Where Isn't the Jianghu

“Whew!” Heavy panting broke the silence. Everyone turned to look at Li Hao, their faces etched with perplexity and bewilderment. Li Hao’s reasoning for concluding that the red shadow had survived was… simply bizarre. Just because the fellow hadn’t uttered parting threats, it had to be a trap? What kind of logic was that? Who decreed that a dying man had to shout a few parting curses? That rationale was absurd beyond belief; it was entirely unconvincing. At this stage, that red shadow might well have been the strongest awakened existence in the current world—stronger even than the locust tree and, naturally, a cut above Black Armor. Yet such a terrifying foe… had fallen just like that. Without question, Black Armor deserved the lion’s share of the credit. Even so, Li Hao’s final killing blow—and especially his ability to seize the enemy’s residual spiritual power when even Black Armor was convinced the target was dead—remained utterly incredible. As for Li Hao, catch his breath as he might, he couldn't care less about their bewilderment. His grin stretched wide enough to show all his teeth! His eyes shone with blazing light as he stared at the mirror, then at the golden physical body collapsed nearby on the ground, and finally at the lake that had only just appeared. What kind of wondrous thing was that golden lake? Last of all, his gaze swept across the colossal cavern, and he froze on the spot. Countless divine energy stones! The ground, the ceiling, every direction he looked—it was all divine energy stones. No, they should be called energy stones. Divine energy stones were mere defective castoffs, trash, dregs that people back then wouldn't even glance at. In the era of ancient civilization, everyone had cultivated using energy stones. And now, they stood right here—in the core of a massive mineral vein. “Will the outside know?” Li Hao suddenly asked. Black Armor shook his head slightly. “He just condensed a spiritual domain, equivalent to an Initial Martial heaven and earth.” “Initial Martial heaven and earth?” Li Hao was lost. What was that? “Equivalent to your domain,” Black Armor simplified. “Initial Martial refers to the stage and era when the world was first opened and martial arts first emerged. In that era, the origin path did not exist, and the Origin universe had yet to be discovered. Thus, Initial Martial came to be. Powerhouses of the Initial Martial era pioneered the Origin era… which is to say, the era of the Nine Emperors and Four Sovereigns ruled by the Heavenly Emperor. Later, the Human King brought that era to an end, ushering in the Neo-Martial era.” “An Initial Martial heaven and earth, or spiritual heaven and earth, is equivalent to your current domain of the heaven-and-earth force. Their natures are essentially the same. An Initial Martial heaven and earth is a special space isolated from the outside world, as though returning to primordial chaos.” Understanding dawned on Li Hao. So that was it! Black Armor glanced around and continued, “Furthermore, this is the core of a massive mine. Formations and arrangements were already laid here originally. Unless there is tremendous commotion, the outside cannot perceive this place. Had he not erected a spiritual heaven and earth, we would have been detected, as neither his strikes nor mine were subtle.” Li Hao nodded repeatedly like a novice. In truth, he really was a novice. He understood very little about these ancient matters. Having stepped into martial arts for only a short time, he devoted all his efforts to studying modern martial arts. Among Neo-Martial arts, he took an interest only in the absolute arts of Star Suppressing City and the deconstruction method recorded in the Records of Yuanping. “Who was this person?” “I don’t know him.” Li Hao froze. Didn't know him? How could that be! “Wasn't he a top-tier powerhouse?” Black Armor nodded. “A Saint, and one who was in the middle of forging a Heavenly King vessel. He counts as a powerhouse. Even in the Neo-Martial era, a Saint was considered fairly strong. A Heavenly King was a pinnacle existence, while a Sovereign was an invincible being.” “Then how could you not know him?” Li Hao was thoroughly astonished. How could a powerhouse—an ancient Neo-Martial powerhouse, no less—be completely unrecognized? Black Armor was speechless. After a long pause, he said, “It's quite normal. The world is vast; I couldn't possibly know everyone. If someone deliberately hid their identity, knowing them all would be even more impossible. Had he been a Heavenly King or a Sovereign, I would certainly recognize him. But a Saint… in the late Neo-Martial era, Saints were not few. How could I know every single one?” *Fair enough.* Not knowing him was somewhat regrettable. Li Hao had hoped that if Black Armor recognized him, they would know which primary city the traitor had hailed from. Director Wang coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood before saying, “This fellow must have concealed himself long ago. That proves one thing: their betrayal was not a spur-of-the-moment impulse, but premeditated! What puzzles me is… premeditated… who had such audacity? If the Star Gate’s sudden closure had prompted an opportunistic rebellion, I could believe it. But premeditated… just how much nerve would that take?” Back then, the Star Gate had still been open. The Sword Venerable had personally presided over Silver Moon! Under those circumstances, for someone to dare plot a premeditated betrayal was simply unthinkable. Of course, this was Silver Moon. In the main world, they almost certainly wouldn't have dared. Silver Moon had its own Sovereigns as well. The Sword Venerable was one, and the president of Yuanping Martial Arts University was another. Yet to be honest… neither of them was particularly reliable. The Sword Venerable was wholly devoted to martial cultivation and rarely involved himself in administrative affairs. As for the president, he was practically a bystander, wandering here and there whenever he pleased, completely uninterested in meddling. Yuanping Martial Arts University was actually run mostly by Black Armor; the president would merely drop by whenever he had free time, vanishing without a trace whenever he didn't. Li Hao didn't dwell on it too much. To be frank, he didn't particularly care which of the eight primary cities had betrayed the rest. Even if Battle Heaven City had been the one to rebel… he wouldn't mind overmuch. That was a hurdle the Neo-Martial people couldn't overcome. As far as Li Hao was concerned, it wasn't his place to criticize, provided they didn't provoke him or try to seize his family's Silver Moon fief. As for the fact that the fief originated from ancestors of the Neo-Martial era… Li Hao didn't care. Double standards had always been his guiding principle. Setting those thoughts aside, he promptly turned his attention toward the golden corpse on the ground, which had already healed itself. “Is this body… very powerful?” “Of course!” Black Armor nodded. “Extremely powerful. It was forged from pure energy, vast quantities of indestructible substance, Spring of Life, and countless heavenly treasures into a human physical vessel…” “Then isn't it a weapon?” Li Hao asked, puzzled. Black Armor shook his head. “It doesn't count as a weapon. While you wouldn't be strictly wrong to call it that, it is genuinely a physical body, no different from a real one.” “You can even cultivate an extra physical body?” Li Hao grew more curious. “Can anyone use it, or was it meant exclusively for that red shadow?” Black Armor examined it briefly before speaking. “This body hasn't finished maturing yet. It was likely aimed at reaching the Heavenly King level and hasn't been branded with a spiritual imprint. Once branded with a spiritual imprint, its owner is determined; without one, it remains an unowned object.” “Then why didn't the red shadow brand it earlier?” Li Hao was like an inquisitive child. Given his own personality, something was only his once he had secured it. Without an imprint, wasn't the shadow afraid someone might snatch it away? Seeing that Li Hao knew nothing yet asked about everything, Black Armor felt somewhat helpless. However, since everyone was recuperating anyway, he explained, “Because it hadn't finished forming. Do you understand? If you brand it with a spiritual imprint now, the body will solidify! It would become a permanent half-finished product. But if it reaches the Heavenly King level before being imprinted, it will be complete. It won't solidify prematurely; the body will harmonize with the spiritual power, growing together without harming its potential.” “If branded now, however, the body will have no potential left to speak of. Its progress as a half-finished product would be interrupted, and for the rest of its existence, this body would be capped at this level—a Quasi-Heavenly King. To take another step forward, there would be only one way: reforge the body from scratch!” Li Hao nodded. So that was the reason! “A half-finished product…” He glanced at the body with a hint of regret. “So if someone refines this body right now, at most it will only reach the Pseudo-Heavenly King level, with no room for improvement?” “Correct.” That was indeed a pity. As an original Saint, the shadow certainly wouldn't want a body crafted through countless years and innumerable treasures to end up merely as a Pseudo-Heavenly King vessel. Wouldn't that be a total waste? Indeed, directly branding it at this juncture would require immense resolve. Evidently, the red shadow had lacked that kind of resolve. *A spiritual imprint gives complete control.* Li Hao glanced at Black Armor. This elder possessed formidable spiritual power. If he branded the body and gained a Quasi-Heavenly King vessel, wouldn't he be able to unleash combat strength comparable to a Heavenly King? That would be terrifyingly powerful! Even if it solidified and could no longer improve, a powerhouse comparable to a Heavenly King would be able to run rampant without restraint at this stage of the world, wouldn't he? “How long would it take to finish nurturing it?” Li Hao asked. Black Armor looked at the lake and pondered for a moment. “Not long. He had been nourishing it continuously all along. The moment the vessel succeeded would have coincided with the second resurgence. Thus, the second resurgence… has been entirely within their calculations! Long ago, they anticipated everything and made all their preparations. Whether the first resurgence or the second, both were under their control.” At this point, Black Armor fell silent for a moment before continuing, “The first resurgence supposedly occurred when one of Silver Moon's ruins was breached. Without a doubt, a powerhouse similar to this red shadow must reside within that ruin. Whether they were nurturing a physical vessel, I cannot say, but some spiritual power definitely exists there. Perhaps it followed those people out during the first resurgence, or perhaps it stayed behind within the ruin!” Li Hao’s heart stirred. The first resurgence had been breached by Ying Hongyue and the others. Ying Hongyue was accompanied by a red shadow as well; Li Hao had previously detected it using the mirror. Yet that entity was out in the open world… A spiritual clone? An origin clone? That was entirely possible! In that case, the site of the first resurgence was likely similar to this place. The so-called energy resurgence had been orchestrated by their enemies all along. Li Hao frowned. They had drained the energy to force all the ancient powerhouses into dormancy, then restored the energy to seize control of the resurgence in advance. Perhaps… their foes had prepared long ago, setting aside vast reserves of treasures so they could awaken while everyone else was still fast asleep. If that was the case… it was terrifying. Had they dragged things out for so many years just to grind those powerhouses to dust? Even if they revived, those ancient powerhouses would be crippled remnants, nowhere near as prepared as these plotters. At this moment, Li Hao vaguely understood. This also indicated that the enemy's strength was inferior to the eight primary cities at their peak. Even against the forces left behind to guard the eight cities, the enemy had possessed no certainty of victory, forcing them to rely on stalling for time to wear their opponents down. Yet hadn't the peak powerhouses of the eight primary cities all departed? The remaining experts were Saints at most. Could it be that the enemy didn't even have a few Saints? Doubt after doubt surfaced in his mind. Furthermore, Li Hao was certain of another point: inside the ruin of the first resurgence, another powerhouse had to be lurking. Aside from Ying Hongyue, the Flying Sword Immortal, the Mount Clear Sky Master, and Yama, all of them had been present to breach the ruin during the first resurgence. Every one of those figures knew where that first ruin was located. *Wait! No!* At that moment, Li Hao suddenly recalled what Director Zhou had told him back then. Quite a few people had taken part in the first resurgence. Aside from those Li Hao already knew, there was also the grand commander of the Martial Guard Army! Who was that? Director Zhao! Yes, Director Zhao—the grand commander of the Martial Guard Army, that haha-laughing eccentric. Director Zhao… knew! Li Hao’s expression shifted slightly. If the first resurgence had truly been manipulated by a hidden powerhouse, had Director Zhao met that being? This was something Director Zhou had casually mentioned on the road during their very first conversation long ago. Li Hao had nearly forgotten it. Only now, prompted by Black Armor’s mention that these resurgences were all premeditated, did the memory resurface. Director Zhao knew where the ruin was and had participated in the first resurgence. “Li Hao!” Yuan Shuo called out, interrupting Li Hao's deep contemplation. “What are you spacing out for? Are you alright? Why on earth did you detonate all your divine characters?” “I’m fine.” Li Hao shook his head with a light chuckle. “I gained some insights and purged some impurities. I can recondense them later. It’ll let me restructure the new system, saving me some trouble.” *Listen to the way he talks!* Everyone wore strange expressions. *How can someone like this exist?* He had just detonated his strongest technique, yet acted as though nothing had happened, casually talking about restructuring a new system… Was that something a sane person would say? Seeing everyone staring at him, Li Hao said earnestly, “It really is nothing. Previously, I had no clear path and cultivated recklessly. It’s only been a little over five months since I began cultivating, so my foundation was somewhat disorganized. Early on, I lacked both experience and resources… Now, in a month at most, I can successfully restructure everything and take another step forward. It’s no big deal.” Silence fell over the cavern. Even Yuan Shuo, who had cultivated for the shortest time among the rest here, had practiced martial arts for decades. *Five months… screw you!* Li Hao smiled again. “Besides, our harvest this time is immense…” “Don't forget there are still two Saints outside!” Director Wang couldn't resist reminding him. “This massive mine doesn't belong to you yet!” *What is this kid dreaming about?* Li Hao looked toward Black Armor. “Senior, if I give this body to you, how many times will you fight on my behalf in return?” Black Armor remained silent. Li Hao grinned. “Senior, you don't want it? Are you looking down on it for being too weak?” Black Armor thought for a moment before replying, “It holds far greater value if nurtured to the Heavenly King level. At this stage, branding it with my spirit would be too wasteful. In the future, I might not even want to keep this body.” A Quasi-Heavenly King vessel was roughly on par with his original physical strength back in the day. The crucial issue was that it held no potential… He genuinely didn't care for it much. Yet nurturing it into a true Heavenly King vessel would likely take several more years. According to the enemy's timetable, the moment the vessel was perfected several years from now would have been the true timing for the second resurgence. That was why the red shadow had persistently blocked Thorny Rose and the others from breaching the mine. Li Hao frowned. “Why would it take so many years to finish nurturing?” “He couldn't siphon energy too aggressively. This mine is tied to the timing of the second resurgence; it serves as a catalyst. Furthermore, with external energy drained, it could only be nourished bit by bit, which slowed the pace. In addition, the red shadow might have only awakened after the first resurgence. Prior to that, the body was likely maturing through natural accumulation.” Black Armor’s explanation broadly laid out the situation. Li Hao gazed at the golden body, lost in thought. Black Armor found a Quasi-Heavenly King body mediocre. While Li Hao could give it to him, would it be a waste? Yet if he didn't give it to Black Armor, what use was this body? Stew it into broth? Or give it to the Ninth Division Commander? That commander was the first person Li Hao thought of, but on second thought, would he even want it? Moreover, such a powerful body might not be easily transported outside. At Li Hao’s current level, he might not be able to protect such a mighty vessel during transit. As for bringing the Ninth Division Commander here… would that man be willing to leave Battle Heaven City? Thoughts raced through his mind. Then he remembered the two Saints outside… The Ninth Division Commander wasn't exceptionally strong. According to what was said last time, ten trunks of Immortal Wood would allow him to restore his own body—and that was only early-stage Immortal Wood. What if it were Saint Wood? Wouldn't he be able to directly restore his original vessel? Why would he need someone else's body? With that in mind, Li Hao said, “Senior, you should take this body. Even as a temporary transitional vessel, it will serve well. Brand it with your spirit directly to avoid trouble, lest someone uses the same method as before to blow up your spiritual power.” Black Armor was somewhat surprised. He said softly, “Give it to me? To be frank, it is quite wasteful, and I dislike using a body that isn't mine. If you gave this body to any Immortal, they would treat it as a priceless treasure. At this stage, many possess only spiritual power. An Immortal wielding this body would be no weaker than any Saint. It's fair to say that if you offered this, they would gladly give everything in return…” As for giving it to him, he would treat it at most as a transitional vessel. He wouldn't feel particularly indebted either. Li Hao chuckled. “Just treat it as a puppet weapon. It's not that big a deal…” *Not that big a deal?* Director Wang couldn't hold back any longer. “Li Hao, this is a genuine supreme treasure! If you converted this thing into Spring of Life… let me calculate. A pond’s worth—calling it a million drops wouldn't be an exaggeration, right?” Li Hao froze. A million drops? He quickly did the math. A drop of Spring of Life cost roughly three thousand divine energy stones, so that was three billion divine energy stones? He swallowed hard. *That much?* Director Wang grumbled, “And that’s a conservative estimate! Some of the materials in this body are entirely extinct now. Vast amounts of indestructible substance, Soul-Hooking Herb, Soul-Locking Incense… If it had successfully matured, it couldn't be bought with Spring of Life at all! Do you know what a Heavenly King represents?” He couldn't help but lecture, “A Heavenly King! The city lord of Battle Heaven City, the invincible ancestor of my Wang family—not a Sovereign, but the Wang family of Battle Heaven City! At his peak, our city lord was only at the pinnacle of the Saint Realm, not a Heavenly King… Whether he advanced later, I don't know, but even if he did, even if he became a Heavenly King… in the Silver Moon world, outside of your family's Sword Venerable, a Heavenly King was an invincible existence!” *Does Li Hao even understand what Heavenly King means?* To adopt such a dismissive attitude toward the vessel before them made Wang want to hit him. Li Hao shook his head. “I know. I'm not looking down on Heavenly Kings, nor do I have the right to. What I mean is that since this isn't one's own body, its potential is limited. The potential of the human body doesn't lie in an external vessel or the abundance of treasures. At least for us, the treasury of the human body lies within oneself. Even a Sovereign’s body holds limited value if it isn't your own.” Director Wang was stunned by those words. Li Hao added, “Tell you what—if you want it, destroy your current physical body right now and take this one. I won't object!” Director Wang looked at his newly restored body, then down at the golden corpse on the ground. If he took it, a Quasi-Heavenly King body paired with his Immortal spiritual power would likely allow him to unleash the strength of a Saint. He would become a Saint in an instant! As for having no potential… wasn't a Saint already the pinnacle? In those ancient days, Silver Moon had very few Saints to begin with. The great families only thought little of Saints because they had witnessed Sovereigns. For the Wang family, the strongest had only been a Saint back then. For a moment, he was dazed. *If I take it, I become a Saint!* After a long while, he shook his head vigorously. “No, no, no. I still prefer my own body. I don't like inhabiting someone else's flesh…” Even Black Armor chuckled. “You don't like it? You must realize you aren't young anymore. They call you a genius of the Wang family, but… for many years, you only stepped into the early Immortal Realm. To become a Saint, even if the Origin era were still here, would take hundreds or thousands of years… In this era, there is almost no hope. If you take this body, you become a Saint immediately! In your Battle Heaven City, the only one who could match you would be General Huai, wouldn't it?” Director Wang remained silent. He stared at the body for a while before gritting his teeth and shaking his head. “No, I don't want it! My physical body has recovered; I'm not in my previous state anymore. Back then, I would have taken an Immortal body in a heartbeat. Now… I don't want it!” To the side, the Redwood grumbled inwardly. *None of you want it, so give it to me!* *I want it!* A humanoid vessel, and at the Quasi-Heavenly King level to boot—one that would reach the Heavenly King level with a few more years of nurturing! This was a dreamlike treasure! Yet each of them treated it like garbage. *If none of you want it, give it to me!* Unfortunately, it didn't dare say a word. It couldn't afford to provoke Black Armor or Director Wang, and as for Li Hao… it felt he was even less to be crossed. It wasn't that Li Hao was stronger than it, but that he gave off an increasingly unfathomable aura. That sensation… was difficult to describe. Take this battle: swiftly routing the red shadow, emerging from the secondary space, detonating nine elemental abilities, shattering eight divine weapons… Such terrifying methods filled the tree with dread. The last time it had felt such terror was long ago, when it had caught a distant glimpse of the Sword Venerable. Now, feeling that same dread from a young man, the Redwood dared not utter a single peep. Li Hao didn't waste words either. He turned to Black Armor. “Senior, please use it for now. Besides, even if it gets damaged, the indestructible substance and other materials will remain. When needed, if we shatter it, could we revive a hundred students? Not Immortals, but Peak Realm students—would that work?” Black Armor froze, pausing before saying, “Combined with other resources, a hundred might be stretching it, but… several dozen wouldn't be an issue…” Li Hao wanted to trade a Heavenly King vessel just to awaken weak Peak Realm students. This… caught Black Armor off guard. Li Hao smiled. “Then that settles it! It can be recycled later, so it's a win-win. Senior, you said one strike in exchange for ten students revived. This time, I’ll count this body as a hundred students, which means ten strikes! Fair enough, right?” Black Armor was speechless. Li Hao pressed on, “Although you were the one to deal with him, I was the one who hired you, so the spoils belong to me. That means aside from this battle, you still owe me nine strikes. Correct?” Black Armor fell silent for a few moments, then nodded. Li Hao grinned. “Excellent. Senior, make do with it for now!” Black Armor couldn't help but ask, “Do you realize that once I merge with this body, my combat power will be comparable to a Heavenly King? In this current era… if I possess such strength, no matter how many powerhouses you summon, you won't be able to match me…” *Aren't you afraid?* Li Hao took a deep breath. “Can I match you right now?” He smiled faintly. “One always has to take a gamble! Judging by how wealthy you were back in your day, Senior, I doubt you'd look twice at this tiny world, right? Might as well bet on it! Isn't life these days just one big gamble? When the Star Gate opens one day and we find the main world, I'll see you off… Won't that be a joyful conclusion for everyone?” Black Armor fell silent for a moment, then nodded without further argument. Reaching out, he drew the golden vessel into his grasp. Looking at it, he sighed with emotion. “In the end… I still have to resurrect!” Li Hao chuckled. “Senior, why were you so bent on dying in the first place?” Black Armor said nothing. It wasn't that he wished to die; he simply felt… the future was bleak. Meanwhile, Director Wang watched with renewed envy. Although he had turned it down himself, seeing the body taken away still made his mouth water. Black Armor suddenly looked toward Li Hao. “This treasure pool can still be used. It was designed to nurture a Heavenly King vessel. Right now, ninety percent of its energy has been drained. If you modern humans step in for a soak, your physical bodies will strengthen by thirty percent! Soak for a day, and your strength will double! Soak for three days, and your bodies will rival the ninth rank of the ancient era…” At those words, Li Hao’s eyes lit up. “That amazing? A genuine treasure! Is the effect truly that potent?” “Of course. It is far superior to things like the Spring of Life. Any demon plant can condense the Spring of Life, but this concoction was prepared with numerous rare ingredients. In the current world, this may well be the only pool left.” Li Hao asked hurriedly, “Can many people soak in it?” “Yes. Even if only a tenth of the Heavenly King vessel's residual power remains, it is still astonishing! For people at your level, soaking eighty to a hundred wouldn't be a problem.” Li Hao’s eyes gleamed as he turned to Yuan Shuo. “Master, if we shove all the Silver Moon martial masters inside, won't we swiftly produce a swarm of seven-element supernatural experts?” “…” Everyone was dumbfounded once more. Black Armor couldn't resist asking, “What about yourself?” He had given the body to Black Armor and planned to give the pool to the Silver Moon martial masters. What about himself? Li Hao… was truly a fascinating person. Li Hao flashed a grin. “I have my own methods. I'm not fond of forcibly boosting my cultivation right now. Right, Master?” Yuan Shuo glanced at him, looking doubtful. “You mentioned the secondary space, but… progress there isn't fast. It's not as good as taking a direct dip in the pool.” “Master, that's where you're wrong,” Li Hao smiled. “You only possess five forces, but I will soon have nine. It's completely different! Besides, I've found a better way to utilize it. And also, that place isn't called the secondary space—it's called the Bright Star Realm!” “What?” “The *Hao* of bright moon, the *Xing* of starry skies, and the *Jie* of realm… the Bright Star Realm!” Yuan Shuo blinked blankly. After a long moment, he smacked his forehead with deep regret. “I forgot about that! It should have been called the Shuo Star Realm!” The onlookers were utterly speechless. *We're talking serious business here!* Ignoring the treasures scattered all over the floor, these two weaklings were bickering over names! Treasures that had Director Wang drooling were treated by Li Hao and Yuan Shuo like worthless trinkets. It felt like beggars stumbling upon a million gold coins and tossing them aside like junk. Did they simply not understand how precious these things were, or did they genuinely believe they could surpass them all? After chatting and laughing for a bit, Li Hao looked around. “Where is the self-destruct mechanism for this place?” With a wave of Black Armor’s hand, a transparent barrier materialized in the void, spreading in all directions like sprawling tree roots. Upon the barrier sat several black apertures. Black Armor explained, “Channel energy into these black apertures—an amount roughly equivalent to the peak Immortal Realm—and this mechanism can detonate the entire giant mine.” He added, “However, there is also a countermeasure. That fellow didn't use it just now, but had he tried, I could have countered it!” “How do you counter it?” Black Armor glanced at Li Hao. This had been a top-secret matter in ancient times. Yet today… Forget it, it hardly mattered anymore. “It’s simple, really. Not difficult at all, but enemies would never guess it, and those outside the high command wouldn't know…” Black Armor rambled on without getting to the point. Li Hao grew somewhat impatient, and Director Wang was equally exasperated. *Just say it already! I'm curious too.* Only then did Black Armor cough, looking slightly embarrassed, and lowered his voice. “Inside this mechanism, there are… special components. When an enemy attempts to detonate it, you simply shout toward the device: ‘The Human King is supremely benevolent and kind, loves the people like his own children, long live peace, may humanity prosper forever!’ With those lines, the mechanism automatically cancels the trigger.” “…” Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. All of them were struck dumb! *Stop joking!* *That works?!* Black Armor coughed again. Simulating a cough with spiritual power was no easy feat. He whispered, “This was a countermeasure personally installed by the Human King. He said that at a critical juncture, shouting these words would leave the enemy so dumbfounded… that it would buy you enough time to neutralize them.” At that moment, the demon plants shook their canopies frantically. *No flaw in that logic!* Even allies were paralyzed with shock upon hearing those words, let alone enemies. By the time the phrase was finished, the enemy would probably wonder if they were hallucinating. It truly… provided a counter window! Black Armor coughed once more. “That's how it is. Back then, only a handful of people knew. It was primarily meant to prevent a massive mine from being detonated when powerhouses were present, though it was of little use if the defenders were too weak.” Li Hao sighed with immense emotion! *Fine, a brilliant trick indeed—it leaves the enemy completely baffled.* *The Human King, eh!* At this moment, Li Hao once again recalled that figure whose murderous aura pierced the heavens—the man who hacked down foes with a single saber strike, only to complain afterward that they hadn't committed suicide voluntarily. *That* man… was supremely benevolent and kind? *That* man… stood for 'long live peace'? *That* man… loved the people like his own children? Well, that last point might actually be true; Li Hao wouldn't question it for now. But the first two were sheer nonsense! Shaking his head, half-crying and half-laughing, he said no more. This place was likely the sole remaining great mine in the Silver Moon world. Knowing the countermeasure was good, though they probably wouldn't need it. Li Hao then looked outward. Although he couldn't see or sense any major commotion, he said, “So that means the deputy commander… is in league with this fellow? What about the others? The regiment commanders and soldiers? Did they all betray us too?” Black Armor gazed outward and shook his head. “I don't know. But Deputy Commander Sun… almost certainly knows the truth. Thorny Rose likely knows as well. The fact that these demon plants survived was definitely intentional—to block anyone from entering after the first resurgence.” Demon plants guarded every entrance. Yet the humans were entirely wiped out! Looking back now, they had been deliberately left behind to eliminate unexpected variables. The mastermind knew demon plants could endure, even if weakened, and their presence would ensure no one disturbed the red shadow while he nurtured his vessel. Curiously, even after the first resurgence, the mastermind’s faction hadn't entered this place. Otherwise, having revived during the first resurgence and desperately needing energy, they would surely have dispatched people to harvest the mine. Yet they hadn't! Had an unexpected variable occurred? Black Armor couldn't be certain, but he could guess the broad strokes. The fact that Thorny Rose had managed to break through under such conditions… suggested something interesting had transpired. Otherwise, when everyone else had withered, why would that rose alone grow stronger? It defied reason! Director Wang urged hurriedly, “Martial Uncle, merge with the body first! You've expended immense energy. Before the enemy breaches this place, merging with the vessel will make dealing with them much simpler! As for Sun Xin… I hope we can capture him alive!” He wanted to interrogate Sun Xin for intelligence. Li Hao might not care who had betrayed them, but Wang cared. He cared deeply! This matter was of monumental significance. If Black Armor didn't merge with the body, he would remain severely depleted and might not even be a match for the opponents outside. Li Hao chimed in, “Senior, merge with the vessel first. By the way, that red shadow isn't completely finished; his form was dispersed, but his core remains preserved inside the mirror. Can we pry information out of him?” “It will be difficult!” Black Armor answered swiftly. “Extremely difficult! Beings of his caliber do not yield truth easily.” “Understood…” Li Hao nodded, then asked, “Since his spiritual power was so formidable, now that it's scattered, does it still carry a large amount of origin power?” Black Armor paused, then nodded. “His Great Dao remains intact; it hasn't snapped. However, I suspect he was an Initial Martial practitioner, so he might not possess an origin path. That was why I initially judged him dead. What are you planning?” Li Hao grinned. “I mean, much of his dissipated spiritual power is preserved within the mirror. If someone absorbs it, could they grow stronger?” “Regarding that… you must be careful. For beings with powerful spirits, even a shred of spiritual power can lead to revival… If absorbed recklessly, their consciousness might seize control of the host!” Li Hao didn't mind. He said cheerfully, “No matter. If it's to be absorbed, I'll give it to powerful demon plants or ancient humans, and I'll warn them beforehand. Their consciousness won't be overtaken so easily.” At those words, the Redwood and its companions looked on with yearning. Yet Li Hao didn't mention them at all. *You guys have had plenty.* They had already absorbed the origin power and indestructible substance of several demon plants; they shouldn't get too greedy. He needed to carefully consider how best to utilize this resource. The harvest this time was truly colossal! Outside, several demon plants still awaited slaughter. Beyond that lay this colossal energy mine… Looking across the cavern, Li Hao couldn't even estimate how many stones were embedded here. He felt he wouldn't be able to exhaust them in an entire lifetime! This time, they had struck it truly rich! Black Armor swiftly began merging with the physical vessel. Li Hao watched eagerly, gazing outward in the hope that the two sides outside would fight a bit longer. Once Black Armor finished merging, not a single one of those enemies would escape! As for Li Hao himself, he felt somewhat drained. His divine characters were shattered and yet to be recondensed. His physical body was neither weak nor remarkably strong, leaving him without much combat prowess. He could probably deal with six-element foes, but seven-element opponents would prove troublesome. Yet he didn't care. At this moment, he caressed the surrounding energy stones, thoroughly elated. He glanced at the massive treasure pool, equally thrilled. Meanwhile, Yuan Shuo slipped over and sent a voice transmission: “That Black Armor is terrifyingly strong! Before you appeared, his might was frightening. He unleashed multiple Sovereign techniques and wielded a book containing various origin paths. That method… I've seen records of it in ancient texts. It might belong to that supreme powerhouse second only to the Human King in the ancient civilization. This man may be connected to that figure!” Li Hao nodded thoughtfully. Yuan Shuo continued, “Giving him that powerful body has pros and cons. The upside is that by giving him our most valuable prize, he is unlikely to turn against us. The downside is that once he becomes mighty, we cannot restrain him! Our strength is on the weaker side, so after this, we must exercise caution. We can grant measured trust, but we cannot trust ancient people without limits! You must maintain a balance. Since ancient times, a weak master alongside a strong vassal has never ended well!” Li Hao nodded again, keeping the warning in mind. Seeing his disciple reflect on the advice, Yuan Shuo knew Li Hao had taken it to heart. He transmitted again, “Furthermore, whether it's this treasure pool or the secondary space, do not leak everything to outsiders, and do not share everything with everyone! You have not yet reached the realm where you can suppress all under heaven… Beware of making wedding clothes for others! Those scoundrels in Silver Moon… I know them all too well. If they grow truly powerful, they probably won't turn around and bite you, but… they’ll likely ignore you and run off on their own. Take Southern Fist, for instance…” Li Hao coughed lightly. *Master, stop picking on Southern Fist. He's very dedicated—pay him, and he gets the job done. He's incredibly handy!* Yuan Shuo scolded, “Don't cough at me; coughing won't change a thing. In short, once we secure this great mine… you had best keep a low profile for a while. Until you can match beings at the Saint level, refrain from rashly taking action! Haven't you noticed? The more you intervene, the more ancient powerhouses awaken. It can easily spiral out of control. We must advance steadily. For now, do not get entangled in the disputes of ancient civilization. Even if they determine which faction betrayed them… do not rush to pick a side.” Li Hao nodded continuously. His master was clearly anxious. In truth, Li Hao was anxious as well. Now that even Quasi-Heavenly Kings had appeared, his seven-element power was simply too weak. Forget seven elements—even with nine, he would likely struggle against an Immortal. At this echelon, adding one or two elemental forces was far outmatched by an opponent advancing an entire realm. Nevertheless, the human body possessed tens of thousands of supernatural abilities and countless supernatural locks. Li Hao didn't believe the road ahead was cut off. At that point, Yuan Shuo asked, “Also, those beings outside—are you certain you want to kill them all? Instead of subjugating a few… to maintain a balance of power?” Li Hao was taken aback. Yuan Shuo transmitted, “Do you hold deep hatred toward those demon plants outside?” Li Hao frowned slightly. After a moment, he countered his master for the very first time, speaking slowly: “They haven't offended me personally, but… Master, these demon plants manipulated the Nine Departments and the imperial family, plunging the world into chaos! As men of the jianghu, we act on righteous chivalry. I possess neither the benevolence of a king nor the kindness of an emperor, but… we are chivalrous wanderers of the jianghu. Tracing things to their roots, these demon plants cannot escape responsibility for the realm's turmoil! Squabbling over power, bewitching the Nine Departments, manipulating the throne, throwing the world into chaos, leaving the common people in utter misery…” He turned to look at the demon plants behind them and said coolly, “The Redwood manipulated the Lin family in their bid for supremacy. Had Lin Hongyu not chosen to surrender early on… not a single demon plant backing those hegemonies would be allowed to live!” Over to the side, the Redwood trembled from head to root, quickly plastering on a fawning smile. “Governor, you are benevolent and kind! This humble demon never intended to control the Lin family, nor did I desire supremacy. Please, Governor, do not misunderstand!” Li Hao ignored it. Yuan Shuo, meanwhile, froze. He stared at Li Hao. In truth, Li Hao very rarely contradicted him; whenever Yuan Shuo spoke, Li Hao almost always nodded in agreement. Yet now, Li Hao had fundamentally refuted his suggestion. Yuan Shuo was lost in thought for a moment. Then he broke into a smile, slapping Li Hao’s shoulder heavily with an emotional sigh. “You've grown up!” *The boy has grown up!* He had thoughts of his own now. Yuan Shuo’s feelings were complicated, yet laced with an indescribable gratification. Li Hao hadn't contradicted him out of spite, but with sound reason. Yuan Shuo was a man of the jianghu who had merely weighed current pros and cons. But hearing Li Hao speak, he felt deeply moved. Li Hao claimed he lacked the heart of a king or an emperor. Yet… chivalry, indignation at injustice, drawing a blade to strike down evil—was that not what made a true king? A righteous knight! At this moment, Yuan Shuo suddenly felt that Li Hao was the true knight of the jianghu, whereas he, Yuan Shuo, was at best an overlord of the jianghu. An overlord and a chivalrous knight were not the same. “You've grown up!” He patted Li Hao again, sighing with emotion. After a long while, he grinned widely. “My Five Animals Sect was branded a demonic sect by the world! And today… who dares call my Five Animals Sect demonic? I'll blow his head off with one punch! Hao, this realm, this jianghu, this future, this martial path… all belong to your generation now!” At this moment, Yuan Shuo genuinely felt he had grown old. *My vision was too narrow!* *My world was only the Silver Moon martial arts circle, only the Heavenly Star martial arts circle!* *My disciple’s world… encompasses all the common people under heaven!* “Master…” Just as Li Hao began to speak, Yuan Shuo burst into hearty laughter. “Say no more! I told you back then: walk your own path! I can shield you for a stretch of the journey, but I cannot shield you for a lifetime! Believe in yourself and walk firmly onward! As men of the jianghu, don't worry about anything else—it all comes down to one word: unobstructed thoughts!” “…” Everyone turned to stare at Yuan Shuo. *Can you not count?* Yuan Shuo laughed uproariously, paying them no mind. *If I say it's one word, then it's one word! What if it's four words? It's still one word to me, so what?* *My thoughts are completely unobstructed!* *Exhilarating!* This old demon was in an exceptionally brilliant mood today. His previous trepidation and unease had vanished without a trace. When had the Five Animals Old Demon ever feared anyone? To hell with Heavenly Kings and Sovereigns! Give him time, and he would sweep across all four quarters. No matter how formidable a Sovereign might be, he would rule his own jianghu! Li Hao smiled as well. His smile was radiant! *Unobstructed thoughts?* His master was right. Yet his master was also mistaken. It was more than just that. For martial masters of their generation, cultivation was the cultivation of the heart. To follow one's heart and will was indeed to keep thoughts unobstructed. But to refrain from evil and refuse wickedness—that was the path of the heart. And if others committed evil, to stop them and return it tenfold—that was the chivalrous path of the jianghu! *Master, the jianghu is more than just the jianghu. Wherever my gaze falls, where isn't the jianghu?* At this moment, Li Hao smiled, and Yuan Shuo smiled. The ancient beings opened their eyes, watching them in a daze. *This master and disciple… are truly fascinating!*