Chapter 1553: What a Coincidence (II)

Quite a few within Dragon Observatory had started to understand the situation and had been ostracizing Big Claw over the past couple of days. Whether they did so consciously or subconsciously, the monster spirit might not have lived until present day if it wasn’t for Void.

Big Claw had been contemplating his future recently as well, contemplating if... he should leave Dragon Observatory. He might have a chance to leave while Void was still here. Once the fifth rank was gone, the monster spirit might not be able to leave even if he wanted to.

As Big Claw thought over things in his room, his transmission pendant lit up. A foreboding feeling filled his heart and a frown crossed his face when he opened the message. He was to guide a third rank exalted emperor, and the message had come from Exalted Emperor Yu Chen himself!

This would be a good assignment under normal conditions; many would line up for such a wonderful opportunity. How would it ever be his turn?

It might’ve been possible before, but now?

Big Claw was uneasy.

But as a member of Dragon Observatory, one that was yet to betray the faction, he could not refuse.

He sighed inwardly, accepting the mission despite knowing that it might not be anything good. He didn’t go to Void either; they weren’t acquainted with each other. The exalted emperor seemed to have entered Demon Summit lately. While Big Claw could seek him out, the monster spirit wasn’t even an exalted emperor. That was the crown prince of Light he would be bothering! What was the point of inviting distaste?

Big Claw walked outside. There were some other powerhouses loitering around, waiting for missions. When they saw the monster spirit head out, they followed him.

Some were surprised by Big Claw’s actions, some were in the know since they’d received word.

“Big Claw is apparently going to guide a third rank!” someone transmitted.

“Really? That guy’s involved with that one though... why is he getting this chance?”

“It’s not necessarily a good thing! Apparently Exalted Emperor Yu Chen himself gave the order.”

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Eyebrows raised at that revelation. Then this really might not be anything good. Exalted Emperor Yu Chen was the Observatory leader’s faithful sidekick and adept at puzzling out someone’s inner thoughts. Since the leader didn’t like Big Claw, how would Yu Chen hand him any choice pickings?

It looked like this would be a dangerous mission. These sorts of things seemed to be common as well.

Smiles of schadenfreude appeared on some faces; Big Claw had improved quickly these days and showed signs of setting foot into half step emperor. That would place him infinitely close to the exalted emperor level and elevate his status in Dragon Observatory.

Once he became an exalted emperor, he would be a master that the rest of them had to serve. Being fellow colleagues right now at the same level of strength, everyone was jealous of Big Claw advancing faster than them. Who wanted to see the monster spirit move up a social class?

They were only jealous before, but now... some leered maliciously. This was the end of the road for this guy!

Exalted emperors were a diverse bunch. It was very normal for some to eat humans and monster spirits. Some were capricious and killed at the drop of a hat. Under normal conditions, Dragon Observatory wouldn’t look askance at any action taken unless the victim involved an exalted emperor.

Clearly, Big Claw might have been assigned to a bloodthirsty exalted emperor this time.

“It looks like you’ve got another plum assignment, Big Claw!” someone guffawed when they saw Big Claw leave. “Don’t forget your brothers when you become an exalted emperor!”

“Damn you’re lucky!” snickered another.

Big Claw didn’t say a word as he walked through the air.

The Dragon Observatory lower ranks were not of one heart—that was the case in the upper ranks as well. They hailed from various parts of the chaos universe and were neither from the same world, race, nor civilization.

In the chaos, a world was a collective entity. Those not of the same world found it very difficult to get along.

Everyone was out for their own interests. Big Claw had enjoyed a previous burst of glory that’d now completely receded from him. It was normal for these people to be jealous and want nothing more than for him to die as quickly as possible.

Big Claw might have been furious before. But today, he wasn’t as enraged as he thought he would be. He was different from these guys now. The monster spirit had served Li Hao and listened to the young man discuss dao with the Exalted Void Emperor. One was the Silver Moon king increasing in fame, the other was the descendant of an eighth rank and himself a fifth rank who cultivated a major dao...

These guys wouldn’t have the honor of such an experience for their entire lives.

Even if heavyweights discussed dao around them, they wouldn’t have a chance to listen in on it. He alone, however, had been close to the conversation of two premier heavyweights theorizing dao.

Big Claw suddenly found himself on a different footing from the rest.

The skies that I have glimpsed are inaccessible to you guys. Even if I die in this encounter, my breadth of vision and world are greater than yours.

What a pity that I didn’t make it to the exalted emperor level. What a shame that I missed out on the chance that the Exalted Hao Moon Emperor gave me.

That is my only slight regret!

......

Big Claw arrived after a while. He immediately saw Li Hao standing next to Yu Chen. This was a very coarse and roughly-hewn person—completely different from Li Hao. However, the monster spirit was somewhat mystified when he took a look. As rough around the edges this person was... he somehow gave off a familiar feeling.

The monster spirit didn’t dare say or look too much. He swiftly landed and greeted respectfully, “Big Claw of Dragon Observatory greets Exalted Emperor Yu Chen and the senior!”

Yu Chen smiled and looked at Li Hao. “Fellow Daoist White Light, Big Claw will guide you around your travels. He is a fine monster spirit who is about to reach half step emperor! That makes him a premier... Fused Dao cultivator in my faction!

“Big Claw has served many exalted emperors before. He is familiar with more than just Dragon Observatory Region. If the fellow daoist wishes to return to Drift Light, Big Claw can take you there as well.”

The first rank shield radiantly and turned a stern expression to Big Claw. “Serve the Exalted White Light Emperor well! He is a third rank with multiple exalted emperor friends! They are also searching for dao in Skyward. Nothing is to happen to them or you will be taken to task for it!”

“I would never!” Big Claw responded solemnly and sighed to himself. He was dead meat! Dead crab!

Exalted Emperor Yu Chen was definitely going to make use of this opportunity to kill him and curry favor with the faction leader! Big Claw suddenly felt very little of this exalted emperor. Was there a need to go to so much trouble for a non-exalted emperor?

“You should go about your business, Fellow Daoist Yu Chen,” Li Hao chuckled. “I won’t waste anymore of your time. Let this... little friend come with me!”

“Then please do as you wish, Fellow Daoist White Light. Call upon me if you need anything!” Yu Chen smiled, not standing on ceremony either. He knew that the newcomer probably didn’t want exalted emperors accompanying him and held certain hopes for the dao foundation sites.

This was shared by all exalted emperors that came, so he understood what the other was thinking. Yu Chen quickly departed after bidding Li Hao farewell.

“Senior White Light, where would you like to go?” Big Claw looked calmly at the person he was charged to take care of.

Li Hao laughed and looked at the monster spirit.

Big Claw’s... really become cannon fodder.

Although he’d tried very hard to stay away from all Skyward personnel, he’d dragged someone into his affairs in the end.

Void was another matter entirely. Someone like Void wasn’t afraid of trouble. So long as it was interesting enough, there was nothing more than he wanted to add to his boring, lonely life.

“What if we visit Coiled Dragon Well?” Li Hao smiled mysteriously. “There’s dao remnants there, aren’t there?”

“Very few...” Big Claw said seriously. “The dao foundation sites like Coiled Dragon Well have all faded away. Dao echoes are very hard to come by these days.”

“Is that so?” Li Hao smiled. “But I hear that someone reached new enlightenment there lately.”

“It could be a coincidence... that is very hard to achieve,” Big Claw responded after some thought.

“Coincidence? I hear that the Silver Moon king was the cause of it. Is that true?”

Big Claw’s heart jolted with shock and he pretended ignorance. “I’m... not very aware of that. Where did senior hear that from? Has the Silver Moon king ever come to Skyward?”

“He has, and weren’t you his guide?”

Big Claw’s heart skipped a beat! Who was this person?! How did he know??

“It’s only been a few days, Big Claw. How come you talk so little now?” Li Hao smiled.

“......” Stunned shock spread over Big Claw’s face and he stared at Li Hao. He couldn’t believe it, this was impossible! Wasn’t that one still in the depths of the chaos?

Apparently he was attempting to establish contact with New Martial. Big Claw had even heard that the Observatory leader had led a group into the chaos precisely to move against New Martial. The Silver Moon king was among the list of targets!

Everyone thought that this personage was working hard on New Martial’s behalf at the moment, so this newcomer couldn’t be him!

“Alright, there’s no fun in thinking too much,” Li Hao laughed. “Has anything happened after I left? Were there any developments after Ming Hao and the rest died?

“......” Big Claw trembled, saying with difficulty after a while, “What does... the senior... mean?”

“Enough of that. We discussed many things when at the volcano, at Coiled Dragon Well, when we killed Skyriver. We don’t have to talk about that now.” Li Hao walked as he talked. “Where is Void?”

“Senior...”

“Have you forgotten that I said you can come to me when you are to ascend to exalted emperor?”

Big Claw shook at this question. This was real!

“Milord!” Big Claw was astonished and fearful. How could this be? “Milord... It really is you! You’ve.. come back?”

“Surprised?” Li Hao laughed.

“Very surprised!” Big Claw couldn’t believe it. “Everyone says that milord killed all of those exalted emperors and are running in the direction of New Martial to convene with them. What are you... doing here?”

“I’m back for a look.”

Big Claw was stunned, but didn’t ask further. “Red Moon sent word after milord killed all of those people and issued a rich bounty for your head. Apparently, the Observatory leader has recruited many heavyweights—four sixth ranks and a dozen mid ranks. They’re headed for the depths of the chaos to hunt down New Martial powerhouses. It’s been only ten days since their departure!”

“There’s that many of them?”

“Yes,” Big Claw continued. “The Exalted Void Emperor is still at Dragon Observatory, but he seems to have entered Demon Summit and hasn’t been seen from lately. In addition, a mid rank may be coming to us soon. He’s said to be from Skycloud major world!”

Big Claw was a Dragon Observatory member at the end of the day, he knew many things. “The Exalted Dragon Emperor and Exalted Void Emperor didn’t quite get along before, so the leader was not at ease at leaving the faction in the Exalted Void Emperor’s hands.”

“How many exalted emperors are there at Dragon Observatory now?” Li Hao nodded.

“Sixteen, excluding the Exalted Void Emperor. They’re all low ranks! There were twelve at first, but we’ve received recent additions from two nearby regions. Their region masters left with the Observatory leader.”

Sixteen!

It looked like all of the low ranks had been left behind. If it wasn’t for those from Utmost Dark dying, there would have been even more.