All Rivers Run to the Sea!

The path of seeking the Dao was forever lonely. In Li Hao's eyes, that had always been the truth. To lead by a single step was to be a genius; to lead ahead of everyone was loneliness. He thought... he finally understood Zhan. In truth, it was a profound loneliness. Solitude. Zhan was even more of a genius than he was, a true seeker and cultivator of the Dao. When Zhan had condensed Time, how terribly lonely must he have felt? The road ahead was already clear: step beyond Neo Martial, and one would reach the ninth rank! Step out? What meaning was there in that? Time seemed to be the Dao's utmost limit, the convergence of myriad Daos. When a seeker's path reached the absolute pinnacle, what purpose remained? In the past, Li Hao hadn't understood Zhan, thinking him far too pedantic and rigid. But today... as Li Hao filled his Dao realms one by one, a glimmer of realization dawned upon him. Right now, he too commanded many Great Daos and had even reconstructed Time. Though he was not quite as peerless as Zhan, who had dazzled the entire Chaos, being just one step behind him was already enough for Li Hao to see the path ahead clearly—and at this moment, it truly felt lonely. Peerless and solitary! Perhaps not invincible in raw combat prowess, but in this era, when it came to comprehension of the Dao, Zhan had truly been unrivaled. Yet all around him were petty schemers, scrambling for power and squabbling over scraps. How terribly dull! Why not simply leave it all behind? Go where? No one knew. Where was the end of the Dao? And so, Zhan had departed. Perhaps there had been a sliver of reluctance, but only a sliver. Rather than linger in vexation, it was better to pass on. Was that not who Zhan was? At this moment, as Li Hao filled realm after realm, his mind drifted as he pondered these thoughts. Of course, he had not reached Zhan's realm yet. He was not invincible, his Dao was not invincible, and his combat power was not invincible. Above all, he still possessed desire. Zhan, perhaps, had simply lacked desire. Zhan had run out of things to pursue! "I still have desires..." Li Hao pulled himself out of that reverie and suddenly smiled. He still had desires; the Dao of Desire was truly a wondrous thing. In Red Moon's hands, its cultivation had been thoroughly squandered. When a person lost all desire, they would become the next Zhan. But Li Hao still had plenty of desires left. He still wanted to witness the supreme existences of the Chaos; he had never seen a single ninth rank; he still wanted to exchange blows with them in person; he still wanted to resurrect certain people; and he had countless things left to perfect, including his own Time... or rather, all Daos converging into one. And all Daos converging into one didn't necessarily have to be Time. Therefore, he was not Zhan. He had not reached that state. Zhan had roamed the past and the future, meeting many ninth-rank powerhouses, debating the Dao with them in their own era, and even surpassing them on the Great Dao. Consequently, Zhan had felt that stepping out or staying put made no difference at all, which was why he had never truly stepped outside. "Zhan... you were wrong!" Li Hao suddenly murmured to himself. "You were wrong. You never truly stepped outside. Had you done so, perhaps some things would not have been as you imagined." "Desire!" Li Hao looked at his realms. Now that two thousand realms had been filled, he was hardly lacking in energy, which meant he could set about opening the third thousand. In that moment, he made a sudden decision: The third thousandth realm would center on desire! He would establish the Dao of the Seven Emotions and Six Desires! He had to preserve his desires; otherwise, he could easily become completely lost in the Great Dao, breeding misanthropy and disillusionment until he walked the very same path as Zhan. He was still young; if such a state persisted, it would inevitably lead to his ruin! "Zhan... never delineated much of the Dao of Desire!" As Li Hao spoke, he suddenly paused. Yet Red Moon had been right beside Neo Martial, and the moment Neo Martial appeared, Red Moon had moved against them without hesitation... His mind wandered. Had Neo Martial's proximity to Red Moon been an accident, or was it deliberate? Could Zhan have known as well? Zhan had known his own demise stemmed from a lack of desire, yet at times there had been no way to alter it because he truly possessed no desires left. In that case, Red Moon and Neo Martial being neighbors might not have been a mere coincidence. The seemingly modest Dao of Desire had previously shattered Samsara's cycle of life and death. Moreover, the Silver Moon world's Illusory Dao universe was itself a path of emotion and desire; desire and emotion were intrinsically linked. In that case... Once the thought surfaced, he could not pull himself away from it. Had Zhan noticed the problem, or had other factors caused Red Moon and Neo Martial to become neighbors? Whatever the case, there had to be some connection between the two. Suppressing these thoughts, Li Hao continued filling his realms while immersing his consciousness into the River of Time. By now, the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena had been established, and many among the first batch of Sovereigns had already benefited considerably. Though not much time had passed since the battle concluded, word had spread, already drawing numerous other Sovereigns through the river into the arena to begin debating the Dao. *** Inside the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena. The place was packed to the brim, like a grand opening where everyone had come to marvel at the novelty. Word of mouth from the first batch of Sovereigns had sparked immense curiosity in countless people. High above the arena floated the true body of Dao Chess. Ninety-nine hundred and ninety-nine squares hung suspended in the air. At that moment, someone was walking across them, eliciting occasional cries of astonishment from the onlookers. A newcomer, unfamiliar with what was happening, asked a nearby shadowy figure in curiosity. Since identities and genders were completely concealed here, he simply greeted, "Fellow Daoist, what is this?" "Walking the Dao Chess, of course!" The other Sovereign already knew a fair bit and answered excitedly, "That is Senior Dao Chess, a ninth-rank Sovereign armament wielding eighth-rank strength! It was left behind by the supreme powerhouse of the Chaos in ancient times—the Lord of Tianfang! "There are ninety-nine hundred and ninety-nine squares in total, corresponding to ninety-nine hundred and ninety-nine Great Daos. According to Senior Dao Chess, crossing one thousand squares means you possess the Dao comprehension of a first-rank Sovereign. Not combat power—combat strength doesn't matter here; it's all about comprehension of the Great Dao. You might be a third-rank Sovereign, yet your comprehension might not even reach the third rank... Conversely, if you have the comprehension of a third-rank Sovereign, achieving the third rank is only a matter of time! This is a sacred ground for debating the Dao!" The Sovereign who had arrived earlier paid no heed to who was beside him. Seeing many people looking his way, he continued with growing excitement, "So walking the Dao Chess allows you to organize your own Dao and seize an opportunity for enlightenment! The first attempt is free, but if you want to walk it a second time, you must pay a price—including sharing your comprehension of the Great Dao and offering a portion of Great Dao crystals... Of course, crossing a thousand squares grants you another free attempt. In other words, if you reach three thousand squares, you earn three more free walks..." Hearing this, many newcomers were thoroughly shaken. A ninth-rank Sovereign armament! The Lord of Tianfang! An eighth-rank Dao Chess! They had likely never experienced such a shock in their entire lives. A newly arrived cultivator asked eagerly yet hesitantly, "Can any newcomer walk it?" "Naturally... The first time is free for everyone, though you must leave a sliver of your spiritual imprint upon Dao Chess... Don't worry, there's no need to fear exposing your identity. Bright Moon Dao Lord once said that while other people won't know who you are, two individuals definitely will: himself and Sovereign Wanhua. So... don't expect to conceal your identity completely. Of course, Bright Moon Dao Lord wouldn't care anyway." Even as he spoke, ripples suddenly spread across Dao Chess. A projection of Dao Chess materialized, its voice ringing out like a great bronze bell: "Over ten thousand Sovereigns have entered the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena! Starting today, the Great Dao Rankings are officially open! Anyone who walks the Dao Chessboard and crosses a thousand squares will be recorded on the rankings! The further you walk, the higher your rank. Those in the top hundred may walk Dao Chess freely without limit to comprehend the profound truths of the Great Dao! "Those who hold a top-ten ranking for one continuous month may select a seventh-rank Sovereign to discuss the Great Dao for one day! "The top three may debate the Dao for one day with myself, Wushan, the Thunder Emperor, or Sovereign Wanhua—several eighth-rank Sovereigns! "And whoever holds the first rank stably for one month may debate the Dao with Sovereign Bright Moon for three full days!" The moment these words fell, heaven and earth quaked! The entire Myriad Heavens Dao Arena went wild. This... The Great Dao Rankings! The announcement of the rankings drove these Sovereigns into a frenzy. In other words, as long as one ranked high enough and walked far enough, one could not only debate the Dao with seventh-rank Sovereigns, but even eighth ranks, and even... the legendary Bright Moon Dao Lord who commanded Time itself! That was the man who had slain Samsara, the paramount powerhouse of the east! The entire secret realm was shaken to its core. One Sovereign, casting aside all restraint regarding status, shouted at the top of his lungs, "Senior Dao Chess, is this Great Dao ranking determined purely by how far one walks?" Dao Chess's voice was sonorous and powerful: "Indeed! The further you walk, the deeper your comprehension of the Great Dao and the more Daos you master. Reaching seven thousand squares signifies that, given the right opportunity, you are certain to become a seventh-rank Sovereign! "Sovereign Bright Moon asked me to convey a message as well... Allowing all of you to walk Dao Chess to comprehend the myriad Daos also means integrating your Daos into the arena, so that he may comprehend your Daos in turn for mutual benefit. If anyone fears the secrets of their Dao leaking out, you need not walk Dao Chess... Otherwise, upon entering Dao Chess to seek enlightenment, your own Dao will inevitably emanate outward to be perceived by myself and Sovereign Bright Moon!" A hush fell over the crowd as a wave of apprehension rippled through them. Some hesitated, but a moment later, many suddenly came to their senses. A low-rank Sovereign scoffed nonchalantly, "Would Bright Moon Dao Lord even care about my Dao? If it catches his eye, that would be my honor!" At once, many others saw the light. Indeed! What were they? Just a bunch of low- and mid-rank Sovereigns. The man had been upfront about it: whatever you gained in Dao Chess, your comprehension would likewise radiate outward to be known by Bright Moon and Dao Chess. Stronger experts guarded against the prying eyes of the weak; since when did the weak worry about the strong prying into them? In an instant, those who had felt anxious snapped back to reality. What did they have to fear? Those with nothing to lose had no dread of the well-shod! They had neither wealth nor status to begin with. Besides, Sovereign Bright Moon had set up the Myriad Heavens Dao Arena and even fought a world-shaking war against Samsara and the other Sovereigns; if he sought no benefits whatsoever, wouldn't he be a saint? "It's an honor that Sovereign Bright Moon even looks upon our Daos... That isn't an issue at all, Senior Dao Chess. It's just that... our strength is meager. Even if the Great Dao Rankings are revealed, it will be hard for us to make the list, won't it?" Someone voiced their hesitation. Missing out on the ranking was fine, but making the list brought immense benefits. Who wouldn't be envious? Dao Chess let out a booming laugh: "Cultivating the Dao does not depend entirely on raw strength. Here, what matters is your Dao heart and comprehension of the Great Dao... Of course, the strong naturally hold an advantage, but the weak have their own advantage as well—they can progress much faster! Dao Chess itself is an armament designed for Dao enlightenment! It offers far greater opportunity to the weak... Naturally, one must not become lost within it; mastering ten thousand Daos is something only peerless figures can achieve. However, broadening your horizons and gaining perspective is well within reach!" "Senior Dao Chess, will the rankings be made public?" "Yes... but you may leave any name you wish. There is no need to worry about being misidentified; when you leave a name, your consciousness will be linked. If you do not wish to debate the Dao with us, you may forfeit the opportunity." With those words, Dao Chess trembled, and a stone monument descended from the sky. "The Great Dao Rankings!" Clusters of light flickered upon the monument. Dao Chess's voice echoed again: "For now, the rankings will only record one thousand individuals. All who make the list are currently linked by consciousness and may leave a name. Specific identities will not be shown, but the number of squares you traversed will be displayed!" As soon as it spoke, numerous names flared to life across the stone monument. Over ten thousand Sovereigns had gathered here. Many of them fell into deep thought as voices sounded in their minds, informing them that they could conceal their names or reveal them as they pleased. The crowd turned their gazes toward the monument. "Xuantian, 6,200 squares!" Everyone froze. The first place actually displayed a real name, along with the number of squares crossed. That alone was startling enough, but more importantly... Many people recognized that name! Exclamations of utter shock erupted through the crowd: "Sovereign Xuantian is here? Senior..." This... was a seventh-rank Sovereign! Indeed, Sovereign Xuantian was the master of a seventh-rank world. How could he have walked only 6,200 squares? What was even more shocking was that he had actually displayed his true name. Someone couldn't help shouting, "If someone used another person's name... wouldn't that cause trouble? Sovereign Xuantian is a seventh-rank Sovereign; he wouldn't come here. Who would be bold enough to impersonate him..." Dao Chess spoke again: "Out of respect, we avoid using the names of well-known, high-ranking Sovereigns of the Chaos universe... We will do our best to prevent such occurrences unless... the individual is indeed the person themselves!" Right at that moment, a Sovereign in the crowd revealed his true appearance and sighed. "I am Xuantian... There is no need for anyone to impersonate me." With that, he looked up at the stone monument in the sky, overcome with emotion. "To think... I only managed six thousand two hundred squares... I originally thought I could cross more than seven thousand this time, perhaps even eight or nine thousand..." He gave a helpless, bitter smile. It turned out he had overestimated himself. Did that mean he hadn't even met the standard of the seventh rank? This... was far too humiliating. He was not merely a Sovereign residing in an eighth-rank Great World; he was a genuine seventh-rank Dao Lord! A Dao Lord had walked only six thousand-odd squares here. Even though he currently ranked first, it was still thoroughly embarrassing. Perhaps he was the only seventh rank who had come. The very next moment, the second name flickered, accompanied by a wryly laughing voice: "Fellow Daoist Xuantian, why did you have to announce your name? You've made the rest of us too embarrassed to show our faces! Fortunately, you revealed yours first; seeing that, I thickened my skin... and revealed my true name as well!" "Yuxiao, 6,000 squares!" When that name appeared, another round of gasps echoed through the crowd. This was yet another seventh-rank Sovereign, another Dao Lord hailing from the eastern region. Two seventh-rank Dao Lords had actually come! And both of them had only reached around 6,000 squares. Sovereign Xuantian looked over at the speaker, whose true appearance gradually came into view. The newcomer wore an expression between tears and laughter as he glanced at Xuantian. "Fellow Daoist Xuantian, your comprehension of the Great Dao is even deeper than mine. Fortunately, you went first... so I don't feel quite as humiliated." Sovereign Xuantian chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Well... I thought..." He had thought no other seventh ranks had come. It turned out there were others! The Lord of Yuxiao was a seventh-rank Dao Lord of considerable renown, and their worlds were not terribly far apart. Today, driven by curiosity and an urge to cling to a powerful backer—after all, they had to survive in the east, yet didn't dare seek out Neo Martial without any connections—he had come here. Who would have guessed that out of curiosity, he had taken a walk across Dao Chess, only to stop at 6,200 squares? Only now did he learn that seven thousand squares was considered the standard comprehension for a seventh-rank cultivator of the Great Dao... He immediately felt flushed with shame. Revealing his face had been meant to show Li Hao that he had arrived openly, with no intention of hiding his identity or acting as an enemy. He wasn't even afraid of letting everyone see his embarrassment. Yet here was a kindred spirit who was even more embarrassed—having covered two hundred fewer squares than him. Right then, an elusive voice drifted out from the crowd: "At least you two reached six thousand squares. Those of us seventh ranks who didn't even reach six thousand... won't be showing our true names. That would be... truly humiliating!" The two exposed Sovereigns looked toward the crowd, which was composed entirely of glowing orbs. The speaker did not reveal his appearance, clearly overwhelmed with shame. *I am a Dao Lord too!* *Yes, a seventh-rank Dao Lord.* He had only reached 5,999 squares, which was already humiliating enough to keep him silent. Seeing two others surpass six thousand squares—even if both were Dao Lords—he was far too embarrassed to speak further. Of course, he had spoken up only to test the waters and see if there were any other, even more humiliated seventh ranks nearby. Emboldened by the performance of these seventh-rank Sovereigns, names gradually appeared on the glowing orbs—some real, some fake. Everyone simply gave up on appearances! If even seventh-rank Dao Lords only had two people crossing six thousand squares, what did the rest of them have to fear? Names gradually filled the top ten, almost all of them pseudonyms. From third to eighth place, every single one stood at 5,999 squares. Seeing this, many people instantly understood: these were likely all seventh ranks! Of course, they might not be; it was entirely possible that some extraordinary sixth ranks had reached this level as well. Still, on this immense monument, only two seventh-rank Dao Lords had crossed six thousand squares. Many onlookers were bewildered, and even Sovereign Xuantian couldn't help asking, "Senior Dao Chess, is the gap between Dao comprehension and actual strength truly this vast? While Yuxiao and I are not the absolute pinnacle among the seventh rank, we are hardly weaklings among our peers, if I may say so myself. Why did we only reach six thousand?" Dao Chess's voice resonated: "This benchmark was established using powerhouses such as Tianfang, Bright Moon, and the Neo Martial Human King as references. Sovereign Bright Moon's premise is that a true seventh rank must condense a Dao domain! Only when one comprehends around seven thousand Dao principles... which does not mean you must condense that many Great Dao laws, but you must possess the comprehension—only at that level do you stand a chance of crossing seven thousand squares. That is what a true seventh rank is in their eyes!" "..." *So all of us are just pseudo-seventh ranks?* Sovereign Xuantian said in a deep voice, "A Dao domain... A Dao domain can be condensed with just a thousand Dao principles, can it not?" "Correct," Dao Chess replied. "That is what can be physically condensed. Comprehension is comprehension; condensing is condensing. Take Sovereign Bright Moon as an example: he has comprehended countless Daos. When he previously walked Dao Chess, he crossed 8,000 squares. That does not mean he can condense 8,000 Dao principles; it merely means he has the potential to do so in the future... At present, he is still condensing his three thousand Dao principles!" "..." *Is it really appropriate for you to reveal the Silver Moon King's strength like this?* Of course, no one believed it. *Nonsense!* Three thousand Dao principles, and he killed Samsara? While no one knew the exact extent of Samsara's strength, everyone knew that even an ordinary eighth rank possessed the power of at least two to three thousand Dao principles. Strictly speaking, the weakest eighth rank, newly advanced, commanded at least two thousand Dao principles—that was the baseline. Without reaching that level, one could not be considered an eighth-rank Sovereign. If Sovereign Bright Moon only had three thousand Dao principles right now... had Samsara been killed by a dog? Nonetheless, the point was clear. Only those who had condensed a Dao domain were qualified to be considered true seventh ranks. So the rest of them were merely pseudo-seventh ranks? They were speechless! Sovereign Xuantian asked again, "Then in the current Chaos, wouldn't those capable of crossing seven thousand squares be... exceedingly few?" "Most likely," Dao Chess replied once more. "In truth, it also depends on raw strength. If an eighth rank comes to walk it, even if their comprehension is lacking, they can forcefully breach seven thousand squares... Thus, Dao Chess is a synthesis of both strength and comprehension!" Xuantian understood. Having revealed his face, he hadn't said anything explicit, but by showing himself and giving his true name, any Sovereign present who wasn't a fool understood what it meant. In other words, my Xuantian World recognizes the Silver Moon King as the overlord of the east! As for the danger? What was there to say? In this chaotic era, where wasn't dangerous? Dao Chess said no more on the matter, leaving only a final remark: "The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena welcomes all fellow Daoists to come and debate the Dao. You may hold your own discussions, enter Dao Chess, or compete for the rankings. An evaluation will take place once a month—a brief span for Sovereigns. We shall take time to come and debate the Dao... "We make no distinction between east, south, west, or north. Even if the three overlords wish to come, our gates are wide open to welcome you! You need not fear that exposing your identity will bring harm from us. So long as you do not disrupt the arena, this place... is a sacred ground of the Great Dao!" No distinction between east, south, west, or north! Anyone who wished to come was welcome. Anyone who wished to debate the Dao was free to do so. The Sovereigns present were deeply moved by these words. All-encompassing, inclusive of all things, embracing all ten thousand Sovereigns of the Chaos—and declaring that even the three overlords were welcome! Hearing this, the several seventh-rank Sovereigns were thoroughly shaken. This Bright Moon Sovereign... was truly arrogant! Of course, it could also be called magnificent boldness. Dao Chess commanded the spatial Dao of Tianfang; opening it so freely was simply unbelievable. Seeing that Dao Chess was about to depart, Xuantian gritted his teeth and called out, "Senior... please wait a moment. I have one more question I would like to... inquire about." "Speak." "It is said... that Bright Moon Dao Lord commands the Great Dao of Time. Will we... have the opportunity to... observe Time?" Dao Chess seemed to ponder, as if conferring with someone. After a moment, beneath the expectant gazes of countless Sovereigns, it spoke: "You may! Sovereign Bright Moon has sent word: anyone who walks Dao Chess and crosses eight thousand squares may seek him out at any time to debate the Dao of Time!" Eight thousand! At these words, many fell silent. Forget it; this had nothing to do with them. Dao Chess added, "This is not a refusal. It is simply that without crossing eight thousand squares and possessing the capability of the eighth rank, observing Time is no different from observing the space contained within Dao Chess! It would be completely meaningless... Only with the comprehension of an eighth rank might you gain some insight from studying Time. For that involves... rules!" Rules? The moment those two words were spoken, several Sovereigns in the crowd shuddered violently! Rules? Upon reaching the seventh rank, one understood a fair bit about the Great Dao. While the low- and mid-rank Sovereigns were bewildered, the seventh ranks grasped the significance. Sovereign Xuantian grew immensely agitated: "Rules?" "Correct!" "Eight thousand..." Sovereign Xuantian stood in a daze, murmuring, "So only with the comprehension of an eighth rank is it possible to contemplate rules... So Time... involves rules! I once heard a senior mention that the current three overlords might all command some rules, as did the ninth ranks of a million years ago... Does this mean... we might have a glimmer of hope to touch upon rules?" Hope! At the very least, they saw a tiny glimmer of hope. He could hardly believe it. Had the Silver Moon King gone mad, daring to share and discuss rules with the outside world? That was the hallmark of an overlord! Furthermore, did this mean the Silver Moon King had... already reached that stage? At that moment, not only Xuantian, but several other Sovereigns vanished in an instant, transmitting out through the passages and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Dao Chess watched it all without a word. Once the news spread, perhaps... the entire Chaos would tremble once more. Rules! Li Hao was willing to share and discuss rules, but on the premise that top powerhouses came and crossed eight thousand Dao principles. Existences of that caliber were exceedingly rare in the entire Chaos. The living Samsara could have done it. Polar Ice might have fallen slightly short. In other words, by all accounts, those currently in the Chaos who could reach that level amounted to only a handful of people—ten at most, all overlord-level existences. If these people were willing to come and share their Daos... it would be a colossal triumph for Li Hao. It was also a critical key to perfecting his own Great Dao! Though there were many Sovereigns present now, they were too weak; their comprehension of the Dao lacked depth. Only by drawing in those supreme existences could he pave his path of myriad Daos toward completion much faster! Even if it didn't elevate him straight to the ninth rank, it would at least smooth out the road ahead. *** In the eastern region. Across various territories, Sovereigns swiftly exited the secret realms and began relaying the news through every means available. *** In the south. Inside the Spring and Autumn Palace. It was said that once Spring and Autumn emerged, all sense of years was lost. Yet at this moment, the vast Spring and Autumn Palace held only a figure resembling a little girl. Her ears twitched as if receiving some message, and she murmured, "Eight thousand Dao principles, sharing Time, exploring rules together?" Suddenly, a faint smile surfaced on her young face. "Rules..." Upon reaching this realm, everyone understood a single truth: order was the key to entering the ninth rank. Yet in this Chaos, how many truly understood rules? Evidently, this message was not aimed at the weak; it was directed straight at the overlords. Were they willing to come and share? No true bodies were required! At their level, sending a clone to share insights rather than fight was hardly difficult. Were they willing to come? If they came, he was willing to share Time with them! Could it be real? Time was the strongest of the myriad Daos. "Li Hao!" At that moment, this seemingly harmless little girl flashed a sweet smile. What a man, this Li Hao; what an audacious Time cultivator, daring to openly issue a challenge to the overlords of the Chaos. *Do you want to know the secrets of Time?* *Come to my domain and debate the Dao!* *Share your Daos, and I shall share mine.* At this moment, even Overlord Chunqiu could no longer sit still. Time... Everyone assumed that the Dao of Spring and Autumn was the Dao of Time, yet Chunqiu alone knew they were mistaken. That was not Time! A year's passing, withering and flourishing in turn. Who said that the seamless flow of spring and autumn was Time? There were similarities, but there were also profound differences. At that moment, an identical little girl stepped out from her body, vivid as reality itself. Crossing void and universes with each step, she murmured, "Li Hao, since you have extended an invitation, I shall go and see for myself!" *** In the west. Sovereign Huntian was taken aback. Time, rules, debating the Dao! "The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena... sharing Time... Li Hao, what grand ambition!" At this moment, he suddenly realized he might truly have underestimated Li Hao. Sharing rules! He looked toward the dark shadow beside him. "Since Li Hao has extended an invitation, I would like to go and see. Sending a clone to the east will also allow me to... spy on the situation." "Whatever Master decides." Huntian nodded slightly and said no more. An illusory figure emerged from him and shot straight toward the east. *** At this moment, the four directions were shaken. Even within the Four Regions, Long Zhan frowned slightly as he looked upon the Tianfang World before him. He sighed with emotion. "What a man, this Li Hao. Truly bold, truly mad... Such an action might... draw out some unimaginable existences! "Very well... I am quite curious about his Dao as well. I shall make a trip!" Beside him, several eighth ranks looked puzzled. Once Long Zhan finished speaking, the Red Moon Sovereign gritted his teeth. "Dragon Lord... I..." "Fellow Daoist... wishes to go as well?" The Red Moon Sovereign nodded with a look of longing. He... wanted to see it for himself. Naturally, his true body wouldn't go; that would be far too dangerous, as Li Hao would beat him to death. Yet he wanted to see, to witness, to listen... even if he might not get a chance. Eight thousand squares! Though he had never walked Dao Chess, he understood that he almost certainly lacked the ability. It was exceedingly difficult. Still, observing Dao Chess and witnessing the Dao of Tianfang wouldn't be bad either. The Dragon Lord nodded. "Anyone who wishes to go may go! Not just you and me—others as well... including the Chaos race. Simply find an entrance to a secret realm, claim it, and enter! Dao Chess... Tianfang's Dao will be of great help in understanding the Tianfang universe. For Li Hao to dare open Dao Chess publicly, and at such a time, proves he is a ruthless character..." Right now, Tianfang might return at any moment! Opening Dao Chess now—whether to draw people in or for some other reason—and exposing the Lord of Tianfang's myriad Daos to the public was disadvantageous to Tianfang. Although the Lord of Tianfang had previously opened Dao Chess, it had been a restricted opening; entering had required breaking through the trials of Dark Demon Ridge. That had shut out countless Sovereigns. Only true top-tier Sovereigns had any hope of entering, and those were the only people Tianfang had wished to engage with, not all the Sovereigns of the Chaos. At this moment, Feng Yan asked with a grave expression, "Father... what... are rules?" Long Zhan thought for a moment before replying, "You do not understand, but you must strive to understand! The current Chaos is disorderly—or rather, relatively orderly, but without absolute order. Cultivators like us, wishing to take another step forward, must comprehend the difference between disorder and order. And an orderly Dao is perhaps... what Li Hao calls rules! "This is a necessary step on the road to the ninth rank!" Long Zhan explained, "Ordinary people do not understand, but upon reaching the seventh rank, one can grasp a little of it. However, our Chaos race is naturally born of chaos, making it even harder to understand!" He sighed with deep emotion. "It is very difficult to grasp what rules are, which is why... even though you have reached the eighth rank, you still do not understand." A trace of regret flickered within him, but he quickly regained his composure. *This is precisely why I must defy the heavens and change our destiny! Our Chaos race is native to the Chaos, the children of the Chaos—why should things be like this?* *Why such favoritism toward the human race?* *Is it because no ninth rank has ever been born of our Chaos race?* *Then I shall be the pioneer of the Chaos race!* *I shall organize our Chaos race's Dao and allow our cultivators to realize what rules truly are!* Right now, many seventh-rank human Sovereigns in the Chaos grasped the concept somewhat upon hearing it, whereas the several eighth-rank Chaos race Sovereigns at his side were completely in the dark. *** As Li Hao stirred up another tempest, experts from all across the Chaos were tempted. There was no need for their true bodies to go. At their level, who lacked the skill to produce a clone? They could simply find a secret realm entrance, conceal their identity or enter openly; even if they lost a clone, it wouldn't matter much. Above all... they were genuinely curious. Certain experts from the other three regions even felt that... perhaps an entrance to a secret realm ought to be opened in their territories as well. Previously, they had resisted the idea violently! Now, however, they looked forward to it. Dao Chess, Time, Space, the Great Dao Rankings... To the entire Chaos, these were like thunderclaps, jolting every top-tier existence awake. The Chaos had been too quiet, too boring, too barren—filled only with fighting, devouring, and vying for supremacy... In this vast Chaos, not even the ninth ranks had managed to change the prevailing situation. Yet with the arena established and Time revealed to invite the heroes of the realm, the Chaos abruptly became lively once more. The eastern region, which had just quieted down, was bustling again. *** "Honestly..." Back in Neo Martial, the Supreme couldn't help grumbling. *That kid can really stir up trouble!* Just moments ago, he had felt a pang of sympathy, thinking how lonely the lad must be. Yet now, damn it all, before Neo Martial had even finished sweeping away their troubles in the east, this kid was already sharing Time and Space! Time and space—the pinnacle Great Daos of the entire Chaos, ranked first and second... By causing such a commotion, if swarms of eighth ranks or even the overlords themselves came in person, wouldn't that just... create trouble for Neo Martial? The Human King, on the other hand, was grinning eagerly. "Fun! Interesting! Lively! A bit of noise is a good thing! Old Zhang, what do you say we hide our names and go in for some fun? The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena... heroes of the world debating the Dao! Everyone says I'm no good at the Great Dao and only know how to attack forcefully; I'd love to show them that aside from those few fellows, people like me are the only ones qualified to cross eight thousand squares..." Nearby, the Bright Sovereign was tempted as well. He harbored his own thoughts, of course: his son was over there, very close by, yet he hadn't found time to visit him. Word had it that his son had received a share of the spoils this time... Did the lad have any hope of reaching the eighth rank? If he did... that would be tremendous! Besides, he was very interested in these Great Daos; no powerhouse could resist them. If even someone like the Human King wanted to join the fun, how could others hold back? The Myriad Heavens Dao Arena! Li Hao! Who could have imagined that after stepping out of the Four Regions, Li Hao would truly soar straight to the heavens? At this moment, not just them, but the seventh-rank Sovereigns—and even those below the seventh rank—were tempted: "It would be good to go and take a look. We'd like to walk Dao Chess as well, to see whether our Dao comprehension is profound or shallow! They say ninety percent of seventh ranks can't even reach seven thousand squares..." "More than that! Some can't even reach six thousand!" "This thing is rather intriguing. It disregards raw strength and focuses purely on the Dao..." The Human King chuckled. "It's just a reference point; in a real fight, realms don't matter! Still, it's not bad. For a theoretician like Li Hao, it provides a straightforward theoretical demonstration where one can gauge Dao comprehension at a glance. But true strength still has to be proven in battle!" He added, "That fellow Li Hao pairs theory with practice; he isn't a pure theoretician. Don't be fooled by him into obsessing solely over Dao comprehension! Even if you comprehend nine thousand Dao principles, if your strength is only at the third rank, a fourth rank can still cleave you in two with a single blade!" He paused, then added, "Take the Emperor of Battle Heaven back then—his comprehension was at least nine thousand or above, yet his personal strength was only at the sixth rank. He could manage against a seventh rank, but against an eighth rank, he would have been thoroughly brought to his knees! Do you all understand?" At this point, his playful tone gave way to gravity. Li Hao's Myriad Heavens Dao Arena was a fine place, but caring solely about such things would only turn one into a theoretician. The Chaos was perilous, and practice was sometimes far more crucial than theory. Of course, both were indispensable. Without someone like Li Hao pushing things forward, the theory of the Great Dao could never be fully propagated, which placed heavy constraints on the development of the Chaos. However, that was far too distant a goal. The Human King disliked pondering matters too far in the future; it suited neither his interests nor his temperament. "Understood, don't worry!" The crowd responded in succession, and the Human King soon grinned cheekily again. "Of course, theory is necessary too. Having no theory at all and only knowing how to hack away blindly won't do either! Someone like Iron Head could use a little theoretical knowledge..." The crowd was speechless! Here he went again. After making fun of him, the Human King turned back to the Supreme. "Well, Old Zhang, think carefully about how to bring the east completely under our banner... Let's grab a secret realm and haul it back to Neo Martial, right at our front door, so we can pop in whenever we want... Hmm, aren't Tianji and King Huai over there? Those two turncoats run awfully fast... Tell them to drag one back for me, as payment for all the years I've fed them!" "..." In the crowd, the Western Emperor stood speechless. *Why are you scolding my son?* *Fine, go ahead and scold him, it has nothing to do with me!* The Supreme smiled, not refusing the suggestion, because... he too was curious. Had Li Hao's comprehension of the Dao advanced once more? That kid was progressing at a terrifying pace. A second Zhan? Pondering this, he cast a glance at the Human King. In truth, he was curious about him as well... Just how far could this brat go? It had been years since he had properly sat down to ask him what insights he had gained from his cultivation of the Great Dao.