From the western Fuguang Domain, the southern Huilong Domain was quite a distance away.
Back at the first rank, it would have taken Li Hao at least several days to rush over, but now that he was at the third-rank pinnacle, it was merely a matter of a single day.
Of course, for a third-rank Sovereign to still need an entire day showed just how vast Tianfang was.
The population of Tianfang was not particularly large.
Vast expanses of land remained completely empty.
The energy was exceptionally rich, yet strictly speaking, there were no indigenous inhabitants here; nearly everyone was an outsider.
...
One day later.
Li Hao arrived in the south, entering the perimeter of Huilong Domain.
The domains were separated by minor barriers.
They were not very strong, easily crossed by Sovereigns.
This time, Li Hao had altered his appearance slightly. Shedding his former look, his features appeared more resolute and rugged, and his clothing differed entirely from the Silver Moon style.
Huilong Domain possessed perhaps the highest concentration of Sovereigns among all the domains.
This time, Sovereign Huilong had taken several middle-rank Sovereigns with him, but he had left behind quite a few low-rank Sovereigns—more than were present in Fuguang Domain.
Not long after Li Hao entered Huilong Domain, a first-rank Sovereign drifted toward him.
"May I ask which fellow Daoist visits Huilong Domain?" the Sovereign asked as he landed lightly.
The Sovereigns of Huilong Domain took after Sovereign Huilong. Regardless of whether they knew someone, one never slapped a smiling face, and they were generally quite polite.
"Bai Guang of the Canghan World!" Li Hao replied with a cool demeanor. "I have come to Tianfang in search of opportunities. Please forgive my unannounced intrusion!"
*The Canghan World?*
The Sovereign was somewhat puzzled, but did not dwell on it. There were countless worlds in the chaos. Great Worlds possessed some renown, but small and medium worlds had little outside contact and few Sovereigns, making them virtually unknown.
Since he had never heard of the Canghan World, it was naturally not a Great World, nor any well-known medium world.
In that case, the Huilong Domain had nothing to fear. A faction backed by a sixth-rank Sovereign had no need to dread such obscure worlds.
Of course, the visitor's aura was formidable—likely a third-rank Sovereign, the pinnacle of the low ranks. Thus, the Sovereign remained courteous: "Then Fellow Daoist has certainly come to the right place. Huilong Domain possesses many lands of Dao resonance, all left behind by high-rank Sovereigns of old. Famous among them are the Coiling Dragon Well, Huoxing Mountain, and Dark Demon Ridge... all remnants of Tianfang's erstwhile peak experts.
"Apart from Dark Demon Ridge, all other lands of Dao resonance can be entered freely for comprehension at your leisure..."
After a brief introduction, the Sovereign added: "Lately, our temple master has traveled abroad on business. Only Sovereign Kongji, a fifth-rank expert, oversees Huilong Temple! Sovereign Kongji is a man of few words and seldom shows himself... so it is somewhat inconvenient for us to receive you formally."
A third-rank Sovereign commanded considerable status.
Ordinarily, a Sovereign from an unknown world would be courted to some extent, and dispatching a fourth-rank Sovereign to recruit a third-rank would be standard.
However... only a single middle-rank Sovereign remained in the temple right now, and he did not manage affairs.
Word was that a friend of the temple master would arrive in a few days to oversee Huilong Temple temporarily, but had not yet arrived.
"No matter!" Li Hao smiled. "I am the one intruding. I originally came to Fuguang Domain seeking opportunities alongside a few fellow Daoists, but that domain lacked any lands of Dao resonance suited to me. That is why I took the liberty of coming to Huilong Domain. I heard this place is the strongest of Tianfang's four domains..."
*He has companions with him?*
The Huilong Temple Sovereign's interest was piqued. A lone Sovereign was quite different from a group.
"Are your companions... still in Fuguang Domain?"
Li Hao nodded. "Aside from myself, there are two others on this journey, both at the second rank..."
That was quite a force! One third-rank and two second-ranks!
The Sovereign thought to himself, then said, "If Fellow Daoist does not mind, a middle-rank Sovereign will return to our temple in a few days. When that time comes, you are welcome to visit our temple to discuss the Dao..."
*A middle-rank Sovereign returning?*
Li Hao's thoughts stirred, but he simply smiled and nodded. "If nothing prevents me and I will not be intruding, I will certainly go! Listening to a senior's Dao is an opportunity in itself. Furthermore, I have a small favor to ask. I wonder if Fellow Daoist could assist me?"
"Please, Fellow Daoist Bai Guang, speak freely!"
"As a newcomer, I am unfamiliar with Huilong Domain. Could you arrange a guide to lead the way for me...?"
"That is simple!" the Taoist priest replied promptly. "If you do not mind, I can personally guide you!"
Li Hao shook his head. "Fellow Daoist is a Sovereign yourself, and Huilong Temple has many matters to attend to. With Sovereign Huilong away, you all bear heavy responsibilities. How could I presume to impose upon you? Simply arranging a Dao Integration cultivator will suffice..."
"Dao Integration?"
The man was taken aback. Li Hao explained, "That is the name of the realm in my Canghan World... forgive me for confusing you. It refers to those below the Sovereign realm... I have not paid attention to what those below Sovereign rank are called here in Tianfang..."
"Dao Integration" was unique to Silver Moon. Since no one from Silver Moon ventured out into the chaos, Li Hao was not worried anyone would find it suspicious—with so many worlds and varied realm names, who cared what realm names below Sovereign were called?
"That is simple enough!"
Li Hao added, "I also have a few minor requests... to save trouble later."
Li Hao pondered briefly before continuing, "My friends may arrive in a few days. One of them is not human, but a chaos beast, so it would be best to arrange a guide from the demon race."
The other nodded. That was easy; Huilong Temple lacked neither people nor demons.
A third-rank Sovereign was no weakling, and many would jump at the chance to serve him—it was an opportunity.
"My friend belongs to the canine race and dislikes friction with terrestrial demon beasts. A flying or aquatic demon beast would be most suitable! And preferably... one skilled in defense."
The Sovereign paused in surprise. Why that?
Li Hao looked somewhat sheepish and lowered his voice: "Forgive me, Fellow Daoist. That chaos beast friend of mine has quite a temper and often... well... likes to spar. So this guide might... not survive. Of course, I will compensate Huilong Temple. If the guide dies, I will provide one hundred Great Dao crystals to their family..."
One hundred Great Dao crystals!
Not an astronomical sum, but certainly not small either—quite substantial for someone below the Sovereign level.
More importantly... the Sovereign understood what this meant.
His chaos beast friend probably did not like to "spar"—he liked to eat them! Chaos beasts had always been this way.
This was literally throwing a meat bun to a dog!
Under normal circumstances, Huilong Temple would be reluctant to agree, but it was hardly a big deal. Trading the lives of a few beings below the Sovereign level to win the goodwill of several Sovereigns was a bargain.
Below Sovereign, one had no standing to speak of.
A death was just a death!
However, this meant the guide could not be chosen at random; some cultivators were under the protection of certain Sovereigns.
A demon beast, either aquatic or avian... was this picky eating?
Unfavored, reasonably sturdy in defense, tasty, and decently capable...
After mulling it over, a figure sprang to the Sovereign's mind:
Ju Ao!
Other Heavenly Kings were not easy to dispatch carelessly, but this one... he had previously served Bright Moon Sovereign. Later, after Bright Moon Sovereign departed, one would normally hesitate to touch him.
Yet Ming Hao and his entire entourage had perished, and some suspected that Bright Moon was the King of Silver Moon.
Ju Ao had been implicated as a result.
Sovereign Huilong had even personally interrogated him, but extracted nothing. Huilong Sovereign hadn't executed Ju Ao directly; after all, Kongji was still here, and though Kongji might not care much, he and Bright Moon were friends.
However... if an accidental death occurred at the hands of another Sovereign, it would rid Sovereign Huilong of an eyesore.
As a cultivator of Huilong Temple, reception duties were Ju Ao's job anyway. He couldn't just sit idle, could he?
Serving a third-rank Sovereign was considered an opportunity. As long as he didn't mention that the beast might eat him, even Kongji would have nothing to say.
If he died, he died.
Thoughts flashed through his mind. There was truly no better candidate; Ju Ao was idle right now, a perfect choice!
"A trifling matter!"
The Sovereign beamed. "Fellow Daoist Bai Guang is too polite. Please wait a moment, and I will summon someone. As for compensation, there is no need! Huilong Temple has always sought to befriend guests from all quarters of the chaos. Think nothing of it!"
To forge ties with several Sovereigns—he was merely a first-rank Sovereign himself. Although he was a member of Huilong Temple, cultivating his own connections was something they all did.
What did the death of an insect below Sovereign rank matter to him?
Trading a disposable cultivator for the favor of several Sovereigns... what a great deal.
"Then I thank Fellow Daoist. May I ask how to address you?"
"Huilong Temple, Yuchen!"
Li Hao's smile broadened. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Yuchen!"
As for whether the person sent would be Ju Ao, Li Hao wasn't certain, but it was highly likely.
Ming Hao's death could hardly be concealed. For a minor pawn like Ju Ao to be discarded was entirely normal.
Huilong Temple couldn't conveniently execute him themselves without breeding discontent.
But if an outsider killed him... dead was dead. People died every day in the Tianfang World; one less cultivator below the Sovereign level made no difference.
...
Huilong Temple.
After Li Hao left, Ju Ao's days had initially been fairly pleasant. He had served Sovereign Kongji's friend, after all, making him practically Li Hao's man and granting him a tenuous link to a fifth-rank Sovereign.
Soon, however, his life took a turn for the worse.
Ju Ao did not know Li Hao's true identity, but he knew Li Hao was extraordinary. In truth, he could guess some of it; though Li Hao never said so outright, he never concealed much when conversing with Kongji.
If Kongji knew, Ju Ao could naturally piece together a few things.
Yet Ju Ao had never expected that the King of Silver Moon would truly slaughter that entire band of Sovereigns. It was terrifying.
Back then, when Li Hao killed Sovereign Tianhe, he had already been shaken to the core.
This time, it had even drawn the attention of the Lord of Red Moon—a truly earth-shattering event!
Consequently, disaster struck him.
Sovereign Huilong had summoned and questioned him. Ju Ao shared only superficial details, knowing little of deeper significance anyway. Yet there was one thing he did know: when Kongji and Li Hao spoke, Kongji had known Li Hao's identity from the start. That detail, he dared not mention.
Huilong learned nothing, and while he did not press further, his dissatisfaction was obvious.
Considering that Huilong Temple was an established power that needed to recruit manpower, and wishing to avoid a fallout with Kongji—even though Kongji might not care about an ant like Ju Ao—Sovereign Huilong ultimately chose to ignore him!
From then on, Ju Ao's days grew miserable!
Many in the temple sensed the shift and began ostracizing him, intentionally or otherwise. If not for Kongji still residing there, Ju Ao might not have survived to this day.
Lately, Ju Ao had been pondering his future... wondering whether he should flee Huilong Temple.
While Kongji was still present, leaving now might give him a chance.
If Kongji left one day, he would never have the opportunity again.
Sitting in his small room lost in thought, his transmission jade suddenly flashed. An ominous premonition struck him. Activating it, he frowned slightly.
Serve as a guide for a third-rank Sovereign!
And the order came directly from Sovereign Yuchen.
Under normal circumstances, this was a coveted assignment. Countless people lined up for such opportunities—how could it possibly fall into his lap now?
In the past, perhaps.
Ju Ao felt deeply uneasy.
Yet as a member of Huilong Temple who had not yet defected, he could not refuse.
Sighing inwardly, knowing it was unlikely to be anything good, he accepted the assignment. He didn't seek out Kongji; he wasn't close to Sovereign Kongji, who had reportedly entered Dark Demon Ridge recently. He could find him if he tried, but he wasn't even a Sovereign while Kongji was the Divine Son of Light—why invite disdain?
Soon, Ju Ao walked outside.
Nearby stood other experts waiting for assignments.
Seeing Ju Ao emerge and head out, someone cast him a surprised glance.
Others, having received word, transmitted messages: "Ju Ao seems to be assigned to receive a third-rank Sovereign!"
"Seriously? Isn't he tainted by association with that person... and they're still giving him this chance?"
"It might not be a good thing! Apparently, Sovereign Yuchen issued the order personally."
The crowd's thoughts shifted—then it certainly wasn't good.
Sovereign Yuchen was essentially Sovereign Huilong's lackey... a sycophant adept at divining his superior's wishes. If Sovereign Huilong disliked Ju Ao, would Yuchen give him a genuine opportunity?
Evidently, it was a perilous assignment.
Such occurrences were hardly uncommon.
Several people wore malicious sneers. Ju Ao had made rapid progress recently, even showing signs of stepping into the half-step Sovereign realm. Becoming a half-step Sovereign meant entering the Sovereign reserve, which carried no small status in Huilong Temple.
Once one became a Sovereign, one became a master.
They shared the same duties and the same cultivation level, yet Ju Ao was pulling ahead. Jealousy was universal; who wanted to watch a servant rise to become a master?
Before, they could only seethe in envy. Now... someone smirked maliciously.
This time, the fellow was likely finished.
Sovereigns had wildly unpredictable temperaments. Some ate humans and demons as a matter of course; others were mercurial and killed on a whim. So long as it did not involve Sovereigns, Huilong Temple looked the other way.
Clearly, Ju Ao was about to run into such a Sovereign.
Watching Ju Ao depart, someone laughed loudly: "Ju Ao, looks like you've landed another plum assignment! Once you become a Sovereign, don't forget your brothers!"
"What splendid luck!"
Others chuckled, their laughter dripping with malice.
Ahead, Ju Ao said nothing, striding through the air.
In an organization like Huilong Temple, the subordinates lacked unity, and the superiors were no different. Cultivators hailed from all four corners of the chaos, not from the same world, race, or civilization.
In the chaos, a world constituted a collective; those from different worlds rarely integrated smoothly.
Everyone was merely gathered for profit.
When he was favored, they envied him; now that he had fallen, their malice and eagerness to see him dead were only natural.
Had this happened before, he would have been furious.
Today, however... he felt none of that anger.
He was no longer the same as them.
He had served Li Hao and had personally listened to Li Hao and Sovereign Kongji discuss the Great Dao. One was the famed King of Silver Moon, the other the scion of an eighth-rank Sovereign who had rebuilt his Dao to the fifth rank...
Such an experience was something these people would never obtain in their entire lives.
Even if mighty experts discussed the Dao, it would never be these onlookers' turn to listen. Yet he, alone, had heard two supreme Dao masters converse.
Ju Ao suddenly felt a sense of superiority.
*The sky I have seen is beyond your vision. Even if I die this time, my horizons and my world are far loftier than yours.*
*What a pity... he had never managed to step into the Sovereign realm.*
*What a pity he had missed the opportunity Bright Moon Sovereign had once given him.*
A tinge of regret lingered!
...
After a short while.
Ju Ao arrived.
At first glance, he spotted the man beside Yuchen: rugged, looking completely different from Li Hao. Yet as Ju Ao looked at him, confusion arose. This Sovereign... though rugged, bore a strange familiarity at second glance.
He dared not stare or speak out of turn, quickly landing and bowing respectfully: "Ju Ao of Huilong greets Sovereign Yuchen and Senior!"
Yuchen smiled and turned to Li Hao: "Fellow Daoist Bai Guang, let Ju Ao accompany you on your tour. Ju Ao is quite capable and on the verge of stepping into the half-step Sovereign realm! Within our Huilong Temple, he is also... a top existence among those at the Dao Integration level!"
He added, "Ju Ao has guided many Sovereigns before, not just in Huilong Domain, but across other domains as well. If Fellow Daoist wishes to return to Fuguang Domain, he can lead the way."
He beamed brightly, then looked at Ju Ao with a stern expression: "Attend to Sovereign Bai Guang well! Sovereign Bai Guang is a third-rank Sovereign with several Sovereign friends, all seeking the Dao in Tianfang. There must not be the slightest slip-up, or... you will be severely punished!"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Ju Ao wore a solemn expression, but sighed inwardly.
*I'm dead!*
Sovereign Yuchen definitely wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate him and curry favor with Sovereign Huilong.
He also felt Yuchen was petty—if he truly wanted to kill a non-Sovereign, why bother going through such elaborate trouble?
Nearby, Li Hao smiled: "Fellow Daoist Yuchen, go attend to your duties. I won't waste your time. Having this... little fellow accompany me is plenty!"
"Then please make yourself at home, Fellow Daoist Bai Guang. Call upon me whenever needed!"
Yuchen laughed, dropping ceremony. He understood that this man likely did not want a Sovereign watching him and still harbored hopes regarding the lands of Dao resonance... an expectation shared by every visiting Sovereign.
Understanding the visitor's mindset, he said his farewells and swiftly departed.
Once he had gone, Ju Ao maintained a calm expression: "Senior Bai Guang, where would you like to go?"
Li Hao smiled, glancing at Ju Ao.
Looks like... he truly became cannon fodder.
Though Li Hao had tried hard to avoid entanglements with Tianfang natives, he had still dragged one person down. As for Kongji, someone like Kongji had no fear of trouble; as long as the trouble was interesting, he welcomed it to relieve the boredom of existence.
"How about Coiling Dragon Well?" Li Hao suggested with a faint smile. "There should be Dao resonance there, right?"
"Very little..." Ju Ao replied earnestly. "The Dao resonance at places like Coiling Dragon Well has already dissipated. It is very difficult for resonance to manifest now."
Li Hao chuckled. "Is that so? But I heard that not long ago, someone comprehended Dao resonance there."
Ju Ao pondered and said, "That was merely a coincidence... in truth, it is exceedingly rare."
"A coincidence? I heard it was triggered by the King of Silver Moon. Is that true?"
Ju Ao's heart jolted. He feigned ignorance: "That... I am not entirely sure. Where did Senior hear that from? Did the King of Silver Moon ever visit our Tianfang Great World?"
"He did. Weren't you his guide?"
Ju Ao's mind roiled with shock!
Who was this person?
How did he know?
Li Hao chuckled. "Ju Ao, it's only been a few days. Why so quiet?"
"..."
Ju Ao looked at Li Hao in sheer shock and disbelief. Impossible!
Wasn't that person still deep in the chaos?
Rumor had it he was making contact with Xinwu. He had even heard that Sovereign Huilong and the others went into the chaos specifically to deal with Xinwu, and the King of Silver Moon was on their hit list.
Everyone believed he was currently heading toward Xinwu!
It couldn't be him!
As he was thinking, Li Hao chuckled. "Enough, thinking too much is pointless. After I left, did anything happen? After Ming Hao and the others died, were there other developments?"
"..."
Ju Ao trembled violently, managing only after a long pause to say with difficulty, "Senior... what do you mean?"
"Come now. Back at Huoxing Mountain, at Coiling Dragon Well, and even when I killed Tianhe, we spoke of many things. Let's not dwell on that."
Walking forward, Li Hao asked, "Where is Kongji right now?"
"Senior..."
"Did you forget what I said? That when you were ready to become a Sovereign, you could seek me out?"
The moment those words were spoken, Ju Ao was utterly stunned. It was true!
"My Lord!"
Ju Ao was filled with shock, joy, and terror. How could this be?
"My Lord... you... you have returned?"
Li Hao smiled. "Are you surprised?"
Ju Ao said in disbelief, "Surprised, completely stunned! Everyone says that after My Lord slaughtered those Sovereigns, you were fleeing toward Xinwu to rendezvous with them. My Lord... how can you be here?"
"Just dropping by to take a look."
Ju Ao was overwhelmed with astonishment, but refrained from asking further, hastily reporting: "After My Lord killed those people, word arrived from Red Moon offering an immense bounty to hunt you down. It is said that Sovereign Huilong and the others recruited many experts—four sixth-rank experts leading dozens of middle-rank Sovereigns into the depths of the chaos to hunt Xinwu experts. It has been barely ten days since they departed!"
"So many people?"
"Yes."
Ju Ao added, "Sovereign Kongji remains at Huilong Temple, but... he seems to have entered Dark Demon Ridge and hasn't appeared lately. Additionally, Huilong Temple expects a middle-rank Sovereign to arrive soon, purportedly... from the Yunxiao Great World!"
As a member of Huilong Temple, Ju Ao knew quite a bit, and hurried to explain: "Sovereign Huilong and Senior Kongji might have some discord, so Huilong wasn't comfortable leaving Huilong Temple in Senior Kongji's hands."
Li Hao nodded. "How many Sovereigns are left in Huilong Temple right now?"
"Excluding Senior Kongji, there are sixteen, all low-rank Sovereigns! Originally there were twelve, but after two neighboring domains joined, the count rose to sixteen. The domain masters of those two neighboring domains left with Sovereign Huilong this time."
Sixteen!
Li Hao noted this. It appeared Huilong hadn't taken a single low-rank Sovereign, leaving them all behind.
Of course, those from the Absolute Darkness Great World had been eliminated, or there would be even more.
Huilong Temple!
Sovereign Huilong was a bitter enemy.
Twice that scoundrel had sealed off Dark Demon Ridge to target him.
Now, he had led a host to hunt Xinwu experts... a genuine enemy through and through.
Behind Huilong Temple was likely the Yunxiao Great World.
And Yunxiao seemed to be targeting Xinwu.
Sixteen Sovereigns... quite a substantial number.
Thoughts surfaced in Li Hao's mind. As for Kongji, since he had disappeared, he had probably entered Dao Chess to comprehend the Great Dao.
With these thoughts in mind, speed was of the essence.
Li Hao asked, "Which day will the Sovereign from Yunxiao arrive?"
"Within the next few days!"
Li Hao nodded. "Are all the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple present?"
"A few are away. I don't know the exact details; after all, they are Sovereigns, and I cannot track their movements."
Li Hao nodded once more.
He pondered for a moment, then smiled. "This time, I intend to hunt them all down. Do you think wiping out every Sovereign in Huilong Temple would be too cruel?"
Ju Ao's heart skipped a beat!
Ruthless!
Yet this was his style: he appeared gentle and amicable, but when he struck, he was ruthless to the extreme.
How many Sovereigns had he killed by now?
Honestly, aside from the collapse of a Great World, few battles in the chaos resulted in as many Sovereign deaths as this man had caused. Even if most were weak Sovereigns, Sovereigns were still supreme powerhouses!
"My Lord, sixteen of them... if all are present, it remains exceptionally dangerous."
"No matter."
Li Hao smiled. "I was just asking if there are any comparatively kindhearted Sovereigns in Huilong Temple... to give myself some peace of mind. If you say there are none, I will strike without mercy!"
"..."
Terrified, Ju Ao quickly replied, "Kindhearted... that is hard to say. At the Sovereign level, their minds are beyond what a humble servant like me can fathom."
Li Hao nodded. "In that case... each serves their own master. There is no need to show special consideration, right?"
Ju Ao remained silent.
Li Hao calculated further and said, "However, these Sovereigns may not stay together; they might be scattered, which would be troublesome. By the way, when that Sovereign from the Yunxiao World arrives, will they all return?"
Ju Ao nodded. "If they are in Tianfang, they will! Sovereign Huilong left orders before departing that during his absence, this person would take charge of Huilong Temple as his close friend... We all know he must hail from the Great World backing Sovereign Huilong! Those Sovereigns are eager to curry favor with a Great World Sovereign. As long as they aren't trapped or genuinely unable to return, they will be there."
Li Hao smiled. "That's good!"
They would all return. If every one showed up, that would make seventeen: sixteen low-rank Sovereigns and one middle-rank Sovereign.
Of course, there was also Kongji, though he might not have time to concern himself with Li Hao right now.
Huilong Temple, Dark Demon Ridge.
Li Hao pondered. An eighth-rank Sovereign... borrowing eighth-rank power would be courting death; it was far too perilous.
He couldn't borrow that!
Killing the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple served his own needs. On one hand, it would gather energy to facilitate his entry into Dao Chess... Entering from here required no energy, but he couldn't enter from this spot; he had to leave first, or he could easily be trapped.
On the other hand, creating the illusion of the Great Dao Universe's revival required gathering massive amounts of energy, didn't it?
Otherwise, the commotion wouldn't be grand enough.
Last time, borrowing sixth-rank power had seemed to trigger faint signs of revival in Tianfang's own Great Dao Universe. If he borrowed seventh-rank or eighth-rank power this time, Tianfang's Great Dao Universe would certainly produce a reaction.
Only a commotion on that scale could deceive everyone.
Blending truth and falsehood together.
And wiping out all the Sovereigns of Huilong Domain would make it easy to conceal his tracks.
Otherwise... it would be difficult to hide.
When the chaos lightning tribulation descended, people would easily deduce that he was here.
Therefore, killing the Sovereigns and eliminating all witnesses was necessary to hide his whereabouts.
Otherwise, his appearance here coupled with the manifestation of the Great Dao Universe would immediately lead others to connect it to him.
He could fake it without killing the Sovereigns... but the commotion would be too small.
Thoughts formed one after another.
Moreover, for faking the revival, Huilong Domain was the most suitable location.
It sat right at the southern border gate, making it convenient for Huilong Sovereign and the others to rush back.
"Ju Ao, do something for me!"
"At My Lord's command!" Ju Ao answered at once.
Li Hao said, "In a few days, when that Sovereign from Yunxiao arrives... go close the South World Gate for me."
Ju Ao froze.
Looking at Li Hao, he felt a chill run down his spine. "Close the World Gate?"
"Yes!"
Li Hao nodded. "With the World Gate open, any commotion would be too noticeable, and I don't want unnecessary complications. Furthermore, if a chaos lightning tribulation descends... closing the World Gate can temporarily keep the tribulation from breaching the Great World! Originally, I hoped Kongji would step in, but he seems to be in secluded cultivation, so I won't disturb him for now. If all the Sovereigns gather, only those below the Sovereign realm will remain at the gate. Can you kill a few?"
Ju Ao was shaken, but quickly responded, "Near the World Gate are only Heavenly Kings. I am nearing the half-step Sovereign realm—I can kill them!"
Li Hao smiled. "They are your colleagues. You'd kill them without hesitation?"
Ju Ao said hastily, "We were merely brought together by mutual benefit..."
Li Hao laughed, not dwelling on the matter.
After thinking it through, he continued, "You spent time at the World Gate, so you should be familiar with it. Just help me shut the gate; it's not a difficult task! Additionally, I plan to trigger Dao resonance at Huoxing Mountain or Coiling Dragon Well to draw all the Sovereigns there... Do you think they will all come?"
Ju Ao answered promptly, "Does My Lord intend to act on the day the Sovereign from the Yunxiao World arrives?"
"Yes."
"Then... as long as that Yunxiao Sovereign arrives, they will follow him!"
He added, "We don't yet know the exact attributes of that Yunxiao Sovereign. If we knew his affinity—if he cultivated the fire element or the physical body Dao—it would be an easy choice. If he cultivates elemental Daos, Huoxing Mountain is ideal; if not elemental, Coiling Dragon Well is best, as the physical body Dao suits all cultivators."
Li Hao nodded. That made sense.
Ju Ao continued, "Cultivators of the Yunxiao World primarily specialize in elemental Daos, so for now, Huoxing Mountain is more suitable."
With a slight hesitation, he added, "The Sovereign coming from the Yunxiao World will likely be a sixth-rank, because Senior Kongji is a fifth-rank. To prevent Senior Kongji from causing trouble, their emissary will likely be stronger."
"A sixth-rank is great; otherwise, I'd feel it wasn't worth the effort."
Li Hao smiled. "A good thing!"
Huoxing Mountain was the domain of a seventh-rank Sovereign.
That Taoist Huoxing—Li Hao had encountered him once before and sensed his immense power.
The critical issue wasn't killing those Sovereigns, but the fact that a chaos lightning tribulation was certain to descend afterward!
At that time, it might be seventh-rank lightning.
When killing them, he needed to reserve plenty of strength to resist the lightning; otherwise... he would be in deep trouble. If he exhausted his power as before, relying on third-rank strength would never withstand seventh-rank lightning.
Previously, it had only been sixth-rank lightning.
"Right, one more thing..."
"At My Lord's command!"
"If necessary, help me get Kongji out!"
Li Hao smiled. "He should have entered Dark Demon Ridge... After I kill them, I might have to undergo tribulation! Lightning tribulations are perilous. If possible, there is no need to disturb him, but if it proves too difficult, enter Dark Demon Ridge and call him out for me."
Ju Ao said hastily, "Certainly, but... will I be able to summon him?"
"Shouldn't be a problem. Once all the Sovereigns are dead, if needed at the critical moment, go into Dark Demon Ridge... It shouldn't be dangerous right now, with no shadow puppets around. Head straight to the divine temple and call him out."
In Dao Chess, one wasn't in closed-door seclusion, merely comprehending the Dao; with a loud enough commotion, he would naturally hear.
"Just mention my name. If Kongji doesn't hear, yell 'Dao Chess'!"
Dao Chess?
Ju Ao didn't understand, but committed it to memory.
He nodded.
Li Hao gave his instructions and finalized his preparations.
It had to be done quickly. Otherwise, if Huilong Sovereign and the others ventured too far into the chaos, rushing back would take too long. Li Hao had to be considerate of them—if they traveled too far, they might not even receive the news, which would be troublesome.
Let them all come!
He glanced toward Huilong Temple. This time... I will slaughter to my heart's content!
Besides, was the sixth-rank Sovereign who pursued him last time from the Yunxiao Great World?
Could the one coming this time be him?
If so, that would be interesting.
The reason he suspected this was because the Yunxiao Great World was quite distant. If that person belonged to Yunxiao and Huilong's group had already departed, he wouldn't need to follow them anymore.
Since he was conveniently not far away, reaching Tianfang Great World with sixth-rank power was easy.
If it was him... he could finish him off as well.
Last time, that fellow had fled, and Li Hao still didn't know how much he had witnessed.
*Seventh-rank fire power...*
Li Hao mused. Borrowing it shouldn't be an issue; having established a connection once before, a second time held no fear.
However, borrowed seventh-rank power wasn't a genuine seventh rank.
Hopefully, it wouldn't be too weak or dissipate too quickly.
Otherwise, surviving the tribulation would be arduous indeed.
...
While Li Hao resolved to unleash a slaughter, out in the chaos, a sixth-rank Sovereign was speeding toward Tianfang.
Li Hao had guessed correctly!
The newcomer was indeed the sixth-rank Sovereign who had fled previously. After leaving Yunxiao, he hadn't returned. Just as he was preparing to head back a few days ago, he received orders to oversee Huilong Temple in Huilong's stead.
Of course, this was also for his own protection.
Huilong Sovereign and the others were heading out to battle the Sword Venerable.
As a direct member of Yunxiao, guarding Huilong Temple was far safer.
Furthermore, Yunxiao did not wish to confront Xinwu openly right now. Huilong was merely external muscle, whereas he was a Sovereign of the Yunxiao Great World, a bona fide Great World Sovereign whose Great Dao origin could easily be traced back to his home world.
"Tianfang..."
The man looked into the distance. Tianfang was not far now.
Though Tianfang had once been a ninth-rank Great World, it was now merely a nest for rogue cultivators. He knew many high-rank Sovereigns kept their eyes on this place, yet none seemed to reap any gains.
Unless necessary, he genuinely disliked coming to Tianfang.
Opportunities were few, and those so-called lands of Dao resonance hadn't manifested anything for many years. He had even visited Dark Demon Ridge before and sensed nothing—a wasted trip.
"Kongji... the Divine Son of Light..."
That was the one thing he needed to be mindful of on this trip.
Yet Kongji was only at the fifth rank. Even as the Divine Son of Light, Chiyun had nothing to fear.
*Last time, it was said that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe seemed to manifest briefly... I wonder if it's true!*
He pondered once more. Earlier, the Realm Master had instructed him to oversee Huilong Temple partly with this in mind—to investigate thoroughly.
Huilong and his peers were, after all, mere rogue Sovereigns, not genuine Great World Sovereigns.
They might not be capable of detecting the Great Dao Universe.
He, however, as a sixth-rank Sovereign of a Great World, might sense something different.
With that in mind, he felt a flicker of anticipation.
He hoped this trip to Tianfang would yield some benefits. As for the Sword Venerable... better to stay far away. That King of Silver Moon earlier, clearly weak, had somehow summoned a sixth-rank chaos lightning tribulation, frightening people half to death.
The chaos was too treacherous; Tianfang was much safer.
...
Just as this Sovereign was about to arrive, Li Hao immersed himself in Huoxing Mountain, comprehending the faint fire power without leaving.
This place... was the graveyard he had prepared to ambush all the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple.
On the fourth day, before the Yunxiao Sovereign arrived, Qian Wuliang and Black Panther reached Huoxing Mountain one after the other.
Both began pulling upon Silver Moon's Great Dao Universe, attempting to see if it could descend here.
The arrival of three Sovereigns at this location was no secret. Several Huilong Temple Sovereigns knew about it, but none came to disturb them. Li Hao had already mentioned it earlier without concealing anything, so the Sovereigns naturally didn't interfere with their Dao comprehension.
In truth, none believed they could comprehend anything anyway. They had visited this place countless times.
...
On the fifth day.
A figure materialized near the South World Gate.
The Sovereign from Yunxiao had arrived!
Near the South World Gate, a Sovereign personally came to receive him with a flattering smile. A sixth-rank Sovereign from a Great World seemed profoundly mysterious and terrifyingly powerful at a glance, inspiring awe and dread.
"Greetings, Senior!"
A third-rank Sovereign of Huilong Temple bowed obsequiously. The Yunxiao Sovereign said coldly, "My name is Chiyun!"
"Greetings, Sovereign Chiyun!"
The third-rank Sovereign grew even more deferential.
He knew this person:
Sovereign Chiyun of the Yunxiao World!
A sixth-rank Sovereign who specialized in fire power. As luck would have it, he was a fire cultivator. Of course, Chiyun had visited Huoxing Mountain before and gained nothing, so upon arriving, he paid no heed to Huoxing Mountain—such abandoned lands of Dao resonance were utterly useless to him!
"Summon all Sovereigns to assemble!"
Chiyun couldn't be bothered to exchange pleasantries with this person. Great World Sovereigns looked down on rogue Sovereigns, unless they reached the middle ranks; low-rank Sovereigns were too feeble.
"Senior, follow me. The other Daoists are already waiting for you in Huilong Hall!"
Chiyun gave a slight nod; at least they knew their place.
Flying toward Huilong Temple, he asked, "Where is Kongji?"
"He seems to have entered Dark Demon Ridge for secluded cultivation."
"Secluded cultivation?"
Chiyun chuckled. "Good. That saves us the trouble of awkward interactions. Instead of remaining the Divine Son of Light, he ran off to comprehend darkness. Turning light into darkness? An ambitious fellow, but alas, putting the cart before the horse!"
He could criticize the Divine Son of Light, but the third-rank Sovereign dared not.
He could only chuckle dryly and keep his mouth shut.
Chiyun didn't care either, asking further, "I heard an anomaly occurred in Tianhe Domain last time, showing signs of the Great Dao Universe?"
"Yes, so it seems. I don't know the exact details; only a few middle-rank Sovereigns went to investigate."
Chiyun nodded slightly and asked no more.
He would go take a look himself later.
As they neared Huilong Temple, he glanced into the distance. It was far away, yet for a Sovereign, not very distant. That direction seemed to be Huoxing Mountain, and right now, faint traces of fire power seemed to be wafting out.
That place had been abandoned for years; where would fire power come from?
Somewhat perplexed, he cast another glance toward it.
Huilong Hall was already before his eyes.
The other Sovereigns filed out of the hall to welcome this supreme Sovereign from a Great World.
Chiyun looked back once more, asking in puzzlement, "Has there been any activity at Huoxing Mountain lately?"
The crowd exchanged glances. A first-rank Sovereign—none other than Sovereign Yuchen—recalled something and stepped forward hurriedly: "Reporting to Senior, there hasn't been much movement, except that a few Sovereigns arrived recently to comprehend Dao resonance there."
"Dao resonance?"
Chiyun scoffed. There wasn't a damn bit of Dao resonance left there.
However... the next moment, his brows furrowed again. Not just him—the other Sovereigns also looked bewildered as a wave of heat rolled over them. Even from such a distance, they could feel waves of fire power dissipating outward.
Chiyun froze. "Hm?"
What was going on?
From so far away, fire power was overflowing... This... His expression shifted, turning into pleasant surprise: "Dao resonance?"
The other Sovereigns were shocked as well!
The next moment, a Sovereign began unabashedly kissing up: "The moment Senior arrived, Huoxing Mountain, silent for countless years, suddenly erupted with Dao resonance! This is truly good fortune brought by Senior! It seems even the departed Tianfang Sovereign shows deference to a supreme Sovereign from a Great World..."
Nonsense!
Chiyun cursed inwardly. Would Tianfang Sovereign, a ninth-rank Sovereign, give me face?
Naturally, he said nothing aloud.
A strange gleam appeared in his eyes. What... splendid luck.
He was a fire cultivator himself, and the moment he arrived, Dao resonance erupted. This fortune was truly incredible!
"Come, let us go see!"
Dropping all pleasantries, he surged toward that direction.
He had no intention of bringing these people along... but having just arrived, with everyone coming out to greet him, and Sovereigns rarely witnessing Dao resonance eruptions, he could hardly chase them away when the timing coincided so well.
They might as well come along!
In any case, if genuine Dao resonance appeared, none of these fellows would dare contest him for it!
At this moment, the other Sovereigns were excited, yet felt that even if resonance appeared, it wouldn't be theirs to comprehend. A wave of regret washed over them—had this senior not arrived, all of them being low-rank Sovereigns might have stood a chance. What a shame!
A procession of more than a dozen Sovereigns moved swiftly toward Huoxing Mountain, creating a magnificent spectacle.
Chapter 458