Wuchuan, contrary to its name, is not a land bereft of mountains and rivers. When Joe Di arrived, he beheld the Void Sea, encircled by endless ranges—each peak transformed by ancient hands into a supreme defensive array, weaving a tapestry of power across the landscape.
At the heart of the Void Sea lies a solitary island, crowned by a lone structure that stands sentinel against the cosmic expanse.
From afar, the building appears unremarkable, but upon setting foot on the island, its vastness is awe-inspiring. Though the structure does not touch the island’s edge, it matters little—mystical arrays of protection coil around its perimeter, shimmering with unseen force.
At the island’s verge stands a colossal gate, towering even higher than the one at the Mad Domain, its presence commanding reverence and awe.
On either side of the gate, a couplet is carved—on the left: 'Broadly welcoming those who bear wealth from the stars.' On the right: 'Receiving guests from the vast cosmos, treasures in hand.'
The couplet, plain in its expression, is overshadowed by the horizontal inscription above—four characters that leave Joe Di speechless: 'No Beggars Admitted.'
It is a brazen declaration of wealth and status, yet among star cultivators, all is driven by gain and loss. To proclaim it so openly is, at the very least, refreshingly honest in the cosmic bazaar.
Noticing Joe Di’s gaze lingering on the couplet, Eugene Zhou hurried to ingratiate himself, saying, “Before that person took over, this was the prime trading ground for star cultivators—fair dealings for all, open and honest. But since his arrival, every other transaction was forbidden; only Crimson Iron could be traded, and always at a loss, with no room for resistance.”
“Since you’re here, bring your Crimson Iron in.” A cold voice echoed from within.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Joe Di strode through the gate, his resolve unwavering.
After stepping through the gate, Joe Di was even more impressed by the unique construction inside. Stair after stair stretched from the entrance upward, seemingly reaching into the clouds. The vast building was eerily empty—Joe Di saw no sign of life. Clearly, Eugene Zhou hadn’t been entirely wrong; since that person arrived, everyone else had been driven away. What was once a bustling marketplace had become a solitary residence.
Joe Di and the others climbed the steps to the very top, where they finally saw a grand hall built of Black Jade Stone. Inside, the hall was completely empty.
Joe Di felt the air ripple around him. In the next heartbeat, a middle-aged man, clad in flowing black robes and crowned with obsidian, manifested upon the highest dais of the hall—his arrival silent yet suffused with a commanding, otherworldly presence.
The man exuded authority, but Joe Di sensed a different cultivation law from him. This person was not of the Domain Stage, but something beyond.
Yet Joe Di felt no threat, even though his own cultivation had not yet reached the Transforming True Stage.
The black-robed man’s gaze moved away from Joe Di—a mere Tribulation King Stage cultivator was beneath his notice. His eyes landed on Eugene Zhou and the others. He frowned slightly and said, “Eugene Zhou, you’ve only just left. Have you already come back with more Crimson Iron?”
Eugene Zhou cupped his fists and replied, “Greetings, Yin Patriarch. I haven’t brought any Crimson Iron, but my friend here has heard of your misdeeds and insisted on paying you a visit.”
Now that they were here, Eugene Zhou no longer cared about Joe Di’s intentions. He only hoped Joe Di and this black-robed cultivator would fight to the death, so he could resume his role as overlord.
The black-robed man frowned, his gaze settling on Joe Di.
Joe Di replied, his voice steady as a blade, “Domain Lord Yu calls you arrogant, says you possess treasures and Prime Ley Lines beyond measure. He dared me to witness your greatness—and perhaps to claim it for myself.”
If Eugene Zhou hadn’t tried to drug him, Joe Di wouldn’t have bothered with this fellow. But since Eugene Zhou came here and immediately tried to poison him—well, Joe Di had no qualms about using him as a pawn.
“You’ve got guts,” the black-robed man snorted at Joe Di, then suddenly reached out to grab Eugene Zhou. Eugene Zhou panicked and tried to flee, but soon sweat broke out on his forehead. He knew he was weaker than the black-robed man, but he hadn’t expected to be so powerless that he couldn’t even fight back.
Now, he truly was incapable of fighting back. The other’s domain was so powerful, so overwhelming, that it left him in utter despair.
“You’ve succeeded—you brought this young man here to die. But you’ve also failed, because you die first. You could have kept helping me look for Crimson Iron, but you wasted the opportunity.” With just a Genesis Vitality hand seal, the black-robed man lifted Eugene Zhou and suspended him in midair.
Eugene Zhou said nothing, only closed his eyes. With his intelligence, he shouldn’t have been so eager to set Joe Di against this opponent. But even if he’d calmly let them fight first, what difference would it make? Either way, he was doomed.
If Joe Di won, he certainly wouldn’t lift the restriction. If this Yin fellow won, he’d kill Eugene Zhou first anyway.
Crack! The black-robed man’s technique was just like Joe Di’s—perhaps even more terrifying. Joe Di had snapped the neck of the half-Domain Stage cultivator Xu Jing’ang with his bare hands, but this man used a Genesis Vitality hand seal to crush Eugene Zhou, a true Domain Stage powerhouse, to death.
Paul Chi and the others who came along watched in shock. Was the cultivation universe really so different now? Could the strong truly be this powerful?
Joe Di said to Paul Chi and the other two half-Domain Stage cultivators, “You should leave now. Simon Su and I will handle things here.”
Paul Chi saw that even a Domain Stage powerhouse like Eugene Zhou couldn’t fight back against the black-robed man, and he regretted coming along. He knew Joe Di’s strength, but hadn’t expected the black-robed man to be even stronger. So when Joe Di told them to leave, they didn’t hesitate—they turned and left at once.
Joe Di watched Quentin Young closely, ready to make his move as soon as the black-robed man acted. But to Joe Di’s surprise, after Paul Chi and the others left, Quentin Young didn’t attack.
“You think I’d kill them? They help me search for Crimson Iron—why would I kill them? As for Eugene Zhou, he tried to scheme against me while working under me, so of course I killed him. But you—I want to see how you plan to pay me a visit.” Quentin Young seemed to know what Joe Di was thinking and spoke up on his own.
Joe Di didn’t waste words. He produced several Crimson Iron Crystals and held them in his palm. “I have plenty of these. So, how do you want me to pay you a visit?”
Quentin Young’s eyes lit up at the sight of Joe Di’s Crimson Iron Crystals. He immediately reached out to grab them from Joe Di’s hand.
With a flick of his hand, Joe Di made the Crimson Iron Crystals vanish.
Quentin Young stared at Joe Di in surprise. “Impressive. Your strength surpasses the Domain Stage—you could probably sweep through the entire cultivation world. And you look familiar. What’s your name?”
Joe Di replied calmly, “I’m here to trade. I have plenty of Crimson Iron and Crimson Iron Crystals. What I need are crystals that surpass spirit stones, and Prime Ley Lines that exceed the norm.”
Quentin Young burst out laughing. “So you think that just because you’ve cultivated to the Void Immortal Realm, you can act arrogant in front of me, Quentin Young? You dare bargain with me—go die!”
As he spoke, Quentin Young’s Genesis Vitality hand seal shot out toward Joe Di, just as it had toward Eugene Zhou before.
Joe Di slowly raised his hand, but he couldn’t form a Genesis Vitality hand seal like Quentin Young. He could only step forward, reaching for Quentin Young’s neck. Quentin Young’s domain was powerful, but seemed to have no effect on Joe Di.
“You actually ignored my Golden Immortal domain…” Quentin Young stared in horror at Joe Di’s hand. In the next moment, he realized his own hand seal was being bound by an invisible domain.
Not only could Joe Di ignore his Golden Immortal domain, but Quentin Young was now bound by Joe Di’s domain. From Quentin Young’s perspective, Joe Di’s domain seemed not even at the Transforming True Stage, yet this low-level domain restrained a Golden Immortal like him.
Crack! Quentin Young heard his own neck bones shatter, and then felt a terrifying force threatening to tear his body to pieces.
How could there be such a powerful cultivator in the cultivation world…
"I know now—you’re the City Lord of Starhaven City…" In his final moments, Quentin Young finally recognized Joe Di.
"I know now—you’re the Starhaven City Lord..." In his final moments, Quentin Young finally recognized Joe Di.
Quentin Young cried out, "Senior Di, spare me! You’re a great senior—don’t bother with a mere ant like me. I’m from the Yin family of the Color Mirage Immortal Continent. I offended you by accident…"
Joe Di frowned—he had no recollection at all. But a cultivator from the Immortal Realm coming to the cultivation world and killing innocents at will? Joe Di would not let him off so easily. He sent a burst of true essence, shattering the talisman on Quentin Young and unleashing a powerful suppression from heaven and earth. In the next moment, Quentin Young was reduced to dust.
“Ah, Joe…” Simon Su was stunned to see Joe Di kill such a powerful figure so easily. What kind of strength was this?
Joe Di simply took the Prime Ley Lines and Immortal Crystals from Quentin Young’s ring, then handed the ring to Simon Su. “Brother Su, there should be Immortal Realm cultivation methods, as well as some immortal artifacts and pills inside. Take it. If you use these things in seclusion, I’m sure you’ll soon break into the Domain Stage and ascend to the Immortal Realm.”
"Ah, Joe, I can’t accept these." Simon Su hurriedly declined.
Joe Di smiled slightly. "There’s something important that I haven’t remembered yet. Once I do, these things will probably seem like trash to me. After we part ways, we’ll likely only meet again in the Immortal Realm or even a higher world. Take care of yourself."
Joe Di figured that these things should help him cultivate to the Domain Stage, fully restore his memory, and open up his own world.
"Uh…" Simon Su hesitated.
Joe Di shoved the items into Simon Su’s hands. "No more hesitation. Hurry up and improve your strength. I expect you also escaped to the Mad Domain, and without strength, you’ll just end up being hunted again. I need to find a place to go into seclusion. Until we meet again."
With that, Joe Di’s figure flickered and he disappeared from sight.
"Ah, Joe, thank you." Simon Su cupped his fists toward the direction where Joe Di disappeared, then quickly turned and left.