Star Gate

Chapter 673: Li Hao Returns (I)

Were there many metamorphosis experts in the world?

Yes!

Some provinces possessed them, some pirates had them, and some of the deputies of various institutions were at the metamorphosis level. These people were one step away from breaking through, but that one step obstructed a lot of people.

Few were those who could decline an opportunity to soar to the heavens with one step.

Hou Xiaochen breathed out heavily. He didn’t voice these thoughts simply because he didn’t want to. It would be quite a blow to morale if he did. Li Hao might find many more Arcanus facing him if he returned in two days, rather than the few that he expected now.

Hou Xiaochen once said to Li Hao that he would handle everyone over metamorphosis and indeed, the man was ready for such a fight. But there was so much pressure on his shoulders that he had to call up Sky Sword and ask if the man was coming! He wouldn’t have done so before.

“Director,” Manager Yu offered upon seeing Hou Xiaochen remain quiet. “Can I stand against an Arcanus if I fully unseal myself? Just... how strong are they?”

“They’re very, very strong,” Hou Xiaochen responded with a close look at her. “You won’t be able to match them unless you fully snap multiple supernatural locks. In our current state, it will take... nine saturated looks for a martial master to stand against one if they don’t completely break their locks. Nine saturated locks is a completion of a basic circulatory loop. Martial masters under that condition will be able to battle Arcanus!”

Nine locks!

Manager Yu blinked and sank into deep thought. She’d just saturated her fifth lock and could just barely unseal herself. She was closer to the He Yong of before. In this state, it would be a grand enough feat for her to fight metamorphosis experts if she didn’t fully snap her locks. She had no hope against Arcanus.

The only possibility was if she fully snapped her five locks. That and the innate ferocity of martial masters meant that she might be able to battle Arcanus straight off the bat when she ascended as a supernatural. But she was also likely to die from the violent impact of her sudden mysterious power. After all, her foundations did not run that deep.

“Don’t think so much, be at peace, it will be fine!” Hou Xiaochen exhaled softly. “I’m here, as is He Yong. He’s an opportunistic guy, but he’s a Silver Moon martial master at the end of the day, so he should step forward...”

“Li Hao set the deadline as three days later—there’s only two days left now,” Manager Yu said softly. “That’s so little time. Otherwise, Northern Fist, Tyrant Blade, and Earthturner Sword and Light Sword in Silver Moon might have rushed over to help. He... didn’t leave much leeway for us.”

Indeed, there was too little time! A distance of more than twenty thousand kilometers in three short days meant that one would have to travel seven to eight thousand kilometers a day. That was a tall order even for Earthturner Sword and the others.

What are you thinking about, Li Hao? Are you unwilling to let everyone come? Or do you think that it doesn’t matter if they’re present since they won’t make much of a difference?

Hou Xiaochen closed his eyes, finding his emotions rising in this moment. Kid, I just hope that you can handle more of what you bit off. I don’t want you to constantly have a death wish as even I find the situation difficult this time.

If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have made you a vice commander. I underestimated you! You said you wanted to see the world in coming to Skystar City. Perhaps you can truly see clearly this time, but I worry that you’ll gain only unlimited disappointment after you see your fill! The nine ministries and royal family might be your enemies as well now. Do you still carry hope in your heart?

......

It was another day in the blink of an eye. This was the second day, Li Hao’s time would be up the day after tomorrow.

Bam!

Wind energy swirled in a mountain cave; the young man vomited blood as wind and thunder crashed against each other. Despite how strong his body was, he was finding it difficult to endure the strain. His organs shook, but a massively thick chain had them all locked together.

Li Hao slowly snapped his sixth supernatural lock, gradually releasing wind energy! Wind and thunder collided with each other as they melded together. Cracks fractured Li Hao’s body, bright-red blood instantly evaporating when it came in contact with the air.

“Show me what is true Arcanus!” Li Hao grinned radiantly. I, Li Hao, am about to set foot into Arcanus!

Let’s go!

Let this storm rage even fiercer! I’d like to see how many Arcanus in the world can rival me when I’m at their level and wield two heritage weapons! I won’t need anyone to rescue me in the future. I will rescue myself!

Crack!

The chain of his zifu fully snapped.

“Oof!” he grunted as bones and muscles tore and were reborn, broke and were reborn... Drops of Water of Life surged into his body. A tremendous amount of sword energy repaired his body. As good as the Arcanus level was, it posed too much of a strain on the body.

But I’m an Arcanus now!

Wind and thunder rose, rain descended. Rumble! Thunder and lightning ripped through the sky around the mountain cave. Gale winds howled and rain smashed to the ground. A furious storm arrived near the mountain.

The sky shifted with the rain. Li Hao made it to Arcanus on this day. He was no longer the weakling that needed his master to bitterly fight off a Solar pursuer on that rainy day.

......

The third day, Skystar City.

Tomorrow would be the first day after Li Hao’s imposed deadline, the day in which he beheaded nobles. The atmosphere within the city today was too stifling.

Li Hao had run off!

Disseminated by countless nobles, the news spread far and wide. Some nobles jeered, “Li Hao’s just all talk! He’s doomed to die himself if he really does execute nobles in public!”

The families of those who’d been taken ran straight for the Night Watchers, demanding that the agency release their people. Li Hao the butcher was already gone, were they going to persist in this course of action?

The Silver Moon Guards had sealed off the yard holding the prisoners and taken the Night Watchers’ places, but that transferred all of the pressure to their shoulders instead. Even some deputy directors within the Night Watchers called for them to release their prisoners.

The situation couldn’t continue like this! It was one thing when Li Hao was present—he was a perfect scapegoat. But since he was gone, they had to release the nobles!

Yellow Dragon was one such person agitating for release. His sarcastic mockery dwindled somewhat only when Hou Xiaochen appeared.

......

The Night Watchers.

The headquarters was nearly overrun by people. Not only did those outside raise a fuss, but so did the nobles being held inside the yard for multiple days. Some received news of the happenings on the outside.

“Let’s see how long he holds us for!” one sneered.

“He’s crazy. Nothing good comes from showing off one’s edge that keenly!”

“Weren’t you guys scared to death two days ago? Are you not afraid anymore?”

“......” Nobles grinned happily, ignoring the stench of their bodies. Li Hao had run away! Granted, similar circumstances had occurred last time and he’d shown up in a full force again, but he faced only one ministry then. This time, he faced the entire world.

The circumstances were very different.

Some people looked merrily at Mu Xiaorong. “Miss Mu, is it about time that we leave now? Minister Mu is probably anxious as well. Why not come out with us? I bet those northern savages won’t dare do anything to us!”

“Brother Yu.” Someone else addressed the grandson of the North Sea King in a friendly manner. “Senior North Sea King is probably waiting for Brother Yu to reunite with the family.”

The youngster smiled and didn’t say anything. Calling pirates their brothers... Li Hao had mentioned this before and it was on full display now. This was because the youngster’s grandfather was the North Sea King!

The North Sea King commanded tens of thousands of supernaturals beneath his banner, as well as numerous powerhouses. There were instances when nobles submitted, even in this age. When the other was very strong, for example. The nobles would’ve been willing to bend the knee had Li Hao not insisted on killing them.

Since he had, then no one would play by his rules.

The two being addressed possessed the loftiest identities among those present. But when they didn’t concur with the proposal to leave, that caused hesitation among the various nobles.

“Are you two not leaving yet? There’s nothing to be had here, just a bunch of people looking at us. Thousands of people being crammed into a space like this makes everything stink to the high heavens...” A voice rose in complaint, but fear yet marked the depths of their hearts.

A young man walked out the next moment with cold haughtiness on his face. “I’ll leave if none of you do! I’ll see who dares stop me!”

He strode forward. There were Silver Moon Guards standing at the yard entrance, ones who looked coldly at the young man approaching them.

“Open your idiotic eyes wide!” sneered the young man as he took out a medallion. “I am Zhou Chao, a high rank chief commissioner of the Night Watchers! My father is a deputy director of the Night Watchers! Does Li Hao have any evidence that I have committed crimes after so many days of locking me up? Obviously not! Hurry up and step aside, or no one will be able to protect you guys!”

None of the Silver Moon Guards gave a response, and neither did they give way. They unsheathed the blades in their hands.

Step aside? Never!

Silver Moon martial masters were not stronger than others or in possession of a third hand or extra courage, but they were indeed more arbitrary and domineering than the rest! They were less afraid of death!