Gu Changjian ultimately didn’t seek more allies, perhaps knowing it would be futile.
Anluo Heavenly City, like Moru Heavenly Court, had five levels, but its Central Heavenly Court Dao Hall was on the fourth. Though a genius for the Longevity Conference, Gu Changjian lacked the status to enter the Dao Hall. However, with Emperor Moru’s token, despite the scrutiny on Moru Heavenly Court, he and Lan Xiaobu reached the fourth level unimpeded.
The Dao Hall’s guards, seemingly instructed, allowed Lan Xiaobu, Gu Changjian, and Taichuan to enter.
Before reaching the hall, Lan Xiaobu heard a voice: “Reporting to the Emperor, Immortal Shi Wanrong, daughter of Dao Master Changxing, said her father is at a critical stage of seclusion and declined to retrace time outside the Great Cosmos Valley.”
Lan Xiaobu understood. The seventh-step cultivators here couldn’t retrace the scene where he killed the man and woman, so they sought Shi Changxing’s help. But Shi Changxing, likely a Dao Ancestor-level figure, refused—he wasn’t their errand boy.
Lan Xiaobu admired Shi Changxing’s stance. A Dao Master who jumps at every call would be pathetic.
“Emperor…” Gu Changjian, seeing Cebai Huisheng’s pale face, stepped forward.
He was cut off by a sharp rebuke: “No loud disturbances in the Heavenly Court Dao Hall, or you’ll be expelled immediately.”
Cebai Huisheng, spotting Lan Xiaobu, brightened slightly and nodded. “Friend Lan, come sit by me. Changjian, you too. I’m fine here.”
The hall held four Heavenly Emperors, each with their own section. Though under scrutiny, Cebai Huisheng, as an emperor, remained untouchable until proven guilty.
As Lan Xiaobu sat beside Cebai Huisheng, the emperor messaged him: “Beware the one who just spoke. That’s Feng Jietian, Central Heavenly Court’s Saint Overseer Chief. Only fifth-step, but ruthless and cunning, with a status even above Right Pivot Saint Minister Da Saxian.”
Lan Xiaobu’s gaze fell on Feng Jietian, a thin man with narrowed eyes, exuding dark dao law aura. Could he cultivate dark dao laws?
As Lan Xiaobu observed, a stern voice rang out: “Who are you, acting so rudely in my Heavenly Court Hall?”
It was likely Emperor Ku Yichi of the Central Heavenly Court. Lan Xiaobu had noticed him—a balanced figure with an immortal air but oppressive dao laws, clearly a solid seventh-step powerhouse, giving Lan Xiaobu a chilling pressure.
Before Cebai Huisheng could speak, Lan Xiaobu stood, clasping his fists. “Lan Xiaobu, Second Overseer of Moru World’s Saint Overseer Division, greets the Emperor. With Emperor Moru present, I cannot offer full courtesy, please forgive me.”
Unsure if Moru’s Saint Overseer Chief was present, Lan Xiaobu claimed the second position safely.
No one objected. With Emperor Moru present, demanding full courtesy from his official was unreasonable, especially with other emperors and their entourages here. The Central World was top-tier, but the Great Cosmos’s ten worlds had no official ranking, just unspoken perceptions.
“Emperor, Saint Minister Pang’s injuries seem severe,” Gu Changjian whispered.
Lan Xiaobu had already noticed Pang Jie, seated but with chaotic aura and collapsing dao laws, risking his dao foundation. He should be in seclusion healing, not here.
“Saint Minister Pang, who injured you?” Lan Xiaobu approached, asking softly. He realised Cebai Huisheng’s own chaotic aura came from aiding Pang Jie, yet Pang’s condition remained dire.
“I did. If you’re unconvinced, come try,” a woman’s voice, laced with killing intent, replied.
Cebai Huisheng messaged: “That’s Chong Jiu, Saint Master of True Derivation Saint Dao’s Moon Derivation Dao, a seventh-step powerhouse. Pang Jie rebuked Great Vault Silence Dao’s leader Ku Jin for nonsense and suppressed him with his saint domain, but Chong Jiu intervened, gravely injuring him.”
Lan Xiaobu stood and said calmly, “Are you the Central Heavenly Court’s Emperor? This is the Central Heavenly Court’s Dao Hall. Does being an emperor let you attack guests at will?”
Ku Yichi stayed silent. Though annoyed at Pang Jie’s suppression of Ku Jin, he was irked that Chong Jiu acted without his consent on his turf. He knew she was picking a fight, likely over True Derivation Saint Dao’s unresolved issue with Guan Chong’s granddaughter, and her reckless nature—she’d once provoked Dao Master Changxing over a single remark.
Ku Yichi’s silence emboldened Ku Jin, who had been aided by Chong Jiu against Pang Jie’s domain. Though both were sixth-step, the gap was vast.
“My Great Vault Silence Dao lost two conference geniuses to an ambush outside the Great Cosmos Valley, and your Moru Heavenly Court’s token was used. Isn’t Moru the prime suspect? I only questioned, yet your Saint Minister tried to oppress my sect with force. Saint Master Chong merely upheld justice, disliking those who bully with strength,” Ku Jin said coldly.
Lan Xiaobu glanced at Ku Jin with disdain. Cebai Huisheng had messaged that he was a sect leader, yet he gloated when someone else stood up for him after being bullied. Pathetic.
“Emperors, Saint Ministers, sect leaders, and friends,” Lan Xiaobu began, “Moru Heavenly Court used a token, and someone’s pets died outside the Great Cosmos Valley, so you pin it on us? That’s a bit much. If you have solid evidence, I’d have nothing to say. But without proof, and not being Dao Ancestors, you oppress Moru with baseless claims. Does this mean anyone in the Great Cosmos can slaughter weaker sects with flimsy excuses? If so, why bother with the Longevity Conference? Just target weaker sects for their treasures with made-up reasons.”
Lan Xiaobu’s words were explosive. The Great Cosmos’s ethos was peaceful development, with no fighting allowed, set by the Dao Ancestors. If his words spread, especially from the emperors’ discussions, peace would collapse. Even now, the cosmos felt like a storm was brewing.
Ku Yichi had to respond. “Overseer Lan, that’s not fair. We’re just discussing, not accusing Moru outright. The issue is, after Moru’s token was used, the Great Cosmos Valley’s fortune dao laws diminished, suggesting two or three people cultivated. Even without the Great Vault Silence Dao’s incident, Moru is under suspicion.”
Lan Xiaobu chuckled. “My apologies, I was the one who used the token to cultivate in the valley for a century before leaving. Want to see it? Here it is…”
As he produced the token, Ku Yichi suddenly acted, a powerful aura locking Lan Xiaobu, his handprint reaching for him.
Lan Xiaobu’s heart raced. Ku Yichi was seventh-step; he couldn’t win. But he quickly realised Ku Yichi wouldn’t dare kill him here. His goal was to check if Lan Xiaobu cultivated his own dao.
