“Qianyao, who dared to touch you?” On Emperor Lan’s Mountain, Emperor Lan saw Qianyao stumbling in with an ashen face, his anger flaring. At this moment, Emperor Lan no longer bore the calm composure he had shown at the ruins of Jinluo Tower.
Even Xing Jia and Lin Jie, who were visiting, were shocked. Qianyao was someone even they wouldn’t dare to challenge, yet someone had severely injured her in Anluo Sky City. This was sheer madness.
Everyone knew Qianyao was Emperor Lan’s cherished treasure. But now, this treasure had been wounded by a man’s single punch. This was a serious matter.
Xing Jia’s heart sank, fearing it might implicate the Moru World. If so, the Moru World might not even safely withdraw from Anluo Sky City, let alone participate in the Eternal Life Assembly.
Qianyao’s voice was hoarse as she said, “It was a friend of Lan Xiaobu. When I tried to take Lan Xiaobu, that man spoke rudely. I wanted to teach him a lesson, but his attack was fierce and vicious. In my carelessness, he nearly destroyed my Dao foundation.”
“Let’s go. I want to see what kind of expert has come to my Central World,” Emperor Lan said icily, stepping out of Emperor Lan’s Mountain.
Xing Jia sighed inwardly. Though he had just arrived in Anluo Sky City, he knew of Lan Xiaobu’s actions. Deep down, he hoped Lan Xiaobu would be safe, but Lan Xiaobu had offended too many. Not only had he provoked Emperor Lan, but Lin Jie, the Dao Ancestor before them, likely wouldn’t spare him either. Even if Emperor Lan’s strength surpassed his, Lin Jie’s was probably not weaker. If Xing Jia intervened, it could mean the end of the Moru World.
He valued Lan Xiaobu but lacked the standing to support him.
…
“Greetings, Dao Ancestors.” As the three Dao Ancestors arrived together in Anluo Sky City, the lingering crowd hurriedly bowed in respect.
“Where is Lan Xiaobu?” Emperor Lan, not sensing Lan Xiaobu with his divine sense, asked immediately.
Ku Yichi stepped forward quickly and said, “He and his friend left Anluo Sky City. Before leaving, his friend took out Chaos Rule Serum…”
“Chaos Rule Serum?” Emperor Lan, Xing Jia, and Lin Jie exclaimed in unison.
Chaos Rule Serum wasn’t just useful for the Seventh Step of the Great Dao; it was immensely valuable to them as well. Formed under extremely rare conditions in chaos, it was scarce even for Dao Ancestors.
“You said Lan Xiaobu’s friend had Chaos Rule Serum?” Emperor Lan asked again.
Ku Yichi promptly replied, “Yes, he wanted to trade it for a Chaos Time Crystal.”
“Did he succeed?” Lin Jie couldn’t help but ask.
Inwardly, he cursed Lan Xiaobu’s friend as a fool. Trading Chaos Rule Serum for a Chaos Time Crystal? They were not on the same level. A Chaos Time Crystal merely accelerated time for cultivation. At their level, time was the least valuable resource, with endless amounts to squander. Who would trade Chaos Rule Serum for time?
Ku Yichi said, “He likely succeeded, but they didn’t trade in Anluo Sky City. I guess they left to trade outside. With so many people here, I couldn’t find out who got the Chaos Rule Serum.”
Emperor Lan calmed down, realizing that someone trading a bottle of Chaos Rule Serum likely had more. He asked slowly, “The cultivator who took out the Chaos Rule Serum, was he the one who injured Qianyao?”
“Exactly,” Ku Yichi responded quickly.
“As a Heavenly Emperor, why didn’t you stop him?” Emperor Lan’s tone carried a sharp edge.
Ku Yichi felt a surge of frustration. Stop Lan Xiaobu and his friend? Was that a death wish? Together, Lan Xiaobu and his friend were unstoppable. Plus, with Fang Zhiqian nearby, Ku Yichi knew no one would help him if a fight broke out, not even Che Zizi. No matter his strength, he couldn’t take on three.
But he didn’t dare voice this, instead saying respectfully, “When I was about to act, Fang Zhiqian’s domain locked onto me. Not only him, but Lan Xiaobu and his friend are no weaker than me. I feared I couldn’t hold them alone. Just as I was about to mobilize the cultivator army, they had already left Anluo Sky City.”
Emperor Lan’s expression softened, perhaps believing Ku Yichi or not, and said, “The Central Heavenly Court’s strength has indeed weakened. Do you have any suggestions?”
Clearly, Emperor Lan understood Ku Yichi’s real reason was fear, not concern about failing to detain them.
Ku Yichi quickly said, “The Central Heavenly Court lacks talent. We don’t even have as many Seventh Step cultivators as some Dao sects. I ask the Dao Ancestor to take charge for our court.”
He thought bitterly to himself: several Dao sects have more Seventh Step cultivators than the Central Heavenly Court. Before the Saint Lord of True Derivation Holy Dao was killed, they had four, while the court only had him, a single Heavenly Emperor at the Seventh Step. It all came down to the Dao Ancestor’s balancing act, preventing the court from having more Seventh Step cultivators. Now, they blamed him for not stopping Lan Xiaobu.
“I understand. Send people to track Lan Xiaobu’s whereabouts immediately and report to me directly. As for the court’s strength, I’ll handle it,” Emperor Lan said calmly.
“Yes,” Ku Yichi responded, though he knew finding Lan Xiaobu was a pipe dream. If Lan Xiaobu were so easy to find, he wouldn’t be Lan Xiaobu.
“Where’s the woman who was standing here?” Emperor Lan suddenly looked at an empty spot near Ce Kuhui.
Ku Yichi was stunned. A woman? Before he could ask, Emperor Lan conjured an image of Qi Manwei, saying, “This woman has a Chaos Dao Body. Where did she go?”
Lan Xiaobu’s companion had a Chaos Dao Body? Ku Yichi was shocked, then thought of Qian Yun, the Palace Lord of the Holy Sword Palace. Everyone knew the palace’s Chaos Dao Body was taken, and it was likely Lan Xiaobu who destroyed the palace. Was it her?
But Qian Yun seemed to have left Anluo Sky City, her whereabouts unknown.
“Replying to the Dao Ancestor, that woman left with Lan Xiaobu. I didn’t expect her to have a Chaos Dao Body. It seems the destruction of the Holy Sword Palace was indeed Lan Xiaobu’s doing,” Ku Yichi answered promptly.
Emperor Lan snorted, “Destroying a Dao sect in my Central World so casually? He’s got some nerve. Friend Xing Jia, what’s Lan Xiaobu’s connection to your Moru Heavenly Court?”
Xing Jia clasped his fists and said, “Friend Emperor Lan, I truly don’t know who Lan Xiaobu is, but I’m certain he’s not from my Moru Heavenly Court.”
A Dao Ancestor would sense if someone belonged to their court’s ranks, so Xing Jia’s denial was definitive.
Though Ku Yichi wanted to mention that Lan Xiaobu had claimed to be a Division Lord of the Moru Heavenly Court, with Ce Kuhui’s tacit approval, he didn’t dare. He realized Lan Xiaobu might have been bluffing. A Dao Ancestor like Xing Jia wouldn’t lie about this, as it would tarnish their dignity. Likely, Ce Kuhui had a close relationship with Lan Xiaobu and let it slide.
…
“Where are we going?” Lan Xiaobu asked.
“With the Chaos Time Crystal secured, plus some Chaos Rule Serum I obtained, our priority is to find a place to seclude ourselves and break through to the Seventh Step. Otherwise, we stand no chance against a Dao Ancestor,” Mo Wuji said.
He had faced Qize Tian and knew how formidable a Dao Ancestor was.
“How about the Great Universe Valley?” Qi Manwei suggested.
Lan Xiaobu said speechlessly, “Going to the Great Universe Valley now is asking to be killed. There’s definitely a Dao Ancestor’s shadow there. Could we escape? Even with a Chaos Time Crystal, we wouldn’t have time to reach the Seventh Step. Besides, that place’s rules restrict our advancement to the Seventh Step.”
“I know a place,” Mo Wuji said, handing Lan Xiaobu a directional jade slip.
Using the slip, Lan Xiaobu adjusted the Seven Realm Stone’s course, then continued, “Besides Emperor Lan of the Central World, Dao Ancestor Lin Jie of the Fanhe World and Dao Ancestor Xing Jia of the Moru World also came to Anluo Sky City. When the Eternal Life Assembly begins, other Dao Ancestors might arrive. Xing Jia has no grudge against us but won’t help either. If other Dao Ancestors come, they’ll likely act against us. If we don’t reach the Seventh Step, we’d better not return to Anluo Sky City.”
“Don’t worry. With the Chaos Time Crystal, we have over a seventy percent chance of advancing,” Mo Wuji said confidently.
“I’ve thought of someone we could try to win over,” Lan Xiaobu said.
“Who?”
“Qize Tian.”
“I know that guy,” Mo Wuji replied.
…
As they discussed, the Seven Realm Stone stopped outside a chaotic region.
“Is this the Kusheng Chaos Zone?” Lan Xiaobu hadn’t been there, but having stayed in the Central World for some time, he knew of it.
It was one of the most dangerous chaos zones in the Central World, a death trap for ordinary cultivators.
Mo Wuji chuckled, “Exactly. I met Qize Tian here. He was fighting Shi Changxing, and both were heavily injured. Later, he coveted my Chaos Rule Serum and clashed with me but couldn’t overpower me. So, whether it’s Qize Tian or Shi Changxing, if they’ve recovered and see me again, they’ll definitely attack.”
Lan Xiaobu laughed, “Then Wang Congjing really died unjustly.”
Wang Congjing thought Qize Tian had obtained the Chaos Rule Serum, but Qize Tian had nothing. No wonder he offered a top-grade Dao vein instead of the serum—he didn’t have it.
