“Dao Lord, where are we heading now?” He Ku Saint asked as he saw that Lan Xiaobu had already controlled the flying ship to break out of the Taihan Holy Mountain’s range. He knew that even with Kun Wei’s Sky-Separating Cover, there was nothing Kun Wei could do to him now.
The others also turned their eyes to Lan Xiaobu. Although they had escaped the Taihan Holy Mountain’s range and wouldn’t be immediately blocked by the major holy sects, it wasn’t going to be easy to escape safely.
The Eternal Realm had been controlled by the holy sects for so long that their influence was deeply rooted. Any small trace left behind could be discovered. Once the holy sects found and surrounded them, escaping again would be nearly impossible.
If it were just ordinary people, it might not matter much, but Lan Xiaobu was no ordinary person. He was a Dao Lord of a realm. However, since no holy sect recognized his status, to them, this Dao Lord was nothing more than a target to be hunted down.
Lan Xiaobu stopped the flying ship. There were fewer than a hundred people who had followed him, totaling ninety-two.
“Everyone…” Lan Xiaobu had just spoken two words when a series of thunderous roars erupted from the void. Immediately, the Dao rules of the entire world became clearer and more distinct. Not only that, but divine spiritual energy surged in like a tidal wave, and within it, everyone sensed an even richer aura of heaven and earth.
Although they were still standing in the same place, the space around them felt increasingly stable, giving them a sense of security.
What was going on? Lan Xiaobu was also puzzled.
As time passed, the thunderous roars not only didn’t stop but grew even more vast. Lan Xiaobu felt the world becoming heavier and more solid, while his own perception was increasingly suppressed.
“I know! It’s the complete fusion of the Great Desolate Realm and the Eternal Realm!” someone exclaimed excitedly.
Lan Xiaobu’s heart sank. If the two realms had completely merged, it meant he had no way to escape.
Lan Xiaobu’s consciousness sensed the Primordial Dao Rules. He had set up a perception array near the Primordial Dao Rules. Clear Dao rules transformed into golden light, appearing in Lan Xiaobu’s perception. The next moment, his mind buzzed, and all his consciousness was expelled from the Primordial Dao Rules.
In other words, whether the Primordial Dao Rules had merged the Eternal Realm and the Great Desolate Realm or not, he could no longer sense it.
Bu Yi Saint said solemnly, “It might not be the complete fusion of the Eternal Realm and the Great Desolate Realm. This kind of Dao rule evolution and perfection, the surge of heaven and earth’s fortune, and the increasing clarity of the rules suggest that the Eternal Realm is continuously merging with surrounding realms. Not only that, but it is also perfecting itself…”
Qian Qi Saint also said, “That must be it. After the apocalyptic calamity, countless broken realms were left in the void. Now, these broken realms are completely merging into this realm. In the near future, the Eternal Realm will become the most vast and powerful realm in this plane.”
As Saints, whether they were pseudo-Saints or not, their perception of a realm’s perfection was clearly stronger than that of ordinary cultivators.
As if to confirm Qian Qi Saint’s words, not far from where they stood, mountain ranges suddenly rose, and in the distance, an endless ocean formed.
Bu Yi Saint said excitedly, “I have comprehended the true Great Dao of Saints…”
Lan Xiaobu knew that what Bu Yi Saint had comprehended might not necessarily be the true Great Dao of Saints, but as a pseudo-Saint, he could definitely advance further.
At this moment, a vast, resonant voice echoed through the void, “The Southern Heaven Holy Court is established, using the Qiankun Cauldron to stabilize the fortune of the Holy Court’s Great Ling Palace, controlling the immortals, gods, and Dao Courts of this realm, overseeing all karmic positions…”
Lan Xiaobu was stunned. What was this? His Great Desolate Dao Court was now to be controlled by the Southern Heaven Holy Court?
Before Lan Xiaobu could ask, the continuous, resonant Dao voices sounded again. Just like when the various Dao Fields were established before, but this time, it wasn’t Dao Fields being established—it was powerful forces.
“The Taihan Holy Court is established, using the Sky-Separating Cover to stabilize the fortune of the Holy Court, controlling the immortals, gods, and Dao Courts of this realm, overseeing all karmic positions…”
“The Heavenly Demon Holy Court is established, using the Ten Thousand Demon Banner to stabilize the fortune of the Holy Court, controlling the demonic path of this realm, overseeing all demonic karmic positions…”
“The Western Holy Church is established, using the Thunder Buddha Bowl to stabilize the fortune of the Holy Church, controlling the Buddhist path of this realm, overseeing all Buddhist karmic positions…”
“The Intercept Sect is established, using the Purple Lightning Hammer to stabilize the fortune of the Holy Church, controlling the immortals and gods of this realm, overseeing all karmic positions of all things.”
…
After hearing more than a dozen Holy Courts being established, Lan Xiaobu thought to himself, it seemed no one really cared about him as a Dao Lord. Everyone wanted to control him, to oversee the karmic positions of the realm. It seemed his role as a Dao Lord was only to be controlled.
If they had just established Dao Fields, it would have been one thing, but now they were establishing Holy Courts, and each one wanted to control the immortals and gods of the realm, and even control him, the Dao Lord. Did this mean that from now on, he, the Dao Lord, would have to live under their thumbs?
At the same time, Lan Xiaobu understood that this change had occurred before he could fully integrate the Great Desolate Realm. This meant that while he, as the Dao Lord, was recognized by the Heavenly Dao, the Heavenly Dao also recognized the Saints and Emperors of those Holy Courts. In other words, who would ultimately control the Great Desolate Realm in the future would depend on who had the strongest fist. It was even possible that the Great Desolate Realm might not even be called the Great Desolate Realm anymore.
There must have been some kind of upheaval, something that went beyond the fusion of the Primordial Dao Rules with the Great Desolate Realm and the Eternal Realm. Even the Primordial Dao Rules couldn’t control it. Otherwise, how could so many broken realms have actively merged with the Eternal Realm, causing the fortune of the Eternal Realm to surge, the rules of heaven and earth to become clearer, and the spiritual energy to continuously increase?
He Ku Saint bowed to Lan Xiaobu with a respectful gesture and said in a very polite tone, “Dao Lord Lan, I never expected such a huge change to occur in the realm.”
Lan Xiaobu knew what this guy was getting at. He Ku had no principles and had never thought highly of him as the Dao Lord of the Great Desolate Dao Court. Now, he probably thought even less of him.
“If you have something to say, He Ku, just say it directly. I don’t like beating around the bush,” Lan Xiaobu said indifferently. His cultivation level might not be high, but he didn’t care much about a pseudo-Saint like He Ku.
He Ku slowly said, “The rules of the Eternal Realm have drastically changed, merging with all the broken realms in the void. The spiritual energy is becoming more abundant, and the fortune is surging. So many Holy Courts have simultaneously gained the recognition of the Heavenly Dao and received fortune blessings. This shows that the Eternal Realm will soon be plunged into a great war.”
Lan Xiaobu agreed with this. With so many Holy Courts emerging, each wanting to control the immortals and gods of the realm and distribute all the karmic positions of the Saints, and all of them having gained the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, who would have the final say? It would undoubtedly come down to who had the strongest fist, and then a brutal war would follow.
In comparison, they were now relatively safe. Because he, the Dao Lord, was no longer a beacon, Kun Wei from the Taihan Holy Mountain probably wouldn’t have time to bother with him. For Kun Wei, the most important thing now was to consolidate all resources and become the sole Holy Court of this realm.
This was somewhat like the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, where everyone was fighting to become the Holy Emperor.
For the first time, Lan Xiaobu felt how distant his ideals were from reality. He had the Cosmic Dimension Model, but he wasn’t the only one with top-tier treasures. Although he now controlled a large territory in the Great Desolate Realm, after the fusion of the Eternal Realm and other realms, the Great Desolate Realm might become relatively small.
Not only that, but in terms of strength, his subordinates were mostly cultivators below the World God level, with only a few Divine Kings. In contrast, the powerful experts of the Eternal Realm were all at least at the Unity God level.
Lan Xiaobu took a deep breath. The Great Dao was indeed difficult. He didn’t want to fight for any Holy Emperor position, nor did he want to control any karmic positions. He just wanted to live quietly, to have order and harmony in the place he resided. But now, all of that seemed unrealistic. Perhaps in the next moment, the Great Desolate Realm would be plowed over by those Holy Courts.
He Ku Saint continued, “I am originally from the Kunchen Universe. The Kunchen Holy Court has been established with the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, and I need to return to serve the Kunchen Holy Court. Once the Kunchen Holy Court stabilizes, I will definitely come back to help you develop the Great Desolate Dao Court.”
Lan Xiaobu sneered inwardly. This guy, with his pseudo-Saint strength, would undoubtedly be second only to the Holy Emperor in the Kunchen Holy Court. Or perhaps, with the perfection of the heavenly rules and the surge of fortune, he might even be thinking of becoming the Holy Emperor of the Kunchen Holy Court. As for the Great Desolate Dao Court’s meager strength, he probably didn’t even care. Previously, he had been trapped in the Great Path Gorge Valley and had no choice, but now that he had a way out, he was ready to jump ship.
“Then congratulations, He Ku Saint. You don’t need to come back to the Great Desolate Dao Court. Just stay in the Kunchen Holy Court,” Lan Xiaobu said indifferently.
“Thank you, Dao Lord,” He Ku Saint said without a hint of embarrassment.
Not only that, but he also turned to the other cultivators and said, “The Kunchen Holy Court has been established. Now is the time for us to make our mark. Those who are willing to follow me, I guarantee your karmic positions.”
Of the less than a hundred people who had stayed to join the Great Desolate Dao Court with Lan Xiaobu, sixty or seventy left with He Ku Saint.
He Ku Saint then approached Bu Yi Saint. “Fellow Daoist Bu Yi, now that the Kunchen Holy Court has been established and gained the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, why not come with me to the Kunchen Holy Court and help establish the order of the Holy Dao?”
Lan Xiaobu was furious. This bastard not only wanted to leave himself but was also trying to poach the Saint by his side.
Before Lan Xiaobu could step forward, Bu Yi Saint spoke up, “Thank you, Fellow Daoist He Ku, but I have decided to follow Dao Lord Lan.”
He Ku Saint was stunned. Had Bu Yi Saint really rejected him? Didn’t Bu Yi Saint understand Lan Xiaobu’s current status? Which holy sect in the Eternal Realm even cared about Lan Xiaobu? To put it bluntly, in the eyes of the holy sects and the Saints, Lan Xiaobu was nothing more than a clown. Initially, he had taken advantage of an opportunity to gain a head start, but now that the world had changed, Lan Xiaobu had lost that advantage. He wasn’t even a clown anymore. Why was Bu Yi Saint still staying here?
However, seeing that Bu Yi Saint had no intention of saying more, He Ku Saint could only bid farewell. After He Ku Saint left, others stepped forward one by one, expressing their desire to return to their respective Holy Courts to serve.
Lan Xiaobu sighed inwardly. What a bunch of ungrateful wolves. He had saved hundreds of people, but in the end, only a dozen or so remained by his side.
