The Eternal Night Temple was renowned in this planar domain, yet few were truly qualified to sit within its sacred halls. Even fewer were those personally welcomed by the Eternal Night Saint to take a seat here.
At this moment, two figures occupied the Eternal Night Temple. Besides the tall, lean Eternal Night Saint, there was a man with entirely red hair—the guest the Eternal Night Saint was hosting today.
“Brother Jiao, I’ve long wanted to visit and sit with you, but I’ve been tied up in secluded cultivation, comprehending a divine ability. Only today could I finally make it. Thinking back to when we roamed the Three Realms together, nearly a million years have passed in the blink of an eye,” the red-haired man said with a hearty laugh, taking a sip of divine spirit tea, his tone cheerful and open.
The Eternal Night Saint’s name was Miao Zhuo, but in this planar domain, those who could call him “Brother Miao” could be counted on one hand. The red-haired man before him was one such person, for his origins were even grander than the Eternal Night Saint’s. He was the Blood River Saint, also known as the Blood River Ancestor.
Mention the Blood River Saint, and many might not know him well. But speak of the Yellow Spring Ancestor, and everyone would recognise the name—the master of the Yellow Spring Holy Path. The Blood River Ancestor was his junior brother. Yet these two were like fire and water, utterly incompatible.
“Indeed, alas, time flies like an arrow… Hm?”
Before he could finish his wistful remark, the Eternal Night Saint’s expression shifted, and he let out a puzzled hum.
The Blood River Saint asked, confused, “Brother Miao, is something wrong?”
The Eternal Night Saint chuckled, “I didn’t expect someone to take advantage of my welcoming you today, Blood River, to tear through the restrictions of my Eternal Night Sand Prison and try to escape Eternal Night Abyss. Are they mocking me, Miao Zhuo, as too old, or do they think themselves an Eternal Life powerhouse?”
Though his tone was calm, the killing intent in his words poured out unrestrained. How many years had it been since someone dared cause trouble in his Eternal Night Star?
“Someone broke the Eternal Night Sand Prison?” The Blood River Saint was stunned. He’d never seen the prison himself, but its reputation thundered across this planar domain. Countless powerhouses had perished within it, their vital energy nourishing the entire Eternal Night Star.
“San Jin, go check it out,” the Eternal Night Saint said casually.
“Yes, Master,” a voice replied, though its source remained unseen.
“No need to look—I’m already here.”
As the words fell, Lan Xiaobu stepped into the hall with four other cultivators in tow.
Even the ever-composed Eternal Night Saint sprang to his feet. This was his domain, covered in his restrictions, yet he only sensed Lan Xiaobu’s presence after he’d entered the Eternal Night Temple. Were all the protective arrays and restrictions he’d set up fake?
Recalling the breach of the Eternal Night Sand Prison, he realised the man before him was likely a top-tier array master.
“Qingmu Saint? So it was you who broke the Eternal Night Sand Prison,” the Blood River Ancestor said, recognising Jiao Qingxu. In his mind, though several had entered, only Jiao Qingxu could have torn through the prison. What puzzled him was why Jiao Qingxu, having escaped, didn’t flee but instead came here to court death.
Jiao Qingxu said coolly, “I, Jiao Qingxu, don’t have that kind of ability. My enemy destroyed my planet, and I could only wait to die in their prison. Fortunately, my fate wasn’t sealed—I met Friend Lan. It was Friend Lan who saved me. From now on, my life belongs to him.”
Friend Lan? The Blood River Saint’s gaze swept over the group. He dismissed Lan Xiaobu at first glance—a mere First-Turn Saint, someone he could crush with a finger. But the others, even without severe injuries, topped out at Sixth-Turn Saint. How could they break the prison?
The Eternal Night Saint, however, fixed his eyes on Lan Xiaobu. He was certain Jiao Qingxu couldn’t have done it. If he could, he wouldn’t have waited until now. Everyone here except Lan Xiaobu was a prisoner of the sand prison. Locked by his Eternal Night Sand Prison, no one should’ve escaped.
Yet this man had not only breached the prison but strolled into his Eternal Night Temple with ease.
Two shadows darted out from either side, lunging at Lan Xiaobu. But before they reached him, the Eternal Night Saint waved them off, “Stand down.”
As the shadows retreated, he looked at Lan Xiaobu, “Was it you who tore through my Eternal Night Sand Prison?”
Without a hint of hesitation, Lan Xiaobu walked to a chair and sat down, “Yes, it was indeed me who ripped apart your shoddy prison.”
Seeing him sit, Jiao Qingxu and the others followed suit.
The Blood River Saint stared at Lan Xiaobu in shock, then smirked with disdain. If this guy thought breaching the prison gave him the right to act arrogant before the Eternal Night Saint, he probably didn’t even know how he’d die. The Eternal Night Saint’s terror was something others might not grasp, but he, Blood River, knew all too well.
Where did this reckless fool come from?
Reckless fool? Suddenly, the Blood River Saint recalled something, and his expression shifted. On his way to Eternal Night Abyss, he’d heard a rumour: the Beast Soul Path had been wiped out. The one who destroyed it was a young man, supposedly named Lan Xiaobu.
If it were just the Beast Soul Path, that wouldn’t be too alarming. But this Lan Xiaobu had eradicated it while nearly seventy percent of the combined forces of the Holy Wasteland, Yellow Spring Holy Path, Heavenly Desert Temple, and Beast Soul Path were gathered.
What kind of strength was that? Though the Blood River Saint was proud, he wouldn’t dare claim he could take down the Beast Soul Path amidst four stellar sects.
“Very well, let me, Miao Zhuo, see what you’re capable of,” the Eternal Night Saint said, then turned to the Blood River Saint, “Brother Blood River, keep an eye out. Don’t let this ant slip away.”
Though he didn’t take Lan Xiaobu seriously, he had no doubt Lan Xiaobu could escape. If he were simple, he couldn’t have breached the prison and waltzed into the temple.
The Blood River Saint stood, first addressing the Eternal Night Saint, “Brother Miao, I think we should first ask what’s going on before acting.”
Then he clasped his fists to Lan Xiaobu, “If I’m not mistaken, you’re Lan Xiaobu, right? Brother Miao has stayed in Eternal Night Abyss and never left Eternal Night Star. How could he have offended you to make you storm the Eternal Night Temple?”
The Blood River Saint hadn’t answered him but instead suggested waiting and clarifying matters, even speaking in a tone that seemed to defend him. What was going on? The Eternal Night Saint’s heart jolted. He didn’t think Blood River was playing games. He knew Blood River’s ruthless cunning well. Why would he be so polite to a mere First-Turn youth?
Wait—First-Turn? As the Eternal Night Saint scrutinised Lan Xiaobu, he sensed he might be First-Turn, then Ninth-Turn, then perhaps even Eternal Life. Suppressing his urge to test Lan Xiaobu’s strength, he sent out a message.
Sure enough, right after, he received a transmission from the Blood River Saint, “Brother Miao, don’t act yet. We must clarify this, or the consequences could be dire.”
Lan Xiaobu had been ready to strike, but the Blood River Saint’s mediation caught him off guard. He said calmly, “My friend was captured and held in your Eternal Night Sand Prison. I went through hell to find this place and rescue him. You tell me how you’ve offended me.”
The Eternal Night Saint froze, then realised it must be the Samsara Saint. He hadn’t personally captured him, so seeing him earlier hadn’t jogged his memory. The Samsara Saint was taken for the Seven Realms Stone—a matter he’d recently forgotten. If Lan Xiaobu hadn’t come, it might’ve slipped his mind for a long while.
“Ah…” The Blood River Saint hadn’t expected the Eternal Night Saint to have captured Lan Xiaobu’s friend. He recalled the news he’d heard: the Beast Soul Path had taken Lan Xiaobu’s beast companion, and then it was gone. Now the Eternal Night Saint had grabbed his friend—how could this end well?
A friend of the Samsara Saint? It clicked for the Eternal Night Saint. He’d captured the Samsara Saint to lure out whoever backed him. Now, his plan had worked.
“Brother Blood River, this man holds the secret of the Seven Realms Stone. You came here for it too, didn’t you?” the Eternal Night Saint transmitted to the Blood River Saint. No matter Lan Xiaobu’s origins, he had to keep him here.
“Yes, I did capture your friend because he stole the Seven Realms Stone from my Eternal Night Abyss,” the Eternal Night Saint stood abruptly, his tone laced with killing intent. His divine sense locked onto his protective array—this time, he wouldn’t let Lan Xiaobu tear through it and escape under his nose.
The Blood River Saint couldn’t stop him even if he wanted to. With a sigh, he decided to watch. If Lan Xiaobu was truly that fearsome, he wouldn’t act. But if they could take him down, he wouldn’t mind assisting—for he had indeed come for the Seven Realms Stone.
Just then, the Eternal Night Saint’s communication bead lit up. His divine sense scanned it, revealing a message: “The intruder is Lan Xiaobu, likely a powerhouse from an outer plane. Half a month ago, he eradicated the stellar sect Beast Soul Path, wiping it out completely, including five Ninth-Turn Saints like Yi Xie, none of whom escaped. He first went to the Beast Soul Path’s planet, destroyed it, and killed all its powerhouses. Later, discovering more of their forces were allied with the Holy Wasteland, Yellow Spring Holy Path, and Heavenly Desert Temple to seize the Time Tree from Li Star Palace, he went to Li Zhou Star and, under the eyes of those sects’ powerhouses, exterminated the Beast Soul Path. The Holy Wasteland, Heavenly Desert Temple, and Yellow Spring Holy Path didn’t dare intervene.”
The Eternal Night Saint sucked in a cold breath, a chill creeping up his spine. His strength might surpass Yi Xie’s, but he couldn’t stop Yi Xie from fleeing. If Yi Xie wanted to escape, no one could hold him. Yet Lan Xiaobu had killed him—how terrifying was that?
