Chapter 824: Killing the Replica, Coalescing Arcanus (II)

“Of course my replica will help you when you encounter difficult opponents,” the coconut tree said after some thought. “But if you fail and my replica shatters, then I will absorb these origin weapons first to stabilize my core origin.”

In other words, Li Hao still needed to pay the thirty million stones. The origin weapons were just interest.

“Very well!” Li Hao nodded after a period of silence. He turned to leave and paused when he reached the door. His voice was muted. “Senior Plant Spirit, if I... fail... and can return... I would... like to borrow some Water of Life to heal my injuries!”

“......” The coconut tree wanted to curse out the young man! The human had gotten used to reaping great rewards without barely any investment, hadn’t he? He was addicted to that, wasn’t he? What a joke!

“My injuries are too severe after severing my core origin, so I’m afraid that I won’t be able to further offer Water of Life to you...” The big tree kept up an inward litany of insults.

Get out of here! I haven’t seen a single mysterious power stone yet, but I’ve already cut off a replica. Now you want Water of Life? This Li Hao is too damned greedy, the little bastard!

“If it really comes to that, then I’ll put down the Windchaser Boots and Stellaris as collateral!”

“......” The coconut tree froze with shock.

Stellaris! The Windchaser Boots!

It didn’t immediately have a response.

“This is just a contingency plan!” Li Hao laughed. “None of this will happen if I win. You need to trust the strength of your own replica, senior!”

The big tree continued turning things over in its mind and didn’t say a word.

“Please consider it, senior. We can discuss further if I really do find myself in need.”

“It’s said that Stellaris can purify energy,” the big tree couldn’t help but ask when it saw that the young man was leaving. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” Li Hao laughed. “How else would I have my accomplishments today? It’s only been a few months since I set foot into martial dao!”

The big tree spoke no further. It was true! So the legends were true! They said that the Sword Sovereign’s body was very weak and that he had to bring his full strength to bear with each blow. Stellaris was apparently forged by an unparalleled heavyweight—possibly a joint effort between the legendary Human King and Divine Forge Emperor. It was made so that the Sword Sovereign could quickly recover after deploying a move.

As for whether or not that was the truth, a guardian plant spirit of Tranquil Star didn’t know much. But since the sword really could purify energy... then that was incredible!

......

Li Hao didn’t dare linger any longer and swiftly departed. He saw someone with a constipated expression standing at the main doors of the Skystar Commander Office as soon as he reached the front. The young man was rather surprised.

He’s really here?

Chen Zhongtian looked at Li Hao with a pained expression; the young man looked back at him and sized up the man. “Minister Chen... is really joining us?” he smiled.

“Mmhmm,” Chen Zhongtian mumbled back in a muffled voice. “I’ve lived too long, after all, and can set aside certain things!”

One hundred years was a long life.

Li Hao laughed and thought of the ancient heavyweights. Their ages were easily measured in terms of thousands of years. Could one hundred years be considered too long? “Then let us go together!”

“Eh?” Chen Zhongtian was surprised and looked toward the rear yard. Was this not the location?

“Let’s go!” Li Hao instantly vanished. The man raised his eyebrow—so fast! He immediately disappeared as well.

Chen Zhongtian had not been exaggerating when he said he was skilled in speed and defense. He was indeed very quick—Li Hao was even utilizing the Windchaser Boots, but the man caught up in a split second.

They reached the western outskirts in a few moments. Li Hao had come here so often these days that none of the other factions dared come or even post scouts. Chen Zhongtian’s expression shifted slightly when he met the rest of the group. There were so many people here! Were they all here for the powerhouses in Evenround Martial? Had he guessed incorrectly?

He was a bit confused, but perhaps... the existences inside were stronger than he thought?

Just as he saw the others, so did they see him. Some of the old men pursed their lips—what was this fellow doing here?

“Li Hao, why did you bring this old thug with you?” asked He Yong.

“......” Chen Zhongtian didn’t know what to say. It was one thing if others called him that, but Southern Fist? Did the guy have the right to look down on him like this? Why didn’t he take a look in the mirror?

It was hardest for people to read themselves at times—

if I’m a hooligan, what does that make you?

“So Old Minister Chen has come as well...” Yao Si smiled when he looked over. “This is unexpected!”

The two had had previous dealings with each other since the Night Watchers used to be under the Inspectorate. However, Yao Si didn’t much care for the old minister, so the two didn’t have much to do with each other.

“Go in!” Li Hao chuckled. “Senior Old Chen came to us with enthusiasm and has agreed to be our defense. Welcome to the team!”

The group abruptly understood and nodded, some of their smiles turning crafty. Chen Zhongtian began to regret his decision! Did these people... really want to send him out against ancient heavyweights? He’d said his defenses were strong, but that was just relatively speaking. That didn’t mean he could actually hold off against ancient powerhouses.

Li Hao didn’t care about this. He entered the ruins without second thought. Upon seeing that the young man held a medallion, Chen Zhongtian understood why no one else could enter. The medallion meant that the ruins had started awakening.

...

“Here again?” The Black Armor was truly speechless! He was in the middle of some thoughts when here the young man was, disturbing his peace and quiet again!

Is there no end to this?!

It was Chen Zhongtian’s first time visiting Evenround Martial—he was stunned at what was presented to him. The countless puppets terrified him. Were these their targets? These walking hunks of metal looked really strong, and there were a lot of them!

The rest of the group also looked at Li Hao; the young man cut straight to the chase. “We’re going to start first with the replica of the plant spirit! Everyone can use this opportunity to sense its strength—it’s a given that it will be very strong! The replica possesses only one-third the strength of the primary body, but strictly speaking, it can be classified at the Apex level of the ancient civilization.

“Senior Little Tree will be part of the main offense! Your only goal will be one—entangle them!”

The little tree manifested and waved its branches. Chen Zhongtian was further astonished by the sight—another plant spirit? Entangling an Apex... so this meant that this tree also possessed that level of strength? So this was one of Li Hao’s trump cards!

“Additionally, Martial Uncle Hong, Minister Chen, and the senior of Iron Shirt discipline will be the outermost layer of defense!”

All three were known for their stalwart defenses. Old Minister Chen was an unknown, but since Senior Iron Shirt’s master also practiced the same method, his strength and defenses must be great. Nothing needed to be said about Hong Yitang. His Earthturner Sword was the strongest sword defensive technique there was out there.

The three met each other’s eyes and nodded.

“Tyrant Blade, Sky Sword, and Director Hou will stand at the rear. They will be the main offense utilizing mind intent. Northern Fist, Southern Fist, Director Kong, Seniors Crazed Demon Blade and Thunderbolt Fist will be the secondary offense...” Li Hao reeled off their assignments. “Manager Yu, Light Sword, Thunderleg, and the rest of the seniors will be the outer ring of attackers to land blows when the opportunity presents itself.”

The group exchanged glances, some with annoyance in their eyes. Light Sword, for example, had been sent to the outermost ring. This could only represent one point—she was too weak. Even He Yong was secondary offense!

As for Hou Xiaochen and his group, their mental strength was ferocious and mind intent domineering. It was reasonable that they were assigned to the rear. But Light Sword and Yu Luocha were arranged thus because of their weak cultivation. This was done to protect them.

Therefore, He Yong puffed up his chest. He wasn’t afraid of the upcoming battle. For martial masters about to take concerted action against an enemy, it was the most tragic if they weren’t even assigned to a main offensive position.

It indicated that Li Hao didn’t think much of your strength, which made He Yong very happy! He was now worthy of the main offensive line and placed on the same level as that villain Northern Fist and his martial uncle Thunderbolt Fist.

Once Li Hao finished his arrangements for the group, he looked at Deputy Zhou with a furrow to his brows.

“If you’re willing to, I can be part of the main offense with you,” smiled the deputy. “I’ll assist you!”

Li Hao nodded. While he wasn’t certain of the deputy’s strength, so it shall be since the deputy had spoken. This was just an initial attempt at taking down the enemy, not to mention that their safety was assured in a place like this.

“Make sure you’ve thought things through,” the Black Armor said coldly off in the distance. “Fines must be paid if you inflict any damage!”

Chen Zhongtian jumped with surprise; none of the others reacted. That suit of armor was alive?

“I understand,” Li Hao chuckled. “A deadline of one year at most and interest to be paid on top of principal!”

The Black Armor couldn’t be bothered to say anything else after the young man’s response.

Li Hao took out a storage ring and took a deep breath. It was his first time facing a true Immortal opponent with Apex level battle strength. The previous replicas that he’d faced were but the equivalent of five or six element Arcanus.

“Senior... be careful!” He looked at the little tree.

It promptly transformed into a big tree and waved its branches. “Don’t worry!” Would they go after the primary body if they couldn’t even handle a replica? That would be courting death!

“Everyone, this is just a replica, but it’s an incredibly powerful replica!” Li Hao cautioned. “If we find it difficult to eliminate even a replica, then we must cancel the rest of our plans! Then... we begin!”

Bam!

The storage ring exploded. A towering tree immediately materialized in the air—the coconut tree looked around blearily, then looked at the puppets and Black Armor in the distance. Startled fright crept in, weren’t they going against the Wind and Cloud Pavilion? Why were they here?? Wasn’t this Evenround Martial University?

It immediately sensed the inappropriate circumstances. Li Hao’s group was crazy! If someone had awoken in Evenround Martial, it wasn’t an entity that any of them could run afoul of. The tree had thought they were going against the Wind and Cloud Pavilion!

“We are no match for these opponents... idiot! Take me and run!” cursed the big tree.