The Avengers Show Their Muscles, Wang Hao Calls a Pre-War Meeting

Boom!

The crimson moon phantom behind Chi Wushang instantly expanded.

A terrifying pressure swept across the hall.

The disciple delivering the message didn’t even have time to scream before he was crushed into a pulp.

The elders’ scalps tingled.

He was here.

Wang Hao had truly arrived.

That mad emperor, who was only at the peak of the Qi Force realm but had smashed the Blackwater Demon Cave into ruins and fed the remnants of the Ninth-Level Desire Seed to the Demonic Sword, was leading the Great Zhou Iron Cavalry in for the kill.

Were the Demon Cult elders afraid?

Yes.

Very afraid.

They had seen ruthless men before.

Among demonic cultivators, who didn’t have blood on their hands?

But Wang Hao was different.

Ordinary righteous sects fighting demon cults acted out of justice.

Ordinary imperial dynasties battling demon cults sought to control and exploit them.

Wang Hao’s approach to destroying demon cults was about looting homes, dividing spoils, wiping out entire clans, and—on the side—making the enemy turn on themselves.

The fate of the Blackwater Demon Cave was clear for all to see.

The treasury was emptied.

The old demon lord was beheaded.

Desire Sea Maitreya was devoured.

Captives were absorbed into his ranks.

Even the lingering souls were struck clean by lightning.

This wasn’t demon suppression.

This was a demolition crew rolling in, scraping every inch of the land clean.

Chi Wushang suddenly laughed.

A cold, sinister laugh.

“Wang Hao.”

“Do you really think I fear you?”

He strode step by step onto his throne, turned around, and looked down at the elders.

“Issue the order.”

“Unseal the Martial God Vessel ahead of schedule.”

The moment these words left his mouth, the elders' faces changed drastically.

“Master, think twice!”

“The Martial God Vessel is not yet stable. If we unseal it early, it will devour even us!”

“Tens of thousands of cult members in the Crimson Moon Gorge will die!”

“Before Wang Hao even attacks, we will have destroyed ourselves!”

Chi Wushang said coldly, “Then let us all be destroyed together.”

The elders froze.

The blood vessels in Chi Wushang’s eyes grew denser.

“Wang Hao wants to destroy the Crimson Moon Cult.”

“I will make the entire Western Borderlands become its tomb.”

“Doesn’t he want to be a sage emperor who saves the world?”

“Doesn’t he want to suppress demons?”

“Let me see how he suppresses what’s coming when the tide of anomalies fully erupts and the Martial God Vessel devours heaven and earth!”

The red-haired elder gritted his teeth. “Master, if we do this, there will be no turning back.”

Chi Wushang’s smile was twisted.

“From the moment Wang Hao set foot in the Western Borderlands, we had no way back.”

He pointed toward the altar.

“Activate the Crimson Moon Blood Sacrifice Array.”

“Recall all external cultivators.”

“Activate all valley barriers.”

“And send an envoy to the Profound Mechanism Pavilion.”

“Tell Xie Wujiu.”

“Either join us against Wang Hao.”

“Or we all die together.”

A chill ran through the elders’ hearts.

This was not a plea for help.

It was a threat.

But they had to admit, this might be the only way to force the Profound Mechanism Pavilion into action.

A demonic cultivator in black robes accepted the order and departed.

Soon, a streak of blood-red light shot out from the Crimson Moon Gorge, speeding east toward the Profound Mechanism Pavilion.

Inside the blood-red palace, Chi Wushang sat back on his throne.

He rested his forehead on his hand as the blood moon mark on his brow flickered.

After the earlier rage subsided, a hint of exhaustion crept onto his face.

No one saw his hands trembling.

Only he knew.

That wasn’t fear of Wang Hao.

It was the Martial God Vessel that was afraid.

And the fear of the Martial God Vessel was backlashing against his soul through the fusion imprint.

Chi Wushang closed his eyes.

Deep in his mind, an ancient voice echoed again.

“Anomaly...”

“That emperor...”

“He should not exist...”

“Kill him...”

“Or else... we will all be devoured...”

Chi Wushang’s pupils contracted sharply.

Devoured?

The Martial God Vessel was afraid of being devoured?

What kind of joke was this?

What in this world could devour a Martial God Vessel? Even the Night Fiend couldn’t.

Then, a black longsword flashed through his mind.

That sword turned into a black-robed youth, crouching amidst mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, burping and saying, “Dinner time.”

Chi Wushang’s face paled slightly.

“Wang Hao...”

“What kind of monster did you raise?”

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles outside the Crimson Moon Gorge.

The main army of Great Zhou was setting up camp.

Night had fallen, and ten thousand military lanterns lit up, like a river of stars on the earth.

Wang Hao sat inside the central army tent, a newly refreshed holographic screen suspended before him from his Quest Intelligence System.

[Special Location: Outer Perimeter of Crimson Moon Gorge.]

[Available to Check In.]

Wang Hao thought for a moment.

[Check-In Successful.]

[Reward: Diagram of the Sealing Array Hub for the Martial God Vessel’s Remains.]

[Intel Updated: Crimson Moon Cult Leader Chi Wushang is deeply corroded by the Martial God Vessel, mentally unstable. The Martial God Vessel has developed a fear reaction due to swallowing the remnants of the Night Fiend’s body and is at risk of premature loss of control.]

[Hint: The Profound Mechanism Pavilion left a hidden passage in the Crimson Moon Gorge seal that can remotely disrupt the Martial God Vessel’s seal.]

[Hint: If the host can control the array hub, you can suppress the Martial God Vessel for three breaths.]

Wang Hao squinted.

“Three breaths?”

“Enough for me to strike three palm blows.”

The New Emperor Sword, perched sloth-like on the table beside him, perked up its ears.

“Martial God Vessel?”

“Can I eat it?”

Wang Hao glanced at it.

“You’ve just digested the Desire Seed remnants. If you eat the Martial God Vessel now, you might explode.”

The New Emperor Sword pondered seriously.

“Explode into two swords?”

Wang Hao said flatly, “Explode into two chamber pots.”

The New Emperor Sword’s face darkened.

“Tyrant, you have a chamber pot obsession.”

Wang Hao replied indifferently, “I have an obsession with reusing garbage.”

The New Emperor Sword silently retreated.

Inside the tent, Wei Zhongxian whispered, “Your Majesty, if the Crimson Moon Cult unseals the Martial God Vessel early, tomorrow’s battle will be dangerous.”

Wang Hao smiled.

“Dangerous?”

He raised his hand and tapped the array hub diagram.

“I love it when enemies reveal their trump cards early.”

“The more panicked they are, the more holes they have.”

“Notify all representatives.”

“We’ll hold a pre-battle meeting tomorrow.”

“And tell those old ancestors from the Avengers Alliance to stop playing dead.”

Wei Zhongxian paused, then his eyes lit up.

“Your Majesty intends to show your hand?”

Wang Hao stood, his dragon robe draping down, his shadow stretching long under the lamplight.

“The Crimson Moon Cult is already scared out of their minds.”

“The Profound Mechanism Pavilion is playing dead.”

“The sects are still trying to conserve their strength.”

“So, I’ll show them.”

“What a truly luxurious lineup of fighting power looks like.”

The next morning.

The sandstorms of the Western Borderlands had not yet subsided.

In the sky above the Crimson Moon Gorge, blood-red clouds churned like a pot of boiling blood.

Every few moments, a dull rumble came from afar.

Not thunder.

But the sound of the Martial God Vessel pounding against the seal deep inside the Crimson Moon Cult’s headquarters.

Throughout the Great Zhou military camp, everyone could feel that oppressive weight.

The air reeked of scorching heat, blood, molten rock, and the stench of anomalies.

Many low-ranked soldiers, just glancing at the blood clouds in the distance, turned pale and felt their hearts tighten.

It was instinct—a primal warning.

Something terrifying lay ahead.

Inside the central tent.

A sand table was already set.

The terrain of the Crimson Moon Gorge was projected through formation arrays, showing the volcano’s crater, the magma river, the blood-red palace, the outer demonic arrays, and the underground tunnels, all clearly marked.

Wang Hao sat at the head.

The Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda floated behind him, its surface flickering with thunder.

The New Emperor Sword, transformed into a black-robed youth, crouched on the back of a chair, holding a piece of roasted meat, eating while eyeing the representatives of various sects.

Its gaze was rude.

Like it was estimating who would taste better after death.

The tent was packed.

Generals of Great Zhou.

Representatives of the Demonic Suppression Alliance.

High-level members of the surrendered Six Sects.

Patriarchs of various great families.

Leaders of orthodox sects.

Big shots among rogue cultivators.

And the younger generation, including Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Qin Hongye, and Wanyan Gu.

Perfected Qingmu was also there.

He sat in the back row, his face pale, an iron sword resting across his lap.

Ever since Master Iron Sword died, he had rarely spoken.

He looked like a man whose soul had been drained away.

Wang Hao glanced at him but offered no comfort.

Comfort was useless to someone with a broken heart.

Military orders were useful.

Money was useful.

Hatred was also useful.

So Wang Hao decided not to waste his breath for now.

The atmosphere inside the tent was tense.

Many sect representatives kept their heads low, their eyes darting around.

The Blood Moon Demon Sect was different from the Black Water Abyss.

The Black Water Abyss was vicious, but its main forces had been caught off guard by the Great Zhou army.

The Blood Moon Demon Sect, however, had pulled its forces back to the headquarters, clearly ready to fight to the death.

Especially the Martial God Body.

If that thing went out of control, whoever charged first would die.

So some of the old ancestors began to scheme in their hearts.

When the battle started tomorrow, could they hold back a little?

Could they let the Great Zhou Imperial Guard take the lead?

Could they send the disciples of other sects to the front?

Could they themselves be responsible for "strategic support"?

The so-called strategic support, when translated, meant: people in the rear, mouths in the front.

Wang Hao looked at their expressions and smiled.

He was too familiar with that look.

When fighting an easy battle, every one of them was a pillar of the righteous path.

When faced with a tough nut, everyone wanted to be the dust on the rafters.

Wang Hao picked up his teacup, took a slow sip.

Then he set it down.

The sound was soft, yet it silenced the entire tent.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

"Tomorrow, we attack the Blood Moon Gorge."

"I know what some of you are thinking."

Many in the tent flinched at his words.

Wang Hao continued, "You're thinking that the Blood Moon Demon Sect has the Martial God Body, making it too dangerous."

"You're thinking that the Great Zhou army is strong, so you might as well let them go first."

"You're also thinking that since you already got a share of the spoils from the Black Water Abyss, you can just coast through this battle and focus on staying alive."

Some faces turned awkward.

Others immediately straightened their backs, as if they had never entertained such filthy thoughts in their hearts in the first place.

New Emperor Sword muttered under his breath, "They sure can put on an act."

Wanyan Gu, sitting in the back row, nodded in deep agreement.

"Even more than my nine brothers when they were vying for the Khan's seat."

Qin Hongye shot him a glance.

"Can you not bring up the Northern Barbarian Royal Court every single time?"

Wanyan Gu said earnestly, "This is my life experience."

Wang Hao ignored the chatter in the back.

He scanned the crowd.

"I gathered you all today not to talk about righteousness."

"Talking about righteousness is too vague."

"I'll talk about something practical."

Everyone instinctively looked up.

Practical?

When that word came out of Wang Hao’s mouth, it usually meant either someone was about to get rich or someone was about to get screwed.

Wang Hao said calmly, "The Avengers."

"It’s time to show off some muscle."

As he finished speaking.

The tent was quiet for a moment.

Then Patriarch Ren laughed.

It wasn’t the lecherous laugh he’d had when competing for the medicinal herb earlier.

It was a hearty laugh, as if he had been holding it in for a long time and could finally show off.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"I've been holding that in for too long!"

He took a step forward.

The aura of the Void Traveling Realm late stage suddenly exploded and surged.

Void Traveling Realm peak.

Half-step Martial God.

Then he crossed that invisible threshold.

Boom!

Terrifying blood energy shot straight into the sky.

The formation above the tent shook violently.

A massive shadow materialized behind him, towering like an ancient war god.

Demi-God Realm!

That is, the extreme pinnacle of the Half-step Martial God, just one line away from true recognition by heaven.

The faces of everyone in the tent changed drastically.

"Old ghost Ren, you..."

"Weren't you at the Void Traveling Realm late stage?"

Patriarch Ren stroked his beard, smiling benevolently. "Did I ever say that?"

Everyone was left speechless.

Indeed, he had never actually said it.

They had just all assumed.

Beside Patriarch Ren, Ren Mingyue's eyes went wide.

"Great-grandfather?"

Patriarch Ren turned around and patted her shoulder affectionately.

"Don’t be scared, my dear great-granddaughter."

"Your grandfather has been saving up five hundred years of cultivation, plus one healing pill from that Wang kid, and finally broke through to the Demi-God Realm."

"I was planning to keep this cultivation as your dowry to show off."

Ren Mingyue had no time to be moved.

Patriarch Ren’s next words came.

"But that kid Wang Hao gave too much."

"He said if we destroy the Divination Pavilion, he'll make the Ren family the hereditary Grand Protector of the Western Regions Protectorate."

Ren Mingyue: "..."

The emotion on her face shattered into dust.

So it wasn’t for her sake after all.

It was for territory.

Xiao Chen listened, his mouth twitching.

"Selling a great-granddaughter and still managing to turn it into a strategic negotiation."

Ye Guyun muttered, "Family tradition. They're meticulous in their calculations."

Wanyan Gu looked on with deep respect.

"I need to learn this."

Qin Hongye said coldly, "You're already pretty good at it."

After Patriarch Ren came Li Changgeng, the old master of the Li family in the Southeast.

He looked like an ordinary rich old man walking birds and sipping tea, a genial smile glued to his face.

But the moment he put down his teacup, his entire aura suddenly shifted.

Boom!

Another Demi-God-level aura shot into the sky.

"Li Changgeng!"

"You hid it too?"

Old Master Li chuckled amiably.

"When you’re out in the world, don’t flaunt your wealth, and the same goes for cultivation."

"Please, everyone, do understand."

Everyone: "..."

Unable to understand.

Completely unable to understand.

Then, a middle-aged Taoist carrying an ancient sword, who had been sitting in a corner with his eyes closed in meditation, opened them.

The Master of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

A giant of the sword path who had supposedly been in seclusion for a hundred years.

He stood up without any extra movement.

His ancient sword just trembled gently.

In an instant, every sword within the tent hummed softly in response.

Even Xiao Chen’s sword almost leaped from its sheath.

A Demi-God Realm sword cultivator!

The crowd’s scalps tingled.

Sword cultivators were already terrifyingly lethal.

A Demi-God Realm sword cultivator was the ceiling of killing power.

New Emperor Sword’s eyes lit up.

"This one’s good."

"I’ll have a fight with him sometime."

Wang Hao said flatly, "You can’t win."

New Emperor Sword refused to accept it.

"I can use smack talk."

Wang Hao: "He might sew your mouth shut."

New Emperor Sword thought it over seriously.

"Then I’ll respect my elders and love the young."