Testing the Blade

Did he care about saving face? Li Hao didn't care about such things. As for fighting for Senlan... he meant every word. Why shouldn't he fight for Senlan? Could a mere rank-six Great Dao Universe be more enticing than a rank-eight one? Since that was the case... when he said he would fight for Senlan, he was completely serious. In the courtyard. Li Hao met Jihao once again. At this moment, Li Hao's demeanor seemed to shift, his expression turning solemn. The instant he laid eyes on Jihao, his voice was utterly grave: "Our Wandao Sovereign Cohort takes people's money to solve their troubles! "Today, having accepted ten million Great Dao crystals from Senlan, we shall devote our full strength to fighting for Senlan's security, fighting to defend Senlan!" Jihao felt thoroughly awkward. *Damn it!* *This guy... is truly shameless.* *He makes it sound so real.* What kind of joke was this? Ten million Great Dao crystals could buy more than ten Sovereigns willing to fight to the bitter end for Senlan... Did he think Jihao was stupid, or was he the stupid one? To put it bluntly, Senlan had handed out those ten million Great Dao crystals with the mindset of brushing off a beggar. If you took it and worked, great. If you didn't do a thing... it didn't matter either. Who would care? Yet despite his thoughts, Sovereign Jihao maintained a beaming smile: "You flatter us! Sovereign Wandao, safety comes first. So long as it's feasible, you and your fellow Sovereigns need only do your best!" As he spoke, he felt awkward even hearing himself. *I actually have to comfort you and tell you not to take it seriously? What kind of bizarre world is this?* Yet Li Hao grew even more solemn: "You are mistaken, Senior! In my world, if you take someone's money, you fight to the bitter end—never resting until death, never surrendering! Today, having accepted Senlan's Great Dao crystals, I, Wandao, will fight to the bitter end until Senlan safely advances to the seventh rank, or... until Senlan chooses to surrender on its own!" "..." Jihao felt utterly embarrassed, not even knowing what to say. After a long while, he forced a smile: "Then... then do as you please, Fellow Daoist." With that, he added, "I have other business to attend to. If you need anything, contact me again." He turned to leave on the spot. Li Hao hastily stopped him: "Senior, we agreed on giving us authority over two fissures..." "Feel free to claim whichever you wish!" Jihao wished they would go claim them. Turning back with a smile, he said, "Presently, aside from the world gate, the Senlan Great World has eleven fissures. Five are under Senlan's control, while the remaining six... take whichever you want. If you can take them all, they're all yours!" Li Hao smiled and nodded. "Good. Would Senior find it convenient to give me a map?" "Of course!" Jihao almost chuckled. Was this guy for real? Being so dead serious... it left Jihao at a loss for words. This Wandao was either playing dumb or harboring an ulterior motive! As for actually being an idiot, that was impossible. Could an idiot reach the Sovereign level? Could an idiot command so many obedient Sovereigns under him? Did he take all those Sovereigns for fools? Without another word, Jihao transmitted a consciousness map to Li Hao. Aside from the five under Senlan's control, the other six fissures were held by others. No ordinary matter! Jihao knew very well who controlled those fissures. The Red Moon World held two. Of the remaining four, Tianlan, Cangjiang, and Yueming each held one, allowing them easy passage in and out. The last one was held by a peak rank-six rogue cultivator—a true rogue cultivator. Those controlling the fissures were the factions genuinely aiming to seize Senlan. Forced by circumstances, Senlan had no choice but to swallow its pride and tolerate them. Just as Jihao was about to leave, Li Hao stopped him again: "Senior, if we seize these fissures and the figures backing them come attacking, what should we do?" "..." Jihao was growing impatient. *Going through the motions is enough!* He said in a low voice, "They won't. Rest assured! Everyone is currently operating in the shadows; no one will openly declare their stance. The three Great Worlds dare not declare themselves, and that side won't openly reveal its intentions either. After all, we all came here back then for an alliance. Turning against an ally would make them laughingstocks in the chaos. Therefore, until the critical moment, until there is no other choice... those people won't show their faces! Right now, rogue cultivators are taking the lead. Just like Senlan, everyone is using rogue cultivators to act under a justifiable pretext!" Li Hao nodded. "That's good to hear!" Jihao frowned slightly. "Does Fellow Daoist have anything else to ask?" "Nothing for now. If anything comes up, I'll consult Senior again." "Very well." Jihao couldn't be bothered to say any more. This guy... had far too much free time. *I'm done with you!* With that, he shifted away at top speed. …… Once Jihao left. Li Hao glanced at the map and chuckled. "Since that's the case... let's go. We'll target the fissures first! The fissure I entered through earlier had three Sovereigns stationed at it. Just near that fissure alone, there are quite a few Sovereigns. Kill them!" "..." Seriously? Everyone looked at him, temporarily speechless. Li Hao took a deep breath. "Don't overthink it, I'm serious! These Sovereigns—whether from the major worlds outside or elsewhere—are our adversaries... Rogue cultivators, on the other hand, don't really count as such!" Yueming, Tianlan, Cangjiang, Red Moon, and even Senlan were all adversaries—Xinwu's adversaries... And Xinwu's adversaries were currently Li Hao's adversaries. Therefore, wiping out these Sovereigns required no sympathy. As for that last fissure held by a supposed rank-six rogue cultivator... could it be the Sword Venerable? Hard to say. The Sword Venerable might not dare show himself; perhaps it was Kongji? Who knew. Or an actual rogue cultivator? That was possible too. Put that aside for now; clean up the others first. "Depart!" Li Hao soared straight toward the heavens. The fissures were all located along the barrier. Senlan was still peaceful for now... so let him fire the first shot! …… At the same time. Within Senlan's Great Dao Universe. The Senlan World Lord, presiding over the universe, was currently devouring a core Dao source deep within. At that moment, the entire Senlan was projected before his eyes, including Li Hao's group. He knew a bit about these people. Accepting payment to do work. Classic rogue cultivator style. However, they hadn't taken much payment. It was acceptable, though he didn't know if anyone stood behind them. With quite a few Sovereigns, this group seemed to have sprung out of nowhere. Now, seeing them fly straight toward the heavens... the Senlan World Lord couldn't help smiling, murmuring softly, "Could they truly be heading to seize the fissures?" If so, that would be amusing. Currently, everyone holding the fissures harbored designs on Senlan, having come specifically to seize the Great Dao Universe. Those rogue cultivators wandering Senlan World, on the other hand, had few such ambitions, mostly seeking scraps. Thus, those at the fissures were tricky and difficult to deal with. Did a faction also stand behind this Sovereign Wandao? The eleven fissures hadn't vanished yet, which indicated that there were still issues between Senlan's Great Dao Universe and the world itself. Otherwise, those fissures should have closed long ago. And some fissures' inability to close was also tied to those Sovereigns stationed there. He couldn't easily reveal himself! As the World Lord, stepping out of the Great Dao Universe right now... would be extremely dangerous. A rank-seven might attack immediately. He had to remain seated within the Great Dao Universe to keep others guessing about his true condition. It was also to prepare for swiftly assimilating the Great Dao Universe and stepping into rank seven. At this moment, he watched as Li Hao's group headed straight for the first fissure... the very fissure Li Hao had used to enter earlier. The Senlan World Lord knew very well who backed that fissure. The Red Moon World! It was a fissure controlled by Red Moon through rogue cultivators. There was actually another fissure under Red Moon's control as well, held directly by native Red Moon Sovereigns! "Quite bold... That means they aren't Red Moon's people!" The World Lord thought to himself, growing intrigued. Did these people... truly dare make a move? He knew the three Sovereigns guarding that spot: the Bull, Dog, and Rat emperors among the chaos rogue cultivators. The three Sovereigns colluded closely and formed a fairly well-known small cohort within the Red Moon Domain. The eldest, Golden Bull Demon Emperor, was at rank three. The second, Xiaoyue Sovereign, was at rank two. The third, Thousand-Headed Rat King, was at rank one. These three were not pure chaos beasts; they were Sovereigns who had emerged from worlds. Sovereigns who emerged from worlds were somewhat different from native chaos beast races. All three belonged to the demon race. The demon race and chaos beast races could not be conflated. Senlan was very quiet, having yet to see a battle between Sovereigns erupt. At this moment, the World Lord grew interested and began watching. Not just him; in truth, many Sovereigns were watching at this moment. …… At the fissure. Among the three Sovereigns, the Golden Bull Demon Emperor—that seemingly quiet Sovereign—suddenly looked down past the boundary wall, his brows furrowing. "It's that Sovereign Wandao from earlier!" The third brother, Thousand-Headed Rat King, was somewhat fearful. "What is that guy coming here for? Could it be over those three hundred Great Dao crystals?" Only after Li Hao entered had it learned that this fellow was actually the leader of a small team. He seemed to have quite a few Sovereigns under him. Not someone to provoke lightly! "How could that be!" The second brother, the dog-headed Sovereign, spoke gravely: "Are they here to pick a quarrel, or... do they want to leave the world?" The eldest said nothing, falling silent. After waiting a moment and confirming that the party was heading straight toward them, he said in a low voice, "Be careful. There's no need to fall out with them. If he wants the Great Dao crystals, return the three hundred to him! If they want to leave, don't stop them! If they're looking for trouble... they might not know who's behind us. At the critical moment, state our background directly. If he still ignores it, summon the Red Moon Sovereigns from the other fissure..." Red Moon controlled two fissures. If these fellows were bent on picking a fight, let the Red Moon Sovereigns handle it. This group had many rank-two Sovereigns, and that Wandao was likely rank-three. They were not easy to provoke. "Understood." "Rest assured, Eldest Brother!" "..." The three Sovereigns held a brief discussion, remaining vigilant as they awaited the group's arrival. …… In less than a minute. The party soared over through the air. The rat demon chuckled slyly and quickly called out, "Sovereign Wandao has arrived. What brings you here? Are Fellow Daoists looking to head outside?" Li Hao bowed slightly with measured courtesy, looking deadly earnest: "We have been entrusted with great responsibility by the Senlan World. The Senlan World Lord has recruited us as Peacekeeper Envoys of Senlan. Now that world fissures have appeared in Senlan World and require repair, we ask that you three Fellow Daoists step aside and move elsewhere. I am taking over this place!" Even as he spoke, he transmitted his voice: "If these three don't leave, join forces and slay them! Gou Ruo, Chan Xiu, Mo, you three handle the rank-two dog-head. Senior Tianji, King Huai, you two handle the rank-one rat demon. Qian Wuliang, Uncle-Master Hong, Black Panther, and Senior Tianji's clone, you four deal with the rank-three bull monster!" "..." Tianji and King Huai exchanged a glance, an indescribable look appearing in their eyes. *What is the meaning of this?* Although Tianji had dropped in rank and was currently rank-two... he and King Huai were still Xinwu Sovereigns, veteran Sovereigns, and members of Xinwu. Their combat strength was hardly weak. Good grief! The two of them teaming up—both rank-two, both essentially at the peak of rank-two—to deal with a rank-one rat demon? This... was quite insulting! All three of these were rogue cultivators, genuine rogue cultivators from small worlds. Sovereigns like that were very weak, alright? Though the two of them wanted to slack off... they never imagined Li Hao would let them lie flat so thoroughly! Even the clone was given more respect than the true self, at least being sent to deal with a rank-three Sovereign. Tianji was speechless, and King Huai looked somewhat embarrassed... though mostly feigned. Of course, the feelings in their hearts were hard to describe. In any case... it was very complicated. In Xinwu, if they had to take part in battle, it would never be like this. After arriving in Silver Moon, although Li Hao sent them into battle right away... two against a rank-one Sovereign—if they still complained about that, they would be unworthy of the title 'Sovereign.' Li Hao spoke again: "Fellow Daoists, will you yield or not?" Li Hao was exceedingly earnest: "This is the Senlan Great World. You three are occupying Senlan territory, acting like bandits ruling over a mountain. Senlan is no bandit's den; this is a Great World possessing the dignity of a Great World. If you leave now, the past will be forgiven. If you still refuse to go, I can only execute you as a warning to others!" The three Sovereigns exchanged glances, their expressions turning grim. The eldest, Golden Bull Sovereign, who rarely spoke, said, "We understand Fellow Daoist Wandao's words. However, I'm afraid you do not know what we represent." His voice was heavy: "This place... isn't occupied just because we want to, but rather..." Li Hao looked at him. The other party enunciated every word softly: "...because Red Moon wishes to occupy it!" Li Hao looked puzzled: "Really? Have Red Moon issue a document, a Great Dao official mandate, and I will believe you and leave you be." *Nonsense!* If Red Moon truly wanted to seize it openly, they would have acted long ago; why resort to this? Wasn't it all just to maintain plausible deniability? Issue you a Great Dao mandate? Were you joking! Even native Red Moon Sovereigns who came here wouldn't claim to be from Red Moon, let alone them. "Fellow Daoist should understand how things work!" Golden Bull Sovereign said coldly. "Why make an enemy of that side over petty benefits? This thigh of Senlan... isn't very sturdy! Be careful not to hug the wrong thigh, only to sink alongside Senlan in the end!" "So you refuse to yield?" "You're joking—" Li Hao sighed. "I gave you a chance!" With that, he smiled faintly: "Strike!" The three Sovereigns thought this fellow might be crazy or joking—did he really dare strike? *I already told you, we didn't come on our own, but for Red Moon, understand?* *A rank-eight Great World!* *Even if a few rank-sevens died, it was still a rank-eight Great World, a top-tier colossus. You bastards, Red Moon isn't far from here!* The moment Li Hao spoke. *Boom!* A thunderous rumble shook heaven and earth! In an instant, the Sovereigns behind him attacked simultaneously without the slightest hesitation. It was as if none of them knew what Red Moon was, or as if they were puppets—the moment Li Hao spoke, they struck! Counting Tianji's clone, even without Lin Hongyu present, there were a full nine Sovereigns. Striking together, their Great Dao shook the heavens in an instant. Surges of Great Dao power cut across heaven and earth, shaking the realm. They struck when they said they would strike, without a shred of hesitation. At that moment, the expressions of Golden Bull Sovereign and his brothers shifted drastically. In the next instant, all three Sovereigns reverted to their true forms at once. A colossal bull that blotted out the sky manifested, roaring furiously, "Audacious! You truly dare attack!" The three Sovereigns were both shocked and enraged. Their roar was also a notification to the Red Moon Sovereigns at the other fissure: *We're under attack here, come help quickly!* …… "A fight really broke out?" "Where did these fellows get such guts?" "Madness!" "..." At this moment, throughout Senlan's territory, Sovereign after Sovereign revealed looks of shock. Everyone knew this place was controlled by Red Moon. Where did these people spring from? In an instant, twelve Sovereigns were locked in combat. Li Hao did not strike, merely watching from the side. With twelve Sovereigns clashing simultaneously, the commotion was so massive that the entire world seemed to tremble, Great Dao might radiating in all directions. *Rumble!* The moment they engaged, the three Sovereigns were suppressed, thoroughly overwhelmed. Even the rank-three Golden Bull Sovereign was no exception. Four rank-twos joining forces to surround and kill him was too much even for a rank-three; the gap between rank-two and rank-three wasn't that vast. …… Elsewhere. Jihao and several Sovereigns secretly inhaled sharp breaths. What tremendous gall! These guys... were truly interesting. Someone laughed: "Those ten million Great Dao crystals were quite well spent! Regardless of whether they have other motives... a mere handful of rogue cultivators dared look down on our Senlan just by relying on Red Moon's prestige. Making them suffer a bit is nice; we've finally vented our anger!" Someone looked at Jihao and said with a smile, "This group has some nerve. I just wonder... could this be Red Moon putting on a show themselves..." Jihao shook his head; he wasn't sure either. Still, the fact that these people attacked directly was rather unexpected. He looked toward another fissure. Two Sovereigns were stationed there as well, but their strength was entirely different: one was rank-four, the other rank-three. Both were native to Red Moon! At this moment, Jihao murmured softly, "We'll see soon enough. I just don't know if Red Moon will intervene..." "They probably will, right?" "Hard to say." While the Senlan Sovereigns spoke, up above, the two Red Moon Sovereigns also knitted their brows. "Damned fools!" A rank-four Sovereign frowned deeply, turning to the rank-three Sovereign beside him, and said in a heavy voice, "Go tell those fellows not to meddle in business that isn't theirs! Tell them where we come from!" As Sovereigns of the Red Moon World, pride was second nature. *We are Sovereigns of a rank-eight Great World!* *Are these rogue cultivators insane?* *Our homeland is right nearby.* *They must have eaten a leopard's gall!* The rank-three female Sovereign also looked furious. Taking to the air, she flew off, her voice drifting back: "Do they need a lesson?" "No need, just drive them off!" The rank-four Sovereign shook his head. There was no need to escalate into a major clash with another band of rogue cultivators over a few rogues; driving them away was enough. After all, this group had quite a few people. It was still unclear who stood behind them. If no one was backing them... would they be this daring? …… *Boom!* A tremendous rumble echoed through heaven and earth. The three colossal beasts roared furiously. The rat transformed into a thousand-headed rat monster, an utterly chilling sight. Li Hao frowned slightly. So ugly! With Tianji and King Huai joining forces... a mere rank-one had virtually no chance of turning the tables. Li Hao also observed their attack methods. Tianji was his usual self... relying entirely on physical power, showing no discernible comprehension of Dao methods. A single punch shattered a head. As for King Huai... After watching for a while, Li Hao finally discerned some clues. King Huai seemed to specialize in speed, or perhaps shadows, moving like an assassin. With astonishing velocity, he severed one rat head after another in the blink of an eye. The rank-one thousand-headed rat monster shrieked in frenzy. This rat was also adept in speed and the Dao of shadowy devouring. Yet facing these two... it could hardly land a hit. Its Great Dao attacks were easily dodged. They were clearly only rank-two Sovereigns, and the gap between rank-one and rank-two wasn't insurmountable. Yet... it couldn't even brush against them. "Eldest Brother, save me!" The rat screamed frantically, genuinely terrified now. They were all Sovereigns; originally, it thought these people wouldn't dare actually kill them. But now... out of its thousand heads, over a hundred had been chopped off in just this brief moment. It was too horrifying! Over there, Golden Bull Sovereign said nothing. Save you? How could he save it! He was besieged by four rank-twos. One had to understand, of these four, two were Dao Lords, one was a World Lord, and one was Tianji's clone... Had it not been inappropriate to expose too much, the two Dao Lords joining forces could have slaughtered him already. Right now... he could barely hold his ground; how could he go save anyone? Just wait! Wait until Red Moon's Sovereigns arrived. He only needed to hold out for a bit; the distance wasn't great. By now, he could already sense a rank-three Sovereign rushing over rapidly—Red Moon's Sovereign had arrived. Golden Bull Sovereign breathed a sigh of relief. Good! *Boom!* Another loud crash rang out as the giant rat shrieked repeatedly, its heads severed one after another. Even if it survived this, its vitality would be severely depleted. "Stop!" Right at this moment, in the distance, a rank-three female Sovereign tore through the sky, her face cold. Wasting no words, she unleashed a wave of Red Moon power directly toward Li Hao... The power wasn't strong; it wasn't meant to kill, but to display Red Moon's power. To tell Li Hao: *I am a Red Moon Sovereign!* A rank-eight Great World, the Red Moon World—who among Sovereigns roaming the Red Moon Domain didn't recognize Red Moon power? Even a rank-one Sovereign could easily receive this power. Thus, it was solely meant as a deterrent. "Cease your hands, and grant me some face..." The rank-three Sovereign struck to deter Li Hao while speaking up. Meanwhile, Li Hao hadn't said a word. Not until her Red Moon power swept toward him did Li Hao suddenly bark coldly, "Audacious! You dare attack a Senlan Peacekeeper Envoy? You court death!" The rank-three female Sovereign was momentarily stunned. *Are you blind?* *Couldn't you see this was Red Moon power?* As the thought crossed her mind, a streak of sword light suddenly flared like fire incinerating the world! A blaze manifested, the long sword on his back unsheathing and cleaving downward! *Boom!* The void shattered directly! Heaven and earth split apart, the realm fell still, a black hole emerged, and a rank-three female Sovereign was cleaved in two in an instant! A crimson moon manifested—the mark of her Great Dao. Within the crimson moon, the female Sovereign still looked dazed. In the next instant, sword brilliance flared again, flames scorching the sky. *Boom!* The crimson moon exploded. The long sword acted like a living creature, swallowing the crimson moon. In an instant, the crimson moon vanished, and heaven and earth fell completely silent. In the distance, the rank-four Red Moon Sovereign hadn't paid much attention at first. When he finally looked... he was thoroughly dumbfounded. What happened? She... was dead? A rank-three Red Moon Sovereign was killed just like that, slain by a single strike of a sword! How was that possible? "Impossible!" At this moment, voices rang out from all directions, filled with shock. This person... killed a Great World Sovereign with a single sword strike? What formidable strength! What tremendous audacity! Didn't he know she was a Sovereign of Red Moon? …… Inside the Great Dao Universe. The Senlan World Lord was also startled. She... was truly dead? This man... what was his story? He was stunned as well. Even powerhouse figures from other Great Worlds wouldn't rashly kill a Red Moon Sovereign under normal circumstances. Unless... a Xinwu Sovereign? The Sword Venerable? A swordsman? Thoughts raced through his mind in an instant. He frowned slightly. Could this be the Xinwu Sword Venerable? This... couldn't be, right? He was thoroughly alarmed. If it was the Xinwu Sword Venerable... then things would get messy. Rumor had it that Awakened Spirit Sovereign's death had some connection to the Xinwu Sword Venerable. Could this person be the Xinwu Sword Venerable? Slashing a rank-three Great World Sovereign with a single strike—the strength Li Hao displayed was actually only rank-three. However, his power was extremely concentrated and refined. Moreover, the opponent hadn't been fully prepared, allowing him to cut her down on the spot. Sovereigns of the same rank fighting to the death... deciding victory in a single move was exceedingly rare. …… In an instant, the entire Senlan Great World was shaken. Someone truly dared kill a Red Moon Sovereign here? Even the native Senlan Sovereigns were horrified. Where did this guy get the nerve? True, the World Lord had said that showing strength now would make Red Moon take them more seriously. However... at the thought of a rank-eight Sovereign, everyone felt weak in the knees. And yet, someone actually dared do it! In the void. The three demon beasts were stunned as well. In that split second... *boom!* With a thunderous crash, Tianji directly tore apart the rank-one thousand-headed rat. He raised his brows slightly, glancing toward Li Hao. He was somewhat puzzled. Killing a rank-three with one sword strike was something Li Hao could indeed pull off... but right after the Sword Venerable killed Awakened Spirit, for you, a swordsman, to act so brazenly—weren't you afraid Red Moon would suspect you were the Sword Venerable in disguise? He didn't quite understand, but couldn't be bothered to think about it. Thinking about such things was too exhausting. "Third Brother..." *Boom!* With Li Hao having killed someone, the others let loose completely. No one held back anymore, including Gou Ruo and his companions. If they had been worried before, now that Li Hao had even killed a Red Moon Sovereign, what was there left to worry about? In an instant, intense battle erupted once more! With so many Sovereigns besieging three Sovereigns, wasn't it as easy as turning over a hand? Almost in the blink of an eye, amid furious roars and miserable shrieks, thunderous booms shook heaven and earth. Great Daos snapped, and Golden Bull Sovereign and the dog-headed Sovereign followed in their brother's footsteps! In an instant, four Sovereigns had fallen. Right at this moment, the void rippled, and Red Moon's rank-four Sovereign appeared, his face livid! Someone actually dared kill a Red Moon Sovereign right here! Yet looking at him, Li Hao showed no fear. Never mind that he was a rank-four himself; even if he weren't, with so many Sovereigns here, a single rank-four couldn't hope to take him down. His voice boomed: "What, does this Sovereign also wish to meddle in my Senlan's affairs? Senlan executes those who disrupt order. How dare you act unruly within our Senlan territory—do you wish to avenge them?" "Very well!" The Red Moon Sovereign stared coldly at Li Hao, his gaze razor-sharp! Truly insane! And... a swordsman... Did a swordsman have ties to Xinwu? For a moment, he hesitated. Meanwhile, Li Hao glanced down out of the corner of his eye. At that moment, Jihao, who had been hiding in secret, hesitated before finally tearing through the void. Looking at Li Hao's group and then at the Red Moon Sovereign, he forced a smile: "How did it come to this? You all come from the outside world; please do not engage in large-scale hostilities within my Senlan World..." Li Hao said with a heavy expression, "Sovereign Jihao, we carried out Senlan's orders to reclaim the fissure, slay the invading madmen, and defend Senlan. What fault have we committed?" "This... of course you are blameless." Jihao felt mortified. *Damn it, I thought you were just talking, but you actually struck with such ruthlessness.* *Ruthlessness aside, you went straight to killing a Red Moon Sovereign. Have you lost your mind?* *Furthermore, you're a swordsman...* Before Jihao could say more, the Red Moon Sovereign suddenly said in a heavy voice, "You are a sword cultivator? I have never heard of any powerful sword cultivator in the Red Moon Domain... Xinwu alone possesses a powerful sword cultivator. Wandao, are you a Xinwu fanatic?" The moment those words were spoken, Sovereigns in all directions were shaken! Li Hao sneered: "What, trying to frame me? Just because the Xinwu Human King killed Senlan's Dao Lord, you want to frame a swordsman? Because the person I killed happens to be associated with you!" The Red Moon Sovereign said with chilling malice, "Do you know where this is? No matter where, Xinwu is our enemy, our common enemy! Xinwu is the source of chaos in the Red Moon Domain. If you belong to Xinwu... you deserve death! Senlan's Dao Lord died at Xinwu's hands; even Senlan's Sovereigns ought to avenge their Dao Lord and slay Xinwu fanatics!" "Using a sword means having ties to Xinwu?" Li Hao sneered. "Laughable!" Yet the Red Moon Sovereign refused to let it go. Using a sword... was simply too coincidental; he could not help suspecting. He looked at Jihao: "Sovereign Jihao, do you know this person's background? He slaughters Sovereigns at will... inciting conflict between Senlan and various factions under Senlan's name. I suspect this person is the Xinwu Sword Venerable, deliberately provoking conflict between Senlan and all sides!" For a time, Jihao couldn't be certain either, subconsciously taking a few steps back from Li Hao. He couldn't help worrying about this. The Sword Venerable! A genuinely top-tier Sovereign—at least beneath high-rank Sovereigns, an existence practically without rival. Such a fellow... was terrifying. He hesitated, and Li Hao also frowned slightly. "You suspect me? Senior Jihao, because of an outsider, a Sovereign who invaded Senlan, you suspect me?" "..." This... Jihao gave a dry laugh: "How could that be! It's just that the Red Moon Domain has been turbulent lately, so I was thinking... I was pondering..." Li Hao suddenly sneered, looking toward the Red Moon Sovereign: "Do you have evidence? With a casual remark, you label me a Xinwu fanatic. Then what about you? I might as well say you are Xinwu's Blood Sovereign! Your Dao power is predominantly red, and rumor has it Xinwu's Blood Sovereign also wields red Dao power..." *Bullshit!* The Red Moon Sovereign frowned. His suspicion had some basis, whereas this person was spouting nonsense. He glanced at Li Hao's group, furrowing his brow, then looked back at Jihao and said coldly, "Whether he is the Sword Venerable in disguise can be determined with a single check! A Dao source cannot be disguised. Of course, even if it is the Sword Venerable in disguise, it would be difficult for us to verify... Why not have the Senlan World Lord personally investigate? We gathered here precisely to deal with Xinwu. If this person truly belongs to Xinwu... the Senlan World Lord has ample reason and duty to examine his true identity!" "Dao source?" Li Hao's expression grew cold. "You want to inspect my Dao source?" "Why not?" The Red Moon Sovereign sneered. "Not me—the Senlan World Lord!" Killing two birds with one stone! In passing, it would test the Senlan World Lord's condition. Moreover, he genuinely suspected Li Hao's identity, rather than picking a fight for no reason. Besides, this person had killed a Sovereign from his side; retribution was due. Whether he was or not, inspecting a Sovereign's Dao source... was difficult to accept, an intolerable violation. That way, as long as Senlan conducted the inspection, they would fall out with this person. When that time came... he would naturally have ways to handle these bastards! As long as Senlan fell out with them, whether they stayed in Senlan or fled... they wouldn't leave Red Moon territory alive. Jihao hesitated. The World Lord inspecting... and probing someone's Dao source at that... wasn't that an outright declaration of falling out? Damned bastard! Yet, what if this person truly was the Sword Venerable? Of all things to use, why did you have to use a sword! Truly obnoxious! He felt helpless; responding to this was truly difficult. He could ignore it and treat it as nothing, but what if it really was the Sword Venerable in disguise? While he was pondering, Li Hao suddenly smiled: "Since I work for Senlan, checking my background is only fair! I can accept an inspection... but I also have a condition. Nothing excessive: thirty million Great Dao crystals!" "..." Everyone was stunned. Did he value money over his life? The Dao source was the root of one's Great Dao—you dare let someone inspect it? Was he courting death? Even Jihao was dumbfounded, letting out a dry chuckle: "Fellow Daoist Wandao, this... was just casual talk..." Li Hao shook his head: "I know many people harbor suspicions. If this isn't resolved, I might be treated as the Sword Venerable's scapegoat and killed. As for my Dao source... what does it matter? Which Great World Lord doesn't know the core secrets of the Dao sources of the Sovereigns under them? It's not like knowing it means they'll kill you..." These words were interesting. Jihao's heart stirred. What did that mean? Was he saying... this fellow genuinely entertained thoughts of joining Senlan? If this person joined Senlan, having his Dao source inspected was no big deal. After all, if he truly joined, he would have to merge his Dao into the Great Dao Universe, and the Dao Lord would naturally know it. The Red Moon Sovereign also frowned slightly, looking at Li Hao with chilly eyes: "You are quite bold! Is this a provocation so Senlan won't inspect you?" Li Hao stared coldly at him: "What does it have to do with you? If I truly were the Sword Venerable... I would slay a busybody like you with a single strike!" "You..." Li Hao ignored him, turning to Jihao: "Of course, I will only allow one person to inspect me: the Senlan World Lord! No one else has the right, nor will I permit outsiders to probe me!" Jihao hesitated. "This... the World Lord has been busy lately. Moreover... Fellow Daoist Wandao, inspecting someone's Dao source isn't... isn't what our Senlan seeks..." "No matter!" Li Hao wore an easygoing expression. "Actually, I wish for nothing more, so that my suspicion can be cleared. That way, the next time I kill someone, no one will jump out and claim I belong to Xinwu." For a time, no one spoke. What should be done? Inspect him? While Jihao was still wavering, a voice suddenly drifted from the void: "Young friend, do you truly wish to inspect your Dao source, verify your identity, and dispel suspicion?" At this moment, the entire world seemed to ripple. Heaven and earth seemed to brighten! Jihao's expression changed slightly, and he bowed hastily: "World Lord!" The Red Moon Sovereign's expression also changed. A formidable pressure radiated in all directions, making his heart tremble. A peak rank-six World Lord! Not someone to provoke lightly. Li Hao, however, looked delighted: "Senlan World Lord? Senior has also taken note of the situation here? Indeed, I wish to clear my name. In fact, using my sword to slay formidable foes today was intended to draw the World Lord's attention. I knew certain individuals who do not wish Senlan well would jump out and link me to the Xinwu Sword Venerable... What this person proposed actually aligns with my intentions!" *So that was it!* Everyone's hearts stirred. As it turned out, this fellow did it intentionally. He wanted the Senlan World Lord to step forward. Judging by this... he had even decided to join the Senlan Great World. Didn't this fellow know Senlan's current predicament? At this moment, the illusory Senlan World Lord was also slightly surprised. An expert capable of slaying a rank-three Great World Sovereign with a single sword strike—though not mid-rank, definitely top-tier among low-ranks—who led multiple Sovereigns... was so eager to join Senlan? Did he have another purpose? Or what? "Young friend, an inspection of your Dao source is unnecessary... I believe you are not the Sword Venerable..." Li Hao shook his head: "There's really no difference; the World Lord need not feel it inappropriate. Inspecting my Dao source is actually my goal. Knowing each other thoroughly is better. After all, I rose quickly and haven't led this team for long. Most Sovereigns in the Red Moon Domain aren't familiar with me... Since that's the case, I need to prove myself so no one can link me to Xinwu. Otherwise... my life is forfeit!" A sensible person indeed! The Senlan World Lord smiled softly: "Young friend insists on this?" "Naturally!" Li Hao looked around. "However, my words still stand: only the World Lord may inspect me. As for the rest... they lack the qualifications!" Seeing Li Hao so confident, the Red Moon Sovereign couldn't help frowning, saying in a low voice, "A Dao source... might not be impossible to conceal..." Was this person the Sword Venerable or not? If he was... could he also conceal it? Li Hao laughed: "That's not for you to decide! What kind of thing are you? In front of the World Lord, do you have the right to speak or question?" He laughed heartily: "World Lord, as for whether my Dao source is concealed, if even the World Lord cannot detect it... then only a high-rank Sovereign could. If things have truly reached that level... there would be little need for me to hide before the World Lord. Of course, if you still don't trust me, I can directly merge my Dao source into the Senlan Great World." The Senlan World Lord's heart stirred, and he spoke: "No need for that; judging by the Dao source is sufficient. If you were the Sword Venerable, you would surely retain ties to Xinwu's Yin-Yang Origin; the Sword Venerable has not separated from Xinwu! There would be conflict between the Great Daos. "Young friend need only merge your Dao source into Senlan's Great Dao. If it stems from Xinwu... I will certainly detect it." With those words, a fissure seemed to open in the void. When different Great Dao Universes clashed in Great Dao power, just like Red Moon power entering the Silver Moon Dao, lightning would strike; it was unmistakable. If it were a rogue cultivator... their power was chaotic and disordered, capable of blending into a Great Dao Universe without causing conflict. Li Hao wasted no words, flying directly toward the Great Dao Universe. Everyone was startled! Even the Senlan World Lord's heart stirred. If this person was the Sword Venerable, charging directly into the Great Dao Universe right now would be huge trouble... Of course, if he truly was the Sword Venerable, entering my Great Dao Universe directly might also be seeking his own doom! Yet Li Hao flew directly into the Great Dao Universe, stopping right near the entrance. In an instant, a flame manifested on his body, resembling a fierce tiger! The fiery glow radiated across heaven and earth, illuminating the Great Dao Universe. Within the firelight, sword brilliance emerged—pure Dao of fire, exceedingly potent and incomparably refined! Not like a rogue cultivator! Yet it indeed caused no rejection from the Great Dao. That pure Great Dao power seemed more like having attained some fortune and legacy. The Senlan World Lord's heart stirred as he briefly inspected it... A surge of flame power surfaced in his mind. Very strong! He immediately understood: this person had acquired a fire-attribute legacy, an exceptionally powerful fire-attribute legacy. However, it was merely an expert's legacy. He was not someone belonging to a Great Dao Universe. No wonder his strength was so formidable; this person had likely obtained the legacy of a high-rank Sovereign. That was an immense fortune. Meanwhile, Li Hao looked relaxed and open. "World Lord, may I exit now?" "Of course!" Li Hao exited the Great Dao Universe in an instant, and the Great Dao Universe sealed shut immediately. The Red Moon Sovereign, wanting to take a closer look, suddenly felt his vision darken and his heart shake, hurriedly closing his eyes. Then he heard the Senlan World Lord chuckle softly: "There is no need for further suspicion. Young Friend Wandao possesses fine fortune and supreme talent; achieving what he has today is only natural! Jihao, since you promised Young Friend Wandao, you must compensate him with Great Dao crystals... Young friend has contributed to our Senlan, and must not be treated coldly!" Jihao breathed a sigh of relief! The World Lord had personally manifested and verified everything, proving that Wandao was clean—at least not the Sword Venerable in disguise. That was good! That was enough! A smile appeared on his face as well: "Understood, rest assured, World Lord!" "I still have matters to attend to; the Dao is unstable. Fellow Daoists, when time permits in the future, we may discuss the Dao together..." With that, the phantom faded away. His arrival had seemed like a passing glance... In truth, the mention of the Sword Venerable had indeed drawn his attention. He was genuinely worried that the Sword Venerable had slipped into Senlan World. Now that it was confirmed not to be the Sword Venerable, that was enough! As for whether he was concealing anything... if the Sword Venerable had completely severed ties with the Origin Universe, there was nothing he could do. Furthermore, although this person used a sword, he was a fire-attribute cultivator, not a pure sword cultivator. That sword, however, was quite formidable! The Senlan World Lord could tell: that sword was likely a rank-four Sovereign weapon, perhaps acquired alongside the legacy by Sovereign Wandao. A rank-four Sovereign weapon paired with the legacy of a rank-seven fire cultivator... slaying a rank-three Sovereign with one strike was perfectly normal. At that moment, Li Hao smiled, looking at Jihao: "This time, we slew four Sovereigns: two at rank-three, which is sixty million Great Dao crystals; one at rank-two and one at rank-one, totaling ninety million Great Dao crystals! In addition, thirty million Great Dao crystals for inspecting me. That makes a total of one hundred and twenty million Great Dao crystals. Senior Jihao, that's correct, isn't it?" "..." Jihao was utterly speechless! Yes, that was indeed what was agreed earlier. However... you actually killed four Sovereigns in one go. Truth be told, he hadn't fully recovered his senses even now. This courage... was too immense! Did he truly value money more than his life? *Even as a native Senlan Sovereign, I wouldn't dare be so brazen.* Opposite them, the Red Moon Sovereign gave Li Hao a deep, chilling look. Saying nothing more, since the Senlan World Lord had already confirmed it, speaking further would only bring humiliation upon himself! Right now was not the time to brandish his Red Moon identity to sanction the other party either. "We shall see!" He cast a frosty glare at the crowd, ferocity flickering in his eyes, before vanishing from the spot in an instant. This fellow was detestable! Li Hao, however, beamed with a broad smile and barked, "Collect the corpses! Also, someone accompany Senior Jihao to collect the Great Dao crystals! The rest of you remain here to repair the fissure. Once the Great Dao crystals are in hand, we shall continue patrolling all directions to defend Senlan's security!" "Understood!" The group answered in unison, quite excited. Nothing happened even after all that? Jihao was speechless. *You're even sending someone along?* *Truly... a bunch who value money over their lives!* Forget it, give it to them. Although over a hundred million was an enormous sum, the World Lord had spoken. Moreover, four Sovereigns had been slain... Truth be told, Li Hao and his group couldn't absorb much Great Dao power; most of it had been absorbed by Senlan World. Senlan didn't lose out. Furthermore, four fewer enemies—this transaction wasn't a loss for them at all. "Then have someone accompany me, Fellow Daoist. Senlan World doesn't lack this bit of reserves..." Though his mouth said that, he sighed inwardly. *They really know how to make a profit.* Yet Li Hao added, "Right, you previously mentioned giving us fifty million Great Dao crystals as startup funds. Fellow Daoist only paid ten million, leaving forty million, which you said would be paid once we took action. So adding that forty million makes a total of one hundred and sixty million, correct?" Jihao paused, feeling somewhat awkward, and nodded. *Damn it!* He suddenly realized how lucrative this was. Over a hundred million Great Dao crystals could purchase a medium-sized world with change to spare. This... did these fellows truly plan on getting rich by killing Sovereigns? Still, thinking about how many Sovereigns they had to split it between... it didn't seem like too much. "Right, one hundred and sixty million..." Li Hao smiled and nodded. "Very well. Qian Wuliang, accompany Senior to collect it, and return swiftly!" "Yes!" Qian Wuliang hurriedly complied, leaving alongside Jihao. Meanwhile, Li Hao looked around and smiled. Killing Sovereigns was truly lucrative. When he killed a rank-seven, his cut had only been a hundred and seventy million Great Dao crystals—and that was a rank-seven Sovereign! Yet now, he had merely killed a few low-rank Sovereigns. Sure enough, just as the Sword Venerable said, Great World Lords had genuinely profound foundations; none lacked money. Originally, he only wanted to blend in with an identity... Now, Li Hao's interest was piqued. Defending Senlan, killing foreign Sovereigns—he could make a massive fortune!