Star Gate

Chapter 715: Entering Battle Heaven Once More (III)

“Do you want to revitalize that tree?” Director General Wang thought of something. “You can do that... take a medallion of the army with you. That tree may not know much, so make sure to warn it not to run around during this period of time! The world has not fully reawakened and the path of core origin has fallen silent. Brashly venturing out may easily result in full collapse as it will not have a great dao to cleave to. Otherwise, revitalized powerhouses would’ve long ventured into the world.

“And another thing, have you comprehended its path of core origin?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t!” the director general rumbled with some dissatisfaction. “You can know about it and come in contact with it, but do not study it in detail. That would not be a good development and you will easily lose yourself to become the next plant spirit...”

He issued a few more warnings before concluding, “Additionally, you need to learn to protect yourself in case that little tree has ulterior motives. The times have changed and both the Monster Spirit and Sea Pacification Envoys are no more. Who knows what the situation is with the monster spirits now?”

Li Hao nodded and didn’t ask further. Instead, he hastily asked when another thought occurred to him. “Ah, yes, do you happen to know the dragon transformation method, sir?”

“The dragon transformation method?”

“I know of a snake that’s about to become a scaled-dragon, but it doesn't know how to become a full dragon. It would like to evolve and take another step further.”

“A snake?” The director general rummaged through his memories. “I don’t know the method, but... what level is its strength at?”

“A little weaker than me.”

“Then the hell it wants to become a dragon for?!” Director General Wang stared. “It’s delusional, isn’t it? What’s the point of becoming a dragon at that level of strength? To look prettier? Dragons and snakes are not of the same race, why must it add feet to itself? It’s easy enough to ascend, just purify its bloodline.

“Eliminate the impurities, cleanse the blood. When it comes to a more sophisticated level of being, the dragons are indeed stronger. It can consider the ascension then, but it won’t be an easy process. There is absolutely no need at its present stage, it would just be a laughingstock!”

Li Hao was sheepish, was that so?

“Then, how should it purify its bloodline...”

“Is your Stellaris a pretty vase?” Director General Wang really didn’t know what to say. “Haven’t you been using it all along? The sword energy inside it can purify the bloodline, it’s very simple. If that wasn’t the case, how come this dog’s bloodline is becoming ever more pure?”

He pointed at Panther. “Where would such fortune come from if it didn’t follow you? Even if its ancestors were uncommon and occupied a lofty status, this mixed blood descendant of untold generations... is absolutely nothing at all!”

Panther wagged its tail. Indeed, sword energy could purify the bloodline. It could sense so, but it’d forgotten to say so. Granted, it couldn’t talk.

Li Hao blinked. So this was the case?

“Don’t ask me such idiotic questions in the future!” sniffed the director general. “It’s a waste of our time! As for the snake... do as you see fit. I can’t be bothered.”

Alright then! That was enough.

Li Hao felt that he’d gained quite a lot, but still hesitated before he left. “If I supply ten million stones to General Pagoda, will it give me some benefits so I don’t leave empty-handed?”

“Where are they to come from?” laughed the other. “Don’t even think about it, unless you supply one hundred million stones so it fully reawakens! The city will come back to life then and you’ll be able to bathe in Water of Life. For the moment, you can only awaken a portion of its surface sentience. The effect will not be great. Do as you wish if you want to save that little tree.”

Very well then! Li Hao was truly disappointed. He’d wanted to offer some help to Battle Heaven and receive something for his efforts, but it now looked impossible. Since Director General Wang had said so, he would not continue to insist.

Li Hao paused again before departing. “Director General, I found two golden booklets that speak of the ultimate techniques of core origin. One is of offense, the other of break. Can I learn them?”

“If you want!” answered the director general. “I didn’t recommend you study them last time because you knew too little. It looks like you’ve gained a lot more knowledge this time around, so it’s up to you if you want to learn them or not.

“You can ask the Seventh Troop leader about the break incantation. He has some involvement with the Jiangs and counts as an auxiliary branch. His branch has produced five generations of descendants, so they’re tangentially related. He knows a bit.”

Li Hao was startled by the connection.

“But these are all techniques of core origin, do not lose yourself in them. Comprehending their nature is the key, nothing else! These were simply techniques that some powerhouses used to hoodwink their descendants back in the day. When it comes to true ultimate knowledge, it is the Battle Heaven Army’s Voidbreak Incantation that is the real treasure! You are a sword cultivator, so you should trade some merits for a chance to comprehend it.”

“But I am no longer a martial master...”

“Fool!” snapped the director general. Or perhaps he valued Li Hao more than before and was willing to explain more. “What you mean by no longer being a martial master is that your aura has been sealed away and your energy is intermixed, correct? This has nothing to do with you being a martial master or using a sword.

“Remember, your ancestor melded everything together back in the day. Whatever energy, blood qi, mental spirit it was, all of it came together in his sword! Other than one’s life—no, life is included as well—everything is a type of energy. Energy does not care about all this, just use it!”

Li Hao looked around in a daze. “But... the supernatural uses energy outside of the body. Only internal force is born of the body.

“Then figure out a way to incorporate it into your body!” Director General Wang answered with decreasing patience. “Energy is afraid of the strong and bullies the weak. Beat it into submission if it doesn’t listen to your commands! Isn’t it yours in the end once it assimilates into your flesh and blood?

“There is no good or bad to energy, it all comes down to how you use it. You can decide for yourself how you wish to proceed. I am not of your time period and our physical structure may even be slightly different. Read more, learn more, comprehend more. You’ll figure it out sooner or later!”

Li Hao abruptly felt that an entirely new world had been opened up to him! There were suddenly a lot more thoughts flooding his mind.

“Don't just ask whatever you think of.” The director general was plainly short on patience now. “Try to learn and experiment first, then ask. If you ask from the beginning, what you hear is wasted on you! Only after you personally experience the subject can you ask the critical question and not one of basic knowledge.”

“Mmhmm, I understand. Thank you, sir!”

“Go on then!”

“Eh?”

“To the barracks!” sighed Director General Wang. “Are you not going to let your commander know that you’ve returned? Someone without discipline or organization will be punished in the army!”

Your commander has come calling many times, why do you think I kept trying to have you go?

Li Hao’s head ached. I’m scared of that one! He’ll hit me! Will I be able to match him at my current level of strength?

It was hard to say.

Battle Heaven had awoken more than before. Perhaps the other was stronger now. In the past, he was likely on par with an unsealed martial master and less than an Arcanus. That was not necessarily the case now.

Li Hao had gained a lot from his conversation with the director general and didn’t find there much to be afraid of. But that commander... was truly cold and aloof!

Although his thoughts were thus, Li Hao had no choice but to proceed toward the barracks. Director General Wang suddenly smiled as he walked off.

“He really has changed quite a bit upon his return to ask me these questions. What do you think, Guardian?”

“We will keep observing.”

“Mmhmm,” nodded the Gold Armor. The city lord manor once more sank into quiet in the absence of anything else to say.

......

The military barracks.

“Reporting in!” Li Hao called out stiffly.

“Enter!”

“Understood!” Li Hao sharply marched into the office. The commander was busy as always—there didn’t seem to be an end to his duties. He was browsing documents again. Who knew what documents there were to handle after the city had fallen countless years ago?

“As a soldier, your first task of order when you return is to report to the military barracks. It is not to run around randomly, do you understand?”

“Understood!” Li Hao did not argue.

“Has your strength improved?”

“Yes!”

“You seem to have activated some armor?”

“Yes!”

“You must know that you cannot accept random recruits. The army is not a trash can, understood?”

“Understood!”

“......” The Gold Armor commander looked at the young man. So he’d learned his lesson, huh. Therefore, his tone softened. “Is there anything you need help with?”

“Huh?”

“Do you require your superior officer to repeat himself?”

“No sir!” Li Hao barked out. “Sir, I need some more Battle Heaven armor. I can trade for it as I have two thousand sets of Voidbreakers and three hundred Black Armaturas. I would like to trade for some Battle Heaven armor!”

The young man quickly took out what he’d mentioned so his superior officer could take a look.

“The Voidbreakers... is the defending army of Tranquil Star. The military sent them these supplies. So it looks like you’ve gone to Tranquil Star.” The Gold Armor paused. “You can trade them in. It’s only the settings that are slightly different. They just need to be modified before they become Battle Heaven armor! However, you can only activate one thousand sets of armor as a troop leader...”

Li Hao deflated.

“But I can give you a temporary special privilege and treat your troop as reinforcements!” The Gold Armor didn’t say much as this was just a small matter. “Is there anything else?”