Exterminate to the Last!

The Tianhe Domain. Tianhe City. There were many cities in the Tianfang Great World, but only those presided over by Sovereigns served as the core of an entire domain. Nearly all cultivators and mortals lived in such areas. As for the other regions... they were perilous indeed. Almost everyone in the Tianfang World was a cultivator. The energy here was far too rich. Even a mortal would become a cultivator after staying for a time—provided they possessed the ability to cross the void, or had a powerhouse capable of traversing the chaos carry them across the realms. Countless cultivators converged in this colossal city. Some farmed, while others labored. In truth, the cultivators here were no different from mortals. In a world where Sovereigns existed, ordinary cultivators possessed virtually no power to overturn heaven and earth. At this moment, Li Hao walked through Tianhe City. The guards at the gate failed to recognize his identity. Sovereign Tianhe had sensed Li Hao's arrival, but to receive the third-rank Sovereign, he didn't appear even after Li Hao arrived. Li Hao was merely a first-rank Sovereign, after all. Tianhe had detected him, and Li Hao had made no attempt to conceal his aura either. As a Sovereign, there was no need. He had even intended to offer an advance greeting. Had the other party been willing to meet, they might have talked things over. Yet for now, Sovereign Tianhe seemed completely disinclined to meet a mere first-rank Sovereign. On the other hand, the third-rank Sovereign's aura lingered right beside Tianhe's. In fact, all the other Sovereigns of the Tianhe Domain were gathered there: one fourth-rank, one third-rank, one second-rank, and two first-ranks. Five Sovereigns were assembled together. After taking a brief reading, Li Hao reached a conclusion in his heart. Shenghong of the Yunyang Realm had been staying here the whole time... Perhaps he had no intention of leaving at all. Li Hao was in no hurry. He sensed their location once more. Far off, where the Sovereigns were gathered, a faint trace of Dao resonance manifested. Faint though it was, it truly existed. This was likely the Dao resonance land of a sixth-rank Sovereign that Ju Ao had mentioned. Supposedly, it had been the cultivation ground of a water-element Sovereign. Sovereign Tianhe was also a water-element Sovereign, which was why he had seized this place and refused to depart. The Dao resonance here still offered some benefit to a middle-rank Sovereign. Li Hao continued forward, heading toward Tianhe Manor. *** Inside Tianhe Manor. Sovereign Tianhe was still chatting with Shenghong. At this point, they were getting along splendidly. One had a mind to seek refuge, while the other wished to recruit him. Had they not needed to preserve a shred of dignity, they likely would have joined forces long ago. Although Shenghong had yet to state his stance explicitly, delight already surfaced in Tianhe's eyes. It was done! As for the first-rank Sovereign, Tianhe paid him no mind and even felt somewhat impatient. Right now was his moment to demonstrate his attitude. Everything was going smoothly with Shenghong, so that stranger could go play on his own. Why come to my estate? If Shenghong thought he was being slighted, wouldn't the bird in hand fly away? It was Shenghong who also sensed Li Hao's presence. He smiled faintly. In truth, he had detected him long ago, but had kept silent until now. Smiling, he took the initiative to say, "Fellow Daoist Tianhe, it seems an outside fellow daoist has arrived at Tianhe Manor. Aren't you going to meet him?" He was a Sovereign, after all! Leaving him outside showed a bit too little courtesy. Tianhe chuckled. "Is that so? I was chatting so delightfully with you, Brother Shenghong, that I didn't pay it any heed... Forgive me for showing you such a clumsy display!" With that, he turned his head toward the sole second-rank Sovereign and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Yuji, since someone has come, please go meet and attend to him. Tell him I have pressing business and cannot step away!" Upon hearing this, Sovereign Yuji rose at once and said with a smile, "Very well. I will go and return shortly. Brother Tianhe, please continue your conversation with Brother Shenghong." Shenghong nodded slightly. He truly felt the esteem the Tianhe Domain showed him. Even if it was only for show, neglecting a Sovereign was ample respect. Such an action ran the real risk of offending that Sovereign. In particular, the visitor was clearly coming straight toward Tianhe Manor. He had not concealed his aura, which signaled an intent to pay a formal visit. Of course, since it was only a first-rank Sovereign, Shenghong said no more. *** Outside Tianhe Manor's main gates. Two cultivator guards were in a difficult spot. The man before them seemed... to be a Sovereign? Yet no Sovereign had come out from the estate to welcome him. This was inappropriate! For a Sovereign to arrive at the doorstep and receive no welcoming party was an extreme breach of etiquette. The visitor had not hidden his whereabouts or identity, arriving openly with his qi on full display. Yet Tianhe Manor had fumbled today. Naturally, the guards knew this likely had something to do with the other visiting Sovereign. Inside the estate, several Sovereigns were keeping him company. Just as they felt awkward and apprehensive, a saving voice rang out: "Pardon our lack of welcome! I am Yuji of the Tianhe Domain. Greetings, Fellow Daoist!" Li Hao looked into the estate and smiled faintly. "Huilong Temple, Haoyue!" Huilong Temple? Yuji was taken aback. He knew all the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple... Then he suddenly recalled something. A few days ago, Huilong Temple had reportedly recruited a first-rank Sovereign. So this was the man. A first-rank Sovereign, and a newly recruited one at that. Yuji felt somewhat relieved. Formidable as Huilong Temple was, this man was not part of their direct lineage, merely someone who had just sought refuge there. His status and standing amounted to little. Of course, appearances still had to be maintained. He immediately beamed and said, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Haoyue!" Stepping forward, he waved off the surrounding guards. Looking at Li Hao and sizing him up from the corner of his eye, he said with a smile, "We have been somewhat negligent today. It so happens that Sovereign Shenghong of the Yunyang Realm is visiting as a guest... To receive him, neither Fellow Daoist Tianhe nor I extended our spiritual senses, so we failed to notice your arrival." He then added, "Fellow Daoist Haoyue, is your visit to our Tianhe Domain just passing through, or..." "Sovereign Shenghong is here?" Li Hao was in no rush to explain his business, answering with a question instead. Yuji nodded, his smile gentle. "Indeed. That is why our Tianhe Domain is entertaining him... If you do not mind, Fellow Daoist, you may enter to meet with us as well." Though he said that, his real meaning was clear: we are entertaining a third-rank Sovereign. You belong to Huilong Temple, so stay as far away as possible; we have business to attend to. If you have any tact, leave on your own. If you have business, come back next time. Naturally, there was no need to speak so bluntly. Li Hao pondered briefly before speaking slowly: "My visit today is also to seek Sovereign Shenghong." Yuji was startled. Why? Li Hao continued, "Word has it that the Yunyang Realm was destroyed by the Sword Venerable of Neo-Martial's Yin-Yang World! Furthermore, another Sovereign of the Yunyang Realm provoked an expert in the Huilong Domain earlier and was slain... Therefore, I wished to inform Sovereign Shenghong." Yuji was stunned again. Slain? How could that be?! Could it... It couldn't be, right?! News had spread earlier that a Sovereign had died. Could it have been Yuncang? If so... this was going to be troublesome. He had assumed Li Hao had come on Huilong Temple's behalf. Now, hearing that it was serious business, his expression shifted slightly, and he said hurriedly, "Fellow Daoist, follow me!" Li Hao nodded slightly. If he could lure Shenghong away, that would be ideal. Unless absolutely necessary... Li Hao had no desire to take action against these people. Otherwise, there were five Sovereigns present. Killing one would mean killing two... and killing two would require pulling up the weeds by their roots! Luring Shenghong away was the best outcome. *** Inside the grand hall. Tianhe and the others sensed Yuji bringing the newcomer inside. Tianhe frowned slightly, but his brow soon smoothed out. "There must be an urgent matter, or Yuji wouldn't have brought him in. Forgive our slight, Brother Shenghong!" By now, their rapport had deepened, shifting from "Fellow Daoist" to "Brother." Shenghong smiled. "No matter. Proper business comes first. The Tianhe Domain's matters are my matters as well." At these words, the two exchanged glances and smiled. Excellent! Soon, Yuji led Li Hao inside. The Sovereigns looked toward the visitor, their expressions turning slightly solemn. He seemed... extraordinary! He carried a rather uncommon air. To Tianhe, it felt like seeing another Kongji... He had met Kongji of Huilong Temple before. Though they were of the same rank, that man had given him an unpleasant, haughty impression. He always seemed indifferent to favor or disgrace. It was as though he was telling everyone: I am different from you. To many people, such an aura was thoroughly off-putting. It lacked any sense of warmth. And the Li Hao before him was much the same. At first glance, Tianhe took an instant dislike to him. A first-rank Sovereign meeting a fourth-rank Sovereign ought to offer at least a flattering smile, if not subservience. Yet there was none. Tianhe didn't show his displeasure. As the visitor entered the hall, he spoke directly: "Yuji, what is this fellow daoist's situation?" Yuji looked conflicted. Instead of speaking, he glanced at Li Hao. Li Hao didn't mind and took the initiative to speak: "It is like this. Yuncang of the Yunyang Realm was slain in the Huilong Domain. Knowing Sovereign Shenghong was here, I came specifically to deliver the news!" "What?!" Sovereign Shenghong, who had been all smiles moments ago, instantly turned grim. A murderous aura surged straight toward Li Hao as he barked in anger, "What did you say?!" Li Hao said, "Sovereign Yuncang has been slain!" Before Shenghong could speak, Tianhe shouted in fury, "Who dares be so audacious?! Insolence! How dare they kill a Sovereign of my Tianhe Domain!" Learning so abruptly that Yuncang was dead startled him as well. Fearing that their newly forged agreement would fall through, Tianhe scrambled to state his position. He needed to steady Shenghong and demonstrate his own resolve. As for Yuncang being killed... a first-rank Sovereign was dead, so be it! Li Hao's brow furrowed slightly. Before Shenghong had even spoken, this man... It seemed they truly had joined forces. Li Hao spoke again: "The exact culprit is unclear. Word has it that it might be connected to the Neo-Martial World!" His tone remained calm. "I came today, first, to relay the message, and second, to bring word from various quarters, including... an order from Neo-Martial prohibiting anyone from sheltering remnants of their enemies!" He looked toward Sovereign Tianhe. "Does the Tianhe Domain intend to shelter Sovereign Shenghong and make an enemy of Neo-Martial?" Tianhe was startled at first, but quickly regained his senses and snorted coldly. "Who do you think you are? Shenghong has already allied with this seat. Neo-Martial may be powerful... but so what? This is the Tianfang Great World! What does Neo-Martial count for here?" He had nearly been frightened for an instant, but quickly recovered. This was the Tianfang Great World, not Neo-Martial. What did he have to fear? Laughable! Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness Great World and the Bliss Great World were both here, and factions were courting them left and right. None of them showed any fear. And this fellow dared to intimidate him? Just who was he? Yuji quickly interjected, "This is Sovereign Haoyue, from Huilong Temple!" Those who didn't know better might have thought he came from Neo-Martial. Li Hao looked at Tianhe. Neo-Martial's deterrence... wasn't enough. The man didn't care in the slightest. This meant he was dead set on recruiting this third-rank Sovereign. Anything more would be wasted breath. Several seventh-rank Sovereigns hadn't frightened them; as a mere first-rank Sovereign, even if Li Hao announced that he hailed from Silver Moon, it wouldn't mean a thing. They might even turn hostile and capture him on the spot! At that moment, Sovereign Shenghong exhaled softly, his eyes turning cold as he looked at Li Hao. "Fellow Daoist Haoyue, did Huilong Temple send you to inform this Sovereign?" Just now, he had almost suspected this man was from Neo-Martial, sensing an intimidating presence. Hearing that he came from Huilong Temple put him somewhat at ease. Li Hao shook his head and said, "No... Of course, that is not the point. The point is, now that Sovereign Shenghong has sought refuge with the Tianhe Domain, does that mean you advance and retreat as one with them?" Shenghong frowned. This person was bizarre! Still, because Li Hao was from Huilong Temple, Shenghong said nothing further. Tianhe, however, assumed the man had come to poach him, and his displeasure mounted instantly! Huilong Temple had already courted Sovereigns from two Great Worlds. Just when he had finally managed to recruit a third-rank Sovereign, this fellow showed up. Detestable! Hateful! "Naturally!" Sovereign Tianhe said coldly, "Neo-Martial may be strong, but they face enemies within and without. They act against the natural order and are doomed to fall sooner or later! Our Tianhe Domain will help Brother Shenghong avenge the destruction of the Yunyang World! Huilong Temple need not trouble itself over this! If you came here to verify something, Fellow Daoist, let me tell you: if anyone from Neo-Martial dares to come, I, Tianhe, will be the first to cut them down!" Were those words resolute enough? Li Hao pondered repeatedly and glanced at the man once more. Since he had put it like that, what more was there to say? He looked toward the other three Sovereigns. "Do you three Sovereigns share the same thought?" Yuji frowned slightly and said coolly, "Fellow Daoist Haoyue, asking such a question lacks all propriety! This is the Tianhe Domain, not the Huilong Domain. Even if it were the Huilong Domain, since our Tianhe Domain stands united, we will naturally advance and retreat together! Did you think that with a few words and a so-called threat from Neo-Martial, our Tianhe Domain would crumble from within?" What wishful thinking! Now was the time to take a stand. To declare to Tianhe: rest assured, even if Huilong Temple intends to poach us, we will pay them no heed. Sure enough, Tianhe's expression improved considerably. Shenghong's face remained frosty. "Yuncang was killed by a Neo-Martial expert? Who killed him?" With that, he glanced at Li Hao, his disgust showing. He had taken an immediate dislike to this man from the very beginning. Coupled with his tone and demeanor, Shenghong found little to like about him. Had he not harbored some reservations, he would have struck at him already. A deeply repulsive aura lingered on this person. The Sword Venerable! Of course, it was unlikely to be the Sword Venerable himself, but rather a sword cultivator—a breed he loathed just as much. "Supposedly, it was the King of Silver Moon!" Li Hao explained earnestly, "He comes from the Silver Moon World, the realm where Neo-Martial was originally born!" The Sovereigns were stunned. Shenghong instantly erupted in fury. "What?! The king of the Silver Moon World? That insolent bastard, courting death! A Sovereign emerging from an unranked world dares to be so outrageous! Bastard!" The King of Silver Moon? What kind of insignificant thing was that! A newly emerged world that had barely existed for long, supposedly not even ranked among the Great Worlds. For the king of such a world to kill Yuncang—he deserved nothing less than death. As for how he had killed Yuncang, that remained unknown. Li Hao ignored him and looked at Tianhe once more. "Sovereign Tianhe, after killing Yuncang, that King of Silver Moon clamored that he would kill Sovereign Shenghong as well... If the Tianhe Domain harbors Shenghong now, you will be making an enemy of the King of Silver Moon." Tianhe laughed. This time, his laughter was laced with fury. "Haoyue! Do you speak on behalf of Huilong Temple? Even Fellow Daoist Huilong wouldn't dare interrogate this seat like this! The King of Silver Moon? Laughable! A mere ruler of an unranked world—if he dares show his face here, this seat will tear him into ten thousand pieces to avenge Brother Yuncang!" "And... do not think that just because you joined Huilong Temple, you can act however you please!" He glared at Li Hao, finding him increasingly irritating. Judging by his tone, one might have thought he was the Huilong Temple Master himself! To act so brazenly before a fourth-rank Sovereign! Li Hao fell silent. After a moment, he looked at the Sovereigns, raised his head, and said, "Then, could you seniors grant me a moment of your time?" The Sovereigns were taken aback. What did he mean? Li Hao sat down cross-legged, and a great river manifested. The Sovereigns were utterly bewildered by Li Hao's actions, unable to comprehend his intention. Besides, he was only a first-rank Sovereign... none of them feared any danger. After all, five Sovereigns stood gathered here, including a middle-rank Sovereign! That river... They observed it closely, unable to determine what it was. A Great Dao? It didn't look like one; it wasn't connected to any Great Dao Universe. Then what kind of method was this? Beside Li Hao, Sovereign Yuji grew displeased and snapped in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Haoyue! Out of respect for Huilong Temple, we won't stoop to your level, but what are you doing right now? Debasing the majesty of a Sovereign—this is simply absurd!" As Li Hao manifested the great river to encircle his surroundings, Sovereign Tianhe could barely contain himself. He wanted to strike right now and gravely injure the insolent fool. Pushing things too far! What kind of place was this? A place for him to run wild? Were you cultivating here? Or doing what? Ever since this man walked in, everything had been utterly baffling, and now Tianhe's bafflement had turned to fury. Li Hao, however, paid none of it any mind. Since this man insisted on standing firm, insisted on advancing and retreating together... then so be it. As Li Hao unleashed the river, he inquired, "The Dao resonance land here is said to have been left by a sixth-rank Sovereign, one who primarily cultivated the water element. I wonder, Sovereign Tianhe, how vast is the gap between you and a sixth-rank Sovereign?" Tianhe's eyes turned icy. Stepping down from his throne, he advanced toward Li Hao step by step, his gaze frigid. He had no interest in answering! Only one thought filled his mind: this man showed him far too little respect. This time, even if it meant refusing Huilong Temple face, he could not allow his dignity to be compromised before Shenghong. If even a mere first-rank Sovereign dared to act so insolently, how was he to establish his authority? As Tianhe closed in on Li Hao, Li Hao showed not the slightest hesitation. Since things had reached this point... and Tianhe remained so stubborn, then let it come! Did you think that killing just one Sovereign might not yield enough power of life and death? Then what about killing a whole group? Perhaps it would even provide enough energy to break through to the third rank. Fine by him! He might as well resolve it all at once. He only wondered how much power he could borrow from that sixth-rank Tianfang Sovereign. Borrowing strength in their Dao resonance land... could it be done? Under normal circumstances, it was possible. The prerequisite was that their true body was still alive. If they were dead... with neither past nor future remaining, it would be difficult. Li Hao did not know whether this person was alive or dead, but both seventh-rank Sovereigns he had encountered were alive. As for a sixth-rank... he would give it a try. If the experiment failed... he would simply claim he had come to cultivate. At worst, he would take a beating; under the banner of Huilong Temple, they wouldn't dare kill him. That was Li Hao's line of thought. Watching Sovereign Tianhe approach, Li Hao's Time Star suddenly radiated an intense surge of time power. At that moment, beyond the Tianfang Great World, the chaos lightning tribulation that had previously dispersed instantly gathered once more! Even though Li Hao had sealed both ends of the river, it still appeared. However, it seemed to be searching for something, scouring and attempting to lock onto a location. The vastness and might of the Tianfang Great World appeared to cause some interference for the lightning tribulation. *** At this moment, Li Hao's Star of Life and Death vanished, replaced by the Time Star. The entire river transformed into the River of Time once more. Yet Li Hao's horizons were far broader now. A single glance told him that his River of Time was exceptionally frail, lacking the mysterious and elusive depth of true time power. As he began reversing time, his lifespan began to drain. The river instantly pierced through heaven and earth! In the unseen depths, it seemed to make contact with something. This was the first time Li Hao had reversed time to summon the past of another powerhouse... The King of Dali and the others had done something similar before, but they had only borrowed weapons to summon past phantom images. This time, Li Hao was using the Dao resonance land in hopes of summoning a sixth-rank Sovereign directly! Suddenly, Li Hao's expression shifted. Lifespan inside his body depleted at a terrifying rate. He aged at a speed visible to the naked eye! Li Hao's expression changed. Did summoning a sixth-rank Sovereign require such an immense expenditure? I am already a Sovereign! For a Sovereign's lifespan to drain so conspicuously signified an astronomical cost. Moreover, the figure had yet to appear. If he were to summon her fully... wouldn't it cost an infinite amount of lifespan? With his expression shifting, he stepped into his own river, advancing into the upstream waters where a phantom figure was faintly emerging. At that moment, the figure seemed to see Li Hao. It was actually a woman! Amidst the hazy, shifting shadows, the woman looked at Li Hao across time and space, her gaze icy as she sized him up. Li Hao looked at her in return, his voice echoing with the resonance of the Great Dao: "As a Quasi-Dao Lord of Time, I borrow Fellow Daoist's past power. If you are willing... Li Hao will owe you a favor. Should fate allow us to meet in the future, I will repay it!" In that instant, the woman seemed to hear his words. Without excessive deliberation, she responded with a single word: "Agreed!" A Quasi-Dao Lord of Time! A cultivator of time power wished to borrow strength. Would she lend it? Yes! To anyone, so long as it didn't involve a critical moment of life and death, lending power—regardless of how much the other party offered—to such a figure meant they would surely reap rewards if both survived to meet in the future. In an instant, the phantom crossed the river and merged into Li Hao's body. At that moment, boundless water-element power erupted within the River of Time! The Water Great Dao manifested instantly. At this moment, it even overshadowed life, death, and time. A sixth-rank Water Great Dao had surpassed his current attainment in time and life-and-death. The entire river transformed into water-element power. At that very instant, the Sky Sword emerged! A sword pierced through heaven and earth! Sovereign Tianhe had already sensed something amiss. When this sword manifested, his expression changed drastically. He tore through the void instantly, attempting to flee. Too strong! Sixth-rank? How could that be?! Was this Sovereign Haoyue a sixth-rank Sovereign? And a water-element one at that? Tianhe was a water-element Sovereign himself; a Sovereign of the same element at the sixth rank could suppress him entirely. Simultaneously, the river expanded into a world. In an instant, it enveloped the entire Tianhe Manor. Ten thousand swords converged in a flash. All five Sovereigns were trapped within. Li Hao's sword sliced through the void. While Sovereign Tianhe managed to break away, Sovereign Yuji, the second-rank Sovereign beside him, could not escape. In a single instant, the sword pierced straight through him. His chaotic Great Dao collapsed immediately, and countless Dao sources dissolved into nothingness. Yuji was still bewildered. Li Hao could have killed a second-rank Sovereign with his own strength, let alone now, having borrowed sixth-rank power. Even if that borrowed power was somewhat unstable, it was far beyond what a second-rank Sovereign could withstand. A single sword strike had pierced him through! "The Longevity Sword!" At that moment, Shenghong began to tremble all over. In this sword strike, he seemed to see the Longevity Swordsman! The Sword Venerable! Back then, it was precisely such a sword strike that had slain the Master of Yunyang—a fourth-rank peak Sovereign possessing a medium world, on the verge of stepping into the fifth rank, bolstered by the power of an entire world. Yet he had been slain by a single strike! In this instant, it felt as though he had returned to that day. Terror, dread, panic, unease... All of it coalesced into a single thought. Flee! He specialized in the Dao of Rainbow Transformation and was exceedingly swift. In an instant, he turned into a crimson light, attempting to flee the area. He did not dare clash with such a sword strike! Yet Li Hao paid no heed to the others, nor did he pursue Sovereign Tianhe. At that exact moment, a wall of water rose like an insurmountable chasm, blocking Sovereign Shenghong's path. Sovereign Shenghong slammed directly into it. With a deafening boom, he caved in a section of the water wall, yet his path remained barred. His face drained of color. How could this be?! Water element? Wasn't it the sword Dao? The Longevity Swordsman specialized solely in offense and seemed inept at other arts, such as this method of obstruction. "Who on earth are you?!" With his expression drastically changed, he transformed into crimson light once more to flee. At that moment, a sword ray akin to true Longevity Sword Intent erupted, heavily laced with dense water-element power—so much so that it began to tug at the entire world! *** Meanwhile. In the outside world. The Tianfang Great World. Suddenly, Sovereigns across the realm were shaken. One after another, they stepped out of their seclusion grounds and looked toward the edge of the world, filled with confusion and shock. As Li Hao unleashed the Dao power of a sixth-rank Sovereign, it seemed to have drawn out something immense. A Great Dao Universe! In the Huilong Domain. Sovereign Huilong's expression was a mixture of agitation, excitement, and dread... What had happened? Why... did he sense the Tianfang Great World trembling, as though a Great Dao Universe was showing signs of emergence? How could this be? Wasn't it said that only by breaking through to the seventh rank natively could one hope to draw out a Great Dao Universe? Why today...? He looked toward the Tianhe Domain, his brow furrowing slightly. It seemed something had occurred over in the Tianhe Domain. A formidable surge of water-element power broke out, seemingly tugging at something. What had happened? Not far away, Sovereign Kongji raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. Fascinating! This man had actually succeeded in borrowing strength, and it was the sixth-rank Dao power of a water-element Sovereign—likely Shui Binghong, one of the Five Elements Emissaries of the Tianfang Great World. She, along with Sovereign Huoyan of Mount Huoxing, was one of the Five Elements Emissaries. However, Shui Binghong was slightly weaker, at the peak of the sixth rank, having not stepped into the seventh. Had she been seventh-rank... today might have genuinely drawn out something monumental, perhaps even giving birth to a new Great Dao Universe. "He actually pulled it off..." How did he do it? Why was it like this? Could it be that his primary cultivation was not the Dao of Life and Death? Or perhaps the Dao of Life and Death could draw upon the death power of the deceased? Various thoughts surfaced, yet at this moment, Kongji still hadn't considered time. The deeper one's comprehension of the Dao, the more impossible it seemed. Because time was simply too miraculous. Today was destined not to be peaceful; the entire Tianfang World had been disturbed. Kongji looked toward the nearby Huilong Temple Master. Sure enough, Sovereign Huilong suddenly barked, "Fellow Daoists, accompany me to the Tianhe Domain to see!" The Huilong Domain was the closest major domain to the Tianhe Domain. Something had clearly occurred there. If they didn't go check, wouldn't they regret it bitterly if an opportunity presented itself? At that moment, a fifth-rank Sovereign and a fourth-rank Sovereign appeared from within the temple. The other Sovereigns did not join them; even if they hurried over, it would be too late, as early-rank Sovereigns lacked such speed. Kongji merely glanced at them and said, "I will stay behind to guard the temple!" Sovereign Huilong raised no objection. Having a middle-rank Sovereign stay behind was fine; besides, with three of them going, missing one fourth-rank was of little consequence. The three quickly tore through space, heading toward the Tianhe Domain! *** In the Tianhe Domain. Li Hao pierced through heaven and earth with another sword strike. A crimson light instantly shattered, revealing Shenghong's true form. Shenghong's face was filled with terror as the sword pierced clean through his skull, causing his Dao power to collapse in an instant! A third-rank Sovereign powerhouse was slain in a single strike! The two first-rank Sovereigns had long since turned pale with fright. Both were fleeing for their lives! Yet this area was already blanketed by the great river. The entire world was water, with surging waves crashing in every direction. The monstrous water power swept across, dragging the two first-rank Sovereigns straight back. One shrieked, "I have nothing to do with Shenghong—" In an instant, a sword strike turned into life and death. The power of life and death swept over them, causing both first-rank Sovereigns to age instantaneously. Death qi pervaded the area, and within the blink of an eye, they seemed to undergo the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, turning thoroughly decrepit as their power drained away. Another sword slashed down! *Crack!* The two turned to dust, unable to leave behind even their terrified expressions. In the distance, a figure struggling against the colossal waves suddenly looked back at Li Hao, his expression hideous. "Time... borrowed strength... You aren't truly sixth-rank! You only borrowed the power of the master of this Dao resonance land! Who are you?!" The power of time! "Li Hao, the new King of Silver Moon!" Li Hao advanced with sword in hand. "I had no wish to target you, but you insisted on advancing and retreating as one with Shenghong. In that case... allow me to send you on your way!" Sovereign Tianhe glared with fury. "The new King of Silver Moon? Li Hao! Well done, Li Hao! You merely borrowed the power of an ancient powerhouse; do you truly believe you can kill me? Let's see how long you can hold out!" He was a fourth-rank Sovereign! He wasn't like those early-rank Sovereigns. Cultivators at his level had undergone a metamorphosis, making them far stronger than third-rank Sovereigns. If Li Hao thought he was as easy to kill as the others, he was underestimating him. At this moment, Li Hao's aura began to dip. Not only that, his physical body was rapidly aging. This was the price of overtaxing himself with the use of time, an immense drain on his lifespan. Moreover, the chaos lightning tribulation was about to descend! And his opponent was a genuine fourth-rank Sovereign. He wouldn't be easy to kill! On top of that, there was a fifth-rank Sovereign outside! Li Hao had actually sensed him, but paid him no heed. So long as that person didn't intervene, Li Hao wouldn't bother. That person... was likely connected to Kongji. As for the observer sensing certain things... with the river blanketing the area, what he could perceive was limited, though he certainly knew Li Hao had borrowed local power and possessed a sixth-rank water-element aura. If that person dared to penetrate the river to pry... Li Hao would make sure to keep him here today, no matter what! So long as he didn't probe into the river, Li Hao would leave him alone. Sixth-rank and fourth-rank were both middle-rank levels. Yet a gap still existed. It was just that Li Hao's borrowed power was unstable and could not be sustained for long, and slaying the four Sovereigns had consumed precious time. At this moment, Sovereign Tianhe proved to have keen judgment. Before him, Great Daos resembling massive dragons coiled around his body. A wall of water enveloped him instantly. A weapon even emerged, transforming into a protective barrier. He chose defense! So long as he held out for a brief period and weathered Li Hao's lethal assault, he could wait until Li Hao's power waned, or until Sovereign Huilong arrived. The latter was bound to come. He continued speaking aloud: "Li Hao, why haven't you fled? There is no grudge between us! If you don't flee now, once Sovereign Huilong arrives... you will have nowhere left to run! He is a genuine sixth-rank Sovereign who actually hails from a Great World. Though he has severed ties with his Great World's Great Dao Universe for now, he can return to it at any time, becoming a sixth-rank Sovereign of a Great World..." He wanted to intimidate him into abandoning the pursuit. Shaking his resolve would suffice! Li Hao, however, said nothing. A single thrust unleashed an ever-shifting, immensely formidable sword intent. The strike pierced through layer after layer of defensive barriers, but its momentum was finally exhausted before the barrier formed by Tianhe's weapon. It actually failed to pierce through! Tianhe breathed a slight sigh of relief! Good! This meant he was safe. Li Hao frowned slightly. The water element was not particularly offensive. It excelled at defense. Borrowing sixth-rank water-element power had its drawbacks; had it been fire-element, he could have breached the defense in a single strike. What a pity. He said nothing and wasted no time. At that exact moment, the Time Star manifested once more. Suddenly, time seemed to reverse again. In an instant, all the defenses before Sovereign Tianhe vanished as though reverting to a prior moment. Before Tianhe could react, a sword thrust straight through! Tianhe was completely dumbfounded! In this instant, he was truly stupefied. Why... was it like this? Time? A sword was plunged into his skull. Not only was his Great Dao shattered, but what seemed to be an inner world was also pierced through by the strike. Li Hao drew a ragged breath, having little power left inside him. Without a word, he pulled the sword out and thrust it through heaven and earth once more! *Boom!* A deafening explosion rang out. The powerful shockwaves shook the entire river. Sovereign Tianhe's face was filled with disbelief, unwillingness, despair, and despondency. "How could this be...?" He had just recruited a third-rank Sovereign and was on the verge of flexing his might. Why had he provoked such an omen of death?! Out of nowhere, he was killed. The crux was that he had seen hope moments ago, believing the youth could do nothing to him. Why had all his defenses shattered in an instant...? Was the power of time truly omnipotent? Looking at Li Hao again... Li Hao now appeared decrepit, as if on the verge of death. Tianhe suddenly laughed. "So that's how it is!" He felt a sudden sense of relief. You will die too. Borrowing sixth-rank power was inherently perilous, consuming countless years of lifespan. Forcing a reversal of time just now to break his defense had pushed Li Hao into visible, boundless decay. This man had little lifespan remaining! He would die too! In that case... I can rest in peace. Li Hao said nothing. With another sword strike, he completely eradicated everything. All of it dissolved into energetic shockwaves, suppressed deep within the river. I will die? He was a kind person, disliking the idea of letting someone die in despair and resentment. I control the Dao of Life and Death. At worst, I will simply cycle through life and death once more. Though the Dao of Life and Death was not omnipotent, it could at least resolve a single loss of lifespan. *Boom!* The river shook. Li Hao turned his head toward a certain direction. As a gap opened in the river, he looked out into the void where a figure had appeared, looking back at him. Li Hao spoke very politely: "Fellow Daoist, please step back a bit. The chaos lightning tribulation is about to descend, and I would rather not... have anyone disturb me while I undergo the tribulation." Because the man had not probed deeply earlier, Li Hao was exceptionally courteous. Even though he looked thoroughly decrepit right now, he remained refined and polite. Leave now! The chaos lightning tribulation was about to arrive. Having borrowed the power of a sixth-rank Sovereign, this tribulation was bound to be formidable. In the distance, the expert lurking in the shadowy void glanced at Li Hao, seeing his decrepitude and weakness. He frowned slightly. At this moment, he genuinely felt inclined to test the waters, perhaps even... Then he thought of His Highness. That terrifying existence! Someone who had willingly given up a Great Dao Universe and his status as a Great World Sovereign, dropping from the fifth rank to the third rank, cultivating anew, and stepping into the fourth rank once more... Thoughts raced through his mind. In truth, he did not fear Li Hao right now, but rather feared displeasing His Highness. He held deep apprehension toward such a ruthless figure. Moreover, His Highness's identity was extraordinary. With those thoughts in mind, he immediately fled, his voice drifting back: "I have no intention of making an enemy of you. However... you are nearing death. Even if you survive the tribulation, your... lifespan is nearly spent. Furthermore, Sovereign Huilong can arrive in half an hour at most. He is a sixth-rank Sovereign and moves extremely fast!" It had taken Li Hao an entire day to travel here, yet Sovereign Huilong could arrive in half an hour. One could see the vast disparity in their speeds! Of course, Li Hao had traveled at a leisurely pace, whereas Sovereign Huilong was surely rushing in haste. "Thank Fellow Daoist Kongji on my behalf!" In the distance, the man chuckled. "Very well. Though... never mind." His Highness didn't like people calling him "Fellow Daoist." Of course, that was none of his concern. He vanished swiftly. At that moment, a massive thundercloud of tribulation gathered above the Tianhe Domain. Outside the river, boundless lightning crackled. Er Mao grumbled, feeling somewhat depressed. What a huge cloud! This was truly... going to be the death of a cat! Li Hao said nothing. Exhausting the last remnants of his borrowed strength, he suddenly slashed a sword toward heaven and earth. While he still had some strength left, he wanted to see if he could shatter the cloud—or at least deplete some of its power. A single sword strike tore through heaven and earth! "Li Changsheng of Neo-Martial pierces the firmament with his sword!" Li Hao's shout resonated across the Tianhe Domain. I killed these people for the Sword Venerable... not for myself. The Sword Venerable will have to shoulder this blame! Otherwise, I won't have an easy time getting by later. A sword ray lit up heaven and earth! The sword light illuminated all directions with immense might. This strike was as dazzling as the Longevity Sword, its pure sword intent incomparably powerful! With a thunderous rumble, the strike blew apart half the cloud. Yet it failed to shatter the lightning tribulation entirely. Li Hao aged to the extreme in the blink of an eye, an aura of decay surfacing on his body. Taking advantage of the moment, Er Mao opened its mouth wide to devour heaven and earth, swallowing the starry expanse. Most of the remaining thundercloud was swallowed down its gullet. And Er Mao... was instantly scorched black, blasted by the internal lightning until its fur was charred. Even with its mild temper, Er Mao couldn't help but curse, "You bastard!" It was unclear whether it was cursing Li Hao or the lightning. Most likely... Li Hao. Lightning still remained. In an instant, it poured into the river. At that moment, Li Hao immediately dispersed the power of time. The Star of Life and Death manifested, instantly crushing the remaining tribulation lightning! The qi of life and death encircled the lightning, undulating incessantly. The entire river was thrown into violent upheaval! Li Hao grew increasingly weak. In any case, this physical body would be discarded and regenerated, so he cared little. Seizing this moment, he suddenly felt like experiencing something and plunged straight into the lightning. Opening his mouth, he swallowed down all the residual lightning power. Continuous explosions rang out inside his body. A destructive power radiated from him, continually shattering his flesh. Yet his shattered flesh merged into the perimeter barriers of the river—the Dao of the Body! Using the Dao of the Body to forge the barriers of heaven and earth! *Rumble!* His physical body blew apart. A moment later, an extremely feeble figure emerged within the river. Li Hao raised an eyebrow slightly. His flesh had exploded and merged into the perimeter barriers; right now, he was merely an incarnation of Dao power. He quickly gathered the river, sweeping it up and vanishing from the spot in the blink of an eye. He had lost his physical body, but felt not the slightest regret this time. One fourth-rank, one third-rank, one second-rank, and two first-ranks—the power of five Sovereigns had been thoroughly swept up by him, along with his own shattered flesh and the tribulation lightning. He had absorbed nearly everything. Once I walk the path of life and death again and reappear, second-rank will be a certainty. As for the third rank... that will depend on luck! Li Hao vanished from the area instantly. Yet the shout—"Li Changsheng of Neo-Martial pierces the firmament with his sword!"—continued to reverberate across the four directions. The Sword Venerable!