Star Gate

Lin Hongyu looked over those who'd stepped forward. There was a good collection of almost one hundred students. Evenround Martial University had quite a few students—almost four hundred. Many wanted to stay and wait for Zhang An.

Lin Hongyu didn't mind. This was enough! Almost one hundred students who were nearly all Sun and Moon was quite enough. If all of the divine spirits had departed from Divine Nation, then there was nothing to be concerned about for this expedition.

If they'd left one Saint behind, then with all these puppets present and herself at seventh level Sun and Moon, they may not come off worse for the wear even if they couldn't kill the Saint.

"I'll have to ask everyone to put themselves through some discomfort. We are too conspicuous in these numbers. Please compress yourselves to enter the earth driller. We can depart together."

The students didn't say anything; their leader was another robot cat. It was someone Lin Hongyu was familiar with.

"Senor Li!" she called out.

The robot cat turned to look at her.

"Is the senior... coming with us?" Lin Hongyu asked politely. She'd met this one a long time ago; she'd first come out into the world with Jiang Yingli. Jiang Yingli later chose to join Li Hao's side, whereas this one was yet to make a decision. What had prompted her to do so today?

"I wish to clean out the remnants of evil!" Li Shengzhang responded after a while. "The Zhengs, Zhous, and Lius are all from Tranquil Star. I didn't know that they were the traitors before. Now that we do, teacher has not taken any action as of yet. I don't know what he's thinking, but to me, these people have tarnished the name of Tranquil Star!

"Tranquil Star is not a place of traitors. It is a sacred land of New Martial and a strong pillar of the civilization! Many powerhouses have come from it, including the Shen and Chen exalted emperors who established New Martial!

"There are also families that safeguarded the human race for countless eons, as well as the forefather of the Lis that founded the world—my ancestor! Tranquil Star is a sacred land, a place of honor. It is not the home of traitors in the eyes of Silver Moon denizens!"

She hadn't considered joining Li Hao's side before, but three Tranquil Star families had turned traitor! This was a torment and humiliation for someone from Tranquil Star. Thus, she decided not to wait for her teacher anymore.

"The marquis believes the same and also understands that these people do not represent Tranquil Star!" Lin Hongyu nodded and didn't say anything else. She led the group into the earth driller. It promptly vanished when it activated, leaving behind a group of students with complicated looks on their faces.

Another batch of people had left. These old classmates were all going their separate ways.

The students were quiet for a while before a figure suddenly appeared in front of them. Many of them reacted with agitation.

"Teacher!"

"You're back!"

Zhang An looked around and saw that a lot of students were missing—they'd probably left with Li Hao's people. He didn't say anything and looked at those left. "Are you still willing to come with me?"

"We are!" many quickly responded.

"Teacher, we hear that you've already recruited a group of New Martial powerhouses," some couldn't help themselves. "Why haven't you gone on the offensive yet and eliminated the traitorous factions? Even if you can't kill Zheng Yu, the Zhengs have sent Saints into the world. You should be hunting them down!"

"Don't worry, it's simply a matter of time," said Zhang An. "Let's set this aside for now. Since you are willing to come with me, let us depart together! I am afraid upheaval will rock the world in the days to come. A clear resolution might be upon Silver Moon soon. I will help you recover bodies of New Martial. Let us go!"

He waved a large book into being. It was as massive as a warship; students filed into it. When Zhang An closed it shut, he looked around. There was no one left in the Tranquil Star ruins anymore!

He'd once spent some time here. Taking a final look around, he quickly walked out of the ruins. When he emerged, he looked toward the east. Winds rose and clouds surged over the entire eastern territory. A thunderstorm seemed about to descend.

"The Barren wasteland... Is that the strength of a domain?"

Li Hao's plans might not be enough. His opponents were incredibly fearsome.

Zhang An looked at the sky again, seeing a bright moon setting in the east.Are they there?Even if they were, they wouldn't be able to emerge in the immediate future.

Zhang An disappeared, but not in the eastern direction. Since Li Hao had set foot on his proposed course of action, then he could resolve his issues on his own. Zhang An was headed north.

Zheng Yu was certain to take note of the enormous disturbance that Li Hao was creating. The man's primary body resided in Galewind, which left Star River holding his replica at most.

Figures floated up over the pages of the book. Zhang An's voice sounded within them; the book was as if a world. The group resting within was not subject to the limitations of the world outside.

"We will take down Star River and eliminate the Zhous first! After that, we'll enter the seal. It will be a very dangerous undertaking. Anyone afraid can withdraw now and join Li Hao's side..."

"Who's afraid? New Martial is never afraid! What are we afraid of when the dean is perfectly willing? Dean Zhang has a noble background—we are sure to work with you to resolve our problems. New Martial handles its own issues!" someone quickly responded.

"It's impossible for us to kill an exalted emperor," Zhang An smiled. "But we do stand a chance of seizing the moon in the sky. Sword City is inside the seal as well and should be completely empty. We will take Sword City, Star River, and the moon. Only then do we have a hope of becoming the fourth faction of the world!"

By the moon, he meant the primary body of the Moon God!

"We obey the dean's orders!" shouted the group within the book.

Zhang An disappeared without further word. This was a very rare opportunity! He could take advantage of this opening to seize Star River and drive it into the seal. That would provide quite a shock or two for Zheng Yu.

......

While all sides plotted, heavenly will gathered in the skies over the Barren wasteland. Thunder roared and lightning crackled, ready to descend upon the wasteland at any second to annihilate the will of chaos.

Li Hao watched on gravely. His success or failure all hinged on this one move. He tilted his head to the north and looked at the sky again, suddenly flashing a smile.Will you guys... be sending anyone?

Silver Moon belongs to Silver Moon in the end!

"Be ready, Panth!" Li Hao shouted and transmitted general readiness. The sword of heaven overhead abruptly shot forward, hurtling toward the white horse in the middle of the wasteland. "Eliminate the chaos, unify Silver Moon, the heavenly will cannot be defied!" Li Hao's voice rang in the four directions. "Kill!"

BOOM!

The heavenly will churned in all directions. Clouds billowed as infinite quantities of energy swept over, filling the void over Barren.

The heavenly will transformed into a longsword and stabbed at the white horse!

The crack in Li Hao's personal domain started to close. All of the young man's dao meridians materialized, as did his supernatural characters. The 'dao' character hung in the void—he was going to seal off the Barren wasteland!

Rumble!

An incredible force of the world erupted from the white horse as chaos swept in all directions. Howls and roars rang in the four corners.

The heavenly will and will of chaos clashed with each other! Thunder and lightning roared!

The entire world trembled and countless people shuddered in fear, awaiting their doom.

......

The heavenly will rushed its enemy and the white horse screamed back a challenge. It transformed into a monstrous beast that shook the world with its roars at the longsword.

BAM!

The two wills collided, detonating a massive energy ripple through the wasteland. It was then that Li Hao closed the final crack in his domain.

The heavenly will seemed to sense something, but it was too late. The white horse whinnied shrilly as a black dog appeared to devour the world. It was also in a mammoth size as it bit down on the longsword!

The white horse and black dog jointly fought the heavenly will. It was then that the heavenly will realized it seemed to have fallen into a trap. It roared with thunder and crashed lightning bolts through the air.

A sword of thunder split the world. In the distance, the Great Li king's face slackened and his consciousness grew hazy. He punched at Panther.

In return, the golden-armored Princess Jun howled and flourished her spear, stabbing it at the king!

The two seemed to have lost their consciousnesses and were being manipulated by the two wills. Their battle strength skyrocketed.

BOOM!

Spear met fist, shaking the land. Countless supernatural characters appeared, wanting to rip through the world. The redwood quickly deepened its roots in response, stabilizing the world. Everyone else was already in position around the four corners, sealing off the world.

Everything had been prepared in advance. Li Hao shook slightly from the effort of stabilizing the personal domain that enclosed the entire Barren wasteland. The battle between the two wills was making it vibrate incessantly. At the same time, thunder and lightning roiled near him. Heavenly will appeared—a new batch that had not been present before.

Not only that, but more heavenly will seemed to ignite in the distance and gather swiftly in the Barren direction.

A massive sword hung over the entire planet, ready to smash into the wasteland!

Li Hao's eyes darted around. Did he stop it or not?

If he did, he would be offending the heavenly will. If he didn't and the Barren wasteland crumbled away, then all of his scheming would have been for naught.

The young man came to a decision. Cities hovered in the four directions, shaking violently and devouring ambient energy. Winds howled and clouds churned, once more rocking the heavenly will.

It was forced to dispatch part of it to keep the world in order. However, most of it was still gathered with Li Hao.

The young man's expression twitched as a longsword appeared in his hand. He shot for the firmament!

......

"He's made a move!" sighed the man with a sword on his back as he watched from the moon. Once Li Hao made a move... he would be establishing a feud with the heavenly will.

It looked like Li Hao didn't choose to mutely endure the blow in the end—that's what the man had thought he would do. He'd thought that Li Hao would choose to let the blow descend upon the wasteland and not strike back, or think of a way to hoodwink the heavenly will.

But as it turned out, Li Hao did not do so and hadn't seemed to ever think of doing so.

He really did want to be enemies with the heavenly will.

This was good news for the man, but a Li Hao like this... seemed to lack a touch of intelligence and possessed a hint more of valor. Was that worthy of celebration or disappointment?