"Joe Di?" As soon as Joe Di appeared at the entrance of the grand hall, Riley Thunder instantly recognized him. Even though Riley had never met Joe Di before, he was certain that this young man was the legendary Grandmaster Alchemist.
"Fellow Joe!" Unlike Riley Thunder, at least four or five Immortal Emperors rose to their feet, clasping their fists in greeting toward Joe Di. Clearly, these Immortal Emperors had met Joe Di before.
Two Immortal Emperors even voiced their gratitude to Joe Di for coming to support Thunder Court Immortal Land. Both had previously received invitations from Ava Kong and visited Radiant Lake Palace—they were well aware of Joe Di's formidable reputation.
Joe Di noticed the fleeting joy in Riley Thunder's eyes, but he paid him no mind. Instead, he clasped his fists in greeting to the cultivators who had acknowledged him.
"Are we truly honored by the presence of Emperor Joe himself?" A man with flowing, elegant beard stood up, offering Joe Di a formal Immortal salute and speaking with utmost courtesy.
Joe Di returned the salute, clasping his fists. "Indeed, I am Joe Di." He too performed the formal Immortal greeting.
The bearded man smiled with delight. "I am Felix Snowling, Sect Master of the Righteous Sword Sect. It is an honor to meet Emperor Joe. Thank you for lending your strength to Thunder Court Immortal Land."
Though Felix Snowling had never met Joe Di in person, he had heard countless tales of how Joe Di destroyed Radiant Lake Palace on the Color Mirage Immortal Continent.
Joe Di replied calmly, "We can discuss my assistance later. I am here to find Quentin Qu, Guildmaster of the Alchemist Guild, and Sam Shen, Deputy Guildmaster."
Joe Di was in no hurry. Whether speaking or acting, he moved at a leisurely pace, all the while quietly arranging formation flags.
As the woman spoke, several more Immortal Emperors stepped forward from their seats.
Seeing that six more Immortal Emperors had joined his side, Riley Thunder felt a wave of relief. Once they managed to subdue Joe Di, he planned to use the pretext of honoring his late consort to take Joe Di away. There was no doubt in his mind—Joe Di was hiding a top-level secret.
Joe Di let out a cold laugh, his tone icy. "Only seven of you are blind? It seems not every Immortal Emperor or sect master on Thundercrest Continent has lost their senses. I arrived here a year ago, and just as I set foot on this land, I saw my old friend Zhong Ao being hunted down by a woman—her name was Ava Kong.
If Zhong Ao hadn't been ambushed, not to mention a single woman—even if everyone here attacked together, I wouldn't be underestimating you, but none of you could kill him. Because he was schemed against, he ended up being chased by an insignificant ant. That woman, Ava Kong, was killed by me. If anyone is dissatisfied, just step forward. If you don't want to fight me, leave now—when the battle begins, I won't have the leisure to avoid collateral damage..."
[Irrelevant system message skipped.]
"You court death!" Riley Thunder roared, his domain surging wildly. The Thunder Hammer grew larger and, in an instant, transformed into a mountain of lightning that crashed toward Joe Di.
Joe Di did not activate his Supreme Strangle Immortal Array. He simply let the Azure Veil Blade fall into his hand and slashed out with a single stroke.
Joe Di knew full well that Riley Thunder wasn't going all out. The man was cunning, clearly testing his strength. Joe Di himself didn't dare to unleash his full power yet. If he did, the Primordial Thunderstone beneath his feet would rain down lightning waterfalls and thunder spheres, and any cultivator who hadn't left would be caught in the storm.
His ninth-tier Supreme Strangle Immortal Array, facing so many powerful adversaries, would still be hard-pressed to hold them off. He needed to thin the crowd first. Joe Di didn't believe everyone here would risk their lives for Riley Thunder.
Boom! Violent immortal essence erupted, lightning bursting in every direction.
The Thunder Hammer returned to Riley Thunder's hand. He appeared calm now, having used his anger to test Joe Di's strength. He was reassured—Joe Di was a bit weaker than he'd expected. Today, he was determined not to let Joe Di escape.
Such a young Grandmaster Alchemist, not even at the Immortal Emperor stage, yet able to kill Nate Shee—these secrets made Riley Thunder tremble with excitement.
"Ha!" Daniel Xing laughed. "So this is what it means to fall for the sake of Thundercrest Continent's beast tide. I've seen enough. Emperor Joe, today I’ll risk it all, but I won’t help you seek justice."
As he spoke, Daniel Xing gripped his double-bladed halberd and landed beside Joe Di.
Those Immortal Emperors who had witnessed Joe Di's power wasted no time—they rushed out of the grand hall without a second thought.
"Friend Di, though I understand what’s happened, I can't help you—I can only leave." Felix Snowling cupped his fists to Joe Di, sighed, and darted out of the hall.
The Grand Cauldron Apothecary trio had been schemed against by Riley Thunder—he wasn’t blind, he could see it clearly. Yet, because Riley Thunder’s fate was tied to the survival of Thundercrest Continent, even if he disliked Riley’s methods, he couldn’t help Joe Di take him down.
The Immortal Emperor who had called out Joe Di’s Primordial Thunderstone cupped his fists and said, "Emperor Joe, I am Iron North Mountain, sect master of Kun Mountain Sect. Thundercrest Continent is at fault here—I sincerely apologize."
With those words, he too flashed out of the hall.
He wanted Joe Di’s Primordial Thunderstone, but unless Riley Thunder died, it would never happen. In this situation, he certainly wouldn’t help Riley Thunder fight Joe Di.
As Iron North Mountain left, even more Immortal Emperors streamed out of the hall.
Joe Di cupped his fists to Daniel Xing and said, "Friend Xing, you should leave too. I appreciate you stepping up, but today I want to face the Thunder Emperor alone."
Daniel Xing was stunned—Joe Di wasn’t just up against a single Immortal Emperor, but seven, led by the Thunder Emperor.
But he quickly understood and nodded to Joe Di. "Alright."
Like Riley Thunder, Daniel Xing had a grudge—Riley had harmed his friend Eugene Young, simply because Eugene had spoken up for Qu Hen and Shen Zishun.
Riley Thunder had been wary of Daniel Xing, but with Daniel stepping out, he immediately swept the Thunder Hammer toward Joe Di, shouting, "Everyone, attack! This man has secrets..."
Riley Thunder struck quickly, but Joe Di was just as fast. His Supreme Strangle Immortal Array formed in an instant; his divine sense connected with the Primordial Thunderstone, merging thunder laws into sweeping lightning waterfalls and arcs, each thunderball exploding outward.
"Not good, he’s constructed a Supreme Strangle Immortal Array here..." As the fight broke out, someone noticed Joe Di’s ninth-tier array. Coupled with the Primordial Thunderstone, under Joe Di’s control, the terrifying indiscriminate attack forced even Immortal Emperors to focus solely on defense.