Chapter 1461: Skyward Major World (III)

“Have exalted emperors died in these places?” asked Li Hao.

“Yes!” Big Claw nodded.

The young man raised an eyebrow. That made these locales more dangerous if even exalted emperors had fallen there! It also looked like what Big Claw spoke of was true. There wouldn’t be so many conflicts so many years later if there was nothing to be found here.

Seeing that his guest seemed to be tempted, Big Claw quickly added, “Senior, Dragon Observatory also has a private site of dao foundation, in addition to these three that are open to the public! Our master paid a hefty price to keep it under our control!

“If the senior is willing to join Dragon Observatory, then there is no need for you to risk yourself. You simply need to stand guard for the Observatory for one thousand years in exchange for entrance at will.

“Of course, each instance will require a bit of your blood essence, with one visit every one hundred years being free. The other times will require the senior to pay the price of blood essence.”

Li Hao smiled and walked around randomly, setting no particular direction as he sized up his surroundings. “Dragon Observatory is a very big faction, right? There should be nothing that can pose a danger to it, unless a major world attacks. Why do you continue to recruit exalted emperors then?”

“First, the other three main factions of Skyward sometimes clash with us,” Big Claw explained. “Skirmishes happen over these sites of dao, for example, or the discovery of some ancient treasures.

“Second, chaos wanderers will sometimes... attack Skyward without heed of the consequences. Those incidents require a joint defense from each of the factions!

“Third, to intimidate the major worlds!” Big Claw spoke freely of everything. “There are major worlds with designs on Skyward, especially the newly risen major worlds. Their masters are peak sixth rank, not yet seventh. Skyward poses a particular temptation to them. When one of them seeks to seize Skyward, all sides are needed to beat back the invaders and perhaps even eliminate them!

“Fourth...” Big Claw sized up Li Hao before saying in a meaningful tone, “Even without these dangers, cultivation requires fortuitous opportunities. Sometimes, Skyward collects people to march on the anarchists!”

“The anarchists?” Li Hao’s eyes widened. “Who are the anarchists?”

“Beings that create disorder!” Big Claw said softly. “Take our neighbor Red Moon Region, for example. In our view, Red Moon major world, as well as Yin and Yang major world, are anarchists! These major worlds often go on the offensive and destroy worlds, devouring them for their own use!

“The chaos is destined to dissolve into utter mayhem this way, so there are factions among us that specialize in eliminating anarchists like them! Their strength is the basis of what they do, so we need various factions to work together in order to eliminate them!”

“Surely not?” Li Hao took a deep breath. “Are they that insane? I know about Red Moon and Yin and Yang, that’s the direction I came from. It’s madness over there and a battle broke out recently. Apparently two major worlds were smashed apart after it. How does Dragon Observatory dare go after them?”

“We

naturally wouldn’t!” Big Claw said with trepidation. “But if some nearby major worlds wish to band together, then Dragon Observatory would participate. Granted, no such alliance has formed yet. Red Moon and Yin and Yang are too strong, but that is a fact known to all. People will still march on them if possible!”

“Aren’t you... afraid of those two worlds making trouble for you guys if you’re so blatant about your intentions?” Li Hao looked at his guide with confusion. Dragon Observatory had quite the nerve!

Their purported enemy could field seventh and eighth rank exalted emperors. They were so formidable that even major worlds were demolished in their wake.

You guys are crazy to be using this as a recruitment tactic!

“It’s not that we aren’t afraid, it’s that

they

aren’t afraid!” Big Claw said with emotion. “They keep disrupting the chaos and attacking all manner of worlds. A chaos alliance against them is only a matter of time!

“Such things are commonplace in the chaos universe. Worlds are born in the chaos and the existence of worlds is the foundation for the birth of powerhouses. Attacking and devouring worlds with brazen impudence like this will rouse the ire of certain factions!”

“Can they stand against seventh or eight rank exalted emperors?”

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

“Well, we certainly can’t!” Big Claw smiled apologetically. “I mean to say that if there are other powerhouses willing to take a stand, then Skyward will likely become the base of operations. We are too close to Red Moon Region.”

Li Hao inclined his head and said nothing more.

The pot should refrain from calling the kettle black. That side says the north is a mess, this side says Red Moon Region is a madhouse... Neither of the two sides are anything good, including New Martial.

Alright, fine, Silver Moon isn’t filled with benevolent people either.

No one bows their head to anyone else when outside the scope of a world. Everyone wants to take down everyone else.

For there to be so many sixth rank exalted emperors gathered here... Li Hao felt that it was most likely because these guys wanted to stumble across some fortune—namely, whatever opportunities the Skyward master had encountered.

Otherwise, what use was there for sixth rank exalted emperors to be here? This was probably what they were after.

“Are there any other rules in Skyward?”

“None, apart from not assaulting the residences of the various region overlords. No one will take you to account even if you start a war in the region—but try not to. If too many weaklings are embroiled in a dispute, especially those under the banner of the various overlords... a bigger conflict will easily develop!

“No one will mind even the death of an exalted emperor, so long as others aren’t dragged into your disputes. In addition, the sites of dao foundation are typically where the marketplaces are located. You can trade for some treasures for your juniors.

“Treasures that catch the senior’s eye will be few and far in between, but there will be items useful for those below exalted emperor!” Big Claw’s tone took a meaningful turn. “A minor world, for example, is a treasured item in trade!”

He looked at Li Hao before continuing in a whisper, “As nice as minor worlds are, they aren’t useful for some exalted emperors after their ascension. They can be traded for premier treasures!”

Li Hao raised a brow, suddenly sensing something off about this experience that he hadn’t noticed before. A certain kind of... callous cold-bloodedness.

“And are we permitted to take the inhabitants of the minor world with us?”

“Well... you can if you wish, but the population of a minor world is sizable and there are no treasures suitable for transporting a population...”

Big Claw’s underlying meaning was—what was the point of taking these living beings with him? Where would they be moved to? It was better to leave them behind and be rid of a trouble.

After the trade, it was up to the population’s fortunes whether they survived a refinement or devouring.

“Of course, these trades are all conducted willingly!” Big Claw hastily clarified. “Devouring a world is forbidden, but can be permitted if the master of the world is willing to transact with it!”

Oh, that’s just shutting the barn doors after the horses have run out! You guys talk like New Martial and Red Moon are some evil insurrectionists for devouring worlds, but you’re the same! Is transacting worlds supposed to make you any different?

Li Hao was immensely speechless. As he thought, he couldn’t judge a book by its cover. The powerhouses of this world were a bunch of robbers. Based on what he was hearing, they did their fair share of raiding and looting as well!

Everything was fine so long as they weren’t discovered.

“Are there no places that facilitate the exchange of dao?” That was the only thing that Li Hao was interested in. “It doesn’t matter if it is the dao of dao universes or the unordered dao of minor worlds, or even the dao of the chaos. Are there those who wish to discuss dao?”

Big Claw blinked. He really was stumped by this question.

“Yes!” he finally said after a while.

“Really?” Li Hao perked up, but his enthusiasm was soon doused.

“Senior, daos are different when the world is different. Even the same dao of fire differs between worlds. They may not be of the same system! A conversation about dao usually doesn’t lead to much gain and wastes time instead. It enables your enemies to gain a better idea of your capabilities, so most powerhouses are not willing to discuss their dao.”

“Why not?” Li Hao frowned. “How are we to improve if we do not put our minds together? Even if daos are different, coming in contact with many different permutations is how we have a hope of bringing everything together in understanding. With so many heavyweights around, surely they’re not all so short-sighted?”

“It’s not that there’s a lack of willingness,” Big Claw said with resignation as they kept walking. “It’s just that information leaks have happened many times after these conversations. The dao of those who engage with each other and even their weaknesses become common knowledge. This has stifled general interest in this pursuit!

“The senior is a newly risen exalted emperor, so you might bear a zealous heart. But as your guide, I must warn the senior that there are those that defraud others under the disguise of exchanging knowledge. You might become another’s target as soon as you leave Skyward and even die because of it!”

Li Hao frowned. This was not the result that he wanted to see. Improvements in great dao were possible only when one exchanged information with others and broadened one’s horizons as a result. The core origin dao of New Martial and dao of desire from Red Moon were an enhancement of Li Hao’s dao comprehension and range of vision.

Just two worlds had brought so many benefits to him; if he could encounter more, then it would immensely help the perfection of his dao of time.

But based on his guide’s meaning... everyone was afraid of the consequences of such an exchange.

Damn it, so disorder makes everyone selfish, huh!

“Then let’s take a look at a site of dao foundation,” the young man changed the topic.

“Senior...” Big Claw offered another reminder. “Because the senior is a newly risen exalted emperor, try... try to stay away from some heavyweights when you go! Those places typically have third rank exalted emperors in residence. Newly ascended exalted emperors are their favorite targets!”

Whether it was to harm or kill the newbies, it would all serve to benefit these veteran powerhouses. Li Hao’s blood would be used to stimulate the site so that these high rank exalted emperors could comprehend dao.

They wouldn’t be making trouble for him for no reason, but having all the reason to make trouble for him!

Profit was the motivator; there was no other cause.

Every exalted emperor that visited such a site was aware of the situation, but they still wished to try their luck. Big Claw had seen newcomers be attacked before—even a guest under his care.