Joe Di tossed out a handful of Array Banners and simultaneously threw in a Cosmic Dao Vein.
Seeing Joe Di casually pull out a Cosmic Dao Vein, Dean Bell's jaw dropped. This was a rare treasure—he had once possessed one, and his was even higher in quality than the one Joe Di produced. But such things were incredibly precious; his own Cosmic Dao Vein had long since been used up.
Back when he had one, he hid it more carefully than anyone. Who would just take it out so casually like Joe Di?
"Is that a Cosmic Dao Vein?" Dean Bell turned to ask Bolt.
Bolt looked at him with utter disdain. "Tch, you really haven't seen much of the world. Back then, there were so many Cosmic Dao Veins I couldn't be bothered to pick them up. Look at you, getting all worked up over it."
"Where is that?" Dean Bell's eyes lit up. If such a place existed, he would definitely go and collect Cosmic Dao Veins.
"That's far, so far I can't even remember..." Bolt replied offhandedly, then lost interest in Dean Bell and turned his attention to Joe Di's actions.
Joe Di kept tossing down Array Banners, simultaneously weaving countless Law Array Banners into the void. That Cosmic Dao Vein had already been sent into the formation.
In just a few days, Joe Di finished setting up all the Array Banners, creating a hazy grand array.
Dean Bell tried to probe the formation with his Spiritual Sense, but was immediately struck by dizzying waves. He quickly withdrew his sense, realizing, "Is this an Epoch Flow Array?"
Joe Di's voice sounded in time, "That's right, this is a temporal formation—more precisely, an Epoch Flow Array. Once you enter this array, in just over a month, millions of years will pass, allowing you to fulfill your Grand Way Oath."
"Let me try!" Dean Bell couldn't wait and rushed into the Epoch Flow Array. To his surprise, standing within the array, he could see the exit of the Ascendant Gate. This matched his oath perfectly—no matter how long he stayed, he would be fulfilling his Grand Way Oath to guard the exit of the Ascendant Gate.
"Boss, even if Dean Bell is somewhat agreeable, was it really necessary to use a Cosmic Dao Vein to set up the Epoch Flow Array for him?" Bolt grumbled, annoyed that he himself didn't have a Cosmic Dao Vein to cultivate.
"Dean Bell's Grand Way technique is quite remarkable. Besides, it's good to make a friend—he might be able to help us someday," Joe Di replied.
Bolt was thinking simply, and Joe Di didn't bother to explain further. Dean Bell's technique truly was extraordinary, and precisely because of that, Joe Di hoped that after saving Dean Bell, he might be able to ask for his help in return.
Joe Di was certain that even if Dean Bell guarded the gate for thirty million years, the Sage of Life and Death's bindings would not simply vanish. He wanted Dean Bell to understand—the Sage of Life and Death was not someone to be reasoned with.
Moreover, helping Dean Bell leave this place would also suppress the Sage of Life and Death. While Dean Bell was here, he fought every person who passed by, which meant all the information about passing cultivators was revealed to the Sage. If Dean Bell left, the Sage's control over the Ascendant Gate would be crippled.
...
Standing within the Epoch Flow Array that Joe Di had set up, Dean Bell was stunned. He was certain this array was of a level he'd never seen before. Otherwise, with his strength, he wouldn't be so disoriented inside. This alone showed how terrifyingly powerful the young cultivator who set up the array was—especially his mastery of temporal laws, which Dean Bell's fastest escape techniques couldn't even begin to match.
This kind of skill was far superior to Quinn King.
Unfortunately, the Epoch Flow Array had no other use—it merely cycled through the ages. Otherwise, if he could cultivate here for over twenty million years, how wonderful that would be.
Inside the Epoch Flow Array, after more than twenty million years had passed, Dean Bell's mind was so muddled that he couldn't think at all. The time conversion was simply too fast—so fast he couldn't even react.
Just as Dean Bell was wondering how much longer it would take to escape the Epoch Flow Array, the flow of time around him suddenly paused. He immediately dashed out of the array, shouting anxiously, "Senior, Boss, please don't make me go back in! I'd rather just stay here and finish out my time honestly."
Joe Di chuckled, rolling up the array and the remaining Cosmic Dao Vein. "Including the time you previously spent here, you've already completed your Grand Way Oath of thirty million years. Take a look—aren't the binding Grand Way principles still on your brow?"
Dean Bell immediately understood and burst out cursing, "Quinn King, you big-headed brat! How dare you trick your Grandpa Dean Bell!"
Joe Di said, "Cursing won't help. Not only can the Sage of Life and Death not hear you, even if he could, he wouldn't care. By the way, is Quinn King the Sage of Life and Death?"
Dean Bell slumped to the ground and nodded, "Yes, that guy's name is Quinn King. His head's as big as a toilet..."
At this, he seemed to recall something and looked eagerly at Joe Di. "Brother, you must have another way, right? You said before you had another solution."
Joe Di nodded, "Come here, and don't put up any defenses. When my Grand Way principle enters your brow, you can't resist, or you'll die and your Dao will be destroyed. It won't affect me at all."
Dean Bell patted his chest. "I'm dirt poor, so what's there to be afraid of? Go ahead."
Dean Bell wasn't afraid of Joe Di trying anything sneaky. In his view, even if Joe Di killed him, he wouldn't be able to open his world—why bother with something so thankless? Of course, if he knew Joe Di could easily open his world, he wouldn't think that way.
Joe Di stepped forward, raising his hand as a Grand Way principle struck Dean Bell's brow. Dean Bell immediately felt his thoughts slow, everything coming to a halt.
Joe Di was intimately familiar with the Life-and-Death Grand Way. In the shortest possible time, he stripped away the Life-and-Death principle binding Dean Bell's Purple Palace. The next moment, that principle was refined by Joe Di and vanished without a trace.
As he recovered, Dean Bell stared at Joe Di in astonishment. "Brother, is it really resolved?"
Soon, Dean Bell realized it was true. That heavy feeling of restraint and oppression had vanished without a trace. Now, even his soul felt utterly relaxed and free.
"Of course. Or did you want it to last longer?" Joe Di said.
"Then why didn't you just strip away the principle binding my soul earlier? Why let me suffer for over a month?" Dean Bell asked, confused and suspecting Joe Di of messing with him.
Joe Di replied speechlessly, "That's because you made a Grand Way Oath yourself. Your Grand Way Oath isn't so easy to break."
For Joe Di, he could strip away the binding Grand Way principle left by Quinn King, the Sage of Life and Death, but he couldn't break Dean Bell's Grand Way Oath. After all, he didn't understand Dean Bell's Dao.
"Thank you, Brother! From now on, I'll follow wherever you lead." Dean Bell said gratefully, bowing deeply.
"My name is Joe Di, and this is Bolt. I'm trying to find the way back, but unfortunately, I'm lost right now. You cultivate the true Chaos Space Grand Way, don't you? So I might need your help." Joe Di said, patting Dean Bell's shoulder.
Dean Bell had claimed his escape skills were number one, which made Joe Di suspicious. But after helping Dean Bell strip away Quinn King's Life-and-Death principle, Joe Di was certain—Dean Bell really did cultivate the top-tier Chaos Space Grand Way.
Bolt may be fast and even have rule-based escape techniques, but in chaos, catching Dean Bell would be nearly impossible.
Dean Bell laughed heartily, "That's right, Brother, I cultivate the Chaos Grand Way. There's no life born in chaos, but I'm the exception. Not only can I help you find your way back, but even if you want to find that big-headed Quinn King, it's no trouble for me at all."
"You can find Quinn King?" Joe Di asked in surprise.
"Of course. In this chaos, there's nothing I can't do." Dean Bell sensed Joe Di wanted his help finding the big-headed guy, and grew even prouder.
"Then what are we waiting for? Take me to find Quinn King. I've got a score to settle with him," Joe Di said without hesitation. Back in the Life-and-Death Gate, Quinn King nearly killed him. Now, as he's about to step into the Sixth Step, he naturally wants payback.
There's one more thing—Joe Di also wanted to see what Quinn King's Dao Tree was like.