Deploying the Troops

That night. Troops were mobilized: ten thousand from the Battle Heaven Army, ten thousand from the Demon Hunt Army, ten thousand from the supernatural forces under the Nine Departments, ten thousand from the supernatural units reorganized from the City of Supernaturals, and another ten thousand from the Silver Moon Guards newly raised by Director Zhao—all of them supernaturals as well. Over the past several days, these armies had taken turns fighting on the front lines against the forces of Dali. Their killing intent ran thick! Fifty thousand troops stood fully armored. The ranks were disciplined and solemn, finally resembling an army of battle-hardened elites. The Battle Heaven Army was already elite by nature, and the other four armies had been handpicked from the best. Every soldier was a supernatural, nearly all at or above the Hundred-Breaker level. Not a single weakling was among them! Clad in armor, their combat effectiveness surged by a massive margin. One hundred supernatural cannons were brought forth, salvaged earlier from various provinces, accompanied by an astonishing reserve of ten thousand supernatural cannonballs. Li Hao had amassed quite a stockpile of these weapons, once feared as city-destroying bombs. Left behind from the Neo-Martial era, they were somewhat weaker than the standard ordnance used by regular ancient armies, but their destructive power remained terrifying. In the past, a barrage had once trapped Li Hao so thoroughly that even with Rising Light-level strength, he could not break free. Clearly, Li Hao was playing for keeps. This was the first time Jiang Li had ever seen Li Hao so deadly earnest. Although he did not know Li Hao well, Dali and Heavenly Star had been clashing for days. To be frank, in Jiang Li's eyes, the Heavenly Star forces—aside from the Battle Heaven Army—were mediocre, even if they were called elites. Yet today... seeing these men armored from head to toe, supernatural cannons wheeled into line, and countless cannonballs packed into crates... he felt a jolt of shock. He knew what those weapons were capable of. Before long, earth-drilling shuttles, airships, and cruisers appeared. Commanders stepped forward in orderly succession rather than the chaotic scrambles of before. Clad in silver or bronze armor, their auras were fiercely formidable. Generals like the Ninth Division Commander, Huang Yu, and Liu Long took their places at the front of the host. Across the vast expanse of Silver Moon, Li Hao was leaving behind only a single stalwart commander to hold the fort: Hou Xiaochen, one of the Four Guardians of Silver Moon. Li Hao had even taken Director Zhao with him. Hou Xiaochen was chosen to remain because no one else was suitable. Huang Yu would have been a solid choice, but Huang Yu excelled at commanding battlefield formations, making it a waste to leave him behind. Kong Jie was slightly weaker in combat and lacked Hou Xiaochen's prestige in Silver Moon. After weighing every option, Li Hao ultimately left Hou Xiaochen to oversee the province. This saddled Hou Xiaochen with immense pressure, along with a touch of helplessness. He had been dumped back at headquarters yet again! It was a pity he could not march west to take part in this battle. This was likely the first time Li Hao had mobilized every single powerhouse at his disposal to wage a full-scale assault. The Western God Nation! Not only that, but hidden academy puppets, Di Wei, and even the true form of the Redwood—a Peak Immortal Realm entity—now emerged from the shadows. Clearly, Li Hao had held back nearly all his covert assets until now. Jiang Li's expression grew increasingly grave. Many of these experts were people he had never seen before, including a number of veteran Silver Moon martial masters who had remained in hiding until today. It was not entirely concealment; some of these older martial artists had been quietly cultivating the new path and opening acupoints. But today, they had all been drafted into service. Adding in the six elders Li Hao had previously brought to the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, Silver Moon's veteran martial masters did not number very many—barely more than a dozen in total. Yet their combat strength was not to be underestimated. "Board the ships!" Li Hao commanded softly. The fifty thousand troops boarded swiftly. Packing into three warships was a bit cramped, but Li Hao did not ask for more vessels; for now, three would suffice. One powerful expert after another boarded as well. Li Hao turned to look at Hou Xiaochen and smiled faintly. "Chief Hou, remember this: if Dali decides to launch an offensive, fight if you can, and retreat if you can't. If Dali tears up our agreement and turns hostile this time, I will lead the army to slaughter Dali until not a chicken or dog remains!" Hou Xiaochen nodded silently. Jiang Li frowned slightly. Li Hao glanced at him with a smile. "I, Li Hao... have always made good on every promise I make!" Jiang Li felt a stir in his heart, but said nothing. Li Hao rose into the air and called out, "To Battle Heaven City!" Instantly, the three warships soared into the darkness. With a wave of Li Hao's hand, a divine character manifested—the "Dark" divine character—shrouding all three vessels. In the night, the warships turned darker than pitch, rendering them completely invisible to the naked eye. Tens of thousands of soldiers remained soundless. Though excitement surged through their veins, not a single person made a sound. After days of grueling combat against Dali, they had finally taken on the look of hardened veterans. Li Hao was quite satisfied. *** The warships cut through the skies. Before long, they arrived at Battle Heaven City, a thousand li away. Li Hao descended from the warship and stepped into Battle Heaven City. Jiang Li was burning with curiosity, but dared not follow. He knew the ancient city was immensely powerful, yet he could not help wondering: would powerhouses from Battle Heaven City truly deploy for this campaign as well? *** Inside Battle Heaven City. As Li Hao re-entered the city, the atmosphere felt slightly different. He paid it no mind and spoke directly: "General Locust, Tortoise Guardian, I hope to secure the assistance of both seniors for this campaign. Whatever price is required, please name it freely!" The Ninth Division Commander was present as well—in his true body! The one outside had merely been his clone all along. Hearing Li Hao directly invite the two mighty beings to fight, the Ninth Division Commander knew that both the tree and the divine weapon were authentic Saint-level existences. Even if they only dispatched clones, clones at the Saint level would undeniably outmatch those of the Immortal Realm. The Old Turtle and General Locust did not reply immediately, choosing to wait for a moment. A short while later, the clone of the Ninth Division Commander entered and merged back into his true body. This was evidently what they had been waiting for. Once the true body merged with the clone, it learned everything the clone had experienced. The Ninth Division Commander transmitted several voice messages, bringing both elders up to speed. The Old Turtle said calmly, "I am merely the spirit of a divine weapon, and my offensive capabilities are limited. Even if I march... it will only be as a divine weapon clone. My combat power is not formidable, though my defense is passable. I can erect a defensive perimeter for the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, but when it comes to joining the attack... my strength is indeed modest. I speak no falsehood." A weapon of defense! Li Hao beamed. "That is more than enough!" General Locust hesitated for a heartbeat before saying, "I can deploy a clone as well. However... under the constraints of the world, even if it is stronger than an ordinary clone, the difference will be limited. It will by no means be overwhelmingly mighty..." "That is plenty!" Li Hao smiled. "Additionally, I would like several Peak Realm demon plant generals to mobilize. I will shoulder all the energy required for their revival!" This time, General Locust did not refuse. He chuckled. "Very well. On my side, there are twelve Peak Realm demon plants... Their original strength cannot compare to the true Peak Realm experts of the past since the origin path has vanished, but they will certainly not be weaker than clones of the Immortal Realm!" That was more than enough! Reviving twelve of them would require a substantial amount of energy—at least tens of millions of divine energy stones each, totaling over a hundred million. But Li Hao could afford it. Li Hao bowed slightly. "Then my deepest thanks to both seniors for lending your aid. May I ask what conditions you have in return?" Battle Heaven City was the ancient city he had interacted with the most. Their cooperation had lasted the longest. Li Hao had received many benefits here, and naturally, he had reciprocated in kind. Now that Battle Heaven City's powerhouses were willing to assist, Li Hao had no objection to offering treasures or energy. The ancient beings exchanged glances, their eyes ultimately settling on the Ninth Division Commander. Still encased in golden armor, the Ninth Division Commander remained silent for a long while before speaking slowly: "My request may be somewhat excessive... but I hope it can be granted!" "What is it?" "Ten thousand physical bodies!" Li Hao froze. The Ninth Division Commander said calmly, "For the ten thousand soldiers of the Battle Heaven Army outside—or to put it more selfishly, the warriors of the Ninth Division! I hope they can awaken and be revived in this era. Even if... their memories are partially lost, I want them to live again. "I know that crafting each physical body consumes a terrifying amount of resources. To connect them to the Bright Star Realm requires even more arduous effort, countless treasures, immense energy, and enormous risk... Even so, Battle Heaven City is willing to support you with everything we have!" The Ninth Division Commander looked at Li Hao. "I want them revived. I want them to possess flesh-and-blood bodies belonging to this era. I want them to live on in this new age, even if they forget everything, even if they must start from scratch..." He stared at Li Hao with utter solemnity. "To you, reviving the bodies of ten thousand ordinary soldiers is not cost-effective. You could choose to cooperate with other ancient cities to revive their high-tier experts instead... But to us, these men are our comrades-in-arms, our brothers. I want them to live again!" Ten thousand people! That was truly an astronomical number. On top of that, they needed the innate Dao bodies of the new era's humanity. That meant Li Hao would likely have to pierce through to the Bright Star Realm ten thousand times! Moreover, without the support of the origin path, stabilizing the connection between the Bright Star Realm and their flesh might require ten thousand divine weapons. Such a cost far exceeded everything he had paid before. The Ninth Division Commander knew how exceedingly difficult this would be. He added, "The Battle Heaven Army, the Ninth Division, will fight on your behalf indefinitely! Myself included! I would never have brought this up in the past, but now... I know you can do it..." Pausing briefly, he continued, "Beyond that, whenever wars or clashes of supreme experts arise in the future, Battle Heaven City is willing to pay whatever price is necessary to take the field!" Ten thousand people! Li Hao exhaled softly. After a long pause, he nodded. "Done!" The Ninth Division Commander blinked in disbelief. General Locust and the Old Turtle looked at each other, equally caught off guard. Li Hao... had actually agreed! To tell the truth, they had only intended to float the idea today, yet Li Hao had agreed without hesitation! The Ninth Division Commander fell utterly silent. Li Hao smiled. "No matter. It's a small issue. Naturally, it won't happen overnight; I need time to prepare. Besides, I was once an enlisted soldier of the Ninth Division myself, and I am the commander of the Ninth Division's Eleventh Regiment... Back then, I wanted to revive Regiment Commander Seven and the others, but you all refused." "I meant everyone..." the Ninth Division Commander said in a deep voice. "Not just a few regiment commanders..." "I know!" Li Hao chuckled. "Shepherding one sheep is shepherding, and shepherding a flock is the same principle." "..." This was hardly the same as herding sheep! Li Hao made it sound so casual that they actually began to doubt themselves. Was this kid truly willing? Putting further thoughts aside, the Ninth Division Commander said in a low, resolute tone, "If you can accomplish this, then... until the Star Gate opens, the Ninth Division will fight for you until the last man falls!" "Understood. Anything else?" "..." The elders were left thoroughly unsettled by the question. What else could there possibly be? Reviving ten thousand soldiers and granting them physical bodies was already far beyond their wild hopes. What more could they ask for? Wait, why was he asking if they had more demands? They looked at one another, feeling utterly nonplussed. Li Hao smiled. "Does the Ninth Division Commander not wish to be revived?" The commander paused, taking a moment before replying, "It makes no difference to me. If I truly want it, it will not be too difficult." "All right then," Li Hao said with a chuckle. "In return, I have a small request of my own..." The elders breathed a sigh of relief. That was more like it. Having demands meant the bargain was real. Li Hao said, "Once this battle concludes, I require fifty thousand suits of Battle Heaven armor!" "Done!" the Ninth Division Commander agreed instantly. "Battle Heaven City currently has an inventory of one hundred and twenty thousand suits of armor. If you want them, take them all!" Li Hao chuckled. "Quite a hefty stockpile. For now, fifty thousand will suffice. Combined with what I already possess and the ten thousand Battle Heaven soldiers outside... that makes a hundred thousand suits of armor!" A hundred thousand was just barely enough. Back in the Neo-Martial era, that would constitute a small-scale army corps. The main Battle Heaven Army had been a massive legion numbering a full million soldiers, whereas the Heavenly Star Army garrisoned at Heavenly Star Town had consisted of only a hundred thousand. "There is no need to hand them over today. I will collect them later!" With that, Li Hao looked at the two elders. Without another word, the colossal Tortoise Tower within the city seemed to give birth: an instant later, a small tortoise-shaped shield materialized. Li Hao caught it in his hand, immediately sensing a tremendous surge of power coursing through it. General Locust also severed a portion of his essence. A miniature locust tree emerged, rippling with the faint, ethereal aura of the Saint Dao. With a sweep of his hand, twelve demon plants materialized. At present, they had recovered enough to communicate telepathically, but their combat strength remained feeble; they would require Li Hao to provide vast quantities of divine energy stones for them to absorb. General Locust looked at Li Hao and said, "My clone, combined with these twelve auxiliary generals, can cast an Inescapable Net! If you wish to catch the enemy in one fell swoop... we can take root in the void and seal the heavens and earth!" Li Hao's eyes lit up! General Locust added, "You hold the secondary mirror of the Wind and Cloud Treasure Mirror. Let my clone and the twelve enter it. When the time comes, use the mirror as the array core to deploy the Inescapable Net Array. Not a single soul will escape!" "Excellent!" The Wind and Cloud Treasure Mirror appeared in Li Hao's hand. General Locust's clone stepped directly inside, followed by the twelve demon plants. The Old Turtle smiled faintly. "Then I wish Eleventh Division Commander a sweeping victory!" Eleventh Division Commander—the title carried profound implication! Li Hao chuckled. "May your auspicious words ring true!" With that, he turned and strode away. The Ninth Division Commander severed another clone of himself, which stepped forth radiating an aura noticeably stronger than before, and followed Li Hao out. *** The warships resumed their journey. As they crossed over the North Sea, a figure suddenly materialized. Keeping its distance, the figure did not approach, sending a telepathic wave instead: "Little friend, did you ever relay my message regarding the Taboo Sea? Lately, the Taboo Sea has been experiencing even greater fluctuations. Someone may be trying to stir up trouble..." Before Li Hao could speak, the small tortoise shell at his side trembled. The Old Turtle's clone emerged, offering a mild smile. "Lord Fuhai!" The figure paused in surprise. "You are... Ah, the divine weapon spirit of the Wang family!" It continued, "No need to call me 'Lord.' If memory serves, your seniority is quite venerable, on par with my ancestors." Li Fuhai was a descendant of the Sea Suppressing Emissary. For him to speak this way meant that in life, the Old Turtle's standing had indeed been remarkably ancient. After exchanging brief pleasantries, the figure looked back at Li Hao. Li Hao replied, "I am aware, and I have already relayed the message. Senior Zhang An said the Taboo Sea is reviving naturally because the world severed its connection to the main world!" "I already know that. What I am saying is that the Taboo Sea has grown unusually turbulent of late..." "Yes, I know that as well," Li Hao nodded. "I will handle it. Senior need not worry." "I am not the one who should worry; you should!" Li Fuhai said gravely. "Someone might be tampering with the source of the Taboo Sea to agitate the heavens and earth. This could trigger an early resurgence, stabilizing the world and allowing a batch of powerhouses to emerge ahead of schedule." As expected! Li Hao understood completely: it was almost certainly Ying Hongyue and his cohort. "Thank you for the warning, Senior. I know who is pulling the strings, but this person is slippery... I will do my utmost to deal with him!" Li Fuhai felt somewhat puzzled, but pressed no further. It was enough that Li Hao knew. This meeting left him with a rather different impression. When they first met, Li Hao had been arrogant, acting as though he were the greatest entity under the sun. Today, he was far more courteous. The young man had certainly learned some manners. Seeing that Li Hao understood the situation, Li Fuhai added, "Then all is well. Oh, one more small matter: something appears to be infiltrating the West Sea, attempting to wrest control of the Four Seas from me... It feels like a deity native to this world, perhaps some sort of Water God... If you find the time, look into it for me." Li Hao nodded, then asked abruptly, "Senior... why do you keep coming to me?" This had puzzled him for some time. With so many people out there, why seek out him specifically? It was bizarre! Li Fuhai looked somewhat surprised. "Isn't seeking you out the natural thing to do? The Li family presides over heaven and earth, the Sword Venerable is the sovereign of the realm, and you have the descendant of the Demon Suppressing Emissary accompanying you. My Sea Suppressing lineage has always fallen under the jurisdiction of the Demon Suppressing branch... Since my true body cannot leave, who else would I look for?" Li Hao's expression turned odd. That was it? No wonder this fellow had insisted on having him pass messages the very first time. So... he truly still viewed the Li family as the masters of this world. Or rather, he took it as an unquestionable truth. Li Hao chuckled. "Then I will certainly look into the matter of the West Sea!" "Good. I shall return!" Without further chatter with Li Hao or the Old Turtle's clone, the figure swiftly vanished. Beside Li Hao, the Old Turtle's clone remarked meaningfully, "The Sea Suppressing lineage may appear simple and honest, but they are exceptionally sharp. Not simple at all!" Li Hao smiled. "I prefer dealing with smart people. It makes conversation far more pleasant." Hearing this, the Old Turtle said nothing more and vanished back into the shell. Nearby, Jiang Li had been watching with cold eyes. Having pieced together some clues, he spoke up: "Governor-General Li, does the disturbance in the Taboo Sea have something to do with Ying Hongyue?" "Ninety-nine percent likely." "If that is the case, it could trigger a second resurgence. Why not stop him beforehand? If the Governor-General turns the army back now, I will persuade the King to coordinate with you to intercept or eliminate Ying Hongyue..." "No need!" Li Hao shook his head. "Knowing Ying Hongyue's cunning, he won't trigger a full second resurgence immediately. He will merely cause the world's energy to become slightly denser and more stable, raising the worldly ceiling just enough to accommodate late-stage or peak Peak Realm experts, or perhaps the true bodies of the Immortal Realm... He will never rashly allow Saint-level entities to emerge..." Jiang Li felt a jolt in his chest. What... did that mean? And Li Hao, fully aware of this, had made no real effort to stop it. What was he thinking? As the High Priest of the Divine Temple, Jiang Li had always served as the chief strategist for the King of Dali. Yet today, he found himself utterly incapable of reading Li Hao's mind—or rather, he could guess, but the realization made him feel that Li Hao was utterly insane! "Then Governor-General's clone accompanying the King... wasn't that meant to resolve this trouble?" "No. It was merely to put some pressure on Ying Hongyue." "..." Jiang Li was rendered speechless! He wanted nothing more than to curse aloud. What on earth was this lunatic plotting? Ignoring him, Li Hao kept the warships flying onward. *** Soon, they reached Heavenly Star City. The three warships hovered in the sky. Below, Director Zhou, Lin Hongyu, and the others appeared. Not only them—when Jiang Li looked down, his face shifted slightly. Puppets. Li Hao had brought only a few with him, but now, over a hundred puppets were assembled below. Individually, these puppets might not match origin clones. But two or three together could easily overpower one. And here, there were over a hundred of them. Combined with those Li Hao had already brought along, they numbered in the hundreds. Jiang Li's face grew pale. Just how much strength had this Li Hao been hiding?! Yet Li Hao's reserves went far beyond this. Before long, Li Hao stepped away briefly. A short while later, another cluster of demon plant clones appeared—over twenty of them! Jiang Li's expression turned even grimmer. So many? These clones alone were not something that could be casually handled. And Li Hao himself had not even returned yet. *** Within the ruins of Heavenly Star Town. Li Hao said, "Senior, it is said that the strongest deity in the God Nation is the Moon God. I worry she may have revived. If she has... with her nation facing destruction, she might take the risk and appear. Deities enjoy greater favor from the world, and she may be able to unleash formidable power!" Zhang An looked at him and said calmly, "Do you truly intend to slaughter them all? You rarely act so ruthlessly... Why insist on it this time?" "I am seeking the Dao!" Zhang An frowned slightly, then said, "If you take me along, I must abandon my physical body, otherwise you cannot bring me outside. But without a physical body, my combat power will not be as immense as you imagine." "It should be enough!" Li Hao smiled. "Once this campaign concludes, I will do everything in my power to revive all the academy students on your side, Senior. Whether they prefer Neo-Martial bodies or modern bodies, the choice is entirely theirs!" "All of them?" "Yes!" Zhang An looked surprised. "Aren't you afraid..." "I am not afraid!" Li Hao shook his head. "I have never lived in fear, and I trust that these people will not cause chaos recklessly!" Zhang An pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well, I will accompany you!" Li Hao nodded, then turned to Director Qi. "Director Qi, are you interested in coming along to have a look?" "Me?" Director Qi was puzzled. "I possess virtually no combat strength..." Li Hao smiled. "No combat strength is needed. We're going to capture some deities for research!" "Splendid!" Director Qi broke into a delighted smile. "Deity physiology has always been one of our ongoing research subjects. It was truly a pity that the only specimen preserved back then was the Earth God's corpse. If we can obtain more deity bodies, we will certainly uncover new characteristics!" Li Hao chuckled. "I'm glad you're interested, Director Qi. This time, I want to study... the physical body Dao!" Director Qi's heart skipped a beat. "You... found it?" "Not yet, but soon." "No wonder!" Director Qi understood immediately and urged, "Then be careful not to let the subject die. At critical moments, you can let other things go, but the person who possesses that physical body Dao meridian must be captured—preferably alive! "I have been observing and studying your research lately, and I discovered that we are missing a crucial component: the physical body Dao meridian!" He continued, "Beyond that, we are actually missing one more Dao meridian: the spiritual Dao meridian!" He looked at Li Hao. "Force is force, and spirit is spirit... Naturally, that can be studied later, but the physical body Dao meridian is an absolute necessity!" Li Hao nodded in agreement. "That is why, even if I have to sacrifice other objectives, I must capture that fellow first!" "As you should!" Director Qi nodded. Zhang An merely watched them without comment. He was not particularly interested in the matter, though he knew that discovering the physical body Dao meridian could completely overturn the current paradigm. At the very least, it would mean that attribute-less cultivators could stand on equal footing with Neo-Martial powerhouses! It was a monumental discovery... though in his view, Li Hao did not need to go to such lengths. As long as he continued opening Dao meridians, he would find it sooner or later; it was merely a matter of time. Once every single Dao meridian was unsealed, the problem would resolve itself. Li Hao said no more. With a wave of his hand, a large number of storage rings flew into his grasp. All of them were filled with divine energy stones mined from the massive energy vein behind them—amounting to several hundred million stones at the very least! Next, Li Hao manifested a divine character: the "Dao" character. He had retrieved it from the Bright Star Realm. Now that he had confirmed the target's identity, there was no need to crush the person through the realm itself. Li Hao feared that if the target sensed danger, they might detonate themselves, which would be a catastrophic loss. As the divine character floated forward, Li Hao handed it to Zhang An. "Senior, this divine character represents the Great Dao of heaven and earth. If you place it inside your body, I will not need to maintain a domain for you." "You are... giving this to me?" Even Zhang An was stunned! You truly treat me like family, don't you? If I were to shatter this, you would be weeping blood! Li Hao laughed. "A baseline of trust is necessary. If I expect Senior to help me while refusing to trust you... wouldn't I just be slapping my own face?" Zhang An, normally stern and unsmiling, let out a chuckle. "Yet if I were to seize this character for myself... many of your plans would fall apart. I know full well how vital this divine character is!" This divine character had been born of heaven and earth, perhaps as a reward to Li Hao for discovering the Bright Star Realm, or because of his tireless promotion of the new path, which prompted the Great Dao to grant him a boon. Without it, many endeavors would become exceedingly troublesome—such as crafting physical bodies. Moreover, possessing it would allow Zhang An to shield himself from the spatial severing of the world. It was an invaluable asset, yet Li Hao was bold enough to hand it over. Li Hao smiled. "If Senior likes it, you may keep it!" "Do you think I'll be polite?" Zhang An said coolly. "If you truly offer it, I will truly take it!" Who are you trying to impress with your generosity? If you give it, I will take it! Li Hao chuckled. "That is fine... It makes no difference if Senior keeps it, but by taking this Dao character, you will have to shoulder a certain responsibility. For instance... making the new path flourish! If you cannot, the Dao will naturally disperse. Senior must understand that this is a character rewarded by heaven and earth, a Dao character of the Bright Star Realm intended to spread the new path across the mortal world. Once the new path is destroyed or fades away, the character will vanish on its own." Zhang An's heart stirred. It... carried such a responsibility? Thinking it over, it made sense. He glanced at Li Hao, then chuckled after a moment. "Forget it. I am not the sort of person who likes shouldering heavy burdens. Better leave such matters to you!" Li Hao laughed. "Please don't think I am tricking you, Senior; that is the plain truth! This divine character is an aid, but it is also an obligation—at the very least, the duty of championing the new path... In truth, I would love for someone to take it off my hands. It's quite a headache!" Zhang An said nothing more. Sometimes, sheer strength was not enough to bear certain responsibilities. Promoting an entirely new cultivation system? Forget it; he had no stomach for such an endeavor. He pressed the divine character into his being. By abandoning his physical shell, he was able to avoid spatial severing. However, had he retained his physical body, the protective power of this single divine character would not have been enough to shield him. "Do you need me to strike from the outset?" "No! Unless a combatant wielding genuine Saint Dao power appears, there is no need for you to act, Senior. A strike of Saint-level power might scare them out of their wits!" "Understood!" Zhang An spoke no further. Soon, the group stepped out of the Heavenly Star Town ruins. *** At this point, virtually all of Li Hao's high-end combat power was mobilized. Back in Heavenly Star City, Li Hao left behind only Chen Yao and a handful of others to maintain order, taking everyone else along. Even Dao Jian and his circle were brought with the army. More and more powerhouses congregated. Jiang Li grew increasingly solemn. A realization dawned on him... From the very beginning, Li Hao's true target had likely been the Western God Nation! This preparation was far too meticulous, the scale far too grand! He had never unleashed such a display against Dali. *** The Western Continent. As the Western God Nation drew closer, unrest rippled across the entire west. The former Duke of Anguo had died in Heavenly Star City, leaving his elderly father to personally step forward and oversee the Duke of Anguo's Manor. Tension gripped the entire continent. The Western God Nation was immensely formidable. In the north, Li Hao had needed to deploy the full force of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office just to stabilize the front lines. Rumors claimed the God Nation was even stronger than Dali. How could the provinces of the Western Continent hope to resist on their own? The night was picturesque. Yet inside the Duke of Anguo's Manor on the Western Continent, former rivals had gathered under one roof, with no heart left for internal feuds. Inside the grand hall, someone said anxiously, "Didn't that Li Hao say earlier that the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office would send reinforcements? Where are they? He hasn't even dealt with Dali, so how could he possibly reinforce three fronts at once? It was all empty talk!" "He expects us to hold the line... but how? Word has it that the deities of the Western God Nation have revived, each possessing strength equivalent to the seventh tier of the Mountain Sea Realm or higher—stronger than the old seven-element supernatural masters!" "Our Western Continent has plenty of provinces, but can we even scrape together five experts at the seventh tier of Mountain Sea?" "..." One powerhouse after another voiced their despair and helplessness. Another spoke up quickly: "We should still send an urgent plea to the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office. Perhaps... reinforcements will arrive?" "I think we shouldn't bother... If all else fails, we might as well surrender directly to the God Nation..." "Bullshit! We are people of Heavenly Star... Besides, their God Nation is fanatical to a terrifying degree. Anyone who refuses to worship their gods is put to death..." "This won't work, that won't work—are you going to stand on the front lines, then?" "If I have to go, I will... But how can my family alone hold them back? If we muster every soldier in the west, maybe... maybe we could buy some time until the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office finishes off Dali and finds the time and energy to rescue us!" "Are you joking? Is Dali so easy to defeat? And even if they are, the Eastern Great Desolation is invading from the east, and Shuiyun is attacking from the south. Every front is on the brink of collapse..." The more they spoke, the bleaker the mood became! Someone turned to the elderly duke and said helplessly, "Old Duke, the Duke of Anguo's Manor has always been the leader of the west. We need the manor to chart a course for us!" The Old Duke coughed lightly and said calmly, "Weren't all of you squabbling fiercely on ordinary days? Now you want my Duke of Anguo's Manor to make the decision? What is there to decide? Surrender... is not an option! If we truly surrender, will the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office spare us? Fighting is equally impossible! In that case... we send word to Li Hao. If he can save us, good; if not... we can only give up! We cannot hold them... I understand better than you that those deities aren't merely seven-element level; they are eight-element, nine-element... or even at the so-called Sun Moon level!" "The Western Continent has its share of experts, but we cannot even gather ten at the seven-element level... Going out there is nothing more than throwing our lives away! Furthermore, they have an army of a million God Nation warriors, all of them zealots! In battle, they fear neither death nor pain... Against an army of a million fanatics, sending ten million of our troops would just be feeding them to the slaughter... We do not possess military might on par with the Battle Heaven Army." It was a thoroughly despairing reality! Although martial arts had been promoted to the common populace, the time had been far too short. Now, vast numbers of youths across the Western Continent were willing to fight to defend their homes, inspired by Li Hao's example. Yet... what good did it do? None at all! Even calling upon an army of ten million would merely be sending them to their deaths. The Old Duke sighed. "There is no other way. We can only wait for our hands to be bound... waiting for death! Gentlemen... any other solution is nothing more than a joke." Someone scoffed in dissatisfaction, muttering darkly, "When you were preparing to march on the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, you didn't look nearly this despairing! Truly fierce in civil war, utterly useless against foreign foes!" "Bullshit! If you have the guts, go fight the Western God Nation yourself!" "If Li Hao were capable of fighting them, he would have done so already instead of calling upon every faction to resist! Right now he's locked in a bitter war with Dali in the north. If you ask me, he's just a coward who wants our three continents to bleed!" "..." As the squabble raged on, a vast, boundless force suddenly descended upon the hall. An instant later, a voice rang out in their ears: "Oh... everyone is here!" Their hearts skipped a beat! The next moment, Li Hao's figure phased into view. The assembled leaders gasped. They naturally recognized Li Hao, and their shock was profound. How... how had Li Hao appeared here? The Old Duke's expression flickered, while those who had just been slandering Li Hao trembled in terror! Li Hao, however, wore a brilliant smile. "What a coincidence. I originally came only to see the Old Duke of Anguo. I didn't expect all of you to be gathered here... Does this count as an assembly of every overlord of the Western Continent? If I wipe you all out in one swoop... will the Western Continent have no resisting factions left?" A chill ran through their spines! The Old Duke, retaining some composure, spoke up: "The Governor-General must be joking! With the God Nation invading, if the Governor-General had not come, the Western Continent... would have fallen into foreign hands anyway. In the past, we were ignorant and narrow-minded, puffed up with arrogance, imagining we could rule a corner of the world. Only now do we realize... it was nothing but a farce!" The Old Duke sighed. "By now, we have long abandoned all delusions of ruling our own domains, of playing emperor or king... If not for the four nations invading, we likely would have surrendered to the Governor-General's Office already. There is no need for the Governor-General to mock us." Li Hao smiled. "The Old Duke is quite an interesting man!" "Not interesting, merely old enough to see things clearly." The Old Duke said with emotion, "Now that the Governor-General has arrived... may I ask if you have the means to deal with the God Nation?" Li Hao nodded slightly. "I have some ideas... but I need your cooperation." "Please instruct us, Governor-General!" Li Hao said, "It is nothing major. You will all accompany me on a trip. Afterward, simply soothe the hearts of the people within your territories!" His smile was radiant. "I was originally wondering if I would have to run from house to house. Since you are all here, it saves me a great deal of trouble!" "Governor-General... what do you mean?" someone asked nervously. Li Hao chuckled. "Nothing much. Only... the Governor-General's Office is about to deploy troops against the God Nation! I merely hope you will not cause trouble behind our backs!" Everyone froze. "Then what about Dali..." "Dali will naturally be handled by someone else!" The gathered leaders found it utterly inconceivable. Li Hao smiled. "Gentlemen, come with me!" With that, he reached out and snatched someone into his grip, laughing. "Don't bother sending a transmission; the perimeter has long been sealed by me. Let's see what you were trying to send?" Snatching a messaging jade from the man's grasp, Li Hao glanced at it and chuckled. "'Li Hao has arrived at the Duke of Anguo's Manor and is about to deploy troops against the God Nation. Inform the emissary immediately...'" Li Hao shook his head. "Are you an idiot? With someone as powerful as me standing right here, you tried sending a transmission right under my nose?" Crack! He snapped the man's neck, killing him instantly! Terror seized the room. The man he had just crushed was an expert of the five- or six-element supernatural level who had even opened quite a few acupoints, yet Li Hao had snuffed him out like an insect! "Which province was this one from?" The Old Duke's expression turned grave. "The Far West, Western Border Province." Li Hao nodded. "It seems the God Nation hasn't been completely idle before marching in. No matter... minor issues! If the rest of you don't wish to be crushed to death... then come along!" No one dared utter a word of protest. Though Li Hao stood alone, none had the courage to resist. It was a bitter pill to swallow! A single man was enough to suppress every one of them. "Old Duke, give a few brief instructions. Tell them you are going out to fetch reinforcements... so the manor doesn't fall into chaos." "Understood." The Old Duke sighed and quickly relayed orders outside. Li Hao paid it little mind. He had killed the previous Duke of Anguo with his own hands, yet he harbored no concern about resentment. Those who recognized the times were wise! Before long, the upper echelon of the Western Continent was escorted onto the warships. In an instant, these leaders were struck with sheer awe. Li Hao was serious—he truly intended to march upon the God Nation! *** At that very moment. In the west. A colossal citadel flew through the sky. Within a grand hall of the floating city stood statues of various deities. Suddenly, one of the statues opened its eyes. A moment later, the Queen of the God Nation descended, asking in a low voice, "The Prophet has awakened so abruptly. Is there something to report?" The statue spoke in a weathered, ancient voice: "Your Majesty, I have seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood... I have seen the collapse of the God Nation. This journey is fraught with peril!" The Queen froze, her brows knitting. "The second resurgence has not yet begun, and our God Nation reigns supreme! That is precisely why I mobilized our armies ahead of time—to unite the world and await the resurgence..." She paused, then asked, "Could it be that the Prophet saw visions of what will happen after the second resurgence?" "Perhaps. I cannot say for certain." The Queen frowned. Could it be that even with preparations made in advance, they would still be unable to rival those ancient powerhouses once the second resurgence arrived? Just then, another statue awakened, its eyes snapping open as a resonant, metallic voice rang out: "Fret not, Your Majesty! With us here, the God Nation will flourish even after the second resurgence begins! In ancient times, even Neo-Martial failed to eradicate us!" The Prophet sighed. "God of War... do not bewitch Her Majesty..." "Her Majesty has her own judgment; you have no need to intimidate her!" The God of War barked coldly, then shut his eyes once more. This old fool was trying to beat a retreat, and that would not do. The Queen remained silent for a moment before saying, "I understand. I will remain cautious regarding those remnants of the Neo-Martial era and not act carelessly." For now, she assumed the Prophet had merely glimpsed the era following the second resurgence. Besides, seeing the future was never absolute; destiny could be altered. The Prophet hesitated, but spoke again: "Your Majesty, it may not be Neo-Martial!" "Hm?" "I... I am not certain, but I saw... a fierce tiger banner!" "What?" The Queen was taken aback. A fierce tiger banner—wasn't that the military standard of Li Hao's army? How could that be! Was the Prophet implying that she would be defeated by Li Hao? Preposterous! The Queen laughed in disbelief. The God Nation was overwhelmingly powerful, with deities awakening and powerhouses beyond count. So long as the second resurgence had not occurred, preventing ancient titans from stepping out of their ruins, the God Nation feared nothing! "I understand!" The Queen offered a faint smile. "The Prophet should rest. Divining the future takes a heavy toll. Once we seize the great energy mine of Heavenly Star Town, I will ensure everyone recovers their full strength!" With that, she turned and walked away. Had the Prophet seen wrong? Or perhaps, after the second resurgence, Li Hao would submit to the ancient cities? That was a distinct possibility as well! *** Meanwhile, the three warships began closing in on the west. Li Hao gazed ahead, a spark of excitement in his eyes. This time, he would witness the true combat strength of these deities and satisfy his curiosity. Furthermore, just how many deities did the west possess? Perhaps by capturing or slaying them, he could unlock even more Dao meridians. In the distance, the colossal citadel came into view. Soaring through the air with an entire city... that grand citadel was evidently an exceptionally powerful divine weapon in its own right. Beside Li Hao, powerhouse after powerhouse began to bristle with eager anticipation. Jiang Li glanced at Li Hao, seeing the youth's suppressed excitement... and let out a desolate sigh. Your Majesty, we have been duped. Li Hao's true target all along was the God Nation! Once the God Nation fell... Dali's hopes would grow dimmer still!