At this moment, the whirlwind of emotions churning inside Hong Yitang was beyond anyone's comprehension.
Li Hao had said he would yield the Great Dao Universe.
Li Hao had said: even if you are Li Daoheng's clone... so what?
"You once saved my life; you once taught me. You are Earth-Overturning Sword Hong Yitang. Even if you are a clone, you must live as your own person—live as Hong Yitang!"
Schemes, conspiracies... none of them seemed worth mentioning to Li Hao.
You want to crush me?
You want to use this to destroy my composure?
You want to sow discord?
None of it matters!
I refuse to play!
Isn't all you're after the Great Dao Universe, the Silver Moon world, the throne of a Sovereign?
If you want it, I'll give it to you!
What I want, I will fight for and take with my own hands.
Kill those I want to kill, no matter the cost.
Love those I cherish, no matter the cost.
At this moment, Hong Yitang felt a shock that shook him to the depths of his soul. This was Li Hao. That naive kid who knew nothing in the past... in truth, only a little over a year had passed since then.
Yet... why did it feel as though a century had gone by?
When Li Hao brought out that pennant banner, Hong Yitang wanted to smile, though his smile carried tangled emotions. *Are you telling me that you are still that very same Li Hao, that you have never changed?*
The past drifted like smoke.
Scene after scene surfaced in his mind.
Recalling the beginning, Hong Yitang's heart was gripped by an overwhelming knot of feelings. He gave a soft laugh and suddenly spoke: "Just as you said, even I feel that I might truly be his secret pawn—whether as a clone or something else... Even I began doubting myself!"
He chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Yet... just as you said, I am the Earth-Overturning Sword. I am Hong Yitang!"
He looked at Li Hao. "Since you have made your decision, with your own thoughts and your own choice, then I shall take over the Great Dao Universe! If that day truly comes, as you said, and Li Daoheng really comes to claim me... I will live as Hong Yitang! I will live as the Earth-Overturning Sword! I will live... as a Silver Moon martial master!"
At this moment, he straightened his spine and looked at Li Hao. "This is my promise to you! I don't know whether I truly am his clone or not... but just as the Queen said, who under heaven is more suitable than me? Yuan Shuo is dead, and now I am the closest person to you. Since that is the case... let me tell you, I will always be Hong Yitang!"
Why had the Queen come?
Was the Moon God truly so careless as to leave behind a trace of residual memory for the Queen to find?
Perhaps this was all Li Daoheng's scheme.
Perhaps it was entirely fabricated, nothing of the sort had ever happened, but so long as Li Hao speculated and brooded over it, doubts would fester, estrangement would grow, and his Dao heart would suffer a heavy blow.
Hong Yitang was currently the person closest to Li Hao—a mentor and friend who had protected and guided him all the way from Silver Moon.
If he refused to doubt or think about it... what if it were true?
This was a spiritual torment aimed at Li Hao's heart.
Yet Li Daoheng likely never foresaw that Li Hao would simply refuse to take the bait. With effortless ease and utter joy, Li Hao casually yielded the Great Dao Universe—a treasure trove coveted by countless beings, even Sovereigns.
Isn't this what you wanted?
Then take it!
Whether he is a clone or not... I'll give it all to you.
In anyone's eyes, the Great Dao Universe was Li Hao's greatest foundation, his most vital bedrock—something that could not and would never be discarded.
Yet to Li Hao himself... once a trump card was known to others, it ceased to be a trump card.
He had been this way from the very start.
He had never changed!
Step out... step beyond the board again and again. Only by leaping off the chessboard could he shake off all these shackles and shatter everyone's schemes. He had never regarded the figures in the Silver Moon world as his ultimate lifelong enemies!
Perhaps they were stumbling blocks on his path forward, powerful and terrifying.
Yet in his heart, Li Hao looked down on them.
In seeking the Dao, why could they not pursue it with integrity?
Why did they seek the Dao through such petty means?
To prove the Dao and become a Sovereign... Neo Martial already had a path!
Survive the great tribulation and attain Sovereign status! A tiny minor world was nothing. When Neo Martial grew mighty, it naturally conquered other worlds. If you wanted a Great Dao Universe, you could attack the Red Moon world. As long as you were capable enough, as long as you dared to fight... Red Moon had a Great Dao Universe too; would there be no room for you?
Even if Red Moon didn't have one... kill, seize, and conquer more!
With all the time spent on scheming, Li Daoheng and his ilk might have achieved Sovereign status long ago!
In raw strength, he was inferior to them, but Li Hao had always felt that these people lacked the unconstrained freedom of Silver Moon martial masters!
A hundred thousand years was simply too long.
So long... regardless of how many years passed outside, here it was a genuine hundred thousand years. Spending such vast spans of time merely waiting to scavenge remnants discarded by others... how could one ever surpass the predecessors?
If later generations are inferior to the ancients, what is the point of cultivation?
Later generations cultivate standing on the shoulders of giants. The predecessors paved the path so that those who came after could venture further. If descendants only sought the legacy of their forebears, wasn't that regress?
He remembered what the Seventh Regiment Commander had told him back in Battle Heaven City: as long as you aren't dead, keep stirring up trouble and pushing forward!
The Human King and his contemporaries had done exactly that!
That was why the Human King and the others had walked so far and climbed so high. That was the true spirit of Neo Martial.
Without daring to stir up the heavens and break conventions, how could one transcend?
Wasn't life meant for stirring things up?
Li Hao had always measured himself against those men: the Human King, the Supreme, the Sword Venerable, the Blood Sovereign... When those figures wanted something, they seized it, fought for it, and conquered it themselves... They did not plot for a hundred thousand years just to wait for scraps cast aside by others. That was what the Heavenly Emperor and his faction did—the losers of Neo Martial!
He could not comprehend why, knowing full well that Neo Martial's Heavenly Emperor had failed, these people still insisted on emulating him.
With lessons of past failures right before them, had they learned nothing at all?
……
Hearing Hong Yitang's resolute words, Li Hao smiled with a hint of playfulness, as if recapturing his former self, as if comforting the middle-aged man before him. "Martial Uncle, what is there to promise? A person just needs to live as himself! So long as you don't commit evil... live however you please. You don't need duty, responsibility, or burdens. So long as you don't do wicked deeds, you are a good man."
He gazed into the distance toward the north and smiled. "Take the one in the north, for instance. From what I understand, many people might detest him and even think he holds the title of Sovereign in name only... But in my eyes, living as himself is enough. He hasn't committed evil. As long as you don't provoke him, he won't provoke you. He is willing to devote his time to what he values, and that is plenty!"
Many might look down on that figure in the north, but Li Hao thought: so long as he lives comfortably, what does it matter? If he doesn't want to get involved, why force him?
Had that man not possessed such overwhelming strength that made him a linchpin in determining victory or defeat, Li Hao would have been reluctant to disturb him as well.
Yet reality being what it was, he had no choice but to scheme a little. Li Hao understood that such behavior was quite annoying; if he himself lived in seclusion and people kept bothering him seeking his protection, he would find it bothersome too.
Smiling slightly, he turned back to Hong Yitang. "Enough of that. This time, Martial Uncle, we will handle the transfer in secret! Only you and I will know... let no one else find out!"
"Just to be safe... to guard against the possibility that you truly are his clone, and that he might even be able to monitor you..."
Li Hao looked at Hong Yitang. "For the coming period, seal your entire consciousness inside the Chaotic River! Envelop yourself in the Chaotic River to isolate yourself from heaven and earth, from everything!"
Li Hao continued softly: "To the outside world, I will announce that you have entered secluded cultivation... Whether they assume I killed you or imprisoned you... let them guess whatever they want! The realm under heaven won't lack a single Dao Integration expert right now. Over the past year, the education system has been set on the right track. This will give you the time to thoroughly contemplate the sword Dao!"
Li Hao went on, "When it comes to the sword Dao, you understand it far better than I do! In truth, I don't understand the sword Dao at all..."
A top-tier swordsman claiming he knew nothing of the sword Dao.
Hong Yitang was taken aback.
Yet Li Hao was completely serious: "I don't understand the sword Dao; what I understand is the application of the Dao... In my eyes, whether sword or saber, every Great Dao seeks only two things: first, longevity; second, strength!"
Longevity, strength!
Hong Yitang paused, looking at Li Hao.
Li Hao seemed to be expounding the very essence of his Dao, his tone earnest: "Cultivating the Dao is cultivating the heart! The essence of the Dao is to empower oneself, and why seek empowerment? To attain longevity and immortality! And immortality... requires strength. It is an endless cycle! This journey is one of cultivating the heart. Whether one chooses to be good or wicked... so long as one holds fast to a firm conviction, that is the heart!"
"Longevity and strength are the results. Cultivating the heart is the process. Swords, sabers, and spears are merely expressions... They are not what truly matters."
"The road ahead is long and arduous. Search high and low, know your goal, and hold firm to your conviction... rather than drifting aimlessly. If you do this, success is inevitable!"
Stirred to his core, Hong Yitang looked at Li Hao and asked softly, "Then what is your conviction and goal?"
Li Hao smiled. "Exploration!"
Hong Yitang froze.
Li Hao smiled. "Don't you find the Great Dao fascinating, Martial Uncle? Cultivating the Dao is a joy! From the initial force, to divine characters, then Dao meridians, then the Great Dao Universe, then the sea of consciousness world, then the corporeal Dao, illusory Dao, domains, combat techniques... exploring step by step, testing through trial and error, tearing it down and starting anew... Every step is an enjoyment, a delight. That is the joy of exploration!"
Li Hao said wistfully, "Using cultivation to test and verify one's ideas, to experiment, is truly fascinating! For instance, opening the heavens next—it is actually a form of imitation, but it certainly isn't the end!"
"The Great Dao Universe already exists. Right now, I am merely attempting to imitate it... to open my own heavens! Even if I succeed, it won't be the end. There must be higher-level, more flawless Dao methods!"
Li Hao chuckled. "What the predecessors made isn't necessarily right, and what was born of heaven and earth isn't necessarily the most perfect... But on this foundation, one can understand, comprehend, act, and innovate... Perhaps those who come after might even learn a thing or two from a predecessor like me."
"Just like my teacher..."
Li Hao mentioned Yuan Shuo, filled with deep sentiment. "My teacher created the Five Animals Secret Art upon the foundation of predecessors, and that art was the root of how I reached where I am today... The Five Animals Secret Art fused and integrated so many elements! If my teacher could create like that, why can't his disciple? What's more, I am stronger than him, I have seen more, and I have comprehended more... Even if I don't claim to surpass others, the student should surpass the master; I ought to be stronger than my teacher!"
"..."
Hong Yitang chuckled. "Yuan Shuo probably wouldn't appreciate hearing that!"
Li Hao laughed too. "Perhaps. My teacher paid lip service to the idea of the student surpassing the master, but deep down he was arrogant to a fault, convinced his talent was peerless under heaven and that no one could surpass him... Sadly, he had seen too little; his horizons were too narrow!"
"..."
Li Hao burst out laughing. "Did he ever witness the power of a Heavenly King? Did he ever witness the power of a half-step Sovereign? Did he ever fight a Sovereign? I have experienced all of that! So talent is not the sole factor. What matters is vision, experience, luck, opportunity, and effort—and then, paired with talent, one can go even further."
Neither of them spoke any further of the Great Dao Universe, nor did they mention clones again.
It was as if all of it were trivial, mundane details.
After chatting for a while, Li Hao suddenly said, "My preparations are still lacking in a few areas... I need some time to prepare. In the meantime, Martial Uncle, you can go check on Martial Uncle Hongxiu. The Queen's words might not necessarily be entirely false!"
Though he knew the Queen was untrustworthy, the news she had brought this time might not be untrue.
Hong Yitang's expression grew solemn, but Li Hao smiled. "There is no need to worry! Be it a clone or true body... once truly separated, it is no longer you! Earlier, when I used the Chaotic River as a true body to condense clones, I discovered the flaws... Clones are also human beings! Flesh and blood, thoughts and will... they are living people! Don't mess with clones... The moment the Three Lifetimes method emerged, I understood one truth: through ten thousand lifetimes, there is only me!"
"The future me is not me!"
He spoke softly: "Perhaps in the eyes of others, the future me is me, the past me is me, the present me is me, and clones are also me... But in reality, they are not. There is only one of me!"
"Li Daoheng and his kind are obsessed with clones... It is not a good habit! Of course, no major issues have surfaced yet... but if one keeps creating clones, trouble will arise sooner or later. Once you split off a clone, flaws emerge—flaws you might not even realize yourself."
Hong Yitang frowned slightly. "Are you saying... Neo Martial's method of creating clones isn't a good thing?"
"Of course!"
Li Hao nodded. "Looking through the ancient texts, how many Neo Martial Sovereigns made a habit of creating clones? Only the Zhang family Supreme split himself several times in his early years to contribute more strength. Figures like the Human King steadfastly held to the oneness of self! Were they incapable of creating clones? Of course they could! But why didn't they? Could the Sword Venerable not create a clone? Of course he could! The one in the north could do it, so how could the Sword Venerable not? Why didn't the Sword Venerable leave a clone behind to guard this place... With a clone left behind combined with the Eight Trigrams Formation, even if a Sovereign came, there would be hope of slaying them!"
Moreover, it wouldn't have had too great an impact on himself.
Why didn't the Sword Venerable leave a clone?
Because the Dao of the Sword Venerable was: across ten thousand worlds, only me; across ten thousand Daos, only me.
This was Li Hao's recent comprehension. He touched on it lightly without elaborating, then added, "So even if Martial Uncle Hongxiu is indeed an avatar of the Moon God, just as the Queen said... it doesn't matter! Slay the Moon God, and everything will resolve itself!"
Slay the Moon God?
Hong Yitang was stirred. "She is not easy to kill. You failed to slay her several times before! She is the core of Silver Moon... Heaven and earth will not allow her to die... In fact, she could be considered the true first generation of Heaven's Will."
The Moon God was difficult to kill.
If she were easy to kill, she would have died long ago.
Yet Li Hao shook his head. "No, I simply didn't want to kill her, nor did I want to waste too much time on her. If I truly set out to kill her, it wouldn't be difficult! If she is the first generation of Heaven's Will, then the current one is the second generation, and she also wants to capture Heaven's Will... Heaven's Will actually isn't anything special! Martial Uncle, killing the Moon God and Heaven's Will is actually quite simple..."
Hong Yitang looked at Li Hao. How was it simple?
Even now, Heaven's Will had not been located!
The Moon God had fled into the Illusory Dao universe and was nowhere to be found. How could she be killed?
Seeing his anticipation, Li Hao guessed his thoughts—he was worried about his beloved disciple and wife. Li Hao laughed with a teasing glint in his eye. Hong Yitang was speechless. "You have a wife too... even if she's your fiancée!"
Li Hao laughed. "I'm not embarrassed, so why should you be, Martial Uncle?"
"..."
Li Hao added, "How about this: I will create an opportunity for you! When I open the heavens through my physical body, the disturbance will likely be considerable, so I will need your help to conceal it!"
"On the day I open the heavens, you only need to do one thing... open the Great Dao Universe and swallow the Haoxing Continent!"
Hong Yitang's heart shook!
Li Hao continued: "Cut the ground from beneath their feet by taking the hundreds of millions of Silver Moon mortals directly into the Great Dao Universe! Without people, can it still be called heaven and earth? Heaven's Will would collapse on its own. Neither the Moon God nor Heaven's Will would allow this to happen, and they might even seize the chance to enter the Great Dao Universe!"
"If Martial Uncle Hongxiu truly is a clone of the Moon God, she will surely reconverge faith and reconstitute her true body this time!"
"Those two are key figures, and the third is the Queen. The Queen has usurped too much Silver Moon power... Perhaps the Moon God is simply parasitizing the Queen, attempting to follow Li Daoheng's example by merging her clones into one!"
"Whether Heaven's Will or the Moon God... they have all been influenced by figures like Li Daoheng and grown fond of splitting into multiple clones... Heaven's Will may not be singular, and the Moon God may not be singular either..."
After a moment's thought, Li Hao added, "On the day I open the heavens with my physical body, it might draw out the Time Star! That is another critical point. If you can catch a portion of them, I will find a way to borrow the Time Star, trace back through past and future... and slay Heaven's Will and the Moon God in their entirety! Leaving only Martial Uncle Hongxiu behind. Across ten thousand Daos, only me—she will become the true body!"
"Once Heaven's Will crumbles and the realm is thrown into turmoil... the Great Dao can take advantage of the opening to invade the realm and reconverge Heaven's Will... 'I am Heaven's Will!' And by 'I', I mean you, Martial Uncle. Establishing the Dao as Heaven..."
Hong Yitang stared at him blankly. "Is... is this the path you originally intended to walk?"
Li Hao seemed to have calculated this long ago.
This path... seemed brilliant. Perhaps that was indeed what he had planned for himself earlier.
Li Hao nodded slightly. "Yes, but later I had more options, so I stopped dwelling on it! There are drawbacks to that path—Silver Moon would be bound too deeply to oneself, and the responsibility would be too crushing. I would have to shoulder everything for tens of billions of Silver Moon people... With such a burden, I wouldn't want to turn wicked!"
*Yet, I also don't want to be utterly shackled by Silver Moon!*
Li Hao did not voice those unsaid words, but Hong Yitang understood completely.
Hong Yitang took a deep breath. "If that happens, will half-step Sovereigns be able to step out into the realm?"
"It's possible!"
Li Hao nodded. "But when that day comes... once I succeed in opening the heavens, I won't fear them! If the half-step Sovereigns emerge, let them emerge... Besides, they are currently at a very troublesome juncture; they might not even have time to trouble us!"
Hearing him say this, Hong Yitang nodded and said no more.
After a moment, he asked, "Is there anything else you need?"
"I need to extract my 360 stars—whether opened or unopened, I will take them all... The Chaotic River might weaken slightly, so you will have to make up for the deficit yourself!"
"That's the first thing... Second, if the Time Star appears, I might... trap it directly, trapping it in my own universe... provided it is willing. If it refuses, it will be hard for me to do so."
"Third..."
Li Hao paused, waiting a good while before saying, "Let's leave the third matter for later. I don't want too many entanglements, but if... Lin Hongyu is willing to leave, I might take her natal star with me. We'll see how things unfold!"
Hong Yitang laughed wryly and nodded. He had nothing left to say.
"Starting today, Martial Uncle, begin trying to govern the river using your sword Dao characters! Meanwhile, I will slowly extract my natal stars... Just proceed step by step; you needn't worry about anything else!"
Hong Yitang nodded again, sighing with emotion. "I am... reaping a massive windfall from you! If you were truly willing to hand the corporeal Dao universe over to Li Daoheng or Zheng Yu... those two probably wouldn't target you anymore and would weep with gratitude..."
If Li Hao really did that, even though both men were villains, they might not continue to target him.
Having reached their level of cultivation... for Li Hao to take such an action, they might feel nothing but admiration... provided, of course, they didn't fear Li Hao's revenge; otherwise, they might still kill him to pull out the weed by its roots.
Li Hao suddenly laughed with a touch of haughtiness: "Only what I give may they take! What I refuse to give... who the hell do they think they are?"
At this moment, Li Hao was completely different from before.
It was almost as if he were split-minded!
Yet it felt entirely natural.
If I wish to give, it is my pleasure.
If I don't wish to give and you want to snatch it, you'll have to answer to my sword!
Li Hao said no more. In the next moment, he tore open the firmament, revealing the Great Dao Universe.
A great river rippled. Li Hao stepped inside, and Hong Yitang immediately followed. Li Hao's voice echoed into the outside world: "I shall enter seclusion once more to comprehend sword intent! Martial Uncle Hong will cultivate alongside me... As for matters of education, Hongyu may arrange them as she sees fit!"
At those words, some felt their hearts stir, while others grew uneasy.
And the Queen, who was flying away in the distance... seemed to hear it too. She glanced back and snorted, "So you believed this queen after all! What a heartless, ruthless hypocrite. For his own sake, he still kills when he must!"
Seclusion, my foot!
Hong Yitang was finished!
She was certain that Hong Yitang would never walk out of the Great Dao Universe alive. She curled her lips, thinking it was only natural—if she were in his shoes... the threat was simply too great, and she would eliminate the trouble as well.
Still... a hint of disappointment lingered in her heart. *I thought you, Li Hao, would have a better solution.*
Although killing Hong Yitang seemed like the best solution in her view.
Yet that was the choice of a mediocre person... Li Hao, that miraculous figure who played the common mortals and the world's powerhouses in the palm of his hand, was he also reduced to this?
Now, it made Li Daoheng seem even more formidable.
"What a pity!"
The Queen flew further and further away. Seeing Li Hao choose to take Hong Yitang away, she felt her dread of Li Hao lessen slightly. Then she felt she ought to stay even further away from him. Earlier, she had entertained a fleeting thought: should she throw her lot in with Li Hao?
Now, she felt it was best not to. That man was far too cold-blooded and ruthless.
……
Inside the Illusory Dao universe.
The three powerhouses were still in relentless pursuit. At this moment, the clone of the Red Moon Sovereign suddenly spoke: "Is that thing intentionally toying with us?"
He frowned slightly.
He was a Sovereign, after all, and his discernment was sharp.
In the distance, that star had slipped from their sights several times, yet... just as they thought they had lost it, it would suddenly twinkle and reappear, with a distinctly... irritating, mischievous vibe!
Like a mischievous child playing hide-and-seek: just as you were about to catch it, it darted away; when you gave up chasing, it hopped out again to lure you on.
It was an infuriating sensation.
It made this Sovereign feel teased and mocked by a mere star.
He had noticed it, and naturally Li Daoheng and Zheng Yu felt the same.
At this moment, seeing that they had stopped pursuing, the distant star halted as well, showing no sign of panic. It seemed almost curious: *Keep chasing! Why did you stop?*
Zheng Yu glanced at it and chuckled. "How amusing! This fellow truly seems to be stringing us along to play with it. The Heart of the Great Dao is indeed not so easily captured! Merging both Dao universes should probably lock it down. Or, like Li Hao, one must use special means to attract it. Right now, catching it will be exceedingly difficult!"
The Red Moon Sovereign spoke indifferently: "If my true body were here, it wouldn't escape! Why not unseal the restrictions so my true body can seize it? Once it is caught, how about we divide it equally among the three of us?"
"Zheng Yu, Li Daoheng, we don't necessarily have to fight to the death. Aren't both of you merely seeking to prove the Dao and become Sovereigns?"
He looked at the two of them and smiled faintly. "Swallowing the Silver Moon world offers a chance to become a Sovereign! Let the Silver Moon world go to Zheng Yu! Merging the dual Dao universes can also make one a Sovereign. Li Daoheng, since that is your plan... how about the Great Dao Universe goes to you? As for me... I only need this Time Star—even half of it will do. Furthermore, we can trace back to Neo Martial's Yin-Yang World, and all three of us will gain something!"
"Otherwise, if this goes on, all three of us may end up with nothing. Though Li Hao is not overly powerful at present, the speed of his advancement is unimaginable... Once he claims the star and fuses the dual Dao universes, we might all end up dead by his hand!"
Divide the realm in three!
Zheng Yu smiled. "I have no objection. Li Daoheng, what say you?"
The sword-carrying man looked at Zheng Yu with utter coldness: "Zheng Yu, why put on airs? Over all these years, others may not understand you, but I understand you very well! Were it not for your constant interference, I might have succeeded years ago! Don't think I don't know you've been dragging your feet and holding me back all along!"
Zheng Yu chuckled. "I didn't even know you existed... I only found out after Li Hao mentioned it. Are you going to pin that blame on me too?"
The sword-carrying man sneered contemptuously: "The young master of the Zheng family holds everyone back... I saw through that years ago! That ditty wasn't spread by this seat. Who spread it—don't you know in your own heart?"
Zheng Yu chuckled helplessly. "What does that have to do with me? All these years, I could hardly take half a step out of Hurricane City..."
"If you want to pretend, go ahead and keep pretending!"
The sword-carrying man ignored him and merely gazed ahead.
Ahead lay a fat piece of meat.
Everyone wanted a bite; everyone salivated over it. They could see it, yet could not touch it. It was the sort of feeling where one could neither give up nor hold on... It constantly dangled before them, leading the three of them along like donkeys chasing a carrot.
Three supreme experts wielding half-step Sovereign might were actually being toyed with by a single star!
"To lure it over, we must make a massive move... I tried several times before, but none succeeded in drawing it near. This wasn't the first time Li Hao drew it out... By my judgment, if we want it to approach again, we must either fuse the dual Dao universes... or..."
Pausing, the sword-carrying man said coldly, "Or I kill you both, devour you, and prove the Dao to become a Sovereign!"
Zheng Yu took a step back and laughed. "Don't get any ideas about me. If the Sovereign and I join hands... you won't stand a chance! Why not think of another way? If Li Hao could draw it out several times, are you incapable? How about... finding a way to devour the Moon God and Heaven's Will? Perhaps uniting heaven and earth will draw it out. What do you think?"
He looked at the sword-carrying man and added, "A price must be paid after all. Li Daoheng, you have schemed to this very day... with countless clones. Why not try merging some of your clones, then dealing with the Moon God? Perhaps... you will have a great chance of claiming this star?"
The sword-carrying man remained silent, brooding, before suddenly saying: "Li Hao is a tremendous threat! All of us should understand that sooner or later, Li Hao will become an enormous danger. Even though we made preparations earlier, Li Hao summoning the past and future has already disrupted some of our plans... He must be dealt with!"
"He won't be easy to deal with!"
Zheng Yu shook his head. "Heaven and earth are suppressed once again; it is difficult for us to step outside!"
The sword-carrying man turned to look at the two of them: "I have an idea. Let us not wait for Li Hao to revive heaven and earth. As the three of us stand here, deciding a victor will be exceedingly difficult! Why not eliminate Li Hao first..."
Zheng Yu gave a faint smile. "How do you propose to eliminate him?"
"Li Hao can descend upon the corporeal Dao universe; naturally, I too have means to project the illusory Dao universe to blanket heaven and earth for a brief moment!"
The sword-carrying man said softly, "The duration will be very brief... During that window, the three of us will join forces and storm the corporeal Dao universe! We will make a brief attempt to fuse the dual Daos to lure the star over... At that point, the three of us can determine the victor!"
At those words, the eyes of both Zheng Yu and the Red Moon Sovereign flickered slightly.
Both looked at Li Daoheng, sinking into thought.
For him to dare make such a proposal right now... did it mean he had absolute certainty of success?
"That fellow in the north is Tianji's clone, isn't he?"
The Red Moon Sovereign suddenly spoke up: "He wields the Blood Sovereign's saber and possesses half-step Sovereign might. He is also a tremendous threat. If the three of us truly join forces to attack the corporeal Dao universe as you suggested, what if that fellow enters the fray?"
That one was not weak.
Truth be told, his own clone might not be a match for him. If that person was indeed Tianji, he was a veteran Sovereign with the Blood Sovereign's saber in hand... not someone to be trifled with.
Zheng Yu chuckled. "Does the Sovereign still not understand Li Daoheng's meaning? He and I are in no position to act... Why doesn't the Sovereign take the trouble to deal with that person?"
The Red Moon Sovereign sneered.
How convenient!
*I go to deal with that person while you two storm Li Hao's domain. Li Daoheng wants dual Dao fusion, while Zheng Yu is eyeing the Time Star. When the critical moment arrives, Li Daoheng might relinquish the Time Star, and Zheng Yu might abandon his ambitions for the dual Dao universes.*
*In the end, I would be the only one left empty-handed!*
The sword-carrying man suddenly said, "If you can crush that man and shatter the blood saber, the seal of the Eight Cities will collapse on its own! Red Moon Sovereign, this is your opportunity. If you are willing to gamble, give it a try! If not, then forget it!"
The Red Moon Sovereign's heart stirred, and he looked at the two of them.
Zheng Yu chuckled. "Under normal circumstances, if the Sovereign tried to break the seal, Li Daoheng and I would naturally stop you! But this time, if he and I are drawn into the Great Dao Universe, then... the Sovereign's opponent will not be three half-step Sovereigns, but only one... I must say, Fellow Daoist Li has quite a scheme... to each their own!"
Originally, the Red Moon Sovereign would never have agreed. To have him deal with Tianji's clone... why would he ever consent?
Yet now, he felt a genuine stir of temptation.
The Great Dao Universe and the Time Star were indeed supreme treasures, and these two would inevitably fight over them. But going after Tianji's clone would not leave him empty-handed either. If he could truly defeat him, shatter the blood saber, and break the Eight Cities formation... he could walk free!
It all depended on who was faster!
If he defeated Tianji first and his true body stepped forth before these two half-step Sovereigns succeeded, he could slaughter both half-step Sovereigns and claim everything!
Of course, if he failed to defeat him in time and Li Daoheng completed the dual Dao fusion ahead of schedule to become a Sovereign... that would be disastrous.
And Zheng Yu... since he dared speak like this, he certainly had some confidence in seizing either the dual Dao universes or the Time Star...
Each of the three harbored his own thoughts, all nursing their own hidden agendas.
In the distance, seeing that the three were no longer chasing it, the star seemed somewhat disappointed and bored. It tumbled around in place a few times, then abruptly vanished.
This time, none of the three pursued it!
Zheng Yu spoke again: "Li Daoheng, have you pinpointed the location of the corporeal Dao universe? Furthermore... what assurance do you have that you can swiftly crush Li Hao, seize the star river, and complete the fusion?"
"Does this fusion... require anything else?"
He looked at Li Daoheng, but the other man paid him no mind.
Zheng Yu chuckled. "This has likely been your plan all along. You kept silent before, yet suddenly bring it up today. Could it be... because you now have absolute certainty of victory and success?"
At this moment, Zheng Yu looked nothing like the foolish, incompetent figure everyone imagined him to be.
He seemed to be scheming and calculating something of his own.
He appeared remarkably confident.
Even knowing full well that Li Daoheng was scheming something, he remained fearless, his smile radiant. "Forget it, don't say it if you don't want to. If it can truly be done... I have no objection. If the Sovereign has no objection, I think we can go ahead!"
Among the three, he appeared the weakest, with the fewest cards in hand.
At least Li Daoheng controlled the illusory Dao universe, and the Red Moon Sovereign's true body was a Sovereign expert. Only he controlled no universe nor wielded Sovereign power, yet he was the first to take the lead in agreeing.
The sword-carrying man looked at him with profound eyes, then nodded after a long silence: "Very well! As long as the Sovereign has no objection, grant me a little time to help the Moon God recover somewhat... I have no ties to the power of the common populace, so projecting into Silver Moon requires considerable effort... In as little as half a month, or at most a month, I will certainly be able to project the illusory Dao universe. At that time, all three of us will have our chance!"
Either achieve Sovereign status, or have the true body break free from the seal.
However, the Red Moon Sovereign suddenly spoke up: "As I am now, I cannot do it! That fellow holds the Blood Sovereign's saber, and his clone has cultivated for a hundred thousand years; I might not be able to defeat him... If you want my consent, I still need a few things!"
He did not try to show off bravado.
Instead, he looked at the two of them: "Zheng Yu, over the years you have seized a great deal of my Red Moon power. Return it to me! This Sovereign knows that you were never corrupted by the Red Moon! And Li Daoheng, the same goes for you—over the years, you too seized much of my Red Moon power, and the Moon God's true body is teeming with massive amounts of Red Moon power... That must be returned to me as well to help my clone take a step further! Otherwise, if I go against that fellow, I am certain to lose!"
"Agreed!"
"I have no objection!"
The two agreed readily. The Red Moon Sovereign's eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly without saying more.
Zheng Yu suddenly laughed again: "If word of this got out, people would die of laughter! A Sovereign and two half-step Sovereigns hiding in the shadows, scheming against a mere Heavenly King... a young man in his twenties. And it requires a three-way conference, no less. Is this Li Hao's honor, or are we simply too incompetent?"
None of them spoke.
Those words struck a chord in them.
Indeed!
Regardless of whether they had ulterior motives, the three supreme powerhouses were indeed scheming against Li Hao at this moment—joining hands, even putting aside their grudges against each other just to deal with him.
How unbelievable it was!
Their opponent was merely a Heavenly King.
It was the Red Moon Sovereign who spoke once more: "Some people are born heaven-sent geniuses; every era has its heroes. The Human King of your Neo Martial was hardly very old when he rose either! Since the few of us could never become such people... joining forces to strangle such an existence in the cradle is only natural. After all, we are inferior to them..."
A Sovereign admitting: *We are inferior to them.*
The two seemed slightly reluctant to agree, but soon regained their composure and said nothing. Perhaps so!
When even a Sovereign said so—no matter how weak a Sovereign might be, he was still a Sovereign... If such an evaluation were spread abroad, even the rulers of ten thousand worlds across the chaotic universe would consider it extraordinarily high praise!
The sword-carrying man said nothing more, drifting away: "Neither of you had better cause trouble in my territory in the near future... otherwise, the previous plan is completely off! I hope the two of you can stay quiet for a while!"
With those words, he ceased pursuing the star and vanished in an instant.
Looking at his departing back, Zheng Yu chuckled, seemingly muttering to himself: "That fellow has definitely done something to give himself immense confidence; otherwise, he wouldn't take risks so easily!"
The Red Moon Sovereign smiled meaningfully. "Aren't you the same? Zheng Yu, this man is treacherous. If an opportunity arises... you and I could actually work together!"
Zheng Yu smiled and nodded. "I hope such an opportunity comes!"
With that, he looked around and smiled. "This universe is truly vast! A Great Dao Universe is indeed miraculous. I shall look around; please make yourself at home, Sovereign! Oh, by the way, if the Sovereign breaks the seal and counterattacks Neo Martial... do remember to lend me a hand!"
With those words, he disappeared as well.
The Red Moon Sovereign watched their vanishing figures, his brows arching slightly. These two fellows... were indeed not to be trifled with.
If they cultivated earnestly and underwent Neo Martial's Sovereign tribulation, both might have stood a chance of attaining Sovereign status.
Yet both had chosen to scheme within a minor world.
Their ambitions were far from modest; ordinary Sovereign status likely could not satisfy them!
He chuckled as well and vanished in an instant. *Yet... a half-step Sovereign is still only a half-step Sovereign. After all, they are not Sovereigns, are they?*
Chapter 403