Star Gate

"Vice Head Qi!" Li Hao called out. The vice head quickly drifted in, having been on standby. "You have the key to the sky canopies, don't you?"

"I do," the man nodded. He was independent of any faction and enjoyed quite the carefree life these days. Having completed the sky canopy system for Li Hao, he now studied various herbs and medicinal ingredients. Vice Head Qi's next goal was to open a pill research center.

All cultivators in the world required resources for training, resulting in a shortage. At the same time, there was no corresponding scarcity in herbs.

New Martial had also been an age that lacked cultivation resources. Herbs had been employed then to replace some energy consumption. They were able to be deployed to greater purpose once they were nurtured by the world. They helped the cultivator expend less energy.

The research center had been developing pills in recent times that were just now undergoing trials. Once they were deemed a success, they would be quickly rolled out elsewhere. It would bring in some income for the cash-strapped dynasty.

"Are things going well with the pills?" Li Hao asked.

"Everything is well," the vice head nodded. "We aren't experimenting from scratch—just modifying the foundations established in New Martial. There's not much difficulty in that!"

"The Lu Zhen Research Center focused on eight research topics," the young man continued. "I remember there was one of mental resonance. It had to do with frequencies, right?"

"Correct."

"Everyone's mental strength resonates at a different frequency, but the people's hearts are the same. When the people cultivate the same dao, they ultimately unify these frequencies and resonate with each other. Have you guys ever researched this?"

"We have!" The vice head nodded emphatically. "Many years ago, when the Human King and Supreme Zhang both received the blessings of the people. Therefore, we have some knowledge in this area. The formations used by our armies also make use of this research to combine their blood qi as one!

"The sets of armor used in the field also contain mini-formations to facilitate resonance between individual frequencies. Otherwise, how can soldiers with differing methods fight together as one and even combine their strength?"

Li Hao nodded thoughtfully, that made sense. Formations were a type of resonance. Armed with this new understanding, he asked, "Therefore, whether it is ten thousand people or even more, they can ultimately be adjusted to one frequency, is that right?"

"If we endlessly extrapolate from that theory... that is correct. However, the more people there are, the harder that frequency is to determine!" Sometimes Vice Head Qi's words didn't make the most sense, but Li Hao understood what the man was saying.

"Then if they are of the same attribute and same dao meridian, will it be easier to adjust their frequencies even if more resonate at the same time?"

"Certainly, that will always be the case for those of the same origin. But it will require massive coordination. One hundred, one thousand, even ten thousand people will be easy to adjust, but one million is quite difficult!

"Armies of the main cities were typically limited to one million because of this. Once we exceed one million, it's very hard to standardize frequencies even if strict, exact orders were given.

"The largest army in the New Martial main world was also capped at one million, no more! Everything grew too hard to control after one million. In fact, battle strength started declining above that!"

One million at most?

"Then what if I want one hundred million, one billion, or two billion people to harmonize together?" Li Hao raised an eyebrow.

"......" The vice head gaped. "That would be as hard as ascending the heavens! The difficulty wouldn't just be in giving orders, but also with the leader! They would be similar to the commander-in-chief of an army—will you be able to grasp the proper timing of a situation like that? Can you exercise the appropriate control? It would be very, very hard!

"Granted, the human emperor dao would be able to accomplish such a task. Back in New Martial, several billion people matched their frequencies one time to create the human emperor dao!"

Li Hao nodded and thought for a moment before asking, "Vice Head Qi, can we set up some equipment with the sky canopies to help people resonate with each other more easily?"

"Well..." The man looked at Li Hao and thought through the theory. "That wouldn't be hard to do."

"Wouldnot?"repeated a surprised Li Hao.

"Would not," Vice Head Qi chuckled. "Didn't I say earlier that the suits of armor are equipped with this functionality? The stronger the level of armor, the greater this capability. How would they gather blood qi otherwise? A set of gold armor can easily complete this task. But... does my lord wish to blanket the entire world with your coverage?"

"Correct."

"Then you'll need many suits of armor. Well, you don't need the whole armor, just some of the components. Silver armor will do as well, we'd just need some time to modify them..."

"How much time?"

"About a month."

"Too long!" Li Hao shook his head.

"It will take a long time if I do it alone," responded the vice head after some thought. "But if there are powerhouses helping me, the work will go by quickly. However, Saints are unable to walk through the world at present. If multiple Immortals help me, that should get the work done very quickly!"

"How long will it take?"

"Seven days will do."

"Then have someone help you. Go to Martial Uncle Hong and the Demon Hunter Army." Li Hao nodded.

"Very well." Vice Head Qi didn't ask further. He had some hunches in mind that veered toward the dao of the people, so he didn't think about it further. Did Li Hao intend to pursue an enhancement of when he called on the people's heart?

Possibly.

"Give me the key to the sky canopies."

Vice Head Qi handed over a small mirror without further word. The sky canopies were imitations of the Sky Gander. This small mirror was a modification of the imitation that the Wind and Cloud Pavilion had created.

Li Hao had seized it from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion a while ago, but shelved it after he found that he couldn't put it to good use. After some thought, he suddenly branded a character into the mirror—Hao!

When he extended his mental strength into it, he could sense countless tiny dots of light—sky canopies that were scattered throughout the world.

"I need to make an announcement and won't be visiting the rest before that. When you leave, tell the others that I'm going into closed door cultivation for a while. I'm taking the mirror with me—it will be the Hao Cosmos Medallion in the future! Whoever bears it is to be treated as if I have arrived in person!"

Vice Head Qi was confused, but he nodded without further thought. "Very well, I understand."

What announcement was Li Hao going to make? The young man seemed to have undergone long contemplation after arriving at this spot today. The vice head didn't know what needed to be further explained at this stage. What had required so much thought? Li Hao hadn't taken so much care even when he moved against the half step emperor.

Li Hao activated the imitation from the Wind and Cloud Pavilion after a moment of silence.

......

Mirrors suddenly floated into the air throughout the land, so many that they blotted out the sun. Other than the newly migrated Barren citizens, Skystar citizens were used to the sight. Typically, the Skystar Commander Office utilized the sky canopies to convey major announcements.

"Are we relocating cities again?" someone called out excitedly as soon as they saw the mirrors. There'd been a live stream last time Li Hao carried massive cities on his back. It was then that everyone was greeted with a display of their marquis' might. Some of them had even appeared on the sky canopies!

Not much interesting gossip took place these days, so the sky canopies instantly grabbed everyone's attention. Almost all of the major gathering points had a sky canopy hovering over it. There were even miniature sky canopies in some of the residences of the senior executives.

No matter who it was, all faces were turned to the screens to await this time's news. Li Hao's figure appeared the next second, throwing everyone into excitement.

The Silver Moon Marquis!

The adoration and faith of hundreds of millions swelled to cross a threshold. If it wasn't for Li Hao not erecting a temple in his honor, there might already be offerings and prayers being sent to him.

And thus a new divine spirit would be born.

In reality, there were people worshipping him in private. He was no different from the divine spirits to some—and even stronger! He was a true god!

"I am Li Hao!"

It was the same opener as usual. The young man was a genteel, refined, and composed as ever.

"Citizens of Skystar, I should not be taking up your time like this because what I have to say next might not have anything to do with you..."

That piqued everyone's interest level. What might Li Hao reveal this time?

......

Skystar City.

Residents were watching the sky canopies with curiosity. Had something major happened in the last two days? Why was Li Hao activating the sky canopies?

"I speak of a private matter, but it is also a public one." The young man smiled. "The world has awakened within the Hao Cosmos Continent and only Great Li remains independent outside of the four nations.

"However, strong enemies still lurk in the shadows! They are not just within our world, but outside of it as well. I killed several dozen Fused Dao cultivators two days ago—those were the strong enemies that had come knocking on our doors!

"I suffered grave injuries in that battle and need to enter closed door cultivation to recover."

Looks of anxiety crossed faces. The marquis was injured? He'd killed dozens of Fused Dao? Heavens above! Where did so many Fused Dao come from??

"The heritage of martial dao runs for countless years. These strong enemies all hail from one hundred thousand years ago, when they betrayed New Martial. They are the traitors of the last age of glory! They've cultivated for one hundred thousand years, so of course they are very strong. But that's not important, I'll take care of them!

"Energy exploded through the world two days ago because I killed all of those Fused Dao. They'll be eradicated sooner or later, which means our cultivation resources will only increase. I'm actually worried that there might be too few of them! I need to kill enough of them for us to cultivate!"

The worried general population settled down again. That was true. The marquis was invincible and had swept through all enemies in his path. He'd taken out the nine ministries and three great organizations when he was far weaker. No matter how strong the enemy, they weren't worth much in the end.

"But this time, I need to enter seclusion for a while. I don't know how long it'll take because I need to grow stronger so I can better protect everyone!

"Before that, I need to do one thing..." The young man fell silent before suddenly smiling. "Everyone knows Commander Lin Hongyu, correct? She was the lady who's often appeared on the screens lately..."

Crowds blinked with confusion as a low murmur of conversation started. Of course they knew her. Lin Hongyu appeared far more frequently than Li Hao did, but why was she being mentioned now?

"Lin Hongyu currently serves as the Skystar commander and used to be the city lord of the City of Supernaturals. She once convinced one million supernaturals to join the Hao Cosmos Continent. That was a great contribution to the peaceful unification of Skystar Dynasty!"