Star Gate

“Why does it still consume so many resources for me to utilize the imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud?” The pavilion master changed the topic with a frown. “My memories tell me that it should deplete very few resources…”

“Pavilion master… there is an owner of the imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud,” the white tree said softly.

“And am I not the owner?” The pavilion master grew irate.

The white tree didn’t respond, taking a moment to say slowly, “You reincarnated once, after all, and need some time to get used to your new body…”

“Hmph!” The pavilion master was highly dissatisfied. This is mine! Although it belonged to the prior me, it’s still mine. It was highly aggravating that it would cost so much for him to use again. Otherwise, he would want to scan the land once a day to suit his preferences.

It cost several million stones per instance at the moment; the reserves in the city were almost empty.

“I’m heading out… preferably to Skystar Town,” the man said with a frown. “The energy reserves in the city are almost empty. This trash only knew to consume resources over the years. I’m going to the mine to extract some energy back…”

The white tree was at a loss. How could the man entertain these thoughts now?

“It’s best not to, pavilion master. The void is unstable at the moment…”

“I know, but with the treasure imitation present, how can mere void incisions harm this seat?”

“The imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud is not fully melded with the pavilion master yet…” The white tree tried to speak some sense into the man.

“This again!” These words grated on the ear. Not fully melded! My own treasure not being a perfect match for me would be an absolute joke if word of this gets out!

“Please don’t be in a hurry,” the white tree continued. “Once the world stabilizes, your strength will erupt once again. Neither Li Hao nor Red Moon will be a concern for you then.

“Apart from a few in Evenround Martial University, there is no one else in Silver Moon Territory who is as noble as the pavilion master…”

“Are they worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me?!” the young man interrupted irritably. “Are their families as powerful as my family?? I am a Hong! A family that produced four emperors! Even the Li family of Tranquil Star is less than my Hong family! Not even the Fangs would’ve become the masters of the world if it wasn’t for my family’s aid…”

“Please be careful of your speech, pavilion master!” The white tree trembled.

“What are you afraid of?” Despite the bluster, the pavilion master was momentarily afraid as well, until he thought of something with a sneer. “This is no longer New Martial, what are you afraid of? Not to mention, don’t I speak the truth?”

In New Martial, it was the four emperors of his family that went to their deaths together to facilitate the glories of the age. It would not have been such a prosperous era otherwise. Therefore, he thought nothing of the Lis and Jiangs of Tranquil Star.

The white tree didn’t say anything. It was finding more and more that perhaps… something had gone awry with the pavilion master’s reincarnation. He shouldn’t have reincarnated. He wouldn’t be thus even in the form of lingering mental strength. The master had… changed.

Such were the drawbacks of reincarnation. Although there were advantages, the problems were also severe. The pavilion master was openly sneering at the Human King!

This was a complete death wish!

Had New Martial completely fallen apart?

The white tree didn’t think so. Perhaps the great distance made it hard for certain things to be detected, but once energy flowed freely again, these words might be sensed by another. By then, it was one thing if the pavilion master was sentenced to death for his impudence—all of the Hongs might be impacted as well.

The Human King was not someone to provoke. One could even curse the Hong patriarch to his face, but had to be exceedingly careful when gossiping about the Human King behind his back. If angered, he would execute even the four emperors in his rage!

Of course, that shouldn’t be the case. But the pavilion master’s own family would have to kill him for such words.

The white tree grew ever more resigned. Some words were better off left unsaid. The pavilion master was the true master of this place, the tree was just a guardian of the city. Its first mission was to protect this one and nothing else.

Thankfully, the pavilion master didn’t say anything else as he was also slightly wary of potential repercussions. Though he snorted otherwise, he regretted his words after saying them. Short-tempered and uneasy, he couldn’t be bothered to discuss this further with the tree. He’d been out of sorts lately.

“Revered White, give me one thousand drops of life essence. I need to cultivate for a few days!”

“Pavilion master…”

“Hurry up, I’ll compensate you after I take over the mine!”

“Understood.” The white tree sighed to itself and coalesced drops of Water of Life. Its inner body was already a bit dry. The city’s reserves were almost out. Their pavilion master consumed this resource too quickly and sometimes spent it much too extravagantly.

In times past, he had many Saint-level plant spirits beneath his banner. Everyone showed him face. But now? He was still this spendthrift despite the change in times. Just random showings of favor alone were sometimes dozens, if not one hundred drops. How would that not deplete their stores?

As the pavilion master walked off, an aged face appeared on the white tree. It looked around with a sigh. Its old friends had been emptied over the years and fallen silent. That was the same fate lying in store for it if this continued. Their income did not cover their expenses! And they could not refuse to supply the life essence.

I really hope that the pavilion master recovers sooner rather than later. How can success be at hand in a situation like this? The reincarnation that he planned so much for will be more of a loss than a gain then.

……

In the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, the white tree hoped for its master to grow more mature.

In Skystar City.

Li Hao frowned and swept a glance in the four corners. This was odd. Whether it was the Ministry of Armed Forces or Administration, a certain oppressive atmosphere emanated from them. They weren’t located far from the Skystar Commander Office and their people were present at their desks, but there seemed to be a constant coming and going from the ruins. What was going on?

He could also sense the presence of life. Someone was using large quantities of Water of Life!

Inside Skystar Commander Office.

Director General Wang happily sprawled on a chair, a braised chicken leg in his left hand and a roasted duck leg in his right. Li Hao frowned at him. There was… really… nothing he could say about the man. There were also two puppets drooling next to him, quite envious of the director general!

“I didn’t think I’d bump into you two here,” smiled the director general. “It’s been such a long time! How are your parents? Do you want a bite? Have Li Hao prepare some for you, they taste really good…”

Jiang Yingli’s nose twitched. Well, the puppet’s noses wouldn’t twitch, but Li Hao seemed to hear a sniffing sound.

“It smells so good!”

“Doesn’t it? It’s nice to take a sniff even if you can’t eat it.” Director General Wang ate with such gusto that there was grease smeared around his mouth. “How is your dean doing?”

“Very well!” the two puppets answered half-heartedly. Who knew if he was doing well? The teacher wouldn’t tell them the truth. They weren’t familiar with this Director General Wang, but showed him a friendlier face since they’d met him before.

“Then you need to coordinate well with Li Hao and kill more plant spirits.” The director general laughed as he ate. “Collecting more energy might help you resurrect your teacher. You’ll be able to eat whatever you want then.”

“Teacher is very strong, he’s different from Director General Wang. The director general is too weak and easily revived, it will be very hard for the teacher…” Li Shengzhang answered quite matter-of-factly, nearly causing the director general to choke on his food.

She spoke the truth, so he coughed with great resignation. “That may not be the case either. I remember that your teacher ultimately didn’t set foot into the Empyrean King level? Then that makes things easy…”

What are you guys showing off for? He’s so much older than us that he’s practically of the previous generation. Of course he should be a Saint. He has the protection of the Human King’s younger sister but still didn’t make it to Empyrean King…

“You don’t need to say that to us,” said Jiang Yingli. “You can say that to teacher himself. He’ll make sure to punish you for it. Maybe he’ll make you clean up the restrooms for one hundred years if he gets you!”

“……” He had no clever response to that. Director General Wang concentrated on eating. This was why he wasn’t willing to go see that one. He didn’t want to, and there wasn’t much use in seeing him. Their standings were very different. Back in the day, it was his grandfather who met with the Evenround Martial dean, not him.

Director General Wang was a distinguished member of a Wang side branch, which was how he came to be the head of Security. But he didn’t have the right to say anything when he stood in front of that one, so he could only throw his weight around a little before that one came back to life.

Li Hao watched them silently, not bothering to insert himself in their affairs. When Director General Wang was finished eating, he wiped his hands casually and turned to the young man. “What are you looking at?”

“The guys next door.”

“I see!” Director General Wang looked next door as well. “Who says Water of Life is precious in the outside world? Those guys are drinking it like water because they’re so weak, what a waste!”

“The director general can sense it?”

“Of course!” chuckled Director General Wang. “Nothing can stay hidden from me if I wish it!”

He could be considered the strongest in this world at the moment, right?

Li Hao found present circumstances a bit strange; he could sense that it should be Qi Pingjiang’s son utilizing Water of Life. The current minister of Armed Forces had been four elements Arcanus according to his last assessment. After a few days of absence, he looked to be five, even six elements now.

What a waste! How much Water of Life was involved in this advancement?

The same sensations were traveling out of the Ministry of Administration. The current minister, Zhao Huaimin, also seemed to be strengthening himself. Damn if they didn’t have money!

As Li Hao inwardly rolled his eyes, a new thought struck him. “I’m heading out, does Director General Wang want to come with me?”

“Of course!” No shit, what am I supposed to do when you want to leave?

Li Hao rose and swiftly headed to the rear yard. There was nothing that the director general could do but to follow in kind. This was immensely irritating!

The two puppets also quickly followed them. It was a joyous occasion to see someone from their era! Although this fellow purposefully ate food in front of them to tempt them, they were magnanimous people who wouldn’t take it up with him.

The group of ancient personages followed Li Hao to the rear yard, whereupon the young man opened the ruin entrance. Director General Wang was hot on his heels.

etvolare’s Thoughts

I’m all of a sudden very interested in seeing the pavilion master’s story develop further.