Myriad Heavens Dao Arena

Merging his Dao into Chaos yielded an inexhaustible stream of energy. The process itself was not particularly dangerous; what was truly perilous was the future. For Li Hao, that future was still some distance away. At this moment, however, countless thoughts raced through his mind. This time, he had seen and pondered far too much. That, combined with the Supreme's words and his own discoveries, made Li Hao feel more and more that certain things within Chaos were not as straightforward as they appeared on the surface. Tianfang! He turned his gaze back toward the Four Regions. Tianfang harbored a massive secret. The greatest secret lay with the Lord of Tianfang. Why had he left? Where exactly had he gone after gathering so many ninth-rank experts? Why hadn't he returned? What connection existed between the Emperor of Battle Heaven and the Lord of Tianfang? When the Emperor of Battle Heaven sealed Xinwu, who was he really guarding against? These doubts remained buried in his heart, but Li Hao stopped dwelling on them. His pressing priorities were not these questions, but two immediate tasks: filling his small worlds and opening new ones! To fill the small worlds, he now had his Dao merged into Chaos. Yet to open new worlds, he still needed to forge the Myriad Daos illusory realm. Time waited for no one! After stepping out of the Four Regions into greater Chaos, the situation had only grown more complicated. Everyone was scheming. He, on the other hand, had prepared far too little. Moreover, when Tianfang revived, it would likely bring another brutal battle... He had to seize this rare breathing space to prepare everything properly. He was not like the Human King, who could make split-second decisions on the battlefield with ease. While that approach worked, it was prone to complications that Li Hao might not be able to resolve quickly. …… Bidding farewell to Xinwu, Li Hao and his companions returned once again to Alliance City No. 9. By now, more than ten days had passed since the battle against Samsara Sovereign. Time lost all meaning in Chaos. For many, ten days was genuinely a mere blink of an eye. Li Hao had already spent three years in Chaos without feeling the passage of time. Three years was brief; while three years in Silver Moon might have felt exceedingly long, three years in Chaos was over in a flash. Here, age was completely forgotten. In truth, almost six years had passed since Li Hao first stepped onto the martial path in Silver Moon. Yet a mere six years was nothing more than a nap to most people. In that span, however, Chaos had undergone seismic upheavals! When Li Hao and his group returned, Sovereign Wanqiu appeared instantly. Her aura had already shifted. Li Hao had previously requested the corpse of a seventh-rank Sovereign from Xinwu, and Sovereign Wanqiu had clearly already devoured it. She was currently in the midst of a transformation. Logically, she should have remained in secluded cultivation rather than wandering about outside. But upon sensing Li Hao's presence, Sovereign Wanqiu dared not stay in seclusion any longer and hastily emerged from her Great Dao Universe. At her side stood an elderly man. He had the demeanor of a transcendent immortal, his white hair drifting lightly. Seeing such a person, Li Hao's first thought was not of a venerable elder, but... *Could this be another scheming old fox?* Having traveled through Xinwu's past and various other lands, he had learned that people who appeared this saintly and otherworldly were rarely benevolent. This had to be Sovereign Wanhua. A formidable figure who had opened a Dao domain entirely through his own power. To Li Hao, anyone who could reach the seventh rank without relying on a Great Dao Universe was truly formidable. It required opening one's own Dao domain! Li Hao swept his gaze over him, divine light flickering faintly in his eyes. In that instant, things invisible to ordinary eyes came into view. A Dao domain! Like an enormous inverted bowl, it encased the old man. Strands of Dao laws materialized before Li Hao's eyes. Taking a rough look, Li Hao could gauge his strength with clarity this time. Nearly two thousand Dao laws! By Li Hao's estimate, possessing the power of a thousand Dao laws qualified one as a seventh-rank Sovereign. Reaching two thousand placed one at the peak of the seventh rank, bordering on the eighth rank. When the Sword Venerable opened his Dao domain, he possessed around three thousand Dao laws, but that did not mean all of them met the required standard; counting them at half strength was more accurate, and the Sword Venerable still needed time to settle his foundation. For that peerless expert who had been invincible at the sixth rank to truly rival the eighth rank, he still needed time to nurture and strengthen his Dao laws. Yet the elder before him possessed two thousand thick, robust Dao laws. He was clearly no newly ascended seventh rank, but a seasoned veteran. Strictly speaking, his strength was probably slightly superior to what Wushan and the Thunder Emperor had possessed in the past, though a step behind the two now that they had stepped into the eighth rank. A peak seventh-rank Sovereign! Li Hao's heart stirred. Opposite him, the elder's eyes flickered slightly. He had not sensed anything concrete—his spirit was not as powerful as Long Zhan's—yet he could still perceive that the young man was scrutinizing him. He did not take offense, merely offering a warm smile. "Wanhua greets our esteemed seniors." Cultivation had no regard for time or age; only strength mattered. The strong were revered! Though he was advanced in years and Li Hao's group was exceedingly young, strength was absolute truth. Even as aged as he was, he respectfully addressed them as seniors. Li Hao smiled. "You flatter us. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wanhua!" Beside them, Sovereign Wanqiu quickly chimed in, "Congratulations to Senior Haoyue on your great advancement in cultivation! Why don't you esteemed seniors join us at my humble abode for some tea, where we can sit down and discuss the Dao?" "Then we shall trouble you, Fellow Daoist Wanqiu." "It is our pleasure!" Sovereign Wanqiu responded hurriedly, leading the way as she said, "Several other elders from our alliance will be arriving shortly. However... the distance is great, so it may take them a little time. Senior Wanhua possesses great strength, so he arrived a step ahead. But the elders have sent word that as long as Senior Wanhua has no objections, our Medium Worlds Alliance will fully abide by the agreement." To the side, Sovereign Wanhua remained silent. Did the Medium Worlds Alliance dare refuse? They did not. So claiming they would let him decide was merely polite rhetoric. In truth, they hoped he could secure more benefits for them rather than exhausting their strength entirely on behalf of this group. With Samsara repelled and the extreme ice worlds banding together for warmth, the Medium Worlds Alliance was deeply apprehensive. They were terrified that war might erupt again and sweep across the East, leaving their worlds with no escape. …… The group soon arrived at the estate situated in the center of the deserted island. This was not Sovereign Wanqiu's world; she would never dare invite experts of this caliber into her own world. This place served as her regular resting grounds and the core of the entire deserted island. However, with the recent turmoil across Chaos, the number of Sovereigns visiting the island to trade and converse had dwindled considerably. Li Hao did not have the others follow him. He instructed them to find a place to rest while he stepped inside the manor alone. Only the three of them entered. Though Sovereign Wanqiu was already half a step into the seventh rank, she still acted as a host-attendant, seating the two of them and quickly serving tea. Li Hao did not waste time on excessive pleasantries. On the other side, Sovereign Wanhua had been quietly observing Li Hao the entire time. Li Hao, the Silver Moon King, a cultivator who emerged from an auxiliary world born of Xinwu. He was remarkably young, as Silver Moon had only surfaced in Chaos a few years ago. From a newly ascended Sovereign to the seventh rank today... Reaching the seventh rank was already inconceivable. That was only the first point. Second, within a brief span, this Li Hao had successively gathered Kongji, the Son of Light; Wushan, the second-in-command of the Yunxiao World; the Thunder Emperor of the Thunder World; and Dao Chess, the imperial arm left behind by the Lord of Tianfang... That was what truly inspired dread. For a cultivator who emerged from an auxiliary world, Li Hao did not possess as much fame as the Xinwu Human King. He was still considered a newcomer in Chaos. The Human King was a newcomer as well, but everyone knew of his eighth-rank might and fierce prowess from battling all quarters. As for Li Hao's combat record... Although the Medium Worlds Alliance had gathered considerable intelligence, most of what they knew was that he had ambushed a pack of Chaos beasts consisting of seventh-rank Sovereigns, killing well-known figures like Fire Phoenix. Moreover, he had previously aided Xinwu in shattering the Red Moon Great World. Afterward, he entered the outer regions, killed Sovereign Diyang, and just days ago, slew the Twin Sovereigns of Sun and Moon, Sovereign Lietu, and Sovereign Fusheng... Such was Li Hao's track record in recent days. The list was not long, but examining the strength of those he had eliminated was downright horrifying. They were all seventh- and eighth-rank Sovereigns. Though not loudly heralded, his methods were ruthless to the extreme. Sovereign Wanhua felt immense wariness toward this young man. Yet... he was also filled with anticipation. Yes, anticipation. The Myriad Daos illusory realm! The Myriad Daos Pavilion! This was something he had always wanted to accomplish but had never been able to. Had he established so many Myriad Daos Pavilions across Chaos purely to satisfy everyone's desire to converse and trade? Naturally not. In Chaos, there was no simple division between good and evil; everyone had their own interests. Evidently, the existence of the Myriad Daos Pavilion was also Sovereign Wanhua's pursuit of the Dao and a means to elevate his own cultivation. Seeing that Li Hao did not take the initiative to speak, he dispensed with further ceremony and went straight to the point: "I have heard that Senior Haoyue..." "Fellow Daoist Wanhua, you may simply address me as 'Fellow Daoist.'" Having an elder of indeterminate age call him 'senior' brought no sense of accomplishment, only profound awkwardness. Li Hao interrupted him directly. Sovereign Wanhua did not push the issue. Li Hao was a seventh rank, and so was he, though with several eighth ranks under Li Hao's command, he naturally had to show respect. Abandoning pleasantries, he cut straight to the core: "Fellow Daoist Haoyue, it is said you can connect all the Myriad Daos illusory realms together. May I venture to ask... is this done through a Great Dao Universe?" He looked at Li Hao with doubt. Chaos was far too vast! Even just the eastern region contained countless worlds. A single Great World could only extend its influence across a limited distance, not infinitely. How many Great Worlds would it take to cover the East? A hundred? Or even more? That was a terrifying expanse. He had to clarify this beforehand. Li Hao smiled. "It is not through a Great Dao Universe, but a Dao domain!" "A Dao domain?" How could that be possible! Sovereign Wanhua frowned. *Are you pulling my leg?* Li Hao continued, "A Dao domain that can be dispersed. A Dao domain is constructed from the laws of the Great Dao. Within my Dao domain, those laws can be separated and maintain continuous coverage over a certain range." In theory, Sovereign Wanhua understood. He furrowed his brows slightly. "How is that possible? It is not that I doubt you, Fellow Daoist, but... the East is unimaginably immense! How could one person's Dao domain be dispersed across such vast distances and still maintain continuous coverage?" "That pertains to my Dao. Fellow Daoist... would you like to hear the details?" Sovereign Wanhua glanced at him. Seeing Li Hao's faint smile, he cleared his throat and chuckled. "Naturally, that will not be necessary. However, there is another issue: if it is dispersed, it must be weakened, right? Could it be destroyed? A Dao domain is the very foundation of a cultivator, especially a high-rank one. If someone were to damage it..." "No matter! I have the means to conceal it." Li Hao cut him off and said plainly, "Fellow Daoist Wanhua, since I have proposed this, I naturally possess a degree of certainty. You need not worry about that aspect. What we need to discuss now are the positions and anchors! We will select one to two thousand anchor points to blanket the entire eastern region. In addition, we must establish numerous alliance cities to serve as communication base stations..." "And for these, we require the Medium Worlds Alliance's assistance!" "Every single anchor point will require at least one Sovereign to guard it, forming a localized small illusory realm that then connects to the greater illusory realm, thereby achieving full coverage point by point... This will require a large number of Sovereigns and substantial manpower to maintain!" Over a thousand Sovereigns! Was that a lot? Yes, an intimidatingly high number. Yet a single Great World could boast over a hundred Sovereigns, so viewed in that light, it was not excessively large. How many worlds did the Medium Worlds Alliance actually have? No one knew for certain, but the Four Regions alone contained tens of thousands of worlds. The eastern region would only have more worlds and more Sovereigns—a staggering total. Establishing a thousand anchor points was not truly a problem. As long as there were benefits, Sovereigns would jump at the chance to act as guardians. Li Hao added, "Of course, if you are not worried about me scheming against you all, we could use entire worlds as anchors. That would be safer and more convenient... But if there are concerns, we can build them in Chaos following the specifications of this deserted island." Using worlds as anchors was safer and more suitable, but he anticipated their caution. Thus, Li Hao provided an alternative. Sovereign Wanhua pondered briefly. "Then how will we attract people to enter and discuss the Dao? And what benefits will the guardians receive? Maintaining the operation of such a massive illusory realm will inevitably consume an immense amount of energy. How will those expenses be covered? Furthermore, if powerful experts enter... can it withstand them? What is the highest rank of Sovereign it can support, or is it limited to low- and middle-rank Sovereigns?" "And lastly, if powerful enemies attack and destroy the illusory realm, who will resist them... or will the Medium Worlds Alliance be responsible for security?" These were questions he had to clarify. Otherwise, trouble would surely follow. Li Hao addressed them one by one. "As for attracting people, the Myriad Daos Pavilion already possesses renown and a foundation in Chaos. I simply do not have the time or energy to recruit participants; the Medium Worlds Alliance must handle promotion, and it must be done quickly!" "What benefits will the guardians receive? Every single guardian stationed at an illusory space will receive half of the Great Dao crystals paid by entrants. Furthermore, if any Sovereign entering through that point is willing to exchange insights and discuss the Dao, the guardian may listen in and comprehend their Great Dao insights free of charge!" "It is inevitable that the illusory realm will consume energy. The remaining half of the Great Dao crystals collected from entrants will go toward operational costs. If that is insufficient, I will cover the remainder myself!" Indeed, Li Hao would pay for it personally. With his Dao merged into Chaos, endless chaotic power flooded into him; he could well afford to maintain the illusory realm's operations. "As for whether it can support powerful experts... low- and middle-rank Sovereigns will pose no issue. High-rank Sovereigns are also possible, but that requires the guardians to be sufficiently strong and the anchors exceptionally robust. We can designate specific entry points—perhaps three to five anchors reserved for high-rank Sovereigns... We could even invite Great Worlds to participate, which would allow high-rank Sovereigns to enter!" "As for your concern regarding enemy attacks... you may set your mind at ease. Below the high ranks, I may not have the energy to micromanage security, but ordinary individuals will not detect the system anyway. Those capable of detecting it are at the peak of the eighth rank. Against entities of that level, whether they attack or seek to destroy it, none of you could intervene regardless. I will handle them personally!" Sovereign Wanhua's expression turned subtle. In other words, aside from recruiting people and handling promotion, they barely had to contribute anything? Li Hao continued, "In addition, I will need you to expend the effort to construct the illusory realm regions. I am not particularly adept at that. I will handle the anchors, but you must build the illusory realms upon that foundation, stripping and allowing cultivators' mental projections to enter. Otherwise... no matter how powerful the illusory realm is, it will not be able to accommodate countless Sovereigns!" It required mental projection to enter for exchanges, which also ensured everyone's safety and prevented the destruction of their physical bodies. However, constructing such constructs was unfamiliar to Li Hao. It would be troublesome, and even if he forced it, the results would likely be poor and prone to flaws. This old man was the expert in this craft! "That is only natural!" Sovereign Wanhua nodded. That was entirely reasonable. Yet... he still felt a lingering unease. "Fellow Daoist Haoyue, according to what you have said, we hardly need to pay much of anything. Then within this illusory realm... will you... set up any... obstacles?" In truth, he was asking whether there would be hidden traps that could wipe out the mental projections of all entering Sovereigns in one fell swoop. While it would not kill them, it would still inflict substantial harm on a Sovereign. Even more, he worried whether Li Hao would employ methods to control the Sovereigns who entered. He had to guard against that! Li Hao smiled. "Fellow Daoist Wanhua, you are also someone who has constructed a Dao domain. Let me speak plainly: my goal is solely to comprehend the Great Dao, unite the myriad Daos, and step into the ninth rank! I have no other intent. As you know, a person's energy is limited; how could one individual swiftly comprehend ten thousand Daos alone? Right now, powerful enemies flank me on all sides. Long Zhan of the Four Regions and Samsara of the Huntian Region wish nothing more than to tear me apart and devour me... Therefore, I must swiftly comprehend the Great Dao and step into the eighth rank, or even the ninth!" The ninth rank? If he had claimed the eighth rank, Wanhua might have readily believed him, but the ninth rank... was that even possible? Though he harbored doubts, he did not voice them aloud. He reflected on the terms; Li Hao's conditions were genuinely generous. Even so, he could not entirely put his mind at rest. "Fellow Daoist Haoyue... would it be convenient for you to demonstrate a little? You mentioned cultivators cannot observe or perceive it... I..." He didn't fully believe it! Li Hao chuckled. "Of course. There are Myriad Daos Pavilions nearby, all constructed by you. You may select several, and I will link them together. Then you can see for yourself whether it is easily detected. How about that?" "Very well!" Sovereign Wanhua did not hesitate. No matter how pleasant the words sounded, seeing and testing it firsthand was far better! He wanted to witness how this young man intended to link all the Myriad Daos illusory realms together. …… Soon, the two flew up into the air. Sovereign Wanqiu hurriedly followed, filled with curiosity. The nearest alliance city was still a vast distance away, well beyond the reach of a single Great World's domain. She too wanted to see what method this Silver Moon King would use to bridge the gap! Yet his method proved surprisingly simple. Li Hao hovered in midair. Within the River of the Great Dao, an illusory realm that had not yet been fully completed—merely an empty world frame newly constructed—merged directly into the existing Myriad Daos Pavilion. A moment later, Li Hao led the two of them toward the next Myriad Daos Pavilion. He did not travel through the River of Time. Instead, they flew through the void. Their speed was swift, but the distance was indeed vast. Even for seventh-rank Sovereigns, the journey took nearly a full day before they arrived at the next alliance city. Then, repeating the previous procedure, another illusory realm frame was merged into that Myriad Daos Pavilion. Sovereign Wanhua could recognize what was happening and felt shaken; this young man had fused the Great Dao's laws into world domains. Still, doubts remained. What next? Now that the two were separated by such distance, could they truly remain linked? Then... a stunning scene unfolded. Li Hao smiled and said, "Let us now enter this Myriad Daos Pavilion with our mental projections... and attempt to transmit ourselves to the Myriad Daos Pavilion in City No. 9... It will take only an instant to arrive!" Sovereign Wanhua was skeptical. Nonetheless, he did not mind giving it a try. Shortly, the three of them projected a portion of their mental consciousness into the pavilion. Naturally, they did not project their entire spirits; if their complete mental forms were destroyed, they would become vegetative husks, so they only sent a fraction. The three quickly appeared in an illusory space. This was the Myriad Daos Pavilion, constructed by Sovereign Wanhua himself, so he was intimately familiar with it. Yet within the Myriad Daos Pavilion's illusory space, a change had occurred: an extra door had appeared in the sky, somewhat indistinct, accompanied by the faint, muffled sound of flowing water. "Passing through this door will transmit us back!" Li Hao's voice rang out with a chuckle. "If it were physical bodies, the energy required for a single transmission would be astronomical! But for mere mental projections, transmission is far simpler. Would the two of you like to try it together?" "Certainly!" Sovereign Wanhua agreed readily, burning with curiosity. Before long, the three stepped through the gateway. Before their eyes seemed to lie a vast river, but looking closer, it vanished. Entering the portal felt like stepping into an abyss of darkness. Li Hao's voice echoed once more: "Currently, only a single Myriad Daos Pavilion is linked, so we can only travel there. Once more are added, we will construct distinct choices here... allowing everyone to choose their destination! It would be best to establish a central hub to gather foot traffic, perhaps assembling an unimaginable number of Sovereigns... Of course, such a place will require a powerful foundation, robust anchors, and a mighty Myriad Daos illusory realm." As his words fell, a flash of light burst forth. In truth, their three mental projections were drifting through the River of Time, assisted by the power of Dao Chess. In the blink of an eye, the three phantom figures materialized in another space—the very Myriad Daos Pavilion they had left earlier. As its creator, Sovereign Wanhua was acutely aware of the subtle differences between each pavilion. Arriving here in a single instant left him stunned, utterly astounded. How could this be? It was real! Li Hao's voice spoke again: "In this process, I borrowed some of the Dao of Space, aided by Dao Chess! Naturally, for the time being, mental projections work well, but physical bodies likely will not—or each transmission would consume tens of millions of Great Dao crystals, which no ordinary Sovereign could endure. Even high-rank Sovereigns could hardly afford repeated transfers..." "However, transmission still consumes energy, so my thought is that we may charge a fee for transmission to sustain the network." "Additionally, when you construct the Myriad Daos illusory realms, I hope you can make them as realistic as possible. It would be ideal to use worlds with distinctive characteristics as templates. That way, cultivators can tour myriad worlds without ever leaving their homes!" "Of course, this might require a greater cost, but it will look far more comfortable than these monotonous, hollow spaces..." As Li Hao laid out his suggestions, Sovereign Wanhua's expression shifted repeatedly. He hurriedly said, "Let us return first. I must return to my physical body. Fellow Daoist Haoyue, we can discuss this in detail!" At this point, he no longer harbored any doubt. During the return transmission, he observed and sensed with utmost scrutiny. He knew this transmission relied on an extraordinary method, far beyond mere spatial manipulation. Yet he genuinely could not detect how it worked. Incredible! He even wondered: *If... physical bodies could be transmitted, wouldn't that mean Li Hao could appear anywhere in Chaos at any moment? That would be terrifying!* Naturally, he suppressed the thought. It had nothing to do with him! If anyone should worry, it wasn't him. What was the underlying secret? It was rumored that Li Hao excelled in... Time? Was the core secret Time? He did not understand and could not be sure, but he also knew Li Hao would never reveal the core truth to him. And even if Li Hao were willing, Wanhua would not dare listen—knowing too much invited disaster! …… Before long, the three of them returned from the other location back to City No. 9. Sovereign Wanhua's attitude was entirely different now. Back in the manor, he spoke swiftly: "Maintaining a connection between two locations poses little problem for you... but if there are more, over a thousand, can you still sustain it? Furthermore, if you are not present personally... will each operation require your presence, or can it run freely?" "My presence is not required!" Li Hao spoke, harboring some ideas he did not voice aloud. This matter would likely require Dao Chess's cooperation; Dao Chess might need to merge into the River of the Great Dao for a time to help maintain operations. Otherwise, without Dao Chess, Li Hao could not bear the constant consumption. The River of Time could flow, but without a clear destination, locking coordinates was difficult and full of inconveniences. Wanhua continued, "Then your meaning is... those who lack wealth or are reluctant to pay for transmission can remain in the local Myriad Daos Pavilion to exchange Dao insights, while those willing to spend can travel to a central hub to converse with vast crowds?" "Correct!" Li Hao nodded. "Travel across Chaos is extremely inconvenient. For vast distances, weaker Sovereigns might spend decades or even centuries on the road... Yet within the illusory realm, it takes only an instant!" Sovereign Wanhua's face shifted, and he blurted out, "This illusory realm could even be developed into an intelligence network!" Li Hao's heart stirred, and he nodded. "That is true... but that is merely an incidental benefit. Whether you exchange intelligence is of no concern to me." Yet countless thoughts flooded Sovereign Wanhua's mind. In Chaos today, transmitting messages was exceedingly difficult. Aside from top-tier experts, it was arduous and complicated for weaker cultivators to learn about external events. According to Li Hao, mental projections could be transmitted at will. While a mental projection was not a physical body, aside from lacking combat power, how was it any different? If Sovereigns were stationed permanently to pass intelligence... countless Sovereigns who had never stepped out their front doors might instantly learn what had occurred countless distances away... This would have a monumental impact on the exchange and development of the Great Dao throughout Chaos. At this moment, his mind raced with possibilities, realizing that this was no longer just an illusory realm—it touched upon the grand unification of the entire Chaos! "May I venture another question... can a mental projection step out of the illusory realm?" He asked, "What I mean is, if I transmit to another location, can I walk out into the physical world? Over such vast distances, a mental projection would normally collapse. Can it be maintained? It seems stable within the illusory realm, but can it endure once outside?" Li Hao shook his head. "That is impossible. I cannot yet interfere with the outside world to that degree. I can only link the illusory realms so that everyone remains within my River of the Great Dao, where my influence can reach. Once you step out, unless you are powerful enough to exist independently regardless of distance, the projection will simply dissipate." Sovereign Wanhua breathed a sigh of relief. *That is a relief!* Otherwise, it would be terrifying. Though he could not articulate what was so terrifying about it, having limitations was comforting. "Constructing the Myriad Daos illusory realms is not a major issue. I will need some time and resources... Naturally, the Medium Worlds Alliance will provide those; we will resolve that ourselves!" Sovereign Wanhua considered for a moment, then said, "There is one more question: which anchor should serve as the core? With so many illusory realms, people running about aimlessly will produce little result. It would be best for the other anchors to serve as entrances, gathering everyone into a single core territory. Fellow Daoist, where do you think is suitable?" Where would be suitable? Li Hao pondered. This central core would draw the most visitors and host the greatest exchange of Daos; it was an exceptional location. Li Hao was indifferent, as all of it resided within his river. The crucial question was who would oversee this hub, as that person would reap the greatest advantages. After thinking it over, he looked at Sovereign Wanhua, whose expression was brimming with anticipation. Li Hao smiled! Understanding his desire, Li Hao said, "I leave this to the Medium Worlds Alliance! The Medium Worlds Alliance does not seem to have a designated headquarters... Of course, I have no objections. You may discuss among yourselves whether to bring several sixth-rank worlds together to establish a base in a central region! That way, experts from nearby areas can enter at any time right from their doorsteps... It would likely be far more convenient." Delight flashed in Sovereign Wanhua's eyes. He had worried Li Hao would insist on controlling it himself, which would have caused them inconvenience. Yet Li Hao had voluntarily yielded it. Sovereign Wanhua continued, "Are there specific restrictions on who may enter? Must they be Sovereigns... Non-Sovereigns with sufficiently powerful spiritual strength could also enter... and what about powerful experts... or even enemies?" Li Hao replied, "Anyone may enter! Furthermore, I will establish several unmonitored anchor points where anyone can walk in! This will grant Sovereigns who prefer not to reveal their identities a chance to participate. As for enemies entering..." Li Hao laughed. "Then let them enter! It is a place for exchanging insights on the Great Dao. Friend or foe, who doesn't harbor their own thoughts on the Dao? This place exists to discuss the Great Dao, not to slaughter one another. Even if someone were to destroy the illusory realm, what of it?" "What magnanimity, Fellow Daoist!" Sovereign Wanhua sighed with admiration. *Anyone may enter?* Truly... extraordinary. Chaos lacked such a place. The current Myriad Daos Pavilions were far too limited, effectively functioning as small, isolated local networks—pitifully tiny. But now, Li Hao's greatest contribution was expanding these local networks and knitting them together into a grand web blanketing the entire East! This would make an immeasurable contribution to the exchange of the Great Dao across all of Chaos. If this grew in the future... Li Hao would leave an indelible mark upon the history of Chaos. As the two continued their discussion, Sovereign Wanhua appeared somewhat hesitant... Li Hao asked, "Does Fellow Daoist have something else to say?" Sovereign Wanhua fell silent for a moment. Though awkward to voice, he still spoke up: "Then... pardon my bluntness, but if Fellow Daoist Haoyue were to..." "Perish..." He felt somewhat nervous. Hearing this, Li Hao chuckled. "If I die, the illusory realm will naturally collapse... Though it might not; if the Great Dao remains, it can continue to exist. But if the Dao is completely extinguished, there would be no way to maintain it. In normal battles, there is no need to disturb or destabilize this illusory realm. My River of the Great Dao is not my core combat method; I only need to retain a portion of the worlds formed from my Dao laws... The rest, merged into the anchors, will not cause instability." This was what Sovereign Wanhua had wanted to ask all along, though he had been too embarrassed to bring it up. Hearing Li Hao's reassurance, he finally relaxed. That was good! Of course, if Li Hao died, the realm would perish with him, but that was an unavoidable reality. "Do you have any requirements for this illusory realm, Fellow Daoist? Or perhaps a resonant name? 'Myriad Daos Pavilion' was merely a name I picked on a whim back then..." Li Hao smiled, thinking for a moment before saying, "'Myriad Daos Pavilion' is quite fine, but now it is no longer a single location; it will spread across Chaos. Why not make it grander and call it the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena?" The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena? Did it sound good? Who cared! Sovereign Wanhua didn't particularly mind; he had only asked out of courtesy. Since Li Hao favored this name, it was fine by him—a name was a trivial matter. He added, "Then how long will you need on your end..." "It is not a matter of how long I need, but how long it will take you, Fellow Daoist Wanhua, to construct a thousand Myriad Daos illusory realms, along with selecting the sites... As long as you resolve those matters, my part is very fast and can be done at any time!" Sovereign Wanhua calculated briefly and said briskly, "Thirty years will be enough!" "..." Li Hao froze. He hadn't given it much thought and assumed it would wrap up quickly. Hearing the old man say thirty years as if it were blazing fast—wearing an expression that practically boasted, *Thirty years and I can finish it, isn't that swift?*—left Li Hao dumbfounded. Thirty years! Are you joking! Could anyone be that slow? "It will take... thirty years?" Sovereign Wanhua blinked, then nodded. "Yes! To construct a thousand Myriad Daos illusory realms, completing over thirty a year is already exceptionally fast. That averages out to one every ten-odd days, which would require me to work without rest..." *Is that slow? Your reaction seems completely off.* Li Hao drew in a breath. "I... am probably not even thirty years old yet. Besides, will my enemies give me thirty years?" "..." This time, Sovereign Wanhua was completely stunned. He knew Li Hao was young, but... *You aren't even thirty years old?* Beside them, Sovereign Wanqiu was also thoroughly shaken. For a moment, Sovereign Wanhua was struck dumb. Only after a long pause did he manage an awkward reply: "B-but that is already the fastest possible speed! Constructing one illusory realm every ten days is my current absolute limit..." *When have we seventh-rank experts ever measured time in days?* *We calculate in centuries and millennia!* *I knew you were young, so I quoted thirty years specifically to show I was inhumanly fast!* *Good heavens, this man thinks... it's too slow?* Li Hao frowned slightly. "That is far too long. Thirty years? Forget thirty years, even three years is too long. Three months sounds more reasonable..." Sovereign Wanhua was rendered entirely speechless. A thousand realms in a hundred days meant constructing ten every day. *Do you take me for a ninth rank?* Without these illusory realms, relying solely on the world frames would not work; the frames could not separate a Sovereign's physical body from their mental projection, nor could they fully conceal identities. That required the cooperation of the illusory realms. Li Hao fell into contemplation. What should they do? Sovereign Wanhua's efficiency was frighteningly slow—a factor Li Hao hadn't considered beforehand. He had taken it for granted that it would be fast... Time acceleration? However... Li Hao frowned slightly. It was feasible, but accelerating time for a peak seventh-rank expert would consume an enormous amount of his own energy. While he was pondering this, Sovereign Wanhua gritted his teeth. "How about this: I will handle the core construction of the illusory realms, but we can enlist help for the specific assembly! Weaving the realms, stabilizing them, modifying their interiors... all of that can be delegated to others! That will allow us to complete them at maximum speed. However, this introduces a problem: the cultivators involved in construction might find it easier to unravel and breach the realms..." Hearing this, Li Hao's thoughts stirred, and he smiled. "Then let us do this: whoever wishes to serve as a guardian and requires an entrance... will be responsible for constructing it! The Medium Worlds Alliance has countless worlds and Sovereigns; whoever is willing can participate. I will not micromanage that; all I require is for the platform to be erected as swiftly as possible. You may decide the details among yourselves. What do you think?" Sovereign Wanhua considered it and nodded. "That works! That will drastically increase the speed. Even so, completing it in three months remains difficult..." Three months in Chaos was practically nothing—barely enough time for travel! He felt a massive headache coming on. Li Hao thought for a moment and said, "I can have Fellow Daoist Dao Chess assist you first. If distances are too great, he can handle initial transmissions... but the consumption is massive, and currently... my pockets are somewhat empty, so you may need to cover the costs yourselves..." Sovereign Wanhua was overjoyed. He had wanted to ask for that help but hadn't dared; after all, Dao Chess was an eighth-rank Sovereign! Hearing this offer, he was ecstatic: "With Senior Dao Chess assisting us, our speed will be far greater, making it convenient to contact various parties! In that case, if we dispatch more manpower, three months... is indeed feasible!" Li Hao smiled as well. Three months was still long to him—he wished it could be done in three days! Alas, he knew that was impossible. Three months was already the limit. If he pressed for any less, Wanhua would likely weep, and the Medium Worlds Alliance might not be able to manage it regardless. Li Hao's smile widened. "Then here is to a pleasant cooperation! Not only will I benefit, but you all will gain as well—especially you, Fellow Daoist. From what I see, if this succeeds, your breakthrough to the eighth rank might not be far off! As for the specifics of exchanging Dao insights, the benefits, and the costs required, I know little of such matters, so I will have to trouble you to oversee them!" "It is our duty!" Sovereign Wanhua was in high spirits now, casting all external threats to the back of his mind! Who cared! Samsara or no Samsara, once he stepped into the eighth rank, why would he care about any of that? For those Sovereigns, as long as they could advance, it mattered little who held dominion. What did it have to do with them? No matter who became hegemon, it would not change the reality that they were the weak. The two parties quickly reached an agreement. Sovereign Wanhua did not linger, as he had countless tasks ahead of him. Li Hao dispatched Dao Chess to accompany him. As for whether there was danger, it was unlikely; Li Hao would have each departing Sovereign carry an illusory world frame, serving as a communication line and an anchor that allowed him to pinpoint their location and arrive instantly via the River of Time! At this moment, Li Hao began formally planning his Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, paying no further heed to the affairs of Chaos. Since Chaos lacked a place to exchange and cultivate the Great Dao, he would build one himself.