Star Gate

The eyes of Gan Wuliang and the rest widened when someone walked out of the void. Not only that, but another appeared in void at the same time—a grave Capsize Sea. The golden cow studied the first arrival with a solemn look.

The target of its consideration was a man wearing black armor standing in the void—the armor of the Dean of Education. Zhang An didn't bellow, but everyone could hear him clearly. "Have you rebelled, Martial Alliance?"

The second elder and others nearly gasped with dismay; the former quickly bowed. "Martial Alliance would never betray New Martial! Please judge us clearly, Dean Zhang!"

"New Martial has disappeared," Zhang An said slowly after looking at the man. "You are free to make your own choices if you no longer recognize New Martial. Once you do so, you are not allowed to use the New Martial name anymore! If you still admit to New Martial, then lead your people out of the city and leave with me."

"Dean Zhang!" said Gan Wuliang before the second elder had a chance to respond. "Are you going to take them away?"

"Can I not?" Zhang An said just as softly. "Doesn't Li Hao want the city? We'll leave the city behind when we take our people with us. Can I not do even that?"

Gan Wuliang furrowed his brows.

"Zhang An, you do not have the makings of a sovereign," Capsize Sea suddenly said in a muffled voice. "You do not possess the valor of the Human King nor the strategy of the supreme. You might as well keep your head down like me and help the Li family recover their former glory. Why involve yourself in this thankless affair..."

"Capsize Sea, a wise bird chooses a suitable branch to perch on." Zhang An looked at the golden cow in an extremely calm fashion. "I have no opinion about your decision and don't fault you for it! The New Martial traitors deserve to die, so I don't care about them either.

"But some people did not turn their backs on our home in the end. New Martial lives on in their hearts. You are a monster spirit and can afford to not care about that, but I am human!"

Capsize Sea was at a loss. It understood what Zhang An meant. A portion of New Martial citizens were unwilling to surrender or compromise. This would develop into grave trouble as the situation dragged on and Li Hao might kill them because of it!

The young man hadn't expended much effort in this area yet, but sooner or later, he would. It wouldn't be long before that day came!

Not only Li Hao, but so would the Zhengs be involved. They would either recruit who was left or kill those who refused. Anyone who still considered themselves as part of New Martial wouldn't meet with a good ending if they refused to surrender.

Those were the people that Zhang An wanted to take with him.

Capsize Sea had come to reinforce Martial Alliance to prevent any undesirable developments from taking place. It thought for a while before saying, "Then make things easy for me as well! You can take the people, but the city and all the rest stays behind! Its infrastructure, factories, reserve armor, military equipment, and everything else remains!"

Zhang An studied the cow for a while, then looked at Gan Wuliang again.

"The Sea Pacification Envoy's will is my will," Gan Wuliang smiled. "His Lordship has left orders that everything can proceed according to you seniors' intentions."

Capsize Sea was highly satisfied by this response.

"How will you decide?" Zhang An looked at the second elder. "Will you leave with me or continue to negotiate with Skystar, or even fight Li Hao for power?"

The second elder fell silent. Fight Li Hao?

Anyone who'd remained loyal to New Martial would not be able to stand against Li Hao. Not even Saints would've fully recovered at this stage. Those who had the ability to fight Li Hao would not be those who'd spent many years asleep.

"We'll go with the dean..." sighed the second elder. "Except... the world is so vast, where shall we go?"

"There will be a place for us somewhere," Zhang An answered calmly. "I will not seek to command those who stay. Battle Heaven has sworn fealty to Li Hao. If you guys have certain thoughts, you can stay! To each their own. New Martial has vanished for one hundred thousand years, so you do not have to come with me either.

"I will take only those who do not wish to follow Li Hao! This might be a chance for us as well. The master of the new dao, the leader of the new age, and the world has just revitalized. Everything is starting anew and opportunities are everywhere. The choice is yours!"

Powerhouses within the city sank into deep thought. They had to make a choice today if they were going to go with Zhang An, or stay and pledge allegiance to Li Hao. There was no third choice available.

Well, throwing themselves under the Zheng banner was an option, but one that most were unlikely able to accept.

"I will go with the dean," the second elder said after a long moment. "The rest are free to choose as they will!"

"Me too!"

"I will go too!"

"......" Numerous powerhouses quickly took a stand. But even after many voiced their intentions, the guardian plant spirit of the city said nothing. The second elder looked at the Saint-level tree with a rueful look.

The tree wanted to stay.

Chapter source: My Virtual Library Empire (M|V|L4EMPYR).

Zhang An also looked at it, not surprised. Plant spirits did not feel as deeply for New Martial. Who knew where the group with him would end up once they left their home today? It was also harder for plant spirits to revitalize. Could he resurrect them all?

"Then for those of you who remain, there is no need to consider past relationships when we meet again in the future!" Zhang An said softly. "Being on duty for one hundred thousand years is payment enough for everything!" He turned to the golden cow. "Capsize Sea, you can sift through those staying. I hope you do not disappoint them!"

He vanished with a handful of people. Capsize Sea watched the man leave and didn't say anything. Zhang An had appeared! This was the dean's first time presenting himself in front of others ever since the downfall of Boundless. He took some of Martial Alliance's heavyweights with him as soon as he appeared.

There weren't many that'd awakened in Martial Alliance, just roughly three dozen people. There were Saints like the second elder, Immortals like the seventh elder, and a few officers and director generals that still possessed their mental strength.

Nearly one-third of those who'd revived chose to remain behind. Most were plant spirits.

Zhang An had taken the powerhouses, but not Martial Alliance's army. Most of the soldiers were lingering obsessions. They would die if they left the city. Staying meant a potential chance at resurrection.

"So we're just letting him leave with so many people?" Liu Yan couldn't help but murmur.

"General Liu, it's better to have less on our plate!" Gan Wuliang grinned. "This is just as well. If not... we might have another fight on our hands. Although we're not afraid of fighting, it would put Jiang Yingli and our fellow daoists in an awkward position. The Sea Pacification Envoy and rest would also be caught in a hard place. This might be the best possible outcome!"

Zhang An taking some of the heavyweights with him prevented further conflict from developing. He was probably off to visit the other main cities.

All of the New Martial citizens residing in the ancient cities would be fractured in the days to come. A portion would stay, a portion would go with Zhang An, and a portion might not go anywhere. They would take the city with them and run off with Galewind.

It was Gan Wuliang's speculation that the enemy most likely had Star River of the Zhous in their grasp. He set that aside and beamed at the large tree in the middle of the city.

"It is Skystar's great fortune that the guardian senior is willing to stay! The marquis is preoccupied today and cannot be here. He will surely welcome the senior in person when he is finished with his business. We will accomplish great things together with the senior joining Skystar! General Pagoda and General Redwood are surely looking forward to the senior's arrival!"

Having another Saint in their ranks seemed to be a wonderful proposition. Martial Alliance now belonged to Skystar. While there was no energy in the city, making it impossible to mobilize, who cared about that detail?

The most important part of an ancient city was its equipment. Gan Wuliang knew that carving up the remains of New Martial would be complete soon. He hadn't expected Zhang An to show himself today, but the man's presence created an olive branch between Skystar and New Martial. This was good.

If not, open warfare was the only outcome. Based on Li Hao's current thoughts, he would not let these New Martial powerhouses leave that easily.

......

On this day, Li Hao was cultivating, Ying Hongyue and the others were cultivating, the queen revived divine spirits, and changes appeared in New Martial.

Just as Gan Wuliang speculated, Star River of the Zhous outright appeared next to Silver City. Someone had mobilized it. This meant that either the entire city had betrayed New Martial, or that the traitors had seized it.

After Zhang An's visit, Martial Alliance's residents were split into two portions.

Meanwhile, violent unrest disturbed Steadfast Sky of the Zhangs. Explosions and detonations rang for a prolonged period of time before a few powerhouses walked out at the end. They left with Zhang An when the man arrived.

Gan Wuliang and the others were stunned by the sight that awaited them inside. The guardian plant spirits had been ripped to pieces! And since Zhang An had taken the rest with him, that meant it was very likely the plant spirits that had mutinied. They'd fought the Zhang family members inside the city, but whole and intact guardian plant spirits had been executed on the spot!

It was apparent from this that the Zhang members still possessed formidable battle strength.

Only the Hong city did not appear out of the eight. It was like they'd completely disappeared.

......

The eight cities were either sealed away or divvied up. At this point, the situation in Silver Moon world had completely changed. There were four strong factions of Li Hao, Zheng Yu, the Red Moon exalted emperor, and Zhang An.

Ying Hongyue was all by his lonesome. While the Divine Nation queen had five divine spirit Saints, Li Hao didn't think much of her since he knew the truth of her existence.

......

At the end of the Barren wasteland.

Li Hao received word of recent developments and smiled at the message. How interesting! Zhang An had appeared and taken some people with them. Those might truly represent New Martial.

Zhang An...

So Zhang An didn't join me in the end. He chose to keep believing in New Martial. That's just as nice, I hope he won't interfere with me. This is good!

Battle Heaven is filled with New Martial citizens. Even if they're willing to suppress the other New Martial powerhouses with me, they won't feel that good about it. I have a portion of New Martial heavyweights, the Zhengs have a portion, and Zhang An has the rest.

The young man's presence fluctuated as supernatural characters circled around him. He looked at the wasteland, finding it time to make a move. The migration had been continuing these days and everyone busied themselves with their tasks.

Li Hao tilted his head up at the silver moon in the sky.Li Daoheng... do you know what I'm going to do? Or perhaps you know, but can't do anything about it? Or perhaps you don't care at all since this is exactly art you want to see happen?

If that's the case, then you really are something.

He had something to do before revitalizing the world of the Barren wasteland. Li Hao disappeared from the spot. No one knew how many supernatural characters he'd formed during this cultivation session.