In the end, it was Di Lan who broke the silence. He looked at Qi Zhe Tian, “Friend Qi Zhe Tian, what is your intention? Lan Xiaobu disrupts the peace and rules of the Great Universe, recklessly killing in Anluo Tiancheng, and yet you side with him, undermining the rules established by all the worlds of the Great Universe.”
Qi Zhe Tian said calmly, “Friend Di Lan, such words are fine for others, but we both know the truth. Why bother saying these things?”
Di Lan’s face darkened, but he didn’t press further. He knew that pushing Qi Zhe Tian could make things messier. As for seizing the chaotic rule essence from that young man, it was clearly unlikely now. In truth, if they had all acted together from the start, they might have suppressed Lan Xiaobu’s trio. But initially, he underestimated Lan Xiaobu, leading to a grave mistake. “Master Che, rebuild Jinluo Tower immediately. If you need anything, let Emperor Ku Yi assist you. The Longevity Conference will proceed in three months, without delay.” Di Lan’s gaze fell on Che Zizi.
“Yes, Dao Ancestor,” Che Zizi replied, swallowing his grievances. Assistance from Ku Yi Chi? If Ku Yi Chi were willing to help, things wouldn’t have escalated like this.
Di Lan turned to the other Dao Ancestors, “Fellow Dao Ancestors, our discussion isn’t over. This Longevity Conference cannot be taken lightly. Let’s continue our deliberations.”
His eyes then shifted to Quan, who stood up, evidently having passed the most dangerous phase. With top-tier treasures, he should recover his original strength without issue.
All the Dao Ancestors understood that this meeting was no longer about the Longevity Conference, which had long been prepared. This discussion was surely about how to eliminate Lan Xiaobu and his group. Xing Jia suddenly hesitated. He knew that joining Di Lan would mean declaring his stance.
“Dao Ancestor, I think we shouldn’t go. We should stand with Lan Xiaobu,” Ce Ku Huiyi transmitted to Xing Jia. Seeing Lan Xiaobu step into the seventh step of the Great Dao and even hold his own against a Dao Ancestor filled him with elation. Xing Jia sighed. He wanted to stay, but doing so would mean openly opposing Di Lan. His Moru World lacked the strength for that. More importantly, while Lan Xiaobu’s trio had gained some advantage earlier, it didn’t mean much.
Di Lan’s side still had Lin Jie, Quan, and Chang Yi. Besides these four, Ling Zhuzhen, the Dao Ancestor of the Jisheng World, was likely to side with Di Lan. If Ce Ku Huiyi thought Ling Zhuzhen would support Lan Xiaobu just because Pei Qionghu, the Heavenly Emperor of Jisheng World, viewed him favourably, he was gravely mistaken. Xing Jia knew Di Lan held something Ling Zhuzhen needed.
On the surface, Dao Ancestors appeared just and impartial, the stabilising force of the Great Universe. But as a Dao Ancestor himself, Xing Jia knew better than anyone that this was only because interests were evenly distributed, leaving no need for conflict. Once something a Dao Ancestor desired appeared, conflict would naturally arise.
Di Lan’s strength wasn’t limited to the few visible Dao Ancestors. There was also Lei Yunhan, the Dao Master of the Poxu Sacred Dao. If Di Lan didn’t seek Lei Yunhan’s cooperation after this incident, Xing Jia would be blind. Lei Yunhan’s strength was no less than any world’s Dao Ancestor. With such a shift in power, how could Lan Xiaobu’s trio compete?
If that weren’t enough, what about the eighth step of the Zhenyuan Sacred Dao? Others thought Zhenyuan Sacred Dao no longer had an eighth-step figure, but Xing Jia knew that every eighth-step Great Dao cultivator wasn’t so easily felled. At least one of Zhenyuan Sacred Dao’s Fu Chong or Quan Si was still alive, perhaps even both.
Lan Xiaobu, an outsider, even if he allied with Qi Zhe Tian or later with Shi Changxing, wouldn’t stand a chance. Moreover, Qi Zhe Tian and Shi Changxing could never ally.
“Keep an eye on Moru Heavenly Court’s people. I know what to do,” Xing Jia said, then turned and left.
Seeing Dao Ancestor Xing Jia follow Di Lan, Ce Ku Huiyi sighed, not daring to look at Lan Xiaobu. Lan Xiaobu had nearly fought Ku Yi Chi for Moru Heavenly Court and almost lost his life, yet the Dao Ancestor turned a blind eye. What could he do?
For a moment, Ce Ku Huiyi even considered stepping down as Heavenly Emperor. “Lord Bu…” “Brother Lan…”
Du Bu and Fang Zhiqian rushed over, overjoyed. They had clearly seen Lan Xiaobu heavily injure Dao Ancestor Quan. Fang Zhiqian knew that from now on, only Lan Xiaobu could decide his fate.
“Lord Bu, Xiao Du and I were nearly captured by Lei Yunhan. If not for Dao Venerable Changxing’s intervention, we’d already be dead,” Fang Zhiqian immediately recounted Lei Yunhan’s arrival.
“That bastard…” Lan Xiaobu broke out in a cold sweat. Who could’ve expected Lei Yunhan to show up? Then he saw Shi Wanrong and quickly thanked her, “Wanrong, thank you so much.”
Shi Wanrong smiled, “I didn’t do much. It was my father’s doing. Congratulations, Big Brother Lan. You managed to suppress Dao Ancestor Quan. Your strength might even surpass my father’s.”
Lan Xiaobu didn’t see Shi Changxing, knowing he likely avoided coming because of Qi Zhe Tian’s presence. Di Lan was now holding a meeting, surely to unite against him.
Moru World’s Dao Ancestor was unreliable, too cautious and lacking resolve, not a good ally. Shi Changxing, however, could be won over. As for the grudge between Shi Changxing and Qi Zhe Tian, Lan Xiaobu felt he could mediate. Most importantly, Qi Zhe Tian had gained insight into his own Dao direction. With that clarity, he wouldn’t covet Shi Changxing’s Seven-Mu Heaven-Opening Technique. Without that conflict, what grudge remained?
Che Zizi had already rebuilt Jinluo Tower. When Lan Xiaobu led his group to settle in, not only did no one stop them, but they were guided to an independent residence.
“Wuji, I plan to visit Dao Venerable Changxing,” Lan Xiaobu said, believing the sooner they contacted Shi Changxing, the better for them. “Go ahead. No one dares to make a move here for now,” Mo Wuji nodded, understanding Lan Xiaobu’s intent. Their earlier advantage came because Di Lan hadn’t anticipated that he and Lan Xiaobu could each face a Dao Ancestor alone. Once Di Lan reacted, he’d surely rally various powerhouses, so they needed to secure their own allies. Lan Xiaobu’s visit to Shi Changxing was to forge an alliance.
In the Jisheng World’s residence, Pei Qionghu’s face looked grim. After Dao Ancestor Ling Zhuzhen arrived, he had told him everything about Lan Xiaobu. The Dao Ancestor made it clear that Di Lan wouldn’t let Lan Xiaobu live, and no one could save him.
At that moment, Pei Qionghu made a request: after killing Lan Xiaobu, he wanted the Great Universe Technique in his possession. Dao Ancestor Ling Zhuzhen agreed. As a Dao Ancestor, taking back the Great Universe Technique that originally belonged to Jisheng World after killing Lan Xiaobu was nothing. But who could’ve predicted Lan Xiaobu would be so heaven-defying, even heavily injuring Dao Ancestor Quan?
“Heavenly Emperor, I think we should persuade the Dao Ancestor to side with Lan Xiaobu. The Great Universe is about to face upheaval. Lan Xiaobu is upright and honest, I’m not mistaken about him. Siding with Dao Ancestor Di Lan would, at best, maintain the status quo for us, if we even get that,” Xing Ni, aware of Pei Qionghu’s thoughts, couldn’t help but advise again.
Pei Qionghu shook his head, “You should know I’m determined to obtain the Great Universe Technique. It’s my family’s property. Lan Xiaobu has seen it, and whether out of friendship or our help to him, he should’ve handed it over instead of keeping it. Clearly, we treated him as a friend, but he didn’t reciprocate.”
Xing Ni sighed, “Heavenly Emperor, Senior Sister Qianyun was killed by Qu Peng while trying to seize the Universe Mill, but she didn’t obtain it. Qu Peng, though he grabbed the Mill and glimpsed the Great Universe Technique, also failed to keep either.”
Xing Ni’s implication was clear: the first to obtain the Universe Mill and Great Universe Technique was Lan Xiaobu, not Rong Qianyun. So Pei Qionghu’s view that the Mill was lost by Rong Qianyun was fundamentally wrong.
Pei Qionghu said calmly, “You don’t understand what the Great Universe Technique means to me, to Jisheng World.” Hearing this, Xing Ni fully understood. Heavenly Emperor Pei wanted the Great Universe Technique not because it was Rong Qianyun’s, but because he needed it to break through to the eighth step of the Great Dao and dominate the Great Universe.
Deep down, Xing Ni felt a pang of hurt. At the same time, he understood why Lan Xiaobu hadn’t given the Great Universe Technique to the Heavenly Emperor.
From what he knew of Lan Xiaobu, he wasn’t a stingy person. Since Lan Xiaobu wasn’t stingy and didn’t cultivate the Great Universe Technique himself, why not hand it over? Moreover, Lan Xiaobu had once said he’d kill anyone who practised it. Clearly, Lan Xiaobu didn’t want a technique that recklessly destroyed planets and realms to spread. That was the only reason he refused to part with it.
…
As if expecting Lan Xiaobu’s visit, Shi Changxing was already waiting in his cave abode.
“Thank you, Dao Venerable Changxing, for saving my friends. Otherwise, even killing Lei Yunhan would’ve been pointless,” Lan Xiaobu said proactively upon arriving.
Shi Changxing smiled, “Have a seat.”
After Lan Xiaobu sat, Shi Changxing poured him a cup of tea before saying, “The first time I saw you, you were only at the fourth step of the Great Dao. In just a few hundred years, you’ve reached the seventh step, and your strength isn’t inferior to mine. I, Shi Changxing, have seen much, but you’re the first Great Dao cultivator of your kind I’ve encountered. So, call me Friend Changxing from now on, or I might feel I can’t bear the title.”
Lan Xiaobu didn’t stand on ceremony, having called him Friend Changxing before. “Brother Changxing, I won’t be polite then. You probably know why I’m here. Di Lan won’t let this go, and I’d like to team up with you.”
