Star Gate

Chapter 368: Gathering (II)

“Luo...” Golden Spear began and was instantly served an extremely aloof expression from Manager Yu. He was at a loss for words. It was just a habit, one that still existed after so many years. This exchange had taken place countless times, but he was still used to calling her that.

“Manager Yu!” Golden Spear forced out the awkward title. “This...”

“Swordmaster Hong has reached an agreement with Li Hao. These Sword Sect disciples will be joining Li Hao’s team. Additionally, Swordmaster Hong is gifting one hundred sets of black armor to outfit the team...”

The martial masters watching the show winded their eyes with surprise. Hot damn! That generous?? Li Hao was being made a centurion right after his arrival, and here he was being delivered people and ancient armor without even completing his team yet?

“What’s with Li Hao?”

“Is he becoming Earthturner Sword’s son-in-law?”

“I hear that’s Earthturner’s daughter up front. Li Hao’s just come to the Guards and lacks people. Here they are, giving him people and money. Damn if that isn’t sweet...”

“Think about how hard we had it when we first came!”

“......” A low muttering started in the crowd. Some were envious, others emotional.

The centurions were green-eyed with envy. They’d all had to build their own teams and knew how difficult the process was. They’d expended large amounts of time, effort, resources... sometimes even their senior brothers, junior brothers, martial uncles and nephews... Some sects were recruited as a whole. The Mountain Ax discipline, for example, had become the Mountain Openers.

Therefore, how could they not be jealous of Li Hao?

And just that wasn’t it. The Guards didn’t have many suits of armor. There were approximately one hundred to share between all of the teams. It was nice to be allotted a dozen sets per team. The Night Watchers counted five hundred total sets after the last expedition to Battle Heaven, half of which went to the Guards. But even so, the centurions tried their utmost to claim more and brought all of their ideas to bear for that pursuit. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to fully outfit their teams. They could only let the weaker members wear the armor so that the team’s average strength clustered closer together.

But when it came to Li Hao? He had a full complement of armor before he had all of his people! The Guards knew how impressive the armor was. The inherent defensive capabilities were astounding, to say nothing of anything else. Sunflares were hard to defeat armor-clad Sunderers, making the troop nearly invincible!

The crowd was envious, jealous, and resentful! Even Mu Lin found himself tongue-tied. Damn, what could he say about this? Was the kid utilizing certain assets to make a woman support him?

Earthturner Sword had a deep-running grudge with Yuan Shuo. The latter had insisted on issuing challenges three times, resulting in significant impact to Earthturner’s reputation when they were declined. If he’d been someone who counted a good name among his valued possessions, this would’ve been a death feud!

Yet here he was, sending over so many of his people and treasures.... Did he mean to claim Li Hao as his son-in-law?

In front of the crowd.

Golden Spear was also surprised. The sect was sending suits of armor in addition to martial masters? But he found composure from years of experience and simply said, “Li Hao seems to be in a training session. Come on in, don't stand at the door. I’ll have someone fetch him. Is Hong Yitang with you?”

“My husband is in closed door cultivation,” Madame Hong said softly. “His energy has been agitated lately and he’s yet to fully recover from the wounds he suffered in Battle Heaven. He planned on meeting Senior Golden Spear with me, but a pity...”

“That’s just as fine.” Golden Spear waved her off. “As for being hailed senior... I wouldn’t dare. I had just entered the martial world when Earthturner Sword made his name. In terms of age, I am only two or three years older than him...”

Is that so? You seem pretty old. Hongxiu kept these thoughts to herself.

Hong Qiu looked at Golden Spear with curiosity and worship. This was the head of the Three Spears, a great personage on par with Sky Sword and more famous than her father! She found it quite regrettable that her father no longer participated in the martial world after becoming a supernatural. She loved hearing stories about that world. Her father didn’t like to speak of them, but her stepmother liked telling her about them. Theirs was a good relationship.

With Hong Yitang’s wife in the lead of the delegation, Golden Spear showed them abundant face. Manager Yu was present as well—the three quickly entered the hall to converse. Hongxiu was a generation lower than them, but they were now all peers and could chat for a while.

The others did not enjoy similar privileges. Hong Qing and the others had to wait outside the building until Li Hao arrived. Mu Lin, Kong Youyun, and a few others kept them company. They were also quite curious about the Sword Sect.

When she saw that her master was entertaining Yu Luocha and Earthturner’s wife, Kong Youyun introduced herself. “I’m Kong Youyun, Golden Spear’s disciple. Are you Senior Earthturner’s daughter?”

“Greetings to senior sister!” Hong Qing glanced and nodded at Kong Youyun.

“Hello.” The two chatted while Mu Lin listened. He struck up a conversation with another Sword Sect late Sunderer after a while.

As the group buzzed with discussion, a figure flashed in from the distance and hovered over the ground. Sweat evaporated off Li Hao; his face was flushed. When he caught his breath, he strode over to the group. Sword aura gathered around him before he reached them, soaring into the air with complete disregard of Kong Youyun and Mu Lin!

As he padded over, the Sword Sect disciples that were looking around in all directions suddenly felt a surge of pressure rear over them, bearing down with the pressure of Mount Tai! Kong Youyun stopped talking. Li Hao ignored her—he didn’t recognize her, but he didn’t mind. Judging from her aura, she might be Golden Spear’s disciple and was decently strong.

But that was all! His focus was on the Sword Sect disciples. Li Hao flared his aura only because he wanted to put their quality to the test. They wouldn’t be of much use if their caliber was too poor.

He walked forward step by step. When the young man was thirty meters out from the group, half of the twenty Slayers were forced to back out of range due to difficulties with breathing.

Li Hao pressed forward. Another few Slayers retreated when he was twenty-five meters away. When he was twenty meters away, the remaining three peak Slayers also backed away. That left the ten Sunderers, Kong Youyun, Mu Lin, and a few others.

Li Hao’s sword aura loomed like Mount Tai bearing down on the assembly; he continued walking. The ten Sunderers were swaying with effort now, shocked expressions on their faces. How was the young man so strong?!

It was just an aura—it wasn’t like they’d never seen an aura before. But they sensed an overwhelming pressure and keenness from this one. As disciples of the Sword Sect, they trained sword methods. However, their swords seemed incredibly weak in front of Li Hao!

At their head, Hong Qing set her jaw and looked at Li Hao. She seemed to see her father in this moment. Indeed, the Earthturner Sword was one that could churn the skies and turn the earth. It naturally contained some earth aura. Li Hao was utilizing the earth sword aura at the moment.

The Sword of Mount Tai!

Several Sunderers broke out of the circle when Li Hao was fifteen meters away, all of them stunned and reluctant to accept their limits. More fled for safety when Li Hao reached ten meters. There was blood in some mouths as well as plenty of unwillingness.

Only Hong Qing was left at five meters. There was more than one late Sunderer in the Sword Sect delegation, but she was the only one who could remain standing within the range of Li Hao’s aura. She grit her teeth and was prepared to struggle to the bitter end, but Li Hao suddenly retracted his sword aura.

Hong Qing stumbled and nearly fell over. Kong Youyun reached out to steady her and looked at Li Hao with an odd look. “Why did you stop, Centurion Li?” she asked softly.

“I’m just testing them, not killing people,” he explained with a surprised look. “Since I’ve plumbed the depths of their capabilities, there is no need for further probing.” He raised a cupped fist salute. “Li Hao!”

Kong Youyun wasn’t used to cupped fists, she inclined her head. “Kong Youyun, disciple of Golden Spear.”

“Well met!” Li Hao responded with a pleasantry and turned his attention to Hong Qing. “You’ve got a fantastically solid foundation. All of you, even the Slayers, have well-founded bases! You guys are stronger than I was before—I had to absorb large amounts of mysterious power to progress to Slayer. When my teacher brought his aura to bear against Director Liu Long’s, the resulting clash was less forceful than mine. However, I couldn’t move even from far away.”

Some happiness crossed the faces of the Sword Sect disciples. It was a cause for celebration to be praised by a strong martial master. Much of their earlier dejection was swept away.

Hong Qing was likewise happy for a moment, then returned to her gloom. She’d seen Li Hao just a while ago—not yesterday, but when he fought Sun Moxian. Although he was strong then, she felt that she could’ve fought him too. She didn’t measure up to him, but she could fight him. But now, just his aura alone nearly swept her off her feet. The gap between them was too great!

“How... how did you suddenly get this strong?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“The Five Styles is formidable and I took a lot of blood pearls,” Li Hao responded upon some thought. “I enhanced my organs to an incredible degree and also perceived the aura, so I became stronger! Your foundations are solid, so you’ll swiftly step into Dominator with unstoppable momentum as soon as you grasp the aura. You’ll enter a stage of rapid growth! Although none of you have comprehended the sword aura yet, martial uncle Hong has given you wonderful foundations. You’ll improve quickly again once you sense sword aura!”

“But I’ve yet to grasp it even now...” Hong Qing responded with regret.

“That’s because you haven’t experienced dangerous enough situations yet!”

“Eh?”

“Battle Heaven was a great opportunity!” Li Hao sighed. “But your father kept you by his side, preventing you from striking out on your own. That was such a pity! Your foundations are good, but you lack sufficient killing nature. Not just you, but everyone here. A killing nature is very important for sword cultivators!”

Being a sword expert now, the young man spoke of certain reflections. “Whether it is the spear or blade, all of them draw upon the killing nature. Martial masters live for slaughter and violence. Simple training will not give rise to the aura!”

Hong Qing sank into thought, whereas Kong Youyun countered, “Centurion Li, pure slaughter and violence may not be the true meaning of martial dao! If killing is the only path, then a hundred flowers wouldn’t bloom in unison for martial dao. For a defensive martial master like Second Brother Mu, does he only have violence in mind when he cultivates?”

“That’s right, he does!” Li Hao nodded.

“......”