Star Gate

"Ying Hongyue, you wouldn't carry a real treasure on you," Li Hao said faintly. "So they're most likely all with Violet Moon. You may be able to fool others, but you can't fool me. I don't believe anything you say. I trust only my own judgment, so don't try anything in front of me. I trust only myself!

"I want to see the city lord seal and mallet of the Hongs in Silver City after three days. If I don't, I will attack Galewind and have Zheng Yu hand over the Celestial Sword Immortal! She's probably Violet Moon in disguise. How else would you leave her behind otherwise? You... have a lot of schemes rattling around in your mind."

"Not as many as you do!" Ying Hongyue smiled wryly.

"Now now, don't say that. I'm just putting myself in your shoes," Li Hao laughed. "I would fight back too if I were you. Well, I do so in a passive manner, but you put yourself forward as bait. You proactively lure all sides and counterattack at the right timing. You're stronger than me!

"Therefore... it's only a matter of time before I kill your entire family. No matter who between you or Violet Moon is real or fake, it's all the same!"

Li Hao absorbed a great sum of Red Moon power as he spoke; red sparkled out of his eyes. He quickly extinguished the power within his body, causing Ying Hongyue's eyelids to twitch.

"Also, don't try to refine the Forbidden Sea into your replica or primary body. You've got quite a few plans in mind, as well as ambitions. Are you purposefully letting people think that you're only using the Forbidden Sea to transplant the Red Moon power?"

"Li Hao, you're really annoying, do you know that?" Ying Hongyue frowned as his expression changed drastically. No wonder the kid had struck only the sea moments ago!

"Am I annoying? No no no, I'm very kind and everyone likes me!" Li Hao laughed uproariously. "Only you don't like me, so that doesn't matter! If you dare refine the Forbidden Sea again, I'll have that god from Initial Martial smack you! I can't take you out with my current level of strength, but he might..."

"How ludicrous, will he listen to you?" Ying Hongyue said with sudden bravado and looked coldly at Li Hao.

"There's always going to be some things that he cares about. For example... Great Li? People always have some weaknesses. I do, you do, everyone does!"

"I'll place the items at the Silver City Inspectorate in three days, assuming it's still there!" Ying Hongyue said after a long moment of silence. "If not, I'll place it nearby. You can look for it yourself. In addition, I won't refine the Forbidden Sea anymore. Is that acceptable, Li Hao?"

"Yes, very much so!" Li Hao nodded and brandished his sword with a smile, hacking stroke after stroke!

The Forbidden Sea undulated violently!

Ying Hongyue flew into a rage—he seemed to be truly angry in this moment. The Forbidden Sea tossed and turned, the eight bloodlines spontaneously became one. A tremendously powerful surge of energy exploded and Ying Hongyue punched with thunder and lightning!

BAM!

The skies shook and mountains toppled over! This seems to be his true self, a domineering side not often on display. Hong Yitang and Panther watched with mouths agape!

Li Hao furiously laid about with dozens of strokes, sloshing the Forbidden Sea back and forth. Endless Red Moon power leaked out and energy dissipated.

All of it went down the young man's gut!

After a period of battle, Li Hao dismantled his personal domain. Ying Hongyue immediately stopped as well and glared silently at Li Hao.

"I'll come visit you again!" laughed the young man. He disappeared on the spot, as did Hong Yitang and Panther.

The Forbidden Sea trembled continuously, having suffered meaningful damage. Ying Hongyue struggled to his feet with difficulty, his face flickering between different expressions. Ultimately, he glowered ominously. "Li Hao!"

He'd forgotten all about those tiny traces of his actions, but Li Hao clearly remembered everything! The kid recalled everything, even when he was a weakling. He constantly pieced clues together, assembling them into a bigger picture.

Didn't the guy feel like life was very tiring for him?

......

"Not bad!" Li Hao coughed.

"So that one... hid himself that deeply?" transmitted the shaken Hong Yitang.

"Someone who voluntarily stepped into the limelight to be bait for the exalted emperor, half step emperor, and black sheep of the Lis will certainly be more than meets the eye! I don't have that level of ability myself. I just so happened to discover that something was off with Violet Moon's dao when I organized the great dao. That discovery led me down a rabbit hole that brought me to this conclusion.

"Additionally, since I can meld my dao into the river of stars, it stands to reason that someone can do the same with the Forbidden Sea. If I extrapolate from myself and take into account how bold this guy is, and that he uses even thunder and lightning... it's normal to give the matter some extra thought."

Was it normal?

Hong Yitang thought it over. It wasn't normal at all!

The kid wants the mallet of the Hongs and the city lord seal... does he want to enter the seal?

"Then... why didn't you find an opening to kill him just now?"

"I can't, not at the moment. Since I can't, I'll let out some blood and fatten him a bit more before coming back to slaughter him. It's also easy to nurture this guy into a blade pointing at my own throat, but I'm not afraid of him!"

"Of the Thirty-Six... it's this guy who hid himself most deeply after all!" Hong Yitang said with emotion.

Li Hao inclined his head and didn't say anything. They flew swiftly toward the Great Li palace.

Seeing their destination... Hong Yitang felt that the Great Li king might well and truly hate Li Hao with a great bitterness. Not only had the king not gained anything for his repeated efforts, but he'd also lost heavenly favor.

Here Li Hao was, heading there again. Was he not afraid that the god of Initial Martial would pop out to do battle?

......

At the same time.

The Great Li king was cultivating when he opened his eyes, a complicated expression in them.

"Again??" he cursed lowly. How many times was this? Each of Li Hao's visits came with significant losses and no profit at all. Working with Li Hao was the dumbest idea possible!

And there's nothing I can say about it!

The king ground his teeth with fury. "Jiang Li! Go to the temple and pay our respects to that one. If Li Hao dares try to hoodwink this king again today... we'll cut him down with everything we have!"

That damned bastard! Do you really think this king is that much of a fool and so easily used? We didn't get anything in Divine Nation and lost the heavenly will. So now what do you want?!

Off in the distance, Jiang Li also looked on with a complicated expression. He disappeared, heading for the temple. He wanted to notify the god not to kill Li Hao, but to see if they could expel the young man from their borders!

With all of these repeated visits, Great Li was almost done for, even if it hadn't been fully integrated into Skystar!

An illusory figure materialized over the temple, also looking in Li Hao's direction with exasperation.Again? Should I beat him up so he gets out of here?

......

The Great Li palace.

Immensely familiar with the layout, Li Hao sped straight for his destination. He sauntered straight in as opposed to traveling through the void. Inside the palace, the guards could only watch him walk past. There was nothing they could do to stop in.

Inside the great hall, the Great Li king sat atop his throne. He watched impassively as Li Hao walked in.

"I'm here to see you, Great Li king!" Li Hao laughed as he crossed the threshold.

The king almost spontaneously burst into infuriated flames before conversation even began. Thankfully, he kept himself in check and managed to speak calmly. "The Silver Moon Marquis has come. Have a seat. It looks like you have recovered from your injuries."

"I have the king's support to thank for that!"

Support? Support my ass! You said I would be able to enter Fused Dao at least with the dispersal of heavenly will, but what actually happened instead?? How dare you show your face around here?!

The king inclined his head and didn't respond. The less he said, the better. He would pretend not to hear anything that Li Hao said this time. When he wanted Great Li to send troops, Great Li sent troops. When he wanted the king to relinquish the heavenly favor, he gave it up.

What else can you demand now?

Li Hao smiled when he saw that the king didn't seem inclined to engage him in conversation. He didn't mind and sat down, gesturing for Hong Yitang to sit as well.

It was as if this was his home ground.

"Where is Head Priest Jiang? Come have a seat as well so we can chat!" he called outside the door.

Jiang Li remained quiet and didn't say a word.

"The Great Li palace is a rather quiet place," Li Hao laughed.

"It is more deserted, unlike the hustle and bustle that the marquis surrounds himself with," the king responded faintly. "This king hadn't thought that the marquis would marry at such a young age. I forgot to send my congratulations."

He'd been surprised by the development for a while, then understood it was a function of the times. Therefore, he mentioned it now to provoke Li Hao with.

"Indeed," Li Hao nodded. "Men should settle down and have a family when they reach the appropriate age. That is what the Great Li king should do at your age as well. Otherwise, gossip will easily arise when there's only the king and Head Priest Jiang inside the palace."

The king brooded. That little bastard!

Outside the hall, the innocent Jiang Li took a few steps back. He shuffled along the wall and inched out of Li Hao's line of sight. Their visitor was sly and devious. It was best not to have too much to do with him.

The Great Li king was a straightforward person; having such a conversation with Li Hao was just inviting humiliation.

"Is the Silver Moon Marquis here on business?" The impatient king just wanted to send the young man on his way.

"Indeed," Li Hao smiled. "My cultivation has declined due to an accident, and neither has the Great Li king's risen. You helped me against Divine Nation, but I took your spoils from you. It's weighed heavily on my mind as that is not how to treat someone who partners with me.

"I'm here to compensate for prior transgressions..."

The king blinked. He was here with presents? How was that possible?

But when it came to Li Hao... The king had indeed shared a profitable partnership with the young man before. He'd gained a lot of resources when they fought Boundless.

"However, I'm short on resources at the moment and don't have anything good to offer," Li Hao continued. "Yet there happens to be an ultimate treasure within Great Li's boundaries! The source of the Forbidden Sea is located in the north!

"So I've given it some thought. Why don't we compress the Forbidden Sea? It runs through the world, I want to corral it within Great Li borders. It is a sacred land of treasure, unlimited resources and energy. If the Forbidden Sea is contained with Great Li, your ambient energy will spontaneously increase by thirty percent!

"This is an increase in the entire foundation of a nation, not treasures that come with a limited supply! There will always be an end to energy stones, but the energy of the Forbidden Sea comes from the world. It is unending, which makes it a true treasure!

"The Forbidden Sea is the treasure of all Skystar at the moment, but Skystar has a large tract of territory and resources. I don't care about one sea. If you wish, Great Li king, I can compress the Forbidden Sea and keep it within Great Li borders!"