Star Gate

The guards outside the door were on high alert. They didn’t know what these newcomers wanted. Although their duties called for expelling trespassers, danger prickled their backs whenever they thought of taking action.

A figure rushed to the scene just as they hesitated. The guards hastily bowed. “City lord!”

Lin Hongyu inclined her head at them and looked outside the door, recognizing Li Hao with a single glance. It was Chen Zhongtian who posed an unknown to her. Who was this? Her expression slowly changed when she took stock of his strength. This man could absolutely hold his own against her!

He wasn’t a Silver Moon martial master, but he felt very strong. He had to be at least a peak six elements. Peak six elements… Lin Hongyu quickly flipped through the names on the Arcanus Ranking, suddenly thinking of someone after a very long time.

Surely not!! Chen Zhongtian?? Is it him?!

She’d never seen a young Chen Zhongtian, but she’d met an old Chen Zhongtian before. If she compared this youthful face to the one she knew… there was indeed a resemblance between the two.

Lin Hongyu’s gaze then traveled to the two standing behind Li Hao. She couldn’t read anything from them, but they didn’t seem to be alive. As for the horse next to the young man… An ugly horse… It’s probably that dog?

All of this quickly flashed through her mind as she collected herself. “Welcome…” She smiled at the group, not sure of how to address them. They were so audacious that they’d presented themselves at her front door!

“Just call me Brother Demon, don’t be shy!”

“……” Lin Hongyu stared, then quickly squeezed out a smile. “Brother… Brother Demon? Please come on in, I thought you guys would arrive tomorrow…”

“We just arrived. Today or tomorrow, it’s all the same.” Li Hao walked straight in, the others were close behind him.

A group of old men stormed over from not too far away. The one in the lead declared angrily, “Hongyu, you are—”

Boom!

A surge of aura erupted as Lin Hongyu’s eyes narrowed. “Get out of my sight! Old things that take advantage of your seniority, don’t you see that I’m entertaining guests? Make yourselves scarce!”

Her sudden flaring of temper shocked the old men. They glanced at Li Hao before quickly running off, for no reason other than Lin Hongyu was overflowing with killing intent. The family genius rarely lost her temper. Today, however, she looked ready to kill at a moment’s notice. Stunned, they also found it bizarre that she was suddenly entertaining guests. Who were these people?

“My apologies for the ludicrous showing!” Lin Hongyu retracted her aura. “My family’s elders have gone muddleheaded in their seniority. I can’t be bothered with them normally, which has given them leeway to become even worse.”

“This rather changes my view of you,” Li Hao smiled. “You’ve certainly got some skill to become city lord with these useless lumps dragging you down!”

“Strength is king!” Lin Hongyu smiled as she led them to the rear yard. “Of course, sometimes I am envious of others, such as… Brother Demon here. You have people helping you every time something happens.”

“That’s true.” Li Hao nodded. Silver Moon’s martial culture was decent. At the very least, they were all a loyal bunch.

“Is this all of you that’s come?” the city lord asked as they walked. This was too little!

“We have more.”

“That’s good.” Lin Hongyu relaxed slightly. “Then how would Brother Demon like to act tomorrow? What is the plan?”

“How to act? Plan?” Li Hao blinked. “It’s very simple. I’ll seal off the four corners when the people arrive and kill everyone who won’t submit, makes trouble, or should die. Those who listen can stay. How’s that?”

“……” Lin Hongyu was too stunned for words. Was that it? “There really might be almost one hundred Arcanus tomorrow. My thoughts are that I can raise the matter of partnership with the commander when the meeting starts. There ought to be people who support the idea. We can bring that portion of people to our side first, then I’ll make the first move. The commander can take your time and wait for me to hold the higher ground before striking…”

“That’s too much of a hassle!” Li Hao shook his head.

“……” Lin Hongyu nearly burst out with curses. I know you’re strong, but look at the number of people you’ve brought with you! Once those powerhouses utilize the ultimate weapons of their families, three of them together might be the equivalent of a seven element Arcanus! Do you really think that you’re invincible??

It’s only because I don’t wield my family’s weapon myself that I’m afraid of you. I wouldn’t think much of you if I did! I thought you were here early to discuss a plan with me and that you’d come fully prepared. So you’re just here to put in a showing??

Although she bitterly groused to herself, the smile remained on her face and her movements were natural and unfettered.

“Why complicate matters that are simple?” Li Hao smiled, like he knew she was cursing him. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right by your side tomorrow. Just tell me who needs to go—I’ll kill those first to intimidate everyone, then take care of the rest one by one…”

“No, I mean…”

“Why join my banner if you lack such confidence in me?” Li Hao looked at her.

“It’s not that, but that there really will be a lot of powerhouses this time!” Lin Hongyu furrowed her brows.

“I know!” Li Hao nodded. “Then is my force of 7 six element Arcanus and 3 seven element Arcanus sufficient to set you at ease?”

Lin Hongyu blinked.

“Of the six elements, more than half are peak six elements, so they can just manage to hold their own against a seven element Arcanus. Do you think that’s sufficient? If not, there’s still time. I can get more people to come.”

Lin Hongyu was tongue-tied now. Are you joking with me?

A faint tendril of core origin wafted from her body as another voice spoke up, “Commander Li… is truly… full of surprises!”

“My apologies for killing one of senior’s replicas earlier,” Li Hao smiled without skipping a beat. “The senior’s strength exceeds my expectations as well. Having lost one Apex replica, you have coalesced another near-Apex so quickly. You must be a titan among Immortals.”

A personal domain manifested, isolating the vicinity from heaven and earth. The redwood tree’s replica quickly sensed some pressure.

“You praise me too highly,” it quickly said. “It’s just… the two behind Commander Li…”

“Students of Evenround Martial University.”

“I see!” The redwood tree seemed to understand the ramifications as humility crept into its voice. “Greetings to… the two imperial descendants.”

The robot cats couldn’t be bothered to respond. They didn’t like that moniker, but some monster spirits liked to call them that. It was difficult to correct them otherwise, but normally speaking, they ignored the moniker.

The redwood tree didn’t mind their reactions—or perhaps it was used to such responses from back in the day.

“In that case, there is nothing to be worried about,” the tree said to Lin Hongyu. “There shouldn’t be a problem with the two imperial descendants present.”

The backgrounds of those from Evenround Martial were incredibly lofty. Even if these two didn’t appear out of the ordinary now, they were sure to be uncommon.

“Please don’t say that, senior,” laughed Li Hao. “We might need a great deal of help from the senior tomorrow.”

“Not at all, this old tree has the will, but lacks the strength to…”

“Surely not!” Li Hao chuckled. “I’m going to eliminate the primary bodies of their plant spirits after we take care of these people tomorrow. Attack with me to exterminate them by the roots!”

“……” The redwood tree froze.

“The senior’s primary body is very strong. I’ll seal off the area with my personal domain so that core origin does not leak out. We won’t go too far—most likely just staying in the inner city. We’ll enter the ruins and kill their primary bodies. The senior will receive core origin and we’ll be able to eradicate our enemies down to the last. Whyever not?”

The redwood tree nearly choked on its response! I thought I wouldn’t need to do anything, but you’re planning on killing the plant spirits’ primary bodies!

“What does… the senior think?” Li Hao grinned widely, then continued when the redwood tree stopped to think things over. “It’s fine if the senior isn’t willing, I’ll come back and take care of them later. But… once you miss this opportunity, the senior likely won’t have a chance to swallow this much core origin in the future!

“There are plenty who wish to be a part of operations like these! My thoughts are that the plant spirits of the other eleven are likely mediocre and weaker than the senior. This is why there’s a chance for the senior!”

The redwood tree sank into deep thought before saying, “These… those fellow daoists are old acquaintances of mine. We are all familiar with each other…”

“Then forget it!”

“No! I mean to say that their existence is too painful, that they struggle on the verge of life and death. I will… free them of their misery!”

Lin Hongyu’s jaw dropped! Were these the words from the timid and cautious redwood tree that she knew??

The plant spirit plainly had its own plans in mind. Its current thoughts were that two imperial descendants from Evenround Martial were present for meeting, guaranteeing their success. There might really be no chance for it in the future if it didn’t participate. In that case… it would take the gamble!

The young man in front of it was terrifying. Just his personal domain alone might result in changes to this world. In this moment, the redwood tree truly felt that Lin Hongyu had made the right choice. If they’d persisted in their resistance, great misfortune might’ve befallen them. Who would’ve thought that Lin Hongyu would have this kind of eye for talent?

The young man was supported by powerful backers in the form of Battle Heaven and Evenround Martial University. The redwood tree quickly came to the conclusion that, as opposed to permitting other plant spirits to benefit, why doesn’t it reap the harvest instead?

Lin Hongyu was also stunned beyond belief. She hadn’t thought that the redwood would capitulate so quickly. Hadn’t it blustered up a storm before?

Despite her inner sarcasm, she quickly flashed a smile. “Then… I wish us success tomorrow!”

“It will succeed,” Li Hao smiled. “If it doesn’t, then it will be the city lord who leaked word ahead of time.”

“……” What was she supposed to say to that?

etvolare’s Thoughts

I feel like these guys will so easily turn on Li Hao though.