Chapter 1075: A Difficult Choice (I)

“Then... do we just leave Divine Nation alone for now?” asked Sky Sword. “They’re certain to be disgruntled after being threatened by us...”

“Naturally!” Li Hao nodded with a smile. “But we can ignore them for the moment. They’ll be wary of us and won’t attempt anything in the short run. So long as we prevent Barren and Watercloud Dynasty from invading us and keep them on our doorstep, that will complete our goals at present.”

“But with those New Martial traitors instigating affairs in the shadows, they might quickly come to an alliance again and attack in unison...”

The black robes claimed much of the credit for the four nations attacking en masse. While the four nations feared Skystar Dynasty now, they might soon reach another accord if the black robes secretly contacted them and promised enough benefits to goad them into new action.

“Therefore, we should engage in a few skirmishes first so that they know how strong we are. After they start doubting and hesitating, that is when we will offer a truce. Our actions will have a better effect that way.

“In addition, we also need to do a few more things. We need to raise the four nations’ expectations and sever their connection to the ancient city. The latter can be accomplished by eliminating some of the ancient city’s black robe replicas.”

“Sever their connection?”

“Yes. Right now the ancient city makes use of transmission pendants or outright sends their replicas with messages. We can start by disconnecting the transmission pendants!” Li Hao responded. “Numerous communication stations were previously constructed for the transmission pendants. We should destroy those and exert full control over this system. If the other side wishes to send messages, they can only do so through two methods.

“First, send a replica. Second, have people wearing armor stand at various intervals so the message can be relayed through the armor system. But the armor also relies on the nine base stations, so if we take over all of the base stations, they’ll have only one option left to them—come in person!

“So long as we keep a weather eye on Silver Moon province, that will make it difficult for their powerhouses to leave and enter. We’ll kill however many that come!”

“So this means to say that we need to seize the nine base stations next, then all of the communication stations, and shut down the flow of information?” asked Sky Sword.

“Yes.” Li Hao nodded.

“Then how are we to raise the four nation’s expectations toward the ancient cities?” Sky Sword was puzzled.

“Promise them different things at various points of time,” the young man chuckled. “For example, offer some benefits the first time, offer ten times that three months later, and offer twenty times that a year later...”

“Will they believe us?”

“It doesn’t matter if they do or do not. They will compare the terms so long as they hear the promises.”

The group listened quietly to Li Hao’s plan. Zhang An looked at the young man with confusion. Li Hao was being more forthright in front of him now. “Are you not going to attack the four nations anymore?”

“Not for the moment.”

“Then that means their threat will continue to loom on Skystar borders.” Zhang An frowned. “It might be better if you brought your full strength to bear and eliminated one or two of them. It would result in more of a deterrence.

“It might be difficult to curtail Divine Nation. But it shouldn’t be hard to wipe out Watercloud or Barren Dynasty, or even Great Li if you bring the same force to bear as you did today.”

“They will have sympathy for their own kind,” Li Hao laughed. “If I erase Barren or Watercloud Dynasty, then Divine Nation will stop at nothing in their perceived desperation for survival.”

Zhang An didn’t say anything. What the young man chose to do was his decision. He just didn’t quite understand all of what the young man was thinking.

The group looked at Li Hao. Their warship was not flying in the direction of Skystar City, it headed toward the eastern continent. Did Li Hao intend to seek out Barren Dynasty?

......

The eastern continent, at the end of its land.

A massive cavalry had reached the outskirts of the desert and set up camp. An enormous palace stood behind them, hauled by fine steeds. The king of Barren Dynasty was watching a sky canopy. It held the attention of everyone in the hall. Some of them echoed the king’s frown, others thought nothing of what they saw. Meanwhile, some turned to a black robe standing in the middle of the hall.

“Didn’t you say that Li Hao hasn’t truly recruited New Martial to his cause?” asked the king after a long moment of silence. “Why are they willing to self-detonate to kill his enemies? Also, the revered one doesn’t seem to have rendered enough aid.

“Divine Nation’s spirits are strong and unparalleled, but they are still hard pressed to withstand Li Hao. They’ve been forced into handing over the divine corpses. If Li Hao brings the same force to bear against Barren Dynasty... we will find it difficult to withstand him.”

“Please be at ease, Your Majesty,” the black robe hastily said. “Li Hao ambushed Divine Nation this time—we also need some time to prepare. So long as we have enough time and the four sides act as one, Li Hao will be run too ragged to respond—especially if we sit in the center to strategize. The results we see today will not be repeated.”

“Some time?” The king’s frown deepened. “How much time? You keep saying that you will help us preoccupy Li Hao’s main force, but now it looks like that will not be the case. His people keep running around everywhere without restriction.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be soon!” the black robe quickly said. “My lord has already begun preparations and will send out his army when the four nations reach the borders. The army will cause chaos in Silver Moon to the north. That’s where we’ll start our disturbance and pin down Li Hao so that he has no effort to spare for anything else!”

“Verbal support is of no use whatsoever!” asserted a female general dressed in white robes. She strode into the hall at the end of the black robe’s response. “Barren Dynasty mobilized our troops for the central plains only because we trusted you could provide us with sufficient support! Li Hao already embarrassed us once before we’ve even set foot onto the plains, but nothing that you mentioned has materialized. Where are the mysterious power stones? The Water of Life? Why haven’t we seen anything that you’ve mentioned?”

“Ah Jun is here.” The king smiled faintly.

“Royal father!” The general inclined her head. She looked at the black robe again and said emphatically, “No matter what your goal is, a collaboration means an arrangement of mutual benefit! We will not send our soldiers to die without seeing sufficient benefits in it for us! When will the resources you promised arrive?!”

“They’re almost here...”

“You say that every time! How soon is almost here? I want an exact date!”

“Does Princess Jun not trust us?” growled the increasingly irritated black robe.

“It’s not that we don’t believe you. We would not have sent out our troops otherwise. But now that we know Li Hao’s side is stronger than us, we require all possible forms of support, not endless waiting!

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“Your side wishes to create confusion in Silver Moon, this is the best time since Li Hao is not currently in residence at the province. Once he retreats from Divine Nation, he may very possibly turn on us or Watercloud. You should be putting forth effort right now to impede him, not continuing to wait for the best timing!”

“My lord naturally has his views on this matter, we just need to await further word. Now that we’ve set foot into Skystar, we can directly communicate with the lord. I’m sure that the lord will give everyone a perfect response once he learns of everything that has happened thus far.”

“I hope so!” declared the white-robed general. “If Li Hao ambushes us right now, we do not have sufficient powerhouses to stand against his people. Can the ancient city give us sufficient guarantees and promises?”

“Princess Jun jests,” laughed the black robe. “How would you be so easily defeated when you stand tall in a land of great desolation? If I remember correctly, while there are no divine spirits holding down the fort in your nation, there are some exceedingly powerful monster spirits. One of them is a monster spirit that was present at the birth of the world...

“Isn’t your white horse the descendant of a desolate beast?” the ancient concluded meaningfully.

“A desolate beast?” the female general snapped impatiently. “If there are any that exist, they can not easily venture out. Much like your primary bodies cannot enter the world, you and they dare not risk yourselves. Therefore, you send the basis of Barren Dynasty’s strength to endanger our own lives, don’t you?”

“That is not my intention,” explained the black robe. “I mean that even if Li Hao comes, he will not be able to contain Barren Dynasty in a short period of time. The four nations have towered for endless countless eons and will not be easily toppled. Give us some time to prepare—to make better preparations—so we can ensure that Li Hao suffers an enormous loss. A premature advance will serve to benefit him instead.”

The female general wanted to speak on, but the king coughed gently. “Do not be impolite, Jun’er. Revered one, children do not know the limits of propriety. Jun’er does not mean to push the ancient ones...”

“I can understand,” nodded the black robe. He said nothing else and hadn’t lied to those he was liaising with. The lord was indeed making further preparations for large-scale riots. Those plans did indeed require time.

The city had lost several dozen replicas after two operations. Many were resting and recovering in their residences. There were too few of them and a common worry was that Li Hao would make a clean sweep of them. If numerous replicas were desired, that required some time as well.

A portion of the residents were still in closed door cultivation. Plans were on hold until they emerged from seclusion.

The ancient city was in charge of creating upheaval and disorder before engaging in widespread slaughter. For that purpose, the four nations needed to preoccupy Li Hao’s forces along the border. The Great Li king didn’t seem to be with his army these days. He appeared to have snuck back into Great Li. In that case, that further delayed plans for a bit.

The black robe’s expression shifted slightly as they conversed. It wasn’t only him, but also the old Barren king who looked around with a keen light in his eyes before it vanished.

A group of people had appeared over the Barren army at some point; there was a warship hovering high in the sky further away. They seemed to have appeared through a rip in the void.

The king’s eyes widened with dismay when Li Hao showed himself. Skystar really was here! And yet, missiles carpet-bombed the army before the king had a chance to say anything!

Powerhouses next to the king jerked with dismay.

“Intercept the attack!” the king shouted angrily.

Boom!

Multiple heavyweights erupted with force. Powerhouses among the cavalry in the front also rose into the air. A massive shield appeared in the sky and thunderous explosions rang out when the missiles were intercepted.

Most soldiers vomited blood at the recoil, with a select few unlucky enough outright bombed to death.

The Barren king manifested in front of his army and looked in Li Hao’s direction.

“You are the king of Barren dynasty?” the young man smiled. “The north possesses a god of Initial Martial and the west worships divine spirits. I am truly curious what gives the desolate woodlands of the east so much confidence that you would dare attack Skystar. If it’s only the traitors that cannot see the light of day... don’t you overestimate them too much?”

“Commander Li. Barren Dynasty is here to witness the prosperity of the central plains,” intoned the king. “We meant nothing else with our presence. Doesn’t the commander go too far as to greet us with a salvo from your supernatural cannons as soon as we meet?”

“Are you for real?” Li Hao laughed and cut off the king’s response. “I’m simply taking measure of your strength. If you’re too weak... then all of you can line up for your deaths!”

His sword swung down!