Chapter 1626: No Mercy! (II)

“Fellow Daoist Hao Moon has exposed himself to the public eye in Orchid Forest,” Void said after some consideration. “He’s expelling exalted emperors from Orchid Forest for them. Perhaps he means to incite conflict between Orchid Forest and the other worlds, so that he can fish in troubled waters?”

The Sword Sovereign shook his head—not to say that Void was wrong, but to indicate that he didn’t know Li Hao well enough.

I’m unfamiliar with the young man.

He was curious about the Silver Moon king, but unable to determine what kind of person the young man was. His best frame of reference was the Human King. And yet, the two were complete opposites in terms of personality.

The Human King was impetuous and full of vigor. He took whatever action came to mind and almost never kept anything hidden. It was very comfortable to converse with him, even if some weren’t accustomed to his style.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Having been in contact with the Silver Moon king for a while, the Sword Sovereign could tell that the young man was polite and genteel. He was at odds with the New Martial style, but he also took action when he should. He’d been very decisive when fighting the seventh rank—dependable in critical moments.

Hence, the Sword Sovereign wished to see how the young man would lay his plans for a major world in the absence of a great patron. Would he be a fount of wisdom like Supreme Zhang, or something else?

“Senior, if Fellow Daoist Hao Moon takes Orchid Forest by himself, we won’t fight him for it, will we?” Void suddenly asked.

“......”

What does he mean by that?

The Sword Sovereign flicked a glance at the man.

Oho! I see! You’re saying that we don’t deserve to share the spoils if Li Hao takes the world by himself?

You’re... generous, huh. Rich second gens are different, alright!

“Of course!” Li Changsheng nodded with a smile.

“Mmhmm, I think so too,” beamed Void, leaving the Sword Sovereign at a loss.

Li Hao shouldn’t have known this guy for long, but they have a really deep friendship.

......

Just as all sides settled down into silence.

Outside the Orchid Forest world barrier.

Three exalted emperors came in tandem from the depths of the chaos. They were one fourth rank and two third ranks. The energy rippling over them was formidable and showed hints of a dao universe. They were from Red Moon, but had changed their appearance due to apprehension of the situation to come.

But when it came to exalted emperors, who relied on physical markers?

If it wasn’t for considerations of dignity, it wouldn’t be just these three in attendance. None of Red Moon’s fifth or sixth ranks were yet to put in a showing. If they did, Orchid Forest would fight back.

Hence, the strongest that Red Moon sent was fourth rank. All of them brimmed with killing intent!

A massive change in mentality had taken place in Red Moon exalted emperors lately. First their seventh ranks had been killed, then the world master pointed out the possibility of new seventh ranks being born.

It was a possibility that both electrified and terrified the rest of the exalted emperors. And while fourth ranks would find it difficult to reach seventh rank, the road ahead would naturally be bright once sixth ranks made their way up.

The positions were limited, however!

So if they were able to claim Orchid Forest for Red Moon and achieve some deeds of merit in the subjugation of Orchid Forest, that would create much better opportunities for them.

The newly arrived fourth rank had a stern expression on his face. “That piece of trash Wu Ju just stood by and watched Red Moon exalted emperors be killed. He couldn’t take any revenge, but could beg for help. What an embarrassment!”

He was speaking of the fourth rank still stationed at a barrier crack on Orchid Forest, and also telling the other two exalted emperors with him that they were to listen to his orders when they reached Orchid Forest.

That useless thing just watched a third rank be killed. There won’t be anything good in it for you guys if you follow him.

The other two—one male and one female—third ranks were charming and handsome. The woman was as pretty as a picture and wreathed in a dense air of seduction.

“Milord speaks truly,” she smiled in a beguiling fashion. “Red Moon wouldn’t send the lord if this wasn’t the case. The world master trusts you the most. Otherwise, everyone would like to fight for this opportunity.

“It is right on our doorstep and there are plenty of mid ranks in Red Moon. But you were chosen in the end.”

“That’s right.” The man next to her grinned brilliantly as well. “Milord Yu Ce is highly valued by the world master. I am certain that there is a spot among the fifth and even sixth ranks for milord. We hope that the lord will think of us often then!”

Exalted Emperor Yu Ce smirked, immensely pleased by their reaction. There was no need to say anything else. So long as these two didn’t listen to Wu Ju, then he would be the Red Moon representative on Orchid Forest.

“Just killing that group of wandering cultivators will be an immense accomplishment, to say nothing of anything else. How dare they kill those from Red Moon! They deserve death!” Yu Ce wore a frosty expression. All exalted emperors of eighth rank dao universes were very arrogant. It was damnable that some of their own had died on their doorstep!

The trio rushed toward a certain barrier crack—not the one that Li Hao’s group was at, but the Red Moon one.

......

Near the barrier crack.

The Red Moon exalted emperor opened his eyes and saw three figures approaching him from a distance. He frowned, seeing that the world master had sent Yu Ce. This would not be easy to manage. The two did not get along.

But... that was just as well.

The reinforcements were one fourth rank and two third ranks. It looked like the world master very much valued this outpost. Although Red Moon possessed numerous exalted emperors, they’d also lost many in recent times. Li Hao had killed quite a few and another few seventh ranks had died...

Only Red Moon was able to mobilize so many exalted emperors to another location at this stage.

“Yu Ce!” Wu Ju rose to his feet to greet the trio.

“Wu Ju, where’s that Myriad Dao?” Yu Ce asked sternly.

The latter furrowed his brows and said softly, “He’s at the other fissure, but there’s one point to take into consideration... Orchid Forest is protecting him. We cannot easily move against him—it might elicit a backlash from Orchid Forest in return!

“As of now, the wandering cultivators have formed an alliance. So long as we instigate large-scale conflict between the two sides and throw Orchid Forest into chaos, we can use the excuse of Orchid Forest being unable to deal with the unrest to take control. There will be no choice for us to do so in order to ensure the smooth facilitation of the Red Moon alliance.”

He felt that since Myriad Dao was so valued by the Orchid Forest world master, they might as well go with the flow and have that guy clash with those folks.

So long as a general disturbance raged, how the situation unfolded would not be up to the world master.

“Hmph! Do you need to go to so much trouble?” dismissed Yu Ce. “Just kill them! It’s a bunch of outsiders. When we move against them, the wandering cultivators will see their chance as well and make their moves. Do you really think those cowardly wanderers will take the initiative?”

“It’s not that, but that Myriad Dao’s group is really arrogant!” riposted Wu Ju. “They’re riling up the wandering cultivators. I think it’s only a matter of time before they attack again!”

“......” A hot debate broke out as the two fought for control over the Red Moon delegation in Orchid Forest. The two third ranks remained silent. This was a clash between fourth ranks. There was nothing they dared say.

......

At the same time.

Li Hao’s eyes darted to a certain point in the distance. There were three more exalted emperors in a fissure far away. It now housed two fourth ranks and two third ranks. Red Moon had sent reinforcements!

That major world really was awash in wealth. He’d already killed four of their exalted emperors—five if including the seventh rank. After all these years of conflict between Red Moon and New Martial, they’d lost a few exalted emperors when they simply tried to kill the Sword Sovereign.

Despite the absence of large-scale battles, Red Moon had lost more than ten exalted emperors at this point. And yet, they continued to send more in all directions.

Mid ranks were typically a rare sight, but they were common cabbages in Red Moon and easily dispatched in multiples at the drop of a hat.

“Is everyone done cultivating?” Li Hao rose to his feet. The group nodded.

“Aside from our barrier crack, there are ten more elsewhere,” the young man analyzed. “Five are under Orchid Forest control and they have set mid ranks at them. Four of the other five each belong to the four major worlds. The last one belongs to a sixth rank wandering cultivator.

“Almost all of them have mid ranks in residence!”

Almost all of them were accounted for, except theirs, because it had been under Red Moon control. There had been only three wandering cultivators on duty here—albeit with a third rank, so the guard here hadn’t been that weak.

“We are already enemies with Red Moon!” Li Hao looked at them. “Therefore, I’d like to... continue our efforts against Red Moon!”

“......” Gasps rippled through the group. Although Gan Wuliang felt that he might progress to third rank at any time, he was still concerned by the proposal.

“They seem to have welcomed reinforcements...”

“Two fourth ranks and two third ranks!”

Um...

Setting aside the fact that Li Hao was only displaying the strength of a third rank at the moment, even if he could neutralize one fourth rank, the rest would find it difficult to handle one fourth rank and two third ranks nonetheless.

That exceeded their capabilities!

“Are we not going against the wandering cultivators?” Celestial Pole asked with bafflement. “Although the wandering cultivators have fourth ranks among them, they’ll be easier targets than those from major worlds.”

If they weren’t ideal targets, there were other major worlds to consider as well. Why must they continue to target Red Moon exalted emperors?

“If we do so, I’ll have an excuse to rise to fourth rank!” Li Hao said softly.

What?

“I’m going to advance to fourth rank!” he repeated in a whisper. “We’ll take the risk of killing two third ranks and devouring their dao strength. I’ll ‘force’ my ascension to fourth rank after that.

“At that point, I’ll have digested large sums of dao crystals, as well as two third ranks. I also have the heritage of a high rank and have had a smooth cultivation path. Breaking through on the battlefield to kill the fourth ranks... I’ll have a logical explanation for my breakthrough then.”

As for why he didn’t display fourth rank straight off the bat... it was almost impossible for wandering cultivators to reach fourth rank.

Only through obtaining more than a hundred million dao crystals, killing a few Red Moon exalted emperors, and obtaining untold dao strength would his advancement make logical sense.

Not to mention, mid ranks were known in the chaos. Had Li Hao arrived at Orchid Forest as an unknown mid rank, his background would have been turned over again and again a long time ago.