Star Gate

Chapter 625: Arriving at Skystar City (II)

“Ignore all that, it’s not for the likes of us. Anyone with any sort of background or status comes to Skystar City. Only those without an impressive identity go to the City of Supernaturals. The Arcanus realm is pretty impressive, but it’s not like Skystar City doesn’t have any on that level. Have you not heard? The first generation inspector general is still alive and supposed to be an Arcanus! Hot damn, how old does that make him? He was the inspector general eighty years ago, so he’s got to be more than one hundred!”

“Heh, I’ve got news for you then. Apparently they’re all immortal. There were people who could live thousands of years in the ancient civilization...”

“Bullshit! Thousands of years? That would mean they’re still alive!”

“I heard it from other people myself. Who knows how many years it’s been since the ancient civilization? There’s no definitive explanation, so no one knows what the situation is. Perhaps there’s some exaggeration involved when they talk about the ancients, but it’s true that they could live for thousands of years!”

“......” What these people discussed would be classified secrets in the north. But here, every street and back alley held conversations about this information.

Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh. He knew too little of the world, alright! Those of the central region knew much more than he thought they would.

The convoy up ahead spent some time exchanging pleasantries. Once they were done, they continued forward and the flow of traffic picked up. Li Hao was in no hurry and slowly followed behind everyone.

The roads were big here, but they were too congested. There were cars everywhere. He’d never seen so many cars before, not even in White Moon City. Li Hao suddenly looked up above him—there was a massive hole in the roof. He happened to catch sight of a group of people steering an origin weapon that looked like a flying ship. They sped off into the distance.

"Those are Solars and Novas!” People exclaimed around him. “Are they coming in person?”

Li Hao almost burst out laughing. Were Solars and Novas not allowed to leave their homes? But judging from the sound of this, it seemed that only Solars and Novas were permitted to fly.

In the next moment, a massive bird soared through the sky. It was ponderous and seemed to be bearing people on its back.

“That’s... people from the Sky Roc Bloc!” identified even more agitated voices. “Isn’t that bird one of their most famous Galewind Birds? Apparently they’re all Sunflare or stronger!”

“Sky Roc Bloc... The group that does business for the Sky Roc Mountain?”

“Yeah, who else other than them can manipulate these bird spirits?”

“The seven divine mountains... Are they going to Skystar City as well? They’ve always been an independent faction, so why aren’t they going to the City of Supernaturals? The seven divine mountains don’t need to learn from the academies, they’ve got business at the City of Supernaturals. They’re even the financial backers for some of those academies...”

All of these people were well informed. Li Hao happily eavesdropped on everyone. He was unfamiliar with the central region since he lacked a transmission pendant, but the mundanes on all sides were giving him a thorough education!

Sky Roc Mountain!

He recognized this name. Apparently, the mountain lord was a major monster spirit that was a sky roc. It was rumored to be a formidable presence that once swallowed a Nova. That was such a long time ago, yet Li Hao had heard this gossip a few times.

Yuan Shuo had wanted Panther to kill it before he left—the old man was afraid that the dog wouldn’t die and would just eternally mooch off his disciple. Panther lazily lifted its head and regarded the bird sleepily. So weak! It couldn’t be bothered with a second look.

The bird in the air suddenly sensed something and wobbled, flapping its wings mightily to stay aloft. Someone’s presence flared on its back to stabilize the plummeting monster spirit.

......

In the sky.

There was more than one person on the bird’s back. A middle-aged Solar frowned slightly. “What’s going on?”

Why had the Galewind Bird almost fallen out of the sky? He scanned the premises with a frown and didn’t sense anything. Had a powerhouse ambushed them? But that shouldn’t be the case. They represented Sky Roc Mountain and this was the core of the central region. Who would dare ambush them here?

The big bird’s mind was in a haze, but it continued forward. Once it exited the previous area, it returned to normal. Unfortunately, a bird of the Sunflare level couldn’t transmit thoughts and explain the situation to the group on its back. The bird, however, knew that there had been a premier major spirit beneath it just now!

Though it only sensed a little, what it experienced was enough to terrify it. The bird swiftly vanished without daring to linger.

......

Inside the car.

Li Hao looked sternly at Panther and frowned. “Tamp down that ancient monster spirit bloodline of yours! Stop showing off! You’ll expose yourself at Skystar City before I do! What, is a random monster spirit passing by supposed to stop and kowtow to you first?”

“......” Panther looked on innocently. I didn’t mean to do that! I’m not interested in these minor spirits! But ah, forget it, I can’t explain myself.

The dog wagged its tail; Li Hao took that to mean it’d retracted its presence. “Turn yourself smaller, like the size of a puppy.”

Panther didn’t move.

“Don’t think I don’t know that you can change your size!” Li Hao snorted. “I’ve spent time in your stomach and know that your organs have been refined to an utmost! You turn smaller when you compress them and grow bigger when you relax them! Hurry up!”

Panther whined and howled. Not doing it!

“Hurry up, you’re well known now.”

Panther was beyond dejected, but had to swallow its tears when it thought of the good days to come. It’d compressed itself to a small puppy moments later. Li Hao cackled. As for himself, he didn’t make too many changes. He changed clothes to appear more like a central region denizen. It was enough that he wasn’t immediately recognized as a northerner.

His short hair had grown out lately and he’d started keeping a mustache. Those who weren’t familiar with him wouldn’t recognize him at first glance. Even those who did would treat him as an artist. Equipped with a pair of glasses, long hair and a small mustache, as well as a puppy on a leash... He could be an art teacher at any school.

Not only that, he had the silver armor block He Yong. This was to prevent He Yong from messaging him and so that the man wouldn’t know that Li Hao was within five hundred kilometers of him. He Yong could not lock onto Li Hao’s position, but Li Hao could lock onto his. The fellow seemed to have returned to Skystar City. A bronze armor troop leader had a very low clearance level.

And so Li Hao slowly drove his way to Skystar City, listening to gossip on all sides as traffic started and stopped. He didn’t obtain much actual information, but there was definitely a lot of gossip.

That the people were in the mood to gossip meant that life was good. In actuality, those who could take cars to Skystar City all lived decent lives.

......

At the same time.

A great hustle and bustle filled Skystar City. The capital of the dynasty always thronged with activity. There were people in all of the streets and alleyways, as well as cars. Compared to Silver Moon, Skystar City was full of skyscrapers. There were so many people that the city had to rely on tall buildings to divert their flow.

However, there weren’t skyscrapers everywhere. There were no such buildings in the center of Skystar City. A massive palace sat in the center of the city, guarded by soldiers in black armor on all sides. They were the famed Black Armaturas of yesteryear. They no longer roamed the battlefield, but safeguarded the royal family that had retreated behind the scenes.

Avenues bisected the area outside the palace. There were multiple low-rise buildings on either side of the avenues. No one remembered what they were called back in the day. These days, everyone knew them as the Avenues of the Nine Ministries.

The nine ministries surrounded the palace like nine dragons feting a pearl. This configuration occupied a large amount of territory within the vast Skystar City. There weren’t tall buildings here—the tallest was no more than six stories high. They’d all been built in recent years and most of them were in a vintage style—or rather, they were ancient architecture.

The sky began to dim, but there was no sign of Skystar City following suit. Lights flared to life and lit up the metropolis like it was day. People rushed to and fro on the nine avenues; everyone was in a great hurry. They were almost all supernaturals, if not, they were martial masters.

Powerhouses were as abundant as the clouds here. An inconspicuous person might be a Solar or Dominator. Power had been concentrated in the royal city for two hundred years. They’d gathered endless fortune and countless elites.

At this moment, in the Night Watcher seat of administration, Hou Xiaochen’s office.

Three youngsters casually strolled in. One with a blade, one with a spear, and a young woman with a small face and big eyes.

“You sent for us, director?” Big Eyes blinked rapidly and played cute as soon as she walked in. “It’s evening, are you going to treat us to a meal? The director hasn’t taken us out since he’s arrived at his post. I know of a place that’s delicious...”

Big Eyes chattered on, an innocent expression on her face. Hou Xiaochen smiled and didn’t say a word. Manager Yu poured a cup of tea for her superior and looked at Big Eyes. Killing intent suddenly flashed through them. Big Eyes’ heart shook, but her expression didn’t change. She simply cursed to herself, this old woman... is really mean! I’m so cute, what are you glaring at me for?

But Yu Luocha had killed countless people in her time, so it was normal for her to have more of an edge.

“What’s wrong, big sister Yu? Do your eyes hurt? Do you want to go to a doctor?”

“There’s no need for you to worry on my behalf,” the manager chuckled. “You are all treasures of the Night Watchers and the director wanted to catch up with you. He also wanted to see if you are as... exemplary as the rumors say.

“You are the Four Talents of the Night Watchers, but I’ve only ever seen three of you.” Her tone sharpened. “Where’s the other one?”