Chapter 1033: A Terrifying Li Hao (I)

Various shadows walked out of the ancient city moments later. All of them were dressed in black robes and their faces obscured. Their features were impossible to make out and their core origin blurry.

These were core origin replicas of more than fifty powerhouses. They were helping Great Li to inflict maximum damage on Li Hao’s group, at the very least, if not outright kill them. Their actions would grant Great Li the courage to advance on the battlefield again. It was the Gold Armor’s replica leading the team.

The Gold Armor felt that the Great Li king was too cowardly. They could’ve saved all this trouble had the king been daring enough to send all of his troops into battle today. Therefore, they needed to instill the king with confidence!

The sky grew dark as night fell.

......

At this moment, within the Great Li military camp.

The main priest was in the lead, followed by one hundred Arcanus. There were temple priests and royal guards present, as well as a group of black-robed experts with their presences concealed. Those were from the ancient cities.

One hundred people stood unmoving.

“Tonight, we strike back and eradicate the Skystar rebels!” the Great Li king announced calmly. “Everyone should be of one mind and work in concert! If anything happens, the temple priests and royal guards are to ensure the safe withdrawal of the ancient experts and bring up the rear! We cannot let the enemy retain evidence that we have ancient powerhouses helping us. The exposure of their identities may entice Silver Moon’s other ancient cities to send out their own...”

The black-robed ancients were much reassured at hearing these words.

“Do not worry, king of Great Li,” chuckled one of the black robes. “We have the strength of Apexes and with the divine priest part of the group... we are certain to kill Li Hao and his people during this operation!”

“Then we await good news from the seniors!” smiled the king.

“Is the king... not participating in this battle?” asked a black robe.

“This king must remain here and call upon the auras of heaven and earth. That will prevent Li Hao from learning of our intentions ahead of time. We confront each other through the heavenly will. He will be at ease only when this king is here as well. Otherwise... he will learn of our movements before we strike!”

His words made sense upon further thought. The Great Li king said nothing further and looked at the main priest. “Then we will trouble the divine priest for the ambush!”

“I am unworthy and will bring my full efforts to bear!” the priest quickly responded with a complicated look in his eyes.

“Then... be on your way. Avoid the main army and be careful of their scouts. We will need the seniors to help us here and there!”

The main priest left with one hundred personnel. After they vanished into the night, it was another few moments before more shadows clustered around the Great Li king. Some of them were royal guards and some were the army’s officers.

The king looked ahead and laughed when he extended his senses around him. There was something constantly keeping an eye on him. Li Hao had quite the number of treasures.

But what can you do even if you know that this king has left?

The Great Li king threw down a seal; it emanated a faint kingly presence that wafted through the tent. It was as if a king had descended on the area. He looked at those standing in front of him and waved an earth driller into being.

“This king hopes... for all of you to be strong and become this king’s right and left hands. We will no longer be in the straits we are today, to dangle in the wind at someone else’s mercy!”

Fervor in their eyes, the group knelt on one knee. “We give our lives to our king!” Their voices shook with passion.

“Then... advance and kill the ancient experts!” The king inclined his head. “If Li Hao can kill them, then so can we! Do not permit any strand of core origin to escape. Once they do, Great Li will be in danger!”

The group understood the dangers within. It would be a tremendous harvest if they succeeded, but if they failed and the ancients made it back to the ancient cities, enormous disaster would be upon them.

None of them made a sound as they filed into the earth driller. The Great Li king was the last to board before the treasure promptly vanished on the spot. There were only a few royal guards left in the tent, and a seal that emanated a powerful presence throughout the land.

......

Li Hao’s eyes snapped open and he looked at the mirror in front of him. His expression shifted slightly. Had the Great Li king... disappeared? His presence was still there, but that didn’t seem to be him.

Weird, are we going to be ambushed tonight? If so, they severely underestimate us.

The look in the young man’s eyes grew cold.

If that’s the case, don’t blame me for being merciless. Does that Great Li king really think that no one knows he’s left the camp?

Although the presence on the Great Li side was as formidable as ever and contained hints of a king’s dao, Li Hao could clearly discern that it was different from the king’s actual presence. They were both recipients of heaven’s favor, after all.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!” Li Hao barked out a command.

In that case, don’t mind if I do. You’re offering your soldiers up on a silver platter, of course I have to enjoy the feast and knock some schemes out of your head.

However... something still seemed amiss. The Great Li king was also favored by the heavens. If he had any wits in his head, he should know that while no one else might sense his departure, Li Hao would.

Even without the imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud, the king should remain in place and reinforce his army only when they were engaged in open combat again. The two army camps weren’t too far away, the king should be seeking to pull the wool over Li Hao’s eyes.

“So weird!” Try as Li Hao might, he couldn’t determine what the Great Li king’s intentions were.

Is that guy... treating me like an idiot? Damn it, I’ll give you what for tonight!

......

Night descended. Silver City was rather still on this night. The massive army beyond its walls quieted down from its raucous activity during the day. A steady stream of volunteers surged into its ranks, as well as supernaturals from the armies in the north.

Inside the city, Li Hao was watching. And waiting. And thinking.

He knew that he was too young and lacked military leadership experience. But when it came to single combat, those of Silver Moon were not afraid of anyone. They were not adept at group battles, yet there was nothing he or Silver Moon martial masters feared in a clash between powerhouses. Not even the powerhouses from elsewhere under his command were afraid.

All of them stood alertly, waiting for something. Someone flashed a sadistic grin. Another thought of something and chuckled darkly.

He Yong was in good spirits lately and was bold enough to approach Yu Luocha. He received a cold glare from Hou Xiaochen for his temerity. The man backed away with some disdain and ran over to Jadelight Sword. She looked at him frostily. Yuan Shuo didn’t say anything, but swept a glance over He Yong.

Just that look alone was sufficient to make the man curse to himself. There was nothing for it. He could only approach Light Sword.

Although she looked much better than her bearded self when her yin and yang were out of balance, she was still... Forget it, He Yong would rather stay away from her.

It was only because of He Yong that the group was more lively. Otherwise, the assembly was hell to anyone who considered them.

“Everyone be careful, the Great Li king has left the camp,” Li Hao said slowly. “He and that main priest are very strong—far stronger than the core origin replicas. It’s actually the replicas that we don’t need to be overly cautious of since this is no longer the age of core origin.”

The group nodded silently at his words. No one was surprised that the Great Li king had chosen a strategy that targeted the leadership. There would be no fear to be found here if he really did come.

Li Hao said nothing further. He’d said everything that needed to be said. The young man simply found the Great Li king to be a bit strange. The king knew that his departure would be discovered, but insisted on putting on this smoke show and to engage in an ambush.

You might as well just issue a challenge for single combat. It’s... pretty unfitting of your status as a king to approach like this.

A longsword appeared in Li Hao’s hands. There was nothing that could be done about the king’s refusal to train troops with him. The young man wasn’t afraid of combat between the two of them. Since the king insisted on courting death, Li Hao would send him on his way ahead of time.

......

The southern side of Silver City.

Several dozen cultivators in black robes stood in the void. A barrier of light shimmered in and out of sight in the surroundings.

“Silver City... No, it should be called Sword City instead,” one of them said emotionally. “It has been many years since we’ve walked the world and time has changed things drastically. Sword City... one of the eight main cities... is no more, is it?”

“Who knows, it might still be there. It won’t be destroyed so easily. It’s just... it might not be able to show itself again. It’s probably lost in the world barrier...”

“Who do you guys think is the city lord if it still exists?”

“That’s hard to say.”

“I’m not interested in that, I’m just curious about their heritage weapon being in the wild. It’s not out of the ordinary for the other families, but Sword City... I recall they entered the world barrier at first light. How is Stellaris here in the minor world then?”

“Unsure, perhaps the main Li branch won and sent out their weapon and a few family members to the planet.”

“So they were pinning their hopes on some family members wandering outside being able to find their way back? But I do have to say, producing Li Hao after so many years does give them a chance.”

Of the eight main cities, the other seven were still on the ground. It was understandable if their main family branch left the city with the heritage weapon in critical times. But when it came to the Li family and Stellaris... it was baffling to those in the know.

Those who didn’t know the particulars didn’t think much of it, but those who did knew that the Star Gate closed as soon as the Sword Sovereign’s group left. The Sword Sovereign was attacked and those left defending Sword City immediately took to the air to enter the world barrier for combat.

Under those circumstances, how could there be a Li family branch in Silver Moon Territory? There was nothing much to speak of when it came to the other seven families appearing, but the Lis... It was very strange.

In those days, the ancients had been forced to seal away their cities and sink into slumber. After so many years, no one could retrace the past to investigate anything. They would know the reason sooner or later if Sword City still existed.