Lan Xiaobu did plan to go to Anluo Heavenly City, but not immediately. He knew the Immortality Conference was still decades away, so he intended to use that time to enter seclusion. Before capturing Guan Yuxue, he wouldn’t have considered this, but now, having obtained a Cosmic Heart, things were different.
When he cultivated with a Cosmic Heart on Saint Island, his cultivation was too low to tap even a fraction of its value. Now, with another in hand, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity. Combined with his top-grade Dao vein, Lan Xiaobu estimated that even if he couldn’t reach the fifth step of the Great Dao in a few decades, he’d be close.
He returned to One Pure Saint City, this time without transforming his appearance. In Anluo Heavenly City, no one should know his face, and the Heavenly Poison Saint, who did, was already dead.
His purpose in One Pure Saint City was to buy jade slips detailing chaotic regions, as he needed to cultivate in one to break through to the fifth step.
Unexpectedly, at the city gate, he saw a wanted poster. He assumed it was for him but didn’t worry—nobody knew his appearance or Dao. How could they hunt him?
But the poster’s contents stunned him. It wasn’t for him but for someone named Xinghe Mo.
The reason for the bounty was staggering: Xinghe Mo had killed Yin Yuan, the son of the Fanhe Heavenly Court’s Heavenly Emperor, in the Fanhe World. While being pursued, he also killed Zhan Ting, the court’s First Saint Minister. Afterward, he stole a pair of top-grade yin-yang Dao veins and a Chaos Nirvana Heart. The poster specified Xinghe Mo’s strength as fourth-step Great Dao, mastering thunder-based Dao techniques and void array patterns.
Even Lan Xiaobu was impressed. He’d destroyed the Holy Sword Palace and killed the granddaughter of Guan Chong, one of the True Derivation Holy Dao’s four saints, but he hadn’t dared kill a Heavenly Emperor’s son or a First Saint Minister. This Xinghe Mo was bold.
The Great Universe’s unspoken rule placed the Heavenly Court above all. By killing such figures, Xinghe Mo had violated the ruling class’s code, making a cross-world manhunt unsurprising.
Shaking his head, Lan Xiaobu entered the city, bought jade slips about chaotic regions from a major rest house, and left One Pure Saint City.
But just outside, he sensed he was being followed. Speeding up, he planned to leave quickly, avoiding trouble regardless of who it was.
“Could it be Friend Lan?” a voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Lan Xiaobu stopped abruptly.
Few here knew his name—Shi Changxing and the Heavenly Emperor of Moru World…
He didn’t need to guess. A figure swiftly appeared before him: Ce Ku Huijing, the Heavenly Emperor of Moru World.
Lan Xiaobu frowned slightly. He hadn’t revealed his appearance, so how did Ce Ku know? Then it clicked—Ce Ku had deduced his involvement in the Holy Sword Palace’s destruction and the Listen Dao Ship’s hijacking. As Moru World’s Heavenly Emperor, Ce Ku could easily investigate the passengers on the Listen Dao Ship.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu’s pause, Ce Ku Huijing clasped his fists, “I guessed it was you from the chaos unicorn and the chaos Dao body woman from the Holy Sword Palace. As Moru World’s Heavenly Emperor, I didn’t even need to investigate—the appearances and origins of those on the Listen Dao Ship are in my ring.”
Lan Xiaobu was speechless. After the Listen Dao Ship was hijacked, the Broken Ruins Holy Alliance pressured Moru Heavenly Court to investigate. Naturally, Ce Ku, as Heavenly Emperor, had to make a show of recording all passengers’ appearances.
Lan Xiaobu returned the gesture, “Greetings, Emperor Ce Ku.” He neither confirmed nor denied. Though Ce Ku was at the sixth step, capturing him wouldn’t be easy.
Ce Ku Huijing bowed, “I’m here to thank you. Without your help, Shi Changxing would’ve taught me a lesson.”
Though he doubted Shi Changxing would kill a Heavenly Emperor, if he had, Ce Ku could only blame his luck. Lan Xiaobu, taking a liking to him, had stepped in to defuse the situation when Shi Changxing pursued him.
“You’re too kind, Emperor,” Lan Xiaobu returned the courtesy. Being recognized didn’t bother him.
Ce Ku Huijing set up a restriction and lowered his voice, “Friend Lan, beware of the Broken Ruins Holy Dao. Their saint envoy, Li Jie, is in Anluo Heavenly City, investigating the Listen Dao Ship hijacking. He’s at the sixth step, practices earth-based techniques, and has a nose like a hound.”
Lan Xiaobu nodded, “Thank you for the warning, Emperor. I understand.”
Ce Ku continued, “One more thing. Weren’t you planning to attend the Immortality Conference? It’s been postponed.”
“Why?” Lan Xiaobu asked, puzzled. By his estimate, it was still about forty years away.
Ce Ku chuckled, “The chaos Dao body. The Holy Sword Palace’s destruction meant no chaos Dao body. Now, all the sects and representatives at the conference are pressuring the Central World. Since they made observing the chaos Dao body a key discussion point, they shouldn’t cancel it. Some Dao Ancestors even believe the Central World should’ve been prepared and not scrapped it just because the body was lost. The Central Heavenly Court is scrambling, postponing the conference to search for a chaos Dao body.”
Lan Xiaobu sneered—finding a chaos Dao body was no easy task. As expected, Ce Ku added, “The Central Heavenly Court pushed the conference back three hundred years, but I doubt it’ll happen even then. If chaos Dao bodies were so easy to find, they wouldn’t be so rare.”
“Thank you, Emperor. This is very useful,” Lan Xiaobu said sincerely.
He planned to enter seclusion to reach the fifth step. Forty years versus three hundred was a huge difference. Being interrupted mid-cultivation was the worst thing for advancing one’s Dao. Stopping near a breakthrough to attend the conference would be disastrous.
Ce Ku smiled, “I saw you buying jade slips about chaotic regions in One Pure Saint City. Planning to find a place to cultivate?”
Lan Xiaobu had vanished into the Jiuyuan Chaotic Region before, and his reappearance suggested his Dao was extraordinary, capable of cultivating in such areas.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t hide it, nodding, “Yes, I need to cultivate for a while. Otherwise, anyone could walk over me.”
Ce Ku gave a wry smile. Walk over you? The Listen Dao Ship was hijacked after shorting you some Dao crystals, the Great Ice Palace was destroyed after buying your chaos unicorn, and the Holy Sword Palace fell after buying your friend. I’m just glad I didn’t listen to my daughter and kick you off the teleportation array, or Moru Heavenly Court might’ve been next.
Keeping those thoughts to himself, he said, “If you’re looking to cultivate, I suggest the Great Universe Valley.”
Lan Xiaobu looked at Ce Ku curiously, “The Great Universe Valley? I’ve heard of it. Doesn’t it require a Heavenly Court token to enter, with even major courts limited to one or two slots?”
From studying jade slips, Lan Xiaobu knew the Great Universe Valley was one of the Central World’s most renowned places, filled with pure chaotic energy. Free of other Dao principles, it allowed rapid condensation and clarity of one’s own Dao, revealing flaws in one’s path. It was ideal for cultivation below the seventh step, though unsuitable for breaking through to it.
Ce Ku handed Lan Xiaobu a token, “Moru Heavenly Court has two tokens for the Great Universe Valley. I’ll give you one.”
“What…” Lan Xiaobu stared in surprise. Though he’d helped Ce Ku with a word, their relationship wasn’t close enough for such a gift.
Ce Ku said earnestly, “Moru Heavenly Court lacks talent. The Great Universe seems peaceful, but a storm is brewing. Brother Lan, you’re from Moru World, and we’re friends. I only hope that if you gain the ability in the future, you’ll lend Moru World a hand.”
