First Battle of the New Dao

At the ruins of Heavenly Star Town, the creation of physical vessels continued. A single body yielded too little data, so Li Hao and his companions needed far more evidence to draw firm conclusions. *** Meanwhile, two groups were rapidly converging toward the Central Region. One consisted of the clone of the Ninth Division Commander marching forth from Battle Heaven City. The other was made up of more than ten terrifyingly powerful origin avatars. Both groups operated at the current limits imposed by the suppression of the world—early Peak Realm strength. The heavens and earth had grown sufficient to support the presence of Peak Realm entities. These origin avatars had carved away fragments of their source, their features clouded and indistinct as they swept down from the north toward the Central Region, intent on capturing and executing Li Hao. Li Hao of Heavenly Star City was undeniably strong, rumored to have attained seven elements. Yet seven elements amounted to nothing more than early Peak Realm power under the current conditions. Against Li Hao, one person should have been enough. Even so, they had dispatched over ten origin avatars just to be safe. To eliminate all future threats, someone had deduced that the upheavals in the world might be Li Hao’s doing. And even if they were not, a rising talent of this new era had to be slain without fail! Not just him, but every martial master from Silver Moon had to die. The two groups did not share the same path; their courses diverged slightly, each flying on its own trajectory toward Heavenly Star City. *** More than a dozen figures tore across the sky, moving so fast that ordinary cultivators could not even catch a glimpse of them. They were capable of tearing through the void, but because space was currently unstable, they traversed only the shallow layers rather than tearing the void completely open to cross thousands of li in a single bound. "Li Hao and his entourage are all in Heavenly Star City in the Central Region... Once we arrive, keep the disturbance minimal. Locate Li Hao and kill him on the spot!" "If anyone resists or witnesses the deed, eradicate them all!" "Move swiftly. Avoid drawing excessive attention..." The lead figure's voice was muffled and indistinct, and the other avatars chimed in with their agreement. "Also... the Starry Sky Sword is in Li Hao's possession. Seize it, and if possible, strip away the bloodline within his body!" "Understood!" "By the way, did Li Daozong of Battle Heaven City just show up claiming Wang Ye had been killed? What was that about?" "His avatar was destroyed? Battle Heaven City has deep ties with Li Hao. Li Hao supported their revival, and the city rewarded him in turn—rumor has it he was even named a division commander. Did something happen in the Heavenly Star Town ruins, where Wang Ye's avatar entered and was slain?" "It's possible... Our mission also includes restoring communication with Heavenly Star Town. Thorny Rose has persistently barred our people from entering. If possible, test her strength. If she is weak, eliminate her directly!" "That may prove difficult! Sun Xin could not expel her... She may have already attained Sainthood!" "If she has become a Saint, we will enter through another passage. The other monster plants may still remember us and will not dare deny us passage. We can join forces with them and Sun Xin to slay Thorny Rose!" "I wonder if that lord has awakened yet?" "Uncertain... A few days ago, another lord mentioned an origin disturbance, suspecting something went wrong with his origin..." "An origin? Is it a true origin or a false one? Does an origin even exist for them?" "Nothing is certain... It remains mere conjecture." "Understood!" The group sped forward at blistering speed, conversing as they flew. Before long, they crossed the North Sea and entered the Central Region. At this moment, numerous contingents were marching through the Central Region—some were supernaturals, while others were units assembled by Silver Moon martial masters from various territories. These travelers caught sight of several powerful figures as well. At that moment, the group of avatars spotted someone below. Checking against a list and likenesses, one of them quickly said, "The man below is the Silver Moon martial master Southern Fist, He Yong. Should we kill him?" "Do not alert the enemy... If Li Hao learns of this and retreats into a ruin, it will be troublesome! Settle Li Hao first. Minor figures like this can be cleaned up one by one later. If we lack the time, leave them to the Three Great Organizations!" "Understood!" The figures swept past over Southern Fist's head without slowing down. *** Below, Southern Fist was reveling in satisfaction over the complete success of his mission. Having driven off the King of Zhennan and the King of Zhenxi, he had fulfilled the grand unification plan for the Central Region and was heading back toward Heavenly Star City. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky, his brow knitting slightly. *Powerful cultivators?* He was no weakling now. Southern Fist was no longer the man who lost to Northern Fist, lost to Earth-Overturning Sword, and could never win against anyone. At this stage, everyone was stuck at six elements, and so was he. As a six-element combatant, he was barely inferior to anyone. Throughout the Central Region, cultivators at this level were exceedingly rare, and most were Silver Moon experts. Yet just now... had someone been probing him? He stared at the sky, frowning. Had it been a Silver Moon martial master, they would have called out in greeting. Could it be someone else? Perhaps an operative from the Three Great Organizations? Or had his senses deceived him? As a martial master, he trusted his instincts. *Who the hell was peeping at me?* With that thought, he transmitted a message through his armor. The armor currently supported communication up to three thousand li. Though he was more than three thousand li from Heavenly Star City, Li Hao's communication network was laid out extensively, with black-armored sentries stationed every three thousand li. *** The message quickly traveled toward Heavenly Star City. Not only that, but word of Battle Heaven City deploying troops also spread rapidly in the same direction. Inside Heavenly Star City, Lin Hongyu felt helpless when Li Hao vanished yet again, taking another batch of martial masters with him. She was currently occupied with martial arts academies across various regions as well as literacy classes within the city. Suddenly, Director Zhou drifted in. Without unnecessary pleasantries, he presented a set of silver armor. "The Governor-General asked me to deliver this to the City Lord. I was too occupied earlier and forgot for a moment..." Lin Hongyu was caught by surprise. "Battle Heaven armor?" "Yes, regimental commander armor!" Director Zhou quickly continued, "Two urgent matters. First, Battle Heaven City has deployed troops. Led by a gold-armored warrior and numbering several thousand, they are marching straight toward Heavenly Star City, ostensibly to avenge Director Wang... The exact situation is unclear, but our relationship with Battle Heaven City is decent, so it should not be severe. Still, we must remain vigilant!" "Second, on his way back leading his forces, Southern Fist sensed someone sweeping through the void to probe him. He did not detect much, but suspects a seven-element combatant has appeared, possibly originating from the northern territories..." Lin Hongyu frowned slightly. The first issue could be major or minor; Li Hao's relationship with Battle Heaven City was far from ordinary, so their arrival might be an asset rather than a threat. The second matter could likewise be large or small. A powerful cultivator passing by seemed ordinary enough. The world was growing more stable by the day, capable of sustaining stronger beings—even if true bodies could not emerge, avatars certainly could. With so many ruins across the Central Region, encountering one was hardly unprecedented and scarcely warranted such alarm. "Director Zhou, you came specifically to report this..." Director Zhou adopted a solemn expression. "On ordinary days, I would pay it no mind. But today, the heavens shifted. Outsiders may be ignorant, but you and I know that the Governor-General was likely researching the new Dao again. Earlier, he visited Lyu Zhen's research institute and brought back several artifacts, and the celestial phenomena manifested shortly after. These individuals might have been drawn here by the disturbances he caused. Even if they do not know for certain, they might think that since the world's seal has loosened, taking this chance to kill the Governor-General is their best move." "The same goes for Battle Heaven City's deployment under such timing. Avenging someone... may well be an excuse to probe the truth!" Battle Heaven City's sudden mobilization might not truly be for vengeance; they knew perfectly well whether Director Wang was dead. If so, they had likely come to investigate the celestial upheaval. A second sun had appeared today, and though it had vanished, the spectacle had been enormous. Who could say whether all these parties had been drawn by that single event? "Heavenly Star City may not remain peaceful!" Director Zhou said in a heavy voice. "Of course, at this stage, we fear nothing! But what the Governor-General wishes to see is not a post-war city, nor a ruin scarred by slaughter... He is promoting education and technical revolution, and this phase demands stability! Even the slightest tremor could trigger a monumental disaster!" Lin Hongyu nodded. Considering that Li Hao was likely occupied with crucial matters, she pondered for a moment and said, "If truly formidable enemies have arrived, they will possess seven-element strength. You and I might not fear them, but a clash would inevitably cause casualties..." She paused, then asked, "I heard there are quite a few puppet students from the Neo-Martial era in the city?" "There are." "Summon them, offering divine energy stones as compensation, and intercept the enemy out over the Heavenly Star Sea! Make full preparations: summon thirty puppet students and draw ten million divine energy stones from the vault, allocating three hundred thousand to each. I will personally lead the force to lie in wait... If no one comes, so be it. If they do, our priority is capture; if capture fails, execute them without mercy!" Lin Hongyu was decisive and made her choice without delay. There was no need to disturb Li Hao. If Li Hao had to handle everything himself, what was the point of her position? Her duty was to resolve worries and eliminate threats on his behalf. She added, "Bring the Sky Screen as well, just in case!" Director Zhou's eyes flickered, and he nodded. "Very well!" Lin Hongyu mused for a moment, then asked, "What is the Governor-General researching this time?" Director Zhou shook his head; he truly did not know. After thinking it over, he suggested, "Bring the Mu and Chen father-and-son pairs along. It serves as both deterrence and a way to make them contribute. If powerful foes really do arrive, they can be of use." "Agreed!" The two quickly reached a consensus. Shortly after, a group of excited puppet students flew toward the northern city gate alongside the others. Having spent countless years confined to the ruins, participating in a battle so soon after stepping into the world thrilled them. A bunch of fearless youths who feared neither heaven nor earth had no dread of anyone. The current world could not sustain beings beyond the early Peak Realm anyway; the students were scarcely weaker, and even if they lagged in a one-on-one fight, two against one would easily turn the tide! *** Meanwhile, Li Hao remained completely oblivious to it all. This was the advantage of having a capable team: whenever possible, others handled problems themselves without bothering him. Having gained experience from the first attempt, Li Hao was happily forging additional physical forms. As he molded them, he said with excitement, "That was just a preliminary test. The initial body didn't have many supernatural locks, but subsequent ones will have more and more... Furthermore, the positioning was successful! It was anchored via the origin path rather than the physical vessel... So when the time comes, we simply transfer the origin path across, with no need for me to calibrate the coordinates again!" Li Hao was ecstatic, but Director Wang was far less pleased. The torment had been harrowing! Worse yet, whenever he looked at Li Hao now, he felt an instinctive sense of closeness, leaving him suspecting that Li Hao was deliberately taking advantage of him. Ignoring his grumbling, Li Hao continued shaping human forms while glancing toward the divine corpse, raising an eyebrow. "This divine body cannot go to waste... Although it contains only a single Dao meridian, its combat power is extraordinary!" He pondered for a moment, then added, "It would actually suit Director Qi and the others well, but... you likely lack a deep understanding of its single Dao, which means you wouldn't be able to unleash its full power..." Li Hao looked at Director Qi. "Old Qi, if you are interested, I can fashion you a modern human body later, or restore your Neo-Martial form. I'd like to keep this divine corpse!" Director Qi did not mind in the least, smiling gently. "Do as you see fit." Li Hao grew excited. "Great! Then I'll take it. I intend to modify it into my trump card. Its toughness reaches the level of a Saint body! The Quasi-Heavenly King body from earlier was a Neo-Martial form that I couldn't use, but this entity, I can refine! By controlling it with my Earth-element divine character, even if I cannot unleash its full power, it will undeniably serve as an overwhelming combat form capable of suppressing this era!" "I was fretting over my safety. Even though my strength has grown significantly, I still lag behind the truly mighty ancient beings at this stage... Venturing into ruins alone is exceedingly perilous!" "If I can refine this, I will be invincible outside!" "And inside the ruins, a Saint Dao body isn't something ordinary people can break..." Li Hao intended to remodel the corpse into a puppet battle-form tailored for his own use. With this asset in hand, he would dare to venture into ruins alone and resolve lingering troubles. With that, Li Hao addressed the others: "Everyone should cultivate the *Aperture-Breaking Art* in the coming days to raise your strength as quickly as possible, converting resources into power. Help yourselves to the mineral vein here! It would be an utter waste if the mineral vein remained while we perished!" No one objected. Li Hao said no more and threw himself into shaping bodies, subjecting Director Wang to repeated waves of agony. Li Hao did not rush to finish everything at once. After completing several vessels, he turned his attention to studying the divine corpse. This was an Earth-element deity whose single Dao was profoundly robust; Li Hao's Earth divine character could not exert its full Saint Dao strength. Even so, as his control deepened, he could feel its immense might—broad and boundless like the vast earth itself! *** While Li Hao and the others were engrossed in their research, ripples disturbed the void above the Heavenly Star Sea outside Heavenly Star City. A group stood over the water, watching carefully. Suddenly, a supernatural with the demeanor of a scholar underwent a slight change in expression. "I see coalescing clouds of murderous intent..." Beside him, a wretched-looking old man trembled all over. "I sense boundless, terrifying strength... It isn't just one person, but many!" "How many?" Lin Hongyu had brought these two specifically; both were unique supernaturals unearthed from the City of Supernaturals. The scholar swallowed hard. "Fourteen plumes of black killing intent!" The wretched old man's ears twitched as he shuddered. "Immensely powerful... even stronger than the City Lord!" Lin Hongyu's expression shifted slightly. Fourteen! There was no need to guess—these visitors harbored ill intent. Fourteen powerhouses bearing heavy killing intent were heading straight for Heavenly Star City. It went without saying that their target was Li Hao! Fortunately, she had brought thirty students. Her expression settled, and she turned to those around her. "Deploy the Demon Hunt Army. Ready the Sky-Covering Shield and Space-Locking Chains! In addition, initiate a blanket volley with the energy cannons! Ensure the Sky Screen records everything... We will use it as educational material for future propaganda, letting our enemies know just how formidable the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office truly is!" She lowered her voice and barked, "Senior students, gear up! Don the Demon Hunt Army armor!" The students of Yuanping Martial Arts University raised no objection; the gear was fundamentally Battle Heaven Army armor anyway. At that moment, each was tingling with excitement. Fourteen foes... Earlier, they had worried there would be too few to go around, but now, the more the merrier. They wondered if they might run into familiar faces, but the Dean of Academic Affairs had instructed them that once outside, they should follow Li Hao's arrangements without question. For a band of lawless descendants of Sovereigns, if the Dean said it was fine, it was fine. No matter who came, they would just smash them! Lin Hongyu felt a thrill of excitement as well. This was her first time commanding so many powerhouses to encircle and annihilate figures from the ancient civilization. Even though these were not their true bodies, but origin avatars, the prospect still made her tremble with anticipation. Back in the City of Supernaturals, her adversaries had been modern martial masters, contemporary supernaturals, the Nine Departments, and the Imperial Family. But since joining the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, her life had undergone a transformation. Her opponents were no longer those mediocre figures, but the mighty beings of an ancient civilization! This was the life a powerhouse sought, was it not? She looked toward Director Zhou, feeling a little sheepish, yet said firmly, "Director Zhou, you take command. I wish to test their strength personally. I want to see whether six-element divine abilities combined with one hundred and forty-four apertures can hold their own against origin avatars!" She wanted to fight in person! Director Zhou felt a touch of helplessness. A martial master would always be a martial master. Lin Hongyu appeared composed on ordinary days, yet when the moment arrived, she still yearned for the front line. He nodded without protest. "Be careful in all things. We haven't informed the Governor-General yet. If possible, try to capture one alive... When an origin avatar disperses, their true body will not die, but the loss is substantial. Unless pushed to absolute despair, they will not detonate themselves. We must capture one before they lose all hope..." He added, "The powerhouses from Battle Heaven City are right behind them. We must act quickly and guard against any surprises from Battle Heaven City. Once we deal with this group, we must bar the others from entering the city! Even if they have legitimate business, they must wait until the Governor-General and the others emerge." "Understood!" Lin Hongyu nodded. To the side, Chen Zhongtian said nothing, though a faint excitement showed on his face. Chen Yao, however, felt a wave of apprehension and sent a mental transmission: "Old man, we're really taking on ancient powerhouses? Can we handle this?" "What are you afraid of? What's so special about ancient powerhouses? You're surrounded by them right now! Anyone else might underestimate Li Hao, but we cannot! With Li Hao's forces so strong, he simply hasn't focused his attention elsewhere. Otherwise, the Three Great Organizations wouldn't have found it so easy to retreat!" "Our enemies sent more than ten avatars of ancient powerhouses, thinking they had Li Hao cornered, yet they failed to realize that Li Hao's main force hasn't even budged. Lin Hongyu alone, who was left to hold the fort, intends to wipe them out completely to claim the first merit!" "Their true bodies are what truly matters... With this deployment, Li Hao won't sit idly by. If they had stayed hidden, it might have been fine, but once they strike... do you think that Silver Moon crowd will tolerate it? Seize this opportunity! Only by earning merit now can our family secure its footing! Otherwise, we will soon be left behind!" Chen Yao pondered his father's words and nodded. *** Meanwhile, numerous Demon Hunt Army soldiers emerged aboard earth-burrowing shuttles, rapidly fanning out in all directions. The commander this time was Huang Yu rather than Liu Long. Holding his spear, Huang Yu awaited orders. This was the Demon Hunt Army's first large-scale deployment against ancient civilization powerhouses. Even if they played only a supporting role, they intended to display the army's valor. "Our objective is simple: lock down the void and let no one escape! There are two waves of enemies. The first consists of ancient powerhouses, and the second is the same—none other than the Battle Heaven Army we know so well! The genuine Battle Heaven Army... Bringing you all out today is also to let you witness the true might of the Battle Heaven Army!" Huang Yu had received the intelligence and treated the Battle Heaven Army as potential hostiles. That was a military commander's duty: friend or foe, treating them as enemies first prevented any lapse in discipline. The thousands of Demon Hunt soldiers felt their blood surge. Clad in Battle Heaven armor, they were naturally well-acquainted with the army's reputation, and the prospect of witnessing the genuine article left them thrilled. Their feelings toward Battle Heaven City and the Battle Heaven Army were complex, yet should they clash, they would not shrink back. *** Ripples disturbed the void repeatedly. Over a dozen blurred figures flew forward, utterly unconcerned. They did not believe that anyone in the outside world could rival them at this stage. They were invincible—not just one, but more than ten strong. Had they not wished to conceal their movements from certain Silver Moon powerhouses, they would have descended directly upon Heavenly Star City in broad daylight and demanded that Li Hao present his neck! "Hm? There seem to be quite a few people nearby..." "Let them be. I sense them as well—a horde of ants as weak as dust..." The moment they crossed into the Heavenly Star Sea, they detected the presence below. Yet the cultivators were far too weak and stationed at a considerable distance. Though numerous, why should they care? Mere ants! To them, anyone below the Peak Realm was an insect. Moreover, their true bodies were far above the Peak Realm; had their origins not been severed and the world suppressed, even genuine Peak Realm cultivators would not have drawn their attention. "Wait, they seem to be targeting us?" The lead figure was taken aback. The next instant, a shout echoed across the sky as a colossal shield materialized in the void, blotting out the sun! "Sky-Covering Shield?" In an instant, a chain surging with boundless vitality whipped through the void, sealing the surrounding space. With the shield and chain appearing in unison, locking down the sky and earth, the ancient figures were caught off guard. "Standard equipment of the Battle Heaven Army?" "A swarm of ants dares ambush us... Did they receive word in advance, or was this a chance encounter?" "Who cares? Slaughter them all!" "Kill!" A figure unleashed a punch into the void, directly shattering space! Yet what emerged before the blow was a massive shield. The attacker wore a sneer of contempt. In the past, if several thousand Battle Heaven soldiers mobilized, they might have stood a chance. But for these counterfeit imitations to mimic the true army was an absolute farce! Even if their vitality was synchronized, a single punch would vibrate these fools to death even if it failed to shatter the shield. "Fire!" an order roared through the armor network. The next moment, ten energy cannons manifested with a deafening blast as countless shells rained down, detonating through the void! The blurred figures countered in unison. One sneered, "Save that for the weak! What use do these toys have against us?" *Boom!* Shell after shell burst apart, only to be instantly suppressed. Punches and sword strikes shattered wide swathes of space in an instant. A fist imprint cracked the surface of the massive shield, jarring the Demon Hunt soldiers so violently that their vitality scattered, causing them to cough up blood. Seeing this, Lin Hongyu and Director Zhou both frowned atop the shield. Director Zhou transmitted, "The Demon Hunt Army is still too weak. Facing genuine Peak Realm strength, even superior equipment cannot bridge the gap." "Yes, and their numbers are too few." "There's no helping it; armor is limited... Though production is speeding up..." The Mu and Chen father-and-son pairs listened to their exchange, stunned by the scale of the confrontation. What they saw differed from the others: more than ten top-tier powerhouses of terrifying strength had been brought to a halt by a group of weak Demon Hunt soldiers and hemmed in over the sea. Every single one of these intruders possessed an aura far surpassing their own. It was breathtaking! Was this the caliber of enemy Li Hao faced? Or perhaps Li Hao paid these foes no heed at all. The gap between the Nine Departments and the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office was so vast that it was no wonder the Nine Departments had been crushed without offering any resistance. Seeing that the Demon Hunt Army could no longer contain the foes, Lin Hongyu gave the order: "Strike!" In an instant, a cluster of armored figures surged forward as the puppets donned their gear. Just as the phantom figures prepared to butcher the Demon Hunt soldiers, space tore open. A figure clad in silver armor revealed her delicate features, barking coldly, "Lin Hongyu, Governor-General of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, comes to exchange pointers! Though you are powerhouses of the ancient civilization wielding seven-element power, trespassing upon our territory uninvited warrants death without mercy!" "Kill!" With a sharp cry, over thirty figures charged into battle! *Boom!* Immense power tore through space, and the phantom figures' expressions instantly transformed. "Lin Hongyu?" *Who? Why are there so many powerhouses? Weren't they supposedly a petty faction cobbled together by modern martial masters?* The phantoms were astonished, and in the next heartbeat, battle erupted without further words. Hovering in midair, Lin Hongyu called out coldly, "We have always kept to our own affairs with the ancient civilization. You snuck into Heavenly Star City's domain uninvited. Name the mastermind behind you now, and your lives will be spared... Otherwise, execute them on the spot!" "Arrogant!" someone barked in rage. "Fragile modern humans dare flaunt their insolence..." "Fragile?" Lin Hongyu sneered. "Very well, let us teach you what a new era looks like! Who said modern humans have fragile physical bodies? Ignorant fools, I am Lin Hongyu, a cultivator of the Mountain Sea Realm. Enlighten me!" Her curved blade swept forth, tearing through the void! The phantom was startled. Lin Hongyu's curved blade ripped space apart; her physical body was far from frail. On the contrary, compared to their origin-only manifestations, her physical vessel was vastly superior. Her blade sheared through space, its saber intent sweeping across the world! In her heart, she silently recited: *I fight to expel formidable foes and protect this world. Heaven and earth, grant me your boundless power.* At that moment, the world seemed to truly favor her, causing her saber intent to swell dramatically. Her blade struck with a thunderous roar. The phantom retaliated with a punch that cracked space, but under the collision of their forces, the phantom stumbled back slightly. A saber mark appeared on its fist, leaving the phantom in disbelief. Lin Hongyu's morale soared, and she barked, "The new martial path created by the Governor-General is peerless beneath the heavens! The origin path is a relic of the past; using the Mountain Sea power of six elements, I can slay a seven-element Peak Realm combatant all the same!" *Rumble!* Saber light swept between heaven and earth as the curved blade cleaved through the void. The phantom paled in horror. "What new martial path?" "Ignorant wretch, you are unworthy to know! This Dao will soon be imparted to the entire world for all to learn. How could vermin like you fathom the Governor-General's greatness? Every citizen of Heavenly Star can surpass your ancient civilization... Die!" *Boom!* All around, the phantoms were rapidly suppressed as the puppets unleashed their myriad techniques. Though these descendants of Sovereigns lacked their original bodies and even their origins, which of them had not been an unmatched genius in their prime? Thirty puppets instantly pinned down twelve other phantoms, leaving them unable to raise their heads. Meanwhile, the Mu and Chen father-son pairs joined forces to tackle one phantom; the two old ministers possessed formidable combat strength and, though unable to seize the upper hand, held their ground with distinction. The phantoms were thoroughly shaken. How could this be? Where had so many powerhouses suddenly emerged from? *Boom!* With a thunderous blast, three puppets ganged up on an opponent, blasting the first phantom to pieces. Lin Hongyu shouted, "Take them alive! Surrender and live! Even if these are not your true bodies, the dispersal of your origin will cost you dearly. If you yield, your master will remain in the dark... Your true bodies will remain safe..." She was suppressing a powerful phantom entirely on her own while still having the leeway to shout commands, leaving everyone dumbfounded. "If they remain obstinate... kill them all!" Her curved blade slashed out, shattering the phantom's origin, which coalesced again with disbelief written across its face. "How... How can this be? How are you so strong? No... those people are not from your era..." He glanced toward the black-armored figures and realized they did not belong to this new age. But this woman certainly did! "Where is Li Hao?" the man roared. "You shameless cowards rely on ancient civilization beings to fight us while hiding in the shadows! What kind of heroes are you? Don't Silver Moon martial masters pride themselves on self-reliance?" Lin Hongyu replied coldly, "Does killing you require the Governor-General's presence? He is completely unaware of your arrival. A pack of insects like you... only your master or your true bodies would be worthy of his attention. Now... off you go!" With that, saber light filled the sky once more! The void tore open, and a colossal beast materialized—a fierce red tiger. Watching from the sidelines, Director Zhou drew a sharp breath. *Tiger momentum! She's a tigress!* He had not realized she nurtured tiger momentum. No wonder she fought so fiercely! Points of light surfaced across Lin Hongyu's body like stars as one hundred and eighty apertures burst open. "Kill!" Overwhelming physical might bore down alongside soaring vitality. Another strike unleashed the power of six elemental divine abilities at once, and the five phases erupted in unison! Space collapsed inward, and the phantom shrieked in terror as Space-Locking Chains bound it from all sides. Caught off guard, it could not retaliate before the blade struck home. With an earth-shaking boom, the phantom shattered, screaming in bitter disbelief, "Power of the new Dao? You... you discovered a new Dao?" "You realized too late!" Saber light flickered as Lin Hongyu dashed through the void, delivering dozens of slashes that hacked the phantom into pieces. She reached out and gathered the dense origin essence into a divine weapon she produced. All around, furious roars and curses rang out continually. Under the awestruck gaze of the surrounding soldiers, the phantoms were obliterated one by one. "Incredible!" The soldiers were left in absolute awe. Those terrifying entities had been wiped out so effortlessly! Lin Hongyu's voice resonated across the waters once more: "Merely a pack of cowards wielding a paltry seven elements! The new martial path is about to spread across the world; so long as one reaches the seventh layer of the Mountain Sea Realm or higher, mere seven-element power is brittle as clay! The Governor-General created a new Dao, forging a path ahead for martial arts. The realm is on the verge of unification, and all enemies are nothing more than clay chickens and pottery dogs!" At these words, deafening cheers erupted from all directions! "All hail the Governor-General!" "Unify the realm!" Huang Yu raised his spear and roared, "All who block our path are demons! The Demon Hunt Army was born to hunt demons! Hunt the demons!" "Hunt the demons!" "Hunt the demons!" The thunderous cries shook heaven and earth. The Demon Hunt soldiers were filled with awe and fervor. *So strong!* The Governor-General's Office had grown to such heights that a host of seven-element foes had been dispatched with ease, and hardly any familiar figures had even stepped onto the field. Only Lin Hongyu, who had surrendered recently, and a few old and new ministers had joined the fray. What about the Silver Moon martial masters? *** In the distance, a figure's eyes blazed with divine light, piercing through the sky to gaze upon the scene with profound shock. *How... How could this be?* The Ninth Division Commander had led his troops here after sensing energy fluctuations, accelerating his march to investigate. Now, he witnessed the shifting skies and the violent destruction of origin avatars. Setting aside the puppets whose identities he could roughly deduce, Lin Hongyu had slain an origin avatar entirely on her own. He found it hard to believe. When had Li Hao recruited such a ferocious female general? Just as he was pondering this, Chen Zhongtian's vitality erupted in the distance, his apertures blazing. With a furious roar, his sword shot forth, piercing a phantom. He shouted, "Chen Zhongtian of the Inspectorate, at the sixth layer of Mountain Sea, executes an ancient civilization seven-element foe right here!" He knew the Sky Screen was recording everything and that this footage would likely be broadcast as promotional material for the new martial path. Lin Hongyu had spoken with calculated deliberation, and as a seasoned fox, he was not about to miss his chance to claim some glory. Having finished his declaration, he added, "The Governor-General's divine might blankets the seas and lands! A paltry seven elements is brittle as dust!" Though his internal power was spent, he maintained an aura of effortless calm. Nearby, Lin Hongyu glanced at him without a word, thinking to herself: *I'll have this edited later... My speech stays, and the footage of you killing your foe stays, but your sycophantic flattery at the end gets cut!* Seeing that a few remaining avatars refused to surrender, she sneered coldly. "Slay them all! We don't need their information. Once the Governor-General emerges, he will sweep away all rebels under heaven!" "Kill!" Fierce shouts resounded, and in the blink of an eye, the remaining avatars were blasted apart. One of them roared in fury, "You will meet a gruesome end! Do you think this is our full might? When our true bodies emerge..." Lin Hongyu scoffed, "Do you think this is *our* full might? I am merely at the sixth layer of Mountain Sea. Above the nine layers of Mountain Sea, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office possesses dozens of Sun Moon Realm experts... Slaying your true bodies would be as easy as slicing melons! Foolish, arrogant trash, you dare call yourselves Neo-Martial powerhouses? Laughable! Neo-Martial having you is an utter disgrace! Slay them!" The man gasped in bewilderment. "Sun Moon?" *What kind of realm is Sun Moon?* He had no time left to ponder. With thunderous booms, every last origin avatar shattered into oblivion. *** In the land of Silver Moon, inside an ancient city, several powerhouses suddenly coughed up blood, their origins roiling violently. In an instant, the entire city seemed to spring to life. Someone cried in disbelief, "Our avatars are dead—all of them slain!" Given their speed, they should have only just arrived at Heavenly Star City. How was this possible? Who had killed them? Fourteen formidable entities had been wiped out in the blink of an eye! In the heart of the city, within a grand mansion, an ancient figure snapped his eyes open, his gaze cold and solemn. "No wonder... It seems the celestial anomaly was indeed related to Li Hao!" Fourteen origin avatars, each possessing Peak Realm might! Though inferior to their prime, they were among the strongest beings in this era, yet they had been wiped out within moments. It was scarcely credible. Less than half a day had passed since he issued the order. "Lord..." A subordinate waited anxiously at the door for orders. "Send men to investigate, and keep a low profile... Do not act rashly!" the ancient figure barked, frowning deeply. The world's constraints were fixed; killing fourteen Peak Realm combatants could not have been done by higher-tier entities. Did that mean Li Hao had the backing of a large number of Neo-Martial powerhouses? Unable to fathom the truth, he could only gather intelligence first. "Tell the Three Great Organizations to investigate swiftly, and... have Ying Hongyue come see me at once!" "Understood!" *** Out over the Heavenly Star Sea, Lin Hongyu looked toward the horizon with a warm smile, her voice gentle: "Seniors of Battle Heaven City, forgive our lack of welcome! The Governor-General is currently in secluded cultivation, and I, Hongyu, am acting on behalf of the City Lord. A banquet has been prepared outside the city walls. Please rest for a moment... Once I inform the Governor-General, the gates will open to welcome our esteemed guests!" Thousands of Demon Hunt soldiers stood in formation, powerhouses hovering above the sea. Opposite them, several thousand Battle Heaven soldiers stood in absolute silence. The Ninth Division Commander gazed across with a sigh of admiration. "To think that in such a short time, the Eleventh Division Commander has recruited thousands of troops and trained them so well. Though they cannot yet be considered an elite legion, it is an impressive feat!" Lin Hongyu smiled. "These men represent only a third of the Demon Hunt Army. Our ranks now exceed ten thousand. This is merely the second echelon; the first echelon guards the Governor-General's Office and suppresses rebellions across the territories... Please forgive our inadequacies, Senior!" *Over ten thousand troops!* The Ninth Division Commander mused with quiet wonder as he stepped through the air. He recognized almost no one present. "Since the Eleventh Division Commander has not emerged... then..." Before he could finish, someone beside Lin Hongyu chimed in, "Then wait! Li Daozong, why do you talk so much?" The Ninth Division Commander froze. *Who?* He looked toward the speakers beside Lin Hongyu, and one barked, "What are you staring at? It's me, Jiang Yingli!" The Ninth Division Commander was taken aback. Though he had guessed their identities, he had not expected them to speak up on Li Hao's behalf. Surprised, he asked, "Did you see Wang Ye?" "We did!" "His... Great Dao severed..." "Oh, he's fine, still alive! Besides, Teacher Zhang is right here... What could possibly go wrong?" The Ninth Division Commander's heart stirred, and he pressed, "Martial Uncle is here as well?" "Of course. Li Daozong, you arrived with an army, and we shouldn't bar your way, but... times have changed. Teacher Zhang said that since Neo-Martial abandoned this world, we must abide by this world's rules... This is no longer a hundred thousand years ago!" At those words, the Ninth Division Commander fell into a daze. *It is no longer a hundred thousand years ago! Martial Uncle Zhang wants everyone to abide by the rules of this era.* He looked toward Heavenly Star City, then at the thousands of soldiers clad in matching armor, and finally at the modern powerhouses barring his way. After a long pause, he said solemnly, "Then I shall await the Eleventh Division Commander's emergence here!" "Camp on the spot!" "Understood!" Several regimental commanders answered, and the thousands of Battle Heaven troops began setting up camp in absolute silence. Opposite them, the Demon Hunt soldiers watched intently with wide eyes, observing this ancient army. It was said these men were all dead, reduced to mere lingering remnants of consciousness, yet their discipline remained exquisite! Earlier, some had bristled when the gold-armored warrior remarked that they were not an elite force, but watching the ancient soldiers form a defensive perimeter the moment they pitched camp—precise, swift, and seamlessly coordinated between offense and defense—left everyone thoroughly impressed. Was this an ancient elite legion? Huang Yu observed with a grim expression. This was an army after death, and merely a reserve garrison rather than a frontline battle legion! He wondered how long his thousands of men could hold out against the Battle Heaven Army in its prime. Thinking it through, he concluded that they might not last fifteen minutes before being wiped out. On the other side, the Ninth Division Commander watched the modern Demon Hunt Army in quiet contemplation. Though weak, their strict discipline kept them from breaking even in the face of mighty foes. How had that rascal Li Hao managed to mold a disciplined force in such a short span? A careless, half-baked martial master with zero military bearing had somehow trained a near-elite unit? It was hard to believe! And was Wang Ye truly alive? What was this Mountain Sea and Sun Moon Realm they spoke of? Countless questions swirled in the commander's mind, alongside deep curiosity regarding the origins of the slain avatars. Which faction had awakened so many powerhouses? Fourteen origin avatars meant at least fourteen awakened beings, and their true bodies had to be at least at the Immortal Realm, since Peak Realm bodies would not dare sever their origins so lightly under current conditions. For a time, the two armies stood in silent confrontation. Lin Hongyu wasted no time, immediately arranging for professionals to edit the footage captured by the Sky Screen. With the new martial path about to be shared with the world, this footage would serve as the ultimate promotional piece—nothing could surpass it. Slaying more than ten ancient seven-element powerhouses might well cause the four continents to surrender upon hearing the news! And she, Lin Hongyu, would have secured her footing completely. As for the Battle Heaven powerhouses opposite them, formidable though they were, since they had chosen to camp, she had no complaints. Achieving total victory in this clash without even notifying Li Hao put her in exceptionally high spirits. Moreover, having the Demon Hunt Army confront the Battle Heaven Army served to temper their courage. Lin Hongyu calculated her gains, thoroughly pleased. Glancing at Chen Zhongtian, who looked equally delighted, she smiled inwardly. *Once the promotional video comes out, your good mood will vanish, because no one will even recognize you. You should know better than to try and steal my spotlight.* Director Zhou, saying nothing, vanished with the wind to report the situation inside the city. This was no longer merely a matter of slaying fourteen avatars; the enemy had begun actively targeting them. He wondered how Li Hao would rise to the challenge.