The Opportunity Comes

The Five Elements Domain. Its boundaries were sharply defined. The power of the five elements permeated the heavens and earth, rendering the entire world a vibrant tapestry of colors. Amid the murky chaos, such a world drew far too much attention. Fortunately, the Five Elements Overlords were formidable enough; otherwise, a world so conspicuously brilliant would have been destroyed long ago. Survival in the chaos favored discretion. Outside the Five Elements Domain, Li Hao watched in silence, sensing its presence. It was indeed a powerful world. No wonder it dominated the north. Beyond its own immense strength, three rank-eight worlds orbited the Five Elements Domain. They were not exceptionally mighty, each home to merely a single rank-eight Sovereign, but they encircled the domain nonetheless. Together, they formed the northern overlord power. With three rank-eight worlds backing them as vassals, the domain was bolstered—though in truth, that only added three ordinary rank-eight Sovereigns to their numbers. Beside him, the Feitian Tiger fidgeted nervously. "Senior, we've seen it now... Can we leave?" It was terrified! The oppressive auras radiating from those rank-eight worlds made it tremble. What was this senior doing here? Li Hao remained silent, calculating inwardly. There were five Five Elements Emissaries, three Five Elements Overlords, and three neighboring rank-eight worlds—eleven rank-eight Sovereigns in total, not counting rank-seven experts. Formidable indeed! Although his combat strength was currently equivalent to seven thousand Dao principles, slaying them would still be difficult if they joined forces against him. Only difficult, however, not impossible. Without preparation, he would never have maneuvered the Five Elements Emissaries here in the first place. Only with their arrival did an opportunity arise; eight rank-eight Sovereigns gathered together were not necessarily more cohesive or stronger than three. "Leave? Why leave?" Li Hao did not mind teasing the foolish tiger. "In a moment, you'll charge straight ahead to draw out their powerhouses. I'll take down a few, we'll seize this Five Elements World, and we'll rename it the Chaos Feitian World!" "Huh?" The Feitian Tiger froze instantly. *Don't joke around!* *How could I dare! I might be rank-seven, but this is the Five Elements Domain, packed with rank-eight Sovereigns!* The massive tiger head slumped. The "King" character on its brow collapsed into a straight line. *Don't scare a tiger like that—it's horrifying!* "Senior... this... I think..." "Frightened?" The Feitian Tiger bared its teeth. *Frightened? Of course I am! Isn't that obvious? I'm no fool—I've reached rank-seven, after all. Does this senior take me for an idiot?* It had no idea what Li Hao intended, but fear clutched its heart all the same. Li Hao, still calculating, kept his gaze fixed on the Five Elements Domain. His teacher should be nearby as well. Granted, Yuan Shuo was only a rank-seven cultivator and could not play a decisive role in battle. Yet if utilized properly, paired with his teacher's cunning and shamelessness, he might prove useful. Li Hao's journey north to seize the Five Elements Domain was partly for himself and partly for his teacher. Yuan Shuo was undeniably talented, yet he always seemed to lag one step behind others, as though cursed by that pattern forever. By now, his teacher had almost given up hope. Coming to the Five Elements Domain, Yuan Shuo likely intended to achieve something astonishing. Regrettably, with the Five Elements Emissaries arriving, he would probably be reduced to tears. The thought brought a faint smile to Li Hao's lips. "Chaos..." Li Hao drifted into contemplation. Impersonating Chaos naturally served several purposes, the most crucial being luring out Huntian's subordinates—or Huntian himself. *I wonder if I can draw him out... Whether the Five Elements Emissaries or the Five Elements Overlords, both are connected to ninth-rank experts. If I descend under the guise of the Chaos Dao Lord's true body, Huntian will never sit still!* *The premise is that he must learn I am here...* Indeed, Li Hao's aim was to stir turmoil across the north and drag Huntian into the fray. Order and Chaos were diametrically opposed. Huntian might ignore other powerhouses, but when it came to the essence of the Great Dao, he would certainly intervene. The urgent task now was convincing Huntian that Chaos had truly descended in person, rather than an imposter. *I can't strike the Five Elements Domain directly. Instead, I must project the appearance of seeking an alliance and let Huntian discover it...* Li Hao had no idea that the real Chaos Dao Lord had actually descended. Had he known, he would have smiled with unbridled joy. Even without knowing, he was well prepared. Assuming the identity of Chaos inherently carried that purpose. Even if the real Chaos never showed, Li Hao would stir up suspicion and paranoia between Huntian and the Five Elements Domain. Huntian aspired to unify the chaos and was destined to become an enemy. Weakening such a foe whenever possible was essential. Huntian's forces might not be limited to Pengcheng and a handful of rank-eight Sovereigns. If he possessed the inheritance of the Lord of Order—or was the reincarnation of Order himself—could the ancient Lord of Order, who nearly united the chaos, truly lack subordinates? The Lord of Order had been immensely powerful; had Tianfang and the others truly eradicated all his followers? During the battle against Tianfang's clone, someone had seemed to pry from the shadows. Was it a powerhouse from another ninth-rank world, or someone brought by Huntian? All of it remained unknown. A smile gradually surfaced on Li Hao's face. Huntian... Order... Chaos... the Five Elements... Ideas took shape, and plans crystallized in his mind. *The Five Elements Emissaries should recognize Chaos... A close encounter is out of the question, but a distant glimpse from afar will do. It would be best if Huntian has scouts nearby. If he planted so many sleeper agents in the east, how could he leave the north untouched?* Li Hao stroked the tiger's head. The Feitian Tiger shuddered, suddenly sensing a chilling, sinister aura emanating from the man on its back, starkly different from before. "Feitian Tiger... a test for you. Do you know who in the north has had the most contact with the Huntian Domain?" The Feitian Tiger was struck speechless. *What kind of test is that?* "I don't know." *What a stupid tiger!* Of course, Li Hao did not know either. Yet what did that matter? A wisp of chaotic aura gradually drifted forth, permeating forward. Li Hao smiled. "In a moment, if anyone notices something, flee immediately toward other rank-eight domains. Understood?" "Understood." The Feitian Tiger trembled. *What are you trying to do? This feels dangerous!* The power of chaos merged into the surroundings. The relatively calm void began to ripple, spreading steadily toward the distant Five Elements Domain. It was faint, yet undeniably real. The weak might not sense it, but supreme powerhouses would surely detect the disturbance, disrupting the fragile order of the chaos! Instantly, the Five Elements Domain seemed to perceive the anomaly. Several powerful auras stirred and swept the void. In the blink of an eye, the Feitian Tiger took flight and vanished, fleeing the scene. Its heart pounded violently. *What for? What are you provoking them for? What is this guy's deal?* ... At that very moment, several figures materialized within the Five Elements Domain. Not only the Five Elements Emissaries, but also the three Five Elements Overlords emerged, their expressions rife with shock and suspicion. *What happened?* Sovereign Jinyang scooped up a handful of fluctuating Great Dao energy from the void. His expression shifted drastically, a mix of surprise and bewilderment. *The Chaos Dao Lord has arrived!* *So fast!* *Didn't he just descend? Or did he descend directly in the north?* That was certainly possible. *Yet... now that he is here, why did he leave immediately?* Puzzled, Jinyang peered into the distance, frowning. What did the Chaos Dao Lord mean by this? Was it a notification, or did he harbor other intentions? It seemed rather bizarre. The Dao Lord had commanded them to cooperate with Chaos, and they naturally intended to do so. Yet Chaos had come only to flee—what was his plan? The Wood Spirit Emissary's voice sounded beside him. "Eldest Brother, was that the Chaos Dao Lord?" "Most likely... At this juncture, who else could it be?" "Then why didn't he meet us face to face?" "Unclear... Maintaining secrecy?" Jinyang felt a headache coming on. How could he know what games the other was playing? Unable to fathom the motive, he could only ponder why Chaos had revealed his presence only to vanish instantly. He glanced at the three Five Elements Overlords beside him, who looked equally bewildered. Clearly, they had also deduced something. Was the Chaos Dao Lord wary of them? That seemed unwarranted. Beside him, Sovereign Tianjin, the leader of the Five Elements Overlords, suddenly spoke: "Fellow Daoist Jinyang... you sensed it too, didn't you?" Jinyang gave a slight nod. Sovereign Tianjin fell silent for a moment before speaking. "We two factions need not be enemies. Right now, perhaps we should cooperate instead." Jinyang looked thoughtful. "Indeed. Li Hao and his peers forced us to the Five Elements Domain, and everyone knows his intentions. If possible, we would rather not let him have his way..." At that, Jinyang probed, "Have you received any instructions, Fellow Daoists?" Sovereign Tianjin's eyes flickered. It appeared this was not the decision of a single ninth-rank expert, but of all of them! Tianjin nodded slightly and offered a genuinely warm smile. "In that case, we share no conflict for the time being. In the eyes of outsiders, the north might seem the weakest realm right now, but that is no longer certain!" Jinyang breathed an inward sigh of relief. So it was true. Were these three truly chess pieces left behind by the old Five Elements Dao Lord? They had hidden deeply indeed. Though he had long suspected it, there had been no way to confirm it; countless cultivators practiced the five elements, so one could not assume the strongest among them were planted by the Five Elements Dao Lord. Now, however, it seemed practically certain. Jinyang voiced his confusion. "Why did the esteemed one just now... leave?" *How strange!* "I do not know," Sovereign Tianjin replied, shaking his head. *How would I know?* Logically, since he had arrived, if there was a plan, they should simply meet and discuss it. Why play mystery games? "Let us wait a little longer," Sovereign Tianjin said. "Perhaps he has his own thoughts and plans. We will do our best to cooperate!" The Five Elements Emissaries said no more. ... Meanwhile, Li Hao raised an eyebrow in surprise. They had not pursued him, which struck him as rather odd. *Why?* Regardless, when the power of chaos appeared, shouldn't they show some vigilance, whether they believed it to be the Chaos Dao Lord or not? Were they worried it was a trap, so they dared not give chase? *Interesting... Why ignore it?* Li Hao rubbed his chin. Those fellows had paid him no heed at all. He had expected them to give chase so he could lead them on a wild turn, making enough commotion to alert outside observers. Yet now... they had stayed put. That defied common sense. Faced with such a massive potential threat, could they truly remain indifferent? Even if they recognized the aura or possessed some agreement between ninth-rank experts, shouldn't they at least make a token gesture? His seemingly perfect plan had encountered a slight hitch. "Senior... no one is chasing us?" the Feitian Tiger asked, trembling between fright and relief. *No pursuit? That's wonderful!* Li Hao chuckled. "It's fine... By the way, don't you enjoy devouring chaotic energy? The chaotic energy surrounding great worlds is the purest, as it's drawn in by the rotation of the world itself. Come, let's head to the great worlds in the north and feast until you're stuffed..." "Is... is that wise?" The Feitian Tiger was thoroughly alarmed. "Don't be afraid. With me here, who could beat you to death?" Li Hao smiled. "Rest easy. I'll absorb some as well to replenish myself. Having just descended, my strength has yet to return to its peak. Absorbing some chaotic energy is perfectly normal, isn't it?" *Descended? Descended from where?* The Feitian Tiger was baffled once again. Li Hao gritted his teeth. He had intended to maintain a low profile, but since they refused to chase him, they had only themselves to blame. He would absorb chaotic energy everywhere and leave behind traces of chaotic aura. Though somewhat obvious and deliberate, was it not normal for a ninth-rank powerhouse to behave with a touch of arrogance? Naturally, it left a few more flaws, but since the Five Elements Domain did not play by the rules, this was his only option. Without further words, Li Hao guided the Feitian Tiger toward the other rank-eight worlds. He would draw energy from them one by one. As the overlord of the north, the Five Elements Domain could hardly ignore such actions indefinitely. He would give them a real headache! ... Soon, unrest rippled across the north. Over the next two days, disturbances erupted around several rank-eight worlds. Massive amounts of chaotic energy were siphoned from their peripheries, but by the time their powerhouses appeared, the culprit had already vanished. Nothing remained except subtle, chaotic ripples in the void. The entire north grew uneasy. To siphon vast amounts of chaotic energy from the periphery of a rank-eight world without being detected required supreme strength. For rank-eight Sovereigns, this was an overt provocation! Yet it was also a terrifying deterrent! If someone could silently drain chaotic energy right outside their world, that person could just as silently approach and slay them! ... Within the Five Elements Domain, eight rank-eight Sovereigns gathered, and Sovereign Tianjin nursed an immense headache. "Isn't he acting far too high-profile? I know he's formidable—he's a ninth-rank expert, after all. But he has only just descended and hasn't returned to his peak! I understand he needs chaotic energy to replenish himself, but he could easily stay low-key, or have us provide the resources..." *Was there any need for this?* He had thrown the entire north into panic, leaving everyone walking on eggshells. Worse, the Five Elements Domain could say nothing to reprove him. To top it off, they had to clean up his mess, thoroughly erasing the traces of chaos power he so recklessly left behind! *Damn it!* Sovereign Tianjin could not fathom what the Chaos Dao Lord was thinking. *What does he want?* Jinyang and the others also frowned. Huoyan ventured, "Could he have his own agenda? His Dao is centered on chaos. Now that panic reigns, could he be intentionally sowing discord to fuel his rapid growth? Perhaps he avoided us because he feared we might place restrictions on him. He might prefer to recover sufficient strength before contacting us. That initial disturbance was probably just a greeting, a hint to tell us not to worry..." His deduction sounded somewhat plausible to the others. Yet Sovereign Tianjin soon grimaced. "I am not merely worried about northern unrest. I fear spies from other factions planted in our midst! Originally, maintaining a low profile would have yielded more opportunities. Now, if his presence is discovered and word spreads, the other factions might unite once more! He is a ninth-rank expert, true, but the current chaos cannot support the full power of a ninth-rank. That would spell disaster." He felt intensely annoyed. Moreover, if Chaos wanted to stir trouble, why pick the north? Why not go elsewhere? Just then, Sovereign Jinyang chimed in, "Could he be deliberately disrupting the north to establish his own system of chaos, aiming to gain a foothold here? He might have avoided meeting us out of concern that we would interfere—especially you three Daoists, given that the north is your domain." That also seemed reasonable. It was the only explanation that made sense. Sovereign Tianjin said grimly, "Let us hope so. My only fear is that if word leaks, it will derail our upcoming plans. It is truly... frustrating!" He was utterly exasperated. ... In the Huntian Domain, Sovereign Huntian also frowned deeply. *Chaos is truly bold. Or does he already know that I am aware of his descent, and thus acts with utter abandon? Does he think being a ninth-rank makes him invincible?* *You are merely among the weakest of the ninth rank!* *Furthermore, you are far from your peak... yet you behave so recklessly, as though terrified I won't notice your arrival!* Huntian narrowed his eyes. The shadow had already departed for the north. While substantial intelligence had yet to return, one fact was certain: Chaos had arrived in the north! Moreover, he had been devouring massive amounts of chaotic energy lately, presumably preparing for his recovery. *Truly, the weaker one is, the more arrogant one behaves.* Tianfang's descent had been arrogant as well, but after suffering a setback, he would surely adopt a lower profile next time. Chaos, on the other hand, had descended in his true body; if he died, he died for good. Yet he still dared to act so rampant! Huntian had originally planned to wait and covertly track his movements, but now that seemed unnecessary. With Chaos acting so brazenly, his true form would likely be revealed before long. "I'd like to see how much of your strength you've recovered!" Sovereign Huntian let out a cold snort and vanished from the spot. ... At the northern border, the real Chaos Dao Lord was in no rush. He traveled leisurely toward the north, stopping along the way. Having been away for countless years, the chaos had transformed, evoking a sense of profound change. Beneath him, he rode a formidable beast—not a tiger, but a gigantic, magnificent bird. As a ninth-rank Sovereign, he required a certain degree of prestige. Sensing the five elements power growing increasingly dense, he smiled faintly, then raised an eyebrow, murmuring, "Interesting. Have they prepared the way for me in advance?" The northern region felt distinctly chaotic, tinged with panic. *Did they learn of my impending arrival and prepare the groundwork so I could establish myself smoothly?* Indeed, having allies made matters far more convenient. In just a few days, despite his swift pace, the other party had already arranged everything. Detecting that faint thread of chaos aura, he chuckled. They were remarkably considerate! *Very well! Saves me the trouble.* Just then, he frowned slightly. In the distance, a dark silhouette seemed to flash past and vanish. ... At that moment, the dark shadow dispatched from the Huntian Domain was shaken to the core! *What rotten luck!* That was Chaos! He had nearly collided with him head-on. But... how was he here? Reports had just claimed he was devouring chaotic energy on the other side of the north. *So fast! A ninth-rank powerhouse is truly extraordinary to appear here in an instant.* The shadow's expression shifted erratically. His Dao Lord had not yet arrived. Alone, he stood little chance against Chaos, so a direct confrontation was out of the question. Behind him, the Chaos Dao Lord narrowed his eyes. *A remarkably powerful figure! And vaguely familiar... Who is he?* To encounter such a potent rank-eight Sovereign right upon entering the northern region was truly unfortunate. *Why did he flee so fast? Does he recognize me?* His heart stirred, and his expression darkened. He had hoped to maintain a low profile for a while longer. In the next instant, he urged the giant bird forward, vanishing in pursuit toward the direction the shadow had fled. ... Elsewhere, Li Hao had just absorbed another batch of chaotic energy, his gaze shifting thoughtfully. Beside him, the Feitian Tiger burped loudly in absolute bliss. *Glorious!* In the past, it had never dared approach great worlds to absorb chaotic energy, but these past few days had been pure ecstasy. They went from world to world, feeding freely, and best of all, it was entirely safe—hardly anyone interfered. A few times, it had thought pursuers were on their heels, only for them to abruptly abandon the chase. It wished every day could be like this! Meanwhile, Li Hao was deep in thought. *How intriguing. The traces of chaos power I left behind were all erased, as if someone were deliberately cleaning up after me to prevent my whereabouts from leaking!* *Who did it?* In the north, the only ones capable of this were the powerhouses of the Five Elements Domain. *Why? Did they deduce my identity and believe the descent of the Chaos Dao Lord is beneficial to them? Or is there an underlying connection—perhaps an alliance with Chaos?* Even so, the commotion he caused was substantial, and northern cultivators were in turmoil. Huntian should receive word soon. Would he come? The northern region's reaction had defied Li Hao's expectations, yet it seemed advantageous. It was both safer and far more convenient. Li Hao smiled. "Feitian Tiger, interested in eating even more?" Overjoyed, the tiger blurted out, "Wherever Senior goes, I go!" It would gladly follow him every day. In just a few days, it had consumed more than it usually did in centuries, and the chaotic energy was exceptionally pure. "Let's head to the Five Elements Domain for another feast. The energy there is vastly richer and more abundant!" "Uh... is that safe?" "Don't worry, it's fine!" Li Hao smiled. He needed to test them once more. If they still showed no reaction, there had to be hidden factors at play—perhaps a connection between the Five Elements Domain and Sovereign Huntian, or something else entirely. He would probe them further! What had begun as a scheme to sow chaos had taken an interesting turn. ... Within the Five Elements Domain, an immense pulling force suddenly swept through the void. The Sovereigns, who were still fretting, snapped to attention. Sovereign Tianjin said hurriedly, "He's here..." "He's absorbing the surrounding chaotic energy!" "Shall we stop him?" "Stop him for what? He's still recovering..." The Sovereigns conversed rapidly. Sovereign Tianjin raised an eyebrow. "He still refuses to meet us, fearing we might act against him? He is excessively cautious!" It left him speechless. Yet, gritting his teeth, Tianjin ordered, "Vent our reserve energy from the Great Dao Universe and let him absorb it! Let him recover his strength so he stops wandering around, and let us demonstrate our sincerity! Since we are in the same boat and have the Dao Lord's decree, we must cooperate!" The others pondered for a moment and nodded. On the side of the Five Elements Emissaries, Shui Linglong whispered, "Are we certain it is him? If it isn't..." That would be an enormous embarrassment! Tianjin chuckled. "How could it not be!" Did that even need asking? Aside from him, who would dare come outside the Five Elements Domain and arrogantly plunder chaotic energy? Moreover, the fluctuations of chaos power were unmistakable. If not the Chaos Dao Lord, who else could it be? He was immensely powerful, and Tianjin knew every supreme powerhouse in the chaos. Apart from Chaos needing rapid recovery, no one else would dare act so brazenly! "Should we go out to meet him?" Shui Linglong suggested again. Sovereign Tianjin shook his head. "Since he is unwilling to appear, he must still have misgivings. The eight of us here form a formidable force. He likely worries we might plot against him; only when his strength is restored will he feel sufficiently confident." The others nodded in agreement. It made sense. Still, for a ninth-rank Sovereign to be this timid was rare indeed. Yet considering he had descended in his true body, it was understandable. If his true body fell, he would be truly dead. A clone could afford recklessness, but losing a true body was an irreparable disaster! ... At the same time, Li Hao's eyes flashed with disbelief. *What is going on?* He had only meant to test the waters, but the Five Elements Domain had suddenly unleashed a torrent of dense Great Dao energy—not crude chaotic energy, but pure, refined Great Dao power, laid out for them to absorb freely! "This..." Li Hao's jaw dropped. *What on earth? I only came to probe whether you were tied to the Chaos Dao Lord... and you're just handing me energy?* Previously, he had filled four thousand five hundred realms, and over the past few days, he had absorbed enough to complete only several dozen more. Yet now, this pure Great Dao energy surged out, completing several realms in mere moments. Li Hao was astonished. The quantity was immense! Having stood in the north for a million years, the Five Elements Domain possessed profound reserves. With such a massive outpouring of Great Dao power, Li Hao could hardly care if it was a trap. *Damn it, who turns down free benefits?* The Feitian Tiger was equally stunned, but it threw caution to the wind. This was likely the most extravagant meal of its life as endless Great Dao energy rushed into its maw. It grinned wildly in sheer ecstasy. *Such a windfall exists?* Li Hao frantically channeled the energy to fill his domains. As the Great Dao power merged into him, four thousand six hundred realms were fully saturated, leaving him only four hundred short of his goal of five thousand. And the Great Dao energy provided by the domain remained extraordinarily abundant! They were clearly paying a steep price. Li Hao was shocked, but his suspicions were finally confirmed. His eyes darted thoughtfully. *They definitely share ties with Chaos—in fact, they truly believe I am Chaos! Why would such a misunderstanding occur?* Could it be that they found the Chaos Dao Lord's presence completely expected? *Did they believe he was supposed to be here?* Li Hao deduced rapidly. Why would they be so certain unless they knew beforehand that the Chaos Dao Lord would appear? That was why they were so generous, never even bothering to verify his identity or suspect an imposter. He had assumed they would at least confirm who he was, yet they were completely convinced he was Chaos! *Chaos... has truly descended!* Enlightenment struck Li Hao like lightning. In an instant, everything that had puzzled him clicked into place, and his expression shifted slightly. Sovereign Chaos had truly entered the chaos in person, which was why this misunderstanding arose. *It must be! Those ninth-rank experts must have negotiated and paid a price to let a genuine ninth-rank descend—and that person was Chaos! Operators of that caliber wouldn't act without reason.* Li Hao smiled, a hint of wild amusement in his eyes. Everything made sense now. *Where is the real Chaos right now?* He pondered. *Could he be in the north as well?* Countless thoughts raced through his mind. Suddenly growing even bolder, he rippled his Great Dao power, lacing it with chaos fluctuations, and sent a mental message: "Not enough!" ... Inside the Five Elements Domain, Tianjin and the others were still conversing when the void trembled. An eruption of chaos energy burst forth alongside a voice: "Not enough!" Sovereign Tianjin's face darkened. "He has quite the appetite!" They had already given so much! The Five Elements Domain was an overlord, true, but they needed resources for their own cultivation and their subordinates. Their stockpiled Great Dao crystals were currently burning furiously to supply him, yet he still demanded more! *How much does he need?* Still, since Chaos was willing to communicate, it meant he had recovered significantly and gained confidence. Beside them, Jinyang said, "Fellow Daoists, do you have more reserves? If so... release a bit more. We arrived in a hurry and brought little with us. Since he still needs it..." Tianjin remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Burn more. A ninth-rank physical body and foundation are immense; it truly might not be enough." Despite his words, he felt intensely irritated. *When this is over, you had better repay every bit with interest!* The other Sovereigns said nothing, retrieving large quantities of Great Dao crystals to burn. After a brief pause, Sovereign Tianjin suggested, "Since he is willing to communicate, should we pay him a visit?" He was a ninth-rank expert after all, and granting a favor without even meeting face to face felt like a poor bargain. Before he could act, another ripple echoed: "I shall depart shortly... My primary target this time is Huntian! Order must be shattered first. News of my arrival may have already leaked... Remain alert and prepare to slay Huntian!" The Sovereigns' hearts skipped a beat. *Huntian! His first target is actually Huntian! So that's it!* Yet Huntian was terrifyingly powerful. Wasn't targeting him immediately a bit arrogant? Even as a ninth-rank Sovereign, Chaos was likely only on par with Huntian in this era. As they pondered, another mental transmission arrived: "You need only cooperate. Do not ask unnecessary questions, and do not interfere where you shouldn't! I shall create a clone to divert Huntian's attention. Keep this in mind; when your assistance is required, I will seek you out!" Their eyes flickered. Sovereign Tianjin quickly traced the ripple to reply, "Since the Venerable has commanded it, we shall obey... However..." "No need for anything else. Simply obey orders!" "...Very well." Sovereign Tianjin was thoroughly disgruntled. *No matter how strong you are, you're currently feeding on our resources. What gives you the right to be so arrogant?* Besides, the Five Elements Domain had ruled the north for ages. Chaos had arrived without even a greeting and started ordering them around. Had it not been for the Dao Lord's decree, Tianjin would have turned hostile long ago! ... Receiving their response, Li Hao rejoiced. *As expected! My guess was correct. There really is a secret agreement between them.* *What a stroke of luck!* He had deliberately laid down a smokescreen about creating a clone. If they ever encountered the real Chaos, they would likely assume it was the clone and refrain from probing too deeply. Even if two Chaoses appeared simultaneously in the north, they would not suspect foul play. Hopefully, this deception would hold for a long time. Li Hao continued to devour the Great Dao energy voraciously. Overlords were overlords; even the weakest among them possessed astonishing reserves. In just a short span, the Feitian Tiger could not swallow another drop. Li Hao's frenzied absorption devoured the equivalent of nearly ten billion Great Dao crystals, completing realm after realm. He was nearing four thousand seven hundred realms. Had he not feared pushing them too far, he would have loved to demand more. Yet Li Hao suppressed his greed. *Enough is enough!* He was not insatiably greedy. Besides, if he asked for too much, they would insist on meeting him, making a refusal awkward. A face-to-face encounter would instantly blow his cover, as the Five Elements Emissaries undoubtedly recognized Chaos. *Chaos has truly descended, which means Huntian will likely come... If Huntian leaves, will the west be left undefended?* Thoughts swirled through Li Hao's mind. *Or... could I lure Huntian into colliding with the real Chaos, allowing me to reap the benefits as the fisherman?* *If they clash and the Five Elements Emissaries deploy in full force, perhaps I can raid their home base, seize the Five Elements Domain first, and then meddle in their battle?* His eyes shone brighter and brighter. Coming here had been the right choice. Moreover, would the Human King, Long Zhan, or Chunqiu in the east get involved? *Let it descend into chaos—the messier, the better!* Li Hao turned his gaze toward the west. Perhaps he should head that way; if Huntian was coming, he would arrive soon. *A collision between a genuine ninth-rank expert and an entity infinitely close to the ninth rank—perhaps the reincarnation of Order itself... Order versus Chaos, now that will be a spectacle!* Huntian had hidden cards, but Chaos had allies in the north. Neither side would want other factions interfering, so any battle that erupted would be an all-out clash meant to end swiftly before anyone else could react. With so many plans forming, Li Hao felt shorthanded. He thought of his teacher, whom he still needed to monitor. Perhaps he could put Yuan Shuo to work. While his teacher might struggle with direct combat at this level, digging tunnels was second nature to an old tomb raider, wasn't it? Here, it was best to avoid using the Dao of Time, as supreme powerhouses could easily detect it. Tunneling through the chaos, on the other hand, was much safer. *A pity I didn't bring the Human King and the Sword Venerable along. Had I known Chaos had descended, having them dig a few tunnels in the north would have yielded even greater opportunities. It's too late for that now.* He had severed his connection to Time on this journey to avoid detection, and learning of a ninth-rank's descent made him even more determined not to reach out. Having thoroughly drained the Great Dao energy outside the Five Elements Domain, Li Hao took the Feitian Tiger and vanished in an instant. ... Meanwhile, at the northern border, Chaos was still pursuing the shadow, his brow deeply furrowed. His luck was rather poor; he seemed to recognize the fleeing figure ahead. "It's him..." Chaos glared coldly at the figure ahead. *It must be that fellow!* That meant he had likely arrived from the west and had spent these years alongside Huntian. Was Huntian the reincarnation of Order, or merely an inheritor of his doctrine? Back then, Chaos had exerted tremendous effort to slay the Lord of Order. If memory served, the man ahead had been the leader of the Ninefold Guards. The so-called Ninefold Guards had essentially been the laborers serving Order, shifting myriad worlds to construct the Nine Heavens. Though the Lord of Order was a supremely powerful ninth-rank Dao Lord, the chaos was vast, and he could not manage everything personally. He possessed numerous powerhouses executing his will, moving and segregating worlds within the chaos to forge the true Nine Heavens—one world per tier, ascending step by step. The Ninefold Guards had all been exceptionally strong; how else could they forcibly shift great worlds, some of which were rank-eight or rank-nine? Yet in the ancient war, most of the Ninefold Guards were slain, while a rare few escaped. After a period of hunting, the survivors had vanished without a trace. *Now it seems... they ended up with Huntian!* *He definitely recognized me!* Chaos thought, his gaze turning icy. His luck was truly wretched; running into the Ninefold Guards right upon entering the north suggested Huntian might have detected him long ago. *Could it be... the Order Heavenly Strategy?* Chaos stirred inwardly. *Has the Order Heavenly Strategy truly survived intact, observing the chaos?* His eyes brightened faintly. When they killed Order back then, they had failed to find the Order Heavenly Strategy; perhaps Huntian had obtained it. If Chaos could seize it, mastering the Dao of Order would become far easier. *I haven't returned to my peak... Pursuing him further is unwise. Huntian undoubtedly knows of my return... I should first rally the subordinates of the various ninth-rank experts to help me restore some strength... Otherwise, I might walk straight into a trap!* With that in mind, Sovereign Chaos abandoned the pursuit. He was far from his peak—in fact, he was utterly depleted, having recovered very little along the way. "I'll visit the Five Elements Domain first..." He turned and left. Ahead, the dark shadow paused and glanced back. *Chaos left? He must have recognized me as well!* Still, it was for the best. He had confirmed that Chaos was indeed in the north. He quickly channeled his Great Dao, sending a transmission back: *Chaos is in the north!* ... Deep in the void of chaos, Sovereign Huntian exhaled slowly as he traveled. *It's confirmed, then.* *Very well!* *Chaos... I am coming for you! The ancient grievances shall begin with you.* *I only hope the other factions remain oblivious for now and do not interfere. Slaying Chaos will grant me the capital to truly unify the chaos.* *Order shall be rebuilt!* *The Nine Heavens will reappear in the chaos, and the Order Heavenly Strategy will manifest as the rules of heaven and earth. After countless years, it is time for the chaos to be unified under one rule!* *When all beings share a single will... when my will replaces the will of the chaos, even if Tianfang descends, I shall fear nothing!* Sovereign Huntian's eyes blazed with light. In the next instant, he tore through the void, heading straight for the north. The expansion of the Huntian Domain would begin in the north! *By the time you all react, the north will already be mine.* *Li Hao, relying on the Five Elements Emissaries to stall my steps was far too naive. Had I not harbored reservations, Tianfang's clone would never have troubled me last time. What is a mere clone? The true body is my true target!* *The opportunity has arrived!*