Star Gate

Chapter 580: Audacious in the Extreme (IV)

He waved a paw, surprising Panther as he did so. So you’re manipulating this dog’s body now, huh!

A small flask appeared, revealing a verdant drop of Water of Life! Xu Xing’s eyes widened as a light danced in them.

“This!” Li Hao proclaimed boldly. “Have humans seen this before? This is a treasure! The venerated dragon god received it when he paid his respects to the guardian spirit...”

“Guardian spirit?” Xu Xing’s expression shifted slightly.

“You don’t know?” Li Hao lied at the drop of a hat. “There is an imperial palace in the depths of the Kui Mountains and the great guardian spirit within who has protected us for eons. He is undying, immortal, and his intent leads to the divine. His core origin opens the way and coalesces the Lake of Life. That has forged the glories of our mountains! If it wasn’t for the great guardian spirit needing to stand guard over the palace and finding it inconvenient to leave the mountains, your manor would be destroyed with the snap of a finger!”

Xu Xing listened blankly to what he was learning. In the rear yard, Xu Qing crushed the wooden armrests of his chair to pieces. He was shaken by these revelations. “Imperial palace, guardian plant spirit, Lake of Life, core origin...”

“Were the Kui Mountains... once the personal training grounds of an ancient emperor?” He couldn’t regain his calm!

Xu Xing’s subordinates looked curiously at him, but the man continued to be rocked by shock. “It’s said that there was an ultimate powerhouse in the ancient civilization called the Human King... as well as some supreme heavyweights hailed as emperors... They are existences that cannot be imagined. Domineering and valiant, they destroyed stars as a casual afterthought.

“Their palaces were specially labeled imperial palaces and usually guarded by plant spirits. Plant spirits were major tree spirits that could produce Water of Life. Core origin refers to the essential nature of martial dao. It’s difficult to estimate how strong it was, but any who touched upon this domain were premier powerhouses. At the very least, they are existences that we cannot rival even if we break our sixth supernatural lock...

“Not to mention, this is one that’s lived for thousands upon thousands of years! That’s incredible!”

“Your Grace... Are there really heavyweights still surviving from the ancient times?” His subordinates were finally adequately shocked. They looked at each other with disbelief. “What kind of terrifying existence can live for so long?”

“It’s hard to say...” Xu Qing shook his head, grave as could be. “I’d thought that the Kui Mountains possessed only the snakes as their strong race, but if what this monster spirit says is true, then these mountains are much more frightening than Sky Roc Mountain and Phoenix Mountain!

“It’s just... they want the Windchaser Boot...” The duke frowned ferociously. Did the treasure have something to do with the other’s transformation? He took out a transmission pendant and sent some words to his son.

......

In the front hall.

“Envoy, if I may be so bold.” Xu Xing surreptitiously checked his pendant. “Why does Senior Dragon God need my family’s legacy treasure to complete the ascension?”

“You don’t even know this??” Li Hao flew into a rage. “We don’t want the treasure, but the wisp of core origin within! These ancient divine weapons were forged from the corpses of powerful plant and monster spirits! The stronger they are, the greater the body they were crafted from!

“This Windchaser boot is supposed to have a cold yin presence to it. It’s very suited to the venerated dragon god’s core origin. He doesn’t want the stupid weapon itself, but the core origin! The rest of the treasure is trash once he comprehends it. We wouldn’t want it if you gave it to us, we’ll naturally return it to you!”

“Then... will it have any sort of effect on the Windchaser Boot?”

“Of course not!” Li Hao waxed eloquent. “Core origin is different from modern martial dao and the supernatural domain. That is not your path and it is the core origin of monster spirits, making it even more unsuited for you. It will be of no loss to you if we withdraw that hint of core origin. You might not understand, so the venerated dragon god said that you can ask people who do. I can tell straight out that you guys don’t know much of anything!

“Also, apparently someone’s taken the other one? You guys are so trash! Lend this one to the dragon god first. He has promised that once his ascension is complete, he will kill that whatever Sword of yours. Once we obtain the core origin from the other boot, we’ll give that one to you too!”

Xu Xing was moved by these words.

......

In the rear yard.

Xu Qing and the rest looked sharply at each other. If we lend the boot to the big snake, the big snake will seek out Light Sword as soon as it ascends?

In that case...

Xu Qing swiftly sent a message to his son, who promptly mentioned in the front hall, “But Light Sword is in Silver Moon...”

“Cut the bullshit, we are naturally aware of that. That is why the venerated dragon god will make the attempt only after ascension. Those Silver Moon martial masters are not frightening, the Kui Mountains are not afraid! What is terrifying are the existences buried beneath Silver Moon. The venerated dragon god will not brashly travel to that land before its ascension is complete.

“Silver Moon was the heart of the world in the New Martial era. The eight ancient cities revolved around Silver Moon and the plant spirits safeguarding the cities were powerful beyond imagine. Some of them might still be alive. It is said that the Forbidden Sea flows backward into Silver Moon and that ancient sea monster spirits are still alive. If the Kui Mountains are to conquer the four seas, we will need help as well...”

Li Hao bluffed for all he was worth! They could believe him or not, it was their choice. He reeled off a variety of ancient terminology. Those who understood, would. Those who didn’t... well, there must be some under the Steadfast Duke’s banner who understood. They couldn’t be completely oblivious.

It’d be best if he could bluff his way into obtaining the boot! If not, they would at least believe that he really was an envoy and knew a lot of secret knowledge, that the Kui Mountains were not a force to be trifled with...

If it really came down to it, he would say they wanted to borrow it for a look or something like that. Li Hao was more concerned that the Xus would use a fake boot in their ceremony. If that was the case, there’d be no point to seizing it.

......

Li Hao’s words did indeed shock those in the rear yard. Even the cunning Xu Qing had a grave expression on his face. It looked like the big snake of Kui Mountains knew a lot; it knew so much that a minor monster spirit beneath its command knew everything too. So there might really be an imperial palace in the mountains!

And judging from their intentions, they wished to conquer the four seas?

That was quite some ambition!

Xu Qing frowned, a headache setting in. If this was true, then they could not afford to offend the Kui Mountains. But there was only one of the Windchaser Boots left. Though the monster spirits said they wanted to borrow it, would they actually return it afterward?

Yet if he didn’t lend it out... then trouble would be upon them. He was of the mindset before that they could afford to offend the monster spirits of the Kui Mountains. But now that he understood the situation better, they absolutely could not afford to!

The transmission pendant in his hand vibrated with a few short lines of text. “Reporting to Your Grace, I have reached the Kui Mountains and met with their snake king after some setbacks. Upon mentioning the envoy, the snake king only said that the envoy is the descendant of an ancient monster spirit and possesses a lofty identity. He refused to say anything else before expelling me from the mountain...”

Xu Qing blinked. What did this mean? The descendant of an ancient monster spirit? Did saying nothing else mean a denial, a confirmation, or too much contempt to respond?

He was confused, but this also affirmed that the golden monster spirit was the descendant of an ancient monster spirit. Even the big snake said that it possessed a lofty identity. Could it be... that the golden monster spirit was descended from a monster spirit in the imperial palace? Were there more monster spirits alive in the imperial palace other than the plant spirits?

Xu Qing’s heart jolted with shock when his thoughts traveled here. Just how many secrets were buried in the Kui Mountains?

......

At the same time in the Kui Mountains.

The big snake watched the human powerhouse leave. It was confused, but being rather intelligent, it’d guessed at something. The snake quickly put the matter out of mind. This king didn’t say anything and didn’t admit to an envoy. If you come for this king after the fact, you will find quite the retribution on your hands!

The descendant of an ancient monster spirit and a lofty identity was true enough, that was not false. Responding with only the truth was already a great show of face. If these humans dared be dissatisfied and make trouble for the monster spirit king of the Kui Mountains, it would not show mercy!

I wonder what the young man from Battle Heaven wishes to do?

As curious as the snake was, it quickly moved on to other matters. Since the young man was conducting a military mission, there was none of its business here. He’d mentioned obstructing strong foes... was it the Steadfast Duke?

As worthy of the heritage of an ancient clan, the young man had quite the courage! The Steadfast Duke was not one to easily take on. However, the Kui Mountains were the snake’s territory; it wasn’t afraid of a human duke. If the young man could help it transform into a dragon... It would be fine with outright attacking the duke’s manor.

......

Xu Qing sank into deep thought. If the golden monster spirit was a descendent of an ancient monster spirit in the imperial palace, then this was not an entity to be provoked. He could afford to offend the big snake, but an ancient monster spirit...

Despite not knowing how strong the monster spirit was, one that was alive in present day was frightfully terrifying. He had to avoid irritating this monster spirit at all costs! The duke quickly sent another message to Xu Xing.

“Envoy, if I may be so bold again, the dragon god of the Kui Mountains says that you are from an ancient bloodline. May we be so honored as to meet your ancestor?”

Li Hao’s heart quailed! Holy fuck? How long has it been since I’ve been here? You guys went to see the big snake?

His palms were clammy with sweat, but it sounded like the big snake hadn’t said anything or exposed him. An ancient bloodline... so that was all that the big snake said? Damn that scared me!

The young man’s heart raced with adrenaline. He’d been too careless! The only thing he thought of was how far away the mountains were—he hadn’t thought that the duke would send someone there! He’d thought that no one would suspect him when disguised as a monster spirit, and yet, they had.

Thank goodness the snake hadn’t denied his story, or the situation wouldn’t be what it was now.

But in that case... the big snake might be in trouble after he concluded his business.