The Three-Life Dao and the Way of Unity were beginning to take shape. Joe Di was overjoyed, ready to channel his cosmic energy in a frenzy to fully stabilize these two Dao paths. As long as these two Dao paths were completely solidified, he would have completed the first step.
But before Joe Di could accelerate the circulation of his cosmic energy, the rules of the Three-Life Dao that had formed the foundation began to crack, then shattered with a crisp sound. At the same moment, the Way of Unity also crumbled into fragments.
Even though these two Dao paths had only just begun to take shape, the backlash from their incompatibility still caused Joe Di to nearly spit out a mouthful of blood. If not for his quick reaction, he would have immediately exposed himself.
"Daoist friend, are you alright?" Saint Henry Yi clearly noticed Joe Di's problem. While secretly sighing at Joe Di's weakness, he still asked with concern.
Joe Di shook his head, his face a bit pale as he replied, "I'm fine."
After saying this, Joe Di closed his eyes again and continued to reconstruct the Three-Life Dao and the Way of Unity.
Joe Di knew very well that this might be his only chance.
Here, thousands of Saint Seat Holders were debating the Dao. Every pair engaging in Dao debate would create infinite possibilities. Watching on-site, Joe Di knew these infinite possibilities could help him solve countless problems.
No matter how strong or extraordinary a person is, it's impossible to simultaneously draw lessons from countless different Dao paths—let alone from the collision of so many unique Dao principles.
If he missed this opportunity, even if he found thousands of cultivators at the third step in the future to debate the Dao, it could never produce the same effect as now. Besides, he wouldn't be able to find them.
How could the Dao debates among thousands of Saints here be the same as those of thousands of third-step cultivators from the Kaihe Universe? Countless cultivators who trained in the Kaihe Universe did so under its grand cosmic rules—no matter how far their Dao developed, they could never break free of those roots. That's why, after arriving here, Creation Realm experts from the Kaihe Universe are easily possessed by the Saint Seat Holders present.
But the Saint Seat Holders here, each one has their own Dao path, and every one of them has ruled over vast universes for countless eras. Their refinement and mastery of their own Dao far surpasses any ordinary cultivator of the same path. Only such Dao debates are truly meaningful to Joe Di.
Joe Di paid no attention to Saint Henry Yi's sympathetic gaze and once again began reconstructing the Three-Life Dao and the Way of Unity.
This time, the collapse happened even faster than before. In less than a day, the two newly constructed Dao paths disintegrated once again.
Thanks to his experience from the first attempt, Joe Di avoided any major issues this time. On his third try, as he continued reconstructing, Joe Di's divine sense settled on two Saints still debating on the platform.
While observing the clash of Dao principles between the two Saints, he simultaneously refined his own two new Dao paths.
Time passed slowly. Not only Joe Di, but even Saint Henry Yi beside him had become numb to Joe Di's countless failures. He truly couldn't understand how Joe Di had ever become a formation expert. As for the cosmic rules outside in the Ninefold Heaven, he was certain they had nothing to do with Joe Di. Joe Di had only come to improve the trapping formation, and by luck, happened to be ignored by Saint Quinn Jett and Saint Tyron.
One Saint after another took the stage for Dao debate. During his process of constructing new Dao paths, Joe Di witnessed all kinds of Dao principles. He even saw the Way of Non-Action practiced to the extent of mastering the vast cosmos and becoming a Saint Seat Holder. Joe Di was truly impressed.
Joe Di also came to understand the format of these debates: the first to ascend the debate platform was Saint Eugene, who began by presenting his own Dao. Then Saint Dilan took the stage to debate with Saint Eugene. However, Saint Dilan failed, and Saint Eugene held his ground on the debate platform.
Next up was Saint Doyle, who managed to defeat Saint Eugene during the debate. After his victory, Saint Doyle presented his own Dao, and once he finished, another Saint would debate with him.
And so the rotation continued. Challengers did not need to present their own Dao first—only if they succeeded in their challenge would they then present their Dao.
Once the Saint holding the debate platform won against three challengers in a row, they could step down to rest, and a new Saint would take their place on the platform.
This debate format not only allowed the victorious Saint's Dao path to be thoroughly displayed before all the Saints, but it was also fair and impartial—though admittedly, it was time-consuming. Some Saints would debate for over half a year.
In the blink of an eye, several years passed. The Saints were still debating on the platform, but Joe Di changed his approach. He no longer tried to construct the Three-Life Dao and the Way of Unity simultaneously. Instead, he chose to first build the Three-Life Dao, and only after it was fully refined and formed would he attempt to construct the Way of Unity.
Yet, after more than a dozen years, Joe Di still made no progress. Even when he managed to construct the Three-Life Dao, as soon as its cosmic cycle reached a certain point, it would immediately clash with the rules of the Dao and collapse, returning him to square one.
After decades of effort, Joe Di was physically and mentally exhausted. He stopped trying and focused on observing the debates between the Saints, meticulously recording the origins of countless Dao paths and the subtle changes during each debate.
A hundred years, a thousand years...
After a thousand years, Joe Di's cultivation hadn't advanced in the slightest, and likewise, there was no sign of the Three-Life Dao or the Way of Unity taking shape.
Yet Joe Di felt no disappointment at all. Over a thousand years, he had witnessed the Dao paths of thousands of Saint Seat Holders and seen the collisions of Dao during their debates.
Joe Di was confident that, as long as he was given enough time to let all the Dao principles he absorbed settle, he would have absolute confidence in reconstructing the Three-Life Dao and the Way of Unity.
At this moment, there were no more Saints on the debate platform. Saint Tyron stood at the center and announced loudly, "After a thousand years of Dao debate, one hundred and thirty-one Saints have emerged from among thousands of Saint Seat Holders, earning the opportunity to enter the Vast Chaos together. Because there are so many powerful Saints, the quota has increased by thirty-one."
Although this is an opportunity, it is also a danger. We all know that if anything goes wrong in the Vast Chaos, we will vanish forever within its expanse. Now, I am telling everyone: all Saints qualified to enter the Chaos, set out immediately."
There was hardly any time to rest, but none of the Saints here needed it. If not for the Dao debate, even a thousand years of waiting would have been unnecessary.
Joe Di saw Saint Tyron put away the debate platform and felt a bit uneasy. He knew better than to ask Saint Tyron for the debate platform now—it would be suicide. He was certain both Saint Tyron and Saint Quinn Jett knew his true identity. At this moment, what he needed most was to keep a low profile.
After putting away the ship, Saint Tyron spoke again, "The ship for entering the Chaos is already waiting on the plaza outside the Saint Seat Grand Hall. Once we board, we will head straight into the Chaos."
The many Saints filed out of the Grand Hall in an orderly fashion. Joe Di noticed that many of them began chatting with each other. He didn't need to overhear their conversations to know what was happening. They were about to enter the Chaos—no matter how powerful a Saint, inside the Chaos, their lives could be snuffed out at any moment.
So the Saints began seeking allies. Everyone had the same idea, and naturally, alliances formed quickly.
Joe Di looked over at Henry Yi, intending to form an alliance with him. He believed Saint Henry Yi probably had the same idea.
To Joe Di's surprise, Saint Henry Yi instead walked over to another group of Saints and began chatting enthusiastically. There was no need to ask—he was recruiting teammates.
Joe Di glanced around and sighed inwardly. He knew he probably wouldn't have any teammates. The Saint Zhai Yun was never very strong, nor well-connected. Now, with the aura of Zhai Yun Saint barely detectable on him, most people were unfamiliar with him. Naturally, when forming teams, everyone preferred to ally with those they knew—no one would risk teaming up with a stranger.
In just a short time, everyone had already left the Grand Hall and arrived at the Saint Seat Plaza.
In the center of Saint Seat Plaza stood a colossal ship. With a sweep of his divine sense, Joe Di realized the entire ship was surrounded by a Burning Divine Array. As for what lay within the array, Joe Di didn't even need to look—he could guess it was Supreme Ley Lines.
To enter the Chaos, it was indeed necessary to burn Supreme Ley Lines.
Joe Di had no idea what material the ship was made from—it was impossible for him to tell.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)