Chapter 1159: Gathering All Sides (II)

The entrance to the mine.

Plant spirits swiftly presented themselves. They were divided into two factions.

The first was that of the imperial guard. It had the right background and proper roots as it was from the imperial palace. While it’d been stationed at a secondary palace that was later abandoned, that did not negate its high status. The plant spirits from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion and Battle Heaven were close to it.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The redwood tree was the leader of the other plant spirit faction. Some of the plant spirits from the wilderness and ones from the minor ruins flocked to it. The jujube tree from Sky Sword Manor that once fought it for favor was also present; it did not follow the imperial guard.

While the imperial guard was closer to Li Hao, it wasn’t strong. And since it was from the imperial palace and related to the Imperial Majesty, it was a lofty and distant official to the redwood and others. In contrast, the redwood represented the common masses.

Although the redwood tree had been a guardian of a communication base station, it did not count as one of the plant spirits at the imperial court. It hailed from the wilderness as well.

Li Hao treated them relatively leniently compared to New Martial. Water of Life and grain could be traded for energy stones. So long as the plant spirit was willing, such transactions could be conducted infinitely.

Many of the plant spirits had recovered a great deal during this duration. Their primary bodies were present in the ruins and their presences were much stronger than before. The plant spirits from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion that’d been on the brink of death were noticeably revitalized.

Since their primary bodies were present, their recovery speed was even faster than the New Martial powerhouses. Li Hao could sense that the redwood’s presence rivaled that of the Ninth Division Leader without a physical body. The tree had likely recovered to peak Immortal.

“Commander!”

“My lord!”

“......” Mental hails sounded from the plant spirits; a variety of honorifics were in use.

Li Hao scanned the crowd and took a count, realizing for the first time that he had thirty-six plant spirits under his command. Part of them came from Battle Heaven, however. The city had sent numerous plant spirits, all of which stayed after defeating Divine Nation. There were also quite a few that’d come to the central region in the first place to recover.

Altogether, there were thirteen from Battle Heaven. They were almost all Apexes, a cultivation level that would not have facilitated survival to modern day if it wasn’t for protection from General Pagoda.

Added to that the imperial guard about to progress in its cultivation, that made for fourteen Apexes among the thirty-six plant spirits. The rest were Immortals. Of them, there was more than one peak Immortal.

This was quite a strong force!

Except, these plant spirits were slightly weaker than their New Martial peers because they did not know proper battle methods. Their heritages were a disordered mess.

When it came to New Martial strength, it stemmed from humans. The monster spirits were much weaker than their primordial era counterparts.

“I have been running to and fro these days on various errands. This means I have not shown the seniors proper hospitality!” Li Hao was quite polite from the onset.

“Not at all,” the plant spirits immediately transmitted back. “The commander is beset with important duties from day to night. It is already our greatest fortune that we can cultivate here...”

The redwood’s voice was the loudest; it was a very crafty and shrewd being. Lin Hongyu had benefited from the redwood’s patronage in being able to set foot into mid Sun and Moon. The redwood had secretly sent much Water of Life for Lin Hongyu’s cultivation.

Li Hao hadn’t said anything about those gestures. To win over a plant spirit’s support was testament to Lin Hongyu’s skill.

The young man nodded with a smile. “I’ve just seized Boundless and killed its guardian peach tree. I have some trunks of Saint-level plant spirits after that battle, but they’re a bit tattered. I don’t know if it’s useful to the seniors...”

The plant spirits rustled with shock at his words. Those completely unaware of the situation were too stunned for words. Seized Boundless city? How was that possible?

“It is such a pity that New Martial powerhouses are not willing to help me,” Li Hao continued. “Only a select few such as Director General Wang were willing to lend me a hand. While we eliminated three Saints and dozens of Immortals in the fight, my teacher, Director Hou, Martial Uncle Southern Fist, and others were unable to return with me!”

Those words caused further unrest.

The imperial guard had been part of that battle! But it kept a very low profile and did not say a word after its return. That left the other plant spirits in the dark about the details. The redwood, in particular, was equally horrified as it was shocked.

Li Hao’s group had killed three Saints by themselves?

“Commander,” it asked carefully, deathly afraid of drawing anger. “Did... did Dean Zhang... join the attack force?”

“No.”

The answer completely flabbergasted the plant spirits. What did the commander mean by his words?

Are we useless now because New Martial powerhouses refuse to fight with him? And more importantly, he killed three Saints by himself!

“It’s a good thing we won, and not only that, but we went on to exterminate the sun god, god of darkness, and prophecy god of Divine Nation. That’s six Saints total, setting a firm foundation for an invincible Skystar!”

The plant spirits quailed with trepidation. So Li Hao had killed that many Saints? The strongest among them was only peak Immortal.

“Of course, I’ve obtained a few people’s support after this battle.” Li Hao smiled faintly. “Battle Heaven is willing to support me with its full force and its Saints are willing to march under my banner...”

Those from Battle Heaven sagged with relief. Damn, that’d been a frightening few moments!

“Senior Capsize Sea of the Sea Pacification line has offered to enter a partnership and fight for Skystar, for Silver Moon. I declined the senior a few times, but it was so enthusiastic and full of justice. It only asked for me to retain its position after I unify the world. It is willing to march throughout the land for me. That was truly... something I couldn’t turn down!”

The plant spirits looked at each other. It was... to be expected that Li Hao would abruptly receive Battle Heaven and the Sea Pacification Envoy’s support after razing Boundless. The Sea Pacification Envoy was also a monster spirit leader, it just wasn’t too close to plant spirits.

“Commander, we are willing to fight for you as well!” the redwood said swiftly before the imperial guard could wrap its mind around all of the happenings. “We will march for justice and light! Except, our strength is so meager that we are likely unable to stand against Saints.

“However, we make up for it in numbers! With so many of us acting in concert, even Saints will have to meet their end with bitter hatred!

“We have been absorbing energy from the Skystar mine during this time. I can even feel that my body is heading toward the Saint cultivation level! Although we lack the tempering of core origin dao, the current Saint level only looks at one’s body, blood qi, battle methods, and weapons...”

“Me too!” The imperial guard finally gathered its wits. It was still too young at the end of the day. It lacked the redwood tree’s thick trunk—ah, skin.

“It’s too dangerous outside and my enemies are a complicated mix,” Li Hao smiled. “Perhaps... there will be some of your former supervisors or imperial descendants among them...”

“The commander jests,” the redwood hastily continued the line of conversation. “It is because of these complicated times that we must follow the commander, the descendant of the Sword Sovereign. We will annihilate all enemies and return serenity to Silver Moon!

“This world was the commander’s to begin with. Whether it is the other exalted emperors or their descendants, Silver Moon world belongs to the Sword Sovereign!” The redwood outright proclaimed Li Hao’s legitimacy. “The commander does not need to unduly humble himself. There is no one in this world more befitting of leadership than the commander!

“Even during New Martial, the commander would be the Sword Sovereign’s direct heir since you obtained Stellaris’ recognition. You are the crown prince of Silver Moon...”

“Stellaris is broken,” sighed Li Hao. “It self-detonated to ensure our victory at Boundless.”

“Heavens above, only the Sword Sovereign could detonate his personal weapon,” gasped the redwood. “It looks like Stellaris highly recognized the commander and even viewed you as the Sword Sovereign.

“Otherwise, how else could you have detonated the weapon forged by the Human King? In some ways, this means that the will of the Human King recognized the commander and acknowledged your control over Stellaris!”

The redwood was beside itself with amazement, whereas its words seemed to make sense to the other plant spirits. They’d been shocked by the demise of Stellaris, but all of it culminated in this conclusion.

It was true that it would take a descendant of the Lis, recognition from the Sword Sovereign, recognition from the Human King to break the sword that represented the Sword Sovereign. That did indeed make Li Hao the crown prince of Silver Moon world!

Li Hao looked at the redwood and smiled. How interesting! He wouldn’t have realized it before Capsize Sea reminded him that these plant spirits were also great talents. This redwood tree, in particular, had been highly irritating when it curried favor before. But today, it hit all the right notes!

Just listen to that!

When other people heard of Stellaris exploding, they would surely wail that they were doomed. The legitimacy of the world was no more!

But to the redwood tree, it was such a glorious demonstration! It meant that both the Human King and Sword Sovereign recognized Li Hao. There was no greater indication of legitimacy than this!

“It would be wonderful if everyone thought the same,” Li Hao sighed and didn’t continue with the redwood’s line of thinking. “Of course, this isn’t important either, what’s important is that...”

He paused with indecision, but continued with a sigh, “It’s said that once Silver Moon world connects with the main world again, those who have died will possibly come back to life. However, those spots are limited to the senior executives and imperial descendants.

“I’ll set aside whether or not we can reconnect with the main world. Even if we can, I’ve heard that the senior plant spirits lack exalted emperors in your lineage. Even General Pagoda’s forefather was not an exalted emperor. Without that level of august personage... you will not be able to be resurrected if you so happen to die.

“I wanted everyone to help me, but that seems entirely too dangerous!” Li Hao looked around with resignation. “New Martial powerhouses may be revived if they die, but does the Human King remember who all of you are? Who will come to mind for the Human King and have that glorious figure resurrect them? Will General Pagoda be given such face?”

“......” The premises were quiet.

Li Hao looked at the imperial guard. “Imperial Guard, you are the guard of the imperial palace. It’s said that your father once received help from the cat tree—strongest of the plant spirits. Do you have a chance of resurrection if you die in battle?”

“Ah...” The imperial guard hesitated before responding, “My father... is dead. The palace has been abandoned. Senior Cat Tree likely does not know who I am, so how would it revive me? Not to mention, the senior only extended a casual gesture to my father. It may have long forgotten who it once helped...”

“What about you guys?” Li Hao looked at the descendants of the pagoda tree. “The forefather of the pagoda tree lineage is said to be the companion plant spirit of the Exalted Pagoda Emperor...”

None of the plant spirits responded.