Lan Xiaobu didn’t need to manage the Seven Realms Stone. He set up a control array, embedding a trace of his path rule imprint. With clear coordinates, the stone’s rapid traversal under the array was nearly identical to his own control.
He then arranged two top-grade path veins and a pile of path crystals, aiming to complete the accumulation for the seventh step of the great path and charge toward the eighth.
As for universe path fruits, despite having a stack of ten-striped and nine-striped ones, Lan Xiaobu dared not use them. It was clear the universe tree favoured the Tianmeng Clan. If the tree leaned their way, how could he risk cultivating with universe path fruits? What if they hid subtle heavenly path rules? Using them would be like walking into a trap.
As the vitality from the top-grade path veins and surrounding path crystals was continuously drawn by Lan Xiaobu, his aura grew increasingly refined. The sharpness of the seventh step faded, his path becoming smoother. The Longevity Realm stabilised further with his refined path charm, the Longevity Path Tree thriving, its various longevity rules growing steadily.
Since entering the seventh step, he and Mo Wuji had been battling various powerhouses. Only now did he have the chance to polish his path rules and refine his foundation.
Perhaps because Lan Xiaobu was traversing the unpopulated vast void, or because human cultivators in the great universe were dwindling, the Seven Realms Stone sped through the void for a century without encountering any issues.
Compared to cultivating in the chaotic time knot, refining his path in the void felt more fitting to Mo Wuji.
Lan Xiaobu was jolted awake by a collision, causing the Seven Realms Stone to pause. He halted his cultivation, stepped out of his cave, and stood by the stone’s barrier.
He knew, with Ding Zhongchen’s route and his control array, the Seven Realms Stone shouldn’t hit anything. The only explanation for the impact was an attack.
Indeed, someone was attacking the stone. To Lan Xiaobu’s surprise, it was a familiar figure, a dishevelled woman.
If he ignored her, the Seven Realms Stone would flee at top speed. But seeing this woman, Lan Xiaobu stopped the stone and even opened the barrier.
“Ha, last time we tried to kill Qin Qingtian and let you slip away. Didn’t expect you’d come knocking instead of hiding,” Lan Xiaobu chuckled, his domain already locking onto the woman attacking his stone.
Her name was Meng Yuan, likely from Mengmu Dayan, at the fifth step of the great path. To the current Lan Xiaobu, she was an ant he could crush effortlessly.
But how did she end up here? This place was far from the great universe. Even with his stone’s rapid pace, it would take over a century to reach it.
Initially, Lan Xiaobu thought she attacked to seize the stone, but scanning her condition, he realised he was wrong. Her aura was unstable, her path rules chaotic, hair dishevelled, body bloodied. She was clearly being hunted, her injuries unhealed.
It seemed she intercepted his stone not to rob it but to seek rescue. However, Lan Xiaobu had no intention of saving someone from Mengmu Dayan, though killing her crossed his mind.
“It’s you,” Meng Yuan said, startled to see Lan Xiaobu on the stone, but she quickly calmed. To her, nothing could be worse than being caught by her pursuer.
“Meng Yuan greets Lord Lan. If you must kill me, it’s fair. Back then, we served different masters. You destroyed a vital treasury of Mengmu Dayan, took everything, and killed all our people. As one of their protectors, I had to follow orders,” Meng Yuan said with a bow, her tone neither servile nor arrogant.
“With Mengmu Dayan’s prestige, why are you fleeing like a stray dog, hunted to this state?” Lan Xiaobu asked, puzzled. Though she wasn’t at her end, she was close.
Meng Yuan gave a self-mocking smile, “I’m no longer with Mengmu Dayan. They expelled me, and now I’m being hunted.”
“Why is Mengmu Dayan hunting you?” Lan Xiaobu asked, astonished. In his eyes, Meng Yuan’s fifth-step strength was negligible, but to a faction, even Mengmu Dayan, a fifth-step cultivator was a powerhouse.
Why would they hunt one of their own?
“It’s not Mengmu Dayan. It’s Qin Qingtian. But even without him, Mengmu Dayan would’ve come for me eventually,” Meng Yuan said, blood trickling from her mouth.
“Qin Qingtian?” Lan Xiaobu paused, his gaze shifting to the distant void, sensing a rapidly approaching light.
“The barrier’s open. Come up first,” Lan Xiaobu said.
Qin Qingtian, a man he’d long wanted to eliminate, and now he’d encounter him in the void.
“Thank you, Lord Lan. Qin Qingtian’s coming, let’s go!” Meng Yuan bowed gratefully, stepped onto the stone without hesitation, swallowed several path pills, and sat to heal.
“Go?” Lan Xiaobu didn’t budge.
Meng Yuan opened her eyes, urging, “Lord Lan, Qin Qingtian’s here. He’s at the seventh step. Even a path ancestor might not beat him. We can still escape if we leave now.”
The Seven Realms Stone remained still. Meng Yuan sighed and resumed healing.
In mere moments, a tall man sped toward them, standing on a red giant blade.
Lan Xiaobu recognised Qin Qingtian’s treasure as a red blade from past battles, but this one was different. Its aura was potent, its killing intent perfectly matched to the man wielding it, clearly a treasure he’d refined himself.
“Haha, the Seven Realms Stone…” Qin Qingtian laughed wildly, boldly stepping onto the stone, his gaze landing on Lan Xiaobu. The red blade remained under his feet, supporting him.
He never imagined he’d find Lan Xiaobu here and claim the Seven Realms Stone. Luck was truly on his side.
“Lan Xiaobu, oh Lan Xiaobu, how unlucky can you get, caught by me in a place like this, hahaha…” Qin Qingtian couldn’t contain his glee, laughing again. The Seven Realms Stone was too valuable to him.
The thought of being no match for Lan Xiaobu never crossed his mind. At the same tier, he’d never met an equal. Now, with his body restored and at the seventh step, he believed he could crush even eighth-step cultivators.
Lan Xiaobu eyed Qin Qingtian, noting his striking appearance, tall, with flowing hair, handsome features, and the red blade underfoot, exuding an unmatched aura.
Lan Xiaobu sighed, “With that flamboyant look, it’s a waste you’re not performing as a flower maiden.”
Qin Qingtian expected Lan Xiaobu to flee, not stand there spouting incomprehensible words. He tossed out several array flags, grabbed the red blade, then chuckled, “No wonder you’re so bold, you’ve reached the seventh step too. Pity, your seventh step might impress others, but to me, Qin Qingtian, it’s a death sentence.”
His path domain locked onto Lan Xiaobu, ignoring Meng Yuan entirely.
Lan Xiaobu summoned his Longevity Halberd, sighing, “Qin Qingtian, I’ll bet you’ve never been to the great universe, right?”
Lan Xiaobu was certain because Qin Qingtian showed no fear of him.
If Qin Qingtian had been to the great universe, he’d know Lan Xiaobu and Mo Wuji had killed or ruined multiple eighth-step cultivators and path ancestors. No matter how arrogant Qin Qingtian was, he wouldn’t claim he could easily defeat an eighth-step powerhouse or a path ancestor.
Qin Qingtian said coldly, “You even know about the great universe. Seems you didn’t escape empty-handed. Too bad, you’ll never see it in this lifetime.”
