Spoils of War

Another four Sovereigns. Within the Senlan Great World, the entire world seemed to have fallen dead silent. Only a few days had passed... and four more Sovereigns were dead! What was more, all four had hailed from the Red Moon World. In less than a month, this band of newcomers had slain eight Sovereigns. Crucially, even the three rogue cultivators had actually been part of Red Moon's peripheral forces. Was this group deliberately targeting Red Moon? Furthermore, everyone couldn't help but suspect whether these people had come specifically to claim bounties. Every single one of them had been teetering on the verge of a breakthrough. After this single battle, many Sovereigns felt far more envy, jealousy, and resentment than anything else. Almost every member of their group had advanced, particularly that Sovereign Wandao. Stepping from rank three to rank four was a dream countless Sovereigns could only yearn for! The news spread with lightning speed. Senlan was riddled with fissures, meaning information flowed freely. Surrounded by numerous nearby worlds at no great distance, it was not only Red Moon that received word at this moment—the other neighboring great worlds were alerted as well. The force Red Moon had sent into Senlan had been wiped out by a band of outsiders. And they had been dispatched with terrifying swiftness! Sovereign Wandao, a rank-four Sovereign possessing a rank-seven legacy and a rank-four sovereign weapon capable of projecting a Dao domain... Unless an opponent possessed a genuine high-rank sovereign legacy that also granted a domain, this Sovereign Wandao had virtually no rivals left among rank four. Even though he had only just advanced! The mere emergence of a domain was enough to leave ordinary rank-four Sovereigns utterly helpless. While useless against high-rank Sovereigns, to those at their level, a domain exerted absolute suppression unless one was a world lord or a Dao master! *** Meanwhile, on the side of Senlan's Sovereigns, Ji Hao—the one most familiar with Li Hao's group—wore a thoroughly conflicted expression. He had advanced! A fire-element rank four, armed with a rank-seven legacy, a rank-four sovereign weapon, and a Dao domain. By comparison... even on his home turf, Ji Hao doubted he would be a match for this man. Watching the other man cross from rank three to rank four with his own eyes stirred complicated feelings within him. Of course, Ji Hao belonged to the World Lord's lineage. These people had slain Red Moon Sovereigns... So while he felt apprehensive, he was also somewhat invigorated. A fine kill! Senlan had never truly dared to strike down those arrogant Red Moon brutes directly. Even though the World Lord had declared that killing them was of no consequence, they still hadn't dared. Now, Wandao and his group had shown everyone that they dared! Utterly mad! At the same time, subtle shifts began rippling across Senlan. The rogue cultivators, who had previously banded together, no longer spoke of taking the initiative to attack this group. Instead, they fell dead silent. Not only that, but other rogue cultivators scattered across the surroundings began rapidly converging toward them. Moreover, the expressions of the experts guarding the fissures in all directions shifted erratically. Just as the people of Senlan were reeling in shock, experts stationed at several nearby fissures—hailing from the three great worlds of Tianlan, Cangjiang, and Yueming—suddenly converged toward a single fissure! All three factions originated from great worlds and were anchored by rank-four Sovereigns. Yet the moment Li Hao slew two mid-rank Sovereigns, the experts of these three great worlds hastily merged their forces! Originally, each great world had deployed roughly one rank four and one rank three. In the blink of an eye, six Sovereigns gathered together, three of whom were mid-rank. Their combined strength was formidable, yet they remained on high alert. At another fissure previously garrisoned by subordinates of an expert among the rogue cultivators, a terrifyingly potent aura suddenly descended. A white-haired elder manifested directly near the fissure. He had come to oversee it in person! A rank-six Sovereign! His arrival brought instant relief to the rogue cultivators stationed there. Moments ago, they had been gripped by terror, dreading that the blood-crazed band might come straight for their heads. Now, the titan backing them had arrived in the flesh. This also demonstrated that rogue cultivators were still rogue cultivators. Lacking deep reserves, they couldn't muster a horde of mid-rank Sovereigns and had no choice but to step forward personally just to be safe. Of the eleven fissures, Li Hao had seized two. Senlan controlled five. Now, two more had been abandoned, leaving only two fissures under the control of outside factions. While many were still pondering the situation, the two abandoned fissures gradually began to knit shut. Several Sovereigns turned their gazes to the sky, their expressions shifting slightly. No one was there! Yet, soundlessly, the fissures were sealing. This signified one thing: the Senlan World Lord was tightening his control over the realm and mending the fractures. Once all the fissures were repaired and only the world gates remained, Sovereigns would no longer be able to come and go as they pleased. They would have to pass through the world gates! And the world gates were naturally under the Senlan World Lord's absolute control. Out of eleven fissures, only nine remained in an instant. A gentle voice suddenly echoed by Li Hao's ear: "Little Friend Wandao, regarding the other fissure, shall I mend it, or do you intend to continue guarding it?" The Senlan World Lord! Li Hao's heart stirred. The Senlan World Lord had likely possessed the ability to repair some of these fissures long ago. However, because they had been held by representatives of various factions, he had refrained from taking action to avoid an immediate falling-out. Now that the other parties had voluntarily abandoned them, he moved swiftly to seal them without giving offense. A shrewd old fox indeed! Though he framed it as a consultation, refusing would contradict Li Hao's established persona—even if that persona wasn't strictly essential. The fissures were crucial entry points for Sovereigns entering Senlan. Without them, passing through the world gates would be genuinely perilous. "It would be best for the World Lord to seal it personally, lest the repair be incomplete." "Then I shall mend it with the world's power. Your advancement this time is truly worthy of celebration. I hear that you require worlds to help your companions advance to the mid ranks?" Li Hao's thoughts raced, and he replied via voice transmission, "That is indeed the plan... Entering rank three is relatively easy for them, but crossing from rank three to rank four is exceedingly difficult! Borrowing the explosive energy of a world might offer a sliver of hope..." "A minor world offers very little hope. Those who successfully break through to the mid ranks by devouring a minor world are exceedingly rare, and even then, they are usually already teetering on the threshold!" The Senlan World Lord's voice resonated, "For slaying two rank-four Sovereigns this time, the agreed bounty entitles you to two minor worlds and eighty million Great Dao crystals... However, now that you have reached rank four, minor worlds offer you limited utility. Would you mind exchanging them directly for a medium world?" Li Hao's heart leaped! A medium world! The weakest of medium worlds was comparable to Silver Moon. Typically, a medium world was worth more than ten times as much as a minor world. The notion that one could be bought for a hundred million Great Dao crystals was mere talk. Medium worlds were almost always guarded by mid-rank Sovereigns, and rarely just one. In the chaos, minor worlds were abundant and easy to conquer. Medium worlds, however, required risking one's life. Consequently, transactions involving medium worlds were extraordinarily rare. Was the Senlan World Lord trying to bribe him, or truly rewarding him? One had to remember that Senlan was merely a rank-six great world, not a rank-seven. Even if he possessed any medium worlds, their numbers would be frightfully limited. While slaying two rank-four Sovereigns could theoretically be bartered for a medium world, that was purely on paper; in practice, it was virtually unheard of. "World Lord, is that appropriate?" A single medium world might just fulfill Er Mao's request for ten small fish. That was the first benefit. Second, Li Hao needed to comprehend the Great Dao composition and structure of a medium world. Aside from his familiarity with Silver Moon and the single minor world in his possession, he had never owned a medium world. Third, Er Mao only consumed world source while leaving the world itself untouched. If Black Panther, as a world lord, devoured a medium world, it would serve as an enormous enhancement for Silver Moon itself! "Why would it not be appropriate?" the Senlan World Lord replied. "I believe it is quite fitting. Only a medium world can be of genuine assistance to you. "This medium world is not particularly strong. In the past, it was guarded by a rank-four Sovereign who opposed our Senlan and was crushed by us. Although it lacks a Great Dao Universe, the power of its Dao principles is exceptionally robust. After conquering it, we did not plunder it heavily... Its world power remains dense. Whether you choose to refine it or devour it directly, either is viable!" If one refined it and migrated a population inside, one could immediately become the lord of a medium world! Becoming a world lord was another avenue of advancement. This was precisely why medium worlds were rarely traded. Packed with dense world power, a medium world held by a rank-four Sovereign was generally difficult for even a rank five to breach with ease. "Then... my gratitude to the World Lord for granting this!" "You are most welcome!" The Senlan World Lord's voice continued to whisper by his ear, though the man himself never appeared. He added, "Furthermore, you are well aware of the origins of these people. It is inconvenient for me to show myself directly; otherwise, I would have executed them long ago! Naturally, because of that, their side will certainly not let matters rest. If I am not mistaken, a rank six will definitely enter our borders this time! "Aside from myself, Senlan currently has only one other rank-six Sovereign. It is inconvenient for me to act or to overtly project deterrence. Senior Yan Fang can deter one rank six, but there is more than one rank six currently present within the realm! "If another rank six sees an opening while he is deterring Red Moon... things will become very troublesome." Li Hao's mind churned at these words. Did this mean that when Red Moon's rank-six Sovereign arrived, Senlan's rank six would not intervene? If so... this Senlan World Lord's vision was rather petty. It was only natural for Li Hao to think so. Those Red Moon invaders had come to seize the Great Dao Universe, not to make friends. After Li Hao had wiped out Red Moon's vanguard, aside from offering a medium world, the World Lord seemed unwilling to provide any practical backup. Did that mean Li Hao had to shoulder the burden alone? As he pondered, the Senlan World Lord spoke again: "A rank-six Sovereign is vastly more powerful than a rank four. Three or four rank fours can scarcely contend with a single rank six!" It was not particularly difficult for one rank six to fight two rank fives, just as a rank five could effortlessly handle two rank fours. And that was still among mid-rank Sovereigns, where the disparity was relatively manageable. Once one reached the high ranks, the gap became an entirely different story. If an ordinary rank six crossed paths with a rank seven, being killed in a single strike was completely normal. The moment a Dao domain unfolded, absolute suppression fell! Rank seven was a monumental transformation. Four or five rank fours would find it nearly impossible to defeat a rank six, and that assumed the rank six was mediocre. Against someone like the Sword Venerable, ten rank fours attacking together would still be slaughtered effortlessly. While Li Hao was lost in thought, the Senlan World Lord's voice came through again: "Senlan cannot openly move against them... Of course, if pushed to the brink at a critical juncture, we will resist! But for now, since we have not completely severed ties, and to avoid drawing in too many Red Moon Sovereigns, we may have to trouble you to stand at the forefront and hold the line for a time... In return—though you yourself may not care—the Sovereigns under your command are likely seeking an opportunity of their own... "Senlan's Dao Master fell previously, granting our realm a chance to advance to rank seven. To resist Red Moon's experts, your companions are welcome to enter our Senlan realm... Having lost a peak rank-six Sovereign, our cosmos can easily accommodate a few more Sovereigns!" Li Hao's heart stirred. Was this a recruitment offer, or another probe? Joining a Great Dao Universe! It was certainly a boon. If Senlan truly advanced to rank seven, every Sovereign within its Great Dao Universe would benefit immensely. However, Qian Wuliang and the others carried complications. Integrating into another Great Dao Universe was fraught with risk! If their concealment failed, their identities would be instantly exposed. Thoughts flashed through Li Hao's mind. The Senlan World Lord's intent was clear: he would not directly intervene against Red Moon, but he was willing to absorb several of Li Hao's subordinates into the Great Dao Universe. With home-field advantage, their odds of holding out would be higher. Or perhaps... if Li Hao ended up dead, those who had entered the Great Dao Universe would naturally become Senlan's Sovereigns. Once bound to the Great Dao Universe, they would have virtually no way out. They would have to remain of one mind with Senlan. Weighing his options, Li Hao quickly replied via voice transmission, "World Lord, how many can you accommodate?" The Senlan World Lord was slightly surprised. This man was truly willing? Once they entered the Great Dao Universe, they would no longer answer strictly to him. While not absolute, once free of his constraints and bound as Sovereigns of the universe, Wandao would lose all leverage and deterrence over them. Even if they had originally been his subordinates, they might disregard him entirely. "Presently, only three to five can be accommodated... Any more will likely have to wait until the Great Dao Universe advances. At that time, dozens more Sovereigns can be absorbed..." "World Lord, may I consider the matter and consult with them first?" "Of course, at any time! Furthermore, Red Moon is not far from us. If a rank-six Sovereign travels at full speed, they will arrive in Senlan in about three days." Three days—that was remarkably fast. And that was for a rank six! A rank seven might need only a single day. An eighth-rank might arrive in mere moments. This showed just how close these realms were to Red Moon, yet Senlan hadn't feared being overwhelmed directly. Of course, since they had initially sought an alliance, proximity was necessary; otherwise, a strategic alliance would have been meaningless if an eighth-rank Lord of Red Moon took an eternity to arrive. "Understood. My thanks to the World Lord for this consideration!" "It is only right... Furthermore, when Red Moon's experts arrive, if you sense danger, there is no need to confront them head-on. Simply take refuge within Senlan. If they dare act unscrupulously and run rampant within our borders, this seat will personally intervene when necessary!" Only these last words carried a shred of backbone. Whether they were genuine remained to be seen. Still, Li Hao reflected that they might not be entirely false. If the enemy pushed too far, it was only natural for the Senlan World Lord to strike personally—provided he was already poised for breakthrough. Otherwise, drawing in Red Moon's remaining rank-seven and rank-eight titans would spell utter catastrophe. The Senlan World Lord's consciousness soon receded. At that moment, the fissure Li Hao had previously occupied began to mend rapidly. Out of eleven fissures, three were gone in the blink of an eye. Of the remaining eight, Senlan held five. The expressions of the rogue cultivators within the realm darkened. Once all fissures were sealed, things would become extremely perilous. Hesitating briefly, the rogue cultivators, led by two rank-four Sovereigns, headed straight toward the fissure guarded by the rank-six rogue Sovereign. Though Li Hao's group had fewer numbers, those cultivators feared being besieged by Li Hao and the Senlan Sovereigns in unison. None dared draw near. For now, seeking shelter with the rogue titan was far safer. *** Silence enveloped the world. Li Hao's side made no further sound either. Everyone was immersed in comprehension, digesting their gains. Slaying several Sovereigns had propelled multiple members of their group into rank three in an instant. As for Red Moon, whether they would send one rank six or more was difficult to predict. What was certain was that a rank-six Sovereign would arrive in person. Moreover, there might still be undercover Red Moon Sovereigns lurking within the realm, or perhaps some rogue cultivators were funded by Red Moon. That was standard practice. To seize a great world, Red Moon might have even smuggled a rank six in secretly... But right now, their opponent was merely Li Hao, so they wouldn't expose themselves recklessly. They would wait until the Senlan World Lord made his move before revealing their hand. Were there no other rank-six Sovereigns in Senlan? Certainly there were! Yet aside from that rogue rank six, almost none had shown their faces. Their target was not Li Hao, but the Senlan World Lord. Before the World Lord appeared, these hidden figures would not break cover lightly—just like the Sword Venerable and Kongji. They hadn't shown themselves either. On the surface, only a few rank-four Sovereigns were present, but the true picture was far from that simple. If it were that straightforward, Senlan would have wiped them out long ago. Li Hao cast his gaze around. Lin Hongyu remained in secluded cultivation. Aside from himself, of the nine Sovereigns present, five had reached rank three. Xunruo and Tianji's true body had already been rank three, so their status wasn't a breakthrough. The ones who had genuinely advanced were Black Panther, Qian Wuliang, and Hong Yitang. King Huai, Chan Xiu, and Tianji's clone were rank two, while Mo remained at rank one. Senlan's Great Dao Universe... Thoughts churned in Li Hao's mind as he contemplated the situation. Everything so far had been mere skirmishes. Until Senlan's Sovereigns truly joined the fray, all of this was just an appetizer. After a moment's reflection, he sent a voice transmission: "Is anyone willing to join the Senlan universe?" Everyone opened their eyes in unison, looking toward Li Hao. Join Senlan? Li Hao had mentioned this earlier, but could they truly disguise themselves now? Li Hao clarified, "Not a disguise, but a genuine integration! A true merging into their Great Dao... If Senlan succeeds in advancing to rank seven, it might allow you to complete your breakthroughs directly!" This revelation startled everyone once more. "King Huai, you have already undergone cleansing once, stripping away the aura of your original source... Your Dao does not share an overly tight bond with Xinwu... If you integrate into it, once Senlan crosses into rank seven, you will undoubtedly step directly into rank three!" King Huai hesitated, looking as if he wanted to speak. Li Hao continued, "My thought is that King Huai, Chan Xiu, and Mo—the three of you who are not yet rank three—can give it a try. Entering the Senlan Great Dao Universe might be an opportunity! As for the others, they are already rank three, and Senior Tianji's clone doesn't particularly matter either way... This way, as long as Senlan truly manages to advance, you stand to make a massive profit! "This is a rare chance! "When a rank six steps into rank seven and the Great Dao source reveals itself, the entire Great Dao Universe will absorb boundless chaotic energy, rapidly transmuting it into Great Dao power. Crossing from the low ranks to the mid ranks is difficult, but rising one or two levels within the low ranks is not hard at all." At this, King Huai couldn't help but transmit back, "If we do that, we will fall under the control of their Dao Master!" Li Hao's proposal rested on two premises: first, that Senlan could advance, and second, that the Dao Master would not bind them. "It doesn't matter!" Li Hao replied. "Even if he exerts control, it won't be aimed at you! We are simply borrowing another's nest to hatch our own eggs! Besides, to him, even if all of you reach rank three, it won't disrupt anything. Rank-three Sovereigns are of little consequence. "Furthermore... I suspect he truly has a chance of stepping into rank seven!" This remark caught several of them off guard. Why did he think so? Crossing from rank six to rank seven was extraordinarily difficult. Even with a Great Dao Universe, the universe had suffered prior damage, Senlan was still riddled with fissures, and external enemies circled like wolves... Could he truly advance to rank seven? King Huai pondered and asked, "Do you mean, King, that this Senlan World Lord is still hiding his hand? That he actually has the confidence to advance?" Perhaps he was plotting something far greater. "It is merely my guess... I suspect he is deliberately luring more rank-six experts here! Perhaps to slaughter them in one stroke, making the Great Dao Universe's advancement smoother. Of Senlan's eleven fissures, three were eliminated today, yet the five guarded by Senlan Sovereigns haven't been touched in the slightest... Is it that he cannot seal them, or is he deliberately feigning weakness? "Right now, he gives everyone the impression that he is recovering rapidly... but has yet to regain his peak, remaining far from rank seven..." Li Hao pondered further and added, "Moreover, there is one key detail. Even though he knows a rank-seven Sovereign might be backing me, he never inquired about it or even brought it up. Instead, he allowed me to remain in Senlan, making no attempt to expel me or move against me... In truth, he wants me here to draw more powerful foes." The Senlan World Lord had even gifted him a medium world. While slaying two rank-four Sovereigns could theoretically be exchanged for one, receiving two minor worlds versus a medium world were two entirely different matters. The latter offered Li Hao genuine enhancement. The former was of little use to him now. The World Lord seemed eager for Li Hao to grow stronger, perhaps even hoping he would refine this world and face a rank six alone, baiting more enemies into a siege. In reality, what Senlan needed at this stage was peace. Someone like Li Hao, who actively picked fights and slaughtered numerous Sovereigns... While he was aiding Senlan, his methods were far too aggressive. If Senlan wanted to play the long game of endurance, they should not have allowed Li Hao to continue. In fact, capturing Li Hao and handing him over to Red Moon would have bought them considerable time. Thoughts flickered through Li Hao's mind, leading him to a conclusion: the Senlan World Lord harbored deep ambitions, likely intending to hunt down more experts to step into rank seven in one fell swoop and stabilize his realm! Returning to the topic at hand, Li Hao said, "If the three of you join Senlan, you can ride the wave of his breakthrough to advance yourselves! Your Daos are not particularly unique, and Chan Xiu and Mo were originally rogue cultivators. As long as you sever your ties with the river, it won't cause any complications..." King Huai inwardly worried: *Once we sever our ties, will we ever get the chance to return to the Silver Moon Universe?* He had steeled his heart to join Silver Moon in the first place. If they severed ties and Li Hao simply told them to stay in Senlan... wouldn't he be suffering an immense loss? What was Senlan compared to Xinwu? If he wanted a master, wouldn't staying in Xinwu have been far better? Chan Xiu and Mo, the two former rogue cultivators, were equally anxious. On one hand, they yearned to advance; on the other, they felt uneasy, wondering whether Li Hao was speaking in earnest or merely testing their loyalty. They had been forcibly recruited by Li Hao. If they joined Senlan, wouldn't Li Hao worry about them betraying him? Even if they didn't betray him... if Li Hao's identity was exposed and he fled, leaving them behind, Senlan and Xinwu were sworn enemies! Wouldn't they be doomed? "Do not forget, everyone: you are currently regarded as rogue cultivators," Li Hao said suddenly. "It is entirely normal for rogue cultivators to pledge allegiance to anyone. Even if my identity is exposed, you need only claim ignorance of who I was... Having already integrated into Senlan, would the Senlan World Lord slaughter you? That is the first point. Second, if push comes to shove, you can simply abandon your power and sever yourselves. Your Dao insights will remain intact. It is not as if you will be holding an immense amount of energy. If a rank seven abandoned their power, I would have no way to help them recover, but for low-rank cultivators, replenishing energy is simple! Your Dao marks will still have an anchor, and the Great Dao Universe will always welcome you back!" Hearing this, King Huai's mind was set, and he promptly agreed, "Very well, I have no objections!" That worked too! He would treat it as broadening his horizons. If things went south, he could just abandon the energy. As Li Hao said, recovering the energy of a rank seven was astronomically difficult, but they were only low ranks. A few tens of millions of Great Dao crystals would replenish it. It seemed... there was nothing to lose! Chan Xiu and Mo remained slightly nervous, but with King Huai accompanying them, they hesitated only briefly before transmitting, "We are willing as well!" From rogue cultivators to Silver Moon, and now from Silver Moon to Senlan... Under normal circumstances, this would have been an unimaginable stroke of fortune. Joining a great world! How could rank-one and rank-two rogue cultivators ever dream of such an opportunity? Yet around Li Hao, they felt a dazed unease, suspecting that Silver Moon might actually possess greater potential than Senlan. Even if Senlan reached rank seven, what of it? Not long ago, Li Hao and his cohort had joined forces with the Sword Venerable to slay a rank-seven Sovereign. Li Hao smiled. "Fret not... I will guide everyone back. Even if you cannot return, you lose nothing. But if the return goes smoothly, all of you will soon be rank-three Sovereigns!" Whether they could carry their energy out of Senlan would depend on subsequent developments. If it succeeded, every Sovereign under his command would reach rank three. Thus, Silver Moon would have completed its plan of borrowing another's nest to hatch its eggs. Of course, it would not be easy. And for now, there was no need for Li Hao to send anyone out. *** After a while, Ji Hao reappeared. This time, another expert accompanied him. Li Hao's eyes flickered slightly... Powerful! A rank six! This had to be the remaining rank-six Sovereign of Senlan whom Ji Hao had mentioned. Yan Fang? Li Hao stood up immediately with a broad smile. "Greetings, Senior!" Yan Fang regarded Li Hao and chuckled. Ji Hao made haste to introduce him: "Friend Wandao, this is Sovereign Yan Fang of our Senlan, an esteemed elder of our realm..." Yan Fang laughed. "Your fame precedes you! Seeing you slay two rank-four Sovereigns with two strikes of your sword today was truly an eye-opening spectacle! My visit carries no elaborate purpose; I merely came to make your acquaintance and deliver the promised bounty!" With a wave of his sleeve, countless Great Dao crystals materialized, which Li Hao promptly gathered. It was not an overwhelming sum—sixty million crystals, the bounty for two rank-three Sovereigns. Next, a spatial vortex seemed to open in Yan Fang's palm. Gradually, a sphere of modest size hovered before everyone's eyes, resembling a radiant star... In truth, it was a genuine world! It was merely compressed. Ji Hao glanced at it, inwardly shaken. A medium world! Li Hao's eyes gleamed as well. Their efficiency was remarkably swift. Yan Fang smiled and said, "This is the bounty promised by the World Lord... It has already been compressed. If you wish to refine it, it is best done outside the realm! If you do not refine it and choose to devour it directly, it is much simpler and does not require leaving the world!" "Understood. My thanks to Senior, and to the World Lord..." "No, this is what you earned!" Yan Fang smiled. "You and your companions have rendered monumental contributions to Senlan's defense. It is only right! Senlan is weak and unable to offer you greater support..." At this, he gave a faint smile. "However, of one thing you may rest assured! When the critical moment arrives, the people of Senlan will take the field!" His expression turned chillingly cold. "Do those bastards truly believe Senlan dares not kill? Rest easy, Friend. As long as you fight for Senlan within our borders, though Senlan may not be as arrogant as Xinwu, nor as fearless of death as they are... when life and death hang in the balance, the people of Senlan dare to rise and fight!" Whether sincere or not, the stance was impeccably stated. Li Hao quickly replied, "Naturally! The experts of Senlan achieved the status of a great world from the pinnacle of rank six. Who would dare call Senlan cowardly?" "You flatter us!" Yan Fang chuckled, and the world slowly drifted toward Li Hao. Li Hao extended his hand. Fire-element Great Dao power manifested, suppressing the void as the world steadily settled into his grasp. He swiftly contained it, shifting the world until it gradually sank into his body. Yan Fang looked slightly surprised. Suppressing a medium world was no simple task. While he could do so effortlessly as a rank six, this young man was only a rank four, having just crossed the threshold, yet he suppressed it with ease... Having just advanced, it seemed he was no weakling even without relying on his Dao domain and sovereign weapon. "Then I shall not disturb you further. Exercise caution over the coming days!" Yan Fang sent a voice transmission: "If Red Moon's forces truly arrive, we will inform you in advance; we can scout outside Senlan's borders as well! You need not face them head-on. Furthermore... the World Lord instructed me to relay a message: as long as the Red Moon experts cannot prove their identities, cannot openly declare they hail from Red Moon, and are not witnessed by a large gathering of experts on the scene... should a suitable opportunity arise, I will coordinate with you to slay the invading Red Moon Sovereigns!" Li Hao's thoughts stirred again, and he nodded to show he understood. Yan Fang chuckled and drifted away. A jade pendant appeared in Li Hao's hand. "This is a communication talisman for the Senlan realm. You may contact me directly through it. Should you need anything... seek me out at any time!" "Thank you, Senior!" As the elder departed, Ji Hao hurriedly followed, but not before suddenly transmitting a message to Li Hao: "There is something you may not know, Friend. Within Senlan, there are actually two factions: one supports the World Lord, and the other supported the Dao Master! The Dao Master's death was tied to Xinwu... The outside world claims Senlan and Xinwu share an irreconcilable feud, but that is false. To the World Lord, the Dao Master's death was well deserved! He nearly dragged Senlan into an abyss of ruin. Had the Dao Master not acted recklessly, why would our Senlan have ever involved itself in the games of the Red Moon Domain? Arrogant though Xinwu may be, they do not actively strike neutral worlds... unless those worlds declare an alliance with Red Moon! "Now that the Dao Master is dead, many Sovereigns of his lineage still trumpet the 'Xinwu threat.' In truth, what does the war between Xinwu and Red Moon have to do with us? The Dao Master and World Lord were never on good terms... His death is actually the World Lord's opportunity!" With those words, Ji Hao vanished. Li Hao stood frozen for a moment. Only after a brief pause did he grasp the underlying meaning. His eyes flickered. Was this... a lingering suspicion that he hailed from Xinwu? Was Ji Hao telling him that any hatred between Xinwu and Senlan belonged solely to the Dao Master's lineage and had nothing to do with Senlan itself? That the Senlan World Lord didn't care in the slightest and even thought the Dao Master had died a fitting death? Had the Dao Master not died, how could the World Lord have united Senlan? Was this Ji Hao's personal sentiment... or the World Lord's intention? The World Lord hadn't mentioned this to Li Hao, nor had the rank-six Yan Fang. Instead, it was the rank-four Ji Hao who had suddenly dropped this hint... Was it speculation, or had they seized upon some clue? Fascinating! Li Hao's eyes gleamed. Was this their way of telling him that even if he truly belonged to Xinwu, Senlan would not pick a fight with him? This was growing very interesting indeed! Senlan was divided into two factions... After turning it over in his mind, Li Hao pushed the thought aside for now. Examining the medium world, a flash of delight crossed his eyes. In the next moment, he tossed the Great Dao crystals to the others: "Half goes to Mo. Mo, you are close to rank two; I hope you can break through this time! The other half... goes to Senior Tianji's clone. The clone merely lacks energy; if this isn't enough to reach rank three, we will find another way!" The others had just advanced and needed to focus on stabilizing their realms. Li Hao kept none of the sixty million Great Dao crystals for himself, distributing them all without hesitation... Watching this, the others felt a surge of emotion. Li Hao was the indisputable main force! Yet after two rounds of slaughter yielding mountains of Great Dao crystals, Li Hao himself had kept almost none. As for the medium world, he had earned it by his own hand. These Great Dao crystals alone would cause countless cultivators outside to fight to the death! "Chan Xiu, Senior King Huai... Both of you are near the peak of rank two... Entering the Great Dao Universe will be your opportunity to advance, so no crystals are allocated to you this time. For now, we must weigh pros and cons to maximize our gains... I hope all of you can keep pace!" Neither of them had any complaints. This was already more than generous! Mo was trembling with excitement. She had lingered at rank one for years. She was relatively young, not ancient, and had previously comprehended a rank-seven Dao charm—even if Li Hao had fabricated it temporarily. She had indeed comprehended Dao at Coiling Dragon Well, experienced several major battles, and integrated into a Great Dao Universe... Reaching rank two was not out of reach. Now, thirty million Great Dao crystals were more than enough! Mo was utterly confident she could break through. A wave of exhilaration washed over her. She might truly have hope of stepping into rank three soon. Under normal circumstances, rank three was the absolute ceiling for a rogue cultivator. Reaching rank four required either immense fortune or powerful backing. At this moment, Mo was moved to tears of gratitude... Li Hao paid it no mind, though Hong Yitang and a few others shot Mo a sideways glance. Mo was the second woman among the Sovereigns of the Silver Moon faction. *Displaying such reverent adoration... Be careful Lin Hongyu doesn't give you a hard time if she catches wind of it.* Fortunately, Lin Hongyu had been in secluded cultivation within the river of Dao and had not emerged. *** Meanwhile, Li Hao projected his avatar into the long river once more. "Senior Er Mao!" he called out, unable to hide his excitement. A moment later, Er Mao lazily surfaced from the depths of the river, glancing at Li Hao with drowsy eyes. "Senior, the fish has arrived!" Li Hao was beaming. He rarely displayed such open joy, but having fulfilled Er Mao's request so soon after it was made brought him immense satisfaction. "Fish?" "Indeed! Earlier, you mentioned needing ten small fish. I didn't have small fish, but I obtained a medium world. That should count as a medium fish, shouldn't it? One should easily equal ten!" Er Mao had been dozing and hadn't paid much attention, but hearing this, it was caught by surprise. So fast? *Didn't I just ask for it?* At that moment, a world slowly floated up within the long river. As it entered the river, it began to expand rapidly. The sheer mass of a medium world caused the entire river's flow to stagnate slightly! Er Mao glanced at it, genuinely astonished. "You really brought one..." Li Hao grinned. "When Senior wants to eat fish, how could I fail to deliver?" Er Mao's eyes rolled slightly. Looking at Li Hao, it suddenly smiled, its whiskers trembling as a grin spread across its chubby face. "Not bad at all. Looks like next time, I can eat a great world!" Li Hao's smile froze. *Don't joke around!* Even this medium world had been an unexpected windfall. Er Mao chuckled and said, "A medium world is quite good! It benefits both you and me. I will consume the world source within it, while you can dismantle the world to perfect your miniature myriad worlds! "A medium world is merely one step away from a high-tier world... Aside from lacking a Great Dao Universe, it functions like a filter for chaotic Dao energy. Its principles are already quite complete; the world itself is a finished Dao domain!" A Dao domain? Li Hao's heart stirred, and he nodded. Yes, his miniature worlds were constructed from Dao domains. Er Mao added, "Your Dao comprehension is still insufficient. If it were deep enough, you could birth a Great Dao Universe directly within a medium world... Li Hao, when the day comes that you feel you can birth a Great Dao Universe directly, you will be a high-rank Sovereign! "That Sword Venerable is actually in such a state. For him to enter the high ranks—to step into rank seven—what he needs is an immense amount of energy and boundless power of Dao principles. Once he has enough, he can cross into rank seven in an instant! It is essentially the accumulation process of a rank-six world lord. His breakthrough to rank seven is inevitable; it is merely a matter of time." Li Hao nodded again. "How much Great Dao power does he require?" "A vast, vast amount... Devouring an entire world—such as this Senlan—might be enough, or it might... still fall short!" Still fall short? Li Hao was stunned. Senlan was hardly weak; would even it be insufficient? Senlan possessed enough energy to support its World Lord's ascension to rank seven. "It might not be enough, because that man is far stronger than ordinary rank-six Sovereigns. Do you understand?" Li Hao nodded, suddenly realizing that Er Mao possessed vast knowledge. He couldn't resist asking, "Senior Er Mao, how long until I can reach rank five?" Er Mao glanced at him, then at the river, and said, "Right now, you have only condensed 360 miniature worlds, none of which are strong. Only your fire-element domain is decent, possessing the embryo of a minor world... Once all your other worlds reach that level, you should be able to enter rank five." Li Hao was left speechless. That was going to take an eternity. To strengthen his fire-element world, he had spent a mountain of Great Dao crystals, and his comprehension of Fire Dao far surpassed his mastery of other paths. Only then had he managed to reach this stage. "Rank five... is truly difficult!" Er Mao rolled its eyes. Was rank five difficult? No! It was simply that Li Hao had chosen the hardest possible path. If he truly crossed into rank five, he would likely be capable of matching a rank six, crushing foes through sheer power! Li Hao possessed immense fortune, sufficient strength, and an absurd abundance of resources. Any ordinary rank-four Sovereign could only dream of such wealth. If this fellow had focused purely on advancing along a single Dao—such as focusing entirely on Fire—he might already be a rank five by now, perhaps even approaching rank six! Biting off more than one could chew was inevitable on this path. Li Hao wanted too much, so there was no helping it. Er Mao couldn't be bothered to lecture him further and said, "Then I shall absorb the world power. Enter the world yourself and study how to graft the Dao principles of this medium world into your miniature worlds... Once I finish this fish, I will purify the river for you!" Li Hao rejoiced! This cat truly delivered on its promises. He wasn't entirely certain how much benefit purifying the river would bring, but he could wait and see. Cleansing the impurities from the river would undoubtedly produce remarkable changes. Without another word, Li Hao plunged straight into the medium world. The moment he entered, he felt the vast expansion of space. It was colossal! This world was immense, yet it rested in a state of deathly stillness... Stillness? Li Hao's thoughts stirred. Indeed, the worlds traded in the chaos were never destroyed; they were merely placed in a state of dormant stillness. Once refined, they could be revived. This served multiple purposes! That wealthy scion Kongji could easily purchase heaps of worlds, comprehending their different states of stillness one by one before attempting to revive them. That way, he wouldn't need to take reckless risks. Of course, without danger, perhaps it wasn't thrilling enough for him? Li Hao smiled. Being born into privilege was truly wonderful. It was a pity Kongji didn't know how to appreciate it and insisted on striking out on his own... *If it were me, how pleasant would it be to just live off my elders at home?* Putting those thoughts aside, he immersed himself completely into the medium world. This was his first time attempting to fully merge into an entire world, Silver Moon notwithstanding. In an instant, he seemed to behold a colossal web blanketing the entire world—Dao principles! Various Great Dao powers were arranged in meticulous order. Although they had yet to form a Great Dao Universe, the medium world was exceptionally stable. This indicated that such an arrangement was ideal for the harmonious fusion and stabilization of Dao principles. In that single breath, Li Hao became one with the world.