Chapter 265: The Starling Republic

A year had passed, and Shi Mingyuan’s style of handling affairs had become even more decisive and efficient.

Right after soaking in the hot spring and feeling refreshed, she didn’t care about the late hour and immediately summoned everyone to convene a joint meeting of the Celestial Republic.

This clearly showed that Shi Mingyuan indeed held a lofty and respected position in the East. As soon as the summons was issued, the leaders of those star systems hurried over without a single complaint.

The special emergency meeting was surprisingly well attended. More than thirty core star systems were represented, along with over a dozen high-ranking officials of the Republic. Also present were Yang Hao and Shi Mingyuan, as well as four peculiar old men who had been following Shi Mingyuan ever since she left the hot spring.

These four elders caught Yang Hao’s attention for quite some time. They appeared extremely old, with white hair, beards, and eyebrows, yet something about them made Yang Hao feel that they were far older than they looked—much older.

Despite their age, the four were full of vigor and vitality. As they stood behind Shi Mingyuan, they cast sharp, intimidating glances at anyone who approached. Their attire was also unusual—they wore long robes of ancient design instead of the Republic’s official uniforms, which added to their imposing presence.

Shi Mingyuan offered no explanation for the presence of these four elders. Meanwhile, Hun Yuanzi, the immortal within Yang Hao’s dantian who had been in deep meditation, seemed to sense something amiss. He emerged briefly, glancing toward Shi Mingyuan with a hint of delight before retreating once more to continue his cultivation.

Yang Hao followed Shi Mingyuan into the joint meeting. Surprisingly, there was someone named Si Zhe among the star system leaders. It seemed he was also from a prestigious family, managing to secure his position through ancestral inheritance.

When Si Zhe saw Yang Hao and Shi Mingyuan enter together, his expression turned sour. But what truly unsettled him was Yang Hao’s striking appearance—his rugged disguise as a vagabond had been washed away, revealing his youthful, handsome face. Standing beside Shi Mingyuan, the two made a picture-perfect pair.

When Shi Mingyuan introduced Yang Hao, the room erupted in astonished gasps.

“This is my husband, Lord Yang Hao, the ruler of the Western Territory of the Galactic Empire, the Lord of the Oracular Autonomous Territory, and the leader of the Rebel Alliance,” Shi Mingyuan said, her fingers entwined with Yang Hao’s as she continued, “He is also the savior we have all been waiting for.”

“Yang Hao?!” Si Zhe exclaimed in shock. “You’re Yang Hao? The Undying War God?!”

No answer was needed—the scene before them was proof enough. Yang Hao’s appearance had long been circulated throughout the Celestial Republic, and now, standing beside Shi Mingyuan, he was undeniably the very rebel figure hailed as the Undying War God.

“Is it really you…? You’re not dead?” one of the star system leaders, who bore beast-like traits, asked in disbelief. “You actually survived after battling the Supreme and destroying the Elder Council?”

“I’m alive and well,” Yang Hao nodded. “Many have died, but I remain.”

“How could you survive? That was the Supreme One!” Even the burly, beast-like leader trembled slightly at the mention of that name.

“He may have become a god, but he is not invincible,” Yang Hao replied calmly. He understood that Shi Mingyuan had gathered everyone here to rally support for their cause. “We may have lost to the Zunzhi, but next time, we will win.”

“And how do you plan to win?” Si Zhe sneered. “You came crawling to the East like a beggar. What do you bring us? Troops? Experts? Swordmaster squads? You have nothing. What makes you think you can win?”

“With courage! Belief!!” Yang Hao’s expression darkened as he scanned the room. “And with strength!”

“Strength? What strength?” Si Zhe scoffed. “You were nothing but a stray dog dragged back by our female officer. Don’t tell me you’ve lost your mind from that beating.”

“It’s you who’s lost your mind!” The beast-like leader suddenly snapped, glaring at Si Zhe. “Haven’t you seen all those wanted posters the Galactic Empire issued? Isn’t that proof of his strength?”

Even if the others didn’t say it outright, the star system leaders had already reached the same conclusion. Though Yang Hao stood alone, and though he had suffered heavy losses at Elder Mountain, his remaining forces were still formidable.

The Oracular Autonomous Territory remained independent of the Empire, serving as Yang Hao’s stronghold. The remaining half of the Sword Division and the Dragon Guard Legion numbered over six swordmaster squads. More alarmingly, there were over two hundred hidden experts from the Dragon’s Lair, all at the Saint Realm level. This made Yang Hao’s power nearly equal to that of the Elder Council.

Without considering the Supreme, Yang Hao still had the strength to challenge the Elder Council.

Unsurprisingly, Si Zhe was widely disliked. None of the twenty-odd star system leaders paid him any heed, instead offering Yang Hao a respectful salute reserved for powerful warriors.

An older leader asked, “Respected warrior, you have always been an object of admiration in our Eastern Republic. Our people regard you as the savior who will resist the Empire. But now that you’ve left the Oracular Autonomous Territory and come to the East, what is your purpose? Is it time to resume the fight against the Elder Council and their puppet regime? Do you need our help?”

The question was fair. Though Yang Hao was seen as the spiritual leader of the resistance, each leader had their own agenda. Yang Hao’s domain was in the West, while this was the East. His sudden arrival naturally raised questions.

Yang Hao himself wasn’t sure how to answer. He couldn’t very well tell them he had been blasted into space by divine power and had been drifting until he reached the East for healing.

But Shi Mingyuan, seemingly prepared, unexpectedly spoke up. “Yang Hao has come to take control of the Celestial Republic.”

“What?”

“What do you mean?”

“What?”

Everyone in the room, including Yang Hao, wore the same stunned expression.

“That’s right,” Shi Mingyuan affirmed firmly. “I intend to hand over the position of Supreme Leader of the Celestial Republic to Lord Yang Hao.”

“Why?”

“Because the power of the Elders’ Council is overwhelmingly strong, neither the East nor the West can confront it alone. If we don’t want to die, we must unite like an iron fist. In this universe, who has ever faced the Supreme directly and survived? And who could possibly withstand the Elders’ Council? Besides Yang Hao, there is no one else.” Shi Mingyuan’s gaze swept across the entire room, his eyes resolute. “I’ve already made my decision. Only by letting Yang Hao lead the East can we truly become powerful. Otherwise, the Elders’ Council could destroy us all with a single strike.”

Many star system leaders fell silent. Shi Mingyuan had touched on a fatal weakness of the Republic—it lacked enough high-level experts. The total number of Saint Realm warriors barely reached ten. If the Elder Council launched a full-scale attack, this seemingly prosperous Republic could collapse overnight.

“Actually…” Yang Hao took a deep breath, wanting to delay the matter. After all, Shi Mingyuan had made such a monumental decision without even consulting him—it was too hasty.

But Shi Mingyuan, ever the stubborn child, insisted, “Didn’t you all agree, back when you elected me as Supreme Leader, that I would eventually pass the position to Yang Hao?”

Yang Hao was taken aback. He hadn’t known this. It seemed Shi Mingyuan had been planning to hand over the East to him for a long time—perhaps even before the Republic was established.

The officials and leaders exchanged uneasy glances. Back then, Shi Mingyuan had appeared as the prophesied savior of Angel Star, a rare Saint Realm warrior. To keep her as Supreme Leader, they had agreed to anything. Now, handing over such a vast Federation to Yang Hao seemed unreasonable.

The decision was indeed questionable—not just to the leaders, but even to Yang Hao himself. Yet Shi Mingyuan stubbornly insisted, threatening to resign if they refused.

Just as the situation reached an impasse, an idiot stepped in and made things worse.

Si Zhe, who had been holding back for a while, finally exploded, “A stray dog dares to claim he’s the leader’s husband!” He completely forgot that Shi Mingyuan herself had declared Yang Hao her husband.

But he wasn’t done. “He’s just a vagabond pretending to be a master. You fools believe he’s the Undying War God? I don’t. No one is truly immortal. He’s just a fraud who got chased out of the Elder Council with a few lucky shots. Now he’s come here to deceive the East? Do you really think there are no experts in the East who can expose his lies?”

Yang Hao had been hesitant before, but Si Zhe’s words made him reconsider.

The war with the Elder Council was far from over. The East had its own system, and this force could be useful. Moreover, leaving Shi Mingyuan surrounded by people like Si Zhe was unbearable.

Yang Hao also realized that the role of Supreme Leader of the Republic was much like that of the Oracular Autonomous Territory’s ruler—it was essentially a figurehead for military leadership. Each star system’s benefits were controlled by its own leader, and the Supreme Leader’s main role was to lead the military against the Elder Council. Taking over from Shi Mingyuan wouldn’t infringe on the interests of the star system leaders.

But Si Zhe ranted on, nearly foaming at the mouth. If people didn’t know better, they might think Yang Hao had killed his entire family.

“Enough!” Shi Mingyuan’s face turned pale with anger. “Si Zhe, don’t forget—I’ve already said that Yang Hao is the leader of all rebels. Wherever he is, the East will follow him.”

“But what if he’s useless? What if he can’t lead us at all?” Si Zhe spat. “Unless… unless we test him. Let real experts see if he truly is the Undying War God.”

“Want to try?” Yang Hao shot back coldly.

That one sentence silenced Si Zhe. The others looked on with pity—challenging the Undying War God sounded like a death wish.

Si Zhe swallowed hard, caught between a rock and a hard place. He had only reached his position through inheritance and had no martial skills. The scar from when Yang Hao had melted his particle gun was still fresh. He dared not challenge Yang Hao.

“We want to try.”

Just as everyone was at a loss, a voice suddenly spoke up.

The voice came from beside Shi Mingyuan, drawing shocked glances from everyone.

“Masters?” Shi Mingyuan’s face turned even paler.

The speaker was one of the four old men who had stood behind her like silent bodyguards.

“If the Masters wish to challenge Yang Hao, then by all means,” Si Zhe quickly became excited. Though he didn’t know the elders’ origins, he knew they were all Saint Realm warriors—each capable of defeating an Elder. They had fought alongside Shi Mingyuan in the East, repeatedly defeating Imperial fleets and earning great respect.

But Shi Mingyuan inwardly groaned. She knew the Masters’ true origins well. This was supposed to be a surprise for Yang Hao, but it had turned into a nightmare.

She had no doubt that Yang Hao could handle any ordinary challenger. But these four… they were the very ones who had trained her from a novice to a Saint Realm warrior. If they could elevate an average person to that level in a year, how could she consider them ordinary?

Yang Hao, however, remained calm. He had always found these elders strange, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

Now, a chance to fight might finally clear up his doubts.

He took a few steps back and nodded. “Alright. Which Master will test me first?”

“We’ll all test you,” the four elders said in unison. “All four of us together.”

“What?!” Even Yang Hao was stunned.

He had seen many shameless opponents, but never this shameless. The four of them, likely over five hundred years old combined, had the audacity to gang up on him without a hint of shame.

Without another word, the four elders launched their attack.

As the saying goes, a true expert reveals their skill with the first move. Though their power was only at the Saint Realm level, Yang Hao felt an unusual sensation—as if facing a god or an old sword saint. Though their strength was inferior, it somehow suppressed him.

Yang Hao caught sight of Si Zhe’s smug grin. He knew that if he failed this test, not only would his reputation suffer, but Shi Mingyuan’s position would also be in jeopardy.

If a fight was what they wanted, then he would give them one.

With a loud cry, Yang Hao burst through the ceiling and soared into the sky. His voice rang out clearly, “Masters, it’s too cramped down there. Come up and fight!”

Without needing further prompting, the four elders shot up like lightning.

Three of them surrounded Yang Hao, their hands swirling with mist-like clouds. The moment the clouds touched his body, they hardened like chains.

“Cloud Prison!” The three elders shouted in unison, trapping Yang Hao between them before he could react.

Yang Hao felt a strange sensation. The clouds that bound him were nothing more than vapor, yet they held him fast.

Below, Shi Mingyuan was sweating profusely. She hadn’t expected her beloved’s masters to show no mercy, launching their strongest technique right away.

Last time the Empire attacked the East, a Sword Saint had been trapped in the Cloud Prison until the battle ended, barely escaping with his life, gravely injured.

The Cloud Prison was a unique martial technique of the Masters, one even Shi Mingyuan didn’t understand. It was likely a secret known only to these few elders.

Yang Hao, however, was analyzing it. Since coming to the East, he had noticed that the martial techniques here were vastly different from those in the Empire. In the Empire, Elders and Sword Saints favored flashy moves and various elemental attacks, enhancing natural elements for combat.

But in the East, the techniques were more fundamental—simple strikes and cuts. Yet within that simplicity lay speed and space, creating uniquely effective attacks.

“Space!” A realization flashed in Yang Hao’s mind. He quickly activated the Flowing Shadow Step, a teleportation technique taught by the gods, which could manipulate surrounding space.

As expected, it had no effect. The entire space seemed locked in chains.

The three elders, seeing Yang Hao’s body flicker with light, looked up in surprise, astonished that he knew such an advanced divine technique.

The fourth elder, however, had remained hundreds of meters away. Yang Hao watched as he placed something in his mouth.

Then, a blazing fire dragon appeared in the sky.

“The Flame Dragon Sword!!” Yang Hao exclaimed in shock. “Sword Pill!!!”

The elder had swallowed a Sword Pill, unique to the Dan Ding Dual Cultivation Sect, and unleashed the Flame Dragon Sword. Even more shocking was the fact that the power of this sword strike surpassed even Yang Hao’s own, despite him being the sect’s top disciple.

Yang Hao was now in a dire situation. His space was locked by the Cloud Prison, and a deadly attack from his own sect was incoming.

“Masters, you have skill,” Yang Hao’s expression changed, but a fierce, indomitable spirit surged from within him. “Even the strongest chains of space cannot stop a sword from cutting through everything.”

Before he finished speaking, Ying Yue burst forth from his body. This time, it carried the two profound truths Yang Hao had mastered—Fire and Sword.

The ultimate creative law resided within Ying Yue as it slashed fiercely at the Cloud Prison’s chains.

“Sword in hand!” Yang Hao roared like a descending war god. “Sword in hand!!!”

Ying Yue, with the momentum of a waterfall cascading thousands of feet, cleaved through the Cloud Prison’s spatial chains. Yang Hao soared upward, but as he flew, his hands trembled, leaving behind a gift for the four elders below.

Tens of thousands of blinding white sword beams rained down like snow in January or cherry blossoms in March.

The Sword Truth surged like a tidal wave, engulfing the four elders. The Flame Dragon Sword was extinguished amidst the endless sword light. Although the four elders launched repeated attacks, they were overwhelmed by the relentless sword beams.

Though these four elders possessed many divine techniques unknown to Yang Hao, they were still only at the Saint Realm level. Yang Hao broke free from their control and wrapped them in pure, overwhelming power.

Without any divine techniques to rely on, he forced them into a direct power clash.

In the entire universe, apart from the Supreme, who could possibly rival Yang Hao’s strength?

The four elders, unable to withstand the endless sword beams, were forced to retreat step by step.

But then, dozens of massive fire meteors rained down upon them without mercy.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each fire meteor carried explosive power. Even a Saint Realm warrior couldn’t withstand so many. The Elder Tian Ce had been severely wounded by Yang Hao’s brutal tactics before.

Under the relentless bombardment of dozens of fireballs, the four elders finally collapsed from exhaustion, plummeting toward the ground.

Yang Hao smirked. Ying Yue traced a strange arc in the air. The four elders suddenly noticed a massive spatial vortex opening beneath them, its gaping maw ready to swallow them whole.

“Yang Hao! Don’t!” Shi Mingyuan, who had been happy to see Yang Hao gaining the upper hand, suddenly panicked. If the elders fell into the spatial vortex, they would be torn apart instantly.

The four elders, already drained of strength, had no chance of resisting.

Just as they were about to fall into the vortex, Yang Hao suddenly activated the Flowing Shadow Step, appearing among them and gently tapping each one, nudging them away from the vortex’s deadly pull.

Seeing this, Shi Mingyuan finally exhaled in relief.

By now, the outcome was clear. The four most powerful elders of the Eastern Celestial Republic had been defeated by Yang Hao working together.

The title of Undying War God was well-earned.

The dozens of star system leaders now looked at Yang Hao not with doubt, but with eager anticipation, like customers eyeing a prized commodity.

Why had they chosen Shi Mingyuan as the Republic’s Supreme Leader? Because she herself was a Saint Realm warrior, and because several Saint Realm experts followed her loyally. With that strength, the Eastern star system leaders felt secure.

Now, Yang Hao had displayed power beyond all others. Any leader who valued their own safety would eagerly seek Yang Hao as the Republic’s protector.

Although he wasn’t as powerful as the Supreme, being the second strongest in the universe was more than sufficient.

Yang Hao returned to the ground and bowed respectfully to the four elders. The four old men panted heavily, too exhausted to speak.

He turned to face the others in the room. Like a well-rehearsed act, the leaders began praising him, heaping him with compliments. Only Si Zhe remained like a defeated rooster, his face dark and stormy.

“I think no one will object now,” Shi Mingyuan said proudly. “Then it’s decided—Yang Hao will be the Supreme Leader of the Celestial Republic.”

Who would dare object now? The star system leaders clapped in unison, welcoming Yang Hao to his new position.

“Not yet.”

A discordant voice interrupted.

“Masters?” Shi Mingyuan turned to see the same stern-faced elders who had just caught their breath speaking again.

“He is not yet ready for this position,” one of the elders said.

“Master Tian Xuan, why not? Yang Hao has already shown his strength,” another leader quickly countered. Yang Hao’s display had already convinced them.

Yang Hao’s ears perked up at the name Tian Xuan. He had never heard it before, but it felt connected to Hun Yuanzi somehow.

More importantly, Tian Xuan had used the Sword Pill technique, a secret of the Dan Ding Sect. Yang Hao himself had only recently mastered it. There must be a connection between Tian Xuan and the Dan Ding Sect.

Coincidentally, Hun Yuanzi was in deep meditation, closing off his senses. Otherwise, upon hearing the name Tian Wei, he might have jumped ten feet in the air.

After catching his breath, Tian Xuan resumed his stern expression. “Although he now has some strength, it is still far from enough compared to the Zun. If someone else takes the position, the Zun might not even care. But if Yang Hao takes it, the Zun will certainly come to kill him. Then, who will save you?”

The leader was speechless.

Tian Xuan was right. No matter how powerful Yang Hao was, the Supreme remained his greatest enemy. If Yang Hao hadn’t led the Republic, the Supreme might not even have bothered with this small Federation in the East.

But if Yang Hao were to take charge and unite the East and West, the Supreme would certainly come to crush him. Then, there would be no hope of salvation.

“Master Tian Xuan is absolutely right,” Si Zhe seized the opportunity like a lifeline. “If he becomes Supreme Leader, he’ll bring disaster. Do we really want to die?”

“So…” Tian Xuan paused, then continued, “For now, Shi Mingyuan will remain in charge. We will take Yang Hao back for training, to prepare him to face the Zunzhi.”

“What?”

“What?”

“What?”

Si Zhe had thought Tian Xuan was helping him, but the result was unexpected. He slumped back into his seat, defeated.

Who was Tian Xuan? He was Shi Mingyuan’s master, a mysterious expert who had emerged from a black hole. Only Shi Mingyuan had undergone his training, transforming from a woman with no sword skills into a Saint Realm warrior in just one year.

If Yang Hao underwent such training, how powerful would he become?

Even Yang Hao himself couldn’t imagine.

But Tian Xuan and the others looked certain, as if they could elevate Yang Hao to the至尊 level.

Perhaps no one in the room realized that what Tian Xuan and the others were about to do was not ordinary training.

It was god-making.

They were going to turn Yang Hao into a true god.

Standing inside the transmission array set up by the four elders, Yang Hao still felt it was incredible.

Before this, he had always relied on his own strength to defeat enemies. But since arriving in the East, he had discovered that there were techniques that rivaled raw power—such as mastery of spatial forces.

Now, reflecting on the past, when the Supreme One descended like a god upon Elder Mountain, reducing sword masters to dust with but a single finger, it seemed an impossible miracle. Yet perhaps it was merely the application of spatial laws.

Imagine, if in that moment, hundreds of thousands of spatial rifts were densely woven into a net. When that net covered a person, the storms within the rifts would tear them apart, leaving not even a trace.

Yang Hao could imagine how the Supreme had accomplished it, but he had to admit that with his current abilities, he was unable to replicate such a feat. He could barely control ten spatial rifts at once. To manage hundreds of thousands simultaneously would not only be nearly impossible, but would also demand an unfathomable amount of energy.

But now, the transmission array set up by the four elders truly opened Yang Hao’s eyes.

The array was located behind the government mansion, covering an area of about one square kilometer. Countless giant tourmaline stones were engraved with intricate patterns—mysterious symbols that seemed to correspond to certain cosmic forces.

The four elders needed to activate each of these symbols one by one. As they did, the array seemed to come alive, gradually charging with energy.

Yang Hao was puzzled. “With the Masters’ abilities, couldn’t they just open a spatial wormhole to transport a few people? It wouldn’t be difficult to travel between planets.”

But Shi Mingyuan smiled. “Travel between planets is easy for us. But what about crossing half the universe? Even with a hundred times our strength, it would still be difficult.”

Yang Hao was stunned. He hadn’t expected the purpose of this training to be so distant.

Generally, martial experts opening spatial wormholes for transportation were limited to short distances. Even Saint Realm warriors could only teleport within the same planet, and it was extremely energy-consuming. Interplanetary travel was already difficult for Yang Hao.

Instantaneous travel across half the universe would require an unimaginable amount of energy. It was practically impossible for humans to achieve, even with dozens of antimatter reactors. Otherwise, the Empire would have already developed such technology.

But the four elders were calmly activating one mysterious symbol after another.

“The Masters are using the energy of the stars,” Shi Mingyuan seemed to know what Yang Hao was thinking. “This transmission array fully utilizes stellar energy. Those symbols are projections of the stars in the sky.”

“Stellar energy?” Yang Hao thought of the Starlight Circus. Their cultivation seemed to involve stellar energy, but they hadn’t mastered it well, so their power was weak.

But the four elders seemed to answer Yang Hao’s doubts. What they displayed next would be considered a miracle even in the Empire.

Without expending any of their own energy, the four elders created a spatial portal over ten meters tall within the array.

Though Yang Hao didn’t know what lay on the other side, his spiritual sense told him that stepping through the swirling starry gate would transport him across half the universe into an entirely unknown realm.

That realm would also reveal to him the mysteries of stars and space.