Two Madmen

The Tianfang Great World. The Southern Region, Huilong Minor Domain. The Huilong Domain was virtually the hegemon of the south—or if it had not been before, it certainly was now. A fifth-rank Sovereign from the Absolute Darkness Great World had pledged allegiance to Sovereign Huilong, and Kongji of Huilong Temple had just broken through to the fifth rank. All at once, two fifth-rank Sovereigns had been added to their ranks. Counting their original one, they now boasted three fifth-rank Sovereigns! Such strength was far from ordinary! On this day, in Huilong City. Ju Ao, a local powerhouse of the region, led a man into the city with the utmost deference. The guards outside the walls were formidable in their own right. Seeing Ju Ao, they recognized him at once. They knew he had been attending a certain Sovereign lately and had remained away for some time. Spotting Ju Ao, the guard commander looked slightly surprised, but understanding soon dawned—the Sovereign he had never seen before must have finally arrived. Reputedly, this person went by the name of Bright Moon Sovereign. A first-rank Sovereign! In the past, they might have treated such a figure with great deference. But now, six Sovereigns had arrived from the Absolute Darkness Great World, and not a single one among them was of the first rank. Two lords of neighboring minor domains in the Southern Region had also come to pledge allegiance, each bringing along several Sovereigns—two middle-rank Sovereigns and multiple others of the first and second ranks. Lately, more than ten Sovereigns had joined Huilong Temple. Their power was swelling at a staggering pace! Under such circumstances, even a guard felt considerably less awe and far more indifference toward this first-rank Sovereign he had never laid eyes on before. "Ju Ao is back!" A powerhouse at the Heavenly King level—likely a commander among the guards—hailed Ju Ao. Soon, his eyes shifted to Li Hao. A polite smile surfaced on his face. "We welcome the Sovereign's return!" No matter how unimpressed he might be, a Sovereign was still a Sovereign. Rumor had it that this man shared some connection with the fifth-rank Sovereign Kongji, so the guard did not dare be overtly negligent. He remained quite courteous, even if he lacked the humble deference one might have expected. Li Hao, in truth, did not care in the slightest. He had not taken it to heart, nor did he mind. Whether people showed deference or indifference mattered not at all to him. He did not care, but Ju Ao's face darkened. It should not be like this! By ordinary protocol, Li Hao was a Sovereign recruited by Huilong Temple. On his very first visit to Huilong Temple's territory, even if they did not clear the streets and sweep the paths, his arrival should never be treated with such casual quiet. At the very least, a Sovereign ought to have come out to greet him. Huilong Temple now possessed more than thirty Sovereigns. With so many Sovereigns available, what harm was there in sending one out to welcome him? Ju Ao could not understand why things had unfolded this way. Indignation surged within him! Why such slight and neglect? Infuriated, he glared at the guard commander with an unfriendly gaze. The guard, looking rather innocent, thought, *Why glare at me? I didn't orchestrate this.* In truth, no one had orchestrated it. Seeing Ju Ao staring fixedly at him and fearing the Sovereign might take offense—a Sovereign was still a Sovereign, after all—the guard sent a hurried voice transmission: "Brother Ju Ao, stop glaring at me! It isn't an intentional snub. It's just... poor timing! Today happens to be the day the grand Sovereign from the Absolute Darkness Great World is formally joining Huilong Temple alongside five other Sovereigns. Everyone is currently in the Huilong Hall welcoming those powerhouses!" It truly was poor timing! It was not done on purpose. Yet Ju Ao remained disgruntled. Even so, could they truly not spare a single Sovereign? Were they that pressed for time? He looked toward Li Hao, as if ready to strike down this impudent guard commander the instant Li Hao gave the word. Li Hao had naturally overheard the voice transmission. He smiled faintly without saying a word and strolled directly into the city. Seeing this, Ju Ao let out a cold snort, shot the guard commander a sharp glare, and hurried after Li Hao. Once they were gone, the guard commander shook his head, speechless. *Look at him putting on airs...* In the past, serving a Sovereign truly carried some prestige. Now, however, too many Sovereigns had arrived. There was almost a shortage of attendants. Word in the temple had it that he, a guard commander, was slated to guard the doors of a Sovereign—becoming a trusted retainer of an exalted figure. And that Sovereign was of the third rank! He genuinely had no reason to fear Ju Ao. *The master you follow is nothing more than a first-rank, after all.* Back when Ju Ao first began following him, the commander had felt a pang of envy. Now... nothing at all. With so many Sovereigns suddenly flooding in, merely serving a Sovereign was no longer an honor. Only serving a fifth-rank or a middle-rank Sovereign was considered prestigious. A Heavenly King serving a third-rank barely held his head high. Serving a second-rank was considered bad luck. And serving a first-rank? That was sheer misfortune! *Does Ju Ao still think we're living in the past?* The guard commander curled his lip in disdain. ... Inside the city. Ju Ao still felt indignant on Li Hao's behalf. "My Lord, they—" "Quiet." Ju Ao clamped his mouth shut instantly, not daring to utter another word. Li Hao smiled faintly, murmuring as he walked, "In truth, this is quite fine. We are merely passing travelers..." Passing travelers? No. Perhaps they would soon become enemies. They intended to hunt down the Sword Venerable! There was no need for elaborate reasoning. Those who sought to hunt the Sword Venerable were his enemies. What was more, they had allied with the Absolute Darkness Great World, making them unmistakable foes. The destruction of the Absolute Darkness Great World had a direct connection to Li Hao; the Human King had annihilated it on his behalf—or so the Human King had claimed. Thus, a clash between him and Huilong Temple was inevitable. It was merely a matter of time! One sixth-rank and three fifth-ranks... This was truly no ordinary faction. Even within Neo-Martial, how many middle-rank Sovereigns could there be? He wondered why everyone seemed fixated on Neo-Martial instead of Red Moon. Hadn't they said Red Moon was reviled by all? *The Neo-Martial Human King... is truly a troublemaker!* Li Hao complained inwardly. *Look at this. Look at this! Even separated by chaos, across an entire chaos domain, people here in the Tianfang Region want to butcher you. Your reputation is truly terrible.* *Look at me. No one talks about killing me... aside from those who want to wipe me out by association with Neo-Martial, nobody ever declares, 'Let's kill Li Hao!'* Of course, that was partly because he lacked fame. And partly because... everyone who had ever wanted to kill him had already been slain by his hand beforehand. Li Hao let out a soft chuckle. Beside him, Ju Ao seemed to sense something. By now, he knew Li Hao's true identity—the new King of Silver Moon! And the Absolute Darkness Great World was an enemy of Neo-Martial. Neo-Martial and Silver Moon were of one body. Did that not mean the Sovereigns arriving today were all this lord's enemies? Ju Ao's expression shifted slightly, but he said nothing more. A moment of inner conflict arose within him, only to vanish into thin air. Though Huilong Temple was the faction he had pledged to, it was nothing more than that. Meanwhile, the man before him was perhaps the greatest opportunity of his path to becoming a Sovereign—his guide. Even if Li Hao did not think so and would not acknowledge it, Ju Ao already considered Li Hao half a master. Between the faction he served and half a master, the choice was obvious. He remained silent. In his current state, there was no need—and no qualification—to say anything. He was simply too weak. Ahead, a grand palace resembling a Daoist temple lay sprawled across heaven and earth. A multitude of individual halls formed an immense temple complex. This was Huilong Temple. At this moment, formidable auras crisscrossed the skies above, peerlessly powerful and awe-inspiring. Not only that, but a peculiar fluctuation also rippled through the air. Li Hao sensed it carefully; it felt like... the power of darkness? Li Hao's heart stirred. He glanced at Ju Ao. Seeing Li Hao's look, Ju Ao seemed to understand and hurriedly transmitted his voice: "My Lord, Huilong Temple possesses a Dao resonance land known as the Dark Demon Ridge! It is said to have been the cultivation grounds of a supreme darkness-attribute powerhouse of the ancient Tianfang World." "The ancient Tianfang World reportedly had figures such as the Light and Dark Envoys, the Divine Beasts of the Four Quarters, and the Divine Envoys of the Five Elements... This place was the cultivation ground of the Dark Envoy back then." "The Huilong Domain is the core of the Southern Region and occupies the finest Dao resonance land... As I mentioned to you before, a middle-rank Sovereign can enter once to meditate without even joining. An initial-rank Sovereign can enter once every hundred years for free... but only after completing a mission. Since you have not completed a mission, you cannot use it for free yet." Understanding dawned in Li Hao's mind. *The Dark Demon Ridge!* No wonder Kongji had chosen to stay here. This place possessed an aura akin to absolute darkness. It also made perfect sense for the Sovereigns of the Absolute Darkness Great World to join. Meditating on the Dao resonance here would be of immense benefit to them. No wonder they had chosen Huilong Temple! One had to remember that four supreme sixth-rank Sovereigns existed throughout the Tianfang World. That the Absolute Darkness Great World had not joined the other three factions was clearly related to this place. Within the Huilong Domain, Li Hao had visited the Coiling Dragon Well... That figure might have been one of the Divine Beasts of the Four Quarters, a powerhouse of the dragon race's physical body Dao. Another was the expert of Mount Huoxing, a seventh-rank fire-attribute powerhouse who might have been one of the Divine Envoys of the Five Elements. As for the woman in the Tianhe Domain, she had only been a sixth-rank. Could she have been the Water Envoy? Probably not. She had only been of the sixth rank, and the gap between the sixth and seventh ranks was vast. The Tianfang Great World reputedly held many high-rank Sovereigns, so a seventh-rank water-attribute Sovereign had likely existed. In that brief moment, countless thoughts crossed Li Hao's mind. Huilong Temple was exceptionally quiet today. Everyone had gathered in the Huilong Grand Hall. Even as Li Hao and Ju Ao entered Huilong Temple, the few personnel stationed outside paid them little heed, all of them straining their ears as if hoping to catch scraps of the supreme Sovereigns' discourse on the Dao. ... Meanwhile. Deep within the Huilong Temple. Laughter and cheerful conversation echoed from within a grand hall. Sovereign Huilong beamed broadly. "Fellow Daoist Xunhan, your joining Huilong Temple has brought our entire temple to life, bringing one joyous occasion after another! Not long ago, Kongji, who had been stuck at the fourth rank for so long, smoothly advanced to the fifth rank. Fellow Daoist Xunhan truly hails from a great world... The destiny you bring with you is beyond compare!" Xunhan was the fifth-rank Sovereign from the Absolute Darkness Great World. His expression remained calm. "Brother Huilong flatters me too much! I am merely a refugee." "Only temporarily!" Sovereign Huilong smiled radiantly. "That Yin-Yang World acts against the natural order; retribution will find them sooner or later! As I see it, the Absolute Darkness Great World will inevitably be restored as a great world in time! When that day comes, Fellow Daoist Xunhan will be the Lord of a Great World. On that day, you must not forget to support us..." Xunhan finally offered a faint smile. "You jest. But if such a day truly arrives... I will never forget Huilong Temple's warm hospitality!" The destruction of the Absolute Darkness Great World had truly caught everyone off guard. From that immense great world, only a handful of Sovereigns who happened to be outside its borders had managed to escape with their lives. Among them, he was the foremost representative and the strongest. A fifth-rank Sovereign! As for those within the Absolute Darkness Great World—the seventh-rank World Lord, two sixth-rank Sovereigns, and several fifth-rank Sovereigns—they had all been slain by the Human King without exception! The remaining Sovereigns had suffered identical fates, dying tragic deaths on the spot! That a once-mighty great world was now reduced to a mere handful of stragglers was truly pathetic. In the past, Xunhan would not have spared a second glance for an irregular sixth-rank like Sovereign Huilong. But now... a tiger fallen to the plains had no choice but to seek shelter under another's roof. Though a smile graced his face, he felt nothing but disdain inwardly. He did not take Sovereign Huilong's flattery seriously at all. As for that newly advanced Kongji, he thought even less of him. He was a fifth-rank Sovereign who hailed from a great world. Kongji was merely an irregular fifth-rank who had broken through by sheer luck. A vast gulf lay between them. Moreover, while all the other Sovereigns had gathered today, that newly advanced fifth-rank Sovereign, Kongji, had failed to appear. Of course, by Huilong's explanation, Kongji had just broken through and remained in secluded cultivation. Xunhan had pinched his nose and accepted the excuse. *Secluded cultivation?* He had clearly sensed that the fellow had emerged once before. It was obvious that Xunhan's arrival had stolen the limelight of his breakthrough, and the fellow was sulking. *If I had a choice... who would bother stealing the spotlight from an irregular Sovereign like you?* *Back then, I was a Sovereign of a great world!* Just as the thought crossed his mind, he sensed a Sovereign entering the temple. He paid it little mind, assuming an outside Sovereign affiliated with Huilong Temple had returned. Sovereign Huilong also knew who had arrived. He had invited the man himself and wished to meet him. But this Bright Moon Sovereign had come at an awkward time. Today was the official induction of the Absolute Darkness Great World into Huilong Temple; he had no time to entertain a mere first-rank Sovereign. Both men were lost in thought and did not dwell on the matter. In the next instant, however, their expressions shifted. Thick-skinned though Sovereign Huilong was, his smile stiffened. *What is Kongji playing at?* Earlier, when invited to attend, he had refused, claiming he was in seclusion. Yet now, right in the middle of hosting their guests, Kongji had suddenly materialized to receive this Bright Moon fellow. Wasn't that... an outright slap in the face? Huilong was utterly exasperated, cursing inwardly! *You may have reached the fifth rank, but this seat has never mistreated you and has treated you with the utmost courtesy! This is crossing the line—you are deliberately humiliating me!* Yet the man was, after all, a fifth-rank Sovereign. Sovereign Huilong feigned sudden realization. "Oh? Fellow Daoist Kongji has emerged from seclusion? What a coincidence! Haoyue must have returned, yes? Men, invite Fellow Daoist Kongji and Haoyue to join us. Fellow Daoist Xunhan is here, and he too has reached the fifth rank. Come, let us discuss the Dao together..." He looked toward Xunhan and smiled. "What a coincidence. Kongji's Dao resonances are quite remarkable. Perhaps he and Fellow Daoist Xunhan will find much common ground..." Xunhan smiled without answering. *Is that so?* *Such a coincidence?* Of course, he did not care overly much. He merely found Kongji rather childish. By acting like this, he was not only snubbing Xunhan, but also trampling Sovereign Huilong's face into the dirt! These irregular Sovereigns truly lacked vision and breadth. They were only useful for the moment; otherwise, behaving in such a manner was practically begging for disaster. ... "Fellow Daoist Haoyue!" Outside a grand hall, Kongji materialized in an instant, a faint smile on his lips. "I knew you would come!" Li Hao smiled in return. "Having joined Huilong Temple, after all, I naturally had to pay a visit. But Fellow Daoist Kongji, why aren't you over there keeping them company?" "Boring!" Kongji looked languid, completely unenthusiastic. "Huilong only loves spouting empty, vacuous nonsense—like how grand the future will be, what will happen later, how things will unfold once so-and-so is killed... Never anything of substance. In the past, I held some interest and attended a few times, thinking I might glean some insights into a sixth-rank Sovereign's Dao. Later, I realized it was entirely meaningless—a complete waste of time!" Li Hao laughed. Kongji added, "Do you want to go listen?" "A little!" Li Hao nodded. "Mainly to get acquainted with a few people—such as those Sovereigns from the Absolute Darkness Great World, and that Sovereign Huilong whom I've never met... I also want to see just how many powerhouses dare hunt the Sword Venerable, and how bold they truly are!" Kongji gave a knowing smile. *Indeed.* *That makes it interesting.* *I knew you would be interested.* As if recalling something, he offered a quiet warning: "Don't stir up trouble... The power in this place isn't easy to borrow. Be careful not to borrow yourself to death! That's one thing. Second... powerhouses have gathered in the Tianfang Great World recently. There are many sixth-ranks, and perhaps... even hidden seventh-ranks." He was reminding Li Hao: *I know you possess the ability to borrow strength.* *Last time, you borrowed power from a sixth-rank Sovereign and nearly got yourself killed. This time, you cannot borrow recklessly.* With that, he added, "By the way, the Dark Envoy's cultivation back then... might have reached the eighth rank. I don't know the exact details, but rumors say both the Light and Dark Envoys may have reached that level. Light and darkness are corresponding powers!" He sighed with feeling. "Light, darkness... Many worlds possess them, and they are quite common, yet immensely powerful! Anyone who cultivates light or darkness is never weak!" *Borrowing the power of a sixth-rank nearly killed you.* *An eighth-rank's power... do you dare touch it recklessly?* Li Hao's expression turned solemn. He certainly could not act rashly. Forget an eighth-rank; at his current stage, he could not even casually borrow the strength of a seventh-rank. Tracing the past was one thing—listening to the Dao was not the same as fighting. Borrowing power, on the other hand... could burn him to ashes in an instant. "Understood. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Kongji!" Li Hao nodded slightly. Naturally, he would not act recklessly. He was neither a bloodthirsty maniac nor the Neo-Martial Human King. Unless left with no other choice, Li Hao would never resort to needless slaughter. Kongji smiled. Rest assured? For now, perhaps. Besides, what difference did it make whether he was at ease or not? "Since you want to take a look... let's go. Come, let us walk together. I too would like to see just how formidable this fifth-rank Sovereign of the Absolute Darkness World truly is." Kongji glanced toward the hall—darkness-element power. The Absolute Darkness Great World! That great world had been formidable. In the past, it had even clashed with his own native great world. The Lord of Extreme Darkness had been remarkably powerful among seventh-ranks, yet he had still been slain by the Neo-Martial Human King, proving just how terrifying the Human King was. Light and darkness seemed destined to be eternal foes. Yet to the current Kongji, was there any fundamental difference between light and darkness? Was the extreme of darkness not light? Was the extreme of light not darkness? With these thoughts lingering, Kongji and Li Hao walked one after the other toward the distant Huilong Grand Hall. The people there were clearly observing them; several faint auras trailed behind them, locking onto their presence. ... Inside the hall, the powerhouses continued exchanging pleasantries. When two figures appeared at the entrance, Sovereign Huilong beamed. "Kongji and Haoyue are here!" Though meeting Li Hao for the very first time, Sovereign Huilong acted as though they were old acquaintances. He was utterly smooth and diplomatic! Even if a first-rank Sovereign meant little to him, he showed not the slightest trace of neglect. He rose directly from his throne, wearing a broad smile. "I was just speaking of you with Fellow Daoist Xunhan, and here you both are. Kongji, quickly, take a seat. Haoyue, there is no need to be restrained. It is our good fortune today that Fellow Daoist Xunhan has arrived at Huilong Temple and is expounding on the Dao of a great world. This is a rare opportunity... Powerhouses from a great world are a rare sight for us." Kongji gave a faint smile—neither entirely disdainful nor respectful, but bearing an odd, ambiguous look. Xunhan raised an eyebrow slightly, saying nothing. The two Sovereigns before him... one was a fifth-rank, the other a first-rank. Setting the fifth-rank aside, that first-rank Sovereign showed not a shred of restraint despite facing so many powerhouses. The moment he stepped through the door, he began looking Xunhan up and down. It was remarkably impolite! Yet Xunhan held his tongue. This was Sovereign Huilong's territory, after all. One could only assume that this first-rank Sovereign... was perhaps seeing a middle-rank Sovereign from a great world for the very first time. Perhaps! That was the only plausible explanation. Li Hao scrutinized him, committing his features to memory. Aside from Xunhan, several other Sovereigns present carried identical auras, clearly originating from the same Great Dao Universe. All bore traces of darkness-element power. The powerhouses of a great world truly wielded purer energy than rogue Sovereigns. Other Sovereigns invariably carried a degree of chaotic impurity, the result of directly cultivating the chaotic Dao without an ordered Great Dao system. The myriad Daos were tangled without proper sorting, causing cultivators of a particular Dao to absorb numerous extraneous Dao energies along the way. Everyone was aware of this problem. Yet resolving it was exceedingly difficult. It required deep comprehension across the myriad Daos. But anyone possessing such ability... would hardly be content ruling a petty patch of land here. *A Great Dao Universe functions like a filter, straining away chaotic impurities and ordering the Dao energies!* Li Hao fell into contemplation. Comparing them clearly, he arrived at a conclusion. Great Dao Universes operated on fundamentally similar principles, including Silver Moon's Great Dao Universe. They absorbed chaotic power, filtered it, and organized the Dao energies for the myriad beings to cultivate. As the myriad beings cultivated, they fed power back into the Great Dao Universe, forming a self-sustaining cycle. This strengthened the Great Dao Universe while accelerating its ability to draw in, breathe, and filter chaotic energy. Powerhouses from a great world were spared the burden of filtering chaotic energy themselves. This was an advantage; cultivation was far simpler for them. Yet... if one truly wished to comprehend the essence of the myriad Daos, directly absorbing and exhaling chaotic energy might offer far more direct insight. Of course, for the vast majority of Sovereigns, that was an entirely unnecessary endeavor. Not everyone sought to master the myriad Daos. Mastery of a single Dao surpassed superficial knowledge of ten thousand! While Li Hao was lost in thought, Xunhan's voice sounded in his ear: "Young friend, is there something on my face?" Opposite him, Xunhan wore a half-smile. Looking at Li Hao, irritation stirred within him. This man had stared at him from the moment he entered. At first, Xunhan had ignored it, but the man was still staring blankly, seemingly spacing out. Was he deliberately picking a quarrel? Snapping back to his senses and seeing everyone looking his way, Li Hao offered an apologetic, slight bow. "Forgive me. I was lost in thought about certain matters just now. Senior, please do not misunderstand." "Lost in thought?" Xunhan gave a cold, faint smile. "Oh? With so many Sovereigns gathered here and Fellow Daoist Huilong present, what could be more important than Fellow Daoist Huilong's discourse on the Dao?" Sovereign Huilong chuckled. "Let us not say that. Perhaps he truly had urgent thoughts..." Though he smoothed things over, Xunhan's words carried an unmistakable edge of provocation. Naturally, everyone saw through it. Still, Li Hao staring brazenly at him upon arrival—despite being a mere first-rank Sovereign—was bound to cause irritation. Li Hao said apologetically, "Seniors, please do not misunderstand. I was merely curious..." "Curious about what?" Xunhan pressed further. An excuse would have sufficed to let the matter drop, but this man insisted on mentioning curiosity. What was he curious about? Li Hao pondered for a moment. "I fear Senior might take offense if I speak it aloud." "Ahem!" Sovereign Huilong coughed lightly. "Fellow Daoist Xunhan, let us resume our discourse on the Dao." The moment Li Hao spoke, Huilong feared trouble would brew and immediately intervened. Xunhan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Speak your mind. There is no rush for the discourse. What is our young friend curious about?" Li Hao thought it over and asked earnestly, "The Great Dao Universe of the Absolute Darkness Great World has collapsed. In principle, a Sovereign's Dao resides within the Great Dao Universe. When that universe collapses, a Sovereign should either perish outright or plummet in realm. As far as I know, Sovereigns can indeed internalize their Dao into their bodies, carrying away a portion of the universe's energy. Yet with the Dao source gone and having become rootless duckweed, how can one sustain their power without it decaying?" The moment the question was posed, the other Sovereigns of the Absolute Darkness World bristled with fury. Xunhan's anger flared for a fleeting second, but he soon furrowed his brows, glancing at Li Hao without speaking. Even Sovereign Huilong, who had initially worried about offending Xunhan, fell silent. In truth... he was rather curious as well. To be frank, the fall of a great world and the collapse of a Great Dao Universe were exceptionally rare occurrences. As Xunhan pondered, Kongji chuckled from the side. "Haoyue, if you had asked me earlier, I could have told you a thing or two." Everyone turned their gaze toward him. Kongji paid them no mind, looking only at Li Hao as he explained, "When a Great Dao Universe collapses and a Sovereign draws their Dao into their body, they should indeed decline in power or perish outright... But what you speak of applies only to Dao Source Sovereigns!" Li Hao looked at him, puzzled. "Dao Source Sovereigns?" Kongji nodded. "The Great Dao has a source. Under normal circumstances, only a portion of the Sovereigns within a Great Dao Universe are connected to the source of the Great Dao! For instance, in the Absolute Darkness Great World, the Lord of Extreme Darkness was bound to be part of the Dao source. Other deeply trusted Sovereigns were permitted to share in the Dao source. Such individuals were far more powerful and cultivated at incredible speeds... The Absolute Darkness Great Dao—that was the source! And this Dao source could only sustain a limited number of Sovereigns. Those Sovereigns perish alongside the collapse of the Great Dao Universe!" "However, peripheral Sovereigns do not. They merely formed a part of the Great Dao Universe. They siphoned off a portion belonging to the universe... which hardly mattered, as it did not affect the core foundation." Kongji stated earnestly, "Strictly speaking, such people are merely subsidiary Sovereigns... not direct lineage or core members!" Li Hao understood. *So that's how it is!* You reap what you sow, and you suffer what you claim. When a Great Dao Universe was destroyed, the Dao source collapsed, and all Sovereigns sharing that source died with it. Peripheral Sovereigns like Xunhan, however, remained largely unaffected. Even if the Great Dao Universe ceased to exist, it would not disrupt them. The energy they had absorbed would not ebb away. However, future breakthroughs would prove extraordinarily difficult. At this moment, Xunhan and his companions—even Sovereign Huilong—looked at Kongji with strange expressions. Such secrets were virtually unknown to ordinary people. Rogue cultivators, possessing no ties to a Great Dao Universe, understood nothing of its inner workings. Even someone like Li Hao, who was connected to a Great Dao Universe, was unfamiliar with such details. Yet Kongji knew. Different thoughts flashed through the minds of those present. Xunhan glanced at Kongji. Though Kongji was merely explaining the truth, his words carried an implicit belittlement, branding Xunhan as someone who did not even count as a core member of the Absolute Darkness Great World. Though it was a fact... stating it so openly was still a humiliating slap in the face! A complete lack of respect! Xunhan sneered faintly. "Fellow Daoist Kongji's words are not entirely wrong. However, the Dao source of a Great Dao Universe is limited in scope; few can share in it. Merely securing a place within a Great Dao Universe is no easy feat! Fellow Daoist Kongji is remarkably well-informed. Could it be that you once occupied a core Dao source in some Great Dao Universe?" *Even if I wasn't a core Sovereign of a great world, what about you?* *You haven't even stepped into a Great Dao Universe!* *Who are you to mock me?* Kongji glanced at him, smiled, and offered no reply. He seemed too lazy to bother. Sensing the stiff atmosphere, Sovereign Huilong laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoists, you are all knowledgeable and well-traveled! I, on the other hand, am rather ignorant; this is the first time I've ever heard of a Dao source within a Great Dao Universe!" Quickly steering the topic away, he turned to Li Hao. "Haoyue, since this is your first time here, listen more and speak less. Pay careful heed to the experiences of these senior Daoists; it will be of immense benefit to your future!" His broad smile showed off his diplomatic finesse, deflecting the tension in the blink of an eye. *Listen more, speak less* was also a subtle warning to Li Hao. *It's your first time here, so keep your mouth shut. They are all your seniors and are stronger than you, so don't blabber.* Li Hao nodded and said nothing further. Kongji, however, remained uninterested and showed no deference. He spoke bluntly: "I have little interest in discussing the Dao. Senior Huilong, since everyone is present today, I will speak plainly: Have you locked onto the whereabouts of the Neo-Martial Sword Venerable? When do we strike? Who will participate? Furthermore, once we strike, if high-rank Sovereigns of Neo-Martial appear... how will we respond?" He had zero interest in these so-called discourses on the Dao. It was nothing more than pointless flattery and hot air, utterly useless and a waste of time. Had Li Hao not wanted to come, Kongji would never have bothered. He cut straight to the heart of the matter, knowing Li Hao had no real interest in their Dao discourse either... Well, in truth, Li Hao was quite interested; even meaningless blather held some reference value for him. Still, since Kongji brought it up, Li Hao was equally intrigued and remained quiet. A frown flitted across Huilong's brow. To him, Kongji's frequent interruptions were exceedingly rude. Since advancing to the fifth rank, Kongji had grown increasingly brazen. This was unacceptable! The Sovereigns of the Absolute Darkness Great World had just arrived today; acting like this showed a total disregard for Huilong's authority. Suppressing his displeasure, Huilong soon smiled. "You are as impatient as ever, Kongji! There is no rush; dealing with a top-tier Sovereign cannot be rushed!" Kongji spoke again. "A man like the Sword Venerable has no fixed abode, leaves unpredictable tracks, and advances at terrifying speed. If we do not act swiftly... the opportunity will slip away." He sounded dead serious. "The situation in the Tianfang Great World is exceedingly complex right now! We should resolve this quickly and cleanly, which would also avenge our fellow Daoists from the Absolute Darkness World. Senior Huilong should lay out the plan directly... give us a clear timeline, operational details, and strength comparisons so we can prepare." "Leaving preparations to the final moment will only invite unforeseen blunders." Sovereign Huilong cursed inwardly! Dealing with a top-tier Sovereign was hardly so simple. How could they discuss it openly before so many people without fearing leaks? Kongji was truly being insufferable today! Seeing Huilong hesitate, Kongji did not press him further. Understanding the man's mindset, he found it utterly boring. Abandoning the topic, he said, "Fine, let us leave that aside. Senior Huilong, I have been at Huilong Temple for a hundred years now. By rule, every century grants me one free opportunity to enter the Dark Demon Ridge to comprehend the Dao of Darkness!" "However, I entered once a hundred years ago and have little need for it now. May I transfer this opportunity to Fellow Daoist Haoyue?" "..." Everyone turned to look at him, displeasure rippling through the room. Was today the time to bring up such matters? Asking now felt distinctly like forcing Huilong's hand. With a fifth-rank Sovereign raising this in such a setting, could Sovereign Huilong refuse or agree? Refusing meant humiliating a fifth-rank Sovereign. The man was not asking for something out of thin air; he was merely transferring his own rightful privilege to another. Yet agreeing ran contrary to the rules. According to protocol, Li Hao needed only to complete one mission to earn a free entry of his own. But Kongji had no intention of making Li Hao complete a mission; he wanted to transfer the opportunity directly. Sovereign Huilong frowned slightly, ignoring Kongji to look at Li Hao instead. His eyes seemed to say: *Haoyue, decline it yourself!* It was awkward for Huilong to refuse directly. Nor did anyone else dare offend a fifth-rank Sovereign lightly. At this moment, Li Hao was the only one who could refuse without harming anyone's pride. Li Hao kept his head lowered. Sensing the gaze, he looked up—first at Sovereign Huilong, then at Kongji—and said helplessly, "Then... many thanks to Fellow Daoist Kongji. I am truly overwhelmed by your generosity!" Kongji smiled. "A trivial matter. For me, having comprehended it once, entering again serves little purpose." "Besides, a free opportunity every hundred years is my rightful compensation. It is useless to me, but should be of some benefit to you. Consider it borrowing another's flowers to offer the Buddha; it costs me nothing." Sovereign Huilong's anger flared for real. It was bad enough that Kongji was acting without decorum. What was this Haoyue playing at? The two of them singing in harmony—did they take him for air? Opposite them, Xunhan and the others wore mocking smiles. *How fascinating.* *Are these two foolishly bold, or are they deliberately provoking him?* *Or... are they blockheads who understand nothing of etiquette and worldly affairs, knowing only how to bury their heads in solitary cultivation?* With both of them speaking thus, Sovereign Huilong was placed on the spot. If he refused now, both would lose face completely. Yet agreeing made him look as though he were yielding to coercion. Sovereign Huilong remained silent for a moment before an idea came to him. Kongji was a fifth-rank Sovereign after all. Clearing his throat, he smiled. "Since Kongji has spoken, I shall make an exception this once! Consider it a celebration of Kongji's breakthrough!" "Of course, today is also an auspicious occasion... It just so happens that our fellow Daoists from the Absolute Darkness Great World have joined Huilong Temple. How about this: the six Daoists from the Absolute Darkness Great World, along with Haoyue, may enter the Dark Demon Ridge together to comprehend the Dao resonance!" "The Dao resonance land of Huilong Temple is said to have been left behind by an eighth-rank Sovereign... Though the Dao resonance is depleted, it remains a rare treasure land!" He smiled thinly, cursing inwardly. *Trying to force my hand?* *Fine, go in together!* Seven Sovereigns entering at once—what could Haoyue, the weakest among them, possibly comprehend? He wouldn't glean a single shred of insight, wasting his chance entirely. As for the Sovereigns of the Absolute Darkness Great World, aside from Xunhan, the other five had not possessed such an opportunity. Of course, since so many were entering at once, Huilong would grant them separate opportunities in the future as compensation. But this Haoyue... could forget about it! *Trying to disgust me?* With those words, even Kongji could find no reason to object. Nor did Kongji have any intention of objecting. Did comprehending the Dao depend on the number of people? Did having more people mean the stronger ones would comprehend more? If so, they might as well just compete in raw strength! Whether there were many people or few made no difference to him. So long as Li Hao gained entry, that was all that mattered. As for how much Li Hao gained, that was Li Hao's business; if he failed to comprehend anything, that was his own failing and had nothing to do with Kongji. The opportunity held no value for Kongji anyway. He nodded. "Very well!" Sovereign Huilong was momentarily taken aback, then smiled without further comment. *Since you agreed... so be it.* *Splendid!* Otherwise, opening the Dao resonance for a fifth-rank like Kongji would have consumed a massive amount of resources. Now, he had saved quite a fortune. "Then it is settled. Tomorrow, all seven fellow Daoists shall enter the Dark Demon Ridge together!" With that, he glanced at Xunhan, shooting him a meaningful look. Xunhan, being an old fox, understood his meaning instantly. He smiled and nodded. "Then many thanks to Fellow Daoist Huilong!" Gaining an extra free entry was an unexpected boon. His decision to join Huilong Temple was closely tied to the Dark Demon Ridge. For him, having lost the backing of his Great Dao Universe, comprehending the Dao of Darkness in an eighth-rank Sovereign's cultivation grounds might offer him a shot at breaking into the sixth rank. As for the seventh rank... he harbored no such illusions. Li Hao also bowed in thanks, his face lit with a bright smile. "Thank you, Senior!" A great turn of events! An eighth-rank Dao resonance land! Even without using Time Reversal, residual Dao resonance remained. Merely experiencing it would be an extraordinary opportunity. The strongest Sovereigns he had ever encountered were only of the seventh rank. The Human King, the Cang Emperor, the master of Mount Huoxing, the master of Coiling Dragon Well... He had never seen an eighth-rank Sovereign. As for Kongji, there was no need to thank him further. He could repay the favor when an opportunity arose. To Kongji, such a chance was not worth mentioning; the Dao of Extinction shared similarities with darkness and was arguably more profound, rendering this meditation useless to him. What had been intended as a grand welcoming gathering for the Absolute Darkness Sovereigns had been thrown into disarray by Li Hao and Kongji. Everyone's spirits were dampened. Any enthusiasm for discussing the Dao had evaporated. Seeing Xunhan's lack of interest, Sovereign Huilong cut matters short: "Go make preparations. Tomorrow, we enter the Dark Demon Ridge. As for discussing the Dao... there will be plenty of opportunities in the future!" He did not forget to shoot a glare at Li Hao and Kongji. *These two scoundrels!* Li Hao, however, looked rather regretful. *No more Dao discussion?* *Even though Kongji said it's useless, I still wanted to listen.* *Did the two of us cross the line?* He glanced at Kongji, deciding it wasn't his fault, but Kongji's. Why interrupt the Sovereigns' discussion? Kongji glanced back, seemingly reading his thoughts. He chuckled and sent a voice transmission: "Discussing the Dao is pointless... When the Dark Demon Ridge opens, only those meditating can enter, and the Dao of Darkness blankets everything... Tomorrow, you can test yourself against them directly... No one will discover your true identity! What discourse on the Dao could possibly surpass hands-on combat? Of course, don't provoke the fifth-rank. The remaining five are all fair game for practice. Just don't actually kill them, or... it might cause a bit of trouble!" Hearing this, realization struck Li Hao. "Thank you!" "Don't mention it!" Kongji smiled, treating it as a trivial matter. It was essentially opening a private arena for Li Hao—a minor favor that cost him nothing. Li Hao, meanwhile, began calculating. Five Sovereigns, several of them third-ranks. Using them for live sparring... was not bad at all. He could test whether advancing to the second rank truly gave him the capital to confront a third-rank, rather than relying on endless speculation and deduction. He had never engaged in a proper, one-on-one duel against a third-rank. Even the Red Moon powerhouse had been killed through a coordinated ambush. Moreover, all those instances had involved borrowing external strength. This time, he could try fighting without relying on outside power, taking down an opponent entirely on his own! A smile crept across Li Hao's face. What a fine opportunity! If he could also glean some insights into the Dao of Darkness, it would be even better. The two exchanged a glance, smiled, and walked out side by side. The other Sovereigns watched their departing figures, muttering inwardly. *What is with these two? Kongji has been a solitary loner for a century—could he have hooked up with this newly arrived Sovereign?* *That Bright Moon Sovereign... does have the look of a pretty boy.* Such occurrences were hardly unheard-of. The chaos was vast, and bizarre eccentrics abounded; this was nothing out of the ordinary. At least Bright Moon was human. Certain Sovereigns weren't even human, yet others still sought to experiment. The longer one lived, the more peculiar one's tastes became. By comparison, if something truly were going on between Kongji and Haoyue, it was hardly anything to marvel at. Li Hao knew nothing of their thoughts. Had he known... he might have seriously considered borrowing eighth-rank power right then and there!