The Realm Changes Hands

The corpses of four demon plants were all at the Immortal level. There were fifteen thousand drops of Spring of Life. The enemy had consumed a considerable amount during the battle; otherwise, there would have been even more. The remainder consisted of Immortal wood along with some fruits. Among the four demon plants was a fruit tree that resembled an apple tree. However, upon becoming demon plants, specimens always underwent certain mutations that set them apart from their original species, so Li Hao was not entirely certain whether they were truly apples. There were twelve golden apples in all. He had previously obtained some sunflower seeds, and earlier still, some coconuts. Now, Li Hao had built up quite a modest reserve of savings. Of course, what mattered far more was this mineral vein! This city! Indeed, the city itself. Heavenly Star Town was a treasure in its own right. Its diverse facilities, its various technologies, and its advanced equipment were all priceless treasures. For instance, there was bound to be a weapon-forging furnace here. Although it was not a colossal fortress capable of taking flight directly into battle like Battle Heaven City, its defensive capabilities were formidable, and its facilities were complete. Now, all ten demon plants had fallen. While several regiment commanders of the Heavenly Star Army remained inside the city, they were currently serving under probation to redeem themselves and taking orders entirely from Director Wang. Under such circumstances, Li Hao felt that taking possession of the town should present no real difficulty. Though two-thirds of the great mineral vein had been depleted, it still felt overwhelming to Li Hao... He had never seen so many energy stones in his entire life. Even if only a tenth remained, it would still seem vast to him. This was the greatest quantity of energy stones he had ever laid eyes upon. Having reached this point, Li Hao hardly cared about the treasures carried by the fallen directors, nor even those on the Old Heavenly Star King. That included several Saint weapons, which he had half a mind to simply feed to the Starry Sky Sword. Naturally, upon considering that others might be in need of weapons, Li Hao decided against feeding them to the sword. That fellow devoured anything with great relish, and giving them to it would truly be a waste. Black Armor seemed to have something in mind and remained deep inside the mineral vein without coming out. Director Wang headed into the city, intent on seeing whether it could be fully revived. The several demon plants likewise dispersed in different directions, drinking in energy to their hearts' content. As for Li Hao, he had no time to linger. Above ground, there was still business to attend to. ... The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office ruins. When Li Hao arrived, eight demon plants had already spread out to blockade eight of the entrances. The whole of Heavenly Star Town had ten entrances. The remaining two were entrusted to the redwood and the little jujube tree. As for Di Wei, Li Hao had him stationed at the great mineral vein, where energy was exceptionally dense—a form of repayment for his efforts. With eleven demon plants in position, the entrances were sealed tight. At this moment, anyone above seeking to come down would first have to get past those demon plants. Emerging from the ruins, Li Hao walked side by side with Yuan Shuo. The instant they stepped outside, Yuan Shuo suddenly let out a soft sigh. Li Hao seemed to understand his teacher's thoughts and asked gently, "Teacher, do you feel that the ancients were too strong, and that we... are too weak?" Yuan Shuo shook his head. Li Hao was surprised. Was that not it? Yuan Shuo sighed. "I was simply lamenting that no matter how mighty an era may be, its curtain will ultimately fall! In our age, the Heavenly Star Dynasty was considered powerful, uniting the Central Plains! Before it, the world was in utter chaos." "And before that, in the Neo-Martial era, they were so formidable—countless powerhouses, Saints like rain, Heavenly Kings like clouds, alongside Sovereigns, Human Kings, Supremes, Great Emperors... and yet, they vanished too." A trace of bitterness tinged his voice. "I suddenly felt that in the end, it always comes to this. The world is trapped in an endless cycle. Truly... I am left speechless." He had known before that the ancient civilization was powerful, but this time, he had truly experienced just how terrifyingly strong it had been. It was merely a small world, a single ancient town, yet it possessed several Saints and a great number of Immortals. And this was in the present day, with the Origin Dao extinguished. Back during the Neo-Martial era... just how terrifying must it have been? Even such an era had met its end. It was truly beyond imagination! Li Hao, however, gave a faint smile. "Teacher, what has come over you? Isn't this a good thing? Aren't you someone who loves chasing after a stronger future? It is precisely because there is a boundless future above us that we have greater opportunities. Even if we cannot surpass them, the pursuit itself is a joy, is it not?" For his teacher to indulge in such sentimentality was truly unexpected! In his eyes, his teacher feared nothing; he would only keep striving forward, chasing and surpassing all who came before. Yuan Shuo smiled faintly and said nothing. Indeed... yet after slaying several senior powerhouses this time, an emptiness lingered within him. Those were the strongest figures of this era! Yet in the grand battle, they had merely been minor characters. The same was true of him and Li Hao. The true clash had belonged to the Saints who determined the entire course of the war, while they had only been able to sweep up the remnants in the rear. At present, the ancient figures were still fairly polite to Li Hao. Yet the truth was, they were the ones who had conquered the great mineral vein! If they refused to hand it over now, what recourse would he have? Of course, Li Hao had his own worth—acting as their porter, for instance, which was his greatest utility. Without him, they could not have entered this place, and their range of movement would have been severely constrained. They merely held leverage over each other. Even so... in the end, Li Hao was the one asking more from them. Li Hao, however, paid this no heed. After pondering for a moment, he said, "We will have a prime opportunity to develop now. Teacher, once we bring the Nine Departments and the imperial family under control, I want to enter secluded cultivation for a time. I plan to summon the Silver Moon martial masters to study the martial system together, reevaluating and perfecting a new martial dao!" "I already have some initial ideas, but it will require everyone's collective efforts. Right now, the systems are fragmented, and martial dao is in disarray. Although it seems as though a hundred flowers are blooming, none of these paths offer much of a future." "The Haoxing Realm, I believe, is where the greatest future lies for our generation!" Yuan Shuo nodded. That was certainly true. As they spoke, Chief Manager Yu arrived. Seeing the two emerge, she showed clear delight. Nearly an entire day had passed since Li Hao and the others descended. Everyone was still standing guard outside the various factions' headquarters. The longer this dragged on, the more precarious the situation became. There was a limit to each faction's patience. Should an outbreak occur... catastrophic turmoil could easily ensue. Seeing them emerge, Chief Manager Yu asked hurriedly, "How did it go?" "It is done." "Truly?" Chief Manager Yu was overcome with wild joy! At this moment, she could contain herself no longer! It was done! Those simple words carried immense weight. They meant that the backers behind the Nine Departments and the imperial family had been entirely wiped out, and that every top powerhouse who had descended had met their downfall. She could hardly fathom... that they had genuinely pulled it off. By now, it was December, though not yet the end of the month, with just over ten days remaining until the New Year. And they had truly completed the encirclement and suppression of the Nine Departments and the imperial family in the year 1730 of the Star Yuan Calendar. Had the two-hundred-year history of the Heavenly Star Dynasty finally drawn to a close? Would the coming year... mark the dawn of a new history? "Then what now...?" She was gripped by immense tension. Should they head to the Nine Departments now, and then the imperial family? Li Hao nodded. "We go to the Nine Departments and the imperial family, taking them down one by one! We will execute only the chief culprits, operating in secret to ensure a smooth transition of power. For now, we will maintain the appearance of rule by the Nine Departments and the imperial family..." Upending everything in a single stroke would inevitably breed chaos. The four surrounding continents were still embroiled in unrest, the Central Region was not yet fully pacified, the Three Great Organizations still existed, and the divine mountains remained. This was not the right time for a sudden upheaval of the realm. A smooth transition might lack grand spectacle, but for Heavenly Star as a whole, it was the best possible outcome. Otherwise... there would be internal unrest as well as external threats. The nations across the four quarters were likely watching like tigers stalking their prey, waiting for the Central Plains to descend into chaos. A regime change would be precisely the moment of greatest vulnerability. Chief Manager Yu paid little mind to such concerns; she was entirely consumed by sheer, boundless jubilation. "Since ancient times, Silver Moon has never unified the world! The north has always been impoverished. Though our warriors are brave and our experts numerous, our foundation was too frail to unite the realm. Others always looked down on us as northern barbarians, yet today... Silver Moon finally has the chance to unite all under heaven!" Li Hao could not help but laugh. "You are a martial master. Why do you care about such things?" "No, no, no—this is the pride of every Silver Moon native!" Li Hao smiled and said nothing further, simply stating, "Let us go to the Department of Administration first!" The foremost of the Nine Departments! Without a word, Liu Long led a unit of personal guards—the former members of the Demon Hunt Corps—and fell into step behind them. The sky had already grown dark. Yet the city was ablaze with lights. Screenings were still underway as massive numbers of supernaturals were registered. This day was simultaneously the quietest and the liveliest Heavenly Star City had ever seen. It was a strange contradiction! It was quiet because fear gripped everyone's hearts, keeping them from making any reckless moves. It was lively because countless supernaturals had emerged from every corner of the city, converging on the central square. By now, the number of supernaturals gathered there had reached a staggering hundred thousand, an astonishing sight. Heavenly Star City truly lived up to its reputation as a metropolis of thirty million and the core of the entire realm. Even excluding the various institutions, it harbored a populace of a hundred thousand supernaturals—and that was not necessarily the complete count. The supernaturals within the military and the private forces of major institutions had not been included. If counted, the total number of supernaturals in Heavenly Star City might well exceed two hundred thousand. Though not quite as numerous as in the City of Supernaturals, the quality here was undoubtedly higher. The City of Supernaturals was a mixed bag filled with practitioners from everywhere, including many weaklings and a multitude of Starlight Masters. Here, Solar Luminaries and Three Suns were far more common. ... The Department of Administration. Chen Zhongtian sat presiding over the compound. Zhao Huaimin was currently reading a book, while the supernaturals of the department waited in silence throughout the courtyard. Chen Zhongtian seemed to be dozing off, appearing half-asleep. Zhao Huaimin sat not far from him, quietly turning pages. The entire hall was deathly still, devoid of any commotion save for the faint rustle of turning paper. Just then, a disturbance arose outside. Hearing the stir, Zhao Huaimin looked up toward the courtyard. Moments later, he saw Li Hao approaching with measured, confident strides. Li Hao was clad in silver armor. His golden armor had been nearly shattered to pieces and was already stowed away. Zhao Huaimin let out a long sigh! As Li Hao stepped into the hall, he waved his hand, and the heavy doors swung shut. Chief Manager Yu grew slightly vigilant, but Li Hao remained as steady as a mountain. Zhao Huaimin sighed softly, his eyes reddening slightly. Abruptly, he set down his book. Straightening his robes, he did not kneel, but bowed deeply until his head was level with his waist. In a soft voice, he said, "My father has departed, and the Nine Departments are a thing of the past. The sinner Zhao Huaimin pays respects to Governor-General Li!" Li Hao raised an eyebrow. "You knew?" "My father knew." Zhao Huaimin kept his head lowered. "My father said that when you went down this time, you would not sit idly by. The day Uncle Chen's Saint weapon broke, it was likely done to slay the Golden Palm. You were bound to know the situation inside the ruins. If you showed yourself and came to the Department of Administration... it would mean they had failed." A look of profound bitterness washed over Zhao Huaimin. "I had thought my father was merely speaking out of modesty. I never imagined his words would prove true." Only now did Li Hao recall Zhao Tianyang's demeanor—from beginning to end, the man had been entirely calm, only remarking at the very last moment that history should remain eighty years in the past. It turned out he had known all along that a clash with Li Hao was practically inevitable. He had likely only failed to anticipate this exact outcome: that Li Hao would enlist a supreme Saint who could reverse the entire board in a single stroke. Zhao Huaimin offered no further excuses. Several items materialized from his storage ring. "These are the civilian household registers of the realm, provided by the various provinces. Across the ninety-nine provinces and Heavenly Star City, the registered population stands at 9,682,000,000..." It was not merely a volume, nor even a stack; it occupied half the hall, an overwhelming sea of ledgers. Zhao Huaimin displayed the ledgers briefly before putting them away and placing the storage ring aside. From another storage ring, he produced another item. "This is the roster of officials from the administrative offices across the ninety-nine provinces, complete with their service records and evaluations, all compiled by my father. He said that the world is too vast; no matter how strong a single powerhouse may be, one person cannot govern the entire realm. Only by knowing people and employing them well can the world be properly ruled. The Governor-General may consider them as you see fit; not all officials are wicked men..." "Sometimes, strength alone does not qualify someone to govern. Silver Moon has many powerful figures, but how many among them know how to administer an empire?" Zhao Huaimin let out a self-deprecating laugh. "This roster is for the Governor-General's reference!" Li Hao remained silent, simply nodding. Zhao Huaimin then produced another item—a token. "This is the roster for the Supervision Office, the supernatural enforcement agency subordinate to the Department of Administration. Across the dynasty, there are two branches—one overt, one covert. The overt branch consists of nine thousand members, and the covert branch comprises one thousand, forming a ten-thousand-man supernatural legion!" "Both rosters, overt and covert, are here. Upon seeing this token, the Supervision Office will follow all orders!" He laid the token aside as well. Continuing, he retrieved more items. "These are the Zhao family's assets across the realm, including various merchant guilds, properties, and the locations of branch clans." He set down yet another storage ring. Finally, he picked up the very last item—the book he had been reading all this time, its cover inscribed with several prominent characters: *Record of Heavenly Star Anecdotes*. "This was authored by my father during his lifetime. The Governor-General may not necessarily read it, but my father said that if you came, this book should be gifted to you. It contains the most precious things he left behind in his life—his observations, personal insights, and reflections." At this moment, Li Hao did not remain motionless. He stepped forward and accepted the book. Opening it, he saw a single line written on the title page: *The long night is endless, the morning sun nowhere to be seen; the Heavenly Star pales before the Heavenly Sun.* Heavenly Sun... Zhao Tianyang! Lost in thought, Li Hao turned another page. There were no grand treatises, only the anecdotes and records of Zhao Tianyang's early years as a minor official, noting the people he had met and the deeds he had undertaken... "I accept it." Li Hao gave a slight nod. Zhao Huaimin sighed with emotion. "My thanks to the Governor-General!" "You are too polite." Chief Manager Yu had no idea what he was thanking Li Hao for; she simply found the whole scene rather peculiar. This Zhao family member had known all along... that he might face death! Zhao Huaimin continued, "The Zhao family is at fault, yet we have always held ourselves to strict discipline. As the Governor-General unifies the world, you cannot execute everyone. My father is gone, and I shall follow him. But as for the rest of my clan... if the Governor-General is willing to show mercy, simply cripple their martial arts and banish them to the wilderness." Li Hao said nothing. Zhao Huaimin pressed no further. Blood began to seep from the corner of his lips. Looking up at Li Hao, he said softly, "At its core, the Nine Departments always wished for peace across the realm. Yet... in the end, our strength was inadequate, and we lost our courage. We charged boldly in the early days, only to grow timid in the end, occupying positions of power without fulfilling our duties." He smiled faintly and looked at Li Hao. "I hope the Governor-General will not repeat our mistakes. Eradicate evil thoroughly, and beware the four surrounding nations invading the Central Plains..." Li Hao nodded. Zhao Huaimin spoke no more. He sat back down, straightened his posture, took a final glance at Chen Zhongtian, and closed his eyes. Beside them, Chen Zhongtian felt neither joy nor triumph. There was only a sense of dazed numbness, accompanied by sorrow he could scarcely conceal. Zhao Huaimin... was a child he had watched grow up step by step. He had known this day would come. Whether Li Hao won or someone else emerged victorious, this outcome was inevitable. Yet seeing this nephew sever his own heart meridian, shatter his internal organs, and end his own life right before his eyes... Chen Zhongtian still felt a heavy, suffocating gloom in his chest. Zhao Tianyang and the others were dead as well. The Nine Departments had truly become history. He suddenly recalled more than eighty years ago, when the nine of them had gathered together. Zhao Tianyang had possessed the fervent spirit of a young scholar, pointing out the flaws of the realm and fiercely denouncing the Heavenly Star imperial family's tyranny. Qi Pingjiang had been solemn and resolute, exhausting his family fortune to raise an army and march upon Heavenly Star... He remembered those people, remembered those deeds. Back then, he had been full of cheeky grins, calling them big brother and second brother. Perhaps they had harbored selfish motives even then, yet they had been so filled with soaring ambition, burning to turn the world upside down, overthrow the dynasty, and build a paradise on earth. How tragic, how lamentable! "Governor-General..." Chen Zhongtian bowed slightly. "With Zhao Tianyang and Zhao Huaimin dead, the Zhao family has lost its soul. The Chen family... is willing to stand guarantor for them. If the remaining members of the Zhao clan stir up any unrest, the Chen family will destroy them..." Li Hao looked at him for a long while before saying, "Do you not know that wild grass is never fully consumed by prairie fires; when the spring breeze blows, it springs to life anew?" "Governor-General... I..." Li Hao looked at him and suddenly smiled. "It is fine. Take them away! You may handle the rest of the Zhao family! In fact, not just the Zhao family—aside from those who committed heinous evil, you may take the survivors of all nine families." Chen Zhongtian was taken aback. Li Hao, however, remained utterly calm. "If I were terrified of even these remnants and had to slaughter every last one of them... how could I speak of forging a new era? Executing both the old and new directors of the eight departments is an absolute necessity! As for the rest, the guilty shall be punished, and the innocent spared!" The reason the old and new directors had to die was that so long as they lived, the realm would never know peace; people would harbor opportunistic thoughts and believe there was still a chance to reverse the tide. Li Hao did not wish to see that happen. Unless they had submitted in advance, like the Chen family. Otherwise... he had no intention of sparing the other directors. But beyond the directors themselves, he did not care about the rest, nor did he possess any desire to wipe out entire bloodlines. Such was the nature of the jianghu. In the jianghu, a figure like Yuan Shuo had enemies across the world, yet very few ever came seeking revenge. If Yuan Shuo had chosen to exterminate them all, half the martial world would have been slaughtered, and entire sects eradicated. "See that Zhao Huaimin... is given a proper burial!" Zhao Huaimin had already stepped into the five-element tier, yet he had chosen not to resist, ending his life right here. Li Hao was willing to grant him generous treatment in death. Chen Zhongtian nodded, saying nothing. "Lock down the Department of Administration. No one is permitted to enter or leave!" "Understood!" Men quickly went to carry out the orders. Li Hao stepped outside, heading toward the next target: the Military Law Department. ... The Military Law Department. Kong Jie and Chen Yao stood watch. When Qi Dinghai, the Director of Military Law, saw Li Hao's group arrive and spotted Chen Zhongtian among them, he seemed to realize what had transpired. Chen Zhongtian had been keeping watch over the Department of Administration, yet here he was. What did that say about the Department of Administration? No one who attained the position of director in the Nine Departments was a fool. Seeing them enter, he managed a faint smile. "Governor-General Li, Uncle Chen, please, come in and sit!" Li Hao walked inside. Qi Dinghai walked straight up to the head seat, sat down, and looked at Li Hao. "Brother Huaimin is dead?" "He is dead." "What a pity!" Qi Dinghai sighed softly. "Then my father... has departed as well?" "Yes." Li Hao nodded slightly. A bitter look flashed across Qi Dinghai's face, though it quickly gave way to a smile. "That is fine too. Father often said that the true Qi Pingjiang died eighty years ago! In recent years, chaos has consumed the military. The armed forces across the regions have become completely corrupt—slaughtering civilians to claim military merits, colluding with bandits and pirates... The soldiers have become worse than outlaws. Brother Huaimin died somewhat unjustly, but we of the Qi family cannot claim to be wronged!" "Brother Huaimin was a talent capable of governing the realm. Had the Governor-General been willing to spare him... Well, it has already passed; there is no use speaking of it now! As for the Qi family, my death is well deserved! The decay of military discipline began with me. It truly had little to do with my father." Qi Dinghai smiled. "Will the Governor-General kill me now, or wait a while?" Li Hao looked at him. "When do you wish to wait for?" "Until the three armies assemble, to have my head displayed to the public?" Having said that, he shook his head. "Never mind. I lived ostentatiously my entire life; it would be pitiful to die so ignominiously... I ask only that the Governor-General grant me a favor: let me spar with Yuan Shuo, life or death notwithstanding. Allow me to witness the Five Animals Fist. My father likely met his end at his hands as well, didn't he?" He looked toward Yuan Shuo. "Old Demon Yuan, what do you say?" Yuan Shuo regarded him coldly. "Your father wielded the power of seven elements, yet I struck him dead on the spot. You still wish to try?" "I'll give it a try!" Qi Dinghai chuckled. "Dying at your hands at least preserves some dignity!" Li Hao spoke up. "What is the state of the military?" Qi Dinghai laughed. "Not good. Currently, the Heavenly Star Dynasty has an army totaling thirty million men. I cannot control all of them. Of the seven million stationed in the Central Region, I can command only two million. Take this military tally, and you can assume command of them! Whether you disband them or do otherwise is up to you, Governor-General. Military discipline has collapsed; while the Central Region is slightly better, in the four surrounding continents, discipline is practically nonexistent. Reorganizing the army will likely prove a massive headache for you, Governor-General. I hope you will not find it too troublesome!" With that, he tossed over a military tally and smiled. "With this little thing, those two million troops will likely still obey orders. As for the rest... they can fend for themselves; I have no control over them either." Li Hao caught it without speaking, waving his hand to send a ripple of energy outward, sealing the surroundings. Qi Dinghai wasted no words. A long spear manifested in his grip as he lunged straight toward Yuan Shuo. He too wielded the power of five elements, not yet having reached the six-element tier. He was exceptionally formidable! His spear technique was supreme, brimming with killing intent. Yet his opponent was Yuan Shuo. Yuan Shuo employed no fancy tricks, relying entirely on the crushing might of his Tiger Fist. Three exchanges ensued; one punch struck Qi Dinghai squarely in the chest, and the fourth punch shattered his throat! Leaning heavily on his spear against the floor, Qi Dinghai gazed at Yuan Shuo, dying on his feet. In just four punches, Yuan Shuo had slain him. Yuan Shuo exhaled slowly. "The Qi family still possessed some backbone! It was just that neither father nor son had the ability to govern properly. Tens of millions of troops across the realm were nominally under the jurisdiction of the Military Law Department, yet in truth, even Silver Moon stopped answering their summons. It was truly a mess!" Looking at Qi Dinghai, Chen Zhongtian let out a long sigh as well. He turned to Li Hao, who gave a slight nod. With another sigh, Chen Zhongtian stepped forward and stored away Qi Dinghai's corpse. Behind them, the few people who had just entered stood frozen in astonishment. Chen Yao stared blankly, glancing toward his father. Chen Zhongtian remained silent. The Military Law Department and the Department of Administration were now firmly in their grasp. As for the Department of Merit Assessment and the Department of Rites and Foreign Affairs, they required little attention since both their old and new directors were dead. The Inspectorate had already submitted, and the Department of Criminal Law had been wiped out. At this point, the only departments that truly required handling were the Department of Internal Affairs and the Finance Department. The old director of the Department of Commerce was dead, and the current director lacked competence, clearly incapable of stirring up trouble. Even if commercial affairs under their purview descended into brief disarray, it would cause no critical harm. The Department of Internal Affairs was of little consequence either; the Finance Department was the true crux. "To the Finance Department!" Li Hao declared. That was also the very first department he had offended upon entering the capital. Yuanping Martial Arts University had been ceded by them. ... The Finance Department. Liu Yunqing suddenly felt a wave of unease. His father glanced toward Zhou Chuan standing nearby. Zhou Chuan had just emerged from the ruins and was no longer sealing off the entrance. The old man frowned slightly. No longer sealing the ruins... That was hardly a promising omen! The old man suddenly spoke up. "Director Zhou, is Governor-General Li... about to arrive?" Zhou Chuan was slightly startled, then smiled. "What makes you say that?" The old man smiled faintly and looked outside. Li Hao and his party had not yet arrived. Taking a deep breath, he said, "The Liu family is willing to submit to the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, surrender all our family wealth, and ensure that Heavenly Star's financial system remains stable during a smooth transition to Silver Moon's control! Following the transition, the Liu family asks for nothing more than a small island in the Four Seas from the Governor-General, so that our clan may live out the rest of our days in peace. Every member of the Liu family who has committed wrongdoing will be handed over to the Governor-General's Office for judgment!" "In the past, I was remiss in disciplining the family and allowed certain wrongs to occur... I am willing to bear full responsibility, so long as Yunqing is permitted to lead the family away..." Director Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly. Beside him, Liu Yunqing's face turned ash-white. Why... why so suddenly?! An instant later, understanding dawned. Could it be... Impossible! With so many powerhouses down there, could they truly have been defeated? That was impossible. Yet aside from that, his father was exceptionally shrewd. Why else would he suddenly choose to surrender now, willing even to sacrifice himself to preserve the lives of the Liu family? Right at that moment, Li Hao's voice rang in their ears: "The old director is certainly shrewd. However, I have no interest in exterminating entire clans. In both the Zhao and Qi families, father and son have reunited in death, while the rest of their kin are dealt with strictly according to the law!" The old director let out a long sigh. The next moment, he bowed deeply and said, "The sinner Liu Fu pays respects to the Governor-General!" Liu Yunqing's face was deathly pale as he bent his waist alongside his father. They had lost! Though he had harbored some premonition, he had never imagined it would happen so quickly. In his eyes, the only ones capable of ruling the world were Li Hao and Ying Hongyue. Yet he had not expected that Li Hao would shatter the alliance between the Nine Departments and the imperial family so swiftly, accomplishing total unification. Li Hao strode inside. A collapse of the financial system was something they could not afford right now. The military was already in disarray, so a little more chaos there... truly did not matter. As for the administrative system, various regions had already declared autonomy, so that was manageable too. The financial system, however, was unique. The Liu family controlled critical sectors such as the realm's banks, taxation, and star coin minting—all managed by members of the Liu clan. Although the world was currently in turmoil, star coins still maintained purchasing power. If the star coin system collapsed, a catastrophic disaster would ensue. He looked at the two men. Father and son were quite intriguing. Ever since Li Hao wiped out Four Seas Corporation, the two had behaved like corpses, never showing themselves again, as though waiting for something. Just now, before he had even arrived, this old director had already offered his surrender... Clearly, he had deduced what had transpired. This was also one of the departments that had suffered the least damage so far. Li Hao walked up to the main seat in the hall, looked down at them, and sank into thought. Four Seas Corporation under the Liu family had colluded with pirates, secretly supported them, and even allied with the demon race, engaging in treacherous dealings with Phoenix Mountain and feeding humans to demons... Li Hao remembered every single one of those deeds. Yet executing this father and son might trigger severe upheaval. They were exceptionally shrewd and likely possessed hidden contingencies. If the star coin system were to collapse now, before Li Hao had fully unified the world, he would be unable to respond swiftly, resulting in massive trouble. Should he placate them first? And then, once the transition was complete, execute them? Li Hao pondered silently. Sweat trickled down Liu Fu's face. Suddenly, he spoke: "Governor-General, my son and I deserve death ten times over. However, I have a request. I have a grandson who has loved martial arts since childhood—a natural martial fanatic who never concerns himself with worldly affairs! In his youth, he despised the family's extravagance and left early to wander the world. I wish for him to join the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy, whether as a student or an instructor. Would the Governor-General... be willing to accept him?" He quickly added, "My son and I will also ensure the financial system completes a swift transition within one month. After one month... the Governor-General... may dispose of us as you see fit!" Li Hao was somewhat surprised. A grandson... joining the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy. The academy had not even opened yet. Yet Liu Fu wanted his grandson to enter it. Pondering the meaning behind it, Li Hao began to understand. Looking at Liu Fu, he smiled. "It seems you hold high hopes for that grandson of yours?" Liu Fu took a deep breath. "It is not a matter of high hopes. It is simply that he loves martial arts; perhaps by joining the academy, he can fulfill his lifelong dream. The Governor-General can rest assured: my grandson has an honest and straightforward nature. Yunqing and I will instruct him thoroughly in the days ahead, and he will never cause trouble..." Li Hao raised an eyebrow. The old man knew Li Hao wanted to kill him. He also wanted to kill Liu Yunqing. At this moment, he chose not to plead for Liu Yunqing's life, but instead hoped his grandson could enter the martial arts academy to revive the family name. Earlier, Li Hao had already stated that he would not implicate their innocent family members. Yet he still made this choice... It was quite intriguing. After a moment of thought, Li Hao nodded and smiled. "Very well!" Liu Fu let out a long breath of relief. "My profound thanks to the Governor-General for granting this!" "Old director... you have simply secured your own path!" Li Hao chuckled. "You are an intelligent man, so I will say no more. Director Zhou, arrange personnel to take over the Finance Department. This place is of vital importance!" "Understood." Director Zhou nodded slightly. Li Hao was in no rush to leave, asking further, "As for the Department of Internal Affairs, why did they stand completely aside during these recent events without taking action?" From the side, Chen Zhongtian said, "The Department of Internal Affairs has always been loyal to the imperial family. However, after several incidents, the imperial family alienated their loyalty, so the Mu family was no longer willing to exert themselves on their behalf and chose to remain bystanders." "Should the Department of Internal Affairs be executed or spared?" Li Hao looked at Chen Zhongtian, who found himself in an awkward position. Liu Fu, however, suddenly spoke up: "Governor-General, the Mu family of the Department of Internal Affairs holds little real authority. Over the years, they merely served the imperial family. Decades ago, it was we who persuaded them to take on the duties of the department, partly to keep the imperial family under supervision... Of course, as time passed, the imperial family and the Mu family grew closer, and the Mu family aligned with them." Listening to this, Li Hao was not entirely sure what the man was getting at. Was he advising him to kill them or spare them? From the sound of it, they had betrayed the Nine Departments first, and then betrayed the imperial family later—hardly good people. Yet he also emphasized their lack of authority... Seeing Li Hao look over, Liu Fu hurriedly continued, "The Mu family of Internal Affairs is timid, lacking in strength, and holds little real power... They are, in fact, an ideal symbol, posing no threat whatsoever. The Governor-General will ultimately need some figures to sing your praises across the realm. Sparing the Mu family would serve well, turning them into a model for all under heaven to see that the Governor-General is benevolent, sparing those who yield..." He was actually advising Li Hao to spare the Mu family. While he himself... was on the verge of death! At this moment, Li Hao looked at him with keen interest, only speaking after a long silence: "What a pity. An elder as intelligent as you—why did you choose to collude with pirates and the demon race?" Had it not been for that, he truly might have spared the Liu family. Both father and son were exceptionally sharp. Li Hao was indeed short on capable hands, but when it came to fundamental principles, he refused to compromise. Liu Fu gave a wry chuckle, offering no explanation. What was there to explain? Before this, colluding with pirates, the Three Great Organizations, and the demon race... had not been considered a crime. Many of the realm's powerhouses had done the same. Strictly speaking, everyone was guilty of it. Demon plants were part of the demon race too; who didn't have demon plants backing them? Even Li Hao had demon plants behind him! It was just that the Liu family had been blinded by greed in their later years, casting aside all moral baselines to accumulate greater wealth. There was no need to speak of such things now; airing them would only offend everyone present. By securing the Mu family's survival... the Mu family would owe him a debt of gratitude. The Mu family posed little threat and was not terribly strong, but as the second faction among the Nine Departments to be preserved at this juncture, they could look out for the Liu family in the future. He understood the character of that father and son—they were sentimental folk who treated well anyone who treated them well, and remembered slights just as fiercely. In doing so, he had secured a thread of hope for the Liu family. Li Hao pondered for a moment: little threat, no authority, serving as a model... "That young lady of the Mu family—why did she go to Four Seas Corporation previously? To collude with pirates, or with the demon race?" Mu Xiaorong had been held in custody all this time, yet she had never revealed the reason for her visit to Four Seas Corporation. Beside them, Liu Yunqing sighed softly and said in a low voice, "It was neither. At the time, the Liu family wished to arrange a marriage alliance with the Mu family, and Mu Xiaorong went there simply to observe the prospective candidates from our clan." Li Hao frowned. Was it truly that simple? Liu Yunqing added, "There was another reason as well. When our Liu family proposed the marriage, the imperial family endorsed it. Mu Xiaorong went to Four Seas Island partly to avoid the imperial family's pressure..." Li Hao did not entirely take his word for it, but it was not a matter of great consequence. After a moment's consideration, he said, "I understand. You two... keep a low profile for the time being. In one month, I will return!" With that, he rose and left. Watching them depart, Liu Fu and his son let out long sighs. Director Zhou had not left, lingering outside the door. Liu Fu did not avoid him, sighing, "Complete the transition swiftly. One month... is enough for us to accomplish many things, far better than the fates of the other families. Summon the boy back. While there is still time, help him grow stronger." "Father, this..." Liu Yunqing looked at his elderly father, struggling to comprehend. Since there was no path of survival for them, why let the family continue showing their faces? Perhaps living out their days in quiet retirement would be better. "If you could survive, then quiet retirement would naturally be best..." Liu Fu seemed to age visibly. "But you... Since it has come to this, how can a family survive in this era without a powerhouse to protect it? Then let us make one final gamble. If we cannot retreat from the world, then... we must actively embrace the future!" The two of them had no chance left, but if his grandson joined the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy as a first-generation student or instructor, combined with the Liu family's full cooperation in transferring authority to the Governor-General's Office, the family might still win Li Hao's trust. Liu Yunqing considered this, nodded, and said no more. Outside, Director Zhou felt a wave of poignant emotion. Old Man Liu truly had remarkable skill. He had even half a mind to persuade Li Hao to spare the father and son, though he ultimately kept silent. Watching Li Hao and the others fade into the distance, Director Zhou knew that after tonight, Heavenly Star City would bear the surname Li. The heavens had changed! ... Next, the Department of Merit Assessment, the Department of Rites and Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Commerce presented no surprises whatsoever; Li Hao swiftly brought them under lockdown. He did not visit the Mu family for the time being. Instead, he marched straight toward the imperial palace, accompanied by an ever-growing host of powerhouses. A mirror hovered silently in the sky, enveloping the vast imperial palace. When it came to the imperial family... Li Hao intended to conduct a sweeping purge, one that would likely generate immense commotion. The current Heavenly Star King was deeply ambitious. While the Old Heavenly Star King had been sealed away, everything the imperial family had done was orchestrated by this current king. He was an ambitious schemer, and the royal family still possessed multiple princes and a great number of dukes. He would not necessarily submit to fate like the other factions. Inside the palace. Southern Fist chuckled. "Your Majesty, I shall step outside for a moment to report on the situation. Please, enjoy your food and wine in the meantime!" With that, he got up and took his leave. Outside the doors, the Earth-Overturning Sword and Heaven Sword had already arrived. The three strode outward together. Inside the grand hall. The Heavenly Star King frowned slightly. Below him stood a gathering of princes, princesses, several royal lords, and numerous dukes. Someone cursed through a voice transmission: "Vile mongrel! Acting fierce on someone else's authority! When he was in the palace before, he was more obedient than a dog!" The Heavenly Star King ignored the remark, his brow furrowed as he stared outside. Southern Fist had just told them to enjoy their food and wine. Those words... boded ill. Even as the thought crossed his mind, his expression shifted abruptly. Li Hao... had arrived! ... Outside the imperial palace. Li Hao stepped through the main gates. Behind him followed Chen Zhongtian, Chen Yao, Kong Jie, Tyrant Saber, Northern Fist, Thunderbolt Leg, Bright Light Sword, Jade Rakshasa, Black Panther, Jade Light Sword, Yuan Shuo, and the rest. Yao Si and Hou Xiaochen arrived swiftly as well, having relinquished their suppression of the Department of Internal Affairs, leaving only a group of Night Patrollers conducting inspections there. Before long, Heaven Sword and his two companions rejoined the group. Li Hao looked toward the distant palace buildings, a faint smile playing on his lips. After a moment, he said slowly, "The Heavenly Star King, princes, dukes, imperial sons, imperial daughters... anyone who possesses supernatural power, execute them all!" At these words, everyone froze. Toward the Nine Departments, Li Hao had shown nowhere near this level of ruthlessness. Li Hao said in a heavy voice, "Did you hear me? Kill!" Without the slightest hesitation—the imperial family had ruled the realm for two hundred years, and while the Nine Departments had at least accomplished some good deeds, the imperial family... truly had none to speak of. They had spent their days scheming to upend the realm. Without killing them, how could the Heavenly Star Dynasty be overthrown? The crowd exchanged glances, and in the next instant, they lowered their voices in unison: "Understood!" In a flash, figures surged into the palace! Within the blink of an eye, shouts of slaughter erupted in every direction! At this moment, everyone understood that once the imperial family fell, Heavenly Star would have a new master! Over a thousand members of the Demon Hunt Army swiftly poured into the palace. In the distance, squads of the Black Armor Army charged out to intercept them. Further still, a middle-aged man wearing an imperial crown soared into the air, glaring toward Li Hao with frigid eyes. The Jiang family's Heavenly Star was about to be no more. Li Hao stepped onto empty air, flying straight toward him in an instant. The Heavenly Star King watched him coldly without a word. A golden greatsword manifested in his grip. Gazing at Li Hao, he sneered, "The victor becomes king, the loser an outlaw. Who will die in the end remains to be seen!" "Kill!" With a ferocious bellow that shook the heavens, this man unexpectedly revealed the strength of a borderline seven-element cultivator, causing the void to fracture around him. In all directions, the sounds of brutal combat raged ceaselessly. One Silver Moon martial master after another erupted with power, slaughtering the imperial powerhouses in the blink of an eye. The Heavenly Star King said nothing and paid them no heed. So long as he killed Li Hao, hope remained. Yet this time, Li Hao afforded this king no special treatment, no courteous regard whatsoever. This man... was far inferior even to his father! A sharp sword materialized—the Starry Sky Sword. Multiple forces converged in an instant, unleashing a terrifying surge of power. As sword intent erupted, tearing through the void, the Starry Sky Sword displayed power that was nothing short of miraculous. While it might have been insufficient against those Saints, against this man... A single sword slashed down! *Boom!* The sky tore asunder. The sword in the Heavenly Star King's hands shattered into dust, and a bloody line appeared across his face. Staring blankly at Li Hao, his eyes were filled with utter disbelief. Never had this ambitious king imagined that his end would come so abruptly. "Of everyone in the Heavenly Star imperial family, you are the most loathsome!" Li Hao snorted coldly. The Governor of the Northern Three Provinces had been assassinated at the hands of the imperial family, plunging the northern provinces into turmoil that persisted to this day and claiming countless lives. Li Hao felt nothing but profound disgust for this man! In that instant, the surrounding battlefield fell dead silent for a heartbeat. Then, in the next breath, the clamor of slaughter erupted once more. "The Heavenly Star King is dead! Kill!" Roars of battle shook the heavens. The secondary mirror of the Fengyun Treasure Mirror isolated heaven and earth, leaving only screams, pleas for mercy, and curses echoing through the clouds. The imperial family that had ruled the world for two centuries met with total devastation on this day. None could have anticipated that less than three months after Li Hao entered Heavenly Star City, the heavens would completely change.