Chapter 1419: A Great Age of Prosperity (III)

Off to the side, the quiet Sky Sword suddenly spoke up. “Hou Xiaochen, in the mirage I saw, you were yelling that you wanted to marry Yu Luocha. Was that true?”

Hou Xiaochen blinked.

Oh shit, you guys saw that too? Did everyone see the same thing?

He Yong’s face twitched and he cursed inaudibly. Had they all seen the same thing? If that was the case, then old fart Northern Fist had been doing all that on purpose! He was such an asshole!

Yuan Shuo’s form appeared in the void as well. He was slightly out of it for a moment and looked toward his student. Li Hao looked back at him at the same time, forcing back a Saint with a mighty slash.

“Teacher, there is no doubt that we will win this battle,” said the young man. “The illusory realm just wanted to destroy our confidence. It’s not worth dwelling on. I have a hunch that I will advance even further after this battle!”

Yuan Shuo looked dazedly at Li Hao, then at the others. They were all fighting ferociously, as they had been before. But... things seemed different now.

Northern Fist, Sky Sword, Earthturner Sword...

Everyone was here, but the going didn’t seem as arduous as he recalled. Their opponents all seemed to be incredibly weak and easily fell to a single blow. Even the disciple in front of him seemed different.

Yuan Shuo fought fiercely before suddenly withdrawing his fists. As Li Hao jerked with surprise, the old man permitted Zheng Gong to run him through.

“What’s going on here?” Yuan Shuo frowned at Li Hao.

“......” The young man didn’t know what to say.

Yuan Shuo shook his head. “This is... a bit weird. I think I’ve had a similar experience in a dream. You went back to the past to visit me once, and you looked very much like you do today. How strange!”

Li Hao paused.

So that... really remained in your memories?

Yuan Shuo rubbed his head and looked at Li Hao, at the sky, then around him. Everything seemed real.

“I seem to have suddenly gained a few more memories.” Yuan Shuo considered Li Hao anew. “You little bastard, what have you done to me now? Did I... die in battle?”

“......” Li Hao didn’t make a sound.

“Are you resurrecting me?”

“......”

“Then what are you doing all this for?”

“To experience it all again!” Li Hao said after a beat.

Yuan Shuo understood; he nodded with bemusement. “That’s not a bad idea, but... you’re still a little bastard. So those of us who died are in the dark, and those guys... they know, do they?”

“They don’t.”

“I knew there was something off about them!”

“How did you figure it out, teacher?” Li Hao asked with reassignment.

“I know what you’re up to as soon as you stick out your butt!”

Li Hao was truly wordless. That line seemed so familiar.

I’ve heard it before.

The young man smiled broadly, but was still curious. “So teacher means to say that some things have suddenly popped up in your memory? That I once visited you?”

“They weren’t that clear before, but sharpened into focus this time. You came to me once—not now, but a long time ago, before you started learning martial dao.”

Li Hao was confused whether these were memories that had just been born, or if they’d truly always existed.

Forget it, he couldn’t figure it out!

It was too complicated!

He hadn’t thought that his teacher would see through him so easily. This was... quite a helpless situation.

“So... should we continue, teacher?”

“Of course!” Yuan Shuo nodded, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward. He hurtled toward Jadelight Sword beneath him and screamed with determination, “How dare you hurt Jadelight Sword! You court death!”

“......” Li Hao blinked. Jadelight Sword blinked as well, then was extremely touched by the sentiment.

Yuan Shuo... hadn’t forgotten herself even at a time like this... There... really was nothing more that she could say. Savoring the warmth in her heart, she let the man wrap his arm around her. He was... such a protector!

Yuan Shuo growled with grim resolve, “We will emerge victorious! Silver Moon martial masters are invincible! Everyone, follow me to light and glory!”

“......” Li Hao started in the air, then started laughing helplessly. What the heck was going on here? Why was his teacher suddenly playing the role of a male lead in a teenage romance novel?

Although you know the truth, you don’t bother asking me what’s happened, what’s changed, and what the situation is now. Instead, your first reaction is to chase after a girl!

I really want to... punch you back into the past!

Li Hao felt incredibly soul weary!

There’s so much going on, but you don’t care about any of that?

As Yuan Shuo was, so was Southern Fist. He barreled around the battlefield with incredible aggression and yelled, “Come get your daddy!! Who says New Martial’s invincible?! Southern Fist of Silver Moon, He Yong, is undefeated!!”

His charged cries and random insults peppered the battlefield.

Not far from the rampaging He Yong, Hou Xiaochen had his arms around Yu Luocha. They looked at each other with a smile, an unspoken veil between them swept aside. The Flaming Phoenix Spear swept through the world, unstoppable and undeniable in its momentum!

Yu Luocha was his perfect complement as she launched palm strike after palm strike, smacking a powerhouse to death!

Further away, Liu Long swung his ax and cleaved a strong enemy into two. He looked up into the sky, perplexed. So all of that had been an illusion?

Then, can we win this time?

Who knows!

A figure appeared in the sky as he wondered, prompting general joy. It was Zhang An! He was here! There was hope for this battle!

Zhang An hovered in the air with some curiosity, bafflement, and a hint of an inexplicable feeling. He called out softly, “New Martial will take care of its traitors!”

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He hadn’t had the chance to do so last time, but this time... he had an opportunity to rectify all of his regrets.

How interesting!

Li Hao roared loudly, “With Dean Zhang here, we are fated to win! Kill!”

Intense and relentless battle broke out once more. However, some people knew that this was all fake. As Northern Fist and the others fought around He Yong and the newly revived, they could barely resist the urge to ask a few questions and strike up a conversation. If it wasn’t for the endless killing intent locked onto them from Li Hao’s side... they really wanted to chat with their long-lost comrades.

Li Hao was keeping them under close scrutiny, ready to eliminate anyone who revealed the truth. No one dared say a word out of character. Besides, this was fun!

Only these dolts were being kept in the dark. Those in the know could have some fun in the days to come, this was so exciting!

We’ve spent so much of our recent days in fear and pain, they have to experience some of the same as well!

......

At the same time.

Li Hao walked out of the long river, leaving a replica inside. The river was still flowing and everyone remained within the waters.

Celestial Pole had stayed out of the proceedings. He was so strong that he might interfere with the flow of time if he entered the river. He clucked his tongue with astonishment. “This is truly something! This is incredible! Your resurrection method and this way of awakening them... I have to say, this is top class!”

But...

Celestial Pole’s upraised brows knitted together in a frown. “Is this worth it? Why not just wake them and fill them in on what’s happened? If you really must, you can create a mirage that shows them everything. You’re almost out of your lifespan, aren’t you?”

Each utilization of time was an instance of consumption. Li Hao was almost bald! His long hair was falling out. This was a sign of the passage of time.

The young man was in no hurry and smiled instead. “What are you in a rush for? I’m going to leave Silver Moon first and will be struck by the chaos tribulation as soon as I’m out. I have a chance of reaching exalted emperor if I don’t die from it!

“Half step emperors live for at least three hundred years, exalted emperors for at least one million! I’m just expending the lifespan of a half step emperor at the moment. If I survive the tribulation, I’ll probably be an exalted emperor. That’ll be another seven hundred thousand years then, why would I be afraid of this?”

Celestial Pole sensed something different about Li Hao—there was a lot less of murderous bent to his words. This was good!

The young man had been so hellbent on his goals before that Celestial Pole didn’t really dare get too close. This time, Li Hao’s methods pushed the envelope so much that he couldn’t help but satisfy his curiosity.

He didn’t say anything else and just watched the long river slowly trickle by. The people inside seemed to be experiencing everything anew.

“Do you need me to participate in the grand battle to come?” Celestial Pole smiled.

“Nope!” Li Hao laughed as well. “You can take a break, senior. If a half step emperor joins, I’ll probably run out of lifespan before the river reaches present time again.”

“Your teacher is an interesting one...” A cheerful Celestial Pole peered into the river. Li Hao’s teacher seemed to be feeling up Jadelight Sword.

Li Hao waved his hand with a sigh and obscured the waters. “My teacher is a carefree individual and is helping Martial Aunt Jadelight Sword recover from her wounds!”

“......” Celestial Pole cackled. Who believed that?

Recover from her wounds huh? Then where are his hands going for that?

He wasn’t familiar with Li Hao’s teacher, but knew of the man. Who would’ve thought that Yuan Shuo would be a lecherous old fart?

Granted, these people were all children in his eyes.

“How much longer?” asked Celestial Pole.

Li Hao took a look at the river and said, “The river’s waters continue to flow, so it won’t be long now. The battle of Boundless was over during the few words we exchanged, so they’ll be back with us in about three to four days!”

“I must say again, this really is something!” Celestial Pole repeated with appreciation. “Not only will this be a seamless reintegration for them, but the others can repeat past experiences and mull over their comprehensions. They have a do over for anything they might’ve missed the first time. If you threw in some people who didn’t know what was going on, they would think that they’d been reborn!”

Rebirth!

Perhaps that was the most accurate way of describing it.

If they threw in someone who knew what had taken place before, but wasn’t part of Li Hao’s inner circle, then... some interesting situations might happen. They might think that they had been reborn to a time when Li Hao was yet to fully come into his power.