"Zane Edge..." Miranda Qian finally woke up. She stared blankly at Zane Edge, who was standing in the distance, eyes fixed on her. Her face was pale, her whole body trembling. Yet her hand forgot to move away from Morgan Du's waist, or perhaps she simply didn't know what to do at that moment.
She had never imagined that Zane Edge would follow her here. Ever since that incident, Zane Edge had ignored her, not speaking a single word. If she hadn't insisted on following Zane Edge, she wouldn't even know where she was now.
Morgan Du tightened his embrace, looking fearlessly at Zane Edge and said, "City Lord Zane, I know you are stronger than us. Miranda and I truly love each other. If you must kill us, please don't separate us afterward."
Miranda Qian's lips trembled; she couldn't utter a single word.
Zane Edge's expression remained calm, but the collapse of his Grand Way was already apparent, and his Dao resonance even began to reverse. Tears flowed from his eyes, but they were tears of blood.
"Zane Edge..." Miranda Qian finally came to her senses and called out to him in a voice filled with sorrow.
Morgan Du seemed to notice Zane Edge's current state. Without waiting for Miranda Qian to react, he pulled her close, "Miranda, let's go..."
"Wait..." Miranda Qian only managed to say a single word before Morgan Du swept her away.
Before being slain by Joe Di, Miranda Qian's strength far surpassed Morgan Du's. Now, even if her mind was unshaken, she was no match for Morgan Du.
Zane Edge stood motionless, his gaze fixed in the direction where Miranda Qian had disappeared. The aura of his Grand Way rapidly collapsed, and his Dao resonance continued to disintegrate.
Joe Di witnessed all this and sighed inwardly. Zane Edge had begun to doubt himself, completely losing confidence. While Miranda Qian's betrayal played a part, it was more the sorrow for his own Grand Way. Joe Di knew that Zane Edge's Dao could never be restored.
Zane Edge slowly knelt down, making no attempt to save himself, letting his Grand Way collapse. Joe Di understood that if Zane Edge tried to save himself now, he could still recover, but to truly perfect his Grand Way was impossible.
Zane Edge allowed his Grand Way to collapse, his vitality fading—he must have resolved to enter reincarnation.
Because of Zane Edge's actions, Joe Di felt a bit more respect for him. Perhaps this too was something worthy of admiration.
Zane Edge was certainly a formidable figure. The key to restoring his Grand Way was Miranda Qian. That was why she could come with him to the Genesis Cradle. Unfortunately, Miranda Qian was always mired in guilt and regret, and constantly in a state of sorrow. After being killed and then rescued, her Dao heart was weakened to the extreme. So she never realized she was the key to Zane Edge's recovery.
Upon arriving at the Genesis Cradle, before Zane Edge could restore his Grand Way, Miranda Qian once again became entangled with Morgan Du, completely destroying Zane Edge's hope of recovery.
Once he knew there was no chance to perfect his Grand Way, he never considered living under someone else's protection or running errands for another sage. And now, with Miranda Qian's Grand Way collapsing, Zane Edge likely intends to let his own Grand Way collapse, sever all karma with Miranda Qian, and cleanly reincarnate. This is both a form of confidence and a sorrowful lack of it. If Zane Edge were a bit more confident, he might believe he could sever his entanglement with Miranda Qian without needing reincarnation.
What Joe Di respected was Zane Edge's love for Miranda Qian. No matter how much Zane Edge cared for his Grand Way, his love for Miranda Qian never diminished.
The scene beneath the array faded. Joe Di waved his hand, erasing all traces of his array, and focused his divine sense on Zane Edge.
Though he had a grudge against Zane Edge, Joe Di still dug a massive pit and sent Zane Edge's body into it with a wave of his hand.
Joe Di couldn't help but feel emotional. Not long ago, Zane Edge was a powerful foe he had planned to deal with. Yet in the blink of an eye, such a formidable figure let his Grand Way collapse and fell outside the wilderness. If not for Joe Di, no one would have buried Zane Edge's body.
Such are the twists and turns of fate.
As for Zane Edge after his reincarnation, he had already lost the qualification to compete for the Sage's seat.
"Let go of me." Miranda Qian finally began to struggle wildly. Morgan Du stopped moving and released her.
Tears streamed from Miranda Qian's eyes as she gazed in the direction of Zane Edge, murmuring, "Have you gone?"
"Miranda..." Morgan Du's eyes softened, his voice gentle and magnetic.
"Zane Edge is gone..." Miranda Qian could only utter this sentence, never once looking at Morgan Du.
Morgan Du gently reached out and took Miranda Qian's hand, speaking even more tenderly, "City Lord Zane always had deep plans for every step, beyond what you or I could comprehend. Now he is the City Lord, and may one day become a Sage... It's said the Genesis Cradle is the best place for the Grand Way's nirvana. Perhaps City Lord Zane brought you here for that reason. Maybe he has already found a new way to reach nirvana, so don't take it too much to heart."
Morgan Du's words were remarkably clever. He was telling Miranda Qian that Zane Edge had always been the City Lord of Genesis City, and that position mattered far more than being her Dao companion.
Zane Edge brought you to the Genesis Cradle not because he loved you, but because he intended to use the Genesis Cradle to achieve nirvana for his Grand Way. In other words, Zane Edge's plan was to use you, Miranda Qian, one last time here. Now that he hasn't followed, it means he has found a new way for his Grand Way's nirvana.
Sure enough, after hearing Morgan Du's words, a hint of warmth returned to Miranda Qian's eyes. Over the years, Morgan Du never treated her as a Dao companion, while Zane Edge devoted much effort to Genesis City affairs. He never asked about her existence, which is why she ended up entangled with Morgan Du.
As for the reason for coming here, it was likely because of someone like Joe Di, which made Zane Edge feel threatened and seek a higher level here. Even if Zane Edge tried to use his feelings for Miranda Qian to achieve nirvana for his Grand Way, it was within reason.
At moments like this, women are often indecisive. Morgan Du didn't wait for Miranda Qian to continue thinking and said even more gently, "Miranda, let's go. The Genesis Cradle is also a place for our progress. Your Grand Way is fragile now; you should stabilize it. When your cultivation is weak, you can only think about many things but can't act on them. Only when you are strong can you do what you truly want."
Morgan Du knew very well that Zane Edge's Grand Way had likely collapsed. He wanted to go back and finish off Zane Edge, but he resisted the tempting thought. First, even if he did, he probably wouldn't gain much. With his strength, opening Zane Edge's Personal World would be a pipe dream. Second, Miranda Qian was equally important to him. She was a crucial turning point for his own Grand Way's nirvana, and he absolutely couldn't give her up lightly.
If he went back now to kill Zane Edge, it would surely awaken the still-dazed Miranda Qian. As long as he could take Miranda Qian away and help her through this blank period with his own methods, he would succeed.
In the Genesis Cradle, Joe Di had no sense of direction. He could only track Morgan Du and Miranda Qian by sensing the direction they left. Morgan Du was probably as clueless as he was about the core of the Genesis Cradle. But since Miranda Qian had followed Zane Edge, she likely knew where the core was.
For the first few days, Joe Di could still find some traces, but after several days, he lost all sense of Miranda Qian's presence. He suspected Morgan Du might have killed her.
Just as Joe Di wondered if he should continue as before, following the fluctuations in the rules, a purple figure flashed at the edge of his divine sense.
Joe Di would never let such an opportunity slip by. He activated his Lawstride and quickly followed.
No matter where you are, Lawstride is superior to other escape techniques. Within half an hour, the purple figure became increasingly clear under Joe Di's divine sense.
The cultivator ahead sensed Joe Di's approach and simply stopped. In just a moment, Joe Di landed in front of the purple-robed cultivator.
This man wore purple robes, had pale eyebrows, and a black beard. His Dao resonance...
Joe Di was puzzled; the man's Dao resonance was somewhat similar to the Five Elements Universe, yet also different. Was he like Joe Di?
Before Joe Di could speak, the purple-robed cultivator said sternly, "Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by this? Are you planning to follow me all the way?"
Joe Di cupped his fists apologetically and said, "I'm lost in the Genesis Cradle. Fellow Daoist, do you have a map jade slip? I'm willing to trade something for it."
Hearing Joe Di's words, the purple-robed cultivator looked him up and down in surprise before asking, "Fellow Daoist, which universe are you from?"
"Joe Di, from the Five Elements Universe." Joe Di didn't hide anything; regardless of this man's attitude toward the Five Elements Universe, he had no fear.
"Oh? You're also from the Five Elements Universe?" The black-bearded man in purple exclaimed in surprise, a hint of joy in his eyes.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)