Boundless Joy

Li Hao shuttled continuously through the void. Hong Yitang was deeply perplexed. Ever since emerging from seclusion, Li Hao had been running back and forth, seemingly targeting only Ying Hongyue. He hadn't uttered a single word about anyone else, completely ignoring Zheng Yu and his camp. Furthermore, he acted as though the silver moon in the sky did not exist at all. Was his heart set on grinding away at Ying Hongyue and Ying Hongyue alone? Yet… Ying Hongyue could not be killed just yet. Was it truly worth pouring so much energy into him at this juncture? Was Li Hao not going to find a way to deal with figures like Zheng Yu? Innumerable thoughts crossed Hong Yitang's mind, but in the end, he chose to remain silent. Li Hao was far more mature than before. He was not necessarily engaging in futile effort; perhaps he was orchestrating something in secret. Meanwhile, Li Hao continued to shuttle onward. Soon, they arrived at Silver City. …… Silver City. Battles had erupted here in the past, including clashes between supreme powerhouses. The once-vast Silver City had now been reduced to ruins; this place, which had once been Li Hao's home, was now utterly abandoned. Up in the sky, the seal was still visible. The eight blood-red lines remained as always. One still connected to Li Hao, while the remaining seven linked to Ying Hongyue. Hurricane City appeared to have vanished without a trace. Li Hao descended to the ground. The streets that had once been fairly bustling were now nothing more than rubble. He did not go back to see his old home… Whether it was still standing made no difference to him. What was a home? With neither family nor kin, the Four Seas were his home! Such was the way of martial masters in the jianghu: where there were people, there was a home; without people, no home existed. Li Hao had little attachment to that old house; after his parents had passed away, he had rarely returned himself. The graves in Silver City were empty pits. Not even their bones remained! This enmity was irreconcilable under the heavens! However, Li Hao was no longer the Li Hao of the past. Meeting Ying Hongyue and screaming for blood was not his way. Facing people with a smile was perhaps the finest skill he had honed during his year at the Inspectorate. Looking back at where the stone door beneath the Qiao Family Mine had once stood, it now seemed to have disappeared as well. Perhaps Ying Hongyue had already claimed the treasures or legacy behind the door. Li Hao hovered beneath the seal, looking up into the sky. The seal appeared slightly weaker than before. Perhaps the ongoing struggles over this period had been damaging the seal. Perhaps Ying Hongyue had been siphoning off too much power himself, causing the seal to loosen. This seal… had likely been established by the Blood Sovereign in ancient times. The two characters "Battle Heaven" still echoed in Li Hao's mind. Li Hao gazed up into the sky, lost in thought. Ying Hongyue… Zheng Yu… Li Daoheng… the Red Moon Sovereign… the God of Early Martial… To this day, not a single one of these factions had been resolved. Either he was no match for them, or he simply could not afford to fight them. The world was still recovering rapidly. There were far too many cultivators now. Although energy was being devoured at a high rate, the cycle of breathing it in and out was only consolidating the Great Dao further. Sooner or later, this world would be capable of accommodating Heavenly Kings. There was no need for any formal resurgence… because the resurgence had never stopped. Although Li Hao had slowed the speed of an instantaneous resurgence, he had in truth accelerated its overall depth. Even Zheng Yu had given up struggling against it, knowing that all his thrashing about… might not advance things faster than Li Hao's methods. Originally, a second resurgence would have taken several years, yet now, the world was approaching conditions that exceeded even that degree. Even Saints could now emerge. "The Red Moon Sovereign!" Li Hao had once extended his spirit inside and caught a glimpse of him. At this moment, Li Hao manifested his force, sending it tracing upward along the blood lines. Right then, a massive ancient city quietly emerged. Zheng Yu stood proudly atop its battlements, silently looking down at Li Hao. Li Hao opened his eyes and looked back, remarkably calm. "I'm merely probing with my spirit to check on Director Zhang and the others. What are you so nervous about?" Zheng Yu was equally composed, shaking his head. "I am not nervous. The you of today might no longer be the you of the past." Li Hao let out a faint laugh. No longer the me of the past? Is it because… I am about to be married, giving you that illusion? Perhaps so! Zheng Yu indeed appeared far less tense than before. He glanced at Hong Yitang and Black Panther, his lips parting in a faint smile, even going so far as to nod politely toward Hong Yitang. Dao Integration level! He could tell that both of them had reached the Dao Integration Realm. Then… had Lin Hongyu also reached the Dao Integration Realm? How interesting! Faced with the Li Hao of today, Zheng Yu felt far less apprehensive. It seemed strange, yet entirely reasonable. A Li Hao with no ties or burdens was truly terrifying, but now that companions stood by his side once more, and he seemed to have moved on from the grief of his master's death… Zheng Yu felt there was little need to worry that Li Hao would actively shatter the seal! How complicated! Yet this truly was his mindset at the moment. Before Li Hao died, people like Hong Yitang and Lin Hongyu could not be touched. Killing them would only birth a lawless, reckless Li Hao. Such a man needed tethering bonds; otherwise, he was far too monstrous a headache to manage. Li Hao paid no heed to this, acting as if the man before him were not an enemy at all. Slightly curious, he asked, "Did that Red Moon Sovereign enter Silver Moon alone all those years ago? Or was he accompanied by others?" Zheng Yu chuckled softly. "Just him alone. After all, bringing more people along was not feasible! However, the moment he entered, he likely tainted quite a few people with the power of the Red Moon…" "That's not right." Li Hao shook his head. "The power of the Red Moon had already tainted your people before he entered, hadn't it? That indicates someone had already grasped the power of the Red Moon prior to his arrival." If the taint had only spread the instant the Sovereign arrived, the timeline wouldn't match up! Zheng Yu nodded slightly. "Some people did grasp a portion of the Red Moon's power beforehand, but… it did not originate from this Sovereign. Rather, it came from the Red Moon Great World, brought over from the main world, primarily for research purposes… The main world had provided it to the Sword Venerable for study, but members of the Li family stole some of it. Certain members of the Li family were corrupted by that power… such as… Li Daoheng!" "After that Sovereign entered, though he was swiftly sealed, a significant amount of Red Moon power still spilled outward. Back then, it was at its zenith, so another group of powerhouses was infected—completely corrupted by him, turning into Red Moon cultivators!" Zheng Yu did not mind giving Li Hao a deeper understanding of the Sovereign; in fact, he was glad to offer clues. "Earlier, a group of people sought to assassinate that Moon God of the west—that faction was developed by those very people! They take no part in other matters, possessing only a single goal: to destroy the seal!" Li Hao nodded. "Then where are they hiding?" "That, I cannot say." At this, Zheng Yu chuckled. "Perhaps… in the Hong family's main city?" Of the eight main cities, only the Hong family's main city had yet to reveal itself. Li Hao's heart stirred slightly. Come to think of it, that was truly a possibility! Ying Hongyue was tied to the seal, yet the people of the Red Moon never tried to kill him; instead, they often aided him… This was a detail Li Hao had overlooked. Although he had considered it before, he had never fully unraveled the connection. Looking at it now, perhaps… Zheng Yu was right! There truly might be a large concentration of Red Moon powerhouses inside the Hong family's City of Thunder. Lost in thought, Li Hao asked, "Is the Flying Sword Immortal still with you?" "She is. Do you wish to take her?" Zheng Yu smiled. He reached out into the void, causing space to tremble. In an instant, a female swordswoman appeared. Frowning slightly, she looked at Li Hao with a hint of wariness. The Flying Sword Immortal! Pavilion Master of Feitian, one of the Three Great Organizations. A female assassin and swordswoman, she also hailed from Silver Moon Province; practically all the martial masters originated from Silver Moon. She looked aloof and strikingly beautiful. Unfortunately, in the eyes of men like Li Hao, she was nothing more than a pink skull—a walking bag of bones! A physical body could be molded or altered at will. No matter how peerlessly gorgeous someone was, their eyes never lingered on mere flesh. Li Hao looked at the Flying Sword Immortal. Could this woman be Purple Moon? It was hard to say. Ying Hongyue was full of deceptive schemes. Sometimes, he deliberately led you to assume something so that once you took the bait, you walked right into his trap. Li Hao said softly, "I suspect she was left behind by Ying Hongyue to trap you. Why don't you just kill her?" Hong Yitang was taken aback, shooting Li Hao a glance. Li Hao, however, remained utterly calm. Zheng Yu laughed. "Li Hao, you are quite interesting." Li Hao sized him up from head to toe and chuckled as well. "You are quite interesting too. Ying Hongyue is a wolf—a lone wolf! Looking at your demeanor, your expression, your behavior, and some of your actions, you might very well have a deeper level of cooperation with him… Daring to keep an ungrateful wolf by your side—Zheng Yu, you truly are intriguing!" Zheng Yu smiled faintly, offering no reply. Li Hao asked again, "Can a Sovereign be killed?" Zheng Yu nodded. "Yes! In the past, it might have been difficult, but now there is hope! The Star Gate is sealed, cutting off the origin path. By the same token, it severed the Red Moon Dao! At present, the powerhouses of this entire world are in the same boat… Even if a Sovereign has integrated the Dao into his body… without the support of the Great Dao universe, he is nothing more than rootless duckweed! Having been sealed for so many years, his power has drained immensely, so he can indeed be killed… provided he has truly weakened to the utmost extreme. Otherwise, not even a Half-Sovereign could slay a Sovereign!" "In the past… there was no hope at all. A Sovereign could effortlessly obliterate a Half-Sovereign!" Li Hao nodded. Truly formidable. A Half-Sovereign and a Sovereign—separated by just one word! Yet the difference in their strength was vast as heaven and earth. At this point, Zheng Yu added meaningfully, "If that object within Star Suppressing City is obtained, he can be killed!" The Blood Sovereign's blade! Li Hao said nothing more and paid him no further attention. Zheng Yu appeared simple and came across as lacking wits, but in reality, he was an old, cunning fox who could never be taken lightly. Killing a few Saints… meant little to Zheng Yu; they were merely cannon fodder. So long as he could achieve final victory, even if every Saint and Heavenly King died, it would mean nothing to him. Did he truly know nothing about Li Daoheng and Ying Hongyue? Not necessarily! How had that clone he sent to Star Suppressing City perished? Had Ying Hongyue killed it with ease? Or had Zheng Yu willingly offered it up to be slain? Such things were hard to tell. Strengthening the bloodlines of the Eight Great Families within Ying Hongyue might very well be what Zheng Yu desired. If the speculation was correct, the Hong family bloodline was inherently powerful. By now, the Zheng family bloodline was certainly not weak either. If Ying Hongyue acquired more inheritances, and the bloodlines of the Eight Great Families grew potent enough, there was a chance of claiming that blade! With these thoughts floating in his mind, Li Hao ignored Zheng Yu entirely. His spiritual power began to surge upward once more. Up in the sky, the seal flickered. Zheng Yu could see it clearly. Watching Li Hao's power extend upward, he said nothing, merely observing in silence. At this moment, Li Hao's aura was exceedingly powerful. "At least… between the late-stage and peak Saint level!" A single month! Indeed, a heaven-sent prodigy! Previously, Li Hao had severed his own Dao meridians, and Zheng Yu had assumed he would need some time to recover. Evidently, the earlier nationwide prayer had benefited Li Hao enormously, functioning much like the Human Sovereign's Dao. The masses cultivated, thereby empowering Li Hao. Not only that, but even Hong Yitang and the others had received the blessing, their strength surging rapidly. No wonder this fellow seemed unbothered! In a mere month, he had leaped from the seventh tier of the Sun-Moon Realm straight to nearly the third tier of the Dao Integration Realm. If Li Hao continued like this… he truly might become the greatest threat of all! Zheng Yu pondered silently, saying nothing, yet he did not leave either, standing watch on the spot. …… Meanwhile. Li Hao's spiritual power surged upward. Soon, his spirit jolted. The next moment, he felt as though he had entered someone's body. He knew this had to be the phantom of the Sword Venerable; the same thing had happened once before. Sure enough, looking down, he seemed to hold the Starry Sky Sword in his grasp. Only, today was different from the past. In the past, this place had been profoundly tranquil. Today, it was exceedingly chaotic. Thunderous booms echoed ceaselessly! In the distance, an ancient city stood firm, while a Great Dao Book hovered in midair, enveloping the city—none other than Galaxy City, the city seized by Zhang An. At this moment, the ancient city and a bright moon were clashing in the vast expanse of the cosmos. Crashing into each other repeatedly! Further away, a gateway stood motionless in the cosmos—the Star Gate itself! Beneath the Star Gate, a figure sat cross-legged like an ancient, timeless statue, completely unmoving. He did not intervene in the battle between the silver moon and the ancient city, merely watching in silence. When Li Hao's spiritual power seeped inside, the phantom suddenly turned to look in his direction. Faintly, a trace of a smile seemed to surface on his face. Even within this seal, peace was no longer to be found. Li Hao opened his eyes to look, seeing the ancient city, the Star Gate, and the silver moon. Further off in the distance, he spotted a dead, silent ancient city that stood utterly still—Sword City! Zhang An hadn't taken the silver moon! Not only that, but the silver moon appeared abnormal. It flashed with radiance, repeatedly surging forward as if trying to crash through toward the seal, as if desperate to escape. A whole month had already passed! Li Hao thought to himself: After an entire month of surprise assault, Zhang An still hadn't subdued the silver moon… More importantly, the silver moon was a component of the seal. Logically speaking, the Red Moon Sovereign should not have sat idly by; he should have helped Zhang An and his group instead. The enemy of an enemy was a friend. He shouldn't just be watching; he should be longing for the silver moon to be taken away. The entire seal was divided into eight directions, each occupied by a phantom. However, aside from the Sword Venerable's phantom, the other seven appeared exceedingly feeble. The Red Moon Sovereign sat cross-legged in the center of the seal, compulsory calm, simply watching. Meanwhile, light flickered over the silver moon, gleaming silver one moment and shifting to another, chillingly cold hue the next. The two streams of light intertwined, with even a thread of crimson power coiling among them. Boom! Another deafening collision resounded, causing the phantom Li Hao inhabited to tremble slightly. Li Hao frowned. The battle between the two was visibly weakening the seal's power. At this moment, Zhang An's voice echoed out: "If you continue fighting until the seal breaks… is that the outcome you wish to see?" Right then, a voice actually rang out from atop the silver moon, laced with resentment and cold fury: "You seek to seize my true body, and you expect this queen not to fight back?" Li Hao was stunned! The next instant, his heart jolted. No way, right? Surely not this person…? He felt dazed. Why did that voice, that tone… sound so much like the Queen of the God Nation? The Queen… wasn't the Moon God, was she? This left him thoroughly bewildered. If the Queen was not the Moon God… could they be twins? Or… had the vanished Queen somehow snuck into the seal without anyone noticing? Zhang An's tone remained as placid as ever: "Is this your true body?" "Why wouldn't it be?" The woman's voice rang out again, tinged with sharpness. "I am the Moon God, and the Moon God is me! The entire world acknowledges it. If you refuse to, who do you think you are?" "……" This… was the Queen? Li Hao froze for a moment, then gradually understood. The Queen truly had snuck in! She actually had some skill! This brainless woman had silently crept into the seal without even him noticing. What was more, she had… she had actually occupied the silver moon, disrupting Zhang An's plans and seizing the Moon God's true body for herself! Even if the silver moon here wasn't the entirety of it, it was still a major portion. She… actually possessed some capability! Did I underestimate you? While Li Hao was astonished, Zhang An was nursing a headache, feeling utterly helpless. The plan had been flawless! Reality, however, was brutally harsh. Just when success was within his grasp, an obstacle had suddenly cut in out of nowhere. What was worse, Zhang An had paved the way for her; he had nearly obliterated the original imprint belonging to the Moon God. And in the end, she had swept in and reaped the spoils! He could only chuckle bitterly. Had he not ground down the Moon God's imprint until only a sliver remained, this woman could never have occupied the silver moon under normal circumstances. Yet… by sheer coincidence, she had entered at that precise moment and directly claimed the Moon God's body! He knew who she was: the Queen of the western land… He too was surprised, having no idea how she had managed to slip inside. Furthermore, Li Hao hadn't managed to finish her off—Li Hao truly was slipping! Now, she had seized the silver moon. The power of the silver moon was extraordinarily immense. The foremost deity in the world! Back then, even the Sword Venerable had been unable to thoroughly erase her. While other deities were at the Saint level… the Saints of that ancient era! This Moon God had definitely been at the pinnacle of the Heavenly King level back then. Even though she didn't possess her full power now, occupying the silver moon granted her the power of a Saint—and a top-tier Saint at that. For a time, Zhang An was genuinely unable to subdue her. Just as Zhang An was vexed, the previously silent Red Moon Sovereign suddenly spoke: "Descendant of the Li family, since you have arrived, why not reveal yourself?" Both combatants were startled. In that instant, the Sword Venerable's phantom trembled. Li Hao detached directly from the phantom, instantly condensing his own appearance. Standing in the void, he offered a polite, slight bow. "Li Hao of Silver Moon greets the Sovereign!" The Sovereign standing beneath the Star Gate raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Greetings!" How amusing! He had seen this youth once before, but back then, Li Hao had possessed none of his current composure. Li Hao ignored Zhang An and the Queen entirely, looking only toward the distant Star Gate. The gateway was unimaginably colossal, seemingly spanning the cosmos… In truth, it genuinely spanned the cosmos. And the Red Moon Sovereign stood right before it. Li Hao stepped forward through the void, speaking as he walked: "Junior has come this time to seek guidance on a matter. I hope Senior will not hesitate to enlighten me!" "What matter?" Li Hao smiled faintly. "The Moon God's true body is not here. The Sovereign should be well aware of this, correct?" The Sovereign laughed. "What makes you say that?" "If the Sovereign remained ignorant of this even now, that would be far too foolish. If even I know, could the Sovereign not?" The Red Moon Sovereign chuckled again. "Fair point. And what if I know?" Li Hao said softly, "If you know, then I can ask for your advice. How can the Moon God's true body be killed?" "……" In the distance, a figure materialized atop the silver moon. Still holding her scepter, she glared icily at Li Hao, utterly silent. Li Hao did not spare her a glance, keeping his eyes fixed on the Sovereign. "The Moon God should be inextricably bound to the Silver Moon world, making her exceedingly difficult to slay! I am not referring to that aspect. I ask the Sovereign for guidance. After all, she suppressed you for countless years; if I kill her, it might also vent some of your resentment!" "You are quite interesting!" The Red Moon Sovereign smiled. "It is exceedingly difficult! She… might well be considered the core of the Silver Moon world. Or rather, had the Sword Venerable not obliterated her imprint back then, she would have been Heaven's Will itself… It was only after she was wiped out and sank into dead silence that a new Heaven's Will emerged!" "To kill her is as difficult as ascending to heaven. She is virtually immortal and indestructible!" Li Hao pondered for a moment and nodded. "True enough! Then, if this Second-Generation Moon God replaces her using half of the true body, is there any hope?" "You actually harbor such an idea… fascinating." Li Hao smiled. "The Moon God's immortality stems from the existence of heaven and earth, and the fact that countless millions still remember her. As long as people remember her, she lives… If the Moon God in people's hearts is wiped out completely, will she still survive?" "That I do not know; I have never tried." The Red Moon Sovereign gave a faint smile. Li Hao added, "There is one more matter. Sword City is now empty. Could the Sovereign gift it to me?" "It was originally an item of the Li family. If you wish to take it… then take it!" Li Hao sighed with regret. "Never mind. It seems that even an empty Sword City retains some sealing power. If I take it and you manage to break free, wouldn't I become the greatest sinner in the realm?" Only then did Li Hao turn toward Zhang An and the Queen, smiling. "You two clash back and forth right under the Sovereign's nose. Are you not worried about displeasing him and disturbing his peace?" He then continued, "Your Majesty the Queen, a great disaster survived truly brings great blessings! Director Zhang is a peak Saint, a quasi-Heavenly King capable of contending with true Heavenly Kings… yet he is evenly matched with you. Here I am, cultivating with painstaking effort, and it doesn't even match a random windfall you stumbled upon… It truly fills one with envy!" "Naturally, Your Majesty should thank me as well. Trapping the true Moon God for a month provided you this opportunity. How about giving me some face… and both of you call it quits for now…" The Queen sneered, "Li Hao, do you think things are the same as before?" Now, I occupy the silver moon's true body! My combat strength has instantly skyrocketed to an extreme! What face do you have to speak of? Li Hao laughed. "Your Majesty truly is… getting carried away! Do you think Director Zhang genuinely cannot take you down? He merely fears that fighting too fiercely will rupture the seal—don't lose your head! Otherwise, that Great Dao Book would be used for offense rather than defense! If I were Director Zhang, facing a woman this unruly, I would definitely teach her a harsh lesson and show her that even an accidental windfall is no excuse for acting lawless!" Zhang An chuckled as well, glancing at Li Hao. "With the Sovereign present, one dares not act recklessly!" The Queen's expression shifted repeatedly before she suddenly said, "Li Hao, if you help me slay the true Moon God… this queen can halt my hand, and even lend you aid!" "Forget it. I have no need for a pig teammate; you are simply too foolish!" Li Hao shook his head. "A pig teammate at the peak Saint level is even more insufferable than a Heavenly King enemy! Whoever works with you meets with misfortune, and I have no desire to be tainted by your bad luck!" "Li Hao!" Though the Queen had seen through many things by now, she still found Li Hao's insults intolerable, erupting in rage! Infuriating! Do you still think this is the past? My combat strength now exceeds yours! Li Hao had no interest in bickering with them. Glancing at the Star Gate once more, he suddenly said, "Senior Sovereign, if I can open the Star Gate, could you simply leave? Depart from the Silver Moon world… go wherever you please, so that I no longer have to suffer a headache on your account." Even the Red Moon Sovereign was taken aback. After a pause, he laughed softly. "You cannot open it! Do not listen to the nonsense spouted by those fellows. Once the Star Gate was sealed, there was virtually no hope of opening it again unless one gained full mastery over the Silver Moon world… Not even the Starry Sky Sword can open it now!" So that was how it was! While speaking, Li Hao surveyed his surroundings, gazing into the distance. The vast cosmos here appeared remarkably empty. Aside from the visible Star Gate, Sword City, Galaxy City, the silver moon's body, and the Red Moon Sovereign, nothing else seemed to exist. At this moment, he began walking toward a particular direction—one corner of the Eight Trigrams. The Hong family's sector! Just as he was about to head over, the Sovereign's voice suddenly rang out: "Descendant of the Li family, what is your purpose in coming here?" In that instant, the voice grew ethereal, causing Li Hao's spirit to feel as though it were freezing up. His footsteps hitched slightly. Just like his first visit here, he was being interfered with by the other party! At this moment, three characters flashed brightly in his mind. "Battle Heavenly Dao"—all three characters shone with brilliant light. Li Hao understood. The Hong family's corner… likely harbored a problem. That had been one of the objectives of entering this time, though checking on Zhang An and the others had also been part of it. He stared in that direction for a moment, advancing no further. "I came this time to ask the Sovereign if there is any good way for me to kill Zheng Yu. I wish to become the Sovereign's final opponent, rather than these fellows… What does the Sovereign think?" "A fine idea." The Red Moon Sovereign nodded with a faint smile. "However, that Zheng Yu is not weak. Having been sealed for so many years, my power has drained, and there is no Red Moon power here to replenish it. Even if I personally emerged… I could not guarantee slaying him! Why don't you find a way to break the seal? Perhaps… I might still have a chance of killing him!" Li Hao appeared to sink into contemplation. At this point, an unfamiliar Saint from within Galaxy City barked in fury, "Li Hao, as a descendant of the Sword Venerable, you must not heed this person's deceitful words and disgrace the Sword Venerable's name!" Without looking, Li Hao knew who spoke; it had to be a Saint from the Zhang family, an ancient powerhouse originally from Dingtian City. Zhang An raised a hand slightly, cutting off the man's words. Zhang An understood Li Hao… Young as he was, the youth was deeply scheming; how could he possibly commit such a blunder so easily? With Li Hao's arrival, the fighting within the entire seal had ceased. Everyone was observing his reactions, as though Li Hao were far more difficult to deal with than even the Sovereign. In reality, among all the parties present, Li Hao possessed the weakest strength; the others were present in their true bodies, whereas he was merely a wisp of spiritual consciousness. Li Hao chuckled. "I understand. How could I dare release the Sovereign? The Sovereign's might is peerless! For a mere Dao Integration cultivator like me to release him… wouldn't that be seeking death?" "I had no grand designs in coming here today, merely wishing to persuade everyone to stop fighting and coexist peacefully. Along the way, I also wanted to pay my respects to the Sovereign. As a cultivator of the new era, the Sovereign is like the heavens in my eyes… To behold the true visage of a Sovereign is an immense honor!" "Also… Director Zhang should be fine. Your Majesty the Queen, once you leave, you can come find me. The Sovereign left a substantial amount of Red Moon power within your body; I can help purge it for you… it is far too dense!" The Sovereign chuckled softly. "You child… why do you take such pleasure in doing things that displease others?" Li Hao smiled brightly. "Then my apologies to the Sovereign. After all, Her Majesty's head is not very clear, and I fear she might stir up trouble for me… She wishes to deal with the true Moon God now. If she were targeting me, I wouldn't be worried at all. But when she targets my enemies, I am genuinely terrified! I fear she will run straight to the true Moon God to deliver benefits… Sigh!" "……" In the distance, the Queen's face turned livid! This was perhaps the greatest humiliation imaginable! If she went after Li Hao, Li Hao wouldn't fear it—he would even be delighted. Yet when she decided to target the true Moon God… he grew worried instead! Was this… something a human being would say? "Li Hao!" The Queen's voice turned chillingly frigid. "Do not presume that I am still the same as before…" Li Hao rolled his eyes. "The fact that you still cannot see yourself clearly tells me you are exactly the same as before! I never treat you as an enemy. The more you hate me, the happier I am; the moment you stop hating me… that is when I will truly worry! I hope you maintain your hatred toward me with perseverance! As for a difficult task like dealing with the true Moon God, I will handle it myself. So long as you don't make a mess for me, I will be profoundly grateful!" With that, he glanced around the area once more, casting a final look at Sword City in the distance before smiling faintly. "Very well, I have seen what I came to see, and the pleasantries are concluded. Seniors… I shall take my leave! In addition…" He turned to Zhang An. "Director Zhang, advance to the Heavenly King level soon! Though you may walk a new path… surpassing the limits is not beyond hope. I will restore heaven and earth as swiftly as possible so the world can accommodate Heavenly Kings… If you do not enter the Heavenly King Realm, matters will become exceedingly difficult down the line!" With those words, he turned and left, merging into the Sword Venerable's phantom in an instant, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The world fell into complete silence. At this moment, neither Zhang An nor the Queen retained any desire to continue fighting. Zhang An let out a helpless laugh, remarking softly, "In that case… I shall no longer force the issue. However… look out for yourself. Just as Li Hao said, this silver moon's true body is extraordinarily complex! It has hung here for a hundred thousand years. Although I used the Great Dao Book to cleanse much of its impurities, many things still lurk hidden within it… Do not act rashly!" With that, he steered the ancient city, driving it straight toward the seal. His purpose in entering the seal had been to seize the silver moon, but Li Hao's arrival… had caused him to abandon some of those thoughts. As Li Hao departed, Galaxy City began merging into the seal, gradually fading from sight. The Sovereign seemed poised to move… but the previously motionless phantom of the Sword Venerable suddenly drew its blade. The Sovereign frowned slightly, striking out with a palm. Thunder rumbled across heaven and earth. He glanced at the seal, his brow furrowing slightly, but said nothing. The Queen's expression shifted repeatedly. Right then, the Sovereign suddenly asked, "Are you leaving by your original route, or through the seal?" The Queen's face changed! The Sovereign said indifferently, "If you don't leave, do you intend to stay behind and chat with me? As the core of the Silver Moon world, though the world barrier is sturdy, it cannot trap the silver moon's true body." The Queen gritted her teeth. "Why didn't you shatter me… Now that they have all departed, the imprint upon this silver moon has been nearly wiped out. Things are not as they were before; you could likely destroy it…" The Sovereign chuckled softly. "You are quite amusing… Once you are outside, give my regards to those fellows!" With a wave of his hand, the silver moon tumbled, instantly piercing through heaven and earth, vanishing without a trace! Once everyone had departed, the Red Moon Sovereign let out a soft laugh. "Kill you… why bother?" How amusing! Perhaps that Li Hao could use her to truly bait the Moon God out and butcher her! You are merely a peak Saint who stumbled upon sudden power… Who cares about you? Having driven everyone away, he looked toward that corner of the Eight Trigrams in the distance. Just now, Li Hao had seemed intent on walking over to take a look. He sank into deep thought, his mind racing. Smiling faintly, he sat down cross-legged once more, pondering it no further. Li Hao… had come for that, hadn't he? …… Meanwhile. A bright moon suddenly materialized between heaven and earth, only to vanish an instant later. The moon transformed into the Queen, who slipped away in indignation. On the other side, another bright moon quietly emerged. Within that divine temple, the statue suddenly sighed. "Trapped for a month… what an absolute bane! Tell me, did Li Hao do this on purpose?" The man with the sword on his back said softly, "Perhaps he did! The Second-Generation taking the remaining body of the silver moon is indeed troublesome… The crux is that her brain has never worked well, yet she actually managed to sneak into the ruins this time. Tell me… could this be retribution?" He truly had no words! He couldn't help but chuckle. "Truly… Li Hao, Zhang An, and that Sovereign of the Red Moon were all helping her seize the silver moon! It seems you and I have become public enemies!" The Moon God sighed. "Find a way to retrieve that portion as quickly as possible. Otherwise… I truly worry she will drag me to my death!" The man with the sword nodded slightly. "That is true enough… One does not fear a formidable enemy, but rather a so-called ally… who is far more terrifying than any foe!" Toward the Queen, everyone felt profoundly exasperated. If an enemy was powerful, one simply fought them. When a so-called ally was an utter liability… they were worse than an enemy! As they spoke, the Moon God's statue suddenly twisted in agony, overwhelmed by helplessness: "This… fool!" At that moment, vast quantities of faith power began draining away once more. Across the Silver Moon world, a bright moon suddenly rose, and a grand voice echoed through heaven and earth: "I am the Moon God, immortal and imperishable! Believers of the Divine Kingdom, faithful of the realm, a demon has seized half my body, deliberately besmirching my untainted name, colluding with the likes of Li Hao—all of them are demons!" "From this day forth, the name of the Moon God ceases to exist! With the changing of eras, I walk the world under the name of the Heavenly God… Should a Moon God appear again, it must be the Moon Demon! With demonic flames raging rampant, I shall cleanse the mortal realm of evil and restore clarity to heaven and earth!" As the voice faded, a bright moon illuminated the realm, casting the radiant silhouette of a beautiful figure across the void. At this moment, she seemed like a true deity descending to the mortal world! It was as if everything that had happened before had been the doing of the Moon Demon, bearing no relation whatsoever to the Heavenly God of today. Across the territory of the Divine Kingdom, the few remaining temples suddenly shattered one after another. Countless statues collapsed entirely in an instant. At this moment, the believers who still harbored lingering devotion were suddenly overjoyed! So that was it! The previous Moon God had actually been a demon in disguise! No wonder they had suffered repeated defeats, even abandoning the Divine Kingdom. It turned out the true Moon God had only appeared today… No, not the Moon God anymore, but the Heavenly God! …… "Hahaha!" Having just returned, Li Hao couldn't help bursting into uproarious laughter. The Queen… seemed to have gained some wits? Must the true Moon God be feeling as sick as if she had swallowed filth right now? All those humiliating blunders that had brought shame upon the gods were now cast aside by the Queen, who had dumped the entire blame onto the Moon God. Meanwhile, she emerged with an untainted reputation, changing her guise to become the Heavenly God! How utterly delightful! And in the eyes of the believers, the Moon God had become the Moon Demon who insulted the Heavenly God. To the faithful, a deity was undefeated; how could they suffer defeat after defeat? All those mistakes had clearly been committed by the Moon Demon! …… At this moment, high in the sky, the bright moon where the Moon God resided trembled slightly. The man with the sword sighed, shaking his head gently. What an utter disaster… she had fallen straight into a cesspool! The Second-Generation, heaven knows who she had learned it from, had actually learned how to shed her persona. Since the Moon God's reputation was ruined, she simply discarded it. Now that she had become the Heavenly God, the true Moon God was the one left suffering. If the Heavenly God's reputation was ruined one day, she could just switch to another persona. …… At the same time, countless people were utterly astonished. Ying Hongyue, Zheng Yu, and the others were all left dumbfounded with amusement. With the Queen stirring up such a ruckus, even if the true Moon God stepped forward to claim she was the real one… who would believe her? The credibility of the deities would only plunge further! …… And after that, Li Hao made no moves and took no action. Ignoring everyone, he merely waited quietly in Silver City for something to arrive. Zheng Yu watched him for a single day. By the second day, Hurricane City had vanished. Zheng Yu had concluded that the current Li Hao would not deliberately damage the seal again; continuing to keep watch was entirely pointless! Three days passed in succession… Li Hao suddenly opened his eyes. He glanced into the distance. A phantom flashed by and vanished in an instant. He made no attempt to pursue it. Soon, Li Hao descended upon a patch of broken ruins. There, a grand seal and a hammer lay quietly on the ground. Hong Yitang frowned slightly, sending a mental transmission: "Is this real or fake?" Would a man like Ying Hongyue surrender these items so easily? It was somewhat hard to believe! "Real!" Li Hao nodded, replying via voice transmission, "He has no need for them at the moment. If they could lure me into the seal, that would be best; if not… these two items are not so easy to claim either, especially the Hong family's hammer! Once integrated into the Starry Sky Sword, unexpected complications might arise… He might even seize the Starry Sky Sword from me!" Hong Yitang felt a headache coming on. "Watching you two scheme and counter-scheme… I feel exhausted just watching!" "Battling with people brings boundless joy!" Li Hao smiled. "If everyone were an idiot, wouldn't things be boring? Uncovering the truth from subtle clues is actually quite fascinating. In the past, I loved studying case files, which often yielded unexpected conclusions… It is truly an enjoyable pursuit." "Martial Uncle, you can head back first. Showing yourself to Zheng Yu was all that was needed. Continuing to follow me serves little purpose; putting Zheng Yu's mind at ease was the goal." Good grief! So I was merely a tool? Dragging me along to see the God of Early Martial, dragging me along to see Zheng Yu—all of it… was just to reassure everyone? "You…" "You said it yourself, Martial Uncle: you aren't afraid. Since that's the case… bringing you to meet the various seniors also lets them know that I, Li Hao, have returned!" Hong Yitang laughed helplessly. "Hearing you put it that way, it feels a bit like meeting the family elders…" Li Hao grinned as well. It… truly did feel a bit like that! At that moment, Black Panther rolled his canine eyes. These two grown men were truly revolting!