Star Gate

Chapter 544: Entering the North Sea (I)

Chapter 544: Entering the North Sea (I)

Inside the ruins, Li Hao took out a large sum of mysterious power stones and offered them to the little tree. This would give it sufficient energy for it to exude power to help others train. Meanwhile, the young man thought back over everything he’d just experienced—becoming a tree and growing with the little tree.

His Weeping Willow Sword gradually took shape, but he still lacked inspiration when it came to the wood sword aura. His fifth aura was too hard to manifest. The young man was beginning to understand why his teacher sought out people to fight. Perhaps only through sparring his way through the land could he improve his own aura. Otherwise, pure cultivation alone might make it difficult to comprehend the fifth aura.

A ripple suddenly traveled from Li Hao’s armor after an indeterminate period of time. Soldier Kong Jie requested to communicate.

Kong Jie!

Li Hao had given him a set of armor before and they were less than five hundred kilometers away from White Moon City. They could indeed communicate at this distance. Li Hao could reach Kong Jie directly, but the man needed Li Hao’s permission to do the same.

A momentary pause later, Li Hao accepted the call.

“What is it, Inspector General Kong?” He’d only just left White Moon City. Had the White Shark Raiders already come? Surely not!

“There’s been news from the east that Light Sword erupted at the Steadfast Duke’s holdings five hours ago. She killed five of his generals and seized their heritage treasure. She seems to still be alive and is escaping to the north...”

Li Hao paused from shock. “Isn’t she part of the duke’s faction?”

“Would a Silver Moon martial master really be willing to call someone else their uncle? Only Silver Moon denizens can suppress another person from Silver Moon, such as someone like your master. The Steadfast Duke plainly doesn’t count among their number.”

“Okay!” Li Hao had nothing else to say. He was simply confused why the inspector general was telling him this. Escaping to the north? Could it be...

The young man thought of what Light Sword had once said to him and broke out in a grin. She’s not coming for me, is she?

That was very possible.

The swordswoman had threatened him into helping her suppress her inner turmoil once. It looked like she’d unsealed herself to kill her enemies last night...

But that’d been five hours ago. She was dead now, right? Even if she wasn’t, she would be a supernatural. That was just as good, Li Hao wouldn’t be able to do anything for her then. She was beyond saving as a martial master after so long. Not to mention, the eastern expanses were very far away.

A premier powerhouse would have to travel approximately five thousand kilometers if they flew in a straight line from east to north. Although Light Sword might be erupting with full power, it would take her at least a day and a half at a speed of one hundred and fifty kilometers per hour.

“Light Sword killed five premier powerhouses last night,” Kong Jie continued. “Four of them were late Novas and one close to metamorphosis. She killed them all with one stroke! She’s a terrifying character who looks to have snapped five locks at once.”

Damn! Li Hao clucked his tongue. That was intense! No wonder she could kill five generals with one move. Hong Yitang couldn’t instantly kill an existence in metamorphosis even if he snapped two locks. If he could, the four monster spirits of Ash Mountain would’ve been in a great deal of trouble.

Another communicator alert traveled into Li Hao’s ear. Kong Jie was still looking for him. Only the armor’s communication system could reach Li Hao. The others couldn’t find him even if they wished to.

The young man frowned. What was with Kong Jie? He knew that there was a feud between Light Sword and Li Hao. Despite the internal grumbling, the young man still picked up.

“Silver Moon needs Light Moon alive, and preferably in perfect condition. Bring her back to us. We’re not at liberty to make a move ourselves and neither will we be of much use. We still have to ask you for help. We’re willing to pay a price!”

“Not interested!” Li Hao flat-out rejected. “She threatened me once before. I don’t have many friends, nor do I need them. I’m not interested in turning enemies into friends.”

“One sword stele!”

“What?”

“I’ll trade you a sword stele for you taking action! It’s left behind from a premier swordsman and there’s an inscription on it. There was sword qi remaining on it when we dug it out from the ancient ruins. It was so strong that it almost killed a Nova powerhouse. It will be a very useful treasure to you.”

A sword stele.

“Is there a signature on it?” Li Hao thought over the idea. He wanted to know if it used to belong to one of the premier swordsmen that he knew. If not, he wasn’t interested.

“Yes! Just one character... Li!” Kong Jie chuckled. “It might have belonged to one of your ancestors.”

Really? Li Hao didn’t believe him. Li was a popular surname, there were too many with it.

“Light Sword will certainly repay you if you rescue her. With her strength, she’ll be able to do many things for you that you can’t do. She’s one of the more gentle martial masters among us. She trains in the light sword discipline and is a very decisive person.”

“Inspector general, it’s better that you guys do the deed,” Li Hao declined politely. “If you really can bring her back and supply sufficient mysterious power stones, I’ll help her get her energy under control again.”

He was rather curious that if they wanted to save people, who could stand against their combined might? Just head out already! Why waste time with me? I’m just a martial master barely on par with mid Nova. If you send me, I’ll die if there’s any kind of powerhouse there. Light Sword is finding it tough to shake off her enemies even with her eruption of power. I’m sure she’s very strong right now, so I’d just be going to my death.

If the person being chased was Yuan Shuo, then Li Hao would go without even needing to be urged. But it wasn’t, and it was Light Sword who was the target. He wasn’t interested in taking the risk.

“We can’t, we pose too big of a target,” Kong Jie sighed. “Let’s put it this way. A lot of people have their eyes on us and we’ll be easily exposed if we disappear for too long, particularly at a sensitive time like this. Silver Moon might appear to be peaceful after Ole Hou’s departure, but there are a lot of people watching us.

“You, though, don’t have any official duties and don’t need to appear at official events. You can do whatever you like... So name your terms! We want to save Light Sword as there might be drastic changes in Silver Moon coming up. We need someone with her strength! You won’t be in much trouble if you go. If you can save her, suppress her internal disorder and repair her organs, she’ll have the strength to face some dangers too...”

Name my terms?

Didn’t Li Hao risk his life, undertake excavations, and attack pirates because he wanted to increase his strength? Here was a perfect chance to, but he needed a tremendous amount of resources.