Chapter 818: Why So Foolish (IV)

“Then forget a partnership!” Li Hao said coldly. “I’ve already demonstrated my sincerity with a weapon of the eight families and ten earth level origin weapons! I only said that it’s possible that I might lose, not that I will lose for certain! There’s no point in working together if you’re so greedy!

“If I already have thirty million stones, why wouldn’t I go back to Silver Moon with that and the origin weapons? I can go to those powerful plant spirits instead of you!”

“It’s not that I’m greedy, just that...” came the tree’s ripples after a while. “Forget it, I rather hope that you can win. If you defeat them and bring back thirty million stones for these...”

“You won’t play dumb then, will you?” Li Hao frowned. “I’ll be back with the mysterious power stones, but you won’t turn greedy then and keep my mallet of the Hongs for yourself, will you?”

“How would I?” The big tree rustled. “It’s not useful for me, the stones are much more useful. Why would I keep it?”

“That’s good then!” Li Hao brought out the origin weapons without another word. “Sever your replica now and put it into the storage ring. You can take the weapons!”

The big tree was conflicted. This transaction was very worthwhile. Its price of thirty million was absolute nonsense. It only required ten million if it wanted to fully recover. Li Hao was a nice one as he hadn’t haggled over it.

But... the tree would be much weaker after it severed its core origin.

Upon further thought, that was acceptable. The second awakening was yet to begin and there was no hope for any powerhouse to take it down since it was in the ruins. Any that dared visit it would just be a replica. Its primary body would still possess certain battle strength.

If Li Hao could supply more mysterious power stones for it prior to the second awakening... then a bit of loss was worth it! The key lay in the origin weapons and mallet of the Hongs that Li Hao had brought out. They sent the big tree down the road that, so long as the young man didn’t die, it was impossible for him to welsh on his debt. These items were worth far more than thirty million stones!

It actually wanted the sword of the Lis as well, but considered it nearly impossible after some thought and had to give up the idea.

The tree’s mental strength quickly vanished, replaced by undulating ripples. Moments later, the tree seemed weakened as it sent out a storage ring. “Don’t summon it if you can help it... only do so when you have no other choice... Or do so in the ruins...”

Its replica would be absolutely churned to pieces by the void otherwise.

“Does it have Apex level strength?”

“Pretty much...”

“How much is it off by?”

“Don’t worry, it can put up a fight even if it encounters an Apex. It might not be able to kill the other, but it’ll hold them back!”

Li Hao understood—the replica was barely on par with an Apex. It might be a little stronger than the little tree, but it had its limits. The little tree might not be any weaker than this replica if it used the projection of the imperial palace.

The young man extended his consciousness into the ring and found a mini tree. He probed it slightly, finding it stronger than the little tree.

“My thanks!” Li Hao threw in the weapons without further word. “Do not absorb my weapons before I fail. Mysterious power stones are easy to obtain, but origin weapons are not. I lack sufficient origin weapons at present.”

“Don’t worry!” The excited big tree took stock of the mallet’s hidden power. This was a weapon of the eight families! It wouldn’t have any right to touch it back in the day, and it’d be for the best if the big tree could comprehend some things from it.

Li Hao turned on his heel; snappy and decisive were his style. The big tree waved its branches around, rather happy.

There were people inside the ruins and one of them stepped forward when he sensed something. “Revered One, you...”

“There’s nothing to it, I’m just having Li Hao supply a few stones for me,” the big tree answered calmly. “I’ll be able to leave when the second awakening begins and I’ll kill him at first light! I’ll avenge the Hus!”

There were still some Hu powerhouses in the ruins—the family’s foundation of power. Only those with lower ability and less potential were sent to the outside world. But at the moment, those inside the ruins didn’t dare set foot outside. They could only hope for the second awakening to begin and for the big tree to lead them out and revitalize the Hus.

Meanwhile, the big tree was thinking, if its partnership went well with Li Hao, should it discard the Hus?

At the same time, Li Hao was wrong in thinking that there would be no one to partner with the tree if he died. These remaining Hu members were strong and they might rebuild the Ministry of the Judiciary by themselves. The big tree had only agreed with the young man to keep him calm.

The coconut tree was completely at ease and toyed with the mallet of the Hongs again. What a treasure! Too bad it couldn’t use it or it would never return the mallet to Li Hao!

......

Li Hao walked out solemnly from the rear yard, an uncontrollable smile on his face.

Hahaha! How sweet!

Not only had he weakened the big tree, but if he found a place and let the little tree swallow the replica, then the little tree would certainly grow stronger. Weakening the enemy to strengthen his own people was the best!

And with the big tree weakened, it would be even easier to take it out.

Li Hao knew how strong seven element Arcanus was; he’d watched closely when the little tree utilized the projection of the imperial palace. The coconut tree was even an Immortal! Despite it not fully recovering, that was still a frightening prospect. But now, it would be much weaker after severing a replica that was of the Apex level.

“But since it can sever an Apex replica... then that means its primary body is exceedingly strong and won’t be any weaker than its replica!” Li Hao stroked his chin. Could he trick the coconut tree into severing another replica?

Probably... not. The tree was no fool! It was one thing to sever a replica once, doing so again would be treating it as a complete idiot. He’d only succeeded this time because he put up the mallet of the Hongs as collateral.

Li Hao didn’t mind that since the tree couldn’t devour or use it. It was still his so long as he killed the tree. If he didn’t... it really wouldn’t be his anymore.

“Senior Little Tree...”

The little tree perked up curiously inside the ring. More questions?

“How much battle strength can an Immortal retain after severing an Apex replica?”

“If they haven’t fully awakened, then that makes the peak Apex at most. After a replica... they’re likely around mid or late Apex...”

“Can Senior Little Tree take care of an opponent like that?”

“Probably... not! Not unless my primary body is here...”

“Then what if the senior absorbs a replica that they cut off?”

“Do you mean...” The little tree shook.

“Can the senior tackle this kind of opponent after absorbing their replica?

“I can... try! Because I’ll be able to comprehend their dao after I take in their core origin. I can even locate their weaknesses. Of course, I won’t be able to match up to them in a direct fight, but I should be able to fend them off for a bit.”

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Li Hao understood. “Then if we attack together alongside multiple martial masters close to Apex, can we kill them?”

“Ah...” The little tree pondered. “Apex is actually a kind of metamorphosis in our cultivation system, but the times now are not what they were before. The Apexes back in the day were unparalleled in the battlefield due to the fortification of core origin dao and its feedback. Strength was unceasing and could be withdrawn or replenished at any time. That is not the case anymore!”

What they were discussing would be a dream in the ancient times, their opponent would be an undying existence as they could recover in a split second so long as death wasn’t dealt in a single blow. But now, they would be in danger after expending too many resources.

“So there’s still hope, it’s just... very dangerous!”

Li Hao smiled. There was hope! He’d discussed this with the little tree before—the little tree’s meaning had been that it was completely hopeless, that their target could smack them to death with a single blow. But now, there was hope! That was how big the change was after some time!

“Will it... sever itself for a replica?” the little tree asked hopefully. “But it’ll recover if you give it sufficient mysterious power stones.”

“I didn’t give it any stones, but it still cut off a replica!”

“Is it that dumb?” swayed the little tree.

Li Hao wanted to ask,

are you talking about yourself? I didn’t give you any stones, but you still cut part of yourself off and came into the outside world with me. Whether it was humans or monster spirits, how did all have trouble seeing themselves clearly?

“Then... then... I... can...” The little tree grew agitated.

“Just as the senior thinks, but it will take time! There’s no rush!” Li Hao smiled.

“Alright!” The little tree was beyond excited.

As I thought, my choice was right! Will my replica grow stronger than my primary body? If so... things will be interesting the next time I see my primary body.

Of course, there would be no problems coming back together since they were of the same origin.

......

Li Hao was in a fantastic mood after pulling the wool over the coconut tree’s eyes. The despondency that he’d fallen into with the Wind and Cloud Pavilion’s interference had greatly faded away. He spent the rest of the day sending his people out on various tasks. How it manifested to Skystar City was a steady stream of commands being issued from the Skystar Commander Office.

Various central region provinces soon received their orders. They were to thoroughly investigate the Wind and Cloud Pavilion! Anyone who seemed to be a member was to be arrested and taken to Skystar City. Once their identity was confirmed, the captor would be rewarded with ten drops of Water of Life!

Anyone of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion who turned themselves in would find their past crimes forgiven. Those who offered important information would be rewarded with anywhere between ten to one hundred drops.

Anyone who captured the leader of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion would be rewarded with five hundred drops!

The various factions of the world took sharp breaths when they read all of the information. This was crazy! Of all people the Pavilion had to irritate, it was Li Hao. To be honest, even they were tempted by the five hundred drops! That would take tens of millions of mysterious power stones if they traded with the plant spirits for that amount!

Granted, people weren’t fools. This reward wouldn’t be that easy to claim. Even so, some of the wandering cultivators, Heaven Favored, and local overlords of the central region began their investigations. Just grabbing a scout would result in ten drops, that was still a large sum.

Of course, the Skystar Commander Office said very clearly that there must be clear evidence. If innocents were dragged in to fill the numbers, then not only would the perpetrator be in great trouble, but so would a lot of other people.

In these years, ten drops of Water of Life was enough to make many put their lives on the line. Offering ten thousand mysterious power stones was enough to buy one’s life sometimes. They might pretend to be from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion to leave riches for their family or other purposes. There would be takers even though death was the sure outcome. Price was the only motivator.