Star Gate

Chapter 311: An Honest Li Hao (IV)

Everyone thought that Yuan Shuo was crippled and had reached the end of the road when he was heavily injured that year. His renewed rise is a shock to the entire world! So this is why... Yu Xiao mused. What a pity that you’ve ruined your disciple so thoroughly that he speaks of it himself!

Li Hao was caught in the grip of sorrowful memories. “Teacher was so good to me when he was here. He listened to me in everything other than martial training. I studied and trained hard over three years... Teacher treated me even better than my parents did! It’s all that evil Red Moon! I hope Director Hou kills them all after he recovers!”

The young man ground his teeth with fury.

“Ah, yes,” Yu Xiao recalled something. “Since your teacher is so good to you, how did he agree to you joining the Inspectorate?”

“Teacher said that it would be safer in the Inspectorate,” Li Hao said shyly. “That there’s more people who can take care of me...”

“So it was your teacher who discovered that Red Moon was killing people?”

“Yes!” Li Hao nodded with embarrassment. “Teacher let me present the report because he said that would make the Inspectorate value me more. I... I was too embarrassed to say so before. But it’s fine now since teacher isn’t here.”

Yu Xiao laughed again. His smile softened as he thought for a bit longer. “Very well, I know everything now. Work hard, Li Hao. If you do, I’ll take you to the central region. Once you’re there, you’ll see how tall the sky and vast the world is.

“Ah yes, you’re a half step Dominator, aren’t you?”

“I am, and I killed Sun Moxian!” The young man raised his head proudly. “I advanced then! Sir, I’m very strong in battle! Director Hou says I can even match some initial Sunflare supernaturals! My strength is already at the highest echelon in Silver Moon as there aren’t that many Sunflares among us...”

Yu Xiao chuckled. Yes yes, you’re something aren’t you. Oooh, initial Sunflare, so impressive! This little idiot speaks of everything he knows in such a complete and thorough way! He answers everything he’s asked, I almost like you!

But a pity, what a pity! Your crime is that you possess too many valuables. Your blood is too precious!

“Let’s stop here today. Remember, don’t say anything to anyone who comes to you—including the others from central headquarters. Speak of this only with me. I’m doing this for your own good. Not everyone is like me, understood?”

“Understood!” Li Hao nodded.

“Then go back for now and go home when you get off work. Don’t overwork yourself and tire yourself out.”

“Thank you for your concern, milord!” Li Hao said happily, joy blooming through his expression.

“Go on!”

“Then I’m off, sir!” Li Hao nearly skipped out of the room.

Yu Xiao continued sipping his tea, suddenly smiling with satisfaction. An origin weapon... Li Hao...

His imagination kicked into high gear as the man continued to enjoy his tea. Perhaps he’d be able to break the fifth supernatural lock if he drank all of the young fool’s blood? It seemed highly likely!

Nova? And an origin weapon...

A keen light danced in Yu Xiao’s eyes. This might be his greatest fortune and opportunity to surpass Hu Qingfeng. No, what was Hu Qingfeng worth? Those perverse geniuses in the central region were his goal, and he needed to accomplish this before Hou Xiaochen emerged from seclusion!

As for the secrets of the eight families and Red Moon’s schemes, what does that have to do with me? Actually, this is perfect. Maybe I can dress it up like someone from Red Moon did it. I don’t have a reason to attack Li Hao, but that organization does!

Who would believe that I’m behind it? No one!

Only Red Moon would take Li Hao’s body. Everyone knows how much of a price they’ve historically paid to conduct their plan regarding the eight families. They even retrieve the bodies of their victims when possible.

“A perfect scapegoat...” Yu Xiao smirked. Red Moon was the perfect scapegoat after he was done! No one would suspect him!

......

Li Hao returned to Night Watcher headquarters when he walked out of the tea house. He nodded smilingly at Hao Lianchuan when the deputy director glanced at him.

“Is he going to do it?” transmitted a surprised Hao Lianchuan.

The young man nodded again. Relax, he will! Not only will he do it, he might do it faster than you think. He might even pretend to be Red Moon. No one will look twice at us for killing him.

“Director Hao, it’s imperative that you attack as viciously as possible and kill him in one stroke. I’m not doing this next time if you don’t!” Li Hao muttered.

Taken aback, Hao Lianchuan nodded in return. Are you sure? Those guys from central headquarters can focus on their mission pretty well. They won’t attack you that easily since we’re still friendly on the surface. I just wanted to give it a try... but you look so certain. What did you say to hoodwink a central region mid Solar so thoroughly that he must kill you?

“He won’t come with the others, will he?” Hao Lianchuan suddenly thought of another possibility. That Nova better not be in attendance.

Li Hao shook his head. That would never happen, how would he tell others about this kind of treasure?

Hao Lianchuan considered the young man with increasing skepticism and wonder. Really? How come I’m having trouble believing you?

“It’ll probably happen tomorrow night!” said Li Hao. He would go back and make the drawing tonight, then come to work with Hao Lianchuan tomorrow morning. Nighttime was the only appropriate chance for Hu Qingfeng to make his move. He wouldn’t wait too long out of concern for Director Hou exiting seclusion.

Hao Lianchuan’s face slackened as he stared wordlessly. There’s even a time set? Are you really not having me on?

“Alright then, I need to go do things, Director Hao...”

What do you need to do? Hao Lianchuan wanted to ask further, yet Li Hao wasn’t sparing further attention for him. The deputy director itched for some answers, but that itch had to remain unscratched. Then I’ll be waiting! I’d like to see if Yu Xiao really will come to kill you tomorrow night. I don’t believe you!

And if it’s true, I’ll have to hail you as a god or something! He couldn’t make sense of the situation. How had Li Hao caused Yu Xiao to take the bait? The Breathing Method of the Five Styles? Or something else?

But the man was a supernatural, so he might not be tempted by anything else. And even if he was, he wouldn’t need to kill for it.

Hao Lianchuan started speculating, theorizing, deducing, and gave up after a while. Damn it, I have no idea how the kid did it! I want to give it a try myself! This kid really has a few tricks up his sleeves, I’ve underestimated him.

......

White Moon City was as bustling as ever. Li Hao ignored everything taking place outside the window when he returned to headquarters and busied himself in Hao Lianchuan’s office. Since Hou Xiaochen was still in closed door cultivation, the young man wasn’t assigned any missions. As he was here at Hou Xiaochen’s request, no one else found it right to give him a mission.

Inside the office.

Hao Lianchuan’s day was preoccupied with many affairs. Li Hao was not one to remain idle, so he took out the ten blood pearls.

Each individual pearl was just a little stronger than Sunflare. That was helpful for the current Li Hao, but not in significant terms. With how strong his organs were, he’d almost reached the Summoner level. As such, Sunflare level blood pearls were useless for him, so his consideration was whether he should take five or all ten at the same time?

All ten was the equivalent of Nova, but he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to digest that amount of energy. Upon further thought, however, that might not be the case. Sword energy helped with digestion. If it wasn’t for sword energy, he wouldn’t be able to swiftly absorb thousands of cubes of mysterious power either.

“I’ll take five for now then. If I don’t blow up, I’ll quickly take the others.”

Countless people were eyeing him; it was approaching the point where Li Hao felt that Summoner of Spirit may not be the surefire protection that he thought. His aura wasn’t as strong as his teacher’s, which meant that he would try to raise his physique to the limits of martial master capability instead.

If he couldn’t enhance his aura, he would fortify other areas. Blood transfusion was another route! That was what He Yong had done. Li Hao had held a conversation with a man—while Summoner was the key next step in the path of martial dao, strengthening the body, blood, and qi was also a type of enhancement.

It wouldn’t lead to a breakthrough of cultivation level, but it would still result in undeniable improvements in strength. Dominator was the equivalent of Sunflare, yet the Dominator level He Yong could battle Solars. He wasn’t any less than a Dominator level Yuan Shuo equipped with five auras!

When Li Hao asked about the key to blood transfusion, he received complete answers to his questions. There was also no need to hide anything about the process. It was simple—one just needed to continuously strengthen the body and internal force. When the body was fortified beyond belief and the organs were also of decent strength, it was time to bring the blood up to speed. This was a path that many martial masters chose when they continuously failed to locate the direction forward after Dominator.

Such were Li Hao’s intentions as well. He needed to summon the spirits and nurture the auras. Currently, the young man only wielded the earth aura sword. Summoning or nurturing more wouldn’t lead to great effect. He would have to further comprehend the earth sword aura to see a massive increase in strength.

Li Hao swallowed five blood pearls as such thoughts ran through his mind. Bursts of domineering scarlet shadow energy erupted in his body. His blood frothed!

He would likely see the diagram of the eight trigrams if he was in Silver City. Sadly, he was in White Moon and saw nothing when he looked up. Plainly, the diagram was only located in Silver City and didn’t stretch to White Moon. Red Moon had constantly wished to eliminate Li Hao in Silver City, most probably due to the eight trigrams. They very likely knew about the diagram’s existence.

A powerful force of blood and qi rushed into the young man’s body, agitating his blood. Regular martial masters wouldn’t be able to withstand it. Their most likely outcome would be what had happened to Li Hao the first time he tried to absorb a scarlet shadow—accumulation inside the body and blocked meridians.

Sword energy was still useful. It appeared as the Breathing Method of the Five Styles operated; Li Hao began breaking mysterious power stones again to supply the sword with sufficient energy. These stones were now the resources that he needed the most.

He smashed the one that Yu Xiao had just given him—energy seeped out and was swiftly absorbed by the little sword. The conversion rate was very low, but Li Hao was satisfied. It was fine if there was waste, so long as the effect was good.