The Battle Concludes

The tide of battle had turned completely. Three eighth-rank Sovereigns had perished, the Sovereigns of Samsara were beginning to fall, and within the domain, several foreign seventh-rank Sovereigns were already preparing to flee. It was utterly terrifying! The abrupt reversal was almost impossible to process. In the blink of an eye, multiple eighth-ranks had died, along with several seventh-ranks. Only when the auras of the Supreme and the Cang Emperor surfaced did they realize the two had slipped away. Of course, no one cared about that now. All they knew was that with the return of these two eighth-ranks, the remaining twenty-odd seventh-rank Sovereigns—who might have put up a fight—were utterly crushed in momentum. There was no chance twenty-odd seventh-ranks could unite to withstand them now. "Flee!" The thought flared in their minds. Among the ten foreign seventh-rank Sovereigns within the Samsara Domain, someone actually broke out directly, aiming to escape before the Supreme and his companion returned. The Bright Light Sovereign wanted to stop them, but intercepting so many Sovereigns single-handedly was a tall order. At this juncture, he could only fixate on a few to block their escape while focusing mainly on dealing with Samsara. Meanwhile, fighting had seemingly erupted elsewhere as well—in the Four Regions. However, separated by the Thunder Domain and an immense distance, only adjacent territories might take note; the other Sovereigns were indifferent. The powerhouses were all transfixed on the conflict in the Samsara Domain. Across the various worlds, including the Extreme Ice World, the eighth-rank Sovereigns guarding their homes saw their expressions change drastically. They transmitted messages in all directions, debating whether to intervene. Should they join the fray? No sooner had that thought crossed their minds than another domain suffered a catastrophe. In the Eighth Heaven. A great world suddenly fell into turmoil, its Great Dao violently convulsing. In the next breath, countless sorrowful cries echoed out. "World Lord!" Boom! The tremors reverberated in all directions. Nearby Sovereigns paled and looked over, their hearts seized by disbelief and shock. How could this be? That was an eighth-rank world—the Heluo World! The Lord of Heluo had fallen! "What on earth happened?" "How could this be?" In the Seventh Heaven, seventh-rank lords muttered in dazed horror, their faces stark white. How many days had it been? Gemini was gone, Samsara was on the verge of ruin, the Sun Moon World was gone, the Split Earth World was gone, and now even the Heluo World was finished! These were all eighth-rank great worlds! Sixteen eighth-rank great worlds had defined the landscape of the east. Yet in just a handful of days, so many cataclysms had unfolded, and eighth-rank Sovereigns had fallen one after another—an upheaval unprecedented in a million years. "It's from the direction of the Thunder Domain... It's the Four Regions..." Some experts sensed the ripples, their faces darkening. Fighting had erupted inside the Thunder Domain. The ones who had crossed into the Four Regions had suffered devastating casualties! The Four Regions again! *** At this moment, Li Hao and his companions had no attention to spare for the Four Regions, nor did they care whether other eighth-ranks lived or died. Three enemy eighth-ranks were dead, but several still remained: the four Samsara Sovereigns and the Chaos eighth-rank, making five ferocious eighth-rank powerhouses in total—Fusheng excluded. Led by the Samsara Sovereign, they unleashed staggering combat power. Formidable as the Human King was, having restored himself to his peak, the Samsara Sovereign dropped all restraint and went all out, forcing the Human King backward in a spray of blood. The Samsara Sovereign looked hideous. Were the Four Regions truly this troublesome? Nearly every eighth-rank world across the east had sent experts into this battle. A portion was here, and a portion had entered the Four Regions. Yet now, both fronts were crumbling. So many eighth-rank Sovereigns, yet how many had died? In the blink of an eye, four eighth-ranks had fallen inside and outside. Had they not resurrected several earlier, the losses would be even worse. Counting the Gemini Universe... So many eighth-rank Sovereigns had perished. Looking around, a sense of desolation crept over him. The Human King, Wushan, Dao Chess, and the Thunder Emperor were all eighth-ranks. Li Hao, Er Mao, Kongji, Senlan, and the Dao Lords of the Silver Moon Universe acting in unison were all on par with seventh-ranks. In terms of strength, they had not been completely suppressed; they were holding their own. Yet if the Samsara Domain was left unguarded, it would fall completely! He could already sense that several seventh-rank Sovereigns had been slain. Facing this disadvantage, some foreign Sovereigns had already started to flee. In truth, an opportunity still remained; though they had lost several eighth-ranks, their peak combat strength was not entirely broken. At this juncture, the Samsara Sovereign looked at the retreating Human King. His eyes held neither fury nor disgust, only calm. He was too hard to kill! So many Sovereigns had besieged the Human King for so long without finishing him off. His repertoire was simply too vast. Was inverting Yin and Yang the extent of his tricks? Perhaps there was more. And Li Hao, wielding the power of Time, might be even harder to slay than an eighth-rank. The east had already collapsed. The Samsara Sovereign said nothing. He shattered the heavens with a punch, cleaving open a rift into the Great Dao Universe. Glaring coldly at the surroundings, he barked, "Retreat!" Return to the Samsara Domain! "Thinking of leaving?" Though drenched in blood, the Human King roared and unleashed a slashing blade to intercept them. Samsara was actually retreating. It made sense. Eight eighth-ranks had failed to kill this group, and now three were dead. If they did not retreat, were they supposed to wait until the Supreme and his companion breached Samsara? That would truly be walking into a death trap. Li Hao and the others also moved to stop them. Great Daos crisscrossed and chaos exploded as they sought to bar their retreat. However, the Samsara Sovereign was a pinnacle entity. In reality, the Human King was a paper tiger right now, hollowed out and pushed to his absolute limit. Though he could still swing his blade, he was no match for the Samsara Sovereign. Samsara might even have turned the tables—except if their home realm fell, their combat strength would plummet, likely resulting in their total annihilation. Just then, Li Hao's expression shifted slightly. Samsara could leave if they wished. Fusheng could not! Fusheng had witnessed his future along the River of Time and withstood a strike from that future figure, directly tasting the power of orderly Dao. If he gained any enlightenment from it, the repercussions would be colossal. Beyond interfering with reality, it would be nursing a tiger that would return to devour them. Li Hao himself had barely brushed against that orderly Dao power, whereas Fusheng had experienced a sword strike firsthand. If he possessed sufficient aptitude, he might even step onto a whole new Great Dao. That would be an immense disaster. Anyone else could live, but Fusheng had to die! He could not even be given a chance to resurrect. Right now, Samsara still had five eighth-rank combatants. Fusheng was at the rear, hovering on the periphery—the only Sovereign with a realistic chance of being cut off. If the Samsara Sovereign retreated through the Great Dao Universe, it would be nearly impossible for Li Hao's group to keep them here unless the Dragon Lord intervened. But that was obviously impossible, and even if the Dragon Lord were here, which side he would attack was anyone's guess. Li Hao's eyes turned cold. He continued his attacks, though without much ferocity, appearing unwilling to press the issue and seemingly content to let them depart. Not far away, the Human King was cursing, clearly recognizing that keeping them here was futile. At the very rear, Fusheng had already set foot into the Samsara Universe. He breathed a sigh of relief. That had been far too close. He had to run! If he lingered any longer, he feared he would die by their hands once more. Meanwhile, the Samsara Sovereign was on high alert as he began sealing the Great Dao Universe. The moment Fusheng stepped in, the rift began to close. They were about to withdraw. If the Human King and the others did not pursue, so much the better. Otherwise, it would have been a nuisance. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Li Hao suddenly let out a fierce roar from behind. The Time Star manifested, turning heaven and earth upside down as time seemed to flow backward. A surge of temporal power locked exclusively onto Fusheng. In that single split second... The Fusheng Sovereign, who had just stepped into the Great Dao Universe, seemed to stumble back several paces. He tumbled straight out of the universe just as the rift snapped shut! Inside the Great Dao Universe, the Samsara Sovereign's expression shifted. Just as he was about to reopen the passage to pull Fusheng in, the eighth-rank Chaos powerhouse beside him, who had remained quiet the entire time, grunted, "Let's go!" If they were intercepted now, was the Samsara Domain to be abandoned? Several of their fourteen seventh-ranks were already dead. Was Fusheng worth more than all those seventh-ranks? Besides, this eighth-rank of the Chaos race already despised Fusheng. Had it not been for that fool's incompetence in failing to destroy Li Hao's Time Star, would they be in this mess? Useless trash. A liability. A creature like that was better off dead. Why waste precious time for him? The Supreme and the Cang Emperor were about to reach the Samsara World. If two eighth-ranks joined the assault, Samsara might collapse completely. The Samsara Sovereign had already resurrected Fusheng once; he had done all he could. The Samsara Sovereign's expression flickered. He could sense the tremors within the Great Dao Universe; yet another seventh-rank Sovereign had fallen. They could not afford any more delays. Reopening the Great Dao Universe to retrieve Fusheng might leave them entangled, and that would spell catastrophe. A sigh escaped him. Fusheng was not devoid of talent. What a pity! Yet a flare of anger was inevitable. How many resources had been poured into helping that useless wretch break into the eighth rank, and how many more had been squandered resurrecting him? In the end, facing an incomplete Li Hao, he had actually been repelled. So be it! Without looking back, the Samsara Sovereign led the remaining Sovereigns along the Great Dao Universe, racing straight toward the Samsara Domain. Outside, the Fusheng Sovereign turned deathly pale. Feeling the Great Dao Universe vanish, his face contorted as he bellowed, "World Lord!" The World Lord had actually left him behind! He had really abandoned him! He was the Samsara Sovereign's direct descendant, not just some random eighth-rank. Otherwise, why would the Samsara Sovereign have paid such a heavy price to revive him? Yet right now, the World Lord possessed the strength to rescue him! "I know the secrets of Time..." He knew the mysteries of Time! He had witnessed things; he had felt them! Right now, traces of future power lingered within his body—a unique Great Dao force, a power of rules! For an eighth-rank, that would be of monumental value. World Lord, how could you abandon me?! Even discarding the Samsara Domain might not match the importance of this rule power! Don't you know that?! You will regret this! A mix of madness and despair surfaced in the Fusheng Sovereign's eyes. You left me behind—you will regret this! Did they think he wanted this outcome? Put anyone else in his position, and they would have been beaten back just the same. Was it his fault? Indignation, rage, and resentment swelled within him to an unbearable peak. He had tried his absolute best, and failure was not on him. Why was he the one made to pay the price? He suddenly sneered. A terrifying force surged from his form as his Great Dao energy poured outward without restraint. Li Hao and the others braced themselves. Was he going to self-detonate? The Fusheng Sovereign stared coldly toward the shimmering void where the fluctuations of the Great Dao Universe had just faded. "World Lord... you will regret this day!" "This defeat was not my fault!" Consumed by fury and bitterness, the Fusheng Sovereign turned toward Li Hao, a complicated look in his eyes. What on earth was the power behind that sword strike? He wanted to know! At this final moment, he truly wanted an answer. "The power in that sword... can you tell me... what kind of power was that?" Nearby, the Human King charged forward with his blade and laughed uproariously. "Why the hell would he tell you? So you can spill the beans if you resurrect? Die with your regrets!" That was the Human King. Under normal circumstances, he would never grant an enemy closure. He would let them die in utter frustration. Li Hao raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and said, "Rules." He did not understand it fully himself, but in general terms, he judged it to be a kind of rule power. As for resurrecting and leaking secrets, that was hardly easy. Besides, even if everyone knew orderly rule power was stronger, did knowing it make a difference? He also knew that merging myriad Daos into one brought invincibility and led to the ninth rank. Did knowing that make him invincible? The Fusheng Sovereign muttered, "Rules..." In the next instant, he looked at the Human King with a flicker of relief. That bastard was an utter scoundrel; even if he knew, he would never say, which was completely in character. Besides, what the hell did he know? The Fusheng Sovereign gave a cold laugh. Then—BOOM! Heaven and earth shattered! The brunt of the blast did not surge toward Li Hao; it focused entirely on the Human King! Amidst the deafening explosion, the Human King was hurled backward, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. He was not normally this frail, but he had reached his absolute limit. That bastard Fusheng had refused to disperse his self-detonation at the moment of death, concentrating it entirely to screw him over one last time! Flying backward, the Human King spat curses: "Dog bastard, you really are utter garbage!" Then he burst into loud laughter: "I just love seeing you hate my guts when you can't do a damn thing to kill me!" He was not upset in the slightest; on the contrary, he found it hilarious. I love this look on you! You couldn't blow me to death, yet you insisted on giving it one last shot. Sure, I took a minor hit, but you're dead! You died in misery—eat your heart out! The crowd around him looked at the Human King, completely at a loss for words. This... was the Human King. Looking back at Li Hao, it was hard to tell who was truly the elder. The Human King felt more like a brash youth, whereas Li Hao carried the solemn weight of age. Their emotions were complicated. Every one of them bore injuries. Li Hao exhaled a breath. With Fusheng dead, his mind was finally at ease. He glanced toward the Human King. "Over by the Supreme..." Four eighth-rank Sovereigns had returned to Samsara without hindrance. Right now... The Human King chuckled. "Don't worry. The only reason I got beat so badly this time was because Old Zhang and those fellows miscalculated, thinking I wouldn't die. They almost got me killed... Let him sweat it out for a bit. With three eighth-ranks on our side, they won't kick the bucket so easily!" Besides, would the Samsara Sovereign still dare drag out a battle against Xinwu at this point? *** The Samsara Domain. The instant the Supreme and the Cang Emperor arrived, the Samsara Sovereign returned as well, moving with blinding speed. With the Great Dao Universe at their disposal, their transit was far faster than conventional flight. Though the Supreme and the Cang Emperor were already nearby, both parties arrived almost simultaneously. Of the twenty-four seventh-rank Sovereigns who had initially stayed behind to guard the realm, six had fled. Of the remaining eighteen, only twelve were still breathing. In that brief window, Xinwu and the Bright Light Sovereign had slaughtered six seventh-ranks! As for the fourteen seventh-ranks belonging directly to Samsara, four had died, and four had been resurrected previously, restoring their original numbers. The Samsara Sovereign arrived in a flash. The Supreme materialized instantly as well, barking, "Fall back!" The Xinwu Sovereigns retreated in unison. At the vanguard, the bald Qin Fengqing looked thoroughly displeased. His blade had failed to cleave his foe in two, and he was eager to hack away a few more times. But seeing eighth-rank auras surging into the surroundings, he beat a swift retreat while spouting curses. He was not afraid of death, but he had no desire to throw his life away needlessly! Damn it all, Fang Ping and the others hadn't managed to pin down their targets after all. At this moment, the Samsara Sovereign looked at Bright Light and the others with dark eyes. Too many had died! Not just seventh-rank Sovereigns; dozens of mid- and low-rank Sovereigns had perished as well. These were the very foundation of his realm. He glanced into the distance. Though separated by a vast expanse, violent disturbances seemed to be rocking the interior of the Thunder Domain as well. Turning back to the Supreme, his eyes were frosty, though his tone remained even. "The foundation of the east lies in its sixteen eighth-rank worlds. Now that you have destroyed so many of them, the strength of the east is severely depleted... Do you truly think the overlords of the other three territories will let this rest?" With that, he gave a faint chuckle and turned to the eighth-rank Sovereign beside him, murmuring, "Fellow Daoist, I must trouble you this time!" Only now did the eighth-rank Chaos beast revert to its true form. It was a colossal creature beyond measure—a fish, or perhaps a kunpeng? The titanic Chaos beast opened its maw and swallowed the Samsara World whole. Gazing at the Xinwu crowd and then across the surrounding cosmos, the Samsara Sovereign sighed. "My Samsara World's path as an overlord of the east comes to an end today!" There was self-mockery in his voice, but also profound sentiment. He surveyed the surroundings, then barked out an order: "Withdraw! To the west! Samsara is defeated; today, our realm enters the west, into the Huntian Domain!" In the next instant, the colossal kunpeng, carrying the entire world and escorted by a vanguard of high-rank Sovereigns, began to pull back. He had originally intended to remain rooted in the east, but the situation no longer permitted it. Defeat was absolute. Four eighth-ranks had fallen, and the other domains in the east were likely facing devastating blows as well. At this juncture, retreat was the only path forward. To the west! Perhaps he would return to the east one day, but when he did, it would no longer be as its master. The Xinwu Sovereigns looked toward the Supreme. The Supreme shook his head slightly. The enemy's core strength was still intact: four eighth-ranks and over a dozen seventh-ranks. If they engaged in a protracted battle until the Human King and the others arrived, they might be able to hold them down, but what was the point? A fight to the bitter end might prompt the other worlds to intervene, turning this into a battle of total annihilation. He looked to the others and commanded, "Clear the battlefield! Then... follow me to sweep through the various worlds in the east whose World Lords have fallen..." Long Zhan, since you've slain an eighth-rank as well, Xinwu will take claim over the worlds left without masters. Even though several eighth-ranks still guarded various corners of the territory, none would dare contest Xinwu for worlds that had already lost their lords. In a flash, the group sped toward the distant Heluo World. An eighth-rank Sovereign had just fallen there. *** The Four Regions. Eight eighth-rank Sovereigns had invaded, while Long Zhan's side commanded only four: Long Zhan, Red Moon, Black Tiger, and Feng Yan, who had just broken through to the eighth rank. Yet despite having only four eighth-ranks, Long Zhan's side held the upper hand. A titanic golden dragon soared across the cosmos. A single dragon suppressed three eighth-rank Sovereigns! On the other side, Red Moon joined hands with Black Tiger and Feng Yan to tie down the remaining eighth-ranks, while a swarm of seventh-ranks provided support from the periphery, besieging the invaders! The Extreme Ice Sovereign, freezing tens of thousands of li in absolute cold, found himself pinned down nonetheless. He roared in fury, "Humans of the surrounding realms, why do you not strike to eradicate these Chaos beasts?!" Damn it all! He was ready to explode with rage! Had all the fierce humans in the Four Regions fled, leaving behind nothing but weaklings? Dozens of seventh-rank Sovereigns and dozens of seventh-rank worlds lay just on the outskirts. Long Zhan's forces had held no advantage at the start of this battle; if the locals had rebelled, there was a massive chance to wipe these beasts out. Yet not a single seventh-rank had joined the fray. Not one! It defied all expectation. They were not stationed far away; they were right next door and could have arrived in an instant. Nor were there just one or two—fearing death and collateral damage would be understandable for a couple of individuals, but dozens of seventh-rank Sovereigns were gathered nearby! If they attacked together, even if they avoided Long Zhan and merely swarmed the other seventh-rank Sovereigns, victory would have been guaranteed. Yet not a single one moved! The Sovereigns from the outer realms were pushed to the brink of madness. In their minds, the human Sovereigns of the Four Regions were supposed to be wild and ruthless, just like Xinwu and Silver Moon. Why was this place like this? Long Zhan had unified the Four Regions only recently and had barely consolidated his rule. Why was no one rebelling? Chaos beasts were creatures that devoured humans—did they not know that? Chaos beasts harbored extreme hostility toward humanity—did they not know that? In the outer regions, Chaos beasts were treated as slaves. How could slaves be allowed to turn the tables and become masters? On the periphery, the human Sovereigns wore conflicted expressions, yet none stepped forward. The Dragon Lord's prestige was simply too overwhelming! That was the first reason. The second was that these invaders did not have their roots here; if they lost, they could flee. But what about the locals? Were they supposed to wait for retribution? Moreover, though Long Zhan had exerted pressure on them, he had never wiped out their lineages or destroyed their worlds. Furthermore, the current Sovereign Feng Yan was quite friendly toward humans and had secretly sheltered many in the past... In short, these seventh-rank Sovereigns had no desire to get involved. The troublemakers were already gone. If worlds like Xinwu, Silver Moon, Bright Light, and the Thunder Realm were still around, they might have led the charge. But with those worlds gone, the rebellious seventh-rank lords had already been purged earlier. The survivors had no wish to meddle. The Dragon Lord's roar reverberated across the cosmos, shaking all directions. Fighting three alone, he still held down the three eighth-rank Sovereigns, his massive eyes cold as ice. "Extreme Ice, you have immense nerve!" I didn't even go looking for you, yet you dared launch an invasion into the Four Regions. Such sheer audacity. Relying on these seventh-ranks to intervene? What a joke! In the Four Regions, any seventh-rank with ambition or backbone was either dead or gone. Those who remained were weaklings and cowards; who would dare help you? Let alone now when the Chaos race had not even lost—even if they were defeated, these cowards might not dare rise up. The Extreme Ice Sovereign felt utterly suffocated. He was trapped in an impossible dilemma! What should they do? Flee? Or keep grinding away in combat? He even worried that if this dragged on, the human Sovereigns watching from the sidelines might turn their blades against the invaders. Heluo was dead. He had died a gruesome death. It was not Long Zhan who had struck the killing blow; a pack of seventh-rank Chaos beasts had swarmed him, tearing him to shreds. If this continued, the rest of them might meet the same fate. In that moment, the Extreme Ice Sovereign completely abandoned all designs on conquering the Four Regions. Gritting his teeth, he roared, "Retreat!" The invading Sovereigns fought frantically to disengage and withdraw. Long Zhan said nothing, leading the Chaos race in relentless pursuit. It would not be so simple for these invaders to pull back now. With the Thunder Domain serving as a barrier, leaving without leaving a few behind was out of the question! His voice rang out in all directions: "Bring down an eighth-rank, and your tribute is waived for ten thousand years! Furthermore, you shall be rewarded with one billion Great Dao crystals!" Upon hearing this, some of the watching human Sovereigns grew visibly restless. The Extreme Ice Sovereign and his companions grew even more exasperated as they fled in desperation. Damn it all! In this godforsaken place, these cowardly human cultivators actually obeyed the commands of a Chaos beast. What a miserable disappointment! They had assumed everyone here was like Xinwu or Silver Moon, only to find they had vastly overestimated them. A massive pursuit unfolded! The seventh-rank Sovereigns brought along by the invaders fell one after another; anyone lagging behind was swarmed and slaughtered on the spot. The remaining seven eighth-rank Sovereigns fled for their lives! Only when they crossed into the Thunder Domain did Long Zhan halt the pursuit. Reverting to his human form, he gazed outward and quietly sensed the cosmos, his eyes filled with doubt and solemnity. Fighting had erupted in the outer regions again. Who had won, and who had lost? He did not know, only wondering why it had flared up so quickly. Li Hao and Fang Ping's crowd were truly unmatched when it came to stirring up trouble. In this battle, almost none of the foreign seventh-ranks had escaped, while nearly all the eighth-ranks had managed to break through. Beside him, Feng Yan spoke with excitement: "Dragon Lord, shall we pursue them outward?" "No." The Dragon Lord shook his head, looking toward the Thunder Domain as he said gravely, "The outer regions are in turmoil. Our Chaos race currently possesses only a handful of eighth-ranks. The east holds sixteen eighth-rank worlds and numerous eighth-rank Sovereigns... If they truly join forces, we are clearly outmatched." Though, were there still sixteen worlds left? Gemini was gone, and by the looks of it, a few more might vanish today. He glanced back toward the distant Tianfang Great World. It was far away, yet visible now—brighter than before. The slaughter of so many Sovereigns, including an eighth-rank, right beside Tianfang had allowed the world to absorb a massive amount of Great Dao power. Signs of its imminent revival were beginning to show! *** In the outer regions. Amidst roaring booms, the few seventh-rank Sovereigns guarding the Heluo World were wiped out in an instant. The Great Dao Universe was stripped away, and the world's energy was drained clean. Only then did the Human King and his group arrive, panting and visibly irritated. He shot a glare at the Supreme. The Supreme ignored him. As long as you're not dead, it's fine! He looked toward Li Hao and the others behind him, cupping his hands slightly. "My thanks to you all for your assistance!" This was the first time Li Hao had met the Xinwu Supreme face-to-face in reality. He studied the man: white-haired and exuding the air of a transcendent immortal. Yet in his memories, the Supreme was not like this; he was supposed to look exceptionally young. Had he aged over the past thousand years, or was this deliberate? He had nearly failed to recognize him. "Silver Moon's Li Hao pays respects to Senior!" Li Hao exchanged polite greetings, then glanced at Zhang An beside him. Zhang An had yet to recover from his injuries, his entire body charred black. He looked at his grandfather; in his earlier years, he had been terrified of him. Now, that fear had largely dissipated, though a sense of indignation lingered. Before they had even met, he had been set up by his own grandfather and nearly burned to death! Seeing Li Hao look his way, Zhang An knew Li Hao assumed he might want to return to Xinwu. Yet Zhang An was unwilling. He glanced into the Xinwu crowd, feeling a pang of disappointment when he failed to spot that particular person. He then looked at his grandfather, as well as his father, brother, and sister in the crowd—all of whom had become Sovereigns. He said nothing, merely nodding toward his grandfather without mentioning any desire to return. The Supreme looked at his blackened grandson and smiled—a smile laden with profound meaning. The boy had quite some courage. Still, it was for the best; back in Xinwu, he had been suppressed too heavily, failing to reach the Heavenly King Realm let alone becoming a Sovereign after all those years. Now, he had stepped into the third-rank Sovereign realm, which was decent enough. They were not the only ones encountering family. There was also Tianji. At the rear of the Silver Moon contingent, Tianji spotted his elderly father, who was likewise idling at the back of the Xinwu lines with a bored expression. Father and son locked eyes across the distance, but quickly shifted their gazes away. Don't look at me, and I won't look at you. One of us on each side—if one dies, the other survives. Besides, having too many slackers clustered together was too conspicuous. Lying flat on opposite sides meant no one would pay attention. An unspoken understanding! The two did not acknowledge each other at all, letting a single distant glance settle the matter. There were quite a few relatives. For instance, Li Fuhai on Li Hao's side had both his father and ancestor among the Sovereigns in the Xinwu crowd across from them. Yet by unspoken agreement, no one brought up the topic of returning. The Supreme scrutinized Li Hao from top to bottom, glanced at the eighth-rank Sovereigns, and finally looked at Kongji. Kongji did not pretend to be blind; he naturally recognized his father, but felt somewhat awkward about stepping forward. He noticed that none of Li Hao's companions had acknowledged their roots. Would it be appropriate for him to step up to his father? The Bright Light Sovereign spoke first: "Mingtang, you've reached the seventh rank... Well done!" Feeling somewhat awkward, Kongji replied, "Father!" Then he greeted the other Sovereigns: "Uncles..." After that, he had no idea what to say. What was there to say? The reunion between the two groups had settled into an awkward atmosphere! Li Hao stepped in to break the silence, speaking up: "Now that Senior Human King has returned safely, we shall not intrude any further." "The outbreak of this battle was rather sudden. Samsara has retreated from the east, leaving the region in chaos... If Xinwu intends to dominate the east and requires assistance, we can lend a hand..." The Supreme smiled. "The east is vast, and the other three territories are powerful. Have you never considered... dominating the east alongside Xinwu, young friend?" "I think not." Li Hao shook his head. "I am not suited for governance, and my friends dislike being bound to one place; they prefer wandering the cosmos. We gathered out of shared interests, for the Great Dao, and in pursuit of truth. If our goal were hegemony, staying in the Four Regions might have been safer." Seeing this, the Supreme did not press further. After a moment's thought, a Great Dao Book materialized in his hand, which he tossed to Li Hao with a smile. "Fang Ping's survival this time was entirely thanks to your assistance; otherwise, I fear the others would have beaten me to death... Since you seek the Dao, this Great Dao Book contains some of my insights over the years. It may not be of immense help, but it should serve as a reference..." Li Hao felt a jolt of surprise and looked at the Supreme. The Supreme smiled. "Xinwu and Silver Moon were originally one family... Even separated, we remain brother realms! The chaos is vast, yet also small, teeming with experts: Chunqiu in the south, the Five Elements in the north, Huntian in the west... Now Samsara has joined the west, greatly bolstering its strength. A clash of dragons and tigers is inevitable in the days ahead, with Long Zhan looming in the rear... The east is hardly a tranquil haven." "Whether it is you or us... living in this era, none can remain entirely aloof." "You saved Fang Ping, and Xinwu has little else to offer in return... Take this Great Dao Book, young friend!" A Great Dao Book from the Supreme was no ordinary gift. In Li Hao's eyes, it was perhaps more precious than an eighth-rank universe. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he said, "There is no need for this. When my Silver Moon emerged from the Stargate, it was also thanks to..." "Let us leave it at that!" The Supreme laughed. "By the way, we breached the Heluo, Split Earth, and Sun Moon Worlds, slaying multiple seventh-rank Sovereigns..." Before he could finish, a cat that had been curiously watching Er Mao suddenly stretched out a paw. Clutched in its paw was an enormous fish, which it shoved toward Er Mao, its large eyes gleaming with delight. "Er Mao, a fish for you!" Er Mao had not intended to acknowledge it, but seeing its joyful expression as it pushed the fish forward... Er Mao recognized it: that was the Split Earth World, compressed down by the Big Cat. An eighth-rank world! A fish like this was no ordinary catch. With mixed feelings, Er Mao looked at the Big Cat and muttered, "I don't eat fish!" The Big Cat looked bewildered. "How can a cat not eat fish?" To outsiders, the two cats appeared nearly identical and difficult to tell apart. Yet standing here, Li Hao could distinguish between them at a glance. It was not a matter of strength, but temperament. The Big Cat carried an idle, streetwise swagger reminiscent of the Human King, combined with a lazy, innocent demeanor... An eighth-rank cat—a terrifyingly lethal beast—yet it exuded an aura of pure innocence. Er Mao, by contrast, seemed more like an elder brother. Er Mao said nothing further. Seeing the Big Cat push the fish toward him until the compressed world settled before him, he muttered with complicated emotions, "Eat it yourself!" "This cat still has plenty..." The Big Cat seemed delighted, showing off its collection. A fish pond seemed to shimmer before it, with numerous fish swimming inside. Li Hao glanced at it, his eyes narrowing slightly, but kept silent. Those were... powerful Sovereigns, or worlds condensed into shape! This Big Cat was truly as terrifying as the rumors claimed! "Senior Er Mao... since the Cang Emperor offers it with good intentions, you should accept it," Li Hao said, stepping in when he saw the Cang Emperor look somewhat lost. Er Mao hesitated, looked at the Big Cat, and finally glanced at the Human King. The Human King looked completely indifferent, but Er Mao still remarked, "Human King, the Big Cat following you... was its choice, and yours... I have neither the right nor the desire to meddle, but over the years, the Big Cat has engaged in far too much slaughter..." The Human King raised an eyebrow and smiled at Er Mao. "Nonsense. The cat doesn't kill people, doesn't fight; it just does a little fishing!" With that, he looked at Er Mao, then at Li Hao, his smile widening. "Li Hao, Er Mao, Wushan, Thunder Emperor... You saved me this time, and that is a favor. I, Fang Ping, always repay my debts! However... our pursuits differ in the end. We each walk our own path, so let's dispense with pleasantries. If you ever need help, just speak up. But there's no need for us to huddle together. Over time, familiarity breeds contempt, and that wouldn't do." At these words, Sovereigns on both sides shifted uncomfortably. Xinwu and Silver Moon were both formidable now. Each possessed several eighth-rank Sovereigns and numerous seventh-ranks. Joining forces, even if they could not sweep across the east, dominating it would be effortless. Yet the Human King showed no interest. And Li Hao seemed to feel the same. Li Hao exhaled and nodded. "Senior Human King speaks the truth. You are direct and candid, Senior, while I dislike being led by others. The chaos is right before us; should you ever need anything, you may seek me out at any time. Wine and tea will always be waiting!" The Human King laughed. "Splendid! The Split Earth World was a gift from the Big Cat, so Er Mao should keep it! Back in the illusion, Er Mao helped me... and helped the Big Cat too. Consider it a meeting gift and a token of thanks—no need for courtesy!" "As for Old Zhang's Great Dao Book, it's really nothing special..." He chuckled, then continued, "The four eighth-rank Sovereigns who fell were all slain by your hands, and to save me at that... I won't lay claim to the spoils. In addition..." Li Hao cut him off: "Nothing else is necessary; this is more than enough! None of us need to advance to the eighth rank right now, and keeping these resources will suffice for my Silver Moon to step into the seventh rank. My thanks for Senior's generosity!" It was enough. As for the Sun Moon and Heluo Worlds, Xinwu had conquered them on their own, and the seventh-ranks they had slain belonged to Xinwu's tally. It was best that each kept what they had earned. "Crisp and decisive!" The Human King beamed. "Good, then it's settled! Furthermore, Xinwu will likely continue sweeping through the eastern worlds in the near future. While hegemony isn't our end goal, now that we're out here, we can't remain someone else's lackeys forever—I'm not in the habit! If you desire the east, Xinwu can find another territory to settle in..." "No need," Li Hao shook his head. "However, I will likely remain in the east for a period to set up some arrangements and refine my Daos. I hope Seniors will accommodate this." "Suit yourself!" The Human King waved it off. Though numerous worlds still dotted the east, in the mouths of these two, the region had already been treated as Xinwu's territory. Both were exceptionally decisive. Meanwhile, the Bright Light Sovereign felt thoroughly aggrieved. He had barely exchanged a few words with his son. And... they weren't going to join forces? To be frank, he found it incomprehensible. Both sides were strong, but hardly invincible across the cosmos—if they were, they wouldn't have been ambushed and besieged. Merging their forces seemed like the superior choice. Why did they insist on parting ways? With this split, should he accompany his son or remain behind? As he pondered, Kongji took the initiative to send a voice transmission: Father, I shall take my leave! The Sovereigns of the Bright Light World should remain with Xinwu for now. Xinwu will certainly take root somewhere rather than wander indefinitely, which suits you better... As for me... I prefer to explore and roam... The Bright Light Sovereign could not help transmitting back: You have been away for years! He had reached the seventh rank—was he still not coming home? No! Father, out here, I follow my own will. If I return to join Xinwu, wonderful as it is, figures like the Supreme and the Human King will bring me pressure. I would rather stay with Brother Haoyue. The Bright Light Sovereign was speechless. So you feel pressure, but I don't? Before he could reply, Kongji transmitted again: Father should remain with Xinwu. If you come to Silver Moon... Brother Haoyue will feel awkward. You are my father, and he is my friend... Having a friend's father hovering around is uncomfortable for everyone. Dammit! Are you even my son? The Bright Light Sovereign felt immensely depressed. You choose your friend over your own father? You unfilial brat! And you're a grown man! Fortunately, you haven't started a family yet, or would you even recognize me as your father at all? While the father and son conversed in secret, Li Hao looked toward Zhang An, transmitting: Senior Zhang, even if you do not return, Yuanping Martial Arts University still has a group of students... including cultivators from the ancient cities whose families might be with Xinwu... It would be best to make arrangements for them. Zhang An nodded slightly. He glanced into the crowd again, as did Li Hao. He did not see the Human King's sister from his memories, which sparked slight confusion, though he did not pry. Quite a few Sovereigns were missing, perhaps inside the Xinwu World or dispatched elsewhere. That was fine as well; it spared Zhang An another emotional blow. "The road ahead is long... Seniors, I shall take my leave!" Li Hao spoke no further, exchanging a few more words with Zhang An, telling him that once arrangements were settled, he could find him in the Middle World Alliance City, where he would be staying for some time. Zhang An nodded. While he chose not to return, some of the Xinwu natives wished to go back, requiring proper arrangements. Soon, the two parties parted ways. Watching them depart, the Supreme observed their backs for a long time before transmitting to the Human King: Is that the kind of life you long for? The Human King watched in silence before transmitting back: Being completely free is wonderful, and I do look forward to it... but a short taste of freedom is enough. I'm different from him. That fellow... is ruthless to the bone. The Supreme paused, then nodded without speaking. Ruthless? He had not quite seen it, but since the Human King put it that way, perhaps it was true. By the looks of it, this fellow had had his fill of wandering and was ready to come home.