The five who arrived earlier exchanged glances, realizing none of them recognized the last person to arrive. Yet, this newcomer greeted everyone as if they were old friends, acting like a familiar acquaintance.
All eyes fell upon the last arrival. He was of average build, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary cultivator, his Dao aura completely concealed—none could discern which universe he hailed from. Only his artifact stood out: a vivid green vine draped around his neck, looking almost comical.
"May I ask how you address yourself, fellow Daoist?" Jack Quill squinted his eyes, his face beaming with a broad smile as he spoke.
The cultivator waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just a nameless nobody. We've met more than once before. It's perfectly normal that you don't remember me. Just call me John Doe."
Though he called himself John Doe, none here truly believed it. The six were not alone—outside, a ring of powerful spectators had gathered. Why did none dare to join the six in vying for the Lawless Cradle? Because they knew that without overwhelming strength, not only would they fail to seize the Lawless Cradle, they'd likely lose their lives.
Jack Quill grinned again, unfazed by John Doe’s lack of a name. He clasped his fists and turned to address the group: "Fellow Daoists, today we are all here for the Lawless Cradle. Judging from the fluctuations outside, I estimate that in a day or two, the chaotic seal surrounding the Lawless Cradle will be broken. I’ve heard that the one inside is just an outsider—a mere ant from the Convergence Realm. Though he was lucky enough to find the Lawless Cradle in just a few centuries, I’m certain he lacks the ability to extract it whole…"
The others remained calm; Jack Quill’s assessment was their own as well. Indeed, only a day or two remained before the Lawless Cradle’s chaotic seal would be broken. Damon Tai’s expression, however, was grim—what was once his had now been ruined by an ant, drawing so many powerful cultivators and earning him the mockery of Jack Quill. Yet he knew in his heart that at this stage, dreaming of monopolizing the Lawless Cradle was nothing but wishful thinking.
"Jack Quill, do you think a Unity Realm cultivator could, by relying on a deathtrap array, make Damon Tai wary, and then break the Lawless Cradle’s seal in five hundred years? Was that just luck?" The speaker was an exceptionally handsome man in white, carrying twin shears on his back, his demeanor strikingly elegant.
Jack Quill showed no embarrassment, replying, "Sterling Night, you have a point. What do you suggest we do?"
He had been planning to propose a strategy, but now that someone had interrupted, he couldn’t be bothered to continue. Did they really need Sterling Night to remind them that Joe Di’s success wasn’t luck? Among those who survived in the Genesis Cradle, none believed in luck—only in strength and fortune.
The handsome man didn’t evade the question. His gaze swept over those present, then settled on the group, his tone calm: “Among the six of us, none are likely to rank in the top three of the Genesis Cradle, but we’re surely all within the top ten. With so many gathered outside, who knows if there’s a hidden powerhouse among them? And the Unity Realm cultivator inside the Lawless Cradle—I believe he’s no ordinary figure. At the very least, his grand array is far from ordinary.”
I suggest we each announce our names and specialties, then, based on our skills, devise a method to break the array. Once the Unity Realm cultivator’s grand array is broken, whoever gets the Lawless Cradle keeps it. That’s my proposal, so I’ll go first. My name is Sterling Night, and my specialty is the Void-Cutting Shear technique.
Sterling Night was renowned in the Genesis Cradle—not only as the most handsome man, but also for his mysterious artifact, the Void Shears.
Even if Sterling Night hadn’t mentioned it, everyone knew the power of the Void Shears—they could sever both time and space. His claim to only cut through space was modest; the shears could also slice through time itself.
As for Sterling Night's claim that none present ranked among the top three, all quietly agreed—no one felt slighted.
Those top three had already obtained the Lawless Cradle; they would not return to contend for it. Most spent their time in seclusion, pursuing the rumored higher realms.
“Ha, I agree!” The first to speak was the paper-thin man who had arrived with Sterling Night. He laughed and said, “Soulfall Sovereign of Soulfall Ridge. My artifact is the Soulfall Lock, and my specialty is the Triple Soulfall Strike.”
Soulfall Sovereign and Sterling Night had arrived together, but Soulfall Sovereign regretted not coming sooner. He should have come immediately instead of secluding himself for five hundred years. Though his divine abilities had advanced, he hadn’t expected to attract so many powerful contenders.
If it were only Damon Tai and Quinn Young, he might stand a chance. But things rarely go as planned—Sterling Night and Jack Quill had also arrived. That Unity Realm cultivator used a grand array to find the Lawless Cradle in five hundred years; if he’d come sooner, he might have found it in just one or two hundred years. This was a true miscalculation.
Jack Quill grinned, "Jack Quill of Genesis Cradle. My greatest skill is mastery of water-based divine arts."
In truth, everyone here knew each other well—the only stranger was John Doe, with a green vine around his neck, looking rather odd.
So when it came time for John Doe to introduce his skills, all eyes turned to him. Everyone understood Sterling Night's intent—he wanted to probe John Doe's origins and abilities.
John Doe chuckled, about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. He exclaimed, “The Lawless Cradle is emerging! If we don’t go in now, we’ll be too late. As for my specialty, it’s poison immunity…”
What kind of specialty was that? No matter what it was, John Doe rushed in, and the others had no time for idle chatter—they all followed him inside.
With John Doe's last words, he made it clear he'd shared his specialty—no matter its usefulness, he hadn't withheld it, so no one could use that as a pretext to target him.
In fact, there was no need for John Doe to explain—everyone understood, because he was telling the truth. The chaotic laws above the Lawless Cradle’s depths were gradually disappearing, which was highly unusual. Either the Lawless Cradle’s outer seal had been broken by that unremarkable Unity Realm ant, or the Lawless Cradle was escaping.
The Lawless Cradle rarely escaped, but it was not unheard of.
......
Joe Di had no idea that many covetous experts had arrived where he was. He was now half-floating in the void, and the Lawless Cradle had already vanished.
At this moment, there was no joy in Joe Di’s eyes—only deep helplessness and unwillingness.
He had indeed used the Lawless Cradle to enter the Creation Realm—the strongest of its kind. If he faced Zach now, Joe Di believed he’d need only two arrows. Yet, what troubled him, even filled him with dread, was the realization that the Third Step was not the cultivator’s ultimate destination.
He’d once heard tales of Fourth Step cultivators, but never paid them any mind. Only now did he realize that, in this vast universe, the Fourth Step truly existed.
He had indeed used the Lawless Cradle to step into the Creation Realm—the strongest Creation Realm at that. If he faced Zach now, Joe Di believed he would only need two arrows. Yet what troubled and even worried him was that after entering the Creation Realm, he realized the Third Step was not the end for cultivators.
It was this premonition—that his greatest achievement would be only Creation Realm perfection—that filled Joe Di with helplessness and concern.
What use was slaying Zach, or even easily defeating Damon Tai, whom he’d once driven away? When the day came that he must face the Fourth Step, he would remain an ant.
In other words, from the moment Joe Di began cultivating, he was destined to be an ant. No matter how high his achievements, how many realms he tore apart, or whether he attained a Saint position...
None of it mattered, for he would never cross into the Fourth Step. It wasn’t for lack of effort, nor lack of fighting spirit...
No matter how hard you try, no matter how much spirit you have, you cannot change the result. Joe Di truly didn’t want to face this sense of powerlessness.
.......
“This isn’t an ordinary deathtrap array—everyone be careful. It must be a new kind of formation, no wonder Damon Tai is wary…” Soulfall Sovereign’s tone was grave.
Quinn Young’s face darkened. As an array master, he understood all too well—this was a wholly new formation, one that surpassed conventional arrays. Its workings were as elusive as a hanging antelope’s horns, impossible to trace. Unless you could fully grasp the opponent’s Dao, even sense their universe itself.
“Are you seeking me, or searching for the Lawless Cradle?” A sudden voice rang out. Instinctively, the crowd turned to see a young man, blade slung across his back, slowly emerge from within. His face betrayed neither joy nor sorrow—clearly, he had gained nothing.