Star Gate

The director general looked to the east again, his forehead scrunched together. The region was too far away. What a pity that the teleportation formations of the ancient civilization had long been lost. They would be able to instantly teleport over otherwise.

It was one thing if Li Hao was close to Silver Moon; the province couldn’t do much when he was in the east. Kong Jie, Huang Yu, and the others could go to him if he was nearby. Their hands were tied when the young man was so far away.

“The east… the east… Yu Qiao, East Pole Duke, Helios…” After some thought, Director General Zhao picked up the communicator again and dialed another number. The red communicator was a top secret in the dynasty. It’d taken a lot of labor, resources, and effort to create this communication system.

It was more advanced than a transmission pendant and only certain executive officials were qualified to be assigned one. While the likelihood of being eavesdropped upon was very high, the director general didn’t care about that at the moment. The transmission pendants operated within a small circle. Such a small circle was unable to connect to other people.

The communicator was answered moments later with confused laughter.

“Director General Zhao? What brings you to me today? What an honor!”

“East Pole Duke, how would the East Pole province like to mobilize its troops to threaten Calm Borders? You should at least force its Heaven and Earth Generals back within provincial borders…”

“Are you joking, director general?” chortled the lofty duke. “The dynasty still stands. Director General Zhao is such a jokester!”

“East Pole can establish a camp in Silver Moon when our ruins open next!”

The duke stopped laughing and fell into silence. “Too hard! I think it’s the end of the road for Demon Sword even if the two generals return to Calm Borders. You think too little of Xu Qing and the Xus! Xu Qing is now playing cat and mouse, he won’t make it out of the Xu net!”

“Just do your part.”

“Very well! But… this is the dynasty’s communication system…”

“Mhmm.” The director general smiled. “Will the dynasty keep us under constant watch? Our conversations are top secret and if they listen in… that means they don’t trust us at all. They should be worried about backlash from the ninety-nine provinces in that case. Therefore, this won’t leak. If it does, then something’s gone drastically wrong with the dynasty for even us to be monitored, don’t you think?”

“Hahaha, that makes sense!” laughed the duke. “Very well then, I’ll make the arrangements. But my hands are tied if Xu Qing thinks Li Hao is more important than Calm Borders.”

“It’s enough for you to take action.”

“Will do. Don’t forget your words now, director general.”

“We of Silver Moon would not do so.”

“Mmhmm, I trust you!”

The call was over and neither party cared if the central government had been listening. So what if they had? This was a development that they’d wholeheartedly approve of!

Director General Zhao breathed out a soft sigh. This was the best he could do. As for everything else… that was up to Li Hao.

……

Doggedly pursuing his quarry, Xu Qing suddenly frowned and glanced at his transmission pendant.

“The East Pole Duke announced three minutes ago that some rebels have seized power among the Steadfast Duke’s army and fired city annihilation missiles of their own accord. This has caused such an uproar in the east that the East Pole Duke will immediately send out troops to pacify the disturbance. He hopes that the Steadfast Duke will open the door of convenience for them to work together…”

“Bastard!” a livid Xu Qing roared angrily. How dare East Pole send troops out!

Of course, he may just be posturing and looking to scare a neighbor, but six out of Xu Qing’s eight generals were dead. His two vice commanders—his sons—were dead, and he was not with the army. He could direct them remotely, but if the East Pole army really came calling… The Steadfast army would absolutely be defeated.

Xu Qing gnashed his teeth and input orders through his pendant after a moment. No matter if it was an empty threat or not, powerhouses needed to be in residence at the army. His two generals needed to hold down the fort in person, so as to dissuade the East Pole Duke from doing anything.

“Silver Moon!” sniffed Xu Qing. It went without saying that it must be Silver Moon behind this. Someone had bought out the East Pole Duke—the guy wouldn’t have so easily taken a stand otherwise!

Dealing with these matters wasted a bit of time for him. Xu Qing snorted coldly and broke through the air, continuing to give chase. It didn’t matter if he was two people down. These happenings would just make people more wary of Silver Moon.

Just you wait, you Silver Moon bastards!

……

Over the North Sea.

Two figures sped past overhead. Their presences were so overwhelming that nearby powerhouses, pirate ships, and merchant vessels all backed away fearfully.

A wry expression crossed Hong Yitang’s face. Here he was again, it’d only been a few days! Last time it was Light Sword, this time it was Li Hao. Can’t you guys take a break for a while?

……

On the East Sea close to the central region.

Yuan Shuo grinned at the transmission pendant in his hand. “Nice!” So the duke had utilized city annihilation missiles, and more than one at that. The Xus were brutal, as was Xu Qing. Of course, there was a death feud between Li Hao and the Xus, so it made sense that the family had utilized the missiles when Li Hao kicked down their front doors.

Yuan Shuo wasn’t angry about this as city annihilation missiles weren’t that deadly to powerhouses. It was regular folks that the missiles were extremely effective against. Whether it was the government or the martial world, it went against the rules to utilize city annihilation missiles. However, there was nothing one could do if someone decided to ignore the rules.

Yuan Shuo smiled, not sure if he should stew in anger or laugh in this moment. He looked at the sea in front of him. The eastern continent could be found on the other side. There was a massive bridge rising in front of him—the East Sea Bridge.

Constructed by the eastern continent, it ran through the central region and eastern continents. It was where the sea was at its most narrow. Roughly one hundred and fifty kilometers long, this was an impossible mission to accomplish if the supernatural domain had not appeared in the world.

Since this was now an era of the supernatural, no miracle seemed out of reach, not with supernaturals on the scene. Of course, Yuan Shuo was long used to sights like these. What did this bridge count for?

The ancient records spoke of the ancient civilization crafting walls one thousand meters tall and circling part of the world!

“Little tyke… You really know how to get into trouble. What’d you have to go and visit their territory for?” grumbled Yuan Shuo. A short blade appeared in his hand, one that was somewhat translucent and crystalline. It was the stone blade of the eight families.

Yuan Shuo was not skilled with weapons, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know how to use them. On the contrary, he was much better at using weapons than some martial masters. The only ones he didn’t measure up to were premier powerhouses that specialized in a certain weapon. The stone blade was invincible, which made it useful.

He set foot onto the big bridge. There were troops in residence on both sides. The closest province on the central region side had set a watch and the Steadfast Duke’s troops were on the other side. Access to the bridge was limited. A powerhouse flew over as Yuan Shuo made his way upward.

“This bridge is not available for access! Take the waterways if you wish to go to the east!”

The bridge was built, but usage denied.

“It’s said that Xu Qing built this bridge to connect the central region and east region because East Shore province has sworn fealty to the Xus.” Genteel and refined, Yuan Shuo smiled at the incoming officer. “Is that true?”

“Who are you?!” rebuked the officer as his expression shifted slightly. Of course it was true. If it was false, Xu Qing would be crazy to invest so many resources into building a bridge that made it easier for the central region to invade.

Reality was the exact opposite, the duke had built the bridge to make his invasion of the central region more convenient. Naturally, it couldn’t be the enemy on the other side. It had to be someone in his own camp or a friend. The ruler of the East Shore that held true authority was a descendant of a general who once fought for the Xus. He’d been a follower of the first generation duke.

Yuan Shuo hadn’t cared about these matters before as they had nothing to do with him. But now, he smiled radiantly. “I’m going to walk this bridge today, so get out of the way. Since you don’t know me, your status probably isn’t too high. I’m going to make trouble for the Xus on the other side. I won’t kill you if you move, so don’t force my hand!”

The officer’s eyes widened. Anyone who could voice these thoughts would not be a typical character! He was wary, but the East Sea Bridge was a very strategically important connection. The key was that there was a little problem in the middle of the bridge at the moment. It wasn’t broken, but large sums of pirates were gathered. The bridge served as the boundary that they spread out from to chase Li Hao.

No one was allowed onto the bridge at this time. The officer quickly transmitted a message in all four directions and drew some movement from a distant military camp. Large numbers of supernaturals appeared.

“You have the East Sea separating you, but you still want to work for the Xus?” Yuan Shuo raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about!” rebuked the man. “Leave at once! This is important East Shore territory and we are currently conducting a military mission. No one is allowed to pass!”

“Military mission?” Yuan Shuo laughed and promptly vanished on the spot. A transmission pendant appeared in his hand.

All that the officer knew was that the trespasser vanished. When he next appeared, he was flipping through something. The officer immediately understood that something was amiss and roared, “Kill the bandit!”

Bam!

Guns fired and supernatural abilities deployed as his order was immediately answered. Yuan Shuo ignored all of it and vanished again while he looked at the pendant.

“The kid’s really in trouble this time,” he sighed. “East Shore has dispatched a military unit to seal off the sea…”

The information in the pendant was very simple. Seal off the East Sea Bridge and all shorelines within one hundred and fifty kilometers. Coordinate with the East Sea pirates. Report Demon Sword’s movements when he is found. Do not engage.

Plainly, this side had received word from the Xus as well. The province coordinated their movements with the East Sea pirates to seal off the waters. Calm Borders was on the other side. As fast as Li Hao may be, he was still within Calm Borders territory. If he was to cross the sea, this was where he would have to do it.

Yuan Shuo ceased speaking after he read the news. His stone blade sparkled as he disappeared again; heads thudded to the ground. As onlookers watched on with shock, Yuan Shuo darted around like an agile ape. He issued no threats or boastful words. His blade simply flashed in and out of sight, leaving no one alive on the bridge!

etvolare’s Thoughts

Seen in this light, the dynasty’s really done a poor job of securing their own territory.