Chapter 1936: Conclusion of Battle (III)
The human seventh rank worlds in the four regions weren’t that far away and there were more than just one or two of them. They would be able to quickly reach the battlefield. If only one or two were in the vicinity, then it would be normal for them to abstain from joining the fight. They might easily die with such low numbers.
And yet, that wasn’t the case. There were more than a dozen seventh ranks nearby!
If they all acted at the same time, the humans would absolutely be able to eliminate the chaos beast seventh ranks! But not a single one showed up!
This was an utterly tragic discovery for the outer region exalted emperors. In their eyes, human exalted emperors of the four regions were ruthless and battle crazed. New Martial and Silver Moon were prime examples of that.
Why was this the situation that faced them now??
It had been a very short period of time since Long Zhan conquered the four regions. The dragon hadn’t devoted any effort to ruling over his new territory. Why was there no resistance?!
Chaos beasts lived on eating humans, did they not know that?? Those beasts hated humans, weren’t these four region humans aware of that??
In the outer regions, chaos beasts were slaves. Since when did slaves ever turn the tables and become masters instead??
A group of human exalted emperors watched with complicated looks in their eyes on the outskirts, but no one opted to join in the fight. The Dragon master was too domineering!
That was one point, the other was that... These outsiders’ homes were outside the four regions. They could run off if they didn’t beat the chaos beasts. But what of the locals who helped them?
The hapless souls could only remain on the spot and await retribution!
And although Long Zhan suppressed them, at least the dragon didn’t destroy their heritage and worlds. Not to mention, the Exalted Emperor Feng Yan was quite friendly toward humans and often saved many of them in secret... [1]
No matter their reason, the local seventh ranks didn’t wish to be involved with the fighting. The troublemakers had all left. If New Martial, Silver Moon, Light, and Thunder World were still present, they might have been able to lead the others into some sort of effort.
But with the departure of those worlds and an early execution of some seventh rank worlds that dared resist... Those left now were those who weren’t willing to involve themselves in other matters.
Long Zhan’s dragon croon echoed through the world and shook the four directions. He fought one against three, but still kept his opponents in check.
“You’ve got some nerve, Arctic Frost!” he snapped. I haven’t gone looking for you guys in the outer regions, how dare you invade us?!
You’ve really got some balls, and you hope that those seventh ranks will join you? That’s never happening!
Any seventh rank with ambition or willing to create a fuss in the four regions has either run off or died. Those left are a bunch of weaklings and cowards. Who would dare help you??
Not to mention, my chaos race hasn’t been defeated yet. There might not be any resistance even if we are defeated!
Arctic Frost was immensely dejected. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. What should he do??
Do they run? Or do they keep fighting?
He was even starting to grow concerned that the human exalted emperors on the outskirts might join the chaos beasts if the fighting dragged on.
River was dead, and dead in a very grisly fashion. He’d been torn apart by a pack of seventh rank chaos beasts. If the situation continued, being mobbed to death would be their eventual fates as well.
In this moment, Arctic Frost fully gave up the notion of seizing the four regions. “Retreat!” he called out with a clench of his teeth.
Exalted emperors began fighting furiously for a way to withdraw.
Long Zhan led his chaos beasts in chasing down the invaders. He wouldn’t let them get away so easily! With Thunder Region in the way up ahead... he would ensure that they left a few of their own behind before passing through the region!
“Any world that dispatches an eighth rank will be exempt from ten thousand years of tributes!” he called out. “The one responsible will also be rewarded an additional one billion dao crystals...”
That prompted the human exalted emperors in the surroundings to stir to action.
Arctic Frost and the other exalted emperors were all the more dejected for this as they quickly ran for their lives. Damn it!
The human cowards of this blasted place actually took orders from an animal! This was the height of disappointment!
The outer regions had thought that the four regions were on par with New Martial and Silver Moon. As it turned out, they’d severely overestimated the rest of the four regions.
The great chase was on!
Seventh ranks of the outer regions continually fell by the wayside. They were beset by chaos beasts and humans alike as soon as they lagged. The remaining seventh and eighth rank fled madly for their lives!
Long Zhan finally gave up the chase when the invaders reached Thunder Region. He was back in human form and looked through the region, taking stock of the situation outside. Confusion and gravity developed in his eyes.
Fighting had broken out in the outer regions again. Who was the victor and who was the vanquished?
He wasn’t certain, just that it’d all happened so quickly. Li Hao and Fang Ping were adept at creating trouble.
Almost none of the foreign seventh ranks had gotten away. Nearly all of the eighth ranks had been able to make their escape.
“Dragon master, should we chase after them?” Feng Yan asked excitedly.
“No.” Long Zhan shook his head and looked solemnly at Thunder Region. “The outer regions are not safe in their current state of upheaval. The chaos race only has a few eighth ranks. There are sixteen eighth rank worlds in the eastern region and they have many eighth ranks. We will be no match for them if they ally together.”
But were there still sixteen?
Gemini was no more and judging from the disturbances filtering through Thunder Region, a few more might have been eliminated.
Long Zhan turned back to look at Skyward. The world was very far away, but it could be clearly seen through the chaos. It was brighter than ever. Many exalted emperors had died near it this time, including one eighth rank. It seemed to have absorbed a great deal of dao strength from the skirmishes.
Skyward seemed ready to revitalize anytime!
......
In the outer regions.
The seventh ranks that’d remained behind at River major world were instantly killed as their defenses toppled. Their dao universe was stripped away and world strength fully extracted.
It was only now that the Human King’s group limped into sight. The Human King panted for breath, sending a savage glare at Supreme Zhang.
The supreme ignored him. The man was alive, what else did he want!
“My thanks for everyone’s help!” The supreme raised a cupped fist salute to those behind the Human King.
It was Li Hao’s first time meeting the New Martial supreme in reality. He took in the sight of an ethereal old man with flowy white hair. This was not the supreme of his memories. That man had been incomparably young. Had the supreme aged after a thousand years, or was he presenting himself this way on purpose?
Li Hao almost failed to recognize the man.
“Li Hao of Silver Moon greets the senior!” The young man offered politely, then looked at Zhang An next to him. The latter was yet to fully recover from his wounds and was still a blackened, charred mess.
He stared at his grandfather, at the man he’d been very afraid of in the early years. But not, he was no longer as frightened. He was more irritated than anything. He’d almost been burned to death without seeing his grandfather again!
Seeing Li Hao glance at him, it was clear that the young man felt that Zhang An might be returning to New Martial now. But... the man wasn’t willing.
Zhang An scanned the New Martial crowd and was a bit disappointed not to see that one...
He looked at his grandfather again, then at his father, older brother, and younger sister among the crowd. They were all exalted emperors now.
The man said nothing else and just nodded at his grandfather. He didn’t say anything about rejoining New Martial.
Meanwhile, the supreme smiled at the charcoal lump that was his grandson. He smiled quite meaningfully!
Kid’s got some nerve! But that’s just as good. He was too restrained in New Martial and didn’t make it to even Empyrean King after many years, much less exalted emperor. But he’s a third rank now! Not bad.
More people encountered their relatives at this reunion.
Celestial Pole stood at the rear of the Silver Moon crowd and noted the presence of his father on the New Martial side. His old man seemed to be twiddling his thumbs at the rear of the New Martial crowd.
Father and son met each other’s eyes, then just as quickly looked away.
Don’t look at me and I won’t look at you. If each of us sticks to a side, then at least one will be alive if the other one dies. Not to mention, it’s too noticeable if there’s too many slackers on one side. No one will mind if we kick back and relax on our respective sides, but if both of us kick back... that’s too obvious.
They understood each other without having to say a word!
Father and son didn’t call out to each other. Just that simple glance through the void was sufficient!
There were quite a few family members present. Capsize Sea on Li Hao’s side had his father and grandfather on the New Martial side, but they seemed to share an unspoken accord. No one spoke of returning to New Martial.
The supreme sized up Li Hao, then looked at the eighth rank, and finally assessed Void.
Void had naturally seen his father, but felt a bit too embarrassed to acknowledge his old man. No one on Li Hao’s side was engaging in a tearful reunion so he should... not either, right? It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to reach out to his father.
“Ming Tang.” Light was the first to break the silence. “You’re seventh rank now, not bad!”
“Father!” Void said awkwardly, then addressed Flare Sun and the other Light exalted emperors. “Uncles...”
He didn’t know what to say next. The atmosphere grew awkward.
“Senior Human King.” Li Hao cut through the undercurrent of emotions. “Since you have returned safely, I shall refrain from further imposing on you!
“Battle broke out rather unexpectedly this time. Reincarnation has withdrawn from the east and the eastern region is a complete mess. If New Martial wishes to establish dominion over the region and requires help, we can offer some assistance...”
“The east is vast and the other three regions are very strong,” chuckled the supreme. “Has the little friend never considered conquering the east with New Martial?”
“That’s alright,” Li Hao shook his head. “I’m not skilled at that and my friends don’t like being tied to one place. They like to roam around. We’ve gathered together for similar interests, dao methods, and to seek dao.
“If we wished to dominate a region... then it might’ve been safer to stay within the four regions.”
1. Lol, Long Zhan’s scheme is working. ☜
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