Lan Xiaobu didn’t use his divine sense to scan who the Yong Ye Saint was welcoming. With such a grand reception and the saint personally greeting them, it had to be someone extraordinary. If he probed, he’d be detected immediately.
Turning to the people still trapped in the sand, Lan Xiaobu counted twelve. The strongest among them was nearly on par with Shan Bu’ang of Li Zhou Palace.
Shan Bu’ang was a top-tier Ninth-Turn Saint. Regardless of who Yong Ye Saint was imprisoning, Lan Xiaobu waved his hand, and with a single motion, all twelve trapped cultivators were swept out of the sand prison, landing on the sandy surface.
Even the proven cultivator whose eyes were nearly covered by sand was pulled free with one tug, landing on the sand. The middle-aged man who’d first begged for help stared in shock. This wasn’t just a simple extraction, the sand prison locked its captives with top-tier rules, not just binding and devouring ones, but spatial and five-element rules too.
For Lan Xiaobu to enter the prison unaffected and rescue others was already impressive. The man had assumed saving all dozen would take days, given each person’s unique bindings required unraveling specific rules. Yet, with one casual sweep, Lan Xiaobu freed them all, their restraints crumbling away.
Was this the power of an Eternal Saint? “Junior Jiao Qingxu of Qingmu Star thanks Senior for saving my life. Your divine abilities are astounding,” the middle-aged man said, bowing deeply. He was a Ninth-Turn Saint, the strongest present.
“You’re Sect Leader Jiao?” a weathered-looking man exclaimed, clearly recognizing Jiao Qingxu.
Evidently, Jiao Qingxu was a well-known figure. He gave a wry smile, “My star’s probably been destroyed. What sect leader am I now?” The weathered man said no more, instead leading a woman to Lan Xiaobu and bowing, “Junior Tai Qiongshan thanks Senior for saving us. This is my partner, Zou Yin’er. We’re from Chongyue Star’s Xingcheng Sect and were mistakenly trapped here.”
Tai Qiongshan was a Sixth-Turn Saint, his aura frail, while Zou Yin’er, a Fifth-Turn Saint, was equally weakened, likely reduced below First-Turn strength. After them, the others came forward to thank Lan Xiaobu, but he shook his head inwardly. Most wouldn’t even give their names, let alone origins. Whatever their fears, it irked him, he was their savior, after all.
Still, he hadn’t come specifically for them, just acted in passing. “Everyone, I can get you out of this sand prison, but escaping Yong Ye Lan is up to your own abilities,” Lan Xiaobu said coolly.
He wasn’t planning to leave Yong Ye Lan yet, he intended to confront the Yong Ye Saint. “Senior, my injuries are severe. I can’t escape Yong Ye Lan alone. But I know of a saint vein location. If Senior takes me out, I’ll reveal it to you,” a Seventh-Turn Saint said, bowing earnestly.
Lan Xiaobu’s anger flared. Being too lenient was a mistake. He’d asked for nothing, just saved them casually, and now they withheld their origins and dangled a saint vein to bargain for more help. Did they think he’d rescued dogs?
If this man had offered the saint vein upfront as thanks, Lan Xiaobu would’ve taken him without a word. But as a transaction? He had no saint veins himself, but he wouldn’t save such a person either.
Before he could respond, three more stepped forward, bowing, “This saint vein was discovered by the four of us. We’re willing to give it to Senior. We only ask to borrow your power to leave Yong Ye Lan.”
Lan Xiaobu nodded calmly, as if pleased with the offer. Seeing this, another spoke, “Senior, I don’t have a saint vein, but I have a saint flame to offer.” Lan Xiaobu nodded again. The man said “offer” but didn’t produce it, clearly waiting until they were out. His earlier rescue from the sand and removal of restraints? Ignored or taken for granted.
Lan Xiaobu sighed inwardly at their ingratitude. They acted as if his effortless rescue was their due, offering no names or origins in thanks.
After those five, two more stepped up, one offering a thousand top-grade divine spirit veins, another two chaos divine spirit veins. Lan Xiaobu nodded each time. When the last two didn’t approach, he asked, “What about you two?”
One, looking ashamed, said, “I only have some high-grade divine spirit veins, nothing worthwhile. I know Senior wouldn’t care for them.” He opened his world to show it. Seeing this, the other quickly did the same. Their worlds indeed held little, less than a thousand high-grade veins combined. The first man’s shame seemed genuine, his aura’s flicker not escaping Lan Xiaobu. Though he hadn’t shared his origin earlier, Lan Xiaobu didn’t mind, guilt showed some gratitude. The second, however, briefly opened his world before sealing it. Lan Xiaobu’s keen sense caught a blood-sealed treasure in a corner, beyond innate rank, with a soul-nourishing warmth, likely a dao fruit tree rivaling the Five-Needle Pine.
Tai Qiongshan and Zou Yin’er approached awkwardly, bowing, “Senior, we only have some high-grade divine spirit veins, nothing valuable.” They didn’t open their worlds, but their expressions told Lan Xiaobu they spoke truthfully and had given up on being saved.
Jiao Qingxu sighed, “My Qingmu Star was overrun by Yong Ye Lan’s forces. Knowing I couldn’t escape, I gave everything to my disciple to flee.”
He felt helpless. If Lan Xiaobu demanded payment, he’d be stuck. He didn’t find it unreasonable, rescue in such a place warranted reward. Lan Xiaobu’s ability was his own, no one was owed it.
Lan Xiaobu laughed, “Alright, let’s go.” With a wave, five streams of spatial force surged out. In an instant, those caught in it vanished, reappearing outside Yong Ye Palace. Looking up, they saw Yong Ye Lan’s flowing waters.
Jiao Qingxu and the others stared at Lan Xiaobu in disbelief. “Senior, we’re…” He noticed Lan Xiaobu had saved the Reincarnation Saint, his original target, plus Tai Qiongshan, Zou Yin’er, and the man with the empty world. Oddly, the other who’d opened his world was left behind.
“Senior…” Tai Qiongshan and Zou Yin’er looked at Lan Xiaobu, overjoyed. They’d expected abandonment, yet he’d skipped others instead.
In that instant, everyone understood why. Had those promising treasures offered them after the initial rescue, Lan Xiaobu would’ve taken them along, likely without accepting the goods. But they’d treated his first act as a given, only bargaining when asking for more, souring his view of them.
“Senior’s honor shines bright. I, Jiao Qingxu, am humbled. Your life-saving grace will stay with me forever,” Jiao Qingxu said, bowing again with emotion.
The Reincarnation Saint chuckled, “Our Dao Lord never saves the selfish. Those left in the sand are ingrates, why bother?”
Lan Xiaobu waved it off, “I’m Lan Xiaobu, younger than you all. Call me a fellow cultivator. I’ll take you out of Yong Ye Lan soon, but first, I’ve got business with the Yong Ye Saint. Why’d he grab my friend? Wait here.” He had a hunch, likely tied to the Seven Realms Stone.
“Friend Lan, though my strength’s faded, I’ve still got some fight. I’d like to join you,” Jiao Qingxu said promptly.
Tai Qiongshan and Zou Yin’er added, “We’re willing to stand with Senior too.” Jiao could call him a peer, they didn’t dare.
