In truth, for Joe Di, even though he had yet to set foot in the Void Market, his goal for coming here was already achieved after stepping into the Prime Realm Stage.
Since he was already here, it was only natural to go in and have a look. He also wanted to see whether the Void Market truly harbored a Third Step existence.
The Void Market had been especially lively lately, with countless cultivators flooding in, because the most valuable Dao Fruit Tower was about to open.
Joe Di piloted his spaceship to a stop outside the Void Market. Ding Chi exclaimed in astonishment, "What a grand place! Compared to the Void Market, Crimson Sanctuary City feels so petty and cramped."
Joe Di understood what Ding Chi meant. There was no white jade walkway at the entrance to the Void Market, nor any kind of plaza. Instead, before the market lay endless void docks, each packed with all manner of top-tier flying artifacts.
Cultivators came and went in droves, a never-ending stream leaving and entering the Void Market. Every race seemed to have representatives here, and many of the cultivators looked truly bizarre.
After Joe Di put away his spaceship and entered the Void Market with Ding Chi and Bolt, he immediately sensed the exceptionally dense spiritual energy here. Even the laws of heaven and earth felt clearer than elsewhere.
It was hard to imagine that such a city could exist within the endless void.
"Brother Di, there are so many races here," Ding Chi whispered beside Joe Di.
His Transformation Realm strength was actually quite decent, but upon entering the Void Market, the first thing he saw was a crowd of cultivators whose cultivation far surpassed his own.
Joe Di nodded, but before he could speak, a sudden voice interrupted, "Are you selling that beast? I really like it—why not let me have it?"
A tall, blue-haired man stood before Joe Di, making him stop. Joe Di could sense that this fellow was, at best, a Transformation Realm cultivator, and his aura was strange—clearly not of the human race.
Joe Di swept his spiritual sense unceremoniously over the blue-haired man and quickly confirmed that he was a member of the Fiend Clan.
"Not for sale," Joe Di replied without hesitation.
Unable to see through Joe Di's true cultivation, the blue-haired man snorted, unleashing a violent domain that pressed down on Joe Di.
Joe Di grew furious and unleashed his own domain, instantly tearing the blue-haired cultivator's domain to shreds. He snorted, "Get lost."
A mere Transformation Realm cultivator dared to try and force him to give up his beast companion.
Joe Di wasn't sure if murder was allowed in the Void Market, but if a Transformation Realm cultivator provoked him, he'd be justified in killing them.
Just as Joe Di was about to strike if the man made another move, the blue-haired fellow seemed to sense Joe Di was not someone to provoke. Without another word, he turned and left.
"A mere Transformation Realm cultivator dares to act so arrogantly," Ding Chi scoffed at the blue-haired man's departing figure.
Before Joe Di could speak, a voice called out, "You two should leave the Void Market immediately. That fellow who just left is Zachary Zhuge—he holds a high status in the Fiend Clan."
The speaker was a middle-aged woman with her head lowered. Although she hurried away after sending the message, Joe Di still managed to identify her. She was clearly wary of Zachary Zhuge from the Fiend Clan, so Joe Di didn't call out to her.
"Let's go. We should find a place to settle down first." Joe Di had no intention of leaving the Void Market.
His spiritual sense had already swept over the area—there were definitely Unity Realm Emperors here. As for anyone capable of making him flee, Joe Di hadn't sensed such a presence yet.
"You have guts, friend. Offended Zachary Zhuge and still dare to enter the Void Market looking for a place to stay, huh?" Right after Joe Di spoke, another voice rang out. Unlike the previous woman's message, this person spoke aloud.
The speaker was a small, thin man in blue robes with a pointed head. Though Joe Di didn't know his race, he was certain the man wasn't human.
"Since I've offended such a big shot, aren't you afraid to talk to me? Worried you'll get dragged into trouble?" Joe Di asked the small man curiously.
The small man chuckled, "Don't be fooled by my modest cultivation. If I want to leave, no one can stop me."
Joe Di sized up the small man. In terms of cultivation, he was also just a Transformation Realm cultivator, likely late-stage. Still, Joe Di didn't think he was boasting—there was a spatial Dao resonance around him, as if he could vanish into space at any moment. It seemed his evasion techniques were extremely advanced, closely tied to spatial arts.
Seeing Joe Di scrutinize him, the small man cupped his fists, "My name is Soren Xu, from the Wing Clan."
Wing Clan? Joe Di seemed to recall reading about this race somewhere—they were said to possess the most powerful evasion techniques.
Joe Di didn't know what Soren Xu wanted with him, but cupped his fists in return, "Joe Di, of the human race."
"Brother Di, I've roamed around the Void Market for a long time and I'm certain I've never seen you before. I'm genuinely curious—why aren't you afraid of Zachary Zhuge, even though you just arrived?" Soren Xu looked at Joe Di, his eyes filled with true curiosity.
Normally, a newcomer to the Void Market would hesitate and ask questions if stopped by someone. But for Joe Di to offend Zachary Zhuge of the Fiend Clan and then boldly look for a place to stay at Rest Pavilion—such fearlessness was rare.
Joe Di was torn between laughter and helplessness—this fellow approached him out of pure curiosity. He could only reply, "I don't even know that man. He wanted to buy my beast companion, and I refused. Is everything here bought and sold by force? Are refusals not allowed? If it's a transaction, shouldn't both parties agree? If I must fear someone just because I decline to sell my own property, what kind of law is that?"
"That's all?" Soren Xu looked at Joe Di in astonishment. To speak of law in the Void Market—he was tempted to scan Joe Di's head with his spiritual sense to see if something was wrong.
Joe Di looked at Soren Xu in surprise, "Of course, that's all there is to it."
Soren Xu let out a sigh and lowered his voice, "Friend, I don't know if you're really this naïve or just pretending. If you truly think this way, I can only advise you to leave as soon as possible."
Joe Di looked at Soren Xu, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Soren Xu chuckled, "In the Void Market, the Fiend Clan is very powerful—and Zachary Zhuge is especially important among them. He could easily call upon several Prime Realm experts, or even Unity Realm experts, to teach you a lesson."
Joe Di frowned, "Doesn't the human race have any experts?"
Soren Xu looked at Joe Di in surprise and finally asked, "Are you not from the Sacred Dao Domain?"
"No, I've heard of the Sacred Dao Domain, but I've never been there. I was secluded in another place for a while before coming to the Void Market," Joe Di answered honestly.
"That explains it," Soren Xu sighed. "A long time ago, the human race had no experts in the Void Market and was suppressed by other races, not even qualified to enter the Dao Fruit Tower. Later, Emperor Ye emerged—he crushed the Fiend Clan and Sea Clan's strongest, establishing the human race's footing here. After Emperor Ye restored the Sacred Dao Domain, Unity Realm experts became commonplace there. Even if they're not the strongest of all races, no one dares provoke them."
Joe Di said in surprise, "If that's the case, what do I have to fear? If Zachary Zhuge dares challenge me, isn't he afraid of our human experts?"
Soren Xu gave Joe Di a speechless look, "This whole void region, including the Void Market, is just a tiny corner of the vast universe..."
Joe Di recalled what Xu Bai Merchant had said earlier and quickly asked, "I've heard the Void Market has Third Step existences?"
Soren Xu laughed, "Third Step? You think they're as common as cabbages? It's rumored there are Third Step experts—Emperor Ye knows about them and has even visited their domain. I heard there's a teleportation array in the Sacred Dao Domain that leads to the Third Step void, but not just anyone can use it. Because of that array, the true experts of the Sacred Dao Domain have gone to that stronger void region in pursuit of the Third Step."
As for the Void Market, while there are some human cultivators here, most are wanderers or from minor sects. It's been years since any real human experts have come. Over time, the human race's status here has become less and less important. Thanks to Emperor Ye's reputation, no one dares openly bully human cultivators. But as a lone wanderer, anyone looking for an excuse to trouble you could find thousands of them.
Hearing there were no Third Step existences in the Void Market—and even Soren Xu didn't know much about them—Joe Di felt a bit disappointed. Without Third Step experts, aside from Dao Fusion Realm cultivators, no one here should pose much threat to him.
"So tell me, Soren, are there any Dao Fusion Realm experts here?" Joe Di asked again.
Soren Xu snorted, "Dao Fusion Realm experts would stay in the Void Market? This place is best for Transformation Realm cultivators to break into the Prime Realm. Even Unity Realm experts don't linger here for long, let alone Dao Fusion Realm ones. Well, looks like trouble's coming for you—I'm off."
As he finished speaking, Soren Xu vanished—Joe Di couldn't even tell how he disappeared.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)