Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji both nodded, impressed by how much Ding Chongchen knew and his foresight.
Ding Chongchen continued, “In the entire Great Universe, only my Star Prosperity World’s Dao Ancestor Qin Chun understood the terror of the Tianmeng Clan. Before his fall, he instructed me to lead the remnants of Star Prosperity World away from the Great Universe, to preserve a seed for human cultivators…”
Lan Xiaobu smiled, “Emperor Ding, isn’t Qin Chun’s statement a bit exaggerated? The universe is vast and boundless, with countless human cultivators. Even with scum like Huan cultivating the Great Universe Dao, it’s hardly likely they could wipe out humanity, is it?”
Ding Chongchen’s expression grew grave, “Senior…” Lan Xiaobu waved a hand, “My name is Lan Xiaobu, these are Mo Wuji and Ju Mang. I’m not a senior, just call me by my name.”
Seeing that Lan Xiaobu wasn’t the type to hold grudges or kill recklessly despite his high cultivation, Ding Chongchen didn’t stand on ceremony, “Daoist Lan, my words aren’t alarmist. The Tianmeng Clan in the Great Universe will absolutely not allow a single human cultivator to live. Even the Weiju World, which previously colluded with the Tianmeng Clan, will be exterminated once the Tianmeng Clan dominates the Great Universe.”
“Even if the Tianmeng Clan wipes out all humans in the Great Universe, is the Great Universe the only domain in the vast expanse? In my view, there must be countless domains like the Great Universe out there,” Lan Xiaobu said.
Ding Chongchen replied, “Because of two individuals in the Great Universe, Huan and Hui Zhi. As far as I know, neither Huan nor Hui Zhi are human cultivators.”
“Tch, if only we could kill that Huan,” Ju Mang, who had been listening quietly, couldn’t help but interject.
Ding Chongchen shook his head, “Huan is likely unkillable. He’s colluded with the Tianmeng Clan, and even if killed, the Universe Tree would revive him. The Universe Tree is the foundation of the Great Universe’s survival, its lifeline, capable of deriving countless dao rules, including vitality and eternal life rules. With the Universe Tree’s support, one is essentially immortal. As long as the Universe Tree stands, killing Huan is impossible.”
Lan Xiaobu fell silent, realising that Hongjun not only failed to kill Huan but was likely in peril himself.
He said, “If Huan, who cultivates the Great Universe Dao, hasn’t been killed, he’s indeed a scourge. But the vast expanse is boundless, so it’s unlikely he could destroy all human planets.”
Ding Chongchen sighed, “Huan is a scourge, responsible for countless deaths, but he alone can’t destroy all of humanity. The true threat to humanity isn’t Huan or the Tianmeng Clan, but Hui Zhi.”
“How so?” Lan Xiaobu asked immediately.
Ding Chongchen explained, “Huan’s Great Universe Dao involves annihilating living planets and vital planes. To him, human or non-human planets are equally useful for his cultivation. The Tianmeng Clan, on the other hand, only targets human cultivators in the Great Universe and won’t venture out to hunt humans elsewhere. Only Hui Zhi, who cultivates the Great Dream Dao Rule, seeks to eliminate all human cultivators to strengthen his dao and maintain control over his actions…”
Lan Xiaobu, who had initially thought Ding Chongchen’s claims were exaggerated, frowned upon hearing about dream demons.
He knew dream demons well, having encountered them in both the cultivation and immortal realms, where they could sweep through entire worlds.
“Though I haven’t been to lower planes or universes, I’m certain Hui Zhi won’t stop. He bides his time in the Great Universe, sending his disciples and followers to spread dream demons, controlling one planet and plane after another. This man is the most terrifying,” Ding Chongchen said, his tone growing increasingly despondent, clearly aware that even if his guess was correct, it was an unsolvable problem unless Hui Zhi was eliminated first.
Lan Xiaobu knew Ding Chongchen’s guess was accurate.
Mo Wuji, who had been silent, suddenly asked, “How do you know all this so clearly?”
Ding Chongchen sighed again, “How could I know this? Much of it was told to me by Dao Ancestor Qin Chun. I’m certain that if anyone in the Great Universe is still fighting for its survival and the preservation of human cultivators, it’s Qin Chun.”
“Are Huan and Hui Zhi living with the Tianmeng Clan?” Ju Mang asked, wondering if they could take them out together.
Ding Chongchen was silent for a while before saying, “I’m not sure, but if I were Huan or Hui Zhi, I wouldn’t live with the Tianmeng Clan. The Great Universe is vast, and finding a place to survive is easy. The most suitable place for them, I believe, is the Chaos Zone.”
Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu nodded, agreeing that Ding Chongchen’s guess was likely correct. If they were Huan or Hui Zhi, they wouldn’t choose to live with the Tianmeng Clan either.
“Wuji, what Emperor Ding says is likely true. Should we make a plan?” Lan Xiaobu looked at Mo Wuji.
Mo Wuji hesitated before saying, “In principle, peaceful coexistence between the Tianmeng Clan and humans would be ideal, but that seems unrealistic now.”
“Exactly, as long as a single Tianmeng Clan member exists, they’ll aim to eradicate human cultivators completely, leaving no chance for survival,” Ding Chongchen agreed.
Mo Wuji sighed, “In truth, the Great Universe belongs to the Tianmeng Clan, which is why the Universe Tree favours them. By rights, humans occupied their territory and exterminated them. The Tianmeng Clan’s rebellion, from a racial perspective, isn’t wrong. But as humans, we naturally side with our kind. Xiaobu, to eliminate the Tianmeng Clan, we must first destroy the Universe Tree, otherwise it’s impossible.”
Lan Xiaobu also sighed, knowing that as long as the Universe Tree existed, the Tianmeng Clan couldn’t be eradicated.
The group fell silent until Ding Chongchen suddenly said, “Do you three know where I’m headed?”
Lan Xiaobu was momentarily stunned but quickly realised, “I was just about to ask you, Emperor Ding.”
He’d been so preoccupied with the Universe Tree that he’d forgotten to inquire.
Ding Chongchen said, “Originally, I followed Ancestor Qin Chun’s instructions to find a place to preserve the human seed. But before leaving the Great Universe, I was ambushed, and it was Hongjun Ancestor’s avatar’s dao intent that saved me. Though my Star Prosperity World’s Dao Ancestor was unmatched in the Great Universe, I believe the true great power there is Hongjun Ancestor. Without his avatar’s dao intent, I would’ve been killed. Hongjun told me that leaving the Great Universe would only delay the inevitable destruction. The Great Universe is a fine place, but it’s fine for the Tianmeng Clan. We humans arrived late. To survive, we must carve out a human territory, finding a place like the Great Universe.”
“You’re searching for a place like the Great Universe?” Lan Xiaobu looked at Ding Chongchen in confusion.
Ding Chongchen nodded, “Yes, a survival domain as good as the Great Universe, which is another Great Universe.”
“What do you mean?” Not only was Lan Xiaobu puzzled, but Mo Wuji was equally unclear.
Ding Chongchen explained, “I don’t fully understand it myself, but Senior Hongjun told me. When the Tianmeng Clan found the Great Universe, it was merely a small, high-level rule space. Over time, the chaos at its edges fractured, deriving larger and larger domains. The Great Universe will continue to expand indefinitely. In other words, the area it currently occupies is less than a millionth of what it will eventually become.”
Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji nodded, finding this explanation aligned with their own thoughts.
“Hongjun Ancestor said that since the Tianmeng Clan thrives in one part of the Great Universe, humans can go to its other end to find new rule-based survival domains. At the other end, where primordial chaos is just beginning to open, as long as we find a space derived from this chaos, we can survive. This primordial chaos evolves based on the first race to enter it. Just as the Great Universe’s Universe Tree now favours the Tianmeng Clan, if we find such a space with a world tree, it will favour humans. I don’t want Star Prosperity World to perish, so I’ve decided to leave the Great Universe to find a new survival domain,” Ding Chongchen said, his tone growing more despondent, clearly aware that this was an almost impossible task.
“Since it’s the other end of the Great Universe, how far have you travelled?” Lan Xiaobu asked, puzzled.
Ding Chongchen sighed, “In theory, we should cross through the Great Universe. It’s not safe, but it would save time. In reality, crossing the Great Universe is almost certain death.”
He didn’t say aloud that, despite his efforts, he knew the chances of success were zero.
Lan Xiaobu stood up, “Emperor Ding, continuing like this, you’ll never find the other end of the Great Universe and will likely perish in the vast void. Instead, turn back now. We’ll return to the Great Universe together, and then we’ll search for a new Great Universe with you.”
Lan Xiaobu said this because Hongjun Ancestor’s idea matched their own. To create a new great world, they needed to find a chaotic region and establish a new world within it. This didn’t mean they would create it themselves but rather find a space naturally derived from chaos, like a chaos rule slurry pool. Once found, they could settle there and gradually derive new cosmic rules.
