âWhy does it still consume so many resources for me to utilize the imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud?â The pavilion master changed the topic with a frown. âMy memories tell me that it should deplete very few resources...â
âPavilion master... there is an owner of the imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud,â the white tree said softly.
âAnd am I not the owner?â The pavilion master grew irate.
The white tree didnât respond, taking a moment to say slowly, âYou reincarnated once, after all, and need some time to get used to your new body...â
âHmph!â The pavilion master was highly dissatisfied. This is mine! Although it belonged to the prior me, itâs still mine. It was highly aggravating that it would cost so much for him to use again. Otherwise, he would want to scan the land once a day to suit his preferences.
It cost several million stones per instance at the moment; the reserves in the city were almost empty.
âIâm heading out... preferably to Skystar Town,â the man said with a frown. âThe energy reserves in the city are almost empty. This trash only knew to consume resources over the years. Iâm going to the mine to extract some energy back...â
The white tree was at a loss. How could the man entertain these thoughts now?
âItâs best not to, pavilion master. The void is unstable at the moment...â
âI know, but with the treasure imitation present, how can mere void incisions harm this seat?â
âThe imitation of the Mirror of Wind and Cloud is not fully melded with the pavilion master yet...â The white tree tried to speak some sense into the man.
âThis again!â These words grated on the ear. Not fully melded! My own treasure not being a perfect match for me would be an absolute joke if word of this gets out!
âPlease donât be in a hurry,â the white tree continued. âOnce the world stabilizes, your strength will erupt once again. Neither Li Hao nor Red Moon will be a concern for you then.
âApart from a few in Evenround Martial University, there is no one else in Silver Moon Territory who is as noble as the pavilion master...â
âAre they worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me?!â the young man interrupted irritably. âAre their families as powerful as my family?? I am a Hong! A family that produced four emperors! Even the Li family of Tranquil Star is less than my Hong family! Not even the Fangs wouldâve become the masters of the world if it wasnât for my familyâs aid...â
âPlease be careful of your speech, pavilion master!â The white tree trembled.
âWhat are you afraid of?â Despite the bluster, the pavilion master was momentarily afraid as well, until he thought of something with a sneer. âThis is no longer New Martial, what are you afraid of? Not to mention, donât I speak the truth?â
In New Martial, it was the four emperors of his family that went to their deaths together to facilitate the glories of the age. It would not have been such a prosperous era otherwise. Therefore, he thought nothing of the Lis and Jiangs of Tranquil Star.
The white tree didnât say anything. It was finding more and more that perhaps... something had gone awry with the pavilion masterâs reincarnation. He shouldnât have reincarnated. He wouldnât be thus even in the form of lingering mental strength. The master had... changed.
Such were the drawbacks of reincarnation. Although there were advantages, the problems were also severe. The pavilion master was openly sneering at the Human King!
This was a complete death wish!
Had New Martial completely fallen apart?
The white tree didnât think so. Perhaps the great distance made it hard for certain things to be detected, but once energy flowed freely again, these words might be sensed by another. By then, it was one thing if the pavilion master was sentenced to death for his impudenceâall of the Hongs might be impacted as well.
The Human King was not someone to provoke. One could even curse the Hong patriarch to his face, but had to be exceedingly careful when gossiping about the Human King behind his back. If angered, he would execute even the four emperors in his rage!
Of course, that shouldnât be the case. But the pavilion masterâs own family would have to kill him for such words.
The white tree grew ever more resigned. Some words were better off left unsaid. The pavilion master was the true master of this place, the tree was just a guardian of the city. Its first mission was to protect this one and nothing else.
Thankfully, the pavilion master didnât say anything else as he was also slightly wary of potential repercussions. Though he snorted otherwise, he regretted his words after saying them. Short-tempered and uneasy, he couldnât be bothered to discuss this further with the tree. Heâd been out of sorts lately.
âRevered White, give me one thousand drops of life essence. I need to cultivate for a few days!â
âPavilion master...â
âHurry up, Iâll compensate you after I take over the mine!â
âUnderstood.â The white tree sighed to itself and coalesced drops of Water of Life. Its inner body was already a bit dry. The cityâs reserves were almost out. Their pavilion master consumed this resource too quickly and sometimes spent it much too extravagantly.
In times past, he had many Saint-level plant spirits beneath his banner. Everyone showed him face. But now? He was still this spendthrift despite the change in times. Just random showings of favor alone were sometimes dozens, if not one hundred drops. How would that not deplete their stores?@@novelbin@@
As the pavilion master walked off, an aged face appeared on the white tree. It looked around with a sigh. Its old friends had been emptied over the years and fallen silent. That was the same fate lying in store for it if this continued. Their income did not cover their expenses! And they could not refuse to supply the life essence.
I really hope that the pavilion master recovers sooner rather than later. How can success be at hand in a situation like this? The reincarnation that he planned so much for will be more of a loss than a gain then.
......
In the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, the white tree hoped for its master to grow more mature.
In Skystar City.
Li Hao frowned and swept a glance in the four corners. This was odd. Whether it was the Ministry of Armed Forces or Administration, a certain oppressive atmosphere emanated from them. They werenât located far from the Skystar Commander Office and their people were present at their desks, but there seemed to be a constant coming and going from the ruins. What was going on?
He could also sense the presence of life. Someone was using large quantities of Water of Life!
Inside Skystar Commander Office.
Director General Wang happily sprawled on a chair, a braised chicken leg in his left hand and a roasted duck leg in his right. Li Hao frowned at him. There was... really... nothing he could say about the man. There were also two puppets drooling next to him, quite envious of the director general!
âI didnât think Iâd bump into you two here,â smiled the director general. âItâs been such a long time! How are your parents? Do you want a bite? Have Li Hao prepare some for you, they taste really good...â
Jiang Yingliâs nose twitched. Well, the puppetâs noses wouldnât twitch, but Li Hao seemed to hear a sniffing sound.
âIt smells so good!â
âDoesnât it? Itâs nice to take a sniff even if you canât eat it.â Director General Wang ate with such gusto that there was grease smeared around his mouth. âHow is your dean doing?â
âVery well!â the two puppets answered half-heartedly. Who knew if he was doing well? The teacher wouldnât tell them the truth. They werenât familiar with this Director General Wang, but showed him a friendlier face since theyâd met him before.
âThen you need to coordinate well with Li Hao and kill more plant spirits.â The director general laughed as he ate. âCollecting more energy might help you resurrect your teacher. Youâll be able to eat whatever you want then.â
âTeacher is very strong, heâs different from Director General Wang. The director general is too weak and easily revived, it will be very hard for the teacher...â Li Shengzhang answered quite matter-of-factly, nearly causing the director general to choke on his food.
She spoke the truth, so he coughed with great resignation. âThat may not be the case either. I remember that your teacher ultimately didnât set foot into the Empyrean King level? Then that makes things easy...â
What are you guys showing off for? Heâs so much older than us that heâs practically of the previous generation. Of course he should be a Saint. He has the protection of the Human Kingâs younger sister but still didnât make it to Empyrean King...
âYou donât need to say that to us,â said Jiang Yingli. âYou can say that to teacher himself. Heâll make sure to punish you for it. Maybe heâll make you clean up the restrooms for one hundred years if he gets you!â
â......â He had no clever response to that. Director General Wang concentrated on eating. This was why he wasnât willing to go see that one. He didnât want to, and there wasnât much use in seeing him. Their standings were very different. Back in the day, it was his grandfather who met with the Evenround Martial dean, not him.
Director General Wang was a distinguished member of a Wang side branch, which was how he came to be the head of Security. But he didnât have the right to say anything when he stood in front of that one, so he could only throw his weight around a little before that one came back to life.
Li Hao watched them silently, not bothering to insert himself in their affairs. When Director General Wang was finished eating, he wiped his hands casually and turned to the young man. âWhat are you looking at?â
âThe guys next door.â
âI see!â Director General Wang looked next door as well. âWho says Water of Life is precious in the outside world? Those guys are drinking it like water because theyâre so weak, what a waste!â
âThe director general can sense it?â
âOf course!â chuckled Director General Wang. âNothing can stay hidden from me if I wish it!â
He could be considered the strongest in this world at the moment, right?
Li Hao found present circumstances a bit strange; he could sense that it should be Qi Pingjiangâs son utilizing Water of Life. The current minister of Armed Forces had been four elements Arcanus according to his last assessment. After a few days of absence, he looked to be five, even six elements now.
What a waste! How much Water of Life was involved in this advancement?
The same sensations were traveling out of the Ministry of Administration. The current minister, Zhao Huaimin, also seemed to be strengthening himself. Damn if they didnât have money!
As Li Hao inwardly rolled his eyes, a new thought struck him. âIâm heading out, does Director General Wang want to come with me?â
âOf course!â No shit, what am I supposed to do when you want to leave?
Li Hao rose and swiftly headed to the rear yard. There was nothing that the director general could do but to follow in kind. This was immensely irritating!
The two puppets also quickly followed them. It was a joyous occasion to see someone from their era! Although this fellow purposefully ate food in front of them to tempt them, they were magnanimous people who wouldnât take it up with him.
The group of ancient personages followed Li Hao to the rear yard, whereupon the young man opened the ruin entrance. Director General Wang was hot on his heels.
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