Chapter 1504: The Hall of Darkness (II)

Dao foundation swirled inside a world of emptiness that was erupting with power. It appeared particularly cheerless in this land of darkness.

When Li Hao entered second rank, Void had tossed him some thoughts about the dao of emptiness. Perhaps the man had wanted to test something, or he just wanted to share his dao heritage. Regardless, Li Hao had benefited from it.

These dark puppets were going to be his practice targets. Having just entered initial third rank, it was better to hone his skills with these types of opponents.

The young man’s longsword continuously flared with a variety of sword intent. The destructive force within the sword rays also had an immensely devastating effect. It was clear to see that chaos tribulations could greatly damage the strength of darkness.

Thunder and lightning of destruction...

Li Hao pondered as he struck his targets. It would seem that all things in existence had their natural counters. What was the counter to destruction? Since stillness and revitalization were a pair, should destruction be paired with revival?

One could revitalize the quiet, so could... new life be born from destruction?

The daos of stillness, death, and destruction gave a similar feeling to Li Hao. While there might be differences between the two, the differences weren’t that great. It was the dao of death that corresponded to the dao of life, so what did the dao of destruction answer to?

Li Hao couldn’t immediately identify a connection. If he could, he might have an easier time with the next chaos tribulation. If he had a response at the ready and the tribulation’s counter in hand, he might be able to outright devour it!

Humm!

A sword’s reverberation shook the world. A second rank wild man took a sword to the head. He was pulverized after a burst of destructive force flared. A crystalline object fell to the ground.

However, the massive bear slammed its paw down with a loud boom. The young man was forced back and a crack developed over the Firmament Sword.

Although the longsword had devoured many treasures, it didn’t seem able to endure the full force of a third rank. The faint crack marring its surface was testament to the bear’s formidable strength.

......

Energy rippled through the surroundings as Li Hao exchanged blows with the dark puppets. Although the domain of darkness forestalled the invasion of most of the energy of darkness, it couldn’t fully conceal all of the energy ripples.

Approximately two thousand meters away from Li Hao.

An exalted emperor looked around warily.

Hao Moon?

He could see the kid!

Standing within a ring of dark light in the distance, Li Hao drew his sword and easily killed a first rank dark puppet. He quickly dispatched another second rank puppet. These undying creatures were difficult targets for all exalted emperors, but the young man could easily kill them because he’d negated their undying qualities.

“Hao Moon... is a third rank!” The Utmost Dark exalted emperor realized with gravity. So the kid had been hiding his strength! And he was a sword cultivator! His sword dao was clearly very strong.

There’d been rumors in Skyward that the Sword Sovereign had entered the major world, that he’d even killed Exalted Skyriver Emperor! And now this Hao Moon was revealed to be a swordsman who’d concealed his cultivation level... The Utmost Dark exalted emperor couldn’t help but speculate wildly.

Could this Hao Moon have something to do with the Sword Sovereign??

“What is that ring of light?” The exalted emperor looked carefully, finding that the light seemed to isolate the dark puppets from the outside world. That undid their undying nature!

“Is that... a domain?” He was familiar with the ability; this was what the ring of light appeared to him. It formed its own system, similar to a world, and could isolate what was inside from the outside.

Many masters of major worlds could employ this ability. Almost all high rank exalted emperors could call upon it. They were the master of the world within their domain when it was isolated from everything else. And to masters of the world, the major world was a magnified version of the domain!

But... how was Hao Moon utilizing this ability?

The Utmost Dark exalted emperor could pinpoint how a domain might form. He didn’t have a special training method for the domain. Some were naturally occurring.

This exalted emperor was both nervous and solemn. Just how was Hao Moon?

A shrill screech of metal rang out when the third dark puppet fell. Only the giant bear was left.

Three dao foundation crystals were scattered within Li Hao’s domain. The bear’s might was unbounded and even showed signs of being able to break out of the domain.

The Utmost Dark exalted emperor hesitated.

Should I... do something? Should I take advantage of this opening to ambush him and break his domain, thereby summoning more dark puppets? He might be a threat to us as he didn’t seem that friendly toward Utmost Dark.

And his usage of the sword really reminds me of the Sword Sovereign.

Many were those who used the sword in nearby regions, but the Sword Sovereign of New Martial was unique. He was often hailed as the One Stroke Hero as he could erupt with incredible power, but only bring it forth for one blow!

Although Hao Moon was different from the Sword Sovereign, each of his eruptions were exceedingly ferocious. It felt that he exhausted himself to bring each blow to bear.

Was he related to the Sword Sovereign or not?

These questions wouldn’t matter if Hao Moon was weak. The Utmost Dark exalted emperor would take action if he wished. But now that it was evident Hao Moon wasn’t a pushover...

He’ll be harder to handle once he kills the bear and collects those dao foundation crystals!

Despite not knowing if there was a connection to the Sword Sovereign or not, he would make a move just for those crystals. His comrades couldn’t kill dark puppets, but this person could. These dao foundation crystals held the dao reflections of an eighth rank!

They were the most valuable of treasures for dark attribute powerhouses!

Another exalted emperor had said that one chunk was worth several hundred thousand dao stones, which was thus much less valuable than a minor world. But to dark attribute cultivators, the tiniest bit of reflections of an eighth rank was more precious than a minor world!

A third rank would have difficulty advancing to fourth if they swallowed a minor world. But the process would be easy if they studied the dao of an eighth rank instead. Not to mention, there was more than one crystal here. There were three!

If Hao Moon killed the bear, then there would be four.

That made up the Utmost Dark exalted emperor’s mind. He would wait until the fight between Hao Moon and the bear reached its climax and both sides had depleted their resources. Or he would make a move once Li Hao killed the bear or vice versa!

......

Dragon Observatory.

The Dragon Observatory leader raptly watched the action on the board of light. He couldn’t see the specifics, but he could see that Hao Moon was battling a dark puppet from the intersecting points of light.

There was another Utmost Dark third rank in the vicinity, possibly lying in wait. Perhaps he was also looking for the right timing!

I’ll test him one more time!

The leader didn’t care if Hao Moon killed anyone at this point or that someone from Utmost Dark was waiting to ambush the young man. He just wanted to run the test one more time. It was even better if the third rank was waiting to attack Hao Moon. That might incite the young man to erupt with even more strength!

I’m going to seal off Demon Summit one last time!

If Hao Moon’s strength still didn’t change this time, he either truly didn’t possess a dao universe or he was stronger than third rank. If it was the latter, then it didn’t matter if he could pull from a dao universe or not.

But if that was true, then a mid rank would not be the Silver Moon king.

Actually, the leader had already dismissed the notion when he realized that Hao Moon was third rank, but he wasn’t willing to accept that conclusion.

Therefore, he wanted to try one more time.

......

Li Hao was facing off against the bear, bringing a bewildering amount of sword daos into play. Life and death, destruction, stillness, darkness, fire and water...

A variety of unique sword intent constantly exploded; the bear began to decline.

A sharp look entered the young man’s eyes when he flicked a glance elsewhere.

Two thousand meters...

He could still see clearly at that distance. Although he wasn’t a bonafide dark attribute cultivator, he’d absorbed a lot of the energy. That was why he was able to see just as far as the dark attribute cultivators.

The other might feel that Li Hao wouldn’t be able to see as far as him since he was remaining in place.

Does he really think I’m blind? Is he going to ambush me?

This little bit of distance was completely discernible to an exalted emperor. An ambush was only the work of a moment. For a third rank to be ambushed... would mean that the perpetrator was overwhelming indeed.

But since he could see the other, then it wasn’t an ambush.

Li Hao ignored the man. He sent a flash of sword light through the world and at the giant bear’s head!

This was when the Utmost Dark exalted emperor saw his chance. He streaked into a ray of dark light, like an arrow of darkness, and shot for Li Hao’s back! Now was the moment!

Li Hao had expended his strength on the giant bear; his defenses, counters, and reaction was the slowest in this moment. This was a chance to take down the young man!

The Utmost Dark exalted emperor could see that this person was truly a third rank and not a powerhouse in disguise. He wasn’t the Sword Sovereign! In that case, this was his chance.

Li Hao abruptly turned the direction of his sword when the other made a move and sped straight for his new target. The giant bear slammed down its paw at the same time, a lost look seeming to appear in its blank eyes.

There was a river in front of it, one with a cat in it. Why wasn’t it the human that he was attacking? The cat was resigned and dejected as it glared at the bear with annoyance.

What an ugly bear with bugged out fish eyes!

Fish?

What an ugly fish...

No, it’s not a fish.

Whatever, they’re all fish.

The bummed out Number Two opened its mouth wide and accelerated toward the bear. It knew that Li Hao needed the dao crystal, so it left that undigested. All of the other energy coming from the bear went down its gut.

The young man glared frostily at his opponent at the same time when he abruptly changed course for his sword light. “Are you not even going to try hiding yourself?”

I can see you at this distance, but you still come for me.

Reflection from the dark light showed that the Utmost Dark exalted emperor’s expression changed slightly, but he had no time to dwell on his quarry’s words. Fearsome strength of darkness erupted, intermixed with immense energy of corrosion.

It seemed to eat through the void.