Star Gate

Chapter 693: Not Leaving (II)

“Withdraw!” shouted the powerhouse holding a book. The five old men promptly retreated and convened with the two weapons in the air. The other ministers gathered with them as well.

The two inspector generals rushed into the city.

“Stop fighting,” transmitted the old inspector general. “None of you will have good endings if you keep fighting. The nine ministries have been suppressing the strongest of the royal family all this time. There’s an entire batch of powerhouses that haven’t taken the field yet. If we keep fighting to the bitter end with each other, it’s only the royal family that benefits!”

A light flashed through Li Hao’s eyes as he looked at the city. That enormous dragon had simply looked around before receiving a resounding blow from the Ministry of Administration. That powerhouse was formidably overpowering and far stronger than regular Arcanus.

The ministers that’d returned to the city landed ponderously, the divine weapons returning to where they’d stood before. They quelled the four corners while thunderous rumbles came from the palace, like an earth dragon was thrashing through the land!

As everyone stared at the disturbance, some figures manifested out of the palace. Enormously forceful existences regarded the scene with some regret, but a booming voice swept the city before long!

“Skystar Marquis, the nine ministries have long forgotten their original aspirations. The world is in chaos and the people suffer in misery. We hereby decree the Skystar Marquis as the Skystar Governor General with the power to supervise and preside over the nine ministries! Any who violate the law may be executed first and a report submitted later!

“Powerhouses of Silver Moon, anyone who kills a minister will be instated as the Silver Moon King and will rule over Silver Moon as their kingdom!”

Certain people could no longer sit still given the happenings; the royal family had made their will known. Crush the nine ministries!

Plainly, the ministries were still successfully keeping something under control. Whether it was premier powerhouses or apex weapons, their blockade caused a great deal of distress to the royal family.

Today was a royal opportunity. As for the Steppe Prince, dead was dead. The royal family wouldn’t have stuck their necks out when Silver Moon was plainly on the losing side. But now that the three great organizations had withdrawn and many ministry heavyweights were dead or injured, a good chance had presented itself.

Although the Silver Moon martial masters were also injured, there was a chance of breaking the nine ministries’ blockade if they worked with the royal forces inside the city. The group outside looked at Li Hao, light glinting from their eyes.

Everyone could tell that the nine ministries and royal family had likely always struggled with each other beneath the surface. The ministries’ domineering weapons had remained out of sight all this time, likely because they were exerting pressure over the royal family.

Prior to this, the old ministers were forced to use their divine weapons as Li Hao was relentless. That gave the royal family some breathing space.

Should they continue?

Li Hao looked at the group leaking mysterious power and then at the city. He suddenly laughed in a low voice, breaking his silence. “Dog eat dog!”

The royal family was nothing good! Skystar Dynasty hadn’t been a better place eighty years ago—it might have been even worse. This was the pot calling the kettle black, they were all scourges upon the land. It was just that the royal family was the side being suppressed.

Li Hao frowned when his thoughts traveled here and he looked at his teacher behind him. “Teacher, those divine weapons...”

“They’re weapons used by ancient powerhouses,” Yuan Shuo answered gravely. “They might have been used early on and were never sealed. The nine ministries then refined them, but their weapon souls are fully awake and possess formidable battle strength!”

He looked at Stellaris in Li Hao’s hand and hefted the stone blade in his. “They shouldn’t rival the weapons of the eight families, but those of the eight families are so powerful that they aren’t unsealed even after devouring your heart’s blood. Stellaris erupted with some sword intent only because it was triggered by those weapons...

“The nine ministries control many ruins and have demonstrated only a hint of the core origin battle methods that they know. The path of core origin has been abandoned in our day and age, so its capabilities are far from before. It’s said that in the ancient civilization, core origin methods from Tranquil Star City were unparalleled, unmatched, and could suppress invincible heavyweights!”

The battle methods of core origin were tied to core origin martial dao. Li Hao had once meditated on core origin, but the little tree later said that since it was a different age, perhaps it was time to fully abandon the path. It was not a match to this era.

But even so, the little tree’s core origin talisman had easily killed a metamorphosis expert and two Novas.

Li Hao didn’t say anything; the little sword flew back to his hand. The energy within it was much depleted. Thankfully, he’d stored a lot before. He didn’t say a word as he directed a flood of sword energy over the gathering. Countless mysterious power stones shattered; the little sword even devoured numerous origin weapons.

A dense wave of sword energy washed over everyone. Some, like He Yong, furiously absorbed it with tremendous glee. Others weren’t that overjoyed—Hou Xiaochen for one. He took in only a bit before stopping. After stabilizing his condition, he continued to brood.

Sky Sword only absorbed a little as well before stopping. He looked at Skystar City in the distance and asked faintly, “Do we continue to attack? The royal family is preoccupying the nine ministries. We might be able to break this balance if we make our moves!”

Li Hao mused over next steps instead of immediately answering. He looked at Hou Xiaochen. “Director Hou, Silver Moon has always been wary of the nine ministries and royal family. Is it because of these powerhouses?”

“No.” Hou Xiaochen shook his head after a brief silence.

Li Hao blinked with surprise.

“Silver Moon is not afraid of anyone, we are just wary of luring out some old monsters at our present stage!” Hou Xiaochen explained calmly. “Whether it is the nine ministries or royal family, they all control vast quantities of ruins. There are many in the central region. It goes without saying that there are ones belonging to the ancient human race, but there also might be plant spirits and beasts in deep slumber.

“They might have control over some plant spirits—you’ve seen some before. No one wants these existences to emerge in the world at present, but there are those who might try anything if they’re backed into a corner!” The man paused. “There is a difference between present day and the ancient times. Whether it is plant spirits or beasts, they bowed to humans in the ancient times. That doesn’t mean they’ll do so now. We wouldn’t have Sky Roc Mountain or Phoenix Mountain otherwise.”

Li Hao furrowed his brows.

“There are also a few special existences apart from those,” Hou Xiaochen continued. “They’re very difficult to deal with. We once wanted to explore outward, but we suffered heavy damage! In our generation, some of the old guard martial masters obtained great power at the rise of the supernatural domain. They retreated back to Silver Moon after enduring heavy losses.”

The look in Li Hao’s eyes flickered; he didn’t ask further.

“We say that we have the four guardians, not the four champions,” Hou Xiaochen continued. “Therefore, Silver Moon has always focused on defense, protection, and safeguarding.”

Huang Yu flicked a glance at him, then sighed when he looked at Li Hao. “We’ve come too late!”

He said this because Li Hao had become a supernatural. Huang Yu was a more solemn individual, this was a rare occasion in which he displayed more emotion. “You were in too much of a rush to transform into a supernatural... You don’t understand what you will face and what you will miss out on...

“Do you know why so many powerhouses insist on being a martial master, despite knowing that it is a difficult path to walk?” He murmured as he looked into the distance, “Martial masters almost have no future at our cultivation stage, whereas the supernatural path is clearly laid out. Why doesn’t everyone pursue the supernatural then? The Arcanus level can be stabilized, whereas there isn’t even a hint of how martial masters should proceed.

“And yet, everyone insists on this path because there might be a change soon. Silver Moon might offer a solution to our problems and some ancient heritages might soon see the light of day! The cities guarded by the eight families will be open. Li Hao, you’re the heir to the Lis, but some matters are passed on only to martial masters. Take Battle Heaven, for example, the Battle Heaven Army are all martial masters and not supernatural...”

Li Hao would miss out on all of this as a supernatural! He might even be rejected by the city of the Lis when it appeared. It wouldn’t matter if he was of their bloodline because all ancient powerhouses were martial masters. There were almost no supernaturals—their legacies might not exist in this land either.

Hou Xiaochen was silent without a word. It was a blow to him as well that Li Hao had become supernatural because the young man had done so in Skystar City, right by his side!

“That’s it?” Li Hao laughed without a care in the world. “I thought the consequences would be severe!”

“You still don’t understand.” Huang Yu frowned. “Whether it’s martial masters or supernaturals, in our day and age, no one can dream of surpassing the ancients. There’s no hope of doing so. If we do not obtain the legacies left behind by the various powerhouses, we will only cease to advance and be completely unable to exceed our present! As strong as your master’s Breathing Method of the Five Styles is, dare he say that he is greater than the ancients?”

“I dare!” Yuan Shuo said grumpily. “Why don’t I?” He snorted and took a long look at Li Hao. “It’s fine, so you’re a supernatural. I’ll think of a solution for you...”

The old man glowered at the city and gnashed his teeth. “Let’s forget it this time, Li Hao. We’ll just throw them around a bit. Nothing good will result from a pitched battle, but since the nine ministries dare send out so many powerhouses to kill you... then I’ll...”

He ground his teeth and bared them at the city, suddenly falling silent.

“Don’t do anything brash!” Hong Yitang transmitted after a sidelong glance.

Yuan Shuo ignored him with a huff. Just you guys wait! He’d been in a foul mood ever since Li Hao demonstrated his supernatural capabilities. Of course, he comforted the lad on the surface and even praised him, but his heart had long been consumed by endless flame.

He’d already sorted out the cultivation realms of Summoner and Refiner of Spirit. All Li Hao needed to do was follow his instructions. It wouldn’t be hard to reach Refiner of Spirit. His five auras would become one and ultimately break out of their locks. Li Hao would even be able to easily exceed Refiner of Spirit and set foot into a new level. He could do whatever he wanted then!

Rumbles still echoed inside the city as the royal family continued to fight back. Light streaked out of the nine ministries to converge upon the royal family.

Li Hao said nothing else after releasing a vast sum of sword energy. He broke through the air and returned to his previous position at the northern gate. Silver Moon Guards were still on duty overseeing the nobles, but a portion of the nobles had already fled.

“The executions continue!” Li Hao ignored the ones who’d fled. Since the nine ministries and royal family were still fighting each other, he would execute them first!