Ten thousand sets of armor and further cultivation in the ruins meant that this group of soldiers would sweep through the central region as soon as they appeared. They could even move quickly into other provinces. There were barely ten thousand in the royal familyâs Black Armaturas, whereas Li Hao had two thousand more Demon Hunters that were also quite strong.
Huang Yu looked bright at Li Hao. âYou really are a division leader?â
âOf course!â the young man grinned. âI can also create one hundred sets of armor a day. Thatâs not that many, but itâs enough to maintain combat readiness. The process requires some mysterious power stones. I leave that treasure in Commander Yuâs hands. This way, any holes that appear in our personnel can be swiftly supplemented for.
Huang Yu swallowed hard. A production line? He suddenly felt that heâd lived the last few decades in vain!
âI know the treasure you speak of, the main cities have it but do not sell it to outsiders. Itâs also impossible to take a look at since itâs a vital component of the cityâs weapon factories. You...â
âIâm a commander level personage in Battle Heaven now!â declared a pleased Li Hao. âI call the shots in the city!â
Bullshit!
As much as Huang Yu didnât believe it, he was very shocked all the same. Ole Zhao had spent so many years in his familyâs ruins to barely obtain his title of city lord manor participantâthe city lordâs manager, in other words.
It contained no military authority, but was a position with some authority in the city. It wasnât bad.
...it was also completely worthless compared to Li Haoâs position!!
Was it supposed to be impressive that heâd made it to a participant role after several decades? Heâd thought it not bad before since that meant he could exchange some words with the city lord, but now... Pah!
He wasnât even a strategist! It was just an empty title that the main city of the Zhaos used to tie Ole Zhao to them so they could exchange information. But after all these years, Ole Zhao didnât obtain that many treasures for his efforts.
Such was the ancient civilizationâquite miserly!
Anyone who wasnât one of theirs would be in for quite a difficult time if they wanted to procure any advantages. Take the plant spirits, for example. A drop of Water of Life that could be had for three thousand stones a drop cost outsiders fifty or sixty thousand as a normal price, or even one hundred thousand at first.
It wasnât just one or two plant spirits scamming the rest, but everyone being in on it. Despite the plant spirits being isolated from each other in their respective ruins, all of them operated in the same vein.
âThen Iâll make my preparations right away, when should I begin?â
âThe faster the better. The best is early this morning. There is less attention levied on movements at night. Can Commander Yu take care of these arrangements as soon as possible?â
âOf course, itâs just ten thousand people. Give me half an hour and Iâll get the ball rolling!â
âIn terms of resources, we have sufficient storage rings.â Li Hao nodded. âThere should also be rations and such here. I have a lot of rations filled with energy as well, theyâre perfect for the military. Everyone should be experienced with what to bring into the ruins, so I wonât be involved there.â
âBe at ease!â Huang Yu laughed. âThen Iâll visit the provincial government immediately. I should be able to start the selection tonight or at any time! Iâll tell Ole Zhao that... weâre going to exterminate bandits!â
It wasnât up to him whether or not Ole Zhao believed him. Li Hao wasnât permitting the true reason to be shared, so Huang Yu was in a difficult position as well.
âVery well!â
......
All of Li Haoâs goals were accomplished after this conversation with Huang Yu. It had been quite a day. He had to bring everyone back to the City of Supernaturals as well. The repeated trips were turning him into a transport plane.
His efforts werenât without compensation, however, as he emptied Silver Moon of a lot of treasures as well.
......
Li Hao returned to Battle Heaven at midnight. It was his first time seeing Director General Wang. The golden armor was still present, but the director general no longer wore a mask. His true face wasnât the jovial fatty that Li Hao had pictured, but a burly man with a solemn expression. He looked quite dignified!
Director General Wang smiled when he saw Li Hao stare at him. âWhat, am I different from what you thought?â
Li Hao nodded slightly, taken aback by the roiling presence he felt. âThe... director generalâs presence... is so strong!â
âIâm unaccustomed to my new body. Iâll be able to retract my presence soon,â Director General Wang chuckled. âAfter all these years living in armor, Iâm actually unused to having a physical body.â
He glanced at the city lord manor. âTo be leaving after countless years... this really will take some getting used to.â
âLeaving is not a pursuit of enjoyment.â The old turtle manifested with a smile. âBe careful out there.â
âThank you for your concern, guardian!â Director General Wang laughed and left the city with Li Hao. Thousands of Black Armors pounded their chests at the city gates, presenting a stately and dignified sight. The Ninth Division leader and others appeared on the city walls to send them off.
Director General Wang turned back to pound his chest and yell, âI depart to uphold the name of New Martial and Battle Heaven!â
âSalute!â
BOOM!
The sound of thousands of soldiers pounding their chest plates rang among the clouds. Director General Wang was so grim that Li Hao didnât feel that it would be appropriate for him to say anything at this point. This was more like they were going to their deaths.
Everyone was so very grave that he wasnât at liberty to say much else. They were going out to make it rich, not die. Why did this sendoff feel like a funeral march?
âWe await your triumphant return!â The Ninth Division leaderâs call pierced through the clouds. âWe fight when called upon! We do not retreat! Military commands are to be obeyed above all else! Wang Ye, do not lose face for the Wangs! Remember, you are of New Martial!â
âI will commit this to memory!â Director General Wang roared and left without his customary bickering.
Li Hao quickly caught up to the man. The director general was so unsmiling and wreathed in such a tragic air that the young man couldnât break the silence.
General Pagoda quickly presented five plant spirits that were in very weak condition. Only a faint hint of core origin wafted from themâthey seemed less than the little tree of old.
âIâve already explained the situation to them,â the general said softly. âTheyâll listen to your orders outside. General Li... be... well!â
âI will!â Li Hao swiftly left without another word. He assembled his domain of the five elements when the ruins opened. Director General Wang stood next to him, furrowing his brows at the violent ripples that collided into them. Li Hao frowned as well. The spatial ripples that the director general attracted were greater than the redwoodâs.
The redwood tree was a peak Immortal. Although its strength was less than yesteryear, its core origin remained very strong.
Director General Wang didnât say anything as he summoned his golden armor. The Black Tortoise Seal hovered in the air, enveloping himself. When that proved insufficient, he summoned a large shield with a soft shout and shrouded himself with it as well.
The director generalâs presence faded away.@@novelbin@@
âYou will be my weak point when we take action together,â Director General Wang identified seriously. âOnce you are defeated or when this personal domain of yours breaks, I will be in grave trouble. Of course, itâs fine enough in the ruins. In the outer world... I am done for if something happens to you.â
Li Hao inclined his head and vanished amid the ruin entrance. He was unused to a somber Director General Wang.
A radiant grin split the manâs face when the ruins vanished behind them. âWeâre finally out! Hells yeah! That guy wanted to intimidate me before I left. Does he really think heâs the city lord?â
â......â Li Hao paused.
Director General Wang chuckled and flung an arm around his shoulder. âStop looking, that was stifling. Of the ones who are awake in the city, the old turtle is a guardian, General Pagoda is a guardian. Your Ninth Division leader is a soldier and I am not. Iâm just from Security... Having to face those guys day in and day out is damned irritating.â
â......â Li Hao listened woodenly.
Director General Wang looked around with a chuckle. âSo much has changed in the world! Mulberry fields have turned into seas, itâs really all different! But the presence of life... I like it! Weâre in the same boat from now on, Little Li! We need to work together well. I havenât eaten in countless yearsâwhat kind of amazing delicacies can you recommend to me?â
The golden armor swiftly vanished and turned into athleisure. The director generalâs long hair transformed into a pompadour. Open-mouthed, Li Hao watched as Director General Wang quickly completed his change.
âWe should blend with the surroundings when traveling,â he laughed when he saw the young man staring at him. âI respect the local customs. Strange garments will make me out of place, no? By the way, do you have money?â
âWhat?â
âMoney. Donât you guys use money? You need money to eat and stay at a place, donât you? Give me some. How can we travel around outside without money?â Director General Wang declared solemnly, âIâm not the type to eat without paying!â
âUm...â Li Hao truly didnât know what to say!
âDonât um ah me! You have to pay me wages at the very least, donât you?â chuckled the director general. âOh, right. How far away can I get from you at most?â
âWithin one hundred meters.â
âThat range is a bit small.â Director General Wang frowned and clapped Li Haoâs shoulder like he was a big brother. âWork hard to expand your domain. It needs to cover at least ten thousand meters, yes? Otherwise, youâll even see me use the restroom at one hundred meters.â
Do you need to go to the restroom? Li Hao didnât know what to say!
âLittle brother, you canât show your thoughts so blatantly on your face.â Director General Wang patted his shoulder again. âSurviving is different from living. At times like these, we should eat and drink when we should. A life is a life, whether we spend it in misery or happiness. Iâve thought this through in Battle Heaven long ago. We should enjoy what we can, when we can.
âDonât pull such a long face, be happier! Kill enemies in comfort and bring about the downfall of your opponents in comfort. That is life!â
âDirector general, this...â Li Hao wanted to interrupt.
âCall me Brother Wang!â responded a giddy Director General Wang. âI already said that itâs so stuffy inside. Drop that nonsense. Weâre all free men when weâre out here and should act accordingly, understood?â
Li Hao rolled his eyes. You changed too much, too quickly. And whoâs your brother? How old are you, anyway?
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