Joe Di was only at the seventh level of Immortal Lord. Even though he had carved a multitude of Law Array Banners in the surrounding space, he wasn’t foolish enough to take on seven or eight ninth-rank Void Fiend Beasts head-on.
His primary reason for coming here was to find Qu Hen and Chen Zishun; helping deal with the Beast Tide was only secondary.
Thundercrest Continent was nothing like the Quadrant Immortal Continent. Joe Di didn’t possess such selfless spirit—he wasn’t about to sacrifice himself for the sake of a continent that wasn’t his own.
He helped the Quadrant Immortal Continent because he lived there; even if he left one day, his friends and loved ones would ascend to the Quadrant Immortal Continent. Why should Thundercrest Continent expect him to make sacrifices? Besides, the Thundercrest Sect had always been at odds with him.
Joe Di locked down each Law Array Banner, instantly forming a defensive grand array around himself. Without hesitation, he grabbed Blackfire, took the Primordial Thunderstone, and used a divine sense escape to slip away from the beast horde.
By the time Joe Di landed, he was already at the edge of the protective array.
It was a ninth-rank defensive immortal array. Although constantly battered by the Beast Tide, it was continuously repaired and remained a ninth-rank defense array.
Joe Di charged into the Beast Tide atop the Primordial Thunderstone with Blackfire in tow. The cultivators inside the defensive array of Thundercrest Continent could see everything clearly.
All the cultivators stared at Joe Di in shock. Who was this guy? How could he dare to rush into the beast horde alone? Against such a terrifying Beast Tide, even a peak Immortal Emperor would surely face death.
But soon, they were utterly dumbfounded. The Primordial Thunderstone beneath Joe Di’s feet erupted with endless arcs and even cascades of thunder, launching attacks. Joe Di’s charge into the Beast Tide could only be described as unstoppable.
When those seven or eight peak Void Fiend Beasts charged at Joe Di, the cultivators on this side all felt their hearts leap into their throats.
With so many peak beasts rushing at Joe Di, no matter how powerful his thunder arcs were, it was impossible to take out all of them at once. If even one beast broke through his defense, it would spell certain death for Joe Di.
Just as everyone was wondering how Joe Di would handle these ninth-rank Void Fiend Beasts, he suddenly appeared next to the defensive immortal array. Was that teleportation?
"Don't open the defensive array..." a black-faced cultivator shouted from the crowd, worried that someone might open the array and let Joe Di inside without thinking.
It was clear that if a gap was opened in the defensive immortal array, not only would Joe Di enter, but so would the beasts outside.
In fact, even if some sympathetic cultivators wanted to let Joe Di in, they couldn’t. The ones guarding the defensive array were mere cannon fodder; how could they possibly have the array banners needed to open it?
But in the next moment, everyone was stunned. After landing in front of the protective array, Joe Di simply raised his hand and performed a few Dan Seals. Instantly, a gap opened in the array, and Joe Di walked in unhurried. The gap vanished as soon as he entered.
Such array mastery...
If those beasts were this skilled, why would they even bother repairing the defensive immortal array?
"Senior..." An Ascendant Lord stammered as he addressed Joe Di for the first time, clearly awed. He was certain that even if the Thunder Emperor arrived, he wouldn’t be as terrifying as this young man before him.
Joe Di nodded to the Ascendant Lord and casually asked, "Where are the reinforcements from other places?"
Sensing that Joe Di wasn't difficult to talk to, the Ascendant Lord finally relaxed a little. He quickly replied, "It seems no one else has arrived yet. All the elders of Thundercrest Continent are in the main hall up ahead..."
As he spoke, the cultivator pointed to a grand hall in front of them.
"Thank you." Joe Di walked unhurriedly, each step measured. The cultivators behind watched his pace, as if worried he might accidentally step on an ant—he moved slowly and carefully.
Joe Di wasn’t intentionally slow; he was constructing Law Array Banners as he walked. Unlike his last visit to Huanghu Palace, his cultivation was now immeasurably stronger, but he no longer had Zhong Ao and Yin Wushang by his side.
......
Inside the grand hall before the Thundercrest Sect’s array, at least fifty cultivators were seated. The weakest among them was at early Immortal Emperor, most were mid or late Immortal Emperors.
Seated at the head was a man who seemed to embody thunder itself. A blue silk ribbon was tied around his head, and his entire body radiated powerful, oppressive energy—as if, at any moment, that pressure would erupt into a storm of thunder arcs.
Yet that blue silk ribbon lent a trace of vitality to his otherwise overwhelming aura.
This was Thundercrest Continent’s strongest cultivator, Riley Thunder, Sect Master of Thundercrest Sect.
Before Riley Thunder emerged, everyone knew he was powerful, but his cultivation was no secret—he merely hovered between the sixth and seventh level of Immortal Emperor.
It wasn’t until the Beast Tide struck and Riley Thunder personally led the defense against the Void Beast Horde that people saw his true cultivation: he was at the peak ninth level of Immortal Emperor, perhaps even beyond.
"None of our calls for help have been answered, and the breaches in our protective array are multiplying. Sooner or later, those terrifying immortal fiend beasts will flood in..." an old woman sighed, her tone tinged with pessimism.
As a sixth-level Immortal Emperor, she wasn’t worried about being overwhelmed by the Beast Tide. But if the tide tore apart the defensive array, their home would be reduced to rubble. Her lifespan was nearly at its end; if even her place of retreat was trampled, her life would be over.
"Heh, the few who did come to help met with strange accidents. If it were me, I wouldn’t dare come here either," a burly man sneered, his tone full of disdain.
"Daniel Xing, what do you mean by that?" Riley Thunder’s expression darkened. "Just because you’ve stepped into the ranks of Grand Celestial, do you think I wouldn’t dare act against you?"
(This chapter is not yet finished~.~ Please click next page to continue reading the exciting content!)
"Ha..." Daniel Xing laughed coldly. "My cultivation isn’t much—compared to the Thunder Emperor, or even the five Grand Celestials of Magic Garment Immortal Continent, I’m far behind. Too bad, we couldn’t invite those five. I’m just speaking the truth; everyone can see it. Eugene Young, the Pill Conference Master of Cauldron Haven, and Vice Master Chen Zishun, came with Zhong Ao to help. How did Thundercrest Continent treat them?
Heh, first they set up Zhong Ao to be gravely wounded and escape. Then they found an excuse to detain Eugene Young and Vice Master Chen Zishun. I don’t know why Thundercrest Continent, facing life and death, would attack allies who traveled countless miles to help. My friend Eugene Young spoke a single word of fairness—where is he now?
"Smack!" Riley Thunder slapped the tea table and suddenly stood up. "Daniel Xing, are you saying I plotted against Eugene Young? And that Zhong Ao stole Thundercrest Continent’s treasure at my command?"
Daniel Xing was clearly ready to risk everything. "Sect Master Riley, isn’t it obvious to everyone? When Island Lord Eugene Young spoke a word of fairness, he was sent to plug a breach in the defensive array—and that time, he fell into the Beast Tide, his fate unknown. Thundercrest Continent has so many Immortal Emperors, but only a handful of Grand Celestials. Sect Master Riley, tell me: since the Beast Tide began, how many Immortal Emperors and Grand Celestials have perished?"
As for why Zhong Ao escaped, it’s because he was simply too powerful—stronger than anyone expected. Even so, three Immortal Emperors chased after him. Whether he’s been killed, I, Daniel Xing, am not qualified to know..."
Just when Daniel Xing thought Riley Thunder would strike, Riley instead clasped his hands to the assembled Immortal Emperors. "The reason I sit here is not because I am Sect Master of Thundercrest Sect, nor because of my cultivation. It is because I am devoted to Thundercrest Continent. Now, as we face the most terrifying Void Beast Horde, I hope everyone will unite, not suspect one another. If anyone doubts me, I’ll step aside and let you lead the defense. My heart is clear. A year ago, my dao companion Ava Kong fell in the Beast Tide, and I didn’t say a word..."
Daniel Xing snorted, "Ava Kong was sent to hunt Zhong Ao, wasn’t she? What does that have to do with the Beast Tide?"
"Hahaha..." Riley Thunder laughed wildly, but there was no mirth in his eyes. After that laugh, a Thunder Hammer appeared in his palm. "Daniel Xing, you may insult me, even question my devotion to Thundercrest Continent, but you should not insult my dao companion. If I don’t kill you today, I’ll have failed her."
She died battling the Beast Tide, defending Thundercrest Continent. I could restrain myself for the sake of the continent, but when her sacrifice is belittled, I truly cannot endure it. Forgive me, everyone—I must kill this man..."
"Heh, your words gave me goosebumps. Can you stop with the grand speeches and just say what you mean?" A sudden voice came from the doorway, drawing everyone’s attention.
A young man in blue stepped in, riding a Thunderstone, a long blade strapped to his back.
(That’s all for today’s update. Good night, friends!)