The eastern region of Chaos.
Innumerable worlds were scattered across every quarter of Chaos.
Though the eastern region had been peaceful for many years, unrest had flared ceaselessly of late. Eighth-rank worlds vanished one after another, the Samsara Hegemon had fled in defeat, and powerhouses from the Four Regions had charged forth, displaying the true demeanor of hegemons.
In recent days, Xinwu had begun showing itself openly, roaming the Eighth Heaven and striking terror into the various worlds of Polar Ice.
By now, five eighth-rank major worlds were gone, leaving eleven behind. With as many as fifteen eighth-rank Sovereigns among them, their might was terrifying. Yet Xinwu possessed only four eighth-rank experts, and even so, they kept this eleven-world alliance trembling with fear.
As for the alliance, it had been formed far too recently. Its members all harbored their own agendas, and their worlds were fixed in place, difficult to relocate.
Instead, they were exceedingly wary of Xinwu’s mobility.
Moreover, the hegemons of the other three quarters had been making their own arrangements lately. Mysterious visitors had called upon several of the eighth-rank worlds, lobbying their leaders and rendering this alliance ever more fragile.
At this moment, no one seemed to care about the lower six heavens of the Nine Heavens.
Yet within these lower six heavens, subtle ripples had begun to stir in recent days.
……
In the farthest reaches of the east.
A minor world sat in a place almost entirely forgotten by the wider realm.
The entire world possessed only a single Sovereign—a mere low-grade, first-rank Sovereign at that. Ordinarily, he never dared step beyond his world and knew exceedingly little about Chaos, much like the Silver Moon of the past.
Today, however, ripples disturbed the chaotic void.
Sensing the fluctuations beyond the world, the master of this small realm swiftly emerged, his face grave.
Around him gathered a large number of Heavenly Kings, each looking equally solemn.
Surviving as a minor world in Chaos was no easy feat. What they feared most was a powerful cultivator passing by. A pure passerby was acceptable, but what they dreaded above all... was someone coming to devour their world. To a minor world like theirs, such a fate was utterly terrifying!
Soon, Chaos rippled once more.
A fourth-rank Sovereign materialized.
Glancing into the distance and checking his map, he exhaled a breath of relief. He had finally arrived. This was the eastern periphery; any further forward, and one would cross out of the east into the lawless borderlands.
Noticing the other party’s vigilant wariness, the fourth-rank Sovereign’s voice reverberated through Chaos: “I am Yu Mo, an envoy of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena! Is this the Xihuan World ahead? And are you Sovereign Xihuan?”
Within the minor realm, Sovereign Xihuan’s expression grew grave as he sensed the stranger’s frightening aura.
As for this Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, he was completely in the dark, feeling somewhat bewildered.
He knew of the Medium World Alliance, knew of some top-tier worlds in the upper three heavens, and knew the illustrious names of several hegemons, but he genuinely had no idea what this Myriad Heavens Dao Arena was.
Of course, he knew well enough that he could not afford to offend this man.
“This junior is indeed Xihuan...” Sovereign Xihuan replied hastily.
Sovereign Yu Mo breathed another sigh of relief, his voice echoing forward: “By order of the Medium World Alliance and the Myriad Heavens Dao Lord, I have come to Xihuan to deliver a Myriad Heavens Secret Realm!”
Sovereign Xihuan looked puzzled. Deliver what?
As long as it was not an invasion, that was fine.
Aware of the other’s apprehension, Sovereign Yu Mo continued, “Chaos has been turbulent in the east of late. Situated on the eastern border, Xihuan might not be aware, but in short, Chaos is in turmoil! The Medium World Alliance, comprising 987 medium worlds, has joined forces with the Myriad Heavens Dao Lord to establish the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena across the eastern Chaos. Through boundless might, they are constructing a Dao domain spanning the heavens...”
At this point, the fourth-rank Sovereign wore an expression of pride, envy, and reverence.
The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena had officially spread throughout the Medium World Alliance three months ago.
By now, many anchor points had already been established.
He himself was a member of the Medium World Alliance, but nowadays, he preferred introducing himself as an envoy of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena to outsiders. It felt far more prestigious!
Who was the Myriad Heavens Dao Lord?
He actually had no idea!
Indeed, he did not know.
He only knew that even Sovereign Wanhua and the other alliance leaders were merely lending a hand. From that alone, one could imagine just how terrifying this Myriad Heavens Dao Lord had to be.
Furthermore, for the network to span the entire east demonstrated just how formidable it was.
In truth, people had their faint speculations.
It was said that once an anchor was calibrated, a supreme existence would teleport over at any moment... likely the legendary eighth-rank existence, Dao Chess!
Of course, he had never seen Dao Chess before, but perhaps he might catch a glimpse this time.
Sovereign Xihuan listened attentively, not daring to miss a single word. After a long while, he was left utterly dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe and wondering if the man was joking.
Entering the Myriad Heavens Secret Realm in mental form?
Traversing the eastern expanse, teleporting at will into the core arena of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, where tens of millions of Sovereigns discussed the Dao together?
The Great Dao cared not for strength or weakness; so long as one had insights and unique perspectives, performing well in Dao discussions would yield immense benefits. Even if one fared poorly, one could listen to others debate, and high-rank Sovereigns would even preach and resolve doubts!
Could this really be true?
I am merely a first-rank Sovereign... Would high-rank Sovereigns care about a low-rank Sovereign’s thoughts on the Dao?
Would they bother resolving the confusion of an initial-rank Sovereign?
Anyone who had knocked about in Chaos for any length of time would never believe it. Were there truly benevolent people in Chaos?
He could hardly bring himself to believe it!
Yu Mo clearly understood what he was thinking. His voice vibrated through the void: “Fellow Daoist, there is no need to worry! To put it bluntly... you are only a first-rank Sovereign. If someone truly intended to scheme against you, do you think you could withstand me?”
He smiled. “This undertaking will benefit all worlds across Chaos for generations to come! It connects countless worlds throughout the heavens, allowing us to discuss the Dao together. Identities can be concealed, and communication happens via mental bodies. In terms of both safety and scale, it surpasses all imagination!”
“My purpose here is to consult your wishes. This is the eastern border. Would you be willing to host a secret realm entrance here? You could even oversee it personally! If you agree, I will invite an eighth-rank Sovereign to come and set up the formation...”
Sovereign Xihuan was struck with profound shock. What?
An eighth-rank Sovereign?
A secret realm entrance could be arranged right here in my world?
Is this... is this for real?
According to Yu Mo, having a secret realm entrance meant there would be no need to travel elsewhere; one could enter it from their home world at any time.
The eighth rank... an unimaginably mighty expert!
Would an eighth-rank expert truly come in person?
His was only a first-rank world. As Yu Mo had said, let alone an eighth-rank, even the mid-rank Sovereign before him was an insurmountable existence, one he could never resist even while backed by a minor world!
Beside him, the Heavenly King experts felt their throats run dry.
The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, a secret realm.
Countless Sovereigns debating the Dao!
Teleporting across Chaos, arriving in spirit, listening to the Sovereigns of the heavens discourse upon the Great Dao...
Could that truly be possible?
According to the envoy, it was currently open only to Sovereigns. However, those below the Sovereign realm with sufficiently powerful mental bodies—or who possessed an entrance in their local world—could enter the secret realm to listen if Sovereigns arrived nearby, so long as they did not teleport across regions.
Could this... really be true?
Sovereign Xihuan’s throat went dry as well. “Senior Yu Mo, why... why choose my Xihuan World as one of the entrances? According to what you said, there are only a thousand entrances in total... This...”
Wouldn’t everyone fight tooth and nail for them?
The Medium World Alliance alone had nearly a thousand medium worlds!
How could his turn ever come?
Yu Mo sighed, feeling somewhat envious. “First, the Xihuan domain is located on the periphery, where worlds are scarce. Second, the Myriad Heavens Dao Lord decreed that each of the heavens must have its quota so that the nodes are dispersed across all realms rather than concentrated in one place. Most medium worlds are situated in the Fourth Heaven or higher, and few are willing to relocate their worlds downward... Third, this is an order from above, and we can only carry it out! I would have loved to claim one... but unfortunately, I lack the qualifications. I am a Sovereign of the Rain World, which does have an entrance, but I am not the master of the world... so I have no right to allocate it.”
Sovereign Xihuan was both astonished and overjoyed. He was astonished that even a fourth-rank Sovereign lacked the qualification, and overjoyed that he himself qualified.
Yet, he felt deeply uneasy as well.
I am merely first-rank!
Far too weak.
Sovereign Yu Mo grew slightly impatient. “Fellow Daoist, to be completely frank, if you refuse, plenty of others will leap at the chance. I just didn't feel like trekking to other worlds! Chaos is far too vast! If you agree, I will calibrate our coordinates immediately and arrange for an eighth-rank Sovereign to descend and deliver the secret realm in person... That is not something I can carry! Once the eighth-rank Sovereign arrives, rest assured that no eighth-rank would waste time plotting against a first-rank world!”
In other words, what are you afraid of?
An eighth-rank Sovereign looks down on a first-rank world, and so do I!
Given the chance, you still hesitate.
Ungrateful!
There were tens of thousands of worlds like this. Even if someone wanted to scheme against them, they weren't worthy of the trouble.
Schemes were reserved for major worlds; medium worlds barely even qualified.
Sovereign Xihuan weighed the matter rapidly. Soon, he reached the same conclusion: he was too weak. So weak that if the person before him launched a direct assault, Xihuan would be powerless to resist.
He immediately nodded. “Thank you for the guidance and opportunity, Senior. I wasn’t hesitating out of reluctance; I was simply incredulous that such good fortune could fall upon my Xihuan World...”
“Then you agree?”
“Of course!”
Sovereign Xihuan nodded frantically. Would refusing do any good?
If he truly declined and offended this man, danger would be right in front of him. If he agreed, even if trouble followed, the danger would be down the road. In reality, he had no choice at all!
This was not a multiple-choice question; there was only one possible answer.
Yu Mo smiled.
“Very well. I will set the coordinates now and invite the senior powerhouse to descend... Fellow Daoist Xihuan, mind your manners shortly!”
Sovereign Xihuan was extremely nervous. Without saying another word, he quickly stepped out of his world into Chaos. He did not dare remain inside his realm. Even though entering Chaos was perilous, he had no alternative right now.
Would an eighth-rank Sovereign truly descend?
Who knew?
Sovereign Yu Mo said nothing further. In truth, this was his first time attempting this as well. Previously, other Sovereigns had conducted the summons, and it was said the senior arrived very quickly... He was curious too.
Soon, an object resembling a chessboard appeared in his hand.
He ignited it at once!
A faint glow dispersed, and a ripple began to emanate.
He waited with an anxious heart.
Sovereign Xihuan lowered his head even further, filled with tension.
Chaos fell faintly quiet for an instant.
Gradually, suddenly... both Sovereigns felt a jolt in their hearts and hurriedly peered into the distance. From far away, a ripple seemed to sweep across. In the span of a single instant, the ripple closed the distance between them.
In the next moment, a figure materialized. He had a youthful countenance, but his eyes were profound and his aura mighty... so mighty that they could not comprehend it at all, feeling only that he was as vast and boundless as Chaos itself!
The moment this person appeared, they felt suffocated, as if plunged into an entirely separate space.
A voice sounded beside their ears: “Is this the location of Secret Realm No. 687?”
Yu Mo snapped back to his senses, gripped by immense nervousness, and hurriedly raised his head. “Replying to Senior... yes... this is the location of the Xihuan World, on the eastern border, bordering the southern region...”
With that, he stole a cautious glance at the newcomer.
A single look sent a shock through his heart.
Although the man did not crush them with an overwhelming aura, meeting his gaze made Yu Mo feel as though his eyes were like boundless starry skies, shining with the brilliance of myriad stars. A single glance... and he felt lost.
Was this a supreme Sovereign?
To Li Hao’s group today, high-rank Sovereigns were no longer rare. But looking back at the time they had just stepped out of Silver Moon, how terrifying and mysterious a high-rank Sovereign had been.
Unfathomable and beyond direct gaze!
And now, Dao Chess had stepped into the eighth rank.
Yes, the one who had arrived was none other than Dao Chess.
Over these days, he had been rushing about continuously, thoroughly exhausted. Yet the fruits of his labor were remarkable.
By now, nearly seven hundred anchor nodes had been established.
Sovereign Wanhua and the others were swamped, as was the entire Medium World Alliance. They were busy beyond measure, with countless Sovereigns manufacturing the templates for the Myriad Daos Illusory Realm. Dao Chess, possessing spatial transmission capabilities, was tasked with delivering them in every direction.
“You are Xihuan?” Dao Chess asked.
Sovereign Xihuan did not dare raise his head. He had not caught a clear look at the newcomer’s face, nor did he dare look. To a first-rank Sovereign, an eighth-rank Sovereign was someone not seen once in ten thousand years!
The gulf between them was unfathomably vast!
“Senior, this junior is indeed Xihuan...”
“Are you willing to open a secret realm entrance within the Xihuan World?” Dao Chess inquired. “If Sovereigns from nearby regions wish to enter, you must permit them access! Naturally, once the secret realm merges with your world, should any Sovereigns attack, the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena will send reinforcements instantly... but if it is obliterated in an instant, nothing can be done. There are pros and cons! Were it established in the open Chaos, with your first-rank strength, you would find it impossible to guard or control... Are you aware of this?”
“This junior understands!” Sovereign Xihuan said hurriedly. “Senior Yu Mo has already informed me of everything.”
“Very well, then. Participation in the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is entirely voluntary! Nothing is forced, nothing demanded!”
Dao Chess nodded slightly. “There are one thousand arena entrances, which will not increase for the time being. This location is designated No. 687, and you shall be the guardian of Secret Realm Entrance No. 687!”
With that, he looked into the distance, his brow furrowing slightly. “This place is very close to the south, and the south is the domain of Sovereign Chunqiu. Should southern Sovereigns come seeking entry into the secret realm, let them in without hindrance! Chaos is vast, home to countless Sovereigns. The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is meant for exchange. Even enemies may converse here, to say nothing of the fact that... Sovereign Chunqiu may not necessarily remain an enemy...”
He added a few extra words, which also reflected Li Hao’s intentions.
He informed every guardian of this.
“Furthermore, you must not obstruct anyone who genuinely seeks to discuss the Dao. If any guardian is found abusing their position to impede cultivation and Dao discussions, they will be severely punished! As a guardian, you will enjoy several privileges: you may enter the secret realm free of charge, and once a year, you may teleport for free to the true core of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena! Others will be charged a certain number of Great Dao crystals to maintain the arena’s operation!”
“Those of your world may enter your local secret realm entrance for free. Of course, if no Sovereigns are holding discussions inside, entering will serve no purpose! If there are, entry is free...”
“Additionally, your world must not be relocated without cause, or the connection to the core arena may easily sever.”
“Do you understand all of this, young Daoist?”
Sovereign Xihuan took in every single word and answered in haste, “I understand completely!”
“Good. Ah, right... when Sovereigns enter through your entrance, you will also receive benefits. Entry requires a fee of Great Dao crystals, half of which will be allocated to the guardian...”
Sovereign Xihuan drew a sharp breath. A... a cut of the fees?
“Senior, I...”
“No need to say more!” Dao Chess said calmly. “The presence of an entrance brings both benefits and dangers. If enemies come to cause trouble, they will strike the secret realm entrance first. Thus, these thousand entrances represent both an opportunity and a crisis! Even if all entrances were destroyed, it would not truly harm the core, but it remains a threat to the host worlds. Therefore, taking half of the fees is what you rightfully deserve! Moreover, if no one enters, you earn nothing, which encourages all guardians to solicit visitors from the surrounding area!”
“With the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, we merely provide a platform for exchange. If no one is willing to enter, it is all in vain. Thus, the Dao Lord ordered that as many benefits as possible be conceded to others...”
Sovereign Xihuan was astounded!
He had assumed this man before him was the Myriad Heavens Dao Lord, but... he wasn't?
He was overwhelmed with shock.
Even an eighth-rank Sovereign wasn't the lord of this Myriad Heavens Dao Arena?
Utterly unbelievable!
Beside him, Yu Mo was filled with envy. Of course, he was not too surprised by Dao Chess’s words. As for who the Myriad Heavens Dao Lord was, the Medium World Alliance had its guesses.
The Silver Moon King!
The Bright Moon Sovereign!
Of course, whether that was true remained unconfirmed.
If it were him... then there was more than just one eighth-rank Sovereign. Dao Chess, the Thunder Emperor, and Wushan had all become famous throughout the east. Combined with Xinwu, this faction was exceedingly terrifying.
With so many eighth-rank Sovereigns, they were not necessarily weaker than the Five Elements Hegemon or the Chunqiu Hegemon, and perhaps only slightly inferior to the Western Hegemon, Huntian. After all, the Samsara worlds had been destroyed, and the Samsara Sovereign had fled in disgrace, which spoke volumes about their strength!
Dao Chess spoke no further.
He turned his gaze toward the nearby world.
A first-rank world was very frail.
He mused internally that to this first-rank Sovereign, this was actually an opportunity.
Constructing a secret realm required integrating two things.
First, Li Hao’s minor world frame.
Second, the Myriad Daos Illusory Realm forged by Sovereign Wanhua.
Li Hao’s minor worlds, even if most of those integrated now were not yet completely filled, represented an upgrade when fused into a first-rank world. Combined with the Myriad Daos Illusory Realm, it was genuinely conducive to elevating the world’s rank.
Li Hao’s minor worlds continuously drew chaotic power and were steadily improving, which would also accelerate the host world’s absorption of chaotic power.
To high-rank and medium worlds, the enhancement was negligible, but to a minor world, the boost was remarkably pronounced.
Without another word, Dao Chess waved his hand.
First, Li Hao’s minor world merged directly into the nearby Xihuan World. At a speed visible to the naked eye, the entire world began voraciously absorbing the surrounding chaotic power.
In the next instant, the Myriad Daos Illusory Realm appeared like a radiant star, plunging into the world like a blazing sun.
Before Sovereign Xihuan could react... the world shuddered for a fraction of an instant. Suddenly, the entire world seemed enveloped in an illusory realm. The world, the illusory domain, and the Myriad Daos Illusory Realm merged into one in the blink of an eye.
Dao Chess waved his hand again. A moment later, a gateway opened near the world’s boundary portal.
Inscribed above the gateway were four characters: *Myriad Heavens Dao Arena!*
Below it was a small line of numbering: *Secret Realm No. 687—Xihuan Secret Realm!*
“Young friend Xihuan!”
Sovereign Xihuan’s heart trembled violently, and he responded instinctively, “This junior is here!”
“You are the master of this secret realm. I have connected its entrance for you, and you may open it at will! Moving forward, when someone wishes to enter, they must pay sufficient fees. You keep half, and merge the remaining half into the secret realm!”
“Furthermore, in one month’s time, you may teleport for free to the core area of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena—the Myriad Worlds Dao Arena! At that time, the Dao Lord will appear in person to preach the Dao, offer guidance, or address other matters... He will also have words for all guardians. When the time comes, I trust you will attend punctually!”
Sovereign Xihuan was astounded once more. Meet the Dao Lord?
The Myriad Heavens Dao Lord!
This... was a tremendous opportunity.
He dared not say much, quickly agreeing: “This junior will certainly arrive on time!”
To meet a high-rank Sovereign, how could he dare delay?
Looking back at the gateway near his world’s boundary portal, his gaze grew somewhat dazed. Could this gateway... truly lead anywhere?
Could that really be possible?
Though he still found it hard to believe, he dared not question it in the slightest. This was the handiwork of a group of supreme Sovereigns.
In the next moment, Dao Chess raised his brows slightly. “The coordinates for Secret Realm No. 688 have been confirmed; I must depart. Yu Mo, do you wish to stay or leave? I can give you a ride; I am heading toward the northern region... and can drop you off along the way.”
Sovereign Yu Mo was overjoyed. Could... could he really?
“Senior, I...”
“Leaving or staying?”
“Leaving!”
Sovereign Yu Mo nodded hurriedly. Teleportation! Teleporting through Chaos!
It was his first time ever experiencing this; of course he wanted to try it! Moreover, he would be traveling alongside an eighth-rank Sovereign!
He could hardly wait. Even if his original destination wasn't the north, he would go anyway!
Dao Chess waved his hand. In an instant, bringing Yu Mo along, it was as if they had entered a passageway, moving at incredible speed. He was not relying solely on teleportation; while he knew spatial teleportation, each use consumed a tremendous amount of energy. Right now, he was also utilizing the established River of Time in coordination with spatial transmission to traverse Chaos.
In just a fleeting moment, before Yu Mo could recover from his shock and understand what was happening, Dao Chess dropped him off. “This place is very close to Secret Realm Entrance No. 312. The world you need to reach is not far from here. I shall take my leave!”
With those words, Dao Chess had already vanished.
In the next instant, the world spun, and Yu Mo landed. Looking at a world not far away, his face turned pale with shock.
A single instant!
He was familiar with this region. If he had flown on his own, even with the power of a fourth-rank Sovereign, it would have taken at least a month! Unbelievable, unimaginable!
This... was the power of an eighth-rank Sovereign?
Yet even an ordinary eighth-rank Sovereign could not achieve this. Perhaps only this senior possessed such an ability.
Far too terrifying!
Just then, a Sovereign flew out from the distant world. Seeing Yu Mo and sensing the faint disturbance that had just passed—something he had felt before and recognized—he flew over swiftly, looking somewhat envious. “Fellow Daoist Yu Mo... could it be that you were teleported here by the senior?”
Yu Mo was still reeling from the shock, but he quickly composed himself, adopting a reserved air. “It was all thanks to the senior’s favor. I had just traveled to the Xihuan domain, which was exceedingly remote. Seeing that I was fatigued from the journey, the senior kindly teleported me here... The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena has already deployed Entrance No. 687. The senior is stepping up installations recently. Many locations were previously too distant, but envoys had been traveling, and large groups have reached their designated posts. The setups will be completed very soon...”
His posture, radiating the aura of an insider who knew a great deal as an envoy of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, left the fourth-rank Sovereign somewhat speechless. He smiled. “Fellow Daoist Yu Mo truly possesses great fortune. I am not so lucky, and can only attend the gathering of guardians in one month’s time... By the way, Fellow Daoist Yu Mo, you aren't an arena guardian, are you?”
“...”
Sovereign Yu Mo cursed inwardly!
That was... aimed straight for the heart.
He forced a smile. “I am not. However... it is said the Dao Lord is benevolent. Perhaps... seeing my sincerity and the hard work of all the envoys, he may specially summon us to attend the gathering...”
With that, he suddenly sighed, losing the desire to boast. He remarked with genuine emotion, “Fellow Daoist Liangyuan, throughout the countless ages of Chaos, when has there ever been such a golden age? Even a million years ago, when the ninth rank roamed freely, there was never an assembly of ten thousand Sovereigns discoursing on the Dao across the heavens! Establishing the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, opening entrances across a thousand worlds, entering and leaving at will, gathering in spirit without exposing one’s true body, without long journeys, without paying an exorbitant price... It is said the Dao Lord may preach in person this time...”
At this point, Sovereign Yu Mo was genuinely filled with admiration and awe.
There were many mighty beings in existence, but no matter how strong they were, what did that have to do with them?
Yet this Myriad Heavens Dao Lord was preaching across the heavens, allowing Sovereigns throughout Chaos to arrive in an instant at a shared location and debate the Dao with one another. It could be said that he was changing the entire Chaos. Though it had not yet officially begun, Yu Mo felt as though he could already envision a glorious era across the heavens!
The Bright Moon Sovereign?
If it were him... it was said he was exceedingly young, yet he was willing to undertake such a feat. Regardless of his motives, regardless of whether it was to peer into the Daos of the heavens, what did it matter?
Could your Dao even compare to his?
So long as he did not devour their worlds, what did it matter?
In truth, all of them were Sovereigns and far from foolish; they knew the other party might not be doing this purely out of charity, but did that matter?
It did not!
What mattered was that once this succeeded, the situation in Chaos could undergo a tremendous transformation!
Beside him, Sovereign Liangyuan nodded, then said with a trace of worry, “My only fear is that someone will cause trouble, unwilling to see this golden age arrive! The struggles among powerhouses and hegemons matter little to us; whoever becomes hegemon is fine... But this Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is something perhaps only the Dao Lord can establish. If someone truly comes to sabotage it...”
At this point, he gritted his teeth slightly. “It is hateful that I am only fourth-rank! Otherwise, whoever dared cause trouble, I would tear them to shreds!”
Yu Mo was startled. “Someone would dare cause trouble?”
Could that be possible?
The Myriad Heavens Dao Lord had quite a few eighth-rank experts on his side.
“It’s hard to say!” Sovereign Liangyuan said grimly. “You know the benefits, and you also know that preaching across the east may be for the sake of perfecting the Dao Lord’s Great Dao. Do you think others wish to see this come to pass? Too many people know about the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena; it is impossible to conceal. If it were hidden, it couldn't bring ten thousand Sovereigns together. Some secret realm guardians might even belong to other hegemons. When the day comes... there will inevitably be enemies or powerhouses unwilling to see the Dao Lord advance who will come to interfere...”
Yu Mo understood in an instant, his expression turning thoroughly grave!
Now, he too felt deeply worried and somewhat furious. “Though operations haven't officially begun yet, both of us can imagine that if it is fair and just, and identities can be thoroughly concealed, everyone would be willing to exchange insights on Dao techniques... and even listen to high-rank Sovereigns lecture and impart knowledge! It’s normal for others to be envious, but sadly, our strength falls short...”
“I hope the Dao Lord can handle it!”
He was anxious, and thinking back to the shattered Samsara, he suddenly asked, “Speaking of troublemakers... could the previous hegemon of our east... return to disrupt things? His world dominated the east for many years, and many within the Medium World Alliance were his vassals...”
Sovereign Liangyuan nodded; the possibility was very high. At this moment, he could only send a voice transmission: “Sigh, let’s wait and see. You and I are powerless to resolve these issues; we can only look to that person, and see whether Senior Wanhua and the others can handle it. Our Medium World Alliance also possesses several seventh-rank Sovereigns, and this time is said to be a tremendous opportunity for Senior Wanhua and the others to advance!”
Whoever came to cause trouble would be setting themselves against this entire collective!
By now, Li Hao and these people had become a community of shared interests.
As for Samsara, it had long been forgotten.
When you were the overlord, you only intensified your oppression. What did you ever do for medium worlds?
Nothing at all.
Only oppression!
Who would want such a person to rule the east?
People even feared Xinwu, but that fear was all it was; they did not truly care whether Xinwu unified the east. They only wanted to know whether Xinwu’s unification would bring them into conflict with Silver Moon.
It was said the Silver Moon King originated from a subsidiary world of Xinwu, yet now he had established an avenue platform spanning the entire east on his own. If they were in his shoes, perhaps... they would be wary as well, wouldn't they?
The Xinwu Human King was said to be extraordinarily petty; would he grow wary because of this and plot against the Silver Moon King?
……
Construction of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena proceeded like wildfire.
Progress was smooth!
Thus far, no one had caused trouble. Even though the news was hardly a secret—in truth, it could not be kept secret, as the arena’s very purpose was to attract the Sovereigns of Chaos, and keeping it secret would defeat the point—well-informed figures, even powerhouses from the other three quarters, undoubtedly knew of it.
They could even guess it was related to Li Hao.
With Dao Chess appearing openly to install secret realms, how could anyone be kept in the dark?
……
Alliance City No. 9.
While everyone else was busy, Li Hao was the only one who did not run about. Aside from providing a portion of the illusory realm frames, he did little else. At this moment, he was still continuously filling his minor worlds.
He knew this undertaking might invite trouble.
Anyone with eyes could see his purpose.
Ten thousand Sovereigns gathering to discourse on the Dao!
What could it be for, other than gathering myriad Daos and comprehending myriad Daos?
Li Hao bore no deep grudge against the other three quarters, but Huntian had sheltered Samsara, and that was a grievance.
Sovereign Chunqiu and the Five Elements Hegemon might not wish to see another powerhouse rise in the east, either.
Within the Four Regions, Long Zhan might also be watching intently.
Would they allow Li Hao to smoothly complete the construction of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena?
Even if they let you build it... they might simply be waiting for the day it officially commenced operations to crush all your efforts in one fell swoop.
It was even possible that top-tier powerhouses could detect fluctuations in the River of Time, locate Li Hao directly, and execute him before everyone’s eyes. Anything was possible.
The existence of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena was truly a threat to them.
Not just because of Li Hao, but also because this mode of preaching was unfriendly to certain hegemons. When people saw too much of the wider world, disloyalty would breed easily. If the Sovereigns under their rule also entered the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, would they still submit to their governance?
Within the alliance city.
Streams of chaotic power surged incessantly into the River of the Great Dao, merging continuously into each minor world.
The speed was remarkably fast!
By today, Li Hao had completely filled 1,200 minor worlds. A mere three months had passed; in such a brief time since his last merger into Chaos, Li Hao had filled many more worlds.
He filled almost one every two or three days. When he had merged his Dao into Chaos earlier, he had filled quite a few, which brought the total to a full two hundred new realms.
It was exceptionally fast!
However, the strength of 1,200 worlds, converted into non-domain Great Dao laws, amounted to merely 2,400 laws even if doubled. In reality, it fell short of doubling, yielding at most nearly 2,000 laws of power.
With such strength, he might clash with the likes of Wushan, but against truly formidable eighth-rank experts, there was no hope.
At this moment, no one was around him.
Suddenly, Er Mao, who had been guarding nearby, twitched its ears and spoke: “Someone’s coming!”
Li Hao opened his eyes.
A moment later, a voice sounded: “Senior Bright Moon...”
“Enter!”
A moment later, Sovereign Wanqiu entered the area with an uneasy expression. Tense and cautious, she said, “Senior Bright Moon, seven hundred secret realms have now been established for the Myriad Daos Illusory Realm and the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena. Though not entirely finished within three months, all of them will be completed in at most one more month!”
“Senior Wanhua asked me... asked me to convey to you that on the day ten thousand Sovereigns assemble one month from now, unexpected developments may occur. Our Medium World Alliance has six seventh-rank elders, including myself, and all of us are willing to contribute our strength when the time comes...”
Even so, she remained unsettled.
Recently, the commotion had been quite large, yet the various factions had shown virtually no reaction. The quieter they remained, the more amiss things felt!
Although the Medium World Alliance was only an alliance of medium worlds, it still possessed seventh-rank Sovereigns. Including herself, who had just advanced, there were six in total, which was no small number.
Such strength was not much weaker than an ordinary eighth-rank world.
Yet for a matter of this magnitude, relying on a few seventh-rank experts could never settle the situation!
Sovereign Wanqiu felt uneasy, but spoke nonetheless: “Senior Wanhua’s intention was... to have me... have me ask you whether Xinwu could... could come oversee the gathering on that day?”
Right now, they still fervently hoped Xinwu would take part as well.
It would also allow them to see whether any rift had formed between the two factions.
“Did you receive some news?” Li Hao asked.
Sovereign Wanqiu hesitated for a moment, then answered, “It is said that the Samsara Sovereign and Sovereign Pengcheng did not actually return to the Huntian World. Instead... they went south and north. They reportedly met with the Five Elements Hegemon and Sovereign Chunqiu... Perhaps...”
Perhaps out of wariness toward this side, or perhaps hoping to suppress the threat in the east before it could unify!
In short, Sovereign Wanqiu was deeply worried that things would go awry on the day the ten thousand Sovereigns assembled in one month.
If trouble arose, even if Li Hao survived, a failure to guarantee safety—or worse, the slaughter of some secret realm masters—would create immense trouble. It would severely threaten everyone and deter them from joining!
The enemy wouldn't even need to deal with Li Hao directly; killing all the secret realm masters would suffice!
Without entrances, how could anyone enter?
Who would dare open a secret realm then?
Li Hao said placidly, “Are you worried the three factions will temporarily join forces to deal with us first?”
“Yes!” Sovereign Wanqiu nodded. “I harbor such worries, and so do the other elders... Of course, everyone knows this is a wonderful initiative, but we are, after all, merely a medium world alliance.”
If they were an alliance of high-rank worlds, they wouldn't need to fear!
She added, “Furthermore, the worlds of Polar Ice have been waiting all along. Perhaps... there will be collusion from within and without, and perhaps... they will launch an attack on that day! We cannot even guarantee whether some of the secret realm guardians are their people. If they sabotage the secret realms on that day, causing the entrances to collapse and inflicting severe backlash on the mental bodies of countless Sovereigns—even if not fatal—it would deal an enormous blow to our credibility!”
Previously, they had not intended to make it this grand. Now that it had grown to such a scale, if a venue meant for exchanging myriad Daos lost its credibility and became perilous to enter, many Sovereigns would abandon the idea.
If no one came, what was the point of building it, no matter how well it was constructed?
Li Hao remained calm. “This is the place where I confirm my Dao. It concerns my future, my path to the eighth rank, and even the ninth rank. Though I am unwilling to provoke powerful enemies, if someone interferes with me at this juncture and cuts off my future... I will strike back! I will repay them a thousandfold! Rest assured, Fellow Daoist... The Myriad Worlds Dao Arena will be established right here in Alliance City No. 9. If Fellow Daoist Wanhua and the others fear danger, there is no need for them to come in person! Arriving in spirit will suffice. If they are willing to lend me a hand, they may come in their true bodies. Should enemies attack, I may indeed require everyone’s assistance...”
Whether to come or not was their own choice.
Li Hao did not say more.
Sovereign Wanqiu said hastily, “Naturally, we hope everything goes smoothly... I will certainly stay. As for... the others, I will consult them.”
“Very well.”
Li Hao said nothing further. Seeing that he was aware of these concerns, Sovereign Wanqiu did not linger to disturb him, departing swiftly despite her lingering unease.
……
Once she left, Er Mao also voiced its worries: “Your Dao of Time can conceal you from many people, but there are some from whom it cannot hide. Tracing the ripples to find you is entirely possible! If they attack, they will definitely assess our strength accurately—your strength, and even Xinwu’s. The Sovereigns of Polar Ice might also pin them down on that day, denying them the chance to reinforce us...”
It too felt that this undertaking had grown... somewhat too massive!
In truth, it had thought that starting on a smaller scale with a limited group of Sovereigns might have been better, gradually accumulating strength.
Yet now, Li Hao had spread across the entire east with a thousand entrances across a thousand worlds, gathering ten thousand Sovereigns. The commotion was far too vast, the scope far too wide; wrapping it up cleanly would be very difficult.
Xinwu was still locked in battle with the worlds of Polar Ice.
Besides, they were not his subordinates; how could they have the time to look after him?
Dao Chess, Wushan, and the Thunder Emperor were all newly minted eighth-rank experts, and their seventh-rank allies were few. If the enemy sent several more eighth-rank Sovereigns, they simply could not match them.
Leaving the other factions aside, Samsara alone still had three Sovereigns. If Pengcheng joined them, that would make four. With four eighth-rank experts attacking and Xinwu unable to intervene, Li Hao’s side might not even be able to hold their ground.
Samsara was formidable!
Li Hao spoke: “This is my Dao! It is also the fastest, easiest way to gather the Daos of ten thousand worlds and open the Daos of ten thousand worlds! Otherwise, how long would it take if I comprehended and exchanged them bit by bit to perfect ten thousand Daos? The Great Daos I have encountered so far are all common ones; the further along I go, the harder it becomes!”
Gathering three thousand Great Daos was simple enough. Reaching four thousand—adding just one thousand more—might take longer than gathering the first three thousand combined. The further he went, the harder it grew, because there would be more overlapping Daos.
Without methods like this, even ten million years might not suffice to perfect Time.
Er Mao understood the reality, yet still worried: “Can you match an eighth-rank expert right now?”
“With 1,200 worlds perfected, against an exceedingly weak eighth-rank, perhaps I could manage...”
Er Mao was speechless; that was practically useless.
Though his growth was fast and he was strong, it was... still not enough.
Li Hao needed roughly five thousand Daos of strength, like the Human King, to stand proud in Chaos. An existence like the Human King was the benchmark for top-tier experts in Chaos.
“Then what will you do?” Er Mao looked at him. “If they truly come, will you brace yourself and take it head-on, or flee? If you run, you’ll have wasted heaps of resources, squandered several months, and made a laughingstock of yourself before everyone.”
If the first attempt failed, no one would believe in it the next time.
Therefore, this venture had to succeed.
Li Hao nodded slightly, gazing into Chaos as if contemplating something. After a long silence, he said, “This is a crisis, but also an opportunity! If we weather it, my Myriad Heavens Dao Arena can truly be established and inspire confidence in everyone... Moreover, we cannot rely on Xinwu; Xinwu might not have the leisure to concern itself with us, as they are embroiled in their own troubles!”
“Therefore...”
Li Hao paused for an instant, looked at Er Mao, and said slowly, “Therefore, when necessary, I will merge a thousand worlds! Borrowing the power of an external thousand worlds will be hard for my physical body to endure, so you must help me absorb the overflowing chaotic power...”
Er Mao was silent, but that was a minor matter. It still felt it wasn't enough: “Even then, you might only match an eighth-rank with three thousand laws. But what if the likes of Samsara attack? Samsara and Kunpeng are formidable experts, both stronger than you...”
Li Hao nodded. That indeed would not be enough.
It couldn't pose a fatal threat to them!
Securing a firm foothold was far too difficult, even with several eighth-rank Sovereigns on their side.
Li Hao smiled. “I will tread into the future!”
“Three bodies as one!”
Li Hao’s eyes turned cold. “At worst, I will walk the path of life and death once more! I will merge the past and merge the future! Three bodies as one will no longer mean my own three bodies; I will merge the Human King’s body and the body of that person in the future! Borrowing from the past and future, integrating my internal world, the River of Time, and the power of order into one—even if I must die once more, I will see this arena established!”
“Er Mao, today I will commune with the future. Go to Xinwu and seek out the Cang Emperor and the Human King... Tell them that when the time comes, I will tread Time, borrowing the past and the future to unite three bodies into one! I hope the Human King can lend me some strength... Just because I haven't borrowed power in a long while doesn't mean I cannot...”
He had already traversed the Dao of Life and Death four times!
His lifespan limit had dropped by four hundred thousand years!
Yet to establish the Dao arena, what did walking it once more matter?
Only if this venture succeeded would he truly establish a foundation in Chaos. If the Samsara Sovereign dared come, he would make him pay dearly this time!
Li Hao had truly set his resolve.
Finding trouble with me is one thing, but if you cut off my future, I will cut off your life!
Hopefully, that sleeping person in the future would agree to lend him the power of order, helping him comb through the rules so that order could confront disorder. Even with less than five thousand Great Dao laws of strength, he would still be able to match Samsara!
“Only...”
He felt somewhat helpless inwardly. That person didn't seem very easy to get along with. A man sleeping soundly atop the River of Time felt like someone with a terrible temper when woken up. Hopefully, he wouldn't slash him flying with a single sword strike upon seeing him.
Chapter 564