Chapter 1160: Gathering All Sides (III)

An Apex-level pagoda tree intoned after a while, “The Exalted Pagoda Emperor... was prudent and cautious to a fault. He was deathly afraid of attracting attention and his reputation wasn’t the best... He will not trouble the great Human King on our account.

“It’s not just us, but even if the Sacred Pagoda fell in battle, he would not take a risk for our forefather and request its resurrection...”

The Exalted Pagoda Emperor of ill repute wanted nothing more than to hide in the cracks so he would never be noticed. How would he ask the Human King for a favor if a few plant spirits died? They were just his companion plant spirit’s descendants and not even the plant spirit itself.

“I see!” Li Hao sighed. “Then it is a good thing I didn’t bring you with me in the previous campaigns. Otherwise... if you’d fallen in battle... you would’ve been unable to return even after contact was reestablished with the main world. Thank goodness!”

However, the plant spirits were saddened by his words. That was right! The New Martial heavyweights were unafraid of death, given the presence of the exalted emperors. Everyone dead would be revived once the minor world returned to the embrace of the main world.

If the minor world was unable to return, that meant that New Martial was possibly no more. In that case, death would be a release.

But what about them?

They had no hope whatsoever!

Plant spirits of recent ages were too weak, despite several exalted emperors being present in their historical lineage. This immensely depressed the assembled plant spirits.

“If the commander assumes control over the world...” the redwood suddenly said. “Does the commander not possess the skill of resurrection? The commander already wields the dao universe of the new dao.”

“My enemies are strong and numerous. “Li Hao shook his head. “I cannot offer the guarantee of becoming master of the minor world. There are even rumors of exalted emperors being sealed within the world! Those of Silver Moon proper have only just come into their strength...”

“Why does the commander utter such words? It took only a few short years for the Human King to come into his strength!” The redwood abruptly grasped the young man’s true meaning. “Not to mention, the commander controls one major dao universe. I’m sure that it is only a matter of time before Yuan Shuo and the rest return. If the commander also becomes lord over the world, then would the plant spirits need to fear death? It's just...

“Plant spirits are not strong,” sighed the redwood. “The commander may not think much of us...”

“Now, just listen to yourself,” chuckled Li Hao. “All living beings have their own skills. In my view, plant spirits are critical! They are vital when it comes to Water of Life and raising crops. Wouldn’t this world be bleak and desolate if it wasn’t for plant spirits?

“All life is born with its own advantages. Battle is not necessarily everything. Not to mention, the seniors are not weak when it comes to fighting. Senior Redwood is almost a Saint!

“Except, you would be thinking too much of me if you guys expect me to revitalize all of you. At the same time, I would not forget you if I did have the ability to do so. There are not that many in the world who are closely affiliated with me.

“They say that it is hard to conquer the world—if I really can manage such a feat, how would I forget those who helped them to that position? That is not the mark of a king and emperor! Even if I did, those who survive would not permit me to forget...”

The plant spirits were starting to understand the young man’s intentions! Li Hao had said so much just to pave the way for this speech.

Follow me. You will not need to worry about your deaths if I win and become master of the world. I will control the world and the great dao. I will remember you and resurrect you!

The young man painted a grand picture and built a building on foundations of air. But at least, he provided some hope.

If New Martial really was no longer or if the minor world was unable to return to New Martial even after someone became its overlord, then... did Li Hao stand a chance of becoming the master of the world?

If everything goes well, might we become the first batch of plant spirits in the new world?

There had been no exalted emperor plant spirits in New Martial. Those did exist in prior years, but the Human King killed them. Of the later plant spirits, the strongest tree was the cat tree of the Green Emperor. Even that one did not make it to exalted emperor.

Could they turn the situation around in the new world?

Those assembled didn’t have time to think over the matter before the redwood tree projected the image of a middle-aged man.

“Prior to today, the commander saved us from perilous circumstances and helped us recover,” it proclaimed solemnly. “He is even willing to help us resurrect upon death! Plant spirits are the lowest level of existence in any age. But today, the redwood is willing to serve at the commander’s beck and call!

“Death is the worst possible fate that can await us. If the commander triumphs against and expels strong foes, then we plant spirits will be able to stand at the peak of the world! So long as the commander does not think less of us for our weakness, then redwood is willing to risk death for the commander!”

The middle-aged man prepared to sink to one knee when he was finished. Li Hao quickly stepped forward to prevent the other from kneeling.

“The senior speaks too gravely!” he said seriously.

The other plant spirits came to their senses at this point. All of them followed the jujube tree’s lead and echoed the redwood tree.

“We are willing to serve at the commander’s beck and call! We are willing to risk death for the commander! We only hope that the commander does not forget the sincere loyalty of the plant spirits...”

In times past, Li Hao never showed signs of wanting to recruit the plant spirits to his banner. They’d always felt that they were subordinates working for a supervisor. They had no place at the table in major matters and could only contribute some Water of Life in minor matters.

For some reason, Li Hao had changed his mind today. Redwood and a few other plant spirits swiftly seized the chance and rose with the opportunity. The redwood tree and Li Hao reached a tacit understanding in the blink of an eye.

The imperial guard realized what was at hand as well and quickly said, “I am also willing to risk death for the commander...”

It was a bit regretful that it took so long for it to react. The redwood had said everything it could say! It was the leader of the plant spirits, but now the redwood had stolen its recognition.

Damn it!

It was still too young at the end of the day!

“But it’s too dangerous.” Li Hao frowned. “My enemies are not Saints, they might be Empyrean Kings or even exalted emperors...”

“Since time immemorial, struggles for supremacy have always started from the participants being weak,” the redwood hastily refuted. “They grow stronger with each battle! There are currently many limitations levied on the strong. This is an enormous opportunity for us! If we can kill our foes, that would be enormous nutrition for our own dao!

“There are many Immortals among the plant spirits. Perhaps we will find it impossible to fight an Empyrean King, but we can still challenge a Saint or two if we work together!”

Li Hao was feeling a very complicated mix of emotions during this conversation. Something had been awry with his mentality before he destroyed Boundless. He’d been focused on the Saints, on Zhang An, Battle Heaven, and Evenround Martial.

Would the outcome have been different if he’d come to recruit these plant spirits and the Sea Pacification Envoy first?

Granted, perhaps the envoy would not have been so polite before that battle. It was much more polite because he could kill Saints now. If it wasn’t for that battle and the fact that he’d eliminated six Saints, these plant spirits may not be so amenable to him.

Did he regret anything?

Li Hao forced down the bubbling regret in his heart!

There is nothing to regret. If I win and control the great dao, I will be able to bring back teacher and the others. If I cannot, I will have lost and died. I will see teacher and the rest all the same.

He tamped down all of his emotions.

“The seniors are so sincere that it would be an affront to the world and the seniors’ trust if I continue to refuse you,” Li Hao said softly. “In that case, I can offer you this assurance. I am willing to swear in the name of the great dao and its aura that if any senior dies in battle, I will bring them back when I master the great dao!

“If there is no need for resurrection, then I will help the seniors when I become an emperor. There will be at least one exalted emperor to emerge from the plant spirits!” Li Hao reached into the air with a solemn expression. The world shattered and great dao ran through the air. A golden age floated down for the dao universe.

Looking on gravely, the young man dripped one drop of blood onto the page. It erupted with scintillating radiance!

“I will ask the seniors to leave your names in this booklet,” Li Hao said as he wrote characters of his own. “I am worried that I might forget, that the world might forget you. In that case, I will leave this page and the characters of great dao amid the Hao Cosmos! My vow will stand so long as the great dao stands! Since the seniors fight for the new era, the new era must bequeath you with unbounded glory!”

The plant spirits were highly excited, nervous, and agitated. Those such as the redwood and others thought even more of Li Hao’s words. This was physical evidence of declaration of intent! A golden booklet of dao!

Were there other uses for this item?

Who knew!

But they were going to write their names down, they had to! The commander had already spoken thus. Wouldn’t they be going against the young man if they refused to put their name down?

The golden page continuously emitted the luminescence of great dao as it rested in Li Hao’s hands.

“I want the golden booklet of dao to live eternal throughout the world so that later descendants of Silver Moon will remember everything that has transpired!” The stately young man declared in ringing tones. “I will record every single person who put forth effort, and how much, in the early days of the new era! All life is to remember this!

“It is not only humans, but beast spirits, plant spirits, spirits of the world, the spirit of great dao that is to commit this to memory! The seniors have not been rooted in the new dao yet, but that is fine. After I study the new dao in greater detail, I will be able to help the various seniors to change your paths. Your strength will not fade with the new dao, it is simply shifting your path over. I am well versed in this!”

The plant spirits were quite excited to hear Li Hao say this.

The young man wrote down his name in flowing characters upon the golden page; the world shook when he completed the final stroke! It then hovered in front of the redwood tree.

“Use your core origin dao to write your name,” Li Hao instructed in an odd tone. “This will help familiarize you with the new dao ahead of time. This will leave behind some core origin dao in the Hao Cosmos, helping me observe which dao is a better match to each of the seniors.

“When the match is identified and the switch is complete, the seniors might be able to reach new heights in cultivation!”

The redwood tree’s heart trembled, but it didn’t say anything. It summoned its core origin dao, utilizing the remnants of core origin strength to brand its name onto the page—Redwood Mountain.

So they have their own names.

Li Hao was too embarrassed to say that out loud. He was too used to calling them by their species. But upon further thought, it was very normal for intelligent spirits to have their own names. Otherwise, once a species produced multiple major monster spirits, they couldn’t all be called Redwood or Pagoda.

The redwood had seized the first spot; the imperial guard swiftly appeared in the next second. The projection of the imperial palace manifested and it used the image to mark its name on the page—Imperial Guard!

Li Hao had given it that name; it didn’t have one at first.