Eighth Division Commander Yang Wei still could not bring himself to believe it. Looking around at the others, his face was filled with shock. "The Commander was a traitor?"
Li Hao did not reply at all.
Whether he was or wasn't, I don't know.
The Old Turtle killed him!
Calling the Old Turtle along had been precisely for this purpose—it had nothing to do with him.
Not to shirk responsibility, but because he understood these Neo-Martials far too well!
If he had been the one to execute Wu Peng, then right or wrong, these Neo-Martials would feel uncomfortable and resentful. They would think Li Hao was too ruthless, that he had murdered their commander.
Cooperation with Battle Heaven City had not been easy to achieve.
Li Hao couldn't be bothered to stir up trouble over this.
And the Old Turtle was a clearheaded sort. Communicating and dealing with a powerhouse was sometimes far easier; a hothead like the Eighth Division Commander was impossible to reason with at times. Even if Yang Wei knew the killing had been necessary, he might still harbor resentment.
It was as simple as that.
Sure enough, the Old Turtle sighed. "Yes. Wu Peng said he was dissatisfied that Li Daozong was made commander of the Third Army while he remained commander of the Reserve Guard Army. That was why he was swayed by others after venturing out last time..."
"But..."
The Eighth Division Commander still found it hard to accept. Near breaking point, he said, "What's wrong with the Reserve Guard Army?"
He thought it was fine!
They were all soldiers, merely assigned to different posts. Did it really matter that much?
The front line was combat, but holding the rear was also a battle, wasn't it?
None of them spoke.
This was not an easy matter to discuss or judge. To some people, the commander of a frontline army was far, far superior to a guard army garrisoned in the rear.
No guard army commander had ever risen to become an army corps commander, whereas frontline army commanders who leaped to corps commander were countless!
That was the difference!
At this moment, the Ninth Division Commander's physical body did not seem to have fully reformed yet; threads of blood were still squirming across his flesh. A conflicted look appeared in his eyes. "Was it because of me?"
The Old Turtle remained silent.
It wasn't just because of that. Wu Peng had also resented how descendants of the Eight Great Families started from higher ground.
Take someone like Li Hao, separated by who knew how many generations: upon entering, had the Ninth Division Commander not kept him in check, he would have started directly at division commander rank. It was only natural for people like Wu Peng to feel disgruntled.
Now, Li Hao could actually understand that sentiment.
At this point, Li Hao steered the subject away, asking with a touch of perplexity, "Actually... I have some doubts of my own. Second-generation scions start from high positions. I don't know whether that's good or bad. If they didn't start high, wouldn't it mean their fathers struggled their whole lives for nothing, when all they sought was glory and prosperity for their families? Yet if they do start high, it feels terribly unfair to everyone else... Was Neo-Martial unable to resolve this either?"
This had been a problem since ancient times.
An emperor's son would never start at the same line as a beggar's son.
Their starting points were inherently different!
How could such a contradiction ever be avoided?
Neo-Martial didn't seem to have solved it either.
If everyone were treated identically, then for many people who had devoted their entire lives to sacrifice and warfare, wouldn't that also be a form of injustice?
The Old Turtle frowned slightly. "In truth, they only start slightly higher. But Neo-Martial also promotes the capable and demotes the mediocre! If someone fails to perform, they are quickly kicked down! Starting higher does not mean staying high for life! A higher starting point was also to reassure meritorious veterans—to let them know their sacrifices held value. If their offspring are incompetent, the opportunity was granted, and it was their own fault for failing to seize it."
Li Hao nodded. "Yet there will still be people like Wu Peng who believe this is unfair, right?"
"Inevitably. It's unavoidable."
The Old Turtle sighed. "This is also a test—a test of one's mindset and endurance. You can't leave every veteran who made immense contributions disgruntled just because a portion of people are dissatisfied, can you?"
Li Hao pondered. "What if you granted descendants of meritorious veterans honorary merits instead?"
The Old Turtle nodded. "That works too, except... sometimes it isn't so simple. Conferring nominal honors will still displease some people. Certain individuals feel nothing should be given at all. But... as you noted, Governor, they are descendants of heroes. If veterans struggle their whole lives, die in battle, grow old, and retire, are they to receive no consideration whatsoever?
"If that happens, people will think: 'If we fight our whole lives, and when we are old, unable to fight, diminished in strength, or killed in battle... won't we be left with nothing?'"
True enough!
Li Hao nodded again. "That is indeed a dilemma. Fortunately, in a cultivation world, average lifespans are long. I somewhat understand now why the Human King stopped concerning himself with later generations. There was simply no way to manage it! Looking after the meritorious comrades who fought alongside him in his own era was already more than a handful."
He had only brought it up to change the subject, with no intention of delving deeper into the philosophy.
Some matters were simply impossible to define as purely right or wrong.
Lavishly rewarding the meritorious veterans themselves was another method, but once those heroes attained high rank and great power, how could their children and grandchildren ever truly start from the very bottom?
This matter was too convoluted; pleasing everyone was impossible.
Switching topics, Li Hao continued, "Now that an issue has arisen with Commander Wu, I must worry whether other members of the Battle Heaven Army have been affected! Fortunately, Guardian Turtle has been here in Battle Heaven City all these years, so even if Wu Peng had the inclination, he lacked the opportunity. What I fear is that a portion of them might still have been influenced."
Worry surfaced on everyone's faces.
If so... wouldn't they have to kill even more comrades-in-arms?
That was an outcome none of them wished to see.
Li Hao continued, "If the influence is minor, it shouldn't be a major issue. My concern is if it runs deep. I suggest... we conduct an inspection of all the powerhouses who have currently awakened. As for those who haven't revived yet, we can leave them be for now! Furthermore, if someone is only slightly influenced—merely tainted by a trace of Red Moon power—we can purge the Red Moon energy and keep them under surveillance. If they prove to have done no wrong, execution may not be necessary.
"Even if Wu Peng tried to recruit people, they might not have known his true objective. Besides, Battle Heaven City has slumbered for so many years; Wu Peng likely never had the chance. No need for everyone to worry excessively."
Li Hao swiftly seized the initiative, saying, "Let's not dwell on this for now. The Ninth Division Commander should continue repairing his body. Time is pressing; we cannot afford any more delays. Now that Wu Peng has fallen, our troubles have only grown!
"Also, I have an idea. If Wu Peng was in league with the Zheng family, then perhaps impersonating him might yield unexpected rewards... Would you mind filling me in on the details regarding Wu Peng? His life history, his network of connections..."
In just a few words, he neatly glossed over the matter of having executed Wu Peng.
The Eighth Division Commander wanted to say something, yet did not know where to begin.
Originally, seeing Li Hao holding the commander's armor, he had intended to demand it back. But now that Li Hao claimed he needed it to impersonate Wu Peng and deceive the enemy, Yang Wei could hardly ask for it back.
The man had a legitimate use for it!
And then Li Hao added, "To make the disguise more convincing, I am considering whether I should temporarily assume Wu Peng's post as commander of the Reserve Guard Army. Under wartime regulations, if both Guardians and the division commanders agree, I would possess the authority to take over!"
"..."
Instant silence.
Commander of the Reserve Guard Army!
The supreme commander of their current military.
Even the Ninth Division Commander had previously only been acting commander!
The Eighth Division Commander grew anxious. "How can that be allowed?"
This was unacceptable!
Even if the commander had truly betrayed them, Li Daozong could take over the Reserve Guard Army. How could an outsider like Li Hao take the reins?
Even if it was only temporary... absolutely not!
They called it temporary, but if Li Hao refused to step down afterward, it wouldn't be easy to depose an army commander. Would the two Guardians have the gall to tear off all pretense and forcibly oust Li Hao later?
If he didn't step down, Li Hao would become the official commander!
From then on, he would be the legitimate top authority over the Reserve Guard Army!
This Li Hao... harbored ill intentions!
Since even Yang Wei thought this, one could imagine what the others felt. The Ninth Division Commander's eyes were complicated beyond measure.
*You... you planned this all along, didn't you?*
*I, the commander slated for promotion, haven't even assumed office, and you want to jump ahead of me.*
Li Hao said softly, "Please don't overthink this. Once I deal with the Zheng family, I won't need this position anymore, and I will naturally yield it to you all. A mere commander post is hardly what I, Li Hao, pursue, is it?"
"..."
Silence fell.
They exchanged glances, none speaking.
Could they... actually refuse?
Why did cooperating with Li Hao this time feel like inviting a wolf into the house? This Li Hao was far more aggressive than before!
When Wu Peng was slain, the Old Turtle had already felt that sense of powerlessness.
Now, refusal was even less of an option!
Li Hao had stated that he would impersonate Wu Peng to penetrate deep behind enemy lines and deliver a thunderous strike. That was risking his life, not enjoying a luxury. Granting him commander authority seemed practically necessary to make the deception airtight.
Refusing him would be dangerous and might even get Li Hao killed.
Could that still be called cooperation?
Therefore, they had no choice but to grant it!
The Old Turtle was torn in agony, but General Locust let out an internal sigh and soon spoke up: "Very well... As long as the Eighth and Ninth Division Commanders have no objections, then today, by agreement of the three parties under wartime regulations, we shall have Governor Li take provisional charge of the Reserve Guard Army!"
"General Locust!" The Eighth Division Commander panicked.
Li Hao murmured, "The Eighth Division Commander disagrees? Forget it then. How about this: let's hand the post of Reserve Guard Army commander to the Eighth Division Commander. He can take charge of eliminating the Zheng family traitors. After all, it's just a mere Heavenly King. Of course, hotheads love to put on a brave front beyond their abilities. My only fear is that instead of solving the enemy, he ends up destroying himself—which would be fine on its own, but what's terrifying is that he drags everyone else down with him!
"Some people can't accomplish something themselves, yet insist on rushing in recklessly. Dying on their own is their business, but when they drag down comrades, friends, and family, and still believe they did nothing wrong... people like that must be avoided at all costs!"
The Eighth Division Commander flew into a rage!
Those words were cutting to the bone.
"Cough, cough!"
The Old Turtle coughed, cutting off any further spat between the two, and said, "Let us proceed as Governor Li suggested. Everything is for the sake of slaying enemies and resolving traitors. Yang Wei, unless you have a better solution... carry out the order!"
The Eighth Division Commander was left speechless.
Meanwhile, Li Hao wore a faint smile.
To the side, Li Fuhai secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.
Of course, this outcome was only possible because Battle Heaven City was willing to compromise; otherwise, Li Hao couldn't have simply taken it by force of words alone.
In the past, their relationship had mostly been Li Hao relying on Battle Heaven City.
Now, the tables had turned.
Battle Heaven City seemed to rely more heavily on Li Hao.
The two Guardians said no more and looked toward the Ninth Division Commander: "Daozong, do you object?"
Li Daozong fell silent for a moment before speaking: "No... Just... Forget it, let it be!"
He didn't know what to say either.
He only knew that today's Li Hao had indeed changed drastically. Unbeknownst to them, Li Hao had backed them into a corner where they had no other choice, effortlessly seizing the supreme command of the Battle Heaven Army.
In his heart... he didn't even know how to describe the feeling.
In his view, the previous Li Hao had been better.
Back then, Li Hao wouldn't play schemes against them.
Back then, if Li Hao wanted the position of supreme commander, he would say so openly—he might say, 'I want to be commander... just to stand above you all.' But the current Li Hao was not like that.
He wouldn't say it!
He pressured you into compromising voluntarily. If you didn't compromise, a thorn would be left between both sides.
Even in executing Wu Peng, he hadn't struck the blow himself, but had acted through Guardian Turtle!
Li Hao had changed.
To the side, Li Hao maintained his smile, as if oblivious to their thoughts, when in truth he knew them all too well.
It was just... the past was gone, never to return.
Originally, he had wanted to move everyone with sincerity, genuine intent, and all he had to offer.
Originally, he had thought: you take a step back, I take a step back, and we discuss everything amicably.
Yet... that didn't work.
These Neo-Martials—even Battle Heaven City, with whom he had continually collaborated—harbored a degree of resistance in every cooperative effort, always desiring to hold the initiative. Could that ever work?
On that day in Boundless City, he had realized: it couldn't!
Only when he himself held the initiative could things succeed.
Otherwise... he would rather not cooperate at all!
If he could not seize control, then in the end, the ones who suffered might not be him, but those around him. His teacher and the others were gone; he could not allow anything to happen to anyone else.
*You were the ones who taught me to act this way!*
*You claimed I lacked the Human King's domineering authority. I don't need the Human King's domineering authority; I only need you to follow my lead, and that is enough.*
Moments later, the voices of the Old Turtle and the others echoed across Battle Heaven City:
"Wu Peng, Commander of the Reserve Guard Army, suffered grievous wounds in bygone years. Today, his origin dispersed, and he has completely passed away—a sorrow for the Battle Heaven Army, a sorrow for Battle Heaven City... An army cannot go a single day without a commander. Eighth Division Commander Yang Wei and Ninth Division Commander Li Daozong jointly nominate Eleventh Division Commander Li Hao to serve as acting commander of the Reserve Guard Army!
"Through joint deliberation of the City Lord's Manor, General Locust, and the military, this resolution has been passed under wartime regulations!
"Li Hao shall take command of the Battle Heaven Army's Reserve Guard Army!"
The next moment, Li Hao's voice rang out: "I am humbled and apprehensive, yet I, Li Hao, shall spare no effort to live up to this trust, and lead the Battle Heaven Army toward a greater future!"
At this moment, throughout the city, the revived soldiers stood at attention.
Some were bewildered!
The Commander had fallen?
It was a sorrowful event, but after so many years without their commander awakening, his final demise and failure to revive... was something they were somewhat prepared for.
This was also the consensus reached among the leadership: there was no need at this time to announce that he had turned traitor, which would only destabilize the army's morale.
Death, on the contrary, would fuel the Battle Heaven Army's fighting will.
In the next breath, torrents of energy and waves of spiritual power converged throughout the city. Low, resounding shouts shook the surroundings:
"Congratulations to Commander Li!"
"Congratulations to Battle Heaven City!"
The shouts reverberated across the city!
There were few words and little resistance, for their conviction was simple: no matter who assumed command, as long as the Battle Heaven Army endured and could still fight, that was enough.
Yet some doubts lingered.
Why wasn't it the Ninth Division Commander?
Why was it Li Hao, a powerhouse of the new era?
At that moment, Li Hao donned the armor. The orange armor radiated brilliantly in all directions.
His face concealed by the visor, he hovered in the air, his voice booming like thunder: "I, Li Hao, will do everything in my power to revive all brothers of the Guard Army! Battle across the lands once more with me! Uphold the might of Neo-Martial! Uphold the might of Silver Moon! Slay the traitors, slay the invaders, slay the Red Moon powerhouses, and slay all who dare resist! As a descendant of the Li family, I bear the duty and obligation to lead you all in finding the Human King, in finding the Supreme! The heart to Battle Heaven shall never be extinguished!"
"Battle Heaven!"
"Battle Heaven!"
"Battle Heaven!"
The entire city shouted in unison. At this moment, the spirit to Battle Heaven seemed to ignite everyone. Even the soldiers reduced to mere lingering thoughts shouted at the top of their lungs!
Then Li Hao's voice rose once more: "Effective immediately, the remnants of the Heavenly Star Army shall be incorporated into the Battle Heaven Army Reserve Guard Army and assigned to the Eleventh Division! Regiment Commander Zhao Long shall serve as acting commander of the Eleventh Division!"
Zhao Long was the strongest among the Heavenly Star Army's silver regiment commanders, having stepped into the Immortal Realm with formidable strength.
Incorporating the Heavenly Star Army into the ranks facilitated unified command; within a single army corps, communications could be restored.
Furthermore, Li Hao now controlled the nine major base stations, allowing him to adjust communication channels at will.
This bound them much closer together.
Not only that, once they joined the Battle Heaven Army, Li Hao no longer needed to command them as a third party. He became their direct superior, and incorporating them under the mantle of Battle Heaven Army Commander was effortless.
Previously, his rank as division commander had not been sufficient to integrate this contingent of the Heavenly Star Army.
In the city, over a thousand Heavenly Star Army soldiers felt surprise and a jolt of shock.
However, joining the Battle Heaven Army... was not unacceptable. The Battle Heaven Army was a major army corps, while they were merely a minor corps. Li Hao's rank as commander was on par with—or even slightly higher than—their own army corps commander.
"Understood!"
The cry rang out as the regiment commanders accepted the command one after another. Zhao Long, the Immortal Realm commander, shouted back: "By your order! The designation of the Heavenly Star Army... is revoked! From this day forth, we are all soldiers of the Battle Heaven Army's Eleventh Division!"
Li Hao nodded slightly.
To the side, both the Eighth and Ninth Division Commanders wore complicated expressions.
The moment Li Hao took office, he expanded the Battle Heaven Army. The Eleventh Division had existed previously, but it had lacked personnel—just Li Hao alone... no, Hong Yitang as well. Originally, there had also been Southern Fist, but after Southern Fist's death, his title had vanished.
Now, the Eleventh Division of the Battle Heaven Army had consisted solely of Li Hao and Hong Yitang; no one else had received official certification.
Yet now, with the Heavenly Star Army absorbed into it, the Eleventh Division's strength soared instantly. Although it did not number over ten thousand like other divisions, this detachment was the cream of the Heavenly Star Army's surviving elites!
Over a thousand such warriors were not necessarily weaker than a ten-thousand-man division.
Right at this moment, a majestic power erupted from Li Hao's body. Waves of vitality, surges of blood-qi, immortal power, Saint Dao power, and origin power spilled forth, blanketing all directions!
"Presently, countless soldiers remain as mere lingering thoughts, their armor shattered, their consciousness fading... and their combat strength severely reduced. I, Li Hao, am limited in ability and cannot revive everyone for now. For the time being, I can only restore the physical bodies of certain company and regiment commanders! Once we slay more formidable enemies and seize their flesh, blood, origin, and immortal power, I will spare no effort to revive every single comrade-in-arms!"
In that instant, one silver warrior after another and bronze warriors alike suddenly felt flesh and blood sprouting within the hollow spaces beneath their armor!
Vast amounts of immortal power merged into them. Not only that, Dao meridians coalesced within.
However, these Dao meridians had not yet connected through to the Bright Star Realm.
Li Hao was in no rush to have them pierce through to the Bright Star Realm; doing so now was still difficult.
Even so... it prepared them for the future.
These people were a synthesis of new and old physical bodies; whenever needed, they could pierce through to the Bright Star Realm at any time and transform into physical bodies of the new era.
The powerhouses all felt this clearly.
None of them spoke.
There was nothing they could say!
Could they stop Li Hao from reviving their comrades?
Wouldn't that make them villains?
At this moment, metallic clangs echoed through heaven and earth as warrior after warrior struck their breastplates in feverish excitement, bellowing: "The Commander is peerless!"
Beneath his armor, a smile flashed across Li Hao's face.
Soldiers... didn't care about subtle politics.
Provide them with ample benefits, lead them against real enemies, win them renown, and champion the Neo-Martial spirit... In truth, they were far easier to win over than anyone else.
And he was merely offering borrowed flowers to Buddha.
A Saint had just died; the flesh, blood, and power of a Saint were more than enough to revive many people. Even if the Eighth Division Commander was displeased, what choice did he have? Preserve a traitor's corpse, or revive their fallen comrades? The choice was obvious.
Had Li Hao used Wu Peng's flesh and energy to revive outsiders, Yang Wei might still have grumbled.
Yet now... the Eighth Division Commander looked on with helplessness and mixed feelings.
What could he say?
He couldn't say a word, nor could he leak this truth to anyone. To do so would incite division between the soldiers and their commander!
The Eighth Division Commander glanced at Li Hao and snorted inwardly: *This guy is a villain!*
He was deeply unhappy about Li Hao becoming commander, yet... he had no way to refuse.
At this moment, Li Hao spoke again: "The Eighth Division Commander has not yet restored his physical body, has he?"
"I refuse to restore it!"
The Eighth Division Commander snorted coldly. Li Hao replied softly, "If you refuse to restore your body, does that mean you are deliberately unwilling to contribute to exterminating the enemy? Very well, since that's the case..."
"Are you saying I'm afraid to fight?"
"I implied no such thing. But without reviving your body, your strength is severely depleted, barely at the Peak Realm—around first tier Sun-Moon. I have plenty of Sun-Moon cultivators under my command..."
"You..."
"Will you revive it or not?"
"I will!"
The Eighth Division Commander's armor shook. He found himself completely unable to resist, feeling as though he had sunk into a quagmire from which he could not extricate himself!
Li Hao smiled, reached out, and produced a mass of flesh and blood. "The physical body Director Wang originally used was blasted apart just now, but rest assured, this is condensed from the immortal power of several demon plants, not from that person. The Eighth Division Commander need not feel disgusted."
"Hmph!"
Li Hao said coolly, "Contempt of a superior officer—is that how a soldier behaves?"
Choking on humiliation, the Eighth Division Commander bellowed, "Understood!"
Li Hao nodded slightly. "That's more like it. Obedience is a soldier's bounden duty! As for other matters, they are secondary concerns; superior officers will handle them. The Eighth Division Commander need only remember one thing: follow orders!"
"Yes, sir!"
No matter how aggrieved he felt, the Eighth Division Commander had no recourse before this young superior officer and could only respond with utter vexation.
Li Hao nodded. "Very well. Eighth and Ninth Division Commanders, go and restore yourselves! We have already wasted a great deal of time and cannot squander any more. I hope you will recover your full combat power as soon as possible!"
With that, he added, "Furthermore, regarding the demon plants in Battle Heaven City: apart from General Locust, all other demon plants shall be integrated into the Demon Plant Division! Excluding the original thirteen demon plants and General Locust, there are twenty-two demon plants, all at the Immortal Realm, who will join. The Demon Plant Division now has forty-eight demon plants—fourteen at the Peak Realm and thirty-four at the Immortal Realm. For now, Shan Qi shall serve as commander of the Demon Plant Division, and Di Wei as deputy commander..."
General Locust opened his mouth, then hesitated.
*Just like that, you took all my descendants?*
*And you deliberately singled me out and separated me from them?*
*Is that appropriate?*
Li Hao added, "General Locust is a Saint with grave responsibilities to handle and has no leisure for such trivialities. Let Shan Qi, Di Wei, and the others handle them! General Locust... what do you think?"
What else could he think?
General Locust said softly, "Then let it be as the Gover—Commander desires!"
Li Hao smiled. "General Locust is truly noble and generous! If we win this battle, the harvest will surely be immense. I will prioritize reviving all comrades of the Battle Heaven Army!"
With that, he turned to Li Fuhai: "Sea Suppressing Emissary, you oversee the demonic beast lineage. It's just that at present, the beast lineage does not have many members... Mount Cang has plenty of demonic beasts, but they are rather weak. In addition, there are still beasts ruling over mountains across Silver Moon. Once I settle these matters, I will certainly establish a Demonic Beast Army!"
Li Fuhai didn't mind much and replied casually, "As long as the Governor keeps it in mind, do as you see fit."
Li Hao nodded. "Then... train hard and recover to your peak state as soon as possible!"
With that, storage rings flew out one after another. "These contain energy stones and the Spring of Life... Seniors, recover well. Every additional bit of combat power brings an extra shred of hope!"
The others said no more, taking their storage rings and departing swiftly.
Beneath his armor, Li Hao smiled once more.
Things felt comfortable now.
This vast Battle Heaven City... quietly, without a sound, he had seized a dominant position. While he didn't command all of it yet... what was the rush?
It was only because his heart was not completely blackened!
If it were pitch-black, he could scheme to get the two Guardians killed in this coming battle, and Battle Heaven City... would be entirely his.
Naturally, there was no need for that.
Li Hao thought to himself: his seizure of power was not merely for the sake of authority, but because he no longer wanted these Neo-Martials to hesitate and vacillate time and again. Every hesitation of theirs brought immense losses upon him.
Since they responded neither to gentle persuasion nor blunt force... he would simply use both carrot and stick!
Having resolved these matters, Li Hao vanished in an instant.
He needed to enter the Bright Star Realm to make further arrangements.
Li Fuhai had previously suggested turning the Bright Star Realm into a labyrinth, which was actually a sound idea and a fine method. Currently, anyone who entered could see through the entire universe. In that case, he would spend a bit more effort shifting things around.
Moreover, he might use this opportunity to open all thirty-six meridians of his Sword Dao.
...
Just as Battle Heaven City fell quiet again.
In the Great Desolation.
Several Desolation Beasts repeatedly urged the Lord of Dahuang to launch an invasion into the Eastern Continent and conquer the east.
They, too, could wait no longer!
Meanwhile, outside the Great Desolation, the vanished Liu family ancient city lurked faintly beneath the earth.
Most ancient cities were currently dormant and could not be mobilized.
Yet the Liu family's Hurricane City had silently shifted to the vicinity.
Inside the city.
Hong Chen sat in the City Lord's Manor, resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
The Great Desolation...
The plan to revive the world through slaughter had been foiled by Li Hao. As for the plan to awaken the Forbidden Sea, Ying Hongyue had done something to cause the sea to cease fluctuating altogether.
Now, only by overturning the Great Desolation was there a chance to stabilize the world once more.
He could think of this.
What about Li Hao?
Previously, he had underestimated Li Hao, only for Li Hao to silently storm Boundless City and reduce his plans to ashes. Hong Chen no longer looked down on him.
"If he knows as well... will he appear in the Great Desolation?"
Thoughts flickered through his mind.
He chuckled ruefully to himself. When had he ever imagined that someone from this era would repeatedly foil his plans?
He looked up at the sky and sighed faintly.
The Red Moon Sovereign had become a sword hanging over his head as well.
Otherwise, had he been able to step out by force, there would have been no need for such trouble.
At this moment, like Li Hao before him, he felt pressured from all sides. Stepping out would cause the seal to loosen, allowing the Red Moon Sovereign to break free.
Staying inside meant he could do nothing against Li Hao's faction.
And Li Hao was continually suppressing the arrival of the second resurgence, which also ran counter to Hong Chen's interests.
"Li Hao thinks I will overturn the Great Desolation... and the King of Dahuang probably thinks so too..."
Earlier, he had sent a faint phantom clone to seek out the king, but the other party had refused to cooperate—which was within expectations.
"Li Hao... King of Dahuang..."
Thoughts crossed Hong Chen's mind, and he suddenly smiled faintly.
"What if... the Great Desolation expands?"
If he wished to walk out, the world's resurgence was not the only way. If chaos expanded, he could roam freely within the chaotic zone, isolated from the heaven and earth. However, chaos eroding the heaven's will might also loosen the seal.
Still, as long as it was kept within controllable bounds, he might be able to walk out again.
"Furthermore, Star Suppressing City on the Eastern Continent... does it have something to do with me?"
The thought resurfaced. Unfortunately, he had not seen anyone from the Xu family last time and failed to locate the ruins of Star Suppressing City; he had no idea where the Xu family had fled.
Star Suppressing City... taking that name might be linked to him.
If the Great Desolation expanded eastward, he could perhaps go take a look.
...
At the same time.
In Dali.
Ying Hongyue shook his head with a sigh, frowning slightly. "This Qian Wuliang was a nobody before, yet he has proven exceedingly troublesome!"
Beside him, Flying Sword Immortal had lost her former ethereal, transcendent grace.
At this moment, she looked rather disheveled.
Her long hair hung loose and untidy, and she said with bitter resentment, "He is infuriatingly persistent! Over these past few days, scores of our members have fallen by his hand. Bastard! What do we do now? He has joined hands with the King of Dali, and the Dali military has no shortage of powerhouses. After several clashes, our losses have been severe. How does this Qian Wuliang manage to discover our whereabouts every single time?"
The Three Great Organizations had always prided themselves on secrecy.
Yet this time, they could not escape his pursuit. Like a bloodhound, he locked onto their positions again and again. Combined with his combat strength having reached mid Sun-Moon—rivaling the Immortal Realm—and working in tandem with the King of Dali and Jiang Li, virtually no one in the Three Great Organizations besides Ying Hongyue could stand against them.
After several encounters, she, Yama, and the Haotian Mountain Master had suffered significant losses.
Whenever Qian Wuliang looked at them, his eyes held a nauseating gleam, as if gazing upon peerless treasures, his mind set solely on taking their heads!
For no other reason than Li Hao's decree: only by claiming the head of one of the Three Great Organizations' leaders would Qian Wuliang's mission be considered complete.
Qian Wuliang knew full well why he had been given this assignment.
He also knew that if he failed to accomplish it, he would likely never return to Li Hao's inner circle. His selective saving of people last time had been seen through by Li Hao, and he knew that only by slaying a leader could he atone for his fault!
Thus, in just a few short days, the Three Great Organizations found life in Dali a hundred times more miserable than before!
Qian Wuliang pursued them relentlessly without rest, tracking them down time after time. With every encounter, he devoured a portion of their members, entirely unconcerned about casualties on his side—after all, those dying were Dali people!
And the King of Dali, eager to expel and eradicate them, had no choice but to accept casualties and follow Qian Wuliang in relentless pursuit. Both sides suffered losses, with only Qian Wuliang standing alone as the sole representative from Heavenly Star.
Ying Hongyue took a deep breath before speaking: "Withdraw from Dali... Only once we leave Dali will the King of Dali and his forces desist..."
"Flee again?"
Yama's voice was rough, edged with fury. "From the Central Region we fled to the north, and from the north we fled to Dali! Now we leave Dali again—where do we go? Where else can we possibly go?"
Dali was already the far north!
Further north lay the barrier of heaven and earth, the very limit of the world where none could tread.
Ying Hongyue remained silent for a moment. "To the Divine Kingdom! We cannot go to the Great Desolation—it's too dangerous. Both Li Hao and Hong Chen's faction are keeping a close watch on it! Shuiyun has allied with Li Hao, so now... our only option is the Divine Kingdom!"
"To the Divine Kingdom?"
The others frowned. "Li Hao slaughtered scores of powerhouses in the Divine Kingdom earlier, and it's said even Saint-tier deities were killed. Going to the Divine Kingdom now... to seek cooperation with them?"
Ying Hongyue said softly, "We can only go there! Deities can still revive... Furthermore, the Moon God will not perish so easily. In addition, if I join hands with the Moon God, I might be able to help her restore some of her combat strength... Her power is sealed within Silver Moon! Right now, she is at her lowest point and harbors deep hatred for Li Hao. If I help her regain some strength to step into the Saint Realm, perhaps... we will usher in a period of peace."
The Divine Kingdom lay in the far west, while they were currently in the far north. At the thought of having to flee yet again, everyone felt an ache in their hearts.
Once upon a time, the Three Great Organizations had run rampant across the world; now, like scurrying rats, they fled day in and day out without a moment's rest.
Even as they spoke... Ying Hongyue's brow furrowed slightly.
The next instant, a light chuckle drifted in from outside: "Here they are!"
Boom!
A pair of fists shattered heaven and earth in an instant, and the mountain peak crumbled into dust. The King of Dali emerged, looking grim and cold. "A bunch of rats, actually hiding here after all. General Qian truly possesses formidable methods!"
Cultured and refined, Qian Wuliang smiled. "This time... we must not let them slip away so easily. At the very least, we must slay the others beside Ying Hongyue!"
With that, he looked toward Ying Hongyue, a red gleam flickering in his eyes as he chuckled softly, "Ying Hongyue, the Marquis said you are troublesome, that you are his greatest adversary. I would like to see: will you remain here in Dali to entangle with us, or... flee to the western Divine Kingdom to seek out the Moon God and the others?"
Ying Hongyue frowned slightly.
Looking at Qian Wuliang, he remained silent for a long moment before saying, "How about coming over to my side? Coming to Dali is practically an exile for you; Li Hao does not value you, and he may even wish to kill you with a borrowed knife. Come to me, and you may command anyone beneath me. I would even consult you before taking action... With you and me joining hands, why submit to another's orders?"
He let out a light laugh. "You have ambition. Why bend your knee to Li Hao?"
Boom!
Battle erupted. The King of Dali couldn't be bothered with this chatter and struck directly!
Ying Hongyue did not intervene. Flying Sword Immortal and the others were surprisingly formidable; though weaker than the King of Dali and his cohort, they could still hold their ground for a time. Ying Hongyue kept his gaze fixed on Qian Wuliang, his brow furrowed.
Qian Wuliang beamed brightly. "Ying Hongyue, if you want me to join you, fine—come recruit me once you have completely rid yourself of the Red Moon power. As you are now... you are not qualified!"
With that, he called out, "Your Majesty the King of Dali, beware the eruption of the Forbidden Sea..."
The King of Dali froze. In the next moment, he punched downward into the earth. With a thunderous boom, a subterranean river surged forth, sweeping across heaven and earth in towering waves, eroding everything in its path and expanding rapidly.
The surrounding lands quickly corroded into an ocean.
The King of Dali's face changed!
Such terrifying corrosive power?
If this continues spreading, won't Dali be devastated?
Ying Hongyue reached out to seize the subterranean river, causing it to churn violently, yet he kept his eyes locked on Qian Wuliang in a frown. Qian Wuliang looked back at him, and after a moment, said again, "He won't dare let it keep spreading. If it spreads further and the Forbidden Sea spins out of control, he won't be able to rein it in, and he will be doomed as well!"
Ying Hongyue's expression shifted again. He glared coldly at him. "Fascinating. Now I am certain: you can peer into human hearts! Qian Wuliang, that is not an ability worth bragging about. Li Hao and his crowd will never tolerate someone like you!"
Qian Wuliang laughed. "Leader Ying is worrying needlessly. The Marquis is far more broad-minded than you imagine!"
With those words, a surge of power welled forth.
Divine abilities unleashed!
In an instant, countless members of the Three Great Organizations in all directions suddenly lost control, roaring and howling like rabid beasts.
Ying Hongyue's face twisted slightly!
Damn it!
"Hmph!"
A cold snort resonated between heaven and earth. In all directions, the frenzied members calmed down, yet in that brief span, a massive number of them were slaughtered by the Divine Guards and temple priests.
At this moment, Qian Wuliang's voice echoed: "Leader Ying, hand over any one of Yama, Flying Sword Immortal, or Haotian Mountain Master, and I will cease pursuing you. Otherwise..."
"Ridiculous!"
Ying Hongyue snorted coldly, appearing right before him in a flash. A whip manifested in his hand, and with a single lash, the void shattered.
Yet Qian Wuliang vanished instantly. The next moment, a golden gauntlet smashed forward with a thunderous roar.
Above, Jiang Li roared, his body transforming into white bone as he instantly took over from the King of Dali, utilizing immense Origin Martial power to suppress the other three leaders!
Ying Hongyue's brow furrowed deeply.
Encountering this Qian Wuliang... had gone terribly.
The man could peer into hearts!
Yet... how had he managed to track them down time after time?
He considered his movements exceptionally secretive. Even if someone could read minds, or were literally a roundworm in his stomach, they shouldn't be able to instantly track them down every single time.
Looking down at the members of the Three Great Organizations, sudden realization dawned on him.
Qian Wuliang, that vile rogue, must have left imprints on these members that even I failed to detect! As long as I keep these members with me, I cannot shake him off.
The crucial part is that his imprints actually escaped my detection!
Not far away, Qian Wuliang's eyes flickered as he said softly, "Leader Ying, you wouldn't be thinking of abandoning the others and fleeing alone, would you? Or perhaps you wish to slaughter them yourself? As a hegemonic lord, butchering your own followers just to take refuge... who would dare follow someone like that?"
Ying Hongyue felt a surge of rage!
A powerful surge of energy manifested instantly, cloaking him from view. Qian Wuliang's eyes flashed with sudden pain, but he chuckled, "Impressive. Leader Ying is practically invincible in the mortal realm. Your Majesty, be careful! There is still concealed power within him; he merely fears that unleashing too much will draw the attention of heaven's will. He possesses Red Moon power inside him, and his Eight Great Families bloodlines are unbalanced. If he erupts fully, he can easily be overtaken by Red Moon corruption... Yet it seems much diminished. Where did Leader Ying discharge that Red Moon energy? Could it be... into the Forbidden Sea?"
Ying Hongyue's expression shifted violently. In the next breath, he let out a fierce roar and cracked his whip, surprisingly swatting away the King of Dali's gauntlet. He vanished and reappeared directly above Qian Wuliang's head in a flash.
This time, a pair of gauntlets materialized on his own hands—the fists of the Zhao family.
He drove a punch straight at Qian Wuliang!
This man had to die.
Otherwise, he was far too dangerous. How did Li Hao dare keep such a person around, without fearing he might eventually die at his hands?
And this Qian Wuliang... was actually willing to be driven by Li Hao. It seemed Li Hao had made tremendous progress lately; otherwise, how could a person like Qian Wuliang be reined in so easily?
The explosive force behind this punch was terrifying!
Even the King of Dali was startled. Seeing Qian Wuliang on the verge of being crushed to death, he felt a wave of horror; if Qian Wuliang died here, it would truly be difficult to answer to Li Hao.
He hadn't expected Ying Hongyue to be this shockingly powerful. Li Hao had warned him to be careful before, but he hadn't taken it to heart. Only now did he realize his mistake!
Ying Hongyue's explosive power right now was approaching the sixth or seventh tier of Sun-Moon—utterly terrifying!
Whereas Qian Wuliang was merely at the fourth tier of Sun-Moon.
Just as he grew anxious, Qian Wuliang vanished in an instant. Even Ying Hongyue couldn't clearly see how he had disappeared; the punch hit empty air, taking him aback.
The next moment, as if realizing something, Ying Hongyue suddenly barked, "Break the delusion!"
Boom!
Energy rioted and the void shook. In a flash, Qian Wuliang reemerged, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face filled with disbelief: "What a formidable technique..."
Ying Hongyue frowned. "You are more impressive. You actually distorted my perception; you were right beside me, yet I failed to detect you. Qian Wuliang... your abilities are so bizarre, while Li Hao styles himself as righteous. As I said, he will never tolerate you!"
Qian Wuliang chuckled. "How could that be..."
The next instant, he fled wildly.
Ying Hongyue instantly appeared where Qian Wuliang had just been, his expression grave. This fellow's abilities were far too bizarre, almost giving the impression of precognition; before Ying Hongyue had even struck, Qian Wuliang knew the blow was coming.
A troublesome creature!
Li Hao dispatching this man to deal with him was quite a move.
Meanwhile, the King of Dali charged in once more. This time, he was enraged. Gauntlets appeared on both of his fists. With a furious roar, his twin iron fists detonated, shattering the void in an instant!
This time, he had brought out his second gauntlet. Seeing this, Ying Hongyue could only sigh in helplessness.
This King of Dali... was an idiot too!
"Retreat!"
With a low bark, he vanished instantly. Flying Sword Immortal and the others, their faces full of bitter grievance, fled one after another. Below, vast numbers of the Three Great Organizations' members were slaughtered!
Before leaving, the leaders scooped up what people they could, but of the tens of thousands of members they once had, less than a tenth could be taken away.
All four leaders fled frantically.
Just as the King of Dali was about to give chase, Qian Wuliang warped back and shook his head: "Do not pursue! If we push him further, Ying Hongyue will erupt... Wear him down bit by bit! Let's head toward Mount Cang. If they are fleeing, they will most likely head west. Inform the Marquis and have him seal off the western Divine Kingdom..."
The King of Dali frowned, glaring at him for a long while before speaking: "Stop staring at me. Looking at you makes me sick! If I were Li Hao... someone like you would have been slaughtered long ago!"
Qian Wuliang smiled. "Which is why... Your Majesty is not the Marquis, is that not so?"
The King of Dali snorted, not bothering to say more.
At this moment, he wondered if Li Hao had dumped this fellow over here because he couldn't stand him either.
Every time, before you even opened your mouth, he seemed to know what you were going to do and say. It was deeply unsettling.
After a brief silence, he suddenly said, "Qian Wuliang, you'd best use that ability of yours sparingly. Otherwise... the way I see it, you will not escape death!"
"My thanks to Your Majesty for your concern..."
Qian Wuliang laughed. "Refraining from using it... would only make people worry more. If I hid it away, wouldn't they suspect I harbored ulterior motives?"
The King of Dali was struck dumb!
That was true too!
Knowing he had such an ability, if he kept it hidden, wouldn't people suspect him even more?
What a contradiction.
Qian Wuliang added, "Besides, the Marquis doesn't actually care about such things. Your Majesty underestimates him."
"Is that so?"
Noncommittal, the King of Dali said no more.
He glanced in the direction Ying Hongyue and the others had fled and said in a heavy voice, "That man is exceptionally difficult to deal with as well. After several encounters, we have only managed to wipe out some of his subordinates..."
"That is enough!"
Qian Wuliang's smile was radiant. "Grind him down bit by bit until all his people are gone. Turning him into a lone recluse, a stray dog—the Marquis prefers it that way! Even if he could be killed, he cannot be struck down rashly; otherwise... it would easily trigger a catastrophic upheaval! What we must do is clip his wings and reduce his years of accumulated foundation to ashes! His fleeing to the west is a good thing as well, but his subordinates must not escape! Let him go west... That man still has ambition. The western Moon God may not necessarily best him in a fight. If he manages to seize the power of Silver Moon, it will actually counter the Red Moon Sovereign to some degree, and it will also eliminate one of the Marquis's enemies... When he and the Moon God clash, whichever one dies will not destabilize the seal. Only by having them contest each other can this be achieved..."
The King of Dali frowned slightly, offering no rebuttal.
Ying Hongyue was tied to the seal, and so was the Moon God. If the two clashed, they would indeed check and balance each other.
Still, he said, "Is Li Hao not afraid of nurturing a tiger that brings calamity later? If the two merge, they might become even more troublesome."
"Not as troublesome as the Sovereign!"
Qian Wuliang shook his head. "What the Marquis wants is for them to hold that Sovereign in check. It is better if Ying Hongyue wins; otherwise, the Moon God's recklessness might easily trigger the seal. If Ying Hongyue wins, he is far too shrewd to ever trigger it. The Marquis actually hopes he comes out on top!"
The King of Dali's expression shifted slightly. "Li Hao knew all of this beforehand?"
"I don't know... that is, I don't know for certain; it is merely my speculation. After all, if the Marquis truly wanted to kill Ying Hongyue, he probably could have done so long ago. Sending only me this time might have been with this very intention..."
With that, he chuckled. "Let us not guess at the Marquis's thoughts. Your Majesty should not misunderstand; I am merely voicing my assessment."
The King of Dali frowned in silence.
He cursed inwardly!
Previously, he hadn't thought much of Li Hao's circle, but now he felt more and more that none of these people were good sorts.
Fight all you want!
As long as Ying Hongyue left Dali, he couldn't care less about what happened elsewhere.
It was good that they were leaving; he hoped that bastard cleared out soon.
With Qian Wuliang refusing to leave, he felt just as uncomfortable.
And Qian Wuliang spoke once more: "Your Majesty need only lend me a hand to slay one of the other three leaders, and I will naturally depart. Among the other three leaders, Yama is the easiest to kill; lately, his frustration has reached the point of bursting... With just a bit of provocation, he will surely choose to stay and fight to the death. Slaying him... shall be next time!"
With that, he looked back toward the south.
There lay Silver Moon.
Though he had only been gone for a few days, he knew Li Hao had certainly not been idle and was surely scheming something. If he did not return soon and missed the opportunity, he might fall behind once more.
He had to swiftly kill a leader and return as early as possible.
In these times, opportunities lay everywhere.
He did not want to drag things out with Ying Hongyue either. That man was extraordinarily difficult to deal with and could not be killed carelessly; continuing to clash with him would only leave Qian Wuliang at a disadvantage. For now, he had only secured an advantage because Ying Hongyue did not understand him.
*Force him toward the west... That is probably what the Marquis is thinking as well, isn't it?*
The thought flickered through his mind, but he quickly reined himself in. He could not keep thinking such things; continuing to dwell on them might lead to disaster next time.
Chapter 352