Chapter 460: Metamorphosis (III)

Chapter 460: Metamorphosis (III)

“Martial Uncle Southern Fist said it first,” Li Hao continued. “That it’s fine if I act without thought sometimes. You don’t mind, right martial uncles?”

“......” He Yong rolled his eyes; he couldn’t be bothered to respond. He hauled out the black armor while muttering, “Don’t be too cocky, kid! I’ve been a royal instructor for many years and know more than you. The royal family values martial dao a lot. Some of the royal descendants are very strong. They have the best teachers and prime resources. Their teachers are an entire team instead of one person. Some of them are downright terrifying! Even I wouldn’t say that I’d be guaranteed victory against them.

“The royal family keeps a very low profile and has waited patiently since their forced abdication. They’ve just been accumulating their strength this entire time.

“Also, don’t underestimate the nine ministries!” he laughed after putting the black armor back on. “Why do you think the nine ministries were able to force the royal family into stepping back? Was it through a position of moral superiority or public sentiment? That’s bullshit, it was through pure strength! They were already quite strong eighty years ago—what they display now is just the tip of the iceberg. Do you really think the ministries rule through logic and reason? After so many years of biding their time, do people like Hou Xiaochen really dare openly rebel?”

Li Hao manifested his silver armor as well. “So why do they hide themselves?” he asked curiously.

“Those old guys are mostly the same as us—in neither a state of advance nor retreat. It hurts to fight on the battlefield, so they have to pretend to be weak. That is one of the reasons. The other is that the nine ministries, three great organizations, and the royal family all know certain secrets. I know some as well, but I won’t tell you as there isn’t a point to that.”

Then don’t even mention secrets! Li Hao half rolled his eyes and didn’t ask further. Deputy Zhou put on a show like he had a lot of secrets and obviously wanted me to ask him. I couldn’t be bothered.

It was the same case now. Just talk about them if you want to!

Hong Yitang chuckled, not minding the conversation and walked out of the tavern. “Don’t listen to his blathering,” he said as they headed back to the inner city. “There’s another main reason, and it has to do with a struggle between some of the ministries and the royal family. The conflicts involving some of the border provinces is actually a process of shuffling cards. A lot of people want to eliminate their opponents and even crown a new Human King!

“The people’s hearts are not one and morale is low. Some are purposefully creating war and hardship to inflict suffering on the people. They conceal themselves in the chaos and demonstrate weakness to their opponents, hoping to claim the final victory and become the dynasty’s only sovereign! The nine ministries, royal family, and provinces are the three major factions in play. The three great organizations are just borrowing the hands of some ambitious characters to eke out a comfortable survival. Or did you think it was that easy to find one’s footing in the early days of confusion?”

Human King?

“A Human King?” Li Hao burst out laughing.

“Yes.”

“Aren’t they thinking a bit much?” Liu Yan chortled. “I know there was one in the ancient civilization who was terrifying beyond belief. Can such an existence be born today?”

“Our times are not necessarily less than the ancient. Li Hao, don’t think so little of modern man just because you’re well acquainted with the might of the ancients. Everything is possible and unknown!” Hong Yitang emphasized. “If you think this way, then you can give up cultivation, breakthroughs, and your search for dao. If you already deem the ancients to be greater than you and unsurpassable, why cultivate when the ancient civilization has already fallen?

“People die. Dying now is death, dying later is death. Why bother seeking dao? Your teacher must be touched in the head to explore becoming a Summoner.

When the three Silver Armors saw him again, they felt something different about their newest brethren.

The Seventh Troop leader looked at the young man with confusion. “Well done, Troop Leader Li, but why... do you seem a little different?”

“Learning has helped me improve!” Li Hao sent humble thought ripples back. “Elder brothers, as a fellow member of the Battle Heaven army, what should I keep in mind in the great battle to come?”

“Charge!” The Seventh Troop leader answered mechanically. “Charge until the enemy no longer exists! Do not retreat, do not flee, and trust your comrades, your brothers-in-arm. Your enemies are simply those in front of you. You do not need to think of anything else so long as there are comrades around you. The Battle Heaven army is a unit worthy of trust. Perhaps the times change, but people are still people and your comrades are still your comrades. That does not change!”

Li Hao nodded, not sure if he’d gained anything from the response.

The Seventh Troop leader looked into the distance, at the supernaturals in the plaza. “If they work together, they are sure to breach our defenses. It will be quite a pity... and that victory goes to the side that is united! That has ever been the case since time immemorial. Such was the truth even in our times, when powerhouses such as the Human King rose to prominence. They were not born invincible, but made their way upward on the bodies of their enemies.

“If the Human King was one person, he might not have made it to the peak himself. The group of people he could trust was key. Victory is always guaranteed when hearts are united!” He suddenly raised the longsword in his hand and spoke with a bit more emotion. “Therefore, as a new recruit, you can observe first when battle breaks out later. I will teach you how to be a good soldier! A true soldier is invincible. He is defeated only in terms of strength, not heart!”

Li Hao nodded emphatically, reaffirming to himself that his greatest gains this trip was not from battle ability, but the thought patterns of the ancients. He’d walked out of his tiny hometown to observe the world at large. Rapidly transforming, he was changing some of his own thoughts.

......

At the same time.

Large sums of wandering cultivators retreated back to the plaza. Fear percolated through the crowd when they registered that some powerful existences had gone missing. There were a lot fewer now!

On Red Moon’s side, Green Moon’s expression was incredibly unpleasant. While she normally kept her face unreadable, there was a time and place for that. With Yellow Moon dead, she was perfectly right to display noticeable shock and fury.

Blue Moon and Violet Moon remained quiet, prompting questions from others. What had happened for such a heavy atmosphere to drape over these three leaders?

“When I rushed over just now, I saw a Black Armor killing someone.” Xu Feng came back at this time. “It was incredibly powerful and killing Yama’s Xie Gang. It might’ve used a martial dao secret art!

“I suspect that there are powerful martial masters who’ve put on the armor to conceal their tracks while they kill others!”

Hou Xiaochen flicked a glance at him and couldn’t be bothered to respond. Idiot! What was the point of announcing this r? Did he simply want to create more panic? You don’t have to speak of it just because you know it. Voicing it aloud won’t show how strong you are. It will only make people fearful and cause wandering cultivators to doubt those around them. These central region powerhouses are too green!

Indeed, the wandering cultivators rustled with unease after the young man’s words. Martial masters were subject to sidelong glances all around.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com