On the Central Continent, millions of people were praying.
Li Hao had fallen, yet sought life through death. It was believed that prayer could bring him back, and across the entire Silver Moon, hardly a soul wished otherwise.
As long as that young man stood above them, they felt an unshakeable sense of security.
If Li Hao truly perished, what would become of Silver Moon?
The monstrous thunder, the wildly expanding world, the ravenous demonic beasts proliferating across the land... The people of Silver Moon trusted no one else.
And for good reason. Before Li Hao’s rise, Heavenly Star had endured centuries under feudal darkness, and not a single soul had managed to overturn the heavens.
Whether it was the Nine Departments or the Silver Moon martial masters, in the end, had anything ever changed?
Only when Li Hao rose had everything—the Nine Departments, the imperial family, the Three Great Organizations, the ninety-nine provinces, the Seven Divine Mountains, the ancient ruins, the Neo-Martial remnants—been effortlessly swept into the dustbin of history in the blink of an eye!
He was an invincible existence!
And so, on this day, learning of Li Hao’s death in battle had shaken the hearts of millions. Fortunately, hearing that he could be resurrected brought them some measure of comfort, yet countless people still worried that the revival might fail.
They also feared that with Li Hao gone, those proud, fierce generals and warlords would rebel.
Every dynasty throughout history had suffered the same fate!
When the supreme hegemon collapsed, those beneath him quickly descended into chaos.
***
Heavenly Star City.
A pall of unease hung over the populace.
Inside the Governor-General’s Manor.
Hong Yitang, Qian Wuliang, and the others were gathered, currently deliberating how to integrate their Dao realms and unite the twin Dao universes to attempt reigniting the Time Star, hoping to grant Li Hao an opening for revival.
Of course, the Time Star seemed to have been thoroughly extinguished, shattered by the chaos thunder.
Whether it could be rekindled remained entirely uncertain.
Yet just as everyone was discussing how to swiftly complete the preliminaries to revive Li Hao... within the great hall, a figure silently materialized.
At first, no one took notice.
Only Black Panther, who had been lying listlessly to one side, suddenly jerked its head around and stared in that direction. In the next breath, its canine eyes filled with shock and delight.
Li Hao had not chosen to hide in the shadows to observe them.
To him, there was simply no need.
Even his death this time had merely been a way to keep out of sight and out of mind, wishing to slumber for a while to enjoy some peace and quiet. Yet Lin Hongyu had revived him far sooner than expected.
As for whether Qian Wuliang and the others might rebel, he did not particularly care.
And since he did not care—and possessed the power to sweep away everything beneath the heavens—why bother hiding?
There was no point.
*Woof!*
Black Panther sprang up and dashed forward in an instant. The moment it moved, the conversing crowd turned their heads, and everyone froze. Expressions shifted from terror to delight, from shock to disbelief.
The terror stemmed from the sudden doubt of whether this figure truly was Li Hao. He was supposed to be dead, so how could he suddenly appear here?
The revival plan had not even started yet!
Qian Wuliang’s gaze flickered before boundless joy blossomed across his face. “The Marquis is back!”
He leapt to his feet and hurried forward, overjoyed. “The Marquis has returned to life!”
Only then did the others gradually regain their senses.
When they spotted Lin Hongyu hurrying in behind him, they breathed a collective sigh of relief, though they remained somewhat stunned. Hong Yitang was equally baffled, looking Li Hao up and down. Was this... really Li Hao?
Everyone had watched with their own eyes as the thunder blasted him to pieces.
Though he possessed the ability to bring the dead back to life... they had not even finished preparing to revive him yet.
Li Hao gave a faint nod and smiled. “It has only been a few hours, and none of you seem to recognize me?”
Director Zhao stepped forward swiftly, glancing at Li Hao and then at Lin Hongyu... for a brief moment suspecting whether Lin Hongyu had found a body double somewhere to secure her own authority using Li Hao’s name.
Yet when he looked closely at Li Hao... although the young man emanated no imposing aura whatsoever, Director Zhao knew in an instant that this was indeed Li Hao.
In truth, Qian Wuliang had realized it from the very first second.
That suffocating, overwhelming pressure that descended the moment he appeared... Aside from Li Hao, not even Tianji could evoke such a sensation in him. When Li Hao’s gaze swept over him, Qian Wuliang felt a twinge of panic, as though impending doom hung over his head.
He truly had not harbored thoughts of rebellion... yet he had certainly entertained some private schemes. If Li Hao could not be revived, he had vowed never to bow to Lin Hongyu.
Those secret thoughts buried deep in his heart... thoughts he had never uttered aloud... felt as if they were laid completely bare before Li Hao’s eyes. He knew he might just be letting his imagination run wild, but the cold, hard fact remained: he was thoroughly rattled!
Even as the master of the illusory Dao, possessing peak sixth-tier Dao Integration and the combat prowess of a peak Heavenly King, he still felt uneasy and terrified.
“Congratulations, Marquis!”
Director Zhao quickly offered his felicitations, the unease in his eyes fading. He had genuinely feared that Li Hao could not be revived. If that happened, trouble would inevitably erupt: friction between the masters of the twin Daos, clashes between the Silver Moon martial masters and outsiders, and conflicts between the people of Silver Moon and the Neo-Martial faction.
Without Li Hao to suppress them, no one else could keep the peace.
Now that Li Hao was back, Director Zhao felt vastly relieved.
Li Hao smiled again. “You have all worked hard!”
He stepped forward without the slightest haste, walking with unhurried poise straight toward the seat of honor above. “Sit, all of you!”
The crowd took their seats.
Every face bore a mixture of curiosity and triumphant relief. The gloom that had previously shrouded them instantly dissolved, and the tense, combative atmosphere from moments ago vanished without a trace.
Li Hao swept his gaze across the hall and noted several missing figures.
Almost none of the Neo-Martial experts were present.
It seemed this was Lin Hongyu’s doing. He said nothing of it, nor did he intend to explain himself a second time. In that instant, the void froze. Li Hao reached out a hand, and heaven and earth seemed to crack open.
Before everyone’s eyes, a magnificent palace seemed to manifest.
The Dali Royal Palace!
Li Hao’s hand spanned the heavens, as though reaching into a reflection to pluck an object. The colossal palm descended upon the Dali Royal Palace, and his voice reverberated across space, “Do not resist!”
Inside the Dali Royal Palace, quite a few figures were gathered.
Nearly all the Neo-Martial experts were there.
Zhang An’s expression shifted drastically. Just as he was about to strike, the voice echoed in his ears. His eyes flickered, and he relinquished his defense.
The King of Dali’s face changed even more rapidly, and he threw a fist without hesitation—unable to hold back his instinctual reaction.
The Queen instantly transformed into a ray of moonlight, attempting to flee.
Yet in that single breath, all things under heaven fell into the palm. Be it the fist or the moonlight, everything was instantly scooped up.
Darkness fell before their eyes as though they were traversing boundless space.
Ten million li in a single heartbeat!
In the blink of an eye, the powerhouses inside the Dali Royal Palace vanished, only to reappear within the great hall of the Governor-General’s Manor. Everyone stood utterly dumbfounded. Zhang An’s gaze flickered as he looked at Li Hao, sighing with emotion. “Congratulations!”
Terrifying!
At this moment, Zhang An even felt that the Li Hao standing before him was already a Sovereign!
Had he... attained Sovereign status?
The King of Dali still held his punching stance. The instant he laid eyes on Li Hao, he froze in utter disbelief. “You... aren’t you dead?”
“I lived again.”
“...”
The King of Dali was rendered speechless.
*What the hell?!*
*What kind of situation is this?!*
*Didn't they say resurrection was excruciatingly difficult?*
*We barely flew over to the Dali Royal Palace, and you’re already alive?!*
*Are you even human?!*
*So, does this mean Bone Corroding Sovereign and the others died for nothing?!*
The Queen was tactful enough not to utter a word. Her eyes simply darted around, taking in their surroundings as if searching for an escape route. To be plucked across mountains and rivers by Li Hao in an instant... she felt that this young man was more terrifying now than ever before.
She did not doubt for a moment that this was a fake.
It was unmistakably the real Li Hao!
If this was an impostor, the imitation would be far too flawless.
Judging a person did not require scrutinizing their aura or power; looking into their eyes and listening to their tone was more than enough. Some people transcended judgment by mere aura.
After a brief daze, the King of Dali glanced around. “Is this... Heavenly Star?”
“Heavenly Star City, the Governor-General’s Manor,” Li Hao answered calmly. With a wave of his sleeve, several more chairs materialized. “Take your seats!”
Without another word, Zhang An found an empty chair and sat down.
Others had wanted to speak, but seeing Zhang An comply, they quietly took their seats as well.
“The internal crisis of Silver Moon has been temporarily resolved. As for my resurrection... there is no need to make a fuss. After all, I grasp some measure of temporal power; I do not perish so easily.”
“Right now, the world of Silver Moon is ascending, and all the people will benefit. Whether Neo-Martial or Silver Moon, everyone will reap advantages; it is not for the benefit of a single person alone.”
Resurrection, no need to make a fuss?
What a joke!
Your previous resurrections occurred almost instantaneously upon death. But this time, you were blasted to cinders by the chaos thunder, and even the Time Star was destroyed!
Even after that, you could come back?
And that was not even the most critical part!
The most critical part was that you clearly were not drawing on future power right now, yet with a single reach, you dragged everyone from Dali, tens of millions of li away, right into this hall! The King of Dali was a Heavenly King expert, yet his punch could not even stir a single ripple!
What kind of power was that?
Others hesitated, but the King of Dali was blunt. “Did you break through again?”
Li Hao smiled. “You could say that.”
“What do you mean, ‘you could say that’?” The King of Dali pressed on. “You... you casually plucked us across such a vast distance. Have you attained the Dao and become a Sovereign?”
“A hair away.”
*A hair away?*
*Why does it feel like even a half-step Sovereign isn't as formidable as you? You call that ‘a hair away’?!*
Although the King of Dali wanted to ask more, seeing everyone staring at him, he felt rather speechless and held his tongue. Instead, he grumbled, “Grabbing them was one thing, but why drag this king along? I’m not your subordinate!”
“In passing,” Li Hao chuckled. “You are the host. If I didn’t bring you along, you might have thought everyone left without saying goodbye.”
*Damn it!*
*What kind of nonsense is that?*
Li Hao teased him no further and continued, “Since everyone mistakenly believed I was dead and that I needed reviving, we cannot let everyone’s good intentions go to waste. I wish to revive some people.”
Everyone’s hearts tightened.
The Silver Moon martial masters grew excited. Was he talking about... Yuan Shuo and the others?
Ever since the battle at Boundless City, Northern Fist’s gaze had remained fiercely grim, far removed from his former genial self. At this moment, the ferocity in his eyes dissipated for a fraction of a second. “Revive whom?”
Li Hao looked at him. “Exactly whom you are thinking of.”
Northern Fist’s eyes instantly blazed with light. “Can it be done?”
“I am not certain.”
Northern Fist’s expression dimmed slightly, but his passion quickly flared up again. “You can do it!”
*He definitely can!*
*If he could come back after being blasted to ash by the chaos thunder tribulation, so can they!*
At this moment, Hong Yitang and the others held their breath.
Reviving Yuan Shuo and the rest?
Could that truly be done?
To be honest, ever since those people fell in battle, the Silver Moon martial masters seemed to have lost their vitality. They went about their duties in silence, and laughter had become a rarity.
The foul-mouthed one was gone, like Southern Fist.
The coughing one was gone, like Hou Xiaochen.
The boastful one was gone, like Yuan Shuo.
The cold-faced one was also gone, like Golden Spear, whom everyone had treated as a benchmark of combat strength.
No one joked anymore about thirty-six heroes and thirty-five useless bums.
No one bragged anymore about how their division head was all-powerful.
Hou Xiaochen had never managed to marry Jade Rakshasa, leaving behind boundless regret.
Yao Si was gone as well; no one was left to remark that before the Silver Moon martial masters were even born, he had already been there...
All of this had profoundly altered the atmosphere among the upper echelons of Heavenly Star.
Yet today... when Li Hao spoke of attempting to revive them, each of the Silver Moon martial masters felt a surge of emotional fervor.
Meanwhile, Qian Wuliang and the others exhaled softly.
In truth, several of them had long harbored regret.
Regret over what?
Regret that on that fateful day, perhaps they should have risked everything to save those people, especially Yuan Shuo... even though it had been excruciatingly difficult, nearly impossible.
Ever since Yuan Shuo’s death, serving under Li Hao had genuinely been nerve-wracking.
The former Li Hao had never been this aloof, detached, and cold.
Back then, even when he wore a disingenuous smile, there was still some warmth behind it. Nowadays, his smile seemed like pure facial discipline; one could not detect the slightest warmth, only endless chill.
In those days, Li Hao would joke and banter with Southern Fist, trade glances and teasing quips with Jade Rakshasa, provoke Hou Xiaochen from time to time, display a touch of childish petulance before Yuan Shuo, and loudly curse out Yao Si...
Back then, he had been a genuine youth.
Now... he was still himself, yet no longer the same.
Had he known things would turn out this way, Qian Wuliang thought, he would have risked his life back then to drag at least one person back. If he couldn't pull Yuan Shuo back, couldn't he have saved Southern Fist?
If Southern Fist were around, that fellow was thick-skinned and close to Li Hao. With his shameless, unruly nature, even if Yuan Shuo died, Southern Fist could have weathered Li Hao’s cold face. Everyone else fell short.
Hong Yitang could manage it in theory, but Hong Yitang was sometimes even more taciturn than Li Hao; relying on him was worse than relying on no one.
At this moment, all eyes were fixed on Li Hao.
Li Hao spoke: “To revive them, there are several difficulties. First, the most powerful of their intrinsic stars must have shattered. We must determine whether any weaker stars remain.”
“Second, there are too many stars. Across the entire Great Dao Universe, stars number in the hundreds of millions, and countless remain unopened. How to locate their specific stars... that is the crux!”
“Third, even if we find some stars that indeed belong to them, can an unopened star restore a person to life? I have never attempted it. The revival of deities required an opened star; that was simple!”
“Fourth...”
Li Hao paused and looked around at the assembly. “This endeavor requires channeling the power of time, which will very likely provoke the chaos thunder to reappear once more... If the thunder gathers and I insist on carrying out the revival, the two masters of the Great Dao might be struck dead.”
Qian Wuliang wore a look of solemn resolve. “The revival must take precedence, of course! Even if we are struck dead... there will be a chance to revive again in the future!”
“...”
Everyone looked at him. *Are you serious?*
Li Hao chuckled. “Wuliang is truly an extraordinary man!”
Was that praise or mockery?
Qian Wuliang could not tell for the moment, but his declaration had shown sufficient loyalty, so he let it go.
Li Hao smiled. “Then so be it. As long as Wuliang has no objections, if the chaos thunder is truly provoked, Wuliang can use the illusory Dao universe to seal off Silver Moon and hold out for a while...”
Qian Wuliang cursed internally. *Me again?!*
*I knew it! If I had known, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth! Seriously... If I encounter that thunder, won’t I be obliterated by a single bolt?*
Li Hao continued, “Additionally, if I cannot find them in the corporeal Dao universe, I will search the illusory Dao universe. However, many illusory Dao stars were shattered previously... We might not find them, and the hope is slim, so the key still lies in the corporeal Dao universe...”
After a brief explanation, he looked at Lin Hongyu. “Continue presiding over the prayers of the populace. Have everyone stimulate their Dao meridians. Once their Dao meridians are stimulated, I can filter out a portion and use the resonance to classify the unopened stars. The remainder... should be the stars left behind by the deceased.”
Li Hao added, “Of course, there will still be many left, and searching through them will be difficult. It may take a considerable amount of time. In short, all of you will have to work hard for a while.”
“We will not shirk our duty!” the crowd chorused.
Seeing that this had little to do with him, the King of Dali was about to ask to take his leave when Li Hao suddenly looked his way. “King of Dali!”
“H-here... What do you want?”
He almost answered subserviently, but quickly caught himself, remembering that he was the King of Dali.
Li Hao smiled. “This time, I need your help.”
“What?” The King of Dali was puzzled. *What does this have to do with me?*
“Your vitality and blood are the most vigorous. Even I am inferior to you in pure blood vitality... You cultivate the path of Early Martial Arts. Lend me some of your blood vitality to reshape their physical bodies!”
Li Hao explained, “If they can truly be revived, we must lay down a foundation of supreme strength for them. As for your blood vitality... you have even consumed the skeleton of a top Early Martial expert. You just need to lend me some of that power.”
The King of Dali felt rather exasperated. “How much do you need?”
“All of it.”
“...”
*Damn it!*
The King of Dali instantly grew wary. *What are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?*
“All of it?”
Li Hao nodded. “All of it!”
“Do you want to kill me?”
“No,” Li Hao shook his head. “I am saving you! When you summoned the future earlier, although you failed to manifest yourself and merely drew upon the power of Emperor Batian or Iron Sovereign, you still accumulated karmic entanglements. By exchanging your blood and undergoing rebirth now—since you have no future anyway—you might be able to evade those karmic consequences.”
“Then... won’t I be crippled?”
The King of Dali was on high alert. Why did it feel like he was being swindled?
He had helped Li Hao earlier, and he hadn't even received the promised benefits yet.
Li Hao shook his head. “How could you be crippled? This will also help regulate your body. You ate indiscriminately—gobbling down this and that—making your blood vitality extremely impure! Advancing too quickly is not a good thing for you!”
*Hear him talk! Could anyone advance faster than you?*
The King of Dali felt this was dubious, yet... it also sounded somewhat reasonable.
“Once my blood vitality is gone, how do I recover it?”
“Simple!” Li Hao smiled. “I am not trying to harm you; in fact, this is your compensation! You helped me before, so consider this repaying the debt! I will cleanse you with the River of Time. You will expend a bit of lifespan, and new blood vitality will be born. Since you have no future, you shall become your own future...”
*Could that really work?*
The King of Dali looked at Li Hao with lingering suspicion. “Are there any drawbacks?”
“I told you, a portion of your lifespan will be consumed.”
“How much is ‘a portion’?”
“I cannot say. It depends on when you can fully recover. If it takes ten years, you lose ten years; if a hundred years, then a hundred years.”
The King of Dali frowned, then asked again, “And after I recover, it will be my own pure blood vitality? All previous drawbacks will be gone?”
That actually sounded quite decent.
As for lifespan, he was still young. At his current cultivation level, living a hundred thousand years would hardly be difficult.
What was a mere century of lifespan?
It seemed... viable!
“Naturally, the previous drawbacks will not remain. Before time, those issues are no issues at all.”
The King of Dali felt relieved and nodded. Just as he was about to agree, his expression shifted. “Wait, if the old drawbacks are gone, are there any other problems later on besides lifespan?”
Li Hao pondered for a while, then nodded. “You might get struck by chaos thunder.”
“I...”
The King of Dali wanted to curse his ancestors!
*To hell with this!*
Li Hao said earnestly, “It is for your own good. After all, you previously tainted yourself with the power of time. The lightning strike won't happen now, but in the future. This can be considered resolving future troubles for you. I’ve already calculated the time for your strike: right on the day the Star Gate opens! If the Star Gate doesn’t open, you won't be struck! As long as you can endure it on that day, your path ahead will be unimpeded!”
*Is that true or false?*
He thought rapidly, but felt that his scheming could never outmatch this fellow, which gave him a headache.
Was this real or fabricated?
“Are there any other issues?”
“None!”
The King of Dali was torn. In truth, he was never afraid of gambling; the problem was that every time he gambled, he never seemed to win any substantial benefit. Li Hao’s words always sounded sweet, but most of the time, the boy was just painting pretty pictures!
This time, however, Li Hao spoke with utmost gravity: “You are currently at the Heavenly King level, and taking another step forward is exceedingly difficult. But once your blood vitality is purified, combined with the world’s current ascension, if you seize this opportunity, on the day the ascension is complete... you will definitely step into the peak of Heavenly King or even become a half-step Sovereign! And once the Star Gate opens and you endure that tribulation strike, you will be a genuine half-step Sovereign at the very least. With good luck... you might even have a shot at attaining Sovereign status!”
*Yeah, right!*
The King of Dali didn’t believe the Sovereign part, but half-step Sovereign... seemed within reach, didn't it?
After agonizing over it, he nodded. “Fine, agreed. I’ll lend you my blood vitality... but don’t you dare fool me!”
Having said that, he didn’t even know how to threaten him.
If Li Hao did fool him, what could he possibly do about it?
Li Hao smiled. “I won’t!”
He then turned his gaze toward the Queen. The Queen instantly felt a foreboding premonition, her eyes filled with caution. Yet Li Hao wore a gentle smile. “Queen... do you have a true name?”
“None!” the Queen answered flatly.
Li Hao smiled, unbothered. “Earlier, when I borrowed your Silver Moon power to manifest Heaven’s Will, I promised there would be a reward. This time, I shall grant you a grand opportunity as well!”
The Queen answered immediately, “No need. I don’t want it!”
“No, debts of gratitude owed by Li Hao must always be repaid!”
Li Hao’s tone brooked no refusal. “This is also an opportunity for you! Much like the King of Dali, you have devoured far too much external power, leaving your strength impure. The Moon Goddess’s power is actually rather chaotic and tainted...”
The Queen said solemnly, “What does Marquis Li mean by this?”
“Within your body lies a vast reservoir of faith power. Faith power is inherently chaotic and disordered, gathered from hundreds of thousands, millions, or even more individuals, and without the baptism of the Chaos Dao, it remains exceedingly turbid!”
Li Hao continued, “Your problem is also easy to resolve. You do not even require the cleansing of the River of Time; you simply need to take a swim in the river of chaos to wash away these impurities!”
Li Hao smiled. “This time, I shall grant you the opportunity to wander once through the river of chaos governed by Martial Uncle Hong... Under ordinary circumstances, such a chance is never granted to outsiders!”
The Queen calculated rapidly and asked, “Then what must I pay in return?”
“I told you, this is to repay my prior debt of gratitude.”
*Really?*
*He doesn't need me to do anything?*
The Queen pondered. If that was truly all... it might be worth a try. But to be frank, it was far too difficult to trust someone like Li Hao.
The King of Dali had surrendered his blood vitality, which seemed somewhat believable.
If she offered nothing at all... it felt even more suspicious.
The Queen said hastily, “That won’t do. Lending a bit of power earlier was nothing significant, whereas the river of chaos is of paramount importance... This king does not wish to owe anyone favors either. State something within my power, and I shall resolve it for you!”
“The Queen is far too polite!”
Li Hao chuckled and sighed with emotion. “Since that is the case, it would be rude to refuse your generosity! After my death... I mean earlier, Silver Moon lacked Heaven’s Will. By devouring Silver Moon’s power and acting as the sole deity, you actually inherited the will of heaven and earth. If I am not mistaken, you have temporarily assumed the position of Heaven’s Will.”
The Queen’s heart skipped a beat!
Li Hao added, “Of course, that hardly matters.”
Li Hao smiled amiably. “What you need to do is simple. Once they are revived, gather the power of Silver Moon’s heaven and earth to help me forge their bones and lay their foundations! Extract some of the scattered Heaven’s Will and fragmented Heaven’s Will left behind after my death... What you absorbed was far too chaotic anyway! Offer a portion of it to those being resurrected. Since the world of Silver Moon is about to ascend, absorbing some will also allow them to reap the benefits of that ascension.”
The Queen fell silent for a moment before nodding without a word.
This man, Li Hao... saw through everything.
He simply hadn’t voiced it until now.
Indeed, ever since Li Hao ceased to be Heaven’s Will, she had devoured a massive quantity of Silver Moon’s power and become the sole deity of heaven and earth. Since no new Heaven’s Will had formed, she effectively served as one.
Now, Li Hao wanted her to spit part of it back out... Could she refuse?
She could not!
This man understood everything clearly.
If she dared to refuse, she would have to watch her back. Moreover, the world of Silver Moon was about to ascend; if she opposed him now, she might not even get a taste of the ascension’s benefits.
“I have no objection!”
Li Hao nodded with a smile. “The Queen truly understands the big picture! As for your slaughter of several hundred thousand Silver Moon residents...”
The Queen’s face changed dramatically!
Those believers had been subjects of her Divine Kingdom, worshippers of the gods... How had they suddenly become residents of Silver Moon?
Granted, one could frame it that way.
Yet in truth, that act had only benefited Li Hao. Those fanatical believers had posed a severe hazard, and the Queen had resolved them in one fell swoop... In the Divine Kingdom, the fanatics were practically extinct!
This was of tremendous assistance to Heavenly Star’s control over the world.
And yet now...
Li Hao continued, “The matter is complicated, and I do not wish to delve into it too deeply. However, slaughtering so many ordinary humans so recklessly is indeed a sin! The Divine Kingdom has already been brought under Heavenly Star’s dominion, and failing to address this would chill the hearts of the people! Let the eradication of divinity serve as the price! Let there be no more gods in this world. The day my teacher and the others are resurrected shall be the day I bring an end to the divine!”
Li Hao looked at her. “Burn away all the faith within your body and project it across heaven and earth, bringing an end to the era of gods. There shouldn’t be an issue with that, right?”
The Queen’s expression shifted slightly before she finally nodded. “Agreed!”
It wasn't too disastrous, bearing only one downside: in the future, gathering faith would become nearly impossible!
“It is for your own good as well; divinity holds no future!” Li Hao smiled. “The Queen surely has a grander path ahead. It is best to absorb less faith power anyway; consider this a token of my goodwill.”
*To hell with your goodwill!*
The Queen said nothing, cursing him roundly in her heart.
Meanwhile, the others sat in stunned silence, inwardly marveling at his ruthlessness.
The moment he appeared, he had brought both monarchs completely under his thumb.
The crucial part was his constant refrain of ‘for your own good’... and strangely enough, it even sounded somewhat reasonable. As for whether it was truly for their good, who could tell?
In this manner, the blood would come from a Heavenly King, and the bones would be forged from heaven and earth.
If those fallen martial masters were truly revived, they would possess an even higher foundation.
With effortless ease, Li Hao had settled the vast majority of the matters.
Finally, he added, “The corporeal Dao and the illusory Dao are split into two paths. Unification is an absolute necessity; only through unification can the Great Dao be complete!”
At these words, Qian Wuliang’s expression flickered, though he quickly suppressed it.
Li Hao continued, “Qian Wuliang governs the illusory Dao, which can be considered his fortune. Martial Uncle Hong governs the corporeal Dao, which is likewise his fortune! It would be improper to dismiss either of you.”
Li Hao glanced at the two men. “I have pondered this back and forth. Now that the Time Star—the heart of the Great Dao—has been taken away by me, the opportunity to unify the corporeal and illusory Daos is gone... Even if they were truly unified, there would be drawbacks!”
He sighed softly. “As luck would have it, Silver Moon is about to ascend! Two sides of the universe—the illusory Dao and the corporeal Dao—with a heart in the center. What shall serve as the heart to unify them once more? Let the world of Silver Moon serve as that heart!”
*What does that mean?*
Everyone’s interest was piqued. Li Hao explained, “On the day the world of Silver Moon ascends, you two shall descend upon the Great Dao Universe, using Silver Moon as the heart of the Great Dao—in other words, the Dao encircling Silver Moon! Each of you will govern one realm, yet remain connected through Silver Moon, linking the corporeal and illusory Daos through this single focal point!”
At this, even Zhang An could not hold back: “If done this way, can the Great Dao Universe still be considered unified?”
“Yes!”
Li Hao nodded. “Not only is it considered unified, but it also carries another advantage. You two govern the two Daos, while the common people cultivate the myriad Daos. Whether it is the corporeal Dao or the illusory Dao, both exist within the same universe. Both can merge and integrate... It will depend on the hearts of the people, the effectiveness of your promotion, and the direction of public sentiment!”
Li Hao wore a bright smile. “If the people favor the corporeal Dao, the corporeal Dao universe will grow strong! If the people favor the illusory Dao universe, the illusory Dao will grow strong! If the people discard the illusory Dao, the illusory Dao will perish while the corporeal Dao prospers! If the people discard the corporeal Dao, the corporeal Dao will perish while the illusory Dao prospers!”
“Do you two understand my meaning?”
Qian Wuliang’s expression was a sight to behold. He looked utterly devastated, caught in agonizing helplessness. “Marquis... currently, the illusory Dao is exclusively practiced by the spiritual path. I...”
*The entire world cultivates the corporeal Dao! How many people cultivate the illusory Dao?!*
*Damn it!*
*Doing it this way, aren’t I destined to sew the wedding clothes for someone else?!*
*This is far too vicious!*
Yet Li Hao shook his head, his tone deadly serious: “Wrong! The corporeal Dao is by no means superior to the illusory Dao! However, you must strive and promote it yourself. How should you promote it? Divine characters and force—those are the keys! Previously, the common people were unenlightened and could only cultivate the simpler corporeal Dao. But now, they have barely achieved enlightenment, which actually presents an opportunity for you!”
“The more enlightened they become, the more they will understand that the corporeal Dao is crude, revolving primarily around close-quarters martial combat! Only the illusory Dao holds the true spirit of Dao cultivation!”
He looked at Qian Wuliang. “Promote the illusory Dao, carry it forward! If the people are strong, you are strong! If the people are weak, you are weak! The harder it is, the greater the harvest. If you can successfully turn the illusory Dao into the mainstream of the world, even Martial Uncle Hong will only be fit to carry your shoes!”
Hong Yitang chuckled and nodded. “Indeed! The potential of the illusory Dao is immense; of that there is no doubt.”
Yet Qian Wuliang felt utterly helpless. It was easy to say, but extraordinarily hard to do.
The entire populace only knew the cultivation methods of the corporeal Dao. The illusory Dao... was elusive and ethereal.
Moreover, cultivating force was no simple task.
Yet Li Hao was right about one thing: the corporeal Dao was crude, whereas the illusory Dao was profound. The stronger an expert was, the more they enjoyed delving into the illusory Dao.
A single powerhouse could outweigh tens of thousands of weaklings.
If he could rope in a cohort of experts to cultivate the illusory Dao—figures like Tyrant Saber, who each counted for many—it could work.
Still, he knew this was Li Hao showing favoritism toward Hong Yitang... yet one could hardly say Li Hao was wrong. If he truly possessed the ability, he had a genuine chance to turn the tables!
After all, compared to Hong Yitang, he was indeed lacking.
For Li Hao to grant him this opportunity was already benevolent enough!
Under someone else... he would have been forced to step down, and struck dead if he refused!
Thinking of this, Qian Wuliang suddenly asked, “The Marquis says that when the people are strong, we are strong... then...”
Li Hao seemed to know what he was about to say and nodded. “Treat the people well. After the world of Silver Moon ascends and the Star Gate opens, I may leave Silver Moon. You and Martial Uncle Hong may well become the Human Kings or Emperors of Silver Moon! Cultivating the Dao, cultivating the Dao... You govern the hearts of men; yours is not a heartless Dao, and it holds tremendous benefits. Treat the people’s urgencies as your own, worry over their worries. Over time, actions matter more than intent—so what if you act like a saint? Whether it is pretense or sincerity, if you pretend so thoroughly that everyone praises you and you perform nothing but good deeds, who will care whether your heart was sincere?”
Qian Wuliang was speechless.
*In other words, from now on, I have to be a good person?*
*A thoroughly good person?*
*Is that what you mean?*
*Work myself to the bone for the common people?*
*Is that it?*
*And then, when the people grow strong, trust me, and cultivate the illusory Dao, I will become invincible?*
It sounded so simple, yet... it felt as difficult as scaling the heavens!
*I’m an ambitious conspirator!*
*How... did things end up like this?*
For a moment, he suddenly felt that holding the illusory Dao universe was hardly a blessing.
The foundation of the corporeal Dao was already established, whereas the illusory Dao had virtually none, requiring him to pioneer everything from scratch!
The others clicked their tongues in awe.
They also felt... that Qian Wuliang had it rather rough. Even if it sounded full of opportunity, to these Silver Moon martial masters, wouldn't such a path strip away all freedom?
Wouldn't it rob one of the ability to act as one pleased?
Then forget it!
In truth, having Qian Wuliang govern the illusory Dao was quite fine after all!
“Thank you for your guidance, Marquis!”
At this moment, caught between sorrow and joy, Qian Wuliang offered his thanks with complicated emotions.
At the very least, he was still the master of the illusory Dao universe.
He had just acquired a great many burdens!
Li Hao smiled. “No need to thank me. Whether you become strong or weak ultimately depends on you! Having the twin Dao universes converge upon Silver Moon will also make Silver Moon even more powerful!”
Zhang An chimed in with another question: “Doesn't that require stepping outside Silver Moon?”
Li Hao shook his head. “No need for that; an internal division will suffice! In the future, when the Great Dao Universe expands, it can be extended at any time. For now, venturing beyond the boundaries of Silver Moon is not necessarily a good thing!”
Having said that, he looked at Zhang An. “The Star Gate will open!”
Knowing what weighed on Zhang An’s mind, he offered a pill of reassurance, then added, “Provided, of course, that once the Star Gate opens, we still have the chance to leave. If the Sovereigns of the Red Moon Universe blockade the gateway, or if the chaos thunder tribulation descends in an unending barrage... we won't need to overthink things.”
*Fair enough!*
That made sense as well.
At this point, a wisp of sword intent manifested in Li Hao’s hand, which he casually tossed toward the Ninth Division Commander. “This is a bit of sword intent I preserved after Li Daoheng was struck dead. He was your elder brother after all, and you are the only descendant of the Li family remaining. Take it, Ninth Division Commander!”
The Ninth Division Commander’s expression turned complex as he caught the sword intent. His heart trembled slightly—it was extraordinarily potent!
Glancing around the room, Li Hao’s gaze fell upon Dao Jian, who stood quietly near the back of the crowd, rarely speaking. Li Hao said, “Dao Jian, do not carry too heavy a burden. You are among the most talented individuals of this era. Li Daoheng using you was actually your fortune; otherwise, it would have been difficult for you to catch up to the others. If Minister Yao Si can be revived this time, he would surely be thrilled to see your progress. Near the Star Gate sits a small courtyard where you may go to meditate. That was once the dwelling of the Sword Venerable, and a place inscribed by the Human King himself... I hope it brings you enlightenment.”
“Thank you, Marquis!”
Dao Jian replied with equally conflicted emotions.
Li Hao had not held his past against him, nor had he interrogated him. Had Li Hao not intervened earlier, Dao Jian might well have been slain the moment he broke through.
Li Hao said no more on the subject. He rose to his feet, a smile gracing his face. “Very well, that will be all for now. Let the entire populace prepare to resurrect my master and the others! If we succeed this time, I will richly reward all under heaven; no one shall be slighted!”
“We obey your command!” the crowd answered in unison.
At this moment, everyone sighed inwardly. Only with Li Hao present could they achieve such unified consensus, where any proposition he raised met not a single objection.
Without lingering, Li Hao vanished in an instant.
As for where he went, not a soul knew.
Chapter 418