After just a few decades, Lan Xiaobu halted his cultivation. He was certain that even if he secluded himself here for ten thousand years, he couldn’t achieve the Fourth Step.
First, his comprehension was lacking, and this wasn’t something seclusion here could fix. Second, half a supreme-grade Dao vein wasn’t enough for both of them to reach the Fourth Step. From what they knew, this half vein might be the only one in this vast expanse.
Stepping out of his seclusion, he found Mo Wuji already waiting outside, along with Ou Ping and the Thunder Sage.
“Friend Ou, congratulations! I was in seclusion and didn’t even know you’d arrived at the Mo Lan Universe. And Friend Thunder, congrats on your progress,” Lan Xiaobu said with a smile.
He congratulated Ou Ping because he could see that not only had Ou Ping restored his physical body, but his Dao foundation was nearly repaired. It was just a matter of time now.
Ou Ping bowed excitedly, “If not for you two, I’d have wasted my life at Meng Mu Da Yan, with no chance to repair my Dao foundation. I’m grateful for my choice, which gave my Dao a new opportunity.”
Mo Wuji added, “After Old Ou restored his body, he and Friend Thunder came to the Mo Lan Universe on their own. I’d just come out of seclusion and brought them in.”
Lan Xiaobu understood. Mo Wuji had clearly realized that relying on this half supreme-grade Dao vein, they couldn’t reach the Fourth Step, so he’d stopped secluding. The Thunder Sage, with deeper cultivation, had also recognized that seclusion in the Da Yan Realm wouldn’t get him to the Fourth Step and had stopped wasting time.
Soon, Qi Manwei and the others would realize the same and likely end their seclusion.
Mo Wuji continued, “After Old Ou arrived, he used the half supreme-grade Dao vein to greatly repair his broken Dao, but full restoration will still take time.”
Lan Xiaobu knew Mo Wuji had a plan. He asked, “Wuji, any ideas?”
Mo Wuji’s tone grew serious, “We’ve seen Qin Qingtian’s strength. If we hadn’t schemed repeatedly by chance, we wouldn’t be sitting here talking. We might not even have had the chance to flee like he did. We must reach the Fourth Step, but this place clearly lacks the opportunity. Finding another half supreme-grade Dao vein here is impossible, let alone advancing further.”
Ou Ping said with a hint of excitement, “I’ve heard of the Great Universe’s existence. I’ve never been, but with the Seven Realms Stone, we have a chance to get there.”
Lan Xiaobu immediately guessed that Hongjun Patriarch and the rumored sages from the Great Desolation Universe had likely gone to the Great Universe, as they’d vanished after leaving.
“Is the Great Universe a higher-level universe?” Lan Xiaobu asked.
Ou Ping hesitated, then said, “I don’t know if it’s higher-level, but the Great Universe and Small Thousand Universes are completely different.”
“We’re not exactly a Small Thousand Universe anymore. This is a medium universe,” the Thunder Sage interjected.
Ou Ping shook his head, “The universes we’re in are often ones the Great Universe has discarded. Whether it’s a medium universe is just our own thinking. Or rather, it’s not discarded, but those powerhouses don’t bother staying here.”
Mo Wuji said, “Maybe there’s no such thing as medium or low-level universes. It’s all just divisions made by cultivators here.”
Lan Xiaobu sneered, “Places others don’t care to stay, yet they still form a hierarchy of disdain, even abandoning parts of their own universes or realms. Human nature’s flaws are on full display in this vast expanse.”
He wondered if the lofty powerhouses from the Great Desolation Universe, upon reaching the so-called higher universe, found their past actions laughable.
Ou Ping continued, “Friends, I haven’t been to the Great Universe, but I’ve heard that in the vast expanse, cultivators aren’t necessarily the strongest. In the top-tier universes, besides cultivation civilizations, there are technological civilization universes. Cultivation civilizations are only distinguished as high or low, but technological civilizations are said to have eighteen levels. The defenses of the highest-level technological civilization planets can’t necessarily be breached by Great Path powerhouses.”
Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji exchanged a glance, both quietly marveling. The vast expanse held countless things beyond their understanding. Even at their current level, many things remained out of reach.
In their minds, no matter how advanced, technological civilizations couldn’t compare to cultivation civilizations, with the gap widening at higher levels.
Could a technological civilization shatter a universe with one strike? But Ou Ping’s words suggested the vast expanse wasn’t as they perceived.
“Xiaobu, what’s your take?” Mo Wuji asked, looking at Lan Xiaobu.
He and Lan Xiaobu had only made it this far together. Alone in the Land of Eternal Life, he’d felt powerless. Together, their strength was far greater than the sum of its parts.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t hesitate, “Wuji, our strength is decent here, but Lou Wuchen and Qin Qingtian showed us that in the vast expanse, countless beings outclass us. Our strength in a place teeming with powerhouses might get us crushed instantly. And Old Ou says there are even eighteen-level technological civilizations out there.
I suggest we wrap up our affairs here and leave with Old Ou immediately. We need to find a universe where we can advance quickly, or we’ll never feel secure, and our lives will be at risk.”
Ou Ping slapped his chest, “I don’t know exactly where, but I have a rough idea. With the Seven Realms Stone, I’m confident we’ll eventually find the Great Universe.”
He’d once feared Meng Mu Da Yan, but learning that even their protector Meng Yuan had been scared off by Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu, never daring to return, he knew sticking with them ensured his safety for now. Once he reached the Fourth Step, what would Meng Mu Da Yan’s protectors matter?
“Good, it’s settled. But before we leave, we have two things to do. First, we need to claim the Qin Tian Ancient Path. Second, we return to the Land of Eternal Life to eliminate that guy who resembles Qu Peng, the Great Universe Sage. He’s a lingering threat there,” Mo Wuji said.
After discussion, they quickly settled on a plan. The Thunder Sage would stay in the Mo Lan Universe to build it into a thriving hub in this expanse.
With nearly everyone in the Hao Yuan Universe wiped out, this vast region lacked good cultivation sites. Places like the Chaos River, Illusory Ruins, or Thousand Universe Void weren’t ideal. They might offer opportunities but were more likely to cost you your life.
Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu hoped the Mo Lan Universe would not only be their sanctuary but also a refuge for countless cultivators in this expanse with nowhere else to go.
“Just letting that old poisoner Kuang Can off easy,” Ou Ping grumbled about Kuang Can. Last time, they’d asked him for help, and he’d done nothing, yet shamelessly stayed in the Da Yan Realm to cultivate. Plus, with Qi Manwei and others eventually joining the Mo Lan Universe, wouldn’t that leave the Da Yan Realm to Kuang Can alone?
Mo Wuji smiled, “Xiaobu and I initially planned to claim the Da Yan Realm for ourselves. But we changed our minds. Let the Heavenly Poison Sage have it.”
Both Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu sensed the Da Yan Realm was no ordinary medium universe, likely a great powerhouse’s garden. Entering and leaving without disrupting it should be fine. But if the Heavenly Poison Sage cultivated there and someone came looking for the realm’s owner, they’d settle accounts with him.
Two days later, after tying up loose ends, Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu left the Mo Lan Universe, this time with Ou Ping in tow.
The three stood on the Seven Realms Stone. As long as Lan Xiaobu activated the Qin Tian Ancient Path’s positional law, they could re-enter it.
“Wuji, do you think Qin Qingtian might be hiding in the Qin Tian Ancient Path?” Lan Xiaobu asked with a smirk, holding the path’s positional law.
Mo Wuji shook his head, “Someone as clever as Qin Qingtian, if he’s still in the Qin Tian Ancient Path, he’s practically begging to die. Unless he convinced Meng Yuan to help him and they went to retrieve the path together. If he’s reclaimed it and we go in, we’d be the ones walking into death.”
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, “We didn’t chase that woman. Unless she’s an idiot, she wouldn’t stick with Qin Qingtian. Let’s go. I don’t believe Qin Qingtian can do anything to us in the Qin Tian Ancient Path.”
