Lan Xiaobu quickly realised this approach might not work. He needed to locate the core of the trapping-killing array first. But how could an outsider easily find the heart of such an array?
If he could transform the Rule-Rending Wheel technique into a Void Rule-Rending Array Pattern, could he disable the trapping-killing array?
No matter how formidable an array—be it trapping, slaughtering, or defensive—it relied on array flags. What were array flags? They were constructs of rules, forged through spatial, temporal, and cosmic principles. Once crafted, they were arranged according to a specific order of rules.
His Rule-Rending Wheel Pattern used ruleless wheel traces to expose and shatter all rules, turning them into broken or useless fragments—sometimes even into no-rules entirely…
The more he thought, the more feasible it seemed. He began using the Rule-Rending Wheel technique to craft ruleless array flags.
A month later, he stopped. He couldn’t create these void ruleless flags—not because the idea was flawed, but because his strength fell short. Perhaps as an Eternal Sage he could manage it, but for now, he needed a medium to craft them.
That medium would be forged array flags, which inherently carried rules—a paradox.
Sighing, he prepared to leave and reassess. Turning, he spotted a massive dao cocoon—the one he’d just split open, formed while enlightening the No-Rules Dao.
Grabbing it, excitement surged. This cocoon was a ruleless treasure—or rather, it existed. Outside his Longevity Dao’s principles, it was ruleless; within them, it had rules.
If he used it to craft ruleless array flags…
The possibility grew. His divine sense probed the cocoon. Such a rare item couldn’t all be used for flags—some must be saved for future needs.
A faint flame, nearly undetectable by divine sense, brushed his awareness. The Primordial Eternal Flame?
Without hesitation, he tore the cocoon and seized the flame. Holding it, he felt its terrifying power. It wasn’t the Primordial Eternal Flame exactly, yet it carried its essence. Unrefined, it still belonged to him.
In a flash, he understood. This was the remnant fire spirit of his self-detonated Primordial Eternal Flame, reborn in the chaotic, ruleless cocoon alongside his No-Rules Dao—a flame infused with his ruleless principles.
Perhaps it could be called Dao Fire.
With a wave, he drew in chaotic aura. The Dao Fire eagerly absorbed it, its grade soaring. Soon, its color faded almost to invisibility, but its searing heat dwarfed the old Primordial Eternal Flame by several times.
With a thought, he sent it into his sea of consciousness.
Overjoyed, he realised the Primordial Eternal Flame had fully transcended into a ruleless Dao Fire. Someday, it might become formless entirely, capable of burning anything.
Gain and loss—hard to weigh indeed.
Tearing off a quarter of the cocoon, he summoned the Dao Fire and forged 108 cocoon array flags in short order.
Spreading his hand, the flags formed a defensive array around him. Though untested, he knew his array mastery had surpassed Level Nine Divine Arrays into a new realm—not from deeper comprehension, but from grasping No-Rules.
Glancing at Taixu Hall Square, he mused that even standing there now, no one could touch him. Strength brought confidence.
Calming his racing heart, he stepped to the edge of the chaotic, ruleless zone. With a surge of no-rules charm, he gathered endless chaotic aura, funneling it into his Longevity Realm. This pristine chaos, purer than what he’d collected before, was invaluable. Whether he’d return here or not, hoarding it was wise.
He gathered until even he tired of it, then stepped out of the chaos as easily as breathing—unlike his near-fatal entry.
His divine sense was about to extend when he spotted the Cosmic Dimension Model hovering nearby, outside the chaos.
Grabbing it, he realised it had been waiting. A universe-opening treasure, it chose its master. Had he perished, it would’ve vanished into the void. Since he lived, it lingered, sensing it couldn’t re-enter the chaos without being trapped.
Inside the chaos, he’d been blind to its presence—otherwise, he’d have known sooner.
“Don’t worry. I don’t know how you escaped the chaos, but I’ll never abandon or give you away,” he said, feeling its joy.
As his cultivation and dao grew, the Cosmic Dimension Model’s utility had waned—especially after he’d stripped its added principles from his Longevity Technique. His promise mattered to it.
Carefully storing it in his sea of consciousness, he sighed. Near the chaos’s edge, scattered bones hinted at strong cultivators who’d ventured here. Lacking an Emperor Rest Tree, they’d stalled at the periphery.
Good thing not just anyone could reach this place—otherwise, someone might’ve taken his Cosmic Dimension Model.
With a flicker of teleportation, he left the ruleless zone in half an incense stick’s time.
Emerging, he sent a message to Tai Chuan.
“Fellow Daoist, you…” A middle-aged cultivator gaped at him, stunned. Someone exiting the ruleless chaos? He’d seen it himself.
Then, recognising Lan Xiaobu’s face, shock deepened. Wasn’t this the man wanted at Taixu Tomb Square?
Catching the man’s expression, Lan Xiaobu landed before him. “Have you seen my portrait?”
“No, no, never…” The cultivator waved frantically.
Lan Xiaobu smiled faintly, “If you don’t talk, I’ll act. I killed Jiang Sen—I can kill you too.”
Panicking, the man blurted, “Yes, I saw your portrait at Taixu Tomb Square. Taixu Hall’s hunting you.”
Nodding, Lan Xiaobu waved him off. “Go.”
“Yes!” The cultivator fled, teleporting despite spatial distortions.
Lan Xiaobu didn’t care. Being wanted by Taixu Hall was expected—not being hunted would be odd.
Waiting a while, he got no reply from Tai Chuan, stirring unease. A Level Nine divine beast, Tai Chuan should evade most threats here. Plus, he’d given it a teleport talisman—unused, he was sure.
After a day with no response, dread grew. Whatever happened, he’d search first.
Pushing his teleportation to the limit, his grasp of No-Rules let him sense every subtle spatial shift. Despite his speed, he avoided injury.
A journey that once took decades, he retraced in half a year.
