The Plan

By the time Li Hao returned to Heavenly Star City, night had already fallen. Inside the Governor-General’s Office, everyone was busy. At this late hour, few people lingered in the halls; the experts had all gone off to attend to their own affairs. Ordinary people still needed sleep to replenish their energy. Experts like Li Hao fared better, possessing boundless stamina, but even they occasionally required rest to adjust their state. Yet the moment he stepped inside, someone came looking for him. Before Li Hao could even catch his breath, Hong Yitang glided into the main hall. “You were away for quite a while this time.” The round trip had taken an entire week. Fast as Li Hao was, the return journey alone had consumed nearly a full day. Covered in the dust of a twenty-thousand-li journey, Li Hao felt some fatigue. Knowing Hong Yitang would only seek him out for serious business, he smiled and asked, “Is something the matter, Martial Uncle?” “Yes.” Hong Yitang did not stand on ceremony and went straight to the point. “Regarding the Martial Arts Academy, I plan to begin classes in half a month. The first batch of students will exceed our original estimate—likely around five thousand people. I wanted to ask your thoughts on what primary subjects should be established.” Martial arts went without saying for a martial arts academy. As for the rest, he needed Li Hao’s input. It did not sound like a monumental issue on the surface, but it concerned the future developmental direction of every academy across Heavenly Star. Li Hao rubbed his temples and replied after a brief pause, “I won’t dictate the details. Let’s focus mainly on technology, people’s livelihoods, and research and development. In addition, a degree of ideological reformation will be necessary.” Hong Yitang nodded slightly. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “And once these students graduate, how should they be placed?” Li Hao froze slightly. How should they be placed after graduation? Indeed. No matter how much you learned in an academy, if nothing supported it in the outside world, it would all be useless. If you spent years researching high technology, you might find no practical application for it upon stepping out into society. Li Hao pondered this for a moment. “There’s no rush for now. Once they graduate… their primary role will likely be in education—disseminating this knowledge to others. We also need time to transform all of Silver Moon step by step!” He then added, “What we lack most right now is time. Has there been any word regarding the Wind and Cloud Pavilion?” “There is!” Hong Yitang replied. “Following the intelligence Chen Hai provided, we detected traces of people from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion in a great mountain between South Peak and South Dipper. However, we didn’t dare investigate too deeply for fear of alerting them.” Li Hao’s spirits lifted! Finally, some news. Coupled with the intelligence from Supernatural City, Li Hao said immediately, “Convene everyone in the city for a meeting. Oh, right… you can notify Chen Zhongtian as well!” Seeing his urgency, Hong Yitang nodded. These days, Li Hao was overwhelmed with matters. Though it was already late into the night, Hong Yitang raised no objection. They were all powerful cultivators; going without sleep for a day or two was nothing. …… Everyone arrived quickly. Half an hour later, nearly all of them had gathered. Hou Xiaochen, Yao Si, and the others had also been swamped over the past few days. They had temporarily finished restructuring the Night Patrollers in Heavenly Star City, formally cementing the rule of the Heavenly Star Governor-General’s Office. The moment he stepped through the door, Yao Si took advantage of the fact that a few people had not yet arrived to speak up: “Governor-General, there is a minor matter on my side that I must raise first.” “Speak.” “Money.” Yao Si explained rapidly, “The Night Patrollers are predominantly supernaturals, but there are also ordinary mortals among us. Supernaturals can be paid in divine energy stones or mysterious energy, but mortals cannot, and even supernaturals still need mundane currency. The Night Patrollers were never an enterprise geared toward profit and lack independent revenue streams. In the past, we could supplement our income through unorthodox means, but that’s no longer viable… The Finance Department cut off all funding to the Night Patrollers long ago…” He continued, “Right now, we have divine energy stones and mysterious energy, but our basic supplies are falling behind. Even routine necessities like meals, lodging, clothing, and training equipment… have become difficult to provide.” Li Hao was stunned. He had not expected the very first obstacle confronting the Heavenly Star Governor-General’s Office to be money. At that moment, a thought struck him, and he asked hastily, “What about the Demon Hunt Army?” “The same!” Seated below, Liu Long, present in his capacity as vice commander of the Demon Hunt Army, nodded in agreement. “We have plenty of cultivation resources. But as the Demon Hunt Army’s numbers grow, the everyday supplies Director Yao mentioned have grown tight for us as well.” Of course, he had never brought it up before. Li Hao frowned slightly. Previously, his mind had been entirely occupied with cultivation resources. Whether for the Night Patrollers or the Demon Hunt Army, he had set aside a portion of divine energy stones to serve as salaries. At this point, Director Zhou spoke up. “A single copper can confound a hero. In truth, the Heavenly Star Dynasty’s ninety-nine provinces are financially quite prosperous. Even though tax revenues from several provinces have been cut off, the Finance Department remains very wealthy, as the majority of provinces continue to submit their tribute.” “Where did the money go, then?” “Divided among the other Eight Departments and the imperial family,” Director Zhou answered bluntly. “Previously, the Department of Criminal Law could claim a share. Ever since the Department of Criminal Law fell, the Finance Department completely severed our financial support.” Li Hao’s brow furrowed deeper. Sometimes, overwhelming martial might was useless unless one resorted to robbery! Yet if they robbed people, they would no longer be the Heavenly Star Governor-General’s Office. And whom would they rob? The commoners? Or the Eight Departments? That was precisely how Supernatural City operated—whenever they ran short of funds, they ventured out to plunder. Was the Heavenly Star Governor-General’s Office supposed to emulate them? Not that they couldn't. With so many experts at their disposal, even if they plundered openly, no one would dare utter a peep of protest. “The Liu family of the Finance Department has grown that bold?” Chen Zhongtian said softly, “It’s not that the Liu family is particularly daring, but rather that they dare not provide you with funds now. If they did, the other departments wouldn’t agree. Throttling your finances doesn’t inflict severe harm on the Heavenly Star Governor-General’s Office right away, but if this continues, the office can forget about expanding any further.” With cultivation resources on hand, it would not pose an immediate crisis. However, expanding further would become nearly impossible. As for exchanging divine energy stones or mysterious energy for coin, it was not impossible in theory, but dumping such cultivation resources onto the market in large volumes would rapidly collapse the secular economic system. Exchanging a small amount caused little harm. Exchanging too much would trigger an economic collapse. Director Zhou was well-versed in such matters and said quickly, “Governor-General, if you’re thinking of exchanging divine energy stones for cash and supplies… the problem is the vast disparity in value between the dynasty’s currency, the star coin, and things like mysterious energy and divine energy stones. The release of even a single divine energy stone causes localized ripples. If currency proves insufficient, they can only print more. Once too much is printed… inflation sets in. The total volume of goods remains fixed; when money floods the market, it loses its value!” “Once that happens… the wealthy and the supernaturals will be fine, but for the poor, it will be a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions!” Director Zhou said solemnly, “At that point, a jin of rice might cost a hundred star coins. With inflation running rampant, wages will remain stagnant at, say, a thousand star coins a month. Money that once bought two hundred jin of rice will only purchase ten… In the end, masses of commoners will starve to death.” Li Hao understood little of economics, but hearing Director Zhou lay it out, he immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. “So you’re saying that a massive influx of cultivation resources onto the open market would trigger immense turmoil?” “Exactly!” Director Zhou added, “It’s an exceedingly delicate matter. If you lower the price of cultivation resources, demand will far outstrip supply, and ordinary people won’t sell them anyway. But if you raise the price, each sale brings in hundreds of millions or billions… When supernaturals sell these resources, they typically do so to hoard essential supplies, which drives commodity prices even higher.” He looked at Li Hao. “The reason this hasn’t happened over the years is actually tied to the demon plants. Because demon plants consume vast quantities of cultivation resources, none of the major factions ever sell them to outsiders. Ordinary practitioners don't even have enough for their own training, let alone extra to sell.” “Though the Governor-General’s Office possesses these resources and currently lacks mundane funds, we must not open this floodgate. The moment we start selling on a large scale… disaster will follow!” Li Hao felt a headache coming on. Looking at Director Zhou, he asked, “Then how should this be resolved?” According to his previous assumptions, a shortage of money should never have been his concern. Any random divine energy stone could fetch a fortune. Meeting his gaze, Director Zhou said, “For now, we can hold out a little longer. But financial reform is imperative. The crux of the matter is that we must seize control of the authority to issue star coins. Otherwise, we risk severe consequences—such as the Finance Department printing star coins frantically. Sometimes, things that seem trivial on the surface can topple an entire dynasty!” “Once the financial system malfunctions and star coins are issued without limit, the money in everyone’s hands will become worthless. When that happens, the realm will fall into utter chaos! I originally intended to bring this up with you earlier, but too much has happened recently…” “As things stand, the greatest threat to us isn’t the Administrative Department or the Military Law Department—it is actually the Finance Department!” He looked at Li Hao and stated urgently, “If they decide to smash the pot completely and abandon all restraint, they control the mints. They could print star coins without limit and flood the entire dynasty, causing the regime to collapse in an instant.” Li Hao was utterly stunned. Truly dumbfounded. He had never taken the Finance Department seriously. Yet hearing Director Zhou explain it now, he realized the peril. When the currency in people’s pockets became so worthless it was too stiff even to use as toilet paper, would that be a problem? A colossal problem! If the financial system completely collapsed, the money held by the poor would be rendered utterly worthless. The wealthy could still survive on their reserves of goods, but for the destitute, such a blow left no way out alive! Li Hao took a deep breath. “Are you saying… we need to eliminate the Finance Department?” His head pounded. Doing that meant falling out completely with the Nine Departments right this instant. Director Zhou shook his head. “No, quite the contrary. We cannot push them too hard right now. Unless we are certain we can seize all of the Nine Departments in one fell swoop, we must keep a low profile. Otherwise, if they feel cornered with no way out, disaster will strike.” “Because the Finance Department hasn’t suffered heavy losses yet, they are exercising restraint for now… But I suspect they may already be stockpiling mountains of currency. Should anything happen, they could dump that cash into the market in an instant. Furthermore, the Finance Department currently controls the banks, holding the savings of countless citizens. If a wave of bank runs and collapses occurs…” In short, it was an immense crisis. Li Hao sat in stunned silence. This unexpected shock gave him a splitting headache. Chen Zhongtian spoke up: “Governor-General Li, there’s no need to be quite so alarmed. For now… the Military Law Department, the Administrative Department, and the imperial family do not believe they will lose. They won’t permit the Finance Department to do such a thing. Throwing the dynasty into total chaos is their absolute last resort…” Li Hao’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is that so? If I remember correctly, all of you wanted the dynasty thrown into total chaos so you could emerge as its new king amid the turmoil, receiving the worship of the multitude to become a so-called Human King. The timing is ripe right now. Are you certain they don’t harbor that thought?” Chen Zhongtian fell silent. He truly could not guarantee that. Suppressing his irritation, Li Hao recognized that he understood little of these matters and that further debate was pointless for now. He brushed it aside, saying, “We won’t dwell on this for the moment. As long as we move fast enough, nothing will be a problem!” He looked at the assembly. “I have two matters to announce!” “First, dealing with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion! Second, dealing with Supernatural City!” Li Hao quickly summarized the situation regarding Supernatural City. The crowd listened in stunned disbelief. A single fight, and Lin Hongyu, an overlord of an entire region, simply surrendered? She had even offered to convene a council of the twelve ancient families to hand him the opportunity on a platter? “A trap?” “Highly likely. Lin Hongyu established complete dominion over Supernatural City at thirty years of age. That proves she lacks neither ruthlessness, ambition, nor strength. Would someone like that surrender after a single setback?” “……” Murmurs broke out across the hall. Below, Hou Xiaochen gave a light cough and said slowly, “Setting aside whether it’s a trap or not, do you intend to target the Wind and Cloud Pavilion first and then Supernatural City?” Li Hao nodded. Hou Xiaochen shook his head. “Bad idea! Ill-advised! Supernatural City is out in the open, whereas the Wind and Cloud Pavilion operates from the shadows. The pavilion’s true strength is uncertain and hard to gauge, while Supernatural City can at least be measured.” “Moreover, time is too tight. Supernatural City moves in three days. Can you guarantee taking down the Wind and Cloud Pavilion within three days? If you get bogged down, you’ll miss the window of opportunity with Supernatural City.” “Conversely, Supernatural City presents a clear objective. Once we take it and rapidly assimilate its forces, Lin Hongyu and her people can add to our fighting strength when we move against the unknown Wind and Cloud Pavilion!” Hou Xiaochen said in a heavy voice, “Address the known before the unknown! The order cannot be reversed; reversing it invites disaster! Furthermore, when dealing with Supernatural City, it is best not to target their rank-and-file supernaturals initially. We must keep this confidential!” He looked at Li Hao. “Capture their upper echelon in one fell swoop. With Lin Hongyu cooperating, we can complete the transfer of power silently! Don’t rush to make grand declarations. Public proclamations were necessary when we needed to establish our footing; what we need now is steady, measured progress, not stoking further panic among the Nine Departments and other factions!” “Therefore, we cannot send too many people this time. A small strike force is best, while as many as possible remain behind to guard our rear. The operation there must be as swift and quiet as possible.” This ran completely counter to Li Hao’s original plan. Yet hearing Hou Xiaochen’s reasoning, Li Hao sank into contemplation and nodded. “I originally intended to gather everyone and advance together so no conspiracy could overcome us. But Director Hou’s suggestion is… to keep a low profile?” “Yes!” Hou Xiaochen exhaled. “Taking down the leadership is enough. As for the million supernaturals, we take it one step at a time. You haven’t even completed the reorganization of the Night Patrollers yet, and the branch offices across the other central provinces haven’t fully submitted. We need time!” Was the dream of putting a million supernaturals to work in the fields shattered just like that? Li Hao felt somewhat deflated, but Hou Xiaochen’s logic was sound. Chen Zhongtian chimed in, “Absorbing so many factions and supernaturals all at once could indeed throw everything into total chaos! Besides, the Inspectorate hasn’t even been integrated yet, and you’re already rushing to assimilate Supernatural City… I fear you won’t be able to stomach it all.” “……” Everyone stared at him blankly. What did he mean? When had anyone mentioned integrating the Inspectorate? Chen Zhongtian feigned surprise. “Didn’t my son visit last time? He said that once the Hu family’s demon plant was dealt with, my Inspectorate would join the Heavenly Star Governor-General’s Office. What… surely you didn’t think my son was joking?” Inwardly, he cursed violently! Supernatural City! They certainly knew how to cut in line. He had never expected Supernatural City to offer unconditional surrender. Li Hao’s current predicament was not a shortage of manpower, but rather that he was expanding too quickly, absorbing more factions than he could handle. As Chen Zhongtian had pointed out, digesting even a single faction required time. If Li Hao made Supernatural City his primary objective for digestion… the Inspectorate’s accession would become an awkward, superfluous burden. That would never do! What in the world was Lin Hongyu thinking? Chen Zhongtian had not anticipated this development. He had no choice but to lay his cards on the table now; if he waited any longer, the Inspectorate’s submission would lose all value. Seeing everyone staring at him, Chen Zhongtian smiled. “Presently, the Heavenly Star Dynasty possesses 3,216 cities and tens of thousands of towns and villages. The Inspectorate maintains branches everywhere, boasting a total force of 3.2 million men! Though they may not all be supernaturals, the Inspectorate represents the grassroots law enforcement network—the very foundation of social stability. In many respects, its importance exceeds even that of the military… Bringing the Inspectorate’s power into the fold is of paramount necessity!” Three point two million inspectors was actually not an excessive figure. The Heavenly Star Dynasty was home to ten billion people. A single Silver City held a population of one million. Having served in the Inspectorate himself, Li Hao knew that maintaining basic public order from top to bottom required no fewer than three hundred inspectors. For a population of one million, three hundred inspectors was the absolute minimum, especially when factoring in jurisdiction over surrounding towns and villages. In truth, that number was already stretched thin. Extrapolating from that, ten billion people naturally required three million inspectors. And that only met bare-bones requirements. At Chen Zhongtian’s words, the room traded glances. Hou Xiaochen nodded. “The Inspectorate is indeed an indispensable force. We can afford to pass on Supernatural City’s million supernaturals, but if we lose these 3.2 million inspectors, the world will truly descend into chaos!” Without realizing it, these men had begun contemplating the fate of the entire realm. Before this, their concerns had been confined to Silver Moon. Even Hou Xiaochen had never imagined that one day he would sit in Heavenly Star City debating the affairs of the entire world. Seeing Hou Xiaochen’s agreement, Chen Zhongtian smiled. “Precisely. That is why the Inspectorate must be integrated first. As for Supernatural City… to put it bluntly, their presence adds little, and their absence changes nothing. Even if every single one of them died, the world would carry on!” “A bunch of thugs who know only how to cultivate, produce nothing of value, maintain no social order, and excel only at destruction… Whether we deal with them a day earlier or a day later makes no difference.” “They may appear formidable, but they are utterly useless!” He turned to Li Hao. “Governor-General Li, sometimes usefulness isn’t determined by raw strength, but by division of labor in society! The Inspectorate’s societal role is vital. You served as an inspector yourself; you should know that if the Inspectorate falls into disarray, can any city remain peaceful?” This struck right at Li Hao’s former profession. Li Hao nodded. “It would descend into immediate chaos! Thefts, robberies, and riots would erupt instantly. Without a law enforcement apparatus, order collapses completely. The Night Patrollers police supernaturals, while the Inspectorate is the sole law enforcement agency for ordinary mortals… Not everyone is wicked, but neither is everyone virtuous. Once a single person takes the lead in breaking the law, the populace follows suit!” Having witnessed this firsthand, he immediately understood: the Inspectorate was indeed critical. As for Chen Zhongtian eagerly delivering himself to the doorstep, Li Hao said nothing further. Looking back, the original division of the Nine Departments had been thoroughly justified. Even the Finance Department, which he had dismissed as mere bean counters, held life-or-death sway over the realm. By contrast, because the Department of Criminal Law’s duties had largely been superseded by the Inspectorate and the Night Patrollers, its demise had caused little upheaval. Otherwise, that too would have sparked massive instability. “Then for now, we will target Supernatural City’s leadership and subdue them covertly… which means we won’t need a large force…” “Sending too many people will draw unwanted attention.” Li Hao took a deep breath. “In that case, Director Zhou and I will go. Who else wishes to come? Fewer than ten people!” Chen Zhongtian said softly, “I’ll come along. I’m an idle man these days; no one will pay attention to where I go.” Inwardly, he felt helpless. Since when had submitting the Inspectorate to a new master become such an inconvenient burden that Li Hao could barely find the time to digest it? Of course, that was also a good sign. It proved his choice had been correct. Lin Hongyu clearly believed Li Hao possessed the aura of a conqueror… Well, the key factors were his strength and backing, both of which Li Hao held in abundance. In this day and age, with those assets and the backing of Silver Moon, Li Hao held tremendous odds of victory. With the Inspectorate thrown into the balance, Chen Zhongtian felt that once Supernatural City was secured, Li Hao’s chances of ultimate triumph would expand exponentially. It was well worth investing heavily right now! Yao Si turned to Hou Xiaochen. “One of us from the Night Patrollers should stay behind. Will you go, or shall I?” Hou Xiaochen smiled. “I’ll go. Director Yao is the true pillar holding things together here.” Yao Si did not object. Hong Yitang spoke up: “Count me in as well.” Southern Fist opened his mouth to speak, but Hou Xiaochen cut him off: “Don’t bother. You’re a bit too weak.” “……” Southern Fist wanted to curse. Hou Xiaochen added, “You’re still entangled with the imperial family, and their eyes are fixed on you. If the rest of us slip away with Li Hao, they won’t think much of it—we’ve been investigating the Wind and Cloud Pavilion all along, so a few people missing is nothing unusual. But if you march out, it will look like an open declaration of war.” Whenever Southern Fist went anywhere, wasn’t it to pick a fight? If Li Hao and the others left, they could claim they were merely tracking down leads. Li Hao tallied the numbers. That made five: himself, Hong Yitang, Hou Xiaochen, Director Zhou, and Chen Zhongtian. The weakest among them, Hou Xiaochen, possessed the power of roughly five to six elements. Indeed, Director Hou was most likely the weakest. Though he had probably stepped into the realm of six elements by now, hadn't he? Li Hao was not entirely sure. Ever since comprehending divine characters, his perception of others had grown nuanced, and since these were his own comrades, he rarely used his inner sight to scrutinize them. If Director Hou had reached six elements, the entire team would range from six to seven elements in strength. With such power, they could subdue even a genuine Peak Realm expert. Should he bring the small tree’s clone along? After all, heading into enemy territory meant remaining vigilant against ancient demon plants. The worry was that if the small tree’s clone departed and other demon plants from the Heavenly Star Town ruins came to investigate, the absence of the tree to deceive them would easily expose the truth. The demon plants might discover prematurely that the coconut tree had perished. ‘If only I had one more demon plant clone!’ Li Hao thought to himself. Unfortunately, General Huai had not provided him with an avatar in the end. A pity! Just then, Sky Sword, who had remained silent throughout, spoke up: “I’ll accompany you as well. In addition… I need to make a trip back to Sky Sword Manor on the way. Li Hao, do you want to come along?” “Me?” “Yes. To meet a demon plant.” Li Hao was taken aback. Sky Sword said calmly, “When Sky Sword Manor was founded and rose to become one of the Seven Sacred Mountains, how could it not possess an ancient ruin?” Li Hao froze. That made complete sense! Sky Sword continued, “It’s just that I’ve never liked asking others for help when dealing with trouble; I handle things myself and merely trade with it for some Spring of Life. It doesn't belong to the Heavenly Star Town system. This time, we’ll go and speak with it. After all, we’ve cooperated for years. If it’s willing, we can work together. If not… we purge it!” Li Hao’s mouth opened, speechless for a long moment. Sky Sword Manor harbored a demon plant. That had never even crossed his mind. Sky Sword was simply too low-profile, always resolving matters with his own blade. He had never brought out a demon plant clone, and his supply of the Spring of Life appeared extremely meager. Li Hao had even doubted whether Sky Sword Manor sat atop an ancient ruin at all. Only now did he learn that it truly did! “Going there without a demon plant clone could prove troublesome,” Sky Sword remarked placidly. “However, that Imperial Palace guard is best left behind here! Bring Black Panther along. If it can conjure those phantom projections like last time, we might be able to subdue the demon plant on our own inside the ruin!” Black Panther! That hound was currently scouring the region for the Wind and Cloud Pavilion; Li Hao wasn't sure if it had returned yet. After a moment's consideration, Li Hao nodded. “Very well! Then it will just be our group; no one else needs to go.” “We head to Sky Sword Manor first… Publicly, we’ll announce that we’re visiting Sky Sword Manor to meet the swordsmen of the realm. Afterward… we slip into Supernatural City covertly!” Li Hao settled on a decision swiftly. The remaining people in the room felt some regret, especially the veteran martial masters. Missing out on a fight was always a tremendous loss in their eyes. Li Hao said no more. The group agreed to depart early the following morning, needing no elaborate pretense. In the meantime, they would wait for Black Panther. …… After the meeting adjourned, Li Hao sought out Liu Long. He handed over several storage rings one by one. Liu Long looked even more overwhelmed than Li Hao had been, his eyes bulging wide as he listened! Sky-Veiling Shields, Space-Locking Chains, Earth-Drilling Shuttles, aerial combat battleships, naval combat patrol boats… He was utterly bewildered! A single trip to Battle Heaven City, and Li Hao had hauled back this many treasures! It was simply inconceivable! Without lingering on explanations, Li Hao handed him a suit of silver armor. “You’ve been promoted to regiment commander. A suit of silver armor allows you to communicate directly with a thousand black armors. It will streamline command and significantly bolster your defense.” Liu Long beamed with delight. Previously, he had possessed only a suit of black armor. At present, Li Hao’s forces counted only two bronze armors—Hong Yitang and Southern Fist. Not only was the silver armor’s defense far superior, but more importantly, it allowed seamless communication with all subordinate black and bronze armors under his command, preventing any missed tactical opportunities on the battlefield. “We are now designated as the Newly Formed Twelfth Division, and you serve as commander of the First Regiment!” Li Hao smiled. “Keep these designations strictly internal for now; publicly, maintain our original structure. In addition, I’m entrusting you with twenty suits of bronze armor. Distribute them as you see fit!” Liu Long nodded vigorously, his mood soaring. Li Hao added, “Boss, you must redouble your efforts in cultivation. Otherwise… formidable as a military formation may be, there will always be times when you find yourself caught alone.” With military battle arrays and the influx of extraordinary treasures, the Demon Hunt Army’s combat prowess would surge dramatically. But as regiment commander, his individual strength remained inadequate. Liu Long nodded solemnly. He knew all too well that his personal cultivation lagged behind. Had he not followed Li Hao from their earliest days in Silver City, his current strength would never have earned him a seat at this table. …… After Liu Long departed, Li Hao pondered how to allocate the remaining nine suits of silver armor. The defensive capability of silver armor held efficacy against anyone below the Peak Realm. That was the first benefit. Second, the status conferred by silver armor carried immense weight in ancient sites, and it enabled constant communication with other black armors—a feat impossible otherwise. Moreover, when entering ancient ruins, so long as it was an official city that still recognized the Neo-Martial civilization, silver armor commanded authority. Thoughts flashing through his mind, Li Hao felt no urgency. As for Supernatural City, he needed to make additional preparations in case it truly proved to be a trap. Though everyone accompanying him was exceptionally powerful, should a genuine Peak Realm or Immortal Realm expert emerge… disaster would ensue. The small tree could not be taken away… What about other assets, then? Such as… puppets? Li Hao’s heart stirred. The puppets of Yuanping Martial Arts University were formidable. Aside from Black Armor himself, those puppets were remarkably potent. Those puppets no longer possessed an origin path, and their bodies were forged from ancient metallic alloys. Would they trigger void tears upon leaving? Even if they did… it was nothing critical. His Five Elements domain could help stabilize the surrounding space around them. Once the thought took root, Li Hao could not suppress it. Safety came first! Better safe than sorry! …… Yuanping Martial Arts University. Black Armor was furious! Back again! Li Hao hadn’t visited for a week, and Black Armor had thought the young man had finally settled down, only for him to return once more. The instant Li Hao materialized, boom! The void seemed to shatter as a robotic cat suddenly lashed out with a paw at him. Startled, Li Hao hastily slipped through space, vanishing in an instant. The robotic cat disappeared just as swiftly. With a booming roar that seemed to fracture the void, Li Hao flickered away again. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Black Armor. Black Armor displayed a flicker of surprise and glanced back at Li Hao. “Enough!” Black Armor barked softly. The robotic cat ceased its attack, though it grumbled indignantly, “He touched me!” “……” Behind him, Li Hao stood speechless. He recalled that before leaving last time, he had given the robotic cat’s head a pat simply because its cartoonish feline appearance looked cute. Who knew the puppet would hold a grudge for so long? Furthermore, its combat prowess was genuinely formidable. It employed no martial arts techniques—just raw, unadulterated power. The physical might of an ancient puppet! Black Armor was equally exasperated. After a long pause, he said, “He merely touched a hunk of iron. That’s not your actual body.” “……” The robotic cat slumped into dejection, wounded to the core by the remark. It retreated to the school gates in an instant, freezing stock-still to serve as a gatepost alongside several other small cat puppets. Wiping away nonexistent sweat, Li Hao felt lingering trepidation. He glanced at Black Armor and transmitted his voice: “Senior, could that have been a female martial artist back in the day?” “……” ‘So you do know!’ Black Armor was utterly exasperated. “What do you think? Stop fondling things randomly!” She hadn’t been very old when she died. After sleeping through countless ages of silence, her temperament remained identical to her youth. If you went around touching a girl in her twenties, could you blame her for hitting you? “What business brings you here?” “Yes, the commander of the Ninth Division of Battle Heaven City’s Reserve Guard asked me to pass a message to you. Battle Heaven City is still striving to reactivate the city, depart the land of Silver Moon, and return to the main world.” “He’s still alive?” Black Armor froze in surprise. Li Hao nodded. “He is. Does Senior know him?” Nonsense! Black Armor thought for a moment and asked, “He didn’t beat you to death?” “What?” Li Hao was stunned. Black Armor repeated flatly, “I asked, why didn't he beat you to death?” “……” Li Hao was speechless. Why would he? He hadn't provoked the man; why would anyone beat him to death? Granted, he had taken a couple of beatings, but surely nothing warranting death. Seeing his blank expression, Black Armor realized the youth was oblivious to the history, so he refrained from elaborating. He nodded slightly. “He worries too much. If I were truly alone, perhaps I would despair. But I know… I still bear a responsibility!” His own fate did not matter, but these puppets were the students of that era—the scions of Sovereigns, the Human King’s most steadfast supporters. He had to bring them home. Li Hao had likely failed to mention these students to him; otherwise, the commander would have known that Black Armor would never give up. No matter how bleak or desperate things seemed, he would never abandon them. Because… they were still here. “Is there anything else? Did you awaken the locust tree earlier?” “Senior sensed that as well?” “I felt faint ripples.” Black Armor said placidly, “Awakening the locust tree wasn’t a wise choice. That fellow’s clan… Forget it, I won’t speak ill of others. The Eight Guardian Families are the core foundation of the Neo-Martial era and should be worthy of trust.” As for whether any among them had turned traitor, there was no need to dwell on it; he had no desire to cast unwarranted suspicion upon them. Perhaps someone had, but… without concrete evidence, wild speculation would only alienate the other main cities. Li Hao caught the subtle implication; Director Zhao had voiced similar sentiments previously. He did not press further, tucking the matter away in his heart. He stated his purpose directly: “Senior, I need to venture out to handle some affairs, but the situation is fraught with danger. I require the assistance of a senior apprentice-brother or two. I’d like to take them with me.” “Out of the question!” Li Hao frowned slightly. “Are you concerned about spatial fragmentation? I’ve mastered a domain that can isolate the destructive forces of tearing space.” Black Armor replied calmly, “No. They are merely puppets devoid of the origin path. With bodies forged purely of indestructible alloys, they won't trigger spatial tears unless they unleash their full power. Even if they do, spatial rifts may not necessarily slice through them!” “Then…” “You simply lack the authority!” Li Hao paused in surprise. Black Armor stated coolly, “They are reserves of the Demon Guard. Aside from the Principal and the Human King, no one possesses the authority to command them.” Li Hao was momentarily at a loss for words, then said after a beat, “You misunderstand. It’s not a command—I’m inviting our senior brothers to join me for a spring outing!” “……” Black Armor had no reply to that. Li Hao shouted toward the campus, “Senior brothers, who wants to go out for a spring outing? The outside world is vibrant and exciting; staying here is far too tedious!” In an instant, over a hundred puppets manifested. None of them spoke. Yet every oversized head turned toward him in unison. Even the robotic cats by the entrance were no exception. The one who had struck Li Hao earlier craned its oversized cartoon head forward as well. Black Armor glanced at Li Hao and said flatly, “They are puppets, as I said. Furthermore, even if they step outside, the energy stores within their puppet bodies are depleted. Don’t assume they can fight naturally; they require vast quantities of energy stones. Immense quantities—do you grasp what that means? Take the one that just hit you: five minutes of full-strength combat consumes a baseline of five hundred thousand energy stones.” Li Hao was stunned. Five hundred thousand ancient energy stones translated to five million divine energy stones! Such… astronomical consumption? And for only five minutes, meaning a million divine energy stones per minute! Li Hao’s head throbbed. Could the energy drain really be that terrifying? It seemed everything from the ancient civilization required vast energy to operate. Then again, without energy, how could they unleash such power? “Then… how strong are they?” Black Armor said coolly, “Stronger than you!” “……” Li Hao had no rebuttal. Naturally; he had felt that power firsthand. “Do they consume energy during ordinary times?” “Very little.” Having said that, Black Armor added indifferently, “Besides, I was merely speaking hypothetically. Li Hao, you harbor grand notions, but heed my warning: if you truly take anyone away, and any one of them is lost or damaged… I will retaliate against you. I will issue an order across the entire land of Silver Moon commanding every surviving entity from the Neo-Martial era to hunt you down! Do not play with fire!” He felt Li Hao was getting ahead of himself. The puppets here were not mindless automatons; they were the students of the academy, scions of exalted lineages. If Li Hao took them out and lost one, or if a puppet body was shattered, Li Hao could never bear the consequences. Li Hao was left utterly speechless! That ruthless? This senior might genuinely not be joking! Earlier, the small tree had mentioned that this figure likely held the authority to issue commands to the Eight Main Cities. He had come seeking helpers, not to act as a babysitter. In an instant, Li Hao said, “In that case, never mind…” At that exact moment, hundreds of puppets fixed their gazes upon Li Hao. Their stares radiated undisguised hostility! ‘You called us out and invited us for an outing, and now you say never mind? Are you playing us for fools?’ In the blink of an eye, hundreds of puppets encircled Li Hao. None of them uttered a word, but each clenched metallic fists or leveled weapons, looking ready to hack Li Hao into mincemeat. Black Armor remarked calmly, “You brought this upon yourself. I warned you not to mess around.” Li Hao said helplessly, “It’s not that I don’t want to take you out—the Dean of Academic Affairs won’t allow it! My hands are tied!” Why glare at him? The puppets immediately pivoted their collective gaze toward Black Armor. Black Armor said flatly, “What would you go out for? You have no physical bodies left; you can’t eat, you can’t drink. If a mishap occurs outside and you get lost, stranded, or smashed to pieces… what then?” “Teacher…” “No pleading; it’s useless!” Black Armor snapped coldly. “Don’t indulge in madness with this fellow. He has his objectives; what do you have?” “But… if our junior brother grows strong enough, he can open the Stargate!” “……” Black Armor was struck dumb. ‘Junior brother already? Junior brother, my foot!’ After a long silence, Black Armor looked at Li Hao. “Do you truly intend to take someone?” Li Hao swallowed hard. Could he say ‘no thanks’? He had only thrown the idea out casually earlier. Yet he felt that if he refused now, the puppets would beat him to death on the spot. Besides, hadn’t Black Armor rejected the request unequivocally just moments ago? Why was he asking again? ‘Just stay firm and forbid them from leaving yourself!’ Seeing his silence, Black Armor said indifferently, “Since you insisted on stirring them up, so be it: take two along to have a look. Return after a brief tour, and do not wander off.” He then addressed the surrounding crowd: “Two. Not a single one more. Any further complaints, and not one of you leaves!” As Li Hao was processing this, boom! An explosion erupted! In an instant, hundreds of puppets began brawling with one another. Puppets went flying continuously, one crashing heavily at Li Hao’s feet with a sound of despair: “I won’t get to go!” Li Hao was utterly dumbfounded. What was happening now? Black Armor said placidly, “Selection process.” ‘This is how you select candidates?’ These puppets threw punches without a shred of hesitation! Boom! Rumble! Thunderous crashes echoed ceaselessly. Within moments, over a hundred puppets were sent flying, crashing against the ground with enough force to crack the earth. Li Hao watched with dropped jaw. Eventually, only a dozen puppets remained standing in the clearing. To Li Hao’s surprise, among those remaining dozen, four were robotic cats. Were the robotic cats exceptionally strong? Black Armor commented casually, “Those cat puppets were forged from superior materials. Back when the puppets were constructed, the others were built routinely, but the cat puppets were sculpted by the Principal himself.” So that was why! Boom! Before Li Hao’s astonished eyes, the four cat puppets joined forces, battering the other seven or eight puppets until they flew backward. In the blink of an eye, only the four cat puppets remained standing. Just as Li Hao braced himself for a fierce showdown among them… The cat puppets raised their hands—and played rock-paper-scissors! Li Hao stood frozen. The four cat puppets threw fists, scissors, and open palms in a dizzying blur… In less than ten seconds, two of them walked away in dejection. The remaining two materialized before Li Hao in a flash, radiating palpable excitement. Li Hao looked at the fallen puppets strewn across the courtyard, then back at the two before him… Was one of them the same one that had hit him earlier? He couldn't tell; they looked identical. The preceding melee had been chaotic, leaving him entirely unsure. “Are you two certain you want to go out?” “We’re going!” The two cat puppets were resolute. Absolutely! Staying cooped up here was suffocating them to death. Black Armor sighed and glanced at Li Hao. “Handle it as you see fit. If anything goes wrong… you will pay dearly! You insisted on inviting trouble upon yourself.” Li Hao felt helpless. He had wanted to back out! Yet having reached this point, if he refused, would he even make it out of the gates alive? Black Armor said no more, instructing them flatly, “Once outside, stick close to him and don’t wander off! While you are puppets and spatial rifts may not necessarily tear you apart, nothing is certain. If you are captured and dismantled, even I won’t be able to save you.” “Furthermore, watch your mouths out there. Be cautious; the human heart is treacherous!” “Lastly, do not strike recklessly. Don’t attack just because this kid tells you to; verify the circumstances first. He belongs to the new era; you are people of the Neo-Martial civilization. Understood?” “Understood!” Li Hao was speechless, though since the warnings were delivered out in the open, he could accept them. Before his thoughts could settle, the two robotic cats seized him by the left and right arms, lifting him off his feet. One of them urged impatiently, “Let’s go! Why are you so inefficient?” “……” Li Hao was thoroughly at a loss for words. Him, inefficient? What a joke! ‘And why does your voice sound suspiciously like the one that struck me earlier? Could it really be you?’ Dragged along by the two robotic cats, Li Hao vanished from the ruins in short order. Once they were gone, Black Armor let out a sigh. “Just don’t bring trouble down upon me… Truly… reckless to a fault. Does this kid Li Hao have any idea that everyone at Yuanping Martial Arts University was a troublemaker? As if they’re easy to manage.” Refusing his request had been for his own good. Only the most incorrigible troublemakers had been sent here in the first place; otherwise, did he think the main world lacked premier martial arts universities? Were Mowu and Jingwu mere decorations? Why had these youths been sent here? Out of sight, out of mind! Yet Li Hao had insisted on dragging them out. Even if they were long dead and reduced to mere puppets, they would still prove a handful. Black Armor suddenly chuckled. “Sustaining a few bruises might do him good. Best if he doesn’t dare return here next time!” That kid kept barging in whenever he pleased, which was utterly exasperating. If suffering a little hardship kept him away in the future, that would be the best possible outcome.