Chapter 1659: Killing Sixth Ranks (I)

As a portion of exalted emperors exited Orchid Forest, nearly thirty exalted emperors gathered around the Red Moon sixth ranks in the blink of an eye. Low ranks were nearly half their number, but there were quite a few mid ranks as well. There were eight mid ranks apart from the ones that’d come from Red Moon.

That level of strength was sufficient to level Orchid Forest!

Toward the end, the sixth rank wandering cultivator Yu Xiu looked around with resignation. He ultimately chose to join the Red Moon entourage. The Red Moon master had reached out to him with a proposal as well.

If he joined Red Moon and accomplished deeds of merit in the battles to come, he would receive priority consideration for the

next

chance to enter seventh rank. He wouldn’t be considered this time.

And yet, that was already the best possible outcome for a wandering cultivator.

There were seven sixth ranks in the Red Moon group; they weren’t in a hurry to hunt down Li Hao.

As everyone waited, Bloodlust took out countless dao crystals. He melted them into three barrier cracks as everyone watched on, stunned. The three fissures began to close.

“We will compensate Orchid Forest for our imposition!” Bloodlust’s voice rang throughout the world. “I prepared a large sum of dao crystals before I came, so that we may repair the cracks that formed after the death of the Orchid Forest dao master!

“All eight barrier cracks can be repaired. Orchid Forest exalted emperors simply need to gather at the world gates and stand guard over them. We will repair the fissures!”

“......” Within the dao universe, the Orchid Forest drew his brows together. This was certainly a... generous gesture!

Repairing eight barrier cracks would consume countless dao crystals. Red Moon was a premier eighth rank world, alright! They did not lack dao crystals and were going to close all of the fissures to extinguish hope for Li Hao’s group!

Clearly, the escape of Li Hao’s fellow comrades had enabled the Red Moon delegation to understand that Orchid Forest might release the remaining two at any time. In that case, they would repair the barrier cracks first. Orchid Forest would be complete trash if they couldn’t even hold their own world gates!

Given Bloodlust’s expansive gesture, the barrier cracks began to close. The Orchid Forest exalted emperors on duty withdrew helplessly. Yan Fang gave orders that Red Moon would be permitted to work their repairs. Red Moon’s offer was serious; war would erupt if Orchid Forest didn’t agree to it.

The Red Moon group was immensely patient as they waited a day for eight fissures to close. With only the world gates left, it would be fish in a barrel to capture Myriad Dao and Death God!

Or was it more like a lamb entering a tiger’s mouth?

Dozens of exalted emperors openly entered the world with great fanfare. Their powerful minds swept through the land.

“Over there!” They quickly discovered where the two were. A group of exalted emperors dashed in a certain direction as Bloodlust gave his orders.

Three fourth ranks were left on guard at the world gates. They weren’t here to seize the world gates, just to keep an eye on things. This would prevent the Orchid Forest exalted emperors from blatantly letting the duo go if they made their way here.

The other exalted emperors extended their might and shook the world, locking onto Myriad Dao and Death God.

......

Red moon’s delegation was here!

Seven sixth ranks rushed through the air while multiple mid ranks and dozens of low ranks scanned Orchid Forest.

Bloodlust’s killing intent of a peak sixth rank shook the world. The sixth rank Yan Fang was very far away from them—he followed at a distance. There were some mid ranks by his side as well, but the gap between them and the Red Moon delegation was very far indeed.

Yan Fang had those of the world master’s faction by his side. The dao master’s faction was in residence at the world gates. That was an arrangement that set Red Moon at ease as well.

“Elder Yan, they’re too much!” transmitted a scowling Heaven Rite. The exalted emperors next to them were equally rankled by Red Moon’s actions.

This is Orchid Forest! But now it’s become the home turf of Red Moon exalted emperors!

Yan Fang didn’t say untying. It was an ironclad law since time immemorial that those who fell behind had to mutely suffer their beatings.

“We wait!” Yan Fang continued to follow silently behind the Red Moon group, preventing them from commencing battle in densely populated areas. Granted, any fight would spill over to the rest of the world since there were so many exalted emperors involved. As numerous as Orchid Forest’s population was, it could not withstand such challenges.

The Orchid Forest master was one who loved his people; the people were the basis of a world’s strength. Having only powerhouses but lacking a large base of rudimentary cultivators meant that a world’s dao would not grow stronger.

Not unless all of them wished to become wandering cultivators.

Up ahead, Bloodlust didn’t mind that Yan Fang was following them. They rushed straight for Li Hao and Void.

......

Meanwhile, the young man set up a formation. Layer upon layer, all sorts of dao strength answered every beckon of his hand. They crisscrossed through the void, as if weaving a net of dao!

Li Hao was forming a defensive shield through dao strength; Void was also setting up his own on another side. Thoughts of escape didn’t occur to the two. At this point, it was better to wait and react to their enemy’s movements.

Void was surprised when he watched Li Hao weave the great dao together. Although the young man was just a fourth rank at present, he seemed stronger than before. His understanding of dao ran deeper.

Digging holes in the chaos had been a kind of weaving as well. Void had found Li Hao to be a little less than him then; it hadn’t taken long for the young man to stabilize his creation.

“You improve so quickly!” exclaimed Void as he set up his own formation.

“I’ve dismantled a minor world and a mid world for study,” Li Hao replied offhandedly. “You can try it too next time! Practice makes perfect. With my power of time tracing the construction process, you can work backwards and dismantle it. It’s a very effective practice!

“If you can get your hands on some worlds, I’ll trace them for you. Just give me half of the dao nets that we dismantle!”

It’s not like you’re short on money, have your old man give you a dozen mid worlds!

Void didn’t know what to say.

It’s true that Light is rich, but this isn’t how money should be spent. Not to mention, I don’t want to rely on my family that much. The master of Light has an entire major world to support. It’s fine to give his son some special treatment, but to hand over the world’s wealth to me... The other exalted emperors will never stand for it!

Treatment had to be fair.

But... if what we’re doing here succeeds, I’ll get a portion of the spoils. Although I said I don’t need any, we settled on twenty percent going to me. So that means I’ll have a bit of an income!

That works!

So there was another benefit to dismantling worlds... Of course, the caveat was that one had to succeed in dismantling a world first. It would be very hard to do so without the power of time. What could be dismantled then wasn’t important, and what couldn’t be taken apart wouldn’t be of any use.

The two remained at ease. It was a given that they wouldn’t be able to stand against their enemies. There were too many of them, and all of them were exalted emperors. However... didn’t they have the Sword Sovereign taking care of everything?

They were the vanguard in this battle, the Sword Sovereign was the key personnel who would decide everything.

......

At the same time.

The Sword Sovereign’s palms were growing slick with sweat.

Holy shit! These two guys really trust me and think I’m all that.

Well, I think I’m all that too. But that’s seven sixth ranks and a lot of mid ranks, as well as dozens of low ranks! That’s dozens of exalted emperors!

I’m strong, but I would never claim to be able to fight dozens of exalted emperors by myself. There’s even seven sixth ranks among them—you guys think way too highly of me! Even a proper seventh rank would have issues if they were here.

And the key is, I’m not a seventh rank!

He would fall flat on his face with a single misstep. This was so much more than facing a mid world.

Although Orchid Forest was a major world, they’d only boasted of three sixth ranks before their dao master died. While the Sword Sovereign had exterminated mid worlds before, this proposition... had his heart in his mouth.

“Seven sixth ranks and one peak sixth rank!” The Sword Sovereign ran quick calculations. The opponents would be too hard to kill!

He might be able to kill one sixth rank if he ambushed them. If they reacted too slowly, he’d be able to kill another. But if they reacted swiftly, then he would be in trouble once the remaining six joined hands.

Therefore, he had to guarantee killing two with the fastest speed possible. Of the remaining five... if Li Hao and Void could preoccupy one, it would greatly decrease the pressure on him to handle only four sixth ranks.

If they could kill roughly four sixth ranks, then the Orchid Forest master would accumulate enough to break through. They needed to be fast!

Otherwise, the Red Moon master would quickly respond once Red Moon exalted emperors started dying in sufficient numbers.

Sweat beaded the Sword Sovereign’s forehead. This was very exciting! It was so much more exciting than fighting Orchid Forest themselves. As strong as the Orchid Forest world master might be, he was only one person. There was no pressure in fighting him alone.

“What a life of always being a blade in someone else’s hand!” the Sword Sovereign suddenly grumbled. He’d spent the first half of his life cleaning up after Fang Ping. After making the acquaintance of two little guys in the void, he was now... cleaning up after them.

Of course, the rewards would be handsome if they succeeded. If he continued to abstain from seventh rank, he would be unable to participate in higher level battles. Fang Ping was almost eighth rank. If he didn’t set foot into seventh rank soon, he wouldn’t be useful for much longer.

He needed to put it all on the line in order to enter seventh rank!

......

Figures swiftly dropped down on the scene.

A dense formation shimmered in front of them and dao strength permeated the air. Killing intent wafted through the vicinity. Two exalted emperors stood in the center of the formation and continued to make more arrangements. They tossed out various dao crystals, summoning waves of energy from the surroundings that ensconced the formation.

Bloodlust came to a halt and didn’t immediately go on the offensive. This was a formation of unknown status set up by a sixth rank of life and death. Brashly barging in might lead to some deaths. None of the sixth ranks from Red Moon could be allowed to die here.

He was here with so many people and wouldn’t be able to explain himself if a single one of them died. Sixth ranks were reserve talent for seventh ranks. Red Moon was confident of making a swift recovery only because it had sufficient sixth ranks to fill out the ranks. Trouble would be upon them if too many sixth ranks died.