Chapter 1682: Emerging from Seclusion (IV)

“Are they still not coming out??” Fog Mountain agitated. The Silver Moon king and Void had gone inside for seven days!

It’d been a very difficult time for him as constant probes came from all sides. More and more dao foundation sites were being smashed through the world, but none of them gave rise to the Skyward dao universe. More seventh ranks were gathering around him as they gave up on the other dao foundation sites, setting their eyes on Demon Summit instead.

While they didn’t openly take action, they were starting to emerge from the shadows.

Boom!

Dao strength rippled through the void; Fog Mountain’s expression was chilly as he rebuffed the attack. “Do you want to die, Waterpeak?!”

In the distance, a female exalted emperor appearing as if a water goddess allowed her true features to come into view.

“You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Fog Mountain,” she smiled gently. “I saw that the premises were hazy and indistinct, obscuring everyone’s vision. Hence, I sought to clear the area for the group to see. I will set aside the idea if the fellow daoist is unwilling for further clarity to be shed. There is no need to be thus...”

Her words and smile were tender, but Fog Mountain remained aloof and unmoved. These people were all sending feelers at him!

An eighth rank world like Skycloud found it difficult to exert sufficient intimidation on them. Not to mention, it wasn’t Skycloud that they’d lost fear toward, but... Fog Mountain!

Rumors had been swirling lately that Fog Mountain was prepared to abandon Skycloud and leave the major world. Fog Mountain knew who was behind those testing him. Who else could it be, other than the Skycloud master?

Why was he doing so?

Possibly because this was the only way in which he could have Fog Mountain understand that he was nothing without a mighty eighth rank world behind him. It didn’t matter if the man was a peak seventh rank!

You might have contributed a lot to Skycloud over the years, but don’t forget the basis from which your influence springs! You can leave if you want, but think on it carefully! You’re just another seventh rank out there. There are many seventh rank masters of the world in the chaos. Who will show you any respect?

Fog Mountain understood the world master’s intentions, but the more his liege was thus, the more impatient Fog Mountain grew. So what if he would’ve had Skycloud standing behind him?

If it wasn’t for someone waiting for him inside Demon Summit, he would’ve already killed one of those irritating him! He didn’t fear them at all! There would be no one else who dared provoke him after he made an example out of one of them!

He knew these fellows all too well.

If he didn’t need to keep an eye on Demon Summit, he would outright execute that woman. The seventh ranks in the premises would be appropriately horrified. But leaving was not an option for him at the moment because that would clear the way for someone else to enter the dao foundation site!

Damnation!

Were Void and Hao Moon still not done?! They’d been inside for seven days already!

This is going to be the death of me. I agreed to a partnership, not to be your bodyguard!

Fog Mountain tsk’ed with annoyance. His actions last time had been a function of their partnership, so no matter how dangerous it’d been, he acquiesced to it.

That was not the case this time!

These two fellows were really treating him as a personal guard, weren’t they? Void was the more evil out of the two—his old man was nearby, why not have him come?? And the Silver Moon king was in cahoots with the Human King, no?

The Human King’s nearby too! Why not have him protect you? Why me??

Fog Mountain was still raging as more presences built up nearby. His face darkened as a person strolled through the void close to him.

“Fog Mountain, let Dragon take back Dragon Observatory.” Deepsea was calm and no longer conflicted. “This was his territory to begin with. Waterpeak’s harassment is a provocation of Skycloud. You and I can join hands to kill her today. This is not a place convenient to do so, we can head to the chaos together!”

Fog Mountain did not respond. Dragon was to take over Dragon Observatory again, he was to leave, and Deepsea to help him manage Waterpeak...

Nothing sounded wrong with that proposition and it would prove that Skycloud still held Fog Mountain in high regard. However, relinquishing Dragon Observatory also represented one major concession—that Fog Mountain had given up his idea of leaving Skycloud.

In the distance, Waterpeak raised an eyebrow and laughed. She wasn’t overly concerned as she understood the connotations of Deepsea’s words.

Was she afraid?

Not really.

It wasn’t that Fog Mountain might choose to stay with Skycloud, but that she had a certain degree of confidence and daring to make that move. Currently, her attention was focused on whether or not Fog Mountain would leave.

She wasn’t the only one; many were watching the proceedings with rapt attention. Fog Mountain’s departure from Dragon Observatory territory would be a sign that he would not leave Skycloud and also forgo the Skyward dao universe.

Would he do it?

“It’s easy for anyone to set foot into Dragon Observatory.” Fog Mountain looked frostily around him, answering everyone’s unspoken question. “Kill me first! I already said that Demon Summit has nothing to do with Skyward’s dao universe. It’s not my problem if you guys don’t believe me!”

“Since the two are unrelated, why does the fellow daoist continue to obstruct our way here?” chuckled Waterpeak.

Fog Mountain did not respond, which deepened general belief that this foundation site was tied to the Skyward dao universe.

“In that case, Fog Mountain,” intoned Deepsea. He was out of patience for his comrade. “Hand over Demon Summit to me! You can take care of whoever you wish to punish. Skycloud will protect you and I will stand guard over Demon Summit for you!”

“Have the world master tell me that himself, in person!” Fog Mountain cast a chilly glare at him.

Deepsea looked at him for a long moment before turning to the crowd in the four directions.

“Everyone can discern Fog Mountain’s attitude,” he said calmly. “This matter has nothing to do with Skycloud! We are willing to open up Demon Summit and even destroy it. It is not Skycloud that stands in your way!”

He said nothing else; this was all that needed to be said.

“So Deepsea means that... Fog Mountain does not represent Skycloud?” laughed Waterpeak. “And that Fog Mountain’s stance does not represent Skycloud’s stance either?”

“That is correct!” Deepsea responded before vanishing. His lack of presence was further indication that Skycloud washed its hands of the situation here.

Fog Mountain didn’t care. He regarded Waterpeak with remote disdain. Fury was starting to build inside of him again. When were those two bastards going to come back out?

They better be bringing the dao chess with them. Demon Summit wouldn’t be significant anymore in the absence of that treasure. I’ll be able to set caution aside then. I’ll show that woman what being brutal and vicious looks like, even if I can’t kill her!

......

Inside Demon Summit.

Seven days passed by in the blink of an eye. Void suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood and walked out of a square. He coughed, shook his head, and looked at the shadow with some regret. “I overestimated myself!”

“You reached 6,999 squares!” exclaimed the shadow. “That’s incredible regardless!”

Void had tried for the 7,000th square multiple times, but failed each time and was hit by backlash from the great dao. His injuries were growing significant, but of no concern to the man since he could quickly recover with the daos of revitalization and life.

And yet, the 7,000th square remained out of reach.

It also represented that his comprehension of dao was yet to truly reach seventh rank. There was still one final step that separated him from that cultivation level.

“I have some reflections when it comes to life and death, light and darkness, emptiness and revitalization. But I seem to lack a final missing piece,” Void said with regret. “I can’t fully combine them and make my way to seventh rank!”

What a great pity! That dao in the 7,000th square was one of great assimilation! He’d repeatedly tried to fuse his daos together, but the attempts always ended in failure. That meant he was still lacking in certain things!

“You’re very impressive already!” said the shadow. “Truly, there is no need to make light of your accomplishments. Not even some seventh ranks can make it to this step. Some seventh ranks from eighth rank major worlds, including the masters of their world, stop at the 6,999th square all the same.

“The dao of great assimilation is one of the harder squares. There were even some among the elemental envoys who failed that test.”

The shadow sought to comfort Void since the man had done very well already. “You took an advance on your 5,000th square request last time, but you have another now since you passed 6,000 squares!”

“Let’s wait a while longer!” Void looked at Li Hao still toiling away next to him. The shadow also turned its attention to the young man.

The 5,000th square! Li Hao had stopped there for a very long time. Void was already on his 7,000th square, which made the difference between the two quite large indeed!

“The 5,000th square pertains to the dao of metal.” Void frowned slightly. “It’s the strongest in terms of offensive capabilities among the five. It also... shouldn’t be that hard...”

That was what the shadow wished to say as well. They were deep in conversation when the power of the five elements suddenly manifested over Li Hao’s body. The ferocious tiger, little tree, sharp sword, rearing wave, and gigantic mountain likewise appeared over him.

The five elements as one!

The five elements spontaneously came together, the five domains materialized, and the five worlds overlaid each other.

Void watched silently, silently rolling his eyes.

The hell! You’re combining five elements as one! No wonder you’re so damned slow!

Boom!

The five elements successfully came together, emanating the presence of a peak fourth rank as they did so. This meant that Li Hao would appear as a peak fourth rank in the eyes of outsiders. This combination was slightly stronger than the integration of life and death with emptiness and revitalization. Those daos were only fourth rank, not yet peak.

Regardless, he still was not at fifth rank.

“How interesting!” Li Hao breathed out heavily and walked out of the dao chess. His five elements were one again! They’d reached a balance with each other, but with the fire dao in the lead as it remained the strongest.

“Did you finish, Brother Void?” Li Hao looked at Void.

“No, I’m stuck at the 7,000th square. I can’t get past the dao of assimilation!”

“You’re amazing! That’s so fast!”

Void didn’t know what to say. Was that amazing?

Perhaps.

But he wasn’t sure considering his competition was this little bastard who forfeited after 5,000 squares.