The Nirvana Aura emitted by the Nirvana Mirror was locked by Joe Di's Azure Veil Blade and Lethe Frost Crystal, making it impossible for the Immeasura Palace Lord to escape.
The Immeasura Palace Lord let out a long sigh. No matter how unwilling she was, at this moment, she could only accept her fate.
With a bang, a cloud of blood burst forth as the Immeasura Palace Lord's physical body exploded. A faint shadow darted out, but under Joe Di's 'Realm' glyph, it could not break free.
"Joe Di, do you dare kill me..." Even with only her primordial spirit left, the Immeasura Palace Lord roared in anguish. Was there truly someone in this world who dared to kill her, Fu Immeasura? Had she known, she would rather have died in battle at the Gate of Creation years ago.
Joe Di chuckled lightly. The Azure Veil Blade swept out a circular blade curtain, trapping the Immeasura Palace Lord's primordial spirit within. He spoke calmly, "Do you think I dare kill you?"
Joe Di didn't even consider sparing the Immeasura Palace Lord to ask about the Gate of Creation. The Creation Brush's realm and the Azure Veil Blade's intent completely locked her down.
"Amitabha! Amitabha!" A calm chant sounded, followed by a palm imprint striking Joe Di's realm.
Crack! Joe Di clearly felt his 'Realm' glyph shatter, and the blade force trapping the Immeasura Palace Lord vanished. In that instant, she escaped Joe Di's killing intent, and the next moment, her primordial spirit regained a physical body. However, her cultivation had nearly plummeted to the lowest point.
"Thank you for saving me, Daoist friend." The Immeasura Palace Lord immediately bowed respectfully to the newcomer, her tone filled with reverence and gratitude.
Joe Di was deeply shocked. He had never seen anyone shatter his Creation Brush's 'Realm' glyph with a single palm, and even his Azure Veil Blade's rules and blade force were instantly destroyed.
Ever since he comprehended the principle of Vanished One and attained clarity in his own law, Joe Di's Azure Veil Blade had reached a state beyond techniques. Most of the time, he no longer needed to pursue specific blade skills; every strike could gather the momentum of heaven and earth into the strongest blade force and killing intent.
Yet even so, the person before him shattered it all with a single casual slap. Even if Joe Di were a fool, he would know that slap had destroyed his 'Realm' and blade force, saving the Immeasura Palace Lord—done with utter ease.
Joe Di fixed his gaze on the other, fully alert and ready to flee at any moment. As for deploying the Lethe Bridge or Fate's Loom, he didn't even consider it. He was certain that even if he tried, it would be futile.
This person was a fat monk, or rather, a corpulent wanderer. His head, resembling that of a pig, was encircled by a silver band. Layers of fat hung from his chin like the folds of a pig's neck.
When he spoke, his eyes narrowed as if he were always smiling, the slits so thin they looked like two tiny black lines.
"Are you Dominic Du?" Joe Di asked tentatively.
He truly couldn't imagine anyone else besides Dominic Du possessing such terrifying power.
The corpulent wanderer's eyes remained narrowed. "Heh, you seem quite afraid of Dominic Du. Relax, I'm not Dominic Du, but I am looking for you. You're lucky—where did you find the Creation Brush? After it was lost, I searched for it myself, but found not a trace. Unexpected that you managed to obtain it. I want it, I really do..."
As the corpulent wanderer spoke, Joe Di vaguely sensed a subtle shift in the laws of the void. He wasn't entirely certain, but took it as real regardless. If he hadn't been on guard against this wanderer, he would never have noticed such a change.
The Immeasura Palace Lord couldn't be killed for now, but Joe Di wasn't worried about her. Her physical body had been destroyed, and it would take her many years to regain her former level.
This corpulent wanderer was not Dominic Du. From his tone, it seemed he knew Dominic Du well. Even if he wasn’t Dominic Du, their connection ran deep.
"I've never figured out how you managed to use the Reminiscent Bodhi Seed to fool Dominic Du..." The corpulent wanderer spoke to Joe Di with no hint of hostility, his tone still casual and his eyes smiling.
Joe Di couldn’t even be bothered to reply. He casually swung the Azure Veil Blade, then unleashed Lawstride to its fullest extent.
Crack! Though the space was void, and Joe Di felt no locked realm, the swing of his blade produced a distinct cracking sound, as if something had been torn open.
A cold sweat broke out on Joe Di’s back. That strike had only been meant to warn the corpulent wanderer—a promise that he would return the favor one day. Yet unexpectedly, his blade had actually broken through the wanderer’s locked realm.
He hadn’t noticed when the corpulent wanderer constructed a locked realm. He’d only vaguely sensed a change in the surrounding space, never imagining the realm was already in place. This man was terrifying beyond measure.
In other words, if he hadn’t struck with his blade before leaving, would he have been able to escape? Or, if he’d spent a few more moments talking, would he still have gotten away?
There was no time for further thought. Joe Di’s Lawstride grew ever faster, pushed nearly to its limit.
If this man was so terrifying and he wasn’t Dominic Du, how could Joe Di hope to even speak to Dominic Du himself?
Unless he reached the Third Step, he absolutely couldn’t face these monstrous powerhouses. He was still far too inexperienced. These old monsters wore smiling faces, but harbored the darkest hearts.
Seeing Joe Di flee, the corpulent wanderer frowned, then chuckled, "Impressive, truly impressive..."
Though he said so, he made no move to chase after Joe Di.
"Why don't you go after him, Daoist friend?" the Immeasura Palace Lord asked in puzzlement.
The corpulent wanderer chanted 'Amitabha' again, then replied unhurriedly, "My strength far surpasses his, but my Lawstride is nowhere near fast enough to catch him. Besides, I'm too lazy—chasing people around is far too tiring."
[Irrelevant system message skipped.]
Though she felt contempt in her heart, the Immeasura Palace Lord dared not show it. She simply cupped her fists and said, "Fu Immeasura thanks you for your rescue, Daoist friend. If not for you, my soul would have been utterly destroyed."
Though she offered thanks, she cursed the corpulent fellow inwardly. He could clearly have saved her sooner, but chose to appear only after her physical body was destroyed. Clearly, he did it on purpose.
The corpulent wanderer chuckled again, "No need to thank me, no need at all. As long as you don't curse me for being late and letting you lose your body, I'm more than happy."
The Immeasura Palace Lord's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly replied, "I, Fu Immeasura, am not such a contemptible person. I will remember your kindness, Daoist friend."
She racked her brain, but still couldn't recall who this fat man was. By rights, anyone who could rescue her so easily from Joe Di shouldn't be a nobody, and he also knew Dominic Du. More importantly, from their conversation, she realized Dominic Du really wasn't dead.
The corpulent wanderer waved a hand. "Daoist Immeasura, I saved you because I have a few questions. Would you join me for a quiet chat and a cup of tea?"
The Immeasura Palace Lord immediately understood his intent. He wanted her to reveal everything about the Gate of Creation. With the situation as it was—her life saved and the other far stronger—she had no reason to refuse.
...
In just a dozen breaths, Joe Di realized the corpulent wanderer hadn't followed him. Even so, he didn't relax for a moment; his speed only increased. The wanderer hadn't chased him because he wasn't Dominic Du. If Dominic Du learned of his whereabouts, he would surely come after him at once.
The Third Step—when would he finally reach it?
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)