Honestly, a Temporal Crystal, even a Chaos Temporal Crystal, accelerating time by only twenty times for twenty years greatly diminishes its value. Given its limited duration, no matter how precious, this crystal isn’t worth so many high-grade dao veins. Forget five hundred—even one hundred would be steep.
The auction house dared set a base price of five hundred because the Eternal Life Conference was approaching. Cultivating in Anluo Heavenly City was several times more effective than elsewhere. With this Chaos Temporal Crystal, one could retreat for centuries in Anluo Heavenly City—an opportunity unavailable at other times.
Even so, Lan Xiaobu’s bid of one thousand high-grade dao veins was utterly reckless. To ordinary cultivators, it was a world of the rich they couldn’t fathom.
Clearly, no one competed with his bid. Had Lan Xiaobu added another hundred high-grade dao veins, the crystal would still be his.
He secured the Temporal Crystal and completed the transaction with the auction house swiftly. Though he spent over seven thousand high-grade dao veins, he felt it was worth it. He got everything he intended to buy—and even something unexpected.
Even if better items appeared, nothing could keep Lan Xiaobu at the auction. He decided to leave and use the Temporal Crystal to retreat and boost his strength.
“Brother Ce Ku, time to go,” Lan Xiaobu messaged Ce Ku Huisheng, then strode out of the auction hall. He didn’t conceal himself or use teleportation, leaving openly.
Despite knowing Lan Xiaobu carried treasures, no one in Anluo Heavenly City dared make a move.
Ce Ku Huisheng didn’t need a second nudge, hurrying out of the auction.
“Brother Ce Ku, this is for you,” Lan Xiaobu said, handing over the Chaos Nirvana Heart without hesitation upon seeing him.
Ce Ku Huisheng grabbed it, trembling with excitement. “No need for thanks—you’re my brother now. If you ever need me, just say it. I, Ce Ku Huisheng, will never refuse.”
Though he knew Lan Xiaobu bought it for him, holding the Chaos Nirvana Heart still overwhelmed him. His words were sincere, with no caveats about only helping if feasible. If Lan Xiaobu asked, he’d never refuse, possible or not.
“Let’s go. We’ll leave Anluo Heavenly City, find a place to retreat, and maybe advance before the Eternal Life Conference,” Lan Xiaobu said with a smile. Ce Ku Huisheng was worth befriending; otherwise, he wouldn’t have spent so much to get him the Chaos Nirvana Heart.
Ce Ku Huisheng quickly said, “Retreating in Anluo Heavenly City is best—the cosmic rules are clear, and the vital energy is denser. But I can’t retreat now. With the Chaos Nirvana Heart, I plan to attempt the Seventh Step after the Eternal Life Conference.”
Lan Xiaobu shook his head. “No, Brother Ce Ku, I suggest we leave Anluo Heavenly City now to retreat and aim for the Seventh Step. You know Anluo Heavenly City isn’t safe for us, especially for your breakthrough. It’s Ku Yichi’s stronghold, with many Seventh-Step cultivators around. Any interference during your attempt, and you’re done.”
“But leaving now is like inviting ambush,” Ce Ku Huisheng said. With Lan Xiaobu’s purchases and exposed wealth, most at the auction were likely eyeing him, especially True Derivation Sacred Path, with two Seventh-Step cultivators.
Lan Xiaobu laughed, “I’m worried they won’t come. In fact, I’m sure they won’t dare. Let’s go.”
With that, he charged out of Anluo Heavenly City without pause.
Seeing Lan Xiaobu leave, Ce Ku Huisheng gritted his teeth and followed.
Lan Xiaobu summoned a flying treasure. “Brother Ce Ku, hop on. We’ll find a place to retreat.”
“Use mine—it’s faster,” Ce Ku Huisheng said, noting Lan Xiaobu’s ordinary flying treasure.
Lan Xiaobu smiled, “If they’re chasing, no matter how fast the treasure, they’ll catch up. Don’t worry—I guarantee no one dares follow.”
“Alright, where are we cultivating?” Ce Ku Huisheng didn’t insist.
“The Great Universe Valley. It’s the only place for quick advancement,” Lan Xiaobu said.
Ce Ku Huisheng gave a wry smile. “The Great Universe Valley is good, but not for me. I’ve never heard of anyone reaching the Seventh Step there. If they could, its value would be a hundred times higher.”
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, “Others can’t, but that doesn’t mean we can’t. Follow me, and I guarantee there’s no better place for your Seventh-Step breakthrough.”
…
As Lan Xiaobu left the auction, dozens of divine senses tracked him. Guan Chong left his room, entering Chong Ying’s next door.
“Junior Brother Guan, are you planning to chase Lan Xiaobu?” Chong Ying asked immediately.
Guan Chong nodded. “If we both go after him, I refuse to believe he can take us both down.”
Chong Ying shook her head. “Lan Xiaobu left the auction so brazenly—he’s likely leaving Anluo Heavenly City next. He’s waiting for us to chase him. This man is cunning and ruthless, having killed Chen Huangzi and Chongjiu. If we treat him as before, we’ll soon follow their fate.”
Guan Chong frowned, knowing she was right but unwilling to accept it.
Chong Ying said calmly, “Ninety percent of the auction attendees want his treasures, but have you seen anyone chase him? Lan Xiaobu is likely fishing. He’d dare kill anyone but the Dao Ancestor. To deal with him, we must wait for the Eternal Life Conference. When it begins, nearly all Seventh-Step cultivators will gather in Anluo Heavenly City. We can rally others then. Plus, the Dao Ancestor will be there—he won’t let someone like Lan Xiaobu run rampant.”
…
Lan Xiaobu’s flying treasure wasn’t fast, yet no one intercepted them by the time it stopped outside the Great Universe Valley.
“Your reputation’s made, brother. Otherwise, we’d have been ambushed,” Ce Ku Huisheng said, standing outside the valley.
The Great Universe Dao Ancestor forbade plundering and slaughter, but it happened covertly everywhere. With Lan Xiaobu’s treasures, Chaos Nirvana Heart, and Heavenly Poison Heart, most would’ve followed right out of the city. Yet, Lan Xiaobu’s guess was right: no one was foolish enough to rob someone who might’ve killed two Seventh-Step cultivators.
“I was hoping for an ambush, but since no one came, let’s enter the Great Universe Valley,” Lan Xiaobu said, producing a Heavenly Court Token.
Moru World had two tokens; Ce Ku Huisheng gave one to Lan Xiaobu, keeping the other. They used the tokens to enter the valley.
“This kid’s really made a name for himself—no one dared follow and rob him. What a bunch of useless cowards,” Shi Changxing muttered, appearing where Lan Xiaobu had stood.
He’d trailed them, planning to do Lan Xiaobu a favor. After Lan Xiaobu’s killing of Chen Huangzi changed Shi Changxing’s view, he figured only someone like himself could take Lan Xiaobu down. If anyone ambushed Lan Xiaobu, he’d step in, earning another favor.
But Anluo Heavenly City’s Sixth- and Seventh-Step cultivators disappointed him—not one followed, leaving him speechless and disdainful. They coveted Lan Xiaobu’s treasures but lacked the guts to act.
“I thought you’d wait outside to see if anyone tried to intercept, but you came right in,” Ce Ku Huisheng said jokingly, in high spirits after entering the valley.
Lan Xiaobu’s tone grew serious, losing its earlier ease. “I didn’t plan to wait, but I intended to set up a few monitoring arrays outside.”
“Why didn’t you?” Ce Ku Huisheng asked, puzzled.
Lan Xiaobu shook his head. “I feel like I’m being watched, but despite checking carefully, I can’t find who’s tailing me. If it’s a Seventh-Step cultivator, they’re likely stronger than Ku Yichi.”
