Just as before, when Lan Xiaobu reached the seventh step of comprehending the Great Dao, his Dao seemed to be locked once again. However, unlike last time, he now understood what his Dao lacked: the Mortal Dao Rule. The moment Lan Xiaobu grasped the Mortal Dao Rule, he immediately knew the direction for his breakthrough. Yet, he also knew he absolutely must not follow Mo Wuji’s Mortal Dao. Instead, he needed to forge his own Longevity Mortal Dao Rule.
With this in mind, Lan Xiaobu promptly withdrew his Longevity Dao Rule. He was certain Mo Wuji was in a similar state. If he continued to comprehend his Longevity Dao Rule, it would undoubtedly affect Mo Wuji’s Mortal Dao.
Sure enough, the instant Lan Xiaobu retracted his Longevity Dao Rule, the Mortal Dao Rule in his space vanished completely. Smart people need no hints; with a clear understanding of their respective Dao directions, a slight nudge was enough to guide them.
The moment Mo Wuji sensed the Longevity Dao Rule, he withdrew his Mortal Dao Rule. At the same time, he felt Lan Xiaobu’s Longevity Dao Rule dissipate entirely.
For both, this was sufficient. Mo Wuji’s Mortal Dao didn’t need to borrow from Lan Xiaobu’s Longevity Dao Rule to form its own Longevity Dao Rule; it had to be refined under his own Mortal Rules. Likewise, Lan Xiaobu needed to condense his own Mortal Dao Rule within his Longevity Dao Rule.
Having found their Dao directions, the aura of their Daos surged wildly. Endless streams of supreme-grade Dao vein energy were swept away by the two, while the chaotic rule essence in the chaotic rule slurry dwindled steadily. Back then, Wang Congjing had relied on a single bottle of chaotic rule slurry to charge into the eighth step of the Great Dao. Now, the amount of chaotic rule slurry Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji were absorbing could propel thousands of Wang Congjings into the eighth step. Fortunately, the chaotic rule slurry here was abundant, so their consumption had little impact.
Unlike Ce Ku Huisheng’s charge toward the seventh step, Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji’s absorption of energy for their seventh-step breakthrough seemed limitless.
Initially, only the energy from supreme-grade Dao veins was stripped away, and the chaotic rules within the chaotic rule slurry were swept up by the two. Later, the surrounding chaotic zone’s chaotic aura was continuously peeled away as well. As the chaotic aura and rules were drawn off, the cultivation space for Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji kept expanding.
To cultivate in chaos and not have their space compressed, but instead see it expand outward, was nearly impossible for other cultivators.
Lan Xiaobu felt the Longevity Mortal Dao Rule within his Longevity Dao Tree steadily condensing, knowing that once it fully formed, he would step into the seventh step. The chaotic rule slurry was accelerating the condensation of his Dao rules.
Mo Wuji, meanwhile, was astonished as he sensed his body. He had always thought the 108 meridians of his Mortal Dao were the limit. But after refining his own Longevity Dao Rule, he unexpectedly opened a new meridian, the 109th: the Longevity Meridian.
Mo Wuji was overjoyed. He knew that as long as the Longevity Meridian existed, his lifespan would never wither. Once it fully formed, he would step into the seventh step of the Great Dao. Although he had known his lifespan was nearly infinite upon entering the Creation Realm, the Longevity Meridian gave him a vivid understanding of what it meant to live endlessly. Even if the vast cosmos collapsed, his lifespan would endure.
…
Anluo Heavenly City.
The Eternal Life Conference was about to begin, and cultivators from all major worlds of the Great Universe gathered here, making Anluo Heavenly City overcrowded. Perhaps because the troublemaker Lan Xiaobu wasn’t present, or because the Dao Ancestors and Heavenly Emperors of various Heavenly Courts were here, no conflicts or battles broke out in Anluo Heavenly City, and Jinluo Tower wasn’t destroyed again.
In the Dao Ancestor Hall of Anluo Heavenly City, only six people were seated, yet each was a Dao Ancestor of a major world, a figure capable of dominating a region of the Great Universe.
At the head sat Di Lan, the Dao Ancestor of the Central World, not because of superior status, but because the Eternal Life Conference was held in the Central World, making him the host.
Di Lan’s expression was calm, and the others in the hall sat quietly, none speaking.
After a long pause, Di Lan spoke slowly, “When our Great Universe established the rules for peaceful coexistence, there were only nine major worlds. Except for the Bucheng World, the other eight attended. Even Bucheng World, though absent from the rule-setting, didn’t oppose it and adhered to the Great Universe’s peaceful coexistence rules.”
He paused, his tone carrying some dissatisfaction, “But today, at the Eternal Life Conference, only seven worlds are participating, and only six Dao Ancestors are present. If our Great Universe continues like this, how will it differ from lesser universes? Won’t we fall back into ignorant battles and chaotic slaughter?”
Ling Zhuzhen, the Dao Ancestor of the Jisheng World, slightly plump, sighed, “Qizhou Tian should come, but he was injured a few years ago. We don’t know how his recovery is going. Once he’s healed, he’ll surely attend the Eternal Life Conference.”
Lin Jie, the Dao Ancestor of the Fanhe World, chuckled, “Three worlds aren’t attending this time: Bucheng World, Weiju World, and Dahuang World. Bucheng World didn’t join the original rule-setting, so their absence is understandable. As for Weiju World, a technological world, they attended the initial rule-setting but didn’t come this time, likely due to the Dahuang World’s Dao Ancestor. The Dahuang World has become a major obstacle to our Great Universe’s peaceful coexistence.”
After Lin Jie spoke, he glanced at the others, but no one was willing to respond. Who didn’t know that the Dahuang World’s Dao Ancestor might be in the ninth step of the Great Dao, possibly the only one in the Great Universe? If he didn’t show up, who would dare provoke him?
Though no one responded to Lin Jie’s words, he turned to Xing Jia, “Friend Xing Jia, as far as I know, Lan Xiaobu and Liu Li, who previously joined the Burial Dao Sect, both hail from the Dahuang World. What’s your view on this?”
The implication was clear to all: the Moru World was simply too close to the Dahuang World.
Xing Jia said calmly, “Never mind that my Moru World has an entrance to the Great Universe—which world in the Great Universe doesn’t have an external entry point? I don’t know if Lan Xiaobu is from the Dahuang World, but he met the conditions to enter the Great Universe through my Moru World. Was that against the rules?”
“It’s not about breaking rules, but the Dahuang World is at odds with our Great Universe. The people from that world are ruthless, filled with murderous intent. I fear that world will eventually become the ruin of our Great Universe,” another person said.
The speaker had a rugged appearance yet strikingly fair skin, creating a jarring contrast.
Xing Jia glanced at the speaker, Quan, the Dao Ancestor of the Dunyi World, and said unhurriedly, “I heard the chaotic Dao body for this Eternal Life Conference was provided by a Dao sect from your Dunyi World. Congratulations.”
Quan, unsure of Xing Jia’s intent, responded coolly, “Contributing to the Great Universe’s Eternal Life Conference is something no Dao sect in my Dunyi World would shy away from. When I wasn’t in Anluo Heavenly City, some reckless fools threatened my Dunyi World’s outpost. I hope, when I act in the future, Friend Xing Jia won’t interfere.”
Xing Jia laughed heartily, “Friend Quan, you’re overthinking. I naturally won’t meddle in matters outside my Moru World. But there’s one thing I should remind you of: I heard the chaotic Dao body provided by the Daqiong Silent Dao might also come from the Dahuang World. My concern is, if this chaotic Dao body knows Lan Xiaobu, you might not need to hunt him down—they could come looking for you first.”
At Xing Jia’s words, Quan’s face darkened. He said coldly, “Friend Xing Jia, do you think I, a Dao Ancestor of a world, would fear a mere sixth-step Great Dao cultivator?”
Di Lan snorted, “I guarantee Lan Xiaobu won’t set foot in Anluo Heavenly City. To kill and wreak havoc in my city—such a person, the moment he shows himself, won’t even need Brother Quan’s hand. I, Di Lan, will take him down myself.”
Though Di Lan spoke with righteous indignation, those present were no fools. Who would believe he was acting solely because of Lan Xiaobu’s misdeeds? The real reason was likely that Lan Xiaobu’s friend possessed chaotic rule slurry.
But with the Eternal Life Conference held in Anluo Heavenly City, Di Lan’s intervention was perfectly justified, and no one could argue otherwise.
