The Weiju World, the only technological world in the Great Cosmos, differed from others. Its entire territory was enclosed by an unknown light curtain shield.
Under this shield’s defence, no outsider could easily enter the Weiju World.
Among the ten major worlds in the Great Cosmos, none but the Weiju World used a protective array to encircle its entire domain, making it an exception. Whether feasible or not, enclosing a vast, boundless world with a light curtain shield was itself a monumental feat.
Anyone entering the Weiju World wouldn’t sense the traits of an advanced cosmos. The vital energy of heaven and earth was chaotic, and top-grade spiritual plants were scarce. Instead, there were towering, oddly shaped buildings, all sealed tightly, blocking even divine sense with their shields.
Though a technological world, the Weiju World had a Heavenly Court, a Heavenly Emperor, and a Dao Ancestor. In fact, cultivation was prevalent here, with many strong practitioners. They believed cultivation enhanced brain development, enabling the creation of more powerful technological products.
In the Weiju World’s Heavenly Court Hall, a grand meeting was underway, attended even by their Dao Ancestor, Jing Xizhen, due to a major event: the death of their eight-star cosmic powerhouse, Fang Can, in Anluo Heavenly City.
Since establishing its Heavenly Court and becoming a major world, no one had dared to touch the Weiju World’s people, let alone an eight-star cosmic powerhouse. Their Heavenly Emperor, Chong Fan, was himself only an eight-star cosmic powerhouse.
Though the Weiju World plundered resources from neighbouring territories, they hadn’t waged full-scale war, perhaps knowing subtlety bred fear.
Fang Can’s death was thus a true crisis. An eight-star cosmic powerhouse required not only cultivation beyond the Creation Saint level but, crucially, mastery of a Rule Sword. Rule Swords encompassed all sword weapons tied to a cultivator’s Dao rules, with the Rule-Breaking Sword being the most lethal kind.
The Rule-Breaking Sword could effortlessly shatter all universal rules of the Great Cosmos, but not everyone could wield it. First, one needed sufficient cultivation. More importantly, one had to master the sword’s cosmic elements, essentially its cosmic code, to dynamically alter its form and attack patterns, beyond mere rule-wave control.
Rule waves were akin to brain chips, a low-level tech used by the Weiju World’s cosmic warriors—killing machines, including pure robots, treated as disposable cannon fodder.
Memorising the infinite cosmic elements was daunting, let alone proficiently recombining and applying them, highlighting the rarity and status of the Weiju World’s eight-star cosmic powerhouses.
“It’s said a young cultivator named Mo Wuji killed Fang Can. If we don’t retaliate strongly, other worlds may think we’re weak and easily bullied,” said Shang Yuanku, the First Commander, second only to the Dao Ancestor and Heavenly Emperor, leading billions of rule-wave troops.
Heavenly Emperor Chong Fan said slowly, “Recently, Di Lan from the Central World sent word, saying he’s dispatching someone to explain. The killers, Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji, not only killed Fang Can but are enemies of many worlds, acting arrogantly. Di Lan hopes to ally with us against them. As for how we handle this, I seek the Dao Ancestor’s guidance.”
No one knew Jing Xizhen’s cultivation level, as he concealed it even during the Great Cosmos’ rule-setting assembly.
“Dao Ancestor, I propose we obliterate Anluo Heavenly City. Otherwise, how will we deter the arrogant in the Great Cosmos?” Shang Yuanku, as First Commander, believed his forces and weapons could easily destroy a world, let alone a mere city.
The Dao Ancestor’s gaze fell on a scholar-dressed man, who, seeing the look, stood and said, “I also suggest wiping out Anluo Heavenly City. With the Longevity Conference approaching, nearly all Dao Ancestors, Heavenly Emperors, and powerhouses are there. Destroying it now, with this excuse, would be a boon for us. Otherwise, our resource-gathering is too limited to neighbouring worlds. They don’t resist now, but who can predict the future? Fang Can’s death sows seeds of peril for our safety.”
Jing Xizhen nodded at the words of Zhong Quan, the Weiju World’s top strategist.
As the Dao Ancestor was about to speak, Zhong Quan added, “The only mystery is how Fang Can was killed. This is critical.”
Jing Xizhen said immediately, “Chong Fan, investigate how Fang Can died. Shang Yuanku, prepare for battle. If we act, we’ll raze Anluo Heavenly City to nothingness. I’ll inform Di Lan we’re ready to ally.”
Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji spent over half a month constructing a new cosmic barrier outside Anluo Heavenly City.
With their strength rivalling Dao Ancestors and working far from the city without using the Great Cosmos’ universal rules, no one in Anluo detected their efforts.
After completing the barrier and returning to Jinluo Tower, Mo Wuji copied all of Fang Can’s world’s contents for Lan Xiaobu, essentially the Weiju World’s technological knowledge, covering weapon usage and construction.
From these jade slips, both understood the Weiju World’s technological principles. Unlike typical technology, their advancements relied on cultivation. They represented cosmic elements and rules with symbols, uncovering patterns. Materials useless to cultivators were refined into top-tier weapon components.
In their view, the cosmos could be built with technology, converging with cultivation. High-level cultivators could create personal worlds based on their Dao, unique and limited to their Dao. But the Weiju World’s technology could replicate identical cosmoses.
“It’s not that impressive,” Lan Xiaobu chuckled, tossing the jade slip aside after skimming it, uninterested in further study. The Weiju World’s tech posed no threat to him.
“We should be cautious. Since arriving in the Great Cosmos, we’ve advanced in chaos, never relying on its universal rules, which is why Fang Can’s Rule-Breaking Sword didn’t affect us,” Mo Wuji said.
Lan Xiaobu nodded. They’d rather advance in the vast cosmos, chaos zones, or their own worlds than rely on the Great Cosmos’ rules, which offered no benefit to their personal Great Dao.
“These aren’t entirely useless. We could study them in our spare time to ensure the Weiju World can’t counter our Dao rules with Rule-Breaking Swords, even if they learn them,” Lan Xiaobu said, pointing to the discarded jade slip.
“True, who’s to say they don’t have something like a Cosmic Dimension Model?” Mo Wuji agreed.
If the Weiju World had such a treasure and modelled their Dao, developing Rule-Breaking Swords to counter it, that would be trouble.
“Could my Cosmic Dimension Model be tied to technological civilisation?” Lan Xiaobu blurted out, struck by the thought.
Mo Wuji was startled, pondering before saying, “Unlikely. Since the cosmos opened, cultivation and technological civilisations likely progressed equally. And the Cosmic Dimension Model is a magical treasure, not a weapon.”
“Mo Daoyou, Lan Daoyou, may I enter?” Qi Zhe Tian’s voice came from outside.
Lan Xiaobu smiled, “Qi Zhe Tian’s eager to find his own Great Dao before the Longevity Conference. You know his Dao better, so help him. I’ll meet Shi Changxing. His Cosmic Tree info came from Kong Xinjian, and I want to test if he’s with Kong.”
With the Longevity Conference less than two months away, Shi Changxing was their ally. Though his presence wasn’t critical, Lan Xiaobu didn’t want a potential traitor among them.
