"Is everyone ready? If so, let's head to the seventy-second floor." Joe Di had collected nearly twenty million high-grade spirit stones, and he was quite pleased.
As for bringing so many people to climb the Fivefold Dao Tower together, what did it matter? As long as no one knew he was comprehending the Foundational Laws, it was fine.
His next priority was simple: make sure this fake Fivefold Dao Disk wasn't taken out of the tower. These few here couldn't tell it was a fake, but once outside, Joe Di wasn't confident the old masters wouldn't see through it. If a True Transformation cultivator realized the disk was a counterfeit, everything he'd worked for would be for nothing.
He would definitely be captured and have his soul searched. If people discovered he could comprehend the Fivefold Dao Tower's Foundational Laws, Joe Di doubted he'd ever get another chance at reincarnation.
"We're all ready!" All the cultivators, including Don Rightblade, responded with barely contained excitement. With the immortal-grade Fivefold Dao Disk, they were eager to see how many floors they could climb.
Joe Di nodded and said, "As the saying goes, rules make the world go round. This Fivefold Dao Disk will be held by Liam Shaw of Swordcloud Sect. I have some experience, so I'll act as the leader for this operation. Everyone walks in a line—advance and retreat together. If you're teleported out, it's none of my concern."
Naturally, no one had any objections to this arrangement. Liam Shaw was especially pleased to accept the Fivefold Dao Disk from Joe Di.
Joe Di instructed Liam Shaw to carry the Fivefold Dao Disk and follow behind him, then led the group toward the seventy-second floor.
Joe Di had already infused the Fivefold Dao Disk with all the previous Foundational Laws. Now, with everyone in a line, the disk's Fivefold Dao Tower Foundational Laws were activated, enveloping the light steps. The group reached the seventy-second floor with almost no obstacles.
"That was incredibly easy." The group exchanged delighted glances, but no one spoke further.
There were a few cultivators already on the seventy-second floor. If they spoke up now, wouldn't that reveal to everyone that they possessed a treasure?
"Place the Fivefold Dao Disk in the center. Everyone should cultivate around it for one hour, then we'll proceed to the seventy-third floor. Remember, each of you must leave a trace of your spiritual sense on the Fivefold Dao Disk. If you don't and get sent out, don't blame anyone else." As the leader, Joe Di naturally took charge.
Joe Di would never teach anyone how to comprehend the Foundational Law, nor would he use his own little gray stone to help others sense the tower's Foundational Law. By requiring everyone to leave a trace of their spiritual sense on the Fivefold Dao Disk, they could constantly perceive over seventy Foundational Laws. As long as they sensed even a little, they wouldn't be expelled.
At this moment, no one wanted to argue with Joe Di. An hour was an hour. Everyone longed to reach higher levels; the seventy-second floor was good, but wouldn't the upper floors of the Fivefold Dao Tower be even better?
Joe Di immediately comprehended the Foundational Law of the seventy-second floor. Even though his cultivation level was the lowest, his spiritual sense was still the most refined here.
The other six each left a trace of spiritual sense on the Fivefold Dao Disk. After Joe Di infused the Foundational Law of the seventy-second floor into the disk, no one realized it was his doing.
When the group of seven left the seventy-second floor and stepped onto the seventy-third, Aaron Xu exclaimed in surprise, "Did anyone notice? There's a new aura on the Fivefold Dao Disk—it seems to be the Foundational Law of the seventy-second floor..."
Everyone nodded; in fact, after Aaron Xu mentioned it, they all became aware of it.
Joe Di laughed and said, "That's perfectly normal. Every time we ascend a floor, the Fivefold Dao Disk automatically gains a new Foundational Law aura. It's thanks to this feature that we can keep moving forward."
"Exactly," Liam Shaw agreed, nodding. He vaguely felt that the Fivefold Dao Disk was extremely beneficial to his cultivation. Once he left the tower, comprehending the Foundational Laws within the disk would surely allow him to advance further.
In any case, with the Fivefold Dao Disk in his possession, once they reached the highest floor, he could simply put it away and be teleported out.
The seventy-third floor, the seventy-fourth, the seventy-fifth...
The group encountered no obstacles at all and soon reached the eighty-first floor. Along the way, the others met fellow sect members. Even if their peers were astonished, no one wasted a word—this was a matter of opportunity, regardless of sect ties.
......
While Joe Di's group was having a blast climbing the Fivefold Dao Tower, the entire Fivefold Plaza was left utterly bewildered.
What was going on? Seven people had reached the eighty-first floor at the same time. That might not be too strange on its own, but what was odd was that these seven had been ascending together since the seventy-first floor, and the intervals between floors were remarkably short.
At that moment, on the Fivefold Dao Tablet, aside from first place Jamie Redriver, the second through eighth positions were all held by those seven who had climbed together from the seventy-first floor.
At that moment, on the Fivefold Dao Stele, aside from first place Ji Hongchuan, the second through eighth positions were all held by those seven who had climbed together from the seventy-first floor.
"Red Tassel Joe is here too!" Because Joe Di's cultivation was the weakest, even though he ascended each floor with the others, his name always appeared at the top of the list. Now his name was ranked second, impossible to ignore.
"Red Tassel Joe really is strong—impressive, truly impressive!"
"Heh, those big sects only know how to gang up on people. Red Tassel Joe was definitely targeted by their joint efforts."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it—Red Tassel Joe reached the seventy-first floor alone at first. The other six were already on that floor, and then all seven started ascending together. It's obvious—the six disciples from the major sects ganged up on him and forced him to reveal the secret of climbing the Fivefold Dao Tower."
"That's right, it must be. Originally, only Red Tassel Joe could reach this point, but now... sigh!"
"That's right, it must be. Originally, only Young Master Hong Ying could reach this point, but now... sigh!"
Even the bystanders understood what had happened, so of course the sects did too. Every sect was determined—after the Fivefold Dao Tower event ended, those seven would have to reveal the secret of how to climb the tower.
......
Upon entering the eighty-first floor, Joe Di immediately felt sword energy crisscrossing the space, with all sorts of sword intents and sword forces forming intricate spatial sword patterns in the air. Anyone with weaker cultivation wouldn't even need to try comprehending them—they'd be torn to pieces by the sword energy and force.
Don Rightblade cupped his fists to Joe Di and said, "Brother Joe, I'll stay on this floor. Thank you for bringing me to the eighty-first floor. I, Don Rightblade, will never forget this favor."
Joe Di replied, "Brother Don, you mustn't say that. I should be the one thanking you for your guidance. Once we're out of here, if you ever need my help, just ask."
Of the other six, Don Rightblade was the only one Joe Di truly liked. With the rest, it was all mutual use—Don Rightblade alone earned his respect for his sword formation skills.
Don Rightblade added, "There is one thing I really do need your help with, Brother Joe. If I fall, please help my Sword Array Sect find a successor."
Joe Di replied solemnly, "Rest assured, Brother Don."
Aaron Xu from Kun Gate laughed heartily, "Brother Don, we've built some friendship along the way. Besides, we're all ranked on the Sea List. As for Red Quay, isn't he backed by just a measly Tribulation Life Realm? I'll have my sect elders warn him—he won't dare lay a hand on you."
Hearing Aaron Xu's words, Joe Di found himself looking at him in a new light. At least this guy was more forthright than that short fellow from the Swordcloud Sect.
Don Rightblade laughed and cupped his fists to Aaron Xu as well. "Thank you, Brother Aaron. I am, after all, the sole successor of the Sword Array Sect. If fate decrees my sect's end, so be it. As the only disciple, I would never submit to a mere Tribulation Life Realm."
Though Don Rightblade didn't say it outright, his meaning was clear—the Sword Array Sect would rather die standing than seek shelter under another sect.
Joe Di was very pleased with Don Rightblade's words; he would have made the same choice. A sect might shelter under another once, but what about twice, or three times?
It was like when Starstream School was destroyed—they thought that submitting once would allow them to rise again. But a sect is not like an individual; it has faith and spirit. Once faith collapses and the sect loses its backbone, it may never recover.
"Good, whatever happens, I, Aaron Xu, consider you a friend. Fellow Daoist Joe, let's cultivate here for an hour, then continue to the eighty-second floor." Aaron Xu clapped and spoke loudly.
Upon entering the eighty-second floor, Joe Di immediately felt a chilling aura. Nine massive Ice Rings were arranged in the center—this was the body-tempering floor, Joe Di realized.
He let his spiritual sense penetrate one of the Ice Rings, and his sea of consciousness nearly froze and shattered. Joe Di realized he wasn't strong enough to temper his body here.
Unless he reached the Void Ascendant Realm or the Sea-Splitting Realm, he wouldn't be able to temper his body to the true King Realm here. Unfortunately, his strength was still too weak—only at Soul Origin Level Seven.
It looked like for the remaining floors, Joe Di would need to find a way to improve his cultivation.
After comprehending the Foundational Law of the eighty-second floor, Joe Di stood up and headed to the eighty-third floor.
Now that Joe Di was the leader, when he moved to the eighty-third floor, the others naturally followed.
"Fellow Daoist Joe, I plan to cultivate for a month or two on the ninetieth floor." Seeing Joe Di spend less than an hour on each floor, Cyrus Quinn couldn't help but speak up.
He was a disciple of Sky Medicine Valley, which placed great emphasis on spiritual sense. The ninetieth floor of the Fivefold Dao Tower was coveted by all, as it allowed one to refine spiritual sense and expand the sea of consciousness. Unfortunately, most people could never reach it.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)