The Eternal Life Saint knew that revealing the Vast Bell would likely cause some unease for the Reflective Path Saint and the Thunder Saint, but he could no longer afford to care. Why had the Heavenly Mechanism Saint left? It was because Mo and Lan were growing too quickly.
However, one thing he was certain of was that the Heavenly Mechanism Saint didn’t know he possessed the Vast Bell. If he could use the Vast Bell to suppress Mo and Lan, he could eliminate them before they fully matured. Once these two heaven-defying existences were dealt with, wouldn’t the Land of Eternal Life be under his control, Qin Tang’s, alone?
“Three fellow Daoists, it’s been a while. May I come in and sit?” Just as they reached a tentative agreement, an abrupt voice interrupted.
The Eternal Life Saint frowned and immediately stood up. The three of them were Creation Saints, yet someone had stealthily appeared in the Creation Market’s Great Hall without them noticing? Was there such a powerhouse in the Land of Eternal Life?
“Which friend is it? Since you’re here, come in and sit,” he said, though his domain had already fully extended outward.
Not only the Eternal Life Saint but also the Reflective Path Saint and the Thunder Saint extended their domains completely.
The newcomer, however, seemed utterly unconcerned by the overlapping domains of the three Creation Saints and leisurely walked into the hall.
“It’s you? Friend Zhuang?” The Reflective Path Saint stared at the newcomer in shock, almost unable to believe his eyes.
The person was none other than the Indestructible Saint, Zhuang Yinchen, another Creation Saint. Hadn’t it been said that Zhuang Yinchen had long fallen, which was why his disciple, Zhuang Yongzi, continued to uphold his name in the Indestructible Sea? If Zhuang Yinchen hadn’t fallen, why didn’t he step forward when the Heaven and Earth Saint went to the Indestructible Sea, killed Zhuang Yongzi, and destroyed it?
But soon, the three noticed something amiss. Although Zhuang Yinchen was still a Creation Saint, his cultivation seemed to be at the Creation Realm.
“Friend Zhuang, what’s going on?” The Eternal Life Saint sat back down. Zhuang Yinchen’s current strength posed no threat to them.
Zhuang Yinchen clasped his fists and said, “To wait for you three, I’ve been living here for many years. Unfortunately, you never came until today.”
The three then realised that Zhuang Yinchen had been waiting in this hall for them, perhaps for years, which explained why they hadn’t noticed him earlier.
“Friend Zhuang, please sit and talk,” the Reflective Path Saint gestured to a chair. He knew Zhuang Yinchen was aligned with them. Besides, someone not on their side wouldn’t dare show up at this moment.
“So, the rumours outside about Friend Zhuang’s fall were false?” the Reflective Path Saint asked after Zhuang Yinchen sat down.
Zhuang Yinchen sighed, “My Great Path reached a turning point. Although I didn’t fall, I created a new method to build a new foundation for my Great Path. Unfortunately, just as my second Great Path was about to succeed, it was disrupted by an ant named Lan Xiaobu, who destroyed my second foundation. Because I was rebuilding my method, my strength was greatly diminished. Otherwise, that scoundrel Gu Yuechen, who dared to destroy my Indestructible Sea, would never have left.”
Though Zhuang Yinchen didn’t explain in detail, everyone understood. He had felt his original Great Path was limited, so he created a new method to build a second foundation. But before it could succeed, Lan Xiaobu destroyed it.
And because Zhuang Yinchen was focused on this second foundation, his strength had plummeted. Thus, when the Heaven and Earth Saint attacked, he could only flee.
“Friend Zhuang, you likely know we’re planning to eliminate Mo and Lan. Do you have any suggestions?” the Eternal Life Saint asked slowly.
Though Zhuang Yinchen spent much time in seclusion, he was generally aligned with them. Moreover, his pursuit of the Indestructible Great Path made him exceptionally powerful.
Zhuang Yinchen clasped his fists again. “I came out precisely for this matter. Though I didn’t dare eavesdrop on your conversation, I suspect you three are planning to besiege Mo and Lan in the City of Eternal Life.”
The Eternal Life Saint nodded, not hiding his intent. “Indeed. I plan to use my Vast Bell to suppress the City of Eternal Life and refine the entire city.”
Though Zhuang Yinchen had been hiding here, he hadn’t dared to fully eavesdrop on their conversation. Hearing that the Eternal Life Saint possessed the Vast Bell, he was momentarily shocked but quickly regained his composure. With a sigh, he said, “If you follow Friend Eternal Life’s plan, I’m afraid it will fail.”
The Eternal Life Saint frowned and said coolly, “Friend Zhuang, I trust you know of the Vast Bell.”
Zhuang Yinchen nodded. “Of course. It’s the foremost soul treasure. Even a Creation Saint likely couldn’t withstand three chimes. If you used the Vast Bell against others, even Creation Saints, it would surely succeed. But it won’t work against Mo and Lan because there’s a treasure that can counter the Vast Bell.”
“What treasure?” the Thunder Saint asked instinctively.
Zhuang Yinchen said deliberately, “The Cosmic Dimensional Model. The Cosmic Dimensional Model can construct any dimensional structure. After the first chime, as long as the Cosmic Dimensional Model is present, it can build the dimensional structure of the chime’s Great Path laws in the shortest time and find a way to resist it. Thus, if Mo and Lan can block the first chime, the subsequent two will have no effect on them. Even if they don’t react in time, they can use the Cosmic Dimensional Model to block the following chimes.”
Let alone two chimes, once the Cosmic Dimensional Model constructs the dimensional structure of the chime’s Great Path, even chiming from morning to night would likely have no effect on those protected by it.
“The Cosmic Dimensional Model is indeed precious, but it’s said to have been lost long ago, never seen in the light of day. It’s merely a rumoured existence. Though Mo and Lan obtained a near heaven-opening treasure, it’s unlikely they could have the Cosmic Dimensional Model, is it? On what basis does Friend Indestructible suspect it’s with them?” the Thunder Saint said.
The Reflective Path Saint and the Eternal Life Saint stared at Zhuang Yinchen. They knew that if Zhuang Yinchen mentioned the Cosmic Dimensional Model, he wasn’t speaking without reason.
Zhuang Yinchen took a deep breath. “I suspect the Cosmic Dimensional Model is with Lan Xiaobu.”
“Just a suspicion?” The Eternal Life Saint frowned. If it was only a suspicion, what was the point of saying it?
Zhuang Yinchen continued, “Though it’s a suspicion, I’m over ninety percent certain the Cosmic Dimensional Model is with Lan Xiaobu. When I was building my first foundation, the clone I severed took my Indestructible Great Path with it.”
“Are you saying Lan Xiaobu used the Cosmic Dimensional Model to construct your Indestructible Path Scroll?” the Reflective Path Saint asked, puzzled.
Zhuang Yinchen explained, “My Indestructible Path Scroll only sent a tiny portion of its method to a lower plane to attract those with talent for the Indestructible Great Path to my clone, where I was cultivating my second Great Path. This would allow me to perfect my second Great Path faster. But when Lan Xiaobu used the Cosmic Mill, I clearly felt that he was no stranger to the Indestructible Great Path, as if it were his own. That’s obviously impossible. The only possibility is that Lan Xiaobu used the Cosmic Dimensional Model to reconstruct my Indestructible Great Path Scroll.”
Though they already knew the Cosmic Mill was with Lan Xiaobu, hearing the Indestructible Saint confirm it still sent a thrill through the group. If they could capture Lan Xiaobu, the Cosmic Mill would be theirs.
“That still doesn’t prove he used the Cosmic Dimensional Model to construct your Indestructible Great Path, does it?” the Eternal Life Saint said.
Zhuang Yinchen gave a self-deprecating smile. “But my Indestructible Path Scroll became blank. All its contents vanished. Doesn’t that prove it?”
The group fell silent. This clearly indicated that Lan Xiaobu had the Cosmic Dimensional Model.
“Since Friend Indestructible is here, you must have a plan, right?” the Reflective Path Saint asked.
Zhuang Yinchen nodded. “I need your help to retrieve my Indestructible Hammer. Once I have it and my cultivation improves, I’m confident I can eliminate those two. My enmity with Lan Xiaobu is irreconcilable—he not only destroyed my second Path soul but also used the Cosmic Mill to grind me into nothingness. This grudge cannot coexist.”
“Where is your Indestructible Hammer?” The Reflective Path Saint couldn’t help asking again. As a Creation Saint, he lacked a heaven-opening treasure, which frustrated him.
Look at the Heavenly Mechanism Saint who fled, the Heaven and Earth Saint who was killed, or even the Indestructible Saint before him, who, despite being half-dead, had a Creation treasure. Why didn’t he?
Zhuang Yinchen didn’t directly answer the Reflective Path Saint’s question but instead asked, “I heard the Heavenly Mechanism Saint left. Do you know why he departed the Land of Eternal Life?”
“He didn’t believe we could eliminate Mo and Lan,” the Thunder Saint said.
Zhuang Yinchen chuckled. “That may indeed be one reason, but the main reason is that he wanted to take his Great Path a step further.”
“A step further?” The Reflective Path Saint stared at Zhuang Yinchen. His path was the most complex, yet he knew the Creation Saint Realm was the pinnacle.
Zhuang Yinchen said calmly, “Through the Heavenly Mechanism Bone, the Heavenly Mechanism Saint learned that Creation Saints aren’t truly Eternal Life Saints. Above the Creation Saint lies the fourth step of the Great Path, a level beyond sainthood. Thus, for the Heavenly Mechanism Saint, the most precious thing wasn’t the Heavenly Mechanism Disk but the Heavenly Mechanism Bone. After losing the bone, he felt there was no need to linger here and chose to leave. If I’m not mistaken, he’s gone to seek the fourth step.”
The Eternal Life Saint was visibly moved. “Friend Indestructible, did you create a second Great Path to surpass the Creation Saint Realm?”
The Indestructible Saint nodded gravely. “Indeed, that was my intention, but unfortunately, I fell short.”
“Please enlighten us further,” the Eternal Life Saint stood and bowed to Zhuang Yinchen.
He had vaguely sensed something before, but it was unclear. Now that Zhuang Yinchen had spoken, it became clear. Previously, his senses were vague because he couldn’t feel the end of his lifespan, assuming he was eternal.
