Chapter 72

Time passed day by day in the duels.

Li Hao's daily routine was to duel, absorb sword energy, absorb the Five Elements' power, sleep, and then duel again...

This cycle repeated itself.

He found joy in it.

He was happy, but Liu Long was not at all happy; he was truly exhausted.

He couldn't unleash his full strength and kill Li Hao.

He also couldn't be too careless; a slight lapse might result in a counterattack from Li Hao, leaving him bruised and battered.

However, amidst Liu Long's suffering, there was a hint of happiness.

He saw Li Hao's strength improve visibly, day by day, becoming stronger. The process of integrating his internal energy was also evident.

The entire Silver City Night Patrol was recently immersed in cultivation.

Liu Yan and Yun Yao would fight for half the night, leaving both with bruised noses and swollen faces. They wouldn't want to see anyone the next day, hiding in their rooms to reduce the swelling, only to come out again in the evening to continue their battles.

Wu Chao and Chen Jian, knowing that the captain and Li Hao were sparring, and that Liu Yan and Yun Yao were sparring, also began their daily sparring sessions. They had just advanced to the Hundred-Breaking stage and were about the same level.

The Enforcement Building suddenly became lively internally, but externally, it was cold and quiet. Apart from the initial commotion on the day it was established, there was almost no activity, and the Enforcement Building didn't even go out.

This left many people who were paying attention to the Night Patrol somewhat speechless.

Had Liu Long and his team stopped working?

The entire Night Patrol branch, except for Li Hao who went to work and off duty normally, only saw Wang Ming and a few others sometimes go out, and sometimes just for a stroll... Yes, Li Meng even went shopping.

That was real shopping!

Someone followed them for a while, feeling extremely frustrated, and for a moment, couldn't understand this group of people.

...

Enforcement Team.

Wang Ming had been very relaxed these past few days, with nothing to do and no one to manage him. Liu Long had been busy sparring with Li Hao, and after the sparring, Liu Long had no energy to manage others.

At this moment, he was pacing back and forth in the first-floor hall.

When he saw someone come in, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly approached: "Li Hao!"

"Old Wang!"

Li Hao was energetic and smiling, having just ridden his bike over from home.

"Is there something?"

He was busy looking for the captain to spar.

These days, he increasingly felt his internal energy transforming into a sword shape. If this continued, he might complete the true integration of internal energy and sword energy, becoming a genuine Hundred-Breaking stage practitioner.

Wang Ming didn't rush to speak but looked him over before saying, "I see Minister Liu has been working himself to death, with dark circles under his eyes and a lack of sleep. How are you fine?"

After saying that, he added curiously, "Li Hao, you just entered the Hundred-Breaking stage, and sparring with Minister Liu, you probably didn't gain much, right?"

He understood others sparring.

But he didn't quite understand Li Hao and Liu Long sparring.

Honestly, if he sparred with Ri Yao, he wouldn't gain much either.

What was the point of Li Hao doing this?

And Liu Long actually kept accompanying him, which was quite surprising.

"Alright, I guess!"

Li Hao walked upstairs, and seeing Wang Ming follow, he asked, "Why are you following me? Is there something? You and Hu Hao can also spar..."

"Spar what?"

Wang Ming shook his head. "Hu Hao is a flying type, Li Meng has the True Eye, and I am an offensive type. We are not in the same system, so sparring is impossible, unlike martial artists."

He wasn't being lazy; it was just not very useful.

For example, if he fought Hu Hao, Hu Hao would just fly up into the sky. What could he do?

Look up from the ground?

Shoot a flying sword from the ground to bring Hu Hao down?

Just for fun?

He continued, "For us superhumans, at this stage, the main focus is absorbing mystic energy. Actually, it's not bad. I've made some progress recently. I received a lot of mystic energy, and I think once I absorb it all, I might advance to the Moon-Full stage."

He was currently at the Full Moon stage. For superhumans, advancing from Full Moon to Moon-Full didn't require any particular technique or understanding of it.

Even for Sun-Illuminated practitioners, there wasn't much technique involved.

The cultivation methods were different.

Otherwise, advancing from superhuman to Sun-Illuminated wouldn't be relatively easier.

Li Hao had some understanding of the superhuman system but wasn't very familiar with it. Hearing this, he smiled, "Congratulations then!"

"Don't congratulate me yet!"

Wang Ming hurriedly said, "You mentioned before that with Blood God Seeds, the efficiency of absorbing mystic energy would be faster. Is that true?"

"What, don't you believe it?"

"Not that I don't believe..."

Wang Ming explained, "Blood God Seeds are not abundant in the Night Patrol now. If they are really useful, I can spend a lot to get a few. But if they are not, wouldn't that be a waste? I heard that the Night Patrol only has one Sun-Illuminated level Blood God Seed and three Moon-Full level ones left. That's all!"

Just four left!

Originally, there were nine, most of which were awarded to the Silver City branch.

Li Hao was somewhat surprised but also expected. It seemed that Minister Hou hadn't killed many Red Moon people recently.

"You have some skills to be able to find this out."

"This is normal," Wang Ming chuckled. "I'm a genius, after all, and I'm recorded in the White Moon City records. If I ask about the Blood God Seeds and how to obtain them, they won't hide it from me. It's not like a Source Spirit Weapon, which would be kept secret from me."

Li Hao had always had a question in his mind.

When Wang Ming mentioned it again, he couldn't help but ask, "Old Wang, you always say you're a genius. What exactly is the definition of a genius for superhumans?"

He was very curious about this.

Is it just about progressing quickly?

Some people have more mystic energy, some have less, and it also depends on their family background. Those with wealth and power can obtain more mystic energy, absorb more, and progress faster. Is that what makes them geniuses?

Isn't that a bit hasty?

Hearing this, Wang Ming became a bit anxious, "Are you doubting me?"

"No, I'm genuinely asking."

Wang Ming huffed, slightly displeased, but knowing that Li Hao didn't understand, he explained, "For superhumans, the definition of a genius is simple and can be divided into a few aspects. First, the efficiency of absorbing mystic energy."

"For example, for one unit of mystic energy, I can absorb 0.7 units and lose 0.3 units when absorbing metal mystic energy."

Upon hearing this, Li Hao raised an eyebrow.

Conversion efficiency!

This was indeed impressive, being able to retain 70%.

Mystic energy dissipates, and Li Hao was aware of this. He also absorbed mystic energy, and with the help of sword energy, his retention rate was high, and he absorbed quickly. Without sword energy, even with the Five Animals Breathing Technique, he could only retain about 50-60%.

Others, without the Five Animals Breathing Technique, retained even less.

For example, Liu Yan and others could only absorb 20-30%.

Wang Ming could convert 70%, and from this alone, he could be considered a genius... of course, a naturally talented one.

Wang Ming continued, "That's the first point. The second is the number of superhuman locks developed!"

Li Hao listened attentively.

He really didn't understand this.

"Everyone has superhuman locks... even Blessed Divine Masters do!"

Wang Ming explained, "However, Blessed Divine Masters are born with their superhuman locks open, but not all of them. Currently, the superhuman field categorizes the number of superhuman locks as nine! If you are born with one superhuman lock open, you can be considered a Blessed Divine Master... because you are born with the power of a Starlight Master, and entering the Starlight Master stage is effortless."

"If you have two superhuman locks open, you can smoothly enter the Moon-Full stage with no difficulty, absorbing mystic energy directly. As long as you have enough, you can instantly enter the Moon-Full stage."

"Similarly, if you have three superhuman locks open, you can directly enter the Sun-Illuminated stage..."

He added enviously, "These are Blessed Divine Masters! The strongest known Blessed Divine Masters have three superhuman locks open from birth, directly entering the Sun-Illuminated stage... the Sun-Illuminated stage, which is the endpoint for many, is just their starting point!"

Li Hao nodded in agreement.

Impressive!

Born at the Sun-Illuminated stage, regardless of future potential, their starting point is your endpoint. Even if they don't progress further, they are an unattainable goal for you.

Blessed Divine Masters... truly blessed by the heavens.

Wang Ming continued, "As for us, we can only develop them gradually. Superhuman locks are not something you can discover all nine from the start; you have to develop them slowly... some people can discover three or four at the Starlight Master stage... being able to discover three or four indicates they have the potential to reach the Three Sun stage!"

"Some people, even at the Sun-Illuminated stage, still haven't discovered the fourth lock, indicating they will find it difficult to reach the Three Sun stage, unable to open the fourth superhuman lock... because they haven't even found where it is!"

Just having Sun-Illuminated strength, even at its peak, if you can't break the body's seal, it's not that you can't, but you don't know where to start. Naturally, you have no potential.

Li Hao understood his point and asked, "How many superhuman locks have you discovered?"

Wang Ming was at the Moon-Full stage, which theoretically means he had only opened two superhuman locks. Could this guy have developed three or four?

"Five!"

Wang Ming said proudly, "Impressive, right?"

Li Hao laughed and nodded, "Impressive! But, Old Wang, since superhuman locks are inside your body, can't you just say you discovered however many you want, and no one can refute it? I could say I discovered 100, and how would others know?"

"You underestimate the methods of superhumans!"

Wang Ming shook his head, "It's not that simple! Of course, it's hard to verify with ordinary methods, but the Night Patrol usually conducts an examination for new members, requiring them to pass a Source Spirit Weapon test, which can determine how many superhuman locks you have discovered."

"Hmm?"

Li Hao became interested, "How do they determine it?"

"Why do you need to know? You're not a superhuman."

Li Hao smiled, "Maybe I'll become one someday? Besides, I feel I have at least 10 superhuman locks in my body!"

Wang Ming gave a polite but indifferent smile.

Nonsense!

Keep talking nonsense.

Li Hao said it jokingly, but it wasn't a joke.

10 superhuman locks?

He felt there might be even more. During his cultivation, superhuman locks had appeared, and just from what he could sense, he had at least 10 in his organs, and even more in his limbs.

So many!

Densely packed, sometimes Li Hao even wondered if the heavens didn't want him to enter the superhuman stage. He originally thought he needed to break all the superhuman locks, but now it seemed breaking just one was enough.

Should he try?

Forget it!

He thought about it and remembered his teacher's advice. He decided not to consider entering the superhuman stage for now.

Seeing Wang Ming didn't believe him, he didn't argue but asked curiously, "Old Wang, discovering five locks, what level is that in the Night Patrol?"

"Top level!"

Wang Ming said proudly, "Three locks for Sun-Illuminated, four for Three Sun, five... that means I have the potential to reach beyond Three Sun!"

"Then what about nine?"

Li Hao smiled, "Since you say someone has discovered nine, it means someone has, and it has been spread. According to your logic, one lock for one stage, so nine... unimaginable, right?"

Wang Ming shook his head, "Nine have been discovered, by a Blessed Divine Master in the central region. That person is also an old Blessed Divine Master, reportedly already beyond the Three Sun stage. According to some information, the later the stage, the harder it is to open superhuman locks, which is normal. But it's said that the later the stage, the more dangerous it is to open superhuman locks, often encountering unpredictable dangers! At this stage, it seems only five superhuman locks have been opened, and whether the sixth has been opened and entered a higher stage beyond Three Sun... that's unclear!"

He added, "But it's just a matter of time! Because superhuman progress is very fast. Twenty years ago, it started with Starlight Masters, and within a year, Moon-Full Masters appeared. Within three years, Sun-Illuminated Masters appeared. I asked, and Three Sun Masters have been around for over ten years! And beyond Three Sun, in the central region, they appeared five years ago!"

In just 20 years, superhumans have progressed through five stages.

And it's been five years since the last stage appeared. At this rate, a sixth stage might appear soon.

Li Hao was secretly amazed.

The speed is truly incredible.

Perhaps, in the end, a ninth stage might appear.

"Are there many beyond Three Sun in the central region?"

"Quite a few!"

Wang Ming said casually, then smiled, "Now you understand why I'm a genius, right? I absorb mystic energy quickly and efficiently, and I have even more potential! For example, Hu Hao and Li Meng, they are also quite good in the Night Patrol, but they have only discovered three superhuman locks, indicating they have a direction to reach the Sun-Illuminated stage, but after that, they have no direction."

He raised himself and lowered Li Meng and others.

Shameless!

But discovering three is already quite good. Some people, even at the Moon-Full stage, can't find the third lock, unable to find the path to Sun-Illuminated, and can only keep trying.

Superhuman locks are the barriers to advancing in the superhuman stage.

"So, if you break the third superhuman lock, you can directly become a Sun-Illuminated... no major bottleneck?"

"Right!"

Wang Ming nodded with a smile, "So, I want to use the mystic energy from this reward to enter the Moon-Full stage, and then... I want to use the power of Blood God Seeds. If it really enhances the effect of mystic energy, as you said, it might help me open the third superhuman lock and advance to the Sun-Illuminated stage!"

He added, somewhat expectantly, "If so, my progress might not be much slower than those Blessed Divine Masters! Li Hao, don't mislead me. I want to apply to headquarters to exchange for that Sun-Illuminated level Blood God Seed! If it doesn't work... I'll be in trouble."

"Can you exchange for it?"

"Of course!"

Wang Ming nodded, "The Night Patrol also values merit. Treasures are meant to be exchanged. Minister Hou said, treasures and resources, these things have value only when they circulate! Few people exchanged Blood God Seeds before because they were useful for new members, but new members didn't want to spend so much to get them, so some were left. Now, not many people care... if you're sure, I'll try to exchange for it."

"How much?"

Li Hao was curious, "What's the price for a Sun-Illuminated level Blood God Seed?"

"Not just the price!"

Wang Ming explained again, "It also requires a certain rank. The Inspection Department has a ranking system, and the rank must be high enough! For the Sun-Illuminated level, only a City Inspector can exchange, and I'm a Patrol Inspector, so I can't exchange, but I know many City Inspectors, and our minister can help me exchange."

"Then what's the price?"

"200 units of mystic energy!"

"Is that cheap?"

Li Hao was surprised, "My teacher bought one from our minister for 300 units, and Minister Hao said he wouldn't sell it."

Cheap?

Wang Ming was speechless. This tone... really arrogant!

But to say 200 units is expensive to someone whose teacher killed two Three Sun practitioners... forget it, this guy doesn't understand anything.

"It's different!"

Wang