Preparations on All Fronts

The Chaos. Dim gloom was the defining trait of the Chaos. In the south. The Samsara Sovereign had just departed from the Spring and Autumn Realm. At his side followed three eighth-rank Sovereigns. His expression was cold and aloof, masking all emotion. In one month, the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena would open. Li Hao was going to fully launch the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena and invite all Sovereigns of the east to enter and debate the Dao. The Silver Moon King, Li Hao. All along, in everyone's eyes, he had merely been an underling of Xinwu. Yet after slaying Diyan and Fusheng, and demonstrating his mastery over time, he had become a mortal enemy in the eyes of Samsara. What was worse, he had ruined Samsara's scheme to kill the Human King. That made him all the more detestable. Hateful, deserving of death! And he must be killed! The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena served as the bedrock for consolidating all Daos. As an eighth-rank Sovereign, Samsara understood very well what this project entailed. Li Hao could not be allowed to complete it; they could never permit such an ambitious scheme to come to fruition. The Human King merely sought to unify the east, but Li Hao... had an even grander ambition! This matter did not concern Samsara alone. Once Li Hao succeeded, all three regional overlords would be forced into wary vigilance. "Pengcheng!" The Samsara Sovereign spoke up suddenly. "Do you think Spring and Autumn will send someone to assist us?" At his side, Pengcheng—an eighth-rank Sovereign of the primal chaos beast race—said in a deep voice, "He will! Li Hao controls the Dao of Time! Everyone claims the Spring and Autumn Sovereign wields the Dao of Time and stands as the foremost eighth-rank beneath the heavens! Spring and Autumn is supreme, an invincible eighth-rank! "Now that a newcomer has risen in the east, he might not care much about Xinwu's Human King... but Li Hao, who likewise wields time, is bound to be his greatest adversary!" Therefore, Spring and Autumn would definitely dispatch someone to assist. The Samsara Sovereign pondered for a moment before continuing, "With you and me joining hands, alongside multiple Sovereigns from my Samsara Domain—four eighth-ranks, plus several seventh-ranks..." Was that enough? By all logic, it was more than enough. Under Li Hao's banner were three eighth-ranks. But even if those three combined their strength, Samsara would not necessarily fear them. Furthermore, on their side, even if Samsara himself did not make a move, the three eighth-ranks alongside him would suffice to suppress Li Hao's three eighth-ranks. And yet, it was not enough. That was why he was still drawing support from every quarter. Not only that, he now turned to look at Pengcheng. "A prodigy like Li Hao must be eliminated with a single decisive blow! On Xinwu's side, the realms of Extreme Ice and the others might not be able to stall them for long, so I believe that issue must also be resolved! Therefore... Brother Pengcheng, I hope Huntian Sovereign can send a few more eighth-ranks to aid us!" The Pengcheng Sovereign frowned slightly. Send even more eighth-ranks? Eighth-ranks did not grow on trees. Across the entire east, there were over twenty eighth-ranks. The west naturally was not far behind, possessing plenty of eighth-ranks of its own. However, a portion of them were adversaries. Strong as Huntian was, those eighth-rank Sovereigns were unwilling to be ruled by anyone. Right now, an alliance of eighth-ranks existed in the west specifically to resist Huntian. Beyond that, Huntian Sovereign had four eighth-ranks beneath him out in the open. That was by no means weak; in fact, it was formidable. Aside from Pengcheng himself, there were three other eighth-ranks. Yet all of them had their own duties to attend to! Each had a mission. Unifying the west was currently Huntian's primary objective. If they dispatched more eighth-ranks... setting aside what the other western Sovereigns might think, any misstep could lead to immense trouble. The Pengcheng Sovereign said softly, "Brother Samsara, with our combined might, if Xinwu is pinned down, could we truly fail to crush Silver Moon? Even without outside reinforcements, shouldn't our forces be sufficient?" Was he overestimating Silver Moon too much? "Time!" The Samsara Sovereign's tone remained calm. "That alone warrants vigilance! Furthermore, the east still has some troublemakers. Xinwu and Long Zhan could both make unexpected moves. Though Long Zhan and Li Hao share a feud forged in oceans of blood, Long Zhan is unpredictable. It is not impossible that he might actually assist Silver Moon. "Long Zhan's faction also boasts four eighth-ranks, and Long Zhan himself is immensely powerful... Silver Moon has three eighth-ranks, and counting Li Hao himself, that makes four! "That's eight eighth-ranks. Add Xinwu's four, and that's a full twelve eighth-ranks!" Pengcheng felt an enormous headache coming on. Don't tell him they needed to deploy twelve eighth-ranks. To be frank, at this stage, every overlord had a few eighth-ranks serving beneath them. Gathering a handful was plausible, but even Huntian, the strongest among them, openly possessed only four. Of course, counting Samsara's three, that made seven. If they hadn't had the misfortune of losing four eighth-ranks last time, that would have amounted to eleven eighth-ranks! Such strength was enough to shake the entire Chaos. And had Diyan Sovereign not fallen... it would be even more terrifying. One could well imagine the staggering influence of Huntian's reputation as a ninth-rank Sovereign to have rallied more than a dozen eighth-ranks beneath his banner. Yet now... they only had four at hand. Even if the south and north each sent experts to assist, at most they would provide one eighth-rank each, bringing the total to six... Judging by Samsara's calculations, fielding six more eighth-ranks was the only way to ensure absolute victory! How was that possible? Could the Huntian Domain truly summon six eighth-ranks? The possibility existed, but there was no way Huntian Sovereign would dispatch every single eighth-rank under his command to the east merely to kill Li Hao, who was currently only at the seventh rank. "Brother Samsara... if we ask our Master to dispatch one more eighth-rank to assist, there is still hope..." The implication was clear: there would be no more than that. Pengcheng added, "You have been established in the east for many years, Brother Samsara. Could it be... that you cannot call upon a single friend here?" He had been rooted in the east for countless years, after all! The Samsara Sovereign, however, remained utterly calm. "This time, I have already reached out to various factions and established contact across the region. In the east, several seventh-ranks have already agreed to aid me. Among the eighth-rank world lords... someone is also willing to help, though they may be needed to deal with Xinwu! "As for dealing with Silver Moon, they have three eighth-ranks. Our side must dispatch at least six eighth-ranks to ensure certainty..." "Li Hao is only a seventh-rank!" "Even at the seventh rank, he cultivates the Dao of Time!" "..." Pengcheng was speechless. Just how terrified was he of this guy? Was all this really necessary? In his eyes, the Human King was far more formidable than Li Hao. Last time, their concerted attempt to slay the Human King had ended in failure. This time, the Human King was also the linchpin. What was Li Hao in comparison? Last time, Li Hao had merely assisted other eighth-ranks in slaying a few adversaries. His own strength hadn't even reached two thousand Dao laws. Such a cultivator would struggle against even the weakest eighth-rank. What was there to fear? Yet the Samsara Sovereign remained composed, his expression heavy. "I will not underestimate a seventh-rank Li Hao. Last time, had he not meddled, would four eighth-rank Sovereigns have fallen? Would the Human King have escaped?" Li Hao might not possess great fame. Yet... he could by no means be dismissed. Samsara continued, "This time, I even hoped Huntian Sovereign would take the field in person... Naturally, I understand his constraints. Therefore, I propose... that the three other eighth-ranks known to the outside world in the Huntian Domain join this battle as well!" Three more! Added to the four here, that would make seven. Even if the north and south sent just one each, that would make nine! Nine eighth-ranks, including Samsara himself, whose Dao laws neared six thousand—such power was sufficient to obliterate any force. The Pengcheng Sovereign frowned. How could that be possible? Samsara said, "Regardless, Brother Pengcheng, you must convey my sentiments. I hope Huntian Sovereign will take the east seriously! "Since ancient times, the east has been a cradle for peerless experts. In antiquity, Tianfang arose here, and rumor has it that the master of the Thunder Domain originated from the east as well! Today, Long Zhan resides in the east too. The east has always been the rising ground of overlords..." The Pengcheng Sovereign's brow furrowed slightly. "Long Zhan is of the primal chaos beast race, and he has reached this height today. Could it be... that Brother Pengcheng feels nothing about that?" Pengcheng's expression hardened instantly. He nodded. "I know of Long Zhan. He is very formidable. In the past, I crossed paths with him once. To tell the truth..." He paused before saying, "That man possesses immense charisma!" It was the honest truth. Had Huntian Sovereign not stepped into the ninth rank, to be entirely frank, Pengcheng might have ventured to the Four Regions to pledge allegiance to Long Zhan. That man was a true peerless figure! For the rise of the primal chaos beast race, Long Zhan had paid a tremendous price. Pengcheng held immense admiration for him. However, the Four Regions was too confined, and now that a ninth-rank Sovereign had emerged, seeking shelter under Long Zhan would be a path to doom. That man's ambition was too immense! The Samsara Sovereign said with a grim face, "Indeed. That is why we must factor him into our calculations. I suspect... he is also making preparations. His goal is not to help anyone in particular, but... to weaken all sides!" He saw through Long Zhan's motives. Long Zhan was not on anyone's side; he sought only to whittle down every faction. Whichever side was weaker, he would aid them. He did not care about Li Hao, nor did he care about their bitter feud. All he cared about was aiding the weak to diminish the strong! That was the real Long Zhan! An overlord! The most visionary overlord born to the primal chaos beast race across countless eras. What personal grudge could compare to the rise of one's race? Even Samsara found such a figure terrifying. In this upcoming clash, they had to account for him. Pengcheng frowned. He wasn't afraid of Li Hao, but when it came to Long Zhan, he was genuinely wary. Hesitating briefly, he said, "It will be very difficult for all three to come! I will find a way to contact our Master and request one more eighth-rank..." Just one? Samsara frowned slightly. Truth be told, one was far too few. Besides, did Huntian truly possess only four eighth-rank Sovereigns? He didn't believe it. There had to be more hidden in the shadows, whether scattered across various locations or held in reserve. There was no way there were only four! Even the Five Elements Domain possessed five eighth-ranks. In the south, Spring and Autumn was merely an eighth-rank, yet he commanded three formidable eighth-ranks under his banner, with possibly even more in hiding. As a ninth-rank—whether real or feigned—Huntian vastly surpassed other eighth-ranks. Could he truly have only four eighth-ranks under him? How could that be? "At least two more must come!" The Pengcheng Sovereign fell silent for a moment. "I will relay your thoughts faithfully to our Master... But everything depends on him. I cannot make any promises!" "Very well!" The Samsara Sovereign nodded, gazing toward the east with deep eyes. Those fellows in the Four Regions were far more terrifying than anticipated. He had to make every preparation! In this endeavor, he was merely the vanguard sent by the three overlords to test the waters. None of them, Huntian included, truly considered him one of their own. Their thoughts were simple: let the east consume itself in internal strife! They wanted him to battle Xinwu, battle Silver Moon, and battle Long Zhan. Therefore, they would lend help, but they wouldn't exert their full strength. Yet... after several clashes, the Samsara Sovereign had grown exceedingly vigilant. Those individuals could never be evaluated based on their current apparent strength; otherwise, just like last time, four eighth-rank Sovereigns would perish in an instant! The losses had been devastating. Had they not suffered such heavy losses back then, there would be no need for such caution today; four additional eighth-ranks would have provided far more leeway. Thoughts flickered through his mind. Li Hao, Fang Ping, Long Zhan... Every one of them was a thorny adversary! Even if two more eighth-ranks arrived, making eight in total... would that be enough? Who could say? No matter what, they had to prevent them from unifying the east and stop Li Hao from establishing the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena. Otherwise... with blood debts already accrued, not only would Samsara never take his vengeance, but those individuals would never spare him either. ... The Four Regions. Tianfang Great World. Long Zhan, who had originally intended to wait until Tianfang's complete revival, now gazed upon the Tianfang World, lost in contemplation. Beside him stood several eighth-rank Sovereigns. Ever since his conversation with Long Zhan, the Red Moon Sovereign had relaxed somewhat. At this moment, he spoke in a low voice: "News from outside says that Li Hao is constructing the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena to perfect the myriad Daos! Fang Ping is moving to unify the east. If they succeed... the Four Regions will inevitably become a thorn in their side!" He looked toward Long Zhan with a hint of apprehension. Would they strike? Interfere? Or leave it be? Long Zhan was extraordinarily powerful, a titan in the east that no one could overlook. Anyone who ignored him would inevitably suffer a fierce backlash. Unobtrusively, his forces had grown stronger and stronger. Now, he commanded several eighth-ranks beneath him, and numerous seventh-ranks. Earlier, when eight eighth-ranks attacked, they had suffered a bitter defeat, losing one of their number. That alone proved how formidable Long Zhan was. Beside him, Black Tiger gritted his teeth. "Li Hao must die!" He hated Li Hao! That hatred was the driving force that had propelled him into the eighth rank. Feng Yan, who had likewise recently broken through to the eighth rank, murmured in a small voice, "I... want to kill him!" Li Hao was the chief culprit behind her mother's death. Though she rarely spoke of it, she hated him to madness. On the other side, the Sovereign of the Qingqiu Fox Clan—whose aura was still unstable, fluctuating between the seventh and eighth ranks—spoke softly as well: "Whether it's the Human King or Li Hao, both are scourges! Dragon Lord, you may wish to use their hands to weaken the outer Chaos... but you might end up rearing a tiger that will devour us..." The Black Tiger Sovereign let out a snort! Human idioms always sounded rather grating when spoken among the primal chaos beast race. Rearing a tiger? Who was she calling a tiger? The Qingqiu Sovereign was left speechless. She was merely accustomed to the phrasing, yet he actually took offense. Naturally, the decision rested entirely with Long Zhan. At this moment, Long Zhan silently watched the Tianfang World before suddenly remarking, "If many Sovereigns of the outer realms die... the demise of a vast number of Sovereigns will actually accelerate Tianfang's return!" The crowd fell silent, listening intently. Long Zhan continued, "Whether it's Li Hao, Fang Ping, or Huntian and the others... all of them are our great enemies. They are humans, they are powerful, and they pose a grave danger! "Whom we help and whom we oppose... is not what matters! Remember this: the sole stance of our primal chaos beast race... is to stand opposite the human race!" Personal grudges were meaningless. The supreme stance was the stance of their race. Long Zhan said softly, "I will venture out, and so will you! Our only task is to wait! Whoever is weak, we will aid them! We will weed out the strong!" His gaze turned chillingly sharp. "The humans have far too many eighth-ranks. How many does our primal chaos beast race possess? Even in the outer realms, how many eighth-rank primal chaos beasts are there? And how many humans? Thus... what we must maintain is balance! Do not dwell too much on personal vendettas; right now, no personal grudge outweighs the interests of our race! "The Four Regions allows us to advance or retreat at will; it is our greatest reliance! "As for Li Hao establishing the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena... to be frank, I admire it. Such a Dao arena suits my taste. However... we cannot allow Li Hao to succeed this time. Likewise, I do not wish for Li Hao and his companions to be killed right now!" This required careful calibration: when to strike, how to strike, whom to target, and how to avoid retaliation afterward—all of these were matters he had to weigh. Long Zhan murmured, "Therefore... we will take part in Li Hao's grand gathering, but... whom we strike cannot be decided right now!" Feng Yan couldn't help but say, "I think Li Hao and his group will definitely be the weaker side... Does that mean..." She felt deeply conflicted. Did this mean they would have to aid Li Hao? Her heart was filled with resentment. Long Zhan had indeed considered that, though he had not fully committed to it. He said mildly, "Anything is possible! Even if we aid Li Hao, Wushan, Dao Chess, and the Thunder Emperor beneath him can all be culled! I never said we had to preserve all of them... Do you understand?" Feng Yan felt somewhat relieved, though she remained indignant. "Dragon Lord... is Li Hao truly irreplaceable? What if we kill him and leave the Thunder Emperor and the others alive?" Those were eighth-ranks! Li Hao was merely a seventh-rank! Now that she had stepped into the eighth rank, surpassing Li Hao, she burned for revenge. "Li Hao..." Long Zhan went quiet for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Killing him might invite tremendous trouble!" For instance, Tianfang! When the peerless experts of Tianfang returned, how would the Master of Tianfang view it if Li Hao were slain? Would his revival plan still proceed smoothly? And although the Master of Tianfang might not return immediately, could anyone be sure he had left behind no contingencies? Could they truly prevent his wrath? A cultivator of the Dao of Time was likely of paramount importance to the Master of Tianfang. Thoughts churning, Long Zhan said calmly, "Simply obey my orders. There is no need for further words!" "Understood!" Though resentment lingered in Feng Yan's heart, she possessed absolute trust in the Dragon Lord. Since her father had spoken, she would raise no further objections. At worst, she would let Li Hao live a few days longer! As a seventh-rank, reaching the eighth rank would be immensely difficult for Li Hao. And surpassing the Dragon Lord... he would have to wait forever! ... On this day, factions across the entire Chaos were laying their plans. In the east. Near the Extreme Ice Realm, multiple eighth-rank great worlds clustered together, forced into an alliance by the mounting pressure from Xinwu and Silver Moon. The Eighth Heaven. Fifteen eighth-rank Sovereigns had gathered today, with three hailing from the Extreme Ice faction alone. Seated at the very top was naturally the Extreme Ice Sovereign. At this moment, the Extreme Ice Sovereign looked troubled, his brows knit with melancholy. To tell the truth, a gathering of fifteen eighth-rank Sovereigns was an invincible force anywhere, yet... he was keenly aware that aside from the three of his own faction, the remaining twelve eighth-ranks held deeply intricate backgrounds. Some might belong to the three regional overlords, some might be independent experts, and some might even be allies of Long Zhan. As for whether any belonged to Xinwu or Silver Moon, the two factions had risen too quickly for that to be likely. Such a tangled web gave this top-tier ice-element Sovereign a severe headache. Now, envoys from the three regional overlords had all arrived. Their message was singular: resolve the chaos in the east yourselves; we will not intervene, but it is best if you can eradicate tumors like Xinwu and Silver Moon. Moreover, they supported the Extreme Ice Realm in becoming the overlord of the east! Yet... how could it be that simple? The Extreme Ice Sovereign paused, then spoke: "Li Hao of Silver Moon intends to ally with the Middle Worlds Alliance to forge a Myriad Heavens Dao Arena. Have you all heard of this?" Below, someone sneered, "A massive appetite and boundless ambition! Yet... I believe the chances of his success are slim. Who would sit by and watch? Furthermore, the fact that it can span the entire east is alarming in itself... If it can cover the east, what about the south? The north? The west? If he had kept it hidden, that would be one thing... but he flaunted his trump card like a madman. In my view, he is courting death!" Even if they didn't kill him, the other three overlords would never stand idly by! This was digging up their foundations! Setting up a Myriad Heavens Dao Arena where ten thousand Sovereigns converged to exchange insights into the Great Dao—regardless of whether anyone's cultivation improved, such a platform was a blatant threat to any ruler! If they didn't kill him, whom else would they kill? Li Hao possessed only seventh-rank strength, backed merely by three newly ascended eighth-ranks, yet he dared to challenge the authority of the entire Chaos. He truly had a death wish! The Extreme Ice Sovereign was silent for a moment before continuing, "Currently, all three overlords have intentions... Their meaning is quite clear: the east must govern itself! Our various realms still possess fifteen eighth-rank Sovereigns... Now joined in alliance, our might is overwhelming. They hope we can pin down Xinwu!" With fifteen eighth-ranks, merely pinning down Xinwu showed how little the overlords truly thought of this eastern alliance. Xinwu had only four eighth-ranks. Yet... the Extreme Ice Sovereign hadn't suggested eradicating them, only pinning them down. To be frank, eradicating them would be exceedingly difficult and would require everyone to risk their lives. But among the crowd before him, who was truly willing to fight to the death? He knew all too well that this alliance was tenuous at best. Pinning them down, however, had a far higher chance of success. Someone spoke up: "If we truly unite with one heart, let alone pinning them down, even wiping out the combined forces of Xinwu and Silver Moon would be well within our grasp!" The implication was clear: even without total unity, pinning them down would be no trouble at all. "Xinwu and Silver Moon are arrogant beyond measure... Brother Extreme Ice, I believe it is necessary to purge these tumors of the Chaos. Since the three overlords are willing to assist... we naturally have no objections!" "Agreed! I support this as well!" "Their threat is simply too great!" "..." One Sovereign after another voiced their agreement. The Extreme Ice Sovereign could not tell who among them were shills for the three overlords and who were genuinely terrified, but for now, the majority supported the plan. The Extreme Ice Sovereign took a deep breath. "Since no one objects, when the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is established in one month... our sole objective will be to prevent Xinwu from reinforcing Silver Moon. With fifteen eighth-ranks taking action, even if we cannot annihilate them, engaging Xinwu four-to-one to tie them down should pose no difficulty, right?" Everyone nodded in succession. That was very safe! At four against one, even the formidable Human King would find it hard to prevail. What could go wrong with that? However, someone voiced a lingering worry: "I fear Long Zhan might intervene!" The Extreme Ice Sovereign nodded. "I know... but even if Long Zhan makes a move, he won't necessarily help Xinwu. Of course, anything is possible. Dispatch scouts to monitor the Four Regions. If Long Zhan and his forces truly march out..." He gritted his teeth. "At worst, we will deal with them together!" Easy as it was to say, caution lingered in their hearts. Long Zhan was simply too strong. The crowd nodded once more, each nursing their own thoughts. In all likelihood, they would merely act as cheerleaders this time. When it came to an all-out bloodbath, they might hesitate, but if it was outnumbering and stalling the enemy, they were more than willing! Besides, what was the Middle Worlds Alliance worth? Just a handful of seventh-rank Sovereigns! Some among them were even sleeper agents planted by their own factions; there was nothing to fear from them. The Middle Worlds Alliance could be completely dismissed. ... On this day, all parties had made up their minds. The shit-stirrers had to be removed! Whether it was the Human King or Li Hao, both were birds of a feather, and both had to be eliminated! ... Alliance City No. 9. At this moment, seventh-rank Sovereigns from various factions had congregated. Among them were the Wanhua Sovereign, the Wanqiu Sovereign, and several other seventh-ranks, as well as some peak sixth-rank Sovereigns. One seventh-rank Sovereign spoke with a grim face: "In my opinion... we had better remain on the sidelines, stay out of this, and wait until the dust settles..." The Wanhua Sovereign said in a deep voice, "Wait until the dust settles? If this truly succeeds and you stay out of it now, do you think the Bright Moon Sovereign, easygoing as he seems, will still share the spoils with us?" "But we can't just march to our deaths, can we?" The speaking Sovereign frowned. "I've already received word. Wanhua, this time... we had better not get involved. To be frank, I never expected this to succeed at first, nor did I imagine the scale would become so immense. Back then, I thought a small-scale operation would carry its own benefits, perhaps allowing you, Wanhua, to use the opportunity to break into the eighth rank..." Yet now, it actually covered the entire east! That was truly terrifying. It would be strange if people didn't come to crush them! The Silver Moon King was far too brazen, far too conspicuous, leaving them deeply unsettled. No one was immune to the fear of death, and upon reaching the seventh rank, that fear only intensified! The Wanhua Sovereign's face turned icy. "Wealth is won through danger! I don't care what you all choose, but this... is my chance to step into the eighth rank! I have languished at the seventh rank for far too long. This debate of ten thousand Sovereigns might be my sole opportunity to officially step into the eighth rank! It may even grant me a glimmer of hope toward my dream of the ninth rank... I will not give this up. I won't force you, nor do I want you to die with me, but I have paid too steep a price for this Myriad Heavens Dao Arena. I have bankrupted myself and staked everything on this... If it fails... let alone the ninth rank, even my dream of the eighth rank will shatter... Therefore, whoever severs my Dao... I will kill them!" The man who had always been so nonchalant was furious today. His eyes brimmed with murderous intent. He glared at the surrounding Sovereigns, gritting his teeth as he said coldly, "Whether you take action or not is none of my business! But whoever dares to cause trouble or sabotage this, even if I cannot match those eighth-ranks... I have more than enough power to slaughter you all!" "Brother Wanhua, you go too far. We have shared trials and tribulations together..." The Wanhua Sovereign remained silent. Did they think he didn't know? There were definitely pawns from other factions among them. It was an open secret. They were all powerful experts; don't take anyone for a fool! He had hardened his resolve. Whoever severed his Dao would die, no matter how heavy the price. As for whether Li Hao could hold out... he didn't know, nor could he judge. The danger was immense, but the arrow was already nocked; there was no turning back! Having reached this point, he had no retreat. ... What the Sovereigns of the Chaos could see clearly was, of course, equally apparent to the Silver Moon faction. Even if those secret realm masters and participants hadn't realized it at first... as tension permeated the Chaos, the Sovereigns who had initially been overjoyed gradually calmed down, their hearts gripped by unease. Fortunately, they would only be participating with their spiritual manifestations. Not their true bodies! Had true bodies been required, more than half of the Sovereigns would likely have stayed away out of sheer peril. But with only spiritual manifestations, even if the worst came to pass and their avatars were destroyed, witnessing a massive clash of high-ranking Sovereigns would still make the trip worthwhile. Thus, those who intended to participate still wished to do so. They held onto the thought that if it failed and their avatars were obliterated, having witnessed a clash among top-tier experts would still be well worth the price. Anxiety, unease, and melancholy—a tangled mess of emotions spread across the Chaos. They hoped Li Hao would succeed, yet deemed success impossible; it was a deeply conflicted feeling. They wished to give middle- and low-ranking Sovereigns a chance, to give all Sovereigns in the Chaos an opportunity to gather on an immense platform to exchange insights. Such a grand occasion of ten thousand Sovereigns was unprecedented! Yet... with a mere three eighth-ranks, how could they stand against the myriad factions? ... Within the Silver Moon camp. At this moment, Er Mao was still replicating the entire Great Dao Universe. Very few were aware of this. Meanwhile, the Thunder Emperor and the other eighth-ranks could already sense the impending tempest. The Thunder Emperor had an impatient temperament, though he knew how to endure; otherwise, he could never have survived in the Dragon Domain for decades. Yet this time, he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. At Li Hao's seclusion grounds. The Thunder Emperor and the others had all gathered, faces laden with gravity. "Brother Li... in recent days, several individuals have conveyed messages to me, urging me... to abandon the Silver Moon camp. Not just me; perhaps Wushan and Dao Chess have had similar experiences. They were all minor figures, yet for them to brazenly ask eighth-ranks to defect... clearly shows how perilous our situation has become! "If worst comes to worst, let us abandon this plan!" The Thunder Emperor said gravely, "Where there is life, there is hope! I know the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is crucial to you, but... it is far too dangerous. It would be much safer for us to lie low for now!" Wushan also let out a soft sigh. "Brother Li... I have seen... a bleak future. Darkness... boundless and endless!" He had glimpsed destiny! The future was fraught with mortal danger. Dao Chess remained silent, but he was filled with helpless dejection. He had originally thought this was a golden opportunity for Li Hao to rise in power, yet before it had even begun, it was already on the verge of ruin. It was bitterly agonizing. For this, he had labored exhaustively, teleporting in all directions and spending much of the wealth Silver Moon had accumulated, only for it to end in failure. He had thought they could keep it concealed for a time. Who could have guessed that before it was even completed, news would spread until the entire Chaos knew? He cursed under his breath, unable to hold back his grievances: "That Middle Worlds Alliance is utterly unreliable! Had I known, it would have been better to prepare in secret! We could have reeled them in bit by bit to form a covert alliance..." Those fellows were simply too untrustworthy. Though they had harbored such intentions, nothing had even been finalized yet. In merely a few months, the entire Chaos had caught wind of it. It was truly exasperating. Kongji, however, wore a solemn expression. "We fight! If we fail this time, trying to establish it again will be nearly impossible! At worst, when Samsara and his allies attack, we... will fight them to the bitter end!" Even in his usual composure, he held little optimism now, yet he did not want Li Hao to give up. Such an opportunity might only present itself once. Silver Moon had fought many grueling battles, but becoming public enemy number one—or rather, the enemy of every overlord—was rare. In the past, everyone had focused on Xinwu, paying little mind to Silver Moon. This time... Xinwu's bid to conquer the east was merely secondary; the crux was that Li Hao could not be permitted to succeed, for he threatened the very foundation of their rule! That was the core issue! Becoming the focal point for the very first time, only to be thrust into absolute peril, left Kongji feeling helpless. Indeed, being the centerpiece was not an easy role. In the past, Xinwu had stood at the forefront. This time, Silver Moon was the common foe, with Xinwu relegated to the background. Nearby, the Senlan World Lord said nothing. Having come this far, there was nothing left for him to say. The other Silver Moon Sovereigns had little say in the matter; this was a battlefield reserved for high-ranking Sovereigns. At that moment, Li Hao fell silent for a time before speaking slowly: "Fellow Daoists... this endeavor is fraught with perils. I know what I will be facing. You have aided me greatly. Those who wish to leave, I will not stop... It would not be kicking me while I am down, but... a wise decision!" He looked at everyone and said softly, "All good things must come to an end. This time, I am acting on my own stubbornness. I insist on persevering, even if it is overestimating myself, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot... Therefore, none of you need to feel ashamed; nothing is more important than your own lives! "I may not necessarily perish. I possess the Dao of Time and can flee, whereas you all... would be in immense danger!" Li Hao looked at them and murmured, "Leave, and you remain my friends; stay, and you are my friends all the same! While there is still time..." Everyone frowned slightly. Kongji said in a deep voice, "I will not leave. Naturally, I won't speak on behalf of the three seniors, but when you and I first met, I was merely a fourth-rank Sovereign. Today, I have stepped into the seventh rank. While I may not be able to offer you much help, I will not walk away!" The three eighth-rank Sovereigns also knit their brows. The Thunder Emperor said, somewhat displeased, "Brother Li, if you think we are merely cowards who cling to life... you are mistaken! We simply hoped you would bide your time and stage a comeback later to preserve your strength. It doesn't mean we are afraid! "If you insist on standing your ground... I won't leave!" He said with a resolute tone, "As long as you remain, I am willing to fight alongside you! We share the same aspirations and walk the same path. In the Dragon Domain, what dangers have I not faced? I have never once compromised! I only feel it would be a pity for you—if you were to wait a little longer, who in this Chaos could match you?" He held Li Hao in immense regard, adding directly, "Give you another ten thousand years—no, a single millennium—and you will sweep through the Chaos! The Chaos is vast; as long as you lie low for a time, you will inevitably stir up the winds and clouds once more!" Wushan also said softly, "Having broken free from Yunxiao, I was already a ruined man. I sought only freedom... and had no desire to take part in contending for hegemony under heaven. If you were like Xinwu, bent on conquering the east, I might have left... But this time, I hope to see the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena established. It is an extraordinary platform where all can discuss the Dao without reservations, where status and strength do not matter... In truth, many in the Chaos yearn for such an occasion, such an opportunity... If you persist, I will not depart either!" He yearned for freedom and had never wished to lay down his life fighting for anyone's conquest. What did contending for hegemony have to do with him? Yet... this young man before him, whatever his original motives, was not forging an instrument of war with this arena, but rather a vital framework for the advancement of the Great Dao across the entire Chaos. For that, Wushan was willing to exert himself. Dao Chess was far more blunt: "I am an Emperor weapon... I have only one dream: to cease being an Emperor weapon. In truth, I want to become an existence of equal standing, not a weapon wielded in someone's hands... By the Master of Tianfang's side, I saw no such hope. Even when he was invincible beneath the heavens, he had only one disposition for me: he no longer needed me, and he hoped... that I could be used by others to become a tool for their comprehension of the Dao. "He was a remarkable man, but... he considered many people, yet never considered me..." Dao Chess gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "Yet you, Brother Li Hao... might just offer me a sliver of hope." Each had their own reasons and thoughts, yet all firmly believed they would attain the outcome they desired. Over to the side, the Senlan World Lord hadn't spoken at all. Seeing Li Hao look over, he suddenly chuckled. "Don't look at me... First, I've only just entered the seventh rank. Second, my Senlan Domain is already gone—you made a terrible mess of things for me! If I leave now, my losses will be astronomical! Third, since you still insist on persisting, you can't be without any hope at all. I don't believe you are blind to the situation. In that case... why not take a gamble?" Li Hao chuckled, while the others were taken aback. Kongji couldn't help but ask, "Do you... still have other tricks up your sleeve? Could Xinwu be coming to help?" Li Hao shook his head. "Xinwu will have their hands full just protecting themselves." "Then... could it be... Long Zhan?" Li Hao smiled again. "That guy... might make a move to balance the powers, but he will never appear at the very start when I face formidable foes. That would be giving him too much credit, treating him like a saint!" "Then..." Kongji was baffled. Did he really have other means? "Are you borrowing power from a ninth-rank Sovereign?" Li Hao shook his head. "Then I truly would be seeking death. Just borrowing power from a pseudo-seventh-rank nearly got me killed." Borrow power from a ninth-rank? Leaving aside whether he even could, even if it were possible, why would he rush to his doom? He could never afford the debt! He smiled faintly. "You will... know soon enough! This is a crisis, but also an opportunity. Since no one is leaving, then... let us wait together! The day the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is established... will be the day Silver Moon, and all of you, make your names resonate across the Chaos!" Li Hao smiled radiantly. "This time, I will let the heroes of the Chaos know that Li Hao walked out of Silver Moon and reached this height today relying on far more than just Xinwu..." At that point, his voice lost a bit of confidence, and he muttered under his breath, "...not including Zhan, of course." "..." The crowd was at a loss for words. What was that supposed to mean? Could Zhan, dead for countless years, still provide assistance? Even at his peak, Zhan had only been at the sixth rank. Li Hao felt a bit awkward. If the replication of the Great Dao was Zhan's doing, he would indeed have to rely on Zhan this time. To talk tough without total confidence—it seemed his skin wasn't quite thick enough! How embarrassing! Li Hao laughed, gazing into the depths of the Chaos. After a long moment, he smiled again. "This time... I will show all factions of the Chaos that I, Li Hao... am no weaker than the Human King!" "..." The crowd was speechless once more. Please, spare them the grandiose boasts. Did this guy truly have confidence? Though they were uncertain, a sense of reassurance settled over them at that moment. Indeed, reassurance—even the eighth-ranks felt it. Though Li Hao was not as domineering as the Human King, whenever he displayed total confidence, they felt that success was practically guaranteed. He was somewhat more reliable than the Human King. Meanwhile, Li Hao silently sensed Er Mao's whereabouts. Could Er Mao replicate Silver Moon's myriad Daos in time? He mustn't delay. Of course, if things truly fell behind schedule... Li Hao would simply have to find a way to stall for time. ... At that very moment. Across all directions, countless experts were silently watching this place. Even in the unknown depths of the Chaos, among a cluster of statues, several opened their eyes. Countless worlds flickered within their pupils as if observing the spectacle. That cultivator of the Dao of Time... seemed to have run into a crisis. At the center of the statues, the largest figure, though its eyes remained closed, was also quietly watching everything. This time... did Tianfang need to return? Was the cultivator of the Dao of Time truly going to fall in this battle? Thoughts stirred within his mind. Though that time cultivator had not yet fully mastered time, the figure did not wish for him to perish here. A resolve formed in his thoughts; it seemed he had reached a decision. Perhaps this was not the optimal moment, but it might happen this very time!