Joe Di sneered, "Heh. Sean Chen, I haven't come looking to settle accounts with you, yet you dare to jump out and confront me? You were the one who fractured the Heaven-Earth Laws of my Five Elements Universe, splitting it apart with the Chaos Gate, weren't you? My ancestors have long wanted to settle this with you. Since I've seen you today, let's tally up all the debts once and for all."
Joe Di knew he was no match for Sean Chen, so he had no intention of using the Second Stratagem of Time today. The day he unleashed that technique would be the day Sean Chen met his end.
Just as Joe Di was about to make his move, Lucas Pearl suddenly broke into hearty laughter. "The matter has already happened—why rush, gentlemen? We can discuss this slowly in the future. Brother Di, I have some private matters I'd like to speak with you about. Do you have time?"
Joe Di understood Lucas Pearl's intention: he wanted to see if Joe was willing to cooperate. If Joe refused, Lucas Pearl would leave at once and certainly wouldn't help. If Joe agreed, even Sean Chen wouldn't dare act rashly. No matter how displeased Sean Chen was, he wouldn't dare take on both Joe Di and Lucas Pearl here.
"Of course I have time, but it seems someone is eager to make a move against me right now." Joe Di chuckled, completely unconcerned.
Lucas Pearl always acted from the perspective of his own Dao. Back then, Joe Di had refused to cooperate with him because he was too weak. He was injured when he emerged from the Inch Origin, and negotiating with Lucas Pearl at that time was like bargaining with a tiger for its skin. Besides, Lucas Pearl hadn't sought cooperation then—he merely saw Joe Di as a tool, never caring for Joe Di's interests or safety.
Now, he was negotiating with Lucas Pearl as an equal, which was a great advantage for him. In Genesis City, fighting alone was a joke. The city was swarming with powerful cultivators—no one could go it alone.
Not to mention others—even if Sean Chen or Zane Edge came alone, it would be more than he could handle.
Before Lucas Pearl could speak, Sean Chen snorted coldly and looked at Joe Di. "Let's hope your luck holds out."
With that, Sean Chen turned and left. With Lucas Pearl present, he truly didn't dare to make a move. Though he didn't fear Lucas Pearl, he couldn't afford to get injured now, nor could he expose his trump card in front of so many powerful cultivators.
Once Sean Chen departed, Lucas Pearl laughed heartily. "Come, let us go to Genesis City and discuss our plans together."
"Are you Joe Di? I am Zane Han." A strikingly handsome man approached, his sword-like brows reaching his temples and his face chiseled to flawless perfection.
Joe Di's gaze landed on the handsome man, but before he could speak, Nate Rivers stepped forward and bowed. "Nate Rivers of the Five Elements Universe greets Lord Zane."
The handsome man nodded to Nate Rivers, then smiled warmly at Joe Di.
Joe Di instantly understood—this must be the very Zane Han that Nate Rivers had mentioned, Jane Huan's father and the First Vice Mayor of Genesis City.
Realizing who he was facing, Joe Di quickly cupped his fists and said, "Indeed, I am Joe Di. Greetings, Lord Zane."
Zane Han laughed heartily. "No need to be so formal, Brother Di." His attitude was exceedingly amiable.
Lucas Pearl had been watching Zane Han with a smile. As Zane Han laughed, Lucas Pearl's mind stirred, and he immediately said, "Lord Zane, I was just about to discuss some business matters with Brother Di. If you have time, why not join us?"
Zane Han smiled again. "I was just thinking the same, Brother Lucas, Brother Di—please, let us sit together."
Lucas Pearl was now certain—Zane Han, the First Vice Mayor, was anything but simple. If he were, he would never dare meet with both Lucas Pearl and Joe Di to discuss business.
He had just tested Zane Han, and it was clear that Zane Han was not at all afraid of Zane Edge.
Zane Edge was universally recognized as the strongest cultivator in the Genesis Universe. Zane Han's lack of fear toward Zane Edge was no trivial matter. Lucas Pearl grew wary, knowing he considered himself among the top three in Genesis City. Even if he ranked in the top three, only one person in all of Genesis City truly threatened him. His desire to ally with Joe Di was solely to deal with that individual.
...
Several cultivators who originally planned to greet Joe Di reconsidered after seeing the animosity between him and Sean Chen.
"Nate Rivers, why don't you come with me?" Joe Di called out to Nate Rivers nearby, hinting at their close relationship.
Zane Han smiled and nodded at Nate Rivers, seemingly agreeing with Joe Di's words. Nate Rivers was overjoyed, knowing this meant Zane Han tacitly approved his relationship with Jane Huan.
...
Lucas Pearl's sanctuary was not located in the area of Genesis City with the clearest rules, but rather on the edge of the inner district.
Seeing Joe Di and Zane Han following him into the sanctuary without the slightest hesitation, Lucas Pearl secretly sighed. The inner and outer districts of Genesis City hid countless true powerhouses like Zane Han. In fact, he himself was one of them.
"Jane Huan, you should stay outside." Zane Han suddenly said to Jane Huan and Nate Rivers, who had followed them. He knew well what it meant for him to enter, but he did not hesitate. Waiting passively would yield nothing; sometimes, risks must be taken. Besides, with Zane Edge suddenly leaving Genesis City, he had his suspicions.
"Seniors, I'll stay outside with Jane," Nate Rivers quickly said. Since Jane Huan was to remain outside, Nate Rivers naturally stayed with her.
Joe Di did not mind; even if Lucas Pearl's sanctuary had a top-tier defensive array, he could tear it apart. Zane Han had reasons for leaving Jane Huan and Nate Rivers outside: first, their presence would not help in the trio's negotiations; second, if Lucas Pearl activated the defensive array, Nate Rivers at Harmony Realm and Jane Huan, who had just reached the Third Step, would be of little help.
Once the three were seated, Lucas Pearl spoke first: "Daoist Friend Di, before we unite for our own Grand Laws, I must apologize. When I first approached you, I did not consider your safety or other concerns. This time, however, I sincerely seek cooperation. You have already qualified to stand with us, having left your own Grand Law Mark Stele at the Saint Seat Plaza."
Zane Han was stunned by these words. He looked at Joe Di in shock, "Daoist Friend Di, you have already left your own Grand Law Mark Stele at the Saint Seat Plaza? Not the Five Elements Universe's?"
Since they were all to cooperate, Joe Di did not hide anything. He nodded, "That's right. I did leave my own Grand Law Saint Seat. As for the Five Elements Universe's Saint Seat, I no longer have the chance."
Zane Han was delighted. Joe Di's bold move at the Saint Seat Plaza, coupled with Lucas Pearl's formidable strength, had prompted him to take a desperate risk and come here. Now, it seemed he had made the right choice. After all these years in Genesis City, he knew Zane Edge's true nature well—he was nothing but a selfish man. No matter how much you helped him, he would never care about your interests.
"Good!" Lucas Pearl clapped his hands. "This is true cooperation among Daoist friends. Let's first discuss our abilities, then I'll propose who we must deal with before seizing the Saint Seat. Since this is my proposal, I'll start: in solo combat, I should be able to defeat Zane Edge. But Sean Chen is even stronger than Zane Edge; I am not confident I can stop him."
Lucas Pearl meant that his strength surpassed Sean Chen's, but if Sean Chen wanted to leave, there was nothing he could do.
Zane Han's heart pounded wildly. He had hidden his strength, believing himself at most equal to Zane Edge, perhaps even slightly weaker. Yet Lucas Pearl claimed he could defeat Zane Edge—how terrifying was that? Only now did Zane Han realize there were such powerhouses in Genesis City.