Rat World.

The star of time pulsed and materialized an illusory river. A surge of consciousness streamed out of it.

Director General Zhao soon received word to notify all nearby Silver Moon exalted emperors to gather at a specific spot. They needed to exercise utmost prudence and caution as it was extremely close to Dragon major world’s sphere of influence.

“Damn, the kid’s got balls!” The director general sucked in a sharp breath when he looked at the map. It’s more like he’s right on Dragon’s doorstep! He’s crazy!

And how did he get himself installed there? Why is it so simple? Is no one keeping an eye on things? They’re letting a stranger squat at their door, just like that?

He’s in between Dragon and Phoenix major world. Li Hao really does know how to pick spots for setting up shop! They’re flanking him!

If he’s exposed, he’ll be dead before the Human King can save him!

Director General Zhao marveled at the young man’s move, but also acknowledged that Silver Moon would not have reached fifth rank so quickly if Li Hao hadn’t always been so bold. If they could really find their footing here...

Silver Moon would soon reach sixth rank, wouldn’t it?

As for Li Hao himself, he might be able to set foot into sixth rank himself. He dared to kill seventh ranks as a fifth rank—although he’d fallen short of doing the deed, he might be able to actually do so when he reached sixth rank!

......

To the east of Phoenix major world, in the vast and unbounded chaos.

Although they made fast time and shifted the void as they traveled, Li Hao and Phoenix Mountain took more than ten days to reach their destination. They were mid ranks—low ranks would likely require more than a month.

Apart from the Phoenix world master who could swiftly travel anywhere through stretching her dao universe, anyone else would need at least six days to arrive at Li Hao’s new territory. Even Feng Yan would have to undergo the same travel time.

That was close in the grand pictures of the chaos, but to Li Hao, the battle would be over in that period of time.

And of course, there was nothing anyone could do to stop a seventh rank from coming. But if they came without their world... then Li Hao might even be able to get something out of it. He wouldn’t be that concerned, in that case.

When they reached an uninhabited spot that didn’t have too much energy in it, Li Hao stopped with a chuckle.

“This is it. I’m going to put Black Dog World here! Brother Phoenix Mountain can pass on the word to the other worlds. In addition, give them an invite from me. I’m going to host all of the exalted emperors in Black Dog Region in half a month!

“Time is of the essence, everyone needs to try their hardest to get here!”

Phoenix Mountain opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. Why invite humiliation?

“Ah right, I forgot to say that I will officially absorb the sixth rank world after half a month,” Li Hao laughed. “If they come, they might be able to share the wealth. Some world strength will spread through the surroundings when a sixth rank world is refined. It’s nothing to a fifth or sixth rank, but useful to others!”

Phoenix Mountain’s jaw dropped. You’re really generous, huh!

“Forgive me my frankness, Fellow Daoist Black Dog. Are you... looking to form your own faction here?” Phoenix Mountain was confused. This was clearly laying the foundation for his own enterprise!

“After wandering around for so many years, I know how miserable existence is without territory of my own!” Li Hao threw his head back with laughter. “If Dragon Region conquers the world, then Phoenix’s territory will greatly expand as well. If I accomplish some deeds of merit then and have a faction of my own... won’t that be a very normal outcome?

“I want to make it to seventh rank, who doesn’t? We don’t have dao universes, so we have to see if we can get one through expanding our territory...”

What a hotly ambitious guy! Not bad at all!

“Very well,” Phoenix Mountain smiled. “It would’ve been very hard to invite them, but since Fellow Daoist Black Dog wishes to refine a sixth rank world, then many powerhouses might come to observe. I’ll be heading back after I deliver the message, so I’m afraid I’ll be missing out on this opportunity...”

“That’s nothing,” chuckled Li Hao. “Would Brother Phoenix Mountain care about these things? If I were the exalted emperor of a major world and was supported by a dao universe, I’d have endless pure dao strength to pull from. I wouldn’t look twice at a mid world!”

“That’s not what I mean, I don’t look down on anything. It’s just that I’ve been a bit busy lately.”

The two had gotten to know each other along the way, and Phoenix Mountain showed face to a fifth rank.

“I really don’t mean to turn down the fellow daoist’s invitation, but the dao master has given orders that all phoenixes are to return to our home world as quickly as possible!”

“That harsh?” Li Hao asked with bafflement and pretended indifference. “You can’t even go out for a spin...”

“It’s not that we can’t and it usually doesn’t matter what we do. There must be something big happening lately...” explained Phoenix Mountain, since it wasn’t a big deal to him. “Apparently there’s been some movement in Thunder World, the human seventh rank major world. Perhaps we’re doing something to prevent unrest...

“Whatever it is, I’m unaware of the specifics. But Brother Black Dog has just joined us, so even if there is something at hand, the fellow daoist will not be bothered for it. You will have some more time to yourself, not like us—we have to run around on official business!”

“That’s good!” Li Hao roared with laughter. “I don’t have time to enjoy life either. I’m here to cultivate!”

Is Phoenix about to march on Thunder World? But Thunder’s near the Thunder Region and takes shelter in it at the drop of a hat. Not even the Dragon master could take it down, so why does Phoenix think it can do the deed?

Plus, with Dragon potentially leaving...

Leaving?

Ah. Once Dragon leaves, then...

Leave?

That’s right, Thunder World will surely relax some of their guard once Dragon major world is no longer in the region.

Li Hao swiftly ran through some possibilities. Were they all connected to each other? The only entity that a seventh rank major world feared was an eighth rank major world.

Once Dragon major world left, Thunder would surely loosen some of its high vigilance over the years. If Phoenix locates them at this time and attacks... Perhaps that might be the end of the human world that’d stood in the Dragon Region for so many years.

Even if only one world set their sights on them, the others in the vicinity might come and help. By then, it wouldn’t seem too difficult to conquer Thunder World.

This world would’ve reacted to the slightest breeze in the chaos prior to this. Would they still do the same after Dragon’s departure?

Most possibly!

Phoenix Mountain didn’t disclose too much since he might not know the details either. But Li Hao gave it some thought and felt that Dragon might join the war in Blazing Sun Region. Things would be... very interesting, in that case.

Phoenix might also follow their liege with all of their powerhouse as well. If that’s the case... Dragon’s gone, Phoenix would be gone with their big guys too. Then...

Doesn't that mean I'm the boss in this region?

Li Hao realized with a start. Would this come to pass?

Phoenix Mountain had been in such a rush to get back, but it would take him at least ten days to make the trip. He wouldn’t even stay to partake in a sixth rank world’s dao. It looked like Phoenix might mobilize in the near future.

And before that... Dragon major world was sure to move out first.

So it’s set in stone then?

Li Hao looked into the distance, seeing where Dragon’s sphere of influence started. That border was very far away from Dragon major world.

Is the Dragon master going to take his world to the battlefield?

......

At the same time, Dragon major world.

The Dragon master looked down from his throne in a gilded, opulent hall. He was magnificent and dignified, but lacked a few hints of impulse bloodthirstiness upon closer glance. He was more calm than one might expect.

He scanned the hall; powerhouses were arrayed beneath him. Dragon major world publicly proclaimed to have only fourth seventh ranks, the same as the other eighth rank major worlds. This was also the number that regular eighth rank worlds could support.

But there was one special feature about chaos beasts—they didn’t need a dao universe to set foot into seventh rank!

Hence, there were more seventh ranks gathered here than the outside world knew about.

Apart from four dragon seventh ranks, which excluded the one on Phoenix major world, there were also some from other races. There were eight seats beneath the Dragon master!

That meant there were four other seventh ranks of other races that the outside world did not know about!

That was the true basis of Dragon major world’s ability to dominate its region. If counting the one at Phoenix, it had nine seventh ranks under its banner. That was utterly terrifying!

It was the equivalent of two eighth rank worlds, and this wasn’t even counting those such as the Phoenix master who had completely thrown in their lot with the Dragon master.

There were only nine powerhouses present. Those weaker than high rank were not qualified to attend.

“Blazing Sun, Skycloud, Red Moon, and Light all have their eyes set on us,” said the Dragon master after a while. “They cannot rest at ease and fully commit to the fight unless we’re part of it!

“It’s said that Blazing Sun is even colluding with some outsiders beyond the four regions!” he sniffed derisively. “New Martial has already clashed violently with Blazing Sun. After Silver Moon withdrew from Skyward, Skyward has also been rocked with unrest.

“Apparently those guys who laid hands on the Skyward dao stars have been able to poke them into revitalizing...

“Dragon Region cannot sit by while all of this takes place! They think that we’re watching tigers fight in the mountains, they could not be more mistaken!” chuckled the Dragon master. “I’m just worried that they’ll join hands against us, which is why I do not make a move.

“All of them have erupted in open hostilities with each other and Red Moon is no longer a concern. If we can ally with some of them to eliminate Light first, then New Martial... The four regions might be united as one Dragon Region in the end!”

“Everyone, the opportunity for chaos beasts is at hand!” he declared coldly. “Within the chaos universe, it is chaos beasts that are the local inhabitants! We are born of the chaos and live in the chaos, but somehow, the chaos becomes human territory in the end. These newly born worlds are tumors that fester throughout our universe...

“And we chaos beasts are reduced to wandering, homeless like beggars. We dare not stay in any place! Do you know why that is?”

“It is because we lack a ninth rank!” someone answered from below. Humans had once produced a ninth rank, and more than one. That was the key!

Their strength was less than others

Chaos beasts were uniquely favored and found it easier to set foot into seventh rank than humans, but almost none of them ever made it to ninth rank. Ninth rank made one a true overlord of the chaos!