Wushan

In the chaotic void, Li Hao had already departed ahead of time. As for whether Tianfang could deceive those powerhouses or draw the attention of Red Moon, he could not be certain and could only wait to see what developed. As a third-rank Sovereign, he had done all he could under the circumstances. If even this failed to conceal the truth and failed to draw the gazes of Red Moon's powerhouses, his only choice would be to abandon contact with Xinwu, withhold the signal from Lin Hongyu and the others, and have them continue to bide their time. Meanwhile, he would find a way to retrieve them. As for the two who had been thrust into the spotlight, Xinwu would have to figure something out for them on its own. Reaching this point... Li Hao felt he had already done more than enough. Xinwu likely had its own calculations as well. It was not as though they necessarily needed him to do anything. If the visitor had not been an acquaintance—the true body of Tianji, no less—Li Hao might not have bothered with them at all. After all, Tianji's clone had aided him on many occasions. Speeding through the void, Li Hao made good his escape. Qian Wuliang followed closely behind. Beside him ran a hound resembling the old Black Panther, though far larger in build, with parts of its frame bearing traces of an ox. "Marquis, where are we heading now?" Qian Wuliang asked. "Along the route to take a look... to see if there's any chance of dealing with Huilong and the others." Qian Wuliang was somewhat puzzled. Now that the opportunity with Dao Chess had been used up, did they still intend to target Huilong's group? Seeing his confusion, Li Hao explained, "Not necessarily Huilong himself. In their rush to get back, Huilong and the other leaders might leave a contingent of fourth- and fifth-rank Sovereigns behind... or the fourth-ranks, being slower, might fall behind on their own." Understanding dawned on Qian Wuliang. "The Marquis intends to target them?" Li Hao nodded. "Our previous resources were drained completely, and the Great Dao Universe still needs strengthening. Taking on top powerhouses is too difficult, but dealing with these weaker ones remains feasible. If our luck holds, I can still dispatch a fourth-rank Sovereign... Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but it does no harm to try!" Li Hao was wary of startling the snake by attacking Huilong now. Striking rashly before being discovered would do more harm than good. Besides, attacking would require borrowing external power, which was never ideal. On the other hand, hunting down a few fourth-ranks was well worth an attempt. Furthermore, having expended their chance with Dao Chess, he wondered whether it could be used again... In any case, Kongji needed time to advance through Dao Chess. Right now, Kongji certainly couldn't, as he was still immersed in comprehending the Dao of Life and Death. "Then... should we set up an ambush?" "No ambush. Disguising ourselves as Chaos Rangers will suffice, so long as we stay cautious. If no opportunity presents itself, we'll head straight toward Red Moon and retrieve our people as quickly as possible." "Understood!" Qian Wuliang pressed no further. The pair and the hound cautiously journeyed toward the direction of Red Moon. *** Around the same time. Tianfang. Sovereign Wushan descended upon the grounds of Huilong Temple. Apart from its Sovereigns, none of the other cultivators here had actually died. When Li Hao arrived previously, he had merely frozen time, locking everyone in place, and casually made off with some lesser treasures along the way. Cultivators below the Sovereign realm remained alive. The moment Sovereign Wushan touched down, his divine sense swept through the surroundings. Soon, he glanced toward Dark Demon Ridge, frowning faintly. Yet he did not head for Dark Demon Ridge. In the next instant, he vanished. A moment later, he materialized out of thin air near the abandoned Mount Huoxing. Sovereign Wushan looked quite young, yet an air of solemn gravity surrounded him. Glancing up at the sky, he scanned the surroundings once more. Reaching out with one hand, he captured a faint wisp of lingering aura into his palm. Closing his eyes, he sensed it deeply. In his mind, scenes seemed to flicker into view, insubstantial and hazy. "Dao rhymes manifested at Mount Huoxing... Chiyun led his subordinates here, and while comprehending the Dao rhymes, was slain by a cultivator of the Fire Element..." "Daoist Huoyan?" His eyes snapped open, sharp and cold, but his brow soon furrowed. Impossible! Daoist Huoyan had vanished countless years ago. If Daoist Huoyan had truly intervened, it would signify Tianfang's return. Had he truly wished to kill a sixth-rank, there would be no need for such convoluted steps—if Tianfang had returned, who in the neighboring domains would dare provoke them? Why bother killing a mere sixth-rank Sovereign? "Fire Element... Chiyun was not killed in an instant; there was a battle... Not a true seventh-rank, but a pseudo-seventh-rank!" Wushan murmured under his breath. A pseudo-seventh-rank Sovereign. The power of the Fire Element bore distinct traces of Daoist Huoyan's energy. Was it a cultivator who had inherited Daoist Huoyan's legacy? Or had someone used special methods to borrow a measure of Huoyan's power... But how could one borrow Huoyan's power? In the vast cosmos, myriad Dao methods existed; such a thing was not impossible. Or perhaps it was an imitation—that was feasible as well. He raised his head again to gaze at the firmament. A peculiar ripple of the Great Dao hung in the void, resembling the disturbance cast by an emerging Great Dao Universe. Great Dao energy had dispersed across the area in dense profusion. "The Great Dao Universe... Chiyun... Huilong Temple... Huoyan... Tianfang..." Was there a connection between these? Had Tianfang's Great Dao Universe truly manifested? All around, the very fabric of heaven and earth seemed inverted, a chaotic spatial force surging wildly. Yet Sovereign Wushan merely frowned. "Is it spatial power, or a Dao Domain?" he murmured. Whichever it was, it posed a problem. If it was genuinely caused by spatial power, it meant the Great Dao Universe had truly emerged. If it was an illusion, born of a Dao Domain... that implied the involvement of a seventh-rank Sovereign, for only seventh-rank Sovereigns could wield a Dao Domain. A domain of the Dao! It could grant that same sensation of dominating heaven and earth. Ordinary Sovereigns might not understand, but as a seventh-rank Sovereign, he understood it all too well. "Someone activated Mount Huoxing, drew Chiyun here, and slaughtered both the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple and Chiyun... In the end, Mount Huoxing might have triggered the emergence of Tianfang's Great Dao... Tianfang's Great Dao Universe remains dormant... This Great Dao energy... might not originate from Tianfang's Great Dao Universe at all, but rather from those who were slain..." He murmured to himself. If that were the case, it pointed to one conclusion: the killer of Chiyun had not sought this Great Dao energy. What on earth was this person trying to achieve? Then again, it was also possible that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe was genuinely reviving. Only... there appeared to be deliberate human orchestration behind it. To what end? Killing people to revive the universe? A thought stirred in his mind. Looking around once more, he recalled prior intelligence reporting that signs of a Great Dao Universe had previously appeared near the Tianhe Domain. With that in mind, Wushan vanished on the spot. *** A short while later. He appeared at the former site of the Tianhe Domain. Here, the land of the Water Element was utterly ruined. "When a place of Dao rhymes is destroyed, the Great Dao Universe emerges..." "Using the residual ancient power of such places to trigger the appearance of the Great Dao Universe... What sort of special technique is this?" "And last time, the one who killed people here was supposedly the Sword Venerable of Xinwu... Could the killer of Chiyun this time and the person from before be one and the same?" Both instances had employed the exact same method—borrowing the strength of a place of Dao rhymes. And regarding Tianhe's death last time, rumors later circulated claiming it was the work of the King of Silver Moon. What about this time? Was it still the King of Silver Moon? The King of Silver Moon was almost certainly still drifting through the chaos. Even so, the possibility could not be ruled out. At this moment, Li Hao had never anticipated that someone would link the earlier emergence of the Great Dao Universe to this one. The previous phenomenon had been exceedingly faint, and the two occurrences were vastly different. Yet Sovereign Wushan did not care about the differences. No matter how disparate they seemed, both had occurred at places of Dao rhymes, sharing underlying commonalities. Whether it was truly the King of Silver Moon remained open to debate. Nor did he particularly care whether it was the King of Silver Moon or not... Red Moon wished to claim Silver Moon, but Yunxiao had no such need. Whether it was the King of Silver Moon or someone else made no difference to Wushan; this person undoubtedly existed! Their specific identity was not terribly important, so long as they were not from the Bright Light Divine World. Otherwise, the Bright Light Divine World and the Yunxiao World might be on the brink of conflict. With a wave of his sleeve, Wushan leveled what remained of the Tianhe ruins. Reflecting on this, he returned to Mount Huoxing and leveled that as well. He eradicated every trace of their existence. The King of Silver Moon? Whether it was him or not did not matter. What mattered was that this person was exceptional—capable of channeling the energy of Dao rhyme lands to unlock the Great Dao Universe. Tianfang's Great Dao Universe had indeed stirred... Even if it had not fully awakened, it had truly been drawn forth, intimately tied to the killer. Finding this person would inevitably allow Tianfang's Great Dao Universe to fully manifest! "Borrowing the power of Dao rhymes, the ancient power of Tianfang... How was it done? Tianfang's power dissipated a million years ago. No wonder the Great Dao Universe could be coaxed out... power from a million years past..." Another thought struck him. Dark Demon Ridge! In a flash, Sovereign Wushan vanished once more. In the next instant, he reappeared at Huilong Temple, and within the blink of an eye, arrived at Dark Demon Ridge. The Dark Divine Hall. Before the entrance, Kongji, who had been meditating in secluded comprehension, felt his expression shift slightly. An instant later, his eyes opened. Rising gracefully, he vanished from the Dark Divine Hall and materialized at the foot of Dark Demon Ridge. At the base of the mountain, a figure was already looking at him. "Greetings, Sovereign Wushan!" Kongji bowed slightly. A seventh-rank Sovereign! No matter where one went, such Sovereigns were formidable powerhouses, terrifyingly mighty beings. Even if the Bright Light Divine World and the Yunxiao Divine World were on poor terms, at the very least, they were not currently at war. "Godchild Mingtang." Wushan nodded slightly. Mingtang was Kongji's original name. As one of the only two eighth-rank worlds in the Tianfang Region, Wushan naturally knew of Kongji, though they had rarely crossed paths. Their last meeting had been six hundred years ago, when this young man broke through to the fourth rank to become a mid-rank Sovereign; the Lord of Bright Light had been overjoyed, hosting a grand banquet for all quarters. Wushan had seen him on that occasion. Back then, Kongji had radiated distinct Bright Light energy. Seeing him today, however, he was an entirely different person. Wushan looked him over and smiled faintly. "Splendid skills, Godchild! To discard Radiance and take up a pseudo-darkness—is this Annihilation? Or something else? In such a short time, you have returned to the fifth rank, and it seems the sixth rank is not far off. There is even... a hint of Death? Fascinating!" Kongji's brows furrowed slightly. "Senior Wushan has keen eyes!" When speaking with Li Hao, he spoke candidly with nothing to hide. Yet Wushan was a senior, and hailed from a semi-hostile faction. Seeing through it at a glance and laying it bare was not for the sake of discussing the Dao, but rather an act of intimidation. Wushan said no more on the matter. Looking Kongji up and down, he asked, "Has the Godchild ventured outside recently?" "What does Senior mean?" "Is the Godchild unaware of the turmoil in the outside world?" "I am not!" "How curious." Wushan smiled faintly. "Your friend, the Bright Moon Sovereign, returned from the chaos to slaughter the other Sovereigns of Huilong Temple and slay Chiyun of Yunxiao. Does the Godchild know of this?" Kongji frowned. "Senior must be joking. That friend of mine is merely a first-rank." "Whether it is a joke, the Godchild knows far better than I." Wushan remarked placidly, "For the Godchild to abandon Radiance, cultivate an alternate Dao, and advance rather than regress demonstrates peerless talent! However, this Bright Moon has far too many entanglements with Xinwu, and Xinwu is deeply entwined with Red Moon. Take care not to draw the formidable enemy of Red Moon down upon the Bright Light Divine World." Pausing, he added, "Bright Moon had the audacity to kill Chiyun of my Yunxiao." Kongji's brow tightened. For Wushan to conclude it was Li Hao in a single breath was strange. Even if it was a conjecture... asserting with utter certainty that it was Li Hao was highly unusual. Why? Wushan added, "The Godchild need not misunderstand; I bear no malice!" His expression remained calm. "As for evidence, I possess none. However, I have determined that this was Bright Moon's doing!" Kongji let out a soft laugh. "Then this is mere framing?" "Believe what you will!" Sovereign Wushan smiled. "Nor do I intend to make an enemy of the Bright Light Divine World. That authority belongs to the World Lord. Even if the Godchild were the killer, I would only suppress you, not kill you. Whether you live or die rests on the World Lord's decision!" "Senior Wushan, pray do not make baseless accusations. At the very least... I am not someone Senior can slander at whim!" Wushan chuckled. "Is that so? Near the Southern World Gate, there linger traces of Annihilation energy. Was that not your doing, Godchild? Annihilation energy likely manifested there... Why would that be? It is said that every time the Bright Moon Sovereign draws upon power exceeding his own, he summons a chaos lightning tribulation... Naturally, for a newly ascended Sovereign to wield overwhelming strength without drawing the wrath of a chaos lightning tribulation would be unnatural." "Thus, if it was him, a chaos lightning tribulation must have appeared... Yet within the world of Tianfang, there are no scars of destruction left by a chaos lightning tribulation. It could only have occurred in the chaos. Had a chaos lightning tribulation descended into the chaos, it would surely have created an immense disturbance, yet no one in the vicinity noticed anything... meaning someone concealed it." Wushan smiled. "Who could conceal a chaos lightning tribulation? Before seeing the Godchild, I was perplexed—who possessed such ability? But upon meeting you, I understood: an Annihilation Sovereign bordering on the sixth rank could achieve it!" Kongji remained silent. Internally, he sighed. Such was Wushan—parting the clouds to see the mist, a seventh-rank Sovereign with piercing insight, one of the pillar figures of the Yunxiao Divine World. For the Lord of Yunxiao to dispatch him made it clear that even with Chiyun dead and the culprits gone, this man was trusted to resolve the complications. "Has the King of Silver Moon fled?" Glancing toward the divine hall, Wushan smiled faintly. "He isn't hiding in there, is he? Furthermore, regarding the earlier eruption of ninth-rank prestige... surely it had nothing to do with this place?" Kongji said nothing. The more one did, the more mistakes one made. He had urged Li Hao to do less. Given enough time, many things could be hidden; but the window had been far too narrow. Doing so much in so short a time meant that once this seventh-rank Sovereign arrived, clues were bound to be uncovered. "If it was the King of Silver Moon stirring up such a tempest in Tianfang... does that mean he hoped to draw the gaze of Red Moon toward Tianfang?" "..." Kongji maintained his silence. Wushan merely chuckled. "It seems Chiyun died an unjust death... Though perhaps not entirely unjust. Huilong and the others went after Xinwu, so this also served to summon them back. The crux, however, lay in attracting the Red Moon World's attention... Word previously had it that he would rendezvous with Tianji... Now it appears he turned back toward Tianfang to manufacture a disturbance, hoping Red Moon would divert its focus so he could still rendezvous with Tianji of Xinwu, yes?" Kongji looked at Wushan. "What purpose does Senior have in mentioning all this to me?" "Why would it lack purpose?" Wushan smiled. "You may record every word I speak, and should the opportunity arise, pass it along to the King of Silver Moon!" Kongji held his tongue. A seventh-rank Sovereign was truly on another level. He had indeed been quietly recording the exchange using a specialized Dao technique, solely hoping to relay this scene to Li Hao when possible, to let him understand that high-rank Sovereigns were formidable—especially one like Wushan, renowned for his razor-sharp discernment. The Dao techniques he cultivated seemed peculiar as well, though Kongji did not know the specifics. Wushan continued, "I arrived early, so I could glean these clues. Those who arrive late may not see through them! Even if other seventh-rank Sovereigns were to arrive, that King of Silver Moon still left behind traces... He did not realize it, and you might not have either, but I detected them. However, after a few more days, when the others arrive, none of it will matter. They will firmly believe that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe has genuinely revived. As for Chiyun's death... and the deaths of those Huilong Temple Sovereigns, is the Godchild willing to take responsibility for them?" Kongji raised an eyebrow. "What does Senior mean?" "You killed them!" Wushan's expression remained tranquil. "That way, no one will bother probing into why Chiyun and the others were slain." Kongji turned the thought over rapidly. Me? "They were merely an peripheral faction. Chiyun came here out of personal friendship with Huilong, not on behalf of the Yunxiao Great World! Thus, his death is just a death. But if the Godchild killed them, having the Bright Light World compensate for some losses will settle the matter!" Kongji eyed him with a touch of wariness. "Senior's words are rather intriguing! For me to shoulder the blame for killing Chiyun and his subordinates would cost me dearly for nothing, yet Senior seems intent on absolving the true killer?" Why was this man acting as though he wanted to clear Li Hao? Strange! If I killed the men, the Great Dao Universe is real, and Wushan puts on a show of searching for the Great Dao Universe here... it might even prompt Red Moon to focus its attention here swiftly, perhaps even drawing an eighth-rank Sovereign in person. Why go through all this? What was he after? Could he know Li Hao?... Nonsense! If they knew each other, Li Hao wouldn't have fled. Wushan, however, smiled. "Cultivators focus primarily on cultivation. Spending a lifetime cultivating, a lifetime fighting—whether seventh-rank or eighth-rank, everyone keeps their eyes fixed on Tianfang. For what? Is it not to strengthen themselves? Tianfang's Great Dao Universe has lain dormant, unopenable by anyone. For a million years, countless methods have been exhausted, all in vain." "Now, someone has used certain means to borrow Tianfang's power and awaken the universe, only for it to vanish once more. It seems that without this King of Silver Moon, it will likely never revive!" "The Godchild possesses formidable Annihilation power; perhaps you truly entered that dormant Great Dao Universe!" Wushan smiled. "If the universe revives, perhaps... the Godchild will have the chance to ascend to the seventh rank in a single leap! People often say that second-generation cultivators have high starting points but low ceilings. Among the countless descendants of Sovereigns—including high-rank Sovereigns, World Lords, and Dao Lords—there are plenty of fifth- and sixth-ranks, yet seventh-ranks are unheard of!" "The Godchild abandoned Radiance to walk another path. Once a ninth-rank great world revives, with Annihilation awakening... fusing the two extremes of the Dao, the Godchild will have a path to the seventh rank!" Kongji exhaled slowly. "Senior... is truly formidable!" A truly terrifying individual. Wushan! He knew of this man and had been on guard. This was no brute, but a renowned high-rank Sovereign of the Yunxiao Great World, which was precisely why he had warned Li Hao to flee immediately. This man was distinct from other Sovereigns. Yet only now did he truly feel the crushing weight of the pressure. Vaguely understanding his drift, Kongji said in a deep voice, "Speak plainly, Senior!" "Simple!" Wushan was entirely composed. "I have lived for too long. To be frank, the death of a sixth-rank Sovereign is not enough to move me! No matter how strong the King of Silver Moon is, or how many people he kills, none of it moves me. But two points captured my attention." "First, the Dao he cultivates is extraordinarily unique, drawing a chaos lightning tribulation every single time." "Second, he can draw forth Tianfang's universe—that is the crux! Whatever objective he wishes to achieve, whatever he intends to do, whomever he plans to meet, or whomever he is scheming against... I do not care!" "I will not even concern myself with what triggered that ninth-rank prestige—if not the Tianfang Universe, then it was a relic of Tianfang... The legendary Dao Chess, perhaps?" He smiled faintly. "I have heard of Dao Chess; a treasure for Dao comprehension, but of little use to me. Dao Chess aids those below the seventh rank, but offers limited help to someone at my level." Kongji grew increasingly wary. "Besides, divine armaments possess spirits; even if I tried to seize it, I might not succeed..." At this, Wushan offered an easy, nonchalant smile. "Whatever the Bright Moon Sovereign wishes to accomplish, I can lend a hand and provide cover. With the endorsement of a seventh-rank Sovereign, drawing the attention of Red Moon's powerhouses will be simple! As long as I act tense and even lock down the Tianfang Great World, Red Moon will soon drop everything else to come seek the Dao in Tianfang. What the Godchild needs to do is equally simple: contact the Bright Light Divine World, report that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe has appeared, and have Bright Light send a seventh-rank Sovereign... Red Moon will treat this with supreme gravity!" Kongji exhaled. "What does Senior want?" "What do I want?" Wushan laughed. "Is it not obvious? The King of Silver Moon is extraordinary! Extraordinary enough that Tianfang's Great Dao Universe seems to open for him alone... What I want is simple: I want Tianfang's Great Dao Universe!" Kongji's brow furrowed. Wushan said calmly, "At my level, the things one desires are few indeed! First, advancement! Second, freedom from serving under another! You can ask any high-rank Sovereign: who truly wishes to remain subordinate? Alas, I lack the ability to open a Great Dao Universe myself, and I am unwilling to start from scratch. That being the case, seizing a Great Dao Universe is our goal." "Ordinary seventh-rank Great Dao Universes are beneath our notice; remaining in an eighth-rank universe is preferable. Thus, the only ones worthy of our attention are exceptional seventh-rank universes, eighth-rank universes, or even ninth-rank universes!" "Since Tianfang can only be opened by Bright Moon, I naturally do not wish for him to be captured or slain by Red Moon... Would that not extinguish all hope of opening Tianfang?" Kongji drew another deep breath. This man... was terrifying. Reaching the seventh rank, he naturally wanted to break away from Yunxiao. Not necessarily out of treachery, but at this tier, having a master above you who could strip away your Great Dao power at any moment—because they were the true Dao Lord—was something that made any powerhouse wary. Why were the powerhouses of eighth-rank universes willing to risk their lives for those Dao Lords? Both seventh- and eighth-ranks were high-rank Sovereigns. Encountering one in the chaos, you could simply ignore them. But within their native world, if you were not the Dao Lord, your Great Dao power could be revoked at their whim. They were the Dao Lords! Therefore, when Wushan said that cultivators at this level all desired independence, he was speaking the truth. Having a superior hanging over your head at this stage was something no one relished. Kongji said calmly, "Senior, all of this is merely your speculation!" Wushan nodded. "Yes, speculation! But that is enough. At our level, do we still need evidence?" He laughed softly. "A guess is all it takes! I may not be able to find the King of Silver Moon right now, as he has likely fled... But do you think that if I were to seek out Tianji at this moment, I could find him? Tianji and King Huai's whereabouts are well known! Even if Xinwu has plans of its own, if an additional seventh-rank Sovereign—or more—suddenly intervenes, do you think the King of Silver Moon could still escape?" "..." Kongji felt a wave of helplessness. Indeed, no evidence was needed. What need was there for proof? If I guess it, then it is so. These high-rank Sovereigns possessed absolute confidence; why would they care whether they had caught you red-handed? Wushan chuckled. "Can the Godchild contact the King of Silver Moon? If you can... relay my proposal to him: I want the Tianfang Universe!" "Naturally, once Tianfang revives, the Godchild may enter to comprehend the Daos you require—be it Revival, Annihilation, or Life and Death... comprehend whatever you wish!" "Furthermore, has Silver Moon birthed its own Great Dao? If it has... there seems to be residual Great Dao energy here that does not originate from Tianfang, likely from an outside Great Dao. That means the Silver Moon World must be near Tianfang. Since a world is vast, the King of Silver Moon could not possibly have fled with the entire world in tow!" "He cannot flee with the world... yet the Godchild has entered Tianfang's Great Dao Universe to comprehend Annihilation, and this person managed to open Tianfang's universe... Could the Silver Moon World be hidden inside the Tianfang Universe?" Wushan deduced step by step. If the King of Silver Moon had brought a Great Dao Universe... a Great Dao Universe could not be moved easily; it had to accompany the world of Silver Moon. Yet now that he had fled, he could not have taken the world with him. Therefore... the Silver Moon World was still near Tianfang! Where? It could only be within Tianfang's Great Dao Universe! If that was the case, it proved Li Hao truly could access Tianfang's universe. At that realization, his smile grew radiant. "How audacious, daring to hide Silver Moon right under everyone's noses! Yet I must admit, it is brilliant. Aside from him, no one can open it; this place is safer than anywhere else." Kongji sighed internally. This man was far more difficult to deal with than anticipated. "I cannot make this decision on his behalf!" Wushan nodded. "I understand. In truth, the King of Silver Moon is bound to be heading toward Tianji and the others. If I were inclined, I would have immense confidence in capturing him. Why do you think I haven't gone after him?" Kongji pondered for a moment. "Senior cannot leave. If Senior leaves, everyone will doubt the authenticity of the Great Dao Universe. Otherwise, as a seventh-rank Sovereign, why would Senior abandon the chance to examine the Great Dao Universe?" "Precisely!" Wushan nodded. "It is best that you understand. My staying behind and refraining from pursuing him is solely to facilitate the success of his plan, so Red Moon's powerhouses will abandon their hunt for small fry like Tianji and give him a chance. Otherwise, his prospects would be bleak." "Tell me, having done all this... shouldn't the King of Silver Moon return the favor?" Kongji nodded. "He should! However, as I said, he and I are merely friends. I am not him; I can only convey my thoughts, not decide for him." "That is only natural." Wushan smiled. "In the Tianfang Region, Bright Light and Yunxiao dominate, yet two powers cannot maintain a stable balance. If a Wushan World is added, balance can be achieved! Naturally, I also guarantee that I will not join forces with Yunxiao to eradicate Bright Light... If the Godchild has doubts... you may take this opportunity to attain the seventh rank. I will become an eighth-rank, but likely cannot reach the ninth-rank... Given your potential, Godchild, you need not fear me!" Kongji fell into thought without replying. Seeing this, Wushan added, "The Godchild may contact him right now." "I have no means of contacting him." Wushan paused, then chuckled. "Is the Godchild jesting?" "Not at all!" Kongji shook his head; he truly had no direct method. Wushan frowned slightly. "In that case, my only option is to pursue him now. The chaos is vast, but his speed is far inferior to mine. Does the Godchild think I can catch him?" Kongji fell silent for a time before speaking: "It isn't entirely impossible!" Wushan nodded. "Then please convey my suggestion. He already possesses Silver Moon's Great Dao Universe, so there is no need to vie with me for this one. As for the Godchild..." He looked at Kongji and smiled. "A ninth-rank Great Dao Universe is formidable, but it is ultimately dormant. The Godchild was unwilling to inherit even an eighth-rank universe, which means you harbor your own ambitions—perhaps even the desire to open your own Great Dao Universe. That which suits you best is truly the strongest!" "We old men have lost that soaring ambition; we only seek a peaceful retirement, to be our own kings and live freely, serving no master. Thus, given a suitable opportunity, we would gladly take an external Great Dao Universe!" Wushan spoke with apparent sincerity... yet Kongji took none of it at face value. This old fellow was as ambitious as they came. It was precisely because of that ambition that he acted this way. Had he truly lacked ambition... the moment he deduced the truth, he would have hunted Li Hao down. Li Hao, oh Li Hao! I told you not to push things further, yet you insisted... Of course, even if Li Hao hadn't acted, Wushan would likely have deduced something upon arriving, given how meticulous the man was. Even after erasing the traces, Li Hao could hardly hide them from him. The man had even deduced Silver Moon's hiding place. "Then I will find a way... to let him communicate with Senior directly?" "That works. If the Godchild has a way, that would be ideal!" Wushan smiled, this time with genuine delight. A fine development! He enjoyed conversing with these youngsters. Old men were far too dull. Young people were much more interesting—daring to attempt what others dared not, and though fraught with flaws, at least they possessed the courage. With age, many lost their nerve. *** Within the chaos. Li Hao was still journeying when his river suddenly rippled faintly. The previous imprint from Dao Chess vibrated for a brief instant. In the next moment, what came through was not the phantom's voice, but Kongji's! "We're exposed!" Li Hao froze. So fast? His brow furrowed. It was too swift; word had arrived almost instantly. There was no need to guess who had uncovered it. Wushan! The powerhouse from the Yunxiao Great World. "He wants to talk to you... I have a recording of our conversation here. Take a look for yourself. These old ghosts are terrifyingly sharp! You and I underestimated the heroes of this world, though this might not be entirely devoid of opportunity." With that, Kongji transmitted an image without further commentary. After a moment, the transmission ended, and he added, "Once you've watched it, you can contact him through the imprint... It will consume some energy, but aside from aiding Dao comprehension, those with an imprint can communicate with one another." Li Hao nodded without speaking. He watched the recorded conversation between the two from start to finish. After a long time, he let out a prolonged breath. In the eyes of a seventh-rank Sovereign, were there truly so many flaws? It seemed borrowing seventh-rank power was not the same as truly being a seventh-rank; his judgment of their capabilities still lagged far behind. Or rather, this Wushan was no ordinary seventh-rank. A powerhouse of the Yunxiao Great World... Pondering the matter, he expended a considerable amount of energy. Being not overly far from Tianfang, he quickly established contact with Kongji. "Let me speak with Senior Wushan!" "Alright!" *** A moment later. A phantom figure coalesced within the river. Li Hao gazed at the phantom, feeling a touch of emotion. Foregoing pleasantries, he asked directly, "Senior's intention is for me to open Tianfang's Great Dao Universe, and Senior will take possession of it?" "Correct." Wushan smiled faintly. "Of course, you may refuse! You could likely escape right now, and abandoning a few people wouldn't matter much to you. Xinwu likely has its own arrangements and doesn't need your worry. But if you agree, I can provide you with assistance!" "Including... directly attacking the Sovereigns sent by Red Moon! Forcing them to deploy more powerhouses for reinforcements! You must understand, striking at high-rank Sovereigns is perilous and comes at a steep price..." Li Hao spoke, "If I agree now, but change my mind after the crisis passes?" "Will you abandon Silver Moon?" Wushan chuckled. "What if I wait until reaching the seventh rank before returning?" Wushan laughed again. "You may be a genius of supreme talent, but without returning to Tianfang... attaining the seventh rank while wandering the chaos will be exceedingly difficult! In the vast cosmos, opportunities are plentiful, but they rarely belong to you! Your opportunities, I suspect, largely lie within Tianfang! You will return. Besides, I am merely discussing terms with you. If you refuse, I cannot force you, can I?" "Tianfang is a ninth-rank Great Dao Universe and has yet to revive. Even if Senior enters, you may not be able to command its revival..." "No matter!" Wushan smiled. "What I seek is not necessarily Tianfang itself!" Li Hao fell into contemplation. What did that mean? Wushan explained, "People like us desire to break free from certain constraints. In fact, it is best if Tianfang does not revive! I merely need to relocate my Great Dao here, securing a vessel for it so it will not dissipate! Whether I can command the universe is not the critical point! The key is that I will no longer be bound by another!" "No high-rank Sovereign wishes to remain a pawn on someone else's board, and I am no exception." "King of Silver Moon, what say you?" After prolonged consideration, Li Hao spoke: "Do I have the capital to refuse?" "Of course you do!" Wushan laughed heartily. "So long as you discard all attachments and flee, you could borrow external power—perhaps even borrowing seventh-rank strength again—to escape beyond Tianfang, beyond Red Moon. Could I truly hunt you down across the cosmos?" "King of Silver Moon, does the choice to refuse not rest entirely with you?" Li Hao thought for a moment before speaking: "I cannot guarantee handing Tianfang over to you... It is not mine to give! I can only promise to open Tianfang's universe once for Senior, allowing you to enter. Whether you can claim it rests entirely on your own abilities! If Senior ends up trapped within, it has nothing to do with me, nor will I keep it open indefinitely... I lack the power to do so anyway! If Senior agrees to this, we have a deal!" This time, it was Wushan's turn to ponder. Merely opening it once for him to enter, without keeping it open, and whether he could claim it... would depend entirely on himself. Wushan sank into contemplation. Providing cover for Li Hao once in exchange for a single entry into a ninth-rank Great Dao Universe. Was it worth it? Of course it was! He did not have to pay much. As for dealing with Red Moon's Sovereigns, clashes between high-rank Sovereigns rarely resulted in life-or-death battles anyway; trading a few blows was harmless enough, and he had time to spare. After a long pause, Wushan responded, "Agreed! It will depend entirely on my own capabilities! If I can claim it, that is my fortune; if not, I will not blame you! I have already received word that Red Moon may dispatch two seventh-rank Sovereigns... but that may not draw the attention of all Red Moon powerhouses. If someone from the Bright Light Divine World arrives, I can trade a few blows with them for amusement, which might attract the notice of another high-rank Sovereign or two! Whether you can connect with Xinwu depends on you. As you said, you provide me an opportunity, and I provide you one... If there is news, I will have the Godchild relay it to you!" Li Hao drew a deep breath. "Agreed!" "A pleasure doing business with you!" Wushan's laughter rang clear. "By the way, the Godchild has taken responsibility for killing Chiyun and the others; otherwise... it would be difficult for me to account for it! Additionally, do not attempt to target Huilong's group again. If your movements are exposed, it will complicate matters for me!" "Understood!" Li Hao agreed readily, adding nothing more. This time, he had underestimated seventh-rank Sovereigns and had to pay the price. The cost was already lower than expected, with the other party agreeing to just a single opening. This was considered a light outcome. If Tianfang's Great Dao Universe were truly claimed by Wushan, it would be down to his own strength and fortune. Li Hao exhaled deeply and severed the connection. Gazing into the depths of the chaos, he turned back to glance toward distant Tianfang. After a long silence, he looked at Qian Wuliang. "The chaos is quite fascinating. In this vast cosmos, all kinds of people exist. One always assumes one can manage everything flawlessly, only to realize that before absolute strength, it's all a joke!" Li Hao gave a self-deprecating smile, then bared his teeth. "I'm going into seclusion!" "What?" "I am breaking through to the fourth rank!" Li Hao's resolve hardened. "No more waiting!" Previously, he had entertained thoughts of waiting a while longer, perhaps to establish contact with Xinwu and attempt to obtain insights into the Dao of Extreme Yin. But now... Wushan's emergence had thoroughly shattered that inclination. Li Hao, you are not the cleverest here, nor are you the strongest. At a time like this, nothing will proceed strictly according to your expectations. You can only grow stronger! Thus, he chose to abandon waiting for the Dao of Yin and Yang. Instead, he would comprehend the Dao of Annihilation and Revival; if that proved insufficient, then Light and Darkness; and if all else failed, the Five Elements! Regardless, he was breaking through! The corpse of the sixth-rank Chiyun would serve as the exact resource he needed. Once he reached the fourth rank, he could consider the rest. Qian Wuliang had no objections; he had few opinions on the matter anyway. Had it been him, he would have broken through to the fourth rank long ago rather than waiting around. *** Meanwhile, at Dark Demon Ridge. Wushan smiled, glancing toward the Dark Divine Hall, then at Kongji. "My thanks to the Godchild for brokering the connection!" He gave a soft laugh. "Dark Demon Ridge is no simple place. Since the Bright Light Divine World is already compensating for the Godchild's killings, why not purchase Dark Demon Ridge along the way? Dark Demon Ridge holds the opportunity for the fusion of Light and Darkness that the Godchild requires. The reason the Godchild slew Chiyun was that Chiyun attempted to expel you, refusing to let you comprehend the eighth-rank Dao of Darkness... Pay a small price to settle both Chiyun's matter and Dark Demon Ridge at once. How about it?" He had even concocted the excuse! The fusion of Light and Darkness! A flawless pretense. Dark Demon Ridge had been the domain of the eighth-rank Dark Envoy. The Bright Light Divine World was the domain of the eighth-rank Lord of Bright Light. Both were eighth-rank, polar opposites of Light and Darkness. Kongji had discovered an opportunity, Chiyun had interfered, and Kongji had slain him... It made complete sense. Kongji sighed helplessly. "What is the price?" "Nothing extravagant; if I ask for too much, I won't get it anyway... Three medium-sized worlds!" He smiled faintly. "Chiyun was a sixth-rank after all: one world for his descendants, one for the Yunxiao Great World, and I'll take one for my trouble! Consider it an errand fee." As for Sovereign Huilong... that was beyond his concern. Huilong could go wherever he pleased and seek out whomever he wished; it had nothing to do with Wushan. If the World Lord was feeling generous, giving the other world to Huilong was fine, but there was no reason for Wushan to run errands without taking a world for himself. Kongji had no choice but to nod. Wushan had clearly discerned certain truths, knowing that secrets resided within Dark Demon Ridge... perhaps even suspecting Dao Chess! Yet he did not care about that. What he wanted was Tianfang's Great Dao Universe. With Tianfang's Great Dao Universe in hand, Dao Chess was merely an incidental trinket, entirely dispensable. "Agreed!" Kongji accepted. Wushan smiled and turned to leave. Kongji suddenly called out, "Dao Chess was forged from an eighth-rank Great Dao Universe. Senior... why do you not want it?" "An eighth-rank Great Dao Universe?" Wushan did not even turn around. "An eighth-rank universe, and a forged one at that, with its Great Dao energy drained empty—can it help me reach the eighth rank? It cannot! Its Dao Lord was merely an eighth-rank; how could a semi-ruined husk allow me to attain the eighth rank? Sixth-ranks and ordinary seventh-ranks might covet it, but I have no interest. To become an eighth-rank, I require a higher Great Dao Universe!" "Furthermore... Godchild Mingtang... no, Godchild Kongji, remember this: every Great Dao Universe is born from the comprehension of cultivators!" He departed directly, lingering no longer. Kongji fell into deep thought. *Every Great Dao Universe is born from the comprehension of cultivators...* Those words held profound implications. Even his own father had never mentioned such a thing. Only after Wushan had departed did the phantom materialize, suddenly remarking, "He is right!" "Senior, what did Wushan mean by..." "It is simple. A Great Dao Universe born from the comprehension of an eighth-rank Sovereign—and a half-ruined one at that—holds virtually no hope of aiding him to the eighth rank. Thus, in his eyes, I am trash, and he has no use for me! But a ninth-rank Great Dao Universe comprehended by the ninth-rank Lord of Tianfang, even if drained empty, can help him step into the eighth rank. That makes it a treasure. On one side lies treasure, on the other, trash. Would he choose trash or treasure?" "..." Kongji was rendered speechless. Those were not his words, after all. Wushan was truly an audacious figure. Dao Chess, refined from an eighth-rank universe, was dismissed as mere trash. He gazed once more in the direction Wushan had departed. Was Li Hao the only one who had underestimated these figures? Had he not done the same? Even with his broader horizons, he had never imagined that Wushan, upon arriving, would unravel the situation instantly, grasp the opportunity, and strike a deal with Li Hao in the blink of an eye. What point was there in killing Li Hao? Entering the Tianfang Universe, becoming an eighth-rank Sovereign, and, if all went smoothly, taking command of a ninth-rank universe to forge the Wushan World—that was his true goal. And he possessed the capital to pursue it. "The Lord of Yunxiao..." He suddenly smiled faintly. "Perhaps Yunxiao will lose a top-tier Sovereign; that wouldn't be a bad outcome! Small wonder Wushan wishes to break away. All the legwork falls to him. Even after reaching the seventh rank, he is still running errands for Yunxiao; wanting out is only natural." A seventh-rank was a king wherever they went. In Yunxiao, the World Lord perhaps trusted him too much, or perhaps found his competence indispensable, leaving matters large and small for him to handle. That was also why Kongji had known that once trouble arose here, the one arriving would most likely be Wushan. Clearly, the man was sick of it. Fascinating indeed! Another person might have pursued Li Hao; then again, another person might never have noticed anything amiss in the first place. The phantom also sighed with emotion. "The chaos these days is quite intriguing. Having not ventured out for many years, I hear there is also a Xinwu, which must be rather interesting as well." Kongji said nothing, closing his eyes to resume his cultivation. It was interesting, but... he was still too weak. Once he reached the seventh rank, things would become far more interesting. *Li Hao, I wonder if you understand this.* *If you fail to step into the mid-ranks this time, I fear you will scarcely be able to accomplish anything further—and that would be dull indeed.* *** Stepping out of Dark Demon Ridge, Wushan glanced at the sky and smiled. Young people were quite amusing, and he hoped this region would become a bit more lively. *World Lord, this is hardly a betrayal on my part. It is just that... I am a seventh-rank Sovereign after all, and I am weary of running errands. I, too, hope that one day others will run errands for me—after all, I need time for seclusion as well!*