"Joe Di." Although this was Zane Edge's first time seeing Joe Di in person, he didn't need to compare him with any images he'd seen before. He could sense that the young man before him was indeed Joe Di.
"Zane Edge? You're impressive. Your woman was shattered into pieces by me, yet you managed to bring your wife back to life. That's some skill." Joe Di spoke with genuine admiration, giving a thumbs-up. He truly respected this guy a little.
Though Joe Di was one hundred percent certain that Zane Edge had been betrayed by Morgan Du, he didn't mock Zane Edge for it. He disdained using such matters to attack or ridicule his opponent. For someone as strong as Zane Edge, if he revived his woman and still didn't realize he'd been betrayed, then he wasn't worthy of being Genesis City's Lord.
Zane Edge looked just like a farmer from the fields, his appearance simple and honest, and his tone of speech was gentle, without a hint of aggression.
His Dao resonance blended seamlessly with himself, like a vast and complete universe, without any sharpness...
Yet Joe Di still sensed something amiss. Zane Edge's Dao resonance was in a subtle state—it seemed perfect, but within that perfection lurked an indefinable flaw. Maybe he couldn't see it now, but that didn't matter. As long as he fought Zane Edge, he was sure to catch it.
With these perceptions, Joe Di's confidence soared.
Zane Edge paid no mind to Joe Di's words. He looked Joe Di up and down for a while before finally asking, "You're still badly injured?"
He could tell that Joe Di hadn't fully recovered from his serious wounds, but what shocked him even more was that Joe Di's Dao resonance seemed to fluctuate in perfect harmony with the cosmic laws, without a single flaw.
Even before exchanging blows with Joe Di, Zane Edge was well aware that Joe Di's strength was far greater than he'd imagined. Lyle Yew had said Joe Di was only slightly stronger than him—what nonsense.
Joe Di laughed heartily, "That's right, I'm indeed still recovering from serious injuries. If you want to make a move against me, now's the best time. Go ahead, I'm waiting. Of course, don't say I didn't warn you. I'm just dealing with some wounds, but your Grand Way has a flaw. I hope you survive after making your move today."
Zane Edge's heart skipped a beat. The matter with Miranda Qian had left a faint mark on his Grand Way. This mark could have a major or minor impact on him.
Whether the impact was major or minor depended on who his opponent was. If his opponent couldn't even sense the mark in his Dao resonance, he could kill them without using any artifacts. But if his opponent could detect even such a subtle, almost nonexistent flaw, then that flaw would become a fatal weakness.
Joe Di was wounded, and it was clear the injury was sustained at the Edge of Time. Zane Edge regretted even more that he'd killed Feng Hua so hastily. There was a crucial matter he hadn't clarified—whether Joe Di had obtained the Time Bow at the Edge of Time, or forged it there.
If Joe Di was injured while forging the Time Bow at the Edge of Time, then he absolutely couldn't make a move today. Facing someone who could craft the Time Bow in the Edge of Time, and could even see the flaw in his Dao heart—plus the possibility of an undetected Deathtrap Array here—he truly didn't want to take the risk.
It wasn't that he feared Joe Di could kill him, but that he worried about being injured while killing Joe Di. He couldn't afford to be wounded—at least not now.
Besides, deep down, the anger and hatred he felt toward Joe Di had faded the moment he saved Miranda Qian. In other words, if not for Joe Di, he still wouldn't know that the woman he loved most had betrayed him.
"Zane Edge, help me kill him..." After Joe Di appeared, Miranda Qian, who had been silent, finally couldn't hold back and pleaded with Zane Edge.
Right now, the person she hated most and wanted to kill was Joe Di.
Zane Edge ignored Miranda Qian's request and simply looked at Joe Di, saying, "In a while, Genesis City will hold a Cosmic Debate. I hope you can represent the Five Elements Universe then."
As he spoke, Zane Edge grabbed a yellow jade talisman and tossed it out. Joe Di reached into the void and caught the yellow talisman in his palm.
After handing the yellow jade talisman to Joe Di, Zane Edge didn't even spare Miranda Qian a glance. He stepped into the void and instantly vanished.
Miranda Qian froze for a moment, hesitated briefly, and then rushed off in the direction Zane Edge had gone.
Joe Di sneered. Zane Edge didn't dare make a move outside the mortal realm, which only confirmed for him that Miranda Qian's betrayal had left a mark on Zane Edge's Dao heart. Maybe, before leaving, Zane Edge even hoped he would help kill Miranda Qian—but Zane Edge shouldn't count on that.
If he killed Miranda Qian now, he might actually help Zane Edge repair the flaw in his Grand Way, allowing Zane Edge to focus entirely on dealing with him.
"Was that Zane Edge who just left? My divine sense swept over him and I felt a vast, boundless aura. Compared to him, I'm just an ant. No wonder he's the strongest in Genesis City," Quinn Moten's voice sounded beside Joe Di.
Joe Di's gaze also lingered in the direction Zane Edge had disappeared. After a long while, he finally said, "He's not the strongest in Genesis City."
Lucas Pearl's comment was somewhat biased. Joe Di didn't know who the strongest really was, but if Zane Edge's Dao flaw was repaired, Lucas Pearl might not have such an easy time defeating him.
Joe Di had met Lucas Pearl and Zane Edge, and he felt Lucas Pearl might be slightly stronger than Zane Edge, but that advantage was limited—not enough to completely overwhelm him.
"Brother Di, did Zane Edge invite you to Genesis City for the Cosmic Debate before he left?" Nancy Yan's voice came.
Aside from Nancy Yan, the rest—over a dozen people—had all come out. Clearly, even without a fight between Joe Di and Zane Edge, every movement here had drawn attention. Ever since cultivators from the Five Elements Universe arrived in the Genesis Universe, they had stayed alert every moment. Years of fleeing and wandering the Genesis Void had made this a habit. Anyone who survived in the Genesis Universe until now did so by more than luck.
(Irrelevant system message skipped.)
"Yes, he did invite me," Joe Di nodded.
"I've heard of the Cosmic Debate before, but I didn't expect Zane Edge to invite our Five Elements Universe. Is he really that generous?" Ethan Yi said skeptically.
Joe Di chuckled, "He's not that generous. He knows he can't get the upper hand against me, so he's probably planning to stir up trouble at the debate. But I'll play along—I'll go to Genesis City and see what he's really capable of."
He was still recovering from his injuries, but once healed, he truly wanted to face off against powerhouses like Lucas Pearl, Zane Edge, and Sean Chen.
"Brother Di, going to Genesis City might be exactly what Zane Edge has planned for you," Roxie said worriedly.
Before Joe Di could reply, Nancy Yan said, "This is an opportunity we can't pass up. The Cosmic Debate in Genesis City isn't just about the reputation of each universe—it's about their future, and it's tied to the Saint Seat. The debate wasn't proposed by Zane Edge, but is the will of the Genesis Universe itself..."
"Daoist Di, if we're joining the Cosmic Debate, I'd like to represent the Five Elements Universe and argue the Dao of Talismans," Grandmaster Gordon Bone said quickly.
Nancy Yan wanted to speak up for the Dao of Alchemy, but, thinking her skills might not match Joe Di's, she hesitated and said nothing.
Joe Di waved his hand. "Everyone, focus on perfecting your own Grand Way. Anyone can join the debate when the time comes."
To Joe Di, Genesis City wasn't as terrifying as people claimed. The city had plenty of powerful cultivators, but they weren't united—everyone had their own agenda. Zane Edge was strong, but he wasn't all-powerful. At least Lucas Pearl and Sean Chen didn't really care about him. Besides, according to Lucas Pearl, there was an even greater powerhouse behind Genesis City.
As for Zane Edge, Joe Di figured he wouldn't dare act rashly against him. Joe Di might not be a match for Zane Edge, but with a flaw in Zane Edge's Grand Way, if he were struck hard by the Time Arrow, his status in Genesis City could be wiped out—and he might not even dare remain there.
With so many factors at play, going to Genesis City wasn't so frightening after all. Zane Edge wouldn't dare make a move; as for anyone else, Joe Di wasn't afraid of them.
The only regret was that there were just too few powerhouses from the Five Elements Universe—he was fighting alone.
(That's all for today. Good night, friends!)