Star Gate

Chapter 137: Li Hao’s Aura (II)

Li Hao seemed to have planted himself into the earth. While he swayed when he stomped, he remained standing erect. There looked to be a mountain towering behind him.

“Arf arf!” called the perplexed black dog. What was that?

Li Hao smiled. He did not know the aura, but he seemed to have found his path. He knew how to accumulate aura and how to nurture it.

“The ancient books record someone who kept a sword for many years and never used it. He stunned heaven and earth when he finally unsheathed it! A fearsome power was hidden within it, and the sword was hidden within the scabbard. Aura was brewed in the sword and I... meld and hide myself in the earth. I do not falter if the earth does not falter...”

Of course, that was just his wish. It was almost impossible to achieve, but Li Hao didn’t mind!

Liu Long had come to comprehend the aura today. He was not successful, but the young man had grasped a few hints. What would Liu Long think if he found out?

This was why potential was sometimes not in the body, but in the mind. The heights that one’s thoughts reached determined one’s level. The physique only determined the present. Thoughts determined the future.

“Panth, you need to learn how to read and read some books!” Li Hao grinned. “If you don’t know what logic is, what earth, heaven, and nature are, you will never understand how vast the future is. You will only be able to see what is at hand, but I can look ahead!”

“Arf arf arf!” answered the little black dog. It didn’t fully understand, but it would remember these words.

Li Hao closed his eyes and spoke no further. He accumulated his energy for a while and stomped once more. Internal force brimmed from both feet, projecting outward into the earth. No holes were forthcoming this time. Instead, tremors shook the ground and spread outward for three meters. They shattered the flowerbed in the yard.

A blinding grin split Li Hao’s face!

“Projection through all four limbs!” He accomplished that feat in this moment! He could fully project internal force from his legs and even comprehended a hint of something else.

“Li Hao, I’ll smack you to death if you keep destroying things out there!” An angry bellow exploded from the house. What was the kid doing out there? Pops and cracks and crashes, was he tearing down the house?! Not even the dog tore down the house, so how dare you try that, Li Hao?! You’re worse than the dog!

In celebratory spirits, Li Hao immediately drooped with resignation. I wasn’t destroying anything... Okay, fine I was.

He’d shattered the flowerbed and broken a few floor tiles. I hope teacher doesn’t want me to fix them, I don’t have any money. Have Liu Long do it. He doesn’t have any money either, but he’s first in command and can use public funds for it.

......

Inside the house.

Liu Long was concentrating on his rapidly healing arms and almost broke out in laughter when he heard Yuan Shuo. The professor, however, raised an eyebrow.

“What you laughing at? I can sense that the kid will stun us all in the near future!”

“He has good potential, but Elder Yuan exaggerates a little too much.”

“Not potential of the body—I never cared about that!” Yuan Shuo answered with aloof pride. “You have exemplary potential for martial dao, the cream of the crop! Yet I do not care about that, I look for intelligence, reaction, and judgment! Such is the foundation of a martial master who will proceed far down the path of martial dao! A martial master without their own thoughts, one who only knows how to follow the tried and true, will have trouble becoming a Dominator. Even if they manage to succeed, they are only fit to be someone’s minion!”

Liu Long was speechless. Are you... complimenting me or insulting me? I have exemplary potential, but you still didn’t want me. You’re saying my brains suck, aren’t you?

He’d never thought of himself as a fool, but he was an eternal idiot to Yuan Shuo.

“Elder Yuan, I was incredibly young then!” he couldn’t help himself. “Even if I’m not that smart, how could you determine that from a single glance and conclude that I don’t reach your standards?”

He really couldn’t accept this.

“Did I need to take a second look?” Yuan Shuo snorted. “When your father brought me here, I asked you why you wanted to learn an outsider’s craft since your father’s Nine Forged Force is so strong. Do you remember how you responded?”

It took Liu Long a few moments to remember. “I... I said that as strong as the Nine Forged Force was, it had the drawback of harming the body. Father recommends the Five Styles, so I wanted to learn from Elder Yuan!”

Was there anything wrong with that? He still didn’t understand.

“That’s why I say you’re dumb!” Yuan Shuo snorted. “I didn’t need to observe anything to draw my conclusion. Remember you were here to ask me for help! Even your father was begging. You weren’t young then—you were ten, right?”

“Around that.”

“You were already ten, but didn’t have any usable brains. Remember that I’m stronger than your father! I was simply being polite when I said that your family’s method is very strong, but you went along with it and made it seem like you wanted to learn my Five Styles only because you had no other choice! I am the grandmaster of a martial discipline, but I am your last choice??” Yuan Shuo sneered. “I gave your father face in saying that he was strong. If I didn’t, I would point out that I can grind all three Silver Spears into the ground at the same time! If it was Li Hao, he would’ve said that as strong as the Nine Forged Force is, it does not compare to the Five Styles. One should naturally practice the strongest method for training!”

Liu Long’s jaw dropped. That’s it? You thought I was dumb for that?! I was just a kid! And my family’s Nine Forged Force is indeed strong, that’s the truth. I was supposed to kiss your ass for you to accept me?!

Liu Long had never fathomed that he’d been rejected because he hadn’t fawned over Yuan Shuo. How was this right?? Based on his recollection, he’d thought that with Yuan Shuo’s status, the grandmaster would want to hear the truth more. But ten year old Liu Long had erred when... he didn’t kiss up to the old man!

Fuck!

An apologetic Liu Long turned purple. He would never admit that he was dumb, only that Yuan Shuo was too shameless!

“Ai!” Yuan Shuo sighed. You still don’t understand. You’re too straightforward—perhaps you have a little bit of intelligence, but that tiny amount is nowhere enough to be useful. The heart was to be trained first before martial dao. One had to learn how to be a person before becoming a powerhouse.

It would’ve been one thing if Liu Long had been the ten year old of a regular family, but he was the son of a dying father, the student of a martial master with abundant enemies. Who would want him as a disciple if he didn’t bend his brains to the task? Whoever accepted him was accepting a basketful of trouble and built-in enemies! How did the kid not understand this?

But you still don’t know a thing even today, so you absolutely deserve running yourself into the ground.

“I’m not your father and can’t be bothered to teach you, so we stop here!” Yuan Shuo didn’t feel like continuing the conversation. A last wave of sword energy surged forth, making Liu Long’s arms creak and pop. He swung his arms around like twin hammers, breaking through the air. His eyes widened at the effect and he stared at Yuan Shuo with shock.

“What kind of energy is this?”

It was so powerful! While his injuries weren’t fully healed, they were essentially inconsequential. Many of his old wounds were gone. No wonder Yuan Shuo’s punctured heart had recovered.

What is this?

“What, I’m not a criminal to have to explain myself to you,” Yuan Shuo responded indifferently. “You often speak without thinking. Remember, whether it’s a martial master or supernatural, we all have our secrets. Do I have to tell you about everything you see?”

I didn’t mean it that way... Liu Long felt wronged. He was Yuan Shuo’s junior, not to mention he wouldn’t be able to take on the old guy in a fight. It was a very frustrating position to be in. If it wasn’t for the hope of breaking through... He’d want to leave right now. This was maddening!

“I didn’t mean it that way...”

“Regardless of whether or not you did, you shouldn’t have asked!”

Liu Long’s face darkened and he remained quiet. I really want to beat this old thing to death, he’s infuriating! Here I thought my temper is fine enough, but I want to start throwing punches after a few words from him.

“Can you layer your force nine times?”

“I think so.” Liu Long heaved a sigh of relief to see the professor change topic. Fine, fine, I won’t ask anymore.

“Not think so, but must be so!” Yuan Shuo nitpicked irritably. “I didn’t expend all these resources for you to think that you can succeed with Nine Forged. Your life as a Sunderer won’t make up for all this energy if you can’t do it!”

“I’m sure I can!” Liu Long raised his voice, annoyance poking through. “One hundred percent, I’m sure I can!”

“That’s good!” Yuan Shuo smiled. Liu Long wanted to do nothing other than smash it in. The old man looked so ugly when he smiled!

“Li Hao, come in!”

The young man walked through the door after a moment. Yuan Shuo opened his mouth to start talking when he did a double take at his student. He scanned the perimeter of the boy’s body with some confusion. When he told Liu Long that Li Hao was sure to be a stunning personage and a grandmaster of the age, he’d meant in terms of the young man’s intelligence and mentality.

But right now, he sensed a wisp of something different.

Aura?

How was that possible?!

Li Hao layering internal force outside his body was shocking enough and induced immense satisfaction from Yuan Shuo. Yet as of this moment, he had certain suspicions.

“Have you grown stronger?” Yuan Shuo asked slowly after a moment.

“Yes, I can project internal force from all four limbs now. I’m peak initial Sunderer!” Li Hao laughed happily.

Liu Long was as surprised as Yuan Shuo was indifferent. An initial Sunderer didn’t amount to anything, no matter how peak they were. He wasn’t asking about this. However, he set this aside for now and looked at Liu Long.

“Come, let me sense your wave intent! Don’t have any reservations and ignore Li Hao. Ignore that dog as well, unleash your strongest state!”

Liu Long was surprised, but just as champing at the bit since the professor put it this way.

Let’s give it a try!

He waved a punch forward, rippling internal force through his arms like the waves, layer upon layer. One could vaguely sense leaping and soaring waves!

There hadn’t been much buildup when Yuan Shuo set foot into Dominator. Everything had been accomplished very naturally. Li Hao noticed something different with Liu Long—the chief needed to accumulate his aura! He needed some preparation before he could sense the consciousness at the apex.