Demon, Saint!

For this single strike, Li Hao had prepared for far too long. He had made too many arrangements. He had even gone so far as to shatter his most important asset—the Time Star—on this very day. Such resolve was something few could ever match, even if they could replicate ten thousand Daos. And at this moment, it granted him a fitting return. A single sword strike had slain Fengming, master of four thousand Dao Laws! The southern great demon had fallen. The Samsara Sovereigns fell back. The Sovereign of Samsara felt a chill run through him. Killing Fengming in one strike was something even he could not achieve. He commanded over five thousand eight hundred Dao Laws—nearly six thousand—yet he was incapable of ending Fengming's life in a single blow. In his eyes, among all those present, perhaps only Long Zhan of the Four Regions could accomplish such a feat besides the region's hegemons. Long Zhan was an unmatched supreme expert wielding seven thousand Dao Laws. Those ultimate overlords likely exceeded eight thousand. Reaching nine thousand placed one at the ninth rank. And what of Li Hao? Had he already surpassed the Sovereign of Samsara among eighth-rank experts? That was impossible! Even the Sovereign of Samsara, who had believed himself thoroughly prepared, wavered at this instant. Behind him, the faces of several eighth-rank Sovereigns, including the Earth Spirit Sovereign, twisted in horror. Fengming, whose strength matched their own, had been slain by a single strike. The Pengcheng Sovereign's expression turned grim as well. At best, his power was evenly matched with Fengming's—perhaps even slightly inferior. How could this be? In all directions, countless Sovereigns looked on in utter shock. Far in the distance, Long Zhan hovered in the void with a grave expression. Behind him, several eighth-rank Sovereigns were seized by disbelief. Even the Black Tiger Sovereign and Feng Yan, who had burned with a desire for vengeance, stood frozen. The Red Moon Sovereign was likewise filled with bewilderment. How could this happen? Was this still Li Hao? Was this still the King of Silver Moon, who clung to Xinwu? Even though Silver Moon and Xinwu had always been separate entities, in everyone's eyes, wasn't Silver Moon merely an appendage of Xinwu? Yet today… while the Human King was still locked in bitter combat, the King of Silver Moon had already felled a top-tier eighth-rank powerhouse with a single sword strike. It was beyond comprehension! …… Meanwhile, the Thunder Emperor and his companions were wild with excitement, deeply shaken and overwhelmed with ecstatic relief. How was this possible? A top eighth-rank expert—someone even stronger than several of them—had been felled just like that, slain by a single stroke of Li Hao's blade! Behind Samsara, two eighth-rank powerhouses who had just arrived from Western Huntian took in the sight. The moment they landed, their faces drained of color. Seven formidable auras now rippled with instability. The Sovereign of Samsara retreated, refraining from launching an attack. When one did not truly understand their opponent, assuming that a display of peak power left them in a weakened state and seeking to capitalize on it was often a direct path to the grave. He continued falling back, increasing the distance between himself and Li Hao. Pengcheng and Earth Spirit, who had been itching for battle only moments before, retreated in haste without the slightest hesitation. When someone of their rank—someone possessing equal strength like Fengming—was slain before their eyes, they felt the icy touch of mortal danger. Being outmatched was one thing; being suppressed was another. But being outright killed… that was an entirely different matter! All seven eighth-rank Sovereigns were falling back. In contrast, the Thunder Emperor, Dao Chess, and Wushan eagerly pressed forward with excitement. As for the seventh-rank Sovereigns from the Middle World Alliance, aside from Wanhua, every one of them had been on the verge of fleeing in terror moments earlier. Now, however, they stood dumbfounded. Their eyes ignited with sudden brilliance. They no longer retreated, no longer trembled, and no longer felt fear. They rushed forward to keep pace! They… seemed… perhaps… on the verge of turning the tables! This was not a desperate comeback against adversity. Rather… from the very beginning, this King of Silver Moon appeared to have calculated everything, drafted plans, and made exhaustive preparations. Xinwu was accustomed to turning the tide amidst the chaos of battle, but Silver Moon seemed to hold the initiative from start to finish. Li Hao rarely relied on miraculous comebacks against the odds. There had only been one time when he did, and many had died. Since that day, whatever Li Hao undertook, whatever battle he waged, he would only act if he possessed absolute confidence. One such experience in a lifetime was enough. Turning the tide in every crisis, breaking through in the midst of battle time after time—Li Hao believed he might not be cut out for that. "Li Hao!" The Sovereign of Samsara looked toward Li Hao with an intensely grave expression, as if trying to see straight through him. His voice was heavy. "Have you… completely mastered Time?" Time was not originally Li Hao's path of cultivation. Many knew this fact; it had originated from someone else. Today, Li Hao had decapitated Fengming with a single strike. Had he truly mastered the Great Dao of Time? At this moment, within the Great Dao River of Li Hao, the spiritual bodies of thousands of Sovereigns were similarly gripped by astonishment and wild excitement, as though the victory were their own. The brilliance of that single strike was something none of them would ever forget in this lifetime. Was this the sword of the Master of the Myriad Heavens, the Sovereign of the Bright Moon, Li Hao? At this instant, for the very first time, Li Hao's prominence in the Chaos eclipsed that of the Human King of Xinwu. He was no longer merely the King of Silver Moon in the eyes of others, subordinate to and reliant on Xinwu. He was Li Hao. Li Hao shook his head, a faint smile lingering on his face. "Fellow Daoist Samsara, you flatter me! Time encompasses ten thousand Daos. If I truly mastered Time, I would likely have already stepped into the ninth rank. If that were the case, I could slaughter every single person present without exception. Why would I waste words on you?" In truth, he disliked wasting words. With absolute strength, why squander breath on enemies? Unless evenly matched or slightly disadvantaged, who would bother speaking so much? He was not the Human King, who reveled in venomous mockery and could not be satisfied without hurling insults. Li Hao turned his gaze into the distance. Moments ago, he had sensed ripples from that direction. Long Zhan was indeed nearby, clearly shaken by the previous sword strike, which had inadvertently exposed his location. "Long Zhan is nearby. Fellow Daoist Samsara, do you still wish to fight?" The Sovereign of Samsara's face darkened, but in the next breath, he smiled and suddenly roared, "Long Zhan! There is no blood feud between you and me! Yet Li Hao cooperates with Xinwu, garrisoning the east to bar your path out of the Four Regions. He harbors nothing but malice toward your Chaos tribe. Are you going to nurture a tiger only to court disaster?" "Pengcheng is also of your Chaos tribe… Between you and me, there is at least common ground to join hands… Between you and him, is there any?" He bellowed loudly. Even though his side still wielded formidable combat strength, he chose to recruit Long Zhan. In the distance. Knowing he had already been exposed and could conceal himself no longer, Long Zhan stepped out from the endless darkness. At his side followed four eighth-rank experts—Black Tiger, Feng Yan, Red Moon, and Qingqiu—making five eighth-rank Sovereigns in total. Aside from Long Zhan, who was immensely formidable, the other four possessed ordinary combat strength. The appearance of these five powerhouses sent a chill through the many cultivators watching from the shadows. They had thought that after Li Hao's single strike slew Fengming, Samsara would be unable to do anything to him today. Yet with these five stepping into the open, the situation was once again fraught with uncertainty. Yet Li Hao appeared entirely unperturbed. He merely looked in that direction, watching Long Zhan. Golden light flickered in his eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips, as though he found it amusing. After a long pause, Li Hao suddenly said, "There is enmity between you and me. For this battle, Fellow Daoist Long Zhan, it would be best for you to remain an onlooker! Do not court trouble and force out an unspeakable entity. If that happens, it will bring neither of us any good!" Long Zhan's heart trembled slightly! He gazed at Li Hao from afar, uttering not a word. Li Hao remained standing where he was, yet his force spirit manifested. Like a towering monarch looking down upon the world, he gazed across the distance. At that moment, a ripple extended toward Long Zhan. Beside Long Zhan, the phantom of a colossal dragon seemed to emerge. It made brief contact with Li Hao's force spirit, and in that fleeting instant, Long Zhan seemed to glimpse something… a passage! A passage leading directly into the Four Regions! Long Zhan was shaken to his core. He looked back at Li Hao, who remained calm, returning his gaze without speaking a word. If you are a fool, there is no need for further discussion. If you are wise, you should understand that if war breaks out between us, it may… draw certain things out. If Time is completely shattered, you may not be able to bear the consequences. Long Zhan remained silent. He merely stared at Li Hao, and Li Hao stared back, suddenly chuckling before looking away. If you wish to intervene, by all means, try. He had no desire to draw those things out, as it would invite immense trouble. However, if Long Zhan insisted on meddling, then this time… certain things truly might be summoned. Paying Long Zhan no further heed, Li Hao had merely offered a warning. Still, an overlord like Long Zhan might not necessarily be cowed. Li Hao wasted no more time. He uttered a low cry: "Kill!" No words were needed. He drew his blade! A brilliant sword light illuminated the heavens, and Li Hao's voice reverberated across the void: "Human King, this junior has slain a demon first to clear your path. You are skilled in battle, adept at turning the tide in adversity… Today, this junior would like to witness it as well!" …… Xinwu. The Human King heard him. At that moment, he was furious. He felt slighted. *Adept at turning the tide in adversity? Are you saying… I'm inferior to you?* *Bastard!* Besieged by fifteen eighth-rank Sovereigns, with seventh-rank experts joining the fray, powerful enemies pressed in from all sides. At this moment, he was under siege by multiple eighth-rank combatants, including the formidable Extreme Ice Sovereign. The Human King's gaze turned razor-sharp. Known for his foul mouth, this time he uncharacteristically refrained from hurling insults. His long blade slashed with immense momentum, yet it was difficult to harm the enemy. He stared coldly at the Extreme Ice Sovereign, his glare so chilling that it sent a shiver through the latter. At this moment, the Human King radiated boundless savagery: "Extreme Ice, I'll give you one last chance… Get the hell out of here, right now! You lot have truly pissed me off!" The Extreme Ice Sovereign's expression turned ugly. Although an eighth-rank Sovereign had fallen on the other side, fifteen eighth-rank experts were laying siege to this place. What right did the Human King have to be so arrogant? The Human King commanded merely five thousand Dao Laws, and Extreme Ice possessed roughly the same. He was hardly weaker than the Human King. What right did he have to run wild? "It seems… you won't shed tears until you see the coffin!" At this moment, the Human King seemed genuinely enraged. Nearby, the Supreme's brow twitched. Fang Ping was manageable when calm, but when truly provoked, he disregarded all consequences. Once battle erupted, he was prone to losing total control. Just as the Supreme was about to speak, an eighth-rank Sovereign launched a fierce assault, cutting off his words. The Supreme lost interest in saying anything more. Meanwhile, the Human King's face turned livid. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and roared, "Blow them all the hell up!" The moment the words left his mouth… An unbelievable scene unfolded. Several seventh-rank Sovereigns of Xinwu, including powerful figures like the Blood Sovereign and the Sword Venerable, looked somewhat helpless, speechless, and eager to complain… Yet their frustration found no outlet. Even Li Zhu, who had always opposed him, cursed under his breath, *"Fuck!"* *Besides this, what else do you know how to do?* *What else can you do?* *You truly are a piece of work. For the sake of your pride… you're willing to throw everything away, aren't you?* Countless thoughts flashed through their minds, yet at this moment, none of the Xinwu Sovereigns showed the slightest reluctance or thought of defiance. In a single breath, the Sword Venerable's sword domain manifested, ten thousand swords shot forth, and boundless vitality surged. The surrounding seventh-rank Sovereigns fused together. Xinwu possessed vast experience with self-detonation. They were so experienced… that everyone knew precisely how to maximize the explosion's destructive power. They knew how to inflict the heaviest damage on the enemy, how to prevent their targets from fleeing, and how to select their marks… The entire process was practically a standardized routine. After self-detonating, even if they were revived, they would return to their previous predicament… deficient in yang qi, facing the same scarcity of energy and deficiency of vitality as before. Yet at this moment, no one hesitated. No one gave it a second thought. In a single instant… *Rumble!* A cataclysmic explosion echoed throughout the Chaos. A colossal sphere of light swept across the entire expanse, surging with boundless energy waves that spread in all directions. Beneath the eighth rank, several seventh-rank Sovereigns—many of whom had advanced only days ago, such as Qin Fengqing—hurled curses as they threw themselves into the enemy ranks to join the self-detonation. A chorus of curses resounded! "Fuck!" "Not this again!" "Revive me first this time!" "If you dare play favorites again, I'll murder you the moment I'm back…" "……" Curses boiled over. Even those who were usually composed could not help but shout obscenities. Such was their absolute trust in the Human King; they believed they would be revived regardless. At worst, they would drop in cultivation and lose their yang qi, just like back then. They were used to it! This was Xinwu's most direct, potent, and utterly insane tactic. They were thoroughly accustomed to it. *Boom! Boom! Boom!* They detonated without hesitation. Multiple seventh-rank Sovereigns—even an offensive Sovereign like the Sword Venerable, who had formed a Dao domain and mastered thousands of Dao Laws—exploded directly in that instant! Terrifying explosive power swept in all directions. Several surrounding seventh-rank enemies were blown to pieces instantly. Yet their targets were not those weaklings, but the eighth-rank Sovereigns besieging the Human King. As if anticipating this, the Human King had already erected his defenses. Meanwhile, the Extreme Ice Sovereign and his allies clearly had not expected that a single command would prompt multiple seventh-rank Sovereigns to detonate themselves. It was as if they did not care whether the Human King would ever be able to revive them again. Even if he could, climbing back to this level from the seventh rank would subject them to the hardships of a millennium ago. Yet they seemed not to have considered that at all. *Rumble!* The sound of detonations, the shattering of Great Daos, the snapping of bones, the surging of vitality, and the bursting of chaotic power shook the entire Chaos at this moment. "……" More than a few jaws dropped. Even Li Hao, who was in the middle of charging forward, was affected. He came to an abrupt halt, wide-eyed with shock! He knew Xinwu had a penchant for self-detonations; the Human King had even rigged numerous locations to explode. Back in Silver Moon, almost every ore vein had been fitted with self-detonation mechanisms by the Human King. For Xinwu, self-detonation seemed to be a routine occurrence, morbid as it was! Yet Li Hao had never imagined that a single slight would drive these Xinwu Sovereigns to detonate themselves in the span of a single breath. *Rumble!* Violent shockwaves rattled the entire Chaos. In that very instant, the Human King's blade projected silently through the expanse, casting its reflection across the myriad heavens and blanketing the void! The blade descended! An eighth-rank Sovereign from the Extreme Ice World, who had been besieging the Human King alongside the Extreme Ice Sovereign, was shredded by the explosion. Before he could recover, terror seized him. Beside him, the Extreme Ice Sovereign was equally horrified, his furious roar shaking the heavens: "You dare—" *Boom!* The blade radiated boundless murderous intent. The Human King's expression was utterly devoid of warmth, like an archdemon from the depths of hell. His chilled voice echoed across the firmament: "Even if Xinwu loses its king today, I will drag all three Sovereigns of Extreme Ice to the grave!" He had always been like this—a man of his word who never went back on what he said. A chilling shout rang out: "Old Zhang, listen well! Ignore everyone else and surround the three Sovereigns of Extreme Ice! If they don't die, you blow yourselves up too!" *Boom!* The blade struck down with a thunderous roar, hacking an eighth-rank Sovereign of Extreme Ice to pieces. The self-detonation of several seventh-rank Sovereigns had bought the death of only a single eighth-rank expert and injuries to a few others. Yet at this moment, the other Sovereigns felt their blood run cold. Their faces turned ashen! The Supreme, the Cang Emperor, and the Sun God did not hesitate in the slightest, charging directly toward the remaining eighth-rank Sovereign of Extreme Ice. Even the Supreme, who was typically full of cunning schemes, let out a savage roar: "Kill him! Pay no attention to anyone else! Anyone still breathing, strike him!" The remaining Extreme Ice Sovereign felt a chill penetrate his soul! His face turned bone-white! Even with several eighth-rank experts beside him, he was terrified to the core. This was sheer savagery. So what if they were outnumbered? Five eighth-rank Sovereigns disregarded everyone else, uncaring of injuries or death, fixated on a single objective… Even if they fell, they would slaughter the three Sovereigns of Extreme Ice! Meanwhile, the Human King swung his blade, abandoning all defense, ignoring everything else, and disregarding the eighth-rank Sovereigns assaulting him from all sides. His blade cleaved toward the Extreme Ice Sovereign with frenzied fury. Like a madman, his blade fractured into ten million shards. Even as other Sovereigns struck and broke through his flesh, he was determined to leave bleeding wounds upon the Extreme Ice Sovereign. This was the Human King of Xinwu! The Human King was insane—utterly, completely insane. At this moment, the Extreme Ice Sovereign was terrified. He was truly terrified, almost brought to tears of frustration. *It wasn't just my idea!* *The three regional overlords made the decision together! All the eighth-rank experts in the eastern region decided this together! I am merely the strongest among them, so I took on the role of uniting the alliance. That doesn't mean I made the call alone!* Xinwu was crazy… He had heard of Xinwu and understood a little about them, but never with such clarity. Today, he learned that they were a pack of lunatics—utter madmen through and through. Even upon reaching the eighth rank, they remained insane. He felt the looming threat of death. The other Sovereigns, wary of risking their lives and thinking it best for Extreme Ice to take the brunt of the assault, engaged only in hit-and-run attacks, surrounding the few eighth-rank combatants of Xinwu. Yet… they had never considered that the three Sovereigns of Extreme Ice might end up buried here! Had they thought of it? Perhaps… they had. But since it was not them dying, letting Extreme Ice serve as a sacrificial shield while Xinwu went mad didn't seem like a bad outcome. Yet for the one on the receiving end, how much despair did this moment bring? The Extreme Ice Sovereign was flustered by the Human King's unhinged assault. On the other side, the Supreme and the other eighth-rank experts had likewise gone mad, lunging toward the other eighth-rank Sovereign. Even with eighth-rank Sovereigns standing in every direction, none dared step forward to block them. The eighth-rank combatants in front of the Extreme Ice Sovereign instinctively gave way. They shrank from the edge of that lethal blade! The Extreme Ice Sovereign could barely breathe. Despair began to set in, and he wanted to roar in fury: *It wasn't me… I wasn't the mastermind!* …… The madness and ferocity on that side left even Li Hao shaken. He abruptly glanced toward the Thunder Emperor and his companions… The three eighth-rank Sovereigns had frozen expressions. To be frank, they understood this method of warfare. It was simple, straightforward, and generally effective. Anyone could understand it; anyone could use it. However… in all seriousness, who would do such a thing? At the seventh or eighth rank, detonating yourself on a whim and fighting to the death just to target one specific faction… Even if they wanted to learn this style, they could never bring themselves to do it. They truly didn't dare! Yet at this moment, Li Hao seemed to understand something. He fixed his gaze on the Sovereign of Samsara, and a cold sneer curved his lips. The Human King… was truly something else. *I’ve learned the trick!* *I might butcher the execution, but I know what must be done now.* *The old senior certainly has character.* "Heaven and Earth Overturned!" With a soft chant, the firmament flipped. Across from him, several eighth-rank Sovereigns trembled. In that moment, the two eighth-rank Sovereigns of Samsara standing behind their leader were suddenly displaced as if inverted. In a single instant, the two appeared behind Li Hao. Li Hao, blade in hand, faced five enemies alone. In that instant, he drew a prison around them as a wall of the Great Dao rose on all sides! Li Hao bellowed, "Slay the two of them! Those who have already died once should stay down!" Earth-Overturning Sword! At this moment, the Earth-Overturning Sword emerged. Li Hao transformed into a Dao domain, sealing off the space before him. The Sovereign of Samsara snapped back to his senses in an instant, his expression warping drastically as he roared, "Break through the Great Dao wall!" He attacked instantly, unleashing a frantic barrage! Li Hao intended to kill the remaining two Sovereigns of Samsara. Meanwhile, the three eighth-rank Sovereigns and six seventh-rank Sovereigns stared in surprise at the two eighth-rank enemies who had suddenly materialized before them. In the next breath… the Thunder Emperor's gaze hardened. "Kill them! Slay them all! We cannot let them look down on us!" *Boom!* Countless bolts of lightning erupted. Li Hao was actually taking on five opponents single-handedly, holding back five mighty experts to buy them the time needed to slay these two eighth-rank Sovereigns and weaken the foundation of the Samsara Domain. Clearly, this tactic was learned directly from Xinwu. Just as the Human King had singled out Extreme Ice, these people had merely banded together in a temporary alliance. If the two Sovereigns of Samsara were killed, the other Sovereigns would not necessarily fight to the death to save them. Such was human nature! The prerequisite was speed. They had to kill the two before Li Hao was overwhelmed. The two eighth-rank Sovereigns naturally realized this as well. Having died once before, their faces paled. In the next instant, both roared as the powers of life and death manifested. Countless phantoms rose, blotting out the sky, only to be blasted apart by divine lightning. "Hold on for just a moment!" The once-composed Sovereign of Samsara lost his calm entirely, roaring at the top of his lungs, "Hold on for a moment… Li Hao cannot hold out…" Strong as Li Hao was, he could not withstand five mighty experts joining forces. As long as they endured, the others could tear down Li Hao's defense with the Earth-Overturning Sword. The Millstone of Life and Death manifested! At this moment, the Sovereign of Samsara dared not hold back any longer. He summoned the Millstone of Life and Death directly, dispensing with finesse to unleash a relentless barrage, smashing it violently against Li Hao's wall of the Great Dao! Fierce Dao Laws battered the Dao domain, shattering one minor world after another. Within the thousands of minor worlds, spiritual bodies ruptured directly. Yet Li Hao had no leisure to care about them now. Blocking five opponents alone had already pushed him deep into exhaustion. Pengcheng transformed into a giant roc and crashed directly into the barrier, his colossal strength causing several minor worlds to shake violently. Earth Spirit roared as well, countless mountain peaks coalescing in his grasp before smashing down in fury. The Dao domain shook violently under the onslaught. Though Li Hao was powerful, he was not so mighty as to fight five at once. Commanding nearly six thousand Dao Laws made him formidable, yet his Dao domain was continuously collapsing, showing signs of imminent breakdown. Three eighth-rank and six seventh-rank Sovereigns besieged the two eighth-rank enemies. However, those two focused entirely on defense, abandoning all offense in a bid to survive for just a brief span. In the short term, there was no sign of quickly finishing them off. The faces of the Thunder Emperor and his companions changed. Whoever breached the defense first would likely emerge victorious. The three eighth-rank experts, together with Wanhua and the rest, were still unable to quickly shatter their defenses… If Li Hao's defenses fell first… this battle might end in total defeat. *Imitate Xinwu?* In a flash, the thought crossed their minds. *Self-detonation?* The self-detonation of an eighth-rank expert would be more than enough to obliterate the defenses of two eighth-rank Sovereigns, but… Indeed, they found it agonizingly difficult to make such a decision. Even though they placed immense trust in Li Hao, human nature remained what it was. Such an act required long-cultivated tacit understanding, which was exceedingly rare. At that moment, within Li Hao's Dao domain, the Silver Moon martial masters watched with rising anxiety. In a split second, someone looked toward the Queen inside a certain star. The Queen's expression shifted. In the next instant, while she was still reacting, a figure stepped forth from the star with astonishing speed. Rather than heading to the rear to join the fray, the one who emerged was none other than Dao Lord Hong Yitang. Hong Yitang moved with extraordinary swiftness, merging into Li Hao's Great Dao River in an instant. Before anyone could react, Hong Yitang searched through the river for a moment, and a small golden orb materialized in his grasp. The Queen's expression changed. That was… the Dao of Faith. On that day, when countless mortals had erupted with the power of faith, she had been unable to bear it and had transferred it all to Li Hao. Li Hao, unwilling to accept it, had suppressed it deep within the river. Now, Hong Yitang seized it and swallowed it whole. He had always been quiet and unassuming. Even as a Dao Lord, he had never regarded himself as a master of the Dao. In his eyes, his Great Dao River had been bestowed by Li Hao rather than cultivated through his own efforts; everything had been granted by Li Hao. His nature was naturally tranquil, unlike the other Silver Moon martial masters who were fiercely competitive. Even upon reaching the peak of the sixth rank, he never considered himself exceptionally talented. With his wife and daughter ascending to the rank of Sovereign one after another, his demeanor had grown even more detached, free of all ambition. Lately, Qian Wuliang had been far more proactive and enthusiastic than him, while Hong Yitang had gradually receded into the background, rarely voicing an opinion. At this moment, he instantly detached himself from the Great Dao River, severing his connection to that portion of the Silver Moon universe's Great Dao River. In a single breath, that river merged toward Qian Wuliang, whose expression warped in shock! *What are you doing?* *Are you trying to get me killed?* *How could I possibly dare to merge with a dual-Dao universe!* Meanwhile, a dazzling brilliance of faith power erupted from Hong Yitang, potent to the extreme. Protection, responsibility! It was the greatest yearning of hundreds of billions, even trillions of mortals at that pivotal moment—the purest manifestation of desire and hope. In that instant, he shone like the sun, casting radiant brilliance across the void. In a flash, he descended into the battlefield behind them, his expression calm, carrying a serene detachment. Living in harmony with the world had always been his conviction. Yet… those with the ability should shoulder greater burdens, and those who achieved success should benefit the world. That had always been a principle he lived by. If he possessed the power, why shouldn't he lend a hand to help the human race? Years ago, he had gathered orphans, tirelessly aiding them. Today, as he absorbed boundless power of faith, he faced virtually no resistance. Protecting the human race was a staggering burden, not something a peak sixth-rank Sovereign could bear. Yet now… he took it upon himself nonetheless. He looked into the distance toward Xinwu… The people of Xinwu were willing to face death to aid their Human King, creating the best opportunity and paving the road for him. Yet Silver Moon… though the Silver Moon martial masters were united, few could ever offer Li Hao such profound support. Instead, Silver Moon seemed only to draw strength from Li Hao. "I hold a single wish: that the human race may forever prosper…" Having spoken, he chuckled softly. "The wish is too vast… I wish only… that Silver Moon may forever prosper!" This was his true heart. The sphere of light plunged into the battle. Under the astonished gazes of several eighth-rank Sovereigns, a path of brilliant light emerged. It was not the Dao of Light, but… Responsibility! Every Great Dao that drew near was instantly assimilated. Hundreds of billions, trillions of mortals seemed to manifest behind him, prostrating before the heavens. The two eighth-rank Sovereigns of Samsara were still holding their defense. They had paid little heed to Hong Yitang's sudden arrival, unconcerned even when he appeared to break through to the seventh rank in that brief instant. Yet in the next second, that terrifyingly unique Great Dao began to spread. The Dao of Life and Death wielded by the two eighth-rank Sovereigns seemed to be engulfed in an instant, and their expressions shifted. A thought emerged in their minds… *We should not kill him. Is this man… the Human Sovereign?* *The Human Sovereign?* *What Human Sovereign?* The two eighth-rank Sovereigns struggled against the impulse. What a joke! There was no Human Sovereign in the Chaos! Even the Human King was merely a self-proclaimed king of Xinwu, not the sovereign of all humankind! This fleeting hesitation and sudden disruption created a momentary opening in their defenses, causing a fissure to appear in their Daos. The Thunder Emperor and his companions instantly seized upon the opening—a glaring, obvious flaw. Hong Yitang had actually… actually breached the defenses of two eighth-rank combatants in a single instant. How could that be? This was… impossible! At this moment, Hong Yitang resembled a saint descending into the mortal world. He had even relinquished his identity as a Dao Lord, yielding it to Qian Wuliang. He knew that by merging with this Dao, even if he survived, he would shoulder an immense, inescapable responsibility for the rest of his days! Yet what of it? Compared to Xinwu… Silver Moon seemed to have offered too little. Compared to those experts who walked through fire and water for their Human King, Silver Moon… seemed only to drag Li Hao down. It should not be like this! "Sword of the Sacred Dao!" A blade was drawn, resembling the sword of a holy monarch, fused with the convictions of trillions of mortals. A strike cleaved outward toward the two eighth-rank Sovereigns. At this moment, it was as if countless humans throughout the Chaos were singing in unison: "Glorious is the human race, prospering throughout an era of peace!" The intent of the sword illuminated the Chaos, banishing the darkness. This strike was not meant to slaughter, but to soothe—to quell all hostility and pacify evil intent. As the blade descended, the two eighth-rank Sovereigns fell into a daze. *The person before us cannot be killed.* *We cannot strike him. He is the sovereign… the Human Sovereign… acknowledged by trillions of mortals… Slaying him is an offense against heaven and earth!* In the next instant, the two eighth-rank Sovereigns snapped back to reality. Yet their expressions twisted in horror. In that fleeting opening, the three eighth-rank Sovereigns finally shattered their defenses completely. Driven to a frenzy of urgency, the Thunder Emperor and his allies struck with all their might! *Boom!* Countless lightning bolts materialized. Sovereign Wushan's fingers dripped with blood as if severing an invisible tether, plunging the vision of the two eighth-rank Sovereigns into sudden darkness. Dao Chess swept across the void, traversing space in an instant to pierce their bodies. The attacks from Wanhua and the other Sovereigns landed last. In a split second, a deafening crash echoed! Both eighth-rank Sovereigns were blown to smithereens. Even as their phantoms faded, they stared at Hong Yitang, murmuring in disbelief, "Does the Chaos… truly have a Human Sovereign?" How could that be possible? What… was this? *Boom!* A tremendous roar echoed. Li Hao fell back, his domain trembling and his river faltering. At that moment, the Sovereign of Samsara broke through Li Hao's blockade at maximum speed, but… his expression twisted instantly. His eyes filled with complex emotion, and unable to hold back any longer, he roared in fury, "Dammit! Bastards! Why?!" Was heaven itself conspiring against him? Why was he always a step too late? Why… why had such a bizarre Great Dao appeared? It was like the descent of the Human Sovereign into the mortal world! It banished the darkness and resonated with countless mortals, instantly assimilating the Daos of two eighth-rank Sovereigns, shattering their defenses and resulting in their instant demise. He roared, "Is this the Dao of the Human Sovereign? Are the Sovereigns of Samsara not of the human race? What a ridiculous Dao! Shameless!" He raged! He truly could not contain himself, pushed to the absolute peak of fury. Where had this Great Dao come from? Why was it here, embodied by a mere sixth-rank Sovereign? A sixth-rank Human Sovereign—even if he had now reached the seventh rank—would become the laughingstock of the cosmos if word spread! It had all happened in a single breath! First Fengming had fallen, followed by the deaths of two eighth-rank Sovereigns of Samsara, and before that, Fusheng and his retinue had been slaughtered… Was the Chaos truly on the brink of an upheaval? At this moment, the Sovereign of Samsara felt profound despair. Even though he had broken through Li Hao's defense, he was filled with hopelessness. No matter how thoroughly he prepared, unforeseen accidents constantly ruined his plans. Who could have imagined the appearance of such an anomaly? Only now did Li Hao find the time and focus to turn his head and look… With a glance, his expression shifted subtly. He did not know… what to say. He disliked this Great Dao intensely and had never allowed anyone to touch it. He believed that no one could shoulder such a Dao, nor should anyone attempt to. It was a path of no return! Perhaps this Dao should have remained buried deep within the river, never again to see the light of day. People spoke of faith, responsibility, and the Human Sovereign… but in truth, this was the Dao of a puppet—a puppet crafted by humanity, an instrument bound to uphold absolute justice and total protection on behalf of trillions of mortals. Yet for now, there was no time to dwell on that. The death of two eighth-rank Sovereigns was an overwhelming victory for Li Hao. Eight eighth-rank enemies had attacked, and three were dead in the blink of an eye. Even he had not anticipated such a swift and decisive outcome. At this moment, the Sovereign of Samsara coughed, his Great Dao trembling. For a brief moment, he was in a daze. The three eighth-rank experts had already died once before, and he had paid a staggering price to revive them, even pledging his entire allegiance to Huntian. Yet in such a short span, they had been killed again. This time… he would likely never be able to bring them back. Why? Had it all come to nothing in the end? He lost his focus. While he was lost in thought, Li Hao was not. With a soft cry, the Dao domain dissolved. The ten thousand worlds condensed, seemingly reforming into the Time Star, yet not quite the same. Behind Samsara, the faces of several eighth-rank Sovereigns shifted drastically! The Earth Spirit Sovereign roared, "Fall back!" The Sovereign of Samsara had momentarily lost his composure—something almost unthinkable for a peak eighth-rank Sovereign. Yet the string of crushing failures had plunged him into deep frustration and despair. To kill Li Hao, he had traveled everywhere, rallied various factions, and gathered numerous mighty experts. Even with all that, was he doomed to fail? On what grounds! One had to remember that before this, Li Hao was merely at the seventh rank! The Pengcheng Sovereign transformed into a giant roc and shot toward Samsara, while Earth Spirit and the others unleashed their power, surrounding Samsara with mountain peaks to deny Li Hao the chance to strike him down. Samsara was their strongest fighter. If he fell… they would truly suffer an utter rout! The death of two eighth-rank Sovereigns from his realm had shaken his Dao universe, and with his mind in turmoil, he was in grave danger. Yet Li Hao's target at this moment was not Samsara. Samsara was immensely powerful; even with his focus broken, he would not be easily slain. At this moment, Li Hao suddenly chuckled. The power of ten thousand worlds surfaced, yet it did not transform into Time… Li Hao did not understand the Dao of Time. Indeed, even now, his comprehension of it remained limited. However… he had witnessed another kind of Dao, had personally integrated into it, and had experienced it with utmost clarity. It was just that back then, he lacked enough Dao Laws to attempt it. The Dao of Lightning Tribulation, the Dao of Calamity. Within the illusory ten thousand worlds, more than nine thousand Daos suddenly shifted at this moment, forming a new combination. Across the Chaos, the distant Thunder Domain abruptly surged with violent activity. Boundless lightning tribulation power vanished into thin air. In a single breath, a spark of lightning manifested upon Li Hao's sword. Far in the depths, a statue suddenly widened its eyes and began cursing loudly: "Thief of my Dao! Shameless scoundrel…" In that instant, from the myriad Daos surrounding the statue, certain unique powers of the Great Dao bled away. They vanished through the Chaos. Upon Li Hao's sword, an intensely powerful lightning tribulation aura took shape. In the distance, Sovereign Feng Yan felt a splitting headache. Terror flickered in her eyes as she witnessed countless bolts of lightning tribulation coalescing before her, threatening to strike her down! Long Zhan's expression shifted slightly. He threw a punch toward the sky and barked coldly, "Li Hao!" Li Hao… was actually attacking Feng Yan! What was he thinking? Had he gone mad? The battle between him and Samsara had yet to be decided. Long Zhan refraining from intervening was already a blessing for Li Hao, yet Li Hao had… deliberately summoned lightning tribulation to strike Feng Yan, who shared a connection with him. What in the world was he trying to do? The Sovereign of Samsara was jolted back to his senses, looking back with astonishment… an astonishment tinged with sudden delight. *Li Hao, have you grown drunk on your own success?* *You… dared to attack Long Zhan's side!* Using terrifying lightning tribulation power to strike Feng Yan was an attack on Long Zhan. Even if Long Zhan were reluctant, he would now be forced to strike back at Li Hao. Li Hao paid no heed to any of this as boundless lightning tribulations materialized! He seemed to transform into a titan of lightning tribulation, his blade crackling with thunder that linked directly to Feng Yan in the distance. The Sovereigns around Feng Yan seemed affected as well, with bolts of tribulation lightning surfacing and beginning to descend around them. Long Zhan was enraged. He unleashed a punch like a soaring dragon, shattering the void! *Li Hao, you are courting death!* He would watch from the sidelines no longer. Stepping forward, he prepared to crush this insolent bastard. He had not intended to act, as Li Hao could still serve as a shield in the east. Yet now, he could tolerate this no longer. He had originally planned to use his daughter's Great Dao agreement to strike Li Hao down, but Li Hao had turned it against them instead. At this moment, why care about anything else! Yet in that instant, a single character materialized in Li Hao's hand—*Calamity*! It seemed forged from boundless powers of disaster. Li Hao offered a faint smile, and that colossal character for "Calamity" suddenly shot toward the distant void, piercing through the universe to plunge directly into the Thunder Domain. At that moment, the boundless lightning tribulations seemed to go mad, erupting as the entire Thunder Domain fell into violent upheaval! Countless lightning titans charged frenziedly toward the interior of the Four Regions, chasing after that character of Calamity. Long Zhan, still stepping through the void, abruptly looked back. His face drained of color, turning icy cold as he stared at Li Hao with a grim expression, grinding his teeth: "You… are mad!" Li Hao was far too ruthless! Li Hao's expression remained cold and indifferent. "Fall back, withstand the lightning tribulation, and defend the Four Regions. Otherwise… you will lose every one of your people today, and the Four Regions will be buried with me. I… am no saint!" Long Zhan's expression shifted repeatedly. In the next instant, he gritted his teeth and let out a roar that shook the heavens! In a flash, his hand enveloped Feng Yan, drawing the countless lightning tribulations into his grasp. He bellowed, "Fall back!" *Boom!* The void trembled as if breaking apart. Long Zhan transformed into a colossal dragon of boundless proportions, tearing through the void toward the Four Regions. Li Hao… had summoned the lightning tribulation merely to condense a divine character and drop it into the Four Regions, intending to turn the Four Regions into another Thunder Domain. Could the Four Regions withstand it? Without them there, they certainly could not. When that happened, countless lives would be extinguished! Most importantly, countless members of the Chaos tribe resided there; they would all be buried alongside it, as well as countless mortals! Li Hao's heart was far too ruthless! He was no saint, no savior. He was a demon! To eliminate interference, he had actually summoned the lightning tribulation to obliterate the entire Four Regions, rather than using it against Samsara… Damn him! Now, only by returning and using Feng Yan to draw the lightning tribulation and retrieve the "Calamity" divine character could they restore peace to the Thunder Domain. This sudden turn of events caught everyone entirely unprepared. Clearly, from the very beginning, Li Hao had never regarded this faction as a lifeline, but had treated them as enemies all along, seizing this brief opening to force them to retreat. Long Zhan's furious voice echoed from far away: "Li Hao, you have ruined the grand design of the ninth rank, drawing down lightning tribulation and disregarding the lives of countless living beings and worlds… You will face retribution!" Li Hao's expression was utterly calm. "If I die, who will weep for me? Long Zhan, I am no Human Sovereign, nor am I the Human King. I am… Li Hao! What does the death of the masses, the demise of all living beings, have to do with me? Acting as a righteous hero requires strength. Without strength… they can all… be buried with me!" The surroundings fell silent; the heavens offered no sound. At that moment, the Sovereign of Samsara suddenly burst into wild laughter, pointing at Li Hao, then pointing at Hong Yitang, laughing like a madman! One was a demon. The other was a saint! And here they were, fighting side by side… How utterly absurd!