Chapter 1042: Thinking Too Much (II)

“Senior Zhang An is the Dean of Education at Evenround Martial University. He is the grandson of Supreme Zhang of New Martial!” Director General Zhao smiled merrily. “If the king doesn’t believe me, you can take the bet! The Great Li king also knows that heaven favors our commander.

“Our commander has created a new dao that naturally forms its own domain of the world. The main priest should know better than anyone that the commander can control the domains of the world! There are no constraints on one’s battle strength when a domain is deployed!”

Jiang Li’s face flickered through a variety of changes as he responded in low tones, “Li Hao’s strength is limited. Although he possesses that of a broken Immortal, it’s impossible for Empyrean Kings to emerge from the ruins!”

“The commander will be hard pressed to do it by himself, but the Hao Cosmos dao does not belong to the commander alone,” smiled the director general. “Every single one of the Silver Moon martial masters is familiar with it. Under the influence of combined domains, even exalted emperors will be able to set foot into the world, much less Empyrean Kings!

“The two of you don’t know the abilities of the new dao and thus are unfamiliar with its might. If the king doesn’t agree to these terms... you will be responsible for all of the consequences and face them by yourself!”

“Is that a threat?” the king asked coolly.

“Yes!” nodded Director General Zhao. “It is indeed a threat! The commander also says that he would be concerned only if you give up your enterprise and exited the north to convene with the other three nations. Only the four nations combined would induce a bit of fear. Otherwise, the king can only compromise. If you do not, Great Li will be eliminated from the world within three days!”

“Blasphemy!” shouted Jiang Li. “Do you really think that there is no one safeguarding Great Li? If Li Hao dares conduct himself in such a manner, the primary body of the Initial Martial god in Great Li will set forth. My king is likewise favored from the heavens and imbued by heaven’s will. Although the divine spirit cannot set foot into the world, it can possess another through its divine bones. There will be no limitations imposed then. We will see who dies to who!”

Threatening us with ancient powerhouses?!

Jiang Li flushed beet red with fury. If that was the case, then Great Li would fight with its full force! How would their king be afraid of the ancients if he was daring enough to conquer the world?

“The main priest’s words make sense,” smiled Director General Zhao. “In that case, the Skystar Commander Office will take a step back. We can delay the matters of currency and trade, there is no immediate rush for them now!”

Jiang Li’s face was mottled from apoplexy. Did they think they were lulling children??

“When the commander came to me, he had more messages to convey. If the Great Li king agrees to these terms, he is willing to vie for the world alongside Great Li after our elite troops are trained. We will eliminate the three nations first, then battle the ancient cities.

“The Great Li king is a wise ruler. There are sure to be casualties if two tigers fight now, or does the Great Li king think that you can take over Skystar and defeat the commander right this very moment?”

The Great Li king did not respond to that question, neither did Jiang Li. Having witnessed the young man’s strength, who dared say that they were confident of defeating the young man? Even if they utilized the bones of Initial Martial like the priest said, was it as simple as the Great Li king utilizing the divine bones? It wasn’t as if Li Hao had no remedies for that course of action.

But the young man’s terms... While they were what the Great Li king had in mind at first, the situation was different now.

“This matter is not out of the question, but this king has several requests as well,” the king said slowly after a while.

“Please go ahead.” Director General Zhao was all smiles and particularly irritating for it.

“First, have Li Hao return the divine bones that he took!” The king began calmly.

The director general raised an eyebrow and didn’t say anything.

“Second, the ancients are no fools. They won’t constantly take the bait—we won’t be able to lure that many over. If they really do come, we will claim seventy percent of the core origin energy!”

The director general was still silent.

“Third, this king wants the full and complete cultivation method of the new martial dao, including its theories. I don’t want a finished book of secret arts!”

Director General Zhao frowned. He hadn’t anticipated the last term. He smiled again when the king didn’t voice a fourth request. “Are there more than three requests?”

“Yes, there is a final one,” nodded the king. “This king has come a long way with Great Li troops. Since Li Hao wishes to use my men for training his, then Skystar will be responsible for our provisions!

“We can set aside meat since this king has brought some and we are at the foot of Ash Mountain. All one million of our people are superhumans, making for consumption of 1.5 million kilograms of rations a day. Li Hao simply needs to provide one month’s worth of provisions!”

That would mean almost five hundred million kilograms in a month. An average of 1.5 kilograms per person per day was not much for superhumans, but they would be supplementing their diet with meat.

Director General Zhao’s expression shifted slightly. Food was an issue faced by more nations than just Great Li. Several million troops were in place at Silver Moon and everyone needed to eat. Food was heaven to the people. Even superhumans needed to eat before they reached a certain level with their cultivation.

A lack of food meant a lack of strength and energy to kill enemies. Silver Moon was already consuming a great deal of rations by itself.

“Since Great Li is prepared to occupy Skystar, how can you not have your own arrangements...” frowned the director general.

“This king was prepared to occupy the north after crossing Ash Mountain,” the Great Li king responded calmly. “We would seize the stores in the cities and not camp at the foot of the mountain like this. Everything is out the window if Li Hao does not agree to this! This king has my own considerations for whether we battle or retreat.”

Director General Zhao hesitated at this point in the negotiations. Great Li asked for too much! Skystar was not at peace these years either—harvests were lacking in many parts of the dynasty. It was only through the sacred grains supplied by the plant spirits that some of the gap in provisions was filled.

If they supplied rations to Great Li...

Great Li was their enemy. Since when did one offer up scarce resources to feed the enemy so the enemy could come back to kill their own? Once word of this got out, Li Hao would down in curses from the rest of the world!

There were many among the multiple continents who went to bed with empty bellies. The central region was in a better state and the northern continent received provisions from them. However, the other three continents did not have such support. Wouldn’t this discredit Li Hao’s name if this became public knowledge?

Feeding the enemy so that they could kill Skystar soldiers... the Great Li king’s condition was outrageous!

Director General Zhao’s head was lowered in deep thought—a cover for his quick usage of the transmission pendant. He really couldn’t make the call in this.

......

Silver City.

General ire reigned when Li Hao announced the message he received.

“You cannot do that!” Even Gan Wuliang protested vehemently, to say nothing of the Silver Moon martial masters. “Commander, once people know that we’ve provided rations to Great Li so they can kill Skystar soldiers... Although we do this to train our troops, the families of the dead will not think so, and neither will the citizens starving in the streets.

“Life is difficult enough with the turmoil in the world. You cannot agree to this. Otherwise, even if the commander does a hundred good things and trains an army of one million elites, your name will still be cursed by everyone beneath the heavens!”

Hong Yitang had been quiet all along, but he, too, frowned now and said, “You cannot brashly agree to this. This king of Great Li harbors evil intentions! Great Li has had a standing army of one million for the past two hundred years. They cannot lack sufficient rations. If that is the case, then Great Li’s so-called superb management of their nation is a joke!

“Also, Ash Mountain is to their rear. Setting aside the monster spirits inside, there’s a cornucopia of regular animals and natural forage on the mountain. How can they be short on food?”

This Great Li king just wanted to plant a mine for Li Hao! If the young man agreed, it would explode, details of the arrangement would likely promptly leak, and Li Hao would be despised by the world.

“It’s not just this term, but that none of the ones he raised can be agreed to!” He Yong said furiously. “Does Great Li really think of themselves as something? We all saw that battle yesterday, there isn’t much to the Great Li powerhouses! Apart from their elites that are decent, what right do they have to negotiate with us? We can mount a fierce offensive if they don’t agree and train our troops through blood! They’ll naturally become elites when enough blood is shed!”

In his eyes, they would take Great Li by force if the enemy didn’t agree. They’d kill every last one of those bastards!

Skystar might suffer tremendous losses in the process, but those who survived would be elites!

There were nearly four million troops gathered in this area, completely blotting out the wilderness to the north of Silver City. A teeming mass of people occupied the vicinity.

Even if a million or two died, the rest would be elites!

Everyone objected to Great Li’s conditions. They were so ludicrous that there was no need to respond to them. It was time to let the energy cannons loose! They would make up for lack of strength with numbers instead. If not, the powerhouses could fill in the missing pieces!

Li Hao stroked his chin, then laughed after he listened to everyone. “Don’t worry, I’m not dumb. How am I supposed to cede territory and pay reparations when we’re the ones who won? The Great Li king is just saying all of this, there’s no need to take it too seriously.

“Here, let’s go back to him with some changes. We can agree to the core origin energy term—it’s a testament to their skill if they can lure anyone over. We can also return one Initial Martial bone to them. I’m keeping the other one for research. We can give them cultivation knowledge and methods. Great Li bodies are slightly different from ours. If they wish to practice our martial dao, I’ll give them a new body for it!

“I also lack food, but since the Great Li king can spar with me for a few rounds, I’ll give him the Zheng family city. There are many plant spirits inside that can raise sacred grain. If he can seize it, it’s his!”

“......” The group started, looking at him with strange looks.

You might as well offer him Battle Heaven! Since when can you offer up the ancient cities as prizes? You would’ve done so a long time ago if it’s so easy to conquer an ancient city, how are you handing them out like this?

What a joke!

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

There was no difference between these words and a fart. The Great Li king wouldn’t think much of it if everything was in working order with his brain.

“I agree to his terms and give him even more!” Li Hao chuckled. “He’s just looking for face. I shouldn’t be too overbearing, in any case. It’s good to be more humble. He’s the king of a nation, after all. I should show him due respect when appropriate.

“Not only that, but when my elites are fully trained... I’ve seen on maps that Great Li is not that far from the Divine Nation of the west and Barren Dynasty of the east. I’m willing to leave one of them for Great Li to take over! Great Li and Skystar shall be great friends...”

More farts!

The crowd was immensely resigned. The Divine Nation of the west and Barren Dynasty of the east were Skystar’s enemies.

Giving their land to Great Li... you really think their king is an idiot, huh? This is supposed to be a low profile? This is supposed to be showing him face? You think he’s a blithering fool, don’t you?

“Finally, I can give him one more present.” Li Hao beamed beatifically. “If he wants, I can change Jiang Li into a woman at anytime! Anything is possible so long as the king likes it!”