The former Red Moon master was a prime example of neglecting one need for another. He hadn’t been able to leave Red Moon major world due to having to protect his world. The eighth rank had only been able to sit by and watch his seventh ranks die.

Meanwhile, the Thunder master was in an even more difficult position.

Thunder World housed thirty billion humans, for one. It was also the last bastion of humanity in Dragon Region. Once it fell, there would be no further place for the human race in Dragon Region anymore.

Is Dragon major world’s departure an opportunity for me or danger?

It had indeed occurred to the Thunder master that this might be a scheme, a trap to lure him out. But he might have to take the risk even if this was a cunning maneuver. Thunder World wouldn’t last much longer in a blockade!

There was nothing he could do about it!

“Are you waiting for me to poke my head out?”

But do I have any choice in that?

The Thunder master smiled ruefully. He didn’t! There would be no more opportunities for them if they didn’t grasp this one. It was too dangerous to travel through Dragon Region.

Perhaps... I should take the world and brave Thunder Region. But I’ll need sufficient dao crystals to continuously neutralize the destructive force. I’d need an infinite supply!

It might only be a matter of time before the Dragon master conquers the four regions. I’ll only be able to try Thunder Region with my world then. We might be able to survive in the outer regions.

He looked outside the palace once more.

Dragon major world must have continued the operation to plant spies among us over the years. There have been some foreigners who’ve joined us these years, but they’re all humans. How many of them are from Dragon major world?

“I need the right moment!” he sighed. Dragon Region had not been engulfed in turmoil yet. He could only pray that the monster spirits took advantage of this opportunity to start something. Only then would Thunder World stand a chance if they drew everyone’s attention!

......

In the northern reaches of Dragon Region.

Five major worlds stood here, forming a pentagram with a portion of the void in between them.

At this moment, in one of the major worlds.

A massive beast resembling a panda bared sharp teeth. It looked around the assembly with a violent glare. Far from the cuddly pandas that humans might picture, this one was only vicious and cruel.

“We wait!” it snarled. “The Chaos Alliance won’t brashly attack our worlds. They’ll take down Thunder World first if they want to march into battle. Once fighting erupts over Thunder World, Phoenix, Giant Elephant, and Valiant Tiger might all be involved.

“With Dragon major world absent and a few other major worlds preoccupied, that will give us a chance to strike back!”

All of the exalted emperors standing beneath the panda remained silent. Some of the powerhouses from the other four major worlds were also quiet.

“Must we strike back?” sighed an old cow after a long time.

“You dumb beast!” raged the panda. “This seat knows that some of you have been beguiled by Dragon major world, but their talk of monster spirits and chaos beasts being one family is bullshit! Chaos beasts are chaos beasts, monster spirits are monster spirits.

“Most monster spirits are born from a world. When it comes down to it, we have more in common with humans than chaos beasts! Chaos beasts are born of the chaos. Their world and life origin are completely different!”

Whether it was humans or monster spirits, at least they were born of the same world origin if they shared a world. Chaos beasts were truly nurtured by another environment. That was the true difference between them.

A portion of monster spirits were indeed chaos beasts that slowly assimilated into their new homes once they entered a world, but only a tiny portion. They were also born of the world origin many generations later, thus losing their chaos origins.

The panda didn’t treat the Dragon master’s words seriously, but it knew that some among its brethren would.

“What the Dragon master wishes to be is the tyrant of the four regions!” he boomed angrily. “Once he succeeds, there will be no good ending in store for anyone—whether they are humans or monster spirits! Only chaos beasts will live well!

“I know that some among the four other worlds might be tempted by what he says. But I warn you, you better do so quietly if you want to surrender to the dragons. If you dare make a move when we counterattack, this seat will eradicate you even if that annihilates my heritage and race! The three seventh ranks of my Ironeaters race will hunt you to the bitter end!”

“Ahem, please quell your anger, Fellow Daoist Ironeater!” someone mollified. “Brother Bull was just making a suggestion. He wasn’t saying he wants to swear fealty to the dragons! It’s just... there are many Chaos Alliance worlds around us—not just seventh rank, but also mid and low rank.

“They have a lot of exalted emperors and can move their worlds around in battle. They’ve also cut us off from the chaos the past couple of years, which has weakened us. If we really are to fight back...”

It would be tough, too tough!

Apart from the Ironeaters race possessing three seventh ranks, one of the other four major worlds boasted of two seventh ranks, and the remaining three had one. That made for a total of eight seventh ranks!

Was that a lot?

That was a lot.

But chaos beasts had more!

Some had been born in the last couple of years, some had drifted through the chaos before joining the region. Although the dragons only had twelve major worlds aligned with them, their real number of seventh ranks was certainly far more than people thought.

Strike back? How were the monster spirits supposed to strike back?

Where were they supposed to go after that, assuming they won with eight seventh ranks?

“Fellow Daoist Ironeater, we have no place to go even after we break through the blockade. The three regions are human territory. While there are some monster spirit worlds in those regions, they’re not too strong.

“There’s so many powerhouses among us five that we might end up in a worse situation if we move to the three regions! As for the outer regions... we can’t make it past Thunder Region, to say nothing else.”

“We might have a chance if Thunder World makes a move,” sighed another exalted emperor. “Either we head to the three regions or we brave Thunder Region. Humans dominate the outer regions as well, but what of us?”

There was no place for them to run to!

The Exalted Ironeater Emperor wanted to refute those words. Monster spirits had desired to leave the region before, but some of the Dragon master’s brainwashing had still been effective over the years. What the group had just said had originated from the Dragon master.

Where can you go? Where can monster spirits find a new home? Chaos beasts are their best home.

Monster spirits will end up in this situation no matter where you go, perhaps even worse!

What are you striking back for? Who are you striking back at?

The Ironeater master assessed them with a cold glare. This was the second world to voice these sentiments! It’d been the Exalted Bull Emperor before, and now it was the Exalted Iron Eagle Emperor. Two major worlds were inclined to give up the fight. Perhaps... monster spirits really didn’t have the ability to fight back any longer.

The longer things dragged out, the harder it was to counterattack.

“Trust me when I say that when the Dragon master’s first action item after he consolidates his rule over you will be for all of you to hand over your dao universes! That will be the case even if you surrender!

“He needs to raise more seventh rank chaos beasts and dao universes are key for that. If not, he’ll meld them into Dragon major world to create a ninth rank world! Are you guys really willing for that to happen to your dao universes?”

With that, the monster spirits fell silent. This was why they were still willing to attend a meeting. This was also weighing heavily on their minds.

“No matter what you all think, we will not make a move before Thunder World makes their move!” intoned the Ironeater master. “Once they’re locked in conflict, that is our chance!”

“Will they do anything?” asked a doubtful exalted emperor. “The Thunder master knows the risks as well...”

“But he knows even more so that he will not have an opportunity to do anything anymore if he does not take that chance!” sighed Ironeater. “This is his only chance. Otherwise, once the Dragon master seizes the slightest advantage in the three regions or a human eighth rank or two dies, he’ll be completely out of chances!

“He has to make the leap even when knowing full well this is a trap. Dragon’s absence is a good opportunity. He’ll die if he doesn’t make that leap!”

He would stand a slight chance if he took the gamble, at least.

......

In another locale.

Li Hao was also waiting.

Three sides were waiting, waiting for one faction to make the first step and pick a fight. That would create some openings for everyone else and stir up the quiet Dragon Region. A chance to fish in troubled waters to arrive if someone threw the first punch and shattered the region’s tranquility.

However, everyone seemed to be hanging back and waiting for that moment to happen.

Li Hao looked at the worlds around them with a sigh. “There’s nothing from Thunder World or Phoenix major world.” He turned to Void. “The monster spirits aren’t doing anything either. It’s too hard to do anything when it’s this quiet!”

The Dragon master’s gone, aren’t you guys going to do something?

Fine. He knew that everyone might be like him. Thunder World might be waiting for the monster spirits and vice versa. Obviously no one would be waiting on him, since they didn’t know he was here.

They wouldn’t care even if they knew. The Silver Moon king was just a fifth rank and as such, good for nothing!

Void was in no rush; he was currently steeping a pot of tea. The two of them were hovering outside the sixth rank world of water.

“There’s no helping it, the chaos beasts are dominant in this region.” Void sipped his tea with a smile. “No one wants to be the first to stick their neck out. It’s too dangerous! Let’s wait, they’re in more of a rush than us...”

“We can’t!” Li Hao smiled. “I’m going to take action as soon as the rest of Silver Moon’s martial masters get here. I’m going to kill all of those world masters outside! After that, I need to target a seventh rank world!”

“Eh?”

“Dude!” Li Hao looked at him. “You won’t make it to seventh rank with just these mid or minor worlds. You need a seventh rank world. Only after you become a seventh rank with six daos of the extremities, and I set foot into sixth rank as well, do we have the tiniest chance of sweeping through Dragon Region!

“Or do you really think that you and I can take over the region with our current strength?”

“Brother Hao Moon...” Void was immensely moved. “You’re going to so much effort!”

Look at that, that’s a true fellow daoist! All he’s focused on is helping me get to seventh rank!