Chapter 1687: The East Is At Hand (IV)

Subjecting three high ranks to the terms of the alliance was the greatest concession that the Red Moon master was willing to make. He was also placing a time limit on this alliance.

Granted, the formation of such an alliance was still immensely to his benefit. Only three seventh rank or higher Red Moon exalted emperors were subject to it, but his world stood a high chance of giving birth to more. The same could not be said for the other worlds!

If hostilities really did develop, then Red Moon would not be in violation of the alliance if their newly born seventh ranks were the ones who attacked. This contingency was part of the Red Moon master’s plans as well. He would’ve long marched on the three major worlds if the timing hadn’t been off.

What pact of mutual non-aggression? What a joke! It was the law of the jungle in the chaos! Why wouldn’t he conquer them if the right opportunity presented itself?

The other exalted emperors naturally thought of the same possibilities that the Red Moon master was contemplating.

“If the fellow daoist truly wishes to form an alliance, then include the sixth ranks within your world as well!” said the Cold River master.

“......” The Red Moon master arched a brow.

“After all... Red Moon has assimilated Orchid Forest,” the Cold River master continued calmly. “In my eyes, it won’t be long before another seventh rank or two is born in Red Moon. On the other hand, it is too hard for us to do the same!”

They weren’t fools!

“Additionally, we need to clarify that an eighth rank tribulation will be upon Red Moon if you guys violate the terms,” added the Cold River master. “A seventh rank tribulation will visit us if we violate it. It will be meaningless if we do not define the level of chaos tribulation in a penalty. Low rank tabulations will be insignificant!”

The Red Moon master’s brow rose higher. These guys were no fools to attain their positions as world masters. He wouldn’t have agreed on any other day, but today, he was very much concerned about the changes in Skyward’s situation.

The Human King was also a target that he wished to deal with. In order to facilitate his quick departure from Red Moon Region and being able to leave at will...

Perhaps some suitable concessions were necessary.

“That can be done!” The Red Moon master nodded after momentary hesitation. “In addition, if the Skyward dao universe does open... All of you must follow my lead and head to Skyward.”

“The New Martial home world...”

“Be at ease!” grinned the Red Moon master. “They are not nearby. If they were, they would have made a move already. Last time was their best chance to! They will have to pay an enormous price to move against us since that one has passed them by.”

New Martial was certainly not in the vicinity.

“Not to mention, since we can leave at a critical time, that naturally means we can return as well! It’s not as if we cannot come back!”

Both directions were possible, unless they were bogged down by someone else. But even if New Martial had certain plans in mind, could one Human King preoccupy them all?

What a joke!

New Martial would’ve arrived on their doorstep long ago if they had such strength.

“Then... we are agreed!” The other exalted emperors nodded after this discussion. This official formation of an alliance was not a bad development—Red Moon had levied restrictions on itself. That was rare enough already!

Red Moon had refrained from forming an alliance before this clearly because it thought highly of itself. Since it would be an alliance in name only, there was no need to subject itself to constraints.

It was evident to see that the death of three seventh ranks and the unrest at Skyward had caused the Red Moon master to acquiesce.

Four dao universes signed a treaty of great dao, one based on dao origin as the foundation and witnessed by the chaos tribulation!

The three major worlds also moved more closely to Red Moon, a sight that made the Sword Sovereign’s lips pucker. Why were they moving even closer?? This was big trouble!

Even if Li Hao succeeded, he’d be teleporting back to face six seventh ranks, if including the Orchid Forest master. He would have no tears to shed then!

The New Martial and Silver Moon group were paying a high price to ambush Red Moon.

This is bad!

The Sword Sovereign looked on with resignation.

......

The Orchid Forest master and Pagoda King watched recent developments with slack-jawed surprise. While the Pagoda King wasn’t certain of the details, the Orchid Forest master was rather resigned since he was one of the signers!

Were the three worlds going to be bundled up in a package deal with Red Moon?

Judging from the Red Moon master’s current inclinations, the heavyweights of the three major worlds would follow him when he left. The only unknown was whether or not the Silver Moon king had made his own arrangements at Skyward. If all of the seventh ranks here left, then... trouble might develop with their plans at Skyward.

If they disregarded Skyward and simply considered that all four major worlds would be tightly clustered together without their powerhouses... and only he and Griefstricken were in residence... That made them a very,

very

enticing target!

Things are about to take place at Skyward... right?

Would this be a massive feast or doomed trap? Once the Red Moon master left with four seventh ranks and possibly took the Skyward dao universe, then the Silver Moon king would suffer heavy losses without anything to gain for it. He would’ve gone for wool and come back shorn!

The addition of four seventh ranks was outside everyone’s expectations. He had no way to communicate with the young man either. It would be all up to fate!

......

Skyward.

Time passed, tick by tick.

Li Hao walked out of his hiding spot. Vast sums of cultivators in Dragon Observatory territory were taking shelter; no one dared make a move in the open and be faced with the might of so many exalted emperors.

This place was becoming ever more frightening.

The young man lifted his head to the sky. Next to him, Void was slightly nervous. The opening of the Skyward dao universe was bound to be an explosive catalyst. Although they were operating from the shadows, that didn’t mean accessing the dao universe would go smoothly or safely.

The man blinked with astonishment when he turned his head for a look. Some changes had taken place in Li Hao’s body and a faint sword intent shimmered over him.

The Sword Sovereign?

Void started. Was his friend going to pose as the Sword Sovereign?

That... might not be a bad idea. It wouldn’t be out of the question for the Sword Sovereign to run from Red Moon Region and end up in Skyward. The two were close enough that Li Hao and Void had flown back to Skyward. The Sword Sovereign being as strong as he was could easily come here as well.

Li Hao looked around him. He couldn’t see any other exalted emperor at present, but he could sense some of their presences. The young man soon locked his eyes on a particular heavyweight.

Dragon!

This guy had isolated Demon Summit several times when Li Hao was within it and had even put together a team to hunt down the Sword Sovereign. Although he ultimately returned empty-handed, it would be in line with the Sword Sovereign’s personality to target him first in the absence of Red Moon powerhouses.

The sacrifice of a sixth rank was necessary in order to access a dao universe. Was a wandering cultivator like Dragon strong?

Li Hao had thought so before, but thought much less of the man after killing Yu Xiu. Having spent two years in the chaos, the young man didn’t have many enemies apart from Red Moon. This leader of Dragon Observatory... could count as one of them.

“I’m going to kill Dragon first as an opening act!” Li Hao smiled at Void. “Brother Void, all you need to do now is to create a world of emptiness for me in an empty spot. Erase the ripples of transportation. I don’t need your help with anything else.”

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Void nodded, refraining from blustering that he could do much more. Since his father was nearby, it was not a good idea for him to be in public too much. That would easily give the impression that this was the side that Light major world was taking.

Obliterating the ripples of transportation was not an easy task. Although a world of emptiness could accomplish the deed, its range was limited. Not to mention that exposure was a high likelihood given the exceedingly high numbers of exalted emperors in the surroundings. This was a very dangerous assignment as well.

“Then I’ll head over first and try to avoid the southern region...”

“Alright.”

Void was on his way. His powers of concealment were very strong as he was equipped with the strength of emptiness. With everyone’s attention on Fog Mountain, very few were paying attention to other cultivators in Dragon Observatory territory.

Li Hao vanished from the spot with a flash.

Seventh ranks occupied the inner circle of territory and sixth ranks were stationed on the outside. Almost all of the Dragon Observatory exalted emperors had died to Li Hao on previous occasions. There was only one fifth rank and two fourth rank by Dragon’s side these days. Granted, that was still high quality in terms of a faction’s force.

Li Hao quickly walked toward the outskirts.

Some fixated on Fog Mountain noticed Li Hao and registered his presence with bafflement. Who was so bold as to randomly stroll around when seventh ranks were facing off against each other?

Li Hao didn’t particularly conceal his presence. When it came to seventh ranks, any hint of hiding made one more suspicious instead. That would invite further attention.

Conducting himself in an open and aboveboard manner would also facilitate Void’s departure from the area.

Li Hao ignored the presences locking onto him; he continued to retreat to the outskirts. Some people set him aside upon seeing that, thinking that perhaps one of the wandering cultivators in the region had noticed the danger and wished to leave ahead of time.

The Dragon Observatory leader was busy in transmitted conversation with those next to him.

“This Exalted Fog Mountain Emperor... Ai! He could’ve occupied any territory, but chose Dragon Observatory! Given how this standoff looks, Dragon Observatory will be obliterated once the fighting starts!” The faction leader was immensely resigned. All of his stars had not been in alignment in recent times.

His faction had grown strong over the past two years, both in terms of strength and numbers. Void had set foot into seventh rank and he’d recruited multiple exalted emperors from Utmost Dark as well as those in surrounding territories.

But Void ran off in the blink of an eye and now all of his other exalted emperors were dead!

When he finally hung on until Skycloud sent reinforcements, Fog Mountain seemed prepared to declare independence from Skycloud. And before that was concluded, these guys seemed ready to commence a brawl in Dragon Observatory territory.

His territory was likely going to be ruined after the high ranks involved themselves. The faction that he’d painstakingly built over the years was gone, just like that.

As for ascending to seventh rank while in Skyward... that seemed like a complete pipe dream. He’d mistakenly thought that the seventh and eighth ranks didn’t care for Skyward when they didn’t visit, but now look at them all. They’d all flocked to the major world when the slightest disturbance came to be!