Calling a Stag a Horse

At that moment, inside the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, everyone looked grim. The Wind and Cloud Roll! Countless years ago, a supreme powerhouse had established the Wind and Cloud Roll. Purporting to record names and collect the corpses of every hero throughout time, spanning past and present in carefree transcendence, the roll's creator had been unfathomably formidable, someone even the ancient Human King could not rival. When that roll appeared, heaven and earth lost color. Hidden ancients, hegemons across the four quarters—all were ranked upon it, their strength measured without the slightest error. Instantly, your enemies knew your deepest secrets. At first, they might hold you in awe and hesitate to move. But once your true depth was laid bare, they would see you were merely so-so... Who would fear you then? Of course, all of that presupposed that the roll held credibility. If no one believed it, it was pure nonsense. Yet if the Wind and Cloud Roll three days from now truly managed to rank every powerhouse across the Silver Moon lands, that would be horrifying beyond measure. Every faction knew their own situation best. Right now, everyone was hiding their cards. Once a faction confirmed their own entry was accurate, they would know the rankings of others were nine-tenths true as well. Li Hao sent his spiritual awareness into his storage ring. "Do you know about the Wind and Cloud Roll?" "Huh?" The little tree sounded puzzled, but quickly replied, "I do. It was established long ago by a supreme powerhouse who went by the guise of Daoist Fengyun." Daoist Fengyun was not the supreme powerhouse's true name, so there was no danger in speaking it. The little tree continued, "That supreme powerhouse... in my father's memories... was a heaven-defying existence as well. Modeling it after the Heaven-Peeping Mirror, he forged the Wind and Cloud Mirror. Back then, the Wind and Cloud Mirror connected directly to the end of the Origin Dao, capturing the source of all things. Any martial artist who walked the Origin Dao was recorded upon the roll, without exception!" Li Hao drew a sharp breath! He had heard of the roll, but never realized it was that terrifying. Connecting directly to the end of the Origin Dao... That was monstrous. "Furthermore," the little tree added, "Daoist Fengyun wasn't just a single person, but an entire family! It was a legendary clan, unbelievable—four Sovereigns from a single gate! You probably don't know what a Sovereign represents... In that era, a Sovereign was a truly invincible Sovereign! Even the later Human King could hardly match Daoist Fengyun. He and his three sons... schemed against the Sovereigns, stirred the winds and clouds, and finally restored order from chaos, playing a massive role in helping the Human King slay the Heavenly Emperor!" At the mention of Daoist Fengyun, the little tree sighed wistfully. "Back then, when the Wind and Cloud Roll emerged, there was no one under the heavens who did not know of it. Heaven and earth trembled, and even the Forbidden Sea was suppressed!" Listening to the little tree, Li Hao smiled. Now *that* was the real Wind and Cloud Roll! Four Sovereigns from a single gate! It was mind-boggling. And just now... what kind of garbage had that been? Li Hao chuckled. Who were they trying to scare? Playing the devil and speaking through thin air, the person hadn't even shown up. They had merely projected their voice from afar, never daring to come close. In all likelihood, they were well over ten thousand meters away. Compare that to Daoist Fengyun of old, who suppressed heaven and earth with a single roll. It seemed this faction had merely obtained some information about the Wind and Cloud Roll, or perhaps a replica of the Wind and Cloud Mirror. As for the actual Wind and Cloud Mirror, that was virtually impossible, because no one today could even use it. Besides, modern martial artists had no source origin, and supernaturals had no source origin either... What kind of Wind and Cloud Roll could anyone possibly establish? Smiling faintly, Li Hao transmitted to the little tree, "Someone wants to establish a Wind and Cloud Roll right now. Do you think... they have a way to pull it off? Can they uncover experts hiding in ruins, or people like me who conceal their strength?" The little tree pondered for a moment. "It's still possible... if they acquired a fragment of the Precious Heaven-Peeping Mirror—I mean a real fragment! Or an extremely powerful replica of it, capable of covering the Silver Moon lands to scan life auras, deducing strength from the intensity of their life origin... That can still be done. "Back then, the Precious Heaven-Peeping Mirror was omnipotent. Owned by the Great Emperor, it could even peer into the origin of invincible powerhouses—frightening beyond belief. Later, the mirror shattered. Though repaired toward the end, a shattered mirror could never truly be restored. If someone got hold of a genuine fragment, there is indeed a chance of peering across the Silver Moon lands. The Silver Moon lands are... too small, and the powerhouses... too few!" Li Hao's heart stirred. "The Silver Moon lands?" What did that mean? "The ancient civilization... was larger than just the Silver Moon lands?" He had always heard about the Star Gate and harbored some thoughts of his own. But hearing that Silver Moon was too small... was the little tree saying this place wasn't the entirety of the ancient civilization's ruins? "You should know that this place contains only a single abandoned travelling palace of the Great Emperor... You ought to have known this long ago!" The vast Silver Moon lands held only one abandoned travelling palace of the Great Emperor. Then where was the Great Emperor's true palace? Where was the Human King's palace? Where was the Sovereign's palace? Even now, the Silver Moon lands contained only the Eight Great Main Cities. In that era, could the Eight Great Families have truly been the center of the world? The little tree thought Li Hao should have deduced this long ago, rather than asking now whether this place encompassed the entirety of the ancient civilization. Of course it didn't! "So, what you mean is... Silver Moon was merely one territory of the ancient civilization?" "Yes." Li Hao took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and fell silent. The outsiders assumed he was still fuming over the intruder just now, but in truth, Li Hao didn't care in the slightest. "So if they got a fragment of the Precious Heaven-Peeping Mirror, they might be able to spy on every powerhouse across Silver Moon?" "It's possible... or with a replica, though it can't be trash; it would have to be an exceptional replica. Those mirror fragments in your possession should be pieces of a powerful replica..." "They aren't fragments of the real Precious Heaven-Peeping Mirror?" The little tree was speechless for a while before answering, "How could they be! If they were genuine fragments of the Precious Heaven-Peeping Mirror, having five of them would already be enough for you to run rampant across heaven and earth! Back then, a single fragment could cause Saints to fight over it with their lives..." Did he really think he could get five fragments that easily? What was he dreaming of! "Then the other party..." "Snatch it from them!" The little tree cut in eagerly. "They either have a fragment of the Heaven-Peeping Mirror or a high-grade replica! As for a fragment of the Heaven-Peeping Mirror... you're qualified to take it. As for them... it's unclear for now." "I'm qualified?" Li Hao paused. "Because of my ancestor?" "Of course not! It belonged to the Great Emperor, didn't I just say so?" The little tree sounded helpless. "Now that the Great Emperor's travelling palace is abandoned, across this entire world, I am the sole representative of the Great Emperor's lineage. The Great Emperor's belongings, even if discarded, still belong to the Great Emperor! I can't take them back right now, but you can, and I authorize you to recover them!" "..." Li Hao nearly choked. What kind of logic was that! Rather domineering, wasn't it? That Great Emperor must have been quite overbearing as well. *Even if I throw something away, it's still mine. Whoever tries to take it, I'll kill them.* Earlier, the little tree had also mentioned that the Great Emperor despised having his name spoken; anyone who did would be struck down across space... Who was that Great Emperor, and what was his connection to the ancient Human King? It was truly complicated! "Could they have obtained the Wind and Cloud Mirror?" "Impossible!" The little tree rejected the notion once more. "That is definitely impossible, because the Wind and Cloud Mirror ended up in the hands of the Human King. Who could take it from him?" That would be a complete joke! Even if it were a fragment of the Heaven-Peeping Mirror, it couldn't possibly be the Wind and Cloud Mirror. Fragments were lost when broken, but would the Human King casually misplace the intact Wind and Cloud Mirror? That was a supreme treasure forged through Daoist Fengyun's full effort. While inferior to the original Heaven-Peeping Mirror, it belonged to the same tier of treasure; it was only considered slightly lesser because it was, after all, an imitation. Li Hao understood. "Then if it's a fragment of the Heaven-Peeping Mirror... you mean it's extremely powerful?" "It doesn't matter... In this current world, the strongest power that can be sustained is merely the peak of six elements." Li Hao instantly caught the little tree's meaning. No matter how powerful the treasure... if the power exerted surpassed that limit, the spatial fabric would shatter, taking the user down with it. Thus, it could not exceed the peak of six elements. At that thought, Li Hao let out a cold sneer. Ceasing his conversation with the little tree, he looked toward the gathered crowd and said coldly, "What dogshit Wind and Cloud Pavilion? You are all people of vast experience. They're nothing more than a bunch of sewer rats who dare not show their faces, even more disgusting than the Nine Departments and the Three Great Organizations..." "..." Silence fell over the courtyard. The powerhouses from the Eight Departments glared at him, some furious, others indignant. *You... you go too far, insolent brat!* Li Hao continued calmly, "Don't be angry. What I mean is, if they fail to produce any roll, so be it. But if they do... heheh, that means they possess a supreme treasure! And under heaven today, the strongest is merely at the peak of six elements... No matter how many treasures they have, that is their limit! But as for a supreme treasure... everyone should cooperate later. Surely none of you want your secrets leaked. If that roll truly comes out, hunt them down to the very end! Unless they hide inside a ruin forever, I, Li Hao, will personally step forward free of charge to wipe them out!" Those words stirred everyone's thoughts. It seemed the Wind and Cloud Pavilion had truly enraged Li Hao. Li Hao was known never to lift a finger without profit, yet today he was offering to eradicate them proactively... A supreme treasure? If the roll truly could spy on everything, everyone's privacy would be stripped away. Who wouldn't want to kill them? Powerhouses cared about their secrets above all else. If you lacked the diamond drill, you shouldn't take on porcelain work. In an era where the peak of six elements was the ceiling—a level both the Nine Departments and the imperial family possessed—daring to stick your neck out like this was treating yourself like a god. Chen Yao spoke up: "I'm just curious—who is backing this Wind and Cloud Pavilion? What are they after? Stirring this up now makes no sense. Those who needed to fight have already fought; those who needed to be killed have been killed; and those who want to fight will do so sooner or later. The second resurgence is the real turning point... Why cause trouble right before it? What do they stand to gain?" Once the second resurgence began, there would be no need for instigation! This was entirely superfluous! So why do it now? What was their goal? Just then, Zhao Huamin from the Department of Administration chuckled softly. "If I had to guess... Governor-General Li will probably be on the roll, if not first, then in the top three." The crowd paused. Li Hao raised a brow but kept quiet. Zhao Huamin remarked mildly, "Aside from Governor-General Li, Ying Hongyue will probably be on the roll as well, and someone from the imperial family will likely place near the top..." Hearing this, everyone chewed over the implication. Soon, they understood. Leaving Li Hao aside, both the imperial family and Red Moon were hidden deeply. To this day, the other factions hadn't pinned down their exact strength. Li Hao was leaping about aggressively, advancing at terrifying speed. If something unexpected cropped up with him... the other factions would have to snuff him out before the second resurgence! Li Hao watched Zhao Huamin in silence. Unfazed, Zhao Huamin smiled faintly. "It seems... Governor-General Li might have put some pressure on these people from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion. Otherwise, given their past pace, they would have rolled out the list gradually and acted after the second resurgence. But now they've moved early..." He looked at Li Hao, his tone laden with meaning. "Unless... Governor-General Li already possesses the strength to threaten all factions?" It was a probe, and a conjecture. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion's appearance today was largely aimed at Li Hao; otherwise, who would go out of their way to offend people at this juncture? Yet they had done so! Then nine times out of ten, Li Hao would take the top spot, or at least top three. What was more... more than one person from Li Hao's camp might make the list, and in high positions. Zhao Huamin felt a mix of suspicion, bewilderment, and hesitation. Did Li Hao truly possess the ability to threaten the Wind and Cloud Pavilion lurking in the dark? Otherwise, why go to such lengths? Li Hao laughed. "Director Zhao thinks too highly of me! Since you put it that way... if they rank people arbitrarily, then it's hardly credible." Zhao Huamin said nothing more. If the Wind and Cloud Roll truly could rank every powerhouse, and Li Hao ended up in the top three... it might not be fabricated. He might have truly exerted immense pressure on them, forcing their hand in hopes that the various factions would destroy Li Hao before the second resurgence. Was this Ying Hongyue's doing? Zhao Huamin pondered. If it was Ying Hongyue, it was somewhat plausible. Yet... was it really Ying Hongyue? Meanwhile, Li Hao was also considering Zhao Huamin's words. Did they make sense? Perhaps there was some truth to them. Perhaps the other party had sensed the divine characters, or detected something else that made them feel pressured, realizing his side was advancing too fast. Out of necessity, they had resorted to this ploy, stirring up chaos while all the powerhouses were gathered here. Of course, none of that mattered. Even if they put him at number one, so what? Li Hao laughed. "Even if their roll puts me at number one and Martial Uncle Hong and the others at two and three... what of it? Would any of you believe it? Of course, it doesn't matter if you do... Feel free to try me!" After a chuckle, Li Hao added, "Alright, the mood has been thoroughly ruined, so let's conclude the inauguration here. What bad luck!" His smile vanished. "The Wind and Cloud Pavilion slapped my face in broad daylight with brazen impunity. An unofficial organization fabricating a list to sow chaos across the realm—I hereby classify the Wind and Cloud Pavilion as a malignant superpower organization, on equal footing with the Three Great Organizations! I trust none of you have close ties to this Wind and Cloud organization, especially the Duke of Anguo!" He turned his gaze toward the Duke of Anguo, his eyes cold and sharp. "Today, you were the first to cause trouble, and not long after, this happened. You'd better pray I don't uncover any evidence linking you to this Wind and Cloud Pavilion... Otherwise, I will flatten your Duke of Anguo's Residence!" The Duke of Anguo frowned slightly and replied coolly, "Governor-General Li's words are out of line. I was merely speaking about the matter at hand; how can you claim I was causing trouble? Besides, you yourself said we should govern supernaturals by the law, and that everything must abide by the law..." Li Hao closed his eyes. The Duke of Anguo was surprised. Was he dropping the matter just like that? At that exact instant, six elderly figures materialized out of nowhere, each wearing a mask. Weapons in hand—sabers, spears, swords, halberds—they lunged straight for the Duke of Anguo! Beside him, the Duke of Wuguo was about to roar in fury when his heart jolted. Yao Si's aura had locked onto him. The surrounding powerhouses shuddered as well, feeling auras snap onto them, their hearts racing with dread. In that split second, Li Hao's voice rang out, chilling to the bone: "Insolent scoundrels! Daring to disrupt my inauguration day—you must be remnants of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion! Seek death!" With those words, he struck with a palm! Five elemental supernatural abilities—wind, thunder, water, fire, and metal—erupted simultaneously. A deafening roar shook heaven and earth, leaving everyone dazed for an instant. When they opened their eyes, the Duke of Anguo was coughing up blood, a gaping hole blasted through his chest! Shock rippled through the crowd! Meanwhile, the six masked assailants had all collapsed to the ground, apparently lifeless. Li Hao frowned. "Insolent madmen! The Wind and Cloud Pavilion is indeed ruthlessly vicious! Men, drag these corpses away and throw them into the back to feed the dogs! As for the Duke of Anguo... what a pity. To think he was assassinated by these scoundrels from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion. It seems I misjudged him earlier! "What a shame! It was my own slow hand that failed him... For these scoundrels to dare commit murder right under my nose! Detestable, abominable! Men, see that the Duke of Anguo's body is buried with proper honors!" In that moment, absolute, dead silence gripped the courtyard. On the ground, the Duke of Anguo was still spitting blood, not yet entirely dead. His eyes bulged as he glared at Li Hao with venomous hatred and sheer disbelief! He truly could not believe that Li Hao dared to kill him right in front of over a hundred factions! How could this happen? He was a three-element supernatural... As long as Li Hao didn't strike personally, even six supernatural experts attacking together couldn't have killed him instantly! The Duke of Anguo wasn't dead yet. He shifted slightly, trying to retrieve some Spring of Life to save himself... He looked toward the Duke of Wuguo, wanting to say something, wanting to plead... *Save me!* Yet as he moved, someone coughed. Hou Xiaochen broke into a violent coughing fit. At that moment, a spear intent that seemed to tear through the firmament pierced directly into the duke's mind. In an instant... the Duke of Anguo's aura vanished completely. Hou Xiaochen continued coughing violently. At his side, Chief Steward Yu hurriedly offered a white handkerchief. The next moment, crimson blood stained the cloth. Looking apologetic, Hou Xiaochen coughed out, "Pardon me... my health... has never been good." Not a single person spoke! Chills ran down several spines. The Duke of Anguo had still been breathing a moment ago, only for his life force to vanish entirely in the blink of an eye. No one was blind. Even if they hadn't seen or sensed anything clearly, they guessed that Hou Xiaochen had struck in secret! Utterly, insanely arrogant! Standing to the side, the broad-shouldered Duke of Wuguo uttered not a word, merely staring at Li Hao and Hou Xiaochen. These Silver Moon madmen! They were utterly unhinged! A three-element supernatural powerhouse, struck down just like that—and he was a duke of the realm! Did Li Hao truly intend to offend and slaughter everyone in the world before stopping? The Duke of Dingguo's Residence and the Duke of Anguo's Residence represented entire continents. And he himself represented the southern continent. Yet did Li Hao show any hesitation? None whatsoever! At this moment, even the Duke of Wuguo felt an intense sense of mortal danger. If these lunatics were truly provoked, they wouldn't care in the least about who they killed. After a long pause, Zhao Huamin glanced at Li Hao and said mildly, "Governor-General Li... what... just happened?" In a single instant, six masked ruffians had attacked. Their strength was not weak, roughly comparable to near-supernatural or two-element level. However... the Duke of Anguo had demonstrated the combat power of at least a three-element supernatural earlier. He shouldn't have been killed in a heartbeat! And with one palm strike from Li Hao carrying the power of five elements, the six masked men had died... Were they dead? Truly dead? Watching the Demon Hunting Army swiftly drag the figures away, everyone wore sour expressions. Did he take them for blind fools? Those masked men... one of them was even secretly cracking an eye open right now... Fuck! Li Hao, you're crossing the line! Those six... weren't they the six old men who had been watching the commotion outside earlier? Weren't they the older-generation martial artists of Silver Moon? Did he really think no one recognized them? If Li Hao hadn't directed them through voice transmission, everyone present would chop their own heads off! The Duke of Anguo... had been killed just like that? It was beyond belief! Furthermore, in that very instant, Hong Yitang and the others had locked their auras onto the surrounding powerhouses. Anyone who dared move would have faced a thunderous strike! Right in front of hundreds of people, Li Hao called a stag a horse, putting on an act to fool them all! Dammit! Was this still Li Hao? The same Li Hao who preached rule of law with every breath? This was the height of hypocrisy! The Duke of Anguo might have had something to rely on; he might have thought Li Hao wouldn't touch him without evidence; he might have coordinated with the Duke of Wuguo and others; there might have been other factors... Yet even if he were beaten to death, he would never have imagined that Li Hao would dare to kill him so brazenly right in front of everyone! Six masked ruffians, members of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion... He had even prepared the scapegoat in advance! And it was... all too fitting. Who told them to arrogantly announce to the whole city that they had arrived, caused trouble, and left? When word spread... who would believe that Li Hao had sent people to assassinate the Duke of Anguo? To the side, Yang Shan also drew a sharp breath. Dead? The mighty Duke of Anguo had been killed just like that! Li Hao's palm strike had seemingly targeted the six "ruffians," but everyone knew the truth in their hearts. The surrounding area had exploded into utter chaos in an instant. If that strike hadn't landed squarely on the Duke of Anguo, a three-element supernatural could never have died so easily! Three elements... was unquestionably the peak echelon of power in the present era! Six martial artists who hadn't even advanced, at best comparable to two-element supernaturals, couldn't possibly have killed a three-element expert in an instant! What utter nonsense! At this moment, the Duke of Wuguo's face turned dark. "Governor-General Li... taking the ruffians' bodies is fine, but the Duke of Anguo is a duke of the realm... You should let the people from his residence take him back for burial!" Li Hao's men were actually dragging the Duke of Anguo's corpse away. What was the meaning of this? Li Hao said calmly, "I need to investigate what moves, what supernatural abilities, what inner force killed him... Perhaps that will lead us to the culprits' origins, allowing us to root out the Wind and Cloud Pavilion's lair and wipe them out in one fell swoop! The Duke of Wuguo may not understand investigative work, but that is quite alright; my Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is well versed in it. I once served as an inspector in the Inspectorate, solved countless cases, and received many banners and medals. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask around Silver City! "Once I have investigated thoroughly, I will naturally see him buried with proper honors. If his residence finds this improper, we will deliver the body to the Duke of Anguo's estate in Heavenly Star City in three days. Rest assured, you must trust the professionals!" With that, he sighed. "Li is incompetent! To think the Wind and Cloud Pavilion concealed so many powerhouses nearby. As the Heavenly Star Governor-General, I failed to protect the guests who came to offer congratulations, resulting in the death of a duke of the realm..." Li Hao's voice boomed outward, echoing across the surroundings: "The Wind and Cloud Pavilion, the Fourth Malignant Organization, deserves death! Deserves annihilation! Dispatching six supernatural experts to ambush our guests and assassinate the Duke of Anguo—though I eliminated the culprits, my negligence led to the duke's demise. For a pillar of the state to perish here is a grief beyond measure... Li Hao is guilty! Today, I petition to demote my nobility by three ranks, forfeit ten years of stipend, and assume the post of Heavenly Star Governor-General merely in an acting capacity... As Acting Governor-General, I will mobilize all resources to surround and annihilate the Wind and Cloud Pavilion. Until the Wind and Cloud Pavilion is destroyed, I shall never rest! I request the Heavenly Star King's approval!" "..." The voice reverberated far and wide. The citizens of Heavenly Star City were stunned! Just moments ago, people were wondering what this Wind and Cloud Pavilion was, and now Li Hao's announcement came crashing down. Everyone was taken aback! "Governor-General Li... was ambushed by this malignant organization, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion?" "Probably... caught off guard!" "Where did this Wind and Cloud Pavilion come from? I know about the Divine Master Roll, but who knew they had so many experts? Six supernaturals ambushing guests... what boldness! Well, they were all killed, and serve them right... But the Duke of Anguo... who is the Duke of Anguo?" "From the western continent! You don't know? One of the three founding dukes!" "Oh, oh, oh... What a shame. I don't know much about him, but to come all the way to the capital to congratulate Governor-General Li, only to get killed... Say, do you think... you know, did those other factions deliberately try to slap Governor-General Li's face and fabricate this Wind and Cloud Pavilion?" "Possible! Six supernaturals all at once... that's no small feat. Wind and Cloud Pavilion? Never heard of it! Where did they get so many experts... If you ask me, those factions are just bitter and wanted to humiliate the Governor-General!" "Is he really going to forfeit his stipend and be demoted?" "Who knows? The Duke of Anguo might have been on the Governor-General's side. What a tragedy, killed just like that. I heard so many powerhouses were present, yet none of them lifted a finger—that's suspicious! If you ask me, the duke traveled tens of thousands of li to offer congratulations, nine times out of ten to pledge allegiance to the Governor-General... What a pity!" "Truly a pity. The Duke of Anguo... Sigh! Governor-General Li has it rough too. No matter how many experts he kills, he still can't scare them off..." "Tell me about it!" "..." Discussions erupted immediately as people gossiped with deep regret. In their eyes, the Duke of Anguo had traveled from the distant western continent in person to offer congratulations... If you claimed he hadn't come to pledge allegiance to Li Hao, nobody would believe you. Out of all the people present, none died except him. It had to be the Nine Departments making an example of him! Anyone who dared side with Li Hao would die! That Wind and Cloud Pavilion was nine-tenths likely a front for the Nine Departments! The Duke of Anguo must have been Li Hao's man... What a shame that a regional hegemon had come to submit, only to be murdered. Those people had gone too far, acted too brazenly, just to suppress Governor-General Li! ... Inside the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Silence reigned. They had seen shamelessness, but never had they seen someone lie through their teeth before hundreds of witnesses, before the heads of over a hundred factions, turning falsehood into truth. Was this... still human? This wasn't just shamelessness; he was truly treating everyone as fools. At this moment, many turned their eyes toward Prince Zhennan of the imperial family. They waited quietly for a response. After a brief pause, a sigh drifted from the direction of the imperial palace: "For the Duke of Anguo to perish unexpectedly is indeed a great mourning for the nation! However, this matter has nothing to do with the Marquis of Heavenly Star. An accident is something no one wished for... Let the Duke of Anguo be buried with honors befitting a prince or marquis! The Marquis of Heavenly Star performed meritorious service in wiping out the malignant supernaturals and should rightfully be rewarded, but on this day of great national mourning... we shall dispense with rewards. The Marquis of Heavenly Star must wipe out these malignant organizations in one fell swoop!" With a solemn face and a heavy, resonant tone, Li Hao said gravely, "Li Hao will surely eradicate these malignant beasts and slaughter them to the last! The Wind and Cloud Pavilion shall henceforth be the primary target of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office... For daring to commit slaughter on this day and slay an important minister of state, Li Hao... will grind their bones to dust!" The sound faded. At that moment, everyone felt Li Hao's fury. Among the common people, another wave of sympathy arose. It seemed the Duke of Anguo truly had come to align with Governor-General Li. Look at how furious the Governor-General was; you could hear the sheer rage in his voice. ... In the courtyard. Some stood in silence, some sneered inwardly, and others cursed furiously in their heads. What a magnificent performance! Meanwhile, Li Hao put on a fatigued expression. "Disperse, everyone. My apologies to all of you. Fortunately, you are all unharmed. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion won't escape this time; I will certainly slay them and give everyone an explanation!" "..." Silence answered him. Soon, people began turning to leave. At this moment, the Ninth Prince transmitted to Prince Zhennan: "Royal Uncle... this... no one stepped in? The Duke of Anguo was supposed to be on the Duke of Wuguo's side... When he provoked Li Hao today, I thought he had sufficient backing. Who knew he'd be killed with a single palm..." Seeing how confident the Duke of Anguo had acted earlier, he had genuinely believed the duke held trump cards. How could he have been struck dead in an instant? He was completely bewildered! Prince Zhennan kept an impassive face, walking as he transmitted: "He didn't expect the gap between five elements and three elements to be so vast, and neither did I. Li Hao isn't just an ordinary five-element practitioner... he might even rival six elements! A single palm killed a three-element supernatural like the Duke of Anguo, leaving him no time to react. And not just him—Hou Xiaochen, Hong Yitang, Yao Si, all of them had powerful auras locking onto several experts. Myself included, I was locked on just now, facing a thunderous blow at any moment..." They hadn't given the man a chance to fight back at all! In the blink of an eye, he was dead. Even if the Duke of Wuguo wanted to act, would he dare? He wouldn't! "Then... what were they trying to do?" The Ninth Prince still didn't understand. The two dukes coming to the capital just to provoke Li Hao must have had a purpose, right? Prince Zhennan glanced at him. *Are you truly ignorant, or just pretending?* At that moment, the Seventh Princess also transmitted: "Royal Uncle, the Duke of Anguo wasn't stupid. What was he after?" Prince Zhennan said nothing. He continued walking outside, and only after putting considerable distance between them did he transmit: "Without my permission, could the Duke of Wuguo have entered the capital? Without someone guaranteeing their safety, would they dare provoke Li Hao?" "..." The prince and princess froze, falling instantly silent. It was hard to believe! Imperial Father? Why would Imperial Father do this? Prince Zhennan couldn't be bothered to elaborate. Why? Because even if there was friction between the imperial family and the three ducal residences, compared to the Nine Departments and Li Hao, it was a different story. The three ducal residences and the imperial family were ultimately aligned, sharing the same interests and goals, all originating from two hundred years ago. This time, Li Hao wanted to establish his authority. The Nine Departments had tacitly acquiesced, but the imperial family was unwilling to let Li Hao gain a smooth foothold. Yet they could only resort to small maneuvers. The original plan was to suppress Li Hao a bit, and then discuss important matters with the two dukes. Well, before they could even discuss anything, the Duke of Anguo was gone! Now, would the Duke of Wuguo still be willing to talk with the imperial family? Talk my ass! His imperial brother always loved to think too highly of himself, assuming Li Hao wouldn't dare act, that nothing would happen. And the result? Li Hao had killed the Duke of Anguo on the spot, and then asked if you wanted to demote his nobility—and how did you answer? Truly... asking for trouble! Prince Zhennan cursed inwardly. The Duke of Wuguo would probably flee through the night now, and the south was bound to fall into turmoil. That man definitely wouldn't dare linger. What was supposed to be a chance for negotiation had been completely botched by his imperial brother! The old duke of the Duke of Anguo's Residence would certainly be displeased, targeting both Li Hao and the Heavenly Star King. The southwest continents could look forward to being completely alienated! ... Meanwhile. Chen Yao was also somewhat surprised, transmitting to his elderly father: "Those two... brought in by the imperial family?" "Probably." "The Heavenly Star King... really is... beyond words. Great ambitions, meager talent—far worse than his father!" The old director sighed, nodded, and transmitted back: "People say the same about you!" "..." Chen Yao nearly spat blood! Yet the old director felt he hadn't spoken falsely. You judge the Heavenly Star King like that, but did you know others judge you the same way? *Great ambitions, meager talent, far worse than his father!* And worse yet, neither of you realized it. As expected, the second generation raised in greenhouses just didn't cut it. His own generation had been far stronger—magnificent and turbulent, overthrowing the Heavenly Star King. Even if they hadn't achieved complete victory in the end, overthrowing the imperial family in that era was already a remarkable feat. Chen Zhongtian enjoyed reminiscing about those days; it brought him a great sense of accomplishment. Once things reached his son's generation, they fell far short. A bunch of second-generation heirs fighting each other, each worse than the last, squabbling for decades without making real progress. Before, nobody was in a position to criticize anyone else. But now... a pack of wolves had slipped in. Leaving these second-generation heirs to fight them, they might not win. These wolves weren't old, but they all came from that godforsaken place called Silver Moon, and people from that land all possessed a ruthless edge. It seemed his old friends would soon have to step out in person to hold the fort; otherwise, things would truly spiral out of control. Chen Yao didn't press the matter, cursing inwardly before asking, "Hou Xiaochen... was it Hou Xiaochen who suppressed the Duke of Anguo to death with spirit intent just now? Hasn't that guy become a supernatural? His spirit intent is still that strong? And spear intent too?" Chen Zhongtian fell into deep thought. As the strongest expert present, he had sensed a few things. After pondering, he transmitted: "Not entirely sure, but... these fellows might all be hiding their true strength. Be careful and don't provoke them needlessly! Li Hao killed the Duke of Anguo with a single palm; that kid... his strength is definitely not weaker than six elements! He's advancing too fast, almost unnaturally so. And... and I feel his supernatural abilities are somewhat different from ordinary ones!" At this, he furrowed his brow slightly and added, "Stay alert. Also, those old fellows struck without the slightest hesitation the moment they decided to move. Li Hao likely promised them benefits... It wouldn't be surprising if several more troublesome figures emerge soon..." "Advancing to supernatural?" "Possible!" Chen Yao clicked his tongue. "Silver Moon martial artists have always been unwilling to advance to supernatural. Why now... with no reservations?" "The Five Animals Breathing Art?" The old director was puzzled as well, unable to glean more information. Shaking his head, he said, "Hard to say. Let's wait and see. When the supernatural roll comes out in three days, I'd like to see if those people have any real capability to replicate Daoist Fengyun's Wind and Cloud Roll of old. If they truly have some skill... things will get interesting." "Aren't you afraid your strength will be exposed?" "Heh!" The old director replied nonchalantly, "What do I have to fear? I have no ambition to vie for supremacy, and my son is useless. Tell me, why should I fear exposing my strength?" *Screw you!* Chen Yao cursed inwardly again. Lately, this hands-off father of his loved putting him down. Had he sired another daughter? Hard to say! Lately, he hadn't bothered checking whether the old man had fathered any more illegitimate children; there were too many for him to care. ... At that moment, in the backyard of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. The six old men scrambled to their feet, tore off their masks, and looked at Li Hao with expressions of mingled curiosity and amusement. After a long pause, one gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of Yuan Shuo's disciple... No, you should be Yuan Shuo's master. Even that fellow wasn't as wild as you!" When they received Li Hao's transmission earlier, they hadn't dared believe it. Li Hao had sent only a single sentence: *"Beat the Duke of Anguo to death and vent some anger!"* "..." And so, the old men had grown excited, charging forward without a second thought. They had assumed killing the man would be difficult, but good grief, Li Hao stepped in personally, blowing a hole straight through him with a single palm! So ruthless... they loved it! Coming here had definitely been the right choice! The old men were thrilled. They had been idle for far too long, and having suffered setbacks in Heavenly Star City all those years ago, they had felt stifled ever since. Coming here and letting loose right off the bat felt immensely satisfying. Li Hao smiled modestly. "It was all thanks to the seniors' great strength. Director Zhou told me that you were all renowned figures who shook entire regions back in the day. I was just holding in a breath of fury and acted out of temper; I never expected you seniors to honor me like this. Li Hao has troubled you all!" An elderly man with an immortal, sagely air stroked his beard with a smile. "The young man is too modest, though modesty is a good thing. We Silver Moon martial artists have always been humble. You have a bright future!" Li Hao beamed. "You flatter me. Seniors, you have worked hard as well. I'll arrange lodgings for you, brew some Spring of Life for tea, prepare some for baths, and so on. You must be tired from the journey, so please rest first..." The old men hadn't planned on staying, but upon hearing Li Hao's words, their objections caught in their throats. Spring of Life for tea? For baths? Fuck! How could they leave now? The next instant, bright smiles broke out across their faces. "Good seedling, a fine seedling indeed! Yuan Shuo did well to nurture such a talented disciple—a blessing for our Silver Moon martial artists! Very well, we'll... stay for now!" Li Hao smiled brilliantly. "As you should! Seniors, please stay as long as you like. I have plenty of room and an excess of Spring of Life. I was just fretting over how to use it all!" Instantly, the old men grew exceedingly enthusiastic, roaring with laughter: "Then... then we'll stay a while longer! Xiao Li, don't stand on ceremony with us. Next time there's any fighting and killing to be done, us old slaughterers still have sturdy bones—just say the word!" With that, guided warmly by Liu Long and the others, they headed toward the rear courtyards, transmitting excitedly among themselves. What a wonderful place! This trip was worth every bit of trouble! Meanwhile, Hou Xiaochen and the rest looked on with wry smiles. How had these old ghosts ended up here? They belonged to the previous generation of old martial artists, a pack of slaughterers through and through. And Li Hao had deliberately kept them around... He truly wasn't afraid of escalating trouble! Rubbing his chin, Li Hao smiled. "Send word to Senior Northern Fist, Tyrant Saber, and the others! The Wind and Cloud Pavilion... claims they can see through everyone's strength, right? Releasing a roll in three days, right? Can you release a roll every single day?" He laughed! *I can produce powerhouses every single day!* *You want to play with me?* *The day you release your roll, I'll advance a whole batch of top-tier martial artists into supernaturals the very next day!* He had originally intended to keep a low profile, but since they insisted on playing... they might as well play to the end! He had initially planned to move against the ruins first before dealing with Superpower City or the Three Great Organizations... This was fine too. He would use them as his opening strike!