Holding Them Back

Above Silver Moon, a great star hung suspended. Zheng Yu ripped through the void. The opportunity had arrived! His plan was not the only one broken; everyone’s plans had been ruined. Yet the outcome was good—at least for Zheng Yu. Devour Heaven's Will, absorb Silver Moon, seize the dual Daos... If he succeeded today, combined with having already endured several strikes of the chaos lightning tribulation, he would be mentally prepared even if the Sovereign Tribulation truly fell. He would certainly survive it and attain the throne of a Sovereign! Zheng Yu soared into the sky! At that moment, Li Hao’s figure flickered in and out of view. The hundred and eightieth star seemed to be lighting up, yet something was missing, preventing it from merging into one with the others. Li Hao’s aura fluctuated erratically, powerful one moment and feeble the next. After the lightning tribulation, Li Hao seemed to have gained something, yet also seemed to have gained nothing at all. At this juncture, Zheng Yu’s arrival posed an immense crisis. Behind him, the King of Dali’s aura was already fading fast in pursuit. Once the King of Dali lost his half-step Sovereign strength, even joined with Zhang An, he would not be able to stall Zheng Yu for an instant. In the blink of an eye, Zheng Yu reached the starry sky. He offered no pleasantries and spoke no words, simply reaching out toward the void. His boundless might surpassed even the previous thunder tribulation. He moved to seize the Time Star in one grasp, intent on obliterating and devouring Li Hao. At that very moment, Li Hao manifested before the great star. Facing Zheng Yu, a long sword materialized in his hand and pierced the void. As the strike lanced forth, heaven and earth shook violently. From every direction, boundless energy surged in, transforming into Li Hao’s mighty power. Sword and palm clashed! The void shattered like glass, fractures spreading across the entire world, and the hundred and eighty stars trembled violently. In this instant, Zheng Yu unleashed the true power of a half-step Sovereign—monstrously formidable! From behind, the King of Dali struck with all his might, his punch shattering the heavens and the earth! Three sides: front, rear, and center. Pincer-attacked from front and back, Zheng Yu appeared entirely unbothered. An overwhelmingly explosive force abruptly manifested behind him. With an earth-shattering boom, shockwaves erupted and pulverized the surrounding void. The King of Dali’s fist instantly shattered. At this moment, Zheng Yu seemed vastly stronger than when he had fought them earlier. Having reached this point, he no longer hid anything. A whip appeared in his hand once more, piercing the void straight toward Li Hao. A single crack tore through heaven and earth. Strong though Li Hao’s sword light was, the hundred and eighty stars had not yet formed an integrated circulatory system. Even if his strength touched the half-step Sovereign level, it was swiftly beaten back by a true half-step Sovereign. Further behind, Tianji tore through the void at terrifying speed. Wielding the blood saber, he cleaved the sky from afar! Though Li Hao had said he owed him nothing, Tianji still chose to enter the battle. His slash carried boundless blood qi, stirring a roaring sea of blood that looked poised to obliterate the world! Zheng Yu glanced sideways and said softly, “Why must Senior wade into these muddy waters? For a hundred thousand years, Senior paid no heed to any of this. Why meddle now?” Tianji sneered. “Choosing not to care doesn't mean I cannot!” Zheng Yu remained indifferent. “Even if Senior intervenes, it changes nothing. A half-step Sovereign is strong, but Senior is merely a clone, not the original body! Besides... Senior didn't exactly pop out of nowhere.” At those words, Tianji’s expression shifted slightly. Not popping out of nowhere! Indeed, he had slumbered in the north for a hundred thousand years. Naturally, Zheng Yu knew of his existence. If he said that, it meant... “Senior has arrived just in time. Whether I can succeed today may very well require a little help from Senior!” A three-sided encirclement! In front stood Li Hao, behind were the King of Dali and Zhang An, and on the flank was Tianji wielding the Blood Sovereign’s saber—a genuine clone of a Sovereign. An ordinary half-step Sovereign could never match such strength. Even when the Red Moon Sovereign’s clone was heavily wounded, Tianji had slain it with relative ease. Yet Zheng Yu remained exceedingly calm. In an instant, a shift occurred. Li Hao’s brow furrowed deeply, and Tianji’s face darkened as well. At that exact moment, eight thick bloodlines manifested above Zheng Yu’s head, identical to Ying Hongyue’s, yet incomparably more powerful than Ying Hongyue's flimsy bloodlines! Amid Tianji’s growing unease, the eight bloodlines merged into one! Tianji’s face shifted. Zheng Yu had united the eight bloodlines! His aura skyrocketed instantly, his terrifying pressure momentarily surpassing the earlier Red Moon Sovereign clone and Li Daoheng. Across heaven and earth, Zheng Yu seemed to be the sole existence! In Tianji’s hand, the blood saber trembled violently. The slumbering cat within seemed to sense something, stirring with a desire to awaken and devour this energy. The blood saber vibrated furiously! With a punch, Zheng Yu threw back the King of Dali once more. With a kick, he shattered the void and pulverized all of Li Hao’s sword intent. He remarked softly, “Li Hao was not in my calculations, but Senior... having lived for so many years, how could I not know your character? You claimed to care about nothing, yet if a genuine opportunity arose and someone worth gambling on appeared, wouldn’t you make that gamble?” He gave a contemptuous smile. “Senior’s feigned madness was famous throughout the Neo-Martial era! The dignified Prince Tianji, playing the fool, duping who knows how many people—until the Human King rose, and didn’t Senior end up risking his life for the Human King anyway?” “Though I do not know whether a new Human King will rise in this era... I know Senior is far from being as detached as you seem!” He understood Tianji very well. In the Neo-Martial era, Tianji claimed to care about nothing, yet his knack for opportunistic bets was second to none. While countless powerhouses of the Origin era were slaughtered, this son of the Western Sovereign had not only survived to the very end but had even attained the rank of Sovereign. Clearly, the Human King had permitted it—and had likely supported him. Otherwise, how could he have become a Sovereign? The Blood Sovereign entrusting him with this saber had been a sign of trust, and his father was a genuine, top-tier Sovereign. How could such a man truly be as indolent as he appeared? If he were truly lazy, he would never have come to this place to slumber peacefully for a hundred thousand years, waiting for a cat to awaken. This was an enormous investment! An investment in the Blood Sovereign, the Cang Emperor, and the Human King... For this cat was tied to all three, especially the Cang Emperor. It was the projection of the Cang Emperor, who had fallen in battle alongside the Emperor of Battle Heaven’s projection back then, bringing tears even to the heartless Cang Emperor. At this moment, Zheng Yu revealed his fangs. The eight bloodlines above his head fused completely, and the blood saber in Tianji’s hand began to shake violently! Tianji’s expression shifted! The King of Dali roared, “Cut him down!” The King of Dali was ecstatic. Back then, Ying Hongyue had united the eight bloodlines only to have them severed in a single slash. Today, Zheng Yu had united the eight bloodlines as well... Even though he appeared countless times stronger than Ying Hongyue, Tianji held the blade. One strike would still sever the eight bloodlines all the same! Yet Tianji’s face twisted as countless thoughts raced through his mind. In an instant, he attempted to pull the blade back, but the blood saber was slipping from his control! Tianji’s face drained of color! Zheng Yu said softly, “My father nourished this blade with his own bloodline for a hundred thousand years. You watched with joy in your heart, glad to have my father serve as the dupe feeding your blade and sparing you endless trouble. Senior must have been quite delighted over the past hundred thousand years!” Zheng Hongyuan! In this instant, Tianji realized he had been careless and made a grave error! Yes, Zheng Hongyuan had nourished the blade for a hundred thousand years in repeated attempts to claim it. To Tianji, that had been a good thing; since the man could never take the blade anyway, it had saved Tianji the trouble of constantly providing nourishment for the blood saber. Yet now... he had clearly fallen into their trap. Zheng Yu’s eight bloodlines grew increasingly powerful! He chuckled softly. “Though this is the Blood Sovereign’s blade, he has been gone for a hundred thousand years. My father nourished it with his own blood for a hundred thousand years. Even if he never became the blade’s master, he was its greatest source of nourishment. It should naturally feel some affinity toward my Zheng family! “Furthermore... the one within the blade has yet to revive and acts purely on instinct. My Zheng family has raised this cat for a hundred thousand years... Senior didn’t truly believe we accomplished nothing, did you?” Boom! The blood saber suddenly convulsed violently, attempting to wrench itself free from Tianji’s grasp. Not only that, but the colossal eight-bloodline dragon above Zheng Yu’s head extended toward the blood saber. Within the blade, a cat habitually opened its mouth in its slumber and clamped onto the tip of the blood dragon. In that moment, the blade flew directly toward Zheng Yu. As if tasting something delicious, the cat refused to let go! Tianji suddenly discovered that he had lost control of the blood saber! His face changed drastically! Damn it! A clone was only a clone after all. Had his true body been present, he would never have made such a blunder. Yet now that he recognized the problem, it was too late to correct it. Who could have imagined that Zheng Hongyuan had never intended to seize the blade, but rather... to nurture it! All for this single moment, so that the blade would become familiar and close with the Zheng family’s bloodline! Spending a hundred thousand years just to serve as feed for a blade... If the Zheng family had planned this from the start, it was terrifying. It meant they had been calculating against Tianji all along, treating him as an imaginary foe and never intending to let him off! Behind them, Li Hao retreated swiftly. The King of Dali’s face shifted. Seeing the blood saber thrashing wildly to break free from Tianji’s grip, he paled. How could this be? Zhang An’s expression darkened as well. “Your Zheng family... what ruthless audacity! Stopping at nothing to succeed!” Zheng Yu’s father had treated himself as a blood bank to nourish the blade for a hundred thousand years! From beginning to end, Zheng Hongyuan had never intended to become the blood saber’s master. Everything had been done to pave the way for his son! Zheng Yu reached out to grasp the blood saber. While the blade resisted anyone else fiercely—even blasting Li Hao away when he tried to touch it previously—it did not resist Zheng Yu at all. It was clear that nourishing the blade for so long had indeed produced a profound effect. Moreover, the cat within seemed to love this flavor and did not resist either, allowing Zheng Yu to easily seize one end of the blade. Tianji coming here, choosing to join the battle, and choosing to help Li Hao had all fallen within this man’s calculations. He had prepared for every contingency! Li Hao, having emerged out of nowhere, occasionally disrupted his plans. But a Tianji who had been in his sight all along could not derail him. The blood saber trembled, unleashing a shockwave—not toward Zheng Yu, but toward Tianji! Tianji’s arm shook violently! He roared in fury, “You seek death!” Even if he had lost control of the blood saber, he remained a supreme existence. Holding the blade with one hand to contest it, he balled his other hand into a fist and drove it toward Zheng Yu! A terrifying pressure weighed down on heaven and earth, immensely formidable! Yet at that moment, the blood saber erupted with an equally terrifying pressure that suppressed Tianji and the surrounding world. Zheng Yu said softly, “Uniting the eight bloodlines isn’t like Ying Hongyue’s crude attempt! This cat hasn't revived yet; it acts purely on instinct. I am feeding it. You dare interrupt a cat’s meal? Do you not know the Cang Emperor’s temper? Deny him a good meal, and will he ever let you eat?” Boom! Above the blood saber, the phantom of a cat appeared with eyes closed, biting one end of the eight bloodlines and devouring it. The massive power of the eight bloodlines could not be swallowed all at once. The instant Tianji threw his punch, the cat suddenly extended a paw, instinctively protecting its food! Crack! Fist and claw collided! In that instant, an overwhelmingly explosive force detonated between heaven and earth. Tianji grunted, bloody lacerations appearing across his fist as his expression warped! This cat had accompanied the Emperor of Battle Heaven for countless years. Even though it was merely a projection, its strength was unimaginable. Nourished by the blood saber for countless years, even without waking, its aura alone was palpably stronger than that of an ordinary half-step Sovereign! Acting on pure instinct, its single swipe nearly shattered Tianji’s fist. Seizing the chance, Zheng Yu wrested the blood saber away. The cat on the blade continued gnawing on the eight bloodlines. In this moment, Zheng Yu had used a unique method to control the cat, turning it into his protective talisman. Tianji’s face twisted repeatedly! He felt furious, incensed—furious with himself! Damn it! He had been too confident, too careless. The Zheng family had actually snatched the blood saber away. Zheng Yu chuckled softly. “Senior Tianji, why not withdraw? Otherwise... harming me means harming this cat and interrupting its revival process. Even if you kill me, your mission will have failed. To the Blood Sovereign and the others, killing me will never compensate for such a blunder! “Right now, this cat follows me. When I succeed and it devours all eight bloodlines, it will have hope of fully reviving! At that time, your mission will be complete. Even if you lose a clone, the cat’s revival means you haven't truly failed.” Tianji’s expression was dreadful. The cat within the blade was the sole reason he was stationed here. Now, his mission had failed; both blade and cat were lost! Worse still, if he attacked Zheng Yu, the cat would block him. If he forcefully unleashed his full power, he might shatter the cat and destroy its hope of revival. Just as Zheng Yu had said, even if he killed Zheng Yu, it would be useless! Behind them, Li Hao sighed with deep emotion. “Last time, I used this cat to scheme against Ying Hongyue... I didn't expect karma to come around so quickly!” Indeed, cause and effect moved in cycles. Last time, using this method, he had not only made Tianji owe him a favor, but had also killed Ying Hongyue in despair. Now, Tianji had taken the initiative to step forward and help. For Li Hao, this was tremendously good news. He never forced others to help him, but if someone offered, how could he refuse? Yet now, not only was Tianji restricted, but the cat had become Zheng Yu’s shield, effectively adding another half-step Sovereign to Zheng Yu’s side. Zheng Yu now possessed the power of two half-step Sovereigns. Until it finished devouring the bloodlines, the cat would continuously guard him. Furthermore, Zheng Yu’s eight bloodlines were peculiar; the cat could only swallow them bite by bite rather than all at once. Clearly, Zheng Yu had planned this long in advance. Against Li Hao, schemes proved useless. Against Tianji, however, this move was a masterstroke. In an instant, Tianji was rendered helpless. Before killing Zheng Yu, he would have to kill the cat first! Zheng Yu beamed. “I may lack other talents, but I'm quite good at dragging people down! Holding Senior Tianji back is right up my alley! Senior... I don't ask for your help, but as I kill Li Hao, Senior should just step aside!” Tianji’s face darkened, while the King of Dali shouted urgently, “Senior, you must not! “Once he kills Li Hao, he won't spare Senior either...” Zheng Yu laughed. “King of Dali, you are too naive. Even if I truly destroy Senior Tianji’s clone, it is no real loss to him. But if Senior slays this cat... once word gets out, his true body will be in mortal danger! Neither the Blood Sovereign nor the Cang Emperor would ever forgive him. Sacrificing this Second Cat for a complete stranger... Senior surely knows which consequence is graver, does he not?” Who was Li Hao? Did those Neo-Martial powerhouses even know him? Inciting the wrath of the Blood Sovereign, the Human King, and the Cang Emperor for the sake of a stranger—would a clever man like Tianji ever choose to do that? In that instant, the King of Dali finally realized the truth. Yes, this was merely Tianji’s clone. Losing a clone meant little, but if he persisted in fighting now... The trouble would be far greater! All of this had clearly been foreseen by Zheng Yu. He paid no more attention to Tianji, turning his back on him without a care. If Tianji attacked, the cat would instinctively block the strike to protect its food. This was an overt trap; Tianji could only watch helplessly, unable to do a thing! Tianji was consumed with fury! Earlier, he had thought the Red Moon Sovereign was a fool. Now... he wished he could slap himself across the face. How was he any better than that fool from Red Moon? Damn it all! Over the past hundred thousand years, he had indeed watched Zheng Hongyuan feed the blood saber with his blood qi time and again. He had assumed the man was trying to claim the blade, but he hadn't been doing that at all! Zheng Hongyuan had never intended to claim the blade to slay a Sovereign; he had been feeding it! Using himself as bait! Indeed, at this moment, Zheng Yu was doing the same. He was the cat’s food—did that matter? It did not matter in the slightest! The crucial point was that Tianji, a formidable half-step Sovereign clone, dared not move. Li Hao’s voice rang out: “Senior, thank you! Since this involves Senior’s mission, Senior should withdraw. Pay us no heed.” Zheng Yu smiled. “It is not a matter of paying heed or not. If you resist, this cat will target you as well. If you have the ability to slay a half-step Sovereign, slay this cat first. I believe Senior Tianji knows how to choose. Li Hao, you are no longer facing two half-step Sovereigns, but three!” Himself, the cat, and Tianji! Originally, Li Hao might have had a chance to overturn the situation. Yet now, with a simple unification of the eight bloodlines, Zheng Yu had completely sealed off every possibility and every retreat. Zheng Yu sighed with genuine admiration. “You are truly remarkable, exceeding my imagination. Of course, one can only say that your time was too short. Yet that is inevitable; when an era shapes you, it will never grant you much time!” With that, he lashed out at Li Hao with his whip! Just as the whip descended, the blood saber cleaved toward Li Hao in the same breath! The Blood Sovereign’s personal blade! In the hands of a half-step Sovereign, this slash was terrifyingly mighty—just like the strike that had severed Ying Hongyue’s eight bloodlines without leaving a shred of hope. Now, Zheng Yu was using the exact same method against Li Hao. A long sword erupted! Li Hao unleashed a strike, time itself seeming to freeze. Yet it was futile; his strength still fell short of this half-step Sovereign. Moreover, this half-step Sovereign did not fight with his own power alone. Gathering the eight bloodlines had cost Zheng Yu a great deal, but it had successfully eliminated Tianji from the battle. The King of Dali grew frantic! Yet his aura continued to plummet; he could barely even approach. Zhang An was also thinking frantically, searching for a way out of this fatal situation... yet Tianji, the only one capable of resisting, had been neutralized! They could only watch helplessly! In an instant, they were driven to near despair. The lightning tribulation had failed to kill Li Hao just now, but this time... did Li Hao still have any chance to turn the tables? They were anxious yet powerless! Tianji stood sullen and frustrated, his face dark with fury. He desperately wanted to pummel this bastard to death, but... when it came down to it, compared to Li Hao, the cat was far more important. He felt utterly stifled, yet he had to endure it! He could only strike after the cat had swallowed the eight bloodlines. Once it finished, it would no longer protect its food, and whether it revived or not, he could act and slaughter this bastard! How dare he coerce me! Yet by then, Li Hao would likely be dead. At this moment, Li Hao said rather helplessly, “Senior, since you already intervened and he has offended you to the core... and though you cannot kill him because of the cat... can’t Senior at least block for me? Relying purely on defense without striking back, Senior should still be able to hold him off for a while, right? Are you just going to stand there watching?” “...” Silence fell on all sides. Even Tianji’s clone froze for a moment. Block for him. It seemed... no one had ever considered this. In the eyes of top powerhouses, a neutralized Tianji was virtually useless, and even Zheng Yu had thought the same. Yet Li Hao was saying... help me block him. You cannot kill him, but your physical body is so tough that even a half-step Sovereign can hardly match it. Even if you purely defend, it will take him time to breach your defense, won’t it? Li Hao was exasperated; Tianji was truly just standing there watching. You are already this humiliated... what does it matter if you suffer a bit more humiliation and take a beating? Could Zheng Yu kill you in an instant? If he could truly kill you in an instant, he wouldn't need to scheme at all. Such a simple thought had never crossed the minds of these powerhouses. The disparity in status, strength, and perception had naturally caused them to discard the idea of pure defense. Tianji had lectured the King of Dali earlier, saying that even if he couldn't win, he could at least stall. Yet when it came to himself, he had completely forgotten his own words. In an instant, Tianji’s expression changed. He flashed directly between Li Hao and Zheng Yu, gritting his teeth. “Turns out I can still defend!” He actually voiced such childish words. Because he had genuinely forgotten! Zheng Yu chuckled and froze for a moment. “My apologies, I forgot as well—Senior cannot attack, but you can still defend!” With that, he laughed heartily. “Indeed, having reached this level, who would ever consider pure defense? Such a simple realization was completely absent from our thoughts... Truly... the older one gets, the more ignorant one becomes. No wonder they say one must achieve fame and strength early; wait too long, and one’s thinking turns rigid!” In an instant, he struck! Boom! Boundless saber intent cleaved down. Golden light erupted from Tianji’s body as his entire physical form turned golden. Dazzling radiance and endless golden body power spilled outward with a deafening roar! Tianji grunted. For a supreme expert, defending without attacking was deeply unfamiliar. Fortunately, his physical body was formidable enough! As Zheng Yu’s saber slashed down, he held firm. In the next instant, more golden light radiated outward as he said in a heavy voice, “Do you have a way?” Did Li Hao have a way? If this continued... defense was no solution. Unable to retaliate, something would go wrong sooner or later, and he would eventually be hacked to death by Zheng Yu. Behind him, Li Hao glanced toward the sky. Then he looked not far away, where Lin Hongyu’s death qi was beginning to scatter and the Chaos River was being pursued by Li Daoheng. If this dragged on, a prolonged battle would be devastating for his side. Lin Hongyu would soon lose her half-step Sovereign power. And once Li Daoheng truly devoured the Chaos River and devoured Hong Yitang, Hong Yitang might not be able to strike back. He could not do what the Queen had done, replacing the original with a clone, even if he truly was Li Daoheng's clone. The disparity in strength was simply too great. Therefore, he had to break this deadlock. Without this cat, Tianji alone might have been enough to handle Zheng Yu. But with the cat present, Tianji would eventually be killed if he kept defending like this. He had to wait until all hundred and eighty stars were ignited! The final star—his own Time Star—had yet to be ignited by Li Hao. It was not that he couldn't, but that he... didn't want to. Because the true Time Star had not appeared this time. Despite such a colossal disturbance, it had not shown itself. The fusion of the illusory and real Daos, the chaos lightning tribulation, Li Hao becoming Heaven's Will... it had never appeared. Li Hao had originally intended to capture the true Time Star to serve as the core of his Great Dao... yet now, that could not be achieved. As such, even if all hundred and eighty stars were gathered and he barely stepped into the seventh tier of Dao Integration, he would only be a marginal half-step Sovereign. He could contend with them briefly, but would hold no advantage whatsoever. This fell somewhat short of Li Hao’s expectations. Yet having reached this stage, Li Hao was powerless to change it. Regardless, he had to advance first. Actually, there was another way to lure out the Time Star: wait a little longer! Wait for Li Daoheng to forcefully merge with Hong Yitang! Once the true illusory and real Great Daos fused, the star would inevitably appear. As for whether it would be captured by Li Hao or Li Daoheng, that remained unknown. However, by then, Hong Yitang would be finished. Li Hao took a deep breath. Countless energies from across the world converged toward him. A long river manifested, and above his head, the Time Star flickered, casting rays of radiance across heaven and earth. The entire world seemed to freeze for an instant! Li Hao stepped forward, and the flickering star sank into his glabella! Starlight illuminated the world! Zheng Yu struck with slash after slash, sending Tianji flying repeatedly. Covered in bloody lacerations, Tianji’s aura plummeted visibly. Defending without attacking was an immense challenge even for him. He had never felt so utterly stifled! Several times he tried to retaliate, only for the cat to swipe at him immediately, making Tianji want to vomit blood in frustration! There was no other choice! He could only take the beating. At this moment, Li Hao let out a long sigh. “Merge!” One by one, the stars in the sky gathered toward him! One, two, three... Those stars had fused with Heaven's Will, spiritual power, sword intent, force, and Dao meridians, making them far stronger than mere Dao meridians. One hundred and eighty Dao meridians had barely allowed him to step into the fifth tier of Dao Integration. Yet now, having fused all these elements, Li Hao’s aura grew visibly stronger at a terrifying rate! Star after star entered Li Hao’s Time Star, causing the entire Time Star to glow with increasing brilliance. Zheng Yu’s eyes flickered. Slashing Tianji away once more, he charged straight for Li Hao! Judging by this situation, even if Li Hao failed to capture the true Time Star, once he succeeded, he would at least attain the seventh tier of Dao Integration—the combat strength of a half-step Sovereign. Although a newcomer would still be inferior to him, letting him break through would introduce far too many variables. Of course, devouring Li Hao after he reached the half-step Sovereign realm would yield far greater benefits, but the danger would also increase. Zheng Yu ripped through the void with terrifying speed. His strength was unimaginably great, and Tianji simply could not stop him—chiefly because Tianji’s hands were tied, preventing him from unleashing his full might. Li Hao paid him no mind. In a single instant, the Time Star and Li Hao vanished together. Zheng Yu’s slash cleaved empty air. His expression shifted, and he turned to slash down toward the earth, the ground splitting apart instantly! Without a word, Zheng Yu charged straight toward the Central Region. Raising his blade, he moved to cleave heaven and earth! Li Hao was Heaven's Will. Li Hao could evade swiftly, but if Zheng Yu annihilated the humans of this world, Heaven's Will would naturally suffer damage. Not only that, but Hong Yitang over there would be grievously injured as well! Both men were too deeply entangled with Silver Moon! Li Hao appeared! Blocking his path, Li Hao looked at Zheng Yu, who smiled faintly. “You originally wished to sever ties with Silver Moon, but it seems you cannot. These people have become your shackles. Li Hao, you certainly know how to let go, but alas... fate still binds you inextricably to Silver Moon!” Had Li Hao not transformed into Heaven's Will, he could have ignored it completely; only Hong Yitang would have been hurt, not him. Yet now, he couldn't. In truth, Li Hao didn't care that much about the world itself. Even if it had nothing to do with him, since it involved Hong Yitang and Zheng Yu intended to annihilate all of Silver Moon, he would still intervene. Yet at this moment, Li Hao felt a trace of disappointment. “It seems that although you are slightly cleverer than I imagined, you still haven't escaped the crooked path!” In that split second, the world was flooded with brilliant light! A great river enveloped heaven and earth, and Li Hao’s aura surged violently. Having stalled until now, he finally lit the last star, his aura skyrocketing as the faint majesty of a half-step Sovereign manifested! Or rather, he had stepped into the seventh tier of Dao Integration. One hundred and eighty stars, real and illusory intertwined, equivalent to the seventh tier of Dao Integration of a pure real or illusory Dao. In this instant, Li Hao finally possessed some strength to resist a half-step Sovereign. Yet Li Hao did not rush to attack. Instead, he looked into the distance—watching Lin Hongyu sent flying by Li Daoheng’s sword, and watching the Chaos River captured by Li Daoheng, thrashing and struggling violently! At that moment, another star seemed to manifest in the heavens. The true Time Star appeared to have shown itself, merely observing from across the void, not daring to draw close, perhaps waiting for an even greater spectacle! Li Hao looked over and suddenly asked, “What is your relationship with Li Daoheng?” Zheng Yu said nothing, striding toward Li Hao with a slash of his blade! Heaven and earth crumbled! Li Hao raised his long sword and struck. At that moment, the phantom of a cat appeared on Zheng Yu’s body, swiping its claw toward Li Hao! Tianji grew anxious. If Li Hao struck back, it would provoke the same response. Li Hao’s breakthrough seemed to have accomplished little! “You won't say?” “Could the two of you be the same person?” Li Hao murmured, “If so, that is truly terrifying. What on earth have you been researching all these years? Have you been playing chess against yourself?” Zheng Yu swung his blade, cleaving through heaven and earth, and chuckled softly. “You certainly have quite an imagination!” Boom! Blade and cat attacked simultaneously. Backed by the might of a peak half-step Sovereign, the attack was devastating. Tianji rushed over as well, but achieved little; wary of harming the cat, he could only take the blows head-on! Li Hao’s counterattack triggered an even fiercer reaction from the cat! This cat had become the key restraint against both Li Hao and Tianji. The main burden fell on Tianji; Li Hao cared less, but the situation left both of them deeply constrained. Bang! Even having just stepped into the half-step Sovereign realm, Li Hao was heavily injured in an instant. A single strike left him bleeding from the head, a deep slash wound carved into his flesh. Tianji fared even worse; the cat clawed at him while he dared not strike back, leaving his face covered in blood! Exuding absolute dominance over heaven and earth, Zheng Yu chuckled softly. “It seems... I have won this small round!” With that, he lunged toward Li Hao once more! At that very moment, Li Hao suddenly tapped out with a finger. The power of time flooded the world, his finger striking the cat’s claw that had suddenly reached forth. The River of Time surged upward, and the entire cat abruptly froze. In the next instant, time flowed forward rapidly! The cat phantom, which had only been nibbling on the eight bloodlines without being able to swallow them, suddenly devoured half the blood dragon in one gulp! Meanwhile, Li Hao aged dramatically in an instant! At this moment, Li Hao looked as though his life was near its end, yet a smile appeared on his face. Zheng Yu’s aura hitched, and he glanced at the cat. The cat before him seemed to have experienced a vast stretch of time in an instant, devouring half the bloodline gathered from his eight veins in one bite. One more time, and with the bloodlines fully devoured, the cat would no longer serve as his protective umbrella! “An impressive trick... but can you do it again? A fake is still a fake; that is not the real Time Star!” Zheng Yu regained his composure and looked at Li Hao. Without another word, he struck again, unleashing another slash! Li Hao was completely enveloped. Tianji moved to intervene once more, but the long blade suddenly shifted direction, cleaving the world into ruins and sending Tianji plunging straight into the shattered void. Li Hao retreated several paces, shattering the space beneath his feet. He looked at the cat, then at Zheng Yu, and finally smiled faintly. “Uniting the eight bloodlines?” Suddenly, in the distance, seven colossal cities began to tremble! The seven main cities shook violently. Zheng Yu glanced back and said calmly, “You want to use the eight cities to manifest the eight bloodlines? If you do, that fellow from Red Moon will truly break free!” “Is that something I should be concerned about?” Li Hao laughed. Yes, he intended to use the eight main cities to form the eight bloodlines, thereby luring the cat away! Zheng Yu smiled faintly, unbothered. Just at that moment, among the eight main cities, Hurricane City suddenly shook violently. The Saint guarding Hurricane City abruptly spat blood continuously. Li Fuhai was stationed in this city. Yet this powerful Saint was coughing up blood non-stop, unable to suppress the disturbance even in his true form! Hurricane City, which was about to transform into the eight bloodlines, halted instantly. The entire city seemed to have slipped from control. Not only this city, but not far away, Dao Jian and the others guarding Boundless City suddenly paled. Dao Jian’s expression shifted erratically as he looked into the distance, muttering, “Am I truly your clone?” He seemed to have harbored such doubts as well. Or rather, ever since he broke through to Dao Integration, everyone had harbored such suspicions. Dao Jian had advanced to Dao Integration too quickly. So quickly that everyone believed... something was wrong with him. A person whom everyone suspected did not fit the typical style of supreme powerhouses’ schemes. Yet doing the exact opposite might very well yield success. Dao Jian was not alone. Besides Dao Jian guarding Boundless City, Director Zhao and Old Turtle were stationed there as well. Hearing Dao Jian’s voice and sensing his fluctuating aura along with the tremors throughout Boundless City, both of their faces changed! Dao Jian was someone they had been guarding against. Yet now that something truly seemed wrong with him, they still felt deeply uneasy. If two of the eight main cities were lost, transforming the cities into the eight bloodlines would be useless. Director Zhao and Old Turtle wasted no words, rushing straight toward Dao Jian. One unleashed the Eight Directions Seal, and the other manifested his turtle shell, suppressing heaven and earth to pin Dao Jian down! ... On this side, Li Hao glanced over. Dao Jian? Could this figure, who was so blatantly obvious as a pawn on the board, truly be Zheng Yu’s clone? If not... why had Dao Jian’s aura suddenly skyrocketed, and why was Boundless City resonating with him? Seeing Dao Jian adapt to his newly increased strength without retaliating, merely watching the two powerhouses descend upon him in a daze, seemingly without any intention or desire to fight back... He simply waited in silence for the attack to fall! Li Hao’s brow furrowed, and in the next moment, he barked, “Stop!” In the distance, Old Turtle and Director Zhao froze in bewilderment, looking toward Li Hao. Li Hao had suddenly called a halt to their actions. Zheng Yu, however, paid no attention to any of this, slashing at Li Hao once more! Li Hao retreated continuously, entirely unable to match him. Had he not just broken through, he would have been cleaved in two long ago. Nearby, drenched in blood, Tianji crawled out of the void only to be struck by another slash. Cursing furiously, he was knocked back down into the abyssal void once more. At that moment, Li Hao looked toward Boundless City, his expression shifting. Then he looked back at Zheng Yu. Zheng Yu smiled. “What are you thinking about?” Li Hao’s face flickered through various expressions as he fled rapidly toward Boundless City! Zheng Yu appeared in an instant, cleaving down with his blade! “Why run?” Boom! The two clashed in the void. Li Hao’s expression shifted repeatedly. Even while outmatched, his mind raced. Dao Jian... Zheng Yu didn't seem afraid of Dao Jian being killed; or rather, even if Dao Jian died, it wouldn't affect him much. Because he was merely a clone? Dao Jian’s sudden surge in aura... was it controlled by Zheng Yu? Thought after thought flashed through his mind. Dao Jian, the genius of this era. Before Li Hao appeared, he had always been the genius—an incomparably brilliant swordsman... Swordsman? A pure supernatural, meaning a natural path-opener! In that instant, Li Hao’s face changed as a realization struck him, and he roared, “What is the Heavenly Dao Ruler? Whose weapon was it in the Neo-Martial era?” The Heavenly Dao Ruler! A divine weapon that was not particularly powerful. Long ago, it had served as the fuse for the war between the Three Great Organizations and the Night Patrollers. Later, it fell into Dao Jian’s possession. Li Hao had seen it once; it was not an exceptionally formidable weapon. Therefore, he had paid it no further attention. The weapon suited Dao Jian immensely. When it reached the Night Patrollers, Dao Jian took it—or rather, the Heavenly Dao Ruler chose Dao Jian of its own accord. Though not exceptionally strong, it possessed great spirituality. Because it could not compare to the sacred weapons, Heavenly King weapons, or Sovereign weapons that appeared later, it had merely been an early treasure, and gradually, almost everyone forgot its existence. Now, as Li Hao roared these words, everyone was bewildered. The Heavenly Dao Ruler... it didn't sound familiar; no one had heard of it. Did such a thing as the Heavenly Dao Ruler exist in the Neo-Martial era? Li Hao roared again, “Dao Jian, bring out the Heavenly Dao Ruler!” In the distance, Dao Jian seemed confused. Or rather, from the beginning until now, he had been utterly baffled and lost. He too believed that he was very likely Zheng Yu’s clone. Just moments ago, his aura had skyrocketed, jumping from the first tier of Dao Integration to the second, and then in the blink of an eye to the third tier. Such speed was unimaginable! It was too fast! Impossibly fast, and Boundless City happened to tremble alongside him, perfectly matching the signs of being Zheng Yu’s clone. Now, hearing Li Hao’s shout, Dao Jian retrieved the Heavenly Dao Ruler that he rarely used anymore. It was a ruler, translucent and crystalline, exceedingly beautiful. It possessed the function of measuring talent, capable of discerning a human’s cultivation aptitude. In that instant, aside from Zheng Yu and Li Hao, everyone looked toward the ruler. Tianji glanced at it—unfamiliar. It seemed to be merely an ordinary weapon. The others looked as well, none recognizing it. The Neo-Martial era had left behind far too many weapons; who could know who had left this behind, especially when it wasn't particularly powerful? In Battle Heaven City, the Ninth Division Commander looked at it too. He had heard of the Heavenly Dao Ruler, but as a weapon of little power, Li Hao and the others had paid it no heed, and he certainly hadn't either. Looking at it now, the ruler... was unfamiliar. Yet in the next moment, he stared for several more breaths, growing slightly confused. His brow furrowed, and after looking closer, his expression shifted. “Heavenly Dao Ruler... Heavenly Dao Ruler... The Fudao Sword? The Master’s sword of restraint, bounding oneself, curbing desire...” His face changed completely as childhood memories flooded his mind. His elder brother had loved playing tricks on everyone when they were young, leading the parents to beat their own children. Yet the Ninth Division Commander vaguely remembered one incident. During a class in the Li family’s private school, their teacher had gifted his brother a sword. A sword that was not particularly powerful, named the Fudao Sword. The teacher said it had been used by an ancient master as a symbol of self-restraint and self-control. Only by mastering oneself could one walk farther. His elder brother was exceptionally gifted, yet even at a tender age, his scheming was peerless. The Li family hadn't cared, but that teacher seemed to have noticed something. He had gifted him a sword—the very sword Li Daoheng used in his youth! A thought instantly surfaced in the Ninth Division Commander’s mind. Filled with disbelief, he looked toward Dao Jian in the distance, utterly shocked. “Is that... the Fudao Sword? “How could it be in your hands?” With overwhelming shock, he bellowed, “Impossible! That sword... disappeared long ago! How could it be here?!” Li Hao roared, “Whose sword was it?” “Li Daoheng’s sword!” The Ninth Division Commander yelled, “The Fudao Sword was gifted to Li Daoheng by our teacher! It was given countless years ago. Adhering to one’s Dao and restraining oneself was our teacher’s admonition to him...” In the next breath, he shouted again, “Our teacher departed many years ago. Our teacher... was said... very likely to be the Blood Sovereign! I do not know if it is true! Back then, the Blood Sovereign stayed in Silver Moon for a time and was close friends with our ancestor, the Sword Venerable. That is why some said our teacher was an incarnation of the Blood Sovereign... Whether it is true or not, Ancestor Sword Venerable never mentioned it!” In this instant, Li Hao seemed to understand everything. He suddenly unleashed a terrifyingly powerful strike, the brilliance of his sword nearly blinding Zheng Yu! Li Hao turned and fled, charging straight toward Dao Jian! Zheng Yu merely raised an eyebrow. “Li Hao, why run? “The things you care about are always so different from everyone else!” Li Hao ignored him, fleeing while looking into the distance. Over there, Li Daoheng was capturing the Chaos Great Dao, appearing ready to devour it. Part of the river had already been brought under his control and swallowed! Terrifyingly formidable! A realization surfaced in Li Hao’s heart. They were wrong; everyone had been wrong. Someone had usurped another’s place! Damn it! Zheng Yu—Zheng Yu had usurped the identity! In their assessment, Li Daoheng was overwhelmingly powerful, his scheming peerless, and the Li Daoheng wielding the illusory Dao matched every single one of those traits. Yet... what if the Li Daoheng wielding the illusory Dao was actually Zheng Yu? And that sword-bearing man... was the true Li Daoheng, but merely his past-life form? And the true Li Daoheng might have... reincarnated, just like that fellow from the Fengyun Pavilion, choosing to reincarnate and integrate directly into this era? Damn it! In that split second, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Perhaps the sword-bearing man was indeed Li Daoheng, but later someone usurped his place, while Li Daoheng cast his entire will into the new era—becoming Dao Jian? Therefore, whether devouring the Chaos Great Dao or devouring him right now... it was all one person! Zheng Yu? Could this be possible? Li Hao felt a chill run down his spine. He looked back at Zheng Yu, who was pursuing him. Zheng Yu remained composed. “Li Hao, you cannot escape!” Li Hao gritted his teeth. “You... are in no rush to kill me!” Indeed, he didn't seem to be in any hurry. Even though Li Daoheng over there was devouring the Chaos River and seemed poised to succeed faster and more easily than him. And Dao Jian’s sudden surge in aura and strength—was it truly related to this man? Or was it because... the sword-bearing man’s power had leaked excessively, and as he was further assimilated by the Li Daoheng wielding the illusory Dao, the power had leaked even more, causing this surge? In this moment, Li Hao seemed to understand! Yet it also seemed too late! If it truly was as he guessed... was this Zheng Yu merely the powerful, clever, but far from peerless powerhouse he appeared to be? Zheng Yu smiled faintly. “As someone who holds others back, isn’t it enough that I hold everyone back? Why rush? The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the more you rush, the worse you err. So... there is no hurry!” He truly was in no rush! At the very least, Li Hao, Tianji, the Second Cat, the blood saber... everyone was being held back by him, were they not? I was meant to be the hindrance from the start!