When the eleventh Grand Law seal formed and locked down the Vast Iron Crystal, the crystal could no longer move an inch. Joe Di seized it in his hand.
This piece of Vast Iron Crystal was nearly two zhang long. Though only a meter thick, its width was also a zhang. The entire crystal emitted a faint azure glow, and when held by Joe Di, it resembled a massive door panel.
Even under Joe Di's Grand Law restraint, the Vast Iron Crystal still gave off an aura as if it might burst into the void at any moment.
Joe Di did not put the Vast Iron Crystal into his own world. For such spiritual materials, refining them immediately upon acquisition would yield the strongest spirit.
However, Joe Di did not immediately refine the Vast Iron Crystal. His gaze fell into the distance. If the gray-robed cultivator hadn't intervened earlier, he would never have caught the Vast Iron Crystal. In Joe Di's view, with such strength, the gray-robed cultivator would surely come to snatch it again.
What puzzled Joe Di was that, after waiting a while, not a single figure appeared. This meant the gray-robed cultivator had no intention of coming to seize the Vast Iron Crystal.
Regardless of why the gray-robed cultivator did not come for the Vast Iron Crystal, Joe Di was not interested in waiting any longer. With a sweep of his Cosmic Flame, the Vast Iron Crystal was instantly enveloped.
As if sensing Joe Di's intent, the Vast Iron Crystal began to tremble violently once more, as though it were about to break free from his Grand Law restraint and rush into the void for a second time.
Joe Di snorted. If the Vast Iron Crystal could still escape after being bound by him, then he would truly be incompetent.
The aura of the Cosmic Flame surged, and streams of flame transformed into terrifying burning Grand Law patterns, coiling around the Vast Iron Crystal.
The Vast Iron Crystal finally began to melt. Without hesitation, Joe Di tossed his Azure Veil Blade into the crystal. Way Resonance swept forth, and Law after Law followed this circulating resonance, merging into the blade. The Azure Veil Blade, already possessing spirit, grew ever stronger as the Vast Iron Crystal fused with it. Eventually, it even radiated an aura of jubilant excitement.
......
"Jaxon Senior Brother, you've reached the Prime Realm?" As Jaxon Di had just returned to the sect, a young woman called out in delight and landed before him.
Faced with the title 'Senior Brother Jaxon', Jaxon Di nodded awkwardly. "Yes, Elder Huanhuan, I just achieved the Prime Realm breakthrough and was about to head to the Star Hall to look up some things."
The beautiful female cultivator before him was named Bei Huanhuan, one of the Stellar Sect's genius elders. Rumor had it that she hadn't cultivated for long, yet she had already reached Prime Realm Perfection. Her breakthrough predated Jaxon Di's by far.
In the Stellar Sect, becoming an elder required reaching the Prime Realm. Of the sect's cultivators, there were at least seventy or eighty in the Prime Realm, if not a hundred. This showed just how powerful the Stellar Sect was—a true top sect of the Sheji Divine Realm.
Despite the many Prime Realm cultivators in the Stellar Sect, true Third Step cultivators were few. Aside from two Grand Elders who had crossed into the Third Step, only the Sect Master had reached Realm Genesis. Now that Jaxon Di had achieved Prime Realm, he was considered among the sect's elite.
Jaxon Di felt awkward around Bei Huanhuan because he knew Elder Huanhuan had always treated him differently. He wasn't oblivious—he understood what that difference meant. Yet Jaxon Di truly felt nothing for Bei Huanhuan; otherwise, he wouldn't have left the sect to seek his breakthrough.
Even the title 'Elder Huanhuan' was something Bei Huanhuan had insisted Jaxon Di use; previously, he had always called her Elder Bei. Today, she called him Senior Brother outright. Even though he was now Prime Realm, Jaxon Di still couldn't get used to it.
"Alright, I'll take you there. Since you've just reached the Prime Realm, I'll inform the Sect Master later. The sect will definitely hold a celebration for your breakthrough. Our Stellar Sect has gained yet another genius Prime Realm elder!" Bei Huanhuan showed no concern for Jaxon Di's awkwardness, her tone as enthusiastic as ever.
Jaxon Di quickly said, "Elder Huanhuan, please don't tell the Sect Master yet. Let me stabilize my cultivation first. Besides, reaching the Prime Realm isn't all that rare."
Jaxon Di had so many important matters at hand—he simply didn't have time for the sect to host a grand Prime Realm celebration for him. Such an event would take at least a month, not counting the time needed to reciprocate gifts with other major sects.
"That's fine, but once your cultivation stabilizes, you must hold a Prime Realm ceremony. Senior Brother Jaxon, what are you looking for in the Star Hall? Should I help you instead?" Bei Huanhuan's tone remained friendly and open.
Jaxon Di recalled that Bei Huanhuan had a particularly formidable master. What he sought might not be in the Star Hall, but Bei Huanhuan might know.
Thinking of this, Jaxon Di hurriedly asked, "Elder Huanhuan..."
Bei Huanhuan interrupted him. "Senior Brother Jaxon, you can't call me 'Elder' anymore. You should call me 'Junior Sister.'"
Jaxon Di knew how precious time was to him, so he immediately changed his address. "Junior Sister Huanhuan, I have a question for you."
Hearing Jaxon Di call her 'Junior Sister,' Bei Huanhuan's smile blossomed. "Senior Brother Jaxon, ask away. Even if I don't know the answer, I can help you find it."
Jaxon Di was overjoyed. "Junior Sister Huanhuan, do you know anything about the Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe?"
Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe? Bei Huanhuan's smile froze. What kind of question was that? Still, she quickly replied, "Senior Brother Jaxon, our Sheji Divine Realm is a top divine realm in the Five Elements Universe, and we can step into the Third Step. The Stellar Sect also has Third Step cultivators. With your talent, you'll surely reach the Third Step here. Why ask about Heaven's Will?"
Bei Huanhuan misunderstood Jaxon Di's intention, thinking he wanted to find a way to advance to the Third Step. Otherwise, why would he ask about the Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe?
Jaxon Di was a bit disappointed. From Bei Huanhuan's response, he knew she was unaware of the Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe.
"Senior Sister Huanhuan, there are some things I don't quite understand. I'll go to the Star Hall to look for answers." With an apologetic glance, Jaxon Di hurried off toward the Star Hall.
Thinking of how his mother might still be suffering before the Soul Gate, Jaxon Di could not afford to waste even a single breath.
Bei Huanhuan watched Jaxon Di's departing figure, a trace of sadness flashing in her eyes. She muttered, "Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe? I'll go ask my master."
Jaxon Di no longer concerned himself with Bei Huanhuan. After rushing to the top floor of the Star Hall, he immediately began searching for any information regarding the Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe.
Even as a Prime Realm cultivator, Jaxon Di couldn't possibly comb through all the records on the Star Hall's top floor in a short time.
The Stellar Sect had stood in the Sheji Divine Realm for countless millennia. It was said that the sect existed as long as the Sheji Divine Realm itself. With such an ancient sect, the Star Hall's archives were vast as the sea—accumulated by generations of Stellar Sect cultivators.
Jaxon Di searched patiently, leaving no corner of the Star Hall's top floor untouched. Even when he came across the blade technique divine powers he'd once sought, he casually tossed them aside.
On the sixth day, even Jaxon Di felt moments of despair. He pulled out a piece of ancient tortoise shell, its age unknown. The characters carved upon it were blurred: 'Sheji Divine Realm, altar to Heaven's Will, Sheji Flower Garden...'
There should have been more words, but Jaxon Di couldn't make out a single one—the rest had been erased by the passage of time.
Jaxon Di didn't know whether the Heaven's Will mentioned in the Sheji Divine Realm's altar was the same as the Heaven's Will of the Five Elements Universe, but this was the only clue he found related to Heaven's Will. He also knew where the Sheji Flower Garden was. Its name sounded pleasant, as if it were the most beautiful place in Sheji Divine Realm, but in truth, it was the realm's most terrifying location.
Clutching the tortoise shell, Jaxon Di stood up. He decided to head to the Sheji Flower Garden. As a newly advanced Prime Realm cultivator, he was entitled to borrow a technique manual or a treasure for research—he would borrow the tortoise shell.