Dao Chess

Within the Tianfang World. Sovereign Wushan's position was actually of paramount importance. Before the rank eight Sovereigns arrived—setting aside the Human King—many eyes were fixed on Wushan, a peak rank seven and the very first powerhouse to enter the Tianfang Great World. Everyone harbored suspicions! Did Wushan possess some secret? Did he know how to open the Great Dao Universe? Otherwise, why had he suddenly moved to kill Hongyu, and why had he lingered here without leaving? Had Wushan not been so formidable, people likely would have forced answers out of him long ago. For now, everyone was merely biding their time. In any case, if Wushan didn't leave, they wouldn't either. Right then, at Huilong Temple. Sovereign Wushan moved! The instant he stirred, powerhouses across the realm turned their attention toward him. What was Wushan doing? Sovereign Wushan soared into the air, strolling casually through the void as though taking a leisurely walk. He headed across the Southern Region toward the Northern Region opposite him, traversing the void. The colossal Tianfang World seemed insignificant beneath his feet. The Tianfang Great World was quite possibly the largest world in the chaos discovered so far. Its expanse was vast! Yet to a rank seven Sovereign, it was nothing extraordinary. He appeared to move slowly, but in truth he was astonishingly swift. Before long, several Sovereigns emerged in the Northern Region. Leading them was Sovereign Yaoyang from the Bright Light World, his brows furrowed slightly. Everyone had their own established territory! At present, among the four cardinal regions, Yunxiao occupied the Southern Region, while Bright Light held the Northern Region. As for the Eastern Region, it was occupied by demons and chaos beasts, with even a few Great World Lords lurking within. The Western Region would have been occupied by Red Moon had they come. Since Red Moon hadn't arrived, and though representatives from the Chiyang Region were present, they remained deeply hidden and unexposed. Thus, the Western Region was held by forces dispatched by several rank seven Great World Lords. Sovereign Yaoyang frowned. In the distance, Sovereign Shenhai swiftly manifested as well, trailing behind Wushan in confusion. What was he doing? Why come all the way to the Bright Light domain? "Yaoyang!" Wushan's voice was not loud, yet it reverberated across the surrounding expanse. Sovereign Yaoyang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Wushan, instead of staying at Huilong Temple, what brings you here?" He was also a top rank seven of the Bright Light World, possessing terrifying combat prowess. Among the Sovereigns of the Bright Light World, he was renowned for ferocious offense. While Wushan was formidable, Yaoyang was not particularly intimidated. Had Wushan not been so powerful, Yaoyang would have long since captured him to demand where he had hidden Mingtang. Why had Mingtang vanished without a trace for so long? Had there not been faint remnants of bright light power lingering in the Great Dao Universe to confirm Mingtang was still alive, the Lord of Bright Light himself would have intervened over the loss of his son. Wushan replied with utter calm, "People say that Yaoyang of Bright Light and Wushan of Yunxiao are the two strongest non-World Lords among the rank sevens in the Tianfang Region. I have long wished to spar with you, Fellow Daoist. Today presents a fine opportunity. What do you say to exchanging a few moves?" "..." *Damn it!* Yaoyang's expression instantly changed. Not out of fear of Wushan, but... had he forgotten what happened the last time he sparred with two people? Or did he think everyone else had forgotten? Had he forgotten the fate of those two after his last spar? The Xinwu Human King hadn't left! *Good grief.* Now Yaoyang severely suspected that these two were in cahoots. Would the Human King step out to deliver a lethal strike after their duel and send him straight to the grave? With an unsightly expression, Yaoyang stared coldly at him. "Wushan, spare me the talk of sparring. If you have something on your mind, speak plainly. If you want to wage war, say it outright!" Sparring? Who would spar with him at a time like this? The previous cautionary tale had taken place barely a few months ago. To a Sovereign, that was like the blink of an eye. Did Wushan take him for a senile old fool? At that moment, powerful wills descended from all directions to watch the show. Wushan wanted to spar with Yaoyang! Both were peak rank sevens—one a pillar of Yunxiao, the other an anchor of Bright Light. Both stood among the foremost figures beneath their respective World Lords. Did a clash between them signify brewing conflict between Yunxiao and Bright Light? Behind Wushan, Sovereign Shenhai's expression changed slightly. *What is going on?* Though Yunxiao and Bright Light were rivals, they had not yet openly fallen out. Was Wushan provoking Bright Light the moment he made a move? In an instant, many possibilities crossed Shenhai's mind. Could it be intentional? Antagonizing Bright Light to incite open war between the two worlds would inevitably distract the World Lord during a clash with the Lord of Bright Light. If Wushan broke away at that moment, perhaps the World Lord would be powerless to stop him. However... Doing so was far too dangerous—it put the World Lord at severe risk. If a peak rank seven defected at the pivotal moment of confrontation between the World Lord and the Lord of Bright Light, it could disrupt the entire balance! His face falling, Shenhai quickly stepped forward and called out, "Fellow Daoist Yaoyang, Brother Wushan harbors no intention of provoking you. He simply enjoys testing his skills and Dao methods. Please do not misunderstand!" Wushan glanced back and chuckled. "Shenhai, what are you afraid of?" Shenhai remained silent. *You know better than anyone what I fear.* *Wushan, do not compound your mistakes!* *If you keep going, there will truly be no turning back!* Wushan ignored him. His aura surged, making heaven and earth tremble. Across from him, Sovereign Yaoyang looked grim. Was Wushan truly going to attack? The Bright God Realm was not yet prepared for full-scale war, and Yunxiao was surely the same. What on earth was Wushan thinking? "Wushan!" Sovereign Yaoyang said coldly. "Do you truly wish to start a war?" Sovereign Wushan smiled faintly. "A spar is not a war." Yaoyang grew incensed. He wasn't afraid of sparring; he was worried someone else would reap the benefits. Was Wushan playing dumb? He spoke bluntly: "Your so-called spar carries an ulterior motive. Are you creating an opening for someone else?" "Do you believe I am colluding with the Xinwu Human King?" "You know best yourself!" Yaoyang snapped. "You know full well how those two from Red Moon perished that day!" *I am not like them!* Wushan had no patience for further banter. Their young master was sneaking back into Tianfang, and if Wushan went out to receive him personally, the commotion would be far too conspicuous. Since that was the case... Yaoyang would just have to bear the brunt of it! Without another word, he gave a light laugh. "And what if I insist on sparring with you?" "You—" *Rumble!* Clouds and mist billowed as the skies transformed. A Dao domain manifested, and a Five Fingers Mountain materialized overhead, pressing down upon the world! In every direction, Sovereigns watched dumbfounded. Had Wushan lost his mind? It was happening again—striking without warning! It had been the exact same story against Red Moon. Back then, everyone thought it was just casual sparring, only for two rank sevens to end up dead. Now he was doing it again! At this moment, the attention of every Sovereign was riveted on this spot. Many swept their senses across the void, frantically searching for the Human King out of fear that he might appear. Numerous Sovereigns began conversing secretly. "Is the Human King nearby?" "Very likely!" "Wushan might truly be in league with him. Furthermore... from what I hear, word leaked from Yunxiao that Wushan intends to defect. Perhaps it is to join Xinwu. It is hard to say whether the rumors are true, but if Wushan brings his Great Dao power as a peak rank seven to Xinwu, it might allow Xinwu to step into rank eight!" "Surely not? What would he gain? He is already a peak rank seven in Yunxiao. Could joining Xinwu really enable him to reach rank eight?" "Who knows? But there must be an understanding between them. Yaoyang is in deep trouble. Even if he can match Wushan, another peak rank seven with terrifying offensive might is hidden in the dark. He could very well follow in the footsteps of those two!" "Not necessarily. The Lord of Bright Light is likely watching and could descend at any moment!" Voices murmured across the factions. In the surrounding void, two Great Dao Universes were projecting their influence, and two faint consciousnesses began seeping through. Two rank eights were actively monitoring the situation! The Lord of Yunxiao was already cursing inwardly. *Wushan, what do you think you are doing?* The Lord of Bright Light was equally on guard, saying nothing as his senses rapidly swept the surroundings. Was the Xinwu Human King nearby? Had he set his sights on Bright Light this time? *Boom!* A blazing sun illuminated heaven and earth, radiating immense solar might into the void. The entire world of Tianfang shuddered as formidable rank seven power expanded into a vast domain, sweeping outward. Sovereign Yaoyang roared, "You madman!" *Are you insane?* He didn't dare go all out, needing to keep some strength in reserve to avoid ending up like Hongyu and his companion. Consequently, he found himself somewhat suppressed. The Five Fingers Divine Mountain locked down the surroundings while thick mist spread, seemingly obfuscating the heavenly secrets. Sovereign Wushan was indeed powerful. In a true confrontation, the two would normally be evenly matched, yet today Yaoyang was on the back foot! Sovereign Wushan fought without distraction, wielding his Great Dao techniques with effortless grace. Mountains of clouds and seas of mist weighed down upon the world, confounding the heavenly secrets and obscuring the Bright Light Dao. For a moment, the radiant sun was buried beneath the sea of fog, a spectacle witnessed by countless onlookers. The mighty Great Dao power surged across the realm, leaving numerous Sovereigns shaken. *Is this the strength of rank sevens?* Previously in the chaos, the impact had not felt as immediate. But today, the two were clashing directly within a great world, unleashing power and collateral destruction on an unimaginable scale. The Northern Region instantly became the center of attention. Many swept their senses across the Northern Region, desperate to know whether the Human King was truly present. Was he? He was indeed! He simply hadn't struck. In the rift of the world boundary, the Human King stood holding his saber, his brow furrowed slightly. *Damn, this is bizarre!* He didn't know Wushan well. Killing Hongyu last time was one thing, but Wushan striking again today... did he actually expect him to intervene? Or was this bait? He was all too familiar with that tactic. Right now, with so many Sovereigns gathered, including numerous rank sevens and two rank eights observing in secret, stepping out would be dangerous. If this was a trap, wouldn't he be riddled with holes? What was Wushan thinking? Whose side was the man actually on? As for collaborating with Xinwu... he had never worked with the guy to begin with. How strange! The Human King watched for a moment, frowning. Wushan was no weakling, possessing peak rank seven combat power. Were it not for the constraints of his world—rank eight being the absolute limit of Yunxiao—he might have stood a chance of advancing to rank eight. Of course, he was still inferior to himself. The Human King curled his lip slightly. Was he a rank eight? No. Yet there was a reason he hadn't reached rank eight: an imbalance between yin and yang, life and death. The entire Yin-Yang Universe had developed significant issues. Back when he slew the Heavenly Emperor, his single-minded obsession with resurrecting the fallen had disrupted the balance of yin and yang throughout his world. Were it not for that, Xinwu would have advanced to rank eight long ago. Had he not poured everything into reviving those people, he would already be a rank eight Sovereign. Of course, he had no regrets! There was nothing to regret. At present, for Xinwu to become a rank eight universe, the Dao was not an issue, the universe was not an issue, nothing was an issue... except that it required an enormous replenishment of yang energy of supreme rigidity, or vast quantities of vitality. Only that could rectify the imbalance left from back then. In truth, his target lately hadn't been anyone else, but the Bright Light World. Light was inherently a form of vigorous yang energy. The other option was Chiyang in a neighboring region. He didn't have much interest in the war with Red Moon. He wanted to clash with Bright Light and Chiyang. However, having already offended Red Moon, exposing such intentions would spell doom for Xinwu. If three rank eight universes joined forces against them, Xinwu would suffer immensely even if it were rank eight, let alone before reaching that level. Suppressing these thoughts, he continued to watch the battle between the two while observing the figures scanning the area. He curled his lip in contempt. *You pieces of trash think you can find me?* *Are you even worthy of finding me?* *I roam the chaos as I please; people only see me when I want to be seen. If I don't want to be found, you wouldn't notice me even if I stood right in front of you. I can dig tunnels through the chaos, let alone within a world.* At this moment, he was nestled within the world boundary, surrounded by myriad Daos converging into a cage-like protective barrier. If Li Hao were here, he would instantly recognize it: a Dao net! A Great Dao net! Using the Dao net, he had formed an embryonic world that enveloped his body, allowing him to burrow into the world boundary. Unless someone scanned every single inch, who could see through his concealment? The Human King had no interest in making a move. Lately, he had also been observing Tianfang, searching for opportunities within it, including the Tianfang Universe. He had noticed a few clues, though some doubts remained. According to his deductions, without a high-level legacy of Tianfang and its primal power, the Tianfang Universe would never open. Yet the Tianfang Universe had reportedly opened several times. Each time, a place of Dao resonance had been destroyed, meaning someone had utilized that resonance... He had his suspicions about the new King of Silver Moon, a fellow he had never met. He knew that person could wield the power of time. Thus, it was very likely that he had reversed time to reveal the Tianfang Universe and extract its legacy power. In that case, Wushan might truly share a connection with him. If so... this sudden clash today had nothing to do with himself; could it be connected to that fellow? That new King of Silver Moon... With this battle erupting, the attention of the entire world seemed concentrated here... *Hm?* The Human King's heart stirred, and the corners of his mouth curled upward. Interesting. Could he be coming to Tianfang? He had heard recent rumors as well. Old Man Li had met up with the King of Silver Moon and pulled a fast one on Red Moon... Was Wushan fighting now to draw everyone's attention away? If so, that was intriguing. Instead of lurking near Red Moon, what was the King of Silver Moon doing in Tianfang? Tianfang shouldn't hold much opportunity for him. There were too many powerhouses gathered here. Even he himself had to tread carefully. The Tianfang Universe? Things were growing increasingly fascinating! "It has been too peaceful lately. If the Tianfang Universe doesn't open, there won't even be a chance to fish in troubled waters!" With a thought, he stepped out of his hiding place. The next instant, several immense auras locked onto him, and the entire world seemed to fall dead silent. A wildly violent, boundless aura swept across the realm! It exerted an overwhelming deterrence in every direction! Even the two peak rank sevens in combat paused slightly. A person's name carried weight, just as a tree cast a shadow! The Xinwu Human King—a powerhouse who had slain rank seven Great World Lords and rank seven Sovereigns from rank eight Great Worlds. A young, rapidly rising overlord. He... had truly appeared. Yaoyang's face drained of color! *Wushan... you...* Even Wushan's expression flickered. He had actually shown up, and so quickly! Had he been here the entire time? The Human King's aura raged openly; he hadn't launched a sneak attack. A sneak attack worked once by surprise; doing it repeatedly was just asking for trouble. His arrival instantly drew the gaze of the entire world. Dragging a massive saber in his hand rather than carrying it on his back like a traditional swordsman, he let the blade carve a furrow across the sky. The Human King chuckled. "Carry on!" He glanced at the two combatants and laughed. "Keep playing!" Then he grinned broadly. "I won't kill you today! I heard that some Sovereigns here have pledged allegiance to the Red Moon World. Today, I have no other objective, just one demand: hand over every Sovereign affiliated with Red Moon! Once I hack them to pieces, I'll be on my way. Otherwise... I might just chop a rank seven to death for fun!" The words left countless powerhouses dumbfounded. *What... are you talking about?* *Hand them over?* *Who is supposed to hand them over?* *And if we don't, you're going to kill a rank seven?* A rank seven Great World Lord vibrated his Great Dao, speaking coldly, "Human King, though you are formidable, this is Tianfang, not Xinwu! Who do you think you are threatening?" "Indeed! The feud between Xinwu and Red Moon has nothing to do with us! Strong as you are, you are not a rank eight. Even if you were, does a rank eight Sovereign have free rein to run amok?" Someone decided to test the waters. The Human King chuckled. With a sweep of his long saber, heaven and earth shifted as an immensely domineering aura locked onto several hidden figures. His face dripped with disdain. "Killing a rank eight is a bit troublesome, but killing you lot... is child's play! Have a problem with that?" He seemed completely unbothered by making enemies or provoking the world's strongest! He seemed to have seen right through them, knowing none dared to lead the charge. He sneered in derision, "Xinwu fears no enemy! Even with the whole world against us, it amounts to nothing! I have no interest in slaughtering you today. As I said, those from Red Moon deserve to die, and there are bound to be Red Moon powerhouses here. Hand them over to avoid a war, or else..." *Utterly unreasonable!* Many Sovereigns cursed inwardly. If you want to kill Red Moon people, go find them yourself! What does that have to do with us? This man was simply too overbearing! Demanding that others track them down and deliver them to his blade... what kind of logic was that? If anyone actually complied, wouldn't they become sworn enemies of Red Moon? For a moment, even the two rank eights observing via will were rendered speechless. This man was truly arrogant—more arrogant than actual rank eights! In the distance, Wushan continued his assault! Yaoyang was thoroughly unsettled, finding himself heavily suppressed. From the surroundings, several rank seven lords began converging on the area, partly to watch the spectacle and partly to see whether the Xinwu Human King would truly strike. Tianfang, peaceful for months, seemed on the verge of excitement once more! As for danger? It was the same everywhere! Rank seven lords were not so cowardly. Besides, the Xinwu Human King was only one man; if he recklessly attacked others, he would surely invite a concerted siege. ... While things were in an uproar over there, with rank seven power churning the chaos, Li Hao and Kongji exchanged speechless glances near the South World Gate. Wushan was truly something else! He had been asked to receive them, not start a war. Was the man a bit unhinged? Kongji was equally at a loss. He sent a voice transmission: "Sovereign Wushan... is certainly capable. By the way, is that other powerful aura the Xinwu Human King?" "Most likely." Li Hao had glimpsed him in past memories; it had to be him. "Then the person I encountered during the teleportation last time really was him!" Kongji sighed with feeling. "Formidable!" Li Hao nodded. Without lingering on the topic, he transmitted, "Let's go. Everyone's attention is focused over there now. Things went even smoother than expected! A brawl among rank sevens draws far more eyes than we ever could!" "That's true!" The two chuckled, manifesting the World of Silence and the technique of Stealing Heaven and Replacing the Sun, enveloping themselves in a Dao domain. In a flash, they slipped past the Sovereign guarding the South World Gate. Ever since the Heavenly King had been slain, the one stationed here had been replaced by a Sovereign. Yet he was only rank one! With his attention wholly drawn elsewhere, Li Hao and Kongji used their concealment techniques, leaving the guard entirely oblivious. Foregoing the teleportation array, the two seeped slowly through the world boundary and slipped directly into Tianfang. Within the world boundary, someone who had been observing the drama suddenly sensed something. Looking in their direction, he detected familiar, resonant auras. He started briefly, then quickly understood. A smile crossed his face. *The new King of Silver Moon?* *Interesting!* *No wonder Fang Ping broke character to show off today, and Wushan as well...* *It seems I was the one slow to catch on.* *So this fellow has arrived. Fascinating!* Judging by the situation, the Tianfang Great Dao Universe was indeed deeply connected to him. That meant the Tianfang Universe might open very soon. What was his purpose in coming here to open it? The middle-aged cultivator pondered. Opening the Tianfang Universe would bring nothing but chaos; at present, even if it opened, it was unlikely anyone could claim it. Chaos... Not long ago, Red Moon had fallen into turmoil. Now, throwing Tianfang into chaos as well—did this relate to the situation with Red Moon? To lure the Lord of Red Moon away and bring him here? Even if he came... what then? Pondering further, he formed a bold, crazy hypothesis, though he couldn't be entirely sure. Could that fellow be aiming for Red Moon itself? Yet Red Moon still had two rank sevens holding the fort. Furthermore, there were three Great Universes nearby, one of which harbored two rank sevens, making a total of six rank sevens in the Red Moon region. Though uncertain, Li Zhu felt that major upheaval would soon strike Tianfang. More rank sevens and rank eights would likely arrive in the near future! There weren't many rank eight Sovereigns in the regions near Tianfang: Bright Light, Yunxiao, Chiyang, the Dragon Lord, and Red Moon. Currently, there were only those five. Once Tianfang fell into turmoil, who knew how many would show up? ... *Thump!* With a faint sound, Li Hao and Kongji slipped out of the world boundary and entered Tianfang. Li Hao smiled and surveyed their surroundings. To the north, the commotion was immense! Kongji said helplessly, "Uncle Yaoyang must be on pins and needles right now." Wushan certainly knew how to pick a target. And with the Human King jumping in, things were perilous. He then transmitted to Li Hao, "Do you think the Human King has an ulterior motive for lingering nearby?" Was he here to seize the Great Dao Universe? Not necessarily! Then why stay here? The people of Red Moon weren't even in this region. "He's probably biding his time... or maybe he wants to deal with your father?" "Huh?" It was only a guess, but Li Hao thought it plausible. He transmitted, "Your father is the Lord of Bright Light; his yang energy must be extraordinarily rich, right?" "..." Kongji froze, then nodded. Understanding dawned on him, leaving him speechless. *Surely not?* Yet it was genuinely possible. It was hard to say! "I'll warn my father later!" Kongji could only do that much. As for trying to dissuade the Human King... forget it. He only knew the Sword Venerable, not the Human King, and they shared no friendship anyway. Li Hao said nothing more. Xinwu had remained out of sight, likely resolving its internal flaws. The Supreme and the others had even ignored Red Moon, probably dealing with their own troubles. None of that concerned Li Hao for now. "Let's go to Dark Demon Ridge!" "Is Huilong still there?" "Who cares!" The two chuckled and vanished instantly, flying toward Dark Demon Ridge. Whether Sovereign Huilong was there didn't matter. If he was... they had already killed plenty of rank sevens and wouldn't mind adding another corpse. As for who killed him... the Human King did! Why? Because Sovereign Huilong had tried to hunt down people from Xinwu before. What did that have to do with them? As for how the Human King could kill Huilong while being over in the north... nonsensical question. If even the Supreme had clones, who said the Human King couldn't have one? The two looked at each other and grinned. In a place like this, the death of a rank six truly meant nothing. ... Fortunately, Sovereign Huilong was not at Huilong Temple at this moment. With both rank sevens of Yunxiao having departed, how could he dare linger? It wasn't just fear of being killed; his superiors had gone out to fight, and as a vassal of Yunxiao, he had to follow, even if he feared being slain by a rank seven. Moving slowly didn't matter so long as he showed the proper attitude. Paralyzed by cowardice, he took the Sovereigns of Huilong Temple to provide escort, putting on an appearance of bringing his entire retinue to help. Even if his pace was crawling, nobody could fault him. This made things remarkably convenient for Li Hao. ... Dark Demon Ridge. Li Hao and Kongji stepped straight inside. In truth, their Dao Chess imprints remained within Tianfang, allowing them to teleport back. However, though the commotion of teleportation was small, there were too many rank sevens around; caution was best, and avoiding exposure was ideal. Inside the dark hall, a phantom materialized. Seeing the two, it seemed slightly surprised. They hadn't been gone long, yet Li Hao had crossed into rank four while Kongji's rank six foundation was noticeably more stable. Moreover, the Dao resonance clinging to both was extraordinarily rich, suggesting a far deeper comprehension of the Great Dao. "Congratulations!" The phantom offered a polite greeting. It had always looked favorably upon these two. And indeed, they had proved worthy. A few months was merely the blink of an eye, yet both had made astonishing progress. Li Hao smiled. "Thank you for your assistance, Senior. Otherwise, without Brother Kongji making it across, we wouldn't have had our chance!" "No matter. He provided the energy himself; I merely lent a small hand... Besides, he promised to reach five thousand squares without raising any further requests!" With that, the phantom expressed slight confusion. "Why have you two returned? Tianfang is turbulent right now, packed with rank sevens. From my senses alone, there are at least seven or eight, and likely even more lurking on the periphery! Rank eights are constantly monitoring this place. If you hope to find opportunities in Tianfang, it will be exceedingly difficult..." Li Hao smiled. "Isn't Senior our opportunity? Hasn't Dao Chess always been open to us? Returning this time, we intend to challenge Dao Chess once more!" The phantom started, then nodded. "A good thing. You finally remembered!" *I thought you two had forgotten completely!* Dao Chess was indeed a great opportunity. Regrettably, the two had seemed entirely indifferent, fleeing halfway through their run. Now they had returned despite the dangers just to play another round of Dao Chess? Fascinating. Li Hao said nothing more and turned to Kongji. "How far did you get last time?" "I stopped at three thousand squares." Li Hao smiled. "Further than me. I stopped at two thousand. Since we're back and have some time to spare, shall we give it a go?" "Sure!" Kongji nodded. His breakthrough to rank six had been somewhat hurried, and having recently grasped three dual-polarity Daos, challenging Dao Chess was an excellent way to refine his orthodoxy and consolidate his realm. Besides, without advancing further, how could they make demands? Constantly overdrafting privileges was embarrassing. Though they believed the phantom would likely agree, wouldn't it be better to earn the opportunity themselves? Since the reward for five thousand squares had been spent, they would simply reach six thousand or seven thousand! Seeing how eager they were, the phantom said no more and manifested two Dao Chessboards, with several glowing points illuminated to show their prior progress. Without wasting a second, the two charged directly toward the boards. ... When Li Hao last entered this place, he had merely been a weak rank two Sovereign. Now, having crossed the threshold of low rank, he was a rank four. His horizons had broadened significantly, giving him much deeper insights into Dao nets, worlds, Great Dao Universes, and embryonic worlds. Entering once more, the experience was entirely different! Things he hadn't understood previously now became crystal clear. Stepping into a square, Li Hao gave it a single glance, saying nothing as an embryonic domain expanded around him. It swiftly siphoned the energy within the square, after which he stepped out with complete ease and walked into the next. The phantom was slightly taken aback. *So fast!* It wasn't the speed of someone forcing their way through; the young man seemed to see right through the essence, unraveling the surrounding Dao in a mere instant. *What is going on?* It hadn't been long since Li Hao's last attempt. While Li Hao had deliberately dragged his feet to harvest energy back then, his speed hadn't been particularly fast, requiring step-by-step analysis. Today, however, he cleared each square in a flash, draining its energy in the process. Each square took only a fraction of a second. Over on the other side, Kongji was equally swift. Both advanced as if strolling on flat ground. Li Hao was truly transformed from before. Stepping into the next square, he observed it briefly before another domain expanded, drawing out the energy and instantly stripping the square of its Great Dao power. Onward! Cracking through like bamboo! Gone was his initial curiosity; now, anticipation burned within him. Anticipation for what? Not merely for reaching three thousand or four thousand squares... He began to look forward to seeing whether clearing every single square would reveal a spatial-centric world Dao net! Indeed, he suspected that completing all 9,999 squares might represent the Dao of Space! Unfortunately, even if it did, he couldn't clear them all right now. The Great Dao power flowed directly into his small world. What had once felt immense now seemed like a drop in the bucket for Li Hao. Each square took merely a moment. In the blink of an eye, Li Hao had cleared over a hundred squares with unstoppable momentum. Watching this, the phantom finally understood... and was struck dumb. This fellow truly possessed extraordinary ability. Last time he came, he had been fumbling in the dark, but today, had he actually begun condensing myriad domains? What an incredible individual! Glancing at Kongji, though Kongji wasn't condensing myriad domains, walking three dual-polarity Daos had granted him profound comprehension of the Great Dao. Having bathed in the Bright Light Dao from childhood, he possessed a foundational depth that Li Hao lacked. At present, he was also advancing at remarkable speed. The two seemed locked in a race, each trying to outpace the other. Outside, the battle raged fiercely. While Wushan was still unsure whether the two had made it inside, they had already traversed several hundred squares. Li Hao cast aside all outside distractions. As he advanced, his joy only grew. This run served as a tremendous supplement for him. He realized that Dao Chess was indeed a meticulous breakdown of a Dao net. He didn't know whether it was the exact Dao net of the Tianfang Universe, but if it was, it would grant him a vastly deeper understanding of Tianfang's Great Dao Universe. Dark Demon Ridge was not merely the cultivation abode of the Dark Envoy; Dao Chess might very well be the true inheritance ground of the Lord of Tianfang! *Interesting... If Dao Chess represents the Dao net of the Tianfang Universe, then the Daos of Tianfang are arranged precisely in this order...* *More importantly... 9,999 squares!* Li Hao drew a sharp breath. If that were truly the case, it meant Tianfang's Dao was quite possibly the most complete in the current chaos, truly achieving the realm of myriad Daos. When people normally spoke of myriad Daos, it was merely a figure of speech! For instance, Li Hao's 360 stellar Daos were referred to as myriad Daos, but where were the ten thousand Daos? There were only 360 types, or 720 if counting both corporeal and incorporeal states! That was the power of "myriad Daos" Li Hao spoke of! Figures like the Sword Venerable might wield more, but even they didn't exceed three thousand, and most were not particularly powerful. Yet did Tianfang truly possess ten thousand Daos? No—9,999! Terrifying! Could an existence like the Lord of Tianfang truly die? Who could possibly kill him? Or was there an even stronger entity in the chaos? The chaos Li Hao and his peers knew was limited to the four cardinal regions of Tianfang, Chiyang, Red Moon, and the Dragon Region, but that did not encompass the entirety of the chaos. Putting those thoughts aside, Li Hao moved swiftly, observing square after square, his delight deepening with every step. What a magnificent method of weaving the Great Dao! His vision was incomparably clearer than during his previous attempt. Without realizing it, Li Hao reached the three-thousandth square. The phantom did not interrupt or utter a word. Clearing a thousand squares had taken a mere half-day; last time, traversing two thousand had cost him half a month! The contrast was staggering. At rank four, Li Hao was on an entirely different level. Meanwhile, Kongji had reached around the 3,800th square, maintaining an impressive pace. Slowing down slightly later on was only natural. *Can these two reach six thousand squares this time?* Kongji wouldn't have much trouble, but the phantom wondered whether Li Hao could reach that far. Six thousand squares meant that the Daos prior to rank six were an open road. Kongji was already a rank six, yet passing six thousand would still be difficult. And Li Hao was merely a rank four. *If they can truly reach seven thousand...* The phantom sank into thought. If they truly reached seven thousand squares, they could demand to take Dao Chess with them. Such was the rule established by the Lord of Tianfang. Reaching seven thousand squares meant that, given sufficient opportunity, one could step directly from the Tianfang Universe into rank seven, becoming a high-rank Sovereign and officially taking charge of the Tianfang Universe! For countless years, no one had reached seven thousand squares. Back in the day, among the Light and Dark Envoys and the Five Elements Emissaries, only the Divine Envoys of Light and Darkness had surpassed seven thousand. The Five Elements Emissaries had failed to cross that threshold, even though they were rank sevens themselves. ... Outside, in the Northern Region. The Human King's appearance had complicated the situation immensely. He brazenly demanded that they hand over the Red Moon powerhouses, but who would ever comply with such a demand? As the standoff dragged on, more and more powerhouses gathered. Wushan, the instigator of it all, abruptly stopped fighting. Enough time had passed. While he wasn't certain whether the two had made it inside, they should have managed it unless they were utterly foolish. The moment he ceased, Sovereign Yaoyang halted as well, looking grim. Wushan maintained a serene demeanor. "Do not misunderstand. I have no connection with the Human King; this was merely a spar. Last time, the Human King's first slash was aimed at me too. I wouldn't want everyone to think the Human King and I are allies!" "There are too many onlookers today, all eager to join the fray. How boring. Yaoyang, we shall fight again another day!" With that, he turned and left. Sovereign Yaoyang was furious. *That bastard!* Coming as he pleased, fighting as he pleased, leaving as he pleased... what did he take him for? Just as he was about to erupt in anger, he looked up and saw that the overwhelmingly domineering Human King had vanished without a trace, leaving his voice echoing through the sky: "Wushan, let's keep in touch later!" "..." In the distance, Wushan's footsteps paused briefly, but he didn't stop. The Human King was quite the character. *Did you really have to pour oil on the fire before leaving?* *He sure runs fast, though!* Meanwhile, Sovereigns communicated rapidly via voice transmissions. "He just left like that?" "Something is off about this Wushan!" "Was it truly a spar, or a probe?" "Hard to say. For now, we should treat them as being on the same side!" "..." In the shadows, the will of Yunxiao Sovereign, that rank eight entity, suddenly rippled: "Bright Light, whether Wushan is cooperating with him is unknown to me, but Yunxiao has not allied with him!" The Bright Light Sovereign fell silent for a moment before his will vibrated in response: "The Bright God Realm is the same! My son seems to share some connection with the new King of Silver Moon, but my Bright God Realm knows nothing of Xinwu!" They had never made contact! However, there was nothing they could do if outsiders—especially the Red Moon Sovereign—drew their own conclusions. Neither of the two rank eight Sovereigns struck or descended in body; only their wills manifested. This signified that neither was far from Tianfang—they might even be inside Tianfang itself. Their brief exchange clarified their stances: the Xinwu Human King had nothing to do with them. This prevented either side from suspecting the other of orchestrating the provocation. ... Ignoring whatever unfolded behind him, Wushan headed straight back toward Huilong Temple. Beside him, Sovereign Shenhai wore a solemn expression. After a long silence, Shenhai said, "Wushan, this is inappropriate. You are repeatedly provoking various factions..." Wushan looked back at him and replied slowly, "If I leave Yunxiao, I will do my best to compensate for what Yunxiao has expended on me. It is only natural if the World Lord tries to stop me... but I hope the three of you will not stand in my way!" Shenhai's expression shifted. "You are truly determined?" "Yes!" Wushan replied calmly. "I am determined to leave! I have lived long enough. As I said, I do not consider this a betrayal, but if you see it as such, I will not argue! If the World Lord is bent on stopping me, then I... will resist. I will never allow myself to be captured without a fight!" At this moment, Shenhai completely lost his composure. He truly intended to leave! No matter what, he was leaving. Shenhai couldn't help venting his anger: "Yaoyang is also a top rank seven, yet why has he never spoken of leaving? You have indeed contributed much to Yunxiao, but hasn't Yaoyang been fighting for Bright Light all along?" "To each their own ambitions!" Wushan replied with just those words. When Shenhai tried to speak again, Wushan turned to him. "Things have been said. If you push further, our past camaraderie will be severed! Furthermore, my opportunity may very well lie in the Huilong Domain... You and Huilong's people are forbidden from entering the Huilong Domain again. The Huilong Domain belongs to me!" "You—" Wushan fixed him with a chilling gaze. "Shenhai, for the sake of our years together, you may object, argue, or try to persuade me... but you cannot stop me! If you repeatedly interfere and sabotage my plans to leave, I... will strike you down!" With that, he turned away without looking back. "We do not walk the same path. For years, none of you have understood me! In your eyes, there is only Yunxiao. In my eyes, there is Yunxiao, but I also wish to see the wider chaos!" With those words, his figure vanished completely. Sovereign Shenhai stood crestfallen, staring at the empty space where he had disappeared, rendered speechless for a long time. *Must our paths truly diverge in the end?* *Will the World Lord ever agree?* *You are a peak rank seven, the second-in-command of our Yunxiao. In times of chaos and upheaval, you want to leave... how could the World Lord agree?* *Have you forgotten that within the Great Dao Universe, the World Lord has the final say?* Bitterness welled within Shenhai. Catching sight of a group of Sovereigns ambling slowly in the distance, irritation surged through him. He barked, "Huilong!" Sovereign Huilong started and hurriedly flew over. "My lord..." "There is no need to return to the Huilong Domain!" Sovereign Shenhai snorted coldly. "Since you enjoy roaming about so much, starting today, you shall accompany me to inspect places of Dao resonance across the world!" Sovereign Huilong felt exasperated, but dared not object, nodding hurriedly. "Understood!" *Did I offend you?* *Completely unreasonable.* *Just wait until I reach rank seven. Let's see if you dare act so arrogant then.* ... A moment later, Wushan had returned. The instant he landed, he glanced toward Dark Demon Ridge, his eyes flickering. *They're back.* A faint smile touched his lips. He had already made his threats. If the King of Silver Moon didn't open the Tianfang Universe for him this time... he would slice the boy to ribbons! At this stage, there was no retreat! This time, it was succeed or perish! He looked up at the sky. If the Tianfang Universe could not carry his Dao, could not grant him freedom, and could not help him advance to rank eight... then he might just have to seize Red Moon! At worst, he would stake everything on one desperate gamble! Closing his eyes, he hovered motionlessly in the air as though dead. The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet. All anyone could see was Sovereign Wushan suspended above Huilong Temple, exuding a towering, inexplicable aura.