Joe Di stepped out from his sanctuary, feeling refreshed and invigorated. Ever since Inch Yuan was wounded, he had devoted himself to healing. Now, with his injuries fully mended, Joe Di was brimming with confidence. He planned to visit Genesis City. With his current strength, even Zane Edge would find it nearly impossible to detain him.
Zane Edge's Dao bore scars, and Joe Di doubted that he had recovered so quickly. Even if he had, the trapping array of Genesis City could no longer restrain him. If, by some chance, the array did ensnare him, the power of Fate's Loom would allow him to tear it apart.
Only Quinn Moten was aware of Joe Di's journey to Genesis City. All other cultivators of the Mortal Realm were secluded, desperately repairing the deficiencies in their Dao.
After wandering the Genesis Universe for so many years, the cultivators had finally found a place to perfect their Dao. Everyone knew exactly what needed to be done.
...
Genesis City had not changed in the slightest despite the cracks appearing in Zane Edge's Dao. When Joe Di returned, the city remained the most prosperous place in the Genesis Universe.
Standing outside Genesis City, Joe Di's gaze once again settled on the five grand characters inscribed above its gates.
Seeing these five characters again, Joe Di felt a distinct difference from his previous visit. The characters were undoubtedly a magical artifact, yet atop this artifact...
No, above these five characters was a stairway, leading to a vast, ethereal plaza suspended in the void. The plaza shimmered in haze, and Joe Di could not see it clearly.
Why hadn't he noticed this plaza on his first visit? Perhaps it was related to his cultivation level.
Just as Joe Di was about to find someone to ask, he saw a brown-haired cultivator stride forward, a long spear piercing through the shoulder of a young man who had only just reached the Convergence Realm.
Joe Di swept his spiritual sense over the youth and instantly recognized a familiar aura. Another cultivator from the Five Elements Universe—though not killed, the way the spear was driven through his shoulder clearly signaled an impending execution.
The young man's face was handsome but hung low, his head drooping as blood dripped steadily from the tip of the spear.
Without hesitation, Joe Di strode up to the brown-haired cultivator and said, "Release this youth, and then report your name yourself."
The brown-haired cultivator stared at Joe Di in astonishment for a moment before replying, "You want me to release the prisoner from the Five Elements Universe and then report my name?"
"You heard me right. That's exactly what Joe Di said." As he spoke, Joe Di's spiritual sense swept outward.
Though he still dared not openly tear down the restrictions of Genesis City, Joe Di no longer needed the caution he had shown on his first visit. His spiritual sense roamed freely.
Nearby cultivators paused at Joe Di's words. Some recognized him immediately, and clarity dawned on their faces.
Everyone knew what kind of person Joe Di was—the kind of madman who, upon arriving at the outer city of Genesis City, dared to raid Lock Dao Prison. For someone like him, such words were hardly surprising.
The brown-haired cultivator clearly remembered who stood before him. He did not release the youth impaled on his spear, but instead cupped his fists and said respectfully, "Daoist Joe, this youth is Nate Rivers. The Fifth Vice Mayor, Jason Key, specifically ordered that he be nailed at the entrance to Genesis City's outer city. Though I admire you greatly, I am not the one in charge here."
The brown-haired cultivator spoke with utmost courtesy. Any cultivator who had spent time in the Genesis Universe knew who the Fifth Vice Mayor was. Jason Key, the Fifth Vice Mayor of Genesis City, was not only powerful but also a direct descendant of the City Lord, and the Cosmos Lord of the Kaihe Universe.
It was well known that within Genesis City—whether in the inner city or the outer city—none dared provoke Jason Key, unless they had a death wish.
"Get lost!" Joe Di barked, following his command with a swift kick.
Though he stood several meters away, Joe Di's kick landed squarely on the brown-haired cultivator's chest. The man had no chance to dodge. Blood spurted from his mouth as he felt his organs shatter, his meridians rupture, and his spiritual sea begin to collapse.
At that moment, he dared not linger a second longer. Joe Di had spared his life, and he knew it well. He was not qualified to summon Jason Key and could only hope to escape quickly.
Staggering backward, the brown-haired cultivator lost his grip on the spear. Before the youth could fall, Joe Di caught him and placed a Convergence Dao Pill in his mouth.
The life-giving Convergence Dao Pill was priceless, but after opening the worlds of several Genesis City experts, such Dao Pills were no longer a rarity for Joe Di.
Though the youth's injuries were not fatal, Joe Di's timely intervention ensured his swift recovery.
In just a moment, the youth understood what had happened. Even while unconscious, he had sensed the events unfolding around him.
The youth quickly stood and bowed deeply to Joe Di. "Junior Nate Rivers, thank you for saving my life, Senior."
Joe Di waved his hand. "We are all from the Five Elements Universe. Helping each other is only natural. No need for formalities."
"Senior, you're from the Five Elements Universe too?" Nate Rivers exclaimed in delight. He hadn't expected that, apart from his father, Uncle Ye, and Senior Zixiao, there was another powerhouse from their universe.
Joe Di nodded. "That's right. Why does this Fifth Vice Mayor want to capture you? Why not kill you outright, but instead nail you up?"
Nate Rivers hurriedly replied, "It's because my father once killed a son of Jason Key, the Fifth Vice Mayor. I was caught by Jason Key's men, and he wants to nail me at the entrance of Genesis City's outer city to lure my father here."
Joe Di was about to ask who Nate Rivers' father was—such audacity, to kill the son of the Fifth Vice Mayor. But before he could speak, a cold laugh echoed, "Joe Di, Vice Mayor Nie gave you face, but I, Jason Key, do not recognize you. How dare you injure my man? Are you courting death...?"
As Jason Key spoke, a massive palm print descended from the cosmic void. The strike warped the surrounding space-time, converging all its force onto Joe Di.
Such overwhelming power—anyone struck by it would meet certain death.
Joe Di instantly sensed the terrifying force of the blow. Jason Key's strength surpassed that of Lie You. Yet this attack was not a show of contempt; Jason Key was leveraging the Dao rhythm of his palm, amplified by Genesis City's killing array, to suppress Joe Di.
If Joe Di had not advanced in arraycraft, he would have had no choice but to evade or flee.
But now, Joe Di stood his ground. He summoned the Azure Veil Blade, unleashing a torrent of blade curtains. With a single slash, he shattered Jason Key's array suppression; it could not touch him at all.
Jason Key's Dao-infused palm print still hovered in the void, but his gaze had frozen. He knew Joe Di's strength—only slightly above Nie Pingjian's, and as for Lie You, Jason Key had never regarded him as a threat. Jason Key believed Lie You's reputation far outstripped his actual power, and that neither could compare to himself. This palm strike, amplified by Genesis City's trapping array, should have forced Joe Di to defend himself before retaliating.
Yet, Jason Key's Dao-infused palm had no effect on Joe Di at all. The force of Joe Di's Azure Veil Blade was so fierce that, rather than being suppressed, it threatened to turn the tables.
The trapping array of Genesis City's outer city could not affect Joe Di in the slightest. He ignored Jason Key's Dao suppression, and Jason Key instantly understood what was happening. Retracting his palm, Jason Key retreated frantically, desperate to escape the deadly range of Joe Di's blade intent.
"Pfft!" A burst of blood exploded as Jason Key's massive hand was torn in half by Joe Di's Azure Veil Blade.
Jason Key took advantage of the moment Joe Di split his hand to retreat from the range of the blade's killing intent.
Joe Di did not pursue. Had he unleashed Time's Third Loom instead of the ordinary Azure Veil Blade, Jason Key would have been gravely injured, if not dead. But here in Genesis City, without having reached the Creation Realm, Joe Di could not kill Jason Key. If he did, he would have to flee immediately.
(That's all for today, friends. Good night!)