Chapter 1646: How Long Will This Arrogance Last? (III)

As Celestial Pole became one with his replica again.

Three exalted emperors arrived at the barrier crack that Li Hao’s group had given up on. Soul Eclipse, Spirit Terror, and Life Cling.

Three presences materialized in Orchid Forest. Whether it was the sixth rank Exalted Emperor Yu Xiu at another fissure or the six major world exalted emperors at another fissure, everyone’s hearts jolted.

Red Moon was here!

It was a strong major world at the end of the day. Despite suffering immense losses in recent days, needing to protect its home world, and being on guard against New Martial, it could still send out vast sums of mid ranks at will.

Two of their mid ranks had just died, but here were three more.

The three exalted emperors landed at the barrier crack. The Exalted Soul Eclipse Emperor surveyed the surroundings with a frosty glint in his eyes. His powerful consciousness swept through the area, bringing his voice to the other two fissures in the blink of an eye.

“Where is that pathetic Myriad Dao??”

He was very arrogant in his manner, but the sixth rank Yu Xiu didn’t find anything inappropriate about it. “He’s in the southernmost region of the world...” the man replied slowly. “But I’m not certain where his exact particulars are.”

“Mmhmm!” Soul Eclipse responded. “You are Yu Xiu?”

“Yes.”

“Fellow Daoist Yu Xiu, we have come to kill that bunch of scum! I hope that the fellow daoist will not affect our operation.”

“I will not, have no worries,” Yu Xiu said slowly after a long pause. Soul Eclipse seemed polite and called them fellow daoist, but he was far from polite in the core of his being.

Do not affect their operation!

What would an effect look like?

Who knows.

......

At another barrier crack.

Soul Eclipse’s attitude was slightly different here. He wasn’t as lofty as he was when facing Yu Xiu, but he retained some of the dignity of a powerhouse. “Fellow daoists, you and I are allies. If Orchid Forest exalted emperors dare make a move at a critical moment... then I would ask the fellow daoists to respond in kind!”

“Be at ease!” The heavyweights from the three major worlds were very polite. “We daresay that Orchid Forest won’t make a single move after Senior Soul Eclipse has come in person. If they do, we will not idly sit by!”

“Very good!” Soul Eclipse’s voice held some mirth in it. “Red Moon has always supported Orchid Forest, but Orchid Forest does not appreciate the favor rendered. It beguiles the cretin Myriad Dao into killing many of our own!

“Of course, the Red Moon master is generous and benevolent—he will not take Orchid Forest to task for this. We have always stayed out of people's way if they did not interpose themselves in ours...”

The exalted emperors didn’t take Soul Eclipse’s words seriously. If it wasn’t for Red Moon being concerned about humiliation and the attitudes of the three major worlds, they would’ve attacked Orchid Forest a long time ago. What was the point in saying all of this now?

Who didn’t know what Orchid Forest intended?

It was just the strong preying on the weak and Red Moon caring about dignity somewhat. This was already an immense showing of face toward the three major worlds from them.

......

After he greeted the exalted emperors on two sides, Soul Eclipse set his sights on another barrier crack. It was Orchid Forest exalted emperors holding down the fort there. There was also an Orchid Forest fifth rank in residence at the world gate.

He ignored them and looked around him, suddenly saying, “Since you’re here, Fellow Daoist Yan Fang, why not come out for a chat?”

A figure slowly appeared in the void—Yan Fang. He had a very complicated expression on his face and looked silently at the others.

“Fellow Daoist Yan Fang,” Soul Eclipse repeated calmly. “Is Myriad Dao an Orchid Forest exalted emperor?”

The quiet Yan Fang shook his head. No, the young man was not.

“Since he is not, then Myriad Dao has killed some of my fellow daoists. Will Orchid Forest stand in my way if I seek vengeance?” Soul Eclipse smiled faintly.

“In what capacity are the three fellow daoists here in?” Yan Fang took a deep breath.

“Wandering cultivators of the sixth rank!” Soul Eclipse chuckled.

Bullshit!

Yan Fang didn’t respond.

Red Moon was being as tyrannical as ever, despite its recent losses. It was better than before, but not by much.

Who doesn’t know who you really are, Soul Eclipse? How are wandering cultivators so arrogant?

“Myriad Dao... simply transacts with Orchid Forest.” Yan Fang suppressed the budding anger in his heart. “I will not intervene since he has offended the fellow daoist! But I will involve myself if any of the other wandering cultivators make a move. This is Orchid Forest!

“That is one point. The other is that since the three fellow daoists are here as wandering cultivators, you must respect Orchid Forest’s rules!”

“What rules?” snorted Soul Eclipse.

“One, you may not hurt Orchid Forest citizens or fight within inhabited areas!

“Two, three of Myriad Dao’s wandering cultivators have chosen to become part of Orchid Forest’s great dao and no longer participate in his battles. What you do cannot spill over to them!”

“Oh?” Soul Eclipse blinked and frowned slightly. “Three exalted emperors have chosen to become part of Orchid Forest... who?”

“All weaklings. One first rank, two second ranks. They did not participate in the previous killings and merely went through the motions.”

“Orchid Forest shows quite some charisma in being able to recruit them at this time,” intoned the frowning Soul Eclipse. “Will that Myriad Dao become part of Orchid Forest in a critical moment as well?

“We might be able to let three weaklings off the hook,” he added forebodingly. “But Orchid Forest must not let anyone else join Orchid Forest. Otherwise...”

The look in Yan Fang’s eyes changed as well and he responded with slight bitterness, “It is up to Orchid Forest whether we take more people or not! Fellow daoists, Orchid Forest is a major world at the end of the day!”

The Red Moon trio smiled meaningfully. A major world? A sixth rank major world was something only among mid rank worlds. In the eyes of seventh and eighth rank worlds, sixth rank worlds were a drag on their dignity. Who thought anything of sixth rank major worlds?

After careful consideration, Soul Eclipse decided to show Orchid Forest some face. After all, they might be colleagues in the future!

“Very well, then I’ll be frank,” he smiled. “Those three... joined before we came, so they are Orchid Forest exalted emperors in the future. We can ignore them. The rest of Myriad Dao’s group can be discussed as well, but Myriad Dao is an exception. He is not permitted to join Orchid Forest no matter what!”

Yan Fang struggled with his response. He exhaled after a long moment and nodded. “Very well! Except... the Exalted Myriad Dao Emperor... may have someone...”

“A fire seventh rank?” smirked Soul Eclipse. “Does the fellow daoist think that Red Moon needs to fear even seventh ranks now?

“Ahem, I spoke erroneously,” he suddenly coughed. “I am a wandering cultivator... a seventh rank is so very impressive. We will naturally be careful.”

Yan Fang purpled with rage! Although this was an open secret, the Red Moon trio were presenting themselves as completely from Red Moon. But they insisted on claiming to be wandering cultivators, then happily made mistakes in front of him because there was nothing he could do.

Extreme humiliation and wrath descended upon Yan Fang!

Blast them!

And yet, his fury was impotent. Orchid Forest did not dare openly offend Red Moon. He suddenly felt that Myriad Dao had done a most excellent job in killing those Red Moon exalted emperors!

The more of those bastards that died, the better!

This is Orchid Forest, but they’re still so cocky here! The world master is right. We won’t have any standing to speak of in Red Moon if we’re not a seventh rank world. We’ll be supplicants under someone else’s roof even if we do join. If possible... Orchid Forest needs to become a seventh rank world and remain independent.

“Then we have agreed!” Yan Fang tamped his rage down. “The fellow daoists merely need to follow Orchid Forest rules. As for the others, if anyone joins the fight, Orchid Forest is not without its ability to strike back!”

That included the other three major worlds!

They might be strong, but they were only ruled by seventh ranks. Dare they come? Orchid Forest was not afraid!

Soul Eclipse smiled, not minding the declaration. It was fine so long as Orchid Forest still feared Red Moon. As for the others... he was here in person, did he need to worry about not being able to handle a fourth rank?

“My apologies for the disturbance, Fellow Daoist Yan Fang. We’ll have plenty of chances to grow closer in the future!” Soul Eclipse smiled in a meaningful way. “Let’s cut the conversation short this time. Next time... we can sit down and have a nice long chat. I’ll prepare food and wine. You are welcome to come by anytime!”

Yan Fang left without a word; the fifth rank Spirit Terror scoffed as soon as he was gone.

“He doesn’t appreciate the respect we show him! If it wasn’t for the unexpected happening, would a mere sixth rank world have the right to join us?”

Red Moon had swallowed many worlds these years, some even major worlds. They’d even killed the masters of those worlds!

How dare Orchid Forest defy them?? The world master had already said that they were recruiting Orchid Forest, not devouring the world. Orchid Forest was going to be shown the courtesy of helping their world ascend to seventh rank!

How dare they hem and haw, and even show signs of wanting to refuse? They were so greedy!

“That’s how people are sometimes, the more polite we are, the more important they think they are,” Soul Eclipse chuckled. “In reality... wait and see! They’ll understand then that their arrogance and reluctance now has come back to bite them!”

“I’m afraid that the world master will truly treat them with great courtesy then,” fretted Spirit Terror. “He might give them better treatment than us, which would make life difficult!”

Soul Eclipse laughed, not paying any heed to the possibility. How was that possible! These people would be the vanguard against New Martial after joining Red Moon, including even their world master.

It won’t be up to them after they become part of us!

“Alright, that’s enough of them. Let’s go find that cur, kill him, and return home in triumph!” laughed Bone Eclipse. “He’s got balls to kill multiple Red Moon exalted emperors. Even the world master has been alarmed. Going back with his head on a pike will have the same effect as killing a sixth rank!”

The other two with him nodded and bared their teeth in a feral manner, suppressing all of their earlier displeasure. That was right! This was a chance to earn some merit. There was no danger to it, only upside.

As for Yan Fang... they would kill him too if he dared intervene!

The trio quickly vanished from sight.