"Fellow Daoist Joe, the Lost Dao Domain is nothing more than a sealed space. We're all trapped here, so the most important thing now is to join forces and find a way out together. You and the City Lord are both supreme cultivators—if you fight, all you'll do is ruin the landscape of the Lost Dao Domain, and nothing good will come of it. There's no deep-seated grudge between us. I think it's better to sit down, laugh it off, and then discuss how to escape this place." Aron Peng smiled warmly and cupped his fists toward Joe Di, his tone gentle and persuasive.
Heh, talking about leaving the Lost Dao Domain is just wishful thinking. If escaping was possible, would he still be wasting time here?
After finishing, Aron Peng turned to Samuel Shang and cupped his fists. "City Lord, I really don't think this is a big deal. Fellow Daoist Joe is new here, so it's normal for us to have different perspectives. Why not let go of old grievances and work together to find a solution? What do you think?"
Samuel Shang secretly praised Aron Peng's tact. He liked what he heard—Aron Peng had given him face and defused the conflict. As long as he kept quiet, Joe Di would not stir up trouble again.
Sure enough, Joe Di glanced at Aron Peng and chuckled. "No wonder you've thrived here."
Aron Peng simply smiled, not responding to Joe Di's comment.
Joe Di turned to Charlotte Ling and said, "I'm heading to Halfmark Marsh to comprehend some Dao resonance. Would you like to come along?"
Charlotte Ling had calmed down from her earlier excitement. She nodded and said, "Brother Joe, this is Elder Quentin. If it weren't for his repeated help, I wouldn't be alive today. Why don't we invite Elder Quentin to join us?"
"Elder Quentin..." Joe Di had only spoken three words when Quentin Wood, who had just walked over, interrupted excitedly. "Brother Joe, your strength far surpasses mine—I'm not worthy of being called 'Elder.' If you don't mind, just call me Brother Quentin from now on. That would make me more than satisfied."
Quentin Wood was indeed excited. He now fully understood why he and Charlotte Ling could walk freely in Lost Dao City without trouble. It wasn't because Samuel Shang had ordered others to leave them alone—it was all because of Joe Di.
The only way Samuel Shang could maintain his presence against Joe Di's overwhelming power was by uttering a few harsh words. Joe Di's strength was truly extraordinary. Ever since Quentin Wood entered the Lost Dao Domain, he'd survived on the fringes—when had he ever been able to speak so openly here?
Whether in ancient times or now, the universe has always respected strength above all. Charlotte Ling could call him 'Elder,' but Quentin Wood didn't dare let Joe Di do the same. Yet, he was one of the earliest beings after the world's creation, so it wasn't inappropriate for Joe Di to call him 'Brother Quentin.'
Joe Di understood what Quentin Wood was thinking. He laughed heartily and cupped his fists, "Since that's the case, I'll call you Brother Quentin from now on. Brother Quentin, why don't you come with us to Halfmark Marsh?"
Quentin Wood didn't hesitate. "Of course! Miss Charlotte and I just returned from Halfmark Marsh. By the way, Charlotte, you should call me 'Brother Quentin' from now on, too."
Joe Di and Charlotte Ling were peers, so it would be odd for Joe Di to call him Brother Quentin while Charlotte Ling still called him 'Elder.'
Charlotte Ling didn't hesitate at all. "Thank you, Brother Quentin."
Seeing Joe Di about to leave, Samuel Shang quickly spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Joe, Aron Peng is right—the Lost Dao Domain is only so big. Hundreds of thousands of us were trapped here, and now, at most, only ten thousand remain. The Lost Dao Domain is a Chaotic World; once inside, it's impossible to get out. If you're willing, I'd like to join forces with you to try and escape."
As Samuel Shang spoke, countless eyes turned to Joe Di, all waiting for his answer. After all, Joe Di was an outsider. Even if he couldn't escape, he surely knew more about the outside world than they did.
But Joe Di's strength was simply too formidable—they had no choice but to ask for his cooperation.
Of course Joe Di understood what Samuel Shang meant. In fact, if he couldn't find a way out in the end, he'd also seek Samuel Shang's help. How many years had Samuel Shang been here? And how long had he just arrived?
This time, Joe Di didn't undermine Samuel Shang's authority. He cupped his fists and said, "City Lord, I'm heading to Halfmark Marsh for a while. After I return, I may come back here—then we can discuss how to get out together."
Hearing that Joe Di was willing to cooperate, Samuel Shang was overjoyed. He cupped his fists and replied, "Then I'll wait for you in Lost Dao City, Brother Joe."
...
Once the three left Lost Dao City, Charlotte Ling asked, "Brother Joe, are we really coming back?"
Quentin Wood chuckled, "Brother Joe only said 'maybe.' Whether we return depends on what happens next."
Joe Di's words about possibly returning to Lost Dao City didn't mean he was certain. Quentin Wood understood this perfectly—and so did Samuel Shang. But Joe Di was simply too powerful; Samuel Shang had no way to stop him.
Joe Di nodded, "Brother Quentin is right. If we find our own way out, I won't need to work with Samuel Shang. Of course, if we can't, we'll have to come back."
For Joe Di, if he found the exit, he wouldn't care whether Samuel Shang could escape or not.
...
Halfmark Marsh was still some distance from Lost Dao City, but none of the three were in a hurry. They chatted as they walked, and after half a day, they arrived at Halfmark Marsh.
Standing outside Halfmark Marsh once again, Charlotte Ling sighed, "If I'd known Brother Joe was coming to find me, Brother Quentin wouldn't have wasted an Escape Talisman. In the end, Samuel Shang used the Starshroud Umbrella to teleport us to Lost Dao City."
"Starshroud Umbrella?" Joe Di asked in surprise. When he fought Samuel Shang, the man hadn't used the Starshroud Umbrella at all.
Quentin Wood spoke gravely, "Samuel Shang possesses a Starshroud Umbrella. It's an auxiliary primordial artifact—often it seems useless, but in reality, it's quite remarkable. It can form a barrier and trap people inside."
Joe Di grew even more alert after hearing Quentin Wood's words. Samuel Shang clearly had tricks he hadn't revealed yet—his scheming ran deep.
"Thank you for coming to save me again, Brother Joe." Charlotte Ling gazed at Joe Di. Earlier, when she rushed into his arms, it was already the boldest thing she'd ever done. Even if she let go of her pride, she couldn't bring herself to do more.
Joe Di felt a bit embarrassed. He had indeed come to rescue Charlotte Ling, but his plan was to save Nora Xiu first and then look for Charlotte Ling. Unexpectedly, fate had led him here, not to the boundary between realms, but to the Lost Dao Domain where he found Charlotte Ling.
"Charlotte, I always intended to find you. It's just that my wife was gravely injured, so I've been searching everywhere for the Duality Blossom..."
"Brother Joe, your wife is seriously injured? You're together with her?" Charlotte Ling felt her mind whirl in confusion. If Joe Di was with his wife, where did that leave her?
Joe Di nodded, "Yes, I've always kept her by my side. Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to wake her. By the way, Charlotte, I've also found your friend..."
Before Joe Di could mention Emily Ye, Quentin Wood stepped forward, "Brother Joe, I come from a lineage of spiritual cultivators and have a natural sensitivity to all kinds of injuries. May I take a look at your wife?"
If the Duality Blossom could heal such wounds, perhaps he had a way too.
Joe Di replied, "Of course."
With that, Joe Di waved his hand, and a jade bed appeared from the Ninth World. Nora Xiu lay on it, her face pale and her eyes closed.
Nora Xiu was clearly lifeless. To an ordinary person, she would seem already lost to the world.