The East Wind Has Arrived

The Bright Star Realm. The cosmic void churned violently, and the Great Dao pushed back in overt rejection. Li Hao let out a thunderous roar, swelling his body like a primordial giant splitting the heavens. He hefted the colossal city with a single arm, bearing it upward and driving it directly into the Bright Star Realm. Lightning flared across the void in an instant! It was as though Li Hao’s audacity had thoroughly provoked the wrath of the Great Dao. Bringing in a few individuals now and then was one thing, but hauling an entire metropolis inside was utterly intolerable to the Dao universe. Stars converged from every direction. Even from the most distant recesses of space, celestial bodies flickered and drifted forward. Stars that Li Hao had never noticed before rapidly floated into view, unleashing the power of the Great Dao as if to suppress them all—to crush the ancient city and subdue the world! This was the very first time the Dao universe had erupted without the provocation of the Red Moon’s power. Li Hao’s expression turned grim. Though he had anticipated this outcome, seeing the Dao universe actively target them still filled him with helplessness. Thunder crashed all around! Li Hao sprang into the air, shattering a bolt of lightning with a single fist. In the next breath, a torrent of thunderbolts swept toward him. Li Hao pulverized them and absorbed their Dao energy. Under ordinary circumstances, he loved nothing more than shearing wool from the Dao universe, but today… he worried that there was far too much lightning for him to handle. If he took too much, the Dao thunder might genuinely obliterate him. He appeared formidable, but in truth, he was merely a cultivator with thirty-six opened Dao meridians. Against the entire Dao universe, he remained utterly insignificant. Lightning battered down upon Li Hao without pause. His eyes flickered, and he bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Battle Heaven Army!" "Present!" Below, tens of thousands of Battle Heaven soldiers roared in unison! "Do you dare fight the heavens?" "We fight the heavens!" Their shout shook heaven and earth! "Open your Dao meridians! Meet the Dao thunder head-on, seize its Dao energy, and today… we shall battle heaven!" "Battle heaven!" Deafening roars echoed throughout the firmament. In the next instant, tens of thousands of soldiers surged skyward, accompanied by several gold-armored powerhouses. Within their bodies, Dao meridians began to awaken. Only several thousand had regained physical flesh; the rest had yet to reconstruct their mortal bodies. Yet at this moment, they still vaulted into the sky without hesitation, just as they had in the ancient past, daring to brandish their blades against heaven and earth! Thunder erupted violently! Rumble! "Form ranks!" "Meet the enemy!" "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Several division commanders bellowed at the sky. For countless ages, the Battle Heaven Army had had no enemies to fight, trapped in a solitary city. Today, they could wage war against heaven itself, clashing with the thunderbolts of the Great Dao. Their fighting spirit flared, their murderous aura shaking the heavens. Within the ancient city, several Saints hovered in midair, their expressions grave. The Turtle Guardian sighed softly, saying nothing. Awakening Dao meridians, converting to the new Dao, and following Li Hao into battle against the Heavenly Dao… for ordinary rank-and-file soldiers, that was more than enough. Their new commander seemed quite capable. To soldiers, no matter how many misgivings or grudges they held in peacetime, once they fought a desperate battle side by side, they were brothers in arms. Add to that substantial benefits—opening Dao meridians, growing stronger—and their commander became an invincible leader in their eyes. Just like that, they were entirely Li Hao’s men. Reality was just that simple. Besides, Li Hao’s position as commander had been bestowed by Battle Heaven City itself. His title was legitimate, not stolen by force or intrigue. At this moment, the Old Turtle understood that through these recent twists and turns—whether intentional or accidental on Li Hao’s part—Battle Heaven City had changed masters. At the very least, the Battle Heaven Army now belonged to Li! *Wu Peng… why did that bastard have to commit treason?* The Old Turtle’s heart bled with regret. Had Wu Peng not turned traitor, the commander would still be in place, and Li Hao would never have found such an opportunity. Boom! While the Old Turtle was lost in thought, tens of thousands of Battle Heaven soldiers swung their swords against the heavens! The Dao thunder shattered, and waves of Dao energy poured into the army formation. The ranks greedily siphoned the power of the Great Dao. Energy of the new Dao swiftly merged into their bodies. These soldiers possessed virtually no origin aura to begin with; after all, even in the Neo-Martial era, establishing an origin path was something reserved for Rank-9 and the Peak Realm. Few ordinary soldiers ever reached such heights. Converting to the new Dao was, in fact, remarkably straightforward for them. It was only difficult for the likes of Director Wang because they had to preserve their origin paths and connect them to the new system, lest their lifelong cultivation go entirely to waste. Now, the Battle Heaven soldiers rapidly unlocked their apertures. The method of aperture opening had long since been transmitted through their armor. The gold-armored division commanders also clashed against the lightning. Their auras were difficult to convert, but as the troops beneath them transformed their energy signatures, the Dao’s hostility toward them visibly waned. They had all become people of the new Dao! The Great Dao had no reason to slaughter those who propagated its new path. All followers of the new Dao were children of the Dao universe. Li Hao absorbed an immense quantity of Dao energy. His thirty-six Dao meridians, which had not yet fully opened, roared in resonance as his final aperture unlocked. Within his body, the thirty-six meridians completed a flawless cycle. Thirty-six meridians constituted a fundamental cycle—the most basic framework of his system. The moment this basic cycle was forged, an invisible power enveloped Li Hao. The thirty-six meridians coalesced into a small sword within him. Though far less formidable than a sword forged of three hundred and sixty meridians, it had taken the shape of a miniature dagger. Simultaneously, Li Hao’s physical body began to undergo a transformation. Near his original physical Dao meridian, several new white meridians flickered into view. Completing the cycle had actually stimulated more physical Dao meridians! Sure enough, there was more than just one. As Li Hao achieved this first minor cycle, three additional physical Dao meridians manifested. Counting his original one, he now had four in total. Physical Dao meridians were easy to identify, as they appeared saturated with a milky white liquid. Previously, unlocking a single one had generated vast amounts of this white liquid to reinforce his physical frame. According to Southern Fist and the others, this was the primal power of life itself. Li Hao beamed, shouting once more, "Attack! Gather the Dao thunder, strengthen yourselves, and fight heaven and earth again!" "Fight!" The troops roared back. It had been far too long. Even if their current opponent was not flesh and blood, but merely the thunderbolts of the Great Dao, they celebrated, cheered, and howled with ecstatic abandon, like tigers leaping from a cage! At this moment, even the division commanders—even the Eighth Division Commander—shouted with abandon, chasing after the Dao thunder as if frolicking. As their formation converged, tens of thousands of soldiers waged war against heaven and earth. The lightning dissipated, and the Dao receded. Stars emerged in the surrounding space. Though they did not shine with brilliant splendor, Li Hao knew they represented soldiers who had successfully awakened new Dao meridians. Among the Battle Heaven Army, troops were already opening their paths. Most of the thunder that had battered the ancient city melted away. Seeing the distant stars prepare to retreat back into the depths of the cosmic void, Li Hao bellowed, "Capture the stars! Seize the stars and pluck the moon! Gather them in one place! Pluck the stars with your bare hands and display our army's glory!" Capture the stars! At these words, the soldiers were ecstatic. What grand majesty—to seize the stars and pluck the moon! In truth… Li Hao simply wanted them to act as manual laborers. Moving stars all on his own was simply too exhausting. With so many people present, and with these stars emerging from the deep cosmos, it was the perfect chance to seize them and fit them into his circulating system to perfect his River of the Great Dao. Of course, he could not phrase it that way to his men; he had to call it "plucking the stars and seizing the moon"! Instantly, tens of thousands of soldiers charged out, casting massive nets forged of divine weapons toward the stars. The military naturally had methods for handling such phenomena. Star after star was rapidly hauled in. Li Hao’s voice rang out again. "Circulate the stars! Lay down the Myriad Star Formation! Sort them by color, anchor them in place, and embed them into the River of the Great Dao to form the Grand Dao Array!" "Understood!" The soldiers remained utterly thrilled. However, several powerhouses began to see through his trick and silently cursed under their breath. *Damn it!* Li Hao was truly shameless. He was treating the Battle Heaven Army like common porters! Yet none of the soldiers realized it. They were overjoyed, thoroughly convinced that fighting across the cosmos, capturing stars, and battling primordial chaos was the glorious pinnacle of a soldier's life. As a garrison force, they had not seen a battle like this in eons. Waging war in the universe, trading blows with the Great Dao… how exhilarating it sounded! One by one, the soldiers captured stars and guided them into their proper positions. The circular River of the Great Dao, once rather sparse, steadily thickened and grew far more vibrant, shining with greater brilliance than ever before. Next, Li Hao turned toward the rear, sending a voice transmission to the others. "Expand Battle Heaven City!" The Turtle Guardian and his peers did not object. Burning a massive quantity of energy stones, they caused the ancient city to expand countless times in an instant! Li Hao’s voice boomed once more. "Warriors, lift Battle Heaven City together! Claim the center of the universe! Occupy the center of the Great Dao! Let it blanket heaven and earth! Battle Heaven City… shall be the First City of the new Dao universe! From this day forth, the title of First City in the Bright Star Realm belongs to Battle Heaven!" "Battle Heaven!" The soldiers were nearly mad with fervor. *We, Battle Heaven, have claimed the center of the Dao universe!* Meanwhile, the Saints looked on in speechless despair. It was over! The Battle Heaven Army had been completely swindled by Li Hao. Tens of thousands of soldiers returned, their blood surging hot. Raising their arms to the sky, they hoisted the hovering metropolis. Li Hao, clad in his orange armor, raised an arm and waved forward. "Advance!" "Forward!" Boom! The vitality of tens of thousands of soldiers shook the firmament. The grand city hovered in midair, advancing toward the center of the starry river. …… Inside the ancient city. Li Fuhai could not help transmitting his voice. "That boy… I don't know how well he commands in real war, but he's certainly a master at firing up morale. We haven't even encountered an enemy, and the Battle Heaven Army looks like they’ve taken performance-enhancing drugs." Li Hao was young, so his tactical acumen in large-scale warfare was likely mediocre at best; he had only engaged in a few skirmishes against the Dali army, and even then, never in full force. Still, one had to admit that an educated man was different. At the very least, he was first-rate at chanting slogans. It was just moving a city, yet he made it feel like an epic crusade. In reality, the massive city was advancing on its own momentum. Did anyone truly expect a few tens of thousands of soldiers to haul such a metropolis? Even if they could, it would take ages! A city built to hold fifty million people could not be casually hoisted by a few tens of thousands of soldiers who hadn't even reached the Peak Realm. The Turtle Guardian remained silent, and General Locust said nothing either. The Ninth Division Commander had already led his troops out to assist in "moving the city," so nobody answered for a moment. Seeing this, Shan Qi immediately transmitted, "Lord Zhenhai Envoy speaks in error. No matter how small the task, the Battle Heaven Army is bursting with fighting spirit, and the Marquis has led them with extraordinary skill…" "……" Li Fuhai cast a sidelong glance at Shan Qi, speaking with deep undertones. "Shan Qi, whether demon plants or demon beasts, we are all demons!" *Do you understand?* *Stop picking a fight with me!* *We are both of the demon race and must stand together against humanity!* This old block of wood was starting to show signs of vying with him, which was not a good sign. Today's Li Hao had subdued Battle Heaven City, wielded Saint-level combat strength himself, commanded a Dao universe, and was constantly refining his new Dao. One could say that his foundation was already firmly established. Moreover, it was said that Li Hao was not alone; Silver Moon boasted numerous Sun Moons. Reaching Sun Moon meant stepping into the Peak Realm. Mid Sun Moon was on par with the Immortal Realm, and while late Sun Moon might not match a Saint, it was comfortably situated between the Immortal Realm and the Saint level. Li Hao’s wings were fully feathered now. Of the eight ancient cities, Boundless City was destroyed, Battle Heaven City was in the bag, and Sword City was sealed. As for the other five, without the Zheng family backing them, none were a match for Li Hao anymore. At this moment, Li Hao already showed clear signs of unifying the world. He could even contend with Heavenly Kings! Only Sovereigns remained beyond his reach. The colossal city steadily shifted into the center of the starry river. With a thunderous boom, it settled into the cosmic void. Below, a golden passageway merged seamlessly into the ancient city. Li Hao called out again, "Where is the Demon Plant Army?" "Present!" Several dozen demon plants materialized at once. "Guard this place! Day and night, extract Dao energy to stabilize this domain! Pour in the Spring of Life to reinforce the passageway, and erect a sealing barrier! If anyone attempts to force their way in, execute them on the spot!" "Understood!" The demon plants were overjoyed. At long last, they had an official assignment. Even if it was merely guarding a passageway, it seemed far from trivial. At the same time, Li Hao’s mind stirred, and he added, "Harnessing the might of the myriad stars, the Demon Plant Army can attempt to draw power from various regions to this nexus, stabilizing the passageway and weaving the entire river of stars into a single entity!" He wanted these demon plants to extend their root systems into the starry river, drawing Dao energy from different sectors to constantly reinforce his physical and divine ability Dao meridians. Whether it would work, only time would tell. If it did, the scattered starry river would be bound into a cohesive whole. The demon plants raised no objections. Although they did not cultivate the new Dao, siphoning a bit of Dao energy would not necessarily fail. Demon plants were complex life forms capable of growing on virtually any energy source; they were simply accustomed to the origin path. In the next instant, countless roots spread out, blanketing the void. Translucent, crystalline roots pierced through heaven and earth, reaching toward the distant sectors. Battle Heaven City sat like the hub of the world as a circular cosmic starry river gradually took shape. The Saints watched all of this with strange expressions. What kind of creation was this? They could not say for sure, but they knew one thing: with Battle Heaven City anchored here and forty-eight demon plants guarding the passageway within their sealing formation, even if a Heavenly King broke in, the defenses would at least hold them off for a considerable time, if not suppress them outright. Li Hao looked around and nodded slightly. Soon, however, he muttered, "Strong on defense, but lacking in offense…" That was indeed an issue. Whether humans or demon plants, their defensive array was formidable, but their offensive and lethal power fell short. There were simply not many Immortals in the city. Looking at things now, Silver Moon actually possessed quite a few Immortals. A cultivator at the fourth tier of the Sun Moon realm commanded Immortal-level power, and all of them cultivated the new Dao. Over the past few days, Li Hao had been preoccupied with these matters, but through the Bright Star Realm, he could still catch glimpses of the outside world. People like Bright Sword were likely nearing the mid Sun Moon realm. Setting peak combat power aside, Silver Moon's mid-tier strength was rapidly catching up to Neo-Martial. A cohort born with innate Dao bodies progressed astonishingly fast in this new era, at the dawn of a new Dao. Neo-Martials, on the other hand, had lost their origin universe and spent countless years sealed in stasis. Except for the traitors, none recovered quickly. And even the traitors cultivated slowly without their origin path. Without Immortal-level power and origin energy, advancing in cultivation was excruciatingly hard. Li Hao mused that Neo-Martial powerhouses were not so terrifying after all. Once a group of Silver Moon cultivators reached the late Sun Moon realm, even Saint-tier Neo-Martial experts would no longer be insurmountable. Of course, it would likely take the ninth tier of Sun Moon to contend with a Saint… and the odds of losing would still be high, but that hardly mattered for now. Without issuing further orders, Li Hao unleashed the Dao energy within him. The three newly discovered physical Dao meridians were quickly pierced open. Three great dragons soared into the void, swiftly merging into the passageway. Within his body, he still retained only his thirty-six awakened Dao meridians. At this moment, Li Hao held no other divine ability meridians; they had either been gifted to others or merged into the passageway. His power remained intact, but he appeared more like an ordinary mortal, since his meridians held no distinct elemental attributes, save for his sharp, unyielding sword intent. Over these past few days, Li Hao seemed not to have grown much stronger, merely opening a few meridians. In reality, he felt his work repairing and organizing the entire Dao system had yielded immense results. The energy in his body was no longer chaotic, but exceptionally pure! His flashy tricks had diminished, replaced by sheer, refined essence. The expansion of the starry river would also be of tremendous help to his future cultivation. Compared to his battle at Boundless City, Li Hao had only added a few meridians, but if he were to face Han Jiang again today, he would never be suppressed into waiting until the final moment to counterattack. With his current strength, he could cut Han Jiang down with ease! His physical body had also strengthened noticeably. Within him, all three hundred and sixty Dao meridians were faintly visible, though the other three hundred and twenty-four each had only a single aperture opened. What Li Hao needed to do next was initiate his second major cycle. Unfortunately, time did not permit it; that fellow in Star Suppressing City might have grown suspicious. He had to tread carefully and eliminate the threat as soon as possible. After a brief rest, Li Hao opened his eyes and landed in the center of the ancient city. He looked toward the Saints. "Seniors, please sever an avatar each. They need not be too strong. With Battle Heaven City stationed here, I can enter at any moment… You may accompany me to pay a visit to our fellow Daoist, Yu Hai!" Whether the man was truly named Yu Hai was beside the point. Li Hao had plotted for days, and his sole aim was to strike him down. The others exchanged glances and complied without objection. Soon, several avatars manifested, none of them particularly powerful. Li Hao reached out, gathering a wisp of origin aura. An orange suit of armor materialized, soon taking on the exact appearance of Wu Peng. The Saints winced at the sight. *He really plans to impersonate Wu Peng!* Li Hao’s true body shed the armor and donned simple azure robes, a bright smile on his face. "That should do it. Everything that could be plotted and prepared has been done! If we still fail to slay this man… then it can only be blamed on fate, not a lack of effort!" With that, he glanced at the gates of Battle Heaven City and vanished. A moment later, two massive characters, heavy as mountains, were swept into Li Hao’s grasp. Panting heavily, he absorbed the two words into his sea of consciousness, where they vanished in an instant. The Turtle Guardian and the others felt another pounding headache! They had agreed to this beforehand, yet seeing Li Hao actually take those two characters filled them with sorrow. Battle Heaven City… would truly bear the surname Li from now on. They had clearly started out as mere partners… how had it suddenly come to this? It was entirely unexpected! "Let's go, seniors! If battle erupts… adapt as needed! A being who is likely a Heavenly King—and no ordinary one at that—will not be easy to deal with. But once we succeed and fell a Heavenly King… everyone will feast!" No one spoke. In the next instant, the avatars, along with the avatar Li Hao had fashioned, followed his true form and vanished into the passageway. …… The Eastern Continent. Near Star Suppressing City, the sentries had grown sparse of late. Most powerhouses had headed toward the Great Desolation in the east. With the recent incursions from the desolate lands, signs of an imminent war were everywhere. Governors from all directions were marching their armies forward, and experts stationed across the realm, including Heaven Sword and Tyrant Saber, were converging eastward. Near the ruins of Star Suppressing City, a small tree stood atop a mountain peak, gazing into the distance. The Great Desolation… had invaded! Or rather, the desolate beasts had invaded. A face emerged upon the trunk of the small tree, staring toward the eastern horizon in deep contemplation. With the Great Desolation and its beasts invading, reducing the land to chaos… could he finally emerge? Chaos severed heaven and earth! If he stepped out under the cover of chaos, would he be free from Silver Moon’s restrictions? If so, that would be a tremendous blessing. As these thoughts crossed his mind, he thought of Li Hao, who had been missing for days. What was Li Hao doing now? Had he simply left him alone, or had he spent the past few days scheming how to deal with him? Even so, he felt no fear. In this era… he was an invincible existence. No matter how strong Li Hao became, he could not possibly match him. Even if Li Hao dragged over a few powerhouses from the main cities, they could do nothing to him. Besides, locked in this location, those people couldn't even reach him. And even if they did… it wouldn't matter. As he pondered, the void rippled. Li Hao, who had not been seen for days, actually appeared! What was more, he was accompanied by several origin avatars. Seeing these avatars, the figure in the small tree stirred. Li Hao had quite a bit of face after all. There was the Old Turtle from Battle Heaven City, General Locust, and Lord Zhenhai from Silver Moon's Zhenhai Manor—all of them Saints! Was this who he had gone searching for over the past few days? And that armored powerhouse… was that Wu Peng from the Battle Heaven Army? That made four Saints! No wonder Li Hao had disappeared for days; he had gone to recruit these figures. Persuading them must have cost him dearly. Still, they were merely avatars! "Senior Yu Hai!" Li Hao walked at the fore, smiling brightly as he strode through the air. "Senior asked me to seek out members of the Eight Great Families. I am unfamiliar with the other ancient cities, so finding them was difficult. However, the seniors from Battle Heaven City and Lord Zhenhai were ecstatic to learn you were still alive, and insisted on coming along…" General Locust’s avatar took the initiative to speak. "Yu Hai? Weren't you with the Shen family in Star Suppressing City? How did you end up in the lands of Silver Moon?" The face on the tree took on an expression of helpless sorrow as he reiterated everything he had previously told Li Hao. Li Fuhai’s avatar feigned honest simplicity. "So that's how it is. You are actually His Majesty the Human King's hidden trump card…" "Who knows if that's true?" "Wu Peng's" voice was chillingly cold. "We cannot blindly accept such claims! Yu Hai was the vice captain of the Shen family guard and fought in the early wars of the Neo-Martial era. Why would he leave the Shen family so casually? Furthermore… he is merely a Peak Saint. Would His Majesty's trump card be nothing more than a Peak Saint? To counter the Red Moon, setting aside a Sovereign, shouldn't there at least be a Heavenly King?" Yu Hai explained, "A Heavenly King would have drawn the Sword Venerable's attention. The Sword Venerable did not wish for outsiders to interfere in Silver Moon's affairs…" The Old Turtle beamed warmly. "Commander Wu, do not rashly cast doubt upon a comrade-in-arms! Especially a senior from the early Neo-Martial era. I am more curious about what our fellow Daoist has discovered that could resolve the threat of a Sovereign. Young Friend Li spoke to us, but we could hardly believe it. Who possesses such means that leaving a few items behind could eliminate a Sovereign? That… is what we truly wish to know!" Yu Hai hesitated. "This place is not suitable for discussion… it is easily spied upon by Heaven's Will, which has already been corrupted by the Red Moon Sovereign. If you truly wish to know, step into the city, and all will be made clear." "Hmph!" "Wu Peng" snorted coldly. "You are a Peak Saint, while we are mere avatars. If we step inside and you harbor ill intent, wouldn't we be completely wiped out? Our true bodies cannot leave their posts, and losing our avatars would be an intolerable blow. What is there that cannot be said openly? What is there to fear?" "……" As the group bantered back and forth, Li Hao spoke up. "Senior, I have brought the people you requested. The problem now is the invasion of the Great Desolation… You previously mentioned that once the desolate beasts pushed into this region, you could help me deal with them. Was that true or false?" Li Hao’s smile faded, his brow furrowing as he looked east. "The desolate beasts have Saints—more than one! I consider myself reasonably strong, perhaps even capable of contending with a Saint!" Yu Hai’s heart jolted! Li Hao could contend with a Saint? Had he truly grown powerful so quickly? Li Hao, seemingly uninhibited, continued solemnly, "Senior, setting aside the Sovereign for now, I have an idea: let the desolate beasts push all the way here! I can pin down one Saint beast… but can Senior help me slay the rest? Those beasts are utterly detestable!" Thoughts raced through Yu Hai’s mind. Slaying desolate beasts… a second resurgence… but chaos had to be eradicated first. Only when the desolate beasts invaded this area could he move freely. Weighing his options, he replied swiftly, "Naturally, that is my duty! When desolate beasts invade Silver Moon, their goal is to seize Neo-Martial territory. My movements are currently restricted, preventing me from leaving, but if they come here… I can certainly strike and eliminate them! However, my strength is merely at the Saint level. If there are too many, it will be difficult. Do you know how many Saint beasts they possess? With my Peak Saint strength, matching two or three is manageable… any more would be perilous!" Li Hao shook his head. "I don't know yet. I must scout ahead to assess the situation. Moreover, the desolate beasts have evolved considerably compared to the past; they can actually perform Neo-Martial combat arts. It is terrifying…" "Desolate beasts can perform Neo-Martial combat arts?" At these words, not only was Yu Hai baffled, but the other avatars were utterly bewildered. How was that possible? The two systems were entirely different! Li Hao appeared equally vexed. "I have no idea why, either… What's more, those beasts capable of using Neo-Martial techniques can even take human form! It was always said that desolate beasts could never assume human shape!" Everyone was stunned! The Old Turtle and the others looked at him with genuine bewilderment. Was he speaking the truth, or making things up? Even they had never heard of such a thing! Was Li Hao spinning another web of lies? But what was the point of fabricating this? Yu Hai was equally bewildered. "Desolate beasts taking human form… and using Neo-Martial combat arts? Could you be mistaken, young friend? Could they be Neo-Martial humans operating within the territory of the desolate beasts?" Li Hao shook his head. "I cannot be certain, but it seems highly unlikely. I saw an exceedingly close bond between the beasts and those humanoid creatures… Still, I must investigate further to be sure." Li Hao’s expression was heavy. "These entities are difficult to deal with. If I allow them to spread here, to the heart of the Eastern Continent, it means relinquishing half the eastern lands. If Senior cannot crush them, I might lose the entire Eastern Continent!" He then turned to the avatars. "It is a pity the seniors' true bodies cannot appear. Otherwise… if push comes to shove, Senior Yu Hai, could you… could you use that special treasure or technique to help us slay those beasts?" "Well…" Yu Hai hesitated. "At present, that method cannot yet be deployed." "Is that so?" Li Hao frowned. "Then that will be troublesome. I fear the desolate beasts have more than two or three Saints… In any case, I will have to trouble Senior this time. Seniors, please continue your discussion here while I scout the Great Desolation!" "Young friend… won't you come inside and sit for a moment?" "The matter is urgent. Let us resolve the Great Desolation first!" Li Hao cupped his fists. "Seniors, please speak at your leisure. I shall depart for the Great Desolation!" Without waiting for another word, he vanished from the spot. "An impatient lad, indeed!" The Old Turtle chuckled. "Since he isn't coming, let us go inside and chat. There is no rush. If this requires the cooperation of the Eight Great Families, we can search for them once the crisis in the Great Desolation has passed… Though the Zheng family appears to have turned traitor, so gathering all eight may prove impossible." "I heard rumors of that earlier. Alas, the Zheng family hailed from Star Suppressing City… Who could have anticipated this…" Yu Hai said no more, gesturing forward. "Fellow Daoists, please, after you!" A ring of light materialized. Yu Hai glanced in the direction Li Hao had gone, feeling a touch of regret. Was Li Hao’s refusal to enter born of suspicion, or was he truly pressed for time? These avatars before him were exceedingly weak! They claimed that losing an avatar would be an intolerable blow, yet Yu Hai silently sneered; did any of these avatars even possess Rank-7 or Rank-8 strength? He had never seen such pitifully frail projections! They clearly harbored deep suspicions toward him, maintaining extreme vigilance. Slaying such weak avatars was hardly worth the effort. They had likely sent them merely to test the waters. And Li Hao had not been entirely truthful either. Blessed by Heaven's Will and bolstered by the Great Dao, Li Hao might very well possess the means to transport the true bodies of Neo-Martial powerhouses if he set his mind to it. That was Yu Hai’s own assessment, and the likelihood was high! For now, he had to play the long game. If he could lure over the true body of a Saint, that would be ideal. If not, he would wait until the desolate beasts invaded this region before making his move. Furthermore, had the other main cities completely fallen into ruin? Why had he not seen a single expert from the other cities roaming the world? The restrictions of this era existed, yes, but they were not overly severe against the avatars of weaker individuals. With the Great Desolation on the verge of invading, why hadn't a single Neo-Martial avatar come forward to investigate? It made no sense! Did none of them care? Or had none of them awakened? Surely it hadn't come to that! …… At the same time. Outside ancient cities such as Star River City and the Wulin Alliance—excluding the Hong family's ancient city, whose location remained hidden, and Hurricane City, which had vanished—garrisons were stationed outside every stronghold. Outside the Wulin Alliance, the Seventh Elder’s avatar glared with fury at the thousand Demon Hunting Martial Guards and Liu Yan. "The Wulin Alliance has already allied with Heavenly Star! Why are our avatars forbidden from entering and leaving? No one has ever dared restrict Neo-Martial, and no one can!" Liu Yan was clad in silver armor, her aura shaking the heavens. Sun Moon power radiated from her, accompanied by the surging, torrential force of water. Behind her, the thousand guards stood united, their collective water force swelling into a crushing wave. Liu Yan’s voice was devoid of its former coquettish warmth, carrying an icy chill. "The Marquis has ordered that those who betrayed Neo-Martial in ancient times are concealed within the main cities. To prevent catastrophe, we ask the seniors to remain calm. The Marquis is currently tracking the traitors. Once the list of conspirators is confirmed… the Marquis will personally apologize to you all. Until then… no one may enter or leave! Violators… will be executed without mercy!" "Kill!" Behind her, the thousand soldiers roared. Nearly all had stepped into the Thousand Struggle realm, with many having reached the Mountain Sea realm. Their combined momentum surged into the clouds. The Seventh Elder’s expression shifted. He had not expected this group to attain such terrifying might in so short a time. He snapped, "Are you suspecting that my Wulin Alliance harbors traitors as well?" "Precisely!" Liu Yan replied with cold conviction. "Anything is possible! Everything the Marquis does is for your own good, for the sake of peace, and to preserve our alliance. Does the Wulin Alliance intend to break our pact? If so… the heavens shall strike you down!" The Seventh Elder was beside himself with rage! It was utterly humiliating! If his true body could step outside, he would swat her to death with a single palm! Sun Moon was formidable, but it was merely the Peak Realm. Even if he ranked near the bottom of the Nine Elders, his true self was at the peak of the Immortal Realm. Yet now, as heaven and earth grew increasingly fragile, the avatar he projected was even weaker than before. Li Hao’s faction had actually blockaded the ancient city, an attitude starkly different from their previous encounter. Previously, powerhouses from the ancient cities could come and go freely. Now, even communications were severed; the base stations had likely been seized by Li Hao, cutting off all contact with the outside world. Even if they had cultivated agents in the mortal realm, with a thousand soldiers encircling the perimeter, who would dare approach? Just as the Seventh Elder was fuming, another phantom silhouette manifested from the ground. "Second Elder!" The Seventh Elder hastily greeted him. The Second Elder was currently in charge of the city, and he had not expected the Second Elder’s avatar to emerge as well. The ethereal figure spoke softly. "General… the Wulin Alliance does not wish to clash with Governor Li. However… the main cities are in turmoil, and we fear a great catastrophe looms. All our sources of information have been severed. Could the General enlighten us on what has transpired?" Liu Yan replied calmly, "Greetings, Senior! We do not know the exact details either. All we know is that the Zheng family of Boundless City was likely the core of the traitors. They sought to revive the world by slaughtering vast numbers of experts, but their plot was unmasked by the Marquis. Afterwards, Boundless City suddenly vanished; its mechanisms were activated, and it has disappeared without a trace. The Marquis is currently pursuing it… Furthermore, it is said that Hurricane City has also vanished. To activate a main city, the Marquis suspects there are fully awakened, peerless powerhouses presiding within. Fearing similar occurrences in other cities, the Marquis stationed us across the realm as a precaution!" At these words, the Second Elder’s expression changed, and the Seventh Elder was visibly shaken. "You say Boundless City and Hurricane City have both vanished?" "Yes!" Liu Yan nodded. "Now the Marquis worries whether the Zhou family's Star River City might also suffer an upheaval. After all, they all originated from Star Suppressing City! The Marquis actually places great trust in the Wulin Alliance, which is why he only stationed our unit here. At other cities, thousands of Demon Hunting Martial Guards stand guard, forbidding any avatar from stepping out under pain of immediate execution! Seniors… this is a measure born of necessity!" Both elders inhaled sharply. Two main cities had vanished! No wonder! No wonder there had been such massive disturbances lately, and they had felt something was amiss—even the final threads of connection had been severed, as if those cities had vanished completely. It made sense now; no wonder Li Hao, who had previously been so accommodating, had deployed troops to forcibly suppress the cities and bar their experts from leaving. If three main cities had truly turned traitor… the consequences were unimaginable! Liu Yan added, "Furthermore, the Marquis asked me to convey a warning: beware of internal betrayal. Traitors have infiltrated the main cities, and even Battle Heaven City was reportedly compromised. Do not place blind trust in anyone…" The Seventh Elder could not help voicing his displeasure. "Watch your words! Such claims will sow panic everywhere! How could our Neo-Martial comrades…" Liu Yan cut him off directly. "These are the Marquis's words. Whether you believe them or not is your own affair! Panic is far better than blind ignorance! Had the Wulin Alliance not forged a pact with Heavenly Star, these words would never have been spoken!" She continued coldly, "I do not care whether you believe it! Until the Marquis rescinds his order, not a single soul may step out of the Wulin Alliance, lest Heavenly Star take offense! For the sake of Heavenly Star, Silver Moon, and the entire human race… endure if you can. If you truly cannot, the Marquis has also issued an order… courtesy first, force second! Anyone who dares trespass will be deemed an enemy of Heavenly Star, and we shall fight to the death!" The Seventh Elder even began to suspect she was fabricating Li Hao’s orders. He had met Li Hao before. During their previous encounter, the young man had been so agreeable, refined, and reasonable in his negotiations. He had looked every bit the scholarly gentleman. Could such domineering words truly have come from Li Hao's mouth? He could hardly believe it! It was simply too overbearing! They were accustomed to being overbearing toward their enemies; this was the first time someone had been so overbearing toward them. Liu Yan paid them no mind, keeping her eyes fixed on them with a faint glimmer of provocation. *Execute them!* A flame burned in her chest, though she spoke of it to no one. If these people dared cross the boundary, she would strike down their avatars without hesitation, shatter the peace, and wait for the Marquis to free his hands and obliterate this ancient city! If he could bring down Boundless City, he could destroy the Wulin Alliance! Courtesy first, force second… she had delivered the warning. If they refused to listen, she had no choice. When the Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army was established, she and the others were appointed commanders. Yuan Shuo and Liu Long had vanished, and she understood everything. Who wouldn't? Boundless City had been taken! Could taking an ancient city ever be easy? Did she really need to guess what had happened? All that talk about going on a secret mission… Liu Yan knew that she might never see those people again in this life. She choked down her grief, never mentioning it before Li Hao, knowing full well that Li Hao suffered far more than she did. And so… she also knew that if any ancient city dared break the peace now, Heavenly Star’s thunderous retribution would follow swiftly! Li Hao still needed to win over a portion of the Neo-Martials, so he would not initiate a falling out. But if the other side tore up the agreement first, he would hold nothing back. Opposite her, the Seventh Elder seemed poised to argue further, but the Second Elder spoke softly. "In that case… we shall not leave. There is nothing pressing outside anyway, and our true bodies cannot move. Since young friend Li Hao has issued this order, there is no need to make things difficult for them. Old Seven, let us return." "Second Elder, this…" "Return." "…Very well." The Seventh Elder turned back indignantly, feeling deeply aggrieved. What was wrong with Li Hao? Had he undergone a change of heart, or was the person they had met before not Li Hao at all? It was utterly bizarre! Seeing them retreat into the ancient city, Liu Yan furrowed her brows in slight disappointment. However, she did not push her provocation further. It was one thing if they stepped out on their own, but deliberately forcing a break in relations would be difficult to explain to Li Hao. …… At the same time, similar scenes played out outside the other ancient cities. Li Hao had truly locked down the cities, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving. Furthermore, a detachment of the Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army constantly scoured the realm, searching for the location of the Hong family's ancient city. Whenever an avatar of an ancient powerhouse appeared, they descended with thunderous force to destroy it. Now, Li Hao’s orders were absolute: any ancient powerhouse avatar that showed itself was to be treated as an enemy and slain on sight! The restrictions of heaven and earth prevented these ancients from deploying their true bodies, and their avatars' strength was drastically curtailed. Faced with Sun Moon powerhouses and formations of a thousand Mountain Sea and Thousand Struggle cultivators, they were helpless to resist. …… This was the state of Silver Moon, but upheavals were unfolding everywhere. The Snake King of Mount Kui called upon all demon beasts under heaven to gather at Mount Kui and forge a sacred sanctuary for the demon race. In the north, the White Saint Sect secretly sent word across the realm, declaring its willingness to take in powerhouses to resist tyranny… without specifying whose tyranny, merely proposing to rebuild Heavenly Star. Across the Four Seas, the troops of Shuiyun hunted down pirates in every quadrant. Piracy on the Four Seas was brought to an abrupt end. Empress Dowager Shuiyun shocked the world with a single sword strike, annihilating the Starlight Pirate Crew—the most formidable pirate fleet of the North Sea—slaying all their Mountain Sea and supernatural experts under her blade. At this moment, apart from the invasion of the Great Desolation in the east, almost every corner of the world had fallen into quietude. Even the Western Divine Kingdom maintained such a low profile that it seemed not to exist at all. Yet beneath the surface, fierce undercurrents surged. Countless fugitives fled toward the northern White Saint Sect, while vast numbers of demon beasts migrated toward Mount Kui. Mount Kui bordered the demon tribes of Mount Cang, serving as a gathering ground for demons across the realm—at the very least, far safer than remaining scattered. Of the Seven Divine Mountains, Heaven Sword Divine Mountain was disbanded, Haotian Divine Mountain had vanished, and Futu Divine Mountain, Phoenix Divine Mountain, and Heavenly Roc Mountain had been wiped out by armies led by Heaven Sword and Tyrant Saber. As for the remaining two divine mountains, persuaded by Lin Hongyu, their mountain lords personally led their remaining powerhouses to Heavenly Star City to seek an audience with Li Hao and submit to Heavenly Star, sending shockwaves through the world. The Three Great Organizations, the Seven Divine Mountains, the Nine Departments and the Imperial Clan, and the Four Seas pirates that had once held sway over the land were now relics of the past. Under these circumstances, Li Hao set out alone for the Great Desolation to complete the final stage of his layout. He prepared to deliver a thunderous strike against three distinct factions: the Great Desolation, Hong Chen, and the entity in Star Suppressing City. As for whether he would succeed, that would depend on fortune.