Star Gate

“Very well, let’s stop here for now,” Hao Lianchuan concluded. “I’m going to see if Director Hou is out of seclusion. If so, you should meet him. If not, I’ll figure out a way to get your five thousand cubes. Oh right, the director means to convert your reward into the Nova level blood pearl. Do you agree to that?”

Li Hao raised a brow, but quickly nodded. “I do!”

He’d thought he could obtain that blood pearl for free... I guess that’s not possible anymore. It was fine. Trading his gains for a Nova level scarlet shadow was just as well. It was what he needed the most at the moment since it enhanced the entire body. That was just as good!

Scarlet shadows strengthened the physical body and internal force; his five organs were very strong now, but his body lagged a little behind. He was planning on collecting some thunder and wind mysterious power.

One major advantage of scarlet shadows was that they consumed exceedingly little sword energy to digest. They didn’t require large amounts of sword energy to extract their essence, much like mysterious power did. They could be digested even without sword energy.

“Then we leave it here for today. I’ve arranged accommodations for you—they’re right in front of my apartment. It’ll be easier to look out for you that way and it’s more convenient for me to appear with you. My presence won’t be suspicious!”

“Where do you live, director?”

“Not too far away, about five kilometers from headquarters. It’s very close. You’re a martial master, so it should take you much less than half an hour to cover the distance on foot!” freewebno vel.co m

Five kilometers was indeed not far. It was also a sufficient distance to draw attention and create openings for many. Otherwise, no one would dare move in on Li Hao if he stayed at headquarters all day.

......

Li Hao walked down alone after conversing with Hao Lianchuan for a while.

The first floor.

Wang Ming was surrounded with people listening to his tall tales. Everyone knew now that he was a Sunflare. He grinned at Li Hao’s reappearance. “You’re back! How is everything with Director Hao?”

“Nothing’s been arranged yet, we’re waiting for Director Hou to exit seclusion.” Li Hao smiled. “But Director Hao said that he’s arranged for me to live right across from him to make it easier to look out for me. Director Wang, do you know where that is?”

“I do!” Wang Ming nodded. “I’ve been there. It’s actually the Inspectorate’s family accommodations. All of us used to be part of the Inspectorate and that’s a nice place to live. It’s very safe.”

“Commissioner Inspector Li, are you related to Director Hao?” asked someone next to Wang Ming.

“No, but the director visited Silver City a few times and is on great terms with my master,” Li Hao chuckled. “So he keeps an eye on me as well. He’s simply making sure to take care of me now that I’m in a bit of trouble. Don’t misunderstand, everyone!

“I’m newly arrived here and don’t know anything about White Moon. I’ll take everyone out to dinner once I’m settled in!” The young man was exceedingly polite, warm, and had a very soothing smile.

“It should be us welcoming you instead! But that is indeed quite a journey, so we’ll arrange for that later!” The group was in congenial spirits. Almost everyone left at headquarters was of the Darkmoon level, there were very few Sunflares. Wang Ming counted as a heavyweight among them.

Darkmoon Night Watchers didn’t know much, but they knew that Li Hao was here at Director Hou’s request. The newcomer was also on good terms with Director Hao and close friends with the newly ascended Wang Ming...

And so, they were even more enthusiastic in their reception.

......

Li Hao and Wang Ming walked out of the lobby after a few more minutes of pleasantries. Hao Lianchuan ignored Li Hao after the initial meeting. The female guard was still present at the door and she hastily spoke up when she saw the young man, “Commissioner Inspector Li, I am...”

“My apologies,” Li Hao interrupted. “Director Hao said that I cannot communicate with anyone not of the Night Watcher system! I’m under partial custody, you see.”

He strode out of the building. He Yong was waiting outside as well, along with a few others. None of them dared draw closer.

“You don’t have to keep following me, Senior South!” Li Hao called from the front door. “Director Hao just told me that we’ll host a meeting for martial masters tomorrow. All half step Dominators and Dominators can attend! I’ll respond to everyone’s questions and concerns at that gathering. I’ll be forthcoming about my master’s affairs too, so long as it doesn’t infringe upon the secrets of the Five Styles!

“The Five Styles discipline also wishes for martial dao to be restored to glory! We will not jealously hoard the most insignificant scrap of knowledge and will share everything we can!

“Additionally, those who are not martial masters can submit their questions or concerns to the Night Watchers. If my superiors permit me to respond, I will respond!” Li Hao continued earnestly, “I’ve just arrived after a very long journey and haven’t had a bite to eat yet. I don’t even know where I’m sleeping, so please give me some time, seniors! I will be able to better answer your questions when I am settled in.”

Those beyond the front doors were no longer in a hurry after they heard the young man. They finally had a concrete time! freew ebnove l.com

“Is it only martial masters?” someone asked. “Little friend Li, some of us were forced to make the crossover many years ago and are no longer martial masters. However, there are martial masters among our disciples. If attendance is restricted to only martial masters, then we...”

A look of sympathy and pity spread over Li Hao’s face, but he quickly responded with embarrassment, “I... cannot make the decisions in this. Seniors, you can ask the Night Watchers. I have no opinion so long as they agree. I do not have the final say.”

He was quite resigned as he looked like he wanted to agree on the spot. When they saw his expression, the crowd felt that there was no need to make things more difficult for the young man. He was probably already in a slight panic at having to make the trip from Silver City to this enormous metropolis. They had to go to the Night Watchers for this matter; it was enough that Li Hao was willing to share certain things with them.

“Then I’ll be heading back.” Li Hao raised a cupped fist salute. “Seniors, I will see you tomorrow!”

Southern Fist He Yong looked closely at Li Hao and... scratched his head. Why did the kid feel a bit different?

Not by much, but there was the vague sense that the young man wasn’t as honest as he appeared to be. Li Hao was so pitiful with what he’d just said, yet he hadn’t been that way on the road to White Moon. Although such thoughts ran through He Yong’s head, he didn’t voice them aloud.

The crowd settled down patiently after learning that there would be a meeting tomorrow. It was very safe in White Moon City—Hou Xiaochen was here. Regular people didn’t dare cause trouble inside the city.

......

Moments later, Li Hao followed Wang Ming to the residential neighborhood.

Someone was following him!

Granted, they were keeping themselves hidden very well. The young man didn’t care either way—any supernatural that dared to follow him was a walking target. If martial masters followed him, Li Hao was of the mindset that there weren’t that many in the entire city that could fight him now. Only a few veteran seniors like Southern Fist, fortified with great instances of fortune, could stand a chance against Li Hao if they met in a fight.

With how much his organs were enhanced, he essentially counted as a Summoner with two auras. His only difference with his teacher was that he was weaker as his auras were weaker.

“Li Hao, did Director Hao say anything? Did you see Director Hou?”

“No.”

Wang Ming looked on with some regret. “Ah right, I’ll take you back first and then go home first myself. My home’s on the western side, we’re on the southern side. I haven’t been back since I broke through to Sunflare!”

He needed to go home and brag a little, as well as ask for some rewards. The mysterious power that his family had given him was for him to break through to Plenilune. He was a Sunflare now, so he should certainly go home to take a few more things from the family vaults.

“Come to my place a few days later and just stay with me!” Wang Ming chuckled. “My house is much bigger than the dorms.”

“Don’t speak of what you shouldn’t when you go back home,” Li Hao transmitted after he nodded. “Keep your big mouth shut!”

“......” Wang Ming blinked and glanced sharply at Li Hao. Transmission? That was the purview of Solars or experienced Dominators, but his colleague had just broken through!

What the heck, has Li Hao gotten stronger?

No change in expression took place on Li Hao’s face, but man it felt good to utilize transmission. He’d realized the skill was available to him after his organs took in one thousand cubes each. It was just a task of controlling the reverberations of some sound waves. It wasn’t complicated, but required a high degree of mastery over internal force. Otherwise, whatever was transmitted would easily be leaked.

It was why one could do it only as a Solar or Dominator. Regular Dominators did not have such a rich base of internal force.

Wang Ming didn’t say anything. He wasn’t a fool, he knew what he couldn’t speak of. Zhang Ting’s death, for instance, wasn’t something he could bring up.

Li Hao continued observing the environment around them as they walked. He was too unfamiliar with the provincial capital as this was his first visit. The Night Watcher headquarters was situated beside some older and smaller neighborhoods with tangled streets. The southern quadrant was an older part of town and lacked towering buildings. More traces of modernity could be seen in the other quadrants.

The Night Watchers had been formed too late, so all the better locales were claimed by the other agencies by the time they needed an office building.

......

At the same time.

News of the Night Watcher meeting tomorrow swiftly traveled upon the wind. When it was confirmed that powerful martial masters could participate, many who walked the path of martial dao agitated with excitement. How desperately they yearned for the way to rise to Summoner of Spirit!

At the same time.

The eastern quadrant of White Moon City, the penthouse of an exceedingly tall hotel.

There were only five people in a presidential suite replete with an opulent living room, dining room, kitchen, and dance hall. They were gathered in the receiving room—four men, one woman.

Other than green-haired Yu Xiao, one of the remaining three men was a young man with short hair—Hu Qingfeng. He was the leader of the five person team.

“Hao Lianchuan has sent word,” Yu Xiao took the lead on debriefing since he was the weakest out of the group. “Li Hao can meet us after the martial master meeting tomorrow. However, he wishes for us to go to the southern quadrant. It’s Li Hao’s first time in the city and he’s having trouble adjusting to a new environment.”

They would rather avoid the southern quadrant if possible—that was Hou Xiaochen’s territory. In contrast, the eastern quadrant was where the provincial government was headquartered. Hou Xiaochen would not come here under normal circumstances.

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