Star Gate

Chapter 263: Reawakening (IV)

Although flabbergasted, the group came back to their senses. The soldiers were gone, they weren’t alive, they were just ancients!

In fact, they weren’t even ancients. They were characters outside the records of history, hailing from a civilization before the dawn of written time.

They weren’t living, so what the expedition needed to consider now was that the sword was gone. The potential key to the gates had self-destructed in the void along with the final blow from the Silver Armor. How were they to access the inner city now? Were those who’d taken the second passageway able to fly right over the walls, and those who hadn’t just out of luck?

Excitement gleamed in Violet Moon’s eyes. The stronger that army was, the more agitated she became. This indicated that there was treasure inside the city, and incomparably precious treasure. How could an ancient city that harbored such an army not have any treasure in its vaults?

And, she could fly!

Hong Yitang could also fly, but was he a match for her?

People surrounded her as her thoughts ran wild—Hu Dingfang, the Revolution King, and Ding Cheng! Meanwhile, Hao Lianchuan and Kong Qi silently closed in on Hong Yitang. They put the Silver Armor out of mind as they’d realized that the city gates could not be opened. In that case, these guys that could fly would not be permitted to be first into the city!

What if they activated some traps or mechanisms in the city that caused the death of the rest? Who knew??

“Don’t be like this!” Hong Yitang poured out his grievances. “My wife and daughter are here. How would I leave them behind?”

What were these guys staring at him for??

Violet Moon scanned the people around her with a disquieting look. Both the Revolution King and Hu Dingfang were very strong; they matched her. And since Ding Chen could lead the Celestial delegation, that meant he was no slouch either.

The three stared intently at her, she would suffer their combined wrath if she dared fly over!

The situation had swiftly turned on its head. The Night Watchers and powerhouses that hadn’t taken the second passageway surrounded those who had. No one was going in!

There were plenty of survivors from the second passage, particularly from Red Moon. They’d sent the most members in. There were also those from Yama, but the expedition team was less worried since their leader hadn’t gone inside. The only one to worry about was Red Moon.

That organization’s survivors groaned inwardly! There weren’t that many of them—the Night Watchers were the biggest delegation left, but none of them had braved the ancient house.

“There’s no need for this...” Violet Moon took a deep breath. “We took our fair share of risk when we tried the second passageway. If this isn’t to your liking, all of you can try that path as well!”

“We can!” the Revolution King responded calmly. “But you’ll come out of the city with us and walk it again as well...”

“Piss off!” Violet Moon snorted. “Who do you think you are, Revolution? On what basis do you have the right to demand that?”

She’d almost died last time, and now they wanted her to try again? Was she crazy or them? In that case, she might as well throw caution to the wind. She might be able to make a getaway if she launched herself over the walls and entered the city directly.

“You don’t have to go in...” The Revolution King frowned. “But you can’t enter the inner city by yourself!”

“And what do you want?” Violet Moon demanded coldly.

The Revolution King looked at Hong Yitang instead of answering. “How tall is the pagoda inside the city?”

“Roughly... one hundred meters? It’s about the same height as the walls.”

The group sank into deep thought. That meant they did all have to try the second passageway if they wanted a chance at the treasure. Otherwise, were they to watch others take the treasure from right beneath their nose since they couldn’t fly?

“Is there a flight restriction inside the city?”

No one could answer that question. It was best if there wasn’t, but if there was... they had to take the second passageway.

“Why don’t we send someone in first and have them open the gates...” Ding Chen raised.

Who? Violet Moon and her organization were out of the question; only weaklings were permitted inside so that treasure couldn’t be claimed. No matter how many valuables existed inside the city, one would find it difficult to retain their gains if they lacked sufficient strength to.

......

A loud hubbub rose as the group argued. Li Hao ignored them and refrained from pressuring the powerhouses that could fly. He was still looking up at the sky, the Silver Armor’s words echoing in his ears and his mind replaying their last scene of rushing to the firmament with their swords upraised.

What the young man had witnessed completely overwhelmed him! He’d never experienced such sensations before in his limited life—this kind of unbounded faith and supreme confidence. The soldiers’ resolution did not waver even in the face of despair. They firmly believed that they would win!

They believed that their king and their emperor would return. They would not be abandoned! They believed that the enemy could be overcome, that no matter how negligible their attack was, they wished to demonstrate their might to the enemy. The human race was not to be insulted!

“The Incantation of the Blade of Blood...” Li Hao murmured. He seemed to understand why such a method existed in the ancient civilization, why they’d invented a secret art that took the enemy down with the wielder.

These powerhouses did not care about their own survival when they marched on the heavens. They only cared if they could cut down the enemy.

What kind of person, item, or goal was it that inspired such commitment from you? They couldn’t even be bothered to cleanse their city of intruders, even when the intruders trespassed on their homes. Their initial fury was because someone had the temerity to run afoul of them, but that dwindled away to indifference. When the Silver Armor looked at them, it’d felt that there was something different in his gaze—particularly when he looked at Li Hao’s group.

Gratification? Happiness? Or something else?

It was hard for the young man to judge, but he knew that the soldier had set aside his killing intent. That final blow before his death might not have been able to exterminate the entire delegation, but killing a few Solars was absolutely within his grasp.

Was it because we’re also humans? So it’s a race thing?

It was Li Hao’s first time experiencing such interesting emotions. So it turned out he evoked appreciation and pity by virtue of being human, and even offered comfort!

But there were humans everywhere beneath the heavens. Humans killing humans was the mainstream. Who did they kill, if not humans?

“The path of energy, martial dao...” Li Hao’s thoughts wandered off. Faith!

He knew what he lacked compared to the veteran martial masters and the soldiers that marched on the heavens. Faith! They have it, what about me? Who does my sword fight for? Why does my sword kill? Is it for survival?

Thoughts ran quickly through his mind and caused his emotions to swell. Perhaps he was finally embarking on the true path of martial masters—martial dao!

He hadn’t understood before, he really hadn’t. There weren’t any treasures involved in the scene that he’d witnessed and there wasn’t anything else to gain. He simply witnessed the final sword stroke from the soldiers, but it seemed more thrilling than the breakthrough to Dominator. The treasures inside the city and defensive origin weapon... Those were all external objects!

A martial master’s strength came from the self. Martial dao’s strength derived from invincibility!

Of course, he wavered a little at the last second. You guys can give me all of those treasures...

......

The uproar beside the young man continued as he contemplated the meaning of life. Li Hao tilted his head for a look. The Solars were still conflicted over who should enter first and if they should try the second passageway.

“With how the situation is, let’s all go through the second passageway. But we won’t force anyone. I propose that Revolution, Hu Dingfang, and Ding Chen should try. The rest can go without!”

Why these three?

It was tough for one person from the Night Watchers, Yama, and Celestial to enjoy such immunity in the city. The Sword Sect and Red Moon already had their people. To put it bluntly, the Night Watchers and Celestial would still have Solars overseeing the situation even if all three died. The premises wouldn’t dissolve into complete chaos.

Hu Dingfang didn’t protest the arrangement. He was indeed more suited to take the passageway. Being a martial master to begin with, he was stronger and didn’t carry an origin weapon. He knew that the Flaming Phoenix Spear was with Hao Lianchuan. If Hao Lianchuan died in there, the origin weapon might be lost, never to be recovered.

The Revolution King had to make the attempt since he wanted the treasure. It only affected him if he survived or not. The remaining three Yama Sunflares were on their own.

“Swordmaster Hong, it is difficult for you to vie with Violet Moon since you are less than her.” Hao Lianchuan looked at Hong Yitang. “Why don’t you and your wife, the Celestial powerhouse, and I jointly restrain Violet Moon until the others return?”

Hong Yitang nodded, he had no objection. It was too dangerous to enter the city alone with Violet Moon. It was one thing to fish in troubled waters, but it was too risky if he was to fight this woman alone.

The rest had no further opinions when they discussed the arrangements. Even the Revolution King was very confident. Although Yao Cheng had died inside, Violet Moon and Hong Yitang had made it out. While Violet Moon suffered further injuries, her Armor of the Thunder God had been damaged before this. He held more of an advantage compared to her.

Hao Lianchuan glanced at the Night Watchers, then at the powerhouses of the various factions. “I recommend the rest of you to leave at midnight tonight! I think it will be very dangerous for you to continue remaining in the ruins!” He turned back to the Night Watchers before anyone had time to say anything. “Ole Zhou, leave with a portion of people and take the Black Armors back. I won’t force anyone to leave or stay, I can’t rob you of your opportunities, after all! Perhaps your fortune awaits inside the city. I won’t stop anyone from taking the second passageway either, just that everyone needs to responsible for their own life!”

He didn’t make a unilateral decision since all supernaturals dreamed of ascending to the heavens with one step. They wished to obtain that ultimate treasure and become an unparalleled powerhouse—the Night Watchers were no exception!

Staying behind meant being prepared to die.

The crowd rustled as people weighed up the decision. Did they leave, or did they stay?

Li Hao looked at Liu Yan and Liu Long. The team captain frowned and looked back at the young man.

“I won’t be leaving,” Li Hao said softly. “I might be in a world of trouble if I leave now. I’ll go when General Hu and Director Hao leave. They’re two Solars, at the very least.”

Who knew how many people waited for him outside if he left now? Not to mention... he didn’t want to leave. He had some thoughts about the treasure, but not much. He wanted to study the two characters more after everyone entered the city.

In his eyes, the writing was far better than any treasure, so he was ready with his excuses.