Star Gate

The soldier’s visor retracted, revealing Yun Yao’s face. She looked at the seventh princess, who looked back at her.

“It’s you… no wonder…” The princess suddenly smiled.

“It’s me!” The look in Yun Yao’s eyes was calm. “We were good friends when my father was alive. Who would’ve thought that you would betray my family and kill hundreds of students and teachers at my school! I have returned, Jiang Rong!”

“Hahaha… how laughable!” The seventh princess laughed and looked at Li Hao in the distance. “How laughable…”

She toppled over with a bam.

Liu Long spat out a mouthful of blood and looked at Yun Yao. “We kill her first, then all of them one by one. I’ll avenge all of your grievances!”

There were just six members of the Demon Hunters—Yun Yao, Liu Yan, Wu Chao, Chen Jian, Liu Long, and Li Hao who joined at the very end. Liu Yan’s enemy was Red Moon, Wu Chao’s was Celestial, and Yun Yao’s was the greatest faction of Skystar City.

The seventh princess had once directed the Nine Dragons Pavilion to move against the Skystar Academy. She killed most of the students and teachers, captured some, and forced others into unwilling labor for the Nine Dragons Pavilion.

Yun Yao used to be friends with the princess since she was the royal family’s spokesperson, a fellow woman, and the royal family seemed to be willing to support Yun Haoran. It wasn’t long after that that the Yun family was eradicated.

The seventh princess had been greatly involved in that operation.

Yun Yao nodded and didn’t say anything. There was no need for expressions of gratitude from the Demon Hunters. They nursed such feelings in their hearts. Liu Long had helped and looked after them ever since Silver City. That was true even today.

Perhaps Li Hao had forgotten some things or didn’t feel them as acutely, but Liu Long had committed them all to heart.

……

Off in the distance.

Li Hao understood the reasons behind Liu Long’s actions; his own mood was slightly complicated. Liu Long’s ever-constant goals were simple. Protect Silver City and the Demon Hunters. That was the man’s wish. And while Li Hao had given the team plenty of resources after bringing them out of Silver City, he didn’t interact with them in the same congenial way anymore. Neither did he tease or curse with them like one would with family.

He knew that Yun Yao’s enemies were the royal family and nine ministries, but he hadn’t thought of letting her take vengeance with her own hands. He’d felt that success was defined by him killing all of these people.

Liu Long, however, had kept the details of everyone’s wishes in mind.

There were a select few who had great influence on Li Hao ever since he left Silver City. His teacher was one, Hong Yitang was another, and strictly speaking, Liu Long counted as one. The man had spared no effort to help him when they were in Silver City.

Li Hao exhaled gently. There were so many things that needed to be attended to that he’d set the Demon Hunters aside. He’d promised Liu Long before that they would return to Silver City sooner or later. It now looked like they wouldn’t be able to do so in the short run.

The slaughter in the palace continued—a man broke through the air at this time. He Yong.

He carried a bloody figure in his hand and looked at Li Hao. “He Yong would like to request a favor from Commander Li!” he asked solemnly, no sign of his usual flippancy to be seen.

Li Hao immediately recognized the young man covered in blood—the ninth prince. He was twenty years old this year and He Yong had joined the royal family twenty years ago. The ninth prince had received He Yong’s heritage his entire life. Southern Fist was a prime reason behind the prince’s martial accomplishments of today.

Of course, the prince had also repaid He Yong with plenty since the latter’s cultivation had progressed to the point of being able to unseal himself.

Li Hao knew what He Yong wanted as soon as he showed himself. Other people were returning from their skirmishes as well. Northern Fist walked through the air after killing a prince.

“What are you blathering on about, He Yong!” he grunted when he saw someone in He Yong’s hands.

The royal family had been toppled and the Jiangs slaughtered. The ninth prince possessed strong potential and tremendous battle strength. There were even calls among the royal family for him to be the next king as soon as the current one was summoned by heaven.

This was no fringe character.

No one would think much of it if He Yong begged mercy for someone of a royal side branch. Silver Moon martial masters always repaid their debts and collected on their grievances.

However, this was the heir apparent! It would be too much of a disaster if they let this person survive! He Yong was over the line!

“Commander, I left my home and came to the royal family in search of a chance to break through.” He Yong lowered his head with a heavy expression. “I don’t care what happens to the royal family, but my life was tied to his many years ago. He Yong does not seek any merits or recognition in this operation, just that… I beg the commander to spare his life!”

He begged!

He Yong knew that great trouble might arise from not killing the ninth prince, but he could not cross the threshold of his heart. He looked at Li Hao, pleading in his eyes.

The ninth prince in his hand continuously coughed up blood and seemed to come to his senses. He struggled and coughed again, “There’s no need for this, Master He…”

“Shut up!” growled He Yong as he punched the young man unconscious, then looked at Li Hao again.

More and more powerhouses gathered by Li Hao’s side. Some frowned, others glared. Apart from the Skystar King, it was these male children that posed the greatest threat from the royal family. The Skystar royal family had reigned for two hundred years. There were still powerhouses loyal to them.

The Prince of Southern Conciliation remained holding down the fort in the South Sea, to say nothing of anyone else. He led six hundred thousand troops—elites, one and all—and faced off against the Valiant Duke of the south.

Once the ninth prince survived and fled to the south, great troubles might arise.

“This is but a small matter.” Li Hao smiled when he looked at He Yong.

“Commander!”

“Li Hao!” Many glanced sharply at the young man.

“I know a bit about this ninth prince,” the young man said softly. “He has a deep relationship with Martial Uncle Southern Fist and carries himself with the air of a Silver Moon martial master. We of Silver Moon pay back our debts of gratitude. Since he has rendered a great kindness to Martial Uncle Southern Fist over the years, then he can be spared.”

Li Hao laughed and looked around the premises. “Having one more person is not one too many, and one less person is not one too few. There are many who wish to kill me. Both the former and current Skystar Kings died in my hand. The ninth prince has not coordinated evil misdeeds and he was not a guiding force in the royal family. He suffered bullying and humiliation from childhood. It was only through Martial Uncle Southern Fist’s help that he rose to his current position…

“Take him away with you, martial uncle!” The young man smiled.

He Yong looked at the young man with a complicated look in his eyes. “I’ll cripple his cultivation. There won’t be anything to be concerned about with a cripple!”

“That’s alright.” Li Hao waved a hand. “He inherited the way of the Skyshaker Fist and thus counts as martial uncle’s heir. Wouldn’t crippling him be wasting years of martial uncle’s hard work?”

The group looked at the young man, not knowing what to say. This could be the start of endless trouble! To go from a punching bag in the royal palace to a state in which the royal family recommended him to be crown prince was no small feat!

It was a given that the ninth prince could bear disgrace and a heavy burden, that he was shrewd and possessed sophisticated methods. And if they didn’t kill him today…

Those assembled turned to He Yong, some with angry glares, others with resigned looks. This was just how that bastard operated at times. He knew what sparing the ninth prince meant, but he wanted even less than to carry regret for the rest of his life.

Li Hao didn’t say anything and looked around him, seeing that fighting was starting to peter out. Various powerhouses were dying on the battlefield.

Two of the nine royal princes had died before today, another three had just died inside the palace. Four remained alive, including the Prince of Southern Conciliation in the south and three others. Two resided in Skystar City and another could be found on the western shoreline of the central region. He was in charge of keeping the west in order and faced off against the Tranquil Duke.

Large numbers of palace servants, maids, and eunuchs were being corralled from all directions. More than ten thousand people quickly gathered at the central courtyard. Some shook uncontrollably like a leaf while others had long lost their wits from abject terror.

The nine ministries had never set foot into the royal palace over the years. They’d clashed with the old Skystar King in the dark. After overcoming the royal family, they established the nine ministries and coexisted peacefully with the royal family.

But today, the royal palace was breached!

Wails and sobs echoed off the walls. There were more than ten thousand servants alone in the vast palace. There were also a great number of Black Armaturas being rounded up. Together, they summed nearly twenty thousand people.

And this was now. There were even more people eighty years ago.

“Take off your armor and surrender your arms, Black Armaturas!” Li Hao called out as he looked at the crowd. “You will be shown mercy! Everything will continue as before for palace servants. Those who wish to leave may register and await release. I will methodically process your freedom later on. No one is to leave the palace in the short term!

“All royal members still alive are to be taken into custody first to await further judgment! Those who resist will be executed with no exception!”

The teary sniffles grew quieter after his announcements. Though apprehensive, they were reassured to see the heavyweights surrounding them not immediately pounce in gory slaughter. Whether it was a change in dynasty or the world, it didn’t matter to a lot of people.

All that they cared about was if they survived. They didn’t feel much loyalty to present circumstances.

……

Li Hao walked toward the palace’s main hall. This was the central building of the dynasty, the Skystar Hall. Glittering with light, a dragon throne sat in the center of the hall.

The young man walked straight to it and sat down. Those who followed him watched him with strange looks, but didn’t say a word.

etvolare’s Thoughts

Ooh... I really don’t know about this, He Yong. We’re less than halfway through SG, there is totally enough time for the prince to come back around and bite LH in the butt.