Chapter 846: Grown Too Bold (I)

Li Hao’s tiny domain began to shrink, trapping the frowning deputy.

“Try breaking it, Deputy Zhou!”

Zhou Chuan struck without hesitation, blasting the air with a punch. There was nothing around them, but his fist collided with the sound of metal breaking.

The force of the five elements rushed out as Deputy Zhou breathed out heavily, once more feeling the air press in around him and wanting to cut him to pieces. Li Hao frowned when he sensed the change. Since he’d yet to combine his five auras into one, there were gaps in them, which resulted in the domain being easily shattered.

That was fine, once he succeeded, he felt that just this tiny domain would be able to entrap Deputy Zhou. It was like he’d gained a new toy. He swiftly vanished to spend more time with it.

Deputy Zhou watched him leave, then looked at the direction of the rear yard. Yuan Shuo must have said something to Li Hao. The deputy found the master and disciple duo to be quite the characters. One dared to think of the moon and the other dared reach for it. Li Hao had come up with something new again.

It was a terrifying proposition to be enemies with them.

“The physical body is weak, but if whatever that was can be used as a defensive shield, that will temporarily resolve the issue of a weak body. If that's accomplished, then Li Hao will be nearly invincible in the outside world!”

It wasn’t just a simple defensive treasure, but a natural defensive shield formed by the power of heaven and earth. It could prevent the reaction of the void. That meant that Li Hao could bring his full force to bear in any occasion, whereas everyone else had to split their attention with protecting themselves from the void. Even seven element Arcanus would be suppressed!

The young man would trounce almost everyone he fought in the outside world. How long had it taken for Li Hao to improve so much? Deputy Zhou looked emotionally in the young man’s direction again. The only beings who posed a threat to him now would be those ancient existences.

......

At the same time, the western outskirts. Evenround Martial University.

The Black Armor tilted his head back, seeing through this world to view the one outside.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“Has he grown stronger again?” he asked slowly after a while. Li Hao seemed to have completed another portion of this new dao. Although it was still too weak to the Black Armor, there were minuscule changes in the world outside again.

Everything was becoming ever more interesting!

The Black Armor laughed soundlessly. It was a new age and, as such, a new state of the world. What heights would this age reach?

......

In these days, so long as Li Hao didn’t raise a fuss, no one would dare cause trouble before the second awakening. No one dared make trouble for the top three of the Arcanus Ranking either. There might have been consequences to the Wind and Cloud Pavilion’s original ranking—who wouldn’t be afraid if Li Hao was listed as number one and nearly half of the top twenty being Silver Moon martial masters?

But now, a peak six elements Li Hao didn’t seem to be a concern. After all, the top three were seven elements. Therefore, when Li Hao no longer stirred up trouble and devoted himself to coalescing his personal domain, all was quiet and at peace beneath the heavens.

......

That was only relatively speaking. In reality, Skystar Dynasty was growing ever more chaotic. It was November. Apart from the temperatures being slightly milder in the south, everywhere else was long frozen over. The results of supernatural agitation were on full display.

Food prices soared to new heights in the marketplace. The number of refugees from war increased throughout the land. Although Skystar City was as prosperous and opulent as ever, its denizens could feel the pressures of day to day living. No one was interested in the struggles of the strong or what new conflict had developed. They only wanted to survive.

The outskirts of Skystar City.

Hong Yitang walked down broken streets. So much had happened lately that he was kept busy from day to night. He didn’t have any effort to spare for the Skystar Martial Academy, and he wasn’t here for the academy either.

He walked down what might be the slums of Skystar City. The surroundings were rundown and ramshackle, at odds with the bustling shine of the thriving city. Children ran through the streets. Although it was close to the end of the year, there was no atmosphere of cheer or celebration. It was just cold. Thin clothing hung on the children’s bodies. This was the vibrant capital of the dynasty, but their faces were sallow and sunken from hunger.

Hong Yitang quietly observed them. He’d been too busy killing or fighting lately to carry out some of his ideas. Today, he made time to walk through the city. He paused when he reached a grain storefront and listened to people ask about food prices. Half a kilogram of rice was now going for five star coins!

The man furrowed his brows. What kind of notion was five star coins?

When Li Hao was an official member of the Silver City Inspectorate, his monthly salary was only one thousand coins. That would buy less than two hundred kilograms of rice! While salaries in the capital were slightly higher, doubling the rate would only fetch approximately two hundred and fifty kilograms of rice.

Food wasn’t the only necessity when one lived in the capital city. Could such a modest salary really feed a family? Just monthly food expenses alone were startling enough. Under these circumstances, being able to fill one’s stomach made one immensely lucky.

Hong Yitang frowned. So food was this costly now? He hadn’t paid attention for a while and now found that prices had suddenly reached five star coins per half kilogram. The rest of his colleagues didn’t eat or drink, so they were unaware of the significance of this detail. They utilized mysterious power stones and Water of Life. Death would not come for them even if they didn’t eat or drink. Li Hao himself hadn’t eaten food in a very long time.

The same did not apply to ordinary people.

Li Hao’s been focused on supernaturals and forgotten to consider the rest of the people...

And Hong Yitang was in the capital. What was the situation like in other areas? Most likely even worse off!

We must increase our speed of reforms. Li Hao can’t go around killing anymore...

Hong Yitang felt that they should take advantage of the lull before the second awakening. Otherwise, too many would die during this winter.

We need technology, supernaturals, plant spirits...

They needed supernaturals to build sturdy homes, as well as technology and revolution to ensure that everyone had food on the table. Plant spirits were required to swiftly develop crops and produce high quality seeds. Supernaturals were also needed to induce them to sprout and grow. The Judgment Guard might be of some use in this area, but the thousands of supernaturals they had weren’t enough.

Perhaps... Li Hao could take down the City of Supernaturals! There were one million supernaturals in that city! It was the largest gathering spot of supernaturals in Skystar Dynasty. Anything was feasible once they were brought under Li Hao’s banner. That one million supernaturals was up to no good from day to night—they would be better off working the fields!

If the light, life, and five element attributes worked together, crops could be harvested three times a month! What was the point of keeping such a group of supernaturals around? Some matters could not be easily accomplished, but these affairs could be.

Skystar Dynasty needs to be reformed, but full bellies and warm clothes, as well as general literacy needs to come first. Education needs to be reformed and standardized. Li Hao possesses sufficient strength now and has found his footing. The world might be thrown into chaos after the second awakening, so the second awakening needs to be delayed!

Various thoughts appeared in Hong Yitang’s mind. He’d come to Skystar City for this.

I need to discuss this with Li Hao. Skystar Martial Academy needs to be open to all geniuses throughout the lands as soon as possible...

A ten-year-old child in ragged clothing approached Hong Yitang. The man ignored the child at first, but looked over curiously when it became apparent that he wanted to talk to Hong Yitang.

The child was as sallow and thin as the rest, but he wasn’t apprehensive. “Are you Headmaster Hong?”

A stern look crossed Hong Yitang’s face, but he quickly nodded with a smile. The child was highly alert. “They say that Headmaster Hong is willing to take in refugees in Silver Moon and train them to be independent members of society. They say you have built the greatest refugee center in the dynasty. Your visit to this neighborhood today must be to observe how people live their lives...”

Hong Yitang looked calmly at the child.

“I am Yun Yuqi’s little brother, Yun Yuming,” the boy said frankly. He was completely unafraid. “The headmaster commiserates with the people of the world. I can sense a saintly light from the headmaster, so I hope that you can tell Commander Li...”

“What?”

“To please open a research center!” Yun Yuming said seriously. “There is certain to be great disaster this year—avalanches, droughts, and even the beginning of an ice age! Our harvests will be completely barren! I thought that the commander would open a research center sooner or later, but am growing worried upon seeing him focus only on the Wind and Cloud Pavilion without thought of anything else.

“Only in opening a research center can we obtain more skill,” Yuming said despondently. “That is how we can swiftly complete the development and popularization of technology! It will be able to withstand natural disasters. Please keep in mind that there are more than supernaturals and martial masters in this world, there are hundreds of millions of people...”

“Who are you?” Hong Yitang asked after levying an extended stare at the boy. Yuming had already introduced himself, but Hong Yitang repeated the question again.

“Yun Yuming!”

“Who are you?” Hong Yitang asked again.

“I really am Yun Yuming...” the boy pulled a long face. “It’s just... I’m more mature and random stuff appears in my memories sometimes. But I’m certain that I’m Yun Yuming. Maybe... maybe my grandpa left something that affects me, but I’m definitely still me.

“If we really want to get down to it, maybe I have the bloodline heritage of the monster spirits?” The boy looked at Hong Yitang. “I came to you because I heard of what you’ve done in Silver Moon. I’m worried that I’m so insignificant that Commander Li won’t even want to see me...”

“Your sister and aunt are both working with him. Why don’t you go to them?”

“Like I said, insignificant.” Yun Yuming smiled ruefully. “My aunt is just a centurion of the Demon Hunter Army and my sister runs errands. It’s difficult to catch a glimpse of the commander...”

“That’s not right!” Hong Yitang shook his head. “Li Hao brought your aunt with him from Silver City, she’s one of his staunchest subordinates. Since you can find me, you should know that your aunt can absolutely gain an audience with him. Even if she can’t, she can ask Liu Long to pass on a message for her.

“And how did you know I would be here? I came on a whim, the spur of a moment. Were you waiting here for me, or did you anticipate that I would come? You’ve got quite the skill to do that. What is Lu Zhen’s relationship with you?”