Chapter 1733: The Entire Crew Ascends (II)

Liu Long was rather dejected that he’d required the aid of a dog to break through. No matter how he spun it, it was slightly embarrassing. It’d also be one thing if anyone else saw, but his son had been standing off to the side. That was the most mortifying of all!

He wouldn’t care if it was old friends beside him, but...

Liu Long was very resigned by the astonished look on his son’s face, like the kid was seeing something marvelous for the first time. He had no choice but to transmit, “And what are you looking at?!”

“Father... is this... is that the legendary world dog?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No... father, I’m just curious, why did it help you?”

“None of your business!”

“It’s not that. I can tell that it looks at father with a... different look in its eyes...”

Liu Long barely suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.

This is none of your business!

Liu Yin’s mother, the curvaceous Liu Yan, transmitted when she noted the situation, “Yin’er, Panther is the master of the world. It left Silver City with me, your father, and the Silver Moon marquis early on in His Lordship’s journey.

“The best thing your father did that year was to teach the Nine Forged Force to the Silver Moon marquis. Panther learned it as well. Your father has always been proud of this and claimed that the world master was half a disciple to him. Therefore, the world master is your senior brother!”

“......” Liu Yin paused with amazement.

“But you should keep this to yourself and don’t say anything to others,” Liu Yan swiftly continued. “Panth is the master of the world and a fourth rank exalted emperor. The dog is about to set foot into fifth rank! Our old ties are still there, but we shouldn’t talk about them casually so as to not arouse jealousy.

“The key point is that if there comes a day in which you ascend to exalted emperor and there are not enough spots in the dao universe... Perhaps you can ask Panther for help.”

Startled, Liu Yin gaped at his mother. His father had never mentioned this before!

So this means that my family is a local with deep roots! We’re one of the first! Father only ever said that he left Silver City with the marquis, he never went into detail. It looks like we’re very special.

Liu Yin had noted a particular preferential treatment from a long time ago. Director General Zhao, the head of the defenders remaining at Silver Moon, always showed a great deal of respect to Liu Long. All of the Silver Moon veterans treated his father with courtesy.

He understood more of the reason why after his mother’s explanation.

Perhaps... my family really does have a different relationship with the Silver Moon marquis! I just didn’t know it before. I only knew that we were part of the people left behind by the Silver Moon marquis. Had I known this before... perhaps I would’ve been more cocky?

“Mother, why aren’t you an exalted emperor yet? If we ask now...”

“There’s no need to, I lack sufficient potential. A spot would be wasted on me!” Liu Yan interrupted her son. Three exalted emperors in one family?

Do you think you’re the marquis’ son??

Liu Yan knew that it was a given that her husband would ascend. But while she herself was also a ninth level Fused Dao, she was far from reaching the threshold. Her comprehension of the dao was insufficient, whereas her son possessed strong potential.

It was still acceptable if she became an exalted emperor. With the strength of her original ties to Li Hao, the young man would not turn her down if she asked! There were only so many of the original Demon Hunters. They were herself, Liu Long, Wu Chao, Chen Jian, Yun Yao, and Li Hao.

But if she made a request now, there might not be a spot left for her son to ascend. Giving so many spots to one family might induce dissatisfaction in others, even if Li Hao himself didn’t mind.

That would be troubling!

Thus, Liu Yan chose not to say anything. She could see that a few old teammates in the distance didn’t ask for special favors either. All of them, including her, possessed weaker potential. They were not on par with the original Thirty-sSix.

Those people had been the true talents of the era and dominated a field through their skill alone before the appearance of supernaturals. Since there were limited exalted emperor spots, they should go to these people first.

No one spoke of this notion, but it was a quietly understood principle.

Even the rough and tumble Liu Yan of yesteryear kept certain considerations in mind now. She’d resided on Silver Moon for five hundred years and was no longer who she once was.

As Liu Long advanced with Panther’s help, Li Hao looked at Gan Wuliang, then Hong Yitang.

“The two of you can choose one person to verify their dao, based on your own personal needs,” he transmitted. “Let me know if you lack anything!”

They were the masters of dao, so Li Hao was slightly meddling in another’s affairs. However, since he supplied all of the resources and was the king of Silver Moon in the public’s eyes, the two didn’t say anything.

Gan Wuliang was delighted by Li Hao’s message, whereas Hong Yitang felt a complicated mix of emotions. He glanced at his daughter within the crowd—he wanted to give her a helping hand.

His daughter was one of the five commanders of the Demon Hunter Guards and improved at a decent pace these years. Since Hong Qing had been by his side all this time and learned sword dao from Li Hao, her achievements in sword dao were notable.

However...

There was indeed a limited number of exalted emperors spots; many were yet to verify their dao. Even early followers such as Wang Ming were yet to make the breakthrough. There were also Secretary Yu, Golden Spear, Southern Fist, and Hao Lianchuan to consider...

A great number of people had not yet ascended.

“I...”

“It’s fine,” Li Hao interrupted. “You guys are continuing to digest dao strength and enhancing the world as they verify their dao. You are only fourth rank now, but not far away from sixth rank. There will be no lack of spots!”

This was just the beginning!

Announcing a limited supply of spots was simply to spur everyone to greater effort. There wasn’t truly a shortage.

Seventh rank was too hard, but sixth rank was simply a process of accumulating energy. The two dao masters were yet to fully digest their current gains, which meant more spots would be created in short order.

They were just one step behind for now!

Hong Yitang was much more at ease upon hearing Li Hao’s response.

That’s right, I’m thinking too much. In that case... if there won’t be a shortage of spots in the future... Well, it’ll also depend on personal strength later on. Li Hao might not be here like he is today to help everyone.

“I... I... would like to help Hongxiu verify her dao.”

“......” Li Hao stopped talking.

You lecherous demon! You forget about your daughter when you have a wife. Hongxiu... I thought you would put Hong Qing forward. Or with your typical style of doing things, you would choose your disciple Hong Hao.

But you choose your wife instead! That’s so damned shameless.

Li Hao didn’t know much about Hongxiu, just that she was an exceedingly kind person who took in a batch of orphans with Hong Yitang early on. When the west was struck by calamity, she led the rest of Earthturner Sword’s students to the west and took in another large group of people.

She was even mistaken for the replica of the Moon God at one point.

She’d stayed behind in Silver Moon and didn’t accomplish notable achievements during her time on the world. Hongxiu had barely managed to set foot into ninth level Fused Dao, but she wasn’t a half step emperor either. While the rest had noticeably improved during this exposure to dao, she hadn’t improved as much in comparison.

Li Hao looked at Hong Yitang; the latter displayed a rare showing of awkwardness. Hong Yitang had chosen his wife because he felt that Li Hao could help while he was still here. Now that he thought about it, Hongxiu was a far cry from becoming an exalted emperor.

“Uncle Li, can you help?” Li Hao turned to a person just as Hong Yitang was about to retract his response. “Connect that one’s dao to the dao universe...”

The Sword Sovereign followed his gaze and raised his eyebrow at who came into view.

“Is that... compassion?” The Sword Sovereign hesitated. “This is... an immaterial dao that slightly resembles the Red Moon dao of desire. However, it’s considered one of the benevolent daos in desire...

“And it’s connected to education...” He turned to Li Hao. “I can do so, but it has to be the immaterial dao universe. She is Hong Yitang’s wife, correct? Is it appropriate for her to be connected to the immaterial dao universe?”

That dao universe was controlled by Gan Wuliang.

“It’s fine, just do it!” nodded Li Hao.

The Sword Sovereign nodded without further word. He might know the two dao universes in greater depth than the two masters of dao. This wouldn’t be a difficult task with him present.

“Your Lordship,” transmitted Gan Wuliang. “I’d like to... help Chen Zhongtian verify his dao!”

“Eh?” Li Hao blinked, casting a glance at Chen Zhongtian and his father in the distance.

Chen Yao had been the Inspectorate’s previous inspector general and the Chens had been one of the first powerhouses to join Li Hao’s banner. They were one of the reigning authorities among the nine ministries, but the Chen father and son had always kept their station in mind. They knew that they did not measure up to the Silver Moon martial masters who’d always followed Li Hao.

Chen Zhongtian had been stronger than everyone at first, but he’d always kept an exceedingly low profile.

Who would’ve thought that Gan Wuliang would have his eyes set on the man?

Li Hao nodded with a smile. Chen Zhongtian did have the right to make the breakthrough. Was he hiding his true ability even now and waiting for the next opportunity? Or had he run out of steam and was unable to successfully verify his dao?

“You can do it yourself since you want to do him a favor. You’re a master of dao!”

Gan Wuliang felt a bit awkward, but didn’t say anything. He’d chosen Chen Zhongtian because he felt a certain kinship with the man; they were in similar straits. Chen Zhongtian was also a smart person. Gan Wuliang was very lonely as a master of dao. It would be nice to have a companion.

Chen Zhongtian soon felt the regard of the great dao. He looked at Gan Wuliang, then at Li Hao. Joy brightened his expression when he noted that Li Hao didn’t oppose his ascension.

Not bad! I get one of the spots too, huh?

......

Exalted emperors continued to appear, some from New Martial and some from Silver Moon. Li Hao ignored them, setting his eyes on his teacher. The young man was rather disappointed that his teacher showed no signs of improvement.

Did his teacher wish to walk the path of the five elements? But... combining the five elements as one was a very tall order. He might have ascended if he chose just one dao. Five daos at once was very difficult!

Meanwhile, Yuan Shuo was coolly composed and suddenly opened his eyes, interrupting his cultivation.

“Stop looking at me,” he transmitted. “You’re giving me so much pressure! I’ve always been the type to catch up strong and erupt from a place of strong foundation. This isn’t my first rodeo. Silver Moon heroes reached Dominator before me, but so what? I was the strongest in the end and it will be the same this time. The Five Styles will be one!

“I am going to build a dao domain first and then verify my dao...”

Li Hao was speechless. The dao domain was the signature trademark of a seventh rank. While he himself had established one very early on, as did Void, they were both mid ranks when they did so.

His teacher was a ninth level Fused Dao!

You want to build a dao domain first and then verify your dao?

That... really is something.