Ambition

Dragon Region. The Fire Phoenix World. The Fire Phoenix World served as the Dragon Region's primary commercial hub. Although the Dragon Region was ruled by chaos beasts, once chaos beasts gained intelligence, they naturally developed a degree of commercial acumen as well. Trading, purchasing, cultivation, and recruiting experts—opening a great world to the outside would inevitably draw countless powerhouses. The other three great domains possessed similar hubs. Naturally, the most famous of them all was the Tianfang World. Yet the Tianfang World was not the domain of chaos beasts. Here in the Dragon Region, it was the Fire Phoenix World that fulfilled this function, welcoming rogue chaos beasts, naturally birthed chaos beasts, chaos beasts without heritage or worlds of their own, native demon races, and even some wandering human rogue cultivators... provided, of course, that they dared to come. The Fire Phoenix World did not bar humans. As long as you did not fear perishing here or being targeted by others, you were welcome to come, whether to trade or to cultivate. That this role fell to the Fire Phoenix World rather than the Dragon World was a testament to the Dragon Lord's wisdom. The Dragon World was the core. If someone infiltrated and breached it, the repercussions would be catastrophic. While the Fire Phoenix World was immensely powerful, even if a rank seven world were breached, the wider impact would remain manageable. Moreover, the Fire Phoenix World was not too far from the Dragon World. Arriving swiftly with reinforcements would be difficult, but should an incident occur in the Fire Phoenix World, the Dragon World would receive word almost immediately. They would have ample time to formulate a response—whether to counterattack, flee, or encircle and annihilate the threat. *** Outside the Fire Phoenix World. After observing for a while, Li Hao remarked with admiration, "Credit where it's due—the Dragon Lord is quite a figure! This Fire Phoenix World is positioned right in the center of four worlds: the Dragon World, the Giant Elephant Realm, the Mighty Tiger Realm, and the Tongbao Realm." Such a geographic position offered exceptional security. If this place were ever breached, the four surrounding worlds could close in from all directions to surround and annihilate the intruders. They could advance to attack or retreat to defend. Including the Fire Phoenix World itself, five great worlds stood in this vicinity. This had clearly been orchestrated deliberately by the Dragon Lord—or rather, by the Chaos Alliance. Great worlds did not naturally cluster in such an arrangement. Opening the Fire Phoenix World not only allowed chaos beasts to interact, but also served to attract wandering or powerful chaos beasts, thereby strengthening the chaos beast faction as a whole. Kongji nodded in agreement. "The other three domains harbored similar intentions, but none dared let outsiders into their own worlds recklessly. That was how Tianfang became the largest trading hub for the surrounding three domains!" Yet Tianfang had primarily hosted rogue cultivators and was an ownerless great world, whereas this place possessed a master. "The crux is... they even permit humans to enter. Do any humans actually dare to step inside?" Kongji chuckled. A rank seven chaos beast world in a Dragon Region that was overwhelmingly hostile toward humans—even if humans wandered nearby, they would at most travel through the chaos. Who would dare set foot inside? As they were speaking, Li Hao suddenly pointed into the distance. Out there... a human Sovereign was descending rapidly toward the Fire Phoenix World. Kongji froze, genuinely surprised. "Are they mad?" A human truly dared to go in? At this moment, chaos beasts guarded the Fire Phoenix World's realm gate, and their strength was formidable. Yet when that human landed, they seemed quite familiar with the guards. Far from any hostility, the two sides appeared to recognize each other. After exchanging greetings for a brief moment, the human was permitted to enter the world. Kongji looked bewildered. What was going on? Li Hao pondered for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "Humans are, after all, the dominant race in the chaos, and there are many humans in the Dragon Region. While the humans in some worlds are weak, indigenous humans exist throughout the region, including within the Dragon World itself... If some humans are willing to serve the chaos beasts... it actually seems quite natural." If native humans produced a Sovereign who was willing to pledge allegiance to them, it was entirely plausible. Similarly, within the human domain, many worlds harbored demon races. Even under Li Hao, there were demons serving him. Those demons held respectable standing within human territory. Only then did Kongji grasp the situation. He nodded. "So... human traitors?" "You cannot look at it that way," Li Hao said, shaking his head. "They have lived under the rule of chaos beasts all along. Perhaps they were born into a world governed by chaos beasts and have long taken it for granted that chaos beasts are the natural rulers. Unable to resist, and perhaps treated somewhat decently by certain chaos beast realm lords... it is simply a matter of circumstance. One cannot choose the environment into which they are born. Could you call Black Panther a traitor to the demons?" Li Hao did not view these people as traitors, provided they did not aid the chaos beasts in committing atrocities against fellow humans. Some people were born without choices. Some did not even know what the world outside was like. In their eyes, chaos beasts were simply the rulers of existence. What else could they do? Black Panther wagged his tail and remained silent. Kongji thought about it, then nodded and exhaled softly. "True... you make a good point. I have never experienced such circumstances, nor did I think to put myself in their shoes. My immediate instinct was that any humans mingling with chaos beasts were a disgrace to humanity... But if it is as you say, and they were born into it, then... there really is no other way." He smiled faintly. "Just now, seeing that human descend and interact so warmly with the chaos beasts, I felt an urge to... kill. A stronger impulse than killing a chaos beast." Li Hao smiled as well. "That is only natural! Still, merely serving them is one thing. If they assist in slaughtering humans, then regardless of whether they were coerced or not, they deserve to die—though they might not see it that way themselves." Kongji nodded once more. He had broadened his perspective considerably, and he could not help but glance at Li Hao a few times. Li Hao often viewed things with an openness that others lacked. Anyone else would likely have found it difficult to empathize in such a manner. "So how do we get in?" Kongji looked into the distance. "Do we watch from the periphery, or do we enter... Should Black Panther pose as an outsider chaos beast, or one from the Dragon Region?" Since Li Hao wanted to come here, Kongji would not stop him, though he felt the visit might bear little fruit. Several Silver Moon Sovereigns had already departed on their own. Qian Wuliang, Hong Yitang, and several other middle-rank Sovereigns were leading groups of Sovereigns to scout in secret for suitable worlds. Naturally, they would not strike immediately; they were waiting for Li Hao's command. Each of them carried one of Li Hao's phantom minor worlds, which barely linked them to the River of Time. Over immense distances, establishing contact might be impossible, but within a certain range, it still functioned as a means of communication. Even that alone was extraordinary. Nearly all of Silver Moon's martial masters had requested to leave on their own this time, and Li Hao had not forced them to stay. Clearly, they had taken his words that day to heart, hoping to forge their own paths and shoulder some of Li Hao's burdens. As for the Silver Moon World itself, it remained within Black Panther's belly, housing those of Silver Moon who had yet to become Sovereigns. Li Hao was in no rush to answer Kongji. Instead, he waited a while longer, watching as several more Sovereigns descended into the world. He could not help but observe, "There seem to be far more Sovereigns in the Dragon Region than elsewhere. In the Tianfang World, having one Sovereign enter in a month would be considered lively. Yet here in the Fire Phoenix World, with nothing special going on and just routine commerce, several Sovereigns have arrived in just a short span!" He had assumed chaos beasts were averse to social exchange. It turned out that was not the case at all. Not only that, there were even demon Sovereigns! Demon races and chaos beasts were quite easy to distinguish in the chaos. Chaos beasts blended almost seamlessly with the chaos, whereas demons, much like humans, possessed a slight sense of detachment from it. Even from far away, one did not need any deep scrutiny to tell whether an entity was a demon or a chaos beast. This Fire Phoenix World hosted humans and demons alike... The Dragon Lord truly possessed an inclusive, all-encompassing disposition. Nevertheless, the Dragon Region's suppression of humans likely stemmed from profound wariness. Humans were far too resilient and populous; they produced vast numbers of powerhouses with alarming ease. "Black Panther, you will pose as an outsider... an outsider chaos beast. Do not pretend to be from the Dragon Region; we know too little about this place... Kongji and I will hide in your belly." Black Panther nodded, though he seemed somewhat uneasy. He was accustomed to having Li Hao direct him from the side. Even though Li Hao would still be present, being inside his belly while surrounded by powerhouses on all sides left the hound feeling apprehensive. "It's fine, don't worry. Have you forgotten? Years ago, I hid in your belly when we went to deal with the Xu family... In the blink of an eye, we've already stepped into the chaos. Weren't you bold enough back then?" Black Panther seemed to recall that memory. He bared his teeth in a grin and wagged his tail. That was true! What was there to fear? Li Hao continued, "Once we enter the Fire Phoenix World, our primary objective is to obtain a complete map of the Dragon Region, gauge the exact strength of each world, and determine the number of rank seven Sovereigns. Aside from that... there is one critical detail!" Li Hao paused before continuing, "Will the Dragon World leave? We must closely monitor its movements. If the Dragon World stays put, small skirmishes are fine, but stirring up any major upheaval will be exceedingly difficult." If the Dragon Lord did not depart, his control over the Dragon Region would remain absolute. Furthermore, as the undisputed hegemon, he could mobilize a vast host of rank seven Sovereigns to hunt them down at a moment's notice. Causing trouble under such circumstances would be practically suicidal. "Mm." Black Panther responded with a grunt. At first, Li Hao paid it no mind. After a moment, he froze and stared at Black Panther. Black Panther seemed unaware of anything amiss until, after a long pause, he suddenly snapped to attention. His fur bristled, his head jerked toward Li Hao, and his canine eyes went wide, as though some cataclysmic event had occurred! Li Hao stared back, dumbfounded. This dog... holy hell, he could actually speak? The wretched creature had remained mute all this time. Even upon reaching the rank five Sovereign level, he had never made a peep. Li Hao had even doubted himself, wondering if the dog was simply of a breed that truly could not speak, for how else could anyone endure remaining silent for so long? Yet just now... he had clearly responded! "Black Panther, you can talk!" Li Hao's gaze turned menacing. Black Panther gave him an innocent look and shook his head. *I can't.* Li Hao frowned and stared at him for a long while before saying, "What on earth? Why do you insist on barking when you're capable of speech?" He was utterly speechless. What kind of terrible habit was this? To hold out until reaching rank five without speaking a word, remaining silent while everyone around him conversed—this fellow truly was a dog in every sense of the word! Such patience! Black Panther shook his head again. *I can't speak.* Li Hao felt a strange bewilderment. Why? It made no sense. He was certain he had not misheard. The dog had undoubtedly answered him. Even if it was just a grunt of "mm," it had certainly not been a mere canine whine, even if dogs could make grunting noises. To the side, Kongji laughed. He looked Black Panther up and down, then sent a mental transmission to Li Hao with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Black Panther doesn't speak... perhaps because he feels that once he opens his mouth, he won't be able to fool around with you like before, Haoyue." What kind of absurd reasoning was that? Li Hao gave him a flat look. Kongji continued through transmission, "Once he can speak, he becomes a proper, intelligent Sovereign. A Sovereign... once grown, must eventually leave." Li Hao froze. He fell silent, sinking into deep contemplation. If Black Panther could speak... would he no longer treat him as a pet? A speaking dog and a mute dog were, in truth, entirely different. Once it could speak, it was a bona fide cultivator. Without speech... it remained a pet. Li Hao had grown used to it. Yet if Black Panther truly spoke one day, like Er Mao or Li Fuhai, would he still treat him as a pet? Would he treat great demons like the Dragon Lord as pets? Obviously not! Interacting with such demon powerhouses was done on equal footing, as fellow cultivators... And Black Panther was clearly no fool. He was a rank five Sovereign; he must understand this. Once he truly spoke, he would no longer be just a pet—even if... a Sovereign's status far exceeded that of a pet. Yet what use did he have for such high status? Did he lack standing as he was? Perhaps he simply did not want to be separated from Li Hao. When he was very small, still wandering the streets, he had followed Li Hao. Before he had even awakened his intellect, he had stayed by Li Hao's side... Through everything that had transpired, through every hardship, he had remained at Li Hao's side... If he spoke one day, perhaps... Li Hao would no longer keep him around. It would signify that he was grown, independent—an intelligent, responsible demon Sovereign capable of standing on his own. This was something Li Hao had never considered before. He had always assumed Black Panther's voice might sound unpleasant, or too childish, or something similar... It was said that his ancestor, the Demon Suppressing Emissary of Xinwu, had been the same way, possessing a childish voice and thus waiting a very long time before speaking. Li Hao had assumed Black Panther was following that precedent. Yet when Black Panther reached rank five and still remained mute, Li Hao had grown puzzled. Now, Kongji, looking on as an outsider, seemed to have discerned the truth. Li Hao fell quiet for a moment, saying nothing. In his mind, once a person or a demon could speak and converse, they were indeed an ordinary, fully realized living being. At that point, they could no longer be regarded as pets. Yet to this day, he still saw Black Panther as his pet dog. So it was merely that he, too close to the situation, had failed to understand Black Panther's actions, while an outsider had seen right through them? Li Hao sank into thought, but soon his smile returned. Looking at Black Panther, he dropped the subject of speaking altogether. He patted the dog's massive head and chuckled. "Forget it, maybe I misheard, or perhaps it was Kongji's voice... If you can't speak, you can't speak. It just means the dog I raised is on the dumber side!" Black Panther wagged his tail, seemingly delighted. *Yes, you were hearing things.* *I can't speak!* Kongji was rendered speechless. Amidst that silence, he felt a sudden wave of admiration and envy. At Black Panther's level—a rank five Sovereign and a world lord—he was willing to remain a pet rather than become a lofty, revered Sovereign! Why? Perhaps... it was affection. Perhaps it was simply the unwillingness to part ways with Li Hao. Regardless, it showed that Li Hao's character was worthy of a hound relinquishing all notions of status, content to remain his pet forever. Such loyalty was extraordinarily rare. *** The two men and the hound exchanged no further words. Li Hao and Kongji entered Black Panther's belly. They did not enter the Silver Moon World, but instead sat atop the world within his belly. Although Black Panther's flesh separated them from the outside, it could not obstruct their senses, allowing them to observe the surroundings clearly. Li Hao recalled past events, and considering Black Panther's reluctance to speak—coupled with the fact that communication in the chaos was predominantly conducted through mental fluctuations, which Black Panther was also hesitant to use—Li Hao spoke up once more: "We'll do it the old way. I'll speak on your behalf. We will harmonize our mental fluctuations using the Five Animals Secret Art so they match perfectly. Whatever I say, you just react accordingly." Back then, it was with this very trick that Li Hao had secured his first massive fortune in Silver Moon, raiding the ancestral stronghold of a duke! This time, arriving in Fire Phoenix... they would not loot anyone for now, but if an opportune moment arose, perhaps... they could stage another raid. Li Hao felt a sense of nostalgic familiarity. Black Panther, too, seemed rather excited. If Li Hao was willing to take the reins, that was even better. He was thrilled that things could proceed just as they had in the past—no need for him to think, so long as he cooperated with Li Hao. *** The Fire Phoenix World. The realm gate was immense and magnificent—extravagant, even! Unlike the gates of other worlds, which were often mere tears or rifts in the void, this gate was a grand, physical portal. Li Hao had not seen such an architectural style even in human worlds, yet here, in what was reputed to be the barbaric territory of chaos beasts, it stood proudly. It resembled a celestial palace! A towering archway thrust into the chaos, inscribed with special characters: *Fire Phoenix!* It was not conventional text, but the imprint of a distinct will. At a glance, it looked like a phoenix soaring through the chaos amidst towering flames. Fire phoenix... Li Hao was suddenly reminded of Director Hou. Hou Xiaochen's spear seemed to have been forged from the spirit of a fire phoenix. That spear, once formidable, was now too weak, and Hou Xiaochen no longer wielded it. If the Dao Lord of this world—that rank seven fire phoenix—were refined into a Fire Phoenix Spear... Hou Xiaochen would probably wield it without the slightest friction... The thought crossed Li Hao's mind unbidden. He could not help but laugh inwardly. He truly dared to dream—not only plotting to slay a rank seven Sovereign, but even thinking of refining one into a spear. Ruthless indeed. Two chaos beasts guarded the gate of the Fire Phoenix World. Neither was weak; both were Sovereigns. Sovereigns serving as gatekeepers was an uncommon sight. Naturally, they were only rank one Sovereigns, but it was impressive nonetheless. Moreover, both were fire phoenixes. It seemed the Fire Phoenix clan had developed quite well here. Seeing Black Panther arrive in the form of a massive hound, the two fire phoenixes glanced over. Sensing his formidable aura, they could not gauge his exact cultivation, but they recognized him as a middle-rank Sovereign. Soon, one of the fire phoenixes spoke: "Is this Fellow Daoist's first visit to the Fire Phoenix Realm?" "Indeed!" Li Hao took command of the communication. Without ceremony, he went straight to the point: "This seat comes here for the first time—in fact, it is my first time in the Dragon Region! Previously, I did not operate in this territory. I heard that this is the domain of our chaos race, that one may trade freely in the Fire Phoenix Realm... and that under the Dragon Lord's protection, the chaos race is forbidden from slaughtering one another. Is all of this true?" The speaking fire phoenix's eyes flickered, and it replied promptly, "Naturally, it is true! As Fellow Daoist is new, you may not know the ways of the Dragon Region. Here, our chaos race reigns supreme. The Dragon Region is vast, more than large enough for our race to thrive. Why should we slaughter one another? Of course, some humans and demons operate here as well... but in our Fire Phoenix Realm, the chaos race remains the master. So long as Fellow Daoist does not engage in wanton slaughter, you will enjoy the highest courtesies..." It paused before asking, "May I inquire... has Fellow Daoist attained the middle ranks?" "This seat is a rank five Sovereign!" Black Panther raised his head proudly on cue. A rank five Sovereign was by no means weak. The fire phoenix instantly turned solemn. "So it is a senior Daoist! A rank five Sovereign... would be eligible to serve as an elder in our Fire Phoenix Realm. If Senior is interested, I can arrange an audience with Her Majesty the Phoenix Empress!" "No need... not for now. If necessary, I will seek you out. At present... I merely wish to understand the situation in the Dragon Region, and... I want to know if there is a way to join the Dragon World..." The fire phoenix looked somewhat resigned. It was always like this! Whenever newcomers arrived in the Dragon Region, even though the Fire Phoenix Realm was a rank seven great world, the powerful invariably set their sights on the Dragon World. This was especially true for middle-rank Sovereigns; low-rank ones were somewhat more manageable, but middle-rank Sovereigns almost always aimed straight for the Dragon World. Small wonder, given that it was a rank eight great world. "I am not clear on the specifics of that. Senior may first enter the Fire Phoenix Realm and look around... perhaps an opportunity will present itself." The fire phoenix's tone cooled slightly, though it quickly added, "Furthermore... once Senior enters the Fire Phoenix Realm, you must not strike without authorization, and members of the chaos race must never kill one another! If humans or demons provoke Senior, please try to avoid slaying them outright..." The implication was clear: anyone other than chaos beasts could be injured, but not killed. If they were slaughtered within the realm, how could business continue? Li Hao was somewhat surprised. A rule against killing... quite remarkable! "Understood!" Li Hao sounded slightly impatient, though he did not lose his temper. Instead, he asked, "By the way, once I enter, what currency is used if I fancy something?" "Worlds, Great Dao crystals, Dao charm crystals, Sovereign weapons—all of these are acceptable!" The fire phoenix added, "If you possess premium two-legged beasts... superior human experts, exceptionally talented young humans, or beautiful human specimens, they may all serve as trade goods." It continued, "Ordinary blood-food is worthless—the quality is too low! If you have human Sovereigns, they can also serve as trade goods... However, Senior must exercise discernment here. Certain human Sovereigns cannot be captured..." "Oh?" "It is quite easy to tell them apart. If a human Sovereign bears the image of a golden dragon upon their forehead... they cannot be captured or killed! That mark signifies that they are subjects of the Dragon Region, recognized by the Dragon World, and blessed with a portion of the Great Dao's power!" The fire phoenix proved quite diligent, explaining further to Li Hao, "Though these human Sovereigns are humans, they serve the Dragon Region, have rendered distinguished service, and have earned the Dragon Lord's recognition. Under such circumstances... they cannot be traded, nor may anyone lay a hand on them. To do so is to challenge the Dragon Lord and provoke the Dragon Region! Such humans may be regarded as honorary members of the chaos race. Even if Senior does not acknowledge them as such, you must not display it openly. This is the Dragon Lord's decree!" Li Hao understood completely! Perhaps some chaos beasts refused to accept them, but the Dragon Lord had evidently validated their status. The Dragon Lord possessed immense ambition and grand aspirations, likely intending to use humans to govern humans and assimilate them entirely. In an instant, he saw through the deeper implications. Learning about the Dragon Lord through these indirect details only made the figure seem all the more formidable. "Humans... very well, I understand!" Li Hao replied, then asked as though unable to resist, "What if I happen to eat a few... will I be executed?" "Senior would do best not to entertain such thoughts. Blood-food is plentiful; if Senior wishes to feast, a single Great Dao crystal can purchase tens of thousands of two-legged beasts in the Fire Phoenix Realm. However... do not lay a hand on those individuals. They bear the Dragon Lord's approval! Some of them even govern minor worlds under the Dragon Lord's backing. Senior... do not attempt to challenge the Dragon Lord!" Li Hao acknowledged the warning, his mind racing. World lords! Good grief, the Dragon Lord had actually installed certain humans to govern worlds. This... was not necessarily good news. Only humans truly understood humans. Only then could they govern them effectively. Li Hao grew noticeably more vigilant, though he merely remarked, "Understood. What a hassle." The fire phoenix said no more. A rank five Sovereign only needed to be told once; there was no need to harp on the matter. If the newcomer refused to listen, that was his own problem... When the powerhouses of the Dragon World struck him down, it would have nothing to do with the gatekeeper. *** Black Panther soon crossed the realm gate into the world. The moment they entered, Li Hao's heart stirred. Looking into the distance, he saw a colossal aerial city built atop a gargantuan tree, resting upon its vast canopy! Above the city, fire phoenixes soared. In addition... Li Hao caught sight of several dragons, which took him by surprise. The Dragon clan... appeared to maintain a garrison here. He drew a quiet breath. Did this... mean the Dragon Lord possessed absolute control over these rank seven great worlds? Otherwise, having powerhouses from another world stationed within one's sovereign realm was utterly unnatural. The Dragon Region was turning out to be far more terrifying than he had anticipated before his arrival. At that moment, Kongji sensed it as well, sounding astonished. "The Fire Phoenix Realm actually has Dragon experts stationed here... What... what was the Fire Phoenix Lord thinking?" Were they mad? An alliance was one thing, but allowing foreign powerhouses to be garrisoned inside one's world was beyond comprehension. This signified not merely an alliance, but outright subservience! "The Dragon Lord is truly formidable!" Li Hao transmitted. "He may be far more capable than we imagined, to have a rank seven Sovereign submit willingly... For a rank eight world to control a rank six world is not particularly difficult, but controlling a rank seven world... Remember, back then, Red Moon found it extraordinarily difficult even to subjugate Senlan. Subjugation is vastly harder than outright destruction." Kongji nodded grimly and replied, "Indeed. My Bright Light World has subordinate worlds as well, including rank six ones, but... not a single rank seven! A rank seven Sovereign stationed within their native world, backed by their Great Dao Universe, can reliably withstand an invading rank eight Sovereign so long as they take no reckless risks!" "Without the ability to completely crush them—or without paying an enormous price to do so—they possess the leverage to remain independent. No rank seven lord would easily submit to a rank eight Sovereign." "The situation in the Dragon Region is far more complex than the outside world realizes. The Dragon World's roots run astonishingly deep here. If this continues, it won't be many years before the Dragon Region begins expanding outward. Unfortunately, my father and the others still consider Xinwu the primary threat. From the looks of it, they have only seen part of the picture. I believe the Dragon Region is the true crisis!" Xinwu, after all, was a human faction; at the very least, they did not treat humans as food. Yet the Dragon Region was dominated by chaos beasts. They were truly of an alien race! Of course, in the eyes of powerhouses, all rivals were enemies just the same. At this moment, Kongji felt a deep sense of dread. The Dragon Region now appeared far more threatening than Xinwu. Xinwu possessed many rank seven experts, but compared to the Dragon Region, they paled in comparison. The Dragon Region possessed at least one confirmed rank eight Sovereign and no fewer than twenty rank seven Sovereigns, counting only the great worlds. In reality, the number was almost certainly higher! "Let's head to the city first!" Black Panther flew swiftly toward the colossal city in the sky. *** Meanwhile. Above the colossal sky city stood a relatively small palace—small only by comparison, for it was still immense. A woman in crimson robes reclined in a chair, lazily gazing down at the city below. Behind her, a golden-haired young woman suddenly spoke: "Mother, a newcomer has entered the realm. Rank five strength, from an outer domain. In form, he belongs to the canine race, though his specific lineage is currently unknown. He expressed interest in joining the Dragon World!" "Mm, I see." The crimson-robed woman remained relaxed and indifferent. The golden-haired girl continued, "Word came from the Dragon World that the Silver Moon World might have entered the Dragon Region. The information came from the Lord of Red Moon... though its veracity is unconfirmed!" "Mm." The crimson-robed woman merely acknowledged the report without elaborating. The golden-haired girl added, "The Dragon World also instructed us to keep an eye out for canines!" "Oh?" "Supposedly, Xinwu possesses a dog who calls himself the Heavenly Dog! He wields peak rank six combat strength and is mentioned in the same breath as the Cang Emperor as the Cang Cat and Heavenly Dog. We must be wary of Xinwu infiltration. This newly arrived canine Sovereign happens to be rank five..." The crimson-robed woman nodded slightly; she was well aware of this. The Heavenly Dog! The chaos beast race was exceedingly interested in both the Cang Cat and the Heavenly Dog. Neither seemed to belong to the chaos race, yet in some ways, they appeared similar. The Cang Cat could effortlessly transport a rank seven great world, with even greater ease and agility than the Dragon Lord. A rank seven great world was vast and housed a Great Dao Universe, yet the cat could carry it around at will, moving with incredible speed and leaving no trace of an aura... It was something even the Dragon Lord fell slightly short of achieving. Otherwise, the Dragon Lord would have long since taken the Dragon World roaming through the chaos. The Dragon Lord could move a world, but his speed would drop, leaving him at a disadvantage against peers of the same rank. Consequently, the top chaos beasts were deeply fascinated by Xinwu's two great demons, hoping to capture and study them thoroughly. "A canine... Xinwu's Heavenly Dog should still be in the Chiyang Domain, shouldn't he?" The crimson-robed woman remarked, and the golden-haired girl nodded. "Reportedly, he is there... but we cannot rule out the possibility of him entering our Fire Phoenix Realm! It is best to exercise caution and investigate. If he is not the Heavenly Dog, all the better; if he is... then we can capture him and study him closely!" "Mm." The crimson-robed woman nodded. "You may send someone to test him." She chuckled softly. "It is said the Heavenly Dog is arrogant and unruly, daring even to defy the Human King. Wild and insufferably haughty, he should be very easy to provoke." She seemed intimately familiar with Xinwu! Though youthful in appearance, the golden-haired girl, Feng Yan, was quite seasoned. She nodded. "Understood! If he is not the Heavenly Dog, a rank five Sovereign is still worth recruiting. If he can advance to rank six and seize a Great Dao Universe when the opportunity arises, he might even reach rank seven..." "You think too far ahead." The crimson-robed woman laughed. "Rank seven is not so easily attained! For our chaos race, breaking through to rank seven is immensely difficult! Were it not for the Dragon Lord's peerless might in seizing numerous rank seven universes to serve as our Great Dao anchors, we would never have progressed so rapidly..." Her words carried profound admiration for the Dragon Lord. She quickly changed the subject. "Enough of that. A simple probe will suffice; even if it truly is the Heavenly Dog, it is nothing of consequence. Feng Yan, how is the main task progressing?" The golden-haired girl, Feng Yan, reported swiftly: "We have captured a substantial number of human prodigies endowed with exceptional talent and unique Daos! A portion of the conversion process has already been completed, and they have been dispatched to various locations... However, Mother, dispatching so many humans to various quarters beyond our Dragon Region... Leaving aside how the humans might react, if word leaks and the Dragon World finds out..." The young woman was genuinely worried! Over the years, they had carried out this operation continuously, and she had often felt uneasy. Previously, they had acted cautiously with small numbers, but recently, the scale had grown massive. Vast numbers of brainwashed or specially trained humans were being dispatched across the four domains! The commotion was simply too great! Lately, her mother had grown increasingly reckless, to the point where several elders of the Fire Phoenix Realm had begun forcibly abducting people from neighboring realms. "Do not worry!" The crimson-robed woman laughed softly. "You must understand one thing... in the Dragon Region, nothing... absolutely nothing escapes the Dragon Lord's gaze! Do you understand?" The girl froze, then breathed a sigh of relief as realization dawned. "I understand! I was constantly fretting before, but now it makes sense. It seems... our Fire Phoenix Realm is not doing this alone?" "Indeed." The crimson-robed woman smiled. "We are merely a rank seven world; what purpose would it serve for us to do this on our own? You are still too young! You should have anticipated this long ago. The reason our movements have grown bolder is that... our opportunity has arrived!" A smile touched her lips. "Because of Xinwu's rise, and because of the turmoil in the Red Moon Domain, the other three domains have been thrown into complete disarray. The entire four domains are now a muddy pool. This might very well be our Dragon Region's chance! With the Dragon Lord leading us, our Dragon Region might carve out a dominion that belongs entirely to us across the four domains. With the Thunder Region acting as a natural chasm, so long as it stands, we hold the geographic advantage. We may even... have a shot at claiming Tianfang, breaking into rank nine, and seizing the entire chaos!" The golden-haired girl felt her heart surge with reverence. After a long moment, she breathed, "The Dragon Lord... the hope of the chaos race..." Seeing her daughter's adoration, the crimson-robed woman said nothing more on the subject. She smiled, looking down toward the colossal city below, and spoke slowly: "Of course, the three domains are secondary for now. The Dragon Region must first be unified internally. I am responsible for the Thunder Realm, while others oversee the demon realms! The Thunder Realm has remained hidden near the Thunder Region, but lately, the Thunder Region has entered a brief period of calm. This is our chance... How many of our people have infiltrated the Thunder Realm?" "Not many. Although the Thunder Realm is also searching for rogue humans, they do not act carelessly. To date, only six Sovereigns have managed to infiltrate the Thunder Realm, and relaying information back is exceedingly difficult... The strongest among them has only just entered rank four!" The crimson-robed woman nodded slightly. "That is already quite good. If we can pacify the Thunder Realm while the Dragon Lord is campaigning against Xinwu, our Fire Phoenix Realm will surely soar within the chaos race, completely surpassing the other realms!" "Campaigning against Xinwu?" "Naturally." The crimson-robed woman explained patiently, "If the Dragon Lord does not go, the others will remain on guard against our Dragon Region, watching our every move! But once the Dragon Lord departs, we will be beneath their notice in the eyes of the other three domains! At that time, all eyes will be fixed on the Chiyang Domain!" "During that window, we will take the Thunder Realm. If we can also secure the demon realms and achieve complete unification of the Dragon Region, we can exploit the Thunder Realm's covert ties to several powerful human worlds to infiltrate other human great worlds, launching concerted attacks from within and without... When the Dragon Lord moves to unify the four domains later on, we will hold an immense head start!" The girl understood and nodded repeatedly. "Infiltration! Everyone assumes our chaos race only knows reckless slaughter, bloodlust, and devouring. No one will suspect our infiltration plan, nor will they believe that our chaos race would employ such schemes. However, Mother, if the Dragon Lord joins the war... Xinwu is notoriously difficult to deal with. Could the Dragon Lord become Xinwu's primary target?" Would that not be too perilous? That barbaric world... yes, in her eyes, Xinwu was even more savage, impulsive, and perilous than the chaos beasts. "The Dragon Lord has his own designs; he will not serve as cannon fodder for the experts of the other three domains... You may rest easy." The crimson-robed woman added, "Continue carrying out the plan. Once it succeeds and the Thunder Realm is taken, the Great Dao Universe of the Thunder Region... will belong to you!" "Mother, is... is that possible?" "Rest assured, so long as the plan succeeds, it will be yours. No one can take it from you!" The crimson-robed woman was supremely confident, though the golden-haired girl remained somewhat doubtful. If they truly took it, too many would vie for the prize. Even within the Dragon World, numerous rank six and rank seven Sovereigns still lacked a Great Dao Universe. There was even more than one rank seven in that position. The crimson-robed woman said no more. Smiling faintly, she cast her gaze toward the hound entering the city. She refrained from probing deeply; whether he was the Heavenly Dog would become evident with a simple test. Forcing an inspection and being detected would only tarnish their reputation. The Fire Phoenix Realm valued its reputation; opening itself to the outside world was meant to attract these rogue chaos beasts. "Rank five..." She murmured softly. Not bad. If he was not the Heavenly Dog, they could begin recruiting him. Turning her gaze toward the distance, she looked in the direction of the Dragon World. A light flickered in her eyes. *Unifying the four domains!* *And I... do not wish to remain merely the Fire Phoenix Realm Lord, but... the Empress of the Four Domains!* *Long Zhan... our daughter has reached rank six as well... Have you prepared her path to rank seven?* She whispered inwardly. The Thunder Realm was merely a backup plan. Seizing several rank eight worlds, or perhaps the Xinwu World itself, would be the finest choice. *** At that moment, having just entered the city, Li Hao vaguely sensed a gaze sweeping over them. Naturally, he did not dare investigate. Nor did he pay it much heed. A rank five Sovereign entering the realm without attracting notice would have been the real anomaly. A rank seven great world possessed no shortage of powerhouses; they would never permit a rank five to stroll into the core of their world unmonitored. Following Black Panther's strides, Li Hao descended onto the massive thoroughfare of the colossal city. At this moment, Li Hao's expression grew solemn. He sent a transmission: "Brother Kongji, have human powerhouses ever visited this place?" "Hm? Probably not, I'm not certain. Even if there were, they wouldn't be humans from the three domains. Ordinary people wouldn't dare come..." Li Hao's tone turned grave. "Do you notice it?" "Notice what?" "The script!" "Hm?" What was wrong with the script? Kongji cast a cursory glance around. Indeed, hanging boards lined both sides of the streets, bearing written characters. It was not mere spiritual imprints, but actual written text. Though he did not recognize it, a careful look allowed him to sense the intent within, enabling him to understand the meaning. Was this Dragon script? It likely was. Kongji had never studied Dragon script; powerhouses communicated mentally, so why would anyone bother learning the script of another race? "The script has been unified!" Li Hao transmitted solemnly. "The script of the Dragon race has become the exclusive written language of the Fire Phoenix Realm! From the look of it, all the powerhouses entering the city can probably read it... The architecture here, the civilization, the culture... Brother Kongji, has the Fire Phoenix Realm been assimilated by the Dragon World, or is the Dragon race aggressively expanding its civilization, extending its cultural influence across the entire Dragon Region?" Did it make any difference? Kongji remained largely indifferent. Accustomed to looking down from on high, he was unaccustomed to Li Hao's way of thinking. Li Hao transmitted again: "For any civilization, the most critical step is not military conquest, but... cultural invasion! When your civilization adopts another's culture, even incorporating it into your own cultural heritage, it signifies that you have been conquered spiritually! I believe I may have been mistaken. The Fire Phoenix Realm might... have already become an integral part of the Dragon World. If this were an isolated case, it would be fine, but if the other worlds are the same... it means the Dragon World has already achieved the great unification of the Dragon Region's chaos beasts!" That would be terrifying. In the eyes of outsiders, such a feat was impossible. A rank seven lord would never submit to a rank eight lord; an alliance was understandable, but outright subservience was unthinkable. Kongji fell into deep contemplation. Cultural invasion! Everyone was accustomed to military force, so he had never paid much attention to such matters. That did not mean he failed to understand the concept; he was simply bewildered. After a long pause, he transmitted, "The Dragon Lord... could he be unsatisfied with merely dominating the Dragon Region? But he is only a rank eight, and rank eight Sovereigns exist in all three domains..." "Yet humanity is utterly fractured! This time, Xinwu has ignited a massive war. If several rank eight Sovereigns fall, tell me—could a single rank eight, joined by dozens of rank seven Sovereigns, sweep through the rest?" Kongji remained silent for a long time. Surely it wouldn't come to that? Li Hao sank into thought as well. Would it? He did not know. Yet if an opportunity arose to inspect the other rank seven great worlds, and they turned out to be just like the Fire Phoenix Realm... the implications would be terrifying beyond measure.