All in Readiness

Inside the Imperial Palace. Li Hao treated the little tree with great courtesy. Wave upon wave of origin energy welled forth, and the little tree's true body greedily devoured it. At this moment, it felt as though it were living in paradise. *So wonderful!* *Heavens, this feels incredible.* Its massive canopy swayed incessantly. The little tree felt as if it were in a dream. Lately, it had done practically nothing—or at least its true body had done next to nothing except cultivate a bit of grain—yet it was continually absorbing origin energy. It almost felt too good to be true. Across the land of Silver Moon, it was still far too young. Perhaps it was the very first new demon plant born after the Neo-Martial era. Compared to other demon plants, it was weak and pitiful, utterly incapable of competing with them for energy. Had there not been an eruption twenty years ago from which it absorbed a trickle, it might have withered away long ago. Even so, when Li Hao first visited, it couldn't even beat Golden Spear; it could only frighten him a bit, and at that time Golden Spear merely possessed the strength of the Rising Light realm. Now, however, its clone had absorbed massive amounts of origin energy, and its true body was absorbing it once more. The little tree felt that it might soon reach the level of power its father had wielded back in his day. Of course, it knew that was an illusion. Even so, it was thrilled beyond measure. *So comfortable!* At that moment, Li Hao smiled as well. "Senior Tree, do you have a name?" "Huh?" "A name," Li Hao said. "Too many demon plants are reviving these days. I can't keep calling you Senior Tree forever." The little tree blanked out for a moment. *A name?* It was merely a demon plant born after the death of the previous Imperial Palace guardian. Where would it get a name? Li Hao suggested, "Why don't I give Senior one? How about Di Wei? The Sovereign's Guard." The little tree had no objections. To it, any name was fine. "Whatever you like." Li Hao chuckled. "Senior Di Wei, care to take a look outside?" "Outside?" "That's right. The Sovereign's secondary palace is very safe right now, and nobody dares trespass rashly. If Senior remains here indefinitely, you won't have the strength to guard it anyway. Leaving now, while the other demon plants have yet to fully revive, is your only chance. Otherwise... with Senior's current strength, how can you defend the Imperial Palace?" Li Hao sighed. "There is a whole pile of Immortals, and Saints are not few in number. Senior is only at the Peak Realm; how can you compare to them? If you don't seize this window before everyone revives to go out and grow stronger, you won't have many chances left." The little tree hesitated. "My clone is outside..." "A clone is only a clone. Its combat strength isn't high, barely reaching the Peak Realm. How could it compare to your true body?" The little tree remained torn. The Imperial Palace stood behind it. Should it really leave? In the past, it would never have entertained such a thought. Yet now, Li Hao had countless opportunities to offer. Just as Li Hao said, without strength, how could it guard anything? Its mindset had changed. After a long pause, the little tree asked, "If I leave, will you still cultivate grain?" By now, it had grown a substantial amount of crops. Li Hao chuckled. "That's easy. I'll pay some divine energy stones and have Battle Heaven City help cultivate it. Compared to General Huai, I feel far closer to Senior Di Wei. It doesn't need to come with me." *Really?* The little tree felt a surge of joy. *That... actually sounds pretty good.* "Then... what about the Imperial Palace..." A pang of sentimentality struck the little tree. After a long moment, it said, "Then I will use my father's remnant trunk to seal this place off. Imperial Palace, I will return." It told itself: *I am only leaving to become stronger, to protect the Imperial Palace better, not neglecting my duties.* *Father, once I grow strong and return, no one will be able to violate the Imperial Palace.* Its current strength was far too meager. Just as Li Hao said, the survivors today were either Immortals or Great Saints. How could a mere Peak Realm demon plant guard the Imperial Palace? Though the palace lay abandoned, it had once been the Sovereign's domain. How could it allow outsiders to trample upon it? Harboring these thoughts and lingering reluctance, the little tree ultimately chose to leave with Li Hao. Li Hao broke into a smile. More and more powerhouses in Silver Moon were being abducted by him... no, brought out to empower themselves. There were more and more capable hands around him. Yet... the key still rested upon his own strength. If he could rival an Immortal or a Great Saint, why would he need all these roundabout schemes? Li Hao mused silently. He had been so busy lately that he hadn't had time to cultivate his own strength. Although he had been comprehending the force of the five elements and refining his five elements domain, and combat also served to improve him, it still fell short of his satisfaction. More than ten days had passed since the Wind and Cloud List appeared. Yet his own strength hadn't grown by much. Only after his teacher arrived and explained the concept of domains did he make a little progress. Over the past half month, his cultivation had advanced very slowly. *The key... is still myself!* *The remaining drops of the Spring of Life cannot be wasted. I must at least use some on myself to make me stronger.* With these thoughts in mind, Li Hao gave the little tree a heads-up, telling it that he would take everyone along when he departed. Li Hao even worried whether his domain could withstand the strain with so many people this time. Director Wang with his newly restored flesh, the little tree's true body, and the five awakened auxiliary generals... Of course, he wouldn't need to carry them around constantly. Even with Director Wang, Li Hao would likely only keep him close for a short time rather than by his side forever. ... Li Hao was exceedingly busy. After settling things with the little tree, he rushed non-stop to the Silver Moon Army. Inside the military camp. Huang Yu looked quite surprised to see Li Hao. He knew Li Hao had returned a few days ago, and Director Zhao had met with him as well. Yet... why was this fellow still here? Hadn't he left at all? "Aren't you busy lately?" Huang Yu couldn't help asking, "Why are you still lingering in Silver Moon?" Was everything in Heavenly Star City fine? Didn't they say he was fighting the Wind and Cloud Pavilion? Was that off now? Li Hao laughed. "Commander Yu, I need your help." "Who are we killing? The Wind and Cloud Pavilion?" "No, the City of Supernaturals." Huang Yu frowned slightly, looking solemn. "They're hard to deal with! With twelve ancient families holding the fort, nearly a hundred Supernaturals, Lin Hongyu's formidable power, and divine weapons guarding the clans, I know a fair bit about their situation. They won't be easy to take down, and making too much noise will easily provoke a joint siege from the other factions! You went after the Wind and Cloud Pavilion because they were mysterious and everyone wanted you to test their waters, so that wasn't a problem... Don't just act on every whim." "I didn't want to either." Li Hao sighed. Huang Yu said gravely, "Then drop it!" Li Hao shook his head helplessly. "How can I drop it? Eleven clans have been wiped out by me, the unaffiliated Supernaturals have all been slaughtered, Lin Hongyu has surrendered, and even the demon plant behind her has surrendered. A million supernaturals are right there for the taking—how do I drop it?" "..." Huang Yu stared at him, dumbstruck. Li Hao sighed. "I didn't want to take over right now either, but I really have no choice. The Inspectorate has defected to me, and Chen Zhongtian has been pestering me nonstop to take it over. Before I even had time to handle that, over at the City of Supernaturals, Lin Hongyu held a Council of Elders meeting and killed every single participant along the way. She insists on handing the city to me and wants me to arrange someone to take charge... I truly can't find anyone else, so I could only come to Commander Yu to oversee the City of Supernaturals and prevent a million supernaturals from causing unrest." Huang Yu continued to stare blankly at him. The City of Supernaturals surrendered? Why hadn't he heard a single whisper of this? As for the Inspectorate, he had somewhat anticipated it. After all, Chen Zhongtian had participated in killing the Golden Palm last time; it was quite natural for a man like him to choose surrender. But the City of Supernaturals came completely out of nowhere. Stationed in the City of Supernaturals to prevent a million supernaturals from rioting. He was thoroughly stunned. Li Hao frowned. "Commander Yu, Silver Moon cannot remain on the defensive forever. Meeting the enemy beyond our borders—hasn't that always been our goal? Hole up in Silver Moon, and even if all three hundred thousand troops of the Silver Moon Army become martial masters and elites, it won't earn as much merit as suppressing a million supernaturals..." Huang Yu was silent for a long while before asking, "Could it be a conspiracy?" "How could it be? We killed the people with our own hands, along with five demon plants..." Huang Yu's mouth fell open, and he stared at Li Hao. After a long time, he murmured, "Has Lin Hongyu lost her mind?" Why surrender? Her faction wasn't weak; the city had nearly a hundred Supernaturals. With strength like that, she surrendered just like that, and within three days, Li Hao had annexed them. Probably no one in the world would have expected this. Li Hao chuckled. "Why not? I ran into her on the road earlier and nearly killed her. She knew she was no match for me. Smart people choose to surrender; only fools put up a hopeless resistance, don't they?" *Fair enough!* Huang Yu felt a wave of helplessness. After a pause, he said, "The Silver Moon Army can be handled by others, so that's not an issue. But over on Old Zhao's side... Kong Jie isn't coming back, Hou Xiaochen has left, Zhou Chuan has left, and if I leave too..." He felt somewhat embarrassed. Was it appropriate for everyone to leave? Back then, they had sworn to be the Four Guardians of Silver Moon, to protect the land together. Good grief, in just a few months, almost everyone was gone. A batch of veteran martial masters had departed, a large group of experts from the Silver Moon martial arts world had departed, and now even he was about to leave... Yes, he had decided to go. To suppress a million supernaturals! To stabilize the general situation of the world! To be honest, to him, this was indeed far better than holing up in Silver Moon. He knew very well what a disaster it would be if a million supernaturals scattered outward in chaos. It was just that... he felt a bit sorry for Old Zhao. Old Zhao had made countless preparations in Silver Moon. What if... what if Li Hao completely wiped out all the formidable enemies outside Silver Moon before Old Zhao's preparations could even be tested? Wouldn't that mean years of preparation had gone to waste? How awkward would that be! Then again, if the war never reached the soil of Silver Moon, that seemed pretty good too. Thoughts flickered across his mind. After a moment, Huang Yu cleared his throat. "Then... should I go tell Old Zhao? Do we tell him all this?" "No need!" Li Hao said with a grin, "Just tell him that I need to deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion recently, and ask Director Zhao to release you." Huang Yu fell silent for a moment. "Do you not trust him?" "Not necessarily." Li Hao considered for a moment before saying, "It's the main city behind the Zhao family. I know that among the eight main cities, at least one has turned traitor. I'm not sure which one it is. Director Zhao has a preconceived notion, just like me. I believe Battle Heaven City didn't betray us, while he believes the Zhao family's main city didn't... In that case, we should stay out of each other's way." Huang Yu hesitated, but Li Hao was right. Director Zhao was convinced the Zhao family's main city hadn't betrayed humanity, and he suspected Battle Heaven City. Meanwhile, Li Hao suspected the main city backing Director Zhao... This was only natural. Huang Yu thought it over and nodded. "Mm, I understand." Li Hao smiled. "It's good that Commander Yu understands. I bear no malice toward Director Zhao, but I maintain a measure of vigilance toward all those awakened beings from the ancient civilization." "As you should!" Huang Yu nodded. "As modern people, we can admire and revere these ancients, but we must never become their puppets. Otherwise... we will become the next Neo-Martial, and perhaps vanish from this land just as quickly." The Neo-Martial civilization was incredibly strong, yet it had vanished nonetheless. "Then I won't go see Director Zhao. You can speak to him yourself, Commander Yu. In addition... this time, pick ten thousand elites, fully armored, and conceal them first in the Lin family's castle, or even inside the ruins. The demon plant in the Lin family's ruins is very powerful; having it assist their cultivation will allow everyone to improve rapidly... If any unexpected change occurs, these ten thousand elites will be our trump card to sweep across the Central Region." Huang Yu's expression changed slightly. "Deploying ten thousand troops makes too big a commotion." "No matter. I have a battleship that can carry ten thousand men. If we move fast, we can reach the destination very quickly and hide inside the ruins while no one is paying attention..." At this point, Li Hao paused with slight hesitation. "However, having so many men disappear from the Silver Moon Army might draw attention." Huang Yu nodded, then quickly chuckled. "It's fine. We've done this before. We'll just say they were dispatched to clear out pirates. It won't be a problem." "That's good!" Huang Yu asked curiously, "Armored... what kind of armor will they wear?" "Battle Heaven armor!" Huang Yu gasped. *Fuck!* Where did he get ten thousand suits of armor? Had this guy cleaned out Battle Heaven City completely? Ten thousand suits of armor, followed by cultivating inside the ruins—once this ten-thousand-man legion appeared at a critical juncture, even if they couldn't take on top-tier powerhouses, sweeping across the central provinces and rapidly invading the various commanderies would be a breeze. The royal family's Black Armor Army numbered barely ten thousand. And Li Hao also had over two thousand men in the Demon Hunting Army. Moreover, none of them were weak. Huang Yu's eyes gleamed as he looked at Li Hao. "Did you really become a division commander?" "Of course!" Li Hao smiled. "Besides that, I can also manufacture armor. A hundred suits a day—not a huge quantity, but enough to repair damaged gear. It requires some divine energy stones. I'll hand the equipment over to Commander Yu. That way, even if casualties occur, the gear can be replaced immediately." Huang Yu swallowed hard. *A production line?* He suddenly felt that his past several decades had been lived in vain! "I know about these things. Every main city has them, but they never sell them to outsiders, and you wouldn't even be allowed near them. That's the core of a main city's armory. You..." "In Battle Heaven City, I'm practically at the commander level now!" Li Hao said proudly, "In Battle Heaven City, my word is law!" *Get out of here!* Even though Huang Yu didn't entirely believe him, he was still deeply shaken. Old Zhao had hung around the Zhao family's city for so many years, and even now, he had only barely managed to snag the title of Counselor of the City Lord's Estate—essentially a general steward. In reality, he held no military authority. Having a bit of status there was considered quite decent. Yet compared to Li Hao, what was that worth? Spending decades just to climb to Counselor of the City Lord's Estate—was that anything to brag about? In the past, people thought it was impressive that he could even speak directly to the City Lord's Estate. Now... *ptooey!* He didn't even count as an aide! It was just a hollow title. The Zhao family's main city merely used that status to tie Old Zhao to them and facilitate communication. Over all these years, Old Zhao had hardly brought back any decent goods. The ancient civilization was truly like that. Incredibly stingy! If you weren't one of their own, you could forget about reaping benefits from them. Just look at those demon plants: three thousand divine energy stones for a drop of the Spring of Life was normal, fifty to sixty thousand was common, and in the beginning, they even asked for a hundred thousand. It wasn't just one or two; almost all of them were like that. Even without communicating with each other, every single one of them was black-hearted to the core. "Then I'll prepare at once. When do we move?" "The sooner, the better. Midnight tonight would be best. Moving under cover of darkness will draw less attention. Can Commander Yu get them ready quickly?" "Of course. It's only ten thousand men. Give me half an hour, and we'll be ready to march!" Li Hao nodded. "As for supplies, we have plenty of storage rings now, and you should have some provisions prepared here as well. As for food, I have a large supply of energy-rich grain that's perfect for the army. As for entering the ruins, everyone should have experience, so I won't interfere with what they pack." "Rest assured!" Huang Yu chuckled. "Then I'll head over to the General Administration Bureau right away. We can set off tonight, whenever you're ready! As for Old Zhao... I'll just say... we're going to wipe out bandits!" Whether Old Zhao believed it or not was out of his hands. Li Hao insisted on keeping it secret, putting him in an awkward spot. "Good!" ... Having finished speaking with Huang Yu, Li Hao had accomplished his purpose in returning. He was exhausted from the relentless running around. Later, he would have to ferry everyone over to the City of Supernaturals. Traveling back and forth, he had practically become a transport shuttle. Silver Moon had also been largely emptied out by him. ... Late at night, Li Hao returned once more to Battle Heaven City. At this moment, he saw Director Wang's true appearance for the first time. The golden armor remained, but Director Wang was no longer wearing a mask, revealing his actual face. Rather than the chubby figure Li Hao had imagined, he was a burly man with a solemn, imposing countenance. He exuded an undeniable aura of authority! Seeing Li Hao staring at him, Director Wang offered a faint smile. "What, not what you expected?" Li Hao nodded slightly. Sensing that towering aura, he was somewhat alarmed. "This... Director... your aura is so strong!" "I've only just condensed a physical body, so it feels a bit awkward. I will soon be able to rein it in." Director Wang chuckled. "After living inside armor for so many years, having a body of flesh actually feels unnatural." With that, he glanced back at the City Lord's Estate with lingering nostalgia. "Stepping out like this... after countless years, it really feels strange, hard to get used to." Old Turtle's figure materialized, a smile on his face. "You're not going out to enjoy yourself. Once you're outside... stay safe." "Thank you for your concern, Guardian!" Director Wang laughed. A moment later, he and Li Hao departed from the main city. At the city gates, several thousand soldiers in black armor thumped their fists against their chests. The atmosphere turned solemn and grand. The Ninth Division Commander and the others appeared on the city wall, watching them leave. Director Wang turned around, slammed his fist against his chest with a heavy thud, and bellowed, "On this journey, I shall not tarnish the name of Neo-Martial, nor the name of Battle Heaven!" "Salute!" *Boom!* The sound of striking armor echoed into the clouds. Director Wang looked deadly serious, leaving Li Hao feeling too awkward to say anything. They made it sound like he was heading off to die. Still, with everyone so grave, it wasn't the right time to speak up. They were going out to make a fortune, not to throw their lives away, yet it felt as though the entire city were holding a funeral send-off. "Return in triumph!" The Ninth Division Commander's voice pierced the heavens as he shouted, "Fight when called to fight! Never retreat before battle! Military orders come first! Obey all commands! Wang Ye, do not disgrace the Wang family! Remember, you are a man of Neo-Martial!" "I shall keep it engraved in my heart!" Director Wang roared back. Without bickering with him this time, he turned and marched away. Li Hao quickly followed. Sensing Director Wang's solemn and sorrowful mood, Li Hao didn't dare say much. Soon, General Huai delivered five demon plants. All were very frail, exuding only faint wisps of origin energy, feeling even weaker than the little tree had been originally. General Huai sighed deeply. "I have already spoken with them. While outside, they will obey your commands. General Li... take... take good care!" "I will!" Li Hao spoke no further and swiftly led everyone outward. The ruins opened, and Li Hao's five elements domain expanded rapidly. Director Wang moved close to Li Hao, frowning slightly. A violent spatial fluctuation pounded against Li Hao. Li Hao also frowned, glancing at Director Wang. The spatial disturbance triggered by this man was even stronger than that caused by Redwood. Redwood was at the peak of the Immortal Realm; even if it wasn't what it once was, its origin remained extremely potent. Director Wang didn't say much. His golden armor materialized instantly, followed by the Black Tortoise Seal floating above to envelop him. Deeming that insufficient, he gave a low shout, and a giant shield appeared, covering him completely. His aura gradually receded. Director Wang said gravely, "When we move together, you are my weakness. Once someone breaches you or shatters your so-called domain... I'll be in deep trouble. Of course, inside ruins it doesn't matter, but out in the open world... if something happens to you, I'm finished." Li Hao nodded slightly and vanished through the entrance. Director Wang had been so solemn that Li Hao was somewhat unaccustomed to it. Just as he was thinking that, the ruins vanished behind them, and Director Wang suddenly broke into a brilliant, beaming smile. "Finally out! Hell yeah! That bastard still tried to intimidate me before I left... does he really think he's the city lord?" "..." Li Hao froze. Director Wang grinned broadly and slung an arm around Li Hao's shoulder, walking arm-in-arm with him. "Stop staring. It was suffocating in there! Among the revived bastards inside the city, the old turtle is a Guardian, General Huai is a Guardian, and that Ninth Division Commander is a soldier. I'm not a soldier; I'm from the Security Bureau... Facing those bastards all day long drove me crazy." "..." Li Hao was speechless. Director Wang looked around with a broad grin, remarking with emotion, "The outside world has changed so much! Seas turned into mulberry fields—it really is different! But... the breath of life, I love it! Little Li, from now on, we're grasshoppers tied to the same rope. We need to cooperate well. I haven't eaten a single bite in countless years. Are there any delicious local specialties nowadays? Take me out for a good time!" With that, the golden armor vanished, replaced by a modern tracksuit. His long hair disappeared in an instant, slicked back into an undercut. Under Li Hao's dumbfounded gaze, Director Wang completed his makeover in the blink of an eye. Seeing Li Hao staring at him, he laughed. "When traveling abroad, one must blend in with the locals and respect the local customs. Wearing weird ancient clothes makes you stick out like a sore thumb, right?" Then he looked at Li Hao. "Got any money?" "What?" "Money! Don't you people use money? Eating costs money, right? Lodging costs money, right? Give me some. I don't have a single coin to my name. How can a man travel without money in his pocket?" Director Wang said with utmost gravity, "I'm not the kind of guy who dines and dashes!" Li Hao was completely at a loss for words! "Um..." "Don't 'um' me! When I'm working out in the field, even if it's a salary, you ought to give me an advance, shouldn't you?" Director Wang added with a laugh, "By the way, how far can I get from you at most?" "Within a hundred meters." "That's a bit cramped." Director Wang frowned slightly, patting Li Hao's shoulder like a streetwise mob boss. "That won't do. Work harder and expand your domain! Aim for at least ten thousand meters. A hundred meters is too small—if I take a piss, won't you be able to see everything?" *Do you even need to pee?* Li Hao was thoroughly exasperated! Director Wang patted his shoulder again. "Little brother, you can't look at things that way. Surviving and living are two different things. Even in times like these, you eat when you should eat and drink when you should drink. Suffering is a lifetime, but happiness is a lifetime too. Over all these years in Battle Heaven City, I figured it out long ago: enjoy yourself whenever you can." At that, he sighed with boundless emotion. "Don't go around scowling all the time. Cheer up a bit. Slaying enemies comfortably, slaughtering opponents smoothly... now that's a life!" Li Hao couldn't help saying, "Director, this..." "Call me Brother Wang!" Director Wang chuckled. "I told you, it was too stifling and gloomy inside. Cut out the formalities. Now that we're out, we're free men. Enjoy yourself when you can, got it?" Li Hao rolled his eyes. *The change in you is way too dramatic. And who's your little brother? How old are you, anyway?* Chattering and joking, Li Hao flew toward the Imperial Palace. He brought Director Wang directly into the palace's perimeter. The little tree was somewhat startled, but Director Wang didn't mind. Glancing at the Imperial Palace behind the little tree, he sighed. "This secondary palace isn't what it used to be. Things remain, but people have changed. I visited a few times back in the day, but to think it has fallen into such disrepair." The little tree grew wary, but said nothing. Li Hao smiled. "Senior Di Wei, don't mind him. It's time for us to go. Seal this place off!" The little tree made no reply and swiftly shrank into a translucent, crystalline miniature tree. Director Wang smiled. "You're coming out too? Fine, hop onto my shoulder and stay with me, lest you get crushed! Brother Li, can you hold up?" "Barely!" "That's good. Otherwise, if someone takes you out right now, me, this Imperial Palace guard, and the five auxiliary generals would all be done for—wiped out in one fell swoop!" *What a jinx!* Li Hao cursed inwardly. Who on earth could kill him on the surface? What a joke! Besides, hadn't you just revived? Why did this fellow talk so much? The little tree felt extremely uncomfortable too. Had it known someone else was coming along with Li Hao, it wouldn't have agreed to leave. It felt that this man's gaze toward it was rather strange. Director Wang seemed to notice and chuckled. "Pity it's a poplar tree and not a fruit tree. Otherwise, we could pluck some fruit to eat. Back when Battle Heaven City planted scholar trees, I thought it was a terrible choice..." Li Hao didn't bother replying. Ever since this man came out, his mouth hadn't stopped. He took the little tree and departed. The Imperial Palace ruins trembled slightly. Li Hao vaguely glimpsed a withered giant tree canopy spreading over the entire Imperial Palace. Evidently, the little tree had used its father's remnant trunk to seal the grounds. ... When Li Hao met up with Huang Yu, the ten thousand soldiers were already clad in armor, standing in dead silence. The massive drill grounds were terrifyingly quiet. It was as if no living souls stood there. Seeing these ten thousand armored warriors, Director Wang paused slightly. At this moment, a hint of solemnity finally returned to his demeanor. He seemed to see a shadow of the old Battle Heaven Army, even if their strength was incomparable. Still, the discipline of this army was exceptionally strict. He glanced at Huang Yu without a word. Huang Yu merely looked at Director Wang, frowned slightly, and said nothing. He didn't recognize him—nor could he—but he sensed that Li Hao had somehow hauled out another powerhouse, one that felt exceedingly formidable. The kid truly had tricks up his sleeve! Without wasting words, Li Hao summoned an aerial battleship. Huang Yu took a deep breath and barked in a low voice, "Board the ship!" Without a single sound, the ten thousand soldiers swiftly boarded. Director Wang observed silently and transmitted his voice: "They're a bit weak, but their discipline is decent. Wearing the armor of the Battle Heaven Army... they'll pass, I suppose. If they were complete trash, my eyes would hurt just looking at them." "This is the Silver Moon Army, one of the most elite armies in the world today." "Is that so?" Director Wang smiled faintly and said no more. *The most elite army... is only at this level?* *Fine.* He didn't want to nitpick. The aerial battleship was massive. The vessel could even traverse the void, covering a thousand li in a single jump. In the past, it was used against Peak Realm combatants, though nowadays it mostly served as a show of force. With ten thousand men aboard, it wasn't overly crowded; the interior contained folded space that was surprisingly spacious. Li Hao boarded the battleship, quickly linked up with his golden armor, and traversed the void, vanishing from the spot. Divine energy stones burned in massive quantities, but Li Hao didn't care in the slightest. ... Long after Li Hao and the others had departed, Director Zhao suddenly appeared, frowning. "They moved so fast... That bastard, was it Li Hao again?" He hadn't approached earlier, but when Huang Yu said he had to leave, Zhao knew it was likely that scoundrel Li Hao poaching his people again. "He took the army with him..." He frowned slightly. What use was an army to Li Hao? He couldn't fathom it! Moreover, although he hadn't drawn close earlier, he had vaguely sensed an immense threat! What was going on? Director Zhao sighed inwardly. Everyone was leaving. Silver Moon was the center of the world; with all of them running off, who was going to protect Silver Moon? ... With the aerial battleship traversing the void, Li Hao traveled at incredible speed. It simply consumed a tremendous amount of energy. However, the burden on him was too great right now, so he needed to place the five demon plants into the territories of the fallen demon plants as quickly as possible. After a period of void traversal, the massive vessel sailed through the darkness. Before long, they arrived near the City of Supernaturals. Li Hao did not rush to settle Huang Yu and the troops. Instead, he swiftly took the five demon plants and installed them one by one. With these five filling the void, the nearby energy surges quickly subsided. Sure enough, the moment the five entered the ruins, the previously dense energy in the area vanished in the blink of an eye. ... At Redwood's domain. Redwood jolted awake and cursed inwardly. *Did a bunch of starving ghosts just arrive?* *Who did Li Hao bring over?* Just a moment ago, the abundant energy had disappeared in an instant. Although it wasn't starving lately, these newcomers acted as though they had never tasted energy before. *Damn it!* Just as it was thinking that, its trunk suddenly trembled. The next instant, a massive battleship tore directly into the space. Redwood's heart skipped a beat. *Li Hao?* Just as the thought crossed its mind, a somewhat familiar voice echoed within: "Isn't this a base station? There used to be a redwood tree here, didn't there?" Redwood was shocked! The next moment, Director Wang materialized. By now, he no longer needed Li Hao's domain to shield him. Just as Redwood was reeling in shock, it felt a hand rest upon its trunk. "Yo, you're still kicking!" Director Wang chuckled. "It's you, isn't it?" The redwood tree swiftly coalesced into a human silhouette and stared at Director Wang. Stunned for a good while, it stammered in disbelief, "Di... Director Wang?" "You still recognize me?" Director Wang chuckled. "I was wondering whose territory this was. Turns out it's yours." "How... how could Director Wang..." "Not be dead?" Director Wang laughed, glancing around. "Are the other demon plants all dead?" "They... they're dead." At this moment, Redwood's heart was pounding wildly, even though the other party was actually weaker than itself. Yet the moment it saw his true body appear, it was shaken, even terrified. Director Wang kept smiling. "How did they die?" "Their energy... was exhausted... so they died." "Where are the remains?" "Th-that..." "Did you eat them?" Redwood's heart leaped into its throat. "N-no! It's just that I was too... too weak. After they died, they rotted away, and when I... drew energy from them, they naturally collapsed." Director Wang said calmly, "Do you know the crime for slaughtering your comrades? Of course, the circumstances were unusual, and things from back then are hard to investigate or pursue. Besides, this is no longer the Neo-Martial era. However, if I remember correctly, you belonged to the military system and held the rank of major general, didn't you?" "Y-yes..." "Yet military regulations state that when encountering someone of the same rank from a main city, you automatically rank half a step lower, correct?" "Yes!" Director Wang frowned. "Then why did Division Commander Li report that you were full of treacherous schemes when he mobilized you earlier? Did that happen?" "Director, this... I..." "Enough. Let this be the only time!" Director Wang glanced at it and said coldly, "Don't think that being at the peak of the Immortal Realm makes you special. You're a damaged peak Immortal, and a demon plant at that! Among humans, demon beasts, and demon plants, demon plants are the weakest! If you dare disobey orders again, I'll slay you on the spot! Do you think I can kill you?" "Of course!" Redwood bowed hurriedly. "The Director has misunderstood. I only..." "Enough!" Director Wang couldn't be bothered to waste words. He said bluntly, "Ten thousand Battle Heaven Army soldiers will be stationed here! You are to assist their cultivation properly. Even if you have to burn your origin energy, you will raise their strength. Even if you die, none of them may perish! Otherwise, don't dream of living!" "Furthermore..." Director Wang spoke with absolute authority: "You must know the locations of the other eight base stations. Give me the map and their current whereabouts. Nine out of ten, you nine can contact one another. Don't make excuses. Do you understand?" Redwood didn't dare utter a single complaint. It swiftly condensed a map and handed it to Director Wang. Watching from the side, Li Hao was dumbfounded! One was at the peak of the Immortal Realm, while the other was merely at the early stage of the Immortal Realm. *And this works?* Director Wang nodded slightly. "At least you have some sense. You are forbidden from telling anyone about my revival. If word leaks, you'll be the first to die!" "Understood!" The redwood tree responded immediately. Director Wang nodded. "That's more like it. You still have Spring of Life on you, right? Give me a thousand drops..." "Director, this..." "'This' what? Once Battle Heaven City fully revives, I'll pay you back. This is an emergency requisition of supplies during wartime military administration. Do you hear me?" Looking as though its father had just died, Redwood hesitated for a long while before finally producing a large stash of Spring of Life. "Don't look like you're about to drop dead. Do you think I don't know how much you've pocketed?" Director Wang snorted. "Embezzling military supplies—you should be secretly rejoicing that I'm not holding you accountable! Yet you put on that face. What, are you planning to rebel?" "I wouldn't dare!" Redwood responded hurriedly, wailing inwardly in misery. *Heavens!* *Someone from the main city has actually revived. How are we supposed to survive now?* "I trust you wouldn't! Thorny Rose is a born traitor, but you haven't sunk to that level yet. I came out this time specifically to clean out those bastards. Once I slaughter it and gather enough resources, I'll repay your Spring of Life!" "Understood!" Redwood complied once more. Before Director Wang, it showed none of its former domineering arrogance. Director Wang paid no mind to its thoughts. After speaking for a bit, he added, "Assist them diligently here. I'm leaving. Also, show some restraint and absorb less energy from the surroundings. Five descendants of General Huai have revived nearby; look after them." Now Redwood understood who had been ravenously draining the energy earlier. Its headache grew worse! *It's over!* *General Huai...* *Is Battle Heaven City truly about to revive completely?* Huang Yu led the troops out of the vessel. The area was not small; while ten thousand men made it somewhat crowded, it could accommodate them. Overhearing their conversation, Huang Yu said nothing. He turned to Redwood and bowed slightly. "Huang Yu of the Silver Moon Army, reporting for stationing. We will have to trouble Senior in the days ahead!" "Not at all, not at all!" Only then did Redwood breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, this man wasn't as overbearing as Li Hao, nor as arrogant as Director Wang. Still, it could do nothing against those two. Right now, it wished for nothing more than for the pair of them to get lost immediately. Director Wang indeed had no desire to linger. Having just escaped the ruins, he disliked such enclosed places. He turned to Li Hao. "Division Commander Li, let's go. Leaving this place to them is enough!" Li Hao smiled and nodded. The two walked out together, and Li Hao stowed the battleship away. Once outside the ruins, Director Wang transmitted his voice: "Don't give these demon plants too much face. They're just a bunch of bullies who cower before the strong." Li Hao nodded. He had seen that for himself. Still, he smiled and said, "Director Wang certainly carries a lot of weight!" "A little bit, yeah," Director Wang chuckled. "I was the director of a main city's Security Bureau, after all. Even if these fellows are stronger than me, their rank is still lower." Besides, who was truly stronger was anyone's guess. Would that fellow dare fight him? Li Hao's thoughts churned. He hadn't expected that Director Wang, an early Immortal, could cow Redwood into submission like that. The humans of the ancient Neo-Martial era truly possessed extraordinary prestige. Without delaying further, Li Hao paid a quick visit to the City of Supernaturals, spoke briefly with Lin Hongyu to inform her of Huang Yu's arrival, and then hurried off toward Heavenly Star City with Director Wang and the others. The location of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion was roughly pinned down. Now, with Director Wang present, it was time to rally his forces and deal with those bastards. Otherwise, if the enemy conducted another probe of combat strength, everyone's true power might be exposed, and that would spell disaster. At this moment, Li Hao could only pray that those bastards wouldn't check anyone's strength just yet.