After the myth

Chapter 1096 The Fifth Person
Lan Xiaobu remained silent, because what Ye Xuan said was exactly what he had been thinking.

I never imagined that this could actually be the case.

The Ten Directions Universe is not someone else's Great Dao Universe World, but it may be someone else's cricket cage, and they are the crickets fighting among themselves.

Now they've broken out of someone else's cricket cage and are standing on someone else's territory.

Therefore, he agreed with Ye Xuan's words. There must be something wrong with the experts here, otherwise they would never tolerate their crickets coming to their territory.

"Xiao Bu, were these the people who caused the great calamity of the Ten Directions Universe?" Mo Wuji asked.

Lan Xiaobu snorted, "That's probably true. The Ten Directions Universe is just their cricket cage. They think they can lift the cage however they want, since they're raising crickets inside."

Therefore, the eons of life and death in the ten directions of the universe may simply be a form of entertainment for them.

Ye Xuan said solemnly, "The fact that no one has done anything to us since we are here means that something really has happened to them."

"Is it possible that the Zuobudu from before is the same place?" Ding Huan asked.

Ye Xuan nodded: "It's very likely. That guy is so powerful, yet his Dao foundation was damaged. What kind of being could damage his Dao foundation?"
At least I can't do it. Unless the three of you cultivate to the pinnacle of the Great Dao in the Ten Directions Universe, you can't damage Zuo Budu's Great Dao.

However, the prerequisite is that you can cultivate to the ninth step of perfection in the Ten Directions Universe, which is probably unlikely.

At this point, Ye Xuan looked at Lan Xiaobu:

"Even if one cultivates to the ninth step of perfection, there will still be flaws in the Great Dao. Just like Xiao Bu is currently at the eighth step of the Great Dao, but in fact, Xiao Bu's eighth step of the Great Dao is lacking."

"Yes, the eighth step requires integrating one's own Great Dao Source Principles. This is the most profound understanding I have gained since comprehending the Source Principles."

Lan Xiaobu immediately agreed.

Although Mo Wuji and Ding Huan did not speak, they both understood the meaning of Ye Xuan's words.

Whether in the world of gods or in the realm of mist, stepping into the eighth step is extremely difficult.

Dihe was able to step into the eighth step because he obtained the Creation Dao Principle left by Zuobudu.

The eighth step of the Great Dao that Nian Huan killed must have been due to some kind of opportunity, and it can't even be considered the eighth step.

As for Lan Xiaobu, he is a practitioner of the Great Dao, but his eighth step is still incomplete.

"Whether these people get into trouble due to internal strife or other reasons, we don't have time to deal with it." Our top priority is to quickly improve our strength.

My path must be perfected here as well, and the three of you must hurry to take the eighth step. This may be our only chance.

Ye Xuan was the first to come into contact with the Origin Law and also learned about things outside the Ten Directions Universe. He knew best how precious their time was.

If they don't improve their strength here and are discovered by the powerful figures here, they may never have another chance.

“Li Zhuojian was also a friend of mine, and I want to take his remains away.”

After Ye Xuan finished speaking, he was about to step forward to collect Li Zhuojian's dissipating remains when he heard Ding Huan call out to him, "Wait..."

Ye Xuan looked at Ding Huan with a puzzled expression: "Brother Ding, is something the matter?"

Ding Huan took out a directional bead and said, "When I first saw Li Zhuojian's corpse, I didn't touch it because I felt something was strange."

I took a Daoist scroll and this directional bead from him.

That Dao slip has become ethereal. The Dao slip I showed you was a copy I made later, but I always felt there was something strange about this directional bead..."

Ye Xuan, Mo Wuji, and Lan Xiaobu all focused their divine senses on the directional bead in Ding Huan's hand.

It was a clear map of the void, with arrows pointing directly to the depths of this universe.

The feeling it gives is that as long as you pass through this magnificent and beautiful void, you will reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao.

"Sensing something was amiss, I promptly left this place and did not go to the location of the directional bead..."

Upon hearing Ding Huan's words, the four of them exchanged glances.

Everyone knew in their hearts that this was indeed somewhat strange.

How did Li Zhuojian die?

Where did Li Zhuojian get the directional bead?

Based on normal reasoning, it is unlikely that this directional bead was made by Li Zhuojian.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that Li Zhuojian entered the location of the directional bead, was attacked and injured, and then fled here.

"The source of the directional bead is not the ten directions of the universe," Mo Wuji gave the answer.

Ye Xuan calmly said, "I just checked. This directional bead not only doesn't belong to Li Zhuojian, but it's also possible that someone deliberately placed it here after Li Zhuojian's death."

What puzzles me is why, when Brother Ding came to collect his belongings, the person who left the directional bead didn't detain him. What was the purpose of leaving the directional bead behind?

Ding Huan stretched out his hand, and the Tribulation-Breaking Blade appeared in his hand:
"Li Zhuojian's demise should be related to the owner of the Orientation Bead. There may be two reasons why he didn't make a move when I took the Orientation Bead."

Firstly, because he was also seriously injured at the time, and secondly, because he didn't intend to attack me, but rather to use me to take the directional bead. Although Ding Huan hadn't yet determined the other party's purpose in leaving the directional bead, the answer was becoming increasingly clear in his mind.

At the same time, both Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu unleashed their magical treasures. Ye Xuan intentionally or unintentionally blocked their path and simultaneously set up a Source Principle Realm to lock this space.

Both Ding Huan and Ye Xuan were implying that besides the four of them, there might be a fifth person present.

After the four of them locked down this space, Ye Xuan spoke up: "Let me guess what happened back then, and everyone can add to it as they see fit."

When Li Zhuojian found this place, he was discovered before he could explore the depths of the universe.

Then he was cornered in this place. This person wanted to kill Li Zhuojian, but he didn't expect that Li Zhuojian was no ordinary cultivator.

After a fierce battle, although this man killed Li Zhuojian, he was also severely injured, to the point that he could not leave the area.

Lan Xiaobu spoke up: "Ding Huan, you are a party involved, you should be able to sense the purpose of this guy leaving the directional bead."

"Is it possible that this person was also seriously injured and couldn't or dared to leave, so he left the directional bead to lure someone to possess his body?" Ye Xuan asked.

“But Ding Huan came, and he didn’t possess the body. In fact, Ding Huan also obtained Li Zhuojian’s Dao Scroll here,” Mo Wuji added.

Ding Huan already had the answer in his heart: "Li Zhuojian's Dao Scroll weathered away when it came into my hands, but the Dao aura within it definitely came from the Ten Directions Universe."

Therefore, the Dao Jian was undoubtedly left behind by Li Zhuojian.

Besides the Dao Scroll and the Orientation Bead, I also obtained several Dao Beads and a Dao Pillar, which was from a Chaos Treasure.

The item wasn't placed in Li Zhuojian's world; instead, it ended up outside. Clearly, someone did this intentionally, and it probably wasn't left behind by Li Zhuojian.

Ye Xuan's gaze fell on the directional bead in Ding Huan's hand, and he nodded to Ding Huan.

Ding Huan raised his hand and set up several dimensional restrictions, locking the dimensional bead inside.

It's so comforting to work with smart people. After seeing Ding Huan's actions, Ye Xuan drew his silver sword and unleashed a sword beam.

boom!
A violent clash of Daoist energy suddenly appeared in the void, and a phantom figure appeared before the four of them.

Even though it was just a phantom spirit, its towering figure still allowed the four of them to sense how strong this guy must have been when he had a physical body.

"You're quite good, not much weaker than that Li Zhuojian. You were actually able to sense my presence." The illusory primordial spirit stared at Ye Xuan and said.

At this moment, Mo Wuji, Lan Xiaobu, and Ding Huan each occupied a position, completely blocking all escape routes for the illusory primordial spirit.

"You're quite patient. Brother Ding Huan came here, and you actually managed to hold back from making a move," Ye Xuan chuckled.

Ding Huan said, "He probably doesn't want to possess someone's body, but only wants someone to take this directional bead through the golden road and into the depths of this universe."

Yuan Shen turned to Ding Huan: "Indeed, it's quite impressive. No wonder you were able to successfully cross the realms and find this place with just a few Dao Beads."

Ding Huan scoffed, "You're even better, managing to lure me here with just a few Dao Beads. Unfortunately, I couldn't do as you wished."

Ding Huan now truly understands that although the Great Dao Disc is a supreme treasure of chaos, it cannot attract him to travel through the ten directions of the universe to find this place.

He had previously thought it was the guidance of the Great Dao Compass, but now he realized it was this illusory primordial spirit that was behind it all.

"Ding Huan, what exactly is the situation?" Mo Wuji looked at Ding Huan.

Ding Huan explained, "Have you ever heard of the Chaos Supreme Treasure Great Dao Disc?"

Lan Xiaobu said, "I know that the magic weapon that gave birth to the Great Calculation Technique is just like my Cosmic Mill, which is the source of the Great Cosmic Technique."

Ding Huan never expected that the Cosmic Mill was in Lan Xiaobu's hands, and that the millstone's core was still with him.

Now is not the time to talk about these things. He continued, "After I obtained some of the Dao Beads and Dao Pillars of the Great Dao Disc, I have always wanted to improve the Great Dao Disc."

I just never had the chance until my strength reached the seventh step of the Great Dao, when I suddenly could sense the location of the other Dao beads and Dao pillars on the Great Dao Disc.

I used to think this was a characteristic of the Great Dao Compass, but now I realize it was this guy's doing. My cultivation level is too low, and he doesn't even look at me.

This guy never expected that after I reached the seventh step of the Great Dao and found this place to perfect the Great Dao Compass, he would simply and decisively leave. He ended up with nothing.

If I'm not mistaken, this guy wants me to take the compass bead into the depths of this universe, that is, to follow the arrow on the compass bead.

"Once I reach a specific location, this guy's illusory primordial spirit can merge with the Daoist thought within the directional bead, leaving this place and returning to where he wants to go."

Ding Huan secretly rejoiced.

At that time, he was perfecting the Great Dao Compass just to obtain the Great Divination Technique as soon as possible to find Qu Yi. Where would he have time to explore this universe?
Another reason is that he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu had never come into contact with Ding Huan's directional bead, so they could not sense the Dao and Dao thought within it.

Now it's clear why Ding Huan used the dimensional lock to trap that directional bead.

(Good night, fellow Taoists!)

(End of this chapter)