General Huai’s awakening created no small stir. Sensed across the lands in every direction, it struck panic into many hearts. The revival of a mighty figure from the Eight Great Main Cities was no trivial matter. After all, the demon plants and demon beasts across the realm had pinned all their hopes on entering Silver Moon immediately after the secondary recovery to devour its experts.
That plan had relied entirely on the assumption that these ancient powerhouses could not revive, or that their awakening would be delayed.
Once they did awaken, how could anyone rival beings who, at the drop of a hat, possessed the power of an Immortal or even a Saint?
……
Not far from Supernatural City lay the Lin family’s secret realm.
Lin Hongyu’s face was deathly pale. Inside a small ancient city, a redwood tree shuddered faintly.
“Milord, has Battle Heaven City’s locust tree awakened?” Lin Hongyu asked.
The redwood remained silent for a while before slowly sending out a mental pulse. “Likely so. You said that Li Hao was terrifyingly powerful, able to obliterate my clone in an instant. Such prowess clearly rivals the Peak Realm. Perhaps... he has slain similar clones before, or even... weaker true bodies of demon plants or beasts.
“Outsiders may not know how he succeeded in reviving it, but you and I should.”
Lin Hongyu’s face blanched even further. “Milord, do you mean he... might have slain other ancient experts?”
The redwood fell silent for another moment before replying, “What do you think? You mentioned earlier that he summoned martial masters from across the realm to gather at Heavenly Star City, supposedly to eradicate the Wind Cloud Pavilion. Yet before the Wind Cloud Pavilion even appeared, those martial masters reportedly dispersed... Tell me, did he summon all those powerhouses merely to put on a show of authority?”
Lin Hongyu realized the truth in an instant!
Indeed!
Li Hao had previously summoned the martial masters of Silver Moon to gather in Heavenly Star City. Everyone assumed he intended to deal with the Wind Cloud Pavilion. Later, when the Wind Cloud Pavilion published its rankings and Li Hao wasn't placed first, the martial masters had scattered. People thought their departure had something to do with the rankings—perhaps believing the organization wasn't targeting Li Hao, so the Silver Moon martial masters went their separate ways.
Now that she thought about it carefully, Lin Hongyu’s eyes flickered. “Milord, do you mean that during those days, he had another objective entirely? He seized the Penal Law Department, and behind the Penal Law Department stood a demon plant guardian of Heavenly Star Ancient Town. Li Hao swiftly gathered the Silver Moon experts... could it have been to deal with that entity?”
Lin Hongyu was sharp; following that line of thought, she pieced it together quickly.
Her face turned even paler.
Li Hao had emerged, and not only had he emerged, but he had also rushed toward Silver Moon and revived General Huai. Connecting the dots from beginning to end, she knew that the demon plant behind the Hu family of Heavenly Star Ancient Town... was most likely dead!
Inconceivable!
It truly defied belief.
A demon plant had been killed!
The redwood said slowly, “Among the guardians of Heavenly Star Ancient Town, Thorny Rose is the strongest, approaching the level of a Saint. The others are powerhouses of the Immortal Realm. All of them have suffered immense depletion and have barely recovered, but even so, they are not beings an ordinary Peak Realm could slay. A seven-element powerhouse... you must understand, a seven-element combatant merely approaches the power of the Peak Realm, and even among the Peak Realm, there are gradations of strength.
“If Li Hao truly could kill one of them... it means he possesses other methods he has yet to reveal.”
At this moment, the redwood was shaken and filled with emotion. It found the news hard to believe. After a pause, it continued, “Li Hao did not pursue you, but instead told you to lead your people to surrender. What are your thoughts?”
Lin Hongyu remained silent for a long time before speaking softly. “He is expecting too much. Supernatural City is not mine alone; it was jointly established by twelve ancient martial families. Although I am the city lord, I am merely one of their representatives.”
The redwood said nothing.
Lin Hongyu murmured to herself, “Right now, the outside world has no idea of the depths of his strength. Only we know, and only we have deduced that he killed the ancient demon plant behind the Hu family. Milord, tell me... how should I choose?”
The redwood pondered for a moment and said, “Heavenly Star Ancient Town is a single entity with ten demon plant guardians. Even if one was slain, nine remain. If we leak this news, while Li Hao might be able to kill one, he cannot defeat nine working together. If he dares to enter the relic again, he will surely die!”
Leaking Li Hao’s secret...
Of course, others might not believe it, but the truth could easily be verified. Heavenly Star Ancient Town was interconnected; they wouldn't even need to leave the relic to confirm the outcome.
Lin Hongyu fell quiet. After a long while, she said, “What if he doesn't enter the relic? What if he stays outside? He didn't chase me down, but let me escape. I think he anticipated that the moment this news leaked... would be the moment he marched on Supernatural City. He might not be able to defeat the demon plants in Heavenly Star Ancient Town, but... what about you, Milord?”
The redwood stiffened.
“Milord, you cannot leave the relic, and the other demon plants cannot come, dare not come, will not come... Every ancient family has a mighty entity backing them, but they are all isolated. If Li Hao could kill a guardian of Heavenly Star Ancient Town, why couldn't he kill you?”
The redwood swayed slightly, as though struck in its most vulnerable spot.
Indeed—if Li Hao could kill one, couldn't he kill a second?
Moreover, having lost a clone, the redwood had suffered substantial damage. In the past, it had only recently stepped into the Immortal Realm, hardly among the truly powerful. If Li Hao came for it, who would rescue it?
The relic was no longer its home-field advantage. Even here, Li Hao could possess the means to slay it.
“Hongyu, what do you propose?”
Lin Hongyu sighed softly. “Li Hao advances too fast—inconceivably fast. Yet that isn't the crux of the matter. What truly matters is that prior to the secondary recovery, he can already unleash power exceeding the peak of the six elements. Even the shattering of space does nothing to him, which is even more extraordinary.
“Now, he has revived the locust tree of Battle Heaven City. I suspect Battle Heaven City has resolved to support him with everything they have.”
Lin Hongyu paused for a long time before murmuring, “Milord... if I were to pledge allegiance to him... what would happen?”
“...”
The redwood fell silent.
Its original thought was to spread the news and let the demon plants of Heavenly Star Ancient Town eliminate Li Hao. But as Lin Hongyu pointed out, Li Hao might not care at all. At worst, he simply wouldn't enter the relic. If he stayed outside, who could kill him before the secondary recovery?
Conversely, once the secret was out, isolated demon plants and beasts residing alone in individual relics would be in the greatest danger. Helpless and alone, places they once regarded as safe havens would turn into cages.
If someone appeared outside capable of slaying them, they would have nowhere to run. Stepping outside would see them shredded by space, while staying inside meant withstanding the onslaught head-on. Could they withstand it?
“Pledge allegiance to Li Hao...”
The redwood weighed the pros and cons in its mind. The benefit was that their danger would plummet. The drawback was that Li Hao was not someone it had nurtured; he had Battle Heaven City backing him, and perhaps even other demon plants.
After all, Li Hao had provided people with the Spring of Life long ago, before General Huai ever revived.
Of course, it could have been other auxiliary demon plants of Battle Heaven City that had awakened. In any case, it proved that Li Hao had more than a single demon plant behind him.
Pledging allegiance to him would mean being relegated to a secondary position.
Furthermore... their ultimate goal was the powerhouses of the Central Region—the experts of Silver Moon and the legacy of Silver Moon.
While it was still deep in thought, Lin Hongyu spoke up again. “Milord, a decision must be made swiftly! Otherwise... once Li Hao frees up his hands, Supernatural City is very likely to become his primary target, and the Lin family will bear the brunt of it! I’ve also been wondering: since Li Hao is so strong, what about the others?
“Is he truly the only one capable of matching the seven elements?
“The twelve families of Supernatural City originally aimed to emulate Star Suppressing City, establishing a cultivation holy land for the new era. I thought I could achieve it, but later discovered there were far too many powerhouses hailing from Silver Moon... Becoming a holy land was simply impossible...”
Star Suppressing City.
The holy land of the Neo-Martial era, from which countless experts—and more than one Sovereign—had reportedly emerged. Not only were there multiple Sovereigns, but several among them had reached the absolute pinnacle of power. Any one of them could easily obliterate Silver Moon.
Now, with Li Hao’s meteoric rise, Lin Hongyu had already been feeling the pressure. Their unexpected encounter had only left her feelings even more conflicted.
They couldn't fight him!
Outside, they were no match for him. Even inside the relic... they might still be unable to contest him.
Lin Hongyu continued, “Moreover, the other eleven families in Supernatural City all want to replace me. They call it cooperation, but in the end, all eleven seek to interfere with the city's operation. Not just them—even within the Lin family, people aren't entirely obedient...”
A woman rising rapidly to prominence in an ancient martial family like the Lin family naturally made many people uncomfortable. It was only her overwhelming strength that suppressed their discontent.
Yet the other eleven families also had their experts. Individually, perhaps none were her match, but united, she could not withstand them—not to mention that nearly all of them were backed by ancient demon plants or ancient demon beasts.
The backing of demon beasts was inferior to that of demon plants, as beasts could not produce the Spring of Life, but the ancient beasts themselves were still terrifyingly formidable.
At this moment, Lin Hongyu felt a wave of despondency.
Previously, she had been confident that if given more time, having contacted both the Jade Flute and Setting Sun Divine Mountains, she could fight even if Ying Hongyue and his peers reached the seven elements. But now that Li Hao had reached that level... she felt utter dread.
People like Ying Hongyue had their own calculations and would not act with reckless abandon. Li Hao, in truth, was far more unhinged than the Three Great Organizations. Against anyone who opposed him, he had only one answer: kill!
He would not grant you any time!
For example, when they crossed paths on the road earlier, Ying Hongyue and his ilk might not have attacked; they might have discussed cooperation or exchanged a few pleasantries. Who would strike without a word of warning?
Yet Li Hao went straight for the kill!
He didn't care about your background or backing. The animosity between the two sides wasn't actually that deep, as Supernatural City had only suffered losses in their previous clashes without inflicting any harm on Li Hao.
The redwood pondered for a long time before finally letting out a sigh. “You may give it a try.”
It was capitulating.
Once it suspected that the demon plant behind the Hu family was dead, it knew it was in grave danger. Unless the secondary recovery began immediately, there was no longer any way to rein in Li Hao.
Lin Hongyu fell silent for a moment before saying slowly, “He wants to take Supernatural City, but the city doesn't belong to my family alone. There are a million supernaturals inside, forming a chaotic mix... Taking Supernatural City isn't something I can decide on my own.”
She considered the matter. “Li Hao likely wants an intact Supernatural City, not a million supernaturals scattering across the realm and bringing chaos to the world! If an upheaval occurs, it could easily cause countless supernaturals to flee.
“Only by instantly suppressing the other eleven families, along with the old relics of the Lin family, and reassuring the supernaturals within the city, can we hope to preserve Supernatural City whole...”
The redwood was somewhat surprised.
“You... want to offer... a pledge of allegiance?”
Lin Hongyu sighed. “What choice do I have? Does Li Hao care about a single peak six-element combatant? Is that all he wants? He isn't even willing to cooperate; he demands total submission... Otherwise, seeing as the demon plant behind the Hu family could have collaborated with anyone, why didn't Li Hao work with it instead of slaying it on the spot?”
At those words, the redwood froze.
It hadn't considered that before!
Now, the realization struck it like a thunderclap. So that was it.
That man demanded submission.
A flicker of indignation surfaced within it. “In the Neo-Martial era, powerhouses were beyond count. When we submitted to Neo-Martial, we did so with genuine reverence and conviction. Now, a mere greenhorn dares to demand our submission...”
This was likely the sentiment of every surviving powerhouse of the ancient civilization.
Submission?
What level of strength did Li Hao even possess? What right did he have to make them submit?
Lin Hongyu replied calmly, “Milord, this is no longer Neo-Martial!”
Now, it was the Star Yuan Calendar.
You are merely clinging to a precarious existence. As for Li Hao, while his strength is not overwhelmingly peerless—in a one-on-one fight, any surviving ancient demon plant or beast could crush him—what does that matter?
By now, Lin Hongyu’s mind was entirely clear. Looking at the agitated redwood, she said slowly, “Unless you are certain you can immediately trigger the secondary recovery, Milord, this realm might well belong to someone surnamed Li!”
Surnamed Li!
At those words, the redwood deflated like a punctured ball. After a long pause, it muttered dejectedly, “Surnamed Li... then it isn't entirely unacceptable. Back then, it was surnamed Li, and now it still is...”
Suddenly, it seemed bearable.
For no other reason than status.
A descendant of the Li family.
In those ancient days, Silver Moon had belonged to the Li family. Even though Neo-Martial was surnamed Fang, Silver Moon was surnamed Li—a fact even the Human King did not dispute. This place was practically the Li family’s fief, though it was never phrased that way publicly.
It had been compensation for the Sword Venerable.
As for why the Sword Venerable needed compensation, none could say. There had been another rumor back then: the Sword Venerable’s path had been arduous, and the Human King hoped he could take another step forward to reach true invincibility. Giving this small world to the Sword Venerable was intended to help him open an inner heaven and earth, thereby rectifying certain deficiencies in his Dao.
Low-ranking beings like them did not know the details.
Now, the Sword Venerable had vanished, and the Star Gate was sealed. For a descendant of the Li family to dominate the world of Silver Moon once more seemed not so unreasonable after all.
“Hongyu, what do you plan to do?”
Lin Hongyu thought for a moment. “The realm is in turmoil, and Supernatural City is growing restless. I intend to... convene a joint assembly of the twelve families! Not only that, but independent powerhouses within the city may also attend! I want to establish a new Council of Elders. Anyone of sufficient strength may join; we shall let strength dictate authority. The Council of Elders will take in twenty experts... Milord, do you think the powerhouses of the twelve families will attend? Will the independent experts in the city participate?”
“You... truly intend to catch them all in one net... But... can you suppress them?”
“I will look to... Li Hao!”
At the thought of their earlier encounter, Lin Hongyu’s face turned pale once more. She had nearly been slain by a single strike of Li Hao’s sword. In that moment, she had experienced a terror unlike anything she had ever felt before.
He had been so cold, so dismissive of everything. That gaze of his was terrifying.
“He might not care about me alone, but if a million supernaturals scatter in panic, it will be a catastrophe. No matter how powerful he is, he cannot clone himself into tens of thousands to put out fires everywhere. The realm would fall into utter chaos! Supernatural City still has its purpose; at the very least, it keeps a million supernaturals gathered in one place rather than running wild... Whether Li Hao wishes to be a king or an emperor... what he desires is an intact Heavenly Star Dynasty.”
Otherwise, with the strength of the Silver Moon experts, they could have launched a direct assault on any of the Nine Departments. Yet Li Hao had never done so; in every instance, he had merely mounted a reactive counterattack.
Seeing that she had made up her mind, the redwood said no more.
Lin Hongyu possessed exceptional talent and abundant schemes. Otherwise, how could she have suppressed the other eleven families and become the lord of Supernatural City at the mere age of thirty?
Even so, the redwood had not expected her to be so decisive.
After a single setback, this genius, who had previously been bent on establishing a holy land, chose to abandon her dream and throw herself into Li Hao’s camp. It was entirely beyond its expectations.
Supernatural City possessed many powerhouses, and the twelve families had plenty of their own. Building such a foundation had been no easy feat. Strictly speaking, their prospects for supremacy had perhaps been greater than those of the Nine Departments or the royal family.
Of course, internal issues abounded. Still, giving it all up so readily was truly astonishing.
……
Naturally, Li Hao was completely unaware of the discussion taking place in the Lin family’s secret realm.
He had never even considered the possibility of a major faction surrendering to him.
Even regarding the Inspectorate, Li Hao was largely indifferent. Although it had been agreed that Chen Zhongtian and the Inspectorate would pledge allegiance once Li Hao dealt with the demon plant in the Hu family ruin—and Chen Zhongtian had even hinted at it—Li Hao hadn't paid it much mind.
He had been somewhat influenced by the ancient Human King.
He still could not forget the scene he had witnessed that day.
*“If you won't commit suicide when told, insisting on wasting my energy, then I'll just slaughter every last one of you...”*
Yes, that single exchange had left an indelible mark on Li Hao’s mind.
Absorbing forces? Subjugating factions? What was the point?
That man simply ordered his enemies to take their own lives. If they refused, he butchered them all.
Such overbearing tyranny, such murderous ferocity, was truly unmatched.
Thus, Li Hao’s only thought regarding Supernatural City was to slaughter the ringleaders. As for the ordinary supernaturals underneath, Hong Yitang had suggested rounding them up to farm the land, which Li Hao thought was a fine idea.
Anyone who resisted would be executed.
As for the other side genuinely surrendering... well, he had merely said it on a whim. In Li Hao’s eyes, they were still very strong—a million supernaturals, twelve families, and numerous demon plants backing them. They clearly possessed both the ambition and the power to contest for hegemony. Telling Lin Hongyu to surrender in ten days was practically a joke; even if Lin Hongyu agreed, the twelve families never would.
It was precisely because they had too many people that Li Hao had refrained from moving against Supernatural City, not even bothering to establish rules there.
For now, his target was the Wind Cloud Pavilion. The pavilion’s treasure, that contraption capable of gauging strength, was something he urgently required.
……
After roaming Silver Moon for a couple of days, Li Hao returned to Battle Heaven City on the third day.
However, it was not merely for the Spring of Life.
Greeting General Huai, Li Hao made his way to the city gates. The last time he came, he had been too weak to glean much from the characters for “Battle Heaven.” This time, taking advantage of this rare return, he wanted to attempt to comprehend them once more.
Above the city gate, the two massive characters remained dim and lusterless.
Li Hao forced out a drop of blood, allowing it to merge into the characters for “Battle Heaven.”
The spectral forms of General Huai and the Old Turtle surfaced. Not only them, but even the Ninth Division Commander appeared, watching Li Hao from a distance.
The Old Turtle was somewhat surprised, but said nothing.
The first time, Li Hao had acted with great caution, so no one had sensed anything. This time, he was openly seeking comprehension from the two characters.
General Huai was also surprised. “Those are characters left behind by a Sovereign. Is he attempting to comprehend them?”
The Old Turtle pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. “Perhaps. Do you think the Sovereign left something behind in those two words?”
None of them knew.
One had to understand that for Battle Heaven City, these two characters were profoundly sacred. Even the Wang family of Battle Heaven City had not dared touch them lightly in those ancient days. The supreme treasure of the city was, in truth, those two words.
They were calligraphy left behind during a rare visit by the Blood Sovereign.
When the eight main cities were established, the Li family’s city had overflowed with illustrious guests. While the Wang family had some connection to the Blood Sovereign, the relation was rather distant. At the time, no one expected the Blood Sovereign to descend in person, let alone name the city and bestow the characters “Battle Heaven.” From that moment on, Battle Heaven City became a city directly affiliated with the Sovereign.
In those ancient times, if Li Hao had dared touch those words, he would have been crippled on the spot, descendant of the Li family or not, since he wasn't the Sword Venerable’s direct son.
Yet today was different from the past.
A descendant of the Li family was present, whereas the Wang family only had Director Wang left—a mere collateral branch member. That fellow was watching from afar as well, but showed no inclination to chase Li Hao away.
Since he didn't care, General Huai and the others naturally wouldn't intervene.
……
Li Hao remained oblivious to their thoughts.
As his blood merged into the calligraphy, the two great characters dissolved into an illusory scene once more.
This time, the vision was different.
There seemed to be more than one person.
One figure bore a longbow on his back and carried a blood saber at his waist. Li Hao had seen him before; though the man’s features were indistinct, Li Hao knew this was the Sovereign behind Battle Heaven City, known as the Blood Sovereign.
Yet he was not alone; there were quite a few people present. The Blood Sovereign was merely one among them.
Li Hao turned to look in another direction. Over there, a sword intent vibrated faintly. His heart stirred—that sword intent, capable of annihilating all things, brought to mind a single person: his own ancestor, the Sword Venerable of the Li family!
Another figure radiated a spear intent that pierced the heavens, as if capable of tearing the sky and earth apart at any moment. Li Hao’s heart trembled; it felt reminiscent of the God-Cleaving Spear intent, yet boundless in power. Perhaps this was the founder of the spear technique passed down through Hou Xiaochen.
There was yet another figure who, across countless eras, exuded an overwhelming, boundless pressure. He did not sit at the head, but rather beneath the Blood Sovereign. His physical body felt formidable to the extreme, warping the surrounding space. Who could this be?
At the head of the gathering sat another shadowy figure, unremarkable and placid, giving off no great aura of oppression.
There were only five people.
Yet these five caused Li Hao’s heart to palpitate violently.
Were they all Sovereigns?
Was the person seated at the head the ancient Human King?
What were they gathered here for?
Could this grant him any enlightenment?
Their appearances remained indistinct, but he could vaguely make out certain accoutrements—such as the longsword, likely the Starry Sky Sword, resting beneath the Sword Venerable’s hand, as though ready to unleash a strike at any moment.
Right then, a voice seemed to echo into Li Hao’s ears from the distant past, originating from the Human King seated above.
“I do not provoke others unless provoked! Boundless though the universe may be, it holds no charm for me! Nor do I wish to undertake long, arduous journeys across the cosmos, where travel easily takes centuries or millennia. A single turn of the head, a fleeting moment, and a thousand years have passed while seas turn to mulberry fields!
“I am not like the Yang God, eager to traverse the vast multiverse. Yet now, these masters of foreign worlds have pushed me too far, daring to invade and mistaking my benevolence for weakness! I am a kindhearted man by nature; nothing pains me more than taking a life...”
At this point, Li Hao sensed a faint stir among the figures seated below.
The Human King above seemed deeply displeased. “Am I wrong? I am fundamentally a good man, forced into slaughter! My good nature can be witnessed by heaven and earth! All I wanted was to raise my cats and walk my dogs in peace, but fate had other plans. The Yang God has returned gravely wounded, warning me that the enemy’s host has traversed the void, marching here to seize my Yin-Yang World! In that case, I shall show no courtesy! From this day forth, we raise our banners and wage war across the multiverse! Sovereigns of the four directions, mobilize your armies immediately, drill them day and night, and march with me! Slay all invading foes, traverse the universe, storm their homeworlds, shatter their firmaments, crush their seeds, seize their power, and sweep through every cosmos! Let those scoundrels learn that they may provoke anyone, but never me, this Fang!”
Murderous aura surged to the heavens!
Li Hao felt dazed and disoriented.
Then he heard the sword-bearing powerhouse—likely his own ancestor—speak in a resonant voice laced with killing intent. “Then we shall cut them all down! I shall depart for Silver Moon at once, drill its legions, and march with the vanguard...
“Silver Moon is unstable and newly formed; let cities be built to suppress it!”
“...”
The mighty figures chimed in one after another, moving without the slightest hesitation into discussions of how to cross the cosmos, crush their adversaries, invade the enemy homeworlds, and seize their seed power.
Li Hao did not grasp every detail, but he understood the general gist.
This group of ruthless figures was preparing to proactively launch an apocalyptic war simply because an enemy intended to invade. Before the enemy even arrived, they were already plotting to strike back, annihilate the host in the chaotic void, trace their path, and butcher their way into the enemy’s heartland!
As Li Hao lingered in a daze, the voices gradually faded, and the figures vanished.
After a long time, a lone figure manifested before him once more.
It was the Sovereign who had bestowed the name upon Battle Heaven City.
The setting had changed. Before long, another person appeared beside him—the Sword Venerable of the Li family.
“Teacher Li, though we fear nothing in traversing the cosmos... once we depart the Yin-Yang World, the void turns chaotic, and unexpected changes can easily occur. In particular, Silver Moon has separated from the main world, yet remains tethered by countless threads. It could easily sever completely, stripping away world power...”
The Sword Venerable fell silent for a moment. “I understand. You mean... sever the connection between them?”
“Yes and no. I would prefer that you incorporate Silver Moon into your inner world, taking it as your own. I know your reservations, Teacher Li—you worry that absorbing its world power will weaken the main world. But he will not mind; otherwise, he would not have tasked you with suppressing Silver Moon all this time...”
“I shall consider it.”
“Very well. I know you have your own thoughts, Teacher Li, but... please give it due consideration!”
Before Li Hao could fully comprehend their words, the scene shifted again.
It was still the Blood Sovereign, but now he stood over a place Li Hao recognized—Silver Moon!
Yet it differed slightly from the Silver Moon of his memory.
The Sovereign stood in the void, gazing down upon the world.
“I shall suppress Silver Moon with the Qiankun Formation to prevent this realm from birthing self-awareness and becoming the next Seed world... slipping from the main world’s grasp.”
The Blood Sovereign murmured to himself. The next moment, Li Hao’s vision flashed!
The Sovereign drew the saber at his waist and swung it downward!
Heaven and earth shattered. Countless fissures split the world in an instant, cleaving all of Silver Moon into eight distinct fragments.
Before Li Hao’s astounded gaze, the divided Silver Moon was restored to its original state through an intricate series of maneuvers by the Sovereign.
By then, nothing remained in Li Hao’s eyes.
Nothing except that infinitely terrifying slash!
A single strike had cleaved heaven and earth, dismembering Silver Moon into eight pieces. It was horror beyond belief. The Sovereign appeared to have left something behind across the eight fragments, but Li Hao could not see what it was; he only watched Silver Moon knit back together.
Li Hao stood thoroughly paralyzed.
Was this... a Sovereign?
A single slash had sliced an entire world apart. Though he had witnessed his ancestor draw a sword earlier, appearing to tear through the cosmos, that had merely been a fleeting impression.
This man had genuinely cut Silver Moon into pieces!
Inconceivable!
That overpowering saber intent, that boundless vitality... the sight of a world shattering and instantly reassembling left Li Hao dumbfounded.
The strength he had taken pride in suddenly felt utterly insignificant.
At that moment, the Blood Sovereign suddenly turned his head, appearing to look straight at Li Hao, or perhaps merely casting a casual glance in his direction. He let out a soft sigh.
“Across the vast multiverse, all should rest peacefully in their own domains. After years of war, strife rises once more... We of Neo-Martial fear no battle... yet peace has been shattered again. You were born from the dissipating power of the Neo-Martial realm. Wishing to avoid wanton slaughter, I have spared this world from destruction. In the future, do not harbor thoughts you should not possess! I suppress you with the Qiankun Formation; if the array breaks and you sever from the main world, you must fend for yourself!”
Li Hao could not tell whom the words were directed at. Thoroughly bewildered, he watched as the illusion vanished in an instant.
Drenched in cold sweat, his mind was left completely blank.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Hao opened his eyes to find several aged faces and a suit of golden armor staring down at him. He said nothing, simply staring back in a daze.
“What happened to him?”
“His psyche took a severe blow. Did he see the Sovereign strike and get scared out of his wits?”
“Perhaps!”
“What do we do? Should we intervene?”
“...”
As the others conversed, the Ninth Division Commander said coldly, “His mind is far too fragile, wholly unfit for great things. The recruit training camp will soon regain its function; throw him in there for a year or two, and he’ll emerge a proper soldier!”
“Don't!”
Li Hao snapped back to his senses instantly. Still trembling and unable to move past the scene he had witnessed, he could not help but ask, “Are Sovereigns... very strong?”
“...”
The others looked at him as though he were an idiot.
After a long silence, the Old Turtle said softly, “Quite strong... yes, quite strong! Just slightly stronger than us...”
It calculated for a moment. “A little stronger. Above Saints are Heavenly Kings, who have many tiers. Above Heavenly Kings are Ancient Emperors... Well, even the weakest Sovereign has reached that stage, and what lies beyond is outside our comprehension... With a single breath, they could probably... blow you away, more or less!”
The Ninth Division Commander added coldly, “With his frail physical body, why would a Sovereign need to breathe on him? A Saint could blow him away with a breath!”
“...”
Li Hao gave a bitter smile. Was that really necessary?
General Huai asked with some curiosity, “Did you see a Sovereign?”
Li Hao thought for a moment and nodded. “I saw more than one. Quite a few, in fact!”
The expressions of the onlookers shifted slightly.
The Old Turtle also looked puzzled. “You saw a Sovereign, and multiple ones at that... How strange.”
Li Hao stayed silent for a moment before asking, “I heard them discussing a campaign to attack somewhere. Did that happen before Battle Heaven City was established?”
The Old Turtle shook its head; it wasn't entirely clear.
The Ninth Division Commander, however, said indifferently, “I heard whispers of such an event. Silver Moon was one of the training grounds for the legions, established to prepare for an expedition! Skirmishes had already broken out on the front lines to train the troops. As for the rest, low-ranking commanders like us had no right to know.”
Low-ranking commanders!
Li Hao fell quiet again, then asked, “How vast is the universe, truly?”
“Unknown.”
The Ninth Division Commander shook his head. “Boundless! Infinite! If you want specifics, no one knows—not even the Human King. One step into the chaos, and a thousand years pass in the mortal realm as seas turn to dust. Unless forced by dire necessity, no one wishes to step beyond their native universe. In this world, time alone is the most terrifying force. Time inverted, and Neo-Martial vanished—perhaps that was the cause. A single step beyond one’s universe could see tens of millions of years slip away...”
Li Hao remained dazed, then asked after a moment, “Is Silver Moon... very important?”
The others shook their heads, whether because they didn't wish to say or simply didn't know.
Li Hao drew a deep breath, asked nothing further, and closed his eyes.
A moment later, a faint saber intent manifested around him. The others stiffened slightly. What was this?
Within Li Hao’s mind, that single slash echoed incessantly.
A single strike that cleaved heaven and earth.
That was a true powerhouse!
Compared to them, he was far too weak, far too insignificant. In Li Hao’s eyes, the world was immense, an expanse he could scarcely cross in flight; yet in the eyes of certain beings, it was nothing more than a pellet of earth, easily cleaved into eight pieces with a single swing of a blade!
He vaguely pieced together what he had heard, combined with what the little tree had told him before. Silver Moon was apparently a new world born from the dissipating energy of the Neo-Martial main world.
The Human King had stationed the Li family here, seemingly intending to bestow this new world upon the Li family ancestor, the Sword Venerable, to help him mend certain deficiencies in his Dao.
Yet his ancestor had seemed reluctant, and the Blood Sovereign had tried to persuade him, noting that taking the new world might slightly diminish the main world's strength.
In any case, it was far too complex and lofty.
Yet Li Hao remembered one crucial point:
This place had been gifted to the Li family by the ancient Human King. And what belonged to the Li family belonged to him.
By that logic, was this world not his?
Li Hao turned the thought over in his mind.
He had finally sorted out the clues.
As it turned out, this entire world belonged to the Li family!
So all along, I was the master of this world! No wonder I felt such an innate affinity for Silver Moon; no wonder watching the people suffer pained me so deeply. It turns out... this is my family’s domain!
As for the rest, he didn't dwell on it.
It was too complicated!
Those were matters for the supreme powerhouses. Now that his ancestor, the Sword Venerable, had vanished and Silver Moon was plunged into chaos, it fell to him to set things right!
This realization fortified Li Hao’s confidence and conviction.
Of course, that was not the primary gain. What truly mattered was that several of his supernatural locks seemed to have expanded; parts of his physical body’s supernatural locks had been stimulated by the experience and grown considerably.
Not only that, but supernatural locks had even manifested within his skull, exuding a sharp, incisive aura.
Li Hao had not absorbed any Spring of Life, yet the vision had stimulated his supernatural locks to grow.
After an unknown duration, Li Hao opened his eyes once more. The others were still there. Taking a deep breath, Li Hao declared, “Silver Moon belongs to the Li family!”
“...”
The others stared at him blankly.
Li Hao added, “Therefore... I shall reclaim what belongs to the Li family!”
“...”
They stared in bewilderment. What nonsense was this?
The Ninth Division Commander remained calm, saying indifferently, “When a powerhouse speaks such words, it is confidence. When you say them, it is sheer arrogance. Do not take yourself too seriously.”
Li Hao nodded. “I know! But a man must have dreams. Without an ambition, how are we any different from salted fish?”
He chuckled. “Those two characters are truly fascinating. It feels as though that Sovereign imbued them with his emotions; one can always glean sights that broaden one's horizons, even if they are far too elevated for where I currently stand.”
The Old Turtle nodded. “Naturally. That Sovereign ranked near the very top even among his peers.”
Li Hao grew curious. “In the ancient civilization, did my ancestor rank in the top five?”
“...”
No one answered, their gazes shifting elsewhere.
Could he?
Who knew?
Most likely... no.
The Li family’s sword was formidable, certainly.
Yet in that era, there were simply too many monstrously powerful figures.
Seeing their reactions, Li Hao was somewhat speechless. He understood; his ancestor probably hadn't made the top five, or they wouldn't look so awkward.
To think he couldn't even make the top five—was his ancestor truly that tragic?
“What about top ten?”
They still kept quiet. Who could say for sure?
Counting them up, perhaps... not even the top ten.
Li Hao rolled his eyes. Surely it wasn't that bad?
The Ninth Division Commander said in a deep voice, “Does dwelling on these pointless matters serve any purpose? You’ve lingered here for three days. Adding the three days prior, that’s six full days. Are you not busy?”
Six days!
Li Hao was stunned. “I’ve been cultivating here for three days?”
Nonsense, of course you have!
Li Hao was shocked. Six days was quite a long time.
“Then I must depart at once. General Huai, my Spring of Life...”
General Huai said nothing, simply handing over a massive vat.
Li Hao caught it and swept it with his spiritual intent. Roughly ten thousand drops.
This was likely the largest quantity of Spring of Life he had ever laid eyes on. Slaying the coconut tree had only yielded around five thousand drops.
“Thank you, General!”
With that, Li Hao rose. “Seniors, I shall take my leave. Many matters await me outside.”
Seeing him prepare to rush off in a hurry, the Ninth Division Commander seemed somewhat displeased and said in a low voice, “Remain calm in your actions; whenever facing great events, one must maintain composure! Whatever you saw, pay it no mind—it has nothing to do with you. The world of the mighty remains far beyond your reach. Furthermore... do not abandon your sword momentum. You must remember one thing: in this world, the sword is master!”
Li Hao’s heart stirred. The sword is master!
Master, as in sovereign?
“Thank you, Ninth Division Commander!”
With that, Li Hao vanished on the spot.
Ninth Division Commander?
The commander froze for a moment. Adding the “Ninth” changed the entire connotation. That brat was addressing him as an equal!
He was the Eleventh Division Commander, and this one was the Ninth Division Commander; the kid was practically saying they were of the same rank and should treat each other with mutual respect from now on.
The Ninth Division Commander was left speechless.
After a long while, he let out a cold snort.
Once Li Hao was gone, he said in a deep voice, “How was he able to see anything within the Sovereign’s calligraphy... and why?”
It was rather bizarre!
“Perhaps the Sovereign intended for him to see it,” the Old Turtle remarked with a faint smile. “If they don't wish for someone to see, no one can; if they do, one might just catch a glimpse... Ever since the Sword Venerable oversaw this world, it has never birthed its own consciousness. Yet since his departure... so much time has passed that no one can say for sure. Li Hao advances so rapidly—could it be that he has garnered some of the world's momentum? Did you notice his new divine ability?”
The Ninth Division Commander paused, then said after a long moment, “I saw it. I understand now! The Sword Venerable has been gone for too long, the formation is breaking, and this world... is it about to give birth to a new Dao?”
“Perhaps!”
“No wonder!”
The Ninth Division Commander suddenly laughed. “This is a fine opportunity. Perhaps the human race of the new era will produce its own powerhouses. Out with the old, in with the new. Without the suppression of Neo-Martial, the world may undergo profound changes.”
“Indeed. But it matters little to us; it has nothing to do with our lot.”
The others remained silent. It truly had little to do with them, as they did not belong to this era.
Li Hao’s ability to witness the vision might well have been triggered by the emergence of his new divine ability.
Still, judging by Li Hao’s words, he had apparently seen something before as well.
Could that fellow have been chosen by destiny long before this?
The Ninth Division Commander pondered the thought, feeling somewhat sour. “He is merely a descendant countless generations removed from the Li family, not even of the direct line. Has the boy forgotten that?”
The Old Turtle and the locust tree said nothing. General Huai spoke up, “I shall absorb some world energy to see if I can revive more of Battle Heaven City... Do not disturb me in the coming days!”
With that, it vanished instantly.
The Old Turtle vanished as well.
Only the Ninth Division Commander remained, gazing into the distance before letting out a soft sigh.
Li Hao, oh Li Hao... do not grow too arrogant. You are still far from ready. When the Star Gate opens, that may be when your true crisis begins.
Chapter 270