Cooperation

Outside the ruins. Two robotic cats flanked Li Hao, holding him by either arm as they looked around with immense curiosity. Soon, discomfort set in. One of the cats grumbled, "The energy really is terribly thin." "Yeah, it feels awful." "You're already dead, what do you have to feel uncomfortable about?" "Aren't you dead too?" "..." As the two robotic cats bickered back and forth, Li Hao could hardly tell who was who—not that he could ever tell them apart in the first place. "Ahem... ladies!" "Call us Senior Sisters!" *Smack! Smack!* A pair of mechanical paws simultaneously struck Li Hao across the head. He tried to dodge in an instant, yet surprisingly failed to evade the blows, taking them right on the skull. Li Hao was at a loss for words. "Uh... how should I address the two of you?" They had to have names, after all. "I'm Jiang Yingli!" "I'm Li Shengzhang!" "..." Li Hao froze. What kind of bizarre names were those? "You two... this..." "This what?" Li Hao still couldn't tell which was which. One of the robotic cats huffed dismissively, "My family's surname is Jiang, so I'm Jiang Yingli. My father is Jiang Yueli... We hail from Star Suppressing City, and my ancestor was one of the Kings of Star Suppressing. That 'Li' has nothing to do with your family; it refers to a completely different Li!" Li Hao stared blankly. These names... had been chosen far too casually. Beside her, Li Shengzhang chimed in, "My family's Li isn't from the same branch as yours either. I am the Li that her Jiang family wanted to surpass. But my family never deigned to compete with them. My ancestor was one of the Kings of Star Suppressing, and another senior in my clan was a Sovereign!" "..." Li Hao was speechless. Li Shengzhang continued, "The one my ancestor was bent on rivaling was another Sovereign—the one from the Zhang family..." Li Hao felt a headache coming on. Did the parents of these ancient figures pick names so arbitrarily? Both of them had Sovereigns in their families? Having witnessed the terrifying might of a Sovereign before, Li Hao shuddered inwardly. Back in their heyday, these two would have been classic elite scions—the untouchable kind no one in the world dared provoke. As for which one he had touched earlier, he had no idea. Not that it mattered! Both possessed staggering backgrounds. It was just that the Neo-Martial era had long passed, and illustrious origins were useless now. *Li...* Li Hao's mind stirred. "Speaking of the Li surname, wasn't my ancestor the strongest?" Why didn't they speak of surpassing his ancestor? One of the robotic cats peered at him and said after a long pause, "What are you talking about? When it comes to the surname Li, our Star Suppressing Li family naturally ranks first. Your family might barely scrape second, and that's only if our family's second Sovereign doesn't count..." Good grief! Two Sovereigns? What about the Jiang family? Li Hao looked at the other cat. "Is what she said true? The Star Suppressing Li family is truly number one?" "...Close enough!" Jiang Yingli sounded somewhat reluctant to admit it. Li Shengzhang immediately retorted, "What do you mean 'close enough'? Besides, your ancestor back then was even the foster son of my ancestor!" "How many ages ago was that?!" "Doesn't matter how long ago it was, it's still a fact!" The two robotic cats traded barbs relentlessly. Li Hao was thoroughly exasperated; hadn't they been utterly quiet earlier? The moment he asked for their names, they started quarreling. What a massive headache. Before he could interject, Jiang Yingli suddenly piped up, "Wait, I almost forgot! Who said your family is number one among the Lis? Did you completely ignore that Sovereign from Jingwu?" Li Shengzhang refused to yield. "Even that one wasn't as strong as our founding ancestor!" "That was only true in the beginning. It's hard to say what happened later!" The two resumed their heated argument. Li Hao sighed inwardly as he listened. It sounded like his ancestor had it pretty rough; among those named Li, he wasn't even first, might not even be second, and was likely third at best. How tragic! No wonder General Huai and the others had looked up at the sky in speechless resignation when he asked if his ancestor could make the top ten. He hastily cut in to interrupt them. "Let's head back first. By the way, Star Suppressing City... that was a sacred ground of the ancient civilization, right?" "Of course!" "The thirteen families of Star Suppressing... later twelve families, were all incredibly powerful! There wasn't just one Sovereign, but many. The Neo-Martial era was actually inaugurated by the Chen and Shen families of Star Suppressing. The Li family held down the central seat all along, while the Jiang family was just along for the ride." "Bah! Your family was the one along for the ride! Our Jiang family contributed immensely!" Li Hao listened in total bewilderment. "Wasn't the Neo-Martial era started by the Human King?" "No, it was initially opened by the Shen and Chen families. Later, outside Star Suppressing City, the Supreme from the Zhang family held up the Neo-Martial era for many years, and only after that did the Human King take over the mantle." Li Hao came to an understanding. So that was how it went! It turned out the Human King hadn't been among the very first pioneers of the Neo-Martial era. He had read bits and pieces in ancient texts, but none of it had been this clear. Now, the picture was coming into focus. Star Suppressing City was a sacred ground guarded by twelve powerhouse clans, somewhat resembling the modern City of Supernaturals. No wonder people said Supernatural City was an imitation of Star Suppressing City. Then, two of those families had opened the Neo-Martial era. Afterward, Supreme Zhang from the outside had revitalized it, until the ancient Human King fully led the era to its glorious peak. "Supreme Zhang..." Li Hao's thoughts stirred. "Is a Supreme the same as a Sovereign?" These cats referred to everyone else as Sovereigns, so why did they call that person a Supreme? "Their strength might be comparable, but their status was entirely different." One of the robotic cats explained without holding back, "The Supreme held an exalted status. While the Human King was the King of Humanity, the Supreme once served as the Sovereign Emperor of Humanity. Even the Human King stated that he was the King of Neo-Martial, but the Emperor of Neo-Martial was Supreme Zhang. The Supreme just never cared much about such titles, that's all." "That's why my family was determined to surpass the Zhang family, because another Sovereign from my clan once surpassed Supreme Zhang in rankings back then..." "..." Li Hao was speechless, his head throbbing from the barrage of ancient lore. Still, he had learned that both cats possessed astonishing origins, their conversation casually dropping names of Human Kings and Sovereigns. Compared to these titans, his own ancestor seemed rather humble, not even ranking near the top. It felt a bit pathetic. Setting that aside for now, he quickly said, "Now that you two Senior Sisters are out, you must listen to me, otherwise we'll run into big trouble!" The black armor might try to find fault with them. Of course, now that he had brought them out, he certainly wasn't going to send them back. They were, after all, additional combat power. More importantly, as long as they didn't take action, they wouldn't trigger any anomalies. Without origin energy, leaving them anywhere was no different from leaving two chunks of iron lying around, which suited him perfectly. He swiftly pulled out two long cloaks. "Senior Sisters, put these on! It'll make things more convenient." The two robotic cats were quite large, resembling round barrels. Once draped in the cloaks with the hoods pulled up, their massive round heads were barely covered. Looking at them now, they didn't seem so comical anymore, just distinctly rotund. Like two chubby figures! Li Hao cleared his throat. "To keep your identities secret while outside, please don't speak carelessly. I won't call you Senior Sisters either, lest someone deduce your backgrounds and hatch ill intentions." "How about... I call you the Black and White Fiends?" Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "One named Black Fiend General, and the other White Fiend General?" What kind of names were those?! Neither robotic cat was pleased! What ridiculous names. "No way!" Jiang Yingli objected immediately. "I hate that name. We had a duo name back at the university!" "That's right!" Li Shengzhang piped up. "What was it?" Li Hao asked, intrigued. They had a team name? "The Peerless Troublemakers!" "..." Li Hao rolled his eyes. What on earth was that? Was that name something to be proud of? "You're the Black and White Fiends, end of discussion!" Li Hao said decisively. "Otherwise, I'll send you straight back right now! Jiang Yingli is Black Fiend General, and Li Shengzhang is White Fiend General!" The two grumbled reluctantly, but facing Li Hao's threat of banishment, they behaved themselves. They didn't want to go back so soon. The ruins were far too small and stifling. Having finally awakened to this extent and escaped being trapped in eternal darkness, who would want to remain locked away in that place? Li Hao didn't dwell on it. As they made their way back, he asked, "Can you two only ramble around and physically smash into enemies? Can you still use secret techniques and martial arts?" "Secret techniques are out, but martial arts are fine. Secret techniques require the coordination of blood vitality, mental energy, and origin force. Without those, we can only rely on pure martial techniques to fight." Li Hao gave a slight nod. In that case, their combat strength was indeed limited. "What realm were you at back then?" "Immortal Realm." Jiang Yingli answered directly, "Among us students, some were in the Peak Realm and some in the Immortal Realm. Naturally, the two of us were both in the Immortal Realm!" Li Hao took a breath. "You couldn't have been very old back then, right?" Judging from their somewhat childish behavior, they had likely died quite young. "Of course!" "We were prodigies!" "I was, you weren't! You only reached that level relying on your ancestor and your grandfather..." "Didn't you do the exact same thing?" "..." As the two bickered, they completely exposed each other's backgrounds. Second- and third-generation scions truly enjoyed extraordinary privileges. In their youth, they had tempered their physiques with indestructible substance and bathed in life essence. Born at the equivalent of the ancient Eighth Rank, it was effortless for them to perceive the origin and advance to the Peak Realm shortly after. Li Hao could only marvel with a sigh, "A pity I was born too late to experience such glorious times." Jiang Yingli whispered, "It wouldn't have helped even if you were born back then. Your Li family... was dirt poor!" "..." Was that really necessary? "My ancestor was the Sword Venerable, after all." "The Sword Venerable was formidable, yes... but he was probably the poorest of all the Sovereigns," Jiang Yingli murmured. "In every battle, his resource consumption was ten to a hundred times greater than anyone else's. If the Human King hadn't constantly subsidized him... the Sword Venerable would've had to pawn his swords just to survive." "..." Li Hao actually knew a bit about this. When he had seen that vision, the Blood Sovereign had indeed advised his ancestor to assimilate a world because his expenditures were simply too immense. Still... poor to the point of pawning his swords? Could it really have been that bad? Li Shengzhang also chimed in quietly, "The Chancellor secretly subsidized him a lot as well. Otherwise, it was said the Sword Venerable wouldn't even have had enough to eat." The rumors were getting more and more outlandish! They made it sound as though the ancient Li city had been on the brink of starvation. Still, both the Human King and his sister had provided extensive subsidies? That meant their relations had been quite close. "Every family subsidized him quite a bit, right?" Jiang Yingli added secretly. "After all, the Sword Venerable sheltered everyone back then..." Li Hao pricked up his ears. Even if it was gossip from tens of thousands of years ago, it was intriguing to hear. So his ancestor had actually maintained great connections? Seeing Li Hao eavesdropping, Jiang Yingli didn't mind and remarked casually, "Back when the Heavenly War broke out in the Neo-Martial era, the Human King wanted to preserve seeds for vengeance and the continuation of civilization. The Sword Venerable didn't take part in that battle; instead, he led the elites of each clan to evacuate to a certain location. He encountered numerous perils there and shielded everyone, which is why everyone respected him deeply..." Li Hao was taken aback. "Evacuate?" "Yes." Li Hao frowned slightly. He had evacuated? As a sword cultivator, how could he not have participated in the decisive war? "It was the Human King who ordered him to withdraw. The Human King trusted the Sword Venerable above all others back then..." *So that was it.* Li Hao asked no further questions. It was merely ancient history; he had no desire to scrutinize events that had transpired so long ago. Accompanied by the two chatterboxes, Li Hao returned to the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Everyone waiting was caught off guard. Who were these two? They had been awaiting Li Hao's return, only to see him bring back two cloaked, barrel-shaped figures, which puzzled them greatly. However, understanding soon dawned. Sky Sword asked with curiosity, "Puppets from the university?" "You're the puppet!" Jiang Yingli snapped back. Li Hao could now barely tell them apart. Jiang Yingli spoke with booming confidence and a fiery temper, whereas Li Shengzhang's voice was slightly quieter and a touch gentler... In truth, without paying close attention, the difference was negligible, but he could generally tell who was speaking. Choked by the retort, Sky Sword said nothing more. Everyone was utterly astonished that Li Hao had actually managed to abduct two puppets from the ruins. He truly had a knack for this! By now, Sky Sword and the others were fully prepared to depart. Black Panther appeared at that moment as well. As for why the beast's timing was so impeccable, Li Hao took one look at the black armor collar hanging around its neck and couldn't even bring himself to scold it. Who had given it that black armor? He certainly hadn't. Could the dog have stolen it itself? Sky Sword, showing his sense of responsibility, asked, "Aren't you going to call your master?" "No need. He's in secluded cultivation recently. We're only striking the City of Supernaturals; it won't be too late to summon him when we deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion." Sky Sword nodded. "Suit yourself." Li Hao, Sky Sword, Hou Xiaochen, Chen Zhongtian, Director Zhou, Hong Yitang, Black Panther, and the two puppets. Six people, one dog, and two puppets. With this lineup, Li Hao felt they could go anywhere under heaven. After a moment's consideration, Li Hao produced several suits of silver armor. "One for each of you. It'll help conceal your identities." The group was surprised. Excluding Li Hao, the other five took five suits of silver armor. Adding the one given to Liu Long, Li Hao only had four left. Chen Zhongtian drew a sharp breath. He knew what these meant. Silver armor! Regiment commanders! Li Hao could just hand them out like wholesale goods? Over at the imperial court, even though the Old Heavenly Star King possessed golden armor, silver armor was never distributed so casually; it had to be earned. The royal court had regiment commanders as well, but all of them had gained recognition only after braving death nine times over. None gave them away freely like Li Hao did. The two puppets showed zero interest in the armor. Jiang Yingli merely glanced at it before turning her gaze to Black Panther. She suddenly tugged at the dog's ears, asking with curiosity, "Could this dog be a descendant of the Demon Suppressing Emissaries?" Li Shengzhang looked over and nodded. "Likely so!" Jiang Yingli rubbed the dog's head. "How adorable! I saw him last time and wanted to pet him, but didn't dare. Too bad he's not a cat." "Are you hoping to show off your family's ancestral fur-brushing technique again?" "..." Li Hao's head ached as he listened from the side. An ancestral fur-brushing technique? What kind of nonsense was that? The others were equally speechless, looking back and forth between the two puppets and Black Panther. At this moment, Black Panther looked completely docile and timid, as though sensing something terrifying, not daring to resist in the slightest. Li Hao felt irritated by the sight and gave the dog a light kick. Black Panther instantly barked fiercely, "Woof! Woof! Woof!" A dog acting fierce only when backed by its master—the epitome of the proverb. Jiang Yingli didn't mind at all, idly scratching under the dog's neck. Black Panther felt so comfortable he almost yawned, but quickly realized something was wrong and barked threateningly again, "Woof! Woof!" "Why don't you speak?" Jiang Yingli asked in bewilderment. "You're almost at the Peak Realm; you should be able to talk by now. Even though your bloodline isn't weak, Demon Suppressing Emissaries could already transmit voice messages by this stage. Could it be that your voice is just hideous?" "..." Black Panther didn't bother responding. Dodging away from her, he scurried straight to Li Hao's side. Why had Li Hao brought these two monsters out? Black Panther had a very bad feeling about them; they weren't afraid of him at all. Li Hao was equally exasperated and said, "You two, once we step outside, do not speak loosely. Everyone here knows who you are, but out there, keep a low profile!" "Don't worry, we're extremely low-key!" *Like anyone would believe that!* Li Hao said no more as golden armor materialized over his body. "Let's go. First stop, Sky Sword Manor!" Without another word, the others donned their armor to conceal their identities. As for whether they would be recognized, none of them cared except Chen Zhongtian. Chen Zhongtian had to keep a low profile to avoid being spotted. He wasn't stupid; he had laid exceptionally low lately and had even instructed his son to wear a look of grief every day, as though his father had died. Because his sacred weapon had been destroyed and might have been detected by others, he had simply told Chen Yao to pretend his father was dead—perhaps assassinated by Li Hao. Of course, nothing had been made public. The group didn't bother being subtle. They soared directly into the sky from the governor-general's compound. The morning had just broken, and with golden radiance blazing alongside gleaming silver armor, their departure was remarkably flamboyant. "Move out!" *Boom!* With a tremendous burst of momentum, the figures vanished in an instant. *** Not far away, at the Military Law Department. Qi Pingjiang walked out, cast a glance toward the sky, and frowned slightly. Li Hao had supposedly gone to Silver Moon a few days ago and had only just returned. Where was he leading people now? Not many had left with him—fewer than ten. Yao Si and the others remained behind, and Southern Fist hadn't left either, but Sky Sword and Earthly Sword had likely accompanied him. "Have they found traces of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion?" Qi Pingjiang turned to the middle-aged man beside him—his son, Qi Dinghai. Qi Dinghai answered in a deep voice, "Likely so. Recently, the Night Patrollers and the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office have been investigating them non-stop..." "Let them fight it out! The Wind and Cloud Pavilion is far from simple." Qi Pingjiang said softly, "Don't be fooled by their recent emergence. I suspect the Wind and Cloud Pavilion possesses an unfathomable number of divine abilities. If Li Hao and his men really clash with them with only these few people, they might suffer a massive defeat!" "Father believes the Wind and Cloud Pavilion can withstand them?" "Why couldn't they?" Qi Pingjiang replied calmly, "The Wind and Cloud Pavilion was able to probe the strength of so many experts. Without real capability, would they dare publish those rankings publicly? Wouldn't they fear offending every faction under heaven? The Wind and Cloud Pavilion and Li Hao's group are cut from the same cloth—troublemakers who wish for nothing more than total chaos across the realm." They were birds of a feather. Qi Dinghai chuckled dryly. "Father, that analogy... isn't very flattering." Qi Pingjiang didn't care. "The entire Heavenly Star Dynasty is a cesspool! What's so bad about calling it what it is? I am part of it, and so are they; none of us is any better than the rest. Back in the day, I still harbored the ambition to clean this filth... but by now, that desire has long withered away." Qi Dinghai fell silent, letting out a soft sigh. Qi Pingjiang remained impassive. He glanced toward the imperial palace, then toward the nearby Administrative Department, and finally toward the Inspectorate. "I don't know what that fellow at the Inspectorate is up to. Even his sacred weapon was destroyed. Has Chen Zhongtian shown himself?" "No. Chen Yao has been walking around looking like his father died... But if he were truly killed by Li Hao, how could Chen Yao remain so passive?" Qi Pingjiang's brow furrowed. "Perhaps... there's another reason. I only hope he hasn't struck a deal with the imperial clan. For Chen Zhongtian to rise from a petty hoodlum to where he is today, he wouldn't fall so easily. If he truly couldn't defeat Li Hao, he would have surrendered long ago. That man's skin is thicker than city walls; he won't die that easily. Keep a close eye on the Inspectorate recently." "Understood!" At that point, Qi Dinghai whispered, "Father, two days from now, the City of Supernaturals is convening an assembly to form an inner cabinet. What is Lin Hongyu planning? Now, she has formed an alliance with Jade Flute Sacred Mountain and Setting Sun Manor. If she unites the twelve major factions and rogue cultivators, backed by two Sacred Mountains, they will be very difficult to deal with." Qi Pingjiang nodded slightly. The City of Supernaturals was not weak, especially with two Sacred Mountains behind it. Though those mountains kept a low profile, they were undeniably formidable. Now, with the three sides collaborating and aiming to consolidate the strength of Supernatural City, their success would alter the balance entirely. "Create some trouble for them... but don't overcommit. Now that the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is established, Li Hao won't allow supernatural forces to spiral out of control. He might very well intervene. Let them tear into each other!" "However..." "There are no howevers." Qi Pingjiang looked toward the distant imperial palace, his brow furrowing deeper. "Our immediate priority isn't that. Recent developments have been volatile. Word came from the imperial clan: they wish to join hands with us to clear a path into the energy mines. Even if we cannot trigger a second recovery... we can seize portions of the colossal lodes! Those demon plants have offered high prices, willing to yield copious amounts of Spring of Life. I am considering whether to ally with them." "Li Hao and his people are advancing rapidly, but resources are limited. The treasures he plundered will run dry sooner or later, and the same goes for us. Right now, the greatest treasure in all of Heavenly Star lies right beneath our feet!" If they could open the mine passage, they could reap enormous benefits in advance without waiting for the second revival. It was just that their enmity with the imperial family had run deep in the past. Yet now... the pressure was simply too great. If they didn't advance, the Nine Departments would be left in the dust. Cooperation? Qi Dinghai's brow furrowed. "Father, that figure in the imperial clan is at the peak of the Immortal Realm! Furthermore, the Old Heavenly Star King is an expert of seven elements. The Administrative Department might not fear them, but you..." He wanted to say that his father was slightly weaker, making it akin to negotiating with a tiger for its skin. "Before the mine passage is breached, nothing will go wrong." Qi Pingjiang had already thought it through. "Besides, the Administrative Department won't sit idly by. That Thorny Rose cannot be countered without three or four demon plants joining forces... He will only agree to cooperate once at least three or four departments join the pact. The Department of Criminal Law and the Inspectorate must be excluded. The Department of Internal Affairs is somewhat unstable, so they will be excluded as well. The Liu family of the Finance Department hasn't made a move, and their intentions remain unclear, so they are out too." Excluding those four, the remaining five departments would either act together or drop another one or two. Those departments possessed the prerequisites for cooperation. The directors of the Department of Official Personnel, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Department of Commerce had all been slain by Li Hao. In their eyes, Li Hao was likely far more detestable than the royal family. The imperial clan's proposal at this juncture was not made lightly, but chosen with impeccable timing. If the Military Law Department refused, they might be left out as well. "So, Father... you intend to cooperate?" Qi Dinghai pondered for a moment. "Outside the mine, that deputy commander of the Heavenly Star Army possesses formidable strength. The demon plants working together can handle him, but Father... will you have to participate in the battle as well?" "Uncertain!" Qi Pingjiang shook his head. "We'll see." "Then... when do we make a move?" "In a few days." Qi Pingjiang said in a heavy voice, "Once Li Hao gathers the Silver Moon powerhouses again and clashes with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, the conflict won't be settled in a day or two. That will be our window to move. Otherwise, if we leave and he finds an opportunity, he might wipe all of you out in one fell swoop!" Indeed, they had to guard against Li Hao. For now, Li Hao had not committed to a full-scale battle against any single faction. Though he had left, he could return at any moment. Only when he was entangled in a massive war would they feel safe enough to descend into the mines. With Li Hao's ruthless temperament, if he truly caught them unprepared, who could stop him? *** In midair. Li Hao sped through the sky. Fearing the others would lag behind, he enveloped them within his domain. Though carrying them slowed him down slightly, his speed remained remarkably swift. While the others were accustomed to his abilities, the two puppets were intensely curious. Both were from Star Suppressing City. Naturally, they were intimately familiar with the ultimate arts of Star Suppressing. Back when Li Hao had condensed his divine characters, they had observed every detail. Now, their curiosity peaked. "Are you establishing a miniature world?" They were widely knowledgeable. Although they had never seen such a manifestation before and were already dead, they could still discern something at a glance. "It's a domain!" "Oh!" Li Shengzhang acknowledged, pausing hesitantly before remarking, "Still, I feel that your domain is terribly chaotic! I once heard my elder say that all things must ultimately return to chaos. Your mixed energy isn't primordial chaos; it's just pure disorder." Li Hao's thoughts stirred. "All things must ultimately return to chaos?" "Yes!" Li Shengzhang nodded, her round form swaying comically. "It's said that the Human King's inner world was like that. Whether that's true or not, we can't be sure." Li Hao fell into deep thought. The others listened in silence. Director Zhou, feeling curious, suddenly spoke up, "Seniors, can one walk the path of the physical body all the way to the end?" "Of course you can!" Jiang Yingli took over the conversation, chattering briskly, "My ancestor was an absolute powerhouse of the physical path! Although not quite on par with that Sovereign from Jingwu, his physical body was extraordinarily tough—a rarity even among Sovereigns." With that, she glanced at Director Zhou. "You've actually managed to forge a Nine-Reversal Golden Body? That's quite impressive! Was it manually reversed for you by someone?" "Yes." "Who did it?" Jiang Yingli asked with keen interest, "While many people knew the Nine-Reversal Golden Body technique, for someone in this era to manually reverse your physiology and grant you nine reversals, they must have possessed an exceptionally powerful physical body. Could it have been someone from my family?" "..." Director Zhou cleared his throat. "Probably... not?" How awkward would it be if it really turned out to be her kin? Li Hao was also somewhat intrigued. "Director Zhou, was it in Silver Moon that your physical body was reversed?" "Yes." "In a main city?" "No, just a minor ruin." Seeing Li Hao's curiosity, Director Zhou had no choice but to explain, "It really was just a small ruin. I don't know the name of that senior. I stumbled inside by accident, and they were already on the verge of fading away. After modifying my physical body, they perished completely soon after." Li Hao nodded and refrained from probing further. The two robotic cats, however, remained curious. "Did the ruin have a name?" "Nothing special, it was just called the Golden Body Hall." At these words, the two robotic cats racked their memories. Jiang Yingli seemed to recall something and said after a long silence, laced with regret, "I think I know who it was. Xiao Li, do you remember that genius senior from Jingwu who left the university back then?" "I remember. Oh... I recall now too..." The two spoke in riddles, arousing the curiosity of Li Hao and the others. Director Zhou couldn't help asking, "Do you two know that senior?" "Yes, he was likely a senior student from Kyoto Martial Arts University. When he departed the main world back then, his golden body was exceptionally powerful. Rumor had it he wanted to use the Qiankun Great Formation to suppress himself and break through the limits of the golden body. Afterward, word of him vanished. He was extraordinarily formidable, having stepped into the Great Sage realm early on. Who would have thought... even he couldn't endure." "It's only natural. Didn't our teacher nearly succumb as well? The physical path leaves mental energy relatively fragile. To have held on until today relying solely on physical vitality is already terrifying..." "True enough!" As the two spoke, a melancholic air settled over them. Still, they hadn't known him intimately. And after so many ages, the two of them were hardly in a better state—mere wisps of residual mental energy inhabiting puppets. Was that really much better? Even their teacher, a Great Sage powerhouse, had lost his physical body and was reduced to a remnant of mental energy. *** Chatting along the way, the group made rapid progress. After roughly three hours, a towering peak came into view. It did not stand beside the sea, but nestled deep within a mountain range, instantly noticeable due to the surging sword intent that suffused the surrounding peaks. Sky Sword Manor! The sacred ground for sword cultivators across the realm. Sky Sword said nothing, instantly taking the lead. His armor receded, and his sword intent flared brightly. In an instant, the manor seemed to sense his arrival. Powerhouse figures materialized one after another, gazing up at the group and calling out in haste: "Manor Lord!" "Yes. Is everything well?" "Nothing out of the ordinary!" At that moment, disciples throughout the manor looked toward Li Hao and the rest. The Manor Lord had few friends and rarely received visitors at Sky Sword Manor. Rumor had it the Manor Lord had gone to Heavenly Star City and joined the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Could it be... Li Hao and his inner circle had come here, standing among this group? When they spotted Black Panther, they were certain Li Hao was present. The figure in golden armor was almost certainly Li Hao. Li Hao retracted his armor visor and looked down. Sword intent permeated the air. The manor didn't house many people, only around a hundred or so, but every single one of them possessed sword force. A few of them even possessed force so potent that Li Hao felt they surpassed Liu Long's. If they progressed further, they would likely reach the verge of unsealing. Once unsealed, it meant surpassing the Metamorphosis stage. No wonder Sky Sword Manor was hailed as the sacred ground of sword cultivation. To reach such heights through pure sword cultivation was exceedingly difficult. A man of few words, Sky Sword didn't linger in conversation. He commanded in a deep voice, "Resume your training!" The figures hovering in the air swiftly descended to the ground. Yet they couldn't help casting curious glances as Li Hao's group followed Sky Sword, flying toward a specific spot on the mountain peak before landing before the entrance of an abode cave. "Right here!" Sky Sword pointed at the cave entrance. "The ruins lie inside. I don't visit often." Li Hao looked closely. Inscriptions were carved above the cave entrance: *Lingkong Abode*. Li Hao glanced at the two puppets. Noticing his gaze, they looked right back at him. What was he staring at them for? "Do you two know of Lingkong Abode?" "Never heard of it. The world was full of powerhouses back then, and we were just students. How could we know everything? Besides, this is the land of Silver Moon; we don't know much about this region. Aside from the eight main cities, we rarely even visited Heavenly Star Town." *Alright, so it was an unknown figure!* At that moment, Sky Sword's voice rang out: "Senior, I have arrived!" A moment later, a wisp of mental energy drifted forth, hovering cautiously at the mouth of the cave. Sensing the company outside, an ancient voice echoed out: "You could have come alone. Why... bring so many people?" Sky Sword was brutally direct. "We need to deal with a formidable enemy. I hope Senior can sever a clone at the Peak Realm to assist us!" "..." *You're being way too direct!* Even Li Hao was stunned. The entity within the cave was clearly taken aback as well. After a long silence, it retorted, "Over all these years, I have asked you to provide energy stones to heal my body and repair my origin. The total amount you have brought me doesn't even reach five hundred thousand stones... And now you ask me to sever a clone of Peak Realm origin power for you?" *Are you out of your mind?!* Li Hao couldn't help glancing at Sky Sword. Five hundred thousand stones, even if they were cultivation energy stones, amounted to only five million divine energy stones. Exchanged at the standard rate, that was only worth about a hundred drops of Spring of Life. As the lord of one of the Seven Sacred Mountains, Sky Sword had truly been stingy to have traded so little. Of course, perhaps Sky Sword was simply impoverished; five million stones was not a negligible sum for an individual. Still, such a meager amount could hardly have aided the entity's recovery. Sky Sword said in a heavy voice, "It is better than nothing at all. Today, many demon plants have awakened across the realm, and some do not even have partners to cooperate with. Senior should be content!" *Content, my foot!* You're supposed to be the master of Sky Sword Sacred Mountain, one of the Seven Sacred Mountains, aren't you? Although the demon plant had never ventured outside, it had gleaned information from conversations and occasionally eavesdropped on the idle chatter of the manor's disciples. Yet Sky Sword was a decisive man who hated dragging his feet. He stated flatly, "Senior, you will not lose out. This time, I have brought the Governor-General of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Cooperation will only bring you benefits! Refusal will mean Senior's death!" "You dare threaten me?!" The demon plant was flabbergasted. Sky Sword nodded. "Yes! I am threatening you! Not long ago, we slaughtered the Golden Palm of Heavenly Star Town. If Senior refuses to cooperate, keeping you around is useless. We might as well kill you and find another partner willing to work with us!" "..." Silence fell over the world. Li Hao and the others covered their faces. Was this how negotiations were supposed to go? Was this how Sky Sword negotiated with a demon plant? They had assumed he would employ patient persuasion. Instead, he had skipped straight to extortion and death threats! Inside the cave, the demon plant seemed completely choked for words. It took a long time before it rasped, "You can kill an Immortal...?" Before it could finish, Sky Sword turned to the others. "It refuses. Let's kill it!" "..." "*Cough, cough, cough...*" Hou Xiaochen truly couldn't hold back his coughing fit this time. Everyone knew Sky Sword was straightforward, but this was taking it to an absurd extreme. Director Zhou was utterly speechless. It was Li Hao who stepped forward with a smile. "Senior Sky Sword, we haven't even talked yet; there's no need to rush. If this senior demon plant truly refuses, we can consider killing it then..." Inside the cave, the wisp of mental energy fluctuated wildly, unsure whether to rage or despair. How had it come to this?! It had been its misfortune to run into this lunatic years ago. It had assumed that by providing him with Spring of Life, he would exert every effort to gather energy stones in return. Instead, the man spent nine out of ten years practicing swordsmanship in the mountains, barely ever setting foot outside. When he did descend, it was only to kill a few enemies; if he obtained divine energy stones, he traded them, and if not, he didn't care. Had it not been for his formidable strength that allowed him to slay several powerhouses and seize their stones, Sky Sword wouldn't even have been able to afford ten drops of Spring of Life, let alone a hundred. Even those hundred drops had mostly been exchanged recently, acquired from the few times he had assisted Li Hao. Though he hadn't actively sought treasures, he had still received spoils. Otherwise, over the preceding decade, Sky Sword had traded for barely a handful of drops. The demon plant inside the mountain was incensed, hissing coldly, "Anyone can boast! If you wish to kill me, just try..." Before Li Hao could speak, the two robotic cats grew anxious. "Let us do it! Let us do it! Li Hao, give us some energy stones and we'll kill it! This little demon plant is insubordinate! It sees you wearing division commander armor and still dares disobey—it's definitely rebelling! Let us execute it!" "Division commander armor?!" The demon plant inside the cave only seemed to notice the armor now. When it looked closely, it recoiled in sheer terror. It truly was! And not just a division commander—the rest were clad in silver armor! Regiment commanders?! The Battle Heaven Army! It spotted the unique insignias on the armor—those belonged to the Battle Heaven Army. A division commander of the Battle Heaven Army from one of the eight main cities! How could this be? The main cities were slumbering; how could an active Battle Heaven division commander appear out here? Li Hao smiled. "Senior, we are being polite right now. If Senior still refuses to cooperate... we will truly have no choice but to eradicate you! Furthermore, the two beside me are students of Yuanping Martial Arts University. Perhaps Senior has never heard of it, but one of them hails from the Star Suppressing Li family, and the other from the Star Suppressing Jiang family... Does Senior truly intend to resist to the bitter end?" "Star Suppressing... How is that possible? The Neo-Martial human race perished long ago..." Before it could finish, the two robotic cats flared up in rage. "Give us energy stones, let's butcher this insolent little weed! What audacity!" Li Hao had a headache. He only had a few million divine energy stones left, which needed to be used sparingly. Weren't they still in the middle of negotiations? If he weren't short on stones, he would have agreed on the spot. The problem was... he truly was strapped for cash! Inside the cave, the mental energy fluctuated violently. A massive tree resembling a jujube tree shimmered with radiance, its mental senses inching toward the two puppets. Upon discerning their robotic cat forms... The demon plant's heart trembled violently! Had the Neo-Martial human race truly begun to awaken again? Puppets... Even if they were merely puppets, that was still terrifying. It meant an ancient powerhouse had preserved their mental energy. Yuanping Martial Arts University—it seemed to have heard of it. And Star Suppressing City was thunderous in its fame! Yet, severing a Peak Realm clone out of the blue—was this a joke? How much had it recovered so far? Its remaining origin power might not even match the little tree's. To sever a Peak Realm clone would require cutting away at least sixty percent of its origin, essentially sacrificing half its life. If they barged in afterward, it would be entirely defenseless. It already sensed the looming danger. Yet facing a division commander and surviving members of the ancient Neo-Martial race, it was gripped by fear and indecision. "My strength is meager, and I have recovered very little. If I sever a Peak Realm origin clone, my origin may disintegrate entirely. This is no laughing matter..." "Back in the day, I had barely stepped into the Immortal Realm, which was the only reason I managed to survive until now..." Indeed, any demon plant that had survived to this day was at least in the Immortal Realm. Li Hao had never encountered a surviving Peak Realm plant; the little tree was an exception because its father had shielded it, otherwise it wouldn't exist. Li Hao smiled. "Senior, rest assured. This operation is very safe, and we will bring the clone back to you afterward. If an accident occurs, we will slay an Immortal Realm demon plant to replenish your vitality." With that, the power of seven elements swirled around his body, and the others released their auras as well. Even Black Panther, acting bold with his master present, let loose an extraordinary aura. "Senior, we might have to come in if you don't comply..." Sensing their collective power, the jujube tree was utterly at a loss. If it went all out, it might put up a fight. However... who knew where these people had emerged from? There were so many of them, each seemingly possessing a staggering background. If it fought them to the death, wouldn't it bring about catastrophe? It was intensely frustrated. Hadn't people said there were very few powerhouses in the outside world? Hadn't they said the strongest were merely at the divine ability realm? How had everything changed so drastically in the blink of an eye? After a long silence, a heavy, helpless sigh echoed out: "I agree to cooperate... But Sky Sword, you are far too heartless!" Sky Sword, that bastard, was truly despicable! Sky Sword remained indifferent. What was heartless about it? They weren't close friends to begin with! It was a demon plant from the ancient civilization. When he traded for items, he had paid for them. The plant had merely supplied Spring of Life, while he had provided a vast quantity of divine energy stones. Their partnership was nowhere near as deep as those formed with the Nine Departments, where factions were virtually merged as one. From start to finish, Sky Sword had only spoken a handful of sentences to it. A moment later, a pained cry rang out from within the cave. The mental energy abruptly weakened, and a storage ring drifted out. Li Hao inspected it; a miniature tree stood within the ring. Li Hao frowned slightly. "Does this even possess Peak Realm power? It's at the pinnacle of the six elements at best!" The jujube tree was speechless. After a long pause, its weak thoughts transmitted: "If I... sever any more, I will die." Li Hao didn't stand on ceremony, probing it directly with his divine intent. After sensing it for a moment, he muttered, "It really is weak, far weaker than the little tree. If I'd known, we should have just slaughtered it!" "..." The jujube tree inside said nothing. If it was weak, that was entirely Sky Sword's fault. It had never seen anyone so neglectful. "Well, something is better than nothing. Forget it, Senior can rest easy. With this level of strength, it might not even get a chance to fight. I'll bring it back to you later!" Outside the cave, the mental energy withdrew completely, going dead silent. Having half its origin forcibly severed, only to be mocked as weak—its pride was utterly shattered. Outside the cave, Li Hao sighed. "Senior Sky Sword provided too little; the poor thing barely recovered at all." Sky Sword looked somewhat embarrassed. "I thought it could recover on its own without me providing resources." "..." Li Hao was speechless. Sky Sword's thought process was truly unique. Li Hao could only treat it as an unexpected bonus. A peak six-element clone wasn't bad, but it was indeed underwhelming... Fortunately, he had secured the help of the puppets. Otherwise, if they encountered the true body of an Immortal Realm demon plant, it would have been difficult to handle. The group was in no rush to leave. The assembly in the City of Supernaturals wouldn't commence until two days later. Departing tomorrow would be soon enough; the distance wasn't particularly far anyway. *** At the same time, the City of Supernaturals was bustling with unprecedented fervor. It felt as though a grand festival had arrived. Countless supernaturals were streaming back to the city, making the streets as lively as the New Year. Inside the Castellan's Manor, Lin Hongyu constantly probed her surroundings. Had Li Hao and his people arrived? How many had come? Or had Li Hao grown suspicious and decided not to show up at all? Thoughts raced through her mind as she communicated with the wisp of origin clone resting inside her ring: "My Lord, in the end, we may still have to rely on you." The redwood demon plant remained silent. *Rely on me?* It couldn't shake the feeling that it had not only sold itself out this time, but hadn't even fetched a decent price! What a dreadful loss!