A clash that everyone thought would roll right over Yuan Shuo had instead demonstrated the domineering might of the Five Styles. Li Hao killed Sun Moxian and Yuan Shuo broke through Dominator to kill Sun Yifei.
The souls of powerhouses from the central region had finally come home. A falling leaf would eventually return to its roots. Sun Yifei’s battle was destined to leave a deep mark on the martial world of Silver Moon.
And yet, the ensuring ripples from this duel were only just beginning. The surroundings were quiet for just a moment. Someone bounded into the air the next second and shot for the upper skies, to where Sun Yifei had died. The late Solar didn’t leave anything behind when he died; there was only some powerful mysterious power that’d yet to disperse. However, a broken staff could be seen shimmering in and out of sight.
Not the first one he’d wielded, but the one later coalesced through mysterious power!
This was impossible to fathom! It was made from mental will so strong that it left part of the staff behind in the last possible second.
This was now a treasure!
Everyone knew that it stemmed from a late Solar and was crafted from powerful will and unparalleled battle intent in his last moments of life. Even though it wasn’t a supernatural object, it exceeded many supernatural objects.
One person making a move for it was swiftly followed by many more. There were Solars and Sunflares—those weaker didn’t dare attempt to claim it. Even Li Hao stirred with bloodlust.
None of you are worthy of touching it!
Indeed, they weren’t worthy.
Although Sun Yifei had died in battle and although he was an enemy, Yuan Shuo had respected him after he fell. Li Hao also considered the man a striking martial master. What right did these people have to take the weapon of a grandmaster??
He sprang into the air with Stellaris in hand, throwing himself at a Sunflare. A loud roar split the air before he caught up to the other, “All of you, piss off!”
Hao Lianchuan soared into the void amid a pillar of fiery light. “How dare you! How dare you touch that?!”
He was enraged beyond belief, but he didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because Sun Yifei had been a fire supernatural? Hao Lianchuan smashed out a fiery punch that illuminated the area. While the Sunflares backed away, there were a few Solars on the scene. Solars from Yama, Celestial, and the Sword Sect were present.
An aloof middle-aged man from Yama said coldly, “Yuan Shuo has left. Are you going to stop us in his stead? You think too highly of yourself, Hao Lianchuan, and think too highly of the Night Watchers!”
Hao Lianchuan was ready to unleash his fury—he wanted to bring out the Flaming Phoenix Spear and commence a glorious slaughter!
Damn it! Who do you think you are?? Do you think you still hold a great advantage after the elimination of Red Moon?
The Night Watcher deputy director glared at Hong Yitang. “Do you want to fight for it too??”
Hong Yitang’s brow furrowed and he shifted away slightly. “I don’t mean to vie for the treasure, I just don’t wish to see big brother Sun disturbed in death. If that half of the qimei staff goes to me, I promise I will not use it. I will have someone take it to the central region and deliver it to Sun Hongxiu!”
Hao Lianchuan frowned as well when he heard those words. They were not pleasing to the ear. Deliver it to Sun Hongxiu? Wouldn’t that girl come for Li Hao if she really gained something from it, or was bolstered by Sun Yifei’s dying intent? Her threat had been voiced for all to hear, there was a blood feud between the two youngsters now!
Although Hao Lianchuan pitied Sun Yifei, Yuan Shuo and Li Hao were the ones that belonged to the Night Watcher camp. Of that, he was well aware of. No matter if Hong Yitang truly meant to deliver the item to Sun Hongxiu or not, he could not have the treasure.
“The rules of the martial world apply, Hong Yitang! Sun Yifei died to Yuan Shuo, so his qimei staff is loot that belongs to the professor! Yuan Shuo has left, but his final disciple is still here. How does the treasure ever go to you?”
Hong Yitang’s frown remained on his face and he nodded. “Very well, I do not have the intention to seize another person’s possession. Whether you believe me or not, I would not have claimed big brother Sun’s relics. We are both of the martial world!”
He stepped aside and shifted a sizable distance back. It might be out of prudence, it might be a true lack of desire to scrabble over the treasure. In this moment, he elected to give up the fight.
That left three Solars facing each other in the clearing—the cold-faced middle-aged man from Yama and a mysterious cloaked individual from Celestial. The latter scanned the surroundings and soundlessly disappeared on the spot. They reappeared in the middle of the Celestial delegation and waved their hand. The entire contingent swiftly vanished.
They relinquished their ambitions as well.
The Yama powerhouse paused with a frown. He wasn’t afraid of Hao Lianchuan, but since the Celestial delegation had left and Hong Yitang of the Sword Sect watched from the side... Although Yuan Shuo had departed, he could potentially come back. Despite the crowd speculating that he’d had to flee due to severe injuries, one had to be on guard against the old demon.
“The Night Watchers... Yuan Shuo...” he murmured before breaking through the air. The Yama powerhouses on the ground also withdrew from the clearing. With their leader gone, they didn’t dare linger.
They needed to digest the insights from today’s battles and spread the word of everything they’d seen. As for the treasure that Sun Yifei left behind... the Night Watchers may not be able to retain possession of it either. Someone else would vie for it, if not them. There might be secrets to be gleaned from that half of the stick. Yuan Shuo’s secrets, information about Summoner of Spirit, and why Sun Yifei was able to leave a portion of his mysterious power behind when he died.
There could be a significant portion of valuable knowledge to be discovered from the treasure.
The small organizations lost their nerve when Yama left as well. They scattered for safety and pelted out of the area. Who knew if the expedition tomorrow would still commence after how the battles ended today? Some of the small organizations already wanted to withdraw.
Should they retreat? It was too dangerous!
This was supposed to be a simple exploration of a ruin. The larger organizations would cut their share of the meat while they ate the scraps. But now look at the situation—Light Island was eliminated before they saw any sort of scrap! They’d become the meat, and Red Moon had lost two Solars in a row! If they added Brokensky from before, it meant that the organization had lost three Solars in Silver Moon in quick succession.
Solars were a rare sight before, but now that they appeared with increasing regularity, they didn’t come with the expected air of invincibility. They were killed one after another, and by the same person!
It would seem that Old Demon Yuan’s reputation was not snatched out of thin air. He’d gone from Brokensky to Sun Yifei and to Hao Kong. If the assembly also knew about Qiao Feilong, how horrified would they be to learn that Yuan Shuo averaged a Solar every ten days?
They’d already forgotten about one person—the master of Light Island! He was a renowned powerhouse and a Heaven Favored. However, he’d been too insignificant in the day’s matters. Hao Kong commanded more mental space than he did. The latter had Red Moon in his corner; everyone knew that the organization wouldn’t let things rest after his death. But the master of Light Island? Forget it. He was dead and his organization eradicated. Who cared about him?
Therefore, everyone forgot about him. A Solar Heaven Favored was less memorable in death than Sun Moxian.
When Hao Lianchuan laid hands on the half of the staff, it struggled very briefly. As he landed on the group, someone approached him—Li Hao.
The young man looked at Hao Lianchuan, the deputy director looked back at him. After a moment, Li Hao said in a muffled voice, “Thank you, Director Hao!”
“......” Hao Lianchuan didn’t know what to say. What did that mean?
“Thank you for retrieving the staff for me, Director Hao!”
“......” Ah, he understood now. This was shaping up to an awkward situation. He actually wanted to keep the item and send it to headquarters for the director to study. But... he’d just said that this was Yuan Shuo’s battle loot.
According to the rules, it belonged to Yuan Shuo and by extension, Li Hao.
“Ah, Li Hao, this...”
“Thank you, Director Hao!” Li Hao repeated in a muffled voice.
The young man wanted that half of the qimei staff. Not because the item was a treasure—he had one himself and didn’t fully understand his sword yet. It was because the staff had been the weapon of his teacher’s enemy, a person who’d pulled his punch at the last possible second. The young man had seen it clearly.
This part of the staff... Li Hao wanted to take it and possibly send it back to the central region when the timing was ripe. He would return it to the heir of the Qimei Staff King.
Indeed! Even though he knew that she would not be grateful and even burn to take his head, he still wanted to send it back to her.
The person may be dead, but the heritage lived on. There was still someone to pass on the Qimei Staff King’s inheritance to. Was this desire trite and cliche?
It was as he thought before, very cliche. It was one thing to not fully eliminate the enemy, but to return an item that contained the Qimei Staff King’s lingering will? Was he a fool?
Yes he was, but weren’t all martial masters ? He was a martial master!
Li Hao’s blood had not yet cooled at this stage in life.
Hao Lianchuan floundered for the right words. “There are too many people watching this right now. I’ll give it to you when we return to headquarters.”
“Thank you!” the young man expressed. He glanced up at the sky and then at Sun Moxian’s grave in the distance. Li Hao walked over, looking for anything that could prove the Qimei Staff King’s identity.
It couldn’t be too precious, like that half of the qimei staff. There would be a daily stream of grave robbers if he buried that in there.
Li Hao found some scraps of cloth moments later; they were left behind from the earlier battle. There was also a tiny portion of a staff—the first one from the very beginning. It was such a tiny stub that it wouldn’t draw any attention.
The young man buried all of these things into the newly wrought grave. He paused in deep thought after locating a large stone, then etched just a few characters on it.
Qimei Staff King Sun Yifei. Qimei Staff King disciple Sun Moxian.
There was nothing about their achievements, battle records, dates, or any other details. This was enough.
A person appeared by Li Hao’s side—Hong Yitang. He was with his daughter and sighed at the tombstone. “Your wish was granted, big brother Sun.” He inclined his body. “You witnessed the birth of Summoner of Spirit. I think you went willingly when the final moment came for you. The martial dao legacy of Silver Moon is not broken...”
A mixture of emotions assailed him. They were one more fewer now.