Star Gate-Chapter 1055: March (II)

The Ninth Division leader immediately quieted down.

“It’s alright, this is a small matter.” Li Hao smiled. “Of course, it won’t be completed that quickly as I’ll need some time to prepare. I’m part of the Ninth Division to begin with and am even the eleventh troop leader of the Ninth Division. I’d wanted to resurrect the seventh troop leader and the others, but you guys didn’t agree.”

“I mean everyone...” Li Daozong intoned. “Not just the troop leaders...”

“I know!” the young man laughed. “Herding one sheep is the same as herding a flock. It’s the same logic.”

“......” They weren’t herding sheep! The Battle Heaven ancients started losing confidence with Li Hao’s flippant attitude. Was he really willing to do as they asked?

“If you can achieve this, then the Ninth Division will fight for you until the Star Gate opens,” Li Daozong promised. “We will fight to the death!”

“Mmhmm, anything else?”

“......” The others really felt self conscious now. What else could there be? Resurrecting ten thousand people and bequeathing all of them physical bodies far exceeded their expectations, what else did the young man want?

No, we mean, how are you asking us to propose more terms?

The three exchanged looks between them, very uncertain of how this situation was playing out.

“Does the Ninth Division leader not wish to come back to life?” grinned the young man.

“I don’t mind either way. It wouldn’t be too hard if I wanted to!” answered Li Daozong after a beat.

“Very well, then,” Li Hao smiled broadly. “I also have a small request to make...”

This put the group back on evening footing. That was good. Speak of whatever you want!

“I will require fifty thousand sets of Battle Heaven armor after my upcoming battle is concluded.”

“That can be done!” agreed Li Daozong. “There are one hundred and twenty sets of reserve armor left. You can take them all if there is a need!”

“That’s quite a lot,” Li Hao laughed. “But I only need fifty thousand for now. Combined with the amount I already have and the ten thousand Battle Heaven troops in the field... that makes for one hundred thousand sets of armor!”

One hundred thousand sets would do for now. That made for a small division. The ones of the Battle Heaven Army were large divisions of one million, whereas the Skystar Army at Tranquil Star contained divisions of only one hundred thousand.

“I don’t need them today, I’ll come back for them later!” Li Hao looked at the two elders.

The old turtle didn’t say anything. Within the city, the enormous turtle pagoda gave birth to a small shield shaped like a turtle. It landed in Li Hao’s hand—the young man could feel the powerful current of energy within.

General Pagoda cut off a portion of its core origin, creating another pagoda tree with the faint ripples of Saint-level power. Another twelve plant spirits appeared with a wave of its hand. These were all slightly recovered and could communicate mentally; they were just weak in battle. Li Hao would have to supply a large sum of mysterious power stones for them to absorb first.

“My replica and these twelve auxiliary generals can set up an inescapable net!” General Pagoda elaborated to Li Hao. “If you wish to capture enemies in one fell swoop, we can take root in the void and seal off the world!”

Li Hao’s eyes lit up.

“My replica and the generals can enter the imitation of the Wind and Cloud treasure. That item will become the formation eye, creating a net that nothing can escape from!”

“Sounds good!” Li Hao waved the mirror onto being and stored the thirteen plant spirits in it.

“Then we wish victory to the Eleventh Division leader as soon as your flag is unfurled!” laughed the old turtle. It was a purposeful, meaningful usage of Li Hao’s Battle Heaven title!

“Thank you for your auspicious words!” Li Hao grinned and left when he took a step forward.

The Ninth Division leader also sent out a replica, one that felt a bit stronger than before. He, too, followed the young man out of the ruins.

......

The warships took to the air again. A figure manifested in the air when they crossed the North Sea.

“Has the little friend passed on word about the Forbidden Sea?” came its mental ripples as it stayed far away. “The Forbidden Sea seems to be more active lately, someone may be attempting something...”

The little turtle shell next to Li Hao trembled before the young man had a chance to respond and the old turtle’s replica appeared. “Master Capsize Sea!” it smiled.

“You are...” blinked the figure. “Ah, the soul weapon of the Wang heritage weapon! There is no need to use honorifics for me. If I recall correctly, you are vastly experienced and of the same generation as my forefather.”

Capsize Sea was the descendant of the Sea Pacification envoy. For it to say such words meant that the old turtle truly had been a revered elder in life. It looked at Li Hao again after exchanging pleasantries.

“I know and I’ve already relayed your message,” Li Hao replied. “Senior Zhang An says that the awakening of the Forbidden Sea is a result of this world losing its connection to the main world. It will naturally awaken then!”

“I know that, what I speak of is the sea’s recent disturbances...”

“Mmhmm, I know about them as well.” Li Hao nodded. “I’ll take care of it. There’s no need for the senior to worry.”

“It’s not that I’m the one worried, but that you should be the one worried!” Capsize Sea emphasized. “Someone may be disturbing the source of the Forbidden Sea and trying to overturn the world. That might cause the second awakening ahead of time, stabilizing the world and permitting a group of powerhouses to emerge.”

Aha! Li Hao was certain that it had to be Ying Hongyue’s group.

“Thank you for the reminder, senior. I know who it is behind this, but they are not an easy party to eliminate. I will do my best!”

Capsize Sea was doubtful, but protested no further. So long as Li Hao knew...

The monster spirit sensed something different about the young man this time. He’d been quite cocky during their first meeting, swaggering around like he was the best in the world. The young man was much more polite this time.

“Then I have no further business at hand,” murmured Capsize Sea. “Ah, there’s one small matter—there might be something sneaking into the West Sea. It’s trying to steal my control over the four seas. It might be a divine spirit of this world, some sort of water god or another. Take a look for me when you have time.”

Li Hao nodded, then asked with confusion, “Why... does the senior keep coming to me?”

He’d been puzzled about this for a while. There are so many people out there, why do you come to me? It’s so weird!

“Should I not?” Capsize Sea was equally surprised by the question. “The Li family holds sway over the world and you also have the descendant of the Monster Spirit Envoy by your side. Those of the Sea Pacification Envoy also come under the Monster Spirit Envoy. My primary body cannot walk through the world at present, so of course I must come to you!”

Li Hao still found the situation odd. So that’s it? No wonder this guy wanted me to pass on a message when it first met me. It still thinks of this world as belonging to the Lis, perhaps that’s what it truly believes.

“Then I’ll take care of the matter of the West Sea!” Li Hao laughed.

“Mm, I will return to my domain then!” It didn’t exchange further words with either Li Hao or the old turtle and quickly disappeared.

“Those under the Sea Pacification banner are very honest souls, but also exceedingly intelligent!” the old turtle’s replica said meaningfully. “They’re far from simple creatures!”

“I like smart people, it’s easier to talk to them.” Li Hao grinned.

The old turtle vanished without further word.

Jiang Li watched coldly from the side and grasped some of what was going on. “Commander Li, is the disturbance of the Forbidden Sea related to that Ying Hongyue?”

“Ninety-nine percent yes!”

“In that case, why do you not stop him if he might trigger the second awakening ahead of time? If the commander returns to the armies now, I will persuade the king to partner with the commander to stop or kill Ying Hongyue...”

“That’s alright!” Li Hao shook his head. “With Ying Hongyue’s level of cunning, he won’t outright start the second awakening. He’ll permit the energy levels of the world to slightly thicken and stabilize, possibly even raise the limits of the world a bit. Late or peak Apexes might be permitted to appear, or Immortal-level primary bodies. However, he won’t let any Saints set foot into the world...”

Jiang Li’s heart shook. What... was the purpose of this? And what did it mean that Li Hao knew full well what his opponent’s intentions were, but did not make a move to stop them?

As the main priest of the divine temple, he had always been the strategist of the Great Li king. But today, he couldn’t read Li Hao’s mind. Or perhaps he’d guessed at the young man’s goals, but found them too crazy!

“Did the commander not send out a replica with my king to resolve this issue?”

“No, I did that to exert some pressure on Ying Hongyue.”

“......” The priest didn’t know what to say! In fact, he wanted to break out into curses. What the hell was this guy thinking off?

Li Hao ignored his Great Li guest and sailed forward with the battleships.

......

The convoy soon reached Skystar City. The three warships hovered in the air while Deputy Zhou, Lin Hongyu, and others appeared over the city. Jiang Li’s eyes widened when he looked down and saw numerous student puppets. Li Hao didn’t have many by his side—there were almost one hundred on the ground below.

None of the puppets by themselves were the equivalent of a core origin replica, but two or three of them together could absolutely handle a replica. There were one hundred here. Added to that the puppets that Li Hao already had with him meant that there were hundreds of puppets present!

Color drained from the priest’s face. How much had Li Hao hidden from them?!

There was more to the young man than this. He made a trip out; it wasn’t long before a group of two dozen plant spirits appeared. That further darkened Jiang Li’s expression. So many! Just these replicas alone would be difficult to deal with, and the young man was yet to return.