Star Gate-Chapter 1631: Battle Spoils (III)

All was quiet in the world. Not a peep was heard from Li Hao’s side as his people busily digested their recent gains. The deaths of multiple exalted emperors had propelled many into third rank.

It was difficult to say whether Red Moon would send a sixth rank to Orchid Forest next, or more.

Of course, a sixth rank’s presence went without question. It was just that there might be more Red Moon exalted emperors in hiding throughout Orchid Forest, or a portion of wandering cultivators that were backed by Red Moon.

That would be very normal.

Red Moon sixth ranks might have even slipped into the shadows in order to seize a major world. They just could not expose themselves at present since Li Hao was their opponent. They would wait until the Orchid Forest master made his move.

Were there no other sixth ranks stationed in Orchid Forest?

Of course there were!

But for the moment, only the wandering sixth rank had shown himself.

Their goal wasn’t Li Hao, but the Orchid Forest master. They wouldn’t reveal themselves before the world master appeared.

Take Sword Sovereign and Void, for example, they hadn’t shown themselves either.

There was only a fourth rank present on the surface, but that could hardly be the truth. If that was the case, Orchid Forest would’ve eradicated them a long time ago.

Li Hao took a look around. Lin Hongyu was still in seclusion, so of the nine exalted emperors present, five had ascended to third rank. Xun Ruo and Celestial Pole’s primary body were third ranks to begin with, so it wasn’t an advancement for them.

The ones who’d truly progressed were Panther, Gan Wuliang, and Hong Yitang. The Pagoda King, Cicada, and Celestial Pole’s replica were all second rank, and Mo was still a first rank.

The Orchid Forest dao universe...

Li Hao continuously turned over various ideas in his mind. It’d only been small scuffles thus far; all of this was an appetizer until Orchid Forest exalted emperors took the field.

“Is anyone willing to join Orchid Forest?” he suddenly transmitted after more consideration.

The group opened their eyes and looked at Li Hao. Join Orchid Forest?

The young man had mentioned it before, but... was he able to conceal them now?

“Not concealment, but outright joining them!” Li Hao continued. “You’ll truly integrate your great dao into their dao universe. If Orchid Forest completes the ascension to seventh rank, they’ll be able to help you finish your breakthrough!”

Surprised glances focused on the young man.

“You’ve already been baptized once, Pagoda King, and washed off the presence of core origin dao on you. Your dao isn’t too closely correlated with New Martial. If you become part of Orchid Forest, you’ll certainly rise to third rank as soon as they become seventh rank!”

The Pagoda King started to speak, then stopped.

“My thoughts are that since the Pagoda King, Cicada, and Mo are not third ranks, you guys can give it a try,” Li Hao suggested. “Joining the Orchid Forest dao universe might be a chance! As for the others, you are all third rank. Senior Celestial Pole’s replica doesn’t matter as much in comparison. In this regard, you guys will make out like bandits if Orchid Forest really does successfully ascend!

“This is a chance as well!

“Setting foot into seventh rank from sixth involves a display of the core nature of the dao universe. It will absorb endless chaos strength and quickly transmute it into dao strength. Crossing from low rank to mid rank is difficult, but rising a few ranks within low rank is not hard.”

“But we will be subject to the dao master’s control if we do this!” the Pagoda King couldn’t help but transmit.

There were two caveats to what Li Hao spoke of. First, that Orchid Forest could actually make the leap. And second, that the master of dao could not exercise jurisdiction over them.

“It’ll be fine!” Li Hao responded. “He won’t flex his muscles just to actually control you guys. We’re just borrowing a chicken to lay eggs! Of course, it won’t matter much to him if the others become third ranks. Third ranks aren’t worth much.

“In addition, I think there actually is a possibility for him to set foot into seventh rank!”

The others were surprised by the sudden assessment. What made the young man say that?

It was very hard for sixth ranks to set foot into seventh rank. Even though the Orchid Forest master possessed a dao universe, it had been damaged before. Cracks littered the world barrier now and those on the outside waited to pounce on the major world. Could it really advance to seventh rank?

“So my king means to say that the Orchid Forest master is hiding his capabilities even now?” transmitted the Pagoda King after some thought. “That he is confident of breaking through in reality?”

Perhaps he was doing so in order to lay more plans.

“That is just my speculation, that he wants to lure more sixth ranks to his world! Perhaps he wants to kill them to make it easier for the dao universe to ascend. Three of Orchid Forest’s barrier cracks have been erased today.

“Orchid Forest exalted emperors sit at five others, but make no move. Are they unable to close those fissures, or are they purposefully displaying weakness?

“Right now, the Orchid Forest world master gives one the feeling of being in recovery, and recovering swiftly at that. However, he will be hard pressed to set foot into seventh rank without recovering to his peak.” Here, Li Hao paused in thought. “There is one point to consider—he knows full well that there is a seventh rank behind me, but doesn’t ask anything. He hasn’t even mentioned it.

“Instead, he wants me to stay at Orchid Forest. He hasn’t thrown me out of the world. Neither has he done anything to me. This means that he wants me here to lure over more powerhouses.”

The Orchid Forest master had even given him a mid world. Although killing two fourth ranks could indeed fetch such a reward, there was a difference between a reward of two minor worlds and one mid world.

The latter would truly help Li Hao raise his cultivation, whereas the former wasn’t very useful to him.

The world master seemed to wish for Li Hao to improve as well, perhaps even refine a world. That would enable him to face sixth ranks by himself and prompt more powerhouses to attack him.

In actuality, what Orchid Forest needed at the moment was peace.

Someone like Li Hao who ought out trouble and killed vast sums of exalted emperors... was helping Orchid Forest, but in a radical way. If the world had wanted to bide its time, it wouldn’t have let Li Hao continue in this vein.

In fact, they could’ve played for more time had they captured Li Hao and given the young man to Red Moon.

As he ran through this line of thinking, Li Hao concluded that the world master had certain schemes in mind. He might be undertaking all this to hunt down more powerhouses and facilitate his breakthrough to seventh rank!

It would stabilize his cultivation level!

“If the three of you join Orchid Forest, you’ll ascend as well when the world master does,” Li Hao continued down his previous line of thinking. “Your daos aren’t that unique. Cicada and Mo were wandering cultivators to begin with. There shouldn’t be any trouble so long as you leave the dao river.”

Meanwhile, the Pagoda King’s concerns were do we have a chance to return to Silver Moon’s dao universe once we leave the dao river? I finally made up my mind to join you, but now you want us to leave...

What if Li Hao later told them to stay in Orchid Forest? Wouldn’t that be the greatest loss of all? What was Orchid Forest worth?? If this was his eventual outcome, it’d be better to stay in New Martial!

Cicada and Mo were highly apprehensive. They wanted to grow stronger, but also felt uneasy. Did Li Hao mean this, or was he testing them? He’d forcefully recruited them to begin with, wasn’t the young man worried of betrayal if they joined Orchid Forest?

Even if they didn’t turn on Li Hao, the young man might leave them behind all the same if his identity was exposed. Orchid Forest and New Martial shared a blood feud. Wouldn’t they be done for if they stayed behind?

“Everyone, don’t forget that we’re just wandering cultivators right now!” Li Hao suddenly said. “It’s normal for us to join any side. Even if my identity is exposed, all you need to do is insist on your ignorance. Will the world master kill you once you’re part of Orchid Forest?

“That’s one point. The other is that if there is a moment that calls for it, you can forgo your strength and break free of the dao universe. Your dao comprehension still exists and you don’t need that much energy.

“I wouldn’t be able to say the same for a seventh rank, but it’s very easy to help a low rank recover. Dao marks can be stored somewhere and Silver Moon’s dao universe will still be open to you!”

“Very well, I have no opinions!” The Pagoda King made up his mind after Li Hao’s latest explanations. This was just as well!

They would treat it as broadening their horizons. If it came down to it, he would just relinquish his energy. Just as Li Hao said, it would be a much bigger problem if a seventh rank gave up their strength. A seventh rank needed too much and the recovery process would be arduous.

However, they were just low ranks. They simply needed a few million dao crystals to recover. So... there wasn’t much to it!

Cicada and Mo were immensely worried, but at least they would have the Pagoda King keeping them company.

“We are willing too!” they transmitted after momentary hesitation.

They’d joined Silver Moon as wandering cultivators and were now leaving it to join Orchid Forest. To be honest, this was a wondrous opportunity for them!

They were becoming part of a major world!

How would first or second rank wandering cultivators like them ever have such an opportunity?

Unease flared in their hearts again when they thought of Li Hao. Silver Moon was not bad, truth be told, and it bore great potential. Perhaps there would be more potential to be had with Silver Moon than with joining Orchid Forest.

While Li Hao said that the Orchid Forest master could become a seventh rank, so what of it? The young man and his people had jointly killed a seventh rank before this!

“Don’t worry, everyone,” smiled the young man. “I will be sure to welcome you back as well. If you are unable to... it wouldn’t be a loss to you either. But if you can return smoothly, it won’t be long until all of you are third ranks.”

As for whether or not they could retreat from Orchid Forest fully stocked with energy, that would depend on the events to come. If everything was a success, then all those beneath Li Hao’s banner would be a third rank.

That would ensure the success of Silver Moon’s plan to borrow a chicken to lay eggs. Li Hao won’t need to send anyone else then.

......

Heaven Rite appeared a short while later; he was followed by a heavyweight. Li Hao’s eyes widened—so strong!

Sixth rank!

This must be the other sixth rank that the Orchid Forest master had spoken of. Yan Fang?

Li Hao hastily rose to his feet with a large smile. “Greetings to the senior!”

The man looked back at him with an amiable look.