“Thank you for the information, but I wonder what brings Friend Samsara to me?” Lan Xiaobu asked after expressing his gratitude.
Even if the Samsara Saint hadn’t told him these things, he had already guessed them moments ago.
The Samsara Saint spoke candidly, “If I’m not mistaken, your strength should be no less than mine. Even if you’re slightly weaker than that monk Buju, he wouldn’t be able to do much to you.”
In terms of discernment, the Samsara Saint far surpassed Buju. He vaguely sensed that Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t have been injured or spat blood under Buju’s domain suppression. Since he wasn’t, Lan Xiaobu’s earlier injury must have been somewhat feigned.
Lan Xiaobu remained silent, knowing the Samsara Saint hadn’t come just to flatter him.
Sure enough, the Samsara Saint continued, “The Seven Realms Stone Boundary Flag is no small matter, for it is the only passage to the Eternal Life Saint.”
“What do you mean?” Lan Xiaobu only knew the Seven Realms Stone Boundary Flag might lead to the Seven Realms Stone, but he hadn’t known it was a passage to the Eternal Life Saint. That it was a passage made sense, but the only passage? That was harder to grasp.
The Samsara Saint said solemnly, “Since Friend Lan bid for the Seven Realms Stone Boundary Flag, you clearly know about the Seven Realms Stone. It divides the seven realms, and accessing them is just the basics. The Seven Realms Stone contains the Great Dao of the seven realms, and beyond that, it holds the secrets of the Eternal Life Saint.”
Lan Xiaobu stayed quiet, having never seen the Seven Realms Stone himself, letting the Samsara Saint speak freely.
The Samsara Saint took a breath, “It’s said that to obtain the Seven Realms Stone, one must gather its seven boundary flags in sequence. If I’m not mistaken, the flag you bought at the auction should be the First Realm Stone Boundary Flag. If it’s beyond that, it means the earlier flags are also in Buju’s hands.”
Clearly, the Samsara Saint already knew the flag Lan Xiaobu had won was put up by Buju.
“What does Friend Samsara want to cooperate on?” Lan Xiaobu asked calmly.
The Samsara Saint perked up, “Let’s search for the Seven Realms Stone Boundary Flags together. The Seven Realms Stone is a treasure of creation, but I don’t want it. I only need to use it to reach the true Eternal Life Sanctuary and prove myself as an Eternal Life Saint. I’m called Samsara, but I truly don’t want to keep reincarnating.”
Using the Seven Realms Stone to enter the Eternal Life Sanctuary? Lan Xiaobu didn’t press for details. He already had two flags, including the First Realm one, and per the Samsara Saint, without him, no one could take the others.
“I once met someone named Nuo Yisheng…”
At the mention of Nuo Yisheng, the Samsara Saint’s expression stiffened slightly before he smiled, “No wonder after my reincarnation, one of the principles in my Samsara Dao remained incomplete, keeping me from advancing further in the short term. It’s because of you.”
Without waiting for Lan Xiaobu to ask, he explained, “Nuo Yisheng had average talent but was born with a Yin-Yang Dao Body. Had he cultivated the Yin-Yang Dao, he might’ve long become a saint. Sadly, his intentions were crooked, and he tried to steal my Samsara Scroll. So I conveniently gave it to him, hoping he’d construct a Yin-Yang principle in my Samsara passage. Unfortunately, he met you. If I’m right, you killed him, and he never got the chance to unlock the scroll.”
“Heh, quite the schemer,” Lan Xiaobu chuckled. Had he not been cautious, he might’ve been tricked by the Samsara Saint too.
Though he might not have built a Yin-Yang principle, he’d have surely crafted a solid one, helping the Samsara Saint reach a higher level.
The Samsara Saint said lightly, “Scheming’s a stretch. The Curse Saint can’t bind me with his great curse to force reincarnation, and as for that Withered Saint Vine, the top poison, it can’t touch me when I’m prepared.”
“So, taking the Yin-Yang Saint and Three Pots Saint as disciples was also to have them build principles for your Samsara Dao?” Lan Xiaobu’s tone carried a hint of mockery.
The Samsara Saint replied calmly, “If a disciple’s heart is impure, having them build a principle settles the karmic debt. If their heart is pure, how could they become a principle in my Samsara Dao?”
“I saw a crystal ball where you were a woman—why are you a man now?” Lan Xiaobu asked again, sensing no trace of the Heavenly Transformation aura on him.
The Samsara Saint sighed, “To the Great Dao, what’s the difference between man and woman? Across countless lives, what does gender matter?”
He genuinely couldn’t fathom why Lan Xiaobu would ask such a simple question.
Lan Xiaobu stared at him, thinking, “What a lofty mindset. I, Lan Xiaobu, could never reach that in all my lives.”
He didn’t reveal that he’d reconstructed the Samsara Scroll with his Cosmic Dimension Model, though he suspected the Samsara Saint had an inkling. Even if he did, he’d pretend otherwise—trading the scroll back was out of the question.
“Though you’re strong, Friend, you need a partner, or finding the Seven Realms Stone will be tough. Even if you find it, you might not take it,” the Samsara Saint added, seeing Lan Xiaobu’s silence.
Lan Xiaobu handed over the flag he’d won, “This is the Seven Realms Stone Boundary Flag I bought. Take a look.”
The moment the Samsara Saint grasped it, he sighed, “It seems you bought a fake.”
“So you’ve seen the real one?” Lan Xiaobu asked, puzzled.
The Samsara Saint shook his head, “I’ve never seen a Seven Realms Stone Boundary Flag, but I’ve seen the Seven Realms Stone and even teleported with it. Before the World-Ending Calamity, many used it to teleport—it wasn’t some hidden secret. It only vanished after the calamity. Since Buju brought out this fake flag with the Seven Realms Stone’s charm, he must’ve seen the real flags. This charm isn’t something detachable from the stone, nor could he manage it.”
He returned the flag to Lan Xiaobu, “Friend Lan, I’m willing to team up, take down Buju, and find out where the real flags are.”
He left unsaid his suspicion that Lan Xiaobu’s interest in the flags meant he either had some or knew their locations.
“Fine, let’s take out Buju first,” Lan Xiaobu agreed without hesitation. Eliminating Buju, whose strength couldn’t overwhelm him, was advantageous no matter how you looked at it.
“Friend Lan, you’re a worthy partner—decisive,” the Samsara Saint praised, “If I’m right, Buju’s surely watching you. Even if you retreat here for ten thousand years, he’d wait. Let’s set a time, and you pretend to leave Saint Island…”
The implication was clear: once Lan Xiaobu left his cave, Buju would strike.
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, “Why let him ambush me? Can’t I ambush him?”
For Lan Xiaobu, he was never one to wait for things to happen. If it was inevitable, he’d rather make it happen first.
Buju was waiting to catch him off guard. So why couldn’t he hunt Buju down and turn the tables?
The Samsara Saint paused, then clapped, “Working with you is refreshing. My thinking’s too rigid—let’s follow your lead and strike first. I’ll scout Buju’s location, and once we find it, we’re halfway there.”
Lan Xiaobu smiled faintly, “No need to scout. I know where he is.”
When Kucai mentioned the three best spots on Saint Island for absorbing the Cosmic Heart’s charm, Lan Xiaobu took note. After retreating here, he quickly figured out Buju’s rough location. Just as Buju and Kucai knew his spot, these three locations complemented each other, ideal for sensing the Cosmic Heart.
Compared to his and Kucai’s caves, Buju’s was actually the best for absorbing the Cosmic Heart’s charm.
Before, Lan Xiaobu was weaker and had no grudge with Buju, so he didn’t bother.
Now, having stepped into the First-Turn Saint realm and with a score to settle, why hold back? Time to take Buju’s cave.
“Haha, that’s perfect,” the Samsara Saint laughed heartily, “Friend Lan, when do we move?”
Yet inwardly, he felt a twinge of wariness. If Lan Xiaobu knew Buju’s location, did he know his too? His own spot wasn’t ideal and couldn’t sense the Cosmic Heart’s best point.
Lan Xiaobu asked, “Does Friend Samsara know any shape-shifting techniques?”
He figured the Samsara Saint likely did—denying it would be a lie.
“I know a bit. Do we need to disguise ourselves?” the Samsara Saint didn’t hide it.
Lan Xiaobu was satisfied with his honesty, “Of course, but not us—just me. You came here today, and I’m sure Buju knows. When you leave, he’ll watch you. Meanwhile, I can head to Buju’s cave. Place a divine sense mark on me now. Once I reach his cave, you’ll sense my location. After I ambush him, you swoop in to help, and I’d say we’ve got a ninety percent chance of taking him down.”
“Good, let’s do it your way,” the Samsara Saint agreed without hesitation.
He didn’t mention that Buju might have a mark on Lan Xiaobu. If Lan Xiaobu couldn’t sense that, this ambush would be a death sentence regardless.
