Star Gate-Chapter 1555: Killing Fiend (I)

“Skyward...” The Skycloud sixth rank looked into the distance; the major world wasn’t far away now.

Skyward had been a ninth rank world back in the day, but it was just a den of chaos wanderers now. The sixth rank knew that many high ranks were eyeing the place, but no one had ever seemed to gain anything from the major world.

If it wasn’t for his orders, the Skycloud exalted emperor wouldn’t bother with Skyward.

There weren’t that many opportunities there and the so-called dao foundation sites had run dry many years ago. He’d paid a visit to Demon Summit as well—he didn’t sense anything from it. It’d been a waste of a trip.

“Void... the Light crown prince...” This was what he needed to pay attention to on this trip. It was said that the person in question was a fifth rank, however, so he wasn’t concerned.

“Apparently the dao universe briefly appeared in Skyward last time, I wonder if that’s true or not!” The world master had sent him to Dragon Observatory also to closely investigate this happening.

Those in the faction were only chaos wanderers, not exalted emperors of major worlds. They may not be able to discover a dao universe.

But as a sixth rank, perhaps he could sense something that they couldn’t.

Some anticipation set in when his thoughts traveled here. Hopefully, this trip to Skyward would reap him some rewards. As for the Sword Sovereign... forget about that. The further away he stayed from that one, the better. The Silver Moon king hadn’t been that strong either, but attracted a sixth rank chaos tribulation nonetheless. That was terrifying!

The chaos was too complicated. It was safer to stay in Skyward.

......

Li Hao was immersed in the volcano while the sixth rank traveled to Skyward. He sensed the faint energy of fire around him and didn’t leave. This was the cemetery where he planned to bury all of Dragon Observatory’s exalted emperors.

The Skycloud sixth rank was yet to arrive on the fourth day; Gan Wuliang and Panther first reached the volcano. The two of them began communing with the Silver Moon dao universe, seeing if they could bring it here.

The presence of three exalted emperors at this spot was not a secret. Some of the Dragon Observatory exalted emperors were aware of them, but no one came to disturb them. Li Hao had given a clear explanation of his intentions without hiding anything. Hence, no one from Dragon Observatory would disturb the three of them comprehending dao.

In actuality, no one thought the newcomers would gain anything. Members of the Observatory had been there countless times with nothing to show for it.

......

On the fifth day, a figure appeared near the southern gate. The Skycloud exalted emperor had arrived!

There was an exalted emperor waiting at the southern gate to welcome him. A fawning smile spread across his face; a sixth rank exalted emperor from a major world appeared incomparably mysterious with just a single glance! He was so incredibly strong that it caused fear and reverence just being near him.

“Greetings to the senior!” The Dragon Observatory third rank grinned obsequiously at the visitor.

“My name is Crimson Cloud!” the Skycloud exalted emperor replied brusquely.

“Greetings to the Exalted Crimson Cloud Emperor!” The third rank bowed low. He was aware of this person—this was a notable exalted emperor on Skycloud!

Crimson Cloud was a sixth rank adept at the fire attribute. What a coincidence it was that he was a fire cultivator! He’d visited the volcano before and obtained nothing for his effort.

Hence, Crimson Cloud wasn’t the least bit interested in the volcano on this trip. Those abandoned sites of dao foundation were useless to him!

“Assemble all of the exalted emperors!” Crimson Cloud couldn’t bother with saying too much with this person. Exalted emperors of major worlds didn’t think much of chaos wanderers, unless they were mid ranks. Low ranks were too insignificant to be worthy of attention.

“Come with me, senior. The other fellow daoists are at the great hall awaiting the senior!”

Crimson Cloud inclined his head. At least they were self aware enough of what they should be doing.

“Where is Void?” he asked as they flew back to headquarters.

“He seems to be in closed door cultivation at Demon Summit.”

“Closed door cultivation?” Crimson Cloud laughed. “That’s just as well, in case we don’t get along. He rebels against being the crown prince of Light and comes here to comprehend the power of darkness. Does he wish to seek darkness from the light? What a pity that he’s thrown away his essence for something so superficial!”

While he dared criticize the Light crown prince, the third rank didn’t dare do so. He could only laugh awkwardly. Crimson Cloud didn’t care about the lack of response.

“Apparently, some anomalies were present at Skyriver before, that there were signs of a dao universe?”

“Yes, apparently there were. I am unsure of the particulars as only some of the mid ranks went to investigate.”

Crimson Cloud inclined his head and didn’t continue the line of questioning. He would know when he took a look himself.

They soon arrived at Dragon Observatory; Crimson Cloud tilted his head and looked into the distance. What his eyes settled on was very far away, but not that far away for an exalted emperor. There seemed to be a volcano there, and there was some fire energy emanating from it.

The place had been abandoned for so long, how could there be any active energy?

He was confused and took a closer look. The Dragon Observatory Hall was right in front him; exalted emperors were walking out of it to welcome this premier exalted emperor.

“Has there been any movement from the volcano recently?” Crimson Cloud took another confused look.

Everyone looked at each other, with one of the first ranks—Yu Chen—thinking of something.

“In response to the senior,” he quickly walked out and said, “There has been no movement from the volcano, just a few recent arrivals who are comprehending dao there.”

“Comprehending dao?” Crimson Cloud snorted. There weren’t any dao echoes left there by now!

Except... he frowned when something registered on his senses. It wasn’t only him, the other exalted emperors looked around with confusion as well.

A wave of heat struck them. Although it was very far away, they could sense the activity of fire energy.

“Eh?” Crimson Cloud blinked. What was going on here? For fire energy to be felt from so far away... The look in his eyes changed to that of surprise. “Dao remnants?”

The other exalted emperors were equally surprised!

“The dormant volcano spurted with activity as soon as the senior arrived!” One of the exalted emperors started currying favor for all he was worth. “These are the senior’s innate fortunes! Even the long vanished Exalted Skyward Emperor has to show face to a premier exalted emperor of a major world!”

Utter bullshit! Crimson Cloud cursed to himself. The Exalted Skyward Emperor is a ninth rank. Would he show me any face??

He didn’t say anything out loud as it was truly... a stroke of good luck. He was a fire cultivator and a dao foundation site of fire erupted as soon as he arrived. This really was something!

“Come, let us take a look!” He couldn’t be bothered exchanging empty pleasantries with the rest and rushed over.

Crimson Cloud hadn’t wanted to bring these people with him... but he was newly arrived and everyone was greeting him. It was rare for exalted emperors to witness this kind of eruption, so it wasn’t the thing to do to send them all away.

They could all go together!

If there really were dao remnants to be had, these guys wouldn’t dare fight him for it anyway!

The other exalted emperors were becoming excited, but also regretful as none of the spoils seemed like they would fall in anyone else’s lap. They were all low ranks, so they might’ve had a chance if this one hadn’t come. What a pity!

Roughly a dozen exalted emperors presented quite a sight as they rushed toward the volcano.

......

Fiery light lit up the premises and the land changed color around the volcano. A magnificent pressure exuded in all directions and clamped down over the world. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

There was a daoist faintly visible in the void—one extremely indistinct. There also seemed to be subtle dao notes echoing through the void and stirring one’s heart.

The notes of great dao!

There seemed to be premier powerhouses teaching their dao through the void. It might not be real people, but the dao was real.

Li Hao had traveled through time on this spot one year ago and learned the fire envoy’s dao. He voiced vague mutterings of fire dao today, the distillation of a seventh rank’s knowledge.

Crimson Cloud and the rest were yet to arrive when they heard the dao notes. The sixth rank’s expression shifted drastically as, being a fire cultivator, he knew if a dao was real or fake through a simple listen.

Although he was one step away from seventh rank, it was the difference of heaven and earth. He could tell from one instance of listening that these were the teachings of a real high rank, and a fire exalted emperor at that.

It was said that the fire cultivator here had been one of the five elemental envoys of Skyward back in the day. This was the cultivation site of Daoist Flamefire, a seventh rank!

Crimson Cloud was woozy with incredulity and disbelief. How could this be? Was it truly his presence that’d stimulated the dao remnants? How could there be such a coincidence otherwise?

This kind of fortune and opportunity induced both excitement and apprehension. Seventh rank! Skycloud possessed that level of exalted emperor, but none that were skilled in the fire attribute. Skycloud high ranks would also never dare say that they understood dao more than Skyward high ranks did.

Crimson Cloud felt that his opportunity was at hand. Perhaps... the chance to rise to seventh rank was in Skyward!

He picked up speed and was the first to arrive at the volcano. Sparks and light flew through the air, forming a figure in the void. It was the Daoist Flamefire that Li Hao had seen, and a very good imitation. But if one took a closer look, one would discover that a certain spirit and liveliness was missing from it.

Even so, it was convincing enough to Crimson Cloud.

He stood beneath the giant, quite agitated and slightly befuddled. He could hear the dao notes, but not too clearly. Some areas were glossed over in an indistinct haze. The man didn’t dare take brash action to bring them into focus. He would be in trouble if the dao remnants here were scattered.

Exalted emperors arrived behind him, irritating Crimson Cloud. These bastards!

“Don’t approach the dao foundation site!” he growled. If these bastards dispersed the dao notes by their mere presence, their deaths wouldn’t be enough to pay for the crime!

He himself was being utterly careful, but these guys were blaring right into the place. Some even wanted to rush into the dao foundation site! If it wasn’t for Crimson Cloud keeping a tight grip on his temper, he’d want to kill them all without further thought.

Even if they wished to probe the dao remnants, now was not the time. That could wait until he finished listening to Flamefire’s teachings. A seventh rank of an ancient ninth rank world would absolutely be worth learning from.

The exalted emperors around him quickly quieted down and didn’t dare say a word. Enthusiasm burned in their eyes, but they didn’t dare say anything. They bowed their heads to listen.

These dao remnants were very different from the ones they usually saw. The typical offerings were not accompanied by dao notes. They could only study the dao remnants themselves.

While they occasionally encountered the eruption of dao echoes, it was a foggy, indistinct mess that required one to enter and take stock of it themselves. It was different from what everyone was sensing.

But today, an ancient powerhouse was outright disseminating dao to them! This was incredible! So the volcano could still erupt with these dao echoes?

It was the equivalent of a high rank personally teaching them. This kind of opportunity might be beyond their grasp for their entire lives!