Star Gate

Li Hao frowned. “I stand a chance of finding my way back if I leave a treasure behind…”

“There’s too many accidental factors with that. Although there are successful cases, why take the risk in this exact instance? Are you looking for more uncertain elements? Is your teacher not willing to expend the slightest effort on your behalf?”

Li Hao cursed to himself. That wasn’t what he was saying! It was impossible to communicate with this guy. There were countless powerhouses here and quite a few Saints. Although his teacher’s strength had improved recently, Li Hao estimated it to be six elements at most. It certainly hadn’t reached seven elements. That would make Yuan Shuo cannon fodder here!

The young man didn’t want anyone to be taking a risk in coming to the mine. As for the powerhouses already here, it was quid pro quo. He’d hired them…

“Is there a deciding factor by when I should make my move?” Li Hao set his jaw as thoughts ran wildly through his mind.

“You can determine that yourself,” the Black Armor said faintly. “A new enemy suddenly appearing from an unknown source, deploying the strength of an Apex through a formidable Stellaris… The gap between you and an Immortal or even Saint is not that great in this age that lacks core origin.

“The greatest difference is found with your physical bodies. However, the enemy is just mental strength. When it comes to you, you are a grave threat to purely mental existences! Your aura is directly attack core origin, a detail that makes this age different. Back in the day, only core origin could damage the core origin of powerhouses. The aura seems to ignore all of this…”

Li Hao took a deep breath and said no more, swiftly passing messages through his tattered golden armor.

……

Manager Yu was on duty and rushed out of the ruins as soon as she received word, passing it along.

“The commander has given orders for Yuan Shuo’s swift return! He is to aid the commander in eliminating strong enemies! Chen Yao and Kong Jie of the Inspectorate are to head to the Ministry of Armed Forces to keep it in order!”

……

The Inspectorate.

Chen Yao was enjoying the show when he suddenly obtained word from Kong Jie.

“Upstairs has given word for the two of us to suppress Qi Dinghai in Yuan Shuo’s stead. Do you have any objections?”

“The two… of us?” Chen Yao blinked.

“Quickly now!” Kong Jie answered brusquely, then grinned. “How nice!”

He could finally come off the benches on the sidelines. Chen Yao hesitated, then smiled as well.

“Indeed, this is very nice!” He’d been envious of the Silver Moon martial masters suppressing the four corners and demonstrating their might to the public. But now that he thought about it, he wasn’t the strongest.

And yet, was Qi Dinghai stronger than him? Chen Yao was a second generation minister as well, why was he afraid of Qi Dinghai? His old man had said that he was less than Qi Dinghai and Zhao Huaimin. Pfft, his old man only knew to lift others up and put down his own!

Two figures dashed out of the Inspectorate.

Over at Armed Forces, Yuan Shuo frowned and glanced at Jadelight Sword. “I’m going back for a bit. Chen Yao and Kong Jie will be taking my place. Be careful!”

Jadelight inclined her head.

Yuan Shuo swiftly departed his post near the ruin entrance, ignoring Qi Dinghai looking at him. He addressed Yuan Xingwu not too far away, “As your teacher, I will give you a way out. Leave this place now and take control of the eight hundred thousand troops of the Skystar Army camped outside the city. Ensure that they do not rise up and cause any disturbances. You will stand a chance for mercy. Otherwise, once the royal family and nine ministries are eliminated, there will be rivers of blood if the army chooses to agitate then!”

He left without a glance back.

“Yuan Shuo, you think too highly of the Skystar Commander Office and of Silver Moon!” Qi Dinghai frowned.

Yuan Shuo sneered and whirled around with a punch! A ferocious tiger flung its head back at the heavens!

Boom!

Qi Dinghai flew backward, blood welling up in his mouth and shock filling his eyes.

“Have your father say these words to me, you are not qualified to!” Yuan Shuo regarded him frostily. “Your father tried to assassinate me when I came to Skystar City thirty years ago. My master defeated him. When your mother exchanged blows with me, I heavily injured her with one punch. What the hell were you worth then??”

Qi Dinghai’s expression shifted and he growled, “You… were the one who attacked my mother thirty years ago?!”

“No, it was your Qi family that attacked me and was defeated in return!” Yuan Shuo snorted with utmost arrogance. “I can’t be bothered with those in the military. I came to Skystar only to search for my dao. I didn’t care about your silly little matters. If it wasn’t for Zhao Tianyang putting in a showing that day, I would’ve sought revenge on your entire family!

“If it wasn’t for your father’s generation trying to keep me in place with their authority, I would’ve swept through Skystar’s martial world long ago! There would be no place for you guys to strut around like this!”

Kong Jie and Chen Yao arrived at this point.

“Execute this guy on the spot if he so much as puts a toe out of line.” Yuan Shuo rolled his eyes. “He’s been an eyesore for the longest time!”

He rose into the air and swiftly flew away, leaving Chen Yao awkwardly rubbing his nose. Why did that… seem to include me as well? He smiled radiantly at Qi Dinghai as the man rose to his feet.

“Don’t mind that, Brother Dinghai. Yuan Shuo’s too full of himself, I’m not as arrogant as him. I’ve come to check in on my good brother, nothing else. Everything will be over after the registration list is complete. My old man’s always said that I’m less than you, so please don’t provoke me, Brother Dinghai. Otherwise… I’ll want to see just how I am less than you!”

Qi Dinghai looked coldly at Chen Yao. As fellow second generation ministers, the nine of them were playmates when young. They’d terrorized the streets of Skystar City together and shared such a wonderful childhood. The nine of them were fast friends back in the day; everything changed when they became ministers.

Hence, Qi Dinghai couldn’t abide the sight of Chen Yao lording it over him. “Uncle Chen has always been opportunistic. I hope he isn’t disappointed this time!”

“How would he be?” chuckled Chen Yao. “Brother Dinghai, we’re old friends and brothers who went to the brothels together. Be nice to me!” His laughter echoed throughout Armed Forces. “Stop provoking me, eh? We did a lot of things together back in the day. You’ll lose a lot of face if you force me to speak of them!”

Qi Dinghai’s face flickered through a variety of changes; he decided to ignore Chen Yao. This was someone just like his father—utterly shameless! He’d thought nothing of anything when they were frivolous youngsters. Now that they were older, the others wouldn’t speak of their prior escapades out of consideration for their dignity, but this unrepentant guy would truly go around and make it widely known everywhere.

At the moment, his questions were—where had Yuan Shuo gone? What was he doing back at the Skystar Commander Office? And where was Li Hao?

Yuan Shuo was also very strong; his physical body was domineeringly strong! Qi Dinghai had sensed it when the old man defeated him with one punch. Yuan Shuo’s body was so strong that it was much greater than regular martial masters’. How had he done it?

……

At the same time.

Yuan Shuo swiftly returned to the Skystar Commander Office and entered the ruins with a smile. Damn if it didn’t feel good! The kid still had to depend on him when push came to shove!

As expected, I’m the one he trusts the most and the strongest! Look at people like Zhou Chuan and Hong Yitang—they’re all sitting outside! It’s only minor scuffles taking place outside. What happens inside determines who is the victor.

Li Hao didn’t ask for any of them, just me. Yuan Shuo mused with satisfaction at how the previous operations against the City of Supernaturals and Wind and Cloud Pavilion were just minor matters. The battle here would determine the future of the nine ministries and Skystar Commander Office.

And here I am!

Yuan Shuo flew very swiftly toward the ball of light and quickly landed on the ground.

“Teacher, you only have one mission,” Li Hao immediately explained when he saw the old man. “Senior Black Armor wants teacher to pull me out when I need to appear on the battlefield. Stay far away at all other times!”

Yuan Shuo’s mouth dropped.

“We’re going up against a Saint and you’re too weak,” Li Hao said brusquely. “He’ll blow you to death with one exhale. Don’t insist on putting yourself in danger. Teacher will have succeeded when you pull me out at the critical moment!”

“……” Fuck! Yuan Shuo cursed to himself. And I was in such high spirits for so long! This is what I’m here for?? You little bastard!

“Fine!” he responded shortly with a frozen look on his face. It was a short response compared to the hefty round of cursing he was delivering internally. A Saint… forget all of my previous thoughts.

The Black Armor smiled at Yuan Shuo when he saw the man. The two had never met before, but now that they did, the Black Armor said meaningfully, “Heaven may not favor one person alone. Melding five auras together and grasping the aura of heaven and earth, and for a while by the looks of it… The master of the world does not need to be Li Hao.”

“The senior praises me unduly.” Yuan Shuo grinned after flicking a look at the Black Armor. “Of course I’m stronger than my disciple, but what the hell is a master of the world worth? I like answering to know one and beating opponents to death with a punch. The same goes for anyone, whether friend or foe. People say that I am a lone wolf, that not even the heavens can corral me!”

The Black Armor blinked and had no response to that. A lone wolf? Perhaps!

People like Yuan Shuo walked with a certain charisma. Another person came to mind—solitary, selfish, bold, arrogant, and ruthless. Such had been Exalted Emperor Qin of the New Martial Era.

The Black Armor was momentarily lost in thought before abruptly waving his hand. He melted the durable ground, quickly bringing an edge of light into view. One hand seal later saw the boundary of the formation begin to melt as well.

“Go on in. As powerhouses, digging holes is a must. Those who do not know how to perforate formations are not true heavyweights!” The Black Armor’s words were at odds with his usual character. Li Hao wasn’t sure how to respond, but Director General Wang nodded rapidly with enthusiasm. There was nothing wrong with that!

A powerhouse that did not know how to dig a hole wasn’t worth their salt. Supreme Zhang of Capital Martial once even traveled to Demonic Martial to learn the skill from the Human King! A year later, he popularized the skill in Capital Martial and focused his efforts on digging holes to mines. It was a skill that many exalted emperors held in high esteem.

Li Hao blinked, at a loss. The heck? Who says that powerhouses need to know how to dig holes?

And who would’ve thought that his master would be nodding next to him as well, seeming to very much agree with the Black Armor? “There’s nothing wrong with what he’s saying,” he transmitted when Li Hao looked over. “Someone who can dig holes is the truest powerhouse!”

Aha! That’s right, my master is the biggest tomb raider of this age. Of course he would know this skill!

Li Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Fine fine, whatever you guys say is right. He took a deep breath when he burrowed into the ground and summoned the ferocious tiger. Darting into the creature, he looked at his teacher.

“Take Stellaris with you,” Yuan Shuo transmitted. “I have the stone blade and will use it to pave the way back. The five auras will be the catalyst!”

Only through absolute trust could Li Hao enter the unknown dimension again without any preparation. Yuan Shuo took a deep breath and spat out a mouthful of glittering blood, branding Li Hao with it.

“Go on, then!”

Li Hao said nothing else before vanishing on the spot. The Black Armor looked at where he’d been. His eyes twinkled as he wondered—the secondary dimension? The great dao universe of this age? How… extraordinary!

etvolare’s Thoughts

So digging holes is a noble skill to have, lol. NECRO’s tomb raiders must’ve descended from them somewhere down the line.