The reason Joe Di took Miles Phantom aside was twofold: to ask about Di Di and Tian Ku's current situation, and to ensure that the golden-haired Lord Goldwin wouldn't realize he too had consumed Firegod Herb.
"The Destiny Guild headquarters is enormous," Joe Di remarked, as he gazed upon the vast expanse of the guild's domain.
Miles Phantom shook his head, "The Destiny Guild is a mess now. I can't really call myself its master anymore. Let's talk somewhere else."
After reaching the edge of the grand plaza, Miles Phantom casually summoned a cave abode and stepped inside. Once Joe Di entered as well, Miles Phantom set up restrictions before saying, "Are you worried that Lord Goldwin of the Heavenly Gold Domain will discover you also used Firegod Herb?"
Joe Di looked at Miles Phantom in surprise. "Senior, how did you know I used Firegod Herb?"
As soon as he asked, Joe Di understood. He had already guessed that Ju Qi collected Firegod Herb because he possessed the Mindforge Chapter for refining it. So it wasn't strange for Miles Phantom to deduce that Joe Di also had a method to refine Firegod Herb. Miles Phantom was different from others—he knew Joe Di had visited Nightlake more than once, and had slain Howard Lane by its shore. Apart from Firegod Herb, there was nothing else at Nightlake. Joe Di had gone there multiple times; what other reason could there be?
Seeing Joe Di's expression, Miles Phantom smiled, "You don't need to worry. Now I understand how you managed to kill Howard Lane. If I'm not mistaken, your spiritual sense should be at the tenth level, right?"
If Joe Di's spiritual sense was at the tenth level, it wasn't surprising that he could kill Howard Lane at a place like Nightlake. Not just Howard Lane—even Miles Phantom himself wouldn't be able to handle Joe Di by the lake.
Joe Di bowed respectfully. "Senior, you see clearly. My spiritual sense is indeed at the tenth level."
Miles Phantom nodded. "Lord Goldwin of the Heavenly Gold Domain is extremely powerful, even at the mid-stage of the Domain Realm. But his spiritual sense hasn't reached the tenth level yet—he's still at the peak of the ninth. The tenth level is a watershed; many only achieve it after entering the Immortal Realm. So, when people mention the tenth level of spiritual sense, it's equivalent to the first level of celestial sense."
The Mindforge Chapter was the supreme manual for refining spiritual sense, a legendary technique said to be rankless. From mortals to saints, anyone could cultivate it. It was rumored to have vanished, yet now it had reappeared—falling into his hands.
After a long moment, Miles Phantom carefully put away the jade slip and said to Joe Di, "You've helped me immensely. Though I ought not to accept this from you, with this Mindforge Chapter jade slip, my chances of success are much greater."
"Senior, you've helped me so much. This technique is nothing in comparison. May I ask how Di Di and Uncle Tian are doing...?" Joe Di had long wanted to ask about Di Di's situation.
With the upheaval at Destiny Isle, it was certainly unsafe for Di Di to remain there.
Miles Phantom handed Joe Di a leather map and said, "This place is called Reed Isle, where I once secluded myself for cultivation. Di Di and Tian Ku are there in retreat. Don't worry—they're very safe."
Joe Di scanned the map with his divine sense and put it away, then asked with relief, "Senior, what happened at Destiny Isle?"
Miles Phantom shook his head. "The Destiny Guild is famous not only because the Grand Pavilion Master Charles Chang is a Domain Stage expert, but also because it holds the most intelligence in the Central Realm and is its largest merchant association. But this time, the Destiny Guild shouldn't have intervened in the True Spirit World affair..."
"True Spirit World?" Joe Di exclaimed, immediately recalling the female cultivator beneath Xieya Snow Mountain who had said she possessed such a world, though he had not obtained it.
"That's right. Xieya Snow Mountain suddenly erupted, exposing a spirit stone mine. This triggered a scramble in the Central Realm. The True Spirit World was found inside the mine, and then seized by the Destiny Guild..."
Hearing Miles Phantom's account, Joe Di was almost certain that Xieya Snow Mountain was where he had discovered two supreme spirit veins. He hadn't expected a spirit stone mine to be hidden there, and that female cultivator was truly resourceful.
Miles Phantom, unaware of Joe Di's thoughts, continued, "After the Destiny Guild obtained the True Spirit World, everything changed. Charles Chang suddenly had an accident, and the Second Pavilion Master sought to reorganize the Destiny Guild. I couldn't allow it, so the guild split into three factions. That battle nearly destroyed Destiny Isle. Disheartened, I left with Di Di and Tian Ku, but I know this isn't over—Second Pavilion Master Li Jian won't let me go."
"Why?" Joe Di asked instinctively.
Miles Phantom's expression darkened. "I suspect he's from the True Domain. If the Destiny Guild's troubles weren't orchestrated by the True Domain, I wouldn't believe it. The True Spirit World's emergence merely exposed him early. Anyway, let's set that aside and talk about your trip to Little Central Star. Your current cultivation is at the fourth level of the Sea Opening Realm..."
Before Miles Phantom could finish, Joe Di waved his hand. "Senior, my true cultivation is at the third level of the Cauldron Ascension Realm. The fourth level of the Sea Opening Realm is just what others see."
"What?" Miles Phantom stared at Joe Di in disbelief. When he first met Joe Di, his cultivation was much lower, and now, in just a few years, Joe Di had reached the third level of the Cauldron Ascension Realm.
Then he grew delighted, realizing he had chosen the right person and Joe Di hadn't let him down. "Excellent. It seems I have good judgment. Once Little World Star opens, you'll be able to advance again and truly have a shot at the top ten."
Joe Di asked in surprise, "Senior, my strength isn't bad, right? Even at third level Cauldron Ascension, I should have a place in the genius competition."
In Joe Di's view, his third level Cauldron Ascension strength should be enough for the top ten, if not the top three. After all, the True Domain genius competition is for those under two hundred years old, and reaching the Cauldron Ascension Realm at that age is remarkable.
Miles Phantom shook his head. "You don't understand how terrifying some True Domain geniuses are. Spiritweave from the True Domain can enhance spiritual roots and expand meridians. Some True Domain factions use Spiritweave to cultivate their prodigies, even helping them reach the Transforming True Realm before the competition. So, don't be surprised to see under-two-hundred-year-olds at the Transforming True Realm. Of course, that's rare—the genius competition is mostly for those in the Tribulation King Stage."
Joe Di drew a sharp breath. Cultivators at the Transforming True Realm under two hundred years old...
If not for Graystone and that golden lightning, he wouldn't have reached the Transforming True Realm even in a thousand years, let alone two hundred.
(Second update timing undetermined.)