Chapter 1690: The West Brightens When The East Doesn’t (III)

“Old Man Li, are you certain of setting foot into seventh rank?” the Human King laughed in a brazen manner. “If you are, then I’ll cause rivers of blood to flow today. If you aren’t...”

A cold light glinted out of his eyes!

Then you’ll have created a lot of trouble for me, little fellow. I’ll take you to account for it!

“I’m eighty percent certain!” Li Hao laughed, both of them completely aware of the undertones of what they were speaking of.

“Fog Mountain, stand guard over me!” the young man called out. “New Martial will pay you everything it’s promised after the deed is done!”

Fog Mountain was already tensed to soar into the air when he paused and cursed to himself.

That little bastard! Must you confirm my collusion with New Martial? Whatever, it’s not like it matters now!

“Fog Mountain!” The Skycloud master looked at the man with a steely look.

Are you really going to betray us?

“World master...” Fog Mountain’s voice echoed through the air. “I will be leaving Skycloud today... Skycloud is still my Skycloud, as well as the world master’s Skycloud. My departure does not mean that I no longer recognize my home. Please approve my request, if you still think fondly of me in any manner, world master. I am sure to repay Skycloud if I find success...”

The Skycloud master did not say a word. It was Deepsea who flew into a rage instead.

“Are you crazy, Fog Mountain?! You’re going to yank your dao strength away at a time like this?? You absolute bastard!!”

You want to leave at this particular timing??

“You should be assisting the world master in seizing the dao universe instead! Once Skycloud ascends to ninth rank, you’ll be the first eighth rank under the world master!” Deepsea howled with outrage.

Fog Mountain ignored him.

I do not seek eighth rank. What does Deepsea understand?

He shot into the sky, where the dao universe had fully formed. It hadn’t cracked open yet. Fog Mountain was so quick that the seventh ranks in the surroundings couldn’t keep themselves contained!

Who would continue to wait?

Various powerhouses shot for the upper reaches of the sky. They didn’t care that the opening of the dao universe might have to do with the Human King. All that mattered was that the dao universe was present. This was the best result possible!

Li Hao also raced for the firmament; the Human King followed his actions.

The Light master rose without a word and a forebodingly quiet Skycloud master disappeared on the spot.

Whether Fog Mountain seceded now or not was not the key. The key was that his departure might affect the Skycloud master’s attainment of the dao universe. That was most critical. And so, the Skycloud master was quietly furious.

Fog Mountain did not keep the big picture in mind and did not recognize the times he was in! If Skycloud could seize the dao universe and ascend from it, so what if Fog Mountain then left the world??

Must you set yourself against me right this very moment?!

The Skycloud master brooded.

Strong presences swept through Skyward; the dao universe had become a very dangerous locale.

......

Red Moon major world.

Some of the exalted emperors were deep in discussion when the Red Moon master’s eyes darted elsewhere. He looked into the distance, sensing a faint consciousness percolating through the Red Moon dao universe.

“The Skyward dao universe has appeared, resulting in the arrivals of the masters of Light, Skycloud, and the Human King. The Sword Sovereign has also appeared and killed the Exalted Dragon Emperor with one stroke...” The latest information traveled back from a plant installed on Skyward. They paid a high price to swiftly transmit their findings back to the main world.

Two eighth ranks and one peak seventh rank were on the scene.

The Red Moon master’s eyes widened and he shot into the air. “Attend to me!” His voice reverberated through the air.

Powerhouses quickly presented themselves, including the four seventh ranks of the other three major worlds. Of them, Skywave boasted of two. The Orchid Forest master and Griefstricken were also in attendance.

That made for six seventh ranks!

“The Skyward dao universe has appeared!” The Red Moon master cut to the chase.

So fast!

It’d happened so quickly that he himself was surprised and inwardly gratified that he hadn’t listened to Griefstricken. If he’d marched on the other three major worlds, his conquest would certainly be incomplete at this moment. He would have to give up Skyward instead.

The Orchid Forest master had given a good reminder in their earlier conversation.

Knowing that time was of the essence, the Red Moon master quickly said, “Griefstricken will stay behind to guard Red Moon and the other three major worlds!”

He glanced at the Orchid Forest master, not entirely at ease at leaving the other behind. Orchid Forest wasn’t fully integrated with Red Moon yet.

“The Orchid Forest, Skywave, Cold River, and Nether Moon masters will set off with me,” he reeled off. “The other Skywave exalted emperor will stay behind to coordinate protection with Griefstricken!”

The Orchid Forest master’s heart seized at the command.

Oh, fuck!

They were in trouble now! Why was this the result?

They’d said that the Red Moon master would leave with the exalted emperors of the three major worlds in critical moments, why had he suddenly changed his mind? Had he discovered something, or was simply on guard?

The three major worlds quite approved of the Red Moon master’s decision. They weren’t comfortable about leaving behind two Red Moon seventh ranks either. Leaving behind one seventh rank from the three major worlds and Griefstricken was a better reflection of their common interests.

It wasn’t that the Red Moon master didn’t trust the Orchid Forest master, but that he, too, was worried about a newly surrendered addition. What if conflict developed between him and Griefstricken?

Not to mention that the three major worlds might be disgruntled if he didn’t station any of theirs in their rear... Then he might as well take Orchid Forest with him. There was a treaty between them, anyhow.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Only the Orchid Forest master was displeased by the arrangement. They were in trouble now.

We won’t be able to quickly dismantle the Red Moon dao universe if I’m gone, and we won’t be able to disturb the dao universe either. Once Li Hao and the others come back... they won’t be facing a half crippled Griefstricken. I won’t be able to help him quickly take out any opposition.

He’ll find two seventh ranks in peak condition!

Even if the Red Moon master doesn’t return... can the Sword Sovereign take out two unharmed seventh ranks?

I was wondering if I’d get a cut of the spoils before, but now... let’s see if we can survive this!

This was completely different from what they’d accounted for!

The Orchid Forest master didn’t say anything; he remained calm, but he wanted to break down in tears. There was nothing he could express while he followed at the Red Moon master’s side.

King of Silver Moon, I didn’t anticipate this either!

The Red Moon master didn’t care about the undercurrents of emotion rippling through the group. “Everyone, we must set out now and adapt to the situation! Be careful, Griefstricken and Wave Moon [1], New Martial has not shown themselves yet. But with the two of you holding down the fort, you simply need to stand against their assault if they show themselves. We will return very quickly!”

“Do not worry, my liege!” Griefstricken was happy to not head to Skyward. That was a very dangerous place at the moment; many seventh and eighth ranks would be descending upon it.

If New Martial came to them here, only the Sun God and Ash Emperor would be seventh rank. Two versus two was much safer than the situation at Skyward.

Wave Moon from Skywave major world was a rare female high rank. She inclined her head—she was the Skywave world master. The master of dao was the Exalted Skywave Emperor and slightly stronger than her.

World strength would be of limited use for this trip to Skyward, only dao strength would be available in unlimited quantities. A master of dao was more suited for long-range combat, so it was more appropriate for her to stay behind.

Skywave had agreed to Red Moon’s earlier terms of all of them leaving for Skyward. It was even better now that she was staying behind. After all, it was difficult to say if they would be successful at Skyward, but their homes needed to be defended.

“Are you amenable to this, Orchid Forest?” rumbled the Red Moon master. “This development has taken us by surprise and you have not fully assimilated into Red Moon yet. I’m worried that there will be no one to corral the great dao in my departure, which means you will be easily injured. Staying by my side will facilitate your integration into the dao universe...”

“Milord speaks truly, I have no opinions otherwise!” chuckled the Orchid Forest master. “It is also my dream to witness a battle between powerhouses!”

“That’s good, I thought you might be unwilling...”

“How would I?”

“Then that is settled. Everyone, follow behind me. I will cover us with great dao and teleport us to Skyward, post haste!” The Red Moon master extended the dao universe, prompting greedy looks from the other seventh ranks. They didn’t have a chance to study anything before the group of five disappeared!

As the Red Moon dao universe enveloped them, it transported them so quickly that they vanished on the spot!

Other exalted emperors that’d convened at a close distance watched with stupefied shock. The Pagoda King’s heart skipped a beat.

Hot damn! Has the Red Moon master sensed danger, or are all eighth ranks the favored children of the chaos? They love switching up plans at the last possible second!

I thought the three major worlds and Red Moon would become our hunting grounds, but now it’s two outsiders that have been left behind!

The Pagoda King fretted inwardly, this was bad!

Next to him, Yan Fang’s heart pounded as he knew some of the inside details. However, the world master had been taken away!

What should they do now?

......

Utter pandemonium reigned at Skyward. Everyone was shooting toward the sky, at the dao universe. Presences streaked through the world and Li Hao was swiftly drawing near the dao universe as well, silently waiting for the Red Moon master to arrive.

It better be within a minute, or things would be rather difficult after that.

A master of an eighth rank world could move very speedily when they wished to descend upon another world. So long as there were Red Moon powerhouses here, the Red Moon master could arrive swiftly through the dao universe if he didn’t mind the resource consumption involved.

1. This is the name of the other Skywave seventh rank. Yeah it was just dropped in there. ☜