Chapter 1422: Exchanging Counsel (II)

“There is no eternal party beneath the heavens!” Yuan Shuo looked at Li Hao. “My childhood friends, good friends, my master, and my master’s friends have all left me. However, I did not slump into low spirits because of it, nor did my heart cool.

“We spend our lives in eternal improvement and making friends from all walks of life. We should not lose ourselves in the past!” He lectured Li Hao with the air of defining the meaning of a nation. “You are still too young. Once you grow older and experience more, you’ll discover that we are only one such harbor in your path of life. We are not your final destination!”

“Now now, we can’t put things this way.” He Yong wiped away the wine on his beard with a chuckle. “I don’t agree with Ole Yuan’s words. I think... we’re still very important at the end of the day. Resurrect me again next time I die. There’s no rush, take your time. I believe that you can do it. You were in too much of a rush this time!

“I didn’t get to sleep and chill enough before you brought us back!!” He roared with laughter.

Li Hao smiled as well. This was essentially a family meal; everyone freely spoke their minds.

“The greatest matter facing Silver Moon right now is the rise in our world status! We still need a bit of time to digest that.

“Firstly, I’m concerned that Red Moon universe is still out there. Will they find us after our ascension and perhaps even invade us?

“Secondly, we’re surrounded by the chaos tribulation outside the Star Gate. Should we head outside or not? If we do, the thunder and lightning is bound to strike us! If we don’t, we can stick our heads in the sand and hide. We can continue to lie to ourselves that the enemy won’t find us or can’t make it in. We’ve hidden away from the universe for one hundred thousand years, perhaps we can manage another one hundred thousand!

“Finally, there’s some trivial internal matters to deal with, but those won’t be an issue. What I’m still hesitant about right now is that if I leave, do I leave with a group of people or by myself?

“What’s the situation like in the chaos universe? Is it suitable for exploration? If we stick to our little pocket of the universe, will that draw attention from strong foes in search of conquest targets instead?

“If this was in the past... we were just a minor world. They might not even pay attention to us if we weren’t affiliated with New Martial. But now, we’re a mid world and we have a dao universe! According to what Senior Celestial Pole said, only major worlds have dao universes.”

Not every world had their own dao universe. Silver Moon lacked one in the past. Its denizens cultivated the daos of other worlds or not at all, focusing on the self instead.

Only when a world possessed its own dao universe did it have a chance of becoming a major world. That was when it had an opportunity of walking its own path. A world like that possessed immense potential.

Major worlds weren’t found just anywhere. Some minor worlds were very barbaric and uncivilized. Silver Moon was an exception because it was heavily influenced by New Martial’s heritage.

“Will the appearance of a dao universe arouse attention from other civilizations or worlds?” wondered Li Hao. “Where are we in the chaos universe right now, and what is the situation like out there? We don’t know anything!”

The atmosphere turned solemn.

“We must leave the confines of our world!” Hong Yitang smoothly took over the discussion. “Cultivation cannot progress in a continuous vacuum. Silver Moon doesn’t even have a true exalted emperor yet, to say nothing of comparing ourselves with real mid worlds. At least one exalted emperor appears in typical minor worlds...

“We’ll fall behind if we refuse to interact with powerhouses or come in contact with advanced civilizations. We’ve more or less benefited from our association with New Martial. Otherwise, Silver Moon would not have its achievements of the day...” Hong Yitang looked at Li Hao. “We also know that you won’t be willing to stay in Silver Moon for the rest of your life.

“It’s just... are you confident of making it past the chaos tribulation? We saw the previous ones, they took out even exalted emperors, and that was within Silver Moon. They’ll probably be even stronger outside!

“And it’s one thing to weather a tribulation within a world, but in the universe outside... What if Red Moon major world sends more exalted emperors?” Hong Yitang looked at Li Hao. “Therefore, I recommend waiting some more! We need to improve further if we are to temper ourselves!

“Silver Moon has risen to a new status. Gan Wuliang and I are growing stronger these days, as is the general population. This is good for the great dao—we’ll make it into seventh level Fused Dao soon, which will make us a half step emperor!

“In addition, the Human King took a large army with him when he set off on his campaign...” Hong Yitang looked meaningfully at the young man. “Why did he need to do that? To an exalted emperor, even hundreds of thousands of troops can be swept aside with one blow. Given how strong the Human King and his companions were, why would he do so?

“In my opinion, the reasons are manifold. First, to train his troops! Powerhouses rise up from the ranks of the weak, they’re not born that strong. Training his soldiers will aid in the production of future heavyweights.

“Second, to seize and loot! When powerhouses march on other worlds, the army sweeps through the world to raid its products of civilization, wealth, technology, talents...

“Third, to broaden their horizons! Those stuck in a small village all their lives know only that village. They know how big a city is when visiting a city, and realize how expansive a continent is upon seeing that continent. They only know how big a world is when they leave it. One’s horizons are the key to advancing further in life!

“He took millions of troops with him to drill them, to show them the universe, and to let them know that anything is possible! This will also encourage everyone to work hard and better themselves!”

Hong Yitang was indicating that he wished to form an army to walk out of Silver Moon together, not just send Li Hao by himself!

Everyone understood the connotations of the young man’s words. He was saying all of this because he wished for everyone to remain in Silver Moon. Or rather, he was making his farewells.

Perhaps he might quietly vanish tomorrow. Anything was possible!

Li Hao was much more at ease after Yuan Shuo and the rest were alive again, and more carefree. He wanted to journey out of Silver Moon by himself, possibly as a scout, possibly never to return again. If danger never befell the world after his departure, he would likely never come back.

“Every good man needs a few sidekicks!” the taciturn Liu Long said in a muffled voice. “No matter how strong you are, I think you need a few helpers by your side. They can run errands or keep you company, it doesn’t matter so long as they create trouble for you.

“Do you know what the chaos looks like? Do you know what the situation is outside? It’s always better to have someone by your side that you can discuss all this with, even if their battle strength isn’t up to par. It’s not easy being away from home...”

“What are you worried about, chief?” Li Hao started laughing.

“That you’ll leave for good!” Liu Long said bluntly.

“Why would I? This is Silver Moon, my home.”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Liu Long looked at him. “Ying Hongyue shouldn’t have died. You’re like a kite with a broken string after he’s gone. There’s nothing tying you down anymore!”

His words resonated with the group.

“Am I that untrustworthy to you guys?” Li Hao snorted with amusement. Everyone ignored him.

“Setting aside whether or not you come back, the crux is that you don’t know anything about the chaos right now!” Hou Xiaochen said after some consideration. “For the moment, we do have enemies out there.

“Although we’ve never set foot in it, you killed the Exalted Bone Eclipse Emperor. That’s an exalted emperor for a major world. They won’t easily let you off the hook for that! Not to mention, whether it’s your river of time, our two daos, or being a mid world without a resident exalted emperor... Any world with plans of conquest will set their sights on us.

“For now, it should be Seniors Celestial Pole and Zhang An who know the most about the chaos. They’ve traveled through it before. It’s actually best if we can find New Martial! New Martial is very strong. If we can seek support from them... you’d be freed up more.

“Of course, we must always remain on guard. Although we are of the same origin as New Martial, we should take some precautions when appropriate, just in case. You should talk more with those two seniors.”

“I’ll have a conversation with them before I go,” Li Hao nodded. “Teacher, do you have any advice in mind?”

“Advice...” Yuan Shuo stroked his beard. “I don’t have advice. You’ve filled out your wings now and can fly! But I’m wondering if you can outright progress to exalted emperor if you absorb both the immaterial and corporeal dao right now? I think it’s best for you to try your luck outside only after reaching the exalted emperor level!

“There is still a difference between our path and New Martial. You’re ninth level Fused Dao now, is there more to come after Fused Dao? How do we cultivate it? You’ve opened 360 dao meridians—both corporeal and immaterial, but you’re only ninth level Fused Dao. That’s the equivalent of a New Martial exalted emperor. How do we determine how to proceed next?”

360 dao meridians of both corporeal and immaterial were nearly the limit of dao. There were more dao meridians in the human body, but there was no point in opening insignificant meridians at Li Hao’s level. Their effect was limited.

The exalted emperor level would be a major change. When it came to New Martial exalted emperors, they inducted the great dao into their bodies at this stage. Their core origin dao stars became part of them—that was to be a true New Martial exalted emperor.

The New Martial world was also different. It was delineated by different spatial planes, which made it easier to identify the power hierarchy.

For Silver Moon, there didn’t seem to be a path forward after reaching ninth level Fused Dao. The group wouldn’t be at ease letting Li Hao go and attempting the tribulation if he didn’t fully make it to exalted emperor.

But it was damnably hard to convince the young man.

He wanted to leave not just because he wanted to take a look outside, but because he still had regrets. Those who’d watched him resurrect the others knew that he hadn’t been able to bring back his childhood friend and parents.

It’d been three years since Zhang Yuan’s death. If someone who’d died three years ago was impossible to retrieve, then there was even less hope of reviving his parents who’d died five years ago.

The power of time wasn’t omnipotent, not to mention that Li Hao hadn’t fully mastered it.

So perhaps he wanted to leave in search of a better method, or to improve himself more rapidly. He might wish to venture out in order to more fully understand the dao of time.

“After Fused Dao...” Li Hao mulled over the question. “360 dao meridians is ninth level Fused Dao, but no matter what level Fused Dao it is, cultivators can be categorized by those of the corporeal dao, immaterial dao, and both daos!

“Only when someone cultivates both daos are they a true powerhouse! If regular seventh level Fused Dao are hard pressed to kill New Martial half step emperors, the seventh level Fused Dao of both daos will certainly match one!

“And I mean a real half step emperor of core origin!” Li Hao looked at the group. “I have some thoughts when it comes to the levels after Fused Dao, but they haven’t been fleshed out enough.”

“You can bounce your ideas off us,” said Yuan Shuo. “Although we don’t have nearly the same level of knowledge as you, perhaps we might gain some knowledge and give you some ideas in return. Our ideas may not be useful, but they’re worth a try.”

He, too, was Fused Dao now, but even further away from Li Hao than before. He no longer dared say that his student could or could not do something. The kid had surpassed him whether in terms of knowledge, experience, or battle strength.