Chapter 1750: The World Revitalizes (I)

“The Exalted Skycloud Emperor can claim one dao star,” Li Hao said calmly. “Because he has an eighth rank dao universe. He will not stay in the Skyward dao universe before all is certain. It’s a different case with you, Red Moon, so don’t even think about it!”

The Red Moon master was absolutely beside himself with rage, but had no place to vent his emotions. He couldn’t even feel his anger—it was a very complicated mix of emotions that brewed within him.

Meanwhile, the Skycloud master was very thoughtful.

Then... does that mean that Red Moon should coordinate with me to ensure that I can retrieve a star from the Skyward dao universe?

That’s not bad either!

Otherwise, if that guy has a chance to claim a dao star, he might really stay in Skyward and refuse to leave.

As exalted emperors surged through the world gate, shadows throughout the world were restrained and contained. Dao stars were retrieved one after another; even Flare Sun was inside.

He chose the light envoy and freed up the Sword Sovereign. Flare Sun wasn’t too wary when it came to the Sword Sovereign, the crown prince was here, after all. He was just a bit embarrassed to be taking the light dao star.

He flashed an awkward smile at Void when seeing the latter and nearly fled with the dao star.

How embarrassing! Our crown prince is in danger, but we have to rely on outsiders to pay a hefty price to rescue him. This will be egg on our faces if word gets out!

And the key is, big brother wants me to take the light dao star! This is even more humiliating!

......

Li Hao was staring at the dao universe. As a large number of dao stars were moved, the entire universe grew even more quiet. He smiled at the spatial dao star in the deepest reaches of space and didn’t say a word.

I don’t owe you anything this time.

......

At the same time, in the depths of the chaos, where countless statues resided.

The giant that’d opened its eyes seemed to be observing what was taking place. A low chuckle echoed through the air after a long while.

“How interesting! Cultivators of time are always so interesting...”

He closed his eyes and chose to watch the proceedings no more. He’d thought that this was a good opportunity, but it looked like they would have to wait a bit longer.

Did the time cultivator sense me? That would not be bad if he did. Does it really not pain you to relinquish the chance to own a ninth rank dao universe?

If you’d cooperated, you might have called Skyward dao universe your own.

Would you be so unflappable if you knew this?

He truly wondered if this person would regret his actions if he knew of the entire situation. The giant was even momentarily gripped by the impulse to converse with the time cultivator. He would learn that he hadn’t simply given up on some dao foundations, but the entire Skyward dao universe!

If you’d cooperated with me, I might have taught you how to fully revitalize Skyward and take control of it. That would catapult you to the heavens!

These thoughts were quickly buried.

Forget it!

The world in the giant’s eyes dissipated as he no longer looked in on it.

Relinquishing this opportunity means that it might be a very long time from now before that time cultivator can meet me!

......

There were suddenly far fewer dao foundation shadows in the world after the seventh ranks took their turns. There were almost no more seventh and eighth ranks, whereas the four seventh ranks were relieved of their duties.

There was only the shadow of Daoist Coiling Dragon left around the world origin. There was no need for anyone else to join the fight. Four seventh ranks would find it far too easy to handle one seventh rank shadow.

However, there was someone who was yet to obtain a dao star. The Skycloud master’s face shifted rapidly through various emotions.

Everyone else had obtained a dao star, including the Blazing Sun and Dragon masters. They’d sent seventh rank representatives to Skyward. Only he and Red Moon were empty-handed because they’d hesitated and mulled over their decision for too long.

Everyone else now had the authority to freely come and go from Skyward. They were the only exceptions.

“King of Silver Moon, there is one more shadow of the Exalted Coiling Dragon Emperor,” said the solemn Skycloud master. “This seat wants it!”

“There’s no need!” Li Hao hovered near the world gate and smiled derisively at the man. “You didn’t say anything before and now we don’t need help. You need to shit while you’re feeling it, y’know!”

Skycloud looked coldly at the young man, a ruthless look entering his eyes. It was indeed a bit too late. The four seventh ranks had regained freedom of movement. With Light and Flare Sun present, he and Red Moon wouldn’t be able to take these people in combat, even if they forced an offensive.

A bit of regret was settling in. Had he known this would be the case, he would’ve requested entrance early on. Even if Li Hao allowed him in now, he would be slightly worried of being mobbed to death or trapped in the dao universe.

“You might as well let us have one, Li Hao,” snarled Red Moon. “Ming Tang is still silencing the world, the crisis has not been fully defused. The Skyward master’s projection might appear anytime.

“If this seat partners with Skycloud, it will be easy for us to commence a little sabotage!”

Li Hao frowned and looked frostily at the man. The young man was a fifth rank staring down an eighth rank, but he felt no fear at all.

“I can let you have one for the price of ten billion dao crystals!” said the young man after a while. “I’ll let the Skycloud master in for that. That’s my first and final offer!”

“You’re... going to charge me?” gaped the Skycloud master.

What kind of joke is this?! None of those seventh ranks had to pay and Li Hao even volunteered to help them! Now he wants to charge??

“That’s right!” Li Hao responded calmly. “There were so many seventh ranks before that I was afraid of a riot if all of you acted together. Now they’re mostly gone. Those who are still here all have dao stars as well, so they won’t collude with the likes of you.

“In that case, why should I fear you? Why should I let our enemies obtain the right to enter and leave the dao universe? As for your so-called sabotage... we can just forsake Skyward at the end of the day.

“I’ll contact New Martial to have them concentrate on Skycloud. All of the powerhouses in the chaos will be busy comprehending Skyward’s dao then, no one will have time for you. They want nothing more than to have two fewer competitors, and immensely powerful ones at that!

“When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Do you think those seventh ranks will fight us for you? The best outcome is our mutual destruction!”

Li Hao leveled a steely glare at the two. “You guys are too late! You were too wishy-washy. In that case, pay a price for what you want! This is a scheme out in the open. I paid the price of so many dao stars to ensure that the other seventh ranks would not band together with you two.

“Now the precise opposite is true. There’s nothing they want more than for you guys to be cut off from accessing the dao universe. Who will help you now?”

A harsh look entered both of the eighth ranks’ eyes. That was true. They were eighth ranks and those seventh ranks had dearly wished for them to be the vanguard. But now... they had dao stars and could freely enter the Skyward dao universe. Now they wanted nothing more than for the eighth ranks to be dead and all of them barred from the dao universe.

Only then would there be more opportunities for seventh ranks.

Would there be anyone willing to attack Li Hao in order to help Red Moon and Skycloud obtain a dao star? Probably not!

Red Moon’s eyes narrowed and Skycloud fell silent before suddenly saying, “This seat does not wish to start a major conflict with you! I do not have ten billion dao crystals either. I can trade one billion for the dao star, but I will need you to suppress the fellow daoist and seal him into the dao star.

“If you send it out to us, we will not enter Skyward and interfere with your plans. We will each keep to our own lanes. Otherwise... Li Hao, you will be forcing us into an offensive if we are the only two without access!”

Skycloud elected not to enter the major world. If he did now, he might truly be killed. There were four seventh ranks over there! As for Red Moon... what use was he good for? The Light master was still here!

It was too dangerous!

So he was to spend money, was it? One billion dao crystals wasn’t much to an eighth rank master of the world like him, he just didn’t want to be embroiled in another conflict. In that case, spending some money and having Li Hao send out a dao star was for the best.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Of course, he would carefully inspect it, just in case these guys placed a trap in it.

“Is that so?” sneered Li Hao.

“Of course it is!” smiled an unperturbed Skycloud. “If Red Moon and I launch an offensive now... Sure, nothing might happen to you guys, but Ming Tang’s method of silencing would be completely shattered. The world origin would continue to backlash onto you!

“You would’ve paid an enormous price and come away with nothing! Cooperation benefits both sides. You’ve already given dao stars away to others, do you really care about giving us one more?

“Will Brother Light sit idly by if Ming Tang dies?” chuckled Skycloud. “Will he continue to work with you? Part of your confidence right now comes from Light. But what if Ming Tang dies from the backlash? Aren’t I right, Brother Light?”

“You can give it a try!” snapped a solemn Light master.

“It’s not that I wish to give it a try,” smirked Skycloud. “I’m not saying this to offend Brother Light either. It’s just that... everyone has one, but me and Red Moon. In that case, no one shall have any fun!”

He stared boldly at Light.

I don’t care that your son wants to silence the world. But if I alone do not have what everyone does, then don’t blame me for erupting in open hostilities!

Do you really think I’m afraid of you?

The atmosphere froze between the two sides; more exalted emperors were observing from the shadows and praying that a fight would break out.

It was best if both sides were heavily injured!

Out of the four eighth ranks in the four regions, three were on the premises. New Martial possessed numerous seventh ranks—two were on the premises. They should all die! Only when they were dead would opportunities arise for the rest of them.

It was difficult to judge who would win a fight between two eighth ranks versus one eighth rank and five seventh ranks. As strong as eighth ranks were, if they faced attacks from five seventh ranks...

The Red Moon master didn’t have a dao universe to rely upon anymore, so he would likely be the first to die. That would be just as nice. The public was extremely wary of a wandering cultivator Red Moon.