Star Gate

The three survivors of Sword City had been plunged into the depths of despair moments before. Having worked for the enemy for one hundred thousand years... they wanted to die!

But given the words that Li Hao comforted them with and the utterly composed front he presented, even having the peace of mind to laugh, the trio suddenly thought nothing of their past actions.

How was this guy so cool and relaxed? Was he very strong?

They'd briefly clashed with him when he deployed the Eternal Sword intent... he wasn't that strong. At least, in their view, his cultivation level was similar to theirs. His strength was also similar—perhaps he was just a hint stronger.

Was this guy... really not nervous?

The sword tree didn't ask anything, but the stone's muffled voice was quite discernible. "Your name is Li Hao, right?"

"Mmhmm," the young man smiled. "Might I know the names of the three fellow daoists?"

"Just call me Stone!"

"I'm Sword Seal!"

"Everyone calls me Sword Tree... Names don't matter."

"You have an open mind. Names are indeed just a title." Li Hao nodded with a faint smile.

"Are... Are you the strongest human of this age?" The stone picked up the line of conversation.

"I should be," chuckled the young man. "There might have been someone who could stand toe-to-toe with me before, but not anymore. If we're not including those old guys, I should be the strongest!"

When it came to the queen... he didn't see her as an opponent.

The Great Li king... Well, he needed to absorb the skeleton first. Li Hao still wouldn't see him as an opponent even when he did.

Whether it was someone of the same cultivation level or slightly stronger, so long as they weren't a well-rounded genius, there would come a day in which they were tricked by one of his schemes.

"Sword Tree says you've cultivated for one year?"

"Yes," Li Hao nodded. "But not according to the regular flow of time. Based off that, the world was asleep for one hundred thousand years and the great dao was completely silent. We can ignore those one hundred thousand, there wasn't much of a purpose to them!

"Some people rise with fortune, time is not the only barometer..."

Only his cultivation tenure was short, Li Hao wasn't interested in comparing length of experience. It was only a detail he trotted out when people didn't believe him. His one year was probably the equivalent of the past one hundred thousand years!

This age was the era in which records were broken. The world was revitalizing, a myriad of daos were accessible for the first time, and all humans were connate dao entities. This was a very rich set of starting conditions.

The accumulation of one hundred thousand years and its resulting recoil was a sight to behold.

"Are you... confident in your chances or not?" asked the stone. "If not, should we discuss a plan of attack? What is it right now? Just throw ourselves at the sword?"

The young man hadn't said anything about a plan! Were they going to attack on sight?

You're making me nervous!

"Let's take a look at the other guy first, we're in no rush!" Li Hao wore a smile on his face. "It's not done tempering itself and my cultivation level isn't high enough to be a threat. It's not likely that the enemy will erupt with enough force to obliterate us as soon as it sees us.

"We'll just be heavily injured at worst. There's room for negotiation so long as we aren't dead."

What kind of words were those?

Li Hao's thoughts were that it was pointless to be armchair strategists; it was enough to know their opponent's general status.Not to mention... do the three of you really know that sword? The information you're giving me may not be reliable. I'd be in trouble if I really believed you.

......

The group of people—three items and one person—soon reached a slightly empty area.

"This is where the formation is located," said the sword tree.

Li Hao opened the sword eye and nodded. He could see it—there was a dome of light around the surroundings. He walked up to a transparent patch in the dome and pointed at it. "Is this the entrance?"

Seeing the golden light from his eyes and considering the Eternal Sword intent that he'd displayed before, the trio grappled with a complicated mix of emotions. This was the standard capability of the Sword Sovereign. Combined with Stellaris... they would've believed him if he claimed himself to be the reincarnation of the Sword Sovereign.

The sword eye, sword intent, and personal sword...

"You guys can enter first!"

"Is it... really strong?" asked the suddenly fidgety sword tree. They hadn't been afraid on the way over, but now they were suddenly worried.

"Swordsmen should advance without fear!" laughed Li Hao. "Go on!"

The three hesitated no longer. Very well then!

They instantly became part of the formation when it opened. Li Hao was hot on their heels. There was no spinning of the world, it seemed like he'd simply set foot over a low wall. A small area soon came into view. There was no magnificent splendor year, just a small residence with hints of a classical style.

It was of moderate size and a perfectly square lot. Walls separated the residence from the rest of the city and a signboard was mounted over the yard. Two words were written on it in flowing script—Calm Tranquility!

Li Hao raised an eyebrow. The name of this residence was at odds with the customary fighting spirit of a swordsman. There was another line of small text beneath the residence's name. It shimmered in and out of sight, difficult to make out.

It was only legible through the sword eye.

An unparalleled sword is not demanded, but enduring longevity is desired. This was written by one who is invincible!

Invincible? Li Hao blinked. Now this was a lofty byline! His heart skipped a beat when he realized the implications.

The Human King!

These words must have been personally written by the proudly unrivaled Human King! So the Human King had once visited this minor world!

That was... right. He'd made a trip when the minor world first came to be. The Human King's thoughts then were to reclaim the ball of energy that'd drifted off from the main world. He ultimately decided against that course of action because he wanted to leave this world for the Sword Sovereign.

All things considered, that was still quite the pompous tone coming from the signboard!

Of course, the Human King had the right to be so.

Calm Tranquility!

The Human King didn't care how the Sword Sovereign's dao played out, only that he was of long life. Since the one who wrote this signboard claimed to be invincible... Any who saw it would only have one thought in mind—the person behind these words was telling onlookers that they could not touch the Sword Sovereign!

It proclaimed that no matter who the challenger was, there was an invincible heavyweight backing the Sword Sovereign. If someone wanted to attack the Sword Sovereign, they had to go through the Human King!

It was a declaration of utmost high-handed arrogance; its only concern was that people would not understand how important the Sword Sovereign was to the Human King. Battle strength wasn't critical for the Sword Sovereign, longevity was! If anything happened to him, the Human King would come for the perpetrator's entire family...

Yes, that was the feeling that the signboard imparted.

Although nothing was written out precisely, such was the meaning imparted by that single line of characters.

Li Hao stared dumbly at it. There were no notes of great dao or shadows of the Human King left behind. There was just unparalleled dominance. Would anyone dare touch the Sword Sovereign after this?

The young man continued gaping at it, lost in thought.Do you dare attack my teacher?Would those who saw this signboard dare make a move on the Sword Sovereign without killing the Human King first?

Not necessarily!

I... have a teacher as well, but mine is dead.

Boom!

Battle erupted ahead, but Li Hao didn't pay attention to it. He stared at the signboard, suddenly tormented by it. He... hadn't been willing to dwell on this matter before, but now the thoughts came unbidden to him.

It was said that the Sword Sovereign and Human King had supported each other on their rise, enduring trials and hardship together. Their story was written in theRecords of Southern Jiangthat took place during New Martial. The Human King and Sword Sovereign had entered the home of the Earth Dwellers together to exterminate the alien race. In that battle, the Human King risked his life to save the certainly doomed Sword Sovereign.

After that, the Sword Sovereign killed everything that sought to threaten the Human King—gods, demons, alien races alike. He marched through the world, being the vanguard and even dared to draw his sword on the supreme!

At some point after that, the Human King entrusted his last living family member to the Sword Sovereign, asking the man to escort his younger sister to another universe for shelter. The Sword Sovereign received his orders when all was under attack, leading Zhang An and the rest to a land faraway and standing guard by himself.

The two had stumbled their way to present day, but the Sword Sovereign seemed to have remain alive during all this time. He was unlike the rest—even Supreme Zhang had once died and been resurrected by the Human King.

Few were those in New Martial who never died.

Countless thoughts surged into Li Hao's mind.The great dao is unfeeling, but this unfeeling is not to lack emotion.I... did not safeguard my teacher. He's always been the one protecting me, but I could not protect him.

The simple line of writing deeply wounded Li Hao. He looked around in a daze.The Human King... was a real man! As for me?

Thoughts and emotions pulsed alike; he suddenly felt lonely.I've lost a lot of people along the way and many who've taken care of me are gone. Why do the Human King's words make me think of myself... and how incompetent I am?

A bitter taste filled his mouth!

How... envious I am!

He shifted his attention elsewhere. There was no great dao to be gleaned from the characters, they were meant for enemies to read. But was it possible to actually leave anything for the enemy? They were just meant to intimidate!

Anyone who fought their way to the Sword Sovereign's home would have to think twice upon seeing this byline.

Up ahead, the three tattered survivors fought a big sword!

There was a longsword in the yard that somewhat resembled Stellaris. Some of its edge was apparent, but it also appeared oddly sinister. Countless longsword shadows could be seen in the four directions; they surrounded the three entities.

Crackle, pop, sizzle!Each blow was direct contact with the three!

Li Hao watched silently. This was frontal combat meant to temper the sword!

Sword intent from both sides clashed against each other. Meanwhile, Li Daoheng's sword...

The light in Li Hao's eyes flashed. The sword wasn't bringing its full strength to bear at all! It was simply going on the offensive and honing itself against the sword intent from the trio.

This was absolutely an act of sharpening the sword!

Rays of sword light shot out of the Sword Sovereign's residence, as if whatever was inside had sensed Li Hao's spying. They were aimed straight at the young man!