A Full-Out Battle!

By the time everyone returned to Silver City, it was already the afternoon of the following day. In three days, the five-party conference would convene in the Great Desolation. By the enemy's timetable, that meant the day after tomorrow. Though Li Hao did not know the enemy's exact circumstances, he did not idle away a single moment. Instead, he relentlessly accelerated his preparations. Di Yao had been an unexpected windfall. Li Hao had originally intended to study sword intent, forcibly burst through his Dao meridians, and take a reckless gamble. The appearance of Di Yao, however, had provided him immense assistance. …… Silver City. Reinforcements from across the land arrived one after another. Across the border, the pressure on Dali began to mount. Stationed in Dali's camp, Jiang Li felt deeply on edge. Seeing Li Hao's forces gathering once more, he knew just how formidable their side was. Dali was not the Western Kingdom of the Gods; they did not possess that many deities. In all of Dali, the only ones currently capable of matching those Silver Moon martial masters and holding off Li Hao were himself and the King of Dali. No one else—not even the commanders of the Divine Guards—had that level of strength. Just as Jiang Li's tension peaked, he let out a sigh of relief. Someone had returned: the King of Dali. Yes, the King of Dali was back. Outside the encampment. The King of Dali drifted through the air, casting a glance toward Silver City with a faint frown. Communications were completely cut off. Although Dali had previously been unable to send messages directly into Silver Moon, transmission had still been possible once one crossed Mount Cang. Now, however, he could no longer reach anyone. Even the clandestine intelligence networks they had established had gone dead. Across the way, powerful auras crisscrossed the sky. Clearly, Li Hao was right there on the other side. The crux of the matter was that Li Hao's foolish fleshly clone had been slain by the expert avatar calling himself Hongchen. If Li Hao came looking for trouble over it, things would become rather troublesome. "Your Majesty!" "Sire!" Catching sight of him, numerous soldiers bowed in greeting. The various tribes held immense respect and profound dread for this peerlessly mighty King of Dali. However, Dali had crossed into Silver Moon and encamped here for many days now, locked in an exhausting standoff with Silver Moon across the lines. Although no all-out war had erupted, fighting had been continuous... Yet the supreme experts of both sides acted as though they hardly cared. Li Hao had run off, the King of Dali had run off, and then both had returned, seemingly sharing some unspoken tacit understanding. This left quite a few people feeling anxious and uneasy. …… Inside the command tent. Following the King of Dali's return, several commanders of the Divine Guards arrived in short order. Jiang Li soon arrived as well. The King of Dali looked at him, nodded slightly, and said, "During the days of my absence, you accompanied Li Hao and the others to the West. Give me a full account of the situation." Jiang Li wasted no words and quickly recounted everything that had transpired while trailing Li Hao and his companions. The King of Dali's brow furrowed slightly. Even Saint-tier experts had appeared. Saints were beings who surpassed the current limits of the world. Fortunately, they were still bound by certain restrictions. Outside, even if they could strike, they could not act with absolute impunity. As long as one could withstand a single blow, survival was generally within reach. The Western Kingdom of the Gods was certainly not weak. In fact, it was extraordinarily powerful. The Great Desolation possessed desolate beasts, and the Shuiyun Empress Dowager turned out to be a formidable expert as well—the entire Kingdom of Shuiyun relied on her, which came as quite a surprise. Li Hao had also roped in several Neo-Martial powerhouses, though... it seemed he had not reached complete accord with the Neo-Martial side either. The King of Dali suddenly chuckled. "How interesting... Fortunately, we haven't become the shared target of all parties. Right now, Li Hao's faction is by no means weak in combat strength, but what a pity..." He shook his head with a touch of regret. Li Hao's faction had already become the target of everyone's arrows. Even between himself and Li Hao, there was only a brief, fleeting peace. Dali could never stand on Li Hao's side, for the burdens and perils Li Hao faced were far too great. It was an immense quagmire! Furthermore, Li Hao's side currently had little chance of victory. Dali was an independent dynasty; how could it lightly throw its lot in with Li Hao? That would truly be walking the path to its own destruction. As for Li Hao's earlier offer to join forces in attacking an ancient city, the King of Dali had paid it little mind. At this stage, smaller ruins were fair game, but the Eight Main Cities were out of the question. Every one of them was guarded by a Saint! Li Hao's side possessed one as well, but... from Jiang Li's account, that individual aligned more with Neo-Martial than with Li Hao himself. Consequently, they posed no real threat to the main cities. As these thoughts crossed his mind, the King of Dali recalled something else and said, "The day after tomorrow, all factions will convene in the Great Desolation. While it is not excessively far from here, the journey still takes half a day. Tomorrow, we shall set out for the Great Desolation!" Jiang Li was taken aback. "Your Majesty... to the Great Desolation?" "Yes." The King of Dali nodded. "The fellow cooperating with us has sent out an avatar who calls himself Hongchen—a truly terrifying figure. I suspect that even if he is not a Sovereign, he is at least a Heavenly King! A mere avatar of his exerted tremendous pressure on me... Even Li Hao's avatar was slain by him." "What?" Jiang Li was shaken and blurted out, "This..." No wonder the atmosphere had felt off over the past two days. Things had seemed bristling with hostility on Li Hao's side. Could... trouble be brewing? The King of Dali sighed softly. "He is doomed." "Your Majesty..." "Whether to me or anyone else, there are currently two greatest threats: one is Li Hao, and the other is the Western Kingdom of the Gods," the King of Dali explained. "However, the Western Kingdom of the Gods suffers from a major drawback—it is in absolute opposition to Neo-Martial! While Li Hao hasn't completely won over Neo-Martial, he can maintain an equilibrium with them, and they are even willing to lend him support, such as Battle Heaven City. "Because of this, Li Hao's faction poses an even greater threat than the Western Kingdom of the Gods. Even if a second resurgence occurs... Li Hao can still cooperate with Neo-Martial, whereas the Western Kingdom of the Gods can only cling to the current status quo." The King of Dali sighed. "Therefore... occupying the central region as he does, Li Hao must die! Furthermore, everyone needs the Heavenly Star Great Mine—we need it, the other three nations need it, and so does Hongchen's faction... Thus, he is the only one we can target." At this point, he added, "Of course, we will sit tight for now and await the conclusion of this conference to see whether favorable terms can be struck. We will see how much each party is willing to commit, and how the spoils will be divided in the end..." Jiang Li's brow furrowed repeatedly. "Your Majesty... Li Hao is no easy prey! Out in the world, he may not be invincible, but there are few left who can truly make him stay. "Moreover, he has the backing of Zhang An. Even if Zhang An's strength is somewhat constrained in the outside world, at this stage... unless several powerful deities of the Western Kingdom are willing to pay an astronomical price to slay him..." "We will test the waters and see how the talks go. Besides, Hongchen's side cannot possibly be unprepared." He looked toward Jiang Li. "You seem... somewhat afraid?" The King of Dali's brow knitted slightly. "Grand Priest, are you frightened? Surely it hasn't come to that? Formidable as Li Hao is, claiming he makes you feel fear strikes me as an exaggeration. He isn't weak, but if you were to invoke the Primal Martial bone, you wouldn't necessarily lose to him." Jiang Li hesitated, words catching in his throat. To say Li Hao's faction was terrifyingly strong to the point of utter despair... that was not the case. Furthermore, they had lost to the Western Kingdom of the Gods just the other day. Discounting the second skirmish, Li Hao had indeed suffered defeat at the hands of the Western Queen during the first clash. Yet when those people had returned to nurse their wounds that day, laughing and chatting in high spirits, he had felt that this band... was not so easily broken. After a moment's thought, Jiang Li still spoke up: "Your Majesty, do you also believe there is no hope for Li Hao's side to turn the tables?" The King of Dali considered this. "As long as Zhang An is neutralized, he has no hope of turning the tables! The crux of this conference lies in Zhang An. Whichever side manages to subdue him... Li Hao and the Silver Moon martial masters will easily be crushed once the various factions join hands!" Without a doubt! Li Hao, the strongest among them, was inferior even to the Western Queen. The other Silver Moon martial masters would find it difficult to escape the clutches of the various kings, and their army could easily be routed by the coalition forces. Under such circumstances, how could Li Hao possibly turn the tables? Even the King of Dali could not imagine what opportunity Li Hao had left. Engage in wanton slaughter? The moment Li Hao embarked on a slaughterous rampage, triggering the second resurgence, Hongchen's faction would be the first to emerge and kill him. That was an absolute certainty. Who told him to be a descendant of the Li family! Once the second resurgence began, Dali and the other kingdoms could still compromise. Li Hao... would find compromise nearly impossible. As of today, Li Hao was at a dead end. With that in mind, the King of Dali added, "For now, show no hostility, and there is no need to withdraw the troops... Once the conference concludes and a decision is reached, we will make our arrangements." Jiang Li still looked as if he wanted to speak. The King of Dali frowned faintly and waved his hand. "The rest of you may leave. The Grand Priest stays." The others quickly took their leave. Once the tent emptied, the King of Dali frowned. "Grand Priest, is there something else?" Jiang Li fell silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Previously, Your Majesty wished to suppress the ancient cities and pit the powerhouses of this era against one another. Why... have you changed your mind now, choosing to unite with the various factions to besiege Li Hao?" The King of Dali let out a sigh. "Going with the flow! If Dali chooses to collude with Li Hao, our foundations are not as deep as his, and we would likely be the very first nation destroyed! No matter how mighty the God of Primal Martial is, he is currently bound by restrictions. Moreover, while Hongchen's side appears amiable for now, if I were to refuse... Dali might become a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!" The reason the other party had not slaughtered anyone yet was that they were cooperating with the four nations, while the central region remained untouched because Li Hao's faction was stationed there. Should Dali refuse, however, the King of Dali could not bear the consequences. If Hongchen led forces to massacre Dali, who could come to their rescue? No one! The other factions would not slaughter innocents indiscriminately, but Hongchen's faction certainly would. Against such people, cooperation was currently the only viable choice. "However, if Li Hao's side is truly wiped out, those ancient beings will undergo resurgence as well!" Jiang Li frowned. "Their ultimate goal in killing Li Hao and cooperating with the four kingdoms is to hasten the world's resurgence so they can emerge ahead of schedule. Even if we truly destroy Li Hao, these people will still step out in the end. And from the look of things, neither the unawakened main cities nor anyone else will be able to match them!" When that time came, wouldn't the crisis remain? Jiang Li sighed softly. "Therefore... the best outcome is for all sides to restrain from slaughter, preventing the second resurgence from starting prematurely. We should bide our time, build our strength, find this treacherous ancient city, and suppress them—or at the very least, prevent their avatars from walking out... That is the best approach for the current stage." Jiang Li was far more rational this time than before, adding, "Your Majesty's prior intention was also to keep them in check... But... are they truly that terrifying?" The King of Dali fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Terrifying indeed! Not just him, but Ying Hongyue as well. Ying Hongyue may still be lingering in Dali even now. I cannot act rashly. Joining hands with Li Hao would mean gambling the entire nation's fate! As for the second resurgence beginning and those people stepping out... if they emerge, Dali can simply pull its troops back. We are merely a marginal border state; their sights will not be set on us." "Is Your Majesty afraid?" The King of Dali chuckled wryly. "Afraid?" He himself was not afraid, yet he shook his head. "It is not a matter of my personal fear, but that the state of Dali cannot bear such a price. Grand Priest, our roles should have been reversed: it would make sense if I advocated cooperation with Li Hao while you pushed for the five-party talks. Today is rather ironic!" He laughed. Today, their viewpoints were the exact opposite of their usual stances. Of course, this stemmed from their recent experiences. He had encountered Hongchen and Ying Hongyue, whereas Jiang Li had accompanied Li Hao and his group. Both felt the other party was not one to be trifled with, leading to perspectives utterly distinct from their normal habits. As the King of Dali was laughing, a low voice sounded from outside the tent: "Sire, an envoy from the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office has arrived to pay a visit!" The King of Dali's expression shifted slightly. "Show him in!" "Understood!" Soon, the tent flap opened, and a man strode inside. The visitor wore a radiant smile the moment he crossed the threshold. "His Majesty the King of Dali has returned—a joyous occasion worthy of congratulations!" "Who are you?" "I am Qian Wuliang, envoy of the Governor-General's Office... May Your Majesty enjoy boundless peace!" Qian Wuliang beamed with smiles, yet the King of Dali's brows furrowed slightly. Qian Wuliang was hardly renowned. A mere nobody! Yet... this man... was strong! It was almost unbelievable. He sensed a glimpse of it: this man had likely reached the mid Sun and Moon Realm. Could his senses be mistaken? How could that be! At this stage, setting aside Jiang Li's use of the Primal Martial bone, he was the sole individual in all of Dali who had reached this level. Could a complete nobody from the other side stand on equal footing with him? "Li Hao?" Qian Wuliang paused, then quickly laughed. "Your Majesty misunderstands. The Governor-General is currently presiding over a conference of the Governor-General's Office in Silver City and could not come in person. He specifically dispatched this humble servant to pay respects to Your Majesty, and also to inquire... why the Governor-General's clone has yet to return, and whether some unexpected mishap occurred." Qian Wuliang said softly, "The Governor-General wishes to know whether his clone fell by Ying Hongyue's hand, or at the hands of an expert from the traitorous ancient city. Could Your Majesty enlighten us?" The King of Dali frowned slightly. Not Li Hao's clone? He had genuinely suspected this man was Li Hao's clone. Pondering inwardly for a moment, he said slowly, "He fell by the hand of the lord of the traitorous ancient city, who calls himself Hongchen." Qian Wuliang remained impassive, casting a glance at the King of Dali. The king was not lying. He continued, "The Governor-General instructed me to ask: if the lord of the traitorous ancient city has appeared... when will the four nations hold talks with him?" The King of Dali's heart stirred. He eyed Qian Wuliang. "Talks?" Qian Wuliang chuckled softly. "Currently, our Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is mighty, our martial masters are legion, and we stand united as one. Any single faction seeking to oppose us faces a task harder than scaling the heavens; your only option is to join hands... Yet the four nations have had no contact for years. Only with the ancient city acting as an intermediary could you possibly coordinate, which naturally means a conference will take place, will it not?" It was so straightforward. A meeting was inevitable. Qian Wuliang smiled. "If it is inconvenient for Your Majesty to answer, it does not matter. The Governor-General was merely asking." He was already certain that talks would take place. The only questions were... when, and where? He did not press the matter, adding instead, "The Governor-General also had words for me to convey. He wishes to ask: where will the King of Dali go from here?" The King of Dali spoke with imposing gravity, "What is the meaning of this?" Qian Wuliang cast aside his subservient posture, assuming a solemn expression. "Does the King of Dali intend to walk this dark path to the very end alongside them, or choose to continue cooperating with the Governor-General? If you choose to walk that dark path to the end... the Governor-General will take no offense! The Governor-General says that every man has his own aspirations. Yet since I represent the Governor-General as an envoy, I still hope the King of Dali will think twice before acting!" Qian Wuliang continued gravely, "If the King of Dali believes the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office is fragile and vulnerable... that a five-party alliance can effortlessly shatter us, then you grossly underestimate the Governor-General's Office! For the sake of the realm, for all factions, and for the common people, the Governor-General is currently unwilling to cause excessive slaughter. Otherwise... Dali's million-strong army would have been wiped out long ago!" "Laughable!" The King of Dali said coldly, "Threatening me? Does Li Hao dare commit slaughter?" Qian Wuliang smiled. "Why wouldn't he dare? Because slaughtering them would trigger the world's second resurgence? But... must every single one be killed? Once the King of Dali falls, perhaps the Dali army would surrender on the spot! Even if they refused to surrender, there might be other ways—for instance, herding them into an ancient city to be slain, revitalizing the ancient city rather than the world at large! Methods exist, though doing so would plunge countless lives into misery! "The Governor-General does not wish for the common folk to suffer, nor does he wish to become anyone's pawn. If the Governor-General were willing to compromise with Neo-Martial, not to mention anything else, Battle Heaven City, the Martial Arts Alliance, and numerous other ancient cities would gladly back him! The Governor-General merely hopes to forge an era belonging to the people of Silver Moon!" He looked at the King of Dali, sensing the king's hesitation. This sovereign, perhaps like Li Hao, was weighed down by myriad reservations. At this moment, his mind was equally conflicted. Qian Wuliang's eyes flickered, and he added, "If the King of Dali has any inclination... tonight, the King of Dali and Grand Priest Jiang may come to Silver City to meet with the Governor-General!" The King of Dali frowned slightly. "What do you mean?" "If you are willing, come. If not... let the matter drop!" Qian Wuliang let out a soft laugh. "I have delivered every word the Governor-General instructed me to speak. This occasion... may very well decide many things." With that, he added, "Wuliang takes his leave!" He turned to go. The King of Dali's brow furrowed, and he suddenly reached out a hand toward him. Was this man truly powerful, or merely bluffing? As the king grasped outward, Qian Wuliang evaded instantly. In the next breath, a peculiar wave of energy rippled outward, and the entire Dali camp abruptly stirred into unrest. Within a split second, several men barged into the command tent, their eyes bloodshot, teetering on the verge of madness. They threw themselves recklessly before the King of Dali, roaring like wild beasts as they blocked his arm. Meanwhile, Qian Wuliang did not even look back, his laughter drifting through the air: "King of Dali, to me, your million-strong army... is nothing more than marionettes on strings. If I so wished... Wuliang could incite your army to mutiny at any moment." "Hmph!" A cold snort shook the heavens and earth. Boom! A burst of energy dispersed in an instant as heavenly will converged, descending with world-suppressing majesty. The previously agitated encampment fell silent at once. Qian Wuliang, however, had already vanished. Inside the command tent, the several Divine Guards stood shaken and terrified. Just a moment ago, rage had clouded their minds, driving them to intercept the King of Dali himself! This... "Subordinates deserve death!" The Divine Guards turned deathly pale. The King of Dali frowned slightly. "Focus on your cultivation. The willpower of you few is far too brittle!" With so many Divine Guards present, only these few had been manipulated in an instant, which showed their mental resolve was lacking. Yet... He looked toward the distance where Qian Wuliang had departed, his expression shifting. An obscure figure under Li Hao's banner was actually... actually this formidable, effortlessly manipulating his Divine Guards and even inciting unrest in the army. What kind of ability was this? At that moment, Jiang Li suddenly spoke: "This man is named Qian Wuliang. He was a subordinate Li Hao recruited back in the City of Supernaturals. That day in the City of Supernaturals, he rallied over a thousand supernaturals in a single day before Li Hao captured him. A few days ago, he served as Li Hao's envoy to the various ancient cities. But... when Li Hao captured him back then, he was only at the Rising Light Realm, and previously he was merely at the Mountain and Sea Realm..." He frowned slightly. "How could he... suddenly make such immense progress?" He continued, "It is said this man excels at observing people's minds and reading facial expressions. The Silver Moon martial masters dislike him, viewing him as a consummate scoundrel..." It had only been a few days since he last saw Qian Wuliang. How had the man suddenly become so powerful? With a mere gesture, he could manipulate Divine Guards into defying the King of Dali—it was utterly inconceivable. If he were to manipulate the army... not even the whole army, but just tens of thousands rebelling, the million-strong force might face utter catastrophe! Too terrifying! This was far more horrifying than killing tens of thousands with a single punch. The King of Dali's expression also shifted uncertainly. "His ability is peculiar, capable of causing people to lose control in an instant. As for his strength, from the look of things, he has likely stepped into the fourth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm, yet... he hasn't been targeted by the heavens and earth..." He frowned faintly. "It seems the world's ceiling has risen slightly again. Has it undergone some resurgence?" Lately, the world had indeed stabilized a bit further. The pace was growing faster and faster. Even the fourth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm could appear with ease. He himself was only at this tier. Of course, he was confident that in a real clash, this fellow would be no match for him. Jiang Li also frowned slightly. By the Heavenly Star grading system, he was merely at the third tier of the Sun and Moon Realm. Only by utilizing the divine bone could he reach the fourth tier. In that case... this Qian Wuliang had actually surpassed him? "His advancement feels slightly superficial... he may have just broken through," the King of Dali remarked, then said softly, "Li Hao knows!" He knew about the conference. He merely did not know the time and place, yet he had effortlessly deduced Hongchen's intentions. His instincts were remarkably sharp. He had detected something was amiss so quickly. "Your Majesty, then..." Would they go tonight? The King of Dali fell silent for a moment. "We shall see!" With a conflicted heart, Jiang Li said no more. …… Meanwhile. Silver City, the Inspectorate. Li Hao spoke in a calm tone: "Starting now, no one is permitted to leave this place or send messages to the outside!" "Tonight, in the dead of night, we march upon Boundless City and wipe it out!" The moment these words fell, everyone was profoundly shocked. Southern Fist, having just rushed back, turned pale. "Boundless City, the Zheng family's ancient city? Didn't they say the Zheng family patriarch committed treason? That he even stepped into the Heavenly King Realm? Governor-General, this... is ill-advised!" Director Wang's expression also shifted slightly. He was attending this meeting as well. Li Hao said calmly, "There is a ninety-nine percent chance the Zheng family are traitors." He looked toward Director Wang, then glanced at Jiang Yingli and the others, saying, "Whether it is Sun Xin or the mnemonic rhymes, everything points to the Zheng family being the traitors! Of course, you might argue that the Zheng family was framed... But true or false, at this stage, the greatest probability lies with the Zheng family! I don't care whether they were framed or not; they are currently under the greatest suspicion, so I will take down the Zheng family's ancient city! Li Hao continued evenly, "If it turns out not to be a traitorous ancient city, I will do my utmost not to sever their origin paths. On the day the Star Gate opens, they will still have a chance at revival! But if it is indeed a traitorous ancient city... then we annihilate it! Whether they are traitors is actually very easy to determine. General Huai of Battle Heaven City is considered powerful, yet even with my aid, he has only revived a fraction of his strength... If the Zheng family possesses fully intact Saint-tier combat strength... that alone is abnormal! "Without Saint-tier combat strength, they can be easily crushed. If they do possess Saint-tier combat strength... then it is a city of traitors. There can be no doubt about that, right?" Director Wang sighed softly and murmured, "No objection! However... if the Zheng family patriarch has truly betrayed us and still resides within the main city, then going there... is walking into death! There is a ninety-nine percent chance he has become a Heavenly King. A Heavenly King... even stripped of the power of the origin path, is unfathomably formidable!" At this point, he hesitated, then said, "We could invite Director Zhang... to take part! Given Director Zhang's status, he could forcibly conduct an inspection of the Zheng family. If the Zheng family permits it, all the better; if they refuse... that in itself confirms the problem! Since they are currently under the greatest suspicion, an inspection is entirely warranted..." He looked toward Li Hao. "If we do that, once the Zheng family proves problematic, Director Zhang can join the fray, which would undoubtedly play a crucial role!" Jiang Yingli spoke up as well: "The Governor-General could bring along the Heavenly King's physical body. Although it is somewhat battered, it still possesses formidable combat strength. Teacher could travel there alone... When the time comes, if trouble truly arises, Teacher's spiritual power can merge with the physical body... Even if a genuine Heavenly King is present, it will buy us some time." She added, "The Zheng family is one of the Thirteen Families of Star Suppressing City, and Boundless City is the Zheng family's heritage! I, too, hail from Star Suppressing City. I can accompany Teacher. The Zheng family has no descendants currently at Yuanping Martial Arts University; otherwise, they could have accompanied us as well..." Li Hao shook his head. The group was momentarily taken aback. Li Hao looked at them and said softly, "Every man has his own aspirations—the same words still apply! If Senior Zhang had the intention, he would have brought it up of his own accord. Since he hasn't... it means he is unwilling! Jiang Yingli, you should understand your teacher very well; there is no need to force him to make a choice." Jiang Yingli hesitated, words faltering. Director Wang let out a sigh as well. Li Hao smiled faintly. "As for you all... you may choose to participate in this battle, or you may choose not to." Jiang Yingli drew a deep breath. "Participate! Why wouldn't I? If it truly is a traitorous main city, slaying them poses no qualms! If it isn't, then for the sake of opening the Star Gate, destroying their flesh while sparing their Dao paths will allow them to revive naturally once the Star Gate opens—provided the origin path can extend or establish contact with the main world! Whether for the sake of Neo-Martial or Silver Moon, there is nothing to hesitate over! I ask only one thing of the Governor-General: if they truly haven't betrayed us, slay their bodies and extinguish their spirits, but do your utmost... not to sever their Dao!" At these words, even Southern Fist could not help but burst into hearty laughter: "What a real man! Well said, far better than that wishy-washy teacher of yours, dilly-dallying..." Jiang Yingli glared at him coldly. Not because he had spoken ill of her teacher, but... who in the hell was a 'real man'? Did this man know how to speak? Back in the old days, this old lady would have slapped you to death with a single palm! Who is a man? With my proud figure and striking looks, where on earth do you see a man? Under her intense gaze, Southern Fist felt rather uncomfortable, shutting his mouth and averting his eyes. Li Hao smiled. "That is well. If things are as you say and they are not traitors... I will do my best to keep their Dao paths intact, preserving their hope of revival." "Thank you, Governor-General!" "It is only right." Li Hao looked toward the others, finally fixing his gaze on Director Wang. "And what of Director Wang?" "I will take part as well," Director Wang sighed, finally speaking up. "I, too, wish... to see it with my own eyes!" At this point, he continued, "Let me tell you about the Zheng family's Boundless City! The Zheng family patriarch is the City Lord of Boundless City. According to Sun Xin, he is already a Heavenly King named Zheng Hongyuan. Zheng Hongyuan has three sons: the eldest is Zheng Ke, who commands the Boundless Army! He is the supreme commander of the Boundless Army, commanding a million troops with the rank of Senior General! His strength is also at the Saint tier, at the peak of the Saintly Dao! However, he likely marched out on the campaign alongside the Sword Venerable with the Boundless Army; a supreme commander could not possibly have stayed behind. "The second son of the Zheng family is Zheng Gong, Deputy City Lord of Boundless City, with combat strength at the peak of the Immortal Realm. Whether he marched out with the Sword Venerable, I am not certain. "The third son is Zheng Yu. Back then, he was not very old and held no official post, though it was said he had also stepped into the Immortal Realm..." He gave a brief overview: "Additionally, the Zheng family's Boundless City was similar to Battle Heaven City. Aside from the supreme commander, the Boundless Army had three deputy commanders, ten corps commanders, and a hundred division commanders. "However, most of them would have departed. At most, like Battle Heaven City, a garrison force was left behind for protection—meaning one deputy commander and one corps commander might have remained. Deputy commanders were mostly capable of stepping into the Saint tier, though weaker ones might only be at the peak of the Immortal Realm. "Corps commanders also ranged between the peak Immortal Realm and Saint tier, matching the deputy commanders in strength. "Beneath the corps commanders were the division commanders... Li Daozong was an anomaly at the peak of the Immortal Realm; an ordinary division commander only possessed combat strength at the early Immortal Realm. Li Daozong was someone slated for promotion to corps commander and cannot be considered the norm. "Furthermore, back in the day, the city was staffed with a Security Bureau, Education Bureau, Agriculture Bureau, Civil Affairs Bureau... dozens of departments large and small. Under normal circumstances, directors ranged from the Peak Realm to the early Immortal Realm. "Back then, most military personnel marched out on the campaign, but non-military personnel generally remained behind." He briefed Li Hao on the setup. Li Hao felt somewhat puzzled: "Then... Battle Heaven City... why is only the Security Bureau Director still alive?" Director Wang said gravely, "Insufficient energy; almost everyone below the Immortal Realm decayed away! Normally, non-vital bureaus were headed by Peak Realm experts. The Security Bureau was an essential agency, so I took the post as an Immortal! Of course, I am not the only director from Battle Heaven City to have survived; the others... are in deep slumber! The Education Bureau Director is still alive, along with several others... They simply lack the energy to revive, so you haven't encountered them." Li Hao understood. "Then according to Director Wang, the other side has at least several surviving Immortal-tier directors, at least ten Immortal-tier division commanders, a corps commander between the peak Immortal Realm and Saint tier, a deputy commander between the peak Immortal Realm and Saint tier, as well as the Zheng family patriarch and his second and third sons?" Director Wang shook his head. "Not necessarily... If the Zheng family committed treason, I doubt every single person went along with it. A portion of them were likely purged!" He looked at Li Hao. "If the Governor-General is certain the Zheng family betrayed us, their numbers will be fewer; a portion of them would have been killed. A whole city turning traitor is impossible, absolutely impossible!" He shook his head. "In the Neo-Martial era, no one could make tens of millions of people commit treason! Therefore... many of these people may have died. However, if they truly betrayed us and have remained alive without lacking energy, they might... be even stronger! For instance, Peak Realm experts might have advanced to the Immortal Realm, or even to Saints... Anything is possible! But their numbers will be fewer." At this point, he added, "Furthermore, their guardian demon plants are not as numerous as Battle Heaven City's. Battle Heaven City's situation was somewhat special, which is why it had thirty-seven guardian demon plants. Boundless City had twenty-five back then: twenty-four auxiliary demon plants and one primary guardian demon plant, all belonging to the peach genus. While the locust tree lineage is formidable, the peach tree lineage is much weaker. Most of those twenty-four guardian demon plants were at the Peak Realm back then; very few reached the Immortal Realm—three to five at most. However, their primary guardian demon plant, named Tao Xiao, is an early-stage Saint. "Those are their peak combat assets." He continued, "Next are the formations within the city... There are numerous formations, but the most crucial is the demon plant guardian grand formation. You saw it in Heavenly Star Town—it seals everything off and is primarily defensive! Then there are the formations constructed by the Zheng family itself... I cannot know all of them. "Additionally, the main city itself is an extraordinarily powerful weapon... but it requires the City Lord Seal to activate!" He looked at Li Hao. "The City Lord Seal also has the power to slay external foes. You didn't see it last time, but I used one to slay a crippled Saint; its might is terrifying. You must beware of certain measures left behind on the City Lord Seal by the Supreme... though they can be broken!" Li Hao looked at him. Director Wang hesitated briefly, but since he had spoken this far, he continued, "They can be broken using the Starry Sky Sword!" Li Hao raised an eyebrow. Director Wang felt somewhat conflicted, but carried on: "The Starry Sky Sword represents the Sword Venerable. The Sword Venerable is the superior of the Eight Main Cities, the Lord of Silver Moon. Even the authority of the Supreme is subject to the Sword Venerable's jurisdiction here! "If the enemy activates the City Lord Seal, the Starry Sky Sword can neutralize its lethal force. "Furthermore, the Starry Sky Sword symbolizes many things... There is hope of neutralizing certain authoritative lethal weapons with it." Li Hao was somewhat surprised: "The Starry Sky Sword... has so many functions?" "Yes!" Director Wang nodded. "That is why, among the Eight Divine Weapons, the Starry Sky Sword is the most vital! Unless one is a descendant of the Li family, a direct lineage successor, or has the Sword Venerable's authorization, it is virtually impossible to claim ownership of the Starry Sky Sword—even for a Li descendant!" He looked at Li Hao with a strange expression. "The Sword Venerable would never casually grant such authority to Li descendants. Handled properly, this item can overturn Silver Moon. For you to be able to wield it..." That was the truly bizarre thing! Li Hao smiled. In truth, the Starry Sky Sword had recognized him as master not long ago, though there was no need to mention that. The blade had likely birthed its own spirit; it might not be exceptionally intelligent, but it certainly possessed some awareness. Back when it was in the Sword Venerable's hands, it most probably lacked a spirit. Li Hao calculated everything and finally said, "According to your words, the worst-case scenario is that the corps commander, deputy commander, and primary guardian demon plant are all Saint-tier, the Zheng family's second son—a peak Immortal back then—may have also reached the Saint tier, and the patriarch is a Heavenly King. One Heavenly King, four Saints... around twenty individuals at the Immortal Realm, and several dozen demon plants at the Peak Realm that might still be alive, plus various bureau directors... at least forty to fifty people, correct?" Director Wang nodded. "If you prepare for the worst possible outcome... then certainly!" "Furthermore, there must still be a large number of Boundless Army soldiers within the city. A small detachment is manageable, but if their numbers are vast... they are extraordinarily formidable!" Li Hao nodded once more. By now, everyone's expressions had turned solemn. Li Hao continued, "The Immortal Realm corresponds roughly between the fourth and seventh tiers of the Sun and Moon Realm. The eighth and ninth tiers should surpass ordinary Immortals, though they might not necessarily match a Saint. "The Peak Realm falls between the seventh tier of the Mountain and Sea Realm and the third tier of the Sun and Moon Realm... "If we go by Director Wang's assessment, we might not lose to them at the Peak Realm level. As for the Immortal Realm..." They truly did not have many. Li Hao said softly, "We have very few people at the fourth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm! However, if the enemy hasn't fully awakened... if they haven't achieved a complete resurgence, they won't be that terrifying! "As for the Saint tier... the worst-case scenario right now is that there are several, or even a Heavenly King... But our assessment is that the Zheng family patriarch cannot possibly remain there; he would likely have taken several powerhouses with him... The only certainty is that the guardian demon plant is definitely present!" At least one Saint; at most... no one could say for sure. "If there are Saint-tier beings... I will deal with them!" Li Hao looked at the group. "The findings from Teacher and the others' scouting indicate they are likely disguising themselves as unawakened. That means... we hold the initiative. They won't believe we dare attack a main city guarded by a Saint! Therefore... even if there are two Saints... as long as I can eliminate one swiftly... the rest can be kept occupied! "The crux still lies in the Immortal Realm... Everyone at the third tier of the Sun and Moon Realm and above must take on an Immortal expert!" Even so, their numbers might not be enough. Li Hao paused briefly, then added, "Everyone must fight above their level! If the enemy hasn't fought in years and hasn't fully revived, those at the fourth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm must face mid- or late-stage Immortals, and those at the fifth tier must take on late-stage or peak Immortals... "Currently, very few on our side have reached the mid Sun and Moon Realm: Director Wang, Qian Wuliang, Director Zhao, and Di Wei—who is also willing to join the fray—barely qualify as reaching the Immortal level." Far too few! As for the others, such as Teacher and the rest, they might stand a chance against early-stage Immortals, but facing stronger foes would be immensely difficult. Furthermore, those at the third tier of the Sun and Moon Realm were few in number—just these handful. In terms of combat strength comparison, they were at a comprehensive disadvantage. Practically everyone would have to fight above their level. Neo-Martial experts were no weaklings either. Now, they could only rely on the enemy's long dormancy, lack of recent combat, and incomplete recovery to leap tiers and overcome them. As for Jiang Yingli and her peers, none had restored their peak combat strength. At present, they hovered barely between the seventh and ninth tiers of the Mountain and Sea Realm; none had yet stepped into the Sun and Moon Realm. Both Director Wang and Jiang Yingli hesitated, on the verge of speaking. Perhaps... they could call upon some people from Battle Heaven City, or summon the others from Yuanping Martial Arts University. That way, the combat strength could be balanced out. Yet before they could voice the thought, Li Hao said, "If the King of Dali, Jiang Li, and the Shuiyun Empress Dowager are willing to join, they all possess mid Sun and Moon combat strength. Coupled with their unique capabilities, they are exceptionally powerful and could even handle late-stage or peak Immortals..." If those three joined, it would be an enormous boon! The prerequisite was that they actually showed up. Li Hao had sent a transmission to Shuiyun as well, with just a single sentence: come to Silver City tonight. As to whether she would come... it was hard to say, uncertain. If she didn't come, they would simply proceed as though she did not exist. "Governor-General, they..." Jade Rakshasa could not help but chime in, "They... aren't dependable, are they?" Li Hao smiled. "Normally they aren't dependable, but once inside, they will be absolutely dependable!" Once inside, being undependable would do them no good. The enemy wouldn't care whether they were allies or foes. Fair enough! Hong Yitang said softly, "Currently, we face at least one Saint. What if there are two, or three... Even if the Immortals and Peak Realm combatants are held in balance, what about the Saint-tier combat strength? Even if you can handle one... what if the corps commander awakens, or the deputy commander awakens? What then?" That was the crux of this battle! As for whether to fight, since Li Hao called for it, no one objected. They had discussed it previously, and not a single soul was unwilling. Li Hao smiled. "Nothing in this world is flawless. If we could steamroll an ancient city, what would be the point of gambling? We would just roll over them directly! It is precisely because we cannot beat them guaranteed that this is a gamble! I will strive to swiftly slay that guardian demon plant. As for other Saints, it's best if there are none; if there are... I'll see if I can risk my life once more!" How could there be absolute certainty! If there were... he would have charged in already. He, too, wished for a foolproof plan, a guaranteed victory, but... if that were possible, he would have struck long ago. Why would he have waited until now? Everyone felt a surge of complex emotions, yet none raised further objections. Just as Li Hao had said: knowing full well they were outmatched, fighting anyway was the only way to stake everything on a slim thread of survival. Li Hao added, "This time, Qian Wuliang will lead the vanguard, disguising himself as an envoy. The rest of us... I will first bring you into the Bright Star Realm to wait for a moment... Qian Wuliang will carry my Starry Sky Sword, allowing me to lock onto the coordinates and descend precisely for an ambush!" Hiding anywhere else was insecure. Only the Bright Star Realm was imperceptible to the enemy—that was the safest place of all. A surprise attack was guaranteed to succeed! This was their primary advantage in taking the initiative. Qian Wuliang hurriedly said, "I will ensure the mission is completed!" Leading the vanguard and guiding the coordinates via the Starry Sky Sword was no trivial task; it required pinpoint precision and completely dispelling any suspicion from the other side. "Does anyone have anything else to add?" "I do!" Southern Fist spoke up directly: "How many supernatural bombs are left? Hand some out to everyone. If we can't beat them... we'll self-detonate along with the bombs! Killing even one makes it worth it... Neo-Martial people love to self-detonate, and we won't back down from that either!" He grinned, baring his teeth. "Back in the Neo-Martial era, it's said they defeated the Heavenly Emperor, and later on, legions of powerhouses were resurrected... Governor-General, we aren't afraid of dying. Whenever the Governor-General takes command of heaven and earth, masters the wheel of life and death, and reverses yin and yang... we'll just come back! If that's impossible... then an early death means an early rebirth. Eighteen years from now, I'll still be a strapping lad!" Li Hao's heart skipped a beat, but he remained silent. At that moment, Yuan Shuo spoke: "True enough... Gather all city-destroying bombs and supernatural bombs quickly, distribute a batch to each person. If Neo-Martial people can blow themselves up, so can we!" He continued, "There's no need to sound so tragic... If your divine character can escape, try to flee into the Bright Star Realm behind the Dao meridians. As long as the divine character is not destroyed... once Li Hao delineates the Great Dao in the future, perhaps... we can still return!" He chuckled warmly. "Divine characters blend force, Dao, and life force... If a divine character can escape into the Bright Star Realm, one might not truly be dead, just like an intact origin path... We aren't afraid of dying, but if there's truly no way out, we might as well try... Perhaps we won't need to wait eighteen years; maybe in a few years... we'll be back!" He looked toward Li Hao with a genial smile. "You said before that sooner or later, we would each become the master of a Dao, the master of a path... If any of us falls, and our divine character merges into a certain domain... you... set aside a little territory for us! Perhaps... we can revive from the Great Dao!" At these words, everyone burst into laughter. Southern Fist said excitedly, "Yes, yes, yes! My Fire Fist has reached the realm of perfection! If my divine character survives and merges into the Fire domain, then... or the Fist Dao domain—either one, carve one out for me!" Heavenly Sword said calmly, "The Sword Dao domain belongs to me!" "Are you the only one practicing the sword?" "Little He, are you the only one practicing fist techniques?" "……" The hall suddenly erupted into clamorous banter, with one claiming he practiced the fist and another insisting he practiced the sword. The arguments went on without end! Through it all, Li Hao did not utter a word. Looking at them, he wondered: Are you so certain we will die? Are you so certain I will survive? Or... is this merely your way of consoling me? Could merging into the Bright Star Universe truly grant resurrection? Li Hao himself did not know. They had taken Yuan Shuo's few words as truth—had they truly believed them... or were they consoling themselves, consoling everyone? In the Neo-Martial era, people had indeed been resurrected. Yet... this was not Neo-Martial! The Bright Star Universe was not the origin universe either. Did a cycle of life and death truly exist? At this moment, watching them laugh, Li Hao felt his heart soften. That somewhat icy, hardened heart softened unexpectedly. He hadn't cared before—what did life matter, what did death matter? Yes, he was actually... quite cold-hearted! He was no saint! Nor was he an impetuous youth full of hot-blooded fervor! He merely did what he felt he could do, was capable of doing, and ought to do. In truth... he had considered that if they failed this time, many might die... But if they died, so be it! Yet at this moment, as these people squabbled to claim a Dao and become Dao masters, an impulse surged through him, accompanied by inner turmoil. Why attack an ancient city? Why must he do this? At worst... let the second resurgence begin, and we won't stake our lives! We could go into hiding, conceal ourselves, hunt weaker foes, or deal with the four nations... Why must we attack an ancient city, placing ourselves in the most perilous predicament imaginable, all just to gamble on a safer Silver Moon world? Why should we! Li Hao's hand gripped the armrest of his chair, crushing the corner into fine powder as he silently watched the crowd. In his eyes, emotions he was never supposed to show surfaced faintly. He did not know where he was leading them... was it right, or wrong? In truth, I don't know what lies ahead either! I'm merely... hoodwinking you all! How could I know what the future holds? How could I know what will become of the Great Dao? How could I know what will become of the martial world? I am only twenty-one; I truly... only wanted to seek vengeance! Whatever I say, you simply believe? Are you truly so foolish? A bunch of brainless martial artists! His fists clenched tightly. He wanted to stand up and roar at the top of his lungs: We aren't fighting! Disperse! Right at that moment, Hong Yitang's voice drifted into his ears, carrying a light smile: "The world is the martial world. Governor-General, the martial masters of Jianghu never fear death, never shy from a challenge. Overcoming the strong from a position of weakness is what heroes yearn for! "If we fight, we fight the strongest!" Heavenly Sword wore an indifferent expression: if they were to fight, they would strike the most formidable! Not far away, Hou Xiaochen lifted his head, looking toward Li Hao with a faint smile. "You harvest what you sow; an equivalent exchange. Taking the benefits without doing the work—that is not our style. Except for Southern Fist." Southern Fist sneered, "Believe me, I'll smash you to death with one punch!" The lecherous Thunderbolt Leg swallowed slightly: "If we win... can I make friends with City Lord Lin?" Lin Hongyu froze, looking over at him with a smile, though her eyes were ice-cold. Thunderbolt Leg had a horde of wives and concubines and was the most lustful and shameless among the Silver Moon martial masters! To the side, Chen Zhongtian stroked his beard, sighing with emotion: truly bold, even I didn't dare bring up that topic. Director Zhao let out a soft laugh: "Enough, making it sound so terrifying... It's just a single battle. Since ancient times, conflict has never ceased in the Silver Moon martial world. Better to measure ourselves against the ancient powerhouses than fall by Yuan Shuo's hand... not a bad prospect at all." With that, he looked toward Li Hao: "Governor-General, the objective is set. We await only the Governor-General... to wage a full-out battle!" A full-out battle! The conflict in Li Hao's eyes hardened into resolute determination. He shouted in a low, resonant voice, "Since everyone is fearless... then let us... wage a full-out battle!" "Fight!" The low, thunderous roar reverberated throughout the hall. Dark clouds pressed heavily overhead, and the sky had turned pitch-black without a sliver of light. Night had fallen.