What Zhou Bu Jian hadn't expected was that Joe Di had already left Wildhaven Free City. With his cultivation, he could tell at once that Joe Di had departed. It was precisely because of Joe Di's departure that Zhou Bu Jian was even more certain Joe Di possessed great wisdom.
Marlon Jace didn't see Aaron Jace befriending Joe Di as some stroke of luck. No matter how skilled Joe Di was at alchemy, he was still just a rogue cultivator. Aaron Jace, for all his shortcomings, was still Marlon's son.
He also didn't believe that Starlight Tea was refined by Joe Di. Even if Joe Di could craft the Seven Apertures Soul-Gathering Pill, creating Starlight Tea was another matter entirely. The gap wasn't in alchemy, but in cultivation realm.
He came because the Snowmelt Immortal Emperor had praised Aaron Jace. Thinking of Aaron's lifespan running short, he suddenly decided to visit again—after all, Aaron was his eldest son. Aside from checking on Aaron, he also wanted to inquire about the true story behind Starlight Tea.
"Alchemist Di isn't here, so I'll be leaving Wildhaven Free City as well. Marlon, shall we go together?" Not finding Joe Di, Zhou Bu Jian decided to head back.
Marlon Jace's divine sense flickered, and his expression changed. Aaron Jace hadn't taken his divine sense image token, leaving Marlon unable to know where Aaron had gone.
"I'll be heading back to Star Demon Palace too, Zhou. Until next time." Marlon Jace's face was grim. Aaron Jace had dared to leave his divine sense image token in Wildhaven Free City and run off. Marlon knew his son's temperament—this wasn't something Aaron would have thought of himself. Joe Di must have put him up to it. Next time Marlon saw that Joe Di, he'd make sure Joe Di understood the consequences of offending the Star Demon Immortal Emperor.
...
As soon as Joe Di entered the void, he had Aaron Jace summon a top-grade immortal artifact flying shuttle.
His highest-grade flying treasure was a mid-grade immortal artifact, but Aaron Jace, as the son of an Immortal Emperor, had plenty of treasures—he owned two top-grade immortal artifact ships.
It was a long way to the site of the Tortoise Shell Ancient Map, and Joe Di wanted to use the time to improve his cultivation.
"Second Brother, let me pilot the shuttle. When Big Brother was cultivating, I always handled the ship." Shu Di hurried over as soon as he saw Aaron Jace summon the shuttle, grinning ingratiatingly.
Aaron Jace asked with a sour face, "Little Shugen, I'm clearly Second Brother, so why call me Third Brother?"
Shu Di chuckled, "Second Brother's name is Geng Ji. When Big Brother started cultivating, I followed him from the start. If you don't want to be Third Brother, you'll end up as Fourth in the future."
"Forget it. Your cultivation is too weak—I'll control it myself." Aaron Jace was helpless. It was his own fault for meeting Joe Di later than Geng Ji.
Heihuo chimed in from the side, "Shu Di, you'd better get cultivating. Your cultivation is the weakest here."
"There's also Sister Mo." Shu Di snorted.
Heihuo chuckled, "Once Big Brother finds Agan True Glazed Water for Sister Mo, her cultivation will skyrocket. Even with a top-grade immortal artifact, you won't be able to keep up. By then, your cultivation will be the weakest, and when Big Brother takes us out to roam, you'll be left to mind the shop—or stay in the ring."
Shu Di shivered, as if seeing himself left alone in the True Spirit World. He rushed into the shuttle, muttering to himself, "I need to go cultivate."
Miles Silent stepped forward and cupped his fists in greeting. "Star Demon Immortal Emperor, you honor Wildhaven Free City with your presence. I apologize for my lack of hospitality."
Marlon Jace nodded and exchanged a few words with Miles Silent.
Though Miles Silent was only a first-tier Immortal Emperor, he was still an Immortal Emperor nonetheless.
Fear flashed across Ian Fisher's face. Thundercrest Sect did not fear Star Demon Palace, but now that Marlon Jace was here and ready to kill him, he truly had no way out.
"Eternal glory to the Star Demon Immortal Emperor!" The surrounding cultivators all bowed in salute to Miles Silent.
The Star Demon Immortal Emperor was one of the sect masters of the Five Grand Sects, and a seventh-tier Grand Immortal Emperor. When greeting him, one could use the courtesy name 'Yongsheng.' As for Miles Silent, a first-tier Immortal Emperor—even as city lord—just meeting him was enough.
Ian Fisher hurriedly swallowed a few pills, struggling to bow. "Ian Fisher of Thundercrest Sect greets the Star Demon Immortal Emperor."
"Get lost!" Marlon Jace roared. In truth, he too was wary of Riley Thunder.
Though Riley Thunder, sect master of Thundercrest Sect, was only a fifth-tier Immortal Emperor, his lightning-root cultivation made him terrifying in battle. He'd killed more than a few late-stage Immortal Emperors.
"Haha, Marlon, you beat me here." Master Bowie Zhou stepped out of the void, a naked sword strapped to his back.
Miles Silent quickly stepped forward to greet him. He didn't believe Bowie Zhou was here for Aaron Jace; he was certain Bowie Zhou was here for Joe Di.
"Eternal glory to the Swordshift Immortal Emperor!" the crowd greeted in unison.
Bowie Zhou nodded to the crowd, his gaze falling on the words outside the Starlight Teahouse. He sighed, "Such Dao rhythm, such fine calligraphy!"
Buy a single tea leaf, and I will grant you a world!
A single leaf, a world!
Marlon Jace said awkwardly, "That kid is so vulgar. He just had to use the word 'buy' in what could have been a good line."
He felt embarrassed because he'd said he wouldn't interfere with Aaron Jace, yet everyone had just come down from Yaohua Snow Mountain and he'd arrived at Wildhaven Free City, only to be caught by Bowie Zhou.
Bowie Zhou shook his head. "No, 'buy' and 'grant' are a perfect fit for karma. This Alchemist Di is a man of great wisdom. Though Aaron Jace may have lagged behind in cultivation, his sincerity has allowed him to befriend someone as wise as Alchemist Di."
After speaking, Bowie Zhou sighed again. He'd brought his son, Holden Zhou, here in hopes that Holden could also befriend Joe Di—and to tell Joe Di that the Starlight Tea business could not continue. Even if it did, it couldn't be run by an Immortal Alchemist like Joe Di.
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