The Era of Great Change

Silver City. Heaven and earth quaked. The aftershocks of the Bright Star Realm had receded. Li Hao had made a public address. Seeing the countless soldiers growing stronger, a faint smile surfaced on his face. At this moment, he understood that all his efforts had not been in vain. Below. The Dali army had grown somewhat terrified. The Heavenly Star Army had surged in strength in an instant, whereas on their side, the power of the Great Dao had been intercepted by Li Hao, leaving them without any real benefit. The King of Dali, Jiang Li, and a handful of Divine Guards and priests had gleaned a bit of gain, but after all, what they cultivated was not the New Dao, so their growth was very limited. On Li Hao's side, however, the experts had all made considerable progress. This time, not everyone had arrived. Only the five regional governors-general and a few officials tasked with comforting the military, such as Director Zhao, had reached Silver City. The rest were tied down by their own duties and had not come. Even so, many people had advanced. Even more terrifying was Li Hao himself. The King of Dali could sense that Li Hao was far stronger than before. At this moment, among the apertures of Li Hao's thirty-six Dao meridians, he had opened 320 apertures. Out of those thirty-six Dao meridians, he had opened twenty-eight, with eight remaining unopened. In other Dao meridians, he had opened 324 apertures, forming a rudimentary cycle for his sword Dao divine ability alongside the thirty-six Dao meridians, bringing his total opened apertures to 644. Between opening Dao meridians for the nine elemental divine abilities and his physical Dao meridians, his total opened meridians numbered an astounding thirty-eight. At this stage, Li Hao had crossed into the peak of the ninth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm, and was even stepping toward the next realm... Yet at present, Li Hao had merely opened many meridians; the basic cycle of the thirty-six Dao meridians was not yet fully complete. Thirty-six meridians marked the peak of the Sun and Moon Realm. Li Hao had already opened thirty-eight meridians, but because he had not undergone a massive transformation, he could not be considered to have crossed into the next tier. At this time, the King of Dali was actually much stronger than before as well. Earlier, after fighting at the ancient city, the King of Dali had also gained some rewards that he hadn't yet had time to convert. Having absorbed some Dao power this time, he had digested what he obtained. Even so, at best, the King of Dali was only at the sixth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm. The gap between him and Li Hao was widening ever further. The King of Dali's expression grew increasingly solemn. Dali, after all, was not part of Heavenly Star. His prior dealings with Li Hao had merely been cooperation. Now, Shuiyun had surrendered. Though the Divine Kingdom had not been completely wiped out, the Moon Goddess and the others had virtually no hope of turning the tables. The Great Desolation had desolate beasts protecting it, but what about Dali? Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at Li Hao. Li Hao did not seem like a man of wild ambition. If Dali did not attack Heavenly Star, Li Hao might not bother meddling with Dali. But the King of Dali knew one thing... that was the past! In the past, Li Hao might have been that way. Yet who could say for sure about the Li Hao of today? In the battle of Boundless City, those people had fallen in combat one after another, yet Li Hao refused to admit they had died, insisting they had merely gone into slumber. He felt that at that moment, Li Hao had changed. He appeared the same as before, but he was no longer the same. He had become far more aggressive and proactive! Yes. That was precisely the impression. In the past, Li Hao preferred to counter reactively. But dealing with the Divine Kingdom, absorbing Shuiyun, downsizing the army, forcing Dali to retreat, and publicly disclosing information to pressure the Great Desolation—every single action showed that Li Hao had changed. Just as these thoughts crossed the King of Dali's mind, Li Hao shifted his gaze toward him. The King of Dali's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to look away, Li Hao smiled. Suddenly, Li Hao tossed over a gauntlet. It looked somewhat dull, yet it was somewhat more restored than before; Li Hao had just drawn on some Dao power to repair it. The King of Dali froze, hurriedly catching it in his hands. He looked at Li Hao without speaking. His Overlord Emperor's gauntlet, along with Empress Dowager Shuiyun's Queen's sword, had both been thrown out to aid Li Hao earlier. Left behind without time to retrieve them, and heavily damaged to boot, he had given up on asking for it back. Moreover, Dali still possessed another one, so he had never brought the matter up. Yet now, Li Hao had returned the gauntlet to him. What was more, it wasn't drained dry; it had regained a good deal of its strength. It seemed that as long as he tempered it for a while longer, it would be almost as good as new. The King of Dali was somewhat surprised. This gauntlet was no ordinary object! With the gauntlet, his combat strength rose by a whole tier. Without it, he was far weaker. Not only had Li Hao returned it, he had even helped restore some of the gauntlet's power. The King of Dali remained silent for a moment before looking at Li Hao. In a low tone, he said, "Governor-General Li, this is the weapon of one of the greatest powerhouses of the ancient era... You... your Starry Sky Sword has shattered, and right now you lack a formidable weapon..." If Li Hao still had the Starry Sky Sword, it would be one thing, but the crux was that he didn't. He wouldn't even keep this? In truth, what should have been kept even more was the Queen's sword. They were both swordsmen; in Li Hao's hands, that sword would surely unleash far greater combat strength. "It isn't mine," Li Hao said with a faint laugh. "If it's mine, it's mine. If it isn't mine and its owner is still alive, then if they're an enemy, it's mine too. If they aren't an enemy... then it belongs to someone else." The King of Dali slowly chewed over the meaning behind these words. Li Hao spoke with utter calm, yet it imparted a heavy sense of oppression! If it belonged to an enemy, it became his. Just as he was pondering this, Li Hao said softly, "Be careful. The Three Great Organizations won't be easy to deal with. Right now, heaven and earth are in turmoil, but that turmoil affects the ancient powerhouses! For New Dao cultivators, on the contrary, there will be a period of rapid advancement!" The King of Dali gave a slight start. Seeming to realize something, his expression shifted subtly. "Governor-General Li, this king is quite curious about something... Could the upper limit of this New Dao... be connected to you?" He had found this peculiar. Every time Li Hao advanced, the world seemed to loosen its constraints slightly. He couldn't perceive it deeply, but he could clearly feel that the upper limit of the experts on Li Hao's side would rise accordingly. Li Hao gave a slight nod. "Ying Hongyue and his people have definitely cultivated the New Dao! Right now, the ceiling of the New Dao might have reached the ninth tier of the Sun and Moon Realm! Even if they cannot accomplish what I have, their limit might still break through to the seventh tier! Your Majesty the King of Dali is currently only at the sixth tier. Even wearing the gauntlet, dealing with a seventh-tier expert will be difficult... Of course, they might not advance that much, but the limit is the limit..." Others aside, Ying Hongyue coexisted with the Red Moon Sovereign through the seal—a man of audacious daring. He and the Red Moon Sovereign complemented each other. On the one hand, he sealed the Sovereign; on the other, he borrowed the Sovereign's power, walking a tightrope. And now that the seal had loosened considerably, he might be able to intercept even more power. The King of Dali nodded with a solemn expression. Li Hao was an interesting man. He dared to fight and kill ancient Saints! He slew divine Saints on a whim, and even dared to shear wool right under a Sovereign's nose. Yet whenever he spoke of Ying Hongyue, his nemesis, he always harbored deep wariness. The King of Dali had crossed paths with Ying Hongyue once before, and the man was indeed remarkable. Still... was he truly worthy of causing Li Hao such apprehension? "This king understands!" The King of Dali nodded and said, "Governor-General Li, then... this king will take his leave!" They were clearly opposing sides, having both suffered casualties against one another. Yet at this moment, the King of Dali very courteously stated his intention to withdraw his troops. Li Hao nodded slightly without saying much. Seeing this, the King of Dali inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. The next moment, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Dali army, follow this king... back to Dali!" Below, the million soldiers of Dali might have felt unwilling earlier. Now, however, every one of them wished they had grown extra legs, turning around in a scramble to flee. Right at this moment, several great demons suddenly emerged. One of them let out a shrill screech: "You can leave, but leave behind the demons of Mount Cang!" Li Hao glanced over; it was actually the golden eagle. Seeing the golden eagle, he felt a fleeting daze. It was as if he saw his master. These four great demons possessed average strength, having only recently stepped into the Mountain and Sea Realm. Earlier, Li Hao hadn't let them run wild, truly doing so to protect them. In the battles that followed, he had paid little mind to them, merely telling them not to cause trouble. These were the great demons his master had imitated years ago when cultivating the Five Animals Art. Yuan Shuo had come to see them once, in very high spirits, remarking that his old friends from decades ago were surprisingly still around. The great demons, however, had harbored grudges and resentment, though they didn't dare seek revenge. Today, with Dali about to withdraw, these few stepped forward, demanding Dali leave behind the Mount Cang demon race. Li Hao did not speak. The King of Dali paid it little heed, remarking indifferently, "Just a handful of minor demons. Still... the Mount Cang demons have killed many of Dali's soldiers as well. Nevertheless, out of respect for Governor-General Li, these Mount Cang demons may remain... Should any demon dare trespass against Dali again, this king will never show leniency!" Within the ranks of the army, the countless demons trembled in terror. Serving as mounts under the King of Dali had been agonizing and humiliating. Yet at this moment, those demons were inwardly cursing the golden eagle to death. With the King of Dali, at least they wouldn't die. Even the King of Dali feared Li Hao so deeply, and Li Hao was rumored to harbor utter hatred for demons... This was also a rumor, said to stem from Li Hao's intense disgust after witnessing demons eating humans. Rumor had it that he even stewed a dog he used to raise! The tales were told with vivid, convincing detail. Now that they were being left behind, weren't they doomed? The golden eagle looked immensely pleased with itself, thinking it had rescued the Mount Cang demon race. Yet some of the top demons among them were cursing furiously in their hearts, wishing they could slaughter this fool—how dangerous was this! Li Hao said nothing, merely giving the golden eagle a glance. After a long while, once the King of Dali had dismissed those demons, Li Hao finally spoke, his voice measured: "The Mount Cang demons may return to Mount Cang. You are forbidden from killing humans without cause! If others do not offend me, I will not offend them! Unless humans attack you first... if word ever reaches me of demons eating humans, the Mount Cang demon race... may cease to exist!" At these words, mental ripples quickly spread from a great demon among the multitude: "We would never dare! Rest assured, Governor-General!" Under these circumstances, countless peerlessly powerful auras loomed across from them. How would these demons dare utter a word of dissent? The King of Dali was a ruthless figure, but the man before them, who could push even the King of Dali to such straits, was infinitely more terrifying. Li Hao nodded slightly and added, "Additionally, there is one small matter where I require the assistance of the Mount Cang demons." "We would not dare decline! Please speak, My Lord!" A gigantic demonic beast quickly transmitted its voice. Li Hao said, "The Taboo Sea runs through Mount Cang, leaving several subterranean channels there. Once you return, suppress them. The method is simple: whenever Taboo Sea water erupts from a channel, forcefully suppress it at once!" The subterranean channels of the Taboo Sea were hardly a secret. At his command, the great demons assented one after another. In the next moment, they looked toward Li Hao with eager anticipation: could they leave now? Li Hao gave a casual wave of his hand, and those great demons fled in an instant. Yet the golden eagle and its companions did not depart. The golden eagle quickly flew over, followed soon after by the other great demons. The giant ape, curious, sent a mental ripple: "Lord Li, where is your master?" At those words, the faces of several people not far away changed dramatically. Li Hao, however, chuckled and replied, "He is in seclusion. Could it be Brother Ape misses my teacher?" The giant ape seemed to chuckle, its mental voice rippling again: "Not quite, but not seeing him is a bit of a pity... Dali is withdrawing, so we should head back to Mount Cang as well. We originally wanted to go to the Four Seas, but alas... forget it! Since we can't go to the Four Seas, we can only return to Mount Cang. Who knows when we'll see that fellow next." "You are leaving as well?" The golden eagle replied, "What would we stay for? Dali doesn't even dare cross you, and you don't need our help. There are too many people here, their vitality surging. If we stay too long and get an urge to eat humans, wouldn't we just get killed by you for nothing?" Li Hao laughed and nodded. "Alright then, going back is fine too! I recall that last time you met, my teacher deduced the Five Animals Secret Art further with you. Although you are demons, the Five Animals Secret Art originated from you, so you can cultivate it as well! Don't treat it lightly. A demon might not be human, but the Five Animals Secret Art suits you very well. Cultivate it diligently!" The great demons were somewhat surprised, but said nothing more. Before long, the great demons departed one after another, leading their subordinates. In an instant, Silver City felt much emptier. Li Hao watched them leave in silence. Turning to glance at the crowd, he did not linger, vanishing in an instant as his voice echoed across the air: "Tomorrow, the Demon Hunt Guard Army shall report to me!" With those words, he was gone without a trace. Seeing how casually he departed, Zhao Shuguang and the others exchanged glances, their brows slightly furrowing. The Li Hao of today gave them a distinct impression... a very dangerous feeling! ... White Moon City. The administrative center of Silver Moon. The Department of Administration. No one knew that beneath the Department of Administration lay a ruin—the former Silver Moon Martial Arts University, where the successors of the Eight Great Families had once been cultivated. What this ruin had originally contained, Li Hao did not know; perhaps only Director Zhao knew. Now, however, virtually nothing remained. The most important artifact, the Octagonal Seal, had been refined by Director Zhao into a clone, which had now fused into one to become his weapon. Here, there wasn't even a guardian demonic plant. Whether it had died or been slain by Director Zhao was unknown. If the demonic plant hadn't revived and had been dispatched by him, that would hardly be surprising. At this moment, the ruin still faintly reflected its former grandeur. Classrooms, dormitories, martial arts halls, laboratory buildings... everything had once been present. Just then, Zhang An, who was cultivating cross-legged, abruptly opened his eyes. The next moment, a figure stepped in from outside the ruin. Li Hao walked in. Zhang An merely watched in silence, not moving. Li Hao approached, stopping a short distance away, and asked softly, "How has Senior's cultivation been progressing?" Zhang An replied calmly, "Tolerably." With that, he looked at Li Hao and said slowly, "Your strength has advanced greatly. It seems... your gains were not small." "Tolerably," Li Hao echoed with the same words. Both fell into silence. After a while, Li Hao spoke: "The Zheng family is likely one of the traitors. Families like the Lius are also very likely to have betrayed us, and the other major families may well harbor traitors lurking within them! The most probable scenario is that they were corrupted by the power of the Red Moon... Infiltrated over countless years, their inner desires overwhelmed reason, turning them into apostles of desire." Zhang An remained silent. Li Hao continued, "Peace in this world did not come easily! Since the eight major cities have remained silent for so many years... now, aside from Battle Heaven City, I wish for the other major cities to remain quiet!" Li Hao looked at him again. "Senior, when I was weak, you helped me a great deal. I, Li Hao, am no ingrate. I will revive all the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University! Battle Heaven City has aided me, and I will repay them generously as well. "However, regarding other places... from now on, I will handle them according to my own judgment." Li Hao looked at Zhang An, and Zhang An looked back at him. After a moment, Zhang An said slowly, "Your judgment? They cannot all be traitors to Neo-Martial. They are the guardians of Silver Moon. What if I do not agree?" Li Hao merely stared at him in silence, not uttering a word. Zhang An knitted his brows. "You cannot take actions detrimental to all of Neo-Martial simply because of the betrayal of a few individuals..." Li Hao fell silent. After a long pause, he said softly, "Senior, how can one sleep peacefully with another snoozing beside the bed?... If you replace Silver Moon with Neo-Martial: in the Neo-Martial era, it is said that certain Beyond-Heaven factions were never hostile to Neo-Martial either. What became of them? I, Li Hao, consider myself inferior to the ancient Human King, but the peace of this world was also bought with the lives of our Silver Moon people! That single phrase, 'Neo-Martial,' has already cost us dearly... Senior... must it come to this?" He looked at Zhang An, speaking word by word: "My teacher is gone. Director Hou is gone. Boss Liu Long is gone. Martial Uncle Southern Fist is gone..." He looked at Zhang An and smiled faintly. "Just as the ancient Human King lost my ancestor Sword Venerable, lost the Blood Sovereign, lost Supreme Zhang... Senior, please show me a little understanding!" Zhang An froze slightly. Yuan Shuo and the others... He fell silent. Looking at Li Hao, the youth across from him seemed as calm and poised as ever. He rarely seemed to lose his temper; ever since Zhang An came to know him, Li Hao had seldom yelled at anyone to express fury. Yet at this moment, Zhang An could sense his rage—like a tsunami, like an avalanche! Exhaling softly, Zhang An asked in a heavy voice, "And if I do not agree?" Li Hao did not answer. Zhang An seemed to understand. After a brief silence, he asked again, "What of Jiang Yingli and the others?" "Asleep." "Asleep?" "They exhausted everything and entered their weapons to slumber." Zhang An immediately frowned. "Do you need my help?" "No need," Li Hao shook his head. "I will revive them. It won't be too difficult. Once I master their Great Daos and activate the weapons with Dao power, I can naturally revive them again!" Zhang An did not press further, asking instead, "How do you plan to arrange things for us?" "Return to the martial arts university," Li Hao said softly. "That place... is the dean's domain. As for the Heavenly Star Army in Heavenly Star Town, I will have them go to Battle Heaven City. As for Yuanping Martial Arts University, as I have said, I will give them a choice. If they choose to follow Jiang Yingli and the others, they may come to my side. If not, they can revive their Neo-Martial physical bodies and return to the martial arts university. I will provide everyone with the necessary resources for cultivation." Zhang An pondered for a moment and nodded. "Agreed." "Thank you for your understanding, Senior!" Li Hao smiled faintly. Seeing his smile, Zhang An suddenly said, "I knew you went to attack Boundless City, and I knew how dangerous it was. Going there, you might all have been wiped out. I had the power to help you resolve some of those perils... yet I chose not to do so! Li Hao, had the Human King been here, I would likely have been the first person he killed! He tolerated no unpredictable factors. If I did not participate, I would be considered an enemy, and he would have slain me long ago..." He looked at Li Hao. "Why... did you not make such a choice? I believe that if you truly targeted me, I am only one man after all. Or once I stepped outside, if you had withdrawn the 'Dao' divine character, I might have faced attacks from within and without—posing even less trouble than Di Yao. You could have eliminated me as a threat." Li Hao looked at him and smiled. "Wouldn't that be ingratitude? Besides, I am not the ancient Human King! Why must Senior insist on comparing us? Whether you view it as indecisiveness or something else, whatever Senior thinks does not matter! We Silver Moon martial masters have always sought only a clear conscience! To seek peace in our hearts! We Silver Moon martial masters have fought through countless eras. When we slay an opponent, even knowing that leaving their legacy behind might bring catastrophe in the future, we still do not sever their lineage, nor do we cut off their path... In Senior's eyes, perhaps none of this fits the style of the ancient Human King, where pulling weeds by the roots is the only proper way. "However... each era has its own identity, and each era has its own characteristics. This is the hallmark of us Silver Moon martial masters. To me, it might be somewhat pedantic, but it is hardly dross, so why cast it aside?" Zhang An had no words and fell silent. Seeing this, Li Hao added, "Then once I have finished handling the matters at hand, I will escort Senior back to Yuanping Martial Arts University!" Zhang An did not utter another sound. Li Hao bowed slightly and stepped out of the ruin. In an instant, silence reclaimed the ruin. Zhang An quietly gazed in the direction he had gone. He said nothing—perhaps because he did not want to speak, perhaps because he was unwilling, or perhaps to preserve the last shred of Neo-Martial pride. He did not want to appear pathetic, even if, in the eyes of everyone, he already was. ... White Moon City. Li Hao walked out of the ruin, turned back to look for a brief moment in a daze, and lingered no longer. His figure flickered, and he vanished from the spot. The Martial Guard Army base. At this moment, some personnel were still garrisoned here, but they were all logistical supernaturals. The moment Li Hao appeared, everyone was astonished. Soon, one of the garrisoned supernaturals quickly stepped forward, bowing hurriedly with worship in his eyes: "Greetings, Governor-General!" "Mm." Li Hao smiled and nodded. "How are things?" "F-fairly well," the garrisoned supernatural stammered nervously. Last year, the main force of the Martial Guard Army had first departed for Heavenly Star City. Soon after, Li Hao had led his Demon Hunt Corps away from the Martial Guard Army base as well, leaving only a handful of them behind to guard the post. Now, the Martial Guard Army had been renamed the Demon Hunt Army and had earned quite a reputation. Director Hou of the past, Li Hao of the past—today, both were renowned throughout the realm, having even unified the entirety of Heavenly Star. Earlier today, the sky screens had appeared, and they had seen them, learning that the four-nation invasion was now a thing of the past. All of them were ecstatic. Seeing Li Hao suddenly return at this moment, they felt both nervous and overwhelmingly excited. "Governor-General... you..." "Just dropped by to take a look. Besides, the veteran soldiers of the Martial Guard Army will all return tomorrow to rest and regroup here for a few days." "They're coming back?" the garrisoned supernatural exclaimed excitedly. "Will Director Hou and the chiliarchs return as well?" "They..." Li Hao paused. "Not for now. It's mainly the Martial Guard Army." The supernatural showed a hint of disappointment, but quickly brightened again. "That's wonderful too! Governor-General... then... I'll immediately arrange people to clean up and get things in order, so that when they arrive, everything will be ready for them." "Mm, go on with your work. I'll just stroll around on my own." "Governor-General..." "Go ahead." "Yes, sir!" The supernaturals didn't dare say more and swiftly withdrew, each brimming with excitement. ... Li Hao wandered around the base. Soon, he walked out to the beach beyond the base, sitting on the sand and turning things over in his mind. Back then, right here, he and Liu Long had foolishly chopped toward the sea with their blades, over and over again. It was also here that he had led the Demon Hunt Corps on their first large-scale hunt, targeting a band of pirates. Those past events felt as if they had occurred just yesterday, yet at this moment, they felt unimaginably distant. The man who had chopped at the sea, the man who always wore a trench coat, was gone as well. At this moment, an overwhelming wave of loneliness suddenly crashed over him. In Silver City, the people who had protected him—Yuan Shuo and Liu Long—were both gone. A few members of the Demon Hunt Squad remained, but none had accompanied him as long as Liu Long and Yuan Shuo, and now, neither was here. His parents were gone, Xiaoyuan was gone, his master was gone, the man who had told him to call him 'Boss' was gone... From the day he walked out of Silver City until now, he had grown immensely powerful and held supreme authority over the world, yet... he didn't even have anyone to talk to. At this moment, he suddenly yearned for someone to be by his side, just to converse with him. The boundless loneliness felt suffocating. Up to this day... none of this was what he had pursued. His enemies still roamed free. Above his hometown, a seal still hung in the sky, sealing away a terrifying entity. The path ahead appeared smooth and unobstructed, yet... the goal he had held upon leaving Silver City remained unfulfilled. Instead, he had lost so many people along the way. He retrieved a flask of wine from his ring. Li Hao took a sip. Gone was the rich fragrance and burning heat of the past; only bitterness remained—perhaps tinged with the briny bitterness of the sea breeze. "From this day forth... I should live for myself..." He muttered softly with a self-deprecating scoff, chuckling, "Who told them... they can't manage me anymore!" It's you who left me to my own devices. A mischievous grin crept onto his face, like a child freed from parental restraint. Li Hao laughed with wild abandon. Since none of you care to manage me anymore, then I... don't need to be an obedient child! Throughout that entire day, Li Hao drank wine flask after flask. He did not know how much he drank, yet he could never get drunk. ... And on this day. The Great Desolation. The Lord of Dahuang stared at the phantom projection before him with an unsightly expression. After a long pause, he said coldly, "The Five-Party Conference has now turned into a colossal joke! Since there is no longer a Five-Party Conference, doesn't City Lord Hong Chen coming to find me make it an even bigger joke?" The phantom projection appeared somewhat faint, not even as potent as its previous manifestation. Yet it remained utterly calm: "Although this upheaval occurred, it hasn't had much of an impact. At present, heaven and earth are continuing to stabilize; it is merely a matter of time!" Hong Chen's phantom smiled playfully. "Li Hao slaughtered the Saints and gods of the Divine Kingdom. Does the King of Dahuang not worry... about these Saint-level desolate beasts?" The Lord of Dahuang replied coldly, "What if I worry? What if I do not? Dali could withdraw its troops safely, and my Great Desolation has never once stepped beyond the boundaries of the Great Desolation. If Li Hao could spare Dali, he might not necessarily come looking for trouble with my Great Desolation!" Hong Chen nodded slightly. "That reasoning holds... Li Hao is indeed not as domineering as the Human King. However... even if Li Hao does not come to the Great Desolation, will these desolate beasts of yours be willing to remain dormant? Without corrupting heaven and earth, without turning the world into chaos, would those desolate beasts ever agree?" The Lord of Dahuang furrowed his brows at once. That was indeed true! The desolate beasts all yearned to conquer heaven and earth, remaking the world into a realm of chaos. The Great Desolation mobilizing its army had also been driven by the will of the desolate beasts. The desolate beasts wished to conquer Silver Moon as well. Though he was the Lord of Dahuang and possessed desolate beast bloodline, his strength was limited. In the Great Desolation, if the desolate beasts truly insisted on deploying troops, he would have no way to stop them. Seeing this, Hong Chen chuckled softly. "King of Dahuang, you are in a dilemma right now! And I am willing to offer the King of Dahuang two choices... First, continue cooperating with us to attack Heavenly Star!" The Lord of Dahuang's brow furrowed instantly. "Second..." Hong Chen's tone turned teasing. "Desolate beasts dominate the Great Desolation. Today, the King of Dahuang has nearly been reduced to a puppet. As the desolate beasts awaken, their greed far outstrips that of humanity! Sooner or later, they will force the King of Dahuang to launch an all-out assault on Silver Moon... This is an immense, existential peril!" The Lord of Dahuang said nothing. Hong Chen continued, "And I am willing to help the King of Dahuang resolve this trouble." Hong Chen's smile turned gentle. "If the King of Dahuang is willing, I will forcibly relocate an ancient city to the area just outside the Great Desolation... very close by. As long as the King of Dahuang is willing to provide a bit of cover for us, we can mobilize at any time. Even if it is not my true body, Saints will emerge to help the King of Dahuang eliminate this crisis!" The Lord of Dahuang's expression changed, and he berated, "Utter nonsense! The desolate beasts are the very foundation upon which my Great Desolation stands. Senior Hong Chen is surely jesting!" This fellow actually wanted him to conceal their tracks and allow their Saints to emerge and enter the Great Desolation to slaughter the desolate beasts! What a joke! Hong Chen smiled, not taking offense. "The King of Dahuang can consider it for himself! My only fear is that when the time comes, it will not be me forcing you, but them forcing you... unable to advance or retreat. Li Hao could wipe out three nations, and he can wipe out four!" With that, he added, "Having pacified the turmoil of the four quarters, Li Hao will not simply sit around waiting! And among the four nations, only the Great Desolation still poses some threat... Think carefully on this, King of Dahuang!" With those words, the phantom dispersed. The King of Dahuang gave a cold snort! For this Hong Chen to actually want me to betray the desolate beasts was simply the greatest absurdity in the world! That was the very cornerstone of the Great Desolation's survival! Yet soon, the King of Dahuang's brow creased again, deep anxiety gnawing at his heart. The desolate beasts were bent on expansion, but they could not step out of the chaos territory. If they continued to expand, a clash with Li Hao's faction was inevitable. It truly gave him a headache! Yet withdrawing... with the desolate beasts awakened, how could they ever be willing to retreat? Just as he was thinking, a ferocious beast seemed to roar in his ears. In the next moment, a shadowy silhouette laced with chaos aura materialized, exuding wild violence and unrest as a rumbling voice sounded: "The person just now concealed the heavenly secrets and screened off all surroundings. What did he come to discuss with you?" Seeing the phantom silhouette of the desolate beast before him, the Lord of Dahuang hurriedly said, "Venerable Horse! That person said nothing of note, merely telling us to consider whether to continue joining forces to attack Heavenly Star, or to withdraw our troops..." "Continue attacking, of course!" The phantom silhouette was somewhat restless. "Withdraw? Why withdraw? Within the Desolate Territory, we are invincible! No matter how strong that Li Hao is, once he enters the Desolate Territory, he is nothing! While this Silver Moon world has not yet fully revived and the heavenly will is weak, seize heaven and earth! The stronger the Desolate Territory becomes, the stronger we become! An immature world is an opportunity for all Chaos clans..." The King of Dahuang said with utmost caution, "Venerable Horse, I understand this as well! However... that Li Hao can slay the Saints of the Divine Kingdom. I worry that clashing with him again... will provoke unpredictable consequences." "Cowardly and timid!" Venerable Horse berated violently, "A mere bunch of modern martial masters who have cultivated for a few years or decades can actually make you cower?" The King of Dahuang cursed ten thousand times over in his heart... A mere bunch of modern martial masters? I already told you, they killed many gods! Moreover, killing so many people didn't even cause the world to undergo revival—there might be other variables at play! Could rulers like the King of Dali and the Empress Dowager of Shuiyun compromise so easily? Yet now, both had compromised. Hong Chen's side would rather pay a price to deal with desolate beasts than seek out Li Hao for a direct clash. Even a fool could tell there were key factors Hong Chen hadn't disclosed. The King of Dahuang felt helpless and could only say, "Venerable Horse, the enemies we face are not just Li Hao's faction! As the Chaos clan, we oppose the heavenly will; the entirety of Silver Moon's world works against us... Not only that, even Hong Chen's faction actually wishes to seize heaven and earth rather than see the world turn into chaos. Even if we cooperate now, it is merely temporary!" As a sovereign, he knew these circumstances all too well. He was acutely aware of the perils involved, especially since Hong Chen had shown an intention to target the desolate beasts, which filled him with even greater trepidation. Yet he didn't reveal the details; he merely conveyed that Hong Chen's faction was untrustworthy. He couldn't be too explicit about this matter. Otherwise... given the nature of desolate beasts, even if he hadn't agreed, they would suspect him, which would only pave his own path to doom! The King of Dahuang felt exhausted. Across from him, the phantom silhouette grew stern: "Precisely for this reason, we must seize heaven and earth before they revive and emerge into the world, rather than waiting for them to revive! Do you understand?" These words actually made sense. If they didn't seize the world now, there might be no opportunity later. The phantom silhouette added, "As long as we conquer heaven and earth, they won't be able to revive... The world is fragile; as it turns into chaos, we will grow stronger and stronger, while they will only grow weaker and weaker. Did you think we would cooperate with them forever? Currently, the only obstacle standing in our way is that Li Hao. Once Li Hao's faction is dealt with, this world will surely belong to Chaos!" "However..." "No howevers! This is an order—the order of all the Beast Venerables! You need only execute it!" With that, the phantom disappeared. The King of Dahuang slumped back into his chair, his face dark. Before, he had the luxury of advancing to attack or retreating to defend, but now... he was caught in a true dilemma! A moment later, a white-robed female general walked in from outside the door. Looking at the King of Dahuang, she said in a low voice, "Father..." "Ah, Jun, you've come..." The King of Dahuang looked exhausted. The white-robed female general frowned. "Is Father troubled by the failure of the Five-Party Conference?" "Not entirely." The female general nodded. "Li Hao's faction routing the Divine Kingdom in an instant was indeed unexpected. However... the Divine Kingdom is not completely destroyed. The Moon Goddess escaped and might still be contacted. Meanwhile, Dali merely withdrew its troops; it was not defeated. Father, with the desolate beasts as our backing, we are not without a chance..." The King of Dahuang looked at her. After a long while, he suddenly transmitted his voice: "If an upheaval occurs in the Great Desolation, flee immediately..." Flee, but where to? He sank into deep thought, while the female general froze slightly, thoroughly shaken. An upheaval? The King of Dahuang looked at his daughter, deliberating for a moment. Thinking of something, he transmitted his voice again: "The Great Desolation turns heaven and earth into chaos, invading Silver Moon with chaos and resisting the heavenly will with the Chaos Intent! The Desolate Beast Venerables each harbor their own motives and do not subordinate themselves to one another. Yet the Chaos Intent can only be held by a single person or beast... Unless the Chaos Intent is destroyed, chaos cannot be broken! "To eradicate chaos, the Chaos Intent must be extinguished! Jun, remember this: as long as chaos is not extinguished, heaven and earth remain incomplete, and while heaven and earth remain incomplete, the second resurgence can hardly arrive..." Princess Jun listened in bewilderment, her brows knitting slightly. The King of Dahuang raised a hand to stop her from questioning and continued his transmission: "There are many Desolate Beast Venerables, and they cannot reach a consensus. The critical core, the Chaos Intent—an entity comparable to the heavenly will—has actually been with you all along." Princess Jun was shaken. With me? "The white horse you ride... is not truly a desolate beast, but a beast formed from the Chaos Stone, and the Chaos Intent resides within it! Apart from the Desolate Beast Venerables, only I know this! "They didn't tell me at first either, but having governed the Great Desolation for so many years, I am no fool... Every time war erupts, they want you to ride the white horse and trample across the lands, all so the Chaos Intent can advance one step ahead to invade the world! "Desolate beasts are arrogant, conceited, and violent... Why would they ever let mixed-bloods like us ride them? It's merely because they need our help. They cannot easily step out of chaos, which is why the human race of the Great Desolation came to be! "No matter what, if chaos erupts in the Great Desolation, if any rebellion occurs... ignore everything else. Ride your white horse, flee this place at once, and go find..." He pondered once more. Aside from Hong Chen's side and the desolate beasts, Dali was not an option, the Divine Kingdom was not an option, and other than Li Hao, there was only Neo-Martial. Yet Neo-Martial couldn't emerge right now! In truth, there was no choice, was there? Feeling a faint unease, he could only add, "If something happens, go find Li Hao. You don't need to say much; just tell him that the horse beneath you is the Chaos Intent. If Li Hao is not an idiot, he will understand the crucial importance! As long as the Chaos Intent is not seized or destroyed by Hong Chen's side, then the Great Desolation... will not easily perish!" "Father!" Princess Jun's expression changed dramatically. Perish? How could that be! The King of Dahuang smiled faintly, transmitting his voice once more: "Do not let it show. Right now, I can persuade neither side; advancing is wrong, retreating is wrong, caught in the crack between them, struggling to survive... Had the five-party alliance been formed to check one another, there would still be hope... But now, hope is slim! Li Hao's faction routed the Divine Kingdom; they are not to be underestimated. In short, remember my words. Do you understand?" "Father, I..." "Just remember them!" The King of Dahuang said no more. Soon, he laughed aloud, "Jun, you came at the right time. Starting today, lead ten thousand iron cavalry to patrol the border. If an opportunity arises, strike proactively! Choose from the elite of the army as you wish. Should the chance present itself, trample across the eastern continent!" Princess Jun's heart trembled, understanding her father's meaning. At any sign of an opportunity or an upheaval, immediately lead the ten thousand iron cavalry out of the Great Desolation and seek out Li Hao. This... Despite having ten thousand questions, she quickly answered in a low voice, "By your command!" "Go on, and be careful over the next few days..." "Yes!" Princess Jun withdrew to quickly select the elite iron cavalry. Meanwhile, the King of Dahuang let out a soft breath. Caught between Li Hao, Hong Chen, and the desolate beasts, it was excruciating. The hardship Li Hao had experienced back then was something he was experiencing now as well. Alas, he lacked Li Hao's strength and courage to burn his boats. ... At this moment, Li Hao did not bother with the Great Desolation's affairs. He knew that sooner or later, the Great Desolation would clash with Hong Chen's faction. Eradicating the Great Desolation might trigger the world's resurgence, but... worrying was pointless. If he went to talk to the Great Desolation now, those desolate beasts wouldn't pay him any heed. Now, the only thing he could do was increase his strength. Constantly elevate! Not just his own, but that of the people around him as well—make everyone powerful. The second resurgence could not be held off forever, so taking advantage of the present to grow stronger was paramount. When the second resurgence truly arrived, if his side possessed a multitude of peak Sun and Moon experts—or even beings surpassing the Sun and Moon Realm—and he himself could rival the likes of Hong Chen, what would there be to fear? Therefore, the moment Liu Yan and the others returned the next day leading the five thousand troops of the Demon Hunt Guard Army, Li Hao vanished along with all of them. This time, he spared no expense. Countless divine energy stones, countless drops of the Spring of Life—nearly all the spoils gathered from Boundless City in this war, combined with the plunder from the Divine Kingdom and the bounties from the Heavenly Star Great Mine, would all be spent. If they ran out... he could just seize more! He had made a decision: first transfer the five elemental Dao meridians to five individuals, while he himself would focus on non-divine ability Dao meridians, completing the thirty-six meridian cycle before moving on to complete the 360-meridian sword Dao divine ability! According to what Zhang An had said in the past, once one completed the cultivation of 360 meridians, one could rival the peak Saints of that era—but that was back then! Now, with all 360 Dao meridians opened, Li Hao felt that matching a Heavenly King would not be difficult. And that was assuming they were merely Dao meridians without forming divine abilities. Yet 360 Dao meridians could form a sword Dao divine ability! Li Hao thought to himself: at that point... if all were truly opened, dealing with the Sovereigns of ancient times would definitely be impossible, but today, the Red Moon Sovereign was half-crippled, and that Hong Chen might also be formidable, perhaps at the level of a Heavenly King or Sovereign. Yet neither would be in their prime! Perhaps only by reaching that stage could he contend with them and eliminate them! Having formed his plan, Li Hao wasted no time. Taking advantage of the opportunity to elevate the others, he would also comb through the Great Dao Universe; combing through the Great Dao Universe was also a way to strengthen himself. Thus, on this day, Li Hao vanished with the five thousand troops of the Demon Hunt Martial Guard Army. And across the world, a hundred neglected tasks awaited renewal. Hong Yitang and the others began accelerating the promotion of various initiatives, ushering in an immensely grand era of transformation across all of Heavenly Star. Martial arts academies sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain across every region, rapidly appearing and opening their doors. Even though everything was still nascent and riddled with flaws, it was all moving in a promising direction. And Li Hao never once showed himself before the public.