Chapter 264: City Gates Open (I)

When Hao Lianchuan looked at the trio, Li Hao said, “Director... You guys should do whatever you want. The rest of you don’t need to pay attention to me either. I won’t be going through the second passageway and I won’t be entering the city. I’ll just wait here for you, is that alright?”

The crowd blinked. What was Li Hao staying for, if he didn’t want to enter the city? Enlightenment was quickly forthcoming.

“Director Hou’s outside, no one will dare touch you!” Hao Lianchuan explained.

“I’m not familiar with Director Hou, I’m more familiar with Director Hao.” Li Hao smiled. “If there’s anyone who I can rely on in the Night Watchers, it would be Director Hao!” The young man then turned to Hu Dingfang. “General Hu brims with a just air and is incredibly strong. I feel more at ease when I’m with the two of you!”

These words scratched an itch in Hao Lianchuan and Hu Dingfang’s heart. Although the young man wasn’t necessarily being sincere, they were so wonderful to hear!

“Then I’ll stay here to protect Li Hao,” Liu Long offered. “Liu Yan, you should leave with Director Zhou and the others!”

The woman wasn’t strong enough, so it would be too dangerous if she continued to remain.

Liu Yan didn’t protest or put on a show of sticking with them through life or death. That would only drag her comrades down instead. She quickly nodded, glanced at Liu Long and Li Hao, and softly said, “Then I’ll head out at midnight!”

Wang Ming sidled up to them with a chuckle. “Li Hao, I’ll be staying as well, I’ll protect you! Do you think I should try the second passageway?”

He was contemplating his next course of action. Although he’d set foot into Sunflare at a very young age, he hadn’t been able to do much on this excavation. Hence, he was a bit dissatisfied at how things had turned out. but it was indeed too dangerous to enter the inner city if he couldn’t fly. Even escape would be hard then.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“You should do as you wish.” Li Hao flicked a glance at him. “But it’s very dangerous, so you need to think over it carefully.”

Wang Ming started agonizing over his decision again and didn’t say anything. The various other factions were also deep in discussion. A certain portion of them needed to leave with the Black Armors. Their gains had been significant, even with the remaining Black Armors destroying themselves in the army’s final eruption.

The Black Armors that’d been captured earlier had long been scrubbed of any lingering consciousness. These soldiers had been dead for countless years.

Anyone who left tonight would be leaving on the second day. Their factions should’ve sent more representatives to Silver Moon during this time. They wouldn’t be emerging to fight a lone fight.

All sides quickly reached a decision. Not all of the Night Watchers decided to depart—a portion chose to stay. Two Sunflares remained, as did Wang Ming, making for three Sunflares.

Peak Sunflare Director Zhou of the metal attribute stayed, as did mid Sunflare Zhao Huan of the earth attribute, and Wang Ming. Director Zhou could even offer some resistance against a Solar at critical moments. Zhao Huan’s presence was likely a contingency against further existences like the Battle Heaven Army. She could isolate threats from the earth at any time and even try to move through it.

Apart from Wang Ming, the two stayed behind with specific purposes. They might have discussed their movements with Hao Lianchuan.

As for Darkmoons, Li Hao didn’t even need to look to know that Zhang Ting was remaining behind. How could she not when something this momentous was at stake?

Whether as a scout or an agent from the central region, these ancient ruins were far beyond the imagination. Even if she didn’t vie for the treasures herself, she had to stay behind to observe who ultimately claimed what items. All of this needed to go into her report.

A portion of Darkmoons chose to stay in addition to Zhang Ting. With great danger came great opportunity—everyone was well aware of that. What they didn’t know was the second line of that saying—one needed great strength to claim great opportunity!

Hao Lianchuan didn’t try to persuade them otherwise. Robbing someone of their opportunities was as heinous as killing one’s parents. He would not stop them when they did not care about their own survival.

What was surprising from the Sword Sect side was that everyone, except Hong Yitang, chose to retreat! Even his Solar-level wife!

Li Hao understood after thinking it through. The Sword Sect was not subordinate to any other faction. If no Solars left with the rest, they would be sitting ducks with their bounty of Black Armors!

If worst came to worst, his wife could choose to swear allegiance to a particular faction. A Solar still possessed certain status whether in Silver Moon or the central region.

One had to say, Hong Yitang was a man of certain vision to send out his wife with the rest of his organization before entering the city. The Sword Sect would not fall here even if he did. If the situation was handled with a deft hand, they could sell the Black Armors to the three great organizations or Night Watchers if the loot proved impossible to retain. That would result in a sizable sum of mysterious power, assuming they could hang onto that as well.

Everyone below Sunflare on the Red Moon side withdrew. All four of their Sunflares remained.

Only one Yama member left with Black Armors, the remaining two elected to stay.

Out of the thirteen remaining Celestial powerhouses, six decided to depart at midnight. The remaining seven were all Sunflares—a powerful group. It was plain to see that Celestial still bore certain ambitions for this expedition. Their Solars were not the most powerful, but they were a force to be reckoned with when the seven Sunflares were added to the mix!

And so, the discussion concluded. Two Solars, three Sunflares, and five Darkmoons stayed for the Night Watchers. Combined with Li Hao and Liu Long, they had the largest remaining delegation of twelve members.

Nine remained for Celestial. Altogether, Red Moon, Yama, and the Sword Sect also amounted to nine. Only Hong Yitang remained of the Sword Sect. There was thirty left for the expedition; the rest were all departing.

Hao Lianchuan glanced at the Darkmoons in his delegation. To be honest, these people were either truly greedy beyond belief or pawns and spies of others to be staying at this stage. They wouldn’t want to leave before the dust settled.

Just look at the three greats—they only dared let Sunflares remain! The Night Watchers, however, had five Darkmoons still eager to explore. Setting Zhang Ting aside, Hao Lianchuan knew that one of the other four was another faction’s agent. He wasn’t sure which one, but it might have to do with the government. They might be from the Ministry of Administration!

Thus, he didn’t care about the Darkmoons remaining behind. They would walk the path they chose, and it was no one’s fault but theirs if they died!

It was apparent from the Sword Sect sending out even one of their Solars that the matters to come would be very dangerous. Those in the know were aware that once treasure truly appeared, the Solars would engage in a tremendous battle. Whoever dared stay behind was willing to risk their lives!

Hao Lianchuan wasn’t worried about anyone else but Li Hao. The young man was... a little too weak. He said that exiting the ruins was dangerous, but Hao Lianchuan felt that any danger would be mitigated by Hou Xiaochen’s presence. It was more dangerous to remain inside!

......

A frowning Hao Lianchuan approached Li Hao when everyone was preoccupied elsewhere. “You should leave tonight,” he murmured lowly. “Don’t worry, Director Hou can protect you. If he can’t handle a little trouble like this, then all of Silver Moon would’ve been overrun long ago!”

“I can’t, I’m not familiar with him! I trust only Director Hao among the Night Watchers,” Li Hao repeated firmly. “I won’t enter the city! You guys fight over your stuff and I’ll wait at the city gates. I’ll hide if a Solar does come out. They won’t waste time searching for a martial master. I’ll be very safe unless both Director Hao and General Hu are dead!”

The young man made certain sense, but his words weren’t easy on the ear.

You’re the one dying, alright? Not us!

Hao Lianchuan gave up speaking sense to Li Hao and looked at Liu Long. The man was a Dominator; he’d be able to keep himself safe so long as he didn’t involve himself with the Solars. Those remaining were likely all entering the city, so he wasn’t in much danger if he didn’t go in.

Nodding, Hao Lianchuan said nothing else. Those departing were readying to leave whereas he had his mission as well. He, Hong Yitang, and Kong Qi were in charge of keeping an eye on Violet Moon and preventing her from entering the city. Hu Dingfang and the others prepared themselves for the second passageway.

......

Most of the remaining expedition team left for the ancient house, but Li Hao stayed. Liu Long departed with them as well—he wasn’t permitted to stay behind as he’d been through the second passageway before. The group was worried he’d enter the city himself. Li Hao didn’t matter, he hadn’t gone the alternative way. He wouldn’t be able to fly in even if he had the opportunity to.

Apart from Li Hao, some supernaturals who hadn’t attempted the second passageway also remained, including Wang Ming!

The handsome supernatural hemmed and hawed, a little dejected at where he was. “Li Hao, do you think I should give it a try? Director Hao said I shouldn’t, that my rate of survival is one percent since I’ve just ascended and my mysterious power is unstable.”

“That’s for your own good!” Li Hao was in full agreement. He’d come to understand the mechanism behind the ancient house—the stronger a supernatural was, the more mysterious power they leaked, which made it more dangerous!

The experts could defend themselves, but Wang Ming had just ascended and his power levels fluctuated. He wasn’t the strongest either, so he’d be dead without a doubt. Yao Cheng must have emanated too much power after he was injured and weakened by his wounds, which led to his death during the attempt.

“Sis Zhang, how come you’re staying as well?” Li Hao looked at Zhang Ting standing beside them.

“I’m not entering the city either.” She smiled warmly. “I’m staying because my water energy is good for healing, not battle. I can treat some life-threatening injuries at a crucial moment. After all, those who don’t leave tonight must wait until tomorrow night. Some wounds can be fatal if they’re not addressed in time...

“So I’ll be waiting outside the city with you guys,” she concluded softly.

“A healer?” Wang Ming’s interest was piqued. “And I wondered why you were staying, Sis Zhang! You’re a real one, alright! I suffered some scrapes earlier, can you look at them for me?”

It was a good idea to have a doctor stay behind. Just as she said, if someone’s life was in danger and the doors to the ruins wouldn’t open for a while, having a doctor on site would ensure that the patient wouldn’t die too quickly.

Her presence rather made sense.