Chapter 963: The Last Rainy Season (IV)

“The three great organizations might have business to take care of lately, so have Director General Zhao keep a sharp eye out,” Li Hao continued issuing orders. “They want to kill some heavyweights, but I don’t know who. It’s probably not me. I’m not sure if it’s the director general—it might not be. It could be the other person. It’s just as well that the three great organizations are up to no good. That’s better than them not doing anything!

“Additionally, send some people to the three other continents, Deputy Zhou. They have their own factions or local armies and chafe at the dukes’ rule. Give them something to do so it eases up the pressure on us.

“The eastern continent, in particular, is a good candidate for this. The Xu family has declined, so the guys who used my name before can continue dogging their footsteps...”

Having voiced all of his instructions, the young man rose to his feet. “Let’s go cultivate in the ruins, teacher.”

A merry Yuan Shuo glanced at Hong Yitang and the others when he stood.

You see that? We’re the real master and disciple!

The subjects of his scrutiny ignored him. Li Hao’s words had been very clear—

you martial blockheads are too useless for anything but studying martial dao. Go on, then!

Yuan Shuo didn’t mind at first and chuckled merrily until he saw a dog follow them. “Li Hao, is this... dog coming too?” he asked morosely.

Panther looked innocently at him.

What? I have the same things to do as you—eat and sleep, sleep and eat. I don’t know how to do anything but fight, so if you guys are going off to train, so am I!

“Mmhmm, Panth will be cultivating with us...” Li Hao coughed gently.

Sky Sword looked around the surroundings after the response; no one knew what he was looking at. Northern Fist and Tyrant Blade looked at each other, feeling like they’d been discriminated against.

Their martial potential was high, if one put it nicely. Or, they had nothing to do, if put bluntly. Training with the young man was a good endeavor, but why did they feel so bad about it?

“Is Southern Fist... not going?” Sky Sword asked in a low voice.

Are we not stronger than Southern Fist? That guy’s really trash!

“Southern Fist is the southern commander, Light Sword is the eastern commander, Hou Xiaochen is the northern commander, and Yang Shan is the western commander,” Hong Yitang said quietly. “They all have important affairs to attend to.

“Southern Fist is suppressing the unrest in the south. He’s been part of the royal family for decades and highly skilled at all manner of deceit. He says whatever he needs to say to get the job done.

“The Prince of Southern Conciliation is in the south—he’ll be able to gain an audience with the prince. Not to mention, Southern Fist saved the ninth prince. He might be able to convince the Prince of Southern Conciliation to sail across the South Sea and head to the southern continent. This is a very important matter that will keep Southern Fist very busy!

“When it comes to Light Sword, she will perform a similar function since she served the Xu family for twenty years. The same goes for Yang Shan and his former masters...” Hong Yitang concluded with a look at the cultivation squad. “Therefore... it’s really only you guys who have more time on your hands!”

Stop thinking of getting Southern Fist to go along with you! He’s a busy man now, having to keep the south in check and corral Night Watchers of various areas. He also needs to negotiate with the Prince of Southern Conciliation. The guy’s much busier than before and his status has risen dramatically.

Do you guys think everything is still as in the past? He’s been very diligent ever since Li Hao agreed to spare the ninth prince. He’s busy from morning to night now and constantly traveling. Do you guys think everyone is as carefree as you guys? You don’t even know what he’s gone off to do!

Sky Sword blinked and Northern Fist was even more astonished.

“He’s... gone to suppress the south?”

Is he capable of doing that? That ornery little brother of mine can do something other than swagger around fearlessly?

“He should be able to,” Li Hao coughed with a smile. “Senior Southern Fist is exceedingly shrewd and has a wide-ranging network. Other than not paying for his meals a couple decades ago... he’s alright. Maybe we can stop targeting him like this...”

The group was quite resigned.

Who’s targeting him?

They were just surprised that he was standing up for something now!

Sorrow crept in moments later—so they were even less than He Yong in the end! Their lives... were a waste!

Li Hao snickered to himself.

This shock is to keep you guys on your toes. Time to work hard now! All you guys know how to do is fight, nothing else! Why else would I have so many things to worry about?

How nice would it be if everyone was like Deputy Zhou and Lin Hongyu? They can fight, kill, and run a government. Would I need to be concerned about so many things if everything was handled for me?

I’d be able to toss a province to anyone with peace of mind. Only ninety-nine people would be required to run the entire dynasty. How easy would life be then!

Li Hao walked off with a tragic group of seniors. Energy was densest in the ruins and any disturbance kept strictly inside. It was a good place for closed door cultivation.

......

As Li Hao entered seclusion, great change took place through Skystar City and the entire central region. Thousands of supernaturals went to work, repairing roads and setting up sky canopies.

Countless civilians saw their actions; news flowed through the dynasty. The northern savage had conquered Skystar City, City of Supernaturals, suppressed the supernaturals of the world, and put them to work after enslaving them!

The central region belonged to Li Hao and the transition of power was completed so quietly!

Although some disturbance stirred in the central region, no one dared to stick their necks out in the absence of leaders. Some waited for the three great organizations to kick up a fuss, but nothing was forthcoming.

There was no word from the supernatural organizations. It was like they’d completely disappeared!

......

A flying ship passed through the clouds, carrying tens of thousands of supernaturals. There were Red Moon members with masks on their faces, Celestial members in cloaks, and heavily tattooed Yama members. They were crowded together on the massive ship and flew quietly through the darkness toward the north.

There were more ships behind it, as well as a floating mountain traveling with them. They forded the North Sea to enter the northern territory.

As for the central region, whoever wanted to lay their life on the line against Li Hao could do so!

A small ship led the pack; multiple powerhouses were gathered on it. Ying Hongyue looked into the distance from the deck.

“It’s been decades since we left... Everyone, do you miss home?”

No one responded. Silver Moon province lay in that direction!

The ethereal Celestial Sword Immortal watched quietly, her long skirt billowing in the end. “Ying Hongyue, this world belongs to Silver Moon in the end! However, it’s difficult to say who is the master at the helm. Is his surname Li? I’m also curious... What is your surname?”

“What do you mean?” Ying Hongyue smiled.

“Is your surname Li?” chuckled the Celestial Sword Immortal. “There are too many Lis to be counted in this world, but there might only be one Li family in Silver Moon. It would be so fun if this turned out to be a family spat in the end.”

“How did you even think of this?” Ying Hongyue burst out laughing. “Why would my surname be Li?”

“That’s hard to say,” grumped the sullen Yama. “Outsiders know you have combined seven bloodlines. But what if it’s eight? That would be very interesting.”

“Stop joking.” Ying Hongyue was eerily handsome in the light and smiled radiantly. “Would there be a place for Li Hao if my surname was Li?”

The others sneered and didn’t respond.

Who knows?

They were wondering about this because Ying Hongyue didn’t seem to care that much about the Li family bloodline. At the very least, he hadn’t seemed urgent to obtain it.

So... maybe he had it himself!

Ying... Ying Hongyue. Ying was a homophone for the ‘silver’ character, and ‘hongyue’ meant red moon. Silver Red Moon... Silver Moon...

Wild speculation ran rampant through their minds. Was this return to the north a good or bad thing? After so many years, they still could not read Ying Hongyue.

The nine ministries and royal family were supposed to be the bulwarks of the central region, but they fell in the blink of an eye. The three great organizations were equally despondent at that. They only hoped that they could rise again after their return to the north and fend off Li Hao.

Massive flying ships crossed the North Sea. They were in northern territory again. The three great organizations that had risen from the north had returned home.

......

At the same time, in a residence in the depths of the North Sea.

A massive golden cow opened its eyes and murmured, “The Forbidden Sea has started to froth. The kid didn’t say that the Forbidden Sea runs through Silver Moon! It’s been so many days without a single word. That bastard!”

It fully opened its eyes and looked at a hidden current, following it into a farther locale. “The Forbidden Sea boils, the main cities emerge, this world is changing! Enormous trouble will develop without the eight main cities keeping it in check!”

The formation assembled by the eight main cities had been broken; the minor world reflected the major world. They’d spent countless years to fully seal away the Forbidden Sea of the main world. Corpses of countless powerhouses rested on its seabed. And yet, why had the Forbidden Sea of the minor world started to churn as well?

The golden cow didn’t understand. It was just a reflection of the main world, so this shouldn’t be happening.

Unless...

It didn’t dare think too deeply. The situation was becoming more complicated. It could sense that the outside world was stabilizing more with each passing day. Perhaps they wouldn’t even need the Skystar mine to explode before the world awakened.

......

A faint drizzle came down over Silver City on the last couple days of the year 1730 in the Star Era calendar. It’d been five months since the last time Li Hao endured such rainwater, and a year and a half before that. The misty rains of Silver City were coming with increasing frequency.

Silver City denizens were used to the weather, but somehow found the tang of blood in the air for this year’s final rainfall.