Chapter 1097: The Strength of Red Moon (I)

Even now, Li Hao focused his efforts on recruiting certain people to his cause.

However, the task was too difficult. The young man wished to receive the support and understanding of certain New Martial citizens, but was also worried that they would disapprove of his actions. He needed to consider the ancient city that’d turned traitor and be on guard against invasions from the four nations...

When it came to the three great organizations, Ying Hongyue was an enormous latent threat as well. When Li Hao said that he wanted to fight the Zhengs... Yuan Shuo knew that the young man was taking a gamble. If he could prove that the Zhengs were indeed the traitors and was lucky enough to march on a city absent of its main force, Li Hao would absolutely be supported by Zhang An and Battle Heaven.

Otherwise, conflict with these two was inevitable if they were to take on the ancient cities. Zhang An hadn’t said anything before only because Li Hao hadn’t taken any action. Even Director General Wang had been highly excited when he heard that the Zhengs weren’t the traitors.

Of the eight families, only the Hongs were weaker because their forefather wasn’t strong and their foundations shallow. It could be understood and accepted if they’d turned traitor.

Yuan Shuo could not empathize with Li Hao’s feelings.

“We’ll support you no matter what you do,” said the old man. “But you also need to keep in mind that martial masters tend to be more carefree and unrestrained. You have too many considerations and reservations. You strive for perfection in all aspects, but that doesn’t exist in this world!

“Little Hao...” He looked at his student. The young man halted to look at his master.

“We... will put our lives on the line all the same even without Battle Heaven or Zhang An’s support,” Yuan Shuo said solemnly. “You can put them out of your mind and even be prepared for them to turn on you. They’re conflicted as well—they support us, but also hope to receive the same treatment they enjoyed in New Martial. They even want to be independent of us!

“This situation cannot continue. We take their opinions into consideration in everything we do. Something will break, sooner or later!

“Therefore, you need to prepare for an eruption of full hostilities one day! We cannot continue in this vein. If you choose a city or eliminate it from consideration based on their preferences... You will have subconsciously accepted their interference without any direct action from them!”

Li Hao thought for a bit and inclined his head.

“I understand that, teacher. I’m just doing my best and ensuring I have no regrets! This will be an accounting of myself not only to everyone, but to New Martial as well. If I can obtain evidence of the Zheng betrayal, I will be able to proceed with a clear conscience. I will pay back Battle Heaven and Evenround Martial for all of their help!

"Teacher, sometimes an equal exchange of goods doesn’t mean a full repayment of debt,” Li Hao sighed softly. “Battle Heaven helped me a lot when I was weak. Even their city name has helped me a lot with enlightenment. Director General Wang and the Ninth Division leader have all helped me greatly...”

“Then do as they say,” Yuan Shuo interrupted. “Didn’t Director General Wang say to attack the Hongs? We can proceed as he says and it’s his responsibility if we pick the wrong target!”

He abruptly supported Gan Wuliang’s conclusions in this moment. They could fight the Hongs! It was Battle Heaven’s issue if that turned out to be a mistake.

“Bring them into the fold if you want to proceed this way.” Yuan Shuo looked at his student. “Ask them which family do they think is more likely to be the traitor. We’ll attack whichever one they point to.

“It’s taking a risk no matter how we slice it, so let’s make it a big one! The Zhengs and Hongs are under the greatest suspicion. They need to choose between those two!”

Based on Gan Wuliang’s conjectures, the enemy’s main force should be at the Lius or even Zhous. That left the Zhengs and Hongs open for attack. No matter how those of New Martial chose, it would be within their expectations.

Any problems that developed would have nothing to do with Li Hao. They were the ones who picked the target!

As for the possibility that the New Martial powerhouses wouldn’t pick anyone... It was obvious at this point that there was a traitor in their midst. Would they turn a blind eye and permit the traitors to continue to revitalize?

Yuan Shuo was displaying an extremely selfish side of him at the moment because he felt there was no need to be generous and benevolent. Li Hao and Silver Moon took risks so that those of New Martial could find some comfort. Why was there a need for that?

“Teacher, we think that the Zhengs are the most likely candidate, but we induce them to attack the Hongs,” Li Hao said softly. “If we attack the wrong target... The Hongs are loyal—not only to New Martial, but even more loyal to the Lis!”

“That’s to the Lis and not you.” Yuan Shuo didn’t agree with this point of view. “They would’ve been in contact with you a long time ago if they were loyal to you! You do not represent the Li family. They only recognize the Sword Sovereign of New Martial!”

“I know.” Li Hao nodded. “But teacher, my sword techniques stem from the Sword Sovereign. I’ve made it to my current heights due to the help that Stellaris has bequeathed me. I haven’t really made my way here on my own two feet. In that case, even if they recognize the Sword Sovereign... if we purposefully mislead the New Martial seniors...”

“You idiot!” cursed Yuan Shuo. “What are you worried about this for? To pay back debts of gratitude? What gratitude? You wouldn’t be faced with danger after danger if it wasn’t for being part of the Li family!”

“It’s not to pay back debts of gratitude,” Li Hao shook his head. “Nor is it compromising with New Martial. I just... want to be more honorable!”

“Screw that bullshit! We need to be crafty and devious in battle!” shouted Yuan Shuo. “What talk of honor can there be when you’re weaker than your opponent? Don’t forget that you risk more than yourself these days—you risk the entire Silver Moon martial world and everyone who believes in you!”

Li Hao fell silent.

“I don’t mean it that way.” Yuan Shuo took a deep breath; he felt he’d been too harsh. “I’m just saying that if we’re going to take a risk, you should listen to everyone’s opinion...”

“That’s right.” Li Hao blinked, then nodded. “Then I’ll wait for everyone to get here and ask their opinion. We’ll vote on whether we should go or not!”

“......” Yuan Shuo understood his student’s intentions. The young man didn’t intend to vote on who they should attack, but whether they were willing to join the campaign.

Li Hao had decided on attacking the Zhengs!

The old man was quite resigned. His disciple was as stubborn as a donkey sometimes! What could he say now?

“Their guardian plant spirit is a peach tree,” Yuan Shuo started reeling off. “Or a tree that looks very similar and has disguised itself as a peach tree! It should be a Saint, but doesn’t seem to have recovered by much. I don’t know how much of that is subterfuge.

“We only saw two Gold Armors inside their city. Their exact strength is hard to determine and they kept a very low profile. They weren’t as strong as those in Battle Heaven...

“There are roughly three thousand soldiers inside the city and they’ve recovered to a similar degree as Battle Heaven. They’re not that strong. There’s also airspace restrictions as anyone not a resident or without clearance can fly. Granted, Stellaris might be able to ignore that.

“They have auxiliary plant spirits as well, but I don’t know how many. I simply saw some inside the city. If Battle Heaven has thirty-six of them, the Zhengs should have similar.

“We can ask around for more information—Director General Wang and the others might know more. We can handle the auxiliary plant spirits, but the guardian plant spirit and the Gold Armor we saw today may be beyond our reach. They also have an army stationed in the city. If there’s a commander among them... they could be a Saint!

“That means they possibly have two Saints among their ranks.” Yuan Shuo studied Li Hao. “You won’t be able to do anything to them if you do encounter them.

“There are also special apparatus inside the city that will activate in cases of emergency, including one in their city lord seal. You remember how Battle Heaven used their seal to kill a half crippled Saint? Those contingencies are very dangerous!

“I reiterate what I said before,” Yuan Shuo took a deep breath. “We can fight everyone below Saint and there’s no point resisting if we encounter a Saint.”

Li Hao looked at the sky instead of responding. If they succeeded, it would break the stalemate in the world. The four nations would no longer be a threat and the traitors would become much less urgent. Seizing one of the ancient cities would put them in an ideal spot to both advance and retreat. Everything would change.

It would give him enough time to develop and grow stronger. The gains from this victory would be unimaginable.

But all was lost if he failed. He would lose even New Martial’s support!

If this battle could prove that the Zhengs were the traitors and that the Lius were involved, then whether it was Zhang An or Battle Heaven, neither party would feel justified in wanting Li Hao to cooperate with the ancient cities.

Elimination was the only option!

If they couldn’t accept the outcome of the situation, then the best result was a peaceful breakup of their partnership. The worst would be outright enmity.

Li Hao came to a decision. He had to embark on this path! The changes would be enormous if he succeeded, including his attitude toward New Martial. But... how should they dispatch a Saint?

“Teacher, do you remember that sword stroke?” he asked after staring at the sky for a long while.

“What?”

“That day, when I perceived the bloodline and saw that sword stroke...”

Yuan Shuo’s eyes widened!

“It’s been a very long time since I’ve contemplated the Sword Sovereign’s sword dao.” Li Hao looked at the sky.

“Li Hao!”

“Teacher, do you think I’ll have a different harvest if I try to comprehend that blow again with my current strength?”

“It’s too dangerous!” Yuan Shuo knew about the existence of the seal now. It was far too dangerous to make such an attempt. Li Hao might be stuck in the scene and unable to withdraw, or it might provide an opening for the sealed powerhouse to possess the young man through his bloodline. They were all very exceedingly dangerous undertakings.

“Teacher, then you tell me if the Sword Sovereign’s sword can kill a Saint.”

“Ah...”

“When it comes to sword dao, my physical body can not endure more dao meridians, but I can turn my attention to the acupoints instead of the dao meridians. If I clear one acupoint on each of the 360 dao meridians and complete a simple circulation, it wouldn’t be that difficult to clear 360 acupoints. I won’t have to connect to the Hao Cosmos. Teacher, do you think that’s feasible?”

Yuan Shuo’s face shifted through a variety of expressions. Could it work?

Possibly!

But Li Hao was so strong these days that the world was revitalizing and the seal in the sky loosening. Once the young man delved deep into studying the Sword Sovereign’s dao, he might be dragged elsewhere by the powerhouse in the seal.

That was more dangerous than taking a trip to the Hao Cosmos. At the very least, there were no enemies in the dao universe.