Star Gate

Chapter 714: Entering Battle Heaven Once More (II)

“What is wrong with tilling the fields? Tilling the fields is also a type of dao. One can become divine or holy through tilling the fields, or even be a saint of the ages. You guys don’t understand because you are too weak. The weaker you are, the more you care about issues of dignity, face, noble, and being poor...

“The great dao is limitless, so what is the true dao? Even in New Martial, we didn’t dare say that the path the powerhouses walked was the correct dao. There is no right or wrong in dao, just a matter of suitability. There is only exploration and future. The dao is not important, what is important is one’s actions!

“The action of movement and application!”

The director general looked more closely at Li Hao when he sensed that the young man seemed to catch his drift. “I thought this was basic knowledge, but it appears that this is not. Does this mean that you came up with all of these thoughts by yourself?”

“No, someone gave me pointers.” Li Hao grinned. “I am learning and reflecting as well.”

“That is good!” Director General Wang quite approved. “From practical application comes true knowledge! Whatever it is you’d like to know or understand, be a part of it yourself. It doesn’t matter whether or not you understand it. Observe more, listen more, learn more! Of course, human vigor is limited, so learn to use others and use them well! You cannot be all-knowing or all-capable.”

Li Hao nodded continuously. As he thought, the director general was easy to speak to and delivered his messages clearly.

“Director General, I know that the rise of the ancient civilization has much to do with outside enemies. We can be united in the face of strong external enemies, but what if inside enemies exist?”

“Isn’t it best that there are no external foes?” The director general looked wordlessly at him. “Cleanse the inside if there is no one hovering on the outside. Take advantage of the respite to swiftly develop your economy, commerce, culture, and conduct all manner of technological reform. And who says you have no outside enemies?”

Li Hao started.

“Do you think it’s a simple matter that New Martial is no more?” asked Director General Wang. “I don’t know the full story, but I do know that the truth is anything but simple. This is a hard fought period of peace and development for you, what a pity that you don’t seem to cherish it!”

Li Hao frowned slightly and didn’t respond to that.

“Director General, the central region... which is to say, the Skystar Island of old, seems to have a portion of sleeping ancient plant spirits or monsters. They appear to wish to enter Silver Moon. Why is that?”

“The hell does that have to do with you?”

“......” Li Hao blinked. What did the director general mean by that? He’d always been easy to talk to, so why was he suddenly cursing?

“You don’t understand?” laughed Director General Wang. “I mean that it has nothing to do with you. Where have you gotten in the world, is it your turn to stick your nose in this? As opposed to worrying about this, you might as well worry about how to grow stronger, how to reach your goals. Those entities won’t be coming out in the short term. They can’t. If they did, there would be someone along to take care of them, so is there any meaning to worrying about this?”

Li Hao couldn’t help but laugh.

“Of course, it’s another story entirely if you quickly grow stronger,” smiled the director general. “If you come to me then, I will tell you more. You do not need to strategize for something which you do not hold the post for. In your current state, you do not need to think about this.”

“Understood!” Li Hao nodded, having gained something from their conversation. However, he still had some goals he’d yet to complete. “Director General, General Pagoda is still alive, right?”

“Yes, the general is asleep.”

“Can the general be revived?”

“Of course.”

“Will that require large sums of energy or life essence?”

“Correct.”

“How many cultivation energy stones?”

“......” Director General Wang looked at him. “You sound like you’ve had some gains and want to complete the general’s revitalization?”

“I do have the thought, yes.”

“That will be very difficult! It’s impossible to fully awaken the general, you can only arouse its sentience and help it partially recover. It can take over from there. Based on the standards of your trash mysterious power stones, it will take at least ten million stones. Don’t mention it if you don’t, it’s meaningless otherwise.”

Ten million stones!

Li Hao actually did have that sum. He had seven million stones and many more origin weapons. If the little tree could use them, then so could General Pagoda. Should he give them to the little tree or the general? That was a very important question. He also needed to consider the potential payoff, he wasn’t giving them away for free! These resources were useful to him as well, he couldn’t afford to simply give them to another.

“Do you know about the imperial palace, Director General Wang? The one shaped like a cat...”

“Oh?” The Gold Armor jumped. “The imperial palace? You’ve seen one? That’s impossible... there are none in Silver Moon. No, wait... there seems to be one. It’s just... it’s just an abandoned imperial palace! You’ve... seen an imperial palace?”

“Yes!” Li Hao nodded. “There’s a plant spirit there, but the old plant spirit is dead. A sapling sprouted from its roots after that. Is this kind of plant spirit good or bad?”

“That’s hard to say.” The director general was both surprised and not too surprised. “Plant spirits that can grow near an imperial palace won’t be evil, but even human hearts change with the passage of time, much less that of plant spirits.”

“It’s guarded the imperial palace all this time and never left or let anyone else in. I think that it’s stayed true to its duties all this time...”

“I suppose so.” The director general thought it over. “Since the imperial palace has been abandoned, that plant spirit shouldn’t be too strong. The stronger it is, the harder it is for one to reawaken! That it’s done so now means that... its strength is mediocre.”

Li Hao was surprised by the declaration. What did he mean?

“Can you explain more, sir...?”

“The current concentration of energy in the world is very low. Under such conditions, those who awaken now will not be too strong, such as those like myself...”

Li Hao coughed. What did he mean by that? Was he looking down on himself?

Director General Wang didn’t mind and laughed. “What? It’s very normal! Remember that I’m just the head of security, there are plenty stronger than me. Why am I here and the others not? Take your reserve defenders—only your divisional commander has awakened. What of the commander of the city defenders?

“General Pagoda is immensely powerful, so it has yet to awaken or even shows signs of awakening. It is stronger than me.”

Li Hao nodded. Very well then.

“What if... I supply ten million mysterious power stones to the general? What will happen then?”

“Ten million stones... will help the general awaken a little and recover some basic intelligence. It might be able to complete autonomous operations of its cultivation methods and draw energy from its surroundings. The city should also be able to reawaken some more.”

“That’s it?”

“What else do you want?”

“......” Li Hao looked glum. Was that really it? That... would be such a waste! He hesitated before asking further, “If I supply ten million stones to that little tree, will it fully awaken?”

“It depends on its strength. If its strength is mediocre, then it will mostly reach that condition. But if it’s strong... ten million will not be enough. But as you said, it’s simply sprouted from the roots of the old tree and inherited some of its dao. At most, it will be a new Apex...” The director general paused. “That’s not too strong. But if it fully awakens, it will be an invincible existence to this world in your current state of development.”

“Apex?” Li Hao blinked.

“A cultivation name from the core origin dao path. This is what humans call it, whereas monster spirits call it the True Divine realm.” Director General Wang looked at Li Hao. “It won’t have much of an issue for beating someone like you.”

“I’m an Arcanus now.” Li Hao raised an eyebrow. “I’m much stronger than before.”

“I know!” Director General Wang burst out laughing. “You’re much stronger, but you’re still not strong enough! Let’s put it this way. When there comes a day that you can tear through the void from five hundred kilometers away and instantly bridge the distance, you will have reached that level! Whether it is through aura, mind intent, or supernatural abilities, whatever it is, you will be at that level when you can accomplish that.”

Li Hao sucked in a sharp breath. “Cross five hundred kilometers to... tear through the void?”

“That’s right!”

“Was... the director general at this level back in the day?” The young man swallowed hard.

“Of course!”

“......” Li Hao’s teeth ached from the implications. That strong?

“There’s nothing to it,” Director General Wang continued chuckling. “Looking at your current condition, you just need to break a few more of what you guys call your supernatural locks. Another three to five locks will help you reach that level!”

Li Hao’s head ached as well now!

“Three to five more? I’ve already broken six locks!”

“I know. The supernatural cultivates strength, which you lack. Your body also isn’t strong enough, so break a few more locks! Your cultivation method might be different when you reach that stage, but the path will be the same. The results will be the same! I’ve sensed the strength of the current void and it is as before.

“After you tear through the void and sense a distance very far away, there is a certain perception. You will be able to cross through the void and instantly arrive at your destination. You will be a powerhouse then! You will count as such even in New Martial, a true entrant to the ranks of the strong!”

Li Hao was at a complete loss for words. So that would mean his path had only just started at that stage?? Upon considering that the one in front of him was also part of those august personages, the young man had to marvel, “So... how did the troop leaders... compare to me when they were in their peak?”

“They were just a hair stronger than you, not by much. They died a long time ago and do not have a physical body or blood qi anymore. In our age, the Battle Heaven Army primarily relied on blood qi and the physical body. They were just run-of-the mill then and worse off now. But there’s no need to be discouraged, you’ve only just started cultivating for a few days. Not to mention, most of Silver Moon’s energy has been absorbed by those ancient existences...”

Thoughts flitted rapidly through Li Hao’s mind.