Arrangements

With communications severed, contacting the outside world grew increasingly difficult. Inside Boundless City. The crowd silently began clearing the battlefield. This was the first time they had taken complete, intact possession of an ancient city. It was unimaginably vast! The ancient city had not been compressed in the slightest; it had merely been deliberately concealed before. How immense must a city be to accommodate tens of millions of people? Li Hao sat high upon the throne of the City Lord's Manor, looking down across the surroundings from his vantage point. In this single battle, they had slain three Saints, dozens of Immortals, and over a hundred Paragons. Added to the three Saints killed over on the gods' side—even though those three had not been at their peak and had been heavily restricted—they had brought down six Saints in total. Now, aside from the desolate beasts of the Great Desolation, nothing held Li Hao back. Of course, the Red Moon Sovereign's seal might have fractured slightly this time. The enemy might seize the chance to taint Silver Moon... Yet as long as the Sovereign did not emerge in person, every wisp of Red Moon power infiltrating the world was merely nourishment for Li Hao. A Sovereign was simply too powerful. Were it not for the seal, the world itself could hardly restrain him. Moreover, killing Zheng Gong and severing his Great Dao this time might also have caught the enemy's attention. If Red Dust was indeed the master of the Zheng family, he ought to have sensed it. Just what level of strength did Red Dust possess? Could this world truly restrict him? If not, why had he not appeared earlier to strike Li Hao down, instead expending so much effort to orchestrate the Four Kingdoms Alliance? If the world could restrict him... did that mean he was not overwhelmingly strong and remained unable to break through the realm's constraints? At this moment, thought after thought churned through Li Hao’s mind. Presently, among the Eight Ancient Cities, Boundless City had fallen into their hands, and Sword City lay inside the Stargate. Of the remaining six ancient cities, aside from Battle Heaven City... or perhaps including Battle Heaven City, people might have been corrupted by the power of the Red Moon. If not agents of the Red Moon, then they belonged to Red Dust. The Star Suppressing City lineage consisted of three families: Zhou, Zheng, and Liu. Since the Zheng family had turned traitor, the other two very likely harbored problems as well. In the past, Li Hao would not have dwelled on this; he had preferred to win over Neo-Martial, cooperating and reaching a consensus with them. Now, however... he had to think about it and weigh these matters carefully. He himself might not have cared, but... his teacher, Director Hou, and the others would have cared, wouldn't they? *If they cared, then I care,* Li Hao thought to himself. *Next, as we continue leading all people in cultivating the Dao, heaven and earth will stabilize further... Yet the Great Dao will also grow more complete, while the ancient cities can siphon worldly energy and undermine the foundation... It all comes down to whether they break out first, or I grow stronger first.* One notion after another surfaced. A moment later, Hong Yitang entered the hall and said in a heavy voice, "Every living person in the city has been executed! However, tens of thousands of armored soldiers and remnant wills remain. These soldiers might not be traitors; they were loyal, steadfast men. Governor-General, how do you think... we should handle them?" "Integrate them into the Battle Heaven Army system... assign them to the Ninth Division!" Li Hao suddenly smiled. "I was originally wondering how to face the Ninth Division Commander. Let him incorporate these soldiers! They are merely ordinary troops who were never qualified to partake in the rebellion all those years ago. That they did not forget their duty to guard the city even after death shows they were fulfilling their obligations!" Hong Yitang hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Though the Zheng family rebelled, there is still no conclusive proof..." Even now, no indisputable evidence proved their treason. Li Hao smiled. "Three Saints maintained full combat prowess, Zheng Gong humiliated the Zhang family Supreme, and Director Wang witnessed it with his own eyes... If all of that still fails to count as evidence, and they demand to see it in person, insisting on written proof..." At that, Li Hao's tone flattened. "Then it means Battle Heaven City is nothing more than this! If they are unwilling to maintain good relations with me, so be it. Out of respect for old sentiments, I won't make things difficult for them. However... if the powerhouses of Battle Heaven wish to awaken and step forth, they will have to ask whether I permit it!" His voice grew colder. "As for the other ancient cities, setting aside the Liu and Zhou families, pass the word to the rest whether they have betrayed us or harbor traitors among them. Whether they listen or not... I will restrict them from now on!" "I do not place my hopes on their cooperation, but... without my permission, no one may take a single step out of an ancient city! That includes their avatars!" Hong Yitang's expression shifted slightly at those words. He glanced at Li Hao. At this moment, Li Hao's attitude had changed once again. It was no longer peaceful coexistence; he was actively compressing Neo-Martial's living space. Nodding, Hong Yitang asked, "Then what about the Great Desolation..." "Since Red Dust's faction can no longer bring about resurgence by slaughtering our people, they might seek to stabilize heaven and earth by wiping out the Great Desolation... or perhaps draw feedback energy from the Taboo Sea." The enemy still had options, but Li Hao now held an ancient city that siphoned massive amounts of energy, delaying the second resurgence. The Taboo Sea might not suffice, while the Great Desolation had annexed a vast territory and transformed it into chaos. Wiping out the Great Desolation might grant them a chance, yet quite a few Saint-level existences lurked among the desolate beasts. Li Hao suddenly laughed. "We watch the show! But keep eyes on the Great Desolation. Do not launch a deliberate assault against it, but forbid them from taking a single step outside. Let Red Dust go play with them. The Lord of Dahuang dared to invade... so he had best prepare for the backlash." Hong Yitang nodded, then quickly added, "There is one more crucial point. The seal above Silver City might... loosen with the self-detonation of the Starry Sky Sword!" He continued, "You mentioned earlier that the seal is connected to Ying Hongyue... Has Ying Hongyue grown stronger from the feedback, or has he weakened because the seal loosened?" "Hard to say." Li Hao shook his head, his gaze turning chillingly sharp. "Once the King of Dali withdraws his troops, he will certainly go all out to encircle and suppress Ying Hongyue... Returning to Dali won't necessarily be safe for him. Quickly send over the spoils from this battle to bolster Dali. Let Dali grow stronger to suppress Ying Hongyue, execute the members of the Three Great Organizations, and force Ying Hongyue to become a commander without an army!" Even though Dali was retreating, Li Hao was sending them a massive share of the spoils. The objective was unmistakable: strengthen Dali. He worried that with only the King of Dali and Jiang Li, they might not be able to suppress the Three Great Organizations. "What about the Western gods who fled?" "They had better worry about being hunted down by the powerhouses of the Red Moon universe!" Li Hao said, "Spread the word: all the Saint-tier deities of the Divine Kingdom have fallen, leaving only twelve gods on the run, including the Moon God! They are very likely fleeing back to the Western Divine Kingdom... The Red Moon Sovereign has tainted countless people and likely holds hidden trump cards. Let them go kill the gods!" The traitors sought to target the Great Desolation to stimulate the world's resurgence. The Red Moon Sovereign sought to target the Moon God to weaken the seal. Refraining from killing the Moon God and avoiding an assault on the Great Desolation was done to minimize their own losses and keep both sides in check. Meanwhile, Dali could focus on the Three Great Organizations. In this way, peace would return under heaven—at least in the short term, nothing would hold them back. And Li Hao could use this window of time to strengthen Heavenly Star, empower everyone, and elevate himself! Li Hao added, "I represent heaven and earth—or rather, the combat ceiling of the Silver Moon people. Next, I will open more meridians, pushing my Dao meridians to around thirty-six. Moving forward, the instability of heaven and earth will target Neo-Martial and the Red Moon, not practitioners of the New Dao!" "Everyone... must advance as quickly as possible!" "We reaped boundless gains from this battle, including the remains of several Saints, Immortal power, the Fountain of Life... all of it is an immense harvest. The corpses of the gods are also key to our advancement!" Hong Yitang nodded repeatedly. At that point, the others filed into the hall one after another. Many had died in this battle. Yet several core figures had suffered little loss: Lin Hongyu, Qian Wuliang, Director Zhao, Director Zhou, Huang Yu, and Chen Zhongtian. These men and women of both civil and military capability had emerged largely unscathed. Perhaps... they were not as reckless, or perhaps the others had deliberately spared them. Because they knew that governing the world was beyond them, but these people were capable of it. Looking at them, Li Hao experienced a brief daze. Huang Yu, who commanded the army, remained; Lin Hongyu, Director Zhao, and the administrators remained; Hong Yitang, dedicated to promoting education, remained; Chen Zhongtian, overseeing the Inspectorate, remained; Qian Wuliang, who could see right through human hearts, remained... Was their survival the result of some tacit understanding arranged in secret? He was no fool. Looking at these people, his thoughts drifted back to his teacher and the others. Had they... long since decided who would self-detonate at the critical moment and who would stay behind? Those who had fallen were martial masters whose martial might eclipsed their intellect, such as Southern Fist and Golden Spear. Why... such a coincidence? Even Hou Xiaochen's death had been an accident; otherwise, Hou Xiaochen might not have died. Thoughts flitted through his mind, and he looked across the crowd once more. Sky Sword, a martial artist entirely devoted to the Dao, had miraculously survived. It was not that Li Hao wished him dead, but... Sky Sword possessed a resolute, unyielding nature. If anyone was destined to die in this battle, Li Hao had thought Sky Sword would have been among them. Why... was Sky Sword unharmed? From the corner of his eye, Li Hao glanced toward Qian Wuliang not far away. Qian Wuliang seemed to have been watching him all along, and when their eyes met, Qian Wuliang’s heart trembled. It was as if Li Hao could peer directly into a man's soul, sending a shiver through him. Li Hao suddenly said, "Martial Uncle Sky Sword, I am deeply relieved that you survived this battle. Given your resolute temper, I was worried you would fall into slumber as well..." Sky Sword said in a low voice, "It was pure luck. Thanks to General Qian pulling me back at the critical moment..." Sweat suddenly began beading on Qian Wuliang's face. Originally, saving someone in battle was by no means a bad thing. Yao Si had sacrificed himself to save Northern Fist, and no one accused Yao Si of malice. Li Hao gave a slight nod, then turned to Tyrant Saber. "Martial Uncle Tyrant Saber, and who saved you?" Tyrant Saber was taken aback, hesitating for a moment before answering, "General Qian..." The terror in Qian Wuliang's eyes could no longer be suppressed! Li Hao said nothing, merely nodding slightly. Tyrant Saber, Sky Sword. Both were straightforward martial masters of formidable strength. Yet... in terms of true intimacy, Sky Sword was acceptable, Tyrant Saber was somewhat distant, while those truly close to Li Hao—such as Yuan Shuo, Liu Long, and Hou Xiaochen—had all perished in this battle. Few Silver Moon martial masters possessed strategic minds. Sky Sword and the rest were skilled in battle, but those closest to him made up the majority of the dead. Hong Yitang was adept in both combat and strategy, yet his heart lay neither in administration nor the military; his ambition was to follow the path of the ancient Supremes, spreading martial arts and education across the world. Thought after thought surfaced in Li Hao's mind. At this moment, the expressions of Lin Hongyu, Director Zhao, and several others subtly shifted. The rest thought nothing of it, merely feeling that Qian Wuliang was loyal and upright enough to pull Sky Sword and Tyrant Saber back from the brink. Otherwise... the Silver Moon martial masters might have lost a few more. Qian Wuliang kept his head lowered, not daring to meet Li Hao's gaze. Li Hao stared deeply at him for a long time before finally speaking. "General Qian, I have a vital assignment for you... Can you take it on?" "The Governor-General's command is my duty! Wuliang will spare no effort!" Li Hao nodded slightly. "You will be in charge of escorting the supplies to Dali! Inform the King of Dali that I am having you stay in Dali for a time to help eliminate the members of the Three Great Organizations. You may offer counsel and strategy... Though the King of Dali is valiant and Jiang Li is resourceful, they understand the Three Great Organizations far too little." "Right now, the Three Great Organizations—especially Ying Hongyue—are my greatest lingering threat, as well as my sworn enemies!" Li Hao said coldly, "I want you to corner him so thoroughly that he has no path to heaven and no door into the earth! The Three Great Organizations and Haotian Divine Mountain possess tens of thousands of members... I want to see their corpses, their severed heads!" Qian Wuliang's face paled slightly. Going after the Three Great Organizations... This... Li Hao continued, "You possess a meticulous mind, and Ying Hongyue is no pushover; he is a man of endless schemes, so be on your guard! If this mission succeeds, even if you cannot bring back Ying Hongyue's head, I will credit you with tremendous merit!" "If you can bring down Ying Hongyue..." Li Hao paused briefly. "Then within this Heavenly Star Dynasty, aside from the King of Heavenly Star, any position under heaven is yours for the choosing!" "Wuliang would not dare!" Qian Wuliang's expression changed rapidly as he blurted out, "Wuliang will give his absolute utmost..." "No, you must succeed! Even if you cannot kill Ying Hongyue, among Yama, the Flying Sword Immortal, and the Haotian Mountain Master, I expect to see at least one of their heads. If I don't see even one..." Li Hao looked at him without finishing the sentence. Yet Qian Wuliang's complexion shifted again and again. Those four were undoubtedly inseparable. To kill one of them under Ying Hongyue's very nose... how difficult would that be?! Was Ying Hongyue difficult to deal with? More difficult than a Saint? Qian Wuliang knew he certainly was, perhaps even more troublesome than a Saint. Otherwise, given Li Hao's temperament, wouldn't he have sought vengeance long ago rather than waiting until today? Even after conquering the ancient city, Li Hao had not gone after the Three Great Organizations. Clearly, he knew Ying Hongyue was exceptionally hard to handle. Naturally, Qian Wuliang also understood that he had to accept this mission, no matter what. The moment Li Hao questioned Sky Sword and Tyrant Saber, Qian Wuliang knew he was in deep trouble! Fortunately, Li Hao did not press the matter further. With these thoughts racing through his mind, Qian Wuliang replied briskly, "This subordinate understands! If I cannot claim their heads, Wuliang... shall present his own!" "There is no need for that," Li Hao said softly. "It won't matter if you fail, but you must remain careful. In particular, Ying Hongyue might also be able to wield the power of the Red Moon, whereas you won't be severely affected by it. That is precisely why I chose you. Anyone else might be corrupted by him..." "This subordinate understands!" Qian Wuliang replied in a loud, clear voice. Li Hao asked, "Do you need assistants?" "No!" Qian Wuliang answered immediately. "This subordinate alone will suffice. So long as the King of Dali and High Priest Jiang Li cooperate... with Dali's assistance, there is no need to trouble the rest of you!" Li Hao nodded once more. "Very well. Afterward, go collect the supplies and deliver them to the King of Dali, conveying my words. If he refuses to listen, tell him I said that a single Ying Hongyue is more trouble than three ancient cities!" "Understood!" Li Hao gave a faint nod. Meanwhile, Qian Wuliang quietly exhaled in relief. From beginning to end, Li Hao had remained utterly calm, uttering no words of reproach. He had even praised his competence, entrusting him with such heavy responsibilities and handing over his greatest nemesis... Yet such trust made Qian Wuliang's hairs stand on end. A profound dread washed over him. Fortunately, Li Hao had not pursued the matter further; otherwise, he suspected disaster would have befallen him today. "Moving forward, Commander Huang shall command the Demon Hunt Army. All military forces will be consolidated under the Demon Hunt Army, and Commander Huang will oversee their reorganization." "Director Zhao shall oversee the Administration Bureau. You will have to bear the burden of the realm's administrative affairs." "Director Zhou shall oversee the Finance Bureau and manage the realm's finances." "Chen Zhongtian shall lead the Inspectorate and accelerate its reorganization!" "Martial Uncle Hong will oversee the expansion of martial arts academies and New Dao cultivation, including the rapid completion of mass literacy programs. I will consider restoring the ancient Education Bureau when appropriate and may appoint Martial Uncle Hong as its Director." "City Lord Lin..." Li Hao paused for a moment before speaking. "Minister Yao Si and Director Hou are in slumber, leaving the Night Patrollers without leadership. There are many Night Patrollers across the realm. City Lord Lin will take charge of the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, serving as the Heavenly Star Governor-General, the head of the five regional Governors-General!" At these words, Lin Hongyu froze. Heavenly Star Governor-General! Then... what about Li Hao himself? The others were also shaken. Earlier, when Li Hao assigned administrative affairs to Director Zhao, they had wondered how Lin Hongyu would be positioned. Yet now... she was to be appointed Heavenly Star Governor-General. Under the previous arrangement, everyone else was subordinate to the Governor-General's Office. Lin Hongyu hastily said, "What merit or virtue does Hongyu possess to..." "Enough!" Li Hao interrupted, "We will proceed as I have said. As for me... moving forward, I will focus on cultivation, opening the Dao, and confronting the ancient powerhouses! Do I not still bear the title of Marquis of Heavenly Star? Let me bestow a new title upon myself... I name myself the Marquis of Silver Moon; surely no one objects?" Marquis of Silver Moon! The crowd stirred internally, though none voiced a sound. Silver Moon was merely one province of the realm. Yet Silver Moon was also the name the Neo-Martial human race had used for this entire world. Silver Moon *was* this world. Marquis of Silver Moon! "As for the others: Southern Fist is in slumber, so the position of Southern Governor-General... is handed to Martial Uncle Northern Fist. I hope Martial Uncle Northern Fist understands my intentions." Northern Fist felt a tremor in his heart and nodded. "I shall faithfully guard the south and ensure no trouble arises in our rear!" "Senior Yang Shan is in slumber... The role of Western Governor-General is entrusted to Senior Qin Lian." Qin Lian emerged from the shadows, her eyes reflecting complex emotion. "Thank you, Governor-General... Thank you, Marquis, for your trust!" "The Eastern Governor-General shall remain Senior Bright Sword." "As for the Northern Governor-General..." The Northern Governor-General had originally been Hou Xiaochen. At this moment, Li Hao looked at those remaining and fell into contemplative silence. The north—Silver Moon also lay in the north. With Hou Xiaochen gone, who could assume the post of Northern Governor-General? Finally, his gaze drifted to one person, and he said slowly, "Jade Light Sword shall serve as the Northern Governor-General!" Wu Hongshan, who had been in a daze the entire time, suddenly looked up, her eyes vacant and bewildered. "What?" Li Hao said solemnly, "Jade Light Sword Wu Hongshan shall serve as the Northern Governor-General!" Wu Hongshan was stunned. She looked around at the hall. Sky Sword, Tyrant Saber, and the others were still present; how could the position of Northern Governor-General fall to her? Li Hao said softly, "The north is our homeland, the place my teacher was most attached to, and the land I value above all else! I entrust the north to Martial Aunt Wu!" Wu Hongshan stammered blankly, "I... I don't know how to do anything..." "It doesn't matter. The four regional Governors-General are primarily responsible for suppressing regional unrest; as long as you can kill, that is enough!" Li Hao said chillingly, "Just make sure heads roll! Suppress the four corners of the continent with an iron fist. Anyone who defies us—kill! Anyone who rebels—kill! Anyone who breaks the law—kill! Killing and suppressing shall be your core duties! That is the responsibility of the regional Governors-General. The Inspectorate will maintain local order, the military will crush rebellions, and the Administration Bureau will oversee official appointments and local peace! The Heavenly Star Governor-General will oversee the realm and maintain stability in the Central Region!" Kill! A tremor ran through everyone's hearts at those words, yet no one objected. This was the first time Li Hao had publicly decreed that all who defied authority were to be executed! He had become far more ruthless and unyielding than before! At this moment, Li Hao turned his gaze toward Sky Sword and Tyrant Saber, saying slowly, "Martial Uncle Sky Sword will be responsible for suppressing the divine mountains. Back then, among the Seven Divine Mountains, I merely killed Mountain Master Futu and his peers without resolving them thoroughly. Sky Sword and Tyrant Saber, the two of you will be tasked with purging them! Either make them surrender, or kill them! Aside from Haotian Mountain Villa, which fled, I want to see the other five divine mountains submit... Furthermore, slaughter Phoenix Divine Mountain down to the last person; leave none alive!" Sky Sword’s heart stirred, and he nodded. "Understood!" Suppressing the divine mountains of the realm! Finally, Li Hao looked toward one last figure. "Empress Dowager Shuiyun..." Empress Dowager Shuiyun had maintained a low profile throughout. Hearing Li Hao address her, she stepped forward with gentle delicacy. "There is no need for the Governor-General to address me so. My maiden name is Qiao Rong; the Governor-General may simply call me by my name..." "Qiao Rong..." Li Hao pondered for a moment, then smiled. "As you wish! Presently, Heavenly Star still lacks a crucial figure for an essential post. I wonder if Empress Dowager Qiao would be willing to lend me a hand?" "Please instruct me, Governor-General." "The southern navy is formidable. I wish to pacify the Four Seas and eliminate the pirates across them. Heavenly Star's naval forces are frail, so I intend to bestow upon Empress Dowager Qiao the title of Marshal of the Four Seas Navy... I wonder if the Empress Dowager can accept this?" Marshal of the Four Seas Navy! Empress Dowager Shuiyun’s heart fluttered, and she quickly replied, "It is my bounden duty! The soldiers of Shuiyun will soon be soldiers of Heavenly Star, and they are accustomed to life upon the waves. To remain on the waters is all we could ask for!" "Excellent!" Li Hao smiled. "We conquered Boundless City in this battle, and within it remain two hundred thousand sets of armor... All two hundred thousand suits shall be bestowed upon the Shuiyun army. Empress Dowager Qiao will be the Shuiyun Marshal as well as the Marshal of the Four Seas. An army needs not be excessively vast—a million is too many, but two hundred thousand is just right! Clad them in ancient armor, screen out the weak, and release those to build Shuiyun Province. What does Marshal Qiao think?" How could Empress Dowager Shuiyun refuse? Though her forces were being reduced to merely two hundred thousand, every single one would be heavily armored... That was beyond her wildest hopes! She hastily said, "I shall obey the superior command!" At this point, Huang Yu could no longer hold back and said in a low voice, "Governor-General... my land army is vast, yet we only have fifty thousand suits of armor..." The navy was receiving two hundred thousand suits. Giving away every set of armor captured from Boundless City—wasn't that taking things too far? Li Hao chuckled. "Do not fret, Commander Huang. Armor... there will be plenty! We can forge it ourselves, or... we can seize it, trade for it, kill for it, and plunder it!" Huang Yu's expression flickered, and he spoke no further. With that, everyone had been assigned their duties. Li Hao continued, "Additionally, everyone may draw an appropriate share of divine energy ores and the Fountain of Life! Dig the great mine in Heavenly Star Town until it is empty, cleared out, consumed, and exhausted! Be generous with the army, and be generous with the martial arts students; there is no need to hoard!" "The four regional Governor-General's Offices shall each command an army of one hundred thousand, to be selected and screened from local garrisons, taking only the best!" "The Land Army Bureau shall command an army of five hundred thousand!" "The Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office shall directly command two hundred thousand." "The Four Seas Navy shall have two hundred thousand!" "A total of 1.3 million troops is more than enough; we need no more!" Across the realm, the armies numbered tens of millions. Yet in a single breath, Li Hao had slashed that number down to 1.3 million. Everyone frowned slightly. Wasn't that far too few? Li Hao added, "The Inspectorate may expand its personnel. There are thousands of cities across the realm; under ordinary circumstances, the Inspectorate maintaining law and order will suffice. The Inspectorate can consult Director Wang frequently. Director Wang was the director of the Security Bureau in Battle Heaven City back in the day, so he surely understands these matters intimately." "Director Wang..." Li Hao looked at Wang Ye. "Would you mind holding the title of Honorary Chief within the Inspectorate?" Director Wang was slightly taken aback, but after a long pause, he nodded. "I can do that!" Li Hao smiled and looked at Chen Zhongtian. "Does Chief Chen have any objections?" How could Chen Zhongtian dare object? He hastily said, "To receive Director Wang's guidance is a blessing from heaven!" In the hall, several older martial masters and later superpowered experts remained, such as Dao Sword, Hu Qingfeng, and their peers. However, standing at the outer perimeter, their numbers had also thinned in this battle. There were even familiar faces, like Mu Xiaorong from the former Internal Affairs Bureau. Li Hao looked at them and said softly, "For the time being, your primary objective remains strengthening yourselves. Stepping into the Sun Moon realm is your most vital task right now!" The group said nothing more, nodding in succession. Li Hao looked around the hall once more and spoke again. "Furthermore... Director Qi, you, Yu Ming, and the others will oversee the deployment of the sky screens, base station maintenance, and the construction of rail transit tracks... This foundational infrastructure is also critically important. I hope that all of Heavenly Star will swiftly unite as one!" At the back, Director Qi stepped forward and bowed slightly in agreement. With that, both Director Wang and Director Qi from the Neo-Martial faction had received their titles and assignments. Looking around, Li Hao noticed a few absences; those individuals had not come. Nevertheless, he announced, "One more matter: Liu Yan, Hong Qing, and the veteran members of the Demon Hunt Corps will be separated into an independent branch, leading five thousand troops to form the Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army! They will be responsible for blockading the ancient cities. Aside from Boundless, Battle Heaven, and Sword City, a Demon Hunt commander leading a thousand troops of the Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army will suppress each city!" "Liu Yan, Hong Qing, Mu Lin, Hao Lianchuan, and Wang Ming shall each serve as commanders of a thousand troops in the Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army." The hearts of the listeners stirred once more. Leaving aside Liu Yan, who had originally been the deputy commander of the Demon Hunt Corps and had always followed Liu Long, these five were all Li Hao's old acquaintances... or rather, they were all familiar companions from the days when the Demon Hunt Corps numbered merely a few dozen. Hong Qing was Hong Yitang's daughter, Mu Lin had been Hou Xiaochen's deputy in the original Martial Guard, and after Golden Spear's departure, Mu Lin had commanded that original thousand-man unit. Hao Lianchuan was also Hou Xiaochen's deputy, though his combat prowess could no longer keep pace, leading him to hustle alongside the Demon Hunt Army recently. Wang Ming was in the same situation, and he possessed another identity: Li Hao's junior brother, a nominal disciple of Yuan Shuo. Suppressing the ancient cities! This task was far from light and demanded tremendous strength; even if the ancient cities only sent forth avatars, Sun Moon combatants were required to suppress them. Yet these individuals were currently only in the Mountain Sea realm, not even having reached the seventh tier. How... could they possibly suppress ancient cities? While others hesitated to speak, Director Zhao frowned slightly and said, "Governor-General, the intent is good, but blockading ancient cities and forbidding their powerhouses from stepping out demands immense combat capability! The people of Neo-Martial are proud and arrogant; doing this... will likely spark battles! Even if they only manifest avatars, under current conditions, an avatar stepping forth possesses the power of the Sun Moon realm." These five were simply too weak. Li Hao smiled. "No matter, I will find a way!" "They have all entered the Mountain Sea realm, and their physical Dao meridians have begun to open, so they are not truly weak. Their physical tolerance can still withstand opening a few more Dao meridians. Crucially, Liu Yan, Hong Qing, and Mu Lin have all grasped force. While Wang Ming and Hao Lianchuan have not, that is not an insurmountable hurdle..." He spoke a few words, then concluded, "My teacher is in slumber, and the Five Elements Dao meridians among the rest of us are nearly extinct. Since that is so... I intend to have them wield the Five Elements divine characters and master the Five Elements Dao meridians. Furthermore, in the Divine Kingdom, we slew several elemental gods of the Five Elements..." Enlightenment dawned upon everyone's minds. No one said another word. He intended to let those five wield the Five Elements. There happened to be five of them... The deaths of Hou Xiaochen and Yuan Shuo had clearly sparked countless thoughts within Li Hao. Liu Long's demise had only reinforced his conviction that those who had followed him step by step from the beginning had to be elevated. At this point, he no longer cared if anyone accused him of using public office for personal favoritism. He was going to do it regardless! He would even bestow the physical corpses of the Five Elements gods, along with the Five Elements divine characters and Dao meridians, upon these few individuals. It was compensation, but it was also born of internal dread. A dread... that these people too would pass away alongside the rest. The Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army—its name alone revealed it to be a fusion of the Demon Hunt Corps and the Martial Guard. Perhaps... Li Hao intended to forge his own inner guard. Much like the ancient King of Man's Fiend Guard, they were his personal confidants. Originally, Li Hao had never cared about such distinctions; he had treated everyone equally, including those who joined later. Yet today, a change seemed to have come over him. No one could say whether this change was for better or worse. Seeing that no one else spoke, Lin Hongyu glanced left and right before reluctantly stepping forward. "Governor-General, then... there are still many Neo-Martial people in the ruins of Heavenly Star Town, including some Heavenly Star Army soldiers and students from Yuanping Martial Arts University... How should they be handled? Also, there are numerous monster plants... how should they be arranged?" At those words, Director Wang instantly turned his gaze upon her. Li Hao replied, "A few regimental commanders of the Heavenly Star Army are still alive; let them relocate to Battle Heaven City for now! As for the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University, I will revive them one by one—that was my promise to Section Chief Zhang! The ten thousand soldiers who marched out of the Battle Heaven Army will also be revived one by one... Once the ore veins in the Heavenly Star Town ruins are mined out, the area will serve as a cultivation base. Di Wei shall command all the monster plants and establish the Di Wei Army!" Outside the grand hall, Di Wei swayed gently, indicating acceptance. Sky Sword frowned. "Are you still going to revive the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University?" "Yes." "But..." "I gave my word!" Li Hao declared, "Since I promised, I will do it! It is merely several hundred people. Besides... do not forget that Jiang Yingli and the others paid an enormous price to halt the descent of the City Lord's seal. Regardless of anything else, something must be done for them!" Hearing this, although some harbored resentment, no one pressed the matter further. Everyone was furious that Zhang An had not come. Even though Li Hao had not requested reinforcements, Zhang An certainly knew everything that had transpired. Jiang Yingli and the others had attended the council, and Director Wang had attended as well; there was no way Zhang An had been unaware. Yet he had not come! Everyone understood that coming or not was his prerogative, but had Zhang An arrived, with his Saint-level strength, he could have handled one Saint, and so many lives would not have been lost in this battle. Whether out of displaced anger or genuine resentment, everyone harbored profound hostility toward Zhang An at this moment. When Li Hao spoke of reviving them, many were displeased. Yet now, no one stepped forward to voice dissent. Northern Fist thought to himself: had Southern Fist still been around, he probably would have jumped up and cursed out loud. Without Southern Fist, few dared to refute or question Li Hao during meetings anymore. He thought further: if Southern Fist were here, he would likely have unleashed a torrent of curses, and Li Hao would have been powerless against him. Among the living, Hong Yitang was close to Li Hao. Yet Hong Yitang had never been a man of many words. He was accustomed to silence. As Northern Fist was lost in thought, Li Hao smiled. "Alright, let us conclude here. Disperse! Go collect your resources and accelerate your cultivation. I have made the arrangements and will not micromanage. Everyone should have gained insights and harvests from this battle. I hope... that soon, I will formally see you all within the Bright Star Realm, rather than having to personally guide you in each time!" "I must cultivate as well, and I may not have much time to look after everyone. You are all my seniors; there is no need for me to oversee every detail." Lin Hongyu spoke again. "The Governor-General may rest assured..." "Do not call me Governor-General anymore; you are the one holding that office... Henceforth, call me Marquis of Silver Moon, or Li Hao... whichever you please!" How could Lin Hongyu dare address him by his personal name? She quickly corrected herself: "The Marquis may rest assured!" Li Hao chuckled. "Director Hou always wanted to become the Marquis of Silver Moon. Now that I've stolen it away, I wonder if he would feel heartbroken." No one answered. Feeling a twinge of dullness, Li Hao waved his hand. "Go attend to your duties. The world does not belong to me, Li Hao, alone... Put your hearts into your work." The crowd said nothing more. Knowing Li Hao wished to speak no further, they departed one after another. The vast hall soon became desolate and empty. Only Li Hao remained, sitting alone within the grand chamber. He let out a long breath. Everything was developing in a favorable direction; the survivors were just enough to take over various affairs, with capable hands overseeing politics, the military, finance, and martial arts. Suddenly, things felt smoother than before. Yet why... did his heart feel so hollow? In the past, everything had been chaotic and messy. Now, everyone had their assigned duties, with neither too many nor too few positions to allocate. "Did you all... calculate how many people to leave behind for me?" Li Hao murmured. Suddenly, he kicked the desk before him, sending it flying as he cursed furiously, "Did I need you to arrange my life for me?!" With a loud crash, the desk shattered into splinters. "The Great Desolation, the Divine Kingdom, Neo-Martial, the traitors, the Red Moon, the Three Great Organizations..." Li Hao's eyes grew colder and colder. After a long silence, he gritted his teeth. "Not a single one of you will have an easy time!" Had the King of Dali and Empress Dowager Shuiyun not arrived, neither of them would have been spared either. Turning his head toward Silver City, had the Red Moon Sovereign unsealed himself a little more? How many people in the land of Silver Moon had been tainted by the power of the Red Moon by now? Yet he did not rush back. Instead, he waited quietly, giving that entity time. That being had not truly broken the seal; had a Sovereign genuinely broken free, he would not be so quiet. Boundless and fearless, he would have long since turned the world upside down. As long as the seal held, it was fine! In that case, the Sovereign would only taint a portion of the people, and the Demon Hunt Army stationed there would be the prime target... Li Hao was deliberately waiting, letting him taint as many as possible—the more, the better. It would conveniently help Li Hao strengthen the Demon Hunt Army. His delay in returning was also born of worry that the fellow might sense something and refuse to waste any more Red Moon power. "A day has passed; that should be enough time..." Li Hao calculated. A day was more than enough to taint a group of weaker cultivators. He wondered whether wiping out all this Red Moon power in one go would alert the entity to anything. In an instant, Li Hao vanished. At this moment, he had no need to manage anyone or bring anyone along; traveling alone was enough. ... Silver City. The Bagua diagram in the sky appeared faintly dim. Strands of crimson energy, invisible to ordinary eyes, blanketed the entire Silver City region. Millions of troops remained stationed in Silver City. Among them, the Demon Hunt Army was the strongest. At this moment, no one noticed anything amiss, though an uneasy restlessness pervaded the ranks. The troops were in slight turmoil because the Dali army across from them appeared to be withdrawing. Yet with no powerhouses presiding over them and no commander issuing orders, they did not know whether to intercept them. Blood rain had fallen through the entire night, leaving everyone unsettled. An army of millions was left without a single supreme powerhouse to oversee them; only weaker leaders like Liu Yan, Hu Dingfang, and Mu Lin managed the ranks, assisted by several regimental commanders of the Battle Heaven Army, which was the only reason the army had not plunged into chaos. Right at this moment, a silhouette materialized. Li Hao appeared in an instant, looking at the crowd as he spoke: "Liu Yan, Hong Qing... select five thousand elites. Pick out every member of the original Demon Hunt Corps and Martial Guard, along with other strong fighters in the army, to form the Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army. You have one day. In one day, bring the unit to White Moon City to meet me!" The commanders were stunned. Why form an independent Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army out of nowhere? Liu Yan felt a hollow ache in her chest. Nodding, she asked, "Where is Boss Liu?" "He went to attend to other matters. It is very important!" Liu Yan stared at him, slightly dazed. Attending to other matters? Though Liu Long's strength had improved substantially, what matter required him to handle it in secret? "When... when will he be back?" Li Hao smiled faintly. "Soon... Alright, this is a military secret. I am only saying this much because we are old friends; do not ask too much, your rank is too low! Once you enter the Sun Moon realm and become a military commander, I will summon you to the councils... Every one of you is improving so slowly!" Liu Yan forced a smile and asked no more. "Let it be settled, then... Make haste. Meet at the original Martial Guard base in White Moon City in one day!" At this point, Hu Dingfang could not help but ask, "Then what about the Dali army opposite us..." "Pay them no mind. They have trained their troops for some time, and fighting a few rounds was enough. Were we truly supposed to fight until both armies were wiped out? The King of Dali will lead them back to Dali." Hu Dingfang said no more. Li Hao added, "Maintain control over the troops; do not let chaos erupt. Even if Dali withdraws, we won't be pulling back anytime soon. Later on, the regional Governor-General's Offices, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, and even the Inspectorate will come to select recruits to bolster their ranks! Pick out the elites. As for the weaker ones who are screened out, ensure proper resettlement arrangements are made... Someone will handle this!" Everyone was startled. A military downsizing? Why... was this happening? Yet it was improper to press further, so they could only nod. Meanwhile, Li Hao vanished from the spot. The next instant, he appeared in the sky above Silver City, quickly positioning himself beneath the Bagua diagram. Glancing inside, he saw that the red thread representing the Li family had grown substantially weaker. Strands of crimson power were actively infiltrating Silver City. As expected! The self-detonation of the Starry Sky Sword had indeed opened the seal a little. Previously, this phenomenon only occurred when it rained; now, rain was no longer necessary. The previous rains had merely been accumulated bursts of power, but now, it could infiltrate directly. Li Hao investigated for a moment, thousands of thoughts churning through his mind. The next instant, he streaked across the area, divine characters emerging one after another to envelop the entirety of Silver City. He intended to lay down a domain array and drag all of Silver City into the Bright Star Realm! *No matter how much energy this Red Moon Sovereign infiltrates, I will gladly accept it all!* Once this harvest was complete, that fellow would likely sense something. After that, he might not be willing to infiltrate any more energy even if offered the chance.