Sacrifice to Gain

Tianfang. Near the World Gate. Li Hao stood motionless. Beside him remained only Qian Wuliang and the Black Panther; Er Mao had returned to the River of Life and Death to resume its long slumber. Li Hao remained standing there. Qian Wuliang was somewhat perplexed. What was the Marquis pondering now? Hadn't they said it was time to leave? Why linger here? He had also heard Kongji mention that if they didn't leave soon, a seventh-rank Sovereign from the Yunxiao World might arrive. In that case, the obvious move was to flee as quickly as possible. The entire purpose of coming to Tianfang had been to attract the attention of the great worlds and draw out the Great Dao Universe—and if there were none, to forge a fake one. Now that Tianfang's own Great Dao Universe had emerged, even though it hadn't revived, their objective was practically achieved. With this, the Yunxiao Great World's focus was drawn here, and Sovereign Huilong and the others would likely turn back as well. Their goal was virtually accomplished. Of course, the situation on Red Moon's side remained uncertain. It was unknown whether they would insist on dealing with Xinwu. And this was precisely what Li Hao was considering. Kongji was right in most respects, but mistaken on one point: Tianfang's Great Dao Universe had merely appeared without showing signs of true revival. Because of that, even with Red Moon's numerous Sovereigns, a powerhouse like the Lord of Red Moon might not divert his attention to Tianfang at this moment. "Kongji still thought of it too simply." Hearing Li Hao murmur to himself, Qian Wuliang said nothing. Li Hao said softly, "Given the current state of Tianfang, Red Moon won't leave Xinwu unchecked to invest its energy here. The commotion from Tianfang's revival is far too small!" Qian Wuliang felt a flicker of unease. Li Hao stood in place, pondering for a moment, and added, "Who would believe that the Great Dao Universe of a ninth-rank great world is on the verge of reviving with such faint stirrings? Even if they see it, everyone will assume it might still take ages to awaken!" Qian Wuliang nodded slightly. That was indeed true. "To draw Red Moon away from Xinwu and fix their eyes on this place... we must make even the Lord of Red Moon believe that a ninth-rank opportunity lies right here!" Qian Wuliang's brows knit slightly. "Marquis, that's far too difficult. Tianfang's Great Dao Universe is truly extinguished. To generate a massive commotion... earlier, even seventh-rank power only barely drew the universe into view, and now it has vanished again." It had vanished right along with Silver Moon. Where was there any grand commotion or immense opportunity left to speak of? Catching the eye of an eighth-rank Sovereign was simply too difficult. Yunxiao would likely disregard the Sword Venerable's side for the time being, because they had lost a sixth-rank Sovereign right here. Not only that, Yunxiao had laid plans in the Tianfang Great World for a very long time; Tianfang was what they valued far more. Thus, the Yunxiao World would abandon the hunt for the Sword Venerable. But for the Red Moon World, unless a genuine ninth-rank opportunity could emerge here, the Lord of Red Moon would hardly give up hunting down Xinwu's powerhouses. Li Hao turned his gaze toward the Tianfang Great World. After a long while, he smiled. "Qian Wuliang, what do you say to kicking up a bit more noise before we go?" Kick up what noise? Qian Wuliang felt uneasy. Borrowing power to kill someone again? Please, no! That was far too dangerous! That kind of trick couldn't be used recklessly over and over. Yet Li Hao spoke up: "I just poured a great deal of energy—seventh-rank energy—into an eighth- or even ninth-rank Imperial Armament..." Qian Wuliang vaguely grasped Li Hao's meaning and cast him a look. Li Hao weighed it over and over, finally deciding that since he was already here, this had to be done. Although it might already draw Red Moon's notice right now, it wasn't enough. It wasn't a sure thing! The commotion had to be much larger. Evaluating the situation, Li Hao spoke again: "You project your Great Dao Universe on the outside to temporarily blanket a region of Tianfang. I will summon an Imperial Armament to manifest the supreme majesty of a peak Sovereign and the pressure of the Great Dao, conjuring phantoms of the myriad Daos..." With that, corpses of Sovereigns emerged one after another. Aside from the corpse of Sovereign Chiyun, all the Huilong Temple Sovereigns they had slain were here. Li Hao looked at them, sensing that even this many might not be enough. Kongji had told him to leave, but Li Hao hadn't come here and borrowed power just to kill a sixth-rank Sovereign. That alone held no real meaning. "The Great Dao revives... how could it have no effect at all? What if we dissipate the energy and Great Dao power of all sixteen Sovereigns into the Tianfang World, letting everyone perceive the surge in Great Dao power?" Qian Wuliang looked deeply pained. "Marquis, is it worth it?" He understood. Li Hao intended to pay a staggering price to fabricate the illusion of a genuine Great Dao revival. Sixteen Sovereigns! Wouldn't it be better to let me absorb them? The Great Dao Universe needs them too. Li Hao's intent was unmistakable: he wanted to dissipate all the energy and Great Dao power of these sixteen Sovereigns into Tianfang. When that happened, who would dare believe the Great Dao Universe wasn't reviving? Even if it hadn't fully revived, a portion of it must have unlocked. The power of sixteen Sovereigns! Li Hao added, "Do you think... people will believe it then?" Qian Wuliang nodded, aching with regret. Of course they would. Because no normal person would ever do something so insane. Yet Li Hao spoke again: "Let's take it a step further... The Great Dao power of these Sovereigns isn't pure; it's mingled with chaotic power. Qian Wuliang, absorb it first to purify it, then release it outward. Afterward... manifest the Silver Moon Dao, making people feel as though they're immersed in the Great Dao Universe, comprehending true Dao. How about that?" "..." Qian Wuliang swallowed hard and said cautiously, "Marquis, Tianfang still has many Sovereigns, including middle-rank Sovereigns!" He only hoped this man wouldn't be so utterly mad. If they pulled this off and some Sovereign sensed something and charged over, how could a second-rank Sovereign like him withstand it? Not only would they be exposed, but their Great Dao Universe might even be snatched away. Moreover, letting other Sovereigns perceive one's own Dao was an inherently perilous affair. Li Hao nodded. "I know. But this time, the primary disturbance will still be in the Huilong Domain. Right now, there are no Sovereigns in the Huilong Domain—which is also your chance. Blanket mainly the Huilong Domain and a few neighboring domains. We can take in some Sovereigns. Low-rank Sovereigns won't notice anything amiss. If any middle-rank Sovereigns appear, we'll play it by ear—and kill them if necessary!" "It just so happens that can create an even bigger stir!" Li Hao was still unwilling to depart just like this. Otherwise, he truly would have borrowed that seventh-rank power in vain. Furthermore, he intended to use Dao Chess to generate a truly monumental commotion. As for losing his chance to use Dao Chess after this single use... that was no issue at all. Hadn't Kongji said it? He would challenge the first trial to earn an authentic opportunity to comprehend Dao Chess. Passing the first trial granted access to the second trial, and advancing a thousand squares allowed one to make a request. When Li Hao invoked Dao Chess, Kongji was still over there and would inevitably sense it. When the time came, honoring the chance Li Hao had secured for him earlier, Kongji could simply push another thousand squares forward and secure an opportunity for him. As for whether Kongji would understand and act accordingly, Li Hao felt there was no need to spell it out. They helped one another; in the future, they would have chances to discuss the Dao again. It wasn't a major problem. Of course, just in case, Li Hao would still leave a reminder. Kongji was in seclusion meditating right now, so he wouldn't disturb him directly. However, Ju Ao remained behind; he could simply have him mention it to Kongji later. If that failed, that fifth-rank Sovereign from the Bright Light Divine Realm was still around, and he could pass the message just as well. Summoning Dao Chess here wouldn't consume too much energy. In fact, it wouldn't need to consume any at all. However, to make Dao Chess project a formidable imperial majesty, the crucial element lay in drawing the Dao rhythm power of an eighth-rank universe beyond the chaos. Li Hao could simply walk away without squandering so many benefits. Yet leaving like that would hardly draw Red Moon's attention. Then the purpose of coming to Tianfang would remain unfulfilled. Kongji was thinking about ensuring Li Hao didn't suffer a loss, whereas Li Hao had to think about bringing Tianji and King Huai back safely, along with ensuring Lin Hongyu and the others returned unhurt. Otherwise, they would be waiting over there indefinitely, unable to communicate easily. Once Red Moon fixed its gaze on that region long-term, their predicament would be dire. With various thoughts flashing through his mind, Li Hao made his decision once again. Suffering a bit of loss this time was nothing. As for Xinwu's Yin-Yang comprehension, it wasn't as vital as before; even if he couldn't obtain it, it didn't matter. Had he known earlier, he wouldn't have dispatched Martial Uncle Hong and the others to retrieve them. Back then, Li Hao had insisted on advancing through Yin-Yang, but now he had thought it through—Yin-Yang wasn't so indispensable. Everyone's safety came first. Silver Moon was hidden away by him, but as for the others... those below the Sovereign realm could blend in anywhere, while Sovereigns drew scrutiny from every side. He couldn't simply leave those few stranded in the chaos. Otherwise, Red Moon would discover them sooner or later. Li Hao had to bring them back. How to arrange things and advance later would be an affair for another day. "There won't be much danger this time. Qian Wuliang, just be careful, and you'll be fine!" Li Hao smiled. "It's only aimed at the weak. As long as the spectacle is grand enough, you don't need to worry about the rest." Qian Wuliang sighed helplessly. Easy for you to say! The point was that plenty of Sovereigns still lingered here; if several middle-rank Sovereigns showed up, it would be a huge headache. I'm only a second-rank Sovereign, alright?! Of course, he hadn't taken much risk this time around. Li Hao had brought him along precisely for perilous tasks. When they were about to leave earlier without doing anything, he had actually felt uneasy. Now, hearing this... he felt it was only natural. Without doing some dangerous work, he wouldn't even feel at peace. With Li Hao around, someone who had slain a sixth-rank Sovereign, he felt reasonably secure. He nodded. "Understood! However, Marquis, the Silver Moon Universe is only a second-rank universe after all. It's too far removed from the ninth rank. Even paired with the powerful Imperial Armament you mentioned, it might not fully convince people that this is a reviving ninth-rank universe... Furthermore, their core Daos differ." Since they were doing it, they had to make it as flawless as possible. Everyone had to be thoroughly convinced. That included those middle-rank Sovereigns, so that every last person would believe Tianfang's Great Dao Universe was about to awaken completely. There was another factor: the core of Tianfang's Great Dao Universe was Space. Even if it displayed the power of myriad Daos, true experts would still be able to detect the crucial spatial layer. "Space lies in the domain!" A domain was also a form of space. Li Hao pondered briefly. "Creating spatial chaos and a true sense of space is difficult, but not hopeless!" He suddenly chuckled, glancing at Qian Wuliang. "How about we play something thrilling this time? What if I comb through and weave your Dao River? Earlier, I comprehended weaving methods for thousands of Daos—over two thousand of them. Of course, it's not yet complete, but with a bit of weaving, combined with domain power, I can create an unstable Dao space to envelop Tianfang. It will generate a chaotic spatial turbulence, upending Tianfang, shifting its cities, and shattering the barriers between minor domains... That way, an authentic sense of spatial disorder will manifest!" Qian Wuliang's heart pounded in terror; he had a feeling it wasn't that simple. "Marquis... will... will there be any issues with that?" Li Hao nodded. "Since I haven't mastered the complete weaving of myriad Daos yet, if I weave yours and later fail to finish it, your Dao will end up... tangled in a messy knot." "Will that... have severe consequences?" Li Hao nodded. "Certainly. First, your cultivation will become much more troublesome. Second, if you can't untangle it for a long time, you might detonate yourself during cultivation. Third, as the myriad Daos churn between heaven and earth, you will thoroughly exhaust your Great Dao power this time, and recovering it will take a very long time... Though slaying a few more Sovereigns could replenish it." Qian Wuliang wanted to weep. I knew it wouldn't be that simple. It's all my fault for running my mouth and chiming in. Of course, even if he hadn't spoken, Li Hao likely would have done it anyway. "No time to lose!" Li Hao explained what needed to be done and why, then paid no further heed to whether Qian Wuliang agreed—Qian Wuliang would comply regardless. "We must act quickly before that seventh-rank arrives!" Li Hao chuckled. "I don't possess the sheer boldness of the Xinwu Human King to directly detonate a Great Dao Universe, but I... can still stir up some noise—at least enough to make people genuinely believe Tianfang's Dao is reviving!" "Let's go! We'll set up first. I'll bury the corpses of sixteen Sovereigns in various spots across Tianfang. With those corpses as the perimeter, your Great Dao Universe only needs to envelop those regions!" Qian Wuliang meekly followed Li Hao back into the Tianfang Great World. Li Hao dared not dally, for that Sovereign might arrive in just four or five days. The faster, the better. Resolving the trouble early would also draw the seventh-rank Sovereign's attention, preventing him from relentlessly hunting Li Hao down. ... This time, Li Hao spared no expense. Of the Sovereigns he had slain, aside from keeping the sixth-rank corpse—or rather, the corpse's energy—he discarded everything else he had obtained from the rest. He held back nothing! To gain, one had to let go. To make people believe it, how could he not pay a steep price? That way, even if Red Moon wished to strike at Xinwu, they would have to weigh their options: if they ignored Tianfang and a ninth-rank opportunity truly emerged here, falling into the hands of the Lord of Bright Light or the Lord of Yunxiao, and either of them attained the ninth rank, what would Red Moon do? A ninth-rank Sovereign held absolute supremacy over an eighth-rank Sovereign. When that happened, their war with Xinwu would become an utter joke. Currently, these eighth-rank great worlds kept one another in check; only because no absolute hegemon had emerged could they remain at ease. ... Just as Li Hao was setting his arrangements, two parties were rushing toward Tianfang, centered around the world itself. One party consisted of a single individual: Sovereign Wushan from the Yunxiao Great World, a genuine high-rank, seventh-rank Sovereign. At this moment, his expression was frigid; clearly, the death of the sixth-rank Chiyun had displeased him greatly. This was an outright provocation! The other group was a large contingent of Sovereigns, all middle-rank, numbering nearly twenty! Led by the four sixth-rank Sovereigns of Huilong, their expressions were solemn. They had been hurrying toward Tianji's position when, midway, special channels brought them news: something had happened in Tianfang. The exact scale remained unclear, but it seemed Tianfang's Great Dao Universe had surfaced. Not only that, an upheaval had apparently struck the Huilong Domain, and Sovereign Chiyun, who had gone to take over Huilong Temple... might be dead. This was utterly shocking news! Sixth-rank Sovereigns were the strongest tier beneath high-rank Sovereigns. Aside from a few slain by Xinwu recently, practically none had fallen, yet Xinwu was currently locked in combat with Red Moon. And yet, a sixth-rank Sovereign from a great world had actually perished in the Tianfang Great World. Sovereign Huilong looked especially distressed. Huilong Temple was his home base. If a sixth-rank Sovereign had died, what about the remaining personnel? Moreover, the Son of Bright Light was over there... In truth, even if Huilong Temple was wiped out, it wouldn't be the end of the world. What he feared was that Kongji had done it. If Kongji was responsible, it meant war was about to erupt between Yunxiao and the Bright Light Divine Realm—two eighth-rank great worlds. For them, an all-out war between eighth-rank worlds was a terrifying prospect. When high-rank Sovereigns entered the fray, it wouldn't be guerrilla skirmishes like Xinwu against Red Moon; both were supreme worlds standing conspicuously within the chaos. Once it broke out, it would inevitably be a head-on clash, and the battle between high-rank Sovereigns could shake the entire Tianfang Region. He could foresee this, and clearly the other Sovereigns could as well. Concern was one thing, but someone couldn't help asking, "Is the appearance of Tianfang's Great Dao Universe real or fake? Didn't they say only a sixth-rank Sovereign without a Great Dao Universe advancing to the seventh rank had hope of drawing it out? Or has someone advanced to the seventh rank?" "Who knows? Right now, we only have fragmented reports, and it was hard enough to receive even those. We'll have to reach Tianfang to see for ourselves." "Could it be a scheme? A plot by Xinwu? Knowing we were going to deal with the Sword Venerable, they deliberately lured us back?" "Nonsense! Stirring up a Great Dao Universe in Tianfang... if Xinwu truly did it, that means high-rank Sovereigns like the Xinwu Human King or the Yang God were involved. If they had the time for that, wouldn't killing us directly be much simpler?" That logic held up. If even Tianfang's Great Dao Universe had been drawn out, and it wasn't an illusion, it suggested seventh-rank power was involved. Rather than spending time weaving conspiracies, eliminating them directly would have been far easier. Though there were several sixth-rank Sovereigns and many middle-rank ones here, a true high-rank Sovereign might not wipe them all out in a single breath, but once one or two sixth-ranks fell, none of the rest would survive. Such was a high-rank Sovereign: a single person was enough to obliterate them all. Li Hao's earlier display of seventh-rank power had merely been a borrowed facade. They couldn't tell real from fake, but right now, they all wanted to return and see. The Sword Venerable, medium worlds, joining a Great Dao Universe... those were fine things. Yet compared to stepping into the seventh rank, compared to controlling Tianfang's Great Dao Universe, none of that mattered. They were eager and thrilled. If it were true, they had to return no matter what. Could working as mercenaries ever compare to ruling a Great Dao Universe? Even a fool knew how to choose. Even without certainty, no one was willing to let such a chance slip away. Otherwise, Sovereign Huilong wouldn't be in such a rush to return—and even if he didn't, the others would head back anyway. No one would continue following him to hunt Xinwu powerhouses. ... Red Moon Great World. Inside the vast hall. Despite the immense distance, the Lord of Red Moon had already received some intelligence. Who didn't maintain informants in the Tianfang Great World? For a ninth-rank great world, under normal circumstances, any high-rank world would plant arrangements there. Stationing personnel was inevitable. Not long after the upheaval in Tianfang, the Lord of Red Moon received reports, including the emergence of Tianfang's Great Dao Universe, its apparent ignition by Fire Element power, and the suspected demise of Yunxiao's Sovereign Chiyun. At this moment, this incomparably formidable Lord of Red Moon sank into deep thought. What an extraordinary coincidence! He had just been preparing to deliver a lethal strike against Xinwu, whittling down its strength and even aiming to hunt Xinwu's Supreme, only for an incident to erupt in Tianfang. Should he intervene or not? Sending a few minor Sovereigns to investigate was easy enough, but if Tianfang's true Dao was surfacing, even a seventh-rank Sovereign wouldn't be safe scouting ahead. If the Great Dao Universe truly appeared, he would go to Tianfang, Yunxiao would go, and Bright Light would certainly go as well. Every eighth-rank lord would go. Even most seventh-rank Sovereigns would rush over. Whoever arrived late risked having the opportunity snatched away. "Tianfang has lain dormant for millions of years... yet recently, anomalies have appeared twice." The Lord of Red Moon spoke softly. Very few people stood in the grand hall, yet all possessed formidable auras. A high-rank Sovereign with an overwhelmingly potent presence spoke in an alluring tone: "My Lord, could there be a plot? Neither early nor late, an incident erupts in Tianfang right when we clash with Xinwu... Could someone be trying to fish in troubled waters, or did Xinwu pull some strings hoping to draw us to Tianfang so they can strike our home world?" It was too coincidental! One had to consider the possibility. Otherwise, once the Lord of Red Moon departed, the Xinwu Human King's terrifying might combined with the Cang Emperor would require an eighth-rank to withstand. The Lord of Red Moon nodded slightly. "It's not impossible... but we cannot treat it entirely as a scheme. If it is genuine and we miss the opportunity, letting Yunxiao or Bright Light gain the initiative, the consequences will be even graver!" "At present, I cannot verify its authenticity. Two consecutive appearances of Tianfang's Great Dao Universe... it might not necessarily be fake! Ji Huo, go to Tianfang first to investigate. If a true revival of the Great Dao is imminent... report back to me!" The female Sovereign who had spoken earlier looked slightly hesitant, not hiding her concerns as she said, "My Lord, if this is a trap... I worry Xinwu has laid an ambush along the way specifically to draw out our high-rank Sovereigns and assassinate them! The Human King's whereabouts are unknown; if I encounter him alone, I fear I may fall." That was a valid point. The Lord of Red Moon hesitated slightly. The Red Moon Great World possessed five high-rank Sovereigns: himself and four seventh-ranks. Aside from Ji Huo, of the remaining three, one was away liaising with the lords of other great worlds and had yet to return. Another stayed by his side in Red Moon as a safeguard; in case of sudden developments requiring someone to leave, a high-rank Sovereign had to garrison the home world. The final one was currently deployed outside, his target being Tianji and the others. Of course, Tianji was merely a small fish. The true prize was not those two small fry, but the potential presence of the Sword Venerable, the Blood Sovereign, and the Silver Moon King who might rendezvous with them—a figure capable of erupting with fifth- or sixth-rank might at critical moments. Those were the big fish in his mind. The Sword Venerable was formidable; without a seventh-rank overseeing the hunt, taking him down would be no simple task. Whom should he dispatch now? At least two seventh-ranks moving together would be safer. Even if they encountered the Xinwu Human King, two against one... no matter how mighty the Human King was, killing two seventh-ranks would take considerable effort, by which time he could arrive. Tapping lightly on his throne, the Lord of Red Moon said, "Then let Hong Yu accompany you!" He looked toward a Sovereign beside him. "Hong Yu, go with Ji Huo! As for Xu Ming, he should continue monitoring those two Xinwu small fry; they might lure out the big fish. If we can capture the Silver Moon King, seize the Silver Moon World, and deduce the exact location of the Yin-Yang World, it will be a decisive victory for our entire war effort!" Therefore, that Sovereign could not be easily reassigned. Beside him, an exceptionally youthful man nodded slightly. "My Lord, I understand. I shall accompany Ji Huo. If the Great Dao Universe truly appeared in Tianfang... Bright Light and Yunxiao will certainly not sit by. If conflict erupts..." The Lord of Red Moon remained completely calm. "If we can truly seize a ninth-rank Great Dao Universe and comprehend the spatial Dao of the Lord of Tianfang, what does fighting on multiple fronts matter? No one will back down, so let there be conflict!" No one would yield! Hearing this, the two raised no further objections. With the Lord of Red Moon's backing, if a clash occurred, war would break out directly; with stakes so immense, other considerations fell by the wayside. The Lord of Red Moon cautioned them once more: "The prerequisite is that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe is real, not a trap, and that it is nearing revival rather than remaining in absolute dormancy. A dormant state cannot be claimed quickly, and a protracted war would wear us down." Both high-rank Sovereigns nodded, saying no more. Their efficiency was formidable; after brief coordination, they departed swiftly, hurtling toward Tianfang. "Xinwu..." Once they had left, the Lord of Red Moon murmured, could this be a trap you laid? Not necessarily! Xinwu likely lacked the spare energy for such a ploy. He didn't know the exact whereabouts of the Xinwu Human King, but he knew he was somewhere within the Red Moon Region; if a peak Sovereign nearing the eighth rank truly left, he would still be able to sense it. Right now, he still vaguely felt that fellow circling nearby. As for the Xinwu Yang God and the Cang Emperor, he had a rough idea of their movements. He monitored these high-rank Sovereigns closely, and not long ago, someone had spotted the Cang Emperor in another direction. "If not Xinwu... could it be Yunxiao or Bright Light? But those two would love nothing more than for us to wage immediate war against Xinwu; they wouldn't set a trap right now to divert our attention... Could it really be genuine?" He pondered ceaselessly. Yunxiao and Bright Light wouldn't pull such a stunt, because they were already engaged in battle with Xinwu, and doing so now wouldn't benefit them. For a moment, he couldn't see through it. Unless... Tianfang's Great Dao Universe was truly reviving. In that case, he couldn't tell whether it was a blessing or a curse for him. He was entangled with Xinwu and sat somewhat farther from Tianfang; competing against Yunxiao and Bright Light offered him no clear advantage. ... At the far fringes of the Red Moon World. At this moment, the true body of Tianji and King Huai gradually slowed their pace. Tianji could sense the position of his clone; it wasn't too far, but right now, the clone seemed unwilling to draw close. Whenever the distance narrowed, the clone drew back. Evidently, it was the same intent as before: wait! Tianji's true body wasn't in a hurry either. If waiting was required, he would wait; slowing his pace further, he showed no sign of impatience. ... Meanwhile, Lin Hongyu, Tianji's clone, Hong Yitang, and Mo—who had defected to their side—along with several other Sovereigns, hid within the darkness of the chaos, daring not advance further as they awaited Li Hao's word. Whenever Lin Hongyu was injured would be the moment to make contact with Xinwu. The massive commotion in Tianfang had nothing to do with them. They had no means of learning what was happening in Tianfang. Filled with anxiety, they could only wait continuously for Li Hao to transmit his command. Even knowing Tianji's true body was just ahead, they dared not approach. Li Hao's suspicion that Red Moon was watching them was entirely correct, but his assumption that only middle-rank Sovereigns had been dispatched was wrong. Red Moon hadn't tasked middle-rank Sovereigns with tailing Tianji and King Huai at all. There was no need. The enemy had directly deployed a high-rank Sovereign to lurk in the shadows, waiting for the big fish. At this moment, this region held far more than just these few figures. Many individuals were waiting. Red Moon's seventh-rank Sovereign was nearby, the Sword Venerable was nearby, Tianji and his companion were nearby, and Silver Moon's Sovereigns were in this sector as well. Everyone seemed to be waiting for an opportune moment. At the center stood Tianji and King Huai, operating out in the open. Baits dangling in plain sight were in mortal peril, yet as long as nothing erupted, they were safe in the extreme. Everyone knew they were there, yet no one wanted to be the first to make a move. ... In the darkness. The Sword Venerable didn't draw near Tianji and King Huai. At this moment, a swordsman's sharp intuition alerted him to danger. As a sixth-rank swordsman and an exceptionally formidable sword cultivator, his perception of peril was extraordinarily keen. Tianji and King Huai were likely being watched by a terrifying entity. Something capable of making him feel threatened could only be a high-rank Sovereign. The Long Life Sword's brows furrowed slightly. Right now, he was alone. If the other side struck first to obliterate Tianji and King Huai, he would have no choice but to intervene... and that would invite severe trouble. Of course, the enemy was also waiting—waiting for the Silver Moon King. The Sword Venerable knew the enemy likely wanted to capture the Silver Moon World. At this point, he could only hope that this Silver Moon King he had never met wouldn't do something foolish, like suddenly appearing here and making contact with Tianji and his companion. The bait set by the Supreme had originally been meant to hook a small fish... but now it seemed to have lured a massive one—one too large to swallow. "Can you reach Fang Ping?" The Sword Venerable sent a voice transmission. Only after a pause did the jade pendant on his person emit a faint glow, transmitting a reply: "No, he may have run off into the distance again." The Long Life Sword felt helpless. That fellow was always running around! Running so far that he couldn't be contacted—that was a major problem. After another moment, the voice sounded in his ear: "Wait and see for now. An upheaval seems to have occurred in Tianfang! Perhaps... there will be an opening." Tianfang? An upheaval? The Long Life Sword grew puzzled. "Did Fang Ping go there?" Otherwise... what upheaval could occur in Tianfang? "Don't always assume that whenever trouble strikes, Fang Ping caused it... He shouldn't be over there." Is that so? The Long Life Sword couldn't help thinking: if not him, who else could it be? In this vast chaos, who was better at stirring up trouble than that fellow? He dismissed the thought. "Then we'll wait a bit longer. I sense danger... likely a seventh-rank Sovereign lurking nearby. If that's the case... unless the Silver Moon King appears, I cannot act, or it will be far too dangerous. Tell Tianji and King Huai to look out for themselves!" "..." The Supreme didn't take the bait. Look out for themselves? Could those two really manage that? "No rush. Events in Tianfang might bring a turning point... If a seventh-rank is truly nearby, we'll find a way to see if we can swallow him!" Those words carried ruthless resolve. If a seventh-rank truly took the bait, they would figure out a way to devour him. However, right now it wasn't enough. The stir in Tianfang wasn't large enough. Though rumors claimed a ninth-rank Great Dao Universe might have surfaced... it was merely hearsay; Xinwu hadn't received confirmed intelligence yet. Xinwu naturally maintained informants in Tianfang, though not as deeply entrenched as other great worlds. The lack of confirmed reports so far indicated they were still assessing the situation. With limited personnel, Xinwu wouldn't relay unconfirmed news without at least eighty percent certainty. At this moment, the Supreme actually hoped Tianfang would kick up a massive commotion. If a ninth-rank universe truly emerged, the Lord of Red Moon would be unable to sit still. Then Xinwu's opportunity would arrive. Perhaps Xinwu ought to make preparations... yet that risked inciting Red Moon, Yunxiao, and Bright Light to unite against Xinwu, and the distance was vast, leaving the Supreme somewhat uneasy. ... All factions were waiting for confirmation on Tianfang. Meanwhile, within the Tianfang Great World, local Sovereigns were investigating, and some had already begun creeping toward the Huilong Domain. The disturbance seemed to originate from the Huilong Domain. Several domain lords of the Southern Domain—middle-rank Sovereigns—began cautiously advancing in that direction. Originally, besides the Huilong Domain, the south contained nine other domains. Sovereign Tianhe had been slain, the two Sovereigns closest to the Huilong Domain had allied with Sovereign Huilong, and the remaining six domain lords were somewhat farther away. Yet now, these middle-rank Sovereigns were moving forward warily, hoping to see if fortune awaited them. At this moment, above the Huilong Domain. Stars flickered faintly as the Great Dao emerged indistinctly, filling countless Huilong Domain cultivators with shock. Lately, the Huilong Domain had seen far too many disturbances. Some failed to understand, while others watched with fluctuating expressions. It looked as though the Great Dao Universe was surfacing once more, drifting in and out of sight, leaving them awestruck. Was Tianfang's Great Dao Universe truly about to revive? The next instant, cultivators across the Huilong Domain cried out in shock: "Look!" At that exact moment, Dao rhythm abruptly erupted from several sites that had lain dormant for countless years. Waves of Great Dao power swept across the surroundings, leaving countless cultivators dumbfounded. That dense Great Dao power... was modest to a Sovereign. Yet to those beneath the Sovereign realm, that surging Great Dao power drove them instantly wild. How could this be? Why did so much Dao rhythm and Great Dao power burst forth all of a sudden? Could it be... Tianfang was reviving! This was a ninth-rank world! In an instant, countless people went wild, flying toward the Dao rhythm sites. Some flew directly into the sky, hoping to enter the Great Dao Universe immediately. Yet the Great Dao Universe only appeared to hang in the sky; in reality, it was elsewhere. No matter how high they soared, they couldn't enter it. Great Dao power began washing over several domains neighboring Huilong as well. A nearby middle-rank Sovereign blanched in shock, looking up at the sky. Great Dao power! Was the Great Dao Universe truly awakening? After the shock came frenzied excitement. Now, several top middle-rank Sovereigns of the Tianfang World had departed. In their absence, did this mean Tianfang favored the Sovereigns who had stayed behind? Their chance had come! If I can master Tianfang's Great Dao Universe... will I ever need to fear those world lords again? Vast waves of Great Dao power swept across the entire south. And it was still spreading toward other quarters. The Great Dao power of sixteen Sovereigns was unimaginably potent to ordinary beings. At the same time, some people looked on with deep shock. Ju Ao, for instance. He knew part of the truth. Sensing that rich Great Dao power... he instantly realized what it was, marvelling at how truly generous the Silver Moon King was. Evidently, this was the power dissipated from the slain Sovereigns... yet to let it flood heaven and earth like this, how much Great Dao power was being expended? Ju Ao couldn't comprehend it. He felt that taking this power and secluding oneself to cultivate was far better than squandering it... yet precisely because he couldn't understand, Li Hao seemed all the more unfathomable. Looking up at the sky once more, the stars seemed to grow brighter. Nearby, voices gasped, "Are... are those Great Dao stars?" Earlier, when the Tianfang Universe appeared, only two stars had lit up, exceedingly faint. This time, there appeared to be many, though still quite dim. Just as the crowd gasped, even more people fell into horror. High above, within that illusory Great Dao Universe, a Dao River seemed to emerge, and myriad Daos began converging. Next, the vision of the weaker cultivators went black, and their heads spun! In all directions, domain barriers suddenly shattered. The heavens shifted and the earth inverted! They felt as though they had been thrust into an entirely different realm. While many were still dazed, heaven and earth folded, and massive cities shifted in the span of a breath. A city originally nestled beside a tall mountain found itself in a completely unfamiliar region the moment its inhabitants regained clarity—appearing as though it had shifted to an entirely different domain! This sight left countless people thrilled, terrified, awestruck, and mad! They seemed to recall ancient legends: it was said that the Lord of Tianfang had primarily cultivated the Dao of Space! ... At this moment, the Sovereigns approaching the Huilong Domain experienced a shift in expression as well. It's real! Tianfang's Great Dao Universe truly seemed to be awakening. Just now, they too had felt the world shift, as if enveloped by the Heaven's Will, subsumed within the Great Dao. As myriad Daos converged, the legendary Dao Domain seemed to manifest! Amidst the spatial inversion, even a first-rank Sovereign found their position relocated, shocking them to the core! Meanwhile, Li Hao, hidden in the shadows, was already panting for breath. Exhausting boundless Great Dao power and squandering the strength of sixteen Sovereigns served a single purpose: to convince everyone that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe had formally begun its revival. It might be faint right now... but it would grow stronger and stronger soon! With that, who wouldn't be interested? He hoped Red Moon would cast Xinwu aside immediately, rush to Tianfang, and vie against the other great worlds. The bigger the commotion, the better! In the sky, more and more stars surfaced, and people began screaming, "Dao! It's the rhythm of the Great Dao..." Some even began hearing the resonance of the Dao. Listening closely, they heard the Dao of Fire, the Dao of the Physical Body, the Dao of Water, the Dao of Darkness, the Dao of Annihilation, the Dao of Life, the Dao of Death... the voices of myriad Daos! Several Sovereigns caught within the perimeter listened intently, their minds going blank with overwhelming awe. The voice of the Dao! The revival of myriad Daos! That resonance was profoundly abstruse, by no means an ordinary transmission. In truth, none of these Dao resonances were simple. They contained Li Hao's personal insights as well as the Dao concepts he had gleaned from Tianfang. These were the insights of peak Sovereigns, extraordinary in every sense. Of course, Li Hao wasn't a fool; he concealed the critical parts rather than expounding the full Dao... He had paid a staggering price merely to make everyone believe Tianfang's Dao was reviving, not to grant these people true comprehension of a high-rank Sovereign's path. Yet this still wasn't enough. The commotion wasn't grand enough. The final step was crucial: it required Dao Chess to project authentic, invincible majesty. A moment later, Li Hao activated the Dao Chess imprint within the Great Dao River. An illusory figure faintly manifested. Looking at Li Hao, it seemed puzzled. You didn't enter earlier, but you come in now? "Senior, can you project the majesty of the Lord of Tianfang within my Great Dao Universe... even if only for an instant... and count it as exhausting my chance for comprehension?" The phantom paused, staring at Li Hao for a long while. "You've lost your mind!" Squandering such a monumental opportunity just to display a fleeting moment of majesty? Do you have any idea what kind of opportunity you're tossing away... Well, he knew; this fellow had entered Dao Chess before. "Or do you hope... that Kongji will waste an opportunity for you? Even if he finishes the first trial, his first comprehension took him past four thousand squares. Next time, he won't restart from the beginning, but from the five-thousandth square. He likely won't reach seven thousand, leaving him at most two chances to make requests... Do you think he will waste one on you?" Li Hao seemed to treat the armament of a ninth-rank Sovereign like a joke. Just to forge a fake? You're throwing away this many opportunities? Is there something wrong with your head? With this time and energy, you could enter Dao Chess to meditate and advance; in a hundred years, you might become a sixth- or seventh-rank Sovereign, you fool! The phantom naturally saw through Li Hao's objective. Admittedly, the forgery was strikingly convincing. Without a high-rank Sovereign present, ordinary Sovereigns couldn't tell the difference. No sane person would engage in such mad squandering. If he truly released a unique aura of majesty, those fellows probably wouldn't doubt it in the slightest. "Senior... can you agree?" The phantom fell silent, speaking only after a pause: "Have you truly thought this through?" "I have!" The phantom sighed. "Forsaking the fundamental for the trivial!" Li Hao remained silent. Forsaking the fundamental for the trivial? Perhaps... it was. Yet compared to a single opportunity, he wished to lead everyone away from the gaze of several great worlds, escaping safely alongside Tianji and the others... As for Xinwu's plans, they were beyond his current concern. Besides, diverting Red Moon's attention would ease the pressure on Xinwu as well. "Very well!" The phantom said no more. It was his own choice; projecting majesty was actually less taxing on Dao Chess's power than letting Li Hao enter to comprehend. The next instant, a towering majesty swept across heaven and earth. Not only that, the pressure rippled outward, even escaping beyond the Tianfang World. At this moment, Sovereign Wushan, not too far from Tianfang, abruptly paled. He looked into the distance, where a surging majesty suddenly manifested, causing even this seventh-rank Sovereign's heart to tremble. Simultaneously, countless powerhouses across Tianfang felt their hearts violently lurch. In that breath, special messages were transmitted outside, with people even destroying vital treasures to send word through every available channel. "The Great Dao Universe of the Tianfang Great World has revived! An invincible majesty has emerged, Great Dao power flooding the world, pressure blanketing Tianfang, and myriad stars floating into view. The world has inverted, suspected to be the Spatial Dao shifting the universe..." At this moment, not a single cultivator within Tianfang doubted it; all were seized by excitement and terror. Excited that Tianfang's Dao had appeared. Terrified that it would lure countless powerhouses, potentially igniting an unprecedented war across Tianfang, where battles between high-rank Sovereigns might become commonplace. ... "Thank you, Senior!" Within the river, the imprint hadn't vanished. The phantom swayed slightly, casting a look at Li Hao. "If that Kongji is willing to offer you a chance on his own initiative, you may still use it... If not, our affinity ends here!" "I understand." "What a pity!" The phantom dissipated. Even it couldn't see through Li Hao—not his strength, but his mind. What was this fellow thinking? To squander time and energy on such trivial matters, why bother? Li Hao, however, chuckled softly and looked toward the sky. Right now, all of Tianfang was shrouded in majesty, which was rapidly dissipating. Yet this was enough. This was all he could do. "Time to go!" Li Hao spoke, bolting instantly toward the World Gate. Time to run. With such a massive stir, if that Sovereign from the Yunxiao domain was nearby, he would arrive soon. This time, he truly had to flee! In an instant, Li Hao vanished from the spot. In the sky, the Great Dao Universe slowly faded from view. Qian Wuliang was terrified and shaken. Fortunately, no one had frantically assaulted the Great Dao Universe; otherwise... he had nearly been scared out of his wits just now. At least seven or eight middle-rank Sovereigns had been within its envelope. It was terrifying! Any one of them could have struck him dead. In a flash, Li Hao fled the Tianfang World with Qian Wuliang and the Black Panther. He could linger no longer; staying any longer risked being besieged by multiple seventh-rank or even eighth-rank Sovereigns. Fleeing was paramount! Within the chaos, Li Hao accelerated his flight. Less than half a day after his departure, a figure emerged—Sovereign Wushan. Having sped here, his brow twitched the moment he neared Tianfang. Such rich Great Dao power! Across the entire Tianfang World, countless people were frantically searching for the Great Dao Universe. Sovereign Wushan entered Tianfang in an instant. Following him, more and more figures entered Tianfang. All were top powerhouses from various quarters of the chaos, each brimming with agitation. On this day, news of the revival of Tianfang's Great Dao Universe spread madly in every direction. The lords of nearby great worlds and medium worlds alike rushed toward this place in frenzy. Even if they couldn't claim it, witnessing a ninth-rank Great Dao Universe might just become an opportunity of their own.