Joe Di stood in a daze before the Mountainview Forbidden Zone. This place was once a wasteland, but after he opened the Mountainview Inn, it gradually thrived, attracting more and more cultivators. When he left, there were at least tens of thousands of cultivators here.
But today, as he returned, it had once again become a wasteland. Not only that, his Mountainview Inn was gone.
Joe Di took out his communication bead and tried to send messages to Daoist Po Xu and Jing Xihua, but after half a day, there was still no reply.
Frowning, Joe Di wondered who had destroyed this place, when suddenly a violent explosion echoed. To his surprise, the sealed array gate of the Mountainview Forbidden Zone was opened.
Several rainbow-like colors soared into the sky, forming a rainbow arch between the Mountainview Forbidden Zone and the outside. Normally, one could enter the Mountainview Forbidden Zone but never exit. However, with this array gate, it was clear that entry and exit were now possible.
Joe Di stepped into the array gate, and sure enough, unlike last time, he could still see the way out when he turned around. Last time, the exit disappeared as soon as he entered the Mountainview Forbidden Zone. Joe Di exited through the opened array gate, then waited nearby.
After nearly half an incense stick’s time, the opened sealed array gate vanished, along with the rainbow. The Mountainview Forbidden Zone was once again sealed off.
Is there something wrong with the Mountainview Forbidden Zone? Joe Di simply sat down, waiting for the next time the sealed array gate would open. At the same time, he swept his divine sense around, searching for passing cultivators nearby.
This time, three whole months passed before another violent explosion sounded. Just as Joe Di expected, the array gate of the Mountainview Forbidden Zone opened once again.
Joe Di did not enter this time, but began to set up array flags. He needed to seal the entrance to this forbidden zone’s array gate, otherwise ordinary cultivators who entered would have no way out but death.
Just as Joe Di finished setting up dozens of array flags, a staggering figure rushed out.
The moment he rushed out of the array gate of the Mountainview Forbidden Zone, it closed once again. Clearly, his injuries were grave, and as soon as he exited, he collapsed to the ground.
Joe Di quickly took out a Harmony Dao Pill and tossed it into the cultivator’s mouth. Even with the pill, it took half a day before the man finally regained consciousness.
"Where is this?" The cultivator opened his eyes, struggled to his feet, and looked around before turning to Joe Di with a question.
"This is the Mountainview Forbidden Zone. Who are you?" Joe Di asked in surprise, studying the cultivator before him. The youth appeared young, but his striking white hair stood out.
He was certain this person was a Third Step cultivator, but his injuries were severe, each wound suffused with mysterious Dao resonance. If Joe Di hadn’t cultivated his own Rule Grand Way, he wouldn’t have understood the nature of these Dao resonances.
The wounds on this man were definitely not inflicted by cultivators from the Five Elements Universe. The resonance of the divine techniques that left these scars was utterly different from the rules of the Five Elements Universe. Yet, this person should be a cultivator from the Five Elements Universe, as the Dao resonance in his body matched its rules.
Joe Di could not sense any aura from the Grandway Abyss on this man, which meant he was not a cultivator from the Grandway Abyss. Not being from the Grandway Abyss, he was certainly not from any other part of the Mountainview Forbidden Zone. Could it be that he entered from outside and, by luck, escaped when the array gate opened?
"Mountainview Forbidden Zone?" The white-haired youth repeated in astonishment, then cried out in wild joy, "I’m finally back, I’ve finally returned to the Five Elements Universe. It was all lies, everything there was a lie..."
After saying this, he fell to his knees, almost collapsing to the ground in tears.
After the youth’s emotions had mostly subsided, Joe Di finally asked, "Where did you come from? What do you mean by ‘it was all lies’?"
The white-haired youth seemed to have regained his composure. He stood up, dusted himself off, and paid no attention to his tattered clothes or wounds. Staring at Joe Di, he said, "You’re quite impressive—a cultivator not even at the Third Step, yet you can produce a Harmony Dao Pill. As far as I know, those who can refine such pills are all gone. Has the Five Elements Universe produced another genius alchemist?"
Joe Di chuckled. "I just saved your life, and now I’m asking you questions. Instead of answering, you speak to me like this. Do you not understand gratitude?"
The white-haired youth laughed heartily. "Gratitude? Since your grandfather attained the Grand Way, it’s been endless slaughter—nothing but killing and warfare, never a moment’s peace. You want me to feel grateful? Who should I thank? Would I have really died if you hadn’t given me a Dao Pill?"
Joe Di laughed. There were countless people like this in the universe, and he couldn’t be bothered to argue. He simply turned away, preparing to continue setting up the protective array.
"Wait..." To Joe Di’s surprise, just as he was about to ignore the white-haired youth, the youth actually stopped him.
Joe Di’s expression darkened. "What is it now?"
"The healing effect of your Harmony Dao Pill is mediocre, but if you have dozens more, it’s not bad." The white-haired youth grinned slyly.
Joe Di was amused. "Whether it’s good or bad, it’s still mine—and I don’t plan to give you any more."
"Just tell me, do you have more or not?" the white-haired youth snorted. Although he was asking, his domain aura had already locked down the space around Joe Di.
With a flick of his hand, Joe Di produced a handful of Dao Pills. "Old Master has plenty of Dao Pills, but unfortunately, he’s not giving any to you."
"Hahaha..." The white-haired youth burst into laughter, pointing at Joe Di’s nose. "Young man, do you know who is the strongest in the Five Elements Universe right now?"
Without waiting for Joe Di’s answer, the youth continued, "Let me tell you—it’s me, Weng Baigong. I’ve fought in two Creation Wars, entered the Creation World, and battled for the Grand Way of Creation, risking my life countless times. Every day was a struggle against death, yet I survived and returned to the Five Elements Universe. I’m certain no one else could have made it back. From now on, I am the number one in the Five Elements Universe. The things Du Bu couldn’t do, I’ll do..."
As he spoke, Weng Baigong raised his hand and reached for Joe Di.
Even though his cultivation had fallen to the Creation Realm and his injuries had not healed, who in the Five Elements Universe could oppose Weng Baigong? The strongest had all been drawn into the Gate of Creation and sent to the Creation World, struggling daily for survival. From now on, the Five Elements Universe belonged to Weng Baigong.
Joe Di shook his head in silence and stepped into the void. With his stride, the resonance of the Tian Sa Blade tore the very fabric of space.
Crack! The void domain that Weng Baigong believed Joe Di could never escape split open with Joe Di’s step. A pale blue blade light slashed down, and Weng Baigong’s face turned ashen. He felt trapped in a quagmire, unable to even struggle.
"Fellow Daoist, stop! I know about the Creation World..." Weng Baigong managed to say, struggling to escape the deadly edge of the blue blade.
Splat! A burst of blood erupted as Joe Di’s Tian Sa Blade severed Weng Baigong’s arm.
Fortunately, Joe Di showed mercy and did not destroy Weng Baigong’s severed arm.
"Thank you, thank you, fellow Daoist!" Weng Baigong knew Joe Di had shown mercy, and after reattaching his arm, he expressed his gratitude repeatedly.
Joe Di’s Tian Sa Blade automatically returned to his back. "Old man with white hair, now you can answer a few of my questions."
Weng Baigong put on a fawning smile. "Ask away, brother. I’ll tell you everything I know."