"Huh, it’s been over a hundred thousand years since anyone new arrived, so why are there two today?" As Joe Di and Gavin Strider landed atop the massive stone, a surprised voice rang out.
The speaker looked as if he’d been pickled in time for a million years—like an ancient salted vegetable. To Joe Di, two words summed up his impression: decrepit and decayed. Sparse, vulture-like hair, barely any teeth left, and every word he spoke whistled through the gaps.
Yet Joe Di was shocked by the old man’s cultivation. This was definitely a Third Step powerhouse—not one of those pseudo-Third Step cultivators he’d easily slain before.
"You two little brats are lucky. Not only did you reach the Stellar Stairway, you made it to the Celestial Knot so quickly." The old man with vulture-like skin gave a grating chuckle, his voice rasping like moldy straw—something no one wanted to hear twice.
Joe Di had no intention of listening a second time, yet the old fellow blocked their path.
"Old Gavin, who is this guy?" Joe Di paused and asked, refraining from attacking—he didn’t want to start a conflict with the local master right away.
In the vast cosmos, there were countless strong cultivators. If he fought everyone who displeased him, he’d never get anywhere in his Dao.
Gavin Strider curled his lip, "It’s not like I know every small fry out here."
"Heh, kid, who are you calling that?" The old man with vulture-like skin sneered, his gaze toward Gavin Strider turning cold.
Though Gavin Strider hadn’t yet recovered his Third Step cultivation, he clearly wasn’t afraid of the old man. He laughed, "Old Gavin was talking about you."
Joe Di said coldly, "Old Gavin, you can talk all you want, but don’t go stealing my nickname. If you insist on being called Old Master, you’ll have to settle for Third Master Gavin."
"Why Third Master?" Gavin Strider looked at Joe Di in confusion.
"Because there’s already an Old Master Jiao, so you can only be Third Master," Joe Di replied, his gaze lingering on the old man with vulture-like skin. He half-hoped a fight would break out between the two. There were dozens of others on the giant stone, but so far, only this old gatekeeper had bothered to block their way, suggesting the rest weren’t interested in outsiders.
Much to his disappointment, even after waiting a while, the old gatekeeper showed no intention of fighting. He simply continued, "Each newcomer must offer something. Otherwise, you’re not allowed to pass through the Celestial Knot."
All bark and no bite, Joe Di thought, especially as the old gatekeeper’s gaze settled on him. Clearly, he looked for the easiest target—bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
Joe Di casually handed over a Law Fragment to the old gatekeeper. "This is the best thing I’ve got. Since you’re extorting me, it’s all I can give."
To Joe Di, every ancient on the Celestial Knot must have survived since antiquity; how could they possibly lack Divine Crystals or cultivation resources? So he offered a Law Fragment, though he doubted the old man would care for it. If it came to a fight, he was ready.
"Oh? A Law Fragment? Not bad, that’s a fine treasure. I didn’t expect you to have something like this. Ramsay Young approves…" The old man took the fragment with a satisfied nod.
To Joe Di’s surprise, Gavin Strider didn’t fight either. He simply tossed something to Ramsay Young—a piece of bark, from what Joe Di could see at a distance.
Ramsay Young was even more delighted, so much so that he didn’t say a word—he just pocketed the bark and laughed heartily, "You’re both generous fellows. Good luck to you! Hahaha…"
Laughing heartily, Ramsay Young turned to leave, but Joe Di quickly stopped him. "Daoist Ramsay, I just arrived here and have a few questions. Would you mind answering them?"
"No," Ramsay Young replied, as if he hadn’t just accepted a Law Fragment from Joe Di.
Joe Di’s voice turned cold: "Ramsay, you took my gift and did nothing in return. Leaving won’t be so easy."
As he spoke, Joe Di’s domain aura locked onto the space surrounding Ramsay Young.
The previously arrogant Ramsay Young sensed Joe Di was serious about fighting and quickly waved his hands. "Let’s talk, let’s talk! What do you want to know?"
Even Gavin Strider couldn’t help but twitch his lips at the sight. Clearly, Ramsay Young was all bluster.
Joe Di smiled, "There are a lot of people here, so why are you the only one stopping us? And how long has everyone been here?"
Ramsay Young chuckled, his words whistling through his teeth, "Because I’m the only one with free time. Can’t you see everyone else is busy? As for how long—it’s been so long I’ve forgotten. Maybe millions of years?"
Joe Di swept his divine sense over the other cultivators. Though there were many cave dwellings, none had any restrictions—his divine sense could scan freely. He quickly discovered that whether inside or outside their caves, every cultivator was busy cultivating, each with their own unique method. Ramsay Young’s claim that everyone was busy was true; they were all absorbed in cultivation.
"Why aren’t you cultivating?" Joe Di asked again.
This time, Ramsay Young didn’t laugh. His voice was cold, "Because I can’t cultivate any further. Also, kid, you’ll soon discover I’m the kindest one here. In less than half a stick of incense, the rest will come looking for you. I’ve already told you too much for a single Law Fragment. Get ready to hand over your treasures, then find a spot to hole up for a few million years."
With that, Ramsay Young ignored Joe Di and quickly vanished.
Joe Di felt a bit puzzled and headed toward the center of the massive stone. As he drew closer, he was suddenly stunned. It was possible to cultivate here—and not just ordinary cultivation.
"Daoist Joe, there’s something strange about this stone," Gavin Strider exclaimed, having noticed the same thing.
Joe Di didn’t answer. He tried circulating a Cosmic Cycle, and immediately felt the vast, boundless aura of universal rules sweep over him. In the next moment, he sensed his cultivation surging, and a never-before-experienced Dao resonance rapidly enveloped him. Joe Di realized that, if he cultivated here long enough, his strength could reach unimaginable heights.
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Just one Cosmic Cycle brought such a feeling—what if he cultivated here for hundreds of thousands of years?
Gavin Strider noticed the same phenomenon. Staring in shock at the dozens still cultivating in the distance, he finally understood why only Ramsay Young had greeted them. With such an environment, only a fool would waste time elsewhere.
"Daoist Joe, you’ve found the right place. I’m planning to stay here and cultivate for a while." Gavin Strider was thrilled—if not for Joe Di’s Lethe Bridge, he wouldn’t have bothered chatting at all.
"Hahahaha…" Another burst of laughter echoed, and Joe Di saw the crowd of cultivators who’d been meditating leap to their feet. Every face was filled with satisfaction and anticipation. Clearly, aside from Ramsay Young, the rest were delighted to be here.
"Ramsay Young, did two new chicks arrive?" The voice thundered like a drum, and its owner—a man who looked every bit the immortal sage—leapt out.
Joe Di tried another Cosmic Cycle, but the earlier sensation of vast cultivation vanished. Remembering Ramsay Young’s words, he vaguely guessed there was a time limit to cultivating here.
"Master Julian, if you have questions, ask them yourself," came Ramsay Young’s voice from afar.
"Kid, open your world and let me see what treasures you have," Master Julian blocked Joe Di, while two others stopped Gavin Strider.
A mocking voice from a woman in the distance rang out, "Master Julian, you’re regressing. This kid hasn’t even reached the Third Step—what kind of world could he possibly have?"