Having provisionally clarified their current cultivation system, established the foundational cultivation technique *Acupoint Opening Art*, and determined their path ahead and future goals, Li Hao and his companions finally possessed a core pillar, a guiding pursuit, and a shared conviction.
Silver Moon was their martial world.
They would make this world more vibrant, brighter, with martial arts flourishing and the jianghu ever enduring.
And this Silver Moon... was the Silver Moon World.
Their martial dream was meant to be realized across this entire world, not confined to the lone corner of the Silver Moon region.
Perfecting the other systems was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
Only now did everyone return to their senses. A great deal of time had quietly slipped by.
Hong Yitang suddenly spoke up. "Has the year 1731 arrived? Has the martial academy started its term?"
At that moment, the entire place fell dead silent.
From the fiery passion of moments ago, the mood plunged instantly into awkwardness.
It seemed... indeed it had.
Not only that, everyone carried vital responsibilities, yet they had lingered down here for days on end, entirely forgetting that they still held public duties out in the world.
"Did City Lord Lin arrive?"
"Probably?"
"..."
They exchanged sheepish glances, feeling deeply embarrassed.
They had truly forgotten.
Li Hao chuckled. "Then let's head out. There's no rush for a single moment. Perfecting the cultivation system isn't an overnight task. Right now it's only in its infancy; we can slowly refine it as everyone grows stronger in the future."
At that point, he added, "Also, every single one of us—myself included—must cultivate this system!"
Li Hao's tone grew solemn. "Everything right now is based on deduction. In theory it works, and the model holds, but... there might still be flaws requiring adjustment. As pioneers, we must refine it thoroughly, including what Teacher mentioned about constructing other minor circulation loops... True beauty lies in a hundred flowers blooming together! In my eyes, every secret art has the potential to complete its own circulation loop. There's no need for everyone to copy one another, and what suits each person differs. I hope that in the future, many martial academies will emerge across Silver Moon, and I hope all of you can become the founders of your own distinct lineages..."
Homogeneity could make people strong.
It was a mechanical kind of strengthening.
Yet doing that would strip the Silver Moon martial world of its vibrant diversity.
The thirty-six meridians did not necessarily all have to be the same.
They could be swapped, and perhaps their functions would differ.
Li Hao continued, "Also, how to combine and harmonize attributed Dao meridians with non-attributed ones—or perhaps pairing one attributed meridian with thirty-five non-attributed ones—can all be tested... There are thousands of paths. For now, we are merely promoting the simplest, most direct, and easiest to cultivate. But as the trailblazers of this era, all of you are free to explore as you please.
"As long as you don't court death until you actually die, push it to the very limit!"
"..."
A burst of hearty laughter rippled through the crowd.
Li Hao then turned to Black Panther and smiled. "Humans have human meridians, and monsters have monster meridians. The Great Dao makes no distinction between human and beast. When heaven and earth first gained consciousness, I doubt... Heavenly Will had a human form, so it won't favor humans alone! You're a martial master dog. Though it's hard to communicate with you, you can search for your own path as well. The theory is universal. Do you understand?"
Black Panther nodded eagerly.
As a martial master dog, it was perhaps the very first beast in the Silver Moon world to learn the vast knowledge of humankind and master martial momentum.
Li Hao then looked around at the monster plants. "Seniors, there is no need for you to force yourselves to follow our path. You are powerhouses of the Neo-Martial era, and Neo-Martial... in my view, would not fall so easily. Right now, confined to the Silver Moon World, it may be hard for you to sense the Origin Dao. However, an Origin Great Dao Universe does not collapse that easily.
"The newly born Bright Star Realm has likely crowded out the Origin Universe... or they coexist and are merely cut off from each other.
"You seniors can continue walking the Neo-Martial path—strengthening your physical forms and nurturing your spirits. The origin may be dormant now, but that doesn't mean there is no way forward. If you keep treading it, then the moment the Star Gate opens, you might instantly reconnect with the origin and break through once more! Monster plants advance with great difficulty. If you abandon your forms to take up new bodies now, the losses will far outweigh the gains."
Hearing this, the monster plants that had felt a bit tempted earlier were all taken aback.
Di Wei's voice rippled forward. "Does Governor-General Li mean... we monster plants cannot open Dao meridians to cultivate like you?"
Li Hao shook his head. "Perhaps you could, but... it's not cost-effective! The Star Gate will open sooner or later. Of course, I might die prematurely, in which case I cannot guarantee whether it will open. But as long as I live, the Star Gate will open! Whether to send you seniors back to your homeland or to let fallen leaves return to their roots... I will open it.
"Perhaps... it won't take many years. When that time comes, if you return to Neo-Martial, the Dao of the Bright Star Realm and the Origin Dao might not differ all that much. Over such a short period, switching your Dao would be completely inefficient for monster plants, whose cultivation easily spans centuries or millennia!"
The monster plants pondered this and realized it made sense.
If the Star Gate truly reopened, allowing the Origin Dao to enter Silver Moon once more, or allowing them to depart Silver Moon... imitating Director Wang by cutting down their strength to reforge new bodies might truly leave them worse off than they were now.
Li Hao had not spoken in deceit.
Of course, the monster plants also wondered privately: *Could he just be worried that if we weaken, no one will supply them with the Spring of Life?*
Lately, these people had been guzzling the Spring of Life like water.
Granted, with the Bright Star Realm, cultivating the new method meant the Spring of Life was no longer an absolute prerequisite for advancing, but having it accelerated their progress. Just because it was not strictly necessary did not mean it was useless.
Still, none of the monster plants voiced that thought.
Li Hao's words held genuine reason.
Continuing to cultivate, strengthening their true forms and spirits, might allow them to unleash profound reserves and surge forward along the Origin Dao the moment they reconnected with it.
At this moment, even Director Wang could not help but remark, "As a Neo-Martial native, even I don't dare claim with certainty that Neo-Martial still exists... How can you... be so certain?"
Li Hao seemed to possess more faith than the Neo-Martial natives themselves!
He claimed that Neo-Martial was, in all likelihood, still standing.
Why?
Li Hao smiled. "Because... I believe those who have walked through briars and thorns are not so easily struck down! In any age or era, when people stumble forward through countless perils to achieve greatness, so long as they do not abandon their original resolve in the end... they will not perish. Even if their mortal flesh is destroyed, their spirit endures! As long as humanity remains, Neo-Martial remains."
Director Wang froze.
Deep within the ore vein, Zhang An was also taken aback.
*Those who have walked through briars and thorns...*
Indeed.
Among the Human King and his contemporaries, who among them had not marched through briars and thorns?
Step by step, footprint by footprint, they had climbed to the heights, shattering countless barriers and braving endless perils. From nothing, they had forged an era and sustained thousands of years of glory!
Could they... truly perish?
Yet they, the people of Neo-Martial, had shown less confidence in their own kind than Li Hao did.
Li Hao did not say more.
He simply felt that having weathered so many hardships, and according to what the Neo-Martial natives had described, even in their later days the Human King and the Supreme had never corrupted their ideals; they had remained true throughout.
Could such a group of people truly collapse overnight?
Could they be wiped out so easily?
Impossible!
Perhaps they faced mighty foes, or perhaps other circumstances had arisen, but as long as they lived, such people would never be easily vanquished.
He felt a resonance within himself.
He knew his own experiences fell far short of what those legends had endured, but even up to this point, he had felt so much. The man he was now was hundreds, thousands of times more resilient than he had been back in Silver City.
His heart was growing strong!
Hardships, enemies, the unknown, and fear—none of them could break him!
If even he was like this, how could those titans be brought low?
If they truly had fallen, then the enemy must have been so overwhelmingly powerful that they were obliterated in an instant without a single chance to fight back. But if that were true... then there was nothing left to say anyway.
Yet was that probable?
Li Hao suspected that the Silver Moon World had not been separated from the primary world for very long. Before that separation, it had resided within Neo-Martial's domain, which meant Neo-Martial had still been intact.
Having endured for so many millennia, it would not crumble overnight.
Director Wang pondered these words and did not feel his own choice had been mistaken. He was still a man of Neo-Martial. He had chosen to embrace this new era, but even when he grew powerful, he would remain a man of Neo-Martial.
It was merely a difference in paths. Walking different paths did not require severing one's feelings or identity.
...
Li Hao spent some time comforting these figures of the Neo-Martial era.
His period of secluded cultivation had granted him greater tolerance and understanding toward them, or perhaps a degree of recognition.
They belonged to different eras and different peoples.
Yet they could seek common ground while preserving their differences.
Across the vast cosmos and myriad worlds, one could not simply eradicate everything different.
Moreover, the relationship between Neo-Martial and Silver Moon was fundamentally one of inheritance, bound by close ties. Even if Silver Moon became fully independent, they could still develop as allies or as parallel, peaceful civilizations.
It was precisely because of this that Li Hao chose to reassure these monster plants.
Prior to this... he would have been on guard against them at best.
If these monster plants had chosen to discard their true forms, he might have quietly rejoiced at gaining a great haul of monster plant timber.
In high spirits, Li Hao gathered himself, stood up, and smiled. "Let's all head outside for some fresh air. Endless cultivation is no good. We'll go meet City Lord Lin and discuss how to rapidly propagate the martial Dao!"
"Agreed!"
Everyone gladly assented. Without lingering any longer, they filed outside.
From behind them, Zhang An's voice echoed, "Now that the Dao principles have manifested, the Great Dao has stabilized considerably, and the world itself has begun to steady. You must act swiftly to extract energy, or else the second resurgence will soon commence! Furthermore, this method cannot delay it indefinitely; it can only buy time. Once more people cultivate and the intake and release reach balance, the world will actually grow increasingly stable. In the early stages, one draws upon worldly power; in the later stages, one gives back to heaven and earth..."
It was a grand cycle.
When powerful beings breathed energy in and out, they effectively tempered heaven and earth,
because they drew down more energy from the Bright Star Realm.
That was the energy of the Dao principles universe.
Heaven and earth would expand and strengthen accordingly.
It was only during the initial phase, when cultivators primarily drew energy from their native world, that an energy deficit would occur.
Li Hao understood. "Understood. Thank you for the reminder, Senior."
The onset of the second resurgence was an inevitability.
Li Hao could not delay it for too long.
Once the resurgence began, figures at the Immortal Realm, Saints, and even Heavenly Kings might emerge. That was when Li Hao's true crisis would arrive.
Li Hao knew this, and everyone else knew it too.
That was why the Nine Departments, the Imperial Clan, and the Three Great Organizations had all been waiting for the arrival of the second resurgence.
For Li Hao and these Silver Moon martial masters seemed unwilling to borrow Neo-Martial power to fight Neo-Martial.
Instead, they sought to stand independently against it!
Since they refused to compromise, a colossal conflict was all but guaranteed.
...
Stepping out of the ruins, Li Hao smiled faintly.
This time, Zhang An had undergone a subtle shift. This early Neo-Martial figure, the grandson of the Supreme, no longer appeared as utterly despondent as before.
The group emerged from the ruins.
The instant they stepped outside, every single person felt a distinct difference.
Hong Yitang suddenly said, "Heaven and earth truly have grown more stable. Not only that, now that we've returned, our connection and perception of the world feel deeper. Momentum... is boiling!"
Yuan Shuo nodded as well. "The energy is more active, and momentum—or rather, the Dao—is much clearer! The momentum of heaven and earth feels far closer to us, and harmonizing our momentum with the world feels much more natural."
Li Hao tested it as well. In an instant, his divine character merged into the void.
The momentum of heaven and earth converged!
The moment the "Dao" divine character emerged, surrounding energy surged wildly into Li Hao's body like a parched monster plant. The sight made everyone's scalps tingle; his capacity for drawing energy felt even more terrifying than that of a monster plant.
Li Hao looked up at the sky, vaguely sensing something. He suddenly chuckled. "How interesting! Heavenly Will seems to be churning, carrying a hint of annoyance. Did I offend it?"
Yuan Shuo gave a cold snort. "Heavenly Will cannot match the human will. So what if it's annoyed?"
Li Hao laughed. "Teacher, you shouldn't put it that way. Heavenly Will isolated the primary world, giving Silver Moon the chance to develop independently. To us, it's still a good person... no, a good consciousness! Next time, let's be a bit more polite... If we align with Heavenly Will, we might even reap some benefits."
"..."
Everyone paused, then struggled to suppress their laughter.
*You certainly dare to dream!*
Li Hao, however, said in all seriousness, "Heavenly Will can be deceived as well. This nascent will cannot truly perceive much; it isn't an actual living person. But it can sense macroscopic momentum. When your momentum merges into heaven and earth as one with it... it really can be duped!"
With that, he merged the "Dao" divine character into the void. A mysterious, ethereal intention surfaced, allowing everyone to catch a faint glimpse of it.
"Heavenly Will endures forever; I revere Heavenly Will, aid its growth, and aid Silver Moon's flourishing. For this life, I dedicate my remaining days to heaven and earth..."
That was Li Hao's meditation.
He had deliberately projected it for everyone to perceive.
In the next instant, everyone noticed a difference. A boundless force welled up from the void and surged straight into Li Hao's body. Grinning from ear to ear, Li Hao swallowed it down in a single gulp.
Glancing at the dumbstruck crowd, he said with a chuckle, "Why are you looking at me? Right now, Heavenly Will isn't even as smart as a child; it's merely a subconscious impulse in the dark. Merge your momentum into it, coax it a little, and the benefits will naturally follow! Before, I had it backwards, thinking Heavenly Will was manipulating human hearts. In truth, it's still very weak. If it weren't, it would have taken full control of the world long ago—how could it have been our turn to discover the Bright Star Realm?
"Still... the benefits are limited!"
Li Hao paused, then added, "Of course, a little energy doesn't mean much. The real key is that when battling formidable enemies, if you harmonize your momentum with heaven and earth, you can borrow far more worldly power. Teacher spoke of this long ago! Harmonizing momentum requires aligning with Heavenly Will. When facing foes, you must learn to borrow worldly power to suppress them, transmitting a single concept to Heavenly Will... that our enemies are destroying the world's development! In truth, Heavenly Will wants to protect its world."
Everyone was floored!
*Is that how it works?*
*Harmonizing momentum can borrow even more worldly power?*
*That works too?*
Li Hao nodded with utmost seriousness.
At once, the others could barely contain themselves. One by one, they merged their momentum into heaven and earth, chanting under their breath, "Heaven, you are my parent; we shall protect heaven and earth, develop in peace, strengthen the world, repel powerful foes, and eradicate our enemies..."
Strands of momentum flowed continuously into heaven and earth.
The moment Lin Hongyu stepped forward, she felt as if she had walked into a cult ritual, watching a pack of madmen worshipping some evil god!
She stared in utter disbelief!
Even the upright and unbending Sky Sword of her imagination was muttering under his breath at this very moment, worshiping heaven and earth with profound devotion.
*What in the world?*
Her composure crumbled completely. A sudden chill gripped her—could these lunatics have taken up faith in some wicked deity?
Gods did exist in this world.
At the far western edge stood a divine kingdom, said to harbor native gods that had survived eradication during the Neo-Martial era. Countless people in the west worshipped them. As the master of the City of Supernaturals, she was well aware of this.
Moreover, she knew that in the western divine kingdom, certain deities might already be reviving.
Could Li Hao and his group... have fallen into the same path?
Just as she was pondering this, Li Hao drifted over and smiled. "City Lord Lin has arrived! My apologies, my apologies. I was busy with a few matters earlier, lost track of time, and failed to welcome you..."
Lin Hongyu swiftly suppressed her thoughts and offered a smile. "It is only right that the Governor-General is busy. By the way..."
She glanced toward Sky Sword and the others, feigning curiosity. "What are the seniors... doing?"
Li Hao chuckled. "They are attempting to deceive heaven and earth to borrow more of its power."
Lin Hongyu nearly choked back a burst of laughter.
*Are they insane?!*
*Are these old men really this childish?*
*Deceiving heaven and earth to borrow more power? Are you kidding me?*
Everyone claimed Silver Moon martial masters were formidable and ruthless, but no one had ever mentioned they were this naive.
Just as she was about to utter a few perfunctory words,
Sky Sword suddenly let out a low roar. A single sword pierced the void, his sword intent blanketing heaven and earth as he muttered, "Demons walk the mortal realm; my blade severs evil!"
*Boom!*
A sword momentum so terrifyingly potent that it instilled sheer dread surged into being. From all directions, boundless energy converged as the blade slashed toward the heavens!
A majestic sword intent cleaved through the sky.
*Boom!*
The clouds in the heavens were shattered by this single stroke. In an instant, sword intent engulfed the surroundings, and a howling gale whipped past, fluttering Lin Hongyu's fine hair.
Lin Hongyu stared blankly, entirely struck dumb.
Sky Sword possessed the peak strength of a six-elemental master.
Roughly equal to her own.
In terms of sheer power, she did not believe she was inferior to Sky Sword. Yet at this moment, Sky Sword's momentum was utterly unstoppable and peerlessly fierce. The heavens split apart; that single strike had reached the might of a seven-elemental master!
She was frozen in sheer disbelief.
So... Li Hao had been telling the truth.
Deceiving heaven and earth to gain an enhancement in power... had not been a joke?
She was completely stunned!
*This... actually works?*
After standing dazed for a long time, she watched with difficulty as the others continued their attempts. Swallowing hard and discarding all pretenses of decorum, she asked almost frantically, "Governor-General... how can this be?"
How was this possible?!
Li Hao smiled. "Probably... sincerity brings efficacy!"
Lin Hongyu murmured to herself, *Sincerity brings efficacy?*
In the next breath, she merged her momentum into heaven and earth. She wielded a scimitar and commanded saber intent. Unable to hold back any longer, she wanted to try. She muttered, "My blade slays demons and fiends, heaven and earth be my lord, heaven is father and mother..."
With those words, she slashed outward!
Silence.
Not a single ripple appeared. She stared blankly at Li Hao. "Governor-General... does it require some other technique to cooperate?"
Why had there been no reaction at all?
Li Hao sighed. This woman seemed so shrewd, yet why was she acting so foolishly right now?
Li Hao smiled and patted her shoulder. Only then did he realize she was a woman, and he pulled his hand back, laughing. "Don't bother trying. It's useless for you; it requires the enhancement of the new Dao!"
Lin Hongyu paused, then quickly caught on. "The new Dao? That path of written characters?"
"Yes and no."
Li Hao smiled. "I'll tell you later. Let these elders carry on their experiments. Let's head to the City Lord's Estate to talk... I've arranged your estate for you inside the imperial palace. But over there... a lot of people died, and I can't be bothered to go. If you mind, we can switch to another location."
"No need."
Even so, Lin Hongyu could not help glancing back at the crowd, unable to contain herself. "Governor-General, this... how does it somewhat resemble the legendary origin enhancement?"
"It's different."
Li Hao shook his head. "It's merely a minor trick, and it only works within Silver Moon. Outside Silver Moon, it's completely useless. The origin is an enhancement from the Great Dao Universe, usable across the primordial chaos. It's only because Silver Moon has sealed itself off entirely that it cannot be used here. What they are doing... is not a true enhancement!"
Strictly speaking, it was merely local preferential treatment granted by their native world for aligning with Heavenly Will.
The two were fundamentally distinct.
Seeing Li Hao describe it so casually, Lin Hongyu truly... could not contain herself!
Did he have any idea that this so-called "minor trick" of his virtually rendered these people invincible among their peers, surpassing anyone at the same tier?
Could this... be considered a minor trick?
Then what would qualify as something more than a minor trick?
"The Governor-General is truly..."
Lin Hongyu had no idea how to describe the young man before her. After a long while, she finally said, "Governor-General, let us sit down at the City Lord's Estate then. I have never visited either; this is my first time entering the imperial palace of the Heavenly Star Dynasty."
Li Hao chuckled and nodded.
As he walked alongside Lin Hongyu toward the palace, Hong Yitang quickly caught up from behind. Seeing this, Yuan Shuo hurried to follow, shooting a glare at Hong Yitang: *Why are you always trailing my disciple?*
Hong Yitang was speechless!
*I'm talking about serious business!*
This old man Yuan Shuo acted as if someone were trying to steal his wife.
He could not be bothered to bicker with Yuan Shuo and spoke swiftly, "Governor-General, it's great that City Lord Lin is here. Regarding the matters we discussed earlier, I believe we must study and deduce them thoroughly..."
Yuan Shuo chimed in immediately, "I think so too!"
"..."
Lin Hongyu was slightly puzzled and looked at Li Hao. Li Hao smiled. "We want to imitate the martial arts universities of the Neo-Martial era and build a complete educational system to promote the martial Dao. It isn't just about martial arts; raw power is secondary. The true key lies in reforming the people's mindset!"
Li Hao continued as they walked, "What is the purpose of practicing martial arts? Once everyone possesses power, I believe there are several key points to convey: First, practicing martial arts strengthens the body and improves health. Second, it improves one's livelihood. Third, power is meant to maintain peace, not destroy it. Fourth, it enables our people and civilization to rise. Across the boundless universe, Silver Moon will not remain a mere speck of dust. What is the point of fighting among ourselves in our own nest? Neo-Martial is the best template. At this stage, we are still far from Neo-Martial... but we can follow in their footsteps, inherit their spirit, and ensure that everyone becomes a dragon, rather than... gazing up at a mountain in awe, merely watching without learning!"
Lin Hongyu was taken aback, then nodded quietly.
Promoting the martial Dao and transforming mindsets.
This was no small undertaking!
She said in a heavy voice, "Governor-General, formidable foes have yet to be eliminated, and the world's turmoil may only just be beginning. Is it not a bit... premature to promote these things at this stage?"
"No, it is not premature!"
Li Hao shook his head. "Even if I fail, even if all of us fail, promoting it now means that even if Ying Hongyue wins, or those Neo-Martial figures win, once the populace has awakened, attempting to extinguish their minds will no longer work! Once you have witnessed a new world, you will never wish to live in darkness again. Those who have seen the light will no longer believe the dark is beautiful...
"These are seeds—seeds of civilization!"
Li Hao spoke with deep feeling. "I once saw some of the people and things of Neo-Martial, and at that moment I felt my heart... change! I saw further, and I desired more.
"You lack such pursuits only because you have not seen it... But once you have, you will never feel that muddling along day by day is acceptable...
"Therefore, promoting these things doesn't require worrying about chaos under heaven, nor does it matter who ultimately dominates Silver Moon... Though of course, I will win!"
Li Hao grinned, baring his teeth. "Those people are nothing but clowns! True Neo-Martial people—those who possess the Neo-Martial spirit—will not oppose me. Those opposing me are merely survivors who happen to come from the Neo-Martial era; do not call them true Neo-Martial people!
"A band of clowns cannot stir up any true waves!"
Li Hao continued, "Therefore, we must begin promoting it at this very stage! The reason I pushed for literacy in Heavenly Star City was so that everyone would have the means and opportunity to access more knowledge—at the very least... to be able to read!
"Even if they don't understand it yet, it doesn't matter. Once the Skyscreen network is established, I will find a way to obtain some films from the Neo-Martial era... That's what they were called, right?"
Yuan Shuo nodded. "Yes, that's what they were called!"
Li Hao smiled. "We will use those to spread the word, playing them on loop to stimulate everyone, showing them what true civilization looks like... If your inner desire isn't strong enough, it won't do; we must yearn for a better life!"
Lin Hongyu was shaken. After a long pause, she said, "Governor-General, this... will require immense manpower and material resources. It will take time..."
"I know!"
Li Hao nodded. "However, it is not wasted effort. It is to forge a secure rear, a homeland where everyone longs for peace, longs for strength, and longs for a better life! Only then will our soldiers dare to fight and wish to fight!
"Only then will our people support us in ruling! Because they will know who truly brings them a good life."
Lin Hongyu listened in silence. She glanced at Li Hao; at this moment, he seemed bathed in a gentle spring breeze.
He felt distinct from the person she had met the previous few times.
She did not know why Li Hao had undergone such a transformation, but being around him like this felt... deeply comforting.
He was a man of ideals, goals, purpose, and vision.
Li Hao continued, "Of course, everything has a prerequisite... that no one goes hungry! Furthermore, a good life does not mean idling about waiting to die, but rather a journey of striving together. Only the first generation of strivers possesses this spirit... It does not mean handing you free food and drink and calling you happy."
He emphasized, "The propagation of martial arts is the same! What comes too easily is never cherished; people take it for granted... No, we must make them understand that these things were not obtained cheaply, but earned through their own struggle!"
Hong Yitang nodded repeatedly.
Yuan Shuo spoke up as well. "It should be precisely so. Even you, back when you learned martial arts, suffered for years and barely scratched the surface. You cannot let people reap massive benefits too easily, or else... rather than improving humanity, you will simply breed parasites."
Lin Hongyu continued to listen quietly.
She had originally thought that upon arriving in Heavenly Star City, she would hear endless grand ambitions—such as subduing the four great continents, resolving the four bordering kingdoms, unifying Silver Moon, crushing Neo-Martial, and establishing martial supremacy...
None of it!
Coming here, she heard none of those things.
Li Hao, Hong Yitang, Yuan Shuo—the core pillars of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office—were not discussing conquests. They were talking about how to awaken the common people, how to plant the seeds of civilization within their hearts.
Lin Hongyu found her mind drifting slightly.
No towering ambitions, no heroic proclamations—only... practical, everyday matters.
Were these people truly unconcerned?
Lin Hongyu pondered this inwardly. Originally, she had not planned to speak, but having thrown her lot in with them, she voiced her thought anyway: "Governor-General, at this stage, I feel that empowering a cadre of experts is the true priority..."
Li Hao nodded. "I know. That's why we have been cultivating continuously, including right now."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded. "Right now, this is cultivation! You still haven't understood: heaven and earth do not belong to a single person, but to a multitude! Even ants possess thoughts and strength."
Having experienced multiple enlightenments recently, Li Hao felt deeply enlightened. He continued, "Senior Sky Sword's sudden eruption earlier from harmonizing his momentum with heaven and earth was essentially the power of the Dao of the Heart! Moreover, at times, judge actions rather than inner motives. When you have done what you ought to do, letting the people know that you are their shield and their enlightener, they will give back to you as well."
"Give back what?"
Lin Hongyu murmured, "A Human King?"
Li Hao smiled. "You could say that! This is actually another form of momentum, the power of faith—the same principle behind the birth of certain gods. Having experienced the Bright Star Realm, I know that the faith of the masses is also a form of Dao."
"The Bright Star Realm?"
"The Great Dao Universe."
Lin Hongyu only half-understood, sensing that Li Hao in this moment seemed exceptionally mysterious and remarkably distinct from anyone else.
Though she could not grasp it entirely, she understood the gist and asked, "Does that mean that as long as the people live well, we will become stronger?"
Li Hao thought for a moment. "No."
"..."
Lin Hongyu felt an urge to curse!
*No?*
*Then why talk about the power of faith?*
Li Hao chuckled. "It will make your heart strong!"
"Governor-General, this..."
Li Hao chuckled warmly. "I'm not joking. Before, I said martial masters cultivate the heart; now I say powerhouses cultivate the heart! Only when your heart is strong enough can you truly grow powerful. Otherwise, you will never break free from your shackles."
At that point, Li Hao added, "Recently, we deduced a new method of cultivation. Would you like to try it?"
"Huh?"
"It's very interesting. Cultivation is a wonderful way to relieve stress..."
"The Dao of Divine Characters?"
"Sort of, but not quite."
Lin Hongyu was thoroughly bewildered. What on earth did he mean?
As they chatted, they entered the imperial palace. By now, the palace had been taken over by the Demon Hunt Army. The group entered the great hall, and Li Hao casually gestured, "Sit wherever you like. You are the City Lord; take the head seat."
"The Governor-General should take the seat of honor!"
Li Hao laughed. "That's just a rigid convention. Of course, rules must be respected, but there's no need to be overly rigid. Toward talent, we are always very accommodating."
Very well. In order to blend in with this baffling group, Lin Hongyu chose to comply.
Now, Li Hao turned to what Lin Hongyu considered major affairs: "Currently, the four great continents are experiencing unrest. Some villains—wicked figures from the Neo-Martial era—are growing restless and eager to emerge now that heaven and earth have stabilized considerably... The Three Great Organizations have relocated, reportedly heading to the Northern Continent.
"The four bordering nations are also stirring... However, neither war nor peace is an individual affair! We must defeat them and bring them down using the strength of the people!
"The propagation of the martial Dao must be swift. Even if there are shortcomings, it must be pushed out rapidly!"
Li Hao continued, "Earlier, five monster plants of the twelve ancient families were slain. Aside from the Redwood, six survived. Originally, I thought of simply putting an end to them... but now I realize that would be a waste. Let us cooperate!"
Li Hao stated briskly, "They will cultivate grain. And not just them—the eleven monster plants in Heavenly Star Town must do so as well! In addition, the five monster plants relocated from Battle Heaven City must do the same..."
Li Hao tallied it up. "That makes twenty-one monster plants. If each cultivates enough grain to feed a hundred million people for a year, that only covers 2.1 billion people... Of course, we currently have some grain reserves, but it isn't enough. I also want to subdue some of the monster plants in the Central Region!
"There are definitely more monster plants in the Central Region than just these few... And I want to relocate them all together; Heavenly Star Town would be very suitable...
"Therefore, going forward, all manner of tasks must be undertaken. Let the Three Great Organizations grow as they will; no matter how fast they develop, they cannot outpace us!
"Once the universal dissemination of martial arts is achieved... the second resurgence will be delayed once more. If the masterminds behind the scenes wish to force an early resurgence, they will need to release vast amounts of energy, which serves as a method to weaken them!
"Throughout this process, everyone can also hone the new martial Dao!"
Having said this, he looked at Lin Hongyu. "As for City Lord Lin, you have several crucial tasks to handle next: First, gather intelligence on all ruins in the Central Region. Second, settle the livelihoods of the common people. Third, discover administrative talent. Fourth, take charge of propaganda... Of course, these are merely my thoughts. You may handle the specifics as you see fit, City Lord Lin."
Lin Hongyu nodded.
Li Hao smiled again. "All right, the serious business is concluded. Let's discuss something else."
"..."
Lin Hongyu was left utterly speechless. Concluded? What did you even discuss?!
"I will demonstrate the cultivation method of the new martial Dao for City Lord Lin, and at the same time see whether any severe issues arise..."
Lin Hongyu's interest was piqued instantly.
Yuan Shuo and Hong Yitang also turned their gazes swiftly toward Li Hao.
Without another word, Li Hao manifested thirty-six supernatural locks across his body, laying them bare for all to see. "Ordinary people cannot do this right away; they must develop them gradually. Of course, I'll skip that step for now, or it would waste too much time!"
Lin Hongyu swallowed hard. What was this?
Supernatural locks?
So many!
Heavens!
Meanwhile, Li Hao began circulating the technique according to their prior deductions and the *Acupoint Opening Art*.
Soon, the thirty-six supernatural locks shimmered with faint light.
In an instant, a glow rose along one supernatural lock. Lin Hongyu watched in rapt fascination as a small cavity seemed to open on that supernatural lock, and a faint wisp of energy was drawn out by Li Hao.
Next, that supernatural lock resembled a flute, dotted with cavities. Li Hao circulated his technique, focusing on just one, steadily grinding away at it. Before long, that cavity was ground open.
A wisp of energy spilled out, and Li Hao said, "Acupoint opening succeeded. This is the first acupoint—the first acupoint of the first Dao meridian... Next, open the acupoints of the other Dao meridians!"
Soon, following the same pattern, he continued to open them. In the blink of an eye, he had opened nine. Li Hao stated, "The initial peak of the Ten-Slayer realm!"
Shortly after, acupoints across the supernatural locks were unlocked one by one.
In the span of several breaths, thirty-six were opened.
With all thirty-six complete, Li Hao smiled. "The peak of the Ten-Slayer realm. At this point, as long as you establish their connections and complete the circulation loop, you enter the Hundred-Breaker realm, where internal force erupts!"
With those words, the thirty-six acupoints spilled light, swiftly completing a full circulation cycle.
*Boom!*
A soft chime resonated as a surge of internal force burst forth, leaving Lin Hongyu flabbergasted. What... kind of martial cultivation method was this?
Traditional martial arts were not cultivated this way.
Yet the outward manifestation was indistinguishable from traditional martial arts.
Meanwhile, Li Hao continued.
The second cycle began. Just like the first, thirty-six more acupoints were opened in the blink of an eye, completing the second circulation loop. Li Hao smiled. "With seventy-two acupoints completed, that is the peak of the Hundred-Breaker realm! The second circulation cycle is complete!"
With that, he kept opening them.
In an instant, the third cycle was finished.
*Boom!*
His aura surged dramatically. Li Hao continued, "With 108 acupoints opened, this is the mid-stage Thousand-Battler realm!"
He resumed cultivation, his speed growing faster and faster.
Before long, 144 acupoints were opened. "144 acupoints—this is the late Thousand-Battler realm..."
Immediately after, yet another cycle commenced.
"180 acupoints. Half of all the supernatural locks are now opened. Now, I am at the peak of the Thousand-Battler realm."
Li Hao pressed onward, his aura growing ever more formidable.
After a time, a resounding roar thundered out. Along a single Dao meridian, the remaining five acupoints were completely opened by him. The difficulty was not lower than opening the previous thirty-six; it presented a real challenge.
Li Hao's aura surged once more. "This is the first tier of the Mountain-Sea realm—completing the full opening of a single Dao meridian. Dividing them into acupoints is precisely to allow the Dao meridians to open more smoothly and ensure the circulation loop isn't shattered!"
Next, he continued opening them without pause.
In the blink of an eye, the second Dao meridian was opened, followed by the third, the fourth...
In an instant, Li Hao had opened seven Dao meridians. At this point, he frowned slightly. Having devoured massive amounts of energy and absorbed substantial quantities of the Spring of Life, he said with some discomfort, "The further you go, the harder it gets! Right now, seven Dao meridians are fully opened... Combined with the other Dao meridians opened halfway, this is not inferior to my previous seven-elemental supernatural power. Opening more might be possible, but the difficulty is too immense... Let me catch my breath!"
Turning to Lin Hongyu, he said, "Right now, without using any other supernatural Dao meridians, I will use only the power of these seven meridians—the seventh tier of the Mountain-Sea realm—to strike you with one punch. What do you think?"
Lin Hongyu was already in a daze. After a moment, she nodded. "Very well!"
*Bang!*
A fist shattered the void!
Before Lin Hongyu could even react, she saw space crack slightly. In a flash, Li Hao's fist emerged, smashing her backward with a deafening boom!
Lin Hongyu slammed flat against the wall, sliding down, staring blankly at Li Hao.
Yuan Shuo and Hong Yitang both sighed internally... *Damn it all... he truly knows nothing of showing tenderness to women.*
*Completely inhuman!*
Li Hao, however, chuckled. "City Lord Lin's defense is quite impressive! I am currently at the seventh tier of the Mountain-Sea realm, wielding seven meridians of power, which rival even those Peak Realm experts who lack the origin. Yet one punch merely knocked you flying rather than punching straight through you..."
He added, "This is the new martial Dao. Simple, isn't it?"
Blood trickled from the corner of Lin Hongyu's mouth. After a long while, she asked in shock, "This... is the new martial Dao?"
It was practically idiot-proof. Li Hao's speed had been astonishing; in roughly an hour, he had completed the opening of seven meridians, reached what he called the seventh tier of the Mountain-Sea realm, and flattened her with a single punch!
This... was the new martial Dao?
She murmured, "A total of thirty-six... can all of them be opened?"
"Of course!"
Li Hao nodded. "However, this is purely non-attributed power, which can also be called physical body strength. It doesn't carry supernatural power, so its destructive lethality is slightly weaker, but still respectable! Of course, just because I cultivated this quickly doesn't mean everyone can... I manifested the thirty-six supernatural locks long ago, whereas others must cultivate and open acupoints bit by bit. Their speed will inevitably be much slower!"
Li Hao pondered for a moment. "To complete the first cycle of thirty-six acupoints under normal conditions would take nearly a year. Of course, that's without external aids. In this current stage where energy is dense... perhaps half a year will suffice.
"By then, they will be at the peak of the Ten-Slayer realm."
Lin Hongyu was utterly astounded. Clambering up from the ground, she looked at Li Hao. "Has the Governor-General been busy with this over the past few days?"
"Yes!"
Lin Hongyu said in dread, "This... will overturn the entire supernatural domain!"
Seeing it for the first time, she found it simple and remarkably effortless. Although Li Hao was an anomaly, it proved that for others, it would not require overly esoteric comprehension.
It felt even simpler than supernatural abilities!
"Governor-General... then right now... how many elements of supernatural power does this equate to?"
After all, Li Hao still possessed other supernatural abilities.
Li Hao smiled. "The ones that are truly effective are just the seven elements of the five elements plus wind and thunder. Adding these seven meridians of power, it's merely fourteen meridians of power. Strictly speaking, because the other seven elements haven't formed a grand circulation loop with these seven, they cannot match a fourteen-meridian loop! Nine meridians constitute Mountain-Sea; above that is Sun-Moon, where each tier opens three meridians. Fourteen meridians only amount to the second tier of the Sun-Moon realm!"
He continued, "In reality, it will be slightly weaker, though being supernatural meridians, the gap isn't huge... The second tier of the Sun-Moon realm can only be considered average among Peak Realm experts. A true pinnacle Peak Realm expert should possess the power of the ninth tier of the Sun-Moon realm..."
Li Hao said with regret, "Currently, dealing with severely weakened Peak Realm experts on my own shouldn't be an issue! But against those unkillable Immortals, the difficulty is still immense, even if their strength hasn't returned to its zenith."
Yet Lin Hongyu heard none of that.
Second tier of Sun-Moon?
A brand-new realm!
Of course, that was not the crucial point. The crucial point was that Li Hao could now face those Peak Realm experts entirely on his own.
This was... inconceivable.
Before this, though Li Hao had clashed with weakened Immortals, he had never accomplished it through his personal strength alone.
Lin Hongyu took a deep breath. "The Governor-General intends to disseminate this across the world?"
"Yes!"
"This... this is improper!"
Lin Hongyu urged hurriedly, "If you do so, our enemies will obtain it as well."
Li Hao smiled. "Then let them cultivate it! That's even better; it will consume a bit more energy... Quite fine!"
Lin Hongyu was at a total loss for words.
After a period of silence, she took a deep breath. "Governor-General, if you insist on doing so, I suggest... delaying slightly. We can trade the new technique to them for benefits first, and only then make it public. That way, they will swallow a bitter pill and have to suffer in silence!"
"Trade for benefits?"
Lin Hongyu nodded. "Yes! Not just them, but the regional warlords everywhere! We secretly dispatch emissaries to approach them, selling the technique for, say, ten million divine energy stones, or a bit less—one million divine energy stones... If we move quickly, arrange more people, and send Silver Moon martial masters to demonstrate on-site just as the Governor-General did... it will surely shock them to their core! Let alone one or ten million... they would pay even more! Naturally, we go for volume!"
Her eyes flickered. "Once each faction has purchased it, we immediately release it publicly. We'll have earned their money, won over the people's hearts, weakened the enemy, and strengthened ourselves... The only difficulty lies in whether they will believe that we would sell such a formidable technique to them... Of course, there is a way to dispel their suspicions: an on-site demonstration is the best proof!
"Across the four great continents, there are groups of local warlords who also possess ruins, so they certainly have divine energy stones... Across the world's ninety-nine provinces, aside from the Central and Northern regions, there are still dozens of factions. Even if we charge three million from each, which isn't much for a major force, our divine energy stones will exceed a hundred million!
"If the Governor-General had sent someone to the City of Supernaturals to trade with me... I certainly wouldn't have believed it at first. But if the Governor-General sent someone to demonstrate it before my eyes, even if I remained skeptical, I would still have been willing to pay a few million divine energy stones to buy it and study it first."
To the side, Yuan Shuo and Hong Yitang stared at her.
Inwardly, they marveled: *This woman... truly has a black heart.*
Li Hao chuckled as well. "That... makes sense! Although I don't lack divine energy stones right now, weakening the various factions while strengthening ourselves is quite good. Besides, there will be plenty of places requiring divine energy stones moving forward... It makes sense!"
Seeing her suggestion adopted, Lin Hongyu was delighted and added, "If there are factions short on funds, that's fine too. We require all kinds of supplies, which can all be converted into divine energy stones. Those people won't care; cultivation resources matter far more to them.
"Whatever the Governor-General desires—paper mills, local specialties, machinery, supernatural cannons—we can trade for all of it! Even armors they excavated but cannot use, the Governor-General can trade for as many as you want! I recall the Governor-General saying... you can convert them, right?"
Li Hao's eyes lit up and he nodded hurriedly. *A true talent!*
He had not thought of this before.
He had only thought of forging them himself or procuring them from Battle Heaven City.
Seeing Li Hao's approval, Lin Hongyu grew even happier and continued, "Or we can trade for some special-element supernaturals; the other party won't care, because special-element supernaturals aren't considered particularly strong. Didn't the Governor-General hope to acquire more special-element abilities?
"We can even have them capture supernaturals within their borders... and send them all to the Central Region, either to work or to help maintain local peace... It's all beneficial. We use other people's hands to complete the Governor-General's arrangements!"
Li Hao drew in a breath, staring at her. After a long moment, he said, "Keep going!"
Seeing that he did not object, Lin Hongyu continued, "The benefits traded for using just this single technique will far exceed that. The Governor-General can even promote the martial Dao through other means—such as having them construct a hundred academies on their own... Tell them that once completed, the technique will be gifted for free! We won't say they are martial academies at first, but rather literary academies; those people won't care. Who wouldn't be willing to trade the mere construction of a hundred academies for the technique?
"That way, we save a tremendous amount of time!
"Once the four great continents are subdued, we can immediately enroll students. We can even have them round up scholars and artisans within their borders to trade for the technique!"
Lin Hongyu spoke with growing excitement. "That way, we won't lack teachers either! Even their families and friends can be sent together to the Central Region. Who cares about mere ordinary mortals? The Central Region only has twenty-two provinces after all, while the four great continents hold far larger populations. If they all gather in the Central Region... our promotion here will proceed faster and smoother!"
Li Hao swallowed hard and nodded. It truly made sense.
A single technique had been turned into an absolute goldmine by this woman!
Seeing Li Hao nod, Lin Hongyu was overjoyed and added, "Furthermore, doesn't the Governor-General need monster plants to help cultivate grain? The Governor-General can also trade with them for the exact locations of certain ruins... The kind they know of but lack the ability to develop... All of that can be calculated as currency!"
Li Hao took a deep breath. "Brilliant. Mobilizing the entire world's strength to help me complete this promotion will be vastly faster!"
"Exactly!"
Lin Hongyu smiled as well, continuing, "We can even use this technique to negotiate with the King of Zhennan and the King of Zhenxi, having them lead their armies across the sea to the southern and western continents. Combining threats with inducements, if they are wise, they will depart once they obtain the technique."
Lin Hongyu laid out her points one by one, and Li Hao took them all in. To think that a single technique he had intended to make public could achieve so much... Li Hao felt it was well worth trying!
According to Lin Hongyu, it would not take long—about ten days would suffice,
even factoring in travel time.
Once they arrived, negotiated, and struck the deals, the transactions would be settled swiftly. If the various overlords were truly smart, they would all make the trade. This scheme worked poorly on fools, but was ideal for the clever.
The smarter they were, the easier they would take the bait.
They could even try it on the Three Great Organizations.
They just wouldn't approach Red Moon. They could approach Yama and Feitian. Li Hao's grudge with Red Moon was too deep, but those two factions might just agree to the trade.
In the end, Li Hao nodded repeatedly, chuckling. "Good! Then we'll proceed according to your plan... As it happens, I was thinking of having the Silver Moon martial masters complete their transitions quickly, so they can display the new art along the way. By the way, during the transition process, they can have the other party supply divine energy stones—swindling a batch out of them will be great too!"
Lin Hongyu laughed. That was actually no small sum, but if the other party wanted to watch the demonstration, providing some divine energy stones was only natural, and they most likely wouldn't refuse.
Li Hao was delighted as well. That way, they would save quite a bit more.
...
On that day, large numbers of Silver Moon martial masters began departing in all directions.
With the arrival of the new year, these Silver Moon martial masters had to get busy, yet not a single one felt burdened. Instead, each was bubbling with excitement as people set off toward the four great continents, including the North.
Within just a few days, overlords across various continents—some of whom even harbored grudges against Li Hao—received emissaries from the Central Region, sent by the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office.
This sight shocked many.
Li Hao had actually sent envoys.
That was not the key point. The key point was that the Silver Moon martial masters actually wished to trade away the *Acupoint Opening Art*—a brand-new technique that fused the knowledge of countless Silver Moon martial masters at this stage, including the Five Animals Secret Art.
Although everyone found it unbelievable and suspected Li Hao's motives, the visiting Silver Moon martial masters were willing to demonstrate on the spot, requiring only the consumption of some divine energy stones and the Spring of Life. While that was not a small amount, to take a look and discern their true intentions, these regional overlords were willing to pay the price.
They felt that Li Hao would not send envoys simply to covet such a modest amount of divine energy stones and Spring of Life.
Yet the moment they witnessed it, countless overlords were instantly gripped with terror.
It was nothing short of miraculous!
This was... an invincible technique leading straight to thirty-six elements of supernatural power!
It was simply unimaginable, unbelievable, driving them near madness and despair. Had someone on Li Hao's side already cultivated thirty-six elements of supernatural power? Otherwise... why would they ever share such a technique?
This meant they likely possessed an even more advanced technique.
Even so, this manual stirred the hearts of countless people, shaking them to the core. In the current world, for the people of the Silver Moon continent, this was the single most suitable technique in existence.
For a time, the overlords everywhere were both shocked and terrified.
Terrified of whether Li Hao's side possessed many experts wielding thirty-six elements of supernatural power—what the envoys called the ninth tier of the Sun-Moon realm.
In their eyes, that was simply a thirty-six-element powerhouse.
Shocked that such an invincible technique was actually being offered for trade at so meager a price... It was practically a giveaway, leaving factions everywhere utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, Li Hao's demands were eccentric and varied.
Building schools, capturing supernaturals, buying scholars and artisans, trading ruin locations...
To the various overlords, none of these amounted to much. The technique—an invincible technique—was the true prize. If they could save some divine energy stones, they were more than willing to trade these things away, even though they knew such assets would be needed to govern the realm in the future.
Yet now, the realm was on the verge of being unified by someone else; who still cared about such future matters?
All at once, vast amounts of supplies and personnel began pouring toward the Central Region. Many of the scholars and artisans being escorted over were filled with sorrow, believing that this journey to the Central Region was a one-way trip, destined to become slaves or even food. For a time, wailing resonated across the four seas.
Anyone unaware of the truth might have thought Li Hao was devouring living people.
Under these circumstances, numerous academies began springing up across the Central Region, and even the Skyscreen began rapidly spreading throughout its lands.
Without the Skyscreen, accomplishing this worldwide dissemination of martial arts would be exceedingly difficult.
For this purpose, Li Hao had already resolved to unseal the Lu Zhen Research Institute to accelerate the Skyscreen's propagation.
In the first month of Year 1731 of the Star Yuan Calendar, the top-tier combat forces in the Central Region made little outward noise, but down below, the realm was already seething like a boiling cauldron.
The curtain on a new era... was slowly rising.
Chapter 302