Star Gate

Chapter 681: A Dense Multitude of Powerhouses (I)

Restlessness rustled through Skystar City. Not a sound was heard outside the city gates. The sky began to brighten, many hadn’t slept tonight as they waited for events of the day to unfold.

The sun was out. Those up early did not raise a clamor as they usually would. They walked soundlessly through the streets and busied themselves at work, occasionally looking toward the north.

Massive projection screens suddenly rose within various parts of the city. People glanced at them to see the northern gate being shown on them.

......

Inside the Nine Dragons Pavilion.

The female manager looked to the north and at the massive projection screen inside the establishment. Numerous members of the nine ministries and royal family were present to watch the proceedings. Unease stirred the great hall.

“We have to kill him and kill him in a fast, gruesome way!” someone forced out through gnashed teeth. You deserve to die, Li Hao!

Plainly, someone from his family was on the list of three hundred. The female manager looked at the crowd. Is killing Li Hao worthy of so much happiness? Aren't those on the list deserving of death? Which of them would dare say that they’re innocent?

She laughed in a self-deprecating manner and put those thoughts aside. Her heart soared with emotion and she internally shouted, kill them! Kill them all, Li Hao! Let Skystar City know that anyone who commits a crime is treated in the same way!

......

Everyone’s gazes were focused on Night Watcher headquarters and the northern city. Clad in armor and wielding a longsword, Li Hao moved out as well.

One thousand Silver Moon Guards shepherded more than two thousand nobles. The remaining one thousand were left behind as they were attendants or other servants of the Four Seas Island or the Colosseum. There was no point in bringing them.

The crowd of three thousand walked straight out of headquarters instead of taking cars, marching down the Avenues of the Nine Ministries.

“The Skystar Commander Office is enforcing the law! Make way, give way!” Mu Lin roared while wielding a large shield. He led the army forward, his shouts and yells reverberating in the surroundings!

Thousands of people set foot on the avenue and headed for the northern city quadrant. Nobles in shabby condition covered their faces, wanting nothing more than to eat Li Hao alive. How dare he parade them around in public! He needed to die!

......

“Damn him!”

“Kill him already!”

“Little bastard!” Furious cries rose from all over the city. Li Hao was crazy! He was turning two thousand nobles into an exhibition display, that asshole! If it wasn’t for plans already in place, they’d rise up and kill the son of a bitch now!

......

The long procession swiftly headed toward the northern city. Li Hao was in a very relaxed mood as he laughed from his perch on Panther. Today would be when all of Skystar City feasted their eyes on Demon Sword Li Hao, Commander Li on the back of a large dog, the savage from the north!

......

The northern city gates.

There was almost no one here. A long line of people snaked its way toward the gates.

Along the streets.

None of the residents on either side of the street dared show their faces. They quietly hid behind the windows, off the streets to sneak peeks at the happenings. They couldn’t afford to watch this kind of show, so as such they didn’t dare watch it.

However, everyone was concerned about it.

......

Some nobles were dead on their feet after nearly an hour of walking. The northern city gate finally came into view, prompting some sighs of relief. They would be unconscious on the ground soon if they kept walking; they were finally here!

Everyone looked at the man in front of them. Do you know? You must know! It will be your death sentence soon! Why are you so pigheaded??

Li Hao was as coolly composed as before as he surveyed the surroundings. There were so many supernaturals here today as well as powerhouses! And yet, the enemy seemed to know that he could see something. There weren’t many balls of light near the city gates.

Granted, after multiple battles, it was only to be expected that the outside world would determine that he was a Heaven’s Eye.

A convoy of cars slowly followed behind him—the Night Watchers. They weren’t interested in walking, but they wouldn’t pass Li Hao either, instead meandering behind him.

Inside the car.

Yellow Dragon glowered at the sight in front of him and didn’t say a word. In another car behind him, Deputy Director Zhou glared viciously at the young man. All directors of the Night Watchers were present, apart from Yao Si. Hou Xiaochen was in the very back, his eyes closed in repose. He was also a target that everyone was on guard against.

......

In the royal palace.

Dressed in armor, He Yong tightened his hand around a mallet and headed outside. A man on the younger side wearing yellow robes pleaded earnestly, “Please stay, Master He!”

He Yong looked at the man, unusually calm on this day. “I am a Silver Moon martial master!”

This was his only reason. There was no need for plots and gambles today. All that needed to be said was that he was a Silver Moon martial master. Therefore, he would go.

“Master He...” the man sighed. “I know it will be hard to persuade you otherwise, but insisting on a course of action despite understanding full well that it will be a failure is unwise! If Master He is willing to stay, I will avenge Commander Li for you once I consolidate the world.”

“I am of the martial world!” He Yong laughed loudly and soared into the sky. He looked down at the nine ministries with a sneer. “I’ll wait for you guys to come kill me!”

He broke through the air as various people looked up at his figure. Some did so with respect, others with a disdainful snort. He Yong really had emerged from the palace. These northern savages were still the same after all these years! It would be hard to kill him if he continued to hide in the palace under the ninth prince’s protection.

His decision to come out now wasn’t that much of a surprise. They simply felt that Silver Moon martial masters were as impervious to reason as before.

......

The Silver Moon Guards slowed down when they reached the northern city gates. There was no one around them and a big plaza on the outside. It was a boundless plain that reached straight to the Skystar coastline.

Li Hao jumped down from Panther’s back and ordered, “Bring the prisoners to the execution grounds!”

“Understood!” Mu Lin waved his hand, prompting the Guards to yank three hundred nobles out of the crowd. Some of the nobles were Solars and registered their treatment with unpleasant expressions. Some sneered, others cowered. There were also those who shook themselves, unwilling to let the Guard close.

Bam!

Some of the more hot-headed Guards decided to answer with a punch and make their subject vomit blood before dragging them off.

The various nobles were quickly hauled to the massive plaza. Li Hao walked through the air and quickly put himself on the city walls of middling height. He turned to look behind him with a soft chuckle. “The Night Watchers are carrying out an execution. If anyone wishes to observe, you are welcome to come!”

The sound of someone breaking through the air and a bark of laughter reached everyone’s ears. “I’d like to watch! What can people do about several hundred dog heads being cut off?”

He Yong landed, dressed in bronze armor, wielding a mallet, his beard frosted over, and a violent light in his eyes.

Li Hao smiled without a word. Was he surprised that He Yong had come? Not really. However, the man was normally an opportunistic fellow. Making his stance known at this time was likely not a fair weather indication. The human heart was very complicated at times.

The young man didn’t say anything. Behind him, the convoy of cars slowly rolled to a stop. Yellow Dragon and the others flew to the city walls with cool composure. Since Li Hao had invited them to watch the execution, then they would play along in accordance with his wishes.

They picked a spot that was slightly removed from the young man—approximately one hundred meters apart. Ten deputy directors were present, as well as the other three commanders. There were also a dozen Novas, including Big Eyes and her two friends. There were many heavyweights among the Night Watchers. Nearly thirty Novas alone were gathered on this spot. Different thoughts flitted through their minds. Some kept silent, others looked expectant, and some gazed wordlessly at Li Hao.

The Night Watchers were a grassroots organization, most of them came from ordinary civilians. But after twenty years, some had forgotten their roots while others were like Yao Si. They remembered, but had succumbed to reality.

Li Hao scanned the crowd, not minding that he didn’t see Yao Si. He ignored everyone present and peered imperiously down at the plaza. The nobles on the list craned their necks upward, some with bitter hatred, others with burning fury.

“The criminals will kneel!” Li Hao declared.

No one listened to him.

A moment later, the Silver Moon Guards next to them forced them into kneeling. Some struck extremely harshly, breaking legs with a loud crunch. Nobles sprawled on the ground as wails of agony rose.

“Li Hao!” someone shouted. “We are honorable aristocrats and should be treated with dignity even if we are to die!”

“There is no talk of blue blood or red blood among criminals,” Li Hao answered coolly. “All of you are sentenced to die as you are unredeemable criminals! Ever since the ancient times, princes have been treated the same as commoners when they break the law! The dynasty is still ruled by law and order. Unless it completely topples, you are sentenced to die today!”

He checked the hour and took out a sheaf of documents. Certain members of the crowd stirred when they saw the papers and one in particular shot through the air. He was very strong and landed with a smile.