Star Gate

"The Earthturner Sword method encompasses all things!" Lin Hongyu said in response to Hong Yitang's puzzled look. "Martial Uncle Hong neither fights for yourself nor takes from others, instead devoting yourself to being a proponent of education. You are extremely worthy of respect!

"Your sword supernatural character contains the same impressive bearing as the marquis' dao character. The marquis is dealing with difficult problems at the moment and might need to modify the true meaning of martial uncle's sword dao. This is so that sword dao can be integrated into the mishmash of other daos, so that it can devour the strength of a myriad other daos. Is Martial Uncle Hong... willing to give this a try?"

"Will I end up in a similar state as you?" Hong Yitang's eyebrows rose and he took a closer look at Lin Hongyu.

"Yes."

"Is this your idea or Li Hao's idea?" Hong Yitang thought for a moment.

"Mine," Lin Hongyu explained. "It'll be very dangerous! I know what the marquis is thinking, that the martial uncle's sword intent will no longer be as pure. He is also concerned that an accident might occur.

"This is an experiment, so it's not safe. To put it bluntly, he's having me go first because he can accept it if I die! But if something happens to Martial Uncle Hong... there aren't many left of those who originally walked out of Silver Moon province with him.

"The closest to him were Professor Yuan, Commander Liu Long, Director Hou, Secretary Yu, Senior Southern Fist, and Martial Uncle Hong!" Lin Hongyu seemed to have gained a true understanding of Li Hao and said softly, "He has not been close with Martial Uncle Hong recently because he is worried... that the last person dear to him will die as well!

"He presents a facade of having no ties left in the world so that enemies cannot threaten him with anyone. Now that he's pushed me to the forefront, he will only be proud if someone uses me against him. I will not result in any pressure on him!

"But if someone uses Martial Uncle Hong against him... he would be caught in a very awkward state."

Hong Yitang listened quietly, taking a quick glance at Lin Hongyu. This woman was entirely too smart and quick-witted. What she said was true!

He also felt that this woman was terrifying. Gan Wuliang only read a person's heart through their emotions, he didn't truly understand that person's heart. But this woman, she'd really seen through Li Hao.

There hadn't been that many who took care of Li Hao when he was weak. Earthturner Sword had fought for him again and again. The first time was at Battle Heaven, then monster spirits in Ash Mountain, a second time at Battle Heaven, then bringing the Sword Sect in full support of establishing the Demon Hunter Army, and now overseeing education efforts in the world...

Then there were also the battles of the North Sea and Skystar Sea...

Earthturner Sword had been present in all of the battles and all of the dangers. Of the remaining Silver Moon martial masters, only Hong Yitang had truly accompanied Li Hao along the entire way. He'd never shrank back, not once.

Among the Seven Swords, it was Earthturner Sword who gave Li Hao the most pointers when it came to sword dao. His degree of tutelage there matched even Yuan Shuo's.

Yuan Shuo was Li Hao's teacher, as was Hong Yitang. But ever since Yuan Shuo and the rest fell in battle, relations between Hong Yitang and Li Hao had fallen to new lows. The young man never met him alone, but one of the five commanders of the Demon Hunter Guards was his daughter—Hong Qing!

The rest didn't seem to have connected the dots, yet all of it seemed clear as day to Lin Hongyu.

"I don't have any problem with that, but the kid... is very stubborn!" Hong Yitang said after some consideration. "He'll probably be angry if you say you told me to do it. He's in the dao universe right now, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"I'll send a message to him when he opens the dao universe again. The Earthturner Sword Method encompasses all things—you're very right in that! Not to mention, this might be a great opportunity, but he's already made the decision for me. That kid..."

"It's open!" A sudden look of delight spread over Lin Hongyu's face.

Hong Yitang immediately stopped speaking and transmitted his thoughts.

......

Within the dao universe, Li Hao blinked. Anger sparked in his eyes!

Lin Hongyu!!

He hated being a puppet!

Earthturner Sword, Hong Yitang...

Just as Lin Hongyu had said, there were too few left of those who'd followed him all this time. Hong Yitang had fought for him ever since Battle Heaven.

Absorbing the power of a myriad of daos was an uncertain and very risky endeavor. It didn't matter if Panther undertook it since its cultivation was a scattered mess in the first place, and the dog was a monster spirit. If it failed, it could just go cultivate body dao.

However, Hong Yitang was a pure swordsman. If his dao was thrown into disorder or became intermixed with others, it might be impossible to recover.

"Damn it!" Li Hao cursed through clenched teeth. Not to mention, he didn't want Hong Yitang to become too strong because that would paint a target on the man's back. It was enough for him to be the same as the rest. If the others were seventh level, then he was at seventh level. It was enough that Hong Yitang didn't fall behind.

If you become as strong as my master, to the point of being able to overcome Saints... No one else could back then. Only my master could step forward and fight the Saints, but he died for it!

Lin Hongyu ground his teeth.Lin Hongyu... how dare you make my decisions for me!!

Thrusting down his anger, he tore open the universe once more and transmitted, "Martial uncle's help is not necessary, I can do it myself..."

"Say no more." Hong Yitang's response was immediate. "I want to grow stronger. You owe me a lot, so pay me back in full today. Earthturner Sword is never weaker than anyone else!"

Lin Hongyu cursed to himself again.My master beat you so badly before that you didn't dare answer his challenge. Now you're coming at me with this?? You're definitely as shameless as ever!

Hong Yitang's sword character was very unique and possessed the same effect as the 'dao' character. He did indeed have the ability to draw upon a myriad of daos. In fact, Hong Yitang was much more suited for the task than Lin Hongyu.

But to put it bluntly... It would be Lin Hongyu's own choice even if her dao collapsed in the process. Li Hao hadn't forced her into anything. Just as she'd said, Li Hao could watch her die, but he didn't want to see Hong Yitang die.

The young man took a deep breath and pondered for a moment. He looked at the swaying river and finally made up his mind after prolonged contemplation. Tearing through the void, he reached out. Someone dropped into the dao universe.

Hong Yitang looked around without a comment; a star darted over at high speed and transformed into a sword character. Looking around some more, he asked, "I am to assimilate into this river and draw upon the strength of a myriad of daos to consolidate it, is that right?"

"Yes," Li Hao responded in a muffled voice. His martial uncle had seen through a lot of things in the blink of an eye.

"You've grown up and learned to do things in secret now!" Hong Yitang nodded with emotion. "In the past, I'd be the first person you came to when you ran into trouble. You wouldn't even go to your teacher first. Your mind has changed after your strength has grown!"

Li Hao looked around sheepishly. What could he say? It was true.

He used to think of Hong Yitang first whenever he encountered problems. In his eyes, Hong Yitang was stronger than his teacher. When his teacher died fighting Saints at Boundless, Li Hao had grieved and despaired immensely.

After that, he stopped going to Hong Yitang. Not because he found the man weak, but that he didn't want it to be Hong Yitang taking a final stand next time.

These kinds of sentiments were hard to find in the young man now.

"You'd rather give these chances to grow stronger to your dog and your wife, but not me," Hong Yitang laughed. "It looks like a man with a family is different alright. You love your wife and your pet, but not me!"

"......" Li Hao smiled ruefully. "I don't mean it that way, martial uncle..."

"You do!"

"Not!"

"It's not like it's whatever you say it is." Hong Yitang grinned. His star of sword dao melded into the river and spontaneously took in the turbulent flow of combined daos. It was very uncomfortable to endure and he hung on against the pain of countless great daos surging into him.

"I may not measure up to your teacher when it comes to potential, but he is less than me in terms of tenacity and other qualities! A mere ten thousand daos is the greatest nutrient for me. How would I not be able to endure being buffeted around this tiny bit? Do you think so little of Earthturner Sword, the one with the greatest defense around?"

Li Hao didn't say a word, watching as the wild river immediately quieted when the sword dao star became part of it. Endless dao strength was being siphoned off, adding to the efforts by Lin Hongyu, Panther, and Li Hao himself. All of their actions further stabilized the river.

Hong Yitang ignored Li Hao and sat cross-legged, his sword intent soaring to the heavens!

Li Hao watched him out of the corner of his eye; Hong Yitang abruptly addressed the young man. "Stop looking at me. Just like you don't like people making decisions for you, I'm the same way. We're all Silver Moon martial masters, you can't be the master of me. What right do you have to strip me of my hope to grow stronger?

"I, Earthturner Sword, was a premier powerhouse to begin with. Who among Hou Xiaochen and the rest of those guys could measure up to me? Huang Yu has also tasted defeat at my hands! And now, they are seventh level, I am also seventh level. I've helped you more! On what basis do you strip me of the benefits that should've gone to me?"

"......" Li Hao rubbed his head sheepishly; he had no idea what to say.

"Do you think strengthening my daughter is compensation enough? She's just sixth level Sun and Moon! Not to mention, don't you think it would be the greatest humiliation of all if my daughter was on the same level as me?"

"......" Li Hao smiled awkwardly, still silent.

"In addition, I actually wanted to take Liu Long as my disciple. If I did, Panther would only count as my grand disciple. Do you think it's appropriate for even a dog to be stronger than me?"

"......"

Panther was still sprawled on the ground. He flicked a glance over, but wisely chose to stay silent. This really could've happened.

When Liu Long was still at the Sword Sect, Hong Yitang had indeed asked if the man wished to be his disciple. Liu Long had been considering it as well, but declined in the end. However, the two shared many of the same ideals. Who knows if he would've changed his mind after a period of time? Perhaps... the dog really would have become Hong Yitang's grand disciple.

Fine fine, I can't afford to offend him!

"My bad," Li Hao exhaled noisily. "I just... don't want martial uncle to die in front of me. I'm destined to be alone in this world..."

"If you're defeated, do you think we have a chance of surviving?"

"Yes!"

"No, we don't!" Hong Yitang snorted. "You're an idiot!"