“Huh, you’ve integrated the principles of the Dao into the formation, and you can already set up a cosmic boundary?” Shi Changxing looked at Lan Xiaobu in shock. Even he had only just barely stepped into the realm of boundaries, and his understanding was not as thorough as Lan Xiaobu’s.
He was unaware that Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji had specifically studied boundaries together. Whenever they encountered a problem, they would use the Cosmic Dimension Model to construct a dimensional structure. Vast and boundless, even in the Great Universe, a second Cosmic Dimension Model could not be found. Moreover, both Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji were cultivators of their own Dao. By verifying each other’s work, their progress in boundary techniques was naturally rapid.
Lan Xiaobu smiled, “I just occasionally studied it with a friend and found it quite interesting, so I gained some insights.”
Shi Changxing said solemnly, “This is far more than just some insights. With your mastery of formation techniques, if you wanted to set up a teleportation array between the worlds of the Great Universe in the future, it would only be a matter of time. Once you can establish such a far-reaching teleportation array, your status in the Great Universe would not be lower than that of a Great Emperor. I estimate that with your current level, when you step into the fifth step of the Great Dao, you could set up a teleportation array second only to those between worlds. In time, you should be able to establish a teleportation array between worlds.”
Not to mention being on par with a Great Emperor, if one could set up a teleportation array between worlds, their status would surely surpass that of a Heavenly Emperor. Currently, the teleportation arrays between the various worlds were all personally set up by the Dao Ancestors. Naturally, the Dao Ancestors would not create too many such arrays, which made the teleportation quotas between worlds extremely scarce and precious. Lan Xiaobu had to trade a Heavenly Poison Heart to secure one slot, otherwise, it would have been unthinkable.
The reason teleportation arrays in the Great Universe were so difficult to establish was the existence of too many chaotic spatial voids. One misstep, and it wouldn’t be teleportation, it would be a death sentence.
Lan Xiaobu did not respond to Shi Changxing’s words. Did he think it would take Lan Xiaobu a million years to set up a teleportation array between the worlds of the Great Universe? That was underestimating him.
His Cosmic Dimension Model was constructing the dimensional structure for a teleportation array between the worlds of the Great Universe. Once this structure was complete, even if he hadn’t stepped into the fifth step, he could still勉强 set up a teleportation array between worlds.
Lan Xiaobu set up the tracing formation quickly. In just half an hour, not only had he completed the tracing formation, but he had also determined the approximate direction of his ring.
As Lan Xiaobu inscribed the directional guiding principles and was about to say they could leave, he felt his body lighten. He realised he was being carried away by Shi Changxing’s domain, moving at high speed. This speed was far faster than his Seven Realms Stone’s travel speed. Moreover, the jade slip containing the directional guiding principles in his hand had fallen into Shi Changxing’s grasp.
This made Lan Xiaobu quite displeased. This guy, relying on his superior cultivation, showed no respect for others’ opinions.
“I’m faster at carrying you. With the speed of your Seven Realms Stone, it would waste too much time. Of course, it’s not that the Seven Realms Stone is inadequate, but your cultivation is lacking,” Shi Changxing seemed to sense his overbearing approach and offered an explanation.
Lan Xiaobu said coolly, “Friend Shi’s cultivation is high, so naturally, you call the shots.”
Shi Changxing paused, immediately realising Lan Xiaobu was displeased. Before, Lan Xiaobu had called him Senior, then Changxing Daozun. Now, it was simply Friend Shi. Clearly, if Lan Xiaobu’s strength were equal to his, he would likely have confronted him on the spot.
Shi Changxing’s guess was correct. If Lan Xiaobu’s strength were sufficient, he would have immediately fallen out with him. After all, Lan Xiaobu was helping Shi Changxing find Shi Wanrong. Not only that, he had previously saved Shi Wanrong. Even if Shi Changxing was anxious, shouldn’t he show some respect for Lan Xiaobu’s opinion? Would asking take that long?
From just one sentence, Shi Changxing felt Lan Xiaobu was someone worth befriending, at least not deceitful. In this situation, who else would dare call him Friend Shi? That would be asking for trouble.
However, he also felt that while Lan Xiaobu was cunning, he lacked composure. Otherwise, he would still be calling him Changxing Daozun, not openly showing his irritation.
“With your temperament, even if you hadn’t met me today, the fact that you destroyed the Holy Sword Palace would have been exposed sooner or later,” Shi Changxing said calmly.
Lan Xiaobu’s heart sank. How did this guy know he had destroyed the Holy Sword Palace?
“Are you wondering how I know you destroyed the Holy Sword Palace? You can set up boundary-level formations. It’s said that the Holy Sword Palace was destroyed by divine Dao principles integrated into a formation. There aren’t many who can merge divine Dao principles with formation techniques. Plus, you went to the Great Ice Palace to rescue someone, not a person, but likely that Chaos Unicorn, right? It’s said that the Holy Sword Palace’s Chaos Dao Body and Chaos Unicorn came from the same place. You could enter and exit the Great Ice Palace silently, meaning you could bypass its various formations, so naturally, you could bypass the Holy Sword Palace’s formations as well. So, do you think this is hard to guess?” Shi Changxing’s tone was indifferent.
Lan Xiaobu remained silent. If Shi Changxing could figure it out, it seemed the Heavenly Emperor Ce Kuhui of the Moru World could likely guess it too.
Sure enough, before Lan Xiaobu could speak, Shi Changxing continued, “You exposed that you could silently enter and exit the Great Ice Palace. If I’m not mistaken, Ce Kuhui has probably also guessed that the destruction of the Holy Sword Palace is related to you. You come from the Moru World, and I’ve heard someone there dared to touch the Broken Ruins Ship of the Broken Ruins Holy Dao. That wouldn’t be you as well, would it?”
Lan Xiaobu knew he couldn’t deceive Shi Changxing anymore. He said helplessly, “Friend Shi, you’re a big shot. Do you spend all day with nothing better to do than investigate whose Broken Ruins Ship was destroyed or where a Chaos Beast appeared?”
Shi Changxing was silent for a moment before sighing, “If it were before, I wouldn’t have known these things, but now I’m searching for my daughter Wanrong, so I gather every piece of information.”
After speaking, he glanced at Lan Xiaobu, who was still being carried by his domain, “It seems I didn’t guess wrong. It really was you. You’ve got some guts.”
Lan Xiaobu knew his exposure likely stemmed from the cosmic boundary. To destroy the Broken Ruins Ship, one would need to enter it silently, which required mastery of cosmic boundary techniques. Thus, after learning Lan Xiaobu was from the Moru World and skilled in cosmic boundaries, Shi Changxing deduced his involvement with the Broken Ruins Ship.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu remain silent, Shi Changxing continued, “You exposed yourself to save my daughter. Let me give you some advice: until your strength reaches the top tier, don’t reveal that you can set up cosmic boundaries, or you’ll meet a grim end. In the Great Universe, once you reveal you can set up cosmic boundaries, many will guess your connection to the Holy Sword Palace’s destruction.”
Lan Xiaobu didn’t even want to respond. These old monsters were simply too terrifying. One slip, and they could deduce your entire lineage. He had initially planned to ask Shi Changxing for help to go to the True Derivation Holy Dao, but now it seemed unlikely he would assist.
Shi Changxing wasn’t surprised by Lan Xiaobu’s silence and merely increased his speed.
Even with constant use of various escape talismans and periodic checks on the directional guiding principles he had inscribed, it took Shi Changxing a full day to stop. When Lan Xiaobu landed, he was inwardly shocked. Forget everything else, if he had to cover this distance himself, it would probably take years.
“The direction you traced should be around here,” Shi Changxing said, sweeping his divine sense outward while looking at Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t need a second prompt. He set up the tracing formation again, even faster this time. But after finishing, he frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Shi Changxing stared at Lan Xiaobu, more anxious than he was.
Lan Xiaobu said puzzledly, “It doesn’t make sense, unless Shi Wanrong’s ring was taken into someone’s world, a world my tracing formation can’t reach.”
Lan Xiaobu believed that even if the other party was at the fifth step of the Great Dao, his tracing formation could still track the ring in their world. His confidence came from cultivating his own Dao, with all his Dao principles independent of the Great Universe’s rules. Unless the opponent had destroyed the ring or also cultivated their own Dao, this was what puzzled him.
“Are you saying Wanrong was killed?” Shi Changxing’s voice carried a sharp killing intent, as if it could freeze Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu quickly said, “Friend Shi, I didn’t say that. You did.”
Worried Shi Changxing might lose his temper, Lan Xiaobu hurriedly added, “Friend Shi, are you familiar with this area?”
Suppressing his anger, Shi Changxing softened his tone, “Within tens of millions of miles, there’s only one ruined Dao city, the Cursed Dao City. It was destroyed by the Heavenly Emperor Ku Yichi of the Central World because its curse principles were too harmful. Now, there are no other Dao cities nearby…”
“Curse principles?” Lan Xiaobu was startled. He possessed the Great Curse Technique, so how could there be curse principles in the Great Universe?
“You used curse principles at the Holy Sword Palace. I assume you’ve learned the Great Curse Technique, haven’t you?” Shi Changxing stared at Lan Xiaobu with a hint of mockery.
“What’s special about the Cursed Dao City?” Lan Xiaobu was eager to visit it. Was his Great Curse Technique passed down from there, or had someone who mastered it come to this place?
“After the Cursed Dao City was destroyed, it became a broken ruin. The curse principles were eradicated, but divine sense cannot penetrate the city…” Shi Changxing paused, suddenly wondering if his daughter might be hiding in the Cursed Dao City.
Lan Xiaobu said excitedly, “Friend Shi, I’m certain Sister Wanrong is in the Cursed Dao City. Let’s go there now.”
Before Lan Xiaobu could finish, Shi Changxing had already rushed off, and Lan Xiaobu quickly followed.
