Star Gate

A hush stole over the City of Supernaturals after the city lord’s announcement rang through the streets. Utter mayhem erupted one beat later. Hearts quailed with terror!

What was going on here??

Li Hao appeared, emanating a commandeering presence. His voice rumbled through the city, “Do not fret, everyone. I am Li Hao! I greatly welcome City Lord Lin’s desire to join the Skystar Commander Office. From this moment on, all residents are to wait in their homes for further arrangements. Be at peace and do not run around or commit wrongdoing! There are plans in place for all City of Supernaturals citizens. Those who desert or stir up trouble will be executed with no exception!”

The mayhem deepened to complete pandemonium. Figures darted for the city gates while others looked around wildly, terror-stricken! Some of them had just fled back from Skystar City, but Li Hao was to be found everywhere! He’d taken the City of Supernaturals! What were they waiting for if they didn’t make a run for it?

However, blades, spears, and swords bristled as soon as they reached the city walls. Wails of agony rang through the air. Ten thousand soldiers appeared over the ramparts. They weren’t gathered too densely, but were intimidating nonetheless.

“No one is permitted to leave!” Huang Yu shouted with a brandish of his spear. “Return to your homes and await further arrangement. This place is under Demon Hunter Army jurisdiction! You have fifteen minutes before the army cleanses the city streets. Any who are still loitering outside of their homes will be shown no mercy!”

“Brothers, we’re supernaturals!” someone roared with immense reluctance to accept the situation. “How can we take orders from others? Let’s charge together! They’re just a few thousand…”

The area around him was empty before he finished speaking. The man paled with dismay; he’d forgotten that the troublemakers had all been summoned last night. Those who dared to rebel were all gone. All that was left in the city now were those happy to keep their heads down. They would never dare revolt.

Indeed, people ran back to their homes and shut the door and windows tight. Terrified out of their minds, they wanted nothing more than to stay inside forever. Rising up was the last thing on their mind.

There were also some who knew that death was undoubtedly in store for them if they were caught. They charged in all directions, trying to flee.

However, the soldiers quickly stamped out the various scuffles that occurred. The soldiers weren’t strong individually, yet they were indomitable when gathered together. Supernaturals that wished to start a disturbance were killed on the spot.

The vast City of Supernaturals was abruptly much quieter after a few minutes. Commotion could be found at only a few places. The city defenders didn’t dare say a word—they quickly coordinated their actions with these soldiers to maintain order inside the city. The bustling City of Supernaturals resembled a dead city in the blink of an eye.

Many people wanted to send messages about their situation, but they found that their transmission pendants no longer sparkled with light. They couldn’t even communicate with anyone! Dark despair stole through their minds.

The ten thousand soldiers split into two. Half entered the city to pacify unrest. Apart from scattered shouts and clangs, the city that was lauded to have the most supernaturals in the world, the strongest city in the world, was as quiet as a grave.

Li Hao remained hovering in the air, not doing anything. He simply sent a ray of sword light to wherever there were heavyweights causing trouble and blew up the strongest of the group.

Lin Hongyu also rushed through the city with various Lin experts, soothing any citizens she came across. The troublemakers that had entered the inner city were being held in the earth driller.

Three hours later, the city was as quiet as could be.

The agitating supernaturals were all executed on the spot. Almost one thousand supernaturals had died, but that hadn’t caused significant ripples. They’d engaged in separate, disjointed action and fallen one by one. There wasn’t a single large-scale riot.

……

Inside Skystar City.

People busy at their posts quickly received word from Li Hao. Hong Yitang, in particular, received a line that said, “Come swiftly to collect your supernaturals. Take them all back to plant the fields, the City of Supernaturals has fallen!”

Complex looks appeared on everyone’s faces. There were one million supernaturals in that city. Li Hao had taken only a few weaklings with him to quell unrest. Although their supernaturals had been killed before, it was still very difficult to claim the entire city.

It’d been just a day since Li Hao left, but he’d already seized the City of Supernaturals!

Incredible!

“Although I knew it was just a matter of time, it’s still astonishing that he was able to do so without any fuss from the City of Supernaturals,” Chen Zhongtian sighed with emotion. “They were all easily suppressed! So many powerhouses on our side died in previous skirmishes that I was thinking it would become a problem when we took over the city. But now, it would seem that the anticipated troubles did not occur.”

“Lin Hongyu’s got shit for brains…” Chen Yao said with a complicated look on his face.

“Are you talking about your old man, or yourself?”

Chen Yao sheepishly looked back at his dad. That’s true! Our family had shit for brains long before she did.

“You’d already be dead if I didn’t lose my mind!” snorted Chen Zhongtian. He then smiled broadly. “Trust your father’s choice. See, after the fall of the City of Supernaturals, only the three great organizations and Yonder Mountain have the capacity to rise up. It’s only a matter of time before they’re settled!”

Chen Yao didn’t know what to make of the situation. Everything had happened so quickly! The nine ministries and royal family were overcome in the blink of an eye; the City of Supernaturals followed soon after. Li Hao’s rise was complete.

The greatest problem facing them now was the second awakening. Li Hao’s side was almost invincible if it didn’t take place!

……

At the same time.

Holding down the fort in the distant Silver Moon, Director General Zhao received a message from Hou Xiaochen.

“Stand at the ready, disorder might be upon the province soon. Be careful of the three great organizations moving their operations to Silver Moon…”

Director General Zhao could make neither heads nor tails of the message. The second awakening was yet to begin, what freaking disorder?

Or, was it about to begin?

“Stop skulking in the shadows and make bigger moves.” A message from Huang Yu arrived while the director general mused over his colleague’s words. “The world is about to change and we shall rise with the wind. Don’t be falling behind now, Ole Zhao!”

Director General Zhao blinked at the latest communication. His transmission pendant lit up a third time; it was Kong Jie. “Oi Zhao, set up a feast for my glorious return! Who d’you think you were insulting with twenty drops of Water of Life?? Imma go back and beat the shit out of you!”

“……” Change flickered over the director general’s expression. That all three had sent him a message at the same time… indicated that the world had changed! He looked in the direction of Skystar City with raised eyebrows. Had Li Hao taken down the nine ministries? How could the lad have done it so quickly??

Director General Zhao found it hard to believe, but intoned, “Notify all troops to be at the highest level of combat readiness! All Silver Moon powerhouses are hereby called into active duty. Legions stationed in the ruins are to emerge and begin their drills!

“Our troops are to swiftly eradicate the North Sea pirates, push the front line in Near River, raze the Near River Governor General Office, and advance on the three northern provinces!”

The group of personnel on duty outside his office was stunned. Silver Moon… was going to war!

This quickly?

Despite the plethora of thoughts swirling in their minds, the appropriate orders were swiftly carried down the chain of command.

A storm was brewing. Director General Zhao took a deep breath and looked in a certain direction. Perhaps it’s time that I have a talk with those guys!

……

The City of Supernaturals had been conquered, but fire could not be enwrapped by paper. Although concrete news did not circulate yet in the outside world, bits and pieces had been passed on. Only entry was permitted to the City of Supernaturals, not egress. The thousands of supernaturals encamped outside the city walls were continuously separated until they disappeared.

This large number of supernaturals had friends and family. Those people could contact their loved ones at first, but now received no word from them.

Some supernaturals that’d held various positions in the outside world had also gone missing. Change was taking place in the central region.

……

The end of the year was at hand. Typically a boisterous and bustling time, the regular citizens of the central region found this year that whether it was government officials or the rich and mighty, all were eerily reserved this year.

They were so quiet that it was almost deathly quiet. In the past, this was a lively time of the year no matter how chaotic the world was. This year, however, it was particularly cheerless.

The government didn’t organize any events and all of the rich and powerful kept their doors shut tight. Supernaturals could usually be glimpsed flying through the air, but there was nary even a bird to be found now.

……

As the guardian provinces of the four corners of Skystar City, the North, South, East, and West Peak provinces had always answered to the capital city.

On this day, South Peak province. The provincial government.

The South Peak director general looked at the people in front of him for a very long time. He did not know what to say.

He Yong stood in front of him, more solemn than usual. He held a golden booklet and announced, “The director general of South Peak is hereby ordered to register all supernaturals within your provincial borders and await for further deployment!

“The Night Watchers will be taking over all superhuman related issues within the province. The South Peak army is to make camp where they are stationed and forbidden from moving around. Their command tokens are hereby revoked and all troublemakers will be executed without question!”

Resignation shown out of the director general’s eyes. Back when Li Hao came and arrested a deputy director general, then eliminated the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, he’d known that the rise of the Skystar Commander Office was unstoppable.

But… he hadn’t thought that this day would come so quickly.

“Where is Director General Zhao?” he asked softly after a sigh. As another member of provincial administration, he had some questions to ask, even if he felt that he already knew the answers.