Star Gate-Chapter 1079: Watercloud (II)

The two guardians of Battle Heaven were part of the conversation. After prolonged silence, the old turtle suddenly said, “Battle Heaven... can extract some energy from the world if you have need... We can help you delay the second awakening.

“You don’t necessarily have to march on the other main cities...” The old turtle looked at Li Hao.

The young man didn’t make a sound.

“It’s not just the issue of the second awakening!” Gan Wuliang had no choice but to refute. “It’s that the ancient cities are an unstable factor. The commander has repeatedly extended an olive branch—signing a simple agreement with the other ancient cities is the most lenient he can be!

“All of you know as well as I do that the ancient Human King was unrivaled when it came to being domineering. If he was present, our opponents would’ve been eradicated a long time ago!

“Those of New Martial are taking advantage of the commander’s kindness. He has given them incredibly favorable terms such as a promise to help open the Star Gate, his word to never invade the other party, and requesting no troops from our new allies—just armor... We even pay them in mysterious power stones for the equipment!

“They are unwilling to agree to even these terms! Seniors, you might think it inconsequential since you are of New Martial. But as a Silver Moon denizen and part of the Skystar Commander Office with ambitions to unify the world, does such a response really put us at ease?”

Was it simply a matter of absorbing energy from the surroundings?

No!

The key was that these ancient cities still refused to express their stance under such circumstances. That in itself was an indication of their attitude. By this point, a lack of partnership meant that the two sides were enemies!

Perhaps they were so self-assured that they felt there was no need to compromise with Li Hao since the second awakening was at hand. Or perhaps New Martial powerhouses didn’t think much of the request to declare their intent. Li Hao was just a junior, but to those of the Skystar Commander Office, this was a demonstration of strong enmity.

“As for what Guardian Turtle said, that Battle Heaven can help us absorb some energy...” Gan Wuliang paused before stating further, “This junior would like to ask a few questions.”

“Go ahead,” the old turtle said after some thought. This person might represent Li Hao’s intentions for the moment.

Emboldened, Gan Wuliang proposed, “After Battle Heaven fully awakens upon extracting energy, can the guardian promise to have Battle Heaven fight for us? Can you speak for those powerhouses that have yet to revitalize?”

The old turtle furrowed its brows.

“Can the facilities, machines, weaponry, and armor within the city be made available to us on an unlimited basis?” Gan Wuliang continued. “Will the plant spirit seniors within the city be willing to continuously provide Water of Life for us? Are you willing to direct the city into taking flight if we encounter opposing ancient cities?

“If the answer to all of that is no, then we might as well take the risk and conquer one of the ancient cities. We’ll call the shots ourselves then. That will also keep Battle Heaven out of a difficult position!” Gan Wuliang was the very picture of sincerity. “Battle Heaven is the best ally that the Skystar Commander Office has, but fingers should be pointed at us if we were the reason for Battle Heaven turning on the other ancient cities. It would also be an affront to the other seniors.

“Therefore, I think that this battle must be undertaken. Perhaps... those of us from Skystar should be the only ones in the field!”

Even Li Hao glanced sharply at him after this statement.

Gan Wuliang looked back at the young man, not knowing if he had guessed Li Hao’s thoughts correctly or if he was taking matters into his own hands at this point.

“Commander,” he said softly. “We shouldn’t trouble the seniors if we want to march on the ancient cities. They are countrymen of the same age. If we’re unable to determine whether our targets were the traitors, then we should handle this by ourselves!”

He did have some thoughts of his own. It might be nice to borrow some ancients and their strength when facing an ancient city, but it could easily give rise to other problems. It was better for them to do the deed themselves!

Of course, the level of difficulty and danger involved was far more than the imagination. Li Hao’s people could handle Immortals, but Saints were very difficult even for the young man. He might not be able to withstand his enemy!

Li Hao sank into deep thought.

“You guys? You won’t do!” The old turtle couldn’t help but interject. It spoke the truth, but the truth stung one’s pride. The rest of Li Hao’s people frowned, however, no one made a sound.

We won’t do? While there is indeed a difference between the strength of our two sides, hearing you put it like that makes it impossible to accept your assessment!

“It’s hard to move against the ancient cities, but the idea is not entirely without hope!” Director General Zhao laughed meaningfully. “Compared to the other factions in which we’ll face untold restrictions, we can at least give it our all in the ruins! Also, not all ancient cities have recovered by a lot.

“Commander...” The director general sighed when he looked at Li Hao. “You might as well throw caution to the wind if you are restricted at every turn when facing others. If you win, not only do you resolve part of the issues posed by the ancient cities, but you are also relieved of your limitations against the four nations!

“Conquering just one ancient city means that we are completely left to do what we want with the four nations. We can destroy their delusions of prompting the second awakening ahead of time and shatter all of their plans. We can fight for a period of development for Skystar!”

It was one thing if Li Hao hadn’t mentioned the idea. But since he had, some consideration showed the director general that it was actually a good idea!

It was just too dangerous—truly too dangerous for words. If they chose the wrong city in a moment of carelessness and accidentally picked the one of traitors, they would be dead without a doubt. That city had possessed ample reserves of energy all this time and their powerhouses maintained peak condition. The Skystar contingent would be obliterated as soon as they set foot inside!

There was a one-third chance of complete annihilation. Even if they chose correctly, they would be faced with a bitter battle with their backs against the wall!

“Commander, since we have no options ahead of us,” the quiet Lin Hongyu piped up. “We should throw everything we have at an ancient city if eradicating it will solve all of our problems! Breaking an ancient city will also break the threat of the four nations. The revival of the world will be entirely within our grasp. Since all of the ancient cities ardently wish for the second awakening to begin, then we will not grant them their heart’s desire!”

“That’s right, just keeping them in check like this isn’t a good long-term plan. We’ll only be able to passively strike back. We aren’t able to take the initiative!”

“If the commander had told us this earlier, we would’ve long gone to kick down their door and take their women!”

“......” Powerhouse after powerhouse expressed their stance on the matter. Since there was no way forward, they would... set everything aside and go at it with no-holds-barred!

It was only today that they learned that they could not eliminate the four nations. Yet, at the same time, no one could bear to sit by and watch their home being invaded. How could they stand to simply react passively each time, or not dare to at all and be hobbled in everything they did?

Li Hao looked at the various New Martial powerhouses and said slowly after a while, “Then this is our next battle target. We need to discuss this in more detail. Let’s visit the south first and make a decision after we see what is going on there.”

The group silently accepted the young man’s conclusion. Meanwhile, the New Martial powerhouses looked at each other with conflicted expressions. They wouldn’t have any second opinions if Li Hao’s group had the city of traitors in their sights. But now...

This wasn’t a good development from their point of view. But from Li Hao’s perspective, this might be the only way forward available.

Although the old turtle had said that Battle Heaven could help extract energy from the world if it came down to it, that meant the ancient city would offend all New Martial citizens. Everyone hoped for the second awakening to begin, but they would be the only ones who chose to absorb energy from the world and detract from its stability. What was that, if not fully erupting in hostilities with those of New Martial?

Everyone chose to remain silent.

......

The warship continued breaking through the air. It headed south, spending a lot of time threading through the void to travel from east to south. There was a combination of swampland and open waters at the end of the southern continent. It was very complicated terrain.

Watercloud Dynasty had already received word of its incoming visitor. When Li Hao’s warship emerged, it saw countless other ships in the vicinity. Straight ahead of them was a massive warship that seemed to have no end. It was as large as an island.

Watercloud Dynasty was known for its formidable navy. At the same time, it lacked the same self-assurance as the other three nations. It didn’t have desolate beasts, divine spirits, or a god of Initial Martial to call upon. It had nothing at all.

The Watercloud emperor was only a few years old. It was the Watercloud empress dowager who was in charge of the nation. Although she herself wasn’t that old, she exercised full control over the civil and martial officers within the nation’s borders. They obeyed her every word and marched on the central plains because she said so.

......

Aboard the massive warship.

A woman wearing a phoenix crown and a veil over her face stood in front of the warship. There was a mysterious air around her.

When Li Hao’s ship materialized, a tender female voice echoed on the wind, “Greetings and welcome to Commander Li. We have been remiss in our hospitality to our friends from far away.”

Li Hao didn’t reply. He walked down from his ship and through the air. Stellaris was strapped to his waist and he himself was dressed in a scholar’s robes. He seemed much more genteel and refined compared to normal.

The young man walked forward and looked at the enemy ship’s bow. There was a child approximately five years old standing next to the empress dowager. The child looked at Li Hao with some trepidation.

Officials of civil and martial subjects stood behind them. And of course, a black robe could be found as well.

Face covered by a veil, the empress dowager wasn’t the least bit nervous to see Li Hao.

“Will the commander treat us like Barren Dynasty and carpet bomb us as soon as our two sides meet?” she said in a mournful, tender voice. “That would be too wasteful and too tyrannical.

“It is not by choice that Watercloud Dynasty has sailed to the southern continent.” The empress dowager sighed softly before Li Hao had a chance to speak. “The world awakens and stabilizes by the day. Water attributed energy is vast and unending. Watercloud is a domain of water and some of our islands have already been destroyed by immense waves.

“Watercloud to the south is not suited for habitation any more. This humble one has no way out and has to call for a migration so that the hundreds of millions of my people may survive...”

There were numerous water attributed monster spirits circling in the waters below. Li Hao listened quietly to the empress dowager; he didn’t seem to find her words inappropriate in the slightest.

“Is the disaster serious?” was the only question he had in mind.

“It is very severe,” the empress dowager sighed after an initial jerk of surprise. “Most of the islands suited for living have already been overcome by towering waves.”

“How horrific,” Li Hao sighed. “When the people cannot live in peace and must find another way for survival, they are to be pitied! Everyone in the world leads hard lives. I can offer you this proposal—dismantle your military and replace their duties with labor. They can form infrastructure teams to build new homes for Watercloud while I create more islands within the four seas. When Watercloud citizens scatter for their new residences, they’ll be able to migrate to land, mountain, and sea!

“In addition, if you are able to seize an ancient city, you’ll be able to house several million. They are awake these days. If we are united in our efforts and seek to govern well, you’ll be able to quickly lift your people out of misery. We can jointly endure any hardship that is cast our way!”