“You’re both here,” Qi Zhe Tian said upon returning, spotting Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji.
Lan Xiaobu spoke up, “I visited Shi Changxing. He’s agreed to ally with us, though he’s somewhat concerned that the few of us can’t stand against several Dao Ancestors.”
Qi Zhe Tian said with a hint of doubt, “Shi Changxing is worried about not being their match?”
“What’s that?” Lan Xiaobu asked, puzzled.
“Besides the few Dao Ancestors on Di Lan’s side, there’s likely Lei Yunhan from the Poxu Sacred Dao joining them, right?” Qi Zhe Tian gave a faint smile. “You don’t know Shi Changxing, but I do. He’s a bit cunning, but he’s not one to shy away from trouble. And outside of chaos, nothing can stop him from escaping. Do you know what’s most valuable about the Seven-Mu Heavenly Star? It’s escape. Even if seven Dao Ancestors cornered Shi Changxing alone, he’d still have a chance to get away.”
“So, to scheme against Shi Changxing, you’d need to lure him into chaos?” Mo Wuji caught on.
Qi Zhe Tian nodded, “Yes. Outside of chaos, with his Seven-Mu Heavenly Star, even if I defeated him, I couldn’t keep him. But he’s confident in his Star, thinking he can escape even in chaos, which is why he dared chase me there.”
“And in chaos, can you trap Shi Changxing?” Lan Xiaobu asked.
Qi Zhe Tian hesitated, then said, “I’m not certain, but there’s a seventy percent chance I could.”
“Friend Qi Zhe Tian, I hope that even if we can’t ally, we don’t become enemies. If this Longevity Conference targets us and you’re not in a position to say anything, let’s part on good terms,” Lan Xiaobu said. He admired Qi Zhe Tian more than Shi Changxing.
Qi Zhe Tian nodded, sighing, “I’d love to say more, but I can’t say anything.”
Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji exchanged a glance. Mo Wuji then said, “Friend Qi Zhe Tian, we understand. You don’t want to side with Di Lan, but you’re likely bound by some Great Dao oath. If you trust us and still wish to ally, stay seated and don’t move. We’ll see if we can resolve it. If we can’t, we won’t make things difficult for you.”
Qi Zhe Tian didn’t respond but closed his eyes and stayed put. Saying, “I’d love to say more, but I can’t,” was already teetering on the edge of violating his Great Dao oath. One more hint, and he risked triggering its backlash.
“Xiaobu, give me the dimensional model structure, and I’ll check it. If we can’t resolve it together, we’ll rethink our plans,” Mo Wuji said promptly.
Qi Zhe Tian’s willingness to let them examine his Great Dao showed immense trust in Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji. In truth, Qi Zhe Tian had already intended to consult them about his own Great Dao, so even without this situation, he wouldn’t have hidden his Dao principles.
Without hesitation, Lan Xiaobu began constructing the dimensional model structure.
In just half a day, Lan Xiaobu had built Qi Zhe Tian’s Great Dao dimensional model, including his Dao principles.
“It’s a Dao domain oath,” Lan Xiaobu said, inscribing the model onto a crystal ball and handing it to Mo Wuji.
Mo Wuji took the crystal ball, his divine sense detecting the seven Great Dao principles forming the domain. To break it, one’s strength would need to far surpass the combined power of the other six, an impossible feat in the Great Universe.
This oath was unsolvable by anyone in the Great Universe—except Mo Wuji. But even he needed the oath’s rules to work with. Without a month to probe, he couldn’t find it, and by then, the oath’s traces would likely have faded. Even if he could solve it, it would be undetectable.
Fortunately, Lan Xiaobu’s Universe Dimensional Model made it possible. “Friend Qi Zhe Tian, if you trust me, open your mind fully. I’ll remove the oath binding your Dao principles, and I’ll even ensure no one notices,” Mo Wuji said calmly.
Mo Wuji said this deliberately. If Qi Zhe Tian couldn’t take the risk, he and Lan Xiaobu could simply leave Anluo Tiancheng.
“Do it,” Qi Zhe Tian said without hesitation.
Having lived so long, he could sense Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji’s character—they weren’t despicable. Besides, with Mo Wuji’s abundance of chaotic rule essence, he wouldn’t covet anything of his. Moreover, Qi Zhe Tian wanted their help to perfect his own Great Dao, which required opening his Dao principles anyway.
“Good,” Mo Wuji said, impressed.
To Mo Wuji, any Dao principle harmful to one’s existence was a toxic Dao principle. Oaths, whether self-imposed or Great Dao oaths, were a form of toxic Dao principle. His Detoxification Network could handle any such principle.
With Lan Xiaobu’s dimensional model clearly showing Qi Zhe Tian’s Great Dao oath, bound by the other six Dao Ancestors’ principles in a Dao domain, dissolving it was difficult but not impossible.
As his Mortal Dao principles activated, their aura gradually seeped into the Dao domain oath. The oath, imperceptible even to Qi Zhe Tian, was easily infiltrated by Mo Wuji’s Detoxification Network cycles.
Cycle after cycle, the oath binding Qi Zhe Tian was slowly peeled away and dissolved. Qi Zhe Tian grew anxious. Though he couldn’t sense how Mo Wuji was stripping the oath, he knew that one misstep could alert the other six Dao Ancestors.
Days passed. Even though the Mortal Dao’s Detoxification Network dissolved the oath like boiling a frog in warm water, unnoticed, Mo Wuji was extra cautious with each cycle.
Despite sitting still, Qi Zhe Tian was inwardly shocked. He could feel himself gradually breaking free from the oath’s hold on his soul and Dao spirit. Such a method was unheard of—if he hadn’t experienced it himself, he’d never believe it.
Lan Xiaobu had left, wary that Xing Jia might show up. On the ninth day, before Mo Wuji fully dissolved the oath, Xing Jia arrived—not alone, but with Ce Ku Huiyi.
“Xiaobu, haha…” Ce Ku Huiyi’s face lit up with excitement upon seeing Lan Xiaobu, his eyes brimming with joy.
Lan Xiaobu felt a bit relieved. Clearly, Ce Ku Huiyi was unaware of Xing Jia’s true purpose or the Dao domain oath to kill him. Otherwise, Lan Xiaobu would’ve felt deeply hurt. He’d considered Ce Ku Huiyi a friend, and if such loyalty only earned a knife in the back, what was the point of such friends?
“Xiaobu, I’ve thought it through. I was too hesitant before, but Huiyi’s words woke me up. No matter how the Great Universe changes, you’re still from Moru World,” Xing Jia said with a kind tone, sighing as if speaking as an elder.
Lan Xiaobu feigned a moment of confusion, as if unsure of Xing Jia’s meaning.
Ce Ku Huiyi quickly added, “The Dao Ancestor was worried your actions might implicate Moru World. But I told him, if Moru World can’t even protect a genius from our own world, what’s the difference between existing and perishing?”
Xing Jia nodded, “Exactly. Moru World became a power through our own strength, not others’ charity. Our world has always lacked genius cultivators, with the sixth step of the Great Dao as the limit. Now we finally have you. If I pushed you away, Moru World would deserve to fall. After Di Lan’s meeting, I’ve been pondering this, and now I have my answer. This isn’t just about you—it’s about my own Great Dao. Constantly retreating has already betrayed my Dao’s true heart.”
Pausing, Xing Jia looked earnestly at Lan Xiaobu and Ce Ku Huiyi, saying word by word, “For Moru World to stand tall in the Great Universe, we can’t keep being so conservative. After this Longevity Conference, Huiyi will step down as Heavenly Emperor and join me at Moru Dao Ancestor Peak to cultivate and aim for the eighth step. Xiaobu, the position of Moru Heavenly Emperor is yours. Do you dare take up this burden?”
*Deceived Kangxi*
Seeing Xing Jia’s solemn and expectant gaze, Lan Xiaobu sighed inwardly. You’re clearly an actor—why become a Dao Ancestor? Did the Dao Ancestor path derail your acting career?
Ce Ku Huiyi looked at Lan Xiaobu eagerly, clearly willing to yield the Heavenly Emperor position.
“Me, as Heavenly Emperor?” A flicker of excitement passed through Lan Xiaobu’s eyes, quickly replaced by uncertainty. An actor? Who isn’t? “Yes, you’ll be Moru Heavenly Court’s Heavenly Emperor,” Xing Jia said, handing Lan Xiaobu a ring. “This contains two top-grade Dao veins and other cultivation resources. Your foundation is lacking, so these can help you advance. By the way, during the last meeting, though Qi Zhe Tian didn’t say much, he seemed to lack confidence in you. Watch out for him, lest he takes advantage.”
“Thank you, Dao Ancestor,” Lan Xiaobu said, wanting to act reserved but finding his hand too honest to refuse the ring.
