Chapter 84

The battle had ended.

Initially, it was thought to be a crushing defeat for Yuan Shuo, but the Five Animals Sect proved to be incredibly formidable. Li Hao killed Sun Moxian, and Yuan Shuo broke through to the Doushan realm, slaying Sun Yifei in battle.

The strong from the central region had returned to their homeland.

Leaves ultimately return to their roots.

This battle with Sun Yifei was destined to leave a significant mark in the Silver Moon martial world.

However, the aftermath of this battle was just beginning.

For a moment, the scene was silent.

In the next moment, someone leaped up and soared into the sky.

That was where Sun Yifei had fallen. After his death, he left nothing behind except for some powerful, mysterious energy that hadn't completely dissipated. But there, faintly, a broken long staff seemed to appear.

A Qimei staff!

Not the previous one, but the one later condensed from a mysterious source.

Unimaginable!

With his powerful will, in his last moments, he managed to leave behind a broken Qimei staff.

A treasure!

Everyone knew it was a treasure. A late-stage San Yang, in his final moments, with his formidable will and indomitable fighting spirit, left behind a broken Qimei staff.

Such a treasure, even if not extraordinary, surpassed most extraordinary items.

At this moment, someone broke through the air.

There were San Yang and Ri Yao.

As for the weaker ones, no one dared to snatch it.

At this moment, Li Hao, below, felt a surge of bloodlust.

That thing... you don't deserve to take it!

Yes, they didn't deserve it.

Despite Sun Yifei's honorable death and being an enemy, after his death, Yuan Shuo respected him, and Li Hao also felt that he was a renowned martial artist, a generation of martial masters. What right did these people have to take his Qimei staff?

Li Hao leaped up, holding the Starry Sky Sword, and rushed toward a Ri Yao...

Before he could catch up, at that moment, a fierce shout echoed: "All of you, scram!"

With a roar, the next moment, Hao Lianchuan soared into the sky, flames surging, and roared, "You dare! Who do you think you are to touch what belongs to others?"

At this moment, Hao Lianchuan was incredibly angry.

He was angry for some unknown reason.

Perhaps because Sun Yifei was a fire-type superhuman?

He punched out, flames radiating in all directions, and the Ri Yao superhumans retreated. However, there were still several San Yang on the scene.

Yanluo, Feitian, and Jianmen all had San Yang experts present.

On the Yanluo side, a cold middle-aged man said coldly, "Yuan Shuo has left. Do you want to stop us? Hao Lianchuan, you overestimate yourself and the Night Patrol!"

Hao Lianchuan was almost driven mad. At this moment, he wanted to draw the Fire Phoenix Gun and slaughter everyone!

Damn it!

Who do you think you are?

With the Red Moon destroyed, do you still think you have a significant advantage?

He suddenly looked at Hong Yitang and said angrily, "Hong Yitang, are you going to snatch it too?"

Hong Yitang frowned slightly and stepped back: "I'm not snatching it. I just don't want Sun Yifei to be disturbed after his death. This half of the Qimei staff... if I take it, I promise not to use it myself. I will have it sent to the central region... to Sun Hongxue!"

At these words, Hao Lianchuan frowned.

He was somewhat dissatisfied.

Send it to Sun Hongxue?

If it really goes to her, and she gains something, even some of Sun Yifei's will, wouldn't she come to kill Li Hao and the others?

Previously, Sun Hongxue had made a fierce threat.

Now, it was a blood feud.

Although Hao Lianchuan sympathized with Sun Yifei, Yuan Shuo and Li Hao were on the Night Patrol's side, and he was clear about that.

Regardless of whether Hong Yitang was really sending it or not... the item definitely couldn't be given to him.

"Hong Yitang, martial world rules! Sun Yifei died at the hands of Yuan Shuo. His Qimei staff is Yuan Shuo's war trophy. With Yuan Shuo gone, his disciple Li Hao is still here. It's not your turn to snatch the treasure!"

Hong Yitang frowned slightly and nodded: "Then I'll let it go. I have no intention of snatching the treasure. Believe me or not... as a martial artist, I wouldn't snatch the belongings of the deceased after Sun Yifei's death!"

With that, he stepped back, giving up his position.

Whether out of caution or genuine lack of interest, at this moment, he chose to give up.

In an instant, only three San Yang remained in the scene.

The cold-faced middle-aged man from Yanluo, the mysterious hooded figure from Feitian.

The hooded figure seemed to glance around, and a moment later, silently disappeared from the spot, instantly returning to the Feitian camp. With a wave of his hand, a group of Feitian's strong figures quickly vanished.

They also gave up on snatching the treasure.

The Yanluo expert frowned.

He wasn't afraid of Hao Lianchuan, but with Feitian's people gone, and Jianmen's Hong Yitang watching, plus Yuan Shuo, though gone, might return. Despite everyone guessing that Yuan Shuo fled due to severe injuries, it couldn't be ignored.

"Night Patrol... Yuan Shuo..."

He muttered to himself, and the next moment, he broke through the air and left.

Below, the Yanluo experts also left.

At this point, with their leader gone, they naturally didn't dare to stay.

Today's battle needed to be digested, and the news needed to be spread.

As for the half of the Qimei staff left by Sun Yifei... the Night Patrol might not be able to keep it either.

Even if they didn't snatch it, someone else might.

Through this half of the Qimei staff, perhaps some secrets could be discovered: Yuan Shuo's secrets, the secrets of the Yunshe, and why Sun Yifei could leave this half of the Qimei staff after his death.

There might be many valuable aspects to this.

With the Yanluo people also retreating, the small organizations didn't dare to stay, fleeing the scene in a panic.

Today's battle had ended, and it was uncertain whether tomorrow's relic exploration could continue.

At this moment, some small organizations were considering retreating.

Should they withdraw?

It was too dangerous!

Originally, they thought it was just a simple relic exploration, with major organizations taking the lead and them following to benefit.

Good grief, they hadn't even benefited, and Bright Island was directly eliminated.

One of the three major organizations, Red Moon, had lost two San Yang in succession.

Including the previous Duan Tian, in just over a month, Red Moon had lost three San Yang in the Silver Moon.

In the past, San Yang were rarely seen.

But with the appearance of San Yang, they didn't sweep through invincibly; instead, they were killed one after another. The key was that the one who killed them was the same person, Yuan Shuo!

This old demon's reputation was indeed not exaggerated.

Everyone carefully thought about it, and it was true.

From Duan Tian to Sun Yifei, and then to Hao Kong, they didn't even know about Qiao Feilong. If they did, Yuan Shuo was killing a San Yang every ten days. How terrifying was that?

Of course, everyone had forgotten one person at this moment.

The Bright Island Master!

A well-known expert, even a Heaven-favored Master...

But in today's battle, his presence was too weak, even less noticeable than Hao Kong. Hao Kong at least had Red Moon's support, and everyone knew that Red Moon wouldn't let Hao Kong's death go unpunished.

As for the Bright Island Master... forget it. He was dead, and Bright Island was gone. Who would care about him?

At this moment, everyone had forgotten his existence.

A San Yang Heaven-favored Master died, even less prominently than Sun Moxian.

...

In the air.

Hao Lianchuan obtained the Qimei staff. The half of the Qimei staff seemed to struggle a bit.

Hao Lianchuan landed.

As soon as he landed, someone approached, it was Li Hao.

He looked at Hao Lianchuan.

Hao Lianchuan also looked at him.

After a while, Li Hao said gloomily, "Thank you, Minister Hao!"

"..."

Hao Lianchuan was speechless. What did he mean?

"Thank you, Minister Hao, for helping me retrieve the Qimei staff!"

"..."

At this moment, Hao Lianchuan finally understood.

He was a bit awkward. He actually wanted to keep it and send it to the Night Patrol for the minister to study, but... he had just said it was Yuan Shuo's war trophy.

According to the rules, it belonged to Yuan Shuo, and thus to Li Hao.

"Li Hao, this..."

Li Hao said gloomily, "Thank you, Minister Hao!"

"..."

He wanted the Qimei staff.

Not because it was a treasure, he had treasures, and he hadn't even figured out the Starry Sky Sword.

But the Qimei staff was his teacher's enemy's weapon... in the last moment, the other side held back, and Li Hao saw it with his own eyes.

This Qimei staff...

Li Hao wanted to take it back. When the time was right, he might send it back to the central region, to the successor of the Qimei staff king.

Yes!

Even if he knew the other side wouldn't be grateful, and might even want to kill him.

But... he still wanted to send it back.

The person was dead, but the legacy remained.

The legacy of the Qimei staff king remained.

Was he being pedantic?

As he had thought before, he was very pedantic. Not only did he not cut off the roots, but he also wanted to return the Qimei staff king's will. Was he foolish?

He was foolish.

But wasn't that what a martial artist should be?

I am still a martial artist!

At this moment, Li Hao's blood hadn't cooled.

Hao Lianchuan was speechless, and after a while, he said, "There are many people watching now. Once we return to the Night Patrol headquarters, I will give it to you."

"Thank you!"

Li Hao thanked him.

At this moment, he silently looked up at the sky and then at Sun Moxian's grave in the distance. He walked over and searched for something that could prove the identity of the Qimei staff king on the ground.

It couldn't be too valuable. If he buried the Qimei staff, people would dig up the grave every day.

After a while, Li Hao found some damaged clothing from the previous battle and a small piece of the broken Qimei staff, the initial one, only a little bit left, not too noticeable.

In front of the new grave, Li Hao buried all these things.

He found a large stone and, after a long silence, Li Hao left only a few words.

"Grave of Sun Yifei, the Qimei staff king, and Sun Moxian, the successor of the Qimei staff."

No battle achievements, no honors, no dates, nothing.

But that was enough.

At this moment, another person joined him, Hong Yitang.

He brought his daughter and walked over step by step. Hong Yitang glanced at the tombstone, sighed lightly, and bowed slightly: "Brother Sun, you fulfilled your wish, witnessing the birth of the Yunshe. I believe you left this world contentedly!"

"The Silver Moon martial world ultimately didn't break the lineage..."

He felt a bit melancholic and a bit sad.

Another person was gone.

He looked at Li Hao and said softly, "You are also very good. Don't think too much. A martial artist... is just like this! The world of martial arts is no longer, but when your teacher left Silver City, the world of martial arts reappeared!"

"I believe the myth of the Silver Moon martial world will continue!"

"Li Hao, take care. Your teacher killed Sun Yifei, broke through to the Yunshe, and broke the Doushan barrier. Now he has left. If you can't find him, I believe someone will come for you soon."

"Whether to challenge you or kill you, they definitely won't let you rest. You need to know... martial artists have declined!"

These words were profound.

And a bit sad.

Martial artists have been replaced.

What replaced martial arts is the now dominant superhuman power.

But among martial artists, there was an outlier. Would superhumans tolerate the resurgence of martial arts?

Not necessarily!

When superhumans rose, many martial artists were killed, and many martial artists had to enter the superhuman realm. Now, if it were proven that martial arts were superior... wouldn't that embarrass many people?

Especially those who entered the superhuman realm, not everyone is like Sun Yifei, not everyone hopes for the resurgence of martial arts.

Some superhuman martial artists even oppose the resurgence of martial arts.

This would mean their past choices were wrong.

No one wants to admit they were wrong!

So, the complete silence of martial arts aligns with their wishes.

Hong Yitang was a superhuman martial artist. At this moment, he deeply understood this feeling. When he saw how powerful Yuan Shuo was, he also felt a bit regretful. The path of martial arts, though difficult, might be more powerful.

These thoughts quickly dissipated.

But in his heart, there was always an indelible regret.

He felt he was quite open-minded. If he weren't, being challenged by Yuan Shuo several times and avoiding the battles would be very humiliating, and he could endure it. But at this moment, even he had a bit of regret. It's easy to imagine how other superhuman martial artists felt.

Beside him.

Li Hao looked at Hong Yitang and bowed slightly: "I understand! But... if they come to challenge me openly, I won't be afraid! My teacher carved out a path, and I will too! If they try to assassinate or ambush me, then Hong Jianzhu underestimates the Night Patrol!"

Li Hao showed a faint smile: "The Night Patrol is spread across 99 provinces, and it's still the Tianxing Dynasty's territory. Killing me would depend on whether the Night Patrol agrees. Even if the Night Patrol agrees... I don't know if they've forgotten that my teacher is still alive!"

He's not dead!

At these words, Hong Yitang laughed and nodded slightly: "It's good that you have a plan. Tomorrow's relic exploration might not go smoothly. Even if it does... you'd better not go in, it's too dangerous."

"Thank you, Master Jianzhu!"

After saying this, Li Hao looked at Hong Qing beside him: "Miss Hong Qing, the sword is broken, I'm very sorry. When I return to the Night Patrol, I will have a new one made and send it to you."

"It's fine."

Hong Qing looked at him curiously and shook her head: "It's just an ordinary sword, not an extraordinary item. If it's broken, it's broken."

She couldn't help but be curious: "You... have only practiced martial arts for three years?"

"Yes."

"Really impressive!"

Hong Qing was somewhat impressed. It was really just three years.

A genius!

She had practiced martial arts since childhood and had been practicing for over ten years, reaching the late-stage Baiji, which was very impressive.

But the person in front of her, after practicing martial arts for three years, had killed Sun Moxian, a genius who had comprehended the concept of momentum and was about to enter the Doushan realm.

For the two martial artists who died today, Hong Qing felt very sorry.

Of course, if Li Hao and Yuan Shuo had died, she would also feel very sorry.

They were all geniuses and strong figures in the world of martial arts, and their deaths made her feel a bit sad.

"Too much praise!"

Li Hao didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

He didn't like talking too much with strangers, even though Hong Yitang was very friendly. Knowing someone's face doesn't mean knowing their heart. Who knew what Hong Yitang's true thoughts were.

...

Back at the Night Patrol camp, others were cleaning up the aftermath.

The Red Moon people