Thinking Too Much

The battle in Silver Moon carried immense repercussions. The duel between Li Hao and the King of Dali had already shattered humanity's understanding of martial arts. Not everyone had seen or even heard of ancient martial experts. Yet everyone knew Li Hao. His acupoints had ignited like blazing suns, a spectacle witnessed by countless people that day. In an instant, the entire north bowed in utter subjugation. Li Hao was invincible! His sheer power drove several northern overlords to despair. Could an existence like this... truly be besieged and slaughtered by mortal armies? Was such power even attainable by a human being? And by Li Hao’s own admission, he was merely at the Sun-Moon Realm. Sun-Moon! Could Dali genuinely contend with someone like him? The King of Dali was undeniably formidable, yet everyone had seen how Li Hao had seemingly summoned stars and commanded the cosmos in the final clash, sending his opponent flying with a single punch. The King of Dali had been utterly outmatched. Outsiders could not see the deeper mechanics at play, nor could they perceive Li Hao's limitations—that he could only achieve such feats within a confined boundary. All they knew was that the King of Dali had lost! And that was more than enough! …… Nor did matters stop there. Silver City remained embroiled in fierce warfare, for Dali had not withdrawn its troops. Yet right at this juncture, something entirely unexpected unfolded. An order was issued from the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. The armies throughout the northern provinces, sitting idle with nothing to do, were to immediately muster their forces to construct martial arts academies, build roads, and prepare for the spring plowing. They were to develop irrigation networks and reclaim barren lands. It was as though Li Hao were dead certain of his ultimate victory. No matter how tense the front lines grew, he only cared that the season for spring sowing had arrived. Delaying the spring plowing now would spell catastrophe for the north’s population of nearly two billion. Relying solely on monstrous plants to cultivate grain was out of the question. Could billions of human beings simply sit idle and deplete their dwindling stores? Aside from the troublesome ancient cities of Silver Moon and the nuisance of Dali, Li Hao considered no other place in the north a threat. The various provinces still possessed standing armies numbering in the millions, nearly reaching ten million altogether. Were they supposed to just idle about and eat free food? Since they were not fighting, they might as well be turned into combat engineers and put to work. Even though the central government did not need to support the northern provincial garrisons—and lacked the funds to do so anyway—Li Hao saw no reason to let them freeload. Thus, the decree was rapidly dispatched. Riding the momentum of his triumph over the King of Dali, Li Hao's aura cowed all directions. The northern lands lay squarely beneath his feet. Disobey at your own peril! Beyond the Northern Three Provinces, Silver Moon, and Linjiang, the north encompassed fourteen other provinces. Yet upon receiving the command that day, the local warlords across every province did not dare ignore it, no matter how many thousands of times they cursed him in their hearts. Swiftly, order after order was handed down. The garrisons set to work digging canals and reinforcing irrigation, guaranteeing that the spring sowing proceeded smoothly. As for the troops... who dared to resist? Not even the commanding generals dared breathe a word about Li Hao insulting the military. In times past, they would have hurled furious denunciations, but the grim fates of the Northern Three Provinces and Linjiang had taught them that, in Li Hao’s eyes, they were nothing. With Li Hao’s victory over the King of Dali, this dread sank even deeper into people's marrow. Looking back along his path, Li Hao felt as though he had barely killed anyone... yet when people tallied the dead across the Central Region and the north, an enormous swath of the upper echelon had perished. The Nine Departments, the imperial family, princely manors, noble houses, governors, directors... the list was nearly endless. Earlier on, he had slain the Duke of Dingguo in the east, and later the Duke of Anguo in the west. Throughout his rise, Li Hao had cast an exceptionally contradictory impression. He seemed like a sage—improving water conservancy, cherishing the common folk, placing education foremost, and popularizing the martial path... Every action proclaimed that Li Hao was a benevolent man. Yet if one genuinely counted the souls lost to his blade, it was enough to send a chill to the bone. He had slaughtered more than half of the Heavenly Star Dynasty’s ruling elite. What made it truly terrifying to the extreme was that hardly anyone even remembered it anymore. Everything had transpired quietly, like gentle spring rain moistening the soil unnoticed. After purging the Nine Departments and the imperial household, Li Hao had maintained an outrageously low profile. Even when he publicly announced that the Governor-General’s Office had taken charge of the Central Region, he never mentioned the fate of the Nine Departments and the imperial family, allowing the populace to put them completely out of mind. As time passed, even regional warlords had practically forgotten that the Nine Departments and the imperial family ever existed. And now... where were they? Nothing remained of them but rotting bones! …… On this day, the northern provinces mobilized across the board. They prepared for spring plowing, and they prepared for literacy campaigns. …… Simultaneously, within the Dali army camp. Director Zhao met with the King of Dali, beaming amiably as he casually recounted how the Three Great Organizations had fled into Dali, carefully watching the King of Dali's expression for any reaction. The King of Dali remained utterly calm. "This King is aware." He spoke with serene poise, acting as though he did not care in the slightest. Jiang Li, however, showed a subtle shift in expression before quickly masking it. Director Zhao chuckled warmly. The octogenarian had always loved smiling, and after a dry cough, he remarked, "Since the Great King is already aware, matters are much simpler. It means our Governor-General’s concern for Dali’s safety was not misplaced." Director Zhao adopted an air of benevolent compassion. "The Governor-General is merciful and cannot bear to see common folk suffer. All people under heaven belong to the human race! Whether Heavenly Star or Dali, the commoners are blameless. The Three Great Organizations are steeped in villainy; should they commit bloody atrocities in Dali, our Governor-General cannot simply stand by and watch!" The King of Dali did not bat an eye, continuing to watch and listen. Director Zhao added, "Furthermore, the Governor-General sent me here to discuss several other matters with the Great King. I must request that Your Majesty dismiss your attendants so that I may present them in detail." "Speak!" The King of Dali had no intention of dismissing anyone. Director Zhao did not mind either. His smile never wavered. "Then I shall speak plainly. First, the Governor-General invites the Great King to broadly summon ancient experts from all quarters to assist in battle! The more, the better. We will divide the spoils equally—the greater the harvest, the stronger both our sides become!" Jiang Li nearly choked on his own spit. What kind of proposal was this? Asking Dali to broadly invite outside experts... Was this something a human being would even suggest? Director Zhao remained placid, smiling as he continued, "Second, the war between our two armies shall continue. A battle each day is mandatory! If our side deploys new recruits, we ask the Great King to show some consideration and send out weaker troops to match them, in equal numbers. We certainly will not bully you with superior troop counts!" The King of Dali's expression cooled considerably! Ignoring the chill, Director Zhao went on, "Third, daily duels between champions! These shall focus primarily on the Thousand-Battler and Mountain-Sea realms. Life and death are left to fate, and superior experts must not participate or interfere!" The King of Dali glared at him coldly, his countenance frosty. Director Zhao pressed on, "Fourth, standardization of cultivation realms. We hope the Great King’s soldiers and experts will adopt the progression of Ten-Slayer, Hundred-Breaker, Thousand-Battler, Mountain-Sea, and Sun-Moon..." At these words, anger flared in the King of Dali's eyes. "What are you trying to pull? Or rather... what is Li Hao plotting?" Director Zhao replied with a grin, "It is not my plot, but the Governor-General’s verbatim words! The Governor-General says that whether our side unifies the realm or Dali unifies it, there must be unified writing, unified education, unified martial arts, and unified realms—standardized cart axles and a common script!" His smile was brilliant. "Dali has a sparse population. Without assimilating into Heavenly Star, how could you ever govern the world? The Governor-General also remarked that using Heavenly Star people to govern Heavenly Star people is the only way for the few to rule the many. Or does the Great King harbor no ambition for the realm under heaven?" The King of Dali's expression shifted continuously. This was assimilation! Li Hao was launching a cultural invasion against them! Sure enough, Director Zhao added, "Additionally, the Governor-General stated that all things must have standardized weights and measures! Dali’s monetary system must interface with Heavenly Star’s and establish a fixed conversion rate. In the supernatural domain, divine energy stones must serve as the foundation, and bilateral trade should be initiated... Of course, there is no rush on that front for the moment!" The King of Dali’s demeanor darkened completely. "Does Li Hao truly believe he is guaranteed to win?" "No!" Director Zhao shook his head. "The Governor-General says the King of Dali is a dragon among men, a rarity in this world. Though born in the northern barbarian lands, you are a formidable sovereign among the overlords of this age. Should the Great King emerge victorious, he hopes you will carry through with these measures and complete the unification of the Silver Moon world." He smiled faintly. "The Western Divine Kingdom, the Eastern Great Desolation, the Southern Shuiyun... The Governor-General says that the Divine Kingdom worships deities, and where gods reign supreme, he finds no appeal. The Great Desolation is said to resemble fierce bandits—moving like the wind, with no permanent abode, nomadic in nature! Southern Shuiyun lacks the grandeur and domineering spirit of the north; though the southern waterlands are pleasant, they cannot match the northern majesty. In times of chaos, southerners do not make true hegemons!" At this point, he looked directly at the King of Dali. "The Governor-General says that to dare lay hands upon the ancient cities proves the King of Dali possesses extraordinary vision and grandeur. Therefore, only the King of Dali would be willing to accept these terms!" The King of Dali met his gaze coldly, entirely unimpressed by Li Hao's assessment. Li Hao was in no position to evaluate him. He looked at Director Zhao. "And if this King refuses?" Li Hao’s demands felt like blatant bullying: *I want to use you to train my soldiers, hold daily duels, and simultaneously subject you to cultural and financial invasion!* To the King of Dali, this was nothing short of defecating directly onto his head. An intolerable insult! Did Li Hao truly believe that just because he had suffered a minor setback the previous night, he had this King completely at his mercy? Director Zhao remained composed as ever. "If the Great King does not comply, then the value of your continued existence becomes rather negligible!" Director Zhao straightened his posture and looked at the King of Dali. "The Governor-General stated that if Your Majesty refuses, then three days from now, Yuanping Martial Arts University’s four hundred Peak Realm experts, thirty Immortal Realm monstrous plants, one hundred thousand Battle Heaven Army soldiers, a Heavenly King, plus the various powerhouses of Heavenly Star, will wipe Dali from the earth within a single day!" The King of Dali glared at him with icy detachment. At this moment, Jiang Li chimed in, his tone cold, "Anyone can boast!" Who were they trying to intimidate? A Heavenly King? Where would a Heavenly King come from? How could a Heavenly King possibly emerge in this era? As for the rest, it remained open to question. "Senior Zhang An, Dean of Academic Affairs at Yuanping Martial Arts University and grandson of the Supreme from the Neo-Martial era!" Director Zhao wore a pleasant smile. "If the Great King doubts it, you are welcome to gamble! Your Majesty also knows that Heavenly Will favors the Governor-General, and having pioneered a new Dao, he commands his own domain of heaven and earth. The Chief Priest ought to know full well that the Governor-General can manipulate this domain! Once the domain expands, combat strength within it functions without restriction!" Jiang Li's expression shifted slightly before he said in a low voice, "Li Hao’s strength has its limits. Even if he possesses a trace of damaged Immortal power, enabling a Heavenly King to step forth... is impossible!" Director Zhao chuckled. "For the Governor-General alone, it would indeed be difficult. But Bright Star Martial Dao does not belong to him alone. Every Silver Moon martial master cultivates it. With our domains fused, let alone a Heavenly King, even a Sovereign could be accommodated!" "Neither of you understands the divine arts of the new Dao, nor do you comprehend its true might. If the Great King refuses... you must bear all consequences!" The King of Dali said impassively, "Is that a threat?" "Yes!" Director Zhao nodded. "It is a threat! The Governor-General also said that unless Your Majesty abandons your foundation, quits the north, and joins forces with the other three nations to unite all four quarters—which might give him slight pause—Your Majesty can only compromise. If you do not, Dali will be erased from the world within three days!" "Insolence!" Jiang Li snapped in a low growl. "Do you truly believe Dali is devoid of power? If Li Hao dares attempt such a thing, Dali's God of Primal Martial will manifest his true form into the world, and our King will receive the protection of Heavenly Will! With Heavenly Will possessing his body, even if the God does not emerge, the divine bones can fuse with him without restriction. It remains to be seen whose hand the deer will die by!" Threatening them with ancient experts? Jiang Li was secretly incensed! If pushed to that brink, Dali was more than capable of waging a fight to the death! How could the King of Dali, an aspirant to supreme dominion, fear these ancient powerhouses? Director Zhao quickly broke into a smile. "The Chief Priest’s words make sense. In that case... the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office can make a concession. Matters of currency and trade may be deferred for now; there is no immediate rush!" Jiang Li's fury flared anew! Did this man take them for children to be coaxed? Seeing his reaction, Director Zhao smiled again. "Before I departed, the Governor-General entrusted me with another message. If the King of Dali accepts these conditions, then once our elite forces are forged, we can contest the world alongside Dali—first destroying the other three nations, and then taking on the ancient cities! The King of Dali is a visionary sovereign and surely understands that when two tigers fight, one is bound to be crippled! Or does the King of Dali truly believe he can take Heavenly Star and defeat the Governor-General right now?" The King of Dali remained silent. Jiang Li was silent as well. Having witnessed Li Hao’s terrifying prowess, who could confidently claim they could bring him down at this moment? Even if they invoked the Primal Martial bones so the King of Dali could be possessed by divine power... it was nowhere near that simple. Besides, it was not as though Li Hao lacked counters. Yet Li Hao's terms... Though the King of Dali had originally entertained similar thoughts, the situation was completely different now. After a long pause, the King of Dali spoke slowly, "This matter is not entirely out of the question, but this King also has demands." "Please speak, Great King." Director Zhao’s amicable smile was thoroughly infuriating. The King of Dali stated calmly, "First, make Li Hao return the divine bones he seized!" Director Zhao’s brows twitched slightly, but he did not speak. "Second, those ancient experts are not fools and will not fall for the trick endlessly; we cannot lure in that many. If they are drawn in, our side takes seventy percent of the origin power!" Director Zhao remained silent. "Third, this King demands the complete and comprehensive cultivation method of the new Dao, including its theoretical foundations, rather than mere manuals!" Director Zhao frowned. This condition was something he had not anticipated. Seeing that the King of Dali had paused, Director Zhao offered a thin smile. "Aside from these three, is there anything else?" The King of Dali nodded. "One final condition. This King led an army into Heavenly Star across great distances and mountains. Since Li Hao wishes to use Dali's soldiers to hone his troops... all provisions must be supplied by Heavenly Star!" His voice was utterly matter-of-fact. "We will forgo meat, as this King brought some along, and backed by Mount Cang, we do not lack game. However, with a million soldiers, all superpowered and capable of devouring whole oxen, their daily grain consumption reaches as high as three million jin... Li Hao need only provide one month's worth for my Dali army!" Three million jin a day amounted to nearly one hundred million jin over a month. An average of three jin of grain per person per day was truly not excessive for superpowered warriors, especially considering it would be supplemented with meat. Director Zhao’s expression shifted subtly. Grain was not an issue unique to Dali. Presently, Silver Moon maintained several million troops, and every mouth had to be fed. Food was heaven to the people, and until one reached a certain threshold, even superpowered beings needed sustenance. Without food, they would lose their strength, and without strength, how could they fight? The drain on Silver Moon was already colossal. Frowning, he asked, "Since Dali planned to invade Heavenly Star, how could you not have prepared..." The King of Dali replied placidly, "The day we crossed Mount Cang, this King’s plan was to seize the north and capture its granaries, not to remain encamped at the foot of Mount Cang. If Li Hao refuses, so be it! Whether we fight or withdraw, this King has his own plans." Director Zhao hesitated. This was too much! Over recent years, Heavenly Star had seen little peace, with widespread crop failures across vast regions. Currently, they barely plugged the deficit through sacred rice provided by certain monstrous plants. To supply Dali... Dali was the enemy. Where was the logic in feeding the enemy with one’s own scarce grain, only for them to turn around and slaughter your own people? If word of this leaked... the entire world would curse Li Hao to death! Even now, countless people across the other continents were starving. The Central Region was slightly better off, and grain was now being shipped to the north, but the other three continents had none to spare. Once leaked... wouldn't this smear Li Hao's reputation beyond repair? Feeding the enemy with our own grain so they can kill our people... The King of Dali's demand was downright outrageous! Director Zhao fell silent, rapidly transmitting the message in secret. This was truly beyond his authority to decide. …… Silver City. When Li Hao received the message and shared it, everyone erupted in fury! "Absolutely not!" At this moment, let alone the Silver Moon martial masters, even Qian Wuliang hurriedly objected, "Governor-General, if we supply grain to Dali so they can slaughter our Heavenly Star soldiers—even if everyone understands it is for troop training—the families of the fallen won't see it that way, and the starving commoners certainly won't! The world is in turmoil and times are already desperate. We must never agree to this! Otherwise, even if the Governor-General does a hundred things right and forges an elite army of a million... it will not withstand the curses of the world!" Hong Yitang, who had kept quiet until now, also frowned and spoke up, "We cannot agree to this rashly. The King of Dali... harbors foul intentions! Dali has sustained an army of a million for two hundred years; it is impossible that they failed to prepare sufficient rations. If that were true, Dali's supposed two centuries of diligent rule would be a complete joke!" "Moreover, they are backed by Mount Cang. Putting aside the demon beasts, the mundane wildlife alone is boundless... How could they be short on food?" This was a deliberate trap laid by the King of Dali for Li Hao! The moment he agreed and the news broke, Li Hao could look forward to being vilified by everyone under heaven. Southern Fist was even more enraged. "Why stop at that one? We shouldn't agree to any of them! Does Dali truly think so highly of themselves? We all saw yesterday's battle; their experts are nothing special! Aside from a decent million-strong army, what right does Dali have to negotiate with us? If they refuse, we launch a direct assault and forge an elite army through sheer blood! Slay enough, and the survivors naturally become elites!" In his eyes, if Dali wouldn't comply, they should simply storm them directly. Tear the world apart in slaughter! The losses might be immense, but wouldn't those who survived emerge as true elites? Right now, the gathering force here was nearing four million. The barren plains north of Silver City were already densely packed, stretching as far as the eye could see, the vast host practically overflowing the region. If a million died, was there any doubt the remainder would become hardened elites? Everyone objected. They deemed Dali's conditions utterly outrageous and saw no need to entertain them. A frontal assault would suffice. If their troops lacked quality, numbers would compensate; if numbers fell short, their top experts would make up the difference! Above them, Li Hao stroked his chin. After listening for a while, he smiled faintly. "Rest easy, I’m not an idiot. Who ever heard of the victor ceding land and paying indemnities? The King of Dali was just throwing words around; don't take it too seriously." With that, he chuckled. "How about this—let's counter with a few different terms. The origin power can be agreed to; after all, even if we lure them in... capturing them depends on their own ability! As for the Primal Martial bones, we can return one to them while keeping one for me to study... The cultivation method can be given to them too. Dali people have slightly different constitutions than ours; if they want to learn, fine, I’ll reconstruct their bodies!" Li Hao continued, "As for food, I lack it as well. But seeing as the King of Dali was willing to trade blows with me, I will assign the Zheng family main city to him! There are plenty of monstrous plants inside that can cultivate grain. If he can conquer it, it's his!" "……" Everyone froze, giving him strange looks. *You might as well give him Battle Heaven City while you're at it!* Since when was it your place to hand out ancient cities? If an ancient city were that easy to take down, you would have stormed it long ago instead of assigning it to someone else! What a joke! Those words were no different from breaking wind. Unless water had gotten into the King of Dali's brain, he wouldn't take them seriously either. Li Hao chuckled warmly. "I’ve agreed to his requests and even thrown in extra bonuses. As long as it looks acceptable on the surface, that’s enough. One shouldn't be overly domineering; a little modesty goes a long way. He is a sovereign in his own right, after all, and deserves some face." Pausing briefly, he added, "Not only that, once my elite army is forged... I’ve studied the map. Dali is actually not too far from the Western Divine Kingdom and the Eastern Great Desolation. I am willing to leave one of those nations for Dali to annex! We shall establish friendly diplomatic ties with Dali..." *He's spewing nonsense again!* Everyone was utterly speechless. The Western Divine Kingdom and Eastern Great Desolation were Heavenly Star's enemies. Dividing other people's territories and gifting them to the King of Dali... was truly treating the King of Dali like a half-wit. Was this considered low-profile? Was this giving the King of Dali face? You were practically treating the man like an idiot! Yet Li Hao's smile remained radiant. "Lastly, I'll grant him one more favor. If he agrees, I can transform Jiang Li into a woman for him at any time—provided that’s what he likes!" "……" Dead silence fell. In an instant, the entire room turned eerily quiet. After a long time, Huang Yu said flatly, "Governor-General, Director Zhao is currently in the enemy camp... perhaps you should omit this one. Otherwise, I fear he won't be coming back." *Are you deliberately trying to get Old Zhao killed?* *Just say so!* Uttering words like that right in front of the King of Dali and the Dali Chief Priest—unless Director Zhao possessed extraordinary strength, it would be a miracle if he survived. Only now did they realize that, at times, Li Hao's heart was truly... truly black. Everyone wondered whether he was simply seizing the opportunity to get Director Zhao killed. Li Hao, however, looked completely innocent. "I'm serious! Jiang Li sacrificed his Primal Martial divine bones for the King of Dali's ambitions, and the King of Dali demanded the bones back the moment we met, even fighting a war with me over them. There is definitely something going on between those two! If I grant their wish, we might reap enormous benefits." Why did everyone think this was absurd? Wasn't it perfectly normal for some people to choose beauty over empire? *I can literally craft human bodies now!* *Just tell me what kind you like, King of Dali! Or if you want to become a woman yourself, I can arrange that too. Whatever you desire, no problem at all!* Huang Yu tried to dissuade him once more. "Then... perhaps wait until Director Zhao departs before the Governor-General... asks them through other means?" Better not let Old Zhao deliver that message. They had been colleagues in Silver Moon for decades, and Huang Yu felt a duty to save Old Zhao's life. Li Hao laughed. "That works too! Let it be. If Dali refuses... we march our troops and play with them slowly. I'm in no rush. The other three nations haven't made significant moves yet; they might still be waiting for Dali and us to become bogged down in a stalemate... Since those fellows are so sluggish about mobilizing, I'll play along!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. That was much better! …… Meanwhile, Director Zhao had conveyed Li Hao's other counter-proposals, leaving the King of Dali with a bizarre expression. Truly... shameless! Giving him the Zheng family main city, and offering him his pick between the Western Divine Kingdom and the Eastern Great Desolation... He might as well have offered both. Was this supposed to be a generous boon? Li Hao was utterly... disgusting! Still, the fact that Li Hao was willing to return one divine bone and share all materials concerning the new martial dao was somewhat surprising. He had made exorbitant demands, never expecting Li Hao would actually agree to several. Upon hearing this, the King of Dali said slowly, "Then so be it!" He had no intention of withdrawing his troops anyway! Under these terms... being able to reclaim some assets was a decent outcome. Director Zhao smiled and refrained from saying more, leaving behind a communication jade. "The Governor-General instructed me to leave this. If you wish to speak, you may contact him directly through it... I shall take my leave!" Li Hao had sent a message telling him to return first. And to make it quick. Director Zhao had no idea what was going on, but since the order was given, he was ready to head back. The King of Dali paid it no mind, saying casually, "You may leave!" Smiling, Director Zhao turned and departed at a brisk pace. Flanking the path, several Divine Guards glared at him furiously, but he paid them no heed. What was there to stare at? Old Zhao had seen all kinds of grand spectacles; even a swarm of ancient city experts couldn't faze him, let alone a few mere Divine Guards. Just as he stepped out of the Dali encampment, an enraged bellow suddenly thundered from the royal tent at the rear of the army, reverberating through the heavens: "Li Hao, you go too far!" With that roar, a pair of colossal fists hurtled straight toward Director Zhao. Director Zhao jumped in fright and fled instantly, utterly bewildered. What had happened? Hadn't everything been fine just a moment ago? Even when he had laid out those outrageous terms, the King of Dali hadn't lost his temper. Had Li Hao sent a message that provoked him into such a monstrous rage? In the distance, from the direction of Silver City, Li Hao's voice drifted over, tinged with amusement: "I'm being serious. I can fulfill your desire—guaranteed authentic, seamless, and absolutely not some puppet or machine." "Bastard!" The King of Dali's voice shook the heavens. "Li Hao, this King will tear you to shreds!" His fury erupted as he hurled a fist toward Silver City! A flash of sword light flared! *Boom!* A tremendous roar shook the firmament, unleashing a violent shockwave across the surroundings. Many experts observing from afar were taken aback. What was happening now? After yesterday's clash, both sides had retreated. Why had combat erupted again today? The King of Dali surely knew he couldn't easily overcome Li Hao, so why was he flying into such a colossal rage? Li Hao's hearty laughter echoed through the sky: "If you're unwilling, then so be it! Perhaps I misunderstood, or perhaps you prefer how things are now. Consider it meddling on my part, and we'll drop it. But if the Great King ever develops an interest... you can find me anytime!" "Hmph!" A cold snort rattled the world. The King of Dali's face was completely ashen! This was the first time Li Hao had thoroughly disgusted and infuriated him. Even after suffering a setback yesterday, he hadn't found the youth so abominable. That bastard Li Hao lacked even a shred of an overlord's dignity! Beside him, Jiang Li was entirely in the dark, knowing only that the Great King had flown into a murderous rage immediately after checking the communication jade. It was the first time he had ever seen the King of Dali lose his composure like this. What... had happened? He was genuinely bewildered. It was truly unprecedented to see the Great King react so violently to a mere message. Could Li Hao's words truly strike the heart with such lethal precision? "Great King, what... happened?" The King of Dali shot him a look, and after a long silence, growled, "Get out!" Jiang Li froze! This... this attitude was far from friendly. He wanted to say more, but the King of Dali barked coldly, "Get out!" Jiang Li frowned slightly, let out a sigh, rose, and walked away. Had the King of Dali... lost his mental balance after yesterday's defeat? Treating the Chief Priest in this manner boded ill. Once Jiang Li was gone, the King of Dali initially wanted to crush the communication jade, but realizing he might still need to contact Li Hao, he gritted his teeth and refrained. His fury still burned fiercely. *Li Hao... just you wait. This King will slice you into ten thousand pieces!* *How dare you humiliate me like this!* …… Over at Silver City. Li Hao raised an eyebrow. Inside the manor, absolute silence reigned as everyone secretly clicked their tongues. Li Hao truly dared say anything. He had nearly sparked a fresh round of all-out warfare. Not that they feared it, but rekindling a full-scale clash over a reason like this struck everyone as absurd. When Director Zhao returned, he was still bewildered. "That King of Dali... what came over him?" Huang Yu swiftly sent him a voice transmission explaining the situation. Director Zhao’s expression shifted, thoroughly speechless. He glanced at Li Hao, only now remembering that this youth was still young and truly had... no filter on his mouth! No wonder the King of Dali had nearly exploded with rage! Anyone in his position would have felt aggrieved. The King of Dali was an overlord in his own right; how could he not be furious? Fortunately, he had departed promptly. Otherwise, the King of Dali would likely have slaughtered him to consecrate the battle banners. Li Hao, however, merely chuckled. "Turns out I misunderstood—he actually prefers men... Quite a unique taste! Never mind, other people's preferences are none of our business. I was merely trying to do him a favor; if he doesn't appreciate it, then forget it!" Changing the subject, Li Hao continued, "Before entering secluded cultivation, I want to pay a visit to the Zhao family main city..." "You must not!" The moment the words left his mouth, seven or eight voices spoke at once. Hong Yitang’s expression turned grave. "Right now, we cannot be certain whether the traitorous city is truly the Zheng family. If it is, visiting the Zhao family main city is fine. But if it isn't, and the Zhao family main city is the one that betrayed us, a Saint will surely be stationed within! Even if they haven't fully revived... what's more, if the Zhao family has turned traitor, it wouldn't even be surprising if a Heavenly King sits within! With abundant energy and countless experts, they may have simply deceived Director Zhao before... Going there would be unimaginably perilous!" At present, there was no way to determine which family was the traitor. Battle Heaven City was unlikely; otherwise, Li Hao would have perished long ago after visiting so many times. Yet the other seven cities, even including Sword City, all harbored the possibility of betrayal. Going to meet those old fossils right now was far too dangerous. Yuan Shuo, usually the boldest of them all, also said gravely, "You cannot go! The situation is unclear; straying into a traitor's city is too risky!" Even Director Zhao murmured, "Though I hope the Governor-General can establish ties with the Martial Arts Alliance... going now is indeed perilous. Even I cannot judge whether the Martial Arts Alliance is the treacherous city..." The Zhao family's ancient city was named the Martial Arts Alliance, as the Zhao family ancestor was said to have been the alliance leader of the martial sects in antiquity. Whatever the name was, no one cared. Everyone was trying to dissuade Li Hao, because this was simply too reckless. Even the Ninth Division Commander, who had remained silent throughout the strategic discussions, spoke slowly at this moment, "The Zhao family... I think the likelihood of their betrayal is slim. Though the Zhao ancestor was not a Sovereign and had friction with the Supreme and others in the Neo-Martial era... the Zhao family is fundamentally righteous at its core... Still, at this juncture, I do not advise you to visit other main cities." Every single person opposed it. Li Hao stroked his chin and chuckled. "No need to be so tense. Communication doesn't necessarily require taking risks. I am not an obstinate man who acts blindly, nor do I treat my own life lightly... How about this: I will wait outside the Zhao family ancient city, and Director Zhao can enter. If the experts of the Zhao ancient city are willing to converse, they can send clones outside the city to speak with me!" He looked at the crowd with some amusement. "Nowadays, it isn't as though they can't project clones outside. Why... are you all so anxious?" Everyone paused. No one spoke. That was true! There were many ways to communicate. It was just that everyone had grown accustomed to Li Hao's decisive authority, formidable strength, and ambition to swallow the realm. Hearing him mention the Zhao ancient city, they had instinctively assumed he intended to venture into danger alone. Yet hearing Li Hao explain it... there was indeed nothing wrong with his plan. If the Zhao ancient city genuinely wished to talk, they could certainly send clones out for a discussion. Director Zhao also let out a sigh of relief. "Then... what does the Governor-General hope to achieve?" Li Hao replied, "I don't have many demands of Neo-Martial, nor do I have excessive expectations... But for the sake of future harmony, I hope the Zhao family can show some sort of stance." He smiled faintly. "It isn't that I have a specific goal, but rather that I want these Neo-Martial main cities to state their position instead of silently waiting and lurking in the shadows. If this continues... I will end up treating them as potential enemies!" Li Hao’s expression gradually turned solemn. "Making no sound, deploying no troops, sending no people, engaging in no dialogue, simply waiting... If this goes on, how could I not stay on guard? When that time truly comes... I will no longer harbor any expectations or leniency!" The Zhao ancient city had maintained communication with Director Zhao all along, yet during this campaign where Li Hao led his army back, the Zhao main city had shown no reaction whatsoever! This was inherently suspicious. Whether lending a hand or otherwise, there had to be some gesture. Battle Heaven City, for example, had dispatched ten thousand troops, the Ninth Division Commander's clone had fought, and Director Wang's true body had marched—that was a stance. An ambiguous stance and perpetual concealment were never good signs. The other main cities were the same. Presently, heaven and earth could accommodate a portion of origin clones stepping into the open; it was not as though they couldn't emerge—unless a city hadn't revived at all and remained completely sealed. Director Zhao pondered for a moment and nodded. "Perhaps they are still observing... Of course, if the Governor-General is willing to meet, I can make arrangements!" The Ninth Division Commander considered this and said, "Have Wang Ye accompany you as well!" Beside them, Director Wang looked rather glum and helpless. "I can go, but I'm afraid they won't even recognize me!" "……" Those words were entirely valid. His aura had transformed and his origin was gone; they might genuinely fail to recognize him. The Ninth Division Commander was left speechless. Li Hao smiled. "No need, gentlemen! I have no desire to use Neo-Martial to pressure Neo-Martial into making decisions. I merely want them to declare their stance. If they are unwilling to walk the same path as me, so be it, but I must at least know where they stand!" With that, Li Hao added, "The same applies to the other ancient cities!" "During this upcoming period, I might not remain here constantly. Deploy troops where necessary, and conduct duels where appropriate. I hope... that everyone can grow stronger. Perhaps, as my strength continues to surge, I will eventually be able to settle everything on my own..." Li Hao looked at the crowd, at his teacher, and at Hong Yitang and the others, speaking softly, "Yet I hope even more that without me... you will still be capable of achieving all this! Elders, do not lose yourselves or surrender your individuality. The Bright Star Realm was only recently discovered; this is everyone's opportunity! I truly do not wish... for a time, years from now, when no one can walk beside me. The universe is vast, and the outside world may be even more magnificent!" Everyone fell silent. At this moment, they seemed to finally grasp Li Hao's true mindset. Li Hao... was still the same Li Hao as before. He might have changed in some ways, but he harbored no interest in becoming a Human King or a Human Emperor. He simply could not abide injustice! He merely felt this world was cloaked in darkness and wished to ignite the very first flame. Perhaps, if the King of Dali could conquer the realm and treat its people well, Li Hao would even be willing to step away from the war. Was that truly how he felt? At this moment, everyone pondered the thought. Yuan Shuo took a deep breath. "Rest easy, we understand! This world... does not belong to you alone! Just as you said, this world is also a jianghu—the jianghu of all of us!" Li Hao smiled broadly. "My teacher understands me best after all!" Yuan Shuo said nothing. *Understand you my foot.* *You brat are growing more and more enigmatic.* At this point, even he could no longer discern what Li Hao was thinking. Perhaps Li Hao had never cared about ruling the realm from the very beginning; perhaps to this day, the one thing he could never let go of was vengeance. "Director Zhao, make the arrangements. I wish to meet the people of the Zhao ancient city as soon as possible!" Without lingering, Li Hao floated away, his voice drifting back through the air: "Keep an eye on the Three Great Organizations for me and watch Dali's reaction. If Dali strikes back against the Three Great Organizations, inform the King of Dali that Ying Hongyue belongs to me!" No one said a word. Ying Hongyue fled too quickly, constantly evading Li Hao, though whether by luck or calculation remained unknown. Yet everyone knew that until Li Hao killed Ying Hongyue, whatever calm he projected was merely a facade. From the very beginning, his goal had been to slay Ying Hongyue. Yuan Shuo let out a breath and said slowly, "Let's not keep our eyes solely on the realm under heaven... The realm belongs to all of us, but Ying Hongyue is his greatest inner demon. Without slaying him, Li Hao cannot cross this hurdle. I worry that the stronger he becomes, the more prone he will be to a catastrophe!" Everyone nodded in silence. Lately, Li Hao rarely spoke of revenge, but mentioning Ying Hongyue again today... clearly indicated he felt the time had come, his strength was sufficient, and his restlessness was surfacing. Even his restraint in leaving the King of Dali untouched and refraining from directly slaughtering Dali's experts might have been meant to avoid alerting the snake, preventing Ying Hongyue from finding another chance to flee. Perhaps Li Hao's troop-training initiative was merely a secondary objective. The youth simply did not want Dali to suffer such heavy losses that it gave Ying Hongyue an opening to expand his power again. Naturally, while these thoughts crossed everyone's minds, no one voiced them. Training troops was a grand endeavor of state. If it were merely to constrain Ying Hongyue, it would make Li Hao appear petty. In that case... let it simply be troop training! At this moment, a tacit understanding bound them all. …… Meanwhile. Within the borders of Dali. Ying Hongyue gazed toward the south, his vision seeming to pierce across Mount Cang. After a long silence, he took a deep breath and spoke softly, "Li Hao is growing increasingly powerful. I have a premonition—a very bad premonition!" The figures beside him looked over, their expressions a mix of confusion, bemusement, and suppressed mockery. "Are you afraid?" Ying Hongyue said calmly, "It isn't fear... It's just... I might have misjudged something." "What?" Everyone was puzzled. What had he misjudged? Ying Hongyue replied evenly, "Everything Li Hao has done... might have been solely to eliminate every backup plan I could possibly hold. Without anyone noticing, he has already driven me north of Mount Cang..." The others wore strange looks. Coming north of Mount Cang had been his own decision; what did that have to do with Li Hao? Li Hao had long stopped focusing specifically on the Three Great Organizations. He had attacked the Nine Departments, the imperial family, the City of Supernaturals, Dali, and everyone else... He couldn't even be bothered with you anymore, yet you insisted on flattering yourself? By Ying Hongyue's logic, it was as if Li Hao's entire conquest of the realm was merely to leave him with nowhere left to hide! It sounded almost laughable! At this moment, Yama and the others said nothing, merely fighting the urge to laugh. Scaring himself like this—had Ying Hongyue been terrified out of his wits by Li Hao? Ying Hongyue did not elaborate. He merely cast another glance toward the south. He possessed no proof, only intuition. Li Hao... had swallowed the realm whole, driving the Three Great Organizations step by step from the Central Region to the north, and then from the north into Dali. Though each retreat had seemingly been his own choice, today an unsettling thought struck him: what if... it had never been his choice at all? Every single time had felt like an unavoidable compulsion. Like a stray dog, fleeing again and again! *I hope... it is merely an illusion!* He thought to himself that he was probably just overthinking. If it were truly so, it would be chilling to the core. How could that brat Li Hao possibly be calculating to such an extent?