Chapter 458: Metamorphosis (I)

Fear and unease.

All of the Red Moon powerhouses who knew the inside scoop looked around in abject fear. It’d taken just a short while for Yellow Moon to turn into a puddle of flesh and blood! She was a late Nova and hadn’t even had time to cry out. That was an indication of how strong her attacker was—how domineeringly powerful that she hadn’t had the chance to resist.

At the very least, she would call out for reinforcements or identify who the enemy was. But none of that had happened. How could they not be afraid?

......

Li Hao’s trio swiftly darted toward the city gates. Instead of returning to the city walls, they convened at a tavern on the second street and hid inside.

Inside the tavern.

Hong Yitang’s bronze armor faded away to reveal the man underneath. He brought out a jug of wine and raised an eyebrow at Li Hao. “Let’s have a drink?”

“......” Li Hao breathed out and took off his armor as well. The silver armor transformed into a round ball the size of a button and hung around his neck. This was one of the greatest attributes of the armor. Through it, Li Hao learned that gold armor could be stored entirely within the body, manifesting only in times of need.

The silver armor was a slightly lower grade, so it couldn’t be fully stored within his body. Silver armor was interchangeable, while gold armor was customized for the generals. Silver armor needed to be returned when promoted or demoted, gold armor did not. That was one’s personal equipment.

He Yong was the worst off. He had to take off the black armor through a series of slightly complicated maneuvers and place it in a storage ring. Black armor was cabbage by the side of the street; not much care needed to go into its craftsmanship since there was so much of it. Black Armors had to find ways to store their own equipment.

The three sat down in the tavern and ignored the frantic crowds outside. Hong Yitang poured them wine. He Yong threw his back as soon as he received his cup. Li Hao hadn’t drank wine before—alright, well, he’d snuck a few sips at times, but he’d never found pleasure in alcohol.

The young man picked up the cup and forced himself to take a small sip, finding something different in this tasting. A dense fragrance exploded on the tip of his tongue! It was slightly peppery and acrid, but also flavored with hints of mellowness. It was different from what he’d drunk before.

Hong Yitang smiled at his expression and raised his cup to his lips. “I sensed your fight next door just now. Li Hao, you think too much!”

“What?”

“Your dao is not pure because you think too much!” Hong Yitang grinned. “Take He Yong, he fights when he wants and plays dumb when he wants, but he never lets himself come away worse from an exchange or build resentment. You, however, think and consider too much. You sometimes punch and strike decisively, but oftentimes a bit of hesitation and restraint marks your straightforwardness.”

He Yong wanted to erupt with outrage at his characterization, but decided not to bother after some thought. “That’s right. Li Hao, you’re a little less compared to your master! Of course, this is very normal since you’re young. But... you are a bit lacking in the fearless drive to go forward without looking back. For me, I dare step into battle even if my enemies number in the thousands!

“Your martial dao potential is very strong—more than just regular genius, you are truly gifted. I can see that from your comprehension of the aura. But when you fight... you’re ferocious... you’re just not...” He Yong groped for the right word. “You’re just not brutish enough!”

“What?” Li Hao looked at him, confused.

“This is a common problem with the educated. You like to think in a comprehensive manner, but keep in mind that you can’t be thorough on the battlefield! You prefer to make plans beforehand, perfect your preparations, make sure all eventualities are taken care of, and fight those who are either weaker or on par with you.

“Dare you fight those stronger than you? You probably never have, huh? That’s not a good thing. You knew that Ole Hong and I were on the next street over holding down the fort, but you still fought in a cowering manner. That’s not to our taste.”

“But I have,” Li Hao replied seriously after some thought. “I killed a Sunderer when I was a Slayer!”

Really!

He Yong rolled his eyes and Hong Yitang laughed. “Alright then, you must’ve felt very accomplished and exulted in the thrill of battle, right?”

Li Hao thought back for a bit and nodded. He did!

“And now? Did you find pleasure in beating a peak Solar?”

Li Hao shook his head and took a sip of wine. “But I’m no match for Novas...”

“Why do you think that?” Hong Yitang frowned. “You have three auras, right? You know the Incantation of the Blade of Blood and don’t suffer major aftereffects if you use it, right? Your organs are strong, your body is strong, you have the silver armor and that indestructible sword. Why are you afraid to fight a Nova under such circumstances? Must your cultivation be higher or domination a certainty before you dare attempt a battle?”

Li Hao scratched his head, unable to come up with an answer.

“You can already kill peak Solars without utilizing your auras.” He Yong massively rolled his eyes. “Apparently you can meld them together like Yuan Shuo, so you can obviously try fighting Novas. Do you think your master fought Dominators when he was a Sunderer?”

Li Hao shook his head, he didn’t know the answer.

“He did!” Hong Yitang answered for him. “When Yuan Shuo fought those veteran martial masters, many of them were Dominators. They were rare in Silver Moon, but a few could be found in the central region. Do you think Yuan Shuo was only famous in Silver Moon? He also claimed impressive battle achievements in the central region and killed more than one Dominator...

“Of course, that was when he perfected his five auras! In actuality, many Silver Moon martial masters also had stirring accomplishments and issued challenges above their stations to fight Dominators. The province’s martial masters are the strongest, so there have indeed been cases of people battling those stronger than them.

“Thus, we only talk about how many Silver Moon martial masters that Yuan Shuo has defeated. We rarely mention the central region ones because Silver Moon’s martial world is proud. We find that Dominators elsewhere are less than the half step Sunderers of Silver Moon.

“You can test yourself against a Nova at this stage. As long as you don’t pick someone who crossed over from martial dao or already comprehended the aura, your victory is guaranteed without a doubt!”

Li Hao looked uncertainly at him.

“I alone am invincible!” Hong Yitang sighed. “Didn’t you read about that in the ancient books? Whether or not it is true, you must firmly believe that you can win! Li Hao, you cannot blindly follow what you read in books. You’ve spent too little time learning from Yuan Shuo. Not to mention that he was at a low point in life—it means there is much you haven’t learned from him. You lack certain things. If he was here, he would teach you now!

“Therefore, we stand in his stead to teach you some basic knowledge.”

“That’s right!” He Yong nodded. “Yuan Shuo does teach these things, but the rules require you to travel through the martial world and visit each faction to issue challenges and spar with them. He would’ve taught you bit by bit through this process on how to be a satisfactory Silver Moon martial master.

“This is how each of us grew in Silver Moon. Of course, that was a long time ago. Silver Moon martial masters now are a far cry from what they were before. They’re not necessarily stronger than those in the rest of the world.”

The two men exchanged meaningful glances with each other. “Back in the day, we had to fight our way up if we wanted to be up there,” Hong Yitang waxed eloquent. “We needed to make our reputation on the back of our battles! We weren’t invincible just because we sat at home and cultivated our way to Dominator. That would be a joke. You needed to create your reputation with your bare hands so that everyone in the world knew you!

“When we heard that you killed six Solars in northern Silver Moon, we all felt that we finally had a successor. Southern Fist followed you partially to look out for you...” It was a rare occurrence that Hong Yitang didn’t mock He Yong. “I believe that Sky Sword and Tyrant Blade in the central region will also think that the Silver Moon martial masters have a successor when they hear of this news.

“Yuan Shuo’s final disciple does indeed hold himself with the bearing that we once did! They will also look at you in a different light and wish to come and give you a hand. Whether it’s Yu Luocha or the other old martial masters, they’ll think you have a bright future as well.”

Dazed, Li Hao suddenly realized why he’d bumped into these two at Ash Mountain. So... they’d followed him just for him. Not because he was the heir to the eight families or anything else, but because he’d demonstrated the flair of Silver Moon’s martial world with that fight and brought their future into existence. The old guard felt that he showed promise!

I see!

“We have our grudges and feuds, but seeing someone strong finally emerge from the younger generation... is wonderful,” He Yong murmured. “Silver Moon’s martial world has declined and the younger generation is not up to the task. We’d like to see if you can walk further down your path. We don’t mean to force you to fight to your death, but that you don’t need to be concerned with so much at certain times. Trust us when we say that even if your identity is revealed, Golden Spear and Berserk Blade will come save you even if Hou Xiaochen stops them!

“They will save you because you are you, Li Hao, nothing else. You are the pride and joy of this generation’s martial world. Why do you think your master is fine after killing so many back in the day? When he killed Dominators in the central region, many Silver Moon veterans stood forward to support and even fight for him so he could withdraw unscathed!

“Martial masters are selfish, ruthless, coldhearted bastards, but they also know one principle in that an era needs a leader!

“Why is our generation strong? Because we had many powerhouses! Any who could break your master’s shackles is a heavyweight. Your master was the guide of our time. Those who threw off his influence could walk further. Every generation of martial masters could walk further because they had someone like that to look up to, the shining example of the times. And you, Li Hao, do you not wish to become the barometer of yours?”

He Yong didn’t mince words and claimed that his generation of martial masters was the strongest. Seventy percent of that credit went to Yuan Shuo. Without Yuan Shuo and the pressure he levied, not even Dominators would possess their present day accomplishments.

Li Hao looked at Hong Yitang.

You’re quite strong yourself to have never lost to my teacher!