Star Gate-Chapter 1684: The East Is At Hand (I)

Outside Demon Summit.

Fog Mountain was still holding off heavyweights in all directions when thought struck him—those guys have come out.

Finally!

Those lil bastards had been inside for seven days—that was the longest seven days of my life! He would’ve gone on the run if those two still hadn’t shown themselves.

Fog Mountain’s presence built as he inwardly relaxed. He swept his might in all directions as his frosty voice reverberated throughout the world. “All of you, get lost! You are entertaining fanciful daydreams if you do not have the confidence to kill this seat and seize Demon Summit!”

This was both a warning and a conveyance of information. He was telling those two guys that someone was ready to take his head if they still didn’t come out. His attackers also wanted to take Demon Summit, but the dao chess was most likely within Demon Summit.

As for whether or not those two would understand... They would be idiots if they couldn’t.

Then they would well deserve their death.

......

Clearly, Li Hao and Void did understand.

“It looks like the situation is not ideal,” transmitted Void. “Perhaps we should not have stayed in seclusion for seven days. It looks like all heavyweights on Skyward have their attention focused on this site.”

“It’s good that there’s a lot of people here! That makes it more fun and creates opportunities for us!” There was nothing that Li Hao wanted more than for more people to be present. It was less desirable for fewer people to be nearby.

If there were too few, then a victor would be easily determined and they’d enter the dao universe. That would spell the end of the rest of his plans!

There needs to be more of you so you guys can duke it out before anything else gets done.

“Senior Fog Mountain!” Li Hao transmitted. He wasn’t afraid of anyone eavesdropping on their conversation. Fog Mountain was right outside, wasn’t he?

“You guys need to leave right now! We can talk later!” Fog Mountain quickly replied. Although he was yet to meet Li Hao, they’d communicated on a previous occasion. He knew that the one transmitting to him was the Silver Moon king. Based on the speaker’s presence, he was at a respectable fourth rank.

Apparently, the Silver Moon king had killed a fourth or even fifth rank in Red Moon Region!

News of Li Hao killing a sixth rank was yet to spread, so it was not yet common knowledge.

“Leave? No, I’m here to fulfill my part of our agreement, senior. I’m going to open the dao universe for you...”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Fog Mountain cursed up a storm!

You little shit! Now?? Why now?!

He immediately grasped Li Hao’s intentions. There were powerhouses in the surroundings. If the dao universe was accessible now... For fuck’s sake, are you sure that I’ll be the one who goes inside??

Not to mention, their original agreement had been for Li Hao to open the dao universe for him. There was no caveat that it could only take place when Fog Mountain was the only one present. The Silver Moon king had found a loophole, hadn’t he?

“Don’t worry, senior! Silver Moon is still within the Skyward dao universe. Even if I do not look out for you, I wouldn’t let a random assortment of people inside. Wouldn’t that be dooming my own world?”

Fog Mountain relaxed slightly when he heard this response. That was true! Silver Moon was still inside. So then, why was the timing now?

Wouldn’t it be better for these two to quietly slip away and wait for a lull in general attention, or for the crowd to give up Demon Summit?

“When are you opening it?”

“In a moment!” replied Li Hao. “In the meantime, please hold up for a while longer, senior! Ah, I do need a small favor from the senior...”

“What is it?”

“I’m going to open a backdoor into the Skyward dao universe that will give the senior some first mover advantages! Please guard the door, or at least guard it until a certain person comes.”

“The Red Moon exalted emperor?”

“Yes.”

I fucking knew it! Fuckity fuck fuck! You’re crazy! 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

You’re creating a backdoor for me and setting me to guard it. The first to arrive will certainly be the two eighth ranks from Light and Skycloud. The next might be the ones from Blazing Sun or Dragon. It’s a huge question whether or not the Red Moon master can even come.

Even if he does, he’s probably the last one here. So... how long am I supposed to wait for him?

Do you think those eighth ranks are pushovers?

Someone’s gonna die! Someone will really die!

“This is not within the terms of our agreement!” Fog Mountain raged. This was not what they had settled on! He didn’t accept this!!

This immensely increased the danger he was in! It was too dangerous!

“I’ll try to have Void notify the master of Light and have him preoccupy the Skycloud master. The bright side of doing this is that it will decrease some of the hassle the senior has to face when you break free of Skycloud!”

Fog Mountain shook. Void... the master of Light! Was this... doable?

If the Light master could indeed distract Skycloud, then it would be a perfect opportunity for him to win his independence.

“In addition, I will try to convince the Human King to take on the other seventh ranks with me. That will win more time for the senior and more opportunities!”

Will the Human King listen to you? And what use is you taking the field? You’re just a fourth rank. It’s better to have Void take action than you.

“Senior, you just need to drag things out until the Red Moon master arrives. Even if you don’t take the Skyward dao universe this time, I’ll create another opportunity for the senior to try!”

If Fog Mountain was so incompetent as to let other eighth ranks into the dao universe first, that would cause it to close. It wouldn’t matter if the Red Moon master came then or not!

Fog Mountain needed to safeguard the doorway and ensure that no one else entered!

The man’s mind whirred through a multitude of thoughts as he weighed up the pros and cons.

There was a great deal of danger involved!

But if all proceeded according to what Li Hao said, with the Light master and Human King standing against one wave of attack... Then he could give this more thought, no matter how dangerous it was.

“But will the master of Light give up the chance to enter a dao universe for the sake of his son? This is his hope to enter ninth rank... Do you think ninth rank is more important or a son more important?”

What if the Light master didn’t follow the plan? Wouldn’t they all be done for then?

“We’ll try as much as we can. If we’re really out of options... then the senior can enter the dao universe with the others. You don’t have to struggle to your death!”

“Very well...” transmitted Fog Mountain after he weighed up his considerations. “And another thing. If possible, send Waterpeak over by herself. I’m going to kill her, strip her of her dao universe and energy, and compensate Skycloud with it!”

“......” This is still on your mind at a time like this?

Li Hao didn’t know what to say, but laughed upon further thought. It was nice for people to have some principles. That Fog Mountain still prioritized this meant that he was someone with integrity and values.

As for whether or not he would succeed, that was difficult to say. Li Hao wasn’t familiar with Waterpeak, but that didn’t prevent him from understanding what the man meant. She was a seventh rank master of dao!

It was very hard for non-dao masters to kill such a heavyweight! Even the Human King had expended a great deal of effort to kill the Utmost Dark master. It would require a suitable timing for success to be had.

“Alright, I’ll give it a try...”

It was enough for Fog Mountain to agree. Everything else was up to Li Hao.

......

Li Hao turned to Void with some hesitation. “Will your dad... agree?”

To be honest, he felt that Fog Mountain’s concerns were valid. One could always sire another son, and it wasn’t like Void was gone. He was standing right here, not facing a crisis of life or death. Would his father relinquish the chance to enter a dao universe on his account?

And run off to face the Skycloud master instead?

Was that possible?

“No worries, it’ll be fine!” Void answered confidently.

Fine then, what else can I say when you’re so sure?

“How will you get in touch with him?”

“Just wait and see. It’ll be easy if my father is near Skyward. If not... we’ll think of some other ways.” Void was regaining some of his confidence. It doesn’t matter how impressive your dao of time is, my old man is an eighth rank! What about yours?

The New Martial Human King isn’t your father. Even if he was, he’s not an eighth rank!

Void promptly located an empty hall with Li Hao and casually sat down. He thought for a moment before taking out an item from his dao mark. It resembled a Source of Light and started shimmering after Void poked at it for a bit.

“Most major worlds have methods for long range communication,” he explained as they waited. “But they’re only useful in close distances. Otherwise, we’d have to use large equipment that raises a huge fuss. It might expose my father’s location then.”

Li Hao nodded, able to tell that this was quite a treasure with a quick glance. He was slightly envious.

I have no way of contacting those left in Red Moon Region. After entering the chaos, he’d discovered that communication was the greatest limiting factor. A discrepancy in knowledge was often created in the process of communication.

It would be wonderful if they could communicate at will.

After a while, a shadow appeared in the light source. Its back was turned to Li Hao, so the person’s features couldn’t be made out. It heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Void. “It’s good that you’re alright.”

I thought you’d run yourself out of existence. So you’re back at Skyward, hmm?

“Father!” The solemn Void was much more circumspect than usual. “Father, I have a matter that requires your help.”

“My help?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“I am encouraging the Exalted Fog Mountain Emperor to detach from Skycloud as soon as possible and have dangled access to the Skyward dao universe as bait. This is a good chance for you to kill the Skycloud master!

“It is an opportunity that will not come back around. Father, it is imperative that you come and kill the Skycloud master, all the while curbing your own desire to enter the dao universe!”

“......” Li Hao blinked. You... really have a way with words!

So you’ve encouraged Fog Mountain to break free from Skycloud and have created an opportunity to kill the Skycloud master... And that is an opportunity?

Actually, it really seems like it is!