Lan Xiaobu suddenly recalled at this moment that this guy had cultivated the Heavenly Astral Transformation and had even achieved the rank of a fourth-turn sage by proving his dao with it.
Since Lan Xiaobu possessed the original scroll of the Heavenly Astral Transformation, he could tell that the other had used it to attain his dao.
Having achieved sagehood through the Heavenly Astral Transformation, Lan Xiaobu didn’t need to guess much to figure out the man’s identity—nine times out of ten, he was the Heavenly Astral Sage. The Heavenly Astral Sage’s Heavenly Astral Array Plate was still in his possession, though it was currently being held by Qin Xuxi on his behalf.
After the fierce-looking middle-aged man finished speaking, he took a step and landed on Lan Xiaobu’s Reincarnation Pot. As he did, the scholarly man beside him also stepped onto the Reincarnation Pot.
Daring to land directly on someone else’s flying treasure showed just how little these two thought of Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu said calmly, “You two really have guts. I wouldn’t dare casually step onto someone else’s flying treasure.”
Hearing Lan Xiaobu’s words, the fierce middle-aged man and the scholar exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. It was the funniest joke they’d ever heard—two sages above the third turn being called bold for daring to board someone else’s flying treasure.
The scholar, suppressing his amusement, said, “So, you’re saying you’re some kind of expert? We’ve stepped onto the flying treasure of a great master? I wonder what your cultivation level is right now. Oh, by the way, I should tell you—this is the Demi-God Realm. Do you know what that means? It means that the highest cultivation here doesn’t exceed demi-god level. Of course, we’re exceptions.”
They were indeed exceptions, having hidden here to escape pursuit.
“Demi-God Realm?” Lan Xiaobu genuinely hadn’t heard of such a place.
“He’s already at the half-step True God Realm,” the fierce-looking middle-aged man said nonchalantly.
In their perception, Lan Xiaobu’s cultivation matched the highest rules of this realm. And that was true—if this were an immortal realm, Lan Xiaobu’s current cultivation would be at the peak of Immortal Emperor. If it were a divine realm, he’d be at the sage level. Since this was the Demi-God Realm, in their eyes, he was at the demi-god level.
Lan Xiaobu chuckled, “You’ve got it wrong. Over half a year ago, I was at the Spirit Refinement Realm. Now, I’m not at the level you’re suggesting—I’m just a tiny bit stronger than the two of you.”
Lan Xiaobu spoke the truth, but neither the scholar nor the fierce middle-aged man took it seriously. Stronger than them by a little? This ant probably didn’t even know what a sage who’d proven their dao was.
However, Lan Xiaobu’s next words made them retreat over a dozen steps to the edge of the Reincarnation Pot. “If I’m not mistaken, you with the menacing face must be the Heavenly Astral Sage, right? As for you, looking like some impoverished scholar, I’ve never heard of you.”
“Who are you? How do you know my identity?” The Heavenly Astral Sage’s eyes flashed with wariness, but he quickly realised he couldn’t leave the Reincarnation Pot. The restrictions on it were impenetrable to him, and there seemed to be void array patterns locking it down—definitely not a simple ninth-level divine array.
The scholar’s earlier composure vanished as he stared at Lan Xiaobu in shock. For Lan Xiaobu to call out the Heavenly Astral Sage by name, let them board, and remain so calm, it meant he wasn’t afraid of the Heavenly Astral Sage at all.
“My name’s Lan Xiaobu. Back in the day, I even taught you a few divine abilities…”
Before Lan Xiaobu could finish, the Heavenly Astral Sage pieced it together. This young man must be the one who took his Heavenly Astral Array Plate years ago. If that were true, shouldn’t Lan Xiaobu’s strength be low?
Realising Lan Xiaobu might be weak, the Heavenly Astral Sage was tempted to act immediately, but he hesitated. This wasn’t his turf—it was Lan Xiaobu’s. They’d assumed Lan Xiaobu was just a lucky weakling and stepped aboard without a care, but now it seemed he wasn’t the ant they’d imagined.
Suddenly, the scholar stepped forward, raising his hand to unleash a vast, boundless aura of the dao toward Lan Xiaobu. Instantly, Lan Xiaobu felt a premonition—if he retaliated, there’d be significant karmic consequences.
But under the crushing pressure of his Fortune Dao Tree, that feeling vanished in an instant. Standing still without even moving, Lan Xiaobu threw a single punch.
Space shifted, and an autumn breeze brushed past. It seemed like a gentle gust, yet the scholar’s domain shattered instantly. The scholar spat out a blood arrow, sent flying by Lan Xiaobu’s punch, crashing into the Reincarnation Pot’s restrictions and collapsing to the ground.
Seeing Zhen Ti make a move, the Heavenly Astral Sage immediately understood—this was a test of Lan Xiaobu’s strength, to see if he was truly powerful. If Lan Xiaobu turned out to be a weakling and they’d been intimidated by him, it’d be a disgrace.
But witnessing Lan Xiaobu, without even moving, send Zhen Ti flying with one punch, the Heavenly Astral Sage’s heart sank. He was certain Lan Xiaobu hadn’t relied on the Reincarnation Pot’s restrictions—just his own power had been enough to overpower Zhen Ti.
This young man’s strength far exceeded the combined might of him and Zhen Ti. The Heavenly Astral Sage lamented inwardly—he’d hidden in this backwater to avoid trouble, yet still encountered such a powerhouse. Was his fate, Xu Ge’s, truly this cursed?
Spitting out a blood arrow, Zhen Ti said to the Heavenly Astral Sage, “Brother Xu, I’m no match for him. He’s probably above the seventh turn…”
With the rapid perfection of the universe’s rules lately, opportunities abounded, allowing many old-timers to regain their strength. Not only that, some younger prodigies had even surpassed their predecessors.
With Lan Xiaobu’s level of power, the Heavenly Astral Sage and Zhen Ti suspected he was an ancient powerhouse reincarnated—not some up-and-coming talent.
“Fellow Daoist, I am indeed the Heavenly Astral Sage, Xu Ge. Earlier, Zhen Ti and I spoke disrespectfully. I ask that you overlook it, seeing as there’s no major enmity between us, and let us go.” The Heavenly Astral Sage quickly adjusted his attitude.
He’d been beaten down too many times. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have teamed up with Zhen Ti and hidden in this godforsaken place for years. They’d waited until the vast universe began repairing itself and the rules clarified, finally restoring their great dao and achieving fourth-turn sagehood before emerging. Yet, right after coming out, they’d run into someone they couldn’t afford to provoke.
“What, not asking for the Heavenly Astral Array Plate anymore?” Lan Xiaobu looked at the Heavenly Astral Sage with a faint smile.
Forget the array plate—even if it were the Reincarnation Pot itself, the Heavenly Astral Sage wouldn’t dare demand it.
He quickly replied, “How could I dare? If you hadn’t taught me over a dozen Heavenly Astral Transformation divine abilities, I wouldn’t have reached the fourth turn. You’ve been a teacher to me in the dao. To ask for the Heavenly Astral Array Plate would be absurd. Besides, it’s an ancient treasure I didn’t even refine—I just happened to possess it first.”
Lan Xiaobu ignored the Heavenly Astral Sage. He knew this type well—submissive when weaker, but the moment they gained the upper hand, they’d kill him and take the array plate without hesitation.
He’d seen plenty of such people. Whether it was the Heavenly Astral Sage or the Reincarnation Sage, they were cut from the same cloth. You couldn’t kill them all off—just staying stronger than them was enough.
Lan Xiaobu turned to Zhen Ti. This scholar-dressed fellow’s divine ability, though ineffective against him, carried an extraordinary charm of the dao.
“Fellow Daoist Lan, ask whatever you wish. I, Zhen Ti, promise to answer fully,” Zhen Ti said earnestly.
“Are you cultivating a karmic dao technique? The charm of your divine ability carries the power of karma, doesn’t it?” Lan Xiaobu asked, deeply interested in this karmic dao. He planned to prove his fifth-turn sagehood through karma. Only by mastering the karmic dao could he transcend it. Otherwise, facing a Karma Sage in the future would spell trouble.
Zhen Ti replied respectfully, “While my cultivation technique is related to karmic divine abilities, it’s not true karmic divine power—it’s the Lesser Karma Dao Scroll.”
“Do you know who holds the true Karma Dao Scroll?” Lan Xiaobu pressed immediately.
“I do. If you’re willing, I can take you there,” Zhen Ti said quickly. He didn’t want to, of course—it’d waste time and be dangerous. But right now, if he didn’t give Lan Xiaobu a reason to keep him useful, Lan Xiaobu might just kill him.
“Good, I’m very interested. Lead the way,” Lan Xiaobu said without hesitation.
“Fellow Daoist Lan, with the vast rules perfecting, the contest for the Eternal Sage title is likely approaching fast. Zhen Ti and I hid in this corner partly to improve our strength and partly to avoid calamity. But some troubles can’t be dodged. With your astonishing dao techniques, why not establish a realm and vie for the Eternal Sage title?” Seeing Zhen Ti secure a chance to live, the Heavenly Astral Sage quickly added his piece.
As long as Lan Xiaobu found him useful, he’d survive.
It was also his honest opinion. His strength far exceeded that of ordinary sages, but in the grand scheme of major battles, it wasn’t enough. Lan Xiaobu seemed like a mighty figure—if he could follow such a powerhouse, he might carve out a new world.
