Chapter 1694: Striking Gold (III)

“Fog Mountain is a loyal person, he’ll give up his strength!” Li Hao quickly said. “He and I have reached an agreement—he’s carried it out faithfully since. If he’s like this toward outsiders, he will be even more so toward Skycloud.

“As disgusting as the Skycloud master is being now, Fog Mountain won’t let him truly decline in cultivation. This is why the Skycloud master remains wholly unafraid!

“They know Fog Mountain well. I’ve only known him for a short period of time, but even I can tell this is how he is. It will be even more true for them...”

Thus, Fog Mountain was an honest man. Even though he was very smart, that wasn’t the relevant point here. What was key was that he had some underlying principles, some bottom that he would not cross!

The Skycloud master was utilizing despicable tactics and threatening Fog Mountain with the world’s survival. He did so even knowing that Fog Mountain might choose to forgo his course of action!

“Don’t wait around, Void.” Li Hao quickly activated the dao chess brand. “Hurry to Fog Mountain’s side and find a way to convey to the Light master that the conditions have changed. He doesn’t need to take on the Skycloud master, he just needs to ensure Fog Mountain survives!

“When Void relinquishes his strength... squirrel him away from the scene!”

In the distance, Void blinked. Had the plan changed? He sped for the sky without saying anything else. He didn’t bother concealing his presence either—it was futile to do so before this group of powerhouses.

Many glanced at the airspace below them and ignored the new exalted emperor joining the fray. Some recognized Void’s presence, such as the Red Moon master. He glared viciously at the man, but said nothing.

The Light master was still present!

The frowning Light master tilted his head at his son. This was not a place appropriate for his son. Since Ming Tang had hidden himself, he should do so in a more thorough manner. Exposing himself like this... had the plan been overturned?

“Father... ensure Fog Mountain’s safety when he relinquishes his strength! You can go on the offensive to break the current status quo. As for the rest... father can do as you see fit. It’s enough that Fog Mountain survives!”

That simple?

The Light master didn’t say anything. Things were much easier with this request.

Fog Mountain took another glance at the Skycloud contingent, then at the internal condition of the dao universe. Calm gradually returned to his face. Everything was turning out to be much more nauseating than he’d expected.

The world master was using the safety of an entire world to threaten someone who wanted to leave. How ludicrous was that??

But... he understood! He understood very well!

He smiled, then looked at the Skycloud master and Deepsea. “It seems that you have reached an internal accord for me to not take any energy with me, is it?”

The two didn’t respond. That was true!

“In reality, you may not suffer a decline in cultivation even if I force my departure. If that really happens, you can just reclaim the strength that you bestowed to Deepsea. I’m sure you have contingency plans in place and aren’t relying on my conscience...”

Fog Mountain then turned to Deepsea. “You know that just as well, but choose to walk out at this point because you want to tell me that if I take my energy with me, that prevents you from entering peak seventh rank. In that case, you’ll turn your back on our longstanding friendship and view me as an enemy, won’t you?”

A complex expression crossed Deepsea’s face; he didn’t say a word. That was true! He... really wanted to become a peak seventh rank!

“Ai!” sighed Fog Mountain, slightly regretful that he’d overestimated these guys.

I thought you would use hardball tactics against me! I thought too highly of you.

“Breaking my back for you guys for so many years was so not worth it!”

The man shook his head with a dismissive chuckle. “I’d wanted to leave a long time ago. What is taking place today proves my point, that my departure is the correct decision. That is because... you guys are not worth my time and effort!

“Today, I return everything to Skycloud. From now on, I owe you nothing. No, I owed you nothing to begin with! It’s just that this world gave birth to me and nurtured me. Then I shall simply return everything that is Skycloud back to Skycloud!”

Kaboom!

A dao star that was on its way out of the Skycloud dao universe abruptly exploded. A massive surge of energy surged into the great dao!

The Skycloud master and Deepsea swiftly absorbed the energy, whereas Fog Mountain wilted. His body cracked all over and his presence fell from that of seventh rank. He didn’t mind, he simply looked at the dao universe behind him with a sigh.

This marks the end of our partnership! I’d had the most beautiful dreams in mind, but reality is not that pretty. This is my end after working for someone for more than one hundred thousand years!

I have no freedom and am so lowly from beginning to end! Silver Moon King, it looks like we both failed today!

Some scoffs could be heard in the surroundings. How stupid!

No one thought Fog Mountain’s actions were heroic. They simply thought him absurd and a fool.

At this point, I would rather there be open hostilities than leave without my power. You’re a peak seventh rank! The Skycloud master wouldn’t have easily taken you to account for it.

What a complete idiot!

The Skycloud master suddenly reached for Fog Mountain!

A blade and a massive sun appeared in return. Both the Human King and Light master had made their moves at the same time!

“You’re not half bad, old man!” the Human King roared with laughter. “Come to New Martial. New Martial welcomes you!”

He slammed through the world with one blow! Fog Mountain had found favor in his eyes. So what if the man’s strength no longer remained?

His dao comprehension as a seventh rank and great dao itself was still there! He just didn’t have any energy anymore. Although it would be very hard to recover—very, very hard—he could immediately do so as long as they could seize a seventh rank dao universe!

The Human King thought highly of him!

Meanwhile, the Light master had made a move simply because of his promise to his son. Action taken by two premier powerhouses at the same time made the Skycloud master color with dismay!

Damn it!

“This seat is cleansing my house of traitors. How dare you!”

“Shut up!” The Human King’s blade descended!

Boom!

The world fractured! However, it wasn’t the Skycloud master responding in kind, but the Red Moon master behind him. Several exalted emperors rushed the Human King at the same time, making the man pale with shock when he registered the formidable dao strength coming his way.

The fuck dude? Aren’t you guys ashamed of yourself for ganging up on me like this?

Fine, whatever, I’m used to it!

He’d ignored the Silver Moon king’s request to take action for the major reason that Red Moon was clearly eyeing him up. Whenever he took action was when they would try to kill him. He didn’t feel that apologetic toward the Silver Moon king either.

It’s each to their own at a time like this. You’ve got a lot of people on your tail, kid! It won’t be that easy to clean this up!

The Light master likewise laid around with a punch, one so incomparable and unrivaled that it completely dominated the Skycloud master’s technique when it was deployed.

Deepsea joined the fray! His massive palm sped for Fog Mountain, which was also when Flare Sun raised his hand with a snort. “As foolish as Fog Mountain may have been, he will not fall to the likes of you!”

Fog Mountain had previously caused trouble for him for no reason at all, making him lose quite a bit of face. That had immensely irked him!

But... no matter what, he and Fog Mountain were known as the two strongest seventh ranks of Skyward Region. Fog Mountain of Skycloud and Flare Sun of Light were always mentioned in the same breath.

What was Deepsea worth? Did he deserve to be mentioned in the same vein as Flare Sun?

BOOM!

The Skycloud master frowned as he saw multiple heavyweights take action. He ignored them and immediately withdrew from the fray. Instead, he moved toward the crack in the Skyward dao universe.

The trouble of Fog Mountain had been resolved; he was one worry down. In that case, he wasn’t interested in brawling with them now! The Sword Sovereign had already gone inside for a while. When would he enter the dao universe, if not now?

Fog Mountain was a piece of trash without his strength. He could be killed whenever the Skycloud master wished to.

He flashed away after coming to that conclusion. Deepsea quickly shook off Flare Sun when he saw his world master leave. The other exalted emperors also rushed to the dao crack. Meanwhile, Fog Mountain glanced at Skycloud and landed on the ground without another word.

None of this has anything to do with me anymore!

Seeing that Fog Mountain was safe, the Light master and Flare Sun rushed for the dao universe. Since Skycloud had gone inside, then they had to as well.

The Human King was in a bedraggled condition in another part of the battlefield; he ran as he fought. It would already be an immense task to take on the Red Moon master in single combat, but he was fighting five opponents at the same time right now!

“Are you guys still focusing on me?” he laughed, still composed despite the situation. “You guys are dead once they go inside and seize the dao universe!”

The Red Moon master glared coldly at him, in no hurry to enter. Instead, he redoubled his efforts on the Human King, seeming to want to force him into the dao universe as well!

“You’re so afraid of death...” sighed the Human King with understanding. “Are you afraid that you’ll be caught inside and unable to emerge, leaving me free to march on Red Moon? C’mon, would I do something like that?”

You would!

The Red Moon master didn’t make a sound. That was the long and short of it! He was exceedingly powerful at the moment and sent Red Moon strength sweeping through the land. The Red Moon master dared not enter Skyward’s dao universe if the Human King did not go inside. Otherwise... if the Human King really did run off to attack Red Moon, the guy was so strong that he could kill a seventh rank in the blink of an eye!

That was highly unusual!

This is so annoying,

sighed the Human King when he registered the Red Moon master’s response.

This twerp really is going to force me inside!

He didn’t wish to enter the Skyward dao universe, but upon further consideration, he sneered and rushed toward the crack.

The Red Moon master was at ease after seeing the Human King dart inside.

“We’ll head inside as well!” he sneered. The other exalted emperors followed his lead. The fight over the dao universe would be settled after they entered it. No one would be able to control it if they didn’t locate the heart of the dao origin.

Everyone was inside in the blink of an eye, leaving only a listless Fog Mountain outside. Someone caught him when he drifted down from the sky—Void.

Fog Mountain was calm as he looked at Void and sighed, “Our partnership is over, put me down!”

Void ignored him. He simply looked at the sky, at where the Red Moon contingent had entered the dao universe.

“If something happens to Red Moon, you can find a chance to hurt yourself...” he transmitted to the Orchid Forest master, who happened to be bringing up the rear.

The man barely suppressed the urge to jerk with surprise.

Are you guys still not giving up on the plan?

There was no time to think as he suddenly looked back to see the crack closing.

The Red Moon master and others up ahead sensed the same thing. After a quick frown, the Red Moon master ignored the entrance sealing off. It didn’t matter, since all of the heavyweights were inside! If they really wished to leave, they would be able to do so through a joint effort or control of the dao universe.