In the vast cosmos, some top-tier experts seeking seclusion don’t necessarily choose great rivers, seas, or mountain ranges, but rather a domain.
This domain differs from what ordinary people mean by territory; it’s not a faction’s stronghold but a collective term for a specific terrain. A domain must encompass at least four types of terrain, such as rivers, seas, mountains, deserts, forests, marshes, or valleys. This is the bare minimum. More crucially, a domain must have complete cosmic rules and primal energy so dense it reaches the extreme to qualify as a domain.
The vast cosmos has many domains, but good ones are scarce, each occupied by a powerhouse.
The Illusory Domain is particularly renowned, boasting not only mountains, rivers, forests, and marshes but also an Illusory Desert filled with top-grade illusory Dao principles, making it an ideal cultivation site for illusory Dao practitioners.
The Illusory Domain lies not within the Ten Directions World but at its outermost edge, nearly bordering the intersection of the vast cosmos and the chaotic zone.
Such a premier Dao site is naturally occupied by no ordinary figure. His name is Hui Zhi. Though few truly know him, hardly anyone in the vast cosmos is unfamiliar with his name, and he undoubtedly ranks among its top experts.
The vast cosmos’ most elite are the ten Dao Ancestors and those at the eighth step of the Great Dao, equivalent to a Dao Ancestor. Hui Zhi, having reached the eighth step, is among the rare few capable of vying for the ninth.
Hui Zhi single-handedly founded Mengmu Dayan, and his Great Dream Dao is famed across the vast cosmos. Countless planes, realms, and planets have been enveloped by his Great Dream Dao principles, turning myriad beings into nightmare demons.
Despite countless rumours about Hui Zhi, he rarely ventures out. Compared to his peer Huan, he’s practically a recluse.
For a powerhouse like Hui Zhi, even a Dao Ancestor might yield to him if he appeared. But for Hui Zhi, he wouldn’t leave the Illusory Domain until he reached the ninth step of the Great Dao.
The Illusory Domain is perfect for cultivating Great Dream Dao principles. Though his progress there is slow, it’s steady, and Hui Zhi believes he’ll eventually reach the ninth step.
But today, Hui Zhi was jolted from seclusion, sensing someone attacking Great Dream Star.
Great Dream Star, his private planet, the heart of Mengmu Dayan, and the origin of Great Dream Dao—who would dare, with the audacity of a bear or leopard, to target Mengmu Dayan’s mother star? And who could even find Great Dream Star?
Fewer than ten in all of Mengmu Dayan knew its exact location, each bearing his Dao intent imprint, ensuring its secrecy even under soul-searching.
Yet now, someone was attacking Great Dream Star. How could this be?
Whoever it was, daring to touch his Great Dream Star, Hui Zhi vowed to turn the cosmos upside down to find them.
With a wave of his hand, beams of light exploded in his palm, and he sighed in relief. Though he knew no one could take his chaotic world, seeing the teleportation activate eased his tension.
Unknown to all, Mengmu Dayan’s warehouse was his chaotic world, akin to his ring—impossible for anyone to take. A mere touch, and he could teleport it to his palm.
His confidence stemmed from knowing that even if someone forcibly moved his chaotic world, he could retrieve it instantly.
Now, with the light bursting, his chaotic world’s teleportation array had activated, and he felt it being teleported.
Hui Zhi extended his finger, expecting the chaotic world, a ring, to land on it and transform.
But the next moment, he froze. His connection to the chaotic world vanished. How could this be?
Even if it was forcibly sent to a Great Dao world, he could retrieve it.
Refining his chaotic world within this cosmos would take years. Breaking its restrictions alone, within this cosmos, wasn’t a quick task.
Though the chaotic world’s aura and imprint were gone, Hui Zhi’s outstretched hand didn’t retract, his fingers trembling as he muttered, hoping it would appear.
Half an incense stick’s time passed, and not even a speck of dust landed on his finger.
“Impossible,” Hui Zhi stood abruptly, no longer in the mood to pursue the Great Dao in seclusion.
His chaotic world held nearly all his possessions. Since Breath Soil was taken from a mid-tier cosmos warehouse, he never stored top treasures elsewhere. Most, save those he needed temporarily, were in his chaotic world ring.
How could this happen? Even if all eight Dao Ancestors of the vast cosmos acted together, they couldn’t take his chaotic world.
Having reached the eighth step of the Great Dao, steadily aiming for the ninth, Hui Zhi had never been as furious and unsettled as now.
He stored everything in the warehouse not because he couldn’t keep them on himself but because his chaotic world was as secure as his person. With a wave, the items would return to his finger.
The warehouse’s visibility drove Mengmu Dayan’s rapid growth. Beyond Great Dream Tower, its reward system—showing the warehouse’s treasures, even Primordial Dao Seeds—motivated contributions with the promise of access.
Yet now, someone had slipped the ring off his finger.
“Who is it?” Hui Zhi roared, suspecting Huan, the one who knew him best in this cosmos.
But even Huan couldn’t silently conceal his chaotic world without a trace.
In his rage, Hui Zhi rushed out of his cave. His seclusions typically lasted millennia, sometimes millions of years, but to storm out after less than fifty years was unprecedented.
“Xing Si,” Hui Zhi called coldly, having calmed as he exited.
A grey-robed man appeared silently, bowing, “Xing Si greets the master. Your orders?”
“Report on the vast cosmos’ recent events,” Hui Zhi said flatly.
“Yes,” Xing Si replied, “With Mengmu Dayan and Great Cosmos Dao’s aid, the Tianmeng Clan has eradicated Fanhe World, Moru World, Dunyi World, Xiutuo World, and Central World. They’re now besieging Seven Cosmos Heaven World. It’s said Kong Xinjian, Dao Ancestor of Bucheng World, and Ling Zhuzhen, Dao Ancestor of Jisheng World, have gone to aid it. Even so, Seven Cosmos Heaven World can hold out for only a few years.”
“Any news of Lan Xiaobu or Mo Wuji?” Hui Zhi asked calmly.
Xing Si responded promptly, “None. Since they vanished from the faulty teleportation array, there’s been no trace. But according to Tianmeng Clan expert Zai Xun, both are masters of their own Dao and won’t perish. Their return to the vast cosmos is only a matter of time. To prevent surprises, the Tianmeng Clan aims to destroy the Ten Directions World before they return.”
Hui Zhi nodded, then froze.
A critical thought struck him: their own Dao.
If the one who took his chaotic world cultivated their own Dao, with strength not inferior to his, and placed it in their Dao world, he truly wouldn’t sense it.
He could sense any cultivator in this cosmos, except those with their own Dao, whose principles matched or surpassed his. In their Dao world, his items would be undetectable.
Hui Zhi clenched his fists, saying word by word, “Mo Wuji, Lan Xiaobu, well done, well done…”
He was almost certain it was either Mo Wuji or Lan Xiaobu. Many cultivated their own Dao, but only these two could place items in their Dao world and elude his detection.
Few who cultivated their own Dao reached true Great Dao levels. Even reaching the Derivation Realm was rare, let alone the seventh or eighth step.
