Chapter 00091: The Emperor Blocking the Passage
# The Emperor Blocking the Passage
Chapter 91
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 91: The Emperor Blocking the Passage
Lan Xiaobu’s mind penetrated the jade slip of Dao techniques, which contained only six spells.
The first was the Fireball Technique, followed by the Wind Blade Technique, Invisibility Technique, Wind Manipulation Technique, Swift Movement Technique, and Water Condensation Technique.
According to Lan Xiaobu’s understanding, any Dao technique, or spell, required an incantation before it could be cast.
This was something he had seen in many books and movies.
However, for the Fireball Technique that he practiced first, there was no need for any incantation at all before casting it.
What he observed about the Fireball Technique was more about the application of spiritual sense and inner power.
As long as he reached a certain level of proficiency, with strong enough spiritual sense and true essence, he could almost release it in an instant.
His spiritual sense was good, but his true essence was somewhat weak.
With his current cultivation level, he could unleash this fireball more than ten times consecutively.
Yet, despite the fireball being cast instantly, its speed remained quite slow—likely due to his insufficient cultivation level.
Nevertheless, using the Fireball Technique against anyone above the Foundation Establishment stage wouldn’t have much effect, while it seemed unnecessary against those below that stage.
Regardless of its usefulness, it was better to learn it first.
In just a day and a half, Lan Xiaobu had mastered the Fireball Technique.
With true essence condensing and his spiritual sense driving it, a flaming sphere materialized in his hand.
This feeling delighted him; he was clearly holding a fireball, but it posed no harm to his body.
He understood all the properties of the fireball as if it were a part of his true essence.
He thrust his hand forward, and the fireball exploded against a rock ten meters away, causing sparks to fly.
Clearly, he was still not very skilled at it.
Lan Xiaobu condensed another fireball; this time when he released it, the flames engulfed the rock, causing it to crack open.
On the third attempt, the fireball sent forth formed an extensive blaze, covering the area around the stone for about ten feet.
Seeing the dry wood instantly turn to ash, Lan Xiaobu quietly praised it as a good spell.
If he had cast a fireball right after eliminating a few people before, it would have been neat and quick work.
Although the Fireball Technique was unsuitable for fighting against strong opponents, it was indeed a must-have spell for daily life.
He liked it; all that remained was to improve his proficiency and cultivate further.
However, the Wind Blade Technique brought a fair bit of surprise to Lan Xiaobu.
It was invisible, making it a great means for sneak attacks when catching an enemy off guard.
Similar to the Fireball Technique, it would not work well against real powerhouses due to the risk of exposure.
The strength of the Wind Blade also depended on the practitioner's strength—if the true essence and spiritual sense were strong, the Wind Blade would be powerful; otherwise, it would falter.
After spending three days, Lan Xiaobu had learned both the Fireball and Wind Blade Techniques.
The effectiveness of these spells relied entirely on the strength of his spiritual sense; if it was strong, learning them was exceedingly simple.
Lan Xiaobu had intended to continue learning the Wind Manipulation Technique when Guda called out.
Lan Xiaobu stood up and saw a black mist rapidly approaching in the distance, realizing it was time to leave swiftly.
Activating Kunlun, Lan Xiaobu took Guda and dashed away as fast as he could from the area.
By the time Lan Xiaobu stored Kunlun and approached the entrance, most of the people had gathered there.
Around two thousand had entered Yuqi Star; after counting, he found that less than three hundred remained at this spot.
It appeared that ninety percent of the candidates and guards who entered had perished.
"Young Lieutenant Lan..."
Tai Machang approached quickly upon spotting Lan Xiaobu to greet him.
He had long since discarded the identity of a prince; here, being a prince from a Level-2 technological civilization held no distinction from being a guard.
"Hello, Sixth Prince," Lan Xiaobu nodded in response.
Tai Machang’s gaze, however, was fixated on Lan Xiaobu’s Guda.
Even though this was the second time he’d seen it, he still found it somewhat eerie; he suspected Guda was the same one he had encountered before.
"Brother Xiaobu!" Pasia's excited voice rang out as she rushed over.
Lan Xiaobu smiled when he saw Chang Yuan and Ning Dongrou following Pasia.
"Good to see everyone here."
Chang Yuan had always been taciturn, showing no anger or joy.
At this moment, his eyes held an unmistakable excitement, a feeling akin to being reborn.
Coming from an ordinary family, he never expected to live after being sent to participate in the selection with Tai Machang.
To his surprise, he not only survived but was also about to leave Yuqi Star alive.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Lan," Chang Yuan said as he approached to express his gratitude.
He sensed that entering Yuqi Star had only been a mental assault at first, and after that, things had been easy.
His proximity to Lan Xiaobu at the time made him think it might have something to do with him, though he couldn’t be certain.
Regardless of any relationship, Lan Xiaobu was their captain, and since they were all safe, he deserved credit.
Ning Dongrou nodded at Lan Xiaobu, no longer bearing the earlier pride.
Seeing the large packs they carried, Lan Xiaobu realized they all had done well this time.
A complex expression flashed in Tai Machang’s eyes.
He guessed that Lan Xiaobu likely would not return to Zhenuo Star with him.
Earlier, he had sensed that Lan Xiaobu was formidable, which made him somewhat wary.
Now, observing Lan Xiaobu, he felt a hint of fear deep inside.
Mu Yuansang had vanished without a trace; he had not died entering Yuqi Star’s passage but had been seen within its confines.
Typically, anyone who didn’t die during the entry would survive.
Moreover, Mu Yuansang was strong and a prince of a Level-5 technological civilization—how could he possibly disappear?
Yet, Mu Yuansang’s absence confirmed he was likely searching for Lan Xiaobu, a troubling thought.
Even if it weren’t Lan Xiaobu who had defeated him, Mu Yuansang being missing while Lan Xiaobu remained was enough to instill fear.
Tai Machang expected Lan Xiaobu to be killed by Mu Yuansang; however, here Lan Xiaobu stood alive.
He thought Mu Yuansang would surely be unfazed, yet Mu Yuansang had fallen.
Not only Mu Yuansang was missing, but also another prince from the Hundred Mo Star System, Tao Ai.
"Ha ha, Lan Xiaobu!" Hou Yi’s excited voice broke through, as he bounded over to Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu was his lifesaver, and they shared a secret—having eliminated Mu Yuansang together made him feel good whenever he saw Lan Xiaobu.
"Hou Yi..."
Lan Xiaobu had barely called out when he heard a cracking sound.
It was as if a giant egg had split open, and a passage appeared before everyone.
"We better get out quickly; the black mist is coming!" Hou Yi said immediately.
Without needing to prompt, everyone could see the rapidly approaching black mist.
They rushed towards the passage.
Entering Yuqi Star had been perilous, with assaults on their mind that led to death in the tunnel.
However, exiting was considered safe—no one had ever heard of being attacked while leaving.
Still, if they delayed and the black mist enveloped them, they would be as good as dead.
Lan Xiaobu took Guda and followed everyone as they dashed out of the passage, entering the starry square outside once more.
The square was packed with people, many holding signs with colorful messages written in the interstellar common language, summarizing that they were buying anything obtained from Yuqi Star.
This time, the returning contestants differed from before; previously, anyone who exited Yuqi Star had to surrender a portion of their top-tier loot, with the remaining split equally.
After negotiations among the five major star systems, everything gained within Yuqi Star now belonged fully to the contestants.
They could choose to keep it or sell it at their discretion.
As soon as Lan Xiaobu emerged, he spotted Emperor Seino.
The emperor's eyes had been fixed on the exit of the Yuqi Star passage, and almost as soon as Lan Xiaobu stepped out, Emperor Seino hurried over.
Lan Xiaobu's heart sank.
Not only did he see Emperor Seino, but he also noticed Mu Zeji approaching.
Mu Zeji was the father of Mu Yuansang, yet he showed no concern for his son’s fate.
Instead, he walked straight towards Lan Xiaobu.
"Are you the guard of Lan Xiaobu?" Emperor Seino blocked Lan Xiaobu's path.
The square was boisterous, with everyone excitedly surrounding the contestants returning from Yuqi Star.
Were it not for seeing Lan Xiaobu flanked by two emperors, he too would have been encircled.
Lan Xiaobu stopped and cupped his fists.
"This is Lan Xiaobu, greeting Emperor Seino and Emperor Chongyuan."
Emperor Seino had been staring at Lan Xiaobu, thus he hadn’t noticed Mu Zeji coming over.
Just as he turned to speak, Mu Zeji spoke first, “Brother Ta Zhi, Lan Xiaobu is my guard from the Hundred Mo Star System. I have some inquiries for him now. Lan Xiaobu, come with me.”
“Lan Xiaobu cannot go with you.” Emperor Seino replied immediately.
Mu Zeji’s expression darkened. “What? Ta Zhi, are you implying that the Red Thunder Star can interfere in the matters of the Tianluo Star? Or are you simply used to being domineering?”
The clash between the two emperors from Level-5 technological civilizations instantly drew everyone’s attention.
The guards of the two emperors nearby gripped their weapons with vigilance, sensing the tense atmosphere, some even stepped back in fear.
The power of these emperors was not something ordinary people could compare to; even a single explosive could reduce the whole square to ashes.
Taking a deep breath, Emperor Seino forced himself to calm down and spoke slowly, "Brother Mu, the death of my son Lian is likely related to this young guard before us. Whoever dares to stop me from avenging my son will not escape my wrath.”
Everyone here was generally aware of Lian's fate, as it was something Emperor Seino had publicly stated.
Lian was killed because of a spatial treasure.
Was it possible that this treasure was in the hands of the guard before Emperor Seino?
Tai Machang's face turned pale in the distance, and some contestants who had come to this place with Lan Xiaobu revealed strange expressions.
Almost everyone thought of the sectioned stones Lan Xiaobu had won.
Where had those stones gone? If previously they were not clear, now that Emperor Seino said Lan Xiaobu was responsible for Lian's death, the answer surfaced unmistakably.
(End of Chapter)