While Joe Di was in seclusion cultivating, the sect leaders and disciples who had left Starhaven City began to establish their own sects.
Although the number of cultivators ascending to the Quadrant Immortal Continent through various means was still relatively small, it was clear that the continent was now thriving.
The only things lacking were people and time.
As for Starhaven City, despite its immortal aura having grown more than tenfold in density, few chose to come here. First, the Quadrant Immortal Continent simply didn’t have many people; second, everyone has their own little secrets. Since they could leave Starhaven City and claim a place of their own, why would they choose to live under someone else’s roof again?
Wild grass on the plains cannot be burned away, just like a spring breeze overnight—at this moment, the Quadrant Immortal Continent was lush and vibrant everywhere, brimming with life.
The few cultivators present were busy with their own affairs: some were in frenzied seclusion, while others were scouring the sparsely populated Quadrant Immortal Realm for treasures.
In the blink of an eye, ten years passed. Joe Di exhausted all of his azure essence grains, and his cultivation reached the peak of the Immortal King realm—just one step away from Immortal Sovereign.
Joe Di swept his divine sense across the area: Quinn Tong had reached the fourth level of Ascendant Lord, Ben Taylor and Yvonne Liu were at third level, while Ian Shaw had already overcome the Immortal King Lightning Tribulation and was now at the second level of Immortal King.
The azure essence grains truly were extraordinary—not only did they allow him to reach the peak of Immortal King in a short time, but they also helped Ian Shaw and the others advance rapidly.
Of course, Joe Di knew well that aside from the azure essence grains, the clarity of the surrounding world’s laws was another major reason for his cultivation progress.
Joe Di decided to leave. His current strength was still insufficient to enter the Central Realm, and he couldn’t understand why Debbie Di had yet to ascend. Now that Starhaven City finally had its own Immortal King, he could depart without worry.
After sending a message to the four, Joe Di left Starhaven City.
Once Joe Di left, the cultivation speed of Quinn Tong and the others dropped sharply. Even though the immortal aura here remained dense, their progress was nowhere near what it had been with Joe Di present—not even one percent as fast.
The four quickly realized that Joe Di must harbor a great secret—otherwise, how could their progress have been so astonishing just by cultivating at his side?
...
Stormhaven Island remained unchanged; even from a distance, one could sense the terrifying aura of lightning arcs.
Back then, Joe Di had nearly been struck dead by the lightning arcs of Stormhaven Island while trying to pass through. If not for his Primordial Thunderstone, he might never have made it. Now, with his body refined to the Divine Physique stage, he believed he could cross the island with ease—even without the Primordial Thunderstone.
Feeling the lightning falls on Stormhaven Island, now even denser and more fearsome than before, Joe Di wondered if Lucas Infinity could make it through to Cauldron Haven.
Joe Di had no intention of crossing Stormhaven Island just yet. He planned to wait until reaching Immortal Sovereign before leaving the Quadrant Immortal Continent.
Joe Di pulled out the several-yard-long azure essence vein and tossed it on the ground. The surrounding world’s terrifyingly dense energy surged over him, and even without cultivating, he could feel his power skyrocketing.
Joe Di was secretly astounded—this azure essence vein was truly a treasure. Fortunately, he had visited Radiant Lake Palace; otherwise, Nate Shee would surely have taken it. If, instead of using azure essence grains over the past ten years, he had cultivated directly with this several-yard-long azure essence vein, his cultivation might have broken into Immortal Sovereign long ago—perhaps even reached the mid-stage by now.
Still, Joe Di had no regrets. With the Ninth Prime Law, his understanding of the world’s rules was crystal clear, and his foundation and mental state were far stronger than other cultivators. But cultivation was a gradual process. From stepping into the first level of Immortal King to reaching its peak, it had only been a few decades. Even for a genius, crossing the Immortal King realm in mere decades was a feat among prodigies.
If he tried to accelerate further, his foundation might become unstable.
As soon as he activated his law cycle, the world’s energy within the azure essence vein surged forth, forming a blue dragon that wrapped around Joe Di.
Joe Di’s cultivation soared like a rocket. He had planned to use a few Exalt Will Pills to help, but now, in this situation, he didn’t need them at all—the energy pouring in was more than his Stellar Meridian could absorb.
Boom! Boom! Boom! In the next instant, nine thick lightning arcs crashed down.
Joe Di thought his Divine Physique and mastery of the Genesis Body Codex would let him weather even the Immortal Sovereign Lightning Tribulation with ease.
But the very first wave of tribulation left Joe Di dumbfounded—this wasn’t the Immortal Sovereign Lightning Tribulation, it was a death tribulation.
Each of the nine lightning arcs was as thick as his arm, and every strike shattered his bones, tearing them apart piece by piece.
After just nine waves of tribulation, Joe Di was blasted deep underground, gravely wounded—his Divine Physique seemed utterly useless.
Before Joe Di could react, the second wave of tribulation struck again.
If this continued, death was certain. Joe Di hurriedly grabbed the Primordial Thunderstone.
Since refining his body, this was his first time resisting tribulation lightning arcs.
The second and third waves of tribulation totaled eighteen arcs, each striking the Primordial Thunderstone.
No one knew what era the Primordial Thunderstone came from. Eighteen arcs, even fiercer than the first wave, plunged into it without harming Joe Di at all.
Joe Di urgently swallowed several pills and quickly activated his law cycle.
Before the next wave of tribulation struck, Joe Di’s injuries rapidly healed, and the immortal energy of his Stellar Meridian crashed against the bottleneck of Immortal Sovereign.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The fourth, fifth, and sixth waves of tribulation fell at once. Joe Di’s heart sank—not only were there lightning arcs, but also torrents of lightning. They wanted him dead.
Joe Di didn’t believe this was because of the Ninth Prime Law—he’d already obtained it. Previous tribulations were just much stronger than those of ordinary cultivators, but not as deadly as this.
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Dense tribulation and lightning torrents crashed onto the Primordial Thunderstone, its surface surrounded by lightning. It seemed able to absorb it all.
Boom! The seventh wave of tribulation followed, and to Joe Di’s shock, it didn’t come from above but from the side.
Joe Di hadn’t refined the Primordial Thunderstone, so the seventh wave struck him directly.
Crack! Spurt! Joe Di’s freshly healed wounds split open again, bones shattered, and as blood spurted, he stepped into the Immortal Sovereign realm. At the same time, his sea of consciousness heated, expanded, and his divine sense grew dramatically.
Boom! Boom! The eighth and ninth waves struck from all directions. Even Joe Di’s Primordial Thunderstone couldn’t block all the lightning arcs.
Joe Di summoned the Skyshroud Blade and also brought out the Grand Cosmos Cauldron.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Most lightning arcs were blocked, but three or four struck Joe Di. Luckily, having just reached Immortal Sovereign, his body didn’t collapse.
After the last two waves, Joe Di’s Skyshroud Blade was upgraded to a supreme immortal artifact, which brought him some comfort.
The nine waves of tribulation came and went quickly. Joe Di looked at the now clear sky, still shaken.
For cultivators, besides inner demons, tribulation is the greatest fear. Joe Di had always thought his tribulation would be easy. No matter what kind, it could never threaten his life.
Today’s tribulation told Joe Di that the reason he’d never been threatened before might truly have been luck.
If not for the Primordial Thunderstone and the azure essence vein that let him reach Immortal Sovereign so quickly, today’s tribulation would have killed him.
This terrifying tribulation had nothing to do with the Ninth Prime Law—the only possible reason was his cultivation method. Now, his practice was different from others; even if his meridians were sealed, he could still cultivate because he could activate his law cycle.
Most likely, this method was too defiant of the heavens, nearly causing his death by tribulation.
No matter what, quickly improving his strength was the right path.
A few days later, Joe Di’s cultivation stabilized at the second level of Immortal Sovereign, and his azure essence vein had thinned somewhat.
Joe Di tidied himself up, changed clothes, and packed his things. Though he’d nearly died to the Immortal Sovereign Tribulation, it hadn’t been fruitless.
First, his cultivation reached the second level of Immortal Sovereign; second, his Skyshroud Blade became a supreme immortal artifact; third, his sea of consciousness advanced again, and his divine sense should now be equivalent to tenth-level immortal sense.
What surprised him most was the Grand Cosmos Cauldron. He hadn’t refined it yet, but even so, in the final wave of tribulation, it helped block four lightning arcs—second only to the Primordial Thunderstone.
He needed to refine the Grand Cosmos Cauldron quickly. Even if it couldn’t be used for alchemy, it was a top-tier defensive treasure. The four Five Elements Banners also needed to be refined soon.