Memories of the Past

Li Hao’s vision blurred, and a figure materialized before him. Zhang An called him Grandfather. Without a doubt, this was the Neo Martial Supreme, the Martial King Zhang Tao. Li Hao knew a bit about this man. In Neo Martial history, he had left a profound and indelible mark. He was a protector of the Dao and a guide for the Human King, wielding tremendous influence. Originally a pioneer of the Neo Martial Human Sovereign Path, he later severed his own Dao to pave the way for the Human King. In Neo Martial’s final war, he fought fiercely against the Heavenly Emperor, ruler of the Origin Era, ultimately meeting his death before being resurrected when the Human King reversed life and death. He had also popularized and expanded Neo Martial, serving as its master strategist. Strictly speaking, combining Silver Moon’s Director Zhao, Qian Wuliang, Lin Hongyu, and Hong Yitang might only just match his administrative impact. Single-handedly, he had managed all the administrative affairs of Neo Martial, with education being his greatest expertise. To meet this very man right after plunging into the past was truly a delightful surprise—though given Zhang An’s identity, crossing paths with him had only been a matter of time. That single cry of “Grandfather” left Li Hao somewhat dazed. The Zhang An possessing his body was equally shaken; this was the Zhang An of later generations, and seeing the man before him left him completely overwhelmed. He had not seen his grandfather in so long! It had been far too long! Ever since coming to Silver Moon, he had essentially broken off all contact with him—partly out of evasion, partly out of fear. Even though his grandfather was respected, warm, amiable, and regarded by many as a humorous, witty old fellow… in his eyes, his grandfather was a terrifying creature. His elder brother had been the pillar of the household. His younger sister was the youngest and the most doted upon. He, caught right in the middle, had neither his brother’s independence nor his sister’s lively charm. From childhood, he had feared his grandfather. Even now, he could not help but tremble to his very soul. “You’re back?” The elder before them glanced at Zhang An. Though called an elder, his appearance was remarkably youthful; only the weathered look in his eyes hinted at a deep fatigue. “Yes, Grandfather!” “Get ready. Pack your bags and go study at Magic Martial!” “Magic Martial?” “That’s right.” The elder smiled warmly as if recalling something, letting out a chuckle. “An interesting fellow has emerged at Magic Martial. You probably know him…” “Fang Ping?” “Yes!” *Boom!* Li Hao’s head rang with a roar. It was as if Zhang An merely mentioning this name caused the River of Memory to shake and shudder, nearly buckling under the weight, giving Li Hao quite a shock! This was merely the past! In the depths of memory from long ago, Zhang An uttering a person’s name had actually caused the river to tremble. Just what kind of terrifying power was this? The elder seemed utterly oblivious and chuckled, “Him! An amusing lad, bound to become a pillar of humanity in the future… I have already decided to groom him to become the third minister and take over my post!” “Grandfather… he… he seems to stir up trouble more than anyone. Wherever he goes, massive trouble follows. Because of him, the Catacombs have rioted repeatedly, countless soldiers have fallen, and many grandmasters of the older generation have rushed into the Catacombs to die in battle. You…” “Ignorant! Foolish!” The elder snapped with dissatisfaction and a hint of disappointment. “Others can say that, but not you! You are my grandson, Zhang Tao’s grandson! I taught and raised you myself. Your older brother went out early to oversee his own domain and guard the Catacombs, but for you alone, I poured in the greatest care and the most effort! “Stirring up trouble?” The elder snorted coldly. “The Catacombs are filled with countless formidable foes—how else do we break the deadlock? By holding back passively, waiting for their full-scale invasion? Do you know why, even knowing that every time he ventures down he is bound to stir up trouble and provoke full-scale war, neither I nor anyone else has ever stopped him? Because… we need someone to break the deadlock! “Since he dares to do it, can do it, and is willing to do it… let him do it! We will bear all the consequences! “He is the soul of your younger generation, your very spirit—an invincible spirit that never admits defeat, that will succeed or die trying! The veteran grandmasters died for him willingly and gladly! “Only by doing this can we fight for a future!” The elder frowned, displeasure evident on his face. “Others might say that, and veteran grandmasters might joke about it… but absolutely no one believes he is truly in the wrong! Since he is willing to take risks time and again, we must have the courage to bear every consequence! “Zhang An, you are still young. Your vision is too shallow, and your grasp of the big picture is weak. That is why I am sending you to Magic Martial, so you can interact with him. He said he wants revenge on me and told me to watch out, warning me that my family had better not set foot in Magic Martial… Well, I’ll do just that!” The elder suddenly broke into a profoundly meaningful smile. “I’m going to send both you and your sister there. If he wants to hit you or kill you, let him! I also want to see whether interacting with him can rid you of your indecisive nature… Zhang An, your starting point is higher than his, and you are stronger. You have me as your grandfather, whereas he has no one… But I hope you won’t look down on the heroes of this world because of that! “A youngster who can agitate countless powerhouses in the Catacombs to the point where they crave his flesh and blood… To you, he is someone worth learning from and respecting. You should hold neither contempt nor resentment toward him! Even without him, the war against the Catacombs would still erupt. Yet the number of Catacombs powerhouses he has wiped out may be a height you never even glimpse in your lifetime…” The young Zhang An seemed somewhat unconvinced. Even though outsiders viewed him as an extraordinary genius with high talent and impeccable upbringing, akin to a modest gentleman, he had grown up accustomed to flattering praise. To suddenly have his grandfather tell him that he was going to Magic Martial not for anything else, but to learn from that person and interact with him… to interact with that rough, uncouth youth! Zhang An was displeased, but before his grandfather, he dared not say much. Originally, he had not wanted to attend Magic Martial; he had wanted to go to Capital Martial University. Capital Martial shared equal fame with Magic Martial, but Capital Martial had produced far more experts… Though Magic Martial had grown more famous over the past two years, it was only because Fang Ping was studying there and stirring up the winds and clouds… Zhang An preferred Capital Martial. Deep down, he harbored the thought that if he went to Capital Martial, he could stir up the winds and clouds just the same, bringing Capital Martial back on par with Magic Martial. Adding flowers to brocade was never as good as delivering charcoal in the snow. Furthermore, the Zhang family’s influence was rooted in the capital. There, he could develop far better and even lead Capital Martial to the next National Martial Arts Championship, breaking Magic Martial’s consecutive winning streak over the past two years. …… At this moment, Li Hao listened in silence, sensing something clear: this man valued his grandson Zhang An immensely—far more than he had imagined. Quite the contrary, he placed great hopes on Zhang An. He even hoped Zhang An would become close comrades-in-arms with this future Human King, joining his inner circle during his rise just as the Blood Sovereign and the others had. To that end, he had jokingly declared: *I’m sending my grandson and granddaughter to let you beat them up; mess with them however you like, as long as you don’t kill them… and even if you do kill them, I won’t blame you!* At this moment, the older Zhang An possessing the body felt a storm of complex emotions. This was the conversation he had had with his grandfather back then, right before leaving for Magic Martial. His grandfather had wanted him to go, but he had been reluctant, yet lacked the courage to object. More than that, he had felt anger and indignation that his grandfather seemed to value that outsider over him! *I am his biological grandson. Why does Grandfather favor that troublemaker who stirs up conflict everywhere and constantly brings disaster upon humanity? How many grandmasters rushed into the Catacombs to fight and die far from home just because of his recklessness?!* Back then, he had simply failed to understand! Looking back now as he revisited the past, Zhang An sighed softly. He had indeed been too brash and proud in his youth. The war between Neo Martial and the Catacombs had been ongoing all along. Yet they had lacked someone to break the deadlock. Powerhouses like his grandfather were pillars of stability who could not easily make a move; a single misstep would cost them the entire board! Back then, the young Human King had plunged into the Catacombs, stumbling all the way. Though he stirred up trouble and sparked disaster, he was simultaneously wearing down the enemy’s strength, making the enemies believe it was merely the reckless blundering of a young hothead while leaving his grandfather and the others overlooked. And that had laid a monumental foundation for their eventual victory. As Zhang An reflected on this, he looked at his younger self again. He had seemed so unyielding back then—agreeing with his mouth, but lowering his head in silent obstinacy. He hadn’t noticed it back then, but now he was momentarily dazed. His grandfather was looking at him. A trace of heartache flickered across his face, and his eyes held a sigh, as if trying to convey something. His grandfather had never shown him such an expression before; he had never noticed it in the past. Returning to the past today, he finally saw it: the hidden anticipation and apology in his grandfather’s eyes, as though saying: *You are my grandson, and the one I love most has always been you. But I also hope you can see yourself clearly, face reality, and make some like-minded friends…* That gaze was so complex that even the modern Zhang An was shaken. His grandfather… had never displayed such an attitude toward him before. In his youth, had his grandfather placed such enormous hopes on him? For a moment, he felt a wave of dejection and confusion. In his memories, his grandfather had only ever been stern with him—growing stricter, angrier, and more disappointed… never showing anticipation! Especially when others continued to advance after Neo Martial while he remained stuck at the Saint level, his grandfather seemed to have given up on him entirely! Thoughts swirled in Zhang An’s mind, while Li Hao’s reaction was far simpler. He merely gazed at the man before them, sensing the thoughts of the Zhang An he was riding, and feeling that power growing relentlessly every passing moment… He felt both surprised and enlightened. Fascinating! At this point in time, the Supreme was already showing signs of mastering the Human Sovereign Path. All the people were aiding his cultivation; at this level of strength, he had already earned the trust, reverence, and even faith of the populace… Neo Martial did not believe in blind faith, yet this man, without holding supreme status, had won universal approval. He truly was remarkable! He hadn't displayed any martial might, yet it still made a slight impact on Li Hao. An intriguing person, a powerful person—even in his weaker days, just observing him felt richly rewarding. Experiencing it firsthand through Zhang An’s perspective… this era suddenly felt extraordinarily fascinating! The conversation with the Zhang family Supreme was brief. Soon, time flowed forward, and Li Hao, riding within Zhang An, experienced everything as it had happened. Until… they entered Magic Martial! That academy which had left an illustrious name across history! Stepping inside, one found it wasn't particularly large, and strong cultivators were scarce… In Li Hao’s eyes, none of these people were even at the Sun-Moon stage; the strongest had barely touched the threshold of Sun-Moon. Yet such an academy… had been the foremost higher institution of its day! And right here… Li Hao paused in surprise. He had not seen the Human King, but he had encountered someone rather unexpected—the Sword Venerable! …… In this era, the Sword Venerable seemed to have just emerged from his decade of honing his blade, brimming with high spirits and an irrepressible murderous intent. When Zhang An saw him, the Sword Venerable was practicing his sword in his small courtyard. It was simple: draw, sheathe, draw, sheathe! Zhang An had come to pay his respects to the Sword Venerable on his grandfather’s orders… even though, at this time, the Sword Venerable was hardly a big shot and remained exceedingly feeble in the eyes of Supreme Zhang. Yet before sending him here, Supreme Zhang had specifically told Zhang An to pay his respects to this genius who had spent a decade honing his blade… Indeed, the Sword Venerable was a junior whom the Supreme valued highly. He believed this man would accomplish great things in the future. One had to admit, whatever else the Supreme lacked, his judgment was razor-sharp. Even at this early stage, he had already determined that the newly risen Sword Venerable—who had passed his optimal age for martial cultivation—had a grand future ahead of him. Right now, the Sword Venerable was not yet the towering figure Li Hao had seen previously. He appeared rather ordinary. He looked like a small old man with a sword at his waist. This was the legendary Longevity Sword… where the legend lay not in the physical blade, but in the sword intent. Li Hao’s current strength far surpassed that of the Sword Venerable from this era. A casual glance showed that his swordsmanship was far inferior to Li Hao’s own—far, far behind. Yet the Sword Venerable’s sword was remarkably pure! By this point, the Sword Venerable had already accomplished the magnificent feat recorded in history: *one bridge and three gates entering my belly*! His strength was considered top-tier for this era. Of course, compared to the Supreme, the gap was still immense. When he saw Zhang An, he did not treat him with excessive politeness, seemingly uncaring of his grandfather’s status. The moment he laid eyes on Zhang An, he said, “Your mind is cluttered. So young, yet pretending to be calm and steady, devoid of youthful spirit. You should have gone to Capital Martial… Capital Martial is full of old fossils clinging to old rules… Your grandfather, Minister Zhang, is an unconventional rogue, yet his descendants grow more staid with each generation, each worse than the last… In this era, being staid is a sin! The world is in chaos; we aren't defending the realm, we have to conquer it! What good is being calm and steady right now? Not a damn bit…” The Sword Venerable pulled no punches! The young Zhang An felt stifled and angry at being looked down upon. Yet… he could only continue putting on an air of composure. The Sword Venerable seemed to notice, but said nothing more. Perhaps considering that this kid’s grandfather was his direct superior, he shook his head in the end. “Forget it, since you’re here… say no more. Take a strike from my sword; consider it giving face to your grandfather!” With that, he slashed out a sword strike! The young Zhang An, frail as he was, felt an immense impact and even a surge of resentment… The Sword Venerable was formidable; how could he possibly withstand a strike from him?! Sure enough, the mere sword qi sent him stumbling backward. Yet the true Zhang An and Li Hao were both startled. At that moment, they sensed a peculiar intent, even a force—a special force unique to Silver Moon! Both had seen countless forces, and in an instant, they grasped something… Li Hao was shaken. Pure? Unified? The return of myriad Daos to one? A tremor ran through his heart! In this era, the Sword Venerable’s strength was truly ordinary… from Li Hao's perspective, extremely ordinary. Yet a single strike from the Sword Venerable at this stage already carried a hint of *all Daos bowing to me*! How could this… The older Zhang An was equally stunned, his soul shaking once more. This was… the intent of the sword Dao, a form of passing down the Dao! Yet his younger self had been full of anger, completely missing it. The Sword Venerable frowned slightly, seeming disappointed, and swiftly sheathed his sword, his voice flat. “Decent talent, not much worse than Fang Ping. A pity… what a pity! Go on. When you have time, reflect on this strike… And remember, you’re only eighteen. Don’t act like an eighty-one-year-old geezer. Be who you are. Your grandfather’s achievements didn’t come from playing it safe. When he was young, he was just as wild as Fang Ping, maybe even wilder, pulling all sorts of wicked stunts…” Just as he finished, a cold sneer rang in the ears of Li Hao, Zhang An, and the Sword Venerable: “Li Changsheng, if not for that strike of yours, I’d slap you to death!” Li Hao was stunned. That Supreme Zhang… had been eavesdropping the entire time, barely paying attention earlier. Yet the Sword Venerable seemed completely unbothered. “Try slapping me then! Is speaking the truth against the law? When you were young, my teacher said… Well, I won't air all your dirty laundry. But frankly, this grandson of yours takes nothing after you… Then again, you disguise yourself too well, acting all righteous and dignified, and your grandson copies you. If you ask me, you shouldn't act like that; you ought to show some of your shameless side in front of him… Aren't you utterly shameless when you're around us and Fang Ping?” “……” Supreme Zhang seemed annoyed and snorted coldly. “Cut that crap with me! My grandson has great talent. As for your strike… he’ll comprehend its true essence sooner or later! That said, your technique is starting to stray from the Origin Path. How strange… That crummy little sword of yours actually carved out a flavor of its own; you could almost chip my fingernail with it now!” Li Hao felt a strange sensation. Was this how top-tier figures communicated? They had brought posturing to a whole new level! “Can your grandson comprehend it? If he really manages to, I’ll… Never mind, you’re older than me, belonging to my master’s generation. If he does, I’ll hang upside down and eat shit!” “Who are you looking down on?” “I’m looking down on your grandson!” “Are you taking a jab at me? Don't think I don't know what you're scheming, Li Changsheng. Behave yourself, or I’ll slap you to death…” “Go ahead and slap me! If you slap me to death, my cheap disciple will slap you to death in the future!” “Bullshit… Is he even your disciple? Do you take Lu Fengrou for dead?” “……” The two great figures traded voice transmissions, hurling curses back and forth. Meanwhile, the older Zhang An remained frozen for a long time, sinking into dejection. *I… never comprehended that true intent my entire life. It seems I disappointed Grandfather after all.* As for the young Zhang An… he was exceedingly weak and seething with anger, paying no heed to any of it. Li Hao couldn't help but smile. How fascinating. The experts of the Neo Martial era were truly amusing. Did they all communicate like this? One followed behind like a shadow, shamelessly eavesdropping and trading insults—was this the legendary Supreme? And this Sword Venerable, who was supposed to be cold and aloof… was spouting endless vulgarities, only showing a sliver of restraint because the Supreme was of higher status, older, and from the same generation as his teacher. Of course, what caught Li Hao’s attention even more was that during this era, while still in the Origin stage, the Sword Venerable already showed traces of myriad Daos unifying as one, while the Supreme had already embarked on the path of converging all Daos. These Neo Martial powerhouses… every single one of them had shown their uniqueness even when weak. Remarkable! After this brief interlude… What left a lasting impression on Li Hao wasn't anything else; he still hadn't seen the Human King yet. After leaving the Sword Venerable, Zhang An and his sister were quickly sent off to perform hard labor. Along the way, Li Hao grew increasingly intrigued. Everywhere they went, flattering cries echoed: “Principal Fang is mighty!” “Grandmaster Fang is awesome!” “Congratulations to Grandmaster Fang!” Was this the legendary Magic Martial? Or was it a den of sycophants, a roadside bandit camp? This crowd… no matter how young, carried the swagger of bandits. Walking sideways down the street, their attitude seemed to proclaim: *Beneath the heavens and above the earth, I’m second only to Old Fang!* Every single youth was brimming with vital energy and bloodlust! When they looked at Zhang An, they treated him like a little child. Even knowing his grandfather was an influential figure… many people, including several so-called instructors, looked at him as though watching a kid about to get into trouble. Word was that the young Human King had openly declared… he intended to take revenge on Supreme Zhang’s grandson! Yes, petty as that, and declared in broad daylight. Supposedly, it was because Supreme Zhang had repeatedly extorted the young Human King. Not wanting to disrupt this era, Li Hao had no one else to chat with and sent a transmission: “Senior Zhang, is this really the most renowned academy of the Neo Martial era?” Zhang An was startled. Could they communicate like this? He had no idea that was possible. He attempted a voice transmission in reply: “Yes, this is Magic Martial!” “You were targeted right after enrolling?” Zhang An smiled wryly. “Yes… and that was only the beginning. The Human King hadn’t returned yet; he only came back for the opening ceremony… Regardless, that opening ceremony is deeply etched in my memory…” How deeply? Zhang An didn't need to explain, because the freshmen opening ceremony began shortly after. And this time… Li Hao saw the Human King. The young Human King! Descending upon the podium with an utterly ostentatious posture, adopting an attitude that practically screamed, *Look at how amazing and arrogant I am!*, he landed at Magic Martial! “That’s the Human King… The one beside him… is Capital Martial’s Iron Sovereign, who came to Magic Martial and formed a team with him…” This time, Li Hao saw many future titans. Many of them were future Sovereigns. The Iron Sovereign, the Human King, the Sword Venerable. The next moment, the flamboyant Human King spoke: “Instructor Qin, begin!” Yet Li Hao and Zhang An heard another voice from him: *“Old Qin, unleash the dogs! Throw them hard at those two Zhang family kids! That old rogue Zhang made my life hell; I’ll make him pay… torment that brother and sister mercilessly!”* The older Zhang An felt helpless and transmitted, *“So that’s what happened. I thought it was an accident back then!”* Just then, a handsome figure appeared in midair… He looked rugged and handsome, but his roguish charm gave him the air of a pretty boy. Zhang An spoke again: “That’s Qin Sovereign!” “Qin Sovereign?” Li Hao was surprised; he hadn't heard much about him. Neo Martial history recorded little of him. But looking at him now, Li Hao froze. Something about him… was special! He felt cloaked in the will of heaven! A child of heaven? “This man… was famous for putting his life on the line… He considered himself number one under heaven, yielding to no one. The Human King beat him time and again, but he still refused to submit… Unless you gave him benefits—then he’d even call you Dad… Otherwise, beat him to death, and he still wouldn't bow!” Speaking of him, Zhang An sounded helpless. “He was extraordinarily talented, fierce in battle, afraid of nothing, and his ability to stir up trouble was on par with the Human King’s… He was just thoroughly shameless; defaulting on debts was routine for him. He was a bit like Silver Moon’s Southern Fist, but far more shameless! By the way, the invincible force recorded in Neo Martial history… was pioneered by him! *If I win, I am invincible; if I lose, I am still invincible! I am truly invincible, bowing to neither heaven nor earth…*” Li Hao was immediately intrigued. Was he really that interesting? He had actually read about the invincible force in some Silver Moon martial arts manuals, though he had never truly grasped it, assuming it meant staying undefeated and victorious in every battle! Yet according to Zhang An… that wasn't it at all. “Even in defeat… one can still be invincible?” “Yes! An ordinary person can’t do it, but he could… because he believed in himself down to his very bones. He truly believed he was invincible, not as mere self-consolation, but with absolute conviction. Even if he suffered a defeat, he considered it merely a test on life's journey—he was still invincible! Then he would fight again… lose again, fight again, lose again, fight again… Undying after a hundred battles, he truly became invincible!” Li Hao drew a soft breath. How fascinating! Truth be told, comforting oneself was easy, but truly and unwaveringly believing that one remained invincible—that a single defeat was merely a challenge, and as long as one lived, one could defeat the opponent… Such a mental state was genuinely worth learning from! Sure enough, no one who attained the realm of Sovereign was ordinary. This man, despite sparse records in history books, possessed such remarkable qualities. An invincible force… No wonder Silver Moon manuals mentioned it; such a force was truly extraordinary! What followed was the torment of the young Zhang An. Swarms of demon beasts were hurled toward him, beating him into utter disarray. This was the Human King’s revenge, as well as a trial! And Qin Sovereign kept tossing beasts at him relentlessly, prompting someone to warn him via transmission: *“Fengqing, that’s enough. Aren't you afraid Minister Zhang will settle scores with you?”* *“Tch, me, afraid of him? At worst, he’ll give me a beating. He won't kill me! And as long as he doesn't kill me… Old Fang promised plenty of perks this time… As long as he doesn't beat me to death, I'll take revenge on him next time!”* Li Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry, while the older Zhang An was completely exasperated. To be honest, this was his first time learning the mindset of these powerhouses. It was his first time discovering what they had truly thought when facing his grandfather. *I’m not afraid of you!* *We’re just taking advantage of the fact that you won't kill us! As long as you don't kill us, if you beat me now and I can't beat you, I’ll beat your son, your grandson, and your great-grandson in the future…* *“To think back then, I believed having a powerhouse like my grandfather would let me walk proud in Magic Martial, if not receive special treatment… It turns out these seniors were pouring all their energy into getting revenge on me… Honestly…”* The older Zhang An felt utterly helpless. Back then, he had had no idea of this layer of truth. Just then, in the distance, a Magic Martial freshman suddenly shouted, “Sisters of the Yuanping Club, follow me and slay the enemy!” A group of freshmen, led by a young girl, actually charged forward to slay the demon beasts. Even Li Hao turned to look, murmuring, “They’re all freshmen… I didn't expect this girl to possess such courage. Senior, you all seemed terrified…” Zhang An was dazed, speaking only after a long pause: “Yes… Many said she reached that height through luck, but in truth… compared to us, she was stronger, braver, and bolder! “She was younger than any of us, only sixteen at the time… Zhang Xue and I were already eighteen, yet she was the first to organize everyone to slay demon beasts, while we… could only hide…” Li Hao froze. That tone… sounded unusual. Zhang An sighed again. “Actually, I've always felt that her becoming a Sovereign was only natural. People were just blinded by her brother’s status, thinking she relied entirely on him… That wasn't the case at all. In another world, it was she who led everyone to battle across the lands, fighting until even that world’s master felt helpless and ultimately sent us away…” “She is… the Human King’s sister?” Li Hao realized. Zhang An replied, “Yes… that’s her! As you can see, at sixteen, the youngest among the freshmen, she performed the best. She was the most outstanding student of our class, and after the Human King's generation, the most brilliant of all. Tell me, does it make sense that she became a Sovereign?” Li Hao looked over. The Human King’s sister was slender and graceful… with a hint of baby fat, quite lovely, yet utterly decisive. When facing those formidable beasts, she slew them without the slightest hesitation. She truly possessed courage and boldness. Though Li Hao could see deep within her eyes… she was terrified, she still led from the front, far outperforming Zhang An, even though her strength was lower than the young Zhang An’s at that moment. “Indeed, everyone who became a Sovereign had something extraordinary about them…” Li Hao affirmed her. “When I was sixteen, my parents had just passed away. I was decadent for quite a while and lacked the ability to kill beasts… Even if I had, I couldn't have organized so many people. If it were me back then, I probably would have waited until no one was looking, quietly killed one, and reaped some benefits…” Zhang An was speechless! *Damn it, are you praising the Human King’s sister or boasting about yourself?!* *Back then, I was scared out of my wits—it was my first time experiencing that, alright?!* “The first time you fought someone… weren't you scared?” “Scared, of course… So I beat him to death, and they even awarded me a silk banner!” Zhang An stared blankly. Li Hao continued, “Have you seen that banner, Senior? I’ll show you later… The first time I fought, I was scared out of my wits. Fortunately, I beat him to death; otherwise, I would have been in deep trouble!” “……” *Was that even human speech?!* Zhang An was completely rendered speechless! *You killed someone the first time you fought, and then you say you were scared… What the hell were you scared of?!* “Then… what about the first time you saw a demon beast?” “Black Panther? Raised it like a dog!” “Besides Black Panther?” “Don't remember… Killed it, probably?” Li Hao wasn't sure either. The first time he saw a demon beast besides Black Panther had been at Mount Cang, right? Killed it directly? Who remembered such things! “Weren't you afraid?” “I had already killed a whole bunch of people by then; why would I be afraid of a demon beast?” “……” Zhang An fell silent. There was simply no common ground between them. “Senior… you were just a tiny bit timid… You looked calm and steady on the outside, but you lost your nerve at the critical moment… You couldn't even match the Human King’s sister. No wonder she became a Sovereign and you didn't!” *Fuck!* Zhang An cursed inwardly! What kind of talk was that? Then again, it was indeed humiliating. Looking back at his past self now, he too felt embarrassed! Why had he been so cowardly back then?! Damn it! Li Hao had seen right through his embarrassing display! Too pathetic! Of course, Li Hao wasn't one for gossip and said no more. From then on, the young Zhang An experienced a myriad of events. Li Hao followed along, experiencing it all. Zhang An also entered the Catacombs, slaying enemies and fighting on all fronts. Meanwhile, in the human realm, the young Human King’s fame grew grander and wilder—so reckless that Li Hao thought it was ostentatious to an extreme. Surviving like that was a miracle in itself. Naturally, humanity paid a heavy price for the young Human King’s madness. Top figures like the Supreme entered the Catacombs, participating directly and acting as his Dao protectors. There were even spectacles where, every time the young Human King stirred up trouble, all of humanity’s powerhouses would charge in shoulder-to-shoulder to clean up the mess! The human race of this era was the very definition of madness! To achieve military victories, as long as the young Human King could reap gains, the Supreme and other supreme experts would not hesitate to ignite an all-out war for the entire human race! No era was as crazy, passionate, or even as naive as Neo Martial! Some things, in Li Hao’s eyes, seemed downright naive. At times, for the sake of winning a single battle… the Human King and the others disregarded all consequences, gambling recklessly, betting that humanity would not be wiped out right then and there! If it were Li Hao, he likely wouldn't have done that. Even the Supreme, hailed as Neo Martial’s master strategist… never obstructed them in the slightest from start to finish. He was nothing like the stereotypical strategist waving a feather fan and saying, *“My Lord, you must not…”* Neo Martial’s Supreme, this master strategist, said every single time: *“Go try it out. Give it a shot. Even if it fails, it doesn't matter—we are here, the sky won't fall!”* This was the Neo Martial Supreme! Such a person left Li Hao profoundly shaken! *Go try. Don't be afraid. Don't worry about terrifying consequences—we are behind you. Even if the sky falls, we will hold it up!* That… indescribable feeling filled Li Hao with immense awe! Though humanity was weak during this period—to the point where Li Hao felt he could wipe out the entire human race at any moment—that unity of will, that singular purpose… *Go do as you please, I’ll be your strategist… and this strategist is one who covers every single consequence for you.* It thoroughly shattered Li Hao’s preconceived notions! “So… this is what a strategist is?” After one great battle concluded, Li Hao was left dazed, even feeling partially immersed in this era… He couldn't help but feel that missing out on this era was truly a regret! Zhang An was equally dazed. “Actually, I didn't understand my grandfather either… Because back then, I wasn't qualified to participate in many of the things he experienced! This is my first time learning… that he was the instigator behind every single war…” It wasn't quite instigation, but on several occasions, the Human King had clearly worried, looking like a child who had made a mistake and felt afraid… Yet time and again, the Supreme fueled the Human King’s flames. Several times, the Supreme had even said: *Afraid of what? The other side is nothing but trash! Go fight them! If you win, we get glory; if you lose and they call their parents, I’ll join the fray, beat their parents to death, and you can keep fighting!* Without the Supreme backing him and egging him on time after time… if his attitude had been slightly softer, more ambiguous, or disapproving when the Human King felt guilty like an errant child, that single objection might have ended his reckless daring. Instead… he had grown increasingly fearless! Because the Human King truly believed the Supreme could cover for him, and the Supreme truly believed the Human King would do better and hit harder each time! That sensation of *I only need to cause trouble, completely unbothered by the fallout*… even Li Hao felt deeply envious. It was simply too liberating! Just go all out! It was precisely because of this that the Human King grew stronger and wilder, arrogant enough to believe there was no one he couldn't kill, no battle he couldn't win. And the Supreme had accompanied him all the way to the very end… covering for him every step of the way! Even in that final battle against the Heavenly Emperor, though Zhang An had been sent away and hadn't witnessed it firsthand, Li Hao knew that the Supreme had shielded the Human King until the very last moment! …… Dazed and entranced, Li Hao remained immersed in the River of Memory for a very long time. Finally, when he encountered the Supreme once more, he clearly sensed that the man seemed to notice something amiss, even detecting the existence of the River of Time. Only then did Li Hao snap to full alertness. And reality proved Li Hao’s senses correct. This meeting took place in Neo Martial’s Yin-Yang World. Having recently returned to life, the Supreme saw his long-separated grandson again, and his first words were: “It seems you have been affected by a special energy and returned from some point in spacetime…” The older Zhang An within Zhang An’s body froze slightly. The Supreme at this moment was towering and majestic, yet his voice was exceptionally calm. “A good thing. I just don't know who came along with you… Though that isn't important! In any case, you lack the capability to return on your own… It seems you’ve encountered a powerhouse, or perhaps a genius! “My grandson, once I placed great expectations on you; later, I was deeply disappointed; and after that… I only hoped you’d stay safe! Now, no matter the reason, since you've returned to look around, don't overthink things. Just remember one thing… don't be afraid, just give it a try! Knowing your temperament, perhaps this return was instigated by someone else… In the future, remember this: you don't need anyone else’s prompting! Do it yourself… As long as you take action, whether you succeed or fail… so long as your grandfather lives, if anyone kills you, I’ll make your enemy accompany you in death! “If you win… as long as you're in the right, even if it’s the Human King, if you dare fight him… I’ll stake it all to fight him too! I could beat him before, and I can beat him in the future! “There is no need to fear anything. I am here for everything; just let loose and do it! No need to worry about the big picture… The big picture isn't your concern. What you need to think about is: fight if you're not convinced! If you win, eat meat; if you lose, your grandfather will lead you back into the fight!” These words left both Li Hao and Zhang An stunned. At this moment, the Supreme spoke again: “Furthermore… whoever you are, it doesn't matter, it's not important. The fact that you could sweet-talk my grandson into doing something he never dared to do shows your skill! And that you could travel across spacetime… shows your ability! Whether you came to observe, to probe, or even to spy on our situation with thoughts of killing me or the Human King… as long as you dare come, we dare fight you to the bitter end! “Of course, if you are an enemy, so be it! But if you aren't an enemy, whatever you wish to learn or comprehend, observing across the void yields only limited insight. No matter how much you observe or probe… it’s never as good as testing it yourself! If you wish to seek the Dao, it's simple: find a powerhouse and fight! If you win, eat meat; if you lose, so be it. Keep that breath of fire alive in your heart. Since you are with my grandson, if my grandson loses and gets killed, if I have the power, I will find you both and resurrect you! “And if I lose as well, then the Human King will step up. If the Human King loses too… then we all go down together…” The towering figure before them left Li Hao dazed. This… sounded rather unreliable, yet out of nowhere, an intense sense of trust welled up within him. Suddenly, he felt immensely grounded! *Just go do it—what is there to fear?* *If you lose, for my grandson’s sake, I’ll save you sooner or later. If I can’t, the Human King will take over. If none of us can… we’ll all attend the funeral feast together!* At this moment, Li Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. To think that from a Supreme from over a hundred thousand years ago, he felt a sense of… trust, stability, and security. Suddenly, he envied the Human King immensely! He didn't envy the Human King’s strength, but the Human King’s backer… Even though that man was no longer a mere backer, Li Hao felt that if someone like the Supreme stood behind him, he would feel thoroughly at ease. *My teacher was actually like that too… It's just a pity that Teacher’s strength couldn't keep pace. When Teacher was stronger than me, he was like this as well.* *Go do it, don't be afraid—I’m here!* *Only… that period was far too brief.* Because very quickly, he had surpassed his teacher. At this moment, Li Hao almost felt regret: had he known, he should have surpassed his teacher a little later. While Li Hao was lost in thought, the Supreme spoke once more: “Neo Martial is already invincible! You came from another spacetime—nothing more than a parallel spacetime, or the past, or the future… It seems you have some tricks up your sleeve! Since my grandson is still around, it means we share the same spacetime. Are your enemies in the chaos? Right now, you are interfering with my past and my memories… It seems something big is about to happen. No matter what year or month you reside in, whatever danger you face, whatever misgivings you hold… it does not matter. The moment this fragment enters my memories, I shall strike once on your behalf—not necessarily to personally slay a mighty enemy for you… but I will stir up the chaos and stage an earth-shattering event to draw the world's attention! As for whether it helps, that’s not my concern. In short… whatever trouble you stir up, it won't be bigger than mine! Therefore… you needn't worry about overly terrifying foes setting their sights on you! As for small fry, handle them yourself!” With a wave of his hand, a formidable power swept forth. “Go back. Do not interfere with the past or future. Even someone as mighty as the Emperor of Battle Heaven suffered heaven’s wrath, let alone you! Once this memory surfaces in my mind, I will act swiftly. Whether there is an opportunity or not, I will make one. And if there truly isn't, at worst I’ll rebel against Neo Martial, give the Human King a thrashing… and put on a grand show of Neo Martial internal strife with him. Rest easy!” “……” Li Hao felt the world spin. He was instantly ejected from Zhang An’s body, and Zhang An himself floated upward alongside Li Hao. Li Hao was completely flabbergasted! *Holy crap!* *What kind of person is this?!* *This is downright insane!* Reaching across spacetime, he told Li Hao: *What is there to fear? Whether you retraced time because you hit trouble or sought the Dao, it doesn't matter… If you’re in trouble, once this fragment enters my memory and I consider my grandson’s plight, if I’m still around, I’ll create an opportunity for you.* Spanning spacetime to create an opening for him. *If there isn't one, I’ll make one!* *If there truly isn't, I’ll rebel against Neo Martial, fight the Human King, and seize the attention of the entire chaos! Either way, the top powerhouses won't be looking at you.* This… was completely beyond Li Hao’s expectations. Unbelievable! Just as Li Hao was reeling in shock, about to leave this world and return to the future, a figure suddenly flickered into view as if chasing through time itself—the Human King! Li Hao gasped! That Human King was domineering to the absolute extreme, peerlessly ferocious. As if sensing something, he pursued frantically, his voice tinged with suspicion: “What the hell is this? Old Zhang didn't even stop it… One of our own? Whatever, whoever or whatever you are… next time you come, say hello first! If you don't and copy Old Zhang by peeping on people's privacy, I’ll spank your ass! Are you a woman? If you're a woman, I’ll punch your chest! Punch your chest until it explodes… you hear me?!” Li Hao was utterly dazed, feeling as though he had seen a ghost! What… what kind of nonsense was this?! “Huh… not an existence from this era… Could it be the future? Or a parallel spacetime? Forget it, who cares! Whether it’s the future or a neighboring spacetime, if this memory pops into my head later, I’ll chop down the strongest bastard of the current age to celebrate for you. Let's hope it's not you… or you're dead meat!” With those words, the figure chasing time vanished in an instant! Li Hao was thoroughly dumbfounded! Above, the river rippled; he was about to emerge. Right then, a cat’s meow startled his very soul: “Huh, meow, looks fun… meow… Is it edible? This cat has remembered your scent! Next time we meet, bring food, or else… or else I’ll eat you! Meow, meow, meow!” “……” Still completely stunned, Li Hao plunged into the river. He was still reeling. Though he had experienced much alongside Zhang An, those supreme figures had not stayed with them in the later periods. Who would have thought that upon their return, they would encounter several supreme existences one after another? The Human King, the Cang Emperor, the Supreme… they had all seen through everything. Truly terrifying! Had they moved to stop him, he might… never have made it back! At that thought, a sudden dread washed over Li Hao. The past within memory… could truly destroy him!