Chapter 2083: The Human King Knows Me Well (IV)

“I knew that this wouldn’t go well from the very beginning, that it would be a tough negotiation!” Li Hao laughed. “We’re all domineering overlords here, well, I’m not. But I can’t keep giving way just because I’m not domineering, now can I?

“I’m willing to give you the Heaven’s Stratagem, but you don’t want it. I can trade six eight ranks and Chaos Sky major world for my master, but you don’t want to either. You want to take me out of the picture, but are concerned that the ninth ranks will get involved.

“You’d like to kill me, but are afraid that the dao of time will shatter...” Li Hao laughed again and looked at the rest. “There were actually quite a few people who could kill me before this. Skyward’s replica, Calamity’s replica, Long Zhan, Spring Autumn, Chaos Sky... All of you guys could’ve done it.

“All of you simply spoke about it, yet never made up your minds to do so. You weren’t willing to pay the price required to really kill me. Other than Senior Human King, each of you have some reservations in mind. Everyone... has some higher goals in mind.

“That includes even Long Zhan. You wouldn’t necessarily have actually been willing, had everyone agreed to your proposal just now. You were just... giving yourself an out.”

The dragon furrowed his brows.

“What you guys are wary of isn’t me,” Li Hao continued. “It’s the ninth ranks and the dao of time! So I have to thank War for giving me so many opportunities and chances to survive! The dao that he left for me has been immensely useful in helping me get to where I am!”

The young man spoke sincerely because it was the truth. War had given him a lot of opportunities. It’d saved his life on so many occasions!

Weaklings can’t do anything about time, so they can’t kill me. The strong need time and are worried that no one else can command it, so they hesitate when they can kill me. Whether it was Calamity or Skyward’s replica, no one really wanted to take me down.

They just wanted to suppress or capture me, and that includes even Chaos Sky. It wasn’t me that they really wanted to kill.

Long Zhan has also repeatedly gone easy in the four regions and didn’t bring his full strength to bear against me. Why?

Because of time as well!

“And due to the existence of time, I’ve received so many instances of lenience and preferential treatment,” said Li Hao. “If the dao of time no longer existed or someone else could wield it, then I think...people might choose to dispose of me, the biggest troublemaker, first.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Chaos Sky?” smiled the young man. “If it wasn’t for the dao of time, you’d probably beat me to death with one punch right now. You wouldn’t spend so much time talking to me.

“First you want to make me second-in-command, next you discuss various compromises with me. Fellow Daoist Spring Autumn is the same. She’s deathly afraid that I’ll surrender to you or of anything else happening to me. That’s why she’s finding ways to rescue me...”

“So you know what’s going on, eh?” laughed the Human King. “And here I thought you actually believed that everyone likes you!”

“How would I ever think that?” snorted Li Hao. “I’m not a fan favorite! I’ve killed a lot of people in my rise and offended even more. I’ve killed even Long Zhan’s wife, but he’s so polite toward me. What, is he going to bring me home as his wife instead?”

The dragon scowled, Feng Yan brooded, and Black Tiger simmered with killing intent. Li Hao was detestable and needed to die!

“Apart from New Martial not sharing too many grudges with me, everyone else in this age... is more or less my enemy! I’ve also stolen the Human King’s limelight a few times. If I were an enemy, you would’ve slapped me to death a long time ago...”

“That’s right!” Fang Pang roared with merry laughter. “But I forgive you since you’re my junior!”

The two engaged in a merry song and dance.

“I think you’re growing a bit tired of living, kid,” laughed the Human King. “How about this—establish your chaos and forsake time. Hack chaos dao into two and let it struggle for a bit while you’re at it! That will interfere with the ninth ranks from returning, and you’ll be completely free without time!

“You’ll be able to kill whoever you want, and those who want you dead will no longer show you any mercy. What the hell are you worth without time? No one will stop you if you want to die. Isn’t that the case?”

“Senior Human King... you know me inside and out!” Li Hao grinned radiantly. “It’s like you’re a fly in my brain...”

“The fuck kinda comparison is that?” cursed the amused Human King. “Kid, shut up if you don’t know how to use analogies! What’s that mouth of yours worth? Do you think I wouldn’t know what you’ve got cooking? Everyone’s here. Once you establish your chaos, all scores can be settled!

“Of course, what they’re more worried about now is that you’ll be stronger after you create that chaos. Maybe you’ll head straight for ninth rank! Will you be able to give up the dao of time then?

“I believe in you, but no one else does!” Fang Ping threw his head back with laughter. “Seriously, I do! I think that time has given a lot to you, but also imposed a lot of restraints at the same time. You’re an extremely hypocritical person and would be too embarrassed to kill someone if they weren’t gunning for you.

“Simply speaking, you’re a drama queen! You won’t be satisfied unless you torture yourself for a bit!” hooted the Human King. “I know people like you all too well! You’re hypocritical to the very core of your being, but you think it’s justice! Heh, that’s right as well, since justice is fake!”

Fang Ping surveyed the surroundings, still hooting with laughter. “We’re different from Li Hao, we don’t play around like that. Li Hao wants to establish his own chaos, give up his river of dao, and incorporate time into it to select the third generation wielder of time.

“Do you believe that’s what he wants to do? If you do, then let him achieve his heart’s desire. If not, we’ll have some fun on our hands today!”

“My parents gave me life, but the Human King knows my mind,” Li Hao sighed with emotion. “If anyone speaks ill of you in the future, Human King... I’ll cut him into two.”

The Human King’s laughter intensified before ending in a curse. “Do I need your help in cutting people down? Do you think you’re stronger than me?”

He snorted at the kid’s audacity.

It was only now that the rest knew what Li Hao wanted to do. The look in Chaos Sky’s eyes shifted.

Li Hao... wants to establish another chaos! I see! And he wants to do so here...

Chaos Sky’s expression darkened. This is the western region, this is my territory. He wants to set his plans into motion here, that bastard!

Spring Autumn and a few others also digested what they’d heard. The cicada looked around rapidly, cursing under her breath.

I wondered why you weren’t leaving! You’re seriously the absolute worst! So me running around for reinforcements was within your expectations as well?

Fuck you, brat!

Presences began to shake the surroundings. Chaos Sky looked coldly at Li Hao.

You may establish your chaos, but you may not do so in the west. That is one condition.

And the second was... he didn’t believe that Li Hao would give up the river of dao. That meant the young man would be stronger after establishing his chaos!

He would be an unparalleled threat then.

No one knew what the benefits of Li Hao’s course of action were, but his comprehension of great dao would increase, at the very least. The young man might spontaneously establish six thousand worlds, or even seven thousand.

Would they be able to defeat him then?

......

At the same time, in the depths of the chaos.

“Disorder has failed.” The Skyward master abruptly opened his eyes. “Li Hao may be establishing his chaos soon. The west is a good region to do so. Today may be when we see if the third generation cultivator of time can appear, or Li Hao continues to wield time.

“Everyone, do we wait or do we interfere again so that we might control time?”

His question prompted many other statues to open their eyes.

Establish his chaos?

Today?

How could that be?

But since Skyward had spoken, he was clearly seeing something that the rest of them couldn’t. He’d sensed something that’d passed them by.

The depths of the chaos began shaking. Should they stop Li Hao or not?

......

Outside Chaos Sky major world.

Powerhouses forested the void. There were more than a dozen eighth rank presences.

Establish a chaos?

Here?

Now?

Chaos Sky brooded.

Whether or not Li Hao would actually proceed as the Human King said and relinquish his river of dao and time...

Alright, fine. He probably wouldn’t. Any normal person wouldn’t do so. Setting that aside, his chosen location was the western region.

What kind of joke was that?!

This was his base of operations and where he’d resided for many years. He’d built a formidable Chaos Sky system. Li Hao wanted to upend it for his own purposes?

You’re joking.

Chaos Sky was no longer smiling. He’d recovered his customary aloof composure.

“Li Hao, is this all a big joke to you?” he bit off, shaking the worlds. “I have disposed of Disorder today and do not wish to cause further unrest! I have your master, but I have no wish to kill him. Hand over the others, withdraw from the west, and leave behind the Heaven’s Stratagem. I will figure out what to do about the power of faith!”

He chose to take a step back. Although that power was a thorny issue, it could be slowly whittled away so long as it was separated from its source.

Li Hao smiled without a response. He turned to his teacher.

Yuan Shuo was also looking at Li Hao. The old man seemed to see something, or see through something. He smiled and shrugged with some resignation.

“Little Hao... I lived off you for many years, but you... you’re ruthless!” he said softly. “Who treats their teacher this way? I’m still alive, alright?”

“Teacher, my dao has reached its limit!” Li Hao smiled faintly. “This is how I’ve always been. To those of the martial world, our face is greater than anything! We know there is a tiger in the mountain, yet we still walk toward it!

“We clearly are unhappy, but must maintain that facade of justice. Just as the Human King says, we are... hypocritical down to our bones!

“I’m hesitating today as well, and don’t really intend to burn all of my boats. Teacher, this is the end of the road for me if I fail here. I will bring you back if I succeed. What do you say?”

Chaos Sky’s eyes widened. What did the young man mean?

“Can you do it?” Yuan Shuo laughed. “Although I’ve always trusted you... you’re not that reliable sometimes.”

“I don’t know... Teacher, do you believe in the secret art of the Five Styles?”

“Of course I do,” Yuan Shuo laughed. He really understood now.

This disciple of mine...

He suddenly understood why Li Hao had wanted him to absorb the strength of the five elements. He was worried that there wouldn’t be enough elemental strength, that it wouldn’t pierce through the barrier, right?

Other people kill enemies to offer as sacrifice, but you bastard want to kill your teacher!

You will pay for failure with your life!

You’ll bring me back if you succeed, whereas both of us will head to the underworld together if you fail?

You’re seriously ruthless and willing to give it all up. Am I the only one in the chaos who is worthy of going with you?

That... seems nice as well.

As expected, we’re closest to each other at the end of the day!