It was over just like that? Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene before them. Hundreds of thousands of Dayuan troops had been obliterated under the Great Cutting Technique, the battlefield resembling a slaughterhouse. Not only the ordinary soldiers but even the two Sixth Step Great Dao cultivators had been reduced to ashes without exception.
Ding Yueyin, once notorious and arrogant, was now utterly wretched, clinging to her last breath. She and the Beast Soul Clan’s Que cultivator were not only impaled but had their worlds torn open by Lan Xiaobu, who casually claimed their countless treasures.
Yinlingzi, who had been ready to fight desperately, put away his treasure, shocked and embarrassed. He had planned to go all out, hoping to take down at least one enemy, but in mere moments, Lan Xiaobu had wiped them out cleanly, leaving no role for him. No wonder Sister Zhen said Lan Xiaobu was no ordinary figure. Ordinary? He was heaven-defying.
During the ancient divine-demon war, Yinlingzi, though not prominent, had seen countless powerhouses. Yet compared to Lan Xiaobu, they seemed like mere minnows.
The human cultivator who had planned to defect to the Dayuan Clan, only to be mocked by Ding Yueyin, was cautiously retreating, hoping to blend into the crowd unnoticed.
But Lan Xiaobu’s gaze landed on him. “Senior’s power is unmatched…” the man began with a fawning smile, only for a flame to engulf him mid-sentence.
His agonised screams echoed as the flames consumed him, his regret too profound for words. If he had delayed just half an incense stick’s time, no, just a dozen breaths, he wouldn’t have become a traitor only to be burned to death.
Peng Guan trembled as Lan Xiaobu’s eyes turned to him. “End yourself. I permit it,” Lan Xiaobu said.
Hearing this, Peng Guan felt his cultivation restored. He bowed deeply. “Thank you, Senior, for allowing Peng Guan to end himself.”
With that, he shattered his own vitality at the fastest speed. Before Lan Xiaobu, he could only submit to reincarnation, not daring to preserve his memories or soul, fearing Lan Xiaobu might change his mind and burn him to ash, annihilating his soul entirely.
Even as he ended himself, Peng Guan didn’t understand why Lan Xiaobu allowed it. Nor did the others, given Lan Xiaobu’s ruthless handling of aliens and the traitor, showing he tolerated no betrayal.
Lan Xiaobu had his reasons. Peng Guan was indeed a despicable man, betraying Human Yellow City’s cultivators for survival. Yet, Lan Xiaobu was grateful for one thing: Peng Guan’s cowardice. Had he not been so spineless, by the time Lan Xiaobu arrived, Peng Guan might still have been attacking Yinlingzi’s array disc, and everyone from the Longevity Sacred Dao City would likely have been slaughtered. Human Yellow City’s strength was no match for the local races. Peng Guan’s fear had allowed the humans to cling to survival.
As Lan Xiaobu’s gaze swept over the crowd, silence fell. Luo Caixi and Su Cen were thrilled, thinking that with Lan Xiaobu’s immense power, they no longer needed to hide in one place.
“Everyone, the universe we came from is undergoing dissolution. I don’t yet know the cause, but once a vast universe dissolves, barely one in ten thousand human cultivators will survive,” Lan Xiaobu said, his voice soft but clear to all.
“I have unfinished business and must return to our original universe. Those who wish to join me, prepare yourselves. I won’t be coming back after I leave…”
Hearing he would return to their dissolving universe, the human cultivators were stunned. They had thought Lan Xiaobu’s strength would let them establish a foothold here. Returning to a collapsing universe seemed suicidal. Even if Lan Xiaobu survived, they lacked his strength.
Fortunately, he continued, “Since our universe is dissolving, going back is risky. I have some chance of getting everyone out, but I can’t guarantee how certain that is. If you choose to stay, I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll uproot the Dayuan, Beast Soul, and Earth Clans to ensure your survival here. But beyond that, I can’t do more.”
“Thank you, Lord Lan!” those planning to stay called out in unison. With the three major clans crushed, or at least their powerhouses eliminated, they would no longer dare target the humans.
Aside from most of the Longevity Sacred Dao City group, few were willing to follow Lan Xiaobu back to a collapsing universe.
Those present had mostly survived cosmic calamities and knew what they entailed. Staying offered a sliver of hope; following Lan Xiaobu meant almost certain death.
Lan Xiaobu nodded, then opened his hand. A long sword appeared from the void, falling into his grasp.
This sword had sealed Human Yellow City’s exit. As Lan Xiaobu claimed it, everyone felt a weight lift, as if a shackle on their hearts had been torn away.
Many knew they couldn’t leave the city’s bounds. Now they realised a slaughtering sword had hung above, meaning those who had fled likely hadn’t survived.
“Lowly creature, you dare kill my Beast Soul Clan’s protector, slaughter hundreds of thousands of Dayuan troops, and take our Human Slaughter Sword? Heh…”
Almost the moment Lan Xiaobu claimed the sword, a chilling voice rang out from the void. A figure stepped down, throwing a punch before even landing.
To him, Lan Xiaobu was an ant, easily crushed with one blow.
The punch hadn’t landed, but its overwhelming killing aura pressed down, suffocating the human cultivators with a sense of impending death. They instinctively wanted to retreat but were frozen by the terrifying pressure.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t move, finding it odd. This newcomer was stronger than Ding Yueyin, likely at the Eighth Step of the Great Dao. Yet, after Lan Xiaobu had easily crushed Ding Yueyin and hundreds of thousands of Dayuan troops, this foe underestimated him, boldly stepping from the void to kill him with one punch.
Only someone several tiers stronger would dare act so arrogantly.
Uncertain of the enemy’s intent, Lan Xiaobu summoned the Cosmic Mill and threw a punch, using less than twenty percent of his strength. Even so, it would only fracture his bones at most, and with his treasures, he’d recover instantly. He needed to assess the situation.
Though he used minimal strength, the momentum of his Feather Sound Kill was boundless, its powerful divine aura—autumn’s end, fleeting life, grass and trees turning to frost—making it seem like a full-force strike.
As expected, as his punch landed, a terrifying killing aura surged from the side, aimed solely at him. This aura was over twice as strong as the initial punch, a soul-piercing killing intent sweeping in, growing stronger with each moment.
Lan Xiaobu inwardly rejoiced. Had he used full strength, this terrifying killing rule would have forced him to flee, heavily injured. If the enemy had set a trap, he might not even escape.
Boom! Crack!
His hand bones predictably shattered, but even with twenty percent strength, he blocked the punch’s killing momentum. Before it could do more damage, the Cosmic Mill absorbed the remaining force.
All three combatants knew the real killing move wasn’t the punch but the soul-piercing death rule from the void.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t even summon his Longevity Halberd. He knew the ambusher was outrageously powerful, possibly stronger than Hui Zhi, likely Jie Ti.
No time for delays, Lan Xiaobu never believed in stabilising before slowly dealing with enemies. He trusted only in instantly killing his foes, especially on their turf.
Sensing Jie Ti’s ambush, he didn’t hesitate, summoning the Wuxu Arrow and drawing the Wuxu Bow.
