Star Gate-Chapter 1567: Loss and Gain (III)

“Sounds good, let us discuss dao for a bit,” Li Hao nodded. “I hope that the fellow daoist will set foot into sixth rank sooner rather than later, and the same for me when it comes to fourth rank! All of this is just an appetizer. The war in Red Moon Region will erupt sooner or later, and I think the same will happen in Skystar Region. Light major world may not always be safe. Skycloud seems to have quite the ambitions...”

Void nodded, that was true. Light and Skycloud had been at each other’s throats for many years. Now that war had beset Red Moon Region, Skycloud was stirring to action as well. Red Moon was being checked by New Martial. When Light and Skycloud clashed with each other before, Red Moon had acted as a counterweight.

It was less effective in that role now.

As for the eastern and western regions, they were further away from the battlefield and had even fewer dealings with Skyward and Red Moon.

Void and Li Hao didn’t say much else and didn’t pay attention to their environment. They sat down and began conversing—not with language, but through dao methods!

The river of life and death unfurled; Void brought out his domain of emptiness. The two men swapped positions—Li Hao entered the world of emptiness and Void plunged into the river of life and death.

The two traded ownership for a few moments. Void was in charge of the river of life and death, as well as the star of life and death. Li Hao commanded the world of emptiness.

This kind of dao exchange was the most effective and direct. But the key was, the shadow was completely flabbergasted by these two lunatics. Was this how one exchanged great dao?? Did this even count as an exchange anymore?

This was dual cultivation!

You know me and I know you. You peer into the true meaning of my dao methods and I explore the core of yours. Have these two idiots never thought of the possibility that the other would know their trump cards if they ever turned on each other?

This was fast, true, but what was the point of speed when it came to sharing cultivation? It was better to leave some aces up one’s sleeve.

The shadow shifted again, because Void had pulled out a unique star from the river out of sheer curiosity—the star of life! Not to be outdone, Li Hao began resurrecting everything within the world of emptiness.

Greenery sprouted as he bestowed vitality to them!

The shadow abruptly flinched, sensing that doom was coming for it.

As expected! A patch of thunderclouds appeared over the duo’s heads. The laden clouds came together and didn’t seem too strong. The two maniacs then directed daos that they weren’t too familiar with into doing battle with the chaos tribulation.

This was the most ludicrous sight that the shadow had ever witnessed in its life! Nothing surpassed it!

These two madmen seemed determined to be the death of each other. One wanted nothing more than to cripple Li Hao’s river, the other tried to shatter the domain of emptiness. Nothing was off limits!

Given this limit testing, Li Hao’s river of life and death was abruptly one segment shorter. Void’s domain of emptiness also partially shattered.

And then, the two traded back.

As the shadow watched with a dumbfounded gaze, Li Hao waved a hand in farewell. Void sat down cross-legged, repairing his domain of emptiness and waved his hand s well to indicate acknowledgement.

With that, the two went their separate ways. One was back to fleeing for his life and the other was settling in for closed door cultivation.

“Little friend Void, have you ever considered what might happen if the two of you become enemies in the future?” the shadow couldn’t help but ask when Li Hao was gone.

Surprised by the question, Void took a moment to respond, “I’m only a fifth rank and he’s just a third rank. What we’ve gained today is but a note in our path of cultivation. Although we know each other inside and out right now, will the two of us fail to improve from here? Whose dao remains the same forever?”

This weapon soul was supposed to be highly knowledgeable, and was definitively the body of an eighth rank dao universe and a ninth rank’s weapon. How could it ask such a naive question?

I’m just a fifth rank, is that far from seventh rank?

Li Hao’s just a third rank, is that far from seventh rank?

What we know now is the third rank Li Hao and fifth rank Void. Do you think his comprehension of dao will only be at third rank if we become enemies when we’re seventh ranks?

What a strange question!

Void looked at the shadow, suddenly wondering if it was the weapon soul of dao chess. Why did it... not seem to understand the great dao all that well?

The shadow could read the look in the man’s eyes and cursed to itself. For fuck’s sake! You’re completely crazy! Who thinks that way? Isn’t one’s foundations complete after reaching the exalted emperor level?

It all boils down to the same core idea. But what you guys mean to say is that emptiness and revitalization, as well as life and death, are not your destinations. They are only your start, is that right? 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

I understand Li Hao’s ultimate goal is time. But what is yours? Where does your confidence come from to let you think that you can rival time in the future?

Granted, the precursor to this was that Li Hao could successfully cultivate time. Otherwise, life and death would be his ultimate foundation as well.

Void ignored the shadow, there was nothing worth discussing with a weapon soul. There were no rules that said one must cultivate a unique path to the ultimate peak that it could be taken to. All daos were one in the end.

The ultimate height of any dao could crush time.

Void wasn’t aware if Li Hao understood this logic, but that was how the man thought.

Emptiness and revitalization are just one experiment in my path of dao. Who says my ultimate goal is either one of them? I’m also going to cultivate light and dark, life and death, the five elements, as well as creation and destruction!

......

Skyward, near the southern gate.

Li Hao stood unmoving in this locale. There were only Gan Wuliang and Panther next to him. Number Two had entered the river of life and death again to begin its long slumber.

The young man stood still on the spot, drawing a puzzled glance from Gan Wuliang. Was the marquis contemplating something again? Hadn’t he said they were going to leave? In that case, what were they still doing here?

He’d heard what Void said, that the Skycloud seventh rank might be here soon if they didn’t leave. In that case, it was better to run as quickly as possible.

They’d come to Skyward in order to catch the attention of the major worlds and lure out the dao universe. If the Skyward dao universe was not forthcoming, they would falsify one. But since Skyward’s dao universe had shown itself, their goal was accomplished even without the dao universe’s revitalization.

This would draw Skycloud’s attention and the leader of the Dragon Observatory should be returning as well. Almost all of Li Hao’s goals were complete.

Of course, he didn’t know what the situation was with Red Moon, and if they would insist on targeting New Martial. Such were the young man’s concerns.

Void was right about most things, but one thing he was incorrect in was the Skyward dao universe. It’d only appeared. Since it did not show signs of recovery, heavyweights such as the Red Moon master might not refocus their attention on Skyward.

“Void’s thinking too simplistically.”

Gan Wuliang didn’t make a peep when he heard Li Hao’s murmuring.

“Based on Skyward’s current status quo, Red Moon will not abandon New Martial to redirect their efforts into Skyward. Not enough of a fuss has been caused here!”

Gan Wuliang was suddenly uneasy.

“Who will believe that a ninth rank dao universe is about to revitalize when there’s so little fanfare?” Li Hao said after some contemplation. “Even if they see the dao universe, they’d think that it’s going to take a very long time for it to recover!”

Gan Wuliang inclined his head, that was true.

“If we want Red Moon to relinquish their aims on New Martial and turn their sights here instead... we need to make the Red Moon master think that a ninth rank opportunity is here!”

“That’s too hard, milord.” Gan Wuliang looked on sternly. “Skyward’s dao universe has indeed fallen into silence. If we wish to create a disturbance... Your previous strength of a seventh rank only enticed it to briefly appear, and now you command that power no longer.”

The Skyward dao universe had disappeared with Silver Moon. What great commotion could be made to indicate a wondrous opportunity now?

It was too hard to raise the attention of an eighth rank exalted emperor.