Entering the Ruins

Nanyue. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion could no longer sit still. As soon as the Eight Divisions mobilized, shockwaves rippled in all directions. Nearly all who took action were Divine Power experts. They numbered dozens, and that was not even the full count. A steady stream of Eight Divisions members emerged, every one of them formidable. ... In a mountain forest. Southern Fist knocked a Divine Power expert flying with a punch and silently cursed. Li Hao had instructed everyone not to expose their true strength, which left them no choice but to flee. Facing one or two was manageable, but when confronted by several Divine Power experts at once, they had to retreat. Through his bronze armor, Southern Fist constantly reached out to the others: "How are things on your side?" "There are so many of them!" Northern Fist's voice came through the armor. "Where did the Wind and Cloud Pavilion find so many Divine Power experts? How much Spring of Life did that take?" Nowadays, every single Divine Power expert represented a portion of the Spring of Life; only with it could one succeed in breaking through. Now, Divine Power experts were pouring out of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion without pause, which took everyone by surprise. The organization's strength truly could not be underestimated. Just then, Hong Yitang's voice rang out: "A big fish has appeared! Likely one of their leaders—at least five-element Divine Power, wearing crimson armor. Everyone be careful!" "I've got a big fish on my end too!" "..." From all directions, they maintained constant communication as they swiftly pulled back. The enemy had a great number of experts. Li Hao's reason for forbidding them from revealing their full might was fear that killing too many high-level enemies would prompt the Wind and Cloud Pavilion to probe their actual power. Currently, the enemy might still be relying on the results of their previous probe. Otherwise, they would realize that sending these Divine Power experts out was nothing short of sending them to their deaths. "Buy time! Don't let them return, but don't slaughter them all either... Killing one or two is fine, but fake injuries, all of you!" Hou Xiaochen transmitted orders at this moment, and everyone quickly understood what to do. Before long, fierce roars and screams echoed in the distance. Southern Fist and the others shouted piteously, beams of bloody light crisscrossing as they forcibly struck down several enemies before feigning defeat and fleeing! ... Atop a small hill. Several commanders of the Eight Divisions observed their surroundings. A small mirror hovered before them. Seeing members of the Eight Divisions being killed, someone frowned, though they nodded slightly. "The Silver Moon martial masters are indeed not weak; nearly all possess Divine Power combat strength. However... they have too few at the peak. Those few like Earth-Overturning Sword and Sky Sword have around four-element combat strength; we should be slightly cautious of them." "Mm." "Our target is precisely them. Slay them, and let that Li Hao know that the Wind and Cloud Pavilion is not something he can provoke!" "Indeed!" The commanders exchanged glances and smiled before soaring into the air. This time, if they did not kill a few Silver Moon martial masters, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office would think they were a soft target. Within the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, the Eight Divisions were not the strongest, but they were certainly the elite. Out of hundreds of members in the Eight Divisions, nearly half were in the Divine Power realm. This was the foundation of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion's confidence. Had they not kept a low profile previously, the Three Great Organizations would never have had their time in the sun. ... While the Wind and Cloud Pavilion mobilized across the area, many experts from various regions also rushed over. They did not take part in the fighting, instead observing silently from afar. Somewhere in Nandou Province. A figure in cyan robes drifted down. Sword light flickered around the figure—it was none other than the mysterious Flying Sword Immortal, the Lord of Feitian. A moment later, a vast aura surged through the air, and a man with the appearance of a youth landed, looking exceptionally calm and composed. The Master of Haotian Mountain! "Haotian!" Flying Sword Immortal's voice carried a hint of coldness, yet a barely perceptible smile touched her face. The Master of Haotian Mountain nodded slightly. The Three Great Organizations and the Seven Sacred Mountains were among the earliest factions established. Now, the newly emerged Wind and Cloud Pavilion and the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office were locked in a fierce battle here, and everyone wanted to observe and gauge both sides' strength. Haotian Mountain Villa was extremely low-profile, far less ostentatious than the Three Great Organizations. However, the Master of Haotian Mountain was perhaps the foremost among the masters of the seven mountain villas, and people had always placed him on equal footing with the leaders of the Three Great Organizations. At this moment, the Master of Haotian Mountain looked into the distance. In the center of his forehead, an eye seemed to open, as though piercing through the distant mountain forest. With his back to Flying Sword Immortal, he said softly, "The Silver Moon martial masters are still quite powerful. Although the Wind and Cloud Pavilion has many Divine Power experts, they may not necessarily gain the upper hand. Still, deploying dozens of Divine Power experts right off the bat... that might not be their full strength." Flying Sword Immortal chuckled. "Perhaps. But I am more curious about when Li Hao will arrive and what his current strength is." Just as she spoke, the Master of Haotian Mountain let out a soft grunt. He seemed to have spotted something unusual. Just as he went to look closer, Li Hao's voice echoed through heaven and earth in the distance, shaking the surroundings: "Today, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office has come to exterminate the Wind and Cloud Pavilion! Unrelated bystanders, get lost! If you don't want to become primary targets of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, get as far away as you can!" Li Hao's voice was overbearing, arrogant, and blatant. Extremely arrogant! The next moment, a beam of sword light pierced through heaven and earth. *Boom!* Several black-armored experts of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion were blasted into the air, instantly shredded into pieces by the sword light as powerful sword intent swept across the area. Flying Sword Immortal furrowed her brows slightly. "What powerful sword intent!" Li Hao was growing stronger and stronger! More importantly, the man was far too domineering. The moment he arrived, he drove away the onlookers. Not only that, he slew several experts with a single sword strike. Li Hao's voice rang out once more: "Ying Hongyue, I know you're here! If you've got the guts, attack me right now. If not, get lost! Once I deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, watch your dog head!" ... Above the General Administration Bureau building in Nanyue. Ying Hongyue ignored everyone below, standing alone atop the building. As Li Hao's voice drifted over, he smiled. *What an arrogant brat!* The Wind and Cloud Pavilion... Even the Eight Divisions had deployed. Taking down the Wind and Cloud Pavilion would not be so simple. Beside him stood Cyan Moon and Purple Moon. Cyan Moon's expression was grim. "Arrogant bastard!" In her view, while the Wind and Cloud Pavilion was locked in combat with them, Red Moon should deploy in full force to cooperate with the pavilion and wipe out the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Li Hao had provoked a formidable enemy, yet he was still so brazen. He truly did not know what was good for him. ... At this moment, Li Hao was exceedingly brazen. Having slain several Divine Power experts with one sword strike, he transmitted through his armor: "Surround the area! Don't let a single one escape! Drive them back toward the entrance of their ruins..." As soon as his words fell—*boom!* Fierce battles erupted in all directions. Gleams of light flashed in Li Hao's eyes. Scanning his surroundings, he flickered through space and vanished from the spot. In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside a small hill. Gathered here were several experts whose attire differed from the regular Eight Divisions members. They were burly and formidable, each possessing the strength of five or six elements. The moment Li Hao appeared, their expressions changed slightly. Li Hao had arrived so fast! That was one thing; secondly, his strength was unimaginably terrifying. It felt as though ordinary peak six-element cultivators could not match his aura. It wasn't as if they had never seen experts before, but Li Hao gave them a sense of profound danger. "The Eight Divisions?" Li Hao smiled faintly. "From what I know, the Eight Divisions were indeed subordinates of the Fengyun Tower, but the Fengyun Tower ceased to exist in the Silver Moon land long ago. It vanished even before the eight main cities met their extinction. Where did you Eight Divisions come from?" On the way here, Director Wang had filled him in on the background. The Eight Divisions were indeed part of the ancient Fengyun Tower. However, the Fengyun Tower had vanished prior to the extinction—or rather, had willingly withdrawn from the Silver Moon continent. So why had these people suddenly appeared? Had they merely picked the name at random? The faces of the men before Li Hao shifted slightly. Without another word, they struck instantly. There were four Eight Divisions commanders gathered here, all exceedingly powerful. The moment they struck, their energy fluctuations aligned in unison, forming a formation that enveloped Li Hao in an instant. A blood-red dragon seemed to manifest in the void, lunging to swallow Li Hao whole! Li Hao vanished instantly. When he reappeared, he thrust out a palm. With a tremendous crash, one person's armor shattered. Spitting blood continuously, his face turned deathly pale. Filled with disbelief, he shouted in shock and fury, "Seven elements?!" Impossible! Yet if not seven elements, how could he be so powerful? He was bewildered, but there was no time to ponder. He yelled frantically, "Retreat!" The others needed no further warning and fled at top speed. Li Hao did not pursue them. Instead, he swung his sword to the side, slicing a lurking Divine Power expert cleanly in half. Unrushed, Li Hao unleashed strike after strike. In the distance, one of the fleeing experts pulled out a horn and blew it. Instantly, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion experts scattered in all directions began converging toward a single point. Once they had all vanished, Director Wang materialized out of thin air, frowning slightly. "Interesting. These guys still know the ancient Eight Divisions Imprisonment Formation. There were only four of them just now, so the effect on you wasn't pronounced. If there were eight, you'd see—even if they were only five- or six-element, they'd have been confident in trapping you!" Li Hao raised his brows. That formidable? He was, after all, a seven-element combatant. Director Wang's brows furrowed. "Judging by this, could we run into an old acquaintance?" With that, he looked at Li Hao. "Keep chasing. Drive them all back inside." Li Hao nodded and swiftly sent word. Soon, a large number of experts closed in to join the pursuit. As for the onlookers lingering further on the perimeter, they were quite far away, and Li Hao couldn't be bothered with them. Eliminating the Wind and Cloud Pavilion was the top priority. Before long, figures converged toward Li Hao one after another. ... Hong Yitang drifted over, frowning slightly. "They were only probing, yet so many experts came out. Their headquarters might hold even more. They won't be easy to deal with." Li Hao nodded. "Let's not worry about that for now. First, drive them back. Also, everyone, keep your divine characters concealed. Don't reveal them carelessly for those outsiders to see." "Understood!" everyone answered in unison. At this moment, nearly all the forces of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office were assembled here, with only a few like Chen Zhongtian and Yao Si remaining behind to guard Heavenly Star City. Everyone else had rushed over. This time, Li Hao's goal was to wipe out the Wind and Cloud Pavilion in a single sweep, letting not one of them escape. Soon, the group followed Li Hao in swift pursuit. ... At the entrance of a cave. Several Eight Divisions commanders felt stifled and humiliated. One said in a low voice, "Go back and report first. Li Hao's strength is immense—he's likely close to seven elements, or might have truly stepped into the seven-element realm..." "Yes!" Someone quickly slipped into the ring of light behind them. Within the underground ruins. A halo of light shimmered. Several experts were stationed here. Sensing someone entering, they opened their eyes, only relaxing their gathered energy upon seeing that it was a member of the Eight Divisions. "Report! Li Hao has arrived! His strength is terrifying—he has slain multiple Eight Divisions Divine Power experts, and we cannot match him..." Before the words finished echoing, the black-robed Pavilion Master of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion materialized. He looked coldly toward the outside of the ring of light. "He came quickly. During the last probe, that fellow already possessed a peak six-element life force; it's only natural you couldn't match him." Despite his words, he was still displeased. He had originally wanted to teach them a lesson, yet his forces had been repelled instead. Li Hao had arrived remarkably fast. The Eight Divisions were also far too slow, having failed to swiftly dispatch the nearby Silver Moon martial masters. The Pavilion Master frowned. "Curse it. It's a pity this seat cannot go outside, otherwise..." He felt a tinge of regret. Being too strong also had its drawbacks; for instance, at this stage, he could not go out. Not just him, but many experts in the Wind and Cloud Pavilion could not leave either, including the Three Protectors. This was the root of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion's true might—they all surpassed the current constraints of heaven and earth. Therefore, in his eyes, no matter how strong those people outside were, there was nothing to fear. What kind of experts could be active in the outside world right now? The true experts were all hidden within the ruins. "Infuriating!" Outside, his subordinates were being hunted by Li Hao and the others. They themselves could not go out, and Li Hao's group wouldn't dare enter. At that thought, his brows suddenly lifted. "Do you think Li Hao and his people would dare barge in?" The Left Protector quickly shook his head. "Certainly not. Almost all ruins house demon plants. Li Hao isn't unfamiliar with ruins; of course he knows the dangers within. Barging in would mean he's a fool!" The Pavilion Master remained unwilling to let it go. He refused to let this attempt at establishing his authority end as a laughingstock. He mused that perhaps... that audaciously bold Li Hao might truly dare chase them in? He looked toward the newly returned Eight Divisions commander and asked in a deep voice, "Can you find a way to lure Li Hao in here?" The commander looked troubled, but quickly replied, "That Li Hao is exceedingly arrogant, so there might be a chance... However, doing so would completely expose the entrance..." "So what!" The Pavilion Master dismissed it completely. Exposed? So what if it was? Right now, he was thoroughly sick of Li Hao. The fellow was utterly obnoxious. If Li Hao truly dared enter, that would be delightful. "Go! Find a way to lure them into this place. Once they enter, this seat will reward you handsomely!" "Understood!" The Eight Divisions commander dared not object further. Although he thought the chances slim, since the Pavilion Master had commanded it... he would give it a try. ... At the same time. In the outside world, a faint, eerie glow emanated from Li Hao's eyes as he surveyed the surroundings, leading the group in sweeping through the area piece by piece. He was in no rush to chase the fleeing foes; instead, he slaughtered every lurking expert nearby on the spot! Whether third-party scouts or Wind and Cloud Pavilion members, so long as they were not their own, Li Hao cut them down where they stood. He wanted to ensure that not a shred of information leaked from this place. The Silver Moon experts swept across the land like hunting hawks. Black Panther darted through the forest as well, triggering shrieks of agony from time to time. With Black Panther present, whether someone flew through the skies, burrowed into the earth, or used invisibility, none could escape its sense of smell. Gradually, the group converged outside a small hill. Divine light flickered in Li Hao's eyes; he could already see those clusters of light. The targets were right here. Was the entrance to the Wind and Cloud Pavilion's lair located here? At this moment, Hou Xiaochen said, "There are quite a few onlookers around. The Three Great Organizations might have sent people as well. Furthermore, the enemy is inside the ruins... entering might be perilous." This ruin was different. It wasn't home to just a single demon plant. The situation inside remained unclear, and the enemy had deployed dozens of Divine Power experts right away; there might be even more within. Everyone looked toward Li Hao. At this stage, how could Li Hao back down? Besides, Director Wang was right here—what was there to fear? "Keep moving!" Without further words, Li Hao led them toward the entrance of the ruins. Before long, they spotted the experts gathered together. A man stepped forward, looking grim. "Li Hao, our Wind and Cloud Pavilion has never crossed paths with you. On the day the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office was established, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion did disturb you, but now you have slain multiple Divine Power experts of ours. Let this matter end here!" At this point, he added coldly, "Behind this place lies the headquarters of our Wind and Cloud Pavilion. Within, we have a Peak Realm demon plant and dozens more Divine Power experts who have yet to take action. Do you truly insist on fighting us to the bitter end?" He glared at Li Hao, appearing somewhat weak despite his fierce posture. Li Hao, however, raised his brows. A Peak Realm demon plant? How could that be! To nurture so many Divine Power experts, the Spring of Life required was no small amount. Under normal circumstances, people exaggerated their strength—claiming to have a Great Sage or the like. Who would downplay their own power? Southern Fist and the others also wore odd expressions. *Just a Peak Realm?* Then what was there to fear? The Wind and Cloud Pavilion had only a single Peak Realm demon plant? Did they think these martial masters had never seen the world? Of course, everyone was somewhat puzzled. Could they really be that weak? To deal with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, everyone had prepared for a much stronger enemy. Li Hao frowned slightly. Too lazy to waste words, he struck with his sword! "Kill!" Everyone joined the assault, their combat prowess terrifying. The members of the Eight Divisions retreated repeatedly. Seeing several more of their number slain by Li Hao, someone roared, "Fall back inside! We have a Peak Realm demon plant stationed within; they won't dare barge in! If they come, every single one of them will die!" With that, the experts backed away rapidly. Someone shouted in a low voice, "Take the entry tokens!..." "Understood!" The group was in utter disarray, making Li Hao raise his brows repeatedly. How could these guys act so clumsily, like children playing a game? As Li Hao and his group closed in, seven or eight corpses were left behind in the blink of an eye. The rest retreated into the halo of light behind them and vanished. Inside the cave, even Southern Fist couldn't help cursing, "Fuck, are these bastards intentionally luring us in?" First mentioning a Peak Realm demon plant, then entry tokens... It sounded far too much like feigning weakness to bait them into entering the ruins. Even Southern Fist could see through it, let alone the others. The group exchanged glances and nodded. These Eight Divisions members were clearly trying to lure them into pursuing inside. Evidently, the strength inside the ruins was formidable. Entering now might be very dangerous. They also picked up several tokens from the corpses. Such items were likely proof of entry; some ruins required credentials to enter and could not be entered rashly. The enemy had even prepared the entry tokens for them. Li Hao chuckled. Did they think he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation and would charge inside? Yet his very purpose in coming was to enter. They had actually saved him the trouble! "Since they're being so hospitable... then let's go in!" As Li Hao spoke, a massive shield appeared in his hand: the Sky-Covering Shield. A treasure of the ancient military specifically made to withstand Peak Realm attacks. Outside, he hadn't wanted to reveal too much strength, and with Director Wang present, it wasn't very convenient. Now that the enemy had opened the door for them, how could he refuse? "Director Wang, Black Fiend, White Fiend—the three of you take the front... Once inside, everyone has only one task: kill! Slay everyone you see, leave none alive!" Li Hao said in a deep voice, "Stay sharp. The enemy likely has many experts. After we butcher these bastards, there will be more major battles ahead. Don't lose your lives here!" Everyone nodded. Hong Yitang suddenly asked, "Your teacher didn't come?" Earlier, it was said that Yuan Shuo would join when they exterminated the Wind and Cloud Pavilion. "He is cultivating." His teacher had turned into a cocoon and couldn't come right now, and Li Hao had no time to wait for him to emerge. Without further discussion, Li Hao raised the great shield, tossed out a token, and, with the three ancients acting as the vanguard, began breaking into the ruins! ... Above the ruins. As the Eight Divisions retreated, the Pavilion Master frowned at their disheveled state. These newly cultivated subordinates were truly inadequate. In his memories, the Eight Divisions of old had been an exceptionally elite force. How could they be so feeble and incompetent? It didn't show in peacetime, but once battle commenced, they fell into chaos. Then again, these people had all been brought in from outside the ruins. Some had been trained since childhood, yet almost none had experienced real combat. Clashing with the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office was, for many of them, their very first battle. "Will they enter?" The Pavilion Master murmured to himself. These useless fools didn't even know how to bait an enemy properly. He felt that relying on these trash made it nearly impossible to draw anyone in. Just as he was thinking this, his eyes suddenly moved. Below, the Central Protector's expression shifted slightly as well. "They actually dare enter..." Seeing many people preparing to attack, the Pavilion Master hurriedly barked, "Wait! The first to arrive are bound to be the vanguard scouting the way. Let them enter first; don't rush to strike!" At this moment, he was ecstatic. They really came? Of course, the first batch might only be scouts. Only if they found no great danger would the rest dare follow. He quickly ordered, "Everyone conceal yourselves! Aside from the Eight Divisions who remain, the rest of you... fall back!" The crowd dispersed swiftly. The Central Protector said with some concern, "Pavilion Master, if they truly enter, could they have some assurance?" "At most, a few origin clones of demon plants!" The Pavilion Master sneered. "Other than that, what else could they have? Origin clones possess Peak Realm power at best. At this stage, those storage rings can't even hold origin clones any stronger than that!" This was not Li Hao's home ground, but his. Those people came from the outside and were fighting away from home; that alone limited the ceiling of their strength. "Is the Protector afraid?" The Pavilion Master frowned. "I have nurtured all of you to this day. Could it be that you fear a mere handful of modern martial masters? If so, what was the use of nurturing you!" He was displeased. The enemy's strength was plain to see, yet look at how many resources these people had consumed! To nurture this group, several demon plants in the city had fallen completely into deep slumber, and the city's reserves had been largely drained, depleted to the point where practically nothing remained. The Three Protectors said nothing more. The logic held, and what the Pavilion Master said was true. At the present stage, the strongest trump card the other side could possess was a few Peak Realm clones. Yet everyone still felt uneasy, because the enemy was simply too audacious. To actually dare charge straight into the ruins! Were the people of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office truly so foolish? Or did they think a few clones could take down the Wind and Cloud Pavilion? Bewilderment aside, fluctuations in the air continued to pulse. Everyone knew that the enemy was truly crossing into the ruins. As a massive shield emerged, the Pavilion Master's eyes narrowed slightly. *The Sky-Covering Shield... rather interesting.* He did not order an attack. Behind the shield, Director Wang was also surprised. No one was attacking? That was a good thing! "It seems they're waiting for us to enter!" Li Hao also chuckled. "What an arrogant fool!" The Pavilion Master thought him arrogant, but Li Hao found the Pavilion Master equally arrogant. He didn't even bother to intercept them! Still, the other party had intended to lure them in, so not blocking was normal. Soon, he would give him something to remember! ... Both sides thought the other was excessively arrogant and brazen. As the shield pushed into the ruins, the Pavilion Master originally assumed only a few vanguard scouts would appear. But when the shield crossed over completely and wave upon wave of powerful auras surged forth, he suddenly smiled. "Li Hao!" Unable to hold back, the Pavilion Master emerged from the darkness. "How intriguing! You actually came in! Li Hao, this is the first time I've seen a fellow who seeks death as eagerly as you!" "White Venerable, seal the city!" With a low shout, thousands of branches suddenly manifested in the next moment, instantly blocking the aerial entrance tight. At this moment, Li Hao's entire group had entered. As for the entrance being sealed, they didn't care in the slightest. Li Hao also revealed himself. Looking around, he saw many people before finally settling his gaze on the Pavilion Master. He chuckled. "I thought you'd be something extraordinary, but you're just a pretty boy!" The Pavilion Master remained calm, merely watching him silently. *A fellow who doesn't know death is upon him!* White Venerable was sealing the entrance; soon, not one would escape. He had feared that attacking immediately might give them a chance to flee. He had seen portraits of Li Hao and recognized this arrogant youth at a glance. He showed no anger, only a hint of pity. "You brought death upon yourself. If you hadn't constantly stirred up trouble outside, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion wouldn't have appeared so soon. We originally intended to emerge only after the second recovery. Who knew you would deliver yourself to death!" Seeing the entrance sealed completely by White Venerable, a terrifying power surged from the Pavilion Master's body. His tone was laden with mockery and disdain. "Li Hao, release those demon plants' origin clones! This seat wants to see whether the origin clones of those useless demon plants dare raise a hand against me!" At this moment, Li Hao also raised his brows. *So strong!* Was this... the Peak Realm? Or seven elements? No wonder this fellow was so arrogant. Director Wang, having concealed his aura, looked at the man with some suspicion, then glanced toward the white tree floating in the distant void. As though realizing something, his expression shifted slightly. Not only that, at this moment, several more experts revealed their auras and appeared around the Pavilion Master: the Three Protectors, along with the Grand Commander of the Eight Divisions, all radiating formidable power. A total of five people—likely all possessing seven-element strength. No wonder this fellow was utterly arrogant and thought Li Hao and his companions were seeking their own doom. Jiang Yingli tilted her large head, took a look at the man, and suddenly showed a puzzled, surprised expression. She sent a mental transmission to Li Hao: *Strange. That fellow looks a bit familiar.* Familiar! An ancient? Li Hao was astonished. An ancient person could live until now? Or had he recovered later, just like Director Wang? The appearance of multiple seven-element combatants in the Wind and Cloud Pavilion surprised Li Hao. Before arriving, he had primarily guarded against demon plants. The enemy indeed possessed one—that white tree's aura was formidable. At this moment, the Pavilion Master smiled, looking completely at ease. "Li Hao, do you now understand why the Wind and Cloud Pavilion can rule over everything? For someone like you, had you been willing to submit earlier, I would have granted you a path of life. But now... I find you utterly loathsome!" His aura was terrifyingly potent as he stepped toward Li Hao, his demeanor dripping with mockery and disdain. However, when his eyes fell upon Director Wang, a faint flicker of doubt flashed within them. He looked... somewhat familiar. Still, he didn't pay it much mind. He chuckled softly. "Do it! Slay all of them! This seat hasn't fought in a long time; I can spare some time to play with Li Hao!" With those words, a vast number of experts surged forward from all directions, launching their attacks! The Pavilion Master looked at Li Hao and smiled. "Li Hao, care to chat with me? It's been a long time since I've seen living people; I'm willing to exchange a few words with you, so you may die content!" Li Hao raised his brows. This fellow wasn't ordinary in his arrogance. Without a word, Li Hao stepped into the air and flew into the distance. The Pavilion Master smiled as well and said indifferently, "I leave this place to you all. Hone yourselves well. Three Protectors, oversee the battle. These people are the finest whetstones for the Eight Divisions!" "Understood!" The Three Protectors answered in unison, completely disregarding the Silver Moon martial masters. They had the right to be arrogant. Li Hao also said, "Everyone, play with them for a bit. Don't rush to kill them. I'm going to have a chat with this pretty boy!" He was indeed curious and found the situation strange. Of course, most importantly, he hadn't seen the Fengyun Treasure Mirror or its replica. Following the Pavilion Master, Li Hao smiled and said, "Just chatting is so boring. Why not take me to see your Fengyun Treasure Mirror? Or is it on your person?" "You want to see that?" The Pavilion Master laughed. "Very well! By the way, do you have any divine energy stones? If so, this seat will let you broaden your horizons so you won't die with regrets. After all, everything you have belongs to me anyway, doesn't it?" This was the first time Li Hao had ever encountered someone more confident than himself! Finding it bizarre, he chuckled and said nothing. What a supremely confident fellow! Not even the experts of the ancient civilization were this arrogantly confident. The two swiftly flew away, leaving Director Wang and the others looking at each other with odd expressions. The next moment, battle erupted. Director Wang did not make a move; instead, he observed the distant great tree, full of doubt. This tree... he might have seen it before. However... when he saw it back then, this tree was a Saint-level expert. Was the tree before him really the one he had known? In the land of Silver Moon, outside of the eight main cities, the demon plants elsewhere had no Saint-level beings. Yet if this tree were truly that one from back then... it was a Saint-level existence. The guardian demon plant of the Fengyun Tower. He pondered internally. Behind him, the two puppets were also communicating with each other: "Doesn't that man just now look like... like that Hong Tu?" "A bit... but Hong Tu was far stronger than him, and didn't Hong Tu leave the land of Silver Moon long ago?" "True. Besides, Hong Tu cultivated the orthodox Dao, while this fellow seems to cultivate... modern martial arts and the supernatural path." The two puppets were also thoroughly bewildered. ... At this moment, the Pavilion Master landed before a grand hall with Li Hao, saying with a chuckle, "It has been a long time since a stranger came here. I forgot to introduce myself. This seat is Hong Tu. I am no lucky fool who stumbled upon a legacy as you might imagine; this seat is the true master of the Fengyun Tower!" "Li Hao, being able to walk by my side is your fortune. Many years ago, a minor figure like you wouldn't even have had the right to approach me." Li Hao laughed. "No right? Since when did someone of the Li family lack the right?" "The Li family?" Hong Tu laughed. "Even your ancestor, that Sword Venerable, had barely stepped into the Sovereign level back then. Do you think that was strong? Truly, one's vision determines one's future. You will never be able to imagine how glorious my family was back in those days!" Li Hao glanced at him, then suddenly said, "You... are an ancient person resurrected, aren't you? Not merely resurrected in body, but resurrected along with your mental strength as well?" Hong Tu paused slightly, glancing back. Seeing red light flickering in Li Hao's eyes, he suddenly laughed. "Intriguing! The Sword Eye! However... it is pitifully weak. It seems you truly inherited some of the Li family's special bloodline legacy. Unfortunately... it is far too weak!" The Sword Eye! Li Hao's heart stirred. "What is the Sword Eye?" "Back then, your ancestor, the Sword Venerable, was incomparably powerful with his sword arts, but his strikes lacked endurance. Later, he developed the Sword Eye to pierce through illusions and perceive his enemies' weak points. Paired with his sword techniques, he could kill in a single strike—that is the function of the Sword Eye. Otherwise, failing to kill a formidable foe with one strike would have meant your ancestor's death..." Li Hao's heart stirred. The Sword Eye! He had always wondered what was going on with his eyes. So that was it! Piercing through weaknesses, killing in a single strike—that was the true essence of the Li family's Sword Eye. He had always been using it merely to gauge people's strength, and had never really used it to spot enemy weaknesses. He had truly learned something new!