Star Gate

Chapter 431: Secrets (II)

“Mmhmm, it is indeed the Skystar Troops.” The old man walked forward, leading Li Hao to their destination. “The person in this camp is from them and has come with the goal of exploring Battle Heaven. While the Skystar Troops have not publicly revealed his identity, they’ve made a report to the provincial government. They intend to have one of their agents in the open and one in the shadows. That makes for greater convenience.

“Ten people have come from the Skystar Troops—one Nova as their leader and the remaining nine of Solars. They are exceedingly formidable and part of the military. They have a desire to work together with us, which sets them apart from typical Solars and Novas.”

Li Hao listened quietly, simply wondering what does this have to do with me?

“Parts of the situation are very complicated as of this moment,” said the old man. “I brought you with me so you could meet the Skystar Troops. My hope is that you don’t become involved in this matter, that those of the eight families do not become cannon fodder.”

As he thought! Li Hao was now certain that the old man really did recognize him!

“The Skystar Troop representative is an initial Nova who just ascended last month. Logically speaking, his cultivation level isn’t that stable yet due to his recent progress. He should stay behind and not be involved in the expedition. We all know that accidents easily occur in Battle Heaven if one does not have a firm grip on their cultivation. But he is an initial Nova. Tell me, do you think there’s anything wrong with this picture?”

“Most likely.” Li Hao thought for a bit. “He either has a special identity, or someone wants to use the ruins to plot his death.”

“Perhaps.” Deputy Zhou smiled. “This person’s name is Yuan Xingwu.”

“I see.” Li Hao absentmindedly inclined his head, then frowned. Yuan Xingwu? Yuan... His teacher? Did this person have something to do with his teacher?

There were too many people with similar surnames in the world, however, so he quickly put it out of his mind. He didn’t quite understand what the deputy meant, but the old man would probably explain since he was the one who’d called out to Li Hao.

“Yuan Xingwu is Yuan Shuo’s first disciple!” Indeed, the old man continued when he received a lack of reaction. “Yuan Shuo didn’t take disciples in his early years, he always operated alone. It wasn’t until the rise of the supernatural and him being forced to reside in Silver City for fifteen years that this changed. The first disciple that he accepted fifteen years ago was Yuan Xingwu! He took a second disciple not long thereafter, then a third one that was Chen Yuhua. He said then that she was his last disciple, that the number three was the utmost and enough.

“However, some problems developed with all three disciples. Yuan Shuo was also gravely injured three years ago—possibly ambushed by a Copper Armor. His heart was injured and it ruined his chances of ascension. That was when he took another disciple, hoping to pass on some of the knowledge in the ancient books that he’d destroyed. All sides were happy to see that change of heart. They didn’t wish for all of that information to go with him to the grave either!”

Yuan Xingwu! Li Hao frowned, his teacher’s first disciple. The man had called Yuan Shuo his master fifteen years ago, but was now a Nova powerhouse of the Skystar Troops. However, none of that was important!

Correct, none of it was important.

What was important was that Yuan Xingwu had brought soldiers back to Silver Moon and represented the military’s supernatural organization for the upcoming expedition. If Li Hao’s identity was exposed now, it would mean a lot of things.

Firstly, Yuan Shuo’s eldest disciple was back! It was common knowledge that Hou Xiaochen was Yuan Shuo’s primary protector all these years. Everyone knew that Yuan Shuo had entered the Summoner of Spirit level and that his final disciple killed six Solars a few days ago. Li Hao was also a Summoner, and the heir to the eight families.

Battle Heaven was possibly the Wangs’ ancestral land. Yuan Xingwu’s arrival happen to coincide with its opening. There was also Chen Yuhua in White Moon City, Hu Dingfang, the Bais, the White Tigers, and the royal family...

It was all interconnected! Southern Fist had analyzed it for him before.

Hu Dingfang had support in the military from above and below. The Bais supported him, the military supported him, and even Commander Yu threw his support behind him. Thus, Hu Dingfang was promoted to his position.

Madame Bai had gone to see Southern Fist—she might have a tie to the royal family then. And now Chen Yuhua and Yuan Xingwu were in the same location. Hu Dingfang ought to know his wife’s senior brother, yes? They were one family when it came down to it. There wasn’t a large gap between Yuan Xingwu and Chen Yuhua being accepted as disciples. They should’ve studied together, so they might be old acquaintances very familiar with each other.

Would there be further ties within this web of relationships and would it have more to do with Li Hao? No wonder Deputy Zhou had wanted to bring him here, but Li Hao still didn’t quite grasp his intentions.

Their distance to the other camp shortened as the deputy continued walking forward. “Forget Yuan Xingwu. Let’s talk about Battle Heaven. We have more information about it than you might already know about.

“Battle Heaven is indeed the city of the Wangs of the eight families. Or rather, their ancestral grounds. The item that the Gold Armor holds is called the Black Tortoise Seal. According to the records, it has a highly symbolic purpose in addition to being a weapon! It is the control hub of the entire city!

“Having it in your possession might place all of Battle Heaven in your hands. The weapons of the ancients were terrifying propositions. The city might be part of the seal, which would make it much more than an important token.

“In the ancient civilization, the eight families were of the same breath and branches. If something untoward happened to one family, then the core disciples of the other families could wield their tokens in times of emergency!”

Li Hao frowned. These important tokens... might be a sword or blade? But his teacher could also use the blade, so perhaps the blade could be used by whoever wielded it. Was his teacher one of the eight families, or was the blade not truly being utilized?

He was starting to be confused by the old man. While he’d gained some information, he still wasn’t certain what the deputy intended or wanted.

“Deputy Zhou, I am just an ordinary Silver Moon Guard. I don’t understand why you share this with me.”

The deputy paused, at a loss. “Don’t they say that you’re very smart? Forget it, I’ll be direct. Everyone else can stay away from Battle Heaven for this expedition, but you must enter. Whether it’s Hou Xiaochen or Yuan Xingwu, those who know a little of these secrets hope for you to enter the inner city or even take the Black Tortoise Seal. You might be the only one who can!

“We know it, the royal family might know it, the nine ministries may not be unaware of the possibility, and the three great organizations are also possibly acquainted with this information. In other words, apart from those with no backgrounds, everyone might know that you are the key!

“Your circumstances are both very safe and very dangerous! You are safe in that no one might hurt you before you claim the Black Tortoise Seal. But as soon as you do, it may be your death sentence. If you take it, that also means the item is unsealed. It can be directed to recognize a new master or divested of certain destructive abilities...”

Li Hao remained quiet. What did that have to do with him and what did the deputy want?

“I don’t mean anything by this. You might know my grandson, Zhou Qin, the one with the tiger. I’m just reminding you of a few things. Both you and Yuan Shuo are very loyal people, but don’t let this affect your judgment.

“And secondly, don’t brashly try to obtain the Black Tortoise Seal! Remember, don’t be greedy!” Deputy Zhou cautioned solemnly. “It’s not a good development that the seal or Battle Heaven has appeared. The city’s materialization means that some other problems will swiftly occur or even great trouble aroused as a result. The internal workings of Silver Moon are not a united whole. While we’re not at the point of blatant enmity with one another, we do have certain differences in philosophy!

“The ancient ruins of the eight families represent eight seals. Unsealing one of them might affect the rest. It could cause some ancient existences to descend upon us once more. It could be good, but it could also spell our doom!

“The secrets of Battle Heaven are not as simple as they seem. They’re so much more complex!”

Li Hao could no longer contain his shock and confusion. “Where does the deputy know all this from?” he muttered.

“Ancient records,” Deputy Zhou sighed softly. “There are many who know this, not just us. They know it and pretend not to. Let’s put it this way—we say that the supernatural domain appeared twenty years ago, but it was here much earlier. It started from Silver Moon. Our province is the origin of the supernatural rise!

“Outsiders think it started in the central region, bah humbug! The supernatural erupted in Silver Moon! Why else do you think Ying Hongyue and the others could set foot in it so quickly? They were earlier than those in the central region!

“It was just that all of the mysterious power that came into being in the province was instantly absorbed by a mysterious existence or seal! It turned us into an incredibly impoverished land for energy.

“Ying Hongyue knows about this, some of the credit for the supernatural awakening goes to him. Some people explored a certain ruin back in the day and broke some things, causing our world to shift. These people are now titans of various factions!” Deputy Zhou sighed with emotion. “They are Ying Hongyue, the Yama King, and the Celestial Sword Immortal. Also among their number was the commander-in-chief of the Skystar Guards, the lord of Yonder Mountain—one of the Seven Divine Mountains...

“They are now renowned throughout the lands!”

Li Hao’s heart shook. So these people had all been part of the same team? Or had they just known of each other and happened to explore the same ruin, causing the supernatural to erupt? So they knew the changes to the world that were coming and were able to make preparations beforehand, leading to the rise of the three great organizations?

What were the Seven Divine Mountains? This was his first time hearing of them. And who was the commander-in-chief of the Skystar Guards? He knew of Cannibal, Laughter, and Sickly, but not who their leader was. The martial world only knew of the three commanders.

He’d never fathomed that Silver Moon was the origin of the supernatural rise!

“Remember this, there are only two possibilities after Battle Heaven is unsealed,” Deputy Zhou emphasized. “First, the supernatural might erupt again and vast quantities of mysterious power will raise the dynasty’s supernaturals up another level. Countless people might swiftly break through and reach the next level of existence. The second is of disaster!

“Regardless of which possibility it is, it means disaster all the same at this stage. It is not a good idea to suddenly facilitate large numbers of powerhouses through the opening of a second wave of the supernatural domain.”