West Kamine ultimately did not step onto the stage to challenge; he must have realized he was no match for Joanna Brooks.
Since even West Kamine didn't come forward to challenge, no one else would either. Compared to previous True Domain Prodigy Trials, the difference in strength this time was simply too great—the strong were overwhelmingly strong, and the weak too weak. In past trials, there were only two or three truly powerful contenders, and the rest were not far behind. Plus, previous trials selected the top ten, so aside from competing for the top three, there were many fighting for fourth to tenth place.
Seeing that no one was coming forward to challenge, Boyan West stepped out and announced, "Since no one is challenging the top three of this True Domain Prodigy Trials, then this year's trials have come to an end. First place, Joe Di, is awarded two spots to enter the Ascension Array. Second place, Bryce Hu, and third place, Joanna Brooks, each receive one spot in the Ascension Array..."
After announcing the results, Boyan West produced four golden jade tokens, handing two to Joe Di. The other two were given to Bryce Hu and Joanna Brooks respectively.
"Thank you," Joe Di said with a nod of gratitude.
Joe Di had already learned that these golden jade tokens were the only keys capable of activating the True Domain Ascension Array. Within a year, the holder could enter the Ascension Array anywhere, anytime, and ascend to the Immortal Realm. In theory, any cultivator with a golden jade token could enter the Immortal Realm. However, one's cultivation level had to be high enough; if too weak, the spatial transfer would tear them apart.
These golden jade tokens also originated from the Ascension Array. To obtain one, ten Domain Stage experts must jointly activate the Ascension Array. Thus, the number of tokens distributed is decided collectively by the ten True Domain powerhouses. Even someone as formidable as Mei Bashan would not have access to these tokens without participating in the True Domain Prodigy Trials.
Boyan West laughed heartily. "If you wish, Joe Di, you are welcome at my City Lord's Manor anytime. You will be treated as an honored guest."
"Very well. If the opportunity arises, I may indeed pay a visit to City Lord West," Joe Di replied politely. Unless there was a reason, he would not seek out Boyan West.
Boyan West nodded in satisfaction, then said to Joe Di, Bryce Hu, and Joanna Brooks, "Now, the three of you may accompany me to the Skybox. As the winners, you should meet everyone."
Boyan West's words were tactful, but in truth, he was asking Joe Di and the other two to go to the Skybox and express their gratitude to the Domain Lords and the veteran experts of the True Domain.
Joe Di, of course, didn't mind. After all, the Ascension Array was also something belonging to the True Domain. Not every Domain Lord in the True Domain was as domineering as Mei Bashan. Since they were holding the True Domain Prodigy Trials, it meant there was still room for negotiation and cooperation within the True Domain.
...
"Hahaha, Sect Master Di, I really underestimated you. I thought you could make it into the top ten, but I didn't expect you to take first place outright." As soon as Joe Di stepped into the Skybox, Huan Changzhu greeted him warmly, as if they were old friends.
Joe Di didn't feel any aversion toward someone like Huan Changzhu.
After greeting the Heavenly Gold Domain Lord, Joe Di took the initiative to greet Cameron Beck, the Domain Lord of Kamine. In Joe Di's eyes, Cameron Beck's strength was not much weaker than Mei Bashan's—he was likely at the peak of the eighth Domain Stage. More importantly, Cameron Beck's aura gave Joe Di a sense of threat.
When Joe Di fought Mei Bashan, Cameron Beck did not intervene. With Cameron Beck's strength, if he had tried to stop Joe Di from killing Mei Bashan, Joe Di probably wouldn't have succeeded.
"The younger generation is truly formidable. We are already old." Although Joe Di and Bryce Hu had unexpectedly emerged this time, costing Cameron Beck his chance to enter the Immortal Realm, he didn't mind. As long as the Ascension Array remained, he could try again next time. Besides, he felt his own cultivation wasn't quite enough yet, and there was still no one in Kamine Domain capable of standing alone, so he wasn't in a hurry to ascend.
"Thank you, Domain Lord Beck," Joe Di said sincerely, for only Cameron Beck could have stopped him from killing Mei Bashan.
An Lingzhou walked over with a hearty laugh. "Fellow Daoist Di, I am An Lingzhou, Domain Lord of Annong. If anyone should be thankful, it should be me thanking you."
This was An Xiaoqi's father, and Joe Di immediately realized that An Xiaoqi must have told him about how he killed Bai Shaoxiang to save her. Such matters were best left unspoken; as long as everyone understood, there was no need to go into detail.
After exchanging a few words with Annong Domain Lord An Lingzhou, the other powerhouses from various factions also came over to greet Joe Di. In the eyes of the veteran experts in the Skybox, Bryce Hu and Joanna Brooks were still a generation behind.
Joe Di was different. Everyone had witnessed his strength firsthand; he was even stronger than them. Someone so young and powerful—regardless of whether he ascended to the Immortal Realm or not—was worth befriending.
Bai Hong did not come over to say much, and Joe Di was in no mood to bother with him. Given a little more time, it would no longer be Bai Hong seeking out Geng Ji for trouble, but Geng Ji seeking out Bai Hong.
"Fellow Daoist Di, after the True Domain Prodigy Trials, there will be a Dao Conference at Ascension City Plaza. If you're interested, you can join us. With your strength, even if you were to found a sect in the True Domain, you'd be more than qualified." Cameron Beck extended an invitation to Joe Di.
After Mei Bashan's fall, Cameron Beck became the number one powerhouse in the True Domain. There were still issues of interests to settle with May One Domain. His words were a subtle hint to Joe Di that if he was interested, he could also establish a foothold in the True Domain.
Joe Di had no interest in the True Domain. After thanking Cameron Beck, he politely declined the suggestion.
Han Wushui simply greeted Joe Di and said little else. He believed that anything he had to say to Joe Di would eventually reach his ears, so it was better not to speak up directly and risk causing offense.
Just as Joe Di was about to take his leave, a middle-aged man carrying a long blade walked over, cupped his fists, and said with a cheerful smile, "Fellow Daoist Di, please, we both wield blades—perhaps we can get to know each other better."
Seeing this man, Joe Di thought of Ji Hongchuan. His tone turned somewhat cold as he asked, "Who are you?"
The middle-aged man didn't mind Joe Di's cold attitude. He smiled and said, "Ji Gui of the Ji Family. Hongchuan and I once climbed the Fivefold Dao Tower with you, Fellow Daoist Di."
Joe Di's gaze grew colder. "So you're from the Ji Family. I can't say I think much of you. I've spent my life hiding from the Ji Family, only to be found by you in the end. I worry about my own safety."
With that, Joe Di turned and left.
Joe Di had no fondness for the Ji Family. Not only had they forbidden him from carrying his blade, they had also refused to save Jing Moshuang. These were things Joe Di would never forget.
Ji Gui's face alternated between blue and red. He hadn't expected Joe Di to refuse even the most basic courtesy to the Ji Family, leaving him embarrassed.
"Heh, achieving a bit of success and already so arrogant, not knowing the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth." Only after Joe Di left the Skybox did Bai Hong sneer.
Huan Changzhu said calmly, "If you have something to say, say it to someone's face. Speaking behind their back is nothing to be proud of. I recall someone wanted to question Sect Master Joe about a certain matter, but now that he's gone, I don't see anyone stepping up."
Bai Hong clenched his fists, trembling with anger. He was now certain that Bai Shaoxiang had been killed by Joe Di, but he didn't dare ask. With Joe Di's temperament, if he dared to question him, a fight could break out right here—and Bai Hong knew he couldn't win.
...
"Sect Master Joe, please wait!" As Joe Di was leaving the Skybox, Gu Jue called out to him, his voice tinged with anxiety.
"What is it?" Joe Di stopped and looked at Gu Jue calmly.
Gu Jue quickly produced two jade boxes and handed them to Joe Di. "This is a Seven-colored Immortal Peach and a Heaven-Earth Flame."
"If you have something to say, just say it," Joe Di said coolly.
"I want a quota to enter the Immortal Realm," Gu Jue said, even more uneasy.
Joe Di stared at Gu Jue and said, "There's no need to pretend in front of me. Back at the Ascension Lodge, if you had wanted to, the one thrown out wouldn't have been you, but that attendant."
Gu Jue didn't dare raise his head and replied in a low voice, "Yes, I am indeed stronger than that attendant. In Beast Gorge, I used an array disk to hunt demon beasts and earned my score that way."
Joe Di was in no mood for small talk. "Gu Jue, is it you speaking to me now, or the primordial spirit living in your sea of consciousness?"
"Ah..." Gu Jue looked at Joe Di in terror. How did Joe Di know there was a primordial spirit in his sea of consciousness? It was terrifying.
Without waiting for Gu Jue to respond, Joe Di said coldly, "If you need me to help you destroy the primordial spirit in your sea of consciousness, I can easily do it."
"No, no..." Gu Jue hurriedly backed away. "I'll take my leave."
With those words, Gu Jue quickly left.
Joe Di paid Gu Jue no further attention; he needed to take Xian Ze to the Ascension Array as soon as possible.