“Ai!” coughed Director General Zhao. “It’s not only that—there’s another major world in the region. However, its world master is just a sixth rank, making him similar to the previous Orchid Forest master. He’s said to be both a master of dao and the world, however, and nearing seventh rank.

“But he doesn’t dare enter seventh rank and has been avoiding that breakthrough because he’s concerned that the disturbance will be too great. It might attract a chaos beast to his location. Chaos beasts love seizing seventh rank worlds!”

Very well then, so there were two major worlds in the human alliance. However, there was possibly only one seventh rank powerhouse. Even if there was more than one, there would be only two or three at most.

Among seventh rank worlds, only New Martial had a plethora of seventh ranks. Other worlds typically only boasted of one or two.

“So this world of humans has not met its demise yet?” Li Hao found that odd. It was incredible that they’d managed to survive among so many chaos beasts and local monster spirits!

“It is difficult to survive in a place like this, but this world is very close to the land of the extreme east,” explained Director General Zhao. “There’s a perilous zone there called the Thunder Region!

“That world’s master is a powerhouse of thunder and lightning, so half of his world resides within thunder and lightning. The Dragon master once paid a visit, but didn’t leave with much to show for it. Apparently the world master has said that he will outright hide within Thunder Region if too many heavyweights head his way, which is why his world has lasted until now.”

“He’s got some skill to his name!” Li Hao nodded. That was something indeed.

He wouldn’t be able to be the only human world among the eighteen if there was no real strength to back up his claims. This master of the human world was a force to be reckoned with, and quite bold, to still remain in the region.

Perhaps he couldn’t get away since he didn’t dare leave the vicinity of the Thunder Region. He might not be able to make his way through the hazardous zone either, so he could only shelter near it.

Occupying a spot near a land of greater danger was how he managed to eke out survival.

“What is that world called?”

“I don’t know,” Director General Zhao shook his head. “The Skytaker Rat’s memories simply gloss over it. The rat was just a first rank exalted emperor, after all, it wasn’t a major character. The alliance had nothing to do with it, so all it knew was hearsay.

“It does know that the human powerhouse was called the Master of Thunder and Lightning, that his world was probably the Thunder World or something similar.”

Li Hao inclined his head.

It was surprising that there was a seventh rank world in this region with humans in charge. Perhaps powerhouses in the other three regions were unaware of this one. The Orchid Forest master would’ve said a word or two had he known.

It looked like he didn’t have an easy life, being constantly surrounded by enemies. Perhaps he didn’t dare leave his world at all because it would be gone as soon as he set foot off it.

“Is the conflict between local monster spirits and chaos beasts significant?”

“Not really, it’s not that serious. They’re all monster spirits at the end of the day. While there are differences between local monster spirits and chaos beasts, there aren’t that many differences in the big picture.

“The Dragon master is a very decisive individual, alright. He’d wanted to recruit all of the local monster spirits, but Ironeater major world wasn’t willing to fall under its banner, so it allied with the other four major monster spirit worlds. It has many seventh ranks, which gives pause to the Dragon master. Marching to conquer those worlds would create too many losses...”

So this was a rare moment of peace between the two. But the amount of territory occupied by local monster spirits was tiny. Almost all of their worlds were gathered in one place. In Dragon Region, only worlds owned by chaos beasts dared split up with impunity.

There was a major advantage to putting more space between themselves and their brethren—gathering sufficient energy.

There was limited energy in a space if they were all clustered together, which made it difficult for a world to grow. It was also difficult for powerhouses to cultivate. Perhaps the local monster spirits would just self-destruct if the situation continued on for thousands upon thousands of years more.

For heavyweights, it was quite worth it to have an opponent naturally fade away after a period of time. They wouldn’t have to waste any of their troops or energy.

Li Hao had more or less gained a full understanding of the situation in Dragon Region. Of course, this was just a view of the big picture. When it came down to the specifics, such as how many seventh ranks there were in a world, how many wandering seventh ranks there were among chaos beasts that were yet to seize a world... All of that remained unknown.

“Ah, what’s the deal with the patrols from Dragon major world? Do you know anything?”

“I’m not sure.” Director General Zhao shook his head again. “I only know that it’s a patrol agency formed by the Chaos Alliance. Each of the major worlds have sent a portion of their exalted emperors to it, with some even sending seventh rank exalted emperors!

“Their main purpose is to survey and inspect Dragon Region, including the newly born worlds. Once a new world is found, a chaos beast is sent to seize it. This extinguishes the possibility of humanity’s rise from its roots!

“Another detail is that the patrols will regularly inspect some worlds to prevent humans or local monster spirits from causing trouble. Under normal conditions, two exalted emperors move out together, but they won’t be working together. One will be out in the open and the other operating from the shadows to prevent mishaps!”

Li Hao frowned slightly with a nod. He’d seen the Dragon master once on Skyward and hadn’t thought much of that chaos beast. The Dragon master had seemed indecisive and incompetent as he hadn’t dared join the fight.

But from the perspective of the chaos beasts, the Dragon master was no incapable fool. Granted, few were the eighth ranks that were incapable.

This would be much more difficult than he’d anticipated. Li Hao rather hoped that the Dragon master would take his world to Blazing Sun to participate in battle. It would be very difficult to stir up affairs in Dragon Region if he did not. His control over his region far outstripped that of the other three overlords.

“How about we find the Master of Thunder and Lightning to propose a partnership, or the Ironeater master...” Void suggested.

“No!” Li Hao shook his head.

Void blinked. Why not? They’d worked with the Orchid Forest master before and had had a very pleasant time of things. When they attacked the four major worlds, it was through allying with the New Martial Sword Sovereign and others that they successfully triumphed over their targets.

Their latest opponent was incomparably powerful. How would they not look to partner with someone?

“Local monster spirits are still monster spirits at the end of the day, they’re not reliable partners!” Li Hao kept shaking his head. “As for the Master of Thunder and Lightning... forget it, he’s having a tougher time than we are. He’s such a big target that he wants nothing else but to hide near Thunder Region the entire time.

“How would he dare make a move? We might turn ourselves into a target if we went to him! There’s no rush” Li Hao smiled. “We’ll complete my plan first—focus on seizing small worlds and replacing them!

“It’d be for the best if I have an opportunity to set foot into sixth rank. If I do and can use the power of a thousand worlds in conjunction with you, then we’ll be able to kill regular seventh ranks!”

A frown crossed Li Hao’s forehead after some thought. “Dragon Region is airtight. We can get away with one or two worlds, or even a dozen or so. But a few hundred will be discovered! Therefore, we need to somehow misdirect the region’s attention elsewhere. It’s best if the Dragon master can take his world and a group of powerhouses to Blazing Sun Region. He needs to focus on eliminating New Martial instead!”

Void grimaced with sympathy. Focus on eliminating New Martial... you’re really not afraid of New Martial biting the dust, eh?

“That’s not under our control!” Void frowned. “Not unless my father announces that he’ll support New Martial and participate in the war. Only an alliance between New Martial and Light will create the biggest threat to others. Even if the Dragon master is unwilling, he’ll participate in the battle then.

“Otherwise... Blazing Sun will surely fall between a joint New Martial and Light offensive!”

However, Void shook his head at this point. That was an affair left for his father. It would implicate all of Light, so Void would not interfere. He had no place at the table and even if he did, he wouldn’t make this decision for his father.

Choosing to support New Martial at this juncture was to be enemies with the entire four regions. His father wouldn’t brashly make a decision in this.

Li Hao likewise shook his head after some consideration. It was difficult for him to intervene in the decisions of eighth rank worlds. It was hard to influence a seventh rank, to say nothing of an eighth rank.

He could speak to Orchid Forest, but not much would result from that. No one paid attention to a seventh rank world.

“Let’s go down this road for now. No matter how perfect our plan is, if it’s really exposed...” Li Hao exhaled. “Then we’ll switch up the plan! There are no plans that are ever constant. If this path does not work, then we’ll switch to another path.

“No matter what, Dragon Region will be the last major opportunity for us to strengthen ourselves. When it comes to the four regions, New Martial is keeping Blazing Sun Region preoccupied, Red Moon Region is half crippled, we won’t get anything in Skyward Region... so that leaves Dragon Region.

“It’s not a major burden to kill all of these chaos beasts...”

This was the best and most optimal decision.

Void nodded. He wanted to verify his dao as a seventh rank here.

Li Hao looked around, surveying the world. The immaterial world was rooted to this place, but there was one thing off about their arrangements. Many of the monster spirits and chaos beasts had been killed; the survivors had been corralled into one corner. They weren’t freely roaming through the land like before.

It was hard to detect that from the outside, but would be easily exposed once someone ventured inside. How could a world with chaos beasts as the dominant species have humans milling around instead? And it would be obvious that those humans carried faith with them.

They could not permit anyone to enter the world, no matter what. Exposure was all too easy then!

Li Hao frowned when his thoughts traveled. A sense of danger descended from above.

Void was feeling uncomfortable as well. He looked at his friend, seeing the young man pause.

“All Silver Moon citizens are to return as swiftly as possible!” Li Hao transmitted when changes flickered through his expression.

Puzzled Silver Moon cultivators immediately rushed back. What was it?

Li Hao’s expression shifted drastically and he quickly directed his people into Silver Moon. Panther returned to the form of a giant beast. The young man didn’t care what the dog might think and shoved them all into the long river.

After that, he called upon the dao of hiding and wrapped himself with a small domain. However, a stern expression still hung on Li Hao’s face.

“This... isn’t looking good.” He took a deep breath as he looked at Director General Zhao. “The Red Moon master may be nearby!”

The director general’s eyes widened. What made the young man say that?