Chapter 1614: Fighting On Behalf of Orchid Forest (II)

Outsiders felt that a dao universe helmed by a sixth rank made it among the weakest of major worlds, but forgot that it also meant such a world master was invincible among sixth ranks.

If it wasn’t for the master of dao dying, the two of them fighting in tandem could force a cup of bitter regret down the throat of any seventh rank that came to Orchid Forest!

“That’s right, any cultivator that can produce a dao universe while they are a sixth rank is deserving of admiration!” Li Hao sighed with emotion. “Of course, it also has much to do with the hard work of previous Orchid Forest generations that propelled the dao methods to such peaks!”

The ascension of a world had much to do with generations of accumulation that led to an eruption of strength. Take the dao universe of Silver Moon, for example. It might have existed a long time ago, but it needed the right timing and catalyst for the dao universe to descend upon the world. That catalyst had been the dao meridians, the supernatural characters, and the domain.

Because of that, Li Hao and Yuan Shuo could unabashedly claim without reservation that without them, it might have been many more years before those of Silver Moon could discover the dao universe.

Heaven Rite smiled at the young man’s words and didn’t offer a response. The two quickly entered the great hall. There was no one else apart from them.

Heaven Rite looked around and took a seat at Li Hao’s behest. “We are both exalted emperors, so there is no point in wasting time! I have been so bold as to call upon you and we are both well aware of why the fellow daoist is here.

“Orchid Forest has one peak sixth rank at present—our world master! He is so strong that he can fight a seventh rank on our home world!

“Apart from our world master, we have another sixth rank who is so unparalleled that he does not fall short of any peak sixth rank in a major world.

“There are also four fifth ranks and six fourth ranks, which makes for roughly twelve mid ranks. Our numbers are not as few as the outside world thinks!”

“So Orchid Forest has another sixth rank apart from the world master?” Li Hao exclaimed with astonishment.

“Indeed we do, he just emerged from seclusion,” nodded Heaven Rite. “He was in seclusion all along and had no choice but to step forward to stand with Orchid Forest in our time of need. He is a powerhouse who became an exalted emperor five hundred thousand years ago!”

He gave a candid recounting of Orchid Forest’s strength as soon as he arrived to shock and awe the newcomer.

My world has twelve mid ranks and my world master can fight a seventh rank!

As for whether or not there was any exaggeration in his words, only Heaven Rite was aware of the truth.

“It is Orchid Forest’s greatest regret that our master of dao was killed by the New Martial Human King a while ago. However, it is also an opportunity for Orchid Forest to officially set foot into seventh rank!” Heaven Rite continued. “It has been two years since the dao master’s death. We have stabilized our dao universe since then, but new troubles rear their heads.

“To be frank, if the fellow daoist is wise, you should be aware that... it is not Orchid Forest that is weak, but that someone wishes to use us to supplement their own losses.

“This is a clash between high ranks. It will be nearly impossible for those who are not high rank to obtain any benefits from it!” Heaven Rite shook his head. “Even if Orchid Forest is destroyed, it is not a place where chaos wanderers can squabble over the pickings!

“Many are those in the know, but exalted emperors tend to be full of confidence in themselves and feel that they can pull chestnuts from a burning fire. However, we are neighbors with Nether Moon, Cold River, Skywave, and other major worlds.

“Seventh rank masters of those worlds are but a stone’s throw away. Even if someone below seventh rank somehow seizes the dao universe, can they spontaneously become a seventh rank and escape Red Moon Region?”

He spoke with great passion and sorrow. His words made sense.

“That is true,” Li Hao nodded. “We... do not seek the dao universe either. We are that much self aware, at least! We are low ranks encircled by high ranks, how would we dare think of ascending to the heavens in one step?

“It’s just... destabilization of the great dao results in emanation of dao strength. When exalted emperors fall and worlds collapse, dao origin becomes scattered. That is what we pursue!”

Heaven Rite fell silent at the response and nodded thoughtfully as well.

“Then... if the fellow daoists meet your end here, wouldn’t that be such a shame of your many years of hard work?” he said slowly after a while.

“Life is difficult for wandering cultivators, we have to eventually take a risk!” Li Hao laughed.

“Then what if Orchid Forest can offer some less risky opportunities?”

“Please go ahead, senior!” Li Hao raised an eyebrow.

“Orchid Forest is determined to protect our home! We will be cleansing the world of internal troubles in a few days. Even if we are to fight to the death or shatter our world, we will not permit invaders to invade it!

“There are many exalted emperors within Orchid Forest these days. While some have impressive patrons behind them, they dare not speak of it. Killing them will not lead to any retribution!” Heaven Rite smirked. “Orchid Forest does have some foundations after so many years of accumulation. In addition, we possess innumerable uninhabited minor worlds!

“We will also invite the fellow daoist to watch our world master ascend to seventh rank and Orchid Forest advance as a whole! If the fellow daoist is willing, you can become part of Orchid Forest’s dao after the world master rises to seventh rank. A dozen more exalted emperor spots will be available then.

“You will no longer have to roam throughout the chaos in an arduous existence. Joining Orchid Forest is an option.”

He put down such an enticing offer as soon as he arrived. What he spoke of was what all chaos wanderers wanted. Dao crystals and minor worlds... and if the wanderers were willing, Orchid Forest would indeed be in need of new exalted emperors once the world master ascended.

The evolution of the dao universe would result in being able to support more exalted emperors. Orchid Forest had roughly three dozen exalted emperors at present. Once it was a seventh rank world, that number would double!

That would also be an opportunity for some wandering cultivators. Those who wished to enter a dao universe would have the chance to. Every major world underwent expansion when they broke into the ranks of seventh rank. That was when they recruited a batch of exalted emperors from the outside, and chaos wanderers were their first choice.

Rebellion wasn’t a concern after one joined the dao universe. For chaos wanderers, being part of a dao universe meant that they could organize their great dao and purify their dao strength. The dao universe was a filter for the chaos, making one’s dao methods more pure and easier to absorb energy from the universe.

Heaven Rite’s offer was a fortuitous opportunity for chaos wanderers. They were being offered a present and a future, and with great sincerity. Granted, the caveat to all of this was that there must be a future for Orchid Forest and that the world master really could become a seventh rank.

Otherwise, it was all hot air!

“Then what do we need to contribute in return?” Li Hao smiled.

“What we ask is simple and also satisfies the fellow daoist’s needs—help us clean out some wandering cultivators. All gains will go to the fellow daoist!

"Your group will also receive Orchid Forest’s support and some advantages reserved for locals!” Heaven Rite grinned. “In critical moments, the Orchid Forest dao universe and major world can suppress your opponent. Even if the effect isn’t pronounced, a momentary lapse is the difference between life and death when powerhouses clash!”

Suppression! That was one of the advantages of being a world master.

“Does this count as being employed by Orchid Forest?”

“If that is what the fellow daoist thinks, then you can see it that way,” nodded Heaven Rite. “Of course, it’s not just simple employment either. Not everyone can join us when we are seventh rank—this is potentially your invitation ticket! If all goes well with this venture, there will be more to come.”

“Is the world master guaranteed to enter seventh rank?” Li Hao asked bluntly.

“Why not?” smiled Heaven Rite. “The world master is peak sixth rank to begin with and has accumulated his strength for many years. He has taken two years to stabilize the dao universe. Once he fully integrates with it, the world and dao universe will be one. Seventh rank is only a matter of time then.”

“What about your opponents?” Li Hao asked. “I am newly come and am not afraid of chaos wanderers! To be frank, I myself am one and know what the situation is with us. We have nearly no mid ranks and are a scattered handful of sand.

“That I can collect multiple exalted emperors with me means that I am aware of the situation. The key is... mid ranks...”

“The fellow daoist does not need to worry about that!” Heaven Rite grinned broadly. “We won’t make you do something you can’t do either. You just need to clear out the wandering cultivators, the real ones! Otherwise, I would be purposefully dooming the fellow daoist!

“Not to mention... not all wandering cultivators are blinded by greed,” he said meaningfully. “If the fellow daoist is willing to make a move, you will always have helpers.”

Did he mean spies among their midst?

This was also a warning!

You wandering cultivators are not of one heart. Many of them have already been recruited to our side. If you want to band together, you better be careful of your neighbor first.

“I have some requests,” said Li Hao after some thought. “If you can agree to them, then we don’t mind standing with a certain side.”

“Please speak of them, fellow daoist!”

“Firstly, I need control over some barrier cracks... Orchid Forest needs to grant me the proper authorization!” Li Hao looked at Heaven Rite, seeing that the man was frowning.

“I’m afraid that Orchid Forest will outright seal off the world after its ascension,” the young man said slowly. “We won’t be able to get away then and will be devoured in one gulp!”

“Please continue, fellow daoist.” Heaven Rite turned over the proposal.

“Second, I need a lot of dao crystals and minor worlds, and even some dao origin strength from Orchid Forest.”

“The rest are easy to approve, but dao origin...” frowned Heaven Rite. “That would be harder than ascending the heavens. The fellow daoist must understand why that is.”

Li Hao nodded and continued, “Third, if a mid rank makes a move against us, an Orchid Forest mid rank must stop them and even kill them!”

“Naturally!” Heaven Rite nodded emphatically. “Orchid Forest is ready as well. The fellow daoist will not be fighting alone!”

“Fourth, temporarily grant us some entrance authorization into the dao universe...”

Heaven Rite’s brows knit tightly together and he shook his head. “That is impossible!”

That was the equivalent of opening up the dao universe to outsiders. That would be a joke! Only the world master could open the dao universe to others; regular Orchid Forest exalted emperors couldn’t do so.

Take Silver Moon, for example. Li Hao could grant access to others in the past, then it was the two dao masters who could. No one else had such a privilege, not even for a dao universe they could travel through. They could only do so if the world master accompanied them, or if the enemy was so strong they could hack right through to the dao universe.