Hearing Lan Xiaobu’s words, everyone fell silent. Even Ding Zhongchen knew Lan Xiaobu spoke the truth. In the ten realms of the great universe, the human race was already suppressed by the heavenly rules, no match for the Tianmeng Clan. With Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji having taken out nearly half of the eighth-step great path cultivators, the ten realms’ strength was even weaker.
“I’ve decided to split up with Wuji. Wuji and Friend Ding’s group will search for the great world, while I return to the great universe to find people,” Lan Xiaobu resolved firmly.
Mo Wuji said, “Xiaobu, if the Tianmeng Clan truly wipes out the ten realms and sweeps through the great universe, not only will the great universe be in danger, but other mid-tier and low-tier universe worlds will likely suffer in turn. With people like Huan and Hui Zhi, no human life will remain under this vast expanse.”
In the boundless cosmos, neither Lan Xiaobu nor Mo Wuji could say how many planes like the great universe existed.
“So, we must act separately. I have one more thing to ask of you, take my Mortal Star with you. If we find a new great universe, let Mortal Star exist within it,” Mo Wuji said solemnly.
Lan Xiaobu knew where Mo Wuji’s Mortal Star was, having visited it once. If the Tianmeng Clan crushed the ten realms of the great universe, all mid-tier and low-tier universes, stars, and domains, including Mortal Star, would suffer.
Lan Xiaobu nodded, “I understand. I’ll do it, not just Mortal Star, but my Great Desolate Universe must also be moved. Until we can counter the Tianmeng Clan, Huan, and Hui Zhi, these worlds cannot exist independently in any domain.”
“But if Friend Lan leaves, what if we need your help…” Ding Zhongchen trailed off.
Lan Xiaobu caught his meaning: the Seven Realms Stone was his, and if he left, he’d likely take it. Without it, searching for the primordial chaos would become painfully slow again.
Lan Xiaobu smiled slightly, waved his hand, and the Seven Realms Stone split in two.
Ding Zhongchen exclaimed in delight, “The Seven Realms Stone can actually be divided in half!”
Mo Wuji laughed, “It’s the Seven Realms Stone, it can split into seven realms, not just two. As far as I know, even when separated, it can merge across domains.”
Lan Xiaobu nodded, “Indeed, it can split into seven realms. Wuji will control this half to search for the new great universe, while I go back to save people. In a high-tier universe, within the same plane, the Seven Realms Stone can function like a teleportation array, merging across domains instantly.”
“So, once we find the new universe, Friend Lan can activate the Seven Realms Stone and join us instantly?” Ding Zhongchen grew even more excited.
Besides worrying about Lan Xiaobu taking the Seven Realms Stone, he had seen Lan Xiaobu’s combat prowess. With both Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji, their group would be nearly invincible in the vast void.
“Yes, but if we’re separated by different planes in a high-tier universe, even I can’t make the Seven Realms Stone merge across them,” Lan Xiaobu said.
He knew it wasn’t a flaw in the Seven Realms Stone but his own limited strength. If he ever reached the eighth or ninth step of the great path, he might be able to merge the stone across planes.
Mo Wuji took out the giant axe, “Xiaobu, let’s trade the Heaven-Opening Banner items. The banner can locate the primordial chaos, while the pole is likely used for creating worlds.”
Lan Xiaobu put away the axe, handed the banner to Mo Wuji, and said, “I’ve left my imprint on this half of the Seven Realms Stone, so its speed won’t be slower than the whole stone.”
Mo Wuji nodded, then took out a crystal ball, “Xiaobu, please give this to Cen Shuyin. She’ll know what to do.”
Ding Zhongchen stepped forward, handing Lan Xiaobu two jade slips, “Friend Lan, one of these is a coordinate jade slip, the other details our travel route.”
“Good, let’s part ways here and aim to reunite soon,” Lan Xiaobu said, stepping onto his half of the Seven Realms Stone. With a sweep of his divine sense, the stone tore through the void and vanished.
“Let’s go too,” Mo Wuji said, sending a strand of divine sense into his Seven Realms Stone. It turned into a shadow, rushing into the vast void.
Standing on his Seven Realms Stone, Lan Xiaobu admired Ding Zhongchen’s coordinate jade slip. Regardless of how much effort or time Ding Zhongchen spent leaving the great universe to reach here, the slip was remarkably clear.
Not only were coordinates precisely marked, but it also noted where void vortexes, misaligned voids, or chaotic void stone flows might appear, all with impeccable clarity.
Based on the slip’s timeline, Lan Xiaobu estimated he could return to the great universe in under 200 years using the Seven Realms Stone.
He marvelled at this. He didn’t know how many years Ding Zhongchen had spent leaving the great universe, likely a few thousand at most. Now, with his faster speed, it would take less than 200 years to return.
This showed that without his and Mo Wuji’s intervention, even if Ding Zhongchen faced no issues, finding the primordial chaos at the other end of the great universe would take millions, if not tens of millions, of years.
Surviving millions of years in the endless void without incident was unlikely. Thus, Ding Zhongchen’s quest to find the primordial chaos at the great universe’s other end was nearly impossible.
Now, with the Seven Realms Stone and the Heaven-Opening Banner’s guidance, even crossing domains at times, the time could be greatly reduced. Still, it would likely be measured in tens of thousands of years.
Lan Xiaobu frowned, feeling this was unrealistic. Something was off, something he hadn’t considered.
Then it hit him, Cong Ang. Cong Ang had followed Ding Zhongchen to enter the new great universe first and imprint the great universe technique’s heavenly rules. Why would Cong Ang wait millions of years to find a new universe world? Not only was it implausible for him to spend that long trailing Ding Zhongchen, but anyone with sense would know Ding Zhongchen couldn’t achieve it.
So why did Cong Ang stick with Ding Zhongchen, firmly believing he could find a new universe world?
Lan Xiaobu slapped his forehead, realising he and Mo Wuji had been misled by Ding Zhongchen. Ding Zhongchen said Patriarch Hongjun told him that finding the primordial chaos at the great universe’s other end offered a chance to create a new great universe world.
To Ding Zhongchen, this was a fixed mindset. Who said the primordial chaos had to be opened at the great universe’s other end? The vast expanse was infinite. The Tianmeng Clan found the primordial chaos where the great universe lay, creating a high-tier great world suitable for life. Why couldn’t the human race find new primordial chaos and open a new great world? Why base it on the Tianmeng Clan’s great universe?
Lan Xiaobu didn’t turn back, certain Mo Wuji would realise this too.
As Lan Xiaobu suspected, after just a few days of guiding the Seven Realms Stone with Ding Zhongchen and the others, Mo Wuji sensed something was wrong. The Heaven-Opening Banner pointed to chaotic directions, not just one, yet Ding Zhongchen kept correcting the course.
“Friend Ding, do you have another treasure on you?” Mo Wuji asked suddenly.
Ding Zhongchen, who had been guiding the way, nodded and took out a star disc, “This is the Chaos Star Disc, a supreme treasure from my Xingfan World.”
“What’s the Chaos Star Disc for?” Mo Wuji frowned, feeling he’d been led astray by Ding Zhongchen.
Ding Zhongchen explained, “The Chaos Star Disc originated in the great universe, born where my Xingfan World was opened. As long as we carry it, we won’t stray too far from the great universe. As long as the disc shows a plane line of the great universe, we’re still moving along its periphery.”
Mo Wuji looked at Ding Zhongchen, speechless, “Friend Ding, how big do you think the great universe is?”
Puzzled, Ding Zhongchen said, “It’s vast, of course. Why?”
Mo Wuji sighed, “If we follow your disc, ignoring whether the great universe’s plane line persists, I’m certain that even with it, circling the great universe, even on the Seven Realms Stone, would take millions of years at least. That’s conservative, billions aren’t impossible.”
Ding Zhongchen was stunned. Billions of years? By then, everything would be gone, the human race likely extinct. He hadn’t been away from the great universe long, yet most of his companions were already dead.
“From now on, you don’t need to guide us. I’ll use the Heaven-Opening Banner to find the primordial chaos and control the Seven Realms Stone. We don’t need the great universe as a reference. Who said our survival world must be based on it? We just need to find true primordial chaos. I believe the Tianmeng Clan had no reference when they found the great universe.”
Ding Zhongchen had a sudden realisation. Why had he fixated on finding the primordial chaos at the great universe’s other end? Finding primordial chaos anywhere in the vast expanse could lead to opening a great world like the great universe.
“Friend Mo, I trust you. Tell us what to do, and we’ll follow,” Ding Zhongchen said earnestly, putting away the Chaos Star Disc.
