Star Gate-Chapter 1114: Letting Loose in All Out Battle! (II)

“Therefore, the best result is that all sides restrain themselves in battle and do not trigger the second awakening ahead of time,” Jiang Li said softly. “We need to build our forces and find the ancient city of traitors. We cannot permit their replicas to freely walk through the world. This is the best plan at present.”

The priest was much more rational than he’d been last time. “The king’s first thoughts are also to constrain the ones we deal with... Are they really that terrifying?”

“They are!” The king nodded after a period of silence. “Not only Red Dust, but Ying Hongyue as well. Ying Hongyue may still be in Great Li. This king cannot take any risks with Li Hao, that would be gambling the future of the nation! As for when the second awakening happens and these people walk into the world... We can just withdraw our troops if it comes down to that. We are but a small fringe nation—their target will not be us.”

“Is the great king afraid?”

“Afraid?” The king couldn’t help but laugh. He wasn’t and shook his head to emphasize the notion. “It’s not a matter of whether I’m afraid or not, but if Great Li can suffer the consequences of provoking those we can appease. Our roles should be reversed—it would be interesting if I insisted on cooperating with Li Hao and you advocated for the parley of five. That would make more sense!”

The king laughed as the two held opinions opposite of what they would usually express. Of course, this had to do with their recent experiences. He’d encountered Red Dust and Ying Hongyue, whereas Jiang Li had spent time with Li Hao’s group. Both felt that the enemies they’d encountered were thorny opponents, so their perspective was very different from what they usually voiced.

The Great Li king laughed for a while before he was interrupted by a runner outside the tent. “Your Majesty, we have a visitor from the Skystar Commander Office!”

“Show them in!” The king’s eyebrows raised.

“Understood!”

The tent flap opened to permit entry for one.

“It is a matter of joyous tidings that the Great Li king has returned!” The newcomer beamed radiantly.

“Who are you?”

“I am Envoy Gan Wuliang of the Skystar Commander Office. My most respectful greetings to the great king!” Gan Wuliang was wreathed in smiles, but the Great Li king’s brows knitted together.

Gan Wuliang was not a famous person. He was a nobody, but he was very strong!

The king found it incredulous what his senses were telling him. This envoy was mid Sun and Moon? Was this an error in perception? How was that possible?

In all of Great Li, only the king had reached this level if Jiang Li did not utilize the divine bone of Initial Martial. How could an insignificant minion reach the same level as him?

“Are you Li Hao?”

Gan Wuliang blinked, then quickly laughed, “You misunderstand, great king. The commander is currently holding a meeting in Silver City and is too preoccupied to visit. He ordered this humble one to pay my respects to the great king and also inquire about the commander’s replica. Why has it not returned? Did unexpected circumstances develop?

“The commander would like to ask if the replica died to Ying Hongyue or a powerhouse of the traitorous city? Please enlighten us, great king!”

The king’s frown deepened. So the visitor wasn’t Li Hao’s replica? That had been his most immediate guess. He studied the man in front of him before saying slowly, “He died to the lord of the traitorous ancient city. They called themselves Red Dust.”

Gan Wuliang’s expression did not flicker. He looked at the Great Li king and determined that the man was telling the truth.

“The commander sent me to ask that if the lord of the traitorous city appeared, how would the four nations converse with him?”

“Converse?” The king asked Gan Wuliang instead.

“The Skystar Commander Office is very strong with numerous martial masters,” chuckled Gan Wuliang. “Our people are of one heart. As such, it is extremely difficult for any one side to target us. It is feasible only through joint action. However, the four nations have not contacted each other for many years. It will take the facilitation of an ancient city to do so, isn’t that so?”

Such a simple matter was sure to happen.

“It is fine if the king is not at leisure to respond,” Gan Wuliang laughed. “The commander is simply curious.”

He was certain that there would be such a conference, it was only a matter of where and when.

“The commander sent me with a message.” Gan Wuliang changed the topic. “What are the king’s future plans?”

“What do you mean by that?” the king asked solemnly.

“Is the Great Li king going to take this road to the bitter end with them, or will you choose to continue your partnership with the commander?” Gan Wuliang withdrew his deferential attitude and drew himself up proudly. “The commander has no opinion if the king wishes to be stubborn. He is of the opinion that everyone has their own aspirations in life, but since I am here on the commander’s behalf, I hope that the king will think carefully on the matter!

“If the Great Li king feels that the Skystar Commander Office is easily susceptible and will be crushed by an alliance of the five sides, then that would be a grave underestimation! The commander simply does not wish to shed blood because he holds the world, the nations, and the people in his heart. Otherwise, Great Li’s army of one million would’ve long been toppled!”

“How ludicrous!” sneered the Great Li king. “You threaten this king? Would Li Hao dare kill me?”

“Why not?” laughed Gan Wuliang. “Is he so concerned about the second awakening that he will refrain from killing anyone? And it’s not like we have to massacre your army. Your soldiers might outright surrender upon your death. Even if they do not, we have other ideas we can utilize, such as bringing people into the ancient cities for execution. That will revitalize the city, not the world! There are still many methods to tap into, but that would simply spell misery for the people!

“The commander does not wish for there to be unnecessary suffering or to become anyone’s pawn. If he is willing to compromise with New Martial, that will result in support from Battle Heaven, Martial Alliance, and many other ancient cities, to say nothing of other ones! The commander simply wishes to build an era that belongs to only Silver Moon world inhabitants!”

He watched the Great Li king, sensing the other’s waffling. This liege might be juggling various concerns, just like Li Hao did. A complicated mix of emotions swirled in him.

“If the Great Li king has other thoughts, you and Head Priest Jiang are invited to meet the commander at Silver City tonight!” Gan Wuliang offered when sudden inspiration struck him.

“What do you mean by that?” The Great Li king looked skeptically at his counterpart.

“Come if you are willing, don’t if you are not!” Gan Wuliang laughed. “I have relayed all of the messages that the commander wished for me to convey. A lot of things may be decided soon. I take my leave!”

He turned and left.

Still frowning, the Great Li king reached for Gan Wuliang. Was he truly that strong or just bluffing?

Gan Wuliang dodged the king’s hand and sent out a surge of unique energy ripples. The entire Great Li army started agitating. Multiple soldiers with bloodshot eyes charged into the main tent and looked to be on the verge of losing their mind.

They threw themselves in front of the Great Li king, howling like animals and blocking his raised hand.

Gan Wuliang didn’t even bother looking behind him. “King of Great Li, the one million soldiers of your army are but puppets on a string to me. If I want, I can have them mutiny at any time.”

“Hmph!” A cold snort shook the premises.

Bam!

A presence immediately dissipated as heavenly will converged on the spot with domineering momentum. The disquieted army instantly quieted down.

Gan Wuliang was already gone, leaving behind horrified royal guards. They were shocked that they’d been overwhelmed with fury moments ago and obstructed their king!

This...

“This subordinate deserves death!” The guards were as pale as a sheet.

“Work harder on your cultivation!” exhorted the king. “You have weak mental states!”

There were so many royal guards, but only these ones had been instantly taken over. That meant that their wills were not strong enough.

And yet...

The king looked at Gan Wuliang in the distance with an inscrutable look in his eyes. This unheard fellow under Li Hao’s command was terrifyingly strong to have controlled his guards so easily and even created unrest in the army.

What kind of ability was that?

“That person’s name is Gan Wuliang and is one of Li Hao’s troops from the City of Supernaturals,” Jiang Li suddenly explained. “He recruited more than one thousand supernaturals from the city overnight and was arrested for it. Two days ago, he visited the various ancient cities on Li Hao’s behalf. The only thing is... he was a Nova when Li Hao captured him... at most a Mountain and Sea...

“Why has he improved so much so quickly? He is skilled at observing people and detecting emotions. Disliked by the Silver Moon martial masters, he’s a very petty person.”

It’d only been a few days since he last saw Gan Wuliang, why had the man changed so much? He could manipulate the royal guards into betraying their master with a wave of his hand. It was incredible!

If he controlled enough of the army—say several tens of thousands of soldiers, then the entire army might be annihilated! It made one’s blood run cold! The idea was more terrifying than killing ten thousand with one punch!

“This person’s ability is unique and can immediately incite people to lose control.” The king’s expression flickered as rapidly as his thoughts. “As for his strength, he looks to have truly set foot into fourth level Sun and Moon, but the world does not target him...”

The king looked up. “The world’s limits seemed to have risen some more. Has it revitalized to a greater degree?”

The world seemed more stable these days and its recovery rate was increasing. Fourth level Sun and Moon could easily walk around now. That was also the Great Li king’s level, but he believed that Gan Wuliang would be no match for him in a real fight.

Jiang Li looked on with consternation. He was only third level Sun and Moon according to Skystar’s cultivation levels. He could reach fourth level if he utilized the divine bones. Did this mean that Gan Wuliang had surpassed him?

“His cultivation seems a bit flighty... perhaps he’s just ascended,” continued the king. “Li Hao knows!”

The young man knew about the parley, just not the time and place. However, he was perceptive enough to easily guess what Red Dust had in mind and quickly realized that something was amiss.

“My king, then...”

Do we go tonight?

“We’ll see!”

Jiang Li fell silent, wrestling with a complicated mix of emotions.

......

At the same time.

Silver City, the Inspectorate.

“No one is to leave the premises from this moment on and no communication is permitted with the outside world!” Li Hao said calmly. “We set out at midnight to Boundless to raze the ancient city to the ground!”

Everyone jerked with alarm at his command.

“Boundless? The city of the Zhengs?” He Yong nearly stammered. “Didn’t we clear it up that they’re not the traitors? Their patriarch has even reached the Empyrean King level. Commander, this... this is unwise!”

Director General Wang’s eyes were also wide. He was also part of this meeting.