Chapter 804: Beat The Shit Outta It! (IV)

“It’s not out of the question,” the plant spirit offered after some silence. “So long as you can complete the mission that I set for the Hus, then partnership between us is also feasible.”

“Tell me plainly, what can I gain and what price do I need to pay?”

“I need large sums of mysterious power stones,” the plant spirit said bluntly. “As for what you stand to gain—Water of Life is what you crave the most. Apart from that, I can offer you the same deal as I did the Hus. So long as you pay the appropriate price, I can also sever off some core origin to create a replica and eliminate your enemies!”

“What is your price for Water of Life?”

“I charged the Hus sixty thousand stones per drop. You are the Sword Sovereign’s descendant, an esteemed personage that everyone knows. Fifty thousand stones will do!”

“......” Li Hao laughed, but inwardly cursed up a storm.

You guys really know how to rip someone off! You put it like you’re giving me a deal!

Naturally, his talk of partnership was entirely bullshit. The young man just wanted to test the waters.

“If I may be so bold, are you stronger or General Pagoda of Battle Heaven?”

“......” The big tree was speechless. One was the defending general of a main city, while one was the guard of a corner of Skystar Town.

Which do you think is stronger?

“Don’t blame me for my questions, I also need to determine how strong you are and if you’re worth my effort. After all, I have a lot of options as well as a lot of Silver Moon powerhouses worth my exertion...”

The big tree cursed to itself. Others might not be able to voice these words, but the one in front of him absolutely could. It rummaged through its thoughts before responding, “Perhaps I am less than some of the Silver Moon existences, but they have all stilled in silence. It’s too hard for you to revive them and the price you’ll have to pay will be far more than you can imagine. What you gain in return will be scant and sparse!

“I’m different. Since the nine ministries and royal family have chosen us out of all possible options, that means we are the strongest. We have also awoken by quite a bit, we are not just starting on our journey. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do!” Li Hao nodded. “So it means that you guys can step into battle at any time, but General Pagoda in Battle Heaven will only be stirring to wakefulness even if I supply one hundred million stones. The general will also be very weak and far less than you, is that right?”

“Of course!”

“Then... how strong are you compared to your brethren among the nine ministries and royal family?”

“The one with the royal family was the main protector of Skystar Town back in the day. We are... slightly weaker than it. The others are roughly the same as me.”

“Are you Apex or Immortal?” Li Hao asked. “You’re not at the Saint level, right?”

“Correct.” The big tree didn’t deny it since this might be easily determined after paging through some ancient tomes. “You know a lot, but the more you know, the more you should understand how strong we are...”

“Of course!” Li Hao laughed. “Ah, is the one with the royal family of the Saint level?”

“It’s just a hair away!”

The young man understood—peak Immortal, was it? That was indeed strong! “So you’re an Immortal too?”

“Yes.”

“Then... does that mean you can kill an Apex if I lure him here?” Li Hao grinned.

“Apex? No Apexes exist now, it is impossible for them to appear...”

“That’s hard to say,” laughed Li Hao. “Qi Pingjiang of Armed Forces is at peak six elements. He’s only one step away.”

“That’s still a difference of heaven and earth!” It was the first time that the big tree displayed such confidence. “I’ll kill him easily if he dares come!”

I see! This guy is at least an Apex. Damn that’s scary. Can the little tree’s replica measure up to it with the imperial palace projection?

It’ll... probably be just a little bit weaker. These plant spirits have all awakened to a great degree; the little tree previously only fought their replicas of unknown strength.

“I understand!” Li Hao nodded. “I’ll converse with you in a few days! I have matters to attend to tomorrow and need to exterminate the remnants of my enemies. I hope that you can also understand there are only benefits to be had in partnering with me. There are no drawbacks to worry about.”

“I naturally understand, or I would not have appeared to see you.” It didn’t matter who the big tree cooperated with, so long as the person could supply sufficient mysterious power stones for its recovery. Whether it was the Hus or Li Hao, did it matter?

Not at all!

It wanted Li Hao to understand that reviving it was a much better bargain than focusing on the one in Battle Heaven. What could that one bring even if one offered one hundred million stones?

I’m different!

Li Hao turned on his heel and left.

This big tree is at least an Apex and cannot be mentioned in the same as six element Arcanus. It’s very, very strong! Can my combined force and the little tree’s replica really take care of it?

I’m six elements, Yao Si is five. The little tree... is more than six and less than seven. The gains will be unimaginable if I can kill it...

And, has the little tree improved lately? It can’t have gained nothing after devouring all that core origin power. Once we take down this tree... the little tree and Deputy Zhou can have both some core origin power. I’ll have another ruin in hand... There’s so much to gain here!

Li Hao had finally made up his mind.

I’m gonna beat the shit outta it! I might not have if you’d said five thousand stones for one drop, but fifty thousand? What am I keeping you around for if I don’t kill you for that?

......

On the last day of November, the 30th.

A hubbub formed in front of the Skystar Commander Office on the Avenue of the Nine Ministries. It was to officially open for business today!

People bustled to and fro on this avenue early in the morning. There were very few bystanders in regular times, but it positively thronged with people all day. Whether they were here to offer congratulations or collect information, paying a visit was no loss for most people. If one didn’t come, however, that might leave an undesirable impression.

Representatives from Skystar City, some provincial overlords, local leaders, seven divine mountains, and even the City of Supernaturals were present. The three great organizations sent their people either in the shadows or out in the open.

All of the various agencies had their doors flung open on this day. Some doors had been closed when Li Hao arrived to claim his new territory, but all of them opened for business over the past two days. Those who insisted on keeping their doors closed would be declaring that they wished to end up like the Judgment Guard! Any who wished for that to be their end could try doing so.

A heavy traffic of people and vehicles filled the streets; the clamor was unceasing. At the end of the avenue, the once magnificent Judiciary had a new signboard over its doors. The characters of ‘Skystar Commander Office’ glittered with radiance.

Demon Hunters and Night Watchers conducted intersecting patrols at the two ends of the long street. To the Night Watchers, they would no longer be of the Inspectorate after today. They would be the Night Watchers of the Skystar Commander Office. Some were happy, some were worried, and others decried the change.

But... what could they do about it? Absolutely nothing at all.

......

On the avenue.

Someone looked at the structure towering at the end of the street and remarked emotionally, “To think that he’d defeat one of the nine ministries about a month after arriving at Skystar City and make it so that the other eight ministries don’t dare retaliate. He really is a bit like a wandering hero!”

“Wandering hero? His teacher Yuan Shuo wouldn’t be as useful as the lad if he was here!”

“That’s true!” Some old men chuckled merrily on the avenue, laughing harder when they mentioned Yuan Shuo.

Yuan Shuo had led the pack back in the day. The title of Old Demon Five Styles had shaken the entire martial world and now... the curtains had closed on it. Rather, it was his disciple who was truly renowned throughout all of the known world.

The old men looked around, then at the martial masters of the Demon Hunters. They nodded with approval. “High spirits and strong morale. What a group of fine youngsters! As expected of Silver Moon martial masters!”

“They don’t really count as Silver Moon martial masters anymore though!” One of them shook his head. “They’ve become officials and draw a public stipend. That Demon Sword didn’t open a martial dojo either. Instead, he establishes the Skystar Commander Office to administer the laws of the land. These people... would all be regarded as government flunkies back in the day...”

“You’re so old fashioned!”

“Old stick-in-the-mud!”

“I’m just saying... what are you guys yelling at me for?” The old men chattered loudly, having quite a good time. One of them snapped to attention when he saw something, drawing the glances of the other elders.

“Chen Zhongtian, that old thing is so long-lived!” someone sneered.

The old inspector general and his son were walking in their direction. The old minister quickly identified the old men and smiled nonchalantly at them.

“Martial masters?” Chen Yao followed his father’s gaze. There were a bunch of martial masters in that direction, and they all seemed pretty strong.

“They’re martial masters—the old guard from Silver Moon,” his father answered casually. “They’ve lived quite long as they’re only a few years younger than me. To think that they’d still be alive! These guys wanted to charge into Skystar City twenty years ago when the supernatural rose. The joint forces of the nine ministries and royal family defeated and killed a bunch of them.”

Chen Yao nodded, he remembered this. He hadn’t been involved as he’d been too weak then. Some of the older heavyweights had participated in a battle over the Skystar Sea. These old martial masters of Silver Moon had wanted to seize something; he hadn’t bothered himself with the matter.

Here they were again after so many years!

“What are they doing here?” Chen Yao asked with confusion. “There’s not much for them to do at present. Do they hope to get something from Li Hao?”

“......” The old minister laughed. Just listen to his son! “Can’t they just be here to congratulate him? Not to mention, if it wasn’t for Li Hao already defeating his enemies, you might be seeing them fight the nine ministries on this day!”

If it wasn’t for the fact that the battle had been won before these old martial masters arrived, they would certainly be fighting at the moment. They were all very strong.

Chen Yao said nothing further. Everything looked to be fine and peaceful today. The nine ministries wouldn’t cause trouble and neither would the royal family. Who would dare kick up a fuss at this time in Skystar City?

Only idiots would do so.