Drawing the Sword, the Time Sword!

Inside the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena. Suddenly, glowing portals began to dim, one after another. At first, no one paid it much mind. Soon, however, the portals started closing, instantly drawing widespread attention. Expressions shifted, and the troublemakers among the crowd paled, looking back toward the passageways. What was going on? Unable to hold back, someone roared, cutting off the Thunder Emperor and his companions. "What are you doing? Why aren't the portals teleporting anyone anymore?" A commotion erupted in an instant. The portals couldn't teleport? Then… wasn't everyone in serious trouble! A spiritual projection was not their entire being, but losing one here would still be a real blow to any Sovereign. Some had come merely to watch the spectacle, while others had genuinely arrived to discuss the Dao. This sudden severance of the connection couldn't help but strike fear into their hearts. Even those who supported Li Hao grew uneasy. Was Li Hao really planning to devour everyone's spiritual projections? Otherwise, why would he shut down the portals? People repeatedly tested the exits, and some even rushed up to the gates. Yet the portals they had arrived through were now sealed tight, impossible to open. An uproar instantly broke out. "What is the meaning of this?" "Are you genuinely here to discuss the Dao or not?" "To think I believed this was an opportunity for us, that the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena would be a blessed sanctuary for the Chaos…" "…" Sovereign after Sovereign flared up in fury! Despicable! The Thunder Emperor and his allies also looked grim. This sudden disruption of the passageways was something none of them had anticipated. No such plan had existed beforehand. Li Hao would never build the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena just to devour their spiritual projections; the cost would far outweigh any gain. At a loss, the Thunder Emperor quickly called out, "Peace, everyone! We harbor no intention whatsoever of consuming your spiritual projections. A powerful enemy may be attacking and disrupting the teleportation channels. Remain calm!" For now, he could only pin the blame on an outside foe. Yet doubt gnawed at his own heart. Had an enemy truly severed the channels? Who possessed the power to shut them all down in an instant? That should be impossible. Or was Li Hao behind this? He felt nervous—not out of personal danger, but because if this continued, the reputation of the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena would be utterly ruined. Once tarnished, rebuilding trust would be nearly impossible. What a disaster! If everyone grew wary and refused to return, all their efforts would go down the drain. The Sovereigns below did not quiet down. Spurred on by several troublemakers, the unrest only intensified. "Wasn't the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena supposed to be secure? How could someone sever the link? Where is Li Hao? Why hasn't he shown his face? Could it be… that while our spiritual bodies are trapped here, he went to attack our true bodies and devour our realms?" The moment those words rang out, even those who had remained composed began to panic. Surely not, right? Another Sovereign roared, "Detonate your spiritual bodies! Sever the link so our true bodies know something has gone wrong! If our main bodies are caught unprepared, disaster will strike…" Hearing that, several Sovereigns actually prepared to self-detonate. Losing a bit of spiritual energy was manageable if it alerted their true forms; otherwise, their main bodies might not even realize the connection had been cut. The Thunder Emperor was genuinely frantic now. Just then, the resonant tone of the Great Dao vibrated through the air. Sovereign Wushan swept five fingers across the fabric of the realm and barked, "Settle down! If you few dare incite panic again, I will strike you down!" "So you truly intend to slaughter us…" Sovereign Wushan frowned. Hearing that, he was already poised to obliterate their spiritual bodies. It had been these few bastards sowing dissent from the shadows all along. As for why the channels were cut, he had no idea. Yet he knew with absolute certainty that it wasn't to prey upon these weaker Sovereigns. Just as he was about to move against the agitators, the world trembled. The secret realm shuddered. A moment later, a figure manifested between heaven and earth. Li Hao stepped through the void with a serene expression. Looking down upon the thousands of spiritual projections, his voice was calm and even. "I am Li Hao." The commotion hushed for an instant. Li Hao had appeared! Since he was right here… the rumors of a sneak attack on their native realms couldn't possibly be true, could they? Some breathed a slight sigh of relief. Yet someone in the crowd shouted angrily once more, "Li Hao! When you founded the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, you promised everyone could come and go freely! This is only the first day, yet we cannot teleport back! What are you plotting? You harbor sinister intentions…" Li Hao looked at the sphere of light and smiled. "I know who you are." The sphere of light snapped back, "You know me? You claimed that identities would remain completely anonymous in the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena! Now you can see through my identity? Does that mean your guarantee of anonymity was nothing but a joke?" Li Hao chuckled. He had to admit, these individuals were quite skilled at finding an angle to attack no matter what was said. He nodded. "Others might not know, but Wanhua Sovereign and I certainly know who each of you is. If even Wanhua Sovereign and I were kept in the dark… now that truly would be a joke. What is there to dispute?" He laughed softly. "If the organizers themselves knew nothing, how could you expect this Dao Arena to remain under my control? What do you say, friend from the Samsara Realm?" The speaker's expression shifted inwardly. This man… Had Li Hao tried to make excuses, he could have pressed the issue. But Li Hao had admitted it outright—both he and Wanhua knew. As Sovereigns, who truly believed the organizers would have no insight into their identities? Expecting otherwise would be absurd. With a radiant smile, Li Hao struck in an instant. A gargantuan palm blotting out the sky descended directly toward two figures in the crowd, his voice echoing across the arena: "Two eighth-rank Sovereigns from the Samsara Domain deigning to visit in person. Even if these are merely spiritual projections, wouldn't it be a shame if you perished here?" The two figures instantly materialized. One of them turned pale and roared, "Li Hao! Didn't you say the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena welcomes friend and foe alike to come and go at will? Are you going back on your word and attacking us?" Li Hao nodded. "Friend or foe, anyone is welcome as long as you do not cause trouble. But the two of you have incessantly sown discord and disrupted my arena. If I were to spare mere saboteurs, wouldn't I become a laughingstock?" As the words fell, his giant hand crashed down, and the two eighth-rank experts erupted with power. Terrifying spiritual energy surged outward, forcing back the surrounding spiritual projections. Even without their physical bodies, eighth-rank Sovereigns were immensely powerful, their combat prowess surpassing even the true bodies of certain sixth-rank Sovereigns. That alone showed the vast chasm between the eighth and sixth ranks. Neither planned to sit waiting for death. Now that Li Hao had exposed them and moved to eliminate them, their only choice was to shatter the arena, expose its precise coordinates, and allow the Samsara Sovereign and the other powerhouses to arrive immediately. Yet how could Li Hao give them the chance? In a single breath, the two spiritual projections froze. Under countless horrified gazes, both spiritual bodies shattered in an instant. Vast quantities of spiritual energy spilled in all directions and were promptly absorbed by the nearby Sovereigns. The spiritual projections of eighth-rank Sovereigns offered remarkable nourishment. To Li Hao, it was negligible, but to the ordinary Sovereigns nearby, it was an immense tonic! Several Sovereigns visibly saw their spiritual bodies swell. In an instant, the clamor around them died out. They had not been the only instigators, but dead silence now blanketed the arena. The remaining agitators held their tongues, not daring to make a sound. Yet a third-rank Sovereign who had guided them inside panicked and screamed, "Li Hao, today is your doom! How dare you destroy the spiritual forms of the two venerables! The Great Sovereigns of Samsara will descend shortly! The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena is a farce! Everyone, do not be deceived by Li Hao…" Li Hao listened in silence. Once the man had said his piece, Li Hao flicked his sleeve. With a bang, the Sovereign's spiritual body detonated. Its essence scattered and was absorbed by the surrounding Sovereigns, though as the projection of a mere third-rank Sovereign, it was too faint to provide much benefit. The surrounding Sovereigns paled. Li Hao killed without a second thought. Behind Li Hao, several Sovereigns from the Medium Worlds Alliance, including Wanhua Sovereign, hesitated before speaking up. "Daoist Haoyue… killing these saboteurs is fine, but… was the connection severed by the Samsara Sovereigns?" Wanhua Sovereign felt deeply uneasy as well. Why did all the portals seem to have vanished? Li Hao chuckled. "Not at all! Samsara does not possess the ability to sever my Dao Arena directly. If he did, why bother trying to stop me? He would have severed it from the start. I cut the connection myself." Shock washed over everyone. Li Hao continued, "Do not worry. I know you feel unsettled. I broke the connection simply because I did not want your true bodies to be dragged into this. A formidable army of enemies is marching on us. If your spiritual bodies are destroyed, that is one thing, but if your true bodies were harmed, the guilt would lie with me!" He smiled faintly. "We face many powerful foes this time, but I did not come unprepared. Some wish to stop me from establishing the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena, and I will not let them have their way. You are all Sovereigns, and I believe most of you desire a place to exchange insights on the Great Dao and witness the power and comprehension of high-rank Sovereigns. You have come merely in spiritual form; even if destroyed, it will not truly harm you. "And now… I shall grant an opportunity to our realm guardians, the very first batch of Daoist friends to enter the arena. I wonder if you are interested?" Someone in the crowd asked in a deep voice, "What does Dao Lord Haoyue mean? You severed the connection just to grant us an opportunity?" "Indeed," Li Hao nodded. "A great opportunity!" He smiled. "Did you not wish to comprehend Time, to behold Time? Did you not wish to witness a clash between high-rank Sovereigns? The chance has arrived!" With a wave of his hand, a vast River of the Dao manifested, dotted with countless stars. These stars were exceedingly faint. Though faint, there were over ten thousand of them. Li Hao beamed. "This is the Dao of Time, disassembled into ten thousand stars of the Dao. If you are willing, you may enter them and comprehend a single Dao in depth! Soon, I will do battle with powerful foes, and you may even garrison these stars to directly take part in a high-rank battle. If I win, not only will you comprehend Time, but you will also witness and personally participate in an eighth-rank war! "If I lose, you will lose a single spiritual projection! Naturally, reward requires risk. Weigh the cost and benefit for yourselves. What you invest is merely a spiritual projection, but the harvest… may exceed your wildest imagination!" The crowd erupted once more! What? Garrison a star, comprehend Time firsthand, and participate in a battle against eighth-rank experts? Commotion swept through the ranks. Several figures stepped forward from the crowd—men and women whose identities were concealed, but who clearly possessed great power. One asked in a solemn voice, "Senior Haoyue means that… by having our spiritual forms garrison the stars, we can participate in a high-rank battle? Do you mean… you require our assistance in this fight?" Li Hao smiled and nodded. "In a sense, yes, I won't deny it. Sending your true bodies would indeed be too dangerous, but for spiritual projections… it depends on your willingness. I have always believed there is strength in numbers. There are thousands of Sovereigns here. You may freely select a star that aligns with your Dao. Though these stars are frail, I will show you that even the weakest Dao becomes overwhelmingly powerful once combined!" Indeed, he had come to recruit them. The myriad Daos of Time had been disassembled, scattering throughout the river. Leaving them unattended was fine, but having Sovereigns garrison them—even if only in spiritual form—made a colossal difference when there were thousands of them! With so many Sovereigns merging into these Daos, even if their spiritual bodies were weaker than true Sovereigns, their collective presence was equivalent to several hundred true Sovereigns taking part. It would instantly elevate Li Hao's path of fusion to its pinnacle! Of course, what he said was true. If they won, these Sovereigns would reap immense benefits, comprehending the myriad Daos within Time and personally participating in an eighth-rank clash—an opportunity they might never encounter again in their lifetimes. If they lost, all they sacrificed was a spiritual projection. "Samsara and his allies will arrive shortly," Li Hao said with a faint smile. "I hope everyone makes their choice quickly…" Someone asked gravely, "And what if we refuse?" Li Hao smiled. "If you refuse… you likely cannot return to your bodies right now anyway. I can only place you in a safe location and put you into stasis for a time, after which you will naturally awaken. If I win, I will send you back. If I lose… you can try to see if you can return on your own." "Senior Haoyue, are you forcing us to participate?" someone protested, dissatisfied. Li Hao replied with a smile, "I already said you are free to decline." "Then I want to go back!" Looking at the phantom, Li Hao kept smiling. "I told you, you cannot go back right now. You must wait. Do you have any objections? I am no saint, nor was this Myriad Heavens Dao Arena built purely for your sake; it was made to perfect my own Dao. I am merely consulting your wishes. Whether you agree or not… you cannot return right now. Are you satisfied with that answer?" He was no philanthropist, and besides, he genuinely could not send them back at this moment. Li Hao's expression turned calm. "There will always be those willing to take the gamble. Those who refuse may remain here; I will find time to send you back later! Those who are willing may now enter the corresponding realm according to their respective Daos. If realms or Daos overlap, two, three, or more can share a single realm! You need not do anything—simply merge your spiritual bodies into the realm!" Many remained disgruntled. Li Hao, however, did not care. Once they tasted the benefits, they would be satisfied. If he lost, he would be dead anyway, so why would their satisfaction matter? Yet if he won, every spiritual projection and Sovereign that merged with a realm today would gain tremendous benefits. That was no lie. Wealth was forged in danger; to Sovereigns, tangible profit was what mattered most. When the Dao Arena reopened in the future, even if they had suffered a minor setback today, they would still come running back. There was no need to coddle them like children. Sure enough, among so many Sovereigns, there were bound to be those willing to take a chance. The moment Li Hao finished speaking, at least several hundred Sovereigns vaulted into the sky, streaking straight toward the myriad stars. A gamble! It was only a single spiritual projection. Important though it was, they clearly couldn't leave right now anyway. If it was destroyed, so be it, but if they won, wouldn't they gain immensely? Seeing hundreds take the lead, the others could no longer hold back. To hell with it! Having come this far, they had few other options. Though some cursed Li Hao countless times in their hearts, they had only their own curiosity to blame for coming here in the first place. Sovereign after Sovereign merged into the faint little realms. These realms were merely fragile Dao stars, yet once infused with the Sovereigns' spiritual energy, star after star began to glow and expand. With just one or two, Li Hao felt little change. When it reached several hundred, then over a thousand… Li Hao was inwardly astonished! Truly, there was strength in numbers. What these Sovereigns infused was not merely spiritual power, but also their personal comprehension of the Great Dao, which began weaving into the Dao stars. Several hundred of them were likely comparable to a seventh-rank Sovereign! This actually surpassed his expectations, proving far more formidable than anticipated. Of course, this was also because they were merely spiritual projections. Spiritual bodies carried little distinct elemental bias, making them easy to merge with aligned Daos. For those that struggled to integrate, having Er Mao take a stroll through them allowed smooth fusion as well. Under normal circumstances, where could one possibly find thousands of Sovereign spiritual projections? Li Hao beamed with delight. Beside him, Wanhua Sovereign's expression shifted repeatedly as he sent a voice transmission to Li Hao: "Daoist Haoyue… this…" He felt this was inappropriate. Was this really wise? He had no idea what Li Hao was trying to pull, but he worried that even if they won today, who would dare return? Wouldn't the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena be ruined? Li Hao merely chuckled and replied through transmission, "Daoist Wanhua, you worry too much! The human heart is driven by greed. Once they taste the marvels of the Dao and personally participate in a battle against high-rank Sovereigns, many may experience breakthroughs after returning! Even if only one in a thousand breaks through—advancing from third to fourth rank, or from sixth to seventh rank—do you realize that such word-of-mouth will be far more effective than anything we could ever say?" How difficult was it to break through? Yet Li Hao believed there was real hope. After their spiritual bodies returned with new insights, breaking through was entirely natural. When that happened, there would be no need to plead with them; they would scramble to return of their own accord. Self-interest was the ultimate truth. People avoided tasks with no gain, but when benefits were clear, everyone would fight for them. Li Hao dismissed all further thoughts and focused entirely on the rising tide of power within himself. Joy welled in his heart as this Dao power dispersed throughout the Great Dao River. These forces had originally been extracted from the Time Star, and now they radiated a faint, unique energy, gradually coalescing into a subtle current of Time. Time… still persisted. Because it had been dismantled, it was not prominent, but Li Hao discovered that the Daos composing the Time Star were rather peculiar. They were not ordinary Daos, but purified Daos. Relatively speaking, they were far purer. This was likely the key to how the Emperor of Battle Heaven had constructed the Time Star in the first place—the Daos he used to forge Time were far more orderly. Li Hao's smile widened. Behind him stood several eighth-rank and seventh-rank Sovereigns, their expressions grave. Unaware of the exact circumstances, they viewed those faint stars as virtually negligible. They wondered: even if these fragile Dao stars were infused with spiritual bodies, what difference could it make? Could they really boost his strength? By how much? At Li Hao's level, could they add even one or two hundred Dao forces? The Thunder Emperor spoke urgently, "Those two earlier were both eighth-rank Sovereigns of Samsara. Our coordinates are likely completely exposed now. They may arrive at any moment!" Glancing at the several hundred spiritual projections lingering in the secret realm, he sent a transmission: "What about these people?" Some had refused to enter Li Hao's Dao stars. Thousands had entered, but several hundred had stayed behind. "Send them into stasis for now, lest they self-detonate and leak information…" With a wave of Li Hao's hand, power of extinction swept out. In an instant, the several hundred Sovereign spiritual bodies fell into deep silence, restoring peace to the secret realm. Li Hao then turned his gaze in a certain direction and exhaled softly. "They… have arrived!" So many! Far more than just the three eighth-rank Sovereigns of Samsara—more than expected. Samsara truly thought highly of him. Or did he think highly of Long Zhan? Was this prepared for Long Zhan, or for Xinwu? Either way, it shouldn't have been for him alone. Otherwise, this many eighth-rank powerhouses wouldn't have been necessary! …… In the distance. A host of figures traversed the void. Behind the Samsara Sovereign, two eighth-rank Sovereigns wore sour expressions. While submerged in the Dao Arena, their spiritual bodies had been suddenly shattered and slain. Yet because of that, while Li Hao's severed connection had briefly obscured their target, they had pinpointed the location at once. The Samsara Sovereign came to a halt. A faint smile appeared on his face. They had arrived! Li Hao and the others were right here. In the next instant, the void rippled in the distance, and Li Hao's group stepped out of the secret realm: Li Hao, three eighth-rank Sovereigns, and several seventh-rank Sovereigns. The seventh-rank Sovereigns from the Medium Worlds Alliance were grim. When they saw the opposition clearly… Except for Wanhua Sovereign, the faces of the others drained of color completely. What kind of sick joke was this? One Sovereign with access to good intelligence turned deathly pale, sending a panicked transmission to the others: "Not good!" "It's… it's Fengming of the south, Earth Spirit of the north, and… Pengcheng…" Even Wanhua Sovereign's face turned ashen. These were all top-tier powerhouses, legendary figures known throughout the Chaos. Both Fengming and Earth Spirit were top-tier eighth-rank Sovereigns, and they had actually come. And then there was Samsara, formerly the undisputed supreme expert of the eastern region. Wanhua Sovereign had thought only Samsara's faction would appear, but experts from both the north and south had arrived. And that wasn't all! Just as the six eighth-rank Sovereigns revealed themselves, additional eighth-rank auras faintly surged behind them—Sovereigns belonging to Huntian's faction in the west! Beyond them, even farther away, more auras emerged! More eighth-rank Sovereigns! Those were… eighth-rank experts who had followed in secret from all corners of the Chaos, some to watch the show, others to see if there were scraps to scavenge. They kept their distance, but close enough to clearly observe the battlefield. Even several seventh-rank Sovereigns lurked in the shadows. The entire Chaos knew a battle was inevitable unless Li Hao fled. But Li Hao hadn't run, so a clash was guaranteed. Observing the situation from the shadows, the onlookers gasped inwardly. He was doomed! Samsara, Pengcheng, Fengming, and Earth Spirit had all arrived, along with four other eighth-rank Sovereigns—a total of eight eighth-rank powerhouses, an even more formidable lineup than the one that had ambushed the Human King. Beside the eighth-rank Sovereigns stood nearly twenty seventh-rank experts, some from the Samsara World and others from allied factions. The disparity in power… was far too vast. Across the expanse, the Samsara Sovereign looked toward Li Hao. He and Li Hao had never clashed head-on; their only encounters had been during the battles against Long Zhan and the Human King. In both instances, Li Hao had walked away with gains. Li Hao had even killed Fusheng! Looking at Li Hao, the Samsara Sovereign was in no hurry. A faint smile graced his lips. "Silver Moon King, I thought… you would flee." Li Hao met his gaze across the void. He held no deep personal hatred toward this man. One could only say the situation had forced their hands. He and Samsara shared no blood feud, so he didn't dwell on it. His voice rang out: "Flee once, and I would have to flee a second time. Besides, as you well know, the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena was created for me to comprehend the myriad Daos. If I fled, achieving that would be nearly impossible. Compared to all of you, what I lack most is time! "The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena can save me immense amounts of time—a thousand years, ten thousand years… or even more! In the Chaos, ten thousand years is nothing, but to me, wasting even a single day is a waste of life." "Why waste words on him?" the Fengming Sovereign snapped, its compound eyes glinting fiercely. "Daoist Samsara, butcher them!" What was there to discuss? A mere three eighth-rank Sovereigns, all newly ascended. While it wouldn't claim it could take all three at once, fighting two was child's play. It and Earth Spirit alone could handle all three eighth-rank foes! The rest of their force could crush Li Hao and his handful of seventh-rank Sovereigns with absolute ease. Delays invited disaster! "No rush," Samsara chuckled. Turning toward the distance, his aura suddenly erupted. A formidable presence shook the heavens, spreading the might of a peak eighth-rank expert throughout the eastern region. His voice swept like a tidal wave across the realm! "Extreme Ice, you have seen my sincerity! It is time… for you to make your move!" At that moment, in the far distance, towering eighth-rank auras surged madly into the sky. One, two, three… In the end, fifteen eighth-rank auras swept across the void, blanketing the entire eastern region under the banner of Sovereign Extreme Ice. In the next instant, more auras flared. One, two, three… Not four, but five eighth-rank auras erupted. The Human King, the Supreme, the Cang Emperor, the Bright Sovereign, and… the Yang God! The Yang God of Xinwu, the very first to attain the seventh rank even before the Human King, unleashed the aura of an eighth-rank Sovereign. Five eighth-rank powerhouses faced an enemy force three times their number. Their predicament appeared even more dire than Li Hao's. Yet at that moment, the Human King showed no fear. His voice rolled across the void, wild and fearless, his booming laughter echoing everywhere. The distance between them was not immense, and the Human King laughed boisterously: "Li Hao, hold on until I butcher these weaklings, and then I'll come help you! Hold your ground! How dare a band of rabble stand against my Xinwu?" Though the enemy outnumbered them three to one, so what? He was exceptionally powerful, the Supreme was formidable, and the Bright Sovereign was a veteran eighth-rank expert—not weak by any measure, merely outmatched by the likes of Samsara. Though numerous, in the Human King's eyes, slaying one or two of the eastern eighth-rank Sovereigns would cause their entire alliance to crumble! Li Hao did not respond. The Samsara Sovereign wore a faint smile as he looked at Li Hao. "Xinwu will not be able to offer you any aid. Naturally, Extreme Ice and his allies will struggle to pin Xinwu down, even if… Extreme Ice is no weakling." He chuckled and added, "Li Hao, if I am not mistaken, Long Zhan and his cohort are likely lurking nearby. You truly have nowhere left to run. As far as I know, your mastery over Time stems from the Time Seed you obtained from Xinwu. Hand it over, and not only will I spare your life, but I will also help you eradicate Long Zhan! I am well aware of the blood debt between you and the Chaos race!" He was actually trying to win Li Hao over. Evidently, he cared far more about Long Zhan. The eighth-rank Sovereigns beside him frowned slightly. They had come to deal with Li Hao, though if Li Hao surrendered the Time Seed, he would no longer pose a threat. Long Zhan was indeed the greater concern. He was the true top-tier powerhouse! Samsara strode forward as if taking a leisurely stroll. He was not underestimating Li Hao; rather, his advantage was simply overwhelming. He didn't look down on Li Hao, but nor did he need to fear a seventh-rank Sovereign. As the former undisputed number one expert of the east, he possessed his own pride. He had deeply regretted and resented Li Hao's interference in his hunt for the Human King last time, but now he held absolute dominance. In the distance, battle had already broken out. Twenty eighth-rank auras clashed violently, shaking the firmament and countless worlds. Over a dozen eighth-rank auras flared on this side as well. More than thirty eighth-rank experts battling simultaneously across the Chaos was a spectacle unseen in a million years. The Samsara Sovereign's voice resounded, "Long Zhan! I know you are nearby! Your ambitions are known throughout the Chaos! But today, the grand trend is set. Do you… truly dare intervene?" Silence answered him. Long Zhan seemed to have vanished entirely, or perhaps had never come at all. Yet both Li Hao and Samsara were certain that the man was lurking nearby. He could not be far. As Samsara drew nearer, sweat beaded on the brows of the seventh-rank Sovereigns from the Medium Worlds Alliance behind Li Hao. Their tension peaked, and some even took a few steps back. Their earlier brave words about fighting for their collective future melted away. Facing these apex entities, true terror seized them. Wanhua Sovereign was equally tense. Glancing at his companions, his face fell slightly. These men… likely could not endure such intangible pressure. The Medium Worlds Alliance fielded six seventh-rank Sovereigns: the newly ascended Wanqiu, the veteran peak seventh-rank Wanhua, and four others. Working together, they could rival an eighth-rank combatant. If their resolve crumbled… Wanhua Sovereign furrowed his brow, looking at Li Hao with rising unease. It seemed… there were no cards left to play. What could they do? Xinwu was pinned down; surviving was their best hope. The Human King's bold words were just bravado—slaying eighth-rank experts while besieged by fifteen of them was easier said than done. Long Zhan might even target them rather than Samsara. Every single eighth-rank Sovereign in the east had entered the fray; not one remained on the sidelines. What other path remained? Thoughts raced through his mind, and deep despair welled within him. Was the road to the eighth rank truly this impassable? *Thump…* It sounded like a heartbeat, or perhaps the steady thud of Samsara's footsteps. In the boundless void, each step seemed to stomp directly onto the hearts of Li Hao's group. The Samsara Sovereign drew steadily closer, watching Li Hao. So young! He sighed inwardly. He was truly young. A cultivator's age was not measured by outward appearance; a powerhouse could easily perceive a person's true years. This young man was so youthful it defied belief. *Do you… feel no fear?* Li Hao did not retreat, did not run, and did not tremble. He merely watched Samsara in silence, as if waiting for his arrival. At that moment… Samsara actually felt a twinge of pressure—a ridiculous pressure. Had Li Hao panicked, he would have been delighted. But Li Hao's uncanny calm unsettled him. Chuckling, he continued forward, steadily closing the distance as the eighth-rank Sovereigns followed behind. Samsara's laughter drifted over: "Li Hao, I am curious about one thing. Just moments ago… why did that fluctuation of Time vanish?" Li Hao smiled back. "Do you wish to know, Daoist Samsara?" "A little!" Samsara nodded. The distance between them was negligible now; at this range, an eighth-rank Sovereign could launch an attack at will. Li Hao took a deep breath. The chaotic energy around him trembled, and a golden gleam flashed in his eyes as he looked across the gap, seeming to see through everything. Lines of Dao principles manifested in his sight. The Dao of Chaos. Merged into the Chaos, just as when he had observed the Dragon Lord before, he now looked upon the powerhouses opposite him. Great Daos permeated the Chaos, mighty and majestic. Around the Samsara Sovereign coiled two colossal Daos: Life and Death! Like two great dragons circling heaven and earth. Beside Pengcheng Sovereign hovered only a single giant roc. The Fengming Sovereign was enveloped in boundless dark poison mist, as if even the Chaos were being corroded. Around Earth Spirit Sovereign stood towering peaks, like monolithic mountains suppressing the Chaos. Each of these eighth-rank Sovereigns possessed distinct specialties. Earth Spirit possessed unrivaled defense, Pengcheng possessed boundless brute strength, Fengming possessed extreme speed and lethal toxicity, and Samsara was overwhelmingly powerful… The weaker ones were merely the two other Samsara Sovereigns and the two eighth-rank Sovereigns rushing up from behind. A sword materialized in Li Hao's hand. The peak sixth-rank Sky Sword was currently chipped and fractured, but within a single breath, it seemed to blend into the Chaos, absorbing the surrounding chaotic energy to swiftly mend itself. The Samsara Sovereign frowned. "Have things reached this point, and you still choose to resist?" Li Hao stood firm as a mountain. He merely looked at Samsara. Beside Samsara, the Fengming Sovereign was growing impatient. The venomous stingers across its body quivered, ready to fire in unison and poison Li Hao's entire group to death! Behind Li Hao, the three eighth-rank powerhouses unleashed their auras to the limit. Dao Chess transformed into a massive chessboard enveloping them all, guarding against an ambush by Fengming. The Thunder Emperor was wreathed in giant lightning dragons, his expression dead serious. Wushan struck a massive drum in his hands, its muffled beats suffocating the air. At that very moment, Li Hao, who had remained motionless, suddenly stepped forward. He wasn't doing it for show. He had simply been waiting, digesting, and fusing. Why Samsara hadn't rushed to attack didn't matter to him. As for himself, he had merely wanted to buy time to assimilate the Dao stars formed by those spiritual projections. Why Samsara had halted was irrelevant. All Li Hao knew was: he was ready! A smile broke across Li Hao's face. Calm and detached, devoid of worldly haste, he floated upward, his voice as gentle as ever: "Since things have come to this, let us fight!" "Kill!" Before Samsara could speak, the other eighth-rank Sovereigns could contain themselves no longer. At such close range, with such an overwhelming disparity in power, what were they waiting for? They couldn't wait another second! Kill them first. In that split second, Fengming moved with terrifying speed. Inherently gifted in velocity, it pierced the void like a rapier, appearing before Li Hao in a flash as countless venomous stingers shot forth! It believed that with a stroke of luck, it alone could wipe them all out! Kill Li Hao and seize the Time Seed. "I knew you would be the fastest!" Li Hao's voice whispered in its ear. Li Hao seemed to smile; he had known this creature would arrive first, blistering fast. Today, he would use it to test his sword of fused Daos. The sword in his hand resonated with myriad realms. The Great Dao River manifested alongside countless stars, within many of which faint human silhouettes flickered. Thousands of Sovereigns watched with bated breath, their tension peaking! Just as Li Hao had promised, they truly felt the sword intent, the fusion of ten thousand Daos, and the overwhelming majesty of a top-tier eighth-rank Sovereign. And in this moment, they were all part of this sword strike. "This sword is named the Time Sword!" A single strike fusing myriad Daos; thousands of silhouettes flared. Before Fengming's incredulous gaze, Li Hao slashed outward at unimaginable speed—far outstripping even Fengming. Fast! Impossibly fast, as if time itself had ground to a halt, as if heaven and earth were frozen solid. For the first time, Li Hao unleashed the Sword of Time—the very sword strike he envisioned delivering upon comprehending the myriad Daos and stepping into the ninth rank! Though this strike was far from possessing true ninth-rank might, the Samsara Sovereign, lagging a step behind, halted abruptly, his face contorting in shock. How could this be? How much power was that? Five thousand Daos? Six thousand? For a moment, he couldn't even tell. That strike blanketed heaven and earth, engulfing the surrounding void and trapping the petite form of Fengming within. This supreme expert under the southern overlord, hailed as its number one warrior with the power of over four thousand Dao principles, unleashed countless venomous stingers beneath the strike, only for them to be obliterated instantly by the sword light. Fengming let out a shrill, piercing shriek, but it failed to affect Li Hao in the slightest. The sword descended relentlessly. In the distance, a colossal dragon abruptly assumed human form on a far-off perimeter, its expression shifting as it halted its advance. Farther away, the Human King, locked in savage combat, snapped his head around to look. In the shadows, countless observing Sovereigns held their breath! In the entire cosmos, only this single sword strike seemed to exist! The blade fell! In an instant, Fengming's formidable physique seemed to dissolve under the flow of Time, shattered by the overwhelming sword intent. Its body disintegrated into ash, spilling venom that hissed and sizzled through the chaotic void. A Dao Domain centered on toxic mist flashed into existence and instantly shattered. Countless Great Dao laws fractured simultaneously. The Fengming Sovereign's spirit dispersed outward, its compound eyes filled with nothing but utter terror and disbelief. How could this be! Six thousand Daos? Or… even more? It didn't know. It only knew that under this single strike, it had been frozen in Time, forced to absorb the full brunt of this terrifying blow. Its physical body had collapsed, its Dao Domain had shattered, its Dao laws had snapped, and its soul had been pulverized! *I… am a top-tier eighth-rank Sovereign wielding four thousand Dao principles!* *In the south, I am hailed as the greatest demon beneath Spring and Autumn…* Everything was unmade and erased by this single sword. The Fengming Sovereign, a supreme powerhouse, saw its phantom body completely destroyed beneath that strike. Even in death, it could not comprehend it. What a joke! Everyone said Li Hao was merely a seventh-rank Sovereign… A seventh-rank Sovereign killed me with one strike? Who started that rumor? Who?! *Boom!* Only after the phantom shattered did heaven and earth quake, the Chaos churning as a deafening rumble reverberated across the cosmos. Li Hao's laughter rang out: "Fengming Sovereign… it seems you were nothing special after all!" Nothing special! Pure shock was etched onto every face. The Samsara Sovereign stopped dead in his tracks. Pengcheng and the others, who had been about to charge, recoiled violently, expressions of boundless horror plastered across their features. Fengming… was dead? How could this happen! At that moment, in the infinitely distant south, an unimaginably vast shadow that blanketed the entire void seemed to stretch outward, sending a formidable presence rippling in all directions. It was unimaginably far away! Yet at that moment, an entire Dao Universe seemed to extend toward them, as if sensing—and even witnessing—Fengming's demise. Soon, however, that towering shadow receded, fading into the void. In that fleeting instant, heaven and earth felt on the verge of suffocating and collapsing. Countless worlds teetered on the brink of ruin. The southern overlord, the Spring and Autumn Sovereign, was enraged! Yet Li Hao laughed hearty and clear, sweeping his sword outward. Sword shadows blanketed every direction, unleashing countless strands of sword intent like the swords of myriad Daos charging toward the enemy host. "Samsara! Can you… truly kill me?" Sword intent surged to the heavens! The myriad Daos shook as boundless chaotic energy rushed inward, throwing the entire Great Dao of Chaos into violent upheaval. The battle had fully erupted. And it began with the fall of a top-tier eighth-rank Sovereign!