Star Gate-Chapter 1668: The Plan Is Complete (V)

An immense strength swept through the world.

“Ash Emperor, those on the side of justice gather many to their side. Those who stray from the right path find themselves isolated!” the Red Moon master laughed heartily. “New Martial’s arrogance knows no bounds and you brazenly kill exalted emperors around the chaos. Today is your day of reckoning!”

If it wasn’t for the New Martial Human King killing the Orchid Forest dao master, how would Red Moon so easily bring a seventh rank world under its wings?

Li Hao’s group had convened with Number Two in the distance. The cat boomed, “Fools! Orchid Forest, you give up being an independent world to become part of something like Red Moon? The more fool you!”

The massive cat ran off with that taunt, leaving the Red Moon master with a slightly furrowed brow. Were these guys forgoing the opportunity to fight him? He had the desire to engage them, but... he was rapidly assimilating Orchid Forest at the moment.

He would be giving up the endeavor if he chose to focus on New Martial instead. A redirection in focus would destabilize the worlds and throw a wrench into the integration.

Based on rumor and reputation, shouldn’t those of New Martial be galvanizing for an offensive right now and preventing him from refining the seventh rank dao universe? Their response was very strange!

He also had no time to consider it, Orchid Forest was the task at hand. A seventh rank dao universe would enable him to immediately recover some vitality. Not to mention, the Orchid Forest master would become Red Moon’s second seventh rank after becoming part of Red Moon. He would be the second high rank in residence on the main world, alongside Griefstricken.

The Red Moon master could absolutely take the fight to New Martial after he refined Orchid Forest!

With that in mind, the Red Moon master gave up the idea of fighting New Martial right this very moment.

An exalted emperor suddenly appeared within Orchid Forest major world. He shouted with fury and panic, “You guys... I’m still here!!”

Who is that?

The Red Moon master blinked. The speaker seemed to be suffering from unbounded fear as he trembled like a leaf. He suddenly knelt on the world barrier, stunning countless exalted emperors with his horror.

Ah...

“Milord Red Moon, this is a smokescreen!” yelled the man. “A sham! That’s just a projection of a cat that looks like the Ash Emperor. That’s not the supreme either, it’s his grandson! They lied to you so they could get away!

“New Martial isn’t nearby at all!” The man’s face was pale. “I... I am the New Martial Pagoda King! They said that we’d all retreat together... but they’re gone and I’m still here!”

He shook so hard that he couldn’t rise to his feet. He cowered into the void, shuddering madly. “I am the New Martial Pagoda King... No, no longer! Milord Red Moon, the real powerhouse with them is only the Sword Sovereign! He’s the one who killed the Exalted Clarity Emperor!

“They had me and some of the other wandering cultivators temporarily hide in Orchid Forest because they thought we were too weak. We were to wait for the right timing. But Orchid Forest... Orchid Forest... has become part of Red Moon!”

The development brought him infinitely close to death. The Pagoda King cast aside all considerations of imperial dignity and groveled. “They’re all fake! The New Martial home world isn’t in the vicinity at all! The supreme has a grand plan, as does the Human King! Their plan isn’t to take the Red Moon main world, but simply to hold it back!

“They might be... setting their sights on Skyward, I’m not entirely certain. All I know is that Fog Mountain killed a Red Moon exalted emperor because he reached an agreement with Silver Moon King Li Hao! They’re all working together and doing something at Skyward...”

The Red Moon master’s face spasmed. Fake?! The Pagoda King?? That was the number one coward of New Martial! Were his words true or false??

There was no time for the Red Moon master to consider so much. He shifted into the distance, but found that Li Hao’s group had completely disappeared.

The Red Moon master’s eyes narrowed and rage exploded within him. I... fell for it!

Damn it! Those bastards!! Where are they?!

He was very fast, but they were gone in the blink of an eye.

......

Meanwhile, the Orchid Forest master stared blankly at the kneeling Pagoda King. Had the man... really betrayed New Martial, or was this an act? The world master couldn’t tell!

Even the most cowardly of exalted emperors would hold themselves with a certain dignity. They wouldn’t surrender with such... abject humbleness!

He was grinding himself into the dirt like an ant. He didn’t seem like an exalted emperor at all!

Everyone knew that the New Martial Pagoda King was afraid of death, but... could he be this craven?

The cowering Pagoda King shuddered with horror. Two exalted emperors appeared behind him at this time with complicated looks in their eyes—Mo and Cicada!

They gaped at the Pagoda King. Had he... really betrayed Li Hao and the others? They couldn’t tell!

They could sense the Pagoda King’s genuine fear, his groveling sincerity, and rage that Li Hao had abandoned them. He’d completely lost his fighting spirit. Not even a wandering cultivator would prostrate himself on the ground in front of countless others and shake so hard that they didn’t have control over themselves.

Mo and Cicada didn’t say a word. They were afraid of death too. Being wandering cultivators, it was as easy as drinking water for them to surrender to those stronger. But to kneel down like this, in front of billions of others and multiple masters of the world...

They could not bring themselves to do so!

Exalted emperors had their own dignity in the end!

The Pagoda King bowed his head, uncaring of anyone’s gaze. He crawled forward, only terror and dread in his eyes. Just like how things had been back in the day; he’d been born a slave!

He’d made his way step by step to present heights in a place as frightening as New Martial. Even those such as Celestial Pole could not compare themselves to him when it came to methods of survival!

Moments later, the Red Moon master reappeared and looked frostily at the assembly. He nodded at the Orchid Forest master, then directed a glare at the Pagoda King. “Why did they run so quickly?”

“Perhaps... they made arrangements beforehand.” The Pagoda King’s voice quavered. “They’ve created holes in the chaos—I don’t know how. I just know that the Human King and Sword Sovereign are adept in this method. Many of New Martial’s powerhouses can create a second space within the chaos!”

How is that even possible??

The Red Moon master quickly understood the implications of such a feat. Those were embryonic worlds, which meant that the Sword Sovereign was indeed about to enter seventh rank!

No wonder he’d disappeared in a flash!

“Get up!” He commanded in a stern voice!

The shaking Pagoda King shot to his feet, cringing in front of the Red Moon master. “Please don’t kill me, milord. I know a lot of New Martial secrets and a lot of other things. I’ve already become part of Orchid Forest’s great dao. If Orchid Forest has joined Red Moon, then I have also joined Red Moon. I will never betray you...”

He whirled around and pointed at Mo and Cicada. “They are subordinates of the Silver Moon King Li Hao! They’re wandering cultivators and don’t know anything useful. Milord can execute them as a show of force against New Martial...”

The Red Moon master snorted. Killing two wandering cultivators who don’t know anything in a bid to intimidate New Martial... Are you touched in the head?

Mo and Cicada’s expressions changed drastically, but they still remained silent with their heads down. Fear and unease were starting to percolate through them. The Pagoda King might have truly turned traitor!

Damn it! Is this what it means to be a New Martial denizen?! For fuck’s sake!

They were immensely resigned and could barely keep their positions. Didn’t people say that those of New Martial would rather self-detonate than surrender?? Even if he’s acting, this is too real!

Little did they know, labeling them as wandering cultivators who didn’t know anything had saved their lives!

They were just wandering cultivators and didn’t know anything. In fact, they were part of Red Moon now. So what was the point of killing them?

That the Pagoda King had managed to preserve himself time and time again as a second rank meant that his methods were not understood by regular exalted emperors.

......

Within the void of the chaos.

A group of people fled continuously, finding shelter in a hole and emerging for the next when the coast was clear. This was when the benefits of creating multiple holes within the chaos showed itself.

Within a hole.

The group was so quiet that they didn’t dare breathe too loudly. It had been a very exciting day—they’d faced an eighth rank!

Li Hao, Void, and the Sword Sovereign were as silent as they could be. All three were considering various matters. The young man thought the most—many unexpected developments had happened in the plan, the greatest of all was that two high ranks from Red Moon had come!

If it wasn’t for the Orchid Forest master taking action in the last critical moment, then the three of them might have paid dearly for their miscalculation. Even though they’d posed as New Martial, the Red Moon master looked like he’d been ready to take on New Martial in direct combat.

New Martial’s appearance had not been enough to paralyze the Red Moon master with indecision. They’d underestimated his resolve!

Eighth ranks were much bolder than they thought. The Red Moon master’s repeated hesitations on previous occasions had thrown off Li Hao's judgment. The young man felt that their enemy would certainly leave a high rank behind on his main world.

Granted, the final result had been within expectations.

No, it’d exceeded expectations.

The worst outcome would’ve been for Li Hao to die and gamble that the Red Moon master wouldn’t discover his secret art of life and death. That would give Li Hao a chance to walk the cycle of reincarnation.

Thankfully, that hadn’t been necessary. However, the young man was beset with new worries.

What if the Pagoda King, Mo, and Cicada couldn’t endure the pressure? No, he couldn’t think that way. While the three would suffer immense pressure, the saving grace was that the Orchid Forest master had made an exceedingly correct decision in the final moment.

He hadn’t been forced to surrender, but chosen to yield when he could’ve fought. His excuse was that New Martial was their great enemy, so they would become part of Red Moon instead. Not only did that take care of some trouble, but it might win them some trust.

There was no movement in the outside world after a prolonged period.

“Thank goodness!” Li Hao breathed out more easily.

“Mmhmm, they aren’t coming after us.” The Sword Sovereign was still a little nervous. “They must be busy assimilating Orchid Forest. It’s all thanks to the Orchid Forest master’s fast reflexes that we aren’t in trouble instead.”

The Orchid Forest master had changed the plan himself in that moment. If he’d followed the original plan and continued to resist, the Red Moon master might not have chosen to suppress him. He might have temporarily given up on Orchid Forest and redirected his attention to the trio.

They would’ve been done for then!