In Dali.
Inside the divine temple.
The skeleton had been cast to the side. The King of Dali and Jiang Li stood silently in the great hall, waiting for something.
After a long time, a voice spoke.
"What is your request?"
The King of Dali remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Can you guarantee that Dali will forever remain independent of Silver Moon?"
At this moment, the King of Dali showed less of his usual overbearing demeanor and far more helplessness.
He simply could not compete!
"Your choice is just like the choice Early Martial made when the Human King rose back then... wishing to remain independent of Neo-Martial. In the end, it was proven that this was not a particularly wise choice. Early Martial was nearly severed, and Neo-Martial rose!"
The King of Dali let out a breath. "Then... if Senior is willing to lend a hand, Dali might not have to rely on Heavenly Star. It might even turn the tables!"
Jiang Li also chimed in, "Our God's combat power is peerless... Why not—"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"..."
Both men were struck speechless.
From within the grand hall, the voice sounded once more: "Be it Silver Moon, Li Hao, or the Red Moon... none of it has anything to do with me! I remain here not to help you contend for supremacy over the world, nor for any other reason... I have my own thoughts, which naturally have nothing to do with you either!"
The indifferent voice continued, "In every era, someone is bound to rise. Favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony—an era shapes heroes, and heroes shape an era... We folk have already lost the youthful vigor of those bygone days. Those who lack that drive can hardly forge an era anew..."
Jiang Li said in a deep voice, "His Majesty still possesses that vigor! Dali still possesses human harmony! If Our God is willing... Dali also has the strength to contend!"
Only this time had they truly witnessed the terrifying might of this God of Early Martial.
With a single punch, he had obliterated a skeleton at the Heavenly King level.
And that was under the current suppressive conditions. One could only imagine just how formidable this God of Early Martial would be if he unleashed his full power.
The instant the Sovereign's blood essence erupted, this being had actually suppressed it!
It was an unfathomable degree of strength!
Yet such an individual had remained completely inactive for a hundred thousand years... It was baffling, almost absurd.
Then... what in the world are you staying here for?
You do not seize heaven and earth, you do not slay rebels, you do not forge an era—are you here just to sleep?
You do nothing at all!
It felt as though he was just idling his life away, waiting for death!
"Why would I assist someone whose wits are lacking to contend for the world against a pack of formidable experts? If I truly wanted to assist someone, why wouldn't I assist Li Hao? The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; do nothing, and you make no mistakes at all!"
At this moment, the God of Early Martial spoke with profound nuance: "I only know that sending charcoal in the snow is commendable, but... if you send it to the wrong person, it brings catastrophic trouble! Adding flowers to brocade is fine as well, but if you add them to the wrong place, that too is a massive headache! Only by paying no heed and asking no questions—where you pretend I do not exist, and I pretend you do not exist—will you be safe. Be they experts who ride the era or experts who inaugurate one... you pay them no mind, and they pay you none!"
"From the very beginning... I have stayed out of it. Right or wrong, what does it have to do with me? I do not vie or snatch, I neither meddle nor inquire, I create no trouble and resolve no trouble... and so trouble has nothing to do with me!"
The King of Dali said solemnly, "Senior truly feels this way? Yet to others, beside one's own bed, how could one tolerate another sleeping—"
"Wrong!"
The person countered, "You are mistaken. If this bed belongs to someone else, then I will simply leave the bed. If I cannot sleep here, the world is vast—is there nowhere else to sleep? If Silver Moon will not do, there is White Moon, Red Moon, Green Moon... The boundless cosmos is unimaginably vast! And if none of them will let me sleep, then I simply won't sleep... What does it matter?"
"..."
The two men were entirely at a loss for words.
What kind of absurd philosophy was that?
The King of Dali suddenly thought of something and frowned slightly. "Senior's meaning is... could it be... Senior can leave the Silver Moon world?"
"Why don't you guess?"
"..."
*I'm not guessing!*
If he truly could leave Silver Moon... that would be astonishing!
At this stage, aside from a Sovereign, could anyone else leave Silver Moon?
Could he be...
He hardly dared to let his thoughts wander there!
In this era, the strongest entity was an imprisoned Sovereign who had yet to break free. If this person before them was truly a Sovereign... why would he wait around here?
Seizing the world would be as easy as turning over his hand!
Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, the voice spoke again: "Little fellow with a dim brain, do not presume to guess my identity. Besides... to me, even if I were to seize the Silver Moon world... what if tomorrow I ran into the Sword Venerable and he cleaved me in two with a single sword strike? Would you help me?"
"..."
"We are all old acquaintances... The Zheng family can do it, the Li family can do it, as they are all newcomers, all experts of a later age. Even Red Moon can seize it... Only we old folks cannot! People might not care if juniors make a mess, but we are all from the same era. If you seize it, the Human King will beat you, the Sword Venerable will beat you, the Blood Sovereign will beat you, the Supreme will beat you, the Cang Emperor will beat you... They will say, 'If you have the capability, go seize my Neo-Martial lands; why bully a petty minor world?' Tell me... which one of them could I possibly beat?"
The King of Dali was left dumbfounded. There was actually such reasoning behind it?
Yet... yet... it actually seemed to make a tiny bit of sense.
"Then... if Senior truly... truly is that powerful... why not step in to settle the turmoil and designate someone to rule heaven and earth... such as..."
"Such as you?"
The voice chimed in again: "On what grounds? Why should I take action? What does it have to do with me? I am not of this generation! The Star Gate was sealed by the Sword Venerable; it has nothing to do with me. Whether I am here or not, just consider me absent! The development of an era and the evolution of the Great Dao—is that not an opportunity in itself? Severing someone's opportunity is like murdering their parents..."
The King of Dali had no counterargument!
The voice continued, "As for designating someone... who says the person I designate would be a good one? Who knows! There are plenty of ungrateful wolves. Besides... what benefits could you offer me? I require nothing anyway! So do not harbor delusions that I will help you. The only help I can offer is that as long as you do not step out of Dali, if someone insists on killing you, I can help collect your corpses!"
With the first sentence, they had thought he was offering protection; the second sentence turned it into collecting their corpses!
When these words landed... the two nearly collapsed in despair.
So even if we are slaughtered right here, you won't intervene either?
You'll just collect our corpses?
The King of Dali completely abandoned all hope. Helplessly, he said, "Fine, I understand Senior's meaning! Then let me ask one more thing: has Li Hao... reached the Heavenly King Realm?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Heavenly King... Does the new Dao have a Heavenly King level? It does not... How would I know if he is one or not? When the Great Daos differ, why must you force it into the framework of the Origin? Whether he is strong or not, you will find out when fists meet!"
At this moment, the two finally realized that this was a master who refused to meddle in anything under the sun.
He wouldn't manage this, he wouldn't manage that—none of it was his business!
Such an individual was infuriating!
Of course, to certain people, such an existence was actually very comfortable: you leave me alone, and I leave you alone.
The King of Dali no longer counted on him, adding, "Senior, allow me to ask another question. Li Hao sent Zhou Chuan to Dali to comprehend the skeleton with me, attempting to step into the Dao Integration Realm. Zhou Chuan appears to have inherited the golden body of an expert... Could there be a trap in this?"
The voice sounded again: "Naturally there is! You are an idiot; you could never outscheme a fellow who is nothing but schemes! Zhou Chuan inherited the Dao of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body! Do you have any idea what the Nine Revolutions Golden Body entails? If he steps into the Dao Integration Realm, he will consume eighty-one times the resources of an ordinary cultivator. A single Dao Integration practitioner like him is equivalent to birthing eighty-one Dao Integration experts! Once he steps into Dao Integration, he can battle a Heavenly King!"
"..."
"Even if you give that entire skeleton to Zhou Chuan, it probably won't be enough. You would have to throw in your pair of gauntlets, plus all the resources of Dali, before Zhou Chuan could likely step into the Dao Integration Realm!"
"..."
The King of Dali stood petrified!
The voice continued, "For the Nine Revolutions Golden Body, each revolution of the golden body matches an expert of the same tier. Through nine revolutions, the consumption at every step is astronomical. Once he completes all nine revolutions, he is guaranteed to reach Dao Integration. Has he achieved three revolutions yet?"
"...I do not know. His strength is roughly at the mid-stage Sun-Moon..."
"Then at most he has reached the second revolution!"
"..."
The King of Dali was on the verge of a breakdown. "Then... then having agreed to help Zhou Chuan step into Dao Integration... aren't I..."
"Handle it yourself. You agreed to it, so if you cannot fulfill it, find your own way!"
The voice carried a hint of amusement. "You could absorb all the power within that skeleton. Perhaps you could achieve the so-called combat power of a Heavenly King, stake everything on a desperate gamble, and fight that Li Hao to the death. At that point, what would a broken promise matter?"
"..."
The King of Dali was completely dazed. "Senior... are you joking with me?"
Even if I truly reached the Heavenly King level, I might not be able to best Li Hao!
"Then there is no helping it. Figure it out yourself. Do you expect me to resolve the promises you made? I am not your father. Even if I were, I would still have no way to help. I am destitute, without even a roof over my head; heaven is my quilt, earth is my bed... In the future, do not come looking for me so often!"
The King of Dali looked utterly miserable!
He had... truly been swindled.
How could Zhou Chuan possibly require eighty-one times the resources of someone of the same tier to advance?
It was absurd!
Even handing over the entire skeleton wouldn't be enough...
This was simply unbelievable!
Right at this moment, the voice spoke again: "Get out."
Helpless, the King of Dali dragged the skeleton, his steps heavy. He and Jiang Li, one behind the other, departed in total dejection and frustration.
What a... thoroughly despair-inducing promise!
Once they had left, an illusory figure emerged and muttered, "Probing me? Why bother! Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Even the Human King wouldn't meddle. If the sky falls, take responsibility for it yourself—why should I care about you lot?"
He looked up at the sky, calculated for a moment, and chuckled. "I shall sleep my sleep. Just don't disturb me again. Alas, after a hundred thousand years, it still hasn't succeeded... What a nuisance!"
With those words, the figure vanished completely.
……
Meanwhile.
In the western lands.
The Queen was absorbing the power of the Silver Moon to strengthen herself. Suddenly, she opened her eyes. In the distance, two figures appeared. Ying Hongyue looked somewhat pale, and beside him was the Flying Sword Immortal, still maintaining her usual appearance.
"Your Majesty..."
*Boom!*
Heaven and earth seemed to shatter!
A burst of Silver Moon power exploded across the world.
A surge of sword intent erupted, piercing through the sky, yet the pair were still forced back several paces. The Flying Sword Immortal coughed up blood continuously, and Ying Hongyue's face turned even paler. "Your Majesty, I—"
"Scram!"
The Queen snapped coldly, "Jinx, get lost! Were it not for Li Hao insisting on killing you with his own hands... this Queen would slaughter you right now! Are you leaving or not?"
This jinx actually dared to seek her out!
Did he take her for a fool?
She couldn't be bothered to listen to what he had to say. She only knew one thing: this man was being watched like a hawk by Li Hao. Li Hao wanted him abandoned by all and living in constant dread. Anyone who tangled with this fellow was courting certain death!
Just look at him: after scheming for so many years, who was left by his side now?
Only the Flying Sword Immortal... and there might even be something wrong with her.
It was hard to say whether she was even a living person.
Who would want to get involved with him?
"Your Majesty, I have a way to help you take another step forward and supplant the true Moon God..."
*Boom!*
A bright moon cast its radiance over the earth, and boundless Silver Moon power swept forward. Seeing this, Ying Hongyue didn't utter another word and fled swiftly!
Madwoman!
He hadn't even finished speaking, yet she wouldn't give him the slightest chance.
The figures vanished from the spot in an instant.
Once they were gone, the Queen let out a gentle breath. Why had that jinx set his sights on her?
The sooner he scrammed, the better!
Only by staying far away from that fellow would she be safe. Otherwise... it was far too dangerous!
Glancing toward the central continent, the Queen felt conflicted.
Her strength had indeed grown, but... she still couldn't compete with those monsters.
Was she doomed to wander aimlessly across the world forever?
It was truly a headache, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Though her power kept growing... still...
Furthermore, more and more Dao meridians had formed in her body, and some were growing increasingly powerful. She hadn't paid attention before, but now... could they be a trap?
A trap of the Great Dao Universe?
The mere thought sent a chill down her spine.
Could she have been schemed against by Li Hao?
The first time she encountered Li Hao, he must have drawn close to her. Back then, she hadn't realized she had met him... but during that encounter, she had felt an overwhelming sense of intimacy. Looking back now, there might have been something abnormal about it.
One of her natal stars might already be under Li Hao's control.
In the past, she had never considered such things. Now... the more she thought, the more wrong it felt. That fellow Li Hao might have had total control over everything about her all along, even her life and death, and even... including scheming against the true Moon God!
If the true Moon God wished to descend and seize her, or possess her physical body, would Li Hao instantly descend and slaughter her on the spot?
The more she contemplated, the more helpless she felt.
They were all a bunch of bastards!
Today, she indeed thought far more than before, but she constantly felt as though she lived under the shadows of these people.
Looking out over the Silver Moon continent, she felt utterly hopeless, wondering if she would ever be able to walk out of this cage one day!
……
The turbulent situation caused little stir for Li Hao.
Strictly speaking, he hadn't kept any material spoils from that battle.
He had no need for them.
In truth, all his gains lay within the battle itself.
These included the honing of his willpower, the elevation of his force, slaying Heavenly Kings, seizing Sovereign blood essence, and successfully outmaneuvering all factions... For him, it had been a massive elevation, both in confidence and in raw strength.
And passive waiting was never the outcome Li Hao sought.
The world's recovery was accelerating.
Could the emergence of Half-Sovereigns be far off?
If he remained so passive, when would he ever be able to withstand a Half-Sovereign?
None who achieved great deeds waited passively. Only by taking the initiative to attack and fighting for opportunities could there be hope of success. Opportunities were forged by oneself, not obtained by waiting.
At this moment, five great cities rumbled as Li Hao relocated them into the Great Dao Universe.
The five great cities stood beneath the starry sky, with the surging waters of the river rolling beneath them. Naturally, no one noticed any of this at the moment.
Once the five great cities entered the Great Dao Universe, Li Hao paid them no further mind. Alone, he vanished into the Great Dao Universe.
……
The ruins of Zhenxing City.
It was very quiet.
No one visited this place anymore.
Yet now, Li Hao had arrived.
The throne traversed the void, carrying him as if into another time and space. There was that saber, radiating a terrifying pressure—the might of a Sovereign!
He could not draw close!
Even now, when Li Hao was extraordinarily powerful, he still could not approach.
Only at such times could he sense his own insignificance and the grandeur of a Sovereign.
Sovereign might!
He had not come here to seize the saber, but to withstand and familiarize himself with a Sovereign's pressure. That way, if the Red Moon Sovereign suddenly unleashed his Sovereign might, Li Hao would not be caught unprepared and helpless!
This was the true purpose of his visit.
His blood and Qi surged.
Li Hao sat cross-legged, resisting the Sovereign might as he cultivated in silence. Various forces continuously manifested around him. In the days to come, he would cultivate here to grow accustomed to this presence. Once he no longer trembled and dared to draw his sword, then even if he truly encountered the Red Moon Sovereign, he would dare to strike!
Whether he could win was unimportant; what mattered was shattering the fear in his heart.
Li Hao opened his eyes, gazing steadily at that saber.
The blood-colored saber stood upright in the void.
Within it, there seemed to be a sleeping cat.
A cat... Was it the Cang Emperor?
Probably not.
A descendant of the Cang Emperor?
Perhaps not either!
Li Hao did not know its exact identity. If anyone in this world knew, it would likely be that God of Early Martial. Faith power was generated in the land of Dali, yet that faith power had always vanished without a trace.
Li Hao guessed... perhaps it was right here!
The faith had not been directed at that god, but at this being!
The faith power had been devoured—swallowed by this saber, by this cat.
He had a vague suspicion that all the faith in Dali was meant to revive this cat, to awaken it from its deep slumber, while that God of Early Martial's mission might be to guard this cat until it awoke.
It likely had some connection to the Blood Sovereign!
The Sword Venerable most probably knew of this, but rather than stopping it, he had tacitly permitted it, even allowing them to carve out an isolated territory within Silver Moon specifically to gather faith power.
One must remember that back then, the divine spirits had been thoroughly eradicated, and such god-path faith was strictly forbidden.
"The Queen of the Human King's sword and inheritance are here, and the Tyrant Emperor's gauntlets and inheritance are here... Could all of it be for this fellow?"
Li Hao weighed the thought. What purpose did these inheritances serve?
As of now, they did not seem particularly powerful.
What was the point of leaving them behind?
Was it merely to prove they had once been here?
Or... were they not true inheritances at all, but left behind when they simply dropped by for a look?
Li Hao gently rubbed his temples. Thinking so much, he wondered if he would go bald.
Having thought that through, he couldn't help pondering further: if he entered the seal, would there truly be a chance—even the slightest sliver of a chance—to seize the initiative?
That was a Sovereign!
In truth, sneaking into Hurricane City was safer than entering the seal, but... Hurricane City was guarded too tightly. Especially after the City of Thunder was wiped out, Zheng Yu would never give him such an opening again.
"If I want to turn the tide, my only hope lies in... that star. But I deceived him before, and neither the river of stars nor the star itself underwent any significant changes. He lost interest. Even if I try again, if he finds no novel changes, he might never locate that star again..."
Thoughts churned continuously in Li Hao's mind.
Perhaps visiting Sword City would yield some insights. The Sword Venerable had resided there for many years, so perhaps one could find some of his unique realizations. Furthermore, if the Li family had truly been slaughtered down to the last person, what was his own identity, really?
Suppressing these thoughts, he once again focused on comprehending the Sovereign might!
The immense pressure forced him backward step by step.
It felt as though his blood and Qi were being drained dry!
At this moment, Li Hao produced two characters: Battle Heaven!
These, too, had been left behind by the Blood Sovereign!
Sure enough, as the two characters manifested, the pressure diminished somewhat. Li Hao was even able to draw closer to the saber.
Audacious as ever, Li Hao pondered for a moment, draped the two characters over himself, and continued approaching the saber. He drew very close, stopping only when he could clearly make out the cat. It was a somewhat plump cat, seemingly sound asleep at the moment.
Li Hao looked at it, momentarily dazed.
This saber... appeared to be its nesting box.
Using a Sovereign's saber as a sleeping den was truly extraordinary.
In the next instant, the two characters of Battle Heaven vanished. Li Hao proactively withdrew them, and a terrifying pressure mingled with saber intent erupted instantly. With a *boom*, Li Hao's physical body was mangled in an instant, and he was sent flying in the blink of an eye!
Blood flowed freely!
The throne manifested, instantly sweeping Li Hao away from the place and vanishing.
Yet this was precisely the result Li Hao sought.
To comprehend at close range and endure the impact firsthand—since this saber harbored no murderous intent, it was the ideal medium for him to familiarize himself with the power of a Sovereign.
……
Time after time, disregarding his injuries, Li Hao repeatedly entered the Zhenxing ruins.
Each time, he would attempt close contact, to the point of wanting to reach out and touch the saber... Such audacity was evident.
Here, he gained considerable harvests and insights.
If the Sovereign's blood essence were to erupt once more, at the very least... Li Hao would be able to react. He wouldn't necessarily have to rely on the power of the long river and that faint temporal power to weaken the blood essence before suppressing it as he had done before.
At this point, Li Hao—or rather, this physical body—had opened 105 meridians.
He was within touching distance of the third tier of the Dao Integration Realm!
Yet with such strength, he might be able to fight some pseudo-Heavenly Kings... but against truly peerless powerhouses, it would still amount to throwing his life away.
……
Comprehending the Sovereign might consumed a significant amount of Li Hao's time.
A full month!
Nowadays, Li Hao's cultivation sessions grew longer and longer, easily stretching over a month at a time.
Time was advancing toward July. At this point, exactly one year had passed since Li Hao formally stepped through the gates of the martial path, and merely four years since he first began cultivating the Five Animals Art.
……
Silver City.
It was now eerily quiet.
Dilapidated ruins stood between heaven and earth. As battles erupted continuously in Silver City and the auras of mighty experts flared... virtually no living creatures remained here anymore.
Hurricane City no longer seemed to loom in this place.
Zheng Yu was no longer overly worried about what Li Hao might do.
Ying Hongyue dared not come here either; currently hunted half to death, how could he dare flee back to Silver City?
And into this desolate land where all things were silent...
Li Hao returned.
Stepping into a dilapidated courtyard, Li Hao walked forward. The surroundings remained, but the people were gone. Barely a year had passed, yet it felt as though countless ages had swept through this place.
Dust lay thick; the buildings had collapsed.
The courtyard where his teacher used to practice martial arts was now a ruin.
Li Hao entered the small cottage. Inside, everything was in disarray, with only faint traces of the past hinting at the master's erudition.
Books lay scattered across the floor, as though rummaged through.
After Yuan Shuo and the others departed, someone had likely come here, perhaps searching for the Five Animals Secret Art of old.
Gathering the scattered books, Li Hao stood in silence facing the empty room for a long time.
Eventually, he said softly, "I am going to take a look... If I can return, perhaps... I will win, and I will be able to revive you! If I cannot return... then there is no helping it! You once said that nothing in this world can be forced; as long as the martial path is true to one's heart, that is enough! Zheng Yu and the others might be easier to deal with... but they are all on high alert. Only by taking the enemy unawares and winning through surprise can there be a chance!"
"Teacher, wish me luck!"
Li Hao murmured softly.
He looked up at the sky. The seal remained, though it appeared frailer than before. The eight bloodlines now seemed chaotic and ragged.
Infiltrating the domain of a Sovereign in the flesh... the difficulty was self-evident!
Li Hao took a deep breath. Perhaps only time could allow him to slip inside smoothly without alerting the Sovereign.
"Maintain contact with me at all times. The moment you lose contact... launch an attack on Ying Hongyue!"
Li Hao sent a transmission, and Lin Hongyu's reply came swiftly: "Understood!"
Simple and concise, as always.
Just as Li Hao was about to leave, two more words arrived via the communication device: "Be careful!"
Li Hao smiled faintly and gave no reply.
His figure flickered and vanished. Soon, beneath the seal, an illusory silhouette appeared. A bloodline extended, and after a moment's contemplation, Li Hao enveloped himself within a sword. His entire person vanished from the spot, leaving only a sword suspended in midair.
Slowly, the sword began to merge into the seal.
And at this very moment, far away in the west, battle erupted once again as several Saints fiercely assaulted a solitary figure!
It was none other than Ying Hongyue!
……
Ying Hongyue's face was deathly pale as he fled continuously.
Within his body, Red Moon power accumulated relentlessly.
Looking back, he coughed up blood without pause, his eyes somber. "Lin Hongyu! If Li Hao could kill me, he would have done so long ago! You pursue me all this way, but do you dare kill me?"
Behind him, Lin Hongyu held a scimitar, her expression utterly calm. "If we cannot kill you, we can seal you! Or suppress you! Keeping you on the run like a stray dog isn't bad either! The agony you inflicted upon my husband... can only be repaid in this manner!"
Ying Hongyue spat blood and sneered, "Husband? Laughable! In Li Hao's eyes, you are merely a pawn! Li Hao only keeps you around to help him suppress the world. In his bones, he is more ruthless and heartless than I am!"
Lin Hongyu laughed softly. "So what if I am a pawn? It is my choice. At least... I hold supreme authority over the realm, and everyone under heaven knows of Lin Hongyu! I possess power, influence, dignity, and everything else... Ying Hongyue, where are your women now? Where are they today? Every last one of them is dead! Do you still dare call yourself an affectionate swordsman? A man like you will only be mocked and despised. Even in death, those women of yours will be recorded in history as the very definition of foolishness... spurned for ten thousand generations!"
Utter contempt!
Ying Hongyue's expression darkened. Without a word, he fled once more.
From every direction, powerful experts closed in on the hunt.
Lin Hongyu's voice continued to echo, "The taste of being a stray dog isn't pleasant, is it? If you still have any sense of shame, you might as well take your own life to avoid leaving behind an eternity of infamy. Dying would at least grant you some relief!"
Ying Hongyue ignored her.
Inside, however, his fury boiled.
Damn it!
Since when did Lin Hongyu dare to humiliate him like this?
Right at this moment, another Saint blocked his path ahead. Ying Hongyue was beside himself with rage. "You pursue me relentlessly—what are you after?"
These people definitely had a purpose!
They must!
Damn them!
Otherwise, this shouldn't be happening right now. Did the experts under Li Hao have nothing better to do?
If Li Hao truly wanted him dead... he wouldn't have escaped that day.
Even with the Flying Sword Immortal intervening, it wasn't as if Li Hao lacked the chance to kill him; he had held back simply out of fear that the seal would shatter, hadn't he?
The seal...
His mind stirred, and he quickly spun around, shouting, "You hunt me because of the seal?"
Lin Hongyu's heart skipped a beat, but she smiled. "You figured it out? Impressive! Truly calculating and infallible! You are right—it is for the seal. We intend to breach the seal and deal with that Sovereign..."
*Fuck your mother!*
Ying Hongyue nearly cursed out loud!
No!
That was a Sovereign; it couldn't be that. Then what was it for?
Lin Hongyu chuckled. "Fine, let's stop playing games; it's boring! Guessing back and forth with a stray dog like you is a complete waste of time. Strip out the bloodlines of the eight families, and I will let you go!"
"Zhenxing City!"
Ying Hongyue understood in an instant and roared, "In your dreams!"
That saber!
So that was it!
Li Hao wanted to strip him of the eight families' bloodlines to seize that saber! No wonder these people pursued him relentlessly yet couldn't kill him—it was all for this.
That explained everything!
Lin Hongyu sneered, "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit! Kill!"
*Boom!*
Experts emerged from all directions. Thunder roared in an instant, and someone slashed out a lightning sword from the shadows to block the attackers, displaying terrifying combat strength!
Yet right at this moment, the heavens cracked open as five great cities bore down from above.
"Li Hao!"
Ying Hongyue's expression twisted in terror. Li Hao had actually come; only Li Hao could open the Great Dao Universe.
To seize the bloodlines... Li Hao had been lurking nearby all this time!
He dared not hesitate. In an instant, his blood and Qi erupted as the eight meridians fused into one. Channeling a massive surge of Red Moon power throughout his body, he fled in a flash, not daring to linger for a second, burning through an immense amount of blood and Qi!
Seeing him flee so desperately, Lin Hongyu raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced up at the sky, and shouted in the next moment, "Continue the pursuit!"
……
Meanwhile, within the seal.
The Red Moon Sovereign frowned slightly.
A faint wisp of Red Moon power permeated the area as he murmured, "Little fellow, it seems you are gravely wounded... Are you still unwilling to accept me completely?"
Having said that, he let out a light laugh.
Still, this was a positive sign. The more Red Moon power he drew upon, the more entangled he became, and the harder it would be to expel. Lately, he had been absorbing it frantically, so it seemed he was taking quite a beating.
Over so many years, to have resisted temptation and withstood the invasion of Red Moon power proved that Ying Hongyue indeed had courage and intellect.
Yet as it appeared now, the person who had eradicated the City of Thunder was likely turning on him.
Vast amounts of Red Moon power were being drawn by him.
If this continued... Ying Hongyue would sooner or later become an inseparable part of himself!
A good thing!
The phantom silhouettes in all directions trembled slightly. Each time Red Moon power was drawn, it induced fluctuations in the sealing array, which was entirely normal. The Red Moon Sovereign paid it no heed.
And right at this moment, along the outer rim of the Bagua array, a tiny sword—drifting like a speck of cosmic dust—moved slowly along the edge.
With every movement, the disturbance was minuscule and faint. Each time, it even leaked a trace of unique power to veil everything. Facing a Sovereign, even an imprisoned one, Li Hao was exceedingly cautious.
He was inside!
And upon his entry, the other party had failed to notice him... This allowed Li Hao to breathe a sigh of relief. Lin Hongyu had timed things well. Though this woman harbored considerable ambition, she was dependable when it came to executing tasks.
Just like Qian Wuliang, she could deliver results. As for ambition, that was never an issue.
In the distance, an ancient city lay dormant in the dark void.
This was Li Hao's primary objective.
He wanted to see Sword City.
Once inside Sword City, he might be able to conceal his tracks and wouldn't need to be so cautious. Neither this Sovereign had attacked and occupied Sword City, nor had Li Daoheng taken it away; Sword City was likely special.
It might even harbor remnants of the Sword Venerable's measures, deterring the two of them from recklessly moving against it.
The small sword drifted slowly.
With absolute, meticulous caution!
In the presence of a Sovereign, no amount of caution when slipping into Sword City could be considered excessive. He had come to deal with this Sovereign, not like Zhang An, who had entered to confront the Silver Moon entity itself.
Drifting inch by inch, Li Hao lost track of how much time had passed.
The small sword trembled faintly.
As it neared Sword City, the small sword seemed to experience a sense of familiarity, longing, and restlessness.
It had returned!
At this moment, the small sword suddenly surged forward, slipping beyond Li Hao's control for an instant as it plunged straight into the colossal ancient city ahead.
The entire ancient city suddenly shuddered.
Li Hao cursed furiously in his heart!
Damn it!
Bastard!
This sword... I really want to smash it to pieces.
You're going to get me killed!
Within Sword City, bursts of sword intent erupted.
The ancient city, which had clearly been dead and dormant, seemed to awaken at this very moment.
In the distance, the Sovereign snapped his head around, divine light flashing in his eyes as he looked toward the area of Sword City and laughed coldly. "Everyone is gone, leaving only an empty city. Even if it was once your old home, do you still wish to rebel?"
He sensed nothing amiss from this flare of sword radiance. Evidently, unrest in Sword City was nothing new; it had occurred many times over the past hundred thousand years.
Tense and uneasy, Li Hao was not met with the Sovereign's thunderous strike.
The Red Moon Sovereign seemed rather reluctant to approach this place.
This allowed Li Hao to relax slightly, though he remained thoroughly exasperated. *Damned Starry Sky Sword... when I get back, I'm dismantling you and reforging you completely. Not obedient in the slightest!*
At this moment, he was carried by the small sword into a particular area.
By Li Hao's estimation, it resembled something akin to a city lord's manor.
The place where the Sword Venerable once stayed?
Or the place where the Sword Venerable's grandniece, the true ancestor of the Li family, had resided?
The entire city appeared completely dead.
Only threads of sword intent crisscrossed within, like rootless duckweed blanketing the ancient metropolis, infusing the dead city with a touch of vitality.
Sword Qi emanated throughout the entire city, present in every corner.
It was as if this city itself was a sword!
A true sword!
Sword City!
As the small sword entered Sword City, the city—which had been floating motionless in the void—suddenly began to move slowly. In the distance, the Sword Venerable's illusory silhouette at one corner of the Bagua suddenly erupted with a blast of sword Qi!
A strike came slashing forth!
The Red Moon Sovereign snorted. This wretched formation had weakened several times over the years, yet even now, that phantom of the Sword Venerable could still strike. It was infuriating!
Yet this also demonstrated just how formidable the Sword Venerable truly was.
Even as a mere phantom maintained solely by a formation, he had suppressed him for a full hundred thousand years.
"Li Changsheng, your phantom cannot last much longer! Once I break free from the seal... Silver Moon will surely be turned into a river of blood!"
The Sword Venerable's phantom spoke not a word, striking out with his sword again and again!
The Star Gate above the Sword Venerable's head also radiated a faint glow, unleashing a stagnant force that suppressed heaven and earth, containing the Sovereign's eruption. In several other directions, faint phantom figures gathered power continuously, causing an immense Bagua diagram to slowly manifest.
The Sovereign frowned slightly. Why had this Bagua formation been fully activated again today?
Was it because he had used too much Red Moon power recently?
With this thought, he swiftly reined in the Red Moon power, allowing his physical body to collide with the various forces, kicking up waves of energy detonations within the seal. Meanwhile, in the distance, Sword City gradually drifted deeper into the dark void.
The Sovereign glanced back, his brow furrowing slightly.
Regarding this ancient city, he had always suspected... that this thing was the true Starry Sky Sword, though he had no evidence.
Because he could not draw near—partly due to the seal, and partly because past attempts had triggered an eruption of sword intent, even calling forth the Sword Venerable's slaughter sword intent. To avoid severe injury and being sealed even more thoroughly, he had no choice but to stay clear of that city.
If it were merely Li Changsheng's cultivation grounds, it shouldn't have possessed such terrifying power.
Therefore... perhaps this truly was the genuine Starry Sky Sword, while the one Li Hao wielded might merely be a replica, or a child blade of a mother-child pair. He could not tell for certain.
"The Changsheng Sword... has not died yet. How annoying... Have the two sides gone to war yet or not?"
He muttered to himself. Had the Red Moon Great World and the Neo-Martial Great World gone to war?
If war had broken out, the Changsheng Sword would certainly have been among the first top-tier Sovereigns deployed. Yet now, the phantom still stood and the sword intent remained, meaning he was very likely still alive!
At this thought, he felt a twinge of wistfulness.
The Red Moon Great Cosmos couldn't have suffered a defeat, could it?
Yet none of that was his concern now. His only priority was breaking through the seal as swiftly as possible. Although he suspected the flow of time was different, no one knew for sure whether that was truly the case.
Still, the Red Moon Great Cosmos couldn't have fallen completely, or he would have suffered severe backlash as well.
……
Meanwhile, Li Hao was somewhat bewildered. *Why is this city moving on its own?*
*I didn't control it!*
He had only just entered, yet the city seemed to move of its own accord. His expression shifted slightly. Could there still be living people in this city?
If so, Zhang An and the others had entered previously, so why had no one ever shown themselves?
Li Hao remained on high alert, still concealed within the small sword, completely motionless.
Yet even though he did not move, the Starry Sky Sword seemed drawn by something, slowly drifting forward and threatening to slip beyond Li Hao's grasp. This made Li Hao so angry he nearly shattered it on the spot!
If anything went wrong this time, it would definitely be this little sword's fault!
At the same time, the sword intent within Sword City grew increasingly brilliant.
From every direction, streams of sword intent emanated outward.
In the city, a sword-shaped tree had long since shattered into ruins, leaving only remnants of roots. At this moment, the ruined tree seemed to ripple faintly, absorbing traces of unique sword intent.
In another corner, a stone resembling a whetstone also released a faint sword intent, trembling slightly.
Bloodstains that seemed to have slept through countless ages still clung to the stone.
It was as if the entire city had been revived with the entry of the Starry Sky Sword.
Yet there was not a single person.
Only remnants remained.
Sword City drifted farther and farther away, leaving the Star Gate region behind as it floated through the dark universe toward an unknown destination. In the distance, the Sovereign watched for a few moments until Sword City was lost from sight, growing increasingly puzzled.
This city had lain dormant for many years. Why had it suddenly shown signs of revival today?
Chapter 386