Growing Bolder

These days, as long as Li Hao wasn't stirring up trouble, almost no one dared to make a scene before the secondary recovery. Even the top three on the rankings wouldn't dream of courting disaster on their own initiative. Of course, if one went by the Wind and Cloud Pavilion's original internal ranking, sparks might have flown. Li Hao was ranked number one, and nearly half of the top twenty were Silver Moon martial masters. Who wouldn't be terrified? Yet now... a Li Hao at the peak of six elements didn't seem so frightening anymore. After all, the three above him were all seven-element experts. Thus, when Li Hao stopped looking for fights and focused entirely on condensing his own domain, peace reigned across the realm and the world fell quiet. ... Yet that tranquility was only relative. In truth, the Heavenly Star Dynasty was plunging ever deeper into chaos. By November, apart from the slightly milder south, the rest of the dynasty was already gripped by biting frost and bitter cold. The crisis sparked by supernatural upheaval had laid itself bare. In the markets, grain prices had skyrocketed, and amidst the turmoil, the number of displaced refugees surged. Even though Heavenly Star City maintained its outward splendor, its residents had begun to feel the crushing weight of survival. At a time like this, ordinary commoners had no interest in upheavals or clashes between peerless experts. All they wanted... was to live. On the outskirts of Heavenly Star City. Hong Yitang walked down a dilapidated street. With all the recent bloodshed and battles, he had been too busy to attend to the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy. Nor had he come here today for the academy's sake. He strolled through what was likely the slums of Heavenly Star City, a ruined quarter that seemed completely out of place amidst the bustling metropolis. In the street, children were running around. The New Year was fast approaching, yet not a shred of warmth could be felt here—only piercing cold. The children wore thin, tattered clothes, their faces gaunt and sallow despite living right inside the prosperous imperial capital. Hong Yitang watched in silence. Lately, he had been far too occupied with killing and fighting, leaving him no time to put his own ideals into practice. Yet today, he had made time to step out. Stopping before a grain shop, he listened as the locals inquired about prices. A single jin of rice actually cost five star coins! Hong Yitang's brow furrowed slightly. What did five star coins mean? Back when Li Hao was an official member of the Silver City Inspectorate, his monthly salary was barely over a thousand star coins, worth only two or three hundred jin of rice! Of course, wages in the imperial capital were somewhat higher, but even if they were double or triple that—say, two or three thousand—that was still just five or six hundred jin of rice. Living in the imperial capital required far more than just food. How could such meager wages feed a family of three? Even if one spent on nothing else, just buying enough to eat would be a struggle. Under these circumstances, managing to fill one's belly was already a stroke of fortune. Hong Yitang frowned. Had grain prices really reached such heights? He hadn't paid much attention to ordinary daily life lately, and he hadn't expected grain to shoot up to five star coins a jin in the blink of an eye. Those cultivators who lived detached from the mundane world had no concept of what this meant. They relied on divine energy stones and the Spring of Life, never needing to eat or drink to survive. Li Hao hadn't touched a meal in ages. Ordinary people, however, could not do that. *Li Hao has his hands full with supernatural affairs... He probably hasn't had the time to consider this...* Hong Yitang thought to himself. If this was the state of the capital, what about the rest of the dynasty? It would be far worse! *Reforms must be accelerated. Li Hao can't just keep killing indiscriminately either...* With these thoughts taking shape, Hong Yitang realized that now—while everyone was convinced nothing reckless should happen before the secondary recovery—was precisely the time to act. Otherwise, far too many people would not survive this winter. *We need technology, we need supernaturals, and we need demon plants...* Idea after idea surfaced. They needed supernaturals to build sturdy shelters for the people. They needed technological innovations to at least keep everyone fed. They needed demon plants to rapidly breed crops and superior seeds, and supernaturals to accelerate crop growth. The several thousand supernaturals in the Heaven's Punishment Army might be able to help, but they were far from enough. Perhaps... they could seize the City of Supernaturals. There were a million supernaturals in that city! It was currently the largest gathering of supernaturals in the Heavenly Star Dynasty. Once they brought those people under control, keeping the populace fed would be trivial. With a million supernaturals causing trouble all day long, it would be far better to put them all to work farming! With light-element, life-element, and five-element supernaturals coordinating, they could probably harvest three crops a month. What was the point of keeping a horde of idle supernaturals around? Some problems couldn't be resolved overnight, but this was something that could be accomplished quickly. *The Heavenly Star Dynasty needs reform... But the prerequisite is ensuring everyone is fed and clothed, learns to read, and experiences rapid educational reform and literacy campaigns... Li Hao now has enough strength to secure a firm footing... After the secondary recovery, the world might fall into absolute chaos... The secondary recovery must be delayed at all costs!* All manner of thoughts flashed through his mind. This was the very reason he had come to Heavenly Star City in the first place. *I need to discuss this with Li Hao. The Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy must open its doors early too... to recruit talents from all across the realm...* Hong Yitang pondered. Right then, a raggedly dressed child of about ten years old strode toward him from not far away. Hong Yitang didn't pay it much mind at first, but soon cast a puzzled glance toward the boy. The gaunt, sallow-faced child walked up to him without a trace of fear. "Are you Director Hong?" Hong Yitang's brow knitted slightly, but he quickly smiled and nodded. The child showed no timidity. Though malnourished, his spirit was remarkably sharp. "Everyone says that back in Silver Moon, Director Hong took in refugees, helped them become self-reliant, and built the largest refugee sanctuary in the dynasty. "Seeing Director Hong walking here today, it seems you've come to observe the livelihood of the people..." Hong Yitang simply watched him in silence. Undeterred, the child spoke plainly: "I am Yun Yuqi's younger brother, Yun Yuming. The Director has compassion for all living beings, and I sense a light of the sacred path about you... Thus, I hope you can pass a message to Governor-General Li..." "What message?" "Tell him to unseal the research institute!" Yun Yuming had a dead-serious expression. "A great catastrophe is certain to strike this year—blizzards, bitter cold, perhaps even an ice age, leading to complete crop failure! I originally thought Governor-General Li would open the institute sooner or later... but seeing him make no move and focus entirely on hunting down the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, I've grown deeply worried." Yuming said with a touch of dejection, "Only by opening the institute can we acquire more technology and rapidly develop and roll it out! That is how we can withstand natural disasters. You must realize that this world isn't made up only of supernaturals and martial masters; there are ten billion ordinary people..." Hong Yitang looked at him for a long time before asking, "Who are you?" Yuming had just introduced himself. Yet Hong Yitang asked once more. "Yun Yuming!" Hong Yitang pressed again, "Who are you?" Yuming pulled a long face. "I really am Yun Yuming, just... a bit more precocious. At times, jumbled things appear in my memories, but I'm certain I'm still Yun Yuming. It's just that... some things left behind by my grandfather might have influenced me, yet I am absolutely Yun Yuming. "If you really want to get technical... perhaps it could be considered a bloodline inheritance like the demon race has?" Yun Yuming looked at Hong Yitang. "It was precisely because I heard about Director Hong's deeds in Silver Moon that I sought you out. I feared that as an insignificant child, Governor-General Li wouldn't even deign to see me..." "Your sister and your aunt are both by his side. Why didn't you go to them?" Yun Yuming offered a bitter smile. "Words from the lowly carry no weight. My aunt is merely a centurion in the Demon Hunting Army, and my sister just runs odd errands. Governor-General Li is like a divine dragon whose head is seen but never his tail..." "That's not true!" Hong Yitang shook his head. "Your aunt was brought out of Silver City by Li Hao; she's one of his staunchest confidantes. The fact that you could track me down proves you know full well she has his ear. Even if she couldn't speak to him directly, she could have passed word through Liu Long." He continued, "Furthermore, how did you know I would come here? Even my coming was a spur-of-the-moment decision. You were deliberately waiting for me, which means you foresaw my arrival. You possess quite remarkable abilities. What is your relationship to Lü Zhen?" Yun Yuming replied helplessly, "I truly don't have much of a connection to him. If I must claim one... fragments of my memory suggest Minister Lü should be considered the grandmaster of the owner of those memories." *Lü Zhen's grand-disciple?* Hong Yitang pondered. He wasn't very familiar with who Lü Zhen was, but Li Hao had mentioned him before: Lü Zhen's daughter was said to have been the Human King's teacher during the ancient civilization. That meant Lü Zhen was essentially of the grandmaster generation to the Human King. By that logic, the remnants of spiritual power absorbed by this child belonged, in terms of generational hierarchy, to the same generation as the Human King. Such status was by no means low. This boy was someone revived through residual spiritual power within Lü Zhen's research institute. Of course, whether he was truly that ancient figure or modern Yun Yuming remained hard to say. The boy's explanation carried some merit—perhaps it really was akin to a demon race's bloodline inheritance. Even so, he had undoubtedly inherited some of that person's memories. And perhaps even their abilities! "What is your purpose in asking Li Hao to unseal the institute?" Yuming said solemnly, "No ulterior motive whatsoever. Director Hong, please trust the integrity of a researcher, and please believe that in the Neo-Martial era, anyone who wasn't a traitor possessed a heart that loved the common people! I have genuinely deduced that endless disasters will soon ravage the Heavenly Star Dynasty. If preparations aren't made in advance, catastrophic consequences will follow! "When that time comes and supernaturals erupt in turmoil, who will have the heart to care for ten billion commoners? That would be a tragedy beyond measure! Mountains of dead, and the people destitute! "I know the mindset of certain hegemons—they welcome such ruin... Perhaps even Governor-General Li and Director Hong might think: without chaos under heaven, how can all things be rebuilt from the ashes? How can rebirth arise from despair?" Yuming shook his head. "No, that is not the way! Even if you act and no one knows—because the worst never came to pass—heaven will know!" He pointed up toward the sky. "Truly, heaven will know! "Heaven has eyes! "Nowadays, those who dream of becoming the Human King are nothing but a joke! Calculating gains, chasing benefits, and plotting schemes... how could someone like that ever become the Human King? "Only a heart of utter sincerity can do so!" Yuming's childish voice rang out: "This, too, is a form of cultivation. Even if Governor-General Li has no desire to become the Human King, it doesn't matter. If he acts, even if the masses remain unaware, heaven will know. Even if heaven dies and the world's heart is extinguished... the world itself will know that you saved its people! "A world possesses a will, a soul... not in the conventional sense, but... if you can earn heaven's support, you will be the true Child of the World, the Father of the World!" Hong Yitang slowly turned those words over in his mind, then said softly, "Li Hao never said he wouldn't care. He has been striving to manage things all along. He has risked his life time and again, not for fame or fortune, but out of a righteous, chivalrous instinct. Yet you know the current situation as well—there are simply too many constraints!" Hong Yitang looked at him. "What assistance can you provide Li Hao?" Yuming fell silent for a long while before speaking: "I cannot offer much help. In terms of martial prowess, I am weak; in terms of wisdom, I may well be inferior to you all." He thought for a moment, then said, "I can help Governor-General Li accomplish one thing: building a communication network. I excel at this; in the memories I inherited, the original owner was a communications expert at the research institute." He looked toward Hong Yitang. "I heard from my sister that Governor-General Li requested a group of people from the Nine Dragons Pavilion, yet he hasn't put them to work... I imagine the Governor-General has been too busy, and the others don't understand the technicalities. I wish to volunteer myself to join the Governor-General's Office as his head of communications and information!" Yuming continued earnestly, "What is this era's greatest vulnerability? It's that transmitting a single message takes days to reach the grassroots, or cannot be delivered at all... "With supernaturals, martial masters, and technology combined, we can swiftly establish a specialized communication network across the dynasty—a sky screen network!" "A sky screen?" Hong Yitang looked puzzled. Yuming explained, "It was a unique system from the Neo-Martial era, a fusion of technology and the martial path. By utilizing projections, commands can be broadcast anywhere across the dynasty at any time simply by projecting them into the four directions! "Information can be instantly relayed across every corner of the dynasty. Wherever there are people, there can be a sky screen. "Back then, the army's armor communication system actually borrowed from the sky screen architecture... but the military used an internal version rather than a public one..." Yuming explained at length: "The reason I approached Director Hong is that I know the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy you're preparing to open has recruited some teachers and students from the former ancient academy... That told me you share the desire to restart technological reform. That is why I want to join!" Hong Yitang frowned slightly. He didn't entirely trust the boy. It was said that his grandfather had treated this child as an experimental subject, modifying him and channeling spiritual power from the ruins into him. Whether he was currently Yun Yuming or an ancient consciousness... no one could say for sure. Now he even wanted to join the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office... Did he truly just want to improve people's lives, or did he harbor hidden motives? The fact that he could predict Hong Yitang's arrival meant he possessed extraordinary abilities—perhaps immensely powerful spiritual power granting a degree of foresight. That was entirely plausible. Hong Yitang's own spiritual power was far from weak; while he couldn't see the future, he could sometimes anticipate what an opponent would do in the next instant. The boy's spiritual power might be even stronger. The Lü Zhen Research Institute... Li Hao had refrained from opening it because he knew doing so might bring trouble, particularly since it involved methods of spiritual revival, which were even more perilous. It might even unleash terrifying existences. Furthermore, opening it might cause the Nine Departments and the imperial family to turn hostile and immediately besiege Li Hao. Hong Yitang weighed the matter thoroughly. In the end, he let out a breath. "Then I will take you to Li Hao. Speak to him yourself; perhaps that is the outcome you desire. And one more thing... at your age, be a bit more lively and cheerful... You don't sound like a child at all!" Yuming smiled and nodded. *Sound like a child?* *Don't I?* *I am one to begin with.* He felt Hong Yitang had misunderstood, but found it pointless to argue. ... At the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, Li Hao was in the middle of forging his domain. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He seemed to behold a cluster of light! A divine glow flashed in his eyes. In the next instant, he saw two figures. Looking past Hong Yitang, he gazed at the child. At that moment, something seemed to reveal itself in his vision—the cluster of light was cluttered. And somewhat murky. It was the first time Li Hao had seen such an anomaly. A faint red light gleamed in his eyes as he studied the child. After a long while, he smiled. "Senior's arrival honors us. Forgive my lack of welcome!" Yuming said helplessly, "I am Yun Yuming. Greetings, Governor-General!" "I know who you are." Li Hao nodded slightly, looking at him with a faint smile. "A jumble of spiritual power—one might even call it a cuckoo usurping the nest. Still, this child was originally simple-minded, so you could be said to have bestowed wisdom upon him... But tell me... do you count as an ancient person, or a modern one?" "Modern!" Yuming was thoroughly exasperated. "Truly, the Governor-General must believe me." As he spoke, he looked at Li Hao with curiosity. What sharp perception. Not only that, but he could faintly sense the peculiarities of the surrounding space, which carried the distinct impression of an independent pocket. Yuming observed it quietly, feeling intrigued and slightly astonished. *What an extraordinary fellow!* It wasn't raw strength, but rather his peculiar techniques. In the ancient civilization era, Li Hao's power wouldn't have amounted to anything. Any random division commander leading ten thousand troops would have been at least as strong, if not vastly stronger. Right then, Yuming repeated what he had just told Hong Yitang. "A sky screen?" Li Hao muttered. This fellow had come to set up a sky screen network for him? As for the personnel recruited from the Nine Dragons Pavilion, Li Hao truly hadn't assigned them work yet, mainly because constant battles had kept him worried that sending them out would only get them killed. Now, this fellow was interesting enough to come knocking on his door, even urging him to unseal the Lü Zhen Research Institute. Was this a boon or a bane? Li Hao fell into thought. Earlier, the dying Chen Hai had asked him: *Do you want to inaugurate a dynasty inheriting the ancient civilization, or forge a brand-new era?* Li Hao had answered: *A new era.* No matter how mighty or wonderful ancient Neo-Martial had been, those were the people and relics of the past. Modern people naturally had to open a new era—learning from history without being shackled by it. Thus, Li Hao harbored a measure of wariness and caution toward ancient figures, ancient artifacts, and ancient demons. Were Silver Moon's ancient people and ancient demons necessarily virtuous? Not necessarily! Were the good people of the Neo-Martial era necessarily good for this era? Not necessarily either! The little tree had said that gods originally inhabited the Silver Moon land as its indigenous inhabitants, yet hadn't they been exterminated by Neo-Martial? So were Li Hao and his kin indigenous, or outsiders? Neo-Martial treated its own with absolute loyalty, but toward Li Hao... there remained an inescapable divide. Looking back at Yuming, Li Hao smiled. "I would welcome it, but... what do you require?" "Divine energy stones, as well as certain machinery and equipment from the institute. We could manufacture them from scratch... but that would take far too long. The institute houses a sky screen fabricator that can produce countless sky screens, and its storehouses hold ample inventory. For the outside world to develop such manufacturing would take at least a decade." In the end, it all circled back to opening the institute. Li Hao fell silent. After a long pause, he said, "Go discuss it with your aunt. If she feels it should be opened soon, I will consider it." Yuming was utterly resigned. After a moment, he admitted, "I spoke with her, but she ignored me. She said that place... is best kept sealed forever!" Li Hao chuckled! Yun Yao had never brought it up with him. She must have seen Yuming, and evidently considered the suggestion unreliable. "Then tell me, what is it you truly want to do? Speak honestly, and I will consider it." Yuming sighed in surrender. "Everything I said was true, though I did omit one detail. I hadn't thought about it before, but recently... the idea occurred to me. I want to use the instruments in the institute to see if we can revive someone..." Li Hao smiled, a smile edged with danger. "Revive whom?" Yuming stopped concealing it and sighed. "You should have met him—someone at Yuanping Martial Arts University. My inherited memories previously indicated that those people had either departed or perished completely, yet someone actually survived..." Black Armor? Li Hao frowned. "How did you know?" "I sensed it!" Yuming explained, "The last time Governor-General Li returned from there, I sensed an aura that felt remarkably familiar... Later, recollections surfaced in my memory, and I knew that person was still alive, though... his physical body must have decayed." "Why revive him?" Yuming scratched his head, looking somewhat childish for once. "He was one of the Human King's most loyal guards, a figure of immense significance... even more significant than Governor-General Li's current standing. If he is revived, he might be able to reunify the eight main cities once more, preventing friction and unrest when they awaken and refuse to yield to one another. "His strength might not be the highest among the survivors, but he represents the Human King and carries immense authority. With him around, it would save Governor-General Li a tremendous amount of trouble..." Li Hao was slightly taken aback. "He... is the Human King's representative?" "In a manner of speaking." Yuming clarified, "He was assigned here by the Human King himself. Nearly all the students he trained joined the Human King's Demon Guards. His personal strength wasn't overwhelming, but at the time, he represented the Magic Martial lineage from which the Human King hailed... In short, he is extremely important." Li Hao's brow furrowed. After a moment, he asked, "Can the Lü Zhen Research Institute truly revive them?" "Yes, though it requires certain materials." Yuming explained, "As long as the spirit remains, life persists; only the physical body has rotted away. Back then, with the help of powerful experts, it was simple—all it took was a massive quantity of imperishable substance and life essence to restore them... but the required amounts are immense, practically impossible to find today. "Thus, we must employ a specialized method: lowering their strength, weakening their physical vessel, and crafting a fragile body to house their spiritual power. That way, though they will revive, much of their former power will dissipate... which is actually a blessing. With the origin path gone, retaining too much power could trigger a backlash from the origin path." He added, "The research institute houses many treasures—not treasures in the ordinary sense, but crucial assets for a new era... including teleportation channels!" Li Hao frowned. "What sort of thing?" "Back then, Peak Realm experts could tear through space and teleport a thousand li in an instant... Later, after the Human King unified the world, the research institute discovered that spatial channels could be stabilized simply by anchoring them with certain treasures, saving immense amounts of time! "In the late Neo-Martial era, a specialized transportation network had been established. Ordinary people used airplanes and automobiles, while experts and armies used teleportation channels... and the technology for that resides within the institute. "Take your current situation, for instance: if the Governor-General wishes to travel to Silver Moon, even with your formidable speed, it takes at least a full day. A day is enough for many things to change. But if a teleportation channel can be built, you could arrive in an instant, costing only divine energy stones." This was an outright enticement. Li Hao watched him without uttering a word. It was truly difficult to say whether this boy was a modern or an ancient. He possessed ancient memories within a modern body, yet those memories might be incomplete, and his life imprint unquestionably belonged to this era. Li Hao could see that the jumbled spiritual power had not entirely eclipsed the tender young soul within. This fellow wanted to revive Black Armor. Fascinating! Black Armor hadn't even sought revival himself; otherwise, he would have asked Li Hao for help long ago. According to Yuming, could Black Armor truly command the leaders of the eight main cities in a crisis? Could the Dean of Academic Affairs of a university... really command the Battle Heaven Army's commander and the lord of Battle Heaven City? Of course, Li Hao knew Yuanping Martial Arts University was extraordinary, given that second- and third-generation scions of great houses studied there. In fact, Li Hao had pieced together its origins. The author of the *Records of Yuanping* had mentioned having an elder brother... and how everyone adored her out of reverence for him—every single person. In that era, who could command such universal reverence? And the Human King had personally edited the book... Li Hao was no fool; he had long deduced that the chancellor of Yuanping Martial Arts University was very likely the Human King's younger sister. To say her background reached the heavens was no exaggeration. Yet countless millennia had passed since Neo-Martial fell. Did that influence still hold any weight? With countless thoughts swirling, Li Hao asked, "Do Neo-Martial people have a goal?" Yuming blinked, then answered after a pause, "Well... yes! True Neo-Martial people all share a single goal now: to return!" "Return?" "Yes!" Li Hao suddenly understood. Back at Yuanping Martial Arts University, it had been the same—a puppet had approached him, saying it wanted to go home and asking for his aid. Yuming explained, "I'm referring to true Neo-Martial people. Many demon plants, demon beasts, and even some human experts may have had their original resolve eroded by time. Perhaps they wish to become the masters of this world, perhaps they want to rule as tyrants here, or perhaps they fear whatever lies behind the Star Gate... but true Neo-Martial people will never submit! They want to return; they are willing to wage war once more... Therefore, Governor-General Li doesn't need to fear these people or demons. The ones you need to watch out for are the pseudo-Neo-Martial individuals who have abandoned all honor!" *True Neo-Martial people only want to return.* Li Hao turned the words over. Perhaps that was true. That day in Battle Heaven City, the tenth regiment commander of the Battle Heaven Army had slashed his sword toward the heavens, dreaming only of warring across the firmament once more... They wanted to return to Neo-Martial. The Silver Moon land was merely a tributary world. Taking a deep breath, Li Hao said, "First, make preparations for the sky screen. I will consider these matters and consult that Dean of Academic Affairs. Things won't happen just because you want them to!" Yuming was stunned. "You... he is willing to communicate with you?" "Why wouldn't he be?" "..." Yuming fell silent. Wasn't it completely natural for him to refuse? In his memories, that man had been terribly aloof. It was astonishing that Li Hao could maintain an ongoing dialogue with him, but that was certainly a good sign. "Do you have any words you'd like me to pass along?" Li Hao asked. Yuming considered it, then shook his head. "None. The owner of my memory fragments wasn't particularly close to him; they belonged to different branches and had little to discuss. Everything I'm doing is merely for the sake of going home." *Fair enough!* Li Hao had no response to that. At this moment, Li Hao made up his mind. He had initially intended to delay, but now decided to make a trip back to Silver Moon. Before that, however, he had to visit Yuanping Martial Arts University. "Go on, then. Do what you need to do!" Li Hao added, "Furthermore... this is the only exception. Let there be no second case. If your so-called revival entails seizing the body of someone from our generation... I will show you that even if revived, only death awaits!" Yuming nodded, then murmured after a pause, "Well... Governor-General Li truly overestimates the physical vessels of modern people. What genuine Neo-Martial powerhouse would deign to occupy the body of a weakling? Even an artificial body forged by life force is far superior to modern flesh, not to mention that the cultivation systems differ... It would be exceedingly difficult to cultivate back to their peak, so the Governor-General truly need not worry on that front. "Especially... our Heavenly Star people have absurdly frail constitutions. Even at the Governor-General's level, your physical body remains exceedingly frail, not even matching the rank-eight golden bodies of the past..." Li Hao's face darkened! That was a slap in the face. Yuming looked slightly sheepish. "Those aren't my thoughts, but notions buried deep in my memories..." Li Hao waved him off impatiently. "Enough. Off with you! Go find your sister and your aunt!" "Pardon my offense, Governor-General!" Yuming turned and left immediately. Li Hao was annoyed, and Yuming had no desire to linger in his presence either—the current Li Hao radiated tremendous pressure. Once the boy was gone, Hong Yitang said softly, "Don't worry too much about him. As for the City of Supernaturals, I hope you can take it as soon as possible. I want a million supernaturals to farm the fields." "..." Li Hao rolled his eyes. What preposterous talk. Old Hong was getting ahead of himself! "There are too many matters at hand; we take them one by one... Once I deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, kill a few more demon plants, obtain enough Spring of Life, and can forcefully suppress the demon plants, I will swiftly conclude the campaign on the surface!" Li Hao calculated, "I will try my best to settle it before the year's end. When I return this time... I hope to have that formidable demon plant in Battle Heaven City farm for me and cultivate enough grain to at least see us through the winter..." Hong Yitang thought Li Hao was the one getting ahead of himself. *I only wanted a million supernaturals to farm, but you want General Huai to farm for you... You've truly abandoned all restraint!* The two exchanged a look and smiled in shared understanding. Either way worked! Send all those people and demons to till the land—who cared about hegemony and conquest anyway? Hong Yitang glanced at Li Hao again and chuckled. "Did your master impart some new trick to you?" "Yeah. If Martial Uncle Hong wants to learn, you can visit my master in the ruins." Since his master was present, Li Hao wouldn't teach it without permission. "Forget it. He and I don't see eye to eye." Hong Yitang shook his head, then smiled. "Biting off more than one can chew is no good. I don't have your monstrous talent and boundless energy..." "My talent is average..." Hong Yitang couldn't even be bothered to retort. *Average?* Li Hao's talent was terrifyingly formidable. If nothing else, comprehending the five forces in such rapid succession felt slow to Li Hao, but anyone with eyes knew it was insanely fast! Only Li Hao considered it sluggish compared to Yuan Shuo—yet Yuan Shuo had spent decades cultivating to grasp them! Coupled with guidance from ancients and the most gifted martial masters of the current age, Li Hao's horizons were incomparably vast. How many people in the world today had seen more than he had? He was merely young, having heard of many things without experiencing them firsthand. Hong Yitang had no desire to listen to any more of his humblebragging and departed directly, as he had his own preparations to make for the martial arts academy's opening. ... Li Hao did not resume comprehending his domain either. Right now, he was busy enough to wish he had doppelgängers. One clone to cultivate, one clone to work, one clone to travel, and one clone to go on dates—alas, no such luck. ... Yuanping Martial Arts University. Black Armor manifested in an instant, looking thoroughly annoyed. "Why are you back again?" Time and again. Was there no end to this! Whenever he wanted to contemplate life, this scoundrel would barge in to interrupt. How many days had it even been? Back again! "I am a student. When a student returns to school, could it be that the Dean of Academic Affairs refuses him entry?" "..." Black Armor was filled with bitter regret. Why on earth had he granted this fellow student status? Damn it all! He wanted to curse out loud! "What is it?" Black Armor snapped, his tone thoroughly unfriendly. "A residual wisp of spiritual power from the Lü Zhen Research Institute seems to have revived in a modern human. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "Are you talking about body seizure?" Black Armor said in a deep voice, "Hardly likely. Would an ordinary Neo-Martial person look twice at your bodies? Seizing a divine weapon and becoming its spirit would be far better than possessing any of you!" *What a venomous tongue!* Li Hao almost cursed back! Black Armor added, "Did someone bungle things by shattering his spiritual power and forcefully merging it into that person's body? If so... there's nothing to be done. Their memories and spirits have probably blended together beyond any hope of separation..." Li Hao nodded. That was precisely the case. Yun Haoran seemed to have done just that. "Whoever did that... was truly vicious!" Black Armor sighed. "Even existing merely as spiritual power is better than having your memories shattered and forcibly crammed into someone else's body. What a pity. I wonder which unlucky researcher from Lü Zhen's institute met such an end." "..." Li Hao was left completely speechless. He had merely asked whether it was good or bad, yet the man practically declared: *Don't flatter yourselves; even if you offered your bodies, we wouldn't take them. Living as free spiritual power is far better than inhabiting such trash.* "So ancient powerhouses wouldn't seize modern bodies?" "Sigh!" Black Armor sighed. "It's not impossible, but only if the person has gone completely mad, their mind deranged and ready to burst, causing them to lash out indiscriminately... Otherwise, wouldn't self-oblivion be vastly preferable?" *That tongue of yours... I never realized how venomous it was before, though it certainly makes you feel like a living person now.* *Before, you were like a machine!* Li Hao didn't linger on the topic and continued, "He wants to revive you..." "Not interested!" Black Armor shook his head outright. "I know a bit about that institute's research... completely useless. If they revive me, my spiritual power will plummet, my body will be frail, and I will drop from my current level down to a rank-eight or nine existence... Unless I'm truly facing extinction, I will never accept that!" "..." *Well then!* Yuming wanted to revive him, yet the man himself was utterly unwilling. "Rank-eight or nine... does that correspond to five or six elements of divine power?" "The raw power is similar, but the physical body is vastly stronger, capable of living for thousands of years... So... they are completely different." "..." Li Hao didn't even want to speak to him anymore. He said glumly, "Fine, let's drop that. Senior, one more question: I want to revive General Huai. Is that problematic?" Black Armor pondered for a moment before answering, "As long as Battle Heaven City still stands, it shouldn't be an issue. If Battle Heaven City were completely extinguished, do not revive those demon plants! Those not of our race are bound to harbor different intentions! But if Battle Heaven City endures... it means the core remains, and their faith and convictions endure... In that case, there is no problem!" Though Li Hao found the fellow's tongue sharp, he felt reassured. As he was thinking, Black Armor said coolly, "If you slander me in your mind again, I'll swat you to death!" "..." "Cough, cough, cough!" Li Hao coughed repeatedly, putting on a bright smile. "Senior misunderstands!" Black Armor said indifferently, "I have no desire to probe you, but since I currently exist only as spiritual power, perception comes far too easily. If you don't want me or other powerhouses sensing your thoughts, use force to shield yourself next time! Use force to guard your mind..." "Like this?" In an instant, Li Hao appeared enveloped within a layer of a domain. Black Armor fell silent. After a long while, as if exhaling in astonishment, he finally spoke: "Begone. I have nothing left that you want. Don't come disturbing me casually next time... I want some peace and quiet!" Li Hao chuckled, thinking to himself: *A hunk of iron asking for peace and quiet? I'll come whenever I please!* Though he was cursing internally, Black Armor showed no reaction. Li Hao was instantly delighted—the shield truly worked. Without lingering, Li Hao turned to leave, giving the automaton cat at the school gate a pat as he walked out, smiling. "So cute. I'll come visit you all again next time..." With that, he vanished. After he left, the automaton cat puppet cried out in shock, "Teacher, he touched me!" Black Armor remained silent for a moment before saying, "He touched a puppet; it has nothing to do with you. Stop letting your imagination run wild!" "But... he touched me!" "Enough, be quiet. So what if he touched it? You don't even have a physical body..." "But..." "No buts! Remember, you're already seventy or eighty thousand... who knows how many years old! He's barely twenty. So what if he touched it? Settle down and go back to sleep!" At those words, the automaton cat vanished instantly, its voice tinged with tears: "I'm not that old..." Black Armor ignored it. Denying it changed nothing. In slumber, time flowed on. Li Hao, on the other hand, was growing increasingly intriguing. The fellow was getting bolder by the day—was he truly preparing to revive General Huai? Battle Heaven City... That place reminded him of a junior from Magic Martial who had served as a division commander there. He wondered if that junior was dead or alive; he had forgotten to ask Li Hao to check.