Swallowing a pill, the woman grabbed the Light Dao Scroll marked with her Dao mark. Lan Xiaobu discarding it was expected—if he hadn’t, her arrival would’ve left him no escape.
As she prepared to store the scroll in her ring, something felt off. She opened it, and her face grew even paler.
Aside from her Dao mark’s residue, the Light Dao Scroll was empty.
Her hands trembled. She’d rather die than let that beast have the scroll.
Then, recalling something, she pulled out the Space Dao Scroll. Seeing it too was blank, her entire body shook.
Had the other party used a fake Space Dao Scroll to trade for her Light Dao Scroll? Had she been mistaken?
Standing there for half an incense stick’s time, she sensed something amiss. If the Space Dao Scroll was fake, how had the Eternal Life Trade Hall’s trading laws approved the transaction? Those laws, set by Creation Sages, couldn’t err.
Moreover, the Space Dao Scroll felt different. She had seen the true Space Dao Scroll and proven the Space Dao with it.
“You’re the one who traded the Space Dao Scroll?” A gentle voice interrupted. Before she could extend her divine sense, a powerful Derivation Sage domain swept over, binding all space and domains around her.
Terrified, she spat out a mouthful of essence blood, her form flickering as she tried to escape.
Seeing her fade, a man, in urgency, unleashed a dark beam.
Boom! The beam struck, drawing blood. Her Dao charm collapsed, and her laws fell into chaos. But in that moment, she vanished.
“Not a Space Sage, yet she proved the Space Dao. Impressive…” The elegant man who landed was Zhong He, the Eternal Life Trade Hall’s master.
He glanced at the space where she’d fled, stepping toward it. He’d seen not only the Space Dao Scroll but also the Light Dao Scroll, seemingly retrieved by her. The cultivator who traded with her might have lost everything—perhaps even their life.
…
Deep in a wilderness, Lan Xiaobu appeared abruptly. Swallowing several Dao fruits, he marveled at the attacker’s skill.
Such a silent, traceless Dao mark ambush was beyond him. It required profound mastery of the Space Dao, the ability to manipulate any space, and trigger divine abilities at will. Had he not fled quickly, he might not have escaped.
Under the Longevity Art, his injuries slowly healed. But with his Dao foundation damaged—far worse than physical wounds—full recovery would take time.
Fortunately, his personal Dao, aided by the Dao Tree, could recover in a quiet place. A Dao vein would help, but he had none.
Sighing, he surveyed the wilderness. The cosmic energy was decent, but with his injuries, staying was risky.
Perhaps the Burial Dao Plain was better. With the Light Dao Scroll, he could heal there, prove the twelfth Light Dao law, and ascend to the Eternal Life realm.
As he prepared to summon the Seven Realm Stone, a figure stumbled into view.
Sensing their chaotic Dao charm, clearly gravely wounded—possibly worse than him—Lan Xiaobu noted such incidents were common in the Land of Eternal Life. He couldn’t intervene, nor did he want to, especially with his own injuries and damaged Dao foundation.
Thud! The wounded cultivator, depleted of energy, crashed into the ground, carving a pit.
Lan Xiaobu, unwilling to meddle, was about to leave when the figure gasped, “Run! It’s Zhong He, the Eternal Life Sage’s top disciple. If he finds you, you’re dead…”
Lan Xiaobu paused. The Eternal Life Sage was his enemy, having hunted him. This wounded cultivator, an enemy of the sage, could be an ally. An enemy’s enemy, if not a friend, deserved aid.
Besides, the cultivator hadn’t even seen him yet urged him to flee, suggesting kindness.
Stepping forward, Lan Xiaobu swept the figure into his arms and vanished with his No-Rules Escape Technique.
Moments later, Zhong He arrived, eyeing the pit and surroundings. He’d lost the trail—no escape traces remained for him to follow.
As he held the figure, a faint fragrance and soft warmth revealed it was a woman. To Lan Xiaobu, man or woman, an enemy of the Eternal Life Sage was worth saving.
…
Qi Manwei opened her eyes, sensing a man’s aura. She realized she’d been gravely wounded by Zhong He, and someone had saved her during her escape, now carrying her to safety.
She tried to heal with her cosmic circulation, but her injuries were too severe for quick recovery.
Lan Xiaobu sensed her awakening. Knowing the pursuer was formidable, he didn’t stop, especially with his own injuries. If caught, even the Seven Realm Stone might not save him.
An hour later, Qi Manwei’s injuries stabilized slightly. Then she noticed something wrong—the man holding her carried the aura of her Dao mark divine ability.
She knew her Dao mark ability, designed for ambushes, was detectable only by her. She’d used it only once.
Not a fool, Qi Manwei realized her savior was the one she’d ambushed—the one who took her Light and Space Dao Scrolls.
What a small world. She’d tried to kill him, yet now he’d saved her, carrying her to safety. The thought flashed, replaced by a surge of killing intent. Even if he’d saved her, she’d kill this beast. She didn’t believe his rescue was altruistic.
Though fleeing, Lan Xiaobu sensed her killing intent. He couldn’t fathom it—were there no normal people in the Land of Eternal Life? He’d saved her, yet her first thought was to kill him, not thank him.
He sneered inwardly. He’d hesitated to kill and rob, but if she acted, he’d retaliate, slay her, and plunder her world for resources.
Qi Manwei closed her eyes. Though she doubted his intentions, he had undeniably saved her. Without him, Zhong He would’ve captured her.
But how could she not seek revenge?
After a long pause, she opened her eyes, looking at Lan Xiaobu. “Thank you for saving me. My name…” She stopped, deciding not to reveal it, and shifted, “Are you disguised?”
His tone cold, Lan Xiaobu replied, “Yes, I’m disguised.”
Qi Manwei sighed inwardly—exactly as she’d thought. This was the demon in disguise.
Lan Xiaobu sensed something amiss. Casting aside hesitation, he used the pretext of healing her to probe her body with his divine sense.
She wanted to kill him—why hold back?
Feeling his divine sense aiding her healing, Qi Manwei’s face paled, then flushed. It was the first time a stranger had scanned her so thoroughly.
Wait—his divine essence aura wasn’t right. He’d proven the Space Dao, but this wasn’t its aura. Had she mistaken him? Panic set in at the thought.
Lan Xiaobu realized who she was—the one who traded the Space Dao Scroll and ambushed him with a Dao mark. Had he been less capable, she might’ve killed him. Now in his grasp, he wouldn’t be merciful.
