Publicizing Martial Dao

In the ruins of Heavenly Star Town. One physical vessel after another emerged. Some exploded, while others remained perfectly intact, dazzling Director Wang until he was utterly spoiled for choice. His eyes shone with excitement, not knowing which one was best for him. Li Hao, however, paid him no more heed for the moment. He was currently refining the corpse of the Earth God. A formidable power of the earth element swept outward in all directions. Wielding the might of the earth! A divine character for "Earth" entered the vessel to take control. Though it could not unleash the power of the Saint Dao, it remained extraordinarily formidable. The burly form had originally been massive, but it gradually shrank until it reached normal human size. Soon, it took its place beside Li Hao like an escort. This protector was vastly stronger than anyone else, and more importantly, it feared no death and could shield Li Hao with total devotion. Seeing this, Yuan Shuo and the others were also immensely pleased. To be frank, everyone had felt slightly uneasy relying on the Neo-Martial elders to protect Li Hao. But now, this divine body made up for that vulnerability. Li Hao was certainly strong—perhaps the only true powerhouse in the Sun and Moon realm at present. Yet compared to those ancient Neo-Martial figures, an immense chasm still separated them. Now, with a divine bodyguard at his side, everyone felt much more at ease. Delight showed on Li Hao's face as well. The divine body could not be used indefinitely, but in the present stage, it bought him valuable time and opportunity. Moreover, this was a native god of this world. Compared to the stalwart Neo-Martial physical vessels, Li Hao felt it was actually more practical than that earlier Quasi-Heavenly King torso. At the very least, this was something he could control. He had almost no chance of controlling that Quasi-Heavenly King torso, because only the origin path could bring out its true might. "My thanks to both Yuming and Director Qi!" Li Hao smiled and turned toward the two. "Director Qi, if you have any requirements for your vessel, please feel free to state them. I will craft one suited to your wishes as soon as possible." Director Qi pondered for a moment before speaking. "I would like a rather unique body, if possible." "Please, speak your mind!" Li Hao was exceedingly polite, for this man, despite having spoken only a few words with him earlier, had cleared up many of his doubts. Director Qi replied, "I want an extremely peculiar vessel—one that develops only the brain region. There should be quite a few Dao meridians situated there as well. I need no physical divine abilities, nor any other kind. Just a simple, pure development of the cerebral Dao meridians!" Li Hao stared blankly, his brows knitting at once. That was immensely difficult. How many Dao meridians lay in the brain region? They had actually tallied them; at this stage, fewer than ten had been identified. Compared to other meridians, that was far too few, and they had not even formed a complete circulation system. Asking for a body purely devoted to cerebral Dao meridians was a headache even for Li Hao. Seeing his dilemma, Director Qi added, "Then there is no need for other divine abilities. It is enough to simply have physical Dao meridians alongside cerebral Dao meridians. I want to see what happens when one casts aside all other divine abilities and focuses entirely on developing the brain." He sighed with genuine emotion. "The humans of the Neo-Martial era did not have physical vessels as intricate as today's mortals. The bodies of modern humans are veritable treasures!" Back then, Zhang An and his peers had looked upon them with utter disdain. Yet now, this man viewed them with profound envy. The mortals of this era were truly blessed by the heavens. Dao meridians were such things: when you stopped treating them as chains or fetters and instead viewed them as a divine gift—an innate Dao constitution—they truly made onlookers green with envy. Perhaps this was the unique advantage bestowed upon mortals in an era where heaven and earth first opened and awareness burst forth. Li Hao said, "Pairing the cerebral meridians with physical ones is doable. However, cultivating cerebral Dao meridians is exceedingly dangerous. Even I have not opened a single one yet. If Director Qi truly desires such a vessel, you should think twice." Director Qi chuckled heartily. "It is precisely because no one has developed them that it is interesting! What is the fun in doing research if you only tread where others have already walked?" He felt Li Hao's perspective was mistaken. Utterly mistaken! Only when you dared to venture where no one had gone before could you yield great results and make groundbreaking discoveries. In his eyes, this new era was practically a sacred haven for research. It was a pity that the scholars of old who loved research were either dead or absent. Otherwise, a frantic wave of academic fervor would have surely erupted. Many humans of this new era would likely have become their guinea pigs—though, of course, such thoughts were best kept to himself. Li Hao thought about it and found merit in his words. While they were conversing, a figure vaulted through the air and swiftly descended. Director Zhou landed, nodding slightly to the several Neo-Martial elders. Without conversing with anyone else, he transmitted his voice directly to Li Hao. Li Hao listened quietly, his expression unchanging. Fourteen origin avatars attacking was not entirely unexpected. He had merely not anticipated such an immense commotion, even conjuring the illusion of a second sun. To be frank, that the mastermind had waited until now to strike at him had made Li Hao feel almost slighted. I have already claimed the Central Region and seized the ruins of Heavenly Star Town, yet only now do you send people to kill me? Just how little do you think of me? Fortunately, they had finally made their move. And sending fourteen avatars of formidable experts all at once was not bad at all. Li Hao smiled faintly. "Lin Hongyu did quite well. Not bad." Seeing him speak aloud, Director Zhou ceased transmitting his voice and said in an undertone, "Has Lin Hongyu been given too much authority?" In Li Hao's absence, she had directly mobilized the puppet students as well as the Demon Hunt Army. Though Director Zhou had consented, he had also wanted to see whether those students and soldiers would truly obey military orders. In the end... they had complied without hesitation. He did not know whether this was a blessing or a curse. Hence, he felt rather conflicted. Mobilizing so many people on a moment's notice without Li Hao's personal command and outright slaughtering fourteen seven-element experts would have been unimaginable in the past. Li Hao, however, chuckled. "It is fine. She was borrowing my authority, not wielding her own. If she could not move them and they answered only to me, that would be the real trouble." Director Zhou nodded. Li Hao glanced at him, thought for a moment, and said, "Director Zhou, I have been engrossed in researching the new martial path lately and neglected your situation. You walk the origin path of the Neo-Martial era, and now you can reconstruct your physical body as well..." Director Zhou shook his head. "I know. But whether it is the origin path or the Bright Star Dao, both are ultimately paths of the Great Dao. Once the Star Gate opens, all Daos converge. Right now, there are many enemies, plenty of indestructible substance, and no shortage of origin power. The more ancient foes you kill, Governor-General, the more origin power is freed up. We cannot let that go to waste—in fact, it is my golden opportunity." He smiled. "When no one else needs origin power, that is precisely when my opportunity arrives." At these words, everyone started, then broke into smiles. It made eminent sense! If everyone switched to cultivating the new martial path, origin power would be of little use to the rest of them. Under such circumstances, Director Zhou would indeed have abundant opportunities. If the Star Gate opened and the origin path could project its power once more, it remained uncertain whose future would be grander. No one dared declare that the Bright Star Universe was inherently superior to the Origin Universe. Hoping for it in one's heart did not make it a certainty. The origin path had produced far too many mighty beings; even the Human King's internal world was a variation of the origin path. An era that had birthed countless peerless titans was simply beyond the comparison of modern mortals. Li Hao dropped the subject and straightened his clothes. "Director Wang can continue testing his new body. The rest of you, come outside with me. Although I wish to spend more time exploring the martial path and tending to the livelihood of the people, I understand one principle clearly: when surrounded by formidable enemies, eliminating them comes first!" "Let us go!" At his command, the crowd followed. Director Wang even leaped up and exclaimed, "I am coming too! No need to adapt further; I will make do with this body for now and switch later if it does not suit me!" By this point, he had already entered a physical vessel that possessed a full 108 Dao meridians. Director Wang chuckled merrily. "Opening thirty-six meridians matches the pinnacle of the ancient Peak Realm. If all 108 are opened, it will not be inferior in the slightest to the Immortal Realm of old." It was good enough for the time being. Li Hao smiled. "Very well... let us move!" He said nothing more. Yuming hurried to catch up as well. He still had to deploy the Sky Screen and finish laying out the network. This time, opening the research institute had yielded a wealth of Sky Screen units, which would save everyone a great deal of time. Director Qi did not go outside; he remained behind to keep Zhang An company. Of course, Zhang An did not actually need his company. Watching the others depart, Zhang An prepared to leave as well, but Director Qi took the initiative to speak. "Dean Zhang." Zhang An glanced at him, as though only just recalling his presence, before saying after a long pause, "Junior Brother Qi." Junior brother! Qi Yun had actually hailed from Mowu! Of course, many members of Lu Zhen's research institute had come from Mowu. Lu Zhen himself was an instructor and even an academy dean at Mowu; his daughter, who was the Human King's teacher, was also among Mowu's upper echelon, and her husband had once served as Mowu's principal. Though Qi Yun looked decrepit and older than Zhang An, he was actually younger. Hearing Zhang An address him as junior brother, Director Qi revealed a slight smile. "Senior Brother Zhang, I have a matter to report to you." "What is it?" "Regarding certain research at the institute... With the others present earlier, it was not convenient for me to elaborate." Zhang An raised an eyebrow slightly. "Speak. What matter?" "The institute primarily focuses on eight avenues of research, including the radiation range of the origin path..." Zhang An nodded. Qi Yun continued, "This time, Governor-General Li discovered the Bright Star Realm. It made me wonder: was the severing of the origin path connected to this Bright Star Realm as well? Are the Dao universes linked together? If they are connected, could we locate the Origin Universe and thereby re-establish contact with Neo-Martial?" He looked intently at Zhang An. "Our strength is meager, leaving us powerless to explore the Bright Star Universe. But you, Senior Brother Zhang, are perhaps the strongest Neo-Martial person—the strongest Mowu person—in this current era! As the Human King's guard and the Supreme's grandson, I believe you have both an obligation and a responsibility to make a personal sacrifice: link into the Bright Star Universe, explore the Bright Star Dao, and strive to find the path reconnecting to Neo-Martial!" He stared directly at Zhang An. "I see that you have remained silent all this time, never mentioning any attempt to seek out Neo-Martial. Governor-General Li and his companions do not belong to that era, so they can afford not to care. But why do you not exert yourself to search for a way back? Are you truly going to sit idle and wait until Li Hao opens the Star Gate before looking for Neo-Martial?" "You and I are both men of Mowu. Mowu had countless students, but true Mowu people were few. Senior Brother, you were a fellow student of the Human King's generation. Can you truly not bear to part with this Saint-level power?" Zhang An's brows twitched. "Are you lecturing me, Junior Brother Qi?" Qi Yun, who had appeared rather gentle before, nodded without the slightest pretense. "As the strongest Mowu person in this era, all other Mowu students should logically rally around you! You possess high status and great prestige, serving as everyone's pillar of support. Seeing you here brought me great joy... Yet you have shown no desire to return to Neo-Martial, nor made any move to rescue, search for, or investigate it! Just now, even Wang Ye was attempting to embark upon the new path, perhaps holding onto a chance to return to Neo-Martial. Why have you remained entirely silent?" "I have my own plans." Qi Yun was far from polite. "Are your plans merely to wait and observe from the shadows? No wonder... No wonder people said that among all the descendants of Sovereigns from that era, your performance was the most mediocre, completely devoid of ambition, doing nothing but flattering Principal Fang. Principal Fang was a peerless heroine—how could she possibly fancy a man like you? Nor would the Human King ever acknowledge such a brother-in-law! So give up on that idea, Senior Brother! That is not how a Mowu man acts!" Zhang An looked at him in silence, his gaze chilling. Qi Yun was unfazed. "What, do you wish to strike me, Senior Brother? Mowu loathes that above all else. Striking one's own peers, once discovered... even as the Supreme's grandson, you would be finished! Besides, I am nothing more than a wisp of mental energy! As the strongest Mowu person of this era, if you have no heart to unite Mowu and rally Neo-Martial, then please cease calling yourself a student of Mowu!" Zhang An gave a cold snort, unwilling to waste words, and turned to leave. Qi Yun frowned in displeasure. "What on earth are you thinking, Senior Brother? Even at this juncture, can you still not let go of your so-called heritage as a Sovereign's scion? The disappearance of the Supreme and the others might actually be a blessing for you—at least you would no longer need to fret over your lineage!" "I will consider it. I do not need you to lecture me!" Zhang An had already vanished. Qi Yun let out a long sigh. He muttered to himself, "If not for your strength, who would bother speaking with you? Alas, we lack the Human King's might. Otherwise, I would have overthrown you long ago!" That was the true Mowu tradition. If you refused to do it, someone else naturally would. Sadly, their strength fell short, leaving them powerless. Never mind, he was too tired to argue further. If Zhang An was unwilling to connect to the Bright Star Universe, they would attempt it themselves. *** Li Hao was oblivious to their dispute. At that moment, he was heading straight for the Heavenly Star Sea. From far away, he sensed a formidable and somewhat familiar aura. He knew who had arrived: Ninth Division Commander Li Daozong. He had likely severed a portion of his origin to come. Director Wang sensed it as well. By now, he no longer required Li Hao's protection and could move about freely, though his combat strength was significantly diminished. Feeling that aura, he grew excited. "That fellow is here!" Then he wondered aloud, "Why did he come?" How strange! The world had not yet fully accommodated them. According to Battle Heaven City's plans, they should not have deployed troops at this time. *** Around the same time, the Ninth Division Commander sensed something as well. In the next instant, he saw Li Hao and his companions soaring through the air toward him. Looking at the Ninth Division Commander from a distance and seeing several familiar regiment commanders, Li Hao broke into a broad smile. "What a joy it is to see the Ninth Division Commander travel from afar!" Laughing, Li Hao stepped through the void, ignoring everyone else. Spanning a vast distance in a single stride, he arrived in an instant. "Ninth Division Commander, why not test me today to see whether I am qualified to be a division commander?" With those words, like a tiger descending the mountain, he threw a punch—the Heaven-Shaking Fist! A phantom tiger roared through the mountains and forests, shattering the void before it. The Ninth Division Commander watched him coldly without a word. Radiant light rippled over his golden armor as he met the strike with an iron fist of his own! This fellow Li Hao always sought to turn the tables, looking for every chance to settle scores. He was remarkably petty. Yet... did he have what it took? Two figures clad in golden armor clashed their iron fists together in midair! Boom! The sea exploded! A massive black vortex tore open, devouring seawater and churning up a whirlpool. Li Hao stepped over the waves, dispersing the whirlpool, and unleashed his ferocious tiger fist once more. Simultaneously, an immense, boundless force descended. Rumble! Dozen after dozen of blows rained down, neither man yielding an inch. Li Hao laughed aloud. "The Ninth Division Commander's avatar is formidable indeed! Then allow me to entertain you with an avatar of my own!" "Go!" A figure materialized behind him in an instant and threw a punch that slammed forward like a crashing mountain. The sea surface beneath seemed to solidify into solid earth as earthen energy flooded into the body. That single blow shook the heavens and earth! Boom! This time, the divine body remained entirely motionless, whereas the Ninth Division Commander staggered back several steps. Divine light flickered in his eyes as he looked at Li Hao with profound astonishment. In this era, this world could only accommodate the Peak Realm at present. Therefore, his avatar's combat prowess was exceedingly formidable—virtually unmatched among peers of the same rank! Yet he had been suppressed and pushed back by this physical form. It did not seem to be a living person, but rather an avatar. It bore Li Hao's aura within it. How bizarre! The Ninth Division Commander was caught off guard, and the regiment commanders behind him were equally dumbfounded. Though their commander was only an avatar, everyone knew his prowess was terrifying. Yet he had actually been repelled by the Eleventh Division Commander! Li Hao burst into hearty laughter. "Ninth Brother, just a friendly spar—you don't mind, do you?" "..." The Ninth Division Commander froze. "What... did you just call me?" Li Hao grinned. "By the rules of the Battle Heaven Army, you are the Ninth Division Commander and I am the Eleventh. You rank ninth and I rank eleventh... We are brothers under the same banner, no need to be polite!" With that, he laughed uproariously and turned toward the regiment commanders behind. "Seventh Regiment Commander, Eighth Regiment Commander, you are all here! It has been quite a while, and I have missed you dearly. Would any of you be interested in serving as regiment commanders in my Eleventh Division?" The regiment commanders stood there awkwardly, not daring to utter a word. The Ninth Division Commander gave a cold snort. "Li Hao, even if I handed them over, could you maintain them?" They were all fallen souls; even if given to Li Hao, he would struggle to sustain their existence. Li Hao smiled. "If you dare give them to me, I dare use them! If you gentlemen do not believe me, feel free to come over. I will forge suitable physical vessels for each of you—they work wonderfully!" With that, he called out toward the rear, "Director Wang, come out and greet Ninth Brother!" Behind him, Director Wang felt thoroughly embarrassed. This brat... was truly brazen at times. Ninth Brother? Only someone with your gall would dare utter such nonsense. Besides, you are both of the Li lineage. Strictly speaking, he was a brother to an ancestor countless generations removed from you. He called your ancestor brother, yet you dare call him 'Ninth Brother'! Director Wang cut through the air and arrived. The Ninth Division Commander paid Li Hao and the avatar no further attention, turning his gaze upon Director Wang instead. Sharp light flashed in his eyes as if trying to see right through him. After a long moment, he asked in a chilly voice, "Are you Wang Ye?" Director Wang started, then nodded. "It is me... You... do not recognize me?" As soon as he spoke, he understood. Indeed, his physical vessel had changed, his Great Dao had collapsed, and he was tainted with the aura of the Bright Star Realm. He truly appeared to be an entirely different person. The Ninth Division Commander shot a glance at Li Hao, his tone turning frosty. "Did you refine him into a puppet avatar?" Li Hao blinked. "An avatar?" "He carries your aura..." Li Hao realized what he meant and laughed, shaking his head. "No, it is merely the result of some special methods. Besides... why on earth would I refine an early Immortal Realm cultivator who swapped bodies into an avatar?" The implication was clear: early Immortal Realm cultivators were a dime a dozen, and his body was brand new—what practical use would there be in refining Wang Ye into a puppet? "Fair point!" The Ninth Division Commander nodded slightly and looked back at Director Wang. The latter felt utterly helpless under his stare and said with a wry smile, "It really is me. The circumstances were special, so I had no time to head back and inform you." "We thought you were dead," the Ninth Division Commander said flatly. "When we set out, the generals in the city held a funeral send-off for you!" "..." Wang Ye felt thoroughly depressed. "You sensed the severing of my Great Dao?" "I felt a disturbance," the Ninth Division Commander replied as impassively as ever. "Since you are alive, I shall return." "Wait, don't..." Li Hao chimed in with a grin. "You have already come all this way, why head back so hastily? Even if Ninth Brother is in a hurry, the others need not be." The Ninth Division Commander said sternly, "There are vital affairs in the city!" "Come now, with the two guardians present, is it really your turn to manage things, Ninth Brother?" Li Hao beamed, then transmitted his voice in the next breath. "We have uncovered several traitors. Your brother, Li Daoheng, is one of them!" Yet the Ninth Division Commander remained utterly calm, replying aloud, "And?" Li Hao was taken aback. What do you mean, 'and'? Are you not shocked in the slightest? "Your brother betrayed us and obliterated Heavenly Star Town!" The Ninth Division Commander's tone remained placid. "Everyone has their own ambitions and walks their own path. Though we are brothers, he made his own choice... Treason demands execution! If I cross paths with him, I will strike him down myself." Fair enough! Li Hao was rendered speechless. How could this man be so composed? Having been dead for so many years, had existing merely as mental energy turned him cold-blooded? Without flesh and blood, it seemed emotions had faded. "I have found a way to cultivate a new Dao and help everyone regain a physical vessel. You might not care, but these regiment commanders cannot remain armament spirits forever, can they? In the past, there was no way for armament spirits to revive, but now I have a method... A soldier walks a soldier's path. By using armor as a vessel, there is a very high probability of projecting a physical body once more." This was possible only now; earlier, Li Hao would have been helpless as well. Having said that, he added, "A formidable enemy attacked just now, most likely people from the traitors' faction. Does the Ninth Division Commander not care about that either?" You came all this way, why bother going back? I just so happen to feel that our current strength is lacking. With these thousands of Battle Heaven troops helping to train the Demon Hunt Army, it might produce miraculous results. Now that you have stepped outside, do you really think I will let you slip away? The Ninth Division Commander looked at him and said heavily, "You intend to deal with those traitors?" "Naturally!" Li Hao laughed. "Whether they committed treason does not actually matter all that much to me, but that they actively tried to assassinate me matters a great deal! Moreover, their betrayal was against the world of the Li family. In terms of both public duty and personal loyalty, I must eradicate them! We shall take advantage of this moment to suppress them, lest they keep stirring up trouble. Frankly, I had no interest in dealing with them, but since they insisted on courting disaster, I will not show any mercy!" The Ninth Division Commander fell silent for a moment. "Then I can remain stationed here for a time... but not for long." "Is there an urgent matter calling you back?" Li Hao was puzzled. I already told you I could forge bodies for everyone, so why the rush to return? The Ninth Division Commander said calmly, "Of course there is. The Reserve Garrison Army numbers a full one hundred thousand! Currently, only a fraction has awakened. Lately, we have been busy reviving the rest. Back then, the entire Reserve Garrison Army stayed behind to guard the realm, not just the Ninth Division! Now, the energy across the Silver Moon lands has begun to thicken. Seizing this opportunity to absorb more energy will allow us to revive more soldiers!" "All one hundred thousand are present?" "All of them." "Is the army commander there as well?" "He is." The Ninth Division Commander nodded, adding, "However, the army commander ventured outside back then and returned grievously wounded. He has remained dormant all these years, unable to awaken. At present, I am acting as the provisional army commander. Therefore... Eleventh Division Commander, please address me with the deference due to a superior!" What are you acting so arrogant for? The Ninth Division Commander could not stand this display of arrogance after a bit of success. He had originally not bothered to bring it up, but now he stated it plainly: I am the acting army commander, understand? Li Hao merely chuckled, paying it no mind at all. He simply pretended not to have heard. He glanced at the Battle Heaven troops lined up behind him. They stood in solemn formation, most of them completely devoid of conscious thought. These soldiers... might truly be difficult to restore. But the regiment commanders certainly could be. As for some of the bronze-armored company commanders who retained faint traces of consciousness, he was unsure whether they could ever fully awaken. Without lingering on the thought, he turned toward the Demon Hunt Army and barked, "Well done! The Demon Hunt Army was born from the Battle Heaven Army; your strength is naturally inferior to theirs for now, but your spirit must not falter! We still have crucial tasks ahead, and many matters require our resolution! If we do not resolve them, the burden will fall onto our descendants. Moving forward, I will have the Battle Heaven Army drill you... Do not fear hardship, and do not fear wounds! Whatever the Neo-Martial era could achieve, we can achieve as well!" With that, he raised his voice even higher. "Recently, we deduced a new cultivation technique, which City Lord Lin demonstrated to all of you earlier! Soon, this technique will be widely disseminated, with priority given to the military! Every one of you will have the chance to become the darlings of this era—achieving the Mountain and Sea realm to rival the Peak Realm, and reaching the Sun and Moon realm to match the Immortals!" "I firmly believe that in the years to come, the renown and prestige of the Demon Hunt Army will eclipse that of the Battle Heaven Army! The era belongs to us!" With a sweeping wave of his arm, Li Hao roared, "Hunt demons!" "Hunt demons!" "Hunt demons!" Thousands of soldiers roared in unison, their faces flushed red with boundless excitement! We will surpass the Battle Heaven Army! We definitely will! Li Hao smiled, injecting some fervor into the soldiers so they would not feel disheartened. At this moment, they were naturally no match for the Battle Heaven Army, but that did not mean they could never surpass them in the future. He then turned to Lin Hongyu and the others, shouting, "Once the Sky Screen network is completed, promote the new martial path without delay... This new path shall be named the Bright Star Dao! We will begin its dissemination and promotion in the Central Region!" "I heard you recorded the battle earlier... Use that as a promotional broadcast." Beside him, Director Wang's expression shifted slightly. He transmitted his voice, "That will expose our strength. Be careful lest the traitors witness it..." "What is there to fear?" Li Hao chuckled. "The second resurgence has not even begun. If they have the ability, let them awaken prematurely! We will intimidate them first; the more hesitant they become, the better. Once the new martial path is promoted and millions begin cultivating it, the energy of heaven and earth will be drained in an instant... Let them pay a staggering price if they want to awaken early. I want to see if we can bleed them dry!" Hearing this, Director Wang held his tongue. Beside them, Lin Hongyu smiled radiantly. "Very well, I will arrange for people to handle it immediately. Governor-General, if any surrender, how should we deal with them?" "Execute the guilty, pardon the innocent!" Li Hao offered only that single principle, then added, "Whether they surrender or not is their choice! In a few days, I will march forth to sweep across the four outer regions!" Lin Hongyu said no more. *** Soon after, Li Hao invited the Ninth Division Commander to enter the city together. Though the latter was somewhat reluctant, he could not resist Li Hao's enthusiastic persuasion. The divine avatar practically enveloped him; despite the Ninth Division Commander's deep dissatisfaction, he had no choice, given that he was merely an avatar. As for Director Wang, the Ninth Division Commander could not even be bothered to look at him. You were sent out, and look what happened—your form changed, your aura altered, and your Great Dao vanished... He practically wanted to execute such a fellow as a traitor. Well, that was merely a passing thought. Everyone had their own ambitions. Since this fellow had insisted on making such a choice, there was nothing he could do. *** Meanwhile, factions across the world were making tense preparations. The slaying of the fourteen powerful avatars did not cause an enormous uproar. After all, not everyone was aware of the incident. On the fifth day after those avatars were destroyed, the Sky Screen system across the Central Region was finally completed. Thanks to the tens of thousands of Sky Screen units from the research institute, virtually every city in the Central Region had a Sky Screen erected. On this morning, the Sky Screens across the Central Region projected into the heavens and earth. Enormous displays illuminated the void, blanketing the sky in all directions. On this day, countless Sky Screens hung suspended above the major cities. And for the very first time, Li Hao's image appeared before every inhabitant of the Central Region. Clad in golden armor with a serene expression, Li Hao's likeness gradually manifested across every corner of the sky. This was Li Hao's first realm-wide projection across the entire Central Region. "Fellow elders and kin, I am Li Hao of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office! Today, on January 11, Year 1731 of the Star Yuan Calendar, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office has made a momentous decision!" "At present, the world is in turmoil, and Heavenly Star is plagued by incessant internal strife. Many have even forgotten that powerful enemies loom at our borders. The four surrounding nations intend to march upon the Central Plains to swallow the realm whole! They seek to seize our rivers and mountains, slaughter our kin, lay waste to our cities, and humiliate our families!" "Supernaturals have risen, throwing the world into chaos. Endless warfare has brought unspeakable suffering to the common people..." "To withstand these mighty foes, to protect ourselves, to ensure the Central Plains do not perish, to shield our wives and daughters, and for the sake of our descendants... our only choice is self-strengthening!" "How do we strengthen ourselves?" "By strengthening ourselves, strengthening our nation, strengthening our armies, and driving the dark rule far away from Heavenly Star! We will tell those who bring chaos to get lost!" "Therefore... promoting the martial path is imperative!" "Every single person must strive unceasingly. Fate should be held in your own hands! Have you ever been driven from your homeland by supernatural turmoil? Have you ever been pushed to despair by supernatural beings? Only when the entire populace practices martial arts and achieves supernatural might can we escape the fate of being slaughtered like fish upon a chopping block!" The grand, resounding voice echoed across the lands of Heavenly Star. Across the Central Region, hundreds of millions of people gazed up at the Sky Screens. Though there were fewer screens across the four outer regions, many people were also looking toward the sky. The Silver Moon lands had connected to several dozen screens for the first time, scattered across thirty-two cities. At this moment, everyone was staring into the heavens. A spark of fire flickered faintly in their eyes. Indeed, who didn't know that only by practicing martial arts and becoming supernatural could one withstand supernaturals? But... martial arts were too difficult, and supernaturals were too elusive! At that moment, from within the Sky Screen, Li Hao spoke once more: "Martial arts academies are currently being established in various regions, but due to a shortage of instructors, they are not yet open to the public. However... everyone may begin cultivating on their own. Once the academies open, instructors will provide guidance to help you advance further!" "Having been refined by the Governor-General's Office, a new martial cultivation technique has been deduced. It is open to all, named the *Aperture Opening Art*! The human body contains 360 apertures. Opening a single aperture allows one to step into the Ten-Slayer realm!" "The Ten-Slayer realm possesses four tiers, with nine apertures per tier; opening thirty-six apertures marks the peak of the Ten-Slayer realm!" "Opening the thirty-seventh aperture allows one to enter the Hundred-Breaker realm. The Hundred-Breaker realm has four tiers, with nine apertures per tier; opening seventy-two apertures marks the peak of the Hundred-Breaker realm!" "Opening the seventy-third aperture allows one to enter the Thousand-Battler realm! There is no need to comprehend 'force'—one directly attains the Thousand-Battler realm! The Thousand-Battler realm comprises three tiers, with thirty-six apertures per tier; opening 180 apertures marks the peak of the Thousand-Battler realm!" "Above the Thousand-Battler realm lies the Mountain and Sea realm! The Mountain and Sea realm possesses nine tiers, with five apertures per tier; opening 225 apertures marks the ninth tier of the Mountain and Sea realm!" "There are realms above the Mountain and Sea, but for now, they remain distant for most of you!" Li Hao's voice reverberated between heaven and earth: "The seventh tier of the Mountain and Sea realm can rival a seven-element divine ability! Anyone can cultivate it, and anyone can achieve it! Entering the Mountain and Sea is akin to possessing divine abilities! A Thousand-Battler can match Three Suns and Rising Light; a Hundred-Breaker can rival Solar Flare; a Ten-Slayer can slay Starlight! The new Bright Star martial path surpasses all that came before, and its cultivation is far simpler!" "Now, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office has printed three million copies of the *Aperture Opening Art*, posting them across Heavenly Star and distributing them throughout the world! The era of universal cultivation of the new martial path has begun. Whether you seize this opportunity to soar into the heavens depends entirely on yourselves!" "Furthermore, evil beings from ancient civilizations harbor lingering desires to subvert our new era, repeatedly attempting to destroy the Star Origin era... A few days ago, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office executed several seven-element ancient evil supernaturals! Today, we broadcast that battle for all to see, so the people of Heavenly Star may witness the peerless might of our Bright Star martial path!" With those final words, Li Hao's figure faded away. In the next instant, the battle over the Heavenly Star Sea was displayed. Thousands of soldiers sealed the void as fourteen mighty experts tore through space, their fists shattering the fabric of reality, leaving countless onlookers utterly astounded. Could... could this truly be achieved by mortals? Tearing through space! For the first time, countless people learned that space itself could be shattered! In the next scene, Lin Hongyu and her allies entered the fray. No other voices sounded, only Lin Hongyu's declaration of her rank: the sixth tier of the Mountain and Sea realm! The formidable Lin Hongyu shattered the void with her curved blade, ultimately decapitating the powerhouse who had torn space asunder with a single slash. This spectacle left everyone utterly dumbfounded. The sixth tier of the Mountain and Sea realm... could slay a seven-element divine ability? At this moment, whether supernatural or martial master, everyone was stunned. So many terrifying powerhouses! Those divine abilities rumored to be invincible were... nothing more than this. Never mind two-element abilities, an entire group of seven-element experts had perished here. And rumor had it that the Governor-General's Office possessed countless experts of the Sun and Moon realm—beings of an even higher plane. At the very end, a diagram materialized. Three hundred and sixty points of light flickered, coalescing into thirty-six Dao meridians. Li Hao's voice echoed from behind the screen: "Apertures serve as the dividing nodes of the Dao meridians. Their positions have all been pinpointed for you. Open them strictly in sequence without deviation, circulating the *Aperture Opening Art* to absorb energy! The various martial arts academies will strive to open within a month. At that time, those with ambition may enroll for advanced study!" "Do not cultivate blindly. Supernaturals and martial masters with an existing foundation may all practice it! I, Li Hao, hope that in this era... everyone may enjoy vigorous health. Practicing martial arts is not meant for bullying the weak, but for protecting oneself, defending the realm, and strengthening the body!" "The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office already boasts ten thousand experts in the Mountain and Sea realm, yet such strength remains far from enough... The world is filled with untold talents. I hope that through this dissemination of the martial path, heroes will rise to join us in guarding this world, driving out evil, and letting light bathe the earth once more!" At this moment, the entire world fell silent. No one uttered a word as they stared at the points of light displayed in the sky. It was an anatomical diagram of the human body. Three hundred and sixty points of light were clearly numbered from one to the end, requiring only that one cultivate them in sequential order. Since many people were illiterate, a voice calmly read the *Aperture Opening Art* aloud, while a figure demonstrated the circulation of energy through the meridians, guiding them on how to cultivate. Some had already sat down cross-legged, unable to banish those scenes from their minds... The moment when fourteen seven-element experts were annihilated. The female general at the sixth tier of the Mountain and Sea realm, whose ferocity defied belief, slaying a powerhouse from an ancient civilization with a single blade strike. They did not understand what avatars were; they only knew that the slain foe was terrifyingly strong, capable of shattering the void with a single fist. *** Silver Moon. Director Zhao's eyes widened in a daze, unable to believe what he was witnessing. Although someone had visited Silver Moon previously to inform him of these developments, he had not truly grasped how powerful the Mountain and Sea realm was. Yet now, Lin Hongyu had proven it beyond doubt. She was not a pure sixth-tier Mountain and Sea cultivator; Director Zhao could tell that she had separately opened six meridians and over a hundred apertures, making her a hybrid practitioner. Nevertheless... Lin Hongyu's baseline strength had certainly not reached the seven-element level of the past. Yet she had still slain the avatar of an ancient powerhouse. And Li Hao claimed that the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office possessed over ten thousand Mountain and Sea experts... Was that true or false? Mountain and Sea was largely equivalent to the former divine ability tier. Over ten thousand divine abilities? Furthermore, this cultivation method... was so ridiculously simple! Just follow the 360 marked apertures, circulate the technique in a foolproof manner, absorb energy, and open the apertures. Once all 360 were opened, one would become an invincible existence? At this moment, Director Zhao felt utterly disoriented. Could it truly be so simple? And... he simply publicized it to the world just like that? *** At the very same time. At the shared headquarters of the Three Great Organizations and Haotian Divine Mountain. A group of powerhouses stared at a Sky Screen. They had procured it on their own; though not connected to Li Hao's network, it had picked up the transmission. The screen was currently playing a continuous loop of Lin Hongyu's battle, along with the intricate details of the cultivation method. After a long silence, a soft scoff sounded, accompanied by an eerie voice: "This *Aperture Opening Art* is likely far more profound than the Five Animals Secret Art, involving vastly more knowledge. Back then, Yuan Shuo was unwilling to part with even the Five Animals Secret Art, yet now this idiot Li Hao has made everything completely public!" Several people glanced at the speaker, but none responded. An idiot? This was an act of absolute, unshakeable confidence! At this moment, the top experts remained entirely silent. Below them, a senior executive of one organization muttered in a low voice, "We cannot allow this information to spread. There must be a trap—this technique must be flawed! We cannot cultivate it, or we will fall straight into Li Hao's scheme!" "Indeed, there must be a problem. How could it be so simple? Opening 181 apertures grants the combat strength of a divine ability?" "Exactly! The path of cultivation is as arduous as scaling the heavens. For us to step into divine abilities, we required the Spring of Life. Li Hao didn't even mention it... He surely harbors malicious intent!" "..." Voices chimed in one after another, everyone still struggling to believe their eyes. How was it possible? Cultivation was such a sacred and momentous endeavor. Whether for martial masters or supernaturals, it required immense talent, mountains of resources, and rare opportunities... Cultivating so casually, what could one possibly achieve? Yet at the front of the gathering, Ying Hongyue said nothing at all. Instead, following the guidance on the screen, apertures began lighting up across his body one by one. With his foundation and numerous existing Dao meridians, doing so posed virtually no difficulty. Nine, eighteen, thirty-six... He sensed and perceived the changes in silence. Soon, seventy-two! A surging aura rose into the air. With eyes closed, he continued opening apertures without speaking. Vast amounts of the Spring of Life surged into his body, popping open one aperture after another. Before long, 180 apertures were unlocked. When the 181st aperture broke open—boom! By comparison, 181 apertures marked the threshold of the divine ability realm—the first tier of the Mountain and Sea. Previously, one could not enter without powerful five-organ energy. Yet right now... his five organs barely fluctuated. A peculiar and formidable power flooded into his body, swelling his might. Ying Hongyue's frame trembled slightly, and in the next instant, he threw a punch whose sheer power faintly warped the void. Everyone watched in dumbfounded silence! Ying Hongyue raised his head toward the sky, speaking placidly after a long pause: "The entire membership will switch to the *Aperture Opening Art*! Aside from those who already possess divine abilities and Rising Light, everyone from the Three Suns downward must transition to the new technique immediately! Make it swift!" Beside him, Yama and the others wore complex expressions. After a long silence, the Flying Sword Immortal laughed self-deprecatingly. "Ying Hongyue... with what... do we continue this fight?" Yama remained silent. Haotian Mountain Master, who had been cultivating and opening apertures the entire time, opened his eyes. "Li Hao is arrogant, but... he possesses the qualifications to be arrogant. If things are truly as he claimed—with over ten thousand Mountain and Sea cultivators and countless Sun and Moon experts—then the Three Great Organizations, including Haotian Divine Mountain, will be shattered like dry twigs!" "Unless ancient civilizations deploy a massive host of expert avatars, or the second resurgence commences immediately... we are in grave trouble!" Right at that moment, Ying Hongyue murmured, "The second resurgence? Have you not sensed it yet?" "Sensed what?" "The energy!" In the next instant, the faces of everyone present shifted drastically as they looked upward. Between heaven and earth, boundless energy surged forth only to vanish in the blink of an eye. At this very moment, countless millions of people were likely cultivating. Though each individual was weak, the energy of heaven and earth seemed to have been sucked completely dry in a single breath. The moment a wisp of energy was born, it was instantly depleted. At this moment, even powerhouses secluded in ancient ruins found their cultivation abruptly interrupted. They could plunder energy, and no single person could outcompete them, but... what about ten thousand people? A hundred thousand? Hundreds of millions? "Will the second resurgence... never be able to open?" the Flying Sword Immortal muttered in sheer terror! Then... who could stand against Li Hao? Who could? Hundreds of millions cultivating was merely the beginning; next would come a billion, perhaps ten billion... Before long, all energy across heaven and earth might be drained dry. The moment a wisp appeared, it would vanish. Even if a mineral vein were to detonate, its energy would likely be devoured instantly! Ying Hongyue said calmly, "It will open eventually. Heaven and earth are recovering, naturally generating energy, and cultivation will not perpetually drain it at this rate... But the arrival of the second resurgence has been postponed indefinitely!" The crowd fell into heavy silence. After a long time, Yama asked in a muffled voice, "Then what... do we do now?" What to do? Ying Hongyue remained silent for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Cultivate. Open apertures. Step into the Mountain and Sea, and reach the Sun and Moon. Seek out weaker ruins, slay ancient powerhouses, seize their treasures and energy, strengthen ourselves... and then... find another way!" What else could they do? Risk their lives fighting Li Hao and his followers? How could they even fight? Fourteen seven-element experts had arrived, yet Li Hao's side had only deployed Lin Hongyu alongside a few ancient figures, and they had obliterated them in an instant. What options remained? *** On this day, the entire dynasty was shaken to its core! Though numerous warlords and overlords had anticipated changes, seeing Li Hao openly disclose the cultivation technique left them weeping without tears! Earlier, they had offered precious treasures just to trade for it. Who could have guessed that Li Hao would simply make such a formidable technique public to the entire world? The heavens... had truly changed!