Firmly Suppressed

The Dali Imperial Palace. Familiar with the way, Li Hao walked straight inside. This time, he did not shuttle through the void, entering openly and uprightly instead. Within the palace halls, several Divine Guards could only look on helplessly, entirely unable to stop him—nor could they have if they tried. Inside the main hall, the King of Dali sat upright upon his throne. Seeing Li Hao enter, his face remained devoid of expression, his gaze icy. "King of Dali, I've come to see you." Li Hao laughed as he walked through the door. Before he had even drawn near, he had nearly set the King of Dali ablaze with fury. Fortunately, the King of Dali held it in. His tone remained relatively calm: "The Marquis of Silver Moon has arrived. Please take a seat. It appears the Marquis's injuries have healed." "I must thank the King of Dali for your support." Support? Support, my foot! You claimed that once Heaven's Will dispersed, this king would at least reach the Dao Integration Realm. And the result? You still have the audacity to show your face here? Though these thoughts churned in the King of Dali's heart, he merely nodded slightly and said nothing more. The less said, the fewer mistakes made. Whatever Li Hao said, this time... he would simply treat it as background noise. When Li Hao wanted Dali to deploy troops, Dali had deployed troops; when he wanted this king to surrender Heaven's Will, he had surrendered it. What more could you possibly demand now? Seeing his reticence, Li Hao smiled, unbothered. He seated himself casually and gestured for Hong Yitang to sit down as well. He behaved completely at home. Turning toward the entrance, he called out, "Where is Chief Priest Jiang? Come join us! Sit down and let's chat!" Outside the hall, Jiang Li said nothing, offering no response. Li Hao laughed. "The Dali Imperial Palace feels rather desolate." The King of Dali remarked flatly, "A bit desolate, yes—not quite like the Marquis of Silver Moon. This king truly did not expect that at such a young age, the Marquis would already be taking a wife... I forgot to extend my congratulations." That piece of news had taken him by surprise as well. He roughly understood that the situation demanded it, but bringing it up now was also a slight jab at Li Hao. Li Hao merely nodded. "Indeed. A man reaches a certain age and ought to start a family and establish his career. The King of Dali is no longer young; you should do the same. Otherwise, with only the King of Dali and Chief Priest Jiang in this palace, it's easy to invite wagging tongues." The King of Dali's expression turned freezing cold. Bastard! Outside the hall, Jiang Li felt thoroughly innocent. He took a few steps back, pressing himself nearly against the base of the wall, and vanished from Li Hao's sight. This man harbored wicked thoughts; the right choice was to avoid speaking with him altogether. The King of Dali was straightforward; trying to trade barbs with someone like Li Hao was only inviting humiliation. "Does the Marquis of Silver Moon have business here today?" The King of Dali wished only to send Li Hao packing as soon as possible, his impatience evident. Li Hao smiled. "It's like this. An unforeseen mishap earlier caused my cultivation realm to fall, and the King of Dali did not manage to advance either. On top of that, in order to deal with the Western Divine Kingdom, the Divine Kingdom was claimed. I feel deeply contrite. When has anyone who collaborated with me, Li Hao, ever given without receiving a return?" "My visit to Dali today is specifically to make amends for that past shortcoming..." The King of Dali froze. Coming to deliver benefits? It was almost hard to believe. Then again, regarding Li Hao... in their prior cooperation, the King of Dali hadn't truly come out on the losing end. For instance, during the assault on Boundless City, he had obtained quite a lot of resources. Below, Li Hao continued, "However, right now I have too few resources on hand, and petty gains won't do. I don't possess anything grand—yet right within Dali's borders lies a supreme treasure! The source of the Forbidden Sea originates in the north!" "I've been thinking... why not compress the Forbidden Sea? It traverses heaven and earth. I intend to compress the Forbidden Sea into Dali's territory. It is a treasure land, a sacred sanctuary, holding countless resources and boundless energy... If compressed entirely within Dali, Dali's energy density would instantly surge by over thirty percent!" "This elevates the foundation of an entire nation... unlike finite, sourceless treasures! Energy stones will always run out eventually, but the energy of the Forbidden Sea draws upon the energy of heaven and earth, inexhaustible and endless. That is a true treasure trove!" "Currently, the Forbidden Sea is also a treasure for all of Heavenly Star... but Heavenly Star has vast territory and abundant resources. I don't mind parting with a single Forbidden Sea. King of Dali, if you want it, I agree to compress it and suppress it within Dali's territory!" The King of Dali was taken aback. His thoughts wavered, and for a moment he did not know how to respond. The Forbidden Sea... was indeed a treasure ground. Of course, it was also exceptionally dangerous. The seawater's corrosive power was terrifyingly potent! Yet this sea contained numerous treasures, including the most common Heavenly Gold Lotus. Li Hao had once consumed a petal himself—a treasure capable of enhancing mental power and force—and there were many within the Forbidden Sea. Now, with heaven and earth recovering, many places were reviving and rising. Yet when it came to treasures... the naturally formed treasures of the Forbidden Sea were perhaps the most abundant of all. The Forbidden Sea possessed dense energy. If compressed within Dali's borders, the concentration of energy across Dali would instantly surge by a massive margin. And as time passed, it would only grow denser and denser. Li Hao continued, "Not only that. The Forbidden Sea... The Forbidden Sea of today was originally just a reflection of the main world, but now it seems to have developed a spirit of its own. Mountains, rivers, and all things possess spirits! If one can capture the spirit of the Forbidden Sea, it may not be inferior to Heaven's Will! The Forbidden Sea is extraordinary. If compressed into Dali, we can even use Mount Cang as the boundary and stretch the Forbidden Sea across the land... In the future, if war or dispute ever arises between Dali and Heavenly Star, one would have to cross the Forbidden Sea first!" "The King of Dali does not wish to be ruled by me. Relying on Mount Cang won't suffice; Mount Cang is easily crossed, but the Forbidden Sea is treacherous. That is a true natural chasm!" "..." The King of Dali remained silent. Was he tempted? He was. Yet he knew things were not so simple! If it were simple, would Li Hao be so kind-hearted? He fell quiet, but Li Hao's words made sense. Dali was unwilling to surrender and desired independence, yet Mount Cang was no longer an insurmountable moat. What if the Forbidden Sea were turned into that barrier? When that time came, barring top-tier experts, no one would be able to cross. Back in the Neo-Martial era, if Peak Realm experts entered the Forbidden Sea, they would be corroded down to nothing. Thoughts flickering, the King of Dali spoke: "Since the Forbidden Sea is so important, the Marquis of Silver Moon might as well take it for yourself!" Li Hao chuckled. "That works too... If the King of Dali doesn't want it, I'll take it myself. Because its source lies in Dali, I considered that our lands are brother nations, so taking it without a word wouldn't be appropriate. But since the King of Dali declines... then I shall take it." "Wait!" The King of Dali blurted out at once. He looked at Li Hao, his brow furrowing slightly. If I don't want it, you just take it? Feeling conflicted, he called out swiftly, "Jiang Li!" Outside the hall, Jiang Li reappeared. The King of Dali said slowly, "You heard what the Marquis of Silver Moon just said? Do you think... our Dali needs a natural chasm as a barrier?" "..." Jiang Li was torn as well. They wanted it, of course, but it was Li Hao proposing it. Coming from Li Hao, they could not feel at ease. At this moment, Jiang Li looked toward Li Hao somewhat helplessly. "Marquis... The Three Great Organizations entered the Forbidden Sea in the past. Are there any hidden dangers? Since the Marquis says you want to help us compress it... why not speak plainly about any problems so we can weigh them properly?" Li Hao laughed. "What problems could there be? It's just that Ying Hongyue's ambitions aren't small—he wants to refine the Forbidden Sea! As I said, the Forbidden Sea has a spirit. Once refined, the entire ocean might become his clone or even his true body!" "When that happens, it'll be a massive headache!" "Right now, he's probably only just begun. So as long as we purge Ying Hongyue's refinement, there won't be any problem!" There it was! Just as the King of Dali was about to speak, Li Hao added, "Of course, you don't have to purge him either. But if he really refines it, the source is in Dali; once the Forbidden Sea is refined and taken away, all of Dali will instantly turn into a barren wasteland as its energy is drained completely!" The King of Dali froze, falling silent. Li Hao continued, "Ying Hongyue actually has a decent chance of succeeding. That fellow is very strong! That's one thing. Second, he has been constantly infiltrating Red Moon power into the Forbidden Sea. You don't really think he's doing that just to burn off Red Moon power, do you?" Li Hao smiled. "Far from it! He's doing it to taint it with Red Moon power, infecting the entire Forbidden Sea, permeating it, and assimilating it! Ying Hongyue isn't afraid of Red Moon power. If he were, would he keep drawing upon it? He gives everyone the impression that he's using the Eight Great Families' bloodlines to resist Red Moon power... In reality, he might have long since learned to fuse the two forces!" "Once he succeeds, Ying Hongyue will be exceptionally difficult to deal with!" "And of course, Dali will bear the brunt of it. After all, who told the source to be right here in Dali?" Li Hao said a great deal in a single breath. The King of Dali pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Ying Hongyue is refining the Forbidden Sea... The Forbidden Sea can actually be refined into a clone... This..." "If even the world of Silver Moon can be devoured, what's an ocean?" Li Hao laughed. "To true powerhouses, there is nothing that cannot be devoured! Nothing that cannot be refined!" True enough! Even heaven and earth could be refined, let alone an ocean. The King of Dali frowned. "What is Ying Hongyue's... current strength?" "Early Saint, but with an all-out burst, he might even reach late Saint! If he refines the Forbidden Sea... he might break past all limitations and become a Heavenly King!" Li Hao rattled off the details as if counting his own family treasures: "Additionally, Ying Hongyue is currently absorbing and assimilating some of the Eight Great Families' heritages. Once he fully succeeds... he might take another step forward! He can also draw upon Red Moon power... In truth, that guy has countless trump cards up his sleeve!" The King of Dali's gaze shifted slightly. Jiang Li's expression turned grave as well. He said in a deep voice, "Is the Marquis speaking the truth?" "Why would I lie about this?" Li Hao smiled. "Furthermore, if the King of Dali can refine it... your strength will surge by a huge leap. Even though you lost Heaven's Will, the Forbidden Sea is part of the world—an extremely vital part at that. You could even consider it receiving the blessing of Heaven's Will without having to suffer interference from Heaven's Will! Once refined, becoming a Saint or Heavenly King will be just around the corner!" "Don't all experts strive to grow stronger? If the King of Dali wishes to protect Dali, how can you do so without strength? Do you plan to rely on that Early Martial expert forever? That hardly seems appropriate!" The King of Dali fell silent. Originally, he hadn't wanted to pay Li Hao any heed, but... he truly couldn't help himself. Did Li Hao's words make sense? Absolutely! Every time Li Hao spoke, it sounded so open, dignified, and compelling that you simply couldn't refuse. But... didn't this bastard just want him to fight Ying Hongyue? Even as he thought this, Li Hao spoke again: "If the King of Dali wants to do this, you will need to suppress and drive out Ying Hongyue! However... our understanding of the Forbidden Sea is limited. That Early Martial powerhouse, on the other hand, understands a great deal—and only power at that level can drive Ying Hongyue away!" He understood now! Borrowing a knife to kill someone! The King of Dali's expression shifted, and he looked at Li Hao, asking coldly, "Is the Marquis of Silver Moon asking me to beseech the God of Early Martial to drive out and slay Ying Hongyue?" "It's not that I'm asking you... It's that if you want the Forbidden Sea, you must put in the effort yourself. I can't just hand it to you on a silver platter, can I?" Li Hao chuckled. "If I do it myself, I could manage it too. But... if I accomplish it, why would I give it to you? Right now, heaven and earth have only just begun their initial recovery, and opportunities are scarce. I hold the Great Dao universe, so I still have a chance. Let me ask you, King of Dali... do you have any other grand fortune that could let you step into Dao Integration or even the Heavenly King Realm in a single day? Do you? I have mine, Ying Hongyue has his, Zheng Yu was already there, and the Red Moon Sovereign is already a Sovereign... Only you, a mere seventh-tier Sun-Moon—where is your fortune supposed to come from?" "..." A fortune! Did he have one? No! Grand fortunes in this world were truly scarce right now. Dali was barren to begin with, with hardly any ancient ruins; where could any grand fortune come from? Thinking through Li Hao's words carefully, they were undeniably true. If he didn't fight for it himself, where would any opportunity come from? Right now, he was only at the seventh tier of Sun-Moon... Li Hao and the others had their own means of advancement, but what about him? Dali wanted independence, yet lacked the strength; how could it be independent? Thoughts surfaced one after another. Jiang Li took one look and understood at once: the King was swayed! Li Hao harbors evil intentions! He hurriedly coughed. "Your Majesty!" Weren't they supposed to pool all their strength to slaughter Li Hao? Yet the man had been here less than three minutes, had spoken only a few sentences, and the King was already preparing to sweat and bleed for him? Good heavens—three minutes, and Li Hao had the King of Dali ready to lay down his life! Ying Hongyue was Li Hao's arch-nemesis! The King of Dali snapped back to his senses, his complexion darkening slightly. Li Hao... was detestable! Every word from this man carried boundless temptation. Yet once you swallowed it... you would realize it was all poisoned bait! "Li Hao!" Suppressing his excitement, the King of Dali spoke with utter composure. "There must be more to this than meets the eye, wouldn't you say?" Li Hao nodded. "Ying Hongyue is difficult to handle! He might even have hidden cards, so there is indeed some danger. A while ago, I noticed he was refining the Forbidden Sea; his Red Moon power had even infected Sea Suppressing Emissary Li Fuhai, who suppresses the Forbidden Sea. That's only the first thing. Second, when the Forbidden Sea recovers—under normal circumstances, according to Neo-Martial lore, their Forbidden Sea was born because supreme powerhouses perished there." "Then how did Silver Moon's Forbidden Sea develop its corrosive power? How did it develop such immense strength? Entirely through the blessing of heaven and earth?" At this moment, Li Hao hid nothing and laid out his conjecture: "My deduction... it is only a deduction, mind you, not a certainty—is that within the current Forbidden Sea, there may also lie the skeletal remains of a supreme expert! Even if not a Sovereign, it is at least an existence at the half-Sovereign level!" The King of Dali was stunned. "How could that be? Silver Moon has only ever had one Sovereign—the Sword Venerable!" What nonsense! Li Hao smiled. "I don't know; perhaps the god knows! Its source is in Dali, which means that if there is one, that skeleton was likely born on Dali's side... Don't ask me. If possible, go ask that god of yours!" Li Hao smiled. "The Forbidden Sea wouldn't possess corrosive power for no reason, nor would it naturally revive without cause... There must be something in the sea!" The King of Dali's eyes flickered. He looked at Li Hao, finding it hard to believe. The remains of a half-Sovereign or even a Sovereign? Was that possible? In the entire land of Silver Moon, there was only one Sword Venerable... or perhaps including that sealed Sovereign. Both were alive and well. If a half-Sovereign or Sovereign had truly died, wouldn't it have shaken the entire world long ago? Yet no one had ever heard of it! Nor were there any historical records. Yet Li Hao had proposed such a deduction, one based on the Forbidden Sea of Neo-Martial. In Neo-Martial, the Forbidden Sea came to be because top-tier Sovereigns had fallen, shedding their blood into the sea. The so-called corrosive power was formed by lingering remnants of their wills, and their blood dripping and blending into the waters, causing the ocean to possess terrifying corrosive might. Yet Silver Moon had no such history; how could an identical Forbidden Sea have been born? And its source happened to be right in Dali. And Dali possessed an extraordinarily mysterious God of Early Martial. Thinking of this, Li Hao added, "Furthermore, Chief Priest Jiang, haven't you been using Early Martial divine bones all this time? Could it be... that those were that god's own bones? Did he dismantle his own bones for you to use? Early Martial divine bones... that means an expert died. Just a few pieces were enough to raise him into the mid-to-late Sun-Moon Realm... The owner of those bones must have been at least a peak Saint or even a Heavenly King in the past, right?" He asked with apparent confusion, "You used the bones—did you never wonder where they came from?" "..." Silence! The King of Dali looked toward Jiang Li. Jiang Li felt somewhat awkward. He had never thought about it... he had truly assumed they belonged to the God of Early Martial! What Li Hao said was right: would someone tear out their own bones for you to use? Someone had to be killed for those bones to exist. The King of Dali almost felt like scratching his head in frustration. At this moment, he truly felt how monstrous Li Hao was. This guy could always piece together overlooked clues and rapidly deduce the truth. The origin of the Forbidden Sea, the location of its source, the Early Martial divine bones used by Jiang Li... This series of clues led Li Hao to conclude that the skeletal remains of a top powerhouse likely lay in the Forbidden Sea... and if the Forbidden Sea had formed a spirit, it was likely born from those remains. And Ying Hongyue might be searching for precisely that... Of course, Li Hao hadn't mentioned it to Ying Hongyue, so Ying Hongyue might not know, but he very well could, being a clever man himself. One could only say that the two leaders of Dali weren't the sharpest tools in the shed! Living right beside it, they hadn't noticed a thing. When the Forbidden Sea recovered, they simply let it recover... as if noticing nothing amiss. In truth, even Hong Yitang was listening in a daze. Was that how it was? The recovery of the Forbidden Sea... Nobody had thought much about it. Even the Neo-Martial remnants hadn't thought deeply, but Li Hao had thought of so much! Everyone else had simply assumed... as heaven and earth recovered, the Forbidden Sea's recovery was only natural. The King of Dali could no longer hold back: "You mean there are skeletal remains in the sea... and those remains might have revived, possessing immense strength... and with Ying Hongyue plotting against the Forbidden Sea as well... it's extremely dangerous?" "Correct!" The King of Dali fell silent for a moment. "The source is here... If an expert truly lies in the sea, was he... slain by our God of Early Martial?" "I don't know. You can go ask him yourself; how would I know that?" At this moment, Jiang Li said somewhat awkwardly, "Then by that logic, the bones I used might... might belong to that slain expert?" Li Hao nodded. "That's why I'm telling you to search for it yourselves, because Jiang Li can likely use those bones to locate the true skeleton! That skeleton is probably the core of the Forbidden Sea! Ying Hongyue is most likely searching for it as well. The remains of a supreme expert... are an absolute treasure to anyone! What's more... that person might be an expert from the Early Martial era! Because the bones you used are Early Martial white jade bones!" Li Hao continued, "From what I know, very few people could temper Early Martial white jade bones! And anyone who could achieve that was no weakling! When the time comes, whether you seize control of the Forbidden Sea, or the King of Dali takes it, or Jiang Li takes it, or both of you take it together... it is an opportunity! Setting aside a Sovereign, there is hope for becoming a half-Sovereign—the path lies right before your eyes! As the inheritor of Emperor Batian, you need this kind of power. In fact, it suits you far better than the Great Dao universe!" "Everyone has the power that suits them best... If the Forbidden Sea was truly formed by an Early Martial expert, it is most suited to you, King of Dali!" Faultless logic! In this moment, the King of Dali completely forgot about driving Li Hao away, and forgot about pooling their strength to kill him! This guy had godlike foresight! He began to ponder, repeatedly glancing at Jiang Li. Jiang Li was in a daze as well, occasionally glancing toward the temple in the rear. Could it be... had their God of Early Martial truly slain a top Early Martial powerhouse in the past? A living Early Martial powerhouse would be at least at the Heavenly King level, right? Even a half-Sovereign wouldn't be out of the question. Yet... wasn't their god an Early Martial powerhouse as well? Early Martial slaying Early Martial? Which one was slain? And which one were they worshiping? Why kill him? Even stripping his bones to serve as exclusive artifacts for the temple's chief priest... That was ruthless in the extreme! All sorts of thoughts made Jiang Li lose his focus, missing several meaningful glances from the King of Dali. Seeing this, the King of Dali felt helpless. Finally, he turned back to Li Hao. "Then in your opinion... if that skeleton has revived, will it be very powerful?" "If it has truly revived... it won't be lower than the Saint realm, and might even be at the Heavenly King level! He might not be able to leave the Forbidden Sea, but bringing him down will be tough! Otherwise, I would have claimed it myself. It's precisely because I lacked certainty that I'm leaving it to you to find a way!" Li Hao said softly, "Reaping without sowing won't do. The clues and intelligence I've provided are more than enough to repay what you contributed previously. So... you didn't lose out last time! If you succeed, I believe Saint is your starting point, and if utilized well, you will secure your place in the future!" The King of Dali snorted, saying flatly, "Aren't you just doing this to deal with Ying Hongyue? Otherwise, would you be so generous?" Li Hao smiled. "Judge by deeds, not intentions! Don't worry about my motives; have I given you an opportunity or not?" "..." He had no retort. The King of Dali took a deep breath. "Jiang Li!" "Here!" Jiang Li answered hurriedly. The King of Dali said, "You and I... shall go see that person! Marquis of Silver Moon, wait here for a moment. Once we reach a decision, we will inform you!" "Be my guest!" Li Hao smiled. Jiang Li felt conflicted, but said nothing more, walking out of the palace alongside the King of Dali. ... Once they had left, Hong Yitang couldn't help but chuckle. "The King of Dali... is truly honest." Li Hao shook his head. "I didn't scheme against him; it's an open gambit! His chances of growing stronger are far too few. This is genuinely an opportunity. If he didn't agree, that's when I would find it strange—for a king to forfeit an opportunity to grow stronger simply out of fear of being schemed against!" The King of Dali had few chances. And now, Li Hao had delivered one to his doorstep. How could he not seize it? If he didn't... the King of Dali would be utterly finished. As the inheritor of Emperor Batian, he wasn't so much of a waste. Hong Yitang nodded slightly. It was indeed an open gambit. Li Hao could have easily kept these things to himself, yet he chose to reveal them. Hong Yitang himself hadn't known any of this beforehand. Hong Yitang pondered. "You're saying an Early Martial powerhouse died in the Forbidden Sea, and the source lies in Dali... so..." Was it that one who killed him? Then how powerful was the one residing in Dali? Li Hao chuckled, transmitting his voice: "Who knows who killed whom? Perhaps the one Dali originally worshiped was the skeleton! Who can say for sure?" A cuckoo seizing the nest? Hong Yitang was shaken! That wasn't impossible either. Dali itself didn't even know which entity they were worshiping... Of course, to Dali, it hardly made a difference. The victor was king. ... At the same time. Inside the Dali divine temple. The King of Dali straightened his robes and stepped inside. The temple was vast and empty. There were no statues or idols, only an altar-like structure upon which sat a few simple food offerings—very sparse. This was the renowned Sun God Temple! Yes, over all these years, this place had always been called the Sun God Temple. "Bei Wu of Dali pays his respects to our God!" The King of Dali bowed slightly, exceptionally polite. Bei Wu was his true name. However, no one called him by his true name, unlike Li Hao, who had walked the world under his true name even when weak, making it known to all. The temple was utterly silent. The King of Dali raised an eyebrow slightly, dispensing with further pleasantries: "Li Hao, King of Heavenly Star and descendant of the Sword Venerable, has come with word that the Forbidden Sea has revived, and that the skeletal remains of an Early Martial powerhouse lie within, possibly having birthed a spirit! Ying Hongyue schemes to refine the Forbidden Sea. Our God, can Li Hao's words be taken as truth?" Silence. After a moment, an indifferent voice echoed within the hall: "Young in years, yet rich in schemes and fertile in thought... It is indeed so." The King of Dali's heart trembled! As expected! That fellow Li Hao... truly was a genius of this era. With just a few stray words and trivial clues, he had deduced the truth. He asked again, "Then... do the Early Martial bones used by Chief Priest Jiang share the same origin as those skeletal remains in the sea?" "Yes. Back then, some of the sturdiest bones were dismantled... but most were discarded..." He truly had slain him! The King of Dali's mouth went dry. "So the powerhouse in the sea was slain by our God?" "Indeed." "Then..." Before the King of Dali could finish, the indifferent voice spoke again: "You wish to claim it? It is merely discarded bone... Of course, to you, it is indeed an opportunity! Furthermore, since it gave birth to the Forbidden Sea... that signifies it has received some of heaven and earth's fortune, making it different from before!" The King of Dali grew nervous. "It is said... to be very difficult to deal with, perhaps possessing the power of a Saint or even a Heavenly King... Could our God..." "I will not go!" "..." The King of Dali was stunned. Why? It was merely the skeleton of someone you killed! If you went, wouldn't claiming it be as easy as turning over your hand? Dali... was the nation under your protection. Won't you show any consideration? Jiang Li couldn't hold back either: "Our God, all factions are contending for hegemony now, and Dali is weak! If... if we can truly claim the Forbidden Sea and drive off Ying Hongyue, Dali will have a chance..." "What chance?" The deity's tone was calm. "Relying on you? Relying on Bei Wu? Mediocre combat power, mediocre brains. The other fellow has barely set foot in Dali a few times, yet in the blink of an eye he deduced everything down to the finest detail, commanding experts like clouds and geniuses like rain... Can you two... compete against him?" "..." Silence. The King of Dali was somewhat embarrassed. Could they compete? Probably... not, right? Still, he argued, "If I can become a top-tier powerhouse, absolute strength conquers all schemes... No matter how many plots he weaves, they will be futile!" My brain might not be as sharp as his, but if I am stronger than him... beating him until he yields is all that matters! "Besides... our Dali still has Senior..." "I care not!" "..." The divine voice echoed once more: "I merely dwell here. You are neither my descendants nor my kinsmen... Of course, having resided here for many years, I formed a karmic bond, which is why I offered you some protection previously!" "As for that skeleton, I slew him once in the past... the enmity was settled! If he has revived today, that is his own capability and none of my concern! Moreover... what revives now is no longer the person of that era, but a spirit formed from lingering remnants. Heaven and earth are not yet complete, so at most he possesses Heavenly King power... If you wish to deal with him, do so yourselves!" "..." At most, Heavenly King power! The implications of those words... were staggering. Does that mean that person back then truly might have been a half-Sovereign? Or even... an unthinkable Sovereign? Impossible! If a Sovereign, what would the entity before them be? One who could kill a Sovereign—could he truly be the Sun God? "Was that person... a Sovereign in life?" "No!" The divine voice sounded again: "If he were a Sovereign... could a mere Forbidden Sea contain him? He was no stronger than that young master of the Zheng family, roughly on that level... Having been dead for countless years with incomplete bones, and heaven and earth having only recently revived, he is not as formidable as you imagine!" Yet... he could still be a Heavenly King! The King of Dali drew a sharp breath. "A... Heavenly King... And is this Heavenly King... in Senior's eyes, or a Heavenly King of this era?" He had to clarify this! A Heavenly King in the eyes of Early Martial was a Heavenly King of the Origin era. A Heavenly King of this era... at best was equivalent to a Saint of that era; the two could not be mentioned in the same breath. Furthermore, Early Martial did not rely on the Origin! Perhaps the Heavenly King this entity spoke of was a true Heavenly King! That would be Zheng Yu's level—a half-Sovereign! "Of this era, of course!" The deity replied again: "If it were a Heavenly King of that era... the Forbidden Sea would have covered half of Silver Moon long ago. Why would it be so puny?" Alright! That was somewhat reassuring. Yet... he was still uneasy! Too strong! A Heavenly King! To this day, only Li Hao's side had ever slain a Heavenly King. Yet in that battle, five wild beasts were killed by the opponent first, and in the end, Li Hao and his allies used unknown means to finally bring that Heavenly King down. As for how they killed him... no one knew. How the head of the Zheng family died was something even Zheng Yu probably couldn't figure out. Even joining forces, Li Hao and his people shouldn't have possessed the power to kill the Zheng family head. The King of Dali was silent for a moment before asking again, "Then... if I can seize the Forbidden Sea, refine it, and refine those remains..." "Your heritage is potent. If you truly succeed, Saint or Heavenly King... will not be far off!" The King of Dali took a deep breath. Sure enough, Li Hao had hit the mark again! At this moment, he only felt that Li Hao was terrifying... even forgetting that the being before him was the powerhouse who had slain that entity. "Aside from this place... are there any other opportunities in Silver Moon for an Early Martial cultivator to grow strong?" "Very few." The deity spoke again: "There are some, in fact... For instance, the one under the seal. Slay him, and a Sovereign's remains will be more than enough to make you formidable!" "..." You're talking out of your ass! "Or the Great Dao universe of that Li family fellow. You don't need to learn to control it like he does; once inside, simply devour countless natal stars directly. Early Martial cultivators strengthen their own bodies; once you finish devouring them, you will be strong as well!" Pretend I never asked. The King of Dali cursed inwardly! The deity was completely indifferent: "You dare not even imagine it, only daring to curse in your heart? If Emperor Batian were alive and knew his legacy had fallen into your hands... it would be an utter humiliation! Enough. I have not fully recovered... heaven and earth lay dormant for too many years. Figure it out yourselves! Those who whole-heartedly rely on the protection of experts will never become strong! If I can give to you, I can give to others. If I were willing to give it away, why wouldn't I give it to Li Hao to forge a better karmic bond? If you want to fight for it, fight for it yourselves!" The King of Dali's heart jolted! If you want to fight for it, fight for it yourselves! Jiang Li said hurriedly, "Our God, we wish to fight, but our strength... is truly lacking! The path forward for Early Martial in this era is somewhat... somewhat bewildering." The deity sighed. "Then why could that Li Hao find the Great Dao universe on his own back when he was weak, while you two cannot?" "..." Both fell silent. Why keep tearing us down? We aren't Li Hao. If we were... would Li Hao even be relevant? In a hundred thousand years, hasn't there only been one Li Hao? "Helping you in person is out of the question, but offering some guidance is fine. If that person has truly birthed a new spirit... he will also have weaknesses. The weakness lies in the few bones Jiang Li possesses... If the bones prove useless, back then I shattered his skull, which may also be where his weakness lies! That is all I have to say. You may withdraw!" Having been told this much, what else could the two say? They had no choice but to turn and leave. Just as they stepped outside, the deity suddenly spoke again: "Simply seek help from that Li Hao! In truth, he wants to eliminate the threat of the Forbidden Sea even more than you do. Once Ying Hongyue succeeds in refining it, the first person he will kill is Li Hao! Did you think he was truly being kind-hearted? That he truly didn't care? If he can tempt you, why can you not turn the tables on him?" What a pair of fools! If Li Hao had no ulterior motive, would he run all the way here to tell you there was a prize waiting? "The bones and the skull's weakness are your trump cards... Does cultivating the Early Martial path truly turn one's brain to stone?" "..." Neither dared to say another word and quickly departed. If they stayed any longer, they would only suffer another round of ridicule. Before reviving, this entity had never spoken a word. But now that he did, his tongue was positively venomous! ... When the two returned to the imperial palace, Li Hao was in the middle of a meal. Divine Guards were serving them dishes one after another. At this moment, the guards were also feeling helpless. Li Hao didn't eat much, but that dog... ate so much it drove people to despair. Nearly all the dishes in the imperial palace had been brought out, yet it still wasn't enough to fill the hound! The King of Dali raised his eyebrows slightly and said nothing about it. His tone was calm: "Marquis of Silver Moon, let us cooperate! We have a way to deal with the skeleton that birthed the Forbidden Sea... but we need you to take action as well! Once it's done, I want the skeleton, and the Forbidden Sea is yours!" "..." Li Hao glanced at him and smiled. "The skeleton is the core. Without the core, what do I want the ocean for?" "There are treasures within, and heavenly materials like Heavenly Gold Lotuses certainly won't be lacking!" The King of Dali said calmly, "You will also sever Ying Hongyue's hopes! Otherwise, if he truly refines the Forbidden Sea, will you still be confident in dealing with him? A win-win cooperation: you fulfill your objective, and I fulfill mine!" "That person... is unwilling to make a move?" Li Hao asked curiously, "So you can only come to me?" "..." You hit the nail right on the head! Yet could they admit it? Jiang Li smiled. "That's not it. It's just that our God said he slew that person in the past, so the enmity was settled. Slaying the remains now... would not conform to the Early Martial spirit! Of course, if that entity dares step into Dali's territory, our God will certainly strike him down again!" "Then let's shift the Forbidden Sea into Dali's inner core..." "..." Both were struck speechless. We were just saying that offhandedly; you're taking it seriously? Helpless and holding back his temper, the King of Dali said in a low voice, "Are you willing to cooperate or not? If not, forget it. If you are... should Ying Hongyue cause trouble, you will be responsible for dealing with him. As for the skeleton, as long as your side can suppress it for an instant, we can finish him off!" At this point, he conceded another step: "Aside from the skeleton, I want nothing else!" Li Hao fell into deep thought. After a long while, he spoke: "Very well... but split half the skeleton with me!" "You..." Li Hao smiled. "If you're unwilling, then forget it. I have plenty of business to attend to! Giving you half... is entirely on account of our last encounter. Otherwise... if I can suppress it for an instant, would I really have no way to finish it off myself?" The King of Dali's heart stirred, and he gritted his teeth. "Fine! How long will it take for your side to mobilize your forces? If that entity revives, it will likely be a Heavenly King..." "I alone will suffice!" "..." The King of Dali flew into a rage. "If you want to throw your life away, must you drag us down with you? Completely devoid of sincerity... Then forget it!" Li Hao chuckled. "Is my life worth less than yours? Fine, if you don't believe me, I'll go mobilize manpower. I just fear that making too much noise will alert the target, or alert Ying Hongyue and Zheng Yu..." The King of Dali's brow furrowed deeply. Facing Li Hao, he truly had no counter. After a long pause, he said, "As you wish! When do we strike?" "In three days!" Li Hao said, "There are still a few things I haven't acquired... Once I have them, we will act!" There was no need to be polite with Ying Hongyue. In three days, he would see whether he could secure the Hong family's hammer and the city lord seal of the City of Thunder. As for the King of Dali and Jiang Li's confidence... it was nothing more than those few bones. Li Hao knew full well; in truth, he had come precisely for that. As for the God of Early Martial being unwilling to take action, that was only natural. If he were willing, he would have shown himself long ago. He kept a terrifyingly low profile! Later, Li Hao would have to dig through more Neo-Martial records; perhaps... through this utterly low-profile temperament, he could uncover the entity's true identity. "In three days, I'll come find you! King of Dali, if this succeeds... we ought to cooperate more in the future. I've always liked making friends with straightforward people!" Li Hao laughed, rose to his feet, and called out, "Enjoy your meal. Black Panther, Martial Uncle, time to go!" With those words, two men and a dog vanished into thin air. Glancing at the thoroughly emptied dishes... the King of Dali couldn't help but curse, "Even a dog won't eat what's left—who are you serving this to?" That guy was so damn obnoxious! If he didn't still need the fellow's help, he would have punched him to death today! Jiang Li sighed inwardly. Only after the man had left did the King dare complain a few words. That once-invincible king of the world... was now kept firmly pinned down by Li Hao. How pathetic! And thinking of the god they worshiped, it was even more pathetic. Come to think of it, after worshiping him for so many years, who on earth was he?