Compared to the desolation of the void plaza in the Hundred Zero Universe, the void plaza here could no longer be described as merely crowded. It was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, with people queuing to enter the Vast Abyss Universe.
In this vast expanse, mid-tier universes suitable for cultivation were scarce. Most places, while viable for cultivation, carried the constant risk of attack or even death. With Mengmu Great Evolution keeping a low profile, the Vast Abyss Universe naturally became the best choice. Not only was it safe for cultivation, but its heavenly rules were clear, and its cosmic vitality was abundant.
The current crowd was due to rumors that the influx of cultivators had prompted some powerful factions in the Vast Abyss Universe to plan a joint fee system. This fee was said to be exorbitant, far beyond ordinary charges. There were even whispers that once the fees were implemented, later arrivals would have to pay based on how long they wished to stay.
In other words, entering the Vast Abyss Universe would no longer be as casual as before; it would require substantial payments. However, with so many powerful factions, negotiations were still ongoing.
But since the proposal existed, it would eventually be finalized. Thus, those who heard the news rushed to enter the Vast Abyss Universe early.
Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji stood at the back of the line, observing the long queue ahead. Lan Xiaobu sighed, “We’ll probably be stuck here for a day. Though the Vast Abyss Universe allows free entry, there are all sorts of fees at the entrance.”
Lan Xiaobu had already scanned the area with his divine sense. At the entrance, there were mandatory fees like map jade slip fees and void plaza maintenance fees, alongside promotions for various seclusion cave abodes.
The map jade slip was a must-buy, ensuring newcomers didn’t accidentally trespass on major sect territories. The plaza maintenance fee was also mandatory, supposedly to cover the cosmic vitality consumed by the crowds.
It was unclear who was collecting these fees, but they were certainly not simple. Despite the charges, the queue remained massive, indicating future fees would likely be even higher.
The fees themselves were secondary; the real issue was the time wasted.
Mo Wuji chuckled and sent a voice transmission to Lan Xiaobu, “The Vast Abyss Universe’s protective array is always open, so we can teleport in. When we’ve taken out some of Mengmu Great Evolution’s enforcers and need to leave, we’ll have to teleport out. I’ve set up some void teleportation array patterns outside for a quick escape. If that fails, we’ll use your Seven Realms Stone.”
To Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu, the Seven Realms Stone was a last resort. Exposing it could bring significant trouble.
To avoid attention, they queued for an entire day, paid the fees, and entered the Vast Abyss Universe.
The map jade slip they purchased was useful, allowing them to locate Mengmu Great Evolution without needing to ask around or buy additional slips.
Mengmu Great Evolution’s dojo was in the Vast Abyss Universe’s most vitality-rich area, Great Thousand丈 Mountain.
Great Thousand丈 Mountain was an odd place. All its peaks appeared to be under a thousand 丈 (approximately 3,333 meters). From afar, apart from the main peak, the rest were low hills. Even the main peak was below a thousand 丈.
Logically, Mengmu Great Evolution wouldn’t choose such a place for its dojo, but assuming the peaks were truly under a thousand 丈 would be naive.
The view of Great Thousand丈 Mountain from outside was an illusion. Unless you were a Mengmu Great Evolution cultivator, you couldn’t ascend any peak’s summit, even if you entered their dojo.
The cosmic vitality here was so dense it could almost be grasped by hand, explaining why everyone yearned to access Mengmu Great Evolution’s territory.
Add to that their rumored control over the Great Evolution Realm, and it was no wonder Mengmu Great Evolution consistently attracted top disciples.
At this moment, Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji stood outside Mengmu Great Evolution’s protective array. From here, despite the array’s obstruction, they could see a range of low peaks stretching endlessly. Even without an array blocking divine sense, it couldn’t cover the entirety of Mengmu Great Evolution.
“Xiaobu, I have an idea. Since we’re here, if no fourth-step powerhouse intervenes, we may not uproot Mengmu Great Evolution entirely, but we can take out a few key figures. If a fourth-step appears, we escape with the Seven Realms Stone. What do you think?” Mo Wuji said with a sly grin, gazing at the vitality-rich Mengmu Great Evolution, wondering if they’d drive it to madness after leaving.
Lan Xiaobu frowned, silent for a while before saying, “Why do I feel the dao principles here are familiar? I’m sure I’ve never been here. Let me think…”
Lan Xiaobu racked his brain, certain he’d sensed this familiarity before, as if he’d encountered it often.
After a long time, his eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, “I remember now! The dao principles here are like those of a guy I killed, Lou Yiyi—”
“I know him, the Great Dream Sage,” Mo Wuji said. After Lan Xiaobu killed the Great Dream Sage at the Creation Market, Mo Wuji had taken out Qu Peng, the Great Cosmos cultivator, there too.
Lan Xiaobu muttered to himself, “I’m certain the Great Dream Sage, Lou Yiyi, came from here. What is Mengmu Great Evolution up to? No, the Great Dream Sage was cultivating countless dream demons in the Immortal Realm and even the Cultivation Realm. If it weren’t for me, not just the Five Universe Immortal Realm, but the Great Desolate Universe, the Rootless Universe, and others would’ve been devoured by those dream demons turned fiends—”
The clearer his thoughts became, the more it felt like something was about to click into place.
After another half-incense stick’s time, Lan Xiaobu suddenly said, “I get it. Mengmu Great Evolution—doesn’t ‘Mengmu’ sound like ‘dream demon’? No wonder they chose such a strange name. The dream demons are condensed from dream fiends. This must be the ancestral ground of the dream demons. Are they trying to dominate the entire cosmos?”
He then asked, “Wuji, do you know the name of Mengmu Great Evolution’s fourth-step ancestor?”
Mo Wuji replied, “I heard Zhuo Heng mention it. I think it’s Lou Wuchen.”
“Exactly! Lou Yiyi, Lou Wuchen… If there’s no connection, I wouldn’t believe it,” Lan Xiaobu said firmly.
He vaguely sensed he’d brushed against a vast conspiracy targeting the entire cosmos.
Mo Wuji’s heart sank as he too realized this was a conspiratorial vortex. He also thought of the Burial Dao Abyss.
Taking a deep breath, Mo Wuji said gravely, “Xiaobu, remember the Burial Dao Abyss? I killed the Great Cosmos Sage, yet we saw him—or someone even stronger—beneath that great tomb. Great Cosmos, Great Dream… we’ve encountered this twice. How can there not be a massive conspiracy?”
Lan Xiaobu grew solemn, “Wuji, let’s speculate. Could the Great Dream Sage and Great Cosmos Sage we met be pawns sent out by these mid-tier universes’ powers? They easily corrupt a realm, using dream demons to devour it, all to boost their strength… I’m wondering if there are higher-tier universes above the mid-tier ones. We’re like ants, trapped in a mire we can’t escape or struggle free from.”
They exchanged a glance, falling into brief silence. They’d killed the Great Dream Sage, Lou Yiyi, and the Great Cosmos Sage, Qu Peng. In their eyes, they’d eliminated cunning saints, saving low-tier universes from constant destruction or annihilation. But now, they realized they might have only taken out insignificant pawns released by colossal forces.
Lan Xiaobu nodded, “If our guess is right, as long as I, Lan Xiaobu, am alive, I won’t let such filthy dojos continue to exist.”
Mo Wuji’s words echoed his own. They shared a smile, the earlier heaviness lifting slightly.
Mo Wuji chuckled, “Originally, I just planned to take out a few Mengmu Great Evolution enforcers and grab some materials and dao veins. Now, I want to wipe out Mengmu Great Evolution entirely. No matter if there’s a higher-tier dojo above them, since we’re here today, Mengmu Great Evolution must be eradicated.”
“Alright, let’s make it a big one today,” Lan Xiaobu said, staring at the endless peaks, his voice resolute.
