The Dao Hall fell silent at these words, and even Lan Xiaobu held his tongue. He was puzzled—how could the loss of fortune dao laws in the Great Cosmos Valley be precisely detected? A few Heavenly Emperors couldn’t manage that; it had to be the work of a Dao Ancestor.
“I see Friend Lan’s strength is formidable, likely unmatched at his level. With such means and dao, it’s plausible he absorbed more fortune dao laws in the valley,” a sudden voice broke the silence.
Lan Xiaobu, who had been focused on Ku Yichi, the Chaos One World group, and Chong Jiu, only now noticed the speaker—Xing Ni, the golden-haired youth who had guided him to the Chaos Origin. He hadn’t spotted Xing Ni earlier, wary of using his divine sense too freely.
Gratitude filled Lan Xiaobu. Xing Ni had helped him twice. Without the Chaos Origin tip, even if he’d reached the fifth step, it wouldn’t have been so swift, nor would his strength be as robust. More crucially, Qi Manwei and Taichuan wouldn’t have achieved their breakthroughs.
Many nodded in agreement. If Lan Xiaobu could dominate his peers, wasn’t it normal for him to consume more cosmic fortune in the valley?
Only Ku Yichi knew better, but he also realised pursuing this would yield no answers and could escalate tensions with Moru World, possibly sparking enmity. Recently, only Moru’s Overseer Lan had cultivated in the valley. Fixating on the fortune loss was tantamount to targeting Moru.
Ku Yichi took the out. “Since we can’t pinpoint the cause, let’s set this aside for now. When the Dao Ancestor emerges, we can ask. Perhaps, as Friend Xing said, Lan’s strength caused the excessive loss.”
His final words eased tensions between Central and Moru Worlds.
As the issue seemed resolved, people began to rise and bid farewell. But Lan Xiaobu fixed his gaze on Wan Xunhua. “Is Emperor Wan leaving now?”
Wan Xunhua replied coldly, “Whether I leave is none of your concern.”
Lan Xiaobu said calmly, “It is. Moru World follows ‘if you don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke you.’ Our Saint Minister lies gravely injured, his dao foundation ruined. Does Emperor Wan think this ends here?”
Some, about to leave, slowed their steps. This Overseer Lan was bold. Having cleared Moru from Ku Yichi’s suspicions, he wasn’t letting up, dismissing Chaos One’s accusations and now counterattacking. With Lan’s strength, even with Moru’s Left Saint Minister crippled, alongside Emperor Cebai Huisheng, Chaos One might not prevail. It could be a mutually destructive clash. But with Lan’s assertiveness, would it end in mutual ruin?
“What do you want?” Wan Xunhua’s face darkened, staring at Lan Xiaobu.
He didn’t doubt Lan’s words. Lan had dared confront Ku Yichi in the Dao Hall; claiming he wouldn’t challenge Chaos One at Jinluo Tower was self-deception.
Lan Xiaobu laughed. “A life for a life, a debt repaid. Doesn’t Chaos One understand this basic principle?”
Gu Jin, glaring at Lan Xiaobu, said coldly, “So, the killer of my Great Vault Silence Dao’s disciples should pay with their life too?”
“Catch the killer first, then talk. Until you give Moru an explanation, Chaos One is effectively declaring war,” Lan Xiaobu mocked.
Wan Xunhua clasped his fists to Ku Yichi. “Emperor Yichi, please uphold justice.”
As an emperor, he matched Cebai Huisheng but was far inferior to the seventh-step Ku Yichi.
Ku Yichi coughed. “Overseer Lan, Brother Cebai, with the Longevity Conference nearing, we’re all representatives of Heavenly Courts. I suggest we de-escalate. What say you, Brother Cebai?”
As an emperor, Ku Yichi lacked the authority to mediate between two courts.
Cebai Huisheng, wary of Ku Yichi, clasped his fists. “Moru’s Saint Minister was gravely injured. If this is swept aside, Moru will be a laughingstock. Unless Moru is destroyed, this isn’t over.”
He was inwardly grateful to Lan Xiaobu. Without him, not only would they fail to seek justice for Pang Jie, but Moru might not escape unscathed, and he, as emperor, could face confinement.
Lan Xiaobu’s boldness made even Ku Yichi wary. A fifth-step cultivator this fearsome could be unstoppable at the seventh step, save by a Dao Ancestor. Ku Yichi, as Central World’s emperor, didn’t want to alienate someone like Lan.
“I injured him. Come face me if you dare,” Chong Jiu, who had misspoken earlier, stepped forward.
Lan Xiaobu looked at her calmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll come for you soon. Of course, being seventh-step, I’ll need to call some friends for support.”
He spoke of needing allies openly, leaving the hall speechless. A fifth-step powerhouse admitting he needed help in a fight was humiliating, yet Lan seemed unbothered.
“Fine, I’ll wait at Jinluo Tower. If you don’t show, don’t blame me for coming to Moru,” Chong Jiu sneered, falling silent.
Everyone assumed Lan was bluffing. Even with Moru’s full Heavenly Court army, challenging a seventh-step powerhouse was unthinkable.
Wan Xunhua, realising no one would back him, said, “Overseer Lan, how do you propose to resolve this?”
He dreaded Lan targeting Chaos One’s residence. A fight could see Chaos One lose, tarnishing their reputation. Lan, who even Ku Yichi couldn’t best, was clearly confident against Chaos One.
Lan Xiaobu smiled faintly. “Chong Jiu was right. I’ll deal with her first, then you. Emperor, let’s go. Chong Jiu, wait for me at your residence.”
With that, Lan Xiaobu turned to leave, struck by a sudden thought. He’d settle with Chong Jiu of True Derivation Saint Dao first, then press Great Vault Silence Dao.
Gu Changjian, thrilled since entering, quickly carried Pang Jie and followed Cebai Huisheng out. This was the best outcome; seeking more from Chaos One seemed unnecessary. He hadn’t expected Lan Xiaobu’s intervention to yield such success.
Outside the hall, Cebai Huisheng said, “Brother Lan, thank you. I thought you’d help me in the future, not so soon. Without you today, I’d have had to use the token you gave me.”
Lan Xiaobu had given him Shi Changxing’s identity token, his last resort.
Lan Xiaobu smiled. “Brother Cebai, friends help each other.”
Cebai Huisheng nodded, knowing some things were better discussed privately. He turned to Gu Changjian. “Changjian, you messaged me you called four people, and none came?”
Gu nodded. “Yes, only four were at Jinluo Tower. Three refused, and one was at a critical seclusion stage.”
“Very well,” Cebai Huisheng said calmly, though his heart churned with mixed emotions. Securing Longevity Conference slots was no small feat, yet those he brought wouldn’t even lend Moru their presence. Ironic.
“Brother Cebai, is Shi Changxing in Anluo Heavenly City?” Lan Xiaobu asked suddenly. To confront Chong Jiu, he couldn’t go alone. Moru had no one to aid him, but Shi Changxing could.
Shi Changxing, though self-preserving, honoured debts. He’d given Lan a token, and without using it, Lan could ask him to repay the favour directly. Shi Changxing wouldn’t dare mention the token or refuse.
