Star Gate-Chapter 1115: Letting Loose in All Out Battle! (III)

“I am ninety-nine percent sure that the Zhengs are the traitors,” Li Hao declared calmly. He looked at Director General Wang, then at Jiang Yingli and the others. “Whether it is Sun Xin or the folk song, both say that the Zhengs are the traitors! Of course, you might protest that they’ve been falsely incriminated.

“But whether it is true or not, at our current stage, the greatest possibility lies with the Zhengs! I don’t care if they’re being falsely accused, they look like the bad guys the most! Therefore, I’m going to attack the Zheng ancient city!

“If they aren’t the traitors, I’ll refrain from breaking their core origin dao as much as I can. They stand a chance of revival when the Star Gate opens! If they are the traitors, then they will be exterminated!

“It’s actually easy to determine if they’ve turned traitor or not. General Pagoda of Battle Heaven is strong enough, but only recovered a little bit even with my help. It would be very unusual for the Zhengs to possess the full battle strength of a Saint at this point in time!

“We will easily defeat them if they lack the strength of a Saint. They are the traitors if they do possess a Saint. There’s no problem with that chain of logic, is there?”

“None!” sighed Director General Wang. “But if the Zheng patriarch really has turned traitor and is still in his family’s main city, then this campaign will be a suicide march! It’s ninety-nine percent likely that he’s reached Empyrean King. While he lacks the strength of core origin dao, he will still be unfathomably strong!

“You can ask... Dean Zhang for help,” he said after momentary hesitation. “With the dean’s identity, he could demand to investigate the city. It would be best if the Zhengs permitted this course of action. If they do not, then it’ll be clear that something’s wrong. Since their suspicion is the greatest at the moment, they must be closely scrutinized...

“If that’s the case,” the man turned toward Li Hao. “Then we can have Dean Zhang join the battle force once we discover something wrong with the Zhengs. That is sure to have a great effect!”

“The commander can bring the Empyrean King body with you,” Jiang Yingli offered as well. “Although it’s in slightly poor shape, it’s still very strong on the battlefield. Teacher can travel alone and take over the body if anything does develop. We’ll be able to delay things for a bit even if the enemy does have an Empyrean King.

“The Zhengs are one of the thirteen families of Tranquil Star. The city of Boundless is their legacy! I am also of Tranquil Star and can accompany my teacher. The Zhengs do not have descendants enrolled at Evenround Martial or we could go together...”

Li Hao shook his head, surprising the group with his refusal.

“I stand by the line of ‘to each their own’,” he said softly. “If Senior Zhang was of the mind to participate, he would volunteer. Since he hasn’t, that means he’s not willing! Jiang Yingli, you should be very familiar with your teacher. There is no need to force him into a decision.”

Jiang Yingli started to respond, then stopped. Director General Wang sighed as well.

“As for everyone else, you can decide if you wish to participate in the battle or not.” Li Hao smiled.

“Of course we’ll participate! Why not?” declared Jiang Yingli after she took a deep breath. “There will be no quarter given if they are indeed the main city that has betrayed New Martial. If they are not, they can sacrifice their physical bodies for the opening of the Star Gate. Their great daos will be preserved.

“Once the Star Gate is opened, if the core origin dao can extend into this universe again or we re-establish communication with the main world, we’ll naturally be able to revive them! Whether it is for New Martial or Silver Moon, there is nothing to hesitate over!

“I simply make one request of the commander. If they really aren’t the traitors, please just destroy their physical bodies and extinguish their mental strength. Try not to sever their great dao!”

He Yong roared with laughter at the girl’s response. “Spoken like a real man! Well said, you’re way better than your teacher! He hems and haws and nags like a woman...”

Jiang Yingli glared coldly at Southern Fist, not because of his insults about her teacher, but because of his first line. Do you know how to speak properly?? I would smack you to pieces if we were still in the olden days! Who the hell’s a real man?! Just look at my curvaceous body and spellbinding face, how am I a man??

The girl’s arctic look slowly made He Yong uncomfortable. He shut his mouth and avoided Jiang Yingli’s eyes.

“That’s great,” Li Hao laughed. “If it turns out that they really aren’t the traitors, I will try to preserve their great dao as much as I can so they have a chance of resurrection.”

“Thank you, commander!”

“As I should.” Li Hao looked at the others and settled on one man in particular. “How about Director General Wang?”

“I’ll participate as well,” sighed the director general. “I want to see everything with my own eyes! Here, let me tell you guys about Boundless!

“The patriarch of the Zhengs is the city lord. According to what Sun Xin said, he is already an Empyrean King. His name is Zheng Hongyuan and he had three sons. His eldest son Zheng Ke was the general and commander-in-chief of the city’s army! He was also a Saint—a peak Saint! But he and the million strong army should’ve left with the Sword Sovereign. The commander-in-chief would not have abandoned his troops.

“The Zhengs’ second son was Zheng Gong, the deputy city lord of Boundless. He was a peak Immortal—I’m not sure if he left with the Sword Sovereign.

“Third son Zheng Yu was too young for an official position. It’s said that he was an Immortal as well...” Wang Ye gave a brief overview of the Zheng family. “Boundless was similar to Battle Heaven. Apart from one commander-in-chief, there were three vice commanders, ten reserve commanders, and one hundred division leaders.

“However, most of them would’ve left. Similar to Battle Heaven, they would leave only the reserve defenders in place. Therefore, there might only be one vice commander and one reserve commander in residence. Most would be Saints, but some weaker ones might only be peak Immortal.

“Reserve commanders should be between peak Immortal and Saint. Their strength was on par with vice commanders.

“There were division leaders beneath reserve commanders. Li Daozong was an anomaly since he was peak Immortal. Regular division leaders would be initial Immortal. Li Daozong was about to be promoted to reserve commander, so his condition is not the norm.

“In addition, there would be agencies such as Security, Education, Agriculture, Administration, and others... More than a dozen total. Under normal circumstances, the director general of these agencies would be Apex to mid Immortal.

“Most of the military personnel marched out with the army, but non-military usually stayed.”

“Then... why is only the director general of Security active at Battle Heaven?” Li Hao asked curiously after digesting the general overview.

“There wasn’t enough energy to go around. Almost everyone below Immortal decayed into nothing!” Director General Wang said solemnly. “Under normal circumstances, Apexes are in charge of the agencies unless it’s a very important one. Security is a very important agency, so I was in charge because I was an Immortal!

“I’m not the only director general that survived. The others are asleep! The one at Education is still alive, as are a few others. There just hasn’t been enough energy to revitalize them, so you haven’t met any of them.”

Li Hao understood.

“Then according to Director General Wang, the enemy will at least have multiple Immortal director generals still alive. They’ll also have at least ten Immortal division leaders, one peak Immortal to Saint reserve commander, one peak Immortal to Saint deputy commander, the Zheng patriarch, second son, and third son?”

“Not necessarily.” Director General Wang shook his head. “If the Zhengs are the turncoats, I don’t think the entire family would’ve turned on New Martial. Some of them may have been eliminated by the traitors!

“If the commander is certain they are the traitors, then fewer than that amount will be present at the city. Some will have been killed because the whole city won’t have become backstabbers. That’s impossible!

“No one would have been able to compel tens of millions to turn their backs on New Martial.” Director General Wang shook his head again for emphasis. “Thus, a lot of the people we named may be dead. But those who double-crossed our civilization may be alive. They may even be stronger if they haven’t lacked energy all this time. Those who were Apexes may be Immortals now, or even Saints. Anything is possible! The only certainty is that there will be fewer of them.

“In addition, they don’t possess as many plant spirits as Battle Heaven. Battle Heaven’s circumstances are more unique, so it has thirty-seven guardian plant spirits. Boundless had twenty-five back in the day. Twenty-four auxiliary, one main guardian. They were all part of the peach tree genus.

“The pagoda tree lineage is very strong, the peach tree lineage is much weaker in comparison. The twenty-four guardian plant spirits were mostly at the Apex level. There were very few Immortals—five at most. Their main guardian was named Tao Xiao and its cultivation was initial Saint. [1]

“That was the bulk of their premier fighting force.” Director General Wang looked at Li Hao. “Another was the formations inside the city. There were many, but the most critical one was the one of the guardian plant spirits. You encountered it in Tranquil Star. It can seal off everything and primarily focuses on defense!

“The other is the formation that the Zhengs themselves created. I don’t know the specifics about that. In addition, the city itself is a formidable weapon, but it needs to be activated by the city lord seal!

“The city lord seal can also kill enemies. You didn’t see it last time, but I used Battle Heaven’s seal to kill a crippled Saint. Its might is terrifying, so you need to be careful of the countermeasures that the supreme might have left on the seal. However, those can be dismantled.”

Li Hao looked at him, waiting for more elaboration. Director General Wang struggled for a bit before saying, “Stellaris can dismantle them!”

The young man raised a brow; Director General Wang capitulated after momentary internal conflict. He’d already said so much, so he might as well continue. “Stellaris represents the Sword Sovereign. The Sword Sovereign is the superior officer of the eight main cities and the master of Silver Moon. Even the supreme’s authority would fall under the Sword Sovereign’s jurisdiction on the minor world!

“If the enemy employs the city lord seal, Stellaris can block some of its killing intent. Also, Stellaris represents a great deal to us. It can outright negate some weapons that base their power on authority.”

“Stellaris... has this many uses?” Li Hao blinked with astonishment.

“That’s right!” nodded Director General Wang. “That’s why it’s the most important out of the eight heritage weapons. Stellaris would almost never accept a master if they are not a descendant of the Lis, a direct disciple, or hold the Sword Sovereign’s express permission. Not just any family descendant will do!

“The Sword Sovereign would never haphazardly bestow authority to a descendant.” The director general looked oddly at Li Hao. “You can upend the entire world if you utilize it well. That you can use it...”

Is the weirdest thing of all!

Li Hao laughed. Stellaris hadn’t recognized him as its master for long, but there was no need to share that. The weapon had probably given birth to its own spirit. It likely wasn’t too smart, but possessed a certain amount of intelligence. It probably hadn’t possessed a weapon soul when it was wielded by the Sword Sovereign.

1. The Tao surname here is the same character as peace. ☜