Chapter 937: The Martial World is Everywhere (IV)

"That Black Armor is very strong!” Yuan Shuo transmitted as he drew closer to his student. “He was terrifying before you made it out of the secondary dimension. He flung around a lot of abilities from exalted emperors and utilized a book that contained all sorts of core origin great daos. I’ve read about these methods from ancient books, it might’ve been the method of that supreme powerhouse second to only the Human King. The Black Armor might have something to do with that one!”

Li Hao inclined his head thoughtfully.

“There’s pros and cons to you giving the formidable body to him,” Yuan Shuo continued. “The good thing is that he might not move against us later on because we’ve given our most precious item to him. The bad thing is that he’s very strong, strong to the point of being uncontrollable!

“We’re a bit weak at the moment and need to be more careful from now on. We can extend a suitable amount of trust, but we can’t blindly trust the ancients without putting any of our own boundaries in place! You need to keep a good balance in mind. It’s never a good thing for the liege to be weak and the subjects strong!”

Li Hao nodded again, he knew that.

“Also, whether it’s this pool or the secondary dimension, don’t tell others about everything you know or be in a rush to share everything!” Yuan Shuo continued when he saw that the kid was indeed listening to him. “You haven’t reached that step yet and can’t keep everything under control. Be careful of working hard to benefit others! I’m all too familiar with those guys of Silver Moon...

“They probably won’t bite the hand that fed them when they grow strong enough, but it’s very likely that they’ll ignore you and just run off! Southern Fist, for example, is a prime candidate...”

Li Hao coughed.

Teacher, why are you always targeting Southern Fist? He works so hard! He does whatever he’s told when he’s given money!

“Don’t cough, coughing won’t do you any good. Anyway, you better keep a low profile for a while after taking down this mine. Don’t make any moves before you reach the equivalent of a Saint! Have you not noticed that the more you act, the more powerhouses that awaken? This will easily get out of control. You need to go slow and steady, and stay out of ancient conflicts for now. Even if they confirm who turned traitor, you shouldn’t be in a hurry to pick sides.”

Li Hao’s head bobbed up and down. His teacher was plainly worried and truth be told, he was worried as well. Even near Empyrean Kings had appeared. He was just a seven element Arcanus, he was far too weak.

Even nine elements likely wouldn’t put up a fight to an Immortal. At this level, increasing his strength by one or two elements was likely less than the addition of one entire cultivation level. But there were thousands of supernatural abilities to explore and endless supernatural locks. Li Hao did not think that there was no future ahead of him.

“Also, are you certain that you want to kill the existences outside?” Yuan Shuo continued. “Do you not want to subdue a few of them to balance out the forces under your command?”

Li Hao blinked with astonishment.

“Do the plant spirits outside have death feuds with you?” transmitted his teacher.

Li Hao furrowed his brows and refuted his teacher for the first time in his life. “They have not offended me, but... teacher, these plant spirits manipulated the nine ministries and royal into creating chaos in the world!” he responded out loud. “We of the martial world bear the mantle of chivalry and justice. I have neither the benevolence of a king nor the kindness of an emperor.

“But we are heroes of the martial world and must trace these issues to their core. These plant spirits must share the responsibility for the world being in such straits these days! They fought over power and seized profits, beguiling the nine ministries and manipulating the royal family. Great upheaval has shaken our world and the people suffer in misery...

“The redwood tree sought to take control of the Lin family and vie for supremacy in this fight.” He turned to the plant spirits waiting in the distance. “If it wasn’t for Lin Hongyu choosing to surrender early on, none of the plant spirits behind these factions would survive!”

The redwood trembled and quickly smiled fawningly. “The commander is merciful, this minor spirit did not intend to manipulate the Lin family and neither do I have a desire to fight for supremacy. Please don’t misunderstand, commander!”

Li Hao ignored it, whereas Yuan Shuo blinked with surprise. He looked at his disciple. Li Hao rarely, very rarely contradicted him. He usually nodded in approval to whatever Yuan Shuo said. This was the first time that the young man had negated him from a fundamental basis.

Yuan Shuo was lost in thought for a while and smiled moments later, clapping Li Hao’s shoulder. “You’ve grown up!”

His child had grown up and had his own thoughts now! Yuan Shuo’s emotions were complicated, but he was also inexplicably gratified. Li Hao hadn’t retorted for no cause or reason, but posited a rational argument. Yuan Shuo was of the martial world and only considered the profits at hand before, but saw the issues in a new light after his student responded.

Li Hao said that he did not have the heart of a king or an emperor. But having chivalry and justice run through his veins and unsheathing his sword when he saw villainy take place, was that not the mark of a king?

A hero!

In this moment, Yuan Shuo felt that Li Hao was a hero of the martial world and he himself was just a tyrant. There was a difference between a tyrant and hero!

“You’ve grown up!” He emotionally patted Li Hao once more and grinned. “The Five Styles discipline has been labeled a demonic sect in the past. Who dares say that now?! I’ll punch his lights out with one fist! Little Hao, this world, the martial world, the future, and this martial dao is all yours!”

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Yuan Shuo suddenly felt that he was old and his vision too narrow!

My world has ever been the Silver Moon martial world, the Skystar martial world! My disciple’s world is that of all living beings!

“Teacher...”

Yuan Shuo roared with laughter when Li Hao sought to speak. “Don’t say anything, I said before that we need to walk our own paths! I can protect you for a stretch, but I can’t protect you for your entire life! Trust yourself and go down that road with conviction! We of the martial world care about only one word—pursuing our goals with pure thoughts!”

“......” The group looked at Yuan Shuo.

Do you know how to count?

Yuan Shuo threw his head back with laughter and ignored them.

If I say that’s one word, then that’s one word. A whole sentence is one word, what you guys gonna do about it?

We pursue our goals with pure thoughts!

Damn straight!

The old demon was in an exceedingly good mood today. All of his previous apprehension and unease was swept clean away. Who had Old Demon Five Styles ever been afraid of?

I’ll sweep through all the lands if I have enough time. Who cares about Empyrean Kings or exalted emperors, who cares about how strong exalted emperors are? I call the shots in my martial world!

Li Hao beamed broadly.

Pursue my goal with pure thoughts?

His teacher was right, but also wrong. That wasn’t the only consideration.

Martial masters cultivate the heart. Following one’s heart and will is also a type of pursuing our goals with pure thoughts. However, not seeking or committing evil is the dao of the heart.

If others act for villainous intent, tenfold the consequences will be upon them if I can stand in their way! Teachers, the martial world is not just the martial world. Everywhere I stand is the martial world!

Both Li Hao and Yuan Shuo were smiling. The ancients looked at them, suddenly lost in a daze. This master and disciple duo were certainly interesting!

......

Cultivation trained the heart. Each battle was a journey of the heart and each battle resulted in unique gains and reflections. To Li Hao, the base nature of battle wasn’t to kill for the sake of killing. Neither did he kill people for some villainous pursuit.

Combating violence with violence was the hallmark of this age and the defining characteristic of any superhuman era. Only then could one follow the heart. It ultimately still came down to strength if one wanted to leap beyond superhuman strength.

Li Hao’s conversation with his master imparted new insights regarding martial dao and life. The group spent some time cultivating and recovering; everyone was waiting on the Black Armor. Though they might not want to admit it, the Black Armor was their only hope of victory and Li Hao’s greatest support. Saints would be hard to manage without the Evenround dean.

The white tree at the Wind and Cloud Pavilion had been a Saint nearly exhausted of all strength and resources, yet Director General Wang still required special methods to kill it.

The two Saints outside were in peak condition. Apart from a lack of additional fortification from core origin dao, they were essentially peak Saints.

It was also due to a lack of this enhancement that core origin cultivations were weaker in this age compared to their capabilities in the New Martial age. All powerhouses could be considered one cultivation level lower than they truly were.

Saints were bonafide Saints in a time when there was core origin dao to be found in the world. But now... they were on par with the Immortals of their time.

Li Hao sifted through a variety of thoughts. Moments later, the golden body next to the Black Armor had disappeared, but the dean remained under the cover of his armor. He seemed too shy to show his true nature to others.

Director General Wang showed his true form to everyone ever since recovering his body. He didn’t cover it up with armor if he could help it.

“I’m about ready.” The Black Armor was very calm despite having recovered most of his strength. He’d mostly returned to the level of strength he commanded with his own body, but he remained as composed as ever, as if this was nothing to celebrate.

It was the group that reacted with joy at his recovery.

“Then I’ll have to rely on the senior in the battle to come,” chuckled Li Hao.

“This is just a transaction of equal value.” The Black Armor ignored the pleasantry and rose to walk toward the mine entrance. The rest were hot on his heels.

The three plant spirits were highly anticipatory, whereas Panther couldn’t bear to leave. It kept looking back at the pool. The dog really wanted to take a nap in it, eat its fill, and enormously enjoy its time with the treasure.

What a pity that Li Hao didn’t give it a chance to do that.