“Apologies, Dao Lord Lei, but you can’t take these two,” an abrupt voice rang out, followed by Shi Changxing’s figure appearing above the ruins of Jinluo Tower.
Jinluo Tower had been destroyed twice, and Shi Changxing, who had been healing in his own world, was unaffected. Now, with his injuries partially recovered and upon receiving his daughter Shi Wanrong’s message, he appeared at Jinluo Tower.
His battle with Qize Tian made Shi Changxing realize he needed an ally. A Seventh Step ally was meaningless to him, but who among the Eighth Step would ally with him? Dao Ancestors wouldn’t care, and there were few non-Dao Ancestor Eighth Step cultivators.
After much thought, only Lan Xiaobu seemed suitable. Though not yet at the Seventh Step, Shi Changxing was certain Lan Xiaobu’s future achievements would rival his own. Lan Xiaobu was loyal, not one to forget kindness. Helping him now would ensure Lan Xiaobu’s aid in the future.
From seeking a backer for his daughter to finding an ally for himself, Shi Changxing had undergone a profound shift in perspective.
“Shi Changxing?” Lei Yunhan frowned upon seeing him.
Few could stop him from taking people, aside from Dao Ancestors, but Shi Changxing was one of them.
“Indeed, didn’t expect to meet so many old friends here today,” Shi Changxing laughed, speaking casually.
Lei Yunhan’s face darkened. “Shi Changxing, we have no quarrel. Why oppose my Broken Ruins Holy Dao?”
Shi Changxing’s expression turned cold. “Oppose your Broken Ruins Holy Dao? Are you sure it’s not you opposing me? These two are my friends, and you want to take them in front of me? How much do you underestimate me, Shi Changxing? Am I that old?”
In terms of age, Shi Changxing was hardly old. Every Dao Ancestor here, including Lei Yunhan, was older. Even the Heavenly Emperors, and Fang Zhiqian, were older than him.
Lei Yunhan’s voice grew colder. “Fang Zhiqian acted against my Broken Ruins Holy Dao’s Third Dao Lord Jie Chuanqi. Can’t my Holy Dao take him?”
Shi Changxing sneered. “Lei Yunhan, if you want to pick a fight with me, just say it. I’m ready. Don’t make excuses. As far as I know, Fang Zhiqian only arrived after Jie Chuanqi was killed. How could he have acted against him? With so many witnesses, what’s the point of such lies?”
Lei Yunhan knew Lan Xiaobu and Ce Kuhui were involved in killing Jie Chuanqi, but he wasn’t sure about Fang Zhiqian’s role. He turned to Fanhe Heavenly Emperor Tian, surprised someone was defending Fang Zhiqian, unsure how to respond.
Shi Changxing was right: Fang Zhiqian was a latecomer. He had no part in killing Jie Chuanqi, and with so many witnesses, Lei Yunhan couldn’t twist the truth. He’d claimed Fang Zhiqian was involved, expecting no one to object. The Moru Heavenly Court objecting? That would’ve been futile.
“Li Jie, you speak,” Lei Yunhan snapped, frustrated.
“Yes, Dao Lord,” a short, stout man rolled forward like a ball. He was a Broken Ruins Holy Envoy.
Previously, a Broken Ruins Holy Envoy was treated with respect, even by Heavenly Emperors. When he visited the Moru Heavenly Court, Ce Kuhui had been courteous.
But recently, the Broken Ruins Holy Dao had suffered setbacks: a ship was robbed, and Dao Lord Jie Chuanqi was killed, weakening their standing. Without Lei Yunhan’s presence in Anluo Sky City, Li Jie wouldn’t have dared show himself.
“The ones who killed our Dao Lord were indeed Lan Xiaobu and the Moru Heavenly Emperor. Fang Zhiqian didn’t make it in time,” Li Jie said respectfully.
Lei Yunhan’s face grew darker. He clasped his fists to Shi Changxing. “In that case, I won’t touch Dao Friend Changxing’s people.”
Shi Changxing’s strength matched his, and he’d claimed Dubu and Fang Zhiqian as his own. Since they hadn’t acted against the Broken Ruins Holy Dao’s Dao Lord, Lei Yunhan would be in the wrong to seize them.
If he could overpower Shi Changxing and there weren’t so many witnesses, including Dao Ancestors, it wouldn’t matter. But he couldn’t, and with so many watching, he didn’t dare press further, despite his reluctance to let Fang Zhiqian go.
Dubu and Fang Zhiqian, seizing the moment, quickly left the Moru Heavenly Court’s position and moved to Shi Changxing’s side.
Lei Yunhan turned to Ce Kuhui, knowing today’s matter would likely end here. Taking a Heavenly Emperor with their Dao Ancestor present was impossible, and other Dao Ancestors wouldn’t support him under such scrutiny.
At that moment, a flying sword message arrived. Lei Yunhan grabbed it, scanned it with his divine sense, and said, “Dao Ancestor Xing Jia, my Broken Ruins Holy Dao’s Dao Lord isn’t so easily killed.”
With that, he turned and left, Li Jie hurrying after him.
Seeing Lei Yunhan’s bluster amount to nothing, Lin Jie’s eyes showed disappointment. He’d hoped Lei Yunhan and Xing Jia would fight, letting them profit. But Lei Yunhan had raged and left without doing anything.
Shi Changxing, relieved to see Lei Yunhan leave, nodded to Fang Zhiqian and Dubu but said nothing. His injuries weren’t healed; if Lei Yunhan had fought, he’d have had to retreat.
“Dao Venerable Changxing, in my Anluo Sky City? Welcome! Why not visit my Emperor Lan Mountain?” Emperor Lan greeted with a smile.
Shi Changxing returned the courtesy. “My injuries haven’t healed, and I must focus on recovery. I’ll surely visit Dao Ancestor Emperor Lan in the future.”
Shi Changxing knew Emperor Lan had noticed his condition and openly admitted it. Unhealed, visiting Emperor Lan Mountain would be suicidal.
As the crowd dispersed, a frustrated Che Zizi rebuilt Jinluo Tower again. The first time Lan Xiaobu destroyed it, he’d paid out of pocket. The second time, Qu Beige compensated under the Dao Ancestors’ scrutiny. Now, Lei Yunhan had destroyed it again, and Emperor Lan said nothing, forcing Che Zizi to pay once more.
A Seventh Step cultivator, he felt like a wronged wife. Anyone unhappy could apparently smash his Jinluo Tower.
Rushing out of Anluo Sky City, Lei Yunhan stopped a short distance away, spotting a minor cultivator barely at the Quasi-Saint level.
“Junior Brother Congjing, what happened?” Lei Yunhan recognized Wang Congjing, now barely a Quasi-Saint, his Dao nearly collapsed from a recent possession.
“Greetings, Second Dao Lord,” Li Jie bowed respectfully.
Though the Broken Ruins Holy Dao was led by Third Dao Lord Jie Chuanqi, the First and Second Dao Lords were its true legends, deterring even Dao Ancestors. Now, the Second Dao Lord was critically injured, barely surviving by possessing a weakling.
Lei Yunhan’s killing intent surged. The Third Dao Lord’s death was bad enough, but now the Second was in this state.
For a Great Dao cultivator, possession meant little chance of regaining former strength, unless they reincarnated. But with a shattered Dao, even reincarnation wouldn’t restore their peak.
Wang Congjing gritted his teeth. “I was schemed against by Qize Tian, Fang Zhiqian, and a young upstart. Part of my soul was suppressed under his Reincarnation Bridge with a divine ability.”
“Fang Zhiqian?” Lei Yunhan’s anger flared. Shi Changxing had claimed Fang Zhiqian didn’t act against Jie Chuanqi, but he had targeted their Second Dao Lord.
Wang Congjing conjured images of the three. Li Jie exclaimed, “Lan Xiaobu again?”
“Good, very good…” Lei Yunhan’s killing intent was boundless. If Lan Xiaobu were here, he’d ensure he regretted living.
Wang Congjing clenched his fists. “Lan Xiaobu… that’s him. He’s the most insidious. Without him, even Qize Tian and Fang Zhiqian together couldn’t have touched me.”
Lei Yunhan looked at Wang Congjing, puzzled. Qize Tian was a Dao Ancestor. Neither Wang Congjing nor himself could match him, with Lei Yunhan slightly at a disadvantage.
Seeing the doubt, Wang Congjing explained, “I had reached the Eighth Step. Qize Tian was heavily injured, and I learned he had a large amount of Chaos Rule Serum. I planned to take him down, but then I encountered Fang Zhiqian and Lan Xiaobu…”
If he’d allied with Lan Xiaobu, the Broken Ruins Holy Dao would have two Eighth Step cultivators. And Chaos Rule Serum? Qize Tian had that too?
