The following day, the group set out toward the City of Supernaturals.
This time, they moved in separate teams.
Li Hao, Chen Zhongtian, Black Panther, and the two puppets formed one group.
Sky Sword and Earth Sword formed another.
Hou Xiaochen and Director Zhou formed the third.
Those two pairs were already accustomed to working together—one pair from the official establishment and the other from the martial underworld.
As for Chen Zhongtian, Li Hao kept him by his side partly as a guard and partly to keep an eye on him. It was to prevent the old man from wandering off halfway to do something else.
Betrayal was unlikely.
However, Chen Zhongtian's reputation was atrocious—worse even than Southern Fist's. It was not entirely impossible that he might run off halfway to father a child with someone.
***
A light snow began to fall from the sky.
December was right around the corner.
Since the City of Supernaturals was also located in the Central Region, the distance was not terribly far. Li Hao was in no rush. Bundled tightly in a thick fur coat, he rode Black Panther, who had transformed into a steed—a somewhat ugly, rather dark horse.
The two puppets from Yuanping Martial Arts University were unhurried and calm, craning their necks to gaze everywhere with wide-eyed curiosity. They flanked Li Hao like bodyguards, shielding him on either side.
Chen Zhongtian had initially intended to travel by flying upon a divine weapon. Seeing Li Hao's leisurely pace, however, he had no choice but to purchase a little donkey from an old man by the roadside and ride along behind them.
The little donkey was endlessly curious about Black Panther, constantly nuzzling up against him. Black Panther grew thoroughly irritated.
*Annoying creature!*
The roads in the Central Region were fairly flat. Vehicles drove past from time to time, and travelers were not scarce, all hurrying to and fro. There were also refugees fleeing from the four directional continents, trudging forward with stubborn persistence, perhaps hoping to reach Heavenly Star City.
Though clad in thin, ragged clothing, reaching the Central Region at least offered them a sliver of hope.
As Li Hao rode atop Black Panther, he looked around. Along the roadside, the frozen bones of the dead could be seen faintly in the snow.
Li Hao merely observed without dismounting.
Chen Zhongtian was an old hand who had seen it all. Glancing sidelong at Li Hao and seeing him remain silent throughout the journey, he cleared his throat and said, "Over eighty years ago, whenever winter arrived, the roadsides were littered with frozen corpses.
"Back then, it pained me to see it, and I resolved to change things. Bandits ran rampant, robbers were everywhere, and the realm under the Jiang family's rule was an utter tragedy...
"Later, I went to Heavenly Star City and spent years clawing my way up. Eventually, I joined the others in overthrowing the imperial family and establishing the Nine Departments. I created the Inspectorate with the sole hope of ensuring peace for the people."
Li Hao did not dispute him. Perhaps Chen Zhongtian really had thought that way back then.
Regardless, that much was history.
Chen Zhongtian sighed again. "However, ever since the first resurgence twenty years ago, things began to change. Back then, the regular military lost its decisive advantage, and the Inspectorate's duties became difficult to carry out. When individual might surpassed collective strength, we discovered... things were out of our control. The demon plants began gradually awakening as well—no longer merely barely surviving as before, but possessing formidable power.
"In truth, the demon plants had awakened very early on, but they used to be half-dead. In those days, they never dared act as they do now. Everything stemmed from twenty years ago."
Seeing that Li Hao did not interrupt, he continued, "Twenty years ago, Ying Hongyue and his cohort breached an energy vein sealed beneath an ancient ruin, triggering the first resurgence. Sometimes I wonder: if that resurgence hadn't happened, perhaps we could have completed the Nine Departments' reforms, and perhaps... we wouldn't have become the notorious Nine Departments of today."
"Perhaps," Li Hao nodded slightly. "If supernatural powers had never emerged, the army would still be an army, and inspectors would still be inspectors... Sometimes, you don't need to make excuses. What is done is done. The Inspectorate today is rotten to the core. I have seen Inspectorate officers round up tens of thousands of refugees to force them into mining. I have seen local inspectors colluding with bandits. I have seen regular troops masquerading as pirates. I have seen provincial governors acting as pirate chiefs, and ducal lords serving as their backers..."
Li Hao smiled and shook his head. "Officials are not officials, and bandits are not bandits. The Nine Departments clearly possess immense power and have always claimed it was meant to guard against the imperial family. But honestly, what use are all those justifications?
"You could spare so much strength to come hunt me down, yet you couldn't spare a few people to clean up your own house?"
It was nothing but an excuse.
When it came to killing him, how had one supernatural ability expert after another suddenly popped out of nowhere?
With so many experts possessing supernatural abilities, to tell the truth, any group of pirates would have stood no chance!
Chen Zhongtian nodded slightly and offered no defense.
Flanking them on the left and right, the two puppets watched the scenery for a while before Jiang Yingli suddenly piped up, "Boring. I want to go back to school!"
"..."
Li Hao was taken aback.
Li Shengzhang spoke up as well. "Yeah, I want to go back too! At first I thought energy was just scarce, but now I see it's so messy, so poor, so miserable... Back in our day, Silver Moon was very prosperous. Although military strength took center stage, the common folk here were well-off. Now it's completely different."
Neither wanted to stay here any longer.
Or rather, they felt this place was no longer the era they envisioned. It was no longer the Neo-Martial era, but a backward, ignorant, chaotic age.
They felt little resonance with it and even less affection.
There was only detachment.
At that moment, Li Hao said nothing.
Perhaps they found it chaotic and wretched, and felt free to disregard it.
Could Li Hao do the same?
He thought to himself that he probably could not.
After all, he had been born into this era.
Were not all the things he was doing now meant to make this era just a little bit better?
Hong Yitang had said that if nobody stepped forward, the era would only worsen; only when someone took action would light gradually pierce the darkness. Was that not so?
Li Hao smiled.
At this moment, he held nothing against the two puppets. It was only natural for people to look down on this era—who asked it to be so ignorant and dark?
Yet was he not already working to change it?
He believed things would not remain this way for long.
"Li Hao, do you want to become the emperor of this era?" Li Shengzhang suddenly asked.
Li Hao smiled. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Emperor or not doesn't matter to me. As long as everyone listens to me, that's enough."
Wasn't that the exact same thing?
Chen Zhongtian was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Li Hao and asked after a long pause, "Governor Li, if the realm is ultimately pacified, do you think an imperial system is better, or a democracy?"
Li Hao laughed. "I don't know. As long as everyone listens to me, that's enough."
Chen Zhongtian was stunned. What kind of answer was that?
Li Hao said nonchalantly, "I don't know which system is good. I only know that I like to nitpick. When I see nothing wrong with the outcome, any system works. When I see a problem, it has nothing to do with the system—it has to do with the people!"
*A dictatorship?*
Chen Zhongtian pondered the thought. He personally felt that absolute rule was not necessarily a good thing.
Yet upon further reflection, he chose to say nothing more.
Braving the wind and snow, the group continued forward.
***
Traveling in this manner, it took them nearly an entire day to reach the City of Supernaturals.
Amidst the howling wind and raging blizzard, a massive city loomed in the distance. The hubbub of voices filled the air, and ripples of supernatural energy surged outward, dispelling the bitter winter cold and scattering the blizzard.
That city resembled a city of miracles in this era.
Its towering city walls rose nearly a hundred meters into the air!
Above the walls, ripples of supernatural energy were clearly palpable. Formidable experts stood guard, stationed beside rows of the city-destroying cannons Li Hao had seen before.
Patrol squads of guards clad in all manner of armor paced the ramparts, scanning every direction.
At the colossal city gates, squads of soldiers stood at attention.
Every single one of them was a supernatural!
Nearly everyone coming and going possessed supernatural abilities. In other places, supernaturals were a rare sight, but here, they were everywhere.
This place appeared to be a city of hope.
It seemed to be a paradise for supernaturals.
Just as Li Hao and his companions came to a halt, a group of supernaturals arrived from behind. Some flew overhead riding upon divine weapons, some arrived on foot, and others drove cars, all hurrying back and forth.
Some bore fresh bloodstains upon their bodies. Despite the dead of winter, a bare-chested man was boasting loudly to his companions: "That broad was mighty fine! I offered to let you boys have a taste, but you turned it down..."
The two puppets seemed to understand his words and grew furious, poised to strike. Li Hao let out a soft rebuke that echoed within their minds: *Be quiet, both of you. While we are here, listen to me. Without my orders, do not act rashly!*
The two puppets were indignant and had no desire to heed Li Hao's commands.
They had only come out to watch the excitement.
Why should they listen to him?
Yet when they saw Li Hao's icy, piercing gaze—utterly unlike his previous demeanor—the two puppets quieted down. Vaguely, they felt a sliver of dread, as if facing elders of their own clans.
Even though this fellow was terribly weak!
Li Hao said nothing more. Seeing that the two had settled down, he continued riding Black Panther forward.
At the city gate, a guard moved to intercept them. With a sharp crack, a leather whip lashed across the guard, sending him tumbling across the ground. Li Hao snapped coldly, "Are you blind? You dare stop just anyone?"
The soldiers did not recognize Li Hao, yet an abrupt chill gripped their hearts. A man who appeared to be a squad leader hastily scurried forward, his face plastered with obsequious smiles. "Forgive them, my lord! These wretches have no eyes. Your Lordship struck him rightly; I will deal with each of them shortly. Please do not lower yourself to their level, my lord..."
"Get lost!"
"Yes, yes, right away..."
The man hurriedly backed away, bowing and scraping.
Li Hao and his companions strode through with ease. From behind them came the faint sound of the squad leader's scolding: "Are you fools blind? Didn't you see those two bodyguards following him? One look tells you he's no ordinary person! You dare block anyone? Countless dignitaries are arriving in the City of Supernaturals lately—open your damned eyes! Cause any more trouble, and I'll have all your heads lopped off!"
"Yes, Captain, please don't take it out on us..."
"..."
The voices gradually faded into the distance.
Inside the city, traffic bustled amidst immense prosperity.
Jiang Yingli could not hold back and asked, "Why did you hit him?"
Li Hao smiled. "I am stronger than them, so I can hit them. Isn't that right?"
"Of course that's not right!"
Jiang Yingli fumed. "How can you be so wicked? The strong exist to protect the weak, not to bully them! Does bullying the weak give you a sense of accomplishment? The man was merely doing his duty. When entering a city, isn't it only proper for the gate guards to inspect you? Why didn't you follow the rules and strike him instead?"
Li Hao took no offense and asked calmly, "Then what would happen in the Neo-Martial era?"
"Your head would be hanging from the city gates by tomorrow!"
Li Hao nodded slightly and smiled. "Yet this is not the Neo-Martial era."
The two puppets were infuriated and refused to speak to him.
Li Hao said slowly, "I was merely testing the waters to see how well the twelve clans govern this place. It seems... mediocre at best. Furthermore, those guards are hardly innocent. Look around you. When weak supernaturals enter, these guards make life difficult for them in every possible way; when powerful supernaturals enter, they grovel and fawn. It is said that if an ordinary person wanders in here by mistake, the guards will execute them on the spot..."
Li Hao smiled faintly. "So, do you still believe those guards are innocent?"
The two puppets froze and said nothing more.
"Thus, what the eye sees is not necessarily the truth. It seems neither of you suffered much hardship in your past lives, nor have you witnessed the depths of human malice."
Li Hao chuckled. "Too quick-tempered and prone to impulsive rage. You may possess Immortal Realm power, but your temperament... is ordinary. You are still too young."
The two puppets bristled at his words, yet in the end, they each huffed and turned away, ignoring him.
Li Hao's party strolled along the main thoroughfare. Supernaturals were everywhere. Shops lined both sides of the street, trading in divine energy stones, mysterious energy, weapons, and all manner of goods.
There were also places for food, drink, and entertainment.
Experts abounded throughout the city.
Some would rather beg here than live comfortably outside as petty merchants. One had to understand that ordinary people were forbidden from entering this place. Li Hao even spotted brothels. It was truly an eye-opening spectacle.
At present, the topic discussed most fervently was tomorrow's Council of Elders meeting.
Everyone was debating who would secure a seat among the elders, and which figures were particularly formidable.
Li Hao even overheard people talking about the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office.
"What a load of rubbish, that Governor-General's Office! Didn't they claim they would oversee all the supernaturals under the heavens? Do they dare stick their noses into the City of Supernaturals? What a joke! Once the Council of Elders is established and joins hands with the two Sacred Mountains, we'll raid the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office directly! We'll capture that Li Hao, chop off his head, and hang it above the city gates!"
"Hahaha, wouldn't that be letting him off too easy? I heard that Li Hao is quite good-looking. Why don't we... hehehe..."
"Damn, your tastes are heavy!"
"Hahaha, wouldn't taking someone of his status yield a great sense of accomplishment?"
"True enough, hahaha!"
"Damn it all, it's all because of that bastard that the Night Patrol is acting like they have authority again. A couple of days ago, I accidentally killed a few mortals, and those bastards actually dared to pursue me! Barking dogs relying on their master's favor—in the past, whenever those lackeys saw us, they wouldn't dare make a peep!"
"That's why the City of Supernaturals is the best! What does Li Hao understand? We possess supernatural power and are the masters of this world! Are we supposed to abide by laws like those mortals, getting arrested just for killing a mundane peasant? There are billions of mortals, but how many supernaturals are there?"
"What does he know? He just wants to throw his weight around and show the world how mighty he is. In truth, he's nothing!"
"Hahaha, exactly! Once our City of Supernaturals grows stronger this time, I'll call all my friends over. Sooner or later, this realm will belong to the City of Supernaturals!"
"Who says it won't?"
"..."
Conversations like these echoed through every street and alleyway.
When the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office was first established, people had harbored some fear. But as the days passed, the Night Patrol dared not set foot here, Li Hao's forces never showed their faces, and the City of Supernaturals continued to expand rapidly. By now, who still cared about Li Hao?
Beneath Li Hao, Black Panther was practically itching to bite someone to death!
Chen Zhongtian glanced at Li Hao. However, Li Hao remained completely calm. He felt no anger, only amusement.
Riding Black Panther, Li Hao sighed softly. "Director Chen, do you think these people have forgotten that their relatives, their friends, and their elders might largely be ordinary people? Why is it that the moment they gain a sliver of power, they lose themselves, believing they are the chosen favorites of heaven and the center of the universe, treating ordinary people as tools to be slaughtered and plundered at will?"
Chen Zhongtian pondered before replying, "Power came too easily, and so did wealth. Once they gained power and wealth without any oversight, they took whatever they wanted simply by killing the other party. Nobody could hold them in check. Now that someone wishes to govern them, they will naturally resist..."
Jiang Yingli suddenly interjected, "That's not entirely right either. Suddenly acquiring power isn't inherently bad. But their minds are dominated solely by the doctrine of might, and that is wrong. Lacking clear goals and convictions, it simply boils down to a lack of proper education!"
Li Hao's eyes flickered. "What do you mean?"
"If they had received an education from childhood, possessed basic logical reasoning, adhered to fundamental morals and ethics, and could distinguish right from wrong, power would not cause them to lose control!"
Jiang Yingli spoke with utmost seriousness. "Many people experience a sudden surge of power. But as long as you aren't ignorant, even if you gain great strength, you won't suddenly lose control like these people!"
Li Hao grew thoughtful. "You mean it's still a matter of education?"
"Yes!"
Jiang Yingli nodded her large mechanical head. "If you received an education from a young age, then upon reaching adulthood, even if you suddenly gained immense power, your first thought would never be destruction. At most, you would use it to improve your own life, rather than acting so arrogantly, recklessly, and without sense.
"Therefore, I believe backward education is the root cause."
Li Hao nodded; he found her words quite reasonable.
Had he not suddenly gained great power himself?
Had he lost control?
No.
Because he possessed basic rationality, logical reasoning, and a moral compass. He believed that bullying the weak was wrong and unacceptable.
He had received that kind of upbringing.
Yet in the eyes of these people, possessing immense power meant they could act without restraint and do whatever they pleased, because they were gods!
Chen Zhongtian listened in silence as well, lost in thought.
Presently, an enormous inner city came into view at the center of the metropolis.
There was actually an inner city here, occupying nearly half the entire settlement.
From the murmurs of those nearby, they gleaned some details: this was the domain of the twelve ancient clans. They were the aristocracy of the City of Supernaturals, and their clan members all resided within the inner city.
Formidable rogue cultivators within the city were also permitted entry.
The inner city hosted shops and residences as well, but ordinary supernaturals could not enter. One needed to be at least at the Three Suns realm to qualify.
Among rogue cultivators, Three Suns was considered quite formidable.
Furthermore, the inner city housed numerous supernatural academies.
The Three Great Organizations, the Nine Departments, and the Seven Sacred Mountains—aside from Sky Sword Manor—all maintained stationed outposts within the inner city. Sky Sword Manor alone had never dispatched anyone, as Sky Sword refused to meddle in outside affairs.
Li Hao opened his spiritual sight to peer into the inner city.
A crimson radiance flickered in his eyes.
With a glance, Li Hao raised his eyebrows slightly. There were truly quite a few powerhouses.
At his current realm, he could perceive far more than before.
Supernaturals packed the inner city, and their average strength far surpassed those in the outer city. The glowing spheres of Three Suns experts were packed densely; at a rough estimate, there were no fewer than a thousand. He had never seen so many Three Suns gathered in one place.
As for Rising Light experts, Li Hao scanned the area and spotted around a hundred.
There were also a substantial number of experts with supernatural abilities. Several locations had particularly dense concentrations, likely the estates of the various major clans, each housing several such powerhouses.
With the Council of Elders meeting approaching, the supernatural ability experts usually stationed outside had likely all returned.
A whole crowd of them!
Li Hao refrained from probing too deeply. A cursory scan was sufficient; probing too long would easily alert the supernatural ability experts.
"Quite a formidable force!" Li Hao chuckled, then took another look at the inner city. It was vast.
He mused to himself that given its size, even with several mirror fragments, it would likely be difficult to blanket the entire area.
Of course, tomorrow's meeting would not take place across the entire inner city. It would likely be held in a specific venue, where the mirror fragments could easily cover the space. If that proved insufficient, he had also brought the Hole-Locking Chains, though he was unsure how effective they would be.
The group walked forward. The guards at the inner city gates were considerably stronger, mostly at the Solar Flare realm.
Without a word, Chen Zhongtian casually produced a token. The guards respectfully cleared the way for them to enter.
Chen Zhongtian dismounted his donkey and said as they walked, "This is a token presented by the City of Supernaturals to major factions, meant to prevent subordinates from offending visiting experts. My token belongs to the Inspectorate. It is only natural for someone from the Inspectorate to observe their Council of Elders meeting. Most likely, every faction will send observers tomorrow."
Li Hao nodded slightly. By now, he had donned a hooded cloak. He could not be bothered to disguise his face, so throwing on a cloak was simpler; many people on the streets were dressed the same way.
Chen Zhongtian, however, wore no cloak. He had simply reverted his appearance to a younger age, looking even more youthful than Chen Yao—dashing and debonair, though leading a donkey slightly diminished his suave air.
The two did not bother soundproofing their conversation. Ordinary people could not overhear them anyway, and any expert hoping to eavesdrop would have to be stronger than Li Hao.
"Shall we head straight to the Lin clan, or what?" Chen Zhongtian asked. "If we want to be cautious, we can lie low first and decide based on how things look tomorrow."
"No need!" Li Hao shook his head. "Since Lin Hongyu had the audacity to invite me, I will show her that my courage exceeds her wildest imagination! If her submission is genuine, so be it. If she feigned submission to lure me here... I will grant her wish! Going directly will only make her more uneasy!"
Chen Zhongtian clicked his tongue inwardly. At times, Li Hao was cautious to an extreme, such as when dealing with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion.
At other times, he was exceptionally bold, as he was now. Was he truly not afraid of being swarmed by these experts?
Naturally, Li Hao was not afraid.
Skill bred daring.
Setting aside the two puppets, he had made ample preparations for this trip. Though they might not necessarily be needed, he currently carried a large supply of energy artillery shells; detonating them directly could easily wipe out half the city.
***
The Lin Clan, City Lord's Estate.
The estate was immense, situated right at the heart of the inner city—the Lin clan's territory.
Inside the main hall of the City Lord's Estate, a group of elders was engaged in heated discussion. Below Lin Hongyu, the elders debated amongst themselves. One of them looked toward Lin Hongyu and spoke with dissatisfaction: "Hongyu, you were far too hasty! Even if you intended to form the Council of Elders, you should have informed us beforehand so we could make thorough preparations. That way, the Lin clan could secure more seats on the council! The notice was far too short, and now the whole city is in an uproar... Every clan is going all out, while we are unprepared. Aren't we simply handing over our voice to others?"
"Indeed, Hongyu! A matter of such magnitude should have been decided only after consulting the clan!"
"Furthermore, why did Lord Redwood seal off the entrance to the ruins these past few days? I was just hoping to trade for some Spring of Life to make a breakthrough, yet no one knows what's going on. Hongyu, do you know anything about this?"
"..."
The clan elders chimed in one after another, their voices filled with discontent and grievances.
This move had been far too rushed and poorly prepared.
They had wanted to bolster their strength, yet inside the ruins, the Redwood tree had suddenly vanished from sight, leaving everyone unable to trade for the Spring of Life.
Seated at the head of the hall, Lin Hongyu leaned back in her chair, resting her chin on one hand as she watched them in silence.
Once the elders finished their complaints, Lin Hongyu revealed a faint smile. "Respected elders and seniors, complaining about this now is pointless. I only wish to know: where is the Lin clan's world-suppressing divine weapon?"
At those words, several brows furrowed. Below, an elder with a snow-white beard and hair said in a deep voice, "That is the sacred treasure anchoring our clan's fortune. Once you grow powerful enough, Hongyu, it will naturally be handed to you. For now... the Lin Clan Council of Elders will hold it in safekeeping."
Lin Hongyu chuckled softly. "Seven-element experts have already appeared on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, yet I am only at the peak of six elements. Without a trump card to rely upon, how am I supposed to match them? You elders are truly... shortsighted! If I grow stronger, would I ever mistreat the Lin clan? Clinging to the world-suppressing divine weapon, how much of its might can you even unleash? Are you hoping to overthrow me? Keeping it in your hands only diminishes the Lin clan's overall strength. Otherwise, even if seven-element experts appeared, I could rival them. You are truly obstinate and incorrigible!"
"Lin Hongyu!" The white-haired elder roared in fury, "Is this how you speak to your clan elders?"
Lin Hongyu smiled, appearing somewhat languid. "Then how should I speak? My talent surpasses everyone's, and my strength has outstripped you old relics. I even became the City Lord of the City of Supernaturals, leaving the other eleven clans with no choice but to submit, even if only grudgingly behind my back. You old fogeys do nothing all day but complain, hoard, conceal, and leech off others! What good does holding the world-suppressing divine weapon do in your hands? Grand Elder, don't tell me you want to be the City Lord yourself? If I hand it to you, do you dare take it?"
The old man flushed with rage!
The other elders paled as well. In the past, Lin Hongyu had never minced her words, but because she still had to rely on the Lin clan, she had never been this blunt. Today, she was mocking them openly in front of everyone!
This was simply... lawless!
"Lin Hongyu, are you trying to rebel?"
"Disrespectful! Utterly lawless!"
"I said long ago that a woman cannot manage a household, but you wouldn't listen! Look at her now—does she respect any rules?"
"Fortunately, we never handed the world-suppressing divine weapon to her. Otherwise, would we even have a voice left?"
"..."
The hall erupted into a chaotic clamor. Naturally, some spoke up on Lin Hongyu's behalf, attempting to placate the crowd: "Hongyu is doing this for everyone's sake, for the Lin clan's sake. Now that the Wind and Cloud Ranking has been released, you've all seen that seven-element experts have emerged. Hongyu is anxious... That Li Hao is also eyeing the City of Supernaturals covetously. In my opinion, if the world-suppressing divine weapon were truly given to Hongyu, she would have more confidence facing seven-element experts and the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office..."
"Bah! Li Hao is nothing but an inexperienced brat—how would he dare provoke us? If the twelve clans join forces, we can suppress him with ease! Even if all those Silver Moon martial artists come together, they won't escape death! In my view, you simply want to drive us out and monopolize the Lin clan's power..."
Lin Hongyu could not even be bothered to respond anymore.
What clan power? Pure rubbish!
Shortsighted fools!
If the Lin clan had not held her back, she would have obtained the world-suppressing divine weapon years ago and might have suppressed the other eleven clans long ago. Instead... these old fossils hoarded and concealed it, refusing to hand it over no matter what.
Even after she had led the Lin clan to this height, making them first among the twelve clans and securing the position of City Lord, the result remained the same.
They were terrified that she would usurp the clan's power!
Under such circumstances, seven-element experts had now appeared. In the past, she would not have been in a hurry, confident in her ability to match anyone. But now?
The Lin clan remained as stubborn as ever!
In that case... do not blame me for being ruthless.
She could not be bothered to waste words. It was high time the Lin clan's old relics woke up from their pipe dreams of dominating the realm. A clan that refused to back its own peerless genius, yet dreamed of unifying the world and building a sacred land to rival Star Suppressing City... they should wash their faces and go back to sleep!
Had she not cared for the fact that they were family, she would have lashed out years ago.
She blamed herself as well—she had lacked sufficient ruthlessness. Which of these old men truly feared her? At every turn, they invoked clan rules and family ties to bind her.
As these thoughts crossed her mind, her heart suddenly stirred.
A faint divine intent rippled across her senses.
Lin Hongyu's expression shifted slightly!
This force was very familiar.
*That fellow has such colossal nerve!*
She could hardly believe it. She had expected Li Hao to come, but never imagined he would arrive so boldly and openly.
Rising swiftly to her feet, she ignored her clamoring elders and strode toward the exit.
"Lin Hongyu, we haven't finished speaking—where do you think you're going?"
"Get back here!"
"Insolence! Simply lawless..."
***
Outside the estate.
Li Hao smiled faintly. "Is Lin Hongyu really the master of this Lin clan?"
He could hear the shouting from inside.
Chen Zhongtian was somewhat on guard, yet he smiled as well. "These ancient clans sometimes have excessive rules. It is said they inherited them from the ancient civilization, with so many rules it makes one's head spin..."
Beside them, Li Shengzhang remarked with an odd look, "Ancient civilization? Are they talking about us? Did we have that many rules?"
"..."
Li Hao was speechless.
Li Shengzhang said softly, "We did have rules, but most of the time, we didn't obsess over them. Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a virtue, but when it comes to getting things done, the capable rise while the mediocre step down. Take this clan, for instance: back in our day, if such a genius appeared—possessing top-tier strength and ample competence—the entire clan would support them, sparing no effort at all costs. Just like the Human King: back then, the Supreme felt the Human King could do a better job than him, so he willingly stepped behind the scenes and ceded the core position to the Human King, completing a smooth transition.
"One should only eat as much as one's ability permits. Those lacking competence, even if they are elders, should retire behind the scenes to enjoy their old age. If they are truly bored, they can teach and nurture the new generation for the clan and the human race."
Li Hao nodded. That sounded quite reasonable.
Of course, he had no personal experience with such things. He was the sole survivor of the Li clan, with no one to hold him back. As for his master, he acted purely as he pleased, never commanding Li Hao to do anything by force, much less micromanaging him.
At that moment, the guards outside the estate stood highly vigilant.
They had no idea what this group wanted.
They wanted to drive them away, yet felt a distinct sense of danger.
Just as they hesitated, a figure approached briskly. The guards' expressions shifted, and they hastily bowed. "City Lord!"
Lin Hongyu nodded slightly and looked toward the newcomers. First, she recognized Li Hao at a glance.
Next, she looked at Chen Zhongtian, puzzled. Who was this?
Gradually, her expression changed.
This man... was not weak!
In fact, he was not weaker than her!
He was no Silver Moon martial artist, yet he felt exceptionally formidable—at least at the peak of six elements. Peak of six elements... She mentally reviewed the six-element peaks on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, and after a moment, a name struck her.
She was incredulous!
*Chen Zhongtian?*
*Could it be him?*
She had never seen Chen Zhongtian in his youth, but she had seen his aged appearance. Comparing the two... there was indeed a resemblance.
Looking at the two figures behind Li Hao, she could discern nothing, only sensing that they did not seem like living beings.
As for the horse beside Li Hao... an ugly horse... it was probably... that dog?
These thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant. Lin Hongyu regained her composure and smiled at the group. "Welcome..."
She was momentarily unsure of how to address him.
These people were far too audacious, marching right in like this.
"Just call me Brother Demon, don't stand on ceremony!"
"..."
Lin Hongyu was stunned for a moment before forcing an awkward smile. "Bro... Brother Demon? Please, come inside. I thought you would only arrive tomorrow..."
"We just arrived. Today or tomorrow makes no difference."
Li Hao stepped right through the gates, and the others followed suit.
At that moment, a group of elders came marching over aggressively from nearby. The leading elder roared, "Hongyu, what are you..."
*Boom!*
A powerful aura erupted in an instant. Lin Hongyu's eyes turned frosty. "Get lost! Flaunting your age before me—can't you see I'm receiving guests? Get back inside!"
The sudden eruption of her aura startled the elders across from her.
Glancing at Li Hao's group, they turned tail and slunk away in embarrassment.
There was no other reason—the murderous intent radiating from Lin Hongyu had terrified them. They were all wondering what kind of guests she was receiving.
Lin Hongyu rarely lost her temper, yet today she had unleashed such fury.
"Pardon the embarrassment!" Lin Hongyu retracted her aura and smiled. "The elders in my clan have grown old and muddled in the head. In the past, I couldn't be bothered to argue with them, but that only made them push their luck."
Li Hao smiled. "I actually see you in a new light now. With a bunch of deadweights dragging you down, you still managed to become the City Lord of the City of Supernaturals. You truly have some ability!"
Leading them toward the rear courtyard, Lin Hongyu smiled. "Strength is what matters most! Of course, there are times I envy you, Gover... Brother Demon. Whenever trouble strikes, someone is always willing to lend you a helping hand."
"That is true," Li Hao nodded. The martial ethos of Silver Moon was fairly decent; at least people were loyal and valued brotherhood.
As she walked, Lin Hongyu asked, "For this trip, are... these the only ones who came?"
It was too few!
Even if he didn't summon all the experts of Silver Moon, he should have brought more people.
"There are others."
"That's good to hear."
Lin Hongyu felt slightly relieved, then asked, "Then tomorrow, how does Brother Demon intend to strike? What is the specific plan?"
"How to strike? The plan?" Li Hao blinked. "It's very simple. Once everyone arrives, I will seal off the surroundings. Anyone who refuses to comply will be killed; anyone who causes trouble will be killed; anyone who deserves to die will be killed. Those who are obedient will be spared. Isn't that enough?"
"..."
Lin Hongyu was dumbstruck.
Just like that?
She could not help but say, "Tomorrow, there might truly be nearly a hundred supernatural ability experts! My thought was that once tomorrow's meeting begins, I would first bring up cooperating with the Governor-General. I believe some people will support it. We can win over a portion of them and sway the neutral parties first. Then I will make the first move. The Governor-General needn't rush; once I have gained the upper hand, you can strike..."
Li Hao shook his head. "Too troublesome!"
"..."
Lin Hongyu nearly cursed aloud. *I know you're strong, but how many people did you bring?*
Tomorrow, once those clan experts unleashed their world-suppressing divine weapons, even if one person alone could not match a seven-element expert, what about three or five of them together?
*Do you truly believe you are invincible under the heavens?*
*If I hadn't been denied our world-suppressing divine weapon, I wouldn't even fear you!*
*I thought you arrived early to discuss the plan with me and make thorough preparations. Turns out you're just here to go through the motions?*
Though cursing profusely in her heart, she maintained a graceful, generous smile on her face.
As if sensing her silent curses, Li Hao chuckled. "Why complicate a simple matter? Rest assured, tomorrow I will stay right by your side. You can point out directly who cannot be spared. We will kill them first to cow the rest, and then deal with the remainder one by one..."
"No, what I mean is..."
Li Hao looked at her. "Since you have so little confidence in me, why did you choose to submit to me?"
Lin Hongyu frowned slightly. "That wasn't my meaning. It's just that there will be many powerful experts tomorrow!"
"I know!" Li Hao nodded. "Would seven six-element experts and three seven-element experts put your mind at ease?"
Lin Hongyu froze.
Li Hao said casually, "Among those seven six-element experts, most are at the peak and can barely hold off seven-element experts. Do you think... that's enough? If you feel it's insufficient, there is still time for me to call more people."
Lin Hongyu's jaw dropped.
*Are you kidding me?*
Right at that moment, a faint power of origin emanated from her body. The next instant, an unfamiliar voice emerged: "Governor Li... truly... makes one look at you in a new light!"
Li Hao smiled. "I apologize for slaying Senior's clone previously. However, Senior's strength exceeded my expectations as well. After losing a Peak Realm clone, you managed to condense another near-Peak Realm clone so quickly. I imagine you are no weakling even among the Immortal Realm."
In that instant, heaven and earth were sealed, and a domain manifested.
The Redwood clone felt a suffocating pressure.
It spoke hastily: "You flatter me. It's just... the two behind Governor Li..."
"Students of Yuanping Martial Arts University."
"So that's it!"
The Redwood tree seemed to recognize them, its voice laced with humility: "Greetings to the two... Imperial Scions."
The two robotic cats could not be bothered to reply.
They disliked the title of Imperial Scion, but certain demon races always insisted on addressing them that way. It was difficult to correct, so they generally ignored it.
The Redwood tree seemed unbothered, or perhaps it had long grown accustomed to such treatment in the past.
It turned to Lin Hongyu and said, "In that case, there is no need to worry. With the two Imperial Scions present, nothing should go wrong."
Anyone hailing from Yuanping Martial Arts University possessed extraordinary origins. Even if their true depths could not be discerned right now, they were clearly exceptional.
Li Hao smiled. "Senior needn't say that. Tomorrow, we may still need to rely heavily on your assistance."
"I would not dare claim such a thing. This old one is willing, but lacks the strength..."
"How could that be!" Li Hao chuckled. "Once we deal with these people tomorrow, I also intend to deal with the true bodies of those demon plants. Senior's true body should act together with me tomorrow to pull them up by the roots!"
"..."
The Redwood tree froze.
"Senior's true body is not weak. I will attempt to use my domain to seal heaven and earth so that the origin power does not leak. They aren't far away; most are likely in this vicinity. We will storm the ruins and shatter their true bodies. Senior can claim their origin power, and we can eliminate future troubles. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
The Redwood tree nearly choked!
*I thought I wouldn't have to intervene, but you actually plan to slaughter the demon plants' true bodies!*
Li Hao smiled. "Senior... what do you think?"
The Redwood tree rapidly weighed its options. Li Hao added, "If Senior is unwilling, it doesn't matter; I can always deal with them later. However... if you miss this opportunity, Senior will likely never have another chance to devour so much origin power. There are plenty of people eager to do this! It was only because the demon plants of the other eleven clans are likely mediocre in strength and inferior to Senior that I offered this opportunity to you."
The Redwood tree sank into deep contemplation before finally saying after a long pause, "This... those Daoist friends, after all, are old acquaintances of mine. We all know each other..."
"Then forget it!"
"No, no, no, what I mean is: living is far too agonizing for them, struggling on the verge of life and death. I shall... help release them from their suffering!"
Lin Hongyu was utterly flabbergasted!
Were... were these truly the words of the timid, overly cautious Redwood Venerable?
Naturally, the Redwood tree harbored its own calculations.
Right now, it was thinking that both Imperial Scions from Yuanping Martial Arts University were present. If it refused to participate, it might truly lose this opportunity forever.
In that case... why not take the gamble!
The young man before it was indeed terrifying.
This domain alone made it sense that the world was about to undergo a profound transformation.
At this moment, it actually felt that Lin Hongyu had made the right choice.
If they had continued to resist stubbornly, disaster would surely have befallen them.
Who would have thought Lin Hongyu possessed such foresight?
With the backing of Battle Heaven City and Yuanping Martial Arts University, Li Hao's foundation was terrifyingly solid. The Redwood tree made up its mind in an instant: rather than letting other demon plants reap the benefits, why shouldn't it step up?
Lin Hongyu was equally shaken. She had not expected Redwood to defect so swiftly.
Hadn't it been cursing incessantly before?
Suppressing countless sarcastic thoughts, she quickly composed her expression into a smile. "Then... here's to everything going smoothly tomorrow!"
Li Hao laughed. "It will certainly go smoothly. If it doesn't, that just means City Lord Lin leaked the news."
"..."
Lin Hongyu was left utterly speechless.
***
On that day, the City of Supernaturals grew increasingly bustling.
As for the guests arriving at the Lin clan, some people took notice, but Lin Hongyu had ushered them directly into the rear courtyard. Even the Lin clan members dared not pry, so outsiders certainly dared not ask rashly. In any case, nobody intended to contest the position of City Lord; while they paid some attention, they did not take it too seriously.
Perhaps they were helpers invited by Lin Hongyu to secure an extra seat or two on the Council of Elders for the Lin clan?
Besides, the visitors had arrived openly and boldly, not skulking in secret. Nobody would ever suspect Li Hao. Most people assumed they were experts arriving from Jade Flute Mountain or Setting Sun Mountain.
Under such circumstances, the night passed amidst the eager anticipation of many.
The Council of Elders meeting of the City of Supernaturals was about to officially begin.
This perhaps signaled that the City of Supernaturals was formally embarking on the path of hegemony, rising to become a dominant power ruling the earth.
Chapter 274