Chapter 1022: The Rise of Human Dao (V)

“Alright, that’s enough of that.” Li Hao released them with a smile after dumping them onto the ship’s deck. “Stay here and travel with us! I’m doing this for your own good. You can’t go to the North Sea—there’s a cow there that’s immensely strong. It’s also a monster spirit and lacks blood qi at the moment. If you guys go... you’ll be perfect nourishment for it.”

The major monster spirits had long lost their wits at Li Hao’s demonstration of strength.

“Are you... the reincarnation of a great titan?” The golden eagle was completely dumbfounded.

“What?”

“Are you... an ancient powerhouse?”

“No.”

“Then how...”

“Cultivation,” Li Hao chuckled. “When I first met you four in Ash Mountain, I thought you were so strong that I could not wrap my mind around the notion. It was a broadening of my worldview. Those hunting me during that time inadvertently helped me, and you’ve helped me even more with bringing back news of Great Li.

“Come with me, I promise you won’t be worse for the wear if you do. Arcanus may be strong, but they really aren’t much. My teacher will be able to chat with you once he arrives.”

The giant ape was one who modified his actions according to the situation. It sat down with curiosity, scanning the young man and the others with him. “Are these... all your people?”

“Yep.”

“They’re very strong... but Great Li is even stronger. Their... their Arcanus that you speak of is about our level of strength. There’s hundreds, if not thousands of them.”

“Is that so?” Li Hao inclined his head. “That’s fine then. The people I have on my ship are just a small portion of my forces. Ah, do they have experts who can rip through the void?”

“Huh?”

“Do they?”

“Um... probably?”

“How many are there?”

The monster spirits didn’t know how to answer that question. How did they know? Would they still be alive if they did? And judging from Li Hao’s words, was one strong only if they could rip through the void?

“Silver Moon... didn’t seem that strong before,” the golden eagle couldn’t help itself.

“Mmhmm, it’s that strong now! You guys are probably between third and fourth level Mountain and Sea. There are nine levels to this cultivation level, and Sun and Moon after that. Seventh level Mountain and Sea can rip through the void...”

The monster spirits looked around blankly.

Third and fourth level Mountain and Sea? Why do we... sound very weak? But that’s not right! We were very strong before!

“Why are you so strong?” The snake was slow on the uptake and couldn’t understand this.

“Because I have good potential.”

Was that so?

Li Hao looked at the other monster spirits that were traveling with the four. “Are you interested in working with my Demon Hunter Army?” he smiled. “There’s good rewards in it for you. You won’t lack for mysterious power stones when we fight and there will often be Water of Life.”

The major monster spirits were furious.

You want us to be your rides, don’t you! Just say so! There’s no way we’re agreeing!

“Ah, forget it, you’re too weak,” Li Hao suddenly changed his mind. “I see there are monster spirits that’ve only just set foot into Sunderer. That’s way too weak, and they’re not that intelligent. They might drag down the Demon Hunters instead...”

The major monster spirits were even more wordless at this assessment. They were now within Silver Moon borders.

When the battleship showed itself, the first city they flew over erupted with ear-splitting cheers. Some senior officials stood in the air with several hundred supernaturals. When they saw Li Hao and the rest, they roared, “The city government, local army, Inspectorate, and Night Watchers of Northern Pool greets the commander! The city has put together a militia of five thousand who are willing to follow Commander Li and strike at Great Li!”

Down below, thousands of citizens who’d put on armor yelled, “We follow the commander and hunt down demons in our land! Those of Silver Moon do not know fear!”

The city erupted with loud cheers again.

“We follow the commander to protect our home!”

Li Hao smiled at the sight below. Those of Silver Moon... were still very brave at the end of the day!

“Set forth and convene with the army behind us. March to Silver City as quickly as possible!”

“We receive our orders!” chorused the delighted senior officials. An army thousands strong mobilized to meet the bigger army in the rear. More people had joined the war effort.

......

Images of Li Hao’s battleship appeared on sky canopies in Silver City before he reached the city. Not only that, but an army of millions behind him covered the ground like ants. It was a scalp-numbing sight that sped in Silver City’s direction under the escort of the Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunter Army.

They traveled extremely quickly!

Although they were mostly ordinary people, they had some battle strength to all of them. The Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunter Army didn’t intend for them to join the battlefield, so the commanding officers expended all of their strength on travel.

It would be good enough already if these people settled down at Silver City after reaching their destination and didn’t cause trouble elsewhere.

......

Not only were Silver City residents watching Li Hao’s progress, countless others were as well. The scenes of Silver City began appearing on the sky canopies. Ash Mountain towered in front of it!

Images also flickered into being in the sky over various ancient cities. Battle Heaven, the main city of the Zhaos, the main city of the Zhangs, and the main city of the Hongs...

Some powerhouses even manifested into view in some unknown ruins. They could sense it! Blood qi soaring to the heavens! There was a solemn killing intent in the air and an overwhelming aura that flooded the world. It was intermixed with the will of heaven and it came from the south.

At the same time, a massive force churned from the north of Ash mountain.

The upper air of Battle Heaven, Rift Canyon.

The old turtle and General Pagoda’s images hovered into view. The army that Li Hao had gathered happened to be crossing the canyon; his battleship sailed overhead!

The young man inclined his head at the two. They looked back at him with emotion. Thousands of soldiers walked out of Battle Heaven in the next moment and joined the ranks of the army under Director General Wang’s leadership.

“We wish Commander Li victory as soon as your flag is unfurled!” sounded the old turtle’s voice. “Battle Heaven... will stand on the side of justice!”

“Justice belongs to us!” Li Hao smiled. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried in all directions. “I wish to coexist peacefully with New Martial. This war will decide the fortunes of Skystar Dynasty. I hope that all ancient powerhouses can scrupulously keep to their territories and do not roam around without purpose. That might lead to unnecessary trouble!

“Li Hao thanks everyone’s immense aid and wishes for the relationship between Silver Moon and New Martial to be firm and everlasting. If there are any who help Great Li, I promise I will hunt them down no matter how strong they are!”

His words were as if a proclamation from the heavens. Li Hao’s figure was present in the void everywhere! The notes of great dao reverberated when his form appeared in the upper air over some ancient cities. The heavyweights in residence were stunned by the reaction from the world!

Li Hao’s every word and gesture attracted a response from the heavenly will. What kind of cultivation level had he reached? This was incredible!

The old turtle and General Pagoda were likewise flabbergasted. Li Hao was aided by the heavens! The Great Li king might not triumph over the young man even if the former was stronger. How had the lad changed so much in such a short period of time??

It was unbelievable!

......

In another ancient city.

There was someone here taking a peek at the outside world.

“The son of heaven...” sighed an ancient existence. “He’s similar to the Heavenly Emperor of old. Although he lacks the emperor’s strength, he’s blessed by the heavenly will of Silver Moon. He will be an incredible threat in the future if he doesn’t die in this campaign!”

So his decision had been right to not send people after the young man. There would’ve been nothing in it for him. Now, no matter how the war with the four nations turned out, it would serve to benefit his side.

......

At the same time.

A great army gathered in Ash Mountain. Large numbers of monster spirits were killed or captured. A hubbub of human voices rose amid a cacophony of beast shrieks. Standing at the head of the crowd, the Great Li king seemed to peer into the distance beyond the mountain.

“A formidable enemy approaches!” he snorted. “That is just as well, this king would like to see what kind of hero the central plains can produce this time. Can he put up a fight? We will enter Silver Moon province before day breaks!”

The army quickly mobilized, charging through Ash Mountain with one million soldiers and several thousand monster spirits.

The black-robed priest looked ahead with a slight frown. Roiling aura appeared in his eyes instead of the mountain side. He seemed to see someone in golden armor, feted by enormous crowds. It was like a human emperor was on patrol. Was this world about to produce a Human Emperor?

But how was that possible!

There had been no such character ever since New Martial. None of the world’s successive rulers had shown such signs. The priest regarded his vision gravely.

Great Li had governed itself well for the past two hundred years. Martial dao thrived, powerhouses abounded, and they trained their troops in Ash Mountain all the years. Everyone was formidable and they’d gathered their elites this time to break through the bulwark of Skystar Dynasty. Once Silver Moon fell, they would be able to scythe through the dynasty and raze Skystar City...

But now, it appeared that their conquest would be very difficult.

Is that Li Hao?

Was that figure the Li Hao that people spoke of, the one who had obtained heaven’s recognition? If that was the case, then that made this campaign downright perilous.

No wonder these ancient existences that’d dared betray the Human King were now in a frenzy. A new king was being born in Silver Moon, one that was possibly the master of the world. There would be nothing good in it for these existences then.

For Great Li, it would not be a good development if the world was unified once more. It had no desire to be marginalized again and cavort with tigers and panthers.

There was no hope for Initial Martial in the main world. There was a sliver of a chance for it here.