Chapter 1471: Low Profile Doesn’t Work Either (III)

“There are multiple exalted emperors from Utmost Dark and Elysian Fields present on Skyward. Both sides have a fifth rank exalted emperor leading them. Because of this, the four major factions of the world are all trying to recruit them!

“The two delegations haven’t gone to other major worlds because they are also concerned that the masters of those worlds will devour them. Places like Dragon Observatory are not the overlords of a world and have a sixth rank exalted emperor at the helm. This perfectly fulfills their preferences, so all sides have been negotiating with them!

“There are many exalted emperors in any major world—I’m not sure how many have survived in Utmost Dark and Elysian Fields. But their combined number should be more than ten! There are a few in Dragon Observatory territory and they’ve made contact with the faction.”

Li Hao nodded. That was quite a lot of people. These were significant delegations if they had fifth rank exalted emperors at the helm.

“Has New Martial sent any exalted emperors to Skyward?”

“Not yet,” Big Claw answered. “New Martial exalted emperors are mostly active near Red Moon Region. Red Moon Region is a very big region with roughly a dozen major worlds. Although two have been extinguished, there are still a lot left... They are on par with Skyward Region.”

“So what are the various Skyward factions thinking right now?”

“What are they thinking...” Big Claw repeated with resignation.

How would I know?

“Probably a mixture of several thoughts. One, they’d like to obtain a dao universe. Two, although Skyward lacks a dao universe, it’s said that it still possesses the origin of Skyward’s great dao.

“That means if someone can ascend to seventh level exalted emperor here and still does not bear a great dao universe, then a new one might be born! That person will rule over Skyward, grasp the dao universe, and truly become the overlord of a region of the chaos!”

Li Hao raised an eyebrow. No wonder there were so many sixth ranks gathered on this world. did that mean one stood a chance of creating a new dao universe if they rose to seventh level here?

That wasn’t outside the realm of possibility!

Even though Skyward’s dao universe had been taken away, the world itself was still tied to the dao universe. If some conditions were triggered, then perhaps another dao universe really could come to be.

This world was much stronger than regular major worlds to begin with. Consolidating control over Skyward, even if one remained a seventh rank, would make one a premier existence among seventh ranks.

But since this was general knowledge, Skyward at large would also be aware of it. Factions such as Dragon Observatory might have some involvement with other major worlds, or even secretly be part of them.

Where else would a sixth rank wanderer result from??

It was almost impossible for a cultivator to enter sixth rank without the aid of others and a dao universe. Li Hao quickly took stock of the situation, wanting to identify some information from within that would help him.

They quickly arrived at the second dao foundation site—a volcano.

This location had resulted from the cultivation of a fire attributed exalted emperor. Fire attributed dao remnants had often stirred to life in this locale back in the day. They eventually died out and the volcano no longer erupted.

This was a sign of dao foundation depletion. It had become a tourist attraction now, with the occasional exalted emperor visiting in search of their fortune. However, fewer and fewer people came these days.

The volcano also occupied a large territory. Li Hao could sense exalted emperors fighting as soon as he approached. He immediately turned in another direction with Big Claw, avoiding the fight and thus more trouble. The young man was more concerned whether he could comprehend an exalted emperor’s dao.

Continual usage of the power of time would expend his lifespan, but he was more worried about causing a chaos tribulation. He would find it difficult to withdraw then, so hopefully, it wouldn’t appear that quickly.

......

Within the volcano, on a patch of lava.

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Li Hao once more called upon the power of time and concealed it with death qi. However, he could sense as soon as he did so that the chaos might have detected his actions. He might give rise to a chaos tribulation soon.

And yet, opportunity was right at hand!

Li Hao thought it over and still decided to continue. A tribulation might not descend this time.

......

At the same time, in the chaos outside.

The lord of Dragon Observatory frowned slightly at the tribulation clouds that’d changed from dissipating to gathering together again. What was going on now? Chaos tribulations were a rare sight to begin with, but this was the second gathering in one day.

Was something truly developing in Skyward? Could its dao universe be ready to manifest?

If the major world gave birth to a second dao universe, then that might really incite a chaos tribulation!

The world had possessed a dao universe once. The appearance of another truly did run counter to chaos rules.

Can it be because I’m close to Dragon Observatory Region?

The man turned over the possibility because the tribulation dawdled near the southern region—not Skyward as a whole!

Several more exalted emperors in the surroundings noticed the disruption. They were almost all mid rank, some were lords of other regions, others were visitors. The disruption was growing so great that they were all taking note.

Exalted emperors looked toward the thunder and lightning gathering from the tribulation clouds.

“So this is a chaos tribulation? It doesn’t seem very strong... Has it just been born or is the reason for its existence of mediocre strength? In return, it spawns a weak tribulation as well.”

The thunderclouds didn’t seem that powerful—they could kill a first or second at most. For these exalted emperors, they could easily disperse the thunder and lightning if it attacked. But why... had it come into existence?

Everyone pondered in deep thought, thinking the same thoughts as the Dragon Observatory master. Could it be that the changes in the heavens were a precursor to the opportunity that they’d waited for for many years? Was Skyward about to have a new dao universe again?

That would be truly a great stroke of fortune!

To them, whoever controlled the dao universe would be the master of dao in Skyward. He might even leap to becoming master of the world. Even if they weren’t a seventh rank at that stage, it would be nigh impossible for others to attack them, especially if they sealed off Skyward!

This world was a ninth rank major world at its core essence!

It’d been hard enough for powerhouses to take down Silver Moon when the minor world was sealed away. After so many years, the world itself possessed a great deal of energy.

A fourth rank at the helm of the dao universe and world could quickly ascend to fifth or sixth rank. If the world was isolated, not even a seventh rank would have much luck. They would have ascended to the heavens in one stroke then!

The master of Dragon Observatory cursed to himself. Damn it! It was clear to see that those stirring to wakefulness were all tempted. And the key was, he wasn’t the only sixth rank exalted emperor on Skyward. Many major worlds in the region had also set eyes and ears on the world.

The stirring of the chaos at this time was not good for him!

“This reminds me of messages we received from Red Moon Region,” said an exalted emperor, possibly to divert everyone’s attention. “A chaos tribulation might have once developed with New Martial’s vassal world. For one to suddenly appear here... can it have something to do with that Silver Moon world?”

This was a blatant distraction. A minor world might give rise to one tribulation, but to do so two times, three times? Was a chaos tribulation at someone’s beck and call?

But for now, everyone knowingly played dumb. It was better to look elsewhere before they started fighting amongst themselves. The opportunity hadn’t even appeared yet!

“It’s possible!” the master of Dragon Observatory also said slowly, concurring with the speaker. “Silver Moon was a desolate backwater before. Apparently a chaos tribulation happened to it before and a Red Moon exalted emperor died because of it.

“This could be due to changes taking place in the world. It’s purported to be not too far from here. There is also word from Red Moon that Silver Moon might be moving toward Skyward. All of that combined does make for a certain possibility.”

He hadn’t thought this way before, but now gave it serious consideration. “In addition, this chaos tribulation doesn’t seem that strong. It doesn’t make sense that Skyward is the cause of it. But if Silver Moon was... that would be much more plausible. It is only a desolate backwater, after all...”

His words made sense. The topic had only been raised as a diversion, but now the group looked at each other with surprise.

“If Silver Moon really is nearby, then I would request that the various fellow daoists not compete with me!” a fifth rank suddenly bit off. “This seat must destroy the entire world and slaughter all living beings within it! I do not care about Red Moon’s rewards, you can have them all!”

The others didn’t say anything. This exalted emperor brimmed with killing intent and was one of the powerhouses from Utmost Dark.

“Naturally!” The master of Dragon Observatory smiled affably since he was one of the parties recruiting the fifth rank. “Dragon Observatory guards the southern region and the southern gate. If Silver Moon really does come this way... then it has either been swallowed by a chaos beast or is being propelled by another factor.

“We will investigate it closely no matter what! In addition, we will send people to probe the premises and see if there are chaos beasts nearby.”

That kind of world was almost immobile in the absence of a chaos beast. Even if it could move, its speed would be frightfully slow.

“Then I thank the Dragon Observatory exalted emperor for your efforts!” The Utmost Dark exalted emperor inclined his head.

“There is no need for thanks! Yin and Yang is turning the chaos upside down and is now randomly destroying worlds. This disruption to the chaos must be jointly exterminated!”

Some exalted emperors remained silent at his words and did not concur. These were not statements to brashly agree with. The Dragon Observatory exalted emperor was certainly in contact with some major worlds, so he wasn’t afraid of saying them. The same did not go for the rest.

New Martial was not a faction they could afford to offend. No matter what their thoughts were, it was better to keep a low profile. It was better to be polite on the surface.

The Dragon Observatory exalted emperor quickly put the tribulation out of his mind. He approached the gate and grabbed an album of illustrations. Four exalted emperors had entered through the southern gate in recent days. Their forms appeared in the mind’s eye as he paged through the album. They were almost all first or second rank exalted emperors.

One of them came from a major world and the Dragon Observatory leader had seen him twice beforehand. A second called Zu An also appeared familiar. He’d once resided here for a few years early on. Exalted emperors could still be recognized even though it’d been a long time since their last visit.

Of the two, one was female and one was male. The male was Li Hao.

The Dragon Observatory exalted emperor carefully studied the woman. There weren’t that many female exalted emperors among the chaos. He wasn’t familiar with this one. These two remaining exalted emperors were both new faces and had come from the south.

Red Moon Region lay to the south. Granted, there were other regions in the south or they could be exalted emperors of newly born worlds. They might even be secluded heavyweights here to temper themselves. Anything was possible.

However, based on Red Moon’s information, if Silver Moon really was moving in this direction... these two were suspicious. Could one of them be the master of Silver Moon?

Silver Moon had been sealed away for decades. Could they have reopened with a newly ascended exalted emperor?