Chapter 1070: Being Known Throughout the Ages (III)

“You can’t put it that way!” sighed Director General Zhao. “It hasn’t been long since the Skystar Commander Office was formed. Although we’ve announced the cultivation method for the new martial dao, you can’t expect everyone to unequivocally trust you after such a short period of time! Trust is built step by step...”

This was a conundrum weighing on his mind as well. He knew that after this battle, some present would harbor resentment toward who they protected. They wouldn’t speak of it, but they would assign blame for their loss to a lack of support from the people.

But as a leader of a province for decades, he was all too aware that it was almost impossible to have everyone stand firmly on Li Hao’s side for the moment. It’d only been a few days!

The young man had simply announced the new martial dao and bequeathed some simple acts of kindness. Were the people supposed to treat him as a god after that?

That was impossible!

“Director General Zhao is right,” nodded Lin Hongyu. “Some things need to proceed in a methodological way, particularly as the other three continents do not know much about the commander. This is normal. Even in the central region, a basic level of trust will only flourish after the academies open and everyone learns how to read and write!

“That is an immense undertaking that will take at least a year or two, even if we accelerate our plans. Thank goodness we have the sky canopy system. We need to increase support for it and ensure that every household has one, if possible. And then we need to educate the people on everything taking place in the world. Only then will that make a place for the commander deep in everyone’s heart!”

“That’s such a hassle!” grumbled He Yong. “The wars will be over in a few years!”

“We’re not striving for temporary superiority,” a smiling Director General Zhao answered in lieu of Lin Hongyu. “It’s fine if we really can’t rely on blessings from the people, the commander should still be able to grow strong enough on his own. We don’t necessarily have to make use of this technique from the dao of the human emperor!

“But we still need to carry out these policies that benefit the people. Only then will everyone grow, prosper, and not have to rely on the Skystar Commander Office for everything. They will be able to provide for themselves then.”

“That’s the logic,” Hong Yitang nodded. “The heart of the people was something extraneous to begin with. There would be something wrong with our foundations if this was what we aimed for from the very start. I trust this wasn’t everyone’s goal at first. The commander just happened to discover it by accident. It’s a nice to have, but not a loss if we don’t have it.”

Whether it was Hong Yitang, Lin Hongyu, or Director General Zhao, they were secretly trying to advise Li Hao so that he wouldn’t think his previous course of action was wrong. That would be a bad conclusion to come to.

It was then that Gan Wuliang, someone who usually hovered out of sight in a corner, said carefully, “If I may be so bold, we’re in these straits possibly because the commander hasn’t advertised himself broadly! I think it’d be good to publish a book of ‘The Commander’s Sayings’ or something similar as basic educational material. It can even be used in literacy classes!

“Such is the human heart. If they keep learning from the commander, they might soon accept him from the bottom of their hearts...”

Some found the idea preposterous, while others thought it solid. Indeed! How were people supposed to understand, trust, and place their faith in Li Hao if he didn’t publicize or advocate for himself?

“Forget it.” Li Hao shook his head after some thought. “It’s like what the Moon God and others said. We ourselves don’t believe in divine spirits and wish to shatter the gods of people’s hearts. Why are we creating more?

“Having the people trust me and worship me like a god... that itself is a fallacy!”

It was a contradiction!

“Gods have never been created!” Li Hao smiled. “We can be without gods, but we can also have a faith to adhere to! For example, I’ve always liked a certain book—Silver Moon’s Record of Thirty-Six Heroes! These types of characters are the ones that people pursue and like. They idolize the heroes, but do not treat them as gods. That’s what we need.”

The group’s hearts quailed.

“Once we defeat the four nations, I might revise the record and disseminate it throughout the world. That will be truly making a name for ourselves!” the young man laughed heartily. “Our legends will be known throughout the lands. There will be stories of how Silver Moon heroes defeated the enemies in Star Era’s history and liberated the world. Tales will be told of the thirty-six heroes and seventy-two champions. This is the type of reputation that those of the martial world should pursue!”

He continued laughing, but the crowd collectively blinked and looked around, lost in thought. There were approximately one hundred people here.

Thirty-six heroes and seventy-two champions? Isn’t that us?

“Our names might still be known after thousands of years. For example, I might forge a book of supernatural characters—much like what Supreme Zhang did—once my dao is perfected. I will record everyone’s titles and place them in the Hao Cosmos. That would be the most perfect of all!

“If there are still people visiting the Hao Cosmos after untold years, they will see our names and titles if they walk the path of the Hao Cosmos dao. It will all be there for them to discover. We might be more famous than the Human King of New Martial!

“The Human King didn’t leave behind any legends in the core origin universe, but we can in ours!”

A deep-seated yearning bloomed in people’s hearts!

“Can we really do that?” murmured He Yong. “Will Southern Fist He Yong, number two of the Thirty-Six, be known throughout the ages?”

“......” No one knew what to say.

How come you’ve become number two? Are you really that shameless?

The youngsters that’d been sitting quietly to the side, such as the shameless Hu Qingfeng, asked quietly, “Commander, do we... do we stand a chance as well?”

Li Hao had been focused on the older folks up to this point. The younger generation didn’t even dare breathe too loudly. But now, they couldn’t help themselves either.

“Commander, if you’re going to make a record of heroes... can we leave behind some marks of our existence as well?” He was wreathed in smiles. “Even one mention would be nice!”

“Of course! We will all have a chance for greatness!” Li Hao smiled. “This era is just beginning! Our enemies are still out there and we have countless chances for great deeds. Perhaps the name of Hu Qingfeng will be serenaded in the years to come, or perhaps Brass Skin Iron Bones Hu Qingfeng!”

Brass Skin Iron Bones?

“I... I can have a title, commander?” Hu Qingfeng started. But what did Brass Skin Iron Bones mean?

“You have thick skin, it’s like brass skin and iron bones!” Li Hao chuckled.[1]

“......” Hu Qingfeng was at a loss, but quickly beamed from ear to ear again. “Thank you for the name, commander! Then I shall be Brass Skin Hu Qingfeng in the future!”

“......” Now it was the rest of the crowd that was at a loss.

This guy seriously has thick skin!

All of them deeply longed for such a future now. Didn’t those of the martial world chase after fame and wealth above all?

Or, wasn’t that the goal of everyone in life?

How many had died for a place among the Thirty-Six back in the day? And that had only been a record of one province! Now they could possibly be memorialized for all of time!

Fame and wealth were inescapable for anyone. Even the usually removed Sky Sword couldn’t help but ask, “Am I still to be called Sky Sword in the future? I was ranked number two among the Thirty-Six before...”

Collective eye rolls filtered through the crowd.

What,

you’re

number two now?

Granted, it made more sense for Sky Sword to be number two than He Yong. He’d been tied at fifth place with three others, unlike He Yong. The latter was the real candidate for the Brass Skin title!

Li Hao had only meant to casually mention the idea, who would’ve thought that even Sky Sword would be tempted?

The young man paused and looked at everyone, seeing Yuan Shuo stroke a nonexistent beard as well.

“Old Demon Five Styles isn’t suitable for me,” he said meaningfully. “I’ve always been an ethereal and otherworldly sort. If there’s a chance to have our name be known through the ages, I think... I should change my moniker. The Five Styles Immortal or the Five Elements Immortal suits me better...”

One hundred snorts sounded in unison!

Everyone was electrified by the idea, with the normally taciturn Huang Yu muttering, “I don’t want to be called Cannibal, that sounds horrible! My spear dao is not bad, so you can call me the Spear Saint...”

“That’s Director Hou’s!” Manager Yu immediately shot down.

Golden Spear had his head down and hadn’t wanted to join the conversation, but he really couldn’t help himself. “Golden Spear has never fallen silent!” he muttered.

I’m the Spear God!

Li Hao was abruptly tongue-tied. It seemed likely that fights would start breaking out before long. Truly! He was just talking off the cuff, but the notion seemed to please everyone? They all wanted to change their titles all of a sudden, as if already seeing the future.

No setback, legitimacy of dao, or opening of the meridians was important anymore. Was this really that important?

“Leaving behind a name for themselves has been one of people’s desires since time immemorial,” Hong Yitang transmitted when he saw how taken aback Li Hao was. “Particularly for us martial masters, being known throughout the ages would be... Of course, they’re being a bit too vulgar about it!”

The man shook his head and continued vai transmission, “You can give me the Sky Sword moniker. Earthturner Sword just sounds a bit weaker than Sky Sword, but is Sky Sword really better than me?”

“......” Li Hao froze, then suddenly burst into raucous laughter. He pointed at the crowd and rocked back and forth, absolutely howling with mirth. “What a bunch of shallow, tasteless people you guys are!”

They were seriously all tasteless!

The group looked at him with irritation, but the young man continued whooping with laughter. “Then I won’t be Demon Sword anymore. I want to be Dao Master, the master of a myriad daos! Everyone, you can add dao master to your title too, like Sword Daomaster or Blademaster. Hahaha, damn this is funny!”

Jarred out of their debates over future titles, the crowd looked at each other and began laughing as well.

Yeah, we’re unrefined!

They’d just lost a battle and were yet to conquer the world. The four nations were well and whole, the three great organizations were yet to be extinguished, the ancient ruins still stood, but here they were, discussing what their reputations would be thousands of years in the future.

They’d even thought of titles for themselves and Li Hao wanted to hail himself as the Dao Master!

Everyone roared with laughter. Sheer glee covered everything.

1. This is a Chinese idiom to describe someone as fit as a fiddle. ☜