Star Gate

Chapter 461: Metamorphosis (IV)

Brows furrowed, Xu Feng looked at the old man and nodded. The latter said nothing more. Instead, Hou Xiaochen looked at him, smiled, and turned away. Golden Spear skeptically regarded the old man, finding him a bit familiar, but unable to place the face. Frowning, Golden Spear’s thoughts returned to contemplating Earthturner Sword and Southern Fist.

“Director,” Manager Yu transmitted to Hou Xiaochen. “Why does this person seem... a bit familiar... yet a bit alien? Do they come from Silver Moon?”

“Yes.”

“Does the director know who they are?”

“Yes, but we don’t need to discuss them. They’re very strong, so be careful. There might be another reason for them joining the Xu banner. Since they’ve changed everything about them, they probably don’t wish for old acquaintances to recognize them. Let’s give them space!”

Manager Yu stopped asking, but began pondering to herself. If the director himself was saying that this person was very strong... then he really was very strong. And he was a pure martial master at that. A pure martial master at this level should be well-known to her. Could it be... Northern Fist?

Surely not. That was a very strong and proud person. Would he willingly put himself down as a servant? If not him, then who?

Names flashed through her mind, but the manager couldn’t guess who it was. There were only so many candidates. If it was one of them... then it really was an old acquaintance.

......

In the distance.

The old man looked at the Silver Moon delegation and inclined his head when Manager Yu glanced at him, but didn’t greet the woman. He followed Xu Feng, a complicated gaze at the bottom of his eyes. Everything had changed about Silver Moon. He cast an emotional glance at the city. Earthturner Sword, Southern Fist... Are you unwilling to stay away from the limelight as well?

First Yuan Shuo left Silver Moon, then Hou Xiaochen killed a Nova, then Yu Luocha made her move. Golden Spear and had Berserk Blade appeared, and now so were Earthturner Sword and Southern Fist present. Sky Sword and Tyrant Blade in the central region also seemed to be making names for themselves...

Jadelight Sword had fallen behind—who knew if she could catch up? Yuan Shuo went without saying, he surely could. Jadelight possessed too much of a solitary streak, but she had a one-track mind. Perhaps she could quickly catch up thanks to Yuan Shuo’s guidance.

And Golden Spear?

The old man looked at Golden Spear—the latter seemed to be stuck in his own world. Was he suffering from what he’d observed? A smirk appeared in the depths of the old man’s eyes. Golden Spear deserved his mental turmoil!

He’d insisted on taking a shortcut back in the day. If he’d broken Yuan Shuo’s shackles by himself, he’d be so much more than an initial Nova now. He chose to believe Hou Xiaochen’s nonsense instead. It was now up to Golden Spear himself whether or not he could break the additional chains that Hou Xiaochen had clapped on him.

Hou Xiaochen was stronger than Yuan Shuo. If Golden Spear could manage the feat, then he would snatch fortune from the jaws of disaster.

The old man looked up at the city wall, at where a new Silver Armor stood. It might be the Black Armor that Xu Feng had just spoken of, that martial master... Various thoughts filtered through the man’s mind. Battle Heaven... the eight families... Can that be Yuan Shuo’s disciple?

Nostalgia dawned in the old man’s eyes, but he quickly dismissed the emotion. He took one final glance at Xu Feng. Power easily obtained is difficult to subdue. Smooth sailing is not necessarily a good thing. I hope Battle Heaven becomes the key to your metamorphosis. If not, you will never compare to the true elites.

Even supernaturals had a chance of surpassing themselves. While the true elites in the central region were supernaturals, not even those such as Sky Sword dared dismiss them in the slightest. It was only a matter of how one used their energy, that didn’t represent anything.

The old man suddenly exuded a different aura. Off in the distance, Golden Spear turned sharply. He’d been jarred out of his thoughts to look at the old man with surprise! He keenly assessed his object of scrutiny and wanted to say something, but ultimately chose to remain quiet.

Hou Xiaochen looked over with nothing more than a smile before turning back. Kong Jie stroked his chin, flicking a half smile at the old man. He crossed his arms with the stance of simply enjoying the show. This place was becoming ever more interesting!

It turned out to be a good thing that Ole Hou had openly issued a challenge involving the Battle Heaven ruins. Kong Jie was seeing a lot of old friends here. If Sky Sword, Tyrant Blade, and Yuan Shuo were all here... and Huang Yu and the others gathered as well... Heh, it’d make for a fun Silver Moon martial world reunion!

What a pity that Qimei Staff was dead. That demon Yuan Shuo should stay as far away as possible. How many old friends had he killed by now?

These powerhouses didn’t seem fazed by Yellow Moon’s death. What was there to be afraid of? They’d witnessed more brutal happenings before. It was just a divine girl of Sky Mountain that’d died. She wasn’t even part of the thirty-six. Dead was dead, her death was less than Qimei Staff’s. They’d been sad when Qimei Staff died and heartily cursed out Yuan Shuo for randomly killing people again!

They didn’t think much of this loss. It was her honor that Earthturner Sword and Southern Fist had killed her together. Ying Hongyue wouldn’t be able to say anything even if he was present.

Just as these powerhouses nursed their own thoughts, the Parity King called out, “We cannot delay any longer! We need to join forces in a strong offensive! Otherwise, we should throw in the towel now and just wait for the three days to be over!”

Their numbers would only continue to dwindle at this rate and the situation would become ever more perilous. Some Novas could sniff out the scent of danger creeping in around them.

“Director Hou, do you have any ideas?”

“None,” Hou Xiaochen replied calmly. “If we work together, we follow the previous plan. If not, then all of the factions are on their own to enter the inner city. You guys have more people, so what you say goes!”

The rest of them silently cursed him out! They really wanted to just set everything aside and kill him first. That bastard always presented such a coolly composed demeanor, like he really was that much better than them!

“Then we make use of our current momentum and take the gates.” Green Moon clenched her teeth. “If we can’t or if someone holds back... then we withdraw!”

She was flustered after losing Yellow Moon. Hou Xiaochen smiled and nodded. Currently, he was more curious about what Li Hao’s trio was up to. Perhaps some light would be shed soon. Those guys had interfered with his plans again, particularly Hong Yitang... I really want to fight you!

Given the large numbers of supernaturals and Solars that’d disappeared, the remaining wandering cultivators no longer dared strike out on their own. As important as making money was, their lives were even more so. Wandering cultivators went where the wind blew them. Great ambitions or lofty expectations did not motivate them, they just wanted to profit where there were gains to be had.

Not only had they not secured treasure during this expedition, but a lot of them had died. Some wanted to leave, but the door wouldn’t be open for another two days. Unless they retreated from the ancient city, they’d still have to move with the pack.

From danger came opportunity, some wandering cultivators still hoped to strike rich in the inner city. What with so many Novas still around, this panicky group still fell in step with fear, worry, and some anticipation.

......

On the city walls.

Li Hao saw that the supernaturals were on the move again. Instead of their previous split action, they’d gathered together in a stronger show of unity compared to before. Numerous losses had taught them that joining forces was their best hope of surviving.

There are a lot of Novas...

Li Hao saw three in Red Moon, three in Yama, and three in Celestial. That was nine from just the three great organizations. Silver Moon’s official delegation was more frightening—Golden Spear, Hou Xiaochen, Manager Yu, Kong Jie, Qi Gang, Hu Qingfeng... Each and every single one of them was formidable.

The wandering cultivators boasted of Xu Feng, Yuan Xingwu of the Skystar Troops, and three that operated alone...

And considering the dead Yellow Moon, that meant there might be some powerful martial masters lurking beneath the surface.

It was a terrifying contingent that’d entered the ruins as there were more than twenty Novas alone. If it wasn’t for the two that’d died in Ash Mountain and vast sums of Solars that followed them, this expedition team would possess more powerhouses than the entirety of the northern provinces.

......

Li Hao considered his own side. While the three Silver Armors would be incredibly strong if they reawakened, they might not be able to stand against Hou Xiaochen’s people. He Yong and Hong Yitang were equally strong, but there were only two of them.

The young man looked at the inner city. He wasn’t able to picture a winning scenario without the presence of the Gold Armor. As strong as three thousand Black Armors were, there were a lot of wandering cultivators and Solars left.

Defeat was inevitable!

Of course, he could try hiding in the city and luring the enemy in. He would repeat his tactics from the outer city and conduct guerrilla warfare from the ancient houses.

How could the Battle Heaven army win?

Behind Li Hao, the three Silver Armors stood so aloofly that it was like they were truly dead!

Three thousand Black Armors gathered beneath the city gates again, forming a black current. Some had been lost in the earlier skirmishes, but not that many. It didn’t affect the overall camp that much. Where there was battle, there would be loss. These troop leaders had experienced countless battles and were unaffected by this.

As Li Hao pondered the next course of action, the three looked at each other in possible communication. They left the young man out of their conversation, probably considering him too green to be worthy of inclusion.

They seemed to complete their strategizing the next second and raised their longswords high! Three thousand Black Armors followed suit with spear and sword. Though completely silent, it was a forebodingly magnificent sight!