Returning to Silver Moon

Within the borders of Tianfang, the high-rank Sovereigns had all retreated. To Kongji, their departure looked simple. Yet driving away a host of Sovereigns at the cost of two fallen rank sevens... anyone who thought that was easy was welcome to try. This time, Li Hao had not drawn upon the power of time. Instead, he had borrowed the might of four parties—Xinwu, Bright Light, Senlan, and Wushan—to finally chase those people off. It was fair to say that without them, far from claiming Tianfang, Li Hao would never have even brushed its borders. Too many Sovereigns yearned to seize Tianfang. Bright Light and Xinwu each possessed world power comparable to rank eight, while Wushan and Senlan could both be counted as rank seven great worlds. Borrowing the power of multiple great worlds all at once, orchestrating alliances and counter-alliances, he had finally secured Tianfang—or at least temporary possession of it. Naturally, this was also the return Li Hao reaped for orchestrating the conquest of the four worlds. He had claimed not a single world for himself, and in the end, they rewarded him with a rank nine great world. They were all people of true character and conviction! Birds of a feather flock together. This was the circle Li Hao had befriended since venturing into the chaos, and each and every one was someone worth knowing. Three rank seven Sovereigns went to guard the world gates. In the end, Senlan had stayed behind after all. Tianfang had more than one world gate; there were four. Taking into account that Li Hao’s side lacked the ability to guard all four gates, he ultimately chose to remain and help Li Hao hold them for a time. Four world gates, presided over by four rank seven Sovereigns! Even Li Zhu, taciturn as always, faithfully defended one of the gates. At this moment, Tianfang was extraordinarily secure. Breaching Tianfang would now require six or seven rank seven Sovereigns, or perhaps two rank eights. Otherwise, with four rank sevens holding the fort, only the concentrated might of an entire rank eight cosmos could force its way in. …… Floating in midair, he looked out across heaven and earth. Tianfang was vast! Inconceivably vast. It was divided into four great regions—East, South, West, and North—and each great region was subdivided into ten minor domains. Huilong Temple had previously occupied just one of those minor domains. And the territory of Huilong Temple was roughly the size of Silver Moon before its advancement. In other words, the Tianfang World was at least forty times the size of Silver Moon. In truth, it was even larger! Within the Tianfang World lay vast expanses of uninhabited wilderness. Silver Moon sustained ten billion living beings; one could imagine that if Tianfang were populated, dumping four hundred billion people into it would still leave it far from crowded. An unimaginably colossal world! And this was merely what remained after the Tianfang Great Dao cosmos had withered, causing the entire world to shrink considerably. Otherwise, in its bygone prime, Tianfang had been vastly larger, fully capable of supporting a trillion souls. Even with his rank five Sovereign cultivation, when Li Hao expanded his will, he could not even blanket the Southern Region, let alone the entirety of Tianfang. “It’s too vast!” “Indeed!” Beside him, Kongji nodded. “It’s so immense it can almost rival Bright Light!” “……” Li Hao turned his head to glance at him. Kongji looked back at Li Hao and said earnestly, “It really is nearly as big!” *Damn it!* Li Hao cursed under his breath. *So your Bright Light World is this big too? Then what are you sighing about?* Li Hao had only ever visited Red Moon. Although the Red Moon World was enormous, it fell short of Tianfang, so he had assumed Bright Light was similar. It seemed Bright Light was even larger—and who knew whether it was stronger as well. Kongji had no heart to dwell on the matter and continued, “Quite a few Sovereigns fled Tianfang, but before, there were hundreds of Sovereigns throughout the realm. Even now, there are at least nearly a hundred Sovereigns left within Tianfang, which poses a problem!” Across forty minor domains, there had been anywhere from one or two to over a dozen Sovereigns per domain. Tianfang’s forces had previously included a tremendous number of rogue cultivators. Although many had run off, especially when the rank sevens arrived, at least a hundred Sovereigns still lingered in this sprawling world. Among them were rogue cultivators as well as Sovereigns from small and medium worlds. Rogue cultivators had no worlds of their own. The only difference between Sovereigns of small-to-medium worlds and rogue cultivators was that the former still retained their worlds. As long as a world existed, there was hope of birthing a Great Dao cosmos; without a world, without living beings and myriad spirits, that hope was nonexistent. That was the distinction! Figures like Sword Venerable had formed a Dao net, but it could not be counted as a Great Dao cosmos—only an offshoot akin to one, a Dao Domain! A Dao Domain was not a Great Dao cosmos. Lacking the Dao of the populace, Li Hao’s Great Dao River was fundamentally the same. “Are there really that many?” “Yes!” Kongji added, “Furthermore, places of Dao charm are abundant throughout Tianfang. Huilong Temple alone used to hold several, like Dark Demon Ridge, Coiling Dragon Well, and Huoxing Mountain. Other territories have plenty as well.” “To rogue cultivators, these places of Dao charm are veritable treasures. Although many were destroyed earlier, these people are still reluctant to leave.” At this point, Kongji’s earlier excitement had faded, replaced by mild distress. “Expelling over a hundred Sovereigns all at once is no small feat... unless we carry out a wholesale slaughter!” Kill them? They were merely rogue cultivators. While it was said there were no good people in the chaos, rogue cultivators truly had it hard. Drifting through the void, they had finally found a place to settle. Here, they had even chanced upon a few opportunities. Now, to plunge the world into extinction, driving them all away... to say nothing of whether they would leave, if they refused, were they truly going to butcher every last one? Li Hao smiled instead. “If all else fails... we can relocate everyone below the Sovereign realm. As for the Sovereigns, we’ll drive some away, keep some, and... see if Sovereign Senlan wants to take in a batch.” The rank seven Senlan World had originally possessed only thirty-odd Sovereigns. In the earlier assault on Red Moon... Li Hao could not tell whether it was bad luck, sheer cruelty, or Sovereign Senlan’s own weakness, but as many as ten had fallen. Now, barely twenty-some Sovereigns remained. A rank seven great world could easily accommodate fifty or sixty Sovereigns, while a rank eight could typically house over a hundred. Having more Sovereigns also helped stabilize a Great Dao cosmos. As for rogue cultivators... they were usually more than happy to join a great world. The premise, of course, was that the great world was willing to accept them. With only twenty-odd Sovereigns remaining, the Senlan World could easily recruit thirty or forty more. Naturally, they could not fill every spot, or Senlan’s native cultivators would have no hope left. Still, taking in ten or twenty would be no problem at all; Senlan was unlikely to produce dozens of new Sovereigns in the short term. Kongji nodded. “That makes sense! A rank seven Senlan was previously operating at the scale of a rank six, and after losing another batch of people, they could indeed recruit some. If nothing else, Tianfang has plenty of middle-rank Sovereigns who rule over minor domains! I know Tianfang fairly well; I’ve spent a century or two here...” He was no newcomer, having stayed at Huilong Temple for years. After pondering for a moment, he said, “A portion of the rogue cultivators have reasonably decent reputations! The Senlan Great World made quite a name for itself this time, with Sovereign Senlan trapping and killing Deep Sea... as long as those fellows aren't afraid of Yunxiao's vengeance, joining Senlan is a solid choice.” Li Hao nodded in agreement. He also wanted to clear everyone out as quickly as possible to attempt the extinction of all Tianfang... With the complete extinction of a rank nine world, the Dao of Extinction would be displayed to perfection. Li Hao himself practiced extinction and revival. He was simply not as formidable at it as Kongji. If the opportunity presented itself this time, he could give it a try. Li Hao then added, “By the way, I need to walk the path of life and death once more.” Kongji’s brows knit slightly. “The fourth time?” Li Hao nodded. The fourth time! He had no choice; after repeated ordeals, this physical body had been nearly devastated, its foundation utterly ruined. Kongji frowned. “Four times... I did say before that one must experience nine deaths and nine lives... but what if? Repeatedly undergoing life and death is bound to have drawbacks. Xinwu only experienced a single cycle of life-and-death revival, and the lingering flaws left behind have prevented the Human King from stepping into rank eight!” The Human King was formidable; they had seen that plainly today. Not only was he immensely powerful, but his Dao of Yin and Yang was also practiced to perfection. Even such a towering figure had seen his yang essence entirely depleted from resurrecting too many people, plunging Xinwu’s yin and yang into imbalance. Such were the repercussions of reviving the dead. Of course, the Human King had revived countless souls. Counting this upcoming attempt, Li Hao would be walking the path of life and death for the fourth time. It might well leave severe lingering consequences. Li Hao said softly, “I have walked the Dao of Life and Death three times. There were aspects I didn't comprehend before, but by now, I’ve come to understand a bit. The cycle of life and death expends not merely energy, but also... lifespan!” “Of course it consumes lifespan, I know that—” Li Hao shook his head. “Not the lifespan you’re thinking of, but... future lifespan!” He looked at Kongji. “I’m at rank five!” What did that mean? Kongji froze. Li Hao sighed faintly. “I’ve reached rank five! At rank three, I felt my lifespan was on the verge of draining dry. At rank four, I felt my lifespan hadn’t increased. And once I reached rank five... I found it was still the same!” Kongji’s expression changed drastically! What did that imply? In that instant, he began to understand. Li Hao gave a faint smile. “Do you see now?” Kongji’s face darkened, and he said in a low voice, “By my estimates, a rank five Sovereign who dies of old age should live at least eight hundred thousand years! A rank three Sovereign can manage five hundred thousand years at best... Are you saying that in advancing from rank three to rank five, three hundred thousand years of lifespan vanished into thin air?” Li Hao chuckled. “It didn’t vanish... A single cycle of life and death might permanently shave off a hundred thousand years from my lifespan limit. Walking it three times burned through three hundred thousand years!” “Earlier, the sensation wasn't distinct... It wasn't until I advanced that I felt almost no different than before. Setting aside the lifespan consumed by time, the Dao of Life and Death appears to lower the ceiling!” The lifespan consumed by the Dao of Time could actually be restored, but the lifespan drained by the Dao of Life and Death was, in all likelihood, permanently lost. A single cycle cost around a hundred thousand years. In other words, if Li Hao walked the Dao of Life and Death once more, the eight hundred thousand years he ought to have lived as a rank five Sovereign might fall to four hundred thousand years. That would be his lifespan limit. Was that long? To Li Hao, it sounded inconceivably vast. Yet in truth, it was hardly generous. One had to remember that even Saints and Heavenly Kings could live one or two hundred thousand years. Li Hao smiled. “If I remain stuck at rank five and make no further progress, walking through life and death four more times might lead directly to my end from old age!” In truth, it didn't bother him much. He had lived for only twenty-some years and had already witnessed a world of wonders. The only trouble with a reduced lifespan ceiling was that activating time consumed lifespan, which meant the duration he could sustain the Dao of Time would also shorten. Kongji frowned. “I believe you will step into rank seven sooner or later; that won't be difficult... But a rank seven Sovereign generally has only about a million years of lifespan. By that logic, if you walk through a few more cycles of life and death, you'll burn yourself out!” Li Hao nodded. That was indeed the reality. Yet he cared little, laughing, “A rank seven Sovereign can live a million years. Even if I go through it nine times and burn nine hundred thousand years, I'll still have a hundred thousand years left. Isn’t that plenty?” Nonsense! Was a hundred thousand years truly long? Just ask Zhang An, or ask Tianji! A single nap, and a hundred thousand years slipped by. It wasn't long at all. The crux of the matter was that this was permanent damage, not something that could be restored. If it were recoverable, it wouldn't be much of an issue; the chaos had no shortage of treasures, and cultivating the Dao of Life could increase or replenish lifespan. Yet against a permanent reduction... there was nothing to be done. “Let’s not dwell on that. Tend to your business first!” Li Hao smiled. “I’m going to check on Silver Moon. Perhaps... it’s time to unseal Silver Moon, even though it’s only been a few months since the second sealing...” A few months was not long. The trouble was that back then, while fifty-some years passed in the chaos, a hundred thousand years had elapsed in Silver Moon. A ratio of one to two thousand! It had been three or four months since Li Hao and the others sealed Silver Moon again. By that ratio, at least five hundred years had passed inside! Of course, the previous sealing had lasted far longer, whereas this one was shorter. The time ratio might not be quite so exaggerated. Yet even if it were less, a century was likely the bare minimum. As the saying went, a day in heaven was a year on earth—a ratio of over three hundred was perfectly normal. With centuries having slipped by... no one knew what state Silver Moon was in now. Was it plunged into turmoil? Had a new king risen? Or after five hundred years, was Silver Moon still the Silver Moon of old? Surely many people, unable to progress smoothly along the path of cultivation, had already died of old age. Those below the Mountain Sea or Sun Moon realm could not survive five hundred years. He wondered if any of his old acquaintances had passed away. At that thought, another matter crossed his mind, and he instructed, “There should still be some Silver Moon cultivators roaming Tianfang. If you run into them, have them return first so they aren't killed by mistake!” Many Silver Moon cultivators were still out tempering themselves in Tianfang. They had not necessarily come toward the Huilong Domain and might be elsewhere. When the battle erupted, they probably hadn't even had time to rush over; Li Hao hadn't encountered Southern Fist and the others, and had no idea where they were holed up. Naturally, there should also be acquaintances tempering themselves nearby, but the battle had only just ended, and Li Hao had not had time to search for them. “Don't worry, I understand.” Kongji said no more, and Li Hao pressed no further. At that moment, the sky split open, revealing a rift. This time, he didn't need to mobilize Tianfang's power. Tearing a small opening was simple enough, especially with Dao Chess resting inside. …… The void tore apart. The illusory silhouette of Dao Chess emerged. Seeing Li Hao, it sighed with no small emotion. “I never expected Tianfang to fall into your hands. It truly caught me off guard. A rank five Sovereign... even if you can match a rank six, Tianfang... has never seen such a phase.” Even in its lowest decline, four rank sixes had governed the four regions. Of course, setting aside the four rank sevens... from the perspective of cultivation realm alone, Li Hao was indeed the weakest ruler Tianfang had ever had. “Well, it has one now,” Li Hao chuckled. “I must also thank Senior for helping suppress Qishui this time.” “I merely joined the fray to add to the momentum. My presence hardly made a difference.” At that, curiosity crept into its tone. “What do you plan to do while holding sway over Tianfang?” “Bring about Tianfang’s extinction!” “……” The phantom hesitated, opening its mouth before holding back. Noticing this, Li Hao asked, puzzled, “Does Senior have something to say?” “Not quite...” The phantom hesitated briefly before finally speaking: “Tianfang has undergone extinction once before, which is fine in itself. But last time, the Lord of Tianfang personally initiated it and took away all of Tianfang’s living beings! When he carried out the extinction, there was naturally little trouble. But if you do it... I worry you might disturb Tianfang’s world origin... Beware of backlash!” “Hmm?” Li Hao was surprised. “Its world power has been nearly emptied out. Can the world origin still strike back?” “It’s possible!” The phantom explained, “After all, this is a rank nine world origin, not some weak, fledgling world. Even between a rank eight world and a rank nine... the gulf is massive. Furthermore, the Lord of Tianfang was no ordinary rank nine; he was the Master of the Dao of Space, practically invincible between heaven and earth!” Li Hao frowned and nodded, saying no more on the matter. “Senior, is Silver Moon well?” “It’s fine. When they entered earlier, they didn't pay any mind to Silver Moon... They were all searching for the Great Dao origin. But the Great Dao origin was extinguished long ago; how could reviving a rank nine Great Dao origin be so simple?” It shook its head. Those people had taken things far too lightly. Even Li Hao, who had inherited a portion of Tianfang’s will, had little hope of fully reviving the Great Dao cosmos before reaching rank seven. One could well imagine how arduous truly reviving Tianfang would be. If it were easy, someone would have done it long ago—how could it have waited for Li Hao? Li Hao looked up into the void at the hundreds of millions of darkened stars. Only three great stars—Fire, Darkness, and Water—gleamed with faint light. The Star of Darkness flickered, a result of Li Hao borrowing a measure of Dao Chess’s power earlier. Dao Chess had long been nurtured within Dark Demon Ridge, absorbing substantial darkness power. The entire cosmos remained desolate in the extreme. “Qian Wuliang, Martial Uncle Hong!” Li Hao called out. A moment later, several Sovereigns arrived. Qian Wuliang and the others entered one after another. Looking once more upon the Tianfang cosmos, Hong Yitang remarked with wistful emotion, “It feels as though we only left three or four months ago, yet this period... feels impossibly long!” Over these few months, they had accomplished monumental deeds. Welcoming King Huai and his companions, slaying Sovereign Awaken God, scheming against Senlan, ultimately seizing the four great worlds, and joining the final battle to claim Tianfang, where a heap of rank seven Sovereigns had perished. When they had last departed this place, they were mere rank one or rank two Sovereigns; not a single one had reached rank three. Yet now, Qian Wuliang was already at rank four, and Hong Yitang could feel that he was nearly there as well. To an outsider, it would seem as though tens of thousands of years had passed. Li Hao was even more extraordinary—at rank three when he left, and now straight into rank five! “When Director Zhao sees us again... I wonder what he’ll think,” Hong Yitang said with a laugh. Last time, Director Zhao had chosen to remain behind. By now, who knew how much time had elapsed in Silver Moon? Yet resources there were limited, and in all likelihood, none of them had stepped into the Sovereign realm; otherwise, they would have walked out long ago. The fact that Silver Moon remained quiet even now indicated that despite the passage of time over these past few months, no one inside had attained the Sovereign realm. “Let’s go take a look!” Li Hao spoke no further. This trip was an opportunity for Silver Moon! It was an opportunity for the others as well—for the two Dao Lords, and for Black Panther... As for himself, his own fortune was not yet in sight. Reaching rank six was straightforward in theory. Li Hao had currently filled only a few hundred minor worlds. If he could one day fill a thousand, he might step into rank six. It was difficult, and the price was immense. Yet difficulty carried its own rewards: his foundation was shockingly formidable. Others cultivated a single Dao Domain; he cultivated thousands. That was the disparity! Otherwise, how could a rank five fight a rank seven? How could a toddler in kindergarten ever hope to harm a ruthless bandit? Now, by joining forces with Kongji, he could slay a rank seven... Even if achieved through a surprise ambush, it was akin to nearing middle-school graduation—capable of taking on a hardened outlaw, driving a blade into him when he was off guard, and ending his life. After exchanging a few casual words, Li Hao did not wait for the others from Silver Moon to arrive. He quickly led his companions toward Silver Moon’s location. The star-like world, no longer concealed by Dao Chess, once again radiated a soft, faint glow. A silver world, exceptionally beautiful. He had seen countless worlds, plenty of them breathtaking... Yet looking back, Silver Moon remained the fairest. At this moment, Li Hao no longer considered Silver Moon a part of Xinwu; the Human King had already sold it to him. A rank seven cosmos! Though he had yet to pay, an IOU had been signed. Silver Moon now rightfully belonged to him—a world belonging to the people of Silver Moon themselves! Just then, the void rippled. A figure emerged. Sword Venerable! Sword Venerable had been guarding the South World Gate, but he materialized in an instant, gazing upon Silver Moon with wistful eyes. “The Silver Moon World! It has been quite a few years since I last saw it!” With that, he looked at Li Hao. “I came over to take a look. The South World Gate isn't far; I can return in a flash...” “No matter!” Li Hao smiled. “Uncle Li, looking at Silver Moon now, how does it compare to back then?” “From the outside... it seems more vibrant, though I can’t speak to the specifics!” He laughed and added, “When it was first opened, it was tiny... so small it hardly resembled a world. Yet this world’s self-growth rate is astonishingly fast! Under normal circumstances, it is exceedingly difficult for a world to grow.” Li Hao nodded in understanding. The Silver Moon World was indeed growing on its own. Thus, even while sealed, absorbing a modest amount of energy had allowed it to advance directly into a medium-tier world. Ordinary worlds could never match such speed. “Let us unseal Silver Moon first!” Li Hao wasted no time. Chatting here for even a little while might mean substantial time slipping by inside. Soon, he descended upon the world barrier. Right where the Stargate lay! Not much time had passed since the last sealing of Silver Moon, and Li Hao suspected there might even be a third time! For his stay here was only temporary. He might have to depart again before long. Once unsealed, Silver Moon would be incapable of weathering the current turmoil of the chaos. Yet this time... he had to grant Silver Moon an opportunity for tremendous development. Silver Moon’s population was small—ten billion sounded like a lot, but compared to a great world, it was negligible! Touching the Stargate with one hand, the gate trembled faintly. …… At the same time. Within the Silver Moon World. Compared to when Li Hao had sealed it, the current Silver Moon seemed entirely transformed. When Li Hao had not yet sealed it, Silver Moon lacked time to develop, and many things had never been built. Much of the technology and experience inherited from Xinwu had not been put to use in time. Since the second sealing of the Stargate... a full five hundred years had elapsed in Silver Moon. Five hundred years meant dozens of generations for ordinary mortals. However, when Li Hao departed, hundreds of millions of cultivators already walked the world. Complete legacies of cultivation arts had been preserved, and a large number of veterans had chosen to stay behind. Unlike Xinwu of old, the inheritance had never been broken. Over these five hundred years, Silver Moon had continued to uphold the governing ideals Li Hao had established. The entire world still revolved around the Silver Moon Marquis Manor. Across five centuries, Silver Moon had undergone earth-shaking changes. Because Li Hao had left behind abundant resources, there had been no sign of energy depletion like the aftermath of Xinwu’s departure. Yet over five hundred years, the number of cultivators had swelled from hundreds of millions to nearly ten billion—everyone was cultivating! As a result, the resources Li Hao had left behind were now on the verge of complete exhaustion. The crux was that, situated within the Tianfang Great Dao cosmos, the surrounding cosmos was entirely withered, offering no way to draw in external energy. …… At this moment. Inside the Silver Moon Marquis Manor. A gathering of cultivators was locked in discussion. Compared to the past, they were far more powerful. Some had aged considerably, some had matured, while others looked much as they had back then, showing little change. Seated above, Director Zhao appeared weary and weathered. Over the span of five hundred years, he was the most senior and powerful among those who had stayed behind. He had consistently steered Silver Moon’s transformation, transitioning from initial ease to later strain as new figures rose—not only threatening the established authority, but more crucially... over five centuries, the Marquis of Silver Moon had gradually become a legend in the eyes of the younger generation. Was five hundred years long? In deep slumber, it was not. Without slumber... it was terribly long! The world had also experienced unrest. Because resources were finite, the birth of vast numbers of cultivators had inevitably spawned fighting, contention, and a host of issues over supplies. A portion of the younger generation even deemed Old Zhao decadent and corrupt... accusing him of perpetuating an autocratic regime that ought to be overthrown. As for the Marquis of Silver Moon... he had been gone for five hundred years; he was likely dead, or had long forgotten Silver Moon. Fortunately, the original cohort from those days was still alive. Only that allowed Director Zhao to feel that the world was still the world he knew. Yet looking around, aside from the Silver Moon Marquis Manor, there was little left that felt familiar—towering skyscrapers stood in thickets, diverse cultures flourished, and new martial arts had even emerged. As these thoughts drifted through his mind, Director Zhou beside him, looking equally exhausted, said slowly, “The world’s energy is being consumed at a frantic pace. Cultivators are too numerous, and our reserves are completely depleted! Even the training resources for several martial arts academies can no longer be met!” “The military lacks energy, the administration lacks energy—no one is spared...” He rubbed his temples, worn down with exhaustion. “The world cannot obtain external energy and relies entirely on old reserves. Now, some of the powerhouses among the younger generation are clamoring to open the Stargate!” “If we weren't still able to suppress them... those fellows would have opened it themselves! Five hundred years may not be extraordinarily long... far shorter than Xinwu’s hundred thousand years of dormancy. But... if this continues, we will follow in Xinwu’s footsteps. With insufficient energy, we’ll be forced into dormancy. If we cannot cross into the Sovereign realm, we will lose our way upon entering the Great Dao cosmos...” He smiled bitterly. “Back then, it seemed so simple for Qian Wuliang and the others to step into the Sovereign realm. I thought that over several centuries, a few Sovereigns would emerge from among us as well... That way, we could draw energy upon entering the Great Dao cosmos... But...” Shaking his head, he sighed once more. With both Dao Lords gone, they could enter the Great Dao cosmos, but drawing energy from it was immensely difficult. Crucially, without the Dao Lords present, navigating the Great Dao cosmos was treacherous. Each time, they could only draw a sliver of energy, barely enough to sustain their own cultivation. Such was the difference between an owner and no owner. Years ago, when it was ownerless, Li Hao could enter and leave at will. Nowadays, doing so invited attacks from Great Dao lightning, giving them endless headaches. With resources drained and the Great Dao cosmos unable to be fully accessed... opening the Stargate was the only option left. Yet outside, perhaps very little time had passed. Perhaps Li Hao was still fleeing pursuit. Opening the Stargate to venture out now... would yield the same result, for the Tianfang cosmos was entirely barren. As the group fretted over this dilemma, someone hurried into the room with an exasperated expression. “Go take a look quickly, things aren't good! Those young fellows have gathered near the Stargate today, insisting on opening it to get out!” “Outrageous!” Director Zhao scolded, frowning. “What about the Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army guarding the gate? Did they not stop them?” The messenger glanced helplessly at Director Zhao, then at the others, sighing, “It’s hard to manage! Hard to stop, too. The one leading them is...” He looked toward Liu Long in the crowd. Liu Long’s expression shifted, and he asked in a low voice, “Is Liu Yin leading them?” The messenger nodded slightly. Liu Long was now the Grand Commander of the Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army, effectively commanding half the military; the other half was led by Cannibal Huang Yu. Liu Yin was Liu Long’s son. In the two hundredth year after Li Hao and the others departed, Liu Long had married, shedding his bachelorhood. His wife was none other than Commander Liu Yan, one of the five commanders of the Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army. Liu Yin had been born a hundred years ago. A century was not young, yet in their eyes, he was still of the younger generation. He had reached the Dao Integration Realm. His combat prowess was exceedingly formidable! With both father and mother serving as military titans, he faced few restraints in Silver Moon. Among the younger generation clamoring to open the Stargate, Liu Yin was one of the spearheads. Liu Long’s face turned grim. “Insolent fool!” Fury rose within him. Beside him, Director Zhao sighed. “Forget it, let us go take a look. He’s too young and understands nothing...” Liu Long could not help cursing, “Young? Back then, our circumstances were unimaginably dire. The Marquis of Silver Moon fought enemies in all directions in his early twenties to keep Silver Moon safe. He’s a hundred years old—how is he still young?” Cursing aside, the boy was still his flesh and blood. The name *Liu Yin* alone reflected his aspirations. The *Yin* of Silver Moon! And likewise, the *Yin* of the Silver Spear. The Liu family had once produced one of the Three Spears of Silver Moon. However, by Liu Long’s generation, he had abandoned the spear for short axes, treading the path of water. Today, Liu Yin had taken up the spear. To attain the Dao Integration Realm within a century, at a time when countless cultivators fretted over resources... Liu Long and his wife had clearly paid an immense price. Director Zhao smiled faintly. “Every generation has a different idea of what ‘young’ means!” That was the truth. Only in eras of turmoil, madness, and darkness did age cease to be a shackle. In relatively peaceful times, when the elders were still hale and hearty, even advanced age seemed youthful. Back then, a centenarian would have been an ancient fossil. Yuan Shuo, an old man in his seventies, had been a revered grandmaster of the martial world, an elder of great seniority. “Let us go have a look; we cannot let them actually damage the Stargate!” Director Zhao said, “We forbid everyone from opening the Stargate not for any other reason, but to... buy Silver Moon more time to build its foundation! Though times are hard now, once the Stargate opens, time will flow at the same rate, and we have no ability to seal it again!” With more time, they could accumulate strength. But once the Stargate opened, resources would remain just as scarce, none would be found outside, and without the accumulation of years, their efforts would truly be in vain. Liu Long wasted no words and headed straight outside. The Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army showed him and Liu Yan respect by not giving his son trouble, but that did not mean Dao Integration was invincible. Dao Integration cultivators used to be rare, but over five centuries, many had emerged. The core members of the Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army had all crossed into Dao Integration. Commanders like Wang Ming had even surpassed the seventh level. If they truly lost their temper, Liu Long’s son, sitting at the sixth level of Dao Integration, would still be thrashed within an inch of his life. …… Beneath the Stargate. The one stationed here was none other than Wang Ming. The once-flippant, youthful fellow of the past had grown far more mature and dignified. The Demon Hunting Martial Guard Army had five division commanders: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Wang Ming was the Metal Commander. Standing beneath the Stargate, Wang Ming looked across at a dozen young men and women. None of them were weak; the lesser ones were at the Mountain Sea realm, while the strongest, Liu Yin, had already reached the sixth level of Dao Integration. He frowned slightly. “All of you, go back! Stop stirring up trouble! If not for your parents, I would have executed anyone trespassing here on the spot!” The youth at the lead appeared fiercely arrogant and defiant. “Uncle Wang...” “Call me Commander!” Wang Ming had no patience for pleasantries. This fellow had been obedient as a child, but had grown rebellious as he aged. Liu Yin spoke with indignant anger, “If the Stargate remains shut, this world has no hope! Silver Moon’s resources are depleted; we can barely receive any allocation, and the others have it even worse...” “There are no resources outside either!” Wang Ming scowled. “How many times do I have to tell you? Outside lies a withered Great Dao cosmos, do you understand? There is nothing out there, only emptiness... If there were, we would have gone out ourselves—would we have waited for you?” “That was five hundred years ago. Things might be different now!” “Nonsense, barely a few months might have passed out there!” Wang Ming was growing irritated. “Silver Moon’s heritage was never broken; you were taught this since childhood!” “That’s not certain either!” Liu Yin retorted, “What if the flow of time has synchronized? Besides... could the Marquis of Silver Moon truly seal Silver Moon entirely? Perhaps... he was just lying to you. Perhaps time flows identically, and he simply didn't want you leaving, keeping you here to guard his doorstep!” “Insolent whelp!” Wang Ming was furious! Many among the younger generation were now questioning whether the Marquis of Silver Moon could truly seal a world completely. If he couldn't, how could time flow at different rates? Because they knew more and studied more, they deemed it absurd. Silver Moon had not sealed itself; it had been sealed by human hand. How could such a temporal discrepancy exist? Thus, many theories had sprouted among the youth. Perhaps... the Marquis of Silver Moon back then had merely duped everyone, hoping they would stay put and guard his doorstep like obedient dogs. Preventing them from running off! While the outside world might well be a flourishing paradise. Wang Ming was fuming, yet felt utterly helpless. Questioning authority seemed to be the nature of youth. Had they not been the same back then? Questioning everything! Questioning Xinwu, questioning Zhang An and the elders... Yet when his turn came, he was thoroughly exasperated. *Damn it, do you think I’m stupider than you?* *Could we not have thought of what you thought of?* The crux was that they were eyewitnesses who knew the truth. Wang Ming’s temper flared. “If you dare spout nonsense again, don't blame me for disregarding your parents! Reaching the sixth level of Dao Integration at a hundred years old makes you think you're something grand? Do you have any idea that every scrap of resource you’ve cultivated with was won for you by the Marquis of Silver Moon? He was barely in his twenties back then! He was already rampaging across the chaos, slaying countless foes, and Sovereigns were nothing in his hands...” The youths looked unconvinced. Yes, that was what they had been taught, but... who knew the truth? The Marquis of Silver Moon, in his twenties, butchering Sovereigns like chickens? Was that real? Just how strong was a Sovereign? They had never seen one, and suspected... Sovereigns were probably no different from Dao Integration cultivators. In that case, if they went out, they could run rampant just the same! It was a matter of perspective. Even if the elders repeatedly emphasized the terror of Sovereigns... it was futile. It was unlike back then, when a Sovereign had been sealed here, and a half-step Sovereign bordering that realm had exerted constant, suffocating pressure on everyone. Now, there were only their own people. Five hundred years like this had left them devoid of genuine pressure. As they argued, a furious roar thundered from behind: “Insolent bastard, do you seek death?” *Boom!* A massive hand descended from the heavens. Liu Yin’s expression changed, and turning around, he saw his father arriving! Before he could speak, the great hand crashed down. *Rumble!* With a single strike, he was pinned to the ground! Surging waves rolled off Liu Long. Looking at Wang Ming in irritation, he snapped, “Why didn't you just take him down?” Wang Ming rolled his eyes. *I wanted to! The problem is, you might not complain, but what about your wife? If I took him down, she might come looking for my head.* Like subduing a helpless chick, Liu Long pinned his son down and barked, “A mere sixth-level Dao Integration, weaker than the Marquis of Silver Moon when he was only at the third level, and you dare run wild? Has peace lasted so long that you think the world is beneath you?” “Father...” Suppressed beneath the hand, Liu Yin remained defiant. “All of this is just what you claim... I only want to open the Stargate and go take a look, to see the world you speak of—what’s wrong with that? Countless Sovereigns, powerhouses everywhere, blowing away Dao Integration with a single breath... You’re boasting until you burst, aren't you?” “……” Liu Long was incensed. With a sharp crunch, he squeezed until his son cried out in pain, yet he felt profoundly helpless. He had no way to prove how powerful a Sovereign truly was. That was the tragedy of it! For he was no Sovereign. Even though he had reached the ninth level of Dao Integration, he had not crossed that threshold. The gap between him and his son was vast, yet in his son’s eyes... even he couldn't blow someone away with a single breath. What kind of tall tale was that? At this moment, Liu Long’s deepest regret was... that they hadn't asked Li Hao to leave a Sovereign behind back then! That way, these Dao Integration whelps would know how terrifying Sovereigns were, and just how perilous the outside world truly was! By now, Director Zhao and the others had arrived. Director Zhao, who had reached the seventh level of Dao Integration back then, was now only at the ninth level, similarly unable to break through to the Sovereign realm. Looking at the crowd, he sighed. “Enough, let him go! It’s our own fault for failing to reach the Sovereign realm. These boys are merely worried about the shortage of resources...” Wanting to go out—wasn't it ultimately because they had run out of resources? They couldn't conjure supplies out of thin air! If they reached the Sovereign realm, they could commune with the Great Dao cosmos and extract some, but now... it could only be said that they were too incompetent. Liu Long frowned slightly, sighing as well. “We must make an example of someone! Otherwise... unrest will surely follow! Liu Yin...” He hesitated, then gritted his teeth. “Let him be the example! His audacity has grown too great, daring to breach the Stargate... This arrogance cannot be indulged! I cannot bring myself to kill him, so I will cripple his martial arts and lock him away to serve as a warning!” “……” Liu Yin was stunned. *Is he... serious?* Yet Liu Long appeared dead serious. He could not bear to kill his son, but... if this continued, rebellion would erupt sooner or later! He had to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys! Everyone showed him face, but he could not fail to show face to others, nor could he fail to show face to Li Hao. Even if Li Hao didn't care, these youths could not be indulged! “There’s really no need—” Before Director Zhao could finish, a sickening *crack* echoed. Under the shocked gazes of the onlookers, Liu Long directly shattered the countless Dao channels within his son’s body. Instantly, heaven and earth fell silent! Liu Long’s face was calm. “So be it. The others... shall be dealt with similarly. This is the first time; if there is a next time, execute them all! Without rules, there is no order. If this continues, it will turn to treason!” “I am saving him... If there is a next time, and a real rebellion breaks out... when the Marquis returns, even if he doesn't care, seeing his own people turn against him, what reason would he have to hold any affection for Silver Moon? Director Zhao, there is no need to let Liu’s family matter compromise all of Silver Moon. These brats have no idea that without the Marquis’s protection... Silver Moon would have been annihilated countless times. The safety of ten billion lives versus my son... I know which carries more weight! Crippling him rather than killing him is already playing favorites!” “This...” Director Zhao sighed. Liu Long remained as resolute as ever, crippling him without hesitation. Handling the aftermath would be difficult now. On the ground, Liu Yin’s face was as pale as death! *I’ve been crippled?* The other young men and women trembled in terror. Seeing this, Liu Long snorted. “Cowards. You’ve never tasted war, yet you want to play big? People like you wouldn't survive a single day out there!” No one dared utter a word, their faces pale. Just as Liu Long was about to speak further, Director Zhao’s brows furrowed slightly, and he looked up at the sky. Above, the Stargate seemed to tremble faintly. He froze. Liu Long was also taken aback and quickly looked up. At that moment, countless people raised their heads as the crimson portal in the sky began to shake violently! Just as the crowd was caught between shock and apprehension, the Stargate suddenly swung wide! *Rumble!* The Stargate burst open. A figure strode through the air, wearing a faint smile as he peered downward, looking pleased... yet slightly puzzled. It seemed... something was happening down there? Naturally, it was of little consequence. In an instant, a colossal pressure suppressed heaven and earth! It was not intentional; he had simply applied a bit of force to open the Stargate. A rank five Sovereign releasing even a sliver of pressure was enough to overwhelm the realm of Silver Moon. Simultaneously, Sovereigns stepped into Silver Moon one after another! Sword Venerable’s aura shook the entire world. Looking upon Silver Moon, Sword Venerable sighed softly, “It has changed immensely...” “Is this Silver Moon?” At that moment, a figure darted in—Kongji, who had just been busy outside. Poking his head in, he remarked with surprise, “I thought Silver Moon would be extraordinarily powerful... why is it... so weak?” “……” *Nonsense!* Li Hao was speechless. Silver Moon had only recently advanced to a medium-tier world, and its Sovereigns were all outside. Of course it wasn't strong. Sovereign after Sovereign materialized between heaven and earth. The entire Silver Moon World seemed shaken to its core by their presence. All eyes converged upon them; the Sovereigns who hadn't deliberately concealed their auras radiated a presence so piercing it hurt to even look at them. Beside them, Director Zhao and the others, who had previously seemed like the pinnacle of cultivation, appeared utterly insignificant! “Eh? Boss, is that your descendant?” Li Hao glanced at Liu Yin with slight surprise, sensing a familiar bloodline aura—Liu Long’s. Had he... married and had children? Liu Long nodded blankly, stunned that Li Hao had actually returned. Li Hao smiled. “What... happened here? You beat him? Beating your own son like this? Boss, you really are...” Shaking his head with a chuckle, Li Hao waved his hand casually. In a single instant, the crippled Liu Yin was restored to his peak, as if nothing had happened at all. Liu Yin was utterly dumbfounded! This was... the Marquis of Silver Moon? With a mere wave of his hand, a shattered sixth-level Dao Integration cultivation was restored, and even his Dao channels were mended in a flash, bearing not the slightest trace of damage. This was... inconceivable! Just as Liu Long was about to speak, Li Hao gave a light laugh and said softly, “I have returned!” At that moment, his voice was the only sound between heaven and earth. Then, the previously silent world erupted with a heaven-shaking roar. “The Marquis has returned!” “Greetings, Lord Marquis!” Between heaven and earth, the veterans whom Liu Yin and his peers had thought were on the verge of dying out... suddenly appeared in droves! Their roars shook the heavens! From every corner, from every secret realm, the elders who had seemed to vanish into obscurity—countless Dao Integration, Sun Moon, and Mountain Sea powerhouses—soared into the sky simultaneously! They blotted out the sky and sun! Too numerous to imagine! Countless members of the younger generation stood petrified. Some stared at ordinary neighbors and friends, or old men who usually sunbathed on porches, now erupting with auras of the Sun Moon or Dao Integration realms... leaving the youths utterly bewildered and out of their wits! Were these people... all veterans from five hundred years ago? There were actually this many powerhouses still alive! “Good, very good... I am glad to see you all again!” At this moment, Li Hao’s laughter filled heaven and earth, and a silhouette surfaced in the minds of everyone—Li Hao himself. With a wave of his hand, a rain of life cascaded from the heavens. Countless elders, whether desiccated of vitality or harboring hidden wounds, were instantly healed, their strength even surging noticeably. Li Hao chuckled. “Not bad at all... My return this time is to take everyone out to see the world. Of course, before that... I hope all my old friends and acquaintances can cross into the Sovereign realm... This time, I have brought back dozens of worlds larger than Silver Moon. I will merge them into Silver Moon—your chance has arrived!” Dumbfounded! What? Dozens of worlds? Yet such shock belonged only to the youth; the older generation of cultivators took it in stride, filled only with boundless excitement. The Marquis of Silver Moon was omnipotent! It was only natural! Many elders glanced toward the younger generation, feeling they had simply been too lazy to bother with them before—a bunch of ignorant kids who had never seen the world! Back then, we fought side by side with the Marquis of Silver Moon across the realm! At that moment, the elders who had once felt a twinge of despair roared with all their might, as if transported back five hundred years. Li Hao found it hard to fully comprehend their intense emotion, for he had been gone for only a few months. Yet he understood the disparity: to them... he had been gone for far too long. Gazing upon Silver Moon once more, Li Hao sighed with complex emotion. He did not wish to seal Silver Moon again. And yet... Silver Moon was still too weak.