Joe Di was not swallowed by the River of Divine Rebirth in the Five Elements Universe, as Charles Bei had feared. Instead, he now stood above the river itself. The space surrounding him was no longer governed by the laws of the Five Elements Universe, but by the rules of his own Dao.
Charles Bei worried for Joe Di because he did not understand that Joe Di cultivated the Dao of Laws—a Dao that had long surpassed the Five Elements Universe. No matter how powerful the universe's reincarnation laws were, they could not drag Joe Di into the River of Divine Rebirth.
Joe Di did not completely erase his spiritual imprint from the Lethe Bridge. Instead, he allowed the Lethe Bridge to merge with the River of Divine Rebirth.
Under Joe Di's control, the Lethe Bridge surged in size, and the swirling gray Dao resonance from the River of Divine Rebirth fused completely with the bridge. A brand-new cosmic law began to take shape.
Joe Di knew that this new cosmic law was the newly formed Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe. He would never allow it to be the same as before, so as the new Heaven's Law began to form, Joe Di cast forth his own Dao laws. These Dao laws blended seamlessly with the emerging cosmic law...
With the addition of Joe Di's Dao laws, the newly formed Heaven's Law began to change. Though it was still the Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe, it now bore no resemblance to what had come before.
Several days passed. When the new Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe was finally complete, the Lethe Bridge that Joe Di had sent forth was now spanning the ever-rolling River of Divine Rebirth.
Beneath the river, the Dao resonance of reincarnation surged, and not a trace of blood remained.
Countless streams of soul energy rushed across the Lethe Bridge, vanishing beyond the far shore of the River of Divine Rebirth.
Joe Di stood at one corner of the Lethe Bridge, gazing in a daze at the multitude of souls crossing over. Amidst them, he sensed the presence of Cassie Cao's soul. Yet he dared not reach out with his divine sense, fearing it might disturb her reincarnation.
"Go on. I will come find you soon..." Joe Di murmured to himself, long after Cassie Cao had disappeared, wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes.
Even though Joe Di knew that, even if he had learned earlier that Cassie Cao was trapped here, he would not have been able to build the Lethe Bridge in time for her reincarnation, he still felt regret.
"So powerful..." Charles Bei was awestruck seeing that Joe Di had not been swept into the River of Divine Rebirth, but had instead constructed the Lethe Bridge and stood upon it. Even if Charles Bei could not see how Joe Di had transformed the newly formed Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe, he knew Joe Di had succeeded—for otherwise, Joe Di would never be qualified to stand upon the Lethe Bridge of the Five Elements Universe.
Only after a long time did Joe Di finally step off the Lethe Bridge.
"Thank you, Brother Di..." Charles Bei was truly grateful to Joe Di—not only had Joe Di saved him, but he had also preserved the Five Elements Universe.
Joe Di was not in good spirits. He waved his hand, "This was my responsibility as well. By the way, Brother Bei, where do you plan to go after all of this is over?"
Charles Bei hesitated before replying, "I doubt Chi Yao will let me go. Even though I have severed myself from his Dao Law avatar, Chi Yao's Dao Law controlled me for so many years—he may still be able to find me. I intend to seek a hidden place and reconstruct my physical body."
Charles Bei's current body was forged from Dao Law. Here, with the Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe and Chi Yao's Dao Law present, having a physical body or not made little difference. But now, to truly become himself again, he must perfect his physical body and further refine his Dao.
Although this was his intention, Charles Bei knew the odds were slim. First, before his cultivation was restored, it would be extremely difficult to find a top-tier treasure to rebuild his body. Second, with Chi Yao's strength, no matter how well he hid, if Chi Yao truly wished to find him, he would be discovered.
After a brief moment of thought, Joe Di said, "Brother Bei, my friends and I plan to confront Chi Yao in Creation Saint Dao City. It will be a battle where life and death will be decided. I hope you can help me."
Charles Bei was no ordinary person. First, being chosen by Chi Yao marked him as a peerless powerhouse. Second, after so many years as Chi Yao's Dao Law avatar, Charles Bei had come to understand Chi Yao far better than most.
Without hesitation, Charles Bei declared, "Brother Di, as long as I live, I will be there in Creation Saint Dao City."
Joe Di took out a ring and handed it to Charles Bei. "These are resources for you to rebuild your physical body. As for the materials you need, I have thought of something truly valuable."
"I have an enemy named Du Bu. He will certainly go to Creation Saint Dao City, and I must kill him. He possesses a treasure called the Reversal Bodhi Tree. If we obtain it, even a single segment will allow you to perfectly restore your physical body," Joe Di explained.
"Du Bu?" The moment Charles Bei heard the name, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
"You know him?" Joe Di asked, puzzled.
Charles Bei replied with hatred, "Because Chi Yao promised him the Five Elements Universe to refine, yet he not only betrayed the universe, but also became Chi Yao's lapdog. He doesn't even realize he's just a pawn—his dealings were only with the Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe, which is controlled by Chi Yao."
So that's how it was. Joe Di realized that Du Bu might know about the sealed chaos region of the Five Elements Universe.
"Father, you must kill Du Bu and avenge Mother..." Jaxon Di clenched his fists, unable to hold back his words.
Joe Di understood that Jaxon Di's knowledge of these matters was likely tied to Cassie Cao.
Charles Bei continued, "If the Reversal Bodhi Tree could restore my body, that would be truly perfect. However..."
Charles Bei was about to comment that top-grade spirit veins were a bit lacking, but his divine sense instinctively swept over the ring. Instantly, he cried out in shock, "Brother Di, is this... a Universe Dao Vein?"
Joe Di nodded. "Yes. It may not be the finest Universe Dao Vein, but it is one nonetheless."
Charles Bei bowed deeply. "Such a great kindness cannot be repaid with mere words. My life now belongs to you, Brother Di."
With this Universe Dao Vein, even without the Reversal Bodhi Tree, Charles Bei could do his utmost to restore his strength.
Joe Di replied, "You flatter me, Brother Bei. Let's head to the Creation Nest."
"Alright." Charles Bei answered without hesitation. Although Joe Di had not explicitly invited him to follow, Charles Bei knew that staying by Joe Di's side was far safer than seeking seclusion alone. Besides, he still needed to wait for the Reversal Bodhi Tree to restore his body.
"Jaxon, you will come with me to Creation Saint Dao City." Joe Di immediately saw the many flaws in Jaxon Di's Dao and intended to help him perfect it.
Before Jaxon Di could reply, Hannah Bei hurriedly spoke up, "Ancestor, I want to go to Saint Dao City with you all as well..."
Charles Bei looked at Joe Di. "If Hannah hadn't come, I might not have regained my clarity so quickly, nor forced out Chi Yao's Dao Law fragment."
Joe Di understood instantly. "No wonder the avatar paused during the battle—the chain reaction must have started with Charles Bei."
At the same moment, Chi Yao, fleeing in desperation, came to a halt. His body was covered in blood, and he didn't even have time to clean himself.
Chi Yao's expression was grim, his eyes burning with unwilling rage.
He knew that no matter how fast he fled, it was useless. The Lethe Bridge of the Five Elements Universe had been found and fused with the River of Divine Rebirth, forming a new Heaven's Law.
But that was not the most terrifying part. Even if a new Heaven's Law had formed, he could have tried to seize it again. The real horror was that he could no longer sense the new Heaven's Law at all. Without its aura, seizing it—or even finding it—was nothing but a dream.
There was only one explanation for this: someone had changed the Heaven's Law of the Five Elements Universe.
"Joe Di..." Chi Yao clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in fury. Only Joe Di could accomplish such a feat, for he cultivated the Dao of Laws.
Chi Yao was a man of decisive action. He realized that he had already lost too many of the innate factors he had prepared for the Fourth Step. Now was not the time to hesitate—he had to seize the Saint Position and break through as soon as possible.
Having made up his mind, Chi Yao tore open the void and fled in a new direction.