Stepping into the Second Rank

Not long after Li Hao departed, heaven and earth convulsed. In an instant, several Sovereigns materialized. More than one had arrived. Sovereign Huilong appeared alongside two middle-rank Sovereigns under his command. In addition, two fourth-rank Sovereigns from near the Tianhe Domain arrived on the scene, making five middle-rank Sovereigns in total. At that moment, Li Hao's bellow still echoed between heaven and earth. Sword intent, thunder, and the power of water churned turbulently. "The Sword Venerable?" "Neo-Martial!" Terror flickered across several faces. Sovereign Huilong frowned slightly, surveying the surroundings before descending into Tianhe Manor. The estate was utterly wrecked. Aside from the fallen Sovereigns and several vanished guards, everyone else in the residence was merely unconscious, not dead. "No..." Sovereign Huilong shook his head slightly, his brows knit. "How could it be Neo-Martial's Longevity Sword? His sword intent... though I have never encountered it personally, his sword carries only pure slaughter. The sword intent here is predominantly water-based." Was someone fishing in troubled waters? A sixth-rank Sovereign! Yet... after casting his gaze about for a long while, he spoke again. "It might not be a sixth-rank Sovereign. It could be a middle-rank Sovereign who borrowed the power of this special Dao resonance land to stir the water currents—a swordsman, likely a middle-rank water-path sword cultivator!" He quickly pieced together a few clues, deducing that the perpetrator was likely a middle-rank water-path sword cultivator. By some unknown method, the assailant had tapped into the water-element Dao resonance here, leaving the Dao resonance land completely ruined. As for a first-rank Sovereign... the thought never even crossed his mind. He presumed the attacker was either fourth or fifth rank. "It seems they also provoked a chaos lightning tribulation!" Yet it had been swiftly broken by the adversary. That alone proved formidable strength, as well as the fact that such borrowed power defied heaven. However, the tribulation cloud could not have been overly powerful; otherwise, it wouldn't have been dispersed so easily. "Tianhe is dead, and likely Shenghong and the others as well!" "Five Sovereigns!" Even Sovereign Huilong turned solemn. Five Sovereigns had fallen! These were supreme Sovereigns. Aside from all-out wars between great worlds, Sovereigns rarely perished under normal circumstances—not to mention a middle-rank Sovereign had died here. This meant the assailant already posed a direct threat to him. To kill a fourth rank meant one's strength definitely exceeded the fourth rank; fifth or sixth rank were both entirely possible. He searched the surroundings. The assailant had likely already fled. At this moment, the fifth-rank Sovereign said softly, "Traces of decay linger here... It might be an aged sword cultivator taking a desperate gamble to seize an opportunity for survival..." Decaying and aged. The others' hearts stirred. Such Sovereigns were truly difficult to deal with. Some Sovereigns were simply too ancient, on the brink of death. Such beings would stop at nothing to achieve their ends. It was only natural for an ancient Sovereign to possess peculiar methods. The lingering scent of decay prompted many speculations. They now suspected an ancient Sovereign nearing the end of his lifespan had been forced to take a desperate risk, using secret arts to borrow the power of this Dao resonance land to slay Sovereign Tianhe. Sovereign Tianhe was a water-element Sovereign. For that person to draw upon the power of water suggested an affinity of the same element. Viewed in that light, the theory seemed quite plausible. Such a madman was truly best left alone—when someone was already dying, what did they have left to fear? Furthermore, with the nearby Red Moon Domain in turmoil, fishing in troubled waters and borrowing the Sword Venerable's name to sow confusion fit right into expectations. None of them believed the real Neo-Martial Sword Venerable had come. If he had truly arrived, why bother killing Tianhe? As for Shenghong, a mere third-rank Sovereign, if the Sword Venerable had wanted him dead, Shenghong wouldn't have escaped the first time. A strike from the Sword Venerable would have targeted at least a fifth-rank Sovereign. "The culprit is still within the Tianfang Great World!" Sovereign Huilong frowned slightly. "He hasn't passed through the world gates in any of the four directions; he must still be here! If he truly is an aged, decaying Sovereign, we must exercise extreme caution. A Sovereign driven to a dead end will stop at nothing to extend their life!" At this point, another fourth-rank Sovereign from an adjacent domain spoke with unease. "Brother Huilong, will this person continue attacking Sovereigns?" It was far too dangerous. He himself was only of the fourth rank. Yet this battle had begun and ended in the blink of an eye, claiming the lives of five Sovereigns in one fell swoop. After a moment's contemplation, Sovereign Huilong said, "It is a distinct possibility! If you are concerned for your safety, fellow Daoists, you are welcome to visit my Huilong Temple to discuss the Dao for a time." This was his opportunity. Aside from his own trio, there were two other fourth-rank domain lords from neighboring territories present. In the Southern Domain, excluding the Huilong Domain, there were nine middle-rank Sovereign domain lords. With one dead today, only eight remained. If these two accompanied him to Huilong Temple, the temple would possess six middle-rank Sovereigns. Moreover, he was currently in contact with the fifth-rank Sovereign from the Absolute Darkness Great World; if he could recruit him as well, that would bring the total to seven middle-rank Sovereigns! Such strength would be enough to suppress the other three major factions. Of course, the culprit who had slain Tianhe remained a thorn in his side. As he pondered, the other fourth-rank Sovereign hesitated, then spoke. "By the way, Brother Huilong, before I arrived here... I sensed a middle-rank Sovereign leaving. We crossed paths briefly. He seemed to be of the fifth rank, feeling stronger than me... Yet at that time, tribulation clouds were still forming here! So... it might have been an expert from nearby who came to investigate, not the one who attacked." "Oh?" Sovereign Huilong looked puzzled. "Fifth rank? Do you know his identity?" "He kept his distance and steered clear." Huilong sank into deep thought. Things were becoming complicated. Did that mean another fifth-rank Sovereign had been involved in the prior battle? Or had he merely been an onlooker? What was going on? He knew exactly how many middle-rank Sovereigns resided in the Southern Domain, yet things now seemed to be slipping out of control. Could he have crossed over from the other three domains? Otherwise, passing through the Southern World Gate would hardly have escaped his notice. "Everyone, these are turbulent times! The war in the Red Moon Domain has already spilled over into the Tianfang Region and affected the Tianfang Great World. Moving forward, none of us will be able to remain aloof!" Sovereign Huilong grew solemn as he continued. "Crucially, as you must have felt, there were strange tremors in the Tianfang Great World earlier! This may well be an omen... If so, the Tianfang Great World will inevitably become the focal point of the surrounding territories!" "If a great world is truly about to birth a Great Dao Universe once more... you can well imagine that even seventh-rank, or even eighth-rank Sovereigns, might be tempted." "Of course, for now, middle-rank Sovereigns still predominate." He no longer held back his thoughts; things had reached a point where secrecy served no purpose. With a heavy expression, he said, "The key issue is that countless sixth-rank Sovereigns will try to seize this chance to break through to the seventh rank and become true high-rank Sovereigns! Currently, there are only four sixth-rank Sovereigns in the Tianfang Great World... but that does not mean it will stay that way!" The others fell into contemplation. The two domain lords from other regions exchanged hesitant glances. After careful consideration, one of them spoke. "Then we shall impose upon you, Brother Huilong. In the days ahead... we may trouble your Huilong Temple for a brief stay." "You are most welcome!" Sovereign Huilong was secretly delighted. This was indeed his fortune. In a single stroke, two middle-rank Sovereigns had chosen to align with him. Though not yet set in stone, so long as unrest erupted, they would most likely never leave. The number of Sovereigns at Huilong Temple would swell once more. Counting these two, it would reach eighteen... no, nineteen, forgetting the one who had joined earlier. Those two also had several Sovereigns under their command. Though only first and second rank, they were still a force to be reckoned with. Over twenty Sovereigns in total... even a medium-tier world could hardly support so many. At this moment, he could not care less about the murderer. That person's massacre had handed him an opportunity. The attacker was likely a decaying fifth-rank Sovereign, perhaps capable of reaching the sixth rank through special methods. It was best not to provoke such a figure. Though he could track him down, after weighing the pros and cons, he chose to abandon the pursuit. With that thought, he suddenly chuckled. With a wave of his hand, all traces of water energy in the air vanished, leaving behind only pure, unadulterated sword intent. The other Sovereigns watched, their minds racing. Sovereign Huilong smiled faintly. "For the Neo-Martial Longevity Swordsman to dare storm into the Tianfang Great World... what audacity! Alert the other domain lords of the Southern Domain to be on their guard. The experts of Neo-Martial are utterly deranged; warn them not to fall to the Sword Venerable's blade!" "Send word to the experts of the Absolute Darkness and Bliss Great Worlds to be cautious as well. The Sword Venerable slew Tianhe and Shenghong, likely to eliminate enemies of Neo-Martial. Those fellows should watch their backs. The other three sixth-rank Sovereigns should beware as well—if they shelter people from these factions, they risk inviting the Sword Venerable's vengeance!" In the blink of an eye, a flawless plan had formed in his mind. The culprit behind this attack would be the Sword Venerable! Even if he wasn't, he would be! First, the Sword Venerable's supposed arrival would intimidate the other three major factions, deterring them from sheltering the two fifth-rank Sovereigns. Left with no choice, both might turn to Huilong Temple. Together with the Sovereigns accompanying the two great worlds, Huilong Temple's strength would surge dramatically! Second, it would deepen the animosity between the Tianfang Great World and Neo-Martial. This would provide an excuse and righteous justification for confronting Neo-Martial in the future. Third, once the domain lords of the Southern Domain learned that the Sword Venerable was hunting them down... they might all seek refuge under his banner. Sovereign Huilong even envisioned raising the banner against Neo-Martial himself, thereby expanding his domain. A hidden, top-tier swordsman who was also a deranged butcher would inspire terror in all factions. The prerequisite was... avoiding the immediate arrival of supreme experts from the top-tier great worlds. Otherwise, he would find himself in trouble. He needed to control the flow of information and prevent it from leaking outward as much as possible. Thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind. As for tracking down that decaying Sovereign, forget it; the man's presence actually served his purposes. Cornering him now would only do more harm than good. The other Sovereigns grasped his intentions in an instant. None of them felt anything amiss. If this could strengthen Huilong Temple, huddling together for warmth wasn't a bad idea. Sovereign Huilong possessed great ambition, which was not an unwelcome development for them. At this moment, not one Sovereign brought up pursuing the killer. One's own life came first. A middle-rank Sovereign nearing the end of his days was capable of anything in his madness. Besides, how long must a middle-rank Sovereign have lived to reach the end of his lifespan? Three hundred thousand years? Five hundred thousand years? Or a million years? Who knew! Having lived for so long, he was bound to hold a few trump cards. ... That day, news spread rapidly across the Tianfang Great World. The Neo-Martial Sword Venerable had infiltrated the Southern Domain. He had slain Shenghong, Tianhe, and three other Sovereigns—five mighty Sovereigns in total! For a time, the entire Tianfang Great World was shaken. Five Sovereigns had fallen! Moreover, the culprit might still be lurking within the Tianfang Great World. This threw the Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness and Bliss Great Worlds into extreme tension. Though both sides were led by fifth-rank Sovereigns, the Sword Venerable... was likely a sixth-rank Sovereign and an unmatched master of offensive swordplay! This was no trivial matter; paranoia ran rampant! Meanwhile, in the midst of this turmoil, Huilong Temple's quiet absorption of two middle-rank Sovereigns drew little attention, whereas under normal circumstances it would have caused a massive stir. ... Huilong Temple. Kongji listened in silence. Learning that Li Hao was supposedly decrepit and nearing death didn't concern him much. What was so unusual about a cultivator of life and death looking old? That man had truly killed a fourth-rank Sovereign. As he was lost in thought, a jade talisman suddenly appeared in his palm. It was a transmission talisman of Huilong Temple. "Sovereign Haoyue invites Sovereign Kongji for a meeting!" Kongji's heart stirred. So fast. The message had come from Ju Ao. This meant Li Hao had returned with remarkable speed. Calling for him... meant he was ready to break through. It made sense. Li Hao had claimed he needed the power of life and death. If slaying a fourth-rank Sovereign and several low-rank Sovereigns wasn't enough... advancing would simply be too difficult for him. Kongji glanced at the fifth-rank Sovereign beside him, considered for a moment, and said, "Forget everything that happened before. Even when you return to the great world, do not breathe a word... If the secret leaks..." He looked at the man and said softly, "Well, nothing will happen to you immediately. Just be careful in the future." The fifth-rank Sovereign felt a chill in his heart. Not daring to say much, he hurriedly nodded. "Your Highness, rest assured!" Then, with great caution, he added, "By the way, Your Highness, when that person drew upon that power, there seemed to be... a shift across the entire Tianfang Great World. Standing at the scene, I noticed something peculiar—a point of starlight seemed to emerge... possibly the seed of a Great Dao Universe!" A Great Dao Universe might be born in the Tianfang Great World. This was earth-shattering news! To anyone, even the master of a great world, this was of paramount importance. Kongji nodded slightly. "Most likely. You may report this news when you return... As for the rest, say nothing." Seeing that Kongji wasn't forcing him to conceal that part, the man felt somewhat relieved. Otherwise... it would have been hard to report back. He immediately said, "Understood. I shall deliver the report. Also, Your Highness, Sovereign Huilong here harbors no small ambition. If Your Highness continues cultivating here and a conflict arises..." "I know. There is no need to worry." Hearing this, the man said no more and quickly withdrew. Since His Highness was unconcerned, there was nothing more for him to say. Besides, though His Highness was only a fourth-rank Sovereign... facing him always induced an unsettling dread. Perhaps His Highness held other deadly trump cards. After all, he had reached the fifth rank years ago; recultivating his path and stepping into the middle ranks twice was no ordinary feat. Kongji watched him depart before strolling away unhurriedly, his voice echoing back: "I am stepping out for a moment. If the Temple Master returns, tell him I have gone to cultivate!" None of the others dared to stop him. With Sovereign Huilong away, Kongji was the sole middle-rank Sovereign present. Who would dare cross him? ... Mount Huoxing. Li Hao seemed to be clinging to his last breath, looking like a man with one foot in the grave. Beside him, Ju Ao was both terrified and intensely anxious. What was to be done? After a single outing, Li Hao looked as if he were on the verge of death... Even more frightening was that Huilong Temple's internal communication network was currently in a frenzy, inundated with incoming reports. The Sovereigns of the entire Tianhe Domain had been wiped out. Five of them! Including the fourth-rank Sovereign Tianhe—it was utterly shocking. Had the man before him truly done all of this? If so... it was terrifying beyond words. Slaying a fourth-rank Sovereign... even peers of the same rank struggled to accomplish such a feat. It had to have required at least a fifth-rank Sovereign, wouldn't it? Filled with trepidation, he spoke cautiously. "My Lord, if Sovereign Kongji truly comes... will he..." That man was, after all, a fourth-rank Sovereign. Meanwhile, Li Hao appeared grievously wounded. Having just slain several Sovereigns, if Kongji seized this opportunity to strike down his lord, wouldn't disaster strike? Li Hao smiled faintly. "Killing me would yield him only a few Sovereign treasures—the power of several Sovereigns, with merely one in the middle ranks. Draining the pond to catch the fish holds little value for him! Besides... this is Mount Huoxing. Even if he harbored such thoughts, he would not dare strike here." He offered that extra bit of explanation. Moreover, Kongji was unlikely to be so shortsighted. Slaying him would only grant a one-time harvest of treasures. Did someone of Kongji's caliber truly lack treasures? On the contrary, Li Hao being alive offered far greater benefits. For instance, this time... Li Hao had not fled, but prepared to tread the path of life and death once more right here. Treading the path of life and death was a peril, but also a tremendous opportunity. Of course, the consumption was immense. First, vast energy was indispensable. Second, one risked losing their memories or becoming entirely lost within the cycle, awakening as someone else entirely. Third, walking this path inevitably drew the chaos lightning tribulation. If one disregarded those factors... it could be walked repeatedly. Yet Li Hao knew that relying on the Dao of Life and Death over and over would inevitably carry drawbacks and invite unforeseen perils. It was best used as sparingly as possible. This time, his harvest had been substantial. Having slain five Sovereigns, all of whom had amassed considerable reserves, he acquired countless Great Dao crystals. There was also a Sovereign treasure—though ordinary Sovereign weapons were of little use to him. However, Sovereign Tianhe had wielded a defensive artifact at the very end that was far from weak; Li Hao's sword strike earlier hadn't even managed to breach it. "I owe another favor!" Li Hao tallied it up in his mind and let out a sigh. The water-element sixth rank, the Dragon race seventh rank, the fire-element seventh rank, the Neo-Martial Human King, the Neo-Martial Supreme, Er Mao... These were the debts he currently owed. Four high-rank Sovereigns, one sixth rank, and one cat. As for Kongji... that wasn't a debt. Both sides had needs; even if Kongji stood guard for him, Li Hao would allow him to observe the Dao of Life and Death in return. It was an exchange of the Dao, not a debt. Li Hao felt a twinge of bitterness. Who else was like him? A mere first-rank Sovereign, yet buried under favors owed to multiple high-rank Sovereigns... When one owed too much, did one simply stop worrying about it? Such deeds had to be curtailed. They far exceeded his current capabilities. To kill a fourth rank only to end up indebted to a sixth rank was hardly worthwhile. Those figures were most likely still alive; otherwise, tracing back into the past would have been impossible. The Tianfang Great World had once possessed a ninth-rank Sovereign. Yet these figures were still willing to bestow favors upon him... If they truly had no need of him, why offer them? It meant they believed they would need him in the future! That was the true trouble! For Li Hao, deep karmic ties had already bound him to Tianfang. In the days ahead, he might very well be dragged to death by its affairs. Dealing with Neo-Martial was already a handful. Add a ninth-rank Tianfang Great World to the mix... the magnitude of his future troubles was dizzying to contemplate. Yet for now, he had no luxury to dwell on that. ... After a brief wait, a figure descended silently. "Fellow Daoist Li!" Kongji looked at Li Hao, looking him up and down before smiling faintly. "You seem... to be in a bad way." "I manage!" Li Hao chuckled as well. "Nearing death from old age... though this is merely my soul; my physical body is already gone." Kongji had already noticed. He glanced at Li Hao with a hint of curiosity. "A samsara of life and death? From your appearance, you have likely undergone it before. Does this cycle have no limits?" If it had none, that would be truly terrifying. "There are some." Li Hao did not hide it. It was natural for Kongji to deduce it; without the cycle of life and death, Li Hao would be past saving with such wounds, let alone conversing with such composure and inviting someone to protect him. "Too many cycles will wear away one's original imprint... Reviving after that would yield a new life, no longer oneself!" Kongji's brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded. "Indeed. That means it is best used sparingly! Though it possesses the power of reversal, the cost is too steep. Under normal circumstances, across the myriad Daos of chaos, nine is the ultimate limit... If this is your second time, I believe you can undergo it at most seven more times. Exceeding nine will inevitably mark a new beginning, a completely new cycle!" Li Hao's heart stirred. "Is that so? I hadn't considered the number before, but what you say makes sense! Nine as the limit? It may very well be!" "It is generally so!" Kongji explained, "Take the chaos lightning tribulation: nine is the cycle count. Sovereigns, too, have nine as the limit! The same applies to lifespan... normally speaking, a Sovereign can live for 999,999 years... That is the standard case, though there are anomalies, which need not be mentioned." Li Hao nodded again. A seed of comprehension took root. Nine! This number seemed far from ordinary. Kongji surveyed their surroundings. "You will undergo the cycle here?" "Yes!" Li Hao nodded with a smile. "It serves as a precaution... If all else fails and crisis strikes, I can see whether I can borrow the power of the seventh rank once more." "Will you trigger a tribulation?" "I will." Li Hao nodded. "Had I not chosen the samsara of life and death, perhaps not. But this time it is inevitable. Fellow Daoist, you only need to conceal the initial disturbances! Once I advance to the second rank, the tribulation will surely descend, though it won't be overly powerful..." "I would actually like to experience it." Kongji smiled. "The chaos lightning tribulation generally does not target third parties! If I can intercept a bolt, I would like to try. If not, so be it. What do you think?" Any ordinary person who encountered the chaos lightning tribulation would be terrified, desperate to avoid its taint, yet this man was brimming with eagerness. Li Hao smiled. "Very well!" As for whether he could intercept it, that depended on Kongji's own skill. If someone was willing to take the lightning for him, why would he refuse? "Then I shall certainly give it a try!" Kongji laughed. The chaos lightning tribulation... a fine thing indeed. If a cultivator never experienced it once in their life, they could hardly claim to defy the heavens. Evidently, the man before him had experienced it more than once. Li Hao added, "By the way, as I tread life and death, my memories must be stimulated once more... I will have to trouble you with this process, Fellow Daoist!" "Me? How do I do that?" "There are some images from last time... you may take a look!" Li Hao tapped forward, projecting several memories into Kongji's mind. The latter let out a bemused chuckle. "If I do this, you won't come looking for trouble with me once you grow stronger in the future, will you?" It was a fascinating method of revival. Yet acting it out... wouldn't he invite retaliation later? He was no teacher to this man. Then he added, "What happens if I don't awaken your memories?" "Nothing much... I will simply lose some memories and retain less of my humanity!" Kongji fell into thought. Less humanity... cold and unfeeling Dao? If so... that would be undesirable. "Is there anything else?" He asked again, "In those memories, there seemed to be a Great Dao Universe..." There was none here. Li Hao smiled. "It doesn't matter. This time has its own unique conditions. This is the Mountain of Fire; I previously visited the land of water. I have gained insights into both water and fire. This time, I will use water and fire as the foundation to stimulate the power of the Dao, with the Star of Life and Death as the boundary..." This time, instead of the twin universes, he would use the Daos of water and fire. The effect should be similar. Perhaps it might even deepen his comprehension of both elements. "That works too!" Kongji said nothing more, acting with decisive swiftness. In an instant, absolute silence fell upon all directions! The entire world seemed to plunge into utter extinction in the blink of an eye. Though they were on the Mountain of Fire where blazing power roared, at this moment, they seemed suspended in an absolute void of extinction. Not a sound, not a ripple escaped; everything was completely sealed. Li Hao's heart stirred. Extinction, revival. Life and death, yin and yang. These Daos shared striking similarities. This man's Dao of Extinction had reached a pinnacle. Unlike Li Hao, he walked solely the path of extinction; if he could achieve revival from extinction, reaching the sixth rank would be only a matter of time. The Neo-Martial Human King primarily walked the path of yin and yang and was already of the seventh rank, proving that taking a single Dao to its utmost limit could indeed carry one to the eighth or ninth rank. "What a marvelous technique!" Li Hao murmured in admiration. "With this, ordinary Sovereigns will be unable to sense anything." The commotion would be kept to a minimum. Without further delay, a long river materialized. A great river spanned the domain of extinction. Kongji said nothing, watching silently as a Sovereign of life and death walked from extinction toward revival, from death toward new life. As for the breakthrough itself, it was secondary; what he was witnessing went far deeper than a mere advancement in rank. This could be considered his own fortune. Kongji smiled inwardly. To find inspiration for his own Dao in a first-rank Sovereign... the workings of fortune were truly wondrous. He had been stuck at the fourth rank for a long time. Fifth and sixth rank held little allure for him; what mattered was grasping the concept of revival from extinction, rather than merely strengthening extinction itself. The latter was meaningless and would make the seventh rank virtually impossible. Yet if he could achieve revival from within extinction, the seventh rank would be within reach! At that moment, Li Hao erupted with power. Boundless energy converged—the accumulated reserves and total power of the five fallen Sovereigns transformed into two great rivers: one of water, and one of fire. Water and fire blended together! Between them, the River of Life and Death emerged. Er Mao had vanished for now, and the Star Gate opened once more, pierced through by the three rivers. Kongji watched for a moment, sighing in awe. If this man cultivated the Daos of water and fire alone, reaching the middle ranks would be child's play. His gains had clearly been immense. Li Hao began retracing his previous process. This time, there were two onlookers: Kongji, and Ju Ao, whose hands were trembling with excitement. I... I might be witnessing something extraordinary once again. Setting everything else aside, the moment Kongji's world of extinction manifested, it felt as though the entire world had transformed, as if a small world had been born within this great world. And when Li Hao's rivers unfurled, it felt as if an even more unfathomable miracle had appeared. The River of Life and Death, flanked by the rivers of water and fire. Li Hao waded into the river of water, preparing to cross life and death, proceed toward the river of fire, and be reborn through the flames. The power of several Sovereigns converged entirely into the three rivers. As he stepped into the river of water, every step caused a section of the river to collapse, channeling all its energy into Li Hao's body. Li Hao began to age once more. Even his soul was withering away. Step after step! Kongji watched quietly without interfering, until Li Hao reached the end of the river of water. Suddenly, the river collapsed completely, and Li Hao perished, transforming into a colossal orb of light that surged toward the Star of Life and Death. At that moment, Kongji suddenly chuckled. "Ju Ao, right now, if one were to sever this River of Life and Death... this man would truly perish forever!" Ju Ao turned deathly pale! What did he mean? If Sovereign Kongji struck now... he himself possessed only the strength of a Heavenly King; forget a fourth-rank Sovereign, even a first-rank could swat him dead with ease. Kongji laughed softly and said no more. It was merely a joke. It was far too quiet here. Pity the fellow before him had no sense of humor; how dull. The samsara of life and death... at the ultimate threshold of death, erupting with extremity to bloom with the brilliance of life? Then, when extinction reached its utmost extreme, would it herald revival? Thoughts flashed through his mind. All great Daos converged at the peak; the Dao of Extinction had to share common ground with life and death. At that instant, he suddenly made his move. He cast the orb of light into the River of Life and Death! The river surged! Simultaneously, a massive cat's head surfaced briefly within the river before vanishing. Kongji seemed to notice, smiling without a word. A cat? Neo-Martial's Cang Emperor was a cat. There was another cat here. Was it connected to the Cang Emperor? Its strength... he hadn't gauged it clearly, but it seemed decent, roughly around the second rank, though not particularly formidable—far inferior to the Cang Emperor. If Li Hao was relying on this cat to fend him off at a critical moment... that wouldn't suffice. Of course, perhaps Li Hao had other tricks up his sleeve. Still, he had no interest in testing them. In the next instant, an infant fell to the ground, wailing. In a flash, he began to grow. This time, his cultivation speed was even faster than before. Kongji fed in various techniques, and later, struck by inspiration, even tossed in wisps of extinction power. That might make things more interesting. Li Hao matured at an astonishing pace. The process was identical to the previous attempt, and the method of stimulating his memories worked just as effectively. Three years old, six years old, nine years old... Step by step, Kongji watched clearly as this youth advanced toward the Sovereign realm. By the time Li Hao stepped out of the River of Life and Death, he had grown into an elegant youth. Sixteen years of age. This time was faster than the last; the aura of a Sovereign was already radiating from Li Hao, restored to the strength of a first-rank Sovereign. Yet that was not enough! Bridges of Life and Death began to manifest in rapid succession. One, two... Stars emerged like a vast web! Previously, Li Hao had forged fifty Life and Death Bridges, falling short of the second rank. Now, the stored energy poured into his body, quickly completing the construction of fifty bridges. The pace remained blistering. Then came sixty, seventy... Kongji watched unblinkingly, his eyes seemingly holding an entire world where creation and destruction occurred in a single thought! One hundred bridges! By now, vast energy had been consumed, and immense quantities of life and death qi converged. Li Hao had already forged one hundred Life and Death Bridges. Even at this stage, the world of extinction remained dead silent. It was clear that Kongji's domain of extinction was immensely powerful, having drawn zero attention up to this moment. One hundred and ten! At that moment, Li Hao suddenly turned his head toward Kongji. "I am about to enter the second rank! A chaos lightning tribulation will surely descend... When I enter the second rank, the tribulation's power will be at least third rank! Perhaps... even stronger!" Kongji smiled and nodded. "Just make your breakthrough!" Hearing this, Li Hao dispensed with courtesy. Whether you can take it... depends on your own skill. Ju Ao watched with a thoroughly conflicted expression. Advancing... seemed so effortless to these people, and the chaos lightning tribulation appeared entirely unfrightening, looking more like an opportunity instead. Comparisons truly infuriated people. Fortunately, he wasn't human. In the next instant, the one hundred and twentieth Life and Death Bridge manifested. The powers of life and death fused within Li Hao, his aura shifting as his strength soared by a massive margin! The entire Star of Life and Death expanded significantly. And the River of Life and Death instantly spanned heaven and earth, broadening considerably. At that moment, tribulation clouds gathered between heaven and earth; the chaos lightning tribulation was about to descend once more. Right then, Kongji laughed. "This tribulation... is mine!" Li Hao had advanced with ease. Going from first to second rank presented virtually no obstacle for him. Kongji paid it no heed. Within his world of extinction, rivers of starlight suddenly flickered, piercing the void to envelop the tribulation cloud. Yet the cloud seemed ethereal, slipping beyond his grasp. Kongji raised an eyebrow. With a low shout, his world of extinction trembled! Within that realm of extinction, an entire world seemed to manifest. "Open!" With a low roar, the world of extinction seemed to undergo creation itself; the surrounding Daos sank, and all things plunged into extinction! Yet within that extinction, a peculiar power seemed to dwell. "Revive!" Another roar erupted. The entire world of extinction seemed intent on birthing vitality, resurrecting all things... At that very moment, the tribulation cloud, which had initially ignored him, suddenly lashed out toward his world! Kongji smiled. A good thing! This meant... the path was correct. Good, excellent! He had grasped a glimmer of insight. As for the tribulation cloud swelling with power in an instant, what of it? He pointed a finger, carrying the weight of a world's extinction straight toward the tribulation! As the finger struck, Li Hao watched intently. Suddenly, the power of extinction clashed against the chaotic force of destruction. With a deafening boom, the tribulation cloud shattered! Kongji's finger was instantly enveloped in lightning, scorched and withered by the blast. Yet soon after, vitality returned to the finger. Again and again, Kongji thrust his finger toward the tribulation clouds! Finally, under Li Hao's shaken gaze, Kongji let out a fierce shout. This time, his finger brought forth the revival of heaven and earth, as if the world would no longer sink into oblivion, sparking life across all creation... Boom! The entire world seemed infused with newfound vitality. In an instant, the tribulation cloud was blown to pieces! Kongji's finger also detonated, spraying blood in all directions. The entire world of extinction was splattered with crimson. Yet amidst that realm of death, a tiny speck of green suddenly emerged. A single blade of grass was struggling to grow in the depths of the extinct world. The blood served as nourishment, sustaining this blade of grass. Kongji stared blankly at the grass for a long while before turning to Li Hao. "I need to enter secluded cultivation for a time. You will likely need to do the same, Fellow Daoist... If nothing urgent arises, do not invite trouble in the near future." Li Hao nodded slightly and smiled. "Congratulations!" "Congratulations to us both!" Kongji chuckled. "The third rank is not difficult... you will reach it in no time! As for me... fifth or sixth rank makes little difference; the seventh rank is far too difficult!" With a wistful sigh, he added, "Yet I seem to see a glimmer of hope! Still, this insight was too shallow. You must work harder, Fellow Daoist, and stir up more trouble. I hope that one day you can awaken the Great Dao Universe here. When that happens, the commotion will be unimaginably vast—and for me, the revival of the myriad Daos may truly be where my fortune lies!" Li Hao laughed. "Let us hope so!" "Then let us spur each other on!" Kongji smiled. "This place is no longer safe. Though the chaos tribulation was destroyed, it still caused quite a stir... Let us leave together!" In an instant, the world spun. The three of them vanished from the spot. Mount Huoxing remained Mount Huoxing, without the slightest change. Soon, Sovereign Huilong and his companions reappeared there, looking puzzled. Had a chaos lightning tribulation formed once again? Bizarre! Normally a rare sight, why had it appeared repeatedly today? Could it be that the entire Tianfang World was truly on the verge of complete revival? Sovereign Huilong felt a pang of unease. Yet having found no clues or traces, he could only suppress his apprehension, hoping to expand Huilong Temple's strength as quickly as possible.