Just as Lan Xiaobu was about to ask if the other party wanted the Time Dao Scroll, a flash of insight struck him. He had already proven the Space Dao, and with his personal Dao, aided by the Longevity Dao Tree, he could construct a Space Dao Scroll himself.
With this in mind, he activated the Cosmic Dimension Model, channeling his understanding of space and its laws into it. In mere moments, a brand-new Space Dao Scroll appeared before him.
“This counts as a heaven-opening scroll, right?” Lan Xiaobu chuckled, holding the scroll. In the context of his Longevity Realm, it was indeed a heaven-opening scroll.
He wasn’t sure how it differed from the true Space Dao Scroll.
Regardless, he had to try. He placed the scroll on the array screen, messaging, “You’re in luck—I happen to have a Space Dao Scroll. I think we can trade.”
To his delight, the message sent successfully, meaning the trading rules recognized his scroll as a heaven-opening Space Dao Scroll.
Soon after, he received a response: two words, “Trade.”
Lan Xiaobu knew that by placing the scroll in the teleportation array and confirming the trade, it would be complete.
The Trade Hall’s system was remarkably user-friendly, allowing trades without face-to-face meetings, minimizing risks from power disparities.
He confirmed the trade, and the Space Dao Scroll vanished. Moments later, a scroll with a faint white glow appeared before him.
Without opening it, Lan Xiaobu knew it was the Light Dao Scroll. Though unfamiliar with Light Dao laws, he could sense the vastness of this heaven-opening law upon contact.
He admired the trader’s integrity. A typical cultivator might have demanded the Five-Needle Pine Dao Fruits as well, but this one hadn’t mentioned them.
If they had, Lan Xiaobu would’ve agreed without hesitation. The Light Dao Scroll meant adding another law to his Longevity Dao Tree, reaching twelve laws—perfect for proving the Eternal Life Sage realm. Once he achieved that, he could openly roam the Land of Eternal Life, confronting those who sought to kill him.
Logically, he should leave immediately after obtaining the scroll. Instead, he opened it. Sensing the Light Dao laws, he confirmed it was genuine.
Though his Space Dao Scroll wasn’t the one requested, he was confident it was no less valuable.
After verifying its authenticity, he used the Cosmic Dimension Model to construct the scroll’s dimensional structure. With the physical scroll present, the model completed the structure in mere breaths.
Rather than replicating the scroll, Lan Xiaobu stored it in his ring and teleported away.
In the luxurious top-floor hall of the Eternal Life Trade Hall, an elegant man sat at the head, with a woman standing below, slightly hunched, answering his questions.
“Confirmed: the trade involved the Space Dao Scroll and Light Dao Scroll?” the man asked, his tone calm, devoid of any edge.
The woman, still bowed, replied respectfully, “Yes, Hall Master. The traded items were indeed the Light Dao Scroll and Space Dao Scroll, but…”
“But what?” he pressed.
She chose her words carefully. “The trading laws set by the three Dao Ancestors didn’t flag either scroll as fake, but they detected alterations in the Space Dao Scroll. Its value remained undiminished, so the trade proceeded.”
“Altering a Space Dao Scroll without reducing its value? Maintaining the integrity of its laws? Who could do this? Why alter a heaven-opening scroll, and to what end?” The man seemed to muse aloud, sinking into thought.
Only someone at least as strong as a Creation Sage could achieve this, yet he was certain the trader wasn’t one. As Zhong He, the top disciple of the Eternal Life Sage, a peak Derivation realm cultivator, he’d sense a Creation Sage. With only a few Creation Sages in the Land of Eternal Life, who else could alter a heaven-opening scroll?
“Anything else?” Zhong He asked, deciding to report this to his master, the Eternal Life Sage.
The woman continued, “The Space Dao Scroll was altered, and the Light Dao Scroll was tampered with too. The trading laws detected a Dao mark on it.”
“A Dao mark?” Zhong He was startled. Dao marks weren’t placed lightly.
A marked item could be tracked, even in one’s personal world, but placing a Dao mark damaged one’s Dao foundation permanently. Only rare treasures could mend such damage, making it a rare act.
“Interesting. Do we know how they left?” Zhong He asked.
“Neither used the Trade Hall’s teleportation array. One left via their own array, the other walked out directly,” she replied.
“I see. You may go,” Zhong He said, closing his eyes. Two heaven-opening scrolls, one being the Space Dao Scroll—should he inform his master?
He quickly decided he must. Even Creation Sages rarely possessed heaven-opening scrolls, let alone two simultaneously.
Emerging from teleportation, Lan Xiaobu confirmed he wasn’t followed, appreciating the Trade Hall’s integrity. He summoned the Reincarnation Pot, planning to return to his previous retreat where he’d proven the Karma and Dark Daos undisturbed—a safe spot.
As he activated the pot, unease crept in.
Being pursued seemed unlikely—he’d notice. The only source of discomfort could be the Light Dao Scroll. If it was tampered with, he’d reconstruct it and destroy the original.
He took out the scroll. Before opening it, a figure burst from it, and a vast spatial aura locked onto him. A deathly Dao law struck his chest.
Ambushed! Lan Xiaobu’s heart sank as his Dao foundation fractured, the invasive Dao aura growing stronger.
Having survived countless battles, he knew the scroll was the issue. Someone had embedded a Dao mark, hidden within the Light Dao laws, waiting for him to retrieve it to strike.
Lan Xiaobu knew of Dao marks, but one that allowed a clone to emerge and attack was rare. The culprit had likely proven the Space Dao. Why, then, trade for a Space Dao Scroll?
If he didn’t discard the scroll, the aura tearing his Dao and body would intensify exponentially. Over time, the attacker could fully manifest through the mark.
This person was risking their life to kill him over a mere scroll trade. With no grudge, their ruthlessness was staggering.
Lan Xiaobu discarded the scroll and vanished, activating his No-Rules Escape Technique. Even a Creation Sage couldn’t catch him.
As he fled, he reconstructed both the Space and Light Dao Scrolls. Revenge could wait, but he wouldn’t abandon the Light Dao Scroll.
In moments, a faint glow erupted from the scroll, and a masked woman in black appeared where Lan Xiaobu had stood, her face pale, blood trickling from her mouth.
Her eyes held disappointment—she’d failed. Her Dao mark ambush had been evaded, though it was expected. The opponent had likely proven the Space Dao, or escape would’ve been impossible. Her revenge, she didn’t know when she could exact it.
