Schemes

Battle Heaven City. Serving as a porter, Li Hao made several trips back and forth, gathering everyone together. Most of the pseudo-Heavenly King physical body was left for the Ninth Division Commander to rebuild his flesh. Now, accompanied by several Saints—the Old Turtle, General Huai, and Li Fuhai—Li Hao stepped deep into the Battle Heaven City military barracks for the first time. Originally, this area had been pitch-black and dead silent. Only as they walked deeper did Li Hao discover just how solemn it was. Rows of barracks stood in orderly lines. A hundred thousand troops of Battle Heaven City remained stationed here, though most of the Battle Heaven Army had yet to revive. In the distance stood a tall building. The Old Turtle spoke: "The commander of the Reserve Guard Army is over there. His name is Wu Peng, with early Saint combat strength. Back then, he took the risk of venturing out of Battle Heaven City, only to be suppressed and battered by the backlash of heaven and earth. Badly wounded, he retreated back into Battle Heaven City and has remained in a deep slumber ever since." Li Hao nodded. Back then, when the Ninth Division Commander was slated for promotion, it was not to lead the Reserve Guard Army, but to become a commander of a main legion. Commander Wu Peng was the true paramount military authority remaining in Battle Heaven City. It was merely that at the onset of the world's transformation, he had risked venturing beyond the city, suffering severe wounds that kept him unrevived all these years. Now, flanked by several Saints, Li Hao felt full of confidence. He spoke up: "I am unfamiliar with Commander Wu and do not know his character or disposition. There are a few things I must investigate first. You have no objections, do you?" "Naturally." The Old Turtle nodded. "Neither do we wish for traitors tainted by the Red Moon to lurk within the city. Being able to verify his identity is the best outcome." Li Hao nodded slightly. He had no idea how many people the Red Moon Sovereign had corrupted. Nor did he know how many people tainted by the power of the Red Moon were hidden within the various main cities. Whether those people were loyal to Hong Chen or to the Red Moon Sovereign was equally hard to tell. Either way, they were enemies. …… The group walked forward. As they went deeper, Li Hao sensed their surroundings. He indeed detected some fluctuations of aura; some experts, perhaps division commanders, were likely reviving as well. For now, however, reviving them was not the most pressing concern. Soon, the group arrived before the tall building. The Old Turtle said, "I do not know whether Commander Wu has regained any consciousness. I will call out first to avoid any misunderstandings." Li Hao nodded. Soon, a faint fluctuation of Origin energy emanated from the Old Turtle, sweeping inside as his voice reverberated: "Commander Wu, are you still there?" Waves of energy pulsed outward, one after another. The others waited quietly. After an indeterminate time, a faint Origin fluctuation rippled back, accompanied by a rather weak voice: "Turtle Guardian? And General Huai..." Both General Huai and the Turtle Guardian were delighted. His Origin was intact, and he even showed signs of recovery. A great development! It was likely related to General Huai drawing upon ambient energy after reviving, as well as the vast amount of energy stones Li Hao had provided, which enriched Battle Heaven City's energy. "You are awake?" The Old Turtle's face beamed with joy. From inside the building came the man's frail voice: "Woken by your noise... Come on in..." The two Saints of Battle Heaven City were thrilled and hurriedly led the way inside. This was a genuine human Saint of Battle Heaven City. Though the Ninth Division Commander was formidable, he had not been a Saint in the past; his body was not yet restored, and whether he could truly become a Saint remained uncertain. Wu Peng, on the other hand, had already been a Saint back in ancient times. He was also the only true human expert of the Saint Realm left behind in Battle Heaven City. The group proceeded inward. Along the way, Li Hao saw numerous armored warriors standing motionlessly like statues. Among them were several silver warriors. At the very end stood a golden warrior. However, his aura was barely detectable, showing signs of extinction. Behind the golden warrior was a standalone small lodge. At that moment, the Old Turtle's voice resonated in Li Hao's mind: "This was the headquarters of the Reserve Guard Army back then. The general you see now was the commander of the Guard Brigade directly attached to army headquarters—essentially Commander Wu's personal guard brigade. Ever since Commander Wu returned wounded, he refused to enter slumber, choosing to stand watch here for many years until his life essence burned out. Whether he can still be revived today... we cannot be certain. Alas!" Li Hao glanced at the golden warrior. Still standing tall, unbroken across tens of thousands of years, yet his aura was all but extinguished. Whether he could revive was indeed difficult to say. As they spoke, the doors to the lodge behind swung open. The first thing Li Hao caught sight of was an orange glow. In the next moment, he saw a suit of orange armor. At the rank of an army commander, one step above division commanders like Li Hao, one could choose armor according to personal preference. Division commanders like Li Hao held general ranks, but only as major generals. Army commanders were at least lieutenant generals, and those commanding main legions were often higher, though that was rare. At this moment, within the hollow eye slits of the orange armor, a glint of light flickered, though it appeared exceedingly feeble. "General Huai, Turtle Guardian..." He glanced around, pausing as though taking time to process, then continued, "Li Zhenhai is here as well... And this one... the Eleventh Division Commander?" He seemed slightly puzzled. For he could sense Li Hao's official military designation, and it was precisely within the Reserve Guard Army. Yet he knew full well that the Reserve Guard Army had only ten divisions and one directly attached brigade. Where did an Eleventh Division come from? Yet since he held the post, he must have received the backing of the two guardians and others in the military during his slumber to assume command of the Eleventh Division. "Commander Wu, you have finally awakened!" The Old Turtle was thrilled. General Huai also shed some of his transcendent air, revealing a more worldly smile: "After so many years, we feared... Fortunately, being able to wake means your injuries have improved significantly." "I thought I would never wake again either. When Turtle Guardian's voice sounded just now, I thought I was dreaming." They exchanged pleasantries for a while, and the Old Turtle gave a brief overview of recent events. After hearing it all, the commander sighed with emotion. "In the blink of an eye, a hundred thousand years have passed. Truly unbelievable... And the Eleventh Division Commander is a descendant of the Sword Venerable—no wonder his sword intent is so lofty..." After marveling for a moment, Wu Peng's voice drifted over: "So, you have come seeking me today in hopes of reviving me so that we may face the powerhouse who might be Zheng Yu together?" Li Hao nodded. "I suspect he is Zheng Yu, though that cannot be confirmed yet." It was merely a suspicion. Whether it was truly him could not be determined until battle was joined. "Since he is a traitor to Neo-Martial, I will not shirk my duty! If both guardians and the Sea Suppressing Emissary are willing to act, then once revived, I naturally will not decline!" Having said that, Wu Peng added, "With the Ninth Division Commander restoring his body, he also has hopes of advancing into the Saint Realm. That would give us several experts to ensure our chances... However... regarding the Eleventh Division Commander, Turtle Guardian mentioned earlier that your Starry Sky Sword was shattered. If so... can you still unleash Saint-level combat strength? If not... it might be better to leave this to us. The gap between a Heavenly King and an Immortal is immense." This Commander Wu was considerably gentler than the Ninth Division Commander. Perhaps due to the Reserve Guard Army's focus on defense, he was not as aloof or harsh. Li Hao replied, "I am currently repairing the Starry Sky Sword. Slaying a Saint would be difficult, but matching an ordinary Saint is still within my capabilities..." "That is well. A descendant of the Sword Venerable indeed, truly a heaven-blessed genius!" Wu Peng nodded, his orange armor gleaming brightly. Li Hao added, "Commander Wu, time is of the essence. We should begin your revival right away. I still have plenty of Immortal power, and combined with some Spring of Life and a large quantity of energy stones, it should suffice..." "Then... my sincere thanks, Eleventh Division Commander!" Commander Wu did not stand on ceremony, letting out a laugh: "To be revived once more after so many years and take to the battlefield again carries a flavor all its own." Li Hao smiled, nodded, and asked, "Then... shall we do it here?" "Right here is fine." "Alright!" Li Hao nodded, then continued, "Before that, I will need Commander Wu to accompany me on a trip to the New Dao Universe to gain the New Dao's acknowledgment. That way, after stepping out of the ruins, you can avoid certain troubles. Tainted by the aura of the New Dao, you will not be targeted so severely by heaven and earth." The Old Turtle had not mentioned this earlier. Hearing it, Commander Wu was visibly shaken: "The New Dao Universe? You can enter and exit freely, Eleventh Division Commander?" "Barely." "Now that is intriguing..." Commander Wu marveled, "To think that after a hundred thousand years, a New Dao would be born in Silver Moon! Truly incredible... No wonder you could step into such a realm at such a young age, Eleventh Division Commander. With a Dao Universe to rely on, it may not be long before you reach even deeper heights." Then he asked, "However, will bringing me inside cause any strain to you?" "Not at all. As long as Commander Wu does not disrupt the universe haphazardly, there will be little impact." "Certainly not! To witness the New Dao Universe with my own eyes is an opportunity for me..." Wu Peng sighed in wonder, then looked at the others. "Have you gone inside to see it?" The Old Turtle nodded. "I went once... It was magnificent! I did gain some insights, but understanding so little of the New Dao, I could only marvel at its vast grandeur. To reap tangible gains, one would likely have to truly tread the New Dao." Commander Wu nodded. "A New Dao... Its emergence is truly humbling. I wonder where the Origin Universe lies today." Turning back to Li Hao, he said, "You are remarkably magnanimous, Eleventh Division Commander. Anyone else who discovered a New Dao Universe would wish no one else could lay eyes upon it. Worthy of the Sword Venerable's lineage indeed, willing to lead us in for a view..." Li Hao smiled without replying. He merely took a few extra looks at him. This Commander Wu had a gentle tone, but he talked quite a lot. The Ninth Division Commander, by contrast, was a man of few words who would rather not speak at all. Time was pressing. Verifying his identity quickly, reviving him, and heading to the Star Suppressing City ruins as soon as possible was Li Hao's true objective. He did not have time for excessive pleasantries. "Since you are willing to let us observe, Eleventh Division Commander, it would be churlish of me to decline your kindness... So... can we enter from right here?" "We can." "Turtle Guardian, General Huai, will you be going in again? If the Eleventh Division Commander brings too many people, will he harm himself?" Li Hao said, "Just Commander Wu and me will do. Taking in multiple Saints is still a bit stressful right now..." He felt this man might have been a terrible chatterbox in life. Far too talkative! Of course, after sleeping for so many years and only just waking, talking more was understandable. It had been far too long since he had spoken to anyone. Without further ado, Li Hao tore through the void once more. Above them, a universe vaguely emerged. Even before stepping inside, Commander Wu marveled at the sight: "Even before entering, one can sense the majesty of the Great Dao! Given the chance, I must learn more about the New Dao. I hope you will not withhold your guidance, Eleventh Division Commander..." "No problem." Li Hao said nothing more. Stepping through the rift in the void, he called down, "Commander Wu, come on up!" Wu Peng spoke no more. Rising into the air, he stepped into the fissure. …… Inside the Bright Star Realm. Li Hao's brow furrowed for a fleeting instant before quickly smoothing out. With a wave of his hand, darkness consumed the sky. Darkness shrouded everything in all directions. In the next moment, Commander Wu stepped inside. Behind him, the rift vanished. Wu Peng walked forward and looked around, somewhat puzzled: "Is the universe this dark?" Not far away, Li Hao's brow was knit tightly. Around them, the void trembled faintly, with Dao lightning dimly emerging. He frowned in silence. How could this be? This was high-ranking leadership of Battle Heaven City, commander of the Reserve Guard Army, the foremost military figure left! Li Hao had originally thought that Battle Heaven City might not harbor anyone from the Red Moon or Hong Chen's faction. Yet now... it was hard to say. Was it like Li Fuhai, an accidental contamination of Red Moon energy, or... was it no accident at all? The instant the man entered, Li Hao had realized something was amiss. For no other reason than the fact that upon his entry, the pressure on Li Hao spiked dramatically. Bringing others in would impose great strain on him if the outsider was excessively powerful. Yet a Saint who had slept for a hundred thousand years without restoring his physical body should not be stronger than an Immortal. Bringing an Immortal inside placed virtually no burden on Li Hao. Li Hao said nothing. Darkness blanketed all sides. The surrounding Dao lightning churned restlessly, but Li Hao forcefully suppressed it. Li Hao's voice drifted over: "Please wait a moment, Commander Wu... Entering the Dao Universe involves a brief traversal across space-time. It will be over shortly!" "Understood, I am in no hurry." Commander Wu replied calmly. Li Hao's brow remained furrowed. He had placed great trust in Battle Heaven City. Otherwise, out of the eight main cities, he would not have consistently sought out only Battle Heaven City as a partner. Furthermore, against that entity, having one more Saint would mean one more degree of certainty. He had sincerely supported this man's revival, yet the reality... seemed to have defied expectations. Li Hao said no more. The Dao of Darkness continued to enshroud the area while he himself vanished rapidly, his voice echoing back: "The traversal will be slightly turbulent. Some lightning might descend around you, as is necessary when piercing the cosmic barrier... Be careful, Commander Wu. Just stand still and do not move recklessly. I will forge the pathway shortly..." With that, Li Hao vanished completely. Before long, Commander Wu also felt the ripples. Moments later, a bolt of lightning crashed down from the darkness. With a thunderous boom, it struck the orange armor. …… At that very instant, Li Hao vanished from the universe and reappeared in the small lodge outside. Seeing him appear so quickly, the others were startled. He had just gone in and already returned? Li Hao frowned, glancing at the Turtle Guardian and General Huai. After a moment of thought, he did not avoid them and spoke directly: "Commander Wu may have issues... Of course, I cannot be one hundred percent certain! Right now, I might need an assistant. I cannot support too many Saints inside at once. Who is willing to enter with me?" At these words, both the Old Turtle and General Huai froze. The Old Turtle said in disbelief, "That is impossible. He is the foremost authority of the Reserve Guard Army. Besides, I have remained awake the entire time. If he truly..." Li Hao said nothing. Precisely because you remained awake was likely why he never made a move all this time. Had you not been awake... the outcome might not be what it was now. For Battle Heaven City, the Old Turtle being clean was the greatest guarantee. Because it stayed awake and retained Saint-level combat power, even infiltrators from the Red Moon or Hong Chen's faction would not act rashly. As for whether Wu Peng had issues... the probability was very high. Li Hao added, "I suspect his physical body is still intact. The pressure of him entering the universe was almost comparable to the Sea Suppressing Emissary. Under normal circumstances, without a physical body, a Saint would never place such immense pressure on me. We must act quickly. Among the three of you... who is willing to come inside with me?" "I will!" The Old Turtle's gaze turned exceedingly complicated. "I have stayed awake the entire time and know him best. I will go in." Li Hao nodded without further words. Li Fuhai coughed dryly. "Perhaps I should accompany you instead. Otherwise, once the universe is sealed and we cannot enter, the Old Turtle might not be able to deal with him. If there truly is a problem, it could get messy..." The Old Turtle said in a heavy voice, "Sea Suppressing Emissary, do you distrust me?" "Not at all." "If I could not be trusted, Battle Heaven City... might have fallen into enemy hands many years ago!" The Old Turtle's mood weighed heavy as he said deeply, "Battle Heaven City is extraordinary. I refuse to believe a traitor has emerged from our ranks. I want to see with my own eyes... and if it is true, I want to ask him why!" Seeing them argue, Li Hao cut in directly: "Turtle Guardian it is. However... do not show yourself rashly. Let me probe him first to confirm, so we avoid an embarrassing misunderstanding!" With those words, he tore through the void once more. Soon, one man and one turtle stepped into the Dao Universe. The entrance vanished. Left behind, General Huai glanced at Li Fuhai and murmured, "Does the Sea Suppressing Emissary think... Governor Li's judgment is accurate? Wu Peng is the commander of the Reserve Guard Army..." Li Fuhai said indifferently, "Anything is possible! What intrigues me more is whether that Old Turtle might... seize the opportunity to join hands with Wu Peng and seize this Dao Universe. Li Hao did not ask me to go; I wonder if he trusts your Battle Heaven City too much, or if he has other calculations." At that point, he asked, "General Huai, how do you view this Li Hao?" "Me?" General Huai fell silent for a moment before replying, "It is hard to say... Before the Boundless City incident, Li Hao treated Neo-Martial and Battle Heaven City with tolerance, trust, respect, and even a degree of reliance. After Boundless City, he didn't seem to change much on the surface, but... one could discern that toward all of us, he harbored suspicion and scrutiny. His trust... had in fact plummeted." In the past, even if the Dao Universe could distinguish enemies, Li Hao would never have brought them inside for screening. That would have seemed too petty and distrustful. Yet later, when Li Hao came to Battle Heaven City, he openly declared that everyone should take a turn inside to screen out enemies. That in itself was a form of distrust. Today's Li Hao was fundamentally different from before. Though he appeared identical and his demeanor showed little obvious change, General Huai could sense it. When Li Hao revived him back then, even a shred of distrust would have meant certain death! Reviving a Saint! What strength did Li Hao have back then? Yet today, Li Hao moved with perpetual vigilance and precaution. His return to Battle Heaven City might have looked like a solitary visit, but in reality, he only came after possessing adequate strength. Speaking of this, General Huai suddenly whispered, "Is he truly unable to bring four Saints inside, or... does he fear that if four Saints rebelled simultaneously, he would be powerless to resist, whereas with two... he can handle them?" After saying this, it fell silent. Li Fuhai's eyes flickered, and he too said no more. What was Li Hao truly thinking? Could he genuinely not bring everyone in together, or was this still a test—confident that even if the Old Turtle turned traitor, he could fight one against two and resolve both the Old Turtle and Wu Peng? Li Fuhai had no direct impression of how Li Hao's personality had shifted. General Huai, however, felt it much more deeply. It suspected... Li Hao was not incapable of bringing more people inside. Rather, his trust in everyone had drastically diminished. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Who could say for sure? When even Battle Heaven City, his closest collaborator, was treated this way, his trust in the other ancient cities was undoubtedly discounted even further. …… Inside the Bright Star Realm. Lightning flashed. Arc after arc of lightning erupted from the darkness. Wu Peng shattered them repeatedly, growing somewhat uneasy as his booming voice echoed: "Eleventh Division Commander, when will this lightning cease?" After a long pause, Li Hao's voice drifted through: "Soon. Because you cultivate an external Dao, the targeting is more severe. Were you a cultivator of the New Dao, this would not happen." With that, the darkness dissipated slightly, revealing dim constellations of stars. Wu Peng's eyes gleamed slightly. Cosmic stars! These are manifestations of the Great Dao? The New Dao... Just as he was pondering, Li Hao's figure manifested. With a beckoning gesture, a massive star rotated swiftly into view. Li Hao's expression turned grave: "Commander, experts of the origin path must leave a Dao brand and Origin imprint here so that you will not be targeted by the New Dao upon leaving. Otherwise, the world's suppression will be catastrophic!" "This is my lifebound star. Use your origin path power to leave an imprint and deposit some Origin power upon it, Commander. Otherwise... the lightning here will never stop!" Around them, the lightning continued unabated. Wu Peng seemed somewhat hard-pressed to resist, looking rather disheveled with scorch marks appearing on his armor. Hearing this and looking at the star, he was surprised: "Your lifebound star?" "Yes. Just like in the origin path, it is coalesced from the Great Dao. If it shatters, the Dao breaks..." "Eleventh Division Commander, this..." "It is fine. We are all family here; I trust everyone!" Li Hao smiled radiantly: "My ties with Battle Heaven City run deep! Even if I cannot trust others, I can trust the seniors of Battle Heaven City. Even though Senior has just revived and we are not well acquainted... you are still family! Senior need not worry; simply deposit your Origin power on it. Could I possibly fear that Senior would use Origin power to shatter my lifebound Dao star?" Wu Peng quickly turned solemn: "Naturally I would never do such a thing, but... this is too reckless. You must not take such risks, Eleventh Division Commander..." "If you suspect someone, do not employ them; if you employ someone, do not suspect them!" Li Hao laughed. "I have always been this way. Do not fuss over trifles, Commander. If I can trust even the Sea Suppressing Emissary, a demon beast, why wouldn't I trust a fellow human? Commander, we cannot linger here long. Please be quick; the pressure on me is growing heavier. I am holding back the lightning around us, but if I fail to contain it, even greater bolts will strike..." Seeing this, Wu Peng had no choice: "Then... I shall accept your trust!" He glanced at the star, which shone with intense power of light, and asked in confusion, "Eleventh Division Commander, do you specialize in the power of light?" "No, my primary path is the sword. However, the sword path is arduous to cultivate and has not yet coalesced into a Dao star, so I am temporarily cultivating the power of light as an auxiliary. Once my sword path reaches great fruition, it will form a sword Dao star." "I see!" Commander Wu spoke no more. Strands of Origin power seeped out, appearing very feeble. They began flowing into the star. Yet Li Hao frowned: "Commander Wu has only just awakened, so your Origin power is too weak. Leaving an imprint like this will be difficult! Please give your all, Commander. Even if you exhaust your Origin power, it will not matter! Once your body is restored later, I have prepared ample Origin and Immortal power for your recovery. If you do not leave a sufficient imprint now, you might hardly be able to exert any combat power outside." Wu Peng knew little of the New Dao and little of the outside world. Yet he knew that without the second resurgence of heaven and earth, powerhouses truly could not venture out. Pondering for a moment, he said weakly, "Then I will try to draw out more Origin power. However... now that the Origin Universe is cut off, I might not have much." "No matter, the more the better!" Wu Peng said no more and continued infusing Origin power. Li Hao watched in silence. After a while, seeing Wu Peng stop again, he said regretfully, "Is that all? If so... Commander Wu may find it hard to exert Saint-level strength outside, managing Immortal Realm at best... The imprint left behind is far too shallow!" Looking at the star, where an Origin vortex had nearly formed, Wu Peng could not help asking, "Is this... still not enough? Did the two guardians infuse even more?" "Far more!" Li Hao nodded. "Their Origin power penetrated deep into the core of the star, condensed and unyielding! Yours, Commander, has merely formed a vortex on the star's exterior. Compared to them, it is far weaker. But since you have just awoken, that is only natural." Natural? Wu Peng thought to himself that he had infused a considerable amount. Leaving the Old Turtle aside, General Huai had only revived recently—could he really possess so much Origin power? "Then... I will try again." "Alright." A moment later, Wu Peng infused Origin power once more. Li Hao merely watched from the side. Countless bolts of lightning converged around them. Watching the display, Li Hao thought to himself: There really is a lot of lightning, which proves the Red Moon energy within Wu Peng is formidable indeed. Moreover, the Origin energy he released was quite dense. A Saint who had only just revived... could never have this much. By now, the Origin energy completely encircled the light star. After observing for a while, Li Hao frowned: "This might still not work... Commander Wu, would it be convenient for you to remove your armor?" "What?" "The armor! Your armor must contain a substantial amount of Origin power. Of course, since you have no physical body... you could temporarily condense a makeshift body for standby..." Having said this, Li Hao added, "Never mind that, I will lend you the body Director Wang used previously. You can possess Director Wang's body for now and take off the armor. I will place the armor inside the star and cleanse it with Dao power to flush out some Origin power. That way, the New Dao's suppression against you can be lessened as well." "This..." Wu Peng was reluctant. "Eleventh Division Commander, perhaps we should forget it..." "That will not do!" Li Hao said solemnly, "Since we are doing it, we must do it right!" He tossed out a physical body—the very one Director Wang had used before. "This body is somewhat weak, but you can use it for now, Commander. Take off the armor, and I will place it inside the star to nourish it for a time..." Wu Peng hesitated. Li Hao pressed on: "Rest assured, Commander. Once cleansed, the armor will only be better suited for the outside world. Heaven and earth have changed; as it is now, the armor may not fit the outside conditions!" Seeing this, Wu Peng could only say, "Very well... I was only worried it might cause you harm." "It won't. Even if there were some, it would be negligible." "Alright then..." With that, a burst of blinding light flared. Li Hao's eyes flickered as a cluster of light emerged. In the next moment, the suit of armor hovered empty, and Director Wang's former physical body stirred. The body was no longer inert; a spark of life lit up its eyes. Li Hao took one look, said no more, and placed the orange armor into the star. The star began engulfing the armor. Director Wang... or rather, Commander Wu in this body, frowned slightly: "It won't wash away my Origin imprint, will it? If so, the armor..." "It won't... And even if it does, you can simply imprint it again later." Li Hao continued, "Does the Commander have a favored weapon? If so... toss it in to be cleansed as well. Otherwise, it will be hard to exert its full power outside and it will be targeted by heaven and earth." "A weapon?" Wu Peng shook his head. "This armor is enough. My focus is defense; the Reserve Guard Army is not a frontline legion, so..." "Understood!" Li Hao nodded. Wu Peng glanced around and remarked, "This lightning gathers without dispersing. Is the New Dao's hostility toward Origin so intense?" "It is tolerable, given that the two worlds share the same source. But it does seem stronger than with others... How strange." Li Hao looked puzzled: "Previously, it would gather for a moment and then disperse. This time, it has lingered for quite a while, and is even growing stronger! Logically, it should have cleared in no time. This is the first time I've encountered such a situation... No matter, I can ask the Sea Suppressing Emissary and the others later; they understand more than I do. Neo-Martial and Silver Moon share a common breath. For the hostility to be this fierce... could it have detected foreign power?" Li Hao chuckled self-deprecatingly. "The Dao Universe can be unreliable at times too. Only the Commander and I are here. Unless it comes from a third party—supposedly the power of the Red Moon world—it shouldn't be like this. Truly strange." Hearing him say this, Wu Peng's eyes flickered slightly: "Does the Eleventh Division Commander mean that once power from the Red Moon world enters, it suffers massive backlash?" "Yes!" Li Hao nodded. "So it is said... Whether that is truly the case, I cannot say. Up to now, I haven't actually encountered such power and only formed judgments based on what seniors told me." Wu Peng nodded and asked no further. He looked around and asked, "When we exit later, will we take the same way out?" "Not necessarily." Li Hao explained, "Do you see the stars here? Each star represents a New Dao path. Tearing the void near any star lets you exit, though the exit point won't necessarily be here—it will place you near the bearer of that New Dao... Currently, in Battle Heaven City, only I cultivate the New Dao, so don't wander off, Commander. If you tear the void elsewhere and emerge outside, given how murky the external situation is, you could easily invite trouble if targeted." Wu Peng looked around once more without speaking. One star, one New Dao path. Tearing the void elsewhere would lead outside. Li Hao accelerated the cleansing of the armor and said, "The brand is almost formed. Once it takes shape, leaving will pose no strain, and stepping outside won't cause heaven and earth to target you." Then he puzzled anew: "Why is the lightning still here? What the devil? Normally it wouldn't last this long unless Red Moon power appeared. Could someone from the Red Moon world have entered? Impossible. Currently, only I can enter this place..." Turning to look at Wu Peng, suspicion gradually seeped into his eyes. Wu Peng looked calm. Meeting Li Hao's gaze, he shook his head: "I am uncertain as well. Could the Eleventh Division Commander have been inadvertently tainted by Red Moon energy?" "Tainted?" Li Hao looked bewildered: "The power of the Red Moon can invade people? Has Commander Wu seen it before?" Saying so, he stepped back a few paces, a strange look flickering in his eyes. In the next instant, the void trembled faintly. Wu Peng raised an eyebrow: "Eleventh Division Commander... are you opening the cosmic void?" "Uh... well... it's about done. Let us exit first! I worry the others outside will grow anxious..." The suspicion in Li Hao's eyes grew heavier, and he said cautiously, "Commander Wu, let us leave first. I will come back for the armor later. The lightning is growing worse, and I fear I won't be able to withstand it. Let us withdraw for now..." "That works too!" Wu Peng nodded, but in his heart, he knew: Li Hao was suspicious. So the Dao Universe had such a function. It could detect foreign energy. Li Hao might not understand it yet, but once they went outside and he brought it up, the others would almost certainly deduce the truth. He had originally planned to make contact first and ingratiate himself deeply. Yet now... Wu Peng said, "Let us head out first, so as not to worry everyone..." Then suddenly, he pointed in apparent astonishment: "What is that?" "What?" Li Hao turned his head. In the very next instant, a formidable power erupted violently from behind, surging forward! Wu Peng's expression turned freezing cold. As long as he did not return through the original passage, he could emerge directly outside through another star—that was enough. This Li Hao was still too naive! Otherwise, had he known the Dao Universe repelled Red Moon energy, he would have caught on long ago. Far too young! Boom! Wu Peng, supposedly a specialist in defense, unleashed a punch with devastating explosive force. With a tremendous blast, Li Hao's body shattered instantly. With disbelief etched into his broken flesh, he looked back at Wu Peng: "Commander... why do this?" Wu Peng said nothing. Even now, he asked why? Did this Li Hao truly have no wariness at all? How could such a person ever succeed! In the next breath, an even more terrifying power surged toward Li Hao, sweeping across heaven and earth. Wu Peng's voice was calm: "I did not wish for this either. But once outside... the moment you spoke, my trouble would begin... Blame it on this Dao Universe being able to discern energies. Having never encountered it before, I was unaware. Thank you for alerting me!" Only at this moment did Li Hao seem to realize, filled with shock: "You... you are of the Red Moon... Impossible! Battle Heaven City is my closest ally..." "That is them. Not me." Boom! Another fist struck out! With a resounding crash, a shield materialized in that very instant, blocking the punch. Wu Peng's expression shifted slightly. In the next second, the shield transformed into a figure. The Old Turtle's gaze was fraught with complexity: "How could it be you?" Wu Peng's face paled: "Turtle Guardian?" How was it here? Not far away, Li Hao's mangled body dissolved into nothingness and reappeared atop the light star. Wu Peng's expression changed again; in the next instant, the boundless Origin power on the star threatened to detonate! Not only that, the armor was trembling, poised to erupt! Yet Li Hao sat firmly atop the star. Letting the Origin power churn and the star fracture, he kept the armor firmly suppressed and chuckled: "Commander, shattering the star won't matter much anyway. Why waste time?" "..." Wu Peng's expression changed drastically. Right at that moment, the body swelled suddenly. Amidst his shock, a golden light flashed, and beside Director Wang's former shell, a golden physical body materialized. Director Wang's physical body burst apart with a bang. His true body manifested, his expression dark as he glared at Li Hao and then at the Turtle Guardian: "You two... realized it from the start?" Li Hao said nothing, merely looking silently toward the Turtle Guardian. The Old Turtle sighed deeply: "In what way has Battle Heaven City ever wronged you?" Wu Peng's expression shifted before he looked at them: "It did not wrong me. But... Guardian, I also want to know: in what way was I inferior to Li Daozong? A mere Immortal could become commander of a main legion, while I, who guarded Battle Heaven City for years, remained commander of the Reserve Guard Army! When the commander of the Third Army was promoted back then, I thought it was finally my turn. Yet the higher-ups favored Li Daozong, an Immortal, while I, a Saint, remained stuck as guard army commander! Everyone knows the guard army is inferior to the main legions. Having Li Daozong take my position should have been the absolute limit, but you saw what happened!" Li Daozong had been promoted, heading to a main legion! While I remained commander of the guard army! "Over that alone?" The Old Turtle sighed: "The guard army's responsibility was heavier! Safeguarding the peace of an entire region..." "Do you believe that?" Wu Peng sneered. "Everyone says that. But if I had asked the commanders of the main legions to swap places with me, do you think anyone would have agreed?" The Old Turtle had no words to offer. They certainly would not have agreed! Indeed, it was mere talk. The commander of a guard army truly fell short of a main legion commander. Yet the leadership had their overarching considerations. Being stronger did not necessarily mean being more suitable. "Isn't it simply because he belongs to the Li family?" Wu Peng laughed coldly: "Because we are not descendants of Sovereigns, whenever an opportunity arose, they received priority! They entered the military with general ranks, while we had to struggle for years on end... Since that is so, we could only fight for opportunities ourselves! Be it the Human King or the Sovereigns, everything they had was fought for with their own hands, was it not? Isn't the spirit of Neo-Martial about rebelling against everything? Then am I wrong to rebel against injustice?" With those words—boom! He threw a punch that shook the void. The Old Turtle's eyes shifted, his voice booming: "So all these years, you were awake the entire time? And your venture outside back then—you were never injured at all?" "A pity you remained awake. Otherwise... Battle Heaven City would have fallen into my hands long ago! What a shame... Old Turtle, you are merely the soul of a divine weapon, yet you work like a beast of burden for humanity. Why bother?" "You have truly betrayed us..." The Old Turtle instantly manifested his true form: a colossal shield blotting out the sky, crashing down to suppress him! One man and one turtle plunged into fierce combat. Meanwhile, Li Hao continued suppressing the armor. After a while, the armor stopped moving, and Li Hao let out a breath. The Origin imprint on the armor had been scrubbed clean! Wu Peng... With the Origin imprint washed away, he could imprint it himself. Reaching out, he gathered some of the dispersed Origin power, analyzed it for a moment, and soon formed a faint strand of Origin power in his palm. He pondered: What if I impersonate Wu Peng? The armor is here, and the Origin power is here. Next, he began observing Wu Peng—every word, deed, gesture, combat technique, move, and habit... The only thing missing was a trace of Red Moon power. What was on him had already been cleansed away. Perhaps... I need to visit the seal again and let that Sovereign taint me just a little. From beginning to end, he had not intervened. A traitor appearing in Battle Heaven City was unexpected, especially one of such high status. This disrupted some of his original plans. Still, it did not matter. Losing one Saint made little difference; those demon plants could replace a Saint anyway. He refrained from interfering, merely collecting the opponent's dissipating aura, Origin power, energy, and even vitality... Right now, he only wanted to know whether this fellow belonged to the Red Moon faction or Hong Chen's faction. If he belonged to the Red Moon, he wouldn't be of much use. After an unknown time, Wu Peng let out a fierce shout and tore through the void near a star. In the next instant, his face changed drastically—beyond the rift lay only endless void! He roared, "You lied to me?" Li Hao sighed. "The Turtle Guardian has already appeared; of course I lied to you... Did you only just realize?" Your reaction time is far too slow! Wu Peng was furious, roaring as boundless vitality surged forth. At that very moment, a massive sword materialized between heaven and earth. A colossal blade spanned the entire universe. Boundless energy, countless Dao powers, and even the surrounding lightning poured into it. In this instant, the great sword formed completely. Li Hao gave a soft chuckle: "Commander Wu, take a strike of my sword!" In a flash, as if carrying the might of the entire universe, that sword cleaved through heaven and earth, slashing downward! Wu Peng's expression changed wildly! The Old Turtle's expression shifted as well. In the next breath, locked by the sword, with a thunderous roar, the Saint-level physical body was cleaved directly in two. Yet it was already knitting back together rapidly. Li Hao struck only that single blow, making no further move. The Old Turtle sighed. In the next moment, the gigantic shield materialized, crashing down with a roar and battering the body into fragments. As a wisp of spiritual power surfaced, the Old Turtle bellowed and struck again—boom! Another slam of the massive shield, and with a pop, the spiritual power was crushed to bits! Wu Peng's voice reverberated with fury: "Old Turtle, I did not betray us from the start! It was only when I went out that time and saw the Star Gate sealed, leaving us with no way out! Since that was so, what was wrong with seeking a path of survival for myself? Comrades of so many years, yet for an outsider, you sever my flesh and shatter my spirit..." At this exact moment, Li Hao manipulated the Dao power. In the void, an origin path manifested, trembling violently in clash with the Dao Universe. The Old Turtle abruptly turned back to look at Li Hao. Li Hao looked utterly calm. Traitors... show no mercy! Those were not my words. The Old Turtle's expression fluctuated, countless thoughts swirling in his mind. Li Hao... truly was no longer who he once was! From beginning to end, he had struck only a single sword blow, sundering the physical body. Afterward, he merely drew out the opponent's origin path. Li Hao did not utter a single word. A quiet sigh. In the next instant, the Old Turtle shouted fiercely as a shield crashed into the void. With a deafening boom, a miserable shriek echoed across the universe as the Great Dao crumbled. Wu Peng's voice drifted out: "You... severed my Origin... Old Turtle... you... are truly venomous!" …… In an instant, the Old Turtle assumed human form and appeared beside Li Hao, his eyes complex: "Governor Li, are you... satisfied now?" Li Hao bowed slightly: "Do not misunderstand, Senior. This is how traitors ought to be treated. Otherwise, whether he lived or died would have mattered little to me. If even traitors are granted a glimmer of hope, others might follow suit." "Alas!" A sigh echoed between heaven and earth. In the next moment, the world spun, and one man and one turtle reappeared before the others. General Huai's expression shifted slightly, while Li Fuhai remained nonchalant. The Eighth Division Commander and Ninth Division Commander arrived swiftly, both in disbelief. The army commander... had fallen! Fallen completely! As division commanders, they were capable of receiving such notifications. How could this happen? And the one who had slain the commander was surprisingly the Turtle Guardian. They could sense this as well, for lingering resentment still coiled around it. Li Fuhai said nothing, merely glancing at Li Hao, who was fiddling with the armor. He thought to himself: This kid... looks so refined and cultured, like an educated scholar, yet his strikes are truly ruthless! He executed the man outright, and not only that—how on earth did he strip off that armor completely intact? At this moment, Li Hao also looked up, offering an honest, naive smile and nodding slightly to Li Fuhai. Soon, that smile dissolved into sorrow as he murmured softly, "Who would have thought that Commander Wu was corrupted by the Red Moon? What a tragedy..." Li Fuhai cursed inwardly. Dammit, humans truly are terrifying! For such a scoundrel to emerge among the new generation of humans, no wonder the demon race could never beat them. Even the Old Turtle was played like a fiddle—what an absolute bastard!