Any holy beast that reaches the Fourth Step of the Great Dao inevitably possesses its own innate divine ability. For instance, a Chaos Unicorn can freely traverse chaos, even navigating directions and seeking out supreme treasures within it, something even a Dao Ancestor cannot do.
Some Fourth Step holy beasts can seamlessly cross space, discover new vast planes, or sense the location of any dao vein.
In short, once a holy beast reaches the Fourth Step, its value becomes astonishingly high.
Of course, this assumes the holy beast has not undergone transformation.
Transformation differs from shapeshifting. Shapeshifting is a temporary change into another form, while transformation is a complete shift into a new form. Once a holy beast transforms into a dao body, its cultivation speed multiplies.
The best dao body is the human form, which aligns with universal rules and will, making it ideal for cultivation. Thus, most holy beasts that transform take on human form.
However, a holy beast that transforms into a dao body loses its top-tier beast dao innate abilities. Even if some instinctual talents remain, they no longer hold allure for cultivators.
This is why Ce Kuhui Sheng, upon seeing Taichuan at the Fifth Step, worried it would attract attention from stronger figures.
“Not bad, I’m already at the Fifth Step. I want to change my name to Lan… hmm, Master Bu, how about Lan Taichuan? A Fifth Step holy beast without a surname feels a bit underwhelming,” Taichuan said proudly.
Lan Xiaobu’s mind wasn’t on Taichuan, he casually replied, “Up to you,” and turned to Qi Manwei.
Seeing Qi Manwei’s clear, unwavering gaze, Lan Xiaobu knew he couldn’t delay further. He had promised to consider a relationship with her once she reached the Creation Sage realm, and now she was at the Sixth Step, same as him. With her bringing it up again, dodging further seemed inappropriate.
Though Anluo Heavenly City wasn’t his turf, a wedding here posed no issue.
As Lan Xiaobu was about to agree, Ce Kuhui Sheng suddenly said, “Fairy Qi, are you a Chaos Dao Body?”
He recalled the destruction of the Holy Sword Palace and the theft of a Chaos Dao Body, both tied to Lan Xiaobu. Though Qi Manwei’s Sixth Step cultivation made it hard for ordinary sages to detect her Chaos Dao Body, Ce Kuhui Sheng thought, if Lan Xiaobu had saved a Chaos Dao Body, it must be her.
Qi Manwei nodded, “Yes, I am a Chaos Dao Body. Brother Ce Ku, since you’re Xiaobu’s friend, just call me by my name.”
Ce Kuhui Sheng was inwardly shocked. Chaos Dao Bodies rarely matured, often hidden away after discovery, only to serve others’ purposes. Qi Manwei, having reached the Sixth Step, clearly had self-preservation ability. A Sixth Step Chaos Dao Body with such capability would soon reach the Seventh Step, as the great universe was a paradise for their cultivation.
“Junior Sister Qi, Brother Xiaobu, I suggest you delay the wedding for a while,” Ce Kuhui Sheng said earnestly.
“Why?” Qi Manwei frowned slightly. She had waited too long, nearly facing ruin and death along the way. She initially found Ce Kuhui Sheng agreeable, but his words now made him seem like a meddling old man.
Ce Kuhui Sheng said solemnly, “Junior Sister Qi, as a Chaos Dao Body, in any chaotic environment, you can quickly reach the Seventh Step with almost no bottlenecks. Brother Xiaobu, though immensely talented, needs various opportunities to align for the Seventh Step. If you wait until his foundation is solid and then marry, his insight into chaotic principles will deepen, making the Seventh Step much easier.
“Why do you think so many rushed to Anluo Heavenly City upon hearing of a Chaos Dao Body at the Eternal Life Conference? It’s because they’re incredibly rare and immensely beneficial to cultivators.”
Qi Manwei’s cheeks flushed slightly. She wasn’t foolish, it was clear he meant that dual cultivation with her would greatly aid Xiaobu’s eventual Seventh Step breakthrough.
Lan Xiaobu waved dismissively, “I don’t care about that. Once we return to Anluo Heavenly City, we’ll…”
“Xiaobu…” Before he could finish, Qi Manwei interjected, “Let’s follow Brother Ce Ku’s advice. With your talent, we won’t need to wait long. Each step in cultivation is a chasm. If we can reach the Seventh Step sooner, we might bring Sister Caishi and the others here earlier.”
Lan Xiaobu didn’t respond, knowing she was right. In the great universe, even the Seventh Step wasn’t his ultimate goal.
Take True Derivation Holy Dao, four Seventh Step cultivators, two already dead. If a Dao Ancestor acted, the Seventh Step was nothing.
“Then it’s settled. Let’s head to Anluo Heavenly City, the Eternal Life Conference is about to start,” Lan Xiaobu waved.
Ce Kuhui Sheng cautioned, “Brother Xiaobu, Taichuan shouldn’t show itself. Before, no one noticed because no Dao Ancestor was present. At the conference, a Dao Ancestor will surely attend. If they recognise Taichuan as an untransformed Fifth Step holy beast, it’s trouble.”
At this, Taichuan visibly wilted.
Lan Xiaobu laughed, “No need. Taichuan will enter Anluo Heavenly City with us, just shapeshift into human form.”
He planned to bring Taichuan to the conference to hear the dao. Excluding it would defeat the purpose. If a Dao Ancestor lacked even that much reason, he wouldn’t be polite, he’d escape with Taichuan and deal with the Dao Ancestor later.
Besides, the great universe had ten Dao Ancestors, not one.
“Big Brother Lan…” Du Bu approached, looking troubled.
Lan Xiaobu, seeing his expression, knew what was on his mind. He sighed, “I know you want to stay here and cultivate, but my advice is against it. First, you’ve gone from Creation realm to Fifth Step here, exhausting your potential. Continuing seclusion will make the Sixth Step nearly impossible, perhaps forever.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. He knew Du Bu’s Fifth Step was due to the top-grade vitality dao vein and the universal principles from Ce Kuhui Sheng’s Seventh Step breakthrough. Without those, Du Bu’s aptitude capped at the Fourth Step.
“The second reason is, when I first brought you here, the Central Heavenly Court’s emperor noticed and targeted me. I brushed it off, but this time is different. With you and Taichuan at the Fifth Step, me and Manwei at the Sixth, and Ce Ku at the Seventh, the commotion has surely alerted the heavenly courts. A Dao Ancestor might come to investigate. Staying here, you’d make little progress and risk your life. I won’t return to the Great Universe Valley. If you insist on staying, I can give you the Heavenly Emperor Token.”
Lan Xiaobu stopped there. If Du Bu stayed and got caught, it could implicate him and Ce Kuhui Sheng. He’d be fine, being unattached, but Ce Kuhui Sheng, a heavenly emperor, breaking the valley’s rules by bringing people in was no small matter.
Du Bu hadn’t considered these issues and knew he couldn’t have reached the Fifth Step without Lan Xiaobu’s support.
“I understand, I’ll leave with you,” Du Bu decided firmly.
Lan Xiaobu nodded, “Though we’re leaving, you’ll need to enter my small world to depart, or you’ll be detected right outside the Great Universe Valley.”
If Du Bu insisted on staying, Lan Xiaobu would give him the token but immediately distance himself upon leaving.
…
Anluo Heavenly City, Jinluo Building.
Moru Heavenly Court’s residence had been forcibly sealed. Gu Changjian stood outside, fuming, “We’re here not as individuals but representing Moru Heavenly Court for the Eternal Life Conference, our residence assigned by the conference. Sealing our residence, are you trying to spark conflict between heavenly courts?”
A chilling voice replied, “Who are you to speak? Let Ce Kuhui Sheng face me. Your Moru Heavenly Court arrives, destroys the Holy Sword Palace, steals a Chaos Dao Body, and ambushes True Derivation Holy Dao’s leader. Are you here for the conference or to disrupt the great universe’s peace? Oh right, Moru Heavenly Court even dares hijack ruin-breaking ships, what wouldn’t you do?”
The onlookers, though numerous, dared not object. They knew the speaker, Xie Chuanqi, the Third Leader of Broken Ruins Holy Dao, a Seventh Step powerhouse, a legend in the great universe.
“Emperor Ku, will you let a dao alliance treat our Moru Heavenly Court so rudely?” Gu Changjian shouted again.
