As Qin Qingtian spoke, his long blade transformed into a radiant arc slashing down, filling the entire Seven Realms Stone with a killing momentum.
Though he didn’t take Lan Xiaobu seriously, Qin Qingtian showed no hint of underestimating him in action, unleashing his full killing force from the start.
With his experience, once his great path domain unfolded and his Falling Yuan Blade’s Rift Realm Rainbow divine ability struck, even an eighth-step great path opponent could only barely cope. He knew Lan Xiaobu was strong, but without Mo Wuji’s aid, Qin Qingtian believed Lan Xiaobu could only struggle to survive under his Rift Realm Rainbow, and that was giving him generous credit. In truth, surviving would surpass 99% of seventh-step cultivators.
To Qin Qingtian’s surprise, Lan Xiaobu didn’t retreat. Instead, he unleashed his own domain, and his Longevity Halberd struck with a single thrust.
The moment Qin Qingtian’s blade divine ability emerged, Lan Xiaobu knew this man’s strength rivalled an ordinary eighth-step cultivator, a true powerhouse among powerhouses. If Qin Qingtian reached the eighth step, Lan Xiaobu, at the seventh, might not suppress him.
To test Qin Qingtian’s mettle, Lan Xiaobu didn’t even activate the Seven Realms Stone’s arrays. Qin Qingtian dared step onto the stone because he didn’t fear Lan Xiaobu’s trapping arrays, confident in his own array skills. But Lan Xiaobu knew that if he used arrays to trap Qin Qingtian, the man’s strength would drop by over 60%.
The Longevity Halberd didn’t unleash a sky of killing momentum but conjured a fading sunset. In the vast void, this sudden sunset added a melancholic scene.
Under this sunset, the halberd’s killing sound formed sonic arrows, each piercing Qin Qingtian’s distant memories. Amid the sunset’s nostalgic tones, a hometown river seemed to appear, its waters reflecting the fading light, evoking long-forgotten memories in Qin Qingtian…
For years, without this sunset’s shadow or these gut-wrenching sounds, Qin Qingtian had forgotten his past, his once-held ideals…
*The mournful tune pierces the heart, the halberd’s soaring sound floods the river, a desolate soul buried in a foreign land.*
As a deathly aura invaded his soul, Qin Qingtian snapped awake. *This is an intent-based killing divine ability!*
Under his own great path domain, Lan Xiaobu not only wasn’t suppressed but effortlessly unleashed this intent-based ability. Even the densest mind would sense disaster. Qin Qingtian realised he’d overestimated himself.
He burned his essence blood, even his lifespan, but it was a fraction too late.
*Splatter!* Just as Qin Qingtian broke free from the sunset and nostalgic sounds, the Longevity Halberd struck, exploding a spray of blood across the Seven Realms Stone. His body collapsed instantly.
Lan Xiaobu stepped forward, reaching for Qin Qingtian’s escaping primordial spirit, but it vanished into the void like a teleportation.
Frowning, Lan Xiaobu understood. Qin Qingtian had a clone fusion divine ability, one that pierced his sealing barrier. His array skills were slightly lacking. If they were stronger, even with a clone, Qin Qingtian’s spirit wouldn’t have escaped, whether Lan Xiaobu killed him or not.
“You actually killed Qin Qingtian?” Meng Yuan was stunned by Lan Xiaobu’s methods. He’d not only defeated Qin Qingtian but did so swiftly, seemingly with a single move.
Meng Yuan knew how strong Qin Qingtian was. She doubted even Mengmu Dayan’s ancestor could match him. If Qin Qingtian had reached the eighth step, their ancestor would certainly lose. Yet Lan Xiaobu had killed him in roughly half an incense stick’s time with one strike, shattering her understanding of power. Qin Qingtian, her nightmare, an invincible figure, was effortlessly slain.
Lan Xiaobu sheathed his Longevity Halberd and said calmly, “I didn’t kill him. Back when Qin Qingtian was just a wisp of a soul, he recovered to this level. It won’t take long for him to recover again. But next time, he won’t escape.”
Lan Xiaobu was certain that once he reached the eighth step, Qin Qingtian wouldn’t flee using such clone-spirit teleportation tricks.
As he spoke, Lan Xiaobu picked up the Falling Yuan Blade from the ground. The moment he held it, he sensed a universe-tearing aura. What a blade! Its materials were undoubtedly top-tier treasures of the vast expanse.
Holding it, Lan Xiaobu realised Qin Qingtian hadn’t unleashed his full strength, caught in the intent of his mournful sound killing ability. Though at the seventh step, Qin Qingtian’s mastery of path intent was inferior, so this fight didn’t fully reflect their strength gap. Next time, Qin Qingtian would surely learn.
No matter, Lan Xiaobu would learn too.
Meng Yuan quickly said, “Qin Qingtian’s escape skills are incredibly strong. Even at the fifth step, a path ancestor might not kill him. Destroying his main body and tearing his soul has set him back to square one.”
“Why was Qin Qingtian hunting you?” Lan Xiaobu asked, storing the Falling Yuan Blade and urging the Seven Realms Stone forward.
Meng Yuan handed him a miniature silver river, “Because of this.”
“This is the Chaos River?” Lan Xiaobu exclaimed, taking it, then asked, “How could you refine it?”
Meng Yuan shook her head, “I can’t. Qin Qingtian taught me a method. When we worked together, he left his path imprint on me, so he could track me anywhere. At first, I could resist him somewhat, but as his strength grew, I couldn’t fight back and had to flee.
“He wouldn’t let me escape. He taught me to forcibly refine the Chaos River while he worked on the Chaos Path. I refined its first restriction, allowing me to store it, using his forbidden technique. I knew he wouldn’t let it go. When I handed over the Chaos River, he’d likely sacrifice me, perhaps to make me the Chaos Path’s artifact spirit. So I sought Mengmu Dayan’s help…”
Lan Xiaobu nodded. The Chaos River and Chaos Path were two of the six paths of the Chaos Road, a post-chaos supreme treasure, stronger than world-opening treasures. But it required all six paths to form.
Lan Xiaobu held four: the Chaos Path Hall, Chaos Path Heart Disc, Chaos Plaque, and Chaos Platform. With the Chaos River, that made five.
Qin Qingtian, unable to gather all six, aimed to refine Meng Yuan as an artifact spirit to substitute the missing paths.
“Continue,” Lan Xiaobu said, setting down the Chaos River.
Meng Yuan said, “The Chaos River is useless to me, so I give it to you.”
Lan Xiaobu nodded, accepting it without hesitation. First, Meng Yuan couldn’t keep it. Second, he’d just saved her.
Seeing him take it, Meng Yuan relaxed, “After I sent a message to Mengmu Dayan, they told me to return immediately and sent people to meet me. But as I prepared to join them, I received a dying message from Qian Ji. He was also an enforcer of Mengmu Dayan, slightly weaker than me, and always admired me. I was too focused on the great path to care.
“Qian Ji said Mengmu Dayan had joined the Tianmeng Clan in the great universe, and the ten realms were nearly wiped out. The Tianmeng Clan doesn’t accept human surrenders, killing all. Mengmu Dayan still had some humans because it was the first to join the Tianmeng Clan, contributing greatly. But as the Tianmeng Clan dominated, they began slaughtering Mengmu Dayan’s humans too.”
Lan Xiaobu sighed, hoping the Tianmeng Clan hadn’t yet searched the chaos zone, or Manwei and the others would be in danger.
Meng Yuan continued, “After Qian Ji’s message, I heard nothing more. He was likely killed. I didn’t dare return. If not for you, Qin Qingtian would’ve killed me.”
“Has Qin Qingtian joined the Tianmeng Clan?” Lan Xiaobu asked.
Meng Yuan shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Does Mengmu Dayan have a hidden base, not in the great universe?” Lan Xiaobu asked, looking at her expectantly.
Meng Yuan nodded, “Yes, they do, in a high-tier universe. I know its rough location but not the exact spot.”
“If I’m not mistaken, besides Qin Qingtian’s imprint, you carry Mengmu Dayan’s too,” Lan Xiaobu said, already planning to visit their base.
Meng Yuan’s expression darkened. She knew, despite her escape, she couldn’t truly get away.
