Nearly all ordinary residents had evacuated Silver City.
At this moment, millions of troops were stationed inside and outside the walls. Countless people gathered here, every one of them an extraordinary cultivator. With every breath of energy they drew in, a minor energy storm swept across the land.
Just as everyone wondered in bewilderment why Dali was withdrawing its troops and why Silver City's mighty experts had not yet returned, Li Hao was burying divine characters across every corner of the city.
He hid countless divine energy stones in every direction.
He intended to drag the entirety of Silver City into the Bright Star Realm—or rather, summon the Bright Star Realm down for a brief instant to purify all of Silver City.
He did not know how many people had fallen under the corrupting influence.
Nor did he have the time to inspect them one by one.
If that was the case, he would put it to the test.
Moreover, this was an opportunity for everyone.
Li Hao had not given advance notice. Forewarning might lead to leaks, allowing some to flee or even sparking unrest. Once the Bright Star Realm descended, any instigators of chaos would naturally perish.
He planted copious divine energy stones in every corner of Silver City to serve as startup power.
A single wisp of power seeping from a Sovereign was enough to elevate these soldiers.
***
Time ticked by.
More powerhouses arrived in Silver City. Huang Yu from the military and several governors-general hurried over. They were to select soldiers to replenish various formations.
This time, Li Hao decentralized his authority.
The massive army was no longer controlled by a single person. Instead, the five regional governors-general, the regular army, and the navy would each command a portion of the armed forces, while the Inspectorate would also take charge of a faction.
Everyone was busily picking out elites.
The military learned of the news as well, for nothing was kept secret. Silver Moon was about to downsize its armed forces, and a portion of the elite would be selected to enter the war corps.
Some rejoiced, while others were disheartened.
Numerous troops were massed here, but some did not wish to stay. The danger was simply too great; fighting Dali for days had inflicted heavy casualties.
Even though Dali on the opposite side appeared to be pulling back, everyone still worried war might erupt once more.
***
Across the way.
The Dali Dynasty.
The King of Dali frowned slightly.
Just moments ago, he had received a message from Li Hao asking him to wait a short while and hold off withdrawing his troops until tomorrow rather than rushing off.
Not only that, Qian Wuliang had also arrived.
The King of Dali did not like this man very much. He always felt Qian Wuliang did not fit Silver Moon's style, giving off the impression of a smiling tiger.
Yet Qian Wuliang clearly explained his purpose: to assist Dali in rooting out the members of the Three Great Organizations.
Moreover, he brought over a hundred million divine energy stones, several corpses of gods, tens of thousands of drops from the Spring of Life, and vast quantities of origin power and immortal power. Having accepted such gifts, the King of Dali found it awkward to refuse.
He suspected Qian Wuliang had been dispatched by Li Hao to monitor him.
Even if Li Hao did not outwardly appear to harbor such intentions.
From his position in the distance, the King of Dali looked toward the opposite side, where Silver City stood.
He felt somewhat puzzled; Silver City seemed rather illusory right now.
What was Li Hao doing?
Jiang Li also learned of the situation. After watching for a while, he asked softly in confusion, "Your Majesty, is Silver City... shrouded in a special energy?"
"I cannot say."
The King of Dali shook his head. How could he know? He could not make out the specifics, yet he could sense something. Right now, Silver City was filled with irritable, anxious, and uneasy emotions.
It felt like a powder keg!
It was not just Silver City. Hearing the news of a retreat had made the Dali army restless and indignant as well. A portion of the men were unwilling to withdraw, which left the King of Dali exasperated.
Refuse to retreat... Did they want to end up like the Divine Kingdom?
A million-strong army annihilated in an instant.
At present, Dali was worse off than the Divine Kingdom.
Shuiyun had surrendered. The Divine Kingdom's gods suffered horrific casualties, and its army was wiped out. That Dali could escape intact with a loss of barely ten thousand soldiers was already a stroke of divine fortune.
He did not doubt for a moment that had he not gone yesterday, Dali would have been the next to fall after the Divine Kingdom was wiped out.
At that moment, Li Hao had desperately craved slaughter to suppress the inner tempest within him.
Even after killing the Divine Kingdom's powerhouses, Li Hao had not entirely restrained himself.
Back then, choosing to withdraw had left the King of Dali deeply apprehensive.
He had feared Li Hao might choose to eradicate Dali. Fortunately, Li Hao retained his sanity in the end, refrained from doing so, and agreed to let him pull back his troops.
Lost in thought, the group watched.
In the distance, Silver City grew increasingly ethereal.
Right then, the King of Dali's gaze shifted slightly. Not only Silver City, but a wave of energy seemed to envelop this place as well. Li Hao's aura flickered past without his physical presence appearing.
Turning around to look behind him, the King of Dali frowned. Li Hao... seemed to be laying down an array!
Was this... an array meant to encompass the entire Dali army?
Could he be planning to wipe them all out in one swoop?
He felt some dread. Yet if Li Hao truly intended to do so, he could not resist. Suppressing his inner agitation, he had no choice but to wait.
To wait for Li Hao to let them leave.
Just then, Li Hao's voice came through the armor into the ears of several commanders: "All divisions perform your duties. The army must not move rashly. Execute any troublemakers on the spot! The Battle Heaven Army will act as disciplinary inspectors and patrol all areas without negligence!"
Li Hao's voice also sounded in the King of Dali's ears: "Purge the Red Moon power; scour away the Red Moon power! Keep your army from stirring up trouble. Dali people do not cultivate the new Dao, but you will not be deliberately targeted..."
At this point, Li Hao's voice resonated with immense power, spreading across heaven and earth in an instant: "Everyone, circulate the Aperture Opening Art and sit cross-legged on the ground to cultivate! No matter what happens, no whispering is permitted, and no erratic movements! Even if the sky falls, our powerhouses will protect you!
"I shall channel the energy of a vast divine energy vein to aid in your cultivation. Let us part on good terms. Whether you leave the military or stay to fight, and even if you return to your hometowns, I hope you understand: a soldier's duty is to defend home and country!
"Today, I grant you an opportunity of fortune. It is your chance to open your apertures. How many you can open and how far you can progress... depends entirely on your own luck! Whether you can seize this opportunity... depends on you!
"Do not fight over another person's special divine energy. Each of you, absorb only your own!"
Countless people in all directions felt a stir in their hearts.
A parting gift of fortune?
Channeling the power of a vast vein?
Where was there a vast vein in Silver City?
Hadn't they heard that only Heavenly Star City had one?
Yet at this moment, no one dared speak out. Some were even thrilled. A gift of fortune... Governor-General Li was truly magnanimous!
They only wondered how much they could absorb.
How many apertures could they open?
Presently, among the army of several million, nearly half had stepped into the Hundred-Breaker level, while a portion remained in the Ten-Slayer realm—primarily the troops from the northern provinces, while those selected later had even reached the Thousand-Battler level in large numbers.
Aside from the Battle Heaven Army, tens of thousands in the Demon Hunt Army and Silver Moon Guards were all at least Hundred-Breakers on average, with many Thousand-Battlers among them.
These people had already opened a considerable number of apertures.
Of course, within the crowd, some harbored doubts and suspicions. A few even had a faint red glow surfacing in their eyes, sensing something was amiss, but... at this moment, no one dared make a reckless move.
Powerhouses rose into the air one after another.
Huang Yu, Lin Hongyu, and the rest were present. Their auras swept across the land like gods and devils, holding heaven and earth firm. They shouted in unison: "Do not move rashly! Sit cross-legged, circulate the Aperture Opening Art, and await the arrival of fortune!"
At the same time, across the way, the King of Dali barked an order: "Entire army, lay down your weapons and sit cross-legged! No reckless movements!"
At these words, the Dali army stirred with unease.
What... was going on?
Though bewildered, no one dared disobey their king's decree.
Simultaneously.
Above Silver City.
The power of divine characters converged, forming an immense canopy. A somewhat damaged "Dao" divine character hovered at the center of Silver City. The divine character power gathered from all directions formed an enormous dome of light centered around it.
This light canopy enveloped everyone within.
Li Hao took a deep breath!
Summoning the Bright Star Realm was no trivial feat, especially when pulling in the entire region of Silver City. Now that the Starry Sky Sword was shattered, doing so without it was all the more difficult!
Still... he had to try.
If he succeeded, the sheer amount of Red Moon power would surely provoke turbulence within the Bright Star Realm, causing Dao lightning to emerge and Great Dao power to gather, which would greatly benefit him going forward.
These soldiers could only absorb a limited amount of Great Dao power.
Furthermore, when the Great Dao power converged, it would make it easier to gather certain elusive Dao meridians. Previously, he had failed to find the Prophet God's Dao meridian, which was why the deity could still resurrect despite being killed.
At this very moment, an Eight Trigrams array above Li Hao seemed to tremble faintly.
Inside the Eight Trigrams diagram.
A formidable presence floated amid the cosmic starry expanse, continually leaking Red Moon power into the world. Suddenly, the figure opened his eyes, a strange look flashing within them.
Li Hao had returned.
Yet... even though he was back, it was too late.
The Sovereign's power had already permeated all of Silver City. Even if it had not penetrated deeply yet, the power of the Red Moon clung like maggots to bone, impossible to purge.
It would only grow thicker as desires intensified.
That way, no matter how heaven and earth shifted, the Red Moon would take root and sprout across this land. The stronger people grew, the easier they would fall prey to temptation and become servants of the Red Moon.
A splendid plan.
Indeed, back in the ancient era, vast numbers of Neo Martial powerhouses had been seduced into betraying Neo Martial.
These people today were far weaker, making it even simpler.
Yet... why did he sense a faint unease?
He could not penetrate the sealing array to investigate, possessing only a vague sense through the Red Moon power.
He had no idea what was transpiring.
Of course, he knew many other things. For instance, the Moon God of Silver Moon had likely suffered a severe blow, causing the array that channeled Silver Moon's power to suppress him to weaken slightly.
He also knew that Zheng Yu's true self might have stepped out of the ruins. The man had to be exceptionally formidable, for the world had exhibited signs of cracking. Far from alarmed, the Sovereign was delighted; if Zheng Yu truly emerged, that might well be his chance to break the seal!
He was also aware that the Starry Sky Sword was likely gone!
Whatever Li Hao had done, the seal array representing the Li family—the illusory figure of the Sword Venerable—had grown increasingly faint, to the point where it could barely suppress him anymore.
This alleviated immense pressure from him!
For so many years, that illusory figure of the Sword Venerable had blocked and wounded him. Truly, the Sword Venerable was astonishingly strong, worthy of being called unmatched in offensive power among his peers!
All of these were good things.
The Red Moon Sovereign was in high spirits. Originally, he had hoped those fellows outside would help him break the seal, only for them to achieve virtually nothing for years. Instead, this Li Hao... was quite the benefactor!
First he shattered this divine weapon, then that one, and now even the Starry Sky Sword was destroyed. The Red Moon Sovereign felt that with a bit more time, Li Hao might smash the seal all on his own!
Just as he was feeling pleased, he recalled the minor disturbance within the Red Moon power. Because his perception was too weak and indistinct, he only knew Li Hao had returned, leaving him unable to take action.
*Perhaps... it is a good thing?*
The Red Moon Sovereign thought to himself. When Li Hao's force had penetrated earlier, it had been tainted by a trace of Sovereign power—a direct contamination.
That Li family scion would likely find it impossible to expel.
Thus... Li Hao would eventually become a servant of the Red Moon as well. Even if he did not, he would become an entity like the Zheng family, ruled by his desires.
***
Li Hao naturally had no idea what the Red Moon Sovereign was thinking.
The gulf between them was far too vast, and he would never dream of deliberately provoking the fellow. However, invading everyone on his own territory was unacceptable. Without the new Dao, there would have been no recourse.
Now that the Bright Star Realm possessed the means to eliminate it, why would Li Hao hold back?
At that moment.
In all directions of Silver City, countless divine energy stones suddenly detonated at once. An intensely concentrated wave of energy surfaced in an instant, shrouding heaven and earth. The soldiers watched in dumbfounded awe!
So much!
The next instant, rain cascaded down. Some cried out in sheer excitement, "Spring of Life?"
Heavens!
Was this the governor-general's bestowed grace?
Yet this was merely the energy Li Hao used to activate the array. While countless people were overwhelmed with excitement, Li Hao inhaled deeply. Without the Starry Sky Sword, breaking into the Bright Star Realm was considerably harder.
Yet this time, his strength had grown significantly.
In an instant, Dao meridians unsealed within his body one after another.
Originally, although Li Hao had opened five to six hundred apertures, he had only unsealed twenty-four Dao meridians.
Yet in this split second, with a thunderous roar, three Dao meridians burst open.
Instantly, Li Hao reached twenty-seven Dao meridians, stepping into the peak of the sixth level of the Sun-Moon realm.
Opening three Dao meridians was still not enough. With a low shout, Li Hao instantly incinerated several corpses of gods. Dense waves of Great Dao power began to burn, and another cosmos seemed to materialize.
Everyone raised their heads toward the sky. In this moment, they saw not only the starry cosmos; some saw a hazy Eight Trigrams diagram.
What was that?
Why were such things in the sky?
Certain individuals felt their hearts quiver.
The moment they saw the Eight Trigrams diagram, some seemed to experience a revelation—a Sovereign...
A faint thought surfaced in their minds.
Was that... Master?
Such a thought took root in their minds, impossible to shake off.
Li Hao noticed the subtle shifts in several people as Red Moon power seeped out from their bodies. He frowned slightly. What a formidable Sovereign—merely leaking a sliver of power through the fissures was enough to taint so many.
It was even present on several Battle Heaven Army regiment commanders. Whether it was there from before or acquired just now... mattered not!
Li Hao did not care!
Be it past or present, it would cease to exist shortly.
At this moment, a fierce cry resounded through heaven and earth.
"Open!"
Heaven and earth seemed to split apart as countless stars emerged all at once. Below, many trembled in sheer terror; the sensation of an entire cosmic realm crashing down filled them with dread!
Li Hao's figure manifested within the void.
At this moment, he resembled a true world creator!
Holding up the cosmos in his hands, Li Hao roared, "Descend!"
*Rumble!*
As if heaven and earth were collapsing, the cosmos descended. Li Hao bellowed: "Nobody move! This is your fortune! Anyone who moves rashly will be executed without mercy!"
The moment the cosmos descended, the Bright Star Realm shook violently.
From the depths of the cosmos, formidable waves of energy surged forth, transforming into Dao lightning.
One bolt, two bolts, three bolts... countless bolts!
Even Li Hao was thoroughly startled!
So many?
The Bright Star Realm seemed to sense the intrusion of a Sovereign, instantly gathering countless bolts of Dao lightning that swept toward Li Hao.
Li Hao looked up and swallowed hard. *I didn't encompass the seal, did I?*
*With this display, I almost thought I enveloped the seal itself.*
He wondered what would happen if he truly enveloped the seal... Better not. Most likely, it wouldn't kill the Sovereign. The new Dao cosmos was incomplete; if the Sovereign truly invaded, the Great Dao cosmos might change masters!
This Dao lightning could scarcely kill even Li Hao, let alone a Sovereign.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, countless bolts of lightning struck down toward the soldiers. In that instant, terror gripped the hearts of the multitude. Powerhouses hovered in the air, roaring: "Quiet! We will block it! This is not ordinary lightning—it is Great Dao power! It will only help you, not harm you!"
Though terrified, many trusted Li Hao not to harm them intentionally, so they gritted their teeth and endured.
Some wanted to flee, but seeing Li Hao standing like a god or devil in the sky, they dared not move.
Over on Dali's side, someone made a sudden move. The King of Dali showed no mercy; the Dali army was strictly disciplined, and the Divine Guards immediately struck the offender dead on the spot!
Instantly, the distant Dali troops fell deathly still!
Right then, the lightning struck.
*Rumble!*
Bolts slammed down, causing wisps of crimson blood-moon power to bleed out from nearly everyone, only to be shattered by the Dao lightning in the blink of an eye.
The Great Dao purged the Red Moon power, and that purified force blended with the Great Dao power, forming an even stronger energy.
At this moment, some soldiers circulating the Aperture Opening Art were overjoyed: "I opened an aperture..."
In a flash, someone had opened an aperture.
They were not strong, and experiencing Great Dao power directly for the first time accelerated their aperture opening. In the blink of an eye, several opened multiple apertures in frantic absorption, wild with ecstatic joy!
Heavens...!
It truly was a bestowal!
They did not know what the red energy was, but right now, just as when Li Hao had devoured red shadows in the past, it rapidly fortified their flesh and opened their apertures. The soldiers absorbed it frantically.
Countless people absorbed the power as lightning bolts shattered the Red Moon influence, transmuting it into nourishing energy.
Above, several powerhouses seized the opportunity to intercept vast amounts of Great Dao power, frantically absorbing it with Li Hao's tacit approval.
Li Hao himself also intercepted a massive amount of Great Dao power.
Not only that, he flew directly above the Dali army, his voice booming: "I am warding off the Dao lightning for you. No need to thank me!"
Yet at this moment, the Dali army was burning with indignation they dared not voice!
Nonsense!
They could hear the ecstatic roars from the Demon Hunt Army across the way—shouts of joy, frenzy, and the thrill of skyrocketing strength!
Li Hao... was not giving them any!
The King of Dali could bear it no longer. He flew into the air, looking at Li Hao with a conflicted expression. "Governor-General Li... this is... the Dali army's camp. This... this new Dao power..."
"You cannot absorb it!"
At this moment, the King of Dali suddenly felt regretful enough to weep.
He felt that the people of Dali should cultivate the new Dao.
Even he envied this vast Great Dao power; his eyes were red with longing!
There was so much of it!
Why was there so much?
No wonder Li Hao had been kind enough to envelop them; it was all to intercept the Great Dao power.
Naturally, that was Li Hao's goal, but it was also to prevent the Red Moon power from spreading.
This corruption was contagious!
Though Dali's million-strong army had not been infiltrated as deeply as Silver City's, a large number of soldiers were still tainted. Left unchecked, Dali might become a nest for the Red Moon cosmos.
Cheers erupted continuously.
At the same time, some individuals were utterly panic-stricken. Unable to suppress their fear, crimson figures tried to flee, only to be struck down by the powerhouses in the void within moments.
Li Hao's voice rang out again: "Do not move rashly or run! Otherwise... you will be executed without mercy! This is a grand fortune; only those with guilty consciences will flee. Anyone who flees may be slain by all!"
At these words, several who had just taken flight were struck down on the spot by those around them.
*Don't you dare disrupt our cultivation!*
At this moment, the Great Dao cosmos relentlessly generated lightning, striking down upon everyone. One strand of red power after another was eradicated, and once destroyed, it was absorbed by the crowd along with the Great Dao power.
Meanwhile, Li Hao hovered above the Dali army, monopolizing the Great Dao power on this side all to himself.
The King of Dali, unwilling to give up, flew closer and attempted to absorb a sliver. The next instant, his eyes brightened: "Governor-General Li, it does not repel me..."
He wanted to say that if that were the case, his Dali army could absorb it too!
Li Hao shook his head. "You are powerful, so you can absorb a little. Dali does not cultivate the new Dao; the others are weak and will surely die if they absorb it! It is a clash of traditions, and there is nothing I can do. They possess no Dao meridians and no apertures. Once they absorb it, they cannot digest it and will instantly explode!"
"This..."
"You may absorb some, but not too much, or you will be burst apart as well. You have nowhere to channel it, understand?"
The King of Dali felt like coughing blood in frustration!
At those words, his heart stirred: "Divine Guards and temple priests, absorb a small amount. Those with sufficient strength may try, but if you cannot handle it... stop immediately!"
Over there, Jiang Li also flew up cautiously and began to absorb.
Li Hao paid them no heed.
This was his own opportunity!
This might be the final chance to reap benefits from the Sovereign. The Red Moon Sovereign would surely notice this time. If Li Hao could unseal thirty-six Dao meridians now, it would be perfection!
Once unsealed, he would truly be capable of rivaling Saints in his own right, without relying on external assistance.
Li Hao absorbed energy frantically!
He had expended hundreds of millions of divine energy stones and thousands of drops of Spring of Life to lay down this domain array. If he could not recoup his investment, the loss would be catastrophic!
***
Meanwhile.
Inside the seal.
The Red Moon Sovereign froze. The boundless Red Moon power he had seeped outside seemed to be dissipating rapidly.
What was happening?
The Red Moon Sovereign frowned. He was a Sovereign whose energy existed on an extraordinarily high plane; far from ordinary mortals, even Saints and Heavenly Kings found his taint difficult to purge.
Why... was it dissipating on such a massive scale?
He frowned in contemplation and attempted to seep out a bit more, but... the moment it descended, it vanished entirely like smoke.
"Something is wrong..."
He had expended a great deal of Red Moon power to corrupt these mortals. After years of isolation from heaven and earth, his reserves were heavily depleted, leaving his strength far below what it once was.
Yet he soon discerned a pattern.
After a long silence, he muttered, "To wear down the power of a Sovereign... no one in this Silver Moon world should be capable of that. Even the bloodlines of the Eight Great Families can only barely resist... unless... it is the new Dao... cosmos!"
Suddenly, his expression shifted!
Could it be the new Dao cosmos?
Damn it!
How could that be!
Even if a new Dao cosmos had emerged and Li Hao could enter it, it shouldn't be accessible to everyone. Even in the Origin Cosmos, only a handful could enter, and only a select few could step onto the Red Moon Great Dao within the Red Moon cosmos.
Why... was this happening?
"Dao rejection..."
As a Sovereign, he possessed deep knowledge, yet his brow remained tightly furrowed.
Even if there was rejection, why would everyone reject it?
Strange!
Had the Great Dao cosmos descended in person?
Impossible!
He found it hard to believe. Then, sudden fury overtook him: "Damn it!"
He had expended endless Red Moon power and painstaking effort to corrupt Silver City, yet now something had gone awry. That cursed bastard!
Not only that... just then, the Li family's Sword Venerable silhouette suddenly grew stronger.
He froze...
The next instant, he roared in fury: "Scoundrel! Using this Sovereign's power to elevate yourself... bastard!"
Indeed, Li Hao possessed the Li family bloodline and held a line within the Eight Trigrams.
When Li Hao grew stronger, the silhouette naturally strengthened as well.
Previously, Li Hao had been too weak and the Starry Sky Sword far more potent than him, so the effect was not obvious. But now, with the Starry Sky Sword gone and the Sword Venerable silhouette severely weakened, Li Hao's rapid advancement instantly nourished the silhouette.
With both occurring simultaneously, how could the Red Moon Sovereign fail to understand?
"Curse you!"
He was utterly furious. He had drained his own power, yet far from breaking the seal, he had revitalized the weakened seal instead. What was this?
Entangling himself in his own web?
Suffering a double loss?
"Li Hao, is it?"
He learned Li Hao's name, sensing it through the seeped Red Moon power. His face turned exceedingly grim. He was a Sovereign, yet he had suffered a loss at the hands of a mere Li family scion!
Truly infuriating!
Had the Sword Venerable made him suffer, he would have accepted it. But to be bested by an unknown junior was intolerable!
"Li Hao!"
With a cold snort, he withdrew all of his Red Moon power, refusing to seep out even a sliver more. Damn it all!
If he seeped out any more, Li Hao's faction would only turn it into their own strength, weakening him while empowering the Sword Venerable silhouette. Wouldn't that be using his own strength to kill himself?
***
At the same time.
Across the lands of Silver Moon.
At this moment, various individuals sensed the shifts in the world.
Powerhouses stepped out of the ruins, their avatars manifesting to gaze toward Silver City. In the distance, Silver City shone as dazzlingly as a starry sky, filling onlookers with bewilderment. So many upheavals had occurred in recent days; what had happened in Silver City now?
White Moon City.
Zhang An also sensed changes in heaven and earth. Appearing outside the ruins, he looked into the distance and saw the starry cosmos. His expression shifted slightly. What... was Li Hao doing?
***
At this moment, Li Hao was not merely absorbing Great Dao power and opening apertures.
He was also observing the cosmos.
He observed the regions where Great Dao power surged forth.
Those places... were likely surrounded by clusters of stars, which might well be where the gods' Great Daos resided. Even if not, they were convergence points of energy within the Bright Star Realm, which would greatly aid him in organizing the Great Dao later.
Within his body, thirty Dao meridians were now open.
In a brief period, absorbing various Great Dao energies had helped him unseal six Dao meridians.
Of course, this was tied to his foundational strength.
He had simply been restricting himself, holding back from unsealing them to avoid raising the world's ceiling.
Now, he no longer restrained himself.
The world was currently fragile, so there was no need to hold back.
As for the soldiers, especially the tens of thousands of elites, their advancement was terrifying. They alone had opened physical Dao meridians while the others had not. Having opened physical Dao meridians, they were already formidable.
Their physical bodies possessed greater endurance, and they had absorbed more of the purified Red Moon power.
In the blink of an eye, a gap widened between the forces.
Huang Yu, typically a stern commander, was grinning from ear to ear!
He noticed that among the common soldiers... someone had broken through to the Mountain-Sea level!
Indeed, not a commander, but an ordinary soldier had opened 181 apertures, marking the Mountain-Sea realm!
In such a short span, though they had already been strong—nearly all at the Hundred-Breaker level, and having cultivated for several days after the battle against the Divine Kingdom to open physical Dao meridians, allowing many to step into the Thousand-Battler realm—not a single ordinary soldier had reached Mountain-Sea before.
Yet today... someone had.
And more than one!
Back then, Li Hao had boasted of having tens of thousands of Mountain-Sea warriors under his command. Today... that might become reality. Even if not reached today, these tens of thousands of soldiers might truly attain the Mountain-Sea level soon!
When that time came... there truly would be tens of thousands of Mountain-Seas!
Just as Huang Yu was filled with excitement, Li Hao's voice echoed across heaven and earth: "Speed up! Time is pressing and this cannot be maintained for long—at most ten minutes... Open as many apertures as you can... In ten minutes, everyone steady your minds and prepare to detach from this place!"
The startup energy was nearly exhausted, and the Red Moon power was almost entirely eradicated. That stingy Sovereign had ceased seeping power out, leaving Li Hao with no further recourse.
As such... they would soon detach from the Bright Star Realm.
Even so, the harvest this time was immense!
Li Hao estimated that by the end, he would have unsealed at least thirty-three Dao meridians—not thirty-three of the primary thirty-six, but partially divine ability Dao meridians.
Meanwhile, subtle changes occurred within the Bright Star Realm.
Countless stars shone!
Certain faint, dim stars suddenly began to twinkle. This meant that some of these stars belonged to the people present; as they grew stronger, their stars brightened!
Li Hao was in high spirits, burying all previous anxieties deep within his heart.
With the Bright Star Realm growing stronger, his hopes burned brighter!
Perhaps he would awaken them very soon!
*I hope I won't keep you waiting too long,* he thought.
***
Ten minutes later, the world shifted.
The stars vanished.
Silver City was once again Silver City.
Yet in this moment, the situation had changed, strength had changed, and hearts had changed.
The instant everyone reappeared, a roar first erupted from the Demon Hunt Army: "Mighty is the Governor-General!"
The next moment, an unbroken wave of roars rose from the entire army.
"Mighty is the Governor-General!"
Heaven and earth trembled!
The thunderous shouts rose wave upon wave, spreading outward!
At this moment, someone activated a sky screen, broadcasting the scene far and wide. Across various regions, sky screens lit up, and the roaring cheers echoed between heaven and earth!
Countless soldiers raised their arms and roared!
Huang Yu's expression stirred, and he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Thousand-Battlers may take flight! All soldiers at or above the Thousand-Battler realm, take to the air!"
Amidst the mountainous roar, a thousand took flight, then three thousand, five thousand, ten thousand...
From among the millions of troops, more and more soared into the air.
Some were unaccustomed to it and wobbled slightly, but soon began treading the air.
Thirty thousand, fifty thousand, eighty thousand...
This sight shook heaven and earth, stunning all four directions!
At least a hundred thousand!
Although a hundred thousand was barely a fraction of the entire army, these were Thousand-Battlers!
Over a hundred thousand Thousand-Battlers!
Among them, there were likely quite a few Mountain-Seas as well.
These scenes were broadcast everywhere as sky screens lit up, leaving countless viewers dumbfounded.
Regional hegemons and high officials across the four mainland provinces felt their hearts seize in terror!
Thousand-Battler martial masters!
Mountain-Sea rivaled the divine abilities of old, while Thousand-Battler rivaled the Three Suns and Rising Light realms.
And now, over a hundred thousand Three Suns and Rising Light equivalents had emerged in the blink of an eye—how terrifying was that!
And this was merely the army!
The rest did not appear weak either!
How could this be?
Countless people could not comprehend it. Was becoming a Thousand-Battler truly so simple?
How had over a hundred thousand Thousand-Battler martial masters been born in a single day?
At that moment, Li Hao's voice echoed through the sky screens: "All Thousand-Battler martial masters may remain in the military or choose to leave! Hundred-Breaker martial masters are the threshold; those below Hundred-Breaker, barring special circumstances, shall return to their local regions... However, even after returning, you must not terrorize your hometowns! You may join the local Inspectorate or Night Patrollers, or enter martial arts academies as students, guards, or security personnel!
"Furthermore, as of today, the Shuiyun Kingdom has pledged allegiance to Heavenly Star, joining as Heavenly Star's one-hundredth province, the Shuiyun Province, temporarily relocating to the shores of the Four Seas! The Shuiyun army shall form the Four Seas Navy, with the Empress Dowager of Shuiyun serving as the Four Seas Marshal!
"Dali desires to forge ties of friendship and shall withdraw its troops effective today!
"The Western Divine Kingdom committed treasonous crimes beyond pardon. Last night, the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office slew dozens of its gods, annihilated its million-strong army, and breached its divine capital. The Western Queen Moon God and eleven other false deities fled. Effective today, warrants are issued for these treasonous scoundrels! Any citizen of Heavenly Star may slay them on sight!
"The Great Desolation is trapped within its desert lands, unable to advance an inch. Any who cross the border shall be executed without mercy!"
Li Hao announced these proclamations one after another.
In an instant, heaven and earth fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
What?
The encirclement by four nations had kept everyone on edge. Previous battles against Dali had yielded no advantage, nor had those in the west, while the other two fronts had yet to see open war, though the crushing pressure was felt by all.
Yet now... Li Hao declared that Dali was withdrawing, Shuiyun had surrendered, the Divine Kingdom was wiped out, and the Great Desolation... was trapped and unable to emerge...
Everyone was dumbstruck to the extreme.
What was going on?
They could barely process it!
What had transpired in just a few days?
The sky screens covered all directions.
The next instant, unbelievable cheers, wild shouts, and thunderous roars erupted across the entirety of Silver Moon!
The world had been turned upside down!
How was this possible?
***
The Great Desolation.
A sky screen flickered to life.
The Lord of Dahuang turned pale.
How could this be?
Just days ago, they had agreed to hold a five-party conference today. Yes, today—it was still dark, and dawn was the scheduled time for the conference.
Yet... now he was told Dali had fled, Shuiyun had surrendered, and the Divine Kingdom was destroyed!
This... was impossible!
Although he had seen the rain of blood yesterday and signs had pointed toward an unpromising conference, he had never imagined that the world would change completely in a single day.
The mighty Divine Kingdom had actually fallen!
Even if Li Hao said eleven had escaped—twelve gods in total, counting the Moon God—if he remembered correctly, the Divine Kingdom had possessed at least fifty or sixty deities!
"How could this happen?" the Lord of Dahuang muttered in disbelief. How was it possible?
Moreover, why did the enemy have so many Thousand-Battler soldiers?
Thousand-Battlers!
Over a hundred thousand warriors on par with Three Suns and Rising Light... and this was merely within the single province of Silver Moon. Even if this accounted for the bulk of their forces, how many were there in all of Heavenly Star?
Terror gripped him!
Everything... had changed too fast.
In the grand hall, the civil and military officials stood frozen, speechless for a long time. Facing such a formidable Heavenly Star... how could they contend?
Someone muttered in disbelief, "It's fake, it must be fake! Li Hao is deliberately intimidating us; this is impossible! The Divine Kingdom was immensely powerful, reportedly possessing Saint-level beings—Saints who surpassed even the Sun-Moon realm Li Hao spoke of... How could they be destroyed?"
In the Great Desolation, certain mighty desolate beasts were currently at this level.
If the Divine Kingdom could be destroyed, did that not mean the Great Desolation could be wiped out as well?
Many shivered in dread!
Previously, they had believed the Great Desolation was invincible because they possessed desolate beasts and Saint-level combatants whom no one could overcome. Yet with the news of the Divine Kingdom's fall, everyone was utterly shaken!
***
At the same time.
In the west.
A place shrouded in darkness.
The Moon God held a sky screen. Suddenly coughing up a mouthful of blood, she ground her teeth and hissed coldly, "What a Li Hao..."
Not only was the Divine Kingdom gone, but even Shuiyun and Dali had surrendered.
The King of Dali claimed to be withdrawing, but in truth, he had yielded!
Now, only the Great Desolation remained.
Truly, heaven and earth had overturned in a single day.
Beside her, several gods were visibly shaken and frightened. One murmured in a low voice, "Your Majesty... let us return to the Divine Kingdom first. Also... we feel uneasy, as if... someone is hunting us!"
The Moon God's expression turned grave, and she nodded; she knew.
It might not be Li Hao's people!
It was very likely those from the Red Moon cosmos!
Bastards!
"Let us go! We... shall return, but not now. We must understand the situation of the Great Dao cosmos, or we will only be marching to our deaths..."
She lingered no longer, abandoning her insistence on immediate vengeance.
She had to figure out the Great Dao cosmos; otherwise, just as before, Li Hao could easily slaughter gods and slay Saints—a horrifying prospect for any deity!
Moreover, the sudden surge in strength among Li Hao's subordinates filled her with despair.
If even the soldiers were like this... what of Li Hao?
He might be even more formidable!
How utterly hateful!
Chapter 344