A Born Killer

Huoxing Mountain. Flames rose in all directions, turning the heavens and earth distinct colors. A stupendous, matchless pressure rippled outward, cowing the surrounding world. A Daoist silhouette vaguely materialized in the void, yet it remained exceedingly indistinct. At that moment, resonant notes of the Great Dao seemed to echo faintly through the air, tugging at the heartstrings of all who listened. The voice of the Great Dao! It was as if a supreme expert were preaching the Dao across boundless space. The Dao was genuine. The person, however, was not necessarily real. A year ago, Li Hao had traveled through time right here and learned the Dao arts. Today, he mumbled ambiguously, also expounding upon the Dao of Fire. The Dao was indeed authentic—the principles originating from a seventh-rank expert. Before Chiyun even arrived, he caught a few lines of the resonant voice, and his expression changed dramatically. As a cultivator of the Fire Element, he could tell genuine Dao from false the instant he heard it. He was a sixth-rank cultivator himself, only one rank away from the seventh rank, but that single rank made all the difference in the world. With just a listen, he knew a true high-rank Sovereign—and a fire-affinity Sovereign at that—was preaching the Dao. It was said that the fire cultivator of this place in ancient times was one of the Tianfang Great World's Five Elements Emissaries: Daoist Huoyan, the Fire Emissary. A seventh-rank Sovereign! Chiyun found it unbelievable, bordering on miraculous. How could this be? Had his arrival truly triggered the dormant Dao resonance of this place? Otherwise... how could it be such a coincidence? Such a serendipitous opportunity and sheer fortune filled him with excitement, though tinged with slight trepidation. A seventh-rank cultivator! The Yunxiao World certainly had them, but it possessed no seventh-rank fire cultivators. Moreover, even the high-rank Sovereigns of the Yunxiao World would not dare claim they understood Dao arts better than a high-rank Sovereign from the ancient Tianfang World. At this moment, Chiyun felt his golden opportunity had finally arrived. Perhaps... his chance to step into the seventh rank lay right here in Tianfang. He accelerated, becoming the first to arrive at Huoxing Mountain. Flames flooded heaven and earth around the mountain. In the void, fire coalesced into a humanoid shape—the very Daoist Huoyan whom Li Hao had once seen. It was vivid and lifelike, though a closer inspection would reveal that it lacked a trace of true spirit. Even so, for Chiyun, it was more than enough to deceive his senses. Standing beneath the towering silhouette, he felt thrilled, itching with restless excitement. He heard the voice of the Dao, but it was not entirely clear; in certain crucial places, it mumbled and slurred over the details. Yet he dared not act rashly, fearing he might disrupt this Dao resonance and ruin everything. Just then, Sovereign after Sovereign arrived behind him. Chiyun felt a surge of displeasure. These bastards! He barked in a low voice, "Do not approach the Dao resonance!" If these scoundrels got too close to the phantom and caused Daoist Huoyan's voice of resonance to disperse, killing them all wouldn't begin to compensate for the loss! Even he was exercising extreme caution, yet these fellows came lumbering over carelessly, and some even looked ready to charge directly into the resonance. If Chiyun hadn't reined in his temper, he would have slaughtered them on the spot. Even if they were to investigate the resonance, now was not the time. At the very least, they had to wait until he finished listening to Huoyan's exposition of the Dao of Fire. What a seventh-rank Sovereign said—especially one from an ancient ninth-rank world—would undoubtedly serve as invaluable reference. The Sovereigns around him quickly fell silent, not daring to utter a peep. Though their eyes burned with feverish anticipation, they kept quiet, listening attentively in silence. This Dao resonance differed somewhat from those of the past. Previously, there had never been such a voice of the Great Dao; one had to fathom everything oneself. They had encountered eruptions of Dao resonance before, but those were merely hazy sensations that required stepping inside to perceive in silence, each person gleaning different insights. Today, however, an ancient expert was preaching the Dao directly! This was utterly incredible! Could Huoxing Mountain truly erupt with such a manifestation? It was equivalent to a high-rank Sovereign preaching right before their eyes. An opportunity like this was something low-rank Sovereigns like them might never encounter in an entire lifetime. ... Meanwhile, within the phantom of Daoist Huoyan stood a figure: Li Hao. He stood out in the open before everyone's eyes. Yet at this moment, no one discovered him, and no one dared to act recklessly. The voice of the Great Dao was real, and the preaching of the Dao was also real. The stronger a cultivator was, the more clearly they understood just how genuine, ancient, and practical this seventh-rank Dao was. Under these circumstances, who would dare attack the phantom? No one! Even those who did not cultivate the Dao of Fire wanted to listen. Even if a fellow seventh-rank Sovereign were present, listening to another seventh-rank Sovereign expound upon the Dao would still be a tremendous boon. Therefore, Li Hao, concealed within the phantom, had no fear whatsoever of these people rushing in to strike or discover him the moment they arrived. As long as I hide well, no one will dare discover me, nor can they. Indeed, they didn't dare. Just look at Chiyun's state: if anyone dared intrude or disrupt the phantom now, he would kill them! The phantom of Daoist Huoyan swayed slightly. It seemed to convey: touch me, and I will collapse... In this state, who would dare force their way in or probe inside? Who wasn't afraid that probing might cause the phantom to shatter, driving a sixth-rank Sovereign from a great world into a murderous frenzy? ... Inside the phantom. Li Hao's voice sounded grand and resonant, yet it arrived in fits and starts, leaving listeners with the agonizing feeling that they were missing something crucial. Whenever the exposition reached a pivotal point, the voice seemed to drop to a whisper. Chiyun found it excruciating. It was as though the connection severed whenever it reached the climax—the sensation made him want to smash the phantom to pieces. Cautiously, he shifted his position, edging slightly closer to the phantom. Noticing that the voice sounded a bit clearer, he rejoiced inwardly. Just as he moved to draw even closer, the phantom shuddered as if on the verge of crumbling. Terrified, he halted instantly, minimizing his movements. He crept forward bit by bit, only feeling relieved once he saw the phantom stabilize. He listened while creeping forward, moving with meticulous care—he had never been this attentive even when serving the Lord of Yunxiao. The Lord of Yunxiao was an eighth-rank Sovereign, even stronger than Daoist Huoyan had been in his prime. However... the Lord of Yunxiao was not a fire cultivator. Moreover, the Lord of Yunxiao would not preach the Dao for no reason. Upon reaching their level, Sovereigns rarely expounded on the Dao to others. ... The cultivators down below did not dare draw close. They craned their necks to listen, thoroughly intoxicated and delighted. One person, however, felt a sliver of doubt. Yuchen! He found something odd—not about the Dao resonance itself, as it appeared completely genuine. Something like this could not be faked unless a seventh-rank Sovereign were behind the deception; otherwise, it would never leave Chiyun scratching his ears and cheeks in such an agitated state. What puzzled him was that Sovereign Bai Guang and his companions had been cultivating here earlier. Yet today, when the resonance manifested, they were nowhere to be found. Logically speaking, when Dao resonance appeared, those individuals should have been the first to show up. Or had they sensed Chiyun's aura and fled out of fear? He was somewhat puzzled, but at this moment, no one cared about such trivialities. A sixth-rank Sovereign from a great world was right here. As for those of the second or third rank, even if they hid nearby or harbored hidden motives, what use would it be? None at all! Someone sent a voice transmission: "Now that Dao resonance has appeared, should we notify Sovereign Kongji?" "Idiot, do you have a death wish? Kongji is the Son of Light, while Sovereign Chiyun is from the Yunxiao World!" Someone cursed back via transmission. Normally, even Sovereign Huilong would hesitate over whether to notify Kongji. But with a sixth-rank Sovereign from a rival great world present, who was an adversary of the Bright Divine World... not going over to slaughter Kongji was purely out of reluctance to provoke unnecessary trouble. Yet you want to invite him over to listen to the Dao? If Chiyun found out, he would skin you alive! He might not dare kill the Son of Light, but would he hesitate to execute a lowly low-rank Sovereign like you? "True..." The first person felt somewhat sheepish. He had merely wanted to curry favor with Kongji, given the latter's exalted status. But he quickly recovered his senses: Huilong Temple was backed by the Yunxiao Great World. Notifying Kongji would be consorting with the enemy. Putting the thought aside, he focused on listening to the Dao. Such a rare opportunity! Judging by the state of this voice, it probably wouldn't last long. He needed to absorb as much as possible; even if he didn't understand it now, he could commit it to memory first. Meanwhile, Sovereign Chiyun continued to edge closer. He discovered that as long as his movements were slight, they would not disturb the phantom. Furthermore, each step brought greater clarity. His joy grew by the moment, and not just because the words became clearer. He even sensed... a universe hidden within the phantom, a Great Dao Universe. An incredible sensation! Yet he dared not probe recklessly. He only felt that this place was unfathomably wondrous. As a sixth-rank Sovereign from a great world, he possessed broad horizons and deeply understood the marvels of a Great Dao Universe. That hazy Dao presence was identical to what he felt when meditating on the Dao of Yunxiao! A thought even sprang up in his mind: could it be... that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe is reviving? Reviving right here, right now? Good heavens! Even as a sixth-rank Sovereign, he was ecstatic. If that were the case, reaching the seventh rank would not be difficult. How arduous it was to cross from the sixth rank to the seventh! The vast Yunxiao Great World had existed for countless years. The Lord of Yunxiao had lived for at least a million years and was not necessarily the first generation master; Chiyun had no idea what happened a million years ago. Yet to this day, the Yunxiao Great World possessed only five high-rank Sovereigns. The Lord of Yunxiao was at the eighth rank, while the remaining four at the seventh rank were all bona fide veteran Sovereigns from roughly the same era as the world master, all exceeding a million years of age. In the past million years, Yunxiao had not produced a single new high-rank Sovereign. That showed just how difficult it was to reach the high ranks! Of course, another factor was that the Lord of Yunxiao had not advanced to the ninth rank, so the Yunxiao Great Dao Universe could barely accommodate any more seventh-rank experts. A million years without a new high-rank Sovereign! Today, might he have the opportunity to advance to the high ranks right here? He recalled a legend: anyone who advanced to a high-rank Sovereign in Tianfang had the potential to become the Lord of Tianfang, provided they were not already bound to another Great Dao Universe. Of course, that was merely a legend. Could a Sovereign bound to a Dao universe truly not advance here? If I genuinely discover the Tianfang Dao, severing ties with Yunxiao is not out of the question! In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Chiyun's mind. Although the voice of the Great Dao still resonated in his ears, other schemes began to stir. There were too many Sovereigns here. If a Great Dao Universe truly manifested shortly, though these people were weak, might they join forces to compete with him? What wouldn't Sovereigns dare do for the sake of serendipity? Sixteen Sovereigns! Even if they were all low-rank, he was not a high-rank Sovereign after all. If they truly teamed up against him, it would be troublesome. And if the commotion of battle grew too loud and drew Sovereigns from other domains, it would be even worse. At this moment, murderous intent flared in his heart. All of this was also orchestrated by Li Hao. A faint Great Dao Universe materialized inside the phantom, vaguely outlining a human face: Qian Wuliang! Entangled within the voice of the Great Dao was an exceedingly faint power of bewitchment. Bewitching the human heart! If Chiyun succumbed to the bewitchment, that would be ideal—he would slaughter the other Sovereigns and sustain some injuries in the process, making him much easier to deal with. If he resisted the bewitchment... it didn't matter. Luring him closer step by step was also a golden opportunity for a swift kill in a battle between experts. Li Hao continued to preach the Dao! And Chiyun continued to draw nearer. Seeing this, the Sovereigns behind also crept forward cautiously. Chiyun's expression shifted with suppressed irritation. These bastards deserved to die! Is a seventh-rank Dao meant for the likes of you to hear? Can you even understand it? A complete waste of serendipity! Moreover, the Dao resonance here might diminish because of these freeloaders. Could these scoundrels bear the responsibility? The more he thought about it, the angrier he became! He truly wanted to wipe them all out! ... Meanwhile. The South World Gate. A group of guards remained on watch out of boredom. In the chaos, it was entirely normal for months or even years to pass without a single traveler. Following the departure of Sovereign Huilong and the others, no one had arrived near the South World Gate recently. It was peaceful and quiet! The few guards on duty were cultivating, idly waiting for the next arrival. Their sole mission here was not to bar anyone, but to spot Sovereigns who could be recruited. Just as when Li Hao first arrived, Ju Ao had warmly hosted him in hopes of drawing him into Huilong Temple. At that moment, the teleportation array trembled slightly. The guards glanced back, not paying it much mind. In Tianfang, the teleportation arrays could be used at will as long as one did not intentionally damage them. Those overseeing the array were also sub-Sovereigns; Sovereigns were neither that idle nor that cheap. Guarding gates and managing arrays were not a Sovereign's duty. Any Sovereign, regardless of rank, was treated as a master in Tianfang, and no master would stand guard at a gate. The guards turned to look and recognized a familiar figure. Someone spotted Ju Ao and chuckled. "Ju Ao, what brings you here?" Another guard teased, "Don't tell me you're planning to run away? Ju Ao, beyond this gate lies the chaos. As a non-Sovereign, you'd better stay obediently in Tianfang. Running into the chaos means certain death! By the way, weren't you assigned to attend to those Sovereigns from Fuguang Domain? How do you have the leisure to wander around?" The newcomer was indeed Ju Ao. Ju Ao swept his gaze across the area. There weren't many guards nearby, as they also served as guides; whenever one left, another filled the vacancy. Under normal circumstances, six guards were stationed here. He had stood guard here for many years himself. According to Xinwu terms, all six were at the Heavenly King level, varying in strength. According to Silver Moon terms, they were all at the fourth level of Dao Integration or higher, with the strongest reaching the eighth level. Rarely was there a ninth-level expert, for that was the peak of the Heavenly King Realm, where everyone strove to attain the Sovereign rank. Ju Ao looked at them, then gazed out into the chaos. Li Hao's instruction was that once dark clouds faintly manifested in the chaos, he was to kill the guards and close the World Gate. At present, the dark clouds had not yet appeared. Ju Ao looked at the guards and forced a smile. "I came to take a look. Senior Bai Guang mentioned that some companions of his might be arriving, and he asked me to keep watch here for a few days to guide them over together when they show up." At those words, several guards cursed under their breath. They hadn't encountered a Sovereign in days, and if one arrived, you'd snatch them away? What rotten luck. However, recalling that this batch of Sovereigns was likely troublesome—otherwise Sovereign Yuchen would never have dumped them on Ju Ao—the guards relaxed. Bring more Sovereigns; the sooner you get yourself killed, the better! They were all competitors. Ju Ao's strength was considerable, which was why he had managed to seize the opportunity to receive Li Hao last time. To the guards, such a person was a rival. With one fewer competitor, their chances of receiving visiting Sovereigns would increase. Just then, Ju Ao looked beyond the boundary into the chaos. A dark cloud began to materialize out of thin air. The guards noticed his gaze and looked into the distance in confusion. What was that? The moment Ju Ao saw it, he knew Li Hao had likely made his move. A tremor ran through him. Killing these guards meant officially rebelling against Huilong Temple. Yet... who cared? After provoking that monster, whether Huilong Temple could even continue to exist was an open question. "What is that?" Ju Ao shouted. Those who hadn't paid attention quickly looked into the distance as well. Someone spotted the dark cloud and remarked in surprise, "That's... could that be a chaos lightning tribulation?" In the chaos, there was hardly anything else besides chaos lightning tribulations. Yet... how could it appear here? Of course, rumors had circulated that wherever the King of Silver Moon went, such clouds frequently gathered. But the King of Silver Moon was countless distances away, likely engaged in combat with Sovereign Huilong and the others by now; he certainly wouldn't be here. Then where did this thing come from? The guards were bewildered. "Quick, notify the temple! Report that an anomaly has appeared in the chaos..." Someone reacted, deciding to inform the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple first. Even as he spoke, someone sensed something amiss and looked back. An instant later, his eyes nearly tore from their sockets! A colossal crab loomed before him. Behind him, two guards had already been cleanly snipped in half by those gigantic pincers without making a sound! They had died without a peep! Ju Ao was already infinitely close to the half-step Sovereign level. By Silver Moon terms, he had surpassed the ninth level of Dao Integration, or reached a ninth level that combined the virtual and real daos... virtually indistinguishable from a half-step Sovereign. Meanwhile, the guards here were merely at the Heavenly King level, with the weakest barely having stepped into that realm. "Ju Ao!" A guard cried out in terror. What was Ju Ao doing? Boom! The massive pincers snapped shut again, crushing another Heavenly King into paste! Ju Ao's enormous eyes gleamed with chilling cold. Last time, Li Hao had instructed him to train his pincers and cultivate more chaos dao, telling him not to worry about his Great Dao becoming cluttered in the future. Thus, he had cultivated recklessly, unconcerned with how tangled his dao became; at the very least, his strength had skyrocketed in the short term. As for the future, if he couldn't untangle his dao to become a Sovereign... Li Hao had promised to help him once. That was enough! Overpowering the people before him was no challenge at all. In the blink of an eye, three of the six guards were dead. The remaining three came to their senses, gripped by shock and dread. "Are you crazy?!" "You're betraying Huilong Temple?!" Boom! A massive sonic boom of shattered space resounded as the pincer struck once more, killing the fourth guard. Thrown into panic, the remaining two launched desperate counterattacks, completely forgetting about the dark clouds. Ju Ao had lost his mind and wanted to kill them all! They had to save themselves and report to the Sovereigns so they could execute this traitor! Huilong Temple did not lack Sovereigns—they had plenty. Moreover, even if Ju Ao fled into the chaos, his speed would be sluggish, making it easy for a Sovereign to run him down. He was a dead man. A guard roared, "Killing us is seeking your own death! Even if you flee into the chaos, how far can a non-Sovereign like you possibly run?" Ju Ao turned a deaf ear. Flee? Why would I flee? The massive pincers erupted with dazzling, chaotic dao power, wildly tangled. The guard was shocked—this fellow was utterly insane, not caring about his Dao in the slightest. What kind of chaotic mess had he cultivated? Powerful as it was, it was thoroughly disordered; this guy would never become a Sovereign in his lifetime! Yet the reality was that he had no time to think further. The crab was strong enough right now, and that was all that mattered. Boom! Another deafening explosion echoed, blood splattering in all directions as the fifth Heavenly King was swiftly dispatched. Seeing this, the final guard's face drained of color, and he bolted frantically into the chaos. The chaos was boundless. For a non-Sovereign, entering it was perilous. One could easily become lost. Weaker cultivators plunging into the chaos might instantly be engulfed in darkness, unable to see the path ahead. This was why many non-Sovereigns dared not enter the chaos on their own. The Heavenly King plunged into the chaos. But the next moment, in Ju Ao's eyes, the man froze, suspended motionless as if trapped in dead silence. Ju Ao's heart clenched. They all knew the chaos was dangerous, but seeing Sovereigns traverse it effortlessly had dulled their sense of dread, though the Sovereigns repeatedly warned non-Sovereigns never to venture out rashly. None dared disobey. Yet today, witnessing a Heavenly King plunge into the chaos only to become completely disoriented, stripped of direction and vitality in an instant, still sent chills down his spine. Ju Ao did not dare enter the chaos. Instead, he struck across the boundary. The powerful blow seemed somewhat diminished upon entering the chaos. Yet the motionless guard was still shattered by the strike. In an instant, his flesh and blood were dissolved by the chaos, as though the chaos were purifying its environment, rapidly absorbing the disordered matter. It transformed into a wisp of chaotic power, nourishing the vast chaos. Ju Ao's heart leaped once more. Daring not linger, he turned and sprinted toward a specific location. Having stood guard here for years, he knew where the core mechanisms lay. The World Gate could be closed... though closing it would only keep out the weak. If a true powerhouse wished to enter, closing it would achieve nothing. He entered a chamber and rapidly activated several mechanisms. Soon, the colossal gate, which resembled a heavenly portal, began to creak shut. Outside the gate, dense dark clouds gathered in abundance. The dark clouds converged rapidly. Ju Ao dared not linger. Just looking at those clouds made his heart palpitate. Every time the King of Silver Moon made a move, this phenomenon seemed to appear... It was truly incomprehensible and terrifying. Ordinary people never saw a chaos lightning tribulation in their entire lives, yet around Li Hao, it was practically routine, showing up every few days. Ju Ao departed swiftly. According to Li Hao's instructions, he needed to return to Huilong Temple. If Li Hao failed to survive the tribulation, he would have to call upon Sovereign Kongji. As for how to judge whether Li Hao failed, Li Hao had mentioned that if the commotion became so massive that even Huilong Temple could sense it, it meant he was fleeing toward the temple. Calling for help then would be the right move. ... At the same time. Huoxing Mountain. Sovereign Chiyun grew increasingly delighted. He seemed to perceive a subtle shift, and not just him—the other Sovereigns also wore peculiar expressions. An authentic pressure belonging to a seventh-rank Sovereign seemed to manifest in the void! In truth, Li Hao was communicating with the River of Time. He was drawing upon the past power of the Fire Emissary. Because the summoned power belonged to the Fire Emissary himself, in the eyes of onlookers, it appeared as an intensification of the Dao resonance. It felt even more genuine and vivid than before! Previously, everything except the voice of the Great Dao had been illusory. But now, even the power and pressure were real. ... Deep within the core of Daoist Huoyan's phantom. Li Hao summoned the power of the past. The Time Star manifested once more, bridging past, present, and future. Li Hao's appearance began to age visibly. Last time, borrowing sixth-rank power had pushed him to his limits, but he had been at the first rank then, whereas now he was at the third-rank pinnacle. The strain was roughly comparable to before. A vast, surging power of fire manifested within the long river, and a Daoist silhouette faintly took shape. The Daoist seemed to recognize Li Hao. Perhaps because this was their second meeting, or perhaps because a familiar Dao resonance hovered around Li Hao, the Daoist merely watched him in silence without speaking, yet he radiated boundless pressure. Formidably powerful! This was the first time Li Hao had ever made genuine contact with the power of a seventh-rank Sovereign—the authentic might of a high-rank Sovereign, even if exceedingly ethereal. This was the power of Time! Only by mastering the power of Time could one have such an opportunity. Otherwise, with Li Hao's current cultivation, he would never have the chance to witness the might of a seventh-rank Sovereign. Unless it came from Xinwu's side, encountering such power elsewhere would not necessarily be a good thing. Li Hao's voice echoed through the depths of the river like the Great Dao itself: "A junior of the later generation, Li Hao of Silver Moon, previously borrowed Senior's Dao insights once. Today, I wish to borrow Senior's past power!" Last time, it was this very figure who had warned Li Hao: whatever you borrow today, you may have to repay tenfold or a hundredfold in the future. The phantom seemed to remember those words. Its somewhat hazy gaze turned toward Li Hao, filled with a trace of pity. Borrowing past and future power time and again, borrowing strength that did not belong to him, exceeding his own capacity... At this moment, the phantom even wondered whether he would ever see this cultivator of Time again in the future. Was Li Hao truly the only one cultivating the Dao of Time? Across past, present, and future, had there never been a second cultivator of Time? Then why... had no one ever seen one? Perhaps they had all been like Li Hao, cultivating Time and exhausting their vitality time and again. Perhaps other Time cultivators were not even as fortunate as Li Hao, having failed to master Life and Death, and had died upon borrowing power beyond their limits the very first time. Li Hao had already died three times. Three deaths and three rebirths! Counting the time he was struck dead by lightning—when Silver Moon had not yet unsealed, so using Time did not draw a chaos lightning tribulation—he had technically died four times. Other cultivators of Time, lacking comprehension of Life and Death, would have perished on their first attempt. How could they have so many chances to experiment with borrowing power again and again? Daoist Huoyan, who had surely been formidable even among the seventh rank, sent a voice echoing from the unseen: "If my memory serves me right, you already owe me a favor... A single favor you might not even be able to repay. A second... I hold little hope." "Wielding the Dao of Time without restraint, repeatedly exceeding your own limits... Cultivator of Time, I do not see a bright future for you." Li Hao's brow furrowed slightly, but he remained silent. Perhaps his past smooth progress had led him to believe that every expert favored a cultivator of Time. Yet today, upon their second meeting, Daoist Huoyan told him bluntly that he saw no future for him. Li Hao stayed quiet, sinking into silence. Perhaps... he was right. Borrowing power far beyond his limits again and again, even daring to borrow seventh-rank power with a third-rank foundation... what tremendous price would he pay in the future? Could he safely survive the tribulation this time? If not, he might face his fourth death. Even if one could experience nine deaths and nine rebirths... undergoing such cycles of life and death would ultimately ruin the Dao of Life and Death itself. Huoyan was entirely correct. Li Hao did not believe the other party was mistaken, yet his voice of the Great Dao rang out nonetheless: "Senior's past power has arrived after all. Withdrawing now would be a waste, so why not gamble once? Since Senior was willing to come, willing to accept the summons... then gamble that I will still be alive when I meet you in person!" Since you've already come! If he truly had no intention of lending power, he wouldn't have appeared. Appearing meant that in that era, at that specific node in time, this expert had transmitted his power across. "True enough... Every cultivator is a gambler!" Daoist Huoyan seemed to chuckle. Indeed, since he had come, claiming he saw no future for Li Hao was merely talk. If he were truly unwilling, why bother coming? Wasn't it all just to take a gamble? Gambling that this cultivator of Time had a future. If he won the bet, it would be pure profit. If he lost, his future self would still be alive. At worst, he would suffer some injuries back then; he wouldn't die, would he? At that moment, a formidable power of the Fire Element merged into Li Hao's body. At the final instant, Daoist Huoyan's voice echoed in Li Hao's mind: "I do not cultivate Karma, so I do not know how much karmic burden you bear. But I know that even Life and Death cannot evade Karma... You seem to have cultivated Life and Death, but it is useless! If you continue like this, you will eventually face an unprecedented catastrophe and never be able to borrow a shred of power again. Your karmic burden is too immense. True experts will sense it and refuse to lend you strength!" It was not that Li Hao couldn't borrow, but that the next time he sought an expert's power, if that expert sensed something and discovered how much he shouldered, they might not be willing to take the gamble. There would be no point! An expert might conclude that Li Hao was doomed to die with no future at all. If so, why lend him power? Li Hao's heart jolted! Unable to borrow power anymore? Even Daoist Huoyan had shown reluctance this time. Next time... it truly might be difficult. Yet he still wanted to borrow power once more to kill Huilong and the others. Perhaps he could only turn to the one at Coiling Dragon Well. Because that person had already invested! Having invested once, taking a total loss would be too painful. They would have to grit their teeth and invest a second time... That Dragon race Daoist at Coiling Dragon Well might be willing to lend him power again. The thought flashed past in an instant. Li Hao had no time to ponder further! At this moment, he felt as though his physical body were on the verge of exploding. His third-rank pinnacle physique felt practically incinerated to ashes. A vast, terrifying power far beyond his imagination was surging within him. ... Simultaneously. The entire Tianfang World trembled faintly. Countless stars seemed to emerge across the firmament. At this moment, countless people looked up at the sky. Even Sovereign Chiyun froze, gazing skyward with shock and disbelief. Behind him, the Sovereigns forgot all about the surging fire power. Each looked up in utter astonishment. A universe seemed to manifest in the void. Myriads of stars twinkled, though they appeared immensely distant. Among them, a fire-affinity star blazed with intense crimson light. Beside it, a slightly smaller water-affinity star also gleamed. That was the water power Li Hao had stimulated previously. ... Dark Demon Ridge. The Dao Chessboard hovered in the air, with a figure currently meditating upon the Dao within it. Observing nearby, the artifact spirit suddenly looked up as if seeing through the fabric of space. It muttered, "Courting death!" Truly courting death! Had that kid used Time to borrow power again? And he borrowed Huoyan's power! A seventh-rank Sovereign! Even a cultivator of the Dao of Time shouldn't act so recklessly. Continuing like this would get him killed sooner or later. That kid looked refined and gentle, but he was completely unhinged. Next time, would he come running to borrow the eighth-rank power of the Dark Envoy from him? If so... there would be no need to borrow; the kid would be dead on arrival. An eighth-rank chaos lightning tribulation was not something he could survive. "Borrowing power, external power, strengthening oneself, becoming a top-tier expert in an instant... is that desire so impossible to restrain?" The phantom mused inwardly. Perhaps Li Hao had become addicted? Such an abrupt explosion of power could easily cause someone to lose themselves, believing they were omnipotent. This was exceedingly common—much like those superpower cultivators in Silver Moon, whose sudden surges in energy made them lose their heads. Believing they were invincible under heaven! The phantom sighed, feeling both wistful and regretful. If this person could not restrain the desires in his heart, he would perish beneath them sooner or later. What a pity! Cultivators of the Dao of Time were exceedingly rare. Unfortunately, because of their unique abilities, borrowing power was often the beginning of their early demise. The chaos universe had never seen a true Lord of the Dao of Time. Were other experts ignorant of the Dao of Time? No. Even if someone managed to cultivate Time through serendipity, they would end up just like Li Hao, repeatedly exceeding their own capacity until they died by their own hands. Shaking its head, the phantom said no more. It merely watched Kongji in silence. The person before it was quite remarkable as well. Though only a fifth-rank Sovereign, he had traversed three thousand squares in a short time and continued onward with relative ease. Last time, a fifth-rank Sovereign had nearly lost his life trying to cross a thousand squares. Compared to Kongji, that predecessor was sheer garbage. The Time cultivator's eye for talent was decent; the person he recommended wasn't bad. Perhaps because the artifact spirit had been asleep last time, it hadn't noticed Kongji; otherwise, Kongji should have qualified to enter the second trial and walk the Dao Chessboard back then. The phantom paid no further attention to what was happening elsewhere. How Li Hao chose to act was none of its business. People like him rarely listened to others' advice anyway; whether he woke up to reality depended entirely on his own choices. Who among those capable of cultivating Time was not a peerless genius? Yet in the end, the chaos universe still lacked a Lord of the Dao of Time! ... At Huoxing Mountain. Li Hao felt his power swelling to the absolute limit. At this moment, he felt omnipotent, invincible under heaven. That surging might made him feel that even if the Xinwu Human King were here, he could slay him... though that was likely an illusion. Borrowing power... power appearing out of nowhere left him somewhat dazed. Too strong! Violent impulses even surged from the depths of his mind. The Fire Element was inherently tempestuous. He was even being influenced by the past fire power. A wave of savagery suddenly welled up within him. I am mighty. I am omnipotent. I can kill whoever I please. I could even borrow the power of the Lord of Tianfang—ninth-rank power—to slaughter all my enemies! A voice seemed to ring in his ear. "Marquis!" It was Qian Wuliang's urgent shout. Li Hao had borrowed the power but stood motionless, the fire power around him wildly turbulent, threatening to explode. Qian Wuliang had no choice but to take the risk of calling out to him. Infused with the Dao power that swayed human hearts, his voice trembled with anxiety. When Li Hao opened his eyes and looked over, Qian Wuliang instantly sensed savagery, madness, and slaughter. Terror seized his heart! Li Hao was never like this. If there had been an exception, it was when he killed Ying Hongyue—he had been exceedingly brutal then. But normally, no matter how dangerous or arduous the situation, Li Hao never displayed such ferocity. Of course, there was one other time: when he failed to resurrect someone, he had been equally savage. This was the third time Qian Wuliang had seen Li Hao in such a state. Once when slaying Ying Hongyue, once upon failing to revive someone, and today, for no apparent reason, a third time! His mind trembled violently! Had something gone wrong with Li Hao? "Marquis! Professor Yuan is still roaming the Tianfang World! Governor Lin is taking risks to make contact with Xinwu! The Silver Moon World is inside Senior Second Cat's belly, wandering near Tianfang..." Frightened out of his wits, Qian Wuliang hurriedly sent voice transmissions, completely disregarding the experts outside. Li Hao could not lose control! He understood the human heart, so he took the risk to constantly remind Li Hao of his tethers. The savagery in Li Hao's eyes gradually receded. He looked at Qian Wuliang without uttering a word. At this moment, Li Hao truly sensed danger for the first time—the danger of losing control! I almost lost control under the influence of seventh-rank power. Borrowing sixth-rank water power last time hadn't been so pronounced, as the Water Element was inherently milder. But this time, it was unmistakably glaring. "If I borrow eighth-rank power... setting aside whether I can physically endure it, I will definitely lose control!" The thought surfaced instantly. Moreover, he could no longer borrow seventh-rank power rashly, or unpredictable consequences would surely follow. Time... Li Hao reflected inwardly. Time was not only a weapon against enemies; it was also a tremendous challenge to oneself. That sense of omnipotent control made it far too easy to lose one's way! Meanwhile, he sensed Daoist Chiyun's shock and hesitation outside. Li Hao looked up and saw it too. A seemingly ethereal Great Dao Universe! Tianfang's Great Dao Universe had been stimulated once more. According to the Dao Chess artifact spirit, Tianfang's Dao universe had always been present; it had merely fallen dormant because its energy had been drained, leaving no source-aligned Dao power to replenish it. Today, borrowing past fire power had stimulated Tianfang's Dao universe once again. Li Hao even saw two stars shining with extraordinary brilliance among the myriads of celestial bodies. A water star and a fire star. He looked away; Tianfang's universe would not revive so easily. The power was insufficient, and the energy fell far short. In an instant, a sword of fire materialized in his hand. The next moment, he thrust it outward, unleashing boundless fire power. Outside the phantom, Chiyun, who was still staring at the sky, started in shock. He whipped his head down toward the phantom and caught sight of a fire sword emerging from within, terrifying him to the core. A high-rank Sovereign? Daoist Huoyan? How could that be! The man could not possibly be in Tianfang. What was happening? It was merely an emergence of Dao resonance—why would a seventh-rank lethal strike appear?! With no time to think, Chiyun erupted with formidable fire power of his own. It differed slightly from Li Hao's, appearing more ethereal and bearing the hallmarks of the Yunxiao Universe. Two vast torrents of fire collided and detonated in an instant! Boom! The entire Huoxing Mountain erupted. Countless waves of fire surged outward, instantly blasting the low-rank Sovereigns behind them. Rumble! Wretched screams tore through the air as several low-rank Sovereigns were obliterated outright by the shockwave of the collision. How could they withstand the clash between seventh-rank and sixth-rank power? Among the sixteen Sovereigns, several perished instantly due to a total lack of preparation. Sovereign Chiyun was also pale with fright. Flames enveloped his body; as a fire cultivator, he had actually been burned by fire power! The flames spread, scorching his arms black. "Huoyan?!" Overwhelmed with shock, his immediate instinct was to flee. He was no match for the seventh rank. Even as a Sovereign of a great world, it was futile—Huoyan's power originated from a ninth-rank great world, far superior to his own. Just then, a ring of fire power expanded. A "Fire" divine character materialized, transforming into a domain that enveloped the entirety of Huoxing Mountain. A Great Dao Universe descended, covering all the low-rank Sovereigns. Chiyun froze and looked up. There was a Great Dao Universe in the sky, yet another was present here... Two Great Dao Universes? How was that possible! Tianfang could not possibly have two Great Dao Universes. A Great Dao Universe was exclusive to great worlds... In a flash, he recalled a scene he had witnessed earlier, and sheer terror gripped him. "You're the King of Silver Moon?!" He wasn't Huoyan; he was the King of Silver Moon! He was actually here! He had somehow become a seventh-rank Sovereign! That was impossible—how could this be? Borrowing power? How could one borrow power from a person of the past, and a seventh-rank expert at that... As a sixth-rank Sovereign, understanding dawned upon him, and his face drained of all color once more: "The past... the power of Time! Chaos lightning tribulation... you're a cultivator of Time!" At this moment, he understood. Yet it was already too late. Terrifying fire power swept across all directions. The immense might shook the low-rank Sovereigns enveloped by the Great Dao Universe, sending them falling one after another. Among them, a Sovereign on the brink of death looked toward Li Hao and screamed in agony, "You're... Haoyue... and Bai Guang?!" It was Sovereign Yuchen! Being merely at the first rank, he was crumbling rapidly, filled with chagrin and despair. He hadn't recognized him. He was Sovereign Haoyue! He was also the King of Silver Moon, and the Sovereign Bai Guang he had met earlier! Damn it, this liar, this lunatic had actually doubled back. And he was wiping out every Sovereign of Huilong Temple! "You guessed right!" Li Hao's expression remained calm, masking the savagery in his eyes. Seventh-rank power was simply too overwhelming—so potent that these low-rank Sovereigns seemed fit for slaughter at a whim. And in truth, they were. He swung his fire sword toward the low-rank Sovereigns. Several third-rank Sovereigns erupted with all their might, yet a single sweep of his blade cut them down. The flames incinerated them to ash, their energy merging into his Great Dao Universe. The next instant, Li Hao charged after the fleeing Chiyun! Boom! Two intense torrents of fire detonated in rapid succession. In his panic, Sovereign Chiyun bellowed in fury, "You lunatic! Borrowing the past power of Daoist Huoyan will inevitably summon a seventh-rank chaos lightning tribulation! Fighting me now wastes too much energy. Your power is illusory and will dissipate rapidly! You won't survive the tribulation—you are doomed as well!" His judgment was sharp. Combined with having witnessed Li Hao undergo tribulation before, he deduced the outcome in an instant. Even if Chiyun died, Li Hao would waste too much power fighting him, leaving nothing left to face the tribulation. Li Hao said nothing. I borrowed this power precisely to kill you all. Now that I have it, why would I care about the tribulation? The fire sword blanketed heaven and earth. The entire world turned to flame. Streaks of flame seemed to take human form, brimming with sentience. At this moment, Li Hao had a realization: seventh-rank power seemed almost alive, endowing even raw energy with a semblance of life. Creation of life! Li Hao gained a flash of insight. Seventh-rank Sovereigns likely possessed the ability to create life. That was truly terrifying! Chiyun fled desperately, but he was hemmed in by endless fire power. The immense force suppressed and continually burned him. Roaring frantically, a phantom of a universe manifested above his head, and the power of a Great Dao faintly descended. The Dao of Yunxiao! The Dao trembled as he roared, "You madman! If you kill me, the World Master will know instantly! Hiding here won't save you. No matter how many tricks you have, you cannot escape the pursuit of an eighth-rank Sovereign! You have already offended two eighth-rank Sovereigns!" Last time, the Lord of Red Moon had set out to hunt him. This madman actually dared provoke two eighth-rank Sovereigns! Li Hao remained silent. A fire dragon manifested in his hand, roaring as though it had come alive, savage to the extreme. With a shrill cry, the heavens changed color and fire power erupted. Space shattered! The indestructible ninth-rank great world showed fractures in its space. With a deafening boom, Chiyun was blasted backward, blood and flesh spraying outward. Chiyun continued his desperate flight. At that moment, Li Hao manifested fire dragons one after another. The next instant, these fire dragons morphed into tigers—the tiger of the mind, the tiger of fire. The tiger of force that Li Hao had long integrated into his divine characters actually materialized at this moment. It seemed to step out from Li Hao's heart, brimming with boundless excitement and frenzy. Suddenly, it unleashed a roar that shook the mountain forests! The entire Tianfang World seemed to tremble at that ferocious roar. "Roar!" The giant tiger's roar resounded across heaven and earth. Boom! A claw came crashing down, sending flames churning. Chiyun was smashed through space like a battered rag doll. Within the Great Dao Universe, the surviving low-rank Sovereigns were also swept through by this fierce tiger, their bodies shattering to pieces. That tiger seemed to be the demon in Li Hao's heart. The tiger in a cage! Stepping out of Silver Moon, he seemed to have fallen into yet another cage. At this moment, having borrowed seventh-rank power, he felt no joy whatsoever; he felt as though he had lost himself. If the cage in his heart were broken, this tiger... should have vanished. Yet the tiger remained. As if imprisoned once more! This meant his cage was still there! "But... I didn't want this either!" Li Hao looked at Chiyun, speaking as if to him, yet also to himself. He let out a self-deprecating smile. If I don't borrow power... what else can I do? I wanted to discuss the Dao in peace, but who gave me the chance? I... am imprisoned again. I have always been a prisoner! I cannot borrow the backing of powerful elders, so I... can only overdraw my own future. At least I still have a future to overdraw, don't I? I have never truly walked out of the cage! The day I killed Li Daoheng, I thought I had broken free, but... I hadn't. "Kill!" The tiger roared across the mountains, frenzied to the extreme, its cries echoing throughout Tianfang! I wished to break out of the cage, and I broke through the Star Gate and emerged, yet the chaos is merely a grander cage. Who is willing to give me a chance? Li Hao smiled a bleak smile. Do you think I enjoy being struck by lightning all the time? Do you think I enjoy constantly owing favors? I have no choice. Boom! The gigantic tiger turned utterly savage and frenzied. With a single swipe of its claws, it tore through the sixth-rank Sovereign, severing his Great Dao. Heaven and earth trembled violently as a sixth-rank Sovereign of a great world was completely ripped apart! The firmament seemed to shudder. A great world across endless distances seemed to tremble as well, as if a rain of blood were descending. It was the omen of a top-tier Sovereign's fall! ... At that very instant. Within a great world resembling an immortal paradise. A remarkably youthful cultivator suddenly looked toward the sky, a Great Dao Universe reflected in his eyes. Moments later, he spoke impassively: "Summon Sovereign Wushan to Tianfang. Tell him Chiyun has been killed!" The Great Dao shook incessantly. Outside, people trembled with dread. Chiyun of the sixth rank had been killed! Who could be so brazen? This was an overt provocation against an eighth-rank great world! Was war about to break out? Soon, an immensely powerful presence surged out of the world in fury, vanishing in a flash as it streaked directly toward Tianfang. A seventh-rank Sovereign had mobilized! Meanwhile, the youthful cultivator stared into the Great Dao Universe, gazing at the severed Dao and shattered stars, muttering, "Seventh-rank fire power..." How could there be a seventh-rank cultivator in Tianfang daring enough to kill Chiyun?! Which seventh-rank Sovereign dared rashly murder someone from my Yunxiao World? That lunatic, the Xinwu Human King, was not a fire cultivator. Who did this? Is the chaos truly descending into turmoil? Perhaps Yunxiao truly needs to prepare for war! ... Boom! At this moment, the entirety of Huoxing Mountain shattered completely. The site of Dao resonance that had survived for countless years was thoroughly destroyed. Li Hao's face was somewhat pale. He looked around, in no rush to meet the chaos lightning tribulation. Instead, he sensed the power coursing within him, then glanced at the pale-faced Qian Wuliang beside him and suddenly asked, "If I don't kill people and simply seclude myself from the world, would that work?" Qian Wuliang's heart pounded violently. At this moment, Li Hao seemed slightly unhinged. He quickly replied, "Marquis, this is simply the way of the world. Silver Moon originates from Xinwu... We have no choice but to take on Xinwu's enemies!" Li Hao nodded slightly. That makes sense! It's not that I'm in the wrong, nor that I go looking for trouble... The Xinwu Human King and his people have too many enemies, and I'm left holding the bag. There's simply no helping it. That born killer, the Xinwu Human King... is truly a troublemaker!