As more people arrived, the room soon held dozens. Lan Xiaobu grew uneasy, noticing many seemed acquainted with each other, making him stand out.
Fortunately, his worry was unfounded. While most knew each other, their familiarity was shallow. Many began casual conversations.
“Which daoist sect are you from, friend?” someone nearby asked, sparking a discussion. Lan Xiaobu listened intently.
As more joined in, he pieced together who these people were. The Eternal Life Conference, in theory, involved all ten worlds, and participation was mandatory. In practice, one or two worlds often skipped it.
Moru World’s participation wasn’t simply the Heavenly Court selecting attendees. Though nominally in control, the Moru Heavenly Court had little sway over the world’s top daoist sects, some of which rivaled it in power.
The conference offered immense benefits, not just for participants but also for their sects. Thus, each conference saw fierce competition among sects for slots. The Moru Heavenly Court also sent representatives, chosen through combat or discourse—preliminary victors. This explained why these people knew each other but weren’t close.
Lan Xiaobu overheard names of sects like Wudao Saint Sect, Qusheng Mountain, and Jiubian Sea City. His teleportation talisman came from Qixing Saint Dao Trade Hall, but it wasn’t for conference participation.
Despite being Tianmo City’s top trade hall, Qixing lacked the status to represent Moru World at the conference. They could secure entry slots, but only as spectators. As Lan Xiaobu observed, he noted the attendees’ strengths. The weakest were on the cusp of the Fourth Step, most were already Fourth Step, and a few faintly exuded Fifth Step auras.
What a gathering of powerhouses, Lan Xiaobu thought. Then, a long-bearded middle-aged man and a red-faced, slightly hunched man stepped out of the void.
Lan Xiaobu’s gaze lingered on the bearded man, sensing he was a top-tier Fifth Step, possibly Sixth Step. Then he looked at the red-faced man, and his heart sank. This was the strongest cultivator he’d ever encountered, bar none. If this man wanted to kill him, he could bind him with his domain and crush him effortlessly—a Seventh Step, or at least infinitely close.
He felt the man’s gaze on him, an uncomfortable sensation.
“Greetings, Emperor. Greetings, Left Saint Minister,” the cultivators bowed. Lan Xiaobu followed suit, blending in.
This Eternal Life Conference was significant—Moru Heavenly Court’s Emperor and Left Saint Minister were personally leading the group. The bearded man was likely the Emperor, the red-faced man the Left Saint Minister.
The Emperor laughed, “You are Moru World’s Dao geniuses. Our world’s future in the Great Universe depends on you. I’m personally leading you to the Central World for this conference. I don’t expect grand achievements—just don’t disgrace Moru World.”
The Left Saint Minister added, “Give your all. Strive for gains at the conference to bring eternal Dao insights to Moru World.”
The Emperor glanced around, then said, “Let’s depart.”
The golden teleportation array, though large, felt cramped with over a hundred people. Lan Xiaobu knew his slot, secured by Qixing Saint Dao Trade Hall, was dispensable compared to these Dao geniuses. He kept a low profile, standing at the edge.
Once everyone was in place, the Left Saint Minister said, “One reminder: no living beings can be in your world during teleportation, or you’ll harm all of Moru World. Unless your world’s rules surpass the Great Universe’s, don’t try it. The resources this teleportation consumes are immense. If you have life in your world, step out now.”
No one moved, indicating everyone knew the rule and carried no life in their worlds. Lan Xiaobu, having studied the array, had already suspected this. Its intricate patterns were so advanced that, even without the warning, he knew his Longevity Realm couldn’t carry life through it. He wasn’t sure about his cosmic dimensional model.
“No issues? Then prepare for teleportation,” the Emperor nodded.
The Left Saint Minister produced nearly two hundred top-grade Dao crystals, about to place them in the array’s spatial pattern slots, when a figure rushed in.
“Father, take me to the Central World! I want to go!” a crisp female voice called.
Lan Xiaobu saw a delicate woman in a light purple Dao robe, seemingly young, with Derivative Realm strength. Her uncontrolled Dao aura suggested she’d just broken through.
“Yan’er, you’re out of seclusion?” the Emperor said, delighted.
She nodded eagerly, “Yes, Father! I heard today’s the departure for the Central World and rushed over. I made it in time.”
The Emperor glanced at the array, hesitating. “Yan’er, you just broke through. Stay in Tianmo City to stabilize your cultivation. Besides, the teleportation slots are full.”
“Father, let me go! Can’t someone less important step down?” she said, sounding aggrieved.
The crowd fell silent, none daring to speak, lest they anger the Emperor and lose their spot to her.
Lan Xiaobu tensed. Standing at the edge, he wasn’t a conference participant. If someone had to give up a spot, it would be him.
The Emperor paused, clearly reluctant to force anyone off.
The purple-robed woman pointed at Lan Xiaobu. “Your cultivation is the weakest, and you’re not a conference participant. Step down. I promise you won’t lose out.”
Lan Xiaobu regretted not raising his displayed cultivation higher. Still at Creation Saint level, not Fourth Step, and positioned at the edge, he stood out.
The Emperor’s gaze fell on him, recognizing Lan Xiaobu wasn’t a participant. He’d met all the attendees, but not Lan Xiaobu, likely from Qixing Saint Dao Trade Hall.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu lower his head, unwilling to yield, the Emperor sighed, “Yan’er, don’t make a fuss. The slots are set. Stay in Tianmo City and cultivate until I return. Saint Pang, activate the array.”
“Yes,” the red-faced man sent the two hundred Dao crystals into the array’s spatial slots.
Spatial Dao principles flowed, and golden light enveloped everyone.
Lan Xiaobu relaxed, silently grateful. The Emperor was principled; otherwise, if forced to step down, he’d have been helpless.
