Chapter 1727: Returning Home With Riches (III)

“We eventually ran out of resources,” Director General Zhao admitted with self-condemnation. “A portion of the old guard had the chance to ascend, but we forewent supplying them with resources in order to focus on our more exemplary talents. And so... many people died of old age!

“If we’d really let people cultivate freely, there would be far more than our current number of Fused Dao as well. However, Fused Dao pulled so greatly from our resources that we started rationing the amount we gave to them. We even permitted a portion of people to turn on and fight each other!”

He sighed. Certain things had been allowed to proceed at his behest and tacit approval, such as civil discord!

There were too many cultivators and insufficient resources in Silver Moon. Too many powerhouses had appeared and there was no external enemy to focus on. A portion of the people’s mentality changed and they began fighting each other for assets instead.

Director General Zhao was aware of all of this, but chose to turn a blind eye. In some cases, he even indulged them.

If he hadn’t, there would be far more than the current number of cultivators that they saw. The later generations would have no chance at all if he hadn’t restricted them in this sense. There would be no resources for them. His inaction had created a great deal of criticism for him in Silver Moon.

“I can understand!” Li Hao nodded. “There is no need to denounce yourself. A completely isolated world with a fixed amount of resources, no external enemies, and a need to maintain peace... To be honest, I wouldn’t have known what to do either. If I was backed against a wall, I would’ve induced some of them to commit crimes and killed a portion of them first!”

Such were the actions of those resigned to no other options. It had been a very difficult choice for those who’d chosen to stay. The entire world might have fallen into disarray if they’d chosen to be merciful or generous.

The only other option would’ve been to imitate New Martial and have everyone enter a deep slumber until the Star Gate opened again.

“We are at ease with your return.” Director General Zhao breathed out gently. “It’s just... it seems that the world outside isn’t that tranquil either. I rather think that you shouldn’t waste too many resources on Silver Moon.

“We relied on your support from the beginning and have provided for such a large population. If you’d kept all of this for yourself, you might have reached sixth or seventh rank. You just need to show everyone a taste of what’s out there. Why waste anything beyond that?”

“Now, we can’t put it that way,” Li Hao smiled and shook his head. “For me, the stronger I am, the more my consumption is. This tiny bit isn’t enough to help me enter seventh rank. Sixth rank doesn’t make much of a difference to me.

“Silver Moon, on the other hand, will be very different once it becomes a major world! Not to mention, whether it was Gan Wuliang, Martial Uncle Hong, Hongyu, or Panther, they were all crucial members of this operation.

“I once thought of journeying the martial world alone, but later discovered that it’s impossible to do so without a few good friends or helpers by my side. No matter how strong the powerhouse, they’ll be mobbed to death if they’re by themselves!

“There’s a lot of potential in Silver Moon!” Li Hao continued. “The twin dao universes is one source, Silver Moon’s ability to grow and develop is another! I see that the world has grown quite a bit during five hundred years in a dao universe without energy. It was situated in a place without a single drop of energy!”

It was incredible. Silver Moon was just as the Human King had said, unique. A place that could hold time was different indeed.

“Once Silver Moon reaches sixth rank and both dao universes can become sixth rank dao universes, then we might be able to utilize a very small amount of resources to produce a seventh rank!”

The young man smiled at Hong Yitang and the rest. “The world will have two sixth rank masters of dao and a sixth rank world master. I think it wouldn’t be difficult to win a clash against a seventh rank then!”

If that was the case, then Silver Moon would possess seventh rank battle strength. That would be well worth it to Li Hao!

“So long as you think the investment is worth it.” Director General Zhao didn’t have much of an opinion after Li Hao’s response. “I just want to say that it would not be Silver Moon’s original intention if we became a burden for someone else.”

“I understand,” Li Hao nodded. “There is no need to worry, director general. I hope that all of you can verify your dao as exalted emperors this time around. It will be difficult for you to enter the chaos if you are below that cultivation level.

“If Silver Moon can become a sixth rank world, it will be able to support twice the number of exalted emperors that typical sixth rank worlds can. Those can usually hold thirty to forty!”

Twin dao universes!

It was a similar case to New Martial. Regular seventh rank worlds could only accommodate fifty to sixty exalted emperors, but New Martial could support far more than that!

Why?

The twin daos of yin and yang!

And that was when its daos were imbalanced. It would be able to support more otherwise.

“It’s good that five hundred years have passed for Silver Moon. It’s given people time to digest and reflect on their gains. Of course, there were also benefits to venturing outside. Southern Fist and the rest entered Skyward and witnessed the battle of exalted emperors at Skyward. Seventh ranks and eighth ranks waged war upon each other.

“Exalted emperors were as numerous as the clouds and you could find Fused Dao cultivators by the handful. Added to that Skyward’s dense world strength and sufficient energy... meant that they didn’t lose out on anything either.”

It was difficult to say which had been the better decision. The prerequisite for remaining on Silver Moon being a good decision was adequate resources. Otherwise, nothing would’ve resulted from the five hundred years.

Those that’d ventured off world had truly improved their breadth of vision after the trip. They wouldn’t be as easily fooled as the Silver Moon denizens and believe that a random fifth rank would be able to casually upend a mid world.

There were pros and cons to each course of action.

Some of those that’d ventured out were less than ninth level Fused Dao. Ninth level Fused Dao was peak Empyrean King. If they possessed both corporeal and intangible daos, then they were a half step emperor.

Many of those who’d left had only been Saints, the equivalent of fourth to sixth level Fused Dao. It’d only been a few months, so they might not have set foot over the seventh level threshold.

Director General Zhao hesitated before asking, “Have there been deaths among those who left?”

“I’m not sure.” Li Hao shook his head. “Gan Wuliang and Martial Uncle Hong have not explored the dao universe yet. They’ll know after a close inspection. It’s not a big deal if anyone has died, we’ll just resurrect them!”

He took the matter lightly and to be honest, it was indeed an insignificant possibility. It wasn’t like exalted emperors had died! It was just a group of Saints and Empyrean Kings. He could resurrect them before, much less now.

It was easy so long as the heart of the dao universe remained intact. If the universe core was shattered, then it would be the end of the road for the dao universe. Li Hao wouldn’t have the ability to resurrect anyone then.

It wouldn’t even require effort from the young man if anyone had died. Of the two masters of dao, one was a fourth rank and the other was almost a fourth rank. They were both exalted emperors; it was simple for them to bring back a few Empyrean Kings or Saints.

Granted, the undertaking would still consume some resources and might even result in a thunder tribulation. However, the tribulation shouldn’t be that strong.

“Let’s undertake some preparations before everyone returns.” Li Hao wanted to get straight to work. “Some people are almost starving after five hundred years...”

Not starving in terms of lack of food, but lack of energy.

“I’ll meld the dao crystals into the world and dao universe first,” said the young man. “I’ll show you guys something fun when the rest are back. We need to comprehend dao! A dao that is forcefully improved is not stable!

“I will dismantle a dozen worlds and have you guys observe the process. You will see what is dao, what is the dao net, and what is a dao domain...”

These constructs were the core essence of dao! He would show his people how a net of dao was woven and how dao came together...

This kind of comprehension was similar to the dao chess’ heritage. In fact, the treasure was less straightforward than what he had in mind. Li Hao would demonstrate these concepts to them in a much more direct fashion.

While this would decrease his people’s level of comprehension, what did that matter?

Could everyone become a seventh rank? They could not!

Li Hao didn’t nurse that kind of aspiration. He simply wanted to deepen everyone’s understanding of dao. It was fine if their understanding proved sufficient only for sixth rank. Those with true potential would understand it for themselves sooner or later.

He wouldn’t just be helping those from Silver Moon. While Zhang An was already an exalted emperor, the rest of those that’d joined them from New Martial were also in Li Hao’s zone of consideration. Capsize Sea, the redwood tree, General Pagoda, the turtle guardian, the ninth division leader...

There were the students at Evenround Martial and soldiers of the Battle Heaven Army as well...

He’d been too busy before and lacked sufficient resources to help them all. But this time, he didn’t!

Li Hao’s haul from the four main worlds was so rich. He also held the gains from two seventh ranks that no one else wanted. He’d wanted to give Deepsea’s dao strength to Fog Mountain, but Fog Mountain had declined the offer.

This amount of resource was sufficient for his needs! It would be quite normal for some exalted emperors to be born this time. The only question was how many.

A larger number of exalted emperors would serve to benefit the dao masters of dao. It was similar to how the New Martial supreme grew stronger when the people were strong. There were so many New Martial powerhouses that Li Hao wouldn’t be surprised if the supreme had entered eighth rank before the Human King did.

The dao of the people did not follow logic; one of its greatest requirements was that one was able to control it and not be controlled by it in return.

There were certain limitations to it in that the strongest dao master would collapse if someone exterminated all of the world’s inhabitants in one fell swoop. The Red Moon master had spent his days suppressing the great dao after some of his seventh ranks died. He’d finally failed in the end and become a wandering cultivator.

Such was the price of the dao of the people, and that was a good outcome. If the Red Moon master’s integration with his dao had been deeper, then he would’ve fallen to the recoil long ago.

Li Hao didn’t spend too much time talking about the old times with everyone. He commenced work after a brief chitchat.