Star Gate-Chapter 1006: Sparks (IV)

“Sky Sword, Northern Fist, Tyrant Blade, Southern Fist, Chen Zhongtian, Light Sword, Yu Luocha, Thunderleg, Mu Hai, Yao Si, Hou Xiaochen, Huang Yu, and Kong Jie... You will follow me and sweep through the ruins!” Li Hao counted off the people he wanted on the expedition. “Evenround Martial will send twenty students to support us. Wang Ye and the Ninth Division leader of the Reserve Defenders of Battle Heaven will also follow me!”

Outside the hall, a Gold Armor tilted his head. “You have no right to command me!”

“Ninth Division leader, this is not a command, but a partnership!” Li Hao’s voice was calm. “Battle Heaven wishes to revitalize—it will need plenty of energy for the process. And I... I have a lot of energy!

“You should also be killing these plant spirits, beasts spirits, and ancient traitors plaguing the world. Didn’t you point your sword at the cosmos and wish to set foot outside the Star Gate to return to New Martial? Then you must cooperate with me!

“I am the Eleventh Division leader and your colleague. Why must the Ninth Division leader hem and haw, and be of such small vision...”

Li Daozong wanted to roll his eyes! Who are you talking about?? You’re talking about yourself! He couldn’t accept how arrogant the young man had gotten lately and felt that there was a need for Li Hao to know that if they entered the ruins, he would be able to kill the kid’s divine replica all the same!

What was he strutting around for??

“Li Hao, you must know that there are differences in strength when it comes to the ruins as well! There may not be powerful existences near Skystar Island, which is why your divine replica is able to suppress these powerhouses! That may not hold true elsewhere!

“In my eyes, your replica can exert peak Immortal strength at most—and that’s the Immortal of this age! Is there a lack of Immortals who have survived from my time?”

You’re too cocky, Li Hao! You need to be taught a lesson! Look at you running your mouth and talking about cleaning out the ruins. Your ego has no bounds!

Do you want to eliminate all of the ancient powerhouses with just a few six and seven element martial masters? You are entirely too confident and full of yourself!

Not to mention, the situation in the ruins was unclear. Li Hao might meet with enormous danger if he brashly ventured in. If he happened to enter one holding a Saint... he would be done for.

Were there Saints in this world?

Li Daozong felt that there must be. What if Li Hao targeted a ruin with a small mine in it? If the mine was still there, would it be hard for the plant spirit, beast spirit, or even human inside to still be alive and ascend as a Saint after one hundred thousand years?

The main cities had been emptied of energy that year—that was plainly the result of a scheme. But when it came to the small mines, they may have gone unnoticed.

Li Hao abruptly nodded with a smile and walked off the platform. “That is why I wish to obtain your help.” He raised cupped fists. “This is a partnership of mutual benefit! The Ninth Division leader is just a core origin replica... Mm, if you really do fall in battle, I will collect enough core origin to revive you!”

“......” So the kid was plotting against me all this time! Li Daozong didn’t know what to say.

“Additionally, with the emergence of a traitor among the Lis, I trust that whether it is me or the Ninth Division leader, both of us wish to kill the traitor with our own hands! Of course, you may not be willing since that is your elder brother...

“Regardless, a partnership is the best way forward for us. Strengthening oneself is also a solid decision. Does the Ninth Division leader not wish to grow stronger or recover your body?”

“I didn’t say that I’m not willing!” said Li Daozong. “But there is one thing I must make abundantly clear in advance. You can clear out these powerhouses, but under my command! Also, if you meet any New Martial powerhouses who still carry out their duties, yet refuse to cooperate or surrender, you may not harm them! Third, we split the battle spoils!”

Angry looks abounded in the hall. Director General Wang looked around awkwardly and didn’t know what to say.

“If that’s the case,” interjected one of the student puppets. “Then Evenround Martial wants one-third of the resources too. You can split the rest!”

That gave rise to even more general anger!

“Then we’ll do it ourselves!” the spitfire Tyrant Blade spat out. “Whether it is Battle Heaven or Evenround Martial, the commander bears a lot of the credit for you recovering so quickly and being able to freely walk around outside! We’re just helping each other. We don’t rely on you to attain our current accomplishments!

“Remember, ours is a partnership. We do not depend on you like the nine ministries and royal family did!” He glared around frostily.

“I knew that these ancients were unreliable!” sorted He Yong. “Nothing’s been settled yet, but they’e in a rush to seize power. They really think that the dynasty’s ruling echelon is filled with weaklings! We’ll just go our separate ways if it comes down to it. If we really must fight, then we’ll fight! None of the heavyweights in the Skystar ruins can set a foot out of them. Who’s the one afraid now, huh?”

Li Hao raised a hand and interrupted the group’s words. He looked at the Ninth Division leader and asked solemnly, “Is the Ninth Division leader serious or joking?”

“I am serious!” The Ninth Division leader looked at Li Hao. “I know you have been on guard against those of New Martial, but I am of New Martial! You have seized the Skystar mine, but that mine belongs to us! You have neither supplied Battle Heaven with energy nor helped it recover. If this continues, we will sooner or later belong to you!

“Those of New Martial do not wish and are not willing to be restrained by another! You are worried about being controlled by us, we are worried about being controlled by you. Wang Ye’s decision is Wang Ye’s to make, but I am a New Martial soldier and cannot place New Martial’s future in your hands!

“A partnership entails fair treatment, but the partnership you speak of only has us working for you. You pay a pittance in return. We are not mercenaries. You can do so with Evenround Martial because they are not soldiers, just students. But you cannot do so with Battle Heaven!

“We are a main city and the Battle Heaven Army. We are an army, not mercenaries! We have our own civilization, our faith, our battle spirit, our standards. Li Hao, your title of Eleventh Division leader is a joke. You are the commander of the Demon Hunter Army, not of the Battle Heaven Army!”

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“But at present, it’s most advantageous to Battle Heaven if you partner with me.” Li Hao furrowed his brows.

“That’s right, but in that case, Battle Heaven’s military spirit and faith will disappear!” The Ninth Division leader nodded after a moment. “We will become mercenaries wandering the outside world. You must understand that they are dead—they are dead! All they wanted to do before they died was to fight for New Martial and the Human King, not for Li Hao!”

“Do you mean that they will completely fade away if their faith and manner of conduct changes?” Li Hao was silent for a while.

“It’s very possible,” the Ninth Division leader responded calmly. “Our faith and beliefs are not with the new age, but with New Martial! Therefore, it is an insult to us if we are treated as pure mercenaries!”

Li Hao frowned and looked at the other, not knowing if this was a negotiation tactic or if the other was being earnest.

“If this is true... then I will defer to you,” the young man said after a while. “The battle spoils can be split, but you need to provide sufficient strength for that. At the very least, you cannot be weaker than us. If you are, then the loot will be divided according to contribution! As for what you said, you have freedom of choice. I won’t force you into anything...

“How about this, plant spirits that are unwilling to work for me or cooperate, but have not participated in the unrest of this age can be moved to Battle Heaven. You will be in charge of supporting them! They will not be permitted to remain where they are!”

Some were displeased by his words, feeling that Li Hao had compromised with New Martial.

“Commander, this...”

“It’s fine.” Li Hao raised a hand. “I highly respect the seniors of New Martial. Since this has to do with their faith and spirit, I am willing to empathize with them. However, the times have indeed changed. If the Ninth Division leader is willing to reach an agreement, then we can carry on. If not, then I would ask the Battle Heaven Army to return to Battle Heaven!

“This world is no longer New Martial’s world!” The young man pointed outside the hall. “You have your faith and thoughts, and I... I think that the tens of billions of Skystar citizens wishes for peace. They want support from the Skystar Commander Office. If we are unable to reach an accord, then we might have further clashes in the days to come.”

This was his first time disagreeing with Battle Heaven. It was also a necessary part of the process.

“That is agreeable!” said the Ninth Division leader after a long pause.

“That is good. I hope that my partnership with Battle Heaven can continue.” Li Hao smiled.

Li Daozong didn’t say a word. Behind them, Director General Wang heaved a sigh of relief.

The others were dissatisfied, but didn’t say anything since Li Daozong had given way.

“Then... we....” piped up one of the student puppets.

“Shut up!” Li Hao cut them off. “This has nothing to do with you! You talk too much! If you want benefits, tell your dean to return his Empyrean King body first!”

“......” The student puppets immediately quieted. That was right! They’d already received a lot of benefits. Not to mention, they were only students. The clashes between factions and civilizations had nothing to do with them.

“Don’t imitate Battle Heaven...” laughed Li Hao. “The city has turned itself into New Martial’s spokesperson. When there comes a day in which I gain control of the Li family’s Sword City, that identity will no longer belong to Battle Heaven! Sword City is foremost among the eight main cities. The Ninth Division leader won’t be able to take such a hard line then, is that right?”

“If you really can exercise control over Sword City, then we will naturally follow the leader of the eight!” Li Daozong responded calmly when the young man looked at him.

“Mmhmm! I’m sure there won’t be much of a problem! I hope that this hasn’t harmed our relationship, ninth brother!”

“......” Li Daozong walked off without a word. Director General Wang smiled sheepishly and quickly caught up.

“You should speak some sense into him, director general,” transmitted Li Hao. “We’re all of the same family, why be like this?”

Director General Wang laughed dryly and quickly departed.

Outside of the Skystar Commander Office, Director General Wang caught up to the Ninth Division leader and transmitted, “What are you doing, Li Daozong? If Li Hao truly wins, there will be plenty in it for Battle Heaven. Why raise it so bluntly? This makes things awkward for everyone.”

“You fool!” Li Daozong ignored him and continued his long strides. Director General Wang caught up to him with growing irritation.

“How am I a fool? Tell me!”

The division leader halted and stayed silent for a moment before transmitting, “Tell me, where do we New Martial citizens go after he wins? Do we swear fealty to him if the Star Gate cannot be opened?”

The director general blinked.