It’s evident that Lan Xiaobu used irregular array flags to construct a space within his rule domain that was entirely independent of it. As a result, his rule domain could overpower others but was ineffective against Lan Xiaobu. In other words, not only could he not harm Lan Xiaobu, but he also couldn’t enter the rule space world Lan Xiaobu had created. If he did, he would be easily crushed by Lan Xiaobu within that space.
“Brother Ni, just charge towards me. It won’t affect you at all,” Lan Xiaobu said.
At that moment, he had collected over 280 chaos spirit veins and had already landed on the ground.
Ni Jiansheng didn’t hesitate for a moment, rushing frantically towards Lan Xiaobu. It wasn’t that he fully trusted Lan Xiaobu, but he knew that apart from Lan Xiaobu, he had no other way out.
As Ni Jiansheng broke free, Zhong Wuchi’s spatial rules pressed towards him. But the next moment, those crushing rules were blocked by an invisible, independent rule space. Ni Jiansheng reached Lan Xiaobu’s longevity rule space without any hindrance. At the same time, over twenty figures followed Ni Jiansheng into Lan Xiaobu’s space.
Lan Xiaobu hesitated briefly but didn’t drive them away.
The others weren’t so fortunate. Reacting slightly too slowly, they tried to follow after realising Lan Xiaobu could save them, but Zhong Wuchi had already unleashed the killing dao principles of this space.
Blood mist exploded, staining the bamboo forest red in an instant.
Lan Xiaobu sensed the space changing rapidly, with Zhong Wuchi’s aura climbing wildly. However, because too many had escaped to Lan Xiaobu’s side, the blood sacrifice was insufficient, causing Zhong Wuchi’s aura to peak and then plummet.
Zhong Wuchi stared coldly at Lan Xiaobu. Without Lan Xiaobu’s interference, he would have controlled this entire world.
“Lan Xiaobu, what grievance do we have? Why do you block my path to the dao?” Zhong Wuchi’s tone was calm, but everyone alive could sense his terrifying killing intent.
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, “Looking back a bit, years ago, my friend was cultivating in the Abyss of the Lost Gods. You tried to strip her blood and dao foundation just to fuel your divine essence pills. More recently, you even wanted me to be a sacrifice for your world. Old Zhong, that’s not how you treat people. And don’t try to act tough in front of your Grandpa Bu. I know full well your control is limited to this bamboo forest. Outside it, you’re nothing.”
Zhong Wuchi fell silent. Lan Xiaobu’s ability to build his own rule space with irregular array flags—not to mention his grasp of the dao—surpassed Zhong Wuchi’s understanding of cosmic rules.
“I can’t harm you. Could you leave me some of that primal earth?” Zhong Wuchi quickly accepted the harsh reality.
The irregular array flags Lan Xiaobu used to create his space, each comparable to an innate treasure, were rare and unattainable. Zhong Wuchi had no idea where Lan Xiaobu got them. With his own rule space, Lan Xiaobu could easily leave the bamboo forest.
Within the forest, Zhong Wuchi couldn’t touch him. Once Lan Xiaobu left, what chance would he have? None.
Lan Xiaobu laughed, “Old Zhong, be a bit more honest. I’ll wait for you outside. I’m guessing you’re just a clone of the Nether Lord, right? Maybe this bamboo forest is all you manage. Pretty pathetic—you want to break free from your main body but lack the strength. I feel for you. Oh, and if you want a fight, I’ll be waiting outside. Also, thanks for the primal earth and chaos spirit veins. No, I mean, thanks to the Nether Lord.”
With that, Lan Xiaobu turned and left without hesitation.
All the cultivators in his world hurriedly followed him out of the bamboo forest. If Lan Xiaobu was right and Zhong Wuchi only controlled the forest, they’d be safe once outside.
Zhong Wuchi could only watch as Lan Xiaobu left, powerless to stop him. Lan Xiaobu’s ability to build his own rule space rendered any attack meaningless.
As they exited the bamboo forest, everyone rushed out of Lan Xiaobu’s array flag space, confirming the outside wasn’t under Zhong Wuchi’s control. After cursory thanks, they scattered quickly.
Lan Xiaobu shook his head. Even at this realm of cultivation, he felt out of place here. These people left immediately after being saved, offering a token thanks but no real gratitude, as if he was obligated to save them.
In Earth terms, they didn’t even leave a contact number. Not quite burning bridges, but close to heartless.
“Friend Ni, why haven’t you left?” Lan Xiaobu noticed two people lingering—Ni Jiansheng and someone he didn’t know.
Ni Jiansheng quickly handed him a communication bead. “Brother Lan, this is my communication bead. If you ever need my help, please let me know. I’ll never forget your life-saving grace today.”
Lan Xiaobu nodded, accepting the bead. He likely wouldn’t use it, but saving someone warranted at least this gesture.
The other, a female cultivator named Fan Yueqing, waited until Ni Jiansheng finished before offering her own communication bead and a jade box. “Friend Lan, this box contains a seed I found. I still don’t know what it is. For saving my life, I have little to offer, so please take this seed. As for the bead, like Friend Ni, if you need my help, I’ll come.”
“Alright, I’ll keep them,” Lan Xiaobu said, integrating their communication dao principles into his own bead and sharing his in return.
Gratitude was basic decency. Even if he saved them unintentionally, a thankful attitude was the least they could offer.
“We’ll meet again,” Ni Jiansheng and Fan Yueqing said, bidding farewell.
Lan Xiaobu asked, “Are you two planning to leave or stay here longer?”
Ni Jiansheng replied, “Brother Lan’s right—Zhong Wuchi only controls the bamboo forest. I plan to stay a bit longer. There are many chaos spirit veins and other chaos items here, all useful to me.”
“I feel the same,” Fan Yueqing added.
Lan Xiaobu understood—they’d just avoid the bamboo forest.
He advised, “If you’ll take my suggestion, leave this world immediately. If I’m not mistaken, Zhong Wuchi will soon control it entirely. Stay here, and you’ll end up in his grasp again.”
Ni Jiansheng nodded. “I know Zhong Wuchi will likely use the fallen powerhouses to refine this world, which is tied to him. It might take him half a month to complete. But I don’t need that long—just three days, then I’ll leave.”
“It seems Friend Fan thinks the same. But let me tell you, Zhong Wuchi won’t need half a month—not even half a day—to fully turn this world into his own. If you’re leaving, go now,” Lan Xiaobu said seriously.
Ni Jiansheng’s expression shifted. He trusted Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t lie about this.
Lan Xiaobu wasn’t deceiving them. When he retrieved the primal earth, he sensed the source of this world’s rule control lay in the bamboo forest. Zhong Wuchi, a fragment of the Nether Lord’s soul, had entered with the support of many fallen ninth-stage saints. If he couldn’t seize control in half a day, he wouldn’t stand out among the Nether Lord’s many fragments.
After Lan Xiaobu spoke, Ni Jiansheng clasped his fists, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished.
“Friend Lan, until we meet again,” Fan Yueqing said, also turning into a streak of light and disappearing.
Seeing their speed, Lan Xiaobu knew half a day was more than enough for them to exit this world multiple times. He then leisurely headed toward the world’s exit.
As expected, in just over two hours—not even half a day—the spatial rules around him shifted abruptly. The entire space morphed into an extension of the bamboo forest. Lan Xiaobu knew Zhong Wuchi had fully claimed this world, making it his domain.
Besides Lan Xiaobu, moving unhurriedly, several streaks of light desperately tried to escape. But they were met with annihilation by the sky’s killing rules, reduced to blood mist.
An eighth-stage saint and a ninth-stage saint, using an innate defensive treasure, fled near Lan Xiaobu. Spotting him, they shouted in joy, “Friend, please help us! That Zhong Wuchi is so cunning. He deceived you—not only can he control the bamboo forest, but now the entire world’s rules are under his command.”
Clearly, these were two Lan Xiaobu had saved before.
Lan Xiaobu was speechless. On the surface, they blamed Zhong Wuchi for deceiving him, but implied Lan Xiaobu’s misjudgment had trapped them again.
Lan Xiaobu feigned shock. “Zhong Wuchi’s that sneaky? I’d better hurry before he traps me.”
With that, he sped up, leaving the pleading cultivators behind.
“Friend, please take us with you! We’d be eternally grateful!” the ninth-stage cultivator called out, panicking as Lan Xiaobu, the do-gooder, seemed to forget them.
Lan Xiaobu sneered inwardly. He’d saved these ingrates, yet they didn’t even know his name, still expecting another rescue. He glanced back. “Don’t worry, your mum’s on her way to save you.”
With that, he flashed away, vanishing instantly. Far off, Zhong Wuchi could only watch, unable to touch Lan Xiaobu despite being in his world.
