"Please forgive me, fellow Daoists. Although I shouldn't say this, as the one currently in charge of Celestial Beyond, there are some things I must address. It's not my own intention, but the responsibility given to Clan Leader Long Nie and Domain Lord Nora." Gavin Yan saw that Joe Di remained silent, so he cupped his fists again and spoke.
Joe Di sneered, "Oh? If you have something to say, just say it. Don't drag it out like a sheep dropping pellets—one by one, it's just irritating to watch."
Joe Di was well aware that sooner or later, he'd have to clash with the people of Celestial Beyond. Since that was inevitable, there was no need for pretense or wasting time.
Gavin Yan hadn't expected Joe Di to be so brazen, not sparing even a shred of courtesy in his words. Suppressing his anger, Gavin Yan tried to soften his tone and said, "The rules of Celestial Beyond have been in place for ages. Both of you broke those rules outright, so it's difficult for me to speak on your behalf."
"What rules?" Joe Di asked nonchalantly.
"To enter Celestial Beyond, everyone must pay one million high-grade divine crystals before they can obtain a Celestial Beyond identity jade token. Neither of you went through the process and barged in directly. If word gets out, it won't do your reputations any favors."
Joe Di chuckled lightly and said, "Oh? And who are you?"
Even though he'd already introduced himself several times, Gavin Yan once again cupped his fists. "I am Gavin Yan, from the Primordial World, ranked as the second Pillar. Thanks to Domain Lord Nora and the Daoists of Celestial Beyond, I am currently the Sovereign of Celestial Beyond."
Joe Di didn't even bother to stop, striding straight onto the streets of Celestial Beyond. His tone was calm as he said, "Is Celestial Beyond your family's property? Can't your old man come here? Who made you Sovereign? So impressive. If anyone can just declare themselves Sovereign and act all high and mighty, then I suppose I'm the Sovereign of Celestial Beyond now too. Want your old man's divine crystals? Ha, not a chance. Come at me if you dare."
Hearing that Gavin Yan was from the Primordial World, Joe Di had already decided to kill him. Not only did he have a grudge with the Primordial World, but even in Celestial Beyond, killing one more future enemy was just one less problem to deal with.
"Are you here to cause trouble, friend?" Gavin Yan, a powerful Dao Integration cultivator, was thoroughly provoked by Joe Di's brazen attitude—especially on his own turf, Celestial Beyond.
This time, Joe Di did stop, looking at Gavin Yan and saying, "I'll count to three. Get out of my sight, or you won't be leaving at all."
"You..." Gavin Yan was furious. He had intended to pressure Joe Di with words and wait for Nora and the others to return before settling accounts. Unexpectedly, before he could do anything, Joe Di had already arrogantly told him to scram.
Yet he could only swallow his pride. If he didn't, these two reckless lunatics would probably beat him up right here and now.
"Three!" Joe Di uttered the word, and in that instant, the Azure Veil Blade was suddenly unleashed, transforming into a curtain of blades that swept toward Gavin Yan.
Gavin Yan had planned to snort when Joe Di counted to two, leave a bit of his aura behind, and then turn to leave. He never expected Joe Di would go straight to 'three' and attack. What kind of counting is that?
The terrifying killing intent surged forth. Even if Gavin Yan wasn't in the midst of his tribulation, Joe Di's strike could still wound him.
Almost as soon as Joe Di made his move, Charlotte Ling's domain locked onto Gavin Yan.
If it were only Joe Di's domain, Gavin Yan could have forced his way out, even if it meant getting injured. But with Charlotte Ling's domain locking him down, Gavin Yan was immediately immobilized—he couldn't even move.
Joe Di's Azure Veil Blade slashed down from above Gavin Yan's head!
"Pfft!" A spray of blood exploded. Gavin Yan's primordial spirit turned into a streak of white light, attempting to escape. But before it could travel even a hundred feet, it was locked in place by an invisible force—a Law Confinement Array Joe Di had set up in advance.
Joe Di stretched out his hand, and with a surge of elemental energy, grabbed hold of Gavin Yan's primordial spirit.
"Daoist, please stop! If you kill me, the grudge between you and Celestial Beyond will never be resolved..." Gavin Yan cried out in terror.
Joe Di snorted, tightening his elemental energy handprint. Gavin Yan's primordial spirit exploded, his divine essence scattering and transforming into pure elemental energy that returned to the heavens and earth.
The other three cultivators turned pale when they saw Joe Di kill Gavin Yan without hesitation. Ever since Celestial Beyond had come under the control of Primordial World experts, no one had seen such a ruthless outsider as Joe Di.
At this moment, their greatest fear was that Joe Di would kill them just as mercilessly.
Joe Di's gaze landed on the three, and he suddenly said coldly, "Scram!"
"Senior, those three can't leave!" A hoarse voice suddenly rang out. A petite female cultivator emerged from the distant crowd, pointing at the three trying to leave.
Seeing the petite female cultivator rush out, the three cultivators' faces turned even paler. Instinctively, they tried to retreat, but Joe Di's domain had already enveloped them. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear someone say you can't leave?"
Once the three stopped, Joe Di turned to the frail-looking girl and asked, "Do you need something? Why don't you want them to leave?"
He guessed that this frail girl’s family had either been killed or betrayed by these three, and she wanted to use his hand to take revenge.
If that really was the case, Joe Di didn’t mind. He didn’t have a reason to kill the three, but if he got one, he’d do it without a second thought.
The frail girl hurriedly saluted Joe Di and Charlotte Ling. "Junior Yvette Yi greets the two seniors."
After saying this, she bowed to Joe Di again. "Senior, may I ask if you are called Joe Di?"
Joe Di looked at Yvette Yi in confusion. He was certain it was his first time in Celestial Beyond and he didn’t know any cultivators here—so how did this girl know him?
"That's right, I'm Joe Di." Joe Di nodded, not bothering to conceal his identity.
"Senior Di, you have a friend named Vera Tang who has been captured by this person." Yvette Yi, aware of her weak cultivation, spoke as quickly as possible to clarify the situation.
The white-robed cultivator at the half-step Dao Integration stage turned pale when Yvette Yi pointed at him. In a flash, he tried to flee.
But he was fast—Joe Di was faster. Joe Di's domain crushed down, and the Azure Veil Blade had already transformed into a blinding curtain of blades, enveloping him.
A mere half-step Dao Integration cultivator—Charlotte Ling had no intention of helping. She was confident Joe Di could easily crush him; she knew his strength well.
Sure enough, the white-robed cultivator had only taken a single step before Joe Di's blade domain locked onto him. Blade intent tore through, shattering his domain piece by piece. As death loomed, the terrified half-step Dao Integration cultivator cried out, "Daoist Joe Di, please don't! My father is Long Nie..."
Long Nie? Joe Di's blade intent paused, then surged into the white-robed cultivator's meridians. In just a heartbeat, Joe Di sealed the cultivator's powers.
Charlotte Ling sighed inwardly—Joe Di was even stronger than when he fought Miles Nie last time. Still, that white-robed cultivator had been scared witless by Joe Di’s easy kill of Gavin Yan, losing all will to fight and only thinking of escape. Otherwise, Joe Di wouldn’t have subdued him in a single move.
"Are you Miles Nie?" Joe Di grabbed the white-robed cultivator and tossed him at his feet.
"No, I'm Jack Nie." The white-robed cultivator bitterly regretted it. When Joe Di grabbed him, he could tell Joe Di was stronger, but not overwhelmingly so. Unfortunately, seeing Joe Di kill Gavin Yan had scared him into fleeing, and he was locked down by Joe Di's blade domain—defeated far too easily.
Jack Nie? Miles Nie's elder brother. Joe Di casually tossed Miles Nie at his feet, then pointed at the two late-stage Hunyuan cultivators. "Yvette Yi, did these two participate in capturing my friend?"