Chapter 1538: Frightening (II)

Not too far away.

A Red Moon exalted emperor glowered at the scene in front of him. He called upon his great dao and sent dominating Red Moon power through the premises. Some of the weaker exalted emperors standing in his way flushed beet red, their thoughts straying.

“Ming Hao?!” he thundered with rage. How dare him! The Red Moon exalted emperor was familiar with Ming Hao and even knew that he’d accepted the mission to kill Celestial Pole. So what was that guy doing here instead of going after Celestial Pole? Had he lost his mind??

We’re both fourth ranks, but do you know who I am?

I am an exalted emperor of a major world!

Ming Hao was a chaos wanderer from a mid world. His world master wouldn’t be so brazen if he encountered the Red Moon exalted emperor! Granted, when someone like Ming Hao left his world and became a chaos wanderer, he was completely severed from his connection with his original world.

Some world masters would even publicly announce the severance of ties. Chaos wanderers frequently incited trouble when they traveled the chaos; their world masters would not make a peep even if someone killed the wanderer for their provocation.

Ming Hao’s scalp crawled with horror!

A fourth rank from a major world... Yes, such a personage was a bit stronger, but they had ten exalted emperors on their side! They weren’t afraid of a singular opponent! But the key was... they were currently in Red Moon territory.

Ming Hao wanted to die. But compared to the one in front of him, he was much more afraid of the one behind him. That one might truly kill them at any time!

The situation on Li Hao’s side was so complicated that Ming Hao was having time wrapping his mind around it. All he knew was that he couldn’t get away. In that case, he had to stop the Red Moon exalted emperor.

It was dying now versus being hunted down by Red Moon later... Was the choice difficult to make?

Being a fourth rank, Ming Hao called upon his strength. He overturned the world when he made a move—his dao was the way of the fist.

Chaos wanderers had weaker understanding of the elements and lacked a good weapon for the various daos of weapons. Therefore, most of them opted for the more direct and coarse daos of the body.

The void wobbled when Ming Hao punched forward and chaos presence erupted. The joint efforts of nine other exalted emperors temporarily suppressed the Red Moon exalted emperor. As strong as he was, he was the same rank as Ming Hao.

“It’s not that I want to target you, Fu Bi!” shouted a worried Ming Hao. “I’m acting under orders and have to do this...”

He needed to leave a way out. What if this guy survived and ran off, or brought other Red Moon exalted emperors here?

I hope he won’t immediately set his sights on me. I’m just working for someone else. Don’t come to me if you want to get someone for this.

Fu Bi’s face tightened. Acting under orders! Whose orders? New Martial? Who else apart from New Martial wanted to kill Red Moon powerhouses? But they’d never heard of New Martial recruiting outsiders before!

This was a bit strange!

The Red Moon exalted emperor was clearly outmatched against ten opponents, even if almost all of them were low ranks. He was the sort to adapt his reaction to the situation, so he quickly transmitted, “In that case, open up a passageway for me and let me leave. There’s no need to be so dramatic when you’re acting on someone else’s orders, Ming Hao. Can you bear responsibility if I really die here? This seat will also make you a promise to not seek revenge on you once I leave!”

Ming Hao hesitated. It would be easier to meet each other in the future if he left the window cracked open now. Such was the philosophy of chaos wanderers. It was too easy to get in over one’s head against opponents with an impressive background and being in someone else’s territory. New Martial was without a defined territory, but they were currently within range of Red Moon.

“Fellow Daoist Fu Bi, I really don’t mean to attack you,” Ming Hao transmitted back. “The circumstances have forced my hand. As for opening a passageway... that’s also difficult to do. The one giving me orders is right behind me...”

“Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and step aside while they’re still on their way! I’ll leave as quickly as possible. Do you think you’ll be able to keep things under wraps if you kill me within range of my world and my world master comes to investigate?”

Another eighth rank is threatening me!

Life was so difficult for chaos wanderers!

Ming Hao was immensely resigned, but he didn’t want to offend either side. Well, he might’ve already offended Fu Bi and the man would likely renege on a non-aggression pact. But so long as he didn’t kill Fu Bi, he could just surrender if Red Moon came for his head!

He was a mid rank at the end of the day. This level of exalted emperor was worth recruiting.

Ming Hao had made up his mind. Since he couldn’t defeat his opponent and both sides were present... he’d just go through the motions.

“Alright then, Fellow Daoist Fu Bi, I also can’t let you go too blatantly. Mo is a first rank, you can break through from her side in a moment...” Ming Hao’s eyes widened as he responded to the Red Moon exalted emperor. A thundercloud was coming his way!

Intense sword light flashed through the void, accompanied by a rumbling aura of thunder and lightning.

“Exalted Emperor Ming Hao’s group is hereby executing a Red Moon exalted emperor!” boomed a sonorous voice. “Glory to the might of chaos wanderers!”

Dismay colored Ming Hao’s face.

“Watch my sword! Step aside, Mo. Senior Ming Hao has set a trap. We will be sure to kill this target!”

Ming Hao’s jaw sagged with horror! Hao Moon knew what he was planning to do!

The Red Moon exalted emperor also jerked with dismay. He sped for Ming Hao without a second word. He could sense the incoming pressure—a fifth rank! He immediately suspected that this was Ming Hao’s doing, that a trap had indeed been laid.

Hs reasoning was being clouded by nerves at the moment. If he had time to carefully consider the situation, he would understand that Ming Hao had no need to do so.

But with sword intent arriving on the scene, there was no time for the Red Moon exalted emperor to think.

A variety of expressions flashed through Ming Hao’s face. What should he do? Give way? Retreat? Pretend he couldn’t stand up to the enemy and let Fu Bi break through?

But Hao Moon had just told Mo to back away, that Ming Hao had set up a trap for Fu Bi. The young man had clearly seen what Hao Moon was going to do—not from keeping surveillance on the group, but from a pure judgment call.

Damn it! This guy has a good read on what chaos wanderers would do!

Ming Hao’s eyes glinted with a hard look. After drifting through the chaos for so many years, he knew that he had two options available to him right now.

One, kill Fu Bi!

Two, partner with Fu Bi to defy Hao Moon!

There were no other options at this stage! He had to pick a side. Flip-flopping between either might lead to his doom. Such was the experience of chaos wanderers and the wisdom of chaos exalted emperors.

Should he choose Fu Bi of Red Moon or the mysterious, inscrutable Hao Moon?

One was stronger right now—fifth rank. The other’s territory was right here. Even though they were on the fringe, killing Fu Bi would shake the Red Moon dao universe.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Other Red Moon exalted emperors weren’t a concern; they’d need some time to rush over. The only point of concern was that the Red Moon master might be able to travel through the dao universe. He would be very fast then!

The Red Moon master certainly had the ability to do so.

Ming Hao hesitated only for a split second. Two fourth ranks stood a chance of defying a fifth rank!

Indeed, Ming Hao chose to turn on Li Hao in this moment. He was in the territory of an eighth rank and Li Hao was only here with the brand of an eighth rank weapon.

Ming Hao was terrified! But as opposed to an unknown eighth rank, the Red Moon master was nearby. Perhaps he could do Fu Bi a favor with his actions and have the Red Moon master erase the brand on him.

Ming Hao turned around instead of bracing for Fu Bi’s attack.

“Everyone, join hands to kill Hao Moon,” he transmitted. “His strength as a fifth rank is just temporarily borrowed. He has a chaos tribulation plaguing him and possibly another sixth rank following him. That sixth rank should be a Red Moon ally!”

Ming Hao was no fool, he’d guessed that there was another sixth rank following them. In that case, the wise choice was to ally with Fu Bi against Hao Moon!

He just needed to drag out the proceedings for a little while. Even if he couldn’t kill Hao Moon, the scales of victory would naturally tip toward Red Moon when the sixth rank or other Red Moon powerhouses arrived. Even though Hao Moon had Light and New Martial backing him, they were not here at the moment.

There was another key factor in Ming Hao’s decision. If the two sides ended up gravely injured or dead, then he... might be able to satisfy his greed for a dao universe!

He’d seen it and was certain that Silver Moon had given birth to a dao universe.

Fu Bi might be unaware of that. If Hao Moon dies and Fu Bi stays oblivious, then I can take the dao universe!

A mid rank’s thoughts flitted rapidly between different decisions in a split second. Greed and desire reared their head—perhaps influence from Red Moon. Or perhaps this was the true nature of a chaos exalted emperor.

Ming Hao’s decision to defy Li Hao seemed to be the most rational no matter how one looked at it. Even if two fourth ranks couldn’t kill a fifth rank, they would have no problem playing for time.

Ming Hao’s sudden reversal and joining hands with Fu Bi against Li Hao’s sword intent took the rest of the nine by surprise. Well, they weren’t too surprised, just... lost.

What do we do now?

They were just low ranks and Hao Moon was terrifying when he killed people. But two fourth ranks against one fifth rank... and in Red Moon territory... The group floundered for their next steps.

“Kill him!” Ming Hao snarled. “There’s another sixth rank on their way and a Red Moon powerhouse right in front of us. Red Moon will reward us heavily if we kill him!”

Fu Bi brightened with joy!

“That’s right, we need to work together now to kill him. Red Moon will not be stingy when it comes to rewards!”

Li Hao’s expression was calm. As he thought, stories and legends were always lies. There was no such thing as love at first sight or being so full of kingly might that one dominated the four corners. Ming Hao had chosen to betray him!

Of course, the man had been forced into giving Li Hao his loyalty in the first place. The young man just hadn’t thought, or he’d subconsciously felt that Ming Hao wouldn’t turn his back so quickly.

The truth was, betrayal had occurred so much faster than Li Hao anticipated! He’d made his decision after weighing up the pros and cons.