Heavenly Star City.
The Governor-General's Office.
After briskly dealing with a few lingering chores without pausing to delve deeper, Li Hao summoned a group of people to assemble on standby within the office compound.
The Silver Moon martial masters each had their own critical duties to oversee.
At this moment, those Li Hao called together were an entirely different crowd.
……
Inside the great hall of the Governor-General's Office.
A pervasive unease gripped the crowd. Some hailed from the Nine Departments, while others came from the Night Patrol—all of them youthful prodigies.
Among them were Hu Qingfeng from the Night Patrol, as well as Dao Jian and his companions.
Dao Jian remained remarkably composed, but Big Eyes and the two others beside him appeared rather fidgety.
Not far away stood Qi Gang, a prodigy from the Department of Administration. In the past, all of these figures had appeared on the Divine Master Roll or earned a measure of renown within their respective organizations, having stepped into the Rising Light or even Divine Power realm at a young age.
Some did not even understand what was happening; they had merely received a notice from the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office ordering them to report and cooperate with supernatural registration.
Li Hao had not yet returned.
However, a few personnel from the Governor-General's Office were also present in the hall.
After a long while, Hu Qingfeng could no longer contain himself. Shuffling his feet, he edged over toward Hao Lianchuan, wearing a fawning grin, and murmured in a low voice, "Minister Hao, has Governor-General Li summoned us for some mission? I noticed quite a few people here aren't members of the Governor-General's Office..."
Hao Lianchuan had no idea what Li Hao intended either.
Ever since arriving in Heavenly Star City, he had been coordinating actions alongside the Demon Hunt Army. Though his own cultivation had advanced steadily—having reached the middle stage of the Rising Light realm by relying on a massive influx of resources—such strength offered little practical weight within the Governor-General's Office now.
Earlier, Hao Lianchuan had taken part in the battle at the imperial palace alongside the Demon Hunt Army, but he had remained entirely detached from the subsequent maneuvers.
At present, he was ignorant of Li Hao's plans, and even if he did know, he could not speak of them.
Looking at Hu Qingfeng, Hao Lianchuan found the man especially grating. Back in White Moon City, this fellow had strutted about with supreme arrogance, yet somehow he was still alive and living comfortably today. Hao Lianchuan cursed inwardly.
*How is this bastard still breathing?*
Just as he was about to brush him off with a few perfunctory remarks, another group stepped into the hall from outside.
Hao Lianchuan glanced over, mildly surprised.
Wang Ming, Hu Hao, Li Meng, Yun Yao...
They were all familiar faces, yet marked by a distinct trait: every one of them was a supernatural.
Indeed, martial masters were entirely absent.
There were very few supernaturals in the Demon Hunt Army, which consisted almost entirely of martial masters. The handful of supernaturals were exceptional cases—either having connected with Li Hao early on, or serving as his nominal martial siblings.
Yet now, all of them were gathered here.
The prodigies summoned earlier were also virtually all supernaturals without a single martial master among them. Dao Jian, the strongest among them, had already stepped into the Divine Power realm, yet he had achieved it not through martial arts, but purely as a supernatural.
Hao Lianchuan knew full well how busy Li Hao was right now.
Did summoning everyone at such a critical juncture have something to do with their supernatural status?
The crowd was not particularly well acquainted, and some belonged to rival factions.
Consequently, few spoke, and apprehension hung thick in the air.
Before coming, some had visited the Nine Departments intending to report that the Governor-General's Office had summoned them. After all, they belonged to different administrative branches, and a lingering grudge existed between them. Yet today, not a single departmental director had shown his face. At best, a deputy director had appeared, offering a perfunctory dismissal: "Just go."
And that had been the end of it.
This left many deeply rattled.
They were prodigies of their respective departments, and several held official posts. Earlier, some had even been present in the departments when Li Hao arrived with his men, only to depart shortly afterward. Following that, several high-ranking figures were summoned away one after another; when they returned, something about them seemed changed.
The lockdown on the Nine Departments had already been lifted.
Yet astute figures like Qi Gang had detected peculiarities. Although the perimeter seals were gone and neither the Night Patrol nor the Demon Hunt Army actively suppressed them, a few Silver Moon martial masters had mysteriously appeared within the departments, blended into the background.
Their presence was discreetly veiled. Even if discovered, the pretext given was that they were covertly pursuing members of the Three Great Organizations and must not expose their identities.
While the crowd pondered, another figure walked in.
It was a woman, pale-faced and seemingly in a daze. Someone froze, murmuring, "Miss Mu?"
Wasn't that Mu Xiaorong?
Only then did everyone recall that she had been detained for quite some time, completely unheard of. Most had assumed she had already been executed. It appeared Li Hao had spared her life, but why release her now?
Before they could exchange words, absolute silence fell across the hall.
Outside, Li Hao approached under the escort of two Divine Power experts—none other than the couple Yang Shan and Qin Lian, who had also advanced to Divine Power through the supernatural path.
At this moment, Li Hao's countenance was placid.
Striding into the hall, he nodded faintly toward Hao Lianchuan and a few others, then walked straight to the front and seated himself.
"Greetings, Governor-General Li!"
The crowd paid their respects in unison. Li Hao waved a hand and swept his gaze across the gathering. It was a substantial assembly, nearly fifty strong.
Every department of the Nine Departments was represented.
Without exception, all were supernaturals.
"Are you all wondering why I summoned you here?"
No one dared answer, but seeing the silence, Hao Lianchuan hurriedly spoke up, "The Governor-General naturally has an important purpose."
Li Hao did not know whether to laugh or sigh; Hao Lianchuan certainly knew how to play along.
"Since you are already here, I won't beat around the bush. First of all: the Nine Departments are no more."
Li Hao spoke in an even voice, "And the imperial family is gone as well!"
*Boom!*
Many instantly lost their composure, though a few remained calm, as if they had anticipated it.
Li Hao looked at Qi Gang of the Department of Administration. He had met him before and had even journeyed together to Battle Heaven City. Looking at Qi Gang, he asked, "Qi Gang, you don't seem surprised at all?"
Qi Gang was handsome and carried an intensely upright air. He let out a soft sigh, bowing slightly. "The Governor-General paid a visit to the Department of Administration yesterday. After Director Zhao entered, he never emerged. Today, several deputy directors wore terrified expressions, while Director Zhou Chuan arrived and began reviewing classified files accessible only to internal leadership... I understood then that the Department of Administration... had changed masters!"
Li Hao smiled. "Keen observation."
"The Governor-General overpraises me. It is merely that... internally, you made little effort to conceal it."
Having said his piece, Qi Gang fell silent.
The Department of Administration changing masters stirred complex feelings within him. Thus, when Li Hao summoned them, he had raised no objections and simply complied. As for dying alongside the Zhao family... he had never entertained such a thought.
In this era, where would one find supernaturals with absolute, unyielding loyalty? Supernaturals advanced too rapidly, and some Heaven-Blessed Godly Masters became powerhouses practically overnight. They were drawn to the various departments merely by enticements and benefits, without any deep-seated allegiance.
Among the crowd, Mu Xiaorong swayed on her feet, on the verge of collapsing.
Upon being released, she had felt a flicker of joy, believing dawn had finally arrived and that Li Hao had yielded to pressure from the Department of Internal Affairs and the Nine Departments. Only now did she realize that the Department of Internal Affairs... was finished!
The Nine Departments and the imperial family were all gone!
Looking around with profound sorrow, she wondered: why summon so many prodigies from the various departments, then? Was he going to execute them all?
As the thought crossed her mind, Li Hao continued, "I did not call you here to deal with you. There is no need for that; if I truly wished to kill you, it would be effortless."
"You are all brilliant supernaturals from various branches. While I possess a fair understanding of the martial path, my knowledge of supernaturals... is honestly quite limited."
Li Hao went on, "Most of you who have reached your current standing are Heaven-Blessed Godly Masters. I have encountered very few of your kind. Whether in the Nine Departments or the Three Great Organizations, almost all Divine Power experts are martial masters who broke through the saturation of supernatural locks. Truly pure supernaturals who reached Divine Power from the Starlight realm are exceedingly rare."
Among the experts he had slain, figures like Qi Pingjiang were martial masters who reached Divine Power after saturating their supernatural locks. Almost none were purely supernatural from the ground up.
"Moving forward, I will need your cooperation in certain matters... Naturally, before that, I need you to accompany me on a task. Heavenly Star City is already in my grasp, but at present, the Silver Moon martial masters have critical duties to secure the city and cannot leave."
"Yet there remains an essential stronghold in the Central Region that must be taken: the City of Supernaturals!"
Li Hao smiled. "According to the timeline, the Council of Elders in the City of Supernaturals will conclude within the next two days. To eradicate this greatest hidden threat, I intend to lead all of you on an expedition to conquer it..."
The words dropped like a thunderclap, shocking everyone to their core.
Hu Qingfeng plastered on a fawning smile, ingratiatingly remarking, "Congratulations to the Governor-General on unifying the realm! It's just... may this subordinate boldly ask, when the Governor-General says an expedition to the City of Supernaturals... does that mean just... us?"
"Correct," Li Hao smiled.
Hu Qingfeng's heart skipped a beat!
*Holy hell! Are you insane?*
That Li Hao had taken down the Nine Departments and the imperial family was incredible enough, bordering on unbelievable. But for Li Hao to say he was taking this small band of people to assault the City of Supernaturals... wasn't that pure lunacy?
Hu Qingfeng swallowed hard, whispering cautiously, "Governor-General, the City of Supernaturals has nearly a hundred Divine Power experts! Rumor has it that Lin Hongyu is at the peak of six elements, perhaps even possessing seven-element strength..."
*Quit joking around! Even if we're attacking, shouldn't you bring those Silver Moon martial masters? Besides, the City of Supernaturals houses a million supernaturals! If a real fight breaks out, they could drown us in spit alone!*
Li Hao chuckled lightly. "This is also a test for you. If you survive, you will naturally be entrusted with great responsibility! Of course, if you perish, everything comes to naught!"
The crowd stood as still as boulders; no one dared say another word. Yet despair and helplessness washed over them.
*He's sending us to our deaths!*
There were only a few dozen of them, with hardly any Divine Power experts among their ranks. Even if Li Hao had truly reached seven elements... even if he could fight a hundred Divine Power experts alone, the remaining Rising Light and supernatural combatants would be more than enough to slaughter the rest of them.
*What a joke!*
Li Hao added, "Naturally, I am not denying you an alternative. There is another path: those unwilling to go to the City of Supernaturals may voluntarily perform three years of mandatory service. After three years, you will regain your freedom."
As the words fell, someone asked in a timid whisper, "Governor-General, does this 'three years of service'... mean... imprisonment?"
"Certainly not," Li Hao explained. "Service means assisting various sectors with tasks that others cannot accomplish but you can. For instance, Earth-affinity supernaturals can build houses, pave roads, and handle construction work that all of you are more than qualified to do. Tasks like these do not count as imprisonment. However, you will not be permitted to leave freely during the term. Of course, you will have opportunities to leave later; just treat it as a regular job."
At these words, several people wavered.
Three years of service... was truly not very long.
Moreover, it was merely physical labor rather than imprisonment, treated like normal employment...
That was actually quite reasonable.
Marching on the City of Supernaturals, on the other hand, was practically a death sentence.
Hu Qingfeng could not resist asking, "Governor-General, then... if everyone chooses service, what about the City of Supernaturals...?"
Li Hao laughed. "No matter. I will simply take those who are willing to fight! It doesn't hurt to test the waters. No matter how strong Lin Hongyu is, it will be hard for her to keep me there."
*Yes, hard to keep you. But keeping the rest of us would be child's play!*
Some worried that choosing service might draw Li Hao's retaliation. Reading their thoughts, Li Hao added, "As I said, it is entirely voluntary. If I wanted you dead, it would be simple; there is no need to trick you into agreeing to service only to kill you later. Killing you outright would be far cleaner!"
Thinking it over, the crowd realized he was right.
Everyone understood that volunteering for the campaign might present an immense opportunity afterward, but... one's life was one's own.
Gritting his teeth, someone took the lead and stepped forward, saying in a low voice, "Governor-General, I choose three years of service!"
Li Hao nodded. "Very well. Yang Shan, you will escort those who choose service out shortly. Their immediate task is to expedite the construction of the Heavenly Star Martial Arts Academy. With their strength, erecting an academy will take very little time."
"Understood!" Yang Shan responded briskly.
With the first stepping forward, a second soon followed. Before long, seven or eight people had stepped out.
The rest, however, did not budge.
Including Hu Qingfeng!
Even Li Hao looked somewhat surprised as he turned his gaze to Hu Qingfeng. Feeling awkward, Hu Qingfeng hastily declared, "Wherever the Governor-General goes, I shall follow! To serve the Governor-General, even dying in battle would be a worthy death!"
"……"
Everyone turned to stare at him in sheer disbelief at his shamelessness.
Who didn't know that Hu Qingfeng of the Night Patrol was a cowardly, utterly shameless scoundrel? For someone as timid as a mouse to claim dying in battle was a "worthy death"?
People like Hao Lianchuan were Li Hao's direct subordinates, so their staying made sense. But Hu Qingfeng was merely part of the Night Patrol hierarchy.
For him to refuse service?
It was simply absurd.
Li Hao glanced at Hu Qingfeng once more and smiled faintly. "As you wish. If you truly end up killed, the Governor-General's Office will see to your family."
With that, he turned to the others. "Choosing not to perform service means you are willing to march on the City of Supernaturals? As for the service... none of you should feel targeted. Moving forward, I will establish requirements for all supernaturals across the Heavenly Star Dynasty—either mandatory labor or military service. As supernaturals, greedily draining the energy of heaven and earth without giving anything back is not sustainable. The Heavenly Dao works in cycles; since it has granted you power, giving back to society carries only benefits and no harm."
Li Hao smiled. "I will place similar demands on certain Silver Moon martial masters as well, so service is not equivalent to imprisonment. You need not overthink it."
Hearing this, those who had felt uneasy or aggrieved breathed a sigh of relief.
*That's good to hear!*
Otherwise, having to perform service while others walked free would breed immense resentment. *If we don't march to our deaths, we're forced into hard labor—on what grounds?*
Now that Li Hao explained it applied to all, they felt much better. Since everyone would have to serve eventually... doing it sooner or later made little difference. Going early might even be better, marking them as early supporters of Li Hao's new policies.
"Anyone else?" Li Hao looked around, his eyes resting on Mu Xiaorong in particular. Mu Xiaorong bit her lip, meeting his gaze before quickly lowering her head. Li Hao said indifferently, "No need to stare. Your father and the others aren't dead. Out of the Nine Departments, only your family and the Chen family suffered minimal losses. You were blessed by sheer luck; someone advised me not to kill the Mu family so you could serve as a benchmark to encourage uncompromised supernaturals to surrender in the future."
The crowd shuddered.
His words carried two implications: if only the Chen and Mu families survived, did that mean... all the other clans were wiped out?
None dared think too deeply on it.
Terrified that Li Hao might notice anything amiss, they lowered their heads.
Mu Xiaorong looked up, a mix of shock and joyful relief in her eyes. "Truly?"
Li Hao paid her no further heed, checking the time instead. "I'll say it one last time: those willing to perform service, step forward now. I leave for the City of Supernaturals shortly; time is pressing. Once there, if you fall in battle, there will be no turning back!"
Yet none of the remaining individuals moved, including Mu Xiaorong.
Li Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, offering no further comment.
"Very well. Yang Shan, escort these people out and hand them over to Academy Director Hong. The rest of you, follow me!"
Not daring to utter a word, the group followed closely behind Li Hao.
Yang Shan quickly led away those who had opted for service.
At that moment, Hu Qingfeng, wearing a radiant grin, hurried over, squeezing past even Hao Lianchuan. "Governor-General, are we heading out now to summon the senior Silver Moon experts?"
"……"
Li Hao turned his head to look at him.
After a long pause, he smiled. "We are not!"
*So that's what you thought? You thought this was just a loyalty test?*
Hu Qingfeng froze. *Not summoning them?*
*Are you kidding?*
Without them, how could they possibly attack the City of Supernaturals? He had assumed Li Hao was merely bluffing to weed out the faint of heart, and that he would eventually rally the true powerhouses; otherwise, the battle was impossible.
There was no reason to drag everyone to certain death, right?
Besides, people like Hao Lianchuan, who had followed Li Hao all the way from Silver Moon, were right here.
He had firmly believed Li Hao wouldn't deliberately send his own people to die, which was why he had resolved to stay, convinced it was merely an assessment.
As it turned out... it wasn't.
Li Hao paid them no further attention.
A divine weapon flying ship materialized in midair. "All aboard!"
The group boarded swiftly.
Once everyone was inside, the vessel soared into the sky, streaking straight toward the City of Supernaturals.
Inside the cabin, Hu Qingfeng swallowed hard, drowning in sheer terror. He told himself that Li Hao had to be joking. Even if he hadn't gathered the senior experts, in all likelihood... they weren't actually going to attack the City of Supernaturals!
*It has to be! Just an act to scare us!*
He sidled over to Hao Lianchuan and whispered eagerly, "Minister Hao, you're close to the Governor-General. Are we... really going to the City of Supernaturals?"
"Probably."
"Minister Hao... this..."
Just as he was about to press further, Dao Jian, who had remained silent all along, said coolly, "Save your breath. This is the direct route to the City of Supernaturals. At this speed, we'll arrive shortly."
Hu Qingfeng stiffened, entirely dumbfounded.
*Holy shit! We really are marching to our deaths? Stop messing with me!*
……
Time ticked away.
Soon, Li Hao's voice drifted in from outside: "We're approaching the City of Supernaturals. Everyone, come out and take a look."
The passengers filed out of the cabin onto the deck.
As the flying ship soared through the sky, a colossal city emerged on the horizon.
Li Hao did not slow in the slightest, bypassing the city walls and flying straight toward the inner city at its center. "Shortly, the ship will touch down near the City Lord's Estate. The Council of Elders is currently in session there; battle begins the moment we enter!"
"……"
In that instant, everyone was paralyzed with shock.
*Good heavens!*
Quite a few had shared Hu Qingfeng's assumption, believing Li Hao was merely putting on a show to test their mettle, or perhaps planning to exchange distant threats with the city's leaders.
Yet... he was heading straight for the City Lord's Estate, the very venue of the Council of Elders.
*This... truly is suicide!*
Even if the other side had no desire to fight, charging straight into their headquarters would force their hand.
In the blink of an eye, several people were trembling from head to toe. Hu Qingfeng's lips turned stark white. *It's over, it's all over! We're utterly doomed!*
Even Hao Lianchuan, who remained in the dark about the city's actual status, could no longer maintain his composure. Swallowing nervously, he asked, "Uh... are there really that many Divine Power experts?"
"Nearly a hundred, yes."
A chill ran down Hao Lianchuan's spine; he felt like weeping. *That many? Did Li Hao bring an ancient demon plant clone? But... did he? Even if he did, the enemy might have them too!*
Li Hao chuckled, indulging in a rare bit of dark humor to give them a thorough fright.
He had needed to visit the City of Supernaturals anyway, and this presented a prime opportunity to rattle these newcomers.
Summoning them served specific objectives and ideas of his own.
As for Hao Lianchuan and his companions... they were truly just along for the ride.
Those Li Hao had specifically sought out were Heaven-Blessed Godly Masters and supernatural prodigies who had attained the Rising Light and Divine Power realms at a young age without transitioning from martial arts. Bringing Hao Lianchuan and the others was merely to see if an opportunity might arise for them.
The massive vessel flew straight over the outer city.
Onlookers caught sight of the enormous vessel, but none dared raise an objection.
The city guards of the inner city spotted it as well and moved to intercept. At that moment, a voice echoed from the depths of the City Lord's Estate: "Let them pass!"
The guards dared not disobey, though curiosity burned within them.
*Who has arrived? The Council of Elders is still in session; who has the audacity to fly straight in? Could it be the lord of some major faction?*
Above the City Lord's Estate, a rift parted in the protective barrier of light, and Li Hao's flying ship touched down instantly.
Everyone on board was strung tight as a bowstring.
All were bracing for a desperate, bloody struggle!
Yet in the very next moment, a woman clad in crimson appeared before them with a faint smile, looking toward Li Hao. "Governor-General, pardon me for not welcoming you farther out!"
"Business calls," Li Hao nodded, then turned back. "Come on down. This is City Lord Lin of the City of Supernaturals."
At these words, the crowd was dumbstruck.
*What is going on?*
Furthermore, wasn't the City of Supernaturals supposed to be hosting the Council of Elders right now? Rumor had it that vast numbers of experts had gathered here.
*Where are they? Not even a ghost in sight!*
Apart from Lin Hongyu, the place seemed utterly deserted. Where had everyone gone?
Lin Hongyu looked on with some curiosity. "Governor-General, who are these...?"
"Brought them along to broaden their horizons. We'll have work for them shortly."
"I see." Lin Hongyu did not press the matter, inviting him warmly, "Please, come inside and take a seat, Governor-General. Shall I notify Commander Yu to join us?"
"Notify him."
"Understood."
Lin Hongyu sent word to the Lin family. Huang Yu was currently stationed within the ruins; since the redwood had not returned, he could only receive messages forwarded through the Lin family.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group stood in utter bewilderment. A few who had pieced things together wore stunned expressions. Dao Jian and his companions hurriedly exchanged voice transmissions, Big Eyes asking in sheer disbelief, "Could it be... the City of Supernaturals has already been taken? Was the so-called Council of Elders... nothing more than a trap? Dao Jian, where did all those Divine Power experts go?"
"They're dead," Dao Jian transmitted calmly. "Judging by City Lord Lin's demeanor, this is hardly their first interaction; they reached an agreement long ago. Those experts whom the outside world believes are still in conference... were in all likelihood slain long ago! Probably wiped out on the very day they arrived."
The realization left them reeling.
Sitting on a population of a million supernaturals, the City of Supernaturals was supposed to be Li Hao's sole remaining obstacle to dominating the Central Region following the collapse of the Nine Departments and the imperial court. Yet... they had surrendered all along?
*This... is simply unbelievable!*
While they whispered, Li Hao turned back to say, "Wait right here. No wandering off!"
With that, he strode forward.
The moment he walked away, Hu Qingfeng grinned from ear to ear. "The Governor-General's valor is truly unmatched! The City of Supernaturals has actually surrendered—doesn't this mean the Governor-General's unification of the realm is already a foregone conclusion?"
No one indulged him; everyone remained trapped in sheer astonishment.
……
Ahead.
Lin Hongyu, who had held her tongue earlier, finally voiced her curiosity. "Governor-General, bringing these people along..."
Walking forward, Li Hao replied, "To assist in subjugating the City of Supernaturals. There are far too many supernaturals here. Along the way, I also intend to conduct a few experiments."
"Experiments?"
"Yes." Li Hao did not conceal it. "On those who are defiant or steeped in wickedness, I want to see whether killing them allows their supernatural locks to reinforce the supernatural locks of these individuals."
A chill ran through Lin Hongyu. "Governor-General... that... surely that's not possible?"
If it were possible, the implications would be terrifying.
Previously, killing a supernatural yielded only one benefit: mysterious energy. But mysterious energy held little value for top powerhouses, who lacked for nothing.
However, if slaying someone allowed their supernatural locks to strengthen one's own, the consequences would be horrifying.
Even if feasible, she felt Li Hao should not venture down such a path.
Li Hao smiled. "It isn't that complicated, nor is it that frightening! Along the way, I also hope to catch a glimpse into the underlying nature of the supernatural path. Supernaturals emerged from the revival of energy, intimately tied to supernatural locks. Furthermore, supernatural abilities are connected to the force of heaven and earth, bearing the semblance of an innate force..."
He elaborated briefly, leaving Lin Hongyu only half-comprehending.
In truth, Li Hao suspected that supernatural Divine Powers... might be a manifestation of innate force.
For example, various evasion arts were essentially forms of force merging with heaven and earth, achievable only after comprehending the force of the world. Yet supernaturals possessed these abilities naturally from birth, only to lose them later as their self-awareness solidified and their control over energy became rigid.
Thus, these supernaturals might embody an innate force bestowed by heaven and earth.
If so... it would be extraordinarily intriguing.
It would also mean that Li Hao's upcoming consolidation of a new cultivation system might uncover entirely novel avenues.
He knew how martial masters comprehended force—a grueling, arduous endeavor.
Yet if supernaturals were born with force inherently woven into them, the implications were profoundly different.
Twenty years of supernatural revival had birthed countless supernaturals wielding diverse abilities. Comprehending force was currently a monumental hurdle, and Li Hao hoped to uncover underlying connections through these Heaven-Blessed Godly Masters.
Lin Hongyu, however, felt a lingering dread.
Li Hao's casual words left her intensely anxious.
The City of Supernaturals might well be facing a chilling fate.
Having arrived inside the City Lord's Estate, Li Hao casually found a seat. There were no servants or attendants; he poured himself a cup of tea and gestured for Lin Hongyu to sit.
"The Nine Departments and the imperial court have been eliminated by me."
Lin Hongyu was startled. Although she knew Li Hao had blockaded both entities, it had been a very brief affair, and the perimeter had already been lifted today.
*Gone just like that?*
Even though Li Hao had transported away the redwood earlier, leading her to suspect he was orchestrating a massive move, learning that he had crushed them so swiftly still caught her off guard.
"Congratulations, Governor-General!"
"Nothing worth congratulating," Li Hao smiled. "My visit to the City of Supernaturals is aimed at swiftly settling the complications here, while also relieving the restrictions on Commander Yu and City Lord Lin. We cannot remain hidden in the shadows indefinitely. Tomorrow marks the conclusion of the Council of Elders... we can't very well keep holding a meeting forever, can we?"
"We'll talk further once Commander Yu arrives."
Lin Hongyu nodded, holding her tongue.
A wave of emotion washed over her.
*So fast! It defies belief!*
……
Roughly ten minutes later, Huang Yu arrived without a sound.
Upon hearing Li Hao state that the Nine Departments were gone, he fell into a daze, remaining silent as he digested the news.
Heavenly Star City had fallen, and the City of Supernaturals had fallen... That meant the only adversaries left to genuinely fear were the Three Great Organizations.
"The Governor-General's intent is... to seize full control of the City of Supernaturals now?"
Li Hao nodded. "There are too many supernaturals here. Heavenly Star City's secrets cannot be kept indefinitely, and the same goes for this place. The clans whose powerhouses were wiped out will soon notice something amiss; we cannot keep those figures from showing their faces forever."
Huang Yu frowned slightly. "Yet... there are simply too many supernaturals in the city. Without Senior Redwood, the ten thousand soldiers I brought may be equipped with Battle Heaven armor, but their combat power has its limits. If total chaos erupts, rapidly suppressing and extinguishing it will be exceedingly difficult."
Li Hao smiled. "Do all the supernaturals in the city truly have the courage to rebel?"
"Logically, no. But once someone leads a revolt or flees, it will quickly spark a chain reaction," Huang Yu said solemnly. "Certain supernaturals fear neither heaven nor earth. Knowing that capture means certain death, they will fight to the end! Even if such people make up only one percent, that still amounts to ten thousand individuals!"
Though perhaps only ten thousand, an uprising could sweep the entire city into turmoil.
Li Hao turned to Lin Hongyu. Seeing his gaze, she said softly, "Throughout history, rebellions have always been incited by a few troublemakers. So long as we eliminate them, a change in leadership won't cause substantial ripples. The rest are merely weaklings who never came here to vie for supremacy. They won't truly care who governs them. Deal with the instigators, and even if localized unrest flares up, it can be snuffed out instantly without causing widespread chaos."
Huang Yu nodded. "True, but those troublemakers won't gather in one place on their own..."
Lin Hongyu smiled. "Then let us gather them together."
Huang Yu's expression shifted as he looked at her.
Lin Hongyu elaborated with a smile, "The Council of Elders concludes tomorrow. Therefore, today, I intend to issue a decree: within three hours, the city will select one hundred officers. Anyone capable of rallying one hundred supernaturals within three hours will be appointed a centurion in the new army of the City of Supernaturals. Those capable of gathering a thousand will be made chiliarchs..."
"Anyone with the ambition and capability to pull that off in such a short window is prime rebel material."
Lin Hongyu smiled faintly. "Once they've gathered their followers, whoever accomplishes this feat quickly proves themselves capable of leading an uprising. We summon them into the City Lord's Estate under the guise of conferring military ranks and riches, then wipe them out in a single sweep! Furthermore, those duped into joining their banners will be the restless, ambitious sorts... Settle them as well, and while I cannot promise every malcontent will be purged, at least ninety percent of the troublemakers will be gone. The remaining ten percent... will just be lone wolves, and lone wolves pose no threat!"
Li Hao couldn't help staring at the woman.
*That works?*
After a moment's thought, he said, "Three hours is too brief; there is no need to rush. Why not give them the whole night to consider it? Issue the decree now, and have them assemble in the inner city tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"
Lin Hongyu beamed. "The Governor-General's wisdom is unmatched!"
Li Hao paused, then caught on: *Did she intentionally leave an opening for me to adjust, making me look sharper?*
This woman... Sky Sword had previously suggested placing her in charge of Heavenly Star City—a recommendation from a blunt, straightforward elder that clearly demonstrated immense confidence in her.
Li Hao had been hesitant before, but now he was giving it serious consideration.
She truly possessed an arsenal of methods.
Anyone capable of rallying at least a hundred men overnight—regardless of virtue—could be detained or executed. With them out of the picture, no matter how many supernaturals remained in the city, they would be unable to raise any waves.
A lone wolf might be formidable, but so long as they could not rally the remaining populace into a revolt, their impact was negligible.
Besides, there was likely not a single Divine Power expert left in the city.
At their peak, they were merely Rising Light.
Huang Yu nodded in agreement. "City Lord Lin's plan is brilliant! However... without substantial incentives, people might not bite. What rewards should we offer...?"
"Divine energy stones, divine weapons, Spring of Life... with the Spring of Life being the crucial lure!"
Lin Hongyu smiled. "Right now, that is precisely what everyone desires most. It is the bottleneck preventing experts from advancing to Divine Power; securing the Spring of Life is the cornerstone of becoming a true powerhouse. Those who gather a hundred men to join the supernatural army will receive one drop of the Spring of Life. Those who gather a thousand will receive ten drops, and those who gather ten thousand will receive a hundred drops!"
"Naturally, we will inform them that payments will be disbursed in installments: one drop paid on the spot for a hundred men, ten drops paid within six months for a thousand, and one hundred drops paid within three years for ten thousand... In this way, their suspicions will be dispelled. Three years of service in exchange for a hundred drops of the Spring of Life will seem more than worth it to them!"
Huang Yu nodded once more, casting a sidelong glance at Lin Hongyu.
*This woman... has far too many schemes.*
He was suddenly reminded of Old Zhao.
Old Zhao was also full of tricks, but Old Zhao was elderly; this woman was nowhere near old. Was she born with a mind full of plots?
Li Hao also smiled and nodded. "This will do. Anyone truly capable of gathering ten thousand men in a single night... if they possess good character, they're prime commander material; at the very least, they're master manipulators! If they're wicked, they're born rebels... The virtuous can be recruited, while the wicked can be executed on the spot. It serves both purposes. City Lord Lin's plan suits me perfectly!"
"The Governor-General flatters me," Lin Hongyu said softly. "A petty trick, nothing more. If the Governor-General approves, I will have the Third Elder issue the decree immediately."
Li Hao nodded. "Proceed!"
Lin Hongyu quickly transmitted the message. The Third Elder of the Lin family had been handling affairs across the city, making him ideally positioned to execute the orders.
Huang Yu took a deep breath. "Then at noon tomorrow, I shall lead the army to seal off the City of Supernaturals! Once those troublemakers are resolved... matters will become far simpler. Having vast numbers left behind is meaningless if they cannot organize; without organization, chaos cannot take root!"
Li Hao nodded. "Then I leave the matter in your capable hands!"
"We would not dare claim credit; it is our duty."
Lin Hongyu smiled, and Li Hao added, "If things in the City of Supernaturals are settled smoothly... City Lord Lin, would you be interested in pursuing your prospects in Heavenly Star City?"
"Pardon?"
Lin Hongyu blinked. *Prospects? What prospects?*
"How does Heavenly Star Governor-General sound?"
"……"
Lin Hongyu was thoroughly stunned. *Heavenly Star Governor-General?*
Li Hao smiled. "The Nine Departments and the imperial court have fallen into our hands, but the administrative aftermath is overwhelmingly tedious. Most Silver Moon martial masters are brutes... myself included! Therefore, if City Lord Lin is willing to take the helm, it would be an excellent fit. Senior Sky Sword and several others previously recommended that you head to Heavenly Star to govern the city..."
Lin Hongyu was caught entirely off guard. *Me?*
She could scarcely believe her ears!
"This..."
"Think it over. We'll secure the City of Supernaturals first."
"Understood."
Lin Hongyu fell into a daze, saying nothing more.
*I... could govern Heavenly Star City?*
*What an astonishing turn of events!*
……
Soon, unrest rippled through the City of Supernaturals.
"Good heavens... the Spring of Life!"
"Anyone who recruits a hundred men into the army before nine tomorrow morning will be granted the rank of centurion and rewarded with a drop of the Spring of Life... Isn't that ridiculously easy?"
"Is the City of Supernaturals expanding its military?"
"It seems they're truly gearing up to contend for world supremacy! Right now, the city only has the city guards, and their numbers are small—barely five thousand men..."
"Quick, go try your luck! A hundred men... there's no restriction on their cultivation level! A single drop of the Spring of Life is something we could never hope to see in our entire lives! The major factions hoard it ruthlessly; it goes for fifty, sixty thousand, even a hundred thousand divine energy stones! Selling ourselves wouldn't even cover the cost..."
The City of Supernaturals plunged into near frenzy.
Action-oriented opportunists were already scurrying across the city building networks. One drop for a hundred men, a hundred drops for ten thousand!
With a hundred drops, stepping into the Divine Power realm would be effortless, and likely across multiple elements at that. It was merely three years; where else could one acquire a hundred drops of the Spring of Life in three years?
At this stage, aligning with any other faction offered zero hope of obtaining such an astronomical amount.
The entire city descended into madness.
Promises of every conceivable benefit were thrown about recklessly.
To lure followers, contenders exhausted every trick in their arsenal. Those aware of their own limitations found themselves wooed by stronger figures offering heaps of divine energy stones and lavish promises. Rogue cultivators who had given up on securing the Spring of Life for themselves flocked to join various factions.
Naturally, they understood that joining the supernatural army meant surrendering their freedom, but... the rewards were simply too lucrative.
Moreover, the City of Supernaturals genuinely possessed the aura of a rising hegemon.
In the blink of an eye, the city burst into lively commotion. Throughout the night, the City of Supernaturals buzzed with deafening clamor, without a single moment of quiet.
Skirmishes even broke out across various districts as rival recruiters poached from one another. With the Spring of Life on the line, pleasantries vanished; anyone who dared poach openly was met with lethal force.
Yet throughout the night, no authority intervened.
To Li Hao and his allies, these people were ambitious instigators. Every one that fell was one less problem to deal with, so long as no massive riot erupted.
……
After a night of tempestuous upheaval, the following day arrived.
Disorganized, clamorous bands of supernaturals surged toward the inner city without a shred of discipline.
Above the City Lord's Estate, Li Hao and Lin Hongyu watched as cohorts flooded in from all directions.
Li Hao tallied them up: at least fifty thousand people had assembled, divided into hundreds of large and small units. The larger ones numbered over a thousand, while the smaller ones held a bare hundred. To distinguish themselves, these supernatural contingents hoisted an assortment of flamboyant banners, waving them ostentatiously.
"Quite a crowd!" Li Hao remarked, marveling at how many capable organizers existed.
Rallying a force of over a thousand men in a single night... to put it bluntly, even Li Hao couldn't accomplish that through covert networking among rogue cultivators without relying on military authority.
Furthermore, these were chaotic rogue supernaturals.
To assemble a thousand-man contingent overnight under fierce competition required undeniable talent, regardless of the methods used.
Even those who managed to assemble a hundred men were shrewd operators who had triumphed in the cutthroat poaching war.
*Indeed, where there is a crowd, every sort of person emerges.*
With this simple gambit, Lin Hongyu had flushed out all the city's troublemakers without expending a single resource. Perhaps a few had abstained, but they were no longer a threat!
Li Hao stole a glance at Lin Hongyu... Perhaps this wasn't an impromptu idea, but a plan she had harbored long ago.
The City of Supernaturals had certainly harbored ambitions of supremacy in the past, and she had likely prepared this strategy well in advance.
As the thought crossed his mind, Lin Hongyu's voice reverberated in all directions: "Enter the inner city, set up camp on the spot, and maintain discipline! The City of Supernaturals requires an elite force, not an unruly rabble. Officers, restrain your men! Centurions and chiliarchs, assemble at the City Lord's Estate to receive your commissions! Your followers will be incorporated into the supernatural army; you are now comrades-in-arms. Any unrest or disruption of military morale will be met with merciless execution!"
Across the inner city, the ambitious leaders of each cohort felt their blood surge with excitement.
*The City Lord herself!*
Commissioning officers and establishing a supernatural army was the ultimate opportunity for rogue cultivators to ascend in status overnight!
The handful of leaders commanding thousand-man units stood tall, their faces radiant with triumphant grins.
Stepping into Divine Power was within arm's reach.
They would also wield substantial authority. If the City of Supernaturals went on to unify the realm, they would become dukes or governors-general at the very least!
Fueled by these grand expectations, hundreds of commanders—great and small—strode proudly into the sacred grounds of the City Lord's Estate under the guidance of the Lin family's Third Elder and the city guards.
……
On the estate's central plaza, Dao Jian and his companions watched the spectacle with a mixture of shock and quiet awe. *The ambitious opportunists of the City of Supernaturals... were duped this easily?*
It was just like the Council of Elders earlier, where a host of powerhouses had been lured into a trap in a single stroke.
Before that council had even officially ended, the remaining troublemakers were about to be rounded up wholesale!
"As expected... throughout history, power and profit have always been irresistible lures. These men lack neither strength nor wit to gather so many followers so quickly, yet they still succumbed to the temptation of power!"
Several murmured in reflection.
After today, the vast City of Supernaturals would likely change hands completely. Those left behind would be nothing more than a leaderless rabble, incapable of stirring any trouble.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the estate, the commanders stepped inside with exuberant strides, radiating pride.
Following the Third Elder, they crossed into the plaza.
The grand spectacle of countless powerhouses watching their investiture did not materialize.
In the eyes of the outside world, the Council of Elders was still in session, and perhaps the new elders had already been selected. Yet within the vast plaza of the City Lord's Estate, only a scattered few dozen figures stood waiting.
Moreover, the commanders recognized almost none of them.
Perplexity crept across their faces. *Where did these people come from? Where are the experts of the ancient clans? Where are the prominent rogue powerhouses? Where did everyone go?*
At that moment, Lin Hongyu materialized before them, a faint smile gracing her lips. "Welcome, everyone!"
*The City Lord!* They certainly recognized her.
The City Lord was present, but...
Then, Li Hao stepped into view. Instant panic gripped many of the commanders; some had seen Li Hao's portrait before, and their expressions twisted in horror.
*Li Hao! How is that possible?!*
"What a collection of talents!" Li Hao's smile was brilliant. "Gathering anywhere from a hundred to over a thousand men in a single night—and supernaturals, no less. You truly are exceptional! Since so many fine talents have arrived... none of you need bother leaving!"
"It's a trap!" someone bellowed in fury, leaping into the air to flee.
Right at that instant, a colossal shield slammed down, while a chain locked the surrounding void. How could a rabble whose strongest were merely at the Metamorphosis realm—with the weakest still at Solar Flare—ever hope to evade restraints designed for peak experts?
While the crowds outside fantasized about their commanders receiving commissions and overflowing rewards inside, absolute despair enveloped the leaders trapped within.
One by one, they were locked in place. Those who attempted a frantic escape had their limbs broken on the spot, their supernatural energy battered into disarray.
Bitter regret gnawed at their guts!
Who could have imagined that instead of boundless wealth, Li Hao was waiting for them?
*Lin Hongyu actually yielded to Li Hao? Who could have foreseen this?!*
The sovereign of a million supernaturals had simply surrendered without a fight. In that moment, they wanted nothing more than to cry out: *Your Majesty, why are you the one rebelling?!*
*You had the chance to conquer the realm yourself, yet you chose to submit to a wet-behind-the-ears kid like Li Hao? If word got out, no one would believe it! We came here to conquer the world for you!*
Meanwhile, Li Hao could barely contain his laughter.
With these leaders subdued, suppressing the fifty thousand disorganized supernaturals outside would be trivial, leaving the outer city completely powerless to resist.
He had previously fretted over how to handle this massive populace. Now... Li Hao thought to himself that Old Hong's dream of putting a million supernaturals to work in the fields would likely soon become reality.
Among these troublemakers, those who deserved death would be executed, and those worth keeping would be spared.
Slaying the wicked might even help refine his cultivation system—a truly perfect outcome.
Beside him, Lin Hongyu wore a gentle smile, her mind drifting to her own ambitions.
Surrendering the City of Supernaturals on a silver platter might seem pitiful and foolish to many, but considering the fate of the Nine Departments and the imperial court, she believed it was the wisest decision she had ever made.
Moving forward... perhaps she could achieve even greater heights.
Heavenly Star City... was, after all, the heart of the Heavenly Star Dynasty.
……
At that very moment, outside the city walls, ten thousand Silver Moon troops clad in Battle Heaven armor approached the City of Supernaturals without a sound.
A few supernaturals spotted them from afar and fled in panic, utterly baffled. *Where did this army come from? Have they lost their minds? What are they doing at the City of Supernaturals?*
Yet some caught sight of the banners they bore—the emblems of the Lin family. *The Lin family's army? Where did they spring from?*
Despite the rampant confusion, Huang Yu led his forces to swiftly replace the guards at several city gates, completing their defensive perimeter while the supernaturals inside remained completely oblivious.
Standing at the gates, Huang Yu could not resist gazing toward the north.
*Old Zhao... do you see this?*
*I took the City of Supernaturals without shedding a single drop of blood!*
*Compared to Li Hao... you're truly useless.*
*Had I known earlier, I would have thrown my lot in with Li Hao long ago.*
*Only here can I truly display my prowess as a grand commander; back in Silver Moon, you nearly turned me into a useless old relic.*
Chapter 295