Tianfang was reviving.
A great number of Sovereigns began converging toward Tianfang. Those of the seventh rank, those of the eighth rank, and even a portion of sixth-rank Sovereigns were stirred by ambition, hoping to claim a share of the spoils.
As for those weaker... they virtually had no chance. A sixth rank could at least dare to gamble once, for even if they failed to seize the Great Dao universe, attaining the seventh rank would suffice. But for fifth ranks coming here, there truly was no hope.
In an instant, experts from the Three Regions rushed in droves toward Tianfang.
Holding a Great Dao star granted entry into the Tianfang Universe.
Without one, an expert could only seize the moment when others entered to see if they could slip in alongside them... Otherwise, entering would prove exceedingly difficult.
As for leaving, it was equally straightforward.
So long as one held a Great Dao star, now that the stars were awakening and the universe was reviving, one could enter and exit at will.
Naturally, if the Great Dao stars went dark and the cosmic revival faded... once the universe relapsed into deathly stillness, those within might find themselves trapped inside. Even then, by joining forces, the experts could still blast their way out.
On that point, it was just like last time.
Yet now that a formal revival had begun, why would the stars extinguish?
One powerhouse arrived after another in swift succession.
At this moment, however, everyone still hesitated slightly, weighing whether they should step inside. They feared that amid the Great Dao’s revival, the first one to enter would suffer a joint attack from the rest.
Right at this juncture, the Lord of Yunxiao arrived.
Outside the Tianfang Realm.
The Lord of Yunxiao gazed at Tianfang and fell into thought. Should he enter?
From the looks of it, the revival truly seemed genuine.
The Great Dao star in his hand shimmered with radiance, resonating from afar as though the Tianfang Universe could open to him at any second.
Last time, by joining forces with Red Moon, he had managed to obtain only a single star.
Mainly because Li Hao had refused to give any more.
If he entered now, should he abandon Red Moon?
Yet... the Dragon Lord was formidable, and with Tianfang opening, perhaps Xinwu—and even Chiyang Sovereign—would lay aside their battle and come here. In that case, he would hardly rank among the apex of the eighth ranks.
Furthermore, upon entering the Tianfang Universe, the power of his own Great Dao universe would be suppressed. He might even be cut off from leaving through his Great Dao universe and become isolated within; otherwise, the Lord of Red Moon would not have suffered so miserably last time.
Thoughts surfaced in rapid succession.
He also recalled that Chiyang Sovereign had recently colluded with certain experts from outer regions, while Xinwu possessed both the Cang Emperor and the King of Men at the peak of the seventh rank, and the Dragon Lord was exceedingly mighty...
Weighed down by these thoughts, the Lord of Yunxiao grew hesitant.
Originally, he had planned to cast Red Moon Sovereign aside.
Yet doing so now would turn them into bitter enemies. The man might still follow other seventh-rank Sovereigns inside, and an ordinary seventh rank would not likely dare offend him.
After all, it had yet to be determined who would become master of the Tianfang Universe.
His contemplation lasted only a brief while before someone arrived. It was none other than the Lord of Red Moon. Rushing over with all haste, Red Moon had turned many things over in his mind and assumed Yunxiao had already gone in.
Finding the man still present took Red Moon somewhat by surprise.
The Lord of Yunxiao quickly spoke. "Brother Red Moon, my apologies. In my haste to arrive, probe the truth, and determine whether this was real or false, I didn't manage to bring you along. After all, the Silver Moon King and the Sword Venerable forged a false revival last time, and I worried they might repeat the trick..."
He offered an excuse: he had not deliberately abandoned him, but merely arrived ahead of time to verify the situation.
Thoughts flickered through Red Moon Sovereign's mind, and he soon grasped the general gist of the man's reasoning.
Among eighth ranks, had Red Moon possessed his Great Dao universe, he would have been a cut above Yunxiao; even now, they were roughly equal. From this, one could gather that Yunxiao was not particularly powerful. Wushan's departure had earlier nearly caused him to drop from the eighth rank!
Clearly, Yunxiao lacked the confidence to contend with the others.
Naturally, the same applied to himself.
Red Moon Sovereign swiftly evaluated the situation and soon offered a smile. "I understand. Brother Yunxiao is right to be vigilant. Caution is prudent. Last time was a fake revival; if this time were also false, it would merely grant Bright Light an opening..."
With that, he glanced toward Tianfang, his certainty settling. This time, it was real!
For no other reason than the signs before him!
Even though the Great Dao universe had not yet fully materialized, star after star shimmered with brilliant light, as if poised to pierce through the cosmic void. The entirety of Tianfang trembled as the power of the Great Dao continuously surged forth.
Though parts remained faint and indistinct, they were undeniably real.
Faint phantoms even began to appear across Tianfang. Those phantoms had all vanished last time, every one of those Dao-imbued sites having been extinguished into nothingness. Yet now, signs of their reemergence were manifesting once more.
This truly had to be a genuine revival, didn't it?
Around them, more and more seventh-rank Sovereigns gathered, nearly all of them travelling under the shroud of their respective Great Dao universes. As each reached the perimeter, their gazes turned toward the two eighth-rank Sovereigns with solemnity.
Some harbored thoughts of entering early, but Yunxiao's voice soon rang out across heaven and earth: "Everyone... Tianfang's revival has not fully commenced... Moreover, certain people have yet to arrive. Rashly entering... might not be a wise move."
What did that mean?
Hidden in the shadows, someone asked in a heavy voice, "Is Sovereign Yunxiao intending to bar us from entering the Great Dao universe?"
"Not at all!"
Sovereign Yunxiao pondered for a moment before replying, "Xinwu is domineering and overbearing. I worry that if we all enter the Tianfang Universe, Xinwu might suddenly appear, tearing through worlds one by one and obliterating Great Worlds, bringing catastrophic ruin upon chaos! If the King of Men, the Cang Emperor, and the others from Xinwu do not show themselves... we ought to... encircle and eliminate Xinwu first!"
This was no mere pretense, but a genuine fear.
Currently, Yunxiao only had two seventh ranks overseeing his home realm. He deeply feared that once they were all inside and unable to leave on short notice, Xinwu might launch an attack from the Chiyang Region. What then?
Could two seventh ranks hope to withstand Xinwu?
Other foes might be manageable, but the people of Xinwu were a swarm of locusts!
He was truly unsettled, terrified of following in Red Moon's footsteps. That very mistake had cost Red Moon dearly last time. If Xinwu's forces did not appear this time, he considered taking the opportunity to wipe them out once and for all!
After all, everyone shared the same dread!
He continued, "Everyone, this would not be the first time Xinwu has destroyed a Great World. All those Great Worlds eradicated in the Red Moon Region were brought down by their hands! The Four Regions used to be peaceful... but today, we cannot abandon our very homeworlds just for the sake of Tianfang's revival. Bear in mind that Tianfang will produce only a single victor. Who among you can guarantee it will be yourself? Such being the case..."
Figures of seventh-rank Sovereigns emerged one after another, several nodding slightly in agreement.
Indeed, they shared that grave concern.
Yunxiao was comparatively well off, at least retaining two seventh ranks to hold the fort. Certain worlds had sent their sole seventh-rank Sovereign here; if their homeworld crossed paths with the Xinwu World while they were inside, it would be sheer suicide!
The assembly sank into deep contemplation. Should they join forces to wipe out Xinwu first?
As they were pondering, the Dragon Lord arrived.
Gazing toward distant Tianfang, the Dragon Lord observed for a moment and fell into thought. It truly seemed to have revived.
Judging by this commotion... it did not look fake.
Only... the timing of this revival was far too coincidental.
While these thoughts occupied him, Bright Light Sovereign appeared in the distance, keeping his distance from the others. His eyes were cold and sharp, and he said not a word. After sweeping his gaze over the crowd, he too fell into thought. If these people refused to enter, he certainly could not go in alone!
Yunxiao worried his nest would be razed by Xinwu, but Bright Light equally feared the Bright Light World would be obliterated the moment he left.
Unless all eighth ranks entered together!
After another span, the void rippled as the power of a Great Dao universe surged forward. A figure materialized, followed by several powerhouses of mysterious aura. The crowd was startled—Chiyang Sovereign!
That fellow had actually rushed over. What audacity!
Was he not afraid his world would be razed by Xinwu in his absence?
Of course, so long as battle did not erupt and no one pinned him down, he could return at any moment.
"Chiyang, where is Xinwu?" the Lord of Yunxiao pressed immediately.
Chiyang Sovereign's gaze was somewhat chilling as he swept his eyes across the gathering. He had repeatedly pleaded for aid from these individuals, and the result? Good grief—they had besieged Bright Light all this time, and to what end?
No result whatsoever!
And today, these very people had all gathered here, while Bright Light Sovereign stood completely unscathed!
Bastards!
Furious though he was, he suppressed his displeasure and said in a low voice, "I don't know... Xinwu appears and disappears like ghosts. Without the Dragon Lord tracking them, and without me daring to rashly leave Chiyang, how could I track them?"
He looked toward the Dragon Lord, his tone turning somewhat courteous. "To wipe out Xinwu, I fear it cannot be done without the Dragon Lord's assistance! We dare not leave our worlds thoughtlessly. Only if the Dragon Lord carries his world along to track them continuously and provide us with their coordinates can we lock onto Xinwu and completely eradicate them!"
The Dragon Lord assumed a serious expression. "Peace in the Four Regions is likewise my hope. If Xinwu were willing to coexist peacefully, the Three Regions belong to your human race, and I would not intervene! But now, in a short span, Xinwu has destroyed multiple Great Worlds and disrupted the order of the entire Four Regions... Xinwu must be destroyed!"
The crowd nodded, offering no rebuttal.
In times of peace, were the Dragon Lord to meddle in the affairs of the Three Regions, no one would permit it; a chaos beast had no place interfering. But now, only the Dragon Lord, steering his entire world, possessed the means to pursue and track them.
As for the others, the eighth ranks did not dare pursue for fear of their nests being ransacked.
And seventh ranks going after them would merely be sending themselves to the slaughter.
That was the crux of why none of them had managed to pin down Xinwu!
While the Lord of Chiyang was lost in thought, many glanced behind him, several wanting to question him about his companions. Before they could ask, a figure flashed past, darting into the Tianfang Realm in an instant!
In the next breath, a cat exhaled world power as the origin of the Great Dao surged, manifesting a star. In the blink of an eye, the heavens split open!
Dragging his saber, the King of Men charged inside, with the Cang Emperor following close behind.
The King of Men glanced back, grinning as he waved to the assembly. "Bye-bye, everyone! This universe belongs to your Grandpa Fang!"
The Great Dao universe snapped shut in an instant.
The King of Men and the Cang Emperor vanished before their eyes!
"..."
Everyone froze, turning their gazes toward the eighth-rank Sovereigns. The powerhouses frowned slightly with solemn expressions, yet their brows soon relaxed.
At this moment, the Lord of Yunxiao and Chiyang Sovereign seemed to heave a collective sigh of relief.
They even appeared to smile.
The Sovereigns exchanged looks, reaching a tacit understanding: once inside, kill him first!
Moreover, with that fellow having entered... they could breathe far easier.
The Cang Emperor, the King of Men, and even the Xinwu World had all been brought inside.
However... the Dragon Lord pondered for a moment before sending a voice transmission: "I didn't see Xinwu's Supreme, the Sword Venerable, or the others. Are they within the world, or... outside?"
"They must have entered together. The King of Men isn't stupid. He knows we will join forces against them. If it were only him and the Cang Emperor, death would be certain. Only by bringing several seventh-rank Sovereigns could they hope to contend..."
The Lord of Yunxiao felt there was no need to even ask.
They were surely inside the world.
Otherwise, the two of them combined only wielded the strength of a single eighth rank, yet more than one eighth rank wished to slay the King of Men.
The Dragon Lord considered this and found the reasoning sound.
Even so... vigilance remained necessary.
If the Supreme and the others were outside... well, it had little to do with him. Even if they remained outside, could they reach the Dragon Domain?
As for his Dragon World...
After weighing it over, he declared, "Then I shall bring the Dragon World inside, lest he utilize world power within the universe and unleash a home-field advantage!"
Though Great Dao universes experienced conflicts, bringing an actual world inside would not trigger excessive repulsion. Facing an enemy entrenched in home-field power would prove difficult.
The crux was... the Dragon World still had seven seventh-rank Sovereigns!
That was something no one anticipated!
It was also the Dragon Lord's greatest trump card!
Everyone believed he had only three seventh-rank dragonkin, when in truth there were seven—four additional seventh-rank chaos beasts, enough to ambush and slay an eighth rank at a critical juncture!
Once inside the Great Dao universe, all these foes would lose their home-field advantage. Four seventh-rank chaos beasts would have little trouble dealing with an eighth rank who had not reached the peak.
Even if the Supreme and the others had not entered... it bore no relation to him; they could do nothing to the Dragon World.
Back in the Dragon Domain, eleven Great Worlds of chaos beasts remained, making an assault practically impossible.
The Sovereigns said no more. At that moment, the Lord of Chiyang paid no further heed to the rest, instantly manifesting a star. In the blink of an eye, he opened a cosmic passage and strode through, followed by the three powerhouses behind him.
The Dragon Lord swept his gaze over them, his heart stirring slightly.
Those were not Sovereigns of the Chiyang World!
They were outsiders. Two possessed seventh-rank strength, while one of them... in all likelihood was an eighth rank!
No wonder Chiyang was so calm.
Besides himself, four seventh-rank Sovereigns remained behind in the Chiyang World's nest, and there was no telling if other outsider Sovereigns lingered there. Naturally, he had no worries. As for Xinwu, they still had four seventh ranks—the Sword Venerable, the Supreme, the Catacombs King, and the Yang God—yet without the Cang Emperor, they lacked home-field advantage and mobility. Launching a brute-force assault on Chiyang would be practically hopeless.
Right then, Red Moon Sovereign could not help but grumble, "Everyone, there is no need for such excessive vigilance. Under the revival, one holding a Great Dao star can freely enter and exit the Great Dao universe. The problem now is... the number of seventh- and eighth-rank Great Dao stars seems limited... Can someone lend me one?"
These fellows were overly paranoid.
Granted, he himself served as the cautionary tale!
However, this time was not a case of being unable to leave once inside.
Anyone holding a Great Dao star could enter and exit at will.
Had he not lacked a star, he would have entered long ago. He had no lingering attachments anyway. At this moment, he felt rather disgruntled; last time, Li Hao had refused to give him a star and handed it to Yunxiao instead, allowing Yunxiao to call the shots now!
The Dragon Lord smiled. "Carefulness steers a ship through a myriad storms! The fear is that we might find ourselves unable to leave when the time comes—would that not be perilous? A degree of caution is entirely warranted..."
This revival had occurred somewhat too swiftly, leaving him uneasy.
He had also prepared for the possibility of being unable to get out.
Joined with seven seventh ranks, even if he truly could not leave... inside, he would undoubtedly be the strongest.
With that in mind, he spoke: "Since the two from Xinwu have entered ahead of us, we can delay no longer. Everyone... shall I... take the first step?"
With that, a Great Dao star manifested in his hand, tearing open a fissure in heaven and earth.
This time, the Dragon Lord did not have the three seventh ranks carry the world. Instead, he instantly transformed into a colossal dragon and opened his maw wide, swallowing the massive world whole in a single breath. Seeing this, the onlookers' hearts tightened!
Such was a chaos beast!
Let alone swallowing an eighth-rank world, if humans tried taking one into their bellies, they would blow themselves apart!
Insufficient physical resilience was one factor, but the key lay in how chaos beasts swallowed worlds: the world did not actually reside within their flesh, but in a relatively independent space—a unique pocket forged through the Dao of Chaos.
Humans could not replicate this, as they originated from within worlds.
Having swallowed the world, the Dragon Lord, accompanied by three seventh-rank Sovereigns, smiled at the crowd. "Then I... shall take the lead!"
He vanished from heaven and earth, carrying the world inside.
Seeing an eighth rank enter, the remaining seventh ranks could restrain themselves no longer. Cracks ruptured across all directions as Sovereigns surged through in rapid succession.
The Lord of Red Moon glanced at Yunxiao, while the Lord of Yunxiao looked toward Bright Light, smiling. "Bright Light... together?"
Bright Light Sovereign cast him a chilling, indifferent glance. "Are you worried that once you leave, I will move against your Yunxiao World?"
"Hahaha, how could that be..."
Sovereign Yunxiao chuckled. Yes, precisely that!
If you don't enter, I will force you to enter.
Bright Light Sovereign sneered and strode into the Great Dao universe. Shortly after, he abruptly tore through the cosmic boundary and reappeared outside, suddenly letting out a laugh. "One can indeed enter and exit freely. You fellows... truly worry over nothing!"
It was not as if one could not come and go.
With that, he vanished once more. He had merely tested it, fearing he might be trapped inside; finding that he could exit put his mind at ease.
Seeing this, Sovereign Yunxiao finally activated his Great Dao universe and smiled. "Brother Red Moon, let us go together!"
Red Moon cursed inwardly!
What a coward, waiting until the very end.
Too lazy to waste words, the moment Yunxiao opened the path into the Tianfang Universe, Red Moon stepped through, with the Lord of Yunxiao following right behind.
In an instant, the entirety of Tianfang fell silent.
Soon, however, another batch of seventh-rank Sovereigns arrived, each clutching a star as they entered one after another.
Across the Four Regions, the Dao Lords of numerous Great Worlds had departed their realms.
If someone were inclined to search right now, they might find quite a few Great Worlds devoid of a seventh-rank guardian.
From time to time, Sovereigns attempted to emerge, meeting no obstruction whatsoever. At this, everyone cast aside all remaining reservations. If one could leave whenever they wished, what was left to fear?
***
Deep within the Tianfang Universe.
Dao Chess lay dormant near a star. The artifact spirit of Dao Chess shook its head slightly, looking around. The Tianfang Universe could sustain this state for at most one day. After a single day, it would plunge instantly into deathly silence.
At that point... none could enter or leave!
Xinwu's King of Men had truly played a massive hand!
Even Li Hao's maneuvers seemed far smaller by comparison. Of course, Li Hao lacked the raw strength. This King of Men had reversed yin and yang to forcibly revive the entire universe. Clearly, he harbored a grand objective!
Otherwise, the price paid would be steep indeed. Setting aside the Cang Emperor's injuries, reversing yin and yang required an immense expenditure of Great Dao energy, comparable even to an entire seventh-rank world. The King of Men had surely suffered grievous depletion!
*Luring so many experts inside... what is he plotting?*
Dao Chess wondered silently, not daring to show himself.
He feared the King of Men might silence him to protect the secret. The King of Men likely knew he was in here; after all, the Sword Venerable and the others had learned of it last time. The King of Men reversing yin and yang meant that in the entire Four Regions, aside from Xinwu, he was perhaps the sole witness!
If he spoke out now, not only would the King of Men's efforts come to naught at immense cost, but the man might even be besieged and killed... It was no wonder Dao Chess feared being silenced.
*The Sword Venerable and the others most likely didn't come... Could it be to lure these experts inside, seal the universe, and launch a surprise assault on Chiyang?*
Thoughts surfaced one after another, but Dao Chess ceased pondering them. *It has nothing to do with me. For now, I just need to find a place and hide well.*
***
On the other side.
The King of Men's face was somewhat pale; his depletion was indeed severe. Stroking the Cang Emperor's massive head, his eyes glinted sharply as he laughed via voice transmission: "The forces remaining in the Chiyang World aren't weak—at least four seventh-rank Sovereigns, perhaps more... plus some outsider experts among them. Taking Chiyang will be difficult, but Yunxiao... is practically a guaranteed victory!"
Even without a world's amplification, Old Zhang and the others joining forces would have little trouble taking down Yunxiao.
There were only two seventh ranks holding the fort!
Once Yunxiao was breached, setting everything else aside, the Earth Emperor, the Heaven Suppressing King, and Old Wang all had hopes of stepping into the seventh rank. At present, they merely lacked a sufficient supply of Great Dao energy. Soon, Xinwu would give birth to a swarm of seventh-rank Sovereigns!
Only then would attacking Chiyang become feasible.
This time, I really played a massive gamble.
The King of Men turned the thought over. With so many powerhouses gathered inside, once the universe fell into deathly silence, some would certainly want to leave and might join forces to tear through the cosmos. That would be his most perilous moment, for he would have to block them from escaping!
For now, he remained relatively safe. Everyone was focused on searching for methods to refine Dao sources, so no one would spare him any attention!
"One day, Big Cat. We only have one day to recover... In one day, these fellows will likely join hands to break out... We... must hold them back!"
The Cang Cat flicked its tail, its chubby face the picture of leisure. "Not scared of them! Fighting isn't this cat's forte... but this cat can carry you and run..."
The King of Men let out a laugh. Run, my foot!
"Let's go. We'll find a place to recover first. After one day... no one will be permitted in or out. Whether we strike it rich depends entirely on this!"
An eighth-rank Great World—if this succeeded, taking Yunxiao was practically assured.
As for Chiyang, the chances were very high.
Furthermore, beyond the Thunder Region... if Old Zhang and the others ventured out and managed to locate the homeworlds of those outsiders to conquer them, that would be an astronomical windfall. If Xinwu's path went smoothly, multiple seventh-rank Sovereigns could be born in one fell swoop!
As the King of Men thought of this, a delighted grin spread across his face. As for danger... what did that matter?
He had never feared danger, so long as the harvest was vast enough to match his sacrifices!
Then he thought of that little fellow from Silver Moon... He shook his head. A pity that fellow had run off to the Dragon Domain. None of the seventh ranks from the Dragon Domain had come this time, aside from the few brought by the Dragon Lord.
He had assumed the seventh ranks of the Dragon Domain would show up as well.
Now it seemed... the Dragon Domain was out of reach. If that lad were shrewd, he would hurry back to the Three Regions now and seek out hidden seventh-rank Great Worlds; he might still reap a fortune. Then again, chaos was vast, and those realms were bound to be deeply concealed. Apart from eighth-rank worlds that could barely be moved, the masters of seventh-rank worlds had likely hidden their domains long ago.
The thought faded, and he cast it aside!
The little fellow from Silver Moon was still too weak, after all!
Had he been a seventh rank, the King of Men could have called him along to feast on a massive slab of meat. But at only the fifth rank, even if he could fight seventh ranks, it would not suffice. In a place like this, he would have virtually no chance.
***
In the territory of the Dragon World.
Li Hao and his company had swept through another batch of worlds, slaying numerous Sovereigns. The worlds accumulated before them had grown numerous.
Li Hao no longer allowed these worlds to drift about unattended.
Silver Moon was running short on Sovereigns.
He began refining some of the worlds himself. This time, he stopped distributing worlds, for he needed to advance to the sixth rank. Only by reaching the sixth rank would greater opportunities open to him.
Within his river, pocket realms were swiftly filled.
Certain medium worlds could fill several pocket realms at once.
Li Hao's River of the Great Dao surged furiously.
The chaotic energy generated by the Queen grew increasingly abundant as well. Over these past few days, the Queen had continuously absorbed vast amounts of human faith, showing signs of advancing to the fourth rank.
As the slaughter mounted, Lin Hongyu's Death Guard neared twenty Sovereigns, though nearly all were low-rank.
Lin Hongyu herself looked poised to step into the fourth rank.
This gave Li Hao a slight sense of urgency.
Back when he was in the fifth rank, these people had only just become Sovereigns. Now he remained in the fifth rank, yet they were already nearing the fourth. Even if their strength could not be compared in the same breath, he had been stuck in the fifth rank for far too long! Since conquering the four Great Worlds and entering the fifth rank, three or four months had elapsed.
Throughout that time, he had encountered countless opportunities. Not only had he sent Tianfang into deathly stillness—and though Kongji had reaped the primary benefit, his own gains were hardly small—he had also devoured so many worlds, yet he still could not cross into the sixth rank!
This left Li Hao feeling anxious!
The river rippled slightly.
The count of filled pocket realms reached eight hundred. Li Hao felt a surge of joy; he was drawing closer to the estimated target of one thousand!
Just then, Li Hao's river fluctuated.
His brows knitted slightly, and he spoke: "Black Panther, what is it?"
At this moment, the Black Panther was taking the initiative to contact him through the River of Time. The hound, which had always been reluctant to speak, actually transmitted a ripple of consciousness and intent!
"Trouble... Feng Yan from the Fire Phoenix side is leading several Sovereigns toward you! Not only that, word has it the Fire Phoenix Realm received news that a seventh rank from the Dragon World is returning... likely over the matter of the Earth Dragon World! I'm currently very close to them. Feng Yan isn't traveling fast, and an external affairs Sovereign from the Fire Phoenix Realm arrived ahead of time to contact me, telling me to wait and rendezvous with them once they arrive..."
"..."
Li Hao's heart gave a jolt!
Frowning deeply, he soon set the matter aside and chuckled. "You actually sent a message!"
"..."
The Black Panther was rendered speechless.
It was frantic.
Extremely anxious, so it had cast aside all hesitation. Fearing that Li Hao might not understand its barks, it had transmitted its intent directly. Yet instead of caring about such a critical development, Li Hao focused on this.
How infuriating!
Li Hao soon laughed. "A pity you can only transmit mental intent and still can't speak, right?"
"Mm-hmm!"
The Black Panther swiftly sent its intent rippling through the river: *Yes, yes! I still can't talk, I can only send mental intent!*
Li Hao laughed again.
This fellow... fine, let's treat it as true.
"No matter. Rendezvous with Feng Yan and the others! There's no need to worry about Feng Yan's group... but we cannot act prematurely to kill them. Slaying Feng Yan would be sensed by the Fire Phoenix Realm; the Sovereigns of a Great World cannot be touched lightly!"
"As for the Dragon World's seventh rank... without using a Great Dao universe, even if he hurries back immediately, he will need some time..."
At this point, Li Hao frowned slightly.
A seventh-rank Sovereign!
Was he returning because of the Earth Dragon World?
If he reached the sixth rank, he would not be overly worried. However... this dragon Sovereign could not be killed carelessly. Slaying him would be sensed by the Great Dao universe, which was the trouble with Sovereigns belonging to Great Worlds.
Moreover, if the fellow was killed here, the Dragon Lord could descend directly through the Great Dao universe!
That was an even greater crisis!
Under normal circumstances, a Great Dao universe's range of coverage was not so vast, but a seventh rank present here could wildly expand its radiating reach.
That was what truly concerned Li Hao!
If a seventh-rank Sovereign of the dragonkin truly arrived, he could not be killed lightly... unless one was confident in escaping the Dragon Lord's pursuit afterward.
Li Hao's brows furrowed.
Troublesome!
Instead of properly fighting Xinwu, why had the Dragon Lord sent a seventh-rank Sovereign back?
A headache!
At this moment, Li Hao had yet to receive news from Tianfang. Otherwise, his mind would have been completely at ease. Tianfang's revival... and reviving at this exact juncture... He understood Tianfang too well; it could never happen so quickly.
There was a one-hundred-percent chance something was amiss!
Moreover... it was very likely tied to Xinwu. In that case, he would have nothing to fear. Unfortunately, Li Hao could not yet receive word of the developments at Tianfang.
Thus, he did not fear the return of a dragon seventh rank itself, but rather that the fellow's arrival would summon the Dragon Lord back!
"Sigh..."
Letting out a sigh, he ceased dwelling on it. He would play it by ear. Right now, he could not give up, nor would he. At worst, he would flee the moment he reached the sixth rank.
What a tremendous pity!
If the dragon expert had not returned, he certainly would not have settled for this much.
"Detestable!"
Li Hao cursed softly, no longer bothering with other matters as he focused on his cultivation. Even if more worlds gathered, he paid them no heed; the incoming worlds were not particularly strong, and Kongji's presence there was sufficient to handle them.
What he needed was to advance to the sixth rank rapidly!
So long as he stepped into the sixth rank, he was confident he could match a true seventh-rank powerhouse, rather than remaining a pseudo-seventh rank!
"I need to be faster..."
Gritting his teeth, Li Hao swiftly sent a transmission: "Have the Queen break through to the fourth rank immediately! How many humans has she taken in by now? Her faith energy is even fused with the Dao of Chaos—has it all gone to waste? Why is she so slow?"
***
Within the Earth Dragon World.
The Queen also heard the transmission rippling directly from the River of Time. Nowadays, nearly every Silver Moon Sovereign carried one for convenient communication.
She felt rather speechless!
No matter how fast she went, she needed time to digest it, didn't she?
Earlier, he had complained that she provided too much chaotic energy, fearing it would burst him, and now he complained she was too slow. What an unpredictable fellow.
Were all men like this?
Changing his mind from one moment to the next, perpetually insatiable. Her rate of extracting chaotic energy was already remarkably fast, yet he still found it lacking?
"Fourth rank..."
The Queen murmured. Her divine kingdom had expanded to its utmost limit, but... even if she hurried, generating faith energy still required time.
Furthermore, her physical body was not robust enough and was on the verge of giving out.
She hadn't even had the chance to temper it properly!
From morning to night, all she did was rush her breakthroughs.
Right now, she called herself a peak third rank, but she knew full well... it was far too hollow. Aside from advancing quickly, she had almost nothing to show for it—except, of course, the ability to devour others' Dao of Chaos.
And that was all!
She had wanted to pause, temper her body, and refine her Dao, but... this fellow was pushing her again, as if hounding her to the grave!
Besides, that man could truly eat.
Over the past few days, he had devoured dozens of worlds. Counting the ones before, she had seen Li Hao consume nearly a hundred worlds!
Yet he still hadn't crossed into the sixth rank!
And he spent all day accusing this one of eating too much and that one of eating too much—who ate more than him?
After grumbling inwardly for a while, she sensed the gathered faith energy. She had been suppressing and compressing it without absorbing it. Hearing Li Hao's words, she felt helpless.
In truth, she had no wish to step into the fourth rank so hastily; doing so posed real danger to herself.
By now, she had practically become a pure power generator. Aside from her Dao of Faith, her other Daos had seen virtually no progress. If this continued... without Li Hao and his company, she might be beaten into the dirt if she encountered any lone fourth-rank Sovereign in the chaos.
Yet in the past, she had never been weak among her peers.
With these thoughts in mind, the Queen lingered no longer.
Vast amounts of faith energy poured into her body. A sacred power surged in response, radiating outward in all directions. Faintly, behind her, hundreds of millions of humans prayed for her!
Praying that their heavenly deity might forever flourish!
The Queen transformed into a moon, illuminating the surroundings. Not because she insisted on doing so, but because her human form could hardly withstand this explosive force; only by turning into a moon—her Dao source—could she endure it.
A fourth-rank aura slowly diffused outward.
***
Nearby, Lin Hongyu, who was still forging her Death Domain, frowned slightly and glanced in that direction.
It was not jealousy that the Queen had surpassed her to reach the fourth rank.
Rather... her brow furrowed at how hollow that fourth-rank power was. Compared to Tianji, King Huai, and even Sovereign Xun Ruo who had defected to their side, that aura fell far short.
Although Silver Moon's Sovereigns advanced quickly, they were generally not weak among peers of the same rank.
They had come into contact with Great Dao universes very early on, their Daos constantly purified, and their comprehension was by no means lacking. Li Hao had dismantled numerous Great Daos for them to comprehend, allowing their understanding to keep pace with their breakthroughs.
As for the Queen... that fourth-rank power felt as though it would shatter at the slightest touch!
Far too frail!
She might not even be stronger than Lin Hongyu was right now.
One had to realize that a vast gulf separated a fourth-rank Sovereign from a third rank.
"Lingyue, he was only speaking casually. Is there any need to flatter him so desperately?" Lin Hongyu transmitted sharply. "He complains like that all the time; he didn't demand that you advance this very instant!"
"What business is it of yours!" The Queen couldn't be bothered to entertain her. *I do as I please, who are you to manage me?*
With that, she transmitted back, "This Queen is now of the fourth rank. You, a mere third-rank Sovereign, mind your manners!"
"You... truly don't recognize good intentions!"
"Heh, you call yourself a good person?"
"Lingyue, do you truly believe reaching the fourth rank gives you the upper hand over me?"
"Shut your mouth, you old hag!"
"..."
The two instantly drew daggers!
Lin Hongyu was fuming. This woman... she truly felt like hacking her to death with a single blade!
The others did not intervene, though their expressions grew solemn. The Queen had vaulted into the fourth rank with alarming speed, but progressing so fast... she had better be careful not to explode!
Though the Silver Moon martial masters had no ties or affection for the Queen, they currently needed her to help gather hundreds of millions of humans.
Otherwise, let alone a sixth-rank world, even an eighth-rank world might struggle to accommodate so many people.
She had better not blow herself up!
***
Meanwhile, Li Hao instantly felt a raging torrent of chaotic energy surging forth like mad.
Raising his brow slightly, he thought, *I only said a casual word, and this fellow broke through so quickly!*
Yet this was too fast... From half-step Sovereign to fourth rank, the Queen had taken roughly three months. Such speed would terrify anyone who heard of it, yet it was not necessarily a blessing. The stronger she grew on such a hollow foundation, the faster she might perish.
"I was only making a passing remark..."
Without even consolidating her previous realm, she had forcibly stepped into the fourth rank. Her faith energy was terribly unsubstantial, incapable of properly stabilizing her divine kingdom or anchoring her true self. Sooner or later, she would burst from the strain!
He felt a twinge of regret for running his mouth. Yet what was done was done, and Li Hao said nothing further.
The Queen could not be allowed to advance any further.
She had to be restrained for a period, at least until her realm stabilized. Otherwise, even if she rushed into the seventh rank, it would be useless—she would possess zero combat ability, and once all his pocket realms were filled, the surging chaotic energy would spell her doom.
Even so, as the influx of chaotic energy skyrocketed, the speed at which Li Hao filled worlds accelerated dramatically.
The entire river roared and churned frantically!
Pocket realms circled between heaven and earth, gradually forming the shape of a sword. This time, Time was no longer the core; in its stead sat a star of destruction.
A sword of destruction!
The Sword of a Thousand Realms was perhaps truly on the verge of completion.
In the next instant, he sensed an aura of death dispersing nearby... Li Hao frowned slightly. Lin Hongyu had broken through too?
She had been a Sovereign for some time, yet... coming right on the Queen's heels, this had the feel of a forced breakthrough as well.
What a nuisance!
Women, competing even over breakthroughs—how utterly pointless. Her Death Domain was incomplete; even if she reached the sixth rank, the seventh rank would remain beyond her reach. What was the rush?
Even as he thought this... he felt a surge of anxiety himself.
Damn it all, these people were all vaulting into the fourth rank in rapid succession!
Could Silver Moon be on the verge of entering the sixth rank?
If so, with Martial Uncle Hong and Qian Wuliang stepping into the sixth rank while he remained in the fifth... he would truly have no face left.
Li Hao cast all distractions aside, madly absorbing Great Dao energy, dismantling worlds, and even sending a transmission to Kongji: "Brother Kongji, continue sweeping the worlds. Going a bit further out is fine... I need more worlds!"
Outside, having just finished off a batch of Sovereigns, Kongji did not even pause to catch his breath. Dropping off several worlds, he turned and departed once more.
Doing this work brought joy to his heart.
In the past, Li Hao had always been unhurried, never fighting or snatching, letting everyone else take the benefits while seemingly gaining nothing himself, which had left everyone feeling guilty.
These past few days, whether the Silver Moon martial masters or Kongji, all felt thoroughly delighted.
Although not a single world went to them, all of them claimed by Li Hao, everyone was gleeful. They finally felt useful—going out to seize worlds for Li Hao's cultivation gave every one of them a profound sense of accomplishment.
Even Yuan Shuo was huffing and puffing as he hauled worlds back from all over.
Having freeloaded off his disciple for so long, he had begun to feel ashamed. Now, with Li Hao in closed-door cultivation while they fought tooth and nail outside to seize worlds... they were all thrilled beyond measure!
The worlds in the vicinity of the Earth Dragon World diminished visibly.
Yet more worlds kept arriving, and more Sovereigns kept gathering... As one batch vanished and another arrived, no one noticed anything amiss. Some assumed other Sovereigns had simply not yet arrived, while others thought they were lurking further away...
However, after this atmosphere persisted for a time, the later arrivals finally sensed that something was wrong.
By now, nearly half a month had passed since the Great Dao fluctuations first spread.
In half a month, only a scattered twenty or thirty worlds lingered nearby.
While some familiar worlds were still present, far more seemed to have vanished entirely.
***
When Sovereign Feng Yan and her entourage arrived, she immediately felt something was off. Looking toward the distant Earth Dragon World in confusion, she murmured, "I came slowly enough, thinking this place would be teeming with Sovereigns and worlds... Why are there so few?"
Looking inside and out, there were fewer than fifty worlds.
Yet within the territory of the Dragon World, there were at least a thousand. Could it be that the Sovereigns of the Dragon World lacked all curiosity?
Along the way, they had encountered almost no worlds at all, as though everyone had left. But upon arriving here... she found the Dragon World startlingly desolate!
Had there been several hundred worlds gathered, that would have seemed normal.
With only a scattered few dozen... Feng Yan wondered if the Dragon World had fallen into ruin.
Otherwise, why were there so few worlds? Moreover, the vast majority were small worlds; aside from the few near the Earth Dragon World, medium worlds were practically nowhere to be seen.
Frowning slightly, Sovereign Feng Yan remarked, "Not just here—earlier, in the border territories, the worlds seemed fewer as well... Black Dog, where did the Sovereigns who attended your sharing assembly go?"
At this moment, she sensed that something was amiss, but she did not suspect the Black Panther, for they had established a Great Dao Covenant.
"I don't know. Some heard that a Great World had appeared here and said they were heading this way. Have they not arrived?"
The Black Panther sent its mental intent rippling, appearing equally puzzled.
"Your Highness, shall we head straight to the Earth Dragon World?"
"No rush!"
Sovereign Feng Yan's brows knitted tightly. "We'll wait for the envoys of the other Great Worlds to arrive, and... wait a bit longer. Mother sent word earlier that a Dragon Envoy might return in these few days and should be arriving soon... Once the Dragon Envoy gets here, we will go meet him together!"
She felt that something was thoroughly wrong.
The scarcity of worlds nearby was one thing, but faintly... she seemed to catch the scent of blood. One had to realize this was the chaos; even if someone died, the washing of chaotic currents would disperse the scent of blood in an instant.
Yet she thought she caught a faint trace. She was not certain, but... at this moment, an uneasy feeling truly crept over her.
What was happening?
The Dragon World seemed to be missing a great many worlds.
And a single world represented at least one Sovereign!
Where had they all gone?
"Black Dog, your sense of smell is keen... Go scout the surroundings to see if the other worlds are hiding nearby!"
Hearing this, the Black Panther did not refuse and vanished from the spot at once.
Unease gnawed at its heart... This was bad.
A seventh rank was coming, and the crucial point was that Li Hao had not yet stepped into the sixth rank. Why was reaching the sixth rank so agonizingly difficult for him?
If the enemy's seventh rank arrived before he broke through... then they would truly be in immense trouble.
***
Meanwhile.
Outside the Fire Phoenix Realm, a seventh-rank Sovereign stepped forth from the world. The Fire Phoenix Realm Lord saw him off personally, her face brimming with smiles. "Daoist Long Xuan, please rest assured, and pray convey to the Dragon Lord to rest assured as well. There are still a few days before the appointed duel; I certainly will not take it lightly!"
"Indeed, I naturally place my trust in Daoist Fire Phoenix!" Sovereign Long Xuan gave a chuckle. "I shall first go meet Earth Dragon. If the Great Dao universe has fully formed, I will accompany him to the Thunder Realm to reinforce you! If we smoothly claim the Thunder Realm this time... I will have to ask Daoist Fire Phoenix to look out for me then!"
"Daoist is joking. With the Dragon Lord backing you, why would you need my assistance..."
"Hahaha, that is true as well!"
Long Xuan was exceptionally polite, not so much toward Fire Phoenix, but toward... Fire Phoenix's daughter, Feng Yan, who had already gone to the Earth Dragon World. The Dragon Lord had slept with numerous females and beasts, but had very few offspring.
A peak sixth rank who was certain to step into the seventh rank upon conquering the Thunder Realm!
A seventh-rank descendant was uniquely precious.
Naturally, he had to show some deference!
"Then I shall take my leave!"
Long Xuan delayed no further. He had stayed in the Fire Phoenix Realm for a few days, and so far, the Thunder Realm showed no significant movement, which was fine.
He would head to the Earth Dragon World first, call upon Earth Dragon to reinforce them together, and even if the Thunder Lord harbored schemes... five seventh-rank Sovereigns laying siege could battle an eighth rank, let alone the Thunder Lord. Even if he truly crossed into the eighth rank, he would still perish!
"By the way, over at Tianfang... there seem to have been some developments. I can no longer contact the Dragon World..."
Long Xuan suddenly mentioned, "Word came back earlier that the Dragon Lord likely entered the Tianfang Universe... Right now, it might be in the midst of a contention phase, or communications may be severed by the Tianfang Universe. Powerhouses from all Three Regions have entered. If we can secure the Thunder Realm, we may need Daoist Fire Phoenix to make arrangements so we can visit Tianfang together, lest the Dragon Lord find himself isolated..."
"Naturally!"
Sovereign Fire Phoenix nodded and smiled. "As it should be! Regrettably, were we not held back by the Thunder Realm, more of our experts should have gone to let the Three Regions witness the might of our Chaos Clan!"
Long Xuan nodded with a smile, saying no more. Resolving the Thunder Realm before heading over would not be too late.
Besides, the Dragon Lord had seven seventh ranks aiding him; there was nothing to worry about.
Soon, he sped straight toward the Earth Dragon World with immense swiftness.
***
At this moment, the count of pocket realms filled by Li Hao had exceeded nine hundred. However, as the nearby worlds were systematically wiped out, the Great Dao energy available to him dwindled.
"Almost..."
Li Hao murmured. The one-month deadline set by the Thunder Lord was approaching, and the seventh-rank Sovereign mentioned by the Black Panther was drawing near as well.
He turned his gaze outside the Earth Dragon World, toward the several sixth-rank worlds like Tianhuang that had remained unrefined, as well as the Earth Dragon World itself.
Once he refined these worlds, perhaps... he would formally cross into the sixth-rank realm!
"They should have sensed something by now, shouldn't they?" he murmured softly. Outside, envoys from various Great Worlds had gathered, yet none entered the Earth Dragon World, likely having sensed that something was amiss.
After all, far too many worlds had vanished.
At this point, they were most likely awaiting the arrival of that dragon envoy. Earth Dragon was a seventh-rank Sovereign; even if Earth Dragon Sovereign were truly the one causing trouble, these experts would not dare offend him recklessly.
They could only await the return of the dragon seventh rank before questioning Earth Dragon Sovereign together.
"Sweeping through the Dragon Domain... the time has come..."
Li Hao suddenly let out a soft laugh, closing his eyes and paying no further heed to the outside.
*Dragon Lord... let us see whether you return.*
Chapter 532