However, Huan was very clear that although Lan Xiaobu was not his match, capturing this slippery fellow would not be easy.
But wasn’t Huizhi here? As long as Huizhi used the Wuxu Arrow to lock onto Lan Xiaobu, even with extraordinary abilities, Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t escape.
Huan’s thoughts shifted quickly, but as he considered this, something felt off. Since Huizhi was here, why had he allowed Lan Xiaobu to rest for a hundred years? Didn’t Tuliao say that Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji had ambushed Huizhi, leaving him injured? If so, it was odd that Huizhi hadn’t acted against Lan Xiaobu.
From what Huan knew of Huizhi, he wasn’t so accommodating. Just as Huan thought this, two figures swiftly approached.
Seeing a group already gathered, the two newcomers halted.
The arrivals were Ling Zhuzhen and Tuliao. Ling Zhuzhen had been here before but left early due to concerns about his Zhou Heart Shield. Returning via a positioning talisman, he noticed Huan’s presence.
Ling Zhuzhen, recognising Huan, quickly clasped his fists in greeting, “Ling Zhuzhen of the Jicheng World pays respects to the Great Cosmos Dao Ancestor.”
All were Dao Ancestors, but their strengths varied. Huan laughed, “So it’s Dao Ancestor Ling. With you and the Four Dao Venerables of the Tianmeng Clan here, our strength has greatly increased.”
Few knew Tuliao, the Four Dao Venerables of the Tianmeng Clan. Huan’s introduction forced Tuliao to step forward and offer a few greetings.
The Tianmeng Clan was everyone’s common enemy, but with the cosmic rules collapsing, the focus was on seizing the Cosmic Tree. Grudges between the Tianmeng Clan and the human race were not the priority. Moreover, with the collapse of cosmic rules, direct conflicts of interest seemed to be dissolving.
After brief pleasantries, Huan turned to Huizhi, “Brother Hui, when I attack this person, can you lock him with the Wuxu Arrow? Rest assured, we’ll split his possessions, and everyone who joins will get a share.”
Huizhi said calmly, “I recently reached an agreement with Daoist Lan, so we’re on friendly terms for now. If you wish to act, go ahead, but I cannot join, as it would contradict our agreement.”
Even the slow-witted Kui Xishan sensed something amiss at these words.
Ling Zhuzhen’s expression changed, and he immediately asked, “Great Dream Dao Ancestor, is the Daoist Lan you mentioned Lan Xiaobu?”
Huizhi smiled faintly, “Indeed, it’s Lan Xiaobu. He’s here healing in seclusion. If you have anything to say, you can ask him directly.”
Huizhi was inwardly surprised. From Huan to Ling Zhuzhen, and even Kui Xishan, who bore enmity toward Lan Xiaobu, this Lan Xiaobu had a knack for offending powerful figures.
If Huizhi still had his Wuxu Arrow, even injured, he would’ve agreed to Huan’s proposal. Unfortunately, the Wuxu Arrow was now with Lan Xiaobu, who had likely refined the Wuxu Bow. Huizhi could sense that Lan Xiaobu hadn’t emerged because he was plotting something cunning.
Thinking of cunning plans, Huizhi recalled the killing array that trapped him outside the Great Cosmos. Without that array, he wouldn’t have lost so thoroughly.
He simply said Lan Xiaobu was healing, hoping these people would clash with him, allowing Huizhi to play the fisherman watching the fight.
Sensing Huizhi’s odd behaviour, Huan decided not to wait. He declared loudly, “I’m about to attack this person. Those willing to join me, step forward.”
“I’m willing to lead the charge for the Great Cosmos Dao Ancestor,” Kui Xishan was the first to step up.
Tuliao hesitated briefly before stepping forward, clasping his fists, “I’m also willing to act for the Great Cosmos Dao Ancestor.”
He then sent a voice transmission to Huan, “Great Cosmos Dao Ancestor, I suspect the Cosmic Tree Spirit is with Lan Xiaobu. If we crush him, please return the Cosmic Tree Spirit to my Tianmeng Clan.”
Tuliao had no choice. He didn’t want to reveal the Cosmic Tree Spirit’s location, but with Huan personally acting, even without Huizhi’s help, and with Kui Xishan’s support, if Lan Xiaobu was indeed injured as Huizhi claimed, his chances of escape were slim. Tuliao had to join and request the Cosmic Tree Spirit.
The Cosmic Tree Spirit with Lan Xiaobu? Huan’s eyes lit up, and he replied via transmission, “Good, no problem.”
Though he said this, Huan sneered inwardly. The Cosmic Tree Spirit? Dream on. He was confident he could breach Lan Xiaobu’s world and take the Cosmic Tree Spirit, which Tuliao was unaware of.
Huan turned to Changyi and Ling Zhuzhen, “What do you two Dao Ancestors think?”
Huizhi sneered inwardly at Huan’s words. If he was set on acting, why dawdle instead of striking? If Lan Xiaobu was so easy to defeat, would Huizhi have compromised?
Changyi clasped his fists, “Thank you for your regard, Great Cosmos Dao Ancestor, but my strength is limited, and I have no grievances with Daoist Lan, so I’ll pass.”
Huan’s expression remained unchanged as he looked to Ling Zhuzhen.
Ling Zhuzhen took a deep breath. He was reluctant, knowing Lan Xiaobu’s fearsome reputation. A teleportation mishap hadn’t stopped Lan Xiaobu, who returned swiftly. Unless necessary, Ling Zhuzhen didn’t want to fight him. But his Zhou Heart Shield was likely with Lan Xiaobu.
“Great Cosmos Dao Ancestor, Lan Xiaobu took one of my treasures. I hope to reclaim it,” Ling Zhuzhen decided to act. The Zhou Heart Shield wasn’t ordinary but a chaos supreme treasure, rare even among Dao Ancestors.
“Oh, what treasure?” Huan knew that if it was trivial, Ling Zhuzhen wouldn’t have spoken privately, and his attitude suggested he wouldn’t act for something ordinary. Lan Xiaobu seemed stranger than Huan had thought.
Ling Zhuzhen hesitated briefly before saying, “The Zhou Heart Shield.” Even if he didn’t say it, breaking Lan Xiaobu’s world would reveal it.
Huan’s heart skipped. From the Cosmic Tree Spirit to the Zhou Heart Shield, how many treasures did Lan Xiaobu have? If the Zhou Heart Shield was real, he wouldn’t return it to Ling Zhuzhen.
Huan laughed, “Good, simple enough. Everyone, seal the space.”
With that, Huan unleashed a planet, hurling it toward Lan Xiaobu.
Many used planets as treasures. Shi Changxing’s treasure, the Seven Cosmos Star, was a planet, coveted by the Seven Cosmos Heaven. But Huan’s planet was different, formed from the cores of billions of stars. Its weight could crush an entire domain. Though not a post-chaos supreme treasure or a heaven-opening treasure, it was no less formidable.
As Huan’s planet crashed down, Lan Xiaobu’s barrier shattered instantly. Not just the barrier, but the cosmic rules began to crumble under the planet’s pressure.
Yet, when the barrier broke, Lan Xiaobu vanished. Everyone was stunned. Lan Xiaobu had been healing within the barrier, under their divine sense and domain’s surveillance. Even with great strength, escaping silently from their divine sense seemed impossible.
But Lan Xiaobu was gone, leaving everyone with an eerie feeling. They believed any disguise or concealment would be detected due to the fluctuations of the Dao rules, especially under Huan’s planet’s crushing force.
Only Huizhi’s eyes held mockery. If Lan Xiaobu couldn’t vanish silently, how could he have ambushed Huizhi, a Dao Ancestor of the Great Dream Dao, and destroyed his arm? Lan Xiaobu’s concealment wasn’t ordinary.
Huan was also stunned, unable to sense Lan Xiaobu immediately. This was wrong; under his planet, all concealment should be futile.
In an instant, Huan detected a faint ripple of rules under his planet’s pressure. A sneer curled his lips. Hiding under his nose? Dream on.
But before he could act, a piercing scream rang out. Lan Xiaobu appeared, gripping the Longevity Halberd, which had pierced Kui Xishan’s forehead, pinning him in the void.
“Why provoke me?” Lan Xiaobu sighed, looking at the unwilling Kui Xishan.
