Chapter 980: The Curtains Rise (II)

Lin Hongyu was about to mouth empty pleasantries when Sky Sword abruptly grunted and broke through the air with his sword. Sword intent flared to the heavens.

“Demons walk the world, my sword will slay evil!” he continued to mutter.

BAM!

A surge of frightfully domineering sword aura manifested. Endless energy gathered from the four corners as Sky Sword’s blow cut down the firmament! Majestic sword intent shattered the dome of the heavens.

KABOOM!

A cloud disintegrated in the sky as sword intent unfurled in all directions. Gale winds howled through the surroundings, ruffling Lin Hongyu’s hair. The woman stared, utterly dumbfounded. Sky Sword was peak six elements, the same as her.

When it came to strength, she didn’t think of herself as weaker than Sky Sword. But at the moment, he struck with such undeniable momentum and unparalleled might that the very heavens split apart. This sword reached the strength of seven element Arcanus!

She was so stunned that she couldn’t comprehend what she was seeing. So... Li Hao had spoken truly. They really could fool the heavens and receive a boon of additional strength. That wasn’t a joke!

Lin Hongyu was shellshocked! This was actually possible!

After a very, very protracted pause, she turned stiffly toward the others who were still trying. She gulped for air and couldn’t maintain her composure. “Commander... Why is this possible?” she asked breathlessly.

How

was this possible??

“Probably... because we are sincere of heart?” Li Hao chuckled.

Sincere of heart?

Lin Hongyu murmured to herself. She melded her aura into the world the next second and brandished blade intent. The urge to give it a try was too strong to deny!

“As the heavens bear witness, my blade strikes down demons... The heavens are my parents...” she murmured and struck!

Nothing happened. Not even a ripple. She looked dazedly at Li Hao. “Commander... do I need to pair this with other techniques?”

Why hadn’t anything happened?

Li Hao sighed. This person... looked so smart, but why was she being so silly right now? He smiled and patted her on the shoulder, then realized it might not be appropriate since she was a woman.

“Don’t try, it won’t do a thing if you did.” He withdrew his hand with a smile. “You need the blessing from the new dao!”

“New dao? The one of supernatural characters?” Lin Hongyu blinked before quickly understanding.

“Yes and no,” the young man laughed. “I’ll tell you later. These elderly folks can run their experiments first. Let’s head to the city lord manor for a chat. I’ve found a good location for the residence—the royal palace. But... a lot of people have died there. I can’t be bothered to head over there for cleanup, so we can switch to another place if you want.”

“It’s fine.” Lin Hongyu was still sneaking glances at the rest. “Commander, why does this resemble the mythical blessing of core origin dao?”

“It’s not the same.” Li Hao shook his head. “And it only works in Silver Moon Territory. It’s completely useless once we leave this world. Core origin is a blessing from the dao universe, so it can be employed even further out in the universe at large. We can’t utilize it because our world is fully sealed shut. What they’re doing now... isn’t the same!”

It could only be described as receiving some local benefits due to adhering to heaven’s will. It was two completely different concepts.

Despite Li Hao’s noncommittal discussion, Lin Hongyu couldn’t help herself!

Do you know the little technique you speak of will make these people invincible among their peers? They’ve surpassed anyone of their level. How is that a little technique? What doesn’t count as a little technique to you?

“The commander is really...” Lin Hongyu didn’t know how to describe the young man in front of her. “Commander, let’s visit the city lord manor. I’ve never been, it’ll be my first visit to the royal palace of Skystar Dynasty.”

Li Hao nodded with a smile and headed in the direction of the palace. Hong Yitang swiftly caught up to them; the man’s footsteps were dogged by Yuan Shuo. The latter flicked a glance at Hong Yitang—

what are you always following my disciple around for??

Meanwhile, Hong Yitang was speechless at the reaction his actions caused.

I have important matters to discuss!

Yuan Shuo was acting like he was stealing the old fart’s wife!

“Commander, it’s perfect that City Lord Lin is here. I think we need to carefully study and simulate what we discussed before...”

“I think so too!” Yuan Shuo quickly concurred.

“......” Lin Hongyu was confused and looked at Li Hao.

“We want to imitate the martial universities of New Martial,” the young man smiled. “And create a complete education system for the people in order to popularize martial dao. And not just martial dao—making strength available for all is just a secondary goal. The key is to achieve certain mental reforms!

“Why do we cultivate? I think there are several key points to introduce once everyone has some strength to their name. First, we train to strengthen our bodies! Second, we train to improve our lives. Third, we use our strength to maintain peace, not to shatter it.

“Fourth, we facilitate the rise of our people and civilization. Silver Moon is but one dot in the grand universe. What’s the point of fighting amongst ourselves? New Martial is the best example of that. At present, we’re still very far away from New Martial, but we can trace their footsteps and inherit some of their spirit. Everyone will be a dragon then, instead of just peering up to a mountain without learning their craft!”

Lin Hongyu listened quietly and nodded at the key points. To popularize martial dao and reform thoughts. This was a grand undertaking!

“Commander, our enemies are yet to be exterminated and the world’s disorder may be just starting,” she murmured. “It is... a bit too early to be rolling this out?”

“No, not at all!” Li Hao shook his head. “Even if I fail, even if everyone fails, the people will awaken despite Ying Hongyue or New Martial winning. They will not cause the people to sink into oblivion again!

“You would not wish to continue living in darkness after you’ve seen a new world. Those who have seen the light no longer think that the darkness is beautiful... That is the seed of civilization!” Li Hao waxed eloquent. “I once glimpsed some people and matters of New Martial, I think that’s when my heart changed. Now I see further and hope to gain more.

“You do not have such aims because you’ve yet to see the same sights. But once you have, you will not think our present circumstances are good and can continue as is...

“Therefore, rolling out these things does not hinge on how disorderly the world is. Neither does it depend on who eventually wins Silver Moon—but of course, I will win!” Li Hao leered. “Those guys out there are just clowns prancing around! True New Martial citizens or those with New Martial spirit will not pit themselves against me. Any who do are just people who simply lived during that age, they are not of New Martial!

“A bunch of dancing clowns will not amount to anything! Therefore, we should start our efforts right this very moment! I want to raise the literacy rate in Skystar City because I want everyone to be qualified and have the chance to experience more. At the very least, they need to know how to read!

“Well, they don’t need to worry if they really can’t learn how to read. I’ll figure out a way to get some New Martial films on the screens when the sky canopy system is complete—that’s what they’re called, right?”

“Yes, films!” Yuan Shuo nodded.

“I’ll use those to spread the word and play them on repeat,” Li Hao laughed. “It’ll excite people and let them know what a true civilization is. It won’t work if our personal desires aren’t strong enough. We need to seek perfection!”

“Commander, this...” Lin Hongyu was shaken by what she’d heard. “This will require endless labor and resources, as well as time...”

“I know!” Li Hao nodded. “But it’s not futile effort. This will create a shield of peace at our backs. Everyone will crave peace, strength, and a beautiful home to their rear! Only then will our soldiers dare and be willing to fight!

“In this vein, this is how our people will support our quest of domination! They will know who it is that brings them a wonderful life.”

Lin Hongyu listened quietly and glanced at Li Hao. In this moment, he seemed to be standing in a warm spring breeze. He was different from the young man that she’d met on prior occasions. Lin Hongyu didn’t know why such changes had occurred in Li Hao, but the person in front of her... gave her a very comfortable feeling.

This was something with ideals, goals, targets, and thoughts of his own.

“Of course, this is all predicated on full stomachs!” Li Hao continued. “Additionally, a wonderful life isn’t one in which we just sit around and wait for death! It’s one in which we all fight for a common goal! Only first generation fighters bear this kind of spirit. It’s not a life in which we are happy just because we have free food and drink.

“Such is the same when it comes to sharing martial dao! People might not treasure what is too easily had and could possibly take it for granted. Therefore, we need to let them know that these things are the fruits of their labor, not something that fell into their laps!”

Hong Yitang continuously nodded in agreement.

“As it should be,” Yuan Shuo added. “Even you suffered through a few years when you initially learned martial dao. The people cannot receive enormous benefits if they do not even touch the threshold of dao. Otherwise... you would not be reforming or improving humans, but breeding snakes.”

Lin Hongyu continued to listen quietly. She’d thought that she would hear a plentitude of ambitious bravado when she came to Skystar City, such as calls to conquer the four continents, the trample the four nations, unify the world, to crush New Martial, or how powerful their martial dao was...

But she heard none of that!

Li Hao, Hong Yitang, and Yuan Shuo were the core of the Skystar Commander Office. They discussed none of what she expected. Instead, they debated how to awaken the people’s mind and plant the seed of civilization in their hearts.

Lin Hongyu grew lost in thought. There were no ambitions or lofty aspirations to be found here, no grandiose statements to be heard. Just... simple talk of day-to-day life.

Were these people really not worried about their enemies?

The woman hadn’t wanted to speak of her thoughts, but decided to voice them since she’d given her allegiance. “Commander, I feel that under present circumstances, strengthening a selection of heavyweights is key...”

“I know, so we’ve been cultivating.” Li Hao nodded. “That cultivation continues even now.”

“Now?”

“Yes.” The young man nodded again. “Even this conversation is cultivation! You haven’t understood yet that the world does not belong to one person alone, it belongs to a group of people! Even ants will have their own thoughts and strength.”