Chapter 1045: A Piece of Paper (II)

Director General Zhao blinked and understood something. No one had responded to Li Hao’s return not only due to the Li family being in disorder, but because he’d shattered weapons of the eight families. That made the families wary.

In actuality, Li Hao had broken more than the mallet and the boots, he’d also broken the blade of the Zhangs. To the Zhang, Hong, and Liu families, the young man’s actions were an undeniable provocation and humiliation. It was even a declaration of enmity—there were many connotations to simply breaking a weapon.

“Are the seniors still unwilling to meet him?” Director General Zhao asked after he grasped all the ramifications. “Some things are more appropriately discussed in person. At the very least, the Wangs have always supported the commander. Open lines of communication might serve to benefit both sides.

“It’s not only the Wangs, but Evenround Martial University that is also willing to support the commander...” he added after some consideration.

The seventh elder wanted to say something when a voice came from the city. “Ole Seven, you go and talk with that one.”

The seventh elder glanced behind him. That voice had belonged to the second elder. He was the strongest powerhouse that’d revived in Martial Alliance thus far. Their senior elder had left with the city lord back in the day. Apart from the guardian, it was the second elder who was the strongest in the ancient city.

The seventh elder was disinclined to walk around in the world outside, but since the second elder had made a request, he inclined his head. “Then I shall meet this Commander Li. But since the world does not accept my presence, I can only send a replica. Is that acceptable?”

“I’ll go too, second elder!”

“I’d like to listen to your conversation and also meet this arrogant kid. How dare he casually break the divine weapons!”

“......” Various powerhouses spoke up one after another. Some of them wore armor, others floated over their weapons.

The seventh elder didn’t say anything and quickly separated a portion of his core origin into a middle-aged man. A stern expression hung on his face and he didn’t conceal his body with armor.

“Lead the way, Little Zhao!”

It was Director General Zhao’s first time seeing the seventh elder’s primary body. He glanced at it and didn’t say a word when several others followed behind him.

......

Outside the ancient city.

The entrance to Martial Alliance was located in front of a waterfall. The water rushed downward with a noisy clamor. Li Hao hadn’t brought too many people with him; there was only Director General Wang by his side.

“The city lord of Martial Alliance is not the Alliance Head Zhao who founded the city,” the director general explained via transmission. “Rather, he’s the alliance head’s son. However, he’s departed through the Star Gate with the Sword Sovereign. The Zhaos have nine elders in addition to the city lord. Not all of them are from the Zhaos—there are representatives from all of the families and some from the martial world in our day...”

“The military designation of the Zhao army is the Renaissance Army. Its characters of ‘xing’ for revitalization and ‘wu’ for martial were also the name of that Zhao ancestor.”

Li Hao nodded minutely.

“The Zhaos are actually skilled at the blade.”

Li Hao blinked and looked at the man. The blade?

“But that was their ancestor. Later generations were more skilled at the fists, which is what they are known for now.”

Li Hao nodded again. The waterfall trembled as Director General Zhao walked out, followed by a few others behind him. Their forms were a bit wispy, but their features could be clearly made out. That set them apart from those of the traitorous city—the faces of those people were obscured.

“Junior Li Hao greets the seniors.” Li Hao rose and bent at the waist.

“Commander Hu Sikai of the Seventh Division of Martial Alliance’s Renaissance Army!” The seventh elder showed equal courtesy and raised his hands in a cupped fist salute.

His surname was not Zhao. Li Hao was rather surprised by that, and the fact that he was a military officer of important designation. The young man was yet to meet any commander on Battle Heaven’s side. Perhaps they’d all left, but apparently the commander of the Reserve Defenders was asleep. He didn’t know if that was true or not since he’d never asked about it.

“Please have a seat, Commander Hu!” smiled the young man. There were stone chairs and a stone table at hand. In the age of the supernatural, powerhouses produced naturally-made structures with a wave of their hand.

The middle-aged man sat down without further ado. The others sat down without introducing themselves. Some looked at the young man with curiosity, the others with faint hostility.

“I’ll be frank,” the seventh commander was a clear-cut individual. “I do not represent Martial Alliance. We are not a city that belongs to one family, but more of one by elder consensus. Some of our elders have awakened and I will relay Commander Li’s words to them, but I cannot give you any definitive replies.”

“Who are you trying to fool, Hu Sikai!” Director General Wang grew irritated before Li Hao had a chance to respond.

It was then that the seventh elder looked at him. Some suspicion filled his eyes.

“It’s me, Wang Ye!” the director general said with resignation.

“Wang Ye?” The seventh elder was rather surprised. “You...”

“Broke my core origin dao to walk the new path.”

The seventh elder and rest frowned. One outright snorted, “Traitor!”

“I am a traitor just because I broke my core origin dao?” retorted Wang Ye. “Do you dare say this to the Human King or Supreme Zhang? How about the Sword Sovereign? There’s a large number of those who’ve severed their core origin dao among our acquaintances. So I am a traitor just because I’ve broken my dao in the face of a thriving new dao? Core origin dao was established by the Heavenly Emperor and nine emperors, not New Martial. We are all traitors for cultivating core origin!”

He was often on the losing side of an argument against Li Daozong, but could fully dig in his heels against these ancients. “Look in the mirror before you call me a traitor! Don’t get in the habit of calling just anyone a traitor!”

“You...”

“What you?” Wang Ye interrupted brusquely. “Martial Alliance revitalized and awakened before Battle Heaven, but what have you done all of these years? Nothing at all! If Alliance Head Zhao was still here, he’d curse out all of you! What a bunch of trash!!

“I risk my life and changed my dao to walk out of the ruins. This is to search for a new path for New Martial! What right do you have to criticize me? I’ll tear your mouths apart if you keep blathering shit!”

“......” Li Hao was surprised by how sharp Ole Wang’s tongue was. This personality trait hadn’t been apparent before.

“Alright, Wang Ye, he spoke out of turn.” The seventh elder frowned slightly. “Those of Martial Alliance are straight-shooters. There is no need to hound him for this!”

Wang Ye curled his lip and said nothing else. He’d fired off a few insults of his own, in any case. That was already very nice!

Li Hao smiled and skipped over the topic entirely. “Since the senior is straightforward, I shall be candid in response. I am a junior and seek forgiveness for anything I have done incorrectly.

“Whether it is Silver Moon Territory or Silver Moon province, this is my homeland,” the young man beamed a radiant grin. “It is where I grew up. This is my home and so I wish for Silver Moon to be well, very well. It was the core of the world in New Martial era, but it is not necessarily your home.

“Of course, none of this is important anymore,” Li Hao continued softly. “The world is thrown into chaos these days and Silver Moon is better off, but our troubles lurk in the form of large numbers of powerhouses in the ruins. Some have awakened, some have not. But once the second awakening begins, they are sure to emerge in great sums. Silver Moon might become the battlefield of the world then.

“According to what I know, New Martial survivors are separated into different parties—first, that of the traitors. Second, official government factions of new officials. Third, those who think New Martial is over and wish to establish their own strongholds. Fourth.. possibly outsiders, but I don’t know where they’re from.

“Therefore, peace is not a possibility once the second awakening begins,” Li Hao sighed. “If there is not much development from New Martial, I would hope most of all that we can all coexist peacefully once the seniors emerge from the ruins. We can develop Silver Moon together or find ways to open the Star Gate. That is the outcome that I wish to see.

“But the situation is no longer so straightforward. There are more than New Martial and Silver Moon citizens in this world now.”

“The fourth party that you speak of... do you have any details?” The seventh elder interrupted with a frown.

“I’m not sure, it could be something like a scarlet shadow? Or something with very strong mental strength, but they’re different from the usual pure mental strength cultivator,” explained Li Hao. “I think there’s another party because there seems to be a special circumstance near the Star Gate. There might be a powerhouse sealed there, but this is just my speculation. There is no concrete evidence at present to prove the existence of another party.”

“They... might truly exist!” the seventh elder offered after momentary thought. “I’m not sure either, but I recall the day in which the Sword Sovereign and the rest left. I was in charge of defending the city and maintaining its security. I seemed to see a scarlet shadow for a split second. I thought it was a powerhouse practicing a cultivation method and didn’t pay it much heed...”

He was reminded of certain details with Li Hao’s words.

“Then let’s set that aside for now.” Li Hao nodded after he digested the seventh elder’s information. “Of one point we’re certain, and that’s that the seniors won’t be so quiet after leaving the ruins, is that so?”

“Of course!” the seventh elder confirmed emphatically after some thought. “We will fight for our aims, whether it is to eliminate the traitors or to open the Star Gate. How can we continue to be so silent?”

“In that case, we will come in contact with each other,” Li Hao chuckled. “Perhaps General Hu will say that you will go your way while I go mine, but the world and society shakes when powerhouses make their moves. There are more than ten billion citizens in Skystar and this is a new age, after all.”

“What does Commander Li mean?” frowned the seventh elder. “Please feel free to be direct.”

“It’s not that I mean anything, but that I’d like to know what the various ancient cities think of Silver Moon locals?” sighed the young man. “What do they think about me, Li Hao? I will certainly be involved in opening the Star Gate.

“There’s only two options available to us. First, work with me and we’ll jointly try to open the Star Gate together. Second, kill me, take Stellaris, and try contacting the others to see if the Star Gate can be opened. Or perhaps... you might contact Ying Hongyue,” Li Hao said softly. “He has melded seven bloodlines together and possibly even eight.

“Therefore, it is an easy decision for the various ancient cities. You are unable to use the eight heritage weapons to outright open the Star Gate, so you can only utilize Stellaris. In that case, both I and Ying Hongyue are viable candidates. Does he have the bloodline of the Lis?

“He may not be from the Li family, but that’s alright. He dug into my parents’ grave and he was the one responsible for the murder of my family. My family bears some of the Li family bloodline as well. My parents’ bodies have disappeared—even those of all of my ancestors are gone. In that case, why can’t Ying Hongyue have extracted the Li family bloodline from them?”