Chapter 29

After giving away the stone knife, Li Hao felt much calmer.

He had done what he needed to do.

Now, he could only do so much. As for the Night Patrol, it was up to Liu Long to arrange. Li Hao told Liu Long about Wang Ming’s existence, but he didn’t know the specifics. He believed Liu Long would know better how to handle it.

"The invisibility of the Red Shadow, now both Teacher and Liu Long know about it!"

Was there anything else he hadn’t said?

Li Hao thought for a moment. Oh, there was one thing he hadn’t mentioned: he could see it... but that wasn’t important anymore.

He didn’t need to reveal all his cards. If he could see it and no one else knew, it might still be useful. Telling them might not help anyone.

"In the next few days, it’s time for me to focus on improving myself!"

Now, there was no time to strengthen himself gradually. Otherwise, Li Hao would have preferred to quietly cultivate and then take care of the Red Shadow himself.

But time was not on his side.

However, having done this much, what he needed to do next was simple: become stronger.

Having entered the Tenth Rank, he hadn’t fought any strong opponents.

He hadn’t even had a real battle.

According to his teacher, such a martial artist was just a show-off, not very skilled, just a bit faster and a bit more powerful in a punch.

...

Another peaceful night.

July 15th.

Night Patrol Office, basement, Demon Hunter Squad base.

Li Hao arrived very early today and had no interest in beating around the bush with Wang Ming, so he came straight here.

Early in the morning, Li Hao started practicing the Five Animal Exercises here.

Here, he didn’t have to worry about disturbing the downstairs aunties.

Fist techniques, clawing, bear hugs, tiger pounces...

This time, Li Hao tried to use all five animals.

Tiger, bear, deer, ape, bird.

His movements were a bit awkward, even using his hands and feet, sometimes lying flat on the ground like a beast, leaping up and charging forward.

Among the Five Animal Exercises, the bird technique was the hardest to practice.

The flying bird technique emphasized lightness and leaping into the air, mainly through borrowing force to leap. This was not friendly to a beginner like Li Hao. After a few attempts, he fell to the ground, heavily landing, and found it less useful than the ape technique.

After a few tries, Li Hao gave up on the flying bird technique and focused on the ape technique, which he was most familiar with.

Li Hao was practicing enthusiastically when someone came in.

The incredibly muscular Chen Jian, looking a bit sleepy, entered with a simple, honest expression. Seeing Li Hao, he was slightly surprised and a bit taken aback.

"Li Hao, you’re here so early?"

He hadn’t slept well last night but was the first to arrive. He didn’t expect Li Hao to be even earlier.

As for the task of protecting Li Hao, with the boss around, he didn’t need to worry too much.

"Brother Jian!"

Li Hao, slightly out of breath, smiled and suddenly said, "Brother Jian, are you interested in sparring with me again?"

"Huh?"

Chen Jian was a bit surprised. He thought Li Hao, after losing last time, wouldn’t want to fight him again. He didn’t expect the kid to bring it up.

Chen Jian smiled honestly, "You want to spar with me? I’m not good at attacking, I’m mainly defensive... How about this, I’ll just defend and not attack, and be your sparring partner!"

Li Hao’s face lit up. A defensive sparring partner like Chen Jian was probably what a beginner like him would love most.

A live person was different from a target.

Moreover, Chen Jian was an extremely strong martial artist in defense. With Chen Jian as a sparring partner, it would definitely be better than practicing alone.

"Brother Jian, I absorbed the mysterious energy yesterday..."

"It’s fine!"

Chen Jian smiled honestly but was inwardly speechless.

I know!

Yesterday you absorbed two units, of course, I know. The key is... you also know that the effects of the mysterious energy absorbed yesterday won’t be fully digested in a day but over a long period.

Besides, although Li Hao had some foundation, he wasn’t really good, just a bit stronger than the average person. In front of a true martial artist... he was no match!

Chen Jian, being defensive, wouldn’t worry about Li Hao hurting him.

Li Hao stopped practicing, his face showing joy, "Then... then I won’t be shy, Brother Jian, please teach me!"

"You can attack freely. Although I won’t counterattack, I will dodge. That’s the basic instinct of a defensive fighter..."

"Got it!"

Li Hao’s face showed even more joy. This was even better.

Otherwise, it would be better to hit a target.

Without more words, Li Hao pounced like a tiger, starting with the Tiger Fighting Technique.

His hands like claws, he aimed for Chen Jian’s arms, trying to grab them.

Chen Jian, though fat, was extremely agile. With a slight movement of his feet, he dodged by a few inches.

Li Hao’s claws missed, the air making a slight whistling sound.

Just as Chen Jian dodged, he was slightly stunned. Clawing through the air?

So much improvement?

In that instant, Li Hao, without hesitation, pounced to the ground, his limbs touching the ground. With a powerful kick, he leaped like a deer, light and agile, but when faced with danger, the deer’s explosive power was extremely strong!

"Ah..."

Chen Jian moved again, trying to dodge, but he wasn’t as fast as Li Hao’s kick.

Chen Jian no longer dodged.

As a defensive fighter, if he couldn’t dodge, he would defend!

Boom!

A loud explosion!

Li Hao, in mid-air, used the force of his kick, concentrating all his strength in his arms. Like a fierce tiger descending from a mountain, he clenched his fists and struck from the air!

Bang!

Chen Jian took a step back, and Li Hao was also pushed back by the powerful counterforce. But in the moment of retreat, he swung like a monkey in the air.

Originally flying backward, Li Hao swung back.

This time, his hands were like claws, striking down!

Chen Jian was now very surprised. He was actually pushed back a step, and his arms felt a bit painful.

This shock even made him lose focus.

Because he had fought Li Hao just two days ago and slapped him away with one hand.

How could Li Hao push him back!

However, such shock was inappropriate at this moment.

Li Hao, swinging back incredibly fast, grabbed Chen Jian’s arms with his sharp claws, the force from his ten fingers tearing Chen Jian’s sleeves to shreds!

Clang!

Like metal scraping, a sharp sound was heard. His fingers struck Chen Jian’s arms, instantly leaving ten bloody marks. Of course, Li Hao’s ten fingernails were also slightly torn.

"Ah!"

Chen Jian was really surprised now, but in the middle of the fight, he couldn’t ask for details. He had promised to only defend, and he wasn’t about to change his mind.

Seeing Li Hao attack again, he shook his arms, pushing Li Hao away.

Crossing his arms, he blocked Li Hao’s punch.

In the next moment, Chen Jian suspected his hearing was faulty.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

A series of bone-cracking sounds echoed, and the next thing he saw was Li Hao’s leg, like a whip, lashing out from the air!

"Damn!"

Chen Jian couldn’t hold back anymore.

What the hell!

Tenth Rank!

Are you kidding me? Two days ago, he was a weakling, and now he’s Tenth Rank? Are you joking?

He was also Tenth Rank, though not a beginner. Being hit by a Tenth Rank martial artist without any preparation wouldn’t be pleasant.

Li Hao was now using his full strength.

Without a word, Chen Jian clenched his fist and struck Li Hao’s foot.

Forget about only defending, he wasn’t about to let Li Hao kick him and suffer in agony.

Bang!

Another loud explosion. Li Hao was wearing the Night Patrol’s special leather boots, which were very sturdy and hard.

This kick met Chen Jian’s fist.

Chen Jian’s fist was also incredibly hard.

Crack!

Another light sound, Li Hao felt his foot bone crack.

But at this moment, Li Hao acted as if nothing had happened, using the force to swing like a monkey, using Chen Jian’s fist as a pivot, his foot relying on this pivot to spin his body.

From the outside, it looked like Chen Jian was grabbing Li Hao’s foot and swinging him around.

In reality, it was completely different.

Chen Jian felt his fist was grabbed by Li Hao!

Stuck together!

Li Hao used Chen Jian’s fist as a pivot, spinning around, and with a kick, leaped into the air, his feet wildly kicking!

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The sound of air explosions kept echoing.

Chen Jian’s face was serious, his hands protecting his head and vital points, occasionally striking back.

The two of them fought fiercely in the fitness area.

Li Hao kicked again, and Chen Jian dodged, leaving a hole in the wall.

...

While the two were fighting.

At the door, someone was amazed.

Liu Yan was wide-eyed, looking at Liu Long, who was also stunned, his eyes unfocused. After a long time, he said in a low voice, "The mysterious energy... the first effect is really good!"

There was nothing else to say.

Everyone had seen what Li Hao was like two days ago.

Yesterday, after absorbing the mysterious energy, Li Hao was better, at least kicking Liu Yan once.

But today’s Li Hao... if Liu Long hadn’t confirmed the time, he would have suspected that he hadn’t seen Li Hao for years.

Good grief, Tenth Rank in one night!

Although still a bit raw and lacking experience, his opponent was a defensive fighter, which allowed Li Hao to fully display his strength.

Liu Yan rolled her eyes.

Go to hell!

We’ve absorbed mysterious energy too, but it’s not this good. If absorbing two units could make someone a Tenth Rank martial artist... there would be no such thing as Starlight Rank in the Night Patrol!

Tenth Rank martial artists, once promoted, are often Moon Shadow!

Therefore, the Night Patrol actually hopes that some martial artists with a foundation can join them, absorb energy, and become Moon Shadow martial artists.

Of course, breaking through to the hundredth rank is very difficult. If Liu Long could easily break through, the Night Patrol would treasure him.

But Liu Long had absorbed a lot of mysterious energy and couldn’t break through, which made the Night Patrol somewhat disappointed and helpless, forcing them to give up supporting Liu Long and let him return home.

This guy wasn’t just a passerby in the Night Patrol. He just couldn’t break through, and staying there was very oppressive. Choosing to return to Silver City was Liu Long’s own decision.

Tenth Rank was also the group the Night Patrol liked to absorb the most.

Unfortunately, martial artists are hard to cultivate. By the time they reach Tenth Rank, they are usually not young, and with the development of superpowers, some find it hard to endure the hardships of martial arts, hoping to become superpowered as soon as possible.

Those who can calmly practice martial arts are not many.

At this moment, Yun Yao, who had been silent, suddenly said softly, "Can you feel the mysterious energy in his body?"

In general, a beginner like Li Hao, after absorbing mysterious energy, would have a continuous process of leakage.

Even Liu Long, who had the mysterious energy on his skin, and the Demon Hunter Squad, had it.

This was also why Li Hao could see the starlight.

But Li Hao couldn’t see Yuan Shuo.

As Yun Yao spoke, Liu Long’s eyes changed, and the next moment, he thought of something and suddenly sneered, "Yuan Shuo’s disciple, not bad! That old man, even with martial artists almost extinct, still hides and doesn’t help his fellow martial artists!"

At this moment, he thought of Yuan Shuo.

Yuan Shuo was like this!

Every time he absorbed mysterious energy, no one could sense it, as if he had absorbed it all.

The Night Patrol knew about this, and everyone suspected that Yuan Shuo had a super-strong method to absorb energy, but unfortunately, Yuan Shuo wouldn’t say, and no one could force him to.

In the past, they thought it might be because Yuan Shuo was too strong.

But today, Li Hao, both inside and outside his body, couldn’t be sensed for mysterious energy.

This meant something, and Liu Long immediately understood.

"Yesterday afternoon and evening, this kid went to Yuan Shuo twice... I don’t know if he just learned it or had learned it long ago, discussing with Yuan Shuo. I heard Yuan Shuo even taught him other secret techniques, not even giving the Night Patrol any face, severely injuring one!"

Liu Long was well-informed and had received the news of yesterday’s events.

Liu Yan said softly, "Boss, you mean... Li Hao learned Yuan Lao’s secret technique?"

A super-strong secret technique?

This was probably what everyone desired