Chapter 546: Entering the North Sea (III)

Li Hao was including the little tree in his schemes, but the latter shook its body after some thought.

“No! I cannot leave at the moment! The palace needs to be guarded and the outside world... may not be friendly toward creatures like me...”

Li Hao didn’t insist upon receiving this kind of response.

“Are you willing to pay me a portion of the rewards?” the little tree suddenly asked.

“Of course!”

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

It grappled with internal conflict before saying with difficulty, “I cannot accompany you, but I can separate a portion of my core origin power for your use. You must pay me though, to make up for my loss!”

Li Hao blinked. Separate a portion of its core origin power?

“With that portion, you can comprehend the core origin once by yourself or use it as a consumable talisman. It will be the equivalent of a blow at my full strength—which has enough potential to kill you...”

So that meant to say he would gain a treasure that would either give him one comprehension opportunity or kill a mid Nova?

“Will any harm come to you for doing that?”

“Naturally! Core origin power is very precious to us, but I am indeed expending more energy than I am taking in. Otherwise, no matter how much of this kind of trash there is on offer, I would not be swayed into severing my core origin.” As resigned as the little tree was, there was no helping it.

“Alright, then I am willing to pay ten thousand mysterious power stones and one origin weapon for the portion. If I still have not grasped the wood sword aura by the time I come back, I’ll give the remainder to Senior Tree and try comprehending core origin power again.”

The little tree was surely inflating the numbers—not that much was needed for one attempt. However, Li Hao was willing to pay the price since the offer had just fallen into his lap.

The tree decisively cut off a portion of its crystalline roots. It fell into Li Hao’s hand without exposing a sliver of presence.

“If you want to use it yourself, meld your dao with it to activate it. If you want to use it against enemies, simply activate it with mental strength...”

Li Hao could see the little tree wilt noticeably. It looked to have consumed a great deal of resources to sever a portion of itself. “My thanks, senior!”

“This is just for our mutual benefit.” The little tree didn’t want his gratitude. It just hoped that the human would bring back sufficient compensation.

“Then I’ll leave my brothers here. I’ll come back as soon as possible if I’m alright. If I do not return... Senior can just let them out!” Li Hao gave Liu Long a few more reminders before darting out of the hole.

......

Outside the mountain cave.

Li Hao took a deep breath. The sky was dark, but beginning to brighten. He immediately took to the sky to travel at top speed. He could go faster when not moving with the Demon Hunters. Martial masters could proceed through the air, albeit at a high cost to their internal force. Li Hao didn’t care, however. Sword energy could offset his depletion so he didn’t consume too many internal resources. He needed to obtain his deposit.

“Where are you?” sounded from the armor after a while of making fast time.

“Twenty-five kilometers from you!”

“......”

How do you know that?

Kong Jie understood upon looking at the black armor on him.

This thing is equipped with location services, isn’t it? So the kid knew as soon as I left my office?

As useful as the equipment was, he couldn’t use it too often. Otherwise, he’d always be under Li Hao’s surveillance.

Twenty-five kilometers wasn’t too far; both sides were traveling at top speed. Li Hao noted a pinpoint of light representing Kong Jie’s position before long—the black armor location service. Kong Jie himself was also blinding, but the young man needed to be much closer to see his personal light.

Quickly flashing through the air, the two met moments later.

“Kid,” Kong Jie sighed when he saw Li Hao. “If you’d just outright agreed and not named any terms, I might’ve been able to fight for an extremely good opportunity for you!”

What a pity! If Li Hao hadn’t countered with anything, the inspector general felt that he could’ve raised the proposal of four institutions governing Silver Moon again. Li Hao had missed out on an exceedingly vital opportunity.

But since the young man had named certain conditions, Huang Yu and Director General Zhao would both think that he lacked the spirit of sacrifice. They wouldn’t easily agree to letting Li Hao become part of them.

“What opportunity? Can it be more valuable than this?” Li Hao chuckled.

“You... just don’t get it!” Kong Jie shook his head. If Li Hao could take his position among them, what he would gain was far more than what these resources were worth. Not only would his status be greatly elevated, but certain classified secrets would be shared as well as offers of mutual help. The others would move to protect him if he was in trouble, that was a given.

Unfortunately, Li Hao had missed out on all of that.

The young man didn’t care. Nothing was as good as opportunities held in his own hand. Three thousand mysterious power stones and three wood origin weapons were sufficient for him to try comprehending core origin power three times. Surely he would be successful at grasping the wood sword aura then. If he could meld five auras together, he would be at least late Nova or peak Nova, if not metamorphosis?

Strength in his own hand was the truly valuable! Someone like Hong Yitang lived so free and unfettered because he grasped that power. Light Sword was worthy of Silver Moon paying such a hefty price to save her because of that power. One was pathetic without strength.

I can not use it, but I cannot lack it.

“Where is it, inspector general?”

Kong Jie reluctantly tossed a storage ring to Li Hao. “Ten thousand mysterious power stones and two wood origin weapons. The rest will come once you finish your mission. Since you’e received payment, there’s something you must do. You cannot say you saved Light Sword by yourself. You did so on behalf of the Silver Moon authorities, you must make that clear!”

“Of course, I would never do something that shady!” Li Hao nodded emphatically. “But I also need to say that she made me promise to suppress her energy once. If I save her, that absolves me of that debt since I didn’t say I was going to go out and help her!”

“That’s between the two of you!” Kong Jie didn’t say much. They just wanted to make sure that Light Sword acknowledged she owed them a favor. “I need to go back now, I can’t stay outside for too long. These are sensitive times...” He turned to leave.

“Inspector General,” Li Hao called out. “Do you guys not know to strike back if someone’s got their eye on you?”

“......” Kong Jie sagged with resignation. “The timing has not yet arrived!”

“......”

Fine then.

Li Hao smirked silently. The timing has not yet arrived? It was always down to timing. What was the proper timing?

Whatever, it has nothing to do with me.

He took to the air and set course for the North Sea. He was taking someone else’s money to help another person stave off disaster. A black dog ran swiftly on the ground. Li Hao hadn’t wanted to bring Panther at first and didn’t even want to fight, really. He would save the woman if there was a chance to, but forgo it if not. He’d already said that if there wasn’t an optimal opening, he was keeping the deposit.

Panther, however, seemed uncomfortable where it was. It swiftly followed the young man when he left. Li Hao had no choice but to let the dog do as it would. Panther was strong and their safety was more assured with it present.

Li Hao sped through the skies; the two entered the vicinity of the North Sea before long. He summoned the Divine Kun Ship with a wave of his hand. When human and dog boarded the vessel, he took out the crystalline root.

What talisman for a single, fatal blow?

That would be an idiotic use of the treasure!

He would make use of this time to comprehend the core origin once more. He wouldn’t need an offensive talisman with the strength of a mid or late Nova if he produced a wood sword aura!

The young man sent his mind intent into the object. As before, a faint might enveloped Li Hao and seemed to send him into another universe. He started growing with the tree again.

As Li Hao comprehended core origin power.

The depths of the North Sea.

A major monster spirit slumbered in an opulent structure at the bottom of the sea. It abruptly opened its eyes, sensing a special ripple with some confusion.

“Core origin power...” it murmured after a long time. “Are there still core origin monster spirits alive in this day and age, and traveling through the North Sea?”

It wanted to investigate and take a look... but quickly dismissed the notion with a soft sigh. It could not brashly investigate or leave its abode. The world was different now! Those guys in the ruins might think it was the same, but the sea monster had felt such a long time ago that things were different.

......

Li Hao was oblivious and immersed in comprehension. He sprouted and put down roots like a tree, waving its branches around and swaying with the wind. One year, two years, three years...

Countless eons passed in his memory, but only a quick moment in reality. The core origin power around him dispersed; the young man opened his eyes. Crystalline dust piled in his hand and dissipated upon the wind.

A lost look tinged with regret appeared in his eyes. If he had just one more opportunity... he would succeed! He knew that he was only a little ways off! That stirring vitality, the call to action... He was almost there. He’d failed only because the experience hadn’t lasted until the tree comprehended its core origin. Li Hao ground his teeth. What a pity! He should’ve hung on!

Or perhaps the little tree had done that on purpose because if Li Hao succeeded, he wouldn’t come back.

“Almost...” Li Hao took a deep breath and quickly regained his calm. He might not need to continue visiting the small tree. Perhaps he could spar with a powerhouse. His teacher had comprehended his five auras in much worse conditions and strength, but he’d succeeded all the same. Yuan Shuo had fought again and again to manifest his.

The Divine Kun Ship sped through the waves. Panther lolled listlessly at the stern. It was bored and fishing with its tail. What was Panth thinking?

Can you get any fish with the ship moving so fast?

Panther’s tail shot upright when it sensed Li Hao’s gaze. A large fish was strung on it. The dog looked at Li Hao with confusion.

Do you want some?

“......”

I thought you were casting your tail for fish, but you’re more like spear fishing!

Panther wagged its tail and sent the fish back into the water when Li Hao showed no signs of wanting to eat it. The dog didn’t want to eat the fish either. It just seemed to have a memory of someone liking to eat fish and using their tail to fish.