihilated your family to seize the technology?"
"Yes!"
Li Hao frowned. "But it was only research without tangible results. Weren't the Nine Departments acting too hastily?"
"There were results."
Yun Yao looked at Li Hao, her demeanor entirely tranquil. "If there were no results, why would the Nine Departments and the imperial family be so impatient? It was precisely because they saw results that they acted so urgently."
"What do you mean?"
Li Hao's heart leaped. "He resurrected an ancient?"
Yun Yao hesitated for a time, remaining silent.
Li Hao did not press her either.
After a long while, Yun Yao nodded. "You could say that... or rather, barely!"
"What do you mean?"
"Back then... my father drew out some spiritual force from the ruin and placed it inside a family member's body... Later, some changes seemed to occur. For a time, that person began uttering words that no one could comprehend... Someone in the Yun household may have unintentionally spread the news, and the research institute was not entirely airtight either. As a result... the Nine Departments and the imperial family learned that the Yun family had achieved results! And so... the Yun family was wiped out!"
Li Hao's brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Yun Yao.
"You mean Yuqi?"
"Not her!"
Yun Yao shook her head.
Li Hao frowned. "Your father used family members for research... That doesn't match the impression I had of him. It sounds somewhat deranged."
Yun Yao considered this and sighed. "The entire family consented to it. My nephew was originally... somewhat dim-witted. Father said that rather than remaining a simpleton for life, it was better... better to try. Perhaps it would work. In this world, a fool cannot survive for long anyway."
Li Hao frowned. Of course, that was their family matter; he could hardly criticize.
Yet at this moment, he truly understood the reason behind the Yun family's utter destruction.
Yun Haoran had actually tried to resurrect an ancient powerhouse!
There were indeed ancient powerhouses still alive—those demonic plants were living beings.
However... those were demons.
As for humans, Li Hao had never seen a living one. The soldiers in Battle Heaven City were not living humans. In fact, he had faintly realized that the three silver regiment commanders seemed to have transformed into armament spirits.
That was a cruel reality!
All of them possessed lingering obsessions and spiritual force. Did Yun Yao mean that by relying on these, ancient powerhouses could be resurrected?
Pondering this, he fell silent for a time.
Yun Yao continued, "I originally thought that with my father's death, the annihilation of the Yun family, the demise of Yuqi and the others, and the sealing of the ruin, this technology would be completely extinguished, which might be a blessing... But now, Yuqi is still alive, so..."
She sighed softly. "I do not know whether this is good or bad. I am very glad they are alive, but when I think about it... I feel that perhaps it would have been better if the entire Yun family had died back then. Otherwise, this will bring about immense trouble. It doesn't matter for me; I have already died once, so dying again is of no consequence. But if an ancient powerhouse is truly revived, it could be a world-ending catastrophe. Back then, when Father researched these matters, some in the family objected, but in the end, they were all persuaded by him. Now that it is resurfacing..."
She seemed somewhat dazed.
And Li Hao was somewhat dazed as well.
Resurrection, eternal spiritual force, immortality...
The Yun family had actually researched such things; it would have been stranger if they hadn't been destroyed.
Yun Haoran truly was a madman!
Could just anything be researched?
You were already drawing attention, yet you had to push for reforms on top of that. If you didn't die, who would?
He understood why Yun Yao's emotions were so complicated.
She had thought all the Yun family members were dead, and that living out the rest of her days in quiet obscurity might be a fine outcome. But then she had seen her niece...
Li Hao's heart stirred. "Do you mean that your nephew, who was once dim-witted, might... still be alive?"
Yun Yao said nothing.
Indeed. If Yuqi was alive, there was a high probability that Yuming was alive as well.
She could have kept this to herself, yet she chose to speak. She glanced at Liu Long.
Liu Long said in a deep voice, "Li Hao is not that sort of person. If you trust us, speak plainly. We will find a way!"
Yun Yao took a deep breath and nodded. "It is precisely because I trust Captain that I am willing to speak... Otherwise... these matters would rot in my heart! Back then, the primary subject of my father's research was my nephew, Yuming. On the day the Yun family was wiped out, I was actually killed as well, but later... I came back to life!"
Li Hao was taken aback.
Yun Yao said calmly, "It was nothing miraculous—just a drop of Spring of Life combined with a special substance my father extracted from the ruin. It placed me in a state of suspended animation, allowing me to revive."
"Then your father and the rest..."
"They are dead."
Yun Yao said softly, "I was merely a marginal figure, while my father was the primary target. To ensure my father was dead, they even... severed his head and shattered his internal organs!"
Yun Yao continued, "That day, I did not see Yuqi or Yuming. I assumed they had been killed or taken away. But now Yuqi has suddenly appeared, and right here in Heavenly Star City..."
A hint of doubt laced her voice. "I worry..."
"Worry about what?"
"I worry... they are bait!"
Yun Yao finally voiced her fear. "Because neither Yuqi nor Yuming can open the ruin. In the entire Yun family... I am the only one who can open it now!"
A look of exhaustion washed over her. "I worry they are using them to lure me out. Because my corpse disappeared, they might know I am still alive and want to use them to draw me out to open that ruin once more!"
Liu Long's expression shifted slightly. "Then earlier... why... why did you reveal yourself?"
He too grew anxious in an instant.
Yun Yao sighed. "Hiding forever is meaningless anyway. If they could discover me, I would have been exposed long ago, especially after entering Heavenly Star City this time. Perhaps my death would be a good thing, proving that no one in the Yun family can open the ruin anymore..."
She babbled for a moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Suddenly, she reached into her robes and produced an object—a crystal-clear, bead-like sphere. She tossed it directly to Li Hao. "This is the key to opening the ruin. In truth, it is a conduit imbued with a trace of spiritual force; only with this can that research institute be unlocked. I never knew who to give it to. Perhaps handing it to Commander... might serve some purpose."
Yun Yao let out a light laugh. "Handing it over actually feels like a relief! I only hope Commander... will not become obsessed with resurrecting someone like my father was. It is truly meaningless!"
Li Hao stared at her, his brow furrowed. "Sister Yun, you're giving it to me?"
"If someone is watching Yuqi and the others, they may have already spotted me. It is no longer safe in my hands. Commander possesses great strength, so you keep it!"
Yun Yao took a philosophical view of the matter. Though a trace of regret lingered, a smile appeared on her face. "Yuqi is still alive; I cannot simply ignore her forever. We should acknowledge each other as we ought to. Rather than sneaking around, it is better to act openly! Giving this to Commander relieves me of a burden as well."
Liu Long wanted to say something, but held his tongue in the end.
Perhaps handing it to Li Hao was a good choice.
Li Hao, however, gave a bitter smile. "This is a hot potato!" This thing was not necessarily a treasure; it was more like a bomb.
To think this Lü Zhen Research Institute investigated such things, pursuing immortality. Li Hao had originally thought it was merely focused on ordinary technological research, but it turned out to be far more than that—this Lü Zhen seemed to have researched everything!
If the Nine Departments and the imperial family found out, wouldn't they go into an uproar?
Who could resist such temptation?
It would have been unnatural if the Yun family hadn't been destroyed!
Yun Yao smiled. "Indeed, it is a hot potato, which is why... it is being entrusted to our powerful Commander. Otherwise, since the Yun family still has survivors, we could have developed it ourselves."
She smiled faintly.
Li Hao also chuckled. That was true.
He had only just returned, yet he had already been handed another blockbuster bomb!
He pondered for a moment. This Lü Zhen Research Institute did not seem particularly useful to him, nor did he have any interest in resurrecting anyone... Wait, what about the people in Battle Heaven City?
Could they be resurrected?
Li Hao sank into deep contemplation.
Was the emergence of this technology a blessing or a curse?
It was hard to say at present.
Lü Zhen...
Perhaps he should look up some records, or ask someone—for instance... Little Tree inside the storage ring. Did it know of this person named Lü Zhen?
Could someone truly be resurrected, or was it merely a theoretical concept?
"Boss, take Sister Yun outside to clear her head and have a chat with Yuqi. I need to think some things over!"
Liu Long said nothing and glanced at Yun Yao. Yun Yao also seemed to have shed a heavy burden; usually taciturn, she now wore more of a smile. "I'll go see Yuqi. That silly girl still doesn't believe I'm her aunt!"
With that, she departed alongside Liu Long.
Meanwhile, Li Hao sent his divine intent into the storage ring. Inside, a miniature tree appeared to be slumbering. Sensing Li Hao's divine intent, it revived instantly. "Want to trade for Spring of Life?"
"..."
Li Hao was speechless. *Is that the only thought in your head?*
"No."
"Oh."
Little Tree seemed to lose interest at once.
Li Hao smiled, his divine intent rippling. "Senior Tree, in your memories, do you know someone named Lü Zhen?"
"Who?"
"Lü Zhen!"
"Lü Zhen..."
Little Tree seemed to fall into deep thought. After a long while, it suddenly said, "I know him! This person... this person wasn't widely renowned, but... in the Neo-Martial era, he was an extremely important figure. He helped advance Neo-Martial development and established the cultivation system of the early Neo-Martial period. Later, he entered a secret realm and spent three years alongside a Great Emperor, sharing a profound relationship with him..."
"A Great Emperor?"
"The master of the Imperial Palace I guard!"
Li Hao's heart stirred. Such deep connections?
"Can he resurrect people?"
"Resurrect?"
"If an ancient person has died, can he resurrect them?"
"What do you mean by death? If it is absolute death... no one can bring them back, unless it is the Human King or a Great Emperor. But if... the physical body has perished while the spiritual force remains, then resurrection is possible."
Li Hao's expression shifted slightly. It was actually possible!
"Was this Lü Zhen an expert in that field?"
"Yes, you could say that. His interests were vast; back then, he was a renowned expert in pharmacology, mineralogy, spiritual disciplines, and energy systems. Later, he even studied for a time under a top-tier Sovereign who excelled at smithing. Still later, he oversaw the research and development of military equipment. It is said that at his peak, he served as the Minister of the Neo-Martial Armament Department, overseeing the research, development, and deployment of all military gear throughout the Neo-Martial era..."
Li Hao inhaled sharply. That was truly a major figure!
"Then the armor currently used by the Battle Heaven Army and such might also be related to him?"
"Yes, that is merely foundational research, which certainly has close ties to the Armament Department. I don't know the exact details, as my father was merely a tree outside the Imperial Palace gates back then and only heard people mention these things in passing."
To think the Yun family had obtained his research institute. It was unclear whether it was the headquarters, a private laboratory, or merely a branch, but regardless, it represented high technology in every sense, including the martial path.
Just listen to his titles: expert in pharmacology, energy systems, and spiritual disciplines, with ties to the Human King and an ancient Great Emperor.
Li Hao scratched his head. The Yun family's situation was growing increasingly convoluted.
Whoever took this on was bound for misfortune!
"Do you intend to resurrect some ancient powerhouses?"
At that moment, Little Tree hesitated before sending a mental ripple: "You had best not! Before the Neo-Martial era, there was also a great extinction. Back then, some powerhouses managed to preserve their spirits, and many were later resurrected. However... most of them underwent drastic changes in personality, and many were subsequently slain by the Human King. You must understand that when a person dies and their spirit endures, if their spirit is not exceptionally strong, it is no different from being locked in a dark room. Confined for countless years, they go mad long before being released... Unless they are like those in Battle Heaven City who still maintain self-awareness, where the entire city remains operational, offering hope of preserving their original nature. Otherwise... you are merely courting disaster!"
It added, "In the past, the Human King said that relying on others is never as good as relying on oneself. Regardless of ancient martial arts, regardless of myths and legends, all must be shattered! The Neo-Martial people accept only Neo-Martial powerhouses. Unless they cast everything aside and join the Neo-Martial path, they are all... heretics!"
Li Hao clicked his tongue in awe. What monumental boldness!
*Speaking of which, you've included yourself in that, you know?*
*You aren't a demon of this era either!*
"Understood. I will keep that in mind. Thank you for your time, Senior!"
With that, Li Hao withdrew his divine intent. Little Tree ceased its fluctuations and sank back into slumber. *Lü Zhen... resurrection... Does this Li Hao truly harbor such ideas?*
Among the people and things left behind on this land, there should not be any top-tier powerhouses. If there were, they would be traitors.
When the Human King embarked on the expedition, given the circumstances of the time, all top-tier powerhouses were bound to follow. Those who did not... unless assigned a critically important mission, were likely deserters.
Figures like Director Wang could not be considered top-tier.
As for beings like General Huai, their mission was to maintain the operation of a massive city with tens of millions of inhabitants—they bore vital guardian duties rather than remaining behind intentionally.
With these thoughts, Little Tree quickly sank into silence.
...
"Too complicated, far too troublesome!"
Li Hao also felt a headache coming on, but soon smiled. For now, he would set all of this aside; ultimately, everything depended on his own strength.
He already had too many troubles on his plate; one more hardly made a difference.
His most pressing priority did not lie in these matters anyway.
At that thought, he called out, "Deputy Director Zhou, please come in!"
Like a wraith, Deputy Director Zhou drifted inside without making the slightest sound.
"What instructions do you have?"
Li Hao laughed. "A few matters I must trouble Deputy Director Zhou to handle for me. First, establish the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy. Second, set up a communication network—one that belongs to me personally, rather than the Silver Moon system. Third, attend to the matters you mentioned earlier: the relationships regarding the East, the North, the Supernatural City, and the Nine Departments... Please help me sort them out clearly."
Deputy Director Zhou merely stared at Li Hao. *What do you take me for?*
Li Hao chuckled and casually tossed over a storage ring. "Here are two hundred drops of Spring of Life. Those with great ability shoulder great burdens, Deputy Director Zhou. I truly lack the energy to deal with these matters, so I must trouble you!"
Deputy Director Zhou swept his gaze over the storage ring, then nodded after a moment. "I will handle it!"
This time, he offered no refusal.
As long as the payment was made, it was fine!
This fellow had been stingy and withholding, making him think Li Hao intended to renege on the debt. Now that he had paid... doing some work was only right. Two hundred drops was quite a hefty sum.
Li Hao smiled as well.
After a moment of contemplation, Deputy Director Zhou said, "I can handle these tasks for you, but there is one matter you must resolve yourself."
"What is it?"
"The Night Patrol!"
He said in a deep voice, "If you wish to absorb the Night Patrol, you must get past Director Yao! And you cannot simply suppress him through brute force. Director Yao was able to build the Night Patrol from the ground up back then. There were those stronger than him, and those capable of suppressing him, yet over these past five years, no matter how much Huang Long stirred up trouble, the Night Patrol remained firmly within Director Yao's grasp. I cannot intervene in this matter, lest Director Yao misunderstand."
Director Yao?
Li Hao pondered for a moment. "Does Deputy Director Zhou believe... it is necessary to absorb the Night Patrol?"
"Of course it is!"
Deputy Director Zhou stated swiftly, "The Night Patrol possesses ninety-nine major branches in addition to headquarters, numbering no fewer than a hundred thousand supernaturals! Even if not all of them answer to Director Yao, at least a third are loyal to him. That is a formidable force—or rather, aside from the government and nobility, the strongest faction among the civilian class! As for the Three Great Organizations, they consist mostly of villains, whereas the vast majority of the Night Patrol are righteous and orderly, which is why they joined in the first place."
He added, "Have you forgotten where the Night Patrol draws its members? Most come from the middle and lower classes, sent in at great cost by families representing the middle class. Would true nobility ever send their scions to the Night Patrol?"
Taking over the Night Patrol involved far-reaching implications.
Many members of the Night Patrol hailed from middle- and lower-class families in smaller cities.
"Moreover, many Night Patrollers were transferred from the Inspectorate. And as you know, those from the Inspectorate are veteran inspectors who have undergone formal training. When it comes to maintaining order and investigating cases, they possess unique methods. Furthermore, they harbor an innate protective instinct; ensuring local peace is something the Inspectorate has always championed..."
In short, the Night Patrol was of paramount importance, representing the transcendent power of the middle and lower classes, most of whom were lawful and orderly.
Securing them was equivalent to securing the strength of the civilian class at this stage.
Li Hao thought it over, then nodded. "That makes sense. I will have a proper discussion with Director Yao... though not right now! Put that aside for now; just help me handle the matters I mentioned earlier in the near future, Deputy Director Zhou."
Li Hao intended to enter seclusion for a period, primarily to manifest some of the supernatural locks within his body.
He hadn't had much time to cultivate previously. This also provided an opportunity to keep a low profile for a few days, lest everyone assume he was someone who only stirred up trouble. He was not that kind of person.
"Very well!"
Deputy Director Zhou said no more. At that moment, Li Hao looked outside and smiled. "Inspector Yang has arrived. Come in!"
Yang Shan entered swiftly, bowing slightly upon seeing Li Hao. "I have failed the Governor-General's trust!"
Shortly after he left, the great battle had erupted; by the time he returned, Li Hao had already departed. Back and forth it went, and not only had he failed to deal with the North Sea King as Li Hao had tasked him, but he hadn't even had the chance to deliver the items brought back from Silver Moon until now.
He had not participated in the great battle, had not delivered the items in time, and had not brought back the head of White Shark...
Yang Shan felt deeply uneasy!
The very first official assignment he handled had ended up somewhat botched.
"No matter. I didn't expect Inspector Yang to return immediately in the first place."
Li Hao chuckled.
Yang Shan hurriedly presented a storage ring. "Governor-General, the items brought back from Silver Moon are all inside!"
Li Hao reached out, took it, and inspected the contents: one hundred and twenty drops of Spring of Life.
He had given two hundred of his five hundred drops to Deputy Director Zhou, and now his total had reached four hundred and twenty again. Adding the dozens of drops remaining from his previous spoils, he was nearly back to five hundred drops.
"Well done!"
"I dare not accept the praise!"
Yang Shan breathed a slight sigh of relief, though his apprehension lingered.
Originally, the Transmutation stage was considered top-tier powerhouse territory. Yet Li Hao had slaughtered numerous Divine Power combatants in a single battle, making Yang Shan anxious once more. He felt he had fallen behind during the major clash, leaving it highly uncertain whether he could step into the Divine Power Realm in the future!
His wife, on the other hand, had kept pace, which was a blessing; Qin Lian had recently begun preparing to advance toward the Transmutation stage, though she still lacked a bit of foundation and did not dare advance rashly.
"Don't overthink it!"
Li Hao smiled. "Have Inspector Qin prepare herself recently. Once I emerge from seclusion, there may be hope for her to step into the Transmutation stage. In the near future, I will likely elevate a batch of supernaturals. As you know, there are very few supernaturals around me; most are martial masters. While martial masters are formidable, they occasionally have their limitations."
Supernaturals had their advantages, just as martial masters had theirs.
Li Hao had plenty of top-tier martial masters around him.
Yet among top-tier supernaturals... excluding Hong Yitang and himself, Yang Shan and his wife were the strongest.
As for the rest, supernaturals were scarce.
Hao Lianchuan, Wang Ming, Li Meng, Hu Hao, Yun Yao—these were all old acquaintances. Thinking back, Li Hao couldn't help but chuckle wryly. He was now a regional powerhouse, yet truly, hardly any supernaturals came to pledge allegiance to him!
Everyone regarded him as a Silver Moon martial master, and Silver Moon martial masters were notoriously dismissive of supernaturals. Consequently, supernaturals kept their distance from Li Hao. Even if they chose to serve local hegemons, few ever sought him out.
Of course, that also had to do with his current precarious situation.
Taking in Yang Shan and his wife was like buying bones for a thousand pieces of gold—a gesture to attract talent!
Supernaturals were not all wicked people, after all.
Li Hao thought of someone: a very weak supernatural named Lu Chuan whom he had encountered ferrying people across the river on his return journey. Who said only martial masters could perform chivalrous deeds?
Was that man not a righteous hero?
Though Li Hao had said nothing, done nothing, and offered no assistance at the time, the appearance of that weak supernatural had significantly improved his impression of supernaturals.
Perhaps it was also related to him becoming a supernatural himself. At present, Li Hao truly wished to recruit a cohort of supernatural experts.
The key was that they ideally possessed special abilities.
Those of the direct-assault type were nothing special.
Those with specialized abilities, like Li Meng, might even be able to steadily advance into the Divine Power Realm.
Below, a flicker of joy flashed in Yang Shan's eyes, and he said hurriedly, "Many thanks, Governor-General!"
"A small matter. Go tend to your duties!"
Yang Shan felt awkward and quickly withdrew. Duties?
What duties!
Up to this point, Li Hao's organization had yet to be fully established. Nobody knew what they were supposed to do, and he had no idea what he should occupy himself with next.
Seeming to sense his confusion, Li Hao said nothing.
Once Yang Shan had left, Li Hao looked at Deputy Director Zhou. "I hold many titles now, but none are practical. Just as you said, Deputy Director, not only do I lack a clear objective, but everyone else does too. They are merely muddling through... without defined responsibilities or tasks. Once I emerge from seclusion, if I can successfully take over the Night Patrol... I will formally assign everyone clear duties and responsibilities. Would that be better?"
"Of course!"
Deputy Director Zhou smiled. "Gaining such insight is a sign of growth! Then I shall await your emergence from seclusion... I will lay the groundwork first, but the decisive step must come from you!"
After a moment of thought, he added, "You must also decide under what title you will act. Governor-General of Heavenly Star sounds prestigious... but it carries too much entanglement with the imperial family. I suggest... making the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office primary. Though the official rank is modest, its jurisdiction is vast, with minimal entanglement with either the imperial family or the Nine Departments."
Li Hao nodded.
Smiling, he said, "I will consider it carefully!"
Deputy Director Zhou said no more and withdrew in silence, a touch more anticipation gleaming in his eyes. Li Hao might still have many shortcomings, but he improved swiftly and remained receptive to advice. That was his greatest strength.
Meanwhile, Li Hao considered: if the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office officially hung its shingle... should he execute a few people to celebrate?
Who would be best to kill?
Who could be slain as a sacrificial offering to the banner to create an impact, without stirring up insurmountable trouble?
Stroking his chin, he chuckled. He would first manifest the two supernatural locks of light and darkness. If he could shatter them directly... would he then count as a quadruple-Divine Power powerhouse?
At that point, aside from those ancient powerhouses, would he still need to be so wary?
"Black Panther, let's go!"
Li Hao called out, bringing Black Panther along. With the hound by his side, he had no fear of anyone detecting his seclusion. If any energy leaked, Black Panther's voracious appetite meant he could devour anything without causing the slightest fluctuation.
At this moment, he regarded Black Panther as the finest shielding device available.
Black Panther trotted eagerly behind, finding nothing objectionable in the least. More food was coming—what could be more blissful than that?
Chapter 234