Chapter 1044: A Piece of Paper (I)

The world could now tolerate some core origin replicas. The ancients weren’t completely confined to the ruins anymore. The only instance in which that would be the case was if the entire city was still asleep and sealed.

“Perhaps the Zhaos still observing the situation...” Director General Zhao nodded. “If the commander is willing to meet with them, I can make the appropriate arrangements!”

“Take Wang Ye with you!” said Li Daozong.

“I can go, but they may not recognize me!” Director General Wang said woefully.

“......” That was... very true. The director general’s presence had changed and his core origin was no more. Those in the Zhao city might really fail to recognize their old counterpart. Li Daozong was rendered speechless by that rebuttal.

“That’s alright, there’s no need for this kind of reaction!” Li Hao chuckled. “I don’t wish to set New Martial to bear against New Martial and force them into any kind of decision. I just want them to express their current attitude! It’s fine if they don’t want to work with me, but at least I need to know where they stand.

“All of the other ancient cities need to do the same! I’m here for the time being, but I won’t always be here. But when I’m not here, the troops still need to go into the battlefield and we still need to pit our generals against each other. I hope... that everyone can be stronger. Perhaps if I grow strong enough, I’ll be able to settle everything through my strength alone...”

The young man looked at the group, his teacher, Hong Yitang, and others. “But I wish more that everyone can still do all this without me!” he said slowly. “Do not lose yourselves, elders, do not lose your sense of self. The Hao Cosmos is newly discovered and opportunity lies before all of us! I do not wish to be traveling alone in the end. The universe is so vast that it may be more exciting outside!”

The group was silent. Only now did they fully understand Li Hao’s thoughts. The young man... was the same as he’d always been. Perhaps small changes had taken place in him, but he wasn’t interested in being the Human King or Human Emperor. He was just taking a stand for justice!

He felt that the world was too cold and dark—he wished to light the first torch. He might even be willing to withdraw from the war if the Great Li king could conquer the world and treat the people well.

Was that the case?

“Don’t worry, we’re keeping that in mind!” Yuan Shuo took a deep breath. “This world is not only your world! As you’ve said, this world is also the martial world—everyone’s martial world!”

“Teacher knows me best.” Li Hao smiled.

Yuan Shuo didn’t say anything in response.

The hell I know? You’re getting ever more mysterious.

He didn’t know what Li Hao was thinking anymore. Perhaps the young man hadn’t wished to conquer the world at first. Perhaps all the little fellow was thinking of right now was still revenge.

“Please make the arrangements, Director General Zhao. I’d like to meet those from the Zhao city as soon as possible!” Li Hao floated away, his voice drifting back to the group. “Keep an eye on the three great organizations for me and see how Great Li reacts. If Great Li hits back at them, tell their king that Ying Hongyue is mine!”

No one said a word. Ying Hongyue was so slippery and constantly avoided Li Hao. Who knew if he was just that lucky or if had other plans in mind? Everyone knew that no matter how calmly Li Hao presented himself, it was all a front while Ying Hongyue still lived. All along, his goal was to kill the man who murdered his parents and best friend.

“Everyone, don’t just think of the world as a distant, vague concept. It belongs to all of us,” Yuan Shuo said slowly after breathing out heavily. “Ying Hongyue is Li Hao’s greatest internal demon. He won’t get past it unless he kills his old enemy. In fact, I’m worried that something bad might happen to him the more powerful he gets!”

Everyone nodded without a word. Li Hao very rarely mentioned vengeance these days, but he mentioned Ying Hongyue today... It was plain to see that he felt the timing was right. He possessed sufficient strength, so he was starting to stir restlessly.

He might even be leaving the Great Li king and rest of the Great Li powerhouses alive in order to not alarm Ying Hongyue. He didn’t want to give the man a chance to escape again. Perhaps he wouldn’t even pursue training troops too vigorously. He wouldn’t wish Great Li to suffer heavy losses and give Ying Hongyue another chance to grow stronger.

These were all speculations that people thought of, but didn’t voice. Training troops was a very important matter. People would think that Li Hao was too short-sighted if he was doing so to curtail Ying Hongyue. In that case, let it be an army exercise!

This was an agreement that everyone reached with tacit accord.

......

At the same time, within Great Li borders.

Ying Hongyue looked to the south and seemed to peer beyond Ash Mountain. He took a deep breath after a long time and said slowly, “Li Hao is growing stronger and stronger. I have a premonition, a very bad premonition!”

The people next to him looked at him strangely and wanted to laugh. “Are you scared?”

“No, not scared... I just think that... I might be mistaken about something,” Ying Hongyue answered calmly.

“About what?”

“Everything that Li Hao has done... might have been to cut off all avenues of retreat. He’s unknowingly forced me north of Ash Mountain...”

The group exchanged weird looks with each other.

You’re the one who chose to go north of Ash Mountain, what does that have to do with Li Hao? He hasn’t targeted us in a very long time. He fights the nine ministries, royal family, City of Supernaturals, Great Li, and everyone... but you. You really think you’re something huh?

Going by Ying Hongyue’s words, Li Hao was conquering the world so that Ying Hongyue would have no place to shelter! How laughable.

Yama and the others didn’t say a word. Ying Hongyue was doing a good job of scaring himself! Had Li Hao scared the wits right out of him?

Ying Hongyue said nothing further; he looked to the south once more. He had no evidence, just a hunch. Li Hao had devoured the world and herded the three great organizations from the central region to the north, then shooed them into Great Li.

Although it had been his own decision each time, Ying Hongyue suddenly had some other thoughts today. What if... none of this was his own decision? Some resignation had colored each of his choices. He fled again and again, like a dog cast out onto the streets!

I hope... this is just a misconception!

Perhaps he was just thinking too much. If this was the case, it would indeed chill the heart. How could Li Hao be so conniving?

......

The Zhao city was named Martial Alliance. It was a very unique name as the Zhao ancestor had been the alliance head of the martial world back in the day. In New Martial, the martial world had been pitifully weak. Regardless, the Zhao ancestor gathered everyone together and eventually molded the martial world so that it became part of New Martial.

When the Sword Sovereign moved to the minor world, so did the Zhaos in order to recreate the martial world.

The Lis stood at the head of the eight families of Silver Moon; there wasn’t a large difference between the other seven. Even though there was no exalted emperor among the Zhaos, the Zhao ancestor hadn’t been any weaker than an exalted emperor in his prime.

Director General Zhao was the one most in touch with the ancient Zhaos over these years, but he hadn’t given many resources to them. In the same vein, the Zhaos hadn’t offered much to him. That resulted in a superficial level of cooperation between the two.

In the folk song of the eight families, the Zhaos were renowned for their fists. The sword of the Lis, blade of the Zhangs, fists of the Zhaos... The Zhaos were ranked very highly according to this placement.

Their ancient city was near White Moon City—approximately fifty kilometers away. Hence, it was always a short trip for the director general.

......

On this day.

The ancient Zhao city was usually very quiet, but there was quite a bit of disturbance this morning. Zhao Shuguang set foot onto its ground—he hadn’t visited in a few days.

A Gold Armor immediately appeared at the massive city gates.

“Good morning, seventh elder!” Director General Zhao raised a cupped fist salute.

The Zhao city was different from the other cities in that it bore very clear characteristics of a large family. Other than its military being run according to New Martial standards, all other aspects of management were overseen by elders—apart from the city lord.

This was also a hallmark of the New Martial martial world.

The seventh elder possessed an official title, but he preferred being called seventh elder in the martial world. He was part of the city personnel that Zhao Shuguang was more familiar with. In his prime, he was an Immortal close to Saint.

As for whether or not he actually possessed such strength, Director General Zhao didn’t ask for details.

“It’s been a few days, Little Zhao, but you’re glowing with good health!” The seventh elder laughed with a shake of his armor. “It looks like Great Li hasn’t brought too much trouble to you guys!”

“With Commander Li present, it is hard for the Great Li king to accomplish anything no matter how strong he is!” The director general smiled and cut straight to the chase. “I am here on a mission. Commander Li is outside Martial Alliance right now and wishes to speak with the elders.”

Several more figures manifested around them.

“Is there a need to discuss anything?” someone asked with disinterest.

Director General Zhao frowned with bafflement, but didn’t say anything. He’d interacted with the Zhaos for a few years—they were difficult to get along with. However, they wouldn’t treat someone with so much hostility for no good reason.

They’d been... a little off ever since Li Hao’s return.

“The heir of the Lis has come.” The congenial seventh elder wasn’t as remote as the others. “Logically speaking, we should meet him, particularly as he is the lord of this province.

“But we have some questions that we’ve been searching for answers. The most critical of them is that... what is the status of the Li Sword City? The Lis themselves are a mess, so you tell us how we are willing to say anything to them?”

“Do the elders mean that you are unwilling to see Commander Li because the Lis of New Martial were too... messy?” Director General Zhao was rather surprised. “The Zhaos are not willing to be involved?”

“It’s not just us, but likely that no one from the main cities have gone to meet him.” The seventh elder nodded after some thought. “It’s not only because he’s not of our era, but that the key lies in that there are some questions outstanding that have not been answered. That makes it difficult for us to participate.

“Of course, it also has to do with the fact that he didn’t display his strength prior to this. While he did yesterday, what he says of Li Daoheng makes us hesitate again,” sighed the elder. “And another key point is that Li Hao looks to have shattered the Hong mallet prior to this, as well as the Liu Windchaser Boots. That was... inappropriate!

“In our eyes, and in the eyes of many others, Li Hao breaking these treasures severs our hope of opening the Star Gate! Hence, we are very conflicted and even forced to guess if this has to do with the traitors back in the day? Are they playing both sides right now? After all, the traitors don’t wish for the Star Gate to be opened...”