Star Gate-Chapter 1522: Peace of Mind (I)

“Hao Moon’s certainly something, huh? That Exalted Void Emperor is said to keep to himself in Dragon Observatory, but now it seems that the rumors are over exaggerated! Look at him, personally sending one of their initial ranks off. That’s a deep friendship!”

“It’s a deep friendship, but it also means trouble for us. That Hao Moon is a newly risen exalted emperor. If anything happens to him... will we be able to go back to Skyward?” someone else fretted.

Indeed, they probably wouldn’t be able to go back to the major world if that little boy toy died on this trip. Look at Void personally seeing him off! He also wanted to intimidate them, didn’t he??

This misunderstanding ran deep. Void had no intentions of cowing the group, yet that was what his actions meant to outsiders. Even the fourth rank sweated profusely.

I’m definitely not coming back to Skyward if that newbie gets taken out. I’ll be executed before I even see one of the gates!

This was so troublesome!

Fourth rank emperors couldn’t travel too far in the chaos. Skyward Region, Red Moon Region, and a few other nearby regions were the limit of their range. Void was a fifth rank; the group leader was a fourth rank. He was absolutely no match for Void.

What a headache this was! He’d gotten the equivalent of a good-for-nothing dandy shoved into the group. A newly risen exalted emperor was no powerhouse.

He couldn’t help but look at Mo within the crowd. She was the reason why this headache was with them!

......

In the rear.

Void didn’t say anything; he handed a storage ring to Li Hao. The young man shoved it into his body without taking a look at it. The internal workings of an exalted emperor formed their own space. They didn’t need storage rings, but neither could they just fish out everything from their body to conduct a transaction in public view.

“The chaos is vast, but also very small!” Void smiled at Li Hao. “You and I are not ones to confine ourselves in a box. We are destined to journey the universe, so it is only a matter of time before we encounter each other again! I hope that both of us will have improved the next time I see the fellow daoist!”

“I hope for the fellow daoist to set foot into peak sixth rank as soon as possible.” Li Hao nodded back at the man. “As difficult as seventh rank may be, there is a chance yet. Skyward is such a chance and your opportunity may be here. Mine... may be as well!”

“Skyward is indeed a land of treasure!” Void nodded. “This is where a ninth rank attained his dao! It is extraordinary and countless masters of major worlds have their eyes on it. They are just unable to peer into its true nature. It is only a matter of time before this place becomes a land of contention between the four regions!”

Red Moon Region might be where all the disturbances were these days, but Void felt that it was Skyward that would become the heart of disruption one day. There was a ninth rank here—the only one ever recorded in history.

“Let’s put a pin in it!” Void raised his hands in a cupped fist salute. “Swift winds at your back, fellow daoist!”

“My thanks!” Li Hao offered the same salute back and waved the brand of a chessboard into the air. It floated over to Void’s hands.

The man turned around and left without a word, then abruptly looked back at the fourth rank. “Hao Moon is a very good friend of mine. I had no intention of issuing any warnings, but since I’m here, I will leave you with this.

“Do not antagonize my friend. Otherwise, do not let me encounter you within Skyward Region!”

The fourth rank ranked at the words. You’re a fifth rank, I’m a fourth rank. Do you really think that I’m afraid of you? This kind of threat... doesn’t sit well with me!

“I am the son of light. My father is the master of Light!” [1]Void smiled meaningfully. He was gone.

Another fifth rank exalted emperor materialized in the darkness, blazing with the power of light. He looked at the group, stern killing intent in his eyes!

The premises were deathly quiet; the fourth rank was frozen with shock!

Who??

The son of light? Light major world?! LIGHT?? What is he doing here?! Oh my heavens!

Li Hao also blinked, then quickly addressed the fourth rank. “My apologies, please don’t mind it, senior. My friend... means no harm.”

It took a while before the stiff expression on the fourth rank’s face cracked. He said sheepishly, “It’s fine... so he’s the notable highness of Light... I... hadn’t thought that he’d be the one... That he’d be here... This really is...”

He had no idea what he was saying. Holy fuck! The master of Light was an eighth rank! Fuckity fuck fuck! Why am I so unlucky??

He might’ve been wary of the fifth rank Void, but not all that afraid. But an eighth rank master of Light... There were only two eighth rank major worlds in Skyward region—Light and Skycloud.

Eighth rank! Who could afford to provoke that level of character? In any case, he couldn’t since he was only a fourth rank!

And the main point is, you’re the son of light, so what the hell are you doing cultivating darkness?! Have you turned traitor to your world??

Whatever!

The fourth rank knew that betrayal was impossible. The situation was so complicated that he couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Void was a fifth rank, so he wouldn’t have voiced falsehoods. He wouldn’t dare do so. Not to mention, another Light fifth rank had appeared, clearly to verify Void’s words and to intimidate those who would do him harm.

Skyward was a place of many mouths and even more gossip. If anyone pretended to be someone they were not, they would certainly draw the attention of a Skyward high rank within a month. No one would pose as another, not unless they wished to die!

Only fools would borrow another identity.

There was more than one high rank exalted emperor within Light. Its neighbor Red Moon world was on a similar footing in terms of strength, but Light had multiple high ranks.

The group regarded Li Hao in a different light after that interlude. Where there had been envy and jealousy before was now tinged with fear, apprehension, unease, and resignation. They hadn’t been concerned about the wrath of a fifth rank when considering the possibility of Li Hao dying.

But now?

Heavens above. They would be persona non grata in the nearby four regions if Hao Moon died. None of the nearby regions would be safe once Skyward high ranks mobilized.

This was Void’s repayment of Li Hao’s favor. He knew that the young man wasn’t afraid of fourth ranks, but being able to bypass some trouble was always for the best. His words hadn’t just been aimed at those in the group, but also those lurking in the shadows.

Did this group out to kill New Martial powerhouses really not have anyone following them from the dark?

That was hard to say!

While Void hadn’t detected anyone, that didn’t mean they didn’t exist.

In that case, I’ll tell you who I am and see if you can afford to provoke me.

......

Whether or not there were others in the shadows, an exalted emperor near the southern gate jerked with surprise. Within Dragon Observatory, the leader stared wordlessly at the air before cursing under his breath. So it really was him!

Fuck! This will be hard to take care of!

Given his smooth personality, he would’ve curried some favor with Void upon finding out the latter’s identity. It didn’t matter even if he embarrassed himself doing it. The key was, his backers of Skycloud had been fighting Light to be overlord of Skyward Region. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Although they hadn’t dissolved into open warfare like New Martial and Red Moon, reactions between the two worlds weren’t that warm either.

The Dragon Observatory leader was a chaos wanderer in name; that was his cover. It would be such a hassle to cozy up to Void. The faction leader heaved a sigh of resignation. Forget it, I can’t afford to irritate him. I’ll just treat him as my most honored guest!

I knew that the guy was more than met the eye! Thank goodness I was polite before and didn’t offend him. But for the crown prince of Light to not cultivate the dao of light... No wonder they say that this son of light is an eccentric character who almost drove his old man into coughing up blood out of anger!

There was no helping it. The master of Light was so strong that it was very difficult to have descendants. He only had one son. Even if that son rebelled... there was nothing he could do but grin and bear it.

Thankfully, the lifespan of an eighth rank was unlimited. He wouldn’t be dying anytime soon. Otherwise, who would go willingly into the night with such a worrying successor?

......

Outside the southern gate.

One person in particular sank to his knees and prostrated himself when he saw Li Hao and the others leave. He was facing the young man and didn’t mind if Li Hao saw his actions or not. Who knew if they would see each other again after this farewell? But he knew that whether or not he could reach the exalted emperor level would all have to do with this one.

Big Claw felt that his cultivation had improved immensely in recent times. The cultivation level that’d seemed so unspeakably far away in the past now seemed to hover in sight.

Reaching exalted emperor is such a difficult proposition! Yet I, Big Claw, have a chance to feast my eyes upon the wonders of this level.

Everything had started one year ago when he welcomed this one. One year is over in the snap of a finger to powerhouses, but it completely changed my life.

......

Up ahead, Li Hao waved a hand. He didn’t look back, but he was aware of what was happening. He waved off the gesture because he didn’t wish to have too much to do with Big Claw. The monster spirit was too weak.

It was fine to strike up a relationship with a heavyweight like Void—he came with an enormous backer as well. There was nothing untoward about their friendship.

But what was Big Claw worth?

Just an Empyrean King!

Big Claw would be far too weak even if he’s almost at half step exalted emperor. Whereas who knows how many strong enemies I’ll attract in the future? Staying further away from me is better. I’m not going to say anything.

It was only now that he had the peace of mind to look around him. In actuality, the group was sneaking glances at him too.

There were a full dozen in their group, all exalted emperors. This was so many more than one would think appropriate for an operation like this. New Martial was sending two exalted emperors, but then had twelve on their side.

There were ten excluding Li Hao and the fourth rank. There were four third ranks, three second ranks, and three first ranks. The two he’d met at Coiled Dragon Well were both present. Ancestress Mo was one of the first ranks, the other was the second rank.

Li Hao knew his name—the Exalted Cicada Emperor.

The group’s leader was someone named Exalted Emperor Ming Hao. He was adept at sealing away targets. Li Hao didn’t know what level his strength was and the young man wasn’t interested in the rest. He didn’t know them and they weren’t strong.

1. The two different capitalizations are intentional. One references Void’s extreme potential in this path of dao, the other refers to his status and standing in the universe. ☜