No one knows who set up the Immortal Ascension Array in the True Domain, nor how long it has existed.
Although everyone knows where the Immortal Ascension Array is, no one usually comes here. The area within dozens of miles around the array is enveloped in a hazy protective formation.
Even Joe Di's divine sense cannot penetrate it. Joe Di has seen arrays beyond level nine, and at a glance, he knew this hazy protective formation far surpassed ordinary arrays.
"Brother, without an Immortal Ascension Token, you can't even think about entering this place. I'll only escort you this far," said Joe Di, standing outside the protective formation of the Immortal Ascension Array.
Sean Zell nodded, "I'll go to the Immortal Realm first to find people and inform the experts from Nightfall Starland who came to the Immortal Realm about what happened. You have a token, so you can come and meet me in the Immortal Realm anytime."
For Sean Zell, the most urgent thing was to find the experts of the Immortal Realm as quickly as possible and report the destruction of Nightfall Starland.
Joe Di acknowledged, and he still had two Realm Breaking Talismans. He had planned to give one to Han Qingyi, but since Han Qingyi failed to fulfill her promise, Joe Di decided not to give it to her.
After sending off Sean Zell, the first place Joe Di wanted to go was Skyveil.
His companion Tree Brother remained in Skyveil, and Joe Di had to bring him back.
Xian Ze took out a golden token. When the golden token met the hazy aura outside the protective formation, a golden passage appeared before Joe Di and Xian Ze. Joe Di could only vaguely see a huge hexagonal array base within the passage, vast and majestic. He was certain he had no ability to set up such an array base; let alone set it up, he couldn't even repair it.
"Joe, see you in the Immortal Realm," Sean Zell said, preparing to step into the golden passage.
"Wait..." Joe Di quickly grabbed Sean Zell, who was about to enter.
Sean Zell looked at Joe Di in confusion. "What is it?"
"Put away your Immortal Ascension Token," Joe Di said, his tone a bit grave.
Sean Zell did not doubt Joe Di at all. He put away the golden Immortal Ascension Token and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Did you notice something?"
Joe Di said, "There's something wrong inside this Ascension Array."
Sean Zell chuckled, "Joe Di, you're overthinking it. This Immortal Ascension Array in the True Domain has existed for ages. Besides, it's certain that people have passed through here to the Immortal Realm. There can't be a problem."
Joe Di waved his hand, "I'm not saying the array itself is faulty, but there's something wrong inside the Ascension Array. We'll talk about this later."
When Sean Zell used the token to open the array's protective formation, Joe Di clearly sensed a familiar aura within the Ascension Array.
It was the same aura he had encountered not long ago in Savage Beast Gorge—the one that had struck at him. Joe Di's divine sense was powerful, and he was certain he hadn't mistaken it.
"Alright, I'll listen to you," Sean Zell said, not doubting Joe Di at all.
Just as the two were about to leave, another group of people arrived.
Joe Di recognized the leader—it was Cameron Beck, the Domain Lord of Kamine Domain. Beside him was Laurence Brooks. Among the group were other powerful figures: Bai Hong, Domain Lord of Jie Xing Domain; Lord Goldwin, Domain Lord of Heavenly Gold Domain; An Ling Zhou, Domain Lord of An Nong Domain; Han Wu Shui from Luo Bing Mountain; Ji Gui from the Ji Family, who had been driven off by Joe Di; and Li Li from the Li Family...
Almost all of the True Domain's strongest cultivators were among them. Hu Bulang and Zhuo Wenshu walked at the end of the group.
"Haha, Sect Master Di, had I known, we would have come together," Cameron Beck called out to Joe Di from afar.
Lord Goldwin and the others greeted Joe Di in turn, and Joe Di returned their greetings one by one.
Finally, Laurence Brooks spoke up, "Sect Master Di, I used to have some prejudice against you. That was my own narrow-mindedness. Please don't take it to heart."
Joe Di waved his hand, "What's past is past. My principle is: if people don't offend me, I won't offend them."
"Sect Master Di and Daoist Sean, are you both heading to the Immortal Realm together? We're here to see off Daoist Laurence and Daoist Hu Bulang," An Ling Zhou quickly interjected, breaking the awkwardness.
Hu Bulang's cultivation was a bit lower, but as someone about to ascend to the Immortal Realm, no one dared treat him disrespectfully.
With a powerhouse like Joe Di emerging in the Central Realm, no one dared to snatch Hu Bulang's Immortal Ascension Token for now.
Walking at the end, Hu Bulang seemed to know he was benefiting from Joe Di's presence. He proactively cupped his fists toward Joe Di. No matter how strong he was, he was still just an Ascendant.
Joe Di cupped his fists and said, "Fellow Daoists, just now Brother Sean opened the passage to the Ascension Array, but I stopped him from traveling to the Immortal Realm through it."
Hearing that Joe Di hadn't let Sean Zell go to the Immortal Realm, the others all looked at him in surprise.
Joe Di raised his hand and tossed out hundreds of array flags, instantly enveloping everyone in a soundproof barrier.
Cameron Beck recognized that Joe Di was setting up a soundproof barrier and did not interfere. However, Joe Di's mastery of arrays left him astonished. With a mere wave, hundreds of flags formed a near ninth-level soundproof barrier. This required not only top-tier array skills but also a powerful divine sense.
"Everyone, there's something wrong with this Ascension Array..."
Joe Di hadn't finished speaking when Bai Hong sneered, "The Ascension Array opens once every hundred years and has sent countless experts to the Immortal Realm. Why is there suddenly a problem now, just because of you?"
Knowing Joe Di didn't like Bai Hong, Cameron Beck quickly added, "That's right, Sect Master Di. The Ascension Array opens every hundred years, so there shouldn't be any issues."
Joe Di spoke in a deep voice, "The problem isn't with the Ascension Array itself. Its aura is vast and majestic, and it should indeed transport cultivators to the Immortal Realm. But I sensed a strange aura inside, a powerful one from Savage Beast Gorge. My worry is that those sent through the array might not be going to the Immortal Realm, but to Savage Beast Gorge instead..."
When Joe Di mentioned Savage Beast Gorge, Cameron Beck's expression turned grave. Not just him—everyone else became solemn as well.
This time, the Ascension Array only had four slots, but in previous times, weren't there nearly twenty? Almost every power in the True Domain has sent experts into the Ascension Array. If there's a problem, those who entered before may be in danger.
"How do you know?" An Ling Zhou's voice trembled; for generations, the An Family's experts had all been sent through the Ascension Array.
Joe Di spoke slowly and clearly, "Because when I was training in Savage Beast Gorge, I reached its innermost part. There, I saw a grand Genesis Annihilation Array. During the battle, a massive true essence handprint reached out to grab me. If I hadn't been skilled enough, I might have perished in that array. Just now, within the Ascension Array, I sensed the same aura as that giant handprint."
Everyone exchanged glances. A powerhouse like Joe Di would never mistake an aura. If he was right, then the Ascension Array truly had a problem.
Cameron Beck was the first to speak. "Daoist Di, everyone, let's go to Ascension City to discuss this."
No one objected. If the Ascension Array was faulty, it affected not just them, but all the experts who had ever entered it.
......
An hour later, the City Lord's Mansion in Ascension City was nearly filled with powerful cultivators.
Joe Di hadn't planned to sit with Boyan West, but less than a day later, he found himself in the City Lord's Mansion.
Once everyone was seated, An Ling Zhou stood up and said, "We must enter Savage Beast Gorge again. With the Genesis Annihilation Array there, it's not something a single person can handle. Domain Lord Cameron Beck, Sect Master Di, Domain Lord Bai Hong, Lord Goldwin—you four are the strongest among us. When we go in together, you four will take the lead, and the rest of us will support. With so many of us, dealing with the existence inside the Genesis Annihilation Array shouldn't be a problem."
Cameron Beck nodded and looked at Joe Di. "Sect Master Di, I think this is our only option. What do you think?"
In fact, everyone knew that they had to eliminate the Genesis Annihilation Array in Savage Beast Gorge before they could discuss the Ascension Array.
Joe Di stood up and cupped his fists. "I have no objections, but I need some time. My cultivation is still a bit too weak. I hope you can give me some time to train. Once I'm stronger, we can head to Savage Beast Gorge."
That was what Joe Di said, but the truth was he didn't believe their combined strength would be enough to deal with the expert inside the Genesis Annihilation Array.
He had seen that expert before, whose strength far surpassed Mei Bashan. Though they had numbers, it wouldn't help much. In the end, it would likely come down to him and Bai Cangxing. If Bai Hong tried any tricks behind their backs, Joe Di might end up buried in Savage Beast Valley.
One should not harbor ill intent, but it is wise to remain vigilant. Joe Di was especially wary of Bai Hong.
"Then how long does Sect Master Di need before we take action?" Lord Goldwin asked.
Joe Di replied, "Our Ascension Array tokens are valid for one year. Let's set the operation for eight months from now. In these eight months, I need to find a place to go into seclusion for a while."
Seclusion was just an excuse—his real plan was to go to Skyveil.