257: Chapter 257 The Star Gate Strategy

Aboard the void heaven-escaping shuttle, Ling Hao sat cross-legged with six tokens floating before him.

Silver, gold, earthy yellow, water blue, dark red, and ice blue—the six-colored brilliance interlaced into a vast Domain, enveloping the entire quiet room.

[System Notification]

[Mission Progress: 6/9]

[Currently Held: Taiyin, Taibai, Star Lord Zhenxing, Star Lord Chenxing, Star Lord Yinghuo, Suixing]

[Lords Token Array: Five Elements Forbidden Domain → Six Harmonies Overturning Heaven (Activated)]

[Effect: Suppresses all non-Origin power within a radius of eight hundred zhang. Combat power of Early Integration Stage Cultivators is reduced by 40%, and Void Refining stage Cultivators by 60%. With the six tokens linked, the Six Directions Phantoms can be temporarily summoned to assist in battle for fifteen breaths. Each Six Directions Phantom possesses the combat power of the Early Integration Stage and can fight independently.]

[Extra Effect: Special attribute of the suixing token: The holder can perceive the 'Merit and Demerit' of all living beings within a thousand-mile radius, discerning their good, evil, loyalty, or treachery.]

Ling Hao looked at the System light screen, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

The Six Harmonies Overturning Heaven array had an even stronger suppression effect. And the special attribute of the suixing token was an unexpected pleasant surprise, allowing him to perceive merit and demerit and discern good from evil.

This meant that when recruiting manpower in the future, he would no longer have to worry about spies infiltrating. The suixing token would tell him who was sincerely joining and who was just pretending.

“Three more to go.” Ling Hao put away the tokens and stood up to walk to the porthole.

Outside, the sea of clouds surged, and the outline of Tianhuo City loomed in the distance.

With six tokens in hand, the six Star Lords stationed in various directions had all been dealt with. The remaining three—Taiyang, Jidu, and Luohou—were not far away.

To obtain all the tokens, he had to launch a direct assault on the Heavenly Dao Palace headquarters.

That would be the final battle.

“Young Lord,” Shadow Seven’s voice came from outside the cabin door, “Han Lie has sent an urgent message.”

Ling Hao took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

The information in the Jade Slip was short, but it made his expression turn solemn.

The repair progress of the Gangfeng Gorge Star Gate had reached 95%, with completion expected within seven days. Star Lord Taiyang had ordered that the day the Star Gate was repaired would be the moment the Heaven Beyond Heaven descended, at which point all rebels would be purged.

Seven days.

Ling Hao gripped the Jade Slip tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Within seven days, he had to obtain the three tokens in Tianque City, destroy the eye of the heavenly dao, and then destroy the Star Gate before it could be repaired.

Time was of the essence.

“Pass the order,” Ling Hao turned around, “Return to the city at full speed.”

“Yes!”

The void heaven-escaping shuttle accelerated, its silver-white hull disappearing into the clouds.

---

The night at Gangfeng Gorge was deeper than anywhere else in the Central Region.

The black rock walls on both sides of the canyon towered into the clouds, cutting the moonlight into fine silver threads that scattered sporadically onto the Star Gate's foundation at the bottom of the valley. Over 90% of the stellar runes on the foundation had been restored, their pale gold light rising and falling slowly in the night like a sleeping dragon, breathing.

Star Lord Luohou sat cross-legged by the Star Gate foundation, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing.

His dark purple divine robe fluttered slightly in the night wind, and he held an ancient stellar scepter in his hand. The emerald green gem atop the scepter flashed every few breaths, resonating with the spiritual power in his body.

Days and nights of rushed work had left even this Star Lord in charge of intelligence feeling exhausted. But the Star Gate repair had reached a critical moment, and he didn't dare relax in the slightest.

“Lord Luohou.” A black-robed deacon walked over quickly and knelt on one knee. “News has come from Suixing Palace. Star Lord Suixing has closed the palace and is no longer responding to any orders.”

Star Lord Luohou opened his eyes, a cold light flashing in his emerald green pupils. “What does Star Lord Suixing think he's doing?”

“This subordinate does not know, but secret agents report that Star Lord Suixing had contact with Ling Hao. However, he did not openly defect to the Ling Family; he only stated that ‘Suixing Palace is henceforth independent and no longer under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dao Palace.’”

“That old fox.” Star Lord Luohou sneered. “He dares not offend the Heavenly Dao Palace, nor does he dare offend Ling Hao, so he’s retreated into his shell to watch from both sides.” He paused. “No need to worry about him for now, just keep a close eye. Once Star Lord Taiyang deals with Ling Hao, Star Lord Suixing will naturally behave.”

The six Star Lords stationed in various places had now all been taken down by Ling Hao. Taiyin, Taibai, and Star Lord Zhenxing were neutralized, while Star Lord Chenxing, Star Lord Yinghuo, and Suixing had declared independence. The Heavenly Dao Palace's defensive line on the periphery of the Central Region had completely collapsed.

“Ling Hao...” He gritted his teeth. “What exactly do you want?”

“Lord Luohou, should we strengthen the Star Gate's defenses?”

“Yes.” Star Lord Luohou took a deep breath. “Transfer another five hundred elites from headquarters. Additionally, send a message to Star Lord Taiyang requesting reinforcements.”

“Yes!”

The black-robed deacon took the order and left.

Star Lord Luohou closed his eyes again, but the unease in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Ling Hao might have already secured six tokens. What would his next step be? Attack Tianque City? No, he shouldn't have that kind of strength. Or...

He suddenly thought of something and snapped his eyes open.

The Star Gate!

Ling Hao's next step might be the Star Gate!

“Pass the order!” he said sharply. “All Disciples, enter maximum combat readiness! Set up a triple perimeter around the Star Gate. Anyone who approaches is to be killed without mercy!”

“Yes!”

The beacons of Tianhuo City were about to be lit.

After the void heaven-escaping shuttle landed in Tianhuo City, Ling Hao did not immediately gather everyone for a meeting. Instead, he walked alone into a secret room deep within the northern city stronghold.

The six star lord tokens floated before him, their six-colored brilliance weaving together like a net, enveloping the entire secret room within the Six Harmonies Overturning Heaven Domain. He closed his eyes in deep thought, repeatedly simulating the next moves of the chess game in his mind.

The defection of Star Lord Suixing brought not only the suixing token but also a complete Record of Merit and Demerit for the Heavenly Dao Palace’s vassal forces. This record detailed the true situation of all forces under the temple's command: who was loyal to the death, who was wavering, and who was already harboring resentment.

More importantly, Star Lord Suixing provided a key piece of information: although there were many guards at the Gangfeng Gorge Star Gate, there were only seven core Formation Masters. These seven were responsible for the repair and calibration of the Star Gate foundation; without them, the Star Gate could not function.

At the same time, after Ling Hao refined the suixing token, the 'Perception of Merit and Demerit' had become his own ability. Within the Six Harmonies Overturning Heaven Domain, he could clearly perceive the good, evil, loyalty, and treachery of all living beings within a thousand-mile radius.

This was an extremely powerful support ability, especially in recruiting manpower and identifying spies; its utility was immeasurable.

But at this moment, Ling Hao was not thinking about recruiting people, but about the Gangfeng Gorge Star Gate.

The Star Gate's repair progress had reached 95% and would be completed within seven days. If the Star Gate were successfully repaired, the power of the Heaven Beyond Heaven could be directly injected into this world. By then, even if he gathered all nine tokens and destroyed the eye of the heavenly dao, it would be to no avail, because the Heaven Beyond Heaven was even more terrifying than the Heavenly Dao.

So, why not just destroy the Star Gate?

This question swirled in Ling Hao's mind for a long time.

Destroying the Star Gate would indeed temporarily prevent the descent of the Heaven Beyond Heaven. But the Star Gate was an ancient ruin, an important passage connecting this world with the outside. If one day he needed to go to the Heaven Beyond Heaven, or needed to obtain resources from the outside world, the Star Gate might be the only way.

It was easy to destroy, but hard to rebuild.

Furthermore, the Star Gate itself was a supreme treasure. If he could take control of it, he could not only cut off the Heavenly Dao Palace's retreat but also use it for himself. In the future, if he needed to explore the Heaven Beyond Heaven or establish contact with other continents, the Star Gate would be a ready-made passage.

“I won't destroy it.” Ling Hao opened his eyes, a nine-colored brilliance flashing within them. “I'll seize it.”