Star Gate

“First, these plant spirits have consumed a great deal of indestructible matter over the years. They’re empty husks!” explained the Ninth Division leader. “Second, I was a peak Immortal, they were just mid or initial Immortal. There is a great difference between the two. Third, they are plant spirits and I am human—one of the elite generals of the human race. The methods I cultivate are far more sophisticated than theirs and the indestructible material I gather is of much higher quality.

“Fourth…” he paused. “My mental strength is far stronger. Ten plant spirits is just my estimate, it might take far more than that!”

“……” Li Hao gaped with amazement.

The Ninth Division leader laughed at his expression, but his mirth was concealed by the golden armor. Are you done with your loud and empty talk yet? What, have you accidentally killed another Immortal plant spirit and brought it to revitalize me, so that I’ll work on your behalf?

What is brewing in your mind!

Everyone could see the inklings of Li Hao’s plotting and wanted to laugh. Meanwhile, the young man’s head throbbed and he suddenly looked at Director General Wang. “Will… the director general need that many? You’re just an initial Immortal.”

“Just listen to yourself!” laughed Director General Wang. “I don’t need that many as I’m a bit weaker than him and my mental strength isn’t as strong. I stand a chance of revitalization with just five plant spirits…

“One Immortal plant spirit alone is difficult to revive a human with.” The director general was delighted that Li Hao had run into a wall. “It can awaken a plant spirit without issue because their primary bodies are still present. It can also revitalize the troop leaders, it’s just that ours…”

The man shook his head with a sigh. “They’ve become weapon souls. It might’ve been possible a while ago, but it will be an enormous hassle now.”

Li Hao was very conflicted. Why!! He was very unwilling to accept that Director General Wang was the only option. The Ninth Division leader was stronger and constantly bullied Li Hao. The commander would have to be Li Hao’s minion after he was resurrected, or face being shredded by the void.

But now, this plan was unviable!

You’re just an Immortal, but you need ten Immortal corpses to have a hope of revival. What’s with you?? Li Hao ran through every single swear word he knew. As for resurrecting Director General Wang… this one… wasn’t strong. He was just an initial Immortal, but it took five powerful plant spirits for him all the same. What the heck?

Should I say it? But I suddenly don’t want to say it anymore. How about… I say that I don’t have it?

He’d brimmed with ambition before, but was suddenly very depressed. Well, Director General Wang wasn’t that bad. He was a friendly guy, at the very least.

“Is this all you’ve summoned an emergency meeting for?” The Ninth Division leader grew impatient.

“Of course not!” Li Hao snorted reflexively. “I called this meeting to discuss the future of Battle Heaven. How is the Ninth Division leader to lead the army with this demonstration of impatience? Is a lack of patience the character of an army commander??”

“……” The Ninth Division leader blinked. Li Hao inwardly cringed, ready to be beaten up. Who would’ve thought that the commander would incline his head after a moment of contemplation? “It would seem that death does still affect us somewhat. It is difficult to repress the rampaging of our mental strength. It might also have to do with you since I am irritated by the very sight of you. You speak correctly, a soldier should not be thus.”

“……”

I thought you were going to beat me up again. Li Hao was delighted that the Ninth Division leader hadn’t lost his temper. He was also resolved of his inner turmoil. “I will lead my men into the face of death for the future of Battle Heaven! My only hope is for the city to stand proudly over Silver Moon Territory once more!

“Therefore, I am making a decision today that I will resurrect Director General Wang. He will be able to walk out of the city and stand side by side with me. Let us fight together for a brighter future, to walk out of the Star Gate, and to return to the main world! This is for New Martial, for the Human King, and for the people!”

The trunks of five Immortal plant spirits appeared at the end of his declaration. A pin drop could be heard in the quiet great hall as everyone stared at the new items. Even Director General Wang was stunned. Five plant spirits?

Where had they come from? Hadn’t Li Hao only left for a few days?

The Ninth Division leader was likewise surprised and didn’t say a word. The old turtle and General Pagoda looked at each other, also silent.

Zhang Liang swallowed hard and muttered inaudibly, “I can be resurrected as well.”

Why does no one mention me? As the deputy commissioner of Military Supplies, he’d had some strength to his name back in the day. How else would he be in his position otherwise? Although he wasn’t an Immortal, he was a peak Apex who wasn’t necessarily weaker than Ole Wang.

Meanwhile, Director General Wang was shocked senseless. What did the young man mean by this?

“Director General Wang, as one of the surviving leaders of Battle Heaven, you have a duty and obligation to exert yourself on behalf of the city!” Li Hao declared. “The outside world is dangerous, but I’ll be able to protect you and prevent you from being severed by the void. Of course, there will be restrictions in the sense of not being able to stray too far from me. That is unavoidable.

“Although some of your personal freedom will be curtailed, only in this way do we have a hope of restoring Battle Heaven to its former glory! There are too many strong enemies at large these days. I am spread thin by myself in the outside world!

“Of course, we will set the matter aside if Director General Wang is unwilling. I happen to know a powerhouse of the Zhao main city as well. I can resurrect a human from them to fight for the future of humanity…

“General.” Li Hao looked at the pagoda tree. “It isn’t that Li Hao is unwilling to revive plant spirits, but that for one, their primary bodies are still intact. For two, I also have some plans to shift some auxiliary generals to Skystar Island. I killed six Immortal plant spirits, resulting in abundant energy on the island. That leaves space for some auxiliary generals to devour their own energy and decrease the drain on the general as much as possible.”

The thought moved General Pagoda. It was very hard to absorb energy in Silver Moon as its descendants could hardly outcompete those old plants. If they were transplanted to Skystar Island… while it might not be as safe as the province, that would indeed result in more hope. Revitalization on their own was just as good.

The general didn’t say anything and simply nodded. These five plant spirit corpses could also be used to resurrect five plant spirits. As for why Li Hao didn’t do so… it was well aware of the reasons why. It still didn’t say anything as exposing everything underneath the sun wasn’t a good idea.

A certain degree of caution was a necessity.

The group had sunk into deep contemplation as they stared at the five trunks.

“How… did you do it?” Director General Wang asked with difficulty after a while. Killing one might be luck, but so many… was a very difficult undertaking. That required true strength!

“Hard won fights and great effort!” Li Hao declared. “Bravely forging forward in the face of death and not being afraid to put our lives on the line. What is death in the face of needing to return to the main world and to protect life itself?”

“……” You say that like you actually mean it.

“Is Director General Wang afraid of a difficult path ahead?” asked the young man.

“You don’t need to try to get a rise out of me…”

“This is a military meeting, I’m not trying to randomly provoke a reaction!” Li Hao retorted hotly. “I ask you, are you confident in recovering your physical body? Are you confident in fighting by my side? If not, we can forget about this. This is a chance that was obtained through high sacrifice and the lives of countless people. It is not a joke. As part of the senior officers of Battle Heaven, does Director General Wang realize what you’re saying?”

“……” The director general coughed gently. “I made too light of this action, my apologies.”

Li Hao nodded with satisfaction. “That is good. Then I ask again, is the director general willing to be revived?”

Director General Wang was conflicted himself and thought for a moment. “I am! I will fight for New Martial and humanity! I will not shy away from duty since you have selected me. There is no sense in asking a young man not of New Martial to sacrifice and fight for us. Those of New Martial can save ourselves!

“Everyone, since the Eleventh Division leader has brought back these items, I will take the first step to recover my body and march upon the cosmos again. Those of Battle Heaven will once more set foot into the universe!”

He reached out and grabbed for the five plant spirit corpses! Li Hao halted him with a cough.

“Is it true that you also need a lot of Water of Life to complete the task?”

Director General Wang started and nodded. “That’s right. Indestructible matter is one ingredient, as is Water of Life also critical.”

“How much do you need?” Director General Wang thought for a moment and carefully said, “I am an Immortal. If I am to recover that level of body… then I need at least ten thousand drops.”

You have that amount. You just took ten thousand drops a few days ago.

“So many resources just for an initial Immortal?” Li Hao took a deep breath. “I can revive plenty of plant spirits with that amount.”

“……” Director General Wang was quite resigned. I’m full of heroic valor, but you’re talking money! You’re the one who wanted to resurrect a human, not me. “Well… humans are very strong. We can go one against three, isn’t that something!”

“……” It was still a lousy bargain. Li Hao glanced at General Pagoda; the tree’s projection turned away. Don’t look at me, I don’t have any. I’m really, really poor right now.

“Then… can I be promoted after resurrecting Director General Wang?”

“……” The Ninth Division leader snapped irritably, “What do you have filling your brains?? You are already a division leader. Do you want to become a reserve commander?”

Dream on!

Li Hao was speechless. I really expended a lot of effort for this!

“Um… how about we forget it?” Director General Wang felt compelled to say.

“No, since when do I give up halfway?” Li Hao was slightly regretful and only hoped that resurrecting the director general wouldn’t be a losing proposition. This one… would help him earn back this investment in the outside world, right? He would as soon as they killed a few plant spirits.

The young man sighed and took out a large water jug, pouring out roughly ten thousand drops. He looked at Director General Wang with reluctance. “I earned this in the outside world after risking my life a few times…”

What he’d gained from Battle Heaven might not measure up to this amount. Li Hao suddenly felt that he’d always been supporting the ancient city. Woe was he! Although Battle Heaven had also given him some items in return, it didn’t feel like a good trade.

Forget it, he would view it as an investment. Indeed, an investment. To outsiders, it appeared that Battle Heaven invested in Li Hao. It was the exact opposite to the young man. He was the one investing in the ancient city and no one knew how much he’d poured into Battle Heaven.