At the same moment, in another part of the Land of Eternal Life, deep within the Vast Abyss, a massive hammer suddenly rose into the air. Seated atop the hammer was a man, his body radiating flowing Dao charm, his aura surging relentlessly.
One after another, strands of Great Path laws gradually condensed into a new world of eternal life, enveloping the man and causing his saintly aura to climb ever higher.
When his aura reached its zenith, the man abruptly stood, raising his hand to summon waves of Great Path laws. “I, Zhuang Yinchen, today achieve the Creation Saint Realm, with the Indestructible Great Path as my foundation, ascending to eternal life!”
As Zhuang Yinchen’s proclamation rang out, the entire Vast Abyss was nearly saturated with Indestructible Dao laws. Zhuang Yinchen merged completely into these laws, his form and the laws slowly becoming ethereal.
In the distance, the Eternal Life Saint, Reflective Path Saint, and Thunder Saint, who were guarding Zhuang Yinchen, stood in silence. The Reflective Path Saint felt the most aggrieved. They had not only helped Zhuang Yinchen retrieve the Indestructible Hammer but also protected him during his breakthrough.
Though none spoke, they all knew Zhuang Yinchen had deceived them.
They had believed that retrieving the Indestructible Hammer would only allow Zhuang Yinchen to achieve the Yan Realm. They hadn’t expected the hammer to contain the sealed Creation Realm Indestructible Great Path laws. Moreover, Zhuang Yinchen had already been in the Yan Realm, merely concealing it. Now, with the hammer in hand, he had directly stabilized his Creation Saint Realm.
Zhuang Yinchen’s ascension to the Creation Saint Realm significantly disrupted their plans. They had assumed that after helping him eliminate Mo and Lan, Zhuang Yinchen would remain subordinate to them.
But now, having obtained the Indestructible Hammer and stabilized his Creation Saint Realm, he was not what they had anticipated.
“Heh, what a cunning scheme,” the Thunder Saint couldn’t help but mutter.
The Eternal Life Saint said coolly, “No need for such words. For now, our priority is to unite and eliminate Mo and Lan. The stronger Friend Zhuang is, the better it is for us.”
He said as much, but whether he truly felt that way was known only to him.
At that moment, every cultivator in the Land of Eternal Life sensed the aura of the Creation Great Path, as vast Creation Dao laws descended, accompanied by the clear chime of Dao sounds.
Everyone knew someone had achieved the Creation Saint Realm. How many years had it been since someone in the Land of Eternal Life had done so? After the fall of the Heaven and Earth Saint, another had now risen.
In no time, the communication pearls of the Eternal Life Saint, Reflective Path Saint, and Thunder Saint buzzed with messages informing them that the Land of Eternal Life would soon have another Creation Saint.
The Reflective Path Saint said calmly, “Everyone in the Land of Eternal Life knows someone has entered the Creation Saint Realm. I reckon Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu must know as well.”
“So what if they know? This time, we’re openly going to refine the City of Eternal Life. It’s a pity Friend Heavenly Mechanism left early. If he hadn’t, with the five of us together, no matter how heaven-defying Mo and Lan are or how many heaven-opening treasures they have, they’d have to kneel,” the Eternal Life Saint said, his voice laced with menace and dissatisfaction.
“Haha…” Zhuang Yinchen laughed heartily, stepping out from the Vast Abyss and landing before the three.
The Eternal Life Saint also laughed and clasped his fists. “Congratulations, Friend Zhuang, on achieving the Creation Saint Realm and rejoining our ranks.”
Though the Reflective Path Saint and Thunder Saint harboured many grievances, they too smiled and offered congratulations. After all, it was their help that allowed Zhuang Yinchen to achieve the Creation Saint Realm again. They didn’t want to do the good deed only to be left without gratitude.
Zhuang Yinchen was elated. Though his pursuit of the fourth step of the Great Path had failed, today he had returned to the ranks of Creation Saints. So what if he had used some cunning? To reclaim the Creation Saint Realm, a little scheming was nothing.
“Friend Zhuang, I believe we should act on our earlier plan sooner rather than later. If Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu grow further—no, if they even reach the Yan Realm—it will be a disaster for us,” the Reflective Path Saint said after the greetings, immediately bringing up the plan to besiege Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji.
Their greatest fear was that Zhuang Yinchen would turn his back on them. Having helped him retrieve the Indestructible Hammer and achieve the Creation Saint Realm, they worried he might betray them and leave.
To the relief of the three, Zhuang Yinchen’s expression grew serious upon hearing the Reflective Path Saint’s words. “Indeed, this must be done promptly. Let’s head to the City of Eternal Life now. Lan Xiaobu took my Indestructible Path Scroll, and I’ll make him return it. We’ll divide Lan Xiaobu’s belongings, but I want to take him personally.”
He didn’t say that he wanted to take Lan Xiaobu to seize his Great Path laws and continue seeking the fourth step.
“No problem,” the Reflective Path Saint said without hesitation. His enmity with Lan Xiaobu wasn’t deep, but Lan Xiaobu was now determined to kill him, and he coveted Lan Xiaobu’s heaven-opening treasures. As long as they could divide Lan Xiaobu’s possessions, he didn’t care about the man himself.
…
Outside the City of Eternal Life, Lan Xiaobu was comprehending the Great Path laws of the Yan Realm when he suddenly sensed many Dao law auras incompatible with his Eternal Life Great Path. These auras were so clear that they began to disrupt his ability to continue his insights.
Lan Xiaobu frowned and muttered, “Is someone achieving the Creation Saint Realm? Is that why the Land of Eternal Life is resonating with Dao laws?”
These resonant laws prevented him from focusing on his insights. Moreover, Lan Xiaobu detected a familiar aura within them, as if…
Could it be Qi Muwei? Why did these laws contain familiar spatial and temporal rule auras? No, there was also an unfamiliar Dao law aura—this was definitely not Qi Muwei’s Great Path.
“Xiaobu!” Mo Wuji’s voice called from outside.
Lan Xiaobu emerged from his cave abode, unable to continue his insights.
“Wuji, did you sense someone achieving the Creation Saint Realm?” Lan Xiaobu asked as he stepped out.
Mo Wuji nodded. “Yes, someone has achieved the Creation Realm. But I’m not concerned about that. I’m worried we can’t achieve the Yan Realm here. Think about it—someone achieving the Creation Realm caused such a commotion, showing how deeply tied the Creation Realm positions are to the Land of Eternal Life. If we achieve the Yan Realm here, we might never reach the Creation Realm, let alone surpass it. This isn’t about our Great Path but about the rules of this plane, its destiny, and its positions.”
Lan Xiaobu agreed. “I feel the same. I even sense that achieving the Yan Realm here would trap us in this cosmic plane, with the Creation Saint Realm as the highest cultivation. And as you said, we might not even achieve the Creation Realm—it depends on whether this plane’s Heavenly Dao grants us a position.”
“Exactly. We cultivate our own Great Paths. In a sense, once we achieve the Creation Saint Realm, our Great Path laws might equal or even surpass those of the Land of Eternal Life. That could be the key to why we’re restricted from advancing to the next realm,” Mo Wuji said perceptively.
Lan Xiaobu frowned. “My biggest worry is that we achieved the Creation Saint Realm in the Land of Eternal Life. Could that restrict our future Great Path?”
Mo Wuji shook his head. “No, we achieved the Creation Saint Realm in the Burial Dao Abyss. Though it’s part of the Land of Eternal Life, its Heavenly Dao laws are clearly incompatible. Any cultivator not following their own Great Path who enters the Burial Dao Abyss has their Dao laws buried. I’ve even thought that our combat strength far exceeds others of the same rank in the Land of Eternal Life. Besides cultivating our own Great Paths, it’s likely because we didn’t achieve our realms here, unbound by the Land’s Heavenly Dao laws. Otherwise, Creation Saints would’ve torn us apart long ago.”
As they discussed why they couldn’t achieve the Yan Realm here, a terrifying Great Path aura surged toward them.
Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji exchanged a glance, instantly understanding—Creation Saints were coming to seal them in the City of Eternal Life and refine them.
Mo Wuji chuckled, grasping his Mortal Halberd. “These people really think highly of themselves, trying to seal us here and refine the entire Dao city…”
Before his words finished, a chime that seemed to tear through the Land of Eternal Life resounded.
*Dong…*
The sound felt as if it came from the depths of their souls, like a colossal hammer striking their hearts. Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji’s faces paled instantly, their Dao charm rapidly dissipating.
At the same time, cultivators throughout the City of Eternal Life spat blood. Those with lower cultivation perished instantly, while stronger ones, under the weight of the Vast Bell’s chime, collapsed to the ground, their Dao charm disintegrating. All they could do was stabilize their Great Path foundations to prevent further collapse.
