Li Hao did not linger in the west.
Tearing through the void, he hastened north.
The King of Dali, having not seen him for days, soon sensed his presence and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Strangely enough, Li Hao's reappearance made everyone feel safer.
When he was absent, everything felt hollow and uneasy.
This was true for his enemies, and it was equally true for his own people.
By now, everyone looked upon this youth who had barely turned twenty-one with genuine wariness. He was growing ever more mysterious, completely impossible to fathom.
***
Silver City.
With Li Hao's return, the mood among the defenders improved noticeably.
Without anyone realizing when it had begun, their trust in Li Hao had deepened. Having him around brought peace of mind—even though he repeatedly insisted that he had no desire to shoulder every crisis single-handedly.
Yet every era, every faith, required a pillar of support.
And Li Hao had undeniably given them that confidence.
The moment he arrived, Director Zhao hurried over. Skipping all pleasantries, he went straight to the point. "A few ancient cities have already reached out to us, hoping to reach an agreement. You were in closed-door cultivation these past few days, so I did not want to disturb you."
"Which ones?"
Li Hao mirrored his directness, cutting right to the heart of the matter.
"The Zhou family's central city, Star River City."
"And the Zhang family's central city, Dingtian City."
Director Zhao continued briskly, "Only those two for now. There has been some movement on the Hong family's side as well, but perhaps because their divine weapon was destroyed, they haven't made a final decision yet."
"As for the Zheng family's central city, its exact location remains unknown."
Of the eight central cities, setting aside Battle Heaven, Sword City, and the recently allied Martial Arts Alliance, five remained.
The spear of the Zhou family and the saber of the Zhang family made two.
The remaining three were the Zheng family's deadweight scion, the Hong family's hammer, and the Liu family's legs.
The Zheng family had most likely turned traitor, which explained the complete lack of word from them.
As for the Hong and Liu families, Li Hao had destroyed one's hammer and the other's boots. That was probably why they had sent no emissaries. In contrast, even though the Zhang family's saber was also gone, they had still dispatched an envoy.
Li Hao pondered briefly before sending a sound transmission. Soon, someone arrived.
Director Wang had been having a miserable time lately. Because his origin path had not fully stabilized and he had not yet formed an independent Dao meridian of his own, he was left in a pitiful state every time Li Hao withdrew the 'Dao' divine character.
Right now, he looked at Li Hao with a deeply aggrieved expression.
Li Hao smiled sheepishly and quickly shifted the topic. "Director Wang, I know a little about the Eight Great Families, but not nearly enough. Could you give me a brief overview of their background?"
"You already know about the Li and Wang families, and you have some grasp of the Martial Arts Alliance."
Director Wang did not dwell on his grievances. Hearing Li Hao ask, he explained, "Of the remaining five, the Zhou family's Star River City, the Zheng family's Boundless City, and the Liu family's Hurricane City were all founded by descendants of Star Suppressing City, the sacred martial land of the past."
"The Zhang family's Dingtian City was founded by the descendants of the Governor of Nanjiang, the Human King's old homeland. That governor left behind many saber techniques. You might have heard of some of them—names like Immortal Decapitation and Emperor Extinction were all coined by him."
Li Hao's eyes flickered. He truly had heard of them.
In particular, the *Blood-Bursting Mad Saber* was said to have come from that lineage. Among the Silver Moon martial masters, one practically carried that legacy: Mad Saber!
However, Mad Saber had recently taken several martial masters on an assignment elsewhere.
Li Hao had not seen him in quite a long time.
Hou Xiaochen had mentioned once that he sent Mad Saber away on official business, and the man had not returned since.
So the Zhang family's saber traced its lineage to that venerable governor.
As for Star River City, Boundless City, and Hurricane City tracing back to Star Suppressing City, Li Hao was already somewhat aware of that.
Director Wang continued, "As for the Hong family, their ancestor was not particularly renowned. Their Thunderstorm City was founded when an expert rose to prominence late in the Neo-Martial era and migrated to Silver Moon. However, that founder had another credential: he graduated from Magic Capital Martial Arts University and was considered a late-era genius of Magic Martial..."
Li Hao nodded slightly.
Of the eight families, three were tied to Star Suppressing City. As for the rest, setting aside the Li family, the Zhao family of the Martial Arts Alliance had been founded by an ancient martial alliance chief, the Hong family by a genius from Magic Martial, the Zhang family by the descendants of the Nanjiang Governor from the Human King's homeland, and the Wang family by relatives of the Blood Sovereign.
Evidently, every single one possessed an extraordinary lineage.
Li Hao asked again, "Then according to the order of the folk rhyme, why does the Li family come first and the Zhang family second... while the Wang family ranks so far behind?"
Director Wang shook his head. "Apart from the Li family, the eight central cities were roughly on par with one another. If you insist on saying the Zhang family is second... no one can say for sure. To this day, nobody knows who even started that rhyme. After all, this was merely a small world. Aside from the Sword Venerable, none of the other families had a true Sovereign overseeing them, regardless of their illustrious backgrounds!"
Take the Wang family, for instance: their lineage was remarkable, yet the Blood Sovereign had not personally watched over them here.
Li Hao nodded. "By that logic, wouldn't the Zhou, Zheng, and Liu families be considered a single entity?"
"Not necessarily... Just because their ancestors were close doesn't mean their descendants stayed that way. As the old saying goes, 'First cousins are kin, second cousins are relations, and by the third or fourth generation, it all falls apart.' If that's how it goes for direct blood relations, imagine what happens between distant descendants who don't even share the same forefather..."
Director Wang waved the notion aside. "Even the various families of Star Suppressing City had only ordinary relations in later years. Once Neo-Martial was established, they went their separate ways."
Li Hao dropped the subject.
After a moment of thought, he said, "At present, the Zhou and Zhang families want to forge a simple non-aggression pact with me. Adding the Wang and Zhao families, and leaving aside the yet-to-appear Sword City, that makes five families accounted for. Only the Zheng, Liu, and Hong families have given no reply."
Director Wang let out a breath and said nothing.
Each family had its own motives, and he could hardly guess their true thoughts. Of course, in his view, it was entirely normal for the Zheng family to stay hidden—they were ninety-nine percent likely to have turned traitor.
Li Hao calculated inwardly and added, "Putting those three families aside for now, we still have the four surrounding nations, the three continental regions... and whatever unknown entities might have arrived from another universe... I have been trying my utmost to sweep away our enemies, so why does it feel like the entire world is still aligned against me?"
He felt somewhat helpless.
He had worked tirelessly to seek peace and strike a balance, yet his enemies only seemed to multiply.
Unifying this realm was truly an uphill battle.
"Perhaps... something is still missing. There has been enough softness, but not enough steel! Only by tempering softness with steel can true sovereignty be forged!"
Li Hao said slowly, "I have killed many, but they were all weaklings. In the eyes of the ancient cities and the foreign nations, I, Li Hao, am nothing more than an upstart."
"Therefore, only thunderous force—utterly annihilating one faction to instill absolute dread—can bring genuine peace to this world!"
He looked toward Director Zhao. "I intend to throw everything we have into destroying one faction. Director Zhao, which one do you think would serve best to demonstrate our might?"
Director Zhao was startled. "If it's to make an example... Dali is naturally the best choice!"
Was there even an alternative?
He was thoroughly puzzled.
Dali was right before their eyes.
Besides, while Dali's military strength was impressive, it was not invincible.
He simply could not read Li Hao's mind.
Li Hao, however, smiled meaningfully. "Director Zhao, in any war, beyond intimidating the enemy through slaughter, there is another crucial factor: reaping sufficient benefits!"
Director Zhao froze.
Pondering the thought, he said, "Speaking of benefits... the ancient cities certainly hold countless treasures, but their people are holed up in their ruins, guarded by powerful experts. We have to set the ancient cities aside for now. Moreover, with enemies on all sides, our primary focus must remain on the surface world."
"The dukes of the three continental regions are too weak and offer limited spoils. Besides, now is not the time for civil strife. That leaves only the four surrounding nations."
He thought it through and continued, "If the Governor-General feels Dali does not offer enough benefits, then only the Kingdom of Shuiyun in the south and the God Nation in the west would be suitable. The Kingdom of Dahuang in the east is an impoverished wasteland, hardly wealthier than Dali."
"As for Shuiyun..."
He mused for a moment. "They are relatively affluent, but I haven't heard of them possessing exceptional cultivation resources. The God Nation in the west, however, is rich in resources and guided by gods. Gods naturally gather energy, so natural mineral veins likely exist in their lands!"
"Yet the God Nation is also the most formidable of the four nations!"
Director Zhao gave a concise briefing, adding, "The God Nation supposedly worships the Moon God as their primary deity. Beneath her are gods of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, and more... and many of them may have already awakened."
He glanced at Li Hao. While he could not say for sure who Li Hao was targeting, he suspected Li Hao had set his sights on the western God Nation.
He continued, "Of course, the God Nation is the strongest. If we obliterate them, the other factions will be terrified and might even withdraw on their own initiative!"
"However... we are still locked in combat with Dali right now..."
Director Zhao had a splitting headache trying to decipher Li Hao's intentions.
Leaving Dali alone to march against the God Nation?
Then he recalled Yuan Shuo's words and the fact that the Three Great Organizations had taken refuge in Dali. His heart twitched. Was Li Hao leaving Dali intact so they would have the strength to crush the Three Great Organizations?
Li Hao rubbed his chin. "Director Zhao, tell me, if I meet the King of Dali again and offer him enough time to quell the turmoil within his borders, do you think he would accept?"
Director Zhao's heart leaped!
*He really is planning that!*
"That... is hard to say!"
He shook his head. "The King of Dali is a hegemon. He knows that if he pulls back now and lets you roam unchecked, it could trigger even greater disasters for him. Thus, even if his homeland is in turmoil, he will be reluctant to leave."
Li Hao smiled. "Yet he should know even better that he cannot best me right now. Remaining entangled here yields him no real benefit."
That was true enough, but the King of Dali was no fool.
Who knew what would happen if Li Hao were left unchecked?
Of course, Li Hao's movements were erratic and hard to predict, but as long as his main army and the Silver Moon martial masters remained pinned down here, he was tied down as well.
Li Hao said, "Battle Heaven City has deployed ten thousand Battle Heaven Army soldiers this time. If I reach agreements with the Zhou and Zhang families, along with the Zhao family, that will yield another thirty thousand suits of armor. Add the ten thousand suits I already possess, and that makes fifty thousand suits in total."
"Fifty thousand armored warriors, each capable of facing ten foes, comprised of our finest elites, with our strongest experts marching alongside them—could such a force rapidly crush the western God Nation?"
Pausing briefly, Li Hao continued, "As for drilling our troops, Dali alone is more than enough. Shuiyun relies on naval forces, Dahuang relies on cavalry, and only Dali fields a conventional land army. I know a bit about the God Nation as well—they are nothing but a horde of religious fanatics. Using them to train our troops serves little purpose."
Director Zhao was thoroughly convinced.
Whatever Li Hao's ultimate reasoning was, he genuinely intended to make an example of the God Nation in the west.
After a brief silence, Director Zhao said, "If it is only fifty thousand troops, we can relocate our theater of war quickly. That leaves only two questions: first, with Dali still entrenched here, how do we handle them? Second, how many of their gods have awakened, and what kind of power do they wield?"
Shifting the battlefield from the far north to the far west meant covering tens of thousands of li.
Only Li Hao would ever conceive such an idea—and only he would dare execute it!
Director Zhao felt utterly helpless.
Li Hao was truly audacious.
Li Hao said, "Regardless of how many gods they have, I will go all out in this battle to establish our supremacy and secure peace in the west. Every demon plant that can deploy its true body must do so; those that cannot will send their clones! I will offer sufficient rewards to enlist the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University... We will mobilize every available asset to destroy the God Nation and stop their gods from growing further!"
"Those gods pose a massive threat. If they grow unchecked, they might wrest away our control over the great Dao of heaven and earth."
His reasoning sounded solid enough.
Yet Director Zhao remained certain that Li Hao had a deeper motive; otherwise, he would not be in such a desperate hurry to strike at the God Nation.
Since Li Hao had spoken, Director Zhao pressed no further.
"Then everything will proceed according to the Governor-General's orders!"
Li Hao chuckled. "Then I will have to trouble you, Director Zhao. For this campaign... you must bring every expert in Silver Moon, including the ten thousand Silver Moon Guards under your command."
Indeed, having overseen this region for decades, Director Zhao commanded a formidable detachment of Silver Moon Guards, though they had been kept in reserve to watch the ancient cities.
Director Zhao frowned slightly. "The Governor-General means... to leave the God Nation no way out whatsoever?"
"Correct."
Li Hao nodded with a cold smile. "The God Nation lies in the west. What good would leaving them a way out do us?"
Those words carried a chilling undercurrent.
Director Zhao nodded without another word.
Meanwhile, Li Hao gazed into the distance, looking toward the enemy camp. The King of Dali across the lines might not be so accommodating. He would not simply retreat or agree to a truce on command. Once Li Hao withdrew his main experts, the king might get other ideas.
After a moment's reflection, Li Hao said, "Director Zhao, go make the arrangements. Rotate our elite units off the front line and have them ready to march at a moment's notice!"
"Additionally, inform all experts to prepare for battle. Contact Lin Hongyu and the others in the Central Region, telling them to make full preparations as well. Ensure no powerful expert leaves Heavenly Star City for the next three days..."
Director Zhao nodded.
Li Hao then turned to Director Wang. "I want this campaign to be completely foolproof. Director Wang, I hope to secure assistance from Battle Heaven City."
Director Wang raised an eyebrow. "What do you need?"
"General Huai's clone, for one! Second, the true bodies of all the Peak Realm guardian demon plants... their true bodies, not clones! Furthermore, if possible, I hope the guardian divine weapon can join the fray as well."
Director Wang drew a sharp breath. Li Hao was dead set on wiping out the God Nation in a single stroke.
What was he really after?
When dealing with Dali, Li Hao had seemed almost casual, constantly talking about training the troops without once seeking reinforcements. Yet this time, not only was he taking the forces here, but he was also mobilizing the Central Region and even reaching out to Battle Heaven City...
Ever since becoming the Heavenly Star Governor-General, Li Hao had almost never asked these old relics for help.
"That... will require you to speak with Battle Heaven City in person!"
Among General Huai's thirty-six descendants, several were in the Peak Realm, preserved from death by General Huai's protection.
Almost all of these Peak Realm plants could dispatch their true bodies.
A true body, after all, was vastly more powerful than a mere clone.
Li Hao nodded and added, "Director Wang, you will march with me this time as well. Your origin path has been transplanted; in truth, you are already capable of birthing a Dao meridian. You simply haven't paid attention to it."
"I..."
Director Wang thought it over, then nodded. "Very well. Understood!"
Li Hao smiled. "Splendid. If they have a Thunder God, so much the better. If we can slay their Thunder God and seize its thunder Dao meridian, I will bestow it upon you. You can use thunder to anchor your other meridians and thoroughly reshape yourself into a New Human flesh-and-blood body!"
Director Wang's expression shifted, but he held his tongue.
Li Hao looked outside. "Go make your preparations. I will speak with the King of Dali!"
With that, the Starry Sky Sword suddenly appeared before him.
The next instant, the divine character for 'Fire' emerged. The Starry Sky Sword shimmered and contorted, transforming into a second Li Hao. A turbulent aura radiated from him, carrying an untamed ferocity like a tiger descending the mountain.
"I'll go negotiate with him... Everyone, be ready!"
With a flash of sword light, the figure vanished into thin air.
Li Hao's true body remained standing silently in place.
Director Zhao's eyes flickered at the sight, but he said nothing and swiftly departed.
***
Inside the Dali military camp.
The King of Dali was deep in thought when a sudden ripple disturbed the void. His brow furrowed in rage, and within a heartbeat, Jiang Li materialized in the tent beside him.
As the void fluctuated, Li Hao's figure stepped forward.
"King of Dali!"
"Li Hao!"
The King of Dali glared at him coldly. This was the first time Li Hao had stepped into the Dali camp uninvited. The young man's audacity was truly boundless. Behind the king, Jiang Li was already radiating a jade-white sheen.
Li Hao smiled. "I come with no hostility."
Yet neither of them dared lower their guard.
Li Hao continued, "I have a score to settle with Ying Hongyue. I now know that he is in Dali, perhaps already butchering your people... I came to discuss dealing with Ying Hongyue with the King of Dali."
"That is no concern of yours!"
The King of Dali stared at him coldly. "He is nothing more than a clown!"
"No, he is not."
Li Hao shook his head, a slight smile lingering on his lips. "Ying Hongyue is by no means a clown! He has countless tricks and contingencies up his sleeve. He is far more than a mere pawn for ancient traitors; he is extraordinarily dangerous in his own right!"
The King of Dali frowned slightly.
To be frank, as a mighty hegemon, he had never taken Ying Hongyue seriously. Even when the man began causing trouble in Dali's rear, the king had hardly regarded him as a major threat.
The Three Great Organizations were, strictly speaking, little more than regional criminal syndicates.
Right now, what played out before them was a clash of empires.
Li Hao made Ying Hongyue sound like a terrifying enigma, but the king remained skeptical. Li Hao continued, "Ying Hongyue might be linked to a powerful being from another universe."
Li Hao said softly, "Killing him... is by no means simple. In fact, slaying him might unleash catastrophic consequences."
"Catastrophic consequences?"
The King of Dali's brow furrowed. "Would killing him destroy the world?"
"Indeed."
Li Hao nodded with a smile. "In the past, I didn't understand. Later, as I learned more, I came to realize that killing Ying Hongyue might trigger unpredictable disasters, perhaps even releasing an unfathomably terrifying existence!"
"His relentless pursuit of uniting the eight meridians is neither ordinary nor straightforward! He likely harbors deeper ambitions... He may have even abandoned his own path of growth, choosing instead to enter a mutual devouring cycle with a horrifying entity..."
The King of Dali could not make heads or tails of this.
Yet Li Hao sighed, "He is a terrifying individual. When I was weak, I didn't understand any of this! But once I grew stronger and gained insight into the great Dao, I realized that killing him... is absurdly difficult!"
"Li Hao, what on earth are you talking about?"
Li Hao sighed. "I cannot kill him recklessly. If I strike him down, it might shatter a horrifying seal. To put it simply, Ying Hongyue has bound himself to that seal, making himself the formation's focal point! The only flaw in his plan was that he failed to steal my bloodline. Had he succeeded, he wouldn't just be the focal eye—he would be the entire seal!"
"Therefore, when dealing with Ying Hongyue... we cannot rush things, but we certainly cannot allow him to grow unchecked either!"
Li Hao said softly, "We must whittle him down bit by bit. Ideally, we should drive him farther and farther from Silver City, forcing him to take wounds, stay on the run, and burn through his stolen power..."
The King of Dali grasped the gist of it. Frowning, he asked, "You mean to say that this man... is linked to a sealed powerhouse and can siphon that being's energy?"
"Whether that is the exact case, I cannot say for sure, but the probability is high. Naturally, he must pay a heavy price—it is dancing with a tiger! While he siphons that power, he is also being assimilated... Once the assimilation is complete, the seal will collapse..."
All of this was Li Hao's deduction.
Of course, it was not an unfounded guess.
It stemmed from their multiple clashes, his observation of the Bagua diagram's shifts, and the subtle fluctuations along the seven red threads.
Killing Ying Hongyue was an extraordinarily thorny task.
Yet Li Hao was in no rush.
He had patience in abundance!
If the man could be killed easily, Li Hao would have been frantic. But knowing it was impossible, he felt no urgency at all. He had cast aside all anxiety, choosing to take it one deliberate step at a time.
He possessed the patience for this, just as he had once patiently bided his time in the Inspectorate for an entire year, doing nothing but reading case files.
At that moment, the King of Dali eyed Li Hao closely and suddenly said, "This is not your true body, is it?"
Jiang Li was taken aback.
*Not his true body?*
The King of Dali had seen Li Hao's clones before. Frowning, he remarked, "No wonder you are so bold and arrogant. This must be the method you used last time—creating ten avatars to besiege this king, correct?"
Pausing, he added, "It is formed from Dao meridian divine abilities, as described in your research notes?"
Having received Li Hao's research notes, the king was familiar with the concepts.
Li Hao chuckled and nodded. "Indeed. A divine character born of fire-meridian divine abilities."
"How is this different from an origin clone?"
The King of Dali asked, expecting Li Hao to dodge the question. Instead, Li Hao smiled and answered openly, "There are massive differences! An origin clone cannot cultivate on its own; it can only passively absorb energy. A divine character clone can cultivate independently."
"That is the first difference. Second, a divine character clone wields abilities distinct from the original body. For instance, this fire clone is exceptionally skilled in fire divine abilities, while my true body is temporarily deprived of those specific powers after the separation."
"Third, if an origin clone is destroyed, the true body suffers severe trauma. But if a divine character clone is destroyed... the backlash is negligible, though my fire divine abilities will take a temporary hit."
"Fourth, it is far more covert. At the very least, you would have a hard time identifying who my true body really is... Even though I revealed myself to you just now, my aura is actually different from my original form!"
The King of Dali was visibly shaken, asking no further questions on the matter.
Li Hao smiled and continued, "My purpose in seeking you out today is simple... I want to put pressure on Ying Hongyue. Therefore, I hope the King of Dali and the Temple Chief Priest can do me a small favor—or rather, a mutual favor. What do you say we journey into Dali together and give them a pleasant surprise?"
The King of Dali glared at him coldly. "Are you joking?"
He wanted the king to leave with him while Li Hao's true body remained behind.
What about Dali's million-man army?
What if Li Hao launched a surprise assault on the Dali camp the moment the king departed?
Li Hao let out a soft sigh. "The King of Dali lacks vision. So long as the peak experts survive, what real difference does an army make? Armies and military drills are only relevant in the absence of absolute power... Slaughtering an army without slaying the experts is meaningless. If you are freed from the burden of an army, you become even more dangerous."
"Take yourself, for instance: if I leave, would you massacre my troops? Once I am unburdened by an army and turn assassin, could you withstand my vengeance?"
Jiang Li frowned, his voice low and heavy. "Governor Li came here alone solely to deal with Ying Hongyue?"
Why did it feel like there was more to this?
Li Hao nodded. "My primary target has always been Ying Hongyue. He ranks first; everything else can wait."
"Then why didn't your true body come in person?"
The King of Dali stared at him coldly. Li Hao chuckled. "Traveling into Dali alone, I had to consider the possibility that you might unleash an Initial Martial God to slay me... Caution is only natural. Besides, if my true body entered, you would worry that I might throw Dali into chaos! Isn't this arrangement ideal for both of us?"
"Are you truly unconcerned that the Three Great Organizations might slaughter your people within Dali?"
"They wouldn't dare!"
The King of Dali declared with supreme confidence, "If they dare commit such atrocities, Dali will hunt them to the ends of the earth, no matter the cost!"
"Don't be so certain!"
Li Hao smiled. "Anything is possible!"
With that, he added, "Will the two of you truly not consider my proposal?"
The King of Dali pondered for a moment, eyeing Li Hao intently. Suddenly, he said, "You want us to leave, yet your true body did not come. Do you have another target? Are you simply trying to prevent us from interfering with your plans?"
Li Hao smiled without answering.
"Could it be... because the other three nations have deployed their forces, you want to launch a surprise attack on one of them?"
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that why you are so desperate for me to leave—to buy yourself time?"
Li Hao chuckled. "King of Dali, believe whatever you wish."
"Then this king will certainly not leave!"
The King of Dali sneered. "This king shall remain right here, a thorn firmly lodged in your side!"
Li Hao smiled as well. "If that is the case, should I truly need to depart, my only choice will be to unleash everything I have to destroy you first."
Li Hao said softly, "Right now, we could resolve the threat of the Three Great Organizations together. You would have time to stabilize your rear, and I would have time to handle my affairs—a win-win situation. Why make trouble for yourself?"
The King of Dali remained unmoved!
Li Hao chuckled. "How about this: I may move against the ancient cities next. They possess countless experts and vast reserves of origin power... I can cut you in for a share. What do you say?"
"What?"
The King of Dali was taken aback.
Li Hao smiled. "Against the ancient cities! Not everyone in the eight central cities is benevolent, and not all of them stand with me. Since that's the case... those that need purging will be purged. We wipe them out completely and let those ancient cities sleep forever! Doesn't your Dali require origin power? I am offering you an opportunity. How about it?"
The King of Dali's expression shifted erratically.
Jiang Li quickly intervened, "You are utterly mad! The ancient cities house countless experts. Even if they haven't fully awakened, they are not foes you can easily provoke... You may be invincible out in the open, but within their ruins, even a Peak Immortal might be enough to slay you!"
"Thank you for your concern!"
*Did I sound concerned for you?*
Jiang Li was at a loss for words. This Li Hao's thought process was truly bizarre.
Li Hao laughed. "Do you lack the courage? Without courage, how do you expect to conquer the world? Does a true hegemon only bully the weak and fear the strong?"
The King of Dali sneered, "Are you trying to goad this king?"
"Indeed!"
Li Hao nodded. "We are both favored sons of this era. Why should we walk on eggshells around others? You dare confront the clones of ancient city experts, yet you lack the courage to face the cities themselves?"
"Aren't you just trying to serve your own ends... deliberately luring me away..."
"Of course!"
Li Hao was disarmingly candid. "Whether you leave or not, I will be leaving! I will leave my army behind. If you wish to slaughter them, be my guest. It will save me the trouble of weeding out the weak, and it will ignite the fury of the Heavenly Star populace. Afterward, not a single soul from the four nations will ever step foot into Heavenly Star again—everyone will view you as blood enemies for generations to come!"
The King of Dali remained impassive. "Then let us put that to the test!"
Li Hao chuckled again. "I am giving you an opportunity. Do you truly refuse to seize it? King of Dali, must you force me to turn hostile?"
The King of Dali's face darkened, but then he suddenly broke into a laugh. "Fine! This king can agree! However, I have one condition..."
"Name it."
The King of Dali smiled broadly. "Didn't you want to take this chance to strike at one of the factions? Didn't you claim you refuse to bully the weak and fear the strong? Very well... if you march west to confront the God Nation... this king will gladly cooperate!"
The western God Nation was the strongest of the four foreign powers!
The King of Dali was well aware that Dali was, at best, second among the four nations, falling short of that realm inhabited by myriad deities.
Who was Li Hao truly aiming for?
In the king's estimation, Dahuang was the most probable target. Dahuang boasted vast cavalry forces with immense mobility, capable of overrunning the entire Eastern Continent in the blink of an eye.
Shuiyun, on the other hand, relied primarily on naval power and posed little immediate threat.
The God Nation was far too formidable to be Li Hao's current target.
Therefore, he concluded that Li Hao most likely intended to strike Dahuang!
Could he simply allow Li Hao to have his way?
Naturally not!
*If you march against the God Nation, I won't give you any trouble!*
Furthermore, Dali was deeply wary of the God Nation. Dali worshipped the Initial Martial God and understood all too well how terrifying faith could be. With so many religious fanatics in the west, such a nation was exceptionally hard to conquer.
Nothing short of total annihilation could extinguish the west's resistance.
Even the Heavenly Star Dynasty had a chance of achieving unification.
Yet the western God Nation remained the most daunting adversary.
Li Hao frowned slightly. "The gods of the western God Nation have begun awakening; they are immensely powerful. Striking at them now... would inevitably lead to a brutal bloodbath. You certainly dare to suggest it!"
The King of Dali burst into hearty laughter. "Am I not merely obliging your wishes? Since you want this king to leave... then go face the western God Nation! The spread of faith and the emergence of gods in the west make them the greatest and most dangerous threat to Heavenly Star. You even dare strike at ancient cities, don't you? Do you lack the courage to face the God Nation?"
Li Hao glared at him coldly. "It is not a matter of courage, but of timing! Once the other three nations are quelled, I will naturally deal with their so-called gods..."
"Then do it now!"
The King of Dali did not yield an inch. "Only then will this king grant you this opening. Otherwise... the moment you leave, this king will immediately seize the entire Northern Continent!"
Li Hao's gaze turned icy. "Do not court death!"
"Try me!" The King of Dali sneered. "This king would love to see if integrating the Initial Martial divine bone into my body will be enough to slay you!"
Li Hao inhaled sharply. A fiery surge erupted from him, and turbulent flames billowed in the surroundings.
Jiang Li tensed, looking deeply wary.
The King of Dali narrowed his eyes at Li Hao, fully prepared for a fight to the death!
Since he had mobilized his army, he had never feared turning hostile with Li Hao.
It was bound to happen sooner or later!
He was no retainer of Li Hao's; why should he dance to the young man's tune?
Li Hao took a deep breath. "Once I take Dahuang, I will naturally deal with the God Nation..."
"Keep dreaming!"
The King of Dali said coldly, "You will not touch Dahuang!"
A phantom tiger materialized in Li Hao's eyes, radiating dense murderous intent. "Then I will destroy Dali first!"
"Feel free to try!"
"Ahem!"
Seeing that the two were truly about to come to blows, Jiang Li hastily cut in, "Governor Li, perhaps you could hear me out? The God Nation is indeed the far greater threat. They propagate blind faith, leading the ignorant masses astray. Whether the Governor unifies the world or Dali takes the realm, the God Nation remains a festering cancer..."
"We in Dali know the dangers of faith all too well. Once it spreads unchecked, the entirety of Heavenly Star could face catastrophe!"
A faint smile appeared on Jiang Li's face. "If the Governor is willing to move against the God Nation, Dali will not only refrain from interfering, but we will also lend a helping hand... For example, I could personally assist the Governor in bringing down the God Nation."
Li Hao frowned at them, his voice freezing. "The God Nation is immensely powerful. If the battle stalemates..."
"With the Governor's mighty prowess, could you truly fear the God Nation?"
Li Hao sneered. "Are you trying to goad me?"
The King of Dali replied flatly, "And what if I am? Didn't you try to goad this king moments ago?"
Li Hao suddenly laughed. "I... have never feared reverse psychology! Since you insist... fine! We will make the western God Nation our target!"
"..."
The King of Dali and Jiang Li exchanged a glance, bewilderment flashing in their eyes. Did Li Hao... truly dare to take the bait?
Li Hao said indifferently, "If you remain uneasy, both the King of Dali and the Chief Priest may take part... I have never feared any foe. If you feel this is necessary... then you may participate in person. Whether you watch from the sidelines or join the fray... it is entirely up to you!"
The King of Dali's heart stirred. He said evenly, "Never mind. This king must return to my homeland to resolve the trouble caused by the Three Great Organizations. Your clone may accompany me. As for Jiang Li, he can accompany Governor Li!"
Jiang Li nodded without objection.
Li Hao drew a deep breath. "Then it is settled!"
With that, his figure vanished into thin air, his voice echoing back: "We set out tonight. Chief Priest Jiang Li may accompany us. My clone will return tonight!"
Once Li Hao was gone, the King of Dali frowned slightly. "Chief Priest, tell me... is he brushing this king off, or is he truly going after the God Nation? Or was the God Nation his target from the very beginning?"
Jiang Li shook his head. "Unlikely. Rather than striking the God Nation, attacking Dali directly would have been far easier. Your Majesty knows full well that the God Nation possesses the greatest strength among the four nations!"
Why sneak-attack the strongest faction when he could eliminate the second strongest without half the complications?
Li Hao had almost certainly set his sights on Dahuang.
Jiang Li smiled. "Your Majesty's wit is formidable. With just a few words, you backed Li Hao into a corner where he had no choice but to target the God Nation..."
Pausing, he added with slight hesitation, "It's just that Li Hao seemed unusually easy to provoke today."
He felt somewhat puzzled by that.
The King of Dali fell silent for a moment. "Pay it no mind; we will see how it unfolds. The western God Nation is indeed troublesome... However, you must be careful. Perhaps... his true target was you all along, and he staged this entire charade just to lure you out!"
Jiang Li's expression turned solemn. That was indeed a real possibility!
He nodded gravely. "Your Majesty need not worry. I will be on high alert. If anything happens, I will contact Your Majesty immediately and invoke the Initial Martial divine bone. Subduing me will not be so simple!"
The King of Dali took a deep breath. "Good. In addition, I must indeed return home. We cannot allow those scoundrels to run amok in our lands. I was tied down before, but now... this is an opportunity!"
Turning his gaze back toward the direction Li Hao had departed, he said in a low voice, "He claimed Ying Hongyue is linked to a powerful being. Do you think that is true?"
"Seventy percent likely to be true!"
"You believe he was speaking the truth?"
Jiang Li nodded. "Given Li Hao's character and his current accomplishments, would he ever abandon the chance to kill Ying Hongyue if it were easily done? Thus, there must indeed be hidden complications forcing him to stay his hand for now."
The King of Dali inhaled deeply. "Understood. Then it is all the more reason for me to drive them out. Otherwise, those wretches might bring catastrophe upon Dali!"
With countless thoughts swirling in his mind, he ultimately resolved to uphold the agreement with Li Hao.
Besides, if Li Hao truly attacked the God Nation, it worked in their favor.
It would allow them to gauge the true strength of both sides!
Just how many hidden trump cards did Li Hao still hold?
Jiang Li nodded in agreement.
***
At that exact moment.
Li Hao was sighing with fond amusement... *The King of Dali is truly adorable. I almost can't bear to kill him.*
Chapter 321