Star Gate

“There’s not enough energy,” Director General Wang determined after studying the red lines coming together in the ground. “It will take time to activate. Judging from the looks of things, the guardian plant spirit formation will be activated. But will the commander manor one also be activated?”

“They have a division leader!” Li Hao quickly said when the thought occurred to him.

“Then they do stand a chance!” the director general amended. “So this means that the vice commander might have truly become a Saint. Otherwise, the bramble rose isn’t weak either and it’s backed by the other plant spirits. That it still needs to activate the formation means that it’s taking utmost care… How interesting.

“And what a coincidence! Thank goodness I happen to be here or I’d miss out on the fun.”

Li Hao’s head hurt. So these people wanted to seize the mine? But I’ve earmarked it for my use! He had to claim it before they did.

He was suddenly very conflicted. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion’s position was now known, but the royal family and nine ministries seemed to have struck up a partnership to explore the giant mine together. What should he do? His head pounded from the dilemma.

“How much longer until the formation activates, director general?”

“It’s hard to say as it depends on if their division leader can locate the heart of the formation and activate it. It’ll take at least a few days and numerous energy stones. But division leader?” Director General Wang shook his head with incomprehension. “Skystar City can give rise to new division leaders? How strange!”

He shook his head as it was very hard for one to become a division leader unless one was a direct subordinate of the ancient military. Of course, he didn’t much care about this.

“Under normal conditions, the formations inside the city require coordination from all sides.” Director General Wang grinned when he suddenly thought of something. “Now that they’ve activated the formations… it’s easy for you to stall for time if you want to.”

“How do I do that?”

“Have the imperial guard furiously absorb energy from the surroundings so they can’t complete the activation. They’ll have to keep pouring in more energy if they want to succeed, which means that the imperial guard can absorb energy until it can no longer take in any more. A few days of this will cause them to bleed a lot in resources!”

Li Hao raised an eyebrow. That was a good idea, but it also meant that the little tree wouldn’t be able to join him on the next operation.

Whatever, screw it!

He was in no hurry when it came to the mine since there might be a Saint level character present. He would take care of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion first, obtain their treasure, and probe everyone’s strength first. That way, he could make his plans being one hundred percent certain of what he was going up against.

If worst came to worst, he could try and see if he could lure the dean of education out of Evenround Martial. Otherwise, there was no way he was willing to go against a Saint. Li Hao was well aware of their might!

He explained the situation to the little tree, delighting the latter when it heard that it could devour energy without restriction. It might not have been able to take in anymore before, but now that its primary body had joined it, it was stronger and could absorb a little more.

Having settled all that, Li Hao left the ruins. Liu Long met him as soon as he emerged.

“Senior Sky Sword just sent word. He couldn’t find you just now, so he contacted me. A group of people in black robes have suddenly appeared at South Peak province and attacked the Silver Moon martial masters in the area. Some Night Watchers are dead. They’re pretty strong and might be from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion!”

Li Hao’s expression shifted and he snorted coldly. So they’d gone on the offensive! The pavilion was far bolder than he thought. Thank goodness he’d sent Sky Sword in that direction; they might be in real trouble otherwise. But since the senior had said they were pretty strong, then they really were pretty strong!

……

At the same time, the Red Moon headquarters.

“Armored warriors in eight different colors of armor?” Ying Hongyue raised an eyebrow at the report. “How interesting, is it the Eight Legions?”

The scarlet cloak manifested as well with understanding. “It’s the Eight Legions! Then I know who it is. But how strange, how is it them?”

Ying Hongyue also knew a bit, but he understood less than the scarlet cloak. “What’s so strange about it?” he laughed.

“If my memory serves, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion disappeared before the great silence. I thought they left Silver Moon Territory. What are they doing here again? Or is it a ruin that’s been left behind? But in that case… that doesn’t make sense either. They might really have a replica of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud if they can detect everyone’s strength…” The scarlet cloak was slightly mystified as it couldn’t immediately make sense of the situation.

“Is it a true heritage or one obtained by accident? A true heritage would not be thus and displayed in such a brazen manner. There’s no hint of calmness to be seen at all. They’ve jumped out ahead of time to aggravate all sides!

“But it’s good that they’ve clashed with Li Hao. There’s a show to be seen then. Are you going to participate?”

“Let’s take a look first,” Ying Hongyue laughed. “I’ll decide whether to participate or not based on the situation!”

The scarlet cloak nodded. “Then we need to be careful. If they really have that kind of treasure… your movements will be revealed with it as well. It’s just…”

Forget it, he was still utterly baffled and couldn’t make head nor tails of anything. If such an imitation treasure existed, could outsiders use it? As for descendants of the Hong bloodline… none existed in Silver Moon Territory, did they?

……

At the same time, the royal palace.

“The Wind and Cloud Pavilion sends out a dozen Arcanus with a single move!” laughed the Skystar King. “Even Sky Sword and the others are preoccupied by them. How interesting! Now wonder the pavilion dared publish a ranking, they’ve got a lot of heavyweights on their side!”

A small tree manifested in front of him—the replica of the bramble rose.

“The heavens are on our side!” smiled the plant spirit. “You were worried that he’d cause trouble for us, now trouble has come for him. Notify the others that they should make use of this opportunity to enter the ruins.

“Success is at hand as soon as the formation is activated and seals off the mine. The world will belong to the Jiangs, but remember that our goal isn’t Silver Moon Territory!”

“I know!” the Skystar King chuckled. “Then, shall we intervene slightly with Li Hao’s matter…”

“No. What if our interference causes him to forgo moving against the Wind and Cloud Pavilion? Do you want to be responsible for that?” The bramble rose was speechless at the king’s suggestion. Having one matter less to attend to was always preferable to one matter more!

Intervention? Can you suffer the consequences? Your greed knows no bounds! Having the mine in hand is better than anything!

“I understand.” The Skystar King smiled and didn’t say anything else. Whatever thoughts he had in mind were quickly dismissed. Let’s see how Li Hao responded first. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion sent out a dozen Arcanus in one deployment—the faction was clearly formidable. It was not yet time to pull out one’s trump cards. Li Hao was in grave trouble this time, wasn’t he?

……

The young man was currently sending messages to all sides.

“Approach South Peak from the Sagittarius direction. All powerhouses in the vicinity are to reinforce them. I am currently unable to get in contact with Senior Sky Sword and the others. Pass on word for me that no one is to reveal their strength and all Night Watchers are to retreat! Dog the enemy’s footsteps so they cannot withdraw…”

Li Hao turned to Director General Wang when he finished giving his orders. “I’ll have to rely on you this time, director general. There must be powerhouses in their ruins and they’re banking on the fact that we don’t dare enter them!”

“Don’t worry!” laughed the man. “Now that I’m alive again, there’s few in this world that I wouldn’t dare run afoul of. This Wind and Cloud Pavilion is not one such entity!”

That was good! With the two puppets at his side, Li Hao dared take the fight to them even if the other side was very strong.

“Then we’re off!” The young man quickly set out, not bringing the little tree with him. It would already be quite a feat to protect Director General Wang since he might need to fight as well. This wasn’t simply making a journey. They were all done for if his personal domain broke.

However, Li Hao wasn’t afraid. If Director General Wang proved unable to settle the enemy, then the young man could depart the ruins at any time to summon reinforcements. At the very least, the redwood tree and little tree were all mobile. He would leave the five auxiliary generals be since they weren’t strong yet after their recent awakening.

With such thoughts in mind, Li Hao swiftly led his people to South Peak.

……

South Peak.

The Wind and Cloud Pavilion could no longer contain themselves and sent out their Eight Legions, shaking the land with their arrival. It was almost pure Arcanus that took the field, and this wasn’t the sum total of their Arcanus power. People poured out from the ruins, each of them mighty and ferocious.

……

Inside a forest on a mountain.

He Yong sent an Arcanus flying with a punch and cursed to himself. Li Hao wanted them to not reveal their strength, which forced them to only retreat. It was fine if they met one or two enemies, but a dozen Arcanus meant that they had to run for the hills.

“How are you guys doing?” He Yong asked through the bronze armor.

“There’s so many of them!” Northern Fist answered through his armor. “Where does the Wind and Cloud Pavilion get so many Arcanus from? How much Water of Life did they have to expend for this?”

Modern day Arcanus represented walking bags of Water of Life. Only through this resource was this cultivation level possible. The constant outpouring of supernaturals started Li Hao’s forces and made them abruptly revise their assessment of this faction.

“A big fish has appeared, possibly their leader,” came Hong Yitang’s voice. “He’s at least five elements Arcanus and dressed in red armor. Be careful, everyone!”

“I’ve got a big fish here too!”

“……” Communication flew thick and fast as everyone swiftly withdrew. The enemy had fielded a lot of powerhouses for this engagement. Li Hao didn’t want them to expose their strength because he was worried that killing pavilion members would cause the faction to scan them with their treasure. At the moment, the Wind and Cloud Pavilion’s assessment of their strength should still be from their prior probe. Otherwise, they should understand that sending out these Arcanus was to send these people to their deaths.

“Stall for time! Don’t let them go back, but don’t kill them either! Or, you can kill one or two, but make sure you pretend to be injured in the process!” Hou Xiaochen swiftly commanded.

Angry shouts rose in the distance before long while He Yong’s group wailed. Rays of bloody light crossed the scene as they managed to kill an enemy before fleeing!