A variety of great dao could be found in Desolate major world. While it was not yet officially a seventh rank world, its world master could sense the germination of more daos. A true breakthrough might occur in a few more years. That would also propel the world master to seventh rank!

Only 11 seventh rank worlds had been born among the chaos beasts after one million years, apart from Dragon. That meant approximately one world every one hundred thousand years. The Desolate master’s greatest wish was for its world to become the twelve, which would make it the thirteenth major world.

The neighboring Earth Dragon world master seemed to have set foot into seventh rank, but that was only the world master. That didn’t mean its world was a seventh rank major world. So what if that guy was a seventh rank?

Just because you’re a seventh rank doesn’t mean that your world will improve faster than mine! Once my world makes the breakthrough, my status will definitely be higher than yours!

The Desolate master was quite happy that Dragon major world had left. The overlord’s departure meant that the nearby chaos strength surged toward his world instead. The world seemed much more lively in recent days. Without Dragon absorbing the chaos strength, the energy in the surroundings grew much denser.

Of course, the Desolate master kept one thing in mind. Prior to the Dragon master’s departure, he sent secret orders to the stronger worlds around him that they were to keep an eye on Thunder World.

That world might stir to action in the absence of the region’s overlord. It might choose to leave or even enter this sphere of influence to seize resources. The Thunder master was very strong!

Hence, they needed to be careful, but didn’t need to worry too much. If Thunder World really did appear, then the sleeping Earth Dragon major world would make a move.

The Earth Dragon master was lying in wait for the Thunder master. Anyone who saw Thunder world just needed to keep them preoccupied. Someone would come along soon to take care of him.

The Desolate master was in charge of controlling the flow of dao crystals. Not a single piece was permitted to reach Thunder World. Everyone knew that that world lacked dao crystals! So long as the chaos beasts maintained a tight grip on the supply, the Thunder master wouldn’t be able to do anything even if he came in person.

The worlds surrounding Dragon major world had gradually formed a comprehensive defensive system after many years of dependence on Dragon. It wouldn’t be that easy for enemies to breach the walls of the sixth rank worlds!

......

At the same time, within the darkness.

Faint thunder boomed and lightning shimmered in the gloom. Someone stood in the void and frowned with some heaviness. The Thunder master!

Indeed, he’d ventured off his world. There was no other option. Phoenix major world had intercepted all of the dao crystals as of late. Thunder World could not hold on any longer without replenishment.

What was even more damning was that there’d been some reserves on his world, but recently, an exalted emperor that he trusted more than the rest had turned traitor and destroyed them!

“Phoenix... the Dragon master...” the Thunder master muttered coldly. He knew that he was nearing the end of the road. These guys had increased their persecution of him and his world lately. It was no longer a conspiracy conducted from the shadows, but an openly declared plot!

How are you going to choose, Thunder master? Are you going to set foot off your world or not? Where can you go once you venture out?

If you want to seize some dao crystals, you might make a move to your detriment!

He knew that, but there was no further course of action available. He couldn’t go anywhere but Dragon’s sphere of influence. It seemed to be the safest thus far. At the same time, he knew full well how terrifying the Dragon master was. Was his territory really safe?

Look at all of these sparkling worlds around me, they’re all sixth rank worlds!

I might be able to collect a lot of dao crystals if I break one of their defenses. But... that would also lead to my quick exposure. I’ll be mobbed on all sides. Plus, it’s not like there will be deep reserves on a sixth rank world. There might be even less since they know I’m in desperate need.

The Thunder master did not know how to proceed. What should I do? I won’t be able to conquer a seventh rank world in a short period of time, so I can only target the sixth rank worlds.

But...

Internal conflict set in.

Those sixth rank worlds don’t seem like a safe bet. Do I need to head even further out and go after the weaker worlds? But even if I travel really fast and sweep through one a day... Even if my actions go wholly unnoticed or untracked, how many worlds will I need to scavenge through before I collect enough dao crystals for a seventh rank world?

No one had noticed his departure yet. Once they did, they might quickly surround his world. Hence, he had to obtain the biggest harvest in the shortest amount of time possible and quickly return to Thunder World.

He couldn’t stay outside for too long.

He didn’t even dare call upon his dao universe here, just in case a powerhouse sensed it. There would be even more trouble if anyone learned that he’d left his world.

As the Thunder master struggled with which sixth rank world might be the richest, he suddenly frowned and looked in a certain direction. There seemed... to be another chaos beast rushing over.

Its presence was a bit complicated!

He peered in the relevant direction, but couldn’t see things clearly. Who would come here at a time like this? Randomly moving their world when the Dragon master was absent meant disrupting the layout of the entire region. Weren’t they afraid of being killed by Dragon powerhouses for it?

......

In the distance.

Panther continued to steer Silver Moon, but with an additional cat by its side. Number Two!

Number Two directed a sixth rank world. The two swiftly drew closer to Desolate major world.

Void suddenly opened his eyes, as did Li Hao scan the premises. He extended his consciousness to probe around them.

“Do you sense it too?” Void transmitted after a while of searching.

“Yep,” Li Hao nodded. “There seems to be a powerhouse scanning us...”

Void’s brows knitted together. A seventh rank? So there was a seventh rank nearby?

He was very sensitive when it came to detecting other seventh ranks because his own cultivation level had reached seventh rank. Eighth ranks were harder to detect, but he could easily sense another seventh rank’s attention.

Li Hao’s cultivation level wasn’t that far off either, due to the convergence of a myriad daos on him. He was strong and possessed a deep understanding of great dao. His mastery of great dao spanned a variety of paths, so it was very easy for him to identify that someone was probing him.

The offender should be a seventh rank, not an eighth rank!

“There’s no dao universe presence... let’s pretend to not know anything. Ling Yue, emanate some power of faith. If Dragon major world has any seventh ranks left, we can lure them out of hiding and take them down!

“Everyone, be ready for battle. A seventh rank may be nearby. Who would’ve thought that we’d encounter such a big fish as soon as we arrived! If they really have their eye set on us... we’ll take them instead!”

A seventh rank! But Li Hao and Void were wholly unafraid.

Coming across a seventh rank now did rearrange their plans some, but if it was a seventh rank, then they might be a nice windfall! If they were a master of a major world as well, then even a dao universe was up for grabs!

A vicious light entered Li Hao’s eyes. What a coincidence, huh? The chaos is so huge, but I run into a potential target as soon as we get close?

Is this possible?

“Panth, Number Two, move toward an uninhabited area. Lure them there. Brother Void, be ready with the world of emptiness. It’s best if we can kill them silently!”

“Got it!”

Instead of being overwhelmed by the thought of a high rank opponent, the group of mid ranks was discussing how to quickly kill the other. They even wanted to do so silently so that no one else would be aware!

The star of time manifested in Li Hao’s hand. Since they were going to kill a seventh rank... this was not a drill. They needed to bring everything to bear and swiftly end the battle. He would need to use the power of time!

...... 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Within the darkness.

The Thunder master had simply observed at first, but blinked when he sensed a hint of faith.

The power of faith? Human faith? Huh?

Confusion brewed, as did suspicion. This was strange. How could human power of faith exist within the sphere of Dragon influence? Could it be faith from chaos beasts?

The Thunder master was aware of the bounty for a first rank human exalted emperor of faith. The chaos beasts were searching for a newly ascended human. However, his senses told him that two chaos beasts were up ahead. One was fifth ranked and the other was... sixth rank?

Their presences were a bit disorderly, which somehow threw off his perception as a seventh rank. They also weren’t too blatant and barely registered to his senses.

The two chaos beasts seemed to have changed direction and were flying toward an uninhabited area. Did they seek to put down roots where no one else was around?

The Thunder master raised an eyebrow. That is perfect. The sixth rank worlds in the area were all clustered together. It was hard for him to make a move; it might alert his enemies ahead of time. But there seemed to be new arrivals in the area, and with worlds of their own!

Even though it was more than likely a fifth rank world, the other one was possibly a sixth rank world!

“Since they’re traveling together, I might not cause that much of a disturbance if I kill the two of them together. If I do that, I’ll have two more worlds in my haul!”

Although the Thunder master was heavily tempted, he was also worried this was a trap. Could such a plum opportunity really fall into his lap like this? For two chaos beasts to pop out at a time like this?

And what was with that power of faith?

He was perplexed, but he chased after them nonetheless. Killing intent shone out of his eyes. Perhaps I should take a risk or two. My world won’t be able to hold on if I don’t!

He needed to try, even if this was a trap. Since he hadn’t sensed any seventh rank presences, there shouldn’t be any around.

......

“Is it following us?” Li Hao asked. Although his senses were sharp, they were slightly less than Void’s.

His friend quietly extended his mind and nodded after a long moment. “It is. There’s a presence of life following us!”

Since he was of the dao of life and death, as well as emptiness and revitalization, he could sense any ripples of life near him.

Li Hao could as well, but his singular daos weren’t as strong as Void’s.

The young man took a deep breath; a vicious look entered his eyes. “We must cover our presences well in a moment, or we’ll attract even more attention once the fighting starts!

“We’ll hit it with our full strength from the start. The two dao masters will combine ahead of time. I’ll throw time over the two of you once that’s complete. We must be vigilant against a seventh rank and use our strongest moves from the very beginning!”

The exalted emperors within Silver Moon were both excited and nervous. Two rivers of dao were already visible. Exalted emperors entered their respective branches of the river to keep them under control as the two rivers twined together as one.

Time circulated slowly in Li Hao’s hand. They needed to be vigilant once they entered the core area to fight the seventh rank. He was ready to unleash everything in his arsenal and hold nothing back!

Void took a deep breath as well, ready to obliterate the target on sight.