Star Gate

Chapter 295: Cultivation, Temporary Leave (IV)

Li Hao’s remaining mysterious power stones should be kept a secret, so he swallowed them once more. A martial master’s stomach was essentially a storage ring when they reached Dominator of Thousands. It just couldn’t hold much.

Twelve stones the size of glass marbles weren’t too big, he just had to throw them up each time he wanted to use them. That was disgusting, so Li Hao urgently wanted to get his hands on a storage treasure. As the number of his valuables grew, he was quickly running out of space to store them.

“Li Hao!” Newly clad in a trench coat, Liu Long swiftly walked over after the young man was done freshening up. “Go upstairs for a bit. Southern First refuses to budge from the front doors—it’s getting annoying! Also, you should make up your mind if you want to go to White Moon today or tomorrow. You’ve never been, so I think it’s better to have Wang Ming take you there. I won’t be sending you off.

“He’s familiar with the city and his family wields certain respect and power in White Moon. He can help you with a thing or two, you won’t be floundering in the dark. Also, Liu Yan is there too. Have her stay there for now,” Liu Long spoke rapidly. “Two heads are better than one. Liu Yan isn’t very strong, but she’s still a late Sunderer and useful for certain tasks. You’ll need extra personnel or people you trust for various missions.

“White Moon is not like Silver City. There’s danger and traps everywhere. She’ll be useful when it comes to errands and such.”

“Chief.” Li Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m going there to report for work and might be back in a few days. Why do you make it sound like I’m going up a mountain of blades or down a sea of flames?”

“Do you think White Moon City is a peaceful place?” Liu Long snorted. “The ruins are opening next month again—those who’ve arrived recently will not be leaving before then. Who knows how lively White Moon is right now? You’re someone who makes people worry!”

“Chief, I never get into trouble and I have a silk banner of thanks!” Li Hao protested. “Everyone knows my reputation in Silver City! I love to help people, I’m diligent and hardworking. Go ask people in Classified Affairs—they’ll all say I’m a proper and honest person!”

What do you mean I make people worry? This is an injustice!

“Since you know your reputation, keep living up to it!” Liu Long rolled his eyes when the young man mentioned the silk banner. “I know you’ve filled out your wings and have become stronger, but consider whether or not you can withstand Director Hou’s blow. If not, continue to maintain a low profile!

“Don’t worry about Silver City, I’m here unless a Solar comes. But even if one comes, we still have some ways to fight against them.” The man lowered his voice at this point. “Do I need to take any precautions for the mines?”

“No.” Li Hao shook his head. “Just let everything proceed as normal.”

People wouldn’t be able to open the stone door even if they found it.

“I’m going home to pack a few changes of clothing and pay a visit to my teacher’s house.” The young man smiled. “I’ll see if there’s anything that needs to be packed there. If not, I’ll set out tonight and be at White Moon tomorrow morning.

“Heh, if Southern Fist stays with me, that gives me an additional bodyguard. That’s not bad, so I’ll take him with me!”

“Be careful.” Liu Long nodded and kept his voice down. “Southern Fist... may not be as simpleminded or foolish as he seems! Don’t be too trusting of others when you arrive in White Moon City. Someone like Hou Xiaochen isn't taking care of you out of the goodness of his heart. There’s more of mutual profit and benefit in your relationship. Your teacher, yourself, and your bloodline are all main reasons why he protects you and looks out for your development!

“But don’t think that it’s bad either...”

“I understand all that, chief!” Li Hao chuckled. “He’s not my father, why should he take care of me? My teacher takes care of me because I am his student and final disciple. Our relationship is as if father and son. Chief looks out for me because I am your team mate. We protect Silver City together and have fought side-by-side. We are as if blood brothers. I don’t know anyone or anything at White Moon. Who’s going to look out for me for no reason at all?

Liu Long grinned and patted the young man on the shoulder. This was one good thing about the young man—he saw things very clearly. It was good that he understood. Otherwise, over reliance on Hou Xiaochen would lead to problems sooner or later.

“Then I’ll be off, chief. Oh, right, I won’t be able to extract that energy for you while I’m gone. Just take in whatever you can and don’t be the death of yourself during this period. I’ll take a look at your injuries when I’m back!”

The team could only strengthen themselves through absorbing mysterious power or mysterious power stones while he was gone. Regardless, that would all lead to a certain degree of injury. But it was fine, he could heal them with sword energy when he returned.

“Don’t think that mysterious power stones are too precious to use,” the young man reminded. “Raising our strength is the true task at hand. The treasures might become someone else’s battle spoils if we just endlessly hang onto them!”

“Do I look like I don’t get that?” Liu Long couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry!”

“Then I’m leaving, chief. I won’t be coming back to say goodbyes!” Li Hao waved a hand and breathed out. He would be back, so he didn’t want to say farewell to the team. Let’s just treat it as a simple field excursion.

After another wave, he decisively strode out of the basement. Yun Yao and the others didn’t emerge until the young man was gone.

“Li Hao’s going too,” Chen Jian said with some dejection. “Captain Liu’s gone, and Director Wang’s going with him. Chief, our team is getting smaller and smaller.”

“What are you whining about, they’ll come back!” Liu Long was completely unruffled. “Silver City is the heart of Silver Moon. You guys need to focus on cultivating. These days, Dominator... no, Summoner of Spirit is needed to properly walk the streets!”

He didn’t look at Li Hao as he believed that the young man would be back, as would Yuan Shuo! There were too many secrets buried in Silver City. Just the ruins in the mines alone was something that master and disciple wouldn’t relinquish.

......

Outside the city.

Three people and three motorcycles traveled through the land. Li Hao and Wang Ming didn’t drive a car this time. As for why it was three people... Other than bringing along Wang Ming who was very familiar with White Moon, Southern Fist had to be part of the group since he followed Li Hao like he was the young man’s shadow. The two Night Watchers decided to imitate He Yong in riding motorcycles for their trip.

As elderly as the man was, he was very fashionable. Motorcycles were apparently all the rage in the central region. There were very few in Silver City, but some of its larger factions held some in storage. With Li Hao and Wang Ming’s identity, it wasn’t a problem to get their hands on two.

The three made fast time as they zipped over the terrain. The wind was strong and they picked their way out via starlight, but that didn’t affect their conversation.

“This vehicle is nice, Senior South. Do they all ride these in the central region?” Li Hao was very curious about the central region as the name was a broad category. There were roughly twenty provinces in the center of dynastic territory that all counted as the central region.

“It’s more convenient than a car and consumes less energy!” He Yong shouted back. “Also, my surname isn’t South, so don’t call me Senior South!”

Southern Fist was just a moniker. Whether it was Li Hao or Liu Long, both suspected that he followed them not just to look for Yuan Shuo. There might be other motives at play; he might even be keeping an eye on the eight families on behalf of the royal family.

But at the moment, He Yong chose to follow them openly. It meant that he didn’t intend to harm or kill anyone for the time being. Granted, Li Hao wouldn’t be afraid if that was on the man’s mind.

In the meantime, it was sweet to have a free bodyguard and lackey by his side. How much would one normally have to pay in order to hire a Solar?

“This is a fine mode of transportation, it’s different from previous generation cars,” He Yong continued. “It only needs to consume internal force or mysterious power to run. Therefore, any martial master or supernatural who lays hands on one can use it!

“The central region is much more prosperous than you can imagine!” he suddenly waxed eloquent. “It’s completely different from the border regions. If we say that the border regions are in an isolated state of partial innovation, then the central region is a completely modernized country!

“The structure of society there is different from what can be found here! There’s even supernatural academies where countless supernaturals receive systematic teaching and development!

“There are also martial master academies. Although martial dao has declined, some of the old guard still hang on!

“There are also powerful financial institutions who rise quickly after excavating ancient ruins. The three great organizations that you know of develop much faster than you think in the central region! Although they’ve yet to form their own nation or truly take over a province, some of the provinces in the central region have started to accept them and even establish supernatural academies just for them!”

These words were as if another language. An incredulous Wang Ming couldn’t believe his ears.

“How is that possible?!” he roared as he drove. “The three great organizations are evil! The central region is the heart of the nine ministries and dynasty, to say nothing else. How would they let the three great organizations recruit new members?”

That was impossible and shouldn’t take place!

“Strength is king!” He Yong replied evenly. “You should know that the three great organizations are too strong to be fathomed. Take Red Moon for example, other than Violet Moon, the rest of the Seven Moons are all Novas. There’s another group of Novas in their elder council! Ying Hongyue might even be beyond this level!

“The supernatural has developed swiftly over the past twenty years and will absolutely enter the next stage in the subsequent three to five years. Starlight, Darkmoon, Sunflare, Solar, Nova... that’s only five stages thus far. However, more than five supernatural locks have been discovered in the body. As more ancient ruins are excavated and more treasure brought out into the light, the central region will be vastly different from before!

“Silver Moon dithers in the phase it was in twenty years ago. Truth be told, it’s a bit behind the times and turning unreasonably obstinate...” He Yong sighed with resignation and sorrow. “But it’s not just Silver Moon—this is the case in the entire dynasty other than the central region. There seems to be a class division developing between the border lands and the central region.

“With increasing powerhouses in the central region, so does their contempt for the border grow. It’s called the border, but more like the savage, undeveloped frontier in their eyes!”

A... savage frontier?

Both Li Hao and Wang Ming blinked at the term. Why... savage? They understood the words, but couldn’t comprehend the meaning. Why was Silver Moon a savage region?