Lan Xiaobu smiled, “Even if Brother Ce Ku hadn’t said it, if Moru World ever faces trouble and I have the ability, I’d definitely step in to help.”
Ce Ku Huijing was delighted by Lan Xiaobu’s words and added, “When you go to Anluo Heavenly City, be cautious of Shi Changxing.”
Lan Xiaobu asked, puzzled, “Why? I saved his daughter. He wouldn’t turn on me, would he?”
Ce Ku Huijing explained, “He probably wouldn’t openly target you. But Guan Chong sought his help, saying someone was refining his granddaughter Guan Yuxue’s world and asking him to locate them.”
Lan Xiaobu smirked. Shi Changxing was powerful, likely at the eighth step. But breaking through his Longevity Dao’s spatial domain, penetrating the cosmic boundary fused with the Great Severing Technique, and infiltrating the Cosmic Dimension Model? Lan Xiaobu didn’t believe it. If anyone could do that, he’d have been dead long ago.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu’s nonchalance, Ce Ku Huijing grew more confident. Lan Xiaobu’s lack of fear suggested he wasn’t worried about Shi Changxing’s tracking, reinforcing his belief in Lan Xiaobu’s potential.
“Shi Changxing didn’t succeed. His spatial Dao screen shattered,” Ce Ku continued. “He acted with the dignity of a venerable, dropping the matter afterward. But I doubt Guan Chong will let it go. If he runs out of options, he’ll likely appeal to the Heavenly Court again, hoping a Dao Ancestor intervenes. Don’t worry, though—his petty issue wouldn’t warrant a Dao’s attention.”
Lan Xiaobu knew Shi Changxing likely realized he was behind it. He’d deliberately used Fang Zhiqian as a visible scapegoat, ensuring the blame would only fall on Shi Changxing if Guan Chong sought him out. In his plan, Guan Chong wouldn’t been expected to approach Shi Changxing so soon. Yet, Guan Chong had shamelessly done so, showing his desperation.
Since Guan Chong had asked Shi Changxing for assistance, Shi Changxing probably figured out Lan Xiaobu had set him up as a bigger scapegoat. This made Lan Xiaobu decide to delay his trip to Anluo Heavenly City until after reaching the fifth step.
Shi Changxing had decent judgment but lacked conviction, always prioritizing self-preservation and avoiding commitment—a classic case of playing it safe. Initially unaware of Shi Changxing’s character, Lan Xiaobu had considered seeking his aid. Now, knowing his true nature, Lan Xiaobu wanted no further ties with him.
As long as Shi Changxing didn’t provoke him, Lan Xiaobu would ignore him. But if he did, Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t hold back.
Taking out the identity token Shi Changxing had given him, Lan Xiaobu handed it to Ce Ku Huijing, “Emperor Ce Ku, Moru World’s strength seems weaker compared to others here. This token, given to me by Shi Changxing, is useless to me now. Take it, Brother Ce Ku.”
Lan Xiaobu spoke truthfully. In the Central World, Heavenly Emperor Ku Yichi was at the seventh step, with top-tier sixth-step Saint Ministers beneath him. Immortality Conference attendees were mostly sixth or seventh-step experts.
Moru World’s strongest, Pang Jie, was likely only at the sixth step. Ce Ku Huijing himself, slightly above the fifth step, had only recently entered the sixth, if at all.
“Ah…” Ce Ku Huijing took the token with surprised delight, “Brother Lan, this is truly useful. I won’t stand on ceremony—thank you!”
As a Heavenly Emperor, Ce Ku Huijing faced challenges with Moru’s weak strength. Anyone could bully them. While peace held due to no conflicting interests, this token could preserve Moru World’s dignity if conflicts arose.
He understood why Lan Xiaobu didn’t need it. If he had, he wouldn’t have covertly abducted Guan Yuxue from the True Derivation Holy Dao.
“I’ll take my leave then,” Lan Xiaobu said, bowing to Ce Ku Huijing before swiftly departing. He needed to hurry to the Great Universe Valley to break through to the fifth step.
Reaching the fifth step was crucial for his safety in Anluo Heavenly City. He wasn’t sure if Shi Changxing would act against him, but at the fourth step, he’d be vulnerable. At the fifth, it’d be a different story.
Though unsure of Shi Changxing’s exact level—possibly hovering at the eighth step—Ce Ku Huijing watched Lan Xiaobu leave, marveling. He even suspected Lan Xiaobu could reach the fifth step this time.
When Lan Xiaobu boarded the Listen Dao Ship, he was only at the third step. In a short time, he’d reached the fourth and exacted revenge, hijacking the ship. With a place like the Great Universe Valley, his chances of hitting the fifth step were high. Regrettably, Ce Ku had little else to offer him.
Lan Xiaobu’s origins were unclear, but his talent was extraordinary. Fortunately, his first stop was Moru World, where they’d built a good relationship.
Satisfied with the token, Ce Ku Huijing stored it and left quickly. Even with the Immortality Conference delayed, as Moru’s Heavenly Emperor, he had to return to Anluo Heavenly City.
—
In Anluo Heavenly City, Guan Chong returned to his residence, dejected. Pressuring Heavenly Emperor Ku Yichi to summon a Dao Ancestor had, unsurprisingly, failed. Ku Yichi was polite but dismissive of his threats. Seeing wanted posters for Xinghe Mo plastered everywhere—spanning from Fanhe World to the Central World—Guan Chong felt even more stifled. His granddaughter’s abduction from the True Derivation Holy Dao didn’t even warrant a Great Universe-wide manhunt, only a few True Derivation Holy Dao warrants. Was her status less than a Heavenly Emperor’s son?
“Brother Guan…” Zhong Jiu, another True Derivation Holy Dao saint, called from outside.
Guan Chong said wearily, “Come in, Sister Zhong.”
Zhong Jiu, aware of the situation, entered and set up a restriction, saying gravely, “Brother Guan, in terms of seventh-step experts, no sect in the Central World, not even the Heavenly Court, surpasses our True Derivation Holy Dao. But this incident shows that without a Dao Ancestor-level figure, our seventh-step strength means little to others.”
Guan Chong sighed, “I know, but I have no solution.”
“We need an eighth-step expert. Our True Derivation Holy Dao must have someone reach the eighth step. I don’t know if Dao Ancestors are eighth-step, but Shi Changxing certainly is. If he can rival them, Dao Ancestors might be eighth-step too,” Zhong Jiu said firmly.
Guan Chong sighed again, “I know, but reaching the eighth step? Easier said than done. How many in the Great Universe have crossed the seventh step?”
“I recently learned that to reach the eighth step, a Primordial Dao Seed is essential—or at least the simplest, most direct way. Combine it with top-grade yin-yang Dao veins, and the eighth step is achievable,” Zhong Jiu said solemnly.
“Primordial Dao Seed?” Guan Chong asked, puzzled.
Zhong Jiu nodded, “Yes, few truly understand it.”
“Don’t many know of it?” Guan Chong frowned.
Zhong Jiu explained, “We know it exists, but do we know its purpose, its appearance, or why it exists?”
Guan Chong paused—he’d never considered these questions.
Zhong Jiu lowered her voice, “I discovered that Moru World’s Heavenly Emperor, Ce Ku Huijing, obtained a Primordial Dao Seed, unaware of its significance. He was inquiring about its use. I investigated and learned it came from Shi Changxing, given to his daughter Shi Wanrong. I then consulted a Dao Ancestor…”
“You consulted a Dao Ancestor?” Guan Chong was shocked. If she could contact one, couldn’t they find Guan Yuxue’s killer?
Zhong Jiu shook her head, “Not directly. I paid a steep price for a question crystal ball left by Emperor Lan Dao Ancestor.”
“You used a Dao Ancestor’s question crystal ball to ask about the Primordial Dao Seed?” Guan Chong couldn’t believe it.
Such balls, left by Dao Ancestors to resolve Dao queries, were priceless and nearly unattainable.
“Yes,” Zhong Jiu confirmed. “I also learned Ce Ku Huijing got the seed from a woman named Gu Yuer in the Great Ice Palace, who didn’t recognize its value and gave it to him…”
“You mean we could…” Guan Chong trailed off, his voice trembling with excitement. If Ce Ku had the seed, they could easily kill him and take it.
Zhong Jiu shook her head, “Shi Changxing took it back after finding his daughter.”
Guan Chong deflated. Of course—Shi Changxing would’ve reclaimed something as valuable as a Primordial Dao Seed.
“But there’s another place we can get one,” Zhong Jiu said, making Guan Chong’s eyes widen again.
