The Rise of Humanity

Four great provinces pacified in a single day. Nearly the entire leadership of the four provinces had been rounded up in one fell swoop. Their armies had been taken over in an instant. On Li Hao's end, the sky screen team followed up immediately. Before long, sky screens were being deployed in every region. …… One night passed. Dawn had just broken. Residents across the four provinces who were still trembling in fear heard a resonant, powerful voice ring out: "People of Beihai, Heyuan, Linjiang, and Wu Province! I am Li Hao of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, a fellow son of the north—Li Hao of Silver Moon!" Enormous sky screens manifested in an instant. From place to place and city to city, Li Hao's figure appeared once more. At this moment, Li Hao was clad in golden armor. Behind him, the ferocious tiger banner fluttered in the wind as he stood upon a warship. As countless pairs of eyes turned toward him, Li Hao proclaimed in a clear voice, "Turmoil has racked the north for over half a year, and the Three Northern Provinces have known no peace. Now Dali invades. When a nation faces survival or ruin, every soul shares in the responsibility! Yet the leadership of these four provinces defied orders, bent on instigating civil war. This will not be tolerated! "Last night, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office launched an offensive, executing the provincial leadership who stubbornly pursued internal strife! As of now, the armies of the four provinces have also been taken under our command and will march for Silver Moon this very day! "In the coming days, these four provinces will endure a period of disorder—without government, without organization, without an army... The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is short on hands and cannot dispatch reinforcements quickly. Social development will inevitably grind to a halt, and chaos may even arise! "Therefore, I, Li Hao, earnestly beseech you, elders and fellow countrymen: form your own villagers' militias! Defend your own homelands! Shield your kin! Stand boldly against thieves and bandits!" Villagers' militias! The moment those words rang out, shock waves swept through the lands. Li Hao's voice continued, "In prosperity, the people suffer; in ruin, the people suffer! Today, martial arts are being promoted across the land, and martial masters are rising everywhere. Organize yourselves to protect your homes and defend your loved ones! Why did you learn martial arts in the first place? "If you cannot protect your kin and your loved ones, what was the point of practicing martial arts? "I do not demand that you march to the front lines to face Dali's mighty foes, but... you must take up weapons and say no to those who would prey upon you! "When paths cross in narrow straits, the brave prevail! Will you let them plunder your wealth, slaughter your wives and daughters, and leave you starving? Is that what you wish to see? "I had not wished to strip the four provinces of their armies... yet I know all too well that those troops were worse than bandits! If left behind, they would only ravage the countryside! "In every city, I will leave behind ten warriors of the Demon Hunt Army. The local elders may take the initiative to register, establish militias, and receive weapons, food, and clothing... "If any grave crisis arises, you may report it to the garrisoned Demon Hunt Army personnel. If there is no major crisis, guard your local communities! "In this hour, anyone who commits a crime is no different from a traitor! All lawbreakers will be met with the harshest punishment! Show no mercy!" Li Hao's voice turned ice-cold. "Cultivating, cultivating! Gaining strength only to burn, loot, and bully the weak... If you do not die, who should? If you truly have excess energy with nowhere to vent it, if you truly lack resources to cultivate, you are all welcome to come to Silver City at the foot of Mount Cang and join the war against Dali! "Slay our enemies! Rely on your own prowess to seize treasures, secure resources, cultivate, and strengthen yourselves! Slaying enemies and slaughtering the champions of foreign lands to grow stronger—that is hunting demons to defend the Dao! "Slaying your own people and slaughtering frail civilians—that is acting as a devil reborn, deserving only death!" Li Hao's voice rang loud and clear. "Elders and fellow countrymen, though I have put an end to those villains, I cannot pacify the turmoil instantly. I can only implore you to take matters into your own hands and protect yourselves. I have failed you all! Yet the world is in chaos; only by strengthening ourselves and standing on our own two feet can we hope to win a better future for the next generation! "Of the nineteen northern provinces, aside from the four great provinces and Silver Moon, the remaining fourteen provinces are hereby ordered to dispatch troops immediately to reinforce Silver Moon—a minimum of one hundred thousand troops and over a thousand supernaturals! All supplies will be borne by the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office! "Should any defy this order... the four provinces stand as their example! "Next, the Governor-General's Office will broadcast the scenes of yesterday's enforcement. It is somewhat bloody and unsuitable for children... Everyone else, watch closely! Bloody or cruel though it may be, how can the timid and cowardly protect themselves in this troubled world? "If you desire supernatural power for all, how can you shrink from the sight of blood? "The world is plunged into turmoil and beset by countless enemies. You are only being asked to watch, not to do it yourselves... If you find even watching it cruel... then once our country falls, our plight will be far more pitiful! The people of Dali are fiercer than wild beasts! "When that day comes, your fate will be far more desolate!" As Li Hao finished speaking, yesterday's scenes appeared on the massive screens. Slaughter! Endless slaughter! The leadership of the four provinces was beheaded one after another. Vast hosts of rebel troops were wiped out, and several rebel factions were instantly annihilated. There were even outright massacres—swarms of rebel troops were carpeted by supernatural cannons, reduced to minced meat in the blink of an eye. The figures of the Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunt Army were revealed to the world for the first time. The Ninth Division Commander, leading one thousand Battle Heaven troops like a slaughter machine, cut down over ten thousand soldiers in the span of a breath. This horrifying spectacle stunned the populace of the four provinces. Deterrence! Indeed, this was meant not only to deter the other northern provinces, but also to frighten the strong and the ill-intentioned within the four provinces themselves. For a short period, the four provinces would remain in a state of lawless anarchy. Though Li Hao urged all sides to form militias, there would always be individuals who paid no heed to such pleas. Now, brushing aside all objections, he publicly broadcast these scenes for the first time: ceaseless slaughter, legions of soldiers slain, and high officials beheaded en masse. The warship continued to glide through the sky. Those on board felt somewhat uneasy. Yet at that very moment, someone below caught sight of the airship. Suddenly, a figure dropped to their knees in worship, roaring at the top of their lungs, "The Governor-General's divine might! Long live the Governor-General!" An unspeakable surge of excitement and fervor erupted! Some might not understand, but others had endured more than enough of it all—the incompetence, corruption, darkness, and cruelty of the ruling class... The military had long since rotted, combing through the populace like a fine-toothed rake! Not to mention the chaos in the Three Northern Provinces; Linjiang was arguably even darker than those three. Today, Li Hao had directly purged the leadership of the four provinces, executing them and marching off with the armies. This brought absolute ecstasy to many, washing away the numbness in their eyes. They did not find those images cruel in the least! They only found them... deeply gratifying! It was as it should be! It should have happened long ago! In an instant, a roaring tide of voices shook the four quarters. People joined in, bellowing one after another, "The Governor-General's divine might!" "Governor-General, I want to enlist... and slay Dali!" "..." Below, young men bolted after the warship, roaring incessantly, "To the north! Slay the enemy!" "To Mount Cang! Win glory and defend our homeland!" On this day, the four provinces trembled as countless people cried out. The glazed, indifferent stares vanished, replaced by wild excitement and fiery zeal. The scenes looping in the sky did not terrify them; instead, they stirred their blood and fueled their passion. True men should live like this! Countless youths packed their bags, grabbed whatever weapons they could find—be they hoes or woodchopping knives—and ran northward in pursuit of the warship. Behind them came the parting words and reluctant voices of elderly parents: "Once you're there, don't turn out like those common soldiers... Learn from Governor-General Li! Learn from the Demon Hunt Army!" "Go on, don't worry! I'll look after things at home, and the children will go to school..." "I'll be waiting for your return!" There were wives giving earnest reminders, and children tearfully seeing off their fathers. On this day, across the four northern provinces, tens of thousands of youths bid farewell to their families, driven by pure, boiling blood as they sprinted northward. The people of the north had suffered for far too long. "Northern barbarians"—that was what the Central Region called them. In this chaotic age, they had barely been able to survive. But now, the darkness hanging over their heads had been shattered, and the imposing figures of the Demon Hunt Army were etched deep into their hearts. To the north! Slay the enemy! Otherwise, once Dali overran the land, the darkness that had finally been dispelled would soon shroud the northern continent once again. …… On this day, the entire northern continent was in an uproar. Province after province broadcast Li Hao's proclamations and the gruesome executions. The various provincial authorities watched helplessly as more and more sky screens appeared, yet not a single soul dared to interfere. They let the sky screen team brazenly erect screens over every major city. It was done right under their noses. Yet... what could they do? They dared not make a move. On this day, the other dozen or so provinces were stricken with terror, dread, and cowardice. Li Hao... was no saint! He had simply been reluctant to resort to such extreme measures. But push him too far, and under his thunderous wrath, all who resisted would die. Across the north, another tidal wave rose up. "To Silver Moon! Enlist and slay the enemy!" "To Silver Moon! Rally behind Governor-General Li, and bring troops back to execute our tyrannical director!" "Elders and fellow countrymen, the four northern provinces formed villagers' militias because they have no government... but we must form them too! Protect ourselves, protect our families! If those soldiers dare come again, we'll fight them to the death!" "Fight to the death!" "..." The waves stirred on this day surpassed anything before. News spread rapidly throughout the north. Sky screens stood everywhere. Seeing those sights, hearing those words... the numb and weary populace could finally endure it no longer. What did powerful masters matter? They were fragile and insignificant. Once Governor-General Li arrived, he would sweep away all darkness. Kill them all! Now, we are masters of our own fate. In a flash, villagers' militias sprang up from every corner. In the past, there had been no foundation for such an uprising, but now the new martial arts were being popularized throughout the populace. Even women with decent talent had opened acupoints and stepped into the Ten-Slayer realm; they were at least strong enough to wield blades and spears, and capable of taking a life! The power of the masses was the greatest power of all. In some regions, mobs even began storming government offices, demanding that officials mobilize troops to repel Dali's invasion. Other villagers' militias raised the ferocious tiger banner directly, demanding that crooked merchants and wealthy tycoons open their granaries to distribute grain. The north... was plunged into violent upheaval. Terrified high officials fled in secret, not daring to report for duty or show their faces at the prefectural offices. This shock wave began to spread outward. It swept beyond the northern continent, rolling toward the east, west, and south. Deploy troops! The north was mobilizing to march against Dali; the other regions had to deploy their forces swiftly as well to guard against potential invasions from the other three foreign kingdoms. Li Hao had said that the will of the people was the most formidable force of all. In the past, many had scoffed at this idea. Yet on this day, hegemonies across the realm witnessed it firsthand: thousands of villagers' militias were formed in rapid succession, filled with countless acupoint-opening martial artists who cast aside official decrees and began governing themselves. Some ambitious individuals even began recruiting local villagers to form units and march toward Silver Moon to join the battle. The entire north, the entire dynasty, erupted into a boiling fervor in an instant. Even before Li Hao reached Silver Moon, the people of Silver Moon knew he was drawing near. If outsiders supported him so passionately, what of Silver Moon, a land inherently steeped in martial valor? …… White Moon City. Organized by local leaders, thousands upon thousands gathered into massive crowds, crying out in frenzy, "We want to enlist! We want to slay the enemy! We want to defend our homeland!" "General Administration Bureau, hurry up and send someone to organize us! We're going to fight in Silver City!" "Outsiders are already on their way! Are we Silver Moon folks inferior to those outsiders?" "Kill the Dali invaders! Wipe out Dali! Follow the Governor-General to trample Dali underfoot! Flatten Mount Cang!" Tsunami-like roars echoed across White Moon City. Certain onlookers watched with deeply complicated expressions. Li Hao, the Demon Sword. Even before his arrival, the world had been turned upside down. The entire realm now truly knew the Demon Sword, knew Li Hao, knew Governor-General Li. In a single day, the upper echelons of four great provinces had been wiped clean, plunging the region into complete anarchy! Out of millions of troops, nearly a hundred thousand had likely been slaughtered, while the rest were forced to march toward Silver Moon. Everyone had assumed that Li Hao's ruthless cruelty would provoke widespread outrage. Yet... it had not. Because the people hated their oppressors too deeply! Over in Linjiang, firecrackers were popping louder and more joyously than during the New Year. In the eyes of the locals, those soldiers were worse than bandits. Now that a heap of them had been slaughtered and the rest driven to the front lines to fight the enemy... the people of Linjiang were overjoyed. How could they possibly think Li Hao was cruel? …… In a secluded mountain ravine. Ying Hongyue and his cohort gazed into the distance. Someone let out a sigh: "Damn it all... Our Three Great Organizations have killed countless people, but if you look at it, did we ever kill as many in a single day as he did?" In a single night, Li Hao had killed over one hundred thousand. Though they had slain many, and even more had perished because of them, the number of people they had personally executed was nowhere near that figure. Yet they were reviled everywhere, while Li Hao? Cheered by tens of thousands! A brilliant slaughter! Even hidden deep in these mountains, they could hear the roaring cheers clear as day. The entire north was in an uproar, countless people's blood was boiling, and legions of youths were leaving their homes behind to march after him, wishing only to follow Li Hao and slay Dali's champions. This was plainly a foreign invasion... yet right now, the entire atmosphere was completely different. Ying Hongyue murmured, "Li Hao... What a scheme! It might not have been accidental; it was likely deliberate—using the leadership of the four provinces to ignite the people's spirit of resistance and stir their blood..." Had Li Hao broadcast those scenes merely for deterrence? Hardly! Perhaps... it was to shatter the fear in people's hearts, showing them that no matter how terrifying an enemy was, they were nothing more than flesh and blood. He could have headed straight for Silver Moon, but he had chosen not to. He had spent a critically important day here... On the surface, he had merely taken away the disobedient armies, but in reality, he had ignited the hearts of several billion people. The Three Great Organizations were hunted like rats everywhere they went. Yet Li Hao was hailed like a descending saint. "What a hypocrite!" The Flying Sword Immortal suddenly chuckled. "That fellow is truly a hypocrite, but his methods are undeniably brilliant. When we kill, it's evil! When he kills, it's justice, it's 'hunting demons'—he even named his army the Demon Hunt Army! "And yet, everyone buys into it. You heard the roaring cheers yourselves... The north is celebrating like it's a second New Year! Where is the slightest hint of tension over Dali's invasion?" With that, he turned to Ying Hongyue. "What should we do? Li Hao has come north, and Dali is attacking... Should we... rally our forces and join hands with Dali, launching a pincer attack from within and without to strike Li Hao a crippling blow?" At this moment, the others turned their gazes toward Ying Hongyue. This was indeed an opportunity. Between the Three Great Organizations and Haotian Divine Mountain, they still commanded a formidable array of experts—tens of thousands of supernaturals, and currently several hundred at the Divine Power level. An extraordinarily terrifying force! If they coordinated with Dali to hit Li Hao from the front and rear, striking from behind, they might just deal Li Hao a thunderous blow. "Dali is bound to lose!" Ying Hongyue suddenly said, "Do you even know how many experts Li Hao has on his side?" He looked into the distance. "Li Hao has likely obtained the favor of Heaven's Will. He exaggerates the danger deliberately to stir the people's desire to defend their homeland. In truth, even now, he has the leisure to leave people garrisoning the Central Region... which means he does not fear Dali's invasion in the slightest!" Taking a deep breath, he added, "Those fellows hoping Dali can deal significant damage to Li Hao... might not see any results. Of course, their scheme to have the four foreign kingdoms invade probably serves their own purposes... Perhaps once enough people die, there will be a different outcome." By this point, he had already pieced together parts of the truth. Even if every soul in Dali perished, those figures behind the red robes would not care in the least. What they cared about was the second resurgence! It made no difference who died. Would a pincer strike from inside and outside really inflict grave damage on Li Hao? If they could not kill Li Hao, everything would be in vain. The group looked at Ying Hongyue. Yama said in a low voice, "Then what do you propose? Are we just going to watch Li Hao crush Dali? To put it bluntly, even if Li Hao spares everyone else, he won't spare you. Hiding from him forever... isn't a long-term solution!" Ying Hongyue seemed to have spent all his time avoiding Li Hao. That was hardly a good sign! Ying Hongyue suddenly smiled. "You're right... Which is why, while Li Hao is tied down here, we should do something else! Let them fight it out. Our priority remains strengthening ourselves and gathering experts! "Furthermore, we need resources... So while that fellow is occupied, we are going to... Dali itself!" Everyone shuddered! Ying Hongyue's eyes gleamed. "The King of Dali went on an imperial expedition in person, taking away the vast majority of their experts. Very few remain behind to guard their homeland... Dali possesses a staggering amount of resources—ancient ruins, monster plants, even relics from the Early Martial era... all left within Dali! While the two sides wage war and Dali is devoid of guardian experts... we will go there and plunder all their treasures!" The group swallowed hard. The Haotian Mountain Lord said in a deep voice, "Wouldn't that be helping Li Hao?" "No, no, no..." Ying Hongyue chuckled and shook his head. "This will force the Dali Dynasty to fight Li Hao to the bitter end, leaving them no way out! We will cut off their retreat entirely! We'll make them fight to the last breath in Mount Cang and Silver Moon! If Li Hao merely wishes to repel them... I will show him that an army with its boats sunk and backs against the wall—the people of Dali—can be remarkably terrifying! "If they fail to conquer the Central Plains, the King of Dali will find himself attacked from both front and rear... Tell me, will he still have any way to retreat? "He will have none! "The Three Great Organizations boast tens of thousands of supernaturals and numerous powerhouses... Once we seize all of Dali's resources and strip them bare down to the last feather, tell me, will Dali still be able to pull back?" The others' eyes flickered. Indeed. Together, the four factions possessed tremendous strength. A head-on confrontation with Dali was out of the question, of course. But now, Dali's warriors had marched off, leaving very few powerhouses behind. Raiding their rear and pillaging everything in Dali... would bring them an immense harvest. Ying Hongyue smiled. "Men like Li Hao are difficult to deal with. Our sole imperative is to keep growing stronger! Only then will we stand a chance! Furthermore, the underground Forbidden Sea connects heaven and earth, and I suspect its source may lie in Dali. If we can ignite the Forbidden Sea and release some ancient relics ahead of schedule... that might make for quite a show. Of course, timing is everything. If the gap between the two sides becomes too wide and Li Hao's forces are wiped out instantly... our end won't be pretty either! "We hold one massive advantage over Li Hao: mobility!" Ying Hongyue smiled radiantly, looking exceptionally bright and cheerful. "We can leave at any time and go wherever we please... but he cannot. He must stabilize the Heavenly Star Dynasty! Therefore, we mustn't cause too much trouble within Heavenly Star... If we push him over the edge and he abandons Heavenly Star entirely... he will become truly impossible to deal with!" The others nodded slightly. Ying Hongyue wasted no more words. "Move quickly. Gather everyone and pull out of the north. We'll cross Mount Cang covertly from its northernmost reaches... Kill anyone who spots us, and enter Dali!" A moment later, an enormous treasure hall rose into the air, followed closely by a divine mountain, as a crimson moon streaked across the void. Since Li Hao had arrived... they would withdraw. Dali, here they came. Moreover, there was another immense advantage this time: the Dali Dynasty was currently waging war against the Mount Cang demon race. The Mount Cang demons were locked in bitter combat with Dali and had no time to bother with them. The departure of so many demons opened up a clear path to cross the border unnoticed. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, Mount Cang was teeming with demons; attempting to slip across would inevitably draw their attention, making secrecy impossible. Just as when Dali had deployed its forces, the Mount Cang demons had learned of it immediately. There had been no hiding it! …… On this day, the Three Great Organizations and Haotian Divine Mountain tore through the void once more. Instead of following the ancient city's orders to strike Li Hao a thunderous blow in Silver Moon, they quietly vanished from the northern lands. …… Meanwhile, Li Hao had in fact remained vigilant against the Three Great Organizations that had retreated into the north. However, Ying Hongyue and his cohort were elusive, their whereabouts completely untraceable. Even Clairaudience could no longer pinpoint their location. At this moment, Li Hao was speeding toward Silver Moon. No matter where they went, deafening cheers echoed in their ears. This left everyone else deeply shaken. So... killing people could produce such an effect? They had assumed that slaughtering so many would spark unrest, but there was none—not the slightest trace. Even if a few felt uneasy... they were thoroughly drowned out by the vast majority. At this juncture, anyone who dared speak ill of Li Hao would instantly face a barrage of public denunciation. Even Jade Rakshasa could not help remarking, "This is the first time I've ever seen someone become a saint... by killing!" Indeed, she had heard countless people wildly hailing Li Hao as a saint descended to earth. Yet how could there be a saint like this? Last night alone, at least one hundred thousand had died. And now, an army of nearly two million was being escorted to Silver Moon by ten thousand Demon Hunt Army soldiers and several thousand Battle Heaven troops. Once thrust into battle, casualties would undoubtedly be catastrophic. Could a devil who slaughtered millions at the drop of a hat... truly be called a saint? She found it utterly incomprehensible! Compared to Li Hao, she felt Yuan Shuo had been deeply wronged. How many martial masters had Yuan Shuo killed? Had it even been three hundred? Yet Yuan Shuo was recognized throughout the martial world as an old devil, while Li Hao... was hailed as a saint! Truly... words failed her. The titles of master and disciple ought to be swapped. With these thoughts in mind, Jade Rakshasa did not linger on the matter, asking instead, "Sky Sword sent word earlier regarding Qian Wuliang. How does the Governor-General intend to deal with him?" "Deal with him?" Li Hao smiled. "Why should I deal with him? He rendered great service, taking Linjiang without shedding a drop of our blood and executing that scoundrel Fan Chang, who intended to collude with Dali. Why should he be punished?" Jade Rakshasa felt somewhat uneasy. "He... he is terrifying! Right now, he is only at the Rising Light level... Once he enters Mountain and Sea or Divine Power, he may become... even more terrifying!" She believed Li Hao was taking a reckless risk. Qian Wuliang's divine power was truly horrifying. Li Hao shook his head. "Divine power is not terrifying; what is terrifying is the human heart! As long as one is human, one has the seven emotions and six desires. The key is whether you can master them. Whether you feel anger, joy, or greed... all of that is entirely natural. But you must not let those desires consume you. If you can exercise restraint, Qian Wuliang cannot bewitch you in the slightest!" Easy to say! Jade Rakshasa could not help but counter, "Yet the Governor-General also said that the human heart is the hardest thing to gauge! Some people merely harbor thoughts without ever intending to act on them, yet he can amplify the evil within!" Such a being... was simply too dangerous. Li Hao nodded. "What you say makes sense... However, that is his Dao! There are myriad Daos, each distinct. His Dao governs the seven emotions and six desires... It is extraordinarily complex. Even I cannot easily judge it, nor can I deduce which Dao meridians induced his transformation... "He has committed no wrongdoing, so why should I punish him?" Pausing, Li Hao added, "If the day comes when he errs, I will naturally discipline him—not now!" Chief Manager Yu sighed softly. "Very well... It's just that he frightens me a little! Now that the Governor-General holds him in high regard, he may experience an explosive surge in strength, and then he will be even more terrifying!" Li Hao nodded. He conceded that the man's ability was formidable. Reading through human emotions. Murderous intent, greed, lust, and even the truth or falsehood of spoken words... Li Hao himself had not discovered the corresponding Dao meridian for such an ability. It had to be one of the Daos—Li Hao surmised it was a special Dao. Yet Li Hao harbored no apprehension. As long as he remained blameless, fearless, and devoid of malice, what was there to fear? He could understand why others were afraid. When a person spoke insincerely out of long habit... having someone expose them to their face, knowing their thoughts were laid bare—how unbearable would that be? *Qian Wuliang... I hope you too can restrain this divine power,* Li Hao thought to himself. Such a divine power required restraint; it should not be wielded incessantly. If one relied on it constantly, one would become trapped in desires and ultimately unable to extricate oneself. If you placed absolute faith in the divine power never deceiving you... you had already been deceived. If that day came, Qian Wuliang would meet his downfall. Li Hao kept these thoughts to himself. Of course, no matter how formidable a divine power was, raw strength remained fundamental. Governing the seven emotions and six desires to manipulate human hearts was merely a minor Dao. Yet no Dao was inherently grand or petty; it all depended on how it was wielded. As his thoughts drifted, someone beside him suddenly called out, "Governor-General, a demon is flying toward us ahead—it's a golden eagle!" At the bow of the ship, Li Hao's nominal junior sister, Li Meng, had opened her third eye and was peering ahead. Her vision reached an immense distance, capable even of seeing through certain illusions. Li Hao also looked into the distance. A golden eagle... Could it be those creatures from Mount Cang? Earlier, Director Zhao had sent word that several great demons intended to leave Silver Moon... Had they only flown this far? They were not far past Silver Moon's border, still within Linjiang territory. A smile touched Li Hao's lips. "Old friends!" The four great demons were indeed old acquaintances. Moreover, he had questions for these old friends. For instance... regarding the Forbidden Sea. The Heavenly Gold Lotus they had nurtured back then had originated from the Forbidden Sea. Why was there a Forbidden Sea over by Mount Cang? The great demon in the North Sea had claimed that the Forbidden Sea spanned heaven and earth and showed faint signs of erupting... Why was that? Where was its source? Furthermore, what was Dali's true strength? These demons had traveled to Dali previously. And one more thing... these creatures were old acquaintances of his master. His master was still in Heavenly Star City, but Li Hao had already asked Yuan Shuo to set aside the compilation of teaching materials and come to Silver Moon to rendezvous. Perhaps he would soon see these old friends again. With that in mind, Li Hao said, "Let's go meet them!" "Understood!" The warship surged toward them in an instant. Li Hao felt a twinge of regret that Black Panther was not here; otherwise, it could have conversed with fellow beasts. That fellow had been cultivating in the giant mineral vein of Heavenly Star Town until now, likely hoping to open a demon Dao meridian... The question was, did it even have one? If not, it would be opening nothing at all. …… In the distance. The golden eagle gripped the giant serpent with its talons, complaining that the snake was too slow. Below, the white tiger and the giant ape sprinted across the terrain. They too had heard some of the roaring cheers, but they had deliberately steered clear of human settlements, clueless as to what was actually happening. All they knew was that these humans seemed to have lost their minds—Dali had invaded, yet they were celebrating like this. Behind the four great demons followed a vast throng of beasts. All were Mount Cang demons! The golden eagle's mental ripples fluctuated: "We've already cleared Silver Moon. Let's head for the North Sea... That clumsy snake is an overlord of the waters. Once we're there, we'll let it see what a real ocean looks like... so it won't only know what a stinking ditch is! "The Four Seas will be ours from now on! There are four of us, so we'll divide them evenly. The Four Seas are boundless; instead of mingling with those humans, we'll rule the seas... and those humans won't be able to touch us! From now on, we'll collect tolls from anyone crossing the sea... That'll provide plenty of resources for our cultivation!" The golden eagle had painted a splendid picture. The Four Seas were said to be exceedingly rich. Ruling the Four Seas would be magnificent. It could soar across the waters, making occasional trips to the Central Region. Even if Dali truly conquered Heavenly Star, it would mean nothing to them. The Four Seas were practically uninhabited; would Dali really march into the oceans just to hunt them down? Just as it was daydreaming, the void rippled. A warship manifested. The great demons were taken aback. In the next moment, astonishment washed over them. What a fast ship! What an enormous vessel! "Such a massive ship... Is it a divine weapon?" "Where did it come from?" "I don't know." As the demons communicated, a chuckle drifted over: "Great Kings, do you still remember me?" Li Hao drifted out into the air. Seeing Li Hao, the golden eagle and the other demons froze. This person... they recognized him! Yes, they had encountered him that time, only to be down on their luck and run into Earth-Overturning Sword and Southern Fist, leaving them no choice but to surrender half of the Heavenly Gold Lotus. Right now, the giant serpent was the most furious: "Demon Sword? We didn't bother tracking you down, but this king asks you: where is your master?" Li Hao paused, then laughed. "If I recall correctly, my master's Five Animals Art contains no serpent form." Why be so furious? Yet the serpent was beside itself with rage. That was precisely why it wanted to find him! Why was there no serpent form? Was the serpent race unworthy? Last time, the other great demons had mocked it, claiming it was too weak for Yuan Shuo to take seriously, which was why that man had only mimicked the golden eagle and the other two while ignoring the serpent's force. How could a snake not be infuriated by that? The serpent was incensed. Furthermore, it had nearly been beaten to death last time before being forced to compromise. Seeing Li Hao today, it assumed he was heading to Silver Moon to confront Dali, marching straight to his death. At that thought, it immediately sent a mental transmission: "You're going to Silver Moon to fight Dali? Then you're dead for sure... You'd be better off coming with this king. Lead this king to your master, and you might still live... Brat, get over here!" Li Hao stared blankly, then chuckled. How amusing. This great demon was actually worried he might die. What a benevolent beast. Speaking of serpents, he did know one—the Kui Mountain Snake King. He had no idea how that one was faring now, but it was likely somewhat stronger than this one. Before Li Hao could speak, the experts behind him glared furiously. "Insolence!" Instantly, powerful auras surged toward the heavens. Jade Rakshasa shot forward, reprimanding, "You demons! We know you came from Mount Cang and brought back Golden Spear and the others, which is why Silver Moon permitted you to roam freely... but do not dare disrespect the Governor-General!" Having practically thrown in her lot with Li Hao, how could Jade Rakshasa tolerate these beasts slighting him? In that split second, waves of immense auras locked onto the great demons. The demons felt as though catastrophic doom had descended upon them. The golden eagle and its companions were stunned. The human race... possessed this many experts? How... how was this possible? They knew Dali had many experts, but Silver Moon—aside from those Silver Moon martial masters—was ordinary. And even among those martial masters, Golden Spear was only average, wasn't he? Why... why were there so many powerful beings here? Indeed, there were many. Though a large portion of their forces was not present, Li Hao's ranks still held numerous Mountain and Sea level combatants. In particular, the group included several academy puppets, every one of them exceptionally formidable. Li Hao chuckled. "Alright, alright. These great demons are friends of humanity, meritorious figures! However, the outside world is unstable right now, and all four continents are in turmoil. The Central Region is in the midst of reconstruction... Even if you go there, there's nowhere for you to settle. Besides, the world can now accommodate the emergence of powerful entities. Wandering around carelessly makes it all too easy for you to be hunted and eaten for your meat." He was speaking in earnest. Certain entities in the ruins were now capable of sending out clones, possessing strength comparable to the Peak Realm with seven elements. These demons, hovering at around three or four elements of Divine Power, possessed abundant vitality. If spotted... Neo-Martial powerhouses loved nothing more than feasting on their flesh. Li Hao said with a smile, "You should come with me to Silver Moon first. Once Dali is pacified, I'll take you on a tour... Coincidentally, my master will be arriving soon, so you can reunite with an old friend." The great demons were utterly astounded. The golden eagle looked bewildered, staring at Li Hao. "You... are that person from Mount Cang back then?" "It is I." "You... you... Are these people your subordinates?" "You could say that." The golden eagle was overwhelmed with shock. "They are terrifyingly strong... Are they all what you call Divine Power?" "More or less." Li Hao smiled. "Time is pressing, so I won't chat any longer. I must reach Silver Moon... My old friends, you had better return with me. Don't wander about. I speak the truth—it is far too dangerous out there! Since I'll be in Silver Moon, I won't have time to keep those ancient fossils in check. You could easily end up as a meal!" Below, the giant serpent hissed angrily, "This king offered to take you away, yet you dare try to drag this king along? That place is perilous beyond measure, crawling with Dali experts! Bringing us back there is sending us to our deaths! Do you take this king for a fool like yourself?" This serpent... did not seem particularly bright. Li Hao said no more. Reaching out, he shattered the void. The great demons' expressions shifted drastically. In the blink of an eye, the golden eagle was seized in Li Hao's grasp. In the next breath, the white tiger roared, only to be caught as well. The giant ape turned to flee, but Li Hao pinned it down. A divine character flew out, immobilizing the giant serpent directly in the void. Behind them, over a thousand demons stood frozen in shock. Li Hao swept out his arm, manifesting a Five Elements Domain that ensnared the entire pack of beasts. Within moments, the massive host of demons had been hauled aboard the warship. Tossing them onto the deck, Li Hao released his hold and laughed. "Alright, stop making a fuss. Stay here and travel with us! I'm doing this for your own good. You can't go to the North Sea; there's an ox there of terrifying strength. It happens to be a demon as well, and it's currently starved of vitality. If you go... it will slaughter you for meat to replenish itself." By now, the great demons were thoroughly dumbfounded. The golden eagle stood in a daze, its mental ripples trembling after a long pause: "Are you... the reincarnation of some mighty expert?" "What?" "Are you... a powerhouse of the ancient civilization?" "No." "Then how could you..." "Just cultivate." Li Hao chuckled. Looking at these demons, he could not help feeling a bit nostalgic. "Back in Mount Cang, seeing you all made me feel you were unimaginably powerful, which broadened my horizons. When you killed those who were hunting me, you unwittingly helped me out. And bringing back news of Dali's invasion this time was an even greater favor... Following me won't do you any harm. Divine powers may be strong, but they aren't all that remarkable. Once my master arrives, you'll have plenty of time to chat with him." The giant ape was more tactful, sitting down obediently. It looked at Li Hao with curious eyes, then glanced at the others, sending a mental ripple: "These people... are all yours?" "Yes." "Formidable... but Dali is even more terrifying. Over... over on their side, those at the Divine Power level comparable to us probably number in the hundreds or thousands..." "Is that so?" Li Hao nodded slightly. "That's manageable. Those currently aboard this ship are only a fraction of my forces. By the way, do they have powerhouses capable of tearing through the void?" "Ah?" "Do they?" "Well... probably?" "Are there many?" The demons had no idea how to answer. How could they know? If they had known, could they have survived until now? From the sound of it, only those who could tear through the void were considered true powerhouses? The golden eagle could not resist asking, "Before... Silver Moon didn't seem this powerful..." "Indeed, but it's powerful now! The few of you are roughly between the third and fourth tiers of Mountain and Sea. Mountain and Sea has nine tiers, above which lies Sun and Moon. At around the seventh tier of Mountain and Sea, one can tear through the void..." The demons were dazed. Third or fourth tier of Mountain and Sea? Why... why did they suddenly feel so weak? Yet something felt off. They had clearly been mighty before! The clumsy serpent struggled to wrap its mind around it: "Why did you become so powerful?" "Because of my talent." *Really?* As Li Hao chatted casually with the great demons, he glanced at the beasts they had brought along and smiled. "Any interest in teaming up with my Demon Hunt Army? There are perks. Fight together, and there will be no shortage of divine energy stones, with Springs of Life provided regularly." The demons bristled with anger. *Mounts, is that it? Just say it outright!* *How could that ever happen!* Just as they thought this, Li Hao added, "Never mind, they're too weak. I see some here that have barely stepped into the Hundred-Breaker realm—far too weak... Moreover, their intelligence is low, so they might only drag the Demon Hunt Army down..." The great demons were left utterly speechless. By now, Li Hao had crossed into Silver Moon territory. The moment the warship appeared, deafening cheers erupted from the very first city. Within the city, local dignitaries, accompanied by several hundred supernaturals, stood suspended in the air. Spotting Li Hao's warship, they bellowed in unison, "The Administration, Military Law, Inspection, and Night Watch divisions of Beidang City pay homage to the Governor-General! Beidang City has assembled five thousand militia troops, ready to follow the Governor-General to conquer Dali!" Below, thousands of militia fighters clad in battle armor roared in chorus, "Follow the Governor-General, hunt demons across the land! The people of Silver Moon know no fear!" At this moment, the entire city erupted in celebration! "Follow the Governor-General! Defend our homeland!" Li Hao looked down with a faint smile. The people of Silver Moon... were brave indeed. "Depart! Rendezvous with the army behind us and proceed swiftly to Silver City!" "By your command!" The dignitaries were overjoyed. In the next moment, thousands of troops marched out to join the rear army. More and more people were swept into this grand expeditionary force. …… Even before they arrived at Silver City, the sky screens over the city were already broadcasting the image of Li Hao's warship. Not only that, but behind it, millions of troops stretched out like swarming ants, a sight dense enough to make one's scalp tingle. Under the "escort" of the Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunt Army, they were rushing toward Silver City at high speed. Their pace was blistering! Though many were ordinary mortals, they all possessed at least some combat capability. The Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunt Army had no expectation of them fighting, so they poured all their energy into the march. As long as these people arrived at Silver City and did not cause havoc elsewhere, that was the best possible outcome. …… At this moment, it was not merely the people of Silver City watching; countless souls across the land were watching as the sky screens began displaying the landscape of Silver City. Directly opposite lay Mount Cang! Furthermore, above ancient cities across the realm, ethereal projections manifested. Battle Heaven City, the Zhang family's main city, the Zhao family's main city, the Hong family's main city... Even within obscure ruins, the figures of mighty experts emerged. They felt it! They felt blood-vitality soaring into the heavens! They felt a chilling intent to kill, and they felt a formidable force—a colossal momentum laced with Heaven's Will, sweeping up from the south. Likewise, north of Mount Cang, another tremendous momentum seemed to be surging forth. Above Battle Heaven City, over Cross-Cut Gorge. The projections of Old Turtle and General Locust materialized, while the army below crossed through Cross-Cut Gorge. The warship swept across the sky! Li Hao spotted the two figures and nodded slightly. The two elders looked at Li Hao with deep emotion. In the next instant, several thousand soldiers marched out from Battle Heaven City under the lead of Director Wang. They joined the ranks of the grand army. Old Turtle's voice rang out: "May Governor-General Li return in triumph! Battle Heaven City... stands on the side of justice!" Li Hao smiled faintly. "Justice... belongs to us!" His voice was not loud, yet it echoed across the four quarters: "I am willing to coexist peacefully with Neo-Martial. This battle concerns the fate of the Heavenly Star Dynasty. I hope the powerhouses of every faction will adhere to their own paths and refrain from wandering recklessly, lest unnecessary trouble arise! I, Li Hao, thank you all for your generous support, and I do not wish for the bond between Neo-Martial and Silver Moon to end here. Should anyone aid Dali, no matter how powerful they may be, I, Li Hao, will surely strike them down!" The moment those words were spoken, they fell like a decree from Heaven's Will. In that instant, Li Hao's figure reverberated across the void in all directions! Above ancient cities, Li Hao's silhouette seemed to manifest, accompanied by the resonant reverberations of the Great Dao! The projections of various powerhouses were shaken. This Li Hao... Every word and action of his could command the Will of Heaven... Exactly what realm had he reached? It was simply inconceivable! Old Turtle and General Locust felt a tremor in their hearts as well! Li Hao... was aided by Heaven! Even if the King of Dali were truly stronger than Li Hao... he might not emerge victorious. How had this young man transformed so dramatically in such a short span of time? It defied all reason! …… In another ancient city. Someone was peering into the outside world at this very moment. That ancient entity let out an emotional sigh: "A Child of Heaven... He already bears a resemblance to the Heavenly Emperor of old. Though lacking the power of the Heavenly Emperor, he has received the blessing of Silver Moon's Heaven's Will... If this man does not die, he will become an existential threat!" Their choice had been correct: they had chosen not to dispatch forces to fight him at this time. Otherwise, they would have gained nothing. On the other hand, the invasion by the four kingdoms, including Dali—regardless of who won or lost—held advantages for their faction. …… At the same time. Deep within Mount Cang, an enormous host had assembled. Countless beasts had been slaughtered or captured. At this moment, a clamor of voices and the relentless roars of beasts filled the air. At the head of the host, the King of Dali seemed to pierce through Mount Cang with his gaze, looking into the far distance. After a long silence, he gave a cold snort: "A formidable opponent! Splendid. This king wishes to see what manner of hero the Central Plains can produce this time, and whether he is worthy of battling this king! "Advance! Enter the lands of Silver Moon before dawn tomorrow!" The grand army mobilized swiftly. A million soldiers and tens of thousands of war beasts surged together, thundering toward the outskirts of Mount Cang. Meanwhile, the black-robed priest gazed into the distance, his brow furrowing slightly. Reflected in his eyes was not Mount Cang, but a rolling, boundless momentum. He seemed to glimpse a figure clad in golden armor, before whom tens of thousands prostrated themselves. That... was like a Sovereign of Humanity on an imperial tour. Was a King of Humanity—a Sovereign of Humanity—about to be born in this land of Heavenly Star? How could that be! Since the fall of Neo-Martial, no Sovereign or King of Humanity had ever emerged. Throughout Silver Moon's history, not a single monarch had shown such signs. At this moment, a solemn gravity settled over the black-robed priest. For two hundred years, Dali had governed with diligence and built up its strength. Martial arts flourished, and experts were legion. In recent years, they had constantly honed their troops in Mount Cang, producing peerless, iron-blooded warriors. This time, by gathering the nation's elite forces, their goal was to breach Silver Moon—the bastion of the Heavenly Star Dynasty—in one fell swoop, driving straight into Heavenly Star City... Yet now, the task appeared immensely difficult. "Li Hao, is it?" He muttered inwardly. Was this the Li Hao those fellows spoke of, the one recognized by Heaven's Will? If so... this battle promised to be exceedingly perilous. No wonder those ancient entities, who had dared betray even the King of Humanity in the past, were growing anxious now. If a King of Humanity—or even a World Master—truly arose in the land of Silver Moon, those mighty beings would meet no pleasant end either. For Dali, a reunified Silver Moon was also bad news. Dali had no desire to remain confined to an isolated corner of the world forever, dwelling among tigers and leopards. Early Martial had lost its chance in the primary world, but here, there might still be an opportunity.