“Chen Jian and Wu Chao have recovered from their injuries and have been absorbing energy over the past couple of days. I don’t know if they’ve made the crossover or become Sunderers, but they stand a high chance of breaking through,” Liu Yan remarked.
Those two had also received their largest distributions of mysterious power ever. If they didn’t ascend to the supernatural domain, then they had hopes of becoming Sunderers. As both Chen Jian and Wu Chao had absorbed some jade sword energy, their physiques were much enhanced.
After their process was complete, everyone’s strength would have increased as a whole.
“That will be for the best!” Li Hao smiled. If everyone became a Darkmoon or Sunderer, then the entire team would’ve completed a full round of breakthroughs. They might all be useful in the field to come.
After he left the box behind, Li Hao exchanged a few more words with Liu Yan, then went off to find Liu Long. Today, the branch director was going to pay an official visit to Yuan Shuo, the first of Silver City. Liu Long himself was the most senior executive of Silver City’s supernatural agency, so this kind of visit was necessary.
At 9am sharp, Li Hao drove Liu Long to the Veteris Institute. The car weaved to and fro along the way, causing headaches in those keeping an eye on the young man. Li Hao’s driving skills made it extremely hard to follow him! It was impossible to determine which direction he would drive next!
Thankfully, some people knew the destination. Apparently Liu Long was going to officially call on Yuan Shuo today. Both of them were martial masters, but very rarely met each other before. It was sad that Liu Long and Yuan Shuo shared an obscure past, that the two used to be estranged.
Some were eager for a show to start and for the two to erupt into a fight. That would be just their wishful thinking.
Both parties worked for the Night Watchers now. Although Yuan Shuo had successfully broken through, he shouldn’t clash with Liu Long. This visit was supposed to be preparation for the ribbon-cutting ceremony in two days’ time.
The Veteris Institute.
Liu Long didn’t notify the Institute beforehand or arrive with great fanfare, he was just here to call upon Yuan Shuo. While they had other goals in mind, Liu Long was still gravely solemn in the car. He didn’t pay attention to how Li Hao was driving the vehicle and was silent for the entire ride.
“Chief, there’s no need to be so nervous,” Li Hao placated as he drove. “My teacher is very easy to talk to...”
Liu Long flicked a wordless glance at him. It wasn’t his first time seeing the professor—the two had met many times before. But an official visit? This might be the second. The first had been when his father brought him in hopes of Yuan Shuo accepting him as a disciple. The drawbacks of the family’s Nine Forged Force were too numerous; Yuan Shuo’s Five Styles was a notable method that nourished the body.
His father had hoped that Liu Long could join Yuan Shuo’s discipline. The former had almost been ready to retire as his arms were gravely injured to the point in which he couldn’t wield a spear at full strength.
Liu Long still recalled how despairing and helpless his father had been when Yuan Shuo rejected him. Liu Hao hadn’t wanted Liu Long to continue practicing the Nine Forged Force or even walk the path of martial dao! Yet Liu Long knew that he was Silver Spear Liu Hao’s son. The Silver Spears were known throughout the province. If he didn’t train, his family would be exterminated by enemies as soon as his father died.
Thus, when Liu Hao returned home, he taught the Nine Forged Force to his son with a very complicated mix of emotions. It wasn’t an easy road to walk, and once a practitioner set foot on it, there was no way back.
Liu Long awoke from his memories and glanced at the yard in front of the house. He took a deep breath before opening the car door and alighting.
The gate to the yard was already open. Yuan Shuo stood inside, right by the gate. He looked smilingly at Liu Long.
The director drew close, but a towering wave of aura pressed down on him as he approached the yard. His footsteps slowed while his boots sank into the ground. He raised his head to look at Yuan Shuo.
The professor remained smiling and didn’t say a word. His eyes did all the talking for him. If you can’t even walk into my yard while facing my aura, then I don’t believe you can become a Dominator!
This is a test for Dominator of Thousands! Are you fit to become one if you can’t pass even this? There’s no need to waste time here if you can’t do so!
Liu Long’s gaze was coolly remote. He tensed his foot, raised it, and stepped forward again.
The tile beneath his feet split open. Li Hao easily strode by his side as usual. He could sense his teacher’s aura, but since it wasn’t aimed at him, it didn’t have an effect. Having sensed it once before, the young man didn’t find it too strong. He was focused on Liu Long.
Each of the director’s steps was taken with effort—the gap between Dominator and Sunderer was exceedingly large! Peak Sunderer Liu Long found it difficult to progress in the face of Yuan Shuo’s aura!
Li Hao suddenly seemed to hear the sound of waves. Indeed, waves lapped by his ear. He tilted his head to see Liu Long exploding with layer upon layer of internal force. Powerful force surged out of him like a river overflowing its banks. It withstood the aura and enabled him to set foot into the yard.
Li Hao was rather envious in this moment.
Indeed, the young man envied Liu Long that he had the right to enjoy such treatment. His teacher had never tested him in this way as Li Hao had a ways to go before he reached this level.
Li Hao paused and stood behind Liu Long. A faint aura rose from the bottom of his heart as overwhelming pressure descended from the sky. He purposefully walked behind Liu Long so he could sense teacher’s aura in action—one that was on the offensive instead of encompassing the subject.
“Oh?” Yuan Shuo raised a brow and regarded his student. The lad was certainly interesting, he wanted to give it a try!
Although Liu Long was shouldering nearly all of the aura, the slightest seepage was enough to overwhelm Li Hao since he was yet to comprehend the consciousness. Yuan Shuo ignored the young man. He could try if he wanted. Observing a real aura would help him and at the very least, facilitate Li Hao to understand what it meant to be a true Dominator.
Yuan Shuo remained focused on Liu Long. He could also hear the waves! Liu Long seemed to have attained some understanding of this level, but his aura was... too weak. The professor raised an eyebrow.
It was then that Liu Long roared and stomped his foot, splitting the earth. Layers of force exploded from his arms and traveled down his body. His trench coat split around his arms, revealing blood-splattered limbs!
Indeed, they were usually covered in blood and went unnoticed since they were frequently inside a trench coat.
Liu Long’s arms rippled like the waves, but a large amount of blood seeped out each time they moved. His arms could not endure the strain! The Nine Forged Force method was too strong and the director’s constitution too weak in comparison.
Thrice Forged... Four... Five... When he reached seven layers, his muscles trembled seven times and blood shot out with a bang!
Disappointment dawned on Liu Long’s face. He couldn’t hold on! He couldn’t sustain eight or nine layers. He was theoretically capable of it, but his body didn’t permit him to fully deploy the true strength of the Nine Forged Force. He was also a few meters away from Yuan Shuo and loathe to give up .
You thought I was too dumb to be your disciple and now I still can’t come near you even at my level of mastery. Is my family’s heritage method really so much more inferior to your Five Styles??
“Hup!” he grunted. Eight layers of internal force!
It wasn’t his blood vessels, but his bones that seemed to be faltering. Tendons bulged on his arm—no, that was a blood vessel devoid of liquid. Liu Long forced Eight Forged into existence!
He split apart Yuan Shuo’s aura with a punch and continued forward.
Li Hao was beet red. He took a step forward as well, but the aura was growing stronger and stronger. He fully sensed the difference between Dominator and Sunderer—they could not be mentioned in the same breath!
He was only experiencing a tiny bit of aura that Liu Long wasn’t blocking, but it was enough to make him feel like he was going to split apart! Thankfully, his physique was incredibly durable. There was no sign of blood oozing out of him. It was more psychological pressure than anything.
“Humph!” he grunted and ceased operating the Breathing Method of the Five Styles. He switched to the Nine Forged Force instead—one layer, two layers, three layers!
Li Hao concentrated the internal force on his legs instead of his hands. He broke the tiles when he stomped down and took a step forward. Damn the feeling was sweet!
“Do you wish to keep trying?” came Yuan Shuo’s voice. “Your hands will be crippled after nine layers!”
Liu Long halted, unwillingness shining out of his eyes. He clenched his bloody hands tight as he looked at Yuan Shuo. Did he dare try nine layers?
It wasn’t that he was afraid of the pain, death, or being crippled. It was that he’d just established a Night Watcher branch. If he lost his battle strength so quickly, he would let down quite a few people.
“Hmph!” The snort was a mixture of defiance, anger, and frustration! Liu Long clenched his jaw tight and remained where he was. What kind of emotions should he bring to bear against the guy in front of him?