Lan Xiaobu, seated on the couch, opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
From the moment he stepped onto the Reincarnation Bridge, the vast and boundless charm of the Reincarnation Dao’s principles had flooded his senses. For over twenty years, he’d been immersed in comprehending the Reincarnation Dao. As time passed, it grew ever clearer to him.
Many times, he’d wanted to snap out of it and search for Su Cen. But each time the thought crossed his mind, he felt cracks forming in his Longevity Art. Worse, his Reincarnation Dao would carry a massive flaw.
Lan Xiaobu knew well that if he forced himself awake and interrupted his grasp of the Reincarnation Dao, his path might truly stall at Fourth-Turn Saint.
His actions had offended countless powerhouses and left many hidden threats. He’d made it this far because his strength kept surging rapidly. If that growth stopped, it’d be a fatal blow—not just to him, but to the entire Great Desolate Divine Realm. The realm might even be destroyed or refined by someone else.
Fortunately, Su Cen had reincarnated and was in this very world. Once he fully grasped the Reincarnation Dao, he could find her just the same.
To Lan Xiaobu, not only was the Reincarnation Dao crystal clear, but the Six Paths Reincarnation Realm had taken on a vague outline. He knew this was his weakest state, just before stepping into Fourth-Turn Saint. Right now, his cultivation was still within this reincarnated life. Once he fully proved the Reincarnation Dao, he’d ascend to Fourth-Turn Saint and easily tear through this world’s boundaries to leave.
By then, his Six Paths Reincarnation Realm would outshine the Reincarnation Saint’s by leaps and bounds. The Reincarnation Saint had built his own Six Paths, but Lan Xiaobu had seen that passage—blurry and short-lived.
Though his strength was feeble now, Lan Xiaobu wasn’t worried. This world’s rules were weak too, meaning its people couldn’t be that strong.
Feeling the vivid Reincarnation Dao and the forming Six Paths Reincarnation Realm, Lan Xiaobu stood, inwardly grateful he’d chosen this reincarnated life. His original goal was to find Su Cen and ensure her reincarnation. But living it, he realized that without this choice to prove the Reincarnation Dao and reach Fourth-Turn, he’d never have grasped it so deeply or built such a complete Six Paths Realm.
Without that clarity and completeness, he might outmatch ordinary Ninth-Turn Saints in the future, but against true top-tier powerhouses, he’d fall far short.
Forget others—even Wuliang would outclass him.
“Thank you, Su Cen,” Lan Xiaobu murmured. Without her, he wouldn’t have chosen reincarnation.
And without it, how could he prove the supreme Reincarnation Dao?
“Big Brother Xiaobu, you…” Lan Pei stood at the door with a food tray, staring in shock.
Since Uncle brought Lan Xiaobu back, he’d been in a dazed state, needing a maid to tend to everything. Without help, he’d never risen from the bed. Yet today, Lan Pei walked in to see him standing—jaw-dropping.
“Who are you?” Lan Xiaobu looked at the young man, puzzled. His vague memory told him a maid had always brought his meals and cared for him. Though he didn’t know her name, he’d learned that letting daily life flow without resistance sped up his Dao comprehension.
“Big Brother Xiaobu, you’re really better? I’m Lan Pei, your cousin!” Lan Pei set the tray aside, voice trembling with excitement.
“Thanks,” Lan Xiaobu said, glancing at the tray, feeling something was off.
Lan Pei grew even happier, about to speak when Lan Xiaobu raised a hand to stop him. He touched his neck, then said, “Cousin Lan Pei, my neck… no, my hand—it should have something, right?”
He’d figured out what was missing: the Blue Wing Star. He’d worn it crossing the Reincarnation Bridge, but it was gone.
“Yes, when Uncle brought you back, you had a gem with two names carved on it—one was Lan Xiaobu. Since Uncle had no kids, he raised you as his own and named you that…” Lan Pei trailed off, eyes widening. “Big Brother Xiaobu, how do you know this?”
Lan Xiaobu was a foundling—how old could he have been? Plus, he’d been muddled for years, never lucid. How could he know about the gem?
“Don’t worry how I know. Just tell me who took it,” Lan Xiaobu said.
Lan Pei quickly answered, “Uncle Feigu took it. After Uncle passed, he said the gem was too precious to leave with you, so he kept it.”
“Where is he?” Lan Xiaobu asked immediately.
“At the Lan Clan ancestral hall, holding a family meeting to split the Lan estate. Uncle left it all to you, but after he passed, they…” Lan Pei began.
Before he could finish, Lan Xiaobu stepped out.
…
“That’s it for today’s discussion. One last reminder: even if the Lan estate splits, don’t let the shops and properties you get go to waste. Otherwise, we’d shame Big Brother,” a gray-robed elder concluded, standing in the ancestral hall.
“Hold it…” Lan Xiaobu heard this as he approached, but before he could push the door open, a man blocked him.
Lan Xiaobu kicked him aside. Though Lan Pei hadn’t spelled it out, his experience filled in the blanks.
After his adoptive father Lan Feiyu died, the Lan Clan planned to kick him—the heir—out and divvy up his inheritance.
“Who are you? Why barge into our Lan Clan hall?” Lan Feihu stood, barking sternly.
They all knew Lan Xiaobu was the true heir, but few recognized him. A bedridden fool tended by a maid wasn’t worth their time—just a glance, if that.
Lan Xiaobu had no cultivation now, still in the midst of proving his Dao, but these ordinary Lans—or even a strong cultivator—were no match for a kick from him.
“Third Uncle, this is Big Brother Xiaobu—he’s better!” Lan Pei rushed in, explaining.
Lan Xiaobu, better? The room froze in shock.
Twenty-plus years of haze, and he just snaps out of it? Impossible! Even if true, how could someone bedridden that long leap up so lively?
Lan Xiaobu ignored their stares, scanning the room. “Who’s Lan Feigu?” he asked flatly.
Lan Feigu shot up. “That’s me. What, you recover and forget your Seventh Uncle?”
*Slap!* No one saw how Lan Xiaobu reached him—just a blur as he sent Lan Feigu flying with a slap.
“Trash like you dares pose as my uncle again, I’ll crush you underfoot,” Lan Xiaobu said, grabbing and tearing Lan Feigu’s outer robe. He snatched a pouch from his waist, pulled out an exquisite gem pendant.
Several Lans about to protest shut up when they saw it was the gem pendant. Everyone knew it was Lan Xiaobu’s—it came with him when he was found.
They could split Lan Feiyu’s stuff, but not this. Lan Feigu took it; now Lan Xiaobu took it back—who’d argue?
Lan Xiaobu pocketed the Blue Wing Star carefully, then addressed the room. “The Lan estate was left to me, Lan Xiaobu—everyone knows that. I was out of it for over twenty years, but I was aware. Now I’m back. Anyone who wants my property, step up.”
The Lan Clan wasn’t a martial family—just a regular merchant one. While Lan Xiaobu was muddled, they could rob him. Now, awake and assertive, taking his stuff got tricky.
Lan Feiyu leaving everything to him was common knowledge in Qiyuan City. Legally or otherwise, if Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t give it up, they had no shot. A lawsuit to the city lord? He’d win.
After a long silence, Lan Feiqian, at the head, spoke up. “Xiaobu, we’re thrilled you’re better. But when Brother Feiyu was alive, the business wasn’t just him—we Lans all pitched in to get where we are…”
Lan Xiaobu cut him off with a wave, strode to the main seat, and sat. “Lan Pei, pick out some properties—the best ones. I’ll split the rest.”
He didn’t care about the Lan estate. He’d have Lan Pei choose some for himself—once this was done, he’d find Su Cen.
He didn’t give it all to Lan Pei knowing it’d spark outrage.
