Blue Sky was about to use the charm of the Qin Heaven Ancient Path to activate the Seven Realms Stone when he sensed an approaching presence. He halted and shouted, “Who’s there?”
With his and Mo Wuji’s current strength, they had no need to fear anyone, nor did they need to flee using the Seven Realms Stone.
A black-robed man appeared outside the Seven Realms Stone. Though his figure was hazy, Blue Sky and Mo Wuji could sense a familiar aura of his Dao principles.
“I feel like I’ve sensed this before,” Mo Wuji said, frowning in thought.
Blue Sky chuckled, “Familiar? This guy is the green-robed enforcer who escaped from Mengmu Dayan. I can’t believe he has the guts to show up here again.”
The black-robed man’s figure became fully clear. Instead of fleeing, he clasped his fists from a distance and said to Mo Wuji and Blue Sky, “Ou Ping greets you both. If you don’t mind, I’d like to board your vessel for a talk.”
Blue Sky opened the Seven Realms Stone’s restrictions. “In that case, come aboard.”
This guy was slippery, with clever escape tactics. If he didn’t want to come up, Blue Sky and Mo Wuji might not have been able to catch him.
Once aboard, Ou Ping’s first words were, “If you two are seeking Qin Qingtian and Meng Yuan, I advise against it. You’ll face certain death.”
“You’re a green-robed enforcer of Mengmu Dayan. Why would you kindly help us?” Mo Wuji said coolly.
Ou Ping replied calmly, “Because I have nowhere else to go. I’ve thought for centuries and realized that my only chance at survival lies with you two. I’ve searched for you for years without success, but I believed you’d eventually come to Haoyuan Universe. So, I built my own hidden space and waited. Fortunately, I wasn’t wrong.”
Before Blue Sky or Mo Wuji could ask, Ou Ping explained, “I was a green-robed protector of Mengmu Dayan—half a step into the Fourth Step of the Great Dao, or, less flatteringly, a failed Fourth Step practitioner. While I managed Mengmu Dayan’s operations in Haoyuan Universe, you two destroyed Mengmu Dayan, killed all its enforcers, and even tore apart its warehouse. I was the only one who escaped. If I returned, I’d either be executed for accountability or handed over to other Mengmu Dayan enforcers as a scapegoat.”
Blue Sky nodded, “That makes some sense, but we’re enemies. Whether you live or die doesn’t change whether we’d kill you.”
Ou Ping clasped his fists again, “I wish to join you. Though I cultivate the Great Dream Dao and failed to prove it, I believe I can still be useful. For instance, you may not know what lies beyond our universe, why our universe exists, or where the ultimate eternal hall of cultivators is. I know some of these things. And today, I’m here to save your lives.”
Blue Sky and Mo Wuji exchanged a glance, sensing Ou Ping’s immense value.
Blue Sky nodded, “Swear your oath. We’re watching.”
Without hesitation, Ou Ping drew out a strand of his Dao principle, infused it with a wisp of his soul, and touched it with his finger, declaring loudly, “I, Ou Ping, swear to sever ties with Mengmu Dayan from this moment. I will advance and retreat with Blue Sky and Mo Wuji. If I break this oath, may my Great Dao shatter, my soul collapse, and may I be barred from reincarnation, my spirit utterly destroyed.”
After speaking, Ou Ping fused his soul and blood essence into the oath. He knew that with people like Mo Wuji and Blue Sky, playing tricks was worse than not showing up. His oath was sincere.
Blue Sky and Mo Wuji were moved. They could tell Ou Ping’s oath was genuine, and they felt the fusion of his oath with his Dao words.
Blue Sky laughed heartily, clapping Ou Ping’s shoulder, “Brother Ou, from now on, we’re comrades in arms. As long as we’re here, Mengmu Dayan won’t touch you.”
Mo Wuji added, “Exactly. Rest assured, Mengmu Dayan is our enemy too. We’re on the same side now, advancing and retreating together. Now, tell us why you said you’re saving our lives.”
Ou Ping nodded, “I gained some information through careful planning. Before I explain, let me tell you about Qin Qingtian. This man is astonishingly brilliant. I’ve seen many geniuses in the vast cosmos, even Fifth Step powerhouses, but when it comes to cunning and unparalleled talent, I’ve never met anyone who surpasses Qin Qingtian.
When he was still at the Creation Realm, he was trapped in a hall left by an ancient powerhouse, filled with top-tier primordial Dao scrolls and treasures, the most famous being the Qin Heaven Ancient Path.
Trapped with him were several Creation powerhouses, over a dozen Realm-Deriving experts, and hundreds of Creation Realm cultivators. Yet in the end, only he emerged, claiming all the treasures. Everyone else trapped in that hall, except for one remnant soul, perished. I know this because Lou Wuchen met that remnant soul, and he told me.”
Blue Sky and Mo Wuji gasped. This guy was absurdly extraordinary, emerging with treasures while trapped with so many Creation powerhouses.
Ou Ping gave a self-deprecating smile, “So why do you think Mengmu Dayan didn’t dare touch the Qin family in Haoyuan Universe while Qin Qingtian was absent? Because Lou Wuchen knew Qin Qingtian wouldn’t die. A man like him, if he perished, would’ve been blind to fate. And facts proved Lou Wuchen right—Lou Wuchen is dust, but Qin Qingtian still thrives.”
Looking at Blue Sky and Mo Wuji, Ou Ping continued, “So, do you think someone like him would leak his whereabouts or let you know he went to the Qin Heaven Ancient Path?”
“How did you know this?” Blue Sky asked.
Ou Ping said slowly, “Because among the surviving Qin family elders, Qin Nuo is my man. Qin Yuansha let slip some hints, and Qin Nuo told me. When you two appeared here, I figured with your abilities, you’d definitely extract Qin Qingtian’s whereabouts from Qin Yuansha.”
“Is Qin Nuo your man or Mengmu Dayan’s?” Mo Wuji asked abruptly.
Ou Ping replied calmly, “He’s mine, not Mengmu Dayan’s.”
Mo Wuji nodded. A chill ran down both his and Blue Sky’s spines. Qin Qingtian had clearly calculated that they’d leave Molan Universe, come to Haoyuan Universe, and extract his whereabouts from Qin Yuansha.
The more they thought, the more terrified they became. This guy was like a mind-reader, predicting their every move perfectly. Without Ou Ping’s warning, they’d likely already be in the Qin Heaven Ancient Path.
Mo Wuji sighed, “He must know we have the Seven Realms Stone and guessed we’d go to the Qin Heaven Ancient Path, so he left that clue. Truly terrifying.”
Hearing this, Ou Ping thought to himself, as expected. He’d suspected the vessel was the Seven Realms Stone. How else could Mo Wuji and Blue Sky have entered the warehouse? But the Seven Realms Stone alone wasn’t enough—they’d need the warehouse’s charm coordinates too.
But that wasn’t important now. He’d made the right choice. Even if he died, he’d die with clarity. He’d sweated and bled for Mengmu Dayan—why should he take the fall?
Blue Sky fell silent, already using the Universe Model to construct the dimensional structure of this space. Since proving the Creation Saint realm, he and Mo Wuji had grown complacent, acting less cautiously. That had to change.
In the treacherous vast cosmos, carelessness could make him a corpse.
Seeing Blue Sky’s furrowed brow, Mo Wuji knew he was constructing the dimensional structure of this universe’s space.
Half a day later, Blue Sky exhaled.
“How is it?” Mo Wuji asked eagerly.
Blue Sky said, “Good news and bad. The bad news is our every move has been monitored by void array patterns. Qin Qingtian likely knows everything you’ve done since entering Haoyuan Universe. This guy is genuinely terrifying.”
The Universe Model’s constructed structure revealed void surveillance array patterns set by Qin Qingtian.
Mo Wuji’s face darkened. He’d been careless. In terms of void array patterns, he was no weaker than Qin Qingtian, yet he hadn’t noticed these. What was that if not negligence?
“Then I…” Ou Ping’s face paled, as if realizing something.
Blue Sky waved dismissively, “I don’t know if Qin Qingtian found you while you were hiding, but I’m certain he didn’t detect you entering the Seven Realms Stone. Qin Qingtian is impressive, but not so omnipotent as to place surveillance arrays everywhere. It depends on whether you met Qin Nuo. If you did, you’re 100% in Qin Qingtian’s sights.”
Ou Ping relaxed, “No. For centuries, I stayed in one place, unmoving. When Qin Nuo sent me the message, I still didn’t move until I saw you two.”
Blue Sky and Mo Wuji looked at Ou Ping with admiration. This guy was a master at laying low, hiding in one spot for centuries. Was it endurance or fear of death?
