A short-statured cultivator in brown robes entered, immediately bowing. “Kong Yangshan greets the Creation Seniors and Derivation Fellows.”
“Sit, Kong,” Eternal Life Saint nodded, gesturing for him to take a seat.
As Kong Yangshan sat, an abrupt voice cut in, “Kong, what’s your relation to Cause and Effect Saint Kong Jia? Why are you now called the Cause and Effect Saint?”
Kong Yangshan’s face darkened. The question was tactless.
“Fei Yu, that’s irrelevant now. We’re here for Creation Saint slots and Mo Wuji,” Reflection Dao Saint said, displeased.
Everyone knew the speaker: Derivation Saint Zeng Feiyu, among the strongest below Creation Saints. Rumored to be close to Cause and Effect Saint Kong Jia, he’d sharply questioned Kong Yangshan’s title.
At Reflection Dao Saint’s rebuke, Zeng Feiyu, though irked, held his tongue. This was Eternal Life Saint’s dojo, and a Creation Saint could crush him if provoked.
Kong Yangshan ignored Zeng Feiyu, bowing to Reflection Dao Saint before sitting.
“How do you know Mo Wuji took Heaven and Earth Saint’s Time Wheel and used it to take your white bone?” Eternal Life Saint asked once Kong settled.
Kong Yangshan replied, “I was chasing a foe and set many cause-and-effect prohibitions at my cave.”
“Someone worth leaving your white bone to chase must be extraordinary,” Zeng Feiyu said coolly.
No one scolded him this time. Kong Yangshan had clung to his white bone cave for years, unmoved by anything. His sudden pursuit raised curiosity: who was worth it?
Kong Yangshan bowed awkwardly. “He tricked me out of my Cause and Effect Dao Scroll with a Time Dao Scroll. Later, I learned his name: Lan Xiaobu.”
At “Lan Xiaobu,” Heavenly Secret Saint’s mind cleared. He knew what Lan Xiaobu likely possessed—a Heaven-Opening treasure, possibly the Seven Realm Stone. He’d kept this secret, coveting the stone. That’s why he hadn’t handed over the man and woman he’d captured, instead displaying them in Heavenly Secret Dao City to lure Lan Xiaobu.
If Kong Yangshan chased Lan Xiaobu, he might know about the Seven Realm Stone. Heavenly Secret Saint’s face stayed neutral, but a flicker of killing intent passed. Kong Yangshan, a nobody, dared eye the Seven Realm Stone?
He was puzzled, though. If Kong Yangshan chased Lan Xiaobu and knew about the Seven Realm Stone, why suspect Mo Wuji, not Lan Xiaobu, for taking the white bone?
“Why conclude Mo Wuji took Time Wheel and your white bone?” Eternal Life Saint pressed.
Kong Yangshan said calmly, “I initially thought it was Lan Xiaobu, but he lacks a Heaven-Opening treasure, so he couldn’t take the white bone. After leaving Burial Dao Abyss, I heard Time Wheel was stolen from Eternal Life City. Then I learned Mo Wuji went to Wan Dao River and killed Chong Jianshan. At Wan Dao River, I sensed a Dao principle and matched it to Mo Wuji’s Dao charm left at my white bone, confirming it.”
In truth, Kong Yangshan’s certainty wasn’t based on this. He’d comprehended a new cause-and-effect Dao principle. Mo Wuji had visited his white bone twice. The first time, pre-Eternal Life, he was marked by Kong’s principles. The second, after proving Eternal Life, Mo Wuji severed all traces. Kong couldn’t track him then, but soon heard of Time Wheel’s theft and Mo Wuji’s destruction of Wan Dao River. Connecting these, only a fool wouldn’t deduce Mo Wuji took the white bone.
“Good. Your information is valuable. Can you sense Mo Wuji’s whereabouts now?” Eternal Life Saint asked warmly.
Mo Wuji’s Eternal Life proof made him untraceable to Kong Yangshan, but Kong guessed Mo Wuji’s next target was likely Yi Dun Saint Cheng Qinghan. He planned to wait near Daxun Island, claiming he’d sensed Mo Wuji if he appeared.
“If Mo Wuji emerges within my range, I can detect him through his Dao charm,” Kong Yangshan said confidently.
“What do you need?” Eternal Life Saint asked.
Kong Yangshan bowed. “Just the white bone and Lan Xiaobu captured, as he stole my Cause and Effect Dao Scroll.”
Heavenly Secret Saint smirked inwardly. Kong Yangshan wanted Lan Xiaobu? Dream on.
Kong likely couldn’t defeat Mo Wuji, hence his presence here. But why mention Lan Xiaobu, who posed no threat? Perhaps he feared others capturing Lan Xiaobu first.
Though less formidable than Mo Wuji, Lan Xiaobu hadn’t proven Eternal Life. They couldn’t let him, or with Mo Wuji, the Land of Eternal Life’s peace would end.
“Very well. Provide Mo Wuji’s whereabouts, and I’ll grant your requests. You can even vie for a Creation Saint slot,” Eternal Life Saint affirmed.
“Thank you, Senior Eternal Life,” Kong Yangshan stood, bowing deeply with no shame.
—
Like a ray piercing darkness, when Lan Xiaobu grasped the Light Dao principles, his Eternal Life Dao clarified, dissolving obscure barriers. It felt like taking the final step after 999.
His excitement surged—not because the Light Dao was crucial, but because his Dao Tree’s twelve principles were complete, achieving perfect harmony and clarifying his Eternal Life Dao.
Sensing the seamless flow of his twelve principles, Lan Xiaobu calmed himself. He could now prove Creation Realm. Once there, he’d head to Heavenly Secret Dao City.
His confidence stemmed from his Dao Tree’s twelve principles—twelve, the ultimate number.
A thought struck: without proving Eternal Life, his tree held twelve principles. If he proved Eternal Life, could it hold thirteen, or fourteen?
“Brother Lan, have you proven the Light Dao?” Qi Manwei’s voice came from outside his cave. She’d stayed nearby, sensing the eased Dao charm and vivid Light Dao principles, eager to share his joy.
Lan Xiaobu opened the restrictions and stepped out. “Thanks to your help, Qi, my injuries healed quickly, and I’ve proven the Light Dao. Congratulations on perfecting your Space Dao.”
“Brother Lan, call me Manwei if you don’t mind. My Space Dao’s perfection is thanks to you. Without your help, I couldn’t have restored my Dao foundation, let alone refined my Dao,” Qi Manwei said softly.
She spoke truth. Severing her Dao trace typically required top-tier treasures to heal. Here, she’d gained a Space Dao complementary to hers, restoring her foundation swiftly and discarding severed traces, making her Dao smoother.
“I’m heading to Burial Dao Abyss to prove Creation Saint. What about you?” Lan Xiaobu didn’t hide his plans. Without Creation Saint, survival here was tough.
With Creation Saint and his Cosmic Mill, he might challenge Creation Saints.
Qi Manwei hesitated. “Brother Lan, my father left me a hidden dojo, possibly better for proving Creation Saint. Come with me? I need to prove the Time Dao.”
Lan Xiaobu shook his head. “No, I must go to Burial Dao Abyss. It’s the best place for me.”
His Dao, though refined by Burial Dao Abyss, still had mottled principles. He needed to purify them there.
“Where can I find you later?” Qi Manwei asked. Burial Dao Abyss suited Lan Xiaobu, not her.
Lan Xiaobu pondered. “You may not need to find me. You’ll know I exist.”
After stirring trouble at Heavenly Secret Dao City, the entire Land of Eternal Life would know him, and so would Qi Manwei.
