Paving the Way

At the Inspectorate. Down in the basement, Wu Chao and Chen Jian both lay on hospital beds while Yun Yao tended to their wounds. Yun Yao seemed to possess some unique healing ability; she could mend injuries without relying on medical equipment. Off to the side, Liu Yan sat lost in thought. This time, she hadn't suffered any severe wounds—just a few superficial cuts that had healed long ago. "Boss!" When Liu Long walked through the door, Yun Yao, Liu Yan, and even Wu Chao and Chen Jian on their beds all turned their eyes to him, their expressions a mix of apprehension and anticipation. What were they anticipating? Liu Long knew full well. He pondered for a moment before speaking. "The mysterious energy extracted from the supernaturals I killed in the city should be ours to claim... But as for the rest, I doubt Yuan Shuo will hand anything over." After a bloody battle, everyone naturally looked forward to the division of spoils. Ten Lunar Nether experts had been wiped out this time. Li Hao had killed one, Yuan Shuo had slain five, and of the remaining four, Liu Long had eliminated three at the start while the Inspectorate had gunned down the last. If the mysterious energy from those four could go to the team, that would already amount to a hundred cubes. Compared to Yuan Shuo's haul, it naturally paled in comparison. Yet compared to the team's earnings over the past several years, this alone was more than enough for them. From the side, Li Hao spoke up. "It's fine. Teacher can't possibly use that much. If there's surplus, I'll talk to him and see if our team can get a larger share." Liu Long waved a hand, letting the matter drop. He would take what he earned from his own kills; he had no need for charity. Liu Yan gave a soft laugh. "Little Hao, you killed a Lunar Nether expert all on your own. The mysterious energy from that guy alone will be plenty for you to absorb. You should be able to extract at least thirty cubes from him!" Thirty cubes! To them, that was an immense amount. Li Hao, however, shook his head. "That was a team effort. You can't say it belongs entirely to whoever lands the finishing blow! If we counted it that way, Boss killed three on his own—would that mean the rest of the team gets nothing?" Team missions were not divided like that. Liu Yan was only trying to secure more benefits for Li Hao, but Li Hao didn't care much about that; following the team's distribution principle was what mattered. Each person's share depended on how much effort they had contributed. If rewards were based strictly on who dealt the fatal blow, then defensive specialists like Chen Jian and healers like Yun Yao might never land a single kill in their entire lives. If so, what was the point of having a team? Liu Long remained silent, seemingly not all that invested in dividing the mysterious energy this time. Liu Yan glanced at Liu Long, then looked at Li Hao. After a moment's thought, she suddenly asked, "An expert from the Night Watchers arrived. Boss, are there any plans for Silver City?" She knew this was what Liu Long cared about most. Liu Long found a seat. A few cuts on his body were still bleeding, but he paid them little heed. After a pause, he said, "Fatty Mu wants to establish a local branch, but Deputy Hao can't make that call. It'll most likely come to nothing." He then let out a sudden chuckle. "Still, our gains this time aren't small. If everyone can advance into the supernatural ranks... maybe there's hope after all!" He tried to offer some comfort. If several of them could step into the supernatural system, the situation wouldn't be entirely hopeless. Those who broke through from the Ten-Slayer realm would most likely become Lunar Nethers. With several members at the Lunar Nether level—though advancing would be quite difficult for him personally—even if he failed to advance, he was still at the peak of Hundred-Breaker. Such strength could still rival the power of certain branches. The only drawback was that the Night Watchers would not allocate supplies, including mysterious energy, to them. Beside them, Li Hao remained silent. He had no say in such matters. At this moment, Li Hao was focused on digesting what he had gained today. Having absorbed a large portion of the Red Shadow's power, his physical stamina had reached its peak, and his body felt better than ever before. The Five Animals Breathing Art circulated continuously, though this time, he deliberately refrained from drawing power from the small sword. The energy within the small sword was noticeably weaker than before. Moreover, the artifact served a vital purpose. It would be a grave regret if he truly drained it dry. According to his teacher, Li Hao's physical conditioning had practically reached the threshold of a Hundred-Breaker, but it required time to fully assimilate. He would take advantage of the present moment to digest this power first. There were plenty more benefits waiting for him down the road! For instance, the Red Shadows within the city, the mysterious energy in his teacher's possession, and, if possible, the rewards distributed by the Night Watchers—all of these could help him advance further. All of this stemmed from Yuan Shuo slaying a powerhouse of the Three Sols realm. ... Those needing treatment received it, while those with thoughts kept to themselves. Li Hao continued to absorb energy quietly, strengthening himself without drawing attention. ... Outside the city, the Night Watchers swiftly wrapped up the aftermath. With Hao Lianchuan and Huang Yun present—one a Three Sols and the other a Solar Radiance—alongside Yuan Shuo, who had just slain a Three Sols expert in the city, Silver City was safer than it had ever been. Unless three to five Three Sols powerhouses showed up together, none would dare risk stepping foot here. Night fell once more. At the Silver City Ancient Academy, inside the Yuan Family Compound. Hao Lianchuan arrived alone. In the courtyard, Yuan Shuo was practicing his fist techniques. The gate swung open on its own. Hao Lianchuan stepped directly inside and sat down to the side, quietly watching Yuan Shuo train. Only after Yuan Shuo finished his routine did Hao Lianchuan speak. "Professor Yuan has kept such a low profile these past few years that even I failed to detect anything out of the ordinary. It seems you recovered from your injuries of three years ago long ago?" Yuan Shuo smiled, sat down, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Not that long ago; I only fully recovered recently. As for why I kept quiet, wasn't it out of caution?" Yuan Shuo gave a half-smile. "If I had announced that I stepped into Thousand-Battler, the Night Watchers might have tried to stop me!" "The professor underestimates the Night Watchers!" Hao Lianchuan shook his head. "We always hoped you would reach Thousand-Battler and step into the supernatural realm. Perhaps Silver Moon Province could have gained another Three Sols powerhouse. It was just the incident three years ago that caught us completely off guard..." "Enough!" Yuan Shuo cut him off. "Where are my spoils of war?" "They were transported to the Inspectorate. It wasn't convenient to bring them here." Hao Lianchuan had no intention of embezzling those items; the death of a Three Sols was more than enough to dispel any such thoughts from anyone's mind. He had not come here for that either. After a brief silence, he asked, "Regarding the ruins at the end of the month, what are your thoughts now, Professor?" They had originally agreed to explore an ancient ruin at the end of the month. Back then, Yuan Shuo had been on the verge of the grave; if he had gone, he would have had no choice but to take orders from the Night Watchers. Now, however, he was a figure capable of slaying a Three Sols powerhouse, which changed everything. Yuan Shuo sank into thought. "That place is extremely dangerous. I was injured there three years ago, and many Night Watchers died that day as well. I've heard that various major organizations have sent people to explore it, suffering heavy casualties too. This time, the Night Watchers are joining hands with several organizations for a joint exploration, and people from the central region might even attend, correct?" Hao Lianchuan nodded. "Yes. The losses last time were too severe; even the Night Watchers cannot bear another blow like that." After a moment's consideration, Yuan Shuo said, "I can continue to lead the exploration team, but the distribution terms must change! Previously, all supernatural-related items went to you, and I only got what you didn't want. This time... I want a fifty-fifty split!" At these words, Hao Lianchuan sighed. "Do you think... that's possible? This ruin is out of the ordinary, and the Night Watchers will be committing substantial resources this time, including myself and several Solar Radiance experts!" Yuan Shuo was demanding far too much! Yuan Shuo laughed. "Then forget it. I'll just explore it on my own!" Danger was certain. However, exploring alone meant keeping all the treasures for himself. As an expert from the Ancient Civilization Exploration Department, his understanding of ancient ruins far exceeded theirs. Cooperating with the Night Watchers had both pros and cons. "People from Red Moon will be there!" Hao Lianchuan looked at him. Was he really sure about acting alone? "So what?" Yuan Shuo sneered. "At worst, I won't go! If I don't go, it's doubtful those fellows will even be able to open the ruins! What of Red Moon? Knowledge is power, knowledge is wealth! In this day and age, how many people understand ancient civilizations better than I do? If you invite those people instead, I'd like to see how much of the spoils you Night Watchers actually end up with!" Hao Lianchuan fell silent. Yuan Shuo was in no rush. In Silver Moon Province, who else could they turn to if not him? Of course, if Red Moon truly got involved, it was indeed cause for concern. Though he had slain one Three Sols expert, that didn't mean he could kill a second, especially since the energy within Li Hao's jade sword was nearly depleted, leaving him unable to execute the Blood Saber Art again. "I'll discuss it with the others when I get back," Hao Lianchuan said. This matter was no longer his decision to make. Before coming here, the Night Watchers had held a brief meeting where the upcoming ruin exploration was brought up, anticipating that Yuan Shuo would make hefty demands. They simply hadn't expected him to ask for so much. Seeing that he was about to leave, Yuan Shuo thought for a moment and said, "Since you're already here, Silver City isn't necessarily safe just yet. Before you depart, how about you and I sweep through and clear out the dangers around Silver City?" "Sweep through?" Hao Lianchuan asked gravely, "What do you mean?" "There are still some supernaturals lingering nearby. Kill them all!" "..." Hao Lianchuan froze, sensing the cold-blooded resolve of this old martial master for the first time. Kill them all! Some of those supernaturals hadn't gone on killing sprees; they simply hadn't joined the Night Watchers. Some were just lingering near Silver City, and even if they had ulterior motives, they hadn't made a move yet. Yet Yuan Shuo was talking about slaughtering every single one of them! "This..." Yuan Shuo sneered. "If you don't dare because you fear tarnishing the Night Watchers' reputation, then I'll do it! This old man has nothing to fear! Why hang around Silver City if not to stir up trouble? They think there are benefits to reap with no risk attached, don't they? In that case, I will be the one to strike. As for public outrage... do you think I care about that?" He truly didn't care! He had offended countless people throughout his life; what difference would a few more make? He had survived all these years, and now that he had reached Thousand-Battler, he feared nothing. "Professor, this will incite far too much resentment..." "Indecisive!" Yuan Shuo said coldly, "You are a deputy minister of the Night Watchers; I am not! I don't need to consider the things you have to worry about. I am all on my own. At this point in my life, aside from a few students, I have nothing! Students are students—they have their own futures. If they get killed or dragged into trouble... that is their fate. So why should I care?" "Are you coming or not?" he asked once more. Hao Lianchuan sighed and said softly, "I cannot make a move. However... if a Three Sols powerhouse appears... I will step in!" Only then did Yuan Shuo nod with satisfaction. The next moment, Hao Lianchuan suddenly lowered his voice. "I cannot act rashly... but could you take Wang Ming and the others along? Of course, ahem... publicly, we'll claim that you killed them all... What do you think?" He wanted to train the youths! More importantly, he wanted Yuan Shuo to shoulder the blame. Yuan Shuo smiled and agreed without hesitation, which only made Hao Lianchuan uneasy. "How about... we forget it?" Hao Lianchuan grew hesitant again; the old man had agreed too readily. Yuan Shuo chuckled. "Little Hao, stop changing your mind every few seconds! Cut the chatter and have those kids follow me. Even if they don't fight, observing will do them good. If nothing else, let them deliver the finishing blows. Seeing some blood will benefit their future!" After a moment of internal struggle, Hao Lianchuan agreed. He truly hoped the young generation in the Night Watchers would gain more practical experience. He had heard they performed rather poorly this time around; even Wang Ming, who had shown promise in White Moon City, had seemed somewhat useless once he arrived here. This made Hao Lianchuan worry that these youngsters had been sheltered too well to shoulder heavy responsibilities. ... That night, Yuan Shuo set out once again. In the southern suburbs of Silver City. Inside an expansive, lavish manor. A man as fat as a pig was currently eating in the dining hall, his hands slick with grease. The next instant, to the man's horror, the roof was shattered. Like a demon god, Yuan Shuo caved in the ceiling with a single step, dropping down in a flash. With a flick of his foot, he gave his target no chance to react, his kick puncturing straight through the man's temple! Behind him, Hu Hao and the others dropped down swiftly, their faces pale. This was the third one! Yuan Shuo's murderous aura was too overwhelming, his bloodlust too intense. This night, they truly witnessed the terrifying prowess and ironclad resolve of these old martial masters—they killed without blinking an eye! Yuan Shuo glanced at the man he had kicked to death and chuckled. "What? Still not used to it? The man deserved to die. If I remember correctly, this manor once belonged to a prominent merchant in Silver City! That merchant seems to have vanished. Do you know where he went?" None of them spoke. Yuan Shuo mocked, "He's probably buried out in the courtyard. Do you want to dig him up and check?" Behind him, Wang Ming exhaled. "Murdering for loot and seizing another's fortune—he certainly deserved death! But, Elder Yuan, we agreed to let us have a chance, yet now..." You kicked him to death on the spot; we didn't even get an opening. "Finish him off!" Yuan Shuo said calmly, "I have no obligation to teach you, but I can let you see some blood! Stab him a few dozen times, and that will count as a success!" Wang Ming hesitated. "He's already dead..." Yuan Shuo turned his gaze upon him, his expression placid. Feeling intimidated, Wang Ming gritted his teeth, coalesced a sword in his hand, stepped forward, and plunged it into the corpse! A smile crossed Yuan Shuo's face. Behind him, Li Meng and Hu Hao exchanged a look, then quietly followed suit, taking turns stabbing the body. This was likely the first time they had ever done such a thing, and all of them looked thoroughly uncomfortable. Yuan Shuo watched for a moment, unconcerned. Stab enough times, and they would get used to it! The new generation of the Night Watchers sorely lacked real combat experience. His willingness to bring these youths along wasn't without his own private motives. Once they finished, Yuan Shuo said casually, "You three have seen the world with me now. From this day forward, I accept the three of you as my nominal disciples!" "..." The trio froze. What was going on? Up in the air, Hao Lianchuan was also stunned. What in the world? Yuan Shuo continued indifferently, "It is settled! From now on, you may invoke my name in the outside world. You are the nominal disciples of Thousand-Battler martial master Yuan Shuo. In the way of martial masters, lineage is paramount! Any betrayal is an act of defying your master and destroying the lineage! Among my disciples, there is only one rule: never betray your master or dishonor your lineage, never mistreat your fellow disciples, and always maintain unity and affection among yourselves. That is your sole duty!" Above them, Hao Lianchuan remained dumbfounded. Hu Hao and the others were equally caught off guard, staring blankly. Yuan Shuo's demeanor turned stern, and he demanded coldly, "Are you unwilling? Or do you think I, Yuan Shuo, am unworthy?" "We wouldn't dare!" Wang Ming hurriedly said, "Elder Yuan, that's not what we meant. It's just... we are Night Watchers..." "What of the Night Watchers?" Yuan Shuo said impatiently, "Your deputy minister is right above us. Ask him yourself—is there any problem? All Night Watchers are supernaturals, and supernaturals have no formal master-disciple lineages anyway. Becoming my nominal disciples changes nothing. Ask Hao Lianchuan if he takes issue with this!" In the sky above, Hao Lianchuan thought quickly and nodded slightly after a moment. Nominal disciples... let it be. It was a minor matter, not a formal apprenticeship, so it posed no real issue. Seeing this, Wang Ming and the others dared not object further and readily agreed. Inwardly, they even felt a tinge of delight; Yuan Shuo was a top-tier powerhouse who had slain a Three Sols expert. Becoming his disciples didn't sound bad at all! Only then did Yuan Shuo smile. "Then it is settled! Since you are merely nominal disciples, there is no need for a formal banquet. I do not have many disciples under my wing, but they are all formal disciples. You three are nominal disciples, so when you meet them in the future, you must address them as senior brothers and senior sisters! Remember, fellow disciples must look out for one another. When someone faces difficulties, you must do your utmost to help! That is what fellow disciples do!" With that, he tossed out a small booklet. "As your master, I have nothing fancy to offer you. This is the *New Book of Five Animals*. It must never be leaked to outsiders! Especially the breathing technique within—it is strictly forbidden to share!" It was merely the breathing method, not the complete Five Animals Breathing Art! He added, "Do not look down upon this. Although supernaturals do not practice the martial path, relying solely on absorbing mysterious energy may not be wise. Superpowers are, after all, external forces. Cultivating both internal and external strength is the true path!" The trio looked thrilled. The *New Book of Five Animals*—they knew of it! In the past, they might have scoffed at it. Yet now that Yuan Shuo had jumped realms to slay a Three Sols expert, who would dare look down upon his *New Book of Five Animals*? This time, their gratitude was genuine as they bowed respectfully. "Our thanks to Master!" Yuan Shuo smiled. A grin like a predatory wolf's spread across his face. All three were Lunar Nethers, and young ones at that. Wang Ming in particular was nearly at the Full Moon level, not far from reaching Solar Radiance. So young, and direct subordinates of the Night Watchers—with a bit of luck, they might soon break through to Solar Radiance and become the backbone of the Night Watchers in Silver Moon Province. This was paving the way for Li Hao! "By the way, Li Hao of Silver City will be your little senior brother from now on!" Yuan Shuo added, "He is a martial master and has not entered the supernatural realm. His strength may not match yours yet, but he has inherited my knowledge and scholarship. You must protect him well. In the future, I believe your little senior brother will also be of great help to you! As you know, the Night Watchers are woefully lacking in knowledge. Sometimes, knowledge alters destiny; the day will come when you need his help." The three exchanged glances, and Wang Ming was the first to speak. "We will remember Master's words!" "Good!" Yuan Shuo nodded, then said, "On to the next target. Consider this extra practice so you can step into Solar Radiance sooner. Only in Solar Radiance will you hold any sway. Look at you now—doing whatever you're told, without a shred of autonomy... You truly embarrass me!" Wang Ming and the others offered sheepish grins, not daring to utter a peep. After all, their superior was watching from above. ... Up in the sky. Having listened to the exchange, Hao Lianchuan gradually understood Yuan Shuo's intent, feeling somewhat surprised. This Yuan Shuo truly cared about his final disciple. Putting on such a show was merely to provide Li Hao with backing. Li Hao had no foundation within the Night Watchers, but now he had gained two junior brothers and a junior sister. Even though Yuan Shuo had brought it up offhandedly and forced them into the apprenticeship, once they accepted his *New Book of Five Animals*, the bond was established whether they liked it or not... Unless Yuan Shuo died, betraying a master in the martial world was considered an unforgivable transgression! The Night Watchers were an official, righteous organization and would never engage in such conduct. If anyone did, the Night Watchers themselves would execute the traitor to clean house! "Yuan Shuo... Li Hao!" Hao Lianchuan murmured inwardly. Yuan Shuo was paving the way for Li Hao ahead of time rather than keeping him by his side for direct instruction. Did he hope Li Hao would join the Night Watchers? That was fine too! If so, it would only deepen their ties with Yuan Shuo. Otherwise, once Yuan Shuo advanced further, it would be difficult for the Night Watchers to command him. ... Down below, Li Hao had no idea he had gained several junior brothers and sisters. After a full day of continuous absorption and refinement, he had assimilated roughly eighty percent of the Red Shadow's power within him. The rest would likely be assimilated naturally over the next two days. Standing up, Li Hao threw a casual punch, his muscles and bones crackling loudly. A look of delight surfaced in Li Hao's eyes. Incredible progress! He couldn't judge exactly what realm he was at right now, but he felt that the raw power behind that strike was scarcely inferior to Liu Yan's. And Liu Yan was at the peak of the Ten-Slayer realm. A figure on the verge of becoming a Hundred-Breaker! "Incredible!" In just a few days, he had leapt from below the Ten-Slayer realm to near Hundred-Breaker, which filled Li Hao with immense joy. Most importantly, he still had many benefits left to assimilate. Stepping out from the inner resting chamber, he found that aside from Wu Chao, Chen Jian was already able to get out of bed and walk around. Seeing him emerge, Liu Long maintained his usual detached expression and spoke coolly. "Good to see you're up. The Night Watchers have delivered the goods! On our end, including the Lunar Nether you killed, we obtained 160 cubes of mysterious energy!" As for the martial master, that person naturally hadn't yielded any such energy. "Your teacher also harvested around 1,400 cubes of mysterious energy. Because the volume was too large, it has been compressed and stored in the Inspectorate's vault. Your teacher will have to collect it himself!" "This batch includes various elemental forms of mysterious energy: lightning, earth, water, metal, and wind." He then turned to the others. "In this hunt, I claim top merit and take thirty percent! Li Hao takes twenty percent, and the remaining half will be divided equally among Liu Yan and the three of you. Any objections?" Liu Long and Li Hao took half, while the remaining four split the other half, each receiving less than Li Hao. Liu Yan smiled. "None at all! Getting a share is already great, and it's even more than I expected." Even split four ways, she would receive twenty cubes. In the past, killing a supernatural rarely yielded more than three to five cubes, and the injuries sustained were often far worse. This time, thanks to Li Hao's presence, she hadn't suffered any serious harm. Receiving twenty cubes was more than satisfactory for her. Since she was content, the others, being weaker than her, naturally had no complaints. Li Hao received thirty-two cubes, which was roughly equivalent to the yield of slaying a supernatural single-handedly. Liu Long had calculated it accordingly, directly crediting the supernatural Li Hao killed entirely to his name. Seeing that no one objected, Liu Long nodded. "Good! This is the greatest harvest we've had in years. I hope... someone among us can successfully awaken superabilities this time!" His voice carried a thread of hope and longing. As for himself, that yearning had waned slightly. He thought of Yuan Shuo, and the breathtaking moment when four supernaturals were decapitated beneath a single saber strike! Martial masters... could be invincible too! He was at the peak of Hundred-Breaker, and though Thousand-Battler felt impossibly distant... if he could step into Thousand-Battler, would he still need to become a supernatural? Becoming a supernatural would merely put him at Solar Radiance. Yet Yuan Shuo, as a Thousand-Battler, had slain a Three Sols expert. If Liu Long possessed the strength to slay a Three Sols powerhouse, would Silver City ever face abolition? Never! At this moment, Liu Long, who had chased superabilities for so long, felt a flicker of hesitation. His resolve was no longer as unshakeable as before. Before this, Thousand-Battlers had vanished from Silver Moon Province. The path ahead had seemed closed! Yet now... Liu Long wondered if he swallowed his pride and sought Yuan Shuo's guidance, would the elder agree? With guidance from a Thousand-Battler martial master, perhaps he could avoid many detours. He glanced at Li Hao, feeling a touch guilty... Should he make use of this kid to put in a good word for him? Li Hao, meanwhile, wore an honest grin. He appeared thoroughly pleased with his share. Thirty-two cubes was quite a lot. As for his teacher's 1,400 cubes... that belonged to his teacher. At most, Li Hao would ask for three to five hundred cubes; how could he demand too much? The opportunity to break through to Hundred-Breaker seemed right before his eyes. "Everyone, rest well tonight. While the experts are still in town, we resume patrols tomorrow!" Liu Long gave the order, then looked back at Li Hao once more. "Li Hao, you can take more time off over the next few days to keep your teacher company. If you need anything, as the captain of the Law Enforcement Team and your boss, you can come to me for help anytime!" His words stopped just short of saying, *If you feel tired heading over to your teacher's place, I'll carry you there on my back!* Li Hao was a clever man; he understood the underlying meaning the moment he heard it. Amused, he realized Liu Long was truly humbled this time. In the past, whenever Yuan Shuo was mentioned, Liu Long had always been defiant and bitter. It seemed this battle had delivered quite a shock to him. "Understood. If I need anything, I'll turn to you, Boss!" Liu Long nodded in satisfaction, then turned and walked away. Li Hao, on the other hand, was growing impatient. He wanted to inspect the mysterious energy he had been allocated right away. This time, he intended to choose energy of the five elements; perhaps he could strengthen his internal organs and make himself even more formidable!