Star Gate-Chapter 1554: What a Coincidence (III)

Chapter 1554: What a Coincidence (III)
Dragon Observatory!
The Dragon Observatory leader was now one of Li Hao’s greatest enemies.
That bastard sealed off Demon Summit on two separate occasions just to target me. And now he’s leading people to hunt down New Martial powerhouses... there’s no coming back from this!
It should be Skycloud major world backing Dragon Observatory, and that world seems to be targeting New Martial. Sixteen exalted emperors... is a lot.
Various notions formed in Li Hao’s mind. As for Void, he might have entered dao chess since he’d vanished. The man was studying great dao.
To think of these ideas was to act on them. “When will that Skycloud exalted emperor arrive?”
“In the next couple of days!”
“Are all of the Dragon Observatory exalted emperors present?” Li Hao nodded.
“Some are absent and I’m not certain of their particulars. They’re exalted emperors, after all. I can’t peek into all of their movements.”
Li Hao nodded again.
“I’d like to kill them all this time,” he smiled after a moment. “Do you think it’d be too merciless to execute all of the exalted emperors in Dragon Observatory?”
Big Claw’s heart pounded rapidly. That was merciless indeed! But that had always been this one’s style. He seemed kind, but was ruthless when he took action. How many exalted emperors had he killed to date?
To be honest, apart from the demise of a major world, no other battle would result in this number of exalted emperor casualties. Of the ones that died, most of them were weak low ranks. The ones that Li Hao had killed were all powerhouses!
“Milord, it would be very dangerous if all sixteen were present.”
“That’s fine,” Li Hao smiled. “I’m just asking if there’s any exalted emperor within Dragon Observatory that’s a bit kinder. It would be a comfort to myself as well if you said no. That means I’m going to show no mercy!”
“......” Big Claw was still quite apprehensive about this proposed course of action, but he swiftly said, “Kind... well... that’s hard to say. An exalted emperor is not someone that this humble being can understand.”
“In that case, then to each their own. There’s no one worth taking note of, is there?” Li Hao nodded.
Big Claw wasn’t forthcoming with a reply.
“It’s just, these exalted emperors may not be together. They might be spread out,” Li Hao calculated. “That would be very troublesome. Will those people be returning once the Skycloud exalted emperor arrives?”
“They will if they’re on Skyward!” Big Claw nodded. “When the Observatory leader left, he gave orders that the one overseeing Dragon Observatory in his absence is his good friend. Hence, we all know that they’re probably coming from the major world that backs Dragon Observatory!
“The faction’s exalted emperors sorely wish to befriend exalted emperors of major worlds, so they will return then if they’re not trapped somewhere or unable to move.”
“That’s good!” Li Hao smiled. So they would all come back. If everyone was present and accounted for, that would be seventeen exalted emperors. Sixteen low ranks and one mid rank.
There would also be a Void, but the man wouldn’t necessarily have time to spare for him. He might be preoccupied with Demon Summit.
Li Hao thought for a moment. The strength of an eighth rank... it might cost his own life if he borrowed it. That was far too dangerous. He couldn’t do so!
He had other goals in mind with his desire to kill the Dragon Observatory leader. He wanted to collect sufficient energy to enter dao chess again. Energy wasn’t needed while he was on Skyward, but he wouldn’t enter dao chess here. He would wait until he left Skyward. It would be easy to be trapped otherwise.
He also needed to create the impression of a revitalizing dao universe. More energy was needed for that! Otherwise, the commotion wouldn’t be large enough.
Skyward’s dao universe had shown signs of revitalization when he borrowed a sixth rank’s strength. If he utilized a seventh or eighth rank’s strength, then Skyward’s own dao universe would surely show signs of activity.
Only a sufficiently massive uproar would pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Falsehood and truth had to mix together. He had to kill the Dragon Observatory leader to better pull off the facade. Otherwise... it would be very difficult to conceal.
The arrival of a chaos tribulation will easily alert people to what I’m doing. If not, I’d kill all of the exalted emperors and witnesses to hide my tracks. If I show up and then a dao universe shows up... people might easily guess it has something to do with me.
I can fake things all the same without killing these exalted emperors... but then what I make wouldn’t be impressive enough.
A variety of thoughts popped into his mind. If he was going to pull this off, Dragon Observatory Region was still the most suitable location. This place was right in front of the southern gate and most convenient for the return of the faction leader.
“Big Claw, do something for me!”
“I am at your behest, milord!” Big Claw quickly responded.
“When that Skycloud exalted emperor arrives after a few days... close the southern gate for me.”
Big Claw blinked and looked at Li Hao, terrified by the request. “Close the southern gate?”
“Yes!” Li Hao nodded. “There’s too much of an upheaval when the gates open! In addition, if a chaos tribulation appears, the closed gate will temporarily stymie its efforts to enter!
“I’d hoped that Void would help me, but he seems to have entered closed door cultivation. Then I’ll leave him to it for now. If exalted emperors are here at headquarters, leaving only non-exalted emperors at the southern gate, can you kill some of them?”
Big Claw’s heart quailed, but he quickly responded, “It’s only some Empyrean Kings by the southern gate... I’m almost a half step emperor. I can kill them!”
“They’re your peers, can you really kill them just like that?” Li Hao laughed.
“We’re only gathered together for the purposes of mutual benefit...” Big Claw quickly protested.
Li Hao smiled, not minding these matters. “You were stationed at the southern gate for a while, so you should be familiar with it. Just shut it for me, that shouldn’t be hard!
“In addition, I’d like to create dao echoes in the volcano or Coiled Dragon Well. I want to lure all of the exalted emperors over. Do you think they’ll come?”
“Is milord going to act the day the Skycloud exalted emperor arrives?” asked Big Claw.
“Yes.”
“Then... so long as the Skycloud exalted emperor arrives, they will all follow! I’m just not certain of the exact details of that one yet. If more is known about his attributes, such as the fire element or body dao, then the choice would be simple.
“If he cultivates fire, then we lay our plans at the volcano. If he isn’t of the fire attribute, then Coiled Dragon Well is a better option. Body dao is suitable for all cultivators.”
Li Hao nodded, that was a good point.
“Skycloud cultivators focus on the elements,” Big Claw continued. “So based on current information, it’s better to commence our plans at the volcano. But he’ll most likely be a sixth rank because Senior Void is a fifth rank. They’ll send someone stronger to prevent Senior Void from gaining the upper hand.”
“A sixth rank is good. I would think that I’m missing out otherwise,” Li Hao laughed. “This is good!”
The volcano was the territory of a sixth rank, the fellow daoist of fire that he’d met last time. That seemed to be a very powerful person!
And the key wasn’t about killing the exalted emperors, but that the chaos tribulation was sure to descend after killing the exalted emperors. It might be a seventh rank then!
Therefore, he had to retain as much energy as possible when killing them, to defend himself against the tribulation. He would be in trouble otherwise. If he expended all of his energy like before, he would not be able to stand against a seventh rank tribulation with the strength of a third rank.
The tribulation he’d faced before had only been sixth rank.
“Ah yes, there is something else...”
“Please go ahead, milord!”
“Get Void out here in a moment of need!” Li Hao laughed. “He should be in Demon Summit. I might need to weather a tribulation after I kill people. I won’t disturb him if possible, but if I am having issues surviving the tribulation, yell at him to come out.”
“That is no problem,” Big Claw quickly said. “But... will he listen to me?”
“There shouldn’t be a problem. Once all the exalted emperors are dead, enter Demon Summit if I need you to at a critical moment. There shouldn’t be any danger inside now—there’s no dark puppets anymore. Rush straight for the hall in the center and yell for him.”
Dao chess wasn’t closed door cultivation; it was simply comprehension of dao. Any major disturbance in the outside world could be sensed.
“Just shout my name. If Void can’t hear it, shout for dao chess!”
Dao chess?
Big Claw didn’t understand, but he committed it to memory with a nod.
Li Hao finished all of his preparations with a few more instructions. He needed to act fast. Otherwise, it would be hard for the faction leader to rush back once he got too far away. He needed to think about them and make sure they hadn’t traveled outside the range of communication yet.
All of them could come at him!
The young man tilted his head in the direction of Dragon Observatory.
I’m going to commence a massacre this time!
Was the sixth rank that’d followed him before from Skycloud? Would it be that one sent to Skyward? If so, things would be very interesting indeed.
Li Hao thought of this possibility because Skycloud was very far away from Skyward. If the sixth rank had been part of Skycloud, then he wouldn’t need to follow the Observatory leader’s group. Silver Moon hadn’t been too far away from Skyward. With the strength of a sixth rank, he could easily make his way to Skyward.
What if... I eliminate that guy as well? He got away last time, who knows how much he saw?
The strength of the seventh rank fire envoy...
There wouldn’t be much problem with borrowing it, since they had a prior relationship established. Calling upon the person once more wouldn’t be an issue. It was just, borrowed seventh rank strength didn’t make him a real seventh rank at the end of the day.
I hope it won’t be too weak and last a bit longer. Otherwise, it really will be tough to survive the tribulation.
......
Li Hao had decided to set forth in slaughter.
In the chaos.
A sixth rank was speeding towards Skyward. Li Hao had guessed correctly! It was the sixth rank that’d fled from the Silver Moon battle. He was yet to return to Skycloud ever since leaving his home. He’d planned on going home a few days ago, but received orders that sent him to Dragon Observatory in lieu of its leader.
Of course, this was also for his own good. The Observatory leader was taking a group of people to fight the Sword Sovereign. As a member of Skycloud’s inner circle, it was better if he held down the fort in Dragon Observatory.
Besides, Skycloud didn’t wish to meet New Martial head-on. Dragon Observatory was just a fringe faction, whereas the sixth rank was a Skycloud exalted emperor. He was a bonafide member of Skycloud major world; it was easy for others to detect the great dao of a major world on him.