Clash

Before him, Hong Tu exuded arrogance and conceit. Li Hao was actually quite puzzled. Why was he like this? Was there a flaw in resurrection? Yet Director Wang did not seem to have changed much. Could it be due to a difference in resurrection methods? But ancient experts, such as the Saint from Yuanping Martial Arts University, held nothing but disdain and rejection toward reviving through mental power alone. Why, then, had Hong Tu chosen this path? To Li Hao, this man’s state felt somewhat similar to Yuming’s, carrying an impurity of blended mental power. Li Hao could sense that his opponent was formidable. By now, both of them had stepped into the grand hall. Li Hao immediately noticed the bronze mirror. It was huge, standing erect in the center of the hall, not stowed away into Hong Tu’s body or a storage ring. A smile played across Hong Tu’s face. “Do you see it? This is what you came looking for.” “You knew I was looking for this?” “You’ve been fixated on the Wind and Cloud Pavilion. Isn’t it precisely for this item?” Hong Tu sneered. “Of course, you aren’t the only one eyeing it. Many people covet it. But… none of you stop to consider whether you are even qualified to wield the Fengyun Auxiliary Mirror.” An auxiliary mirror? That confirmed it was indeed an imitation of the Fengyun Precious Mirror. Li Hao was not particularly surprised, though he remained somewhat perplexed. “Did you bring me here just to show me this?” “More than that.” Hong Tu chuckled, eyeing Li Hao. “You are not of the Neo Martial human race!” Naturally! Hong Tu smiled again. “You possess the bloodline of the Li family, yet you are not a Neo Martial human. That makes you an expert of the new generation. I noticed you aren’t that afraid of me; you must have some confidence. Perhaps you don’t even fear my seven elements, do you? “I saw two puppets in your group as well… resembling Neo Martial puppets, likely from Yuanping Martial Arts University… so you believe my Eight Divisions outside might not be able to overcome them, right?” “…” Li Hao raised an eyebrow. The arrogant, boastful Hong Tu seemed lucid again. Hong Tu chuckled. “My mind is often clear, yet often clouded. The moment you dared step in here, I knew you were no ordinary figure. I also noticed that you might have brought other powerhouses along. The fellow holding the frontline looked somewhat familiar. Perhaps he was a figure from our era… I can’t recall who he was. Maybe just a minor nobody, or maybe someone of extraordinary strength… But with White Venerable present, there won’t be an issue for quite a while.” Li Hao took a few steps back. Hong Tu waved his hand, and the hall doors slammed shut in an instant. He looked toward Li Hao with a faint smile. “When I asked you to come in just now, weren’t you quite confident following me in? What are you afraid of? The Fengyun Auxiliary Mirror is right here. If you want to take it, be my guest!” Li Hao shook his head, frowning slightly. He suddenly remarked, “Looking at you, for some reason… I feel like you’re very similar to me. Don’t you find that strange?” “Not strange at all.” Hong Tu smiled. “Not strange in the slightest. Do you know why I didn’t preserve my mental power back then, choosing reincarnation instead? Do you think I didn’t know how many issues that entailed? I’m not that foolish… and yet I chose it anyway. Don’t you think that’s interesting?” Li Hao continued backing away, an unsettling feeling growing within him. Following Hong Tu here earlier had almost been a subconscious act. Looking at Hong Tu, it was as if he were looking at himself. Yes—pride, arrogance… Deep down, he had never truly considered himself like that. He had always been cautious. By all logic, he should have let Director Wang make a move to kill this man outright, rather than stepping into this place alone to be isolated with him. His opponent was at least a seven-element combatant, perhaps even stronger. Li Hao now felt uneasy, even a lingering fear. Why had this happened? Hong Tu remained composed, strolling directly up to the hall’s throne. He let out a sigh. “I originally thought that once the second recovery arrived and I emerged, this world would perhaps be mine! “Yet upon seeing you, I knew… my earlier worries were justified. Can you guess why I’ve been targeting you all along?” Li Hao took a deep breath. Inside his body, five-element energy revolved. The force of heaven and earth had already been cut off; he wrapped himself in the five forces, only then feeling his mind clear up a bit. Indeed, earlier, he had not been entirely lucid. When he encountered this man who was similar to himself—similar in temperament—Li Hao had suddenly relaxed, feeling as though the rest of the world was beneath his notice. Now, hearing Hong Tu’s words, realization began to dawn. Li Hao inhaled deeply. “The consciousness of heaven and earth? No… or rather, you chose reincarnation instead of revival in order to become the new master of this world, didn't you?” Hong Tu laughed. “You are quite clever! Or perhaps your subconscious told you.” He nodded. “Correct! This world was originally a minor world stripped from the primary world, intimately linked to it. Back then, the Human King did not destroy this world because he intended to gift it to your Li family ancestor. “Countless years ago, the Human King divided the primary world into three parts: one for himself, one for the Azure Emperor, and one for the various experts of the realm. A tripartite realm. Thus, even if all the experts of the realm joined forces, they could at most barely match the Human King.” Li Hao’s heart shook! Hong Tu continued, “Therefore, it was virtually impossible for later generations to surpass the Human King. But… a variable soon emerged, and that was the Silver Moon World! “This was gifted to your ancestor by the Human King. Yet whether your ancestor lacked the means to devour it, refused to do so, or let pride get in the way, Silver Moon remained just Silver Moon for thousands of years… until the upheaval struck. The Sword Venerable departed, Silver Moon was sealed off, and it became ownerless, with no one left to suppress this realm.” Hong Tu laughed. “Originally, I harbored no such thoughts, nor did I dare to. But the moment the Star Gate sealed… I knew my chance had come!” Li Hao stared at him, his gaze shifting erratically. His chance had come! “Devouring the world?” “Precisely!” Hong Tu chuckled and nodded. “Refusing to revive was the pride of Neo Martial beings. In truth, I had no interest in simple resurrection either. This frail body and weak spirit pale in comparison to what I possessed back then! “However… once the energy of heaven and earth died out, I knew recovery would eventually come. Heaven and earth would awaken, eradicating everything related to Neo Martial and starting anew. Countless years of dead silence would bring about the world's rebirth! Once the influence of Neo Martial was cleared, everything would reset from zero. That was my opportunity!” Li Hao understood completely now. He looked at Hong Tu with a slight furrow of his brow. “Opportunity… the opportunity you speak of is to become the master of this world?” “Yes!” Hong Tu nodded. “You don't understand. A world is inherently ignorant, especially a newborn one, which is utterly nascent. If a genius who aligns with its dao orthodoxy emerges within heaven and earth at such a time, that person can easily control the world, replace its consciousness, and become the world's master. Even as the master of a minor world, one is still a world master. And this minor world is linked to the primary world. If something were to happen on that side and both the Human King and Azure Emperor perished… given the connection between the primary and minor worlds, one could even replace figures like the Human King and become the true master of the world!” Li Hao exhaled softly. He recalled the scene he had witnessed back then—had the Blood Sovereign been speaking to the world, or to him? Furthermore, this world had been bestowed upon the Li family by the Human King. And earlier outside, Li Hao had merged with the momentum of heaven and earth. Various thoughts surfaced. He now understood why seeing Hong Tu had made him feel uneasy, displeased, and as if he were looking at himself. Li Hao saw it clearly now! “So, over these years, your reincarnation was solely to become a human of the new era, fully integrating into it, rising in this new age to become a peerless existence, dominating the realm, and devouring heaven and earth, correct?” Hong Tu nodded and chuckled. “Indeed. But… from the moment you rose, I felt something was amiss. No matter how powerful the older generation of Neo Martial figures might be, it didn't matter. What does their strength amount to? What I feared most was the rise of the new generation—someone like you. You rose too quickly, reminding me of someone… the Human King!” He fixed his gaze on Li Hao. “So, I wanted to see whether you were a revived Neo Martial being or a true modern human. In the end, I saw the truth: you are indeed a modern human.” With a hint of regret, he shook his head. “The moment I saw you, I understood why I had been feeling uneasy and unsettled lately. I also realized why I faintly sensed that I could no longer assimilate into the world and become the favored of heaven. “Because… this world found a new choice!” Hong Tu gave a helpless chuckle. “You are the new choice of that naive, ignorant world consciousness. Because of something you did, it deemed you more suitable than me. That simply won't do. If that happens, my reincarnation all those years ago becomes an absolute joke. I sacrificed far too much for this. Otherwise, I would have had a chance to leave Silver Moon instead of remaining a prisoner here all this time…” Li Hao remained silent, his brow furrowed. Scanning the surroundings, divine light flickered in his eyes. He realized that his entry into this place might have been orchestrated by Hong Tu feigning ignorance to lure him in. That mirror in the hall gave him a profound sense of danger. Seated on the throne, Hong Tu watched Li Hao. After a long pause, he suddenly asked, “You’ve stepped into the seven elements, haven’t you?” Li Hao gave no response. “To survive so smoothly in the outside world, you must possess something unique. Li Hao, how about this? Tell me everything you’ve done, and I won’t kill you. You are the favored of heaven…” Li Hao looked at him, suddenly smiling as he shook his head. “No, I am no favored of heaven! Hong Tu, you may have grand schemes, but you’ve mistaken one thing: all favor is earned by one's own efforts, not bestowed like a meat pie falling from the sky! Everything I have today was fought for by my own hands, not won by waiting for so-called heavenly favor. From that perspective… you really aren't all that impressive!” Hong Tu stared at him coldly. After a long moment, he smiled. “Failing to appreciate kindness is never a good thing! “Are you counting on the people outside to deal with White Venerable and the others so they can come save you? Since I brought you here, don't even dream of walking out!” With that, Hong Tu wasted no further words and threw a punch straight at Li Hao! It was neither the ancient martial golden body nor the origin path, but divine ability power. Yet his divine ability differed from that of others. As this punch flew, it seemed to pierce through space. Invisibility, darkness, and various other divine abilities erupted simultaneously. The moment Hong Tu struck, Li Hao vanished from his spot. Yet at that exact instant, the mirror abruptly emitted a faint radiance! In a flash, within the pitch-black hall, a beam of light engulfed Li Hao, forcing him out of hiding. “Can you guess why I chose to kill you here?” In that moment, countless mirrors materialized in all directions. Within each mirror was a single figure: Li Hao. Hong Tu, however, had vanished without a trace, his voice echoing from everywhere. “Li Hao, you must want to kill me very badly. The moment you laid eyes on me, perhaps you felt a similar sensation, because… I too am encroaching upon heaven and earth, seeking to become the master of this realm. “Thank you. Had you not appeared, perhaps I would have been slowly eroded by this world, ultimately reducing into a wisp of unconscious world consciousness…” Hong Tu’s laughter resonated through the air. All at once, a pair of fists emerged from every mirror, hurtling toward Li Hao in unison! Boom! The golden armor on Li Hao shattered instantly. He attempted to leap through the air to escape, but found no path available. Li Hao continued to shake his head. Something felt wrong! Something was terribly off. A muddled sensation had plagued him ever since he entered this place, clouding his mind. Countless reflections of Li Hao appeared across the mirror surfaces. The next instant, every single reflection of Li Hao was attacked simultaneously. Boom! With his armor smashed, Li Hao’s weakened physical body was exposed. Struck by a blow, blood poured from him like water. Li Hao lashed out with a sword strike! With a thunderous crash, a mirror shattered, yet more mirrors instantly manifested. “Li Hao, cease your futile struggles! With merely seven-element power, escaping from within the Fengyun Auxiliary Mirror is entirely impossible. The moment you stepped into the Fengyun Pavilion, your death was sealed! This is the will of heaven. Even the heavens are hesitating over which of us to choose, which is why both of our minds were influenced.” Li Hao darted continuously across the hall, evading the illumination of the mirrors again and again, but to no avail. Interference from the world consciousness? A choice between two? Li Hao suddenly sneered. “To hell with interference! What does heaven amount to?” “Li Hao… you truly are arrogant!” Hong Tu’s voice drifted out again, laced with mockery. “Then… you may die!” In an instant, Hong Tu manifested and thrust out a palm! Rumble! With a cataclysmic boom, the world seemed to tear apart. Li Hao abruptly coughed up a mouthful of blood. In that breath, the blood shone brilliantly, radiating blade light that blasted Hong Tu backward with a crash! A trace of blade intent swept across heaven and earth. Hong Tu let out a startled cry. “Blade intent… aren't you a sword cultivator?” Li Hao closed his eyes, recalling the scene he had once witnessed. Even heaven feared the Blood Sovereign. That day, he had seen the Blood Sovereign cleave heaven and earth with a single saber stroke. Back then, he had not understood why he was shown that scene, but today… he finally attained some clarity. Heaven was nothing to fear! It was merely an unconscious, muddled existence. Man could conquer nature. The Blood Sovereign had been instructing future generations, telling whoever witnessed that scene not to fear the so-called heavens. A world consciousness was nothing extraordinary. Blade light flared! Wielding his sword as a blade, Li Hao slashed out! “Break!” Boom! Amid a deafening explosion, a vast expanse of mirror surfaces shattered. Hong Tu was thoroughly astonished. The next moment, even more mirrors appeared, locking onto Li Hao once again while Hong Tu remained nowhere to be seen. “Li Hao, your struggles are in vain!” At that moment, a Li Hao stepped out from every single mirror. As Li Hao slashed with his sword, those countless figures of Li Hao charged toward him simultaneously, brandishing identical sword intent and blade intent—as if countless duplicates of Li Hao had been copied. “You are but one person, while right now, every one of these countless figures is you… The hardest enemy for a person to overcome is oneself. Li Hao, perhaps you can defeat one version of yourself, but what about countless versions?” Hong Tu’s laughter drifted through the air once more. “This is the heritage of the Hong family! Even after countless years, you are not someone who can replace it!” At this moment, Li Hao immediately sensed the looming threat of death. From outside the hall, miserable cries faintly echoed. Fighting seemed to have erupted outside as well. On the mirror’s surface, a scene of the outside world suddenly played out: Southern Fist was impaled by a massive tree and killed on the spot! Li Hao’s expression shifted slightly. The next instant, the mirror image shifted again. Director Wang threw a world-shattering punch, yet the gigantic tree transformed into a white-haired, white-bearded elder who casually delivered a palm strike. Director Wang was sent flying, his physical body cracking apart. “He is the one you were counting on, wasn't he? “Unfortunately, you were mistaken, Li Hao. White Venerable is a Saint, whereas that man… is merely in the Immortal Realm! “As long as you surrender everything, including those peculiar characters, I won't kill you. Serving the Hong family would be an honor for you…” Li Hao watched the mirrors. Around him, the reflections of Li Hao lunged forward once more. Hong Tu was deliberately throwing him off balance. Seeing the Silver Moon martial masters perish on the mirror surface ignited an intense irritation in Li Hao’s heart. In the next breath, he let out a fierce roar. Before Hong Tu could fully register what was happening, beams of bloody light erupted from Li Hao’s body! Countless supernatural locks manifested! In that single moment, at least a dozen supernatural locks shattered simultaneously. “All of this is an illusion! Do you take me for a complete idiot?” Li Hao bellowed. His aura surged exponentially, his flesh beginning to rupture, but he was instantly enveloped by an abundance of the Spring of Life, his entire body soaked in its restorative waters. “You’re afraid. You’ve been afraid from the very beginning. You want to shatter my martial heart?” Li Hao sneered. “A pseudo-martial master putting on airs!” In that instant, he directly severed a supernatural lock deep within his cranium. His entire body felt as though it had exploded! Yet he paid it no heed; this was a contingency he had long prepared for. Faced with mortal peril, he would not hesitate in the slightest to break his supernatural locks. The moment the cranial supernatural lock ruptured, Li Hao’s aura skyrocketed, and an extraordinary spiritual intent burst forth. For a fleeting second, he seemed to behold the starry expanse! The mirror shards before him shattered one after another! The Starry Sky Sword slashed out! Boom! With a thunderous crash, a mirror was sent flying by Li Hao’s strike. With a dull thud, Hong Tu, clutching the mirror, tumbled backward while coughing up blood, staring at Li Hao in utter disbelief. How could this be! “Impossible!” Hong Tu was stunned. Li Hao panted heavily, soaked in the Spring of Life as it continually mended the wounds tearing across his body, his eyes bloodshot. Li Hao looked at him and smiled. “So that’s how it is!” From start to finish, he had been trapped in an illusion woven by his opponent. Hong Tu possessed immensely powerful mental power and had used this mirror to draw him into it. Now, he had broken free! The mirror had dimmed somewhat, clearly having consumed a significant amount of power. Hong Tu’s face grew increasingly pale. He let out a soft breath. “I truly underestimated you!” “You’ve underestimated far more than that!” Without another word, Li Hao conjured divine ability characters that instantly coalesced into a longsword, which he thrust forward! Boom! A beam of light erupted from the mirror, shattering the attack formed by the divine characters with a resounding crash! Li Hao vanished in an instant. Clutching the mirror, Hong Tu hurriedly glanced into its surface, only to see Li Hao hovering directly above his head. Hong Tu whipped around and drove a fist upward! Boom! Li Hao reappeared instantly, smashing into the ceiling with a heavy crash. Spitting blood, he frowned slightly as he looked down at Hong Tu. With that mirror present, neither hiding nor void-stepping allowed him to evade detection. Why? Thoughts raced through his mind until an answer clicked—vitality! Yes, Li Hao understood now. Because he was a living being, as long as life remained in him, the artifact could track him. Especially now, with vast amounts of the Spring of Life continuously mending his body, the life signature was even more prominent, making his reflection in the mirror clearer than ever. Hong Tu’s own combat strength did not seem overwhelmingly high, but his mental power was extraordinarily strong. Combined with that mirror, Li Hao could not even get close to him; the instant he approached, he was detected. At this moment, Li Hao suddenly took a few steps back. An instant later, Hong Tu threw a punch that fractured empty space. Hong Tu was somewhat surprised, but he quickly dismissed it with a chuckle. “Li Hao, surrender!” Li Hao frowned. “From the day the Wind and Cloud Pavilion appeared, were you already trying to lure me here?” He wanted to know whether this fellow had provoked him deliberately to draw retaliation, or if it had simply been a natural turn of events that led Li Hao here. Hong Tu smiled faintly. “Not quite. I merely suspected you might be a figure of the new generation advancing too quickly, so I made some preparations. Over the past few years, my mind has been quite muddled, so I didn't plan that far ahead. All of this can only be attributed to the will of heaven.” The will of heaven? Bullshit! Li Hao cursed internally. This opponent was exceptionally difficult to deal with. Although Li Hao had broken several supernatural locks, those locks were relatively weak, and breaking them did not provide an overwhelming boost. If this continued, he would eventually be worn down. *My vitality is too strong… which allows him to track me, locate me… and even lock onto me!* Li Hao thought. His opponent’s physical body was actually not that resilient. If he could get close and engage him in melee, the outcome might be entirely different. In that split second, Li Hao suddenly dispersed the Spring of Life around him. His flesh began to tear apart once more. Instantly circulating the Five Animals Breathing Art, he gathered five divine ability characters together, forming a second Li Hao in the blink of an eye! All of this unfolded in an instant. Suddenly, two Li Haos stood in the hall! “Hm?” Hong Tu was taken aback. Only one Li Hao appeared in the mirror. He glanced between the two before both vanished simultaneously. Hong Tu looked back into the mirror and saw one Li Hao charging toward him, while the other was nowhere to be seen. Without hesitation, he threw a punch, unleashing a blast of divine ability energy! Boom! Like exploding thunder, the void trembled. One Li Hao emerged, forced back a step, bleeding continuously. “Interesting. Quite an unusual technique…” Before Hong Tu could finish speaking, a surge of sword intent erupted right beside his ear. Boom! The mirror collided with the Starry Sky Sword. Hong Tu raised the mirror to block the blow. With a dull crash, the mirror dimmed a bit further. Hong Tu retreated repeatedly, hurriedly glancing into the mirror, yet Li Hao was nowhere to be seen on its surface. Hong Tu’s expression changed drastically! How could this be? Was this one the real one? Between the two Li Haos, which was real? The Fengyun Auxiliary Mirror captured vitality; the one reflected had to be the living being. Why then could it not detect the sword-wielding Li Hao? Before he could process the thought, another sword strike came slashing toward him! Completely silent! Like an assassin striking from the dark. Hong Tu bellowed as a thin rapier materialized in his hand, which he thrust toward the five-element Li Hao. Regardless of which one was real, killing either would surely inflict severe trauma on the other. The five-element Li Hao transformed into a ferocious tiger, its roar shaking heaven and earth as it swept a claw toward him! ... Inside the hall, the two fought relentlessly. Outside, however, the crowd could hear no sound at all. At this moment, the supreme powerhouses on both sides had not yet clashed; only the Silver Moon martial masters and the Eight Divisions were locked in bloody battle. In the sky, the white tree kept glancing back toward the hall. Director Wang maintained a steady lock on it. Meanwhile, the two puppets had targeted several Protectors, while Black Panther and Deputy Director Zhou quietly kept their eyes on them as well. Director Wang studied the white tree with a deep frown before suddenly speaking. “You are the guardian demon plant of the Fengyun Pavilion, the one that followed Pavilion Master Hong Tu back in the day, aren’t you?” The white tree seemed surprised. It glanced at Director Wang, assumed human form, and gave a slight nod. “My old eyes are failing me. Might I ask… which Neo Martial general you are?” “Wang Ye. You probably don’t know me…” To his surprise, the white tree said, “I do know you. The genius of the Wang family of Battle Heaven City, who later became the Director of the Security Bureau. I have heard of you. You’ve revived?” Director Wang chuckled. “What a surprise. To think I would catch the eye of a Saint! However… it’s rather strange. As a Saint, how is it that you look so feeble? It’s as though you’ve exhausted your origin. This strength of yours hardly befits a Saint.” With that, he glanced behind the tree. “Li Hao has always been cautious. Yet he actually followed your Pavilion Master inside all alone. That Pavilion Master of yours clearly wields the power of the Peak Realm. How did that brat suddenly become so reckless?” By now, he too had sensed that something was amiss. He suddenly asked, “Is he Hong Tu?” “Yes.” The white tree did not deny it. Realization struck Director Wang, and he blurted out, “He actually reincarnated… Reincarnating in this place… that’s seeking death—no, I understand what he’s trying to do now. Quite daring, and quite ambitious! This territory was bestowed upon the Sword Venerable by the Human King, yet Hong Tu dares to seize it!” At this thought, his expression shifted slightly. He finally understood why Li Hao had followed that man inside. That fellow definitely harbored designs of becoming the world's master, while Li Hao had likely already received some recognition from the world consciousness. When the two encountered each other, both naturally developed the urge to eliminate the other. Fighting one-on-one without outside interference might have been an inclination seeded into Li Hao by the world consciousness! No wonder Li Hao, who was usually cautious to a fault and eager to have people protecting him, had suddenly followed that plainly formidable opponent inside. His face darkened, and he roared, “Attack! Kill these bastards! Li Hao might be in danger!” He was furious! This was his very first mission with Li Hao, and an issue had already cropped up! He had been deceived by this great tree earlier! In that instant, golden light flared from his body. Without using any weapon, he tore through space with his bare hands and emerged instantly. An immortal power erupted from him, and with a resounding boom, space ruptured. The fighters below were all stunned. The next instant, the first to move was actually Black Panther. Like a phantom slipping through darkness, it turned entirely golden and lashed a claw toward one of the Protectors. With a sharp crack, space itself seemed to tear open! The Protectors shuddered! What a terrifying dog! Just as they prepared to erupt with power, the two puppets stepped forward, each intercepting a Protector. Meanwhile, golden light erupted from Deputy Director Zhou as he blocked the Grand Commander of the Eight Divisions with a deafening roar: “Stop playing around! Go all out and slaughter them all!” Boom! The moment his words fell, a surge of sword intent erupted, turning heaven and earth upside down. The Heaven-and-Earth-Overturning Sword! The two swordsmen joined forces once more, unleashing a sword strike that split a commander—who had just been fighting them on equal terms—clean in two! Heaven Sword was slightly confused. “Didn't Li Hao go in on purpose?” Indeed, they had assumed Li Hao had entered intentionally to capture the ringleader first. That was their established impression of Li Hao—would he ever take risks without absolute certainty? Not a chance! Everyone had assumed he possessed the confidence to resolve the leader directly, which was why they hadn't rushed and had taken their time. But given the current situation… something was clearly wrong. Director Wang had no time to explain. Boom! Myriads of branches pierced through the void, striking him in an instant. Yet golden light flickered around him, forming the image of a shield resembling a tortoise shell. With a resounding blast, golden light erupted, violently shaking heaven and earth! The shockwave shattered the branches! The white tree fell back several steps, visibly startled. “You… you’ve actually mastered the Wang family’s Black Tortoise Shield!” Although the physical Black Tortoise Shield was not present, he carried its origin power, granting him an unimaginably sturdy defense. Director Wang sneered. “I remember your name now—Bai Changqing! How dare you commit treason!” The white tree’s expression shifted slightly. “This is not treason. Neo Martial has lost all contact. The Young Master merely wishes to open the Star Gate and re-establish contact with Neo Martial…” “Bullshit! This is the Li family’s domain! Hong Tu actually dares to covet Silver Moon? You are all traitors! Today, I shall execute military law and strike you down!” Director Wang roared. Cloaked in the great shield, he threw a punch that seemed to shatter heaven and earth! The white tree’s expression twisted. Over the years, its energy depletion had been immense, with no opportunity to recover. Furthermore, this opponent was a genius of the Wang family renowned for defense, reinforced by the Black Tortoise Shield, making his resilience terrifyingly formidable! No wonder Battle Heaven City had dared to send this man out. Its branches pierced through the world, only to be snapped by the dozens under a single punch. Director Wang sneered, “A demon plant is just a demon plant—ignorant of the ways of heaven and hopelessly arrogant! If you were a true Saint, I might fear you by three-tenths, but with merely a battered Great Sage physique, how dare you act so presumptuous!” With that, he threw another punch. This strike was distinctly different; as if reflecting the Heavenly Dao, a great dao materialized. Director Wang grabbed the dao in his fist, wielding it like a staff to bring it crashing down! The white tree was thoroughly shaken. “You…” “You what?!” Director Wang grunted coldly, sweeping the staff forward. The white tree retreated hurriedly, but was still clipped by the aftershock. Letting out a muffled groan, a wisp of origin power leaked from its form. A great dao appeared in the void, trembling violently under the impact! The staff tore through the sky. Director Wang’s combat prowess was immensely formidable; even facing someone who was once a Saint, he showed not the slightest fear. “That idiot Li Hao… actually fell for the tricks of a piece of trash. The Hong family is powerful, but that Hong Tu was merely one of the more useless descendants of the clan… yet he actually managed to lure Li Hao away alone…” As Director Wang swung his sky-shattering staff, he cursed under his breath! Internally, he was also scolding himself. He had been deceived by that fellow earlier, having dismissed the Pavilion Master as a mere clown. Had he known that the man was the reincarnation of Hong Tu, he never would have left Li Hao’s side. Now they were in huge trouble! A battered Saint was still a Saint. After all, his own combat strength was limited; while he seemed to suppress the opponent, it was largely an outward display of dominance. Furthermore, Li Hao had followed the man into that grand hall, which was likely a treasure of the Hong family. Once inside, even if he managed to kill this tree, he might not be able to break in and rescue him. Damn it all! He had acted so arrogant when leaving the city. If Li Hao actually ended up dead, with what face could he return? At that thought, his fury burned even hotter! In the next instant, his hair stood on end with rage. The staff vanished in a flash, slamming into the white tree’s dao in the void with a resounding boom. Director Wang roared, “If I can't beat you to death today, then I'll shatter this origin path of yours! A mere demon plant dares to rebel? You seek death!” With those words, he blurred into an illusion and lunged forward. In the void, the staff pinned down the opponent’s dao, which rattled furiously as it lashed out against the staff. Yet Director Wang had already closed the distance, raining furious blows down upon the tree! All offense, zero defense! The white tree was in utter agony. It had never anticipated running into an expert on the level of a Neo Martial general. In the past, it could have effortlessly dealt with an Immortal, but now… its strength fell short of its ambitions. At this moment, the white tree could only pray silently that its Young Master would finish off Li Hao quickly. Once Li Hao was slain, the Young Master would surely receive a greater bestowal from heaven and earth, taking a step toward becoming the true world consciousness. While it was still early, he could at least claim more of the momentum of heaven and earth. Down below, although the Silver Moon martial masters were individually formidable, they were vastly outnumbered. The two puppets were suppressing two Protectors, while Black Panther and Deputy Director Zhou, being slightly weaker than seven-element combatants, were instead pressed on the defensive. Black Panther did not employ the projection of the Demon Suppressing Emissary. Using it once would drain all its strength; if it were to use it, it should be reserved for that powerful demon plant. Black Panther barked anxiously! It was urging the others to resolve their enemies quickly and help it take down the Protector before it, so that it could free itself to summon the projection and strike down that white tree. ... While the battle raged outside, Inside the hall, The two Li Haos attacked relentlessly. The five-element Li Hao was shattered by a sword strike from Hong Tu, but Hong Tu’s shoulder blade was also pierced by a thrust from Li Hao’s true body. After shattering the five-element Li Hao, Hong Tu spun around with a cold sneer. “Fascinating. Divine ability characters converging various energies—is this the key to earning the favor of the world consciousness?” Li Hao’s figure materialized. With a wave of his hand, the shattered characters returned to him. Catching his breath, he looked at Hong Tu, his brow furrowing once more. This man was like an unkillable cockroach. The primary issue lay with that mirror! It continually mitigated Li Hao’s damage, dampening his strikes so that very little actual energy penetrated into Hong Tu’s body. If this dragged on, his consumption would be enormous. With that mirror, his opponent was more than a handful. Li Hao’s energy reserves were steadily dwindling. Although the Starry Sky Sword continuously replenished his consumption, it had been unable to leave a single scratch on the mirror. This was the first time Li Hao had ever encountered such a problem—even the Starry Sky Sword could not mark it. Hong Tu erupted with power once again, sweeping out a wave of formidable mental power. Hallucinations flooded Li Hao’s mind once more, with countless figures of Hong Tu manifesting so that Li Hao could not discern the real body. The overwhelming mental power suppressed Li Hao’s spiritual intent, even stifling his five-element force. *He was originally a Neo Martial expert. Even after reincarnating, his mental power grows rapidly… No wonder his mental power is so immense…* As the thought flashed through his mind, Li Hao recalled something. The next moment, a surge of blade intent emerged within his spirit! Boom! As if cleaving open heaven and earth, a single stroke obliterated everything! Hong Tu’s true form reappeared right before Li Hao, stumbling back in shock. “The Blood Sovereign’s blade intent… No wonder!” This time, he recognized it. Suddenly, he began to laugh. “Li Hao, the stronger you are, the more thrilled I become! Only in such a state are you worthy of receiving the favor of heaven. It seems my high regard for you was not misplaced!” Li Hao looked at him coldly, then glanced at the mirror in his hand. This was truly the first time he had met such a troublesome opponent. Even against an immortal demon plant, Li Hao’s strikes landed with full force, unlike now, where every blow was intercepted by this mirror. “The will of heaven?” Li Hao murmured. *Since you believe in the will of heaven so much…* *Then let the will of heaven kill you!* In an instant, ripples of force manifested in the void, forming yet another figure of Li Hao that stood like the lord of heaven and earth. Hong Tu frowned—what kind of bizarre technique was this now? Meanwhile, Li Hao vanished once again. The next instant, continuous explosions reverberated! A longsword shuttled silently through the void. Li Hao’s spirit, energy, and mind had completely fused with the small sword. Thrust after thrust struck in tandem with the momentum of heaven and earth formed by the five elements, suppressing his opponent without pause! The two clashed fiercely once again. Li Hao fought like a tireless monster, but this time, he focused his relentless barrage entirely on the mirror. He had noticed that each time the Starry Sky Sword struck it, the mirror dimmed slightly. It consumed energy! How much energy could Hong Tu possibly have to spare? As he fought, thoughts raced through Li Hao’s mind. The Starry Sky Sword had not recovered enough; it felt less formidable than this mirror. However, the Starry Sky Sword possessed the ability to devour things. The next instant, a massive war hammer materialized in his grip. The Hong Family Divine Hammer! He had kept this item stored away without using it, nor was it particularly powerful, and Li Hao had no intention of unsealing the stone gate… The divine weapons of the Eight Great Families were said to be crucial keys… A normal person would never damage them, nor possess the capability to do so. Yet… would Li Hao care about that? This item would undoubtedly make for a supreme tonic! If the Starry Sky Sword devoured it, it would surely grow stronger and suppress that mirror. At this thought, the Hong Family Divine Hammer suddenly shuddered, as if sensing something. The next instant, Li Hao thrust his sword into the divine hammer and roared, “Among the divine weapons of the Eight Great Families, the Starry Sky Sword alone is enough! Shatter for me!” Boom! Jets of blood surged forth, coating the Hong Family Divine Hammer. Seeing this, Hong Tu’s expression changed dramatically. “You bastard! That is a key to opening the Star Gate! You…” If this item were destroyed, the Star Gate might never open. If that happened, they might be trapped in Silver Moon for the rest of their lives! Li Hao, however, paid him no heed. What did that have to do with him? Silver Moon was his homeland. If it could never be opened, so be it! Who said the Star Gate had to be opened in the first place? Boom! The Hong Family Divine Hammer rattled violently, but it was suppressed by the Starry Sky Sword, trembling as if in innate terror. The next instant, a shrill, piercing shriek rang out: “You’re even devouring me—” Crack! The hammer shattered! As if starved for ten thousand years, the Starry Sky Sword unleashed an immense, terrifying devouring force. With a crunch, the divine hammer shattered completely, its fragments swallowed whole! ... At the same exact moment, In the outside world, Pfft! A mouthful of blood sprayed out. Ying Hongyue stared blankly into the distance, murmuring, “You’ve lost your mind…” Had Li Hao gone mad? What had he just done? The Hong Family Divine Hammer seemed to have been destroyed. The divine weapons of the Eight Great Families could not be destroyed even by Saint weapons, unless… by the Starry Sky Sword! Damn it all! *Li Hao, you bastard.* *Have you completely lost your mind?* *Do you have any idea what the divine weapons of the Eight Great Families signify?* Ying Hongyue was filled with disbelief and burning fury, clenching his teeth as an uncontrollable rage broke across his face for the very first time.