Star Gate

Chapter 184: Ghost Shadow Sword (III)

“It’s too dangerous, this isn’t a lark!” Hao Lianchuan frowned. “The Night Watchers have primarily sent Fullmoons and Plenilunes for the excavation. There will be a few Starlight and weaker Darkmoon on standby outside, render to offer any assistance needed and to stop mundanes from passing through...”

There wasn’t a single Halfmoon among the expedition team to enter the ruin. While theirs wouldn't be the largest delegation, it excelled in that it was filled with elites.

“Director Hao, we Silver City Night Watchers have long dwelled in the battlefield and possess a rich breadth of experience!” Liu Long said calmly. “Besides, I don’t want to bring that many—just Liu Yan and Li Hao. Li Hao’s actually with Professor Yuan, so it’s just Liu Yan.”

Liu Yan? A faintly frowning Hao Lianchuan looked at the woman. He understood the connotations of the request—Hu Po was in the field. What if something undesirable developed!

“Well...”

Liu Yan looked at the deputy director and interrupted, “Director Hao, I’m not a supernatural. It won’t affect the Night Watchers if I die!”

“It’s not that!” Hao Lianchuan rumbled. “We’re all Night Watchers here, so there’s no talk of anyone’s death being negligible. No one can die! You’ve just entered Sunderer...”

“I’m already mid Sunderer!” Liu Yan clarified, further surprising Hao Lianchuan. He quickly came to terms with it as the gap between initial and mid Sunderer wasn’t too difficult to bridge. He mused over the decision when Wang Ming also spoke up.

“Director Hao, I want to go too!”

“Me too!”

“And me!”

“......” Everyone from the Silver City branch volunteered.

“Is this a mutiny??” demanded a livid Hao Lianchuan. If all of you go, what’s going to happen to Silver City?! Do you all want to go to your deaths?? A peak Crescent like Li Meng is a greenhorn over there. She’ll be better off guarding the outskirts.

“Director Hao, I’m a Plenilune!” Wang Ming said urgently. “If all goes well over the next couple of days, I’ll set foot into Sunflare! A Sunflare is a powerhouse no matter where we go, right? It’d be a waste if I didn’t go!”

Hao Lianchuan looked at him with obvious astonishment and paused for a bit. “You can set foot into Sunflare?”

He didn’t believe it! Not even though Wang Ming had said the blood pearl was useful to him. It wasn’t as if a supernatural hadn’t absorbed a blood pearl before, the hell was it useful for? It was slightly useful, but far less useful than two hundred cubes of mysterious power.

“We lose nothing by trying...” Wang Ming said sheepishly. “Director Hao, let me go too!”

Hao Lianchuan truly hadn’t considered that Wang Ming could already be a Plenilune. “It’s not out of the question for you to go...” He thought for a bit. “It’s good for youngsters to temper themselves. But it’s out of the question for the rest!”

To put it bluntly, they were too weak. They’d be going to their deaths! An excavation wasn’t a leisure jaunt; he didn’t have the energy or attention to spare for too many.

Chen Jian and the others weren’t willing to accept this outcome. They were also Sunderers and this trip was apparently a mission of revenge! They’d heard that it was to kill Li Dahu!

There were strong bonds between the Demon Hunters. When would it be a better chance to kill Li Dahu, if not this time?

“Director Hao, I’m a Sunderer too!” The normally taciturn Chen Jian got to his feet. “Martial masters are more discreet than supernaturals! I’m skilled in defense. The three great organizations must be deeply familiar with the Night Watchers and more likely than not unfamiliar with us. I think we should be of some help if we go.”

“A Sunderer?” Hao Lianchuan repeated with surprise, then looked at Wu Chao.

“I’m also a Sunderer!” the man laughed wispily.

The deputy director rocked back on his heels, truly surprised! All of these people had broken through to Sunderer in this tiny Silver City. This was a bit frightening. Sunderers were almost the equivalent of Darkmoon—not a very strong level, but not the baseline either in the Night Watchers.

Liu Long interjected, “It will be Liu Yan, Wang Ming, and Li Hao for the expedition. The others will stay and defend!”

He knew about the dangers they would encounter and what was on everyone’s mind. They could not lose the entire department on this trip! Four out of nine attending was already a large number.

A grin spread across Wang Ming’s face. He wanted to go because there might be benefits to be had, and he knew how strong Liu Long and Yuan Shuo were. If Li Hao wasn’t afraid of death with them, then he was even less afraid of death! Perhaps unexpected gains would be in store on this adventure.

This might also be a chance for Wang Ming to build his reputation! If the Night Watchers were to be highly regarded in the province, it had to come about on the battlefield! If he could ascend to Sunflare and kill a Sunflare, he would be famed throughout the supernatural domain. He was only twenty years old. Killing a Sunflare at twenty years old meant that he would be one of the top dogs in Silver Moon!

“Chief!” Wu Chao and the others protested. They wanted to go too, the Demon Hunters always acted in concert.

“Train well!” Liu Long commanded. “All of you better improve while we’re gone. I’ll conduct an inspection when I return. There will be plenty of chances to fight and to kill. We might be in open war with the three great organizations after the excavation concludes, so there will be plenty of opportunities in the future!”

Hao Lianchuan’s expression shifted slightly. These words... forget it, this is a distinct possibility. So that made for four people on the team—Liu Long and Wang Ming possessed sufficient strength. Yuan Shuo wanted to bring Li Hao, so that was fine too. It was Liu Yan...

She probably wanted revenge, and ardently at that. If they didn’t let her go and she slipped away in secret, that might be even more dangerous and troublesome.

“Then it’s you four!” Hao Lianchuan nodded after repeated deliberation. “Li Meng and Hu Hao were supposed to go as Professor Yuan’s protection detail. Since he has the ability to protect himself now, and there are more and stronger powerhouses from the three great organizations than expected, you two don’t need to go anymore!

“We officially enter the ruins on the 28th! Make sure to arrive before then, I will not be coming to get you.”

He had other business to attend to at their campsite; Hao Lianchuan also needed to ascertain how many experts the other organizations had sent for this exploration.

“Director Hao, I’ll be there in time with my people!” Liu Long nodded.

“Then that’s all!” Hao Lianchuan threw a flask at Wang Ming. “Wang Ming, think about it before you use it. It’s not cheap and mostly suited for martial masters. Sell it to Liu Long if you’re not confident enough!”

With that, he quickly left.

......

“Chief, why aren’t you taking us with you?” Chen Jian was still reluctant to accept the outcome after Hao Lianchuan had departed.

“I’m not the one calling the shots!” Liu Long frowned. “White Moon is in charge. Also, do you guys think that Silver City is very safe right now? Who’s going to defend the city if we all go?”

“But!”

“No buts!” Liu Long interrupted and looked at the others. “Keep a weather eye on the city. Trouble might arise before we’re out of the ruins! Also, large numbers of powerhouses are entering the ruins. With both me and Elder Yuan gone, be careful of people sneaking into the city. Silver City is not safe.”

Wang Ming wasn’t interested in the rest of their conversation. He tugged Li Hao off to the side and whispered, “Li Hao, I have the item. So do you think... do we...”

Li Hao chuckled to see him in such a hurry and thought for a moment. “Alright, come to my teacher’s tonight. I’ll help you absorb the blood pearl.

“Give it to me first, I need to make some preparations beforehand.”

“Eh?” Give it to you? Wang Ming worried. You’re not going to take it for yourself, are you?

Li Hao remained looking at him; the handsome young man apprehensively handed over the precious item after a moment. “Don’t... don’t break it.”

Li Hao laughed and didn’t bother with a response. He had his considerations. He didn’t need the blood pearl after reaching peak Sunderer. He needed more to grasp the aura and set foot into Dominator instead.

Blood pearls, however, were more useful for martial masters. He wanted to give it to Liu Yan. She might set foot into latter Sunderer—or rather, she would have no difficulty doing so. It would just be difficult for her to grasp the aura.

The expedition would be very dangerous for her.

As for Wang Ming, Li Hao wanted to use the sword energy to extract some metal mysterious power and combine it with sword energy to make it easier to digest. The mixture might help Wang Ming ascend. It would be more effective than the blood pearl.

Blood pearls were not as effective for enhancing the supernatural as one might think. Li Hao needed to utilize a portion of metal mysterious power and a large quantity of sword energy. The transaction was a loss for him, but he didn’t care.

No one had ostracized him after he joined the Demon Hunters. Although he was just bait, everyone protected him in critical moments. Liu Yan dragged him along in her wake even when she was being chased by a Sunderer.

These memories were imprinted on Li Hao’s heart, so if he could help the team, he would do what he could. If Wang Ming could progress to Sunflare and Liu Yan to late Sunderer, that would make the Silver City team so much stronger. They would be much more equipped to protect themselves.

Li Hao sidled over to Liu Yan after exchanging a few words with Wang Ming. “Sis, come to my teacher’s tonight...” he whispered.

“Not your place?” The woman swept him with a coquettish look. “Is it appropriate to go to your teacher’s?”

“......” Li Hao pretended not to hear the response. “There are good things to be had!”

“...don’t you take Wang Ming’s blood pearl for yourself!” said Liu Yan after she thought for a bit. “As annoying as that guy and his big mouth are, I wouldn’t dare use a treasure that costs two hundred cubes even if you gave it to me!”

She guessed that Li Hao wanted to claim Wang Ming’s possession for himself. If that was the case, she didn’t want it! No matter how much she wished to break through, she wasn’t going to unfairly take her teammate’s treasure.

Li Hao was taken aback by her reaction—was it this obvious? Is my character that bad? Wang Ming suspects me and Liu Yan also guessed it in a few seconds?

“That’s not it, don’t worry. Just keep watching if you don’t believe me. I won’t take it unless Wang Ming ascends!”

So you’ll take it if he does? Liu Yan laughed. What would be left of the blood pearl after the supernatural advanced? Well, it didn’t matter as much to her anymore. “Very well, am I spending the night? Should I bring a change of undergarments? What kind of style do you like?”

“......” Li Hao spun on his heel and left. Young widows were terrifying!