Star Gate

Chapter 596: The Winds Surge on All Sides (I)

Li Hao didn’t respond. There was no need for conversation. The duke pressed forward again, continuing in more gentle tones. “So long as you return the Windchaser Boots to me, we can possibly erase our past grudges. We have both gone through our hardships and can exchange smiles at the end of it. Such is the martial world—you kill me, I kill you. I underestimated you and lost my son and grandson for it. I admit, my skills were less than yours. However, enmity cannot continue forever. Return the boots to me and it will all be water under the bridge. You will walk your path while I walk mine, what do you say?”

Li Hao still refused to respond. I’m not an idiot! I won’t have a chance of surviving after I give the boots to you! I won’t be able to run away!

The young man abruptly changed directions and ran off in another direction. Xu Qing’s eyes widened and he cursed softly to himself. The young man didn’t care about his words at all!

Wanna ambush me? Then get some premier martial masters here! There’s a ball of light that burns like the sun on the hill ahead. Do you think I’m blind??

It would appear that Xu Qing was aware he was headed to the East Sea. The duke had arranged for people to intercept him. Even if it was only a momentary delay, that might give Xu Qing and the others enough time to catch up, surround Li Hao, and kill the young man!

However, Xu Qing underestimated Li Hao in the end. His special eyes were his greatest guarantee of escape. He’d depended on them from an early time—back when he was fleeing from scarlet shadows.

“He might be a Heaven’s Eye,” a very displeased Xu Qing transmitted to his two generals. “He can sense or see something.”

A Heaven’s Eye!

The duke himself possessed some of those cultivators, as did all factions. It was just a matter of how strong they were. He’d set off too quickly to bring his, not to mention that if Li Hao was too weak, there’d be nothing to read from him. He was also a martial master, which made it harder to see through him.

......

Li Hao panted heavily and turned back for a look. He had sword energy to replenish himself, but so did the two metamorphosis experts have mysterious power and stones to do the same. They just didn’t refuel at the same pace he did.

Xu Qing, however, surprised him. The man was very strong! His internal force was so strong that he rarely stopped or even paused to recharge. This meant that his blood qi and internal force had all reached an extreme level, so his rate of consumption wasn’t too great. If he was just a metamorphosis expert, then he would be hard pressed to catch up to Li Hao. The young man could call upon the Windchaser Boots and sword energy from Stellaris.

But a martial master, and a very powerful martial master at that... That was creating issues for Li Hao.

......

In the rear, Xu Qing was also frowning.

He’s consuming internal force so rapidly and using the Windchaser Boots, which are another massive drain. How can he keep up this pace...

The duke’s eyes darted around—the sword of the Lis! That had to be the case. That Li Hao could reach his level of accomplishment in such a short period of time had much to do with the sword of the Lis. Xu Qing had caught up to the young man once at the very beginning and connected with a punch. He could already sense then how strong Li Hao’s organs were.

Greed dawned in Xu Qing’s eyes. If he could claim the sword for himself and completely strengthen his organs, he would be able to unseal himself without reservation! He might become the greatest beneath the heavens! He was strong to begin with—how would anyone match him if they didn’t unseal themselves?

He took out his transmission pendant and began issuing orders again.

“You guys should wait at the East Sea,” he also transmitted to the two generals. “Even though this guy’s going in circles, his ultimate goal is either the East Sea or Kui Mountains! He must have some contact with the big snake of the mountains, but that doesn’t matter for now. He tried so hard to remove the snake from this picture that he probably doesn’t want to go to the mountains. You guys go to the East Sea first and mobilize the pirates. Seal off the waters!”

“Then, what about you, Your Grace...”

“I’ll be fine!”

The two generals swiftly left after some thought. They were aware of how strong the duke was. Although everyone seemed to be of similar footing on the surface, even a peak Light Sword would be cut down if he unsealed himself. Xu Qing simply wasn’t willing to as each instance was a case of risking his life.

To the duke, things had not progressed to that point yet. He wasn’t certain that he could immediately use the sword of the Lis after he killed Li Hao. If he was reassured that it would immediately re-seal his organs, then he would promptly unseal himself and catch up to Li Hao.

The two generals sped away, a development noted by the young man when he turned back for a look. His expression shifted rapidly—Xu Qing was proving to be a tough foe. The two had probably left to ambush him in the sea. Even though it would prove fruitless, it was tough for him to enter the sea once that opening was blocked.

“You’ve got some nerve, Xu Qing!” Li Hao finally uttered his first words in this chase. He laughed loudly as gale winds howled. “Today is your death day! Be careful of Light Sword and Earthturner Sword treating you to tea together if you keep chasing me!”

“Li Hao, if you think the Steadfast Duke’s intelligence network is that inadequate...” Xu Qing answered remotely.

“How would I have made it inside your home if it’s not inadequate?”

“......” Xu Qing couldn’t find a good response to that. Indeed, it was very inadequate for him to be unaware that Li Hao had left Silver Moon. But under normal circumstances, why would the young man leave, much less visit the duke’s manor? Apart from Panther, who in the world could consider this possibility?

Seeing how stubborn the young man was, Xu Qing thought for a while as he kept pace.

“Li Hao, I only want to kill you because I want to resolve the problem of the five organs. You sought revenge on the Xus simply because you were afraid that I’d come for you. But I have dozens of sons and grandsons. Losing two sons and one grandson is nothing concerning!

“How about this, promise me something as a member of the eight families. I won’t kill you or even seek revenge on you. Nor will I seize your treasures, but I’ll help you! What do you think?”

“I think you think I’m an idiot!”

“No, you don’t understand!” Xu Qing said softly. “You should know that the eight families weren’t necessarily the strongest existence even in the ancient civilization. There was the Human King, emperors, and innumerable powerhouses in those times!

“My Xus could rise up, or rather, any family or faction that can rise during this era needs to thank the ancient ruins. But we’re unable to access the core of many ruins—the eight families might be able to!

“To most people, seizing your sword is just to enter the next cultivation stage. Why should they go to you if there’s any other method available? On the other hand, my family holds sway over a ruin that was the key to our rise!

“The Windchaser Boots are not marvelous creations, despite being part of the eight familial treasures. According to my information, the Lius weren’t that prominent in the ancient civilization. The ruins that I hold belonged to a true powerhouse...” Xu Qing chuckled. “If you’re willing to explore a ruin for me, similar to how your master operated for others, I can even imitate Hou Xiaochen and protect you!”

“A ruin?” Li Hao sped up with his question. Go fuck yourself man!

“That’s right, a ruin! A very important ruin. It’s not only Silver Moon that has ruins, the eastern continent had an incomparable existence in residence during the ancient civilization. The eight guardian clans only safeguarded a door that led to a mysterious land, but that doesn’t mean that they were the strongest!

“The ruins that the Xus grasp have been developed for hundreds of years, but we are yet to plumb its depths! The city’s name is Tranquil Star! I am a man of my word—so long as you excavate the ruins for me, not only will I not hold you responsible for the deaths of my sons and grandson, but I’ll help you with your revenge!”

Xu Qing was very serious as these were his actual thoughts. Li Hao could utilize the Windchaser Boots, Stellaris, was a Heaven’s Eye, and even counted the descendant of an ancient monster spirit among his followers... He really had the thought of asking the young man to explore the ruins for him.

Would a powerful ancient city be less than Stellaris? The eight families weren’t the strongest in the ancient civilization, they just carried a heavy burden on their shoulders. Xu Qing could gather from bits and pieces of information that the Tranquil Star he oversaw had once produced ultimate powerhouses that walked out of this world!

Not even the ancient Human King might be a match for them. Of course, these ancient records were hard to determine truth or falsehood from, but Xu Qing knew that there must be great treasure stored in a place like that.

......

Up ahead.

Li Hao’s heart stirred. Tranquil Star! Xu Qing’s two sons were Xu Zhen and Xu Xing—their given names formed the same characters for Tranquil Star! Was there a connection there? It was obvious that the Xus held full control over the ruins. Where else would the armor and mysterious power stones come from?

Judging from what he’d seen, the Xus controlled a formidable ruin. It was incredible that they’d yet to fully explore it, the family had many metamorphosis experts! Was it another area similar to Battle Heaven?

Li Hao wasn’t interested as he’d yet to have the time or strength to fully explore Battle Heaven, much less a ruin of the eastern continent.

“Really?” The young man still displayed interest on the surface. “I don’t believe what you say. If you’re sincere, kill Ying Hongyue for me first and I’ll explore the ruins for you second. I won’t think it’s a loss even if you kill me in the middle of the excavation.”

“Why suggest something that is impossible to accomplish?” Xu Qing shook his head and stepped through the air, once more catching up to Li Hao. “My family knows much about the three great organizations and have sponsored Yama quite a bit. I’m not afraid to let you know that there are Xu members inside Yama!

“However, Red Moon is the strongest out of the three. Not only is it the strongest, but it is the most mysterious. Apart from that, Ying Hongyue may be the most terrifying of the three leaders. Based on the supernatural hierarchy, he should’ve fully set foot into the sixth level. He might even be peak sixth level!

“I am ninety-nine percent not his match even if I unseal myself... But that might not be the case if you are willing to help me! Also, you think of your revenge too simply. That Ying Hongyue could rise is due to his genius, strength, and most importantly, his backers!

“Your master was very strong in his time, no? But why couldn’t he seize the opportunity in front of him and was surpassed by others instead? That is the consequence of being a lone wolf! Whether it is the three great organizations, nine ministries, royal family, or nobility—they’re all major factions. Ying Hongyue has powerful backers and is tied to some highly confidential secrets. Much of what you see now is only what we are willing to let the people see. The truth is much more complicated!”