To Go or Not?

Tranquility once again returned to Silver City. Having just broken through, everyone threw themselves into rigorous cultivation. With no shortage of mysterious energy, their goal was naturally to consolidate their realms and take another step forward. Even Li Hao, despite his rapid advancement, still had room for further growth. Much of the five elements' power his teacher had traded for remained untouched. Although it was impossible for him to advance his realm further into Thousand-Battler in the short term, strengthening his five viscera would be of immense benefit once he did make the leap. …… Silver City had quieted down. The outside world, however, was far from peaceful. Roughly a thousand li south of Silver City lay an enormous canyon. Twenty years ago, locals had taken to calling it Hengduan Canyon, as it split the entire Silver Moon Province cleanly in two. Because of it, Silver Moon Province was also divided into northern and southern halves. Silver City lay to the north, and White Moon City to the south. The province’s name had originally been coined by taking one character from each of these two major cities—"Silver" from Silver City first, and "Moon" from White Moon City second. Traveling between White Moon City and Silver City meant passing through Hengduan Canyon. Hengduan Canyon was impassable to vehicles. There used to be a suspension bridge, but it had collapsed long ago, and nobody had ever bothered to rebuild it. That was why experts like Huang Yun always chose to fly across. As for ordinary people, passage was not impossible, but they had to wind their way down narrow trails into the canyon floor, cross the expanse, and hike back up the mountain paths on the opposite side. Traipsing down and climbing back up was an agonizing trek that easily added dozens of extra li to the journey. Furthermore, Hengduan Canyon spanned an immense length and an intimidating width. Though called a canyon, it was in truth more like a vast basin. At its widest, it exceeded thirty kilometers; even when flying, ordinary powerhouses avoided crossing at that point because the distance was simply too great. In this normally deserted canyon, today, a cluster of tents had cropped up in the northern sector. Down on the canyon floor, tents were still being pitched one after another, kept well apart. Some stood in small clusters, while others were separated by hundreds or even thousands of meters. At the northernmost edge stood more than a dozen tents. If Li Hao and the others were here, they would immediately recognize one of the men: Huang Yun, the swift Solar Radiance expert. Right now, Huang Yun was working as a supervisor while several Starlight Masters set up camp. As he oversaw the work, Huang Yun frowned slightly and turned toward a specific direction. A moment later, a figure descended from the sky. The newcomer was towering, built like a bear with the back of a tiger, resembling an incarnate demon god. He wore a pair of excessively heavy leather boots; the moment his foot struck the ground, a fissure cracked open beneath it. Around them, the Night Watchers setting up tents all turned grave and quickly banded together. Huang Yun stepped forward as well, his voice sinking. "Hu Po, what are you doing here?" The hulking man gave him a disdainful, frigid glance. "Move. We are pitching our tents here!" Huang Yun scowled. "Yama’s camp is not on this side. According to our prior agreement, your camp was to be three thousand meters away..." "I am pitching my camp right here today!" The man named Hu Po stared coldly at Huang Yun. "To put it bluntly, I fancy this spot! The feng shui here is good. I like it!" "Hu Po!" Huang Yun’s face flushed with fury, rage flaring in his chest. Hu Po was Yama’s top combatant stationed in Silver City. The Three Great Organizations maintained branch offices in Silver Moon Province with structures similar to the Night Watchers, perhaps even stronger. Yama’s presence in Silver Moon Province was presided over by a Yama Hall Master. According to Night Watcher intelligence, the leader of Yama referred to himself as the Heavenly Emperor Yama, also known as King Yama. Beneath King Yama were the Ten Halls of Yama. The one stationed here in Silver Moon Province was the Hall Master calling himself the Wheel-Turning King, the Tenth Hall Master. A Three Sols powerhouse! And Hu Po was a prominent expert under the Wheel-Turning King’s command. The Wheel-Turning King ranked among the lowest in Yama—the weakest of the ten Hall Masters—yet that weakness was strictly relative. He was weak compared to the greater Yama organization, but within Silver Moon Province, a Three Sols was the sky itself. This time, the Night Watchers were joining hands with several major organizations to explore the ancient ruins together. Because the ruins had been discovered long ago, these advance parties had arrived early to establish camps and await the main forces. Hu Po was the expert in charge of Yama’s encampment. A Solar Radiance powerhouse, his strength was formidable, likely a notch above Huang Yun’s. The locations for each party’s camp had already been agreed upon. Huang Yun had not expected Yama to mount an unprovoked challenge so suddenly. Hu Po was clearly doing this on purpose! This was no spur-of-the-moment impulse; it had to be premeditated. Huang Yun could even sense secretive gazes watching from nearby. Members of other organizations were likely observing the scene. Why do this? Huang Yun’s thoughts raced. Did they believe the Night Watchers’ camp was positioned better, harboring some hidden secret? Or were they merely probing the Night Watchers' resolve? The moment the thought crossed his mind, Huang Yun knew he could not back down. If he retreated now, the Night Watchers would start on the back foot before cooperation had even begun, and Hao Lianchuan would never let him hear the end of it. "Hu Po!" Huang Yun’s eyes turned cold as ice. "Is this your idea, or the Wheel-Turning King’s? Or does it come from other Yama elites? Or perhaps... from the other supernatural organizations?" Hu Po regarded him coldly. "I already told you, it’s because I like it here! Wind Demon, don’t think you can stand as my equal just because you run fast. Clear out today, or let our fists do the talking!" Huang Yun cursed inwardly, irritation rising. "You want to provoke a fight?" "And what if I do?" Hu Po sneered. "I could snap those scrawny limbs of yours with a single slap. But don’t worry, I won’t kill you. You’re a Night Watcher, after all... and my, aren't the Night Watchers oh-so-mighty!" Huang Yun could feel the indignation radiating from the Night Watchers behind him. He knew that if this continued, his people would lose faith in the organization. Without another word, he swiftly condensed a sword of gale-force winds in his hand and said coldly, "Hu Po, if you’re begging for death, I’ll gladly oblige! Back when you went on a killing spree in Silver City, the Night Watchers put a warrant out on your head. If the Wheel-Turning King hadn't intervened, you would have been slaughtered long ago. You have some nerve to come knocking at our door to pick a fight..." "Hahaha!" Hu Po roared with laughter. "A warrant? The Night Watchers have a warrant out for me? Oh, I’m terrified! Shivering in my boots!" Mid-laugh, he threw a punch! The strike bore down like Mount Tai crashing from the heavens, as if a towering mountain were pressing down upon Huang Yun. It was Earth-elemental power—and not the defensive kind. Every elemental energy shared a common origin, but that did not mean they were devoid of variation. Earth could defend, but it could also crush. A massive mountain pressed directly down upon Huang Yun. With a sharp bark, Huang Yun slashed his sword. A fierce gale erupted, sweeping across heaven and earth. In an instant, two Solar Radiance combatants clashed. …… In the distance, onlookers watched the fight. Along a sheer cliff, several figures flickered, each wearing a Ghost Face mask—the signature mark of Red Moon. "Hu Po’s strength has advanced remarkably fast since stepping into Solar Radiance. Still, the man is arrogant." "He has reason to be. How long has it been since Hu Po joined Yama? Barely five years? Yet here he is in Solar Radiance, even capable of suppressing a veteran supernatural like Huang Yun. He’s earned the right to be arrogant." "I heard Hu Po came from Silver City as well?" "Yes. Speaking of which, he had bad blood with the Silver City Inspectorate... well, Night Watchers now. Specifically with Liu Long over there. Hu Po supposedly killed the husband of Liu Long’s lover..." "Hahaha! Wouldn't that make him Liu Long’s benefactor? How can that be considered bad blood? If you ask me, Liu Long ought to pour tea and toast Hu Po!" The Ghost Faces chuckled, exchanging jeers. They had a terrible impression of Silver City. Divine Master Duantian had died there, and though headquarters had chosen not to retaliate for now for the sake of the greater picture, how could Red Moon—one of the reigning hegemons of the supernatural world for the past twenty years—swallow such humiliation? If headquarters hadn't forbidden it, and if not for Yuan Shuo, the monster who had slain a Three Sols, they would have long since marched in and wiped Silver City off the map. After jesting for a moment, another Ghost Face asked, "Can Hu Po actually force them to switch camps?" Hu Po’s sudden demand was naturally not an isolated whim; it carried the tacit understanding of the Three Great Organizations. Whatever the Night Watchers wanted, they would deny them. That was the correct move. Because the organizations lacked deeper knowledge of the ruins, they were determined to disrupt the Night Watchers' deployment, regardless of whether the Night Watchers had chosen that specific spot randomly or with deliberate purpose. None of these supernatural factions were fools. The Night Watchers had fought them countless times in the past, so voluntarily easing restrictions and making concessions this time might not be a good sign; they might well be planning to use the organizations as pathfinders. Everyone understood that much. Yet even knowing the risk, the Three Great Organizations had no reason to turn down meat dropped right in front of them. Not only did they intend to participate themselves, but they had also roped in several small and medium-sized organizations within Silver Moon Province. More bodies meant greater safety, and whether those smaller factions got a share of the spoils would depend entirely on their strength. As they spoke, the battle in the distance grew fiercer. The howling wind sliced like blades against the earth, giving off metallic clangs. Judging by the momentum, however, Huang Yun was being suppressed. A crushing mountain drove downward, forcing the howling winds to scatter. Even the Red Moon Ghost Faces were struck with admiration. Hu Po’s mountain-crushing technique was genuinely unbearable for ordinary Solar Radiance experts. Huang Yun was a veteran supernatural with over a decade of experience, possessing deep qualifications and plenty of battle acumen, but he was simply being overwhelmed by pure brute force. "That Hu Po fights somewhat like a martial master..." someone remarked. "Naturally. Hu Po was an actual martial master to begin with—a Ten-Slayer realm master. He used to be the head of security for an enterprise in Silver City. How could he keep the peace without real strength? You have to admit, once a martial master transitions to supernatural, their physical constitution is vastly superior to ordinary supernaturals. Besides, these martial masters fought their way up back in the day. Their fighting prowess is real." Though martial masters had declined, none lacked combat experience; every last one was a killer. Even among the supernatural world, many top-tier supernaturals were former martial masters who had made the transition. As they spoke, a thunderous boom tore through the canyon. In the distance, Huang Yun roared. A raging gale surged, wrapping around the descending mountain. Huang Yun was putting his life on the line! His mysterious energy erupted, churning up countless boulders. Right at that moment, the mountain shattered with a deafening crack. Hu Po’s towering frame suddenly stepped out of thin air and landed firmly on the ground, his face dripping with disdain. "Already staking your life? Wind Demon... you’re too weak! Forget it. If I beat you to death, your Night Watcher Three Sols geezers will come hunting me. Hahaha!" With that, he strode away through the air, leaving behind Huang Yun with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. …… "Patrol Envoy Huang!" Behind him, a crowd of Night Watcher recruits rushed forward, faces full of worry and complicated emotions. Huang Yun had lost. Though the opponent had voluntarily walked away, Huang Yun was injured while the other man remained completely unscathed. In terms of combat, Huang Yun had undeniably lost; the other man had simply refused to drag out the fight and left of his own accord. Huang Yun’s face was dark. Defeated! He had lost to Hu Po, who had only recently advanced. Huang Yun had been in Solar Radiance for more than three years, whereas Hu Po had only broken through early this year, barely over half a year ago. Yet a veteran Solar Radiance like himself had been beaten. Defeat in itself was not terrifying; geniuses were a dime a dozen. But losing to a wanted criminal—and at a critical juncture like this—dealt a heavy blow to the Night Watchers' morale. He stared in the direction Hu Po had departed, gritting his teeth. This had been a probe by the major organizations... and in this probe, instead of demonstrating the Night Watchers' dominance, he had exposed their weakness. It made the Night Watchers' Solar Radiance tier look ordinary. If only he could have delivered a thunderous blow—or like Yuan Shuo, directly executed the man—the major factions would have been thoroughly intimidated. What was worse, the true headache lay not with the Three Great Organizations, but with the small and medium-sized factions participating in the expedition. So-called medium-sized organizations generally operated within the scope of a single province and had no powerhouses above Three Sols; their strongest were Three Sols. Small organizations had Solar Radiance as their ceiling. As for factions formed solely by Lunar Nether supernaturals, they could hardly be considered organizations at all. Lunar Nether was merely the baseline; even the weakest Starlight Master was only at the starting stage and would quickly advance into Lunar Nether. There were several small and medium organizations in Silver Moon Province. This time, aside from the Three Great Organizations, two medium-sized organizations and more than a dozen small ones were taking part. The medium-sized organizations in particular were hardly weaker than the Three Great Organizations within a single province. The Three Great Organizations were spread across the continent, their power dispersed. Within a single province, having one or two Three Sols stationed was the norm, three at the absolute most, and they dared not expose all of them at once. For this expedition, however, the leaders of the medium-sized organizations might show up in person—and they were Three Sols experts too. Hu Po’s victory was very likely to reveal the Night Watchers' vulnerability to these factions, driving them completely into the arms of the Three Great Organizations to follow their lead. Huang Yun was consumed by regret! He regretted his impulsiveness. Even if he hadn't struck, Hu Po might not have dared to make the first move. Yet he had believed that having spent over three years in Solar Radiance compared to Hu Po's six months, he could suppress him. He had overestimated himself and underestimated Hu Po. Over three years in Solar Radiance was by no means short in a supernatural era that had only existed for twenty years. Yet he had still lost! Behind him, a few of the newer Night Watchers ground their teeth. Those with sharper eyes recognized the stakes and said in low voices, "Patrol Envoy Huang doesn't specialize in direct assault. He was forced into a frontal clash just now! Patrol Envoy Huang excels at speed; he only refrained from using his strengths to protect us!" "Right, exactly!" "What if they're a large organization? The Night Watchers are the legitimate authorities! Don't forget, when Red Moon invaded Silver City, a Heaven-Blessed Divine Master—a Three Sols powerhouse—was slain right in a small city, and by a Thousand-Battler martial master at that!" "Professor Yuan is coming this time too. Let's see if any of these bastards dare step out of line then!" Some spoke to bolster morale, while others genuinely believed it. Many were quite familiar with Yuan Shuo, as he had frequently collaborated with the Night Watchers to explore ruins. At the mention of Yuan Shuo, much of their earlier trepidation melted away. Yes, so what if Yuan Shuo wasn't officially a Night Watcher? In their eyes, Yuan Shuo was on their side. And Yuan Shuo had killed a Three Sols. It was the first time in Silver Moon Province that a Three Sols powerhouse had been killed... at least publicly. Hou Xiaochen had killed one as well—otherwise he would never have obtained a Three Sols Blood God Seed—but he had kept quiet about it to avoid completely burning bridges with the Three Great Organizations. Huang Yun gradually regained his composure. He said no more, regaining a calm demeanor as he spoke in a heavy voice: "Enough. I was no match for that man... I'm getting old, after all, and my talent isn't what it used to be. You are the future of the Night Watchers. I lost today, but one day you will win back our pride. Youth favors the fist; you are younger than he is, and that is what I hope to see most." He added, "I heard Wang Ming recently killed a Lunar Nether in Silver City. You are of the same generation and joined in the same cohort; I hope you won't fall behind him." "Brother Wang killed someone?" "A Lunar Nether, no less? Last I heard, he was nearly beaten to death by a Lunar Nether on a mission in Silver City... He turned the tables?" Youthful minds were simple, and hearing this, they immediately shook off the gloom of the recent defeat. Huang Yun said nothing more, letting them chatter among themselves as he retreated into a tent in the rear. Once inside, he sat in silence for a moment before taking out a crystal screen. A faint wisp of mysterious energy emanated from it, and after a short while, Hou Xiaochen’s face appeared on the display. The screen flickered slightly, and Hou Xiaochen’s voice came through with a trace of static: "Signal reception isn't great near the ruins... Make it quick..." "Director, Hu Po provoked us just now, and I... I acted rashly and engaged him. I lost! Hu Po and I are both early Solar Radiance, and while I'm at the peak, he might only have recently entered... yet I was routed by him." "Hu Po?" Hou Xiaochen thought for a moment before recalling the name, his tone calm. "The wanted criminal? The enforcer hired by Silver City's Qiao family years ago?" "That’s him." "Oh." Hou Xiaochen remained thoroughly composed. "It’s fine, quite normal. Wind-types aren't suited for direct offensive clashes. If I recall, he is an Earth-type, specifically the Heavy Earth lineage. It’s labeled Earth, but it carries gravitational suppression. If you stood your ground instead of using speed to keep him at bay, you were bound to be suppressed." Though he had not witnessed the fight, he reached the accurate conclusion in an instant. Hou Xiaochen chuckled. "Next time you face him, cast aside your reservations and suppress him with speed! The Heavy Earth branch boasts immense offensive power, but it has a flaw: there is a split-second pause between striking and recovering. Once you catch that rhythm, killing him won't be hard." He offered no reprimand whatsoever, but Huang Yun was still consumed by shame. "Director, powerhouses from all the organizations were watching from the sidelines, and I..." "No matter!" Hou Xiaochen smiled. "Do you honestly think those factions will decide whom to align with based on a single duel between Solar Radiance fighters? If they lean toward the Three Great Organizations, it means they planned to do so all along. You don't matter that much." Hearing this, Huang Yun felt a wave of relief, quickly followed by a pang of hurt. I... don't matter? Hou Xiaochen seemed to realize his phrasing was slightly harsh, adding, "It’s not that you don't matter; it’s that no Solar Radiance matters much..." That was even more painful! Hou Xiaochen cleared his throat lightly. "It may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. In Silver Moon, everything hinges on the Three Sols struggle. In the central region, it hinges on those above Three Sols. On our side, Hao Lianchuan and I are still standing; those people will weigh their options carefully. Yuan Shuo will also be attending this time. Even though I won't be going, every faction will be calculating what to do to avoid being wiped out. The small and medium organizations might be weak, but they aren't fools. If they recklessly meddle in the struggle between us and the Three Great Organizations, destroying us would only mean destroying a single branch. But if that provokes the powerhouses of the central region to descend, do they still want to live?" Put that way, Huang Yun felt considerably more at ease. "Director, then what should I..." "Just hold the fort there with peace of mind. They won't dare make any real moves right now. Hao Lianchuan will head over in a few days." At this point, Hou Xiaochen paused thoughtfully. "Hu Po... Hu Po went over... I see!" He cut the connection immediately, his face vanishing from the screen. Huang Yun was left speechless. *What did you see?* Still, after the Director’s reassurances, his heart had settled considerably. It was good to know the loss wouldn't have severe repercussions; it seemed he had simply thought too highly of his own importance. That was fine too! The Director certainly knew how to console people. If it had been Deputy Director Hao, he probably would have unleashed a barrage of curses by now. …… At the same time, in White Moon City. Hou Xiaochen tapped his desk thoughtfully, considered the matter, and pressed a button. A moment later, the slender Chief Steward Yu walked in. "Director." "How is the investigation into the Qiao family I asked for last time?" "We don't have many concrete leads. However, based on the fact that the Qiao family's security chief defected to Yama, we deduce that the Qiao family likely had ties with Yama. But too much time has passed, and we cannot yet verify Qiao Feilong’s whereabouts prior to his return to Silver City." Chief Steward Yu added, "Still, it wasn't a total wash. Qiao Feilong may have concealed his strength, or perhaps he secretly harbored several experts. A few merchants went missing or died in accidents in Silver City in past years, all of whom had business disputes with Qiao Feilong. We discovered that one of the deceased merchants actually had a Hundred-Breaker overseeing his household!" "How long ago was this?" "Five years ago." Five years ago! Five years ago, the Qiao family already possessed the means to eliminate a Hundred-Breaker. Thinking this over, Hou Xiaochen weighed the facts, and another thought struck him. He said swiftly, "Have Mu Sen of the Inspectorate pass word to Liu Long: Yama has sent a Solar Radiance expert to the ruins, a Heavy Earth specialist nicknamed Hu Po, real name Li Dahu. Just moments ago, he defeated Huang Yun. His strength is fathomless!" Chief Steward Yu nodded. "Understood, Director. Are there any other arrangements?" Hou Xiaochen hesitated for a fleeting moment before continuing, "Also, tell Mu Sen to relay to Yuan Shuo that Red Moon is missing an expert from the central region, whereabouts unknown." Chief Steward Yu’s expression shifted slightly. "They've come to Silver Moon?" "It’s possible." Hou Xiaochen nodded. "Inform him truthfully. Tell him he likely knows the missing expert: Sun Yifei, the Eyebrow-Height Staff King, a martial master who walked out of Silver Moon twenty years ago. According to current intelligence, his strength should be at the late Three Sols stage." Chief Steward Yu’s face changed, sheer disbelief in her eyes. "Late Three Sols?" Hou Xiaochen said calmly, "Yuan Shuo killed an early Three Sols Heaven-Blessed Divine Master. Do you really think that if Red Moon sent someone, they'd send a mid-tier expert who could barely pressure him? Naturally, their objective is to kill him outright, and to do that, they have to send someone at the late stage. Even if Yuan Shuo’s kill on Duan Tian was a fluke or an ambush... given Ying Hongyue’s understanding of Yuan Shuo, no one knows better than Ying Hongyue how insidious and cunning Yuan Shuo is. He would definitely dispatch a late Three Sols... If the war situation permitted it, knowing that Yuan Shuo has reached Thousand-Battler, Ying Hongyue would come to kill him personally!" While the late Three Sols level shocked Chief Steward Yu, Hou Xiaochen’s remarks nearly made her smile. *Insidious and cunning?* Was that the Director’s official appraisal of Yuan Shuo? Moreover, judging by the Director’s tone, Red Moon’s supreme leader—that powerhouse beyond Three Sols—seemed to share the exact same view. "Director, did the central region... fail to intercept him?" "Intercept?" Hou Xiaochen chuckled. "The fighting in the central region is fierce. With one less late Three Sols to worry about, they're only too glad for the relief. As for coming to Silver Moon, let him come. They'd love nothing more than for him to come here. After all, am I not still here? With me here, backed by the Origin God Armament, no matter how much that fellow thrashes about, he won't be able to turn the world upside down. It spares them trouble, effectively serving as my reinforcement to their front lines. Tell me, would they bother intercepting him?" Chief Steward Yu felt a flare of indignation. "But..." "Enough!" Hou Xiaochen waved a hand. "Just pass the message along. As for this Sun Yifei... let Yuan Shuo know the situation so he can prepare. Whether he can handle it is another matter." Chief Steward Yu had no choice but to withdraw and transmit the message. Once she was gone, Hou Xiaochen sank into deep contemplation. Sun Yifei, late Three Sols. Silver City was small, home to barely a million people. Producing someone like Yuan Shuo was already extraordinary—a Thousand-Battler martial master who had slain a Three Sols... Could he slay a second? No, could he slay a third? Yes, a third. If he could strike down Sun Yifei, Red Moon’s losses this time would be devastating. And Liu Long—had he entered Thousand-Battler as well? Hou Xiaochen pondered, calculating the possibilities. A moment later, he pressed another button. Before long, Hao Lianchuan entered the room. "Director, you wanted to see me?" "Follow me!" Without another word, Hou Xiaochen led him straight toward the deepest part of the office, where an inner suite was located. Hao Lianchuan was bewildered. *Go inside? For what?* The suite inside the Director’s office was his private resting quarters; he never received guests there. Bewildered though he was, he followed him inside. The very first thing his eyes landed upon was a spear tossed carelessly onto the table—a blazing crimson spear. His expression shifted, and the moment he sensed its aura, his heart leaped in astonishment! It was real! An Origin God Armament, the weapon that anchored this entire territory and the single most vital treasure in Silver Moon: the Fire Phoenix Spear. "Familiarize yourself with it." Hou Xiaochen reclined lazily onto the sofa, casually gesturing toward the weapon. "Spend the next few days attuning yourself to it." "Director, this... isn't appropriate, is it?" Hao Lianchuan gave an awkward smile. "If you really leave, I won't be able to hold down Silver Moon Province on my own! How about... having the higher-ups assign someone else over?" Hou Xiaochen paused and glanced at him. After a long beat, he understood the man's meaning. "You... can't wait for me to leave?" "Of course not!" Hao Lianchuan looked utterly innocent. How could he possibly want that! "Are you aiming for a promotion to full Director?" "Absolutely not!" Hou Xiaochen gave him a sideways look. "Even if you were, it’s useless. I haven't said I'm leaving. By the time you're gone, I'll likely still be here." "Then... then the Origin God Armament..." "Take it to the ruins!" Hou Xiaochen said calmly, "Several Three Sols experts might appear this time, and reinforcements may even arrive from other regions. To ensure nothing goes wrong, take the Fire Phoenix Spear with you." "That won't do, Director! If this thing gets lost, we'll cut off our supply line for the new generation..." "Cut the chatter!" Hou Xiaochen said coolly, "Do as I say. You happen to be a Fire-type; attuning with it won't take long. That’s all. Take the spear and get out." "Then..." Hao Lianchuan truly hesitated. This was not something one could pick up lightly. If it were lost or misplaced, the consequences would be catastrophic. The entire Silver Moon Province Night Watchers possessed only this single Origin God Armament; countless pairs of eyes were fixed upon it. Hou Xiaochen couldn't be bothered with him and waved a dismissive hand, growing impatient. After wrestling with himself for a while, Hao Lianchuan had no choice but to lift the Fire Phoenix Spear. The instant he made contact, he seemed to witness a magnificent phoenix breathing flames that scorched the void itself. Terrifying! A mere touch had triggered such an astonishing reaction. With lingering apprehension, he walked out with the spear. If he lingered any longer, the Director would throw him out. …… The developments at Hengduan Canyon and White Moon City both foreshadowed the deadly perils awaiting the expedition. Li Hao soon received word as well. Inside Liu Long’s office, only Li Hao and Liu Long were present. Liu Long, who normally never smoked, had actually lit a cigarette and was puffing on it in silence. Li Hao waited patiently. After a long time, Liu Long exhaled a thick plume of smoke. "Two pieces of news. First, a powerhouse from Red Moon has arrived from the central region—Sun Yifei, a late Three Sols expert. I know of this man. He was known as the Eyebrow-Height Staff King back in the day, wielding considerable fame, and was once a Hundred-Breaker culmination martial master. Your teacher will certainly know him. He is likely heading for the ruins!" Li Hao nodded without much surprise. There was little he could say; this was his teacher’s enemy. "Second... Li Dahu is near the ruins." "Li Dahu?" "The man who murdered Liu Yan’s husband. Today, he defeated Huang Yun. You know Huang Yun." Li Hao’s brow furrowed. He looked toward Liu Long, who said calmly, "I’ve been thinking about what to do. I will go to the ruins and find a way to kill this bastard. What I'm hesitating over is whether to bring Liu Yan along. What do you think?" "Boss... why... why are you asking me?" Li Hao felt conflicted; this was not an easy call to make. Liu Long let out a short laugh. "What’s wrong with asking you? You’re the Deputy Director; isn't it completely natural for me to consult you? I want Liu Yan to kill that bastard with her own hands... yet I’m terrified she might die there! You’re a crafty, scheming brat—give me an idea." *To hell with that! You're the crafty, scheming one! Why does the captain have such a massive misunderstanding of me?* After pondering for a moment, Li Hao said, "Ask Sister Liu herself. She’ll definitely want to go; we don't even need to ask to know that. What you're wrestling with isn't whether to bring her, Boss, but whether you can actually kill Li Dahu. If you can't, it will only hurt more, right?" Liu Long nodded slightly. Indeed, he had no certainty of victory. Even though he had slain a Solar Radiance, a man who could defeat Huang Yun was bound to be extraordinarily formidable. Furthermore, this was a collective operation, not a solitary duel. Yama would have other powerhouses present as well; how to execute Li Dahu under those conditions was the real conundrum. To say nothing of the possibility of being killed by Li Dahu instead. Li Hao thought it through and added, "Let’s go. I’m going too! My teacher is going as well... I believe the ruins—especially an ancient ruin that can actually be unlocked—are worth taking a gamble on. It’s a risk, but it’s also an opportunity. Sister Liu isn't a child; she knows the stakes full well. Boss, sometimes there’s no need to hesitate so much." "Sigh!" With a heavy sigh, Liu Long fell silent. Hesitation? Too many comrades had fallen over the years, leaving him somewhat indecisive, especially when it involved the members of the Demon Hunting Squad. It had not been easy for them to survive this far. "Boss, did this news come from White Moon City?" "Yes." Liu Long nodded. "Relayed through Mu Sen." Li Hao frowned slightly, considering the matter before speaking: "Going out of their way to inform us... Boss, do you think the higher-ups might know something?" "Know what?" Liu Long was taken aback, then furrowed his brows. "That I broke through?" "It’s possible!" Otherwise, why bother relaying all this to Liu Long? It would have been utterly unnecessary. Liu Long thought it over, then suddenly chuckled. "So what if they know? I haven't broken any laws, and I’m the Night Watchers' branch director. What does it matter if they know?" He smiled and continued, "Alright, I’ll figure out what to do regarding Liu Yan. Your teacher’s side is the real problem. Sun Yifei is almost certainly coming for him. If memory serves, your teacher has some history with him as well." Li Hao was already accustomed to this. His teacher had enemies everywhere! Ying Hongyue was merely the strongest among them; there was likely a mountain of others. As for whether his teacher could contend with a late Three Sols, the difficulty would be immense. Dealing with an early Three Sols had already been a grueling struggle; even after absorbing a Three Sols Blood God Seed, one couldn't instantly jump to matching a late Three Sols. They would have to come up with a plan. Furthermore, Li Hao realized that this trip to the ruins was going to be anything but simple. Even a late Three Sols had shown up; who knew whether an existence beyond Three Sols might suddenly appear? That would be truly perilous! Weighed down by worries, Li Hao stepped out of the office. In addition, he wondered about White Moon City’s true stance. In passing along this intelligence, did they want them to go, or did they want them to stay away? With a late Three Sols in play, it would be entirely reasonable for his teacher to sit this one out. "Hou Xiaochen..." Li Hao murmured the name. He had little grasp of the man's personality or character, but he genuinely wished to learn more about him. After all, technically speaking, that man was his direct superior.