Lan Xiaobu’s Longevity Halberd unleashed several killing Dao rules, blasting outward. Quan, uninterested in continuing the fight, used Lan Xiaobu’s killing Dao rules to propel himself backward. It appeared as though Lan Xiaobu’s halberd had sent him flying, but in reality, Quan was unharmed. After evading Lan Xiaobu, Quan paid no attention to the ongoing battle between Emperor Lan and Kong Xinjian, instead rushing toward the Cosmic Tree.
Like Quan, Lan Xiaobu was also in no mood to linger, charging toward the Cosmic Tree.
At the same moment, over a dozen figures all dashed toward the Cosmic Tree, including Mo Wuji, Seven Cosmos, and Shi Changxing.
Seeing that the few allies he had brought were not helping him but instead rushing toward the Cosmic Tree, Kong Xinjian panicked. Fortunately, Emperor Lan, Ling Zhuzhen, and others had no interest in tangling with him further and also headed for the Cosmic Tree.
At this point, everyone at the Eternal Life Gathering understood that the situation had spiralled out of control. Even Emperor Lan could no longer manage the chaos and simply joined the scramble. No one cared about his earlier proposed distribution plan. Every monk at the Eternal Life Gathering surged toward the Cosmic Tree. At this moment, no one paid attention to anyone else, grabbing what they could.
Those with higher cultivation aimed for the Cosmic Dao Fruits with more Dao patterns higher up, while those with lower cultivation targeted fruits with fewer patterns lower down. For the weakest, even plucking a few leaves from the Cosmic Tree was worthwhile.
“Let’s go grab some too,” Tai Chuan said eagerly, looking at Qi Manwei.
Qi Manwei nodded, “Everyone, go up and compete for the Cosmic Dao Fruits. Remember not to fight over them. Junior Sister Xiyue, your cultivation is lower, stay by my side.”
Qi Manwei was already at the seventh step of the Great Dao. As long as she didn’t encounter a Dao Ancestor, no one could threaten her. And at this moment, the Dao Ancestors were clearly rushing upward, intent on seizing nine- or even ten-patterned Cosmic Dao Fruits.
By now, Xing Jia had used treasures from his world to restore his physical body, but his strength had fallen to the fifth step of the Great Dao. To fully perfect his body again would take billions of years, if it was even possible, depending on luck.
Xing Jia, with a grim expression, watched Emperor Lan and others charging toward the upper reaches of the Cosmic Tree, his heart burning with fury. He had been the first to act, following Emperor Lan’s wishes. Yet, not only did Emperor Lan fail to help him, but after his defeat, Emperor Lan didn’t even spare him a glance.
“Huiseng, after we return, you’ll immediately take over as the Dao Ancestor of the Moru World. I need to find a place to retreat,” Xing Jia said calmly after a long pause, glancing back at Ce Huiseng.
He knew that without Ce Huiseng, Lan Xiaobu would have killed him without hesitation.
Ce Huiseng shook his head and said, “Dao Ancestor, I’m also going to grab a few Cosmic Dao Fruits. After this, I won’t stay in the Moru World any longer. As for the Heavenly Emperor and Dao Ancestor successor of the Moru World, you should choose them yourself.”
With that, Ce Huiseng’s figure flashed, and he rushed toward the Cosmic Tree.
To save Dao Ancestor Xing Jia, his friendship with Lan Xiaobu had fractured. He felt he had repaid his debt to the Dao Ancestor. He had devoted himself to the Moru World, yet Xing Jia had deceived him to ambush his friend, Lan Xiaobu.
From now on, he was no longer the Heavenly Emperor of the Moru World. Ce Huiseng had his own pursuit of the Great Dao, rather than remaining in a Moru World led by a Dao Ancestor like Xing Jia. As for Xing Jia’s fallen cultivation and the impending collapse of the Moru World, that had nothing to do with him.
All Dao Ancestors at the eighth step of the Great Dao could clearly sense the location of eight-patterned Dao Fruits and vaguely detect the general direction of nine- or even ten-patterned ones. Thus, upon rushing forward, each had their own target.
Lan Xiaobu, cultivating his own Great Dao, could clearly pinpoint the locations of nine- and ten-patterned Cosmic Dao Fruits. Mo Wuji, with his God-Storage Network, could even see nine- and ten-patterned fruits. When it came to finding fruits with nine or more patterns, Mo Wuji had the greatest advantage.
Thanks to his ruleless escape technique, Lan Xiaobu was the fastest.
Lan Xiaobu quickly located a nine-patterned Cosmic Dao Fruit and sensed a ten-patterned one nearby.
As he reached for the ten-patterned fruit, a thunder spear suddenly blasted from the void.
Forced to abandon the fruit momentarily, Lan Xiaobu drew his Longevity Halberd, barely blocking the thunder spear, only to see a grey figure dash past and snatch the ten-patterned Cosmic Dao Fruit.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t chase the thief but stared at a brown-robed monk nearby, saying, “Lei Yunhan, since you want to fight, your Grandpa Bu will oblige.”
Though Lei Yunhan desperately wanted to kill Lan Xiaobu, he hadn’t planned to fight him now. He had targeted Lan Xiaobu earlier for the ten-patterned fruit, but someone else had benefited. With the fruit gone, why would he waste time fighting Lan Xiaobu?
Before Lan Xiaobu could act, Lei Yunhan rushed off.
Lan Xiaobu knew fighting now was unwise. With a flash, he landed and grabbed a ten-patterned Cosmic Dao Fruit.
He was well aware that ten-patterned fruits were scarce here. If he didn’t act quickly, getting another would be difficult.
“Leave the fruit,” a cold voice sneered, followed by a handprint grabbing toward Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu was stunned. Who was this fool? Hadn’t they seen him destroy Xing Jia’s body with one punch? Yet they dared to brazenly try to steal his Cosmic Dao Fruit.
But he soon sensed a familiar domain. As he drew his long spear, he realised who it was—definitely Quan Si.
It was said that Quan Si and Fu Chong had both been injured, leading to the four Holy Lords of the True Derivation Holy Dao. Since Fu Chong hadn’t been killed, it was natural for Quan Si to be alive.
Boom! Quan Si’s killing Dao rules were torn apart by Lan Xiaobu’s halberd. As Quan Si felt his breath hitch, he heard Lan Xiaobu’s cold laugh, “So it’s you. You probably don’t know Fu Chong has fully recovered, do you?”
From one move, Lan Xiaobu knew Quan Si’s strength hadn’t recovered. He wondered if Kong Xinjian had invited this guy.
Already shaken by Lan Xiaobu shattering his divine technique domain, Quan Si was pondering where this near-Dao-Ancestor-level powerhouse came from when he heard about Fu Chong. His heart tightened, and an even more terrifying killing intent swept over him.
Quan Si dared not stay, retreating frantically. To his relief, Lan Xiaobu didn’t pursue him. Clearly, for Lan Xiaobu, seizing Cosmic Dao Fruits was the priority.
Quan Si stared at Lan Xiaobu’s back, shocked, wondering who this terrifying figure was. Unfortunately, having just succeeded in body possession, he hadn’t yet accessed many of the original owner’s memories.
Mo Wuji had collected his fifth ten-patterned fruit and twelve nine-patterned ones.
But there seemed to be few ten- or nine-patterned fruits left. His God-Storage Network hadn’t detected any for a while, nor could he sense them.
“Hand over that ten-patterned fruit you just took, and when Emperor Lan comes for you, I’ll protect you once,” a sudden voice said by Mo Wuji’s ear. Startled, he realised he hadn’t even noticed who it was.
Mo Wuji soon understood why. The figure was clad in grey, blending almost perfectly with the void, concealing their aura so thoroughly that barely a trace leaked out.
“No problem if you want my Cosmic Dao Fruit, but who are you?” Mo Wuji felt this person was no ordinary figure, yet clearly not a Dao Ancestor or any known powerhouse.
“You can call me Yang Tian,” the grey-robed man said calmly.
Yang Tian? Mo Wuji hadn’t expected him to be the Dao Ancestor of the Great Desolation World.
“So you’re Yang Tian, Dao Ancestor of the Great Desolation World. I have more than one ten-patterned fruit. How many do you want?” Mo Wuji raised his hand, three ten-patterned fruits appearing.
Yang Tian’s eyes lit up. He had only collected two ten-patterned fruits so far, one stolen opportunistically.
“You can try to take my Cosmic Dao Fruits. I’ll give you a chance. Otherwise, I’ll escape, and I guarantee you won’t catch me,” Mo Wuji said calmly, putting away the fruits.
“Go on,” Yang Tian said, though his Great Dao domain had already merged with the surrounding void, silent and seamless, just as he had stood there without a trace.
“I heard the Dao Ancestor of the Great Desolation World was Ancestor Hongjun. Why is Hongjun gone, and it’s you now?” Mo Wuji asked unhurriedly.
His God-Storage Network had already locked onto the space. If Yang Tian’s domain tried to ambush him, Mo Wuji could only say, “You’re overthinking.”
