Initially, Mo Wuji’s plan was simply to use void array patterns to lock onto the Wheel of Time and immediately transfer it to his own world via the array.
But as Mo Wuji’s divine storage network’s divine sense continuously inscribed array patterns onto the Wheel of Time, he was thrilled to discover that the void array patterns he had drawn could locate the Wheel’s refining restrictions. In other words, he could now easily refine the Wheel of Time.
Of course, even though he could locate the Wheel’s restrictions, Mo Wuji knew he couldn’t act. The Heaven and Earth Sage might not detect his void array patterns, but he would certainly notice if Mo Wuji started refining the Wheel.
Mo Wuji inscribed one void array pattern after another, using them to envelop each restriction. When the time came to refine, he could use the void array patterns to refine nine restrictions in the shortest time possible. Once he refined those nine restrictions, he could instantly whisk the Wheel of Time away.
Time passed slowly, and only one day remained until the end of the month. Mo Wuji knew that the period from the Hour of the Pig to the Hour of the Rat, when the time dao principles here were at their most ambiguous, was the optimal moment to act.
Besides the array patterns locking the Wheel’s restrictions, he set up blocking array patterns, killing array patterns, defensive array patterns, teleportation array patterns…
Every type of array pattern Mo Wuji could think of, he deployed.
The cosmic rules of the Eternal Life Land were of an extremely high level. Even for a sage, altering the seasons or day-night cycles of the Eternal Life Land was exceedingly difficult. Even if they could, it would only be within a limited range around their dojo.
However, most sages wouldn’t轻易 alter the seasonal rules of their dojo’s surroundings. To them, seasons made no difference.
The Heaven and Earth Sage of Eternal Life City was no exception, leaving the cosmic rules of this space unchanged. At this moment, Eternal Life City was in the depths of winter, with a faint chill permeating the entire city.
Mo Wuji transformed himself entirely into a strand of winter’s chill dao principle, lingering within the void array patterns he had set up, awaiting the Hour of the Rat.
The chill dao principle Mo Wuji had become perfectly matched the chill dao principle of Eternal Life City at that moment. Even if a Creation Sage passed by, they wouldn’t detect a trace unless they scrutinized closely.
Before the Hour of the Rat arrived, the surrounding space’s vital energy began to slowly increase. At the same time, the time dao principles grew increasingly blurred.
Having placed multiple void array pattern restrictions on the Wheel of Time, Mo Wuji clearly sensed that the Wheel seemed to be absorbing something through a vast array. As it absorbed, the Wheel’s aura appeared to be changing.
Mo Wuji cultivated the Mortal Dao, encompassing not only his own dao principles but also his Enlightenment Network. Though he didn’t pry, he understood what was happening from the changes in the Wheel’s dao principles.
The Heaven and Earth Sage had gone mad—this man was actually trying to fuse the Wheel of Time into his own great dao to elevate it further.
What did it mean to elevate beyond the Creation Sage realm? Mo Wuji was shocked but couldn’t help admiring the Heaven and Earth Sage’s audacity. If he succeeded, even without breaking into a new realm, his strength would surely surpass that of an ordinary Creation Sage.
At this moment, Mo Wuji finally understood why the Heaven and Earth Sage had named his dojo Eternal Life City. He was creating pressure and a sense of crisis for himself, as only this would push him to fuse the Wheel of Time faster.
Imagine—would the Eternal Life Sage tolerate someone naming their dojo Eternal Life City within the Eternal Life Land? Clearly, they wouldn’t allow it indefinitely. Sooner or later, the Eternal Life Sage would come to confront the Heaven and Earth Sage. The only reason they hadn’t yet was likely due to other circumstances.
Mo Wuji recalled a figure he had encountered before—Luo. More precisely, Luo was a sword. Mo Wuji didn’t know what Luo had been through, but he wondered if, after the Heaven and Earth Sage fused with the Wheel of Time, he might also become a sentient treasure.
Regardless, this was his best opportunity. The moment the Heaven and Earth Sage’s dao intent and primordial spirit were fusing with the Wheel of Time was the perfect time to strike.
As Mo Wuji sensed the time dao principles growing ever more blurred, he also faintly perceived the Wheel’s dao principles twisting. Clearly, a supreme treasure like the Wheel of Time resisted the Heaven and Earth Sage’s actions. If the sage succeeded, the Wheel would vanish into the vast cosmos.
This was the moment. Mo Wuji frantically activated all the void array patterns tied to the refining restrictions. In an instant, nine of the Wheel’s restrictions were triggered by the void array patterns. Mo Wuji sent out nine strands of divine sense intent to forcibly refine these nine restrictions.
In Mo Wuji’s estimation, it would take at least half a stick of incense to complete. The various arrays he had set up, while not capable of holding off the Heaven and Earth Sage for long, should manage for that duration.
When the Heaven and Earth Sage was fusing with the Wheel, he would be at his weakest, with his dao intent and primordial spirit fully engaged in the fusion—making it the perfect time for Mo Wuji to act.
As expected, the moment Mo Wuji made his move, the Heaven and Earth Sage sensed it. He was so furious he nearly spat blood. To think someone would be so audacious as to steal from his dojo—no, this was outright robbing it. Courting death!
Die! the Heaven and Earth Sage roared, sending a tearing dao principle surging toward Mo Wuji. He was certain the intruder wasn’t a Creation Sage. As long as it wasn’t a Creation Sage, even a Derivative Realm Sage would be shredded by this dao principle.
Crack! The sound of a protective array shattering echoed in the void. The Heaven and Earth Sage’s heart sank—his opponent had placed a void defensive array right above his head, and he hadn’t noticed.
Splurt! A powerful backlash swept over, and Mo Wuji coughed up a mouthful of essence blood. His heart sank. He had thought his protective array could hold for five to six breaths, but it was torn apart in just one, and he had suffered backlash.
It seemed he wouldn’t be able to take the Wheel of Time today. Failing to secure it, he had to escape first.
Just as Mo Wuji prepared to flee, he suddenly realized that all nine restrictions wrapped in his void array patterns had been refined. How was that possible? He had only just sent in nine strands of dao intent and barely begun refining. By his estimate, it should have taken half a stick of incense—yet it was done in mere breaths?
Mo Wuji was overjoyed. Why hesitate now? Time to go!
The teleportation array activated, and the Heaven and Earth Sage’s entire dojo seemed to be uprooted. In the next moment, Mo Wuji had vanished via teleportation.
The Heaven and Earth Sage hadn’t anticipated that his treasure would be forcibly taken. His dao intent, not yet fully retracted, was severed, and he spat out a jet of blood.
Damage to his great dao was the least of his concerns. Even if he could reclaim the Wheel of Time, this humiliation was unbearable. To have his Wheel stolen while he was at his weakest—if he, the Heaven and Earth Sage, couldn’t make this thief regret being born, he’d be unworthy of the title Creation Sage.
…
A person sitting cross-legged blocked Lan Xiaobu’s path. Lan Xiaobu stopped, eyeing the figure with curiosity. This was a Creation Realm cultivator, but that wasn’t the key point. More importantly, Lan Xiaobu sensed a faint ripple of cause-and-effect dao charm emanating from them.
He had never met the Cause and Effect Sage Kong Jia, but his subordinate Zhen Ti cultivated the Lesser Cause and Effect Technique, so Lan Xiaobu immediately recognized the cause-and-effect dao charm.
Are you Kong Jia? The Cause and Effect Sage? Lan Xiaobu asked, pausing.
By normal standards, interrupting someone during cultivation was a major taboo. But this was the Great Burial Dao Plain. For others, forget asking questions—they’d likely attack outright. Lan Xiaobu was searching for the Cause and Effect Sage, so now that he’d encountered them, he had no qualms about speaking up.
The cultivator ceased their comprehension, glanced at Lan Xiaobu, and said casually, I’m not the Cause and Effect Sage. If you want to comprehend the Cause and Effect Dao Scroll, you can go here. I obtained it from there. Please, fellow daoist, don’t disturb my dao comprehension further.
As he spoke, the cultivator tossed a jade slip to Lan Xiaobu and resumed his closed-eye comprehension of the Cause and Effect Great Dao. In the Great Burial Dao Plain, every moment was precious. Pausing for even a breath meant a portion of his great dao would be buried. This give-and-take could jeopardize his life.
Lan Xiaobu caught the jade slip and didn’t continue to disturb the cultivator, nor did he ask further questions, such as why the jade slip’s location allowed comprehension of the Cause and Effect Dao Scroll.
After all, this was the Great Burial Dao Plain. Once someone gained insight into a great dao here, they could only comprehend it on the spot. There was no way to set up defensive arrays or find a cave abode. Disturbing this cultivator for too long could cost him his life. Not everyone could balance the plain’s dao principle stripping with their own great dao, as Lan Xiaobu could.
In the Great Burial Dao Plain, encountering another cultivator was rare. This cultivator’s encounter with Lan Xiaobu could only be called bad luck.
