Star Gate

Chapter 854: Another Promotion (II)

“I have another question, director general,” raised Li Hao. “Do you know Evenround Martial University? The dean of education there is a Saint level existence. He’s awake now—is he the only Saint level existence in Silver Moon Territory?”

“......” Director General Wang paused. Another Gold Armor manifested in the next second.

“You say that there is still someone alive there?” came the Ninth Division commander’s aloof voice.

“That’s right!” Li Hao nodded. “The dean of education in black armor and with a cat head emblazoned on it!”

So he was eavesdropping all along! The heck man! You’re a soldier! Are these kinds of actions appropriate?

“Did he not withdraw with the army?” wondered the commander. “There aren’t that many people there and no civilians, it’s easy to fully withdraw from that spot. Why did he stay?”

“He... didn’t leave?” mused the director general. “Then...”

“Perhaps he rang out of time,” came a wizened voice in everyone’s ears. “The Star Gate closed in a hurry. He might’ve run into some trouble or was tasked to bring up the rear. Being one step too late was to be unable to leave.”

Li Hao listened quietly. It would seem that this dean of education possessed a high status.

“You said that unrest took place at Skystar Town?” The commander looked at Li Hao.

“Yes.”

“You can complete one of the three missions you undertook—the one of Skystar Town is considered complete. You can obtain your merits at Military Supplies.”

Li Hao recalled that it awarded ten thousand merits. To be honest, he didn’t think much of that sum anymore. It could be traded for one hundred thousand mysterious power stones or promotion to division leader. He didn’t have use for the promotion since he already had a set of golden armor. Its defensive capabilities... were acceptable. That was all. There was nothing of much use about it otherwise.

However, the young man recalled that the Voidbreak Incantation was ten thousand points precisely.

“Ah, there’s another thing,” Li Hao said after further thought. “Apparently the vice commander guarding the mine is still alive. He’s been carrying out his duties all this time and hasn’t let the bramble rose and others inside.”

“I see!” The commander didn’t care much about this detail.

“It’s good that he’s alive, but... what a blockhead!” laughed the director general. Li Hao blinked. Why did they say that? The vice commander was defending the mines even now, he was very impressive! He strictly adhered to his duties, but why did these two seem to think less of him for it?

“Since riots occurred at Skystar, something must have happened,” explained Director General Wang. “What was the point in standing guard over the mines then? Absolutely nothing! Just blow them up and go down with the enemy! What’s the point of putting himself through all this hardship for countless eons?

“He plainly hasn’t comprehended the true spirit of New Martial! All of our large mines are equipped with explosive devices. He could’ve detonated them all at the same time and destroyed the entire island! It’d be fine if he died, but he’s still alive...”

The director general had nothing else to say.

“Being alive doesn’t mean that he’s a good guy,” the commander said coldly. “And there’s a very big issue with him not blowing up the mines! We would’ve sensed their destruction and known their fate. But with the mines remaining intact, we knew nothing about Skystar Town and missed out on the best timing to rescue them. Be careful if you run into him!”

Was that so? Li Hao came back to himself. So to these two, it was a dereliction of duty that the vice commander hadn’t blown up the mines. To be honest, he’d quite admired the man for sticking to his post until now. Was it wrong to steadfastly adhere to one’s orders?

And yet, this wasn’t what those New Martial people thought. They felt that he should’ve gone down in a blaze of glory!

“Don’t think too much, perhaps further unexpected events developed and he didn’t have time to do so, or the explosives were sabotaged,” comforted the director general. “All of that is possible. However, it is still a dereliction of duty if they were sabotaged. They were placed at the heart of the mines. Was he more worried about someone stealing the resources within?”

Fine then! There was nothing much to say to these ancients sometimes. They had their own judgment standard and way of conducting themselves. There were certain things that Li Hao could not understand.

None of them asked anything of the young man or asked why he’d gotten so much stronger. They could discern a thing or two, but didn’t say anything. To each their own dao. Being able to improve was a testament of Li Hao’s capabilities.

The commander likewise dropped the topic. “If you go to Evenround Martial again... please give my greetings to him. In addition, please tell him that...” the Gold Armor paused. “That the Battle Heaven Army is still at the ready and has not fully given up!”

Li Hao was confused why the message was phrased thus. He’s much stronger than you guys, isn’t he? But is he less resolved than you?

The commander didn’t explain himself as he knew a thing or two about that one. This was a person with an eccentric personality and tended to veer toward the extremes. It’d taken him so many years to awaken and the state of the modern world was the first thing he saw. He might choose to give up entirely. That was what the commander wished least to see.

The two no longer discussed old events and brought up General Pagoda instead. “Can the Golden Coconut’s tree trunk really revitalize General Pagoda?”

“It’s hard to say.”

“Let’s give it a try!”

“Um... it really was very hard for me to kill the guy,” Li Hao couldn’t help but interject. “I almost lost all of my people. If the general really does return, can...”

“Ask the general yourself.”

Li Hao fell silent with resignation. It hasn’t awakened yet, what am I supposed to ask? What if it says it didn’t agree to anything after it revives? What can I do then?

It was rather the old turtle who spoke with a trace of mirth, “Don’t worry, there will be benefits aplenty.”

Very well then! Li Hao wasn’t aware of the old turtle’s exact position in Battle Heaven, but it seemed very strong, so he would believe it for now. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Then do I just shove the tree trunk at the general?”

“You can place it on the altar!”

Li Hao flew out without a word. The two Gold Armors followed him to the city gates and didn’t exit with him.

......

Outside the city, where the altar was.

Li Hao gripped the massive tree trunk with some reluctance and wariness. “Li Hao of the Battle Heaven Army has brought the body of an Immortal for the general. Please awaken, General Pagoda!”

He placed the tree trunk bit by bit onto the altar. The altar was a marvelous construction as it took in the offering centimeter by centimeter, swallowing it at a very slow pace. It eventually picked up speed and the massive tree trunk started vibrating.

A loud rumble echoed by Li Hao’s ear and a ray of light seemed to dawn in the dim city. The rumbling grew bigger as the rest of the tree trunk was devoured!

Skies shook and earth quaked! An enormous pagoda tree’s branches started trembling as the entire world was illuminated.

......

At the same time, Silver Moon province.

Light sparkled in various places as ruins trembled.

White Moon City.

Director General Zhao’s expression shifted and he quickly vanished, reappearing at a certain spot and darting inside. He emerged in a massive city! Several Gold Armors floated out of it and a towering tree shook outside the city. It only lasted for a split second before the tree stopped moving.

A Gold Armor on the city walls spoke in a trembling voice, “That... that seemed to come from Battle Heaven... Has General Pagoda revived?”

“Battle Heaven?” The director general’s eyes widened. “Don’t you guys say that the guards of the main cities are so strong that it is exceedingly hard to revitalize them?”

It would require at least one hundred million mysterious power stones! Silver Moon might not revive a single one even if the province bankrupted itself.

The Gold Armor was lost and shook its head. “I don’t know, but those ripples were immense. If someone has awakened, it must be a powerhouse from the eight main cities! The eight main cities were in charge of protecting all of Silver Moon. Only with one of their guardian spirits awakening would the ripples reach us...

“Perhaps General Pagoda really did revitalize!” he said with agitation. “But how is that possible?”

Director General Wang wasn’t aware either. His thoughts didn’t stray to Li Hao because someone surnamed Huang didn’t mention the matter to the director general at all. Huang Yu had promised Li Hao that he would keep their operation a secret and had gone directly to the military barracks upon his return. He didn’t meet with the director general.

“Then... is this development good or bad?” frowned Director General Wang.

“That will depend on whether the system of Battle Heaven remains intact.” The Gold Armor snapped back from his joy. “The guardian spirit will not rebel if the system remains intact, but it will be difficult to say if it is the only one alive.”

“Someone told me before, the one that I mentioned to you guys, that there is a Gold Armor in the city lord manor still...”

“Then there shouldn’t be much of a problem there.”

“But...” frowned the director general.

“Don’t worry, even an awakening will not change much because the general will have only just revitalized. There might be only new advantages to us with this change and no drawbacks. Of the eight main cities, Battle Heaven was the strongest apart from the Sword Sovereign. There is another exalted emperor’s heritage left there. Although Battle Heaven inflates its importance, there is indeed a direct connection to that exalted emperor...”

There was a difference in strength between the eight main cities—Battle Heaven was stronger than the rest, for example. It bore a greater background and was on par with the city of the Lis.

“I’d like to take a look around Battle Heaven.” Director General Wang could not rest at ease.

“Go on!” answered the Gold Armor. “Take a look inside if you can enter. If you can communicate with them... tell them that we are still here!”

“Alright!” Director General Wang swiftly vanished, a thousand thoughts churning in his mind. Who could revitalize a plant spirit of a main city? That was one hundred million mysterious power stones!

Paying forth so much in resources only resulted in awakening the other. One had to offer more if they wished for more gains. One could revive four or five plant spirits with this level of resource—there was plenty to gain there.

Who’d done it?

Li Hao?

Was that kid that rich?

Although he’d apparently gotten a lot from his last operation, didn’t they say that it’d all been turned to Water of Life and used to strengthen those around him? How else could he become peak six elements so quickly and take He Yong and the rest with him?