Li Hao listened to his friend’s recounting and concluded, “Brother Void, we may be in over our heads!”

Void nodded with a sigh. I feel the same way. I’d felt before that chaos beasts were vulgar, crude, and brainless brutes that only knew to engage in violence. I thought we could easily kill a seventh rank through a simple scheme or lure them into chasing us out of their world. They’re sitting ducks for us no matter what we want to do!

But now... I don’t think so anymore. We overestimated ourselves.

Li Hao constantly rubbed his temples as well. This trip had been well worth it. He’d been starting to belittle everyone else in existence after successfully ambushing the four major worlds. He’d found the Red Moon master lacking, so felt that plotting against a bumpkin like the Dragon master would be a piece of cake.

Now he realized that he’d nearly been the death of himself.

A random human cultivator in Phoenix City was far more than met the eye. Although their conversation had been short, the other had revealed a great deal.

For example, he’d known that Panther was a wandering cultivator that’d possibly been to the other three regions. This might be information from Phoenix heavyweights, or a fact that the human had noted himself.

No matter what the reason was, it pointed to a surprisingly complex situation.

The only other possibility was that the human knew all of the mid rank chaos beasts in the universe. How else could the human have determined that Panther wasn’t a Dragon Region local?

Meanwhile, two chaos beasts walking toward him were deep in hushed conversation.

“Blazing Sun Region is apparently an utter mess these days as New Martial has declared war on Blazing Sun major world. I wonder if our region’s going to get involved as well? That Human King of theirs is only seventh rank. The Dragon master can kill him with one slap! ...should we go and see if there are any pickings to be had?”

“Do you want to die?”

“Why? Do you not trust the Dragon master? Dragon major world seems to be recruiting powerhouses lately—I strongly suspect that they’re doing so to prepare for New Martial. Shall we go try our luck?”

“At Dragon major world?”

“We don’t need to travel that far, there’s an enlistment spot at Phoenix City. If the two of us go together, we’ll be able to devour any world in that region. It’s complete pandemonium there right now, no one’s maintaining order. The Blazing Sun master can’t even save himself, much less others!”

“That’d be nice... this is indeed a rare opportunity. Then let’s go take a look and see if we can also become acquainted with the big names of Dragon major world...”

The two chaos beasts were third ranks in human form. Their voices trailed off as they walked further away from Li Hao. The young man was intrigued by their discussion. Had New Martial formally declared war on Blazing Sun? 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

He was neither aware of this development, nor that Dragon major world had set up recruiting stations on other worlds. Was this a precursor to their official participation?

That would be good!

Well, not necessarily for New Martial, but for himself. He wanted to approach them to ask for more details, but cut off that train of thought. He looked at Void instead.

“New Martial is the most bloodthirsty, alright,” the man transmitted when he registered his friend’s gaze. “It looks like they’re already fighting. Do you think we’ll be able to make our way into Dragon major world’s recruitment efforts and find a good time to stab them in the back?”

“You want to infiltrate their ranks?” Li Hao frowned at Void. “It’s not a bad idea if we have nothing else to do. We’re basically on the same side as New Martial and partnered with the Sword Sovereign before...”

Anyone in cahoots with New Martial would find their interest piqued by these topics. If they had nothing else to do and really did join the army against New Martial, they’d benefit from the participation and possibly flank Dragon Region with New Martial at a critical moment.

They would even be able to keep an eye on Dragon major world’s movements and location. If the Dragon master was to participate in the battlefield, then they could offer even more help.

However...

Li Hao furrowed his brows, unable to voice what was off about this situation. He just suddenly felt like New Martial was everywhere after eavesdropping on that conversation. Would low ranks really pay attention to the powerful Human King? New Martial was suddenly anywhere and everywhere to be found!

One had to recall that even among the three regions, typical low ranks didn’t care about the clashes between powerful worlds. They could not participate in such efforts and there were no rewards for them.

The only potential outcome was that they lost their lives in the fighting!

Panther walked forward since Li Hao did not say a word. A small crowd was gathered in the clearing ahead. Some monster spirits and chaos beasts that remained in their real forms could be glimpsed, but they’d vastly shrank themselves from their true size.

They were clustered in front of a shop.

Li Hao was curious, so he commanded Panther to walk forward. The dog squeezed its way to the front thanks to its bulk and cultivation strength. The heavyweights in the crowd didn’t dare stand in the way of a fifth rank.

And so, a group of exalted emperors were clustered in front of a door like a group of mundanes. Li Hao finally managed to see some words imprinted in front of the doors.

“Powerhouses near Dragon Region have recently discovered an unusual monster spirit that is gold all over, bearing a single horn, and possesses the dao of devouring. It is spotted with a leopard print and is between third and fourth rank.

“We are willing to offer a high price for the purchase of said monster spirit—one fifth rank mid world, one hundred million dao crystals, and one hundred seventh rank fire dao foundation crystals...”

The price was ludicrously high. No third or fourth rank was worth it. Just one fifth rank mid world alone was sufficient payment, and that was assuming that the target was a fourth rank. If not, not even a fifth rank world was required!

No wonder there were so many people gathered here!

Anyone with a bit of strength to their name would be tempted by the transaction, particularly by the dao foundation crystals. Only seventh ranks owned those—they were priceless.

Li Hao didn’t immediately react. Void marveled at how rich chaos beasts were, whereas Panther looked around with confusion. It didn’t think more on the matter, however. Since Li Hao hadn’t said a word, then it had even less of an opinion.

It was just... this description seemed a bit familiar.

Li Hao returned to his senses. He blinked and transmitted, “Are they talking about... a serpent-dragon?”

The Monster Spirit Envoy! Panther’s ancestor?

And the Heavenly Dog was the Monster Spirit Envoy’s ancestor, which made the ancestor of Panth’s ancestor.

Somehow, this description matched the serpent-dragon he’d seen when traveling through New Martial. Panther had also once formed the appearance of a serpent-dragon.

Li Hao blinked from the new information. So this creature was close to Dragon Region?

He was aware that New Martial’s powerhouses liked to roam around, but the serpent-dragon wasn’t that strong. Based on descriptions, it might be third rank at best. It hadn’t even been an exalted emperor back in the day, so it was impressive for it to be a third rank now.

What was it doing in the vicinity?

Li Hao looked at Void with a frown. “It seems to be the New Martial Monster Spirit Envoy!”

“Here??” Void paused. “Then they’re in trouble. Someone’s putting a very high bounty on its head. It’s done for as soon as its whereabouts are discovered...”

“This isn’t looking right. Have we caught someone’s eye?” Li Hao said after a prolonged pause. “We’ve just entered the city, but it feels like New Martial is everywhere we go. They’re either marching against the faction or putting a bounty on the Monster Spirit envoy’s head...”

The young man frowned, truly suspecting their circumstances now. Had something gone wrong with their disguise?

Surely not.

Or was this a typical probing of unknown faces? But didn’t Phoenix major world have too much time on their hands if they treated all newcomers this way?

Association with New Martial...

The Monster Spirit Envoy!

Li Hao smacked his forehead with dejection. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I know! The dog!”

They didn’t suspect Panth was the Heavenly Dog, did they?

The Heavenly Dog was so strong that it could journey the four corners of the chaos; Li Hao hadn’t paid much attention to this detail. However, he realized with a start. Even I didn’t know that Heavenly Dog had left the New Martial contingent, yet Phoenix major world reacted as soon as Panth entered the city. They promptly arranged a series of tests...

Ah...

Devouring targets, thunder and lightning were the practiced skills of the Monster Spirit Envoy. The Heavenly Dog had picked up the dao of devouring, whereas thunder and lightning were an innate ability. Whoever had a bounty on their heads was an unknown New Martial exalted emperor to Li Hao. Had Phoenix major world really discovered the Monster Spirit Envoy or could track its movements?

The envoy’s abilities were not a secret within New Martial, but New Martial as a whole was a mystery to the chaos. Apart from its premier heavyweights being known to all, the remainder recognized by the public were infamous personages such as Celestial Pole and the Pagoda King.

The Monster Spirit Envoy was neither here nor there and couldn’t be considered famous!

“Brother Void, we may be in big trouble now!” The walls were closing in on Li Hao. He’d simply had Panther take the form of a dog, yet that alone was sufficient to inspire Phoenix major world to think of the Heavenly Dog.

The world had arranged a series of tests after that. It was clear to see that all of this was feasible only through the master of the land—the world master.

So this means that someone’s keeping us under watch.

A seventh rank was surveilling them. Damn it, had he known, he would’ve told Panth to take another form. Even a cow would’ve been better.

This was a miscalculation on his part!

Of course, it was easier for Panther to keep up the guise of a dog because it was one. Many holes might develop if it was a cow instead, which might make their situation more dangerous.

“Now this is interesting!” Li Hao quickly transmitted to Panther. “Did we tell that phoenix at the gate that we wanted to join Dragon major world?”

Panther waved its tail. They... did seem to have said so.

The young man frowned. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so indifferent when the other mentioned joining Phoenix major world. It was a stepping stone to Dragon, after all.

It’s damned if I do and damned if I don’t...

Void had come back to his senses as well. He’d been passively taking in things before, but now realized what the problem was.

“Have we been made?”

“Possibly.”

“This is very troublesome. It’s hard for us to immediately grasp anything about an unfamiliar exalted emperor that enters Light. Phoenix really has an impressive intelligence network to target us so quickly.

“They also know a lot about New Martial, but that faction hasn’t been active in the chaos for long. They really only made their name in the last fifty years, and that was because they started a war with Red Moon...”

Li Hao nodded, that was right. Just fifty years. Yet a seventh rank major world had swiftly laid hands on information about New Martial’s lesser known exalted emperors. This was remarkable, given that some time was needed for information to be conveyed.

It meant that they’d always had their eyes on New Martial.

Where did they get such boldness from?

Dragon major world, probably.