Inviting a Titan

Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Li Hao stepped out of the ruins, frowning as he looked toward the distant imperial palace and the Nine Departments. To be honest, had the situation not been so dire, he truly would have preferred not to confront the Nine Departments and the imperial family just yet. One battle after another had left him utterly exhausted. Moreover, there had been no time to digest what they had gained, and battles beyond their limits yielded diminishing returns for everyone. A steady, step-by-step progression would have been much better. Yet things in the world rarely went as one wished. The enemy would never simply stand in place waiting for him to grow stronger. Thus, the Nine Departments and the imperial family had mobilized swiftly, leaving Li Hao no time to rest, let alone digest his gains. *If they strike now, there's no way I can handle them on my own...* Li Hao thought to himself. At this stage, his only option was to seek reinforcements. To firmly suppress the opposition, he likely needed the assistance of a Great Saint. Li Hao had always disliked begging others for help. As for Director Wang, that was not begging; it was an exchange of benefits, as Li Hao funneled resources into Battle Heaven City. The same went for Little Tree. As for the Silver Moon martial masters, they had offered their help willingly in the past, and now Li Hao provided them with resources in return. It was mutual support. Finding a Great Saint, however... Perhaps he needed to seek out the Dean of Academic Affairs. Yet that man owed Li Hao nothing. Quite the contrary—Li Hao still owed him a few fines. Furthermore, the dean had never asked Li Hao for help with recovery or anything of the sort; he simply wished for Li Hao to leave him in peace. Li Hao's initial impression of him had not been particularly good. Later, he realized the man was actually decent enough; their personalities were simply different, and they merely found each other somewhat grating. Standing in the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, Li Hao hesitated. Coaxing the two puppets out could be justified as letting them out to catch some fresh air. That man, however, had never wanted to leave. Could he really persuade him to step out? That was the first problem. Second, what price would it take? Battle Heaven City had taught Li Hao a fundamental truth: equivalent exchange. You got what you paid for; you could never obtain benefits out of thin air. Director Wang had been secured by Li Hao through vast quantities of energy and numerous true bodies of demon plants. Li Hao saw nothing wrong with that. What about the dean? The man seemed entirely devoid of desires—except, perhaps, a longing to return home. Yet Li Hao could not make such a promise. Although Li Hao liked painting grandiose visions, that was a trick taught to him by Deputy Director Zhou. Li Hao himself never promised impossible dreams; he only spoke of goals that held at least some realistic hope of accomplishment in the near future. Even if Li Hao could open the Stargate, could he establish contact with the main world? Could he send them back? Thought after thought surfaced in Li Hao's mind, yet he knew that if he did not seek out this man, they would hardly gain much from the Heavenly Star Town ruins this time. As for Battle Heaven City, the scholar tree was indeed a Saint, but its true body was immense and lay too far from here. Even with Li Hao's current seven-element domain, it might not be able to sustain the tree over such a distance. Furthermore, the scholar tree was the guardian demon plant of Battle Heaven City and might not be able to leave at all. It was also nurturing thirty-one demon plants within itself; could Li Hao bring them all along? His domain would likely collapse instantly. The old tortoise was an Origin God Armament and almost certainly the very core of Battle Heaven City. There was another point: Li Hao did not want participants to come exclusively from Battle Heaven City. It was not a matter of distrust, but rather of preempting unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, once the colossal mine was claimed, what if Battle Heaven City demanded it? Could Li Hao refuse? It was better to be blunt before being courteous. If they ended up turning against each other over the mine down the road, things would become truly ugly. "If we take Heavenly Star Town, I'll need to keep a low profile for a while. Otherwise... if old fogies fight all the battles, winning through them will be entirely meaningless to me!" Li Hao frowned. Had the Nine Departments not made a move on the Heavenly Star Town ruins, Li Hao might not have acted immediately either. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, yet things had reached this point—he had no other choice. Exhaling softly, Li Hao flew swiftly toward the western suburbs. The two puppets followed closely behind. At the same time, within the Nine Departments, numerous pairs of eyes were fixed on Li Hao. He had been rushing back and forth, and no one knew what he was up to. At that very moment, a cold snort reverberated between heaven and earth! "Refusing the face given to you, are you? Dare spy on me again, and I'll butcher the lot of you!" A chilling shout echoed in all directions! Li Hao hovered in midair, glancing toward the imperial palace with a frigid expression. His snort, laced with sharp sword intent, radiated outward. In the palace, the reigning Heavenly Star King, who had been peering through his mirror, suddenly let out a muffled groan. A mouthful of blood spilled from his lips. "Imperial Father!" Below, several princes and princesses turned pale. "Cough, cough, cough..." The Heavenly Star King's expression darkened as he looked outside, then down at the mirror shard in his hand. Fine cracks suddenly webbed across the fragment, and his face shifted completely. *Li Hao! Just how strong has this fellow become?* Peering through the shard, he had actually been detected by Li Hao! Not only that, but the youth had cracked his mirror. How could that be? The princes and princesses wore expressions of deep concern. The Heavenly Star King waved a hand and said softly, "I'm fine." Yet beneath his calm lay anger and shock. Was Li Hao at the peak of six elements? Or was he even stronger? Was the local space not insufficient to support beings of such power? *** Department of Finance. Liu Yunqing also let out a muffled grunt. Beside him, his father, a white-haired old man, kept his eyes closed and remarked placidly, "Be careful. Don't spy on him for no reason. That man isn't someone you can easily provoke. If you fail to kill him the first time... you should understand that he will only bring everyone endless trouble!" "Father." Liu Yunqing furrowed his brows slightly. "Right now, the imperial family has joined forces with the Military Law Department and the Administrative Department to explore the colossal mine. What about us...?" "It isn't that simple. If it were truly that easy, we would have done it years ago. Why did we hold back all this time? It wasn't merely the threat posed by the imperial family; more importantly, the guardian of that mine is far too powerful!" Liu Yunqing said solemnly, "Yet if they succeed and push us out from the Nine Departments' side, wouldn't we...?" "Succeed?" The old man chuckled and shook his head. "It truly isn't that easy. Even if they do succeed... those demon plants won't be able to coexist peacefully either. There will still be fighting! So long as we don't descend into the ruins, they won't pose a threat to us. Who the ultimate victor will be remains to be seen. Do you think the demon plants that weren't included are oblivious?" Presently, only the imperial family's demon plant and four others had allied to explore the site. Five departments of the Nine Departments had been left out. The Department of Internal Affairs, Department of Finance, Inspectorate, Department of Criminal Law, and Department of Commerce were not involved. The Department of Commerce's former director was dead, the Department of Criminal Law's leaders had all perished, and the other three departments had been marginalized. Would the demon plants behind them simply stand by? Furthermore, demon plants were demon plants, and the Nine Departments were the Nine Departments. In short, even if this expedition succeeded in claiming the mine, determining an outright victor would be nearly impossible. Liu Yunqing nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Does Li Hao know about this?" Did Li Hao know? If he did, would he meddle? Li Hao had been running back and forth all day. First, he wiped out the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, and after returning, he had been scurrying about without pause. It was hard to tell what he was busy with; perhaps dealing with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion had inflicted heavy casualties and severe injuries, as he carried several Silver Moon martial masters back on each trip. Still... did this fellow know what was happening inside the ruins? The old man looked at him. "What... do you intend to do?" "What if we tell him?" Liu Yunqing suddenly smiled. "The Military Law Department and the others excluded us... so let them tear each other apart! Li Hao was capable of slaying the demon plant of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, so he does have some strength under his command. Even if he can't cause major trouble... we could at least watch the show." The old man studied him intently before finally speaking: "What is your objective? Merely to watch a show? Before doing anything, have a goal—a clear objective! You don't act just to offend someone or spite them, but to achieve a goal, fulfill a purpose, and gain benefits. Offending people without reason is utter foolishness." Liu Yunqing paused. The old man continued, "You've kept a low profile lately. I thought you were planning something, but... was it truly just to watch a show?" Liu Yunqing remained silent. The old man let out a sigh. "The Liu family rose as merchants. When the Nine Departments were founded back then, I chose the Department of Finance to oversee the realm's wealth. Merchants must be smooth. Avoid offending people whenever possible. If you do offend someone and they show signs of rising, bow low and make them forget the grudge. Even if you must bow your head and swallow your pride, it matters not. "You haven't gone to apologize to Li Hao, you haven't communicated with the Military Law and Administrative Departments, you haven't networked with the other marginalized departments, you haven't colluded with the Three Great Organizations, you haven't sought out the Eight Major Cities, and you haven't cultivated your own faction... all just to watch a play? Just to enjoy a spectacle?" He glanced at his son with a hint of helplessness. Sons outgrew their fathers, and each generation grew weaker than the last. Among the current generation, only the heads of the Military Law and Administrative Departments were decent. The rest were mediocre. His son had wasted a tremendous amount of time lately, doing nothing at all. He did not even know what outcome his son desired. Was he still furious over Li Hao wiping out the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce? Was he still raging over the Nine Departments carving up the Liu family's authority? If so... his depth was far too shallow! Liu Yunqing fell silent for a long time before speaking slowly: "Actually... I think rather highly of Li Hao. But... Father, to be honest, while I favor him, the forces behind him—or rather, the problem of ancient civilizations—makes it very difficult for me to commit. Behind Li Hao is Battle Heaven City, but the ancient civilization consists of far more than just Battle Heaven City! "At this stage, Heavenly Star Town and Silver Moon form two distinct camps. In terms of strength, Silver Moon is naturally stronger, but Silver Moon hasn't experienced recovery..." The old man understood his meaning. His son thought highly of Li Hao but was unwilling to pledge allegiance because he lacked confidence in Li Hao's prospects after the secondary recovery. Thus, he had chosen to remain a bystander. There was nothing inherently wrong with that. Indeed, at the present stage, the Central Region where Heavenly Star City was located had many awakened demon plants, which could continuously absorb energy to recover. Across the entirety of Silver Moon, however, were there even ten awakened demon plants right now? Even if all those demon plants supported Li Hao, what would it matter? Behind the Seven Sacred Mountains stood demon plants and demon beasts; the Three Great Organizations certainly possessed them as well, yet none supported Li Hao. The Three Grand Ducal Mansions had them too, and they did not back Li Hao either. The City of Supernaturals had a whole host of them, none of whom supported Li Hao. Clearly, his son had observed a great deal and seen through the situation thoroughly. Consequently, he hesitated all the more. After a long pause, the old man sighed. "Since you see things clearly, make your own decision!" Liu Yunqing nodded. "Father's reminder was also correct. If things continue like this... once the secondary recovery begins, the Liu family will be in a difficult position. At that point, one side will be Li Hao representing Silver Moon! What I am contemplating now is: who can represent the sphere of Heavenly Star Town? Or rather... does the Liu family have any hope of representing all the ancient demon plants of Heavenly Star Town?" The old man fell silent for a moment before saying, "The one with a genuine chance of dealing with Li Hao is still among the Three Great Organizations... Red Moon!" "Why do you say that?" Liu Yunqing was somewhat surprised. The old man smiled faintly, pausing before answering, "They... also have a major city behind them." Liu Yunqing was stunned. "A major city? Aren't all the major cities in Silver Moon?" "Yes, but have you forgotten that Ying Hongyue is a man of Silver Moon?" The old man chuckled. "In the eyes of the Eight Major Cities, is there any difference between Li Hao and Ying Hongyue? Both possess bloodlines of the Eight Great Families, both hail from Silver Moon, both are geniuses, both are powerhouses, and both are modern men... Does backing one over the other make a tremendous difference to them? "Ying Hongyue's rapid rise was inseparable from the forces backing him... and there is likely more than one!" Liu Yunqing frowned slightly. All this time, he had never guessed who backed Ying Hongyue, though it was true that Red Moon had many wealthy patrons. A major city, however... that was something he had truly never considered. "Does Father mean that neither the imperial family nor the Administrative Department will do?" He then asked, "What about the City of Supernaturals? It has twelve ancient clans, each with a demon plant—a full twelve of them..." The old man smiled. "What do you think?" *What do I think? I think... there's little hope.* Liu Yunqing sighed and said no more. At this moment, he had no idea how to choose. There was another factor: Li Hao was difficult to befriend and dangerous to provoke. For no other reason than that Li Hao was a martial arts rogue of the jianghu. He could not tolerate the slightest speck of sand in his eyes. In fact, early on, ever since their first setback, Liu Yunqing had felt that Li Hao would become a threat, and he had contemplated collaborating with him. Yet whether it was the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce or other matters, there was a fatal flaw: they had colluded with pirates. And by all accounts, Li Hao utterly loathed pirates. If Li Hao were a politician, none of this would have been an issue. The crux of the matter was that he was not. Perhaps, from the very beginning, they were never destined to walk the same path. He understood this in his heart, and so did his father. That was why his father brought up Ying Hongyue. He understood his father's intention. Since the Nine Departments had excluded the Liu family and Li Hao was impossible to join, their only option was... Ying Hongyue. Yet Liu Yunqing felt that Ying Hongyue was a man of far too many hidden schemes. Such individuals were exceedingly difficult to deal with. Even if Ying Hongyue claimed not to care about worldly matters, choosing him might still lead to ruin for the Liu family. Seeing his son remain silent, the old man smiled gently. "If you feel it's improper, then withdraw! Surrender our financial authority, surrender the Liu family's accumulated wealth over the years, surrender our private army, and find a place to peacefully live out our days. Perhaps... we might secure a good end! Since ancient times, rulers have feared those who command armies and wield power most. As for those who control wealth, so long as you surrender the riches... even someone like Li Hao, who tolerates no sand in his eyes, will choose forgiveness, provided you commit no further wrongs! "Now the realm is in turmoil. The wealth the Liu family has gathered over the years may be worthless to cultivators, but to those who aspire to rule the world, it is an absolute treasure." He looked toward his son. "Choose carefully!" As for the Liu family carving out its own path, that was nearly impossible. Those who held purse strings had never been able to achieve imperial hegemony. Anyone well-versed in history knew that under such circumstances, the best choice for the fabulously wealthy Liu family was to align with a hegemon worthy of allegiance. Even if they lost their wealth, securing a peaceful end was still an enviable outcome. As for himself, he had a few ideas of his own... but ultimately, it depended on his son. Liu Yunqing closed his eyes and said nothing. At this moment, he was torn with hesitation. Nor was he the only one; the Department of Internal Affairs found itself in a similar state. *** The Inspectorate, however, presented a completely different scene. Chen Yao looked at his father with slight confusion. "Li Hao keeps bustling about—has he achieved any results? Does he know the imperial family and the Administrative Department have reached an agreement? What is he still running around for?" Chen Zhongtian chuckled merrily, ignoring the question. Seeing his son's impatience, he finally looked up and said, "What's the rush! Have some patience! Don't look down on him just because he's young; everything he does follows a clear method..." After speaking for a moment, he thought it over and added, "Don't stay idle lately. Head down to inspect the local Inspectorates across the Central Region. Execute those who should be executed, demote those who should be demoted, and promote those who should be promoted! Be unyielding! If he succeeds this time... half the realm will bear the surname Li!" Chen Yao's expression shifted slightly. "So fast?" How many days had it been? Half the realm bearing the surname Li? Chen Zhongtian laughed heartily. "Fast? Achieving kingly hegemony is precisely this fast. The moment you slow down, it becomes difficult! Sweeping across the realm—what does that mean? Once the wind rises, it sweeps through the world in an instant! Only then can one speak of kingly ambition with a casual laugh, blooming like a sudden spring breeze overnight!" *What nonsense!* Chen Yao cursed silently, finding the words entirely absurd. Seeing his son's disbelief, Chen Zhongtian smiled with deep meaning. "Rest assured, it will be very fast. Presently, the realm is divided into three shares: Li Hao and Silver Moon hold one; the Nine Departments and the imperial family hold one; and the Three Great Organizations, the Three Grand Ducal Mansions, and regional hegemons share the last!" Once those figures were successfully dealt with this time, the share belonging to the Nine Departments and the imperial family might well fall into Li Hao's hands as well. "Unifying the realm is only the beginning. Purging the remnants of the ancient civilization across the land—subduing, slaying, or banishing them... Only then, by claiming the four neighboring kingdoms and reuniting Silver Moon, will the era of restored glory arrive!" Chen Zhongtian sighed with emotion, then added, "The four neighboring kingdoms... are growing restless. Hundreds of years of peace are about to be shattered. At this stage, internal strife within Heavenly Star is far too severe. Only if Li Hao swiftly sweeps across the realm will he have enough energy to confront them. Otherwise... Heavenly Star will inevitably be reduced to ruins! The four neighboring kingdoms are no pushovers either; neither Dali nor the God Nation is to be trifled with." Chen Yao paid little heed to these grander concerns, asking heavily, "Can the four neighboring kingdoms truly threaten Heavenly Star?" "Why couldn't they? Heavenly Star is tearing itself apart! Small though the four kingdoms may be, they have numerous powerhouses and formidable armies. The harsher their conditions, the more united they stand. Meanwhile, Heavenly Star, a great nation of the central plains, resembles a collapsing mansion. Why wouldn't they contend for supremacy in the Central Plains?" Chen Yao frowned and said no more. He had never cared much about the four border kingdoms, but since his father put it this way, perhaps the old man had planted some spies. The Nine Departments likely had them as well; it was simply that Chen Yao had never paid much attention to matters beyond Heavenly Star. *** At the same time. Yuanping Martial Arts University. Black Armor was growing irritated. "Li Hao!" Without waiting for Li Hao to speak, he materialized instantly and snapped, "What do you take this place for? A courtyard you can come and go from as you please? Harassing me day and night—do you believe I won't slap you to death?" He was thoroughly fed up! All he wanted was to quietly contemplate life, peacefully reminisce about the past, and remain a quiet, handsome youth... Yet this scoundrel barged in time and again. He was on the verge of revoking his student status! Li Hao sighed. "Senior, I didn't want to either, but... the situation is changing too fast. I've encountered Saint-level combatants..." "What does that have to do with me!" Black Armor snorted. "I am a student of the university." "So what?" "Does the Dean of Academic Affairs care nothing for the life and death of his students?" "That was during the Neo-Martial era; it isn't now!" *Fair enough.* Li Hao chuckled. "Alright, Senior, let's not debate that. Doesn't Senior wish to return to your homeland?" Black Armor said indifferently, "Relying on you?" "Yes!" "Heh!" A scoff dripping with mockery. Li Hao paid it no mind. After a brief pause, he said, "Opening the Stargate is the first step. Second is dealing with the powerhouses or enemies that might exist inside and outside the Stargate. Third, the main world might have vanished, requiring us to search for it... Solve these three problems, and there will be hope of returning!" "Indeed," Black Armor remarked coolly. "Of those three, tell me, which one can you accomplish?" Li Hao smiled. "If I become the master of this minor world, opening the Stargate will be an inevitability! As for the second... once I possess the strength of a world master, I can manage the enemies. As for the third... if even the main world couldn't withstand its foes and vanished... finding it will indeed be exceedingly difficult. Yet having that prospect is still better than accomplishing nothing at all; at least there remains a sliver of hope." Li Hao looked at Black Armor. "Even Battle Heaven City is striving for it. Why do you harbor no hope whatsoever, Senior?" Black Armor replied flatly, "Because I know the sheer difficulty of it." "Yet the Neo-Martial era was difficult back then as well, and didn't it still achieve glory?" "Do you think you are the Human King?" Li Hao laughed. "Senior, a person needs dreams. I'm not daydreaming without cause; I'm only twenty years old, and I haven't been practicing martial arts for very long..." Black Armor paused slightly. Those words sounded somewhat familiar. He seemed to recall something from a very, very long time ago... Someone had loved to say similar things back then. *I am still young. At such a young age, I've already achieved so much. Who can predict the future?* He closed his eyes and said nothing. Li Hao spoke again: "I know Senior takes pride in the Neo-Martial era and looks down upon the humans of today as weak and pitiful. But if I can temper my physical body to the utmost limit and condense ten thousand divine characters, can Senior predict where my future lies?" Black Armor said calmly, "The ceiling of the world dictates your ceiling. Even if you truly become the master of this world, your limit... ends right here!" Li Hao frowned. "No, the limit of a world is by no means the defining constraint on a person's upper limit! If this world isn't strong enough, I will break through it. If the world I break into is still not strong enough, then heaven and earth are the world, the universe is the world, the chaos is the world! Wherever the heart reaches, the world lies beneath my feet!" Frowning, he gazed at Black Armor. "Senior... do you truly believe Silver Moon's ceiling is humanity's ceiling? The human body is the greatest treasure trove of all! As a cultivator, martial arts temper the heart; as broad as the heart is, so vast is heaven and earth!" He said earnestly, "I'm not claiming I can definitely achieve it, but I don't believe the world's ceiling is a cultivator's limit. Whether I can do it isn't what matters; what matters is that Senior doesn't even dare to imagine it... No wonder you are merely a Saint!" "..." Black Armor froze. *No wonder I am merely a Saint!* Li Hao continued with utter seriousness: "Senior, in the Neo-Martial era, powerhouses were beyond count. Above Saints were Heavenly Kings; above Heavenly Kings were Sovereigns; above Sovereigns was the Human King... All of those existed! It isn't as though they never occurred. Since they existed, why not pursue them? Of course, one might not succeed, but one must at least have a dream. Could Senior's dream truly be to grow old and die right here?" He felt that Black Armor's mindset was wrong. Deeply wrong. The Neo-Martial figures he had met, including Director Wang and his peers, had far more drive than this man. Yes, even if they were weaker, Li Hao felt they possessed vastly more aspiration than this person. Why was that? As the Dean of Academic Affairs of Yuanping Martial Arts University and the deputy to the Human King's younger sister, could he truly amount to just this? Black Armor remained silent. He stayed silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke: "Dreams cannot fill one's belly. Perhaps the Neo-Martial people you know were too distant from those supreme powerhouses. But I... stood very close to them! When I stood close to them, I looked up as if beholding an insurmountable mountain... It could be admired from afar, but once you truly drew near, you would feel despair... Can you understand that?" Li Hao shook his head. "I don't understand! Why despair? Back when I was very weak, everyone said my teacher was the foremost martial genius of this world, the absolute ceiling of the Silver Moon martial arts world... But all I thought back then was that perhaps I would become that ceiling!" "It's different..." "What's different about it?" Li Hao shook his head. "Forget it. Some people love splitting hairs, and I don't care to keep talking to them. Playing a lute to a cow is meaningless! Besides, Senior was a Saint back in the day, while I am currently only at seven elements; to Senior, I amount to nothing. But Senior must understand one thing: you are the Dean of Academic Affairs. Whether you wish to live or die matters not to me, but what about your students? As a man of Neo-Martial, would you truly abandon your own students? Not long ago, I revived the Chief of Battle Heaven City's Security Bureau. Perhaps I can revive your students as well. "Puppet bodies are strong, but Senior should have a way to separate their mental energy, right? With enough Spring of Life and imperishable substance, they can be resurrected. Is Senior unwilling to care even for that?" He stared directly at Black Armor. "Regardless of what Senior thinks, as their teacher, do you choose to abandon them, or will you take responsibility?" Li Hao said solemnly, "If you choose to do nothing, I will never set foot in Yuanping Martial Arts University again! However... I will also grant no special privileges to Yuanping Martial Arts University. When the secondary recovery begins, if Senior wishes to venture out and seize fortunes on your own, so long as you don't cross me, I won't interfere. But if you provoke me and throw the realm into chaos, I will slay you!" "You... slay me?" Black Armor laughed, practically amused by the sheer audacity. "You would slay me?" Li Hao remained entirely placid. "I said, if Senior provokes me! I will soon unify the realm, and Silver Moon... will belong to me! Regardless of what Senior thinks, at that time, I will be the King of Silver Moon! If Senior engages in indiscriminate slaughter and pillaging, I will cut you down!" "With just your strength?" Black Armor sneered. Li Hao nodded. "With my strength alone! Based on the fact that I killed Hong Tu today! Based on the fact that I chopped down the White Tree of the Wind and Cloud Tower today! Based on the fact that I seized the Wind and Cloud Pavilion today! Based on the fact that I revived Battle Heaven City's demon plants and Security Bureau Chief... Are these enough? And achieving all of this took me merely half a year! I will delay the timing of the secondary recovery. Give me another six months or a year—does a mere Saint amount to much?" Unfazed by Black Armor, he held his gaze. "Furthermore, in just half a year, I have recruited over a dozen demon plants and claimed half the territory of the outside world—all from scratch within six months! You can ask Jiang Yingli and Li Shengzhang whether, given another half-year, I can achieve everything I've said!" Black Armor did not speak. The two robotic cats had followed them inside, but they remained completely silent. At a critical juncture like this, they had to heed their teacher. Black Armor remained quiet, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Many puppets had emerged, some eavesdropping, others watching from afar, yet none dared utter a word. If it were up to him alone... he truly couldn't be bothered to entertain Li Hao. Yet... he was a teacher. Yes, he was still a teacher. Black Armor let out a self-deprecating chuckle internally. *I still have several hundred students.* With a soft sigh, he looked toward Li Hao. "What do you want me to do?" "Kill enemies!" "Who are the enemies?" "Possibly demon plants, possibly the Deputy Commander of Heavenly Star Town, possibly rebels... I don't know for certain." Black Armor asked heavily, "The Deputy Commander of Heavenly Star Town?" He then frowned. "Can you bring me out?" "We can try. I brought out Immortals previously without issue. As for a Saint... I haven't tried, but I am stronger than before, so it should be feasible." Black Armor suddenly laughed. "Those from Yuanping Martial Arts University have clear price tags for our services! How about this: for every time I act, you are responsible for helping me revive ten students. How does that sound?" There were four hundred puppets here. Ten at a time wasn't many. However, these students ranged from Peak Realm at the weakest to Immortal Realm at the strongest. For an Immortal, going by Director Wang's consumption, reviving one required over ten thousand drops of the Spring of Life and five trunks of Immortal-level demon plants. Reviving all the students here would cost an astronomical sum. A thought struck Li Hao. "What if we kill all the enemies and the resources still aren't enough?" Black Armor pondered for a moment. "If it still isn't enough... we can... we can opt for mental energy revival. While it will diminish their strength, it will still allow them to live!" That way, the consumption would be significantly smaller. Li Hao let out a breath and nodded with a smile. "Very well, deal! But if I may ask... how much strength has Senior recovered currently?" Black Armor said placidly, "Once we arrive, give me another ten thousand drops of the Spring of Life and one hundred million of what you call divine energy stones. Then, I will fear no Saint!" What massive boasts! Fearing no Saint. Without a physical body, even given so many treasures, he would likely only restore some energy rather than reconstruct his flesh. Was this man not merely a Saint? To dare claim he feared no Saint—could his peak have been at the Heavenly King realm? "That's too much!" Li Hao shook his head. "I can barely scrape together the Spring of Life, but... even if I completely empty my pockets, I only have half the divine energy stones!" Was the expenditure worth it? So long as they took the colossal mine, it would be well worth it. The colossal mine held vastly more than this meager amount of divine energy stones. As for the Spring of Life, it could also be converted through demon plants. "Then give me all of it," Black Armor said with complete tranquility. "However, in that case, dealing with crippled Saints will be fine; if we encounter a peak Saint... you had best pray for your own good fortune!" Li Hao inhaled deeply. He cursed silently once more! *Damn it, every single one of them is an energy-guzzling monster! No amount of money is enough to feed them!* Everyone was like this. If they failed to seize the colossal mine, he truly wouldn't be able to survive. "Fine!" Gritting his teeth, he agreed. Running the calculations, ten thousand drops of the Spring of Life were worth thirty million divine energy stones. Adding the fifty million stones for replenishment brought the total to a staggering eighty million. All just to hire a titan to lend a hand. Furthermore, for this single battle, he would have to help revive ten people. Even if they were all at the Peak Realm, spending ten million on each was by no means an exaggeration. That made one hundred and eighty million! Add to that the demon plants, which would also demand benefits if they joined the fight... Was this fighting a battle? This was burning money! Li Hao felt that if they didn't plunder more than three hundred million divine energy stones, this venture would be a catastrophic loss. "Then Senior, come with me right now. Sooner is better than later... Lest those fellows make a mess of things. If that colossal mine detonates... we will truly lose both our people and our fortune." Black Armor seemed to hesitate, but ultimately turned to look at the puppets. "Stay here quietly; don't wander off! I'll be back shortly..." He felt an ache of nostalgia in his heart, along with a tangle of complicated emotions. Prior to this, he truly had not intended to step outside. He had planned to quietly wait for death right here. Yet... these students were still young, and they were unwilling to accept such a fate. Li Hao smiled. "It won't take long, Senior. Let's set off!" Black Armor said no more, watching as Li Hao unfurled his domain to envelop him. After a brief inspection, he remarked, "This construct of yours has limited isolation capability. You can carry me away right now, but once I absorb those benefits and want to return, it will be difficult!" Li Hao paid it no heed, chuckling merrily. "After a grueling battle, Senior's reserves will be mostly depleted. What would be difficult about it?" "..." *Good heavens, so your plan is... after the battle, once my energy is drained, you won't replenish me at all?* *Is that what you mean?* On second thought, that made sense too. Forget it; whatever. He didn't care anyway. Li Hao expanded his domain. Seeing the two robotic cats attempting to tag along, Black Armor snapped displeasedly, "You two stay here!" It was enough that he was going; what were they following along for? Jiang Yingli hurriedly said, "Teacher, we can handle odd jobs! Li Hao's new Dao is very interesting; it would be good for us to observe and learn..." *Bullshit!* Black Armor cursed inwardly. They simply couldn't sit still. He said no more, and before long, the group stepped out of the ruins. The moment they emerged, a majestic heavenly might descended. Space violently destabilized! Li Hao's seven-element domain instantly mobilized vast momentum to stabilize the surrounding space. He frowned in surprise—in this state, Black Armor was actually exerting a stronger disruption than Director Wang had! Back when he carried Director Wang, he had only possessed five elements, and he had been transporting Little Tree's true body alongside five dormant demon plants. Yet the spatial fluctuations back then hadn't been nearly as ferocious as this! Black Armor looked up at the sky and suddenly laughed. "A new sky has indeed replaced the old! Spatial instability is one thing, but beyond that... heaven's will no longer tolerates our kind! This sky has developed a sliver of consciousness, and it rejects the people of Neo-Martial." He sighed with emotion. *New sovereigns bring new courtiers.* Neo-Martial was gone, and now even the heavens had no room for them. Li Hao also looked upward, though he couldn't discern anything. Nevertheless, he knew this world might truly have birthed some faint awareness of its own. Smiling, he brushed it aside. "Heaven's will is merely a scattered consciousness; we can simply ignore it." Surprised, Black Armor glanced at him. "The sky having consciousness is actually beneficial to your generation; it will show you some favoritism..." Yet hearing Li Hao's tone, he didn't seem particularly pleased. Li Hao chuckled. "I don't need heaven to show me favoritism, nor do I like having my life orchestrated by others. Life and death are not determined by fate, nor are wealth and honor decreed by heaven! If it comes down to everyone thinking I only succeeded because heaven willed it... wouldn't a single phrase like 'such is heaven's will' completely negate all my efforts and painstaking blood?" *Heaven's will?* Li Hao scoffed. What rubbish. How much blood and sweat had he poured out just to survive and reach this point? Was all of it to be erased by a single claim that heaven's will was on his side? Meaningless! Black Armor grew thoughtful. Only now did he truly scrutinize Li Hao, offering a slight smile. "That is true enough. Heaven's will signifies nothing. In the Neo-Martial era, heaven's will was the Heavenly Emperor, yet even the Heavenly Emperor was slain... Later, heaven's will gave rise to Sovereign Qin, but he still couldn't triumph over the Human King. So what you say is correct: heaven's will can only bully the weak; when it encounters the truly strong, it cowers timidly!" Li Hao grinned, his curiosity piqued. "Neo-Martial had a heaven's will too?" "Naturally." As they walked, Black Armor explained, "Back then, heaven's will was vastly more powerful than what you see here. This is merely a minor world that has just birthed an awareness. In the Neo-Martial era, heaven's will was immensely formidable and controlled the entire world... In the end, it was directly slain! Later, the Human King and his peers supplanted heaven's will... though they had no interest in serving as such." Li Hao nodded. "The Human King was truly bold! Since ancient times, emperors have called themselves Sons of Heaven. If I become the King of Silver Moon, I will have people address me as Dao Lord." "Dao Lord?" "Indeed. Master of the Great Dao. What does Senior think?" "..." Black Armor had no desire to respond. *You haven't even grown all your feathers, yet your courage is boundless and your boasting knows no limits.* This fellow Li Hao was quite amusing at times. Li Hao chuckled, maintaining his domain as he carried Black Armor toward the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. The distance was short, and while there was some pressure, the domain held firm without rupturing. He had half a mind to give Black Armor a fright, but Black Armor wore an air of complete indifference, which spoiled the fun. *This fellow... is no fun at all.* Commander Li of the Ninth Division was cold on the outside but burning hot on the inside; this man was cold on both the outside and inside, carrying a posture of 'whether I live or die doesn't matter.' To be frank, Li Hao found such people very uncomfortable to deal with. *** Inside the ruins. Black Armor stepped in. The moment he entered, the others didn't react much, nor did the demon plants show any great disturbance. Director Wang, however, turned pale. Cursing inwardly, he hurried forward, bowing deeply with his head lowered. "Martial Uncle!" Black Armor remained exceedingly calm, saying indifferently, "The generation is off. All students of martial arts universities belong to one family and share the same generation. I hail from Mowu and you from Jingwu, nor did I ever hold a post at Jingwu. Just call me Senior Schoolmate!" "I wouldn't dare!" Director Wang beamed with smiles. "To see Martial Uncle alive brings immense joy..." "If you were truly joyful, I didn't see you coming to visit me," Black Armor exposed his lie flatly, asking, "Li Daozong is still alive, right?" "Alive..." "Mm." Black Armor nodded slightly. "Good that he's alive. Good that he's alive... Unfortunately, living is suffering too." *Li Daozong.* Li Hao was startled and looked at Director Wang, who sent a voice transmission: *"That's the commander of the Ninth Division!"* Li Hao understood, though he felt a strange curiosity. Li Daozong... surnamed Li, skilled in the sword—could he be from the Li family? Then again, the surname Li was common during Neo-Martial, and many practiced swordsmanship. Black Armor spoke again: "Is this Heavenly Star Town?" He looked around, utterly ignoring the demon plants. Among them, one seemed to recognize him and began trembling violently. Black Armor paid it no heed, peering past the barrier of the Chaotic Origin as if seeing straight through it. He sighed with emotion: "Silver Moon's foremost mine is still intact. That can be considered a fortunate blessing amidst misfortune." Director Wang hurriedly said, "It is still here. For this mine-seizing operation, we rely entirely on Martial Uncle's mighty power." "Mighty power? Are you mocking me?" "No..." Director Wang was on the verge of tears. *How was I mocking you?* Li Hao found the interaction increasingly bizarre. He glanced at Director Wang—was all this really necessary? Was he truly that terrified? Even if the man was a generation senior and a former Saint, Director Wang had killed a Saint before; wasn't that White Tree a former Saint as well? This man's degree of recovery might not even match that of the White Tree. Director Wang couldn't be bothered to explain to Li Hao, nor did he care to. *What does Li Hao know! This person before us... is entirely different.* A man who could suppress countless descendants of Sovereigns! Li Hao didn't stop to think: which descendant of a Sovereign wasn't wildly arrogant and untamed? And what was the duty of the Dean of Academic Affairs? To discipline and punish them! Striking them whenever he wished, beating them as he pleased—was that a job just anyone could handle? Was raw strength enough? If sheer strength were all that mattered, wouldn't finding a Heavenly King have been better? Why appoint a Saint to govern those students? For no other reason than that his lineage was equally monstrous! So formidable that even Sovereigns' scions dared not step out of line. Every single one of them had to obediently toe the mark! In the Neo-Martial era, people who could make even Sovereigns wary, cooperative, and hesitant to act rashly were exceedingly rare. That unruly bunch feared almost nobody. To keep them thoroughly suppressed was near-miraculous. Black Armor cared nothing for what Director Wang was thinking. He surveyed his surroundings once more and sighed. "Instant death, Chaotic Origin... Which of the Eight Great Families betrayed us? I never wanted to dwell on it, but now I must. It couldn't be General Huai, could it?" "..." Director Wang said hurriedly, "How could that be? Martial Uncle mustn't make wild assumptions..." "I was merely musing aloud." Black Armor suddenly chuckled. "It's just that your garrison general's ancestor... Well, its ancestor was fine, but that companion Sovereign of its ancestor, King Huai—words truly fail to describe him." Li Hao was taken aback and looked at Director Wang. *King Huai?* Addressing him directly by name—was that a Sovereign? Could something be amiss? Director Wang had no patience to explain to Li Hao, saying anxiously, "Those were matters from the early Neo-Martial era; things were different later on. Besides, the name Battle Heaven carries extraordinary weight..." "That is true!" Black Armor nodded. "Then tell me, who could have betrayed us?" "This... I cannot say." Black Armor sighed. "Indeed. In my eyes, none of them were capable of it, yet it happened nonetheless. It truly defies imagination. Could it be the Zhao family, who pursued the path of energy?" He muttered to himself, "The Zhao family ancestor, Great Alliance Leader Zhao, was a towering hero standing between heaven and earth. His descendants shouldn't have fallen so low, should they?" Director Wang looked miserable. *Please stop talking. What's the point of guessing! You can speak freely, but I can't.* Black Armor ceased his speculation and smiled faintly. "I've just stepped outside, so I'm talking a bit much. Don't be afraid. These are my words, not yours; what are you trembling for?" "Indeed, indeed... I'm not afraid!" Director Wang gave a dry laugh. Black Armor turned to Li Hao. "Hand over the items. Let me recover a bit, or with my current strength, I might not even overcome that fellow." "Martial Uncle is too modest..." Black Armor ignored him. Director Wang didn't take offense, while Li Hao, with immense physical agony, handed over nearly his entire life savings. His heart ached so fiercely he felt on the verge of exploding, his grip clutching the storage ring so tightly he refused to let go. Black Armor simply held one corner of the ring. After a long moment, he said, "If you're unwilling, forget it." "I'm willing!" Li Hao was in agonizing pain; this was his entire fortune. He let out a tragic sigh: "If we don't take the Heavenly Star colossal mine this time, I will bash my head against a wall and die right here; I won't be coming out!" Black Armor couldn't be bothered with him. *Go ahead and bash your head to death; it'll save me trouble.* Seeing him walk off to a corner to recuperate, Li Hao sent a voice transmission: *"Brother Wang, what's the story here? Why are you so terrified of him? Is his old man the Human King or something?"* *"Stop spouting nonsense!"* Director Wang was exasperated. What ridiculous theories this kid came up with. *"Then why are you so scared of him?"* *"You don't understand... Forget it, I'll explain briefly. Provoke him as little as possible. This man... is extraordinary. He was a classmate of Yuanping Martial Arts University's principal and a junior schoolmate of the Human King—practically from the same era, do you understand? Not like us, separated by countless ages and sharing only nominal ties. He was a bona fide student of Mowu during that very period, just a few classes below them. Crucially, his elders were also supreme figures..."* Li Hao remained nonchalant. *"They're all gone anyway."* *"Nonsense! You can afford not to care, but can I?"* Director Wang was utterly speechless. *You aren't from that era, so of course you don't care. How could I not?* Soon, he asked via voice transmission: *"How on earth did you manage to invite him out? This senior... I've heard he has a terrible temper and is rather... rather ruthless..."* *"A matter of money."* Director Wang was entirely at a loss for words. *Could this truly just be about money?* Still, with this man present, he felt vastly more at ease. His previous worries had evaporated. Li Hao sighed and ceased speaking. Sitting down cross-legged, seven distinct forces immediately swirled around his body, manifesting various beasts and plants. In the blink of an eye, he was thoroughly enveloped by force. The next instant, a unique energy began channeling alongside the circulation of his forces, tempering and strengthening his body. Black Armor, who had been restoring himself, suddenly turned to look at Li Hao, then shifted his gaze toward Director Wang, transmitting: *"What is that?"* *"The special energy of the secondary space, likely?"* *"He... found it?"* *"Mm."* Black Armor was genuinely surprised. Li Hao had mentioned it before, but Black Armor had assumed that even if the youth had deduced its existence, actually discovering it would be tremendously difficult—just like the first person to discover the origin cosmos. Whoever discovered the origin cosmos seized absolute initiative. In the Neo-Martial era, the first to discover it had likely been the Heavenly Emperor. And subsequently, the Heavenly Emperor had become the supreme powerhouse between heaven and earth. Black Armor's thoughts churned as he watched Li Hao, his composure slightly ruffled. Earlier, Li Hao had never mentioned that he had already uncovered the secondary space. Seeing Black Armor somewhat distracted, Director Wang chuckled inwardly. *Act all aloof and ruthless, will you? Look who's losing their cool now!* Just as the thought crossed his mind, he saw Black Armor glance his way. Director Wang hastily reined in all his stray thoughts. *This senior... couldn't be secretly probing my mental fluctuations, could he? I'm an Immortal; you shouldn't be able to peek into my mind.* Black Armor's cool voice sounded beside his ear: "I once studied psychology. If your eyes look at me like that again, I will teach you how to be a decent person!" "..." Director Wang groaned inwardly, quickly closing his eyes and sitting cross-legged to cultivate. Being around this man was truly uncomfortable.