Just as Tanya Tang was about to explain, a sudden roar echoed through the void. In that instant, everything trembled, even the cosmic laws became wildly unstable.
An immense and boundless aura surged from the end of the universe. Even with Joe Di's strength, he felt deeply unsettled, his entire being restless and anxious.
"What is that?" Tanya Tang stared blankly at the terrifying commotion at the edge of the universe, even suspecting that the Light-Dark Universe might explode at any moment.
Joe Di had no mind to ask Tanya Tang anything else. He tore open the void and sent Tanya Tang away, saying, "We part ways here. If fate allows, we shall meet again..."
After saying this, Joe Di also tore open the boundary and charged in from another direction.
As one of the strongest Creation Realm cultivators in the Five Elements Universe, Joe Di knew exactly what this change meant. Clearly, someone was about to step into the Fourth Step—and aside from Chi Yao, who else could it be?
With Chi Yao about to reach the Fourth Step, Joe Di had to quickly contact Nick Ning and Emperor Ye. At the very least, before Chi Yao broke through, he needed to take away that cosmic Dao vein.
When Joe Di arrived at the Celestial Beyond plaza, Nick Ning, Destiny Sovereign, Jane Yan, and Nora Xiu were already there. Everyone gazed at the vast, surging aura at the universe's edge, their eyes filled with inexplicable worry.
"Joe Di, you're back." Nick Ning, knowing more than most, was naturally more anxious. Chi Yao advancing so quickly to the Fourth Step was no good news for them.
"Joe Di..." Nora Xiu hurried over to Joe Di, grabbing his hand. Joe Di could clearly feel Nora Xiu's hand trembling.
Joe Di understood what was happening—this was instinct. Every cultivator within this vast universe, upon sensing this boundless and overwhelming aura, would feel an unknown fear. As long as you still walked the path of cultivation, as long as you lived in this universe, you could sense a terror akin to destiny suddenly vanishing.
Jane Yan's voice trembled, "I feel as if I can no longer live as I do now, as if even reincarnation has become a luxury—or has been stripped bare..."
Destiny Sovereign could sense her own fate, and felt a deep aversion to this terrifying and immense aura—yet she also experienced a helplessness, as if she could no longer control her destiny.
Since she began cultivating the Fate Dao, this was the first time she'd encountered such a situation. Back in the Genesis Universe, even when her Dao laws were incomplete, she could rely on her Fate Dao to find a way back to the Five Elements Universe. But now, she had no idea where her destiny lay. All she felt was that, after this vast and terrifying aura, her fate would no longer be her own. She would become a small fish in someone else's jar, unable to find a way out.
"Joe Di, I want to find Lethe and Autumn Waters. If that day truly comes, at least our family will be together." Nora Xiu's voice trembled even more.
Nora Xiu knew more than most cultivators, thanks to what Nick Ning had shared at Celestial Beyond.
Joe Di gently patted Nora Xiu's hand and said softly, "Don't worry, things haven't reached that point yet. Autumn Waters and Lethe are both safe. The Five Elements Universe is vast beyond measure, and even with my strength, I can't see every corner."
Nick Ning's voice came over, "Joe Di is right. Things haven't become irreparable yet. Even if Chi Yao is about to step into the Fourth Step, it won't happen so quickly. We should head to the Genesis Universe as soon as possible..."
Although Nick Ning didn't know exactly what to do next, he had a feeling—they had to reach the Genesis Universe quickly. Only there, they might have a sliver of hope.
Because Joe Di had stayed in the Genesis Universe and interacted with many powerful cultivators—even visiting the Genesis Cradle and having indirect clashes with Chi Yao—he knew more of the details.
"According to the information I've received, Chi Yao really is about to step into the Fourth Step. But before he can do so, he must go to Genesis City. There lies something essential for his breakthrough—so even if these phenomena disappear, it only means Chi Yao has, at best, one foot in the Fourth Step."
Although Joe Di said this, he wasn't entirely certain. But at this moment, even uncertainty had to be spoken with conviction.
"That's right, Joe Di. Let's head to Mountainview Foot immediately," Nick Ning said without hesitation. They had to open the Gate of Destiny as soon as possible—even if Emperor Ye hadn't returned, they couldn't afford to wait any longer.
Joe Di and the others sensed this vast and overwhelming aura of breakthrough—and so did every other cultivator in the universe.
To every cultivator, this aura was terrifying to the extreme—a force that would dictate their future lives and freedom. In this moment, no one could cultivate in peace; unease permeated every universe.
......
Great Ken Space—few in the Five Elements Universe even knew of this place. Not even Joe Di and Nick Ning were aware of its existence.
At this moment, deep within Great Ken Space, two young men stared blankly at the terrifying scene in the distance. They were Dylan Lethe and Leon Starfield, who had been cultivating in seclusion here for years.
"Leon, isn't our Great Ken Space sealed off? How can we still see such a terrifying, overwhelming aura so clearly at the edge of the universe?" Dylan Lethe asked, though his eyes remained fixed on the frightening surge.
Rather than asking, it was more like he was talking to himself.
Leon Starfield was equally stunned by the terrifying aura. After a long moment, he finally said, "I feel a kind of fear, as if in the next instant, everything about us—even our thoughts—will be exposed to someone else. This feeling is overwhelming..."
The two exchanged glances and fell silent.
After a long while, Dylan Lethe spoke again, "Could it be that someone has reached the Creation Realm and now intends to refine the Five Elements Universe?"
Leon Starfield shook his head. "Impossible. My father reached the Creation Realm years ago, and from what I've heard, there was never such an overwhelming aura..."
At this point, Leon Starfield's words abruptly stopped. If even entering the Creation Realm didn't produce this kind of aura, then clearly this terrifying force meant someone had surpassed the Creation Realm.
The Creation Realm is the final stage of the Third Step. To surpass it—doesn't that mean someone has...
"The Fourth Step?" Dylan Lethe and Leon Starfield exclaimed in unison.
"Could the Fourth Step truly exist?" Dylan Lethe muttered, a look of confusion in his eyes.
Leon Starfield added, "I've never heard of anyone actually reaching the Fourth Step. But... but..."
"No, we have to leave this place immediately." Leon Starfield hesitated for a long time without coming to a conclusion, but finally resolved not to continue cultivating in Great Ken Space.
Dylan Lethe nodded as well. "After all these years, we've both succeeded in Dao Unity. I believe the past is behind us. No matter how powerful the Lucas Family is, they shouldn't be able to track us down, right? Why don't we leave now?"
Leon Starfield had just nodded when an ancient voice rang out, "Since you're here, why rush to leave so soon? If you keep cultivating a while longer, you'll surely step into the Third Step. Leaving now would be a waste."
"Who is it?" Dylan Lethe and Leon Starfield asked in unison, their spiritual senses searching, but found no trace of anyone.
"Children, you've obtained my Genesis Crystal and cultivated in my domain for so long—how could you not know who I am?" The ancient voice was calm and unhurried.
"Kenhaven Sovereign? I thought you had perished!" Leon Starfield's heart sank, his voice trembling.
"Heh, with even Fourth Step cultivators emerging, how could I perish so easily? You two are quite talented—why not help me with a few tasks?" The ancient voice was so casual, it sounded as if he was sending his own child out for a bottle of soy sauce.
(That's all for today's update. Good night, friends!)