“Lan Xiaobu, do you think I, Ke Jianping, can’t do anything to a small fry like you in this place?” Ke Jianping forcibly suppressed his anger towards Gu Changjian, turning his attention back to Lan Xiaobu.
“Get lost. If you keep blabbering, I won’t mind slapping you dead, you little pest,” Lan Xiaobu, in a foul mood, had no patience for Ke Jianping’s nonsense.
If the other party struck first, Lan Xiaobu could retaliate freely. Of course, he wouldn’t make the first move. He reckoned the word “get lost” might just push Ke Jianping to act rashly.
Surprisingly, Ke Jianping calmed down upon hearing Lan Xiaobu’s words. Something was off. If Lan Xiaobu’s initial outburst was due to Liu Li’s provocation, telling him to “get lost” now didn’t align with Lan Xiaobu’s status. Did he not know that Ke Jianping, as a commander, could easily crush him?
Once calm, Ke Jianping noticed details. The person who pointed out Lan Xiaobu was a shop assistant came from True Derivation Sacred Path. If it was just an ordinary disciple, fine, but Ke Jianping recalled that individual seemed to be an elder of True Derivation Sacred Path.
An elder from True Derivation Sacred Path deliberately highlighting a shop assistant’s identity? That didn’t match their stature.
“For Fairy Liu’s sake, I won’t hold this against you. Junior Sister, let’s go,” Ke Jianping said, still sounding angry, though his heart held no rage.
“You go ahead, I need to speak with Big Brother Lan,” Liu Li declined Ke Jianping.
Though he sensed something amiss, Liu Li’s public rejection made Ke Jianping’s face darken.
Fortunately, Liu Li didn’t leave alone with Lan Xiaobu. She approached him and said, “Big Brother Lan, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you despised Burial Path Sect so much. If I’d known, I would never have joined them. Back then, Sister Yu Er and I fled to the Great Desolate Universe, then stumbled into a teleportation vortex, entering the Longevity Realm. There, we joined the Severance Sect, becoming outer disciples under Saint Tongtian.
Later, the Dao Ancestor realised the Longevity Realm, including the Great Desolate Universe, was incomplete, even abandoned. He led everyone from the Great Desolate Dao Court and Heavenly Court away, and Sister Yu Er and I were fortunate to follow him out of the Great Desolate Universe…”
Lan Xiaobu knew this. Zhao Gongming had stayed behind to help him.
As the crowd saw no spectacle to watch, they dispersed, though the first-floor hall of Jinluo Tower remained busy. Ke Jianping lingered at a distance, perhaps sensing Lan Xiaobu wasn’t ordinary. While Liu Li spoke with Lan Xiaobu, he neither left nor interrupted.
“Later, we reached the Land of Eternal Life. The Dao Ancestor found it, too, wasn’t a complete cosmic world. He stayed briefly before leading us away again…”
Listening to Liu Li, Lan Xiaobu admired Ancestor Hongjun. If it were him, he wouldn’t have had the keen sense or ability to lead an entire universe’s people from a lower cosmos, navigating the vastness to the Great Universe.
“In the Great Universe, the Dao Ancestor left us to develop freely. Sister Yu Er and I saw no prospects in the Great Desolate Universe, so we left for the Brahma River World. There, a man named Qu Zhonglou targeted us, intending to take us away. We knew what awaited us if he succeeded. Sister Yu Er, knowing we couldn’t win, chose to self-destruct and destroy her body. I followed suit, destroying mine as well…”
Perhaps having endured so much or seen through it all, Liu Li’s tone was calm, devoid of emotional upheaval.
Lan Xiaobu clenched his fists. Yu Er and Liu Li were ill-fated, seemingly always on the run since he’d known them. To reach the Great Universe, a stroke of immense luck, only to be driven to suicide just as their fortunes seemed to turn.
“I never expected to reincarnate with my memories. In the Great Universe, cultivating the Second Great Path, my progress was rapid. In less than a century, I’d stepped into the Quasi-Saint ranks…”
Liu Li explained why she joined Burial Path Sect. Once, seeking to break through to the Fourth Step of the Great Path at the chaos’s edge, she nearly perished under its destructive laws. Burial Flower, passing by, saved her.
As Liu Li’s aptitude was decent and her demeanor agreeable, Burial Flower took her as a disciple. Only after cultivating Burial Path’s laws did Liu Li realise it was a predatory path, stripping others’ paths to bolster one’s own. Though she wished to return to the Second Great Path, her path now bore traces of Burial Path’s laws.
Lan Xiaobu fell silent. He knew Liu Li wasn’t to blame for joining Burial Path Sect.
He sighed, glancing at Ke Jianping nearby. If Liu Li weren’t betrothed to this man, he might’ve invited her to leave with him. But Ke Jianping had mentioned their upcoming wedding, and Liu Li hadn’t objected. Some things couldn’t be changed by his will alone.
Even if he forcibly took Liu Li away, what then? From enemies to friends, they were now strangers…
The universe was vast, a cosmic river, big or small. In this river, whether immortal or mortal, some things were beyond control.
For Liu Li, he felt only gratitude. As for love…
Lan Xiaobu shook his head. He knew this was unfair to Liu Li, but in the vastness, fairness was scarce. Like Qi Manwei, cultivating in the Great Universe Valley, he’d at least made her a promise once. To Liu Li, he’d offered nothing.
After speaking, Liu Li’s eyes reddened. She didn’t know how to explain herself to Lan Xiaobu. She knew they could never be together, and today’s events only widened their rift.
In truth, she’d never imagined meeting Lan Xiaobu again in this life. Born in the Great Universe, she knew her talent was ordinary. Joining a sect like Burial Path was already immense fortune. She might never reach the Fourth Step of the Great Path again. Thus, she’d never leave the Great Universe, and Lan Xiaobu would never come here.
Yet, after reincarnating, she met Lan Xiaobu in the Great Universe, at the moment she least wanted to see him, standing right before her.
“Jianping, why are you standing here? You should have plenty to do…” A clear voice rang out, and two women entered.
Ke Jianping hurriedly bowed, “Greetings, Sect Leader. Greetings, Lady Tianhuang.”
“Brother Lan, the taller one on the left is Burial Path Sect’s leader, Burial Qionghua. The one on the right is Lady Tianhuang,” Gu Changjian whispered to Lan Xiaobu.
As Burial Qionghua and Lady Tianhuang approached, many bowed. Lan Xiaobu and Gu Changjian didn’t. Even if Lady Tianhuang’s junior brother, Ku Yichi, appeared, Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t bow. As for Burial Qionghua, he recognised her instantly, not for her stunning beauty but because she’d once marked him, even tried to ambush him, though he escaped. Her aura was steeped in Burial Path, her strength at the Sixth Step of the Great Path.
Lan Xiaobu thought to himself, centuries ago, this woman chased him across realms, nearly catching him. Now, if she dared act, he could crush her in moments. Life’s changes were unpredictable.
“Greetings, Sect Leader. Greetings, Lady Tianhuang,” Liu Li quickly bowed.
“Let’s go inside and talk,” Lady Tianhuang said warmly, taking Liu Li’s hand.
“Big Brother Lan, I’m heading inside. I’m sorry,” Liu Li said hurriedly, lowering her head and following Lady Tianhuang and Burial Qionghua.
Onlookers were surprised that Burial Qionghua, known for her temper, didn’t confront Lan Xiaobu.
Watching Liu Li’s retreating figure, Lan Xiaobu said, “Liu Li, if you need help, go to Moru Heavenly Court’s outpost. If anyone troubles you, I’ll make them pay.”
He didn’t ask about Liu Li’s parents. In the Great Universe, reincarnation took countless forms—a dewdrop, a lotus flower—anything could be a vessel.
…
“Sect Leader, Lady, I feel my path’s aura is unsettled. I’d like to retreat and rest for a while,” Liu Li said after parting from Lan Xiaobu, requesting to leave.
As Ke Jianping opened his mouth to speak, Lady Tianhuang smiled, “Go ahead. Your matters with Jianping will be handled by the Sect Leader and me, no need to worry about oversights.”
After Liu Li left, Ke Jianping said bitterly, “I was ready to take down that Lan Xiaobu earlier. He’s far too arrogant.”
Lady Tianhuang’s smile faded, “If you had acted, you’d likely be dead by now.”
Though Ke Jianping suspected Lan Xiaobu wasn’t ordinary, Lady Tianhuang’s words stunned him. Dead? Killed in Jinluo Tower? That seemed unlikely.
Lady Tianhuang said coldly, “He dared to clash with Emperor Ku, smashed the cave restrictions of True Derivation Sacred Path’s Saint Lord Chongjiu, severely injured him, and the death of their other Saint Lord, Chen Huangzi, is likely tied to him. Do you think he wouldn’t dare kill you?”
A cold sweat ran down Ke Jianping’s back. He’d been played, nearly costing him his life.
