Chapter 867: All Sorts of Bad Creatures (III)

All the same, Li Hao committed the name to memory. There were major monster spirits in the sea, ones truly worthy of note. It was terrifying that they could emanate their core origin from a very far distance away. One had to know that the plant spirits could only extend their influence roughly one hundred meters outside the ruins.

Where was this guy’s residence? It had to be at least ten thousand meters away, didn’t it? Perhaps even further!

That meant that this monster spirit was so strong that it might be on par with a Saint. And it had important matters to discuss with General Pagoda? It’d almost lost its temper when Li Hao asked it probingly, so he dropped the subject.

“Senior, are there many monster spirits in the sea? I mean ancient ones.”

“Not that many.”

Capsize Sea was less wary with this topic and was more willing to discuss it. He warned through the big fish, “Do not brashly enter the sea, something seems to be amiss in it. There is unrest in the currents brought in from the Forbidden Sea. They have traversed Silver Moon and become a hidden river. I do not know why this has happened, but this cannot be good. I wish to discuss this matter with them as well...”

Li Hao started from the new information. The Forbidden Sea! He knew about this body of water since it was mentioned in a mission at Battle Heaven. It said that the waters of the Forbidden Sea were flowing backward. He’d met a few major monster spirits at Ash Mountain a while back. Hong Yitang had managed to lay hands on half a Goldensky Lotus that they were guarding. It was said to be a specialty of the sea.

The tiny lake in the mountains might be an outlet for the sea.

So it’d become a hidden river that ran through Silver Moon? Did the monster spirit mean Silver Moon the province or the entire world? Well, most likely the entire world. When the ancient powerhouses spoke of Silver Moon, they meant Silver Moon Territory.

But... was there an issue with this? Li Hao wasn’t too aware of the particulars, but this matter could be made a note of. “Alright, I will tell those you mentioned! Is there anything else, senior?”

“Additionally, I need some energy in order to revitalize...”

“Ahem, senior, you should go to someone else for that. I’m so poor lately because everything I own has gone to awakening General Pagoda.”

The big fish was at a loss. Its thoughts were that with its identity, there should be plenty of those willing if it wanted to partner with a weakling. The young man outright refused before it had a chance to finish its words!

Li Hao couldn’t be bothered to explain himself.

I don’t have extra energy to revitalize you guys with, it’s not like I know you that well either. There’s so many waiting for this energy! Battle Heaven has a ton of plant spirits, Director General Zhao apparently has another main city. There’s also a hidden ancient Li city and the little tree, as well as a bunch of random fellows that might appear later.

Get in line!

Ancient monster spirits were also a bit useless. They couldn’t produce Water of Life and their blood essence wasn’t that useful. What could he do with it, other than give it to Panther?

Besides, who knows if you’re on the side of good or bad.

He couldn’t be bothered saying too much and Capsize Sea needed to recover from the slight. “Then remember,” it rapidly concluded. “To spread the word, especially to Battle Heaven!”

Its core origin faded away, leaving the big fish staring blankly. It didn’t know what’d happened. Li Hao casually tossed it back into the sea. A heavyweight had possessed it, after all, so he would give it face and not stew it into fish soup.

“Weird!” Li Hao immediately disappeared. He didn’t say anything about the powerhouse that’d stopped him. The sooner he left, the better. One that could send out its core origin was truly powerful!

......

At the same time, in a manor in the depths of the sea.

A massive beast spirit was slightly weakened after it retracted its core origin. Taken aback by what’d happened, it rumbled after a while, “So I was refused. That’s... certainly unprecedented!”

It put the beast at quite a loss! This wasn’t key. The key was that the current of the Forbidden Sea had broken free of the four seas’ control. It threaded through Silver Moon and there seemed to be a problem with it, putting it ill at ease.

This had happened over many years, but hadn’t the first awakening just taken place?

“There might be grave changes once the second awakening begins!” murmured the big monster spirit with a foreboding feeling. The four seas had grown beyond the control of the Sea Pacification Manor.

......

At the moment, Li Hao was traveling through the sky and thinking that he needed to excavate the Skystar mine! Powerhouses needed energy to revive, the second awakening needed energy, production of Water of Life required energy, nurturing heavyweights needed energy...

Life was difficult for him these days without large sums of mysterious power stones! He couldn’t allow the mine to detonate and facilitate the second awakening.

The ancient powerhouses will absorb all of it then, what will I do instead?

“I need to resolve the matters of Skystar Town as soon as possible. Why do I have so many things to get to?” Li Hao’s head pounded. He needed to speed things up and settle everyone as soon as possible. Once his matters were clear on the outside, he would be able to swiftly invade Skystar Town for the mine.

......

It was already night by the time Li Hao returned to Skystar City.

The Skystar Commander Office.

The complex was empty as everyone was very busy with their own affairs. Powerhouses bustled about their own matters. Regular people needed sleep to recover their vitality, whereas powerhouses such as Li Hao and the rest were always in high spirits. They just needed the occasional night of sleep to adjust their bodies with.

Someone visited as soon as he returned. Li Hao didn’t even have the time to rest before Hong Yitang floated into the main hall in the front of the complex.

“You were back for a long time.”

It’d taken Li Hao almost a week to make the return trip, despite his fast pace. It was still tiring to have traveled ten thousand kilometers, but the young man knew that Hong Yitang wouldn’t come to him unless he had serious matters to discuss.

“Does martial uncle have something to talk about?” Li Hao smiled.

“Yes.” Hong Yitang cut straight to the chase. “I’m going to start the school year at the Skystar Martial Academy in half a month. The first batch of students will likely exceed the numbers projected before—I’m thinking about five thousand. I wanted to ask you what subjects you think we should focus on?”

Martial dao was a necessity at a martial academy, but he wanted to take Li Hao’s opinion into account for the rest. It didn’t seem like an important issue, but this would set the precedent for the various schools to be opened in Skystar in the future.

Li Hao rubbed his temples and said after a while, “I’m not certain of the particulars, so let’s go with primarily technology, the people’s livelihood, and research and development. Additionally, some reforms in thought processes is a must.”

Hong Yitang inclined his head and thought over the response. “How shall we arrange for these people once they graduate?”

Li Hao blinked.

What do we do with them once they graduate?

Indeed, it was a very valid question. Even if one learned a great deal at a school, one would have no place to employ themselves if there was no corresponding system in society. No matter how sophisticated the technology one developed at school, it would be useless all the same if there was nothing relevant to it outside the institution of learning.

“Let’s not be in a rush about that for now.” Li Hao pondered the question. “Let’s... have them focus on education first after they graduate—focus on sharing this knowledge. We need time to improve Silver Moon step by step as well! In fact, that’s what we need most of all at the moment. Has there been word regarding the Wind and Cloud Pavilion?”

“Yes!” responded Hong Yitang. “We found traces of their people in a big mountain between South Peak and Sagittarius provinces according to Chen Hai’s information. We didn’t venture in, however, in case we spooked them ahead of time.”

Li Hao was invigorated by the news! There was finally headway in this matter.

“Summon everyone in the city for a meeting.” He also had the City of Supernaturals to discuss. “Ah, you can also send word to Chen Zhongtian!”

Hong Yitang nodded, upon seeing how urgent the young man spoke. Although it was midnight, the man didn’t protest. Li Hao was a very busy person these days. Everyone involved in the meeting was a heavyweight. It wouldn’t matter if they went without sleep for a day or two.

......

The group quickly convened. Almost everyone was present and accounted for after half an hour.

Those such as Hou Xiaochen and Yao Si had just finished the reorganization of the Skystar City Night Watchers over the past couple of days. The administration of the Skystar Commander Office was now finalized.

Upon seeing that no one else was here yet, Yao Si quickly murmured when he entered the hall, “Commander, I have a small matter to report.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s about money,” Yao Si quickly responded. “There are numerous Night Watchers, but also a portion of mundanes. Mysterious power stones and energy can be used to pay supernaturals, but the same does not apply to mundanes. Supernaturals actually need money too. The Night Watchers do not operate on cash flow and, as such, lack sources for it. We could earn money through unorthodox manners before, but that is not available to us anymore. The Ministry of Finance has long cut off our money supply...

“We do have mysterious power stones and energy, but some of our basic supplies are in short supply. We can barely supply the daily necessities of food and drink, housing, clothing, and training equipment...”

Li Hao stared. He hadn’t thought that the first issue facing the Skystar Commander Office would be a lack of money.

“What about the Demon Hunter Army?” He was suddenly reminded of his old troops.

“The same!” Liu Long had arrived in the capacity of the vice commander of the Demon Hunter Army. He nodded as well. “We don’t lack cultivation resources, but as our numbers grow, we are also short on the supplies that the director mentioned.”

He hadn’t mentioned this in regular times

Li Hao frowned, the only consideration on his mind before had been that of cultivation resources. Whether it was the Night Watchers or Demon Hunter Army, he’d saved a portion of mysterious power stones for their salary.

“This is a common problem that plagues heroes,” said Deputy Zhou. “The dynasty is currently prosperous enough with ninety-nine provinces. While some provinces have halted their tax collection, the Ministry of Finance is still very affluent. Most of the provinces are still paying their taxes as they should.”

“Where has the money gone?”

“It’s been divvied up by the other eight ministries and royal family,” Deputy Zhou responded promptly. “The Ministry of the Judiciary could receive a portion before, but the Ministry of Finance has completely cut off cash flow ever since Judiciary fell.”

Li Hao frowned. It wasn’t useful to have martial might at times, not unless he wanted to outright seize the money. But he would no longer be the Skystar Commander Office if he took the money by force, and who was he supposed to rob?

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Civilians? Or the eight ministries? That was what the City of Supernaturals did—they robbed convenient victims when they ran out of money. Was the Skystar Commander Office supposed to imitate them?

Well, that was fine enough since no one would dare say anything with the number of powerhouses on their side.

“The Lius of Finance are certainly bold!”