Chapter 1154: Reaching An Accord (IV)

The Battle Heaven senior executives looked at each other; Li Daozong shook his head.

“Even if you are a Saint and the two guardians take the field, plus me... Our enemy has walked the path of the Empyrean King for many years. We are not enough! While four Saints stand a chance, it is not enough to kill him! It would take at least six Saints for a surefire chance!”

That many?

Li Hao frowned.

“Then... if we revitalize the reserve commander and bring a couple late Sun and Moon with us...”

“That’s still not enough!” Li Daozong continued shaking his head. “Guardian Turtle is adept only at defense and General Pagoda is not skilled at offense either. When it comes to me, my method of attack decrees that I cannot do battle for long.

“The same goes for the reserve commander—he commands the reserve

defenders.

So... you can tell that he focuses on defense. It will be no use even if you’re strong at offense. You need at least another premier heavyweight as a fellow attacker!”

A headache beset Li Hao. Where was he supposed to find a premier Saint to lead the attack with him?

The group exchanged glances with each other, quite conflicted for the moment.

“Zhang...” the old turtle suddenly said after a while. “Forget it, let’s not speak of Commissioner Zhang. Li Hao, I hear you’ve struck an agreement with Martial Alliance? They are known for offense among the eight cities! Battle Heaven is as well, but our main attack force has left. None of our premier attackers remain.

“Isn’t the second elder of Martial Alliance still present? He is skilled at offense and a Saint. The first six of Martial Alliance’s nine elders are almost all Saints. Only the last three are Immortals...”

Their nine elders were on par with nine commanders. Their positions were even higher than the Ninth Division leader. Last time Li Hao met the seventh elder, the elder was only peak Immortal. The young man smiled at the thought. So he’d happened to meet with one of the weaker elders.

The second elder, was it?

The Zhaos were a practiced hand at attacking and their ancestor, Alliance Head Zhao, was skilled with the blade. The city lord of the Zhao main city was his son and practiced the fist. The nine elders came from a variety of families and sects.

Would... they agree to his proposal?

Li Hao was willing to partner Battle Heaven, but he wasn’t that kindly disposed toward the other ancient cities. Indecision momentarily paralyzed him.

“We need another Saint?”

“If you want to take out the imposter, I think it’s safer for us to locate another Saint or even more than one. We don’t know what the enemy’s strength is. He is at least an Empyrean King. But if he’s a half step emperor... then not even ten Saints will be enough!”

Li Hao sank into deep thought. “Then I’ll give it a try... I’ll be out of ideas if they don’t agree. We have to try even if they don’t agree.

“I’m not purposefully dragging the seniors onto a risky adventure, but that the imposter may have found something. Enormous trouble might develop once they get in touch with their co-conspirators. Barren Dynasty is also nearby. More trouble might develop when they are exterminated. I must neutralize the imposter to prevent the unexpected from happening!”

Otherwise, Red Dust would successfully contact the imposter if Barren Dynasty was out of the picture. Red Dust would enter the ruins and fully grasp the method to neutralize the exalted emperor by the time the second awakening began.

That would not be ideal for Li Hao’s faction, not by far. Therefore, he was going to kill however many as he could before they convened.

Empyrean Kings were hard to deal with. The young man ran through calculations in his mind. Perhaps he needed to plan this out more. These people would not easily leave their cities and the world was weaker than before. Their presence might easily cause the seal to break.

But... would help be forthcoming from the Zhaos? There was no one else he could call upon.

“There might be plants from the enemy among the Zhaos,” Director General Wang suddenly said. “I think it’s better to not alarm our enemies beforehand. We have a grasp of the situation in Battle Heaven, but the same does not go for the Zhaos. If you really must locate more reinforcements, I suggest you go to someone else.”

“Who?”

“The descendant of the Sea Pacification Envoy!”

Li Hao blinked.

“The monster spirit is a better choice!” Director General Wang smiled. “It commands the four seas and the Sea Pacification Envoy was on good terms with the Li family back in the day. It was also close to the Sword Sovereign! Not only that, but its lineage is different from other factions in that there are no auxiliary branches in its family—every descendant is from the direct lineal line! The Sea Pacification Envoy is even stronger than the Monster Spirit Envoy!”

Li Hao blinked again. Wasn’t the latter a higher position than the Sea Pacification Envoy?

“The Sea Pacification Envoy is a monster spirit and its position is lower than the Monster Spirit Envoy simply because the Human King met the latter first. He has known the Sea Pacification Envoy for a shorter period of time. Capsize Sea is a direct descendant of the Sea Pacification Envoy and very strong!

“Its true form is a cow with unbounded strength. It's very suited for combat. I recall that it showed a friendly face to you last time you met—it probably wishes to join your banner.”

“I... uh... wasn’t that friendly in return...” the young man said awkwardly.

I basically ignored the guy...

“So what of it?” smiled Director General Wang. “It might not take it to heart. Not to mention, if you bring it with you to have fun in the world—ahem, to broaden its horizons and take in the sights of the world—

ahem,

to battle by your side... It will surely be very happy!”

Li Hao wanted to roll his eyes.

You could’ve just stopped at having fun.

“Very well!” The young man nodded after pondering the topic. “What does everyone think about the Sea Pacification Envoy’s strength?”

“It’s very strong!” responded the old turtle. “Any descendant of the Sea Pacification Envoy is certain to be strong as well. I wouldn’t have matched it even at my peak! Since it is a pure monster spirit, its physical body probably still remains. Monster spirits are so durable that even Ole Pagoda is likely no match.”

General Pagoda nodded; the plant spirit didn’t refute that point.

“Alright, then I’ll give it a try,” Li Hao decided. “I’ll also visit the Skystar Town ruin and bring back some energy stones, Water of Life, and that tattered Empyrean King body. We need to be quick. Something may be brewing with Barren Dynasty as that traitor Red Dust will not be satisfied with his failure. He’s probably got his eyes set on Barren now.

“He’ll have to spend some time making preparations since Barren possesses desolate beasts... then I’ll visit our reserve commander when I return! I’ll borrow the city’s characters when I return as well.

“Everyone, please do not say anything to anyone else for now. I don’t wish the traitors to learn of our plans.”

The group nodded. Even the Eighth Division leader didn’t oppose this request. Li Hao quickly departed, leaving Director General Wang in the city.

The young man had met the Sea Pacification Envoy twice, but never conversed deeply with it. He could gain a deeper understanding of the situation this time. After all, he’d overlooked this powerhouse of the four seas on many occasions.

He also needed to check in on Panther when he returned to the mine. The dog had spent way too much time in seclusion in search of its dao meridians. Everyone from Silver City was gone, only the dog remained. Thankfully, communication was possible between the two of them. Thank goodness it’d been in closed door cultivation last time. Panth would probably also be no more if it’d been part of the battle force.

Battle Heaven had agreed with relative decisiveness; Li Hao was satisfied. This was also to be expected as this wasn’t their first partnership. Those he’d spoken to were well aware of his situation. There were no drawbacks to working with him.

Li Hao had also felt that while Li Daozong didn’t fully express himself, the Ninth Division leader had spoken in his defense on many occasions. The stony-faced commander was quite reliable when it came down to it, huh?

The young man soon reached the North Sea after departing from Battle Heaven. He headed toward the depths, not waiting for the Sea Pacification Envoy to come to him. That was where its residence would be.

......

The North Sea.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Capsize Sea was busily snoring away. Its replica couldn’t even be bothered to walk around outside. Apart from the two times it set forth to greet Li Hao, it spent the rest of its time asleep. There was nothing for it to do in the outside world before everything revitalized.

Enormous golden eyes abruptly snapped open. It teleported away from its spot, reappearing at the door of its residence. There was an outlet of the sea located there and a vortex churning through it.

Capsize Sea remained in cow form, as opposed to taking human form. Confusion dawned in its eyes before it rumbled, “Has the descendant of the Lis come in search of me?”

Li Hao’s form appeared outside of the vortex. The young man’s voice rang through the agitating water, “This junior has come to visit and call upon the senior!”

“What a pleasure to have a friend come from afar!” Capsize Sea searched through its memory for an appropriate greeting. The vortex hummed with activity, permitting Li Hao to walk through the air.

“I’m here to trouble the senior!”

“Not at all, this is a great honor!” The monster spirit Saint was quite pleasant. It sized up the young man and nodded. “Not bad, not bad! You have the bearing of your ancestor! The Sword Sovereign was renowned throughout the world and his sword intent unparalleled. Yours looks strong too, you’ll be known through the world one day as well! There is much to be expected from the name of Demon Sword. You may not be weaker than your ancestor!”

Li Hao laughed. This cow spirit was rather interesting. Was this currying favor with him? The monster spirit was a Saint! He’d thought it was an Immortal before, what an underestimation!

The young man took a slight breath at seeing Capsize Sea’s radiant body. “Senior’s... body... seems to be complete... Ah...”

Had it not decayed through the years?

“Energy is denser within the four seas,” Capsize Sea’s laughter echoed through the area. “Plus, this place is connected to the Forbidden Sea. Some energy entered the four seas after the Forbidden Sea revitalized. The mines within the seas also possess dense energy and have not been fought over by people...”

In other words, the monster spirit’s battle strength had remained in peak form all this time. Li Hao was quite surprised!

Capsize Sea was equally surprised. Why was the young man suddenly asking about this? Additionally, it’d met the young man twice before. Although Li Hao had been polite, he was also perfunctory. What was he doing here today?

Li Hao was growing embarrassed by the lack of familiarity between the two. He struggled with how to broach his intentions.

“Descendant of the Lis, I am still the Sea Pacification Envoy of Silver Moon even though the Sword Sovereign is no longer here,” the monster spirit said first. “I bear the responsibility of safeguarding a locale’s safety. Have you come because something that threatens the world is about to take place?”