“Xiaobu…” The first thing Su Cen did upon waking was to call out to Lan Xiaobu. Then she saw him standing by the bed in their room, looking out at a little bird foraging outside.
In that moment, Su Cen felt an odd illusion. Lan Xiaobu was clearly standing right in front of her, yet it seemed as though he was countless miles away, shrouded in a hazy feeling, as if he might ride the wind and vanish at any moment.
“You’re awake,” Lan Xiaobu turned and smiled. Su Cen immediately felt him return to her side, that sense of distance disappearing.
Su Cen quickly sat up, the silk quilt slipping down to reveal her smooth, alabaster skin. Realising this, her face flushed, and she hurriedly pulled the quilt back up.
Lan Xiaobu walked over to her side, reaching out to pull her close into his embrace.
“Xiaobu, when I woke up just now, it felt like you were so far away, even though you were right in front of me,” Su Cen said, still shaken.
Lan Xiaobu smoothed her hair gently and said softly, “That’s because I’ve become a Fourth-Turn Sage and have attained the Great Dao of Reincarnation. Just now, the charm of my Dao was flowing, which gave you that illusion. But soon, you won’t feel that anymore.”
At this moment, Lan Xiaobu’s heart was utterly calm. Attaining the Great Dao of Reincarnation brought him no surprise; to him, it was as if nothing had changed from yesterday. He was still the ordinary young master of the Lan family.
“What’s a Fourth-Turn Sage?” Su Cen asked, puzzled.
“It means I can live for a very, very long time…” Lan Xiaobu explained gently.
“Ah…” Su Cen gasped, then a flicker of worry appeared in her eyes. Xiaobu could live for ages, but she’d only live a hundred years at most…
“No need to worry. We’ll leave this place soon, and then you’ll be like me, proving your own path to sagehood, staying with me forever…” Lan Xiaobu saw her concern and reassured her.
Recalling how she’d successfully built her foundation in just over a month, Su Cen nodded, filled with confidence. She believed Xiaobu’s words—she’d surely become like him one day.
“You go out first. I’ll get dressed,” Su Cen said, her resolve settling as her face flushed again.
Lan Xiaobu was about to say something when his divine sense detected someone approaching. He smiled, patted Su Cen’s back, and said, “Alright, I’ll wait for you outside.”
He hadn’t even reached the living room when he heard Su Cen let out a startled cry. He smiled, unbothered—it was just Su Cen noticing the marks on her face had vanished.
As Lan Xiaobu stepped into the living room, before he could even sit down, Zai Qian, the king of Qiyuan Lordship Nation, burst in, drenched in sweat. The moment he saw Lan Xiaobu, he called out urgently, “Master Lan, the Dakong Empire’s hundred thousand troops are aboard the Heijia Warship and will soon reach the outskirts of Tianyuan City. I beg you to lend your aid and save the millions of innocent people of Qiyuan Nation. I, Zai Qian, am willing to relinquish my throne…”
With that, Zai Qian bowed deeply to the ground. At that moment, the guards trailing him had only just caught up to the entrance of the Lan family courtyard, waiting outside since they lacked his orders to enter.
Zai Qian was genuinely frantic. Though Zhong Qing had advised him not to seek out Lan Xiaobu for help—since many powerhouses disliked being disturbed—he couldn’t hold back. Without a firm answer, he felt like an ant on a hot pan, with nowhere to turn.
The Heijia Warship and the Dakong Empire’s hundred thousand troops—either one alone could annihilate Qiyuan Lordship Nation a hundred times over.
Naturally, he couldn’t send someone else to plead with Lan Xiaobu; he had to come himself.
“Your Majesty, at a time like this, the entire city is looking to you, so you must show courage. Here’s my advice: lead your army yourself and charge at the Heijia Warship. Opportunities are always reserved for those who strive, fear no death, and have courage. Go, the people of Qiyuan Nation are awaiting your good news. I believe you’ll be a fine king and guide Qiyuan Nation through this trial,” Lan Xiaobu said calmly.
“Ah…” Zai Qian was stunned. What kind of advice was this?
Him, a king, leading tens of thousands of troops against an empire’s army? Forget that the empire’s forces were battle-hardened veterans—five thousand of them could wipe out his tens of thousands several times over. With an immortal-level powerhouse on their side, he had no chance. A single immortal could slaughter the entire Qiyuan Lordship Nation.
Not to mention, he’d heard the Heijia Warship could fire cannon shells. One blast from a Heijia cannon could level Tianyuan City.
Seeing Zai Qian hesitate, Lan Xiaobu said, “If you don’t go now, the empire’s army will breach Tianyuan City soon. By then, even regret won’t help you as king.”
“Alright, I’ll go now,” Zai Qian gritted his teeth, turned, and galloped off on horseback.
He knew that if Lan Xiaobu wouldn’t help, death was certain either way. If he was doomed regardless, he might as well die with some grandeur.
“Big Brother Xiaobu, Qiyuan Nation’s army probably can’t withstand a single cannon from the Heijia Warship…” Lan Hui approached, his voice full of worry. He couldn’t ask Lan Xiaobu to throw his life away.
Though he knew Lan Xiaobu was strong—and his own strength wasn’t bad—the Dakong Empire had a hundred thousand troops and the Heijia Warship. No matter how strong Lan Xiaobu was, could he outmatch an immortal? Rumour had it Emperor Tie Qi of Dakong had an immortal powerhouse by his side.
Lan Xiaobu patted Lan Hui’s shoulder, took out a ring, and handed it to him, saying, “This is for you.”
“What’s this?” Lan Hui asked, looking at the ring curiously.
Lan Xiaobu smiled faintly. “It’s a spatial ring. Only your thoughts can access what’s inside. It contains countless divine techniques, pills, spirit stones, immortal crystals, and even some divine crystals. With your talent, as long as you don’t fall midway, you can absolutely use these resources to cultivate to the Divine Realm.”
“Ah…” Lan Hui didn’t fully grasp Lan Xiaobu’s words, as much of it was beyond him. But when his mind sensed the vast space within the ring, he cried out in shock.
“This ring is a spatial…” Lan Hui asked, astonished.
Lan Xiaobu nodded. “Yes, a spatial ring. You can store anything that belongs to you inside it. You can also use the spirit stones and immortal crystals in there to cultivate. Until your cultivation reaches a certain level, it’s best not to leave Tianyuan City or the Lan family courtyard. I’ve set up a defensive array here—even an immortal wouldn’t break through it easily. As for anything you don’t understand about cultivation, I’ll give you a few jade slips later.”
Lan Hui felt dizzy, still unsure of what was happening. All he knew was that Lan Xiaobu had given him a spatial ring filled with legendary items, and by using them, he could rapidly improve his cultivation.
…
“Senior Lan didn’t come?” Though Zhong Qing had told Zai Qian not to seek Lan Xiaobu’s help, when Zai Qian went anyway, Zhong Qing still hoped he’d bring Lan Xiaobu back.
Zai Qian said dejectedly, “No, he just told me to lead the troops to attack the Heijia Warship, saying opportunities are for the courageous.”
Silence fell over the city wall, the atmosphere growing oppressively heavy. No matter how great one’s courage, it was meaningless against overwhelming strength.
A rumbling sound approached, and everyone watched in shock as a massive black warship descended from the void, crashing onto the open ground outside Tianyuan City, kicking up a storm of dust.
Teams of brightly armoured soldiers emerged from the Heijia Warship. In moments, an oppressive military formation took shape outside Tianyuan City.
Even from miles away, the killing intent was so intense that the soldiers on Tianyuan’s walls struggled to breathe.
In that moment, not only did King Zai Qian of Qiyuan turn pale, but even Zhong Qing, the sole Core Formation expert, whitened. Some soldiers couldn’t even think of fighting—their hands and feet trembled, unable to grip their weapons.
Yet this wasn’t the worst of it. What truly plunged everyone into despair was the sight of ten massive cannons rising from the front of the Heijia Warship, lined up like the jaws of death.
A suffocating silence hung in the air. Zai Qian, who had mustered the courage to fight to the death, now felt his hands and feet grow cold, his earlier resolve nearly gone.
The hundred thousand troops stood outside Tianyuan City, motionless, draining the city of its will to resist.
This silence didn’t last long. A slightly aged voice roared, “I’d rather die fighting than be slaughtered like a dog. Those unafraid of death, charge out with me, Wu Li!”
The shout jolted many trembling soldiers. Seeing it was Wu Li, the First Minister, speaking, some found a spark of courage. If even the First Minister wasn’t afraid to charge out, why should they fear death?
Zhong Qing took a deep breath. “Minister Wu is right. We have no retreat now—charging forward is our only path. Rather than be butchered like dogs, it’s better to die gloriously. Minister Wu, I’ll rush out with you.”
Gai Xing laughed heartily. “I, Gai Xing, may fear death, but I’m no coward. Nor are the soldiers of Qiyuan Lordship Nation cowards. All troops, charge out with me! Kill one to break even, kill two to profit!”
Zai Qian finally snapped out of his earlier shock and fear. He realised that without a powerhouse’s help, death was inevitable. Since death was certain, why die pathetically?
“Charge out! As the king of Qiyuan Lordship Nation, I’ve failed to protect you all, but I’m willing to be the first to die for Qiyuan!” With that, Zai Qian mounted his horse and prepared to rush out, ignoring formations or strategies.
The gate guards, seeing this, quickly opened the city gates.
Gai Xing, who had intended to stop the king and organise a proper charge, hesitated before abandoning the idea. Against the Dakong Empire’s hundred thousand troops and the Heijia Warship, no matter how fancy his formation, the outcome would be the same. Better to charge out together in a blaze of glory.
