Chapter 1336: A Blatant Conspiracy (IV)

The edge of the northern reaches.

Ying Hongyue frowned, deep in thought. “What is he doing?” he muttered. “What does this lunatic want to do now?”

He didn’t understand!

But he knew that Li Hao was undertaking all of this to strike at certain people, such Zheng Yu and Li Daoheng. Yet... how would the young man do it?

Although Li Hao had his goal written all over his face, no one was able to read him all the same. It was such an infuriating feeling.

......

At the same time, Galewind.

Zheng Yu looked at the queen in front of him and said softly, “Perhaps... we really do need to work together. Star River has set its sights on us. If the dao universe really does descend upon this world, perhaps I’ll... need to enter the moon.

“But... you...” He looked at the queen. “You’re a very troublesome character! I’m worried that actually cooperating with you will plunge me into disaster!”

Zheng Yu was quite resigned, as was the queen.

Are you listening to yourself?

“Do you mean that the dao universe really will come to Silver Moon?” She didn’t fully understand the situation at hand. “Galewind can’t move, so you want to charge into the dao universe with me?”

Zheng Yu inclined his head.

“But won’t that satisfy Li Hao’s wishes?” the queen asked heavily. “He might be getting up to all this just to entice you to leave Galewind!”

“I know, but if the opportunity is right in front of me, do you think I really will be able to refuse it?” Zheng Yu murmured to himself, “I also know that Li Hao is probably doing this to lay hands on Galewind, but if the dao universe really is right in front of me... Don’t you think I should put everything on the line just this once?”

The queen thought it over and nodded.

He should! I would do the same if it was me, not to mention that he’s an invincible half step emperor.

“What if that dao universe is fake?” she asked.

“Can you and I not identify if a dao universe is fake?” Zheng Yu laughed. “Don’t forget, you also have personal dao stars. Li Hao’s kicked up such a fuss that the possibility of him presenting a counterfeit is low. While there’s always a chance of that, I think it’s more likely that he has some traps set up in the dao universe.

“As for a fake dao universe, do you think all of us Empyrean Kings and half step emperors are blind?”

Everyone in the world was watching, it was too hard to showcase a forgery!

After thinking it over, the queen felt that that made sense. Everything these guys said made sense these days.

“I can send you inside the dao universe, but I won’t be going in myself!” said the queen. “Li Hao may be up to something and you’ll be able to survive it since you’re a half step emperor, but I’m not! Even if it really is the dao universe on the other side, there might be a tremendous amount of danger inside!

“Therefore, I’m going to leave once I send you in. I’ll agree to what you’re proposing if you’re fine with that! And it’s best if you take Galewind in with you. Otherwise, I’m worried that Li Hao is doing all this to get his hands on Galewind.”

Although it didn’t seem like it, who could be certain?

Zheng Yu nodded after some thought. The only caveat was that Galewind was a large city and wouldn’t be so easily mobilized. There was also Star River waiting to pounce from the sidelines. While the one from the Zhangs didn’t measure up to him and would be hard pressed to seize Galewind, it would be highly troublesome all the same if Zhang An dogged his footsteps.

“Sire, if you enter the dao universe and... Li Hao really comes for Galewind...” intoned an Empyrean King behind him.

Zheng Yu glanced at him and said slowly after a while, “You lot are seven Empyrean King powerhouses! While Li Hao may have schemes prepped and might impede my movement, can seven Empyrean Kings not even defend the city for a few moments against a Saint?

“You are

seven

Empyrean Kings!!” Anger stirred in Zheng Yu’s tone. “Li Hao is just fourth level Fused Dao—whatever he has planned, he needs to split his time and attention for us. He only has approximately a dozen New Martial Saints and Silver Moon Fused Dao. They’re scattered throughout the land.

“How many people does he have left by his side? Even with Zhang An and the others nearby, that’s just a few more Saints. Do you guys really not have any confidence in yourselves?!”

Zheng Yu glowered ominously.

Only I am entering the dao universe and taking the greatest risk. Can you seven Empyrean Kings not even stand against a fourth level Fused Dao??

What kind of question is that?! Do you even count as New Martial citizens anymore?!

In that age, seven Empyrean Kings would dare mob a half step emperor! They wouldn’t shrink back even at the possibility of defeat!

Damn it! These useless bastards!

He really was growing furious. Although he didn’t care about them, these people still immensely disappointed him and made him despair.

“It won’t just be me, but also Li Daoheng who will step forward to meet the challenge!” Zheng Yu bit off. “That means to say that Li Hao will have to face two half step emperors. If he still has any effort to spare for you guys, it means you’ll be able to kill him even through self-detonation!

“Not to mention, whether it’s Ying Hongyue or the heavenly will, they’ll expend everything they have against him. He’ll be fighting all of the heavyweights in Silver Moon!”

Of course they had to respond with how cocky Li Hao was being! If seven Empyrean Kings couldn’t defend Galewind even then, then what was he keeping them around for?

The Empyrean Kings looked awkwardly at each other.

New Martial Empyrean Kings? Do we really count as that?

How do we count as New Martial Empyrean Kings in a minor world, not to mention that we’ve betrayed New Martial? You shouldn’t keep saying that we’re New Martial Empyrean Kings, we’re just a bunch of people who’ve never experienced the wars of early New Martial.

The Empyrean Kings didn’t voice any of their thoughts; they quietly nursed their apprehensions.

The queen curled her lip. These Empyrean Kings... were trash. She herself barely managed to count as an Empyrean King. Although she was afraid of Li Hao, she would dare fight the young man if they encountered each other!

I almost killed him once! Now these Empyrean Kings and half step emperor are on pins and needles with any random sneeze. This guy’s... really uncanny! Why is everyone so afraid of him?

......

Unrest bubbled through the world. Li Hao’s plan of summoning the dao universe continued at full steam. Everyone was watching and waiting.

The young man sat cross-legged over Battle Heaven, unmoving. His world of the mental sea shifted through various permutations. This world formed by the three Saints was very strong, but there was a possibility that someone might see through it.

Indeed, the mental sea was the crux of his plan. It would be the so-called dao universe that he was summoning. Who knew if he actually had the ability to summon the real thing? Even if he did, the odds weren’t high that he would be successful.

Only with summoning the world of the mental sea did he stand a chance of tricking Zheng Yu and the rest into entering it.

“The world of the mental sea... and three opponents that are peak Saints. Regular Empyrean Kings won’t be able to see the truth, not to mention that my Hao Moon Sword intent and the dao stars are real. But... a half step emperor... and a primary body of one at that... might be able to pick up something the second they enter...”

What could he do? This was Li Hao’s biggest problem to deal with!

Once his enemies saw through the ruse, they might go on a rampage and destroy his mental sea. His losses would be immeasurable then.

Unless...

Unless he could summon that star again. He may not be able to freeze a half step emperor, but he’d ensure that his enemies sense the vastness of the world, its immensity and mystery!

But he’d spooked the star last time and hadn’t come up with anything new lately. It would be difficult to lure it out of hiding!

It needs to be something new and related to the great dao...

It wasn’t that the star was interested in anything new. It had to be related to the great dao to draw it to him. It was the heart of great dao, after all.

Endless calculations marked each one of Li Hao’s footsteps. He couldn’t put a single foot wrong. Once he did, he would do so to his doom!

But if I walk the correct path, I’ll be able to send Zheng Yu into the immaterial dao universe so he can have fun with Li Daoheng! And I’ll be able to collect Galewind at ease.

Perhaps... I’ll be able to kill Ying Hongyue as well. Not only that, but I’ll be able to tempt the heavenly will out of hiding and eliminate it as well. This will be a chance for me to erase some obvious thorns in my side and set Li Daoheng and Zheng Yu at each other’s throats!

Golden light flashed out of Li Hao’s eyes; Panther whined mournfully by his side. The young man was going to go bald soon with how much thinking he did from day to night!

What a tragic fate!

The biggest problem Li Hao faced at present was the issue of how to pull the wool over two half step emperors’ eyes. Li Daoheng was easier to handle as it likely wouldn’t be his primary body. But Zheng Yu...

How could he make the star of time appear again?

The god of Initial Martial might pick up on something as well. Hopefully, he would keep to his word of non-interference. Otherwise, things would be very dicey once Li Hao was unmasked.

“Panth, I need your help!” The young man suddenly looked sharply at the dog.

“Arf arf arf?” Panther’s eyes went wide.

Me? How can I help when I’m so weak and so pathetic?

Li Hao laughed loudly, a new idea occurring to him. The book of great dao appeared in his hand. “Panth, this book contains a myriad of daos. Although it’s not the true dao of an exalted emperor, you'll be able to temporarily be one with all of them if you swallow the book. Can you emit powerful ripples of great dao after that? I don’t need you to do anything else, what do you think?”

“......” Panther trembled.

I think Zhang An will beat me to death! This book is the core of his dao! If I swallow it...

“Don’t be afraid, just spit it out later. There won’t be a problem then! Of course, this isn’t a sure guarantee either. But the star definitely won’t appear if I don’t do something like this...” Li Hao thought some more. “Panth, I’ll have the imperial guard coordinate with you and have it summon notes projection of the Green Emperor’s imperial palace. I think that the emperor might be the core of the great dao. I’ll tempt core with core, what do you think?”

“Arf arf?”

“You agree? You’re the best dog ever!”

Panther wanted to cry, but had no tears to do so. Meanwhile, Li Hao rapidly ran through calculations. Would this do the trick?

It might... but it might also fall a bit short!

I might need someone else to help, like the queen, for example. That half of the moon should also be the core of Silver Moon’s dao. Will all of that tempt the star?

It will be a lot of trouble if that’s still not enough!