Chapter 814: Li Hao’s Speed (III)

“Commander, I will speak of everything I know,” Deputy Wu nodded with a sigh. “Please spare me!”

“That’s more like it!” Li Hao smiled. “Talk!”

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“The Wind and Cloud Pavilion appeared two years ago. I was a Solar then and in charge of South Peak’s unimportant industries such as education, technology, and research and development.

“A wealthy merchant sought me out two years ago and expressed a desire to print some advertising pamphlets. You know too, milord, that the dynasty strictly limits these types of actions. I didn’t think much of it and they sent me ten energy stones...”

Ten energy stones were a lot back in those days. They were a very precious resource.

“Ten energy stones for advertising pamphlets, and you were bold enough to accept them?” Li Hao sneered.

The man didn’t say a word. Any normal person would know that something was afoot, but he wouldn’t have minded even if they wanted him to print banned books. There were too many banned books in the dynasty these days—anything related to technology, civilian affairs, education, and others were all banned. Simply turning a blind eye would result in a large sum hitting one’s pockets. That was ten energy stones!

And so, the first edition of the Divine Masters Ranking was published. It was too late when he learned of what material he’d printed, the ranking was already widely available. As an important member of the province, he knew that producing something like a ranking required strength and confidence in one’s abilities. That wasn’t a task that just anyone could undertake.

“It was too late then... They paid me handsomely and threatened me with force. They already had Nova level heavyweights back in those times,” the man admitted with resignation. “Later on, they gave me a drop of Water of Life and persuaded me a while longer. It all got to my head and I... agreed.”

“That’s normal,” Li Hao laughed. There were plenty of people who colluded with the three great organizations these days, and they were deemed evil supernatural organizations by the authorities. Working with an unknown organization that paid him so much... even the governor general of South Peak might not withstand the temptation, to say nothing of a vice director general.

“Is the guy who transacted with you still around?”

“He only appeared three times before vanishing.” The man shook his head. “I’m in charge of everything now! It was just weaklings who contacted me toward the end. They gave me an original and told me to make copies, then distribute the products. I was in charge of very simple matters, but the payoff is great...”

Li Hao inclined his head with a smile. “Then has their Divine Masters Ranking arrived yet? The one that’s being distributed in three days. It takes time to print them, after all.”

Although the job could be completed in one day, wasn’t there preparatory work to be done before dissemination?

“Not yet... but... if it’s truly like before...” The man hesitated. “Then I should be getting an original tonight. But now...”

They must be on the alert now that I’ve been made. Will they still come?

Although Li Hao’s group had arrived quickly and sealed off the area, that didn’t mean that everything had been perfectly contained.

“It’s fine, that doesn’t matter! I’ll give you an original if they don’t!” Li Hao laughed. “I’ll give you a ranking, print a couple tens of thousands for me, and distribute them all!”

“......” The man blinked. What was going on?

“Of course, it’s best if you can get your hands on an original,” Li Hao chuckled. “If not, I’ll supply one to you!”

“Um...”

“What um?”

The man didn’t dare complete his sentence.

“Is this all you know as an Aracnus?” Li Hao asked faintly.

The man hesitated, but flew into a panic when he saw Li Hao’s palm coming for him. “No, no, I know a little more. They should have more than me—they should also be working with others elsewhere!”

“Do you know the specifics?”

“I might... know one or two of them. I had people follow them once—beggars on the streets and the like. They didn’t notice their tails. I don’t know about anything else, but I know that someone higher up should be connected to these guys.”

“Out with it!”

The man quickly said a name, resulting in a slap that nearly took his head off.

“I don’t know them, speak of their identity!”

“The Night Watcher director of the Sagittarius province... I’m not sure!”

Li Hao nodded. The Sagittarius province. That reminded him of someone—Sun Moxian, disciple of the Qimei Staff King. Li Hao had killed him in Rift Canyon and collected the staff made of lingering will left by the Qimei Staff King. With his newfound knowledge, Li Hao now knew that the staff was a combination of aura and supernatural lock. It was likely the supernatural lock of the mind!

He’d taken it that day and wanted to return it to one of the Qimei Staff King’s disciples. He’d become too busy after that and didn’t have time to seek out the relevant people.

“That’s it?”

“It’s... all I know.”

“Don’t they have any other requests after paying you so much?”

“Yes!” blurted the man after momentary silence. “He said that they will emerge in the world after the second awakening and bring forth countless powerhouses and ancient heavyweights. All I have to do is follow their orders. They mentioned it only once and never again, just that the Wind and Cloud Pavilion would stay hidden from the world!”

But now, they had emerged ahead of time!

“And another point—I concealed my presence when I broke through to Arcanus, but they seemed to know regardless and sent someone to congratulate me not long after.”

Can they detect the strength of life force?

Li Hao wondered.

If they keep a constant eye on their agents, then they might’ve known the second I showed up with my people...

It’s fine!

Li Hao laughed and called out, “Deputy Zhou!” The man walked out from the group.

“Quick, draft a copy of the Divine Masters Ranking,” smiled the young man. “The old Skystar King will be ranked first, Ying Hongyue number two, put me down as number five. The two from Armed Forces and Administration will be slightly lower than that...”

Deputy Zhou glanced at him with surprise.

“On Silver Moon’s side, put Director General Zhao as number six, you as number seven. Put people from other factions after that, then Martial Uncle Hong and the rest around number twenty!”

“......” Deputy Zhou stared dumbly at him.

“What?” Li Hao grinned.

“Ah...”

“It’s fine, and we’ll distribute them according to the previous channels. As for whether or not the Wind and Cloud Pavilion comes up with their own... who cares about them! If they still want to, they’ll have to use other methods, such as exposing their powerful treasure and directly reflecting the world,” Li Hao cackled. “I won’t have to seek them out at that point!”

Deputy Zhou took a sharp breath. The kid really knew how to play!

“Then this person...”

Li Hao sent a supernatural character into his mind without further word. “It’s fine, release him and say it’s a misunderstanding!” He looked at the man. “A misunderstanding means nothing happened. It’s one thing if someone on their side saw us, but if you tell them about us... You’ll blow up!”

The fire character agitated, prompting a muffled grunt and a mouthful of blood from the man. Horrified, he felt like his brain was going to explode!

Li Hao patted his head with a smile. “It’s best if they come to you with an original. But it’s alright if they don’t. I’ll reward you if you get an original, but if you can’t... Be careful of your head blowing up at any time!

“We retreat now!”

Li Hao entered the conference room and addressed the stricken group, “The guy’s alright, he’s from Armed Forces. But the matters of the night cannot be mentioned to anyone! If a hint of them are breathed, no one present will survive! You will all be executed in the name of fraternizing with the enemy! You can do whatever you wish after three days, but you better keep a lid on it during this time!”

“Commander Li, this...” protested the South Peak governor general.

“You will look after them,” laughed Li Hao. “Ah, that guy can move around freely, there’s no need to keep him under watch. You guys can just try and see if I can kill everyone here if word of tonight’s events leaks.”

“......”

There was no response forthcoming. Some were terrified, others could barely keep a lid on their panic, and some others were furious.

Yet, there was nothing they could do in response. Li Hao’s group was too arrogant and too strong. They might really kill everyone in the conference room if tonight’s actions were leaked.

“Let’s go!” Li Hao’s group vanished just as quickly as they came. The man who’d almost died was still in a daze.

I’ve... been let go? But what’s that in my head?

He could sense that it might explode at any time—a horrifying technique! Everyone present looked at him; the governor general wore an arctic expression. They had all been dragged into this because of him.

There were roughly two dozen people present—who knew if Li Hao had spies among them? All of them would die if any word got out, who could endure such a price?

“All of you heard it for yourselves, I don’t need to say anything about keeping to the commander’s word,” the governor general said frostily. “You guys decide for yourselves if you want to live or not, or if you think there’s someone who can protect you. Stay quiet over the next three days!”

He glanced at the man who’d been identified as an Arcanus. “I don’t care who’s man you are or who you are, and I may not be able to kill you if you bring disaster down on South Peak. But we are part of the Ministry of Administration’s territory, so it’ll be easy for you to die in any case!”

The man didn’t respond.

“Let’s set that aside and pretend that nothing happened,” someone chuckled. “I have to say... he’s really efficient. The events took place this morning and here he is at night. Do you guys think that the Wind and Cloud Pavilion can defeat him?”

“I care more about the fact that an Arcanus is like a chicken in his hand!” muttered another. Li Hao identified the man as an Arcanus, but easily smacked him around all the same. What level was the young man’s cultivation? Why did he feel ridiculously strong?

The room quieted down.