Chapter 654: To Make Known First (I)

Chapter 654: To Make Known First (I)

Though Li Hao’s voice rang through the city, an unearthly silence answered him. He’d flung back the covers today to expose the depravity of the dynasty’s upper echelon, shaking the heavens! The young man’s gesture was immensely unwise, but he continued to wear a smile on his face.

His smile was cool, indifferent. He wasn’t afraid of others knowing what he’d done. What are you afraid of, since you don’t care about the people?

An incomparably majestic voice rang out from the palace that’d lain still for a very long time. “Li Hao of the Skystar Commander Office should be richly rewarded for excising this tumor! The royal family has no treasures to reward since we have long retreated behind the curtains. We hereby bestow Li Hao with the position of Skystar Duke, a nominal honor to indicate our sentiments!

“We also reward the young man with his own complex and look to Vice Commander Li to redouble his efforts on behalf of the people. Please return clear skies to the dynasty!”

Those in the city rustled with astonishment. The royal family! For someone’s voice to be heard throughout the entire city meant that he was an ultimate powerhouse—who? The Skystar King?

It was then that the shocked populace recalled that they still had an emperor! [1]

Those of the nine ministries listened to the announcement with grave expressions. Li Hao, you should know that your judgment of the ministries today gives the royal family an enormous opportunity. They couldn’t help but take it! You’re seriously a troublemaker!

......

At the same time.

Hou Xiaochen also sighed. I knew that you didn’t leave, but I didn’t think that you’d be this ruthless! You’ve ripped off the coverings of the nine ministries in one go! The royal family rose out of the water because they saw a chance to. How are you going to proceed next, Li Hao... The tempests to come are going to be even bigger! I may not be able to keep them contained!

......

The subject of all these thoughts, Li Hao, didn’t make a sound from where he stood in the distant sky. He neither expressed gratitude for the royal favor nor declined it. The Skystar Duke? Who wanted that position? Skystar was the name of the dynasty. Naming him the Skystar Duke... The royal family wanted nothing more than his death, didn’t they??

The nine ministries would be at odds with him so long as this position existed!

The young man suddenly smiled when his thoughts traveled here. That wouldn’t be bad either. Let’s all have some fun together. He looked at He Yong with a smile. “C’mon, let’s go check out the Skystar Colosseum. Take those guys with us. Kill whoever tries to rescue any of them!”

“Understood!” He Yong grinned radiantly. Li Hao was... really vicious. He was going straight against the nine ministries!

On one hand, it wasn’t all of the nine ministries, just the Ministry of Finance that he’d irreparably broken relations with. There might be many dangers to come, but wasn’t opportunity found in danger?

He Yong was in quite a good mood as he turned over those thoughts. As for exposing himself... he’d done so for some very decent benefits. What was the harm in that, then? He didn’t hide himself so he could become weaker. If it would help him grow stronger, then he could expose himself.

......

Li Hao’s name was known throughout Skystar City by now. Demon Sword Li Hao!

......

Within the Ministry of Finance.

The smile dropped off of Minister Liu’s face. A cough sounded in his ears moments later.

“Ai! To think that... very well, it seems that this is to be our fate. Although I didn’t expect that this would be the result, we should’ve been ready for failure. This is just as well, we can lay low and bide our time for a while to come. Other than the business of collecting taxes, they can take anything they want from the ministry.”

“Father!” Minister Liu set his jaw. “Are we losing them all, just like that?”

“Where there are losses, there are gains. This may not be bad,” the old man’s voice sounded again. “With the situation as it is, Li Hao and that Silver Moon gang are in their peak. It is good that we have suffered such a heavy loss. Since the royal family has surfaced, let them fight! Other than the business of collecting tax revenue, we can lose the rest. All of the merchant companies with the Four Seas Company, the Colosseum, and the industries in Skystar City. Give them all up!

“If they continue to go after us, then relinquish the second rank ruins that we have.”

Minister Liu’s expression shifted drastically and he tamped down the shock in his heart. “Father, we’ve just temporarily lost the advantage,” he murmured. “It is indeed difficult to accept the death of two metamorphosis experts, but...”

He abruptly deflated as he thought more, then nodded. “Alright then, I understand! Li Hao is a guy who doesn’t play by the rules. The Ministry of Finance does need to lay low for a period of time to offset the effects of these events. Li Hao... doesn’t seem to have any scandals to his name yet. The nine ministries and the royal family certainly wouldn’t turn on each other...”

The minister smiled ruefully. No one typically publicized such deeds because there wasn’t a fully clean institution out there. Hence, no one would dare rip off the covers like this! Everyone was the same, but Li Hao dared take such action. If they exposed the Inspectorate’s scandals in order to strike back at him, that would be creating a laughingstock out of themselves.

Would Li Hao care about that?

Not at all!

The more that they threw out, the more excited he would become. One who watches the show loves it when it grows grander. There was nothing that one could pick at him since he’d just emerged on the scene. Just try finding a blemish on his record!

“Heh heh...” the minister suddenly sneered. “All of them just want to watch the show, but they fail to consider where Li Hao is from. He’s a barbarian from Silver Moon! They might be just spinning a cocoon around themselves since all of us have some shit beneath our asses!

“Father’s right, we’ll batten down the hatches for a bit since we’ve suffered such a great loss. I’d like to see what kind of waves Li Hao can raise!”

Alright then, they wanted a show, did they? And even the royal family wanted a piece of the action? Then, very well, let’s wait and see. Li Hao wasn’t a kind soul; everyone simply kept their eyes on Hou Xiaochen. Who knew if Li Hao would soundlessly advance to the metamorphosis level at some point?

Just wait! No one would be in for a good time if this continued.

The minister sneered again when he sensed that he had visitors. Were they all just so eager? This works, I need some time to stabilize my cultivation level, anyhow.

1. SG is interesting in that they refer to the ruler of the dynasty as an emperor, but the ruler’s title is that of a king. I’ve translated it faithfully without treating it as a mistake. ☜