Star Gate

Chapter 549: Sword Unsheathed! (II)

“Li Hao is a Silver Moon martial master!” The man suddenly turned back to say as he prepared to leave.

The person who’d been speaking paused, as did the expressions of those around them shift. They’d almost forgotten this detail! That was a Silver Moon barbarian! Li Hao wasn’t a Night Watcher of the central region, but a savage of the southern hinterlands.

There were some other Silver Moon martial masters in the central region who killed without blinking—Sky Sword, for example. Yuan Shuo had also claimed the spotlight for a previous duration of time. They were both exceedingly vicious martial masters. Light Sword had killed five Novas with one move—she was a Silver Moon martial master as well.

Plainly, the identity of a Silver Moon martial master was much more menacing. No one in the crowd said anything further. Night Watchers were easy to bully, but Silver Moon martial masters were not.

......

The little ship continued to thread through the waves. Li Hao smiled when he thought back to what’d just happened and shook his head slightly. Certain thoughts that rose in his mind were quickly extinguished.

The nine ministries...

To be honest, life was passable these days. The proliferation of certain technologies made people’s lives much easier. This had much to do with the nine ministries.

Prior to their governance, the royal family held charge of the world for one hundred and twenty years. They’d deviated from their original mandate and levied onerous taxes, ruled with a heavy fist, and didn’t concern themselves with the lives of the people. The royal family had committed all sorts of crimes. Life was truly difficult back then.

Therefore, although people were far removed from the nine ministries and didn’t understand them too well, they more or less trusted and were grateful to the ministries. But the more that Li Hao came to know them on a deeper level, the more he realized that the nine ministries had become evil dragons themselves.

Their lack of worthwhile action was their biggest mistake. They permitted supernaturals to run rampant, allowed the three great organizations to rise and grow, permitted internal conflict to spread...

Many thoughts rose to the forefront of Li Hao’s mind and quickly faded away again. This has nothing to do with me for the moment. The most pressing issues were to increase his strength, a rescue mission, and an obligation to save others after receiving pay to do so. Of this, he was well aware of.

Upon learning of Light Sword’s approximate position, Li Hao picked up speed again. The Divine Kun Ship seemed to fly through the waves as it churned ever faster. This was to Li Hao’s immense satisfaction as he quite liked this origin weapon.

......

Roughly five hundred kilometers away from Li Hao.

Light Sword shouted authoritatively and slashed with her sword, detonating a powerhouse that was obstructing her. She vomited a mouthful of blood and quickly fled the scene, a vicious glint in her eyes. Moments later, her ears twitched and she swiftly darted down, vanishing beneath the waves.

Powerhouses appeared on all sides moments later. Someone looked at the scene and proclaimed calmly, “She’s at the end of her tether! But it’s best not to approach her at the moment, be careful of her striking back in her final breaths of life!”

“Her direction seems to indicate that she wants to go to Silver Moon for help. But who will save her after Hou Xiaochen’s departed?”

“Our intelligence reports indicate that their main leaders are still inside the province, particularly Huang Yu of the army—he hasn’t left White Moon City. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“......” The various heavyweights communicated with each other. A middle-aged man in particular raised a cupped fist salute to the four corners.

“The Windchaser Boots are the family legacy of the Xus. Whether it is to kill Light Sword, seize the treasure, or anything else... All is fine. My father, the family patriarch has said that we are willing to pay ten thousand mysterious power stones and an origin weapon to anyone who obtains eh boots. We will not take any of the other treasures she carries!

“The Windchaser Boots are a pair, Light Sword only has one of them. You will not be able to use them if you obtain them, they will just be decor. We will remember well anyone who renders aid to our family!”

“You’re too polite, young master duke!” some chuckled in response while others ignored him. The Xus were offering a high, very high price! It was good for wandering cultivators and those who didn’t have the ability to fight the Xus. No one was unmoved by the thought of ten thousand mysterious power stones. They might grab the boots if they were lucky enough.

But for the bigger organizations and factions, the Windchaser Boots were the most important target of all. They did not need what the Xus were offering. Anyone who reached Nova or dared hunt a Nova was a heavyweight. All of them were!

The young master duke they spoke of at the rear of the crowd was the eldest son of the Steadfast Duke—Xu Zhen, Xu Feng’s father. He frowned slightly when not that many people answered him.

Damn it! He cursed inwardly with resignation. Who knew that Light Sword could hold on for so long after breaking her supernatural locks? It was incredible! She was at the end of her rope and didn’t dare utilize her strongest moves anymore. However, chasing her for so long had drawn a great deal of powerful attention. If this continued, he couldn’t be certain of retrieving the Windchaser Boots.

His father had sent him with people under his banner to retrieve the treasure. If Xu Zhen didn’t perform properly, then his younger brother would step up without giving him space to breathe and probably take his place as the heir.

Xu Zhen continued cursing inwardly and led his men in continued pursuit. Five of the eight generals were dead; the other three had important missions to attend to. That didn’t leave the estate without powerhouses, however. Some were with him right now, a few resident experts that were known in the east.

The Steadfast Duke wasn’t the only overlord of the east; as strong as he was, he still recruited many powerhouses. The eastern provinces were a cut above the northern provinces—the latter was quite poor and the supernatural domain a barren affair. There was almost no energy in the air in even the most fertile regions, whereas plenty could be found in the east. It was subpar to the central region only by a hair.

“Deputy commissioner, a lot of people have come,” transmitted an elder with white hair as they followed their target. “It’s been a while, giving enough time for the nine ministries, three great organizations, seven divine mountains, and some from the real family to arrive.”

The royal family! Xu Zhen frowned, did the royal family want a share of the profits? He recognized some people as well as a few representatives from surrounding provinces. These people wouldn’t necessarily dare offend the duke, but the factions that the old man had just mentioned wouldn’t care about the Steadfast Duke.

“Hasn’t Red Moon withdrawn on all sides? What are they doing here?”

“I seem to have sensed the Black Widow’s presence. She was going to go to Silver Moon, but dithered in the North Sea. She probably received news as it developed and came here...”

Black Widow—Orange Moon. Xu Zhen understood. “I hear that her daughter’s been captured and they’re demanding that she turn herself in. Is she really going to go to Silver Moon?”

“That I’m not sure of. There’s word from Red Moon that Ying Hongyue has said they will trade treasures for Violet Moon. If Silver Moon doesn’t agree, Red Moon will take revenge on the province. I feel that if Silver Moon doesn’t wish to fully erupt in open hostilities, they will agree to the swap.”

Red Moon hadn’t taken much action lately, but they were building their reputation all the same. Violet Moon had been taken, Orange Moon set out to rescue her, and Red Moon put out word that they would trade treasures for person. If Silver Moon refused, then all bets were off the table.

With Hou Xiaochen’s departure, however, Silver Moon hadn’t had time to handle the matter. They didn’t have the ability to respond, so Violet Moon was still locked up in the Inspectorate at the moment.

The group traveled swiftly as they chatted. Xu Zhen was no bumpkin. The Steadfast Duke only had two legitimate sons. He had a few sons with his concubines, but none of them had the right to inherit the duchy. Only Xu Zhen and his younger brother were the legitimate heirs. They’d fought each other in public and under the table for many years, not daring to fall behind in martial dao or the supernatural.

Xu Chen was not a martial master. He was a supernatural who’d crossed over to late Nova a long time ago. He steadily proceeded to peak Nova. While he wasn’t as strong as some of those present, he was no weakling either. His son Xu Feng had been a standout amongst the younger generation as a young mid Nova. What a pity he’d died in Silver Moon!

The more he thought about this, the more irate Xu Zhen became. His son had been one of his greatest advantages and the old duke had always treated him well. Ever since Xu Feng’s death, the old duke had been much nicer to his second son.

There was no helping it, the latter’s daughter was also a genius. Although she was less than Xu Feng, she was also a Nova. Thank goodness she was a girl. Xu Zhen would find it hard to eat or sleep if she was a boy.

I will regain my standing only if I kill Light Sword, retrieve the Windchaser Boots, and wash this shame from my family.

“Hurry, keep after her! Don’t give her a chance to rest and recover,” he shouted. “Her light energy can heal, but there’s also a limit to it. She can’t keep it up forever!”

Everyone knew by now why Light Sword could endure to her present state; she had a very special power. Not only could it kill, it could also heal. She had been suppressing her injuries—ordinary people would’ve long dead. That Light Sword was still alive meant that her life force was also incredibly stubborn.

......

Light Sword sank into the sea, swiftly clearing up the unfocused look in her eyes. She propelled herself forward, unable to shake off the people following her. She was unable to use her full strength—she would explode if she did. It was already the limits of her abilities that she could still use a peak Nova’s strength. Her pursuers wouldn’t follow her so closely otherwise.

She had almost fully consumed her inner strength. If she wasn’t a martial master, she would long be running empty. As it were, her body could still supply some internal force.

The woman took out a pill and swallowed it, revitalizing her fading spirits. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on. Perhaps an hour, perhaps ten minutes... But she didn’t want to go down like this.

She was beginning to regret her actions. Perhaps she could’ve contacted Silver Moon before she made her move and have Li Hao come to the east first, if not receive more outright support. At least the young man could’ve helped her more quickly.

Of course, Li Hao probably wouldn’t agree to it, but Light Sword felt that it wasn’t impossible. It was too late to think of that now. The crux was that the Steadfast Duke had been stronger than she anticipated. He’d withstood her attacks without unsealing himself and merged unscathed. That had been horrifying and forced her to snap all of her locks!